《Love Addiction: Doting On My Love》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 At the edge of the city, far from the noise andmotion, stood a massive city wall supporting a castle- like structure. Herey Imperial Pce, a ce shrouded in mystery. Behind it was an endless forest, while in front was a beautiful, shimmeringke. Cold¡­ A young woman curled up as she hugged herself tightly on the finely embroidered carpet made by top Lussian craftsmen. She wore a white dress with puffed sleeves that beautifully fit her body. The dress revealed her legs, which were positioned in a suggestive manner. Her delicate face was entuated by her subtly arched brows. Along with her rosy lips and white teeth, she radiated an air of purity. Her shoulders were exposed to the cold, and it caused her to shiver. Snowkes were visible on her thin eyshes as they fluttered. It was definitely colder than negative ten degrees Celsius. ¡°I¡¯m freezing!¡± Had she fallen asleep in a freezer? In her daze, she heard someone say, ¡°Lower the temperature!¡± The voice sounded colder than the room itself. ¡°Who is it? Why does he keep making it colder when he knows I don¡¯t like the cold?¡± Violet finally forced herself to open her eyes. She did not want to freeze to death. She noticed Atalian Renaissance period paintings hung on the wall. They looked blurry because her eyes were still unfocused. She looked down and saw herself lying on the floor near someone¡¯s legs. They were straight and long. Lucius raised one of his legs and revealed a pair of shiny ck leather shoes. He then stepped on her. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± It was the same cold voice! She shivered violently from the cold as she attempted to push that shoe away. But she realized her whole body was extremely weak. ¡°Let me go¡­¡± she murmured weakly. The freezing temperature made her fingers ache with pain. ¡°Could you turn up the heat a bit? I¡¯m freezing.¡± Instead of letting her go, Lucius stepped on her even harder and pinned her to the floor! What was going on? ¡°Let you go?¡± Lucius tilted his head downward. He grabbed Violet¡¯s chin and turned her face toward him. ¡°Why would I, Agatha?¡± Lucius was incredibly handsome. She had never seen someone as captivating as him before. He sat there majestically, dressed in just a light shirt. Yet he did not show any indication of feeling cold, unlike her, who was freezing to her death. His expression was as cold as the surrounding temperature, and his gaze was icy sharp. ¡°A¡­ gatha?¡± It finally dawned on her what was happening. ¡°Sir, you¡¯ve mistaken me for another person. I¡¯m not Agatha. I¡¯m¡ª¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the child? What did you do to him?¡± ¡°Ch¡­ Child?¡± She repeated in confusion. She was not sure what Lucius was talking about. ¡°Where is the child you were carrying?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not carrying a child¡­¡± she tried to rify. She was so cold that her voice was barely audible. ¡°Did you abort the child?¡± Lucius flew into a rage. He grabbed Violet¡¯s chin and flung her to the floor. Before she could get up, he lifted her up by her cor. ¡°You actually aborted my child?!¡± His expression was extremely frightening. He looked like a demon that was poised to strike. Violet struggled to catch her breath in the face of his intense anger. She felt scared and upset. She grasped his hands to try to ease the pain as she tried to exin, ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t even know you, much less have anything to do with you. How could I be carrying your child?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know me?¡± Lucius practically hissed, and he sounded really nasally while speaking. Violet¡¯s heart sank; she had a bad feeling about this. Sure enough, he then lifted her up and tossed her onto the bed. ¡°Looks like I have to remind you who I am and what sort of rtionship we have.¡± He swiftly leaned over her and pinned her down. She saw him gulp. His rock-hard chest was pressed against hers. This scared her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lucius ignored her. He proceeded to climb onto her body with no hesitation¡­ ****** Suddenly, Violet turned and sat up. What an absurd dream! Being mistaken for someone else and interrogated was one thing, but engaging in such an act with a man?! It was so embarrassing! Feeling embarrassed, she covered her face. She could feel the blush on her cheeks. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. But why was her body aching? And why was this room so fancy? She had always stayed in regr hotel rooms. Even a presidential suite did not have so many genuine pieces of art. As she wondered, her groggy mind gradually cleared up. She yelped before rolling out of bed with a nket wrapped around her. She realized what had happened when she saw the bedsheete off. The red pool of blood formed a stark contrast against the white bedsheets. ¡°That¡¯s my¡­¡± It was not a dream! It was real! She had been r*ped! This sudden realization shattered Violetpletely. It left her utterly stunned. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Click! Someone pushed the door open and walked in. Lucius cast a cold nce at the girl sitting on the floor while staring nkly at the blood stains on the bed. ¡°What¡¯s with the fake hymen? Trying to trick some unsuspecting man into thinking that you¡¯re a virgin?¡± Fake hymen? Violet looked at the man in front of her in disbelief, and she immediately recognized him. He was the one who had assaulted her. How could he say such a heartless thing! In her 22 years of life, she had never had a boyfriend or even held hands with a man. But she suddenly had her virginity taken, and he had the audacity to say that she had a fake hymen?! She clenched her fists repeatedly. If she had the strength to do so, she would definitely knock out all of his teeth. But in reality, she was no match for him at all. This man possessed incredible strength, and there was nothing she could do when he took advantage of her. In the end, she fainted in an extremely humiliating way. Hatred coursed through her veins as she struggled to wrap the bedsheet around her body. ¡°I¡¯m calling the police, and I¡¯m going to sue you!¡± she said while ring at him fiercely. ¡°You¡¯re calling the police? And you want to sue me?¡± Lucius repeated her words. Suddenly, his lips curled into a smile. His eyes were icy cold despite his smile. Violet instinctively hunched her shoulders as she inched backward, but he just grabbed her. He yanked her up until she was at eye level with him and asked, ¡°What crime are you going to sue me for? Marital r*pe?¡± ¡°Marital?¡± How could he say something like that to someone he barely knew? When were they even married? He took out a phone and handed it to her. ¡°You can make the call if you want to.¡± Violet grabbed the phone and immediately called the police. ¡°Hello? I¡¯d like to report a case. I was r*ped.¡± ¡°Please tell us your location.¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± Wait. Where was this ce? Lucius took the phone away and said, ¡°This is the Imperial Pce.¡± ¡°Wait¡­y-you are¡­?¡± After hearing that, the staff member on the other end paused for a few seconds before speaking. Her nervousness could be heard through the other end of the line. ¡°Lucius Davis.¡± ¡°M-Mr. Davis?!¡± the staff stuttered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Someone here made a prank call.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. No problem, sir.¡± Lucius then ended the call. Violet looked at Lucius in disbelief. He put the phone on speaker, and she heard what the staff had just Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. said. Who the hell was he? Why were the authorities so terrified of him? Lucius put the phone away and approached her. He was at least 185 cm tall and towered over her, which made her feel intimidated. Even though she was in the right, she could not help but stumble backward in fear. She retreated, and he followed. She turned around to escape but identally stepped on the sheets and tripped. She had a hard fall and was in pain as shey on the floor. He slowly lowered himself onto her, and half of his weight fell against her as he climbed onto her sheets. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± she whimpered as she remembered the mortifying things he had done to her the night before. She wanted to scream but could not, so she had to force herself not to give in. He smirked and whispered into her ear, ¡°Even if I r*ped you in front of the police station, no one would dare to say a word. Do you want to give it a shot?¡± Violet got chills all over her body when his cool breath touched her ear. Just who was he? Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Violet felt a chill run down her spine. Lucius took away the nket, which was the only thing she had. She yelped. She still had her clothes on, but they were torn. Her pants even had a huge tear that revealed her legs. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± He ignored her as he slid his sharp fingernails down her back. It hurt! Soon, he reached her private parts. ¡°No!¡± She closed her eyes in fear. If he were to do it, was she even able to defend herself? He suddenly stopped and withdrew his hand. Instead, he stood up and tossed the sheet back to her as if it were a rag cloth. He brushed his hands off in disgust. ¡°Agatha, get over yourself. I¡¯ve long lost interest in women like you.¡± Agatha again? Why did he keep calling her Agatha? Was she her doppelganger? ¡°I¡¯m not Agatha!¡± She stated again, ¡°I don¡¯t know anyone by that name.¡± ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t recognize you just because you changed your looks?¡± She was about to stand up when he grabbed her arm. His grip was so strong that it felt like he might crush her bones. He smirked as he revealed a cold yet fierce expression, as if Violet was his enemy. She was even more confused now. However, she gulped, and it took her some time to find her voice again. ¡°Changed¡­ my looks? What do you mean?¡± He raised his hand. Someone immediately came in and handed him a document. He threw it onto her. The impact caused her skin to sting. She could not catch it, so it slid down her body to the floor. He finally let go of her. Her arm was in great pain. In confusion, Violet picked up the document. It was a cosmetic surgery record of Agatha River. ¡°You changed your looks just to avoid me. Agatha, you certainly are determined. I wonder what your lover thinks of your fake face when he sees it every day. Doesn¡¯t he find it repulsive?¡± His words were cold and harsh. He consistently mistook her for Agatha. Through his words, Violet began to piece together the situation. Not only had his lover undergone cosmetic surgery, but she had also cheated on him. It was not surprising. Who could tolerate such a bad-tempered man? ¡°I really am not Agatha, and I did not have any cosmetic surgery. I¡¯ve looked like this my whole life. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can show you my ID. Give me my luggage.¡± She always brought her ID card with her whenever she went out. Lucius ordered someone to bring the luggage. It was unusual for him to listen to her. One minuteter¡­ ¡°What?!¡± Violet was dumbfounded as she found someone else¡¯s ID card in her purse. ¡°Agatha¡­ River.¡± She read it out. She was frustrated. ¡°There must¡¯ve been a mistake.¡± ¡°How could anyone possibly put the wrong picture on an ID card?¡± Lucius sarcastically asked. Violet looked at the ID again. The photo was indeed hers! What was going on? Did she lose her memory? Did she really change her face and forget about it? But she remembered her childhood and how she grew up clearly! There were no gaps or missing pieces in her memory. So, why did this ID have her photo? Apart from that, none of the other details were hers! Still, she refused to just ept this. She rummaged through her luggage and pulled out a phone. It was not hers, and the contact numbers were unfamiliar to her! How could this happen?! ¡°I¡¯m really not¡­¡± But all her arguments were in vain when all the evidence was against her. Lucius sneered. ¡°Agatha, you should really consider acting. You could definitely win an award!¡± Violet looked up. She was bewildered and helpless. Lucius¡¯s gaze was filled with rage. He must hate Agatha very much. ¡°Close your eyes!¡± he shouted. Violet was once again left utterly baffled, but she still closed her eyes in fear.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. The sound of the loud door mming shut shook the whole house. Violet opened her eyes after waiting for a long time. The room was quiet, and Lucius was long gone. He was gone! By right, she should have felt a sense of relief, but at this moment, she felt a heavy lump in her throat. She could hardly breathe. What exactly happened? How did her photo end up on someone else¡¯s ID? How did someone else¡¯s phone end up in her bag? Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Violet scowled as she pondered hard. However, she could not think of any exnation for this. She started crying and felt absolutely hopeless and pitiful. She shuddered again whenever she thought of Lucius¡¯s cold expression and murderous gaze. There was no way she would sit and wait for her death! She looked at her luggage, which had been rummaged through and left in disarray. Her phone was still there! On instinct, she quickly dialed a familiar number. ¡°Hey. Oliver here.¡± Oliver Young, the person she loved, picked up the call very quickly. Violet quickly straightened up excitedly and said, ¡°Oliver, save me! I¡¯ve been¡ª¡± ¡°Save you? It¡¯s your sister who needs to be saved now. Your cruelty took away her voice, and you¡¯ve ruined her future!¡± She was harshly interrupted as Oliver used her. He sounded distant, angry, and unlike himself. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it!¡± she exined. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Stop giving excuses. I just want you to repent. I thought having you stay away for a few days would give you a chance to contemte what you¡¯ve done, but I was wrong. You¡¯ve let me down.¡± His words made her heart fall into despair. She held the phone tightly and tried to withstand the pain in her chest as she begged, ¡°Please, save me. If you do, I can exin everything. But if you don¡¯t, it¡¯s over for me.¡± Unfortunately, Oliver did not hear those words. He had already hung up. That effectively destroyed her life. She stared at her phone nkly and could not fathom how heartless Oliver was toward her. She was heartbroken. She wanted to cry badly, but she could not muster a single tear. Of course, Emily¡¯s voice was more important than her life. Frankly, she saw iting. There was just no way to make Oliver love her, was there? She took care of him in the hospital for one whole year, yet he did not show her much attention at all. He only ever had eyes for Emily. Emily took a sip of Violet¡¯s water, and her voice became ruined. Due to that, Oliver got all mad and did not even bother to hear her out! Violet rubbed her eyes. She realized that she did not have the time to feel sad. She looked at the phone and wanted to dial another number. Suddenly, someone opened the door. Thinking it might be Luciusing back, she got startled and flung her phone. She looked extremely pale. An old man in his sixties entered the room. He had greyish-white hair and shrewd eyes. He nced at the phone on the floor and said, ¡°Madam, I suggest you don¡¯t do anything that would make Master Lucius even angrier.¡± He looked much kinder than Lucius. While upset, she quickly approached him. ¡°Can you let me go? I¡¯m really not Agatha. He can¡¯t see it, but you can. I lookpletely different from her, right?¡± ¡°Master Lucius¡¯s words are absolute.¡± Violet felt baffled when she heard this. ¡°How could you¡­¡± Something clicked in her mind. ¡°Are you guys a gang of human traffickers? The old manughed. ¡°Madam, did you forget what your husband¡¯s family does for a living? Imperial Enterprises might operate in legal business and work with underground organizations, but we don¡¯t break thew.¡± Imperial Enterprises? Wasn¡¯t it the corporation that ranked first in the world in market value? It was also the one where its leader kept a low profile and practically never showed up, wasn¡¯t it? Even Violet, someone who did not have much knowledge of the market industry, knew about Imperial Enterprises. It was legendary for having nearly gone bankrupt to being ranked first in the world in merely four years. It became an example and a goal for countless aspiring entrepreneurs. She could not believe it. She somehow ended up as the wife of the owner of Imperial Enterprises. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 ¡°What do you want from me?¡± she murmured. She did not believe the old man¡¯s words. He pondered for a moment before saying gravely, ¡°There are consequences for every action. You¡¯re just reaping what you sowed.¡± That was so unhelpful! It was like he did not say anything at all! ¡°Also, Master Lucius is now more powerful than before. If you don¡¯t want to get innocent people into trouble, it¡¯s better if you don¡¯t seek help from them.¡± George Murrell, the butler, bent down and picked up the phone before putting it into his pocket. He then asked a servant to set up Violet¡¯s meal before he said, ¡°Madam, you should eat.¡± Then, he left. It might only be a fleeting nce, but Violet noticed the servant¡¯s disdainful gaze as the servant followed after George. She did not have an appetite for food right now. She felt utterly helpless after losing her only means to get help. She pursed her lips in distress as she sat on the floor. What could she do to make Lucius believe that she was not Agatha? Imperial Pce loomed over thekeside at the base of the mountain. Even though it waste at night, its majestic structure could still be seen. Suddenly, a beam of light shot through. The nts by theke bowed under the force of the wind as a helicopternded. Its light passed through a window and shone on Violet, who was sleeping in a room. Despite the loud noise of the helicopter, she only adjusted her sleeping position. The excellent soundproofed room ensured that she was not disturbed in the slightest. She curled up in a ball with her head on her palms as she disyed a strong sense of insecurity. A few minutester, the door flew open. Violet jolted awake at the sudden loud noise and the gust of wind that entered the room. She sat up quickly, but her head was still fuzzy with sleep. She was unable to discern what had happened. She looked around for the source of the noise and saw a tall figure striding toward her. Before she could figure out who he was, the person had already bent down and lifted her up. She felt a searing pain shoot through her arms. ¡°You¡¯re actually looking for another man while you¡¯re in my mansion?!¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Lucius spoke coldly through clenched teeth. Violet could even hear his teeth grinding. This finally fully woke her up. ¡°It hurts¡­ Let go¡­¡± His fingers felt like strong ws that dug so deep into her that she was in great pain, and she could not understand what he was saying. She struggled to break free, but he held on even tighter and lifted her up to look at him. ¡°You can¡¯t go a night without a man touching you, can you?¡± ¡°What¡­ What are you saying? I¡­¡± She was puzzled when she saw how furious he was. She wanted to exin, but the pain rendered her speechless as her face twisted in agony. ¡°Oliver is not¡­¡± ¡°Oliver?¡± He smirked in a sinister manner. ¡°So, Edur doesn¡¯t even satisfy you now, huh? You¡¯re now flirting with Oliver already. Agatha, you¡¯re really shameless!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Edur¡­?¡± ¡°I wonder what Oliver will think of you when he finds out you¡¯re someone¡¯s wife and how shameless you are.¡± ¡°W-What¡­?¡± Violet was perplexed. Lucius let her down. She hurriedly massaged her sore spots when she was finally freed from the pain. Even without looking, she knew those spots were swollen. ¡°Lucius, we¡¯re¡ªMmh.¡± She tried to speak to him, but he did not let her. He kissed her, and this caught her by surprise. She did not know what to do. Didn¡¯t he hate her? Why was he suddenly kissing her? That was her first kiss. He stole her first kiss! How could he¡­ Lucius touched her body in an assertive and rough manner. He even tore her already tattered clothes. She shuddered in fear as she struggled to stop him. He was relentless and overpowered her easily. She stood no chance against him. Soon, she becamepletely helpless in his hands. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 ¡°Sh*t!¡± Lucius cursed. He abruptly stopped kissing Violet. She finally had the chance to breathe. She took a deep breath and ced her hands on her chest. He stayed on top of her with his erection pressed against her. When Violet finally regained her strength, she did not try to break free for fear of upsetting him. She said cautiously to him, ¡°Mr. Lucius, I¡¯m Violet Wickham. I have parents and a sister. You can ask them about my identity. I can also list the schools I went to when I was young. You¡¯ll find my information there, too. You can check it.¡± If he could stop seeing her as Agatha, she would put aside all his previous mistreatment toward her. Lucius snorted. ¡°Agatha, do you think I¡¯m stupid? You changed your looks just to hide from me. Changing your personal information is nothing to you, if that¡¯s the case.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± She just could not get through to him! She felt extremely frustrated and wanted to curse at him. Lucius tightened his grip on her chin and forced her to look at him. He grinned coldly and looked like a demon. ¡°Carve this into your skull: don¡¯t do these things to deceive me next time, or else, I¡¯ll get upset and kill everyone who helped you.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Violet was so agitated that she shot up. Lucius moved his hand down. He forced her back down again by pushing on her chest. ¡°Just try me!¡± She struggled to breathe again. She did not dare say anything else. Lucius let her go. He got up, and the weight on her body disappeared. Then, he walked straight out the door. Violet sat up and ced her hand on her chest to feel her heartbeat. She¡­ had just escaped death. How long was she supposed to live as Agatha? Lucius went to the living room. When he sat down, he punched the sofa, and it let out a muffled thump. A heavy weight settled in his chest. He kissed her! That was not all. He even liked how nice her lips felt! Was it because he had not touched a woman in a long time? ¡°Master, Shanna wants to see you. Do you want to meet her?¡± George emerged. He was still awake. ¡°Shanna?¡± Lucius repeated the name. He could not remember what she looked like. ¡°Do I ask her to leave?¡± When he noticed that Lucius was in a bad mood, he made the decision himself to avoid making him more upset. Lucius raised his hand to stop him. ¡°Let her in.¡± Agatha was there to be punished, so she could not serve as his relief. He needed another woman for that. ¡°Understood,¡± George said. He did not leave immediately. He hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°We¡¯ve found the people that you were looking for¡­¡± ¡°Bring them here,¡± ordered Lucius. He then stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be working all night. Don¡¯t let anyone disturb me.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± George said. He was not surprised. He knew that Lucius was a workaholic. He turned and left after watching him enter the study room. ¡­ N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Violet did not dare to sleep even after Lucius left. She stayed up all night until the sun came up. The view from the window was unlike the city; she could see vast fields of green. She would have surely enjoyed staying here if she had not arrived in this ce as a prisoner. All of a sudden, a strong wind blew and caused the grass to bend down. Puzzled, she stood up and saw a helicopternding on the grass not far from her window. The wind from the helicopter had caused the grass to bend! The hatch opened, and three people came out. One of them was a slim woman who was about 175 cm tall. She was well-dressed, and her hair was neatly styled. She looked like either a socialite or an upper-ss woman. Two tall and strong men walked closely behind her. They looked like her bodyguards, or perhaps, escorts! Violet felt her eyes twitch. Had the real Agatha been found? If so, was she now free to go? She was overjoyed and started twirling in the room. She kept waiting, but the woman who was supposed to set her free did not show up. Her happiness turned into uncertainty. Soon, she started to feel anxious. When George opened the door, she hurried to him and grabbed his hand. She did not even realize that she was hurting his hand. ¡°Mr. Butler, who¡¯s thatdy who came this morning?¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7 George mistook her anxiety for concern, so he sighed and said, ¡°She is Master Lucius¡¯s lover.¡± ¡°Oh. A lover?¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Violet¡¯s anxiety was instantly reced by indescribable disappointment. She only noticed that tears were rolling out of her eyes andnding on the floor like unstrung beads. ¡°You should have assumed that Master Lucius would look for another woman when you left.¡± With a polite tone, George said, ¡°You should also know by now to let it go and not take it to heart.¡± In truth, he was implying that this was karma. Violet just stood by the window in low spirits, and she was not paying any attention to the butler¡¯s words. Violet could see the stunning scenery right in front of her eyes, but she could only appreciate it from the confines of this room. With a surge of emotion, she threw a punch at the ss window with full force. The bulletproof ss vibrated slightly and was not damaged in the slightest. She was the one who was injured instead. She punched with so much strength that her knuckles were almost crushed. Her skin tore, and blood began to trickle out of the wound. George sighed and shook his head before leaving the room without a word. In the days that followed, Lucius never visited her again, and George rarely showed up too. The servants were responsible for fulfilling all her daily needs. The woman was sent away the day after, but Violet realized that a new woman would arrive soon to rece her. It continued for seven consecutive days, and there was someone new every day. How many lovers did Lucius have? How could a wife cope with her husband having so many lovers? It made sense that his wife left him. Even though she had never met Agatha before, Violet could not help but feel sorry for her. As the days went by, she seemed to have beenpletely forgotten in that room. ¡°I won¡¯t be locked up in here for the rest of my life, will I?¡± Violet thought as she started to feel restless again. God answered her prayers. Violet quickly realized that there were not many people in the house, and not a single guard was present. If she escaped, she could basically leave undetected. When Violet attempted to open the windows, she noticed an emergency exit on the steel window grille. The exit was usually locked, but perhaps the servants had been careless and forgot about it, as it opened with a single push. Violet was delighted. She tore the sheets into strips, tied them to the window, and then used the sheets to lower herself to the first floor after going through the emergency exit. Then, she began to run, and the escape went more smoothly than she expected. She managed to run past the castle walls and make it outside the Imperial Pce. Violet felt anxious and happy as she turned to look at the pce she had left behind. She patted her chest and felt relieved. She did not dare to linger for too long and quickly moved forward. All of that did not go unnoticed by the person who was watching from the floor above. His face was expressionless as he stared intently at the small running figure. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 ¡°Master Lucius, if we don¡¯t start going after Ms. Agatha, then¡­¡± George spoke anxiously while he was standing behind Lucius. But before he could finish, Lucius vanished. Violet was not prepared for the sudden change in the ground and thought she had stepped in a trap. But traps typically copsed immediately, and her upper body was still above it. She was sinking too, but not at a fast pace. It was cold, and water instantly soaked her pants and reached her waist. She was standing in mud and water. ¡°Oh god! It¡¯s a swamp!¡± The rms in Violet¡¯s head started ring when she realized what she had gotten herself into. Instantly, cold sweat began to roll down and coat her entire back. She struggled instinctively, but every time she moved, she sank even further. Even when she did not move, she still sank, just more slowly. At the rate it was going, she would bepletely submerged in the swamp and drown in less than thirty minutes. Only then did Violet realize why there were no guards stationed at the castle walls and why the pce¡¯s security was sox. The swamp was a natural barrier. No one was allowed in, and those who were inside could not leave. Someone save her! Violet¡¯s heart began to race in fear, and she struggled once more, but the water had already reached her chest. She started to panic as she sank further. She began to move in a flurry and use her hands to pull herself up, but this only caused her to be even more trapped. Suddenly, she noticed that someone was walking in her direction. ¡°Help me!¡± she yelled. Violet waved at the person. Her eyes welled up with tears, and her voice quivered. However, the man came to a stop a meter from her. He never offered to lend a hand and just stood there as if he were casually watching a show. It was Lucius. His handsome face was expressionless. ¡°Save me!¡± she sobbed. Tears streamed down her face as she begged through choked sobs. He still did not move. It was clear that he wanted to watch her drown. The water covered her shoulders and neck. Death was getting closer, and she struggled even harder. The muddy water reached her lips and would soon cover her nose as well. She was doomed! ¡°Pull her up!¡± Lucius finally gave an order. Two men appeared from behind him and reached out to grab her. Violet¡¯s breathing wasbored as the swamp water had almost crushed her organs.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Thank-¡± ¡°Throw her in!¡± The man in front of her gave his men another order before she could even say thank you. She was thrown back into the swamp. They continued throwing her around after that. She was repeatedly lifted up and then thrown back into the mud. Lucius would not allow her to drown, but he would also never let her surface. By that time, Violet was basically half¨Cdead. When Lucius announced that her punishment was over, she was covered in mud, and her face was a mess. She was breathing weakly and stayed still as shey on the ground. 142 Lucius slowly squatted down. He uitted her face. She noticed the taunting look on his face. ¡°Are you that stupid, or do you really not want to stay here even if the only other option is death?¡± Violet said nothing. ¡°You¡¯d best give up on those naive thoughts!¡± Violet suddenly grabbed a handful of muddy grass and threw it at Lucius. ¡°You b stard! Lunatic! Pervert!¡± Lucius was caught off guard, and the handful of muddy grass sttered all over his face. Someone let out a low gasp, and the surrounding people all gasped in shock. Violet was not the type of person to do such a thing unless she felt cornered and desperate. Lucius saw how stubborn she was being and removed a strand of grass from his face. ¡°B*stard? Lunatic? Pervert?¡± He repeated each of her words, which caused his eyes to grow darker and his expression to be even more icy. With a flick of his fingers, he snapped the weed. Violet watched as it slipped from his fingers and fell without a sound. She trembled a little as she seemed to have seen her impending doom. 1 In a split second, he grabbed her chin and raised it. She could only look up at his chin because he was looking down at her. ¡°Everyone else can call me those things, but not you!¡± Immediately after saying that, he pushed her chin away, as if continuing to touch her would make his hands dirty. Riled up once again, Violet yelled at him, ¡°My name is Violet Wickham, and I¡¯ve always been called Violet Wickham. I¡¯m not connected to Agatha River in any way! You¡¯re free to attack me at any time if you hold any grudge toward me. If not, open your damn eyes and take a good look. I am Violet Wickham!¡± She decided to throw all caution to the wind. She even puffed her chest, then faced him square in the face and said, ¡°Your people are the only ones who have touched my bag. So, you¡¯re the only ones who could have changed my ID card. You better change it back!¡± She was the first person to ever have the nerve to provoke Lucius in that way. Even George broke out in a cold sweat, and he was concerned for her fate. But the punishment never came. He only asked, ¡°Why would we change your ID?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Violet was stunned by his question. Right. Why would they do that? He was the owner of Imperial Enterprises. With just a wave of his hand, countless women would rush to him. He did not even need to do anything. ¡°I¡¯m really not Agatha River.¡± She could not stress this enough. ¡°Bring her over.¡± Instead of responding to her, Lucius issued an order. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 A man with sses soon appeared in front of her. Violet¡¯s confusion set in. She was not sure what he was going to do. ¡°Who is she?¡± Lucius questioned the man while gesturing at Violet with his chin. After adjusting his sses, the man gave her a long look before saying, ¡°My client.¡± ¡°Client? Me?¡± Violet asked while pointing at herself. When did she be his client? ¡°You must be mistaken.¡± ¡°No, I can clearly remember each and every patient I¡¯ve done stic surgery on,¡± the man answered with confidence. ¡°I remember your case quite vividly, Ms. Agatha. Because even though you already had a beautiful face, you wanted to change your looks to resemble someone else. We once believed you were¡­¡± ¡°A girl happened to pass away in the hospital at that time, so I just sampled her face for the surgery,¡± the man continued with an awkward smile. ¡°You didn¡¯t forget all of this, did you?¡± But she was alive and well. ¡°You¡¯re obviously lying!¡± she red at the man and shouted at him. The man was unfazed as he took out a USB drive and handed it to Violet. ¡°The whole process of your stic surgery and the recording are all in here.¡± Violet was in a state of shock once again. She stared at the USB drive without having the courage to take it. Someone else took the USB drive away. It was Lucius. ¡°Send him away,¡± he ordered. George obeyed the order. A helicopter soon took off and flew to the other side of the mountain. Violet watched the distant helicopter with envy. She wanted to leave this ce so much. ¡°I¡¯m really not Agatha,¡± she repeated robotically, with tears pooling helplessly in her eyes. Lucius¡¯s face tensed up once more, and he radiated a ruthless air. Suddenly, he reached for her. She instinctively ducked her head to avoid his grasp, but he was still able to grab her neck. He grabbed hold of her nape and pulled her back so hard that she had to tilt her head up to relieve some of the pressure. Right in front of her was his icy, demon¨Clike face. He looked into her eyes with a sharp re. ¡°If you didn¡¯t want to stay as Agatha, why didn¡¯t you have the surgery done even more thoroughly?¡± Violet was speechless. ¡°Thoroughly? What?¡± She suddenly realized he was staring at her eyes, and she went to touch them. ¡°Bring me the sulphuric acid!¡± he shouted. Violet¡¯s hands started to shake, and she realized that something terrible was about to happen. ¡°W¨C what are you trying to do?!¡± Lucius lifted her chin again and said, ¡°You don¡¯t want to be Agatha River, right? These eyes are exactly the same as they were before. I¡¯ll help you get rid of them properly!¡± What?! Get rid of them?! Violet¡¯s blood went cold at the sight of the bodyguards who had arrived with sulphuric acid. What kind of demon did shee across? ¡°No!¡± She tried to cover her eyes and shook her head violently. ¡°Don¡¯t ruin my eyes!¡± Her chin was firmly in his grasp, and he would not let go. With his other hand, he grabbed the acid bottle, and the colorless liquid sloshedContent is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¡°You really don¡¯t want to be Agatha River. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± the demon asked through clenched teeth. She shook her head repeatedly and said, ¡°I want to be her!¡± She did not want the acid to damage her eyes. She did not want to be ugly for the rest of her life or lose her ability to see the world! Nothing else mattered when she was feeling desperate. Lucius finally let go of her jaw, and she was free. Violet copsed to the ground, and tearsnded on the grass below. She was overwhelmed with unbearable sadness, fear, and misery. She could still feel the remnants of the coldness of his fingertips on her chin. It felt bitterly cold. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Agatha River¡­¡± The demon was finally satisfied, and he began to leisurely wipe his fingers. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve realized who you are, you should know that I¡¯m keeping you here so you can make up for your sins. You will begin to ept the punishment you deserve tomorrow!¡± Violet said nothing. As it turned out, saying that she was Agatha did not grant her freedom. She was filled with extreme sadness, resentment, and anger. She stared at the bottle full of clear liquid and could not even say anything. Then, she fainted. It was hot. It was burning. Did they push her into a hot furnace? Violet shifted in difort. Her body felt heavy, and she had trouble even moving in the simplest manner. She vaguely heard people talking, and slowly, she was able to hear clearly. ¡°Master Lucius wasn¡¯t always like this. He was incredibly kind to Ms. Agatha and gave her everything she asked for. Everyone was saying how fortunate she was to have him.¡± ¡°She really took everything for granted, and that¡¯s why she ended up this way.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t say¡­..¡± Master Lucius? Ms. Agatha? She simply could not imagine the Master Lucius the servants were referring to when all she knew was the demonic Lucius. When Violet¡¯s eyes fluttered open, she noticed that she was on the floor, and two servants were standing close by. The servants immediately stopped talking when they realized she was awake. She was still wearing her clothes from earlier, and her body was covered in dark, dirty mud from the swamp. The mud had not yet dried. and it was sticky on her skin. The fact that she loved to feel clean made all of this feel like torture. Her head hurt. She felt hot and dizzy. She had a fever. Rattling sounds reached Violet¡¯s ears as she struggled to get up. She noticed that her wrists were shackled, and both of her hands were chained together with an iron chain that was as thick as a thumb. ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± she asked out loud. Her throat was as dry as sandpaper. ¡°It was Master Lucius¡¯s order,¡± a servant replied respectfully. ¡°What gave him the right to chain me up?!¡± The servant did not respond, but she figured it out. Had she not acknowledged that she was Agatha earlier? So, she was now his prisoner. NO ONE COURO possibly be more unfortunate than she was. After a year of waiting for the man she loved to wake up, he ended up falling in love with her sister. Then, she had oddly be the culont who caused her sister to lose her voice. And now, she was trapped here. She blinked. She wanted to cry, but she was out of tears. ¡°Is there water? I want to take a bath,¡± she asked in an attempt to feel a bit morefortable, *I¡¯m sorry, but we can¡¯t give you anything without Master Lucius¡¯s permission.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s your master?¡± The mention of that man made her shudder. At this point, it had be a reflex. The servant shook her head. ¡°Master Lucius¡¯s whereabouts are not something we are privy to.¡± So, she was going to suffer like this indefinitely? She lowered her head weakly andy down again. Her entire body felt as though it were on fire. The cool surface of the floor was her only source of relief. The mud that was sticking to her skin was starting to smell because she was burning up. She felt like throwing up. She gagged. The servants saw her reaction and immediately reported it to George. ¡°Help Ms. Agatha to wash up and change,¡± George ordered. Violet took a refreshing bath and finally got rid of the dirt on her body. It would be even better if not for the bothersome shackles on her wrists. Her hair was still wet when she was led into a room after her bath. She found the room¡¯s design, which on the sofa in the room. As soon as she entered, his eyes darted to her belly. She instinctively shrank back when she noticed Lucius. The terrible experiences she had with him in the past had traumatized her. Without a word, he asked her to lie down on the bed by gesturing with his chin. The horrible memories that she had with beds started shing through her mind. She paled and drew herself farther away. X GETExclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Lucius was an impatient man. When he saw Violet trying to get away, he stood up and approached her. Before she could touch the doorknob, he grabbed her waist tightly. In the next moment, she felt something hard pressed against her back, and she only realized it was his chest when she turned and saw his indifferent face. He was naturally devoid of warmth, so even his chest was cold. Yet, his heart was beating vigorously and aggressively. She tried to pull away and distance herself from him, but he carried her and pinned her onto the bed. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± She desperately tried to escape and even tried pushing him away, but he lifted both her hands. She kicked him, but he easily subdued her with just one foot. Their bodies soon became locked in an awkward position, where she could feel certain parts of his body pressing against intimate parts of her body. With him on top of her, Violet found it hard to breathe. Her chest heaved violently. In her struggle, she undid a button on her neckline, and that revealed her fair skin and the curves on her body. Lucius suddenly felt a tightness in his throat. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± she snarled. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Lucius sneered coldly. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He touched her body. ¡°Do you mean this? Or this?¡± Every touch was bold. She was so embarrassed that she curled up and bit her lip. She was afraid to make a sound. His touch was like magic. It became increasingly s*xual. Wherever he touched her, she felt like a jolt of electricity surged through her nerves. She could not hold it back any longer and moaned. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Due to being a virgin, she was no match for Lucius. She felt her body getting warmer and felt her mind getting fuzzier. She leaned toward him without thinking. ¡°What makes you so confident that I¡¯d still have s*x with you?¡± He withdrew his hands and mocked her. This pulled Violet back to her senses. She opened her eyes and saw his disdainful and repulsed gaze. ¡°Ahh!¡± She swiftly moved back toward the headboard and tried to put as much distance between them as possible when she realized what she had just done. Feeling embarrassed and awkward, she blushed. She could not Lucius had already gotten up and was standing by the side of the bed. Even if she did not move away, she would not be in any danger anymore. His grin was full of mockery. He took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands over and over again with it. Was touching her such a filthy act in his eyes? ¡°I¡¯ve long lost interest in you. Don¡¯t expect me to be intimate with you.¡± His words were sharp and harsh. This did not give her any relief from her embarrassment at all. Violet looked down. She hugged herself and bit her lip. She brought this humiliation upon herself. Who else could she me? ¡°Master Lucius, the doctor is here,¡± George said from outside the room. ¡°Let him in,¡± replied Lucius. Did he call the doctor for her because he knew she had a fever? She looked at him. She found it hard to believe that he would be so kind-hearted. Her suspicions were proven true. The doctor was here for a gynecological examination. ¡°Check if she¡¯s pregnant,¡± hemanded, as usual. ¡°Pregnant?¡± She touched her lower abdomen. She remembered they did not use any birth control thest time they did the deed. What if she was pregnant? What should she do? She could not decide anything right now. However, she felt that conceiving was not an easy thing, so she should not abort it so easily. The doctor conducted a series of tests on her. ¡°The results will be out in fifteen minutes. We will soon find out if she¡¯s pregnant,¡± the doctor reported to Lucius respectfully. Lucius nodded and stood. He had been standing by the window since the doctor came in. He seemed to be pondering something as he stared at the scenery outside. The doctor left, and they were the only two in the room. Violet clutched the sheet tightly. After a long time, she mustered the courage and said, ¡°What should we do if I¡¯m really pregnant?¡± Finally, Lucius turned and smiled at her. ¡°We¡¯ll abort it.¡± His statement was decisive, resolute, cold, and ruthless! Chapter 12 Chapter 12 ¡°A-Abort it?¡± Violet was extremely frightened. Didn¡¯t he get angry because his child had been aborted? ¡°Do you think this filthy body of yours deserves to bear my child?¡± He spoke as if he had read her thoughts. His words were incredibly heartless. She felt a sting in her chest. She curled her fingers around her abdomen and felt helpless. Lucius was indeed a terrible person. To think he would actually do this because of his wife¡¯s betrayal! Fortunately, the examination showed that she was not pregnant. When the doctor announced the news, she realized that her palms were slick with sweat. Lucius did not respond. His expression was nk. ¡°Also, she¡¯s having-¡± ¡°You can go now.¡± The doctor was about to mention Violet¡¯s fever, but Lucius interrupted him and told him to leave. Due to Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. how intimidating he was, the doctor said nothing else and left. ¡°Master Lucius.¡± George came in once he saw the doctor leave. He looked at Violet and was ready to escort her out. ¡°Chain her to the headboard,¡± Lucius instructed as he pointed to the bed where Violet was lying. George looked surprised. ¡°But this is your bedroom.¡± Lucius¡¯s words also startled Violet. She shot a nce at him in disbelief when she heard what he said. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± he retorted with a cold re at George. ¡°No,¡± George quickly replied. He did not dare to offer any suggestions. George chained Violet up. She clenched her teeth as she looked at the chains on her wrists. Was he not afraid that she would strangle him with this chain at night? ¡°Before you start imagining how to kill me, why don¡¯t you start considering whether you¡¯re even capable of carrying it out?¡± said Lucius coldly. Those chilling words served as both a reminder and a warning. Violet looked at him in surprise. His face remained expressionless. How did he figure out what she was thinking?! His dark, tousled hair fell over his eyes. He looked stern and unyielding. Her shoulders drooped when she realized she was no match for him. ¡°There¡¯s only one bed,¡± she stammered. ¡°You¡¯re sleeping on the floor!¡± he responded rudely. There was a hint of mockery in his eyes. He must be thinking she was plotting something. Violet secretly breathed a sigh of relief. However, it would be even better if she did not have to share a room with him. ¡°Don¡¯t you despise me? Wouldn¡¯t seeing me every night before you sleep get on your nerves? What if it messes up your sleep?¡± She tried to express her desire to sleep in another room tactfully. Lucius snorted coldly. He approached her and grabbed her chin so that he could force her to look into his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s the harm in sleeping a bit less? Just seeing you brings back memories of how stupid I was and all the humiliation you brought to me. It¡¯ll remind me not to fall for it again!¡± So, that was the role she was going to y? His tone was harsh, and his expression was cold. Once again, she shuddered. ¡°And of course¡­¡± he said as he let go of her. ¡°It¡¯ll make it easier for me to punish you.