《Mated to my sister鈥檚 ugly mate》


 1

    Shadow sat in front of the vanity mirror, her reflection showing no sign of life, her mind empty of thought.


    Suddenly, the door swung open and her mother, Lisa, rushed in. She took in Shadow¡¯s disheveled hair and the grayness that seemed to consume her face, and her anger red instantly.


    ¡°The Lances are here. Why haven¡¯t you changed your clothes?¡±


    Shadow pushed up her ck-rimmed sses and stared at her mother, bewildered. ¡°Mom, do you honestly expect me to mate with my sister¡¯s fiance?¡±


    Lisa¡¯s anxiety grew, her face paling with worry. The Lances were waiting outside, and a single misstep could bring ruin upon their entire family.


    Kneeling down before Shadow, her voice filled with desperation, she pleaded, ¡°Shadow, I beg of you. Your sister deserves better. Why won¡¯t you help her?¡±


    Shadow¡¯s eyes, once filled with hopelessness, turned cold. While Lisa may have been her biological mother, she had always favored the children from her father¡¯s deceased ex-wife. Lisa knew that Shadow¡¯s sister¡¯s fiance was repulsive and impotent, yet she still wanted Shadow to mate with him.


    The pleas of the servant echoed from beyond the door. ¡°Madam, the Lances are upstairs.¡±


    Shadow made no move to assist Lisa and replied with indifference, ¡°Get up. I¡¯ll go.¡±


    In that moment, she had truly lost all hope in this family.


    As she opened the door, a group of unfamiliar bodyguards stood waiting outside.


    These were the people sent by the Lances to escort her.


    Today, she would be mated to someone without a proper ceremony or a groom.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she stated, leading the way downstairs without hesitation.


    The Lances were the wealthiest family in the Moonlight Pack, their only heir, Alpha Kilian, disfigured and impotent after a kidnapping that urred over a decade ago.


    Rumors circted about his brutal and unattractive nature, with no woman sent into his home ever emerging alive.


    There was no greater betrayal than that which came from one¡¯s own family.


    Even if he were a devil, it mattered not. Her mother had abandoned her to this monster.


    Shadow was entirely alone in this world.


    ¡­


    Upon reaching Alpha Kilian¡¯s Castle, the bodyguards guided her into a room before departing.


    It was not until darkness filled the sky outside the window that the door creaked open once more.


    Shadow turned her head, her gaze meeting that of a tall and imposing man stepping into the room.


    He closed the door and flicked on the lights, temporarily blinding her. As she shielded her eyes, she raised her head to take in the sight before her.


    In an instant, she froze.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    It wasn¡¯t due to the man¡¯s grotesque and terrifying appearance, but rather because he was astonishingly handsome.


    A dark suit hugged his muscr frame, and with confident strides, he moved toward her.


    His facial features were striking and wlessly chiseled, like a work of art.


    Alpha Kilian scrutinized Shadow for a few moments, his eyebrows slightly furrowing. ¡°Quite hideous.¡±


    His tone remained calm, no trace of emotion creeping into his voice.


    Shadow looked back at him in shock, hisment about her appearance barely registering. Her only focus was on defending herself as she asked, ¡°And who might you be?¡±


    His ink-colored eyes glimmered with intensity, his voice deep. ¡°Do you not know who you will be mated to?¡±


    As he drew nearer, his chilling breath sent shivers down Shadow¡¯s spine.


    Though his powerful aura momentarily stifled her, she maintained herposure and straightened her posture. ¡°Of course, I know. The person I am to mate with is known as Alpha Kilian.¡±


    Alpha Kilian heard her words, the sharpness in his eyes gradually subsiding as a flicker of rity reced it. Another woman who believed the rumors, destined to mate with an ¡®ugly and impotent¡¯ man.


    Yet, unlike the others, she appeared strangely calm. This piqued Alpha Kilian¡¯s interest.


    Smiling with an air of confidence, he said, ¡°So you are my sister-inw? I am Alpha Dominic, cousin to Alpha Kilian. I suppose no one wants to be with such a worthless man, not even you, on the night of the mating ceremony!¡±


    ..


    He deliberately emphasized the word ¡®worthless Alpha ¡® deeply, with a hint of provocation. The man approached her intentionally, the piercingly cold aura of him got even thicker and stronger.


    Shadow  shifted ufortably, and after a moment of disbelief, she believed his words ¡®He was from the family for sure. After all, Alpha Kilian ¡®s Castle  was not essible to peasants or meremoners.¡¯


    ¡°He is your cousin. Please don¡¯t talk about him like this.¡±


    Presumably, Alpha Kilian  had also had difficulties in his family. Shadow  felt sympathy. Even if the Lances were top-tier socially, she sympathized with Alpha Kilian ¡®s situation. He must have had hard times in recent years.


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s brown eyes quickly shed in surprise. He didn¡¯t expect this ugly woman to say such words.


    He couldn¡¯t help looking at her once more. The messy hair, the ck-framed sses, tattered, long cotton clothes, and the bangs on her forehead almost thick enough to cover her eyes. There were even a few small spots on her haggard face. It was repulsive to even look at.


    He had heard how his betrothed would be as beautiful as a blooming rose. There was no way that this hideous woman was his rumored bride.


    But the Lances did not care whether the woman who wed him was ugly or beautiful. As long as she was capable of bearing an heir. They would not care even if they had to select another.


    Besides, it wasn¡¯t as if Alpha Kilian  had any intentions of treating her as his wife, Luna. All he needed was a simple and quick fuck.


    He wanted to fuck her, impregnate her, she give him a hier that¡¯s it. So, she¡¯ll be more like a breeding toy.


    A dark glint shed in his eyes, Alpha Kilian  extended his hand and pushed Shadow  onto the bed. There was undisguised contempt and malice in his tone. ¡°There is no one else. You don¡¯t need to pretend. With your looks, you are probably still a virgin. I might treat you far better than that cripple!¡±


    After he finished speaking, he reached for her directly. He was about to touch her waist. Almost.


    p!


    ¡°Get off!¡± Shadow  used all her strength to p him across the face. ¡°Don¡¯t assume everyone is as filthy as ye. Ye¡¯re fortunate that yer cousin hasn¡¯t arrived yet. Leave immediately, or would ye prefer another p?¡±


    Although she tried her best to stayposed, her trembling hands betrayed her. She clutched the sheets beneath her, and let out a ragged breath. What in the name of the spirits did she just witness?


    She had imagined how repugnant Alpha Kilian  would be on the way over, how scarred and how malformed he truly was. But she never expected to encounter such a thing as this.


    Her jaw clenched, and she forced herself to look up at him. ¡®You can do this, Shadow .¡¯ She encouraged herself. ¡®You got this.¡¯


    Alpha Kilian  wore a sullen expression and exuded a bitter chill. ¡°No woman has ever dared to p me.¡±


    ¡°Consider this yer first.¡± Shadow  shuddered.


    Because of the struggle, her sses had fallen off, revealing a pair of unexpectedly clear and precise eyes. Her trembling eyshes showed their owner¡¯s tension and fear. ¡°D-don¡¯te any closer!¡±


    Seeing that, suddenly Alpha Kilian  paused, and for a moment he began to feel a bit soft-hearted.


    He straightened his shirt and nced coldly at her. ¡°You can continue to wait for that ¡®worthless Alpha¡¯ here.¡±


    Bang!


    It wasn¡¯t until the door was closing that Shadow ¡®s tense nerves rxed slightly.


    Outside the door.


    When the bodyguard was about to reach the Master bedroom, he saw the red mark on Alpha Kilian ¡®s face. With his paleplexion, the mark was incredibly visible. Even a partially blind person would be able to spot it a mile away. He froze for a moment before saying, ¡°Alpha¡­ Your face¡­¡±


    Alpha Kilian  touched his face and said bluntly, ¡°Ran into the door.¡±


    Doors had five fingerprints on them?


    Even though his story seemed doubtful, the bodyguard did not dare to ask any further.


    Instead, he respectfully handed a folder, ¡°This is Young Madam¡¯s personal information.¡±


    Alpha Kilian  opened the folder and saw the name on it, Shadow  Eden .


    Interesting. That hideous woman¡¯s name was Shadow  meaning noble. How ironic!


    Her birth mother was even more interesting. Treating her stepson and stepdaughter like precious gems while being cruel to her biological daughter. Despicable.


    Continuing through the document, he frowned and asked the bodyguard, ¡°Is she really this daft?¡±


    The bodyguard nodded.


    ¡°Check again.¡±


    When Shadow  spoke, she was clear and organized. Besides, Alpha Kilian  had never seen a fool who could rise up so fiercely and fight back against a man in that situation.


    Thinking of this, he lost hisposure and thrust the file he was holding into the bodyguard¡¯s hands. ¡°If you can¡¯t give me urate information then don¡¯t bothering back to me!¡±

 2

    The sun cast a haunting glow over the room, barely illuminating the thin frame of Shadow wrapped in a nket.


    The events of the previous night felt like a twisted dream or perhaps a twisted nightmare, until her hands brushed against the silky sheets that surrounded her.


    It wasn¡¯t a dream, but a cruel, twisted reality she had awakened to.


    As her eyes opened, they searched for the figure that should have been beside her in the bed.


    Alpha Kilian hadn¡¯t returned.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    A small part of her felt a sense of relief, but an uneasiness crept beneath her skin. It felt as though a razor-sharp de dangled above her head, refusing to disappear.


    A part of her yearned to face the consequences, to confront him head-on, but another part of her desired to leave things as they were. She might feel a shred of pity for the scarred man, but she wasn¡¯t ready for the entanglement of a rtionship.


    Descending the stairs, a bodyguard guided her towards the dining hall.


    It was an open secret that the Lances family reveled in their opulence. Each corner of their home adorned with glistening chandeliers and antique vases, easily mesmerizing any visitor. Shadow was not one to be swayed by material possessions, but the ostentation was overwhelming.


    The dining room sat adjacent to the kitchen. Stepping inside, her eyes fell upon a tall, straight figure emerging from the culinary domain with a tray of breakfast.


    It was none other than Alpha Dominic, the man who had attempted to steal a kiss from her the previous night!


    Immediately, she turned on her heel, her instinct urging her to flee. But the man¡¯s voice boomed, ¡°Sister-inw, good morning.¡±


    His voice was maic, a seductive timbre that unsettled her. She took a step back, observing his warm presence. Did the daylight make him shine even brighter?


    What in the world was happening? Why was he here?


    The nearby bodyguard shook his head, perplexed by the young master¡¯s actions. Was he engaging in some sort of roley with the youngdy?


    Deciding not to question further, the bodyguard continued his duties.


    Shadow¡¯s disgust towards him was evident. Didn¡¯t he have a home of his own? She couldn¡¯t fathom what he gained by constantly lingering at his cousin¡¯s residence.


    ¡°G-good morning,¡± she stuttered, adjusting her sses, then turning her gaze towards the bodyguard behind her. ¡°Is Your Young Master not present?¡±


    The bodyguard cautiously nced at Alpha Kilian, who betrayed no emotion on his face.


    He had no choice but to y along with this charade. ¡°The young master has fallen ill and is currently in the hospital.¡±


    Shadow appeared like a foolish girl, but she was not easily deceived. Lisa had always suppressed her, ensuring she remained hidden in the shadows, never stealing the spotlight from her siblings. That¡¯s why Shadow yed her part, concealing her true strength out of self-preservation.


    The feeble lies of the bodyguard failed to fool her.


    However, Shadow chose not to press the matter further. Instead, she simply nodded and replied, ¡°Oh, may I visit him?¡±


    ¡°Now is not the opportune time,¡± the bodyguard replied through gritted teeth, clearly concealing the truth.


    It seemed Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t harbor any affection towards her, not even willing to see her.


    Alpha Kilian ced the breakfast on the dining table and casually suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s eat breakfast.¡±


    Shadow had noticed upon her arrival yesterday that there was no chef within the Castle. She blinked, eyeing the te of food ced before her. Did he prepare breakfast himself?


    Although it looked delectable, she couldn¡¯t help but feel cautious. After all, she knew nothing about this man.


    ¡°Why? Are you afraid I¡¯ve poisoned it?¡± Alpha Kilian leaned closer, his eyes brimming with relentless darkness that sent shivers down her spine.


    Involuntarily, Shadow stepped back, repulsed. ¡°Thank you for the breakfast, but I¡¯m not hungry.¡±


    She had no desire to engage in any further conversation. Thest thing she needed was more interactions with that madman!


    As she exited the room, she encountered the bodyguard who had escorted her from Eden Family Castle the previous day. ¡°Um, could you do me a favor?¡± She hesitated, offering a hesitant smile. ¡°I need to return to Eden¡¯s house to retrieve something. Could you please drive me there?¡±


    Upon arriving yesterday, she hadn¡¯t brought any belongings, necessitating a trip back to collect clothes and other items. She had observed on her way here that the Castle was nestled on the mountain. Walking would be an option, but it would be a lengthy journey.


    The bodyguard was about to respond when his gaze fixated on the figure lurking behind her. Instantly, he mped his mouth shut.


    As she turned around, she noticed ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± had stepped out of the room as well.


    He nonchntly slipped his hands into the pockets of his suit trousers, making his way towards her without a care. ¡°So my cousin¡¯s wife wishes to return home for a visit? It would be illogical to have someone else drive you when I am here to assist you.¡±


    His words hung in the air as his arm encircled her shoulder.


    Disgusted, Shadow quickly shrugged off his touch. ¡°No, thank you.¡±


    She couldn¡¯tprehend his actions. Yesterday, he had called her ugly, yet today he persisted in intruding upon her. Was he deranged?


    ¡°Young Madam, why not allow our Young Master to escort you?¡± the bodyguard interjected swiftly. ¡°I have other obligations to attend to and may not be able to amodate your request.¡±


    Shadow sighed. It seemed she had no other choice. ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°There you have it,¡± Alpha Kilian spoke with a self-satisfied smile.


    She cast a frigid re his way and began her trek towards the parking lot, refusing to look back.


    During the drive, he leaned in, whispering in her ear, ¡°Your body feels exquisite when I touch it.¡±


    Fearful of his sinister intent, she had no option but to remain in the car, motionless.


    In the silence, Shadow tightened her seatbelt, determinedly staring ahead without a flinch. She refused to spare a nce towards ¡°Alpha Dominic,¡± denying him the satisfaction of witnessing her irritation. After all, she was married to his cousin ¨C wasn¡¯t it inappropriate?


    Observing her behavior, Alpha Kilian¡¯s interest in this woman grew.


    Though his new wife may be considered unattractive, she must possess some redeeming qualities.


    Initially, he had only intended to yfully tease her. However, her reactions revealed a side of her that intrigued him, urging him to prolong the facade to learn more.


    ¡°Let the game begin,¡± he thought with a wicked smirk.

 3

    The dark car halted in front of Eden¡¯s Castle, its engine growling to a stop. Alpha Kilian, a captivating and mysterious figure, leaned over towards Shadow. With nimble fingers, he effortlessly unbuckled her seat belt, causing her heart to race. As their eyes met, Shadow¡¯s mind became tranquil, like a calmke. She couldn¡¯t help but blush at his alluring face, yet confusion clouded her ssy eyes.


    There was no denying Kilian¡¯s attractiveness; he had the ability to ensnare any woman he desired. Regardless of age, they would all sumb to his enchantment. However, these thoughts vanished from Shadow¡¯s mind as she remembered his actions from the previous day. Kilian was nothing more than a spoiled rich kid who coveted his sister-inw, a selfish child craving what he couldn¡¯t have.


    Straightening her posture and adjusting her sses, Shadow¡¯s face disyed little emotion as she dered, ¡°I¡¯m getting out.¡±


    Kilian¡¯s eyes narrowed, anger simmering within them. He reached out and caught her hand just as she was about to open the car door. It felt as though he was enclosing her in an embrace. Through her sses, he stared deep into her clear eyes and deliberately stated, ¡°I took you home. Don¡¯t I deserve a ¡®thank you¡¯?¡±


    Shadow¡¯s head drooped slightly, her voice a mere whisper. ¡°Thank you,¡± she reluctantly responded. She hoped that Alpha Dominic and the rest of the Eden family would leave her be. After all, she was supposed to be engaged to Kilian, not his cousin. She needed to give her husband-to-be some respect, whether she liked it or not. As for Alpha Dominic, he could go find trouble elsewhere because he clearlycked proper manners.


    Kilian examined her partially concealed pink lips, his expression darkening. Softly, he murmured, ¡°Seems your gratitude is insincere. I suppose I¡¯ll have to take that ¡®thanks¡¯ for myself.¡±


    Despite her blotchyplexion, there was something about Shadow¡¯s lips that captivated him. With that thought in mind, he leaned in and kissed her. Why should he hide his desire for his legitimate wife?


    Shadow couldn¡¯tprehend what was happening. Just moments ago, she wanted nothing more than to berate him, and now an icy sensation pressed against her lips. She gazed at his magnified face in confusion, attempting to push him away. However, her hands remained firmly sped in his grip.


    Kilian was pleased with her reaction, reaching out to remove her sses and reveal her bright eyes. Without her sses, she appeared even more enchanting. Her face heated up from anger, her hands clenched at her sides. She couldn¡¯t believe this man had the audacity to treat her this way right outside her family¡¯s home. Didn¡¯t he feel any shame? Did he not care about his cousin¡¯s feelings?


    As the kiss ended, Kilian yearned for more. He thought to himself, ¡°That was delightful. I¡¯ll have to try it again when the opportunity arises.¡± Coming back to his senses, hemanded, ¡°Don¡¯t wear sses anymore. Otherwise, I¡¯ll kiss you every time I see you.¡± He purposely lowered his voice, scanning her entire body without reservation. He resembled a beast marking its territory and sizing up its prey.


    Before Shadow could voice her frustration, a female voice pierced the quiet of the car.


    ¡°Shadow?¡±


    Startled, Shadow turned her head and peered out of the half-open car window. Her eyes widened in shock as she noticed Lisa. Her mother¡¯s gaze held a mix of surprise and anger. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she demanded.


    Shadow¡¯s hands sped tightly together, anxiety flickered in her eyes. Of all people to catch her in this situation, it had to be her mother! On the first day of her mating bond, she found herself in a precarious position with a stranger right in front of their house. It would be hard to defend herself.


    Maintaining herposure, Lisa gestured for Shadow toe closer. Knowing she had no other choice, Shadow stepped out of the car. While her face remained impassive, her swollen lips reminded her of their recent encounter. Her cheeks stayed flushed with embarrassment.


    As Shadow exited the car, Lisa wasted no time in pulling her into the safety of the Castle. Unexpectedly, Kilian leaned out of the car window and wickedly rubbed his lips, nonchntly announcing, ¡°My sister-inw, I¡¯ll be waiting for your return.¡±


    ¡­Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    As soon as Lisa heard the word ¡°sister-inw,¡± her face turned dark and she gave Shadow a stern and cold look.


    If looks could kill, Shadow would already be buried six feet under with no way out. Not even the richest man in the Pack could help her out of the mess ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± had created.


    Was this man trying to get her killed?


    Lisa took Shadow¡¯s hand and pulled her into the hall of the Castle, then let go with a cold expression.


    She looked at Shadow icily, ¡°Did the man just call you ¡®sister-inw¡¯? Is he Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Shadow replied truthfully.


    p!


    Lisa pped Shadow in the face with all her strength.


    Shadow¡¯s face swung to the side and her ears began to buzz. If she hadn¡¯t bnced herself, she would¡¯ve copsed to the ground from the force.


    ¡°You have no shame, do you? What were you thinking, getting involved with your husband¡¯s cousin on the first day of your mating bond!¡± Lisa clenched her jaw. ¡°If you want to die, just go and kill yourself! But don¡¯t you dare take us with you!¡±


    When Lisa turned away, Shadow reached out to touch her throbbing cheek. She looked up at Lisa coldly and said, ¡°Really? Do you think I was the one who kissed him first? You can¡¯t even ask what happened?¡±


    This was always the case. Every time something went wrong, Shadow was the first to be med, no matter what actually happened or who was at fault. Her mother never bothered to ask for an exnation; instead, she resorted to insults and physical violence.


    ¡®Worthless,¡¯ ¡®good-for-nothing,¡¯ ¡®wretch¡¯ ¨C all of these words had already escaped her mother¡¯s lips countless times. If Shadow had received a dime for each time her mother had said them, she would be a billionaire by now.


    ¡°One is an impotent and disfigured piece of garbage, the other is a normal and healthy man. I have eyes and you have eyes. It would be clear to everyone who to choose. You haven¡¯t already spent the night with this ¡®cousin¡¯, have you?¡±


    A soft and malicious voice came from the stairway.


    Seeing Jessica descend, Lisa rushed over to greet her. ¡°Jessica, do you feel better? Do you need me to fetch you a cup of tea? Or would you like me to adjust the AC?¡±


    Lisa addressed her daughter so carefully, as if she were a delicate porcin cup just picked up from an auction.


    ¡°Thanks, Mom. I feel much better,¡± Jessica smiled innocently, but there was a glint of malice in her eyes.


    She turned to Shadow and said, ¡°Shadow, I can understand how you feel. But you should think about our family and show some restraint. Do it for us.¡±


    Jessica had seen Shadow and a man kissing in a car from an upstairs window. It didn¡¯t surprise her that Shadow was kissing a man who couldn¡¯t have been her husband, but the fact that her ugly sister was kissing someone!


    Jessica then looked at Lisa and asked innocently, ¡°Mom, am I right?¡±


    Lisa smiled and replied, ¡°Of course, my Jessica, you are right.¡±


    Shadow clenched her hands tightly and pursed her lips, choosing not to say a word.


    It was hard to remember which girl was Lisa¡¯s biological daughter. After all, who would treat their own blood like trash?


    Over the years, Lisa had always tried to gain a foothold in Eden¡¯s house, doing everything she could to please everyone. But her daughter was simply a burden to her, someone she would putst even if it meant sacrificing her own blood.


    A soft and malicious voice came from the stairway.


    Upon seeing Shadow, Lisa¡¯s smile vanished and she looked at her with a stern face. ¡°Shadow, since you¡¯ve married into the Lances family, you must fulfill your duty. Don¡¯t bring shame to our family. We¡¯re only doing this because we care about you.¡±


    Care about her? Had she ever?


    Shadow lowered her eyes, hiding her disdain. She still appeared as docile as a doormat. With a calm voice, she replied, ¡°You¡¯ve reminded me that if you do something to piss me off, I might do something stupid in front of the Lances. I¡¯m not sure if that would provoke them to harm our family, but I wouldn¡¯t test me. Got it?¡±


    Jessica didn¡¯t expect Shadow, who had always been silly and rebellious, to speak up like this. She frowned and asked, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°Just what you heard,¡± Shadow looked up, her eyes slightly closed, as dull as usual.


    Did they really think she would still allow herself to be insulted like a servant?


    That used to be the case. Shadow had pretended to act humble in order to please and gain favor with Lisa. After all, wasn¡¯t blood supposed to be thicker than anything else? However, after Lisa forced Shadow to marry into the Lances family on her sister¡¯s behalf, the fear of displeasing her mother disappeared.


    ¡°What?¡± Jessica gritted her teeth. She was used to bossing Shadow around, but this was the first time she saw that woman fight back.


    She was so angry that she red at Shadow before turning to Lisa. ¡°Mom, how could she say that?¡±


    Of course, Lisa could sense the threat in Shadow¡¯s words. But assuming that Shadow would alwayspromise with her like in the past, she maintained a motherly air and sternly said, ¡°Shadow, apologize to your sister!¡±

 4

    Shadow stared deeply into Lisa¡¯s eyes, her voice sending shivers down anyone¡¯s spine. ¡°Apologize? What could I possibly have to apologize for?¡±


    In Lisa¡¯s memories, her daughter was once smart and beautiful as a child. But as she grew older, she became uglier and more foolish. This sudden change in Shadow¡¯s temperament, with the sharpness in her eyes, caught Lisa off guard.


    ¡°Jessica,¡± Lisa whispered to her step-daughter swallowing nervously. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about today, okay? If she gets angry and does something reckless, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡±


    Though Jessica was reluctant, she had no choice but to let the matter go.


    If Shadow did something to anger the powerful Lances family, they would all be in danger. Jessica had just escaped a bad situation with a man she couldn¡¯t stand, and she wasn¡¯t going to risk her luck a second time.


    If the Lances family was furious, how could they all maintain their luxurious lives in this wealthy household?


    Seeing her mother and step-sister struck dumb, Shadow turned and headed upstairs to her room to pack her belongings.


    She had lived in the Eden Family mansion for over 20 years, but even with all the clothes and possessions in her closet, she always felt like an outsider. Her mother was too busy with her own life to pay attention to her step-sister and bother with her.


    When she came downstairs with her suitcase, the hallway was empty. Lisa had clearly had enough of her already.


    But Shadow didn¡¯t care. The sooner she left this house, the better.


    Yet, as she thought of Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin waiting for her at the front gates, she hesitated and decided to leave through the back door instead.


    She didn¡¯t know why that cousin of Alpha Kilian¡¯s was so interested in her, but she knew for certain that she needed to stay away. Making an enemy of a man like Alpha Kilian Lances was as good as signing her own death warrant. There was no way she could escape unscathed.


    Outside the front gate, Alpha Kilian waited for Shadow for a long time, growing impatient.


    What was taking her so long?


    Suddenly, the folder from yesterday shed in his mind, making him frown. Could it be that she was being mistreated by her own family?


    Alpha Kilian couldn¡¯t help but touch his face, the spot she had pped, and snorted coldly. That woman was like a fierce wildcat. She wasn¡¯t someone who could be easily bullied.


    Yet, despite his thoughts, he couldn¡¯t shake off the unease in his heart.


    ¡°Would you like toe in, sir?¡± a soft voice sounded outside the car. Alpha Kilian turned to look out the window and saw a woman with delicate features standing gracefully beside the car.


    Jessica was stunned when she saw his face.


    She had witnessed Shadow kissing a man in the car, but she hadn¡¯t been able to see his face clearly. She had expected him to be decent, but she didn¡¯t anticipate his remarkable beauty and elegance.


    How could such an extraordinary man be interested in Shadow, that stupid and ugly girl?


    Maybe Shadow was the one who had pursued him after all.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    However, it seemed like walking out to try her luck had been the right move.


    Alpha Kilian saw through Jessica¡¯s intentions and sneered. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I am Shadow¡¯s older sister. You can call me Jessica,¡± she replied, unfazed by his indifference.


    Jessica?


    Now that Alpha Kilian remembered, there were two daughters in the Eden family. Besides Shadow, the other one was his fiancee, albeit at a low price.


    Most people would say Jessica was as beautiful as a flower under the sun, but she wasn¡¯t his type. Shadow¡¯s ugly appearance was more appealing to him.


    He didn¡¯t have the patience to talk to her any longer and asked emotionlessly, ¡°Where¡¯s Shadow?¡±


    ¡°She¡­ She might still be packing in her room. She asked me toe down and tell you toe inside.¡± Jessica didn¡¯t want to let this opportunity slip by. The Lances family, with their wealth, status, and stunning looks, was a prize she didn¡¯t want to miss.


    Seeing through her intentions, Alpha Kilian couldn¡¯t help but sneer.


    So, she was just trying to get him inside?


    She had probably already escaped!


    Shadow returned directly to the small apartment she rented.


    During college, she had lived in the school hostel, and after graduation, she rented an apartment away from her family. Though the roomcked luxury, it signified a fresh start. And it didn¡¯t have the same emptiness as that hellhole.


    If Lisa hadn¡¯t trapped her in that home to secure a mating into the Lances family, Shadow would never step foot in that ce.


    Regardless, Alpha Kilian wasn¡¯t at the Castle and didn¡¯t want to see her. So, what was the problem if she stayed there?


    After settling back into her home and unpacking some things, it was already afternoon. She quickly got ready and nned to go out and buy something.


    She lived in a renowned slum in the Moonlight Pack, with inconvenient transportation and a mix of good and bad people.


    As soon as she turned into an alley, she heard a loud bang.


    Was it a gunshot?


    Before she could determine the situation, she looked up and saw a white van speeding towards her, out of control like a wild dog.


    Its headlights flickered as it approached, and in shock, she found herself momentarily frozen. It was only when the van was mere inches away from her that she finally darted to the side.


    But the van didn¡¯t stop there. The door flung open, and a tall man jumped out.


    He rolled to her feet, tucking his head.


    She was about to step back, but the man suddenly sprung up, pressing something cold against her temple. His pleasant voice sounded somewhat familiar. ¡°Get me out of here, quickly.¡±


    When Shadow looked up and saw the man¡¯s face clearly, she eximed in shock, ¡°Alpha Dominic!¡±

 5

    Alpha Kilian hadn¡¯t expected to cross paths with Shadow in this dangerous ce. With rogues and criminals lurking in the shadows, it was unsafe for everyone, especially women. Running away was no longer an option, so they needed to find a hiding spot.


    The area was packed with dwelling ces and the terrain was confusing, causing him to quickly lose his sense of direction. It seemed impossible to figure out their location.


    In an attempt to escape, Alpha Kilian nned to take one of his attackers hostage. However, he identally encountered Shadow instead.


    To his surprise, when he saw Shadow¡¯s innocent face, an odd sense of trust washed over him. He holstered his gun and fixed her with his intense gaze. His voice was low and frosty. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I live here,¡± Shadow replied, feeling the remnants of the cold metal against her forehead. Fear forced her to tell the truth.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s eyes briefly showed surprise. How could a member of the prestigious Eden family live in such a terrible ce? However, he quickly regained hisposure and ordered, ¡°Take me to your house.¡±


    Shadow knew that allowing this man into her home meant signing her own death warrant. ¡°Impossible!¡± she protested.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Alpha Kilian expected this response. He sneered, his voice ghostly. ¡°Then would you like me to tell my dear cousin that you seduced me?¡±


    Seduced him? Did he just threaten her? Shadow¡¯s anger red, but she felt powerless. Alpha Kilian would unquestionably believe Alpha Dominic, given that they were cousins. She had no choice but to lead this shameless man to her ce.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Shadow turned and led the way back through the alley. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Their conversationsted no longer than a minute.


    After walking for a few moments, a loud bang reverberated through the streets. Two ck-d men appeared where they had just been. Shadow froze, her face growing even paler.


    Reacting swiftly, Alpha Kilian pulled Shadow into another alley and dragged her into a vacant room. They remained still as he peeked through the door¡¯s peephole.


    They waited until the two men left before he finally pulled Shadow away. What had just happened?


    Shadow felt nervous and worried. She wasn¡¯t sure who Alpha Dominic had provoked, but now wasn¡¯t the time to interrogate him. So she forced herself to remain quiet.


    A short whileter, they arrived at Shadow¡¯s small apartment. She stood at the door, surveying her surroundings as though breaking into her own home. Satisfied that everything was in order, her adrenaline subsided and she entered the room.


    Closing the door, she turned to question Alpha Kilian, but before she could speak, she saw him copse to the ground, clutching his chest in pain. Sweat covered his forehead.


    ¡°Hey! What¡¯s wrong?¡± Shadow¡¯s expression shifted instantly as she rushed to assist him.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Alpha Kilian managed to reply before instructing her to follow him back the way they came.


    But Alpha Kilian was much too tall and muscr for Shadow to lift. Instead, she found herself covered in his blood, unable to do anything to help.


    It was then that she noticed Alpha Kilian¡¯s paleplexion, concealed beneath his ck suit. His entire body was covered in blood.


    ¡°What happened to you?¡± Shadow¡¯s eyes widened, her voice trembling.


    Ignoring her, Alpha Kilian reached out and grabbed her hand. His words, though indifferent, held a hint offort or threat. ¡°Why are you so afraid? Rx! If I die, they¡¯ll bury you with me.¡±


    His cold tone made it hard to determine his intentions, and Shadow had no interest in finding out. She thought about the gunshot she had heard earlier and firmly stated, ¡°Let go. I¡¯ll get my phone and call an ambnce for you.¡±


    His face darkened, his grip tightening. His voice turned icy. ¡°No ambnce.¡±


    It was impossible to argue with him when he spoke like that. Trembling, Shadow timidly suggested, ¡°Then let me at least bandage your wound?¡±


    Alpha Kilianpletely ignored her andmanded in a deep voice, ¡°Get me a de, a lighter, a candle, a bandage, and a towel.¡±


    He intended to remove the bullet himself?


    Fear consumed Shadow as she shook her head. ¡°No! You can¡¯t do it yourself. It¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    ¡°Who said I was doing it myself?¡± Alpha Kilian looked at her, his eyes as dark as the night, like an alluring ck vortex. Just one nce threatened to draw her in.


    As Shadow nearly sumbed to his gaze, she heard him say, ¡°You¡¯re going to do this.¡±

 6

    ¡°What?¡± When Shadow heard this, her legs almost went weak. Panic surged through her veins. ¡°I can¡¯t do this! I don¡¯t know how!¡±


    Although she despised this man with every fiber of her being, she wouldn¡¯t stand idly by and watch him die before her eyes. She was no fool to sacrifice herself along with him.


    Even though she was nothing more than an unwanted child, a product of failed conception, even though Jason and Lisa had taken her in as a curse upon themselves and never truly epted her, she refused to give up hope for a better life.


    Just because this man had a death wish, it didn¡¯t mean she desired the same fate!


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s eyebrows raised. ¡°Or would you prefer to join me in the grave?¡±


    Though his tone remained indifferent, an undeniable firmnessced his words.


    It seemed she had no choice but to steel herself.


    With a pallid face, Shadow retrieved the items he requested.


    Ever since she had married into the Lances family, her life had already crumbled beyond repair. What worse fate could befall her? Death? Perhaps that would be the best way to end her wretched existence.


    A sad smile curved her lips.


    After gathering the necessary tools, she sat beside him and grasped the de in her hand. Though she struggled to remain calm, her trembling hands betrayed her fear.


    ¡°I will remove it,¡± she stated, using the de to carefully peel back the fresh edge of his wound, her focus intently fixed on Alpha Dominic¡¯s condition.


    But she discovered that apart from his pallor and the beads of sweat on his forehead, he disyed no notable reaction, not even a slight furrow of his brow.


    Meanwhile, she, the one performing this task, quaked with terror.


    Yet one thing struck her as peculiar-he continued to gaze at her, unwavering, throughout the entire ordeal.


    She could sense his weakness, but a glimmer of strength lingered in his eyes.


    Shadow couldn¡¯t help but speak. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me.¡±


    Alpha Kilian wasn¡¯t asposed as he appeared. The pain coursing through his body threatened to make him scream. With the amount of blood he had lost, his vision blurred on the edge of consciousness.


    However, when he peered at Shadow, the pain miraculously dulled.


    ¡°No need to be so nervous. I trust you. You won¡¯t let me die,¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice was gentle yetced with determination.


    She had never experienced such trust and value from another. She gritted her teeth and focused on extracting the bullets.


    It felt like an eternity.


    When Shadow finally removed the bullet, she was drenched in sweat. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡±


    After washing her hands in the nearby basin, she scrutinized Alpha Kilian and asked with concern, ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    Previously, she had considered Alpha Dominic aplication in her life. Though her perspective hadn¡¯t shifted entirely, she couldn¡¯t help but admire him now.


    Throughout the process, he didn¡¯t cry out in pain, nor did he sumb to unconsciousness. In fact, heforted her in each step, as if she were the one being operated on. Such inhuman determination she had only witnessed in movies.


    Conversely, she, the one performing this task, trembled with fear.


    She began to sense an unfathomable mystery within this man, a mystery that bordered on frightening.


    ¡°Bring me a pen. I¡¯ll make a list of the medicine you need to buy,¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯splexion may have paled, but his words held unwavering power.


    Shadow jotted down the list and left to purchase the medicine.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    She meticulously searched through multiple pharmacies before acquiring all the necessary items.


    Upon opening the door, Alpha Kilian observed Shadow carrying several stic bags, eachbeled with a different pharmacy. A barely perceptible smile of satisfaction crept upon his lips.


    What a clever and considerate woman.


    Despite her vehement hatred for him, or more urately, for Alpha Dominic, she set aside her pride and aided him.


    She performed admirably, even without a doctor¡¯s degree.


    Presumably, she believed he was being pursued by enemies, hence her caution in selecting multiple stores to avoid suspicion.


    Alpha Kilian sneered. He had underestimated this woman.


    Shadow retrieved the medicine, crouching in front of him. ¡°I will apply the medicine. If it hurts, let me know. I¡¯ll be gentle.¡±


    Alpha Kilian remained silent until she finished tending to his wounds. And in that moment, it was apparent that this affable man bore no resemnce to someone who had been shot.


    Just as she moved to stand, he reached out and seized her. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her with passion.


    ¡°I told you not to wear your sses.¡±

 7

    Shadow took great care in administering the medicine, her touch so gentle that it stirred something within him.


    One thing led to another, and he couldn¡¯t help but desire her touch.


    After all, she was his wife, wasn¡¯t she? Their actions were only natural.


    His lips curved into a smile as he leaned closer, their breath mingling. He found himself bing more entwined in her embrace.


    However, Shadow didn¡¯t share the same sentiments. In her eyes, he was just Alpha Dominic¡¯s cousin!


    He continued to tease and kiss her, pushing her beyond her limits.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Shadow pushed him away forcefully, creating distance between them. Her face turned cold as she spoke. ¡°Alpha Dominic, I am your cousin¡¯s wife! Even if you don¡¯t like me, show some respect!¡±


    Despite taking a bullet for him, her animosity towards ¡°Dominic¡± was waning, but she hadn¡¯t expected him to act so presumptuously.


    ¡°Not liking you is far from what I¡¯m feeling right now.¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice held a hint of enchantment as he rubbed his lips. ¡°My sister-inw, with my cousin, you¡¯ll be nothing but a widow for the rest of your life. He can¡¯t love you like a able-bodied man. Have you considered being with me?¡±


    ¡°Thest thing I will do is consider being with you,¡± Shadow calmly refused.


    Alpha Kilian surveyed Shadow, analyzing her. She had a in face and an unattractive dress, nothing captivating.


    But there was something about Shadow that he found irresistible.


    Shadow realized she couldn¡¯t sit idly by any longer. She needed to take action before ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± became more audacious. Who knew what he might do to her?


    ¡°You should call someone to pick you up and leave, or I¡¯ll call an ambnce and the whole world will find out about the attack on you.¡±


    She spoke softly, not intending to threaten. She held her phone up, indicating she would follow through with her words.


    Alpha Kilian looked at her, seemingly unperturbed. He closed his eyes as if he hadn¡¯t heard her, feigning rest. Though his wounds weren¡¯t as painful now, the pain still caused him to lose consciousness.


    ¡°Hey¡­¡±


    Shadow couldn¡¯t bring herself to say more. She bit her lip as she gazed at his pale face. Despite pretending to be strong during the operation, he had lost a lot of blood. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to wake him up and kick him out.


    Forget it. Let him rest for a bit.


    While he slept, Shadow went to the market to buy food.


    Although she was referred to as the ¡°Third Lady¡± of the Eden Family, she didn¡¯t receive the privileges that the title should entail. Most of the time, no one cared for her when she was ill. No one knocked on her door to check on her. When she was hungry, she had to fend for herself. To them, only two children in the Eden Family warranted attention. She was just an added burden.


    So she had learned to take care of herself. She had managed well so far.


    No matter how much she despised ¡°Alpha Dominic,¡± she couldn¡¯t risk letting him die in her presence.


    She lived a serious life and worked hard for it. She had no intention of getting involved in murder, especially not being buried with him.


    Reluctantly, she decided to make some food for him.


    When night fell, Shadow woke up Alpha Dominic.


    ¡°Are you hungry? I made some soup. Would you like some?¡± she asked, keeping her distance, fearing he would make unwarranted advances again.


    Alpha Kilian looked up at her, his voice strained as he replied, ¡°Yes, please.¡±


    Shadow ced the soup on a small table by his bedside and quickly stepped away.


    She tried to avoid any contact with Alpha Dominic, but her single room was too small.


    Aside from the partitioned kitchen and bathroom, there was a 1. 5-meter bed, a small folding table, a single sofa, and a few bookshelves. Only basic essentials took up most of the room.


    No matter how far she retreated, she couldn¡¯t escape Alpha Kilian¡¯s line of sight.


    Alpha Kilian nced at her, slowly sitting up and pulling the nket away, revealing the blood-stained bandages on his chest. He spoke casually, as if discussing the weather rather than his own life. ¡°The wound has reopened. I won¡¯t be able to eat on my own.¡±


    Of course, it had to happen!


    Although she didn¡¯t want to deal with this man, she couldn¡¯t bear to watch him suffer.


    She took a step forward, one hand holding the bowl and using the other to feed him the soup.


    This time, Alpha Kilian said nothing. He lowered his gaze and obediently swallowed the soup she fed him.


    Silence enveloped the small room, only the faint sound of the spoon scraping against the edge of the bowl could be heard. Tension hung in the air, thick enough to cut.

 8

    The next morning, Shadow was abruptly awakened by the sound of her cellphone ringing. With tired eyes, she reluctantly nced over at the device, shaking on the bedside table.


    Despite wanting to keep up the appearance of a simple girl, Shadow still clung to her old, basic cellphone that only made calls and sent messages. She refused to be like her family members who were all obsessed with smartphones.


    She hesitated for a moment before answering the call. ¡°Dad,¡± she said, her voice groggy from sleep.


    ¡°Why did youe home yesterday? Who brought you back?¡± her father¡¯s serious voice questioned.


    Shadow felt disappointed. She had just gotten married, and her father was more concerned with who brought her home? Couldn¡¯t he ask something more relevant?


    Her father rarely called, let alone asked about her whereabouts. Something seemed off, and Shadow couldn¡¯t help but suspect his true motive.


    She truthfully replied, ¡°Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin brought me home.¡±


    There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, and then her father spoke again. ¡°When you have time, take your sister to the Lances house and introduce her to some suitable young people. She needs to make more friends.¡±


    Shadow suddenly understood what her father was getting at.


    After she had left Eden¡¯s Castle yesterday, Alpha Dominic and Jessica must have met. And knowing Jessica¡¯s nature, she probably saw an opportunity. Her father wanted her to set Jessica up with Alpha Dominic.


    It was an incredible scheme by her father and sister.


    Alpha Kilian was supposed to be engaged to Jessica, but Shadow ended up marrying him because of her mother¡¯s intervention.


    Now, they were nning to use her to secure a good husband for Jessica in the prestigious Lances family.


    Everyone in the Moonlight Pack knew that, apart from Alpha Kilian, the rest of the men in the Lances family were exceptional and powerful.


    Of course Jessica wanted to be connected with such a family. And her father would support her every step of the way.


    Shadow felt a twinge of self-deprecation. Jessica was indeed her father¡¯s biological daughter, but somehow Shadow felt like she wasn¡¯t.


    How could her father be so biased?


    Suppressing the pain, Shadow tried to keep her voice calm. ¡°I would like to take my sister to the Lances family, but I haven¡¯t even seen Alpha Kilian yet.¡±


    Her father¡¯s anger red when he heard that she hadn¡¯t seen her husband. ¡°You haven¡¯t even met your husband? Haven¡¯t you caused enough trouble for this family? And now you still have the audacity toe home?¡± He gritted his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you did with that man!¡±


    Though Shadow was used to hearing hurtful words, they still pierced her heart. She blinked back tears and with a trembling voice, she replied, ¡°Maybe if you had sent my sister to the Lances family first, Alpha Kilian would have wanted to meet her. I¡¯m just a fake, why would he want to meet me?¡±Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Unbeknownst to her, Alpha Kilian had overheard their conversation as he walked out of the bathroom.


    Shadow sat on the bed, her fingers gripping the phone tightly, her ck hair cascading down like seaweed. Her tear-filled eyes stubbornly refused to let those tears fall. She looked how she always did, fragile and pitiful.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s ck eyes narrowed. He was starting to find his new wife more and more intriguing.


    No one knew what was said on the phone, but Shadow¡¯s face turned pale as she remained silent, still clutching onto the call.


    Alpha Kilian approached her, took the phone from her hand, and ended the call.


    He looked down at her and furrowed his eyebrows. Who still used such a outdated phone?


    Then he spoke in an indifferent voice, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to hear those things, don¡¯t give them the satisfaction of listening. ¡±


    Shadow raised her tear-filled eyes to him in surprise. Even though his face was a blur to her, she sensed a strangefort in his words.


    Suddenly, she widened her eyes in realization. ¡°Why am I in bed?¡±


    She remembered giving up the bed for the injured man and sleeping on the sofast night.


    ¡°You sleepwalked,¡± Alpha Kilian exined, lying down beside her. ¡°You crawled up next to me on your own.¡±

 9

    In her whole lifetime, Shadow Eden had never sleepwalked. Her parents had always made sure she had a tiny bed.


    So sleepwalking was not something she was familiar with. Then why was she here?


    She definitely wouldn¡¯t crawl beside him. Plus, the bed was too small for both of them. So there was only one reason.


    Blushing, she turned to look at him. ¡°You carried me, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°How do you think I could carry you?¡± Alpha Kilian snorted and looked at her coldly. ¡°If memory serves me right, you should remember that I¡¯m injured.¡±


    That was true¡­ He was injured. Could it be that she really crawled to his side?


    Shadow had never been in bed with a man before. But Alpha Kilian¡¯s strong and cool aura calmed her anger. She pressed her lips together nervously and tried to get out of bed. However, the man beside her grabbed her wrist.


    ¡°Why are your hands so pale, while your face is like wax?¡± the man asked, doubting.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Shadow¡¯s bright eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly pulled her hand back. She spoke in a low voice, ¡°I was born like this.¡±


    Not wanting to answer any more questions, Shadow jumped out of bed like a rabbit and went to the bathroom.


    In front of the mirror in the bathroom, Shadow stared at her reflection with self-mockery in her eyes. Her yellowishplexion, dark spots, and dull eyes would scare anyone, even in their sleep.


    She grabbed a bottle of cleansing water from under the sink and quickly cleansed her face. Her movements were swift and simple, as if she had done it many times before.


    A few minutester, a beautiful woman with rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and white teeth appeared in the mirror.


    No one would recognize her if they saw her like this. Who would expect that such a beautiful girl hid beneath all that concealer?


    If she hadn¡¯t started renting a house after graduating and cleansing her face every day, she would have forgotten her true appearance.


    Most mothers would be happy if their daughter was beautiful.


    But Lisa was different.


    When Shadow was a child, Lisa alwaysined that she stole Jessica¡¯s spotlight. So her mother never bought her any new clothes.


    But even though she couldn¡¯t hide Shadow¡¯s beauty, it only fueled Lisa¡¯s resentment.


    At that time, Shadow loved her mother dearly and did everything to make Lisa happy. She thought that if she looked ugly and stayed out of the limelight as her mother wanted, maybe Lisa would finally love her and ept her.


    She went from being a popr, beautiful girl with many friends to an ugly girl who had nobody. Despite everyone¡¯s hatred, she remained steadfast in her decision, hoping to receive a little bit of her mother¡¯s love¡­


    But it was all in vain. No matter what she did, Lisa didn¡¯t care about her.


    Even though Shadow didn¡¯t want to believe it, Lisa didn¡¯t love her at all.


    Looking at her pitiful reflection in the mirror, Shadow sighed. She put on her disguise again and left the bathroom.


    Alpha Kilian was leaning over the bed, looking at his cellphone with an expressionless face. His cold demeanor only made him more attractive.


    She thought for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯m going out. You should call someone to pick you up and go home.¡±


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t respond.


    Shadow didn¡¯t care. She grabbed her bag and left. She had alreadypleted herst task and didn¡¯t want to deal with this man anymore.


    Lisa had forced her toe home for an arranged marriage, so she hurriedly finished her final job.


    But the ironic part was that she was marrying a man she had never met, and who didn¡¯t want to meet her!


    But she could be grateful that Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t bother her.


    Right now, she needed to find a new job to support herself.


    The morning quickly passed, and noon arrived.


    She was waiting for the bus at the station. It wasn¡¯t rush hour, so there weren¡¯t many people waiting.


    Suddenly, a ck car stopped in front of her.


    The window rolled down, revealing a young man with a gentle smile. ¡°Shadow, where are you going?¡±


    Her eyes immediately lit up, and her voice was full of excitement. ¡°Jacob, what are you doing here?¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Get in the car first. Otherwise, the traffic police will sue us.¡± Jacob smiled and opened the passenger seat for her.


    Shadow nodded and got into the car. But as soon as she got in, she heard him say, ¡°I asked your sister to join us for dinner. Now that you¡¯re here too, let¡¯s all eat together.¡±


    He asked Jessica to dinner?


    But she shouldn¡¯t be surprised by it.


    Many people believed that Jacob and Jessica were perfect for each other. With Jessica¡¯s sweetness and Jacob¡¯s confidence, they were a match made in heaven.


    But they weren¡¯t together before. Jacob had always been kind to her, so Shadow had hoped he might have a slight interest in her. But now it seemed like she was expecting too much.


    Shadow forced a smile. ¡°I still have some things to do. I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Come on, Shadow, we haven¡¯t had dinner together in a long time. Juste with us.¡± He rejected her words and drove towards the restaurant.


    ¡°Fine.¡± How could she refuse him? He had been the only one who had been good to her all these years.


    Soon, they arrived at the restaurant.


    Jessica was already there, dressed beautifully as always. Her face lit up when she saw Jacob, but it quickly turned cold as she noticed Shadow standing behind him.


    Jacob didn¡¯t notice the change in her expression. ¡°Jessica, I met Shadow on the way, so I brought her along. Do you mind?¡±


    Jessica smiled softly. ¡°She¡¯s my sister. Why would I mind?¡±


    ¡°I need to go to the restroom. You two can chat while I¡¯m gone.¡± With a smile, he left the two women alone.


    As soon as Jacob turned away, the room¡¯s temperature dropped to freezing point. Jessica¡¯s gentle gaze turned monstrous.


    ¡°What are you up to? That disabled man from the Lances¡¯ family isn¡¯t enough for you, so you try to seduce Jacob?¡±

 10

    Shadow¡¯s eyes narrowed as she listened to the woman¡¯s venomous words. Why was this wretched creature always so hostile towards her?


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Shadow scoffed in response.


    ¡°Nonsense? You truly have no idea what I¡¯m talking about?¡± Jessica sneered, crossing her arms in disdain. ¡°Can you honestly say that you don¡¯t dislike Jacob?¡±


    Shadow hung her head, remaining silent.


    Jessica wasn¡¯t wrong.


    For years, Shadow had harbored feelings for Jacob.


    Just as she was about to respond, Jessica suddenly eximed in shock, ¡°Jacob?¡±


    What? Jacob was here?


    Nervously, Shadow turned her head to confirm Jacob¡¯s presence. Indeed, he was standing behind her.


    Did he hear their conversation just now?


    Anxiety coursed through her as she stared at Jacob. However, he walked past her without so much as a nce.


    This confirmed that he had indeed heard everything they had spoken about.


    Jessica seemed highly pleased with Jacob¡¯s reaction. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Jacob. Shadow is already married. There¡¯s no need to concern yourself with her.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    This was the typical response when one was entangled with a repugnant and foolish woman like Shadow. After all, what man could possibly be interested in such an unsightly creature? The only exception to that rule was Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin, Alpha Dominic. She still couldn¡¯t fathom why a man like him would willingly associate himself with such trash.


    Perhaps he simply sought a change of pace, a taste of something different.


    ¡°You¡¯re married, Shadow?¡± Jacob queried.


    ¡°Yes, she told me it was the only way to secure a prosperous life. She said that if she were to mate, it would be preferable to mate into the Lances family rather than any other. I tried to advise her that even though the Lances family possesses great wealth, marrying a man like¡­¡± Jessica abruptly stopped speaking, shaking her head with a pained expression.


    Shadow, however, understood the meaning behind Jessica¡¯s words. Jessica was openly revealing that she had married into the Lances family solely for financial gain. She was nothing more than an ambitious gold digger.


    Shadow tightened her fists, seething with anger. They were the ones who broke off the engagement. They were the ones who forced her to mate with Alpha Kilian. And now she was being used of ambition?


    Jacob frowned, disappointed, as he surveyed Shadow. ¡°Regardless of the reason for your marriage, thank you for stepping in and taking Jessica¡¯s ce to marry into the Lances family.¡±


    Jessica¡¯s face lit up with gratitude as she gazed at Shadow. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. If you hadn¡¯t taken my ce, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to be with Jacob.¡±


    With a gruff voice, Shadow interjected, ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­¡±


    Although she may never be with Jacob in this lifetime, she did not wish to appear as a greedy gold digger before him. Just as she was about to exin herself, Jacob waved her off, a frown etched upon his face.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to exin. I understand. While Alpha Kilian may not be in the best health, the Lances family will undoubtedly treat you well. Their wealth speaks for itself.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s blood ran cold at his words.


    So he actually believed Jessica¡¯s ims and thought of her as a gold digger?


    Just then, her phone vibrated within her bag.


    Shadow retrieved her phone and discovered a text message filled with various dish names. There was no indication of the sender¡¯s identity.


    Frowning, she wondered who would send her such a message.


    However, it provided her with an excuse to leave this ce.


    ¡°I still have some unfinished work to attend to,¡± Shadow dered, standing up and regarding both Jacob and Jessica without expression.


    ¡°She was right that I used to have feelings for you, and I won¡¯t deny that. But that¡¯s all in the past; I want nothing to do with you now. As for why I married Alpha Kilian, no one knows better than Jessica. It¡¯s up to you to believe it or not.¡±


    The only reason she had developed an attachment to Jacob was because he was the only one who didn¡¯t despise her or use her ugliness against her.


    But now it seemed she had expected too much.


    After all, they had known each other for so many years. Didn¡¯t he know what kind of person she was?


    Yet, why did she feel so deeply hurt? This wasn¡¯t the first time someone had questioned her like this.


    Even when her own biological mother, Lisa, refused to believe her, Jacob was still an outsider.


    However, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sadness. Did he truly hold such a low opinion of her?


    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I will leave.¡± With those words, she exited the dining room without hesitation.


    Just before closing the door, she overheard Jacob saying, ¡°I used to think she was pure and innocent. But I never expected her to¡­ It¡¯s as if I never knew her at all.¡±


    Once again, Jessica feigned helplessness. ¡°I also never expected her to stoop so low for money.¡±


    Shadow clenched her hands and pressed her lips together tightly. Without looking back, she left the restaurant. Remaining here would only expose her to more condemnation and hatred.


    Her phone in her pocket rang again. Without ncing at it, she answered the call.


    A familiar deep voice reverberated in her ears. ¡°Pack up all the dishes mentioned in the message and bring them back.¡±

 11

    Shadow froze as soon as she heard the voice, her ears perking up at the familiar tone. She nced at the phone screen, a growl rumbling in her throat. It was still an unknown number, but she did not need to think that it was the voice of ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s hackles raised, her wolf instincts kicking in. Why was he calling her? Hadn¡¯t he left yet? Snarling softly, she muttered to herself, ¡°It¡¯s always the alpha causing trouble.¡±


    ¡°The Lances pack is my territory. Why haven¡¯t you left yet?¡± she barked into the phone, her voiceced with irritation and defiance.


    The reply she got was the sound of the call being terminated, leaving her fuming. Shadow looked at the ck screen in disbelief. He had hung up on her? Her alpha, leaving her hanging like this? She was so frustrated that she couldn¡¯t help but let out a frustrated howl, her anger echoing through the night.


    Did everyone take pleasure in making things difficult for her? First, her own family didn¡¯t love her, and now she was forced into a marriage with a man who despised her. And if that wasn¡¯t enough, this ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± kept pestering her, causing more unnecessary problems in her life.


    She really did not want to bother with this shameless man. But, if she were to ignore what he said, would he tell Alpha Kilian that she had seduced him? When the thought crossed her mind, Shadow sighed and staggered back, her heart heavy with worry.


    Although she had threatened her own family and rival pack members before, if ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± were to spread false rumors, she was done for. The Lances family would do anything to protect their reputation, even sacrificing their own. And she, Shadow, would be the one paying the price.


    She nced at the text messages and made a decision. She would face this head-on, whatever the cost. With determination in her eyes, Shadow headed towards the market, her wolf senses heightened as she moved through the night.


    When she entered the apartment, the scent hit her first ¨C the scent of an alpha. Shadow¡¯s body tensed, her senses on high alert. And in the dimly lit room, she saw ¡°Alpha Dominic¡¯s¡± tall frame sitting on her single sofa.


    Her amber eyes narrowed, her wolf instincts urging her to be cautious. The handsome man tilted his head, his piercing gaze fixed on her. His presence filled the room, and if it wasn¡¯t for his pale look, as if recovering from an injury, one would never suspect that he had been shot.


    The way he was sitting in her small, humble apartment, like a king in his castle, sent shivers down her spine. It was strange to see such a privileged man in her modest space.


    She nced at him for a few seconds, then looked away, not wanting to show weakness. Shadow ced the groceries down on one side and bent down to change her shoes, silently preparing herself for whatever was toe.


    As she did so, she felt a chill crawl up her spine, and a dark shadow seemed to engulf her, wrapping around her like a predator stalking its prey. Her heart raced as she slowly raised her head, meeting the intense gaze of the man beside her. But his eyes were not on her ¨C they were scanning the groceries she had just brought back.


    After what felt like an eternity, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± finally looked at her, his voice dripping with disdain. ¡°These are the things you bought? Pathetic.¡±


    Shadow looked at him, her eyes filled with defiance. ¡°Takeouts are expensive. I¡¯m broke.¡±


    ¡°Is this how you n to take care of yourself? With scraps and leftovers?¡± he sneered, his wordsced with superiority.


    Alpha Dominic¡¯s words stung, but Shadow refused to let him see her pain. She turned away and headed towards the small kitchen, pushing back the tears threatening to spill. This was not the first time she had been insulted, and it wouldn¡¯t be thest. But she would not let his words break her spirit.


    As she served the food, Shadow¡¯s eyes flickered to ¡°Alpha Dominic,¡± who had now moved to the dining table. His expression turned stoic, as if the mere presence of her cooking displeased him.


    Ignoring his silent disapproval, Shadow began to eat, savoring the vors of her own creation. The food was simple, but it brought herfort and nourishment. She ate gracefully, not letting his presence affect her enjoyment.


    Just as she took a mouthful of rice, she nced at the man beside her. His face had darkened immensely, his expression filled with anger and frustration. Her heart skipped a beat. What had she done?


    Before she could react, Alpha Dominic abruptly pushed away from the table, his chair scraping against the floor. With tense muscles and clenched fists, he stormed out of the apartment, leaving Shadow bewildered and concerned.


    Her steps were hesitant, wavering between curiosity and caution. But in the end, her caring nature won over, and she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of him being in pain. She put down her chopsticks and rushed outside, forgetting her own meal in her urgency.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡± she called out, her voice filled with worry andpassion.

 12

    Alpha Kilian was gasping for air, his face shrouded in darkness. He appeared even more pallid than before.


    Shadow peered at the somber Alpha Dominic, catching a glimpse of his bloodied hand. Blood trickled down, staining the floor. ¡°What¡­ what are you doing?¡±


    Her words barely left her lips before she nced at the wall, searching for any signs of damage. If this Alpha Dominic had broken through the wall, how on earth was she going to pay for it?


    She wanted to yell at him, to scold him for his actions. But in this moment, he seemed like a terrifying ghost. She didn¡¯t dare to say anything.


    She hadn¡¯t done anything strange to his food. How could it have caused him to flee and harm himself?


    And even if he did want to hurt himself, did he have to do it right in front of her house and destroy her property? This madman!


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t acknowledge her, already on the verge of leaving when his cell phone suddenly rang.


    He nced at the unknown number, his expression growing even darker. He immediately ended the call.


    In that moment, he raised his gaze and locked eyes with Shadow. ¡°Go inside.¡±


    His voice was low, cold, and oppressive, with a hint of gloom.


    Shadow was highly perceptive. Initially, she wanted to ask him what was happening, if he had offended someone. But as she analyzed his sullen eyes, she found Alpha Dominic incredibly frightening.


    She slowly retreated into the room. With one hand clutching the doorknob, she contemted whether or not to lock him outside.


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t notice her hesitation as his cell phone rang once again.


    This time, it wasn¡¯t an unknown number. It disyed the name ¡°Frank.¡±


    He didn¡¯t hesitate to answer the call now. ¡°What does he want from me now?¡±


    On the other end of the line, Frank spoke with respect. ¡°He¡¯s asking you to bring his daughter-inw to his ce for dinner tonight.¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alpha Kilian coughed and chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with his calls in the future anymore.¡±


    Frank nodded on the other end. ¡°Alright. He isn¡¯t my boss and doesn¡¯t pay my sry, after all.¡±


    Alpha Kilian pocketed his phone and rubbed the space between his brows. Obviously, he didn¡¯t have a good rtionship with his father, and now it seemed that his father was more interested in his wife than in him.


    He sighed and turned around, only to find Shadow still standing by the door, contemting whether or not to close it.


    His eyebrows raised. ¡°Eavesdropping on my call?¡±


    What? Shadow eavesdropping on him?


    ¡°Of course not!¡± Shadow shook her head rapidly.


    Shadow realized she had made a grave mistake bying outside to check on him. It would have been better not to provoke this Alpha Dominic.


    ¡°Then why are you still standing here?¡± Alpha Kilian raised his eyebrows and took a step forward, towering over her. A mischievous expression appeared on his face, his lips curling into a smirk. ¡°Or have you finallye to your senses and are willing to abandon my crippled cousin to follow me?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Shadow turned around and closed the door without hesitation.


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t flinch when he found himself heartlessly locked out.


    Initially, he had nned to stay a few more days to find the person he had been chasing. He had been monitoring everyone¡¯s movements through the apartment window. However, he couldn¡¯t find the person. It was as if they had disappeared.


    Since the person he was searching for wasn¡¯t here, there was no need for him to stay in this ce any longer.


    Besides, even though his new wife wasn¡¯t a beauty, she was undoubtedly intelligent and kind. She would never do anything to interfere with him. He might as well give her some peace during this time.


    At the entrance of the alley, Alpha Kilian immediately spotted Frank.


    Frank approached, his expression resolute but tinged with concern. ¡°Boss, how are you feeling?¡±


    As Frankid his eyes on Alpha Kilian, he hurriedly walked over. His resolute expression carried a trace of worry. ¡°Boss, how are you feeling?¡±


    As he spoke, Frank reached out to steady him, but Alpha Kilian waved him off. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Frank opened the car door, and Alpha Kilian sat inside. Leaning back into the seat, he spoke emotionlessly, ¡°Has he been calling you these past few days?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Frank was well aware of whom he was referring to, nodding in confirmation. ¡°Mr. Lances said that you blocked his number. He tried calling you from a different number, but you still didn¡¯t answer. So the only option he had left was to call me.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± This was not the first time his father had done this.


    ¡°Just before you arrived, Mr. Lances called and said that if you didn¡¯t bring Madam to his ce for dinner, he would call her directly.¡±


    Oh, he wanted to y this game now? His dear old dad wanted to summon Shadow, that woman, back to the Lances residence for dinner?


    Interesting!


    Frank waited expectantly for his response, thinking something significant would ur. To his surprise, the man seated in the back simply said, ¡°Up to him.¡±


    He turned to gaze out of the window. It appeared that his wife was not going to have a pleasant evening.


    ¡­


    Shadow finished her meal upon returning to her room. It was fortunate that Alpha Dominic had left her ce. Otherwise, with his notorious temperament, she feared he would¡¯ve done something dreadful.


    As she prepared to wash the dishes, her cell phone began to ring. It was an unknown number.


    She ignored it. Nowadays, many people made pointless calls.


    However, her phone continued to ring, each time disying the same number. It couldn¡¯t possibly be a prank call.


    ¡°Hello, this is Shadow. Who is this?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Alpha Kilian¡¯s father, Alpha George Lances.¡±

 13

    Alpha Kilian¡¯s father? George Lances? The powerful and influential man who captivated numerous women in the Moonlight Pack when he was younger? The same man who built an immense business empire?


    He was actually reaching out to her? For what purpose?


    A chill ran down her spine as Shadow was taken aback, struggling to find her words. ¡°Hello, Sir¡­¡±


    Even though he was her father-inw, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to utter the word ¡®Dad.¡¯


    ¡°If you have the time tonight, I would like to treat you to dinner.¡± George¡¯s voice was calm and assertive, reflecting the years of trials he had faced. Although it sounded like amand, it wasn¡¯t intended as an offense.


    Shadow understood one thing from his words. Despite giving her a choice, George left no room for refusal. She could only agree in response.


    ¡°Sure, I have the time.¡±


    ¡°Great. I¡¯ll send the driver to pick you up. See you tonight.¡±


    He hung up without any further ado.


    From start to finish, George¡¯s tone remained calm and powerful. No one could refuse him. Now she could imagine how cold and formidable Alpha Kilian must be.


    Shadow didn¡¯t dwell on anything else, hastily throwing aside her cell phone and rushing out the door. She hailed a taxi and headed towards Alpha Kilian¡¯s Castle.


    Her heart couldn¡¯t help but race faster as the Pack grew more distant. George had mentioned that the driver would pick her up and bring her to Alpha Kilian¡¯s Castle.


    ¡­


    Shadow settled the bill and stood by the main entrance, patiently waiting for George¡¯s man.


    As she waited, she lifted her head to gaze at Alpha Kilian¡¯s Castle.


    The Castle was constructed halfway up the hill, making it appear eerie with its solitary presence. The white Castle stood quietly amidst the forest, emanating an unsettling aura. The solid ck fences surrounded it, effectively repelling any intruders.


    On this wintry day, Shadow¡¯s face had turned pale from the cold. She hugged herself tightly, desperately trying to withstand the icy chill that made her teeth chatter.


    However, she refrained from entering the Castle, choosing instead to wait at the main entrance.


    After a while, a ck car pulled up at the Castle¡¯s entrance and stopped. Shadow¡¯s curiosity piqued when she saw a gentle middle-aged man step out of the vehicle.


    When their eyes met, a flicker of surprise shed in the man¡¯s gaze before he quickly concealed it.


    This was the first time he had seen Alpha Kilian¡¯s wife. And upon seeing her, he couldn¡¯t help but be astonished. While he hadn¡¯t expected a beauty, he certainly hadn¡¯t anticipated this!


    Regardless, Alpha Kilian was the sole heir of the Lances lineage. Even if he was disfigured, he remained the heir. Yet, to have such a woman as the wife of the Lances heir¡­ He had never anticipated such a sight. Nevertheless, he maintained aposed expression.


    He stood before Shadow and respectfully bowed. ¡°Madam, I am Owen. Mr. Lances sent me to pick you up for dinner.¡±


    So this was the driver sent by George to fetch her.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Sorry to trouble you,¡± Shadow replied, attempting a jest as she let out a nervousugh. She appeared rather foolish, as if she couldn¡¯t grasp the situation.


    Owen was taken aback. Was she also simple-minded? Nevertheless, he swiftlyposed himself and opened the car door for her.


    ¡°Madame, please get in the car.¡±


    Having said that, he circled around and seated himself in the driver¡¯s seat, proceeding to drive away.


    As the car disappeared into the forest, the curtains on the second floor of the Castle were swiftly drawn open. Inside stood Alpha Kilian and Frank, both attentively observing the scene unfolding before them. Their brows furrowed in unison.


    Frank nced at the car, then turned to Alpha Kilian. ¡°Boss, are you truly going to let Madam see Mr. Lances just like that?¡±


    ¡°What choice do I have?¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice was deep and grim. He pocketed his hands and remarked, ¡°She is nothing but a silly and foolish, ugly woman. Even if they meet, what can George possibly do to her?¡±


    ¡°What choice do I have?¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice was deep and grim. He pocketed his hands and remarked, ¡°She is nothing but a silly and foolish, ugly woman. Even if they meet, what can George possibly do to her?¡±


    ¡°But Madam is merely pretending!¡±


    ¡°And that is precisely her talent.¡±


    If she could feign so convincingly in front of others, surely she could handle George alone, right?


    Alpha Kilian pondered and smirked. Then he turned around and left.


    ¡­


    Shadow had no idea where she was being taken, but she knew better than to ask. She simply sat in silence as the car journeyed on. After some time, a high-ss restaurant came into view, and the car halted at its entrance.


    The vicinity was filled with various luxurious cars, indicating that this was a gathering ce for the upper ss.


    Shadow cast a nce at her worn-out, old clothes, and her heart couldn¡¯t help but ache. Perhaps this wasn¡¯t the best way to introduce herself to her father-inw.


    Owen escorted her to a private room, and upon entering, he gestured for her to do so. ¡°Mr. Lances is waiting for you inside.¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Shadow smiled. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Owen.¡±


    Owen watched as she stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. He pondered for a moment, then shook his head gently.


    At the table, a refined and authoritative middle-aged man perused the menu. Though his face disyed a few wrinkles, he exuded an air of grace.


    Upon hearing some movement, he set down the menu and looked up.


    Shadow scrutinized the man before her attentively. It was George Lances, the renowned business magnate of the Holsten Pack.


    Initially, she had assumed that upon seeing her face and her modest attire, he would scorn her and turn away in disgust, just like everyone else. Yet, to her surprise, he smiled warmly and inquired softly, ¡°Are you Shadow? I finally get to meet you.¡±

 14

    Upon hearing his words and catching sight of his smile, Shadow found herself rendered speechless. What astounded her was the unexpected kindness emanating from the person who held such power and wealth, the person in charge of the formidable Lances family.


    With a gesture of his hand, he beckoned her to sit, and she obedientlyplied, her mind reeling with disbelief. She discreetly pinched herself, half-convinced that she was caught in a dream.


    After a few moments, she snapped out of her stupor and hastily introduced herself, ¡°Hello, I am Shadow Eden.¡±


    This time, she wasn¡¯t feigning ignorance; she was genuinely taken aback by George Lances. Her heart raced so rapidly it felt as though it might burst out of her chest at any moment.


    ¡°Do not be shy. Now, you are my daughter-inw and a member of the Lances family. Make yourself at home,¡± he spoke, raising a kettle and pouring her a ss of water. His eyes exhibited an unfamiliar look, a hint of kindness she had never before experienced.


    In the Eden Family, Jason refused to acknowledge her existence unless he was criticizing or lecturing her. As for Lisa, her attention was solely reserved for Jessica and her brother, leaving Shadow feeling invisible and unacknowledged by her own mother.


    Never had she been treated with such tenderness by her elders, leaving her pleasantly surprised.


    Shadow took the ss and replied, ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡±


    ¡°You can call me Dad, just like Alpha Kilian,¡± George suggested, gazing at her intently.


    Her appearance may not have been striking, and her reactions may have been sluggish, but she possessed a simplicity and kindness that perfectlyplemented his son¡¯s peculiar temperament.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°¡­ Dad,¡± Shadow struggled to utter the word.


    George smiled warmly in response, before expressing his remorse, ¡°You must have felt wronged because we did not hold a mating ceremony for you. I apologize sincerely. I intended to discuss it with you and Alpha Kilian and invite you both to the Old Manor today. However, due to what happened to his mother, Alpha Kilian refused to go. I only hope that you can offer him support and understanding in the future.¡±


    The Lances family, with its tradition of three generations living together, was an esteemed and ancient lineage.


    Their Manor, a priceless treasure, had been passed down through countless generations. Legend spoke of a man who had offered 100 billion for their residence, only to end up aughingstock among the upper ss elite.


    As for Alpha Kilian¡¯s mother, little information was known.


    More than a decade ago, both Alpha Kilian and his mother had been kidnapped, yet only he had been rescued after tremendous difficulties.


    Regarding his mother¡¯s fate, rumors abounded.


    Some imed she had perished, while others spected that she remained in a hospital, recovering. A few even suggested she had been sullied by her captors¡­


    But one thing was certain: Shadow would never have the privilege of meeting her mother-inw.


    Following a prolonged silence, Shadow turned her attention to George and hesitantly confessed, ¡°But¡­ I have yet to see him.¡±


    She uttered those final words in a barely audible whisper, akin to a mosquito¡¯s buzz, yet George managed to catch them.


    Immediately, he noticed a subtle change in his expression.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s not worry about him today,¡± George dered, steering clear of the topic of Alpha Kilian. Instead, he proceeded to inquire about Shadow¡¯s lifestyle and well-being.


    Honesty dripped from Shadow¡¯s every response, her voice slow but sincere, her demeanor in and unassuming.


    An hour of conversationter, George summoned Owen to escort Shadow back to Alpha Kilian¡¯s Castle.


    ¡­


    The night hour meant light traffic, allowing them to reach their destination swiftly.


    ¡­


    The night hour meant light traffic, allowing them to reach their destination swiftly.


    Owen escorted her to the Castle¡¯s entrance, watched as Shadow stepped inside, and then departed.


    As she made her way through the Castle, Shadow couldn¡¯t help but rey her conversation with George in her mind. His tone had indeed been gentle and light, but he seemed to be prying for information, as if attempting to gather intel.


    Or perhaps she was mistaken.


    He was likely seeking information about Alpha Kilian rather than herself.


    Even though she had yet to encounter the legendary Alpha Kilian Lances, she could sense that his rtionship with his father was not as harmonious as the newspapers portrayed. Discord undoubtedly simmered beneath the surface. And considering Alpha Kilian¡¯s refusal to dine with his father and George¡¯s persistent questioning, it was evident that they had not engaged in meaningful conversation for quite some time.


    George imed that Alpha Kilian never forgot about his mother, but she had likely perished during the kidnapping over a decade ago. Was it due to this tragedy that he harbored resentment towards his father?


    ¡°Madame.¡±


    The sound of the bodyguard¡¯s voice snapped Shadow out of her thoughts, prompting her to look up.


    The bodyguard seemed vaguely familiar. Ah, yes, he was the one who hade to retrieve her from her home that day. ¡°Is something the matter?¡±


    The bodyguard nodded curtly, his tone devoid of emotion. ¡°Young Master Alpha Kilian wishes to see you.¡±


    What?


    Suspecting she had misheard, Shadow stared at the bodyguard and sought rification, ¡°You mean Young Master Alpha Kilian? Alpha Kilian wants to see me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the Alpha is waiting for you in the study.¡±

 15

    Shadow was taken aback, her surprise evident on her face. It took her a long time to register what was happening, her mind struggling toprehend the situation before her. She nced at the imposing bodyguard beside her, her eyes locking onto him as she questioned her own reality. Was this all just a dream?


    Trepidation and a flicker of hope battled within her as she pondered Alpha Kilian¡¯s sudden desire to see her. Finally, after all this time, he wanted to meet his wife. While a part of her heart filled with joy at the thought of finally being reunited with her husband, another part was consumed by an indescribable uneasiness.


    Rumors had circted about Alpha Kilian¡¯s unpredictable nature and cold demeanor. If she were to meet him, would she be able to control him? Could she ever hope for a normal life with him? Numerous uncertainties gued her mind as she stood outside the study door, preparing to knock.


    Summoning her courage, she entered the study, only to be greeted by the husky voice of a man. It sent shivers down her spine, reminiscent of a parched desert thirsting for water. It was terrifying, to say the least.


    Before she could even take in the scene unfolding before her, a suited man by the table confirmed her presence to the enigmatic figure seated behind the imposing desk. ¡°Master, it¡¯s Madame, your wife.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s gaze darted around the room, taking in its ck and white aesthetics, an understated yet luxurious environment. Though nothing appeared overtly impressive, there was an undeniable allure to the space.


    But it was the figure in the chair, his back turned to her, thatmanded her attention. She could only catch a glimpse of his head and arms, but never his face. All she knew was that he was a formidable presence, her husband, Alpha Kilian Lances.


    Observing quietly, Frank  the man by the table  confirmed his identity. ¡°Young Madam.¡±


    ¡°You are Frank?¡± she inquired, having heard Alpha Kilian address him by name earlier.


    He simply nodded, choosing to remain silent.


    Tension hung heavy in the air, shrouding the room in silence. Shadow couldn¡¯t gauge her husband¡¯s thoughts, unable to see his face. Yet she could feel the cold aura emanating from him, enough to evoke fear within her. Involuntarily, she found herself lowering her head in submission.


    Finally, Alpha Kilian spoke, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.


    ¡°Have you seen George?¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shadow momentarily froze, realizing that he was addressing her. Her mind raced, attempting toprehend the significance of his question. Though she had suspected their rtionship was strained, she never expected Alpha Kilian to refer to his own father so disrespectfully. Shouldn¡¯t he, at the very least, show some semnce of respect?


    It seemed she had underestimated the depth of Alpha Kilian¡¯s anger and resentment.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied, uncertain why he asked but aware of George¡¯s concern for his son. ¡°We had a casual conversation, and he spoke fondly of you.¡±


    Though she sensed George had ulterior motives in asking her out for dinner, she could still discern his genuine care for Alpha Kilian. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a hint of envy towards her husband, knowing that he had a father who loved him, unlike her own father who had abandoned her.


    Alpha Kilian sneered at her response. ¡°I heard from Alpha Dominic that the two of you got along well?¡±


    The mention of Alpha Dominic caused Shadow to freeze, her body stiffening with trepidation. Thest thing she wished for was for Alpha Kilian to suspect any connection between her and his rival. She quickly shook her head, denying any familiarity. ¡°We merely met at the Castle. We¡¯re not acquainted.¡±


    She deliberately concealed the fact that Alpha Dominic had spent a night in her rental house due to an injury. Though nothing transpired between them, she knew she couldn¡¯t exin the situation to Alpha Kilian. It was better to keep it a secret.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s words sent a chill down Shadow¡¯s spine, effectively silencing her. What had he heard? Did Alpha Dominic say something unfavorable to Alpha Kilian?


    ¡°Very well, leave!¡± he snapped irritably, his impatience tangible.


    Though she couldn¡¯t see his face from her position, she sensed his distance and indifference. The rumors hadn¡¯t lied  he was as cold and harsh as they imed.


    In truth, Shadow had entered the Lances family under duress,pelled by Lisa¡¯s maniption and her own desperation for escape. Yet there was another reason  she wanted to break free from her oppressive past. She knew the consequences that awaited her, but she had resolved to be Alpha Kilian¡¯s wife for life. It wasn¡¯t because she had no other choice, but because it was the only path to liberation from her abusive family.


    Biting her lip, her resolve solidified as she took a step towards Alpha Kilian. She summoned her courage, determined to see his face, to meet his gaze. ¡°Alpha Kilian, can you turn around?¡±


    If only she could see his face.


    The room grew colder, a frigid tension settling upon them. Shadow held her breath, her palms sweaty with anxiety. Alpha Kilian remained silent, refusing toply with her request.


    ¡°I harbor no ill intentions,¡± she rushed to assure him. ¡°I only mean that if we¡¯re to spend a lifetime together, we will inevitably grow acquainted. Your physical appearance holds no significance to me, whether you bear scars or disabilities¡­¡±


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s stunned expression caught Shadow off guard. No one had ever spoken to him in such a manner before. His lips curled into a mocking smile, his voice dripping with malice and disgust. ¡°Your feelings matter not. I find you ugly and disgusting as a cheap product.¡±


    Even so she was the one epted getting mated to him with his disabilities but she never thought he would be rude, ugly tempered!!!

 16

    Shadow did not expect to hear such harsh words. She withdrew from the chair and reached out to adjust the sses on the bridge of her nose. ¡°Oh.¡±


    She knew Alpha Kilian disliked her.


    But she didn¡¯t feel very sad about his reaction because there were the usual words she heard all her life.


    After all, Jessica was supposed to be his bride. But unfortunately he was tied with an ugly bumpkin like her. Anyone in his ce would be angry and dislike it.


    So Alpha Kilian¡¯s reaction didn¡¯t surprise her lot.


    Even though he despised her, she didn¡¯t feel anything butplete indifference.


    ¡°If there is nothing, I¡¯ll go out first.¡±


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t say anything, so she didn¡¯t have any reason to stay. She turned around and left the study.


    As the door closed, Alpha Kilian turned his chair and looking in the direction of the door.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    This was the first time he had encountered just a woman. Not only did she say she didn¡¯t care about his appearance, but also she didn¡¯t say a word of defense when he insulted her.


    No doubt, she was ugly but there was something about her that pulled him towards her more and more.


    Ah, this ugly woman was really beyond his expectations.


    ¡­


    It was still early, so Shadow didn¡¯t n to go to her bedroom.


    She sat down on the sofa in the living room and turned on the TV. Leaning back on the sofafortably, she raised the volume. This ce was much better than her dingy and small apartment.


    Somehow, she felt a little cheerful.


    Although Alpha Kilian disliked her, he still wanted to see her and didn¡¯t embarrass her. And he also didn¡¯t restrict her movements so she could move freely in this house. This was actually the most freedom she got in her whole life.


    At this point, he was much better than those people of the Eden family.


    Just as she was enjoying the show, there was a whistle behind her.


    Just as she was enjoying the show, there was a whistle behind her.


    Shadow first didn¡¯t pay attention to it. But the whistle kept ringing. So she had no option but turn around to see.


    She saw Alpha Dominic cozilying towards her. He had changed his cloths and looked much better than before.


    She widened her eyes in shock. How could he be here?


    Alpha Kilian was satisfied with the shock in her eyes and he showed a frivolous expression, ¡°Shadow, don¡¯t you remember me, do you? We just haven¡¯t seen each other for half a day.¡±


    He then remembered something and ced his hand on his chest. ¡°Sister-inw, I am hurt.¡±


    She looked at ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ warily, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin. So I¡¯m staying in his home for a few days. Is there a problem?¡± Alpha Kilian slowly approached her as he spoke. He was in a far better moodpared tost time.


    ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ lived in Alpha Kilian¡¯s Castle, of course, it was normal.


    It was her, who wasn¡¯t normal.


    She couldn¡¯t ignore his molestation and rudeness to her before. And now her husband, Alpha Kilian was also in the Castle. There was no doubt that ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ who was very frivolous and shameless would do something ridiculous.


    And at that time, Alpha Kilian would definitely side his cousin more than her. So it was better to stay away from all these problem.


    Shadow didn¡¯t want to give him a chance to do something ridiculous, so she said perfunctorily, ¡°No.¡±


    Without another word, she got up and went upstairs with her head down. The living room was not safe with this man around.


    However, she still underestimated the man¡¯s shamelessness.


    She hadn¡¯t even taken a few steps, ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ grabbed her wrist, with his thumb rubbing softly on her delicate wrist. In order to match her height, he bent down, leaned over to her ear. ¡°I haven¡¯t had dinner yet. Are you just going to let me keep starving? I¡¯m still hurt, you know.¡±


    There were so many things that happened in the evening that Shadow almost forgot that ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ was injured.


    There were so many things that happened in the evening that Shadow almost forgot that ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ was injured.


    Alpha Kilian deliberately reached out to touch her head, his thin lips almost sticking to her ear, ¡°Make something to eat for me. I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s body stiffened. When she was about to push him away, she saw that Frank had alreadye down from upstairs. Her expression changed intensely and she quickly dodged his touch and shed aside.


    Alpha Kilian already hated her so much and if he misunderstood her¡­ all the freedom would be took away from her.


    ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ was not angry, saying with a smile, ¡°Sister-inw, hurry up. I¡¯m very hungry.¡±


    Frank, next to him, saw his interesting expression and turned his head to one side. This was the first time he had seen his boss like this.


    Who wouldn¡¯t have thought that such an intimidating man like Alpha Kilian Lances would degrade himself just to flirt with a woman who was already his wife?


    Alpha Kilian raised his eyebrows and nced at Frank, ¡°What do you mean by your expression?¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡­¡± He just thought that what his boss had done was not so gentle.


    Instead of concentrating his job, his boss decided to pretend to Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin and flirt with his wife. As if that poor woman didn¡¯t have enough problems, he was creating even more.


    Was it for the excitement of taboo?


    But the next second, Frank denied this thought.


    His boss wasn¡¯t that sick in head.


    He had been with Alpha Kilian for so many years, and he had never seen Alpha Kilian fall in love with someone.


    Although the Alpha¡¯s wife was not very good-looking, the boss treated her differently.

 17

    Shadow perused the articles, one by one, meticulously examining them alongside the pictures uploaded byizens. She attempted to maintain an optimistic perspective, knowing that if she had a Weibo ount, she would undoubtedly face an onught of scathing remarks from these angryizens.


    Over and over again, she scrutinized the articles, her flushed face and dark eyes peering through the heavy foundation that adorned her skin. The insults she encountered were enough to stoke anyone¡¯s anger. After everything she had endured and all she had aplished, she refused to remain idle any longer.


    Summoning her resolve, she retrieved her phone and dialed Jessica¡¯s number.


    After what felt like an eternity, Jessica finally picked up.


    ¡°Why are you calling me now? Is something wrong?¡± Jessica¡¯s voice exuded a gentle, calm demeanor,pletely oblivious to the inte gossip.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Shadow sneered. A part of her yearned to abandon her facade and teach her enemies a lesson once and for all. However, acting clever now would prove uninteresting. It would be far more captivating to y a long game, slowly revealing her true intentions.


    Suppressing her anger, Shadow smiled coldly, straining to keep her voiceposed. ¡°Have you heard about the trending topic on Weibo? And the news circting on other social media tforms?¡± Shadow had just reviewed thetest updates, discovering that the drama had not only engulfed Weibo but also various other tforms.


    The public reveled in the scandalous tales concerning affluent families, eagerly consuming news of their misfortunes. Now, a new chapter in this riveting saga had unfolded, and the media would surely exploit it to its fullest extent.


    Jessica responded nonchntly, ¡°What news? I¡¯m incredibly busy at work. Before my brother returns from studying abroad, I need to assist Dad in managing thepany. Unlike you, I don¡¯t have the luxury of indulging in entertainment news during my free time. I have more pressing matters to attend to. So, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t engage in gossip with you.¡±


    Though her tone seemed careless, her intent of disying superiority was evident.


    Upon graduating from university, Jessica secured a managerial position at the esteemed Eden Group. As the eldest daughter of the Eden family, this was merely expected of her.


    Shadow, on the other hand, never received such an opportunity. She even approached her mother, Lisa, requesting employment at the Eden Group. Yet, Lisa swiftly dismissed the notion, tossing aside her resume with disdain. ¡°You are not as capable as your sister. Do you truly believe you could contribute anything to thepany? Go find a job elsewhere.¡±


    Jason, her stepfather, never exhibited any interest in her studies or professional pursuits.


    The memory of this injustice fueled Shadow¡¯s anger. Suddenly, she shed her guise and revealed her true emotions. Her voice grew icy and severe.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend. I know it was you. I don¡¯t know what your intentions are, but even if you attempt to tarnish my reputation, it is futile. I am married into the Lances family. Even if they despise me, they will not permit anyone to destroy my standing, for I am the wife of Alpha Kilian Lances!¡±


    Jessica¡¯s expression shifted upon hearing these words.


    In her understanding, Shadow had always been a foolish woman who readily obeyed their everymand. Yet, ever since marrying into the Lances family, Shadow exhibited a newfound astuteness. Something was undeniably different about her.


    Although she couldn¡¯t discern the reason behind Shadow¡¯s sudden intellect, it held no significance to her.


    For she knew Shadow¡¯s Achilles¡¯ heel.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s all well and good if you don¡¯t care about me, but what about Lisa? Don¡¯t you care about her either?¡± Jessica smirked confidently.


    In the past, whenever Jessica desired Shadow toply with her wishes, she would involve Lisa. Merely mentioning Lisa¡¯s involvement would cause Shadow to relent. This had always been the case.


    Hence, Jessica knew that Lisa held the utmost importance to Shadow.


    Upon hearing this, Shadow clenched her phone tightly, biting her lip as she spoke nonchntly, ¡°Lisa? I couldn¡¯t care less.¡±


    With that, she abruptly ended the call.


    Did she truly believe that Shadow would surrender again?


    However, as soon as she ced her phone down, Shadow sensed someone¡¯s gaze upon her.


    She nced around, discovering that her door stood wide open. A man leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest.


    It took no time at all for her to recognize him-Alpha Dominic!


    ¡°How did you enter my room?¡± Her face turned pale as she recalled explicitly locking the door before bed.


    How had he gained ess to her room?

 18

    Alpha Kilian gazed at her flushed countenance, yet his countenance remained impassive. ¡°Are you in trouble?¡±


    His voice wasposed, but for those who listened intently, they would discern the concealed apprehension in his tone. It could have melted the heart of any woman. But Shadow was not just any woman.


    Shadow clenched her nket and responded coldly, ¡°None of your business.¡±


    However, her frigid expression held no threat for him. Though hisposure did not waver much, a flicker of anger briefly shed in his eyes.


    ¡°Indeed, it is none of my concern. But if you were to beseech me, I might contemte extending my assistance.¡± Alpha Kilian regarded her indifferently. If looks could kill, she would have been buried six feet under.


    Nevertheless, Shadow would never implore him.


    Alpha Kilian nced at her deeply, then turned and departed.


    He had taken but a few steps when he encountered Frank. Frank clutched a tablet close to his chest. And from his countenance, it seemed as though he had a question to ask. ¡°What is your desire?¡±


    Frank stood before him and inquired, ¡°Boss, what are we to do about the rumors surrounding Madame? Shall we hold a press conference or should I contact the media¡­?¡±


    Alpha Kilian recollected Shadow¡¯s words, chuckled coldly, and sneered, ¡°What concern is it of mine? Even if I were to aid her, she must desire my assistance. Ah!¡±


    Alpha Kilian shook his head and proceeded to his study.


    Frank observed his retreating figure and realized that the boss¡¯s final ¡®Ah¡¯ held a shred of resignation. For so long, the young man seemed indifferent to matters of the heart. Yet now, it appeared that he was finally being affected by something. Interesting daysy ahead, it seemed.


    ¡­


    Shadow had no intention of being bothered by the gossip on social media. Instead, her thoughts shifted to the Eden family after hearing Jessica¡¯s words.


    She couldn¡¯t fathom why Jessica had done this suddenly. Hadn¡¯t she made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with a cripple like Alpha Kilian? Or did she have ulterior motives regarding these articles?


    Shadow sneered coldly. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to specte.


    All she cared about now was that Hazel was already aware that Shadow had reced Jessica as the wife of the Lances family. And Hazel might very well tear her to shreds.


    Just as she pondered this, she received a text from Hazel. The contents were simple, just the name of a cafe ¨C ¡®Golden Sunlight¡¯ at the Pack center.


    ¡°Sooner than I expected,¡± she muttered, preparing to depart for the meeting ce.


    Even if Hazel intended to tear her apart, Shadow still had to find Hazel.


    The location they chose to meet was a rtively secluded cafe. There weren¡¯t many people around, making it perfect for a meeting without attracting attention.


    After all, Hazel was a minor actress with a following of seven to eight hundred fans. She would naturally be concerned about being recognized in public.


    When Shadow arrived at the cafe, Hazel was already present.


    Hazel wore a mask on her face, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and she donned a simple white jacket. She appeared neat and tidy. Coupled with her unique beauty, all eyes turned in her direction.


    Hazel had always been this way since she was young. She naturally drew attention wherever she went. Some wondered why such a beautiful girl would be friends with an unattractive oaf like Shadow. But it never affected their close bond.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Shadow took a seat opposite her and greeted with a tone of apology. ¡°Sorry to have kept you waiting.¡±


    Hazel crossed her arms and reclined in her chair. She locked eyes with Shadow and spoke slowly, ¡°You are the young mistress of the Lances family. Someone like me should not keep you waiting.¡±


    Shadow ¡°¡­¡±


    Witnessing Shadow¡¯s speechlessness, Hazel finally couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and dropped her aggressive demeanor.


    She removed her mask and tossed it aside. pping the table, she rudely eximed, ¡°Your dear mother has some nerve. It¡¯s as if she was enchanted by someone. She treasured someone else¡¯s children like precious gems and scorned her own daughter! I always warned you to be cautious. Look what has happened now. You¡¯ve been deceived into marrying into the Lances family!¡±


    After Hazel finished speaking, she grabbed the ss and downed its contents in one gulp.


    Shadow adjusted her sses and spoke carefully, ¡°Drink slowly or you¡¯ll choke.¡±


    Hazel breathed heavily and red at her. ¡°Has the Lances family mistreated you?¡±


    ¡°No, they¡¯re quite decent,¡± growled Hazel, her voice tinged with a hint of annoyance. Except for that bothersome ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯, the rest of them treated her kindly.


    Hazel shook her head, letting out a weary sigh as she recalled the primary issue they were supposed to address. ¡°Do you know why Jessica wanted to spread the rumor that you stole her fiance?¡±


    Shadow poured herself a ss of water, her voice low and cautious as she asked, ¡°How do you know it was Jessica behind all this?¡±


    Hazel looked at her as if she were a foolish pup, ¡°Look at the timing, who would bother ndering you unless there was something to gain from it?¡±


    ¡°What could she possibly gain?¡± Shadow struggled to understand Jessica¡¯s motives.


    Hazel let out a coldugh, a sneer twisting her lips, ¡°Before I boarded the flight, I asked a friend in the paparazzi to dig into this matter. Turns out, what Jessica did was to make her rtionship with Henry public and shed thebel of being Alpha Kilian Lances¡¯s fiancee. And she just happened to be short of a stepping stone, namely you.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s eyes widened as she processed Hazel¡¯s words.


    Although the Lances family didn¡¯t mind if the person marrying into the pack wasn¡¯t Jessica, they still held considerable influence in the Hertone Pack. No one dared to get too close to Jessica, fearing the wrath of the Lances family.


    This situation pushed Jessica to not only resolve her status as Alpha Kilian¡¯s fiancee but also to portray herself in a positive light.


    That was why she resorted to buying the top search on social media and ndering Shadow, casting her as a gold-digging vixen while positioning herself as a caring and loving sister.


    Shadow bit her lip, her hands gripping her knees tightly. ¡°What a devious plot.¡±


    ¡°What do you n to do now?¡± Hazel interrupted her thoughts, a sudden realization dawning on her. ¡°I have a question for you. You married Alpha Kilian just like that, are you two¡­?¡±


    ¡°He despises me because of my appearance. We¡¯re distant, like ice,¡± Shadow responded, understanding the underlying question.


    ¡°Oh please, as if he¡¯s any better. He can¡¯t perform and looks down on others for being ugly. I told you that your in looks would bring trouble. Stop pretending and start dressing well. Your beauty will blind him!¡± Hazel, caught up in the revenge-themed movie she was shooting, offered her advice.


    Shadow couldn¡¯t help butugh, shaking her head. ¡°No need for that. We¡¯re actually fine now.¡±


    They respected each other¡¯s space and kept their distance. It was the best arrangement they could have hoped for.


    The two of them chatted for a while longer, until Hazel¡¯s manager called her. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in a little while.¡±


    Before she left, Hazel rushed to pay the bill.


    No matter how much Shadow tried, she couldn¡¯t match Hazel¡¯s height or reach. In the end, Hazel always came out on top.


    Despite her tomboyish demeanor, Hazel was attentive to the small details. She knew that Shadow didn¡¯t earn much, so whenever they dined together, she found a way to pay for it.


    Shadow felt a mix of gratitude and sadness.


    Hazel knew all her secrets and the struggles she faced in the Eden family.


    Long ago, Hazel advised her not to expect much from her family, particrly from Lisa. ¡°The more you belittle yourself, the more they think they can take advantage of you. You shouldn¡¯t allow yourself to be bullied!¡±


    However, Shadow didn¡¯t believe that. She held onto hope, thinking that if she tried hard enough and followed their demands, they would eventually ept her.


    It wasn¡¯t until she was forced to mate into the Lances family that she realized no matter what she did, they would never ept her.


    But even at this point, instead of being satisfied, they wanted to use her.


    Did they truly think she would let herself be easily bullied?


    Shadow was about to hail a taxi back to Alpha Kilian¡¯s Castle when she received a call from Lisa. The name ¡®Mom¡¯ shed on her screen, and her face darkened deeply. Why was she calling now?


    She hesitantly answered the call, cing the phone next to her ear. ¡°Hello?¡±


    Lisa¡¯s voice was surprisingly warm, ¡°Shadow, can youe home for dinner?¡±


    At this critical moment, when the entire inte was attacking her, Lisa suddenly showed care and concern. It was obvious that she had an ulterior motive.


    Shadow calmly rejected her request, ¡°I don¡¯t have time. I¡¯m very busy.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re jobless now. What could you possibly be busy with?¡± Lisa didn¡¯t expect her daughter to reject so firmly. It was the first time she had met resistance. ¡°Come home for dinner! The whole family is here¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve forgotten, but I am now a member of the Lances family.¡± Shadow interrupted Lisa¡¯s words bluntly.


    Hearing this, Lisa¡¯s anger red, and she yelled furiously, ¡°Does a daughter speak to her mother in such a manner?¡±


    Shadow could hear the sound of something breaking on the other end of the line, followed by her mother¡¯s rage. She remained unaffected, unresponsive.


    This was the first time she had stood up to her mother. She had reached her limit. Lisa had never cared about her. All her love and patience were reserved for her step-children. And what had she received in return? Anger and annoyance. Lisa would never speak to Jessica with this impatience.


    Ultimately, it was because Lisa didn¡¯t care.


    Lisa didn¡¯t care about her, and that in itself exined her behavior.


    She treated her as she pleased.


    Now, Shadow no longer cared about Lisa. She would never again extend warmth to her as she had in the past.


    ¡°Then go find Jessica. She¡¯s the dutiful and gentle daughter you¡¯re looking for. You two will certainly get along well,¡± Shadow stated before abruptly hanging up the phone.

 19

    Along the way, Shadow kept scrolling through social media. But this time, she was reading the articles calmly rather than shaking with anger.


    The post titled ¡®A Wench Mad For Money¡¯ was still trending, with mostizens scolding her.


    ¡°This woman had the nerve to betray her sister, even after all her sister had done for her. She is truly shameless!¡±


    ¡°Jessica didn¡¯t deserve a sister like her! That bitch!¡±


    ¡°Right, I want to beat her with a shovel.¡±


    Shadowughed coldly. Despite being the true victim in this incident, all she received were hatements and death wishes, while Jessica, the mastermind, gained fame and fortune.


    But why should she be the one receiving all this hatred, while troublemaker Jessica received a good reputation?


    Shadow sent Hazel a message.


    ¡°Introduce a reliable media reporter to me.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do?!?¡±


    Despite their distance, Shadow could sense Hazel¡¯s excitement. She struggled to hide her smile while reading Hazel¡¯s text.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be needlessly scolded.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the way. Get rid of that soft-talking princess disease. I¡¯ll contact one of my friends. She has more fans than me¡­¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Hazel couldn¡¯t stand Jessica¡¯s high and mighty attitude, always wanting everyone to listen to her. So she called Jessica a ¡°soft-talking princess disease.¡±


    Shadow was speechless. Hazel always enjoyed this kind of drama the most. She wasn¡¯t afraid of big issues and always encouraged Shadow to go against her family.


    However, the situation had escted to the point of no return. Shadow had no choice but to take action. At this point, she might as well make it worse.


    Since Jessica wanted to use Shadow for her own benefit, Shadow would give her exactly what she wanted.


    The only doubt was whether Jessica could really handle it.


    ¡­


    It was three in the afternoon, the perfect time for afternoon tea and chit chat. Especially on a weekend afternoon.


    However, a very simple message containing only three words, ¡°I am sorry,¡± became the talk of the town.


    Within two hours, there were tens of thousands ofments.


    Shadow sent the message.


    She asked the sales agent to capture her micro-blog and use an algorithm to rmend and verify that her ID was Jessica¡¯s sister in the ¡°A Wench Mad For Money¡± topic.


    Soon enough, social media was flooded with curses.


    ¡°This family is terrible.¡±


    ¡°Damn them all to hell!¡±


    Hazel quickly caught wind of the news. Furious, she called Shadow. ¡°Shadow, are you crazy? Did you ask the sales agent for their number just to apologize to that soft-talking princess disease? Do you believe that I wille over there and tear you apart? Do you really want to make a fool of yourself?¡±


    ¡°I am not going to make a fool of myself,¡± Shadow answered calmly.


    ¡°Then what do you hope to achieve?¡± Hazel asked uncertainly.


    When Hazel first saw the news, she didn¡¯t think Shadow was the one who posted it. But upon clicking into it, she verified that it was indeed Shadow. So despite her anger, she called to ask.


    It was only now that Hazel understood that Shadow had other ns in mind when she did this.


    Although Shadow had to suppress her anger when she was with the Eden family all these years, it didn¡¯t mean she was as naive as people assumed.


    ¡°I want to give Jessica a big gift,¡± Shadow paused before continuing, ¡°a grand gift that she will never forget.¡±


    Hazel came from one of the most prestigious families in the Hertone Pack. Her family was even better than the Eden family. When she met Shadow and learned about her problems, she wanted to get rid of Jessica. With her connections and prestige, no one would stand in her way. But Shadow didn¡¯t let her do it.


    This time, it was Shadow who took matters into her own hands, and Hazel was ecstatic. ¡°That¡¯s great. If you need anything from me, just call me.¡±


    ¡­


    The door to the study opened.


    Frank entered and ced a tablet on the table. ¡°Boss, Madame apologized to Jessica on social media.¡±


    Alpha Kilian was handling official documents. Although he hadn¡¯t taken over the Lances Group yet, he had his own private business. He didn¡¯t like to do things publicly and still presented himself as an ugly, crippled man to the outside world.


    He nced at the tablet on the table, and Frank flipped to the page.


    After reading through, he looked down and calmly said, ¡°Jessica¡¯s name isn¡¯t mentioned. How are you sure that this apology is for Jessica?¡±


    ¡°Boss, do you mean¡­¡± Frank thought of Shadow as an ordinary girl who was slow to react. So when he saw this post, he didn¡¯t think much of it and assumed Shadow did it out of stupidity. However, it seemed that this wasn¡¯t the case.


    ¡°Don¡¯t interfere. Inform me if there are any further developments.¡±


    Although he only met Jessica once, he could see that she was spoiled and entitled by her family. Her actions were reckless and impulsive. She didn¡¯t think things through before acting.


    On the other hand, Shadow grew up in a cruel environment. No apuse, no encouragement, and despised by everyone. She was constantly rejected by her own family, forcing her to rely on her own abilities. That¡¯s why she was far more mature than her peers.


    He believed that if Shadow truly wanted revenge, she would seed.


    If she didn¡¯t seed¡­


    Hmm, if she begged him, he might consider helping her.


    However, the possibility of that ugly woman begging him was¡­


    His train of thought was interrupted by a vibrating cell phone.


    He took his phone and nced at the caller ID, and his face immediately darkened.


    It was an international call.


    He didn¡¯t need to guess who was calling him at the moment.


    He didn¡¯t answer the call immediately, but looked at Frank. ¡°You can leave.¡±


    As he spoke, he continued to stare at the phone. Frank, who had known him for a long time, could guess who the caller was. ¡°Update me if anything happens.¡±


    After Frank left, Alpha Kilian answered the call.


    The next moment, a woman¡¯s loud and ear-piercing voice came through the phone. ¡°Alpha Kilian, what¡¯s going on with the news on social media? If I can see it overseas, isn¡¯t it a bigger deal back there? Did you really mate with an ugly and stupid woman? Your body is fine, so why don¡¯t you do something to rify the misunderstandings? Why did you let just anyone be your wife and enter the Lances door¡­¡±


    The woman¡¯s words grew progressively nastier, and Alpha Kilian¡¯s frown deepened. He was getting irritated. ¡°Cami.¡±


    ¡°This is how you talk to your older sister!¡±


    ¡°Just two minutes older.¡± Thest thing he wanted was to be lectured by his twin sister.


    Camiposed herself and continued, ¡°Alpha Kilian, I¡¯m not trying to argue with you. I just don¡¯t understand why you have to behave this way. Look, even a nobody dares to climb over you. Is that important? Once Dad retires, won¡¯t you have to¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop it!¡± Alpha Kilian was infuriated.


    His voice was bone-chilling. ¡°You can say these things because you weren¡¯t there! You didn¡¯t see our mother being bullied and tortured to death! You weren¡¯t there when they abused her! You can run away and live in peace overseas, but I can¡¯t! I won¡¯t have peace until I find her killer!¡±


    ¡°Those kidnappers were killed long ago!¡±


    ¡°No! The real mastermind hasn¡¯t been caught!¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice was deep and sullen. ¡°That morning, we had an unexpected change in our tour n. If someone hadn¡¯t leaked our new details, how could they have known our location and captured us so quickly!¡±


    Every time he remembered that day, his anger and hatred threatened to consume him.


    Not wanting to talk any longer, he hung up the phone and mmed it down.


    Every time they spoke, they always ended up arguing about this. For them, it was just a past tragedy. But for him, it was his life¡¯s mission. He had to find his mother¡¯s killer no matter what.


    Knock! Knock!


    There was suddenly a knock at the door, followed by Shadow¡¯s voice. ¡°Alpha Kilian, are you there?¡±

 20

    Alpha Kilian, flustered from the previous phone call, didn¡¯t have time to distinguish who was calling him. He mmed the pen stand against the door and yelled in frustration, ¡°Fuck off!¡± He was already irritated with his sister and didn¡¯t have time to deal with anyone right now.


    Shadow had been standing outside the whole time. When she heard the angry roar, she was momentarily stunned. Then, without wasting a second, she turned around and left. She didn¡¯t know why he was so upset, but she knew she had no right to intervene.


    After a while, Alpha Kilian regained hisposure. He raised his head and stared at the ceiling. There were still many unanswered questions about the kidnapping years ago. After what happened to his mother, he promised himself he would avenge her no matter what.


    Frank knocked on the door and entered with a stack of documents. His expression was calm, as if he hadn¡¯t heard the roar from the study a few minutes ago. Alpha Kilian thought of something and raised his head. ¡°Is Shadow back?¡±


    Frank ced the files on the table, cleared his throat, and said, ¡°Madame has been back for a while and she was looking for you. She came here¡­¡±


    Alpha Kilian remembered that a woman had indeed knocked on the door. And the only woman who stayed in this castle was Shadow. He had chased her away at that time. Maybe he was too consumed in his thoughts and had forgotten that he was already married. Did shee to look for him on her initiative? Was it because she couldn¡¯t resolve the rumors on social media and wanted his help? Alpha Kilian¡¯s ck eyes sparkled with interest as he leaned back into his seat. All the irritation and frustration from before had vanished, and all that remained was contemtion of what the woman would say.


    ¡°Where is she? Bring her here.¡±


    Frank heard his order and left the study. After a while, he knocked on the door. This time, Shadow was right beside him. Shadow pushed the door open and entered. Alpha Kilian was seated behind the table with the tall executive chair turned away from her.


    Under the dim light, all she could see were his pale hands resting on the armrests and the back of his head, just like before. He still didn¡¯t want to show his face to her.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s cold voice echoed through the room.


    Wasn¡¯t she supposed to ask him this question? But he was asking her instead? When she hade to find him half an hour ago, he had clearly told her to leave. And now he was asking her toe over just to ask what was going on? It seemed she was dealing with a man with mood swings. Was this part of his disability as well? She tried not to be annoyed. After all, he had treated her fairly well all this time. Perhaps he was just having a bad day.


    Not wanting to beat around the bush, Shadow got straight to the point. ¡°I want to move out of the castle.¡±


    Noticing theck of reaction from the man, she quickly exined, ¡°I¡¯ll be starting work soon, and it¡¯s inconvenient for me to continue living here.¡±


    Her exnation was met with only an ¡°Oh.¡±


    Oh?


    Should she take that as approval?


    What she didn¡¯t notice was that Alpha Kilian¡¯s face darkened intensely behind the chair, and he tightened his grip on the armrest. If he didn¡¯t have enough self-control, he would have turned around to look at her.


    Yesterday, this woman had said that she didn¡¯t mind his shorings and was willing to be with him. But today, she wanted to move out of the castle? Dream on!


    Shadow saw that he hadn¡¯t spoken in a long time and asked, ¡°So are you¡­¡±


    Alpha Kilian sneered and coldly interrupted her, ¡°Do you think this is a hotel? That you cane and go as you please?¡± His voice had a viciousness and a warning that sent chills down Shadow¡¯s spine.


    Shadow didn¡¯t understand how she had provoked him. Forget it! If he didn¡¯t want her to leave, then she would just stay here. She didn¡¯t want to offend him.


    If she considered it from another perspective, someone like Alpha Kilian, who had some ¡®inabilities,¡¯ would be particrly sensitive and easily offended. Maybe he thought she was leaving him because she found him unattractive?? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    When Shadow thought about it that way, her tone softened. ¡°Okay, I understand. I¡¯ll leave if there¡¯s nothing else.¡±


    It was the first time Alpha Kilian had heard her speak so gently. He waved his hand, unmoved.


    ¡°Get out!¡±


    Shadow sighed. Her softness hadn¡¯t worked at all. His temper was truly awful.


    Knowing that she would only anger him further, Shadow didn¡¯t bother asking any more questions, and she headed out of the study. It was useless to argue with him; if she did, she might be signing her own death wish.


    Once the door was closed, Alpha Kilian turned around and threw the documents onto the table, the veins on his forehead protruding.


    Frank looked at his reaction and wondered why his boss had been losing his temper recently. Usually, he was a collected man.


    After some time, Alpha Kilian calmed himself down and thought of something. He looked up at Frank. ¡°I remember that Shadow¡¯s profile mentioned she had graduated from the Film Academy?¡±


    Frank nodded. ¡°Yes, Sir. Madame studied Cinematic Literature.¡±


    Alpha Kilian smiled instantly, like a predator looking at prey. ¡°Does that mean her work is scriptwriting?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ Yes.¡± Frank was surprised and nodded.


    People thought Alpha Kilian was nothing more than a cripple and an impotent brat enjoying his father¡¯s fortune, but no one knew that he was actually the boss of the country¡¯srgest entertainment agency, D¡¯Front Entertainment Group.


    In fact, Alpha Kilian had never borrowed a dime from his father, paving his own way as one of the most sessful entrepreneurs of his time. It was a shame that no one knew about his real abilities.


    Within a short eight years, D¡¯Front Entertainment became the global leader in the movie industry and created internationally award-winning movie stars. It was the best choice for all aspiring actors.


    If Shadow really wanted to be a sessful screenwriter, she should definitely send her resume to D¡¯Front Entertainment.


    Frank could predict what Alpha Kilian wanted to say next and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll do it immediately.¡±


    ¡­


    Shadow submitted her resume to all the film productionpanies in the pack, but she intentionally left out D¡¯Front Entertainment.


    Although others might think she was crazy, she had her own reasons. D¡¯Front Entertainment and thepany Hazel signed with were directpetitors. Furthermore, it was unlikely that she would get a job there.


    The negotiation would take a few days, so she wanted to settle the news released by Jessica before the interviews began.


    Thinking for a while, she called Jessica.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Speak!¡± Jessica spoke with arrogance as usual.


    Shadow pinched her nose so it sounded like she had been crying. ¡°Sister, I wasn¡¯t thinking straight when I called youst time. I¡¯m sorry. Please don¡¯t be angry with me. Can we meet outside, just the two of us? I really don¡¯t want to end our fight like this.¡±


    Jessica snorted. ¡°Who do you think you are? Why do you think I will meet you?¡±


    Shadow knew very well that Jessica wanted her to plead. She lowered her voice and begged, ¡°I beg you.¡±


    ¡°Louder. I can¡¯t hear you.¡±


    ¡°I am begging you.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Jessica snorted. ¡°You¡¯re still as docile as before.¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much.¡±


    Shadow put down the phone, eyes nk.


    Jessica, you must be very proud of yourself, right?


    Just wait. Soon your name will be ruined.


    Shadow took out her phone and nced at the numbers sent by Hazel. These were the numbers of sales agents as well as several paparazzi.


    She randomly chose some numbers and sent a message. ¡°Would you be interested in a drama called ¡®A Ugly Wench Mad After Money¡¯?¡± The news of her ¡®stealing¡¯ Jessica¡¯s fiance was still very popr, and it was obvious that everyone would be willing to take some good pictures.


    Seeing the hurried replies, Shadow smiled. She sent them the time and address of the meeting ce.


    ¡°Just you wait, Jessica. I¡¯ll give you a big gift,¡± she thought and picked up her bag, leaving Alpha Kilian¡¯s castle.


    As soon as Shadow stepped out, Frank went to the study and informed Alpha Kilian, ¡°Madame has left the house.¡±


    Alpha Kilian lifted his head and looked at him, an expression that said, ¡°What does it have to do with me?¡±


    Though he had be used to Alpha Kilian¡¯s chilling look, Frank still swallowed ufortably.


    ¡°I think Madame is going to deal with Jessica.¡± After everything that had happened in a few hours, even Frank was curious how Shadow was going to deal with Jessica. And he felt that Alpha Kilian must be interested in this matter.


    Unexpectedly, Alpha Kilian only replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Frank was surprised. Had he guessed wrong?


    However, in the next second, Alpha Kilian stood up and grabbed his coat. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Big Cousin in a while. I should go and have a meal with him.¡±


    After that, he headed out without looking back.


    Frank thought to himself, If memory serves me right, Big Cousin is still overseas and not back yet.


    The boss should at least find a more reasonable excuse¡­


    Although Alpha Kilian¡¯s excuse was clumsy, Frank didn¡¯t dare to expose him.


    ¡­


    Alpha Kilian followed Shadow and drove to the small restaurant, looking around. There weren¡¯t many people here, so it was a good ce for this meeting.


    He leaned against the driver¡¯s seat and watched as Shadow entered the restaurant. After about half an hour, Jessica finally arrived.


    As usual, she was dressed nicely and twisted her nose in disgust, as if she were entering a garbage dump. Alpha Kilian couldn¡¯t help but sneer. She was supposed to be the eldest daughter of the Eden family?


    Then, another casually dressed man, who looked suspicious, entered the restaurant.


    Being the boss of D¡¯Front for so many years, Alpha Kilian could tell at a nce that this man was a paparazzo.


    Alpha Kilian smirked. It seemed his wait hadn¡¯t been in vain. The show was about to begin.

 21

    At the restaurant, when the two sisters locked eyes, the room seemed to grow colder. Jessica tossed her bag onto the table, raised her chin, and spoke condescendingly to Shadow, ¡°Just spit it out. I don¡¯t have time to waste on you. I have a date with Henry.¡±


    As she spoke, Jessica admired her freshly manicured nails, which glistened under the bright lights. Then, she turned her attention to Shadow. While Jessica was dressed for a g, her sister seemed more suited for a casual gathering. Despite the passing years, Shadow¡¯s unattractiveness persisted. Her long dress, unhealthy and blemished skin, and thick-framed ck sses gave her an almost toad-like appearance.


    Could this woman really think she couldpete with Jessica for a man? Only foolish people on the inte would believe such nonsense.


    Feeling her anger rise, Shadow lowered her gaze and focused on the ss in her hand. She gripped it tightly, suppressing the urge to smash it against Jessica¡¯s face. Just as she looked up, she noticed a man with a camera entering the restaurant and taking a seat facing their table.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get started,¡± she thought, shing a cunning smile as she sent a message to the man.


    Shadow made sure to be discreet in her actions, not wanting Jessica to suspect anything was amiss. The sess of her n hinged on Jessica revealing her true colors, and that would not happen if she knew someone was watching.


    Shadow looked up at Jessica and spoke humbly, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°I have already apologized publicly. Please don¡¯t make things harder for my mother.¡±


    Keeping her head bowed, she appeared to be a victim of her older sister¡¯s bullying. This was the image Shadow wanted to convey, as it reflected the truth.


    Unaware of any underlying motives, Jessica sneered. Shadow had always been a simpleton, incapable of outsmarting her overnight. That was impossible.


    With a satisfied gleam in her eyes, Jessicaughed coldly. ¡°Fine. If you don¡¯t want me to punish Lisa, I won¡¯t. But there¡¯s a condition.¡± She crossed her arms and raised her chin, relishing her victory.


    ¡°What condition?¡± Shadow asked nervously.


    Rolling her eyes, Jessica scoffed, ¡°Why are you so foolish? Lisa never cared about you or considered you her daughter. So why are you so concerned about her? You must be the newest generation of stupidity.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s hands tightened in herp, her knuckles turning white. She spoke with a bitter tone, ¡°Regardless of everything, she is still my mother. Even if I know it was because of you that she begged me to marry Alpha Kilian, I still agreed. Because she is my mother, and I am her daughter.¡±


    ¡°Pitiful,¡± Jessica muttered, unable to bear witness to Shadow¡¯s helpless and vulnerable state. In their younger days, Shadow had excelled academically and even rivaled Jessica¡¯s beauty. That¡¯s why Jessica despised her so bitterly. It was fortunate that Lisa also took her side in this.


    Since then, Shadow had be ugly and unintelligent. Jessica¡¯s hatred for her grew stronger with each passing day.


    Already embarrassed to have a sister who was both foolish and unattractive, Jessica¡¯s disdain knew no bounds.


    But if anything, her sister was as obedient as a dog. Easily used and easily disposed.


    Jessica smirked, curling her lips and saying venomously, ¡°You are just a bitch like your mother.¡±


    How ironic.


    Ridicule shed through Shadow¡¯s eyes. The moment Lisa married into the Eden family twenty years ago, she made it her goal to treat Jessica like a princess, ensuring she never felt ufortable with her. In the end, it seemed her feelings and sincerity were not reciprocated. It was a waste of time.


    Jessica just called her a bitch!


    What was the use of all her hard work and effort?


    ¡°You can insult me however you want, but please don¡¯t speak about my mother that way. She was genuinely good to you,¡± Shadow said softly, although she was hurt.


    How could Jessica listen to Shadow¡¯s words? She mmed the table and yelled, ¡°Shut up! You don¡¯t have the right to teach me! Now all you need to do is divorce Alpha Kilian.¡±


    ¡°Divorce?¡± Shadow stared at her, her eyes wide open.


    At this time, her surprise was genuine.


    Shadow could predict what Jessica was thinking.


    Although the Lances family didn¡¯t care about who mated with Alpha Kilian, they definitely wouldn¡¯t stand for it if one of them went back on their words. Shadow was nothing more than an ugly and stupid woman who had stolen him from Jessica for the fame and fortune of the Lances family. Now, Jessica wanted Shadow to end things once and for all.


    Even if she were to mention divorce with Alpha Kilian, it would be an insult to him.


    Lances would never forgive her! In fact, they¡¯d do everything to make her life a living hell.


    This move of Jessica¡¯s was truly vicious. Now that she had drawn everyone¡¯s attention to Shadow, she could simply stand on the sidelines. She wanted Lances to target Shadow and let them vent their resentment and hatred on her. While she could live peacefully with Henry without any societal pressure.


    Incredible!


    Jessica pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, revealing a slight pink mark on her neck. ¡°As long as you do this, I won¡¯t make things difficult for Lisa.¡±


    Although Shadow was naive, she wasn¡¯t stupid.


    The red mark was clearly a hickey.


    Was she showing off?


    Shadow took a drink, feeling a lump in her throat.


    She wasn¡¯t sad that Jessica was with Henry. She was upset that the person she had been in love with was just like any other man.


    ¡°But the Lances will never agree to me divorcing Alpha Kilian.¡±


    Even if it was a divorce, it could only be initiated by Alpha Kilian. She was a nobody in front of the Lances family. She was very aware of her own ce.


    ¡°That¡¯s your problem. My advice to you is to be an obedient dog. Otherwise, your mother will suffer the consequences.¡±


    Jessica couldn¡¯t be bothered to say anything else. She took out a mirror to touch up her lipstick, then dialed a number on her phone and softly called out, ¡°Henry.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s expression froze, but her reaction satisfied Jessica.


    Although the ugly woman posed no threat to her, it gave Jessica satisfaction to see her in such a pitiful state. She felt a sense of aplishment when she saw Shadow behaving like a dejected dog.


    Through the window, Shadow saw her sister driving away before turning to the table in front of her. Her mission was done here, and it seemed she had gotten the results she wanted. Although she knew Jessica was terrible, she hadn¡¯t realized how bad it was until now.


    The man just waved his phone without speaking. His job was done too. Shadow lowered her head to look at her phone and saw a new message.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send you the videos when I get back.¡±


    Shadow replied with just one word, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    She ced her phone down and started to eat the dishes on the table. The food was already cold, but the taste was still there.


    When she was young, she liked Jessica a lot. In fact, if anyone were to ask her five-year-old self who she wanted to be, she¡¯d happily point at her sister and say, ¡°Sister Jessica!¡±


    Jessica was pretty and smart, and she loved to dress up. That¡¯s why Shadow kept following her.


    However, instead of receiving love, what she got was insult and ps, leaving her wondering what she had done wrong.


    But it turned out, Jessica was actually such a heartless person.


    Jessica had been so good to her for more than twenty years, treated her as her own daughter, and the woman could call her a bitch!


    If Jessica could call Lisa like that, then what about her, whom she never liked?


    She had thought that there was some affection between Jessica and Lisa, given that they¡¯ve always been on the same side, but¡­


    Shadow had a knot in her stomach, and the food wasn¡¯t that good. She got up and left the restaurant.


    As she walked away, Alpha Kilian went to the back door to catch up with the paparazzi, pulling him to the side.


    The paparazzi saw Alpha Kilian¡¯s high and mighty appearance and knew he was different from others. He asked defensively, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s gaze fell on the man¡¯s bag, and he said calmly, ¡°Show me the video.¡±


    ¡°II don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± This was tomorrow¡¯s headline news. Thest thing the reporter needed was for someone else to break the news.


    ¡°Really? Do you believe that I can cklist you from the entire entertainment industry in the Herton Pack?¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. His voice was calm, but it sent chills down anyone¡¯s spine.


    Although the reporter had no idea that this man was Alpha Kilian, he could tell he was powerful by his custom-made suit and signature suitcase. It was obvious he was rich and important. Either way, there was no way he was messing with him.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Without doubting Alpha Kilian¡¯s abilities, the reporter obediently showed him the video.


    The scene and audio were clear and echoed in the parking lot. Alpha Kilian listened to the conversation between the two women, not missing a word.

 22

    Shadow was still shaking her head in disbelief, her wolf instincts urging her to be wary. If only she had seen through Jessica¡¯s mask a little earlier, she would¡¯ve found a way to prevent all of this from happening.


    Just as she stepped out of the restaurant, the moon¡¯s eerie glow guiding her path, Shadow received a call from Hazel, her packmate and confidante.


    ¡°Come over quickly! The red car across the road,¡± Hazel¡¯s urgent voice echoed through the phone before abruptly ending the call.


    Shadow looked up and saw the red car across the road, its deep crimson color reflecting the sinister nature of the night. As she approached the vehicle, it honked twice, as if signaling her to hurry.


    Knowing that her friend was in a rush, she immediately crossed the deserted road and slipped into the car. Shadow turned to the woman beside her, recognizing Hazel, her determined eyes shining with purpose in the dim light.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here,¡± Shadow whispered, her voice carrying the weight of secrets and hidden intentions.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You don¡¯t expect a lot of things,¡± Hazel replied cryptically, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. ¡°How was it? Was it sessful?¡±


    Hazel, an alpha in her own right, possessed a charm that drew attention and recognition. That was why she had waited for Shadow outside, knowing the importance of their meeting.


    Shadow¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile as she replied, her voice dripping with satisfaction. ¡°Very well.¡±


    For years, Jessica had oppressed her, underestimating her wit and resilience. But now, Shadow had plotted her revenge, using Jessica¡¯s own desires against her. And nobody, not even Jessica, could have foreseen the trap set by their own family member whom they had always looked down upon.


    ¡°But the n may be changed,¡± Shadow continued, her gaze locked on Hazel¡¯s fierce determination.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Hazel¡¯s voice held a hint of anger, her hands clenching the steering wheel tighter.


    ¡°She wants me to divorce Alpha Kilian and infuriate the Lances. It will be enough to divert the public¡¯s eye onto me, an insult far greater than anything Jessica has done. This way, she can be with Henry in peace, without causing a scandal in their social circle.¡±


    Hazel¡¯s fury erupted like wildfire, her fist hitting the steering wheel with a powerful thud. ¡°How can she be so shameless? Hasn¡¯t she done enough damage to you? Is there no end to her cruelty?¡±


    ¡°There is no end when it benefits her,¡± Shadow replied calmly, her wolf blood boiling under the surface.


    She had initially nned to expose Jessica and their toxic rtionship through the media. But now, with everything that had transpired, she knew she had to take another step forward, a step that would change the course of their lives forever.


    ¡­


    On social media, the once-trending topic of ¡®The Ugly Wench¡¯ slowly vanished into the shadows. But it didn¡¯t take long for a new topic to ignite the curiosity of the masses.


    The name was intriguing ¨C ¡°Divorce or Bear the consequences!¡±


    Shadow¡¯s lips twitched in a wolfish grin as she surveyed the thousands ofments flooding in. Her n was in motion, and the world would soon understand the extent of her determination.


    ¡°ording to rumors, Mrs. Eden¡¯s sister is contemting divorce due to insurmountable pressure¡­¡±


    ¡°Pressure? She should be burdened by her own guilt and deceit!¡±


    ¡°Come on, it was obvious she was nning this divorce from the start. She never truly loved Alpha Kilian, just used him as a means to an end!¡±


    ¡°I think that bitch just wants to y with people¡¯s hearts.¡±


    The topic quickly regained its status as a top trend, as people spected on Alpha Kilian¡¯s reaction. But just as quickly as it emerged, the topic mysteriously disappeared, deleted or blocked by unknown forces.


    Shadow knew it was the work of the powerful Lances family, protecting their reputation and their crippled heir. They would not allow their sessor to be scrutinized and discussed on the Inte. The Pack¡¯s hierarchy demanded respect, and crossing the Lances family was a dangerous game.


    That night, a video arrived, sent by an unexpected ally ¨C a former reporter who had openly despised Shadow on the Inte. He had posted countless articles against her, ndering her name with baseless usations. Yet now, he had turned the tables, offering her a weapon to use against Jessica.


    The video revealed the true colors of Jessica, showcasing her domineering and despicable demeanor, while Shadow appeared vulnerable and afraid. The audience watched with bated breath, witnessing the showdown between predator and prey, their hearts swaying towards Shadow¡¯s side.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already apologized. Please, don¡¯t make things difficult for my mother,¡± Shadow¡¯s voice pleaded, her vulnerability a stark contrast to Jessica¡¯s arrogance.


    The insults hurled at her echoed through the screen, reinforcing the image of Jessica¡¯s true self. Within minutes, the truth was revealed, and those who had insulted Shadow before were silenced, their voices drowned in shame.


    Apologies flooded the inte, as people began to recognize their mistake. There were still a few stubborn individuals who continued to insult her, but their voices were drowned out by the majority.


    In just a few hours, Shadow¡¯s social media following grew by fifty thousand, her influence spreading like wildfire through the werewolfmunity. And as the moon rose higher in the darkened sky, Shadow knew that her revenge was just beginning.

 23

    Jessica had no clue what was going on. After scaring off Shadow, she had gone out with Henry that night and spent the night at his house. So she was oblivious to the happenings on social media. From what she understood, the ¡®Ugly Gold Digger¡¯ was still a hot topic all over the inte. That is, until Jason called her the next day.


    Jessica was still in Henry¡¯s arms when she answered the phone annoyed, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s up? Why did you have to call me this early?¡±


    ¡°Go online and see the mess you¡¯ve created! And how dare you stay out all night. Come home right now!¡± Jason shouted, followed by a loud crash in the background.


    This was the angriest Jason had ever been with her. Although she had messed up before, he had always forgiven her. Jessica had a sinking feeling about this.


    After hanging up, she quickly checked online to see what the fuss was about. It was then that she realized her conversation with Shadow had been covertly recorded by paparazzi the whole time.


    Her face immediately changed and she clenched her teeth. ¡°These bitches!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Henry kissed her cheek and asked.


    Putting her phone away, Jessica shook her head and replied softly, ¡°Dad called me. Something happened at home, so I have to leave first, okay?¡±


    On the way back, she couldn¡¯t help but think about their time at the restaurant. Shadow still seemed weak and spineless, but there was something different about her. There must be a reason why the reporter was in that shady restaurant in the first ce. Was she intentionally making things difficult for her?


    Jessica¡¯s face darkened. She dialed Shadow¡¯s number, but no one answered.


    ¡­


    On the other end, Shadow saw ¡®Sister¡¯ shing on her phone screen and sneered. She coldly chuckled, ced her phone on the counter, and poured herself a ss of water.


    When she returned, her phone was still ringing.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Jessica must be furious right now! She probably wants to destroy her.


    ¡°Are you enjoying yourself?¡± a voice asked.


    Her smile instantly faded, and she furrowed her brows. She didn¡¯t need to turn around to know it was Alpha Dominic. He must think she¡¯s happy and came to annoy her.


    Putting her phone on silent in her pocket, Shadow picked up her ss and started walking up the stairs. But unfortunately, Alpha Dominic was blocking her way.


    Alpha Dominic seemed to be in the mood to y with her. Whenever she moved right, he moved right too. The same happened when she tried moving left. It was like he was intentionally going against her every move!


    Shadow was originally in a good mood, but he ruined everything in an instant. She nced upstairs and then softly asked Alpha Dominic, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Do you realize that your family drama is affecting our Lances family?¡± Alpha Dominic leaned against the wall, a faint smile on his face but seriousness in his eyes.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Shadow replied emotionlessly, looking down. Then she walked past him and headed upstairs.


    Alpha Kilian squinted and asked in curiosity, ¡°You don¡¯t seem scared.¡±


    Shadow didn¡¯t want to talk to him, but she couldn¡¯t help defending herself. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Why should I be scared?¡±


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t expect her to talk back. Her calmness surprised him, especially in this kind of situation. Most women would panic, and even many men would cower under his gaze. But Shadow not only walked away, she stayed unaffected, as if she had dealt with him before.


    Shadow turned and left after speaking. Alpha Kilian watched her back, deep in thought. Had this woman stopped pretending to be foolish?


    It seemed so!


    Back in her room, Shadow took a deep breath as various thoughts rushed through her mind. In reality, she wasn¡¯t as calm as when facing Alpha Dominic.


    She was right. The Lances family had suppressed news about Alpha Kilian. When it started trending, the posts were taken down and ounts were deleted.


    She couldn¡¯t help but think about Alpha Kilian. Even now, she couldn¡¯t gauge their thoughts ¨C whether they were satisfied or upset with the oue.


    Shadow took out her phone and saw numerous missed calls, aside from Jessica¡¯s call, the rest were from the Eden family.


    Shadow smirked and dialed Lisa¡¯s number.


    As soon as the call connected, Lisa immediately said, ¡°Come back immediately!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ming,¡± Shadow pretended to sound anxious and worried.


    She definitely wanted to return to the Eden family and witness their reactions.


    To see Jessica lose her mind and throw tantrums.


    One thing was certain, though ¨C even though she seeded for now, the Eden family wouldn¡¯t easily admit defeat, especially not Jessica.

 24

    Shadow arrived at the Eden Family Castle in a sleek car, her eyes flickering with annoyance and anticipation as she navigated the twists and turns of the road. She nced at her silent phone, eager for what was about to unfold. For far too long, she had endured the family¡¯s mistreatment, watching as they took advantage of her. Their sneers when she made mistakes and theirughter at her expense were etched in her memory. But now, the tables had turned, and she was determined to unleash unbridled chaos upon the house.


    Upon seeing Shadow¡¯s arrival, the maid immediately bowed her head. ¡°Third Lady.¡±


    She could sense the shift in the maid¡¯s demeanor. Shadow, now married into the Lance family, held a newfound status, while Jessica¡¯s involvement in a scandal had tarnished her reputation.


    She couldn¡¯t let them see the satisfaction on her face, though. She knew she had to tread carefully, or risk losing her advantage. So, she yed the role of a naive and innocent fool.


    ¡°Where are my parents?¡± Shadow spoke calmly, masking her true emotions.


    ¡°They¡¯re all waiting for you in the study, Third Lady.¡±


    The maid¡¯s voice softened, as if empathizing with Shadow¡¯s predicament. After all, despite her prestigious position as part of the Eden family, she had never truly been epted as a family member. In the shadow of the public eye, she was nothing more than a maid.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Shadow stopped at the door of the study, pretending not to enter and eavesdropped on the conversation within.


    ¡°Jessica, why can¡¯t you control yourself? If you had something to say, couldn¡¯t you have called her and discussed it privately? Dealing with the reporters is such a hassle! And now that it¡¯s all over social media, it¡¯s even more difficult to manage the situation. What are we going to do now?¡± Jason¡¯s frustrated voice echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls.


    His anger stemmed not from the immorality of Jessica¡¯s actions, but rather from the fact that she had been caught in the act. It was always about maintaining their reputation, rather than the character of their children. The family had be rotten to the core because of it.


    Shadow couldn¡¯t help but lean against the wall, eavesdropping on their conversation.


    Jessica, bitter and feeling wronged, eximed, ¡°How was I supposed to know it would end up like this, Dad? Shadow must have nned it! That¡¯s why the reporter was there. It¡¯s too much of a coincidence that we were caught on camera!¡±


    ¡°Jessica, believe me, Shadow isn¡¯t capable of nning something like this. She¡¯s far too dimwitted to orchestrate such a scheme!¡± Lisa intervened, trying to defend Shadow. She raised her voice in frustration. ¡°You¡¯ve seen her poor academic performance. She couldn¡¯t even pass a simple exam! How could she possibly do something like this?¡±


    ¡°Dimwitted? Without our father¡¯s connections, she wouldn¡¯t have gotten into Hoover Film Academy. Are you still going to call her dimwitted?¡±


    The Hoover Film Academy was a prestigious institution that countless aspiring artists dreamed of attending. It was known for its rigorous admission process and epting only the best. Shadow¡¯s sessful admission on her first try was a testament to her talent.


    ¡°She¡¯s just lucky. Don¡¯t be angry anymore,¡± Lisa tried to console.


    At that moment, Shadow couldn¡¯t help but agree with Jessica. Lisa was truly despicable.


    In the scandalous video, Jessica had called Lisa, her own stepmother, a derogatory name. One would expect Lisa to defend herself, being older and the matriarch of the family. But instead of standing up to Jessica, she still tried to please her. Lisa was nothing more than a loyalpdog, just like Shadow had pretended to be.


    But Jessica¡¯s anger was genuine this time. She was too exhausted and panicked to pretend otherwise.


    ¡°Shut your damn mouth. You¡¯re mean and useless, just like your daughter,¡± Jessica shouted.


    Shadow was about to push the door open and enter, but she paused upon hearing these words. She wanted to see Jason¡¯s reaction.


    The room fell silent. Sighing heavily, Jason spoke in a deep voice, ¡°Enough with the arguing. We need to resolve this matter properly. Shadow Eden will be here soon, so I suggest you both stop speaking and wait for her.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s own father was too weak-willed to even defend his own wife. Pathetic. They were all pathetic.


    Although she couldn¡¯t see Lisa¡¯s face through the door, she could imagine the shock and betrayal etched on her mother¡¯s face. Lisa, who had defended this family day in and day out, now faced their betrayal.


    ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you reject your own biological daughter,¡± Shadow whispered to herself.


    After Jason finished speaking, silence filled the room once again.


    With her expression well-adjusted, Shadow slowly lowered her head and entered the room.


    ¡°Dad, Mom,¡± she said, scanning the room before dropping her gaze. Her voice was meek, reminiscent of a child expecting punishment.


    Then, she nced at Jessica, taking in her disheveled face and fierce eyes. ¡°Sister.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Jessica coldly snorted, her expression equally icy. ¡°Why are you standing so far away? Come closer!¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Pretending to be afraid, Shadow inched closer to Jessica, knowing what was about to happen. She clenched her fists, bracing herself for impact. She gritted her teeth, tired of the cycle of abuse that had gued her life.


    Out of habit, she nced at Lisa, hoping for a change of heart. After all, Lisa had just been disrespected by the family she had defended. But Lisa turned her head, unable to meet Shadow¡¯s gaze.


    Why was she surprised? It was always like this.


    Shadow lowered her head, suppressing her disappointment. Nothing would change here.


    As she approached the sofa, Jessica suddenly raised her hand and pped Shadow without hesitation.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    SLAP!


    The sound echoed through the room, the impact jolting Shadow¡¯s head to the side. She felt the rush of blood to her face, her fingers tracing the numbness on her cheek. She swallowed, tasting the metallic tang of blood. Seconds passed, yet the warmth of the p lingered. Her skin tingled from the forceful blow.

 25

    The sting of Jessica¡¯s cruelty gnawed at Shadow¡¯s soul. She could feel the icy disdain in Jessica¡¯s nce, fueling her anger even more. Determined not to let Jessica get the upper hand again, Shadow prepared to defend herself, bracing for the impending blow.


    But before the confrontation could escte, Jason, the silent figure in the room, erupted with authoritative force. ¡°Enough! We have more important matters to attend to!¡±


    Unwilling to back down, Jessica continued to whine, throwing a tantrum like a petnt child. ming Shadow for her own predicament, sheined about the incessant messages from her friends and the viral nature of their situation.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shadow longed to retort, to defend herself against Jessica¡¯s usations, but she held her tongue. It was a waiting game, and Shadow knew the power of patience. No one suspected her true intentions.


    Silencing Jessica with a raise of his hand, Jason demanded calm. In this family, his words reigned supreme, and Jessica instinctively respected his authority as both the head of the household and her father.


    Frowning, Jason turned his attention towards Shadow, questioning her about the online video that had caused this turmoil. Shadow couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of resentment. Whenever Jason addressed her outside their family, he used her full name, treating her like a stranger. But in moments like these, when he needed answers or something from her, she suddenly became ¡°Shadow.¡± The irony was not lost on her.


    This family was poisoned to its core.


    With a heavy sigh, Shadow lifted her gaze, feigning sadness as unshed tears threatened to spill. Softening her voice, she denied any knowledge about the video¡¯s origins or its content, desperately trying to appear innocent and wronged.


    She turned to Jessica, her eyes filled with feigned hurt, pleading for understanding. ¡°Sister, please believe me. How could I do such a thing? Why would I harm you? We¡¯re family, aren¡¯t we? Shouldn¡¯t we protect each other?¡±


    Jessica scrutinized her suspiciously, searching for any signs of deception. Unable to find any, she turned back to Jason, seeking his judgment.


    Jason, a seasoned businessman with a shrewd eye for reading people, meticulously examined Shadow¡¯s apology. Something about her words struck him as disconcerting, implying a more sinister motive. Yet, he found nothing overtly unusual about her actions.


    Still, she stood before him, wed and cowardly, just as she had always been.


    Even when Jessica had pped her and prepared for another attack, Shadow hadn¡¯t bothered to dodge. Any sane person would¡¯ve blocked or defended themselves. But Shadow didn¡¯t. She seemed utterly foolish, her mind beyond repair.


    With a growing sense of belief in her words, Jason leaned back in his chair and spoke, his tone serious. ¡°Yes, we are family. We must think of our family¡¯s reputation regardless of the circumstances. Those people online have misunderstood your sister¡¯s intentions. It is your responsibility to exin that it was all just a misunderstanding, that we stand united as a family. Isn¡¯t that right, Shadow?¡±


    Was it truly a misunderstanding? Jessica had insulted and belittled them, calling them sluts and dogs. And they had been forced into the Lances family against their will. How could all of that be misconstrued?


    But Jason, like most businessmen, blurred the lines between right and wrong. He manipted the facts to suit his own narrative, believing Jessica to be in the right and everybody else simply misguided. To him, they were nothing more than foolish pawns, easily controlled.


    Shadow clenched her fists, her desire to scream and strike back growing stronger. But she remained silent.


    Masking her true feelings, Shadow pretended to be startled by Jason¡¯s words. Looking at Jessica, she promised, ¡°Really? I will exin everything to them, sister. You have my word.¡±


    A smirk yed on Jessica¡¯s lips, her disdain evident.


    Shadow was nothing more than an obedient dog, perhaps even more submissive.


    Lisa, however, harbored doubts. She studied her daughter¡¯s back, sensing something amiss in her voice. Even in her reassurances, there was an oddity that unsettled her, casting doubt on the entire situation.


    Jason smiled, his voice softer. ¡°We will hold a press conference. You will say what we want you to say.¡±


    Caught between her true desires and the expectations of her family, Shadow nodded obediently.


    Jason was satisfied with herpliance. ¡°Good. Stay and have dinner before you leave.¡±


    Shadow lowered her gaze, concealing the mocking and sarcasm that simmered beneath her eyes. ¡°Of course, Dad.¡±

 26

    As everyone sat in tense silence, Lisa rose from her seat, the weight of the situation heavy on her shoulders. ¡°I shall instruct the servants to prepare dinner,¡± she dered, her voice wavering slightly.


    Jessica, dismissive and weary, paid no attention to her mother¡¯s words. With the video already leaked, there was no point in pretending their rtions were harmonious. Exhaustion consumed her, making it impossible for her to y the role she was expected to y.


    Jason, devoid of emotion, simply nodded in acknowledgement.


    Lisa, feeling disheartened, didn¡¯t press the matter further. The contents of the video had shaken the foundation of their family, leaving them all unsettled.


    As she passed by Shadow, she halted abruptly and whispered urgently, ¡°Come with me.¡±


    Jason and Jessica, already seated at the other end of the study, leaned in close and conversed in hushed tones.


    Shadow nced at them briefly before following Lisa out of the study.


    Once away from prying eyes, Lisa hurriedly led Shadow into her former bedroom. Closing the door behind them, Lisa grasped Shadow¡¯s shoulders tightly, her gaze intense. ¡°Did you have a hand in leaking the video?¡± she demanded.


    Shadow was taken aback by the usation. She had believed that by eliminating Jason, she could escape unscathed. She never expected her own mother would doubt her intentions ¨C the same woman who had always belittled her intelligence.


    In her mind, Lisa was a weak and indecisive woman who reliedpletely on Jason. She had always depended on him and ced all her hopes in him.


    ¡°No, Mother, I had nothing to do with it,¡± Shadow replied, shaking her head vigorously. Her eyes were clear and sincere.


    Indeed, Lisacked the ability to make her own judgments and even if she did, she rarely voiced them. But Shadow was her biological daughter, and Lisa knew her better than anyone else. The situation felt moreplicated than it seemed.


    Lisa frowned, her tone grave. ¡°Your father and sister trust you wholeheartedly. Do not deceive them.¡±


    In her youth, Lisa hade from a poor background. She was ustomed to a life filled with hardships and disdain, yet her kindness andpassion for those around her had never wavered. That was what had attracted Jason to her.


    Shadow had always believed that her mother had found her Prince Charming and gone on to live happily ever after. But as she grew older, she began to realize that Jason hadn¡¯t married Lisa out of love. It was simply convenient for him to have a woman in his life, someone to take care of the two children his deceased wife had left behind.


    In truth, Lisa was nothing more than a nanny who happened to sleep in Jason¡¯s bed.


    She couldn¡¯t fathom what kind of hold Jason had over Lisa for her to be so devoted to him.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit hungry,¡± Shadow said dismissively, not bothering to address her mother¡¯s concerns. She lowered her head, unsure of what else to say.


    Ever since Lisa had forced her to be a part of the Lances family, Shadow had grown to resent her little by little. Despite the blood connection between them, she could no longer stand being in Lisa¡¯s presence.


    Seeing the exhaustion and fear in Shadow¡¯s eyes, Lisa began to regret her harsh words.


    ¡°Go downstairs first,¡± she said softly, watching Shadow closely.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± As Shadow walked out of the old bedroom, the timid expression on her face vanishedpletely. A hint of mockery and deceit shed across her features.


    Ever since she had married into the Lances family, Shadow had distanced herself from the Eden family. All she wanted was a peaceful life. Even though she had never met her husband, and his cousin was as infamous as he could be, it was still preferable to the resentment she faced within this household.


    However, it seemed that the Eden family refused to let her go.


    If that was the case, then they would soon see what she was capable of.


    ¡­? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    As she passed by the study, Shadow noticed the door wide open and the room empty.


    Had Jason and Jessica already gone downstairs?


    Curiosity propelled her down the stairs, and as she entered the living room, she could hear voices. Apart from Jason and Jessica exchangingpliments, another distinct male voice echoed through the hall.


    Someone had actuallye to the Eden residence at this hour?


    She descended the stairs, her curiosity piqued. When she caught sight of the man¡¯s face, she felt her breath catch in her throat.


    It was him!


    Just as she was about to retreat and seek shelter in her old bedroom, Jason motioned for her to approach. His tone was unusually gentle, a far cry from his usual hardened demeanor when she was around. ¡°Shadow,e here. Alpha Kilian sent his cousin to escort you.¡±


    Shadow hadn¡¯t anticipated ¡®Justine¡¯s¡¯ presence in the Eden household, and she was stunned by the sight of him.


    He was dressed in an expensive, perfectly-fitted suit that far exceeded the value of all her own clothesbined.


    Perhaps sensing her gaze, he looked up at her and smiled. ¡°Sister-inw, Cousin Alpha Kilian asked me to fetch you.¡±


    His smile and deep voice held a hint of ambiguity.


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Shadow replied, struggling topose herself.


    However, it seemed that Jessica had caught onto something suspicious in their interaction. She moved closer to Jason, whispering a few words while casting disdainful nces in Shadow¡¯s direction.


    She didn¡¯t need to eavesdrop to know that Jessica¡¯s words were anything but pleasant.


    Alpha Kilian seized the opportunity to observe Shadow, his piercing gaze locked on her red and swollen face. Anger surged through him, causing his hands to unconsciously clench on the armrest of the sofa. Despite her ugliness, she was still his woman, and he would not tolerate anyoneying a hand on her.


    Rage filled Alpha Kilian as he nced over at Jason and Jessica, his eyes returning to Shadow. He patted the seat next to him, his voice deep andmanding. ¡°Come here.¡±


    At first, Shadow hesitated, terrified by Alpha Dominic¡¯s imposing presence. She had no idea why he was here, but her fearpelled her to obey. Resisting the urge to recoil, Shadow cautiously made her way towards him.


    Alpha Kilian was determined not to let anyone possess her. As Shadow settled behind him, he swiftly turned towards her, his voice carrying an odd tone. ¡°Shadow, your face is so swollen that I can hardly recognize you.¡±


    Only then did she recall the brutal p she had received from Jessica. The pain was still fresh, her cheeks throbbing and blood staining her lips. The chaos of the past hour had momentarily made her forget the incident.


    While Alpha Kilian spoke, he deliberately nced towards Jessica and Jason. If looks could kill, Jessica would be buried six feet under. When Alpha Dominic had first arrived, his overwhelming aura had left her trembling. Now, with his question about Shadow¡¯s swollen face, fear coursed through her veins, and she shot Shadow a warning re.


    Shadow, meeting Alpha Kilian¡¯s gaze, disyed a chilling expression as she pursed her lips. She offered a feeble excuse to Alpha Dominic. ¡°I just fell down identally.¡±


    Such a feeble lie held no weight.


    Squinting his eyes, Alpha Kilian leaned forward, his voice dripping with derision. ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Shadow dared not meet his gaze, bowing her head and murmuring, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Alpha Kilian sneered, his silence speaking volumes.


    Although others would have taken this gesture at face value, Shadow understood the unspoken threat concealed within it. He seemed to say, ¡®You truly do not grasp your ce, do you?¡¯ as he released his grip on her.


    Alpha Dominic hade here under the pretense of collecting her. Looking at it from another angle, it indicated that Alpha Kilian held great importance for Shadow.


    Regardless of whether Alpha Dominic was acting on her behalf, Shadow knew that if she were to tell him about Jessica¡¯s assault, he would step up in her defense. The Lances family did not tolerate any mistreatment, regardless of her appearance.


    Yet, Shadow remained silent. She felt capable of handling her own affairs within the Eden family, and Alpha Dominic himself was a dangerous figure. She did not wish to be too entangled with him.


    Jason was satisfied with Shadow¡¯s response, his tone softening. ¡°Mr. Lances has traveled so far. Why don¡¯t you join us for dinner before you leave?¡±


    Alpha Kilian reclined on the sofa, responding casually. ¡°Alright.¡±


    Jason was taken aback by the unexpected agreement, but he was not disappointed. Although Alpha Dominic was merely a distant rtive of the Lances family, it was still advantageous to curry favor with him. After all, any member of the Lances family held more power than they could ever imagine, and having one on their side would be a blessing.


    Just as Jason was about to say more, the maid entered the room to inform him of a phone call. Jason excused himself to answer, leaving the intense atmosphere behind. Following suit, Jessica also made her exit, unable to bear the oppressive air in Alpha Dominic¡¯s presence.


    Now, only Shadow and Alpha Kilian remained in the living room.


    Shadow surveyed her surroundings, a frown creasing her brow as she whispered, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

 27

    Alpha Kilian¡¯s snout curled in her direction, his gaze unyielding to her challenging re. ¡°I¡¯vee to collect you. What do you think?¡±


    He arched an eyebrow, condescendingly exining it as if she were a naive pup. ¡°Do you believe I stumbled upon this ce and suddenly decided to y chauffeur for the Eden family?¡±


    Shadow, though met with his icy words, remained unfazed. Her gaze drilled into his, as if interrogating a thief rather than one of the most sought-after bachelors in Hoover Pack. ¡°Don¡¯t try to deceive me.¡±


    ¡°You can believe what you wish; it matters not to me.¡± Alpha Kilian shed a half-smile, as though he couldn¡¯t care less about her opinion.


    Truth be told, he had no intentions of picking her up. That was simply a convenient excuse for his true motive.


    He desired to meet the other members of the Eden family, particrly those who had caused scandal and uproar in recent times. While it may not currently affect him directly, it certainly affected his wife. And that, my friend, was much too bothersome.


    Shadow had already proven herself to be an independent woman with her own strengths and abilities. She was not burdened with the troubles of a typical wife. Nevertheless, if her family continued to cause more trouble, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to deal with them himself.


    Just as Shadow was on the brink of retort, she caught sight of Lisa and Jason descending the stairs, followed closely by Jessica.


    Though she couldn¡¯t hear their conversation, she could sense it was nothing pleasant. They regarded her as if she had ravaged their most prized possession. Clenching her fist, she steeled herself for what was toe.


    ¡°Jessica,e greet Mr. Alpha Dominic,¡± Jasonmanded, beckoning for Shadow to follow him. ¡°Shadow, I have something to discuss with you. Come with me.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Dad,¡± sheplied, trailing after him.


    Jessica approached Alpha Kilian, ready to take Shadow¡¯s ce by his side. However, before she could reach him, he swiftly moved away. His gaze dismissed her like a smudge on a clean page, his words cutting through the air. ¡°Stay away from me.¡±


    Jessica stood frozen for a moment, her mind slipping back to the first time she had invited this man into their Castle. Instead of appreciating her boldness, he had driven away without a second thought.


    This man was cold and indifferent beyond measure!


    What did he see in Shadow? What was so extraordinary about her? Why would such an attractive and dominant man go through such lengths to retrieve her? Countless questions flooded Jessica¡¯s mind, but she found no answers.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the Castle, Shadow followed her father into the study. Her head remained lowered throughout their journey. As they delved deeper into the dimly lit corridors, a chill filled the air.


    Jason¡¯s previously kind and understanding demeanor evaporated, reced with a grave expression. ¡°What is your rtionship with Alpha Dominic?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. I have no connection to him,¡± Shadow denied innocently.


    ¡°Last time you came home, your mother and Jessica witnessed what transpired in the car!¡± Jason bellowed through clenched teeth, mming his palm against the desk. His face flushed, his eyes gleaming with unbridled anger. ¡°Do not dare lie to me! Tell me, what is your rtionship with that man?¡±


    The suddenmotion made Shadow flinch, a hint of fear creeping into her heart.


    ¡°Now that you are married to Alpha Kilian, your sole duty is to be a good wife. Why do you associate yourself with his cousin? Not only does this tarnish our reputation, but it also destroys you!¡±


    Inwardly, Shadow sneered. Jason had never cared for her so ardently before.


    His reason for bringing up the topic was solely its potential impact on the family¡¯s image. It appeared that everything with them was akin to a business transaction.


    When she finally nced up, an innocent expression adorned her face. ¡°I have never associated with him.¡±


    Seeing her less than appealing appearance, Jason¡¯s eyes flickered with disdain.


    He and Lisa were both strikingly beautiful individuals. With his ruggedly handsome features and Lisa¡¯s gentle visage, he had expected Shadow to possess a beauty worthy of recognition. How could they have a daughter so repulsive?


    If he hadn¡¯t conducted a DNA test, he would have doubted if Shadow was truly his biological child.


    She was so hideous that shecked the qualifications to attract suitors. Even if she dared to approach Alpha Dominic, the man would have swiftly put her in her ce. He would never entertain her advances.


    However, Jason concealed his thoughts. After all, Shadow still held value to him.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. When you have the chance, bring your sister to the Lances family. Help her make connections. Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin isn¡¯t entirely detestable; they might make a suitable match.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    A suitable match?


    Shadow stared at Jason with perplexity. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Jessica already have many friends? She still has Henry.¡±


    ¡°Concern yourself no further,¡± Jason coldly responded. ¡°Now leave.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father.¡±


    Shadow lowered her head, focusing on her shoes. This was the typical dynamic within their household. If her father or mother scolded her, she would meekly remain silent. In this house, she was defenseless, her voice weaker than that of a ghost.

 28

    The atmosphere at the dinner table was eerily calm, with a sense of tension hanging in the air. It was as if an unspoken agreement had been made to ignore the underlying animosity that simmered beneath the surface.


    Jason, driven by his insatiable curiosity, relentlessly questioned Alpha Kilian about his background and position in thepany. He wanted to uncover the secrets of his prestigious lineage, knowing full well that his parents were well-respected members of the Lances family.


    Alpha Kilian, his gaze sharp and calcting, nced at Jason before responding with a deliberate slowness. ¡°Yes, I have recently returned from overseas and have found my ce within the Lances Corporation.¡±


    Jason¡¯s eyes gleamed with anticipation upon hearing this, his smile radiating false warmth. ¡°And what of your parents? Are they still working abroad?¡±


    Without deigning to acknowledge him any further, Alpha Kilian passed his bowl to Shadow. ¡°Shadow, help me with some soup.¡±


    He had no interest in engaging with a group of social climbers and sycophants. The reason why he found the woman beside him intriguing was because she was different from the rest ¨C blunt and honest. She never wanted anything from him.


    Shadow, taken aback, looked up and met his unwavering gaze.


    His hands, elegant and elongated, held the delicate porcin bowl with grace.


    Shadow was captivated, realizing once again that Alpha Dominic was a true and noble leader.


    epting the bowl, she nced up only to see impatience glimmering in his ink-like eyes.


    No words were exchanged between them. Instead, she rose from her seat and poured a bowl of soup for him before cing it beside his te.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he murmured, but his smile held no genuine warmth.


    Shadow stared at him in a daze. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    Were these aristocratic masters skilled in the art of deception?


    Jason was left ignored, his expression souring almost immediately. Although he wasn¡¯t as wealthy as the Lances, he was certainly not poor. Moreover, he carried his own reputation in the upper ss. To be dismissed so effortlessly was enough to make him grind his teeth, but he held his tongue.


    Observing their interaction, Jason understood that there was a certain familiarity between Alpha Dominic and Shadow. It only made sense for her to be the one to introduce him to Jessica.


    As for Jessica¡¯s current boyfriend, Henry, he was nothing more than a temporary ceholder to alleviate her boredom.


    Jason had an idea forming, ready to speak it aloud.


    However, before he could utter a word, Alpha Kilian nced at him with a quiet intensity and ced his utensils on top of his empty te. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough. We should leave.¡±


    Not bothering to wait for any response, he stood up and nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Thank you for your hospitality.¡±


    Although his words were gratitude-filled, they held an authoritative tone.


    The icy atmosphere enveloped them once again, freezing everyone in ce. Even Jason found himself speechless, unable to find his voice.


    To them, Alpha Dominic was the epitome of arrogance.


    And yet, Shadow couldn¡¯t help but admit that there was an undeniable charm to his personality and appearance.


    But as soon as this thought crossed her mind, her fingers brushed against her swollen cheek. She knew she had been foolishly beaten by Jessica. How else could she find ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ charming?


    ¡°Father, I¡¯ll go home,¡± Shadow muttered, bowing her head. Although she had wanted to leave hours ago, she needed to put on a facade for a while longer.


    Jason was denied the opportunity to voice his thoughts, leaving him feeling unsettled. His anger simmered as he could only direct it towards Shadow.


    He red at her, his anger bubbling forth. ¡°Get out!¡±


    Shadow endured the verbal assault, lowered her head, and walked out with her bag. She hoped this would be thest time she was ever invited to this wretched ce. Yet, after the events of the day, she doubted it would be.


    Jason, apanied by Lisa and Jessica, followed them outside, their smiles wide and disingenuous. It was clear they would never win any des for their acting skills.


    Indeed, power was a valuablemodity. Even if ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ did not show him an ounce of respect, Jason had to bid him farewell with a smile. It was as if the entire incident had never urred.


    The three of them stood at the entrance of the Castle. ¡°Mr. Alpha Dominic, we look forward to your next visit.¡±


    Alpha Kilian regarded them with a faint smile, showing no admiration for their feigned cordiality. He then turned his attention to Shadow, standing beside the car, and spoke in a low voice. ¡°Get in.¡±


    Shadow attempted to open the rear door, but it refused to budge.


    Surprised, she looked at ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ for answers.


    Alpha Kilian furrowed his brow in impatience. ¡°Fool! Do you want me to be your chauffeur?¡±


    Of course not. In truth, Shadow didn¡¯t want to sit next to him, fearing what else he might do. But she didn¡¯t have a choice and didn¡¯t want to further enrage him.


    The car pulled away slowly, enveloping them in silence.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shadow couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Alpha Dominic¡¯s visit to Eden Castle was without purpose. Given her strained rtionship with Alpha Kilian, it was impossible that he asked his cousin to pick her up. But she couldn¡¯t fathom a reason for him to visit her family home just for a pleasant conversation either.


    ¡°Did Alpha Kilian ask you to pick me up?¡± she finally voiced her thoughts, seeking answers for his unexpected presence.


    Alpha Kilian kept his gaze fixed ahead, his tone indifferent. ¡°What do you think? Do you believe that I willingly came here?¡±


    Shadow seemed toprehend, murmuring, ¡°I see.¡±

 29

    Shadow had been ying dumb for so many years. In fact, for as long as she could remember, she deliberately tried her best to mess up their orders and even kept her conversations to a minimum. And these people in the Eden family had beenpletely used to her silly appearance.


    However, as a noble family that hadsted for a hundred years, a servant of the Lances family was very smart, not to mention their masters, Alpha Kilian and ¡®Alpha Dominic.¡¯


    So it was impossible for her to deceive them by pretending to be stupid; she had no intention of pretending to be stupid from the beginning.


    Therefore, as long as she left the Eden family, she didn¡¯t pretend anymore.


    And as she stared at the retreating house, she slowly rxed in her seat. It was as if someone had finally allowed her to breathe.


    The relieved expression on her face didn¡¯t escape Alpha Kilian¡¯s gaze.


    She seemed to be very afraid of getting involved with Alpha Dominic, especially in front of her other family members. His fingers tapped against the steering wheel, and his eyes narrowed. Was she really that loyal to Alpha Kilian? Even he couldn¡¯t decipher what went on in this ugly woman¡¯s head.


    Although he knew that what she disliked was a fake ¡®Alpha Dominic,¡¯ he was somehow upset.


    Screech¡­


    When the car braked sharply, the tire rubbed against the ground, making a harsh sound.


    Due to inertia, Shadow suddenly leaned forward and then was bounced back into the chair.


    Looking very embarrassed, Shadow resisted her anger and turned to look at ¡®Alpha Dominic,¡¯ ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°My hands slipped from the wheel,¡± he said innocently.


    ¡°You¡­¡± His insincere exnation left Shadow speechless.


    She had wanted to p that arrogant look from his face! But she wasn¡¯t that stupid to offend the right-hand man of Alpha Kilian. Even if the two of them weren¡¯t on good terms, offending one of the Young Masters of the Lances family would be stupid. She had no other choice but to endure his antics.


    Alpha Kilian watched Shadow repress her anger, and he thought her expression was a little amusing.


    Ever since she had arrived here a few days ago, she and Alpha Dominic didn¡¯t get along. Not only had he insulted her looks, but he had tried every alternative to get her to kiss him. After learning that the two cousins were on good terms, it only made her blood boil at the sight of him. Now, all she aimed to do was to get as far away from him as possible.


    ¡­


    The car stopped at the door of Alpha Kilian¡¯s Castle.


    After saying thank you, Shadow immediately opened the door and ran into the Castle.


    Upon seeing the bodyguard standing by the front door, she tilted her head. ¡°Is your Young Master here?¡±


    She dared to return to Eden¡¯s home because she had the self-confidence that she could leave there safely. However, she still couldn¡¯t help but be grateful that Alpha Kilian had actually thought of her. Perhaps, he really wasn¡¯t as bad as some had thought.


    The bodyguard nced at Alpha Kilian, who was following her from behind and said with a deadpan expression, ¡°Young Master went out to do some business. He¡¯s not back yet.¡±


    Even he didn¡¯t know why the real master was covering up his identity as Alpha Dominic.


    ¡°I see.¡± Shadow had a pause and then said, ¡°If hees back, let me know.¡±


    She wanted to thank Alpha Kilian face to face.


    ¡°Yes, Young Madame.¡± The bodyguard bowed his head.


    Alpha Kilian came over and stared at Shadow¡¯s back and said to the bodyguard, ¡°What did she say?¡±


    ¡°Young Madame asked if you were at home,¡± he ryed the information quickly. ¡°And that if youe back, I¡¯ll let her know.¡±


    ¡­


    Shadow sat in her bedroom, logged into herptop, and scanned through her emails to see if anypanies had wanted to offer her a position.


    There were a few smallpanies who had invited her to an interview. At least, she came up with something, and their position in the industry also wasn¡¯t that bad.


    Ever since she had learned how to walk, she was given a ruleto never ask the Eden family for money. Besides, even if she did bother asking them, they wouldn¡¯t give her a dime! All their savings and excess were poured into her two older siblings. Even when it came to finding a job, they didn¡¯t dare extend a helping hand. Because of this, she managed to survive by working for a smallpany. Although the sry wasn¡¯t high, it was enough to support her simple lifestyle.


    When she married into the Lances family, she knew that her family must¡¯ve epted a ton of benefits. However, she had not received even a cent of them. Not only that, but she had also lost her job because of this mating bond. Now, she badly needed a job.


    Thepanies that sent out the interview invitations were notrge in size. But they were also good for Shadow, who had just graduated, so she nned to go for the interviews one by one.


    After turning off herputer, she walked out of her room and headed down the stairs. There was still no one in the hall.


    Alpha Kilian still wasn¡¯t back.


    She headed back to her room and continued to wait for him. After all, even if he was disabled, he was still the Young Master of the Lances family. He must have a ton of responsibilities on top of his shoulders, so it was only right that he was busy around.


    When the night fell, Alpha Kilian had not yet returned.


    Suddenly, a thought urred to her and she went to the kitchen.


    Even if he waste, he¡¯d surely be back here for dinner, right? She might as well cook up a meal to properly thank him.


    From the time she had stayed in the Castle until now, she noticed that only a few bodyguards were going in and out of the Castle. Although she rarely ate here, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if all the meals Alpha Kilian had eaten were made by these bodyguards.


    Alpha Kilian had always been an enigmatic figure, eschewing the presence of servants altogether. Did his disdain extend to women in general?C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Just as she stepped foot into the kitchen, a bodyguard blocked her path. ¡°Is the Young Madame hungry? If so, I can prepare anything you desire.¡±


    ¡°No need. I¡¯ll cook for your Young Master,¡± she replied, opening the refrigerator.


    The bodyguard nodded. ¡°If you require any assistance, don¡¯t hesitate to call for us.¡±


    A sly smile tugged at Shadow¡¯s lips. ¡°Alright. I will.¡±


    The fridge was stocked to the brim with an abundance of red and white meats, all meticulously organized andbeled in the freezer. It was akin to shopping at a premium market. Fresh vegetables and fruits adorned the shelves, promising an array of culinary possibilities.


    However, as Shadow perused the contents of the fridge, a realization dawned upon her  she had no idea what dishes appealed to Alpha Kilian¡¯s pte. Just as she contemted seeking this information, as if by some supernatural intervention, a deep voice reverberated behind her. ¡°Stewed beef, sd¡­ Fewer peppers, lighter on the oil.¡±


    Startled, Shadow swiftly turned to face ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯, who stood before her.


    Donned in a set of dark loungewear, his hands casually nested in his trouser pockets, Alpha Dominicmanded attention purely by his towering height. Even in silence, his presence demanded acknowledgement.


    His gaze descended upon Shadow, and he added, ¡°And a steamed egg with no pepper.¡±


    What?


    Did he view her as a mere waiter, cing an order for his desired dishes?


    Before he could depart, Shadow grasped his arm and inquired, ¡°What kind of food does your cousin prefer?¡±


    Alpha Kilian halted and nced back. ¡°Everything I just mentioned.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Shadow assumed those dishes were Alpha Dominic¡¯s favorites.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s narrowed eyes locked with hers as he reached out to gently hold the back of her head, forcing her to meet his gaze. Their faces were now a mere breath apart, his eyes filled with an enigmatic glint that ignited surprise within her.


    In order to meet her eye level, he leaned in, his expression devoid of emotion. ¡°Do you think I would deceive you just to share a meal?¡±


    The proximity between them intensified, his heated breath cascading upon her face, igniting a zing heat within her cheeks.


    They were so intimately close that Shadow¡¯s wavering reflection glimmered in his ink-ck eyes. There was something inexplicably captivating about his proximity, a bewildering effect that rendered her speechless. The lingering words in her mind crumbled to dust, leaving her momentarily devoid of a response.


    Never having ced great importance on her appearance before, the situation now made her feel both unattractive and foolish.


    She couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Alpha Dominic¡¯s remarkable tolerance. A man of his wealth and stature, ustomed to the presence of beautiful women, had willingly kissed her seemingly unsightly face!


    Alpha Kilian observed Shadow¡¯s vacant gaze and grinned. His finger glided across her delicate neck, sending shivers coursing through her body. ¡°The way you stare at me suggests an undeniable obsession. Perhaps you desire to escape from that cripple ande live with me? Shall I arrange for my cousin to transfer you to my care?¡±


    His touch possessed a coolness, mingling with an electric current that caused her to involuntarily tremble.


    Suddenly snapping out of her daze, Shadow forcefully pushed Alpha Dominic away. ¡°What on earth are you talking about!¡±


    Unprepared for her resistance, Alpha Kilian staggered back a few steps before regaining hisposure. There was no trace of embarrassment on his face. With a serene expression, he nonchntly remarked, as though discussing the weather, ¡°Believe me. Those were Alpha Kilian¡¯s favorite dishes. Besides, I have a dinner party tonight. Why would I let you cook for me?¡±


    He cast her a knowing nce before leisurely striding out of the kitchen.


    Once his figure vanished from sight, Shadow still felt a residual fear, gripping the refrigerator door and gasping for stability.


    As she reached up to touch her neck with a trembling hand, she instinctively recoiled as though struck by lightning. What was happening to her?


    Taking a moment to regain herposure, Shadow stared up at the ceiling. Alpha Dominic had undoubtedly flirted with her, but the motive behind his actions remained shrouded in mystery.

 30

    Shadow hurriedly made her way to the bathroom and took a look at her not-so-pretty reflection in the mirror. The foundation she had used on her cheeks was still clearly visible and the spots around her nose hadn¡¯t disappeared. To anyone else, she probably looked really ugly, maybe even disgusting. But why was Alpha Dominic still flirting with her? Was he blind or something?


    She had heard rumors about people in higher social circles being a bit strange. They had different habits and interests that most people would find weird. Maybe he had a thing for forbidden romances? Maybe the fact that she was his cousin¡¯s wife made it even more exciting for him?


    The thought sent chills down her spine and made her a little scared.


    When she first met ¡°Alpha Dominic,¡± she thought he was just a typical yboy who could have anyone and anything he wanted. She assumed he had a long list of women and plenty of money to spend on them. But his gunshot wound changed her perception of himpletely.


    Despite his good looks, his impressive family background, and his perseverance, Shadow was certain that he wasn¡¯t as simple as people thought.


    And yet, he still flirted with her.


    Why?


    Even as Shadow walked out of the bathroom and started cooking, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about him. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn¡¯t even notice the smoke filling the air from her burning food.


    It took her wasting two pieces of beef before she finally managed to push ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± out of her mind. This wasn¡¯t the time to think about him. She had more important things to focus on.


    Still, she decided to believe him just this once and cook the dishes he had mentioned.


    As soon as she finished cooking, she heard the sound of a car engine outside the front door. The headlights shed through the dark windows, indicating that the car had just parked. Shadow paused.


    Was Alpha Kilian back?


    Could she finally see him?


    The nervousness crept up on her, reminiscing how he never let her see his face before, despite her insistence that it didn¡¯t matter. Would he finally allow her to see him now?


    She took off her apron and walked out, only to see Frank. No matter how long she waited, Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t make an appearance from the car. He didn¡¯t even open the door for her.


    Was he not in the car?


    Frank was about to enter the hall with a box in his arms when he noticed Shadow standing by the doorway. Although taken aback, he quicklyposed himself and nodded respectfully. ¡°Young Madame, do you need any help?¡±


    Shadow nodded back at him and asked, ¡°Is Alpha Kilian back?¡±


    ¡°Young Master has already gone upstairs. He used the back entrance,¡± Frank replied, unsure why his boss was continuing this charade even after all this time. ¡°Can I be of any assistance, Young Madame?¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡­


    Shadow didn¡¯t keep him any longer. Frank breathed a sigh of relief and went to Alpha Kilian¡¯s study with the box of documents.


    Alpha Kilian was on the phone, discussing a business deal.


    When he heard the door open behind him, he didn¡¯t need to turn around to know it was Frank.


    Once Alpha Kilian finished his call, he found Frank had already arranged the documents neatly on his desk. Contracts, invitations, all organized for him.


    Seeing that Frank hadn¡¯t left, he asked, ¡°Is there something else you wanted to say?¡±


    Frank hesitated before speaking up. ¡°Young Madame mentioned that she cooked for you.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Alpha Kilian remained silent for a moment. He absentmindedly twisted his finger and then responded, ¡°I know.¡±


    Frank couldn¡¯t help but notice that Alpha Kilian¡¯s behavior had changed since Shadow married him. He was always distant and cold to everyone, but whenever Shadow¡¯s name came up, he seemed a bit different. There was a hint of stiffness in his demeanor. And whenever Frank saw them interact, it was as if Alpha Kilian had undergone a total transformation.


    In the dining room, Shadow was pacing back and forth, anxiously awaiting Frank¡¯s arrival from the study. But just as she was about to give up and head back to her room, she spotted Alpha Dominicing down the stairs. He looked as arrogant as ever, dressed in the same outfit he had been wearing for hours.


    Shadow eyed him warily and took a few steps back as a precaution. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you had a dinner party to attend?¡± she asked cautiously.


    ¡°I did,¡± Alpha Kilian replied, walking past her and into the dining room without a care.


    The table was filled with delicious-looking dishes, each one more enticing than thest. Despite the three dishes she had mentioned before, Shadow had also prepared chicken cubes with peppers. Although it may not have been restaurant-quality, there was somethingforting about the food she had made.


    Shadow frowned and followed him into the dining room. ¡°Why don¡¯t you leave now?¡±


    ¡°Did I say I wanted to go?¡± Alpha Kilian sat down at the table and gave her a sly look.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Even though he appeared emotionless, she could tell he was enjoying teasing her. It was like dealing with an immature child! She clenched her fists but stayed silent. As long as he didn¡¯t touch the food, she would be fine.


    But it seemed Alpha Kilian had other ns.


    He hadn¡¯t eaten much at her ce earlier, and now his growling stomach couldn¡¯t resist the sight of all the food in front of him. Without waiting for her reaction, he grabbed his chopsticks and began to eat.


    Shadow rushed over and snatched the chopsticks from his hand. ¡°Hey! This isn¡¯t for you!¡±


    Alpha Kilian had anticipated her move and raised his arm, causing her to lose her bnce and fall forward. Instinctively, she reached out to protect her face and head, only tond in Alpha Dominic¡¯s arms. Her body froze as his cold hands slid down her back. She heard him say, ¡°Cousin Alpha Kilian is still here, yet you¡¯re already throwing yourself at me like this. Do you want us to fight over you?¡±


    Shadow finally lowered her hands and opened her eyes. It was only then that she noticed the faint smile on Alpha Dominic¡¯s lips.


    He was still sitting in his chair at the table while she was sitting on hisp, her whole body in his arms!


    Their position was too intimate. If someone else saw them¡­


    She struggled, her expression darkening immediately. But before she could break free from his hold, Frank had entered the dining room.


    ¡°Young Master said he¡­¡± Frank¡¯s voice trailed off as he entered the room and witnessed the scene before him.


    Realizing what he had stumbled upon, Frank quickly adjusted his expression. ¡°Master said he isn¡¯t hungry,¡± he said without another word before turning around and leaving.


    What had he seen?


    The master anddy in the dining room¡­


    Wait!


    But the Young Master¡¯s identity right now wasn¡¯t Alpha Kilian, but Alpha Dominic! Wasn¡¯t Frank¡¯s reaction too passive for a subordinate of Alpha Kilian? Shouldn¡¯t he have been angry and immediately reported it to the ¡®Young Master,¡¯ even if they were the same person?


    Should he go back? Forget it, he didn¡¯t dare to. The boss would chew him out if he interrupted them at such an intimate moment¡­ and it would only make things worse.


    The atmosphere in the dining room went from confusing to downright puzzling.


    Shadow watched as Frank entered and left without a word,pletely dazed. She didn¡¯t know if he was too shocked to speak or if he had be too anxious after seeing them.


    Alpha Kilian observed the change in her expression, a hint of interest flickering in his eyes before quickly disappearing. He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, ¡°Do you think Frank will tell cousin about us?¡±


    Shadow retorted, ¡°We have nothing to do with each other.¡±


    She continued to struggle against his grip, but he refused to let go. He didn¡¯t seem to be using much force, but no matter what she did, she couldn¡¯t break free.


    Angry and anxious, Shadow¡¯s ears turned red as she spoke out, ¡°Alpha Dominic, you¡¯ve gone too far!¡±


    Alpha Kilian noticed her flushed ears, but her expression remained unchanged. He looked down in surprise and saw something on her face.


    Curious, he wiped it with his finger. The area where he had wiped turned white, and the spots on her face disappeared!


    Confusion evident on his face, Shadow finally managed to break free from his embrace. She stood by the wall, covering her face with her hands. She was frozen in fear, unable to move.


    Alpha Kilian snapped back to reality.


    He looked at his fingertip, seeing ayer of yellow powder. His eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing and intense. Slowly rising from his seat, he approached her.


    He moved at a snail¡¯s pace, each step making her heart race. She couldn¡¯t help but step back.


    Once her back hit the wall, she knew there was no escape.


    Alpha Kilian held his finger in front of her and asked in a low voice, ¡°What is this?¡±


    Fear took hold of Shadow, causing her to raise her voice. ¡°My makeup¡­ don¡¯t you know about foundation?¡±


    But Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t let it go so easily.


    His eyes narrowed, a sneer forming on his lips. ¡°You¡¯re using such a dark shade of foundation, it¡¯s ridiculous!¡±

 31

    Shadow  turned her head to the side, avoiding his gaze and said coldly, ¡°None of your business.¡±


    No matter how evasive she seemed, he still didn¡¯t back downusing this time to stare at the blemishes on her face. It was as if he was seeing them in a new light.


    ¡°Then whose business is that?¡±


    Alpha Kilian  stared at her for a long time. His broad shoulders and tall body towered over her, not giving her any chance to escape. She was trapped here, whether she liked it or not.


    Right now, she did want nothing but a hole to hide in the ground. How could she be so careless?


    Even if he was a mile away from her, she could practically sense the oppressive aura seeping right out of him. What more if he was practically centimeters away from her? She suppressed her fear, trying to stare at him right in the eye. But the moment she tried, she found herself turning away almost immediately.


    Her heartbeat was so fast that it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat. She felt no matter what she said he would definitely find w in it. It was impossible to get past him!


    Unlike her other family members, Kilian wasn¡¯t just an ordinary young master who take things at face value. He was smart and observant, more so than what she had first expected from him.


    ¡°Why are you not speaking anything?¡± Alpha Kilian  suddenly stepped back.


    Was he going to let her go? Her heartbeat slowed down, and her shoulders slowly rxed.


    However, in the next second Alpha Kilian  motioned her towards the bathroom and said slowly. ¡°Go wash your face.¡±


    He was not going to let her off today!


    Shadow  bit her lips and suddenly nced at the entrance to the dining room, looking as if she had just seen someone. The next second she immediately eximed in surprise while bowing her head. ¡°Dad,¡±


    When Alpha Kilian  heard this, he didn¡¯t take it seriously, ¡°Do you really think I¡¯ll fall for this childish trick?¡±


    No matter how strong the incredulity of his voice was, Shadow ¡®s face showed no embarrassment of being exposed. Instead, she kept her gaze on the floor, and her eyebrows furrowed over. Her skin had turned so pale, that it was almost as if she had really seen a ghost.


    Looking her like this, Alpha Kilian  was a little confused and it had taken a few seconds before he finally turned around, only to see that he was rightthere really was nothing behind him.


    Taking advantage of this distraction, Shadow  turned around and raced in the other direction.


    Alpha Kilian  was stunned for two seconds, surprised that someone had actually managed to trick him. However, just as he was about to run after her, he paused.


    Why was he too anxious? Theing days would be too long. There really was no hurry for him to call her out on her disguise.


    With a smirk he turned back to the table and continued to eat. Ever since this ugly woman hade into his Castle , his life had just gotten a whole lot more interesting. There was just something about the way she acted around him that made him feel she was hiding something. And he was determined to find out what.


    He looked at the delicate table of food served in front of him. He had to admit that the food she cooked was much better than those cooked by his bodyguard. He might need to make her cook for him more.


    ¡­


    Shadow  ran back into her room, pressing her back against the door and squatted down with panting. Her whole body covered with sweat but she didn¡¯t care about it.


    All she could think about was ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡®s¡± curious and narrowed eyes as he stared at the waxy foundation that had coated his fingertips.


    She was almost scared to death by ¡®Alpha Dominic ¡®.


    Although she didn¡¯t deliberately pretend to be ugly, she¡¯d have some unnecessary exining left to do if he found out about all of this.


    He may not know of her secret just yet given her escape, but he must have an idea of what she had done. Thinking back to the way he had stared at her, she knew that this wouldn¡¯t be thest time they¡¯d bring this issue up.


    After this incident, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± became the super dangerous person in her heart. No matter who, one of them must be moved out.


    Shadow  had been too busy with her thoughts. Even as she washed up andy on her bed, she still couldn¡¯t get her mind off of that incident in the kitchen. For so long, she had kept this secret to herself, and now, it was being torn apart one by one.


    Just as she was about to reach for her phone, she received a call from Hazel.


    ¡°Shadow , Eden ¡®s official website says that tomorrow they will exin the video to the public. What do they want to do?¡±


    Shadow  sneered. ¡°What do you think? They want me to exin how all of this is just some ¡®misunderstanding¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Misunderstanding? The content of the video is real. It showed the true face of your family. How do they want you to exin it? Do they want you to act as some scapegoat for them? To take all of the me?¡± Hazel asked as she gritted her teeth in anger.


    Shadow  said indifferently. ¡°Just help them take the me and prove that Jessica  is innocent.¡±


    After sheforted Hazel, she turned on her Weibo and saw that the Eden  Group had indeed posted an announcement, stating that they would be rifying the issues regarding the video.


    Interesting.


    Tomorrow, the Eden  family would look for her.


    Sure enough, the next morning, Jason gave her a call.


    ¡°Thepany will be conducting a press conference today. You can attend with us to exin the video¡¯s contents.¡±


    ¡°OK.¡± Shadow  said obediently.


    ¡­


    When Shadow  went down the stairs, she had to nce around to see if there was any suspicious-looking man around by the name of ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°. It was only when she was sure that he had already gone to work did she sigh in relief and head out of the Castle . At least there was one less problem she had to deal with today.


    She ate something casually on the road before going to the Eden ¡®s press conference. Although on the outside, she looked scared and worried, like the meek little mouse everyone assumed she was, on the inside, she was calm and assured.


    Lisa   stood by the entrance of the building. She was probably waiting for her to arrive.


    As soon as she spotted Shadow  from the crowd, she immediately walked up to her, and said, ¡°Why did it take you so long? And why are you wearing that face mask?¡±


    Shadow  lowered her voice to make it hoarser, ¡°I have a cold.¡±


    Not bothering to ask her any questions, Lisa   quickly too her and headed to the conference room.


    Jason  and Jessica  were already present, and they didn¡¯t look too happy about her appearance.


    Jessica  didn¡¯t waste any time as she threw the speech she had prepared in front of Shadow , rolling her eyes. ¡°The reporters will be asking you a few questions. The papers include what to say and what not to say. Hopefully, your brain damage wouldn¡¯t ruin it.¡±


    She flipped through the pages, and a sh of mockery shone in her eyes.


    Although the speech was incredibly long, it held one thought alone, that all this was Shadow ¡®s fault and no one else¡¯s. Not only would she take the me for the ¡®Ugly Gold Digger¡¯ rumor, but she would also take the fall for the video incident. All of it was to show that she was simply hyping everything up to put her name in the spotlight.


    They thought so well. After all, she wanted to be a scriptwriter in the future. Although she was only behind the scenes, she would want to be further recognized in the entertainment circle. It would exin why she wanted to draw all attention to her, and it also made the media paint her as the viin she was.


    A few seconds had passed when Jason ¡®s assistant knocked on the door. ¡°Director Eden . Everything is ready.¡±


    ¡°Well.¡± Jason  nced at his ugly daughter in disdain and said seriously. ¡°Have you memorized the contents of the speech? Well, it doesn¡¯t matter if you can¡¯t remember. Just remember this, everything is your fault, and it¡¯s your time to take responsibility for your actions. All right?¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Shadow  nodded obediently.


    Soon, the entrance of the conference room was pushed open, and dozens of reporters rushed in.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Needless to say, she knew that all of these reports had been bribed by Jason . No matter what she¡¯d say, or how she¡¯d phrase her words, if anything were noted to be against the Eden  familythey would not be broadcasted. However, there was an exception.


    Shadow  studied in the film academy and knew a lot about the entertainment circle. When she took a casual nce at the crowd, she found one of the logos on the microphones looked incredibly familiar. If Shadow  remembered correctly, it was the logos of the Nine Clouds Entertainment Group.


    Nine Clouds Entertainment Group was thergest and richestprehensive group in the industry. Its founder had a broad vision and even thepany¡¯s employees were very responsible which were not easy to be bribed.


    At the beginning of the interview, some microphones with the logos of Nine Clouds Media were directly crowed in front of Shadow .


    ¡°May I ask, Miss Eden , if the video was true? Were you really forced to mated  into the Lances family?¡±


    Shadow  didn¡¯t take off her mask. Instead, she stared at the reporter for a few seconds before slowly saying, ¡°No, I married into the Lances family on my own ordance.¡±


    Her reaction was all seen by these reporters. All the reporters couldn¡¯t help but feel a little bit confused. Although they had heard that the Third Lady of the Eden  family was particrly slow when it came to processing conversations, they didn¡¯t think it was this serious. It seemed that there really was something wrong with her.


    Jason and the other two simply smiled in satisfaction with Shadow ¡®s words.


    ¡°You want to mated  into a wealthy family, so you reced your sister?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s your biological sister! How could you treat her like this? You look so ugly that I bet Alpha Kilian  hates you from the start.¡±


    ¡°You robbed your sister¡¯s fiancee. Don¡¯t you feel ashamed? No wonder your mother doesn¡¯t care about you.¡±


    ¡°Have you really been this twisted ever since you were young?¡±


    The reporters threw question after question, and it was obvious that they were making this a personal attack rather than focusing on the real deal.


    Suddenly, one of the reporters finally had the courage to ask her a more personal question, ¡°Is Alpha Kilian  an impotent as the rumors have stated? Will you stay with him for money all your life? Will you find a lover in the future?¡±


    Unscrupulous media people didn¡¯t have conscience. They just knew how to make rumors and catch people¡¯s attention.


    Shadow  stared at the reporter. The face mask only covered half her face, and her thick bangs covered her entire forehead. Only her eyes were shown. There was something about her clear gaze that could intimidate anyone in the room.


    The reporter was startled by her eyes.


    At this time, Shadow  said slowly. ¡°Even if you have the hobby of inquiring about others¡¯ sexual affairs, I can¡¯t tell this kind of thing to the public. After all, I still have a sense of shame.¡±


    The other reporters couldn¡¯t helpughing after hearing her words.

 32

    It was obvious that Shadow  was mocking the reporter for her shameless act of asking people their sex life in public.


    The reporters who asked the question understood it too.


    Almost every reporter present was bribed by Jason . They were invited to use today¡¯s press conference as a way to revive Jessica ¡®s innocence, so most of them only asked Shadow  questions concerning the video. Only that reporter was the only one who had asked about Alpha Kilian  to gain attention.


    The Lances family had great power and influence, and ordinary people couldn¡¯t afford the offend them. However, there were a handful of people who wanted to risk everything, even their own lives to provoke them.


    Seeing that the others still hadn¡¯t stoppedughing, the reporter¡¯s face paled in embarrassment. So, she gave up covering her intentions and said viciously, ¡°You are so ugly! How a woman like you could married into Alpha Kilian ¡®s family if it isn¡¯t not the fact he is not impotent? If you could snatch away your sister¡¯s fiancee to mated  into a wealthy family, you will definitely cheat on Alpha Kilian !¡±


    Although Shadow  had never seen Alpha Kilian ¡®s appearance, she didn¡¯t want to add fuel to the mes and involve him in these troubles. After all, the man had been nothing but nice to her, at least nicer than her actual rtives.


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s entric personality had something to do with his experiences. Regardless of whether he was good at sex or not, he didn¡¯t deserve to be discussed so coarsely by these reporters.


    ¡°Cheat on him? Is anyone who is more promising than Alpha Kilian  present in the Hoover Pack ?¡± Shadow  smiled. Her eyes curved into a crescent shape, and her tone became much lighter. ¡°And we¡¯re good in bed. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask my husband, Alpha Kilian .¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    The reporter had expected the woman would swear angrily at her for even having the audacity to question her mating bond. But she didn¡¯t expect that she¡¯d be so calm about it.


    Ask Alpha Kilian ?


    Not to mention asking Alpha Kilian , they didn¡¯t even have the opportunity to meet him. Even if they met, they would only cozy up to him. How could they dare to ask such a question?


    Only then did the other reporters, who were eager to dig up some secrets, realize something. Shadow  was not just the third young miss from a small familypany, who was not favored by her parents, but also a young madam who had married into the Lances.


    This wasn¡¯t child¡¯s y anymore. Instead, they were ying with fire.


    Although she did not seem to be favored by the Lances now, who knew what would happen in the future?


    It was for these reasons that they switched their questions to something more tactful, one that didn¡¯t even include Alpha Kilian ¡®s name.


    ¡°Are you intimate with your sister Jessica ?¡±


    She smiled. ¡°I liked her very much when I was young.¡± This meant she didn¡¯t like Jessica  anymore when she grew up.


    ¡°Does your mother love the both of you?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    When, in reality, Lisa   was only nice to Jessica . It was the reason why she had chosen to sacrifice her instead when it came to marrying Alpha Kilian . It was also the reason why this press conference was done too. Everything seemed to revolve around her.


    Only in the end did the reporters remember that they had taken Jason ¡®s money. So, they pulled the question back to the video.


    ¡°Someone on the inte had mentioned that you deliberately provoked your sister and bribed the paparazzi to take the video on purpose. You¡¯re doing all of this just to put yourself under the spotlight? To further your career in the entertainment industry?¡±


    Shadow  stared at them silently for a long time before slowly nodding. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡­


    After the interview had ended and all the reporters left, Jessica  angrily walked to Shadow  and shouted, ¡°I want you to admit that quickly. Why were you hesitating for so long? Did you do it on purpose?¡±


    Staring at her dull expression, her anger only red up even more. Not knowing what else to do, she raised her hand and was just about to hit her.


    Shadow  had long been paying attention to her actions, so she knew exactly what to do. She pretended to take half a step back inadvertently just as her palm was falling to her face, causing it to fall on the air.


    ¡°You actually dodged it?¡± Seeing this, Jessica  got angrier. She narrowed her eyes at her. ¡°How dare you?¡±


    However, just as she was about to hit her again, Jason  pulled her back. ¡°What are you thinking? The reporters had just left! Someone could see you.¡±


    ¡°But, Dad!¡± When Jessica  saw Jason , sheined with a wronged expression. ¡°You¡¯ve seen how she reacted, didn¡¯t you? How she hesitated for so long? She was just trying to screw us up! You believe me, right? Dad?¡±


    This time, Jason  gazed at Shadow . His eyes were filled with scrutiny as he looked down on her.


    He had heard the way Shadow  hadmunicated with that reporter just now. The answerers were clever, far from her usual one-worded answers. It was definitely not a word spoken by a fool, but someone who was quick-witted and smart. Could it be that she had actually done it on purpose?


    Seeing this, she immediately removed her mask, revealing her waxy yellow skin. She bit her lips in fear and anxiety. ¡°Dad. I haven¡¯t eaten breakfast yet, and I¡¯m a little hungry.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡± Jason nced at Lisa  . ¡°Follow her and buy her some food.¡±


    ¡­


    The two walked out of the building. The two were silent the entire way. In fact, they didn¡¯t even bother to look at each other. It had always been that way, but now, the atmosphere around them was quite sinister.


    Just as she was about to head over to the canteen, Lisa   suddenly pulled her over. ¡°Shadow ¡­¡±


    ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Shadow  turned around and said calmly


    ¡°Mr. Lances¡­¡± Lisa   paused for a while and seemed to be troubled before saying, ¡°Is he the same as the rumors? Or¡­ is he healthy?¡±


    Healthy? Even she couldn¡¯t help but be a little stunned. Lowering her head, she pulled up a confused look. ¡°Why would you ask such a question, Mom?¡±


    ncing at her, the older woman frowned. ¡°If ever there is nothing wrong with him, you¡¯d have to tell me the truth. If he is healthy, then you¡¯re not worthy of him. Besides, your older sister was originally designated as his fiance, wasn¡¯t she? It would only be right that she takes your ce again.¡±


    Shadow  was shocked.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Her mother had really thought of everything. So that meant that if Alpha Kilian  happened to be healthy, then she¡¯d be forced to divorce Alpha Kilian  and let Jessica  mated  him instead. That was their n, wasn¡¯t it? To make Jessica  live her own happy-ever-after?


    Shadow  was so angry that sheughed instead. ¡°If Alpha Kilian ¡®s face wasn¡¯t disfigured and his body was healthy, it wouldn¡¯t have been me or Jessica !¡±


    All these years, she had done everything to make Lisa   happy. Not only did she try to disguise herself into this ugly woman, but she had also dumbed herself down as not to overshine Jessica . Now, she was tired of putting up an act! This was just too much!


    ¡°She¡¯s your sister,¡± Lisa   was disappointed that she had addressed Jessica  by her name.


    Shadow  asked Lisa   with disbelief. ¡°Tell me, am I really your biological daughter?¡±


    Lisa   frown deepened. ¡°Why would you say something like that? You weren¡¯t like this in the past!¡±


    It was because she had been so willing to y stupid in the past. She had wanted to cooperate, to please them all, but since that seemed like an out-of-reach goal¡­ it didn¡¯t matter anymore.


    Now, she didn¡¯t want to be wronged any longer nor did she want to plead for their love.


    Not bothering to say another word,   Shadow  turned around to leave. No matter how much Lisa   tried to call out to her from behind, it only pushed her to walk even faster.


    Although she didn¡¯t want to care about Lisa  , she was still her mother. Her heart still couldn¡¯t help but feel a little sad by the oue of everything.


    She walked through the crowd, absent-minded. Her mind was filled with various thoughts of how her entire family had turned out and how her life had twisted for the worse.


    Just as she was about to continue, someone honked behind her. When Shadow  looked up, she was so surprised that she tripped over something beside her feet, falling down all of a sudden.


    Although she was wearing thick clothes because of the winter, she could feel her knees scrape from the impact. Shadow  hissed in pain.


    Just then, a car door opened behind her. Before she could see who the person was, a familiar voice echoed, ¡°Shadow , are you crazy? Crossing the road like that, do you want to be killed or something?¡±


    Alpha Dominic ?


    Shadow  looked up, only to see ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± in a nice suit.


    She was in a bad mood, and didn¡¯t want to see this man.


    Gritting her teeth in pain, she was about to turn around and leave when he grabbed her by the wrist. She heard him saying in an indifferently and deep voice. ¡°Did you fall?¡±


    Shadow  didn¡¯t say anything in reply, wanting nothing more than to shake his hand off from her.


    However, before she could, her body was suddenly lifted up in the air, and sheter found herself in Alpha Dominic ¡®s arms.

 33

    Out of defense, Shadow  wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head into his chest. Her mind went nk for a few seconds before she realized what was happening.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic !¡± She screamed at the top of her lungs. A few pedestrians had nced her way, but as soon as they saw the man holding her, they quickly looked away.


    Shadow  struggled to get down from his arms, ¡°Put me down!¡±


    Ignoring her frustration, Alpha Kilian  held her even tighter in his arms and put her on the passenger seat. No matter how many times she kicked her legs up in the air or pounded his chest with her fists, he still didn¡¯t back down as he closed the door beside her. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±


    ¡°You wish!¡± As soon as she was seated, she reached out to grab the car door and want to get out of the car. With everything that had happened in the press conference and the night before, thest person she wanted to talk to was him!


    Alpha Kilian  had already expected her to try and fight back. Just as her hand was about to reach for the handle, he held the door with one hand and ced his other hand on the back of her seat, trapping her. He looked at Shadow  with a faint smile, ¡°If you dare to get off, I will kiss you.¡±


    Hearing this Shadow  froze. Although the reporters had left the building, they wouldn¡¯t have gone very far. And if they¡¯d see this, she was dead for sure.


    Shadow  pursed her lips and said through clenched teeth, ¡°You really are the most shameless man I¡¯ve ever met.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for you praise.¡± Alpha Kilian  closed the door, got in the car from the other side and drove away.


    Shadow  turned her head to the other side. She did not even want to look at the man beside her. The mere sight of him would annoy her.


    Alpha Kilian  didn¡¯t look at her either. He looked straight ahead and said indifferently, ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question.¡±


    Question?


    Shadow  was stunned for a moment before remembering his mocking tone. ¡®Do you want to be killed or something?¡¯


    Shadow  turned around and red at him, ¡°If you¡¯re looking to ckmail me or anything, then I¡¯ll tell you right now that it wouldn¡¯t work!¡±


    Seemed like, as the days went by, she had started to grow out of her shell bit by bit.


    Alpha Kilian  looked at her and smiled. ¡°Your husband is the most promising man in the Hoovere Pack . How dare I ckmail you? Do you think I¡¯m that stupid?¡±


    Although these words were spoken to ridicule her, there was a sense of pride twisted into his voice. It was as if he was proud of her for her response.


    But why? It wasn¡¯t as if she wasplimenting him or anything. She was actually just talking about his cousin.


    She couldn¡¯t help but find him a bit strange.


    She looked at ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± carefully and found nothing out of the ordinary. He was the same as usual. Perhaps she was thinking too much.


    However, at his words, she couldn¡¯t help but think back to the interview.


    If he had seen the interview that fast, did Alpha Kilian  see it too?


    With this thought, Shadow  felt a little uneasy.


    The Lances family¡¯s attitude was actually very obvious from the start. After they had suppressed a few articles rting to Alpha Kilian , they made no move to cover up any news about her. In other words, as long as Alpha Kilian  was not involved they would not care about the grudges between her and her family.


    In today¡¯s interview, the reporters¡¯ questions were a bit excessive. Although her answers were enough to grant the two of them some dignity, she could not help but wonder if her answers made Alpha Kilian  feel disgusted.


    Shadow  organized her thoughts and decided to ask ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± first. ¡°Has your cousin seen the interview?¡±


    Alpha Kilian  recognized the hesitation in her tone and looked at her in surprise. His eyes instantly lit up. ¡°He saw it.¡±


    ¡°Then he¡­?¡±


    Alpha Kilian  said with a calm tone. ¡°Of course, he is very angry.¡±


    Angry?


    Shadow ¡®s heart skipped a beat and she became even more uneasy. The only thing she felt guilty about was that she had to drag Alpha Kilian  into this when he was nothing more than a victim in this situation.


    She looked out of the window and realized that it was not the way back. She asked vigntly, ¡°Where are you going? I want to go back to the Castle .¡±


    He acted as if he couldn¡¯t hear her and continued to drive. A few minutester, he just stopped the car the front of a clinic on the roadside.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    He got out of the car and opened the door of Shadow , ¡°Can you walk? Or Should I carry you?¡±


    Hearing this, Shadow  hurriedly bent down and got out of the car.


    ¡°Do you want to buy some medicine?¡± They walked into the clinic, and she took this time to look around and asked curiously.


    The man walking in front of her ignored her and continued walking to the clinic.


    Shadow  followed up and heard him say to the doctor, ¡°She fell and hurt her leg. Please take a look at her.¡±


    Shadow  was shocked.


    Not only did ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± carry her to his car, but also he drove her to the clinic to check her legs?


    She nced at her legs. Although she was wearing thick clothes for cool weather, she could still feel pain every time she moved. It seemed like she really fell down heavily.


    When doctor heard it, he looked at Shadow  and smiled gently, ¡°Pleasee in. I¡¯ll help you check on your wound. Where does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°No, my leg is fine.¡± Shadow  said as she couldn¡¯t help but look at ¡°Alpha Dominic .¡±


    Kilian showed no expression when he gazed at her. Although he also didn¡¯t speak, his handsome face held a hint of sharpness and regalness, which not like a yboy at all. Instead, he had an aura of a king, one that demanded all the respect in the world. It was as if the man had turned a one-eighty on her overnight.


    And this kind of ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± made her panic.


    Upon hearing her response, the doctor chuckled. He nced at ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± and said to her, ¡°Your boyfriend cares about you. Why don¡¯t you just let me check?¡±


    Hearing the doctor¡¯s words, Shadow  immediately retorted, ¡°He is not my boyfriend!¡±


    Alpha Kilian  smirked and didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, he pointed at the female doctor who was standing not far away from them. ¡°We want a female doctor for checkup.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± The doctor smiled and seemed to understand the meaning behind Alpha Kilian ¡®s words. He called the female doctor over.


    As soon as the female doctor came over, her cheeks immediately flushed at the sight of Alpha Kilian . Then she gently rolled up Shadow ¡®s trousers to inspect her knees.


    Her legs were fair, nder and straight unlike her yellowish face. The female doctor could not help but praise. ¡°Your legs are so beautiful. You could be a model if you want to.¡±


    Shadow  ufortably pulled down her pants just a bit. Seeing that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was right behind her, she couldn¡¯t bear to watch him gaze at her like this. Not only was it ufortable, but it also might arouse his suspicions even more. There was no way he was going to let her live this down after this.


    Her knees were a bit red and swollen. But they weren¡¯t injured. As long as she¡¯d do some coldpress at home, she¡¯d be fine. She didn¡¯t even know what ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was thinking in bringing her here.


    Turning her head inadvertently, she was met his cool gaze.


    He stared at her legs as if he didn¡¯t care. ¡°At least your head¡¯s not the only one that¡¯s hard.¡±


    At that time, when Alpha Kilian  had seen her fall onto the road, he got panicked, especially when she didn¡¯t get up for a long time. He really thought that her leg was seriously injured, so he immediately brought her here to get it checked out.


    It was rare for him to have no sarcasm in his words. But it was as if he was sighing.


    Although her legs looked fine, the doctor still prescribed some antibiotics.


    Once they had finally exited the clinic, Alpha Kilian  walked straight to the passenger door and pulled it open. A few seconds had passed, and there was still no movement from the other end. Only when he had turned around did he see that Shadow  still made no signs of moving.


    He turned around and narrowed his eyes. ¡°What? Do your legs hurt so much that you can¡¯t even walk? Do you want me to carry you?¡±


    Shadow  had always been patient, especially given that she had been dealing with her vicious family for so long. But there was something about Alpha Dominic ¡®s presence that pushed her buttons to no end. She clenched her fists and exhaled heavily, trying to restrain herself from cursing at him


    She looked at him and said with a straight face. ¡°Thank for today. I don¡¯t want to trouble you any further. I¡¯ll be taking a taxi back.¡±


    Staring at the impassive expression on her face, he took this time to lean against the car door. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not busy. I¡¯ll just be having dinner with a friend of mine. Let¡¯s go together. Anyway, you don¡¯t seem to busy either.¡±


    Shadow  didn¡¯t respond as she turned around to leave.


    She knew she could not talk to this man. But why did he keep pestering her?


    Did he find her ugliness unique? Or could it be that he always liked ¡°ugly woman¡± like her?


    Shadow  walked a bit further and was about to call a taxi, when she heard ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡®s¡± voiceing behind her.


    He seemed to be talking with someone on the phone.


    ¡°I¡¯m outside. I met with Miss Eden  and we decided to have dinner together. Cousin, you won¡¯t mind if I take her out for a bit, will you? After all, we see each other every day. Isn¡¯t it good if the two of us know each other a bit more?¡±


    Shadow  froze, feeling as if he had just thrown chains around her body. She turned around only to see he had been staring at her with a faint smile on his face. She didn¡¯t need to understand anymore. His threat was self-evident.


    There was no doubt that if she took an another step further and he would shout ¡°Shadow  seduced me¡±.


    She clenched her fists and took some deep breathes to calm her anger down as she walked to his side.


    Satisfaction shed through Alpha Kilian ¡®s eyes as he couldn¡¯t conceal the proud of victory. ¡°You may get in the car Sister-inw. Cousin and I still have a few things we need to talk about.¡±


    Seeing her obediently getting in the car, he lowered his phone. There was no Caller ID being disyed but his lock screen.


    ¡°Although you¡¯re smart, you can¡¯t necessarily outsmart me.¡± There wasughter in his voice as he ¡®ended¡¯ the call and joined her in the car.

 34

    The car ride was silent until they arrived at a high-end club surrounded by luxurious furniture. Although the ce was subduedpared to other clubs, Shadow could tell it catered to the upper ss, given the number of sports cars parked in the area.


    Shadow paused to observe the well-dressed people entering and exiting the club. This was undoubtedly not her usual scene. ¡°Are we going to eat here?¡± she asked ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± suspiciously. She didn¡¯t want to believe that he was only there to y.


    Without answering her, Alpha Kilian got out of the car and promptly closed the door behind him. This time, he didn¡¯t open the passenger seat, as if daring her not to follow him inside.


    With no choice, Shadow hurried after him. The two of them walked straight to the entrance, and as Alpha Kilian stepped inside, a waiter bowed respectfully, saying, ¡°Wee to Golden Fountain Clubhouse.¡±


    However, when Shadow  was about to enter, the waiter quickly stopped her in her tracks.