¡± Cold sweat rolled down her spine as she bit her lip helplessly. She tried clenching her fists, but she could only do so weakly. She could not even form a proper fist despite repeating the motion a couple of times. Was this her destiny? Didn¡¯t people get into rtionships when they got along well and break up when they didn¡¯t? Why was he being so petty when his wife fell in love with another man? She did not dare to say those words out loud. Because of the fever, she was drained and had be extremely frail. In addition to Lucius¡¯s threats, she was physically and emotionally spent. She slumped down on the floor. Lucius stepped over her and left without giving her another look. She pressed her body against the carpet. In less than a minute, she fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 After a night¡¯s rest, Violet felt much better than she did yesterday. Even though the fever had not gone down, she felt less groggy and had the strength to stand up again. She instinctively turned to look at the bed. No one was on it, and the nket was neatly spread over the bed. She did not know whether this meant Lucius had not returned to the bedroom all night or if he had already gotten up. She rubbed her forehead and used the bed to help herself up. It was still early; the sun had not risen yet. Light- colored clouds rested low in the sky and formed a beautiful picture with theke and green grass. A new day had begun. She wondered what awaited her. When she turned, she unexpectedly saw a light gray object on the table. It was the USB drive that the stic surgeon had left for them the day before. She remembered him saying that Agatha¡¯s stic surgery process was all recorded. She plugged it into theptop in the room. Sure enough, there were videos on the USB drive! She quickly opened them. For the next two hours, she witnessed the entire process of a beautiful woman transforming into another beautiful woman. Soon, the woman became noticeably more delicate, and she looked just like her! Could it be that Agatha actually went to such lengths to change her face just to avoid Lucius?! Violet¡¯s jaw dropped. She was left in disbelief at this seemingly cliche turn of events. The stic surgery process was long andplex, and the video was made up of several short clips, so it was not veryplete. However, the doctor had no reason to deceive her and Lucius. Even if Agatha made herself look exactly like her, they were ultimately two different people! There would be differences! Suddenly, a thought struck her. She started looking around the room. Knowing this was Lucius¡¯s bedroom and that Agatha likely used to stay there too, she was confident she could find something to distinguish herself from Agatha. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± While Violet was rummaging through the cabs, Lucius¡¯s cold voice suddenly rang out. Startled, she instinctively looked up and found him standing behind her. His eyes were cold as he focused on her hands. 1 Violet felt a sudden surge of anxiety. She hurriedly said, ¡°I want to find A-some past belongings,¡± she said vaguely. She did not want to make it sound as if she and Agatha were two different people. However, at the same time, she did not want to be her either. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. However, Lucius understood what she said. His gaze turned even colder. ¡°I¡¯ve thrown out all your things.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I renovated the room. Even things with your scent made me nauseous.¡± So, there was no hope of finding anything rted to Agatha here. Violet felt devastated and defeated. ¡°Did you really abort the child?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Why did he bring up the child again?¡± She thought to herself. His change of topic was too sudden. For a moment, she did not know how to respond. He looked annoyed. Before she could respond, he changed the topic again. ¡°I did not bring you back to Imperial Pce so that you can live a good life. Go out and clear the weeds!¡± She would rather be outside pulling weeds than confronting this cold-hearted man. Despite those thoughts, her hands trembled as she stood under the scorching sun. She had only had a light breakfast, and her fever had not subsided. The sun made her even more ufortable. Her clothes were soaked in sweat. She felt even more humiliated because her wrists were bound in iron chains. They were tightly fastened to a wooden stake nearby. She felt like a cow led out into the open by its owner. She was mortified. She cursed Lucius over and over again in her heart. She did not even bother to pull the weeds properly. She just yanked them out haphazardly. ¡°Madam, would you like some water?¡± A male servant approached her with a cup of water. This chore was meant for men, but poor Violet had to do it under the scorching sun. He looked at her pitifully. Violet was too delicate. How could she do such hardbor? Lucius just did not want her to die so quickly, huh? She sighed and stood up. ¡°Thank you.¡± Before she could take the cup, dizziness overcame her. Her body swayed, and she was about to copse. The male servant was startled and instinctively caught her. ¡°Are you okay, Madam?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ okay.¡± She struggled to stand on her own two feet, but she got even dizzier. Once again, she fell into his arms. ¡°Madam!¡± He was flustered. He hastily held her and spilled the water. She suddenly felt an unusual chill run down her spine. She was puzzled. A while ago, she felt really hot. Why was she shivering now? She looked over the servant¡¯s shoulder and saw a figure standing several meters away. She now understood why. It was because of Lucius! Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Lucius stood under the scorching sun with an icy expression. His eyes locked on Violet and the male servant, who were in each other¡¯s arms. From where he was standing, they looked like they were flirting with each other. Violet and the male servant pulled away at the same time. She stumbled a bit but managed to steady herself. ¡°We¡­¡± She was about to exin herself. However, instead of approaching her, he turned and went back into the pce. For some reason, she felt dejected when she watched him leave. Was she actually starting to see herself as Agatha? ¡°Madam, Master Lucius wants to see you.¡± George came over. His expression was dark. He unfastened the chain that had tethered Violet to the wooden stake. After hesitating for a moment, he handed it to her. Even without being chained up, she could not possibly escape from here. She struggled back to the pce while the chains made loud nging sounds. A rush of cold air instantly greeted her. She felt significantly better and more alert. Lucius was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed and his hands on his knees. He emitted a cold, authoritative aura.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. However, the atmosphere was too heavy and stifling. A row of imposing bodyguards stood in formation behind him. He rarely adopted such an authoritative and imposing manner in his own pce. ¡°The servant has been fired,¡± George reported in a low voice as he walked over. Lucius ignored him; his expression stayed indifferent. Violet sensed something was wrong and said, ¡°Why did you fire him? He was just being kind to m- ¡°Do you want me to catch you two red-handed on the bed instead?¡± He cut her off rudely and smirked. Agatha, are you so desperate for a man that you¡¯re willing to sleep with just anyone?¡± ¡°What?¡± Violet was shocked. She was not expecting this to cause her trouble. ¡°Since you want to beforted so badly, I should let you know what it feels like to be deprived of no?¡± She was speechless. What did he mean by that? She did not even know what to say as an answer to that. Lucius stood up abruptly and walked toward her. She suddenly felt like she was being engulfed by a huge shadow. Her already drowsy mind became even drowsier. He held her arms tightly. She could not fight back as he pulled her toward him. He leaned over slowly and put his hand over her neck, as if he was about to squeeze down. ¡°Stop!¡± She was so frightened that she instinctively struggled against his hold. He whispered in her ear, ¡°I would never dirty my hands with your blood.¡± His words were merciless and cold. She realized she had once again been overthinking things. She pursed her lips and was unable to say another word. ¡°So-¡± She felt him grip the back of her shirt, and he yanked her out of his arms. He pushed her and said, ¡°Drag her outside by her legs, strip her naked, then tie her to a pole with no shelter. Make sure she gets no food, water, or sleep!¡± Violet could not hold herself up and fell right in front of the line of bodyguards. It hurt, but what bothered her more was what Lucius said. What did he tell them to do with her? The bodyguards were taken aback by his unexpected order. They all looked rmed as they took a step back. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t stand the thought of having all your rights stripped?¡± He ignored the trembling guards. He only focused on Violet as he studied her. He interpreted her response to suit his own perspective. ¡°Lucius, you¡¯re crossing the line!¡± she shouted. It was one thing to torment her, but humiliating her like this was just not right! He did not seem to hear what she said. His attractive, indifferent face was like a demon¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ll throw those who don¡¯t do it into the swamp!¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Lucius¡¯s name should be Lucifer instead! This was his pce; he ruled this ce. The bodyguards had no choice but to obey him. They hurriedly walked toward Violet and grabbed her. She looked at him in disbelief. He was like a grim reaper. She started tearing up. ¡°No! Stop!¡± Lucius ignored her and just went upstairs. He was indifferent,¡± haughty, and cold. She struggled and red at him. ¡°Lucius, don¡¯t do this! Please, let me go. I beg you! ¡°I¡¯m not Agatha! ¡°Please, Lucius. I beg you!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He continued to ignore her. She begged and tried to tell him that she was not Agatha, but all her efforts were in vain. The bodyguards tried to hold her down. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to protect herself. How could she possibly be a match for a group of powerful bodyguards? Was she fated to go through that and die? ¡°Lucius, you coward!¡± she yelled angrily. This was the only way she could express her rage. Lucius stopped. He stomped back to her and said, ¡°Let her go!¡± He was walking on the carpet, so no sound was made. Yet the way he walked sent chills down her spine. The bodyguards felt relieved and backed away. Violet was on the floor. She looked pitiful with her hair and clothes disheveled. ¡°What did you say?¡± He crouched down and looked down at her haughtily. Since she was already driven into desperation, she just said whatever came to mind. ¡°What? You don¡¯t think you¡¯re a coward? Why won¡¯t you spare a woman who doesn¡¯t love you, then? Why are you targeting a defenseless woman?¡± The room fell into heavy silence. The bodyguards sucked in sharp breaths. She was the only person who dared to talk to him that way! She had reached a point where she no longer cared about the consequences. She said, ¡°Why should Agatha only love you? She has the freedom to love anyone and the right to choose who she wants to have a child with! You¡¯re a coward for treating a woman this way just because she cheated on you!¡± ¡°Just because you cheated on me?!¡± he repeated. His expression turned colder as he pursed his lips. He looked like he was about to explode. ¡°Looks like you need a wake-up call!¡± He lifted her up and dragged her out. He then drenched her with a pail of cold water. She now looked even more disheveled and could not even breathe properly due to the cold. ¡°F*ck you, Lucius! You coward! You¡¯re such a loser!¡± She was willing to go all out on him. If worse came to worst, she would just die, anyway. No matter how he doused her, she would never stop cursing at him! He pinned her down so she could not move. She felt suffocated and could not keep her eyes open any longer. She closed her eyes and passed out. He let her go and looked at the motionless Violet on the floor. He raised an eyebrow and felt confused. Did she faint just from this? ¡°Master Lucius, she¡¯s having a high fever,¡± George said after quickly checking on her. Only then, Lucius noticed how unusually flushed she was. He remained indifferent as he ordered, ¡°Call the doctor over to treat her.¡± He was only treating her just so he could punish her even more. He walked out without sparing a nce at her. It was already dusk when Violet finally woke up. She was dressed in dry clothes and was lying in bed with an IV drip in her hand. A nurse was moving around her. The nging of the iron chain on her wrist echoed as she shifted her body. She still had not broken free from Lucius¡¯s clutches. ¡°Madam, you¡¯re awake?¡± George came over and asked in a low voice. She shot a nce at him. ¡°Still alive.¡± Death was inevitable sooner orter if she were to be confined by such a crazy man. ¡°Madam, you should not speak to Master Lucius like that.¡± Even though he did not like Violet, it was still his job as a butler to make sure Lucius did not get upset. ¡°Why can¡¯t I? He deserves it!¡± She felt extremely upset. She not only wanted to yell at him but also wanted to stab him and kill him. ¡°Does cheating really mean I deserve death? If he can¡¯t handle this, is he even a real man?¡± George¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what¡¯s really bothering Master Lucius? Because of you, he¡¯s practically an outcast in his family, and Imperial Enterprises almost went bankrupt.¡± Was it that serious? She wanted to ask for more details, but George had already walked away. She really should prioritize letting Lucius know that she was not Agatha. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Violet¡¯s fever quickly subsided after taking medication. Since Lucius had not returned yet, it was likely that he did not often stay at Imperial Pce. His absence made her feel so much more at ease. Seeing that icy face every day would surely shorten her lifespan. On the third day, Violet finally saw Lucius while she was outside pulling weeds. Due to him standing against the sun when he got off the helicopter, he looked like he had a halo around his tall figure. He looked more striking than most supermodels. His sunsses covered most of his face. Only his sharp nose, thin lips, and strong jawline were visible. He took his time descending the stairs. His sleeve cuffs were billowing slightly, and the cufflinks gleamed in the sunlight, which gave him an air of regality. There was no denying that the man was outstanding. An attractive woman in a bikini trailed behind him. Was she seriously wearing a bikini right now? Was she not worried about getting sunburned? Violet pursed her lips, kept her head down, and continued pulling weeds. Lucius and thedy in the bikini entered the pce together. After she was done pulling weeds, she looked up and noticed a woman and a man¡¯s heads protruding from the second-floor corridor window. The two were all up in each other¡¯s faces and were kissing passionately. It was none other than Lucius and thedy in the bikini. What were they? Animals? Violet purposefully spent more time on the grass field as she did not want to c*ckblock those two animals. When she returned to the room, Lucius was already settled on the sofa. He was wearing a bathrobe and drinking red wine. The bathrobe belt was loosely wrapped around his waist. His chest was mostly exposed, and his attractive chest muscles were on disy. After letting George lock the chain at the foot of the bed, she stood and looked at him from a distance. Even when he was not at home, she would sleep on the floor despite the bed being right next to her. George left the room afterpleting his duties and left the two of them alone. Neither of them spoke, and a faint scent of wine filled the room. It was an addictive scent. Violet hesitated for a long time before finding the bravery to walk over. She crouched down in front of him and said, ¡°I¡¯m really not Agatha. Although we may look simr, the finer details of our bodies are different. She is your wife, isn¡¯t she? You should be the person who¡¯s most familiar with her body.¡± She rolled up her sleeve and said, ¡°I have a birthmark here, and I bet she doesn¡¯t. I also have a scar here from when I fell when I was a kid. Someone like your wife would never want to have such marks. Besides¡­¡± She tugged at her cor and tried her best to show him the mole on her chest. She had fair and very soft skin. The tiny mole on her cleavage enhanced rather than diminished her beauty. In fact, it made her look even more Lucius gulped, and his eyes darkened. ¡°You can see it, right?¡± Excitedly, she thrust her chest toward him so he could get a closer look at the mole. Her soft, snow-white skin was silently seducing him. ¡°Do you want me to sleep with you?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Violet could not figure out how Lucius managed to connect her words with the idea of her seducing him. He moved the wine ss toward her as he pressed one hand on her body. His face was behind the wine ss, and she could see his expression change. Suddenly, he pushed her down, and she fell on the handmade rug. ¡°Do you know that women reveal their bodies like this to seduce men?¡± he asked. Seduce¡­? Violet was taken aback when she finally realized that she was basically exposing nearly half of her body to him. Her face immediately flushed red. ¡°No, I-I was just¡­¡± Violet stammered as she tried to exin herself. He pinned her to the rug by pressing his body down on hers. He had promised not to touch her, but now¡­ Violet was so terrified that she was afraid to speak. She just stared at him, as she was scared to miss even the smallest movement on his part. He moved his fingers down her neck and then pressed down, which made it difficult for her to breathe normally. He smirked and leaned closer to her. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± His breath hit her skin with such aggression that she got goosebumps, and her voice started to tremble feebly. X Lucius gulped, and his eyes darkened. ¡°You can see it, right?¡± Excitedly, she thrust her chest toward him so he could get a closer look at the mole. Her soft, snow-white skin was silently seducing him. ¡°Do you want me to sleep with you?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Violet could not figure out how Lucius managed to connect her words with the idea of her seducing him. He moved the wine ss toward her as he pressed one hand on her body. His face was behind the wine ss, and she could see his expression change. Suddenly, he pushed her down, and she fell on the handmade rug. ¡°Do you know that women reveal their bodies like this to seduce men?¡± he asked. Seduce¡­? Violet was taken aback when she finally realized that she was basically exposing nearly half of her body to him. Her face immediately flushed red. ¡°No, I-I was just¡­¡± Violet stammered as she tried to exin herself. He pinned her to the rug by pressing his body down on hers. He had promised not to touch her, but now¡­ Violet was so terrified that she was afraid to speak. She just stared at him, as she was scared to miss even the smallest movement on his part. He moved his fingers down her neck and then pressed down, which made it difficult for her to breathe normally. He smirked and leaned closer to her. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± His breath hit her skin with such aggression that she got goosebumps, and her voice started to tremble feebly.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Her heart was beating so fast it was getting out of control. He shifted his head downward. His gaze swept across her corbone before fixating on the mole. They were in a very suggestive and dangerous position. He lowered his lips and¡­ Violet squeezed her eyes shut in fear. ¡°You did stic surgery. How difficult is it to also get a fake birthmark or mole?¡± What did he just say? Violet noticed something was off. When she opened her eyes, she saw that he had retreated without even giving her another nce. Strangely, she felt her heart tighten. So, he still refused to believe that she was not Agatha. What a stubborn man. Violet red at his back as she stood up. Her face was flushed red. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he just fall from the helicopter and die?¡± She harbored a great deal of resentment in her heart. Thedy in the bikini came into the room to look for Lucius, and she was confused when she saw Violet chained there. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s go for a swim,¡± she said. She forgot her curiosity about Violet in a sh and clung to his arm affectionately. She pressed her body against his side so closely that they were practically stuck together. ¡°Okay.¡± Lucius did not break free. He put down his wine ss and wrapped his arm around her waist before they walked out of the room. Violet was aware that she should not push too far, but she was truly sick of living this meaningless, never- ending life. It was driving her crazy! ¡°Please look closely. I¡¯m really not Agatha River!¡± Violet snapped at Lucius¡¯s back. She even forgot about how cruel he was for the time being. ¡°Let¡¯s run a DNA test. Once the results are out, then you¡¯ll believe it!¡± The people in front of her did not stop. It was like they did not hear her. They were about to disappear from Violet¡¯s line of sight, and she wanted to chase them, but the chain around her wrists caught on a nearby chair. A sudden surge of strength rose in her, which led to her grabbing the wine ss and throwing it at his back. ¡°Whoosh!¡± ¡°Smash!¡± The ss struck Lucius square in the back, fell to the floor, and broke into pieces. Thedy in the bikini screamed and jumped into Lucius¡¯s arms. When the ss dropped to the floor, Violet suddenly realized what she had done, and she was stunned. The gray pajamas were stained with blood, which spread right away. It was a shocking sight. Lucius slowly turned to re at her. Hearing the noise, George raced over, and his face fell when he saw everything. With a gloomy look, he thought to himself. ¡°She tested Master Lucius¡¯s patience time and again. She really is looking for trouble.¡± Violet was terrified, but she was the victim after all. She slowly straightened her back and fixed her unwavering gaze on the floor. ¡°Either you run a DNA test, or you let me go!¡± ¡°Darling, are you hurt?¡± thedy in the bikini asked as she finally regained herposure. She reached out and wanted to remove Lucius¡¯s clothes to check for any injuries. ¡°Ah!¡± Before she even touched the edge of Lucius¡¯s clothing, she was flung away and almost hit a wall. Lucius approached Violet coldly and quietly. He came to a stop in front of her and looked down at her. He tightened his fingers around her neck and lifted her whole body. Her face turned a little pale, and even her eyes rolled back as she began to feel choked. Was he nning to choke her to death? It would be better to be strangled than endure the humiliation of living as another person. She closed her eyes and epted her fate. ¡°She has too much energy. Take her out and let her continue pulling weeds,¡± Luciusmanded and suddenly released her. ¡°She can only rest after pulling out every weed in the entire field!¡± Violet dropped to the floor while coughing and trembling uncontrobly. ¡°Understood,¡± George replied, and his eyes were filled with pity. It was an extremelyrge garden, and it would take ages to remove all the weeds. Violet was once again back under the sun. The garden was sorge that it was impossible to see the end of it at one nce. Walking all the way to the end would take a long time, let alone pulling weeds. What made sending her here any different from immediately strangling her? She did nothing but sit there as she waited for death toe. She was small and alone on the vast expanse of grass. George gave her a piece of advice with the best of intentions, but seeing that she did not care, he could N?velDrama.Org holds this content. only sigh and walk away. He was curious and surprised by her stubbornness. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Lucius was enjoying his dinner at the dining table. He sliced the steak on the te. Thedy in the bikini was seated at the other end of the table, and even though she was reluctant, she had to keep her distance from him. That man was so passionate in bed, but as soon as they were done, he turned cold again and refused to let anyone near him. But she was lucky enough that he did not chastise her for holding his arm earlier in the day. She chuckled to herself when she realized she was different. She nced shyly at the man enjoying his meal, and she instantly forgot about how upset she had been. Lucius kept his head low and ignored the woman¡¯s flirtatious gaze. He picked up the napkin and wiped the corner of his lips as if he did not see anything. George cast a worried nce at Violet, who had been sitting on the grass for nearly six hours. ¡°Master, Ms. Agatha¡­¡± George hesitantly said to his master while he was in a good mood. Lucius gently set down the napkin and pushed his te to the side before saying, ¡°Tell her that if she wants to rest, she should admit her mistake and acknowledge her identity.¡± George went to carry out the order, but a few minutester, he returned alone with a frown on his face. ¡°Ms. Agatha said that she would rather die than apologize to you¡­¡± Lucius clenched his fists, and the napkin crumpled into a ball in his hand. ¡°If she wants to die, then let her!¡± he eximed as he got up and went upstairs. Feeling resigned, George shook his head, but he dared not meddle in their business. Violet stayed in the garden for three days straight. During the day, she was exposed to the sun, and the temperature rose to more than thirty degrees Celsius. At night, the temperature dropped significantly to almost ten degrees Celsius. Her flimsy clothing did not provide any protection against the cold. Other than water, she had nothing to eat. She was exhausted and starving. Her lips had started to crack a long time ago, and they were painfully dry. Her face was as pale as paper and had also started king. She no longer looked alive. She remained silent; she was determined not to give in. A set of sharp eyes gazed down from the floor above at the tiny, unyielding figure on the grass. He narrowed his eyes. ¡°Ms. Agatha¡¯s body is already very weak. If this continues¡­¡± George said once he returned from the garden. He had realized how dire things were. Before he could finish, Violet slumped down and disappeared into the grass. Lucius clenched his fingers, and his knuckles turned white from the tight grip he had on the window blinds. ¡°Bring her back.¡± He finally issued the order. ¡°Understood.¡± George¡¯s expression finally rxed, and he hurriedly left. Lucius lowered his hand slowly. His clenched fist was concealed in his sleeve. ¡°Agatha, you have not made up for even a tiny fraction of the humiliation you inflicted upon me. You have no right to die!¡± This time, Violet was so worn out that she spent a week lying in bed before gradually getting better. She had not seen Lucius since she woke up. He disappeared again. She was a patient. Therefore, a small bed was temporarily added to his room so she would not have to sleep on the floor. Of course, she did not dare to expect that Lucius pitied her enough to give her a bed. His true goal must be to y with her like a toy and punish her while keeping her alive. She could not help but shudder when she thought of that. After several days, Lucius still did not show up. The weather forecast predicted that typhoons would continue to strike this week, and all flights were canceled. It was undoubtedly good news to Violet. Her life was so much easier when Lucius was unable to return. As usual, she would go outside for a few hours to pull weeds,e back for dinner, and then head back to her room. She decided to climb up to the window sill to watch the rain after eating since she had nothing else to 1. do. The anti-theft window in the bedroom was automatic, and it could be opened using the remote control. She was able to relish the scenery of the rain while sitting on the window sill, and it was the perfect spot to enjoy the view outside. She was an easily satisfied person, and the scenery lifted her mood. She searched for rain-rted songs and began to sing. Her voice was differentpared to Emily¡¯s. Emily had a clear, crisp voice, which made singing high notes easier, while Violet had a lower, huskier voice that was perfect for singing love songs. ¡°Rainy days, I¡¯m thinking ¡¯bout you, what to say, wish I knew how to find the way right back to you¡­..¡± While she sang the song, she gently swayed her legs and moved her body to match the beat. At some point, the door behind her was pushed open, and Lucius showed up. He clenched his jaw when he heard Violet singing. Violet lost herself in her own singing, and old memories began to surface. She waspletely unaware of his appearance until- ¡°Whoosh!¡± She was pushed off the window sill. She waspletely unprepared, and she screamed before N?velDrama.Org holds this content. reflexively turning around. She saw a cold face staring back at her. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 ¡°I¡¯m screwed!¡± That was the only thing she could think of, and she closed her eyes instinctively. She did not fall to the ground and bleed all over like she had expected to. As she braced for the worst, someone caught her wrist, and her body hung in mid-air. She felt as though all air had been knocked out of her lungs as she struck the wall with much force due to inertia. Her wrist hurt as it was holding the weight of her entire body. She reckoned that her wrist had been dislocated. Before she could even catch her breath, her body was pulled up, and the chains made an unpleasant grinding sound due to friction. She nced up and saw that Lucius was the one pulling her up. Even though he was the one who pushed her? Why was he able to return? Why did he suddenly appear and push her like that? With difficulty. Violet looked up at him in confusion. His forehead was hidden by his dark hair, but she could still see his tightly clenched jaw. His face was so dark it seemed as though he was going to skin her alive. What did she do to offend him again? He pulled her up to eye level, and she could feel the bone-chilling coldnessing from him. ¡°If you want to live longer, you better control your mouth!¡± What was wrong with her mouth? Right, Agatha was his prisoner, and he could control her however he wanted. But she was Violet, not Agatha! Her stubbornness rose, and she straightened her back to face him before saying, ¡°It¡¯s my mouth, and I can use it however I want! You better let me go soon, or I¡¯ll ruin your reputation, destroy your family, and let you die an ugly death!¡± ¡°Agatha River!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not Agatha River!¡± ¡°Whoosh!¡± She fell again. Her already injured wrist was starting to look broken. Violet winced while her body dangled by the window, and she spun helplessly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t admit it now. I have plenty of ways to get you to beg me to call you Agatha!¡± Willingly bow down and beg him? That would never happen! The window closed with a bang, and she was left hanging outside on her own. She bit her lip, and bitter tears started to fall again. She cried and cursed in a low voice, ¡°You demon, pervert, b *stard!¡± Violet was left hanging outside for the whole night. Her body had only recently recovered, and her endurance was low. She was on the verge of fainting when she was pulled up the following morning. After changing her clothes, the servantsid her on the bed. She kept on mumbling softly. ¡°What is she mumbling about?¡± Lucius asked coldly. His eyes were full of disgust as he watched her. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. A servant lowered her head and listened for a moment. After hearing what Violet said, her face fell, and she did not dare to speak. ¡°Say it!¡± The servant¡¯s legs buckled, and she fell to her knees. ¡°S-She said¡­¡± Violet, who was lying weakly on the bed, spoke up suddenly. ¡°Demon, b*stard, pervert!¡± she said clearly. Lucius¡¯s lips pressed together tightly, and an ominous look crossed his face. He reached into the cab and pulled out a gun. ¡°Master Lucius!¡± George yelled, but he did not stop him. Since such punishments were ufortable for both parties, it would be better to kill her in one shot and put an end to this once and for all. In the end, Lucius decided not to fire the shot. He could not allow this woman to die just like that. If he did, she would be getting it off easy. Violet¡¯s face was paler than the sheets as shey on the small bed. Her breathing was shallow, and her eyshes were trembling slightly, which made her look like an injured animal. She had no idea that she had narrowly escaped death. She woke up as dusk arrived. The sky had turned crimson at sunset and matched the hint of red that returned to her cheeks. George brought oatmeal and ced it in front of her. ¡°Ms. Agatha, please have something to eat,¡± he said. Violet¡¯s hands were shaky when she grabbed the spoon, and she had to work hard to put food in her mouth. Her wrist was obviously injured as there were bandages wrapped around it, and she was in too much pain to move. ¡°George, do you think I¡¯m Agatha too?¡± Violet asked. After taking a few bites, she stopped eating. Eating would only lengthen her punishment, and she was tired of it. ¡°Ms. Agatha, please don¡¯t provoke Master Lucius if you want to livefortably. Why were you singing when you clearly knew that he hated your voice?¡± George dodged her question and offered advice instead. ¡°My voice?¡± Violet wondered while she was chewing, and her eyes darkened as she realized something. ¡°Does George shook his head. Although he did not show it, she still understood that he meant she was asking questions that she already knew the answers to. Questions that she already knew the answers to? She felt chills down her spine. She had the same eyes, the same voice, aplete stic surgery video, and details that all pointed toward her being Agatha. Who would believe her when she imed she was not Agatha? She grabbed her head out of frustration. What on earth went wrong? She could not find any loopholes. All she could remember was that she came across a singing passed the audition and asked her to wait in the lounge for the results. She lost consciousness after entering the room, and she was at Imperial Pce when she woke up. Everything, including her ID and the documents in her bag, had been altered to Agatha¡¯s. There must be something wrong with thatpetition! Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Thepetition was called ¡°Find the Voice.¡± It was very influential and had been held sessfully multiple times. Each time, itsted for several months, and the media covered it extensively. She tried to look it up using theptop on the table, but the connection was lost after she typed just a few words. There was a knock on the door, and a servant came in carrying her lunch. *Are there any newspapers? Preferably thetest ones,¡± she asked as she gave up on using the ¡°You would have to ask Mr. George for that,¡± the servant replied courteously but distantly. All the servants she had met during her stay had acted in that manner. Shortly after the servant left, George personally came to deliver a few newspapers to her. ¡°Ms. Agatha, you must ask Master Lucius for permission if you want to use the inte. Master Lucius would be angry if he discovered that you tried to use theptop like you did today.¡± George knew that she wanted to use the inte? Violet was very surprised. ¡°Tools that are used formunication with the outside world, including the inte, phones, or electronic devices, are all monitored. Ms. Agatha, please stop disobeying Master Lucius if you want to livefortably.¡± That was a kind reminder from George. Violet did not say anything, but she was upset. She would have epted the punishment if she were really Agatha, but that was not the case! After setting down the newspapers, George walked out and left her by herself. Since she was not in the mood for lunch, she picked up one newspaper and read it carefully. Suddenly, a picture came into view, and it took her by surprise. Violet stopped rifling through the paper for a second, and she kept staring at the picture. In the picture was Oliver, and he looked as gentle as ever. He wore a white suit and thin gold-rimmed sses. He was handsome and appeared like a true prince charming. He was holding Emity in his arms. They both had happy smiles on their faces and made a good pair. Even through the newspaper, the sweetness of their love was apparent. Violet felt a searing pain in her heart. It spread to her whole body and drained the color from her face. She was in a daze for a long while, and suddenly, the door was pushed open. She snapped out of her trance and stared nkly at the person by the door with tears still gathering at the corners of her eyes. Lucius did a quick scan of her face, and his gazended on the newspaper in front of her. Her finger N?velDrama.Org holds this content. was still The corner of his lips twitched, and he coldly asked, ¡°Are you attracted to him?¡± Violet did not answer. She had always been attracted to Oliver. ¡°Am I too lenient on you? So much so that you have time to think about seducing other men?¡± Violet finally snapped out of her sadness and instinctively hid the newspaper behind her back. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything!¡± In Lucius¡¯s eyes, it meant that she wanted to do all the bad things possible. His face fell, and he took a few steps forward to grab her chin. He yanked her face up, and he gripped her chin so tightly that it was twisted out of shape. She started crying even more because of the pain. ¡°Do you want to sleep with him?¡± With force, he took the newspaper from her and held it up to his face. He narrowed his eyes at Oliver¡¯s picture. He was dangerous and cruel. Despite her stubbornness, she was scared of his cold presence to the point where she shivered and was unable to speak. ¡°Whoosh!¡± He threw the newspaper on the floor. In the next instant, he grabbed her waist and dragged her onto the bed. He pinned her down, as if he wanted to crush her. He was so dominating that she could hardly breathe. She was extremely terrified. Violet closed her eyes. Although she was afraid of him, she knew he would not really do it with her, so she allowed him to rip off her clothes without resisting. She was supposed to exin herself, but she bit her lip and kept silent. It was none of his business. Lucius had nothing to do with who she loved or did not love. But that was not what Lucius thought. He felt an unexined anger bubbling inside him when he saw her looking at Oliver. Violet was nothing more than a sl*t to him. She dared to openly express interest in other men in his territory! He needed to teach her a proper lesson. All he wanted to do was punish her. But his throat went dry, and his anger red when he saw her slender body and how she was not putting up any resistance. He started to be rough with her. ¡°Ah!¡± Pain and disbelief hit her at the same time. Violet would never have imagined that the man, who insisted on not touching her, wanted to punish her in that way. The close proximity between them at that time made her feel extremely humiliated, and she struggled to get up. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Lucius did not give her the chance to fight back. He picked her up with ease, flipped her around, and pinned her against the bed. The pain increased, and Violet could only clench the bedsheets in order to reduce the pain. Meanwhile, Oliver remained smiling happily in the newspaper on the floor. Would he help her if he knew that she was being mistreated?. ¡°Stop lying to yourself. He loves Emily and hates you. He would definitely want someone to torment you like Lucius is doing right now.¡± Violet¡¯s tears spilled down and made the bedsheets wet, but she bit down on her bottom lip and refused to make a sound or beg for mercy. Her stubbornness only served to stir Lucius up. All he wanted to do was make her submit to him. A battle of one trying to make the other submit and the other refusing to thus started, and itsted for an entire night. When Lucius left, Violet felt like she had been run over by a truck. Even her breathing was really soft. She kept her eyes opened while she cried soundlessly. Hickies and bruises marred her entire body. Not a single inch of her was unblemished. Lucius took a bath and got dressed. The cruel monster changed into a handsome and indifferent monster. He radiated nonchnce while he buttoned up his cufflinks. Then, he left while stepping over the newspaper. Violet fell asleep. She had a dream. In it, Oliver came to save her on a white horse. Delighted and upset, she hugged him as she cried while he cradled her face and kissed her. It was hard to believe, but, feeling touched, Violet lifted her head to kiss him. Oliver suddenly turned into Lucius and pushed her down. ¡°Ah!¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Violet woke up with a cry. Her face was covered in sweat. She hugged herself in helplessness and noticed that she was lying in his bed. The messy nkets reminded her of the humiliation and torment she suffered yesterday, and she trembled. If God would just give her a knife, she would plunge it into Lucius¡¯s heart without hesitation. She hated that man! Violet had missed breakfast and lunch because she had been sleeping, so she forced herself to eat something for dinner. Even so, she felt listless. The punishment thatsted for the entire night made her feel even more lethargic than being sick for ten days straight. She returned to bed and fell asleep. Violet jolted awake in the middle of the night and noticed that Lucius was asleep next to her. The dim light during the day. He was also not as imposing as before. Violet got out of the bed and went over to him as she mulled over the possibility of killing him by strangling. Lucius was a vignt man and woke up when Violet got out of bed. He opened his eyes when Violet lifted the chains. It shocked Violet so much that she trembled in fear, and her hands froze in the air. ¡°Thinking about killing me?¡± He was always able to guess her thoughts. Perhaps it was due to the light, but he did not look as ruthless and wild as usual. Even so, the disdain in his eyes was obvious. He was very clearly questioning her ability to kill him. Violet did not even bother denying it. ¡°I thought you scoffed at the thought of even touching me. What¡¯s the deal with yesterday, then?¡± Violet would rather he use other methods to torture her instead of humiliating her like that. ¡°Do you still love me?¡± she asked, because she knew that he hated Agatha and wanted to make him coil in disgust. ¡°Are you finally admitting that you¡¯re Agatha?¡± He sat up and grabbed her neck in one swift motion before she could react. He did not use any strength, but the calluses on his fingers made Violet¡¯s skin tingle with the tiniest hints of pain. His touch brought the fear of death because she knew that he was merciless and could kill a person without batting an eyelid. Her n just backfired in her face, didn¡¯t it? Lucius tightened his grip around her neck and practically lifted her up. ¡°This is another form of punishment.¡± He was arrogant and treated himself as someone superior to everyone else. As far as he was concerned, he was God, while Violet was no better than dirt. He could do whatever he wanted to her. All Violet could see in his eyes was her rigid figure. Violet rose on her tip-toes and grabbed his hand to try and get him to loosen his grip so that she could breathe, but his grip remained so tight that her eyes rolled back. Her chest screamed in pain from the air. When she thought she was going to die, he let go, and she fell on the floor with no strength left. ¡°Just how long¡­ do you intend to punish me?¡± she asked. She was so upset that her voice became choked up. ¡°Who knows? Perhaps for your entire life. Perhaps I¡¯ll even continue punishing your corpse after you die.¡± He pressed his lips into a thin line, and his expression became dark. Violet trembled. Lucius was truly the embodiment of hell! 2/2. No longer in the mood to talk to her, Lucius got into bed again. Meanwhile, Violet sat on the floor with her fists clenched. In the end, she could only loosen them. No matter what, she could not win against him. Butting heads with him only brought her misery. She climbed back into her bed and forced herself to shut her eyes while tears rolled down her cheeks. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Violet listlessly pulled the weeds in the garden. Her originally pretty face was getting thinner from the torment she suffered. Thankfully, she was not the type to tan. Even If she was exposed to the weather, she remained fair. The only problem was that she did get sunburned, and it hurt. While Violet had never lived a life of luxury, she had never suffered like this either. The things Lucius said yesterday and his ruthless expression were at the forefront of her mind. She sat down on the grass, no longer in the mood to weed the garden. ¡°Damn you, Lucius Davis!¡± She wrote Lucius¡¯s name on the grass and started stabbing it. ¡°A person like you should just die, without at son, without- ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡± A shrill voice came from above Violet. The woman in the bikini hade over at some point in time and recognized the name she had stabbed multiple times. It looked like a mess. ¡°Lucius Davis? You wrote his name? Are you trying to cast a spell on him?!¡± she screamed. Violet had to admit, she was impressed. Violet herself could no longer read the two words, but the woman could! ¡°You¡¯re despicable! How could you use voodoo magic on him after he broke off with you?! You¡¯re less than a piece of trash in his eyes, and you still dream about him wanting you?!¡± Violet had been worried about the woman having heard her curse Lucius, so she was relieved by her tirade. She nodded. ¡°Yes, yes. I¡¯m less than a piece of trash, which is you, by the way. That¡¯s why Lucius decided to sleep with you.¡± A trash collector should just collect trash, anyway. ¡°You b*tch!¡± The bikinidy had not expected to be mocked. Her face turned red, but Violet just shrugged. ¡°If you have no other business with me, I¡¯m going back to work.¡± She turned around to continue weeding the garden, but saw a long shadow by her side. Instinctively, she looked back. Lucius stood behind her. His face was cold, and his gaze was sharp. Did he hear their conversation? Did he understand her implication that he was a trash collector? Violet stepped on her writing to block his gaze. ¡°Lucius!¡± The bikinidy ran over to him and started crying on his shoulder. ¡°She said I¡¯m trash¨C ¡°How do you want me to punish her?¡± ¡°Make her weed the garden the whole day, and don¡¯t let give her food.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The bikinidy gave Violet a triumphant look before sashaying away. She was also pressed so close to Lucius that they almost started screwing each other on the spot. Violet shrugged and resumed weeding the garden without a single word. She was already used to being punished. All she had to go through was a few more hours of sunshine, anyway. It was much better than being punished in bed. ¡°Ah!¡± The bikinidy was thrown on the carpet when they entered the mansion. ¡°Lucius?¡± She looked up with teary eyes and a sad expression. ¡°Touch me without permission again, and I¡¯ll cut off whatever part of you touched me!¡± Lucius warned her and went upstairs without giving her a second nce. The bikinidy finally realized her mistake, and cold sweat broke out on her skin. When she came in to provide Lucius her services, George told her that she was not to approach Lucius aside from during s*x. She had forgotten her ce after being showered with favor. Lucius was truly a scary man. It was not an easy task weeding the garden for an entire day. Fortunately, it rained in the afternoon, which was the only reason why Violet did not get a heatstroke. But she did get drenched, and her clothes stuck ufortably to her body. Once evening came, Violet dragged her sore legs back into the mansion. It took her quite some time to do that. It was impossible for her to get dinner at this point, but she could still get herself morefortable. She went upstairs, entered the bathroom, removed her wet clothes, and turned on the heater. Her gentle curves, straight and beautiful legs, and shackled arms made her look like an imprisoned beauty when she raised her arms. Her back was turned to the door, so she did not notice it when Lucius pushed the door open. His pupils dted. Due to the chains. Violet could not shut the door tight. She was not expecting Lucius toe back at this hour, though, so she was careless. When she turned around to grab a towel, she saw Lucius standing at the door. With a yelp, she took a step back and covered herself with the towel. The water sshed on her body and the towel. It stuck to her body and showed off her curves. Instead of hiding her form, it only made it look more seductive. Since Violet did not have a lot of experience in the ways of the world, she forgot to move and just stared at Lucious in fear. She did not know what to say and just hoped that he would leave. Lucius did not leave. Instead, he walked over and turned the shower off.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Violet¡¯s curves stood out prominently. He grabbed the chain and pulled her over, which caused her to crash into his firm chest. Even though there was the towel between them, Violet could feel something hard poking her, and she was so nervous that she ¡°D-Don¡¯t you have the bikinidy? I¡¯m really tired¡­ She was tired and hungry. There was no way she could take his manhandling tonight. Lucius trailed his finger up her shoulders and yanked away the wet towel between them. Before Violet could scream in shock, he shoved a set of clothes at her. ¡°Put this on ande out.¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 He then walked out without a nce back. Violet stared at the clothes in her hands and then at his back. She could not figure out what he meant by this. Even though she did not want to wear the clothes he gave her, she could not go out naked. She had to put on the clothes he gave her. It was a sexy dress with spaghetti straps that did not fit her style. Violet adjusted the straps to get the dress high up her shoulders, but she still ended up showing a lot of skin. Then, she was brought to a helicopter. Was Lucius letting her leave? She gave Lucius a confused look, but his face remained stern. Clearly, he did not want to talk to her. Violet was starving, so she did not have the strength nor the mood to talk to him either, so she shut her eyes to take §Ñ §á§Ñ§â. The helicopter flew for some time before it arrived at a ce that was styled like Hawell. They entered avishly decorated ce, and a man wearing a shirt with flower patterns weed them. He looked straight at Violet and could not move his eyes away from her chest. Violet covered her chest and felt great disgust toward him. Lucius gave the man azy greeting and spoke in anguage she could not understand. Then, he left. Violet and the man were left alone in the room. ¡°Eat something?¡± the man asked in broken Sommersettese while he looked her up and down. It was absolutely disgusting. Violet was famished, but she did not dare to eat anything random. When the man presented her with a purple sweet potato, she reluctantly thanked him, but did not touch it. ¡°No like?¡± The man leaned over, put his palm above her knee, and started kneading while insinuating certain things. Instinctively. Violet shrank back and looked toward the door. She had never longed for Lucius to much as she did at that moment. The unfamiliar man did not give up. He got closer, and, this time, he touched her inner thigh. Out of self-preservation, Violet pped him. His expression changed. He grabbed her hair. ¡°I was nice! But you say no! I kill you!¡± Then, he started saying something in his ownnguage while lifting her dress and pressing in. ¡°Ah!¡± When Lucius came back, he saw Violet huddled in the corner while shivering. Her clothes were disheveled. and her hair was a mess. Lying before him was the man¡¯s corpse. His clothes were in an equally disheveled state, but he had a knife buried into his chest while his blood spilled all over the floor. Lucius was not shocked by this. He kicked the man aside on his way to Violet and squatted down to lift her chin. Her face was as pale as a sheet, and fear shone in her teary eyes. She pped him. Despite being terrified, she possessed a lot of strength. A clear handprint showed up on Lucius¡¯s face. ¡°You b*stard!¡± Violet had been holding on a mouthful of blood, and she spat it all on his face. Lucius¡¯s expression became even colder and more ruthless. He threw her on the floor and pressed her head down. It was pinned against the dead man¡¯s chest. The sharp knife and red blood stood starkly in front of her face. The smell of blood and the man¡¯s disgusting body odor wafted into her nose, and she started gagging. ¡°Did you think you could have killed him with your petty tricks? If I hadn¡¯t poisoned him beforehand, he Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. would have been having his way with you right now!¡± Was she supposed to thank him?! Thank him for letting her practice self-defense on a man he wanted to kill?! ¡°Did I hurt your sensitive little heart by mocking your lover? Are you taking revenge for her?¡± Violet wanted to cry, but she refused to shed any tears or submit to him. Instead, she provoked him. This was the only thing she could think of to make him hate her even more. Otherwise, he would not stop causing her trouble even if she stayed out of his path. Violet felt a pressure on her neck, and her face became smeared with the dead man¡¯s blood. She looked so pathetic that she no longer resembled herself. Lucius whispered coldly into her ear, ¡°I¡¯m warning you to think about your own capabilities before you insinuate that others are trash collectors.¡± He had heard it! ¡°Also, if you want to make amends, do it properly. What¡¯s with cursing me while pretending to submit? I don¡¯t mind being cursed, but I don¡¯t like insincerity.¡± ¡­He was so arrogant and narcissistic! Violet had not expected him to notice what she did. At that moment, all the fight within her bled out, and she shut her eyes while breathing softly. Lucius let her go. ¡°Throw him out,¡± he ordered his subordinates coldly. The dead man was nothing but an ant to him. When Violet saw Lucius wiping his hands coldly, she shivered. ¡°If you want an easier life, learn to be obedient. You knew this in the past, so why are you so much worse at it now?¡± he mocked her before throwing away his handkerchief and striding out of the room. Violet wanted to tell him that she was not Agatha and would never imitate her, but she did not. If she did, she would just have to endure another round of punishment. After the shock she went through tonight, she no longer had the strength to fight against him. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 When they returned to the mansion, the sun was already out. Thanks to Lucius, Violet had spent an entire day without food or sleep. Starving, she decided to get some food into her stomach before anything else. Violet entered the kitchen for the first-time. It was stupidly big and couldpete with kitchens from five-star hotels. All the ingredients were fresh, and the head chef was even a Michelin-star chef hired from a five-star hotel. Violet made a simple bowl of noodles for herself. Perhaps it was because Belle Youngblood had been her stepmother, but she had never taken care of her. Violet had to fend for herself and cook her own meals. While she could notpare to Michelin-star chefs, her food was pretty tasty. ¡°What exactly did you make? It infuriated Master Lucius. You know perfectly well that he¡¯s a really picky eater when working and will fly into a rage if he¡¯s not satisfied with the food.¡± The servant in charge of delivering food came in and started yelling at the chefs. ¡°Cook another dinner for him!¡± The chefs did not dare to say anything. They immediately started preparing a new meal. Violet went to the living room with her bowl of noodles and saw shards all over the study room. There was food scattered among them. ¡°Fire them all!¡± Lucius shouted from Inside the room. This was the first time she heard him so livid. More bowls came flying out. George and the servants hung their heads at the door while looking resigned. The door mmed shut. ¡°What should we do, Mr. George? This is already the tenth batch of chefs. If we fire them as well.. ¡°I know. The weather forecast stated that a typhoon ising. Even if we hire a new batch, no one would dare to take the risk ofing here in a helicopter.¡± was out of The servants looked at George with troubled expressions, but he just shook his head, because he w ideas as well. Lucius was usually pretty easy-going, but, once he started working, he turned into a living volcano that could erupt at any second. He also became a horrifically picky eater. ¡°We can¡¯t just let him starve. He gets even more irritable when hungry. Then¡­¡± That, too, was a problem. George¡¯s brows creased together. He looked to have just aged by a few years. While Violet pitied George and the servants, this was none of her business. She went to the dining table and started eating her noodles. ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡± Lucius came out because of being irritated by his hunger and saw Violet eating her food at the dining table. He went over to her bowl of noodles. 12. 12. Violet was happily enjoying her food when he plucked the fork out of her hands. Then, he tried some of her noodles. Once Lucius took a bite, he said, ¡°Bring it into the study.¡± Violet was stunned. What was going on? Did Lucius just eat her noodles? The same noodles she had been eating just now, which were most definitely covered in her saliva?¡± ¡°Please send the noodles in, Madam.¡± George looked like he had just found his savior. ¡°Master Lucius likes your noodles. Please help us.¡± While George was usually quite indifferent, he had never mistreated her, so Violet did not mind helping him. Hesitantly, she brought the noodles into the study. The study room was huge. It was more than one hundred square meters big. There was arge desk in the middle of it, and Lucius was sitting behind it. She went over and put the noodles on his table before turning around to leave. ¡°Feed me!¡± Lucius ordered her with his eyes glued to the screen. Violet was stunned. Why did he need someone to feed him when he was perfectly capable of feeding Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. himself? He was not a kid! ¡°Now!¡± Lucius was about to blow up from how hungry he was. Violet quickly picked up a forkful of noodles and sent it to his mouth. He ate it. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 ¡°More.¡± Lucius acted more like a spoiled brat at that moment than the Impressive owner of Imperial Enterprises. Violet thought. ¡°I should have poisoned the noodles beforeing in. I would give up anything to kill this b* stard.¡± Suddenly, she felt an arm around her waist, and, before she could register what was going on, she fell into Lucius¡¯s arms. His warm palm pressed against her skin, and she felt like she was burning. Shocked, Violet nearly dropped the fork, but her self-preservation instincts made her press it against his chest instead. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lucius looked down and scoffed at the fork against his chest. ¡°Even if you had a gun, you might not necessarily be able to kill me. Just give up.¡± Give up? Did he manage to figure out what she was thinking again? While Violet mulled over this question, she forgot that she was currently sitting on hisp. Suddenly, her vision swayed. Lucius pushed her into a morefortable position on his knees. ¡°Continue feeding me,¡± he ordered. His eyes remained glued to the screen, as if everything just now had not happened. His fingers flew over the keyboard. Before Violet could figure out what he was doing, the screen had already changed several times. It made her dizzy just looking at it. Lucious was scowling, which was a clear sign that he was in a bad mood. His expression was also incredibly stern, which made him look even more tyrannical than before. Violet gave him another forkful of noodles. Once he finished the entire bowl, she realized just how much she Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. had acted like a servant just now. Once Lucius was done eating, he finally stopped scowling and pushed her away before continuing to type. While he was working, he did not look wickedly charming. Instead, he looked serious and decent, like a professional elite. Violet sighed, but in order to not get herself in trouble, she quickly picked up the bowl with the fork and left. Lucius worked for two days and two nights straight. His busy schedule made Violet almost jump in joy. Him immersing himself in his work meant that she was free. She rolled around in the bedroom, which made the chain nk loudly. Oh, how she hoped that he would be busy forever and nevere out! On the third day, George came to visit Violet in the morning. ¡°Madam, Master Lucius has finished working and wants to eat.¡± ¡°What does Lucius wanting to eat have to do with me?¡± Violet was quite shocked. How did Luciusst without eating for two full days? Shouldn¡¯t he have starved to What a pity! ¡°The hungrier he is, the pickier he bes. If you cook good food for him right now, it¡¯ll be beneficial for you,¡± George gave her a hint. Violet was finally moved. Since she was not going to be able to leave, she should look for a way to live a little better instead of being treated as his enemy. She followed George into the kitchen. After giving a few instructions to the kitchen staff, Violet asked them to leave. She looked at the ingredients in the fridge and shook her head because she had no idea what to even say about this. Lucius ate great food made from top-ss ingredients every single day. It was no wonder why he became so picky. Violet grabbed some flour and started kneading it on the chopping board. The top-ss chefs in the kitchen could not leave the mansion because of the typhoon. They looked at her doubtfully, but did not bother her. The bikinidy came in at some point and said, ¡°Lucius only eats the food I make. All of you, leave!¡± Her eyes shone with arrogance, and she thought nothing of Violet¡¯s presence in the kitchen. She just walked over and shoved her away. After giving the ball of dough on the chopping board a disdainful look, she took over Violet¡¯s spot. Violet did not fight her. She just stood to the side while the bikinidy started showing off her skills and got busy in the kitchen. After an hour, she went to the study room with bowls of beautiful-looking food. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 In less than ten minutes, George charged into the kitchen. ¡°What happened? Master Lucius threw all the food away!¡± When Violet hurried to the study, she saw the floor littered with broken porcin and food. The ce stank with the smell of food. The bikinidy stood at the entrance while trembling in fear. Her arrogance was gone without a trace, and she pointed a shaking finger in Violet¡¯s direction. ¡°She cooked the food!¡± Lucius sat behind his office table with his expression as dark as a thundercloud. When he saw Violet, he red at her. Violet did not bother arguing. She just lifted the tray in her hands. ¡°Mine¡¯s right here.¡± The bikinidy looked at her in disbelief. She clearly remembered Violet not doing anything while she was cooking. When she saw the two bowls full of simple liquid on her tray, she sighed in relief and smirked. She changed her original statement. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lucius. When I saw her trying to ck off, I decided to cook. The stuff I made was all-¡± Lucius ignored her and strode over. When he saw the stuff in one of the bowls, he scowled. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Vegetable dumplings.¡± Violet answered coolly. ¡°And this?¡± ¡°Vegetable soup.¡± The bikinidy took a step forward and continued to fan the mes. ¡°See that, Lucius? She didn¡¯t put in N?velDrama.Org holds this content. any work when cooking for you.¡± But Lucius did not even look at her. He just said, ¡°Feed me.¡± Didn¡¯t he already finish his work? Why should Violet feed him again? Violet did not want to do it, but George gave her a look. If Lucius threw a tantrum, no one would be able to handle him. She was their only hope at the moment. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Lucius went over to the sofa and sat down like he was some sort of king. Violet noted the paleness of his face. Well anyone would feel weak if they did not eat for two days. She wanted him to die, but there were plenty of people around, so she was definitely not going to have her wish fulfilled. In the end, she reluctantly went over to him. He clearly thought she was walking too slowly, for he pulled her over and nearly made her spill the soup. Violet picked up a dumpling and blew on it. Once she was sure it was no longer steaming hot, she delivered it to his mouth. Lucius chewed on it before he suddenly stopped. Violet¡¯s heart leapt to her throat. He did not like it. The bikinidy had fisted her shirt because she did not want to admit defeat, but she loosened her grip at that moment. She saw hope. Meanwhile, George was so tense that his back was rod straight, and sweat rolled down his forehead. Lucius swallowed. ¡°Soup.¡± When he finished both the dumplings and the soup, George rxed. He also gave Violet a thankful smile. The bikinidy could not ept this and kept shaking her leg, but she was smart and said nothing else. She just left. Once Lucius was full, he returned to the study room to wrap up work. To other people, two days were just forty- eight hours, but to him, they were a few billion earned. George seized the opportunity to say, ¡°Madam, please cook for Master Lucius in the future.¡± Violet shrugged. She did not believe that she had wormed her way into Lucius¡¯s stomach. She only got lucky twice. If he could get sick of top-ss Ingredients, then he could get sick of normal food too. ¡°I¡¯ll just continue weeding the garden.¡± Her chances of survival would only increase if she reduced contact with him. Violet waved George goodbye and headed outside.. George stared at her back strangely. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 The sun was scorching outside. In no time, Violet was covered in sweat and had to stop to wipe off her sweat. Things only got slightly better for her when George asked a servant to hold an umbre over her head. She was pulling the weeds very seriously when a shadow loomed over her head. Violet looked up and saw the Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. bikinidy. She scrutinized her like she was a snake slithering on the ground before her. Violet fanned herself with her palm. ¡°What now? Are you bored and want to pull weeds with me?¡± ¡°It was your intention that I make a fool of myself, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Violet found herself used of something she did not do once more. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you made, and I didn¡¯t give you any suggestions. How exactly did I make you embarrass yourself?¡± Inparison, the bikinidy was setting her up whenever she got the chance. If Violet¡¯s dumplings had not suited Lucius¡¯s tastes, she would be dead right now. The bikinidy¡¯s face tumed even redder. ¡°Don¡¯t act so smug. No matter what, you¡¯re just a woman Lucius no longer wants! One of these days, he¡¯s going to chase you out!¡± ¡°Where did you get your facts? It¡¯s not Lucius who doesn¡¯t want Agatha. It¡¯s Agatha who doesn¡¯t want Lucious.¡± Violet very ¡°kindly¡± reminded her. If the bikinidy had not tried to set her up, she would not have said this to upset her even more. The bikinidy huffed and left in a furious rush. Violet shrugged and stuck her tongue out. While she could not escape Lucius¡¯s grasp, she could deal with the sc*mbags around him. George did not have her weed the garden for too long because he was worried that no one would cook for Lucius when he was throwing a temper tantrum next time. Violet agreed without any pretense and left the garden. She did not enter the mansion, though, because Lucius was in it. She leaned against the wall to avoid the sun while shielding her face with a hand. Through the dense stands in the vineyard, she looked at the sun shining through the leaves. The grapes had yet to ripen. Their green color and brilliant shine were truly beautiful. Something fell down from above. It went past the stand andnded on the ground. It was a newspaper. Violet did not pick it up, but looked up at the floor above. Her eyes met with those of a servant staring at her nervously. The room there belonged to Lucius. The servant was probably cleaning it when he identally dropped the newspaper. Violet¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She looked down and picked up the newspaper, She had read it the other day. When it disappearedter on, she did not ask any questions about it. Who would have thought a servant would find it while cleaning up Lucius¡¯s room? It was a newspaper like any other, but it made her heart bleed, as if someone had stabbed her. With great effort, Violet opened the newspaper, and the photo she had seen before appeared before her eyes. Even if this was the second time she saw Oliver kissing Emily, she still felt like her heart was being torn to shreds. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± The servant ran down and grabbed the newspaper from her. At that moment, Violet saw the headline above the photo. When the servant turned around and tried to leave. she said, ¡°Wait.¡± The servant stopped, and she snatched the newspaper before reading the headline with great urgency. [Together for a Year, Together Forever. Famous Artist Oliver Young and His Musician Girlfriend¡¯s Legendary Love Story.] Together for a year? The one who kept Oliverpany for a year was her! How did it be Emily now?! Violet quickly read the article. She was shocked by it, but hope slowly started growing in her chest. Oliver said that Emily had kept himpany during hisa, which was why he decided to marry her and stay with her for the rest of his life! If he learned that Violet was the one who kept himpany, what would happen? He would definitely do his best to save her! He would realize that she never hurt Emily and protect her just like he protected Emily now! Violet walked into the mansion. The servant was shocked and did not dare to ask for her to return the newspaper. The chains rattled with Violet¡¯s urgency to meet Oliver when she strode into the mansion. Lucius sat in the living room and was sipping on a cup of coffee while flipping through some documents. Every single movement of his showed regality, and there was even a halo on his head. ¡°I want to leave!¡± Violet said without a care about the consequences. Lucius stilled for a moment before cing the cup back on its coaster. ¡°Do you think you have the right to leave?¡± he asked without lifting his gaze to look at her. His voice was not loud, but his cold tone shattered Violet¡¯s courage, and she shuddered in fear. She was Agatha Rivers in his eyes. She was the person who betrayed him and deserved to be mistreated. How could he possibly let her leave? Lucius was certain that she was Agatha. No matter what she said, he would not change his mind. But she really needed to leave. Violet started looking for an excuse, and, before she could think it through, she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. ¡°The baby¡¯s not dead!¡± She broke out in cold sweat the moment she said it. Lucius¡¯s indifferent expression immediately morphed into one of sternness. He looked at her sharply, as If he wanted to cut her into pieces. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 But as long as she could leave, everything else would be easier! Oliver¡¯s words were just too tempting. She couldn¡¯t care less about other things right now, so she just braced herself and continued lying. ¡°I gave birth and hid the baby. Since I can¡¯t leave, I might as well bring it back.¡± Lucius suddenly grabbed her neck in a vice grip and lifted her up. His muscles were tense, and his grip was so strong Violet thought he was going to crush her windpipe. ¡°You didn¡¯t abort the baby?¡± he asked in an icy voice that did not reveal whether he was happy or angry. Violet was having a hard time breathing. Her body was practically airborne. Aside from feeling asphyxiated. she was also in great pain. She tried to break free, but to no avail. ¡°If you kill me¡­ you will never¡ª find the baby!TM Her words had the desired effect. Lucius released her. ¡°George, go with her to find the baby!¡± She could finally leave! The moment the helicopter rose into the air, Violet felt free. George was right next to her. ¡°Madam, you should know by now that Master Lucius might forgive you for what Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. you¡¯ve done because of the baby. It¡¯s good for you. Please bring the baby back as soon as possible.¡± Violet nodded without bothering to decipher what George said. She strode away in a hurry to get to Oliver¡¯s drawing room. The door was unlocked, and she opened it with a light push. The room was filled with frames and finished artworks. The smell of paint assaulted her nostrils. Violet sucked in a deep breath. Then, she saw the man drawing in front of an easel. Even though his back was turned toward her, his lively way of holding the brush and his ck hair gave him the demeanor of an artist. Violet sucked in a deep breath and called out to him. ¡°Oliver.¡± The man had been focused on drawing. When Violet called out to him, he stopped drawing. Violet took a step closer and saw Emily¡¯s face was on the easel. In the portrait, she was smiling and had a flower by her lips. The painting was so realistic that Emily seemed about to walk out of the portrait. In one swift motion, Oliver covered the easel, as if he did not want to share Emily with Violet. ¡°Why are you here?¡± he asked coldly without turning around to look at her. Violet quickly looked away. Her breath caught in her throat. ¡°I just wanted to tell you.¡± Her voice quivered. It was only when she stood in front of him that she realized just how emotional of a matter it was to tell him what had really happened. She could hardly find the right words to exin it. ¡°When you were in aa-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it!¡± Oliver interrupted her with clear annoyance in his voice, ¡°But the truth is-¡°Violet tried again when the sound of a ringing phone interrupted them. Oliver quickly picked up the phone and held it to his ear. ¡°Emily?¡± When he heard what she said, his expression changed. ¡°I¡¯ll go over now!¡± He grabbed the jacket from behind him and ran to the door without any thought for Violet. She grabbed his arm. ¡°Oliver, please listen to me!¡± ¡°I have no time for you! Let go!¡± he snapped at her and quickly pulled out his arm, as if he was going to die if she touched him for even a second more. Oliver had never been like this in the past! He ran out of the room and continued down the corridor. With a sudden bout of strength, Violet ran out after him and blocked his way, which ended in Oliver nearly running her over. She staggered, but did not pay it any attention. She grabbed his hand and said, ¡°Let me sing to you.¡± She was certain that if Oliver heard her voice, he would understand all that had happened. However, when Oliver heard what she said, he thought she meant something else. He grabbed her chin and red at her with hostility and anger. ¡°You¡¯re the one who ruined Emily¡¯s voice, and you actually have the gall to sing to me? Violet, even if Emily can never sing again, I won¡¯t listen to you! Leave!¡± Violet opened her mouth. She had never thought that the gentle Oliver could ever use such a severe tone to tell her to leave. Her heart clenched in pain, and she had trouble breathing. Oliver pushed her aside with disdain and headed outside again. His hurried footsteps made Violet understand that he truly cared about Emily. With thest of her strength, she shouted at him, ¡°Are you. Are you going to choose Emily even if she¡¯s not the one who helped you wake up?!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Violet had thought that Oliver would ignore her, but he answered, and he did it with ease! His answer pushed her into the depths of the abyss, and she could no longer see a way out of it. Tears rolled down her face. ¡°I see¡­¡± Honestly, based on how he treated Emily in the past, she should have guessed it, but she just had to be an idiot. Violet did not chase after him again, because there was no longer a need for it. Her heart had been torn to shreds, and she stood in a daze in the drawing room. Despite the room being warm, she felt cold. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 After a long time passed, Violet finally remembered that she could go home. No matter what, her father would not ignore her. Since she did not want to meet Emily, she decided to call her father. ¡°Violet?¡± The person who picked up the phone was her stepmother, Belle. The moment she heard Violet, her voice went shrill. ¡°How could you call us? Look at what you did to Emily! Her voice is ruined, and she can¡¯t sing anymore! Do you hear me?!¡± Belle shouted so loudly that the phone vibrated, and Violet felt like she was about to go deaf. She moved the phone away from her ear, but she could still hear Belle¡¯s enraged screeches. In the background, Emily was weeping¡­ Oliver¡¯s clear and maic voice wasforting her. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, Emily. You still have me.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Even if Emily lost everything in the world, she would still have Oliver to protect her. Violet could imagine him. hugging and patting her back right now. She could hear him saying that it was fine even if she could no longer join singing auditions and how she could get other jobs. At that moment, Violet thought that she had to be a character in a tragedy. She did not have the energy to care about Belle yelling at her. She just wanted to talk to her father. ¡°I want to talk to Dad.¡± ¡°You ruined Emily¡¯s life. Do you actually think he wants to see you? Your father has told me that you¡¯re no longer his daughter. You have nothing to do with him and us anymore!¡± ¡°He would never say that!¡± This was the second shock of the day for Violet, and she refused to ept it. No matter what, she was a true daughter of the Wickham family. How could her father chase her out without even looking into the event properly? ¡°Why do you think I have your father¡¯s phone, then? It¡¯s because he doesn¡¯t want to hear your voice and see you, you demon! He has already thrown your things out! Pick them up yourself! If someone else throws it away thinking it¡¯s trash, it won¡¯t be our fault!¡± Belle hung up as if hearing another word from Violet would kill her. Violet still did not believe that her father would do something so heartless. She went over to the Wickham family¡¯s mansion. Her things were packed up and thrown out. They were strewn all over the ground. A servant, Mrs. Zimmer, stood guard at the door. She shook her head and sighed when she saw Violet, then quickly went back into the mansion as if she had seen a ghost. She shut the door behind her. Violet saw Oliver¡¯s car, along with her father¡¯s. So, Belle was not lying to her. Her father had really abandoned her, just like how he abandoned her mother! Her heart sank. She no longer knew what to do. She did not take anything and just walked away mechanically Why did no one believe her? At that moment, in the Wickham family¡¯s mansion, Emily was crying in Oliver¡¯s arms. The doctor had just announced that her voice would never heal. Because of it, she was never going to join the Rondon Choir, which was her dream. This was practically a death sentence to Emily. When Belle saw Emily bawling, her heart ached, and her fury raged even hotter. ¡°Damn you, Violet! How could you do this to my daughter?!¡± She started crying midway through her shout. Meanwhile, Patrick Wickham, Violet¡¯s father, sat on the sofa with a tense expression. He said nothing. ¡°She just doesn¡¯t want Emily to have a good life. Even if you disowned her, you wouldn¡¯t be doing anything wrong.¡± Belle¡¯s eyes shone with ruthlessness. Violet¡¯s existence was like a thorn in her side that constantly reminded her of her shameful past as a mistress. She had wanted Violet gone for a very long time, but had never dared to do anything because she was wary of Patrick. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Her dream to chase her away had finallye true, but her daughter had to suffer for it. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say anything?¡± She redirected her ire toward Patrick. She knew that he actually felt bothered about chasing Violet away. ¡°I know that you¡¯re ming me for taking matters into my own hands and throwing her things out, but have you ever thought that Emily could end up this way after drinking water poisoned by Violet? They¡¯re both your daughters! If you care for Emily at all you won¡¯t protect Violet anymore! Look at Emily! She loves singing, but Belle¡¯s n worked. Patrick stood up. With a cold expression, he said, ¡°From now on, Emily is my only daughter. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. He then went into his study room and shut the door. Oliver looked down while patting Emily¡¯s back tofort her. Myriadplex emotions stirred in his heart. but he could not say anything. He could only hide his emotions under gentleness. ¡°Madam, where¡¯s the baby?¡± Someone finally came over and spoke to Violet after she stood frozen at the entrance for a very long time. So, even if George did not personallye with her, he still sent someone to monitor her. Where was she supposed to get a baby at this point? Violet looked at the stern man in ck and remembered Lucius¡¯s hatred toward her. She shuddered. ¡°We¡¯ll pick up the babyter.¡± She chose to continue lying and got into a bus. It brought her to the ce where she had registered for a singingpetition. Thepetition had ended a long time ago, and the ce was empty. She went to the receptionist and asked a lot of questions in order to figure out the truth about that time, but the receptionist did not know anything. Thus, Violet was unable to find anything that could prove that she was Violet Wickham or that her identity had been switched. She sat down on the floor. Was God trying to destroy her? Even herst hope had been ruined. ¡°Where¡¯s the baby?¡± the man asked once more. Violetughed bitterly. ¡°There¡¯s no baby. I lied¡­¡­.¡± Violet was brought back to Imperial Pce. The atmosphere was stifling on the way back. Even the helicopter des sounded like they were trembling. George said nothing, but his expression was grave. The others sat with their backs straight and looked like they were prepared to catch Violet if she decided to run. But Violet sat in her seat quietly. Her face was pale, and her mind was in a daze. The clouds went past her and left no traces behind. When they returned to Imperial Pce, the humiliating chains were put on her again, and she was shoved into Lucius¡¯s bedroom. Lucius had leamed what had happened from George. He was sitting on the sofa at the moment. Violet could smell danger in the room, and George, who came in with her, did not even dare to breathe. A ruthless expression appeared on Lucius¡¯s face, and he red with murder in his eyes at her. ¡°How do you intend to exin yourself, Agatha?¡± ¡°I lied to you again, that¡¯s all.¡± Violet suddenlyughed in a devil-may-care manner. She had been abandoned by everyone and no longer had any hope left. It would be best if she could anger Lucius enough to kill her right there and then. Lucius¡¯s gaze turned even more murderous, and his expression darkened. He gripped the sofa so tightly that it sank under his grip. He pushed himself up and walked toward her. Violet saw a shadow loom over her, as if it was about to devour her. Lucius stopped in front of her and traced her neck with his thumb. His action screamed danger. ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, Agatha. I¡¯m going to make your life a living hell.¡± He spoke in an airy, casual manner. It sounded like the wind blowing through the leaves. But Violet knew just how much brutality, anger, and mercilessness was hidden in his voice. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 She closed her eyes. ¡°Whatever.¡± She no longer had any hope for the future and would much rather he just killed her and ended everything. But Lucius let her go. ¡°Rest well today.¡± Both George and Violet were shocked. They had not expected Lucius to spare her. He took revenge for all slights and made people bleed rivers. He ignored their looks and walked out. Violet threw herself onto the bed. Her body hurt all over. She thought that she would not be able to rest, but she slept like a log until morning.. Another day arrived. Violet sighed and sat up after epting her fate. She had not eaten anything yesterday, but she did not feel hungry, just weak. ¡°It¡¯s time to eat, Madam,¡± a servant said. Her gaze held no respect. Everyone in Imperial Pce thought that she was Agatha, the horrible woman who broke up with Lucius and even made him suffer devastating losses in business. Violet nodded and went downstairs. Both Lucius and the bikinidy were there. When the bikinidy saw Violet, she regarded her with enmity. Clearly, she was still bothered by what had happened not too long ago. Lucius just continued eating and did not even look up. His movements were so elegant that it looked like he had gone through etiquette training before. Violet did not intend to eat. She just headed to the door to weed the garden. Lucius wiped his mouth and said, ¡°Wait.¡± It did not sound like an order directed toward her, but she was the only on around aside from the bikini ¡°Eat the food.¡± He pointed at the breakfast on the table. Violet wanted to say that she was not hungry, but she did not even have the strength to speak. So, she walked over and sat down to start eating. Lucius stood up and left with the bikinidy, who was talking to him in a sickeningly sweet voice to butter him up. Once Violet finished her breakfast, she walked out and saw that Lucius was still around. He was standing at the door while leaning against the frame and staring into the distance. He gave off azy but wickedly charming air. His cor was partially opened to reveal a stretch of tanned skin, which made him look incredibly seductive. Violet¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He turned to her. ¡°Come with me.¡± Violet did not know where he wanted to bring her, but she followed him into the helicopter. It flew to the depths of a forest. Soon, they arrived at a manor. The scenery around it was beautiful, like paradise. All sorts of fruits N?velDrama.Org holds this content. hung on the numerous trees. A man came to receive them. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us you wereing. Master?¡± Lucius grunted and gestured at Violet with his chin. ¡°Agatha.¡± The moment he said that one word, Violet could sense the atmosphere changing. The servant gave her a strange look, but Violet¡¯s mood had been down since yesterday, so she did not bother deciphering it. She just followed Lucius inside. *Pleasee this way.¡± The person-in-charge of the manor led Lucius into a winery. Violet was about to follow him when one of the servants stretched out an arm and blocked her way. ¡°Ms. Agatha, this way, please.¡± Once Violet saw that Lucius showed no reaction to what the woman said, she left with her. The woman almost ran into the garden. Worried that she would lose her, Violet hurried after her. Because of it, she did not pay attention to the ground beneath her feet. Suddenly, she felt her foot meet no resistance and realized that something was off. But by then, she was already falling. A cold chill enveloped her body. She had fallen into water! Chapter 32 Chapter 32 The trauma from the swamp made Violet unable to move. She rose out of the water, but stood where she was Someone threw a banana peel at her head. More followed the first one. It hurt. Some children were throwing things at her nonstop. ¡°You¡­¡± Violet red at them, but felt dizzy from all the things hitting her. The woman who had led her into the garden turned around and stared at her coldly. ¡°It¡¯s her! She¡¯s the one who nearly bankrupted Imperial Enterprises! She¡¯s the one who made people stop buying our things, so they all rotted away! Hit her!¡± They threw more things at her. Violet shielded herself while looking for help. A few farmers walked over, but they only watched. They showed no intention to help. Once the children finished throwing things at her, they ran away, and the woman left as Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. well. Violet stayed in theke for a long time before crawling out. She cleaned up a bit afterwards, but she still looked pathetic. ¡°It¡¯s time for food,¡± someone called out to her. Then, she was brought to Lucius. When he saw her sorry state, he raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He sat in front of a simple table, but it did not take away from his splendor. Instead, the sun shone on him and cast him in a faint glow that made him look even more ethereal. ¡°Eat,¡± he said and picked up a spoon. The people had not expected Lucius, their superior, to eat with normal people like them, so the respect in their eyes grew, and they picked up their spoons as well. Someone plopped down a bowl in front of Violet as well She picked it up to eat with the masses, but the moment she took a bite, there was a loud crunch. Her teeth hurt from trying to bite through a stone. There was gravel in her food, plenty of it. Since its color was light and blended with the food, Violet did not notice it before taking a bite. She searched for the person who handed the food to her and realized that it was the woman who mistreated her before. She red at Violet with a face full of glee after taking revenge. ¡°Ms. Agatha, are you looking down on our food?¡± the woman asked while walking over. ¡°Mr. Lucius always eats with us whenever he visits us. If you don¡¯t eat, you¡¯ll be looking down on us.¡± Violet gave Lucius a pleading look for help. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be stuck here, eat your food.¡± Violet felt upset, but she knew that if he got angry, he might really leave her there. At that moment, she realized that he had not actually decided to spare her when he did not punish her yesterday. He just wanted her to be rested and well fed so that she could be punished even more. Tears filled her eyes, but she gritted her teeth and pushed the sadness back. Then, she started eating the unpleasant and far too crunchy and tough food. Lucius ate quickly and left. ¡°Come. Have some soup.¡± The woman did not even ask whether Violet wanted soup. She just poured some into her bowl. The smell of urine wafted into Violet¡¯s nose. She nearly puked and refused to drink it. When the woman could not force her to drink the soup, she threw the soup and the remainder of the food on her. The bowl also followed after them. Violet raised her hands to shield herself. The bowl broke, and the shards cut into her palm. Blood flowed down. but no one cared whether she was injured. After finishing their food, they returned to their stations. Violet sat in front of her table and felt incredibly alone, like she had been forgotten by the whole world. Distress and sadness exploded within her, and tears rolled down her cheeks. ¡°Sad?¡± a cool voice asked from behind her. It belonged to Lucius. He hade back at some point in time and was staring at her quietly. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Violet felt even worse. She said nothing and just continued crying. He gave her a mocking sneer. ¡°You poisoned their produce and ruined Imperial Pce¡¯s reputation. The fruit. farmers couldn¡¯t sell their produce anymore. You should have known they would want revenge for that. They¡¯re already being nice by only doing this to you.¡± ¡°Poisoned?¡± Violet stopped crying once she heard what Lucius said. Her mouth fell open. She could not believe that Agatha would do something like this. ¡°I brought you here today to remind you that you deserve all the punishments, no matter how many of N?velDrama.Org holds this content. them are rained down upon you.¡± He had more to say, but did not. He just looked at the table. Since Violet had only been paying attention to herself, she did not notice that his bowl had been full of gravel as well. He came here once a year to eat food filled with gravel so that he would remember the humiliation and lesson he learned in the past. ¡°That¡¯s unfair! Why do I have to suffer the consequences of Agatha¡¯s actions?¡± Violet clenched her fists and dug her nails into the wound on her palm. Lucius¡¯s expression turned cold. He red at her. ¡°Did you really think you¡¯ll be someone else after getting a new face via stic surgery?¡± The mockery in his voice was incredibly obvious. It was clear that he wasughing at her. Violet felt her heart clench in pain. She gnashed her teeth. ¡°I¡¯m not Agatha River!¡± Lucius¡¯s expression turned even darker and sourer. But Violet could not be bothered by it. She just ran over to him and hugged him. ¡°Please give me one whatever want with me!¡± you Lucius ignored her, but she did see someone behind him handing a phone to him. Not even caring whether it could be an important phone call, she snatched the phone, rejected the call, and dialed her father¡¯s number before setting the call on speaker mode. She was sure that if Patrick picked up the phone, he would help her. No matter how bad things were between them, blood was still thicker than water, and he would not turn his back on her. She heard the dial tone, and her heart leapt to her throat while she prayed that Patrick would be the one to pick up the phone this time. ¡°Hello?¡± God did not forsake her. She heard Patrick¡¯s voice. ¡°Dad! It¡¯s me. Violet!¡± Violet cried out. Patrick fell silent. D ¡°It¡¯s me, Violet,¡± she repeated while gripping the phone tightly. Due to how worked up she was, her voice quivered, but she stared at Lucius with refusal to give up. As long as Patrick said something, he would acknowledge her Identity, even if he only yelled at her. ¡°Violet is dead.¡± What? His answer waspletely against her expectations, and Violet was stunned. ¡°Dad?¡± But Patrick had already hung up. Violet had been driven to the edge of a cliff, and her father¡¯s words were the final nudge that pushed her off the cliff. She was dead? The phone fell to the floor, and she wrapped her arms around herself. The weight on her chest was so great that she felt like it was about to cave in, yet her mind was nk. ¡°What other tricks do you want to y?¡± Lucius¡¯s soft and cold voice came from above her head. After a moment, Lucius waved a white sheet of paper in front of her. She only looked up after a long time had passed. Lucius handed the paper to her. She took it and opened it with trembling hands. It was a death certificate. It stated that Violet Wickham had died four years ago. When Violet boarded the helicopter, she was chained up again, and Lucius¡¯s subordinate held the chain like he was walking a dog. Lucius had done this to humiliate Violet. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 But her shame could notpare to what she felt because of Patrick¡¯s words. She had thought that Belle was ying tricks to make it seem that Patrick had disowned her, but it was clear now-Patrick had really disowned her. Once they returned to Imperial Pce, the bikinidy walked over and seemingly identally tugged on the chain. Violet fell on the floor face-first, but Lucius pretended to not have seen it and just walked into the living hall. The bikinidy gave Violet a victorious smile and flipped her the bird. Violet hit her forehead, and it started bleeding, but she did not seem to have noticed it. She just tried to stand up. The bikinidy then stepped on the back of her palm with her high-heel. Piercing pain shot through Violet¡¯s body and went straight to her heart. It crashed into the wall of pain from being disowned by her father, and somehow, lessened it. ¡°Thank you.¡± Instead of cursing the bikinidy or fighting back, Violet thanked her. When the bikinidy saw the strange smile on her disheveled and dirty face, she was terrified and cussed her, ¡°F*cking crazy b*tch.¡± Then, she went into the living hall. The subordinate led Violet into the living hall as well. When she went in, she heard the bikinidy say, ¡°Lucius, she¡¯s horrible! She actually told me that she dumped you.¡± The bikinidy was taking a gamble by saying that. She looked at Lucius¡¯s expression warily, and her voice became softer as she continued speaking. Lucius clenched his fingers. His expression had been cold before, and it looked positively frigid now. Violet had indeed said that before. Feeling utterly exhausted, she wanted to justy down and never wake up. When she saw Lucius¡¯s dark gaze, she could not even be bothered to exin herself, so she just nodded. She was asking for death by doing that. George shook his head by the side but showed no pity. He was mad at her for lying to them about the baby. The other servants were standing nearby as well. While they did not show it on their faces, they were enjoying the show. ¡°Alright,¡± Lucius said and nodded with a cold expression. He looked outside. ¡°Go weed the garden.¡± A servant led Violet out into the garden, but it was not where she usually did her weeding. The new ce provided no shade, and the sun shone directly on her. *Start weeding the garden here.¡± The servant red at Violet and left. Violet said nothing and squatted down. She grabbed a clump of grass and pulled. Something sharp cut through her flesh. Violet brought her hand up and saw a long gash on her palm. It was bleeding rapidly, and she could not stop it. A row of sharp ss shards were hidden in the grass. Clearly, the servant had brought her here so that she would end up getting cut. Violet did not try to stop the bleeding and Just sat on the grass with a nk stare. The shocking red looked even stranger when the sun shone on it. Violet stared quietly as it fell onto the grass and dyed it red. At some point in time, a shadow fell over her. Lucius hade. When he saw the blood gushing out of her wound, a dark, indecipherable look appeared in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked. 1910 Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. If he had not identally seen it through the security camera, Violet might have bled out without making a sound. Violet said nothing and did not even move. Lucius picked up her hand and gripped it tightly. ¡°Do you really want to be their daughter? Just for that man?¡± Violet could not understand what he was saying. Not that she was in the mood to listen. She continued staying still. Lucius pulled her up. ¡°I should let that man see how pitiful you look right now.¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Violet was brought into the living hall. A doctor came in and dressed her wound. Since the bikinidy had stepped on the back of her hand, it was swollen badly, and since it had been wounded before, it looked terrible. Lucius asked the doctor to wrap it up tightly. His gaze was cold and profound. Violet could not detect any sort of care in his eyes, nor was she able to read his thoughts. lodine was put on her forehead wound as well. Then, Lucius ordered a servant to take her to the bathroom and change her clothes. Once Violet took a bath and was clean, she came out wearing a white dress. It fitted her pale face and showed off just how sickly she was. She wa was shepherded to the helicopter again. Lucius brought her to Bka City once more. After a moment, they went to a club. ¡°Send her in.¡± He then went into a secret room and stared at the screen in front of him for a long time before he said, ¡°Bring her out.¡± His subordinate brought her out of the room, and they walked down a long corridor. Violet thought that Lucius had gotten another man to scare her, just likest time, so her palms were covered in sweat. She bumped into a familiar person when they turned a corner. ¡°Emily?¡± Violet was not expecting to run into her half-sister here. The moment Emily saw her, her eyes flew open, and she screamed. Then, she fell backward. Her back hit the wall and she started trembling. ¡°Emily!¡± The door across from them opened, and Oliver rushed out. He hugged Emily, then noticed Violet standing nearby. ¡°Violet?¡± ¡°Oliver¡­¡± Violet sucked in a deep breath and looked toward him. ¡°What did you do to her?!¡± Oliver growled at her. Violet looked at Emily. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything-¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you hurt her enough?¡± Oliver did not want to listen to her in the slightest and rudely interrupted her. Meanwhile, Emily continued burying herself deeper into Oliver¡¯s arms, like she was seeking protection from Violet. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Violet calmed down and narrowed her eyes at Emily, ¡°You should ask her about some things, though.¡± ¡°Oliver, I¡¯m scared!¡± Emily hugged Oliver tighter and started sobbing. But her eyes were filled with wariness toward Violet. ¡°Why are you scared?¡± Violet sneered. She found Emily amusing. She wanted to tell Oliver that she was the one who took care of him that year, but then decided to keep her mouth shut. She remembered Oliver telling her that he would choose Emily even if she was not the one who took care of him. Violet did not want to bring humiliation upon herself. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand why she¡¯s scared? You ruined her voice and took away everything from her! Your name alone makes her tremble in fear! Why did you show up before her again?!¡± ¡°Oliver¡ª¡°Violet spoke up once more. She was willing to bet that Oliver had never said such cruel things before, but howe they were all directed toward her? Was she really that deserving of hatred? ¡°Violet, I don¡¯t want to get you canceled. So, please avoid the ces where Emily will be in the future!¡± Oliver said mercilessly and once more revealed his concern for Emily. Violet smiled bitterly, but it just ended up as a sneer. She became hated by everyone overnight. What exactly went so wrong? Oliver left with Emily at some point in time. Violet leaned against the wall and tried topose herself, but could not. Oliver was only concerned about. Emily and did not notice how injured and pale Violet was. She was brought back to the room where Lucius was. When she stood behind him, she finally saw the screen in front of him. He was reying all that had happened in the corridor. ¡°Violet, I don¡¯t want to get you canceled. So, please avoid the ces where Emily will be in the future!¡±* The words were grating to Violet¡¯s ears.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 She finally understood Lucius¡¯s purpose for bringing her here: it was to make her suffer again. His ulti ultimate goal was to torment her and make her life a living hell. With azy air, he shut theptop and looked at her coldly. Even though he was sitting, he looked regal, rxed, and imposing. ¡°Agatha, here¡¯s your lesson for today: not all men can be wrapped around your little finger. You¡¯re really stupid to have gone to him by using the excuse of looking for your baby.¡± His final sentence was filled with anger. Violet just stared at him and said nothing. To prove her identity, she had sought out Oliver before going Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. to the Wickham family¡¯s mansion. Oliver was there at that time, so it only made sense that Lucius would think that she had only gone to the Wickham family¡¯s mansion to see him. After all, he had sent someone to monitor her 24/7. ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± she said after a long time had passed. Lucius acted as if he did not hear her. He dialed a number. ¡°I want to buy all the artwork drawn by an artist called Oliver.¡± Violet¡¯s eyes flew wide open. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Praising him for doing the right thing.¡± Lucius hung up. Was he saying that all those who treated her coldly were doing the right thing? Meh. Violet hung her head. No emotion could be seen in her lustreless eyes, but they looked incredibly big on her face because she was really thin. Time passed. Lucius did not spend a lot of time punishing Violet, but he did ask her to weed the garden every single day. Even when it rained, he wanted her working in the garden. But even if Lucius did not punish her, others did. In Imperial Pce, Agatha was despised like a cockroach, and everyone wanted to kill her. Hence, whenever Violet went out to weed the garden, she had to face all sorts of schemes and was always inevitably hurt. Lucius was reading through the document in his hand when he looked up and did not see Violet. He frowned. ¡°Where is she?¡± George scowled and took the document Lucius passed over to him. After some thinking, he said, ¡°Ms. Agatha fainted.¡± ¡°Reason?¡± He felt no concem for her. He just did not want her punishment to end so soon. ¡°Malnourishment.¡± George decided to voice the reason. Lucius red at him, and there was obvious fury on his face. ¡°Why did you starve her?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t!¡± George answered hurriedly. Lucius had said that they could punish her however they wanted, but she had to be fed well. All so that she could suffer longer. She had to pay a hundredfold for the humiliation Lucius suffered over the past four years! ¡°We gave her food, but she refused to eat.¡± George was worried. He had tried persuading Violet to eat, but she simply refused to, and he could do nothing about it. This was his responsibility, though, so he had hidden it from Lucius. A crease appeared between Lucius¡¯s eyebrows. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°In the guest room.¡± When Lucius arrived at the guest room, Violet had already woken up. There was an IV drip attached to the back of her hand, and in front of her was a nourishing bowl of porridge, but she did not even spare it a nce. Over the past few days, whenever the doctor left, she pulled the needle out. Hence, the first thing Lucius saw when he walked in was her pulling out the needle without even blinking. Pinpricks of blood rushed out of the puncture hole. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked. Despite not being angry, he appeared to be awe-inspiring. Violet gave him an indifferent look. Her lips were so dry, rough, and ky that they looked like they were wrapped up in stic. ¡°Speeding up my death.¡± ¡°Do you think you have the right to die?¡± Lucius ordered the doctor toe back and set up the IV¡¯drip for Violet again. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Violet looked at the needle. ¡°Even If he puts it in, I¡¯ll just pull it out.¡± Which she did. Lucius¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Set it up again.¡± In the end, Violet¡¯s hand became a bloody mess, and there was no more room to insert the needle. ¡°Tie her up!¡± A few men came in and tied her up while making sure that her arms were spread out so that she could not fight back. The doctor was then finally able to put the needle in. Violet had an indifferent expression, but there was a stubborn look in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s my right to choose whether I live or die! Even if you hook me up to an IV drip every day, I can still die!¡± She opened her mouth and bit down. Lucius immediately realized what she wanted to do and grabbed her chin. At that point, her teeth were Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. part way through her tongue. She could taste blood in her mouth. Lucius grabbed Violet¡¯s chin so hard that her skin was pushed out of ce, and her jaw was nearly dislocated. Blood trickled down from the corners of her mouth, and when matched with her pale face, it was a shocking sight. Violet shut her eyes after her failed suicide attempt, and a single tear of grief rolled down. It burned her skin. She did not want to be Agatha River, but she was abandoned by everyone who knew her as Violet Wickham. What was the point in living anymore? ¡°You stopped me now, but you won¡¯t be able to stop me all the time,¡± she said without caring about the pain. Her moist eyshes cast shadows over her eyes that were full of despair. Instead of letting her go, Lucius just gripped her chin tighter. His face became twisted, and his veins popped up. ¡°If you try to die again, I¡¯m going to cut you to pieces. No. I¡¯m going to shut you in a cage full of starving dogs. Just you try me!¡± ¡°You¡¯re¡­ shameless!¡± Violet spat at him, and her blood sshed on his face. Lucius¡¯s already dark face became even colder because of the blood. ¡°George, get one hundred starving dogs.¡± Violet fell silent. Lucius finally let her go and smoothed out his disheveled cuffs. ¡°Get the dogs ready. If she won¡¯t ept treatment, send her to them.¡± The doctor brought Violet back to the bed. This time, she did not move and let the doctor do whatever he wanted. Lucius headed out, and the bikinidy went up to him. ¡°Darling.¡± +15 BONU George pulled her away and gave her a warning re. The bikinidy fell silent and no longer dared to do anything reckless. Luclus did not spare her a nce. He just left, and George went out after him. ¡°Master, Ms. Agatha¡¯s mother has arrived and wants to see her.¡± Luclus did not stop. He gave no answer either. But George already knew that this was a no. Since Lucius¡¯s word wasw in Imperial Pce, no one would disobey him if he did not want something to happen. The bikinidy stood where she was with greed shining clear in her eyes. She looked at Violet, who was in the room with the IV drip attached to her hand, and frustration rose on her face. Then, she looked at Lucius¡¯s bedroom before returning her gaze to the guest room where Violet was. If only she was no longer around¡­ The bikinidy longed to be the matriarch of Imperial Pce. Even though Luclus did not allow her to approach him on her own, he still condoned a lot of her actions in But Agatha River still upied the position of his wife, even though she was half-dead. The bikinidy had to think of something to change that. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Violet did not want to be tom apart by starving dogs, so she forced herself to eat some porridge and let the doctor administer an IV drip. Honestly, she had not been sleeping well over the past few days, and her eyelids felt like they were made of lead. Soon, she fell asleep. While she was dozing off, she felt a stab of pain from her hand. Thinking that it was the doctor. Violet Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. did not open her eyes and let the person do whatever they wanted. ¡°Ms. Agathal¡± She woke up at the cry and shot up from bed. The doctor stood in front of her with a disgruntled expression. When she looked down, she saw that the needle was no longer attached to the back of her hand. ¡°Why did you pull the needle out? the doctor asked in disapproval Confused, she said. ¡°But I didn¡¯t.¡± The doctor walked over. Violet looked up and saw that the IV bag was not even half empty. The needle swung below it. The tape used to attach the needle to the back of her hand was in the trashcan. In less than half an hour, George appeared. ¡°Madam, Master Lucius wants you in the living hall.¡± She was escorted downstairs. Lucius sat in the living hall with his long legs pressed together. His hair fell over his temples and cast his face in a dark shadow. Violet gulped. ¡°The The doctor removed the needle. I didn¡¯t do it¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been downstairs since you were brought away, and Mr. George saw me head up only when it was time to remove the needle.¡± The doctor looked upset. He was the family doctor and knew not to do anything stupid. Lucius cast a nce at the IV bag and needle George brought down with him. ¡°This isn¡¯t how Dr. Rocko removes IV needles.¡± So, he was certain she did it. Violet¡¯s eyes flew wide open. Lucius fixed her with a gloomy stare. ¡°What should we do?¡± George asked in a troubled manner. Lucius flicked the fabric over his knees. ¡°Do what you were told to do.¡± He then got up and left with no hesitation. A few bodyguards pulled Violet up and dragged her to the backyard. There was a dog there wandering around. It was huge and fierce. When it saw Violet, its eyes shone with hunger. ¡°Throw her in,¡± George said. He was not a kind man, and Agatha River had gotten on his nerves after repeatedly lying to Lucies. A bodyguard shoved Violet In. The moment she fell into the backyard, the prowling dog smelled her scent and looked over. Violet nted her back against the tall fence, and fear shone in her eyes. She was currently at a spot facing the window of the second floor¡¯s corridor, and she could see Lucius sitting by it, while the bikinidy stood behind him. The dog was starving, and Violet¡¯s scent made it even hungrier. It charged over while drooling, which made it look like a creature from hell. Violet wanted to run away, but it was impossible. She was prey shut in a cage and did not have any dignity. The dog was huge, so there was no way she could win against it. Tears ran down her cheeks as she foresaw her death. The dog¡¯s hungry growls drew nearer. Violet had been frozen in fear, but once she realized she could not run, she charged at the dog. With no weapons in hand, she charged at the dog, but she was the one who ended up falling on her butt. When she fell on the grass, she saw the bikinidy¡¯s face and Lucius¡¯s cold expression. Her view was soon blocked by the dog¡¯s face. She no longer had the strength to escape. The dog opened its jaws. Bang. The pain Violet expected did note. Instead, she was dragged up. Violet opened her eyes and saw a haggard middle-aged woman protecting her with a stick in her hand. She had used it to hit the dog. The animal ran away in fear and hit the fence, which released even more starving dogs. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 ¡°Let my daughter go! Please!¡± The woman shielded Violet behind her and pleaded with Luclus. Why was she begging for mercy on Violet¡¯s behall? Violet was confused. They were soon surrounded by dogs. The woman lifted her stick and swung it at the dogs. She was not worried about herself whatsoever and just focused on protecting Violet. Lucius swung his hand upstairs, and George Immediately moved. He gave an order, ¡°Chase them back!¡± A few bodyguards jumped in and cracked the whips in their hands. The dogs yelped in pain and ran back. Violet and the woman fell to the grass. Due to the chaos earlier, the grass was a mess. After a long moment, Violet finally wrapped her head around what had happened. She grabbed the woman. Who-¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°You stupid girl! Why did you do something like that?! Why didn¡¯t you listen to your own mother?! Why did you do this to yourself?! Why?!¡± The woman pped her multiple times, and she did not hold her strength back. She cried while yelling, as if she was thoroughly disappointed in her. Wait¡­ She said mother. Was she Agatha River¡¯s mother? While the woman hit her with all her strength, Violet could see the love in her eyes. A person would only grow resentful of someone if they had truly loved them before, she supposed. Dumbfounded, Violet just stared at the gray-haired, middle-aged woman. She was envious, but also touched. She had never thought that there woulde a day when someone would protect her at the risk of their own lives, then beg someone to spare her while casting aside their own dignity. Even when the woman hit her, her actions stemmed from love. Was this how it felt like to have a mother? Even so, Violet¡¯sst shred of rationality made her think of one thing. ¡°Could we do a paternity test?¡± The woman stopped crying and yelling at her. She stared at her with teary eyes. ¡°For what? You were never my flesh and blood. I¡¯m just your adoptive mother. How could you forget that?¡± What?! Was there really no way for her to prove that she was not Agatha River? For some reason, she no longer felt as disappointed as before. ¡°Seriously, you. The woman shook her head before hugging her tightly, as if she was worried Violet would leave the moment she let go. Having never enjoyed a mother¡¯s love before. Violet felt really touched and said, ¡°Mom-.-¡± ¡°Oh, my child¡ª¡± The woman finally broke down and started bawling. Violet stayed in her arms quietly while also crying. She had never thought that someone would show her such concern after she had been abandoned by her family, much less imagine that she would receive a mother¡¯s love from a woman she did not even know. Perhaps it was not so bad being Agatha. At the very least, she had a mother who cared for her and loved her. Violet had never longed to be Agatha as much as she did at that moment. After they were done crying, Naomi River, Agatha¡¯s mother, led her out of the backyard while holding her hand. Her tight grip made warmth blossom in Violet¡¯s heart, even though she had gone through such a scare just now. Lucius came down and headed out. ¡°Master Lucius!¡± Naomi suddenly rushed toward him and fell down on her knees in front of him. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not bringing up my daughter property. Let me take her ce for whatever wrongs she has done.¡± Touched, Violet teared up again. She went up to Lucius and bowed willingly for the first time. ¡°I¡¯m Agatha River. I¡¯ll pay for all the mistakes I¡¯ve made.¡± Lucius remained stony faced when Naomi spoke, but when Violet did, he narrowed his eyes and stared at her. ¡°Please don¡¯t get innocent people involved.¡± Violet pulled Naomi up. When Naomi wanted to say something else, Violet touched her arm and shook her head. Her eyes were filled with determination. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 ¡°Please leave. Ms. Naomi George said. He had already made a mistake by letting Naomi slip among the ranks of people in charge of bringing the starving dogs over. Naomi gave Violet a longing look, but did not say anything else and just left while filled with worry. When Violet saw her gaze, she felt touched again. ¡°Let me send her off.¡± Lucius did not say no and let Violet do as she wished. The bikinidy stomped her feet in frustration. She had thought that Violet would be done for after pulling her needle out, but Naomi just had to show up! ¡°Darling, they don¡¯t respect you at all¡± she said. Lucius nodded and gestured at her with his chin. ¡°You should get ready.¡± ¡°For?¡± The bikinidy¡¯s eyes lit up. Her first thought was that Lucius was finally going to acknowledge her and chase Violet away so that he could marry her. ¡°Give her to the dogs, Mr. George.¡± ¡°What?¡± Before the bikinidy could figure out what he meant. George ordered her to be dragged away. He shook his head in resignation as he listened to her screams. Only stupid people like her would use such dirty tricks to stay beside Lucius. Didn¡¯t she know that Lucius hated such women the most?Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Send her away with the dogs before sunset,¡± Lucius instructed impatiently and strode to the helicopter. It rose to the air quickly, and he looked down to see the increasingly smaller figures on the ground. The thinner one was Violet. He knew from the start that Violet was not the one who pulled the needle out, but pretended not to just to punish her further. Of course, he also wanted her to give up on seeking death, so that he could continue punishing her. Naomi touched Violet¡¯s face and sighed. ¡°Why did you change your face? Your original one was just fine. You still look pretty, but it feels like you¡¯re no longer my daughter.¡± Violet said nothing and just looked down. Naomi hugged her again. ¡°Why are you so stupid, Agatha? Master Lucius might be busy, but he has never neglected you. He gave you everything you wanted, so why did you betray him?¡± She sighed. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s my fault for always letting you do what you wanted.¡± While lecturing Violet, she also reflected on her own actions. This had to be how a good mother should be. When she cheated on Patrick, Violet was still a baby. Then, her parents divorced. Patrick took her into his custody, so Violet did not even remember what her mother looked like. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Master Lucius isn¡¯t as heartless as he appears to be. If you show him that you¡¯re really sorry. he¡¯ll forgive you.¡± Naomi smoothed out Violet¡¯s hair like she was her own daughter. But Violet did not hear a single thing of what she said. She just soaked in Naomi¡¯s warmth like a starving man while recalling how Naomi had swung the stick to protect her against the dogs. Violet hummed and nuzzled against Naomi¡¯s palm. Then, she waved Naomi goodbye and returned to Imperial Pce. The doctor inserted the IV drip in her again and cleaned up her wounds. After that. Violet went back to Lucius¡¯s bedroom, cleaned herself up, andid down in her bed. When midnight arrived, the door creaked open, and Violet woke up with a start. She shot up from the bed. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Lucius walked in and removed his shirt, which revealed all of his upper body. Violet could tell that he worked out to take care of his body. When he saw her, he narrowed his eyes and threw his shirt on the bed. ¡°You¡¯re sleeping in the guest room from today onwards!¡± Thinking that she was hearing things, Violet dug her ears, but Lucius just gestured at the door as a sign for her to go out. She packed up and left in just a few seconds, as if she had been spared from death. Why did he do this? Had he lost his mind? Violet could not figure out the answer. Logically speaking, shouldn¡¯t he rain down torment on her after she finally said that she was Agatha River? Not that she was not going to ept being able to leave Lucius¡¯s bedroom. After all, she was not a masochist. She even began humming on her way to George to get a room for herself. When she found George, she saw another woman entering a guest room. Obviously, she was Lucius¡¯s new lover. Violet was used to him fooling around with women, so she did not care about it. Meanwhile, Lucius stared at the shut door and looked down. Even though Violet had managed to hide her relieved expression well, he still noticed it, and a cold look appeared on his face. Violet slept well. When she woke up, she stretched and exhaled. She could breathe easier after sleeping in another room. She also did not have to wake up with a start at the slightest sound anymore. She went downstairs for breakfast. After that, she intended to continue weeding the garden. When she reached the dining hall, she saw Lucius scowling disdainfully at his breakfast. It did not look like he had even touched it. With a troubled expression, George stared at the breakfast while sweating bullets. ¡°Master Lucius, I thought you aren¡¯t¡­..¡± He did not dare to say that Lucius was usually not picky. Lucius red at him. ¡°The food has been getting worse. Do you want to retire that badly?¡± The food had not been getting worse. Lucius was just getting more picky. After all, their chefs were all world- ss masters of their craft. At that moment, George gave Violet a pleading look. She shrugged and entered the kitchen to make a bowl of soup noodles. ¡°If you¡¯re not used to that food, try this,¡± she said and mmed the bowl in front of Lucius. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. George gave her a grateful look, but she gave him a look that said, ¡°It¡¯s still too early to be celebrating.¡± Then, she sat down and started enjoying the breakfast Lucius did not want. Seriously, some people had to live like the broke to truly understand how valuable things were. Lucius finished the noodles. When he wiped his mouth, Violet, too, finished her breakfast. George looked at her gratefully again and was close to screaming his thanks at her. ¡°You¡¯re as cunning as ever, at least. You know how to cook the food I like,¡± Lucius said coolly. He was not praising her. Since Violet was not an idiot, she immediately understood what he meant and corrected him coolly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to kiss your *ss. But since I¡¯m supposed to be making up for my mistakes, I suppose I should act like it. Of course, if you think I¡¯m kissing your *ss, I have nothing to say about that.¡± She sounded like apletely different person. Even George was surprised, and he gave her a profound look. Lucius did not say anything. He just continued wiping his mouth. Once Violet got up and started for the garden, George chased after her. ¡°Madam, could you cook Master Lucius¡¯s meals from now on? He¡¯s about to be busy again.¡± All chefs knew that their lives would be hell once Lucius got busy. Violet nodded. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll handle him until he gets sick of my food too.¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 ¡°Thank you.¡± George was grateful but also puzzled. ¡°Why did you suddenly change your mind?¡± She had not been willing to cook for Lucius before. Violet smiled at him. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just say that since I¡¯m Agatha River, I¡¯ll make up for my mistakes? Cooking is one of the ways I¡¯ll make it up to him.¡± She took a step forward and thought of something else. ¡°Mr. George, Agatha-I mean, did I really poison Lucius¡¯s farm?¡± George regarded her strangely. ¡°I went under the knife, you know? The anesthesia was really strong, and I don¡¯t remember some things.¡± Since no one was going to believe her that she was not Agatha, she decided to be her. George nodded, and his expression turned grave. ¡°You did. Imperial Enterprises has top-ss markets all around the world. Everything sold in them is known to be top ss, even without advertisements. ¡°While Imperial Enterprises wasn¡¯t this prestigious before, its items were still really good, and their target market was the upper-ss society. But suddenly, someone died from eating their agricultural produce, and it caused a huge ruckus. ¡°Everyone lost trust in Imperial Enterprises, and thepany could only announce that it will never sell agricultural produce again. The produce that had already been grown could only rot away after that.¡± George sighed. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°This was just the start of it. Plenty of other things happened after that, and they almost drove Imperial Enterprises to bankruptcy. No one bought from its markets anymore. We investigated everyone, but found that they were not the cause behind it. Then, you left with that important document. It was only then that Master Lucius realized that you were behind it all.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Agatha was that horrible? Violet¡¯s mouth hung open, but she did not dare to ask any further questions. George was already burning with indignant rage. If she asked more questions, he might kill her. So, she went to weed the garden. This time, she paid attention to the time. When it was 5 p.m., she stopped weeding and removed her gloves so that she could cook for Lucius. Once she returned to the living hall, she saw two people on the sofa. One of them, obviously, was Lucius, while the other was the woman who came the day before. She was sitting on hisp. He had a hand around her waist, and they were having the time of their life making out. Seriously, get a room. Violet rolled her eyes, but did not bother them. They had just begun with forey and would probably need some time to be done. So, Violet went upstairs to rest a while before she went off to cook. Sheid down and fell asleep. ¡°Madam.¡± Violet only woke up when George knocked on her door. She rubbed her eyes and saw that it was nearly 7 p.m.. When she opened the door, she saw George standing there while looking really nervous. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you made dinner?¡± Violet stretched and went downstairs, only to see that Lucius was no longer stuck to the woman like glue. He sat on the sofa with a cold expression, while the woman was gone. He adjusted his cufflinks and said coldly, ¡°You can pack your bags, Mr. George.¡± George felt so nervous that he did not dare to make a sound. Violet took a step forward. ¡°Weren¡¯t you having fun just now? How was I supposed to know how long you¡¯d screw her? If I made dinner earlier and it got cold, what then?¡± Lucius red at her coldly. His expression was really dark. Violet shrugged. She felt that she did nothing wrong. ¡°I¡¯ll make dinner now.¡± She went to the kitchen. Lucius shot to his feet and followed after her. The moment Violet entered the kitchen, she heard the door m shut. It was so loud that the shelves in the kitchen nearly fell over. ¡°Out!¡± Lucius shouted while ring at her. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Realizing that things were about to go south, the other people in the kitchen left. Violet rubbed the back of her head and slowly shimmied away. She wanted to leave as well. But Lucius grabbed her arm and yanked her over. Nervous, Violet looked at him, and her heart leapt to her throat again. Did she get on his bad side? ¡°Are you sad?¡± he asked and did nothing else. ¡°Huh?¡± Violet could not understand what he meant at all. ¡°Are you sad that I was making out with another woman?¡± he asked. ¡°No, nope, not at all.¡± She shook her head with no hesitation. She had never liked him, so why should Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. she feel sad? ¡°I do think it¡¯s indecent, though.¡± Lucius¡¯s expression turned dark. He was so angry that Violet felt that if looks could kill, she would be dead. Violet felt innocent. After all, all she did was tell the truth. Lucius could see that her eyes held no hidden sadness. His mood turned foul, and he threw a bowl in her direction. Violet thought that he was aiming for her, and she instinctively covered her head. The bowl shattered on the wall behind her. Some of the shardsnded on the floor, while some reached her. Lucius had shattered a porcin bowl from a set that was worth a few ten thousand dors! Violet stared at the shards with her heart bleeding. Even the Wickham family only had two sets of such porcin ware, and they seldom used them. They only brought them out for important guests. ¡°Cook ten different dishes for dinner, and make sure there are no repeats!¡± Lucius ordered after he regained his usualposure. It was as if the shattered bowl on the floor had nothing to do with him. Then, he walked out. His gait was as rxed as usual. Violet patted her chest in relief while feeling dumbfounded. She only registered what he said after some time. Then, she started cleaning the table and the food. Cooking ten different dishes was not an easy task. Even if Violet usually did chores around the house, she still ended up scrambling around the kitchen. Fortunately, she managed to finish the ten dishes on time. She put the food on the table. Her dishes did not look particrly appetizing, nor were they fancy. Lucius¡¯s new me covered her nose and frowned a little once she sat down beside Lucius. It was clear that she looked down on the food Violet cooked. But Lucius said nothing about it. He just picked up his spoon and fork and started eating elegantly. It was a pleasant sight, but somehow, he managed to finish all ten dishes, and well¡­ there was nothing elegant about Violet and George were shocked. Even his new me was surprised. Hesitantly, she picked up a slice of pork and ate it but found nothing special about it. Lucius red at Violet and ordered, ¡°Clean up the table.¡± He then went upstairs with his hand around his new me¡¯s waist. He was going to screw her right after dinner? ¡°I hope you get appendicitis!¡± Violet cursed him in her heart and began cleaning the table. Ever since she was brought here, Lucius had no need to hire a gardener, chef, or dish washer. Fortunately, George treated her well by giving her the food the chefs made. Why should she help him save money when he insisted on eating like the poor? Violet ate with gusto. Once she got upstairs, she found Lucius pinning his new me against the door and kissing her. He was also groping her, and the scene looked straight out of an adult movie. Violet covered her mouth so that she did not say anything unnecessary. It was better to keep a low profile for her own safety¡¯s sake. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Violet walked past them softly. When she opened the door, she did it cautiously. Since she was paying attention to her own movements, she did not notice that Lucius was looking at her coldly. ¡°Lucius¡­¡± His new me murmured. She spoke slowly, and it sounded really seductive, but Lucius was not in the mood. He shoved her away and left without another word. The new me¡¯s face was still flushed, but at that moment, resentment bloomed in her eyes. It was midnight. Violet was sleeping soundly when someone knocked on the door and woke her up. Thinking that she was dreaming, she turned around, only to hear a servant calling her from outside. ¡°Madam, Mr. George has summoned you to Master Lucius¡¯s bedroom!¡± The knocking grew louder. If Violet did not open the door, the servant might actually kick it down. With her eyes still bleary with sleep, Violet got up and opened the door. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Mr. George said you¡¯ll know once you get there.¡± Violet was practically dragged over. When she reached Lucius¡¯s bedroom, she saw him leaning over the bed and puking. The light was dim, but she could still see that his face was pale. George¡¯s worry grew. When he saw Violet, he asked anxiously. ¡°What did you put in Master Lucius¡¯s food?!¡± Violet was still sleepy, so she could not figure out what had caused Lucius to puke. Before she could make heads or tails of the situation, Lucius finished throwing up. He picked up a ss of water and rinsed his mouth. Then, he looked at her coldly. ¡°I just used the ingredients in the kitchen.¡± Violet looked at him innocently. Once she realized that her words were really ambiguous, she added, ¡°I didn¡¯t add anything else!¡± ¡°Send the food in the kitchen for testing. If you did cause this, I won¡¯t let you off!¡± Lucius ordered, and he Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. practically spat out hisst word to show that there would be hell to pay if Violet was truly responsible. George left. Then, a doctor came in. The doctor asked a few specific questions. When he heard that Lucius ate ten dishes¡¯ worth of food, he frowned. ¡°Master, you¡¯re just suffering from indigestion.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Violet snickered. He had indigestion? And here they were acting as if Lucius was about to die, which would lead to Imperial Enterprises going bankrupt. Lucius looked like he had just sucked on a lemon. He red at Violet with a dark expression, and Violet hunched her shoulders. Once she remembered her status in Imperial Pce, she tried her best not tough and bowed her head to pretend to be a good girl. The doctor gave Lucius some digestion pills. ¡°You¡¯ll need someone to keep an eye on you to make sure you don¡¯t get a fever at night.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Lucius¡¯s new me had gotten word of him being sick and hurried over. She wanted to take up the task, so Violet stretched and turned to leave. ¡°She¡¯ll do it.¡± Lucius gestured at Violet. ¡°Me?¡± Violet¡¯s jaw fell ck, and she pointed at herself in disbelief. Why would he pick her when there were so many other options avable? ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the reason why I ended up like this. Of course you¡¯re the one who has to keep watch!¡± he said, then leaned against the headboard with his eyes shut. Violet clenched her fists. He was the one who ate too much! What did that have to do with her?! But she could not argue with someone who had way more authority than she did. She knew that she could not win against him. So, even though she did not want to, she walked over to him with her shoulders slumped. The new me gave Lucius a sad look, then red at Violet. Even if Violet was oblivious, she could still sense that to the new me, taking care of Lucius was a rare chance to get closer to him. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 All he had was a handsome face. Why were so many women hell-bent on bing his lover? Everyone left. Violet silently took out the number of pills prescribed and gave them to Lucius. ¡°Take your medicine.¡± Lucius opened his eyes. He took the medicine without a word and swallowed it. Then, he drank some water before handing back the ss to Violet. Once done, heid down and shut his eyes. The dim light shone on his face and made him less aggressive than usual. He looked like a child that was much more approachable. Violet carried out her duties meticulously. Once every half an hour, she put a thermometer into his ear to check his temperature. Since she took care of theatose Oliver for more than a year, taking care of others was not a big deal to her. Lucius was actually fine and showed no signs of a fever. Violet stretched her arms and felt the irresistible tug of sleep. So, she went to the bathroom and sshed cold water on her face. More than once she had done this to wake herself up while keeping watch over Oliver. She had believed that if she could just stay awake, she would see the miracle of Oliver waking up, but when it truly happened, she was not around to witness it and had no part to y in it. The past rose to the forefront of Violet¡¯s mind, and her heart clenched in pain once again. It hurt so much that she felt like her heart was about to be cut to pieces. Bam! A muffled thud from the room snapped her out of her thoughts. She quickly rushed out to check on Lucius. Under the dim, yellow light from the bedside table, Lucius¡¯s features were scrunched together, and his eyes were shut. He appeared to be in great pain. Was it the stomachache? His hands were cradling his stomach. Violet was shocked, but she ran over to hold his hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Lucius?¡± His hand was cold. If she had not seen him moving, she would have thought that he was dead. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his face turned even paler. ¡°You¡¯re scaring me here¡­¡± Violet could not figure out what was wrong with Lucius, so she got up to look for N?velDrama.Org holds this content. the doctor. But Lucius grabbed her wrist and stopped her. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he whispered. Violet¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He sounded so helpless. It waspletely opposite of how he usually acted. Violet had not expected the high-and-mighty Lucius to have moments of weakness like any other human being. His palms were covered in sweat, but she did not find it unbearable. Instead, she wanted to protect him. Had she lost her mind? Was it because the dim light gave the room a tender atmosphere? Before Violet could even figure out why she felt this way, Lucius opened his eyes. His gaze was filled with an emotion she could not decipher, but he did not seem to recognize her. He frowned. Then, his gaze turned sharp, and he shoved her away. Caught off guard, Violet stumbled backward, and her back mmed into her bed that had yet to be removed. Pain red in her waist, and she felt like it was about to break. ¡°Lucius, you¡­..¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Violet was chased out. She returned to her room while cradling her hurting waist. When she shut her eyes, she remembered the hate on Lucius¡¯s face, and she trembled in fear. ¡°Madam, please make some nd porridge for Master Lucius. His stomach is upset, so he can¡¯t eat any solids.¡± When she got up, she saw George standing at the door. Violet rubbed her still aching waist, and displeasure was rife on her face. ¡°Are his abs just for show? Why is his stomach so bad?¡± George¡¯s expression changed, and his gaze became indecipherable. ¡°Master Lucius had a terrible injury to his stomach in the past. Even though it got better after treatment and training, he still has digestion problems. Madam, you might think that taking care of him is troublesome, but this wouldn¡¯t have happened if not for you.¡± Chapter 46 Chapter 46 He did not hold back his criticism, so Violet could tell that something was off. ¡°It¡¯s because of me again?¡± George could only be referring to Agatha River. ¡°When you left, you created huge trouble for Master Lucius. Plenty of people hated him and wanted to take revenge on him. After you left, Master Lucius also went missing. Everyone was saying that Master Lucius went into hiding because he couldn¡¯t afford to bear responsibility.. ¡°Then, one monthter, someone discovered him in the hospital. He said he had been abducted, but he never provided us with any details. But, based on his injuries, he went through Inhumane torture and was starved so badly that he was practically a skeleton.¡± Agatha was really cruel. ¡°Even so, his family did not intend to forgive him and wanted him to take responsibility.¡± Violet could imagine just how much suffering he went through. The things Lucius went through were the exact things Violet was going through at that moment. Suddenly, Violet sympathized with him. ¡°Master Lucius is a prideful man. He had everything going smoothly for him since young. He had a unique judgment when it came to his studies and business management. Everyone called him a genius, but this very same genius was deceived by a woman, who he insisted on marrying despite everyone¡¯s protests. ¡°So, you can imagine what mental shock he went through after that happened, and he even had to suffer such physical harm too.¡± George was basically denouncing Agatha on behalf of Lucius at this point. Violet hung her head and no longer tried to defend herself. All she felt right then was shock over what Lucius had gone through. ¡°You might be receiving punishment now, but what you¡¯re going through is not even one-tenth of what Master Lucius went through in the past. Besides, Master Lucius hasn¡¯t even told everyone that you¡¯re the reason why Imperial Enterprises nearly went bankrupt in the past. He¡¯s too kind. Since you¡¯re back, you should make it up Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. to Master Lucius as much as you can.¡± With that said, George left. Violet¡¯s annoyance at having to take care of Lucius was gone. She obediently went into the kitchen to cook vegetable porridge. While she was stirring the pot, she marveled over what Lucius went through and how much he loved Agatha. That had to be why he was hiding the truth for her. With a bowl of porridge in hand, Violet went through the living room and was just about to go upstairs when she saw Lucius going into the study room with George behind him. ¡°Your stomach hasn¡¯t recovered. You should rest for a few days before going back to work.¡± Lucius ignored George and went into the study room. George frowned, Obviously, he was worried about Lucius¡¯s health. Whenever Lucius started working, he did not stop for a few days and nights. If he did it while sick, he would be marching to his own death. Violet saw this, and she went to the study room. George bowed his head at her. ¡°Madam¡­¡± Violet kicked the door open. Lucius had just turned on theputer and was about to start work. The door swinging open made him frown, and he red coldly. George¡¯s face turned pale. Violet was the first person to dare to kick open Lucius¡¯s door. Violet marched over and mmed the bowl of porridge on his table. ¡°Eat.¡± Lucius did not move. His expression turned even darker from anger. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Violet spooned up some porridge and brought it to his mouth. Lucius just stared at her. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Violet¡¯s heart pounded with fear as she confronted Lucius. How could she work up the courage to confront him like that, she wondered? Despite feeling empathy for his circumstances, she saw no reason to risk her life by entering the lion¡¯s den. On the other hand, retreating wasn¡¯t her style. Determined, she assumed amanding tone, and went on, ¡°Starting today, you must eat regrly, regardless of your schedule. If you choose not to, that¡¯s fine by me. I¡¯ll be free to enjoy life and fool around with other men once you¡¯re gone.¡± George, standing at the door, coughed repeatedly, signaling to Violet that she was treading on dangerous ground. But she added mockingly, ¡°Since we¡¯re married, I¡¯ll inherit your wealth if you die. Haha! Imagine me doing it with other men in your bed.¡± A dark cloud crept across Lucius¡¯s features. Regardless, Violet went on, ¡°You better think twice about what you¡¯re doing!¡± She then hurried out of the study, tossing the spoon aside. She obviously couldn¡¯t sit there after she had said such defiant things to him. Fortunately, Lucius chose not to pursue Violet as she left. Later, when George entered to provide Lucius with water, he emerged from the study carrying an empty bowl. Violet soon realized it was the same bowl of porridge she had brought for Lucius earlier. George then informed her, ¡°Master Lucius has decided that you¡¯ll handle all his meals from now on. He prefers them to be light and simple, served in small quantities.¡± There was a noticeable gleam of thankfulness in George¡¯s eyes as he delivered this message. Violet touched her head, startled that herments had actually made an impact. ¡°Also, Master Lucius wants you to personally feed him,¡± George added. Violet nearly burst into tears. She wondered why it was her responsibility to feed him. However, she reluctantlyplied as there was no other choice. At noon, she dutifully brought Lucius a milk pudding. He didn¡¯t look at her but pulled her onto hisp, as he had done before. As she fed him, he ate mechanically, not paying attention to the food. His head asionally brushed against her chest, and there were moments when his lips nearly touched her nipple as he turned to eat. His scalding hot breath made it difficult for her to hold the bowl steady. Violet was sweating profusely by the time she finished feeding him. She felt more drained than having jogged manyps. Lucius, preupied with his work, dismissed her as soon as she finished. This routine went on for several days. ¡°You¡¯re incredible,¡± she heard one day. Exiting the study after feeding Lucius. Violet encountered his new lover, who had observed the entire scene through the partially open door. Jealousy was apparent on the woman¡¯s face. Violet giggled. She wanted to cry, but no one would not believe her. ¡°Could you show me how to cook? I¡¯m clueless about Lucius¡¯s food preferences,¡± she asked modestly, clearly sharper than thedy in the bikini. Violet appreciated her insight, and decided to teach her a few tricks. ¡°There¡¯s no special trick. The key is simplicity. He has a taste for simpler, rougher food. The less refined it is, the more he likes it.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Haha!¡± the woman giggled awkwardly, clearly disagreeing with her statement. Violet felt a chill on the back of her neck, and pondered why. ¡°Lucius!¡± the woman suddenly called out coyly. *Lucius?!¡± Violet whirled around swiftly the moment she realized the woman was summoning someone, only to see Lucius standing behind her, his face dark with displeasure. Had he overheard their conversation? Lucius gave Violet a frosty look. He had just finished his work, and had caught the tail end of her He remained silent, but his expression spoke volumes as he walked past her. Flushed, Violet reyed her own words in her mind-she recalled the part about Lucius preferring coarse food, and cringed at the thought of him eating something like bran. Anxious that Lucius might confront her about it, she spent most of the day on edge, startled by every sound from upstairs. To her relief, he never approached her. Eventually, she rxed and went back to her routine. Since she began cooking for Lucius, George had stopped assigning her garden work. Violent weed this break, enjoying some leisure time in her room with the air conditioning. Later, feeling thirsty, she stepped out with a cup in hand and unexpectedly found herself face-to-face Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. with Lucius again. Violet tried to shield her face and slip away quietly. As she moved past Lucius, she suddenly felt a firm grip around her waist, pulling her towards him. Caught off guard, she was quickly yanked forward by Lucius. They entered his bedroom, the door mming shut behind them. She soon found herself pushed onto his bed. Violet recoiled immediately. She kept a wary eye on him as he pinned himself on top of her, trapping him beneath him. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Rough and coarse food? Do you see me as a cow?¡± He hummed coldly through his nose, emanating deadly air. She was astounded that he was aware of her remarks. Her head raced as she struggled to say the right words. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention wanting to invite men and bang them on my bed? Should I arrange that for you?¡± His gaze drifted towards her chest as he said threateningly, ¡°How about a few bulls?¡± Chapter 48 Chapter 48 ¡°Bulls¡­ Violet¡¯s mind shed back to the terrifying dogs that had almost attacked her. She broke out into a cold sweat, and herplexion turned pale. ¡°No!¡± she eximed in panic, gripping his wrist tightly. His arms, positioned on either side of her, were tense and strong. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Violet quickly apologized, exhaling softly in an attempt to calm his anger. Lucius observed her from above and inhaled her scent; it had a mild, flowery sweetness that was utterly enticing. This was his first time noticing a woman¡¯s scent, and it was intoxicating. His body tensed uncontrobly, aroused, as though he were receiving a drug injection. Oblivious to his reaction, Violet continued to breathe heavily in fear, her chest rising and falling. As he felt it, Lucius¡¯ eyes darkened, and his gaze shifted to her chest. Wordless, but Adam¡¯s apple bobbed wildly, he took in the silent invitation. Without realizing it, Violet ced her hand on his chest and gently pushed him. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I won¡¯t do it again.¡± This slight touch seemed to ignite something within him. He yanked her hand away, dropped his head, and ced his lips on her chest. Taken by surprise, Violet was momentarily immobilized. She gazed at his thick hair, feeling the warmth and moisture against her chest. This sensation was like a chord being struck within her, making her heart flutter and soar. A soft moan escaped from her lips. His actions became more daring. With one hand, he tore at her clothes, while his other hand slid down. Just as things were heating up, the pressure was suddenly lifted off of her. Lucian pulled away, the passion in his eyes turned cold as he remarked, ¡°Truly aroused! Look how red your skin is.¡± She abruptly returned to her senses and looked down at herself. True to his word, her skin was the color of a lobster, silently glowing with an enticing radiance. How humiliating! Feeling utterly embarrassed, Violet quickly wrapped herself in her clothes. He scoffed, threw his coat over her, andmanded, ¡°Get out!¡± Violet dashed out of his room, fleeing from the incident. When it came to intimate encounters, she and Lucius were pr opposites. He maintained control over his emotions, easily reverting to his usualposed self, unlike Violet. +15 BONOS While she was panting in her small room, her face flushed, Lucius appeared at her window. Breathless and flushed in her small room, she peeked at Lucius outside her window. He strolled gracefully to his chopper, and climbed into it with ease. He boarded effortlessly, showing no signs of the earlier passion, and left with his new lover. He returned with many more women the next morning. After taking in the lineup of women who were more stunning than top international models, Violet could only sigh. ¡°What a yboy!¡± For the following days, aside from asionally preparing simple meals to bnce his refined taste buds, her job reverted to weeding. Weeding, always weeding. Violet wasn¡¯t bothered by it, despite its monotonousness. Lucius, seemingly with more leisure time, often swam in theke. His entourage of newpanions followed him like ducklings. Sometimes, he would openly kiss one of them, unconcerned by onlookers. Violet shook her head. ¡°What a stud!¡± It was terribly hot outside. Sweat soaked her back, causing her shirt to cling ufortably. She removed her jacket, revealing a tank top underneath. The field was deserted, so there was no concern about her attire being noticed. Her outfit was modestpared to those of the women around Lucius. She resumed her weeding task. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Lucius, having dismissed his femalepanions, had gone upstairs and sat on the balcony at the end of the corridor. From the second floor, he had a clear view of Violet. Her slender figure swayed gently, her arms moving rhythmically as she worked. In her tank top, her contours were distinctly visible. Despite her less prominent featurespared to the more morous women-smaller breasts, a shorter waist, and not as long legs-Lucius couldn¡¯t understand why her every movement ignited a fiery sensation within him. Unable to continue watching, Lucius stood up. He went back to his room, showered, and thenid down on his bed. Lucius quickly fell asleep, but his dreams were soon filled with vivid imagery. In his dream, he found himself pressing Violet onto the grass, engaging in a passionate embrace with her for as long as he desired. Her unique fragrance lingered in his nostrils, refusing to dissipate. Suddenly, he awoke to an unexpected release from his body. Abruptly, he opened his eyes and saw the fluid on his bed. He ran his fingers through his hair, and tugged at it in frustration. It was bewildering! How could he allow that woman into his dreams, let alone¡­ +15 BONOS ncing outside, he saw Violet stillboring in the field. Her slender form moved with a rhythm, the silhouette of her chest subtly visible, causing his body to react once more. He discarded his sheets and pajamas in the trash, and left his room. On impulse, he pushed opened the door to one of his lovers¡¯ rooms. ¡°Lucius!¡± she eximed in surprise, immediately clinging to him. He bent down, captured her lips, and carried her toward the bed. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Returning to the hall drenched in sweat, Violet had just enough time to wash her face. Earlier, George had tasked her with preparing dinner. With time ticking away, she quickly made her way to the Kitchen, She began by taking various ingredients out of the fridge and deftly chopping them. Unnoticed, a shadow slowly crept up behind her, enveloping her. Lucius watched her in silence. Her movements were swift, slicing and dicing with precision and one fluid motion. All the ingredients were evenly chopped. Once done, she quickly cleaned the pan, added oil, and began stir- frying. Watching her, Lucius felt a surge of emotions, and asked, ¡°How many men have you cooked for?¡± Violet replied casually. ¡°So many, I¡¯ve lost count.¡± Her cooking experiences included school pics and hosting guests at home. Many men and women had tasted her cooking, but who bothered keeping track of the numbers? Lucius¡¯s face fell at her response, a look of displeasure crossing his features. He left abruptly, his hands clenched in fists. Once finished with her cooking, with no time to dry off her sweat, Violet quickly arranged the dishes on the dining table. Lucius sat there alone, resembling an emperor awaiting his meal. The fine tablewareid out in front of him mirrored his eminent status. He didn¡¯t even touch the cutlery or acknowledge her cooking efforts, instead instructing George, ¡°Dispose of these!¡± Both George and Violet were taken aback, unsure of his reasoning. ¡°From now on, I don¡¯t want her cooking for me.¡± Lucius stated icily, rising from his seat. George quickly followed him, asking in surprise. ¡°Master Lucius, why¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simply revolting.¡± Lucius said bluntly. What was probably a sentence he could have kept to himself but decided to speak,bined with his air of indifference, gave the impression that he found Violet repulsive on sight. Violet felt a painful twist in her chest; her hands were clenched tightly. Left with no choice, George left. He had to arrange for the chefs to prepare another meal. The servants unceremoniously threw away the food Violet had painstakingly prepared. Despite not purchasing the ingredients herself, Violet had invested her effort and care in the cooking, hoping +15 BONOS Feeling indignant, Violet confronted him at the entrance to his bedroom, yelling, ¡°Hey! You¡¯ve always liked my cooking! Why do you suddenly find it revolting now?¡± Lucius turned away from her. His expression was cold and dismissive. ¡°Before, you never cooked. Now, you pick up the skill to please your lover. Eating what you¡¯ve made reminds me of your infidelity, and I lose my appetite.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Before she could retort, Lucius closed the door in her face. The door obscured her view, and Violet didn¡¯t realize tears had filled her eyes. Lucius¡¯s refusal to eat her food meant her freedom; she should be relieved. Why did she find herself unexpectedly upset? Retreating to her room, she gazed nkly at the sky, confused by her own emotions. What perplexed her even more was that Lucius was referring to Agatha, not her. What was she worried about? Had she gone insane? With Lucius no longer eating her meals, the servants¡¯ treatment of her grew more hostile. ¡°Get on with the weeding. You do so little each day; be quick, or you¡¯ll go hungry!¡± barked thewn¡¯s overseer, tossing a chain at her feet. ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± she questioned softly. ¡°Just wear it!¡± The servant, losing patience, roughly grabbed her wrist, securing it with the iron chain and attaching the other end to a wooden stake. Things had regressed to their previous state. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Violet felt a surge of injustice. Her eyes reddened, but she held back her tears and silently resumed weeding. Suddenly, a distressed voice called out, ¡°Sweetie! Sweetie!¡± A familiar figure appeared on thewn. It was Naomi. She pressed an apple into Violet¡¯s hand, and held Violet¡¯s shoulders. Concerned, she asked, ¡°Are you tired? Have you eaten? Did they hurt you? Look at how thin you¡¯ve be!¡± Naomi¡¯s eyes were filled with nothing but distress. Violet¡¯s stony heart melted at Naomi¡¯s presence. She embraced her mother, and cried, ¡°Mom-¡± Naomi embraced Violet tightly,forting her, ¡°My child, just hang in there a little longer. I¡¯ve asked George if I can stay here with you. I don¡¯t need anything else. I just want to be with you, no matter the hardship. We¡¯ll always be together.¡± 2/3: +15 BONOS Violet couldn¡¯t help but think of how fortunate Agatha was to have a mother like Naomi. Overwhelmed with emotions, she nodded. She saw herself in Agatha¡¯s ce. Her tears, which she had been restraining for a long time, suddenly flowed freely. She wouldn¡¯t be this emotional if she didn¡¯t regard Naomi as a mother figure. From a distance, someone called for Naomi. Reluctantly breaking the embrace, Naomi reassured Violet, ¡°Hold on just a few more days; I¡¯ll be here with you soon.¡± Violet felt a burst of warmth in her heart as Naomi hurried away. The servants arrivedte at night to collect her. The iron chain once again constrained her freedom. At the entrance, she observed George standing before Lucius with profound respect. Even though the butler was standing and Lucius was sitting, this man radiated an air of absolute authority. George, his head bowed more than usual, informed him, ¡°Ms. Agatha¡¯s mother wishes to stay with her.¡± Lucius¡¯s face, illuminated by the light, bore an expression of icy determination. ¡°I disagree.¡± Chapter 50 Chapter 50 +15 BONOS ¡°Why?¡± Violet interjected before George could reply, perplexed by Lucius¡¯s refusal of this small sce. Lucius¡¯s smile was dismissive, his eyes showing no empathy as he dered, ¡°Because you don¡¯t deserve it.¡± He rose, and made his way upstairs. ¡°Why don¡¯t I deserve it? She¡¯s my mother!¡± Violet yelled after him, frustration evident in her voice. Her frantic motions caused the iron chain to rattle. Lucius paused and half-turned, but remained silent. Then, without a word, he continued walking away, offering no exnation. Violet tightened her grip on the iron chain, shaking with wrath. Ultimately, she was powerless against him. Several of Lucius¡¯s lovers witnessed this scene. Their initial confusion quickly turned to disdain. Chained as she was. Violet was perceived as inferior. Ignoring their scornful looks, Violet dragged the chain to the kitchen. Unlike before, no meal was provided for her, she was on her own. With little appetite from the day¡¯s heat and her recent distress, she settled for half a watermelon to eat upstairs as her dinner. Two of Lucius¡¯s lovers confronted her in the hallway. ¡°Oh, having watermelon?¡± one remarked. Violet just nodded, reaching for her room¡¯s door. In a deliberate act, the second woman removed her high-heeled shoe and drove the heel into Violet¡¯s watermelon. ¡°Oops! I didn¡¯t see that,¡± she said, extracting the heel with a fake apology and a shrug. Violet noticed the mocking glint in her eyes. Adhering to the principle of an eye for an eye, Violet pped the woman and retorted, ¡°Oops! My hand slipped.¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. The woman¡¯s expression froze in shock, her hand covering her face as she pointed at Violet. ¡°How dare you hit me? Do you know who I am?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Violet responded, feigning ignorance. ¡°You¡¯ve just sealed your fate! Attacking Lucius¡¯s woman, you¡¯re in big trouble!¡± the first woman interjected. Violet responded with a coldugh, ¡°His women? They¡¯re numerous, changing more often than clothes. Do they really matter?¡± ¡°You! Who do you think you are?¡± both women asked, bing pale at her statements. +15 BONOS ¡°Me?¡± Violet feigned contemtion. ¡°Just a person. The one who legally put her name on his marriage. certificate, entitled to half his wealth, and the one who should be called Mrs. Davis despite everything. And you¡­¡± She paused for effect. ¡°At best, you¡¯re just mistresses. To be blunt, you¡¯re all nothing but shameless homewreckers. If your images were circted over the inte, I¡¯m sure everyone would want to beat you up!¡± Violet wouldn¡¯t have anything like this if they had not crossed the line. ¡°If you want to walk over me, at least make sure your name is on the marriage certificate. Otherwise, you¡¯ll just be a fleeting memory for Lucius-someone he wouldn¡¯t recognize on the street.¡± With that, she thrust the ruined watermelon into the second woman¡¯s arms. ¡°Enjoy your meal!¡± Fuming, the woman hurled the watermelon against the wall. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Lucius about this!¡± But by then, Violet had already retreated into her room, out of hearing range. After releasing her pent-up anger on those women, Violet felt relieved. She took a shower, then treated herself with good food from the kitchen. Feeling content and full, she returned to her room to sleep. Half-asleep, Violet suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure on her, akin to arge boulder crushing her, making breathing difficult. She pondered why she was feeling so heavy after just a slightlyrger meal, and soon realized the weight was more than just in her stomach. Confused, she opened her eyes. In the darkness of the room, the visibility was poor, but the intense breath on her skin was unmistakable-someone was on top of her! ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± She tried to push that person away. Her hand was caught at the person¡¯s shoulder, who asked her, ¡°Mrs. Davis?¡± It was Lucius speaking! Confused at being addressed as Mrs. Davis, Violet then remembered her earlier im to that title. It seemed the women had conveyed this to Lucius. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°If you acknowledge yourself as Mrs. Davis, then you should be aware of the obligations attached to that name, as it¡¯s printed beside mine on the marriage certificate,¡± Lucius stated, his hot breath suddenly turning cold. Before Violet could respond, his hand intrusively made its way into her, freely invading her body. In a state of panic. Violet attempted to stop him. ¡°It¡¯s not like that!¡± Her pleas fell on deaf ears. Lucius¡¯s hand movements were swift, forceful, and relentless. Frowning in difort, she suggested, ¡°There are plenty of other women outside! Go to them!¡± He ignored her, and persisted in his assault. +15 BONOS Her clothes were roughly torn, leaving her nearly naked and terrified. In desperation, she yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! You¡¯re filthy!¡± Considering this man was always surrounded by many women, she feared he might be unclean. ¡°Who knows, you might be carrying something like AIDS or another infection from them. Don¡¯t get near me with your filthy body!¡± Her words, though spoken in desperation, only fueled Lucius¡¯s anger. Initially intending to punish and intimidate her, he now aggressively probed her with his staff. Gripping her shoulder tightly, he snapped back, ¡°I¡¯ve neverined about your past with other men. What right do you have to judge me?¡± This man had turned into a savage beast, pushing her to the edge over and over. Throughout that night, Violet couldn¡¯t keep track of the numerous instances where she felt like she was on the verge of dying. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Dawn had broken by the time Violet regained consciousness. She felt like a discarded rag, tossed aside when Lucius finished with it. He left without giving her a second nce. Only when the sun had fully risen did she carefully rise,boriously moving her battered body towards the bathroom. The bruises marking her body were ring, a reminder of the night¡¯s events. These silent witnesses of Lucius¡¯s actions couldn¡¯t be washed away, and she was left without any means to hold him ountable. Violet let out a helpless sigh, feeling an overwhelming urge to cry. But with the world having abandoned her. who would offer her sympathy? Every step was a struggle; her legs feltme, and each movement brought a sharp, sour pain. Despite her slow pace, she managed to make her way downstairs on her own. There, Lucius was having a good time with two women, each of their waists so slender and delicate that they seemed to effortlessly fit in his arms. Noticing her descent from the stairs, those two¡¯s features tensed and revealed their dissatisfaction. ¡°Lucius, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d punish her?¡± one of them asked. ¡°Why does she seem fine?¡± Withplete indifference and without a nce towards Violet, he replied, ¡°Hasn¡¯t she been punished?¡± Seeing Violet¡¯s limp, the women erupted in victoriousughter. Violet stopped, clutching at her chest in difort, realizing that Lucius¡¯s harsh treatment the previous night was a form of retribution for these women. Lucius coldly dismissed the women, and withdrew to his room. None of them were brave enough to follow him. Instead, they walked over and blocked Violet¡¯s path, scrutinizing her as if she were merely an object. ¡°You got a beating from Lucius, didn¡¯t you? That¡¯s what you get for your arrogance!¡± ¡°She can¡¯t even walk properly! How pathetic!¡± one mocked, recalling the previous night¡¯s p. She cruelly pinched Violet on her bruised skin. Violet winced in pain, her face twisting. She stepped back to escape the woman¡¯s grasp, shooting the ¡°He must have whipped her,¡± one spected, turning to herpanion. ¡°Mrs. Davis? Got the nerve to call yourself that again?¡± ¡°So shameless!¡± ¡°You¡¯re nothingpared to us.¡± Violet, not one to be easily intimidated, raised her head, prepared to respond. Upon noticing Lucius¡¯s stern look from a distance, however, she restrained herself. +15 BONOS Choosing to ignore them, she walked past the women as if they were non-existent and headed outside. Under the porch, she felt a harsh shove, causing the iron chains to rattle loudly. Turning around, she saw that it was the woman she had pped. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your problem?¡± Violet snarled. Now out of Lucius¡¯s view, her fear dissipated. She faced the two women with a bold, icy stare. ¡°Just felt like hitting you, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°You think you can call yourself Mrs. Davis in front of us? You¡¯re just asking for trouble!¡± One of them viciously kicked Violet¡¯s waist with her high heel, striking the same spot where Lucius had harshly pressed her the night before. Their boldness only increased upon seeing Violet suppress her anger. Violet, in excruciating pain, broke into a cold sweat as her fury surged. She grabbed the woman¡¯s foot and, with a twist, shoved away her foot, which was wearing high-heeled shoes. The woman nearly fell over as she stumbled backward in surprise. ¡°How dare you hit me?¡± ¡°Do you have any wounds on you?¡± Violet asked coolly, struggling to stand despite her pain. She had been careful not to knock the woman down to avoid giving Lucius any reason for further punishment. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°You want the title of Mrs. Davis so badly, right? Take it! I don¡¯t care. It¡¯s not my decision to make. Just stop bothering me, or I¡¯ll use these chains on you!¡± Violet brandished the iron chains menacingly, causing the women to retreat in fear. Lucius observed from the half-open door, his expression icy and unreadable, silently witnessing the confrontation. Sensing defiance in her, he had allowed the women to confront Violet. As he quietly observed, he was surprised by her words. He silently caught up with them, wanting to see how she handled the women but was shocked to hear such words. He wondered, did she disdain to be his wife? Did the title restrict her freedom to meet other men? His veins throbbed due to his rage, and he re-entered the house and instructed George, ¡°The weeding job is too easy for her. Find something else for her.¡± George, understanding whom Lucius referred to, was puzzled by this sudden shift. However, he still obeyed. Yes, Master Lucius.¡± ¡°And send those two away!¡± Lucius added as George turned to leave. ¡± +15 BONOS Then, he massaged his brows, as though troubled. Outside the door, confusion reigned. ¡°How can this be?¡± Before the two women could savor their apparent victory, George delivered the unexpected news that they were to leave. Their expressions mirrored their shock. ¡°Master Lucius has ordered this. Please board the ne,¡± George stated, dealing with the situation efficiently and without further exnation. The two women, unable toprehend it, trembled in disbelief. ¡°This must be a mistake.¡± They had perceived Lucius to be quite affectionate towards them, having taken their side and shown them affection upon waking up today. The sudden decision to send them away seemed unfathomable. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°We need to talk to Lucius!¡± they insisted, trying to enter the manor in protest. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 George firmly blocked their path. ¡°Master Lucius¡¯s decisions are final. If you intrude like this, you¡¯ll only provoke his anger and risk your own safety. Be aware; this area is surrounded by swamps. If someone falls in, it could go unnoticed.¡± With no other choice, they boarded the helicopter, albeit reluctantly. Meanwhile, Violet lingered behind a tree, aimlessly kicking pebbles. George had instructed her to wait there. Beyond waiting, she felt there was little else she could do. ¡°Do you think Master Lucius is¡­impotent? He was embracing me and being loving the other day, but there was no response down there. It was all limp, and he had difficulties getting it hard.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised. He¡¯s never made a move on me, either.¡± ¡°Can you believe it? A man as handsome and wealthy as him¡­¡± Violet was overhearing their hushed conversation, unseen. She was close enough to catch every word, and she nearlyughed out loud. Impotent? Wasn¡¯t he the one who kept her awake all night? Her body still ached, and there were marks from him beneath her garments. If such a man wasbeled impotent, she wondered if any potent men still remained in the world. She purposely coughed loudly, disrupting their gossip. George arrived, his demeanor stern. Despite being Lucius¡¯s lovers, they were terrified of the butler andContent is ? by N?velDrama.Org. dispersed swiftly. He approached Violet, and informed her, ¡°Ms. Agatha, today you¡¯ll be working at the dog farm.¡± The dog farm was a part of the Imperial Pce¡¯s estate. Violet was flown there in a helicopter. ¡°Your task is to clean the dog mill,¡± a supervisor instructed her. Cleaning up after the dog mill was a disgusting, tiring, and stinky job. Not only that, but she had developed an instinctual fear of dogs due to her experiences. Her face paled at the sound of their barks. ¡°You¡¯re not alone in this,¡± the supervisor added, before leaving Violet outside the dog mill. This was the same location Lucius had brought her to before, where she had faced some issues with the farmers. They had made her life difficult before, and she expected more difficulties this time. Her scalp stiffened with anxiety. Then, a familiar voice called out, ¡°Sweetie?¡± Turning, Violet saw Naomi, broom in hand, concern etched on her face, and wrapped in a ck scarf. +15 BONOS ¡°What brings you here?¡± Naomi asked. Sorrow crept on Naomi¡¯s face, and she asked, ¡°I heard they¡¯re sending someone new today. Is that you?¡± Violet nodded, realizing she should address this woman as ¡®Mom¡¯ given her current identity. ¡°How are you managing such strenuous work?¡± Naomi¡¯s voice trailed off into a sigh, tears welling in her eyes. ¡± My child, if only you¡¯d been morepliant¡­¡± She sounded like she was using Violent, but her voice was also overflowed withpassion for her suffering child. ¡°Come, you can work alongside me.¡± She finally wiped away her tears, took Violet¡¯s hand, and led her into the dog mill. ¡°Let¡¯s work together.¡± Naomi said, drying her tears and leading Violet into the dog mill. Aware of Violet¡¯s fear of dogs, Naomi assigned her tasks around the mill instead of inside. The work was tough, but with Naomi¡¯s support, and the freedom it offeredpared to the pce, Violet found a certain satisfaction in her new assignment. During their lunch break, meals were brought to them, and the two shared a fulfilling meal together. After lunch, there was a designated two-hour rest period. Even on the farm, there was a strict schedule for work and rest. ¡°Look at your hands. They¡¯ve be so rough!¡± Naomi took Violet¡¯s hand in hers, and her heart began to ache once more. Calluses had formed on Violet¡¯s palms as a result of many hours of manual exertion. Violet examined her hands, and remarked, ¡°Rough hands are actually better. At first, I wasn¡¯t ustomed to the work and kept getting cuts. I¡¯d end the day with a lot of wounds.¡± These words further shattered Naomi¡¯s heart. ¡°Child, don¡¯t hold a grudge against Master Lucius. What happened in the past led to his current plight. You may not be aware of it, but these farmers once kidnapped him. ¡°They were misled into believing he refused to cooperate with them and wanted to poison their products. Everyone was outraged by that situation. They didn¡¯t think clearly and sought to punish him. ¡°After he was kidnapped, they didn¡¯t want money, and they wanted to kill him. Every day, they beat him mercilessly. Despite his influential family, no one was aware of his kidnapping, and no one sought him. The beatings almost killed him. ¡°Eventually, Lucius used his abilities to help the farmers solve their market issues, earning his release. By then, he was gravely injured and barely survived when taken to the hospital. ¡°Upon his return, he found the Imperial Pce in turmoil. There were difficulties wherever he looked, and the +15 BONOS ¡°I learned of all this only aftering here. The farmers feared Lucius might expose their actions and seek retribution, but he never did. Years passed, and except for those here, no one knows who was behind his kidnapping. He never sought to avenge their wrongdoings.¡± Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Violet had gleaned some insights from George earlier, but Naomi¡¯s detailed ount provided a fuller picture. She was stunned. She admired Lucius¡¯s tolerance, but she questioned herself if this was the same man she knew. Lucius had shown no such mercy toward her, seemingly determined to make her suffer. Naomi¡¯sforting hand sped Violet¡¯s, offering reassurance. ¡°Aggie, don¡¯t worry. If you show genuine remorse, he¡¯ll eventually forgive you. He once despised me deeply, yet he never harmed me.¡± ¡°So, he decided I should work here?¡± Violet wondered, knowing how much Agatha irritated him. ¡°Yes, it was his decision. But considering how much we wronged him, I¡¯m happy to work here as a way to make amends,¡± Naomi confirmed. ¡°Mom,¡± Violet said, affected by Naomi¡¯s immense love, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She was apologizing on behalf of Agatha. Naomi¡¯s embrace wasforting, and she whispered, ¡°Aggie, just being with you is my greatest joy.¡± Back at the Imperial Pce, Lucius massaged his brow, his gaze inadvertently drifting outside. He noticed several of his lovers ying volleyball on the grass, but Violet¡¯s usual presence was missing. Her absence, having be a regr part of the scenery, was oddly noticeable. At lunch, he asked nonchntly, ¡°Where has Agatha been assigned?¡± George responded, ¡°To the dog farm.¡± Lucius gave a soft hum, aware that the dog farm was a strenuous ce to work. He pictured Violet worn out and possibly in tears from theborious task. He had logged into the surveince system immediately upon returning to his study, perhaps to confirm his assumptions about her state. Contrary to his expectations of a distressed scene, the screen disyed Violetfortably nestled in Naomi¡¯s embrace, presenting a rather heartwarming sight. He zoomed in on the image and turned up the volume, catching Violet¡¯s gentleughter. ¡°Can I do it like this?¡± ¡°Sure, you can even do it that way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so much fun! Hehe!¡± Frustrated, Lucius mmed his hand on the desk. George entered quickly, puzzled by Lucius¡¯s sudden anger. ¡°Has Agatha bewitched you?¡± +15 BONOS George was sweating profusely, unsure what he had done wrong. Lucius coldly turned the surveince screen to him, and he understood the implication. To be honest, he just followed Lucius¡¯s directions to assign Violet the most difficult, filthybor. He never anticipated Naomi¡¯s appearance. Admitting his error, George apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Master Lucius. It was an oversight on my part.¡± Lucius stood, his eyes still fixed on the screen. Violet was now separated from Naomi, struggling with a broom and a bucket of water, insisting on doing the work herself despite Naomi¡¯s offer to help. ¡°George,¡± Lucius said, ¡°don¡¯t you notice a significant change in Agatha?¡± ¡°Change?¡± George, skilled as a butler, quickly understood Lucius¡¯s implication. ¡°Does Master Lucius think Ms. Agatha has grown more ustomed to hard work? She must try hard to minimize her penalty now that she has returned as a sinner without your protection.¡± Lucius¡¯s expression turned thoughtful, his brow furrowing. ¡°Is Master Lucius suspicious of something?¡± George prodded. Lucius remained silent, his gaze narrowing with contemtion. After a demanding day of work, Violet returned to the Imperial Pce in the afternoon. Feeling tired but uplifted by Naomi¡¯s affection, she was in good spirits. Humming a song in the shower, she noticed the rosy hue of her cheeks in the mirror. After finishing her shower, Violet came out casually, wrapped only in a towel. To her surprise, she found Lucius in her room, leaning against the bed with a serious expression. Caught off guard, her singing halted suddenly. She stared at him, momentarily forgetting her scantily d state. ¡°Feeling happy?¡± Lucius inquired. Violet hesitated to respond, uncertain about what he was implying. ¡°You might be happy, but I¡¯m not,¡± he stated tly. Feeling a surge of apprehension, Violet instinctively moved back. Memories of the previous night¡¯s punishment for his displeasure fresh in her mind. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. From outside the slightly open door, voices discussed, ¡°Has Master Lucius eaten dinner yet? Why hasn¡¯t it been arranged?¡± ¡°It¡¯s ready, but Master Lucius¡­isn¡¯t eating.¡± Violet, with a quizzical look, asked, ¡°You haven¡¯t had dinner yet?¡± +15 BONOS Her gaze inadvertently fell on his stomach, and she recalled his past stomach issues. Skipping meals like this could only worsen his condition. She looked at her clothes on the bed, near Lucius¡¯s feet, and suggested softly, ¡°I¡¯ll make something for you to eat.¡± Not daring to retrieve her clothes, she redressed in the clothes she had worn earlier. Lucius watched her, but said nothing. About twenty minutester, Violet returned with a tray. On it was a bowl of gnhi, garnished with vegetables, looking appealing and fragrant. She ced the tray on the table. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss after you¡¯ve eaten.¡± Lucius, however, didn¡¯t move an inch. Violet let out a resigned sigh, picked up the bowl, and began stirring it with a spoon. She scooped up a gnhi, blew on it gently, then held it out to him. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Lucius obeyed, taking the gnhi into his mouth and chewing it with grace. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Used to feeding him. Violet didn¡¯t find the act peculiar and continued. She blew on each piece of gnhi, her cheeks puffing with the effort. She lowered her head, letting the light shine on the delicate skin of her nape, which gave off a soft warmth. Lucius¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbled, and he asked, ¡°Are you really Agatha?¡± Violet, after a brief hesitation, replied, ¡°Who else would I be if not Agatha?¡± She knew Lucius had made up his mind about her identity, so further arguments were futile. His expression turned grim. Later, he nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right, only Agatha would know how to please me this way.¡± Last night, he had been rough with her. Now, she was tending to him as if nothing had happened and going out of her way to please him. It had dispelled any doubts he might have. As she attempted to feed him again, he pushed her hand away and suddenly grabbed her chin, his look turning fierce, ¡°No matter what you do, you¡¯ll always be nothing more than a slut in my eyes. That will never change!¡± His words suggested his intention to maintain the punishment. Violet lowered her head, staying silent. She had repeatedly insisted she wasn¡¯t Agatha, but it was to no avail. Now, having epted the motherly love Agatha received, she resigned herself to her situation. Her silence caught Lucius off guard. He had expected her to offer excuses or seek sympathy-tactics he associated with Agatha-but she remained mute. ¡°Edur certainly trained you well,¡± Lucius acknowledged, never contemting the possibility that she might be someone other than whom he believed her to be. The following morning, Violet witnessed more of Lucius¡¯s lovers being taken away by helicopter. With their departure, the Imperial Pce seemed noticeably quieter and less lively. Violet shook her head helplessly as she saw their sad and nostalgic expressions as they went. She, too, wished to leave this ce. She boarded another chopper, and flew to the farm. Back at the pce, George entered the living room and asked, ¡°Master Lucius, why did you let everyone go?¡± Lucius responded with a nonchnt hum, lounging with his arms resting over the back of the sofa. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ¡°Those women were too pretentious,¡± he dered. It was all an act. Their overly enthusiastic smiles when greeting him were clearly part of an act for his benefit. He found himself unexpectedly missing Violet¡¯s genuineness; she had never feigned her emotions around him. +15 BONOS ¡°Where¡¯s Agatha?¡± Lucius asked suddenly. George grunted, pressing the inte button. After a brief moment, he looked troubled and said, ¡°She¡¯s gone to the farm.¡± It was unusual. Normally, George would be the one arranging her schedule. No one had expected her to voluntarily follow the helicopter to the farm. ¡°The farm?¡± Lucius echoed, a sense of unease enveloping him. At the dog farm, Violet cleaned around the perimeter. She asionally wiped away her sweat, ncing at Naomi, who was diligently working inside the dog mill. Naomi caught her gaze, and the two exchanged a knowing grin. Violet worked hard to carry the trash container outside. By the time she reached the door, she was soaked in sweat. The usually bright entrance was now cast in shadows, with only a sliver of bright sunlight visible on one side. Violet, astounded, looked up to see a figure resembling an emperor standing emotionlessly before her. ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked in surprise. Lucius¡¯s lips tightened, showing disdain for answering her question. ¡°Naomi River, you¡¯re needed over there,¡± the supervisor of the dog farm approached, addressing Naomi. Naomi came out and. Seeing Lucius, she said anxiously, ¡°Master Lucius¡­¡± ¡°Mom, go ahead,¡± Violet said, urging Naomi to leave. Lucius certainly didn¡¯te here only to see her. His steely nce revealed his malice. Violet wanted to spare Naomi from witnessing what might unfold next. After a moment of hesitation, Naomi silently walked away. Violet stood bravely in front of Lucius, her face flushed from heat but showing no fear. This fearless demeanor of hers seemed to irk Lucius. How could she, a woman who had betrayed him, dare to act so boldly? ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be working? Clean the dog mill!¡± he ordered. Violet hesitated. She looked at the dog mill, where each section housed several dogs. These dogs weren¡¯tpletely confined; they were cared for by specialists to keep them active and healthy, so they were vigorous than average dogs. The fear of being overwhelmed by the dogs enveloped her. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Lucius was in no hurry. He nced at his watch, and issued an ultimatum, ¡°If the dog mill isn¡¯t cleaned in two hours, throw her into the breeding dog pack!¡± $15 BONGS Violet¡¯s face went pale, and she trembled as she realized the seriousness of his threat. Knowing Lacive¡¯s attitude towards ¡°Agatha¡±, she understood he might follow through on his threat. With no choice left, she forced herself to approach the dog mill. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 The dogs became agitated at the presence of a stranger. As Violet entered the dog mill with closed eyes, the dogs went wild, crashing around. She lost her footing and was knocked to the ground, with one of the dogs stepping harshly on the back of her hand. Terrified, she yelled loudly and raced toward the fence for help, but ultimately copsed on the ground. There, she looked up at Lucius. Her hair hade undone in the scuffle, clinging to her face, dampened with sweat, making her look utterly worn and haggard. Lucius remained seated, observing the scene with a detached demeanor. He sat in the dog mill like an emperor, remainingposed and unaltered despite being in such a filthy setting. The dog mill¡¯s manager kicked Violet without mercy, and chastised her. ¡°Can¡¯t handle this? Master Lucius once spent three days and nights chained up here because of you! He was bitten by starving dogs, and nearly died!* This incident, which urred four years ago, was still fresh in the minds of everyone at the farm. The resentment they had once harbored against Lucius was now redirected towards Agatha. The manager grabbed Violet, offering a cruel ultimatum. ¡°Either you fuck the dogs, or clean the dog mill. Choose.¡± Violet cast a wary nce at Lucius, who watched with an icy demeanor. There was a satanic air about him. Gritting her teeth, she dered, ¡°I¡¯ll clean the dog mill.¡± That day was a nightmare. She wouldter struggle to recall the details, only remembering that by the time she finished, her body was marred with wounds and her clothes were stained with spots of feces. Lucius walked out of the building slowly, leaving the chilly atmosphere behind him. Violet leaned against a wall in the corner and vomited violently, yet she stubbornly refrained from crying. ¡°Aggie,¡± a gentle voice came as someone supported her. It was Naomi, her eyes brimming with tears, reddened with emotion. ¡°You¡¯ve endured so much.¡± Naomi embraced Violet, her tears flowing even more. Violet returned the embrace, feeling a bit of the breath of life. ¡°Was he always like this with you?¡± Having a pack of wild dogs close in on you was terrifying beyondprehension. +15 BONOS ¡°It¡¯s our fault,¡± Naomi replied. She didn¡¯t admit it directly, but her words implied she too had endured much suffering. Naomi took Violet to a simple dormitory, and provided her with clean clothes. After cleaning up, Violet felt somewhat revived, as if she had been brought back from the brink. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. When she couldn¡¯t find Naomi, she got anxious and started looking for thetter. She soon found Naomi in a quiet corner, kneeling before Lucius and pleading, ¡°The fault is mine. Master Lucius, please stop punishing Aggie. Direct your anger at me instead! I¡¯m the one who failed to raise her properly.¡± This was Violet¡¯s first time witnessing Naomi beg for her daughter¡¯s sake. She was deeply moved. The pain and fear she had experienced seemed less significant in the face of Naomi¡¯s protective stance. Violet pondered how her life might have been different if her own mother were alive. Would her mother, like Naomi, have steadfastly shielded her from harm? That evening, both Violet and Lucius shared the same helicopter ride back. Silently gazing downwards, Violet eventually said, ¡°Next time, if you want to punish me, please don¡¯t do it in front of¡­my mom.¡± Lucius turned around, fixing her with a meaningful look. ¡°You despise me, don¡¯t you? Why drag others into this?¡± she asked, spreading her hands and feigning nonchnce. As night descended, Violet lost track of the number of nights she had spent in this ce since her arrival. Her words to Lucius earlier were partly motivated by not wanting to see a mother suffer, and partly from a sense of self-abandonment. She had been missing for so long, yet her own family never cared about her whereabouts. Her situation mirrored Lucius¡¯s past, and it filled her with despair. The door creaked open, and Lucius swaggered in. Violet¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at his presence. ¡°Did you¡­walk into the wrong room?¡± Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Lucius cracked a small smile. ¡°What else can I do? You¡¯ve driven away all of my lovers. Isn¡¯t it your responsibility to take over their duties?¡± Their duties¡­ Violet immediately understood what he implied. Instinctively, she crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°I¡¯m very tired.¡± She had barely interacted with those women, so their departure couldn¡¯t possibly be her fault. However, Lucius was indifferent to her protest. He began to unbutton his shirt as he approached the bed. Violet¡¯s heart raced in terror. The relentless torment of the past days weighed on her as heavily as the work she had endured at the dog mill earlier. Given the choice, Violet would have preferred to spend the night with the dogs instead. ¡°I¡¯m filthy, covered in dog waste and dirt. I still reek,¡± she protested, making a face of disgust on purpose. ¡°I can handle it,¡± Lucius said, dismissing her attempt at dissuasion with ease. Violet suppressed the impulse to throw something at him in anger. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re the one named on my marriage certificate,¡± he reminded her deliberately. ¡°I¡¯m not even-¡± Violet started to object, but stopped mid-sentence under his threatening re. Admitting she wasn¡¯t Agatha could provoke a harsher punishment. ¡°How about we get a divorce, then? You can tarnish my reputation afterward. I won¡¯t be able to face anyone, and I¡¯ll live a life worse than death,¡± she suggested, seeing separation as her best exit. She couldn¡¯t care less about her reputation; she wasn¡¯t Agatha, and no one knew her anyway. Lucius sneered in response, ¡°Let the world know I¡¯ve been cuckolded?¡± His words left Violet speechless. ¡°Besides, ruining your reputation is pointless to me. I want you to remain married, unable to see other men or escape from me. I want you to suffer for a lifetime!¡± His intention was clear-this man wanted her to endure a lifetime of misery. Violet felt a chill run down her spine, breaking out into a cold sweat. He stepped closer, his icy fingers tracing up her arm. She stiffened, defiantly meeting his cold gaze. His eyes were even colder than his touch. Finally, his fingers came to rest lightly on her shoulder, near her neck. +15 BONOS ¡°How does it feel to be in the dog mill? Do you know how furious I was when I was locked in there? I, Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. who was once mighty, was reduced to that. If it weren¡¯t for you, none of this would have happened.¡± Lucius¡¯s voice was gentle and calm, as though he were discussing something wholly unrted to him. Yet, Violet was acutely aware of the hatred concealed beneath his calm facade. ¡°You should have killed me back then. That was your only mistake!¡± His fingers resting on her neck exerted enough pressure to make breathing difficult, as if she could be choked at any moment. Violet¡¯s blood felt like it was running in reverse; she looked at him with a mix of fear and defiance. ¡°I felt¡­wronged, too,¡± she managed to say after struggling for a moment. If she was doomed to die at his hands, she at least wanted to let him know her true identity in her final moments. Luciusughed, as if he had heard the best joke in the world. Hisughter was colder than before, and Violet felt as though she was facing a venomous snake poised to strike. She bit back the rest of her words. Lucius abruptly pushed her aside, his parting wordsced with scorn, ¡°I just wanted to see how long you could maintain your pretense of nobility, but your true nature showed too soon! Boring!¡± He left Violet behind. She clutched her neck and stared in bewilderment as his figure receded. ¡°Master Lucius, shall I arrange for some women for you?¡± George asked, as he entered Lucius¡¯s bedroom with a tray of tea. There were enough chambers in the Imperial Pce to house a hundred women. Lucius, rubbing the bridge of his nose, showed a look of revulsion. ¡°No need,¡± he said tly. ¡°But, Master¡­¡° Lucius dismissed further discussion with a wave of his hand. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 +15 BONOS Yet George, gathering his courage, persuaded him, ¡°Master Lucius, will you continue to visit Ms. Agatha? You can¡¯t keep going to her.¡± Lucius¡¯s downcast gaze snapped up sharply at George. George¡¯s sudden bravery faded slowly, and he no longer dared to say anything else. He retreated quietly. wiping the cold sweat off his forehead as soon as he was out of Lucius¡¯s sight. ¡°I couldn¡¯t possibly develop any feelings for her.¡± George paused as he closed the door, surprised to hear Lucius¡¯s unexpected remark. He nced back to see Lucius lying on the bed, his expression grim and his lips tightly pressed, as if those words didn¡¯te from him. For some reason, Lucius had stopped sending Violet to the dog farm and instead had her stay at the Imperial Pce to weed. Since the night he visited her room, he hadn¡¯t appeared again. Even during their asional encounters, hepletely ignored her, walking past her as if she were invisible. This was a relief for Violet. Lucius, who had be cold and cruel as a result of the betrayal, wouldn¡¯t be swayed by her Since thest group of women left, Lucius hadn¡¯t requested that George find him a new lover, nor had he sought out Violet. This was unusual for someone as diligent as George. The butler had discreetly arranged for a woman to be sent to his master, dressing her in a maid¡¯s uniform to avoid drawing attention. Violet had been busy weeding the gardens all morning, when a sudden downpour left herpletely soaked. She finally got inside the house to change her clothes, but was dismayed to find that all her clothes in the wardrobe were also drenched. The servants, who harbored animosity towards her, often yed such pranks. This seemed like yet another one of their tricks. George, focusing only on ensuring Violet was fed and alive, often overlooked such petty harassment, which in turn allowed them to persist. Standing there, feeling utterly defeated with her shoulders drooping, Violet resigned herself to remain dressed in her wet attire. She walked downstairs in her original outfit. ¡°You¡¯re going to dirty the floor with those wet clothes,¡±mented a woman in a maid¡¯s uniform from behind her. While speaking to Violet, she cast a disdainful nce at her own uniform. The uniform had obscured her +15 BONOS Then, in a seemingly generous gesture, she offered, ¡°Here, take my clothes.¡± She quickly undressed and tossed her uniform to Violet, walking away confidently in her revealing attire. Violet was only too happy to ept the clothes, and went to change. Grateful for dry clothes, Violet epted the uniform and went to change. However, upon reaching her room, she found the door locked-another prank by the servants. Not wanting to engage in their games, she headed to the public restroom to change. Once there, she tied her hair up in front of the mirror. ¡°Hey, I told you to stay put. Why did you wander off here?¡± A voice called out from behind Violet. The same person then handed her a cup of water, urging, ¡°Drink this!