    The attendant raised his chin and looked at Shadow , his eyes shing with disdain, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Shadow  lowered her head and looked at her clothes. They were a bit shabby, definitely not high-end clubhouse worthy. But she still said calmly, ¡°I am here for lunch.¡±


    She was about to enter after finished speaking, but the attendant stopped her again. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard me? This is Golden Fountain Clubhouse. Not everyone can enter, especially not when someone looks like you.¡±


    He had seen too many gold-diggersing here to look for a sugar daddy, so he wasn¡¯t surprised that she¡¯d try toe in. Most of those women were at least beautiful. But this was the first time he had ever seen someone so ugly! Letting someone like her inside would damage the exclusivity of the club.


    Shadow  pouted her mouth. She didn¡¯t want to go in, either.


    Alpha Kilian  had already gone in when he realized that Shadow  didn¡¯t follow him. Just as he was about to turn around to look for her, he heard the waiter¡¯s harsh words. Immediately, his face became cold.


    He walked over and stretched out his long arm to pull Shadow  behind him. He looked at the attendant indifferently, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Most of the people who came to this clubhouse were either rich or powerful. So, attendants here had a good eye on the guests.


    Although he didn¡¯t know Alpha Kilian , looking at the tall and dominant figure, he knew for a fact that the man was both rich and powerful. The attendant immediately became cowardly and stammered. ¡°Mateo¡­¡±


    Hearing this, Alpha Kilian  only gave him a cold nce and pulled Shadow  inside. Nobody dared to stop them now.


    Alpha Kilian  was tall and walked fast. But Shadow  was much shorter than him, so she was always half-step behind him. However, this time, he made sure to pace his footsteps just to make sure that they weren¡¯t that far apart.


    Although he was an unscrupulous yboy, his palms were so warm, which made Shadow  rxed. Shadow  raised her head and looked at his broad shoulders in a daze.


    Other than Hazel, this was the first time someone had protected her like this.


    The sound of the elevator door opening pulled her thoughts back.


    She nced up and saw that Alpha Kilian  had stopped and was staring at her with a meaningful look on his face. Had he been waiting for her this entire time?


    ¡°Are you just going to stand there holding my hand?¡± He asked impatiently.


    Shadow  quickly pulled back the hand he was holding as if she was electrocuted. She panicked and entered the elevator.


    She had been holding hands with ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± all the way!


    ¡®Get yourself together, Shadow !¡¯


    As soon as Alpha Kilian  had stepped inside the elevator, Shadow  took it upon herself to stand in the farthest corner from him. Her hands folded behind her, and she bowed her head. It was as if she was facing Medusa with the way she was hiding from his imprable stare.


    Alpha Kilian  nced at her indifferently and said in a deep voice, ¡°Why are you standing so far away? Do you think I¡¯ll eat you or something?¡±


    Shadow  turned her head away, not wanted to respond him.


    When they reached the private room, Shadow  thought that she could finally breathe a sigh of relief. But she wasn¡¯t expecting to see a man sitting in the center of the room.


    The man was dressed in a striped suit, and wore a pair of gold-framed sses. His features were sharp and angr, but there was certain gentleness in his movements. His outstanding temperament was the proof that he was either rich or powerful.


    Everyone in the entertainment industry would recognize this man. He was Xavier Hall, the CEO of the Nine Clouds Media Company!


    Shadow  froze. What was he doing here?


    Xavier seemed to have sensed her gaze. He quickly turned his head towards her with a gentle smile.


    Alpha Kilian  walked towards his table and pulled out a chair, pressing Shadow  right next to him. He looked at Xavier and said, ¡°My Cousin-inw.¡±


    Cousin-inw? Didn¡¯t he say he was bringing his wife?


    Xavier seemed to be shocked for a moment, as if he had heard something interesting. He stared at the young woman and the smile in his eyes deepened. ¡°Mrs. Lances, it¡¯s nice to finally meet you. I¡¯ve heard quite a lot about you.¡±


    The atmosphere around them felt a little strange, but she still politely greeted. ¡°Mr. Hall.¡±


    This ugly woman knew Xavier?


    Alpha Kilian  looked up and threw the menu in front of Shadow . He said coldly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you order?¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Although it was as if he was giving her respect, it sounded more like an order than a suggestion.


    Shadow  didn¡¯t know how she had offended him, but she didn¡¯t say a word. After all, there was an outsider with him. If she spoke up, not only would that bring attention to them, but it could also humiliate both of them.


    So she lowered her head and looked at the menu carefully.


    At this time, Alpha Kilian ¡®s phone vibrated.


    He took out his phone to see that Xavier had sent him a message. ¡°Still role-ying with your wife? I didn¡¯t think you were that kind of man, Alpha Kilian .¡±


    At the end of the sentence, there were a fewughing emojis.


    He was already unhappy that Shadow  knew Xavier, and after reading the text message, his annoyance became even more heightened. He raised his leg and kicked on Xavier¡¯s leg.


    ¡°Mm.¡± Xavier didn¡¯t expect him to be so ruthless. He groaned in pain. The man truly had no mercy!


    But because Shadow  was here, he could only endure it.


    Feeling the table shake, Shadow  looked up at Alpha Kilian  nkly.


    ¡°Have you ordered?¡± Alpha Kilian  leaned over and ced his arm around the back of her chair. From an outsider¡¯s perspective, they looked like an intimate couple.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Shadow  felt ufortable because of his gesture. Without another word, she ced her menu far away.


    Fortunately, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± didn¡¯t do anything inappropriate during their lunch. Instead, he kept chatting with Xavier. They were talking about the entertainment business as well as their numerous clients. Not thinking that it was right for her to listen in, she stayed silent and continued to eat her meal.


    It wasn¡¯t hard to see that the two men were good friends.


    Shadow  had been eating the whole time. After she was finished, she found a reason to excuse herself.


    As soon as she left, Xavier let out a long sigh of relief. He took off his sses and changed his gentle image and freaked out. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me you were this good at acting. Maybe you should resign from your role as CEO and be an actor instead. You are having fun and I am so busy alone in thepany. I have to wear sses every day to look mature and reliable. I don¡¯t care! I want to take a vacation!¡±


    ¡°Vacation?¡± Alpha Kilian  said indifferently, ¡°What kind of leave does the president of the Nine Clouds Media Company need? Even a bumpkin like Shadow  knows you, shouldn¡¯t you work harder?¡±


    ¡°I have millions of fans on Weibo. She obviously knows me. Besides, you¡¯re the boss here, not me! I¡¯m just working for you.¡±


    Xavier said angrily, ¡°If you don¡¯t return to work, I¡¯ll jump off the rooftop of thepany and get you big news.¡±


    Xavier said this kind of threat three times a day. Alpha Kilian  simply didn¡¯t care.


    He slowly drank some water before asking. ¡°Did the Human Resources Department really not receive Shadow ¡®s resume?¡±


    Xavier leaned back against his seat, shaking his head. ¡°I had my secretary to ask them every day. They really didn¡¯t receive her resume.¡±


    After saying that, he asked Alpha Kilian  with a curious expression, ¡°Your wife looks like that, how you can kiss her?¡±


    ¡°She looks like what?¡± Alpha Kilian  looked up at him coldly.


    Xavier swallowed his saliva and said tteringly, ¡°Pure, beautiful and generous¡­ She¡¯s truly an angel.¡±


    Instead of agreeing with him, Alpha Kilian  scoffed in reply. ¡°Are you blind?¡±


    Xavier was speechless. What did this man what him to say?


    He could not say Shadow  was ugly, nor could he say she was beautiful. Should he have just nodded along to his words?


    He felt that ever since Alpha Kilian  got married, he had be strange.


    Before leaving, Alpha Kilian  had a sudden thought. He immediately turned around and instructed Xavier. ¡°There¡¯s a waiter in the club named Mateo. Just fire him.¡±


    ¡­


    When they returned to the Castle , it was already the afternoon.


    Shadow  and Alpha Kilian  entered one after the other.


    When she entered, she asked the bodyguard. ¡°Is your Young Master home?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± After a period of training, the bodyguards no longer felt the pressure, to lie.


    ¡°All right.¡± She had already gotten used to his absence. Not bothering to say anything to the man behind her, she quickly raced into her bedroom.


    Laying on the bed, Shadow  was thinking about what she should tell Alpha Kilian  when he came back and asked about the interview.


    However, as she stared up the ceiling, she suddenly thought of ¡°Alpha Dominic .¡±


    For someone who had threatened her and teased her to no end these past few days, he surprisingly treated her well today.


    His behavior was very abnormal today.

 35

    After Shadow finished her press conference, she had nned to watch it again on Weibo, wanting to see if she had gotten anyments from theizens. However, before she could, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had already pestered her to join him for lunch.


    Turning on theputer, she browsed the webpages. She found that the interview was covered by many media and re-posted by quite a number of Weibo influencers.


    The majority of theizens were scolding her, just like she had expected. But there were a few rational people who analyzed her answers more carefully.


    ¡°I knew that she was lying. The others who supported her are now hiding in embarrassment, right? What else do you have to say?¡±


    ¡°Why was she acting like a diva? She even wore a mask when she was interviewed. Is she so afraid to show her face?¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Am I the only one who thinks that the way she answered the press was cool?¡±


    ¡°I realized that she never really admitted to actually stealing her sister¡¯s fiance from the start. And look at the pause at the end! You think she¡¯s still being controlled?¡±


    Seeing thestment, Shadow couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    She had deliberately avoided that question. If she admitted that she had really stolen Jessica ¡®s fiance, who knew what that woman would try and do to stir more trouble in the future?


    That¡¯s why she focused on her rtionship with Eden family, rather than Alpha Kilian ¡®s topic.


    Shadow was rarely this happy. She continued to flip through thements.


    ¡°Can¡¯t wait for the next episode.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Ever since Shadow saw the Eden family for their true colors, her patience had run out. There was no way she was going to back down and obey them like before. The moment they had treated her like amb for ughter was the day that their family ties were extinguished. So, she would not let this matter go.


    Not long after, all thements about Shadow ¡®s interview on the Inte suddenly became curses. Many of them weren¡¯t even making sense anymore as they called her names and insulted her looks.


    It was obvious that Jessica had found an army of Weibo trolls.


    She didn¡¯t care about Jessica ¡®s small movements.


    Jessica had plenty of skeletons in her closet. After all, they lived under the same roof, so it was easy for her to dig up dirt on that woman.


    Shadow leaned against her pillow, and the corners of her lips twitched.


    She would let the Moores happy for one more day. But tomorrow would be another story. Tomorrow, they would finally get what wasing for them.


    The things that she¡¯d release were things that Jessica couldn¡¯t clear up no matter how many press conferences they¡¯d hold.


    After going through theputer for a while, Shadow logged into the mailbox and found that there was an unread email.


    When she opened it, she was shocked.


    It was an interview invitation from the Nine Clouds Media Company!


    Had she submitted her resume to Nine Clouds Media by ident?


    She checked her mailbox several times, only to see that she hadn¡¯t submitted her resume to thepany. In fact, how the hell did they even know her name or even have her email addresses? Apart from being a graduate at one of the top film academies, there was no way they¡¯d find her!


    Suddenly, she shed back to the time ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had taken her to have lunch with Xavier.


    Shadow nced at the time that the email was sent. It was sent at nine in the morningthe time that she was still in the middle of the interview. Did that mean that they¡¯ve known her through the press conference? Or was there something going on behind the scenes?


    Perhaps ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had something to do with this.


    After thinking for a while, she decided to ask him about this.


    In the living room, Alpha Kilian sat on the sofa and yed games to rx.


    Frank was answering the phone behind him. He clicked the ¡®answer¡¯ button before immediately turning on the speaker.


    ¡°I just went out to have dinner with Alpha Kilian and when I returned, these directors went crazy!¡± Xavier was freaking out on the other side. ¡°They want him to attend the next General Meeting! Tell him that if he doesn¡¯te back, I will go to the rooftop and jump off the building.¡±


    Frank nced at Alpha Kilian , who was busy in ying the game. He said calmly. ¡°Mr. Lances is busy.¡±


    Of course, Xavier didn¡¯t believe him. He snorted in disdain. ¡°He¡¯s busy? My ass! What the hell is he doing? You turn on the camera and let me see him!¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± At this time, Alpha Kilian said faintly.


    The corners of Frank ¡®s mouth twitched. Mr. Lances was trying to piss Mr. Halloff! It always seemed like he was going through such lengths just to show how rxed his life waspared to the man in the phone.


    He turned on the video call and faced the camera to Alpha Kilian . Even then, the man still hadn¡¯t straightened his back and was still too engrossed with the games on his phone.


    When Xavier saw Alpha Kilian ying games, he jumped up of his sit and said angrily. ¡°I was almost tortured to death by those old guys in thepany. And you over there leisurely and ying video games!¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said as if he couldn¡¯t care less. He nced at the staircase casually and saw that Shadowing down from the staircase.


    He gave Frank a look. Frank understood and turned off the speakerphone. ¡°Director Hall, I¡¯ll be hanging up now.¡±


    Xavier also saw Shadow heading downstairs at the corner of his screen. His eyebrows rose, and curiosity shed in his eyes. Wanting to see how they interacted with each other, he threatened, ¡°If you dare hang up on me, I¡¯ll die right in front of you!¡±


    Frank knew very well that even if he hung up, Xavier wouldn¡¯t die. In fact, the man had threatened his death far too many times that almost no one treated him seriously.


    But for the first time, he didn¡¯t hang up the phone, nor shut the camera. Instead, he simply lowered the volume as to not arouse any suspicion.


    Shadow saw ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± in the hall on the second-floor hallway, so she came down to look for him. Upon walking closer, she saw that Frank was there too.


    However, Frank had been typing on his phone. He looked much focused and did not look over. Only then did she walk towards ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± with confidence.


    ¡°I have something to ask you.¡± She sat opposite to him and said.


    Only then did Alpha Kilian lifted his eyelids, then lowered his head and continued to y the game. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Are you very close to Mr. Hallfrom the Nine Clouds Media?¡±


    Alpha Kilian paused. Because of the two seconds of pause, his character was killed by the enemy in the game.


    He casually threw his phone to the side and finally focusing his entire attention on the woman in front of him. His eyes were narrowed and there was a faint smile on his lips. ¡°Why? Did you take a fancy to him?¡±


    Shadow frowned. ¡°Can¡¯t you talk more nicely?¡±


    He ced his arms on the back of the sofa and leaned back. A yful smile threaded his lips as he patted the seat next to him. ¡°¡±Why don¡¯t you sit next to me? Maybe I¡¯ll respond even more nicely.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to answer.¡± Standing up, she was about to leave.


    However, just as she was about leave, she heard Alpha Kilian ¡®s voice sounding behind her, ¡°Weren¡¯t you looking for a job recently? So, you want to ask about the offer, right?¡±


    Shadow suddenly stopped and looked back at him in surprise. ¡°How do you know?¡±


    He shrugged, not answering her question. ¡°Xavier told me that theirpany needed some fresh blood. That¡¯s why he randomly selected some college graduates to join hispany. Of course, their position is still unsure, but the opportunity is there.¡±


    After Alpha Kilian finished speaking, he stared at Shadow . He sized her up and down, and then he frowned, ¡°Have you received an invitation for an interview from thepany?¡±


    Although his expression hadn¡¯t changed, Shadow could see the contempt in his eyes. She immediately turned away.


    Thest thing she needed was to owe him or something like that!


    She pursed her lips and put on a fake smile. ¡°¡±Even if I have received an invitation, I still won¡¯t go.¡±


    After saying that, she left without looking back.


    Alpha Kilian narrowed his eyes and watched as she disappeared into her bedroom. For a long time, he maintained his straight posture and still didn¡¯t move.


    How did this ugly woman get the confidence to challenge him?


    Frank , who was familiar with Alpha Kilian , had never seen him so angry before. The atmosphere around them had dropped a couple of degrees, and everyone in their right mind would run the other way.


    Frank was so nervous that he lowered his head to hang up the phone, only to find that Xavier had already hung up. Perhaps the young man had already decided to run away.


    But the next moment, a phone rang in the living room.


    Alpha Kilian looked at his phone and found it was Xavier.


    Alpha Kilian picked it up and said coldly, ¡°If you want to jump off the building, just do it. There¡¯s no need to notify me.¡±


    Unexpectedly, Xavier burst intoughter like a manic. ¡°Ah, I wouldn¡¯t be so arrogant if I were you. You just keep exploiting me and now Karma has found you. It¡¯s just so ironic. You¡¯ve used your privilege to get your wife a job, but she doesn¡¯t even want to take it. You are very angry, right?¡±


    ¡°When I think how angry you are now, I¡¯m so happy that I can¡¯t stopughing!¡±


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s lips curled and he said gloomily, ¡°I won¡¯t go back until my wife enters thepany.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I was wrong.¡± Xavier immediately lost all confidence and admitted defeat.


    In response, the phone was hung up and Xavier only heard the busy tone.

 36

    At the Eden  Castle .


    Jessica  leaned on the sofa and flipped through her phone, smirking as she looked at the trollingments. She paid to get Shadow ¡®s interview to be the top trending topic. She also paid an army of Weibo trolls to curse Shadow . Even those websites that held different opinions before began to turn hostile to Shadow .


    Although Shadow  had imed that she didn¡¯t have anything to do with the paparazzi, she didn¡¯t believe so. In fact, no matter how that woman had pushed her to believe, Jessica  always believed that she had something to do with this. But it didn¡¯t matter. That woman didn¡¯t think of the whole picture when she had gone against her, and now she was paying the price.


    Seeing how ruthlessly Shadow  was being sworn, Jessica  couldn¡¯t stop her smile.


    So what if their conversation was caught by paparazzi? That was just an empty talk. But Shadow  had admitted in front of all the media outlets that she was simply hyping herself up to get a better job.


    There was no way that ugly woman could beat her!


    Jessica  went online for a while and then went to sleep contentedly.


    However, when she fell asleep, something unexpected happened.


    She was woken up by a call from her friend. ¡°Jessica , someone just posted a few videos and photos of you. What¡¯s going on? Did you offend someone?¡±


    As soon as she heard of her ¡®photos and videos¡¯, her heart stirred in her chest. They obviously weren¡¯t any good.


    Frustrated and annoyed, Jessica  pulled her hair as she went to the Inte. As soon as the site was refreshed, her name was on top of the trending list, and she immediately saw her face being tagged under all these social media outlets. Upon scanning through the explicit pictures posted online, her face paled.


    Everyone on the Inte was discussing her. Acquaintances were expressing their surprise upon seeing her in these pictures.


    Her indecent photos and videos had gone viral online. From her acting lewdly in front of different men to her dancing up on the bar, they were all posted all over the web.


    Although the Eden ¡®s was not as prestigious as the Lances family, they were certainly quite reputable. To others, Jessica  was an angel, a ssical beauty, one reeked of innocence. All of her friends included women from good families, and they were all respected by the upper ss. Any woman would want to be them while any man would want to be with them.


    However, it seemed that these appearances were only on surface level. In public, they looked like ady. But actually, they did all sorts of dirty things in dark.


    Jessica ¡®s shook her head as her hand trembled. ¡°How could they know¡­¡±


    There were manyizens who tagged her name to curse her.


    ¡°Bitch! Shameless!¡±


    ¡°You still have the face to ask your sister to clear things up for you? Let¡¯s see how you can clear this up now!¡±


    Seeing this, Jessica  was trembling with anger. And she swore at them too.


    Suddenly, she thought of Henry.


    It was midnight now, so he probably wouldn¡¯t have the time see all these videos and photos posted online. That meant she was safe for now. She sighed in relief as she checked her messages, seeing that the man still hadn¡¯t messaged her. He still didn¡¯t know. Maybe there was still a chance that she could salvage this.


    If Henry were to see them now, their rtionship was finished!


    She put on her cloths and knocked on Jason ¡®s door. ¡°Dad, Help me remove some posts from the trending list!¡±


    On the other side of the Pack , Shadow  hugged her knees and sat on the bed. She was too busy chatting with Hazel on the video screen as she scanned through the numerousments regarding Jessica ¡®s scandalous pictures.


    Hazel was a bully when she was in school. Now that she had be a star, she appeared to be cautious. But her love for drama remained unchanged.


    She jumped excitedly, reading through all thements.


    ¡°I have long felt that Jessica  wasn¡¯t a good person, she¡¯s just good at covering it up!¡±


    ¡°She may look like ady, but she¡¯s nothing but a devil in disguise.¡±


    ¡°Attention guys. Her sister married into the Lances family became they knew Jessica  was messing around outside. I heard that her sister was not good-looking, but she is pure. Jessica  was pretty, but she¡¯s just a slut. Who would want to mated  her?¡±


    Hazel paused before nodding in agreement. ¡°It actually made a lot of sense. Do you think the Lances family knew of her matters beforehand? That¡¯s why they didn¡¯tin when the Eden  family made a switch?¡±


    Shadow  frowned. She hadn¡¯t taught of this possibility before.


    ¡°Well, no matter what happens, this is exactly what Jessica  wants. She can be with Henry without any pressure now.¡±


    Hazel and Henry were actually distant rtives. Rolling her eyes in disgust, Hazel leaned back on her chair. ¡°Although Henry is a retard, he wouldn¡¯t allow himself to mated  someone like her.¡±


    ¡­C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    After chatting with Hazel till midnight, Shadow  woke up a littleter than usual the next morning.


    Turning on theputer, she went online to see what was happening, only to see that all of Jessica ¡®s indecent photos and videos had been removed. No matter how much she had scrolled down, these pictures were absolutely nowhere to be seen.


    The previous topics and tags had all turned ck.


    There was no need to guess. It was probably Jason ¡®s work.


    From a young age, Shadow  had rarelymunicated with her father. But it was obvious that Jason absolutely adored Jessica  with all his heart, wanting to do everything for her. Even if she was a troublemaker by blood and had implicated the family name in all sorts of scandals, he still managed to push through.


    So what if he removed the trending? It didn¡¯t matter anymore. Those drama-lovingizens had already saved the screenshots. They would spread them to more people. At this point, it was already toote for any of them to clear it up.


    Shadow  had just finished washing and changing when she received a phone call from Hazel.


    ¡°Imagine my anger when I saw that all the trending topics were removed! Do they think that they could get the better of me? I could buy a million trolls to get all her pictures up on the list. That slut better be ready!¡±


    Hazel changed the name of Jessica  to ¡°bitch.¡±


    Shadow forted her. ¡°Don¡¯t be so impulsive. Her name¡¯s already ruined now anyway. But you have a new movie being released in the next month. More people would concentrate on your actions, and if they saw that you¡¯ve bought a few trolls to harass her, it would affect you. Let me handle it.¡±


    Hazel reluctantly agreed. ¡°Fine. Come out for lunch. I¡¯m going back to the movie set tomorrow. I¡¯ll pick you up.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡­


    As she was passing by Alpha Kilian ¡®s study, she couldn¡¯t help but stop.


    She didn¡¯t see him yesterday, and she didn¡¯t know if ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was telling the truth or not that Alpha Kilian  was really angry at her.


    Could she peek in? Just to see if he was okay? Or should she just let it go and wait for him to call her?


    However, before she could even move, the door of the study was opened from inside.


    Shadow  immediately stepped back and raised her head to see ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡®s¡± expressionless face.


    She was shocked and asked. ¡°Is¡­ your cousin here?¡±


    ¡°What do you want from him?¡± Closing the door from behind him, he leaned against the door frame, gazing at her.


    Strangely, there wasn¡¯t any yfulness tied to his voice at all. Upon taking a closer look, she found that his face was a little pale, and he didn¡¯t look good. But his pitch-ck eyes were still deep.


    A part of her was curious as to why he looked at that, but she immediately shook her head. This wasn¡¯t any of her business anyway.


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    After she finished speaking, she turned around and went downstairs.


    Suddenly, a muffled sound of a heavy object falling to the ground came from behind her.


    Shadow  turned around and saw that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°, who had been standing straight earlier, fell to the ground. He was trembling and shivering, and his face had turned deathly pale.


    Shadow  ran back and wanted to help him up. ¡°Alpha Dominic , are you okay? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Although she hated him very much, it was impossible for her to stand there when something happened to him.


    When she looked at him closely, she found his lips turning blue. His eyes were closed. His long eyshes were spread out like arge fan, casting ayer of shadow over his cheeks. Sweat beaded down the sides of his face as he continually shivered under her grip. He looked much more obedient now.


    She grasped him even tighter before reaching out to touch his forehead.


    As soon as their skin connected, Shadow  drew back her hand. He was burning!


    The man was 1. 9 meters tall, so it was impossible for her to get him up all by herself. So she rushed to the staircase and shouted. ¡°¡±Is anyone there? Come up, please! Kilian has fainted!¡±


    As soon as he heard her, a bodyguard ran up the stairs and carried Alpha Kilian  to his room.


    Soon a doctor came.


    Shadow  watched by the sides as everyone were all busy here. Even then, she still didn¡¯t see Alpha Kilian ing into his cousin¡¯s bedroom.


    Feeling that the situation had nothing to do with her, she decided to leave. After all, if her husband wasn¡¯t here, she¡¯d not need to be here herself, right?


    However, just as she was about to leave, Frank rushed towards her. ¡°Young Madame, Do you mind taking care of Young Master for a while?¡±


    Although him calling the man ¡®Young Master¡¯ seemed a bit strange, she didn¡¯t think much of it.


    ¡°But I still have something to do.¡± She nced at her watch. It was almost time for lunch, so Hazel was about to arrive anytime soon.


    ¡°Mom¡­ No¡­ Please¡­¡±


    At this time, Alpha Kilian , who was lying on the bed, suddenly began to speak nonsense.


    Shadow  turned around only to see that the confident and arrogant expression on his face hadpletely faded. On that bed was not the man who had teased her, but a frightened boy. His jaw was clenched and he looked very fragile.


    What he had gone through to feel so much pain?


    Seeing this, her heart softened, and she nodded.


    Besides, there weren¡¯t any maids in the Castle , and the bodyguards were men. They wouldn¡¯t be able to take care of him, even if they tried.

 37

    The doctor immediately administered the injection to Alpha Kilian . It had taken a while, but his condition finally stabilized. The doctor sighed in relief as he packed up his things, before turning to her. ¡°Make sure you get him to drink plenty of liquids. Also, he mustn¡¯t be doing anything rigorous or exhausting that may affect his recovery, all right?¡±


    ¡°OK.¡±


    Shadow  grabbed a towel from his bedside table to wipe the sweat off his forehead. By the time she had done so, the others already made their way out of the room.


    She sighed in frustration and stared into his closed eyes. There was just something about this situation that she couldn¡¯t seem getting away with.


    Shadow  felt a little strange. That night in the dining room, she had fallen into ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡®s¡± arms, and Frank  had caught them in the act. Yet, he didn¡¯t say the word. He even suggested her to take care of him while he was sick.


    Shouldn¡¯t he have said something to Alpha Kilian ? Or had he forgotten that the incident happened in the first ce?


    ¡°Mom¡­¡±


    Before she could think about it more, he began to tremble under her touch. He called out once again while she was wiping his forehead. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, he suddenly grabbed a hold of her wrist, pulling him towards her. Even if his eyes were closed, his face was contorted into that of worry and disbelief.


    No matter how hard she pulled, it was like fighting against an iron mp. He even grabbed her hand even tighter.


    She red at him angrily. ¡°I¡¯m not your Mom! Let go of me.¡±


    However, the man didn¡¯t look like he could hear her at all. Instead, he grasped her hand as if his own life was on the line. The space between his brows gradually softened, and his breathing became steady. The grip on her hand seemed to have granted him somefort in this world.


    Her phone suddenly rang out; it was Hazel.


    ¡°Hazel, have you arrived?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already at the entrance. Where are you?¡±


    Shadow  looked down at ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± who was sleeping soundly. However, when she tried pulling her hand back, he simply gripped her even tighter. Seeing as there was no other choice, she called Frank  to bring her friend in.


    ¡°What happened, Shadow ?¡± Hazel rushed into the room to get a better look. At first, she had wanted to see if Shadow  was doing okay and why she had called her in instead ofing out to join her. But as soon as she saw the man lying on the bed, she was shocked. Her jaw dropped, and it took her a few seconds to get herself together.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Alpha Kilian  was ugly? Is he ugly? Are you blind or something?¡±


    Frank , who was standing behind her this whole time, felt anxious and quickly exined. ¡°This is the Second Young Master, Mr. Alpha Dominic .¡±


    ¡°Mr. Alpha Dominic ?¡± Hazel blinked, narrowing her eyes at the way the two were positioned. ¡°Then why is he holding Shadow ¡®s hands? If he really is who you say he is, doesn¡¯t he know that she¡¯s his sister-inw? It wouldn¡¯t be right to be so physically close to her, wouldn¡¯t it? This will cause misunderstanding, especially under Alpha Kilian ¡®s watch.¡±


    Frank  was speechless. At this point, once all of this was over, he was asking for a raise!


    When Shadow  heard this, she couldn¡¯t help but nce in Frank ¡®s direction. That was also what she was curious about. If he was really Alpha Kilian ¡®s assistant, shouldn¡¯t he be more inclined in keeping them apart rather than pushing them together? Something about this just didn¡¯t seem right at all.


    Frank  thought for a while and exined. ¡°Isn¡¯t sister-inw like a mother? That¡¯s why he¡¯s holding her like that.¡±


    ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s why he called me Mom just now?¡± Shadow  faked a smile and looked a smile.


    Frank wished Alpha Kilian  would wake up. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore!


    ¡°Uhm, Young Master must¡¯ve woken up now. I should go to him.¡±


    Not wanting to be interrogated any further, Frank made an excuse and hurried out of the room.


    He never knew that in all his life working for Alpha Kilian  that he¡¯d actually be more intimidated by two women rather than all the other businessmen he had dealt with in the past. Somehow, he could find himself rting to Xavier¡¯s predicament. The man¡¯s threat sounded clearer by the second.


    ¡°Have a seat. We¡¯ll go out for dinnerter.¡± Shadow  patted the chair beside her.


    Nodding, Hazel sat down, getting a closer look of Alpha Dominic .


    Having worked in the entertainment industry for a few years, she had seen countless handsome men and beautiful women around her. To have a pretty face wasn¡¯t as unique anymore, especially after working in such an industry, but even she couldn¡¯t help but be surprised upon seeing his face structure. ¡°Holy shit! Is the Lances family¡¯s genes really that good? Is he even real? He looks handsome! And he isn¡¯t even wearing any make-up! Is he a human?¡±


    As she was speaking, she slowly reached out to pinch his cheek, wanting to see if he was wearing a mask to cover up any imperfection.


    However, her hand was only half-way there when the man on the bed opened his eyes suddenly.


    A hint of confusion briefly appeared in his ink-nk eyes, but after his gaze became sharp. He stared at the half-stretched hand moving towards him.


    Hazel, who was generally a tough woman, was shocked by his gaze. She drew back her hand immediately and swallowed her saliva. ¡°He is awake.¡±


    Noticing that Alpha Kilian  was unfriendly, Shadow  hid Hazel behind her and said to him. ¡°What are you doing? She¡¯s my friend. You shouldn¡¯t look at her like that!¡±


    When Alpha Kilian  looked at Shadow , he instantly calmed down. He said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Water.¡±


    Shadow  raised her hand that was being pulled by him and said angrily, ¡°Then you have to let go of me first!¡±


    Alpha Kilian  looked at their hands and then at her face. Then he let go of her hand.


    When Shadow  was about to go out to get him some water, she heard someone yelling outside.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go in and check if he¡¯s dead.¡±


    ¡°He is just sick.¡±


    She was familiar with the voices, but she could only recognize theter one. That was Frank .


    Before she could see what all themotion was about, the door was immediately pushed open and two men marched inside.


    Xavier and Frank stood at the door. Looking at their expression, it seemed like they were arguing about something, but she didn¡¯t know what.


    Xavier didn¡¯t expect that Shadow  was here. He blinked in surprise. He then calmly took out his sses and ced them on the bridge of his nose. All sorts of frustration faded from his features as he said politely. ¡°Hi, Mrs. Lances, you¡¯re here too.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Hello.¡± Shadow  nodded.


    This man changed his attitude very quickly.


    ¡°I heard that kilian is sick, so I came to visit him¡­¡± Before Xavier could finish he was interrupted.


    ¡°Xavier!¡±


    Shadow  turned around to see Hazel rolling up her sleeves and walking towards the CEO of Nine Cloud media with an angry expression. She didn¡¯t even blink her eyes when she punched Xavier¡¯s abdomen fiercely.


    Xavier took a few steps back from the sudden punch, even Shadow  couldn¡¯t help but frown at the sight. Although it was painful, he didn¡¯t show it. He was calm as if he was already used to her hits.


    Shadow  was shocked. What was going on?


    After a few seconds of silence, Xavier finally steadied himself. He suddenly chuckled and said in a low voice. ¡°You hit me so hard that I thought you¡¯ve actually crippled me. Hazel, tell me. if you¡¯ve actually injured me, will you take care of me?¡±


    ¡°I said I¡¯d hit you every time I saw you, didn¡¯t I?¡± She gazed at him coldly.


    Having known each other for years, Shadow  knew her friend from front to back, and she knew how she acted out every time someone had pissed her off. But this was the first time she had ever seen Hazel so violent. Upon closer look, she could even see hatred in her eyes.


    Hazel turned to look at Shadow . ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡±


    Shadow  nodded in response.


    As soon as Hazel left, Xavier acted as if nothing unusual had just happened. He sat on Alpha Kilian ¡®s bedside, taking in the man¡¯s sunken eyes and pale face. ¡°So you really are sick. You¡¯re not just faking it, are you?¡±


    Alpha Kilian  had originally said that he was going to thepany today, so when Frank informed him that Alpha Kilian  was sick, Xavier had a feeling that they were just faking it. Not wanting to face those directors on his own, Xavier came to the Castle  to see what was happening. However, looking at the bedridden man, it seemed that he really weren¡¯t lying to him.


    ¡°Leave me alone!¡± Alpha Kilian  frowned and detested Xavier.


    He then stared at Shadow  in silence.


    She understood what he meant. ¡°Let Frank get you some water, if you want.¡±


    Shadow  was worried about Hazel, so she immediately went out to check on her as soon as she was finished speaking.


    Within a few seconds, the three men were the only ones left in the room.


    Alpha Kilian  looked at Frank coldly. ¡°Get out.¡±


    Frank nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll get you some water.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want any water.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± As soon as he saw the look on the man¡¯s face, Frank didn¡¯t even continue his sentence as he headed out of the room. He felt that Alpha Kilian  was getting weirder day by day.


    ¡­


    When Shadow  saw Hazel, she pulled theter downstairs. ¡°Do you and Xavier know each other?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Hazel frowned. ¡°That bastard owes me. Even if I beat him to death, he wouldn¡¯t even lift a finger.¡±


    It was obvious that Hazel held a deep grudge against Xavier.


    Seeing Hazel didn¡¯t say anything more, Shadow  didn¡¯t ask any further. She also didn¡¯t tell about the interview invitation of Nine Clooud Media.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go,¡± Shadow  said as she pulled her friend out the door.


    The two of them went out to eat together at a nearby restaurant, but just as the dishes were about to be served, Shadow  received a call.


    She looked at the number and found it was unfamiliar. She picked it up. ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°When are youing back?¡±


    It was ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°. She didn¡¯t keep his number so she didn¡¯t know it was him.


    Although ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± said in a feeble voice because of illness, his voice was recognizable. Shadow  recognized his voice.


    She tilted her head. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve not eaten yet.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t have any appetite, then you can let the doctor give you an IV drip. I¡¯ll¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, she was interrupted by his gloomy voice. ¡°I want to eat the food you cooked.¡±


    It was rare for him to be gloomy. The voice he was using was actually a stark contrast from his arrogant behavior. There was just something about the way he had spoken to her that made her heart soften in response.


    Not knowing how to respond, she hung up the phone.


    Although Hazel didn¡¯t hear what the other end was saying, she caught some glimpse of Shadow ¡®s conversation.


    She shook the juice in her ss and smiled meaningfully, ¡°Did that handsome cousin call you?¡±

 38

    Shadow  was unconvinced that Hazel used the adjective ¡°handsome¡± to describe ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°. She wrinkled her nose. ¡°You can say whatever you want but it¡¯s useless. Appearances are nothing if your personality¡¯s a size of a peanut.¡±


    Hazel shook her head, as she took a sip of her juice. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that you weren¡¯t fascinated by Alpha Dominic . I mean, who wouldn¡¯t? Have you ever seen him? Even if he wear a sack, he will still look good! I don¡¯t know where your eyes have been, but you should start using them.¡±


    Hazel stretched out her hand and made a gesture. She looked like a hooligan.


    Was she fascinated by ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°?


    As soon as the thought appeared, she sneered. ¡°Please, no matter what he¡¯s a jerk.¡±


    Women would be attracted by beautiful flowers, let alone a man like ¡°Alpha Dominic .¡± ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± may be the most handsome man that she¡¯d ever met, but that still didn¡¯t make him admirable. Remembering what he had done to her in the past, she suppressed a anger.


    ¡°I actually haven¡¯t seen Alpha Kilian  till now. They are all Lances. So if he hadn¡¯t been disfigured from the kidnapping, he would¡¯ve been even more good-looking man than ¡°Alpha Dominic .¡±¡±


    She sighed. Her voice was resigned and filled with sadness for the man who she had never met. Although the man was cold and harsh, she could understand where that wasing from. They had never bothered with each other before, but perhaps, that was the reason why she felt more acquainted with him than ¡°Alpha Dominic .¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me you still haven¡¯t seen him till now? Haven¡¯t you been married for two and a half months?¡± After saying that, Hazel drank a full ss of water to calm down.


    Then recalling Alpha Dominic ¡®s reaction, Hazel sighed. ¡°Well, I could tell that you¡¯re very special to Alpha Dominic . I mean, the man could barely look at me without wanting to murder me, but he¡¯s much gentler to you. It¡¯s as if you¡¯ve known each other for a long time.¡±


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± treated her gently? When did that happen?


    Shadow  shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s your illusion.¡±


    Hey, that is so not¡± Hazel was about to argue when her phone rang out. She frowned and picked up.


    It was her manager.


    As soon as she hung up, she grabbed her bag. ¡°He asked me to head to thepany. There seems to be an emergency meeting. I swear, all I ask is for one quiet meal with you without him calling, and he¡¯s at it again!¡±


    Shadow forted her. ¡°I am not going anywhere. After you shoot the film, I¡¯ll treat you a meal.¡±


    ¡­


    After parting ways with her friend, Shadow  headed straight back to the Castle .


    As soon as she walked in, she saw ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± in the living room.


    He still didn¡¯t look like he had recovered. He was dressed in a baggy shirt and a pair of pants. There were still dark circles around his eyes, and he still appeared a bit pale.


    There was aptop in front of him and a ss of water beside him. Even at this moment he was still working on hisptop, not even bothering to stop and drink his water.


    Shadow  sighed in her heart. Although she didn¡¯t like him, she had to admit that he was strong and stubborn.


    Thest time he had gotten injured, he asked for her help to take the bullet out. That time, she thought that he¡¯d actually faint in front of her, but he continued instructing her as if he got everything under control. And now when he had a high fever and even fainted, he still continued to work after being treated.


    Did he think that his body was made of steel or something?


    As if he felt her presence, he looked up, staring into her eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± His voice was still a bit hoarse, but his words were still firm.


    Shadow  nced at theptop and asked him from some distance. ¡°Are you already working? Have you gotten some rest?¡±


    Other than his pale face, she really couldn¡¯t tell he was sick given how much he continued to push himself. If she was in his state, she would¡¯ve already copsed back onto the bed.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± replied, tapping the keyboard a few times. ¡°I¡¯m just a little hungry.¡±


    Thinking of his previous call, she said, ¡°You can¡­¡±


    She wanted to say that he could ask the bodyguard to cook for him.


    However, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± already knew what she was going to say, so he directly interrupted. ¡°It tastes terrible.¡±


    Although he didn¡¯t say anything more, Shadow  understood what he meant. He meant that the food the bodyguards made tasted awful.


    When Frank walked over, he happened to hear Alpha Kilian ¡®s words.


    He sneered.


    He had never heard Alpha Kilian  say that they were bad at cooking. In fact, he couldn¡¯t really care less. No matter how nd the dishes were, he¡¯d still eat them willingly and readily. Yet ever since got he married, it was as if he had be a child, throwing tantrums now and then.


    To be honest, if Frank were the one to look at Shadow , he¡¯d say that she looked extremely ugly. He really didn¡¯t know what his boss had seen in her.


    However, as Alpha Kilian  cared for her, he¡¯d naturally respect her. Perhaps boss had an unusual taste.


    Shadow  nced at the time, it was almost two o¡¯ clock in the afternoon.


    Noticing that Frank was also here, she was surprised. ¡°Is Alpha Kilian  at home?¡±


    Seeing that Frank was there, she blinked. ¡°Is Alpha Kilian  at home?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± answered for him.


    ¡°Oh, has he eaten?¡±


    Alpha Kilian  was about to drink water. He stopped and looked up at Frank before drinking the water.


    Even Frank had to admire Alpha Kilian  acting skills. If he weren¡¯t such a skilled businessman, he would¡¯ve suggested that Alpha Kilian  should enter the entertainment industry.


    ¡°Mr. Lances hasn¡¯t eaten yet.¡± Without blinking an eye, Frank hurriedly answered. He was impressed by his own rapid response.


    ¡°Great!¡± Shadow ¡®s eyes lit up. ¡°I¡¯ll cook for him. I¡¯ll send it to him.¡±


    Then she went to the kitchen excitedly.


    Thest time she had wanted to cook for Alpha Kilian , the dishes were all eaten up by ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°. This time she wouldn¡¯t let that happen.


    Alpha Kilian  watched as her expression immediately brightened. For the first time in his life, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit envious ¡°Alpha Kilian .¡±


    Frank grabbed one of the medicinal pills and handed it to him.


    However, Alpha Kilian  didn¡¯t take it, his gaze still turned to the direction where Shadow  had gone to. Then he turned around and asked seriously. ¡°Do you think she¡¯s stupid? She didn¡¯t want to please a guy who¡¯s normal, and instead want to please a cripple. Who in their right mind would do that? Or¡­ do you think she¡¯s still pretending?¡±


    Frank stayed quiet for a while. Alpha Kilian  had always been a cold person. In fact, some may even assume that he was incapable of love, given that he had never looked a woman before. Yet ever since Shadow  entered into his life, he¡¯d deliberately provoke her in hopes of getting a reaction from her. Did he really have feelings for her? If so, why was he still beating around the bush?


    ¡°You seem quite interested in Young Madame.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question.¡±


    Alpha Kilian  sneered. He was smart. So he understood what Frank meant.


    Frank hurriedly said. ¡°What I meant was that Young Madame doesn¡¯t seem stupid. That may be what many have seen upon first nce, but everything she has done in the pastthey all seem meticulous. If there¡¯s something she¡¯s not, it¡¯s simple.¡±


    ¡°Hm¡­¡±


    She was his wife after all. How could he not care about her?


    If it weren¡¯t for his and Frank help in taking care of some of the other matters regarding, with the amount of sensation Shadow  caused in the Inte, the other members of the Lances family wouldn¡¯t have sat so still till now.


    Given that they cared so much about their reputation, if they hadn¡¯t been sated by Alpha Kilian , they would¡¯ve found trouble with her.


    ¡­


    In the kitchen, Shadow  was cooking up a pot of vegetable porridge and a bunch of steamed veggies to nourish his health. Although ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had mentioned that Alpha Kilian  liked spicy food, she didn¡¯t believe him. After all, he had already fooled her once.


    Besides, no matter what kind of taste Alpha Kilian  liked, cooking light dishes was healthier for him. It was still the right choice.


    After cooking the rice, she ced a serving of each vegetable on the tray for Alpha Kilian . The leftovers were ced on the table for ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°.


    Frank had just walked into the dining room right on time. ¡°Young Madame, I¡¯ll deliver the food to Mr. Lances.¡±


    Shadow  handed the tray to Frank and asked. ¡°Will he be out in the afternoon?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure.¡± Frank lowered his head. Truly, when would his days of lyinge to an end?


    When he left, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± entered the dining room.


    Upon seeing the in vegetable porridge and the other steamed veggies, he frowned. ¡°Why are they all vegetables? I don¡¯t like light food.¡±


    He stared at the dishes, and a dissatisfied glint shed in his eyes. It was in this instance where she couldpare him to a small child.


    Pouring him a cup of hot water, Shadow  raised her eyebrow and said angrily. ¡°You were just sick, were you not? What else do you expect? Some Mchian hot pot? Do you really want to put your health at risk? If you die, is it my fault?¡±


    As soon as the words slipped past her lips, she immediately regretted. Maybe she shouldn¡¯t have said that.


    But she didn¡¯t care!


    However, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± didn¡¯t lose his temper. Instead, he picked up his chopsticks and started to eat slowly. Although the food was in, it still tasted good.


    Shadow  stared at him, watching the way he ate the porridge non-stop. For someone who was so sick, his appetite was still good.


    Perhaps ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was really built differently. He didn¡¯t look like he¡¯s affected by these types of sicknesses and injuries. He only cared about life and death.


    When he had finished eating, the servants cleaned the kitchen. Seeing that she had no other business with him, she headed straight to her bedroom.


    Shadow  turned on herputer and logged into her Weibo. She found that the topic ¡°Jessica ¡®s hot video¡±, which had been withheld in the morning, had be the trending topic again!


    She scrolled down a few times to confirm that it was not her illusion. Did Hazel pay some money to get it up the ranks?

 39

    Shadow immediately dialed Hazel¡¯s number.


    ¡°Hello?¡± An exhausted voice came from the other end of the line. ¡°Is something wrong? Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°Did you buy the trending topic on Jessica ¡®s topic?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you refuse? Have you changed your mind? Wait, if you want me to do it, I could contact my friends right now.¡± Hazel said excitedly, pping her hands together.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I just saw that her videos had gone up the trending search again. I thought you were the one who paid the site to get it up there.¡± Shadow exined as she scrolled down the Inte. No matter how far she had scrolled, Jessica ¡®s videos were everywhere.


    ¡°What? Really?¡± Hazel said and then made some noises. Shadow guessed she might browsing the Weibo.


    As expected, after a few seconds, Hazel burst intoughter. ¡°Although I didn¡¯t do this, I¡¯ll send some flowers to whoever did. As I¡¯ve said, karma¡¯s going to get her one day. I just didn¡¯t expect that it would be this fast!¡±


    Even as Shadow hung up the phone a few minutester, she still couldn¡¯t get her mind off the trending list. She stared at her screen. How could it have gotten up there again even after the suppression of the Eden family?


    Who did it? Could Jessica have offended other people? Perhaps they were the ones who wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine?


    It wasn¡¯t impossible. In all her years of living in the Eden family, she had seen how Jessica acted. From being arge immature brat to an impatient and self-centered woman, she had offended quite a lot of people throughout her entire life. And some of them were even members of the upper ss as well. It was possible that they¡¯d all gang up on her.


    Shadow didn¡¯t dwell this matter too much after all it had nothing to do with her. Looking at the time, she felt that Alpha Kilian should¡¯ve finished his meal by now, so she headed to his study. Besides, they had quite a lot to talk about.


    They didn¡¯t have time to even discuss the matters of what had transpired in the Interview, and with everything that had happened on the Inte, it was best that she present herself to him. Just to make sure that everything was clear with him.


    The door of the study was tightly shut. Shadow hesitated and then knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in.¡± A hoarse voice came from the inside.


    Shadow pushed the door open and walked into the study. Just like always, the man was still sitting behind his desk, with his back facing her. She could only see his long arms and broad shoulders.


    Although she was used to this appearance, she couldn¡¯t help but be a little puzzled. Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t want her to see his face, yet he still bothered to go out when needed be. Didn¡¯t that mean that he was allowing the rest of the world to see his face?


    From her knowledge and ording to plenty of rumors, Alpha Kilian was an extremely isted person. Not only did he not go out, but he also hated socializing. The man was said to lock himself in his house for years, never going out¡­ yet, from what she had observed, that wasn¡¯t exactly true. So why was he still hiding his face from her?


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Shadow tilted her head and looked at him curiously. ¡°Do you know what happened online recently? In Weibo?¡±


    There was silence for a couple of seconds before he finally responded, ¡°There¡¯s no need to mention what had happened in the past. You¡¯re my wife so you¡¯d better behave. Nobody can touch you here.¡±


    Although his voice was cold, there was a sense offort in his words.


    She pursed her lips upon hearing him. Somehow, there was something about his voice that sounded very simr to Alpha Dominic . If his voice was less hoarse, they might even sound the same. Perhaps it was because they were cousins.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± As she walked out, she breathed a sigh of relief.


    Although Alpha Kilian was a little strange when it came to his appearance, he wasn¡¯t psychotic as some people who had been traumatized. Plus, he gave her enough space to do whatever she wanted.


    Somehow, even in istion, he already gave her ten times than what her own family had given her.


    She walked downstairs to the dining room, only to see that it was empty.


    Perhaps ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had already left.


    ¡­


    The next morning, Shadow changed into more formal clothes and left for her interview.


    Finally, she was doing something productive. These past few days, she had done nothing but go through with Jessica ¡®s requests, as if she hadn¡¯t been doing it for the past twenty years. Even when married, she still couldn¡¯t shake her off! It was a waste of time.


    All in all, her day went quite well. As she had graduated from a famous academy with high marks, the twopany she had interview appointments with already expressed their willingness to hire her.


    She was excited and a bright smile appeared on her face. Back then, Lisa had prevented her from engaging in any professional job after her college graduation. Not only because she didn¡¯t want her to seed over her stepdaughter, but also because the woman had other ns for her. One of them included marrying her to Alpha Kilian .


    Now that she wasn¡¯t under their roofs, she had all the freedom in the world, with equally plenty of options to choose from.


    Shadow decided to have lunch while looking over thepany information for her next interview.


    Not long after she sat down, she noticed a woman wearing a mask and a cap walking towards her. Before she could react, the masked woman grabbed the ss water in front of her and poured it down Shadow ¡®s head.


    The water sshed everywhere, drenching her suit.


    ¡°Shadow !¡±


    Shadow closed her eyes and wiped the water from her face. And then she looked at the woman.


    It was only upon closer look did she realize that the masked woman was none other than Jessica .


    With her current status, Jessica needed to disguise herself before heading out. That was the only way for people to not recognize her wherever she¡¯d gone.


    Otherwise, the hate she¡¯d receive even just by walking down the street would be immeasurable.


    ¡°If you have something to say, then just say it. Don¡¯t beat around the bush.¡± Shadow raised her head. Her expression was extremely calm.


    Shadow ¡®s face contorted into one of anger and disgust. ncing at the people surrounding them, she immediately lowered her voice and said fiercely. ¡°You¡¯re the one who posted the video all over the inte, aren¡¯t you? I won¡¯t let you off that easily!¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    She really had underestimated this woman. Shadow didn¡¯t expect her intuition to be this good.


    But she wouldn¡¯t admit it.


    ¡°What video?¡± Shadow asked with surprise.


    ¡°I bet that you were just faking it all these years, weren¡¯t you? You weren¡¯t stupid at all. You¡¯re just waiting for the right time, weren¡¯t you?¡± Jessica said with extreme hatred.


    Finally, Shadow smiled. ¡°I guess you know me better than my parents.¡±


    Jason and Lisa probably still thought that she was nothing more than a fool. After all, she had yed dumb for so long that even if she were smart from the start, they wouldn¡¯t have believed it. For them, this entire thing must just be purely coincidental. Because how could their stupid daughter be maniptive enough to release these types of information to the media unscathed?


    Besides, even if they had inkling that she was smart all along, it would hurt their pride more if they admitted to being tricked by the daughter they¡¯ve abandoned. The shame that came along with it must be humiliating for them.


    ¡°You bitch!¡± Jessica raised her hand and was about to hit her.


    Shadow was about to dodge it when she saw a familiar figure walking over from the opposite side of the restaurant. The corners of her lips curled up and she gazed up at Jessica . This was going to be fun.


    She didn¡¯t dodge and her head swung to the side after receiving Jessica ¡®s p.


    Henry had just stepped into the restaurant when he saw Shadow being pped in front of all these people. Before the masked woman could do it again, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her back, ring at her.


    Only then did he realize who she was.


    ¡°Jessica ?¡±


    ¡°Henry!¡± The anger in her voice faded almost immediately, and her eyes shone with joy. It was as if they were faced with apletely different woman. ¡°Please, listen to me. The videos and photos you¡¯ve seen online, they were all posted by this slut! She¡¯s just jealous that I¡¯m with you. Do you really not trust me anymore?¡±


    Shadow covered her swollen face and lowered her gaze, pretending to be the weakling everyone thought she was.


    Honestly, she couldn¡¯t help but admire Jessica ¡®s self-centeredness. In her mind, the entire world revolved around her, and every woman in the street envied her. Just the thought it was ludicrous, yet it was enough to keep her sated.


    Tightly biting her lips, Shadow shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡±


    Please, she wasn¡¯t jealous of Jessica to begin with!


    ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Jessica shrieked.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Henry gritted his teeth and shouted.


    The two of them had yelled much louder this time, attracting the attention of the other guests. Although they couldn¡¯t see who the masked woman was, they were looking curiously, just like watching some interesting drama.


    Concerned about his reputation, Henry quickly lowered his head and said coldly. ¡°Let¡¯s go to a room and talk.¡±


    Then, he turned to Shadow . His tone was much softer this time. ¡°Shadow , follow me.


    Alyssas originally didn¡¯t want to follow them, but upon seeing her Jessica ¡®s deste features, she couldn¡¯t help but nod and agree with them. To see Jessica being looked down on and despised by Henry so miserably.


    When the three of them had finally entered a more private room, Jessica pointed a finger at Shadow ¡®s nose. ¡°Everything that you¡¯ve seen was done by her. I¡¯m innocent! The videos you saw? The photos? They were all photoshopped by this bitch!¡±


    Having lied all these years, Jessica really came up with a clumsy excuse this time around.


    Henry gazed at her for a long time, as if this was the first time he hade across her. His face was filled with disappointment, and he sighed. ¡°Even up to this time, you¡¯re still lying!¡±


    Dissatisfied with the situation, Jessica pulled Shadow forward. ¡°Tell him what you did! Tell him that you¡¯re the one who photoshopped it! Tell him that you set me up!¡±


    Although Jessica had a feeling that Shadow was ying dumb, she couldn¡¯t help but still be convinced of how easily bullied theter was. Seeing the way she readily epted her p a few seconds ago gave her the illusion that she was still in control.


    Shadow gazed up at Henry before shaking her head. ¡°I can¡¯t admit to something that I didn¡¯t do.¡±


    Henry had a good impression of Shadow all these years, taking her for a woman who easily followed through with her family¡¯smands. In his mind, she could do absolutely no wrong.


    Seeing Jessica forcing her like this, he quickly pulled Shadow behind his back. ¡°If you still won¡¯t take responsibility, then I suggest you leave. Stop following me around.¡±


    Jessica had been contacting him for the past two days. He didn¡¯t want to talk to her, so he ignored all her calls. What he didn¡¯t expect was for her to follow him like some type of stalker!

 40

    Shadow stood behind Henry and took half a step back. She wanted to stay away from this man. She put a look of confusion in her face. ¡°I really didn¡¯t do it.¡±


    ¡°Henry, what are you trying to say? Are you trying to protect this ugly bitch?¡± Jessica said angrily. If looks could kill, the other two would¡¯ve already been ten feet into the ground.


    ¡°What the hell are you talking about? She¡¯s your sister.¡± Now, he was starting to see her true colors, the more he looked, the more he disliked Jessica .


    Jessica , however, still didn¡¯t back down. She had been spoiled ever since she was young, always getting what she wanted when she asked for it. ¡°Stop pretending to be such an angel. Wasn¡¯t it your idea to frame her? To get her to admit that she stole my fiance? If anything, you yed a part in this too!¡±


    ¡°Even if I did, it¡¯s because I believed in all your nonsense. But now I¡¯ve finally seen who the real monster is.¡± Henry replied.


    ¡°Real monster? Oh, you haven¡¯t seen nothing yet!¡±


    Shadow looked at the two people arguing in front of her. Then she nced at Henry. She felt that she had underestimated what this man was capable of.


    He had always been a man of integrity, a man who had always had her back when everyone was opposing her. Back then, he never really cared how she looked or acted, and it was for this exact reason that his betrayal caught her off guard.


    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t toote to act.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Shadow walked out from behind Henry, looked at him and said, ¡°After you! I want to have a talk my sister.¡±


    Henry softened upon seeing her distraught features. Back then, he had been so devoted to Jessica that he readily believed what she had to say, and now that her true colors were revealed, he was starting to side with Shadow . After all, as ofte, she was the least troublesome sibling in the Eden family.


    In his eyes, the two were still blood-rted siblings. Even if they were to have any conflicts, they would have the mind to do it behind closed doors. Perhaps that was why Shadow wanted to be left alone with her. With onest nod, he left.


    As soon as he walked away, Jessica didn¡¯t waste any time as she pounced towards her. ¡°You slut! You¡¯re the one who did it! You¡¯re the one who ruined everything for me!¡±


    Shadow had already expected that she¡¯d do something like this. Before the woman could even jump, she stepped to the side, causing Jessica to stumble and pounced on the ground.


    Shadow squatted down and grabbed ahold of Jessica ¡®s hair. Her once fearful eyes were as hard as diamonds.


    ¡°Jessica , you deserve it. Perhaps you shouldn¡¯t have set me up.¡±


    Before she could react, Shadow had already pulled her hair up. No matter how much Jessica struggled out of Shadow ¡®s grip, it only encouraged her to grip her hair even tighter. Jessica struggled to lift her head in the direction where Shadow grabbed her hair to alleviate the pain.


    Jessica screamed. Her face had turned pale from the pain. ¡°Are you crazy? How dare you treat me like this? Just wait till I get to Lisa ¡­¡±


    Shadow sneered and pped her face.


    Jessica heard a loud p!


    Shadow pped her many times.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    So much resentment rose to her chest as she red down at the woman beneath her. At this point, she already had enough of her threats!


    ¡°I won¡¯t let¡­ Lisa ¡­ get away with this¡­¡±


    Jessica ¡®s face was already swollen, and she stared at Shadow in disbelief. This was the first time she had seen theter in such a violent state. She was so afraid that she stuttered.


    A gentle smile appeared on Shadow ¡®s lips. ¡°The ps you just got? You owe me these. If you¡¯re still really adamant about using Lisa as a way to threaten me, then I say go for it. Do whatever you want to her.¡±


    Although Shadow said like that, she knew that she couldn¡¯t be so ruthless towards Lisa .


    If she had been ruthless, she would have taken revenge on them after being forced to mated Alpha Kilian .


    If they hadn¡¯t been this cruel to her, by forcing her hand and by framing her, perhaps Shadow would¡¯ve let it all go. After all, she had nned to live a more peaceful life the moment she had been married off, but it seemed that it was no longer a viable option for her.


    ¡°I suggest you keep quiet in the future. You might never know what skeletons I have dug out of your closet.¡± Shadow finally let go of Jessica ¡®s hair, stood up and left.


    After a few seconds, Jessica slowly got up from the ground. Her cheek was so swollen that she almost didn¡¯t look human. Her bloodshot eyes were filled with malice as she red at Shadow ¡®s retreating figure.


    ¡°You¡¯ll pay ten times for what you¡¯ve done to me today.¡±


    ¡­


    Some might say that paying back for one¡¯s sins would grant a feeling of satisfaction, but Shadow couldn¡¯t really say the same. Even as she had walked out of the restaurant, she still didn¡¯t feel happy with their predicament.


    After all, no matter what she had done, Jessica was still her step-sister. They had the same father and had shared the same lives all these years. Although this was true, it seemed that the fates had only destined them to be enemies.


    She wasn¡¯t in a good mood and the interview in the afternoon didn¡¯t go well.


    On the way back, she received a phone call from Hazel.


    ¡°Shadow , did you receive an interview invitation from Nine Clouds Media?¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡± She blinked in surprise.


    She remembered Hazel and Xavier had addressed each other that day. Was he the one who told her? But they were enemies, weren¡¯t they? Or was that really how other celebrities greeted each other in the show business.


    Even then, Xavier was the CEO of one of thergest media enterprises in the country! There was no way that he¡¯d care about such a small matter, especially if it was about hiring new employees.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about how I know,¡± Hazel quickly said. ¡°Do you even know how big of apany that is? And you¡¯ve chosen not to go? Are you stupid?¡±


    ¡°Nine Clouds also contacted you. Haven¡¯t you done the same thing?¡± Shadow countered.


    Hazel was silent for a moment. Then she said. ¡°The only reason I didn¡¯t sign with them was that I didn¡¯t like Xavier. I mean, you saw how he was! But you don¡¯t have any grudges against him! It would be a waste of time if you didn¡¯t at least try it out.¡±


    Shadow was about to say something else when she heard someone calling Hazel¡¯s name from the other end of the line.


    ¡°I have to go now. I have a banquet to attend tonight. I have to put on makeup and pick out a dress. I¡¯ll call youter, okay? If not, tomorrow.¡±


    Ding!


    Before she could even react, Hazel had already hung up.


    Shadow was depressed. She had told ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± that she was unwilling to work for Nine Clouds Media.


    She didn¡¯t expect to eat her words this quickly!


    In truth, the only reason why she had chosen to major in drama and literature was because of Hazel. At least, that was half the reason.


    Hazel had always dreamt to be an actress on the big screen and to support her, Shadow was interested in writing out scripts that would not only showcase her talents but also her wide range of emotions. In such a way, she had always thought that they¡¯d be partners in the entertainment industry, trading thoughts and secrets now and then.


    But now that Hazel was working for Nine Clouds¡¯petitor, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for Shadow to write a good script for her if she were epted to Nine Clouds Media. In fact, it was totally impossible!


    Now that Hazel already knew of this, she¡¯d only me herself up if Shadow didn¡¯t take the opportunity right in front of her.


    Perhaps, Nine Clouds Media was really her future after all.


    The best she could do was not to let ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± know of this arrangement.


    ¡­


    When Shadow had already arrived at the entrance of the Castle , she saw a ck car slowly driving towards the entrance as well. Her eyes narrowed at the sleek finish and the tinted windows. Even from afar, the car was enough to catch anyone¡¯s attention.


    It was a limited edition Bentley. The car model was very rare, especially in this Pack . In fact, it was the first time she had really spotted such a customized design. It was slick, beautiful and low-key.


    Shadow thought that this car was quite nice. The owner of the car must be a low-key person. Not only that, but he should be calm and steady.


    Just then, the car door opened, revealing ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± getting out of the car¡­


    When Alpha Kilian was in the car, he spotted Shadow . He came up to her and smiled. ¡°Hi, Mrs. Lances.¡±


    Frank followed behind Alpha Kilian and got out of the car. He was anxious when he heard that Alpha Kilian called Shadow ¡°Mrs. Lances.¡±


    ¡°Hi.¡± Nodding hurriedly, Shadow raced into the living room. Thest thing she needed was to be with him again.


    As the two men walked into the Castle , she couldn¡¯t help but wonder why ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was frequently with Frank . As he was Alpha Kilian ¡®s assistant, shouldn¡¯t he be with him instead of ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°? Or was this another one of their arrangements?


    But she didn¡¯t care much about it. If Frank was here, that meant Alpha Kilian was here as well. She could make dinner for him.


    After dinner, she went back to her room and surfed the Net.


    She browsed a trending post.


    ¡°The entertainment circle isplicated. My friend gave me an invitation to a banquet. I decided to attend because I had nothing better to do, thinking that it was just a proper dinner. But I didn¡¯t know it was going to be like this!¡±


    There was a video below.


    There were many rich kids partying around, and at one part of the video, Shadow could see Hazel¡¯s figure. The camera shed around her back. If they hadn¡¯t been friends for so long, she also wouldn¡¯t have recognized her.


    Hazel had said that there would be a banquet tonight. Was she still there?


    Shadow hurriedly took out her phone and called Hazel, but no one picked up.


    Shadow was shocked. Did something happened to her?


    She couldn¡¯t wait anymore. She picked up her bag and ran out.


    Not bothering to think much, she went straight to the ce the banquet was held and sneaked in. There was an ambiguous feeling around the banquet hall. She searched the entire banquet hall and couldn¡¯t find Hazel.


    Shadow was anxious. But just as she was about to move any farther into the bar, she felt someone grab her arm. When she about to turn around to see what was happening, another person grabbed her other arm. Then after the person pinched her chin and poured the alcohol into her mouth.


    Aftere drinking a ss of the alcohol, her vision immediately blurred around her, and her body turned limp. With a nod, two people took her away¡­

 41

    though her vision was a bit hazy, Shadow ¡®s consciousness was still somewhat clear. She could feel two men were supporting her on each side. The loud noises echoing from the bar had gotten softer and softer, and her surroundings became darker with each step.


    There were strong. No matter how hard she struggled under their grip, they still wouldn¡¯t let go. It was obvious that she couldn¡¯t break free just by doing this anymore.


    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Her voice was hoarse and unsteady. She wanted to shout for help, but they were already nearing the exit. Even if she did scream, nobody would¡¯ve heard her. Even if someone heard, they wouldn¡¯t care.


    Shadow felt that she had been brought into a room and her entire body being thrown onto the bed.


    Bending her arms, she tried to support herself to sit up, but she was limp. So she fell once again.


    What the hell had they given her to make her so nauseous?


    Just then she heard their conversations.


    ¡°You sent us an ugly woman? Are you trying to insult us?¡±


    ¡°Her looks may be hideous, but her figure isn¡¯t that bad.¡± It was a woman¡¯s voice. There was a pause before she spoke again, this time even more viciously, ¡°You can do whatever you want with her for all I care. Just don¡¯t kill her.¡±


    Shadow clenched her hands tightly and pinched her palms forcefully. She tried to sober herself.


    She felt painful and sober. For a split second, her vision cleared, she saw a man and woman standing by the bed and talking.


    She couldn¡¯t hear clearly. She wanted to get out of bed, but she fell off the bed.


    Bang!


    She fell on the ground!


    The sound attracted the attention of them. The man walked over and threw her onto the bed. He was surprised. ¡°She¡¯s quite powerful for a woman. I¡¯ve already given her so much medicine, and she¡¯s still moving.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Give her some more.¡±


    ¡°You can wake her upter.¡±


    They pinched her chin. She felt painful. They fed her the cold liquid.


    ¡®Someone save me.¡¯ She thought, before falling into aa.


    ¡­


    Alpha Kilian had just taken care of a few documents in his study. Seeing as he was finally finished, he sighed and headed downstairs to get himself a ss of water. It was a long day, and although he had just recovered, he didn¡¯t really have much choice but to get back to work.


    Shadow ¡®s bedroom wasn¡¯t far away from his study.


    When he came out, he nced at her room and found that the door was open.


    Was she still awake?


    Although they weren¡¯t sharing a room, he had gotten used to the woman¡¯s night routine, fondlyparing her routine to that of an olddy. Since it was already close to midnight, he had assumed that she¡¯d be asleep by now.


    Alpha Kilian strode towards her room and pushed the door open. The lights were still on, and the bed looked untouched.


    He frowned and raised his wrist to look at his watch. It was almost eleven o¡¯ clock. Where could she be?


    Alpha Kilian nced at the side to see that herptop was still on her sofa. It wasn¡¯t switched off. Shadow must¡¯ve left in a hurry. Wanting to see what was going on, he sat on the sofa and grabbed herptop.


    It required a password for him to enter the system, but that wasn¡¯t difficult.


    He turned on herputer easily and saw a video. His lips pursed as his fingers clicked on the video, curious as to what she was watching.


    He yed the video for two seconds and stopped it. Some rich men often gathered to have fun. They invited some young model or stars. They always did that. It was normal.


    But why wasn¡¯t Shadow in her room?


    She made the bed. Her pajamas were on the sofa. It was obvious that she was about to take a shower and sleep. But what had happened that she suddenly changed her mind?


    A thought urred to him, and his face immediately darkened.


    He reyed the video and watched it twice. Then he called Xavier. ¡°You better pick up.¡±


    After a few rings, the phone was picked up. There was a lot of background noise from where he was now. ¡°Why do you call me sote? Do you want to help me drink the alcohol? Should I send you my location?¡±


    Although Nine Clouds was argepany and Xavier didn¡¯t need to do business by meal, they still continually gave their partners some face by hosting monthly dinners or even gs to further encourage them to invest in thepany.


    That job usually fell on Xavier.


    However, Alpha Kilian wasn¡¯t in the mood to banter with him. ¡°Where did that unknown celebrity of yours go?¡±


    He only knew the unknown star as Shadow ¡®s close friend. As for her name, he couldn¡¯t really recall what it was.


    ¡°She isn¡¯t an unknown star.¡± Xavier said discontentedly, ¡°Hazel will be a movie superstar!¡±


    Alpha Kilian sneered. ¡°The prerequisite for bing a movie superstar is that she can work in the entertainment industry for a long time.¡±


    Xavier instantly became nervous. ¡°If you have something to say, then youe to me. Don¡¯t bully her.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Alpha Kilian really wanted to throw Xavier to Africa. He didn¡¯t want such a stupid partner.


    ¡°Go to the Sky Light Club.¡±


    Without another word, he hung up the phone and headed out.


    The Sky Light Club was well-known in the Hoover Pack , probably for its numerous scandals. It was founded by a group of materialist rich man. Drug abuse and rape scandals were quite rampant in this area.


    It was founded by these rich men, so it was difficult to shut down it. It wasn¡¯t a secret in the upper-ss circles.


    As soon as Xavier figured out where Hazel had gone, he immediately stood up, picked up his coat and walked out. His hands trembled as he called Hazel.


    ¡­


    Xavier wasn¡¯t far from the Sky Light Club. So when Alpha Kilian arrived, he had already arrived.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Xavier immediately approached him.


    ¡°Shadow and that unknown star of yours are both in there.¡± Alpha Kilian was solemn.


    As soon as he heard it, Xavier turned around and ran inside the club.


    Xavier was famous. So he was immediately recognized, when he entered.


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Xavier. Have you alsoe to test our newbies?¡±


    Xavier grabbed the man¡¯s cor and his voice was dangerous as he asked, ¡°Where is the banquet hall?¡±


    Alpha Kilian also owned a few clubs around the Pack , but they were much more high-end than the Sky Light Club. He narrowed his eyes and nced around. He hadn¡¯t been here before, so he didn¡¯t know where the banquet hall was.


    The person had wanted to say something to tter him and direct him to a more private room. But Xavier was in a bad mood, he seemed like to avenge his father¡¯s death. So the man didn¡¯t utter another word. Instead, he pointed in the direction of the banquet hall.


    Xavier let go of the man. He was about to speak to Alpha Kilian , only to see that Alpha Kilian had long disappeared into the crowd.


    He had already gone to the banquet hall.


    If the entrance was sweaty and chaotic, the banquet hall was far more obscene and disgusting. The women didn¡¯t have any shame as they jumped onto every man who walked past, taking off their shirts to attract their attention. The men were even more shameless with the way they salivated after them, taking the initiative to pleasure themselves in such a public area.


    Alpha Kilian was handsome. As soon as he entered the banquet hall, the women¡¯s eyes were immediately glued to his expensive suit and gold-ted watch. They were like a bunch of cats who had caught onto their next prey, looking eager to pounce.


    ¡°Handsome,¡± One of the woman approached him and ced her hand on his shoulder. ¡°You want to get a room?¡±


    However, before she could even seed in doing so, he grabbed her by the wrist, and threw her far away, ¡°Scram!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± The woman screamed miserably and fainted.


    Although the women were all lusting after him, they didn¡¯t daree close.


    Suddenly, Alpha Kilian saw a woman and a man in a corner.


    The woman¡¯s pale back was facing him. She had already taken off most of her clothes as she danced on the man¡¯sp. Their groans and moans echoed across the room.


    Alpha Kilian was familiar with her back. He stopped and didn¡¯t have the guts to step forward.

 42

    Xavier chased after Alpha Kilian . Upon seeing Alpha Kilian ¡®s frozen figure, he followed his line of sight, and looked forward. Xavier was shocked. ¡°This¡­ Is that Ell¡­¡±


    Noticing that Alpha Kilian  was gloomy, he hurriedly changed his words. ¡°She isn¡¯t like Shadow . I¡¯ll go over and take a look. That woman is definitely not your wife.¡±


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s face was tight, but he didn¡¯t say another word. Xavier took it as a sign of agreement. Without another word, he took a step towards the couple.


    Xavier was nervous. Even though he wasn¡¯t familiar with Shadow , he could tell that the woman looked so much like her from behind. Yet, that couldn¡¯t be her, right? He saw the way she had gotten along with Alpha Kilian  the other day, he would¡¯ve known if she was cheating on him.


    ¡®Please don¡¯t let this woman be her.¡¯ Xavier pleaded at the back of his mind. He had been friends with Alpha Kilian  for so many years, and he could see how much the man cared for this woman.


    Although Shadow  wasn¡¯t any beauty, perhaps Alpha Kilian  liked her because she was kind.


    This woman better not be her!


    Xavier walked forward and turned the woman¡¯s face over. He had no choice but look at her face. Then he looked away.


    She wasn¡¯t Shadow .


    Xavier nced at the woman again and said excitedly, ¡°It¡¯s not her!¡±


    As soon as he heard Xavier¡¯s words, Alpha Kilian  felt rxed. He strode over to take a better look at the woman¡¯s face. As soon as he saw her, Alpha Kilian  smiled gloomily.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Shadow ?¡± His voice was had turned icy, and it was enough to make everyone freeze in ce. Stretching out his hand, he pinched her neck.


    Jessica  froze in surprise. She didn¡¯t expect to see Alpha Kilian ¡®s cousin here. She struggled under his hardening grip. But she failed because he was much stronger. No matter how hard she moved around, she still couldn¡¯t break free from his hold.


    The man who held Jessica  was interrupted. He was about to scold them. Alpha Kilian  nced at him. The man shivered and kept silent. He looked up at Xavier who was standing behind Alpha Kilian .


    Not wanting to mix himself into this mess, the man threw Jessica  on the ground.


    Before leaving, he turned to Xavier, ¡°Mr. Xavier. Have a good time. I¡¯ll be heading out first.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Nine Clouds Media was thergest corporation in the entertainment industry, and its connections were all over the country. The Hall family itself wasn¡¯t short on connections. Their rtions wereplicated. Nobody dared to mess with Xavier.


    Jessica  was interrupted by them and thrown away by the man. She fell limp under Alpha Kilian ¡®s grasp. Seeing as there was no other way out, she stared up at Alpha Kilian  charmingly and seductively. ¡°I¡¯m prettier than Shadow . I suggest you don¡¯t waste your time trying to find her. Why don¡¯t you sleep with me?¡±


    Alpha Kilian  retreated his hand in disgust, throwing her back onto the floor. He picked up a wine bottle and broke it into pieces. He put one piece of the ss on her face and threatened. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll cut open your face. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯ll continue to pride yourself on your looks then.¡±


    The ss was pressed on her face as if it could scratch her delicate cheeks at any time. Although a part of her was scared out of her mind, the thought of Shadow  going missing was enough to pull her back to the light.


    Jessica ¡®s lips curled up into a sadistic smile. ¡°¡±And if I tell you, you think that would change a thing? She¡¯s currently being served by a group of men. Will you be interested in watching the show? Or do you intend to join them? You haven¡¯t slept with her yet, have you? I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be willing to share a piece of her.¡±


    Not to mention Alpha Kilian , even Xavier couldn¡¯t bear these words. Just as he was about to step forward and teach this shameless woman a lesson, Alpha Kilian  growled. ¡°Let¡¯s see that!¡±


    With that Alpha Kilian  kicked Jessica  away to the wall. She was so painful that she couldn¡¯t cry out. There was even a still smile on her face as if she was already satisfied with the oue.


    After so long, she¡¯d finally give Shadow  a taste of her own medicine.


    She smiled and shuttered. ¡°It¡¯s toote¡­ Those men would¡¯ve already defiled her by now. She is ruined¡­¡±


    Tomorrow morning, Shadow ¡®s face would be on the front of every magazine and social media outlet. The entire world would remember her name would fade into the background. That had been her n this whole time. Even just the thought of it was enough for her to keep smiling.


    Alpha Kilian  looked at Jessica  coldly. Although he had wanted to teach her a lesson, he didn¡¯t bother wasting his time with her now. Shadow  was still in danger, and at this point, every second counted.


    After confirming that Shadow  and Hazel weren¡¯t in the banquet hall, the two men rushed out of the hall.


    Frank had also arrived right on time, with his subordinates following right behind him.


    ¡°Mr. Lances, have you found Mrs. Lances?¡± Alpha Kilian  had already informed him of the matter.


    Alpha Kilian  was worried about Shadow . ¡°Search every room one by one. Be quick.¡±


    Frank ¡®s expression turned serious.


    After working with his boss for many years, he knew what kind of ce Sky Light Club was. It was a ce where the high and mighty could use their positions to their advantage as they mess with any woman they want. Shadow  had been missing for a long time¡­ that could mean that she might¡¯ve already fallen into a difficult situation.


    However, he didn¡¯t say another word. Instead, he ordered his subordinates to carry out Alpha Kilian ¡®s orders, making sure that they didn¡¯t leave a corner unsearched.


    Alpha Kilian  didn¡¯t stand around either. ¡°Let¡¯s split up. We¡¯ll be faster this way.¡±


    Sky Light Club wasn¡¯t a small ce. It had multiple floors, each having about forty rooms each. Even with everyone searching for Shadow , it was still difficult to find her in a ce like this. No matter what room he had entered on the first floor, Alpha Kilian  still found no trace of his wife.


    When Xavier came over from the other end of the club, he saw Alpha Kilian  standing at the end of the corridor. Half of his face was hidden in the shadows, and he could see his hands clenching into fists.


    He had never seen him this worried before, at least, not in a long time.


    Xavier walked over, patted Alpha Kilian ¡®s shoulder and said, ¡°I found those people.¡±


    Alpha Kilian  raised his head, and an indescribable emotion shed in his features. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Xavier didn¡¯t waste any time as he brought him to the respective room.


    Frank ¡®s men had already surrounded the area, and as Alpha Kilian  entered the room, he saw five naked men squatting on the floor. The bed was in a mess. And the room was filled with the smell of sex.


    At the sight, Alpha Kilian ¡®s expression became darker. He walked forward step by step in an aggressive manner. Those men who were arrogant before kept silent.


    Frank took a step forward and whispered. ¡°Mr. Lances, we didn¡¯t see Mrs. Lances when we came in. They said that she had jumped down from the balcony earlier, so I¡¯ve sent a few of my men to look for her.¡±


    Jumped off the balcony?


    Alpha Kilian  looked at the men squatting on the ground. His gaze was sharp and cold that it was enough to scare one of the men into bbering. He knelt down and came to Alpha Kilian  with her knees. ¡°We didn¡¯t touch the woman. She¡­ she jumped down on her own! We didn¡¯t do anything to her. Please, let us go!¡±


    They didn¡¯t touch Shadow ? Then the smell of the room belonged to them. So did they sleep with¡­?


    Xavier nced at the blood stains on the sheets and felt his anus hurt.


    Just then, the men who were assigned to look for Shadow  hurried back. ¡°We didn¡¯t find any sign of Mrs. Lances.¡±


    The naked men didn¡¯t look like they were lying. With their lives at stake, they wouldn¡¯t dare lie, but that didn¡¯t mean Alpha Kilian  could rule that possibility out. After all, they were selfish bastards who cared far more for their pleasure rather than for other people¡¯s safety.


    No matter how many times they¡¯ve begged, he didn¡¯t let Frank release them.


    He walked to the balcony and looked down.


    This was the seventh floor. If Shadow  jumped down from here, she would be paralyzed, or at worst she could even die¡­


    Alpha Kilian  clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. If something had happened to her, he¡¯d surely never let them go.


    He looked down and looked at the balcony at each floor. ¡°Search the corresponding rooms below this floor!¡±


    It was obvious that the Eden  family hated Shadow  from the start. The woman had really grown up in a toxic environment where everything she had done was hated on. She was abused and beaten, but she still lived well on her own.


    She had an indescribable thirst for life. She¡¯d be fine!


    Carl and his men searched the first floor, while Frank had ordered their men to search the second floor.


    On the other hand, Alpha Kilian  took his men to the third floor.


    They kicked the door open with no hesitation, and he didn¡¯t waste any time as he strode straight into the balcony.


    The people on the room were having fun in the bathroom. When they heard the noise outside, they ran out and saw Alpha Kilian  and his men. Their eyes widened in panic as he pointed at them. ¡°Who are you? What are you doing?¡±


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s men locked him in the bathroom.


    The cold breeze blew as Alpha Kilian  looked around. Although the balcony was empty, there was a small hunch shivering behind the curtains. His eyebrows furrowed over as he took a step forward.


    Could that be her?


    Raising his hand, he pushed the curtains to the side.


    There, in the corner, was a fragile woman curled up into a ball. She had already fallen into a semi-conscious state.

 43

    At the sight of her obscured figure, Alpha Kilian finally rxed. He didn¡¯t even notice he had been holding his breath this entire time.


    Squatting down, he reached over to touch her head. Pushing a few strands of hair that were covering her face, he shook his head and sighed. His voice was hoarse, barely heard by the people at the back. ¡°Shadow , I finally found you.¡±


    Her hair was messy, and her clothes were torn and wrinkled. There were fine beads of sweat coating her pale forehead, but fortunately, she had gotten out fine and unscathed.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Alpha Kilian couldn¡¯t help but run his fingers on her cheek. ¡°I¡¯m here, you¡¯re safe now.¡±


    Just as he was about to pick her up, she opened her eyes and moved farther away from him. ¡°Get away¡­ Please, don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    Her gaze was misty and frightened and her eyes were full of tears, like a little kitten who wanted nothing more than to hide and retreat.


    Had they hurt her this much?


    Upon seeing her vulnerable face, Alpha Kilian ¡®s stare darkened immensely. After making sure she¡¯s okay, he¡¯d make sure that those bastards pay for what they¡¯ve done to her.


    He stared deeply at Shadow . After a few seconds, he leaned closer to her ear and whispered. ¡°I¡¯m Alpha Dominic . I¡¯m going to bring you home now, okay? Nobody can touch you there. I promise.¡±


    At his words offort, her movements slowed to a stop, and she tilted her head towards him. Alpha Kilian was already close her ear, and now they were even closer, with their heads touching. He could feel the heat of her forehead.


    She was burning!


    His expression turned even more vicious as he hurriedly wrapped his arms around her, picking her up. Without another word, he strode out of the room.


    ¡°You¡¯re safe now, you¡¯re safe now.¡± He whispered over and over again to prevent her from moving any more.


    The woman in his arms was as hot as a small stove, almost roasting him with the heat. Her brows were knitted together, and her slow breathing became much ragged. She seemed to be in pain. But, she was obedient. She seemed to trust him enough to lean against in chest and didn¡¯t make a fuss. It¡¯s as if she knew that she shouldn¡¯t make any trouble for him.


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s expression turned even gloomier as his anger rose even more. Gritting his teeth, he held her even tighter, not wanting to let her go.


    One of his subordinates had informed Xavier and Frank that they found Shadow . So When Alpha Kilian finally reached the main hall, the two men were already waiting for him, looking just as anxious as he was.


    Upon seeing the man¡¯s expression, Frank stayed right in his ce, not daring to ask him what had happened. Xavier, however, was brave enough to open his mouth. ¡°Is she okay?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s okay.¡± His voice was deep. He then turned to Frank . ¡°Start the car. We¡¯re going to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Bowing his head, Frank grabbed his phone to make a call.


    When all of them finally got in the car, a thought urred to Alpha Kilian . He turned to Xavier. ¡°Your unknown star. Where is she?¡±


    ¡°I just called her. She¡¯s not here.¡± Although Xavier was still dissatisfied with the way Alpha Kilian had addressed Hazel, he didn¡¯tment on it any further. After all, this wasn¡¯t the right time to discuss trivial things such as this.


    Nodding, Alpha Kilian nced up at the driver. ¡°Hurry up.¡±


    They had already reached the maximum limit, but the driver didn¡¯t dare to disobey his order. With Young Madame¡¯s life on the line, he immediately mmed his foot onto the gas and sped away.


    Luckily, there were a lot less cars on the road at this time, so they didn¡¯te to any ident.


    After a few seconds, the car finally arrived at the nearest private hospital. As soon as the car stopped by the entrance, Alpha Kilian got off.


    The hospital wasn¡¯t very big, and there were a few doctors assigned to the midnight shift. The doctor on duty was a middle-aged man. He wasn¡¯t doing anything much as he leaned against the counter to chat with his girlfriend to pass the time.


    However, as soon as he saw Alpha Kilian and his group of men walking into the entrance, his happy expression changed in an instant and he immediately hung up.


    Alpha Kilian was carrying Shadow . Behind him were Frank and Xavier, who also looked like they weren¡¯t kidding around. Behind the other two men were arge group of subordinates. At first nce, they looked like they were part of the Mafia, looking to cause trouble in the private hospital.


    The doctor was so scared that his face paled at the sight and he tried to keep his voice from shaking. ¡°Excuse me¡­ Are you¡­ here to see a doctor?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Alpha Kilian said and put Shadow on the hospital bed. He then looked at the doctor with a solemn expression. ¡°Check on her and find out what they made her drink.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± The doctor swallowed as he looked at the ugly woman. His hands were trembling as he grabbed onto his stethoscope, lowering it down her chest to check for any abnormalities. Her heartbeat was slow.


    Alpha Kilian coldly nced at his shaking figure. ¡°Do you have epilepsy?¡±


    The doctor hurriedly replied. ¡°No¡­¡±


    In his defense, he was surrounded by a group of scary-looking men, and it was obvious that they promised him death if hemitted even a single mistake on this young woman. How could he not be afraid for his life? Even then, the doctor took a deep breath and started again. This time, his movements were steadier than a few seconds ago.


    The medicine that was given to her was a bit unorthodox, he realized after doing a few tests. The medicine had an anestheticponent to it with aphrodisiac¡­


    Although he couldn¡¯t tell what specific medicine was used on the woman, for the time being, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to treat her.


    He gave Shadow an injection and hooked her up to an IV fluid. As the minutes passed, her body rxed on the stretcher, and she could finally exhale more easily. The doctor sighed in relief.


    Once they¡¯ve returned to the Castle , Alpha Kilian directly carried her into his room.


    Her face was covered in a cold sweat, and he could see how messy she looked under the dim light. He slowly got up from his bed and headed to the bathroom to grab a hot towel to wipe her face. Now that she was fine, his movements were more at ease.


    He reached out and lifted her thick bangs before using his other hand to wipe her face.


    As he was doing so, his hand froze. This was the first time he had done something like this, and he felt quite good about it¡­


    However, it seemed that there was something wrong with Shadow ¡®s face.


    Thest time he was in the dining room, he had always wondered what was wrong with Shadow ¡®s face, thinking of the thick waxy powder that coated his fingertips. But she had gotten so wary of him that he didn¡¯t make any move to find out. Plus, he never really cared much about her appearance.


    However, looking at it now, he realized that she was indeed hiding something from him.


    Narrowing his eyes, he wiped her face clean. Alpha Kilian made sure to rub the wet towel over every inch and corner of her face, not stopping until the waxy foundation was gone entirely. After this, he took a step back and gazed up at her.


    Not yellowish and with ck spots as usual, but her face was as white as powder and as smooth as silk. It was baster and shining. He froze in surprise.


    Her lips were red and rosy, her nose was delicate. Her long, curly eyshes parted like a fan, creating a small shadow across her eyes. Her forehead was smooth and her hairline was neat.


    Everything about her face was close to perfection, and even he couldn¡¯t help but stop and stare.


    She was beautiful.


    Alpha Kilian looked at her and suddenly let out a lowugh.


    This woman not only pretended to be stupid but also pretended to be ugly. He didn¡¯t know if she had done it because she was smart or gullible, but either way, it was obvious that she had suffered such a bad life back at the Eden Family.


    ¡­


    The next morning, when Shadow woke up, she felt that every part of her body was in pain. She exploded into a fit of coughs, as if her throat was on fire. With a hand clutching her throat, she used the other hand to rub her lower back.


    What happened to her?


    Squinting her eyes at the broad light, she nced from left to right in confusion. Her eyebrows furrowed. This¡­ this wasn¡¯t her room!


    She rolled over and sat on the bed. Her mind was nk. What happenedst night?


    Just as she was about to yell, the door was pushed open.


    Alpha Kilian walked in with a ss of water. Reaching her bedside, he passed the ss to her. ¡°Drink up.¡±


    She didn¡¯t even bother questioning him as she finished it all up.


    Once she had set the ss down, she realized that the man in front of him was wearing nothing but a nightgown. Her face turned sheet white as she looked down, only to see that she was also wearing her pajamas.


    Did something happenst night?


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ,st night¡­ You¡­ I¡­ We¡­¡± She was somewhat confused with so many memoriesing all at once.


    Alpha Kilian sat on the edge of the bed and put his arm beside her. He looked at her with passionate eyes and said in a low voice, ¡°Last night, I went to Sky Light Club to save you. When we came back, you insisted on sleeping in my room¡­ you even took advantage of me in my sleep. You¡¯ve done absolutely everything you should and should not have done to me, and I couldn¡¯t stop you.¡±


    ¡°What did you just say? I did what?¡±


    Shadow was totally confused. She had remembered jumping down and grabbing the railing to hide behind the curtains. But what happened after that¡­ she couldn¡¯t recall. Everything was nk.


    However, she also remembered that apart from the desire to survive when she jumped off the building, she didn¡¯t have much strength for the rest of the time.


    Since she didn¡¯t have any strength left, how could she do something to ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± that she shouldn¡¯t have done?


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me! Although I don¡¯t remember what happenedst night, I¡¯m sure that I didn¡¯t have any strength to do something to you!¡±


    ¡°Since you don¡¯t remember, how can you be so sure that you didn¡¯t do anything? The medicine they¡¯ve given you is a new type of party drug, and it¡¯s affects are really great and satisfying.¡±


    Alpha Kilian got closer and closer and his voice became ambitious, ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve always liked you. If you think about it, I really can¡¯t refuse you when you did that to me¡­¡±

 44

    When Shadow  saw that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was serious and did not seem to be lying at all, she became nervous.


    ¡°You¡¯re really saying that we¡­¡± She paused, desperately trying to find the words to exin what she was feeling.


    She really couldn¡¯t remember what had happened after she had fallen off that balcony. The drug must¡¯ve already taken effect during this time, so it was possible that if they really had done something, she wouldn¡¯t be able to know.


    Her mind went nk for a few seconds before she finally thought of Alpha Kilian .


    If he found out, she¡¯d be dead!


    And the fact that she was in ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡®s¡± room in nothing more than her pajamas, the thought was about to send her into a stroke. She couldn¡¯t stay in this room anymore!


    With a pale face, she lifted the nket and was about to get out of bed, but Alpha Kilian  pushed her back down.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You look exhausted after what had happenedst night. You should get some rest. I¡¯ll ask someone to cook whatever you want to eat.¡±


    He ced a hand on her shoulder. Although it looked weak, she still couldn¡¯t move.


    Various thoughts filled her mind as she thought of the different things they could¡¯ve done while she was drugged. Shame spread all over her body as she pulled away from his hold. She was so angry that she trembled. ¡°You really are shameless!¡±


    ¡°Shameless? How about this?¡± As he spoke, he pushed her back onto the bed with a slight force from thend on her shoulder. His tall body covered her and he lowered his head to kiss her lips.


    Her eyes widened, and she was immediately caught off-guard. This gave more chance for Alpha Kilian  to move around, further deepening the kiss while they were at it.


    The kiss was forceful and filled with emotion. He held Shadow  by the wrist as he dominated her small frame, and kissed her forcefully and tyrannically, making sure to cherish every moment that her lips touched his.


    She had never kissed a man before. In fact, in all her life, her only experience came from the man in front of her. His cold air wrapped around her, giving her no room to resist his warm grip.


    After the kiss ended, he pecked her a few times before drawing away.


    Shadow id on the bed. Her face was flushed after their kiss. Her beautiful, clear eyes were filled with ayer of lustful mist as the sun reflected her swollen lips. Her chest rose and fell as her breathing became ragged. It was obvious that she had enjoyed the kiss, no matter how much she tried to hide it.


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s breath, which had slowed down, became a little heavier. He looked at her with passionate eyes and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°I know something even more shameless. Do you want to try it?¡±


    Hearing that, Shadow  regained her senses. Her eyes clear again, she looked up and saw him leaning against her head. She held back her breath and pped him fiercely.


    But Alpha Kilian  immediately caught her by the wrist.


    He grinned, cing her hand on top of his lips. Fluttering butterfly kisses across her palm, his smile became even more wicked. ¡°Hm, I like women who are as feisty as my sister-inw.¡±


    This man was really shameless!


    She could not retract her hand,pletely contained by him. So, she could only suppress her anger and say, ¡°I am your sister-inw!¡±


    He simply grinned, looking as if he wasn¡¯t able to hear the anger in her voice and said in whisper. ¡°Cousin has gone abroad. He won¡¯t be back in less than a dozen of days. No one will be able to disturb us now. Isn¡¯t that more exciting?¡±


    Exciting?


    My ass!


    She wasn¡¯t nning on having an affair with her cousin-inw!


    Alpha Kilian  saw that her expression became even unhappy by the second, so he didn¡¯t tease her any longer. Standing up, his smile disappeared in an instant. ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll get someone to do it.¡±


    Shadow  said coldly. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡±


    The only thing she wanted now was for him to leave!


    Alpha Kilian  ignored her indifference and said to himself, ¡°Then porridge and stir-fry a few dishes.¡±


    As soon as he left the bedroom, she jumped up and raced into the bathroom.


    She wanted to confirm whether or not she and Alpha Dominic had done anythingst night!


    It was normal for her to feel back pains, especially after what she had been through. In fact, she¡¯d even feel more suspicious if she didn¡¯t feel any pain from jumping off that balcony. However, other than that, she didn¡¯t feel any difort from below her waist.


    Although Dominic didn¡¯t seem trustworthy, she believed that he wouldn¡¯t be that cruel to try something like this. He wasn¡¯t the type to take advantage of others.


    Locking the bathroom door, she removed her pajamas and checked her body. There weren¡¯t traces of any liquid or bite marks across her skin. Shadow  even tried jumping up a few times but didn¡¯t feel anything out of the ordinary.


    It was obvious by then that he was only lying to her.


    Although he wasn¡¯t evil, that didn¡¯t mean that he wasn¡¯t childish. Did he have his fun teasing her like that?


    Heaving a sigh of relief, she went straight to the sink and prepared to wash her face. However, when she gazed at her reflection, she was left stunned. Although he hadn¡¯t touched her in that way, she was certain that he had something to do with this.


    The ugly makeup on her face had been removed!


    There were plenty of things that had happenedst night, so the dark circles around her eyes still hadn¡¯t faded. But that didn¡¯t degrade her beauty much either. It gave her a sense of weakness, one that would make people pity her rather than go against her.


    The breath that she had been finally let go, choked her once again. It seemed that her cover has been blown already.


    ¡­


    Half an hourter, Alpha Kilian  went up to call her for dinner.


    He entered his bedroom to find that the bed was empty. His eyebrows furrowed over his temple. Where could she have gone?


    Just as he was about to move, he heard a soft ruffleing from behind him.


    He stopped and turned around. He saw Shadow  standing by the doorway. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she red at him questioningly.


    Why can¡¯t I open the door to my room?¡± Her voice seemed indifferent.


    She had just gone back to her room a few seconds ago, but no matter how much she tried, she still couldn¡¯t open the door. She had tried pulling and pushing it, she even tried kicking it, but it still didn¡¯t open.


    ¡°Did something happen to it while I was gone?¡±


    ¡°The door is broken.¡± Alpha Kilian  said calmly and it was hard to tell what he was really thinking.


    Shadow  looked at him suspiciously. Wasn¡¯t the lock on her door still finest night?


    Alpha Kilian  nced at the way she looked at him. Although she still regarded him from a distance, he could tell that she had finally figured out that nothing happened between them. The corners of his lips twitched, but he didn¡¯t say a word about that.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± With that, he went downstairs.


    Shadow  thought of resisting his offer, but her stomach growled in contradiction. She had lost her appetite a few minutes ago because she thought that they had really done something that night, but after confirming that nothing happened, she was back to normal.


    With a sigh, she headed down the staircase. She¡¯d deal with this matterter.


    In the dining room.


    Shadow  and Alpha Kilian  sat face to face. No words were said between them, and she used this time to nce at her surroundings. She still couldn¡¯t help but admire the modern furnishings of the ce as well as the abstract paintings hanging on the wall.


    Although she didn¡¯t have the chance tomunicate with her husband, she could tell that they had simr tastes. As she was looking around, the bodyguard brought the tes of food over.


    Her lips pursed. She had always been curious as to why there weren¡¯t any maids in the Castle . Usually, it was more of their job description to cook and clean the house, not a bunch of burly bodyguards. They may cook all right, but she could tell that this wasn¡¯t their forte.


    She tentatively looked up. ¡°Does your cousin hate women?¡±


    Hearing this, Alpha Kilian  paused. Was he really that obvious?


    He put down his spoon and looked up at Shadow , ¡°Why do you ask that?¡±


    He put down the spoon and looked up at her. ¡°Why do you ask that?¡±


    Shadow  also put down her spoon. ¡°Well, he doesn¡¯t want to see me from the beginning. And there aren¡¯t any maids in the Castle . For someone as well-off as him, he wouldn¡¯t have a problem with hiring a ton of them¡­ unless he didn¡¯t want their presence.¡±


    Alpha Kilian  didn¡¯t say anything more in response. He had to admit that his wife was quite perceptive of his actions.


    Shadow  thought like she was forgetting something. She rubbed her head and suddenly remembered something. ¡°Hazel! Where is she? Is she okay?¡±


    Remembering that he may not have remembered her name, she quickly added, ¡°She¡¯s the one who came to the Castle  the day you were sick. We¡¯re close friends, and I think Xavier seems to know her as well.¡±


    As he thought aboutst night, Alpha Kilian ¡®s expression darkened slightly. ¡°She¡¯s fine.¡±


    Even after what had happenedst night, she was still in the mood to care about others? If he didn¡¯t go to check up on herst night, would she have managed to get out of Sky Light Club on her own?


    Shadow  still wasn¡¯t convinced with his words. She reached out to touch her phone, only to remember that her phone broke into pieces when she had jumped off the balconyst night.


    Alpha Kilian  caught her subtle movements. Reaching out from his sides, he took out a box from behind him and pushed it towards her.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Shadow  asked curiously.


    Alpha Kilian  didn¡¯t say anything. He just nced at her and signaled her to open it.


    Shadow  opened the box and found that there was a brand-new women¡¯s phone.

 45

    Shadow  raised her head in surprise, gazing at ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± before ncing back at the phone in her hand. ¡°You bought this?¡±


    ¡°Nice try. Cousin bought it for you.¡± Alpha Kilian  rolled his eyes and began to eat.


    Shadow  sneered at his words. ¡°As if I¡¯d ept it if it was from you.¡±


    Shadow  took the phone out of the small box. A small smile appeared on her lips as she analyzed it carefully.


    As Alpha Kilian  was the one who had bought it for her, she epted it. After all, they were already married, so there wasn¡¯t anything wrong with giving and receiving gifts.


    Shadow  noticed that there was a SIM card next to her phone. It was the number she had used before.


    Once she had everything installed, she immediately dialed Hazel¡¯s number.


    The phone only rang once before it was answered.


    ¡°Shadow .¡± Hazel¡¯s worried voice sounded from the other end of the line. There weren¡¯t any background noises from her end, so her words were loud and clear. ¡°Are you okay? You weren¡¯t picking up the phone earlier and I thought¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Are you filming already?¡± Shadow  tilted her head. She remembered Hazel saying that she¡¯d be returning to the production team.


    ¡°After everything you¡¯ve been through, you¡¯d think I¡¯d just let go and start filming? I¡¯m heading out right now! We should meet.¡± There were rustling sounds from the back, making it sound as if she was packing.


    Shadow  also wanted to talk to Hazel aboutst night, so she quickly agreed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m eating. I¡¯ll go out in a minute¡­¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°No need. I¡¯ll go there instead. See you.¡± Hazel interrupted her and hung up the phone.


    Once Hazel hung up, Shadow  ced her phone on the table and gazed up at the man eating slowly in front of her.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had always acted arrogant and rash, yet, his actions proved to be theplete opposite. In fact, he was very calm and cautious. Even the way he was drinking his porridge was eloquent.


    The more she observed him more, the more she spotted how contrasting his actions were to his words.


    ¡°Aboutst night¡­¡± She paused before saying, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for what?¡± Alpha Kilian  looked up at her, his pitch-ck eyes flickering with an imperceptible smile. ¡°Thank me for pushing you away at the critical moment?¡±


    Shadow  understood his words and blushed. ¡°Can¡¯t you talk decently for once?¡±


    As for thest bit of gratitude she had had for him, it disappeared without a trace.


    Alpha Kilian  had already finished his porridge. Taking out the towel, he wiped his hands while saying, ¡°You said thanks so casually. Your gratitude isn¡¯t sincere enough.¡±


    Well, he wasn¡¯t wrong. Shadow  thought for a while and leaned back against her seat. ¡°How about you let me treat you to a meal?¡±


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s eyebrows rose at her offer, and she slowly rxed. Was that sincere enough?


    ¡°Dinner? Okay. Let¡¯s go to the clubhouse I brought you tost time.¡± Alpha Kilian  said seriously.


    That ce?


    If she remembered correctly, that was the most exclusive clubhouse in Hoover Pack . For those in the middle ss, it would take them years just to get a reservation in that ce, and the prices there¡­ Not to mention she didn¡¯t have a job now, even if she had one, it would drain her sry for half a year if she wanted to reach the standard of young and rich ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°. Shadow  stiffened at the thought.


    Was he doing this on purpose?


    Shadow  shook her head and said straightforwardly. ¡°It won¡¯t do. I can¡¯t afford that one.¡±


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± looked at her in surprise. ¡°Cousin didn¡¯t give you his card?¡±


    ¡°Why would he do that?¡± Shadow  felt that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was weird in every way.


    In the next moment,  he¡± took out a ck card from his pockets and handed it to her. ¡°Cousin gave this to me. You can use it. I¡¯m sure he wouldn¡¯t mind.¡±


    Shadow  didn¡¯t take the ck card right away, staring at the way it glimmered under the artificial lights. Even one nce from the card, and she could already tell that it must¡¯ve had a line of credit that¡¯s worth millions.


    ¡°Alpha Kilian  is really good to you.¡± she said, unable to hide the envy in her words.


    Alpha Kilian  never showed his face to the public; as such, there had been rumors that he was a cruel beast who lived in the inner corners of his mansion. Yet¡­ that didn¡¯t seem to be true, given his frequent travels. He even allowed his cousin to live in his Castle , and he also gave him his credit card. Although they were just cousins, they acted like blood brothers.


    On the other hand, she and Jessica  acted as if they were enemies destined to hurt one another no matter which turns they¡¯d go.


    Hearing that, Alpha Kilian  looked at her seriously and said, ¡°If you are willing to try, he might treat you better than me.¡±


    He deliberately emphasized the word ¡®try¡¯. And then he winked.


    Shadow  flushed.


    What an arrogant and shameless man!


    Grabbing the card from his hand, she lowered her head and continued to take in two mouthfuls of rice.


    There was nothing wrong with spending Alpha Kilian ¡®s money if she wanted to treat ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± to a meal, right? It was like greeting a brother-inw. Of course, it wasn¡¯t her money, but¡­


    He¡¯s the one who wanted toe to such an expensive restaurant! Shadow  would¡¯ve been fine with treating him herself at a more low-key area, but since he purposely wanted to give her a hard time, so don¡¯t me her.


    Once they were done eating, she headed up the stairs to deal with her bedroom door.


    Even when Hazel had already arrived, she was still fighting with her bedroom door.


    It was so strange that the door would not open.


    A bodyguard came up and told her. ¡°Young Madame, Miss Darwin is here.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Right now, she could only go downstairs to see Hazel first.


    Before she had even set foot in the living room, Hazel had already rushed to hug her. She gripped her around the waist and buried her head into Shadow ¡®s neck. ¡°You¡¯re fine! Do you know how worried I was? Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡±


    Shadow  smiled. ¡°I¡¯m fine. How about you?¡±


    ¡°I heard about the video you¡¯ve seen¡­¡± Hazel quickly exined what had happened. The video that the blogger posted had gone viral that even her manager caught sight of it. ¡°She¡¯s the one who showed me.¡±


    ¡°Although I attended a banquet, it wasn¡¯t that banquet.¡± She immediately showed her pictures of the g she had attended. Her manager was terrified that the video would discredit her, so she immediately asked Hazel to find a couple of group photos and post them on Weibo. ¡°It¡¯s just to prove that I wasn¡¯t in that club during the time of the video.¡±


    However, as soon as she posted the pictures, she saw that there were numerous missed calls on her phone. ¡°I tried calling you, but you wouldn¡¯t answer. That¡¯s when I called Xavier. He¡¯s the one who told me that you went to Sky Light Club to look for me.¡±


    After hearing her words, Shadow  immediately understood what was going on. It was likely that this wasn¡¯t a coincidence. Someone must¡¯ve known her friendship with Hazel and used that to their advantage, luring her over with a look-a-like.


    And the only person she had offended recently was Jessica .


    Since her and Jessica ¡®s matter had spread rapidly across the inte, Jessica  would do anything to push Shadow  into the spotlight, even if it meant defiling her in the process.


    Moreover, Jessica  also knew that Hazel was a good friend of hers.


    It seemed that Jessica  really spared nothing on her exploits.


    Seeing that Shadow  was deep in thought, Hazel hovered over her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°The incidentst night, Jessica  must be the person behind this,¡± she slowly said. ¡°I remembered her being a member of the club, but I didn¡¯t really pay much attention to these things. I wasn¡¯t aware of Sky Light Club¡¯s reputation.¡±


    If she had known that Jessica  had frequented in these types of clubs, she wouldn¡¯t have gone and had been tricked by theter.


    Although Hazel was the type who¡¯d rush into things head-on, she was still logical. She wouldn¡¯t have the right mind to attend these types of banquets, even if it was for a job.


    Hazel frowned. Just as she was about to say something, a phone rang out.


    She lowered her head and took out her phone, but it wasn¡¯t hers.


    Shadow  pulled out her phone. ¡°It¡¯s mine.¡±


    ¡°You actually changed your phone?¡± Hazel¡¯s eyes widened. She had urged Shadow  to change her phone for ages, but theter had always refused, afraid that it would make Lisa   unhappy. Because of this, she stuck herself with her basic phone for years.


    At her words, Shadow ¡®s brightened up into a smile. It was clear that she was ecstatic about the matter. She whispered excitedly, eyes glittering in happiness. ¡°Alpha Kilian  was the one who gave it to me,¡±


    It might mean that Alpha Kilian  was gradually opening his heart to ept her.


    Back when Shadow  had agreed to mated  Alpha Kilian , she hoped that they¡¯d be able to get along. Although he was a cripple or was scarred, she didn¡¯t think that he was any less human. That was why she was willing to open her heart to ept him.


    Shadow  obviously had something else to ask. But Shadow  pointed to her phone and said, ¡°Let me answer this first.¡±


    However, as soon as she saw the Caller ID, her face darkened.


    ¡°Shadow ,¡± Lisa  ¡®s warm and gentle voice sounded as soon as she clicked the answer button. ¡°I booked reservations for us in the Cafe. Why don¡¯t you have lunch with your Mom?¡±


    A kind offer out of the blue? The older woman obviously had a motive.


    Shadow  smiled tightly. ¡°Just the two of us?¡±


    There was a moment of hesitation before she answered, ¡°Yes, just us.¡±


    She obviously didn¡¯t believe a word of what she had just said.

 46

    There wasplete silence before Lisa quickly added, ¡°I¡¯ve been too busy in the past, so I wasn¡¯t able to find time to be with you back then. How about you let me make it up to you now? What do you say? Let me apologize for all that lost time.¡±


    If this had happened a couple of months back, Shadow would¡¯ve been very ecstatic. In fact, whatever her mother needed, she¡¯d readily provide, as long as it meant that they¡¯d grow closer together. However, after everything that had happened now, she knew that her mother¡¯s intentions weren¡¯t that simple.


    How careless of her to use being busy as an excuse!


    Being busy¡­ her mother had always used that as an excuse, but whenever Jessica was involved, she¡¯d drop everything and race out the front door. She never took any of Shadow ¡®s concerns to heart, which resulted in their estranged rtionship.


    Besides, Lisa was a full-time housewife. She didn¡¯t even need to manage anything inside the house given the number of maids that Jason had hired. What could she busy herself with? Counting her money?


    Shadow remembered that day when she had bought a movie ticket and asked her mother watched it with her. Although hesitant, Lisa agreed, asking for her to wait in the cinema and that she¡¯d meet her there.


    However, up until the movie ended, Lisa never showed up.


    When Shadow returned home, she learned that it was because Jessica had gotten drunk at a party, Lisa was busy picking her up and sending her to the hospital that she paid no attention to the movie date she had promised her. Lisa even didn¡¯t even bother to call Shadow and kept her waiting until the movie ended.


    A small bitter smile appeared across her lips. ¡°Sure, send me the address.¡±


    As soon as she hung up, Hazel shook her head in disappointment.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± She raised her eyebrows.


    ¡°Your mother invited you to dinner again?¡± Hazel said angrily, crossing her arms over her chest. ¡°And you¡¯re going? Do you really want to go back to her? After everything that bitch Jessica has done? I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be there too.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Shadow confirmed, pulling Hazel to sit on the sofa. Before theter could continue with her rant, she asked, ¡°Hey, I asked you to bring a brick on your way here. Did you bring it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s in the car. I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± Hazel responded.


    Even after numerous efforts, Shadow still couldn¡¯t break into her door. She didn¡¯t know how long she¡¯d have to wait if she were to call a locksmith, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. That was why she had asked Hazel to get her a brick.


    ¡°Holy Shit!¡± Hazel burst intoughter as soon as she figured out what Shadow was trying to do. Just as she was about to join her, her manager called on her once again. Since her projects doubling due to her rising fame, she had gotten busy over thest few weeks.


    Just as she was about to leave, she quickly waved Shadow over. ¡°Hey, do you mind taking a video of yourself? Just for entertainment purposes of course.¡±


    Shadow didn¡¯t know how to reply. Did Hazel¡¯s fans know how juvenile she was?


    Once Hazel had gone, she gripped the brick and walked to the door of her room before smashing the door handle. The noise echoed across the hallway as she did it one more time.


    Alpha Kilian , who was in his study, was attracted by this noise and walked over. When he spotted the brick in her hand, the corners of his lips tugged into a smile. He rubbed his forehead,ughing softly.


    This woman was really¡­ unpredictable!


    Just as she was going to hit the handle once again, he grabbed a hold of her wrist and leaned in a bit closer. ¡°Cousin isn¡¯t home. You can sleep in his room in the meantime unless you¡¯re looking into paying for this door?¡±


    Shadow also believed that destroying other people¡¯s properties wasn¡¯t the right answer, but she had no other choice. She pointed at her room before waving her hand. ¡°My things are inside.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re married. Cousin already asked his bodyguards to send all the female items into his room the moment you¡¯ve stepped into his house. There are even a few clothes that you can use.¡± In reality, he actually only ordered his bodyguards recently.


    Shadow had never expected that, but she shook her head and said frankly, ¡°But I am afraid of sleeping in his room.¡±


    If she had stepped into his room without Alpha Kilian ¡®s permission, who knew what he¡¯d do? She¡¯d have to wait for him toe back instead. It¡¯s only proper, right?


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± mightugh at that, but she was just being honest.


    Alpha Kilian did not see thating. Was she the same woman who bickered with him all the time?


    ¡°I¡¯ll just smash the door open. Besides, I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll let me pay for the door. He wouldn¡¯t be so petty.¡± After all, he had given her a phone, hadn¡¯t he? Shadow also didn¡¯t see him managing her issues at all, giving her all the freedom she needed. He wasn¡¯t that bad at all.


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s ck eyes shed with a hint of shock, and then he stopped talking.


    She had alreadyplimented how generous he was; that meant that her impression of him had gotten better aspared to the first time they¡¯ve met. That was progress, wasn¡¯t it? His fingers twitched towards the brick.


    At this point, he had no choice but to offer his help


    He reached out for the brick in Shadow ¡®s hand and smashed the handle in a few moves. The door swung open within a few seconds.


    Shadow blinked. It seemed that he became more bearable after everything that had happenedst night. She paused before saying, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Well, at least their friendship had progressed, at least, just a bit.


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t say another word as he turned around and left. However, the way he was hunched over made him appear irritated over the small matter.


    He didn¡¯t walk far before he saw a few of his bodyguardsing up the steps. ¡°Sir, did something happen?¡±


    ¡°It was nothing.¡± Alpha Kilian nced at the group of men.


    He was suggesting that they should turn back.


    The bodyguards immediately understood the meaning behind his words and quickly headed down the stairs. Even then, they were confused by the matter.


    Upon hearing the bigmotion just now, the bodyguards had assumed that their Young Master was fighting with Young Madame. One of them even bet a hundred dors that this was happening, but their boss didn¡¯t even appear fazed. Although irritated, he certainly didn¡¯t look like he had juste from a fight.


    Just as Alpha Kilian entered the room, he received a message from Xavier.


    It was 40 seconds voice message. Clicking on the voice message, he ced his phone back on his table and listened.


    ¡°Am I disturbing you at this hour? Did the two of you have a good nightst night? Did you use the things I had sent you earlier? If you ever need anything, I¡­¡±


    Alpha Kilian pressed the power button and locked the screen.


    With a sigh, he headed into his walk-in closet.


    His walk-in closet was exceptionallyrge. Half of the room was filled with suits and casual wear, while the other half was filled with skirts, dresses, and jeans. All of them had been prepared for Shadow , but it seemed that she wouldn¡¯t wear them for now.


    She must¡¯ve hated him with a passion to be so careless. If she had actually paid close attention, she would¡¯ve realized that he lived the master bedroom. She¡¯d also realize that ¡°Alpha Kilian ¡± and ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had never appeared at the same time.


    Maybe it was because she had a preconceived notion that Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t like to be seen all too much.


    He couldn¡¯t help but remember the time when she had heard it was Alpha Kilian who had given her that phone. Her eyes automatically lit up with joy that it almost melted the ice in his heart. He sighed, shaking his head.


    At this moment, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little jealous of himself.


    ¡­


    Shadow closed the door behind her andy on the bed.


    She honestly felt more at ease sleeping on this bed, rather than in the Master Bedroom. After resting for a while, she got up to wash her face and change her clothes.


    Standing in front of the mirror, she hesitated for a meant before deciding not to pretend to be ugly anymore. Besides, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± already knew her appearance. If she pretended any more, it would just be troublesome for her. Moreover, she also wasn¡¯t nning to eat lunch with Lisa anyway, so putting up a face would be even more troublesome.


    Alpha Kilian had been nothing but kind to her. He had probably never seen her face, so it was best not to go into more trouble than she could carry. With a sigh, she wiped her face with a towel before cing it on the rack.


    As she did so, her fingers slid against her lips.


    Her couldn¡¯t help but think the time when ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had kissed her. There was something about the way his fingers swept across her wrists and the way his breath fanned against her neck that made her feel warm inside. There was a sense offort that she had never felt before, a tinge of passion that had revived her.


    When Shadow regained her senses, she realized that she had been reliving ¡®Alpha Dominic ¡®s¡¯ kiss. Her face immediately turned pale.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was Alpha Kilian ¡®s cousin. What was she thinking!


    Even until she had changed her clothes, her face was still a bit flushed, and her eyes were still misty.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    As if by her bad luck, she knocked onto ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± at the staircase.


    Upon seeing her flushed face, he frowned. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    As he spoke, he reached out to touch her forehead.


    But before his touch could linger, she immediately jumped back as if she would get a 440 volt electric shock by his touch. She then said in panic. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Without another word, she rushed away.


    Alpha Kilian stood, frozen by her sudden reaction. He nced at his empty hand that was still in the air, and his frown deepened even further. A part of him couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the woman really hated him that much that she¡¯d retreat from his touch so readily.


    He walked to the banister and watched Shadow running away with her bag on her shoulder. Although his face darkened even further, he tilted his head in worry, apprehensively following her. Where was she going?

 47

    Shadow raced out of the Castle , lowering her flushed face to avoid being seen by the bodyguards who were passing by. As soon as she reached the front gates, she leaned against the columns and exhaled heavily.


    She must stay far away from ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± if she knew what¡¯s good for her. The man just didn¡¯t know when to stop! Even as the cool breeze brushed up against her face, the warmth still hadn¡¯t faded as much as she would like it to.


    Just as she was about to check the time, a car stopped right beside her. She turned her head almost instinctively to see that the window had been lowered, revealing ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡®s¡± cold dark eyes. In an instant, she froze.


    The moment their gazes collided Shadow felt her entire world stopping before her. A light shiver shot down her spine, followed by the warmth of natural sunlight. Quickly moving her eyes away, she quickened her pace.


    Alpha Kilian drove slowly and closely followed her. He kept his car alongside her and said in a low voice with amanding tone, ¡°Get in the car.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± She continued her walk and she said.


    Although surprised, Alpha Kilian understood where it wasing from. She wanted to draw a line with him, at least, with ¡®Alpha Dominic ¡®. Given that he was technically her brother-inw, it would be inappropriate to lengthen their contact with each other.


    The corners of his lips rose into a cool smile. ¡°When will you realize the truth?¡± He shook his head, his words remained unheard by the woman walking ahead of him.


    Shadow continued to walk. However, as soon as she sensed that the car wasn¡¯t following her anymore, she couldn¡¯t help but turn back.


    The car was already parked at the side of the road, and ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had already stepped out. He was walking towards her. His face was covered with indifference and determination. There was something about the way he walked that looked a little intimidating.


    Within a few seconds, he picked her by the waist and carried her into the car before she could react. After stuffing her into the passenger seat, he mmed the door shut.


    Shadow was dumbfounded. What the hell just happened now?


    ¡°Alpha Dominic !¡± Shadow was so angry that sheughed. ¡°Can you stop messing around?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s messing around?¡± Alpha Kilian nced at her coldly before continuing his drive down the road.


    ¡°Who do you think?¡±


    He acted as if he didn¡¯t hear her as he stared straight ahead at the road. After a few seconds of silence, he tilted his head. ¡°Address?¡±


    Shadow didn¡¯t answer him. Instead of asking again, he simply grabbed her phone from her pockets and flipped to the message that Lisa had sent her. It was the address of the restaurant they were meeting at.


    ¡°Did you eavesdrop on me?¡± With her eyes wide, she snatched the phone from his grip. Otherwise, how would he know that she was going out to see Lisa ?


    ¡­


    In a few minutes, they finally arrived at the restaurant.


    Shadow didn¡¯t gotten out of the car immediately. Instead, she stared at the restaurant¡¯s transparent floor-to-ceiling windows, spotting Lisa sitting at one of the tables. There weren¡¯t many people surrounding her table, so it was easy to see her from afar.


    The older woman was ncing around from time to time as if she was looking for someone.


    Alpha Kilian nced at the passenger seat. Upon seeing that Shadow made no intentions of going into the restaurant, he raised his eyebrow. ¡°Do you n to sit and look at her this entire time?¡± His voice was mocking.


    However, she didn¡¯t say a word in response.


    All these years, she had waited for Lisa to care for her, waited for her to appear in that movie theatre, waited for her to treat her to dinner. Ever since she was a little kid, she had done all the waiting. Now, it was time for her to get a taste of her own medicine.


    Let Lisa experience what it was like to be hung out to dry.


    Alpha Kilian looked out of the window on his side of the car to see a restaurant not far ahead. Without bothering to ask her, he drove straight to the parking lot and pulled her into the said restaurant.


    He quickly took her to a table on the second floor that was by the window. From there, they could watch Lisa from afar with no one to stop them. Even then, Shadow still didn¡¯t say another word.


    The waiter brought the menu to them, and Alpha Kilian directly pushed it to Shadow .


    She looked up to see that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had handed her the menu. Although she still hadn¡¯t said a word, he seemed to know what she was thinking.


    ¡°What are you looking at? Order what you want to eat.¡±


    Shadow regained her senses. He had been looking down at his phone. How could he know that she was looking at him? Could it be that he had an eye on the top of his head?


    Since they were already here, it would be embarrassing if they didn¡¯t order anything. She ignored the awkwardness and ordered some dishes.


    Once she was finished, Alpha Kilian also ordered two dishes.


    Shadow couldn¡¯t help but turn her head to Lisa once again. A dark shadow epassed her face as her eyes shed in difort. Although she had wanted the older woman to wait for her, she still couldn¡¯t help but feel a twist in her heart.


    Luckily, other than a few jeers and hollers, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± didn¡¯t say a word as if hepletely understood what was going on.


    ¡°This is the first time she invited me to dinner.¡± She seemed to talking to herself rather than to him. Just as the words slipped past her lips, she saw another car stopping at the entrance of the restaurant. Jessica walked right out of the backseat.


    Shadow sneered and continued. ¡°But I guess she had other motives. She always does.¡±


    Jessica went directly to the table where Lisa was seated. Due to the distance, she couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, but from the way, Jessica was waving her hands, she could see that theter was already losing her temper.


    The two of them argued for a while before Lisa lowered her head and picked up her phone. A few secondster, Shadow ¡®s phone rang.


    She picked it up. ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Shadow , why aren¡¯t you here yet? Didn¡¯t we agree to have lunch together?¡± Lisa struggled to suppress the anger in her words, but even then Shadow could hear the impatience and annoyance around her tone.


    Shadow said indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m still on the bus. The road¡¯s blocked and the traffic¡¯s terrible.¡±


    ¡°Hurry up,¡± She said, relieved, before hanging up the phone.


    Shadow watched as the twomunicated her response. Within the next few seconds, Jessica nodded reluctantly and left the table. However, just as she had expected, that woman didn¡¯t leave the restaurant.


    Was Jessica really that excited to see her after what had happenedst night? Did she believe that Shadow had been ruined by five men that she had hired? Did she really want to see how ¡®miserable¡¯ she was?


    If that was the case, then shouldn¡¯t she appear and give that woman a hard p?


    So many scenarios had rushed into her mind that she didn¡¯t even notice that the food was already being served. Alpha Kilian ¡®s voice pulled her back to reality. ¡°Eat.¡±


    Coming back to her senses, she stared at the dishesid out before her before ncing back at him. Suddenly, a brief memory shed in her mind. Frank had said that he had allowed her to stay by Alpha Dominic ¡®s side because she reminded him of his mother at that time. She pursed her lips curiously. ¡°You¡¯ve been staying at Alpha Kilian ¡®s ce for a while¡­ Are your parents around?¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed that he had stopped eating. His face darkened, and something in his eyes flickered with intensity.


    Feeling as if she had crossed the line, she immediately picked up a piece of pork with her chopsticks and ced it into his bowl. ¡°Why don¡¯t you eat more?¡±


    Her voice was softer this time, and his expression softened.


    The two of them finished their meal in silence.


    Shadow was about to pay the bill, but before she could, Alpha Kilian grabbed her by the wrist. After paying the bill, he turned around and said seriously. ¡°When a man and a woman eat together, it¡¯s only natural that a man should pay.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m your sister-inw. Since Alpha Kilian us older than you, I should pay the bill.¡± She responded just as quickly.


    ¡°Well, the bill¡¯s already paid. But¡­¡± He leaned in close enough that their noses were almost touching and whispered. ¡°If you really feel bad about it, you can kiss me topensate for the unpaid bill. What do you say?¡±


    ¡°You can pay the bill yourself if you insist on it.¡± She¡¯d rather die in a hole than kiss him again!


    Her cheeks med as she shook off his hand. Without another word, she stomped right out of the restaurant.


    ¡°He¡¯s just kidding.¡± Shadow whispered to herself, pping her cheeks. ¡°Get yourself together, Shadow !¡±


    Alpha Kilian stared at her retreating figure,ughing silently.


    ¡­


    In the end, Shadow didn¡¯t go to the restaurant to see Lisa or Jessica . Instead, she headed straight home after. It was obvious that Lisa had ulterior motives, and with Jessicaing after her, she surely wouldn¡¯t hear the end of it.


    Lisa tried calling her again and again, but she didn¡¯t pick up.


    Just when she had assumed that the matter was over, the next morning, she received a call from Jason .


    ¡°Shadow , you¡¯ve been looking for a job recently, haven¡¯t you? Why don¡¯t youe to work for ourpany? That way, not only will you receive better treatment, but you¡¯ll also be part of the family business.¡± Jason said so sincerely that she had almost believed him.


    ¡°I would love to, but I¡¯ve already found a job.¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Between Eden Group and Nine Clouds Media, she¡¯d obviously choose Nine Clouds with no hesitation. She wouldn¡¯t even consider the Eden Group as an option, at least not anymore.


    There was a brief silence from the other end of the line before he offered, ¡°How about I give you a few shares if you start working for us?¡±


    Shares?


    She couldn¡¯t help but straightened her back, suspecting that she had heard wrongly.


    Her older siblings both held shares in Eden Group¡¯s, and as such, they received cash and share dividends every year. Even Lisa held a few shares from thepany. Back then, they had refused to give her even one share, saying that she had to earn her way up herself. Although pitifullyte, the shares coulde in handy for her in the future.

 48

    Back then she hoped that Jason would give her some. Even if it was only 1%, it would at least make her feel like she was a Eden .


    Now, it seemed that when she didn¡¯t care about the shares anymore was also the time when Jason wanted to give it to her. She suppressed a bitterugh as she thought of all the times she had cried at their words and crumbled at their insults.


    How ironic!


    Shadow couldn¡¯t help herself and actuallyughed aloud. It was really ridiculous.


    Although she knew that Jason had ulterior motives in mind, she still asked, ¡°How many shares are you nning to give me.¡±


    ¡°As you¡¯re my daughter, you¡¯ll receive more shares than your mother.¡± He said vaguely, patting his chest. There was silence before he continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t treat you unfairly. After all, I¡¯m your father.¡±


    Her shares were more than Lisa ¡®s? Shadow pursed her lips.


    Hm¡­ Since he had already mentioned the shares, how can she make it easy for him?


    ¡°Well, now that I¡¯ve be the Young Madame of the Lances family, it¡¯s only natural as you treat me as such.¡± Shadow said coldly. ¡°If you really want to offer me some shares, I¡¯d take at least 15%. Anything less would be an insult to the Lances family, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t have any shares in the Eden Group, she knew how those shares were publicly distributed.


    Jason had a 30% shares in the business. Jessica and her brother each had 10%. Lisa only had 5% that totaled 55%. The majority vote was all part of the Eden family.


    The remaining percentage belonged to the other shareholders.


    If Jason agreed to give 15% of his shares, he¡¯d be in great danger.


    That meant that if Shadow didn¡¯t vote for him during the next shareholder meeting, he might not be able to hold his position as chairman of the Eden Group.


    There was silence from the other end of the line.


    15% wasn¡¯t a small amount.


    ¡°I¡¯ve treated you well, haven¡¯t I?¡± Jason chuckled, trying but failing to cover the anger behind his words. ¡°Your request is a bit too much, isn¡¯t it? I mean, after all, we¡¯re all family. How about you ept a lower percentage and we can discuss increasing your shares in the future.¡±


    Treated her well?


    Shadow simply smiled. ¡°You¡¯re getting old, Dad. You shouldn¡¯t be getting angry all the time; it¡¯s not good for your health. Besides, I¡¯m only saying it casually. It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t agree; either way, I already have a job waiting for me. I got to go now.¡±


    What happened to the Eden family?


    It was rare for Jason to bring up the topic of shares when it came to her. In fact, he had never done it before, so what was his purpose?


    ¡­


    On the other side of the Pack , in the Eden Castle , things weren¡¯t looking up.


    Jason was so angry that he almost threw his phone across the room as soon as he hung up. Gritting his teeth, he mmed his hand against the armrest and pushed himself up. The audacity! He had never seen Shadow act like this before.


    Folding his hands behind his back, he paced back and forth in his office. His eyes glowed with so much fiery rage for her. ¡°Just because she¡¯s now the Young Madame of the Lances Family doesn¡¯t mean she should act this arrogant.¡±


    ¡°Dad, you shouldn¡¯t be angry over such a small matter.¡± Jessicaforted as she poured him a cup of tea. ¡°It isn¡¯t worth it.¡±


    However, the old man was too outraged to even take the cup of tea from her hands. Instead, he pointed at her. ¡°How many times have I told you not to go to those clubs? If you really want to go there, then the least you could do is to be a little more careful! Look what happened! The Grant family had already agreed to the mating bond, and with all these scandals out, do you think they¡¯ll still want you as their daughter-inw?¡±


    The Eden Group had been short of funds recently. Originally, they nned to let Jessica mated into the Grant family then ask them to invest in their business. However, now that her scandals caught fire, the Grant family had dropped all sorts of investment ns.


    That was why he shifted his hopes to Shadow again.


    Shadow had been married into the Lances family for around three months right now, and she was doing just fine. In fact, they assumed she had gotten along quite well. If they could gain her favor, maybe they could get her to persuade Alpha Kilian to invest in them.


    ¡°Dad, Shadow must¡¯ve done that. She wants to destroy me.¡± Jessica said, but something shed in her eyes. ¡°But I¡¯ve already gotten back on her.¡±


    Jason ¡®s expression changed. ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°She destroyed my reputation, hasn¡¯t she?¡± She crossed her arms over her chest. A smirk yed on her lips. ¡°It¡¯s only fair that I pay her back ten times as much, which is why I¡¯ve lured her into Sky Light Club and¡­¡±


    p!


    A crisp sound echoed across the study.


    Jessica ¡®s head swung to the side from the p. A dark red mark appeared the sides of her face as her fingers slide down her skin. Her face contorted into that ofplete disbelief. ¡°Did you just¡­ Dad, did you just hit me?¡±


    Although Jason had gotten angry at her a few times in the past, he had neverid a hand on her.


    However, he couldn¡¯t help it! This wasn¡¯t just child¡¯s y! If the Eden Group couldn¡¯t survive because of this little mess up, they could face bankruptcy. Or worse, they could be bought up! This wasn¡¯t the time to be so petty!


    In all honesty, Jason loved his ex-wife, as such, he loved the two children that she had left with him. His favorite happened to be Jessica , who looked so much like her. Sometimes, he wondered if his wife was alive, would she have taught her more?


    Jason looked at his hand and he sighed. The furious expression on his face softened. ¡°Jessica , no matter what happens, Shadow is the Young Madame of the Lances family. Although she may not look important, the power she holds, is what we need right now.¡± He paused and continued. ¡°Look at her! She¡¯s still alive and well; if we y our cards right, she could get us Alpha Kilian ¡®s favor.¡±


    ¡°So what if she gets his favor? He¡¯s nothing more than a cripple.¡±


    Even now, Jessica still wasn¡¯t convinced. To her, it didn¡¯t matter what Shadow status was now. In her eyes, theter was just a country bumpkin whose own mother rejected her. To her, Shadow was nothing more than a fly in her windshield.


    However, this wasn¡¯t the time to bring out that ugly woman¡¯s shorings when Jason was this angry.


    ¡°Even if Alpha Kilian is a cripple, he¡¯s still the Young Master of the Lances family. Although he doesn¡¯t look much, he will soon inherit the Lances family fortune. If you y nice with Shadow , all our problems would be solved!¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t we just let her ask Alpha Kilian for some money?¡± Jessica slowly nodded.


    Recalling the phone call he just had, Jason¡¯s face darkened. ¡°She¡¯s got more confidence now. She actually dared to hang up on me and even asked me for 15% of thepany¡¯s shares!¡±


    ¡°Then give it to her!¡± Jessica didn¡¯t think it was a big deal. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want her toe to the Eden Group to work? When the timees, we could think of something to get her to return her shares.¡±


    Hearing this, Jason fell into a deep thought before he smiled. ¡°My precious daughter is so smart. Did I hurt you when I hit you just now? It¡¯s my fault¡­¡±


    ¡°Dad, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡­


    No matter how much Shadow thought about it, she couldn¡¯t figure out what Jason ¡®s goal was. But she would never have thought that Jason wanted money from Alpha Kilian .


    She was going to Nine Clouds Media for an interview today.


    However, as she was heading out, she received another call from Jason .


    ¡°Shadow , I¡¯ve thought about your request, and I promise to give you 15% of Eden Group¡¯s shares. When are youing to work?¡±


    She frowned. Why would he agree so quickly?Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    15% was arge number and for him to give it to her within a few hours¡­


    Should she ept the shares?


    15% was more than Jessica ¡®s share in thepany¡­ How could that woman agree to this?


    There must be something fishy going on, but even then, Shadow slowly nodded. Whatever happened, she wasn¡¯t going to be afraid.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go to work once you transfer the shares to me.¡±

 49

    ¡°I don¡¯t have the time today. How about tomorrow?¡± While Jason was celebrating, Shadow remained indifferent as she organized her things. She wasn¡¯t worried at all. After all, Jason was the one who needed her, not the other way around.


    Back when she had been in the Eden family, she was far too obedient. Some had evenpared her to a yapping dog, and her family always took advantage of that. Jason was no exception to that rule. That was why he wasn¡¯t used to listening to her demands.


    Upon hearing her brief response, Jason frowned in impatience. ¡°You don¡¯t have a job right now, right? What else are you busy you with?¡±


    ¡°Just because I don¡¯t have a job doesn¡¯t mean I sit in the Castle and do nothing all day long.¡± Shadow rolled her eyes and paused for a bit before saying deliberately, ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that, shall we? I¡¯ll send you the address of the restaurantter. We¡¯ll meet then.¡±


    Shadow hung up the phone after that, not even bothering to hear his reply. After a short paused, she quickly typed in the address to Jason¡¯s contact number. A yful smile appeared on her lips.


    As soon as Jason received her text, he couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    In his eyes, Shadow was still the dense and ugly daughter that Lisa had given birth to. He expected her to send the address of a cheap restaurant down the block, not an expensive clubhouse like Golden Fountain. He wondered if he read his daughter wrong over the past few years?Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Thinking of all the expenses awaiting for him was enough to make his heart ache.


    Golden Fountain was the same ce where ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had taken her out to eat thest time. She remembered practically melting upon seeing the expensive prices, and that was precisely the reason why she had chosen the ce.


    As for the other reason, Golden Fountain was a high-ss club. Even if her family wanted to resort to other means to threaten her, they wouldn¡¯t dare cause a scene. They care for their reputation far too much. Even Jessica wouldn¡¯t be stupid enough to stomp into that ce.


    Now, all she needed was awyer.


    Right now, even if she was Young Madame Lances, it would be hard to find an experienced attorney at thest minute. She needed someone she could trust, someone that would help her rather than go against her.


    ¡­


    Xavier continued calling Alpha Kilian every night toin about how badly he was being pestered by the old directors. ¡°You have to help me. You¡¯re the only one who could deal with them. I may not jump off the building, but you don¡¯t want me to suffer, right?¡±


    That was the reason why Alpha Kilian had gone to thepany. Plus, with all the recent events going on, it was something that he needed to do.


    After two meetings, he finally handled all the cranky directors and arranged project ns for the rest of the week. He coldly said to Xavier as he was on his way out. ¡°I better not hear youining tonight, you got that?¡±


    Without another word, he went back to his house.


    As soon as he arrived in his Castle , a delectable scent drifted from the kitchen. He took a deep breath. His eyes glinted in interest as he turned his head, spotting a young woman walking around with an apron wrapped around her waist. The sight was enough to make him grin.


    She¡¯s cooking?


    Alpha Kilian passed his suit jacket to the bodyguard behind him and strode into the kitchen.


    There, he saw Shadow with her back facing towards him. She was standing on her tiptoes with her fingers stretching towards the pump.


    His Castle didn¡¯t really have any maids or cooks, as such it was designed for his bodyguards to move around much easier. Everything was ced in high ces, even the counter was ced a few inches higher to adapt to their tall figures. Seeing that she was struggling, he walked over and stretched his arm over her head, helping her press it.


    Shadow turned around. She didn¡¯t look like she had put on her makeup, showcasing the gentleness of her features. Her frizzy hair was alsobed down to light curls. Holding the spat in her hand, she looked quite sweetlike an actress in a cooking show.


    ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± She pped her hands together, smiling. ¡°Give me a second, I¡¯m just doing thest finishing touches.¡± After all, she needed something from him.


    There were plenty of people who strived to please him, even just for a while. Alpha Kilian generally ignored all those people-pleasers, but when it came to her, he couldn¡¯t help but brighten up.


    Although he didn¡¯t show it on his face, his voice was much lighter. ¡°Sure.¡±


    He shoved his hands into his pockets and watched her from the side. His expression was calm and serene, but his eyes shone with so much intensity. And it was all trained to Shadow ¡®s back, drinking it up as if she was the only source of water he had left.


    The sizzling sound from the frying pan made up for their silence.


    Once she was preparing to te the food, she tilted her head, only to see that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± still hadn¡¯t gone out.


    ¡°What are you standing here for?¡± Did he like the smell of oil and smoke?


    Alpha Kilian turned around and walked out. ¡°Nothing.¡±


    He actually found her quite pleasing without her makeup, like a nymph in her own natural element. He couldn¡¯t help but gaze at her a little while longer.


    Other than the asional crosstalk, the two finished their meals in silence. Shadow took this opportunity to look at him with a smile. ¡°You and Alpha Kilian , the both of you have privatewyers, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± He wiped his hands with a wet towel. ¡°Are you in awsuit?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I need a corporatewyer who handles business contracts. I was wondering if you could lend me a hand?¡±


    Although there wasn¡¯t any expression on his face, she could tell that he looked dissatisfied with her request. Shadow pursed her lips.


    What was he dissatisfied with?


    Alpha Kilian originally thought that she¡¯d be asking him for an incrediblyrge request given that she had taken every initiative in pleasing him. In the end, she did something so extraordinary for something so mundane by borrowing hiswyer.


    He was expecting much more.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you, if you¡¯d do something for me.¡± He looked up at her.


    Shadow froze as his gaze went down her clothes. Had she done something wrong? She looked at herself. There was nothing wrong with her cloths. Or was he thinking of anything shameless?


    As soon as the thought urred to her, she straightened her back and regarded him with constant vignce. She even stretched out her arms and crossed her hands over her chest.


    ¡®Let¡¯s see you try anything now,¡¯ she thought.


    Alpha Kilian saw the change of her features and wanted tough out loud. He could only ce his hand over his lips, coughing to hide his smile. This girl really was something else.


    A second had passed, and his expression reverted to being indifferent again. ¡°You have to cook from now on.¡±


    ¡°From now on?¡± She blinked. ¡°How long will I be cooking?¡±


    ¡°Depends on my mood.¡±


    She gritted her teeth before reluctantly agreeing, ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± didn¡¯t have any obligation to help her anyway. Plus, his request wasn¡¯t that extraordinary. Since she was staying here every day, it wouldn¡¯t be too much to ask for her to cook for him from time to time. Nodding her head, she leaned back against her seat, more rxed.


    ¡°Go and slice me some fruits now,¡± Alpha Kilianmanded, tilting his head towards the kitchen.


    ¡°Our agreement only stated cooking,¡± Shadow bit back. She wasn¡¯t a maid!


    However, seeing as he didn¡¯t say another word, she obediently headed to the kitchen to get him some fruit.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your fruit.¡± Shadow handed him a te of sliced fruits before leaving the dining room. Back then, she had been so worried about getting along with Alpha Kilian . Who would¡¯ve known that the only man she was having trouble with was his cousin?


    Smiling in satisfaction, Alpha Kilian took a picture of the sliced fruits and sent it to Xavier.


    In a few seconds, he replied, ¡°It¡¯s just fruit. What¡¯s so special about it?¡±


    ¡°My wife made it for me.¡±


    ¡°Whatever.¡±


    Alpha Kilian grinned and ate the fruit in satisfaction.


    The next morning, Shadow brought thewyer she had borrowed from ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± to Golden Fountain Club. Her head was held up high.


    She wore a white shirt and a pair of jeans. Although she didn¡¯t choose to put on the waxy make-up today, she still looked incredibly in with the clothes she was wearing. In fact, she¡¯d look like amoner among the upper ss.


    A high-ss clubhouse like Golden Fountain wouldn¡¯t ept ordinary looking people to enter, especially someone like her. However, Jason was still a respected man in the upper ss. He¡¯d enter a ce like this. She had originally nned to wait outside and let the old man pick her up.


    But what she didn¡¯t expect was to be invited in almost immediately as soon as they saw theirwyer. Not only did the doorman allow her, but he even grinned and waved at them, weing them as if they were royalty.


    It was weird, but she didn¡¯tin.


    Shadow immediately made her way to their private room.


    Jason also brought awyer with him, but he didn¡¯t expect Shadow to do the same. His eyes widened momentarily, but he quickly hid his surprise with a nod. ¡°Shadow .¡±


    In his opinion, this daughter of his was still a bit slower than the average person. For her to be this perceptive¡­ he just wasn¡¯t used to it.


    She sat in front of him. ¡°Dad.¡±


    It was only when he had taken a closer look did he find that she looked different from normal.


    Had she be more beautiful?


    Did she undergo stic surgery?


    Although he was confused, he didn¡¯t bother asking since there were outsiders surrounding them. Not only would it shine a dark light on him, but it may cause a scene.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you, dear.¡± Jason replied softly.


    Jason then gave hiswyer a look as if telling him to go ording to their n.


    So what if Shadow brought awyer? Maybe he was the type who wouldn¡¯t be able to spot any loopholes. With no money, she didn¡¯t have any capabilities to find a goodwyer, right?

 50

    However, as soon as thewyer started reading their contract, Jason realized just how wrong he was.


    The old man stared at the way thewyer browsed through every single word, encircling phrases that didn¡¯t make sense and underlining a few terminologies that were hard to decipher by the untrained eye. This man wasn¡¯t careless or dense; in fact, he was extremely professional and cautious.


    Thewyer was none other than Arthur Knight. Although he looked young, he was very prudent when it came to contracts, and loopholes were his forte. He could spot anything from a mile away.


    The corners of his lips tilted up at the sight of Jason ¡®s surprised gaze. He was sure that the old man had been underestimating his skills the moment he had walked into the restaurant, but he didn¡¯t say a word.


    ¡°On Section 26 of the Shareholders¡¯ Contract¡­¡± Arthur immediately went into it, pointing out all the loopholes that he had caught. There were even superstitious phrases that he had listed out to better rify it with the other party. ¡°How about this one? Is this really what you mean?¡±


    While Jason didn¡¯t know much about the terminologies, hiswyer¡¯s face had turned extremely pale. It was obvious that the otherwyer knew what he was doing. ¡°About that, there must be some mistake¡­¡±


    Seeing that hiswyer was struggling, Jason intercepted, ¡°Shadow , ourpany has been too busytely, so it¡¯s only normal for our legal team to get a few details wrong.¡±


    Arthur however wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°Even an intern could find a clear loophole, let alone your legal consultant who¡¯s been working for you for more than three years.¡± He sneered and continued. ¡°Try toe up with a better excuse next time before you try to reason your way out of this.¡±


    Shadow blinked in surprise. She didn¡¯t think that the man beside her would be so bold as to go against Jason that easily. And how could he tell that the other party¡¯swyer had been working for more than three years?


    Herwyer was quite perceptive.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    However, the surprise faded from her expression within nanoseconds as she leaned back against her seat. ¡°Dad,¡± she said gently, as a mocking smile slipped into her lips. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time for you to change yourwyer if he¡¯s that careless.¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you be more professional?¡± Jason scolded at hiswyer, keeping up with this entire charade. After all, he couldn¡¯t let anything slip now. ¡°You can¡¯t even draw up a transfer contract. What¡¯s the use of hiring you if you can¡¯t do this one thing right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chairman.¡± Thewyer bowed his head. ¡°I was the one who made the mistake. I might have gotten out the wrong contract.¡±


    As he said this, he grabbed another contract from his briefcase.


    Jason had been in the industry for so many years. Although he wasn¡¯t the most perceptive, he had grown the ability to adapt to different circumstances. He always had backup ns for nearly every scenario he could think of. Thankfully, this was one of them.


    If Shadow were to spot a loophole, he had another contract prepared that was free from it. However, he never really thought that he was going to use it.


    Arthur looked over at the new share transfer contract before nodding at her. ¡°This one has no problems.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡±


    ¡­


    After she signed all the papers, Shadow ordered two afternoon tea sets and packed them away in a take-out bag. Without another word, she said her goodbyes and left the restaurant. She didn¡¯t have anything left to say to Jason anyway.


    As for the bill, Jason of course, paid for it.


    Once they went out, she gave one of the tea sets to Arthur with a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard today. I can¡¯t thank you enough for this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really no problem.¡±


    Arthur usually didn¡¯t take on small cases like this, given how much of a big shot he was. But since Alpha Kilian was the one who had called him, who was he to say no to an old friend? Besides, her matter wasn¡¯t that troublesome anyway. It could be done within a few hours.


    Plus, he also wanted to see how ugly the infamous Mrs. Lances was.


    Although she was wearing simple clothes, she definitely wasn¡¯t ugly. In fact, she was actually beautiful.


    With herrge eyes and her creamy skin, he was certain that he caught a few other men ncing her way the moment they made their way into the room. Plus, with her outstanding temperament, Arthur could say that she was beautiful, both inside and out.


    And whenever she smiled, her beauty was even further highlighted.


    ¡°Still, you must¡¯ve been very busy, yet you still managed to help me. It¡¯s only fair that I treat you this tea.¡± Shadow could tell from his fierceness earlier that he must be a very powerfulwyer. Given his capabilities, she could tell that he must also have quite a busy schedule.


    Upon seeing the sincerity in her eyes, he reached out to take the tea as well as the biscuits.


    He could bring it back for Xavier to eat anyway. That man was like the reincarnation of a big. He¡¯d eat anything as long as it was edible.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡± As soon as Shadow left, Jason and hiswyer stepped out of Golden Fountain.


    Jason looked ahead at thewyer standing a few feet away from him. Not being able to help himself, he stepped towards the young man, curious as to where Shadow had found such a good and perceptive attorney. ¡°Sir, please wait.¡±


    Immediately, the soft smile faded from Arthur¡¯s features as he turned the older man. It was as if his indifferent and serious expression kicked in. ¡°Mr. Eden , is there anything we need to discuss?¡±


    ¡°Ah, nothing.¡± Jason coughed, suddenly feeling ufortable. ¡°Do you mind if we have a cup of coffee together?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t have the time.¡±


    Jason wasn¡¯t as smart as his daughter. Obviously, being awyer, his time was far more expensive than any gold that was offered to him. That was the reason why Shadow had offered him take-out rather than ask him to sit with her.


    Thewyer behind Jason seemed unaffected by his words. ¡°What¡¯s your surname, Sir?¡±


    Arthur smiled. ¡°Knight.¡±


    Without another word, he left.


    ¡°Knight¡­¡±


    Suddenly, thewyer pped his hands in disbelief. ¡°I knew it! Arthur Knight is one of the most poprwyers in the corporate sector, the most vicious one. No one can win against him!¡±


    Of course, Jason had heard of him before.


    A few years ago, there was awsuit that had shaken the entire Pack . Nowyer wanted to take it up since it involved far too many parties and far too many scapegoats. Unafraid of the challenge, Arthur was the one who took it up in his sleeves. And that was the case that had given him his name.


    The most powerfulwyer in Hoover Pack , how could Shadow hire such a man?


    It must be Alpha Kilian who had hired him for her!


    Jason was originally bitter that he had transferred such arge number of shares to Shadow , but as soon as he thought of this possibility, his mood became ten times better. The corners of his lips twitched up into a smile.


    Since their rtionship was so good, the probability of Alpha Kilian helping them increased tenfold! The 15% was worth it.


    ¡­


    Arthur carried his takeout bag all the way to Nine Clouds Media.


    As soon as he had arrived, he went straight into the CEO¡¯s office to look for Xavier.


    Xavier had been working overtime recently. Ever since Alpha Kilian had appeared, his days had be even more exhausting. That was why he grew even more bitter upon seeing his workersing in and out to take a breather.


    The moment he saw Arthuring in, he shot him a re. ¡°Where the hell did you go? Tell me, or I¡¯ll deduct your sry.¡±


    ¡°Can you do such a thing?¡± Arthur raised his eyebrow.


    Xavier pushed his sses up the bridge of his nose.


    Arthur was a very powerful person. Everyone wanted to work with him, and as such, he was an incredible asset. Even if he wanted to, Xavier wouldn¡¯t dare to deduct his sry. Only Alpha Kilian would dare do such a thing.


    Arthur ced the take-out bag on the man¡¯s desk. ¡°For you.¡±


    As if suddenly rejuvenated, Xavier grabbed the drink and took a sip. ¡°Did you buy it in Golden Fountain Club?¡±


    Golden Fountain used to be a ssic hotel meant for the rich and famous. That was until Alpha Kilian took over. Now, it was a luxurious clubhouse that held all the high-ss amenities. Everyone wanted to be a part of it, but only a few were able to get in.


    Ever since Alpha Kilian had been cking off by not attending any of their shareholder meetings, Xavier took it upon himself to go to Golden Fountain Club every single day just to vent his anger. After all, everything he ate there waspletely free. However, after eating there a thousand times, he lost his appetite.


    Arthur shook his head. ¡°Mrs. Lances gave it to me.¡±


    ¡°Shadow ?¡± Xavier raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Why did she buy it for you? Holy shit, was she trying to seduce you? She went too far. You and Alpha Kilian had been close friends for so many years, and she finally has it in her heart to turn you into enemies? She is so vicious!¡±


    Arthur stared at him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just join the entertainment industry and be a scriptwriter instead? Alpha Kilian can help you be famous.¡±


    Of course, Xavier was just joking. He had seen Shadow before. Although they weren¡¯t close, his intuition told him that she wasn¡¯t a bad person. In fact, her personality was quite good.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve seen her, haven¡¯t you? Doesn¡¯t she look so ordinary? Yet our Alpha Kilian looks at her as if he¡¯s addicted to her or something!¡± Xavier shook his head. He didn¡¯t really have any prejudices against the two, but he couldn¡¯t help but find it odd that Alpha Kilian would show interest in her in the first ce.


    There was a brief silence before Arthur admitted, ¡°She¡¯s actually quite pretty.¡±


    ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    Were they blind? What had their taste of beautye to?

 51

    Shadow  has finally arrived at the Castle . Seeing that the living room was empty, she nced at the bodyguard standing by the corner. ¡°Is Alpha Dominic  here? Or has he left?¡±


    The bodyguard tilted his head in her direction before slowly nodding. ¡°He¡¯s upstairs, Young Madame.¡±


    Now, even the bodyguards had trained themselves to address Alpha Kilian  as Alpha Dominic  rather than his birth name.


    She smiled, holding the bag in her hand as she went upstairs. ¡°Alpha Dominic ,¡± she called out. There was a certain skip to her steps as she strode down the corridor. Obviously, whatever happened a few hours ago had set her in a good mood.


    She gazed at the different doors surrounding her. Which room was he in again? She turned her head to see a majestic double-doored room waiting for her at the other end of the hall. Her lips pursed as she moved towards it.


    She dide from that room yesterday morning, so that was obviously Alpha Dominic ¡®s room.


    Now that she thought about it, even the doorway itself made it seem like the Master bedroom. No matter how hard she looked at it, it was the only room that stood out among the rest. So what was ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± doing there?


    Did they really have such a good rtionship that Alpha Kilian  had lent him the Master bedroom? Was this another arrangement that they had concocted? It was weird. Or was there another Master bedroom that she wasn¡¯t aware of?


    Shaking her head, Shadow  knocked on the door. This wasn¡¯t the time to think of this any further. Soon, his voice sounded from the other end of the room, ¡°What is it?¡±


    His voice was cold, colder than what he¡¯d normally use when they talk.


    ¡°It¡¯s me. I brought you some tea.¡± Shadow  said


    In the room, Alpha Kilian  had taken off his shirt, checking at the wound. The afternoon light shone through the windows, surrounding over his fit frame as he disyed the stitches in all its glory. His fingers trailed down his skin.


    That time, after he had asked Shadow  to take the bullet out for him, he headed to a private hospital for a check-up. After all, his life was a reminder of his mother¡¯s sacrifices, and he wouldn¡¯t allow that to be left forgotten. Death was thest thing he¡¯d yield to.


    The only reason he even asked her to help him retrieve the bullet was that there was no other choice. Getting to the hospital would¡¯ve triggered risk of severe blood loss, by which he may not be able to survive.


    Although his wound had healed up, it still left a scar.


    Upon hearing her calls, he wore his shirt and opened the door. He saw her standing by the doorway with a bag in her hands. ¡°Yes?¡±


    Shadow  raised her head to look up at him. Unlike most of their previous encounters, her face was clean and whitefree from any spots or blemishes. She didn¡¯t look bothered as she passed him the afternoon tea. ¡°I brought it back for you as a thank-you.¡±


    He didn¡¯t need to look inside the bag to know that it was take-out from Golden Fountain Club.


    Taking it, he asked, ¡°Did everything go well?¡±


    ¡°It went well. Thank you,¡± she said sincerely, unable to hide the smile that had bloomed into her lips. Her eyes were bright and beautiful, and it could render anyone silent.


    Alpha Kilian  had seen many other beautiful women around him, especially as he had created a clubhouse himself. But none of them could move his heart as much as she could. Feeling his throat start to close up, he struggled to say, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Without another word, he closed the door with a bang.


    Shadow  blinked, feeling the course of wind bashing her across the face. Her eyebrows knitted together. ¡°Why do I feel like he¡¯s trying to avoid me?¡±


    She turned around and went back to her room. However, just as she was about to rx, she received a message from ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°. ¡°Spicy fish.¡±


    Next thing she knew, she received a few more texts.


    Each one of them stated a certain dish she should cook.


    Shadow  frowned. If he had something he wanted to eat, couldn¡¯t he have just said it out loud? After all, they had just met about half a minute ago, didn¡¯t they? Would it really hurt him to talk?


    Even then, she wasn¡¯t really surprised. Rich people had always been known to spend money, even her siblings were this way.


    Back when she was poor, she remembered how hard it was to drag by every month because she couldn¡¯t afford to pay her phone bill. To send so many text messages so easily? Her past self would¡¯ve died from a heart attack!


    But when she went downstairs, she realized that rich people had even more extravagant ways to spend money.


    ¡­


    Shadow  originally nned to go to the kitchen to see if there was any food left in the fridge to make all the dishes that he had asked for.


    What she didn¡¯t expect was to see two bodyguards taking out the food from the fridge one by one. They didn¡¯t seem to pay attention to her as they removed the leftover stock.


    Walking closer, she peered at the stic bags beside them. ¡°Why are you taking them out?¡±


    ¡°Young Madame,¡± one of the bodyguards said in greeting before exining, ¡°These are the food that was delivered yesterday at noon. That¡¯s why we need to change and refill it today.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± She blinked. ¡°What do you mean we have to change them? It¡¯s not even rotten yet! We can still eat them.¡±


    Even at a closer look, the vegetables still looked pretty fresh!


    The bodyguards looked at each other. ¡°We always do this every day.¡±


    Seeing that they were serious, she finally relented. ¡°Okay.¡±


    Every time she cooked, the fridge was always filled with food. She had assumed that the bodyguards were just adding a few vegetables every day, just to make sure that nothing was missing. But she wasn¡¯t expecting this!


    When cooking that night, Shadow  made sure to make a lot of dishes.


    If these ingredients weren¡¯t made into food, they¡¯d likely be thrown away. Even the thought of that alone made her feel nauseous.


    ¡°Does he even know how many people would die for those veggies?¡± She murmured to herself, shaking her head.


    Although she thought that changing the food every day was far too extravagant, she couldn¡¯t help but relent. After all, Alpha Kilian  must¡¯ve liked this kind of life more. And she didn¡¯t have much of a say on that matter.


    While she was cooking, she heard noisesing from outside.


    She had just finished cooking up another dish, so she stepped out of the kitchen for a while to take a look. With every step she took, the voices she heard were growing louder and louder.


    Other than ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°, there were two men in the living room


    Xavier and Arthur!


    Well, that wasn¡¯t strange, after all they all knew each other.


    Xavier had sharp eyes, so he saw Shadow  in an instant.


    When Alpha Kilian  was sick, he had already exposed his true nature. That was why he had already dropped the sses and aloof nature. After all, for him, the CEO lifestyle just didn¡¯t suit him. He waved at her with a smile.


    He looked less like a gentleman now. Instead, he looked like a troublemaker with his ruffled hair and his silly grin.


    He was probably the most talkative of the trio.


    Shadow  couldn¡¯t help but smile back. Honestly, Xavier seemed much less intimidating to her now, as they had gotten to know each other a bit better. Now, she couldn¡¯t help but regard him as a bit childish.


    ¡°Mrs. Lances.¡± Xavier stuttered out, upon taking a closer look at the woman in front of him.


    He nced at Arthur. But thewyer simply raised his eyebrows in smugness as a mockingly innocent smile threaded across his lips.


    That bastard!


    Arthur¡¯s smile was extremely hypocritical.


    Just this afternoon, they had been arguing all day about Shadow ¡®s looks. That was why Xavier offered to go to Alpha Kilian ¡®s Castle  to see what he was talking about.


    In the end, it turned out that thewyer wasn¡¯t wrong. She had really changed her appearance.


    Xavier still appeared flushed. ¡°Why do you look so different from before?¡±


    ¡°Do I? Maybe it¡¯s because of the bangs. I wasn¡¯t wearing pretty good makeup the other day too, so it¡¯s probably just that.¡± Shadow  said half-jokingly before turning to greet Arthur. Without another word, she returned to the kitchen.


    At first, he had his doubts, but what was there to object? Shadow ¡®s appearance had changed so much that it was as if the goddess had blessed her from the heavens!


    He was still so lost in his thoughts that he didn¡¯t even notice she had disappeared. All he could do was stare at her retreating figure.


    Alpha Kilian  walked over and kicked his leg. ¡°If you¡¯ve seen enough, then you should leave.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Xavier cried out in pain, hugging his leg. ¡°Alpha Kilian , you bastard!¡±


    It was only then he realized what he had said. He quickly covered his mouth and ducked his head, peering at the kitchen.


    Fortunately, the kitchen was far from the hall, and Shadow  was cooking again. So she couldn¡¯t hear them. They were safe, at least, for the time being.


    Xavier looked at Alpha Kilian  in horror. ¡°Your wife didn¡¯t hear me!¡±


    ¡°You can go now.¡± Alpha Kilian  walked towards the dining room.


    Xavier had already smelled the delectable aroma of the dishes. Not bothering to listen to him, he followed Alpha Kilian  from behind.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Do you want me to kick you out?¡± Alpha Kilian  turned around and looked at him expressionlessly.


    As soon as he said that, he realized that Arthur was also following behind him.


    Sensing Alpha Kilian  cold gaze, Arthur looked down at his sleeves as if nothing had happened and he didn¡¯t know that Alpha Kilian  was asking him to leave.


    Almost every single day, the two of them had eaten in restaurants and the like. Now that they had home cooked dishes just waiting for them at the table, even Alpha Kilian  wasn¡¯t scary enough for them to leave!


    They could already smell the spicy fishing their way!


    Shadow  was already finished ting thest dish. However, just as she was walking towards the dining room, she saw the threerge men blocking the entrance. They weren¡¯t making a move.


    She wasn¡¯t aware that these men had been in a childish statemate by the door for a long time. All she thought was that Alpha Dominic  had invited his two friends to stay for dinner¡­ At least, that was what she had assumed.


    If so, why weren¡¯t theying in?


    ¡°Do you want to go out with your friends? Or will you be eating at home?¡± Shadow  asked uncertainly. ¡°My dishes are quite simple.¡±


    Xavier was the CEO of one of thergestpanies in Herton Pack . Arthur also looked like a Young Master, whose status as awyer, was most respected in the corporate industry. They must be very picky when it came to food and would much rather prefer the dishes being offered at high-ss restaurants.


    Ignoring Alpha Kilian ¡®s re, Xavier squeezed into the restaurant with a smile. ¡°I like simple dishes.¡±

 52

    Seeing that Xavier had already gone inside the dining room, Arthur quickly followed close behind. After all, this was an opportunity he wouldn¡¯t let go of so easily, not even if Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t appreciate his appearance. A polite smile grazed his lips as he bowed his head in agreement. ¡°Me too.¡±


    Arthur didn¡¯t even wait for the others to say anything more as he took his seat at the dining table. The two men quickly sat together, eyeing the dishes being ted in front of them. Although they may look ¡®simple¡¯, they were way better than those being served at the restaurants they had always eaten every day of the week!


    Now, only Alpha Kilian was left standing by the doorway. A dark expression appeared on his looks, and he still made no move toe inside.


    Shadow blinked.


    What was wrong with him?


    Seeing that the two men still made no ns of leaving, he didn¡¯t have any other choice on this matter. After a minute, Alpha Kilian finally walked into the dining room and sat at the table. His expression remained impassive as he stared at the nk space ahead of him.


    She cleared her throat, unsure of what to say. ¡°I¡¯ll get two more bowls for the both of you.¡±


    Just as she was about to leave, Alpha Kilian suddenly kicked the two men opposite him. He gritted his teeth and looked coldly at the two men. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to get your own bowls? You guys have a pair of legs, don¡¯t you?¡±


    She was already giving them food. There wasn¡¯t any need to tire his wife out by asking her to fetch them some bowls and utensils! If they really wanted someone to cook and serve them during their free time, then perhaps they should get their own wives rather than hound around his woman.


    Seeing his dark features, Xavier and Arthur immediately went to the kitchen to get their bowls.


    Shadow was stunned at how the two men had obediently followed. Even if they weren¡¯t as rich as the Lances family, they were certainly prestigious when it came to their professions. She couldn¡¯t really tell why they¡¯d follow ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± around, especially since they weren¡¯t talking with the Young Master of the Lances family.


    She eyed the man wearily, unsure of what to say.


    Since the two had already gone up to get their bowls, she had no choice but to sit back down and wait for them.


    They have already seated all around her. But just as she was about to eat herself, she heard the crisp sound of chopsticks hitting against each other.


    When she looked up, she saw that the three men were fighting over the dishes. Alpha Dominic ¡®s actions were more excessive than usual. Every time Xavier went to pick up a piece, he¡¯d poke him with his chopsticks, taking whatever he was taking. The same was done to Arthur.


    Shadow quietly ate, staring at the utensil battle that was happening right before her. Although they were three of the richest men in the Pack , she didn¡¯t regard them that way. All she could see were three kids trying to get a bite of the pork in front of them.


    It was Arthur who first felt her gaze. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. ¡°I haven¡¯t been home for three years. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve eaten any home-cooked food.¡±


    Xavier soon followed, ¡°The Company has been busy, so I¡¯ve only eaten takeout everyday.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to any of their nonsense.¡± Alpha Kilian intercepted, shooting them a re.


    Upon seeing his dark expression, Xavier and Arthur lowered their heads and concentrated on their meals. None of them bothered to look at them.


    Shadow frowned as he was bullying his two friends.


    She nudged Alpha Dominic lightly with her elbow. When she saw him turn around to look at her, she stated, ¡°Since you¡¯re the one who wants them to stay for dinner, then you shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡±


    Her gaze softened as she turned to the other two men. ¡°Have a good meal.¡±


    When did he say that he wanted to keep them for dinner?? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    A cold smile appeared on his lips as he looked at his two ¡®friends¡¯. His voice was so icy that it could freeze almost anyone in the room. ¡°Why don¡¯t you eat more?¡±


    Shadow ¡®s hands trembled slightly. There was just something about the atmosphere around them that seemed to be filled with tension. Although Xavier and Arthur seemed to be good-natured, Alpha Dominic didn¡¯t seem to be in the best of moods.


    Suddenly feeling ufortable, she quickly finished her meal and headed to the living room.


    They¡¯re just too impossible to understand.


    The moment Shadow had left, the atmosphere in the dining room turned harmonious.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s going on with Shadow ?¡± Xavier finally breathed out, grabbing the opportunity to get all the information he needed to know. Although he was aware that Alpha Kilian needed awyer, he still wasn¡¯t informed as to why.


    Alpha Kilian stayed silent.


    Seeing this, Xavier made a zipper movement before keeping quiet.


    Arthur was actually a steady person. After working with Xavier for a long time, he was asionally quite lively when he needed to be. However, when it came to cases and business, he returned to his more serious self.


    Although he stayed for the dinner, he also had other things that he needed to do.


    ¡°There was a problem with the share transfer contract Jason had given Shadow in the first transaction. It¡¯s a very low-level loophole. I bet he didn¡¯t think that Shadow would bring her ownwyer.¡± Arthur said while shaking his head in disgust.


    Alpha Kilian sneered. ¡°Jason has a good n, but he seems to have underestimated his own daughter. If she enters Eden Group, she definitely wouldn¡¯t make it easy for them. Sooner orter, they¡¯ll bring Old Master Eden back to take charge of the situation.¡±


    Not long after he and his mother had been kidnapped and rescued, the Lances and Eden family began their engagements with one another. Old Master Eden also retired from his position as chairman and went overseas. It was all too easy for them.


    In terms of family background, even if Lances was ¡®rumored¡¯ to be disfigured and lost the ability as a man, the Moores still had no right to made a mating bond proposal with him.


    The engagement was far too coincidental, and the matter was far too abnormal as well. He suspected that these things had something to do with his mother¡¯s kidnapping fifteen years ago. That was really the only reason why he had agreed to the proposed engagement.


    He had nned to use Jessica as his entry point to investigate the Eden family.


    However, he didn¡¯t expect that Shadow to rece his sister. He also didn¡¯t expect her to hide such a dark secret and was actually a little smart herself. Although a twist, he could still use it ording to his own favor. He leaned back against his seat.


    There was a trace of helplessness in his eyes.


    Although she was different, there was a sense of familiarity around her. His eyes zed over the leftover dishes. She had cooked the same food as what his mother had used to prepare for him, and he couldn¡¯t help but let his heart soften.


    Xavier knocked on the table a few times, attracting his attention. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just invite Old Master Eden back directly?¡±


    ¡°That would just alert the enemy.¡± Alpha Kilian said as he took a sip from his ss. ¡°Do you remember how suddenly he retired abroad? Something must have happened. Fifteen years had already passed since it happened, so we shouldn¡¯t rush things.¡±


    And if hees back? What would you do? Xavier wanted to ask, but he didn¡¯t bother.


    After all, he knew for a fact that Alpha Kilian wouldn¡¯t let those perpetrators go too easily.


    He suspected that the Lances family was behind the kidnapping. Although he couldn¡¯t say for certain of their involvement, he had gathered a lot of clues for him toe to this conclusion.


    He gripped his ss tightly before cing it back on the table. Things were just getting started.


    ¡­


    Monday.


    Shadow was going to work at Eden Group. It was her first day today.


    She honestly didn¡¯t care what position Jason had arranged for her. Besides, she already had the shares, so there was nothing to be afraid of.


    A smirked as she nced at all the baggy clothing she had in her closet. Since she was no longer keeping up with her dense and ugly disguise, she didn¡¯t need to y the part with her clothes as well.


    How could a girl not love to dress up.


    Hazel made sure to buy a lot for her.


    In all honesty, Hazel¡¯s family background wasn¡¯t bad. In fact, her family was even richer than the Eden family in terms of intangible assets.


    When Hazel was in high school, she was actually the school bully. While there were plenty of students who followed behind her, there were also many people who had hated her. Most of them were women.


    And as they all know, when girls take care of their own gender, they¡¯d usually use more malicious acts.


    They had taken advantage of her istion by capturing her and taking her to an abandoned school building. They bullied her and even strip her clothes up so that they¡¯d take pictures.


    Shadow went to feed the stray cats during this time. When she heard the noise, she picked up a rusty knife from the gardener¡¯s toolbox and went over into the building. Half her face was shadowed over, making her look like a ghost. ¡°How about I do the same to you? A fool won¡¯t be imprisoned if he kills a person.¡±


    The girls were so terrified that they ran away.


    After that, they became good friends.


    Shadow picked up a red coat from her closet and coupled with a ck sweater. She nced at the mirror as she woke her ck ts. The nervous, teeth-chattering woman who had lived a life under the shadows was gone. Now, her true self was finally revealed.


    She grabbed her bag and went downstairs. She saw ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± reading a newspaper. His other hand was wrapped around a cup of coffee.


    Hearing the unfamiliar footsteps, he looked up to see her. The red coat she had on made her skin look even creamier underneath. It showcased her bright eyes and emphasized her equally red lips. Her long ck hair cascaded down her back in waves, simr to a waterfall.


    The coat was just an inch above her knees, revealing her slender legs.


    She was beautiful.


    Alpha Kilian stared at her for a few seconds, and his eyes slowly narrowed. ¡°If you n on flirting and hooking up with another man while cousin isn¡¯t around, then I suggest you go drop it.¡±


    There was bitternessced in his tone. It was as if he was stating a fact rather than joking.


    However, that wasn¡¯t enough to ruin her mood.


    Shadow walked over and red at him, her eyes filled with contempt. ¡°The only one I will hook up with is Alpha Kilian . You shouldn¡¯t really think that ill of others. Unlike you, I don¡¯t have any ulterior motives.¡±


    As soon as the first sentence slipped past her lips, Alpha Kilian ¡®s hands trembled almost immediately. The coffee from his cup spilled over, drenching the upper fabric of his suit. A certain flush grazed the sides of his face.

 53

    Shadow stared at the coffee stains on his buttoned-up shirt and raised an eyebrow. ¡°You can¡¯t even hold a cup of coffee properly,¡± shemented sarcastically. ¡°They say that if something¡¯s wrong with your hand coordination, your kidney isn¡¯t good. Think they could say the same for you?¡±


    Alpha Kilian pursed his lips and ced the cup on top of the table. He didn¡¯t bother to wipe the stains from his suit as he stood up. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with my hand coordination, I assure you. Unless, of course, you¡¯d like to test it out?¡± After that, he winked.


    She didn¡¯t even bother to look at him as she turned around and walked towards the door. ¡°Dream on!¡±


    Her arrogant voice echoed throughout the hallway just as the door had mmed shut.


    He blinked in surprise.


    Did this woman grow a pair of wings since she had removed her makeup, that she¡¯d actually dared to challenge him? His eyes shed with amusement as he stared at her retreating figure.


    Shadow ran out of the Castle . As soon as she was out of his reach, she patted her chest as she sighed in relief. Thank God! Thest thing she needed was to trap herself under him again.


    At this point, she knew for a fact that she shouldn¡¯t show any sort of weakness.


    The corners of her lips rose into a smirk. Not only had she walked away from him, but she also snapped back at him. At this point, she was invincible!


    Maybe ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± wasn¡¯t as scary as he had initially seemed.


    There was no way she was going to allow herself to be threatened by him.


    Shadow went to the Eden Group. Her thoughts were wandering elsewhere as her car sped down the highway.


    Back when she was younger, she followed Jessica into thepany once. After that she could only stand outside the building every time she passed by.


    In the past, her biggest wish was only Lisa to recognize her as her daughter. She had never thought that she¡¯d be able to enter the Eden Group and get more shares than any of them.


    In fact, she had never thought that Jason himself would be the one to invite, no beg for her toe over.


    Taking a deep breath, she raised her chin and went to the building.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Shadow didn¡¯t have a work permit, as it was her first day here. The moment she had entered, one of the receptionists stopped her at the front desk. ¡°Miss, may I ask who you¡¯re looking for?¡±


    She smiled. Her eyes were as bright as the stars. ¡°I¡¯m Shadow Eden . I¡¯m here for work.¡±


    Eden ? The receptionists looked at each other.


    ¡°Who is this?¡± Jessica ¡®s voice came from behind.


    The sound of high heels clicked closer and closer towards the desk.


    Jessica walked in front of her. However, when she saw the woman¡¯s face more clearly, her eyes widened in shock. Even her confident voice had reverted into a stutter, ¡°Who¡­who are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Shadow . Do you not recognize me anymore, Sister?¡± Shadow ¡®s said slowly. There was an inexplicable sense of mockery hidden in her voice.


    ¡°I¡­ how did you¡­ how did you be like this?¡±


    ¡°Sis, this is what I really look like. Do you really not recognize me? After all, we have seen all of our lives, haven¡¯t we?¡±


    Shadow approached her as she spoke.


    Jessica was still so immersed in Shadow ¡®s change of appearance that she couldn¡¯t help but stagger back. There was no way that this was Shadow , that ugly duckling! She looked so different! Jessica ¡®s face paled over.


    Obviously, she knew that the men didn¡¯t seed in raping thetter back at Sky Light Club.


    But even if they had reported to her, Jessica still couldn¡¯t believe that Shadow was able to escape unscathed. After all, hadn¡¯t she arranged everything so wlessly? Something must¡¯ve happened!


    That was why she asked Lisa to invite Shadow out for a meal. She wanted to see if thetter was really okay. What she didn¡¯t expect is for her to be in this state!


    Even the receptionists were surprised. Their jaws were hanging so low that they¡¯d risk falling off.


    It had been rumored that the Third Lady of the Eden family was ugly and stupid. Did she have stic surgery overseas? Or were the rumors about herpletely and utterly wrong?


    Plus, the Second Lady, who had once been arrogant and domineering, seemed to be a little intimidated by the Third Lady. Something was up. Plenty of men and women looked in their direction, wanting to get in with the gossip.


    Jessica forcefully suppressed her anger and gritted her teeth as she faked a smile. ¡°You¡¯re my biological sister, of course, I know you. After all, I even gave you my fiance, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Previously, Jessica had bought all the media coverage by saying that Shadow had snatched her fiance. And now that woman was saying that she had given it to her? The woman was nothing but a two-faced bitch.


    Even if she was irritated, Shadow didn¡¯t let it show. She smiled. ¡°Thank you for being so generous to allow me to mated such an outstanding man. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have found myself.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Jessica had always been used to dealing with her obedience. Seeing Shadow bing so sure of herself, she wanted to peel off her skin. She raised her hand.


    Just as she was about to reach out, Shadow held her arm. Even then, her smile hadn¡¯t faded. ¡°Sister, why don¡¯t we go up first? We shouldn¡¯t keep Dad waiting.¡±


    They were in a public area, and employees wereing in and out of the hallway. If the two of them had caused a scene, it wouldn¡¯t do them any good.


    Understanding this, Jessica turned around and walked towards the elevator.


    However, they didn¡¯t get very far when she had heard the receptionists discussing behind them. They were arguing about which one of the women looked good.


    ¡°Third Lady is pretty, don¡¯t you think? Do you think she have stic surgery?¡± One of them said.


    ¡°But she looks so natural!¡±


    ¡°If she didn¡¯t have a stic surgery, then she¡¯d be prettier than the Second Lady!¡±


    As soon as Jessica heard this, she was so enraged that she directly shook off Shadow ¡®s grip. Her eyes zed over at her, gazing at her as if she was looking at something dirty. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡±


    Shadow reached out and patted her arm as if she was wiping off some sort of dirt. ¡°If you insist.¡±


    In all honesty, she found Jessica quite disgusting. The woman thought that just because she was pretty on the outside that she could be despicable on the inside.


    Jessica saw Shadow ¡®s actions and clenched her fists. If it weren¡¯t for Jason¡¯s instructions she would¡¯ve stepped in and grabbed thetter¡¯s hair. But now, all she could do was hold it in.


    As soon as they exited the elevator, the two of them entered Jason¡¯s office together.


    Although the old man wasn¡¯t pleased with Shadow , he still weed her with thergest smile he could ever had. ¡°Shadow , you¡¯re here,¡± he said gently, motioning her to sit in front of him.


    Upon seeing their interaction, Jessica banged the cup of tea onto Jason¡¯s desk to express her dissatisfaction. She didn¡¯t want Shadow to steal her father¡¯s favor, not while she was still breathing!


    Shadow saw their reactions, and she couldn¡¯t help but find it weird. Although Jessica was more ¡®trained¡¯ and ¡®educated¡¯, she truly didn¡¯t act that way.


    ¡°What position do you have arranged for me?¡± Shadow sat opposite him with a gentle expression on her face.


    Without waiting for Jason to speak, Jessica rushed in front of him and intercepted, ¡°I know what you could do. I heard that the marketing department requires a market researcher. Since you¡¯re willing to ept challenges, maybe this job is more right for you.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m not willing to ept challenges. In fact, I want a more rxed job.¡± Shadow responded lightly.


    Shadow studied in the film academy, so she wasn¡¯t interested in doing any marketing or financial work. She may have been willing back then, but that wasn¡¯t the case anymore.


    Market research required hard work, and she wasn¡¯t willing to do any of that.


    ¡°You¡¯re still young, so you should be open to having more responsibilities. Why don¡¯t you try it out first? If it isn¡¯t suitable, then you cane back and inform me.¡± Although Jason sounded nice, it was obvious that he had already made up his made.


    The two of them had been so used to her obedience that they wanted to see if they could control her even more.


    She understood their objective.


    But instead of refusing, she bowed her head in agreement. Her face was filled with unspoken gratitude. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll thank you for considering me for this position.¡±


    ¡°Jessica , bring Shadow to the Marketing Department.¡± Jason said before lowering his head to look at the documents on his desk. He couldn¡¯t be bothered with Shadow .


    Jessica thought of the pain and hardships that Shadow was about to suffer and held back. Pretending to be calmer than usual, she motioned her towards the door. ¡°Come with me.¡±


    Shadow blinked in surprise. In the past, she had always swallowed her anger when it came to her family¡¯s wrongdoings. It was probably that same mistake that they still believed that they could walk all over her.


    They asked her to be a market researcher, one of the lowest positions here in thepany. Fine! She¡¯d agree and even thank him for his so-called ¡®kindness¡¯, but that didn¡¯t mean that she¡¯d do it well.

 54

    The marketing department was actually located on the other side of the building. As one of the busiest departments in Eden Group, it was thergest and probably considered the most paper-ridden, right next to the ounting Department. Shadow looked around her surroundings as they went into the manager¡¯s office.


    The manager was a bald, middle-aged man. As soon as he saw Jessicaing his way, he smiled so brightly that his eyes had narrowed. There was something greasy about the way the man patted his hair. Even his skin was so oily that it glistened under the dim lights.


    He greeted respectfully. ¡°Second Lady, why did youe over?¡±


    Jessica crossed her arms, nodding in Shadow ¡®s direction. ¡°Manager ck, this is the new market researcher for the department. Take her with you, and make sure to take good care of her.¡±


    Although she asked him to ¡®take care¡¯ of Shadow , her actions had proven otherwise. With how far they were standing apart from one another, they could even look like enemies.


    Manager ck understood what she was trying to say and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take good care of her.¡±


    ¡°As you say that, I feel more assured.¡± Jessica didn¡¯t say anything else as she made her way out the door. However, before she left, she nced in Shadow ¡®s direction onest time. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn¡¯t believe that thetter had changed this much in the past few days.


    Her cold and impassive words were enough to make the manager more certain of what Jessica meant by ¡®care¡¯. After all, everyone knew that the marketing department was one of the most tedious departments around here. He was sure that she wanted him to give this woman a hard time.


    ¡°Second Lady, take care!¡± The manager smiled as he walked her right out the door. When Jessica finally left, the grin disappeared from his features as the manager looked the woman in front of him. ¡°So, what¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Shadow Eden .¡±


    Manager ck returned to his desk and sat down. He then started to size her up.


    As he looked at her, his eyes drifted down her body. Although Jessica was beautiful, he had to admit that the woman in front of him was more beautiful than the former.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°Your surname¡¯s Eden ? You have connections with the Chairman¡¯s family?¡± The manager frowned as he started interrogate.


    She resisted the urge to wrinkle her nose at the sight of his lustful gaze. ¡°We¡¯re distant rtives.¡±


    It was obvious that Manager ck was no more than a suck-up. It was no wonder that the Eden Group hadn¡¯t been exponentially advancing in the corporate sector. With so many unqualified men in position, it was starting to get ridiculous.


    While she was thinking of thepany¡¯s future, the manager had other ns. He looked at her for a long time. If they were distant rtives, that meant that she didn¡¯t have any deep rtionship with him. That was good.


    He finally figured out the situation, and a lustful smile appeared into his lips. ¡°As long as you do well, I won¡¯t treat you unfairly.¡±


    He deliberately emphasized the word ¡®do¡¯. Suddenly, Shadow could feel her appetite falling into the pits of her stomach. Her eyes filled with disgust as she retreated her gaze from his lustful grin.


    ¡®I¡¯ll show you, bastard.¡¯ She thought in her mind.


    However, she didn¡¯t say much in opposition after that. Seeing her silence, the manager leaned back in satisfaction and led her to the small officepartment just down the hall.


    Even after she had introduced herself, Shadow could still feel her other colleagues staring her way.


    It was rare for Jessica , the Second Lady Eden family, to escort a new worker. The woman had never bothered to properly introduce any of them to the manager. And to bring someone so beautiful, they were naturally curious to see who it was.


    However, Shadow wasn¡¯t the kind of woman who cared too much of the gossip around here, and she had nothing to hide. Not bothering to entertain them, she leaned back against her seat and took a picture of herpartment. She sent it to Hazel.


    Shadow wrote: I¡¯m working at Eden Group now.


    Hazel replied quickly: As Vice President?


    Shadow replied: As a market researcher.


    Hazel send a emoji of rolling her eyes and wrote: ????? You can be my assistant instead. I¡¯ll give you five hundred thousand a year!


    Shadow choked back in herughter. Hazel had never been one to be conservative when it came to her money, and this one proved just how much she could handle. Being Hazel¡¯s assistant would probably be the most rxing job she¡¯d have.


    ¡°Shadow ,¡± one of her colleagues called, walking over. ¡°The manager asked you to go to his office. He has something to tell you.¡±


    ¡°I understand. Thank you.¡±


    Just as her colleague was about to walk away, she shot Shadow a ¡®take care¡¯ look as if she was trying to warn her.


    However, Shadow wasn¡¯t afraid at all. She had met so many people throughout her life to know what the manager is capable of, and she knew that he was nothing but a useless and lecherous ass-kisser. There was nothing prestigious about him.


    She was prepared in that sense.


    She Knocked on the door and walked into the manager¡¯s office.


    ¡°Shadow .¡± The manager called her softly, motioning to the papers on his desk. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take all these papers? It¡¯s all the information I just sorted out. You can take and examine it a littleter.¡±


    Shadow ?


    Did he start calling her intimately?


    ¡°Thank you, Manager ck.¡± Shadow emphasized his title as she reached out to grab the documents.


    However, before she could even touch the documents, he stroked her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t leave in a hurry. Why don¡¯t we talk about work first?¡±


    Shadow wanted to pull her hand back, but before she could, he grapped her wrist even tighter. ¡°Sit beside me.¡± He patted the small space right beside him. His eyes glinted under the flickeringmp. ¡°We need to be a bit closer to talk properly, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Shadow ¡®s expression had turned cold. ¡°Manager ck, please let go of my hand.¡±


    Manager ck initially thought that the hint he had given her was enough to threaten her, but he didn¡¯t expect the woman to be so oblivious.


    After hearing her rejection, his expression darkenedpletely as he pulled her closer to him, this time, with force. Using his other arm to wrap around her waist, he said, ¡°You heard what the Second Lady said, didn¡¯t you? If you allow me to have a good time, I won¡¯t be making things difficult for you. In fact, I¡¯m sure we could get along well.¡±


    As he spoke, his hand drifted down to her hips.


    ¡°Oh?¡± The corners of her lips inched up into a smile as she leaned in. Unbeknownst to him, one of her hands had already drifted into her coats.


    Manager ck thought that he finally had a chance as he leaned over to kiss her. However, before he could even get close to her, he could feel his entire body going numb.


    ¡°Y¡­ You¡­¡± he shuttered, feeling the aftershocks radiating through his veins. He wasn¡¯t able to say another word as he fell to the ground with a bang.


    Shadow put her anti-wolf electric gun in her pockets and grabbed the papers from her desk. She didn¡¯t even bother to nce at the manager¡¯s fallen body as she went out of the office.


    After what had happened in Sky Light Club, she learned her lesson. That was the reason why she had bought the shock device to shake off any lecherous man in sight. After all, she didn¡¯t want a recap of what had happened there.


    When all the colleagues saw hering out so quickly, their eyes widened in surprise.


    She could only smile in return.


    Just as she sat down, her phone rang.


    The name ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was written on the screen.


    Initially, Shadow didn¡¯t want to answer it. However, as soon as she thought of her meeting this person every day, she picked up the phone. Thest thing she needed was to sow any bad blood with the Lances family.


    ¡°Why¡¯d you call?¡± Her voice was cold.


    Alpha Kilian could feel the distance in her tone. Right now, he couldn¡¯t help but regret identifying himself as ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± instead of Alpha Kilian .


    However, if she had known from the beginning that he was actually Alpha Kilian in disguise, perhaps they wouldn¡¯t have found themselves in these interesting situations. In fact, things wouldn¡¯t have been this fun on both their ends.


    He asked, ¡°How was your first day at work?¡±


    Shadow was busy flipping through the documents when she suddenly stopped. She leaned closer to her phone, wanting to see if she had heard right.


    He called her just to ask about her first day at work?


    She closed the folder and asked. ¡°Is that why you called?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget that you still owe me a meal.¡± Alpha Kilian said, not answering her previous question. ¡°Tonight, I¡¯ll be picking you up after you get off work.¡± He didn¡¯t give her a chance to refuse him as he hung up the phone right away.


    Shadow blinked in puzzlement. Thest time when they had met was a few hours ago this morning, she remembered how harsh she was to him. Logically speaking, the man should be angry, thinking of a way to deal with her.


    Yet, he pretended as if nothing had happened.


    She didn¡¯t have a good feeling about this.


    ¡°Someonee quickly! The manager fainted!¡±


    The manager¡¯s office wasn¡¯t far from Shadow ¡®spartment. When she tilted her head up, she could see a woman standing by the doorway as she called for help. There was no way she was offering her hand to someone who had tried to assault her.


    She lowered her head and started to read her documents.


    In the end, the manager was sent to the hospital.


    Her hands touched the anti-wolf electric gun in her pockets. Maybe her purchase was really worth it. Not only had she defended herself, but she also electrocuted the baldy enough that he was sent to the hospital. Her smile widened.


    Manager ck didn¡¯te back in the afternoon, so her day was actually kind of peaceful.


    When Shadow had already finished her work, she spotted Jessica standing by the elevator entrance.


    She had been looking at documents the whole day, so she was exhausted. After all, the paperwork didn¡¯t finish itself. Thest thing she needed now was for Jessica to pick up a fight with her, so she retreated to the side and allowed everyone to head in first.


    However, instead of following the crowd, Jessica stood there. In the end, they were the only women standing by the elevator.


    Neither of them took the initiative to speak as they stepped inside the now-empty elevator.


    Once they had gotten in, Jessica took a deep breath and tilted her head to the side. ¡°Is there a driver from the Lances family who was assigned to pick you up? If not, Henry is nning to pick me up for dinnerter. I can give you a lift.¡±


    Hearing this, Shadow blinked in surprise.


    Henry and Jessica actually got back together?


    Feeling her gaze, Jessica tilted her chin proudly.


    ¡°No need.¡± Shadow said and suddenly remembered that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had said that he woulde and pick her up.

 55

    Jessica and Lisa were already assuming that she was having or had an affair with ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°. If they saw himing down the street to pick her up now, then they¡¯d surely misunderstand her situation even more.


    Shadow frowned, feeling as if she wasing down with a headache. This was just tooplicated! It would¡¯ve been easier if she had gone back to the Castle herself. Besides, she didn¡¯t have any need for any help either way!


    After exiting the elevator, Jessica went out first. When Shadow saw that Jessica was already a few steps ahead, she slowed down her pace and took her phone out of her pockets.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic , you better pick up.¡± She murmured while dialing the number.


    To her surprise, the man answered quickly. ¡°What is it now?¡±


    His mocking voice echoed from the other end of the line before she could even speak. ¡°Have you decided not to treat me to a meal? Have you run away with the ck card, stealing me from my own well-deserved dinner?


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡±


    Wait a second!


    ¡°Where are you now?¡± Shadow froze, ncing at her surroundings every now and then. If the man was saying that she was trying to sneak out, then didn¡¯t that mean that he was already here waiting for her?


    Alpha Kilian looked up. ¡°I¡¯m at the entrance. If you aren¡¯t nning on escaping, then I suggest you hurry up. If we arrive anyter, there wouldn¡¯t be any seats left.¡±


    Before she could say anything, he had already hung up.


    Ugh! Why was he so frustrating?


    The only thing that was left for her to do is to wait and hope that Jessica and Henry had already left the building.


    If Jessica saw that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± hade by to pick her up once again, it was likely that she¡¯d start spreading rumors. She¡¯d holler at her for not being loyal, for hooking up with her husband¡¯s cousin, and the like.


    Although Alpha Kilian ¡®s attitude towards her had eased up recently, his brotherhood with his cousin Alpha Dominic was even better. If they were to have caused a scandal, then there was no doubt that the man wouldn¡¯t stand on her side.


    She squeezed her eyes shut. Just the thought of it was giving her an evenrger headache.


    It was a pity that her wish didn¡¯te true. As soon as she exited the building, Henry and Jessica were still waiting right out the entrance. It seemed that the couple really nned to wait for her.


    As soon as she stood outside, Jessica lowered the car window. ¡°Shadow , get in. We¡¯ll give you a lift.¡±


    Obviously, Jessica was showing off.


    Shadow smiled. She said softly, waving her hand. ¡°There¡¯s no need. Why don¡¯t you guys head out first? Besides, we¡¯re going in different directions anyway, so going with you would be a trouble for the both of us.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, you shouldn¡¯t be polite with us.¡± This time, Henry joined the conversation as he lowered down his window.


    Only when he saw her face clearly did he do a double-take. A sh of surprise appeared in his eyes, and he could feel himself leaning against the dashboard. When Jessica had called his name out, he came back to his sentence and repeated himself, ¡°Seriously, we¡¯ve known each other for so long already. How about I¡¯ll send you back?¡±


    He said that he was going to give her a lift before, and now, he¡¯d want to personally send her back?


    Were her looks all that mattered to him? The corners of her lips hooked up, and her features had turned even more mocking. However, just as she was about to speak, she heard the car door behind her mming shut.


    Her entire body felt as if it was being drowned with fresh ice as soon as she saw Alpha Dominic ¡®s tall figure. He looked like a tiger prowling under the night, with eyes as fierce and dominating as any wild creature in the forest.


    Only then did Jessica and Henry realize that, there was a ck Bentley parked beside them.


    Men loved their cars, and when it came to the luxurious Bentley, they were known to memorize all their new and old models. Henry couldn¡¯t help but nce at the shiny hood, recognizing that it was the Bentley Elegance 728. Thepany had stopped its production a few years ago, so it was obvious that this car was custom-made.


    Usually, the price of a custom-made Bentley was hard to estimate. However, upon observing the specs of its interior, he could estimate that it was around 20 million RMB. The grip he had on his steering wheel tightened.


    He knew most of the rich kids in Herton Pack , but he didn¡¯t recognize the man walking towards Shadow .


    Alpha Kilian immediately stood by his wife¡¯s side as he looked the pair inside the car. ¡°Does this gentleman think nothing of the Lances Family? Do you think we¡¯re not capable of sending someone to drive Young Madame Lances back home?¡±


    What? Henry froze. The man was actually from the Lances family?? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Everyone had said that Alpha Kilian was nothing more than a cripple. The imposing man standing in front of him had shown no signs of any disability whatsoever. So¡­ who was he? Even now, Henry was still struggling toe up with actual words.


    ¡°This is Alpha Kilian ¡®s cousin, Alpha Dominic .¡± Jessica said from the side.


    As soon as Henry had heard this, he sneered. ¡°And how do you know him?¡±


    When the pair had spent their night together for what seemed to be the ¡®first time¡¯, he saw that Jessica was bleeding. He thought that this was her first time as well, and he had taken her virginity. However, only when he saw the indecent videos did he realize that the woman had only repaired her hymen. It seemed that the love she had felt for him was nothing more than sand, one that was easily swept up by the wind.


    If it weren¡¯t for some reasons, he would¡¯ve already dropped her.


    Suppressing the disgust in his heart, he forced a smile on his face. ¡°Mr. Lances, this is all just a misunderstanding. I¡¯m Shadow ¡®s friend. All I wanted was to give her a ride along the way.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Alpha Kilian nced at Shadow .


    Obviously, she quickly sided with Alpha Dominic . ¡°It¡¯s too much of a trouble for him since our directions are opposite of each other.¡±


    Although Alpha Kilian ¡®s face remained expressionless, satisfaction flickered in his eyes. ¡°Since we¡¯re going in different directions, we¡¯ll leave firs.¡±


    His voice had softened now, but it was still just as cold as he looked the couple in the car.


    Even when Alpha Kilian and Shadow had gotten into the car, Henry continued to stare at their retreating figures.


    When did Shadow be so beautiful?


    At first, he had suspected that she had undergone stic surgery, but it was only a few days since he hadst seen her. She couldn¡¯t recover this quickly. Not even the best stic surgeon could manage such a thing.


    That could only mean that she was naturally pretty.


    But why didn¡¯t she look like that before?


    Jessica originally wanted to show off to Shadow that Henry and she had reconciled, but she forgot that Shadow had also changed her appearance today. From the look of Henry¡¯s face, it was obvious that Shadow had also caught his attention.


    Jessica crossed her arms over her chest, shooting him a re. ¡°What are you looking at? Even if you staring after her, she¡¯s still Young Madame Lances!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Henry shouted.


    ¡­


    There was a total silence in the car.


    In the car, Shadow grabbed her phone and texted Hazel.


    She wrote: Henry and Jessica are back together again.


    Hazel: ??? Are you kidding? There¡¯s actually a man in her family to be so impertinent and naive enough to ept a harlot like her?


    Hazel had been shooting a lot of ancient dramas recently, so whenever she opened her mouth to speak, she¡¯d spout out a bunch of gibberish. Talking to her was like talking to a Grandma who was way too stuck in the olden times.


    Honestly, Shadow suspected that Jessica must¡¯ve been holding onto Henry¡¯s secrets. That was the only reason why they were forced to reunite with each other. After all, upon seeing his disgusted face, he wouldn¡¯t be doing this if he wasn¡¯t involved one way or another.


    After all, Henry was the type of man who ced a lot of weight on what other people may think of him. He wouldn¡¯t willingly get back together with Jessica , with the whole world knowing how she had betrayed him once.


    Shadow quickly typed out her opinion, but before Hazel could reply, the car had stopped.


    Shadow unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. When she looked up, her face immediately darkened as she saw Jessica and Henrying in the same direction as well.


    You truly run into the people you don¡¯t want to meet.


    Henry had seen her a mile away. But just as he was about to speak to her, Jessica already pulled him aside.


    Even Shadow couldn¡¯t help but furrow her eyebrows at the sight of them. Why would the man who cared too much about other people¡¯s opinions still burrow himself with a woman who was now known for her scandals?


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to let him go, then I suggest following him in.¡± Alpha Dominic ¡®s gloomy voice sounded behind her.


    When she turned around, he was already walking towards Golden Fountain Club.


    She had to run to catch up to him. He was tall, so every step he had taken was like a jog for her. ¡°What the heck are you talking about? Who do you think I can¡¯t part with?¡±


    ¡°Henry.¡±


    A shiver shot down her spine.


    ¡°You know him?¡± Shadow blinked, trying to catch up with him. A thought shed through her mind, and she immediately grabbed his arm.


    ¡°Wait, you investigated my background! That¡¯s how you know him!¡±

 56

    Alpha Kilian lowered his head and gazed at the way her slender fingers sped along his skin. But he didn¡¯t break free. ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for us to investigate you? Do you really think we¡¯d allow just anyone into our family?¡±


    His face was enough to bring any man or woman up to the mountains. Even Shadow couldn¡¯t help but stagger backward in fear of him. Although he was usually mocking and teasing, Alpha Dominic had a side that you wouldn¡¯t want to piss off.


    On the first day, Shadow had entered the Lances family, Alpha Kilian had already sent a few of his men over to investigate her past more thoroughly. It was only then he understood her feelings for that man.


    As for her pretending to be ugly, that information had gone way back that there was no way for any of them to verify it.


    Shadow was stunned for a moment. Within a second, her face became serious as she looked at him in aplicated expression. ¡°You¡¯re saying that Alpha Kilian had asked you to investigate me?¡±


    ¡°You think I want to investigate you all by myself?¡± He blinked irritatedly, turning around. He leaned his head just enough that they were staring at each other head-on.


    Upon seeing her frightened face, he didn¡¯t say anything else as he walked straight into Golden Fountain Club.


    Alpha Kilian had originally wanted to sit in the private room, but Shadow had a feeling that he had some bad intentions. That was why she wanted to sit in the main hall. With different people surrounding them, she¡¯d feel morefortable.


    Thus, Alpha Kilianpromised and found a table by the window. That way, it was still isted yet under the public¡¯s eye.


    After ordering the dishes, Shadow looked up. ¡°When will your cousin be back?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Upon seeing the look of disbelief across her features, he finally ced his arms on his chest and gazed at her. ¡°Look, even if I know when exactly he¡¯ll return, why would I tell you? He didn¡¯t want anyone to know about him.¡±


    Well, that made more sense.


    Shadow lowered her head and fiddled with her phone.


    The reason Alpha Kilian had given her the phone was probably because he didn¡¯t want anyone to know of his whereabouts. That would prevent anyone from hacking into her phone to track him or her down. He was just being safe.


    Honestly, she couldn¡¯t help but sympathize with him. Although they had never truly connected before, she knew from the rumors and his voice that he had lived a hard life.


    Alpha Kilian stared as her expression gradually saddened. Thinking that he had said too much, he gave her a string of numbers.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± She furrowed her eyebrows and looked at him.


    Alpha Kilian frowned. ¡°It¡¯s Cousin¡¯s phone number.¡±


    Immediately, Shadow brightened up. It was as if the sun had suddenly bestowed an aura of sunlight around her features as she quickly opened her phone¡¯s contact list. ¡°Do you mind saying it again?¡±


    Seeing how ecstatic she was, he patiently agreed.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± She quickly saved the number and nced at the menu, feeling as if she had gotten God¡¯s gift. ¡°Do you want to order a few more dishes? As thanks for the number¡­¡±


    Now, she finally had more opportunities to contact Alpha Kilian .


    ¡°No need.¡±


    Alpha Kilian was already right in front of her, yet he couldn¡¯t tell her who he was. Even if he did, would she believe him? With how much he had tried to cover it up?


    The grip he had on his fork tightened, as his expression turnedplicated.


    The thought was enough to bring down his mood. Was getting jealous of himself going to be a thing every day of the week now?


    However, Shadow couldn¡¯t care less about his expression. All she could think about was the number on her phone. She was thinking whether she should call Alpha Kilian or send a text message instead.


    Perhaps it was better to text first? It would be awkward if she had called him, right?


    He might assume that she was just another spammer and would decide to hang up on her, or worse, cklist her.


    Even as the food arrived, she couldn¡¯t find it in herself to enjoy the meal as she was too busy thinking of Alpha Kilian .


    After the two finished their meal, they got up one after the other and left. The exit was right next to the counter, so she made her way to pay for her meal.


    Unexpectedly, she bumped into Jessica and Henry again.


    ¡°Shadow ,¡± Henry greeted sincerely.


    ¡°Hm.¡± Shadow simply nodded in response, not wanting to talk to them.


    Jessica saw the way that Henry was looking at Shadow and gritted her teeth in hatred. Despite this, she still found it in herself to force out a smile. ¡°Henry, why don¡¯t we treat Shadow instead?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need. I¡¯ve already paid for it.¡±


    Just as she finished speaking, the cashier handed the ck card to Shadow respectfully. ¡°Young Madame Lances. Please keep your card. Thank you for dining with us, and we hope to see you again.¡±


    The cashier¡¯s respectful voice attracted their attention.


    Shadow said. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Both Jessica and Henry were surprised to see the ck card glinting in her hand.


    Being one of the richest families in Herton Pack , the Lances¡¯s had plenty of businesses under its name. These included banks and the like, including the limited global ck cards. These were only given to those who were at the top of the industry, and of course, the Lances family.


    Although Shadow was holding a secondary card, it was enough to show how important she was to the Lances family.


    Shadow noticed their surprised expressions before ncing back at the card in her hand.


    It was obvious that whatever this card was, it was impressive to those in the upper ss.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be going first.¡± Nevertheless, she still kept her cool.


    As soon as she returned to the car, she peered at Alpha Dominic . ¡°Do you mind if I ask what the card is for? Like why do you have it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s for shopping.¡± Alpha Kilian answered carelessly.


    Shopping? She had seen the look on Jessica and Henry¡¯s faces! This card must¡¯ve been important if it was enough to incite a reaction from both of them.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Feeling the card burning at the back of her pockets, she immediately stuffed it into his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve already treated you to dinner. I¡¯ll return it to you now.¡±


    But instead of epting it, Alpha Kilian threw the card back at her.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Shadow pushed it back to him.


    This time Alpha Kilian threw it right out of the window to the road. ¡°If you don¡¯t want it, then you can just throw it away,¡±


    He said nonchntly as if he wasmenting on today¡¯s menu.


    Shadow sighed as she pushed the car door open. Without bothering to say anything to him, she dusted off the surface and shoved it into her pockets, avoiding his stare. This wasn¡¯t the best time to pick up a fight.


    After all, thest thing she wanted was to provoke him even further.


    Maybe it was best to wait for now. Besides, this was Alpha Kilian ¡®s card, right? Once he came back, she¡¯d hand the card back to him. It was far more logical this way, and she wouldn¡¯t have to interact with his cousin any longer.


    ¡­


    The next day.


    Shadow took a bus to the Eden Group, mainly because the taxi was far too expensive. Although she already had the money, given the ck card in her pockets, that didn¡¯t mean she was allowed to take advantage of it.


    However, as soon as she got off the bus, her face darkened.


    Henry immediately walked towards her, unbothered by her darkened features. He called out softly. ¡°Shadow .¡±


    But with every step he took towards her, she took two steps back. ¡°What is it?¡±


    A trace of disappointment shed in Henry eyes, but it quickly disappeared. ¡°I just want to meet you and talk to you alone.¡±


    His voice was filled with gentle mncholy. He had never regarded her this way, not when they were still friends.


    He probably needed something from her. ¡°You¡¯ve already said all you needed to say. I still have work, so I¡¯ll have to go first.¡± She said coldly, tightening her hold on her bag.


    Hopefully, this was thest time they¡¯d ever bump into each other again.


    It was true that she had liked Henry in the past, but that was before she knew of his true colors. She had always looked up at him as her Knight in Shining Armor, only to find out that he¡¯d never act as her Savior.


    Now that the glorifying filter she had on him was removed, she only regarded the man as one thing, as Jessica ¡®s boyfriend. That was all he¡¯s ever going to be from now on, especially with how he had treated her in the past.