¡± Violet hesitantly epted the cup, but she didn¡¯t drink immediately. The person, seemingly impatient, insisted, ¡°This is from Mr. George. Drink it! It won¡¯t harm you!¡± In the house, nobody dared to y pranks using George¡¯s name. The butler asionally showed Violet some kindness, so she assumed this was his gesture of concern after seeing her drenched. She drank from the cup without further hesitation. After the person took the cup and left, Violet remained standing there for a while. She started to feel unusually hot and slightly dizzy. Since she couldn¡¯t enter her room, she decided to squat down on the ground for a bit. Why was it so hot all of a sudden? She had only squatted for a short while, but why did the night fall? Rubbing her eyes, her vision blurry, Violet could feel the softness and stability of a bed beneath her. Was she now lying in bed? Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Despite the air conditioning in the room, Violet felt very hot and thirsty. An unusual restlessness was stirring inside of her. Could she be ill? The door creaked open, jarring her from her drowsy state. Violet twisted ufortably, trying to settle back into rest, hoping a bit more sleep would alleviate her difort. Lucius entered, and squinted his eyes to adapt to the dimness as he noticed the drawn curtains. The faint light that filled the room revealed a small figure on the bed. George, ever attentive to Lucius¡¯s needs, had a tendency to send women to his room without his knowledge. Lucius, after all, was a man with natural desires. It wasn¡¯t umon for him to indulge in thepany of an attractive woman sent his way. He loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt, acknowledging that it had been a while since he had been intimate with anyone. Lifting the corner of the nket, he slid into bed. Upon embracing her, he reached out and found the softness of her skin appealing. Impatiently, he yanked her clothing off and leaned down to kiss her neck. Violet, who had been sleeping restlessly, was jolted awake by his sudden touch. Her initial instinct was to push him away, but the intensifying sensations made her yearn for more. She moaned softly, sumbing to the feeling. Her mind was clouded, aware that she should resist, yet her arms wrapped around him more tightly. Lucius found her instinctive embrace, which didn¡¯t resort to any technique, surprisingly satisfying. His mild interest quickly deepened as he embraced the moment. Acting on impulse, he pushed the nket aside and sought her lips, his hand roaming over her body without restraint. As he pressed down on her waist, he was struck by a familiar scent. By the time he realized, Violet had already responded with a tighter embrace and a satisfied sigh. He swiftly turned on the bedsidemp, and the light revealed a familiar figure. ¡°Agatha?¡± His expression darkened, his eyebrows knitting together in frustration. He callously pushed her aside, Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. uncaring, as she fell to the floor. From the height of passion to the cold, hard floor, Violet groaned in pain and confusion, her eyes fluttering open. +15 BONOS As her vision cleared, she saw Lucius¡¯s cold face ring down at her. ¡°Who gave you the nerve to climb into my bed?¡± Lucius¡¯s voice thundered with anger, his piercing gaze bearing down on her. Was this not her bedroom? Violet bit her lip in helpless confusion. ¡°Your bed?¡± ¡°Get out!¡± he demanded. He lifted her, and tossed her out of the room. She clung to him, murmuring, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± Her voice,den with lingering desire, was irresistibly alluring. Lucius finally threw her into the bathroom, dousing her with cold water. ¡°You need to sober up!¡± The shock of the cold water jolted Violet back to reality. As her mind cleared, she struggled to piece together the events that led to this moment. The only thing she could recall was drinking a cup of water and then losing consciousness. The sensations Violet experienced under Lucius¡¯s touch, a joy that seemed to emanate from her very cells, left no doubt in her mind-she had been drugged. Though unfamiliar with such substances, she understood that their effect was to strip away one¡¯s control. Shivering, she turned the temperature of the water down further, trying to regain herposure. Meanwhile, downstairs, George had finished his tasks for the day. He instructed the servants to leave for the night, and was preparing to retire himself. At that moment, a woman with a striking figure entered the room. George frowned, confused. ¡°Why are you still here? Don¡¯t you know Master Lucius has already¡­¡± A voice interrupted him mid-sentence. Lucius appeared, leaning against the staircase, his expression dark and his cor disheveled. ¡°Why was Agatha in my room?¡± He casually tossed a maid¡¯s uniform onto the floor. Given that George was responsible for managing the servants¡¯ uniforms, naturally, he questioned the butler. ¡°M¡­Ms. Agatha?¡± George¡¯s shock was evident, and his gaze darted toward that woman. The woman, realizing the seriousness of the situation, turned pale. She was no longer wearing the maid¡¯s uniform she had arrived in. ¡°This¡­¡± Lucius quickly pieced together the situation with just one nce. He understood that George, who disliked Agatha, would have never intentionally sent her to Lucius¡¯s room. It must have been Agatha¡¯s own doing, a deliberate ploy on her part. +15 BONOS Lucius, frustrated by the unfolding events, turned and headed back to his room. Upon opening the door, Agatha¡¯s shadow was nowhere to be found. Only the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. He walked towards the bathroom, and as he approached, a few droplets of cold water sshed onto him. He was unustomed to it, and it chilled him to the core. Inside, Violet was huddled pathetically under the shower,pletely drenched and shivering uncontrobly. Her lips were a pale purple, contrasting with her unusually red cheeks. ¡°Agatha?¡± Lucius called out, sensing that something was amiss. The cold water numbed Violet¡¯s body, but internally, she felt a burning sensation threatening to ovee her. The contrast between the cold on her skin and the heat within was torturous. Struggling to lift her head, Violet met Lucius¡¯s gaze, filled with confusion and disdain. Anticipating he might pull her out, she pleaded weakly, ¡°Let me¡­stay a bit longer, please.¡± Chapter 59 Chapter 59 She feared leaving the safety of the cold shower. With so many male servants in the house, any interaction could spark the uncontroble desire burning within her. She desperately wanted to avoid that, choosing instead to endure the icy water. Lucius misinterpreted her behavior, and mocked, ¡°Outwardly, you keep your distance from me, but Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. secretly, you take that kind of drug to entangle with me. You¡¯re really asking for trouble.¡± His astonishment was fleeting, and scorn quickly took its ce. To Lucius, Agatha was just that shameless. ¡°¡­.didn¡¯t take that secretly.¡± Violet protested, feeling deeply wronged. ¡°So you¡¯re saying you took it openly?¡± Her lips were weakly pressed together. Violet knew that even if she imed it was an ident, Lucius wouldn¡¯t believe her. He had already formed a negative image of Agatha, and anything she said would be futile to change his mind. Closing her eyes, she pleaded faintly. ¡°I¡­just need a little more time in the shower.¡± Lucius observed her coldly for a moment before shutting the bathroom door. This was a lesson for her, a test to see if she dared harbor more foolish thoughts. Outside, George waited with the woman, his expression marked by deep concern. Upon Lucius¡¯s emergence, George cautiously said, ¡°Master Lucius, Ms. Agatha might have identally taken that. Though he hadn¡¯t told anyone about Violet consuming the drug, George seemed to be aware of it. Lucius fixed a piercing stare on the butler. George, visibly shrinking under the scrutiny, hurriedly exined, ¡°Ms. Agatha¡¯s clothes were soaked, so Ms. Heidi lent her a maid¡¯s uniform. My staff mistook her for one of your women, and gave her the drug.¡± In the upper floors, rarely frequented by servants and only cleaned in the mornings for quiet, any servant spotted there was presumed to be attending Lucius. Because of this, the servants wouldn¡¯t dare to take a good look at Violet, leading to the mix-up. Lucius¡¯s expression changed as he processed George¡¯s exnation. He quickly reentered the bathroom. ¡°Get me a doctor!¡± he barked at George, pulling Violet out of the shower. In that brief moment, George made a call. ¡°The doctor said¡­ There¡¯s no antidote avable. It needs to be treated outside¡­¡± ¡°Then arrange for a helicopter!¡± Luciusmanded, his voice weakened but his intent clear. Violet was chillingly cold. Noticing the water temperature gauge, Lucius felt an urge to berate her further. +15 BONOS ¡°Can¡¯t you speak up? Do you want to freeze to death like this?¡± Violet weakly pushed him away, curling up on the carpet, protesting, ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t want to go on the helicopter!¡± Away from the numbing cold water, the overpowering lust returned. In her current state, even if a dog appeared at this point, she might¡­ If they threw her out, she would have done it with the men who carried her. She was unwilling to take that chance! Lucius, lifting her up again, insisted, ¡°We¡¯re heading to the hospital!¡± ¡°A typhoon is approaching. The helicopter might not be able to fly out,¡± George interjected, ever the astute butler. He had been proactive in seeking solutions even before Lucius¡¯s order, but the situation was grim. Lucius shot George a murderous re. George lowered his head even more, not daring to utter the rest of his words. He dared not mention aloud that if the drug wasn¡¯t treated, it could significantly damage Violet¡¯s kidney function. Lucius might not let him live after saying that. ¡°Leave us!¡± Lucius ordered, his voiceden with frustration. George hesitated; he briefly looked at Violet¡¯s as she clung to Lucius. She lost control when she realized she was holding a man, and began touching him. ¡°Master Lucius¡­¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Lucius, known for his decisiveness, was now visibly angry. Recognizing this, George dared not say anything more and silently withdrew from the room. Violet, only in her underwear, touched Lucius¡¯s body all over with her icy hands, inadvertently stirring a. response within him. In a fit of irritation, he tore open his shirt, the buttons popping off and bouncing on the floor. He leaned in, his warmth meeting her coldness, his hands reaching to unhook her bra. Thud! Suddenly, Violet forcefully pushed against his chest, an action Lucius hadn¡¯t anticipated. The force of her push sent him staggering backward. ¡°Agatha!¡± he called out, but it was toote to stop her. Violet had already copsed to the ground. ¡°Stay away from me!¡± she shouted. rity had returned at that critical moment. Determined not to have more contact with him or subject herself to more contempt, she made a dash for the bathroom. By the time Lucius recovered from his surprise, the bathroom door was firmly shut. He stared at the closed door, his gaze darkening. The coldness in his heart gave way to irritation due to her +15 BONOS In his mind, a woman who had betrayed him thoroughly deserved such suffering. Turning, hey back on the bed. Violet remained in the shower all night, the effects of the drug eventually fading, leaving her so weak she could hardly breathe. When the doctor finally arrived, he assisted her out of Lucius¡¯s room.¡¯ Lucius had kept his thoughts to himself from the beginning. When he saw her pale face, something unexpectedly stung his heart. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Following breakfast, George updated Lucius about Violet¡¯s condition. ¡°The effects of the drug have fully subsided. Ms. Agatha is alright now, just a bit weak.¡± Lucius acknowledged with a simple hum, maintaining his usual detached demeanor. He didn¡¯t express any me towards George, which eased the butler¡¯s concern. ¡°Let her rest for a few days since she¡¯s weak,¡± Lucius instructed nonchntly as George was about to leave. ¡°Understood,¡± George responded quietly. Violet, benefiting from this misfortune, finally got a break from weeding. She spent her days recuperating in bed, enjoying thefort of air conditioning and having her meals brought to her. With limited entertainment options-no inte or television ess-Violet requested paper and a pen from George, spending her time drawing sketches in bed. She had a background in design and had worked as an assistant at a reputablepany for two years, though she had never led a project herself. She knew she wasn¡¯t cut out for the job. In her younger years, Violet had a passion for singing, simr to Emily. However, her stepmother consistently favored Emily over her and often critiqued Violet¡¯s singing. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. At the time, she didn¡¯t take the criticism to heart, but gradually, she stopped singing in front of others, reserving her voice for moments of solitude. As she entered her teenage years, Violet encountered Oliver. She was young and innocent, and she developed a secret crush on him. Oliver was like a ray of sunshine in her life. He stood out with his remarkable talent for painting, and quickly carved out a reputation for himself within the art industry. Violet¡¯s admiration for Oliver led her to set aside her other hobbies and focus solely on painting, striving harder than anyone else. She felt like an ugly duckling in the presence of someone she admired, too shy to confess her feelings, yet hoping to one day transform into a swan worthy of being by his side. However, she never became that swan. Despite her dedicated efforts, she couldn¡¯t reach the heights of painting and failed to get admitted to the university he attended. Upon learning her scores, she spent the entire night in tears, eventually settling on studying design. It was a field somewhat rted to painting, allowing her to maintain a connection to Oliver¡¯s world. In a twist of fate, Oliver ended up choosing her sister. Violet vividly remembered asking Oliver if he would love only Emily, even if it was someone else with him or waking him up. His answer was a resounding ¡°Yes!¡± +15 BONOS It became clear that some things weren¡¯t meant to be; it was pointless to try to force things. While she sketched, Violet got distracted and her thoughts lingered on these memories. She eventually set aside her pen and paper, which bore only unformed lines. After two days of rest, her health began to improve. Having narrowly escaped death, she found herself yearning for the sunlight outside. Surprisingly, she was even looking forward to returning to her weeding duties. Donning a straw hat, she went downstairs to the kitchen to prepare something to eat. ¡°Let¡¯s carefully decide what to cook for Master Lucius during his busy days.¡± The chefs in the kitchen were debating, all with troubled expressions. The challenge of choosing the right dishes to prepare was a familiar and daunting task. The busier Lucius got, the more temperamental he became, putting extra pressure on the kitchen staff. However, thepensation he offered for their services was notably higher than what was typical in the industry, making the job both demanding and rewarding. The kitchen staff were all eager to earn his approval. Each chef put forth their best efforts, hoping to impress their employer. ¡°As you can see, this is the collection of menus from past chefs. Most of these were rejected,¡± remarked one chef, showing howmitted these chefs were to finding the right dish. After going through the menu, their sense of hopelessness only deepened. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Violet, who was quietly preparing her own meal, overheard their discussion. Lucius had recognized her as Agatha, and despite his hate for her, he still sought medical attention for her and even gave her days off. It demonstrated his human side. She considered doing something in return. Knowing that his poor eating habits caused unease among everyone, she decided to act, partly for her own peace of mind. Selecting a few basic items from the refrigerator, she tossed them before the chefs, suggesting, ¡°Just make something simple for him?¡± The chefs looked at her doubtfully, then skeptically. ¡°Are you insulting us? We¡¯re award-winning chefs! Master Lucius hired us to cook sophisticated dishes, not simple ones,¡± one of them responded, visibly offended. The head chef, in a fit of annoyance, swept the ingredients off the table. With a helpless shrug, Violetmented, ¡°Suit yourselves.¡± She had made her suggestion; the decision was theirs to make. After finishing her breakfast, Violet went out to thewn. She returned for lunch at two o¡¯clock, having put in extra work during the cooler hours of the morning, which allowed her a longer break in the afternoon. As she was heading upstairs after lunch, a loud crash near the study caught her attention. Several tes flew out of the room, breaking upon impact with the floor. Violet reflexively jumped back, and narrowly avoided a te tossed her way. At the study¡¯s entrance, George and the head chef stood with their heads bowed in submission. Lucius¡¯s voice,ced with impatience, echoed from inside. ¡°Do it right, or I¡¯ll throw you all into the Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. swamp!¡± It was evident that his work-rted stress had kicked in. Violet, observing the scene, shook her head helplessly. The previously arrogant head chef now appeared deted, as if he were going to cry. George, upon noticing Violet, seemed too fearful of Lucius¡¯s wrath to say anything. Deciding to intervene, Violet returned to the kitchen. She selected a few more ingredients, and advised the chefs, ¡°Follow my instructions, and you might have a chance to get out of this alive.¡± The chefs, still in shock from Lucius¡¯s outburst, stared nkly at her. Evidently, after enduring Lucius¡¯s criticisms, none of the chefs were willing to step forward and take the lead. Violet sighed and took it upon herself to start cooking, fearful that these chefs would perish if something went +15 BONOS Once she finished preparing a few simple dishes, she presented them to the chefs and suggested, ¡°If Lucius gets angry, just say that I was the one who made them.¡± The chefs, uncertain at first, ultimately decided to serve the dishes Violet had prepared. Having done what she could, Violet stretched and made her way back to her room. There, shey in bed in fear. She recalled a time when Lucius had criticized her cooking. If he found the meal unsatisfactory this time, she feared the chefs would me her. This thought made her regret involving herself in the mess. Worried, she cautiously went downstairs to assess the situation. Outside the study, all was quiet. No dishes had been thrown out. Her relief grew when she saw George carrying empty tes that were still intact. Feeling reassured, Violet took a deep breath and headed back to her room. Upon her return to the kitchen, Violet noticed a significant shift in the chefs¡¯ attitude towards her. They nearly worshiped her. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you¡¯d like to eat, just let us know. We¡¯ll make it for you!¡± they offered enthusiastically. She closed her eyes, Violet thought for a moment, and then she listed a variety of delicious dishes that came to mind. The chefs employed by Lucius, now seemingly devoted to her, spoiled her with their cooking. Over the course of a week of indulging in their culinary creations, she noticed she had gained some weight. Pleased and patting her belly, Violet stepped back into the hall, just in time to see Lucius emerging from his study. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 George quickly approached Lucius, his tone eager. ¡°Master Davis called. He praised the new model you developed, saying it¡¯s causing a stir globally. Sales have increased by 300% this quarter, and several international media outlets are requesting interviews¡­¡± Lucius, however, appeared indifferent to George¡¯s enthusiastic report and offered no response. A 300% increase in sales might have been impressive to others, but for Lucius, it seemed as mundane as earning a mere three hundred dors. He nced up indifferently. Upon noticing Violet, signaled George to stop talking. George quickly shut his mouth. ¡°Come here,¡± he gestured to Violet with a nod of his chin. Not entirely sure what he wanted butplying, Violet walked over to him. Lucius then stopped at therge balcony on the second floor, his back to her, presenting his tall, figure. ¡°The food that¡¯s been sent to the study these past few days was made by you, right?¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. He stated it directly, more as a statement than a question. Initially, Violet intended to keep it a secret, but realizing he wouldn¡¯t ask without being certain, she nodded, ¡± Yes.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let the kitchen staff say it was you who made them?¡± Silence fell as Violet considered her response. Could she really admit her fear of his disdain and the possible consequences? ¡°Keeping things secret isn¡¯t your style. What are you trying to aplish?¡± he pressed. Her heart, which had momentarily warmed, chilled again at his words. She bit her lip, acutely aware that in Lucius¡¯s eyes, she was still Agatha, and any lofty exnation would only be met with his mockery. After a brief pause, she answered, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s for the benefit of both of us. Living under the same roof, shouldn¡¯t we try to make life a little better for each other?¡± Lucius responded with a cold sneer, ¡°As expected.¡± In his mind, Agatha¡¯s every action was calcted. Their exchange was far from pleasant, and his expression indicated as much. Violet had expressed her good intentions, but the oue was not what she had hoped for. With a shake of her head, she left the balcony. Later that evening, as Violet was about to ascend the stairs, George approached her with a message. ¡°Ms. Agatha, Master Lucius acknowledges your hard work recently and wishes to reward you. What would you +15 BONOS This was Lucius¡¯s way of establishing boundaries, a reminder of her ce in his world, his heart forever unattainable. George looked at her meaningfully, hoping she would grasp the subtext. Yet, Violet did not dwell on it too deeply. Her eyes brightened when George mentioned the reward, ¡°Anything at all?¡± *Anything, except¡­leaving.¡± However, leaving was precisely what she had hoped to request. George astutely blocked her only path of retreat, causing Violet¡¯s shoulders to slump in resignation. ¡°Ms. Agatha¡­¡± George¡¯s voice broke her reverie. She responded, somewhat listlessly, ¡°Since I can¡¯t leave, then please allow¡­my mom to leave here.¡± Referring to Naomi as her mother still felt awkward for Violet, as Naomi wasn¡¯t her biological mother. Yet Naomi had shown her unwavering support and love, qualities of a true mother, especially given the circumstances that were actually caused by Agatha. Naomi suffered from severe rheumatism, her condition worsening after each cleaning session at the dog mill. Violet hoped for a better life for Naomi, away from such hardships. George expressed surprise at her request. ¡°I thought you¡¯d ask for something material. With the resources of the Imperial Pce Group, Master Lucius could easily ensure your financial security for life by investing in a few brands.¡± This would elevate her to the status of a globally wealthy individual. ¡°Really?¡± Violet questioned, a mix of disbelief and regret in her voice. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner? I¡¯ve missed such a great opportunity.¡± ¡®It¡¯s not toote to change your reward,¡± George suggested. Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Violet gave it some thought. Then she shook her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, let it be.¡± Money was important, yet it proved pointless for Violet, who was being imprisoned in the Imperial Pce. It was a far better choice for her to take care of a sick woman. George couldn¡¯t believe Violet¡¯s decision. He was perplexed as to how someone so despised could be so likable. If this woman wasn¡¯t Agatha, he would have openly praised her. In his study, Lucius was stunned. ¡°Did she really let her mother leave?¡±. George, striving to conceal his growing admiration for Violet, simply nodded and said, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What game is she ying this time?¡± wondered Lucius. George remembered his experiences with Violet. He suspected Violet wasn¡¯t ying games, but he kept this thought to himself. Lucius waved dismissively. A sensible man like him would not waste his time with a woman. His past misjudgment about Agatha and his failure to recognize Violet¡¯s true identity stemmed from this belief. In recent years, Lucius has devoted himself to rebuilding the Imperial Pce Group. It was only after bing a global powerhouse that he revisited old grudges, sending George to abduct his wife. He always ced more importance on work and wealth, with revenge being just a seasoning. Knowing this, he never gave up on himself when he was deeply hurt. On the contrary, he took over and grew the strugglingpany. Nobody expected him to be so sessful. When others wanted to reinvest in hispany, Lucius shut down all doors. The Imperial Pce Group now belonged entirely to his family. The organization had set up malls in the most affluent regions of the. Wealthy people started viewing their spending at Imperial Shopping Mall as a mark of prestige. Lucius enhanced this appeal by establishing upscale recreation and entertainment centers within Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. shopping centers. By bringing together food, recreation, and entertainment under one roof, it helped the business generate significant revenue. The Imperial Pce¡¯s approach to making money and fame generated tremendous wealth, keeping Lucius extremely busy. Lucius was so engulfed in work that when his grandfather, Howard Davis, called to set up a blind date for him, +15 BONOS ¡°Master Davis has called eight times,¡± George gently reminded. Howard was well-known in the businessmunity. It was under his direction that the business model that served both legal and underground enterprises took shape. Hearing his names would cause a stir in both worlds. It seemed unlikely that anyone but Lucius could prompt Howard to make so many calls. Lucius responded indifferently, ¡°Eight calls just for a blind date?¡± He made it sound like Howard had nothing better to do than to bother him with such inanities. George refrained from responding, particrly with Howard still on the line, whose furious shout could be heard even at a distance. Lucius acted deaf and added, ¡°Tell that old man that if he¡¯s so eager on matchmaking, he should go himself. I don¡¯t have the time!¡± ¡°Bastard!¡± Hearing this, Howard cursed loudly, as though he was going to crawl out of the phone. Caught in the rock and hard ce, George could only nce pleadingly at Lucius. Lucius took the phone from George, hung up, switched it off, and handed it back to him. George could only sigh silently as he held the disconnected phone. Despite the passage of four years, Lucius still carried animosity toward his grandfather. The incident from years ago had harmed not only thepany¡¯s business but also the family¡¯s rtionship, notably between the grandfather and grandson. George quietly exited the room, shaking his head. Meanwhile, time continued to pass. Violet wearily removed weeds, feeling her life at the Imperial Pce might extend as indefinitely as the grass she tended. Lucius had vowed that he would confine her for the rest of her life. With a sigh, she sat down on the ground. Shecked grand ambitions, but the idea of spending her life doing such monotonousbor was both disheartening and terrifying. She closed her eyes, she pictured a lifetime of weeding, from her youth until her hair was gray. The thought sent a chill through her. It was too horrifying to imagine. ¡°Aggie!¡± Naomi¡¯s call abruptly interrupted Violet¡¯s fearful thoughts. Turning, Violet saw Naomi approaching, a small box in hand. ¡°You¡­¡± Violet hesitated, struggling to find words. +15 BONOS Naomi, touching her face, said, ¡°I know you asked Master Lucius to release me. My daughter has be so sensible.¡± ¡°Oh, that!¡± Realizing Naomi might be leaving, Violet felt an increased sense of loneliness. However, she masked it with a forced cheerfulness. ¡°You¡¯re leaving? That¡¯s wonderful. Life at the dog farm was hard on you.¡± ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t that bad.¡± Naomi replied. Naomi had been mostly kind and gentle towards Violet, aside from some initial discontent. This woman was a great mother. Violet, in turn, yed her part and forfeited a considerable amount of potential wealth to ensure Naomi¡¯s release. Feeling a small sense of achievement, she held Naomi¡¯s hand and wished, ¡°Have a safe journey.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Naomi replied, her voice tinged with hesitation, reluctance to leave her daughter behind. Each had their own thoughts, creating an awkward atmosphere. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 +15 BONOS ¡°Do you have a ce to stay after you leave?¡± Violet asked, attempting to strike up a discussion. There was a brief pause before Naomi answered, ¡°Master Lucius bought me an apartment in the past, but I can¡¯t stay there under the current conditions. Don¡¯t worry, I can look after myself. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Violet nodded. She had done everything she could to help, but Naomi¡¯s destiny was out of her hands. ¡°I came to see you as a favor to Master Lucius,¡± Naomi said meaningfully before leaving. Surprised, Violet looked at her. Naomi took Violet¡¯s hand, enclosing it in hers, and advised, ¡°Make sure you thank him properly.¡± Upstairs, Lucius sat in front of hisputer. The Imperial Pce, fitted with surveince cameras, allowed him to monitor any part of the estate he chose 1. to. At that moment, the screen disyed Naomi and Violet¡¯s farewell on thewn. He overheard Naomi urging Violet to thank him properly, and he saw Violet nod earnestly in response. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t miss a chance to humiliate her. He scoffed dismissively, and shut off the screen. He was convinced Violet would approach him, as she was relentless in seeking a way out of her predicament. Violet, on the other hand, did note to him for a long time. ¡°Where is Agatha?¡± Lucius was questioned over dinner. Peering outside, George replied, ¡°She¡¯s still in the grass field.¡± Lucius responded with a cold grunt, and continued his meal in silence. Violet returned around eight at night, having modified her weeding schedule to avoid the day¡¯s heat. After quenching her thirst, she wiped her face and headed downstairs. Lucius, who had been enjoying the balcony breeze, was about to leave when he noticed Violet. Something made him reconsider leaving, and he sat back down. He fell asleep on the balcony and awoke at ten, but Violet was nowhere to be found. He wondered if she had used this as an excuse to sneak into his room. He stood up and looked around the room, but there was no one there. ¡°Looking for something, Master Lucius?¡± George asked, always on the lookout and following him around. Lucius, masking his concern, casually asked as he closed the door, ¡°Has Agatha not returned?¡± ¡°Ms. Agatha has already retired to her room,¡± George replied truthfully. Lucius¡¯splexion, which had remained cid and expressionless, darkened abruptly. Due to his +15 BONOS ¡°Are you looking for Ms. Agatha?¡± George asked, ever thoughtful. Lucius mmed the door in frustration. The next morning. Violet rose early, intending to start her work before dawn. She encountered Lucius in the living room, and the man was clearly agitated. Curious about who had upset him but preferred to avoid attention, Violet touched her nose and attempted to leave quietly. ¡°Bring me a ss of water!¡± he ordered sternly from the sofa. ¡°Me?¡± Violet nced around, realizing she was the only one present. ¡°Who else but you?¡± he snapped sharply, almost as if she had irritated him. She calmly poured a ss of water for him to settle down. He sipped his drink, and gave her a stern look. She quickly recoiled, realizing Lucius was not keen to see her. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­go get some work done,¡± she murmured. ¡°Stay here!¡± Lucius yelled at her, and his brow wrinkled. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Why wouldn¡¯t you thank me? He thought it was beneath him to ask this woman to express her appreciation. Anyway, who would demand gratitude in the first ce? ¡°The water¡¯s too cold,¡± heined. Violet then poured him hot water. Lucius, not even touching it, grumbled, ¡°Now it¡¯s too hot!¡± Violet sensed he was deliberately being difficult. In the end, she decided to ask with a smile, ¡°Lucius, you haven¡¯t fallen for me, have you?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Lucius was frustrated, having expected a thank you from Violet and even hoping she might say it. He instantly rose, and strode upstairs before Violet could leave. Violet experienced a dream during her nap, possibly because she was too ready to leave this ce. She saw herself as a rabbit, joyously running through a field, the shackles in her hands long gone, with endless grasnds to explore. She woke up teary-eyed, then gazed at the vastwn. She walked downstairs, resigned to her fate. +15 BONOS Thewn was not for her enjoyment, but for her upkeep. Stepping outside, she nearly lost her bnce in a strong wind. Regaining her footing, she saw Lucius and others hurriedly boarding a helicopter, a rare sight of urgency in his demeanor.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. The man, typicallyposed and graceful, never appearing hurried, now looked as though he was running for his life. Violet studied his retreating form before proceeding outdoors. ¡°Madam Davis will be there soon. You two will be in charge of looking after her,¡± George stated to two maids nearby. Their faces paled, and they begged, ¡°Please, Mr. George, not this.¡¯ They appeared to be preparing for a dreadful ordeal; one of them was.on the edge of tears, and her eyes had turned red. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Both maids begged the butler. ¡°You know how much Master Lucius loves his grandmother. Thest time she coughed on water, he almost threw me into the swamp! I wish to live longer.¡± ¡°Me too! I¡¯ll be med for not steadying Madam Davis when she wobbles while walking. Please, Mr. George!¡± George exhaled a defeated sigh. He was aware of how deeply Lucius loved his grandmother. Every single one of Regina Bush¡¯s caretakers in the Imperial Pce had suffered harsh punishment. George was struggling to find suitable recements. ¡°Should any of you excel in her care, you will win Master Lucius¡¯s favor; and he¡¯ll surely fulfill any of your requests.¡± However, George¡¯s assurance didn¡¯t convince the maids. On the other hand, it caught Violet¡¯s attention. She was willing to attempt it despite herck of experience in caregiving. Lucius¡¯s extreme concern for Regina was intimidating, but she viewed it as an opportunity to win her freedom. With resolve, she stepped forward and dered, ¡°I volunteer.¡± ¡°Ms. Agatha?¡± George spun around, astonished. The maids felt a mix of relief and admiration for Violet¡¯s boldness. ¡°But I have one condition,¡± Violet hastily added, worried she would regret itter. ¡°If I do well and the old To her surprise, Lucius returned with an elderly woman, gravely ill and unconscious. Violet recognized she had chosen a path with no return, and she understood the servants¡¯ terror. Despite her best efforts, Regina¡¯s passing seemed unavoidable, sealing Violet¡¯s fate. ¡°Is it toote to back out?¡± she asked, tugging at George¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Master Lucius has already been informed, and has consented.¡± It meant she had no way of getting away from the situation. ¡°Grandma, Grandma,¡± came Lucius¡¯s soft voice from within the room. He sat by Regina, holding her hand, his face etched with worry. For Violet, this was the first instance of witnessing him showing such empathy towards someone else. It sent shivers down her spine. George exined, ¡°During the Imperial Pce¡¯s crisis, everyone abandoned Master Lucius except for Madam Davis. She stood by him, even divorcing her husband for his sake. +15 BONOS Both maids begged the butler. ¡°You know how much Master Lucius loves his grandmother. Thest time she coughed on water, he almost threw me into the swamp! I wish to live longer.¡± ¡°Me too! I¡¯ll be med for not steadying Madam Davis when she wobbles while walking. Please, Mr. George!¡± George exhaled a defeated sigh. He was aware of how deeply Lucius loved his grandmother. Every single one of Regina Bush¡¯s caretakers in the Imperial Pce had suffered harsh punishment. George was struggling to find suitable recements. ¡°Should any of you excel in her care, you will win Master Lucius¡¯s favor; and he¡¯ll surely fulfill any of your requests.¡± However, George¡¯s assurance didn¡¯t convince the maids. On the other hand, it caught Violet¡¯s attention. She was willing to attempt it despite herck of experience in caregiving. Lucius¡¯s extreme concern for Regina was intimidating, but she viewed it as an opportunity to win her freedom. With resolve, she stepped forward and dered, ¡°I volunteer.¡± ¡°Ms. Agatha?¡± George spun around, astonished. The maids felt a mix of relief and admiration for Violet¡¯s boldness. ¡°But I have one condition,¡± Violet hastily added, worried she would regret itter. ¡°If I do well and the old is satisfied, tell Lucius to grant me my departure once my service ends.¡± To her surprise, Lucius returned with an elderly woman, gravely ill and unconscious. Violet recognized she had chosen a path with no return, and she understood the servants¡¯ terror. Despite her best efforts, Regina¡¯s passing seemed unavoidable, sealing Violet¡¯s fate. ¡°Is it toote to back out?¡± she asked, tugging at George¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Master Lucius has already been informed, and has consented.¡± It meant she had no way of getting away from the situation. ¡°Grandma, Grandma,¡± came Lucius¡¯s soft voice from within the room. He sat by Regina, holding her hand, his face etched with worry. For Violet, this was the first instance of witnessing him showing such empathy towards someone else. It sent shivers down her spine. George exined, ¡°During the Imperial Pce¡¯s crisis, everyone abandoned Master Lucius except for Madam Davis. She stood by him, even divorcing her husband for his sake. +15 BONOS Without her backing, it would have been almost impossible for Master Lucius to turn things around and achieve his current stature. Her significance to him is undeniable.¡± He then turned to Violet and said, ¡°Given your involvement in the previous mishap, Ms. Agatha, it¡¯s only fitting that you care for Madam Davis now.¡± Whether it was fitting or not, she had to take care of Regina. She couldn¡¯t voice any objections. Therefore, she silently encouraged herself. She might as well go all in, now that things had gotten this far. If she couldn¡¯t survive, she preferred to face death head-on. With a heroic resolve, she entered Regina¡¯s room. In reality, there was little for her to do since Lucius was constantly present, vigntly overseeing Regina¡¯s care. He tenderly cleaned the elderly woman¡¯s hands and face, even warming her cold hands against his cheek. In those moments, Lucius embodied the role of a caring son and grandson. ¡°Help Grandma with her bath,¡± Lucius instructed, delegating tasks unsuitable for him to Violet. Violet fetched a basin of water from the bathroom. Lucius kept a watchful eye on her the whole time, his gaze intense like a high-wattage spotlight, Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. prating enough to cause her hands to shake. Under such intense scrutiny, mistakes were inevitable. Eventually, Violet, concerned about unintentionally harming Regina, requested, ¡°Could you give me some space? I can¡¯t work with you watching me so closely.¡± This request appeared defiant to Lucius. ¡°A single mishap could be detrimental to her. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t intend that,¡± she added. Her words prompted Lucius to leave the room. Still distrusting Violet, he resorted to monitoring her actions via hisputer. On the screen, he observed Violet undressing Regina tenderly, dabbing her face with a damp cloth, before proceeding to wipe her body. Her movements were gentle yet skilled, and she was obviously experienced. She turned Regina gently, propping her up with a pillow. She bent down, her face almost touching Regina, wiping and reminding the olddy gently. Though Violet was not a professional nurse, her emotional investment was evident. Lucius turned off the monitor, believing time would unveil her true character. Violet was well aware of the weight of her responsibilities, and dared not ck off. She never dared to leave Regina¡¯s side, much less sleep. Within just a few days, deep, dark circles had formed under her eyes, her eyes visibly sunken. +15 BONOS Fortunately, on the third day, Regina finally regained consciousness, Violet felt a wave of relief. ¡°Go and rest. Return in the evening,¡± George advised. Exhausted to her core. Violet felt as if she was going to fall apart. Sheplied and didn¡¯t make any protests, and walked out of the room. As she was leaving, Lucius, who had been at Regina¡¯s bedside, unexpectedly offered, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out.¡± Chapter 66 Chapter 66 +15 BONOS Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Violet thought she had misheard, but he had already stood and started walking ahead, prompting her to follow quickly. Her room was just a few steps away, hardly requiring any escort. Lucius opened the door for her when they arrived. ¡°Thank you,¡± Violet said, yawning. Lucius lingered instead of departing, entering Violet¡¯s room with her. ¡°You seem quite adept at caregiving. Have you done this before?¡± Too weary to think clearly, Violet responded with a simple nod, ¡°Yes, for a year.¡± ¡°For a man?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± With that, Lucius abruptly left, mming the door behind him. Violet sensed something amiss. Did her admission of caring for a man stir up memories of Agatha¡¯s disloyalty? Was it necessary for him to throw a tantrum? By then, Lucius had already gone. That evening, when she arrived to take over Lucius¡¯s shift, he exited without sparing her a nce. Violet, touching her neck thoughtfully, refrained from specting further and focused on caring for Regina, moisturizing the olddy¡¯s lips with cotton to keep them from drying out. Regina, despite her serious illness, still bore remnants of her past beauty¨Cnotably her lips, much like Lucius¡¯s. As if fortune were turning in her favor, Regina¡¯s health began to improve significantly. The following day, Regina was able to sit in a wheelchair and bask in the sunlight. Lucius wheeled her out onto thewn. Violet handed him a nket. Their fingertips identally met, a warm and surprising spark passing between them. She quickly pulled her hand back. ¡°Is this youngdy the one who cared for me?¡± Regina asked, focusing on Violet. ¡°Yes,¡± Lucius answered softly, clearly very attentive to Regina. ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡± ¡°Violet.¡± Before she could respond, Lucius interjected swiftly, sending her a sharp look as he finished. Violet swallowed her doubts, and nodded in agreement. ¡°Mmm.¡± Regina was clearly impressed. ¡°You¡¯re a lovely girl. You were the one talking to me while I was unconscious, +15 BONOS Criticizing her grandson right in front of him, perhaps¡­ Violet cast an awkward nce at Lucius, who appeared indifferent. Although Regina was speaking ill of her grandson, she looked at him with nothing but love and admiration, her eyes filled with familial warmth. Her health was poor. She retired to her bedroom after a short while and soon fell asleep. Lucius then left the room. Violet hesitated, but followed him. ¡°Why did you address me as Violet?¡± ¡°Should I use Agatha? With Grandma¡¯s condition, I¡¯d rather not upset her. You¡¯ll be Violet in her presence.¡± His voice dripped with sarcasm when he said that name. Violet was unconcerned about the underlying meaning of his mockery, but her initial hope diminished. She had thought he had investigated, and recognized her true identity. Even though Lucius hadn¡¯t acknowledged her real identity, being called Violet in Regina¡¯s presence was more Regina had awoken, but as a terminal patient, she needed good care. Violet was always on high alert, fearful of making a mistake. She only went to the bathroom when Regina was sleeping. During one such moment, she heard a noise from the room and rushed back in. She hurriedly stood up and rushed into the room. ¡°Grandma, how are you?¡± ¡°I wanted some water, and identally broke a cup,¡± Regina exined apologetically, her sweet nature vastly different from Lucius¡¯s. ¡°Oh, did you hurt your hand?¡± Violet frantically checked Regina¡¯s hand, anxious about upsetting Lucius, who deeply cared for his grandmother. Regina held Violet¡¯s hand and stopped her movements. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just pour me a ss of water.¡± Violet continued to examine her hand, and discovered a minor cut. She knew the harsh consequences for servants who inadvertently caused Regina distress. Knowing she would be at fault, she was on the verge of tears. ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s not painful. Lucius doesn¡¯t need to know,¡± Regina reassured Violet gently, a hint of yfulness in her smile. +15 BONOS ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re so kind,¡± Violet sighed, deeply touched by Regina¡¯s gesture. Regina, despite her illness, radiated a dignified and elegant aura typical of the upper ss. It was umon for someone of her stature to be so considerate of others¡® feelings. Violet, chiding herself internally, hurried to get Regina some water and assisted her in drinking with care. ¡°Looking after an elderlydy like me must be challenging. I apologize for any inconvenience,¡± Regina ¡°On the contrary, I find yourpany far more pleasant than dealing with Lucius,¡± Violet confessed, encouraged by Regina¡¯s warmth. Because of Regina¡¯s gentleness, she spoke freely. It was only after speaking that she realized her words could be seen as a slight against Lucius, causing her to blush and stumble over her words. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean it like that. What I was trying to say is¡­¡± Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Regina warmly acknowledged the young woman in front of her, and said, ¡°Your words resonate with me. To be honest, my grandson isn¡¯t the easiest to interact with. His seriousness and intensity can be quite intimidating. ¡°Yes, exactly.¡± Violet nodded in agreement, relieved to find someone who understood. ¡°So, you should try to guide him more in the future.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Why had their conversation veered in such an unexpected direction? Given Lucius¡¯s lofty status, how was it possible for her to offer him guidance? Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°On the surface, Lucius appears to be cold, harsh, andcking in warmth. He¡¯s gone through a lot and carries the burden of a massive enterprise. To keep control, he must be tough. ¡°But, deep down, he¡¯s incredibly passionate. It¡¯s just that no one has attempted to unearth and draw it out. Believe in my words; with perseverance, you will find surprising rewards.¡± Was Regina giving her the chance to uncover these hidden depths? Violet sensed the old woman had misinterpreted something. ¡°Grandma, Lucius and I aren¡¯t what you think.¡± To Lucius, she was Agatha, someone he detested so much that he¡¯d rip her heart out. In Regina¡¯s presence, however, she had to curb her true feelings and simply repeat her earlier statement. Regina offered no further words, yet her eyes twinkled with a knowing smile. Later that evening, Lucius reviewed the surveince footage and monitored Violet¡¯s behavior. He also witnessed the moment when Regina identally broke a cup and injured her hand. However, he chose not to watch any further, shut down theputer, and refrained from confronting Violet. Regardless of her past, she was genuinely concerned about Regina, and his grandma enjoyed spending time with her. He appreciated her genuine efforts. His irritation with previous servants stemmed from their approach to caregiving as a mere chore, akin to housekeeping, with no emotionalmitment. He then visited Regina¡¯s room. The olddy was already asleep. Violet sat alongside the bed, apparently exhausted. Struggling to stay awake, her head would droop asionally, but her moments of drowsiness were short¨Clived as she held a needle between her fingers, pricking herself asionally to remain alert. +15 BONOS Her overwhelming tiredness led to her pricking herself too forcefully, resulting in tiny blood droplets forming on her fingertips. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked, rmed. The sudden question jolted Violet awake. In her startled reaction, she pricked herself hard with the needle, causing her to gasp from the pain. Though it was Violet who felt the physical pain, Lucius experienced a sympathetic twinge, as if the needle had pierced his heart. ¡°Sorry,¡± she uttered softly. Violet, noticing Lucius¡¯s anger, swiftly rose to her feet. She had been struggling to stay awake. Lucius, eyeing the needle in her fingers, questioned, ¡°Why use something like this? What if it harms Grandma?