    ¡°I¡¯m relieved that he¡¯s good to you.¡± Henryughed to himself almost bitterly.


    Shadow couldn¡¯t help but be surprised by his response. Even her own mother wouldn¡¯t even say these things to her, so why the hell was he, an outsider, saying these words to her now?


    Without another word, she turned and walked away.


    As soon as her back was turned towards him, the disappointment on his features gradually disappeared. Then, it was reced with a face filled with determination.


    The only reason she was being so cold to him now was to avoid suspicion. She had liked him for so many years, so she couldn¡¯t get over it that quickly, right? That meant that he could still take advantage of things.


    Alpha Kilian had even given her his ck card. That meant that he had regarded her as an equal, not just as his trophy wife.


    The Grant family had been on the decline these past few years. As long as he had coaxed Shadow well enough, maybe she¡¯d be convinced enough to ask Alpha Kilian to favor them more. Maybe that would be enough to better their situation.


    As soon as Shadow arrived at herpartment, Jessica approached her.


    Jessica couldn¡¯t hide the gloating look shining in her gaze. ¡°Dad asked you to go to his office. I suggest you don¡¯t dawdle around.¡± She said mockingly as if she knew exactly what was going to go down.


    ¡°Did he say what it¡¯s about?¡± Shadow picked up her phone and stared straight at her.


    Jessica obviously didn¡¯t say much, but her smile did widen. ¡°You¡¯ll know when you go.¡±


    When they arrived at Jason¡¯s office, Shadow saw Manager ck, the marketing department manager who she had electrocuted with her device yesterday. Well, it seemed, her morning had just gotten more interesting.

 57

    Shadow took a deep breath and walked into the room, making sure to leave the door slightly open behind her. An innocent smile slipped into her lips. ¡°Manager ck is discharged so quickly. I was just about to visit you in the hospital.¡±


    Dawson ck was his full name. He had a wife and a daughter. While he was deemed to be lustful andzy, there was actually one woman that could get him off his feet and that was his wife. She even hade to thepany once to deal with him because of the rumors that the man was involved with a female colleague in thepany. The words she used and the look she had on was like a lion on a prowl.


    Everyone in thepany knew that he was especially afraid of his wife.


    Yesterday, Shadow had offended the department manager on her first day at work, so she obviously needed to do her homework. Thest thing she wanted to do was back down, like all the times she had done in the past.


    As soon as he caught sight of her, the muscles on his face twitched terribly. Although he had recovered from the electric shock, he could still feel his veins rippling under his skin. This woman looked weak, yet he didn¡¯t expect her to also look unafraid.


    No matter! He had been in thepany for more than ten years, and he wasn¡¯t going to allow himself to be bullied by this bitch!


    A sinister look shed in Dawson¡¯s eyes as he turned to look at Jason and ignored Shadow .


    Shadow didn¡¯t care about that. She directly walked up to Jason and said, ¡°Dad, why did you call me?¡±


    Although she knew in her heart that Jason and Jessica wanted to use this incident as an excuse to deal with her and humiliate her, she still had to pretend that she didn¡¯t know. After all, she may have dropped the act of being dense and pitiful, but that didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d want them to stop underestimating her.


    Jason¡¯s cold face didn¡¯t budge. ¡°If you¡¯re unsatisfied with the work that I¡¯ve arranged for you, then youe to me directly. Do you really have to vent your anger on Manager ck? If this matter were to spread, others would think my daughter¡¯s very arrogant, that she isn¡¯t fit to handle such a position! Do you know what that will do to thepany¡¯s image?¡±


    Instead of interrupting him and defending herself, she listened carefully, nodding every now and then. Once he was finished, she tilted her head in mocking curiosity. ¡°The consequences must be very serious.¡±


    Jessica snorted coldly. ¡°Since you know of the consequences, then I suggest you apologize to him now!¡±


    Shadow paid no heed to Jessica at all. Her eyebrows remained furrowed as she snapped her fingers in response. ¡°Since you¡¯ve been speaking so much of the importance of thepany image, then I must ask. Is sister¡¯s matter already settled? A few days ago, I heard from the Inte thatizens have seen her go to Sky Light Club again.¡±


    As soon as she heard this, Jessica turned pale. She opened her mouth and wanted to defend herself. ¡°Dad, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course, I know that elder sister isn¡¯t that kind of person. I mean, why would she go to such a ce? I think it must be ourpetitors who tried to spread those rumors, to try and frame her,¡± Shadow interrupted, shaking her head in what seemed to be a disappointment. ¡°But I still think they should be addressed. As the saying goes, if a child doesn¡¯t do well, then it is not her failure alone, but her parents¡¯. Many investors will think that you haven¡¯t educated her well, and to have her work here¡­ that also wouldn¡¯t be a good sign for thepany.¡±


    Shadow had said it with so much confidence that she almost believed it herself. ¡®I deserve a Grammy after this,¡¯ she thought.


    Jason had suppressed all of his daughter¡¯s indecent videos and photos the day that they¡¯ve been spread out all over the inte.


    However, the very next day, her issue was back up on the inte again. Even if he had exhausted all his connections, he still couldn¡¯t get those videos to go down. Now, he could only wait for her issue to settle down before bribing the tforms to delete them all.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    These past few days, the issue had slowly sunk into the depths of Inte gossip. It was almost safe for them now. But he didn¡¯t expect Jessica to go to Sky Light Club again! Not only would that bump up her scandals, but it would show that she had no repentance for her actions!


    Shadow ¡®s words diverted Jason¡¯s attention. Although he had initially wanted to suppress and educate Shadow , Jessica ¡®s matter was far more integral to thepany¡¯s image.


    ¡°Go out first!¡±


    With a smile, Shadow turned and stepped out of the room. Although Dawson was unwilling at first, he knew that Jason was bound to put his family matters first before his, so he was forced to follow the woman right out.


    As soon as he had gone out, he saw that Shadow was waiting for him by the door. Her arms were crossed, and her fiery eyes shed in his response.


    Her lips were curled upwards, but the warmth didn¡¯t reach her features. In fact, if looks could kill, the man would¡¯ve already been buried ten feet under. She greeted. ¡°Manager ck.¡±


    Her voice was cool and frosty, a trait that she had probably developed after spending some time with ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°. ¡°I never took you for a liar. The president said that I vented my anger on you. Don¡¯t you have anything to say for yourself?¡±


    Dawson throat felt like it was closing up, and his fingers twitched in response. Although she had appeared weak before, she certainly didn¡¯t now.


    The man didn¡¯t have any height advantage whatsoever, so the best he could do was to tilt his chin upwards. ¡°When the Chairman is done with his family matters, then it will be your turn. Just you wait. If you beg me now, I might be able to ask him to let you go instead.¡±


    Ha! Did he really think that she was afraid of him?


    Shadow smiled more deeply. Dawson felt cock-a-hoop because he thought she was afraid and trying to please him.


    But he had a premonition when he saw Shadow raised her foot. In the next moment, he covered his crotch and screamed, ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± She coldly snorted, taking out a piece of tissue to wipe the heel of her shoes. ¡°You said it yourself, that I¡¯m venting my anger out on you. Now, you¡¯ve got what you wanted.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ You¡­¡± He could only wave his finger at her, unable to speak.


    Shadow had lived in the slums for more than half the year. Sometimes, when she¡¯d go home at night, she¡¯de across a few hooligans along the way. Although she had pretended to be ugly, she was still a woman, and for them that was enough. She had remembered her first few nights there, scared out of her mind with worry, but after living there for a few more weeks, she¡¯d gotten used to it.


    Therefore, she was never afraid of being harassed.


    Most women and even men had chosen to endure this kind of workce harassment, and that had allowed perpetrators like Dawson to gain more confidence. Now, he certainly wasn¡¯t going to start yapping about the way a woman had wronged him, given his reputation. So he could only suffer it on his own.


    She was sure that he wouldn¡¯t let it go that easily. But her years in the slums had taught her to never be afraid, and she wasn¡¯t going to start now.


    ¡­


    In the Chairman¡¯s office, things weren¡¯t looking up for Jessica .


    ¡°What have I told you?¡± Jason mmed his fists against the table. The pencil holder trembled from the secondary impact. ¡°I told you to be more honest, to live a better life, but you still went to the Sky Light Club! Do you even take my orders seriously?¡±


    ¡°But Dad!¡± Even Jessica didn¡¯t expect Shadow to attack her like this. She shuffled anxiously, unable to look at him in the eye. ¡°They¡­they¡¯re my friends. You know how they are! They all have very influential families, and I thought they might be able to help us! If I don¡¯t go to the banquet, they wouldn¡¯t¡­ they wouldn¡¯t want to help us. I will miss out on many opportunities¡­¡±


    ¡°Friends? Those are your friends? Just a group of rich kids who sit around and wait for their death? Do you still think that your reputation isn¡¯t bad enough? That my reputation hasn¡¯t been destroyed enough?¡± Jason shouted angrily, ¡°The most important thing for you right now is to build a better rtionship with Henry, not destroy it further!¡±


    Jason had been in the business for so many years, so even he knew what went on inside Sky Light Club. He shook his head in disgust. If his wife were alive, would she have allowed such a thing from happening? A trace of guilt settled in his heart.


    Jessica lowered her head, feeling bad after being scolded. It had only fueled her anger towards Shadow even more. ¡®That bitch had no right to meddle with my problems in the first ce!¡¯ She clenched her fists.


    Although she still felt she didn¡¯t make any mistake, she bowed her head in response and apologized to calm Jason down. ¡°I know I¡¯m wrong, and I¡¯m sorry. I¡­ I¡¯ll try to get along with him now. I swear that this wouldn¡¯t happen again!¡±


    Jason sighed. ¡°Fine. You may go to your work.¡±


    ¡­


    Shadow had already returned to her office, taking her time as she stared nkly at the documents. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t have been this distracted, but she couldn¡¯t help but think of the phone sitting at the back of her pockets.


    Even thought she had Alpha Kilian ¡®s number, she hesitatedst night, and didn¡¯t dare to call him, afraid of what he might think.


    It was nine o¡¯clock now, so that meant it was eight o¡¯clock in the evening in America. So he must be awake at this time, right?


    How about sending a message?


    ¡°Hi! This is Shadow . How are you?¡±


    Was that appropriate? Or too much?


    Deleting the words, she typed in another message, ¡°Hi, this is Shadow . Thank you for giving me the phone. I like it very much!¡±


    She nodded in satisfaction and clicked the send button.

 58

    Even after Shadow sent the message, she still couldn¡¯t be at ease. All she could do was sit back and stare at her screen from time to time, awaiting his reply. Her finger refreshed the screen a few times in thest hour.


    ¡®What¡¯s wrong with me?¡¯ She ran her fingers down her hair irritably as she ced her phone on the corner of her desk, not wanting to look at it any longer. She had never been this nervous with Henry before! And to be this anxious for a man she had never actually seen was¡­ weird.


    Just as she was concentrating on her documents, she heard a few whispers from the other cubicle.


    ¡°I heard that Dawson applied for a leave.¡±


    ¡°What? He used to be so eager ining to work.¡±


    So the man had already retired? Shadow leaned against her seat as she pushed herself to the wall behind her, interested in hearing more of this. Just then, another colleague quickly joined the discussion and she frowned.


    Their voices had be much softer now.


    However, she still caught a few words, ¡°I heard Shadow ¡®s the one who did it yesterday.¡±


    At that, she suddenly sneezed. Were they talking about her?


    ¡­C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    At Nine Clouds Media.


    The meeting room was so silent that they could hear a pin drop. With the unnerving tension rising every second, Alpha Kilian took his time as he flipped the project report in his hands. His face showed no expression as he scanned through the documents.


    All the senior management staff sat upright, not daring to make a sound. Sweat trickled down their foreheads as they all exchanged looks of anxiety and worry. After all, the man behind the scenes had a worse temper than Xavier.


    The outside world only recognized Xavier as the boss of Nine Clouds Media. When in actuality, only the senior management knew the man sitting in front him was the real man working behind the scenes. Although his whereabouts and identity were kept a secret from all of them, they knew that every major decision was run through by him. As such, they knew just how important he was.


    Alpha Kilian hadn¡¯te to thepany for a very long time, and all his responsibilities had fallen to Xavier. Even today alone, he had to admit that it was tough to do all the groundwork. However, it still must be done.


    As Shadow had gone to Eden Group today, he thought of handling these matters himself.


    There were a few directors in Nine Clouds Media who were determined in creating beef between some senior management staff, but that wasn¡¯t a big problem. As long as these things don¡¯t escte, then they could easily be managed.


    Finally, once Alpha Kilian was done reading through all the documents, he picked up a few folders and ced them neatly on one side. The rest was thrown directly onto the middle of the conference table. The sound echoed across the room, as a few papers fluttered to the side.


    Everyone froze.


    Alpha Kilian swept his gaze across everyone present. He said sternly. ¡°We¡¯re all senior members of thepany. As we¡¯ve worked together for so long, I¡¯ll give you onest chance to make those right. I suggest you start working now.¡±


    Without another word, he stood up and strode out of the meeting room. Xavier followed right behind him, with the neatly folded documents under his arm.


    Aftering to his own office, Alpha Kilian finally loosened his tie and rested on the leather chair behind the desk. He slowly rubbed his temples. Sometimes, handling argepany had its pressure points, but it did have its perks.


    Xavier ced the documents on the table and frowned. ¡°You think they¡¯ll do as you said them well?¡±


    ¡°If they couldn¡¯t, then we¡¯ll just fire them.¡± His face remained indifferent. ¡°Besides, if they were fired by Nine Clouds itself, who¡¯d dare ept them?¡±


    Alpha Kilian sounded arrogant, but Xavier knew for a fact that the man had every right to be. After all, he had built thispany from the ground up not because he had entertained ckers like those bozos, but because he had actually concentrated on hiring the best of the best.


    Although he knew that his friend was known for his bad temper, Alpha Kilian was actually a kind person. Those bastards really had gone too far this time by providing such substandard work on the table.


    ¡°If you have nothing to say, you can leave.¡± With a wave of dismissal, he pulled open one of his drawers and took out his mobile phone.


    He turned it on, the screen lit up and he found an unread message.


    ¡°Hi, this is Shadow . Thank you for giving me this phone. I like it very much!¡±


    At the sight, Alpha Kilian ¡®s lips curled up into a smile.


    Xavier was about to go when he saw Alpha Kilian smiling at the phone screen. Not being able to help himself, he inquired, ¡°Why the hell are you smiling at your phone? You know how scary it is to see you like this? So¡­ so¡­ weird?¡±


    Normally, Alpha Kilian would¡¯ve red at him, but the text had regained his goodposure. ¡°Since you¡¯re so scared of me, why aren¡¯t you leaving?¡±


    Xavier wanted to see what the man was looking at, but just as he was moving closer, Alpha Kilian flipped his phone and hid it underneath his desk.


    ¡°Are you kidding me?¡±


    The man was ruthless!


    After Xavier left, Alpha Kilian started typing up his message.


    ¡°I am d you like it.¡±


    But before he could send it, he paused. That didn¡¯t seem to fit his style, did it?


    ¡°Frank bought it.¡±


    That seemed too cold.


    In the end, he decided on this, ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    Putting down his phone, he leaned back against his seat. A trace of irritation shed in his dark eyes before it disappeared. This was getting all too ridiculous! Not only was he hiding his identity, but he was ying two men!


    Xavier came again into the office, bringing a few documents with him. ¡°Alpha Kilian , this is the big IPO that thepany had invested in recently. All the information is in here. You can take a look at themter.¡±


    ¡°Wait.¡± Alpha Kilian stopped him.


    Xavier paused. ¡°Is there something else?¡±


    Alpha Kilian coughed awkwardly, knocking the table a couple of times. ¡°Do you think I should tell Shadow that I¡¯m Alpha Kilian ?¡±


    Before Xavier could react, Alpha Kilian threatened, ¡°If you dareugh at me, I¡¯ll make sure that the little star of yours wouldn¡¯t be able to ept any scripts. She wouldn¡¯t have any life in show business from then on.¡±


    Although he knew that the man was only ying tough, Xavier still suppressed the smile on his lips.


    Holding back hisughter, he nodded. ¡°You should tell her right away. In fact, I suggest a rather big event, like a baby shower, but instead of having a mascot pop out of the cake, you can do that instead.¡±


    Asshole.


    Alpha Kilian picked up the documents and threw them in Xavier¡¯s direction. ¡°Get lost!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going, I¡¯m going!¡± Xavier didn¡¯t even bother trying to hide hisughter as he strode towards the door.


    It seemed that his working in Nine Clouds Media wasn¡¯t in vain. After all, when could he see Alpha Kilian so conflicted over a woman, a woman who he was already bound to mated ? He pped his thighs and shook his head. For someone so powerful, his flirting skills needed some work.


    ¡°Oh, wait till Arthur hears about this!¡±


    Alpha Kilian tightly pursed his lips and expressionlessly picked up the pen holder. He quickly and ruthlessly smashed it towards Xavier, watching in satisfaction as it smashed onto thetter¡¯s head.


    ¡°Ah!!¡±


    Xavier¡¯s miserable scream made Alpha Kilian feel a little morefortable.


    However, as soon as Xavier left his office, he felt the stress driving over him once again. He pinched the space in between his brows. If he told Shadow that he was Alpha Kilian , she wouldn¡¯t believe him. It was obvious that the timing wasn¡¯t right.


    He needed an opportunity.


    ¡­


    Shadow had waited for half a day when she finally received his message, ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    Although it was only two words, it still made her day.


    During lunch, a few of her female colleagues came looking for her.


    ¡°Shadow , why don¡¯t we eat together?¡± They called out, hooking their arms around hers.


    They hadn¡¯t reallymunicated with her on the first day, so she was surprised that they would approach her like this.


    Perhaps it was because of the gossip? After all, she had overheard some of them saying how she was the one responsible for Dawson¡¯s unannounced exit. They didn¡¯t seem too bad too.


    As she didn¡¯t know how long she had nned to stay in Eden Group, she smiled and nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±


    Even though they were all women, they couldn¡¯t help but be a little stunned at the brightness of Shadow ¡®s smile.


    There were not a lot of restaurants near thepany. Even though they just randomly chose a restaurant, it wasn¡¯t much of a shock that they coincidentally met Jessica and Jason along the way. They were eating at the same ce.


    As they were both their bosses, it was only natural for Shadow ¡®s colleagues to greet them with respect, ¡°Chairman, Manager Eden .¡±


    In the Eden Group, Jessica was the project department manager. It was obvious that she didn¡¯t have the ability to carry such arge responsibility on her shoulders. The actual people running the work were her subordinates.


    Shadow didn¡¯t want to be eye-catching, so she also stepped forward to greet them.


    ¡°Dad, Sis.¡±

 59

    There were other people around, so Jason couldn¡¯t reject Shadow just like that. After all, even if they were all on bad terms behind closed doors, they were still considered ¡®family¡¯ or whatever that meant nowadays. He had a faint smile on his face and nodded at her. ¡°Why don¡¯t we eat together?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± After she said that, Jason¡¯s expression changed slightly. Although it was barely noticeable to the other bystanders, Shadow caught it. She smirked. ¡°But not today. I n on eating with my colleagues, so how about another day?¡±


    The father and daughter duo obviously disliked her. From the moment she was brought into this world, they already wanted nothing to do with her. Naturally, that didn¡¯t stop now even if they were working under the samepany.


    Hearing her refusal, his expression rxed and his smile became less stiff. ¡°All right. Some other time.¡±


    Just then, Jessica suddenly turned her head and picked some food for her father. ¡°Dad,¡± she insisted, cing the vegetables on his te. ¡°Try this! I heard that the dishes were well prepared today, so try to eat as much as you can!¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Jason shook his head with a smile. ¡°You eat, too. You¡¯ve lost a lot of weight recently.¡±


    It was obvious that they were harmonious.


    As they were moving away from them, Jessica shot her a contemptuous smile as if to say, ¡°Not only does your mother not care for you, but also your father. You poor thing!¡± She bet that if they weren¡¯t in front of such a loud crowd, Jessica would¡¯ve said it right to her face!


    Jessica knew her where to poke her insecurities, and she knew for a fact that she was seeding.


    Shadow had thought that she had hardened her heart throughout the years. How could she not? After everything the Eden family had done to use her, she was continually pped with the reality that they¡¯d never love her as their daughter. However, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a slight pain in her heart as soon as she saw their retreating figure.


    Even when Shadow had found a seat with her colleagues, her expression still had a cold tinge to it. Her eyes were more hooded, and the brightness of her features slowly receded. With a sigh, she gazed from afar, not noticing that her colleagues were exchanging looks.


    The matter between her and Jessica had caused quite a stir on Weibo, so all the female colleagues were aware of their sisterly matters. They didn¡¯t get along, and their little stunt today had proven that.


    Even Jason seemed to dislike her.


    Feeling uneasy, one of them pushed the menu towards Shadow . ¡°What do you want to order?¡±


    Shadow smiled, pushing the menu back. She said softly. ¡°I¡¯m not that picky when ites to food. You guys order first. Besides, I¡¯ve never been here before, so you guys know more about the dishes here than I do.¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡± The other colleagues followed.


    Within a few minutes of talking, the others felt that Shadow was quite easy to get along with. So someone tilted her head towards her and asked curiously. ¡°Do you know why Dawson asked for a leave today? What happened in the Chairman¡¯s office?¡±


    ¡°Nothing happened. Perhaps he¡¯s done a lot of shit in the past that God¡¯s already punishing him Himself,¡± Shadow said jokingly, making up a bunch of nonsense in the back of her mind. She didn¡¯t want word to get out of what she had done.


    The others didn¡¯t mind. Instead of pushing the topic, even more, theyughed and started talking about their past experiences with the manager.


    She¡¯d join them from time to time,ughing along with them. Her colleagues were quite nice, and Shadow couldn¡¯t help but feel more at ease in thepany. She rxed against her seat, and the smile on her face became much more genuine.


    The atmosphere was light and free from tension, until someone had asked the inevitable.


    ¡°Shadow , you¡¯re already the Young Madame of the Lances family, aren¡¯t you? So why did youe to Eden Group to work instead of Lances Group?¡± One of them tilted her head and asked.


    Although the person didn¡¯t have any malicious intentions, it was really hard for Shadow to answer.


    There was a short pause before she turned around. ¡°It¡¯splicated.¡±


    Knowing that Shadow probably didn¡¯t want to talk about it, her colleague interrupted, ¡°If we eat quickly, we may have the chance to rest for a while. You know how the HR gets if we overstay our wee.¡± The others giggled in agreement.


    And the woman who had asked Shadow quickly turned away with a nod.


    Everyone had felt that Shadow wasn¡¯t weed in the Lances family.


    Although the disfigured and inhumane Young Master of the Lances family was the sessor of the Lances fortune, his physical condition made him unsuitable to take over the Lances Group. Many had suspected that the sessor would be reced, but there wasn¡¯t any definite news of the detail.


    If that was taken from him, then Alpha Kilian was nothing more than a cripple. As such, it may be enough reason why Shadow had to start working.


    Honestly, working was fine, but for her family to give her such a tedious job of being a market researcher¡­ They couldn¡¯t help but pity her. The woman may look like she had the world on her shoulders, but in reality, she may have been in a deeper slump than any of them.


    Shadow rubbed the back of her neck as she nced helplessly at her female colleagues as they kept adding strips of pork on her te, gazing at her with sympathy and pity. ¡°You should eat more. You look so thin!¡±


    She didn¡¯t need to be smart to know what¡¯s going on.


    From the perspective of an outsider, she seemed rather pitiful.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Shadow slowly said with a sigh.


    ¡­


    Alpha Kilian had stayed in thepany for the entire day. He made sure to check all the documents that needed to be checked over and signed any contracts that were beneficial to the firm. It was a tiring day, and he was just about ready to go home.


    As he was walking out of the building, Xavier excitedly ran over. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go to have a drink?¡±


    As Alpha Kilian had returned to thepany, Xavier¡¯s work had gotten a lot easier. As such, he was in a better moodpared to thest few weeks he spent with towering paperwork and yapping executives. That¡¯s why he wanted to celebrate.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± Alpha Kilian refused without raising his head.


    ¡°But it¡¯s so early!¡± He rolled his eyes. ¡°When you have nothing to do, you just stay at home. Go home after work and don¡¯t participate in any activities. With the way you¡¯re living now, you¡¯re following the steps of my old man!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the way life is when you have a wife,¡± Alpha Kilian said softly.


    ¡°Ha-ha.¡± Xavier shot him a re. ¡°Shove your wife on our faces, why don¡¯t you?¡±


    Just then, Arthur walked in.


    He wasn¡¯t aware that Xavier had just been rejected by Alpha Kilian . He nced impatiently at the two men. ¡°Can we go now?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Xavier said as he walked out.


    Arthur looked at Alpha Kilian and asked. ¡°Are you not going?¡±


    ¡°I was told that people with wives don¡¯t spend the night outside.¡± Xavier answered coldly as he crossed his arms over his chest. If outsiders were to see them now, they would¡¯ve doubted that such a childish man was actually the CEO of one of thergestpanies in Herton Pack .Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Just as Xavier had expected, Arthur blinked in surprise and asked.


    ¡°Who cares?¡± Xavier ced his hand on Arthur¡¯s shoulder and dragged him even farther away from Alpha Kilian . ¡°Just because we don¡¯t have wives don¡¯t mean we can¡¯t have fun! Let¡¯s go and grab a drink on the way!¡±


    Arthur grinned, pulling himself from Xavier¡¯s grasp. He turned his hand to Alpha Kilian and said sympathetically. ¡°So what if you have a wife? You can do nothing but only watch her from afar anyway.¡±


    The two erupted into snickers. After all, Shadow still thought of him as her husband¡¯s cousin. Ah, it was just tragic.


    Alpha Kilian sneered. ¡°If that¡¯s what you think, then don¡¯t bothering over to the house for dinner.¡±


    ¡°On another note,¡± Arthur¡¯s expression changed immediately as he backtracked. ¡°I actually envy those who have wives to take care of them. Don¡¯t you, Xavier?¡±


    ¡°You asshole.¡± Xavier couldn¡¯t help but kicked him from behind.


    Why couldn¡¯t Arthur have more of a backbone? Why did they lose to Alpha Kilian every time? Now, who was going to side with him?


    Arthur didn¡¯t even bother to bend his leg as if he didn¡¯t feel any pain.


    Xavier pulled him away and said. ¡°Don¡¯t make a fool of yourself.¡±


    Just then, he nced up at Alpha Kilian . ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not going?¡±


    ¡°You guys go. The bill is on me.¡± Alpha Kilian was in a good mood today. A hint of joy could be heard in his low voice.


    However, when Alpha Kilian drove home and looked up at the empty Castle , his good mood dissipated almost immediately. He nced at the kitchen, before knocking at her door to be greeted with only silence.


    He took out his phone and tried calling Shadow , but he was sent directly to voicemail.


    Even if he called her the third time, there still wasn¡¯t any answer.


    Where was she?


    Did she do this on purpose or did something happen to her?


    Alpha Kilian stood in the empty hall for a long time that the bodyguard couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Young Master, did something happen?¡±


    The man had such a serious look on his face, so something incredible must¡¯ve happened.


    Instead of replying, the man didn¡¯t say a word. He grabbed his coat once again and walked out of the room. Just as he was about to reach the door, a thought urred to him and he turned back. ¡°If Young Madamees back, make sure to give me a call.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    So could the big deal be because Young Madam hadn¡¯te home?


    ¡­


    Unbeknownst to them, Shadow was actually being dragged from store to store.


    She had initially wanted to go home, when she got off work.


    But her colleagues who had lunch with her insisted otherwise. They probably thought that it was too pitiful for her to go home alone to such an empty Castle , so they insisted on taking her out to shopping. They repeatedly begged, pushing her to try new things. ¡°Come on. It¡¯s just one night.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Actually, Shadow didn¡¯t really feel pitiful even if she had gone home to an empty Castle . Although it was still empty, it was luxurious, a thousand times better than the little dodgy apartment that she used to live in.


    However, her colleagues¡¯ hospitality was difficult to reject. With a smile, she slowly nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±

 60

    Shadow actually remembered to cook for ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°. After all, that was what she had promised him when he lent her hiswyer. Although he is a bastard, a promise is still a promise.


    But as soon as they entered the shopping mall, she had already lost track of time. Her colleagues quickly pulled her from store to store, pushing a bunch of fabric to her face as they discussed intently the day they just had.


    Seeing as the sky had turned dark, she quickly found an excuse to stop, ¡°I¡¯m so tired. Why don¡¯t we find a ce to rest?¡±


    ¡°Sure! I saw a drink shack by the end of the mall.¡± All of them headed up that direction.


    Seeing as they were finally distracted, she used this time to take out her phone, only to see that she had two missed calls from ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± really wasn¡¯t the type to sit patiently and wait for her to reply. She squeezed her eyes shut, not expecting him to call her twice. At this point, she couldn¡¯t even imagine how angry he must¡¯ve been after the second call.


    She stood up, looking as if she had just been electrocuted. ¡°I have something else I need to attend to, so I need to go back first. Thank you for today. I¡¯ll make sure to treat you guys for dinner.¡± She quickly said, bowing her head.


    Once she had left the mall, she walked towards the bus stop while she gave him a call.


    The phone rang a few times before it was picked up.


    ¡°Where are you?¡±


    His voice was already low. So when he was in a bad mood, others would feel that there was a bit of sullen in his voice.


    She could feel a slight chill running down her neck.


    Rubbing her skin, she managed to respond to him, ¡°I¡¯m still outside, but I¡¯ll be back soon. If you¡¯re already hungry, then you can find something to eat first.¡±


    She had tried to keep her voice firm, but uncertainty soontched on to her words. She nced around, watching as the cars zoomed across the highway.


    ¡°I asked where you are.¡± He repeated.


    The impatience in his voice couldn¡¯t be concealed any longer.


    ¡°I¡¯m in Pack Center.¡± She turned around to take a look and immediately ryed to him her location.


    Ever since ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had thrown away the ck card in front of her, she no longer dared to provoke the man over such a trivial matter.


    ¡®He asks all these questions as if he¡¯s my husband.¡¯ Shadow thought incredulously, shaking her head, but she didn¡¯t say another word after that.


    She turned around and went back to the entrance of the mall, waiting for him to show up.


    Within a few minutes, his sleek ck Bentley appeared in her view.


    Just as she was about to go, she heard someone call her from behind, ¡°Shadow , you haven¡¯t left yet?¡±


    Shadow stiffly turned her head to see that her female colleagues who had shopped with her standing behind her. They were probably heading to the bus stop from the direction they were going in. Just her luck! Seeing as she had no other choice, she nodded in greeting.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m still here¡­¡±


    She was in the middle of saying something when ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± honked the car.


    ¡°Get in the car.¡± Alpha Kilian had already lowered his car window just as he was parking his Bentley near the sidewalk. If looks could kill, they would¡¯ve all been ten feet under. She shivered under her coat, not because of the cool breeze, but because of the man sitting in the driver¡¯s seat.


    Her colleagues appeared surprised at the same time.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡®Great, I¡¯m done for.¡¯ Shadow had a premonition.


    ¡°Although I¡¯m younger than you, I¡¯m still your sister-inw.¡± Shadow turned her to look at ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± and said with a fake smile on her face.


    Alpha Kilian turned his head slightly to see her colleagues standing behind her. Despite this, he still didn¡¯t change his tone of voice as he raised his eyebrows. ¡°Get in the car.¡±


    Knowing that he was getting impatient, she immediately turned to the group behind her. After all, if the man was this mad, he might end up causing trouble for them, which in turn might dig her an evenrger hole. ¡°He¡¯s my husband¡¯s cousin. He picked me up along the way, so I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡±


    Not daring to say any longer, she opened the door and got in the car.


    As ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± started the engine, she couldn¡¯t help but gaze at the rearview mirror. She could still see her female colleagues exchanging a few looks, fiercely discussing what had happened a few seconds ago.


    Shadow sighed and turned to look at ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°. ¡°Why did youe back so quickly? Do you work close by?¡±


    He simply ignored her.


    If he didn¡¯t want to talk to her, then fine. It¡¯s not like she was dying to talk to him either. Shadow turned her head and looked out of the window.


    ¡­


    As soon as they got home, she went into the kitchen to cook, not bothering to look in his direction. She wrapped the apron around her waist and began to grab all the pots and pans hidden behind the cabs.


    These past few days, she had already understood his preferences. He was the type of person who liked spicy and vorful meals. Every dish must have a tinge of chili in them, and he absolutely hated anything nd or light.


    Once the two of them finished their meals, they returned to their respective rooms.


    Shadow took a bath before lying on her bed. She quickly dialed Hazel¡¯s number and ced her on video call.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Hazel answered almost immediately. While Shadow was dressed in her pajamas, Hazel was dressed in ancient garments. She was standing on top of what seemed to be a pavilion, with the harsh winds serving as her backdrop.


    ¡°You¡¯re still filming?¡± Shadow asked her.


    ¡°Yes, I am shooting some night scenes.¡± ncing around, Hazel ran to one of the empty corners before dropping her voice to a whisper, ¡°Guess who I¡¯m filming with today?¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± A thought suddenly urred to her. ¡°Is it Dn? Didn¡¯t he go abroad to study?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± Hazel face widened into a smile. ¡°The director seems to know him, so he asked him to show up as a guest actor in our shoot. I¡¯m going to act with the King of Movies! Shit! Do you know how nervous I am? My entire body is practically shaking? What should I do?¡±


    Shadowughed and said faintly. ¡°I¡¯m not there, and I¡¯m already nervous for you.¡±


    Dn was the youngest actor who had won the Oscars. She remembered following all of his dramas, being his fan for eight years. If she were to act with him like Hazel, she wouldn¡¯t know what she¡¯d do!


    ¡°Hazel, shooting starts in five!¡± On the other end of the phone came a sudden voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there!¡± Hazel then turned back to her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll be going first. Let¡¯s see if I can get you his autograph! I might not be able to get a nude photo of him, but I¡¯ll try my best.¡±


    Before Shadow could object, she shot her a wink and hung off.


    ¡°You better not do such a thing,¡± Shadow thought. She was not as obscene as Hazel!


    ¡­


    The next day.


    When Shadow arrived at thepany, a different atmosphere greeted her. The female colleagues who had pitied her yesterday began to see her in a new light. They kept their distance, this time, gazing at her strangely.


    As she had expected this kind of scene early on, she didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. After all, there was no need to pour fire into the rumors. They would likely die down by the end of it all anyway.


    Dawson had already been frightened to sick after what Shadow had done to him. For the next few days after returning to thepany, he didn¡¯t cause any trouble for her. In fact, he was like a little rat, one that raced in the opposite direction of wherever she wasing from.


    It was only by the end of the week did he brought someone to look for her. ¡°We¡¯re assigned to do some market research today. Today¡¯s Friday, and we have toe up with the report by Monday. You¡¯ll have toe with me.¡± He quickly ryed the information, handing her the file.


    Unlike Manager ck, he was far more decent and honest.


    ¡°Mm¡­¡± She nced up at the man, noticing how unfamiliar he looked.


    But then again, there were dozens of people in the marketing department, and she had only been here for a few days. Even if she had put some effort into getting to know everyone, she still wouldn¡¯t be able to achieve such a feat.


    ¡°Okay.¡± The two of them left thepany and took a taxi.


    Shadow tilted her head towards him. ¡°Will thepany be reimbursing us?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The man looked at her strangely.


    Something¡¯s up. Shadow became vignt. She turned to look outside the window to see that they were already heading to the suburbs. The skyscrapers were already fading from their point of view and she could feel her sweat trickling down her forehead.


    When she came out, she had read the information. The products that they were supposed to be researching were vacuums and mops, basically daily household materials. At least, that was what she had gotten from the file. They were supposed to be going to the residential areas.


    As they were heading down the road, they happened to pass by a pharmacy. Lowering her eyes, she bit her bottom lips hard. She knitted her eyebrows in pain and said, ¡°Can you stop the car? I¡­ I need to buy something.¡±


    The man cocked an eyebrow. ¡°What do you want to buy?¡±


    ¡°Painkillers.¡± Shadow turned to look at him and gritted her teeth. ¡°I¡¯m on my period. My stomach hurts.¡±


    The man understood what she meant and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll have to go with you.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Shadow knew, if she had refused the man would assume that she knew something was up. Then, she wouldn¡¯t have any other opportunity to get off the car. She¡¯d need to be more subtle. Clutching her stomach with one hand, she pulled the door with the other.


    Now, she was sure that the man was sent by Dawson to take revenge on her.


    The two of them got out of the car and entered the pharmacy. Shadow perused the shelves for her medication while the man followed closely behind her.


    At this time, another man with a mask and cap walked in from the fields. He coughed lightly, with his fist against his lips. When Shadow passed him, she reached out and grabbed his arm, widening her eyes in surprise. ¡°Cousin! why are you here?¡±


    The man wearing the mask appeared to be stunned for a moment. He raised his hat, revealing a pair of familiar and warm eyes.

 61

    Shadow widened her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be the one asking you and not the other way around? Why did youe all the way here?¡± The masked man interrupted with no difficulty. He squinted his eyes and bent over, trying to get a better look at her.


    There was a hint of sternness tied to his words, and the concern it showed was just right. She couldn¡¯t help but freeze at his tone.


    Even Shadow was convinced that the man was actually her cousin. She stuttered out, regaining her voice. However, she still couldn¡¯t mask the shock etched across her features. What the hell was this? ¡°I was just about to go back.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ll send you off then.¡± With a nod, the masked man pulled her wrist and walked out of the convenience store.


    However, the male colleague who had escorted her all this way wouldn¡¯t let her go that easily. Instead of allowing her to leave, he walked straight towards the entrance, blocking their paths. He motioned to his papers. ¡°We¡¯re still supposed to do our research, remember? Are you nning on bailing out on me?¡±


    Shadow looked him with a faint smile on her face. ¡°My cousin had traveled all this way just to visit me, so of course I¡¯ll have to put him first.¡±


    She then rubbed the back of her neck almost hesitantly. ¡°Although I¡¯m sorry for troubling you.¡±


    Just as he was about to refuse, the masked man slowly took out his phone. ¡°You want me to call the police?¡±


    ¡°No! If you want to go, then suit yourself!¡± The man didn¡¯t even hesitate as he stepped aside, allowing them a way out.


    Shadow followed the masked man into the car. As soon as the car door was closed, she hesitated for a long time. She stared at him for a few seconds before mustering out the courage to ask but her voice still trembled, ¡°Are you Dn?¡±


    The man slowly took off his mask as he shed her a smile. ¡°This disguise must be crap if you recognized me that easily?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not! It¡¯s just¡­¡± Shadow stuttered as she struggled toe up with the words to exin her predicament. Instead of defending herself, she fell into a fit of coughs, shaking her head over and over again. The anxiety was already eating her up.


    She had followed him for eight years, watching all of the movies he had created as well as the number of series that he had starred in. The man was practically a legend! How was she not going to recognize him? She couldn¡¯t even speak to him without her face turning red!


    Were the faiths already thanking her?


    Dn saw her flushed face before nodding and said gently. ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin yourself.¡±


    He then started to drive attentively as he tilted her way. ¡°Where do you want to go?¡±


    ¡°Take me to the curbside. I can take a taxi back myself.¡± Shadow wasn¡¯t expecting to see Dn today, nor did she expect that the man would save her! However, she shouldn¡¯t trouble him too much, even if she was his biggest fan.


    When they had finally arrived at a more crowded location, Shadow got out of the car. ¡°Do you n on picking up a new script after returning?¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s a good script, then you¡¯ll bet that I¡¯ll be acting in it. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a profession I¡¯d like to drop till I¡¯m old and weary.¡± He chuckled. The words had slithered from his lips before he could even stop himself. He brightened.


    Shadow ¡®s eyes lit up and she nodded heavily. ¡°Well as long as you keep acting well, then you¡¯ll bet that I¡¯ll also keep watching.¡±


    Dnughed. Although he had met plenty of his fans, none of them were as direct as her. She was quite honest with someone who had admired him, and it was refreshing to speak with someone like her. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll count on that.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your help today.¡± Shadow said seriously.


    Thinking back to what happened today, Dn shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. You really should be more careful next time, okay?¡±


    ¡°I will.¡± Shadow smiled at him and turned around to leave.


    Just as she was about to leave, Dn called her back, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Shadow turned around in surprise. ¡°Shadow .¡±


    ¡°Shadow ?¡± As soon as Dn said her name, he frowned, watching her retreating figure.


    If he remembered correctly, that was the name of Alpha Kilian ¡®s wife.


    ¡­


    There was a private room located in Golden Fountain. However, this one was specifically used for Alpha Kilian ¡®s guests. After all, he wanted one avable at all times, given that his schedule was more abrupt.


    As soon as Alpha Kilian entered the restaurant, he saw Frank standing by his private room.


    Frank was sent abroad a few days ago, and he had just returned from the trip.


    ¡°Young Master.¡± Frank said respectfully as he walked up to him.


    ¡°Has Dn arrived?¡± Alpha Kilian raised his hand and checked the time.


    ¡°He has.¡± Frank nodded.


    Nodding, Alpha Kilian walked straight into the room.


    As soon as the door creaked open, Dn looked up at the neer. A small smile appeared across his lips, making him seem even gentler than usual. It was to no surprise that he had fans in every corner of the street.


    ¡°Alpha Kilian ,¡± he called out.


    Alpha Kilian walked over and sat opposite to him. He pushed the menu towards him. ¡°You haven¡¯t ordered yet?¡±


    Dn was his actual cousin. While Alpha Kilian was off dominating the business sector, he was conquering the entertainment business. As soon as he had signed a contract with Nine Clouds Media, he was off making history.


    ¡°There¡¯s no hurry.¡± Dn didn¡¯t even flip through his menu as he tilted his head. ¡°Tell me, how are you getting along with your wife?¡±


    Alpha Kilian frowned when it came to Shadow . ¡°It¡¯s going all right,¡± He said, not bothering to say anything more.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Dn reached out to grab a cup of water for himself. Taking a sip, he raised an eyebrow. ¡°What is it? Is she difficult to deal with?¡±


    How was Alpha Kilian supposed to know? After all, since Shadow had no interest in ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± and still didn¡¯t know that they were only one person, they had never gone anywhere far from exchanging a few words with each other.


    Besides, Dn was a casual person. Why was he asking so many questions today?? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°Have youe back here just to question me about my married life?¡± Alpha Kilian leaned back and looked at Dn critically.


    Realizing that he was asking too much, Dn immediately drew back with a smile. ¡°My mom had been saying that if I don¡¯t have a girlfriend, she¡¯ll push me to join a blind dating show.¡±


    Alpha Kilian raised his eyebrows and said with a rare gloating look. ¡°Thepany obviously wouldn¡¯t let you go on a blind dating show, but I can arrange a blind date for you if Aunt insists.¡±


    Dn cleared his throat. ¡°Never mind that. I¡¯ll lose my fans if they know I have a girlfriend.¡±


    Alpha Kilian looked up at him and said. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll care that much?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard? I¡¯m known as the King of Movies at just a mere 28 years old!¡± Dn shouted mockingly, repeating the headlines all those news articles had said about him.


    The two of them continued talking for an hour or two before Alpha Kilian went back. What he didn¡¯t expect was to see Shadow already preparing the table.


    Usually, whenever he had returned from work, she¡¯d arrive only a few minutes earlier. Why did shee back so early today?


    As soon as he walked into the kitchen door, he saw Shadowing out with a big bowl of soup. She didn¡¯t seem to have noticed himing in until she saw a pair of leather shoes blocking her way.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic , step aside.¡±


    Instead of moving out of the way, he took off his suit jacket and ced it on the crook of her arm. He then reached out and grabbed the bowl of soup from her hands. ¡°Here, let me.¡±


    ¡°Hey! That¡¯s very hot!¡± She didn¡¯t even wait to exim.


    He didn¡¯t even react as he ced the bowl on the table.


    Shadow blinked. Was that man made of iron?


    When the two of them were already seated, Alpha Kilian asked casually, ¡°Why did youe back so early today?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know I needed to report to you,¡± she said, her voice dripping in sarcasm. Instead of answering him, she poured herself a bowl of soup instead. ¡°Are you suddenly my bodyguard?¡±


    He gritted his teeth. ¡°You have a sharp tongue, don¡¯t you?¡±


    However, his identity as Alpha Dominic only dug him an even deeper hole.


    ¡°Thank you for thepliment.¡± Not feeling wronged, Shadow shrugged it off. Besides, as long as she wouldn¡¯t show any weaknesses, then he wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything to her.


    Alpha Kilian narrowed his eyes.


    The man was feared all across Herton Pack for a reason. Even with just one look, he¡¯d be able to send directors running for the hills. What more someone like her?


    Just as she was about to move away from him, he said, ¡°Shadow , I¡¯m Alpha Kilian .¡±


    What did he just say?


    The entire dining room had fallen into dead silence. Their faces turned ck as they stared at each other for a long time.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Shadow stuttered out, blinking rapidly. However, even as she did so, the man still hadn¡¯t said a word.


    Her grip on her chopsticks tightened. ¡°Is this another one of your tricks?¡±

 62

    Alpha Kilian ¡®s eyes still didn¡¯t move away from her face, not allowing any subtle change of expression to go unnoticed. He stared at her like a man solving his first puzzle, determined and serious.


    Shadow was also staring at him this whole time. If outsiders were to see them now, they would¡¯ve felt the tension rising on the rooftops. They were like a pair of kids, just waiting for the other to budge.


    In the end, she¡¯s the first one who turned away.


    They were just one person?


    No matter how much Shadow thought about it, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that the idea was ridiculous!


    Seeing the constantly changing expression on her face, Alpha Kilian couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disappointed in himself. Perhaps it really wasn¡¯t the right time to say it now. It must be too sudden.


    He retracted his gaze and slowly drank the mouthful of water. ¡°If I said no, would you believe me?¡±


    Hearing the incredulity in his voice, her shoulders sagged in relief. ¡°Of course not! Do you really think I¡¯m that easy to fool?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡±


    She was easily deceived, that was not his thought, but a fact.


    After dinner, Shadow finally returned to her room. Even then, she couldn¡¯t help but think back to Alpha Dominic ¡®s words. ¡°Why would he tease about something like this?¡±


    Although she hadn¡¯t spent long time with Alpha Dominic , she could tell that he was the type of man who couldn¡¯t be manipted. No matter how strongly his elders may try, he wouldn¡¯t allow himself to get married if he didn¡¯t want to.


    No matter who married into the Lances, if it had been her or Jessica , Alpha Kilian must¡¯ve done a background check on them.


    At that time, she had just been ¡®ugly and stupid¡¯. Jessica , although beautiful, had been too chaotic and promiscuous for the Lances family to allow such a union. They wouldn¡¯t make reputable wives.


    If Alpha Dominic was really Alpha Kilian , then he wouldn¡¯t need to mated her or Jessica .


    Furthermore, their personalities were different. While ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was the type of man who was forward and straight to the point, Alpha Kilian was distant and cold. There was no way they could be the same person, right?


    At this analysis, she calmed down and brought her pajamas into the bathroom.


    When she came out after bathing, she heard her phone rang.


    Not bothering to see who called, she picked up.


    ¡°Did you skip work today?¡±


    Shadow blinked when she heard Jason¡¯s harsh voice echoing from the other end of the line. Turning on the hands free setting, she ced it back on her bed and began to dry her hair. ¡°Dad¡¯s really well-informed. I went home after I went out this morning. But it was alreadyte at night when you found out that I had skipped work.¡±


    During the day, the man who had gone to do market research with her must¡¯ve been set up by Manager ck. He must¡¯ve wanted to exact revenge on her.


    Otherwise, if Jessica was the only one who had done it, she wouldn¡¯t have the gut to tell Jason with fear of getting scolded.


    Perhaps, Jessica had gotten involved in this matter as well. After confirming that the person hadn¡¯t seeded, she raced straight to Jason and reported it to him.


    Jessica really spared no effort to deal with her.


    She hadn¡¯t settled that matter with Jessica about the Sky Light Club yet!


    That day in Jason¡¯s office, Shadow deliberately said that Jessica had been to Sky Light Club again. At first, she wanted to test Jessica out to know if she really was the one who had ced her there in the first ce.


    Although the mastermind behind that incident could only be Jessica , she still had to confirm it.


    Jason didn¡¯t know anything about what had happened to Shadow that day, so as soon as he heard her arrogant tone, he grew even angrier. ¡°Shadow ! Do you really think that I can¡¯t control you just because you¡¯re Young Madame Lances now?¡±


    ¡°If you really want to control me, you can do it at any time,¡± Shadow respondedzily.


    Besides, ever since she was young, Jason had never cared for her. The only times he ever looked for her was because he needed her, nothing more and nothing less.


    Jason remained silent with astonishment for a while. He coldly said. ¡°If that¡¯s all you have to say, then we¡¯ll talk about it more once we get to thepany.¡±


    Without another word, he hung up her phone fiercely.


    At the Eden ¡®s Castle , Jessica brought a ss of water to her father. ¡°What did Shadow do to make you so angry?¡±


    ¡°She thinks that she¡¯s so great just because she had gotten married!¡± Jason was so furious that he mmed his hands on her desk. ¡°Now, she¡¯s just looking down on everyone!¡±


    Jessica sighed, stroking his back to calm him down. ¡°Dad, Shadow really has gone too far this time around. You¡¯re so good to her, but she still wouldn¡¯t take you seriously. Maybe it¡¯s time to teach her a lesson.¡±


    Hearing this, Jason pondered for a moment, before nodding. Perhaps, this made more sense.


    ¡­


    As for what Jason had said, Shadow had long expected that this matter would not be over.


    But now that she dared to go to the Eden Group, she wasn¡¯t afraid.


    Hazel was still filming outside the cityscape, and Shadow didn¡¯t have many friends in Herton Pack . That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t do much on the weekends except for watching television dramas and writing scripts.


    After all, she wasn¡¯t nning to stay in Eden Group for very long. She had always wanted to be a scriptwriter anyway.


    She didn¡¯t know what ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had been busy for the past two days, he rarely showed up himself at home. She didn¡¯t know whether to be happy about it or be suspicious about his sudden disappearance. Either way, it saved her a lot of trouble.


    Monday morning.


    She heard the car engine sounding at midnightst night, so she had assumed that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± arrived as well.


    That was the only reason why she had made two servings of breakfast that day, but she was definitely going to make him work for it. ¡°That bastard isn¡¯t going to get everything he wants!¡±


    When she carried her breakfast tray towards the dining room, she saw ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± leaning against his seat.


    This was the first time they had met face to face sincest Friday.


    She still couldn¡¯t help but be annoyed with what he had said that day. Sitting down right next to him, she ced her breakfast on the table and looked at Alpha Dominic . ¡°Go to the kitchen if you want to get your breakfast.¡±


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, his gaze fell on her breakfast.


    Her breakfast was quite simple, just porridge and two egg pancakes.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Shadow felt ording to his gaze that he would fight for the food with her.


    Not bothering to say another word, she lowered her head and took a bite of her egg pancake. ¡°See if you¡¯re going to get this down,¡± she said mockingly.


    From an outsider¡¯s perspective, she was acting quite childish.


    However, she didn¡¯t expect for him to act even more childish than her!


    He directly stood up and he grabbed the tray from her hands with his long arms.


    ¡°Do you really think it¡¯s that hard?¡± Alpha Dominic raised up an eyebrow before taking a bite at the pancake to where she had bitten.


    Shadow wasn¡¯t experienced in getting along with men before, so she blushed. ¡°You¡¯re shameless!¡±


    Alpha Kilian ced his chopsticks back on the table. His face was still serious. ¡°I haven¡¯t even touched you. Why are you scolding me?¡±


    Not knowing what else to say, Shadow turned around and went back into the kitchen to get the second serving. She had finished it in the kitchen beforeing out, all good to go.


    Alpha Kilian had already finished his breakfast when she came out. At the sight of her empty te, the corners of his lips twitched upwards in surprise.


    Seeing her disappear, Alpha Kilian couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    She really was something else.


    Perhaps it was a good thing that he hadn¡¯t revealed himself as Alpha Kilian just yet so that he could get to know this other side of her.


    Although he had been very busy these past two days, he still remembered the time she hade back earlyst Friday.


    Jessica ¡®s heart was vicious, so she¡¯d definitely think of ways to deal with Shadow . However, Alpha Kilian wasn¡¯t going to make a move. After all, it was interesting for him to see Shadow fighting against them again and again.


    Although that was what he had thought, his body seemed to have thought otherwise.


    He quietly stood up and walked out.

 63

    Shadow  had already walked out of the Castle  gates, still flushing from the incident. However, just as she was heading over to the bus station, she heard the car engine whistle right behind her.


    Pursing her lips, she finally turned around to see that the ck Bentley had stopped right beside her. Its tinted windows gleamed against the bright sunlight, and she squinted her eyes.


    Soon, the window lowered, revealing Alpha Dominic ¡®s handsome but annoying face. She could feel her annoyance rising in an instant, and her hands fidgeted from the suddenness. What the hell was he doing here?


    Alpha Kilian  narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice. ¡°Get in the car. I¡¯ll take you to work.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Shadow  rejected him directly, not wanting to be stared at again.


    If ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± dropped her off, she¡¯d be susceptible to office gossip once again. After lying low during the weekend, she wasn¡¯t nning to push herself back into the spotlight! She shook her head.


    However, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± didn¡¯t look that bothered. He grinned as his ink-like eyes turned dark. There was a mocking tinge to his words as he stared up at her. ¡°What are you so afraid of?¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    What was she so afraid of?


    Shadow  froze at his line of questioning. Only then did she realize that she had been treating him coldly all this time, not because she was annoyed with him, but because she was afraid of him.


    Although she had always acted as if she hated him, she had to admit that he was quite an outstanding man.


    For a long time, she had regarded him as an arrogant man, who was far too obsessed with his fortune and status in society. But now, she realized that he was much more than that. ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was a natural born leader, with enough confidence to conquer the mountains.


    He may be a bit of an ass, but during the times he was good to her, she could feel the genuineness in his actions. He was the type of man who stuck with his word, and she couldn¡¯t help but admire him for that.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± could easily move her heart if he had wanted to.


    And that was exactly the reason why she should stay far away from him.


    As she had repeatedly told herself back then, she was now ¡®Young Madame Lances¡¯. She was Alpha Kilian ¡®s wife, and that title will follow her for the rest of her life. There was no way she¡¯d back out of her duties now. So she had to behave herself.


    That¡¯s why she was so afraid of bing close to him. She was afraid that she would love him.


    Seeing that Shadow  didn¡¯t speak for a long time, Alpha Kilian  continued, ¡°Or are you starting to have inappropriate thoughts towards me?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡± Shadow  immediately refuted him.


    By the time she came back to her senses, she had already pulled open the car door and sat in the passenger seat. A red flush colored her cheeks as she turned her attention to the window beside her. ¡®This man is going to be the death of me,¡¯ she thought.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± didn¡¯t bother to say anything more. Although his expression disyed no emotion, there was a trace of happiness out of sess hidden in his dark gaze.


    ¡°How much is this car of yours?¡± She mustered up the courage to say something, suddenly feeling rather guilty with the entire predicament.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that expensive.¡±


    Not that expensive? She blinked. Even she didn¡¯t need to be a car enthusiast to know how rare this car was. Back when she was still a student, she¡¯d see rich kids driving up to the school gate to impress their ssmates. Shadow  had seen plenty of sports cars and Bentleys, but not like this.


    This must¡¯ve been really expensive.


    ¡°The production of this car stopped a few years ago.¡± Alpha Kilian  nced at her and said.


    ¡°I just¡­¡±


    ¡°If you want, tter me and I can consider giving it to you.¡±


    When he saw Shadow ¡®s face changed, he realized the implication of his words.


    If he was Alpha Kilian , it would be understandable for him to give the car to her. But it would be inappropriate for ¡®Alpha Dominic ¡® to say it to her. He turned the other way, unsure of what to say next.


    They were silent the entire ride.


    As soon as they reached thepany, Shadow  turned towards him. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Although her voice was polite, there was a deep sense of alienation. ¡®He¡¯s Alpha Kilian ¡®s cousin,¡¯ she told herself the entire ride as if the thought was enough to erase her softness towards him.


    Just as she had closed the door and turned around, she bumped into Jessica .


    ncing at the ck Bentley behind her, Jessica ¡®s face darkened in disdain and ridicule. ¡°You really got along with Alpha Kilian ¡®s cousin, don¡¯t you? He¡¯s even picking you up every day. Careful, if anyone else were to see, you¡¯d look like a couple.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re family, so it¡¯s normal for us to get along well¡­ but then again, that might not be something that you¡¯re used to.¡± Shadow  took a few steps forward to approach Jessica . She lowered her voice to a whisper that only they could hear, ¡°After all, I personally don¡¯t dabble in ces like Sky Light Club. Instead of worrying about me, I¡¯d say the same goes for you.¡±


    At her words, Jessica ¡®s expression stiffened, but she quickly regained herposure. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that you shouldn¡¯t be going to ces like Sky Light Club.¡± Shadow  stepped back, smiling brightly at her. But even her gentle face couldn¡¯t hide her threatening voice. ¡°After all, Dad wouldn¡¯t like that.¡±


    Although Jason didn¡¯t love her, he still found some use with her. She was Alpha Kilian ¡®s wife, so she was still of great use. If her father knew what Jessica  had done, he¡¯d surely turn against her.


    They both understood that well enough.


    However, Jessica  wasn¡¯t threatened that easily. ¡°And who¡¯ll believe you?¡±


    ¡°Shadow , do you get off work at the same time? I¡¯lle pick you up.¡±


    Suddenly, Alpha Dominic ¡®s voice reverberated from the roadside. Shadow  turned back and stared at him nkly. Although her face was impassive, her eyes held panic and usations to the man in the driver¡¯s seat.


    However, Alpha Kilian  acted as if he didn¡¯t understand her. Instead, he stayed where he was and simply gazed in her direction, not bothering to leave until he heard her answer.


    Was he truly that stubborn?


    ¡°Yes.¡± She nodded.


    ¡°Hm.¡± He shot Jessica  a re before driving off.


    Jessica  shivered in fear. However, at the sight of the Bentley, even she couldn¡¯t hide the greed in her face.


    If she had known that Alpha Kilian  had such an outstanding cousin, she would¡¯ve easily married into the Lances family. Perhaps ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± would be the one sending her to work every day.


    Remembering the ck card Shadow  had taken out that day in Golden Fountain Club, Jessica ¡®s hands clenched into fists. If she was the one who had been given that card, her life would¡¯ve already been set!


    She should be the one marrying into the Lances family!


    Shadow  turned her head and saw Jessica  greedily eyeing ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡®s¡± car.


    She curled her lips in mockery. ¡°Does big sister regret giving her fiance to me now?¡± She stered a sweet smile on her face. ¡°But it¡¯s useless for you to regret. Even if Alpha Kilian  is willing to divorce me, he wouldn¡¯t mated  you even if you¡¯re thest woman in the world.¡±


    Although Jessica ¡®s scandals had already died down, her reputation was already ruined. Even if Alpha Kilian  was a cripple, it would be weird for the Lances family to ept someone like her.


    Jessica ¡®s expression turned ugly after her thought was disclosed by Shadow .


    But her expression quickly returned to normal. She brushed her hair and said proudly. ¡°Please, I don¡¯t want to mated  a cripple like Alpha Kilian .¡±


    What she wanted was ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°.


    If they were together, Jessica ¡®s life would be filled with endless possibilities.


    Shadow  was nothing more than a country bumpkin. So what if she was beautiful? In terms of satisfying and dealing with men, she couldn¡¯t hold a candle towards her!


    Although Shadow  couldn¡¯t guess Jessica ¡®s thoughts, she could tell that the woman was thinking about hooking up with ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°.


    ¡®It¡¯s like flirting with a lunatic. There¡¯s no use talking to her.¡¯ Shadow  thought.


    However, she wasn¡¯t going to stand by and let this bitch talk about her husband that way. Jessica  could say all she wants to her, but not to him!


    ¡°So what if Alpha Kilian ¡®s a cripple? You¡¯re not any better even if you have two working legs! I suggest you think twice before speaking against my husband.¡± Not knowing how else to vent her anger, Shadow  fiercely stepped on Jessica ¡®s foot before walking into thepany.


    ¡°You slut!¡± Jessica  screamed, chasing after her.


    At that time, Alpha Kilian , who should have left long ago, expressionlessly stepped out behind arge pir from the side, staring at their retreating figures.

 64

    Alpha Kilian was supposed to leave the premises after Shadow had said her answer. After all, it would¡¯ve been out of character if he had stayed there and inserted himself into their conversation.


    However, as soon as he recalled what Jessica had done to her thest time, he decided to return. As long as they still weren¡¯t onpany premises, then there might be a chance that she¡¯d try something.


    What he didn¡¯t expect was to witness a good show.


    In his entire life, other than his mother, this was the first time he had been protected by a woman. Somehow, he couldn¡¯t help but reminisce the times his mother had pushed him behind her back, towering over anyone who¡¯d go against him.


    An inexplicable warmth surged through his veins, and he couldn¡¯t help but soften at the sight. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit strange. Unknowingly, the corners of his lips twitched up into a smile.


    This feeling was wonderful.


    Shadow had been wearing thick leather shoes that were about three to four centimeters high. Despite this, it didn¡¯t really hurt that much.


    However, Jessica wasn¡¯t the type of woman who would humble herself that easily. Shadow should be the one bowing down to her! Not stepping on her toes! For someone who had been so obedient thest twenty or something years, she really had turned a one eighty.


    When she raced into the Eden Group¡¯s main hall, Shadow had reached into the elevator. Turning around, Shadow shed Jessica a provocative smile before pressing the close button. ¡°Let¡¯s see you try and catch me this time.¡±


    When Jessica finally caught up to her, the elevator had already gone up.


    Within a few seconds, Shadow exited the elevator and walked straight into Jason¡¯s office.


    Last Friday Jason had called her up and asked her toe by the office on Monday to tell her off. Of course, she still remembered his words. However, that didn¡¯t mean that she nned on following his orders obediently.


    She didn¡¯t wait long before Jason came in.


    Jessica followed right behind him.


    ¡°Dad! Shadow is too much. Although I may have a bad temper, that still doesn¡¯t justify her actions, right?¡± Jessicained, unaware of Shadow ¡®s presence in the office. ¡°I¡¯m the project manager, aren¡¯t I? If she doesn¡¯t take me seriously, what else would she do to you?¡±


    Ha! Shadow stifled a snort as she tilted her head upwards, gazing innocently at the father and daughter duo.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    What Jessica said was wrong. She didn¡¯t have a bad temper. She just had a dark soul.


    ¡°Sister, what you¡¯re saying isn¡¯t true. I respect Dad the most around here.¡±


    Hearing her words, the two jumped up, surprised to see that there was someone else in the office.


    Jessica widened her eyes, looking as if she had just seen a ghost. She stiffened and pointed in her direction. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Dad has something to tell me, so I came up here to wait for him.¡± Shadow smiled innocently.


    Only then did Jessica finally believe that all of Shadow ¡®s obedience and meekness was just an act to string them along. After all, what kind of person could change this easily in thest few weeks?


    Jason had just heard her daughter¡¯sints all the way up to the top floor, so his anger still hadn¡¯t numbed down. As soon as he saw Shadow ¡®s face, he looked sullen. ¡°Even if you are my daughter, you¡¯re just another employee! Do you think an ordinary employee can just go in and out of the Chairman¡¯s office?¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll see myself out.¡± Shadow stood up and walked right out of the office, closing the door behind her.


    Jason and Jessica looked at each other, not knowing what she was up to.


    Knock knock!


    Just then, a knock came from the door, and it waster followed by Shadow ¡®s polite voice. ¡°Chairman, I¡¯m Shadow Eden . May Ie in now?¡± Her voice was still thinly veiled with innocence.


    Jason clenched his fists. Not knowing how to deal with her, he stomped to the back of his desk and sat down. ¡°Jessica , let her in.¡± He barked out, rubbing the back of his head. His daughter was already giving him a headache!


    Jessica ¡®s mood still hadn¡¯t gotten better from theirst interaction. She reluctantly shouted at the door. ¡°Come in!¡±


    However, even then, the door didn¡¯t budge.


    Curious as to what had happened, Jessica strode towards the door and grasped the handle. Only then did she notice that Shadow was no longer at the door. Her grip on the handle tightened.


    She gritted her teeth and suppressed her anger as she turned to look at Jason, ¡°Dad, she¡¯s gone.¡±


    At that time, Shadow had already returned to her small table.


    She didn¡¯t take time to see Manager ck. After all, if the man was looking for trouble, then he¡¯d being for her as well. She wouldn¡¯t need to take time off her busy schedule just to find him.


    ¡°Everyone.¡± Suddenly, Dawson walked over to the middle of the department office. ¡°We¡¯ll be having a meetingter.¡±


    Of course, as it was the first day of the week, they usually had meetings to discuss their weekly goals and initiatives. Although she didn¡¯t take him as the type of man who¡¯d take these things seriously, it was still obligatory for the manager to attend.


    However, she, as the junior employee, had nothing to do with said meeting.


    What she didn¡¯t expect was, not long after Jason and Jessica , to follow Dawson all the way back to the marketing department as soon as their meeting had ended. Their faces revealed no emotion, and her eyes immediately narrowed.


    There was no way that they¡¯de over for something good. In fact, she had an intuition that the three wereing directly for her.


    Proving her right, Jessica gazed in her direction and said seriously. ¡°Shadow ,e over.¡±


    The fates really did hate her.


    Shadow nced at the three of them with her faux surprised expression before walking over. A few of their colleagues nced in their direction, but none of them said a word, afraid of angering any of them.


    Before she could even get close, Jessica took two steps forward and pped her right on the face. The sound echoed across the department building, and followed by Jessica ¡®s stern voice. ¡°Do you know why I hit you?¡±


    ¡®Because you¡¯re a bitch?¡¯ Shadow covered her numb face, startled from the pain. After two seconds, she finally brought her gaze back at Jessica .


    Although the woman appeared pained by her actions, joy of revenge danced in her eyes. And the sight made Shadow want to p her back. Restraining herself, she stiffly stood, not bothering to entertain her.


    ¡°I know that working in the marketing department is hard, but you¡¯re my sister, and you¡¯re also a member of the Eden family. Since you¡¯ve decided to work here, you should set a good example for everyone, right? Yet you skipped work on your very first week! Do you think that¡¯s appropriate?¡±


    Now that they were trying to scold her, they¡¯d finally recognize her as the member of the Eden family? How ironic!


    Shadow smiled and looked coldly at Jessica . ¡°It really was my fault. I am sorry¡­¡±


    Shadow exined even further, ¡°Yesterday, the male colleague who had gone to work with me must¡¯ve had a hard time. I want to apologize to him in front of everyone. Is that okay?¡±


    Jessica blinked, surprised to see Shadow give in so quickly.


    At that time, Dawson suddenly leaned in to whisper in her ear, ¡°The man I arranged to hurt her yesterday wasn¡¯t an employee of thepany. He¡¯s just a passerby.¡±


    In order to make a more secure exchange, Dawson didn¡¯t involve any other employees of the Eden Group. After all, he was still scared that things may get out of hand. Even if Jason didn¡¯t like Shadow , that didn¡¯t erase the fact that she was still his daughter. The fewer people involved in this, the better.


    As soon as she heard of this, Jessica frowned and said to Shadow . ¡°Manager ck said that the colleague isn¡¯t feeling well, so he took a rest day.¡±


    Jason, who had been standing at the sidelines this entire time, raised his eyebrows in interest. ¡°He¡¯s not feeling well? What¡¯s he sick of that he had to take a leave on a Monday as well? Even after taking the weekend off?¡±


    Every Monday, the departments were required to host a regr meeting to allocate tasks. Under normal circumstances, employees weren¡¯t allowed to apply for a leave. Unless their lives were at stake, nobody would even there.


    ¡°I¡¯m not very sure.¡± Dawson¡¯s impassive face crumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll askter.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Shadow tilted her head and said softly. ¡°Manager ck, please tell me the name of the colleague. I¡¯ll visit him after work.¡±


    Upon seeing her hardened features softening, Jason felt more secured. It was as if his obedient daughter was back already, after a week of disobeying him.


    Satisfied with her answer, Jason nced at the crowd. ¡°Which team has a colleague taking leave today?¡±


    The scene waspletely silent, and no one spoke.


    Dawson was so anxious that even he was starting to sweat.


    Just as Jason was about to be impatient, one of the team leaders called out, ¡°Someone from our team asked for a leave.¡±


    The other members of that team looked at each other. Alyssaa had just mentioned that she was being taken by a male colleague. The person who had applied for leave was a woman. It couldn¡¯t have been her.


    ¡°Tell Shadow the person¡¯s contact detailster on and let her visit him after work.¡± As soon as Jason finished speaking, his gaze softened as he looked at his employees. ¡°Please don¡¯t be nervous everyone. Even if it is a Monday, you¡¯re still allowed to apply for leave if you have any important matters. After all, we¡¯re all family here.¡±


    With many flowery words, Jason left with Jessica .


    Not knowing that her lies had just been exposed, Jessica shot Shadow acent smile before she left out of the department.

 65

    There were a lot of women in the marketing department. And as they say, if women were to gather together, if they don¡¯t talk about themselves, they¡¯d naturally talk about other people. That small theory had been proven right today.


    What had happened in the morning spread throughout the entirepany in just a mere few hours. By the time they were having their lunch break, Shadow was already the center of attention. She¡¯d feel eyes following her direction everywhere she went.


    Her face was still swollen from the p, but she continued to keep her head high. Halfway to the bathroom, she could hear a bunch of her female colleagues discussing their opinions as to what really happened.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? I heard that only one woman applied for a leave today. There wasn¡¯t any man!¡± One of them whispered.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± One of them arched up an eyebrow. ¡°Jessica and Dawson must¡¯ve worked together to set Shadow up! Why else would there be this mysterious male colleague that suddenly disappeared? Ugh, the nerve of them!¡±


    ¡°But she¡¯s just been here for a few days! How could she offend Manager ck?¡±


    ¡°Everyone knows what kind of bastard he is, feeling up the women whenever he gets the chance. If I know any better, I¡¯d say this little matter had been addressed by Shadow herself! That¡¯s why he had gone to the hospital.¡± The colleague gritted her teeth in disgust.


    ¡°Could she really be that ruthless?¡±


    ¡°What are you saying? If anyone¡¯s ruthless here, it¡¯s Jessica ,¡± the other intercepted. ¡°Have you seen the p? I could hear it a mile away! They¡¯re sisters or stepsisters, but still! How could she beat her own family so mercilessly?¡±


    Shadow leaned against the wall, not bothering to say a word. It was only when they had left did she step into the washroom.


    Standing in front of the wash basin, she gazed at the mirror.


    Her reflection was awful. While the left side of her cheek was pale and pristine, her right cheek was dark blue. It looked like it had been painted on given therge splotches that danced across her skin. Her fingers slid down her cheek, and she looked scary.


    Jessica really hit her hard.


    It was even worse than the time Jessica had pped her back at the Eden Castle . Jessica must¡¯ve really wanted vengeance this time if she really thought of damaging her reputation just to get back at her. Shadow slowly drew her hand away.


    ¡°Wait and see. Let¡¯s see who gets thestugh.¡±


    While it was still lunch break, Shadow went out to eat. This time, no one invited her for lunch, far too busy gossiping about her and staring at her from afar, but she couldn¡¯t care any less. After all, she wasn¡¯t exactly in the mood to socialize.


    Just as she had gone out, her phone in her pocket rang out.


    It was ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°.


    Why he was calling her? She frowned and picked up. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat together,¡± Alpha Kilian responded, sounding as if he didn¡¯t hear the impatienceced around her tone. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at the entrance of Eden Group.¡±


    He didn¡¯t even wait for her to reply before he hung up the phone.


    Shadow gazed at her screen, tugging her hair in annoyance. ¡°Great, just great,¡± she murmured to herself as she sighed. Seeing as she had no other choice, she grabbed her phone and went out of the office. ¡°Just what the day asked for.¡±


    After exiting the Eden Group¡¯s entrance, she immediately spotted the ck Bentley by the side of the road. In the morning, when she had gotten off that car, she secretly checked that model on the inte.


    The starting price was about ten million dors! And that was the base price! It¡¯s still dependent as to the owner¡¯s customization, and by the looks of it, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± really spared no cent in beautifying his vehicle.


    That was just too grand.


    If Jessica wanted to buy a car worth ten million, Jason would¡¯ve refused. That was how expensive and unreasonable it was!


    There were already a few of her colleagues discussing Alpha Dominic ¡®s car. Not wanting to garner any more attention, Shadow ducked her head and moved towards the car¡¯s direction. Hopefully, nobody would notice her like this.


    Just then, another car came by the road. She had nned to wait for the car to pass, only to see it stop right in front of her.


    The driver stepped out of the car and opened the door to the back seat. Out came Lisa .


    A long time ago, Shadow tricked Lisa into the restaurant and she didn¡¯t show up. Since then, they hadn¡¯t seen each other.


    ¡°Take two thermal food boxes.¡± Lisa instructed the driver. Looking up, she immediately caught sight of Shadow .


    She frowned and waspletely shocked. She looked at Shadow in disbelief and asked uncertainly, ¡°Are you Shadow ?¡±


    The corners of Shadow ¡®s lips inched upwards, but her eyes still remained cold. Her voice was filled with mockery as she spoke. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m Shadow ?¡±


    They had lived under the same roof for more than twenty years, yet her own biological mother couldn¡¯t even recognize her! Was her make-up really that good?


    Lisa only noticed how Shadow ¡®s looks had changed, but ignored the swollenness of her cheeks.


    It was unknown whether it was Shadow ¡®s or Lisa ¡®s sorrow.


    ¡°You had stic surgery? Was that the reason you didn¡¯te when I called youst time?¡± Lisa approached and looked at Shadow carefully.


    This time, the smile on Shadow ¡®s face had fadedpletely. Bitterness appeared across her face as she red at Lisa . ¡°I looked like this ever since I was young. But you¡¯ve always said that I shouldn¡¯t be prettier than Jessica . So the older I grew, the uglier I made sure I look.¡±


    ¡°How is this possible? You¡¯ve been so ugly all these years¡­¡± Lisa repeatedly shook her head. How could Shadow have pretended to be so ugly for so many years? All under her watch?


    Shadow gazed at Lisa steadily and said in a voice filled with sorrow, ¡°I wanted to be a good daughter. I wanted to make you happy, so I had been doing it all my life ever since I was young. Because that had always been what I did. Whatever you want¡­ I¡¯ll always oblige.¡±


    Now, the old woman was at a loss for words.


    Now, looking back, Lisa remembered how obedient her daughter has been all these years and how beautiful she was. Her grades had also been brilliant. Yet after she had scolded her, saying that she shouldn¡¯t be better than her older sister, her grades became worse. And herplexion became dark yellow. Back then, Lisa had thought that the fates were listening to her¡­ unaware that her daughter was doing it all willingly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done that to yourself. You can¡¯t me me!¡± Lisa said defensively.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Shadow blinked for a while, stunned by her response. After all these years of abusing her position, she was going to deny everything she did? Her eyes turned red as she looked at Lisa . ¡°Mom, am I really your biological daughter?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go and eat.¡±


    A male voice interrupted Lisa ¡®s words abruptly. When Shadow looked up, she saw that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had already appeared at her side. Had he been there this entire time?


    He was tall and muscled that he had to lower his head when he looked at her.


    Her bright eyes were bloodshot as she gazed up at him. Those beautiful eyes that once held so much me and happiness had now filled with tears and dullness as the same pair of eyes he had seen when she first arrived at his home. She looked pitiful.


    As soon as he saw the side of her face, he could feel the air being pulled out from his throat. His eyes darkenedpletely, and the vein under his forehead stood in attention. However, within a few seconds, he concealed to his indifferent self and expressionlessly pulled her away.


    Huh? Lisa stared up at him, surprised. Wasn¡¯t he Alpha Dominic ? Why would he pick her up?


    Could they be together?


    Thinking of what had happened back at the car, the older woman interceded, ¡°Wait!¡±


    The two of them turned around in response, and Lisa continued, ¡°Shadow , I brought a lot of food for your father and sister. Do you want to join in?¡±


    Just as Shadow was about to refuse, Alpha Kilian replied, ¡°Sure, I haven¡¯t eaten yet.¡±


    But¡­ She had only prepared food for three people. Lisa fidgeted. However, even if she wanted to say otherwise, she knew that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was still Alpha Kilian ¡®s cousin. Although he may not have been the Young Master of the Lances family, it wouldn¡¯t bode well for her to offend him.


    Shadow also furrowed her eyebrows in response and looked up at him in confusion, nudging him subtly with her elbow slightly.


    The man didn¡¯t say another word in response. Instead, he tightened his grip on her forearm and shot her a calming look, a stark contrast from his usual cold gaze.


    As soon as Shadow met with his gaze, she could feel her nerves untangling and her shoulders rxing. It was a weird feeling. Not saying anything more, she stood quietly beside him.


    Lisa had been a full-time housewife. Other than spending money on her appearance to please the Eden family, she was also knowledgeable as to how to handle difficult guests. Knowing that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± wasn¡¯t the type of man to be neglected, she shot her driver a look. Immediately, the man went up to inform his boss.


    Jason came down very quickly, and Jessica soon followed.


    As ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was here, Jessica ¡®s face had been caked with thick make up. Although she still looked beautiful, everything about her features seemed forced and fake, especially as she gazed up at him.


    She was watching him as if she was staring at the most expensive bag at the store.


    Noticing this, Shadow stood in front of ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°, wanting to block Jessica ¡®s line of sight.

 66

    However, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was almost 1. 9 meters tall. Even if Shadow wanted to, she wasn¡¯t able to block his face even if she stood on her tiptoes. She didn¡¯t know why but every time Jessica gazed up at him, she felt uneasy.


    Jessica nced at Shadow with contempt, but it quickly faded as a small smile threaded across her lips. Stepping forward, she stared up at him. ¡°Mr. Lances,¡± she said softly, her voice dripping with faux innocence and sweetness. ¡°It seems that we meet again.¡±


    Alpha Kilian nced at her before looking at Shadow , who had suddenly blocked his path. Seeing as she wouldn¡¯t even gaze up at him, he could understand why she¡¯d do such a thing.


    He remembered once she said, ¡°Your Sister-in-Law is like your mother¡± when she contradicted him. And seeing her protect him like this¡­ His eyebrows furrowed over, observing her stiff back and hardened features. Did she really view him as her son and nothing more?


    As soon as the thought had urred to him, his expression became even colder. He didn¡¯t even bother to give Jessica a second look.


    Jessica was a little embarrassed when she saw ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± ignoring her.


    This time, Jason interrupted their conversation, ¡°Since we¡¯re all here, we should find a restaurant to settle down.¡±


    ¡°Brilliant idea,¡± Lisaplimented. She pped her hands together and turned around, pretending not to notice the tension that hadpletely overwhelmed her. In the end, they found a restaurant to eat in. The restaurant they¡¯ve chosen didn¡¯t have a lot of people, and it was quite private, perfect for a VIP guest.


    As soon as they reached the table, everyone stood by, waiting for ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± to sit first.


    However, no matter how long they waited, he didn¡¯t sit down. Instead, he pulled out a chair and nced in Shadow ¡®s direction. ¡°Sit down,¡± he ordered firmly, unbothered by the others¡¯ surprised gazes.


    At first, Shadow didn¡¯t want to follow him. But upon feeling that he would try something else, she obediently followed. There was no harm in sitting down right?


    The moment she sat down, he sat right beside her.


    Jason gave Jessica a look. Understanding what he meant, Jessica immediately seated on the other side of ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°, looking at him with a sweet smile. She ced her hands over her thighs, looking all prim and proper.


    Shadow had originally assumed that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± would say something, anything to push her away. But he simply gazed the other way as if he didn¡¯t see anyone else.


    ¡®For someone so high and mighty, he seemed to have fallen victim to Jessica .¡¯ Shadow thought in her mind.


    The dishes were served very quickly. Jason said a few words from time to time to ease the atmosphere, and when a few minutes had already passed, everyone had small smiles on their faces. The tension had almostpletely died down.


    Jessica also picked out a few dishes for ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± time to time. Although he didn¡¯t eat them, he also didn¡¯t refuse.


    Shadow thought that normally, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was the type of man who was straight to the point. Yet from the moment he had seated himself, he didn¡¯t offer anyments or suggestions. Had he really taken a liking to Jessica ? But that¡¯s impossible, right?


    Overjoyed by his reaction, Jessica smiled and said gently. ¡°Mr. Lances, eat more. The dishes aren¡¯t bad.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± replied inly, but still hadn¡¯t touched his chopsticks.


    ¡°Do you have a girlfriend?¡± Jessica didn¡¯t mind his attitude and smile. She really was striking while the iron was hot.


    This question was private. But ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± did not show the slightest bit of anger on his face. Instead, he turned to look at her and said, ¡°No¡­ What about you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a boyfriend either. To be honest, I actually¡­¡± Jessica tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and put on a shy look. ¡°I actually really admired you for quite some time now.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± This time, Alpha Kilian curled his lips, but the smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. A dark and ruthless aura wafted around him as he leaned in just a bit closer. ¡°But I like women withrger faces. Your face is a tad too small.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Jessica was so surprised that her eyes looked like they were about to fall out.


    Even Shadow , who had just drunk the water, was tempted to spit out her drink.


    What the hell was he talking about?


    She gazed at the man beside her, yet all she could see was the seriousness of his face. He didn¡¯t seem to be joking.


    ¡°I can eat more if you want. I¡¯ll make my face even bigger.¡± Jessica was so excited that her voice was practically trembling. She shot Shadow a rather smug look before gazing back at him.


    She¡¯d definitely gain Alpha Dominic ¡®s favor.


    Shadow turned her head, not wanting to look at her.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Alpha Kilian looked at her through his eyshes, and slightly looked down to cover the coldness in his eyes. He said casually. ¡°There¡¯s actually a quick method for you to get arger face. You should try it?¡±


    Jessica believed it and hurriedly asked ¡°Really? What?¡±


    ¡°Do what she did.¡± Alpha Kilian looked at Shadow ¡®s direction.


    Jessica looked at Shadow , not really getting the implication of his words. Jason, on the other hand, understood itpletely and said. ¡°I never know you were such a jokester, Mr. Lances. Come on, let¡¯s all eat otherwise the food will be cold.¡±


    However, Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t touch his chopsticks, and the expression on his face had turned frighteningly dark. He didn¡¯t take Jason seriously at all.


    At this moment, he looked like the king of the underworld.


    He was handsome and fierce. And he was sitting there with a cold face. Others would be afraid even if he didn¡¯t lose his temper.


    His aura was so mighty that no one dared to speak again for a time.


    Alpha Kilian was unmoved. He looked at Jessica coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t hit a woman, so I suggest you do it yourself.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lances, your joke isn¡¯t funny.¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯m joking?¡± Alpha Kilian mocked. His expression was somewhat intimidating.


    ¡°The Lances family had paid three hundred million worth of betrothal gifts for my cousin¡¯s wife, and you think you can y around with her as you please? You think the Lances family is something to be screwed around with?¡±


    Only then did they understand why ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± wanted to eat with them.


    Even Shadow looked at him in surprise, not expecting for him to stand up for her.


    It was also only today did she found out that the Lances family had given them 300 million yuan as a betrothal gift.


    Although that amount of money was nothing to the Lances family, given how willing they were to dispose of it, it was a huge sum of money for the Eden Group. No wonder they were so prepared in sending her off.


    ¡°There must¡¯ve been a misunderstanding,¡± ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± made it so clear that Jason had to stand up as the head of a family. He exined, ¡°Shadow had done something wrong, and of course as her older sister, Jessica wanted to teach her a lesson. It isn¡¯t as bad as you think.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Eden , are you too old to hear what I said?¡± Alpha Kilian slightly looked up, his gaze became even sharper.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Jason¡¯s expression changedpletely. He didn¡¯t expect ¡°Nickalus¡± to be this arrogant that he didn¡¯t give him any face at all.


    Jason looked at Shadow with embarrassment. ¡°Shadow ¡­ this matter¡­¡±


    However, Shadow ignored him. She took a slice of pumpkin cake from the te in front of her and began to eat. She acted as if she couldn¡¯t hear a thing as she relished the sweetness of the cake. Let them fight it out.


    Everyone understood that today¡¯s matter couldn¡¯t be settled so easily.


    Jason frowned and didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, Lisa said, ¡°Mr. Lances, as her mother, let Jessica go. After all, I consider it justified.¡± She nced at Shadow . ¡°Shadow , what do you think?¡±


    Alpha Kilian snapped, losing his patience. ¡°The Eden Group¡¯sst big investment has failed recently. Not only are they short on cash, but they¡¯re also in dire need to pay off their debts. If this piece of news is known to all your investors, what do you think they¡¯d do?¡±


    Jason¡¯s face turned pale. The Eden Group¡¯s capital chain had broken. This was an internal secret. How could ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± know it?


    If their investors were to know about this, they¡¯d pull out. If theirpetitors were to find out about this, they¡¯d onlye over to make matters worse. No. That can¡¯t happen!


    Finally making up his mind, Jason gritted his teeth. ¡°Jessica , do it yourself!¡±


    ¡°But Dad!¡± Jessica couldn¡¯t believe it.


    Seeing that she still wasn¡¯t willing to do it, Jason walked over and pped Jessica on the face.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°There¡¯s still another side,¡± Alpha Kilian saidzily.


    When Jason pped Jessica again, he peered over and said. ¡°One side of her face is big, while the other side is rtively smaller. It¡¯s not symmetrical.¡±


    Having no other choice, Jason pped Jessica a few more times.

 67

    No matter how Jessica¡¯s face turned blue and swollen, Alpha Kilian did not ask for the torment to cease. Instead, he leaned casually against his seat, observing the spectacle unfolding before him. By now, it was nearly impossible to recognize what Jessica looked like.


    Shadow, however, could not bear to witness it any longer. She covertly kicked Alpha Dominic¡¯s leg under the table and whispered urgently, ¡°Alpha Dominic!¡±


    Though she had wanted to seek retribution against Jessica for all she had done, this was not what she had in mind.


    Alpha Kilian turned around. Upon seeing Shadow¡¯s wide eyes, he understood that she wished for him to intervene. He sighed, rapping his knuckles on the table with azy demeanor. ¡°Alright. Never have I seen such a cruel man as yourself, Alpha Eden. To beat your own daughter in such a manner truly astounds me. But, as they say, the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree.¡±


    His voice held no hint of culpability; instead, it carried a tinge of sorrow and longing, as if he were but an innocent bystander. Shaking his head, he pushed his te away and focused his gaze on the man before him.


    Jason felt his heart sink, but he remained silent. After all, who could affront a powerful man like Alpha Dominic? He averted his gaze from his once beautiful daughter, no longer able to see her face.


    Jessica¡¯s face had swelled to the size of a pig¡¯s head. Her eyes were bloodshot, her cheeks ck and blue. At this point, she would be virtually unrecognizable to anyone.


    While the father and daughter wore sullen expressions, Alpha Kilian paid them no mind. He mocked, ¡°Well, as a father, it is your duty to teach your daughter a lesson or two. But you need not be so cruel. Hopefully, there have been no misunderstandings. Am I correct, Alpha Eden?¡±


    The old man offered no response, lowering his head.


    Satisfied with achieving his desired oue, Alpha Kilian saw no reason to prolong his stay. He turned to the woman beside him, his face melting into a gentler expression. ¡°Are you full?¡±


    Shadow ced the unfinished pumpkin cake back onto the te before nodding. ¡°Yes, I am full.¡± Even she found herself taken aback by his sudden change of demeanor.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Without another word, he rose from his seat and walked away.


    Shadow grabbed her bag, hastening her steps to keep up with him. ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± stood tall, his legs long. Each stride he took seemed like a sprint to Shadow, forcing her to quicken her own pace just to match his.


    As she neared him, he th abruptly stopped and nced back at her, waiting patiently. So much had urred that day, but one woman had driven her to tears. That woman was her mother, Lisa. Her nails dug into her skin at the thought of her.


    When she was younger, Lisa had taken her to the amusement park after constant pleading. However, to her dismay, Jessica had apanied them that day as well.


    Her mother had been so engrossed in fawning over her stepdaughter that Shadow had been left abandoned and overlooked on the streets. Even as she anxiously turned, searching for her mother¡¯s figure amidst the crowd, Lisa had failed to notice her.


    In that moment, Shadow had hoped and prayed that her mother would turn back, that she would look out for her¡­ but she did not. Now, Shadow couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she ever would.


    Observing her hesitation, Alpha Kilian furrowed his brow and approached. ¡°What is the matter with you?¡±


    Drawing closer, he bent down to examine her tear-streaked face. She blinked rapidly, attempting to clear her vision.


    ¡°The wind is quite strong. I think something may have gotten into my eye.¡±


    Shadow assumed that ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± would not believe her clumsy lie. After all, the wind wasn¡¯t nearly as strong as it had been the previous night, nor was it particrly chilly. Yet, to her surprise, he leaned in closer, meeting her gaze directly. He spoke softly, ¡°Stay still. Let me take a look.¡±


    Enveloped by his protective presence, Shadow felt herself rx within his grasp. Obediently, she gazed up at him, revealing her bright eyes.


    But in her naivety, she had forgotten that ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was far from a gentleman.


    Shadow sensed his face drawing nearer. As his nose brushed against hers, a foreboding sensation tightened in her chest,pelling her to retreat.


    Yet, Alpha Kilian acted swiftly. He reached out, holding the back of her head gently, treating her like a precious treasure. Lowering his head, he captured her lips in a swift kiss before pulling away just as quickly.


    The kisssted a mere two seconds.


    Only after he withdrew did Shadowprehend what had transpired.


    She clenched her fists.


    ¡°You have some audacity!¡± Shadow gritted her teeth, her mind racing with curses, yet she struggled to find the right words.


    She had called him shameless time and time again¡­ and still, he didn¡¯t know when to cease!Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°You should feel grateful that I am willing to kiss you, even with such a hideous mark on your face.¡± His words apanied a reaching hand, his fingertips grazing the swollen side of her face.


    Shadow pped his hand away, her gaze ice-cold. ¡°Do not touch me!¡±


    Refusing to yield, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± reached out once more, aiming for the other side of her face. Prepared to defend herself, Shadow readied her hands.


    However, this time, he caught her by the wrist before she could retaliate.


    Her hands were remarkably soft, he realized. Like feathers and silk, her skin was a marvel he had failed to notice before.


    Curiosity flickered in his eyes as he ran his fingers along her delicate skin, relishing in the way it quivered under his touch. Before she could react further, he pulled her firmly against his chest.


    ¡°Release me!¡± Despite her struggle, Shadow couldn¡¯t wriggle free.


    This man was truly shameless! Not only had he kissed her publicly, but he also brazenly held her hand. Did he notprehend their surroundings?


    They were near the Eden Group, and there was a possibility of encountering employees. What if some had already witnessed their interaction? What was she to do then?


    If this continued, she would lose her mind!


    Shadow couldn¡¯t escape his grip, nor could she make a scene. Fearing that she might attract attention, she silently acquiesced, allowing him to guide her to the car.


    Unbeknownst to them, Jessica stood hidden behind the entrance pirs of the restaurant. Her face remained swollen, but it did not hide the darkness in her eyes. She stared at the photograph she had captured.


    Shadow was Young Madame Lance, the wife of Alpha Kilian Lance, yet she dared to involve herself with her husband¡¯s cousin. ¡°Let¡¯s see how the two of you fare when you are caught,¡± she thought.


    She felt humiliated by their actions. She was not willing to let this go so easily.


    ¡­


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was already at the clinic, his powerful presence sending shivers down the nurses¡¯ spines as they hurried to assist Shadow in applying the medicine to her face. By noon, she had returned to Eden Group, her determination unwavering as she resumed her work.


    As she took her seat at her desk, a whispered conversation caught her attention from the neighboring colleague. ¡°I heard Jessica applied for leave.¡±


    The colleague¡¯s voice grew softer when Shadow entered the room, but even then, she could still hear the words.


    ¡°I sense something more to this. Shadow isn¡¯t as simple as she seems. Since the day she arrived, the management has been gued by one incident after another. Do you know how many have applied for leave?¡±


    Leaning back in her seat, Shadow knew there was truth in those words.


    First, it was Dawson. Then, it was Jessica.


    But it was they who had provoked her first! After enduring years of abuse, she realized she could no longer remain on the sidelines. This was the perfect opportunity to take action.


    As the workday drew to a close, she gathered her belongings. Just as she was about to leave, Jason¡¯s secretary approached her.


    ¡°Miss Eden, the Chairman wishes to see you.¡±


    Why did Jason want to see her?


    Could it be that he wanted to defend Jessica?


    After all, he had always admired her, so it was not beyond the realm of possibility.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s the end of the workday,¡± Shadow replied, her tone gentle as she motioned to her bag. ¡°If the chairman has work-rted matters, I will see him tomorrow. If it¡¯s personal, he can call me. Besides, I also need to visit my ¡®male colleague.¡¯ I¡¯m sure he must be tired.¡±


    Having been with Jason¡¯s family for many years, the secretary believed he had an understanding of Shadow¡¯s situation. He had assumed she was simply average and unremarkable.


    Now, he finally realized she was more than meets the eye.


    ¡°But Alpha Eden wanted to convey something to you.¡±


    Without a word, Shadow grabbed her bag and strode out of the room.

 68

    Shadow walked out of the entrance and went straight to the bus station, avoiding her father¡¯s anger that she had endured for thest twenty years of her life.


    At the bus station, there were many people waiting. Just as Shadow started to rx, a familiar ck car pulled up.


    As the window slowly lowered, Jason nced at her and said, ¡°Get in the car.¡±


    Though hesitant, Shadow got in anyway.


    There were only three of them in the car, with the driver sitting upfront. Shadow remained silent.


    The driver drove around for a while before stopping at a more isted roadside.


    After a few minutes of silence, Jason said softly, ¡°Shadow, I know I misunderstood your skipping work. Your sister has already suffered today, and this matter needs to be addressed. Don¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    ¡°You think that¡¯s enough?¡± Shadow sneered.


    Jason frowned. ¡°Your sister has already suffered. What else do you want?¡±


    ¡°Look! Jessica hit my face!¡± Shadow pointed to her swollen face.


    Why should she just let it go?


    If the situation were reversed, Jason would have found a way to get revenge. Lisa would have hit her twice as hard. But now that Shadow wanted to retaliate, they suddenly expected her to let it go.


    ¡°You¡¯re truly vicious, aren¡¯t you?¡± Jason red at her.


    ¡°Not as vicious as you. You even hit your daughter so hard. Besides, your own daughter isn¡¯t an angel either.¡± Shadow lowered her head, ying with the zipper on her bag. Though she appeared casual, her words dripped with sarcasm.


    Jason had lost face in front of ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± today, and he still felt the wounds from the aftermath.


    Mentioning it again filled him with anger.


    ¡°You think I wanted to be forced by that bastard to beat her? Don¡¯t you think I feel sorry for her? Don¡¯t you think¡­¡± Jason¡¯s voice echoed in the car, growing louder with each word.


    ¡°Alright, I know. If you have anything more to say, just say it!¡± Shadow interrupted impatiently.


    Besides, she still needed to go back and cook for ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    Jason stared at Shadow for a long time. The impatience and indifference on her face struck him. Where was the obedient girl he once knew?


    He had been confident that she would help by persuading Alpha Kilian. But after today, he wasn¡¯t so sure anymore.


    Jason sighed and asked, ¡°You heard what ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ said today, right?¡±


    When Shadow didn¡¯t respond, he continued, ¡°Our cash flow is short due to a mistake made by our investment department. Regardless, you are still part of the Eden family and should lend a helping hand.¡±


    Shadow sneered mockingly, shaking her head. Her tone became sharp. ¡°Ha! I thought you already received three hundred million from the Lances family? Haven¡¯t I given you enough money? Do you want to sell my body again? I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to find some takers.¡±


    Jason said sternly, ¡°You chose to marry him! How can you say we sold you?¡±


    ¡°We both know Jessica should have been the one marrying him, not me!¡± Shadow looked up at him, her coldness evident. The dream of being part of the Eden family had faded long ago.


    Jason froze. This was the first time he had seen her like this, so cold and distant. She was no longer the indifferent girl.


    ¡°Do you think the Lances family will treat you well when they find out the truth behind our investment? Without the support of your own family, you won¡¯t stand firmly.¡± Jason¡¯s face turned cold. Soft persuasion was useless, so he decided to be tough.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to rely on you for that. If I can¡¯t survive, then we can divorce.¡±


    Shadow finally realized why Jason had handed over the shares of thepany and why he had wanted to negotiate with her.


    He wanted her to persuade Alpha Kilian to invest in Eden Group.


    They were ruthless, but their n was effective, at least for the most part.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Jason pointed at her, speechless and filled with anger.


    Shadow¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°How about this? Why were Alpha Kilian and Jessica engaged in the first ce? Were there any previous agreements? Well? If you tell me that, maybe I¡¯ll agree to your request.¡±


    Jason¡¯s expression changed briefly before disappearing. ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! Do you think your sister isn¡¯t worthy of Alpha Kilian? Alpha Kilian lost his chance!¡±


    Jason was a calcting man who always weighed the pros and cons. Though the Eden family¡¯s status wasn¡¯t that bad, their wealth had diminished over the years. Despite loving Jessica immensely, Jason knew the chances of Alpha Kilian marrying her were slim to none.


    Shadow¡¯s suspicion of the engagement grew upon seeing his response.


    ¡°It¡¯ste, and I need to go home. Let¡¯s talk about this tomorrow.¡± Shadow nced at her watch and got out of the car.


    ¡°Shadow!¡± Jason called after her.


    Ignoring him, Shadow simply waved goodbye and walked away.


    ¡­


    When Shadow returned to the Castle, she saw ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± standing in the living room.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He was still wearing the same vintage dark blue striped suit from earlier, radiating elegance. It must¡¯ve been expensive, she thought, noticing the intricate embroidery near his cor.


    ¡°You came an hourter. Where have you gone?¡± Alpha Dominic nced at his watch before turning back at her coldly. ¡°Were you cheating on my cousin?¡±


    Ignoring his question, she threw her handbag at him and headed towards the kitchen, wanting nothing to do with him after the day she had.


    Alpha Kilian skillfully caught her small bag, raising his eyebrows at her retreating figure. Was she throwing a tantrum?


    Suddenly, a ringtone filled the air. He looked down to see her handbag vibrating. With a sigh, he took out her phone and checked the screen.


    Hazel?


    Was that the celebrity Xavier was infatuated with? Shadow¡¯s friend?


    He noticed her phone had a ss screen and a protective case. It was clear that she valued her phone and took good care of it.


    A smile slowly formed on his lips as he walked into the kitchen, phone in hand. However, as his thumb hovered over the screen, he identally answered the call.


    ¡°Shadow?¡± Hazel¡¯s booming voice came from the other end. ¡°I heard Dn returned to Herton Pack! Maybe if you went out for a walk, you might bump into him. I¡¯ll check if there are any events he¡¯ll be attending soon; perhaps you can run into him.¡±


    Hearing Hazel¡¯s words, Alpha Kilian stopped in his tracks.


    Caught off guard by the sudden silence, Hazel furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Hello? Are you so excited that you¡¯re speechless? Did I lose my signal?¡±


    Just then, Shadow came out of the kitchen. ¡°I heard my phone ring.¡±


    Frowning, Alpha Kilian expressionlessly tossed her the phone and turned to leave.


    Shadow staggered back, catching the phone in mid-air. ring at his retreating figure, she muttered to herself, ¡°Is he bipr or something?¡± and stormed into the kitchen.


    Alpha Kilian clenched his fists.


    Shadow hade home early that Friday, the same day Dn had returned. They had met and Dn had asked about her.


    Determined, he dialed Frank¡¯s number. ¡°Find out where Shadow wentst Friday, and who she met with.¡±

 69

    During dinner, the atmosphere in the Castle was tinged with an unsettling energy, like a faint growl echoing through the air. Shadow, ever intuitive, sensed that something was off. And when she nced at Alpha Dominic¡¯s face, her suspicions were confirmed. His usual cold and indifferent expression had transformed, his brows furrowed and his eyes gleaming with a dangerous intensity. He radiated a predatory aura, as if a hunter whose prey had slipped away. Gripping his fork with a vice-like grip, he exuded a tension that sent shivers down Shadow¡¯s spine.


    Trying to diffuse the tension, she gently ced a piece of fish in his bowl, her voice soft and soothing. ¡°Try this. I added a little bit of pepper today, so I¡¯m not certain if you¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± But instead of calmly sampling the dish, Alpha Dominic snatched it with his chopsticks and angrily hurled it across the table.


    Shadow frowned, her mind racing as she wondered what she could have done to anger him. Was it because she had thrown her bag at him earlier? But no, she knew him better than that. Though he was unforgiving, he wasn¡¯t petty.


    As if reading her thoughts, Alpha Dominic¡¯s gaze locked onto her, his voice cutting through the silence. ¡°Where did you gost Friday?¡± His words hung in the air,ced with usation and suspicion.


    Caught off guard, Shadow looked up at him, her voice tinged with confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    An ufortable feeling settled over her, a sense of being interrogated. Was he insinuating something? ¡°Are you feeling guilty? Did you hide something from my cousin? Couldn¡¯t you resist the temptation of an affair?¡± His mocking smile only deepened the sting of his words, as he lounged back in his seat, reveling in his power.


    Incensed, Shadow mmed her chopsticks on the table and stood up, her voiceced with defiance. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t care if you paid a fortune to buy me from the Eden family. Even if I was sold to your family, it doesn¡¯t give you the right to order me around! And it certainly doesn¡¯t give you the right to judge me.¡±


    Without another word, she stormed out of the room, her anger propelling her forward. Her shoulder collided with the door frame, but she hardly noticed the pain as she stormed through the halls.


    In the aftermath of her departure, Alpha Dominic found himself devoid of appetite. Heid his chopsticks on the table, his gaze distant as his thoughts consumed him. Just as he was about to retreat to his study, his phone rang, piercing the silence of the room.


    Answering the call, Alpha Dominic¡¯s voice resonated with authority. ¡°Yes, Frank?¡±


    The voice on the other end, belonging to his loyal servant, spoke urgently. ¡°Young Master, I¡¯ve just sent you the surveince videos fromst Friday. It might shed some light on your suspicions.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Frank.¡± Alpha Dominic hung up, his mind focused on unraveling the mystery before him. He retreated to his study, where he opened the email containing the surveince footage from the pharmacy. He watched intently as the images yed out, his eyes narrowing with intent.


    In the videos, Shadow could be seen interacting with two men, one of whom Alpha Dominic recognized as his cousin, Dn. His senses heightened, Alpha Dominic noted the forced smile on Shadow¡¯s face and the subtle pleas for help. Dn, acting on her distress, whisked her away.


    As the footage continued, Alpha Dominic observed their brief exchange in a crowded area, too distant to discern their words. Frustration creased his brow as he strained to catch any sign of impropriety between them. But to his surprise, they remained apart, their interaction devoid of the flirtation he had feared.


    As the video came to an end, Alpha Dominic felt a pang of realization. Perhaps he had been too quick to judge, too consumed by his own suspicions. Shadow¡¯s actions spoke of something else entirely. He cursed himself for his hasty usations.


    ¡­


    After storming off, Shadow sought sce in sleep. But hunger stirred her awake, her belly grumbling in protest. Regret washed over her as she realized she had left without eating. Despite her anger, she couldn¡¯t ignore the growling emptiness. She slipped on a thick down jacket, wrapping herself in its warmth, and ventured downstairs in search of sustenance.


    The Castle was a quiet sanctuary nestled amongst the mountains, a tranquil retreat away from the bustling Packnds. asionally, the haunting howl of the wind could be heard seeping through the walls. As Shadow treaded through the silent halls, she hummed softly, a soothing melody soothing her troubled mind.


    Finding her way to the kitchen, she eyed the leftovers and decided a noodle soup would quell her hunger. With a determination born of self-sufficiency, she set about creating her meal, the aromas of cooking filling the air.


    As Shadow delicately sliced the tomatoes, an icy presence loomed over her, causing her flesh to prickle with unease. A silent question whispered through her mind  was she truly alone?


    The sensation intensified, wing its way into her consciousness. Summoning her courage, she shut her eyes tightly, steeling herself to turn and confront the unseen presence. But before she could react, a frigid voice pierced the air from behind her, chilling her to the bone, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Her trembling hands betrayed her fear, causing the kitchen knife to slip from her grasp and crash onto her feet. Fortunately, the thick cotton slippers she wore acted as a shield against the cruel de, preventing it from piercing her delicate skin. The harsh tter of the fallen knife reverberated throughout the room, an ominous sound that filled the air.


    Alpha Kilian, witnessing the knife¡¯s descent, felt his heart plummet to his stomach. Fear etched itself onto his features as he quickly squatted down, his eyes scanning for any signs of injury. With relief flooding his being upon finding her unharmed, he exhaled forcefully before rising to his full height. His voice, carrying an authoritative edge, resounded in the room, ¡°Are you foolish, or perhaps devoid ofmon sense?¡±


    Shadow met his gaze, her eyes radiating a mixture of anger and defiance, as she snatched up the fallen knife and proceeded to rinse it in the sink. ¡°Since I am apparently so foolish, perhaps it¡¯s best if I refrain from cooking altogether? Maybe I should move out of this wretched Castle until your return, Alpha Kilian. After all, I wouldn¡¯t want you to assume that I am keepingpany with another man. Not that you even care to see me anyway.¡±


    With a forceful m, she nted the knife back onto the countertop, whipping around with a venomous re aimed directly at him. She had reached her limit with this man.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s face darkened further, his voice turning colder as he snapped, ¡°Do you wish for my cousin to believe that I drove you away? Do you desire to fracture the bond between my brother and me?¡±


    Shadow lowered her head, refusing to engage in any further argument. She had no desire to continue this fruitless exchange.


    Bathed in the dim light of the room, Alpha Kilian stood tall, shadows dancing around him, but the slight shift in her expression did not go unnoticed by him. Despite her disheveled appearance, her tousled hair and her form hidden beneath the warmth of her bulky jacket, there was still a flicker of fire lurking deep within her cat-like eyes, obscured only by her downcast lids. His words had unmistakably affected her.


    Time seemed to stretch on endlessly before he finally relented, his voice carrying a note of rare apology, ¡°It is my fault. I apologize for my previous behavior.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s widened eyes pierced through her surprise as she gazed up at Alpha Kilian, disbelief etched on her face. Was she hearing him correctly?


    Yet, he offered no repetition of his apology. Instead, his gaze shifted to the tomatoes awaiting their fate on the chopping board.


    Though her anger had dissipated, annoyance still lingered within her. A spark of mischief glinted in her eyes as she retorted, ¡°I¡¯veced them with poison. Care to partake?¡±


    Alpha Kilian stared back at her, unwavering. ¡°If you eat them, then I shall as well.¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    A mixture of confusion and concern shed across Shadow¡¯s features. ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡±

 70

    In the kitchen, Shadow deftly sliced the tomatoes and beef, preparing a wicked concoction of tomato beef noodles. The air was thick with tension as she worked, her movements deliberate and precise.


    Alpha Dominic stood by her side, an unwavering presence. Ever since his apology, he had remained glued to her side, never leaving, never straying. It was as if he couldn¡¯t bear to let her out of his sight.


    As the de cut through the meat, his voice broke the silence. ¡°You cut slowly,¡± he remarked, his toneced with an unsettling edge.


    Shadow¡¯s gaze became incredulous. How dare he insult her cooking skills? This man, who had never even wielded a knife in his life! Determination gripped her, and she sliced the beef into strips with even greater speed. The defiance in her eyes burned brightly.


    ¡°If you n on scrutinizing my every move,¡± she challenged, ¡°then I suggest you find yourself another ce to stand. I won¡¯t tolerate any obstacles in my path.¡±


    It was the dead of night, the silence heavy and suffocating after their heated argument. Alpha Kilian, Alpha Dominic¡¯s brother, couldn¡¯t bear the loneliness in the dining room. Instead, he chose to watch Shadow intently as she moved about the kitchen.


    Alpha Dominic raised an eyebrow, trying to justify his presence. ¡°I must watch you,¡± he imed, his voice tinged with a hint of fear. ¡°What if you poison me? I have no desire to meet my demise just yet.¡±


    Shadow scoffed, her eyes glinting with mocking amusement. ¡°Do you think I am so foolish? How could I jeopardize my own life? After all, you paid three hundred million dors for me. That would be a waste, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Her words held a bitter undertone, inadvertently revealing her true feelings.


    Alpha Kilian took her words to heart, sensing her hidden bitterness.


    ¡°The elders discussed the matter,¡± he interjected, his words slipping out before he could stop them. ¡°My cousin did not intend for things to end up like this.¡±


    Shadow shook her head, her eyes filled with understanding. ¡°I am not ming him. But tell me, why are you acting so differently now? On my first day here, you insulted him, calling him a cripple. And now, you¡¯re defending him. Are you truly on good terms?¡±


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s response was cryptic. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    In her heart, Shadow wanted to call him every name in the book, a shameless lunatic. Yet, she bit her tongue, unable to fathom theplex ties that bound the two brothers together.


    With a sigh, Shadow ced the two steaming bowls of noodles on the table. Thete hour had melted away the tension between them, and they found sce in conversation as they partook in their meal. But it was mostly Shadow who dominated the conversation, trying to uncover the mysteries of Alpha Kilian.


    Yet, every inquiry was met with a nonchnt shrug and monosybic responses. Likes, dislikes, desires-Alpha Kilian remained an enigma.


    The next day, panic coursed through Shadow as she checked her phone for the time. ¡°Crap, crap, crap! I¡¯mte!¡± she muttered under her breath, throwing off the covers and racing into the bathroom to freshen up. Hastily changing into her clothes, she hurried through her morning routine before darting out of her bedroom.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Descending the stairs, her eyes caught Alpha Dominic¡¯s figure leaning casually against the staircase. His eyes twinkled with an odd sense of enthusiasm, a mischievous smile ying on his lips. It was as if he had downed a potent energy drink!


    Given his reputation for sleeping in, and the fact that they had shared ate supper just hours ago, she expected him to appear exhausted. Instead, he resembled a human filled with an otherworldly energy, while she, inparison, felt like a mere ghost.


    His body must¡¯ve been forged with the strength of iron, for it showed no hint of weakness or fatigue. His towering figure loomed over her as he furrowed his brows, sensing her discontent. ¡°Didn¡¯t you rest well, my dear?¡±


    Was he unting his superiority? It angered her, her lips contorting into a scowl. She stole a nce at her timepiece, shaking her head in frustration. There was not a moment to spare. ¡°I am nearlyte. Breakfast will have to wait today.¡±


    But just as she was about to hurriedly flee, he gripped her arm firmly, yanking her back into his grasp. ¡°Allow me to transport you, my Lady.¡±


    Though she protested silently, the ticking of time relentlessly pressed upon her thoughts. Boarding the crowded bus would surely lead to her tardiness, and the consequences from her family loomed darkly in her mind.


    Yet, before he could retrieve his keys, he was abruptly summoned away on urgent matters. ¡°You,¡± hemanded one of his loyal sentinels. ¡°Ensure that Shadow arrives safely at her workce.¡±


    Without uttering another word, they went their separate ways.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, as she toiled away at her office, he arrived at a secluded teahouse, known only to a select few.


    Owen stood by the entrance, acknowledging his presence with a subtle nod. ¡°Young Master, sir awaits you in the private chamber,¡± he spoke with utmost respect, guiding him towards the door.


    Seated with his back turned to the entrance, George exuded an aura of unease. A tea tray, gleaming with polished silver,y before him, reflecting his brooding countenance. It was in to see that the man¡¯s temperament was far from amiable.


    ¡°What do you desire?¡± Alpha Kilian settled onto the sofa, deliberately distancing himself from his father. His tone held an air of indifference, as if he were conversing with a mere shareholder rather than the man who had brought him into this world.


    ¡°Reveal it!¡± The elderly man waved his hand dismissively, unfazed by his son¡¯s attitude.


    Owen presented the tablet to him.


    On its screen, a headline had just been released that morning.


    ¡°Is Young Madame Lances having a tryst with her spouse¡¯s cousin?¡±


    The title longed for attention, grasping at the curiosity of all whoid eyes upon it. Not only did it tease the scandalous notion of an illicit affair, but the inclusion of the prestigious Lances name ensured that all eyes would be fixated.


    Within mere hours of its publication, the article had garnered a significant number of readers.


    ¡°One of our anonymous sources has provided photographic evidence of Alpha Kilian¡¯s wife, Shadow, engaged in a suspicious rtionship with one of his cousins! Click for further updates on this tantalizing connection!¡±


    Apanying the article were two incriminating images. In them, the two figures appeared intimately close, their surroundings hinting at a dinner gathering with the Eden family.


    ¡°Well? Will you not exin yourself?¡± George seethed, his rage consuming him. He hurled his teacup to the floor, its shattering fragments resonating throughout the private chamber.


    Anger clouded Alpha Kilian¡¯s gaze as he assessed the scene before him.


    For years, ever since his mother¡¯s untimely demise, their interactions had been fraught with tension and disputes.


    Their encounters always seemed destined to end in conflict.


    ¡°I am growing older, Alpha Kilian, and the day wille when I must pass the reins of the Lances Group to you,¡± George spoke slowly, carefully selecting his words. ¡°Shadow is a kind and virtuous woman, and I hold no ill will towards her. But if you truly find no sce in herpany, then you may consider divorcing her once you have assumed control of thepany.¡±


    The Lances family boasted numerous rtives, all vying for the coveted title of CEO of the Lances Group. Though Alpha Kilian was the rightful heir, dissenting voices rose, questioning his sexuality as he had yet to take a wife. It was precisely for this reason that George had orchestrated his union with Shadow.


    Since his mother¡¯s passing, Alpha Kilian had refrained from venturing into the public eye, concealed by a facade only a few glimpsed.


    George had attempted to appease him by introducing a multitude of eligible women. Some were breathtakingly beautiful, others exuded pride and intelligence, while the rest possessed a gentle charm. Yet, one after another, they were all rejected by his son.


    He never even tried to touch them.


    What choice did George have but to coerce him into a marriage, a move intended to silence their detractors?


    One day, Alpha Kilian would understand his father¡¯s intentions and fulfill his duty by siring an heir to the Lances family. Only then would George find sce. However, it seemed his son still remained oblivious to the consequences of his actions.


    ¡°That matter is strictly between Shadow and me. I advise you to no longer concern yourself with it,¡± Alpha Kilian asserted firmly.


    Suddenly, Shadow¡¯s ignorance of the scandal shed through his mind. She had ventured out earlier,pletely unaware of the impending storm.


    Alpha Kilian clenched his fists, realizing that he had gravely underestimated Jessica¡¯s audacity. Not only did she dare to capture their image, she even sent it to the ravenous media.

 71

    Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice rumbled as he slowly rose to his feet, fixing his cold gaze on George. ¡°You¡¯re old. Don¡¯t meddle in my affairs again.¡±


    The subtext was clear. George had best stay out of his way.


    Despite his wisdom, George was still angry enough to hurl something. But he managed to rein in his emotions, with Owen treating him to a ss of water. ¡°Sir, have a drink. Young Master will understand your hard work and effort in the future.¡±


    George sighed. ¡°I hope so.¡±


    Alpha Kilian stepped outside the tea house, taking out his phone to call Shadow. But then he thought better of it, slipping it back into his pocket. He was curious to observe how Shadow would handle this situation.


    ¡­


    Shadow was almost caught off guard.


    As she entered the office, she felt everyone¡¯s eyes fall on her, their ncesden with strange undercurrents.


    Shadow retrieved her phone in rm, giving herself a quick look-over in case she had any visible ws or marks. Yet, on her features, there was no trace of grime or anything unusual!


    One of her female colleagues across from her must have noticed her faux pas and graciously tipped her to check her phone.


    Reading entertainment news was a habit that Shadow had when she woke up in the morning. She had overslept a little today, so she skipped it. But it turned out that the headlines of the entertainment section were all rted to her.


    When she tapped in, she found a photo of herself and ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± outside the restaurant from the night before.


    Shadow soon regained herposure after her initial shock.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was arrogant and wild. It was only a matter of time before someone caught him in the act.


    She had done nothing wrong and wasn¡¯t afraid of being gossiped about. But what if the Lances family or Alpha Kilian himself saw the news?


    Just then, Jason called her over. ¡°Come to my office.¡±


    Upon arriving, Shadow found that Jessica had taken quite the beating yesterday, her face still swollen. Consequently, thetter wasn¡¯t in today.


    As soon as Jason caught sight of her, his expression twisted in an unpleasant sneer as he demanded, ¡°What¡¯s this about you and Alpha Dominic?¡±


    Shadow curled her lips, her tone indifferent. ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Nothing?¡± Jason scoffed, cing a photo of her and Alpha Dominic on his desk.


    Shadow leaned forward, resting her palms on the surface as her lips curved upwards. Her expression became more and more charming, her speechnguid and leisurely. ¡°You should ask Jessica that question. She took the photo, so she would know best.¡±


    En route to Jason¡¯s office, Shadow had weighed the matter very carefully. Aside from Jessica, who would have the guts to take such photos and send them to the media? It was easy to ascertain that not many people dared to cross the Lances family.


    Moreover, few knew her and ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± together.


    ¡°Shadow, when did you start to be so cold?¡± Jason seethed, shooting out of his chair.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Shadow took a step back, a glint of frost in her eyes. Her smile grew even more radiant. ¡°Whether or not I¡¯ll help you out with what we discussed yesterday depends on how you handle this situation.¡±


    Jason had asked her to persuade Alpha Kilian into investing in the Eden Group, and she was still mulling it over. But now, with Jason¡¯s words, she had be determined to go through with it.


    Jessica deserved what came her way, but Jason had pretended that nothing of the sort had happened. He hadn¡¯t even apologized to her properly.


    And of course, Shadow wouldn¡¯t help him.


    However, deception was a standard tactic in warfare. Let¡¯s see who came out on top andughedst.


    Even if they shared the same blood, once the emotional bond had been severed, they no longer needed to be cautious and leave room for one another.


    All day long, Shadow heard people discussing this matter wherever she went. But she didn¡¯t care. Those people didn¡¯t have the guts to approach her no matter how much they wanted to.


    It wasn¡¯t until after work that the scandal on her and ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± from earlier was taken down from the Inte. But people still talked about it incessantly on various forums and Tieba boards.


    Hazel even phoned her. ¡°Will you take me to the trending searches with you the next time you go? With your beauty and poprity, I¡¯m sure you can make your debut after going a few more times!¡±


    Shadow didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m willing to use that tactic?¡±


    But then, Hazel got serious. ¡°I saw the photo you know. Even though a swarm of people are saying the picture was taken from a high angle and that the contents of the photo aren¡¯t true, I¡¯m a seasoned pro and I know that the photo is real. I¡¯ve long suspected that ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ had a thing for you. Are you guys really together?¡±


    ¡°No, absolutely not!¡± Shadow refuted vehemently. ¡°Hurry up and wrap up filming so you cane back. I have to head out now. Bye.¡±


    After hanging up, Shadow heaved a sigh of relief. She gathered her belongings and clocked out after work.


    But the moment she stepped out of the main entrance, an abundance of reporters appeared out of thin air.


    ¡°Miss Eden, is it true that you¡¯re involved with both your husband and cousin?¡±


    ¡°Besides your cousin, are there other men in your life?¡±


    Shadow was taken aback.


    Fortunately, she acted quickly, throwing on a mask to disguise herself. Eyeing the crowds, she said icily, ¡°Those are all unsubstantiated rumors. I have nothing more to say. I¡¯m not a member of the entertainment industry, so I don¡¯t have any obligation to respond.¡±


    A reporter caught on to Shadow¡¯s crucial words. ¡°Miss Eden, did you just say ¡®not yet a member of the entertainment industry¡¯? Does that mean that you n on debuting as a celebrity in the future?¡±


    Others jumped in as well. ¡°It¡¯s been said that for personal reasons, your husband may not be able to inherit the Lances Group, so you went into the entertainment industry to secure your ce?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been involved in trending searches before. Was it for publicity?¡±


    Shadow had no words.


    Surrounded by reporters, she couldn¡¯t break free.


    Suddenly, shuffling footsteps sounded nearby, and a group of security guards appeared. They drove the reporters away, creating an opening for Shadow to escape.


    Before she could grasp what was happening, Henry materialized, grasping her wrist and striding towards the parking lot.


    But when Shadow remembered that his filthy hands had touched Jessica inappropriately earlier on, she pulled away from him with contempt.


    Henry stood there for a moment, bbergasted, before saying patiently, ¡°Shadow, those journalists will catch up with us any moment now. You should get in the car first. I¡¯ll take you away from here.¡±


    Shadow hesitated, but ultimately decided to follow him inside the car.


    She couldn¡¯t underestimate the power of entertainment reporters. It was best to leave the scene quickly and think about what to do next.

 72

    As Henry drove the car out into the night, Shadow sensed something was off. The entertainment reporters who had been tailing them had mysteriously vanished. She decided to speak up, her voiceced with uncertainty and gratitude, ¡°Please pull over by the roadside. I¡¯ll get out of the car. Thank you for your help today.¡±


    Henry obediently parked the car beside the road, his gaze fixated on Shadow. An odd look crossed his face as he said, ¡°The door seems to be locked.¡±


    Shadow turned to him, her eyes widening in surprise. ¡°What do you mean, the door is locked?¡±


    Henry¡¯s expression grew stranger, confidence recing the confusion. ¡°Shadow, you¡¯ve chosen me over Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Shadow¡¯s mind was reeling with disbelief. Was that really what he meant?


    Seeing her stunned silence, Henry¡¯s tone became even more self-assured. ¡°We belong together. Our love is genuine, and we will be happier without the interference of others.¡±


    ¡°You and me?!¡± Shadow pointed at herself and then at him, her voiceced with incredulity.


    Henry nodded, a self-satisfied smile tugging at his lips. He reached out to touch Shadow¡¯s cheek, believing his charm would win her over. ¡°You¡¯ve been burdened far too long guarding that crippled Alpha Kilian. I understand your connection with his cousin. I won¡¯t hold it against you.¡±


    Had she worked so hard all this while?


    His words struck a nerve, making it clear that he thought she was merely stuck with Alpha Kilian, a crippled leader incapable of fulfilling his role as a man. The loneliness must have driven her into the arms of his cousin.


    Shadow turned her head, avoiding his touch. Disgust contorted her features. ¡°Are you suggesting an affair behind Alpha Kilian¡¯s back?¡±


    Henry, aware of the headlines circting on the inte, believed Shadow couldn¡¯t tolerate the loneliness and sought sce in Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin.


    But Shadow had never held affection for the cousin. Though he seemed eager to pursue her, she would always choose Alpha Kilian over anyone else.


    Ignoring her rejection, Henry¡¯s excitement grew. ¡°Alpha Kilian isn¡¯t worthy of you. We¡¯re meant to be together.¡±


    ¡°Who truly loves you? It¡¯s Jessica, not me. If you don¡¯t unlock the door, I¡¯ll call the police.¡± Shadow pressed herself against the car door, a vignt look in her eyes.


    How had she failed to see how extreme Henry could be?


    His hope began to waver as Shadow remained unwavering in her defiance. He approached her, his excitement undying. ¡°How can Jessicapare to you?¡±


    Frustrated with his persistence, Shadow wasted no more time. She pulled out her phone and dialed for the police.


    Not wanting to lose face, Henry took a step back and unlocked the car door.


    As Shadow stepped out of the car, she turned to look at him, her demeanor distant. ¡°Henry, I used to like you. Maybe you never realized what I saw in you. But from now on, I will no longer harbor any feelings for you, let alone have an affair behind Alpha Kilian¡¯s back.¡±


    Each word enraged Henry further. Shadow turned away, refusing to spare him another nce.


    She hadn¡¯t walked far when another car pulled up beside her.


    Assuming it was Henry again, Shadow quickened her pace. But her assumptions shattered when a familiar voice called out from within the car.


    ¡°Young Madame.¡±


    Startled, Shadow turned to face the vehicle. ¡°Frank? You¡¯re back?¡±


    Frank, Alpha Kilian¡¯s trusted assistant, nodded respectfully. ¡°Yes, the young master sent me to drive you home.¡±


    Shadow had longed to see Alpha Kilian, even if it meant only witnessing his back.


    Though conflicted, she climbed into the car with a sense of relief.


    But as the car moved forward, her excitement waned, reced by unease.


    Why had Alpha Kilian returned at this precise moment?


    Had he just arrived or had he been here all day? Had he seen the news about her and ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±?


    If he had seen it, what would he do?


    No, even if he hadn¡¯t seen it, someone would undoubtedly inform him.


    The Lance family must have intervened to suppress the news, indicating that they knew. And if they knew, Alpha Kilian must know too.


    Anxiety consumed her as the car halted in front of the Castle.


    ¡°Young Madame, we¡¯ve arrived. Please exit the car,¡± Frank said respectfully, opening the door for her.


    Shadow stepped out, her gaze fixed on Alpha Kilian¡¯s study room on the second floor. She asked Frank, her voice filled with anticipation, ¡°Is Alpha Kilian in the study?¡±


    Frank responded, ¡°No, the young master is resting.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Nodding, Shadow¡¯s eyes drifted to ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± sitting casually in the hall, sipping his coffee.


    Anger surged through her, but with Frank¡¯s presence, she couldn¡¯t release it. Instead, she red coldly at him before making her way upstairs to her room.


    As Shadow left, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± retreated from the hall, leaving no trace of his existence.


    In the kitchen, Shadow busied herself preparing a light meal. The atmosphere felt markedly fresher now that ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was absent.


    Having just returned from a grueling journey, Alpha Kilian needed rest. The least she could do was prepare somethingforting for him.


    But before she could finish cooking, Frank entered and spoke, ¡°Young Madame, I must step out for a moment. I respectfully request you to deliver the food to the young masterter.¡±


    Puzzled by thete hour, Shadow wondered why there was so much activity. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bring it to him when I¡¯m done.¡±


    Shortly after, she finished preparing the dishes and carried them upstairs to Alpha Kilian¡¯s study.


    Standing at the door, she knocked, but no response came. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, intending to leave the food before leaving.


    To her surprise, as she turned around, she came face to face with ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±

 73

    Shadow furrowed her brow and stared at him, her gaze filled with suspicion. ¡°Haven¡¯t you gone out?¡±


    Alpha Kilian was taken aback by how quickly Shadow had finished cooking. He realized he was almost caught in his act.


    He responded calmly, ¡°Even if I did go out, can¡¯t Ie back?¡±


    Shadow was preupied with the news she had seen online and was in no mood to argue with ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡± Focusing her attention on him, she spoke with seriousness and authority. ¡°Step outside. I need to talk to you.¡±


    Her tone was cold and imposing, but as her big, bright eyes locked onto Alpha Kilian, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a certain charm radiating from her.


    Sticking his hands in his pockets, he followed her.


    Thest ce he expected to be led to was the restaurant.


    Shadow guided him to the restaurant, her voice soft but cold. ¡°Alpha Dominic, it¡¯s because of you that I¡¯ve be a target of public criticism. Are you satisfied?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t understand what was going through his mind.


    If he really had any interest in her, he would have made his move when Jessica plotted against her and she had been drugged at the Sky Light Club. But he hadn¡¯t done anything to her.


    Instead, he continued to harass her.


    Having encountered many hedonistic young masters in the past, who often mistreated women, Shadow knew they wouldn¡¯t waste so much time and energy on one woman. At most, they would tease her for a while before moving on.


    Because Alpha Dominic hadn¡¯t made any advances, Shadow believed he had no ill intentions towards her.


    But he still continued to harass her, causing her great distress.


    ¡°Me too. I¡¯ve been scolded terribly, haven¡¯t I?¡± Alpha Kilian tilted his head innocently, a hint of shamelessness in his eyes.


    Shadow looked at him, her gaze icy. ¡°Do you think I haven¡¯t read thosements? Howe they scold you? They were all praising your body proportions. You must look really good without clothes!¡±


    She couldn¡¯t understand why theizens were so biased. Why were only she and Alpha Dominic being scolded? Why was she being criticized while he received praise?


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his expression peculiar. With a generous tone, he replied, ¡°Can youdies see that? But if you want to see, I can always take my clothes off and show you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. Stop changing the subject!¡± Shadow felt frustrated with how easily Alpha Dominic could redirect the conversation.


    But Alpha Dominic seemed to not hear her. He walked out of the restaurant andzily spoke, ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. I¡¯m going to bed.¡±


    Shadow felt disheartened.


    Letting out a long sigh, she felt irritated. She pulled out her phone and sent a text message to Alpha Kilian. ¡°I¡¯ve put the food in your study room.¡±


    After a few seconds, she received a reply. ¡°Alright.¡±


    With a heavy heart and little appetite, Shadow nced at the time and assumed Alpha Kilian had finished eating, so she headed upstairs.


    Knocking on his door, she entered. Alpha Kilian still had his back to her, just like before.


    The tray of food on the desk was emptied. He had eaten everything.


    It seemed like the meal she had cooked suited him well.


    Shadow asked, with a hint of joy, ¡°Would you like some fruit? Or something else to drink?¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s hoarse voice remained unchanged, devoid of any youthfulness.


    Shadow stood there, uncertain of what to do or say. Nervousness washed over her.


    Suddenly, Alpha Kilian spoke up. ¡°You are Young Madame Lances. Fulfill your duties as a guardian, or else¡­¡±


    His words held a personal undertone, causing his already hoarse voice to sound eerie. Especially since he intentionally left his sentence unfinished, it sent shivers down one¡¯s spine.


    Unable to control herself, Shadow wrapped her arms around her chest. She bit her lip and exined, ¡°I swear, Alpha Dominic and I haven¡¯t done anything.¡±


    She believed that Alpha Kilian must have seen the news and made these assumptions.


    ¡°It has nothing to do with Alpha Dominic. I trust himpletely.¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice had noticeably deepened.


    Did he mean that she was involved with someone else?


    Alpha Kilian was obviously protecting someone! She knew it woulde to this!


    Alpha Kilian cared deeply for Alpha Dominic, so it was natural for him not to believe that his beloved cousin would do anything wrong with his wife. Thus, he redirected the me onto her.


    Shadow asked, ¡°And what about me? Don¡¯t you believe me?¡±


    Alpha Kilian fell silent for a moment before saying, ¡°Even your appearance is deceptive. Why should I believe you?¡±


    Shadow had no counterargument.


    If she were a bit more headstrong and arrogant, she could easily ignore the consequences and retort, ¡°If you dare to hide your true face, why can¡¯t I disguise myself when I see you?¡±


    But Alpha Kilian was different from the Lances family. From the start, he had been clear and direct with her. She couldn¡¯t touch on his sore spots.


    ¡°If you have nothing else, leave. From now on, I¡¯ll have Frank apany you to work.¡± After Alpha Kilian finished speaking, he remained silent.


    Shadow suddenly looked up at him, her emotionsplex.


    Why did she feel like Alpha Kilian was both pping and rewarding her?


    The tactic he used was quite simr to Alpha Dominic¡¯s.


    Alpha Dominic had always treated her well.


    Perhaps, because they had spent so much time together, their personalities were simr.


    After Shadow left, Alpha Kilian turned around and rubbed his temples.


    He felt trapped in a web.


    Shadow seemed to dislike Alpha Dominic more and more each day. She grew to despise him while developing a better impression of Alpha Kilian. When she discovered his true identity, she wouldn¡¯t find it difficult to ept.


    ¡­


    The inte had quieted down, the news suppressed.


    Though it was asionally brought up, it didn¡¯t cause much trouble anymore.


    Online, things had calmed down, but in reality, it wasn¡¯t so easy to pacify.


    Shadow¡¯s marketing department had many female employees who would gather to gossip every day. Naturally, they would discuss Shadow.


    The next day.


    When Shadow arrived at work, the employees of the Eden Group looked at her in surprise.


    As she walked further away, she overheard whispers behind her.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her toe to work today!¡±


    ¡°How tolerant is Young Master Lances? He doesn¡¯t even care if his wife and cousin are together?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. What if they haven¡¯t done anything?¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. How could the Lances family tolerate such a thing? If it were true, Shadow would be in big trouble!¡±


    ¡°Tsk, you all are so foolish. This sort of thing always has a reason behind it!¡±


    ¡­


    Actually, those rumors were nothing more than spection.

 74

    At  Nine Clouds Media, CEO¡¯s office:


    Xavier pushed the door open, the creaking sound echoing in the dimly lit room. He entered cautiously, his eyes immediately drawn to Alpha Kilian, who sat behind the oak desk. Adjusting his spectacles nervously, Xavier ced the stack of documents on the desk with a gravity befitting of the asion. He adopted a tone that mimicked the sternness of the secretary and said, ¡°Director Lances, these documents require your signature.¡±


    It had always been the task of the secretary to deliver documents, but Xavier¡¯s purpose for personally delivering them was obvious.


    As he set the papers down, Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice cut through the silence, cold and unfeeling. ¡°Get out.¡±


    Xavier had always been audacious in the presence of Alpha Kilian, never one to back down. He removed his sses and looked up, revealing the recklessness of a hedonistic son. His voice dripped with disdain and pity as he spoke, ¡°Alpha Kilian, I pity you. You finally got yourself a wife, didn¡¯t you? And now she¡¯s cheating on you with your cousin. Allow me to interview you, how does it feel?¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alpha Kilian raised his gaze, his ink-like eyes filled with icy coldness. ¡°You wish to expand business in Africa?¡±


    Xavier¡¯s expression changed, his head shaking vigorously. ¡°I have no intentions of going!¡±


    He vehemently refused the idea of going to Africa.


    ¡°Still refusing?¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s face darkened. He had no desire to further discuss the matter.


    But Xavier, always one to stir up trouble, couldn¡¯t resist and asked in a low voice, ¡°What if Shadow falls in love with ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ and discovers your true identity?¡±


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t even need to think about it, interrupting him with confidence. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°She won¡¯t find out you¡¯re Alpha Kilian? Do you really believe you can hide it from her forever?¡± Xavier saw Alpha Kilian as incredibly powerful, but even he doubted the extent of his power.


    ¡°She isn¡¯t the type to figure it out.¡±


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s response was cryptic, leaving Xavier perplexed. He exaggeratedly fanned his face with his hand, clicking his tongue. ¡°How long have you been with her, for her to not suspect a thing? I can almost smell the sour jealousy!¡±


    Arthur entered the room, catching the end of Xavier¡¯s sentence. Confused, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡±


    Xavier spoke with a knowing tone. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not the scent of jealousy. We single men only have the fragrance.¡±


    Arthur, being a traditional straight man, looked puzzled. He couldn¡¯t grasp the meaning behind Xavier¡¯s words.


    Rolling his eyes, Xavier scoffed, ¡°The stench of love, you just don¡¯t get it. No wonder you¡¯re still single.¡±


    Arthur smiled, hitting Xavier where it hurt. ¡°You¡¯ve been holding onto that crush since childhood, and she still manages to slip away. How does it feel?¡±


    Xavier¡¯s face darkened, unable to contain his anger. He lunged at Arthur, violently beating him. His voice filled with rage, he shouted, ¡°You came in here today, but you won¡¯t leave alive!¡±


    Xavier had nurtured an unfulfilled longing for someone since he was young, and the person he desired had managed to escape.


    Alpha Kilian watched the scene unfold, unfazed. When the two finished their scuffle, he raised his eyes. ¡°Once you finish packing, you can leave.¡±


    The two of them begrudgingly finished their task before departing.


    ¡­


    Shadow found herself surrounded by gossip and rumors throughout the day.


    Eventually, people grew tired of talking about it and the subject was no longer brought up.


    As she left the Eden Group and prepared to wait for Frank, her phone rang. It was Frank, informing her of a traffic jam and his dyed arrival.


    Shadow started heading towards the entrance, but a voice stopped her in her tracks.


    ¡°Shadow.¡±


    She turned around to see Lisa standing behind her.


    Surprised, Shadow asked coldly, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to ask if the news about you and Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin is true.¡± Lisa¡¯s tone expressed an unusually genuine concern.


    Shadow sensed that something was amiss. Suspicion filled her eyes as she stared at Lisa. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Ignoring how Lisa had previously treated her, Shadow couldn¡¯t fully dismiss the possibility of ulterior motives.


    Lisa smiled, her gentle appearance momentarily easing Shadow¡¯s guard. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I saw all the harshments towards you on the inte. I¡¯m a bit worried about you.¡±


    Lisa paused before continuing, her voice tinged with regret. ¡°It¡¯s my fault, you know. If I hadn¡¯t arranged for you to marry into the Lances family, none of this would have happened. You wouldn¡¯t be in this situation.¡±


    Shadow found Lisa¡¯s words increasingly absurd. Her doubts deepened as she observed Lisa¡¯s behavior. ¡°Is there something you¡¯re not saying?¡±


    No matter how indifferent Lisa had been in the past, Shadow couldn¡¯tpletely disregard her. There was still a lingering familial connection.


    Lisa smiled but her expression held a hint of desperation. ¡°Shadow, even though I didn¡¯t show it before, I do care about you.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s phone rang again, this time it was Frank. She answered, ¡°I¡¯m at the entrance. You cane over now.¡±


    Before she could hang up, Lisa grabbed her arm. There was a sense of urgency in her voice. ¡°Who¡¯sing to pick you up?¡±


    ¡°Alpha Kilian sent someone.¡± Shadow felt increasingly uneasy about Lisa¡¯s strange behavior.


    Lisa¡¯s concern from earlier reyed in her mind. She was moved, but now that she had regained herposure, all she felt was exhaustion and numbness.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what Jessica and the others are nning, but let me remind you to consider your own well-being. Don¡¯t be too attached to Dad.¡±


    Jessica would never show any filial piety towards Lisa in the future. To Jessica, Lisa was nothing more than a servant assigned to warm her father¡¯s bed. Lisa failed to realize this.


    Lisa seemed stunned by Shadow¡¯s words, her hesitation palpable.


    As Shadow sat in the car, she looked out the window at Lisa, who still stood rooted to the spot where they had been speaking. Lisa¡¯s bowed head made it difficult to discern her expression, but Shadow could sense the internal struggle.


    What was she hesitating about?


    She was contemting whether or not to help Jessica in her n against Shadow.


    Lisa had tried to coax Shadow into revealing something, unaware that she had already been exposed.


    Shadow saw through her intentions and tactfully avoided answering Lisa¡¯s questions about ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    No matter what schemes they had or tricks they attempted, Shadow was ready to face them head-on.

 75

    Back to the Castle, Shadow traversed the online realm, searching for any inkling of news or discussions tied to her name.


    But after an extensive scroll, nothing caught her attention. Disappointed, she ventured into the kitchen to prepare a meal.


    During dinner, Alpha Kilian remained absent, as was his usual demeanor. ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± had ventured elsewhere.


    Only then did Shadow realize that Alpha Dominic¡¯s busyness and absence from home coincided with Alpha Kilian¡¯s presence.


    Shadow shook her head, feeling as though she had been overshadowed by Alpha Dominic. His absence made her feel slightly uneasy.


    The following day arrived.


    Frank arrived at the Castle¡¯s entrance promptly to chauffeur Shadow to her workce at the Eden Group.


    Upon his return, Frank spotted a car parked in front of the Castle from a distance.


    Parking his car and entering the premises, Frank noticed a bodyguard stationed at the entrance. ¡°Someone is inquiring about the young master?¡± he asked.


    The bodyguard nodded and replied, ¡°Thatdy ims to be Young Madame¡¯s mother.¡±


    Due to Alpha Kilian¡¯s unique circumstances, the Castle had an abundance of bodyguards stationed there permanently. As Alpha Kilian had avoided public appearances for several years, he had very few friends outside.


    Thus, only a select few woulde looking for him, and even if they did, it was no easy feat to meet him.


    Upon hearing this, Frank lifted his foot and headed indoors. He spotted Lisa sitting on the sofa.


    Having checked information about her while assisting Alpha Kilian, Frank recognized Lisa.


    However, in person, Mrs. Eden appeared even more enchanting than her photos. It was evident that she had possessed immense beauty during her youth.


    Frank called over a bodyguard and instructed, ¡°Offer Mrs. Eden some tea.¡±


    Completing his instructions, he proceeded to the study to locate Alpha Kilian.


    For the past two days, Alpha Kilian had arranged for frank to apany Shadow to thepany first, while he went to the Nine Clouds himself. Presently, he remained in the study.


    Frank pushed the door open and entered. Respectfully, he reported, ¡°Young Master, Mrs. Eden is here.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Alpha Kilian, without even looking up, questioned, ¡°Which Mrs. Eden?¡± clearly unaware of Mrs. Eden¡¯s identity.


    ¡°Your wife¡¯s mother,¡± Frank swiftly answered.


    Alpha Kilian raised his gaze suddenly. Pondering for a moment, he roughly surmised Lisa¡¯s purpose for seeking him out.


    A flicker of interest gleamed in his eyes. ¡°Invite her in.¡±


    Upon entering Alpha Kilian¡¯s study, Lisa had anticipatedying eyes on him. However, she found him seated with his back to her, refusing to reveal his face.


    From the side, Frank interjected. ¡°If Mrs. Eden has something to say, do not hesitate.¡±


    Clutching her clothes tightly, Lisa shamefully confessed, ¡°Young Master Lances, I havee here today to apologize on behalf of my daughter.¡±


    Observing how Alpha Kilian remained silent, Lisa continued, ¡°It was my failure to properly guide Shadow, allowing her to behave in a manner that disappointed you. Initially, she had the chance to rece her elder sister and marry into the Lances family. Your magnanimity spared her from consequences. However, she not only remained ungrateful but also took advantage of your absence to seduce your cousin.¡±


    Not only Alpha Kilian, but Frank himself wore an incredulous expression.


    Hadn¡¯t Young Madame and the young master been amicable recently? What had transpired? And why did a biological mother disparage her daughter in front of her son-inw?


    Alpha Kilian knew theplexity of the Eden family¡¯s dynamics. Lisa did not express concern for Shadow; her focus was solely on Jessica and her brother. Today, he had truly experienced firsthand.


    Just as he prepared to speak, the door was forcefully thrust open, mming against the wall with a resounding crash.


    Alpha Kilian tensed, bing anxious upon hearing the sound. He need not turn around to identify the intruder.


    Lisa and Frank, too, turned to witness Shadow, who should have been at work, returning instead. Standing at the doorway, her expression turned cold, her eyes as silent as specters.


    Shadow locked eyes with Lisa and spoke faintly, ¡°Mother, how could you speak ill of me behind my back in the presence of my husband? Why did you not call me to confront your allegations?¡±


    ¡°You¡­ Aren¡¯t you at thepany?¡± Lisa¡¯s face paled instantly.


    During this time, Shadow began disobeying her mother, a change Lisa keenly observed. Shadow¡¯s sudden intense gazes even frightened her at times.


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯te back, how would I know you were so concerned about me?¡± Shadow stated as she advanced slowly towards Lisa.


    She had indeed been at thepany. Her task for the day was to conduct market research. When she realized she had forgotten her phone, she returned to retrieve it.


    While passing Alpha Kilian¡¯s study, she overheard her mother¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Are you nning to apologize to my husband on my behalf?¡± Shadow sneered, a frigid smile ying at her lips. ¡°You truly are a devoted mother.¡±


    Lisa involuntarily took two steps back in shock. From where she had pulled it, she now brandished something. ¡°I¡­ I have evidence!¡±


    Shadow nced over and discovered that Lisa held a recording pen.


    So, Lisa had visited her yesterday with this intention.


    It was certainly bold of a timid person like Lisa to dare approach Alpha Kilian. One did not need much thought to realize that Jessica had orchestrated this n behind Jason¡¯s back, persuading Lisa to carry it out.


    Jason still hoped that Shadow would secure Alpha Kilian¡¯s investment. If he knew, he would never allow Jessica to stoop so low.


    Lisa pressed y, and the recordingmenced. Although brief, it contained two crucial sentences.


    ¡°Tell Mom the truth. Are you genuinely involved with Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin? I saw the two of you in the car.¡±


    ¡°What does it matter to you? So what if I am with his cousin?¡±


    Shadow distinctly recollected her words from that asion. It seemed she had replied, ¡°Why are you suddenly so interested in my affairs? What is your ulterior motive?¡±


    Such a poorly fabricated recording aimed to smear her!


    Jessica had covertly snapped photos of her alongside ¡°Alpha Dominic,¡± trading them to the media for publicity. Yet, the news failed to tarnish Shadow¡¯s reputation. Now, in her desperation, Jessica sought to expose the truth to Alpha Kilian.


    ¡°Young Master Lances, listen to it. Shadow confesses herself! Shemitted such an act because of my failure as a mother. I am willing to take her back and properly educate her. Young Master Lances, please look at this,¡± Lisa implored.


    Enraged, Shadow fought the urge tough, remaining silent. Instead, she lifted her head and looked in Alpha Kilian¡¯s direction.


    The study fell into a hush. Then, in a raspy voice, the man spoke, ¡°She married into the Lances family and is my woman. My woman. Since when is it someone else¡¯s ce to intervene?¡±


    ¡°But she¡­¡± Lisa had not expected Alpha Kilian to react this way.


    Jessica assured Lisa that revealing the recording would surely enrage Alpha Kilian. Consequently, he would cast Shadow aside.


    Though Shadow knew Alpha Kilian would never believe such a fabricated recording, his words did warm her heart. Her voice softened unconsciously. ¡°I apologize for the disturbance caused by someone on ount of me.¡±

 76

    Alpha Kilian sat silently in his chair, refusing to turn his body towards them. The air was thick with tension as his presence exuded authority.


    Shadow, with a mocking expression, nced at Lisa before turning away to leave. The disdain in her eyes was unmistakable.


    Confused by the situation, Lisa watched as Frank approached her. His actions were clear ¨C Lisa was being dismissed. He nodded slightly, gesturing for her to leave.


    Overwhelmed by timidity, Lisa clutched the fake recording in her hand. Shame washed over her as she lowered her head and obediently walked away.


    As she reached the door, she caught a glimpse of Shadow leaning against it, arms crossed, eyes fixed upon her. Unnerved, Lisa hesitated before speaking, ¡°Shadow, you¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you mind giving me a ride?¡± Shadow interrupted, her face cool and distant.


    Lisa was taken aback by Shadow¡¯s sudden request, but she nodded nheless.


    ¡­


    In the car, Shadow and Lisa sat side by side in the backseat. The atmosphere was icy, and Shadow spoke first, her voice cold as ice. ¡°Jessica asked you toe?¡±


    Shadow¡¯s tone held a hint of oppression, causing Lisa¡¯s response to die on her lips. She managed a weak ¡°yes.¡±


    ¡°I remember what she said before. Who did she im was obedient like a dog?¡± Shadow sneered, her lips curling into a devilish smile.


    Lisa¡¯s face paled, desperately attempting to defend Jessica, ¡°She was just angry and confused momentarily. She usually treats me well. Shadow, I can see that Alpha Kilian trusts you greatly. You two must have a good rtionship. Don¡¯t go against your sister and make her unhappy. Let her go. She¡¯s been so upset because of youtely that she hasn¡¯t been eating much.¡±


    Shadow clenched her fists, frustration evident in her expression. Suddenly, she yelled at Lisa, ¡°Enough! You¡¯ve said enough!¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Never before had Lisa been subjected to such a heated argument with Shadow. She was left speechless, shocked into silence.


    Shadow¡¯s eyes turned red, but not a single tear escaped. This was the first time in her life that she had erupted like this before Lisa.


    ¡°Even if you never treated me as your own daughter, at least treat me as a human being! I have feelings, I am not an object that you can manipte without mercy. I am a human being! I have feelings, and I can feel sadness too!¡± Shadow¡¯s voice shook with emotion.


    ¡°I know,¡± Lisa replied with fear in her voice, unable to meet Shadow¡¯s gaze. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been easy for me in the Eden family all these years. I just wanted you to help me.¡±


    ¡°Is it easy for me to live all these years? Since I was old enough to understand, you never bought me any clothes. I¡¯m stuck wearing Jessica¡¯s leftovers or the servants¡¯ castoffs. Every time you make cookies or cut fruits for Jessica, I can only have what she doesn¡¯t want. And now, I¡¯m forced to marry Alpha Kilian, and you won¡¯t even let me go.¡±


    Closing her eyes, Shadow looked up, fighting back her tears. She barked at the driver, ¡°Stop the car!¡±


    Lisa saw her intention of getting out and hastily pulled her back. ¡°Shadow, please don¡¯t get out of the car just yet. Please listen to me.¡±


    ¡°Let go!¡± Shadow forcefully shook off her hand, her eyes full of fury. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡±


    Terrified that another look from Lisa would trigger some reckless action, Shadow pushed her away. Lisa, unable to bear it any longer, retreated and remained silent.


    Shadow exited the car not far from the Eden Group and walked towards thepany on foot.


    Despite being located in the south, the four seasons were distinct in the Herton Pack. The temperature outside was a cold four or five degrees Celsius, and the biting wind stung Shadow¡¯s face.


    Yet, the pain she felt from the wind was nothingpared to the pain in her heart. She walked hurriedly, the wind making it difficult for her to breathe. It felt as if she were suffocating.


    Arriving at the Eden Group, she headed straight for Jessica¡¯s office.


    Jessica¡¯s face had been visibly swollen, concealed underyers of thick powder. She looked up and noticed Shadow¡¯s presence, a sh of disgust crossing her eyes. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    But it didn¡¯t take long for Jessica to realize that something wasn¡¯t right with Shadow¡¯s expression.


    Before she could react, Shadow reached across the desk, grabbing her clothes and lifting her up from the chair.


    ¡°You used my mother against me, and you used her well, didn¡¯t you? A woman like you, constantly scheming, is truly pitiable. Do you really think Alpha Kilian is as foolish as Henry, easily fooled by you? My man, Shadow¡¯s man, is far stronger than him! If you have anything to say, direct it towards me. If you disturb Alpha Kilian again, we¡¯ll see what happens.¡±


    Shadow felt a deep gratitude for Alpha Kilian¡¯s trust in her, but it only fueled her self-me. She med herself for allowing Jessica to manipte her rtionship with Alpha Kilian.


    After speaking her piece, Shadow forcefully let go and threw Jessica back onto the chair. The impact of the armrest against her waist silenced her cries of pain. As she stared at Shadow, emitting an icy aura, Jessica found herself too frightened to say anything.


    Shadow red at Jessica¡¯s trembling figure, a sneer ying on her lips, before leaving the room.


    Once the door closed, Jessica let out a sigh of relief, finally able to release the tension that had been building. Recalling Shadow¡¯s words, she immediately dialed Lisa¡¯s number.


    Lisa quickly answered the call, her voice filled with apprehension. ¡°Jessica.¡±


    But Jessica interrupted her impatiently, ¡°How did it go? Did Alpha Kilian fly into a rage? And did you catch a glimpse of him? I need to know what he looks like.¡±


    Jessica had tasked Lisa with seeking out Alpha Kilian, hoping to provoke his anger through fake recordings and confirm whether he truly was as unattractive as rumors suggested. After all, Shadow had defended him on multiple asions, implying that he possessed high standards. How could he willingly stay by her side if he were a cripple?


    Doubts gued her mind.


    ¡°He had his back to me, so I didn¡¯t see his face,¡± Lisa answered, aware that she had failed to meet Jessica¡¯s expectations. Her voice quivered as she continued, ¡°And the recording¡­ he didn¡¯t believe it at all. He even said that Shadow is a member of the Lances family, making it none of my business.¡±


    Upon hearing Lisa¡¯s words, Jessica felt her anger surge, threatening to overwhelm her.


    ¡°A cripple daring to speak so arrogantly! Once he is stripped of his position as the Lances sessor, let¡¯s see what else he has to be arrogant about!¡±


    Filled with regret, Lisa apologized, her voice filled with remorse. ¡°Jessica, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s always like this with you, isn¡¯t it? You never get anything done!¡± With that, Jessica abruptly ended the call.


    Lisa stared at the hung-up phone in her hand, Shadow¡¯s face of hatred and disgust haunting her thoughts. It seemed that she truly couldn¡¯t aplish anything. Yet, all she wanted was to belong in the Eden family. Was it wrong of her to try to please Jason and Jessica? Shadow was her own daughter, so why couldn¡¯t she have shown more empathy and understanding?


    ¡­


    After work, Frank parked at the entrance of the Eden Group and waited. He waited for what felt like an eternity, but Shadow never emerged until most of the employees had already left.

 77

    Frank, feeling the weight of the silence on the other end of the line, realized that something was amiss. He called Shadow once again, but there was still no answer. A sense of unease washed over him, causing his senses to heighten.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Just as he was about to reach out to Alpha Kilian for answers, the Alpha himself took the initiative to make contact. The tone in his voice grew noticeably colder as he inquired about the situation.


    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t she returned? Did you not receive her?¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s words carried a chilling undertone.


    ¡°No. I called Young Madame, but she did not answer. I suspect she may have left long ago¡­ Otherwise, she would have answered by now,¡± Frank hesitated as he spoke, sensing that something had gone awry.


    He couldn¡¯t bring himself to say thest three words that hung heavily in the air.


    Silence lingered on the line for a moment before Alpha Kilian¡¯s suppressed anger broke through. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go and find her?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Frank responded, his voiceced with a mix of fear and determination.


    As soon as the call ended, Alpha Kilian grabbed his coat and headed towards the door. He spotted a car in the garage and wasted no time in jumping behind the wheel. Finally, he had a moment to reflect on the situation.


    Lisa¡¯s visit today must have deeply affected Shadow, he realized. Though she appeared fierce on the surface, she was nothing more than a paper tiger. Alpha Kilian could easily crush her with a few well-ced moves.


    The possibility of her having an ident was slim at best. It was more likely that she had secluded herself to wallow in her sorrow.


    Just as these thoughts upied his mind, his phone suddenly rang. He nced down and saw Xavier¡¯s name on the screen.


    ¡°What is it?¡± he gruffly answered.


    Xavier, always nonchnt, responded in a casual tone, ¡°Did you eat gunpowder? You sound quite angry.¡±


    Alpha Kilian had no patience for small talk. He ended the call abruptly.


    Meanwhile, Xavier, sitting in a corner of the bar, observed his call being abruptly ended. Clicking his tongue in response, he discreetly snapped a picture of Shadow, who was sitting not far away, and swiftly sent it to Alpha Kilian.


    He hung up? Alpha Kilian will call back immediately!


    Sure enough, Alpha Kilian wasted no time in calling back. The coldness in his voice was palpable: ¡°Give me the address.¡±


    ¡°Are you seeking my help?¡± Xavier relished the rare opportunity to taunt Alpha Kilian and decided to prolong the reveal.


    ¡°There¡¯s still room for expansion in Africa¡¯s business,¡± he added, making sure Alpha Kilian knew how dire the situation was.


    ¡°F*ck!¡± Alpha Kilian cursed under his breath as Xavier finally disclosed the address of the bar.


    Alpha Kilian had always used the threat of sending Xavier to Africa as leverage, and it worked every time. He had sent Xavier to Africa before when he made a significant mistake. Alpha Kilian was a man of his word, and Xavier knew it all too well.


    ¡­


    Inside the bar, Shadow finished her ss of wine without feeling the slightest bit intoxicated. She ordered another dozen bottles, her alcohol tolerance impressive. While this was usually a good quality to have, tonight she purposely sought refuge in getting drunk.


    Shadow, with her extraordinary beauty, sat alone at the table with a dozen bottles of beer in front of her. It was clear to anyone that she was in a somber mood, seeking sce in alcohol. Many men in the bar couldn¡¯t help but take notice and began to make their moves.


    Finally, two men approached her, attempting to strike up a conversation.


    ¡°Beauty, are you here alone?¡± they asked, hoping to catch her attention.


    Shadow cast a fleeting nce at them. Both men were well-dressed and exuded a sense of sophistication. It was evident that they held higher positions within their respectivepanies.


    Ignoring their presence, Shadow continued to drink, her mind upied with her own thoughts.


    She didn¡¯t reject their advances, but she didn¡¯t encourage them either.


    The two men interpreted her silence as an invitation and took a seat beside her.


    Shadow had already removed her coat, wearing a tight-fitting shirt that entuated her curves and drew attention. The two men couldn¡¯t help but ogle at her.


    ¡°Beauty, what¡¯s the point of drinking alone? Let¡¯s drink together!¡± one of them suggested.


    Shadow observed their intentions and smiled. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s drink and have some fun.¡±


    The men grew excited at her response and asked, ¡°What do you want to y?¡±


    Shadow tilted her head and lifted her chin, emanating both charm and innocence. ¡°Let¡¯s y dice.¡±


    The two men exchanged nces, grinning confidently. ¡°Sounds good.¡±


    Did this woman really think she could y dice with them? Once she got drunk, they would have her wrapped around their finger.


    Full of confidence, the two men quickly realized their mistake after a few rounds. Shadow¡¯s own drink remained untouched while they had already consumed several bottles. Their words became slurred, revealing their drunken state.


    Shadow smiled innocently. ¡°You guys can really hold your liquor.¡±


    Pouring them more wine, she continued, certain of her own sobriety.


    Meanwhile, Xavier, who had been observing from afar, intended to intervene when the two men approached Shadow. However, herposed demeanor made him hesitate, choosing instead to wait and assess the situation.


    As the two men teetered on the brink of intoxication, the untouched bottles of wine before Shadow hinted at her unyielding sobriety. Itching to join in on the game, Xavier watched intently.


    Suddenly, amotion erupted by the entrance of the bar.


    Xavier looked up and spotted Alpha Kilian striding towards them.


    Alpha Kilian, tall and exuding an air of extraordinary dominance, scanned the crowd as though he possessed a sixth sense that could detect every pair of eyes upon him.


    The dim lighting in the bar obscured Xavier¡¯s view of Alpha Kilian¡¯s face, but he could sense the Alpha¡¯s bitter mood.


    Xavier knew things were about to go south. He rushed towards Shadow, hoping to make amends before Alpha Kilian arrived.


    But he wasn¡¯t as quick as the Alpha himself.


    As soon as Alpha Kilian entered the bar, his eyes fell upon Shadow, who sat there, smiling and ying dice with another man. It appeared she was thoroughly enjoying herself.


    The Alpha had rushed to her side, his heart nearly flying out of his chest. And yet, here she was, seemingly having the time of her life with another man.


    Shadow was facing away from the entrance,pletely unaware of Alpha Kilian¡¯s presence. As he drew closer, she felt a chilly gust of air approaching from behind. The familiar aura inched closer, causing her to turn her head in surprise.


    Alpha Kilian happened to be standing right behind her. Shadow, momentarily taken aback, asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    The two men, now halfway inebriated, noticed Alpha Kilian¡¯s arrival and inquired, ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡±


    Shadow turned to the men and, with utmost seriousness, responded, ¡°My cousin. Isn¡¯t he handsome? Many girls are after him.¡±


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s face darkened, his gaze shifting to the empty bottles in front of her, calcting just how much she had consumed.


    Feeling a sudden surge of emotions, she reached out and tugged at Alpha Kilian¡¯s arm. ¡°Come, take a seat!¡±


    ¡°Shadow, let¡¯s go home!¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice carried a coldness, like ice forming over his every word. His face grew tense, a clear sign of his anger.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back. I don¡¯t have a home,¡± Shadow¡¯s voice wavered as she lowered her head, downing the remaining wine in her ss. In that moment, her smile vanished, reced by disappointment and frustration.


    Ever since she was young, her parents had never shown her love. She had grown up with great difficulty, yearning for a true love to form a happy and fulfilling family. But her mother had forced her into a loveless marriage with Alpha Kilian for the sake of Jessica.


    What kind of family did she truly have?


    She had no ce she could truly call home.

 78

    Alpha Kilian snapped at Shadow , his voice filled with frustration and anger. He couldn¡¯t believe the situation they were in. Shadow , on the other hand, didn¡¯t seem to care. She stood tall on the chair, her eyes fixed on the person who had insulted them. She was ready to defend Alpha Kilian and herself, even if it meant resorting to violence.


    Seeing Shadow ¡®s determination, the group of people hesitated. They didn¡¯t expect her to be so bold and fearless. They exchanged nces, unsure of what to do next.


    Alpha Kilian knew he had to intervene before things escted further. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and tried to reason with the group. ¡°Listen, we don¡¯t want any trouble. Just leave us alone and we can all go our separate ways.¡±


    But his words fell on deaf ears. The group seemed more interested in using their strength to overpower Alpha Kilian and Shadow .


    In that moment, Shadow jumped off the chair and charged at the person who had insulted them. With a swift motion, she swung the broken bottle of wine towards him, aiming to scare him off. The person flinched, narrowly avoiding the bottle.


    Alpha Kilian quickly stepped in, pushing Shadow back and shielding her from any harm. He couldn¡¯t help but feel impressed by her bravery, but he knew that violence wouldn¡¯t solve anything.


    Using hismanding presence, Alpha Kilian spoke with authority. ¡°Enough! This ends now. Leave us alone or face the consequences.¡±


    The group hesitated again, but eventually, they turned and left, realizing that they had pushed Alpha Kilian and Shadow too far.


    Alpha Kilian let out a sigh of relief as the tension dissolved. He turned his attention to Shadow , his expression softened. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to go that far. We could have found another way to handle the situation.¡±


    Shadow , still adrenaline-fueled, grinned. ¡°But it worked, didn¡¯t it? They won¡¯t bother us anymore.¡±


    Alpha Kilian couldn¡¯t help but smile at her mischievousness. Despite the chaos of the night, he admired her courage and determination. He knew there was more to her than meets the eye, and he was intrigued to learn more.


    Together, they walked back into the hall, leaving behind the tense atmosphere. As they found their seats again, Alpha Kilian couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange connection to Shadow . Maybe this unexpected encounter was the beginning of something extraordinary.


    Shadow looked at him with a serious expression and said in a serious tone, ¡°I¡¯m noting down. These mean people are trying to hurt you. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll teach them a lesson!¡±


    Xavier, who had been secretly following them, heard Shadow¡¯s words. Heughed in a mean way.


    It had always been Alpha Kilian who bullied others. How could anyone bully him?


    After Shadow finished speaking, she looked at the group of men with determination. ¡°Did you all hear what I said? Apologize to me now!¡±


    The men, who had never been challenged by a woman like this before, immediately became angry and wanted to fight.


    Just then, Frank, apanied by bodyguards, arrived and fought off the men in a few moves.


    Frank walked up to Alpha Kilian and asked respectfully, ¡°Sir, how should we deal with them?¡±


    Alpha Kilian looked at Shadow, who was still holding a wine bottle and cheering for Frank. He felt a sense of fondness towards her. ¡°Tell them to apologize to her on their knees.¡±


    Frank couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. ¡°Huh?¡±


    What happened next was something no one expected.


    The group of men knelt down and apologized to Shadow, calling her ¡°Sister, I was wrong.¡±


    On the way back, Frank drove while Alpha Kilian carried a sleeping Shadow in the backseat.


    Frank kept ncing at them through the rearview mirror.


    He saw his young master holding onto Shadow like she was a precious treasure. Though Alpha Kilian¡¯s expression was hidden, Frank could sense that he was in a good mood.


    Frank couldn¡¯t understand why his young master was so happy after what happened at the bar.


    Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the castle.


    Alpha Kilian carried Shadow out of the car and took her to her room, stopping at the door.


    As he carried her inside, he couldn¡¯t help but think about how noisy she was at the bar. But now, in her sleep, she was much more obedient.


    Shadow slept soundly, her nose twitching slightly, and her lips slightly parted, attracting attention.


    Alpha Kilian bent down and stared at her for a few seconds. Unable to resist, he kissed her lips.


    After the kiss, his voice was already hoarse. ¡°You smell terrible.¡±


    He adjusted the room¡¯s temperature and covered her with a nket before leaving.


    ¡­


    The next morning, when Shadow woke up, she felt dizzy.


    She closed her eyes again and opened them a whileter, feeling much better.


    She got up from bed and looked around the familiar room. She walked out and tiptoed around, feeling like a thief.


    She had only ever drunk with Hazel before. ording to Hazel, she actedpletely different when she was drunk.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if she had done something embarrassing to Alpha Dominicst night.


    Shadow walked downstairs and looked around cautiously.


    To her relief, she didn¡¯t see Alpha Dominic anywhere.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Good morning, sister-inw.¡±


    Shadow jumped in surprise at the sudden male voice.


    She turned around and saw Alpha Dominicing out of the kitchen with a ss of water.


    She forced a smile. ¡°Good morning.¡±


    Alpha Kilian approached her, his tone slightly dissatisfied as he saw that she seemed fine. ¡°Did you sleep wellst night?¡±


    Shadow answered honestly, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Alpha Kilian scoffed and walked past her.


    She had slept well, giving him a good dream throughout the night.


    Shadow followed after him, being cautious. ¡°Yesterday, we drank together. Thank you.¡±


    As she spoke, she carefully observed Alpha Dominic¡¯s expression.


    She couldn¡¯t remember what happened afterst night.


    Alpha Kilian turned to look at her, noticing her unchanged expression. He realized she had no recollection of what happened.


    His eyes flickered, and he said meaningfully, ¡°In the future, don¡¯t drink whenever you¡¯re bored. Luckily, I was there to pick you up. If someone else¡­¡±


    He seemed like he wanted to say more but refrained, leaving Shadow with a sinking feeling.


    What did she dost night?


    But Alpha Dominic didn¡¯t seem like he wanted to share. She could only assume it wasn¡¯t something good. She didn¡¯t dare to ask in case it was embarrassing.


    Alpha Kilian looked at Shadow with satisfaction as she grew nervous. He carried the water upstairs.


    This woman usually seemed weak and calm. He didn¡¯t expect her to cause so much trouble after getting drunk.


    If he hadn¡¯t been with her, who knows who would clean up her mess?


    Shadow was just really upset yesterday. Hazel was gone from the Herton Pack, and filming was difficult. She didn¡¯t want to bother Hazel with her troubles.


    Besides drinking to alleviate boredom, she didn¡¯t know how else to make herself feel better.


    Now that she had calmed down, she felt useless.


    Lisa probably still didn¡¯t think she did anything wrong to Shadow. Shadow was the only one feeling sad and hurt.


    Shadow was clear about her feelings regarding Lisa.


    She had listened to Lisa so much in the past because she had hoped for attention and love from her.


    But she now knew that her hopes were in vain.


    And since her feud with Jessica had escted, Shadow had no intention of letting her go easily.


    They had used her entirely, yet they acted as if they had done nothing wrong and continued to target her. How could they be so shameless?


    When Shadow arrived at the Eden Group, she went straight to Jason¡¯s office.


    Upon seeing her, Jason frowned. His tone wasn¡¯t friendly. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t handle being a market researcher anymore. I applied to transfer to the project department to learn from my sister.¡± Shadow looked at him, hoping he would believe her sincerity.


    Jason had initially transferred Shadow to the market department to prevent her from getting involved in the more important project department. This way, even if she had shares in the Eden Group, they wouldn¡¯t be of much use.


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t even handle being a market researcher. Do you really think you can handle working with Jessica?¡± Jason doubted Shadow¡¯s words.


    Shadow smiled, trying to appear serious. ¡°The main reason is that I admire my sister¡¯s skills. I believe I can learn a lot from her. I¡¯ve always looked up to her. Even now, I listen to her because I genuinely like her. I admit I¡¯ve made mistakes recently¡­¡±


    As she spoke, Shadow¡¯s voice became softer, and she forced out a couple of tears.

 79

    It could be said that Jason spoiled Jessica so much that she was out of control.


    Naturally, he liked to hear people praise Jessica.


    To put it bluntly, Shadow had been obedient in the hearts of the Eden family for so many years. She was no less obedient than a domestic dog. Therefore, Jason believed her words.


    Furthermore, Shadow even squeezed out a few drops of tears.


    Jason finally loosened up. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll transfer you over first. If you can¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll transfer you back.¡±


    Shadow smiled sweetly at him. ¡°Thank you, Dad.¡±


    Humans were visual animals. Shadow was now beautiful. Even Jason felt that she was much more pleasing to the eye. This ¡°thank you, Dad¡± was naturally very pleasant to hear.


    ¡°You go back first. I will tell Jessica about this first. I will inform you to move overter.¡±


    Shadow walked out of Jason¡¯s office. The smile on her face faded. She reached out to wipe the tears off her face. A cold smile bloomed on her lips.


    The moment Shadow left, Jason called Jessica over from the inside phone.


    Jessica came in and said impatiently, ¡°Dad, why are you looking for me? I still have a lot of things to do.¡±


    Jason did not mind her attitude and said gently, ¡°Shadow just came to look for me and said she wants to work for you and learn from you. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Did she say it herself?¡± Jessica heard it and her eyes widened in surprise.


    ¡°Yes, she took the initiative to mention it.¡±


    ¡°Will she really want to learn from me? Most likely, she¡¯s plotting something again.¡± Jessica snorted coldly and said in an unnegotiable tone, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t transfer her to me. It¡¯s annoying to look at her.¡±


    Jason originally wanted to discuss with Jessica, but Jessica¡¯s attitude was so tough that she did not give him any face. He could not help but be a little angry. ¡°Jessica! No matter what, you are still sisters. Furthermore, we still rely on her to persuade Alpha Kilian to invest in ourpany. This matter is settled. I will transfer her to your side and you take good care of her.¡±


    Jessica was unhappy in her heart. She immediately lost her temper. ¡°Dad! How can you be like this?! I already said that I don¡¯t want her to go to my department. Don¡¯t you understand?¡±


    Jason shouted, ¡°Jessica!¡±


    She felt that he was really angry. Jessica could only agree: ¡°Okay, okay, whatever you want.¡±


    After Jessica finished speaking, she stormed out.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    When she went out, she even mmed the door with a bang.


    Jason frowned fiercely. He felt that he was too used to Jessica, which was why she only knew how to throw a tantrum in front of him.


    Shadow quickly received a transfer notice.


    She packed her things and bid farewell to a few colleagues she was familiar with. She carried the box to the project department.


    She stood at the door of the manager¡¯s office and knocked on Jessica¡¯s office door.


    After a while, Jessica¡¯s voice came from inside, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Shadow smiled as she pushed the door open and went in. ¡°In the future, I hope elder sister can guide me.¡±


    Jessica did not have a good expression when she saw her.


    ¡°This is thepany. Call me Manager Eden.¡±


    Shadow obediently called out, ¡°Manager Eden.¡±


    Jessica looked at the smile on her face and felt like she was being suppressed.


    Thus, she got someone to find arge pile of useless information and let Shadow photocopy it. Then she let her crush the information.


    For the entire day, Shadow had been doing this.


    Originally, Jessica thought that Shadow would lose her temper ande to find her after doing it for a while. She did not expect Shadow to obediently do it all day without anyints.


    This made Jessica¡¯s heart somewhat inconceivable.


    Yesterday, Shadow came to the office aggressively to look for trouble with her. Today, it changed?


    In any case, she did not believe it.


    When it was time to get off work, Jessica got someone to bring Shadow a stack of documents for her to photocopy.


    Until the others had left, Shadow had not finished copying.


    Jessica went to the photocopy room and saw that Shadow was still seriously photocopying the documents. She slightly narrowed her eyes and walked over, ¡°Shadow, what kind of trick do you want to y again? Can you lie to my father? Do you think you can lie to me?¡±


    ¡°I did not lie to you for what? I really think you¡¯re outstanding. That¡¯s why I wanted to learn from you.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s tone was gentle. Suddenly, she changed the topic and said meaningfully, ¡°If I can¡¯t learn anything all the time, I wonder if others will think that you are ipetent?¡±


    Jessica sneered, ¡°I knew you did not have good intentions!¡±


    Shadow looked at her and slowly organized the documents in her hands. She did not bother with her anymore.


    She had long heard from thepany that Jessica sat in the position of project manager and did not do anything. What she did was all thanks to her subordinates.


    ¡°As long as dad knows that I sincerely came to learn from you, it will be fine. As for whether I have good intentions or not, is it important?¡± Shadow gave a contemptuous smile. She pulled out thest copy of the document and turned around to leave.


    Winter nights alwayse early.


    Shadow came out of the Eden Group. It was almost seven o¡¯clock and the sky was already dark.


    Frank had already waited for a while.


    She got into the car and said to Frank, ¡°You don¡¯t have toe to pick me up every day. I can take the car back myself.¡±


    She had never enjoyed such treatment before. Although she knew Alpha Kilian had good intentions, she was not used to it.


    Frank¡¯s tone was as serious as usual. ¡°It¡¯s my job to carry out Young Master¡¯s orders.¡±


    After returning to the Castle, Shadow suddenly remembered the ck card that ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± gave herst time.


    She put down her bag and took the ck card to the study room to look for it.


    When Alpha Kilian was at home, he spent most of his time in the study room. No one knew what he was busy with.


    Alpha Kilian still did not show himself. He sat with his back to her, his voice hoarse. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I found a ck card at home. I guess it should be yours.¡± Shadow did not dare to say that this card was given to her by ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±.


    Alpha Kilian was silent for a while before he said, ¡°Since you found it, keep it.¡±


    ¡°But I heard that this card seems to be very valuable.¡± Henry and Jessica were shocked. How could it not be expensive?


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice did not sound emotional. ¡°No matter how valuable it is, someone has to spend it. It is the most useful thing.¡±


    Shadow was stunned for a moment. She actually felt that what he said was very reasonable. She could not find any words to refute it for a moment.


    Seeing that Alpha Kilian did not say anything else, Shadow turned around and left.


    At night, Hazel called her and said. ¡°I¡¯ll be back tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Order a ce and let¡¯s eat together.¡±


    Shadow looked at the ck card in her bag and said faintly, ¡°Then let¡¯s go to Golden Fountain Club.¡±


    ¡°You won five million?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much.¡± Alpha Kilian said that no matter how valuable the item was, it was still worth it. Someone had to use it to make it work.


    Therefore, she decided to use it!

 80

    Because Hazel ising back, Shadow was in a really good mood all day.


    There were a lot of things happening at work, so Jessica didn¡¯t find any fault with her.


    Before she finished work, she called Frank and told him not toe pick her up. She invited a friend to dinner.


    After leaving the Eden Group, Shadow remembered that she still needed to cook for ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±.


    She stood on the side of the road and took out her phone to call ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±.


    He answered the phone after just one ring.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Alpha Dominic¡¯s voice was a bit low, but it sounded even more charming over the phone.


    Shadow was used to his voice and she shook her head slightly. ¡°Are youing home for dinner tonight?¡±


    He asked, ¡°Where else would I eat?¡±


    Shadow exined happily, ¡°I invited a friend to dinner tonight.¡±


    There was a moment of silence on the other end and Alpha Dominic¡¯s voice came through with an inexplicable coldness. ¡°You have a date with Henry?¡±


    Shadow¡¯s mouth twitched. This guy was just crazy.


    ¡°I asked a friend who is a girl to meet him!¡± Shadow gritted her teeth. ¡°Even though I promised to cook for you, I¡¯m not a house servant. I have my own friends and acquaintances too.¡±


    Alpha Dominic¡¯s attitude suddenly became much more rxed. He said lightly, ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Alpha Kilian looked at Xavier. His tone was indifferent. ¡°Did you say there¡¯s dinner tonight?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you not going?¡± Xavier looked at him in surprise. Alpha Kilian rarely went to dinner.


    Arthur knew everything. ¡°Because his wife isn¡¯t home tonight.¡±


    ¡°You talk too much.¡± Alpha Kilian nced at Arthur. He turned around and left quietly.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡­


    When Shadow took a taxi to Golden Fountain, she didn¡¯t see Hazel.


    She was about to pick up her phone and call Hazel when a heavily armed woman approached her.


    Shadow tentatively asked, ¡°Hazel?¡±


    Hazel pushed her sunsses back a bit and looked around nervously. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    After saying that, she pulled Shadow towards the entrance and asked as they walked, ¡°Can you get in?¡±


    Hazel knew that Golden Fountain was one of the best high-end clubs in the Herton Pack and they were very strict about who could enter.


    Shadow nodded. ¡°I can get in. I¡¯ve eaten here before.¡±


    The two of them had already reached the entrance. When the doorman saw Shadow, he shouted ¡°Wee¡± to her loudly. They were very weing.


    After entering, Hazel took off her sunsses and removed the scarf that covered half of her face. She carefully looked Shadow up and down. ¡°I just came back from filming a scene. Did you transform yourselfpletely?¡±


    Hazel and Shadow had known each other for many years, but most of the time, Shadow had an ¡°ugly¡± appearance and Hazel was used to it.


    Thest time she saw Shadow on the film set, she had already returned to her original appearance. But now, after some time had passed, Shadow¡¯s temperament seemed to have improved a bit.


    The two of them got into the elevator and Shadow took a picture of the elevator wall. ¡°No, I¡¯m still the same as before.¡±


    Hazel stood beside her and suddenly said, ¡°Why don¡¯t youe and act as well? You might be more famous than me.¡±


    ¡°The entertainment industry is messy and there¡¯s a lot of drama. I don¡¯t want to get involved,¡± Shadow replied.


    They found a seat and ced their orders.


    Shadow got up to go to the restroom.


    After washing her hands, she came out and walked with her head down. She was a bit absent-minded and identally bumped into someone at the corner.


    She quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    The man was tall and didn¡¯t say anything for a while.


    Curiously, Shadow looked up and saw Dn¡¯s friendly face.


    He smiled and gave off a refreshing vibe. He called her by her name, ¡°Shadow.¡±


    Shadow was a bit overwhelmed. ¡°Are you here for dinner too?¡±


    Herton Pack was a big ce, so she never expected to run into Dn twice in such a short time.


    ¡°Yes, I have a friend to meet here,¡± Dn nodded. Then he suddenly asked, ¡°How have you been?¡±


    He had seen the news about Shadow and Alpha Kilian.


    He didn¡¯t know how many distant cousins Alpha Kilian had, but there was only one close cousin, and that was his brother, Alpha Dominic.


    His mother was Alpha Kilian¡¯s aunt, so hisst name was different from Alpha Kilian¡¯s. His brother took their mother¡¯sst name.


    But his brother was only fourteen years old and he lived abroad with their mother.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing well,¡± Shadow replied, not understanding why Dn was asking.


    She always felt like Dn knew her from before.


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Dn said with a smile, but didn¡¯t say anything else.


    When Shadow returned to the restaurant and sat back down, Hazel showed her phone to her. ¡°Shadow, I just saw on Movie King Dn¡¯s Weibo. Do you think this ce is Golden Fountain?¡±


    Shadow looked down and saw that the picture in Dn¡¯stest Weibo post was clearly taken in Golden Fountain.


    But that wasn¡¯t surprising because she just saw him outside.


    Seeing Shadow¡¯s calm expression, Hazel patted her shoulder. ¡°Aren¡¯t you excited at all? If you go out for a walk right now, you might even run into Movie King Dn.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Shadow paused, afraid that Hazel wouldn¡¯t believe her, so she tried to sound serious. ¡°I actually ran into Dn twice. The first time was when I went to the restroom.¡±


    Hazel¡¯s mouth dropped open in disbelief.


    Not far away, Dn purposely walked around the hall to take a look. He happened to see where Shadow was sitting. The woman sitting across from her seemed to be a minor star who acted with himst time.


    Alpha Kilian and his group arrived at Golden Fountain. As soon as they stepped into the elevator, he received a notification on his phone.


    Shadow used his card?


    Xavier saw the message on Alpha Kilian¡¯s phone and saw the faint smile on his face. A chill ran down Xavier¡¯s spine. ¡°You¡¯re crazy. She spent your money and you¡¯re still so happy.¡±


    Alpha Kilian looked up at him and said casually, ¡°If Shadow is willing to spend my money, what about Hazel spending yours?¡±


    Xavier felt a pang in his heart. It hurt.


    Alpha Kilian looked at the bill and thought for a moment. Then he smiled.


    Xavier felt that Alpha Kilian¡¯s smile was filled with malice.


    The elevator doors opened.


    Alpha Kilian looked up and saw Shadow standing outside the elevator.


    Shadow also saw him and eximed, ¡°Why are you here too?¡±


    Did they all n toe to Golden Fountain today? They all seemed to be rushing here one by one.


    When Xavier saw Hazel, his eyes lit up and he squeezed his way over. The tall man looked as excited as a puppy. ¡°Hazel!¡±


    Hazel nced at him and kicked him.

 81

    Shadow had seen Hazel deal with Xavier before, so she had gotten used to it.


    When she saw Arthur standing next to ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± and greeted him as ¡°Alpha Foster¡± with a smile, Shadow looked at Alpha Kilian and asked, ¡°Why are you also here?¡± The word ¡°also¡± meant that she had met someone else before.


    Shadow didn¡¯t have many friends, especially friends who coulde to Golden Fountain.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s eyes lit up. He walked over to Shadow, towering over her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were having dinner with your friends at Golden Fountain?¡±


    Shadow looked puzzled. ¡°What does this have to do with you?¡±


    Xavier didn¡¯t get angry when Hazel kicked him. He even smiled and said, ¡°Have you guys eaten? You must still be hungry. Want toe with us and eat more? It¡¯ll make more people happy.¡±


    ¡°No need. We¡¯re already full,¡± Shadow firmly declined.


    Alpha Kilian rarely spoke to her nicely. ¡°Let¡¯s go together. We can go back togetherter.¡±


    Shadow was actually quite soft-hearted. It was rare for him to speak to her so nicely, so she hesitated for a moment.


    Taking advantage of her hesitation, Alpha Kilian pulled her to the private room.


    Shadow wasn¡¯t being unreasonable. She could always take his car when she went back, but it would be embarrassing to be dragged by him.


    ¡°Let go, I¡¯ll go by myself.¡±


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± turned his head and looked at her. He didn¡¯t say anything and let go of her.


    Shadow turned to look at Hazel but Hazel followed along.


    However, the look of enjoying the spectacle in her eyes gave Shadow a bad feeling.


    Suddenly, she felt her phone vibrate.


    She picked it up and saw that Hazel had sent her a message.


    ¡°Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin is so impressive and domineering! He¡¯s also so handsome.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Maybe you should consider him. He¡¯s handsome, fit, and wealthy! Think about it?¡±


    Hazel didn¡¯t reply to her message and just stared at her.


    They finally reached the private room.


    Alpha Kilian and the other two were here for a business dinner. Since Shadow and Hazel were there, they didn¡¯t join the dinner. Instead, they ordered a simple meal in their own private room.


    Shadow and Hazel had already eaten, so they ordered a fruit tter.


    Dn¡¯s group had just finished their meal. When his assistant came in, she whispered in his ear, ¡°I saw Young Master Lancese in earlier.¡±


    Dn stood up and headed outside. ¡°I have to go say hello.¡±


    As he reached the room¡¯s door, he pushed it open and entered. He immediately spotted Alpha Kilian.


    About to speak, he suddenly noticed Shadow.


    Alpha Kilian hadn¡¯t expected Dn to be here. He nced at Shadow discreetly. She was looking at her phone with Hazel.


    Then, he turned his attention back to Dn. He was the first to speak, ¡°Movie King Dn is here too?¡±


    Shadow¡¯s earlier words of ¡°why are you also here¡± shed through his mind, and his expression changed subtly.


    Shadow heard his words and looked up abruptly. She saw Dn at the door.


    Dn quickly reacted and smiled. ¡°I heard Director Halls was here, so I came to greet him.¡±


    Dn was a contracted actor under the Nine Clouds. It wasn¡¯t a secret, so it made sense for him to be there.


    The atmosphere in the room suddenly became awkward. ¡°Oh, yes, you¡¯re here too.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, I have a friend waiting for me. I¡¯ll go over first.¡± Before leaving, Dn nced at Alpha Kilian and Shadow as if he was uninterested.


    Shadow felt like Dn was looking at ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±.


    Alpha Kilian thought Dn was looking at Shadow.


    The two exchanged strange looks but quickly looked away.


    ¡°That was Dn just now!¡± Hazel reacted a beatter. She pat Shadow fiercely and said, ¡°Shadow, that was Dn! Why didn¡¯t you go up and take a photo with him?¡±


    Xavier immediately chimed in, smiling. ¡°Shadow, if you want to take a photo with Dn, you can find me at thepany.¡±


    As the saying goes, to win over a woman, start by winning over her friends. Shadow was Hazel¡¯s good friend.


    When Alpha Kilian heard this, he coldly nced at Xavier. ¡°Can¡¯t you keep your mouth shut while eating?¡±


    Xavier wore an inexplicable expression. Did he say something wrong?


    Why did Alpha Kilian seem angry? He was so happy when Shadow spent his money earlier!


    He was trying to please Shadow! Shouldn¡¯t Alpha Kilian be grateful?


    The harmonious atmosphere turned strange because of Dn¡¯s sudden appearance.


    Shadow felt a little strange even after they left Golden Fountain.


    On their way back, Shadow asked ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±, ¡°Do you know Dn too?¡±


    Otherwise, why would Dn look at him before leaving?


    Alpha Kilian was irritated by the question. He responded coldly, ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡±


    What kind of temper was that? She asked a question, and he didn¡¯t want to answer. Couldn¡¯t he just say so? Did he have to be so hurtful?


    Under the same roof, she had hoped to build a good rtionship with him!


    When they arrived home, Shadow didn¡¯t say another word to him.


    As soon as she entered, she found a bodyguard and asked, ¡°Is your young master at home?¡±


    The bodyguard was ready to say that the young master was already asleep.


    Shadow nodded and went upstairs.


    She thought for a moment and sent a text message to Alpha Kilian: ¡°I had dinner with Hazel tonight and just came back. Good night.¡±


    Alpha Kilian entered his room with a cold expression and received Shadow¡¯s message.


    She even reported to him? She was getting better at appeasing people.


    Although he thought that in his mind, his tense expression from the whole night couldn¡¯t help but rx.


    His long finger slid across the screen as he replied to Shadow with a simple ¡°Okay.¡±


    Just as he sent the message, Dn called.


    Alpha Kilian stared at the phone for a couple of seconds before answering the call.


    Dn¡¯s voice was as gentle as ever. ¡°Alpha Kilian?¡±


    In his memory, Dn had always been Dn, a well-tempered big brother.


    However, Shadow didn¡¯t hold back and greeted him with ¡°Big brother greets Shadow.¡±

 82

    Dn was quiet for a moment. He spoke honestly, ¡°We met once before.¡±


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice became colder. ¡°She is Shadow.¡±


    ¡°I know. She is your new wife, Shadow.¡± Dn¡¯s voice suddenly became otherworldly.


    Alpha Kilian frowned and stopped talking. He didn¡¯t say anything else and hung up the phone.


    The next morning.


    Shadow got up and made breakfast. When she saw ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±e downstairs, she couldn¡¯t help but think about what happened yesterday.


    She brought out the breakfast and sneaked a nce at ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    Alpha Kilian looked at his phone and took a sip of water. He suddenly said, ¡°Why are you peeking at me?¡±


    Shadow raised her eyebrows and looked at him yfully. ¡°I see that you look a little down. Do you want me to cook some beef strips for you?¡±


    Alpha Kilian paused at her words. He looked up and smiled meaningfully. ¡°You are the only woman in this house. Are you trying to nourish my kidneys by cooking beef strips?¡±


    Shadow red at him and turned to enter the kitchen.


    She rarely won against ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± when it came to bantering.


    In the end, the two of them left unhappily.


    As usual, Frank drove Shadow to work at Eden Group.


    In the car, Shadow couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Frank, has your young master always been like this, never meeting outsiders?¡±


    Frank thought of Alpha Kilian who ran around every day and said with a guilty conscience, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Has he seen a doctor?¡± After Shadow finished speaking, she realized that her words could be easily misunderstood. She exined, ¡°What I mean is, it¡¯s not possible for him to never see anyone for the rest of his life. He should live a normal life.¡±


    Alpha Kilian, who needed to live a normal life, called Frank at that moment.


    ¡°Sorry, I have to take this call.¡± Frank answered the phone.


    Alpha Kilian sounded serious. ¡°Keep a close eye on Shadow.¡±


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s request was a little strange, but Frank didn¡¯t ask further. He replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Shadow arrived at the entrance of thepany and met Jessica.


    Jessica looked at the car that brought Shadow and a twinge of jealousy appeared in her eyes.


    If she was the one who married into the Srnoult family back then, she would be the oneing to work in that car every day.


    Shadow tidied her hair and walked up to Jessica, who was wearing high heels like her. She smiled and greeted, ¡°Morning, Manager.¡±


    Jessica snorted coldly and ignored her.


    When they reached the office, Shadow continued photocopying the remaining information from yesterday, just like the day before.


    Jessica¡¯s actions were clearly meant to make things difficult for Shadow. Everyone in the project department noticed, but no one dared to say anything.


    However, this didn¡¯t stop them from gossiping about it and spreading the news to Jason.


    Right before lunch break, Jason called Jessica into his office.


    ¡°Even if you don¡¯t like Shadow, don¡¯t be so obvious about it! If others see this, they will start gossiping!¡±


    Jessica didn¡¯t seem to care at all. ¡°I am the chairman¡¯s daughter and the manager of the project department. Who dares to say anything?¡±


    ¡°If you want to suppress Shadow, you should at least endure a little bit.¡± Jason felt somewhat disappointed. He used to think Jessica was quite clever, but now she seemed so foolish!Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll take her out to discuss the projects this afternoon.¡± Jessica didn¡¯t want to listen to Jason¡¯s long lecture. She turned around and walked out.


    Shadow had been staying in the photocopy room for the past two days.


    Someone came by to print some documents. Shadow greeted them with a smile. She was beautiful and had a pleasant temperament. She was even on good terms with the chairman. As a result, her colleagues had a better impression of her.


    A kind-hearted colleague reminded her, ¡°You don¡¯t need to photocopy all of these. These documents are useless.¡±


    Shadow looked surprised and disbelieving, ¡°They¡¯re all useless?¡±


    At that moment, Jessica¡¯s secretary came to look for her. ¡°Shadow, the manager wants to see you.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll go see the manager first.¡± Shadow smiled and stopped her work. She headed to Jessica¡¯s office.


    As soon as she entered, Jessica threw a stack of documents at her. ¡°These are the documents for the cooperation project we¡¯re going to discuss today. Take a look. We¡¯ll discuss it in the afternoon.¡±


    Shadow epted the papers and nced at them. She realized she didn¡¯t understand anything, and there were many technical terms written on them.


    It was as if there was a mountain separating her from the industry. She was clueless,pletely clueless.


    She hadn¡¯t transferred to the project department with good intentions. Jessica was bringing her along to discuss the projects, so she definitely didn¡¯t have good intentions.


    She needed to investigate thispany first.


    She tried to investigate but couldn¡¯t find anything.


    Hazel definitely didn¡¯t know about these things. Henry might know, but she couldn¡¯t ask him.


    Thinking about it, it seemed like her only option was to ask ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±.


    For some reason, even though ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± seemed to have nothing to do all day, he was still a member of the Lances family. The Lances family was in charge of business, so he should know these professional terms.


    During the lunch break, Shadow called ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±.


    She was a little worried that no one would answer, but surprisingly, the call was picked up after a few rings.


    Shadow remembered that she had scolded him in the morning, so her tone was a little guilty. ¡°Alpha Dominic, are you busy right now?¡±


    ¡°Do you need something?¡±


    Shadow felt guilty and said, ¡°I want to treat you to lunch.¡±


    ¡°Tell me the reason,¡± ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± replied casually.


    Did this man have some sort of magic power to see through things?


    Shadow stopped feeling shy and boldly said, ¡°I need a favor from you.¡±


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± didn¡¯t mock her as usual. He made a decision right away. ¡°I wille to Eden Group to pick you up.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Shadow said.


    But when she hung up the phone, she started to feel that something was off.


    She had asked ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± for help, so shouldn¡¯t she go and find him?


    And yet, he wanted to pick her up by car!


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± arrived very quickly. Shadow didn¡¯t wait for him at the entrance of Eden Group. Instead, she went to a less crowded intersection to meet him.


    When Alpha Kilian found her, his expression was very unpleasant. ¡°Get in the car!¡±


    Was he so embarrassed by their rtionship?


    Shadow finally realized why his expression was so bad and apologized softly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Many people at Eden Group have seen you. I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll start gossiping if they see us together.¡±


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t say a word. He just smiled coldly.


    This feeling of hiding was very ufortable. If she had known this was the result, she would have let him do whatever he wanted that night when she got drunk!


    Shadow was frightened by ¡°Alpha Dominic¡¯s¡± expression, as if he wanted to kill her. She shut her mouth and didn¡¯t say anything else.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± drove her to a restaurant with few people.


    The two of them sat down and ced their orders. Alpha Dominic¡¯s gaze fell on the folder of documents in her hands. His voice was low. ¡°Show me what you have.¡±


    Shadow looked at him in shock. She slowly handed him the documents. ¡°How did you know that this is what I need help with?¡±


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± looked at her as if she were a fool.

 83

    ¡°Alpha Dominic,¡± growled with a low, rumbling voice as he snatched the document from Shadow¡¯s hands. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any clue about what you¡¯re studying?¡±


    Shadow, a neer in the Lances family, recalled that they had thoroughly investigated her before their marriage. They already knew her academic major, which had nothing to do with business.


    Alpha Dominic swiftly skimmed through the document, his eyebrows furrowing slightly before setting it aside.


    Puzzled, Shadow asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Alpha Dominic looked at her, his amber eyes piercing, and replied, ¡°This document is worthless. The other party won¡¯t agree to this project.¡±


    Just then, the tes of food were served. Alpha Kilian picked up his chopsticks and began eating.


    Shadow nced at the document with doubt, struggling to see what was wrong with it.


    However, since she sought Alpha Dominic¡¯s help, she decided to trust his judgment and refrained from asking further questions.


    In the afternoon, Jessica brought a group of people to discuss the project.


    The RTM Group, a medium-sizedpany in Herton Pack, arrived for the meeting. They held better prospects than the Eden Group.


    The group entered the meeting room and soon, the project¡¯s representative arrived.


    The representative was a middle-aged woman, meticulously groomed and exuding a powerful aura. Her presence alone indicated she was a force to be reckoned with.


    Jessica stood up and greeted her with arrogance. ¡°Manager Doren, we meet again.¡±


    Manager Doren nced at her and nonchntly took her seat, unfazed by Jessica¡¯s tone. She spoke in a business-like manner, ¡°As I mentioned before, if the Eden Group wants to coborate on this project, they must show sincerity.¡±


    Jessica smiled and turned to Shadow. ¡°She is also the daughter of my father, the chairman of the Eden Group. This time, he sent both of us sisters to discuss the project. Isn¡¯t that sincere enough?¡±


    Manager Doren¡¯s expression worsened as she looked at Shadow. She detested these types of connections and saw them as useless. Her dislike for Jessica had increased even more now that Shadow was involved.


    ¡°Apologies, but I have another meeting at three o¡¯clock. Excuse me,¡± Manager Doren abruptly stood up and left the room.


    Shadow finally understood why Alpha Dominic had warned her about discussing this project with the Eden Group.


    Manager Doren appeared to be a formidable woman who clearly looked down on Jessica. Rather than facing her alone, Jessica tried to involve Shadow, making Manager Doren despise her even more.


    Observing Manager Doren¡¯s departure, Jessica turned to Shadow with a cold expression and scolded, ¡°Dad values this project greatly. Now that you messed it up, let¡¯s see how you exin it to him.¡±


    Shadow, bewildered, wondered how she was to me when she hadn¡¯t said a word during Manager Doren¡¯s visit. Jessica, however, tried to shift all the me onto her.


    Shadow turned her gaze towards the two individuals apanying her. As they sensed her stare, they quickly averted their eyes, clearly aligning with Jessica.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What are you standing there for? Still hoping Manager Doren wille back?¡± Jessica sneered, looking down on Shadow, before arrogantly leaving the room.


    Reluctantly, Shadow followed her out.


    She thought Jessica was simply foolish, willing to sabotage such an important project for the Eden Group just to undermine her.


    Jessica was spoiled and lived a life of luxury not thanks to the Eden Group, but because she consideredpany projects as mere child¡¯s y.


    If this continued, the fate of the Eden Group would be doomed.


    Upon returning to the Eden Group, Jessica summoned Shadow to Jason¡¯s office.


    Jason had just concluded a meeting and returned, spotting both of them present. He inquired, ¡°You two went to discuss the project today. How did it go?¡±


    Jessica bit her lip, her eyes slightly red, and apologized, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have let Shadow apany me for the discussion on the RTM project.¡±


    Before she could finish, Jason interrupted with anger etched on his face. ¡°RTM? Who told you to bring up the cooperation project with RTM?¡±


    He knew his daughter well. Understanding that Jessicacked negotiation skills, he had nned to approach the project from a long-term perspective and involve someone more suitable.


    ¡°It was Shadow who wanted to prove herself and handle a significant project. When she asked, I couldn¡¯t refuse and took her along to discuss the RTM project,¡± Jessica exined, her words replete with loopholes.


    Jason adored his daughter, even if he knew she was lying, he would only vent his anger towards Shadow.


    ¡°Shadow! I transferred you to the project department for learning, not to pull Jessica down and ruin thepany¡¯s projects!¡± Jason¡¯s face turned dark, as if he wanted to strike Shadow.


    Shadow, with a cold gaze, stared at the father-daughter duo and sneered, ¡°Do I really need to bring Jessica down? She¡¯s like a broken leg,pletely useless! Ask yourself, how many projects has she negotiated sessfully since joining the Eden Group, and how many has she ruined?¡±


    ¡°Shadow, what nonsense are you spouting!? Thepany has numerous projects every year. I¡¯ve brought in teams and worked diligently on them!¡± Jessica shook her head, pain evident on her face. ¡°I¡¯ve devoted myself wholeheartedly to thepany. Can¡¯t you see that?¡±


    Shadow¡¯s eyes showed a smile that didn¡¯t reach her heart. ¡°Of course, your dedication is unquestionable.¡±

 84

    Shadow was the first to go out. She stood at the door and waited for Jessica.


    When Jessica saw her, she did not have a good expression, ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can be proud of yourself. Wait for daddy to chase you out of the Eden Group!¡±


    ¡°Chase me out of the Eden Group?¡± Shadow smiled gently and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you want Alpha Kilian to invest in the Eden Group?¡±


    Jessica snorted, ¡°Do you really think that Alpha Kilian, that cripple, has any money?¡±


    ¡°Be more civilized.¡± Shadow coldly nced at her.


    ¡°You are not even clean yourself, yet you still have the nerve to talk about others?¡± Jessica raised her chin and smiledcently. Suddenly, she thought of something and the smile on her face disappeared slightly. She turned around and returned to Jason¡¯s office.


    Shadow looked at the tightly shut office door and turned to leave.


    In Jason¡¯s office.


    Jason sat opposite him with a serious expression. ¡°Dad, I forgot to tell you something. Shadow has a limited global ck card that belongs to the Lances s¡¯ internal personnel!¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡± Jason asked in shock. ¡°She just went to Lances family not long ago. Is it possible that Alpha Kilian gave her the ck card?¡±


    ¡°Thest time Henry and I went to Golden Fountain Club for dinner, I saw her take the ck card and pay the bill with my own eyes.¡± Jessica said excitedly, ¡°I heard that the Lances s¡¯ ck card doesn¡¯t have a consumption limit.¡±


    Jason also did not know if the limited global ck card had a consumption limit.


    As a wealthy family, even if the medicinal Lances s¡¯ had a consumption limit, the amount of money in the cards must be veryrge.


    Seeing that Jason had already listened to her words, Jessica continued, ¡°If we can obtain the ck card from Shadow ¡®s hands, we won¡¯t have to worry about money anymore!¡±


    Jason wanted to do as she said, but he was an experienced businessman after all. He would not be as impulsive as a young man. He was much more cautious when doing things.


    He thought about it and said, ¡°But no matter what, that ck card was given to Shadow by Alpha Kilian. Will she give it to us?¡±


    Jessica saw that Jason was already moved and a glimmer of hope shed in her eyes. ¡°Dad, you are Shadow ¡®s biological father. You gave birth to her and raised her. Now, you only need to use her ck card. What¡¯s the big deal? Even if she has a misunderstanding about you and doesn¡¯t want to give the card to you, at least she still has a mother.¡±


    When Jason heard this, he was silent for a moment and then nodded.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡­


    Shadow returned home from work. ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± came back before the meal was ready.


    A heater was turned on in the Castle. He took off his coat as soon as he entered the house. All that was left was a thin dark shirt and pants. He was tall and straight.


    He heard the sound and went to the kitchen to look for Shadow.


    He leaned against the door frame. His voice was low and his tone was indifferent, ¡°How was the discussion on the project?¡±


    Shadow was just cutting vegetables and said carelessly, ¡°I screwed up.¡±


    He seemed to be smiling and said, ¡°The first project you did was ruined by you.¡±


    The emotions in his tone were not very obvious. Shadow could not tell if he was mocking her.


    She turned back to look at him, ¡°That was caused by Jessica, not me.¡±


    Although Jessica had already thrown the me of her messing up the project onto her, she would not admit it.


    After she finished speaking, she turned around and went to cut vegetables.


    Alpha Kilian lowered his head and smiled silently.


    The next day was Saturday.


    Shadow got up early to make breakfast as usual. ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± also got up early.


    Shadow saw him and said, ¡°Is your cousin up? Take his breakfast up and give it to him.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Alpha Kilian turned her down without hesitation.


    He was already standing here. Why did he have to bring breakfast upstairs?


    Shadow red at him and called a bodyguard to bring Alpha Kilian¡¯s breakfast upstairs.


    After she finished her meal, she went out.


    She usually did not go out on weekends. Alpha Kilian was a little curious about where she would go, so he asked Frank to drive behind her.


    In the end, Shadow went to a mental clinic.


    Alpha Kilian sat in the car across the road. He looked at the door of the clinic through the window. ¡°What is she doing there?¡±


    Frank remembered what Shadow said in the car yesterday. He hesitated and said, ¡°Young Madame probably went there because of young master.¡±


    Because of him?


    Alpha Kilian thought for a while and understood what was going on.


    Did this woman think that he had a mental problem, and that was why she went to the mental clinic?


    Shadow had been in Lances family for a long time and had never seen Alpha Kilian. If it was anyone else, they would probably think that Alpha Kilian had mental problems.


    This woman had really put in a lot of effort for Alpha Kilian.


    Frank looked at his boss¡¯s constantly changing expression and asked tentatively, ¡°When does young master n to let Young Madame know your identity?¡±


    When?


    Alpha Kilian did not know how to answer this question.


    At this moment, another familiar figure appeared at the door of the clinic.


    Frank saw that it was Dn and said, ¡°Young Master, is that Big Cousin Master?¡±


    Alpha Kilian looked in the direction Frank was pointing at and recognized the person who was dressed up on purpose. He was Dn.


    He was too familiar with Dn and could easily recognize him.