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± she said again. Her mind had been solely focused on staying awake, and the possibilities escaped her thoughts. She felt guilty about Regina¡¯s earlier finger injury. Even though Regina didn¡¯t hold her responsible, her guilt was so strong that she didn¡¯t even dare to leave for a quick wash, leading her to this desperate measure. Violet looked so dejected that it evoked sympathy. Lucius snorted impatiently, thinking it was the light ying tricks on him. ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re fit to care for someone looking like that? Get out of here!¡± ¡°Get out?¡± Violet felt a surge of anxiety. Was he dismissing her? What would this mean for her departure ns? Aware of Lucius¡¯s foul mood, she refrained from questioning further, simply nodding and leaving the room quietly. ¡°What an idiot!¡± Lucius muttered under his breath, watching her leave with a look of utter defeat. Despite being burdened with worries, Violet was so fatigued that she fell asleep as soon as she climbed into bed. Upon waking up and feeling rejuvenated, her anxiety resurfaced. Was Lucius no longer allowing her to care for Regina? What did this mean for her future? She slowly exited her room after getting ready. At that moment, Lucius emerged from Regina¡¯s room, casting a nce her way. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you here to look after Grandma? Why the dy?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Violet was in disbelief, her mouth agape. Quickly catching his look of displeasure, she hastened her steps, saying, ¡°Yes, yes, right away!¡± +15 BONOS The unexpected turnaround nearly brought her to tears. She dashed into the room and passed Lucius with a bright smile on her face. It was the first time she had shown such a radiant grin while caring for someone who was gravely ill. Lucius was taken aback. Then he realized her joy was not from the caregiving itself, but from the implication that doing well might secure her departure. This had all been arranged beforehand, and reflecting on it now brought a sense of gloom to him. Just as Violet was about to open the door, Lucius grasped her arm firmly. ¡°I know it¡¯s challenging for you to act as though you care for Grandma, but you need to continue. Remember, Grandma is very perceptive. If she senses any pretense, you can forget about your ns to leave!¡± Chapter 68 Chapter 68 With these words, Lucius swiftly released her arm and walked away. Violet, rubbing her nose, was left confused by his stern warning and visible irritation. Her care for Regina had started as a necessity, but over time, she had developed a true affection for the olddy. It was beyond mere obligation. Violet resigned herself to the thought that a man who couldn¡¯t even recognize his own wife should not be relied upon for deep understanding. Violet decided to proceed with her responsibilities. Today, Regina seemed to be in better spirits than before. After her morning routine, she expressed a wish to take a walk outside. Violet, cautious as ever, gathered a nket and water bottle. Only after the doctor¡¯s consent did she cautiously wheel Regina outside. They engaged in light¨Chearted conversation andughter, strolling a considerable distance without noticing. Above them, a helicopter hovered. Its presence was hardly unusual, given that it was the only transportation method for the area. Shortly, the helicopter descended nearby, not far from them. An elderly man, followed by several menacing ck figures, disembarked. He looked to be in his sixties or seventies, exuding vitality. He was escorted by several individuals. Upon noticing Violet and Regina, he widened his eyes. ¡°Take Regina to the helicopter!¡± he bellowed, with an air of authority that reminded Violet of the mafia. rmed, she cried, ¡°Who are you people?¡± Ignoring her, the elderly man signaled the men in ck, who began to close in. ¡°Don¡¯t any of you dare touch her!¡± Violet quickly positioned herself protectively in front of Regina¡¯s wheelchair. She dered defiantly, ¡°If you want to take her, you¡¯ll have to step over my dead body!¡± The men in ck halted about five meters away, one seemingly reaching for something at his chest. Violet¡¯s mind raced with thoughts of them drawing a weapon, like a scene from a movie. She tensed up, readying herself for the worst, yet didn¡¯t retreat. ¡°Madam Davis, we¡¯re here to take you home,¡± came the unexpected, respectful announcement. The scene Violet had imagined did note to fruition. Relieved, Violet looked up, finding Reginaposed and untroubled behind her. ¡°Why are you frightening a poor girl like that?¡± Regina scolded the man opposite her, her annoyance evident. +15 BONOS The man responded gruffly, ¡°You thought I couldn¡¯t find you here?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t hiding. I¡¯m dying, and I¡¯d like to spend some time with my grandson.¡± ¡°I knew it! Who else except that rascal has the audacity to kidnap someone right under my nose? The doctors are waiting for you to return home. Come with me right now!¡± What the hell was going on here? She nced between Regina and the agitated elderly man, noting that his demeanor reminded her of someone she knew. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving with you.¡± ¡°You dare defy me?¡± ¡°We¡¯re divorced, remember?¡± The realization dawned on Violet¨Cthis was the infamous Howard Davis. Howard, visibly shaken and enraged, retorted, ¡°You¡¯re quite bold now, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I need to be for my grandson. I¡¯m not like a certain someone, who abandon their kin in hard times. Leave now, or face Lucius¡¯s wrath!¡± Regina¡¯s words infuriated Howard. ¡°You know nothing!¡± he shouted. He strode forward, shoving Violet aside, andmanded, ¡°Bring her to the helicopter!¡± Violet, sensing danger, intervened, ¡°Don¡¯ty a finger on her!¡± If Regina was taken under her care, Lucius would surely hold her ountable. Furthermore, Howard was furious. Who knew how he would treat Regina? ¡°Her condition is fragile. Any rough treatment could be catastrophic. Should anything happen¡­¡± ¡°Even if she dies, she can die under my supervision!¡± Howard¡¯s thunderous voice echoed, causing Violet¡¯s ears to ring. His stubbornness only strengthened her resolve to protect Regina. In her desperation, she rummaged through her pockets and discovered the needle she had used the day before. She pulled out the needle she had used before and lunged at Howard, pressing it to his throat. ¡°Touch her, and I¡¯ll use this!¡± Never before had Howard, a man used to respect, been threatened in such a manner. His face darkened considerably. His bodyguards froze, not daring to advance. The needle posed a real threat, albeit non¨Clethal. Regina, unable to contain herself, burst intoughter. She pointed at Violet, saying. ¡°This is hrious!¡± Enraged, Howard¡¯s face turned red. 2/3: +15 BONOS He struck out, hitting Violet on the neck. She saw the stars and lost all her strength, slumping to the Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ground. When Violet awoke, she found herself sprawled out on a bed, facing a masked figure in front of her. Instinctively, she reached out and pped the person¡¯s face, then quickly rolled over and got up. ¡°Grandma, Grandma!¡± As someone tried to restrain her, she grabbed a pillow and swung it defensively, yelling, ¡°Back off! Get away from me!¡± Her pillow was snatched from behind, and her arm was firmly pinned down. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± asked a familiar voice¨Cit was Lucius. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 +15 BONOS Violet gradually rxed. When she turned around, she confirmed that it was Lucius who had been holding her. Struggling to speak, she asked faintly, ¡°G¨CGrandma, is she¡­?¡± Her voice trailed off,cking strength. Lucius let go of her, and massaged his temples. He assured her, ¡°Grandma¡¯s fine. She¡¯s just resting.¡± ¡°So, Grandma wasn¡¯t taken away?¡± Lucius made no attempt to answer. Instead, he briskly walked out to confront the doctor nursing a sore cheek. ¡°Make sure she¡¯s thoroughly checked for any potential aftereffects.¡± Howard had struck hard. Violet was lucky to have survived it. Watching Lucius walk away, Violet gingerly touched her throbbing head. ¡°How did I end up back here?¡± she asked, lying down. Despite his irritation at being pped earlier, the doctor replied truthfully, ¡°Master Lucius brought you back.¡± ¡°Lucius brought me back?¡± Violet asked, doubtful. She wondered if there were problems with her hearing, or perhaps there was something wrong with the doctor¡¯s eyes. Surprisingly, the next morning, Lucius appeared in her room. ¡°Turn your head here,¡± he said sharply. Violet slowly turned her head toward him, feeling his cool fingers soothe her neck. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, startled. ¡°Applying medicine. Can¡¯t you tell?¡± Lucius replied, his voice still cold. ¡°Why are you doing it?¡± Violet asked, confused. Lucius shot her a nce that suggested she was asking the obvious. She had meant that, with a doctor avable, Lucius¡¯s personal attention seemed unnecessary. Despite his best efforts to be gentle, he was a brute man and his touch was painfully firm. Violet endured silently, biting back any sounds of difort. ¡°Feeling hot?¡± he suddenly inquired, noting the sweat on her forehead. He adjusted the air conditioning, making it cooler. Shivering, Violet protested, ¡°It¡¯s not heat. It¡¯s pain causing the difort.¡± Lucius¡¯s face darkened with displeasure. Shadows quickly veiled his features; he seemed greatly displeased. 1/3: +15 BONOS Violet buried her head deep, avoiding further eye contact. She knew being too honest could be risky. Lucius withdrew his hand without hurting her, grumbling inwardly. Many others desired his attention, but this woman didn¡¯t appreciate it. ¡°By the way, did you carry me back yesterday?¡± Violet asked, still finding it hard to believe. Given Lucius¡¯s dislike for her, she assumed he would have asked a servant to drag her back if she had fainted. ¡°Do you have a problem with that?¡± he snapped. His reply carried an unsettling tone. While he didn¡¯t explicitly confirm it, the underlying message was evident. Violet abruptly raised her head to look at him; her disbelief was obvious. Feeling uneasy under her scrutiny, Lucius scowled and said, ¡°Who would care for Grandma if you were gone?¡± With those words, he left arrogantly. epting his logic, Violet nodded silently in agreement. Once feeling somewhat better, she visited Regina¡¯s room. Regina, now awake, gestured eagerly for Violet. ¡°Come here,e over.¡± Violet approached as requested. ¡°How are you feeling after the incident?¡± Regina asked. ¡°I¡¯m managing. It¡¯s not too severe.¡± Regina expressed her regret, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, he¡¯s habitually rough.¡± Her apology only added to Violet¡¯s difort. ¡°I¡¯m really okay. See, it doesn¡¯t hurt much,¡± Violet said, wincing as she tried to hide her difort. Regina let out a sigh of relief, then said, ¡°Lucius was truly frightened yesterday. He thought you were dead, and he almost confronted that man. Oh, those two¡­¡°. Was the scenario overly dramatic? Violet suspected Regina was just trying to make her feel better. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you some porridge,¡± she offered, heading downstairs. ¡°Do you think Ms. Agatha will win back Master Lucius¡¯s favor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s unlikely.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t there to see it, but yesterday, when Ms. Agatha was injured, Master Lucius held her in such a worried manner, almost as if her life was in danger. I¡¯ve never seen him this disturbed over anyone, except for Madam Davis.¡± Hearing the servants¡® chatter, Violet stopped in her tracks, deep in thought. 2/3: +15 BONOS Was Regina¡¯s ount urate? Why was Lucius so deeply concerned about her? Was his worry simply about who would look after his grandmother? Later that day, George arrived with a nurse, saying, ¡°The nurse will take care of Madam Davis while she sleeps. Ms. Agatha, you can rest in the adjoining room.¡± He gestured towards a small bed recently added to the room, ced there in his direction. Violet felt uneasy epting this arrangement. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if this is right.¡± George, sensing her hesitation, reassured her, ¡°This is Master Lucius¡¯s directive.¡± Had Lucius be unexpectedly thoughtful? The realization that it was his idea sparked a warmth within her. That evening, Lucius visited Regina¡¯s room. Violet was feeding Regina porridge, gently cooling each spoonful before giving it to her. Lucius stood by silently, observing. The way Violet¡¯s lips delicately touched the spoon, looking sweet and delicate, resembled the soft petals of a flower. His throat tightened unexpectedly. ¡°Have you just arrived?¡± Regina was the first to notice Lucius¡¯s presence, breaking the silence. Then Lucius came forward, and asked, ¡°Grandma, how are you feeling today?¡± Where only one chair was avable, Lucius took a seat next to Violet. This resulted in their proximity, with their bodies almost touching. Feeling his firm waist muscles, Violet instinctively recoiled, as though she hade into contact with something scorching. Inwardly, she grumbled about Lucius¡¯s authoritative nature; he didn¡¯t even ask her to move over. Jerk! Chapter 70 Chapter 70 +15 BONOS Violet quickly adjusted her position as soon as he sat down, as if to make room for him. Regina observed this exchange, and nodded in apparent approval. Aware that Lucius and Regina needed to converse privately, Violet discreetly left the room to afford them some space. She busied herself with cleaning the dishes, and hurriedly ate her dinner. Once done, she headed back to her room, identally bumping into Lucius as he wasing out of his. They met in the adjoining space. ¡°Thanks,¡± Violet said, slightly hesitating while pointing towards the bed. Lucius nced at the bed briefly, and said nonchntly, ¡°I arranged it so you¡¯d be more rested to look after Grandma.¡± Violet didn¡¯t really think there was any other reason behind it. She watched Lucius walk away with a glum expression, innocently touching her neck. Ultimately, Violet chose not to sleep on the bed. Despite the presence of the nurse, she worried Regina might N?velDrama.Org holds this content. need assistance during the night. Given Regina¡¯s kind treatment of her, Violet feltpelled to reciprocate with diligent care, especially considering Regina¡¯s days were limited. When Regina eventually dozed off, Violet found herself nodding off in a chair at a distance. Half¨Casleep, she felt something warm envelop her. Too tired to open her eyes, she nestled deeper into the warmth, curling up tightly. Lucius gazed at the cocooned figure of Violet, her face the only part visible. A small smile crept onto his lips. He appreciated her reliance on his belongings. In the dim light, her small face glowed even more, and her pink lips moved slightly. It brought back memories of her feeding Regina earlier, and of those same lips once close to him as she fed him. Feeling a fierce thump in his heart, Lucius experienced a sudden rush of heat enveloping him. Choosing not to stay in the room any longer, he quickly made his exit. Upon waking, Violet found a jacketid over her. Regina, now awake, eyed her with curiosity. ¡°Can you actually sleep herefortably at night?¡± ¡°I managed just fine,¡± Violet replied as she stretched. She picked up the jacket. ¡°Thanks for this, Grandma.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not my doing,¡± Regina said. Confused, Violet examined the jacket and recognized its masculine style. Bringing it closer, she detected a subtle yet distinct male scent. 1/3: +15 BONOS ¡°That¡¯s Lucius¡¯s jacket,¡± Regina revealed with a knowing smile. ¡°It seems my grandson is quite attentive towards you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Violet questioned, her mind racing. The room was filled with items for warmth, yet Lucius had chosen his personal jacket for her. She pondered over his intentions. Without seeking Lucius¡¯s answers, she neatly folded the jacket, cing it on the bed¡¯s head for him to retrieve After departing from Regina¡¯s room, Lucius felt a continuous, ufortable heat within him. He spent a considerable amount of time at the gym, burning off his energy, followed by a shower before finally retiring to bed. Rising early, Lucius didn¡¯t hurry to leave his home as usual. He took his time enjoying breakfast, and then settled on the sofa with the newspaper. George watched him in confusion. Lucius typically visited Regina first thing each morning, but today, he showed no sign of doing so. What could be different? Knowing his ce as a servant, George dared not probe. He quietly stood by, prepared to assist Lucius as needed. Lucius asionally lifted his gaze towards the staircase. Was he expecting someone toe down? At ten o¡¯clock, Lucius abruptly put down his newspaper and headed upstairs. Violet had not had the opportunity to step out, as Regina was awake and not feeling well. Regina had insisted Violet not inform Lucius about her condition, so Violet attempted to ease her difort with a massage. A doctor had visited them once, andmended Violet for her efforts. After a lengthy, three¨Chour massage, Violet¡¯s hands were sore. She left Regina¡¯s room, her hands hanging limply. She didn¡¯t even have breakfast yet. Descending the stairs, she saw Lucius exiting his bedroom. Violet merely nodded in passing, not stopping. ¡°Agatha!¡± Lucius called out, annoyed. ¡°Do you need something?¡± Violet asked weakly. ¡°Why are you asking if I need something?¡± Lucius¡¯s face grew colder. He had expected some gratitude for his jacket, yet she dared to question his needs? ¡°Jacket,¡± he uttered one word. ¡°Oh,¡± Violet replied nonchntly, gesturing towards Regina¡¯s room, ¡°It¡¯s in there; you can get +15 BONOS it yourself.¡± ¡°Get it by myself?¡± Lucius looked at her as if she were a stranger. Feeling she was dangerously close to passing out due to her hunger, Violet quickly continued on her way downstairs. Throughout the day, Lucius maintained a gloomy demeanor. Violet noticed his brooding expressions directed at her and concluded that he was unusually upset. Ever since Regina¡¯s arrival, he had rarely shown such a cold front. Despite never looking her way, Violet couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that his coldness was aimed at her. She touched her neck, confused by her own thoughts. ¡°Child, bring me some juice,¡± Regina asked, gesturing with her chin. Violet was relieved to leave the room; facing Lucius¡¯s icy demeanor all day was anything but pleasant. Once Violet was gone, Regina¡¯s tone became serious. ¡°Be honest with me; you really care for her, don¡¯t you?¡± she prodded Lucius. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 ¡°How could that be?¡± Lucius tly denied it. +15 BONOS Regina challenged him, ¡°I¡¯ve been through it all; how could I have missed it? What do you have to hide?¡± ¡°Aside from you, no other woman in this world could have my affection!¡± Lucius¡¯s tone was firm and decisive. Meanwhile, Violet, who was tidying a small bed outside, paused when she identally overheard their conversation. She identally knocked her palm against the bed¡¯s edge after hearing Lucius¡¯s clear denial of having feelings for her. Was there a problem with her? What difference does it make if Lucius falls in love with another woman? Violet stroked her finger, and headed outside. She felt a strange tightness in her chest as she left the room. Lucius was gone when she returned to the room, leaving only Regina. There was irritation on Regina¡¯s face as she beckoned to Violet, saying, ¡°Vivi,e over here!¡± Obediently, Violet approached her with the juice. ¡°Starting today, I¡¯d like you to wear these while you¡¯re looking after me!¡± Regina picked up a pile of clothes from the bed, and handed them to her. Violet gazed at the clothes, visibly puzzled. The garments were made from high¨Cquality material and showed expert craftsmanship. It was evident they were designed for a young woman. She asked, ¡°Where did these clothes originate from?¡± ¡°George collected them for me.¡± Violet remembered that George had visited various rooms earlier. These were the rooms Lucius used for his lovers. She asked, ¡°Grandma, what¡¯s the reason for me to wear these clothes?¡± Violet could tell, even without wearing them, that these were the kind of provocative dresses left behind by Lucius¡¯s visitors. ¡°I want to brighten up the atmosphere in my room. Having you in these clothes will lift my spirits and aid my recovery,¡± Regina exined. Violet wondered if that was the true motive. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, George has ensured they are all thoroughly cleaned and sanitized,¡± Regina added, noticing her hesitation. Violet smiled bitterly as she grasped the clothes. ¡°I¡¯ll wear them for you now.¡± +15 BONOS Left with no choice but toply with the wishes of a gravely ill elderly woman, Violet dutifully retreated to another room to change her clothes. Regina, feeling victorious, whispered to herself, ¡°Just wait, you scoundrel! You think you can deceive your grandmother. Let¡¯s see how long you can keep up this charade!¡± She didn¡¯t just insist on Violet changing her clothes, and also wanted Violet to put on makeup. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Aiming to satisfy Regina, Violet applied a subtle amount of makeup. She stood out and attracted attention because of her natural beauty and wless skin, which were both enhanced by minimal makeup. Though Violet felt deeply ufortable, Regina was overjoyed and kept showering her with Lucius, rubbing his forehead, ascended the stairs. He suddenly noticed a striking silhouette crossing his path. The woman, with her hair loosely tied, radiated a timeless elegance. The cut of her backless dress revealed her slender arms, well¨Cshaped legs, and delicate waist, while her skin appeared soft, glowing, and supple. Lucius wondered if George had found anotherpanion for him. However, this woman headed straight into Regina¡¯s room. Intrigued, Lucius followed, and upon entering, his voice turned icy. ¡°Violet? Why are you dressed like this?¡± ¡°She looks stunning in this outfit,¡± Regina interrupted, pulling Violet closer. ¡°See, she¡¯s like a flower in full bloom.¡± Violet, already uneasy in her new attire, flushed even more at Lucius¡¯s disapproving tone. Her cheeks, more flushed than the blush on them, contrasted with her innocent expression. Lucius, visibly affected, averted his gaze and reluctantly admitted, ¡°Fine, as long as Grandma is pleased.¡± ¡°Come, sit and chat with me,¡± Regina beckoned, patting the bed next to her, her mood noticeably lighter than it had been in the morning. Lucius sat down, his expression troubled. ¡°Vivi, fetch me some porridge.¡± ¡°Vivi, get me a ss of water.¡± ¡°Vivi, bring me¡­¡± Regina asked Violet for things often, which was very out of character for her. Violet¡¯s elegant form moved back and forth, repeatedlying into and out of Lucius¡¯s view. The issue was her attire, which was rather revealing. Each time she leaned over, it either exposed more of her chest or her legs. +15 BONOS Lucius found himself captivated by the sight, his throat dry. Her waist, though iparable to that of an international supermodel, was slender and enticing, stirring in him an overwhelming desire to wrap his arms around her and pull her close. He shot Violet a stern re. Busy with attending to Regina, Violet tried to cover herself as much as possible, she was flustered and preupied, and didn¡¯t pay attention to his mood. She continued to disregard Lucius entirely. His thoughts drifted back to the morning, recalling how she had ignored him even though she knew the jacket was his, without offering a word of thanks. He noticed his jacket carelessly thrown at the head of the bed, partly on the floor. He pondered whether Violet always treated his belongings with such disregard. Lucius suddenly stood up, saying, ¡°Grandma, you should rest now. I must leave.¡± Regina didn¡¯t press him to stay. Violet discreetly wiped her sweat away. ¡°That jacket belongs to Lucius, doesn¡¯t it? You should give it back to him,¡± Regina pointed out. Violet looked at the jacket, realizing she had forgotten to remind him to take it. ¡°Hurry, I need to sleep,¡± Regina said, closing her eyes. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 After a moment of hesitation, Violet picked up the jacket and quietly exited the room. Holding the jacket, she made her way to Lucius¡¯s room, telling herself she was merely returning it, and gently knocked on the door. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. After a prolonged silence, assuming Lucius wasn¡¯t there, she turned to leave. But then, the door suddenly opened. She felt a strong grip on her waist, and she was swiftly pulled inside. Caughtpletely by surprise, Violet was pulled into the room without a chance to react. In the dimly lit room, Violet struggled to see clearly. The man¡¯s hot breath was scorching against her face, the intensity was almost overwhelming. His strong arms pinned her shoulders to the wall, the heat from his palm radiating through her. ¡°¡­¡± She attempted to lift the jacket. Lucius interrupted her by leaning in to kiss her. ¡°Mmmh!¡± Startled, her eyes widened in disbelief, barely discerning his silhouette. His body was tense, and his kiss was assertive. To prevent her from resisting, he even went so far as to grip her wrists, restricting her movements. Initially, his kiss seemed like a form of retribution. But as their lips met, he found her unexpectedly sweet, intensifying the kiss until a sharp pain on his tongue and the taste of blood brought him back to reality. He withdrew abruptly. Violet, seizing the moment, tried to push him away but found herself weak, sliding down instead. Clutching her chest, she gasped for air, grateful she had bitten him, or else she might have suffocated. ¡°I just came¡­to return your jacket,¡± she managed to say after catching her breath. Her panting seemed to aggravate Lucius¡¯s anger. He lifted her to his eye level, saying usingly, ¡°Choosing this time and in that dress to return my jacket, don¡¯t pretend you had no other motives.¡± Violet remained silent, knowing he wouldn¡¯t believe herck of ulterior motives. Eventually, Lucius calmed and released her, proposing, ¡°What do you want? I admit you¡¯ve caught my interest again. You won¡¯t be treated the same as before, but you can stay in my bed until I find someone else.¡± To some, this might seem like an opportunity; but for Violet, it was an insult. She responded with a coldugh. ¡°Not everyone is eager to be in your bed. Don¡¯t tter yourself!¡± +15 BONOS Violet threw the jacket at him and left the room. Outside, a breeze greeted her. It wasn¡¯t cold, but she wrapped her arms around herself tightly. Why did his words stir such distress in her? Had she unwittingly fallen for Lucius too? Violet firmly covered her head as the thought urred to her. How could she possibly harbor feelings for him? This was the man who had forced her into a role she resented, who had belittled, attacked, and confined her¨Cshe was supposed to despise him. Despite her inner turmoil, Violet continued wearing the stylish clothes to please Regina, but she made a conscious effort to steer clear of Lucius, ensuring their paths seldom crossed. Lucius, on his part, appeared unconcerned with Violet, his attention solely on his grandmother. His interactions with Violet were purely functional, speaking to her only as a master would to a servant. Violet was resigned to this state of affairs, recognizing that any deeper connection with Lucius was out of the question. After attending Regina, Violet headed downstairs to eat. The hot weather had sapped her appetite, so she requested a chilled fruit sd from the chef. Refreshing as it was, the cold dish had unexpected consequences. Violet had overlooked the fact that it was the day her menstrual cycle was due. Within half an hour, she was wracked with severe abdominal pain. She struggled to ascend the stairs, finally copsing in agony in a secluded part.of the house. After what felt like an eternity, she heard Lucius¡¯s voice say, ¡°Why are you here like this?¡± Barely conscious of his presence, Violet leaned weakly against the wall, unable to raise her head. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Grandma shortly,¡± she whispered, her voice quivering in an attempt to sound Lucius, seeing her pale, sweat¨Csoaked face and feeling her rmingly cold body, grew concerned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± he demanded. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she replied, shaking her head and trying to squat down again. Lucius, refusing to let her, insisted on an exnation. Reluctantly, Violet admitted, ¡°I ate something cold.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had cold dishes here before!¡± His implication that she might be exaggerating mortified her. Violet had to exin, ¡°It¡¯s usually fine, but not right before my period.¡± ¡°Knowing this, you still ate it?¡± +15 BONOS His shout echoed in her ears. Before she could respond, Lucius had swept her up and was carrying her away. ¡°Lucius¡­¡± she murmured. He said nothing, taking her to her room andying her on the bed. Once she was settled, he asked, ¡°What do you need?¡± Embarrassed, Violet turned away and muttered, ¡°I need¡­sanitary pads.¡± Lucius¡¯s face darkened. He left the room abruptly, the door mming shut behind him. Curling up on the bed, Violet clutched her stomach, realizing how awkward her request must have seemed to a man as proud as Lucius. She had intended to wait until the pain subsided before getting the pads herself. Meanwhile, Lucius strode downstairs, nearly bumping into George, who quickly stepped aside to avoid him. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 ¡°Master Lucius?¡± George addressed Lucius in a tone of surprise, as it was unusual for Lucius to behave in such a manner. He received an irritated look from Lucius; he touched his nose, puzzled about what he might have done incorrectly. Lucius strode past him, but then paused after a few steps and ordered, ¡°Get sanitary pads.¡± ¡°Sanitary pads?¡± George¡¯s face transitioned from confusion to astonishment.. Could he be mishearing? Was Master Lucius actually requesting sanitary pads? ¡°Master Lucius?¡± ¡°Do it now!¡± Luciusmanded, his face stormy and filled with anger. He regretted getting involved with Agatha, thinking her need for sanitary pads wasn¡¯t his concern. George quickly bought arge pack of pads. Lucius looked at them with contempt. Without touching them, he ordered, ¡°Take these to Agatha¡¯s room.¡± ¡°For Ms. Agatha, Master Lucius?¡± George, though shocked, realized the intention. He was surprised by Lucius¡¯s gesture, especially given his master¡¯s previously stated refusal to reconnect with Ms. Agatha. ¡°Do you think I need them for myself?¡± Lucius was exceptionally irritable, his words sharper, and his usual cold demeanor reced by a fiery one, disying a more authentic side of himself. George, intimidated, remained silent but took the pads upstairs. The idea of a man delivering such intimate items to a woman made Lucius scowl at George, and he felt deeply uneasy. ¡°If I have to do everything myself, why employ so many servants? George, you will handle all such tasks in the future.¡± George stopped in his tracks, regretting not checking his horoscope. It was a bad day for his master, and he had inadvertently stepped on andmine. The butler ultimately passed the sanitary pads to a maid. Only then did Lucius¡¯s face rxed somewhat. After taking a soothing, warm bath, Violet finally started feeling a bit relieved. While resting against the bed to catch her breath, she suddenly experienced a warm flow from within her body. Frozen in ce, aware that something wasn¡¯t right, she hesitated to move.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. From outside, a voice called, ¡°Ms. Agatha.¡± +15 BONOS A maid approached, presenting a bag to her and mentioning, ¡°Mr. George sent this for you.¡± As the maid let go of the bag, its contents spilled out-an abundance of sanitary pads. The sheer quantity shocked Violet; there was enough tost for months. She wondered if George knew about her menstrual cycle, or if it was Lucius who had instructed George to deliver these. The thought lingered, but she didn¡¯t dare to inquire. The idea of someone as dignified as Lucius concerning himself with her menstrual needs seemed far¨C fetched. Little did Violet know that man had done the unthinkable. With the situation demanding immediate attention, Violet quickly used one of the pads, resolving the immediate issue. She cleaned up, felt obliged to thank George, and headed downstairs. George was busy overseeing the other servants downstairs. Lucius was seated remotely on the first¨Cfloor balcony, lounging in his chair like a king. Violet intentionally took a roundabout route to avoid him. Catching a glimpse of Violet sneaking past him towards George, Lucius¡¯s face darkened. Violet, indifferent to his reaction, approached George to express her heartfelt thanks, ¡°Thank you, George.¡± ¡°Agatha!¡± Before George could reply, Lucius¡¯s voice rang out. Lucius¡® stern expression perplexed Violet, who turned to face him. Recalling their previous interactions, she instinctively recoiled, fearful of offending him. Lucius observed her reaction, growing even more irritated. He didn¡¯t realize how perplexed he was by his own frustration. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be attending to Grandma right now? What are you doing wandering around?¡± ¡°I¡¯m heading there now!¡± Violet quickly replied. Lucius, known for his unyielding anger, was not easily pacified. Violet promptly followed his orders, heading upstairs. His anger hadn¡¯t subsided, and he dered, ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be by Grandma¡¯s side around the clock. A single slip, and you¡¯ll face severe consequences!¡± She then reassured the nurse, ¡°You can take a break. I¡¯ll handle everything from here.¡± With Lucius¡¯smand fresh in her mind, she was vignt not to falter in her duties. In the dead of night, Regina stirred and nudged Violet, who was fighting to stay awake, avoiding leaning on anything to prevent falling asleep. ¡°Grandma?¡± Violet asked, rubbing her sleepy eyes. +15 BONOS Regina, concerned about Lucius, said, ¡°It¡¯ste. Lucius might have uncovered himself again. I need to check on him.¡± Violet quickly dissuaded her, ¡°Grandma, your health isn¡¯t good. You need to stay in bed.¡± Despite Regina¡¯s frailty, Violet admired her enduring care for Lucius. ¡°Lucius might catch a cold without his nket,¡± Regina mumbled sleepily, still thinking of Lucius as a child.¡± Can you check on him and make sure he¡¯s covered?¡± Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Violet agreed to Regina¡¯s request, knowing she wouldn¡¯t rest otherwise. ¡°Just take a photo afterward,¡± Regina added. Violet was surprised by Regina¡¯s request because she had only intended to appease her. She hesitated, unsure how to proceed. ¡°Quickly, before he gets cold,¡± Regina urged. Urged by Regina, Violet hesitantly approached Lucius¡¯s room, secretly hoping the door would be locked, giving her an excuse to retreat. However, to her astonishment, the door swung open with ease. The room was dominated by an imposing king¨Csize bed, bathed in the glow of an elegant court¨Cstyle bedsidemp, reminiscent of a blooming floral arrangement.. The gentle yellow illumination cast a soft light on Lucius¡¯s face, which, in slumber, appeared serene and prince -like, straight out of a fairy tale. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. His sleeping form was the picture of grace, as though refined through countless rehearsals. The nket rested just below his chest, his hands poised atop it. Taking a cautious breath, Violet moved closer, delicately extracting the nket from under his arm to drape it over him, all the while holding her breath, anxious not to disturb his rest. Little did she know, Lucius, ever vignt, had awakened upon her entrance yet chose to keep his eyes shut. As Violet leaned forward, wrestling with the nket, Lucius abruptly opened his eyes. Violet, taken aback, found herself frozen under his piercing gaze, her lips slightly parted in shock, unable to speak. The soft yellow light shone on her head, illuminating her hair, which cascaded down and fell onto his chest. Some strands teasingly touched his neck and Adam¡¯s apple. He swallowed hard, his eyes drawn to her tender lips. He imagined they would be sweet. Yielding to this temptation, Lucius impulsively pressed his arm against her back, pulling her down. Surprised, Violet lost her bnce and tumbled onto him. Before she could gather her wits, he captured her lips in a fervent kiss. The kiss was as sweet as he had envisioned,pelling him to deepen it even further. Violet,ing to her senses, struggled to push him away. But Lucius held her firmly, one hand securing the back of her head, the other lingering on her back. Her petite frame was no match for his strength. Her resistance only fueled Lucius¡¯s ardor, turning their embrace into a tempest of passion. +15 BONOS Inevitably, Violet found herself beneath him, feeling the heat of his body igniting her own. Atst, Lucius regained hisposure, reigning in his intense desire. It wasn¡¯t that he deliberately wanted to suppress his desire; rather, he had felt the sanitary pad she was wearing. He smacked her waist fiercely, then stood up abruptly with an angry look on his face. Lucius left Violet lying there, her face flushed a deep red, resembling a ripe tomato. Her skin always reddened when her emotions were heightened, a response Lucius found appealing as it affirmed her allure. ¡°Why are you just lying there? Do you want me to continue?¡± he barked, his tone harsh despite his earlier restraint. Like a deted balloon, she swiftly rose and hurried out. In her haste, she knocked over several items, causing a noisy disturbance. Lucius watched her hasty departure; the aftermath of the chaos she left behind brought an unexpected sense of satisfaction to him, prompting a smile. Returning to Regina¡¯s room, Violet realized she hadn¡¯tpleted her intended task. She had lost the phone Regina had given her for taking pictures. Confused, she reasoned, ¡°L¡­Lucius wasn¡¯t asleep, so I couldn¡¯t take a photo. This wasn¡¯t entirely untrue, as Lucius had initially been asleep but woke upter. Regina didn¡¯t press for more details, but her gaze lingered on Violet¡¯s flushed face and swollen lips, understanding the situation. Despite keeping a straight face, Regina was secretly amused. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then don¡¯t worry about him,¡± Regina said, making room in her bed. ¡°Come sleep here.¡± ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be right!¡± Violet hesitated, concerned about Lucius¡¯s reaction and worried she might not be alert to Regina¡¯s needs if she fell asleep. ¡°I don¡¯t like having someone standing over me as I sleep. Plus, it¡¯s easier to call on you if you¡¯re close,¡± Regina insisted, clearly concerned for Violet, who showed signs of fatigue. Feeling obligated, Violet joined Regina in bed, noting the coldness of the bed due to Regina¡¯s poor health. She held the elderly woman¡¯s hand close, providing warmth. Thefort of the bed soon lulled Violet into a deep sleep. Early the next morning, Lucius visited Regina¡¯s room and saw Violet there, curled up under the nket, gently holding Regina¡¯s hand. Her delicate appearance and slender figure were even more pronounced in the soft morning light. Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Lucius¡¯s mood darkened again as he observed Violet, who consistently seemed to avoid him like a timid mouse avoiding a cat, yet behaved differently around others. He cleared his throat loudly to announce his presence. Half¨Casleep, Violet was startled awake by the sound and was immediately confronted by Lucius¡¯s cold and stern face. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. She quickly sat up, nearly throwing Regina¡¯s hand out of the bed, but managed to gently ce it back under the covers. Violet tried to be as quiet as possible to avoid disturbing Regina, yet Lucius could still detect her cautiousness towards him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she offered a timid apology. It wasn¡¯t a big deal; Lucius understood that without Regina¡¯s permission, Violet wouldn¡¯t have been in that bed. Yet he expressed his displeasure, and questioned her sense of propriety. ¡°Sleeping in just any bed? Haven¡¯t figured out your ce yet?¡± Feeling self¨Cconscious about her ce in Lucius¡¯s eyes and about sleeping in Regina¡¯s bed, Violet¡¯s head dipped. ¡°If it were a man in this bed, would it matter to you?¡± Even though Lucius was oblivious to his underlying resentment, his remarks were filled with a concealed sting. Violet blinked, perplexed and unable to understand his argument. Was it her sharing Regina¡¯s bed that ¨C disturbed him, or the concept that she¡¯d sleep in anyone¡¯s bed? Lucius, irritated by her innocent expression,manded coldly, ¡°Go outside and weed the garden!¡± Violet looked at Regina before leaving, as told. Later, when Regina awoke to find Lucius beside her, she was overjoyed and conversed eagerly. Lucius, usually impatient, showed endless tolerance for Regina. He patiently listened to her, not showing any sign of annoyance. ¡°Where¡¯s Vivi?¡± Regina eventually noticed Violet¡¯s absence; she knew Violet was always nearby and unlikely to be avoiding her duties. She turned to look at Lucius. ¡°I sent her to weed the garden,¡± Lucius acknowledged, somewhat hesitantly. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll keep you Regina peered outside and noticed a little figure, nearly swallowed up by the vast grass field. She didn¡¯t protest Lucius¡¯s arrangement, but said casually, ¡°I heard the temperature outside is going to exceed +15 BONOS Lucius¡¯s brow twisted slightly, but he offered no response to her remark. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s going to get even hotter, maybe hitting fifty degrees. That kind of heat could practically roast someone,¡± Regina half¨Cjoked,menting on the extreme temperatures. ¡°At the very least, it¡¯d get to medium rare.¡± Lucius clinched his brows and gazed out the window. The house, situated on the ins, meant the sun rose early. While the air conditioning kept the room He made no move to call Violet back inside. He believed she was sensible enough to avoid unnecessary suffering and would return once the heat became unbearable. Lucius wasn¡¯t known for his leniency. Violet, on the other hand, seemed undeterred by the scorching sun. Her hand¨Cweeding process was slow, making it look like she hadn¡¯t moved at all. Lucius fiddled with his cuffs, bing increasingly irritated. He got to his feet, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll get you something to eat.¡± Under normal circumstances, a mere word from him would have had the servants bring the food, yet he chose to go out himself. George was right outside the door, always ready to attend to Lucius. ¡°Master Lucius?¡± He intended to ask if Lucius required anything. Without asking George to fetch the food, Lucius continued outside, with George following him. The view from downstairs was more expansive due to bulletproof ss walls that provided an unobstructed view of the outside. Lucius¡¯s expression grew more stern. As he took a lunch tray upstairs, he told George, ¡°Tell Agatha the temperature will rise to fifty today.¡± George maintained a neutral expression, standing by respectfully, ready for further instructions. Lucius, however, was already on his way upstairs. Left to his own thoughts, George contemted Lucius¡¯s motive for sending such a message to Violet. Despite his intelligence, he couldn¡¯t deduce Lucius¡¯s intentions. Despite that, he faithfully conveyed the message to Violet as instructed. Violet, who was nearly sunburned to a charred outside, exhaled heavily when she heard George¡¯s message, and muttered, ¡°That exins it.¡± George then went back inside. ¡°What was her response?¡± Lucius asked George after Regina had finished her porridge. +15 BONOS George, after a brief thought, answered honestly, ¡°Ms. Agatha said, ¡®That exins it.¡°¡± ¡°And what exactly does that exin?¡± Lucius pressed. ¡°She didn¡¯t borate,¡± George replied. Lucius locked his sight on him, as if his prating nce could physically harm George. George brushed away his sweat, bing increasingly bewildered by Lucius¡® erratic mood swings. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let her stay out in the sun!¡± Lucius thought, wishing she would just bake out there. In a fit of rage, he hurriedly ascended the stairs. George observed Lucius¡¯s departure, slowly realizing something. He wondered if Lucius had rekindled his feelings for Agatha. In his eyes, Agatha had a certain charm that seemed to soften Lucius¡¯s edges. This led George to consider whether it was time to address a certain issue. Knowing it was futile to hide anything from Lucius, George understood it was only a matter of time before Lucius discovered any secrets. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 With some hesitation, he opened Lucius¡¯s door. ¡°Master Lucius, there¡¯s something¡­I need to inform you about.¡± ¡°Out with it!¡± Lucius spat, his brow wrinkled in frustration. George looked out the window, worried that Lucius would tear him apart after hearing the news¨Ccertain N?velDrama.Org holds this content. information he had only recently acquired himself. ¡°Ms. Agatha might not have undergone stic surgery,¡± he stated cautiously. Lucius¡¯s eyes narrowed into a severe re, and his stare was so intense that George could hardly bear it. ¡°Exin!¡± demanded Lucius. With no choice but to continue, George said, ¡°Yesterday, Edur¡¯s men were seen shopping for women¡¯s clothing. choosing styles that Ms. Agatha favors.¡± The Imperial Pce mall wasn¡¯t for everyone, with single pieces of apparel sometimes costing millions of dors, enough tost a regr person a lifetime. Seeing Lucius¡¯s darkening visage, George trembled involuntarily, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I failed in my duties.¡± Lucius had entrusted George with the task of finding Agatha. George had been confident in the person they found to be Agatha, but now, he wasn¡¯t so sure¡­ ¡°However, it remains unclear whether we were mistaken. Edur is well¨Cknown for his ruses. He likely anticipated that buying Ms. Agatha¡¯s clothes from our mall would arouse suspicion. It might be just a diversion to confuse you.¡± George added, considering the possibility of a deception. Lucius responded with a cold hum, ¡°Apparently, the pressure I¡¯ve been applying isn¡¯t sufficient. He¡¯s still finding time for such games.¡± A subtle smirk appeared on Lucius¡¯s lips, but it wasced with malice. His employer was no longer the gentleman he once was; he had transformed into a cold¨Cblooded Satan, and those who angered him. George could only picture the pain Edur would go through for crossing him. Lucius then stepped outside. ¡°Master Lucius, regarding Ms. Agatha¡­¡± ¡°Get ¡°Get to the bottom of this. Find out the truth!¡°. ¡°Yes, Master Lucius.¡± A wave of intense heat hit Lucius as he was leaving the building, making him sweat profusely. George came quickly, holding an umbre equipped with a built¨Cin fan. Despite the innovative design, it did +15 BONOS Lucius dismissed the umbre with a wave of his hand. ¡°Get back to work,¡± hemanded. George promptly left to carry out his tasks, daring not to linger around. Lucius made his way to thewn, steadily approaching Violet, who was a small, noticeable figure amidst the greenery, stopping about ten meters from her. Violet, focused on her task with her back towards him, was oblivious to his presence. She continued to weed the garden, periodically wiping away sweat. The air she breathed was thick and hot, making breathingborious, yet she persisted without pause. Lucius observed her intently, noting the persistent movement of her slender arms and feeling an inexplicable pull in his heart. He moved closer until his body cast a shadow over her, providing relief from the sun. Violet noticed the sudden shadow, looked up, and turned when she recognized the human form. Feeling the sudden shade, Violet looked up in confusion. Recognizing the human silhouette, she turned around and was surprised to see Lucius. Despite the severe heat, Lucius managed to maintain a cool andposed appearance, with sweat on his forehead being the only sign of difort. Violet released the grass she was holding in confusion, and defended herself. ¡°I haven¡¯t been cking off.¡± Lucius remained silent, absorbing her subtle actions. Her face was pale, covered in continuous sweat. Her clothes were drenched and clinging tightly to her body. rendering them nearly see¨Cthrough. Her chest heavedboriously, visibly struggling under the oppressive heat. ¡°Why are you out here, willingly pulling weeds?¡± he asked. Violet felt as if she had overheard the world¡¯s biggest joke. Willingly? Violet internally questioned how Lucius could perceive her actions as willing. However, she refrained from expressing these thoughts to avoid provoking him. This man was tolerable when quiet, but absolutely terrifying when enraged. ¡°What choice do I have but to go along with it?