    Frank did not wait for Alpha Kilian¡¯s answer. Just as he was wondering, he heard the door open.


    Alpha Kilian had already gotten out of the car and walked towards the door of the clinic. Frank quickly followed him.


    Psychological consultation room.


    The doctor listened to Shadow¡¯s narration and then said seriously, ¡°This kind of symptom is also a kind of traumatic side effect. This should be rted to his past experiences. In his situation, he needs to rely on the guidance of people close to him.¡±


    Shadow subconsciously repeated, ¡°His past experiences?¡±


    The doctor exined to her in more detail, ¡°The things that caused him severe mental stimtion usually have something to do with his childhood and youth experiences. Because during these two periods, people¡¯s minds are notpletely mature and are rtively weak, that¡¯s why there are sequel.¡±


    The doctor¡¯s words were simple and direct, and it was easy to understand.


    This was simr to what Shadow thought in her heart.


    She did not tell the psychologist everything about Alpha Kilian¡¯s condition. She only said that the newly married husband did not like to see people and lived a very reclusive life.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s situation was a public secret in Herton Pack. If she told the psychologist about Alpha Kilian¡¯s condition, the doctor might guess that she was talking about Alpha Kilian.


    ¡°Okay, thank you, doctor.¡±


    Dn thanked the doctor and got up to leave.


    She had only walked a few steps when she saw two men walking towards her.


    The two men walked towards her one after the other. The man walking in front of her was well hidden, but his figure made her somewhat familiar.


    As they gradually got closer, the man took off his sses. Whether it was the smile on his face or his voice, they were both perfectly gentle.


    ¡°Shadow, we meet again.¡±


    ¡°Dn?¡±


    Shadow looked at the man in front of her in shock.


    She had run into Movie King Dn again!


    Dn saw her expression and could not helpughing. ¡°Why are you so surprised to see me?¡±


    Shadow nodded and said, ¡°In a short month, I have met you three times. I think I can go and buy lottery tickets.¡±

 85

    Shadow didn¡¯t know how hrious her words were. Regardless, Dn suddenly burst into uproariousughter.


    Dn was a hotshot in the entertainment industry. Wherever he went, there was no shortage of paparazzi.


    Shadow didn¡¯t want to identally run into him, even if it was just a coincidence. She feared that the reporters would capture photos of her.


    Unfortunately, Dn had a keen memory. He even took the initiative to greet her the next two times he spotted her.


    If the paparazzi snapped pictures of her, she would undoubtedly be in the headlines once again.


    She had even concocted a headline in her mind.


    For instance, Young Madame Lance¡¯s secret rendezvous with an entertainment big shot.


    Something of that sort.


    The mere thought of it sent shivers down her spine.


    Thus, Shadow refrained from saying anything more to Dn. She politely smiled. ¡°I have to attend to something, so I shall bid you farewell.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye. Until we meet again.¡± Dn¡¯s eyes flickered with understanding. His demeanor remained gentle.


    This made Shadow slightly uneasy. She hastened her departure.


    Dn turned around, witnessing Shadow¡¯s figure vanish into thin air, before resuming his stride.


    His assistant behind him suddenly spoke up, ¡°Brother Dn, what¡¯s the connection between that woman and Young Master Lance? I believe I spotted her with Young Master Lanceat Golden Fountain that day.¡±


    ¡°Really? I cannot say for certain.¡± Dn walked in front, his head bowed. The smile on his face disappeared. No one could decipher his thoughts.


    Dn¡¯s purpose ining here today was primarily to prepare for his next film.


    The new film he had taken on was a suspenseful thriller. He portrayed a psychologist, hence his visit to the psychological clinic today for research.


    As soon as the two of them entered, Alpha Kilian and Frank appeared in the corridor behind them.


    Alpha Kilian observed the spot where Dn and Shadow conversed.


    Frank gazed at Alpha Kilian, wanting to say something, yet refrained from doing so.


    Dn did not have much time, so he did not linger in the psychologist¡¯s domain for long.


    The moment he exited, he caught sight of Alpha Kilian standing in the corridor.


    He looked taken aback. ¡°Alpha Kilian? What brings you here?¡±


    In utter realization, he continued, ¡°You came with Shadow.¡±


    Alpha Kilian did not utter a word. He raised his hand, gesturing for Frank to depart.


    When Frank turned to leave, Dn¡¯s assistant also tactfully took his leave.


    In the vacant corridor, only the two of them remained.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s countenance appeared slightly cold, although it differed from his indifference toward strangers.


    He leveled his gaze at Dn. ¡°Dn, I had previously warned you that she is Shadow.¡±


    ¡°I am aware that she is Shadow. Her name is quite fascinating.¡± Dn¡¯s smile remained unchanged, exuding gentleness.


    Alpha Kilian narrowed his eyes and spoke icily. ¡°Shadow bears a striking resemnce to Jasmine, but she is not Jasmine.¡±


    Dn¡¯s gentle expression finally crumbled. Unable to maintain hisposure, he widened his eyes and shouted, ¡°Shut your mouth!¡±


    Alpha Kilianpsed into silence, refraining from any further speech.


    After some time, Dn managed to regain hisposure, his usual gentleness returning to his face.


    ¡°Alpha Kilian, I truly merely coincidentally bumped into Shadow.¡± He regarded Alpha Kilian, assessing him. ¡°You seem rather anxious about her.¡±


    Alpha Kilian squinted his eyes, his tone turning cold. ¡°She is my wife.¡±


    ¡°Why did you utilize my brother¡¯s name to deceive Shadow?¡± Dn sounded nonchnt, but soon enough, he chuckled again. ¡°If Nick knew, he would demand his fee.¡±


    Alpha Kilian peered deeply into Dn¡¯s eyes, lowering his voice. ¡°Dn, Jasmine has been absent for quite some time now. It¡¯s time for you to move on.¡±


    Upon finishing his words, Alpha Kilian did not cast a nce at Dn¡¯s sudden change in expression and strode away.


    ¡­


    Shadow exited the psychological treatment room, her thoughts lingering on Alpha Kilian as she strolled leisurely.


    A car horn red from behind her.


    Why were people so audacious nowadays? She had already positioned herself at the side of the road, yet they continued to honk their horns relentlessly, signaling for her to clear a path.


    She cast an irritated gaze over her shoulder. The ck car parked directly behind her. The window was half-opened, revealing the handsome and intimidating face of Alpha Dominic.


    ¡°Why is he here?¡±


    Though puzzled, she did not hesitate. She opened the door and climbed into the car.


    Before she could even utter a word, Alpha Kilian spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t bother asking why I¡¯m here. Such a question is dim-witted.¡±


    Shadow hadn¡¯t even finished her sentence.


    She had no desire to say anything.


    Alpha Kilian turned his head to face her. His expression appearednguid. ¡°Get in the car.¡±


    Frank, seated in the driver¡¯s seat, couldn¡¯t help butugh upon hearing their exchange.


    Yet, in an instant, he saw Alpha Kilian shoot him a frigid re through the rearview mirror, rendering him silent.


    Shadow, having just entered the vehicle, failed to recognize that Frank was behind the wheel. ¡°Frank, did your young master not go out today?¡±


    Frank silently regarded Alpha Kilian, who sat in the backseat. He shook his head. ¡°No.¡±


    Shadow nodded in response. By now, she was already contemting what she could cook for Alpha Kilian upon returning home for lunch.


    Pondering over it, she peered at ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Alpha Kilian turned to face her expressionlessly.


    To be abruptly scrutinized by ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was indeed terrifying.


    Shadow inched backward. ¡°Just tell me honestly, what does your brother enjoy eating?¡±


    Shadow donned a white down jacket that day. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail. Her countenance remained fair and delicate. She emanated an aura of simplicity and innocence, akin to a young girl yet to experience theplexities of the world.


    With her beautiful and bright feline eyes, she gazed at him, awaiting his response.


    Alpha Kilian reached forward, loosening his tie. His voice emerged huskier than before. ¡°Why do you concern yourself so much with him?¡±


    ¡°I am his wife. If I don¡¯t take an interest, should I take an interest in you instead?¡± Shadow couldn¡¯t help but shoot him a re when she recollected what ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± had done to her in the past.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± appeared unfazed. He continued, ¡°Given our cousin¡¯s condition, you cannot fulfill the duties of a normal married couple by being intimate with him. He may not even be able to inherit the Lance Group. You¡¯ve never even met him before. Why are you chasing after him like this?¡±


    Shadow failed to perceive the sarcasm in Alpha Dominic¡¯s tone. Instead, his words appeared more inquisitive.


    Shadow pursed her lips. Rarely in aposed and willing manner, she sought to rify matters for him.


    ¡°Do you truly want to know why?¡± Shadow pondered briefly before earnestly answering, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s a matter of responsibility. Although I was coerced by my mother to marry your cousin, if I had defied her to the death on that day, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to do anything to me. Seeing as I did marry your cousin, I bear the responsibility of being a wife. Furthermore¡­¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Shadow paused, her voice teeming with near-sighs. ¡°Throughout these years, the people of Herton City have regarded Alpha Kilian¡¯s situation as an after-meal topic. He has be theughing stock in front of society. Yet, he didn¡¯t wish to end up this way. He is merely a victim. More innocent than anyone.¡±

 86

    Shadow ¡®s voice whispered and the carriage descended into an eerie hush. The moonlight pierced through the thick canopy of trees, casting long shadows over the group.


    Her eyes searched for Frank, who sat at the front, driving the carriage. They then shifted to ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±, the pack¡¯s leader. Lost in thought, his brooding gaze met hers as she reached out tofort him with a touch. ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me what your cousin fancies to feast upon.¡±


    Alpha Kilian snapped back to reality, his gaze piercing into her soul. After a few agonizingly long moments, he replied, ¡°He is not a fussy eater. Anything will do.¡±


    He spoke the truth. Shadow ¡®s culinary skills were unmatched, and he had relished every dish she had prepared for him over time. Yet his words seemed devoid of meaning, as if they were empty, hollow.


    From that moment on, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± grew quiet, consumed by his own thoughts. Shadow had no inkling of what was tormenting him.


    Immediately upon reaching home, her first act was to seek out Alpha Kilian.


    She sprinted towards the study door, knocking fervently. No response came from within its walls.


    Descending the stairs, she encountered ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±. Curiosity filled her voice as she inquired, ¡°Weren¡¯t you with Alpha Kilian at home? I knocked on the study door, but no one answered.¡±


    Alpha Kilian averted his eyes, avoiding her gaze. His voice dropped, ¡°Maybe he¡¯s retired to his room for some rest. His health isn¡¯t the best, and exhaustion can easily gue him.¡±


    Once you have woven the first web of lies, countless more must follow to make it believable.


    He had lied to Shadow before, simply to tease her. His mischievous nature had clouded his judgment.


    In the open and in the dark, he had overheard her defending Alpha Kilian.


    Alpha Kilian, born into a legacy spanning a century, was well acquainted with deception. He possessed an innate ability to discern between truth and falsehood. It was this very ability that muddled his sentiments towards Shadow, leaving him perplexed.


    Shadow nodded, her mind filled with uncertainty, before proceeding downstairs.


    Meanwhile, Alpha Kilian observed her retreat into the kitchen and summoned Xavier,manding, ¡°Join me for a drink!¡±


    ¡°I have prior engagements,¡± Xavier attempted to decline, but Alpha Kilian severed the connection before he could express his reluctance.


    ¡­


    At the Golden Fountain.


    Xavier reluctantly toyed with his wine ss as he approached Alpha Kilian. ¡°Tell me, what gues you so deeply that you desired a ndestine drink during daylight hours?¡±


    Alpha Kilian remained silent, taking a sip of his wine.


    Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Xavier halted his usual jovial facade and spoke sincerely, ¡°You must confide in me. You understand this, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Finally, Alpha Kilian turned his head to meet his gaze.


    But after gazing upon Xavier for several lingering seconds, he looked away and spoke lightly, ¡°Even if I were to tell you, you wouldn¡¯tprehend.¡±


    Then why seek sce in me, over a drink? Xavier wondered, puzzled.


    ¡­


    As Shadow prepared her meal, a bodyguard informed her that both Alpha Kilian and ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± had left the premises together.


    She would dine alone.


    Just as she picked up her chopsticks, her phone began to ring.


    She retrieved it from her pocket and noticed Lisa¡¯s name disyed on the screen. With a swift tap, the call connected, the speaker activating. ¡°Hello?¡±


    A deafening noise screeched through the phone, followed by a desperate plea. ¡°Shadow, save me!¡±


    Shadow scrutinized the number, confirming it to be Lisa¡¯s.


    Lisa¡¯s voice trembled amidst sobs, ¡°Shadow, I admit my past mistakes. But no matter what, I am your mother. You must save me.¡±


    Before Shadow could respond, the phone changed hands. A man¡¯s voice reced Lisa¡¯s.


    ¡°You are her daughter, aren¡¯t you? Listen closely. Prepare a ransom of 50 million within two hours. Or¡­¡± His voice turned malevolent. ¡°We will end her life.¡±


    Shadow was initially startled, but her tone turned frigid as she replied, ¡°I do not possess the funds. If you seek money, go to the Eden Group and approach Jason!¡±


    Lisa had been kidnapped?


    50 million was no trifling sum!


    If the kidnapper had targeted Lisa, they should have called Jason, not her.


    ¡°Humph, Young Madame Lance, im youck wealth? What a farce! You have two hours to gather the funds. Do not involve the police. One wrong move, and we shall y the hostage!¡±


    The line abruptly disconnected.


    But not before Shadow heard Lisa scream in agony.


    Shadow¡¯s grip tightened around the phone, her expression contorted with anguish.


    Regardless of Lisa¡¯s transgressions, blood ties bound them together. She couldn¡¯t stand idly by while her mother suffered.


    She reached for her phone, desperately dialing Jason¡¯s number.


    No response.


    Growing frantic, Shadow fled from the mountain, hailing a taxi to the Eden estate.


    Having abandoned her former identity, Shadow hadn¡¯t returned to the Eden estate. Thus, when she arrived at the front door, a vignt maid barred her entry.


    The maid inquired, ¡°Who are you seeking, youngdy?¡±


    Shadow cast a frigid nce at her, her voiceced with ice. ¡°I am Shadow.¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Third Lady?¡± Disbelief etched across the maid¡¯s features, though upon closer inspection, the resemnce to Lisa was undeniable.


    The maid dared not impede her any longer.


    Shadow queried as she marched forward, ¡°Where can I find my father and Jessica?¡±


    ¡°They are having dinner, Third Lady.¡± The maid then inquired, ¡°Have you dined?¡±


    Shadow paid no attention to the question, her anger aze.


    Even if one loses a mere pet, they frantically search for it. Yet Lisa, her mother, had been kidnapped!


    Familiar with theyout of the Eden estate, she made her way directly to the dining area.


    ¡°Dad, this shrimp is quite splendid. Give it a try.¡±


    ¡°It surpasses the usual vor.¡±


    As she entered, Jason and Jessica were engrossed in their meal, delighting in each bite.


    Jessica was the first to glimpse Shadow¡¯s fury. Surprise registered on her face. ¡°When Mom invites you for dinner, you typically neglect the invitation. Yet now, with her absence, you return?¡±


    Shadow strode forward, seizing the bowl before Jessica, shattering it on the ground. ¡°My mom has been kidnapped, and you both have the audacity to eat!¡±


    Jessica¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What? Mom¡¯s been kidnapped?¡±


    ¡°Were you not contacted by the kidnappers?¡± Shadow¡¯s narrowed gaze bore into Jessica.


    Mom said she had gone for a cosmetic surgery appointment with a friend and instructed us not to wait for her. How can she be kidnapped?¡± Jessica expressed skepticism.


    ¡°Somebody called me, demanding a ransom of 50 million within two hours, or they will kill my mom!¡± Shadow¡¯s voice quavered with anxiety.


    Jessica¡¯s immediate concern was not for Lisa¡¯s safety, but rather the financial strain of producing such arge sum. Furrowing her brows, she uttered, ¡°50 million? That¡¯s a significant amount! Thepany has financial shorings. Acquiring such funds on short notice is not feasible.¡±


    A coldness washed over Shadow¡¯s face. ¡°If you cannot provide it, then find a way! My mom has dedicated so many years to this family. Is she not worth 50 million to all of you?¡±

 87

    Shadow¡¯s words echoed through the night with a bite to them, sharp and unforgiving.


    However, deep within her heart, those words held a different meaning. Lisa, despite her appearance of wealth and luxury in the Eden family, was easier to supportpared to the other affluentdies. She spent most of her time tending to Jason and the others, making sure they had food and clothing. While 50 million may not be a small amount, Jason was certainly capable of affording it. The question was whether he would be willing to part with such a sum.


    Jessica, seething with anger, struggled to suppress her fury as she snapped, ¡°If we had the money, of course we would offer the 50 million. But the reality is that we don¡¯t have it!¡±


    Shadow, however, was beyond arguing with Jessica. She turned her attention to Jason and called him forth. ¡°Dad!¡±


    Jason scowled, contemting the situation. ¡°If this is true, no matter what, I¡¯ll gather the 50 million. But we only have two hours. Where can we possibly obtain that amount in such a short time?¡±


    Shadow¡¯s surprise flickered across her face. She hadn¡¯t expected Jason to be willing to raise the money.


    ¡°Take out whatever you can borrow,¡± Shadow advised, ncing down at her phone¡¯s contact list.


    It then dawned on her that, aside from Hazel, she didn¡¯t have many friends.


    Meanwhile, Jason had already begun dialing numbers on his phone, desperately making calls.


    Shadow moved aside, dialing Hazel¡¯s number.


    Hazel picked up almost immediately. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Have you eaten?¡±


    Shadow pursed her lips. ¡°Hazel, I need to borrow money from you.¡±


    ¡°Sure, how much do you need?¡± Hazel¡¯s generosity toward Shadow was well-known. Whenever Shadow asked for help, Hazel was always there to lend a hand.


    ¡°It might be somewhere between three to four million. I¡¯m not entirely certain,¡± Hazel replied, checking her savings on her phone.


    As the truth slowly unveiled itself, Hazel grew apprehensive. ¡°Why do you need such arge sum? What¡¯s happened?¡±


    ¡°My mother has been kidnapped, and they¡¯re demanding a ransom of 50 million.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you call the police?¡±


    ¡°We need to get her back first,¡± Shadow answered softly, her worry for Lisa consuming her thoughts.


    Deep down, Hazel felt an inclination to let her heartless mother meet her fate. However, she knew Shadow all too well. If Shadow hadn¡¯t learned about this, it would have been fine. But now, knowing the truth, Shadow would pursue this matter to the bitter end.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll transfer the money to you,¡± Hazel finally agreed.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Unbeknownst to Shadow, both Jessica and Jason had been closely observing her every move.


    As they heard Shadow mention getting Lisa back, a triumphant smile crept across Jessica¡¯s face.


    She walked over to Jason and murmured, ¡°I knew Shadow wouldn¡¯t abandon Lisa.¡±


    Jason nodded, their understanding unspoken.


    With the two-hour deadline fast approaching, they had only managed to gather a mere six million, still far from their target of fifty million.


    Shadow rushed back and forth, her desperation growing.


    Then, Jessica suddenly interjected, ¡°Shadow, I remember you have a ck card from the Lance family.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Shadow turned her head, astonished.


    Jessica pressed on, ¡°This is a matter of life and death. Whether Mom survives depends on you. We¡¯ve done our best.¡±


    Shadow, too preupied to remember, realized that she still had the ck card.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go and get it right away!¡± Shadow eximed, her mind consumed by the urgency of saving Lisa.


    Jason chimed in, ¡°We¡¯ll drive you back to retrieve it, and then we¡¯ll head to the designated location.¡±


    The two-hour deadline loomed, and in order to buy more time, Shadow reluctantly agreed to Jason¡¯s n.


    The group swiftly returned to Alpha Kilian¡¯s vi.


    Alpha Kilian and Alpha Dominic had not yet returned. Shadow retrieved the ck card and dialed the police as she walked.


    In her panic, she had forgotten to report the kidnapping when she first received the call from the kidnappers.


    Jessica noted Shadow¡¯s phone call with unease. ¡°Who are you calling? Did the kidnappers call you again?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m calling the police to open a case. We can¡¯t let the kidnappers take the 50 million without consequences,¡± Shadow exined, resolute in her decision to save Lisa while not giving in to the demands so easily.


    Jessica, upon hearing the word ¡°police,¡± hesitated for a moment before taking action. She grabbed Shadow¡¯s phone, abruptly ending the call. Filled with determination, she argued, ¡°Let¡¯s not involve the police just yet. Our priority should be rescuing Mom. She must have seen the kidnapper. If we call the policeter, it¡¯ll be easier to track them down.¡±


    ¡°No, I have to call the police first.¡±


    Witnessing Shadow¡¯s unwavering resolve, Jessica made her choice. She firmly held the phone and began to speak, ¡°Why are you in such a rush to call the police? Are you trying to get Mom killed? What if the kidnappers find out? What if she dies because of it? I get it, she treats me better than she does you, but you don¡¯t have to stoop this low! She¡¯s our mother, regardless of everything!¡±


    Jessica¡¯s words held an air of righteousness, and she almost started to believe herself.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Shadow retorted, her voice sharp. Although Jessica¡¯s words were true, they still stung. How could she not care? Lisa was her own mother, after all.


    The kidnapper called again.


    With the speakerphone on, all three of them, Jason, Jessica, and Shadow, heard the chilling words from the kidnapper, ¡°You muste alone to the designated location. If we find anyone else with you, whether it¡¯s a police officer or anyone else, we will kill her!¡±


    A strange feeling welled up within Shadow.


    She couldn¡¯t help but feel that the kidnapper¡¯s target was her and her alone. Jason¡¯s absence from the threats seemed intentional. The kidnappers had likely assumed her position as Young Madame Lance made her incredibly wealthy and worth ransoming. Although it made sense, something about the kidnapper¡¯s actions felt off.


    Jessica was the first to voice her concerns. ¡°Why do you have to go alone?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not safe. Take Jessica¡¯s car, and we¡¯ll follow you,¡± Jason suggested, his eagerness and determination unlike anything they had seen before.


    Shadow was taken aback by their sudden disy of loyalty, but she didn¡¯t question it. After all, Lisa had been a part of their lives for more than two decades.


    Following Jason¡¯s lead, she smiled wryly. ¡°Yes, I know how to drive.¡±


    Throughout her four years of university, she had managed to support herself with odd jobs, asionally taking on scriptwriting tasks. The money she saved from those endeavors, aside from tuition and living expenses, went toward obtaining her driver¡¯s license.


    The address the kidnapper provided led them to an abandoned garage in the deste outskirts.


    Shadow quickly sent the location to Hazel, apanied by a message urging her to call the police. The road to the garage was likely under surveince, and Shadow couldn¡¯t afford to risk being watched by the kidnapper¡¯s people.


    Once the message was sent sessfully, Shadow deleted it, leaving no trace behind.

 88

    In the darkness of night, Shadow drove her car with caution, constantly checking her rearview mirror for any sign of Jason and hispanions. The night was filled with the howling wind and the eerie silence of the forest.


    As she approached the deste garage, her heart raced. The sharp turn sent a shiver down her spine, anticipation mingling with fear. But when she rounded the corner, she realized she had lost Jason and his car in thebyrinth of shadows.


    Parking her car at the entrance of the abandoned garage, a sense of foreboding engulfed her. The rusted shutter door creaked open, revealing a tall figure emerging from the darkness. Masked and imposing, he red at Shadow with disdain.


    ¡°You must be Shadow,¡± he growled, his voice as deep as a wolf¡¯s howl.


    She nodded, her eyes fixed on him. ¡°Did you bring the money?¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    A calmness washed over her as she replied, ¡°I want to see my mother first!¡±


    The man surveyed their surroundings, ensuring they were alone. With a solemn nod, he turned and led her into the warehouse.


    Inside, the decrepit walls bore witness to forgotten secrets. Dust-covered remnants of the past were scattered across the floor, offering glimpses of forgotten treasures.


    Following closely behind, Shadow¡¯s eyes locked onto Lisa, who was bound to a chair in the distance. The once pristine beauty now wore the markings of time, her face reflecting weariness and despair.


    As their eyes met, Lisa¡¯s voice cracked with relief, ¡°Shadow, you¡¯ve finallye!¡±


    Concern masked Shadow¡¯s face as she approached, her expression devoid of emotion. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Lisa managed a weak smile, shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine as long as you give them the money. They just want money!¡±


    Meanwhile, the masked man intervened, blocking Shadow¡¯s path. ¡°Alright, where¡¯s the money?¡±


    Realizing there wasn¡¯t enough time to gather the cash, a thought crossed Shadow¡¯s mind. ¡°You¡¯ve given me little time. But as the Young Madam of the Lance family, I have a global limited ck card. Can I offer that as payment?¡±


    The man¡¯s demeanour shifted at her suggestion. ¡°Do you take me for a fool? If I take that ck card, your family will freeze it and call the police!¡±


    A flicker of realization passed through Shadow¡¯s eyes. She had indeed considered that possibility!


    At that moment, the henchman whispered something to the man, prompting him to raise his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll let your mother go, but you muste with me to get the money.¡±


    Shadow met his gaze, her decision made. ¡°Sure.¡±


    As Lisa was released, she warned Shadow with panic in her eyes, ¡°Shadow, be careful.¡±


    Silently, Shadow sneered and said nothing. Handing the ck card to the man, she watched as he reached out to take it.


    But just as his hand approached, he swiftly struck her neck with his hand, causing her vision to fade to ck. In that moment of unconsciousness, her mind reyed the events of the day, a realization dawning toote.


    When Shadow awoke, she found herself in an unfamiliar ce, far from the abandoned garage. Her senses still foggy, she could hear faint voices murmuring nearby.


    ¡°The one who hired us shares the same surname as Eden?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s her family!¡±


    ¡°What grudge could they have? If we harm her¡­ will the Lance family seek retribution?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember the old kidnapping case involving Madam Lance? It ended peacefully, didn¡¯t it? A family like theirs values reputation!¡±


    A shiver ran down Shadow¡¯s spine, her entire being consumed by an icy chill. Dread permeated her bones, for she realized she had underestimated the depths of Jessica and Jason¡¯s schemes.


    What role did Lisa y in all of this? Had she known of their ns all along, willingly aiding Jessica in swindling Shadow¡¯s medicinal ck cards, regardless of the consequences?


    Caught off guard, Shadow¡¯s attention was drawn to another voice. ¡°Hey, she¡¯s awake!¡±


    Keeping herposure, she regarded the men with icy resolve. ¡°I overheard your conversation. Jason and Jessica are the ones who hired you?¡±


    One of the men scoffed impatiently. ¡°Why does it matter when you¡¯re about to meet your demise?¡±


    ¡°I simply wish for a clear understanding before my end,¡± Shadow replied, her eyes keenly observing her surroundings.


    She found herself in a living room, bound tightly to a chair as soreness coursed through her body. Desperate to divert their attention, she continued, ¡°Even if Jessica has showered you with wealth, what good is it if you meet an untimely demise? The Lance family will not let such acts go unpunished.¡±


    Arrogantly, the men hesitated, their expressions wavering. Shadow pressed on, ¡°Take heed. Those who participated in the old Madame Lance¡¯s kidnapping case, do any of them still draw breath? Though the Lance family treasures their reputation, they will not tolerate those who trample upon them.¡±


    A flicker of uncertainty crossed the men¡¯s faces. One of them sneered, ¡°You think you can threaten us?¡±


    ¡°I have no desire for a lengthy life. Even if the Lance family doesn¡¯t find me, the police won¡¯t let me go. I have never been with a woman as beautiful as you. Tonight, I will savor you,¡± the man dered, reaching out with a lewd intent.


    Shadow¡¯s face turned pale, but her mind raced for an escape. She knew there had to be another way.


    With an ice-cold demeanor, she raised her head and spoke with unwavering confidence, ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy on me. Finish your business swiftly and depart from Herton Pack. Who will go first?¡±


    ¡°You!¡± one of the men eximed.


    Shadow¡¯s heart sank, but she refused to sumb to despair. Though her struggles were in vain, her mind raced for a solution. Had she truly escaped Jessica¡¯s clutches before, only to sumb to her now?


    Defiantly, Shadow forced herself to remain calm. ¡°Do you truly believe the Lance family is so easily trifled with? Those involved in the old Madam Lance¡¯s abduction, did any of them escape unscathed? Though the Lance family upholds their reputation, they will not tolerate anyone who steps on their heads.¡±


    The mention of ¡°old Madam Lance¡± hinted at Alpha Kilian¡¯s mother.


    The men faltered, uncertainty etched on their faces. Shadow seized the opportunity, ¡°Even if Jessica has paid you handsomely, you two may not live long enough to enjoy it. Release me now, and leave Herton Pack. The Lance family will not seek revenge.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, she¡¯s just trying to intimidate us!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t n on living much longer. Even if the Lance family doesn¡¯te for me, the police won¡¯t let me go. I¡¯ve never been with a woman as beautiful as you. Tonight, I¡¯ll make it worth our while,¡± the man leered, reaching for Shadow despite her resistance.


    In that moment, Shadow refused to tremble. There had to be another way.

 89

    Drawn by her primal survival instincts, Shadow fought desperately and toppled to the ground with the chair.


    ¡°By the moon!¡±


    The snarling kidnapper cursed and delivered a harsh kick to Shadow¡¯s stomach. He reached out, gripping her hair tightly, preparing to haul her up.


    His kick had been fierce, inflicting such agony upon Shadow that she broke out into a cold sweat.


    Her thoughts vanished, leaving only the desperate desire to evade the kidnapper¡¯s repulsive touch.


    As he tugged at her hair, the door crashed open from outside.


    A deafening sound filled the room.


    Shadow¡¯s head throbbed with pain from the man¡¯s brutal hair-pulling. She pursed her lips and turned her gaze towards the door.


    When she beheld the familiar figure standing there, an overwhelming surge of fear and relief flooded through her like a tidal wave. Tears streamed down her face uncontrobly.


    Despite her tears, her voice remained steady. A smile graced her lips as she addressed the person at the door. ¡°Alpha Dominic, you¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    Upon seeing ¡°Alpha Dominic,¡± Shadow realized that the strength that had kept herposed and fighting back was the belief that someone woulde to save her.


    The person who woulde to her aid had to be the most formidable individual she knew.


    And the most formidable person she knew was ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    Observing the turmoil inside, a menacing aura nketed Alpha Kilian. His hands clenched into fists, exuding a chilling aura akin to an Asura rising from the depths of hell.


    The two kidnappers trembled in fear, their voices quivering. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    When that person hadmissioned their kidnapping of Shadow, he had failed to mention that someone woulde to rescue her!


    ¡°In your next life, you may ask me that question again.¡± Alpha Kilian advanced towards them step by step. His cold, resonant voice echoed. ¡°Because in this life, you shall not find the chance to discover.¡±


    As soon as he spoke, Alpha Kilian¡¯s strides quickened. He closed in on them swiftly, their eyes unable to fullyprehend his movements before they crashed heavily onto the ground. They curled up, wailing in agony.


    Squatting down, Alpha Kilian gently helped Shadow to her feet. With haste, he began untying the ropes that bound her.


    His face bore no excess emotion, yet an indescribable darkness emanated from him. He appeared more terrifying than ever.


    However, at that moment, Shadow felt a tinge of worry. She realized that no one else had entered the room alongside ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    In other words, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± hade alone.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic,¡± she questioned, her voice tinged with concern, ¡°are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I am unscathed. Why did youe alone?¡± Though she knew not how he had located this ce, it was undoubtedly highly risky for him to confront the situation alone.


    ¡°One is all it takes.¡±


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s words dropped, his eyes slightly averted, concealing their expression.


    Hemanded, ¡°Step outside and await my return.¡±


    Seeing his unwavering confidence, Shadow¡¯s worries eased slightly. Yet, as she attempted to stand, she discovered her body was sore and weakened. She could not walk unaided.


    Even though she maintained a facade ofposure, her body proved more honest than her mind.


    Fear gripped her.


    Suddenly, Alpha Kilian extended his hand, tearing off his tie. Blindfolding her, he guided her to a chair and ced her in a corner against the wall.


    Leaned in close, he whispered into her ear, ¡°It will be over soon.¡±


    Thereafter, sounds of fighting, screams, and the scent of blood reached Shadow¡¯s ears.


    Alongside the increasingly pungent aroma of blood, the screams faded away.


    Eventually, silence descended upon the room.


    Shadow felt her hand enveloped in a strong grip. She heard Alpha Dominic¡¯s voice. ¡°Alright, let us depart.¡±


    Seeking to remove the blindfold, Shadow realized that ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± grasped her hand tightly.


    ¡°Let us go outside and speak. Follow me.¡±


    With her vision shrouded in darkness, Shadowplied and allowed ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± to lead her away. A sense of tranquility she had never known washed over her.


    She found herself somewhat astonished.


    Turning her head prior to leaving, Shadow cast a lingering nce filled with fear towards the partially open door. Through it, she caught sight of the two motionless kidnappers lying in a pool of their own blood. One of them stared in her direction, yet he seemed devoid of life.


    Had he died with his eyes still open?Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    This notion struck Shadow with shock. Had ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± beaten them to death?


    Witnessing her peculiar behavior, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± pivoted to face her. His thoughts remained a mystery as he bent down, sweeping her up into his arms.


    ¡°I can walk on my own.¡± Shadow reacted instinctively, wrapping her arms around his neck.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± said nothing.


    Shadow realized that, from the moment he had arrived and until now, he had scarcely spoken.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± carried Shadow directly to the awaiting car.


    Numerous questions swirled in her mind, yet the warmth of the car and ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± beside her caused her nerves to rx. Exhaustion soon overcame her, and she fell into a deep sleep.


    Alpha Kilian drove the car for some distance before his phone interrupted the silence. Frank¡¯s voice,ced with anxiety, pierced the air.


    ¡°Young Master, where are you?¡± Frank¡¯s concern was palpable as he had heard of the young master fleeing in his car, unaware of his current whereabouts.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s voice lowered as he issued an order. ¡°I shall send you the address. Bring men to clean up this mess.¡±


    Frank hesitated for a moment before responding respectfully. ¡°Yes.¡±


    The car¡¯s heater emanated aforting heat. Feeling the warmth bing too much, Shadow stirred from her slumber.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was no longer by her side. Turning her head, she spotted a tall figure melding with the darkness outside the car window. mes flickered in the distance.


    Shadow opened the car door, a shiver coursing through her from the cold winter wind.


    Prompted by the sound, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± nced back. ¡°Remain in the car. I shall join you once I finish this cigarette.¡±

 90

    In the midst of the moonlit night, the Alpha¡¯s voice carried a hint of gravelly growl, resembling that of a fierce predator. It was a tone that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it.


    Shadow, taken aback, felt that something was off about Alpha Dominic tonight. He had an air of unpredictability surrounding him, his entire being engulfed in a somber aura that seemed to repel anyone who dared toe close.


    Despite her initial hesitation, Shadow mustered the courage to step out of the car, cautiously approaching Alpha Dominic from behind. Her voice trembled as she softly inquired, ¡°What troubles you, Alpha Dominic?¡±


    Alpha Dominic remained silent, extinguishing his cigarette before turning around to face her. The darkness concealed his face, but the weight of his presence overwhelmed Shadow, filling her with an inexplicable fear.


    Without uttering a word, Alpha Dominic lowered his head and captured her lips in a forceful, fiery kiss that ignited a tingling sensation within Shadow. Instinctively, she pushed against his chest, desperately trying to free herself.


    Yet, unlike their previous encounters, Alpha Dominic refused to release her. Instead, his grip tightened, rendering her powerless to resist his increasingly aggressive advances. They became entangled amidst their escting passion until, atst, Alpha Dominic relented, his grip loosening.


    Shadow, weakened by the encounter, struggled to maintain her bnce as Alpha Dominic gently lifted her and ced her in the car. Without a word, he joined her and started the engine, driving off into the night with an eerie silence enveloping them.


    After some time, Shadow regained herposure, though her anger towards Alpha Dominic¡¯s behavior still smoldered within her. Though they returned to the vi without exchanging a word, she was puzzled by the brightly lit surroundings and the presence of numerous bodyguards.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Shadow questioned in surprise, sensing that Alpha Kilian had be aware of her absence and called upon the guards to search for her.


    Alpha Dominic, who had forcefully kissed her moments before, paid her question no mind as he strode into the vi without hesitation. Shadow hesitantly followed, her gaze fixated on his tall, imposing figure, unable to fathom the depths of his character.


    Once inside, Alpha Dominic ascended the stairs, leaving Shadow to contemte her situation. As she settled into the vi, her hunger overcame her, prompting her to visit the kitchen. A vignt bodyguard rushed to her side and inquired, ¡°What shall I prepare for you, Young Madame?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll manage with whatever is avable,¡± replied Shadow, her hunger ravenous enough to devour anything ced before her.


    Despite her assertion, the bodyguard served an array of sumptuous dishes, overwhelming Shadow¡¯s hunger. As she ate, she noticed Alpha Dominic¡¯s arrival and his seat across from her, apanied by a bodyguard presenting his cutlery.


    Curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, ¡°Have you not eaten yet?¡±


    Alpha Dominic¡¯s response was curt, void of emotion. ¡°I don¡¯t have the time to eat.¡±


    His words rang true. After saving her, it was only natural he¡¯d have little time for his own nourishment. Alpha Dominic had already changed his clothes, his slightly damp hair indicating his recent shower.


    Finishing her meal, Shadow set her chopsticks aside and mustered the sincerity to thank him. ¡°Thank you, once again, for rescuing me.¡±


    Though her mood remainedplex, the times that Alpha Dominic hade to her aid were plentiful, increasing the intricacy of their rtionship. She couldn¡¯t sever their connection.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so foolish in the future,¡± Alpha Dominic responded, his gaze fixed downwards, devoid of warmth.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Shadow¡¯s expression turned mncholic upon hearing his words. Sheughed bitterly at her own expense. ¡°Indeed, I have been foolish.¡±


    ¡°But what can I do? She is my mother, after all. I cannot abandon her. No matter how terrible she is, I never imagined she would conspire against me. And¡­¡±


    Her words caught in her throat, reced by sobs. She fell silent, tightly clenching her jaw to suppress her emotions.


    Alpha Dominic raised his head, observing her with a mix of patience and determination. It was unclear what thoughts consumed him, but he spoke at a deliberate pace. ¡°Not all mothers are like her. My mother, she¡¯s a remarkable woman.¡±


    Shadow gazed up in surprise, finding unexpected sce in Alpha Dominic¡¯sforting words.


    But before she could respond, he had already lowered his head, resuming his meal as if nothing had been said.


    ¡­


    That night, Shadow was gued by nightmares.


    Waking early the next morning, she prepared breakfast but found no appetite amidst her turmoil. Instead, she settled on the living room couch, mindlessly watching TV.


    She refrained from immediately confronting the Eden family, aware that Jessica would never admit her involvement even if confronted.


    Buzz¡­


    Her phone vibrated, disying Hazel¡¯s name on the screen.


    Recalling their brief conversation yesterday, Shadow had omitted the details of her near-death experience. Hazel remained unaware of the danger she had faced.


    ¡°Do you want to go shopping today, to clear your mind? I¡¯ll soon be busy promoting my new film across the country,¡± Hazel proposed.


    Shadow readily agreed. ¡°Okay.¡±


    She changed her clothes and descended the stairs, only to discover Alpha Dominic waiting for her.


    ¡°Where are you off to?¡± Alpha Dominic inquired, noting the bag in her hand and deducing her intention to go out.


    ¡°I¡¯m going shopping with my friend,¡± Shadow replied, making a point to mention Hazel. ¡°You know her.¡±


    As the exnation left her lips, Shadow couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of unease. But before she could decline his offer to apany her, Alpha Dominic seemed to anticipate her refusal. Without giving her a chance to speak, he dered, ¡°My cousin mentioned that if you go out and I¡¯m avable, he wants me to escort you.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t light up at the mention of Alpha Kilian, as they had done previously. Yesterday, when she was in danger, it was Alpha Dominic who hade to her aid. Yet upon their return, Alpha Kilian had been absent, showing no concern nor uttering a word.


    Realizing this, Shadow felt a wave of liberation wash over her. Alpha Kilian¡¯sck of care mirrored the abandonment she had experienced throughout her life. If that was the case, they could live as strangers, disconnected from each other¡¯s lives.


    No longer concerned about Alpha Kilian¡¯s indifference, she nonchntly approached Alpha Dominic, tilting her head yfully. Casting him a mischievous grin, she said, ¡°If it¡¯s your cousin¡¯s request, you don¡¯t have to send me. But if you¡¯re free and willing, I¡¯d be grateful for the trouble.¡±

 91

    When ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± caught wind of Shadow¡¯s words, there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He studied her intently, but simply murmured, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Shadow trailed behind him, her face disying a myriad of conflicting emotions.


    Emotions had a way ofmanding people¡¯s actions. She no longer despised Alpha Dominic; instead, she felt grateful and even admired him. If only he wasn¡¯t Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin and if she hadn¡¯t married Alpha Kilian¡­


    But then they were back to square one.


    If she hadn¡¯t married Alpha Kilian, she wouldn¡¯t have the chance to be in contact with ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± for the rest of her life.


    It was an unsolvable predicament. Fate yed such a cruel joke, and yet there was nothing she could do about it.


    The two of them climbed into the car. Suddenly, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± questioned her, ¡°How do you intend to retrieve that ck card?¡±


    Shadow smiled, her eyes gleaming. ¡°I will find a way, of course.¡±


    ¡°Are you not afraid Alpha Kilian will pursue this matter?¡± ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± probed quietly.


    ¡°If he wanted to pursue it, he would have used mest night,¡± Shadow¡¯s smile gradually faded. ¡°He is magnanimous. Naturally, I want to return that card to him.¡±


    Initially, she thought Alpha Kilian gifting her the ck card was his way of epting her position.


    Now it seemed that he simply didn¡¯t care about the ck card.


    Alpha Kilian caught onto the keyword in her words: return.


    When he gave her the phone before, he imed it was bought by ¡°Alpha Kilian¡±. Only then did she dly ept it.


    When he gave her the ck card, she not only didn¡¯t want it, but she even returned it to Alpha Kilian.


    Alpha Kilian had urged her to keep the ck card safe. In fact, she even swiped it once.


    Previously, she had eagerly epted everything Alpha Kilian bestowed upon her.


    But now, she desired to return the ck card to Alpha Kilian.


    Alpha Kilian was not pleased by this realization; instead, his expression darkened.


    ¡­


    Hazel had made a fortune from her acting career, but she found it difficult to spend it.


    Every time she went shopping, she would spend hundreds of thousands, asionally even a million.


    Even though Shadow had a contrasting spending mentalitypared to Hazel, she believed that girls who earned their own money could spend it as they pleased.


    The two of them spent the entire day shopping. As evening approached, Shadow insisted they have an early dinner before parting ways.


    Upon returning to the vi, Shadow noticed ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± the moment she stepped inside.


    ¡°Have you had dinner? If not, I could whip something up right now.¡± She had been looking forward to cooking for ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±, hence her haste ining back.


    It was merely six o¡¯clock in the evening.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± nced up, the expression on his face indicating his ttery.


    He cleared his throat, feigning seriousness as he responded, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten yet.¡±


    The bodyguard involuntarily twitched. He refrained from divulging that Young Madame just returned from the Golden Fountain Club after dinner.


    After Shadow finished cooking, she loaded a te onto a tray and instructed the bodyguard to deliver it to Alpha Kilian.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± hadn¡¯t eaten, so Alpha Kilian surely hadn¡¯t either.


    She then retreated to her room.


    Alpha Kilian sat at the table, gazing at the meticulously prepared dishes. He questioned the bodyguard who poured him a ss of water. ¡°Do you think Young Madame has changed?¡±


    The bodyguard pondered this, then responded candidly, ¡°In the past, whenever Young Madame returned, she would always inquire about whether the young master was home. But she didn¡¯t ask today.¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    The ¡°Young Master¡± the bodyguard referred to was not himself, but rather Alpha Kilian ¨C someone whose face had yet to be revealed.


    Upon hearing this, the bodyguard realized his words weren¡¯t clear enough, prompting him to rify, ¡°I mean, the young master I¡¯m referring to isn¡¯t you, but that other young master.¡±


    Despite the lengthy exnation, the bodyguard believed his words only grew moreplicated.


    ¡°I understand. You can leave now,¡± Alpha Kilian interrupted him, signaling for him to depart.


    ¡­


    The following day was Monday.


    Shadow rose early in the morning, meticulously applying her makeup.


    When she descended the stairs, Frank had already been waiting for her.


    Shadow surveyed her surroundings, yet ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was nowhere to be found. She approached Frank and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already troubled you enough during this period. I¡¯ll take a car and head to work.¡±


    Frank nodded. ¡°Alright.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t any trouble at all, truth be told. He deemed it the easiest task, apanying Young Madame to and from work each day.


    After Shadow left, Alpha Kilian, who stood on the second-floornding and witnessed it all, descended the stairs slowly.


    ¡°Young Master,¡± Frank respectfully acknowledged him. He knew that Alpha Kilian had heard everything and opted against offering further exnation.


    Alpha Kilian nced toward the door, a smile creeping onto his face. ¡°Let her do as she pleases.¡±


    Initially, he believed Shadow would uncover his true identity. Little did he expect her to deliberately distance herself from Alpha Kilian.


    Shadow summoned a car and arrived at Eden Group.


    As she stepped out of the vehicle and positioned herself by the entrance, her radiant face emanated an icy coldness, her eyes brimming with confidence.


    She had been fortunate enough to make her return.


    Shadow lifted her foot and began walking toward the door, garnering the attention of passing staff members. She was met with numerous sidelong nces.


    They all sensed that Shadow appeared different today. Although she retained her captivating beauty, they couldn¡¯t help but feel that something had changed about her.


    One colleague from the marketing department who was acquainted with Shadow walked past and greeted her, ¡°Shadow, good morning.¡±


    ¡°Good morning,¡± Shadow turned her head and smiled at the person who spoke.


    Her beautiful eyes curved into crescent moons, her lips painted red, and her fairplexion unmatched in perfection.


    The individuals nearby were momentarily stupefied. After a few seconds, they finally snapped out of it and returned her smile.


    The group of people entered the elevator, chatting amongst themselves. Shadow engaged in conversation with them. ¡°How did everyone spend the weekend? Did you all go out?¡±


    ¡°I took the child to the amusement park.¡±


    ¡°I went outst weekend with my boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s why there are so many love bites on your neck! I thought it was from mosquitoes!¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you speaking?¡±


    Laughter filled the elevator as they engaged in light banter. Shadow refrained from joining in, merely smiling as she pressed the elevator button.


    However, the elevator doors closed and promptly reopened.


    Jessica entered, and with her arrival, the jovial atmosphere dissipated, leaving the elevator eerily silent.


    Shadow had been the first one to step into the elevator, positioning herself in the corner behind the others. Jessica raised her chin, casting a haughty nce at the upants. It took her a moment to realize Shadow¡¯s presence.


    It felt as though she hade face-to-face with a terrifying monster. Jessica stumbled backward, nearly losing her bnce. Clinging onto the handrail, she stared wide-eyed at Shadow, gasping, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Awakening to her surroundings, Jesscia hastily regained herposure and feigned nonchnce. ¡°Shadow, you¡¯re here early today.¡±


    Shadow gazed intently at Jessica and uttered in a soft, faint voice,ced with a smile, ¡°Good morning, big sister.¡±


    At that moment, the elevator was ascending, epassed in an unusual silence. Shadow¡¯s voice, despite not being loud, reverberated within the confined space, evoking a strange sensation.

 92

    Jessica¡¯s hair prickled with fear as Shadow¡¯s gaze fell upon her. Her body tensed, unable to hide her terror. Though she tried to keep a calm facade and smile, the fear in her eyes was unmistakable. Her face contorted into an eerie expression resembling an epileptic seizure.


    The others in the elevator couldn¡¯t help but notice Jessica¡¯s abnormal behavior, but they dared not utter a sound.


    Shadow approached Jessica slowly, gripping her arm with one hand while admiring the fabric of her coat with the other. Envy dripped from Shadow¡¯s words, ¡°Sister, is this dress newly bought? It¡¯s so beautiful and expensive looking.¡±


    Under normal circumstances, Jessica would have unted her new dress to Shadow. But now, faced with the very person she thought was dead, she had no desire to show off.


    What¡¯s more, this dress had been purchased using Shadow¡¯s ck card.


    ¡°Not that expensive,¡± Shadow murmured, her arm curling around Jessica¡¯s, making her feel trapped like prey ensnared by a poisonous serpent. Every movement threatened her life.


    ¡°For you, maybe not. But I saw the same dress at the mall yesterday. It cost over $900, 000. People have to book it in advance just to buy it. Normal folks can¡¯t even dream of affording it,¡± Jessica exined, having pre-booked the coat as part of their n to swindle Shadow.


    To others, it appeared as if Shadow was intimately holding onto Jessica, envious of her new dress. But only Jessica knew the true depth of her fear, suffocating her every breath.


    Shadow was pleased with Jessica¡¯s reaction; it was the response one should have when they had done something wrong.


    Ding~


    The elevator doors opened on their floor, but Jessica hesitated to step out, knowing Shadow had not released her.


    The others in the elevator, nervous and unsure, refrained from walking ahead of Jessica.


    Pretending surprise, Shadow queried, ¡°Sister, what are you waiting for? Why aren¡¯t you stepping out? Everyone is waiting for you.¡±


    With that, she pulled Jessica along.


    As they exited, Shadow turned to the elevator upants and bid them goodbye.


    They arrived at Jessica¡¯s office, and Shadow locked the door behind them before finally releasing her grip on Jessica.


    ¡°Big Sister, you seem quite scared of me. You¡¯re making things difficult,¡± Shadow said, her voice carrying a cruel edge. To Jessica, it felt as if she were in the clutches of a deadly snake, ready to strike her down should she make a wrong move.


    Jessica attempted to appear bewildered, casting off Shadow¡¯s hand. ¡°Shadow, have you taken the wrong medicine? Why are you saying such strange things to me?¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Turning away, she moved to sit behind her desk, exerting an air of authority. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time for work. You should go back to work too. If there¡¯s anything,e find me after you finish.¡±


    Unfazed, Shadow epted Jessica¡¯s act of ignorance. ¡°Okay, I¡¯lle find youter,¡± she said, smiling before turning to leave.


    The moment Shadow left, Jessica anxiously swept the documents off her desk, scattering them on the floor. Shadow was alive and well, not a scratch on her!


    The kidnapping scheme on Saturday had been concocted by her and Jason. They had intended to trick Shadow into giving up her precious ck card.


    Their n involved letting the kidnappers escape once they acquired the card, leaving Shadow unable to retaliate without evidence.


    But Jessica despised Shadow to her core and couldn¡¯t let her off so easily. She had secretly bribed the kidnappers.


    Those criminals were fearless and ruthless, wanted by thew. Jessica had refrained from contacting them afterward, wary of leaving a trail. She had believed Shadow would surely die, but their n had failed.


    Shadow was different now. Once she discovered Jessica¡¯s involvement in the kidnapping, she wouldn¡¯t let her get away.


    Having left Jessica¡¯s office, Shadow sought out Jason.


    The kidnapping on Saturday could only have been the doing of the father-daughter duo. Jessica couldn¡¯t have pulled it off alone.


    Shadow knocked on Jason¡¯s door, and upon hearing his invitation to enter, she obliged.


    Jason¡¯s eyes held surprise upon seeing Shadow, but he showed no fear.


    In other words, Jason might not know of the kidnappers¡¯ intentions towards Shadow.


    Standing up, he asked, ¡°Shadow, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Is Mom okay?¡± Shadow approached quietly.


    Observing her organic avoidance of the kidnapping incident, Jason smiled gently. ¡°She¡¯s fine. She¡¯s bringing lunch. Do you want to join us?¡±


    Shadow nodded, responding, ¡°Sure.¡±


    At noon, Lisa arrived at Eden Group to deliver lunch to Jason and the rest. Upon noticing Shadow¡¯s presence, her expression shifted slightly. ¡°Shadow is here too.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I tasted Mom¡¯s cooking. Dad said she¡¯d bring lunch, so I came to freeload,¡± Shadow exined, her gaze fixed on Lisa. Her smile held an indistinguishable mix of amusement and something deeper, leaving others wondering what thoughts churned within her.


    ¡°The food I cook tastes rather ordinary,¡± Lisa said, averting her gaze from Shadow.


    Shadow¡¯s perception of Lisa¡¯s obvious evasion confirmed that she also knew about the kidnapping. Why else would she feel guilty?


    It didn¡¯t sadden Shadow, but it did leave her disheartened.


    She had to admit that in the twenty-two years she lived, her birth mother had never truly loved her. Shadow held no ce in Lisa¡¯s heart.


    Lisa would do anything for Jason.


    And Jessica was right. She truly was a pitiful individual, unloved even by her own mother.


    A softugh escaped Shadow¡¯s lips as she lowered her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten much of your cooking, so I don¡¯t remember what it tastes like.¡±


    Lisa hesitated for a moment before looking at Jason, who gave her an inscrutable look and shook his head. Her relief was short-lived.


    After what happened on Saturday, Lisa realized how much Shadow cared for her. Shadow willingly handed over her precious medicinal ck card, proving her significance.


    Since she meant so much to Shadow, Lisa feltpelled to further aid Jason. If she could make him happy by assisting in his endeavors, he would treat her even better.


    Smiling, Lisa reached out to serve Shadow more food, adopting a fawning tone. ¡°Then you should eat more today.¡±

 93

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Shadow whispered, her voice carrying a faint undertone of danger. Lisa, although grateful for the gratitude, couldn¡¯t help but feel a shiver crawl down her spine. There was something unsettling about Shadow¡¯s smile, something that hinted at a deeper understanding, as if her cat-like eyes saw through to the very core of Lisa¡¯s being. Holding her chopsticks unsteadily, Lisa fumbled and dropped them to the ground.


    Bending down effortlessly, Shadow retrieved the fallen utensils and spoke with a slow, gentle tone, ¡°Mother, you must learn to hold the chopsticks steady. If you drop them again, I may not be able to help you pick them up.¡± Despite her seemingly polite demeanor, Lisa couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was a hidden message behind Shadow¡¯s words.


    Putting on a forced smile, Lisa replied, ¡°I was just being careless.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Shadow¡¯s smile remained as she straightened up. ¡°I am satiated now. I shall take my leave.¡±


    In truth, Shadow barely touched her food.


    Observing Shadow¡¯s retreating figure, Jason furrowed his brow, a strange sense of unease settling over him. There was something off about her, something he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on.


    As Shadow exited Jason¡¯s office, her expression faded, leaving behind a frigid coldness that pierced the bones. Lisa¡¯s attempt to please her had been observed, but it held no sway over Shadow¡¯s heart.


    For years, Lisa had deceived herself, thinking that if she showed enough love, Shadow would reciprocate. Yet, if Shadow truly cared, she would have bought Lisa clothes and never begged her to marry Alpha Kilian in Jessica¡¯s ce.


    This kidnapping had shown Lisa her true worth in Shadow¡¯s eyes, and it left a bittersweet taste in her mouth. She had sought to please, but Shadow¡¯s indifference remained unshaken.


    From now on, Lisa would no longer waste her efforts pleasing Shadow.


    No one could pretend that nothing had happened when the pain kept recurring.


    Walking to an isted spot, Shadow sent a message to the paparazzi Hazel had introduced her to, revealing damning information about the Eden Group¡¯stest product, a kitchen cleaning towelced with harmful toxins.


    The Eden Group primarily dealt in household goods, and recent years had exposed their faulty products. However, the news had been swiftly silenced.


    Back when Shadow was still in high school, she had visited the Eden Group¡¯s factory and witnessed the truth firsthand. Something was undeniably wrong.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    The paparazzi, known for their professionalism, quickly confirmed the news, their message reading, ¡°Are you certain?¡±


    ¡°I am. But you must go to the factory and capture evidence. I will send you the address.¡± Disguises and photographic skills were the paparazzi¡¯s expertise.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m on it!¡±


    Because of the marriage connection between the Eden Group and the Lance family, exposing the Eden Group¡¯s misconduct held significant news value. The paparazzi readily agreed to the task.


    Putting away her phone, Shadow made her way back to her desk. En route, she crossed paths with Jessica, returning from an outing.


    While Lisa often cooked for thepany, Jessica had grown tired of her meals and preferred dining out.


    Arrogantly, Jessica blocked Shadow¡¯s path. ¡°Still want to learn from me? When I have a meetingter, you can join and learn.¡±


    Shadow smiled casually. ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡­


    In the meeting room, Shadow sat beside Jessica, feigning interest in the proceedings. Though she struggled toprehend the content, she could sense that Jessica was just as clueless as herself.


    Observing Shadow¡¯s confusion, Jessica¡¯s satisfaction grew. She believed she understood Shadow well enough. If Shadow had known the truth, she wouldn¡¯t be soposed. Yet, Jessica couldn¡¯t be entirely sure, prompting her to keep Shadow close and under scrutiny.


    Shadow paid no mind to Jessica¡¯s gleeful arrogance. Soon, all the Eden Group¡¯s projects woulde to a grinding halt.


    As the meeting concluded, Jessica left Shadow behind, taunting her, ¡°You can¡¯t even understand such a simple meeting. I suggest you return to your marketing department promptly!¡±


    Smiling nonchntly, Shadow nced at her and made her exit without a word.


    Shadow¡¯sck of regard irritated Jessica to no end. Her eyes glinted with malice, convinced that sooner orter, she would bring Shadow down into the depths of despair.


    Returning to her desk, Shadow essed the inte and came across a headline rted to the exposed shady business practices of a prominent daily necessitiespany.


    Startling: Reporters delve into major household goodspany, exposing factory¡¯s deceitful practices.


    ¡°When discussing daily goodspanies in Herton Pack, one cannot help but think of the Eden Group. Today, our reporters risked their lives to investigate the factories under the Eden Group¡¯s control. Their findings reveal that the majority of their products are recycled from trash dumps, posing grave health risks to consumers.¡±


    Quickly perusing the article, Shadow scrolled to thements section.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been using their towels and mops for the past decade, but I stopped two years ago. Anyone who used them would understand why.¡±


    ¡°I just bought their products. Can I get a refund?¡±


    ¡°Do you all remember the scandalous video? It seems the maindy is the CEO¡¯s daughter. If he can raise such an immoral child, what sort of products can we expect from hispany?¡±


    ¡°I agree!¡±


    ¡°I agree too!¡±


    ¡°I agree too. I knew thispany would be exposed sooner orter!¡±


    Thement referencing Jessica¡¯s scandalous video sparked tens of thousands ofments, intensifying the readers¡¯ skepticism towards the Eden Group.

 94

    Shadow¡¯s eyes narrowed as she read thement, a sense of unease creeping over her. The constant shes with Jessica over the past few months had sharpened her instincts, and something about thisment seemed intentionally nted. There was an orchestrated group ofizens below, hired to attack and spread the message.


    Thoughts of Hazel flooded Shadow¡¯s mind. She immediately sent Hazel a screenshot of thement, using her, ¡°Did you write this? Did you hire people to spread it?¡±


    Within moments, Hazel shot back a defensive response. ¡°How the hell did you know? Did you put some weird spying device on my phone?¡±


    A brief smile yed at the corners of Shadow¡¯s lips. ¡°It was simply my intuition,¡± she replied cryptically.


    Hazel persisted, her troublemaking nature unwavering. ¡°Your intuition is uncanny! But if you¡¯re nning to expose the Eden Group, why not let me join? I can support you!¡±


    Shadow¡¯s concern for Hazel outweighed any desire for assistance. ¡°Stay out of it. I can handle this. You¡¯re a public figure, and if your reputation gets tarnished, it¡¯ll be hard to recover.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine, trust me. I¡¯ve taken precautions to protect my anonymity. I won¡¯t reveal anything for now,¡± Hazel assured, excitement evident in her tone. ¡°Let¡¯s celebrate tonight over dinner!¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Celebrate? Shadow sighed helplessly and ended the chat. As she got up to join a department meeting, a colleague questioned her lingering presence.


    ¡°Shadow, the meeting has started. Why are you still here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ming,¡± she replied calmly, pocketing her phone and following her colleagues to the meeting room.


    To her surprise, it was not Jessica who conducted the meeting, but the deputy manager. His face was grim as he addressed the team. ¡°Reach out to the project partners and offer reassurance. As for clients wanting to cancel cooperation, prioritize handling their concerns.¡±


    Boredom washed over Shadow as she absentmindedly yed with her hair, only half-listening to the deputy manager¡¯s instructions.


    The exposure of the Eden Group¡¯s shady practices would inevitably lead to a significant drop in thepany¡¯s reputation. Just like the scandal involving a certain milk powder brand, public perception would turn against them. The worst-case scenario? Bankruptcy. The best-case scenario? A long and arduous journey to rebuild their reputation.


    The Eden Group dealt in daily necessities, not food products. With proper public rtions, they might avoid bankruptcy, but the losses would be substantial. In this era of cutthroatpetition, people would do anything for fame and profit. Few could truly be relied upon.


    Shadow¡¯s approach may have been ruthless, but if the Eden Group was truly trustworthy, would the media have uncovered their misdeeds?


    After the emergency meeting concluded, everyone prepared for overtime work. Shadow, however, decided against it. Picking up her bag, she swiftly made her way to Jason¡¯s office, coincidentally finding the door ajar.


    From within the office, Jessica¡¯s voice rang out angrily. ¡°How much did we pay the media all these years? Is this how they operate? What do we do now? Will the Eden Group go bankrupt?¡±


    Jason¡¯s shout echoed through the room. ¡°Shut up! I told you to keep a low profile when you go out! Now that someone has targeted the Eden Group, using your scandal to smear our name. They¡¯re intentionally trying to bring us down!¡±


    ¡°How was I supposed to know they¡¯d capture pictures and videos of me? I was just having fun! And where were you? Out finding women! I saw you take a girl younger than me to a hotel!¡±


    The sound of a p reverberated through the room, abruptly silencing Jessica. Shadow hesitantly pushed the door open, witnessing Jessica clutching her face in shock. ¡°You hit me?¡±


    Jason¡¯s tone softened, showing signs of regret. ¡°Jessica¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me!¡± Jessica eximed, taking a step back. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare call me!¡±


    She turned and swiftly fled the office, leaving Shadow to quietly slip away.


    Just as she neared the exit, memories of the media swarming the Eden Group¡¯s entrance shed through her mind. Digging into her bag, she retrieved a mask and securely fastened it to her face. It was a habit to carry one during winter, but little did she know it would prove useful in unexpected circumstances.


    As she stepped outside, a horde of reporters immediately surrounded her.


    ¡°Are you an employee of the Eden Group? What¡¯s your position? Do you know about the factory¡¯s scandal?¡±


    ¡°I have noment,¡± Shadow replied calmly and instinctively nced towards Jessica, who had also emerged from the building.


    Thinking quickly, Shadow pointed in Jessica¡¯s direction. ¡°Our department manager is here. She can address your concerns.¡±


    Following Shadow¡¯s gaze, the reporters rushed towards Jessica, realizing that her fashionable attire indicated a higher position within thepany.


    The reporters bombarded Jessica with questions about the scandal and usations of her involvement in an indecent video. Unaware of her familial ties to the Eden Group, they delved deeper into her personal life, exposing her affairs.


    Shadow stood back, concealing herself in a corner as she observed the chaos unfolding around Jessica. Her heart ached for her colleague, keenly aware of the damage these revtions could have on her reputation.


    The press conference transformed into a live broadcast as the reporters relentlessly pursued Jessica. Like vultures, they scrutinized her every move and captured photos of her distress.


    Unable to bear it any longer, Jessica snatched a microphone, her voice shaking with fury. ¡°What nonsense are you spewing? Can¡¯t you report the truth? These are baseless usations!¡±


    Fueled by Jessica¡¯s outburst, the reporters intensified their onught, seizing this opportunity to further demonize her.


    Meanwhile, another reporter began a live broadcast, relishing in the chaos. ¡°We¡¯re here at the entrance of Eden Enterprise, where one of the middle management staff, Jessica Eden, is under intense scrutiny. It has been rumored that she is connected to the indecent video scandal¡­¡±


    Before the reporter could continue, Jessica lunged at him, knocking the microphone away. Cameras shed, capturing her desperate attempts to shield her face. ¡°Stop taking pictures! I told you not to! Where¡¯s security? Get rid of them!¡±


    The reporter quickly recovered his microphone, excitement permeating his voice. ¡°The person who knocked my microphone away earlier is none other than Jessica Eden, a manager at the Eden Group. I¡¯ve just discovered that she¡¯s the daughter of thepany¡¯s president!¡±

 95

    Shadow ventured towards the bus stop and boarded a car that would drivr her back to the Castle.


    Upon entering, she carelessly tossed her bag aside and slumped onto the sofa. Exhaustion overcame her, rendering her motionless.


    Though she had aplished nothing throughout the day, she couldn¡¯t fathom why she felt so utterly drained.


    Perhaps, she pondered, it was the uneasiness within her that sapped her energy.


    She opened her Weibo and discovered two trending topics: ¡°ckheart Factory¡± and ¡°Unrefined Video ckheart Factory.¡± Thements section overflowed with curses.


    asionally, a few remarks defended the Eden Group and Jessica, but they were quickly drowned out.


    In no time, Shadow stumbled upon a video of Jessica being ambushed at the entrance of the Eden Group.


    Within the video, Jessica appeared entirely deranged.


    The viralment beneath the video read, ¡°The more I look at her, the more I¡¯m convinced that this woman resembles a true lunatic. How can she shamelessly scold the reporters and im this to be a fictional matter after her scandalous video was released?¡±


    ¡°I agree with the leader¡¯s perspective. Thankfully, I¡¯m not her friend. Even if this lunatic tried to murder someone, she wouldn¡¯t receive the death penalty, right?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s genuinely insane!¡±


    ¡°She may be attractive. How much would it cost to sleep with her?¡±


    Shadow ced her phone down, disinterested in further browsing.


    Apart from a few bodyguards stationed outside, the entire vi remained deserted. She was uncertain of Alpha Kilian and ¡°Alpha Dominic¡¯s¡± whereabouts.


    Mulling over the situation, Shadow decided to message ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±  ¡°Are youing back for dinner?¡±


    If ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± wasn¡¯t returning for the meal, she would forgo cooking. After all, there were bodyguards handling culinary duties.


    Meanwhile, Alpha Kilian had just concluded a grueling three-hour meeting, leeching his energy.


    Having just arrived back in his office and seated himself, he received a text message from Shadow.


    As he began to respond, Xavier burst through the door, brimming with excitement.


    ¡°Alpha Kilian, you must see this!¡± Xavier thrust his phone into Alpha Kilian¡¯s hands.


    Alpha Kilian lowered his gaze to see Xavier¡¯s screen, causing his pupils to shrink. Briefly scanning the content, he coolly remarked, ¡°There seems to be an issue with the Eden Group¡¯s factory. If someone desires to deal with the Edens, they can exploit this situation. However, none of thesepanies are innocent. Under normal circumstances, no one would resort to such drastic measures against the Eden Group.¡±


    Xavier nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right. If this matter were to ur, could it be that the Eden family¡¯s former leader is returning to their pack?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a possibility.¡± Alpha Kilian suddenly recalled something, his voice turning frigid.


    Unaware of this shift, Xavier inquired, ¡°This revtion urred suddenly. There wasn¡¯t any prior news about it. Who do you think could be responsible?¡±


    Who indeed?


    Alpha Kilian nced at Xavier, dering, ¡°I won¡¯t tell you.¡±


    Xavier¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Just watching the news without divulging any information. Do you really know who¡¯s behind this?¡±


    Alpha Kilian ignored him, choosing to switch on hisputer and peruse news articles rted to the Eden Group.


    After a few minutes, Alpha Kilian ceased his reading.


    Only then did he remember Shadow¡¯s message and hastilyposed a text in response.


    Xavier had witnessed Alpha Kilian texting earlier, but he hadn¡¯t caught sight of its content.


    Naturally, Alpha Kilian only sent messages to one person  Shadow.


    ¡°Are you returning home for dinner? I didn¡¯t drive today, so I can¡¯t go back. I¡¯ll take your car to your house!¡± Xavier, enthralled by Shadow¡¯s cooking, couldn¡¯t help but consider freeloading at Alpha Kilian¡¯s residence.


    Alpha Kilian turned around, his refusal chilly. ¡°We¡¯re not going in the same direction. My car won¡¯t amodate you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so cold and heartless. It¡¯s just a meal at your ce. Aren¡¯t we brothers?¡±


    Alpha Kilian persisted in his refusal. ¡°No.¡±


    Nevertheless, Xavier impudently climbed into Alpha Kilian¡¯s car.


    ¡­


    Shadow stared at her phone screen, examining the message ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± had sent her.


    A single, concise ¡°En¡± adorned the message.


    As a destitute individual, Shadow pondered adding ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± on WeChat. This way, if she ever needed to reach him, she could do so without incurring charges.


    She scrolled through her WeChat contacts, discovering no sign of ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    Did this person not utilize WeChat at all?


    Shadow set her phone down and ambled towards the kitchen.


    Just as she finished slicing ingredients, the sound of a car engine outside reached her ears.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± must have returned.


    ¡°Shadow.¡±


    That voice.


    Shadow turned around, beholding Xavier striding in with a smile on his face. He sped a dainty box in his hand, sporting a logo from a cake shop Hazel frequently frequented.


    ¡°Sigh, I didn¡¯t bring my car to thepany today and couldn¡¯t go home. I happened to chance upon ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ on my way and hitched a ride back to spend the night. I apologize for burdening you with another serving of dinner. I brought cake for you.¡±


    Xavier was indeed the CEO of the entertainmentpany. His words were well-calcted.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    However, Shadow still felt unease being referred to as ¡°Shadow¡± by Xavier.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Xavier, affable and attractive, elicited a smile of gratitude from Shadow as she epted the cake.


    Subsequently, she snapped a photo of the cake and sent it to Hazel.


    Hazel responded with a huff emoji. ¡°You bought cake without bringing me along!¡±


    ¡°Xavier bought it. I believe he purchased it from a shop you frequent. Could it be possible that you encountered him?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s wielding a forty-meter-long knife. JPG.¡±


    Shadow refrained from teasing her further. Recalling Hazel¡¯s earlier suggestion to celebrate together, she queried, ¡°Would you like toe and eat?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Xavier¡¯s presence would dissuade Hazel from joining.


    Throughout the meal, Xavier, still brooding over the Eden Group¡¯s factory incident, broached the topic once more.


    Shadow kept her head lowered, focusing on her meal. She remained as silent as a mute.


    After conversing for some time, Xavier finally recalled that Shadow was a member of the Eden family.


    Directly addressing Shadow, he inquired, ¡°What¡¯s happening with yourpany, Shadow?¡±


    Shadow?


    Alpha Kilian narrowed his gaze, peering up at Xavier. ¡°You should leave once you¡¯re full.¡±


    Perplexed, Xavier wondered when he had once again offended this lord.


    Shadow had grown ustomed to Alpha Kilian¡¯s capricious nature. She shook her head, replying, ¡°I¡¯m uncertain. After all, I am merely a handyman at thepany.¡±


    As she finished speaking, ¡°Alpha Dominic,¡± seated across from her, abruptly turned his head and stared at her.


    His eyes, dark and enigmatic, bore a trace of understanding.


    Why did Shadow sense that ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± seemed to see through her falsehood?

 96

    As soon as they finished their meal, the imposing figure of ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± chased Xavier away, his voice growling with authority.


    Xavier clung to the door frame, trembling with a mix of fear and desperation. ¡°It¡¯s so dark and so cold, Alpha Dominic. Can¡¯t you just let me stay here for a night?¡±


    Shadow, the cunning and perceptive werewolf, found it hard to associate Xavier, trembling like a weak pup, with the powerful Director Halls from the famous Nine Clouds Media. Something strange seemed to have possessed him.


    Xavier felt Shadow¡¯s intense gaze upon him and coughed lightly, quickly releasing his grip on the door frame. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not that cold. I¡¯ll go first¡­¡±


    With Xavier gone, the hall was left with only Shadow and the formidable ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±. Shadow nced outside the door, her senses heightened as she wondered why Alpha Kilian had not yet returned. Where did he disappear to so often?


    ¡°I¡¯ll go up first,¡± Shadow stated, a sense of unease evident in her voice as she turned to make her way upstairs.


    However, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± suddenly halted her with amanding tone. ¡°Shadow¡­¡±


    She stopped in her tracks, turning to face him. Her pale face seemed almost ethereal, like moonlight on freshly fallen snow. Her eyes held a captivating gaze, like that of a vulnerable kitten. She appeared gentle, yet alluring.


    ¡°About the Eden Group¡­¡± Alpha Kilian deliberately paused, watching as Shadow¡¯s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. She seemed nervous, her heart racing. He smiled knowingly and offered, ¡°Do you need help?¡±


    The first half of his sentence sent a surge of panic through Shadow¡¯s veins. Did he know about her schemes against the Eden family? But as she heard the second half, her heart sank. She struggled to maintain aposed facade, forcing a reluctant smile. ¡°My dad and the others will find a way. After all, this scandal happened within thepany. They¡¯ll handle it themselves.¡±


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± tilted his head, an enigmatic smile ying on his lips. ¡°Oh.¡±


    Slightly defeated, Shadow nodded and made her way upstairs, her spirits dampened.


    She had to be cautious. As a member of the Eden family, she knew the importance of keeping her scheming against them hidden. Hazel, her closest friend, was an exception; there was no need to conceal her ns from her.


    However, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was different. No matter how much he had assisted her, he remained a member of the Lance family.


    Adults, she realized, often had difficulties trusting others in thisplex society.


    ¡­C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    The following morning, Shadow awoke, her mind gued with questions. As she passed by Alpha Kilian¡¯s study room, curiosity got the better of her, and she paused.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s whereabouts were shrouded in secrecy. These past few days, she hadn¡¯t dared to inquire about his actions. No one seemed willing to share any information with her, leaving her in the dark about his true intentions within the house.


    Despite her perplexion, Shadow dismissed her thoughts. She had work at the Eden Group to attend to.


    Upon arriving at thepany, Shadow passed by the public rtions department and was greeted with a shocking sight. A multitude of exhausted colleagues were slumped over their desks, some even trying to stay awake with coffee brewed in the tea room.


    It seemed the public rtions department had endured a sleepless night.


    Even with their efforts, the scandal at Eden Group¡¯s factory had escted beyond control. This was no ordinary situation that could be resolved through efficient public rtions methods, such as handling Jessica¡¯s indecent video scandal.


    Shadow barely settled at her workstation when she was informed about a meeting. With a heavy heart, she joined her colleagues and made her way to the meeting room.


    The meeting revolved around strategies to stabilize customer rtionships and assign necessary tasks. Shadow, resigned to being a mere spectator, listened intently.


    As the meeting drew to a close, Shadow prepared to leave with her colleagues when Jason¡¯s secretary approached.


    The secretary nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Miss Eden, the chairman requests your presence.¡±


    Curiosity piqued, Shadow halted her steps and queried, ¡°What does he want?¡±


    The secretary, remembering the urgency in Jason¡¯s earlier requests for Shadow¡¯s presence, hesitated for a moment before reluctantly grabbing hold of Shadow¡¯s arm. Helplessly, she urged, ¡°You shoulde with me. The chairman hasn¡¯t slept all night.¡±


    Annoyed, Shadow retorted, ¡°Then let go of me.¡± She yearned to witness the predicament that Jason and others were facing.


    Reaching Jason¡¯s office, the secretary knocked and announced Shadow¡¯s arrival. Without waiting for a response, she pushed open the door, allowing Shadow to enter, exhibiting utmost respect.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Shadow acknowledged the secretary with a polite smile before entering Jason¡¯s office and promptly closing the door behind her.


    Jason, appearing worn and haggard, looked up from his desk and greeted Shadow with a gentle smile. ¡°Shadow, you¡¯re here. Have you had breakfast?¡±


    On his desk, several breakfast boxes adorned with a familiar logo caught her attention. They were from a nearby restaurant.


    ¡°I¡¯ve eaten. Father, why did you call me here?¡± Shadow asked, her expression serious.


    Jason, visibly fatigued, shook his head with a touch of weariness. His face bore a hint of age. ¡°You are aware of the crisis we are facing in thepany. The colleagues in the public rtions department have been toiling tirelessly, but with no results. Ourpany¡¯s stores were even attackedst night.¡±


    Jason¡¯s voice carried a tinge of sadness andint as he confided in Shadow, attempting to garner sympathy.


    However, Shadow knew that Jason had called her in with a purpose. It wasn¡¯t solely to vent his frustrations.


    Indeed, as Shadow suspected, Jason shifted the conversation to her. ¡°The Eden Group belongs to our family. Despite your marriage, you are still an Eden. With thepany facing such a monumental challenge, we require assistance only someone like you can provide¡­¡±


    Her role as the instigator of this crisis made it impossible for Shadow to aid Jason.


    Pretending ignorance, Shadow maintained a serious expression and replied, ¡°Yes, it is a serious matter. I noticed that ourpany is being heavily criticized online. We need to correct this and regain the public¡¯s forgiveness.¡±


    Her words were simple, but beneath themy the critical issue guing the Eden Group. The coboration with their partners needed to be salvaged, as some were even threatening legal action. The situation was dire, and only the intervention of the Lance family could prevent further damage.


    Jason¡¯s expression faltered as he believed Shadow was finally understanding. He eagerly nodded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s that simple.¡±


    But suddenly, Shadow¡¯s expression shifted, fear clouding her face. ¡°He gave me the ck card, but the kidnappers took it from me. I can¡¯t bear to tell him, as he would never let me off the hook if he found out.¡±

 97

    Shadow was paying attention to Jason¡¯s expression as she spoke.


    When she mentioned the ck card, she clearly saw a guilty look on Jason¡¯s face.


    Now he knew guilt?


    But it was already toote.


    Jason saw that Shadow did not look like she was pretending to be scared and felt a little troubled. He said, ¡°Can¡¯t you just not tell him about the ck card first?¡±


    Shadow sneered in her heart. It was already at this time and Jason did not want to hand over the ck card.


    Although she thought so in her heart, the fear on her face became deeper and deeper.


    She secretly pinched her leg. It was so painful that tears rolled in her eyes. She squeezed harder and tears fell out.


    Shadow brought her mouth with tears as she said, ¡°That ck card was just lent to me by Alpha Kilian . I will return it to himter. Even if I don¡¯t tell him, he will find out sooner orter.¡±


    As if she had thought of something terrible, Shadow cried even harder. ¡°You don¡¯t know how scary that person is. He is simply a devil. He will definitely not let me go.¡±


    Shadow could not hold back her tears. Only now did she know that her tear ducts were so developed.


    Perhaps she could really enter the entertainment industry and try.


    Jason was already annoyed. Previously, he treated Shadow warmly because he had something to ask of her. He deliberately pretended to be gentle. Now that he saw her crying non-stop, he was even more annoyed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry!¡± Jason shouted at her in a bad mood.


    Shadow immediately stopped crying and burped.


    Jason looked at her with disdain. A fool was a fool. Even if she became beautiful and normal, it was still useless.


    He thought that Alpha Kilian had already been fascinated by Shadow . That was why she got the ck card from Alpha Kilian . He did not expect that she only borrowed it from him.


    Shadow herself also despised herself a little. She did not want to be like this. She was just too immersed in crying.


    Jason seemed to have made a great decision. He asked, ¡°What if the ck card can be found?¡±


    ¡°Can it be found back?¡±


    Shadow looked surprised but soon disappeared. She smiled sadly. ¡°How can we find it? I don¡¯t even remember what the two kidnappers looked like.¡±


    Jason quietly observed Shadow ¡®s expression. He confirmed that she really did not know anything about Lisa ¡®s kidnapping. He frowned and said, ¡°I will think of a way.¡±


    When she came out of Jason¡¯s office, Shadow went to the bathroom to wash her face.


    Fortunately, she did not put on makeup today. Otherwise, she would have gone to the bathroom to wash her face. The makeup on her face would be gone.


    After washing her face, she found that her eyes and nose were still red.


    She had been crying too hard just now.


    She returned to her seat. When her colleague saw her like this, he asked her with concern, ¡°Shadow , what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Shadow shook her head, ¡°Nothing.¡±


    That colleague did not ask any more questions. It was the other colleague who saw Jason¡¯s secretarye to look for Shadow that said softly, ¡°The chairman is looking for her.¡±


    ¡°Why is the chairman looking for her?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe it¡¯s because of the factory. Didn¡¯t she marry Alpha Kilian ? The chairman probably wants to borrow this rtionship.¡±


    Shadow listened quietly. She felt that the people from the project department were very powerful. They could guess right.


    What did they say after that? She did not able listen. Instead, she could vaguely hear the words ¡°too much. How can the chairman do this?¡±


    Shadow was a little curious about what these two colleagues had imagined.


    But they seemed to be saying bad things about Jason.


    ¡­


    Nine Clouds Media.


    ¡°Alpha Kilian , do you still want to ask Golden Fountain to bring you lunch at noon?¡± The thing Xavier was most eager to do every day was to eat.


    Alpha Kilian did not even look up. ¡°No need.¡±


    Xavier asked him, ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Alpha Kilian ignored him.


    Xavier rolled his eyes. If he hadn¡¯t known Alpha Kilian for so many years, he could hardly tolerate Alpha Kilian , who was as cold as a refrigerator.


    Alpha Kilian happened to finish what he was doing. He raised his head and looked at Xavier¡¯s expression.


    His tone was cold. ¡°Can you beat me?¡±


    Xavier looked at him as if he had seen a ghost. ¡°F * ck, I can¡¯t beat you! You can guess what I¡¯m


    thinking?¡±


    Alpha Kilian chuckled, picked up his phone and walked out.


    Xavier had always been a talkative and active person. He was a teenager and often fought in groups.


    Those who were familiar with him could easily guess what he was thinking.


    Alpha Kilian drove to the Eden Group.


    The incident at the factory was exposed yesterday. After a night of fermentation, the whole world knew


    about it. It was hard for Jason to guess that the person behind the scenes was Shadow .


    He was worried, so he decided to go to the Eden Group to check on the situation.


    He drove the car to the parking lot of the Eden Group. He took out his phone and called Shadow , but no one answered.


    He got out of the car and went straight into thepany.


    Because of the factory, the entrance and exit of the Eden Group became even stricter.


    As soon as Alpha Kilian went in, he was stopped by a security guard. ¡°Who is it? Who are you looking for?¡±


    There were a lot of security guards. They were most likely afraid. Someone¡¯sing to cause trouble.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alpha Kilian was tall. Any ordinary person who stood in front of him would have to look up at him.


    He lowered his head, his face expressionless. He said in a dignified manner, ¡°Find someone.¡±


    The security guard felt that this person¡¯s aura was too strong. He was clearly a big shot, and the security guard did not dare to neglect him. He directly brought him to the front desk. ¡°Tell them who you are looking for.¡±


    The receptionist was also on guard today. The factory had almost been infiltrated by reporters. Now, she was fully focused on looking after every visitor.


    But when she saw Alpha Kilian ¡®s appearance, she stuttered. ¡°May I¡­ ask who¡­ you are looking for?¡±


    ¡°Shadow Eden .¡± Alpha Kilian lowered his eyes and hid the impatience in his eyes.


    He had never been very patient, but when he encountered something rted to Shadow , he found that his tolerance would be higher.


    ¡°Shadow ?¡± The receptionist felt that the word sounded familiar.


    Before the receptionist could speak again, a familiar female voice entered Alpha Kilian ¡®s ears. ¡°Alpha Dominic ?¡±


    Alpha Kilian turned his head and saw Shadow walking over from not far away.


    She walked slowly, as if she was not sure if it was him, and then she jogged towards him.


    It was lunch break time. Shadow was going out to eat, but as soon as she stepped out of the elevator.


    she saw a tall man who was suspected to be ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± standing at the front desk to be questioned by the


    receptionist.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was that kind of arrogant man. How could he be willing to be questioned by the receptionist?


    But the more she looked at this man, the more he looked like ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°. She called out his name.


    She did not expect him to really be ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡°.


    Shadow ran up to him with a face full of doubt. ¡°It really is you. Why are you here?¡±


    When the receptionist at the side saw Shadow , she also recognized her and said with a smile, ¡°Miss


    Eden , this gentleman came to find you.¡±

 98

    Shadow¡¯s head was spinning with confusion. ¡°Why are you looking for me?¡± she asked Alpha Dominic, her voice filled with bewilderment.


    But she knew they couldn¡¯t talk here, surrounded by others. Without hesitation, she reached out and grabbed his arm, leading him outside.


    Because Alpha Dominic was so much taller than her, Shadow had to take two steps for every one of his. Despite the hurry, their movements seemed strangely calm.


    Once outside the Eden Group, Shadow repeated her question. ¡°Why are you looking for me? There must be a reason.¡±


    Alpha Dominic didn¡¯t respond right away. Instead, he gazed at her intently, not even blinking.


    Shadow had cried earlier, though she had managed to hide all traces of it by now. Still, Alpha Dominic¡¯s keen eyes noticed the slight swelling in her eyes and the faint redness.


    Why had she been crying? he wondered. It was difficult for him to associate ¡°Shadow¡± with tears.


    And she had been at the Eden Group. Could it be because of Jason?


    After a few moments, Alpha Dominic finally spoke. ¡°I happened to be passing by. You can treat me to a meal.¡±


    His tone made it sound like he expected to be punished.


    Alpha Dominic had been her benefactor, so Shadow was willing to fulfill his request as long as it wasn¡¯t too much.


    Taking him to a restaurant a bit far from their workce seemed like a good idea. It would be less of a hassle running into their colleagues there.


    Once they were seated at the restaurant, Alpha Dominic remained silent. But Shadow could sense his discontent with the ce.


    She understood him quite well.


    After all, he was the young master of an aristocratic family. Usually, he would eat at expensive establishments like the Golden Fountain Club, treating it as his own kitchen.


    So, asking her to treat him to a meal at this ce, which would cost a few hundred dors, must have felt beneath him.


    This thought made Shadow worry about her own wallet. She couldn¡¯t help but touch it, her expression troubled.


    Alpha Dominic noticed her distress and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He knew she struggled financially.


    Yet, it was quite amusing to him to take advantage of her and make her foot the bill.


    The waiter came over to take their order. Shadow pushed the menu towards Alpha Dominic. ¡°You can order first.¡±


    He wasted no time, swiftly ncing over the menu, and quickly picked three dishes.


    Shadow knew those were the restaurant¡¯s signature dishes, and they were quite expensive.


    However, Alpha Dominic turned the menu back and ordered just a soup. He then looked at Shadow seriously and asked, ¡°Is that too much?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°Not at all.¡±


    She remembered their previous meal at the Golden Fountain where there were only four or five people, yet the table was filled with dishes that rivaled a royal banquet.


    Alpha Dominic agreed with a nod. ¡°Then I¡¯ll order two more.¡±


    Shadow had no objections.


    While Alpha Dominic continued studying the menu, a frown formed on his face. ¡°There¡¯s nothing good here.¡±


    He handed the menu to Shadow.


    Shadow had a simple lifestyle and believed that three dishes and a soup were more than enough for two people.


    But looking at the young master of the Lance family, Alpha Dominic, sitting across from her, she added two additional dishes and a snack. Otherwise, she felt it would be unfair to him.


    After they finished ordering, Shadow excused herself and went to the bathroom.


    As she walked out, she spotted Jessica, but made sure to slow down her steps. She didn¡¯t want Jessica to see her having a meal with Alpha Dominic and create unnecessary trouble.


    But Jessica was heading in the same direction, which forced Shadow to slow down even further.


    Eventually, Jessica entered a private room, and Shadow paused for a moment when passing by.


    The soundproofing of the private room wasn¡¯t great, and muffled arguments could be heard.


    Jessica¡¯s voice was sharp, but the volume had diminished significantly. ¡°You can¡¯t return the ck card to her!¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Jason¡¯s voice was softer, and Shadow couldn¡¯t make out his words.


    Were they arguing about the ck card returning?


    Since the factory incident had been exposed less than 24 hours ago, this was the second time she had heard Jessica and Jason quarrel.


    Jason doted on Jessica, and she was spoiled. Instead of thinking about how to help him navigate thepany crisis, she argued with him for her personal gain.


    If Jessica treated her own father like this, how heartless would she be towards Lisa in the future?


    Shadow¡¯s emotions wereplicated, but she decided not to involve herself with Lisa anymore. Whatever treatment she received from Jessica in the future would be her own choice.


    Even when Shadow used the ck card to save Lisa, it seemed Lisa was unaffected. Instead, she saw it as a way to get closer to Shadow and take advantage of her in the future.


    Taking a deep breath, Shadow calmed her emotions and returned to the table where Alpha Dominic was waiting.


    Several dishes had already been served, but he hadn¡¯t touched his chopsticks. He seemed engrossed in his phone.


    Sensing someone¡¯s presence, he looked up and locked eyes with Shadow for a moment before setting his phone down. His voice was calm as he said, ¡°I was just about to call Frank.¡±


    Shadow looked confused. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°To have him stage a bathroom emergency and get you out,¡± Alpha Dominic said with a serious expression.


    Shadow sighed inwardly.


    Alright, she did spend over 20 minutes in the bathroom.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    She didn¡¯t respond to Alpha Dominic¡¯s suggestion. He might be bored, so he stayed silent and didn¡¯t eat much either.


    When it was time to pay, the waiter handed Shadow a card. ¡°Your husband already took care of the bill. It came to a total of $680.¡±


    ¡°My husband?¡± It took Shadow a moment to realize the waiter was referring to Alpha Dominic. Her immediate thought was of Alpha Kilian.


    Turning to Alpha Dominic, she asked, ¡°Alpha Dominic, is your cousin dining here too?¡±


    His expression grew dark, his cold gazending on her before he abruptly turned and strode away.


    He walked so quickly, it felt like he wanted to escape from her grasp.


    Alpha Kilian couldn¡¯t help but feel an urge to give Shadow a good beating.


    The waiter must have misunderstood their rtionship. Rushing to exin, he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I thought you two were husband and wife. It was actually him who paid the bill.¡±


    Shadow was momentarily stunned before epting the card and chasing after Alpha Dominic.


    He hadn¡¯t gone far, still on the phone when she caught up to him.

 99

    Shadow stomped her feet and waited impatiently for him to finish his call.


    After two long minutes, Alpha Dominic finally hung up the phone. With a cold expression, he turned to face her, his eyes devoid of emotion.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Goosebumps prickled all over Shadow¡¯s body as his gaze locked onto her. She handed him the card and cash, saying, ¡°I promised to treat you to dinner. So, it¡¯s my treat.¡±


    Alpha Dominic took the card back but refused to ept the money. Shadow insisted, ¡°Come on, take the money!¡±


    Alpha Dominic¡¯s eyes focused on her slim, white fingers, and he unexpectedly reached out his hand. Shadow thought he wanted the money, but instead, he firmly grasped her hand.


    Shadow¡¯s expression changed slightly, caught off guard by his actions. Before she could say anything, Alpha Dominic pulled her into a tight embrace. His eyes lowered, darkness swirling within them. His deep voice, like aged wine, filled the air with its intoxicating scent.


    However, his words were shameless. ¡°If you truly want to return the money, then give me a kiss. If you kiss me, I¡¯ll ept the money.¡±


    ¡°????¡±


    He must be crazy!


    They stood on a busy roadside, and Shadow¡¯s heart raced with nervousness. Her anxiety made her knees weak.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    Alpha Kilian had been closely observing Shadow¡¯s reaction, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to react like that. With his skills and vignce, he shouldn¡¯t have been caught off guard.


    Shadow¡¯s strike had hit a sensitive spot, causing him real pain.


    This incident made Alpha Kilian realize howx he had be in Shadow¡¯s presence and how little he was on guard around her.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Shadow heard his voice, though his expression remained unchanged. But she sensed the difort from his strained jaw.


    Although she genuinely cared for his well-being, she didn¡¯t feel guilty at all. This shameless man always tried to take advantage of her, so she had to hit back when necessary!


    Alpha Dominic didn¡¯t release her hand. Grimly, he said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, but you¡¯re in trouble now.¡±


    If Shadow had really injured his private parts, she could say goodbye to any future intimacy with him. Her happiness would be ruined for the rest of her life.


    Shadow didn¡¯t understand the true meaning behind his words. She only thought that she had infuriated him, and he wanted to punish her.


    It would be best for her to run away immediately.


    Just as she prepared to flee, she realized her hand was still in Alpha Dominic¡¯s firm grip.


    She knew she was in trouble. Instinctively, she looked up at Alpha Dominic, but he lowered his head and kissed her.


    Angry, Shadow tried to use the same trick again, but Alpha Dominic had anticipated her move. She couldn¡¯t seed. Moreover, he kissed her forcefully and passionately, not giving her a chance to catch her breath.


    Once he turned ruthless, Shadow stood no chance. Unable to catch her breath, she pushed him away.


    In that moment, her strength had waned, leaving her powerless.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s breathing grew heavy. He bit her lip as a form of punishment, then released her. Stepping back, he gazed at her with intense eyes.


    Thrown off bnce by his sudden withdrawal, Shadow stumbled for a moment before regaining herposure.


    Her lip stung and she touched it, realizing there was blood on her hand. So, Alpha Dominic had indeed bitten her lip.


    Dealing with Alpha Dominic baffled Shadow. No matter how much she scolded him, he remained shameless. If they fought, she would never win.


    ring at him, she turned to walk away.


    ¡°Shadow!¡±


    As she prepared to leave, a familiar voice called out to her.


    Hearing that voice only worsened Shadow¡¯s mood.


    Jessica emerged from the nearby restaurant and witnessed Shadow and Alpha Dominic¡¯s passionate kiss. However, this time, Jessica refrained from taking any photos.


    After all, thest time she stirred up trouble with her photos, the Lance family quickly put a stop to it. That scandal had ended swiftly.


    ¡°I thought it was you when I saw your back. I didn¡¯t imagine it would really be you,¡± Jessica casually walked towards Shadow with a friendly smile. Then, she pretended to be surprised as she nced at Alpha Dominic. ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Lance is here too?¡±


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t even spare Jessica a nce. He bent down to pick up the money that Shadow had dropped in her haste.


    While Shadow was still angry at Alpha Dominic, she couldn¡¯t deny the air of nobility around him. So, when he stooped to retrieve the money, she couldn¡¯t help but find him attractive.


    Realizing she was once again captivated by Alpha Dominic¡¯s appearance, Shadow bit her lip internally, trying to snap herself out of it.


    Wake up! No matter how enticing his demeanor might be, it couldn¡¯t overshadow the fact that he was a perverted man who harbored desires for his sister-inw!


    Once Alpha Dominic picked up the money, he dusted it off meticulously, as if there was any speck of dirt on it. Then, he put it in his pocket.


    Shadow found herself growing more and more perplexed by Alpha Dominic. She wanted to hate him, but she couldn¡¯t. When she sought peace between them, he turned shameless.


    Jessica, too, was taken aback by Alpha Dominic¡¯s actions.


    This ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± actually stooped to pick up mere hundred dors from the ground.


    She didn¡¯t know the significance of that money, but she had found a way to resolve the crisis at Eden Group without returning the ck card to Shadow.


    She could use Alpha Dominic as a pawn. Since he lived with Alpha Kilian, he must be a close rtive with authority in the Lance family.


    It would be killing two birds with one stone.


    Thinking about capturing Alpha Dominic, Jessica¡¯s smile grew even more smug.


    She deliberately adjusted her clothing, revealing the low-cut dress hidden underneath. Coyly, she looked towards Alpha Dominic.


    However, before she could say anything, Alpha Dominic provocatively directed his words at Shadow. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up from work.¡±


    And then, he left!


    Shadow stared at him with cold eyes. He said those words deliberately to anger her!


    A cold gust of wind blew, causing Jessica to shiver. She quickly covered herself with her coat, ring at Shadow.


    ¡°Hmph! The Eden Group is in danger, and instead of asking Alpha Kilian for help, you¡¯re flirting with men here. You¡¯re audacious!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just a lowly employee in the Eden Group. I can¡¯tpare to my older sister. I feel guilty about not being able to assist thepany,¡± Shadow replied, wearing a smile that didn¡¯t reflect any guilt at all.


    She walked towards Jessica, still smiling, and continued, ¡°I lost the ck card. How could I dare ask Alpha Kilian for help? His temper is notorious, and he might direct his anger towards the Eden Group. That would be disastrous.¡±


    ¡°Trash!¡± Jessica sneered, her eyes falling on Shadow¡¯s swollen and red lips, noticing the wound.

 100

    When Jessica  thought about what Shadow  and ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had just done, a wave of jealousy washed over her. Her eyes narrowed, shing a hint of green in their depths. ¡°Why are you still wrapped up in Alpha Dominic ? Don¡¯t you realize you¡¯re a married woman? Ignoring you is your own fault, Alpha Kilian !¡±


    The jabs of Jessica ¡®s words struck directly at Shadow ¡®s vulnerabilities.


    Shadow ¡®s expression shifted slightly, but she stood her ground. ¡°Even if Alpha Kilian  doesn¡¯t care about me, I¡¯m still his Luna . But what about you? Once the Eden Group goes bankrupt, no one will tolerate you anymore.¡±


    Jessica ¡®s face drained of color. She pointed a shaky finger at Shadow  and snapped, ¡°Shut up!¡±


    Even though Jessica  was spoiled by her family, she knew deep down that her recklessness was only tolerated because of the Eden Group¡¯s influence.


    Though not a majorpany in the Herton Pack , the Eden Group had a long-standing reputation and solid foundations. It held sway over various establishedpanies in the industry, thanks to the friendships Old Master Eden had forged before retiring over a decade ago.


    While the Eden Group¡¯s influence may pale inparison to the Lances  family, it was still significant.


    Jessica  couldn¡¯t bear to imagine the life she would have if the Eden Group were to go bankrupt.


    ¡°If you have time to argue with me, perhaps you should focus on resolving thepany¡¯s crisis,¡± Shadow  said knowingly. She understood that the Eden Group would weather this storm, even if it suffered substantial damage. She had only mentioned bankruptcy to rattle Jessica .


    The quarrel between Jessica  and Jason left her in a foul mood. Upon hearing Shadow ¡®s words, she retorted, ¡°When did it be your ce to teach me a lesson, you slut!¡±


    Shadow  remained unruffled. Tilting her head slightly, she smiled and asked, ¡°My dear sister, aren¡¯t we both cut from the same cloth? If I¡¯m a slut, what does that make you?¡±


    ¡°Shadow !¡± Jessica  was nothing more than an arrogant and useless individual. She couldn¡¯t even engage in a proper argument with Shadow .


    With a daughter like Jessica , Shadow  couldn¡¯t help but sympathize with Jason.


    Turning to walk away, Shadow  was halted by Jessica ¡®s voice, demanding, ¡°Stop right there!¡±


    Jessica  practically wore next to nothing, donning a low-cut dress that seemed expensive, with a coat of decent quality concealing her thin stockings and high heels. Despite the cold, she maintained her seductive appearance.


    As the wind blew, Jessica ¡®s coat fluttered and exposed her already ruffled chest, covered in goosebumps.


    Shadow  couldn¡¯t help but fix her coat for her. She couldn¡¯t help but admire Jessica ¡®s determination.


    Though it was freezing, Jessica  refused to let it dampen her presence. Wearing 8cm heels slightly taller than Shadow , it wasn¡¯t too noticeable.


    Cocking her chin in an authoritative tone, Jessica  demanded, ¡°Give me Alpha Dominic ¡®s number.¡±


    Shadow  furrowed her brows, doubting if she had heard correctly. ¡°Whose number?¡±


    This woman had just insulted her, yet now she boldly requested Alpha Dominic ¡®s number. What gave her the audacity?


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡®s, of course!¡± Jessica  reiterated impatiently. ¡°You¡¯re useless. If Alpha Kilian  won¡¯t help you, then I have to find a solution myself.¡±


    She intended to seek out Alpha Dominic ?


    Shadow  sneered. ¡°Go find him yourself.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with your attitude? It¡¯s fine if you won¡¯t help the Eden Group, but can¡¯t you at least provide me a number? Don¡¯t forget, your surname is also Moore!¡±


    Jessica ¡®s words had a semnce of logic, but her face remained devoid of any guilt.


    Shadow ¡®s smile deepened, but her visage grew colder and colder. Her gentle voice turned frigid, carrying a hint of menace. ¡°Of course I won¡¯t forget that my surname is Moore.¡±


    Every misfortune she had encountered in her life thus far could be traced back to her surname. All of it, caused by individuals bearing the same name.


    ¡°How could I forget that my surname is Moore?¡± Shadow ¡®s voice softened. ¡°Sister, I won¡¯t tell you where to find Alpha Dominic ¡®s number, but I can inform you that he frequents the Golden Fountain Club.¡±


    Sharing someone¡¯s phone number was a personal matter. Regardless of her disdain for Alpha Dominic , she couldn¡¯t simply provide Jessica  with his contact information.


    However, she could drop a hint, indicating that Alpha Dominic  spent time at the Golden Fountain.


    There was no guarantee that Jessica  would even cross paths with him, and even if she did, the chance of sess was slim.


    In essence, Shadow  simply wanted to stir up trouble for ¡°Alpha Dominic .¡±


    Who told him to be so shameless!


    ¡­


    That night, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± didn¡¯te to pick her up.


    Instead, Frank arrived in a car to collect her.


    The evening sky had grown overcast, with rain falling steadily. It was already dark outside.


    Seated in the car, Shadow  expressed her dissatisfaction. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say you don¡¯t have to drive me to work?¡±


    ¡°Master Cousin asked me to fetch Young Madame. He mentioned that it¡¯s difficult to g down a taxi on rainy days.¡±


    Frank had been feeling rather anxioustely, afraid that he might slip up in front of Shadow  and expose himself. It would be impossible to exin to Alpha Kilian .


    Shadow  eyed Frank with suspicion. ¡°Are you referring to Alpha Dominic ?¡±


    Could it be that Alpha Dominic  had nned to pick her up tonight, knowing it would rain?


    It took Frank a moment toprehend before replying, ¡°Yes.¡±


    A flicker of hope ignited within Shadow ¡®s heart. What if Alpha Dominic  had coincidentally encountered Jessica ?


    Frank¡¯s words suddenly struck her, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± emphasized that he wouldn¡¯t be home for dinner tonight, as he had some business at the Golden Fountain.


    Shadow ¡®s heart skipped a beat.


    Could he have encountered Jessica  by chance?


    Frank, observing Shadow ¡®s anxious expression from the rearview mirror, mistook it for concern over Alpha Dominic . He assured her, ¡°The young master is only handling some affairs. He won¡¯t be out toote.¡±


    Shadow  absentmindedly nodded, oblivious to Frank¡¯s reference to ¡°Alpha Dominic .¡±


    Meanwhile, Frank began to perspire profusely as he realized his slip-up.


    Returning home, the Castle  felt empty.


    Shadow  entered, her eyes searching the surroundings without purpose.


    She ascended the stairs to change her clothes, then ventured into the kitchen to prepare her own meal.


    Alpha Dominic  was absent, and Alpha Kilian ¡®s whereabouts remained a mystery. She had to fend for herself.


    As she dined, an inexplicable urge prompted her to call Lisa . She wanted to ascertain if Jessica  had gone to the Golden Fountain.


    ¡°Mom, have you eaten?¡± Shadow  did her best to suppress the urgency in her voice.


    Lisa  sounded surprised. ¡°No, I was just about to. Your father and sister are still in the study, discussing some matters. They asked me wait for them.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see. I was just checking. I¡¯ll eat now. Goodbye.¡± Shadow  hung up, feeling a wave of relief wash over her.


    On the other end, Lisa  felt the sudden phone call was rather unexpected. However, Shadow ¡®s concern warmed her heart. Her spirits lifted, knowing her daughter still cared deeply for her.


    Just as Jason and Jessica  descended the stairs, Lisa  hurried over. ¡°Please,e and eat before the food gets cold.¡±


    Jessica  nced at Lisa  and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not eating. I¡¯m going out.¡±


    Only then did Lisa  notice Jessica ¡®s changed attire and borately done makeup.


    ¡°Where are you going? It¡¯s alreadyte at night.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business. I have important matters to attend to,¡± Jessica  retorted, casting a disdainful nce in Lisa ¡®s direction. She admired herself in a mirror, thoroughly satisfied with her appearance.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    She refused to believe that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± would turn down a seductive beauty like herself.

 101

    In the Golden Fountain Club, Alpha Kilian emerged from his room and summoned Frank.


    ¡°Have you retrieved her?¡± he growled.


    Frank replied, ¡°I have already sent Young Madame back to the Castle.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Alpha Kilian snarled before abruptly ending the call. He turned to head to the bathroom, but as he did, he collided with a waiter carrying curry rice.


    The hot broth spilled all over Alpha Kilian¡¯s clothes.


    The waiter stood frozen in shock, trembling as he quickly apologized. ¡°Sir, I am deeply sorry.¡±


    Alpha Kilian scowled, but did not scold the waiter. He simply turned and left.


    As the ndestine boss of the Golden Fountain Club, Alpha Kilian had his own room there. Before he got married, he often stayed to oversee operations. However, after his marriage, he rarely set foot in the ce.


    Inside his room, all the necessary toiletries and clothes were readily avable.


    He entered the room, removing his shirt, and turned to search the wardrobe for fresh clothes.


    His eye caught a navy blue shirt. Just as he reached out to grab it, he sensed someone approaching from behind. Pausing for a moment, he swiftly turned around and sped the neck of the intruder.


    ¡°Who dares to disturb me!¡± he snarled.


    The person¡¯s neck felt slender, indicating that it was a woman.


    Alpha Kilian lowered his gaze to see a familiar face.


    Jessica stood before him, wearing only a suspender dress with seductive makeup. Despite being choked, she maintained a provocative gaze. ¡°Alpha Lances, should you not be gentle with girls? You¡¯re applying too much force. I can barely breathe,¡± she coquettishly eximed.


    Unfazed by her attempts, Alpha Kilian promptly threw her out of the room, his face contorted with disgust. ¡°Leave immediately,¡± hemanded.


    Refusing to back down this time, Jessica scrambled up from the ground, determined to get closer to ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    However, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was prepared. He swiftly sidestepped, causing Jessica to tumble to the floor.


    Alpha Kilian took out his phone and called the security room. ¡°There¡¯s a deranged woman here. Come and remove her.¡±


    He closed the door and swiftly changed his clothes.


    Not one to easily ept defeat, Jessica continued to resist the security guards as they tried to escort her away. ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend! Let go of me!¡±


    Alpha Kilian, now dressed, emerged from the room. He shot the security guard a cold re. ¡°Why is she still here? If you can¡¯t handle such a simple matter, perhaps the Golden Fountain Club needs a new security team.¡±


    Though the guard remained unaware that Alpha Kilian was the club¡¯s boss, he understood that anyone who could have a long-term reservation at the prestigious Golden Fountain Club must be wealthy and influential. Such guests had the authority to demand staff changes.


    The guard¡¯s sympathy waned. He forcefully dragged Jessica away, all the while bowing respectfully and apologizing to Alpha Kilian. ¡°Apologies, sir.¡±


    Alpha Kilian remained silent, but just as the guard was about to leave, he stopped him.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Take her to the police station. Tell them she harassed me.¡±


    Confused, the guard hesitated, not knowing how to respond.


    After working at the Golden Fountain Club for years, it was the first time he had witnessed a male guest iming to be harassed by a woman.


    Nheless, this aristocratic male guest spoke matter-of-factly.


    ¡°Alright, understood,¡± the guard finally replied.


    Jessica had never endured such humiliation from a man before. She continued to protest, ¡°It was Shadow who told me you would be here tonight. She sent me to see you. She doesn¡¯t appreciate you despite all you¡¯ve done for her.¡±


    The security guard swiftly covered Jessica¡¯s mouth and hurriedly escorted her away.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s expression turned grim as he narrowed his eyes and muttered softly to himself, ¡°Shadow.¡±


    Returning to his room, Xavier noticed Alpha Kilian¡¯s foul mood and inquired, ¡°What happened?¡±


    In a deep voice, Alpha Kilian dered, ¡°The clubhouse needs a new staff.¡±


    The waiter who had collided with him must have been bribed by Jessica. She must have discovered his room through him.


    The Golden Fountain Club prided itself on its privacy, but it seemed that many of the employees there had lost their professionalism and needed to be disciplined.


    As dinner concluded, Xavier noticed that Alpha Kilian remained seated, an unusual urrence.


    Hadn¡¯t he been in a hurry to return home after worktely? Even if he had other matters to attend to, he rarely stayed behind.


    Xavier couldn¡¯t help but feel confused. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you leaving?¡±


    ¡°You go ahead. I won¡¯t be going home today,¡± Alpha Kilian dered, rising from his seat and grabbing his coat.


    Xavier scratched his head, wondering if he and Alpha Kilian had fought.


    ¡­


    After finishing her meal, Shadow returned to her room but found herself unable to sleep. She tossed and turned, gued by thoughts of Jessica¡¯s potential sess in seducing Alpha Dominic.


    Although it seemed Jessica hadn¡¯t reached him at the Golden Fountain Club for now, if ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± had chosen to stay away, Shadow couldn¡¯t fully rx.


    Restlessly, she kept her ears attuned to the sound of a car engine.


    But as midnight neared, she heard no such sound.


    In other words, Alpha Dominic hadn¡¯t returned yet.


    Impatiently, she retrieved her phone, contemting calling him. Her fingers hovered over the screen, hesitant to press the dial button. The more she thought about Alpha Dominic, the guiltier she felt.


    Eventually, exhaustion overcame her, and she fell asleep in thetter half of the night.


    The next day, Shadow awoke feeling restless despite herck of sleep.


    She descended the stairs, her curiosity getting the better of her. She couldn¡¯t resist asking the security guard, ¡°Did Alpha Dominic returnst night?¡±


    The guard shook his head. ¡°No.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s heart sank.


    On her way to work, she gathered her courage and dialed Alpha Dominic¡¯s number.


    The phone rang several times before ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± answered.


    ¡°What is it?¡± his voice sounded hoarse, as if he had just awakened.


    ording to their usual routines, he should have been awake long before Shadow.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I pressed the wrong button by ident. Just ignore it and go back to sleep,¡± Shadow rushed to say before hanging up.


    Biting her lip, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Jessica had truly seeded.


    The thought of ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± being with Jessica at that very moment made Shadow extremely ufortable and filled her with regret.


    On the other end, Alpha Kilian ended the call with a slight smile.


    So, Shadow couldn¡¯t resist calling him?


    Well, let her stew in her nerves for a while.


    Alpha Kilian felt in a good mood as he picked up the internal line and ordered, ¡°Bring me a cup of hot water.¡±


    Neglecting to turn on the heater the previous night, he had caught a cold.

 102

    When Shadow arrived at thepany, the first thing she did was to look for Jessica .


    However, when she went, there was no one in Jessica ¡®s office.


    Shadow asked her assistant, ¡°Manager Eden is not here yet?¡±


    The assistant shook her head.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shadow ¡®s mood became even moreplicated.


    If ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± really had a rtionship with Jessica , she would feel that it was like putting flower on a piece


    of dog poo.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± looked arrogant and unbridled, but after spending the past two months with each other day and


    night, Shadow felt that his private life was quite simple and not as chaotic as Jessica ¡®s.


    ¡­


    Because of the incident of the factory being exposed, the reputation of the Eden Group¡¯s market had


    dropped drastically. The discussions online were very intense, and whenever people mentioned the Eden Group, they would scold them.


    It had been 48 hours since the incident was exposed. If they did not think of a way to resolve it, the matter would only ferment more and more.


    The public rtions department did not suppress this matter. Perhaps because themotion was too big, thepany came forward to negotiate with the tform. The tform did not agree to collect money to suppress the hot topic of the Eden Group.


    The Eden Group was currently in a very passive state.


    At noon, Shadow heard the news that the Eden Group had announced that there would be a press


    conference in the afternoon.


    However, Jessica did note to thepany. Instead, Jason called her to go to his office.


    Jason had been very anxious these few days. He looked like he had aged ten years and had more


    white hair.


    When he saw Shadow , he quickly came up to her. ¡°Shadow , I have already sent someone to help you find


    the ck card. Thepany has decided to hold a press conference in the afternoon. Then, ask Alpha Kilian to help us. After this period of time, this matter will be settled smoothly.¡±


    Shadow directly ignored his words and asked, ¡°Then did you find the ck card?¡±


    The ck card was clearly in Jason¡¯s hands, but he was not willing to hand it over at this time. He even lied to her that he was sending people to look for it. He clearly wanted to obtain benefits from her for


    nothing. Of course Shadow would not fall for it.


    ¡°Our people are currently looking for it. We should be able to find it. The most important thing right now


    is to solve the crisis of the Eden Group first.¡± Jason¡¯s face darkened. He was not satisfied with Shadow ¡®s reaction.


    Shadow did not have the patience to waste time with Jason. She smiled. ¡°That ck card is the


    secondary card in Alpha Kilian ¡®s hand. He knows every expense. Yesterday, he asked me what I spent so


    much money to buy recently and asked me to return the card to him. Otherwise, he would freeze my


    bank ount.¡±


    Shadow was very familiar with lying to people with the surname Moore.


    Jason¡¯s face instantly turned pale. Recently, they had indeed been using the money on the ck card.


    If Alpha Kilian wanted to investigate, they would be easily discovered.


    Although Shadow was still unaware, Alpha Kilian was not so easily deceived.


    And the current situation was no longer just a matter of funding. Of course, it was the most important thing to solve the problem of the Eden Group¡¯s factory.


    Previously, he had been too anxious previously and had been convinced by Jessica , but he had


    pletely forgotten about Alpha Kilian .


    Only now did he finally feel fear.


    ¡°I will definitely send someone to help you find the ck card as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Dad.¡±


    Not long after Shadow left, Jason called her and told her that the ck card was found.


    Although she was very disdainful, Shadow still showed her gratitude. Then she asked, ¡°How did you guys find the ck card? Where are the two kidnappers?¡±


    Jason vaguely said, ¡°The kidnappers were arrested by the police.¡±


    ¡°I will definitely beg Alpha Kilian for help. The Eden Group is my own business. I must share the


    responsibility.¡± Shadow said falsely.


    Jason believed her lie. He said with a gratified expression, ¡°It¡¯s all up to you.¡±


    ¡­


    In the afternoon, the Eden Group held a press conference.


    Shadow hid in the tea room to watch the live broadcast of the press conference.


    ¡°The Eden Group is an old business in Herton Pack . It has been established for so many years and has


    been trusted by many consumers. As the chairman of the Eden Group, what do you want to say


    now?¡±


    Jason looked haggard and full of guilt. ¡°This is my dereliction of duty. We have failed everyone¡¯s trust.¡±


    Probably because Jason had arranged everything beforehand, the first half of the press conference


    was normal.


    In thetter half, a reporter suddenly asked, ¡°Someone on the Inte said that¡­ The Eden Group is a mud pit. They are making counterfeit products. The current chairman is not as capable as your father.


    Your two daughters, one has a messy private life, the other is passionate about hype news, and your


    son, who studied abroad, loves racing. Do you have anything to say about these things?¡±


    Shadow had just drunk the imported water and spat it out.


    What??


    Was she the one who was keen on hyping the news? Was that reporter serious?


    Shadow was totally stunned.


    She then remembered that Jason had made her admit her fault in front of the mediast time because


    she had asked the entertainment reporters to shoot secretly.


    These reporters were really careful.


    In the live broadcast, Jason¡¯s expression suddenly became very ugly. Even through the screen, he


    could feel his embarrassment.


    However, Jason was also asking for it.


    As for the matter of hype, she had a clear conscience.


    ¡­


    When it was time to get off work, Shadow finally saw Jessica .


    Jessica ¡®s expression was terrible. When she saw Shadow , she fiercely red at Shadow . ¡°Bitch!¡±


    ¡°Everyone knows that you have a messy private life, Second Lady of Eden Family. Who is Bitch?¡±


    Shadow said with a cold smile.


    Jessica was detained for one night in the police station under the name of ¡°sexual harassment.¡± She


    was released just now. She umted all of her resentment and poured it all on Shadow .


    ¡°You did it on purpose, didn¡¯t you? You must have told ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± in advance what I was going to do.


    That¡¯s why he humiliated me like that!¡± Jessica ¡®s eyes were full of malice, as if she wanted to kill her.


    Although Shadow did not know what Jessica was talking about, she could tell from Jessica ¡®s words that


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was not sessfully seduced by her and instead humiliated her.


    But Jessica even med her for this kind of thing?


    Shadow approached her and whispered into her ear, ¡°Are you crazy? If you are crazy, take your


    medicine earlier and don¡¯t bite people everywhere.¡±


    This scene was like Shadow talking to her gently in the eyes of others.


    ¡°Shadow , you slut!¡± Jessica immediately became angry and raised her hand, wanting to hit Shadow .


    Shadow had long been prepared and stepped back, making her hand fall empty.


    After work, the staff came and went. This scene fell into the eyes of the passing staff. It became Jessica


    bullying Shadow .


    The people in thepany had long disliked Jessica .


    Someone whispered to each other. ¡°The news outside has already been written like that. She still dares


    toe to thepany?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! If she is still the department manager of thepany, I will resign because I am annoyed


    by her.¡±


    ¡°It just so happens that my contract has expired.¡±


    Jessica also heard their words and walked over aggressively to stop them. ¡°What do you mean? This is


    mypany. Why don¡¯t I dare toe?¡±

 103

    When the employees saw Jessica like this, they took a detour to avoid her and hurried out.


    One of them seemed to have disliked Jessica a long time ago. When she left, she even pretended to casually stretch out her foot in front of Jessica .


    Jessica saw that they were about to leave and still wanted to pull them, so she did not notice the road under her feet.


    Thus, she fell to the ground in front of everyone.


    Jessica heavily fell to the ground. She felt pain all over her body. She stretched out her hand and tried to get up but did not get up. She was angry and shouted loudly, ¡°I want to fire all of you!¡±


    Did she not hear those people say that they already wanted to resign? They probably would not wait to be fired by her.


    Shadow looked out of the corner of her eye and saw Jason walking towards them from the elevator. She turned around and walked over to help Jessica . ¡°Sister, why are you so careless? You must have fallen and hurt. The ground is so cold. I will help you up.¡±


    Jessica shook off her hand and pushed her, but she did not have much strength. ¡°I do not want you to fake good intentions.¡±


    Shadow took advantage of the situation and fell to the ground. Then she quietly stood up.


    Jason had already walked over and said in a deep voice, ¡°What is going on?¡±


    ¡°Dad!¡± Jason had always doted on Jessica . She had been locked up in the police station for a day and a night. She felt very wronged now. When she saw Jason, she started to cry as soon as she opened hermouth.


    Jason had been very annoyed these past few days. Jessica said that she wanted to seduce Alpha Dominic and ask him to help, but in the end, she went to the police station.


    Only then did he realize that it was impossible to rely on Jessica to help the Eden Group. Shadow might be more useful.


    ¡°Stand up and look at you. You are such a disgrace!¡± Jason looked at her and then looked away. He felt that it was too embarrassing.


    Shadow reached out to help Jessica at the right time and said in a low voice, ¡°Sister, get up.¡±


    ¡°Get out of the way. Don¡¯t touch me with your dirty hands!¡± Jessica did not even think and directly knocked Shadow ¡®s hands off.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Shadow calmly withdrew her hands.


    She did not know whose hands were dirtier.


    Jason needed Shadow to help the Eden Group now, so he had to please her. When he heard Jessica ¡®s words, he immediately scolded her, ¡°Watch yournguage! How did you talk to your sister?¡±


    ¡°Dad!¡± Jason already got up from the ground, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    She remembered that Jason did not like Shadow before, but now he scolded her for Shadow .


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back first.¡± Jason did not want to say more here.


    In the past, he thought that his daughter should be pampered and she could do whatever she wanted.


    However, the series of events that happened recently made him think that Jessica had been indulged


    too much.


    Shadow said, ¡°Then I will go back first.¡±


    Jason looked at Shadow and his expression immediately softened. ¡°Okay, you go back first. Go back and have a good talk with Alpha Kilian .¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Shadow walked out of the Eden Group¡¯s building. The expression on her face disappeared, and a hint


    of fatigue appeared between her brows.


    If Jason could always be so cruel to her, it would not be a big deal. But it was precisely because of this


    that he thought of using her when he needed her. It made her feel even more disappointed.


    When Shadow returned home, she saw ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± sitting on the sofa in the hall when she entered.


    Shadow was a little surprised. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Alpha Kilian looked up at her and noticed that her expression was not different. His mood immediately became very bad.


    Shadow did not know anything about this. ¡°Then I will go and cook.¡±


    She had just left for the kitchen when Frank sent the documents to the Castle .


    Frank asked Alpha Kilian when he saw Alpha Kilian on the sofa. ¡°Young master, can I put these documents in your study?¡±


    Alpha Kilian did not say anything, and Frank turned around to take the documents.


    However, Alpha Kilian said quietly at this time. ¡°Frank, if you don¡¯te home one night, won¡¯t your Luna lose her temper at you?¡±


    When Frank heard that, he paused and said, ¡°Young Master, I have already divorced.¡±


    Only then did Alpha Kilian look up at him. ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    Frank and his Luna had a good rtionship. Every time he went abroad to do business, he would bring many gifts to his Luna .


    ¡°Half a year ago.¡± Frank obviously wouldn¡¯t say much about this kind of thing.


    He remembered what Xavier had told him about his young master noting homest night. When he thought about Alpha Kilian ¡®s problem, he understood what was going on.


    He hesitated for a moment, but still decided to remind his young master, ¡°Young master, your current identity is Cousin Master. Whether Cousin Masteres home tonight or not does not have anything to do with Young Madame.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Alpha Kilian ¡®s face darken.


    Frank lowered his head. What he said was the truth.


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s face was tight. He looked at him coldly. ¡°You can go now.¡±


    The young master did not let anyone tell the truth.


    Alpha Kilian indeed did not want to hear such words.


    During the meal, Shadow noticed that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± rarely used his fork s and had been looking at her the whole time.


    Shadow touched her face and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    In the end, Alpha Dominic only gave her a cold nce and turned around to go upstairs. He did not even eat anymore.


    Shadow looked confused.


    After she finished eating, she suddenly received a call from thendy.


    Thendy was a middle-aged woman. She spoke in a rough voice, ¡°It¡¯s time to pay the electricity bill. When are youing?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t lived there this month. I don¡¯t think it will cause the electriPack bill, right?¡± She had been living in the Castle recently. She had rented the house there in advance. The lease had not expired and she could not refund it, so she had been idle.


    When thendlord heard her words, she was unhappy. ¡°Nonsense, your house was still litst night!¡±


    Shadow was shocked. Could it be that a thief had entered her house?


    She did not argue with thendlord and only said, ¡°Okay, I wille tomorrow.¡±


    The next morning, she applied for leave and went to the ce where she rented the house.


    When she reached the door, she leaned against it and listened for a while. When she found that there was no movement inside, she opened the door and went in.


    Once she went in, she was stunned. The room was extremely messy.


    On the floor were all kinds of instant burger s, snacks, and bags. There was even a game console on the table.


    How was this a thief? Was this an invasion by some strange thing? The house was so messy that there wasn¡¯t even a clean empty space!


    At this moment, a young voice came from behind her. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Shadow turned around and saw a thin young man standing at the door. His curly hair looked messy but


    his face was white and clean. He looked very pretty. As she had been with ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± for a long time, she could tell that the clothes the young man was wearing were the same brand as Alpha Dominic ¡®s clothes.


    ¡°I am the tenant of this house. Who are you?¡± The young man looked to be around 14 or 15 years old.


    Shadow felt relieved.


    ¡°I know.¡± The young man walked in and ced the things in his hands on the tea table. He sat down on the sofa as if there was no one else around. It was as if he was in his own house.


    As if he felt Shadow ¡®s gaze, he looked up at her. ¡°You¡¯re pretty. Do you have a boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Shadow was about to speak when she realized that the problem now was to find out who this little boy was.


    She saw that he was dressed so meticulously and guessed that he might be a child who ran away from home. She asked with concern. ¡°Why do you live here? Where are your parents?¡±


    The young man ignored her words. ¡°My name is Alpha Dominic . What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Alpha Dominic ? Seeing Shadow ¡®s shocked expression, the youth revealed a somewhat distressed expression. ¡°Ai, I have


    some rtionship with the Lances family in Herton Pack . But you don¡¯t need to be so surprised,


    right?¡±

 104

    During this time, Shadow was not only surprised but also shocked. Her wolf instincts were on high alert as she approached the young man, her expression serious. ¡°What is your connection to the Lances family?¡± she questioned.


    The young man¡¯s face remained indifferent as he replied, ¡°Distant rtionship. However, I¡¯m not close to the people of the Lances family. I don¡¯t have any money either!¡±


    Shadow realized that this young boy had been living in her house without permission, and now he was wary of her intentions. Was he afraid that she would kidnap him and demand a ransom from the Lances family?


    ¡°Are you truly Alpha Dominic Lances?¡± Shadow asked in a hushed tone. ¡°How many people in the Lances family bear the name Alpha Dominic?¡±


    ¡°Why do you ask so many questions?¡± the young man became even more vignt. However, his youth rendered him less intimidating.


    Shadow sensed that this child was not easily fooled, even though she didn¡¯t understand how he had managed to enter her room and make himself at home.


    When he spoke, she detected a distinct foreign ent, suggesting he had spent a considerable amount of time living overseas. All signs pointed to the possibility that he had run away from home.


    Shadow curled her lips into a smile. ¡°My little friend, have you run away from home? Are you not used to living in a ce like this? Shall I go to the Lances family and find someone to pick you up? What do you think?¡±


    He red at her suddenly, growing anxious. ¡°No! It was not easy for me to escape!¡±


    As she had suspected, her guess proved to be correct.


    ¡°Do you know that trespassing is a crime ording to the Penal Code?¡± Shadow stated calmly. She couldn¡¯t handle the big Alpha Dominic at home, but this little Alpha Dominic was more manageable.


    The expression on Little Alpha Dominic¡¯s face changed when he heard this. Panic shed in his eyes as he eximed, ¡°I¡¯m the only one in the Lances family called Alpha Dominic!¡±


    Most of the time, he lived overseas and would asionally return home for vacations. Still, he remained unfamiliar with the country and felt a certain fear when confronted with Shadow¡¯s threat.


    When Shadow heard his words, her expression faded, and she was left momentarily stunned.


    If the Lances family only had one person with the name Alpha Dominic, then who was the big ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± at home?


    She gazed at Little Alpha Dominic for a while, causing him to grow apprehensive. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Shadow was about to speak when a voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.


    Little Alpha Dominic looked at her awkwardly before pretending to be fierce and loudly eximed, ¡°What are you looking at? Have you never heard the sound of hunger?¡±


    The person known as ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± clearly had a bad temper.


    ¡­


    In the restaurant, Shadow observed as Little Alpha Dominic devoured three bowls of beef burgers in a row.


    Having rented a house in the slums of Herton Pack, there were no decent restaurants in the vicinity. Only a few small unknown eateries were avable.


    Little Alpha Dominic had initially protested against going inside, but his hunger had driven him to follow her.


    As he sat down and took a bite of the food, his eyes lit up.


    After Little Alpha Dominic finished three bowls of burgers, he finally spoke about what Shadow had asked him.


    ¡°I used to live in Australia. I wanted to participate in professional e-sportspetitions, but my mom didn¡¯t allow it. She didn¡¯t even give me any money. So, I ran away from home to scare her. But you mustn¡¯t tell the Lances family that I¡¯m here. If they find out, they¡¯ll capture me and take me back.¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°E-Sports? Shouldn¡¯t you be focusing on your studies at your age?¡±


    Little Alpha Dominic corrected her, ¡°That¡¯s a job, okay? In the e-sports industry! It¡¯s my dream!¡±


    Shadow scoffed, ¡°But you¡¯re only 14 years old.¡±


    Though she didn¡¯t know much about the e-sports industry, she understood that at his age, he should be prioritizing his education before pursuing a career.


    Little Alpha Dominic snorted, crossing his arms and raising his chin defiantly. He appeared quite arrogant.


    Shadow couldn¡¯t help but find this child amusing.


    Tapping her fingers twice on the table, Shadow asked casually, ¡°Who is Alpha Kilian to you?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s my cousin. Isn¡¯t he famous around here?¡± His expression suddenly changed, and he earnestly warned, ¡°Although he¡¯s rich and good-looking, he¡¯s already married. Don¡¯t try to pursue him.¡±


    Shadow caught onto the keywords in his tone, specifically, ¡°good-looking.¡±


    ording to rumors, Alpha Kilian was disfigured and unable to engage in sexual rtions with a woman. How could he be described as good-looking?


    As suspicion clouded Shadow¡¯s face, Little Alpha Dominic¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°You must forget what I just said!¡±


    His family had warned him not to discuss his cousin casually in front of outsiders, but it had slipped out unintentionally. However, this woman appeared innocent, so he reasoned it should be okay.


    Shadow had no intention of paying further attention to Little Alpha Dominic.


    During this period of time, all the things that had made her suspicious after marrying into the Lances family could now be exined logically.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± and Alpha Kilian had never appeared together.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± resided in the master bedroom.


    Frank often stayed with ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    When Frank witnessed her falling into Alpha Dominic¡¯s arms at the restaurant, he only seemed momentarily surprised before leaving.


    The ck card and expensive car¡­


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± had openly flirted with her, showing no restraint.


    If he had unrestricted ess to Alpha Kilian¡¯s Castle and he wasn¡¯t just Alpha Kilian¡¯s cousin ¡°Alpha Dominic,¡± then he could only be Alpha Kilian himself!


    This realization shocked Shadow to her core, leaving her unable to regain her senses for quite some time.


    Unable to sit still any longer, she abruptly stood up and rushed out.


    Little Alpha Dominic saw her about to leave and quickly followed. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Before he could finish his question, Shadow had already disappeared from sight.


    Satified, Little Alpha Dominic rubbed his full stomach and yfully ran his fingers through his curly hair as he muttered to himself, ¡°At least lend me some money before you leave.¡±


    ¡­


    Shadow hailed a taxi and headed straight back to the Castle.


    She entered aggressively, immediately catching a bodyguard¡¯s attention. She inquired, ¡°Is Alpha Dominic here?¡±


    The bodyguard stuttered in reply, ¡°He¡­ isn¡¯t here.¡±


    Shadow proceeded to check the study and bedroom, confirming that there was no sign of ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    Everyone in Herton Pack knew that Alpha Kilian was ¡°ugly and impotent.¡± That was the general perception. Even Jessica had urged Shadow to marry into the Lances family to escape the engagement.


    Naturally, Shadow had believed that Alpha Kilian was a physically unwell individual. Despite her suspicions over the past two or three months, she hadn¡¯t entertained the thought further.


    That is, until she encountered Little Alpha Dominic. Although he seemed peculiar, there was no sign of him lying.


    Gradually, she began to calm down and decided not to rush into questioning ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± about his true identity.


    She wanted to be certain that ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was indeed Alpha Kilian. And if that proved to be true¡­


    Then she would y with him, slowly unveiling the truth.

 105

    Nine Clouds Media.


    Alpha Kilian was having a meeting when his phone on the conference table suddenly vibrated.


    He looked down at the phone. With just a nce, the cold expression on his face calmed down.


    Then, he picked up the phone and left the meeting room.


    The moment he left, the nervous upper echelons became lively. They asked Xavier one after another, ¡°Director Collin, who called the president?¡±


    ¡°Who could it be? His Luna !¡± Xavier did not need to look at Alpha Kilian ¡®s phone to guess that it was Shadow who called him.


    ¡°Does the president have a Luna ?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Someone with his temper can also find a Luna . I actually don¡¯t have a Luna yet.¡±


    Alpha Kilian closed the conference room door and picked up the phone.


    Before he could say anything, Shadow ¡®s voice rang out. She said slowly, ¡°Where are you working? Letme send you lunch.¡±


    Her voice was soft to begin with, but now she deliberately slowed down her tone, making her voice


    seem a little gentle.


    Shadow wanted to send him lunch?


    Did he hear wrongly, or did she take the wrong medicine today?


    ¡°Are you at home?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯lle back to eat.¡±


    ¡°Anything is fine.¡± In any case, her goal wasn¡¯t to bring him food.


    ¡­


    At noon, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± came back on time.


    Shadow brought the soup to the table and saw him enter the restaurant.


    ¡°You came back just in time. You can eat now.¡± Shadow still had not taken off her apron and stood at the


    other end of the table. She looked at him with a smile on her face.


    Alpha Kilian suddenly understood. He felt that Shadow was a little strange today.


    But he did not show it. He sized her up without batting an eyelid and sat down to eat.


    Shadow found that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was very focused when he did anything. Even when he was eating, he only


    looked at the bowl in front of him and did not look at anything else.


    Shadow took out her phone from her pocket and took a clear picture of Alpha Dominic ¡®s face.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± seemed to have sensed something and turned to look at her. His eyes were as deep as ink and


    seemed to be able to see through people.


    Shadow instantly became nervous. He probably should not notice that she took a picture of him!


    In the end, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± only asked, ¡°Are you not going to eat?¡±


    ¡°I am not too hungry. You can eat first.¡± Shadow said as she took off her apron and went out.


    After ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± finished his meal and left, Shadow also went out.


    She took the bus to the rented house. Before she left, she packed a lot of food and brought it with her.


    Little Alpha Dominic was ying games on the sofa. There was a bag of shredded potato chips next to his


    hand. The chips were scattered all over the ce.


    ¡°Have you had lunch?¡± Shadow picked up the things on the floor as she walked towards him.


    Little Alpha Dominic raised his eyelids and looked at her. ¡°No.¡±


    Shadow felt that this child was too naughty. He wanted to y games. He could even run away from


    home.


    ¡°If I don¡¯te, what do you n to do? You don¡¯t contact your family and you n to starve to death


    here?¡±


    He said without looking up, ¡°It¡¯s impossible to starve to death. At worst, I¡¯ll just rob the bank.¡±


    His tone was very serious.


    Shadow , ¡°¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t have anything to reply.


    Finally, after he finished ying a game, he opened the food Shadow brought for him and started to eat.


    After eating two mouthfuls, he suddenly looked up with a face full of surprise. ¡°Next time, I still want to


    eat this restaurant¡¯s food!¡±


    Shadow pointed at the corner of his mouth, indicating that there were rice grains there, ¡°This is cooked


    by me.¡±


    He reached out to touch the corner of his mouth and said something surprising. ¡°You can be my


    girlfriend!¡±


    Shadow did not know what to say.


    Seeing that Shadow did not speak, he took the initiative to say, ¡°Although I am very poor now, when I can y professional games, I will be able to earn money to buy clothes and cosmetics for you. Think


    about it.¡±


    Women like to buy these things. His mother was like this, buying and shoping every day.


    That serious tone made Shadow not know whether tough or cry.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. I¡¯m already married.¡± As Shadow spoke, she turned her phone to the picture of ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± that she took before and showed it to him.


    ¡°Do you know this man?¡±


    Little Alpha Dominic only took one look and said, ¡°This is my cousin. Where did you secretly take pictures of


    him?¡±


    After that, he asked in panic, ¡°Where is he? I treated you as a friend. You actually let him arrest me!¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Shadow felt that this child¡¯s reaction was quite quick. ¡°Which cousin of yours?¡±


    ¡°Alpha Kilian ! My mother and Alpha Kilian ¡®s father are siblings. He is the only cousin I have!¡± After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and went to eat. He said vaguely, ¡°It¡¯s so delicious. Divorce your Mate and be my girlfriend. Your Mate asked you to stay in a ce like this. He must have taken money to y with women outside. You should divorce him as soon as possible. I¡¯m young and handsome, and I have unlimited potential.¡±


    The shock and anger in Shadow ¡®s heart was instantly eliminated when she heard Little Alpha Dominic ¡®s words.


    ¡°You are just a child. What do you know?¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    He continued to talk to himself, ¡°Although my cousin looks good, his temper is very bad. He is very scary. People like him usually can¡¯t find a girlfriend. I heard that his Luna is an ugly person, hahahaha.¡±


    Shadow ¡®s face turned dark and she said expressionlessly, ¡°Do you n to stay here forever? When do


    you want to contact your parents?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t contact them unless they agree to let me participate in the e-sportspetition.¡±


    ¡°They will be anxious!¡±


    ¡°No, they are already used to it. That¡¯s why I have to go further this time. Only after a while will I be


    able to attract their attention and attention.¡±


    Shadow did not know what to say.


    It turned out that this child often ran away from home.


    His parents did not care about him?


    In the end, he was only an underage child. She couldn¡¯t tell Alpha Dominic about him now. She couldn¡¯t really


    ignore him. She could only take care of him temporarily.


    On the way back, Shadow received a call from Jason.


    ¡°Shadow , how was your conversation with Alpha Kilian ? When is he going to help us?¡±


    Shadow sighed and said, ¡°There was so much money missing from the ck card. He thought I spent


    too much, so he took the ck card back. He did not want to see me for the whole day.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t do. You must get him to help us.¡±


    ¡°I will try my best. Dad, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Of course I will. After all, you are a filial child, especially to your mother. Your mother has been used to


    living afortable life all these years. It doesn¡¯t matter to me if the Eden Group doesn¡¯t recover, but I


    can¡¯t bear to let your mother live a life of abstinence.¡±


    Jason and Lisa were the same. They both thought that Shadow cared a lot about Lisa , so they


    deliberately said this to let Shadow do her best to help him.


    Shadow paused and her tone sounded a little moved. ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Shadow snorted and stuffed the phone back into her bag.


    Want her to beg Alpha Kilian to help the Eden Group? Impossible!

 106

    When they returned to the Castle, Shadow was perched by the window, clutching herputer tightly against her. She energetically typed away on her article, all the while keenly observing the movement of cars outside.


    As the night descended, a sleek ck car pulled into the courtyard, catching Shadow¡¯s attention.


    A figure emerged from the car and opened the backseat door. It was none other than ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡± Shadow¡¯s keen eyesight immediately recognized the driver as Frank, Alpha Kilian¡¯s trusted assistant who often doubled as ¡°Alpha Dominic¡¯s¡± chauffeur.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± stepped out of the vehicle and exchanged some words with Frank, who nodded respectfully. Seizing the opportunity, Shadow hurriedly sent a text message to Alpha Kilian.


    While she pressed the send button, she noticed that ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± nced up in her direction. Luckily, she had already drawn the curtains, leaving a small gap to peek through.


    He locked eyes with her and engaged in a conversation with Frank. Then, he lowered his head and retrieved his phone from his pocket¡­


    From her vantage point, Shadow could not discern what he was looking at on his phone.


    Yet, her heart raced with anticipation.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡¯s¡± words and the circumstances pointed towards the possibility that he could be Alpha Kilian himself. However, Shadow couldn¡¯t bring herself to believe it just yet.


    She didn¡¯t even dare question ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    The whole notion seemed absurd!


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was an extremely cautious individual. If he truly was Alpha Kilian, he would have received her message. Consequently, as he received the text, he instinctively scanned the vicinity of her room.


    To avoid raising suspicion, Shadow promptly changed into her pajamas and purposefully messed up her hair. She slipped into bed and pretended to sleep.


    Before long, a knock sounded at the door.


    ¡°Shadow.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s emotions had been on a rollercoaster throughout the day, leaving her nerves frayed. Just as she was about to drift into slumber, she heard someone call out to her.


    In a drowsy state, she ambled towards the door and mumbled, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    When the door creaked open, a surprising sight greeted her: ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± stood on the other side.


    Alpha Kilian scrutinized her from head to toe. Upon noticing her narrowed eyes and apparent unease, his brow furrowed. Concernced his words as he inquired, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    Shadow jolted awake. Her throat was still scratchy from just waking up, rendering her voice hoarse. ¡°No, I was just sleeping.¡±


    d in a pink pajama adorned with a cat pattern, with her hair slightly disheveled and her flushed face, Shadow exuded a soft and adorable charm.


    Alpha Kilian recalled her thoughtfulness when she had arranged for lunch delivery earlier. His expression softened, and even his deep voice carried a hint of tenderness. ¡°Then rest a while longer. I¡¯ll have someone prepare a meal. Once it¡¯s ready, the maids will inform you.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Shadow stared at him, dazed. This was the first time she had witnessed such a gentle side to ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    Taking in her bewildered expression, Alpha Kilian couldn¡¯t resist yfully ruffling her hair before nudging her back inside. ¡°Go back to sleep.¡±


    As Shadow reclined on the bed, her mind raced.


    She suddenly sat upright, frustration evident as she raked her fingers through her hair.


    Why did she obediently return to bed at ¡°Alpha Dominic¡¯s¡± gentle request?


    She felt as if she had gone mad!


    Driven by an inexplicable rebellious streak, Shadow hopped out of bed and swung the door open.


    En route, she knocked on the study room door. ¡°Alpha Kilian, are you there?¡±


    In that instant, her phone buzzed.


    It was a text message from Alpha Kilian. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Shadow replied, ¡°Are you in the study?¡±


    A one-word response came swiftly. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Shadow stared at the simple reply, her grip tightening around the phone. Her lips pursed, eventually curling into a sneer.


    She had spent the entire afternoon stationed by the window, but apart from ¡°Alpha Dominic¡¯s¡± arrival, no other car had entered the Castle.


    How did Alpha Kilian actually return?


    Did he fly back?


    Or did he emerge from beneath the ground?


    An impulse stirred within Shadow-an urge to burst into the study and unveil Alpha Dominic¡¯s facade.


    Finally, there was a usible exnation for why Alpha Kilian, who typically avoided outsiders like the gue, maintained such a close bond with his ¡°cousin.¡± Not only did he allow his cousin to reside within his abode, but he also tolerated him taking advantage of his Luna right under her nose.


    And this also shed light on why ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± had willingly approached her, even when she appeared unattractive at the time.


    Ordinarily, when a man married a Luna he had neverid eyes on, he would meet her to assess her appearance. But upon discovering herck of recognition, he would deceive her into perceiving him as someone else.


    With nothing better to do, he had employed his cousin¡¯s identity to tease her. Observing her infuriated reaction had likely delighted him to no end, hadn¡¯t it?


    Shadow forcefully bit her lip. Let¡¯s see who would have thestugh!


    ¡­


    During the meal, Shadow upied a spot opposite ¡°Alpha Dominic,¡± stealing nces at him in between bites.


    Whenever he caught her gaze, she quickly averted her eyes and used her fork to select choice morsels, coaxingly feeding him. ¡°You work so tirelessly. You need to eat more.¡±


    ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± ate in silence, not uttering a word.


    Shadow knew that her most alluring feature was her eyes. Hazel had once dered that when she fixed her gaze on someone, it was an irresistible invitation.


    It seemed that he relished flirting with her while disguised as his ¡°cousin.¡±


    If he were to uncover the fact that his Luna genuinely favored his ¡°cousin¡± and desired infidelity, Shadow couldn¡¯t fathom his reaction.


    However, sessfully captivating this ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    Normally, he would incessantly tease and kiss her. Now that she had taken the initiative, he preserved hisposure, not even casting a nce her way.


    This left Shadow somewhat disheartened.


    Only when the meal concluded did ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± leisurely wipe his hands with a towel and casually remark, ¡°Sister-inw, you¡¯ve been gazing at me. Have you finally made up your mind and desire to be with me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Shadow eagerly awaited those words. She concurred, ¡°You are incredibly handsome and treat me so well. You surpass your cousin by leaps and bounds. Even a fool knows whom to choose. I was foolish before, but fortunately, I now see the truth.¡±


    Having said her piece, Shadow rose from her seat and sauntered behind ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡± She tilted her head and nted a kiss on his cheek. Sensing his body tensing up, she curved her lips and whispered in his ear, ¡°I¡¯ll go back to my room and bathe¡­¡±


    ¡°Take a bath¡± held a certain softness and allure.


    Shadow wasn¡¯t particrly skilled in seduction. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you tonight.¡± She felt too embarrassed to utter any more flirtatious words.


    Just as she finished speaking, a palpable tension filled the air, causing her to feel suffocated.


    Was he angry?


    Well, she would only provoke him further!


    Swiftly exiting, Shadow neared the entrance but abruptly turned around, casting a seductive nce at ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    In that moment, ¡°Alpha Dominic¡¯s¡± expression underwent a dramatic change.

 107

    she ran upstairs like a ghost chasing after her and returned to


    her room.


    Closing the door, she leaned against the door and patted her chest.


    No wonder ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± always liked to tease her when she had nothing to do. It turned out that doing so


    was very exciting!


    After calming down, Shadow carefully locked the door and went into the bathroom to take a bath.


    She did not really want to do anything with ¡°Alpha Dominic .¡±


    Even if he was Alpha Kilian , so what?


    ¡­


    At night, ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± didn¡¯t look for Shadow .


    The next day was Saturday. Shadow was still thinking about Little Alpha Dominic . She could not bring him food in


    the morning, so she ordered breakfast and takeout for him.


    She did not know what he had eatenst night.


    That child was very thoughtful. If it was her own son, she would definitely break his legs.


    However, on the other hand, this child was quite courageous.


    Shadow finished ordering take-out for him and then opened the door like a thief.


    She walked to the guardrail of the corridor on the second floor and turned her head around to look for


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± in the living room.


    After confirming that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was not in the living room, she heaved a sigh of relief.


    Just as she was about to turn around, she suddenly heard Alpha Dominic ¡®s faint voice behind her. ¡°What are


    you looking at furtively?¡±


    Shadow was so scared that she shivered all over and subconsciously took two steps back. But behind


    her was the guardrail and there was no ce for her to retreat.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± had also just woken up. He probably did not intend to go out today, so he was dressed in


    household clothes. The soft and loose style of the household clothes made the sharpness on his body


    lessen a lot. He looked elegant and noble.


    Of course, the precondition was that he did not speak.


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± took another step forward. The distance between the two was less than five centimeters. ¡°What


    have you done wrong? Are you afraid that someone will find out?¡±


    Shadow could even feel the temperature of his skin.


    Shadow pursed her lips and involuntarily held the guardrail behind her in search of a sense of security.


    When she looked up again, there was not a trace of panic on her face. Her beautiful cat eyes were


    filled with a misty water vapor. She smiled and said in a gentle tone, ¡°What I did was wrong and I was


    afraid that I would be discovered. You should be the clearest in your heart.¡±


    As Shadow spoke, she ced a hand on his chest. Her slender and soft fingers gently caressed his thin


    clothes like a kitten that had not grown a sharp w. Her scratching made his heart itch.


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s eyes gradually turned darker. He suddenly reached out and grabbed Shadow ¡®s hand that was


    causing trouble on his chest. His tone was cold. ¡°You were very loyal to Alpha Kilian before. Now you are


    trying to seduce me. You women are really fickle!¡±


    Although Shadow was not used to being held by men like this, she was a woman who fell in love with


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± and wanted to seduce him. Naturally, she could not take her hand back.


    She looked at him with a smile on her face. ¡°How can I be fickle? Any woman with a clear mind would


    make the same choice as me.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Pausing, Shadow stood on her tiptoes and whispered into his ear, ¡°I feel that you men are more fickle.


    You always came to provoke me before. Now that I am here, you say that I am fickle. Are all your men


    so cheap? You don¡¯t want to get women who take the initiative to like you, but the more a woman hate


    you, the more you like her, right?¡±


    Shadow had wanted to scold him a long time ago. She had never been so straightforward before!


    How could Alpha Kilian not know that this woman was changing ways to scold him? But what he could not


    figure out was that this woman was not normal these two days.


    She seemed to be trying to seduce him on purpose, but when he approached her, he could clearly feel


    that she was so nervous that her body was stiff.


    Could it be that she was asking him to help the Eden Group?


    As soon as this thought came out, he rejected it.


    Last time, because Lisa was kidnapped, she hadpletely given up on the Eden family.


    Seeing ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± not speaking and just staring at her with a heavy expression, Shadow wanted to retreat.


    Just as she was about to pull her hand out, she heard ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± say in a low voice, ¡°It seems like you


    have a deep misunderstanding about taking the initiative. Tonight, we will go to Golden Fountain Club


    and let you experience what it means to taking initiative.¡±


    After he finished speaking, he held her hand to his lips and lightly kissed it. He slightly hooked his lips


    and revealed a meaningful smile.


    Since this woman wanted to y, then they would y a big game.


    Shadow was stunned on the spot.


    This was different from what she had imagined. He was quite angry just now. Why did he suddenly


    change his attitude?


    Alpha Dominic ¡®s mind was too deep. Normal people could not figure out what he was thinking.


    Shadow began to regret. She always felt that her actions might fail.


    ¡­


    ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± did not stay at home for long before he went out.


    She was toozy to cook at home by herself, so she bought food and went to the rented house.


    Little Alpha Dominic was ying games again. He was half-lying on the sofa. There was a pile of trash on the


    table in front of him. He was addicted to the Inte.


    Shadow patiently took the rubbish bin and collected all the rubbish. Then she stood in front of him with


    her hands on her waist. ¡°Don¡¯t you say you had no money? Why do you eat so many snacks every


    day?¡±


    ¡°I bought it when I came here. I used all my money to buy snacks.¡± As he spoke, he sighed.


    ¡°Previously, when I lived with my mom, she didn¡¯t let me eat snacks or y games. Now, of course, I


    have to eat a lot of snacks!¡±


    He was simply a naughty child.


    Shadow ced the dishes she brought on the table and asked him as she picked the dishes, ¡°What did


    you eatst night?¡±


    ¡°Beef Burger Soup.¡± After he finished, he added, ¡°The burger house you took me to yesterday.¡±


    ¡°How can you eat it if you don¡¯t have money?¡±


    He said in a matter-of-fact tone: ¡°I owe the boss money. When you leave, remember to pay for me.¡±


    ¡°Is the boss familiar with you? He even allows you to pay on credit?¡± Shadow felt that she had really


    broadened her horizons.


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? He even asked me to eat at noon today.¡±


    Shadow did not know what to say.


    The Lances family¡¯s genes were not bad. Whether it was the big ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± at home or the naughty


    Little Alpha Dominic in front of her, they were all good-looking. Because he was still a half-grown child, it was


    too deceptive to act cute and pitiful with this face.


    However, wasn¡¯t it a little too arrogant for him to ask her to pay him back so matter-of-factly?


    ¡°Alpha Dominic , I don¡¯t have any obligation to help you pay back.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, you will be my girlfriend in the future. I will spend your money now. In the future, I will give


    you all the money I earn from professional e-sports.¡±


    His words were all rted to the game.


    ¡°I¡¯m already married!¡± Shadow did not know whether tough or cry.


    Little Alpha Dominic stood up and stretched. He said, ¡°I am so handsome. You will definitely divorce your


    Mate because of me.¡±


    After saying that, he picked up the mirror next to him and looked at it. He sighed and said, ¡°I am so


    handsome.¡±


    Shadow was speechless.

 108

    Shadow and Little Alpha Dominic had finished their meal and departed.


    But before leaving, they made an agreement. Little Alpha Dominic was forbidden from causing chaos or running around. He wasn¡¯t allowed to go on credit.


    Little Alpha Dominic initially disagreed, but Shadow smirked coldly and said, ¡°Do you really think I won¡¯t tell Alpha Kilian that you¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°The ordinary folk won¡¯t be able to see him.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°I can even take pictures of him.¡±


    Reluctantly, Little Alpha Dominic nodded. Then he asked curiously, ¡°Who exactly are you?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t tell you.¡±


    Little Alpha Dominic was at a loss for words.


    ¡­


    During the night, Shadow received a call from ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡±


    As soon as he spoke, he asked, ¡°Are you afraid toe?¡±


    Only then did Shadow recall what she had said earlier.


    She gritted her teeth and replied, ¡°I wille right away.¡±


    She returned to her room to change her clothes before heading to the Golden Fountain Club.


    As Shadow reached the entrance of the club, she ran into Xavier.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Upon seeing her, Xavier¡¯s face filled with joy. His eyes kept searching behind her. ¡°Shadow, why are


    you here too? Did youe alone?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother looking around. I came alone.¡± Shadow knew exactly why Xavier was curious  he wanted to know if Hazel had apanied her.


    A slight unhappiness appeared on Xavier¡¯s face.


    He was aware that Hazel had already gone to promote her new film. Since Hazel and Shadow were close, he couldn¡¯t help but associate the two when he saw Shadow.


    Walking side by side with her, Xavier inquired, ¡°Are you here to eat or to find someone?¡±


    After considering for a moment, Shadow casually replied, ¡°I¡¯m here to find Alpha Kilian. He asked me toe.¡±


    ¡°Alpha Kilian? I know which room he¡¯s in. Let me lead the way.¡± Xavier sensed something was amiss.


    His face froze, and he exined unnaturally, ¡°What I meant was¡­¡±


    ¡°I understand. ¡®Alpha Dominic¡¯ is Alpha Kilian. I know everything. He told me everything. You don¡¯t have to cover for him anymore.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s tone and expression were wlessly natural, causing Xavier to believe her without much doubt.


    After all, Xavier could sense that Alpha Kilian cared deeply for Shadow. It was only a matter of time before the two admitted their feelings to each other.


    Feeling a slight envy, Xavier thought, ¡°This is quite good.¡±


    Thest trace of doubt vanished from Shadow¡¯s heart. ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was Alpha Kilian!


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s face was not disfigured, and he hadn¡¯t lost his sexual prowess. He wasn¡¯t as cruel as the rumors suggested.


    All those rumors had been lies.


    The innocent Alpha Kilian she had pitied and felt sorry for didn¡¯t exist.


    In the world, there was only one Alpha Kilian. A healthy and handsome scion of a wealthy family standing atop the Golden Tower.


    He didn¡¯t need her pity at all. He could even tease her.


    ¡°Yes, this is good.¡±


    Although Shadow¡¯s tone remained unchanged, her heart turned cold.


    Alpha Kilian yed a dual role and had been deceitful towards her. He would take liberties with her when he was interested, only to quickly stop and observe her reaction.


    He even used the name ¡°Alpha Kilian¡± to threaten her repeatedly.


    If she were not the one being deceived, she would¡¯ve admired his methods.


    ¡°Alpha Kilian is in here.¡± Xavier brought her to the door of the room, about to push it open.


    Shadow halted him in time. ¡°Xavier, nobody else knows about my rtionship with Alpha Kilian. Don¡¯t tell anyone.¡±


    At first, Xavier didn¡¯t understand, yet suddenly he showed a look ofprehension. ¡°I understand. Alpha Kilian usually has a bad temper and a cold expression. But deep down, he is warm-hearted. He simply doesn¡¯t express his emotions.¡±


    Shadow didn¡¯t say a word. She could only hide the shock in her heart with a smile.


    She turned around and pushed the door open, entering the room.


    The room was unusuallyrge, with numerous people inside. The lighting was dim, and Shadow stood at the entrance, surveying the scene. However, she couldn¡¯t locate Alpha Kilian.


    It wasn¡¯t until a man approached her and made advances, saying, ¡°Beauty, are you looking for someone to have fun with?¡±


    Shadow remained silent and walked straight ahead.


    The man felt upset at being ignored by Shadow and reached out to grab her, but a hand suddenly intervened.


    Alpha Kilian stood tall and erect, his expression solemn, his eyes as sharp as swords. It felt as though he could pierce through anyone with a single nce.


    Alpha Kilian stared at the man in front of him without any expression, his voice gloomy. ¡°She has a Mate.¡±


    The man knew better than to offend Alpha Kilian and quickly apologized before scurrying away.


    ¡°You don¡¯t usually stay home, but youe to a ce like this for entertainment?¡± Shadow briefly nced around and noticed several couples hiding in the corners.


    ¡°How could that be?¡± Alpha Kilian whispered. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about you, sister-inw.¡±


    Fuck your sister-inw!


    Shadow gritted her teeth, resisting the urge to curse. She softened her tone. ¡°How touching.¡±


    ¡°If you find it touching, make sure to learn your lessons wellter.¡±


    Upon finishing his sentence, Alpha Kilian¡¯s arm firmly wrapped around Shadow¡¯s waist.


    He pulled her into his embrace and led her to a dark corner at the back of the room.


    This corner was devoid of any lighting. If others didn¡¯t pay close attention, they wouldn¡¯t notice anyone seated there.


    Shadow didn¡¯t know what game Alpha Kilian was ying, but she would soon find out.


    The two of them had barely settled down when someone else entered the room. It was a familiar face  Henry.


    As soon as Henry entered, he was forcefully guided to sit down.


    Shortly after, another person was brought in  a woman.


    The woman settled herself next to Henry. The closer she sat, the more intimate their positioning became. Eventually, she ended up sitting directly in hisp.


    Henry made no effort to push her away.


    Shadow averted her gaze. She didn¡¯t want to witness such a scene again.


    Alpha Kilian suddenly asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you saddened to see the person you like hugging another woman?¡±


    Shadow was in a foul mood. After Alpha Kilian asked, she replied, ¡°Yes, I am. I¡¯m very upset.¡±


    She finally understood why Alpha Kilian had asked her toe. He believed that she had some connection with Henry. That was why he wanted her to witness Henry¡¯s interactions with other women.


    Disgusting!


    Henry disgusted her, and so did Alpha Kilian.


    As soon as she finished speaking, a chill emanated from Alpha Kilian¡¯s body.


    She forced a smile and hugged him, using a gentle tone. ¡°I was just joking. The person I currently like is you.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s hand reached down to touch Alpha Kilian¡¯s chest.


    She softly murmured, ¡°It appears you like me quite a bit.¡±

 109

    Shadow clearly felt Alpha Kilian ¡®s body stiffen, and even his breathing became heavy.


    He seemed to have this kind of reaction when he kissed her before.


    Did he have a reaction at that time?


    Fortunately, the light in the corner was dim. Alpha Kilian could not see her red face. Otherwise, he would. haveughed at her.


    Suddenly, arge hand was ced on her hand. Alpha Kilian ¡®s low and hoarse voice sounded beside her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t shake.¡±


    When she took the initiative earlier, she only wanted to teach Alpha Kilian a lesson. Now that Alpha Kilian had


    said so, she felt a sense of shame rise from the bottom of her heart. She wanted to pull her hand back.


    However, Alpha Kilian did not give her the chance. He held her hand and held her slender waist with his free hand. The two of them hugged each other as if they were a couple.


    As if he did not feel her retreat, he praised her, ¡°Your learning ability is very strong.¡±


    Shadow bit her lips. She could not pull her hand back. She was very angry, so she directly pinched his hand.


    Alpha Kilian snorted and tilted his head to kiss her neck.


    ¡°Shadow !¡± Alpha Kilian called her name. It sounded like a warning, but it could not hide his desire.


    Did he know he was scared?


    Shadow was nowpletely filled with hatred. She was going all out without fear.


    ¡°Alpha Lances , isn¡¯t it exciting for you and your sister-inw to do such a thing in the private room?¡±Shadow ¡®s tone was full of provocation.


    After knowing Little Alpha Dominic ¡®s existence, she could not even call him ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± when she faced Alpha Kilian ,


    especially at a time like this.


    Before Alpha Kilian married Shadow , he had never been close to women. This was the first time this had


    happened.


    He realized that he was on the verge of exploding. He coldly shouted to Shadow , ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±


    His voice was so calm that it did not sound like a man who was immersed in lust.


    Didn¡¯t everyone say that when a man was controlled by lust, he would not think about anything else?


    But he could actually suppress himself!


    ¡°Oh.¡± Shadow replied.


    With that, Shadow quickly stood up and nimbly dodged Alpha Kilian ¡®s hand that was about to grab her.


    She smiled proudly at him. She revealed her hand that was hidden behind her and a mobile phone appeared in her hand.


    She had just taken the mobile phone out of Alpha Kilian ¡®s pocket.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    ¡°Alpha Lances , you praised my learning ability. I think you wouldn¡¯t mind if you gave me a phone as my reward.¡± Shadow smiled like a sly fox.


    Without the phone, Alpha Kilian did not have the chance to ask for help. She wanted to see how he could get out.


    Alpha Kilian ¡®s face darkened as he watched Shadow walk out proudly.


    He lowered his head to look at his clothes and his expression became even gloomier.


    He had never been in such a sorry state before. He never thought that he would fall into the hands of a woman.


    With a sullen face, he took out a phone from his other pocket and called Frank. ¡°Send me a coat.¡±


    It was impossible for a person like Alpha Kilian to only have a mobile phone. Shadow had only taken his personal phone.


    ¡­


    Shadow left the room and did not dare to go back to the Castle , but she did not have anywhere else to go.


    Her rented house was upied by Little Alpha Dominic , so she could only live outside.


    Shadow walked aimlessly outside. When she passed by an inte cafe, she saw Little Alpha Dominic at the


    door.


    Shadow walked closer and saw that it was indeed him. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to y games.¡± Little Alpha Dominic was very happy to see her. ¡°Where are you going? Let¡¯s y the game together.¡±


    Shadow shook her head repeatedly. ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Anyway, your Mate chased you out of the house.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    How did she look like she was kicked out by her Mate ?


    ¡°Otherwise, why would you hang out on the streets at night? Let¡¯s go.¡±


    This kid¡¯s logic is very strong.


    In the end, Shadow followed Little Alpha Dominic into the inte cafe and watched helplessly as he persuaded


    the boss to open a room for them.


    One watched a movie and the other yed games. The two of them stayed up all night just like that.


    The next morning, both of them walked out with dark circles under their eyes.


    Little Alpha Dominic was a child. His energy was at its peak, so he was still talking to Shadow energetically.


    However, Shadow could not take it anymore. She kept yawning and did not seem to be in high spirits atall.


    However, when she walked out of the inte cafe and saw Alpha Kilian waiting at the door with Frank and a group of bodyguards, her mind instantly sobered up.

 110

    As usual, Alpha Kilian was wearing a well-ironed custom-made suit. His face was solemn and his breath was cold.


    His ink-like eyes stared fixedly at Shadow. Although he did not say anything, Shadow could already clearly feel the extremely oppressive aura emanating from him.


    Shadow thought of what she had done to him in the Golden Fountain Clubst night and involuntarily took a step back. She tugged at Little Alpha Dominic¡¯s sleeve and softly asked him, ¡°Do you know if there¡¯s a back door for the inte cafe?¡±


    Little Alpha Dominic thought she was scared when she saw Alpha Kilian. In fact, he was actually quite scared, but he couldn¡¯t lose face in front of a woman.


    He pretended to calm her down. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. He¡¯s looking for me. He won¡¯t do anything to you.¡±


    Shadow wanted to cry but had no tears. She felt that she should be the one saying those words.


    After Little Alpha Dominic finished speaking, he took a step forward towards Shadow. He raised his head and shouted at Alpha Kilian, ¡°Hey Alpha Kilian, I can go back with you. You cannot cause trouble for her.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, he met Alpha Kilian¡¯s cold gaze.


    Little Alpha Dominic shrunk his neck, but he still mustered up his courage and stood in front of Shadow fearlessly.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Little Alpha Dominic hadn¡¯t figured out the situation, Shadow would have felt a little touched.


    But after Little Alpha Dominic¡¯s words, Alpha Kilian¡¯s expression became even gloomier. If Little Alpha Dominic continued to speak, Shadow¡¯s situation would only worsen.


    Shadow pulled Little Alpha Dominic up and ran into the inte cafe.


    Little Alpha Dominic subconsciously followed her. But after running a few steps, he asked her in a puzzled tone, ¡°What are you running for? Although my cousin is a tough guy, he won¡¯t bully women.¡±


    The demon king?


    Shadow also felt that this title was very fitting.


    But Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t bully women?


    She didn¡¯t believe it!


    ¡°Enough with the nonsense. Do you know if there¡¯s a back door to the inte cafe?¡± Shadow did not have time to exin anything to him.


    Little Alpha Dominic nodded. ¡°I know.¡±


    He hade out of the bathroomst night and saw the back door.


    However, when they ran to the back door, they were stopped by Alpha Kilian¡¯s bodyguards.


    Shadow frowned. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    She did not expect Alpha Kilian to have people stationed at the back door.


    Little Alpha Dominic said angrily, ¡°Let us go!¡±


    But the bodyguard did not move. ¡°Cousin Master, Young Madame, please do not make things difficult for us.¡±


    ¡°What Young Madame?¡± Little Alpha Dominic looked confused.


    The bodyguard looked at Shadow and did not say anything.


    Shadow also knew that she would not be able to escape Alpha Kilian¡¯s clutches today. She patted Little Alpha Dominic¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°I am the so-called ugly Luna of Alpha Kilian that you were talking about.¡±


    Little Alpha Dominic gasped in surprise and looked at her with wide eyes.


    ¡­


    Little Alpha Dominic and Shadow were both incapable. In the end, they followed the bodyguard and left.


    Shadow saw the limited edition Bentley again. Alpha Kilian put his hands in the pockets of his pants and looked expressionlessly at Shadow. His voice was not warm at all. ¡°You¡¯re not going to run anymore?¡±


    Shadow was actually a little annoyed, but she did not admit defeat. She raised her chin and fearlessly looked at him. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten. I can¡¯t run.¡±


    Little Alpha Dominic was still immersed in the news that Shadow was Alpha Kilian¡¯s Luna and had not reacted.


    Alpha Kilian did not say much and opened the car door, motioning for Shadow to get in.


    After that, he turned his head and looked at Little Alpha Dominic, who was still in a daze. ¡°I will deal with youter.¡±


    Little Alpha Dominic shook and quickly turned around to get into the car.


    ¡­


    In the car, Shadow sat in a corner, boredly fiddling with her phone.


    Although she felt a little guilty, she had to pretend not to care.


    After all,pared to what Alpha Kilian had done, what she had done was nothing.


    Alpha Kilian suddenly broke the silence in the car.


    His voice was cold and deep. ¡°Do you have anything to say?¡±


    ¡°I have nothing to say.¡± Shadow put down her phone and looked up at him. ¡°And what about you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you already know?¡± Alpha Kilian¡¯s tone was calm and devoid of any emotion.


    As if he didn¡¯t feel sorry for lying to Shadow.


    Shadow was so angry that sheughed. ¡°Yes. You spent 300 million to buy a toy. You can do whatever you want with her.¡±


    Alpha Kilian furrowed his brows slightly and said, slightly displeased, ¡°Shadow.¡±


    He didn¡¯t like Shadow¡¯s self-deprecating tone.


    ¡°Why? If you can do something like this, why can¡¯t I talk about it?¡± Shadow didn¡¯t want to be outdone and red back. There was arrogance in her raised eyes.


    She was sarcastic and sharp-tongued!


    Alpha Kilian looked at her and narrowed his eyes. His words were threatening. ¡°Say it again.¡±


    ¡°If you can do such a thing, why can¡¯t I talk about it?¡±


    Before Shadow could finish, Alpha Kilian covered her mouth.


    He was such a cruel man!


    Shadow struggled in vain. Alpha Kilian held her tightly in his arms, making her unable to move.


    He was being so unfair.


    How could he treat her like this?


    He had deceived her so deeply, and now he was doing intimate things to her as if it was justified.


    Everything had been taken by Alpha Kilian. How could things be so easy?


    Shadow bit her lip hard. Alpha Kilian let out a slight hiss of pain and loosened his grip.


    The car had stopped. Shadow pushed him open and jumped out of the car. She quickly ran into the Castle.


    Alpha Kilian got out of the car and wiped his lip with his finger. He looked down and saw blood on his lip.


    Frank quietly handed Alpha Kilian a handkerchief.


    Alpha Kilian took it and wiped the blood off his lip before slowly entering the Castle.


    Little Alpha Dominic followed behind him, reluctantly entering the Castle.


    He saw Alpha Kilian sitting on the sofa and wanted to sit down as well. But when he heard Alpha Kilian¡¯s emotionless voice, ¡°Did I allow you to sit?¡±


    Little Alpha Dominic shivered and immediately stood up straight, as obedient as a quail.


    He wasn¡¯t afraid of anything. What he feared the most was his cousin, Alpha Kilian.


    Shadow did not return to her room. Instead, she hid by the stairs on the second floor and quietly watched the hall.


    Seeing Little Alpha Dominic standing there quietly like a lost soul, Shadow couldn¡¯t help but sigh. If Alpha Kilian lived in the animal world, he would definitely be the king of all beasts, standing at the top of the food chain.


    ¡°Does your brother know you¡¯re back?¡±


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s aunt had given birth to Dn at the age of eighteen, and Little Alpha Dominic at the age of thirty-four. Unlike other middle-aged women who had sons, his aunt didn¡¯t care about Alpha Dominic at all.


    Little Alpha Dominic had a strange temperament. He often ran away from home, and his aunt¡¯s family had long gotten used to it.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    However, if his aunt knew that Little Alpha Dominic had run back to Herton Pack this time, she would definitely call him. A fourteen-year-old child had flown back to the country alone, and they would be worried.


    But up until now, his aunt hadn¡¯t called him. She definitely didn¡¯t know that Alpha Dominic was back.


    However, Alpha Dominic¡¯s brother, Dn, was also in Herton Pack.

 111

    Little Alpha Dominic shook his head, his gaze filled with disbelief. ¡°He doesn¡¯t know.¡±


    Alpha Kilian sneered, his lips curling into a mocking smile. If Alpha Dominic hadn¡¯t been tainted by Shadow, he might havemended his fellow alpha for his bravery.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter between you and Shadow?¡±


    No wonder Shadow had been acting strangely for the past few days. It seemed she already knew his true identity.


    Although he had suspected this before, he didn¡¯t expect it to be because she had met Little Alpha Dominic.


    Little Alpha Dominic asked, his curiosity piqued, ¡°Is she really your Luna?¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alpha Kilian raised an eyebrow slightly, shing a faint smile. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Little Alpha Dominic burst out angrily, ¡°But isn¡¯t your Luna ugly?¡±


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s tone remained unchanged, but there was a hint of dignity in his voice. ¡°Say that again.¡±


    Little Alpha Dominic certainly didn¡¯t dare to repeat himself. He simply spilled all the details of what had transpired in the past few days, even going so far as to praise Shadow¡¯s cooking skills. ¡°Shadow¡¯s food is actually quite tasty.¡±


    Alpha Kilian shot him a fierce re. ¡°What did you just call her?¡±


    Under his intimidating gaze, Little Alpha Dominic weakly said, ¡°Sister-inw.¡±


    Unbeknownst to them, Shadow hid by the stairs on the second floor, observing Little Alpha Dominic¡¯s timid demeanor. It reminded her of how she sometimes felt in front of Alpha Kilian.


    ¡­


    Alpha Kilian instructed Frank to arrange a room for Little Alpha Dominic. As he nced up, he noticed Shadow descending the stairs with a suitcase in hand.


    His gaze fixated on her suitcase for a moment before he coldly questioned, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°What does it look like?¡± She couldn¡¯t bear to live under the same roof as Alpha Kilian any longer.


    ¡°Help Young Madame take her suitcase to the master bedroom.¡± Alpha Kilian looked at Shadow, but his instructions were directed at the bodyguard.


    The bodyguard promptly approached to retrieve Shadow¡¯s suitcase and ascended the stairs towards Alpha Kilian¡¯s bedroom.


    Shadow didn¡¯t even have a chance to stop them.


    Her frustration got the better of her, and she shouted at him, ¡°Alpha Kilian, you¡¯ve gone too far!¡±


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s tone remained indifferent. ¡°We are mates, destined to share the same room. What¡¯s the problem?¡±


    Shadow thought Alpha Kilian was as shameless as the rest of the Lycan family.


    She couldn¡¯t reason with Alpha Kilian, nor did she have the energy to argue with him. With determination, she turned to leave. However, she was blocked by a bodyguard.


    She nced at Alpha Kilian incredulously. ¡°What do you mean by this?¡±


    Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t immediately respond. Instead, he stood up and leisurely adjusted his sleeves. His expression was chillingly indifferent. ¡°Do you think you cane and go from the Lycan family as you please?¡±


    Shadow¡¯s expression subtly changed.


    There were rumors that Alpha Kilian¡¯s face had been disfigured and his sexual functionspromised. Yet, he was perfectly healthy, and the person who knew this truth must be someone extremely close to him.


    Now that Shadow was aware, he wouldn¡¯t let her go so easily.


    Alpha Kilian saw the change in Shadow¡¯s expression and knew she had grasped the meaning behind his words.


    He slowly approached her, a cold smile ying on his lips. ¡°Those connected to me won¡¯t escape so easily. Besides, you are my Luna. Don¡¯t overthink things and refrain from engaging in futile actions. Even in death, you¡¯ll only find rest by my side.¡±


    Shadow had been married to Alpha Kilian for nearly three months and had encountered the arrogant ¡°Alpha Dominic¡±. But this was the first time she had seen Alpha Kilian in a form that resembled a ferocious beast exuding aggression and danger.


    He possessed an air that exceeded that of a mere rich kid; instead, he seemed like a devil emerging from the depths of darkness.


    She recalled Little Alpha Dominic¡¯s appraisal of Alpha Kilian as the ¡°Devil King.¡±


    Alpha Kilian looked at Shadow¡¯s expression with satisfaction. His low voice contained a terrifying tenderness. ¡°Don¡¯t appear so frightened. Just be obedient, and I will treat you well.¡±


    Was she scared?


    Shadow tightly clenched her fists, only then realizing that her palms were damp with perspiration.


    She recalled a time in the rented house when she dug out bullets for Alpha Kilian without any anesthesia. He remained silent throughout the ordeal, never losing consciousness.


    She should have realized it earlier. A man with such inhuman determination couldn¡¯t simply be an arrogant young master. He must possess deeper thoughts than anyone else and be a devil emerging from the abyss.


    Shadow opened her mouth, but no words escaped. She couldn¡¯t speak.


    Alpha Kilian reached out to touch her head, his touch surprisingly gentle. ¡°You haven¡¯t properly inspected our room yet. Allow me to show you.¡±


    Struggling a bit, Shadow found Alpha Kilian paying no mind. Instead, he forcefully led her upstairs towards the master bedroom.


    He guided her into the walk-in closet.


    The moment Shadow entered, she was stunned.


    The walk-in closet was filled with women¡¯s clothes, more than half of the space upied by new season¡¯s models, including bags and shoes.


    With so many clothes, it would take her months to wear everything.


    Alpha Kilian stood by the side, carefully observing her reaction.


    Xavier had mentioned that no woman could resist such things.


    At the sight of Shadow¡¯s astonished expression, Alpha Kilian spoke. ¡°I had these prepared ording to your clothing size.¡±


    Shadow turned to face him, her cat-like eyes icy. ¡°It seems that Alpha Lycan is quite skilled atforting someone after threatening them.¡±


    It appeared that apologies and admitting mistakes weren¡¯t in Alpha Kilian¡¯s vocabry. He desired control, holding the absolute power in his hands.


    Shadow knew about his true identity before he even discovered her and Little Alpha Dominic.


    Alpha Kilian smiled. ¡°Consider this a little game between us, mate and Luna. It¡¯s more fitting.¡±


    His words left her speechless.


    Shadow walked away with a serious expression, no longer willing to engage in conversation with him.


    If she continued to re at Alpha Kilian, she would want to tear his face apart. Yet, she didn¡¯t dare. The best course of action was to avoid looking at him altogether.


    Returning to her room, she discovered that her bed was gone.


    She spun around and rushed back to the corridor, leaning against the railing. From there, she witnessed a bodyguard carrying the bed out of the hall.


    There was something seriously wrong with Alpha Kilian!


    In order to amodate her in the master bedroom, he had actually removed her bed.


    Out of nowhere, Little Alpha Dominic appeared by her side, mimicking her posture as he leaned on the railing. Following her line of sight, he peered out. ¡°Cousin is treating you kindly.¡±


    Shadow couldn¡¯t agree with his statement.


    Little Alpha Dominic adopted a grave expression. ¡°If it were me, my cousin wouldn¡¯t have someone carry the bed away, he would¡¯ve thrown me out directly.¡±


    Shadow found no sce in his words. She regarded him coldly. ¡°Are you his cousin?¡±


    ¡°Yes. My mother and his father are siblings.¡± Little Alpha Dominic shrugged, exuding helplessness.

 112

    After Little Alpha Dominic made hisint, he instinctively touched his stomach. ¡°Sister-inw, when are you going to cook?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to cook,¡± Shadow replied firmly.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Shadow turned around and went back to her room, feeling overwhelmed by the shock and surprise caused by Alpha Kilian. She had no appetite and didn¡¯t feel like eating at all.


    The previous night, she had stayed upte with Alpha Dominic at the inte cafe, leaving her too sleepy to think about food.


    Alpha Kilian, however, wouldn¡¯t let her off that easily. He even removed the bed from her room and discarded it. Since there was no furniture in the other rooms, she had no choice but to sleep in the master bedroom now.


    Shadow refused to believe that Alpha Kilian could still control her life and dictate what she ate.


    Upon returning to the bedroom, she discovered that Alpha Kilian was already gone.


    Shadow took off her coat and climbed into bed, drifting into a deep sleep. When she finally woke up, it was already evening.


    As hunger gnawed at her empty stomach, she made her way downstairs only to find an empty hall.


    Hungry, she headed to the kitchen in search of food. She cooked some pasta for herself and was about to take it to the dining area when she heard Alpha Dominic¡¯s cry from outside. ¡°Shadow, I don¡¯t want to go to school!¡±


    Pausing briefly to eat two mouthfuls of burger, she cleaned up and made her way to the hall.


    Inside, Alpha Dominic was in tears, clutching onto Alpha Kilian¡¯s legs and refusing to let go.


    However, there were no real tears on his face.


    When Alpha Dominic saw Shadowing out, he ran towards her and hugged her tightly, shouting, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to school!¡±


    Alpha Kilian approached with a cold expression. He grabbed Alpha Dominic and threw him aside, saying coldly, ¡°Looking for her won¡¯t help you. Since your aunt asked me to take care of you, I will make sure you learn your lesson.¡±


    He ced emphasis on the word ¡°education,¡± making Alpha Dominic¡¯s scalp tighten.


    ¡°But you¡¯re so young, you should be going to school. Why are you crying?¡± Shadow asked. She couldn¡¯t me Alpha Kilian entirely, as she had witnessed Alpha Dominic¡¯s misbehavior firsthand.


    To her surprise, Alpha Dominic¡¯s behavior in front of Alpha Kilian was timid and fearful, like a mouse in the presence of a cat. He seemed tock any ambition.


    Alpha Dominic shook his head, looking at Shadow sadly. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±


    Under Alpha Kilian¡¯s ¡°education,¡± Alpha Dominic was deprived of ying games and receiving pocket money. Alpha Kilian controlled every aspect of his life, predicting his desires and making sure he couldn¡¯t have them. For Alpha Dominic, this life was like living in hell.


    If he had known that returning to the country would result in being ¡°taught a lesson¡± by Alpha Kilian, he would have nevere back.


    Alpha Dominic understood that he couldn¡¯t change the fact that Alpha Kilian would continue to punish him, so he went upstairs.


    With Alpha Dominic gone, Shadow turned back to the kitchen to resume eating her burger.


    Alpha Kilian followed and delivered a warning. ¡°In the future, no matter how pitiful Alpha Dominic pretends to be in front of you, don¡¯t help him.¡±


    Shadow sneered. ¡°Oh, I won¡¯t. After all, it¡¯s all an act.¡±


    She used to feel sorry for Alpha Kilian before, but now she had seen through his maniptive ways.


    Alpha Kilian clearly detected the sarcasm in her words, causing his brow to furrow in displeasure. He believed that he waspensating for his previous deception, and didn¡¯t consider himself unforgivable.


    Ignoring Alpha Kilian, Shadow continued eating her burger, slowly and deliberately.


    Alpha Kilian gave her a long look before walking away.


    ¡­


    At night, after Shadow showered, she returned to her empty room. There was no sign of Alpha Kilian.


    She changed into a modest nightgown and got into bed. Her mind was filled with thoughts of what Alpha Kilian might do if he approached her.


    However, she didn¡¯t have to wait until she fell asleep, as Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t return to her room.


    When she woke up the next morning, Shadow opened her eyes and attempted to roll over, only to realize that someone was holding onto her tightly. She was unable to move.


    The familiar presence beside her confirmed that it was Alpha Kilian.


    Gritting her teeth, Shadow removed Alpha Kilian¡¯s arm from her body and quickly rolled to the other side of the bed, putting as much distance between them as possible.


    Alpha Kilian, already awake, faced Shadow on his side, his disheveled hair and partially open pajama cor making him appear gentle and vulnerable in his sleep.


    If Shadow hadn¡¯t seen Alpha Kilian¡¯s true face, she might have been fooled by his harmless demeanor.


    Cautiously observing Alpha Kilian, she couldn¡¯t figure out when he had returned to his room or how he had ended up sleeping beside her, holding her in his arms.


    Alpha Kilian rolled off the bed, giving her a brief nce before his slightly hoarse voice carried a deeper meaning. ¡°What¡¯s the point of hiding when we¡¯ve already slept together?¡±


    Shadow couldn¡¯t contain her anger and frustration, and threw a pillow at him.


    Alpha Kilian skillfully caught the pillow, staying calm and collected. He then proceeded to the bathroom.


    ¡­


    Breakfast consisted of burgers, as Alpha Dominic had requested.


    Shadow didn¡¯t feel like cooking, but Alpha Dominic pleaded pitifully, ¡°Since both of us are being mistreated by Alpha Kilian, can you please make breakfast?¡±


    Though she wanted to argue back, she couldn¡¯t deny that Alpha Dominic had a point.


    Reluctantly, she cooked three bowls of burgers.


    Alpha Dominic took the lead, having a bowl in hand as he headed out. Shadow filled another bowl and brought over the salt shaker. She poured half a jar of salt into the bowl, stirring it slowly.


    Satisfied with her handiwork, she brought the bowl to the dining area and ced it in front of Alpha Kilian.


    Alpha Kilian, taken aback by Shadow cooking for him, looked at her with surprise.


    Shadow wore a faint smile as she brought the burger to his lips and spoke gently, ¡°Try the burger I made.¡±


    Alpha Kilian looked up, noticing the excitement in her beautiful eyes.


    Something was definitely off with this bowl of burgers.


    Despite expecting a reaction from Alpha Kilian, Shadow couldn¡¯t change the bowl before it was toote.


    However, to her surprise, Alpha Kilian ate the burgers she fed him without any change in his expression. ¡°It tastes good.¡±


    Even if the burgers were over-seasoned and bitter, it still resembled the taste of the food his mother used to cook.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s face remained emotionless. He took the forks from Shadow¡¯s hands and continued to eat the burgers slowly.


    Helpless, Shadow watched as he finished the whole bowl, his expression unchanged.


    Alpha Kilian, who had ¡°swallowed his anger¡± like this, seemedpletely different from the Alpha Kilian who threatened her the day before.


    Shadow looked at him with aplicated expression, then turned around to pour him arge ss of water.


    Alpha Kilian epted the ss and suddenly burst intoughter. A hint of smug triumph shone in his eyes.


    Whether through tricks or pretending to be pitiful, Shadow was no match for him.


    If she ever tried to seek revenge, he would allow her to seed, ying along with her schemes.


    But she was always too soft-hearted.


    It was evident from her interactions with the Eden family.

 113

    Shadow  passed the water to Alpha Kilian  and turned back to the kitchen, so she didn¡¯t see the smile on his face.


    However, Alpha Dominic , who was sitting at the side, saw everything.


    He took a fork  and tilted his body to dip a little bit of soup into Alpha Kilian ¡®s bowl. He put it in his mouth and took a sip. His expression immediately changed.


    Alpha Dominic  threw away the fork s, held the cup of water, and diluted the salty taste in his mouth a little. Only then did he curl his lips and mutter softly, ¡°Despicable!¡±


    This soup was clearly very salty, but he deliberately finished it all. Shadow  was so soft-hearted, she would definitely forgive him very soon.


    A sinister man who only knew how to use bitter meats!


    Alpha Kilian  looked at him coldly. ¡°Speak louder.¡±


    Alpha Dominic  did not dare.


    He shrunk his neck, got up, and ran into the kitchen.


    Shadow  was leaning against the counter drinking yogurt. Her bowl of burger s was already so mushy that she could not eat it. It just so happened that she did not have much appetite. She could also drink a box of yogurt.


    Seeing Alpha Dominic  walk in, Shadow  took out another box from the fridge and handed it to him.


    Alpha Dominic  stood beside her and took a sip of yogurt. He said to her with an experienced tone, ¡°Shadow , don¡¯t be fooled by Alpha Kilian . He is a very sinister person.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Shadow  answered absentmindedly. She then turned to look at Alpha Dominic  and said. ¡°I am six years older than you. Even if you don¡¯t call me sister-inw, you should call me sister.¡±


    A fourteen year old boy stood beside Shadow , who was 167cm tall. He was taller than her.


    However, because he was in puberty, Alpha Dominic  looked very thin. Even if he was taller than her, he was only a child.


    Alpha Dominic  curled his lips. ¡°Then I¡¯ll call you sister.¡±


    He did not want to call Shadow  his sister-inw at all. When he thought about how his treacherous


    cousin had taken such a huge advantage of him and got such a wonderful girl, he felt pity and let out a


    deep sigh.


    Shadow  had an inexplicable expression. This child could be sad even after drinking yogurt?


    ¡­


    The three of them went out together and Frank drove over to pick them up.


    Shadow  did not want to sit with Alpha Kilian , so she pulled Alpha Dominic  into the car first.


    Alpha Dominic  quietly nced at Alpha Kilian , then followed Shadow  into the car.


    Then, such a scene appeared in the car. Alpha Dominic  sat in the middle, while Shadow  and Alpha Kilian  sat on both


    sides of him.


    Alpha Dominic  could feel the pressureing from Alpha Kilian  beside him. He felt that he might have done


    something unwise.


    Frank sent Shadow  to the Eden Group first. Next, he should have sent Alpha Dominic  to school.


    However, after Shadow  got off the car, Frank drove the car not far away. Alpha Kilian  told Frank, ¡°Stop the


    car.¡±


    Once the car stopped, Alpha Kilian  nced at Alpha Dominic  and said, ¡°Get off the car.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t reached the school yet.¡± Alpha Kilian  had taken him to the school yesterday. There was still at


    least a dozen minutes to go from here to the school.


    ¡°Our direction is different.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Before Alpha Dominic  could react, Alpha Kilian  had already opened the door and kicked him out of the car.


    Alpha Dominic  was so angry that his nose was crooked. ¡°You are taking revenge for your personal troubles,


    because I am sitting between you and Shadow . If you have the ability, kick me out of the car in front of


    her! ¡±


    Alpha Kilian  turned a deaf ear to him. He closed the door and said to Frank, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Frank looked at Alpha Dominic  who was standing outside with sympathy. Although he knew very well that


    Alpha Dominic ¡®s school was in the same direction as Nine Clouds, he could only pretend to be deaf and mute.


    Alpha Dominic  watched the car drive away. He was so angry that he kicked the tree beside him.


    In the end, he used too much force and jumped in pain.


    There were still more than ten minutes to the car from his school. Even if he rushed over now, it would


    take a long time.


    What made it worse was that¡­


    He didn¡¯t have any money on him.


    Alpha Dominic  said to himself, ¡°You want to drive me out of the car? I will go and get the money from your Luna .¡±


    This ce was not far from the Eden Group. He immediately turned around and ran towards it.


    ¡­


    When Shadow  arrived at thepany, she was called to the office by Jason.


    After the press conference, the reputation of the Eden Group on the Inte did not improve. The


    izens did not buy it, and the public did not buy it either.


    Jason, who was at his wit¡¯s end, had ced all his hopes on Shadow .


    The moment Shadow  went in, he hurriedly stood up. ¡°Shadow , how was your conversation with Alpha Kilian ?¡±


    When mentioning Alpha Kilian ¡®s name, Shadow ¡®s heart was still a little angry.


    ¡°Our discussion broke down. He won¡¯t help.¡± Although she didn¡¯t really intend to ask Alpha Kilian  for help,


    after she found out that ¡°Alpha Dominic ¡± was Alpha Kilian , she could guess that Alpha Kilian  wouldn¡¯t help the Eden


    Group even if she did try.


    When Jason heard that Alpha Kilian  would not help the Eden Group, he became anxious. ¡°What should


    we do now? I have found the ck card for you, and you promised me.¡±


    ¡°That ck card belongs to Alpha Kilian . Even if you don¡¯t help me find it, he will find out that I have lost it


    after a long time. At that time, he¡¯ll still be able to find it himself. Perhaps he¡¯ll be able to find the money


    they spent on the card as well.¡±


    After Jason and Jessica  tricked the ck card over, they spent a lot of money. Fortunately, the ck


    card did not stay in their hands for long and they did not have the time to use it at thepany. Even


    so, they had spent close to ten million.


    If she wanted to find the money back in their pockets, the possibility was too low.


    Shadow  felt that she could only sell the shares of Eden Group in her hands to return the money to


    Alpha Kilian .


    In any case, the shares of the Eden Group in her hands were also given to her by Jason. She could


    sell them to him again. If he didn¡¯t take the money, she would just sell the shares to other people.


    The Eden Group was an oldpany with a strong foundation. Even if their reputation was damaged,Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    there would still be people who wanted to buy them.


    Sure enough, Jason¡¯s expression changed when he heard Shadow ¡®s words.


    ¡°Dad, don¡¯t be too anxious. I will help you think of another way.¡± Shadow ¡®s words were not sincere at all,


    and Jason was not in the mood to pursue the matter.


    After Shadow  came out, a colleague walked over and said. ¡°Shadow , someone is looking for you.¡±


    She walked over and saw that it was Alpha Dominic  waiting for her at the entrance of thepany.


    ¡°Why are you here? Didn¡¯t you go to school?¡± Shadow  looked at the time. It was already past nine


    o¡¯clock.


    Alpha Dominic  stood against the wall with his schoolbag on his back. He sighed and said, ¡°You don¡¯t know. After


    you left, my cousin kicked me out right away. It¡¯s so far from school and I don¡¯t have the money to take


    a cab, so I came to see you.¡±


    ¡°Why did he drive you out?¡± Shadow  took a hundred dor  from her bag and gave it to him. ¡°If you don¡¯t


    have money in the future, you have to find me and your cousin. Don¡¯t always mess around and go


    outside to fool people.¡±


    Although it was a skill for him to be able to fool people, Alpha Dominic  was still too young. This kind of concept


    was not correct. If he did not correct it properly, it was easy to get it wrong.


    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Shadow .¡± Alpha Dominic  took the money and thanked her with a smile.


    Shadow  also smiled. This child¡¯s nature was quite good.

 114

    ¡°Okay, you should go to school now. Today is your first day of school. You can¡¯t bete.¡± After Shadow finished speaking, she reminded him, as if she had just thought of something, ¡°Don¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±


    ¡°When have I ever caused trouble?¡± Alpha Dominic¡¯s face was filled with dissatisfaction.


    Hadn¡¯t he caused enough trouble?


    However, Shadow didn¡¯t say much to him. She simply advised him to leave quickly.


    Alpha Dominic quickly stuffed the money into his bag. Then, his expression turned serious. He hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± It was rare for Shadow to see Alpha Dominic look so serious. She was a little curious.


    ¡°If possible, you should try your best to divorce my cousin. He is not a good person.¡± After Alpha Dominic finished, he added, ¡°I¡¯m telling you the truth, not because I want you to be my girlfriend.¡±


    If Alpha Dominic hadn¡¯t added the second part of his sentence, Shadow would almost believe him.


    She red at Alpha Dominic. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. If you don¡¯t leave, I will call your cousin.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave now.¡± He took a few steps and then turned back to her, still looking serious. ¡°I¡¯m serious about this.¡±


    Shadow made a phone call gesture. He shrugged and ran out of sight.


    Alpha Dominic was still very young. He didn¡¯t understand many things, but he was right about one thing. Alpha Kilian was indeed not a good person.


    When Shadow returned, she ran into Jessica again.


    Jessica didn¡¯t have a pleasant expression when she saw Shadow.


    However, when she noticed Shadow¡¯s clothes, a hint of surprise shed in her eyes.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Recently, Shadow had been wearing simple and in clothes while working at the Eden Group. She didn¡¯t look like a wealthy youngdy at all.


    Although the clothes she was wearing that day looked ordinary and simple, they were from famous brands. The design and tailoring of the clothes were top-notch.


    Who had bought these clothes for her? Alpha Dominic?


    Naomi crossed her arms and looked down at Shadow from the corner of her eyes. ¡°I heard from my dad that you couldn¡¯t convince Alpha Kilian to help the Eden Group?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. How could I persuade Alpha Kilian? Why don¡¯t you give it a try then?¡± Shadow had been in a bad mood all weekend because of Alpha Kilian. She didn¡¯t have time to y games with Jessica.


    ¡°Fine. Do you think I¡¯m afraid?¡± Jessica snorted arrogantly and left in a huff.


    Shadow felt that what Hazel said was urate. Jessica was a spoiled princess and no one could change her mind.


    First, she tried to seduce ¡°Alpha Dominic.¡± When she failed, she now wanted to seduce Alpha Kilian. Even though Shadow knew that ¡°Alpha Dominic¡± was Alpha Kilian, Jessica didn¡¯t know that.


    Did she truly believe that all the men in the world would fall for her?


    Did she really think that her charm could conquer anyone?


    She was truly hopeless.


    Shadow sneered. Jessica wanted to seduce Alpha Kilian? She was afraid that Alpha Kilian wouldn¡¯t even want to see Jessica.


    ¡­


    At Nine Clouds Media.


    When Alpha Kilian arrived at thepany and entered his office, Xavier followed behind him.


    ¡°I heard you asked Frank to bring your clothes to Golden Fountain club on Saturday night?¡± Xavier smiled, as if he had figured out everything.


    Alpha Kilian¡¯s face darkened at the mention of Saturday night.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have better things to do?¡± Alpha Kilian looked up from the stack of documents.


    Xavier had a bad feeling about this. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    Alpha Kilian was about to ignore him. He turned on theputer and a piece of news caught his eye.


    The headline was attention-grabbing. [Wealthy man from the entertainment industry spotted bringing two women to luxurious club for overnight stay.]


    Alpha Kilian clicked on the news and quickly read the article.


    After finishing it, he smirked. ¡°You¡¯re in trouble.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Xavier moved closer and saw the huge headline. It was a picture of him entering the club with two women.


    It was nighttime, but the entertainment reporters had managed to capture the picture clearly. The two women followed him closely. From the angle of the photos, it looked intimate.


    ¡°The entertainment reporters are making up stories! I was just taking two Golden Fountain employees out that night for something. One of them was a bit unsteady, so I offered help!¡±


    Xavier was furious, ready to explode.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Alpha Kilian didn¡¯t bother to mention that Hazel might have seen the news.


    After Xavier finished venting, he suddenly remembered something. He cursed and took out his phone to call Hazel.


    Hazel picked up the phone quickly. Xavier was a bit surprised that she had answered so readily.


    But as soon as Hazel spoke, he heard her furious voice. ¡°You shameless man! Why are you calling me? To boast about how you can handle more than two women? I hope you suffer a quick death! Go to hell! Get lost! Don¡¯t call me again, it makes me sick!¡±


    And with that, she hung up immediately.


    ¡°Hazel, keep scolding! Why did you hang up on me?¡± Xavier panicked. Under normal circumstances, Hazel wouldn¡¯t even answer his calls. And when she did, she wouldn¡¯t be in a good mood. But this time, she seemed really angry.


    Although he called again, Hazel didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is busy.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is turned off.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed does not exist.¡±


    Xavier was out of options.


    Had Hazel put his number on her blocklist again?


    It had taken him a lot of effort to convince her to remove his number from the blocklistst time. And now, because of one news article, she had blocked his number again?


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    Xavier no longer had the mood to mock Alpha Kilian. He stormed out of the office and told his secretary, ¡°Arrange a meeting with the Public Rtions Department.¡±


    If he found out who was behind this news, that person would be dead.


    ¡­


    Shadow suddenly received a call from Hazel.


    Hazel had been busy promoting her new movie, and they hadn¡¯t been in contact muchtely.


    Hearing from Hazel now surprised Shadow. She thought Hazel might being back.


    But when she answered the call, she heard Hazel¡¯s frantic voice. ¡°Xavier is a scumbag, a beast, a jerk, an asshole, a spineless coward!¡±


    Shadow rubbed her numb ears in shock. Her face was filled with confusion. ¡°What did he do?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the news? He took two girls to a club and spent the whole night there. Tell me, why did he bring those two girls?¡±


    Shadow listened as she scrolled through the web page, opening the popr entertainment news. Sure enough, she saw the photos of Xavier entering the club with two girls, prominently disyed on the banner. The poprity of the article was still rising.


    Shadow also recognized that the photos were taken at the entrance of Golden Fountain Club. In the pictures, Xavier and the two girls looked quite close.

 115

    Shadow didn¡¯t have much contact with Xavier, so she wasn¡¯t clear about his character.


    However, there were online rumors that Xavier was a notorious yboy, constantly changing women. Yet, most of these rumors were based on unconfirmed and bizarre photos.


    So far, Xavier had only been gued by scandalous rumors and had never publicly admitted to having a girlfriend.


    Due to Xavier¡¯s involvement in Alpha Kilian¡¯s lie to Shadow, as well as hisplicated rtionship with Hazel, Shadow had a negative impression of him.


    Even so, Shadow refrained from scolding Xavier in front of Hazel.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    She looked at the photo again and analyzed it carefully with Hazel. ¡°This photo was taken outside the Golden Fountain Clubte at night. It seems like someone has been keeping an eye on Xavier for a while. Xavier is a powerful figure in the entertainment industry, so ordinary media wouldn¡¯t dare to publish news about him without solid evidence, fearing the consequences.¡±


    ¡°Even so, what does it mean?¡± Hazel¡¯s tone had calmed down. ¡°He did bring two women to the club and never came out.¡±


    Shadow agreed with Hazel¡¯s observation.


    She didn¡¯t know the details of Hazel and Xavier¡¯s rtionship, but it was clear that they still had feelings for each other.


    Otherwise, Xavier wouldn¡¯t ask Shadow about Hazel every time they met, and Hazel wouldn¡¯t have called her to scold Xavier over this news.


    ¡­


    When Xavier¡¯s scandal broke out, online gossipers became active once again.


    Thements on Xavier¡¯s Weibo were strange and varied.


    ¡°Our Director Collin is a yboy now?¡±


    ¡°If you can y around, why not just admit you have a real girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of STDs?¡±


    ¡°Director Collin, how can I join Nine Clouds Media?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s strange that Boss Collin brought a non-celebrity girl this time.¡±


    ¡°Are we all just here to watch the show? Have we forgotten about the Eden Group¡¯s shady businesses?¡±


    There were numerous replies to thesements.


    ¡°Some of thesements make sense.¡±


    ¡°Our Alpha Xavier always takes the me for others.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, the Eden Group is truly despicable!¡±


    ¡°Poor Director Xavier.¡±


    ¡­


    Shadow finished reading thements and went back to the topic list. The topic about the Eden Group¡¯s shady business was no longer trending.


    She sent a screenshot of thements to Hazel and messaged her, ¡°If you really care about this, it¡¯s better to listen to Xavier¡¯s exnation.¡±


    Although Shadow didn¡¯t know Xavier well, she knew Hazel very well.


    They had known each other for six years, ever since high school. In those years, countless boys pursued Hazel, including those from privileged backgrounds, but she remained unswayed.


    Before, Shadow couldn¡¯t understand why. But now, with the way Hazel looked at Xavier, she began to understand.


    When someone harbors feelings for someone else, no matter how good other options are, they will never be able to enter their heart.


    ¡°Why would I need his exnation? That scumbag,¡± Hazel scolded Xavier, though her tone had softened.


    ¡­


    When it was time to leave work, Frank came to pick up Shadow again.


    Alpha Dominic was also in the car. It seemed like Frank had picked up Alpha Dominic first beforeing for her.


    ¡°Ms. Shadow,¡± Alpha Dominic called her, his head buried in his bag as he searched for something.


    He took out a notebook and turned on the calctor on his phone, deep in thought.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Shadow asked curiously, noticing that he was holding a primary school textbook.


    Alpha Dominic quickly stuffed the book back into his bag and whispered in her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t tell my cousin.¡±


    ¡°What don¡¯t you want to tell your cousin?¡± Shadow asked. ¡°And what are you doing with that book?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m making money. I¡¯m helping kids with their homework. They pay $100 per book.¡±


    Was there really a way to make money like that?


    It took Shadow a moment to process. ¡°Are you short on money?¡±


    ¡°My cousin deducted my pocket money. I don¡¯t even have money to y games,¡± Alpha Dominic¡¯s face was pained.


    He then asked curiously, ¡°What happened between you and my cousin? I know you two are in conflict, but I don¡¯t know what happened exactly. And it seems like my cousin hates me too. He used to be strict with me, but he never took away all my pocket money.¡±


    Hehe. Wasn¡¯t it because Alpha Dominic¡¯s presence messed up Alpha Kilian¡¯s n and exposed his lies?


    She had to thank Alpha Dominic for that. Otherwise, she would still be kept in the dark by Alpha Kilian until now.


    However, there was no need to involve Alpha Dominic in such adult matters.


    She patted Alpha Dominic and said, ¡°If you really need money, you can ask me.¡±


    Alpha Dominic waved his hand, looking disgusted. ¡°You earn less than me.¡±


    Shadow felt awkward.


    She looked at the stack of workbooks in Alpha Dominic¡¯s bag and realized that he was earning around a thousand dors a day?


    Inparison, she didn¡¯t earn as much as Alpha Dominic.


    ¡°Are all primary school students so rich nowadays?¡± They were willing to pay a hundred dors for help with their homework.


    Alpha Dominic nodded. ¡°There¡¯s an elite primary school next to ours.¡±


    Shadow was speechless. She realized that poverty had limited her imagination.


    ¡­


    After returning home, Alpha Dominic immediately went to his room to make money.


    Shadow went back to her room to continue writing her script. Alpha Dominic, a young child, had already figured out a way to earn so much money. She couldn¡¯t let her profession fall behind.


    Lately, she had been working on a mystery script. Once it was done, Hazel would help her pitch it to directors and productionpanies to see if anyone would be interested.


    Working at the Eden Group was not a long-term solution.


    After writing for a while, she hit a wall. She got up and left her room.


    At some point, Alpha Kilian had returned and was discussing something with Xavier in the living room.


    Shadow didn¡¯t have the habit of eavesdropping, so she turned to go back to her room. But she identally caught the mention of ¡°the Eden Group.¡±


    Curiosity got the best of her, and she quietly edged closer. She heard Xavier¡¯s angry voice saying, ¡°Are the people of the Eden family out of their minds? Instead of solving their problems, they bribe the media to drag me into this mess. They want to divert public attention and make me the scapegoat. They¡¯re crazy! Don¡¯t stop me, I¡¯ll go and teach them a lesson!¡±


    ¡°Oh. My cousin Luna is also a member of the Eden family,¡± Alpha Kilian replied calmly.


    Xavier¡¯s anger subsided. He cleared his throat and said, ¡°Except for Shadow, all the Eden family members are crazy.¡±


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