¡± she answered, her voiceced with a subtle unwillingness, despite trying to be diplomatic. He misunderstood her reply, pressing further. ¡°Are you finally admitting that you¡¯re Agatha?¡± ¡°Yes, I ept it!¡± she responded with frustration, eager to end the conversation. After hearing her response, Lucius turned to leave. What he really needed was a denial¨Can intense deration that she wasn¡¯t Agatha like before. Violet¡¯s admission disappointed and upset him greatly. Agatha, in his opinion, was an unforgiving sinner +15 BONOS He went inside and straight upstairs, spending the rest of his time beside Regina¡¯s bed. Despite Regina¡¯s subtle hints about the extreme weather outdoors, Lucius appeared indifferent, as though her. words didn¡¯t reach him. Violet struggled to endure the day¡¯s challenges. By the time a servant informed her that her task was Her body felt like it was on fire, and her abdomen was bone¨Cchillingly cold. She was still in the midst of her menstrual cycle. Clutching her stomach, she made her way back to the house, harboring a deep resentment towards Lucius. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 +15 BONOS Violet was imprisoned here for no reason, forced to y Agatha¡¯s role against her will. Under Lucius¡¯s dominating presence, she found herself always yielding to his punishment. She wondered when this cycle would ever break. In her moments of weakness, her tears would flow endlessly. She would hide in the bathroom, since she didn¡¯t want anyone to see her in such a state. ¡°Ms. Agatha?¡± Even in the restroom, she couldn¡¯t escape interaction¨Cthis time with a housemaid. Acknowledging the maid with a simple nod, Violet remained silent. The maid asked respectfully. ¡°Do you need anything, Ms. Agatha?¡± ttery appeared to be the rule wherever one went, and the Imperial Pce was no different. Yet, the maid¡¯s unusual level of respect felt unusually intense. ¡°Don¡¯t focus too much on me,¡± Violet wisely cautioned. ¡°Lucius despises me now, and if he finds out you¡¯re treating me this way, he may turn on you.¡± The maid appeared confused, and asked, ¡°How can you say that, Ms. Agatha? Can¡¯t you see how well Master Lucius is treating you now? He¡¯s been with many women, but has never cared for them like he does for you. He even instructed George to buy you sanitary pads, and had a maid deliver them to you so you won¡¯t be embarrassed.¡± ¡°Sanitary pads. Lucius ordered George to buy them.¡± Violet had guessed this, but was hesitant to trust it because she believed George had acted on his own initiative. Confirming it sent a quiver of astonishment through her heart and a fleeting sweetness through her heart, too quick to savor before it vanished. The fact that Lucius didn¡¯t personally buy them, but had someone else do it, was still astonishing. Lucius¡® actions were puzzling at times, exhibiting care and then indifference before punishing people. What was his true intention? Confused and unable to decipher his motives, Violet returned to her room. Seeing the pack of sanitary pads there, she felt an odd sense offort amidst her turmoil. Shortly after Violet reced her sanitary pad, Lucius entered the room, his face as cold and unchanging as it had been since he came back from thewn. ¡°Go to Grandma¡¯s room,¡± hemanded sharply. Though she was hungry, Violet obeyed without hesitation. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. From afar, Regina beckoned, ¡°Vivi,e over h here.¡± At the sound of this familiar nickname, Violet felt a wave of relief and walked towards Regina. +15 BONOS ¡°What did you do to irritate Lucius? He seems to be punishing you a lot these days,¡± Regina wondered, clearly protective of Violet. Violet¡¯s eyes filled with emotion, feeling like she had finally found support. ¡°What else could it possibly be? I¡¯ll punish anyone who disobeys in this way,¡± Lucius quickly intervened, casting a menacing nce Violet¡¯s way. She almost forgot Mat Regina wasn¡¯t aware she was ying the role of Agatha.. ¡°Yes¡­ Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± she said slowly, feelingpletely wronged. Nheless, she was wary of revealing. too much in front of Regina. Regardless, she had admitted to being Agatha. ¡°In such heat, yet you punish her this way. Are you trying to make me worry? What if something happens to her due to this punishment, affecting your baby? What would I do then?¡± Regina asked. ¡°Baby?¡± Violet was shocked, struggling to follow Regina¡¯s line of thought. Lucius¡¯s face also tensed, evidently reluctant to delve too deeply into the subject. *Grandma, just focus on your recovery. I¡¯ll take care of the baby,¡± Lucius responded, trying to mask his feelings. Regina wasn¡¯t easily deceived. ¡°And how will you do that? I¡¯m lying here, consuming those dreadful medicines every day. For what? I¡¯d like to live a little longer to see you settle down and meet my great¨C grandchild. If you don¡¯t provide me with a great¨Cgrandchild soon, I¡¯ll never forgive you!¡± Lucius felt troubled by that demand. ¡°Did you hear me?¡± she pressed. ¡°I hear you,¡± he responded dutifully, his demeanor akin to that of a schoolboy reprimanded by a teacher. Despite her initial frustration, Violet found herself amused by Lucius¡¯s expression. She mused that if this scene were broadcast on television, it would be a hit. In her mind, she already imagined a headline. ¡®Heartless Mogul Reprimanded by Grandmother¡®. ¡°I want you and Vivi to conceive a child!¡± Regina dered. Violet almost choked in astonishment. It took her a moment to process this and turn towards Regina, feeling as if disaster had struck. Lucius, too, turned to Regina, their eyes meeting. Observing Violet¡¯s evident reluctance, Lucius experienced an uncharacteristic difort. To many women, bearing a child was a coveted dream; yet there she was, showing disgust. She had previously aborted his child once, and now, seemed repulsed by the idea of having another with him. Who did she think she was? ¡°So, is it a yes or no? I need to know!¡± Regina insisted. +15 BONOS Regina, despite her frailty, demanded a response. Lucius, not wanting to upset her further,plied with a nod and conceded. ¡°Yes.¡± Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Violet observed this exchange, stunned. Was she just sold off like this? She noticed a flicker of hope in Lucius¡¯s stern expression, recognizing that he was only attempting to satisfy Regina. ¡°Now, go downstairs for dinner, both of you. Eat well. Vivi, you don¡¯t need to look after me tonight. Instead, focus on providing me with a healthy great¨Cgrandson,¡± Regina instructed, signaling for them to leave. Descending the stairs, Violet felt a wave of relief. At the dining table, avish spread awaited them. George, the butler, politely gestured. ¡°Ms. Agatha, please.¡± Violet hadn¡¯t shared a meal with Lucius in a long time, often eating in the kitchen, feeling undeserving of dining with him and anxious about possibly getting indigestion. Yet, George¡¯s gesture ced Violet in an awkward position. She looked to Lucius for direction, expecting that he would refuse to share a meal with her. To her amazement. he moved toward the table, disregarding her look of inquiry. ¡°Madam Davis has arranged this,¡± George murmured. Only Regina had the authority to overthrow Lucius in this household. With reluctance, Violet seated herself at the table¡¯s farthest end, maintaining a significant gap between Lucius and the food. Despite the distance, her hunger prevailed after a day¡¯sbor outside. She began to greedily devour her dinner. unconcerned about theck of dishes. After wolfing down two heaping tes of pasta, she felt rejuvenated and wiped her mouth clean. Lucius, on the other hand, ate slowly and almost artistically. As she rose to leave, he finally addressed her. ¡°Come back! Sit down.¡± Confused, Violet reseated herself. It seemed he merely wanted her to remain seated until he finished his meal. She cursed his domineering demeanor in her mind. She waited for him to finish, then trailed behind him upstairs, deliberately slowing her steps to keep their distance. At the staircase¡¯s top, Lucius halted, and asked, ¡°Agatha, do you resent me?¡± Violet did, but couldn¡¯t voice it. Thus, she stayed quiet. ¡°You were cursing me, weren¡¯t you?¡± he deduced. Violet was startled. His perception was sharp, yet he seemed blind to her repeated inner assertions that she wasn¡¯t Agatha. ¡°You don¡¯t wish to be Agatha?¡± he asked, seemingly aware. +15 BONOS ¡°Yes,¡± she answered quickly, nodding. Could this be a sign of her liberation at hand? ¡°What would you do if I allowed you to stop being Agatha?¡± he asked. ¡°Well, I¡¯d¡­¡± ¡°Stop!¡± He cut her off abruptly, unwilling to listen to her answer. ¡°You¡¯ve managed to gain Grandma¡¯s favor. This is your final opportunity. Grandma desires a grandchild, and we¡¯d have one.¡± ¡°Have¡­ a child?¡± Before she could grasp the situation, he drew her in forcefully, his lips pressing against hers with intensity. right there in the corridor, of all ces. Lucius had the power to cloud her mind, making her respond to him while she lost awareness of their surroundings. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. His touch burned, setting aze a fire within her. Caught up in the heat of the moment, Violet forgot her fatigue, sumbing to his embrace. His presence was overpowering, even overshadowing the fragrance of the sweetest flowers outside. Clutching onto him weakly, she felt as if she were clinging to a lifeline. Yet, she was also harboring the wild thought of being drowned in this moment. His lips trailed to her ear, murmuring. ¡°However, I no longer wish to touch you, so¡­ We¡¯ll opt for IVF.¡± With those words, he released her. Stunned, Violet stood in the hallway, struggling to understand his sudden shift from warmth to coldness. Lucius settled on the sofa, a ss of wine in one hand and an ultrasound report in the other, the sole reminder of Agatha¡¯s pregnancy. Initially ted at the news of her pregnancy, he cherished the report. However, her departure, followed by the abortion, changed everything. He liked her body; they could have joyfully spent nights together, naturally conceiving. But he wished to deny her that joy, especially regarding having a child. The ordeal of IVF, with its apanying difort and Indignity, was something he wanted her to endure. Of course, if she dared to abort the child again, he resolved to subject her to IVF repeatedly until a child was born. He casually set down the wine ss, picking up a lighter. With a click, the lighter¡¯s blue me danced in the room. He held the ultrasound report over the me, filling the room with the scent of burning paper. In bed, Violety awake, her fatigue forgotten. Each time she closed her eyes, she saw Lucius¡¯s passionate embrace in the corridor and his chilling final words. +15 BONOS The thought of IVF disturbed her. He couldn¡¯t seriously intend to make her bear a child, could he? Deep down, she felt destined to leave. In this era, losing her virginity was trivial, but the idea of bearing a child was something she couldn¡¯t even start to imagine. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 +15 BONOS That morning. Violet woke up early. In the hallway, she saw George overseeing the servants. Upon noticing her, George respectfully informed her. ¡°Ms. Agatha, you¡¯re no longer required to work in the garden starting today.¡± Violet, with a simple ¡°Oh, assumed that Lucius had decided she should instead take care Post¨Cbreakfast, she visited Regina¡¯s room, unexpectedly finding Lucius there too. care of Regina. Regina, spotting Violet, quickly turned her attention away from Lucius and beckoned her. ¡°How was your sleepst night?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Violet responded, despite not having slept well at all. ¡°Did he cause you any pain?¡± ¡°Uh?¡± Confused, Violet nced towards Lucius. Lucius, appearing displeased, shot her a warning re. ¡°Yes,¡± she replied, her cheeks reddening as she realized what Regina was hinting at. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Regina said, nodding approvingly and patting Violet¡¯s hand. ¡°For someone nearing life¡¯s end, it¡¯s most satisfying to see new life in the family. You both should work hard to have a child soon.¡± Relieved, Violet left Regina¡¯s room. She was grateful Regina was more focused on a great¨Cgrandchild than their marriage. With Lucius¡¯s concern for Regina, he might even arrange a wedding. However, Violet¡¯s relief was short¨Clived. That afternoon, a doctor arrived for a medical check¨Cup. ¡°We need to conduct a physical examination,¡± he announced. Violet, rmed at the sight of the array of cold, unfamiliar medical equipment, objected, ¡°I¡¯m perfectly healthy! I don¡¯t need a check¨Cup.¡± But the doctor insisted with a smile, ¡°Regr check¨Cups are vital, especially for an important medical process. like IVF.¡± ¡°IVF. A baby?¡± Violet was stunned, not believing Lucius actually intended for her to bear a child. In a panic, she leaped from the bed and fled the room. She stormed into Lucius¡¯s bedroom, where he was calmly drinking wine. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± she asked, her voice filled with emotion and her chest heaving. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in for your examination? Lucius retorted, his gaze intensifying. +15 BONOS ¡°An examination? I didn¡¯t consent to having a child!¡± Having a child with him? Only if she were out of her mind! Unfazed. Lucius simply swirled his wine, dering. ¡°This decision isn¡¯t yours to make.¡± In other words, he was the one who made the call. She eventually bus into rage, her eyes zing with rage, and roared, ¡°What right do you have to dictate my fate?!¡± He stood up, his towering presence casting a shadow over her. ¡°You have no choice but to obey me because your destiny is in my hands,¡± he eximed, his icy and dictatorial character clearly visible. Violet¡¯s heart sank as she realized his true nature¨Ccruel, arrogant, and indifferent. She had once seen goodness in him, felt sympathy for his past, and even wanted to take care of him. Now she saw that he was N?velDrama.Org holds this content. not worth it. ¡°My life may be in your hands; take it if you want, but I refuse to bear your child!¡± With that, she turned and walked away, not hesitating for a second. Behind her, Lucius watched her leave, his expression calm but resolute. In his domain, defiance was not tolerated. Subsequently, Violet was forcibly taken to the examination table. She was restrained, spread¨Ceagled, and in a position of extreme humiliation. She felt like a fish on a cutting board, helpless and exposed. Fury burning in her eyes, she bit her lip, determined not to cry or bow down to this oppression. Nheless, tears streamed down her cheeks as the tools were put into her body. Growing up, the icy contempt and ridicule she received at Belle¡¯s paled in contrast to the humiliation she encountered here. Her tears were relentless¨Ca constant flow of despair. ¡°What¡¯s her condition?¡± Lucius¡¯s chilly voice pierced the silence as he stepped in. The examination had just ended, and the doctor hadn¡¯t even had time to cover her up. The level of humiliation was extreme. ¡°Her results are favorable; she¡¯s fit for pregnancy,¡± the doctor responded. Their gaze on her was like that of a farmer eyeing a breeding animal. Did she differ from a dog bred for mating? Not really, except that a dog is only bred during its heat cycle. Instead of looking away, Violet defiantly stared at Lucius, vowing, ¡°I won¡¯t have your child!¡± Lucius didn¡¯t even raise an eyebrow, dismissing herments as if they were the wind. He asked the doctor, When can we proceed?¡± +15 BONOS ¡°The ovtion induction can be administered immediately, with egg retrieval possible in a couple of days.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Did they even see her as a person? ¡°I¡¯m warning you! Even if you manage to cultivate the embryos, I won¡¯t carry them, I won¡¯t give birth. If you¡¯re okay with the child dying, proceed with your n!¡± This defiance seemed to finally stir something inside the vicious man. He gazed at her, his lips curling into a sinister smile. ¡°You may try to end the child, but every time you do that, I¡¯ll keep recing them until one survives.¡± His threat sent a chill down her spine, yet it only solidified her resolve, convinced that the one standing before her was not human but a devil¨Ca bloodthirsty Satan. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 ¡°I¡¯ll inform Grandma of all this,¡± she threatened. ¡®Til see if she allows such a heinous act.¡± Lucius¡¯s expression contorted slightly¨Ca mix of anger and challenge. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°Why not?¡± she retorted, beyond the point of fear. He grabbed her throat, his fingers constricting. ¡°What? Are you so eager to tell Grandma because you¡¯re hoping for her preferred method of childbirth?¡± ¡°What method?¡± she gasped, struggling to breathe. ¡°Do you think you deserve that privilege?¡± he questioned coldly. Fighting for breath, she defiantly locked eyes with him. He abruptly let go, ring down at the hand he had used to strangle her, his demeanor exuding arrogance. ¡°Reflect on how we lost our first child, and then obediently bore my child!¡± In Lucius¡¯s world, what he willed, he achieved. The following day. Violet was forcefully administered an ovtion induction injection. As someone more receptive to subtle forms of persuasion than force, especially in such personal matters. Violet rushed to the kitchen and desperately gobbled ice cream, devouring all the frozen food she could find in a desperate attempt to resist. This binge¨Ceating quickly led to severe stomach pain, diarrhea, and fever, leaving her bedridden and too weak to move within just a few hours. The doctor attending to her shook his head worriedly. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Lucius barged in, likely aware of her deteriorating health. ¡°She overindulged in frozen foods, causing fever and diarrhea,¡± the doctor nervously exined. ¡°The eggs we harvested might bepromised.¡± Lucius¡® expression darkened instantly, and he red at her with venom. Violet, pale and in pain, was lying in bed, pressing her hand against her stomach to alleviate the difort. She attempted a grin as she met Lucius¡¯s gaze. ¡°I told you¡­ I¡¯m not having a child! If you dare use my eggs for embryos again, I¡¯ll eat even more bizarre things to give you a monstrous baby!¡± Lucius¡¯s fingers clenched tightly, emitting a frightening cracking sound, almost as if he were ready to break something. George, witnessing the scene, was visibly sweating. Violet averted her gaze, refusing to look at Lucius. +15 BONOS Despite his anger, Lucius didn¡¯t harm her. Violet was perhaps the only person in the Davis family who could dely him and still live to tell the tale. He ordered. ¡°Watch her. It¡¯s on you if she eats anything strange again. I¡¯ll send everyone involved to the swamp outside!¡± His order instilled tear in the medical team. From then on, Violet was constantly monitored. Everything she ate was scrutinized, and she was no longer permitted to handle any food. A nutritionist prepared all her meals, which were personally served to her. Under such constraints, healthy eggs were eventually extracted from her body. Violet could only clench her fists in rage as she watched the medical professionals walk away gleefully. She had never despised Lucius more than at that moment! Half a month has passed¡­ ¡°Congrattions, Master Lucius! The embryo cultivation was a sess,¡± the medical staff announced. Lucius responded with a nonchnt nod, ¡°Proceed with the imntation immediately.¡± ¡°Understood, Master Lucius.¡± Violet was again dragged into the surgery room without her knowledge. After a brief procedure, she awoke to find that a viable embryo had been imnted in her. Violet awoke, staring nkly at the ceiling, feeling an unusual sensation in her body, unable to pinpoint what it was. She attempted to shift her body a little. ¡°Stay still!¡± the nurse instructed urgently. ¡°The embryo has just been ced; you need to remain in bed for observation.¡± This revtion left Violet ashen¨Cfaced, her hand instinctively touching her stomach. Was she pregnant now? Violet¡¯s body shook with rage as the nurse ced a thermometer under her arm. Lucius had actually gone through with it and transnted the embryo into her! She snatched out the thermometer and hurled it across the room without thinking. The thermometer shattered, spreading fragments across the floor, and the mercury condensed into a little bead, mocking her plight. Violet leaped out of bed with an unknown determination to grasp the mercury, but the nurse anticipated this and pushed her away. She fell to the ground but spotted a table. With all reasoning gone, she leaped up again, her abdomen mming hard against the table! +15 BONOS ¡°Urghh!¡± Violet felt a tremendous blow to her stomach, as if all her organs were being wrenched out, while the nurse¡¯s piercing cry reverberated. The rebound sent her crashing to the ground, leaving her immobile for a long time, unable to get up. ¡°What happened?!¡± rmed voices filled the hallway outside. Ten minutester, Lucius entered the room. His dark, sinister starended on the bed. Violet, clutching her painful abdomen, looked up at him. She gasped for air, and managed to show him a weak smile. ¡°The embryo has been knocked out.¡± ¡°The embryo can be dislodged if it hasn¡¯t been firmly attached in the early stage, especially when subjected to a severe impact,¡± the doctor exined with caution. There was no change in Lucius¡¯s demeanor, yet the room grew noticeably colder. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 ¡°Remove her from here!¡± Lucius finallymanded, his voice low, not ncing at Violet but directing his words to George. ¡°Take her down to the cer!¡± Violet found herself being cast into the cer, where the temperature plunged well below freezing. The chilling conditions brought back memories of her first day at the Imperial Pce, where she had also been in such a cold environment, waking up to a simr bitter cold. She pondered if she might sumb to the cold, or perhaps faint and wake up to a past reality where everything was peaceful¨Cwhere Oliver was still asleep, and Emily¡¯s voice remained intact. A time when she could look forward to sitting by Oliver¡¯s bedside, talking and singing to him. A sad smile formed on her cracked lips, the severe cold having drained them of any moisture. She no longer felt the cold, but just quietly closed her eyes. Outside the room, Lucius, visibly disturbed, picked up a wine ss from the table and rubbed his forehead. George approached him, looking concerned, and hesitantly informed him, ¡°Ms. Agatha has fainted.¡± Crash! The sound of shattering ss echoed as Lucius crushed the ss in his hand, red wine sshing. ¡°Master Lucius!¡± George eximed, shocked by his reaction. Lucius turned, his brow furrowed in annoyance. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell her thatpliance would grant her freedom?¡± ¡°Yes, I did,¡± George confirmed, but hesitated to continue. ¡°Go on,¡± Lucius urged, sensing there was more to be said. George gathered his courage, and said, ¡°Ms. Agatha isn¡¯t one to easily submit to hardship. She endured dailybor under the hot sun withoutint. Likely, even the threat of death won¡¯tpel her cooperation.¡± ¡°What do you propose?¡± Lucius asked, clearly agitated by this. ¡°Make an appeal to her desires,¡± George suggested cautiously. ¡°If Master Lucius can offer something she genuinely wants, perhaps then¡­¡± Lucius stormed out without responding. Gradually regaining consciousness, Violet found herself back in her own room, reclining on the spacious bed. She was still feeling the aftereffects of the cold, with her fingertips and toes aching as if she were being pricked by needles. This difort served as a stark reminder that she was indeed still alive. +15 BONOS Alive, yet trapped in a cycle of enduring Lucius¡¯s cruel maniptions. A grim smile crossed her pale face, which only highlighted her sense of defeat and helplessness. The door opened, and Lucius stepped inside. Violet gave him a fleeting, indifferent nce before turning her head away, her resolve strengthened by her previous ordeals. She no longer feared him. Lucius approached the bed, observing her delicate figure wrapped in nkets. Despite her fragility, she had resisted him time and again, much to his frustration; he had been defeated each time. Irritated, he fought back his urge to strangle her. ¡°For such a stubborn woman, I should just choke her,¡± he thought. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you a billion to have the child.¡± He offered the most generous sum, one that no one could refuse. Violet, however, remained indifferent, choosing to ignore him and close her eyes. Such tant disregard was unprecedented for him. He would have tossed Violet into the swamp long ago if it hadn¡¯t been for Regina¡¯s fixation on this woman bearing his child. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s too little? Name your price,¡± he snarled, gritting his teeth and conceding further. Finally, Violet opened her eyes, her expression one of calm defiance, tinged with sarcasm. ¡°I don¡¯t want your money, and I won¡¯t bear your child.¡± ¡°Agatha!¡± he eximed. She responded with a dismissive eye roll, defiantly challenging him, ¡°You¡¯re always quick to threaten lives. Why not just return me to the cer, or toss me into the swamp?¡± Violet had no desire to fight for her life. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Lucius had considered doing precisely that. Violet, seemingly resigned to her fate, closed her eyes once more, resting on her own terms.¡± After a moment, a soft whisper reached her ears, ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? If you please Grandma, you can leave. Right now, the only way to make her happy is to have a child. Give birth, and you¡¯ll be free to go wherever you wish.¡± Violet¡¯s eyes snapped open, and her chest heaved. Her desire to leave was overwhelming, particrly after witnessing Lucius¡¯s relentless cruelty, which confirmed that he was beyond any form ofpassion. Her deepest desire was to get away from this ce. from Lucius. ¡°Is that¡ªtrue?¡± she asked. ¡°We can make it official with an agreement,¡± he responded. +15 BONOS That very night, Violet and Lucius signed an agreement. Her fingers trembled uncontrobly as she held the pen. After only ten more months, she reassured herself. She would be able to go after ten months. She wouldn¡¯t have to be concerned about the child or anything else; she could leave everything behind as if it were a dream¨Cyeah, a dream! She signed the agreement, her teeth gritting in determination. Lucius, in contrast, signed his name with a steady hand. After recovering for a week, Violet was ready for the second embryo transfer. Shey in bed, waiting for the embryo to take hold. Three dayster, the doctor delivered the news, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Master Lucius, the embryo failed to imnt.¡± Lucius cast a gloomy nce at Violet, whoy on the bed. Violet maintained her innocence, saying. ¡°I did everything the doctor told me, and I even avoided going to the bathroom.¡± She expressedpliance outwardly, but inwardly, she felt relieved. The thought of leaving after bearing a child was unbearable. Perhaps it was for the best. ¡°Let¡¯s try again,¡± Lucius demanded. ¡°The miscarriage is due to the short interval between attempts. It¡¯s advisable to wait at least six months before trying another transfer. Her body is clearly unsuitable at the moment,¡± the doctor exined. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 For both of them, the doctor¡¯s verdict was a death sentence. Violet was disappointed when she realized that her departure had been postponed indefinitely. Lately, the conflicting emotions of abandoning a child and her eagerness to leave have been weighing heavily on her. Lucius exited the room without saying anything; his expression was gloomy for a long time. Violet paid Regina a visit that afternoon. Right outside Regina¡¯s room, Violet identally overheard a conversation between Regina and her doctor. ¡°How much longer do I have?¡± Regina¡¯s voice echoed. Violet halted and turned to look at Regina. Regina¡¯s condition appeared to have deteriorated from before, with her eyes losing their usual spark. ¡°Madam Davis, you appear to be in good health. You have several years ahead,¡± the doctor assured cheerfully. Skeptical Regina shot him a nce and said, ¡°Don¡¯t sugarcoat it. I can handle the truth.¡± The doctor¡¯s smile faded into a serious expression. ¡®Tell me. I know my own body. All I want is a straight answer.¡± ¡°Well, conservatively speaking, about a year or so, provided there are no unforeseenplications,¡± he cautiously estimated after a thoughtful pause. Violet felt a chill, her arms falling limply to her sides. She knew Regina was seriously ill, but the reality of such a short time left was difficult for her to ept. Behind her, Lucius entered, his face solemn. ¡°Oh, when did you two arrive? Come on over!¡± Regina noticed them and beckoned. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Lucius followed Violet as she walked over. Regina took their hands and held them together. ¡°Did you hear? I might only have a year left. That should be enough time for you to bring a little one into our family.¡± Violet flushed unnaturally when she felt Lucius¡® palm on her hand and struggled to breathe, finding it hard to even formte a response. ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t worry,¡± Lucius said, slightly nodding. ¡°We¡¯re making an effort.* ¡°You better have good news if you¡¯re trying!¡± Regina, not one to be easily deceived, shifted her focus to Violet. Vivi, you seem to have lost weight. Has Lucius been giving you a hard time?¡± +15 BONOS Violet wished she could spill out all the grievances she had been enduring to Regina, but the sight of her frail state held her back. In the end, she just shook her head and responded, ¡°No, he¡­he¡¯s quite good to me.¡± She sensed Lucius¡¯s piercing gaze upon her. Her words caught Lucius off guard, because he was expecting her to take advantage of the opportunity to vent. His look, a mix of bewilderment andplex emotions, lingered on her. Their stay in the room was briel, as Regina ushered them out soon after. Violet, with a shrug, made her way to her room, Lucius following closely behind. His eyes scrutinized her every move. Only when Violet reached for her door did Lucius finally speak up. ¡°You¡¯ve obviously been having a hard timetely. Why the effort to appease Grandma? What are you trying to achieve?¡± ¡°Should I have told her that her grandson¡¯s been tormenting me, almost to the point of death? Would that make things better, or would it simply hasten her end? Would you really let me go then?¡± she retorted. Her reaction was deliberate, since she didn¡¯t want to reveal her goodwill. Lucius had already called her a nasty person; an honest response would simply give him more reason to humiliate her. Lucius¡¯s expression grew colder, his lips curling into a scornful smile, but he said nothing. Turning on his heel, he left. Regina, feigning sleep earlier, eagerly questioned the nurse about their interaction, ¡°Did they go into the room? How did it go?¡± The nurse responded, shaking their heads, ¡°I saw Master Lucius stop at the door. They exchanged a few words, then he walked away.¡± ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Regina mused, a thoughtful expression on her face. ¡°If this continues, when will I be able to hold my great¨Cgrandchild?¡± Later, at dinner, Violet and Lucius were summoned back to Regina¡¯s room. Regina pointed to the spread on the table and said, ¡°Eating alone is lonely. I¡¯ve had your meals brought here today, so we can dine together.¡± Violet cast a reluctant look at Lucius, uneasy about dining with him. However, with Regina motioning her over, she feltpelled to sit at the designated spot. ¡°You sit here,¡± Regina said, motioning Lucius to a seat next to her. He took a seat without hesitation. Due to her frail health, Regina could only manage a simple porridge, leaving the rest of the hearty meal for them. +15 BONOS Violet noted the cuisine, especially certain dishes with root¨Clike ingredients that were inly meant for nutrition. ¡°Eat up.¡± Regina urged, as the caregiverdled soup for them. ¡°It¡¯s a good soup.¡± Despite being deterred by its strong medicinal aroma, Violet didn¡¯t decline and sipped the soup. Lucius, following Regina¡¯s wishes, did the same. ¡°Have two more bowls.¡± Regina continued to serve them soup, and by the meal¡¯s end, Violet was nearly overwhelmed by the sheer volume she had consumed. Post¨Cdinner, Regina requested theirpany for a conversation, engaging them in various topics. Violet made frequent trips to the restroom, trying to alleviate the difort in her stomach. As the evening progressed, she began feeling unusually warm. She fanned herself and checked the air conditioning, which was set at a moderate twenty¨Cseven degrees¨Cnot cool enough to cause her difort nor warm enough to cause sweating. The air around her seemed to grow thin, making it difficult for her to breathe, and her face flushed. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 ¡°Alright, you can go now,¡± Regina said, finally allowing the two to leave. Shezily motioned for the nurse to cover her with a nket, signaling her readiness to sleep. Violet and Lucius left the room, one after the other. ¡°Why am I feeling so warm?¡± Observing Lucius¡® sweat¨Cbeaded forehead confirmed Violet¡¯s suspicion about the heat. Lucius nced at her emotionlessly, revealing, ¡°Grandma has given us a special nourishing soup!¡± ¡°A special nourishing soup?* Violet, though unfamiliar with it, was aware that certain families prepared herbal soups to boost fertility, which also reputedly enhanced certain abilities. ¡°She¡¯s doing this¡­¡± Grasping what Regina intended, Violet¡¯s sweating worsened, prompting her to say, ¡°I¡¯m heading to my room!¡± Then she felt a strong hand sp her arm. The man pressed against her, rationalizing. ¡°Since Grandma wants you to bear my child, in our situation, this is the quickest method for conception.¡± ¡°Excuse me¡­?¡± Before she could fully process his words, Lucius lifted her up. Despite an innate urge to resist, Violet felt an inexplicable thrill with his embracement, a longing for the closeness¡­ ¡°Perhaps we shouldn¡¯t go through with this.¡± He brought her to the bedroom, gently cing her on the bed. She protested weakly, feeling it wasn¡¯t right. Her head was foggy, and she was trying to think clearly. Lucius undid her dress, coaxing, ¡°You wish to leave, right? This is the swiftest exit.¡± ¡°The exit¡­¡± Truly, Violet¡¯s desire was to escape this ce. She might as well get through with the pregnancy, since she was bound to do so regardless. Why was the experience so pleasurable and so passionate that it didn¡¯t feel like she was grudgingly going through it? Violety limp on the bed after the storm had passed. Her eyes closed, her body drenched in sweat, and her skin turned reddish. +15 BONOS Lucius, however, seemed rejuvenated, a sense of unexined contentment filling him as he held her in his embrace. Content? He wasn¡¯t the kind of person who would easily sumb to drug influence. He must have felt this way since he hadn¡¯t been with a woman in a long time. He appeared to forget that he had been addicted to Violet since their first encounter. Lucius didn¡¯t stay in the bedroom long before getting up, throwing on a shirt, and heading downstairs. George was still present. ¡°Get me a woman toe over tomorrow,¡± Luciusmanded. George was visibly surprised. Lucius hadn¡¯t made such a request for quite some time. Could Regina¡¯s nourishing soup have made an impact? Lost in thought, George took a moment before giving an affirmative reply. Lucius gave him a disapproving nce. ¡°What would you like to drink, Master Lucius? I¡¯ll make it for you,¡± George offered hastily. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°No need.¡± Lucius felt a total sense of ease and didn¡¯t feel the need for a drink. ¡°Remember, keep my grandma in the dark about this.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± George replied duly. Upon awakening, Violet realized she had spent her night in Lucius¡¯s bedroom. Embarrassment washed over her, turning her cheeks red. Memories of the previous night made her bury her face in the covers. Was she under a spell? She had responded to him. Perhaps it was the soup¡¯s effect. Did it have the same effect on Lucius? Last night, he exhibited both extreme passion and tenderness. Thefort and possessiveness of his embrace as they fell asleep lingered with her, Deep down, she appreciated the way Lucius treated her. Was she out of her mind for feeling this way? She must be insane to think so. She hastily dressed, still flushed and her ears burning with embarrassment, as she exited the room. Violet ran across a stunning woman on her way downstairs. The two almost collided. George was ahead, politely guiding the woman, ¡°This way.¡± The woman offered Violet a graceful smile, carrying her bag toward the backyard. ¡°Who¡¯s she?¡± Violet inquired of a nearby servant. It had been a long time since a woman had appeared in the Imperial Pce. +15 BONOS ¡°Not sure,¡± replied the servant, his eyes reflecting pity for Violet. She didn¡¯t press further, her earlier embarrassment was reced by an awkward feeling as if she¡¯d been metaphorically pped. Did she really need to ask who the beautiful woman was? Clearly, she was for Lucius. He was indeed a womanizer, interested in her solely for progeny. He probably wouldn¡¯t even touch her if Regina hadn¡¯t demanded it. Though Violet tried to console herself, a sense of sadness lingered. She silently stepped outside to weed in the sunlight. ¡°Ms. Agatha?¡± George appeared perplexed. Master Lucius had previously told her not to weed any longer. What are you doing?¡± Violet turned and offered a guileless smile, saying, ¡°I¡¯m just weeding to pass some time.¡± Feeling the need to keep busy, she believed it would help fend off the unexined sense of shame that threatened to overwhelm her. George went without saying much. The sun was scorching outside the Imperial Pce. George apanied Lucius as he made his way to the backyard. He noticed a figure amidst the grass, his brow furrowed, ¡°George?¡± Understanding the situation, George responded with a bow. ¡°Ms. Agatha chose to weed as a pastime.¡± Weeding under the zing sun to kill time? Lucius¡¯s frown deepened. Chapter 84 Chapter 84 ¡°Shall I ask Ms. Agatha toe inside?¡± George was ready to take a step forward when Lucius stopped him. ¡°Let her be!¡± Assuming she enjoyed the sunlight, he decided she should have more of it. He sped up, not looking in that direction again. To prevent Regina from discovering the woman, Lucius had brought her to the backyard. The backyard, less frequented and less luxurious than the front, was where the beautiful woman now sat, fanning herself in frustration. ¡°What kind of ce is this? Why is it so hot?¡± The woman¡¯s beauty remained striking, even in irritation. Upon noticing Lucius, her attitude changed swiftly, and she approached him with a weing smile. ¡°Master Lucius.¡± Her fragrance wafted over, filling Lucius¡¯s nostrils. Hearing her voice and smelling her scent, he felt irked and pushed her away. ¡°Sit properly.¡± Taken aback by his stern demeanor, the woman obediently sat down, though her annoyance was evident. A lounge chair was brought over as Lucius waved his hand. He slouched down on it.. The woman, seemingly brought for his entertainment, watched him, her thoughts in a whirl, trying to understand the unfolding scenario. Lucius looked at her coldly. He had seen through her scheming, and smiled faintly. She uttered, ¡°Master Lucius.¡± Attracted to his charisma and good looks, the woman felt herself bing more and more aroused. She had forgotten her displeasure and was concentrating on dominating him, boldly moving to sit on him, rocking her waist back and forth. Despite the outdoor setting and potential risk of being seen, she was daring, her actions unrestrained, and provocative. Yet, this wasn¡¯t what Lucius desired. Lucius, visibly put off, abruptly told the woman. ¡°You may go now.¡± ¡°Leave¡­now?¡± His words left the woman standing there perplexed. George, witnessing this, was equally taken aback. It was unusual for Lucius to send a woman away without having his way with her. +15 BONOS Despite being physically stimted, Lucius opened a couple of shirt buttons but felt no urge to be intimate with her. It was as if a certain routine had been ingrained in him, rendering other options redundant. Ignoring the reactions of George and the woman, Lucius returned to the pce. Passing by thewn, he noticed Violet was still weeding. Her clumsy movements and awkward squat somehow held an unexpected allure. He wondered if the previous night¡¯s herbal soup Still lingered in his system. Violet had spent a long time weeding before returning to the house to clean up and heading downstairs. ¡°Ms. Agatha, there¡¯s a call for you,¡± George Informed her, his demeanor towards her slightly warmer due to Madam Davis¡¯s fondness. Confused about who might be calling. Violet answered the phone. ¡°Aggie,¡± a familiar,forting voice, greeted her. ¡°M¡­Mom?¡± Violet hesitated before responding: the call was from Naomi. ¡°How are things over there? Can you handle it? Has Master Lucius made things difficult for you?¡± Naomi barraged her with questions, many of which were loaded with concern. ding the call, she Violet ryed only the positives. Comforted by Naomi¡¯s care, her mood brightened. After ending ascended the stairs in high spirits, humming a tune. To her surprise, Lucius was in her room. Seeing him, she was startled. ¡°Why are you here?¡±Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be enjoying time with his new romantic interest? The intense shbacks of his previous passionate moments with other women filled her with difort and even made her nauseous. Lucius stated tly. ¡°I¡¯m here for business.¡± He drew her in, turning her back to him. ¡°Remember, Grandma is expecting a child from us.¡± So that was it. His words caused Violet¡¯s heart to sink deeper. Turning away, she responded coldly, ¡°Such attempts are only effective during ovtion. Any other time is pointless.¡± Such coldments, frequently used by Lucius, suddenly came from Violet. It made him uneasy. How dare she call their time together futile? This woman had no idea of her ce! His expression hardened into a mix of ice and irritation, and he demanded, ¡°When¡¯s your cycle?¡± Understanding his implication, she replied with a shake of her head, ¡°My cycle¡¯s been disrupted by a recent injection, I¡¯m not sure.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll have to try consistently until you conceive. Starting today, we won¡¯t skip a day until the day is right, and you are pregnant,¡± he dered. ¡°You¡­ What do you mean?¡± Violet asked, her sweat running down her face. ¡°Starting today, we won¡¯t skip a day until the day is right, and you¡¯re pregnant,¡± he repeated. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous!¡± But Lucius didn¡¯t allow her any space for argument, and forcefully pushed her onto the bed. Though Violet tried to resist, her efforts were futile against his strength. He dominated her with ease, leaving her with no option but to submit to his actions. The irony of the situation made her remark bitterly, ¡°To think, Master Lucius of the Imperial Pce has to resort to coercion. How amusing!¡± With no way to physically resist, she resorted to verbal defiance. Lucius, with a satisfied smirk, countered, ¡°Coercion? You¡¯re my wife, fulfilling your duty.¡± ¡°Your wife? There¡¯s nothing between us, I¡¯ve never been¡­¡± Her protest was cut short as Lucius silenced her with a kiss. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 By the time Lucius was done, Violet¡¯s body was soft and limp. Lucius licked his lips blissfully, understanding that this was the taste he had been yearning for. This was amazing, he thought. He saw this as a perfect chance to gratify himself while also impregnating her. with the intention that he could easily let her go once he had his fill. Lucius found pleasure at night, but Violet treated him coldly throughout the day. She had purposefully avoided him ever since he forced himself on her. At night, when he forcefully took what he wanted, she remained silent, biting her lip. He despised this; to be chosen by him was a dream for many; she should be grateful on her knees. Violet¡¯s disregard only fueled his resolve to torment and wound her, to make her plead for mercy. However, she refused to yield, even when her lips were bitten to the point of blood or when she tore the sheets in agony. This behavior was entirely unlike Agatha¡¯s! Lucius became increasingly aware of the change. Realizing it provided him no joy, only frustration and sorrow. Understanding it didn¡¯t bring him happiness, but rather persistent annoyance and despair. He acted more oppressively towards Violet, attempting to force out the familiar Agatha¡¯s nature in her. In the past, she wouldply with him to make things easier, but on the issue of childbirth, she found herself unable to do so. The idea of conceiving his child and then abandoning it was unthinkable for her. Violet believed that a child should be born out of love and deserve affection from both parents, growing up in their presence. If such an environment couldn¡¯t be ensured, she felt it was preferable not to have children. Having experienced a life devoid of maternal affection, Violet was reluctant to bring a child into the world, despite her longing for freedom. Each interaction with Lucius was agonizing for her because of the weight of these emotions. She found it. impossible to react to or satisfy him. Night after night passed in their conflicted encounters. Come morning, rapid footsteps were heard in the hallway, soon followed by a knock on the door, ¡°Master Lucius.¡± It was George. Lucius had just concluded his nightly activities with Violet. Violet, worn out, had fallen asleep, but Lucius remained beside her. Gazing at the woman in his embrace, he was flooded with conflicting feelings. Feeling her soft, warm body, he +15 BONOS The early arrival of George indicated something urgent. With a sigh, Lucius left the bed, carefully covering Violet with the nket. Her petite form was entirely concealed by the nket, with only her fair face showing. Lucius casually threw on a robe and stepped outside. George hesitated to speak, ncing at the door to the room, conscious of Violet¡¯s presence there. Lucius guided him to an isted balcony. ¡°What is it?¡± His voice was weary, with a hint of annoyance. George took a moment before speaking, his gaze downcast, ¡°Our people have confirmed it, sir. Ms. Agatha¡­ She¡¯s still with Edur.¡± Lucius¡¯s previously calm face suddenly turned rigid, his body tensing. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. He had faced many challenges, but this news was particrly striking. Despite having nned a future with Violet, even considering a child, he was shocked by this revtion. He had suspected Violet was not Agatha, but the confirmation came too quickly. ¡°What¡¯s your n, Master Lucius?¡± George inquired gently. Lucius stayed quiet for a lengthy period of time. George nodded in understanding, and departed silently. Lucius firmly stated, ¡°Keep this information to yourself, and that includes not telling Violet.¡± George, though puzzled, simply responded with a ¡°yes.¡± Lucius lingered on the balcony for a long time, smoking several cigarettes in session, a habit he typically found distasteful. The ground around him was littered with ash and discarded cigarette butts. After finishing his fifth cigarette, he went back to the room. There, Violety wrapped in the nket, her fair face visible. Her eyshes were thick and beautifully fanned above her eyes, enhancing her stunning features, except for her lips, which bore bloodstains and wounds from being bitten, adding a touch of disarray to her look. Lucius gently reached out to caress her face, tracing her features and finally pausing at her eyes. He realized he couldn¡¯t bear to part with her. +15 BONOS The early arrival of George indicated something urgent. With a sigh, Lucius left the bed, carefully covering Violet with the nket. Her petite form was entirely concealed by the nket, with only her fair face showing. Lucius casually threw on a robe and stepped outside. George hesitated to speak, ncing at the door to the room, conscious of Violet¡¯s presence there. Lucius guided him to an isted balcony. ¡°What is it?¡± His voice was weary, with a hint of annoyance. George took a moment before speaking, his gaze downcast, ¡°Our people have confirmed it, sir. Ms. Agatha- She¡¯s still with Edur.¡± Lucius¡¯s previously calm face suddenly turned rigid, his body tensing. He had faced many challenges, but this news was particrly striking. Despite having nned a future with Violet, even considering a child, he was shocked by this revtion. He had suspected Violet was not Agatha, but the confirmation came too quickly. ¡°What¡¯s your n, Master Lucius?¡± George inquired gently. Lucius stayed quiet for a lengthy period of time. George nodded in understanding, and departed silently. Lucius firmly stated, ¡°Keep this information to yourself, and that includes not telling Violet.¡± George, though puzzled, simply responded with a ¡°yes.¡± Lucius lingered on the balcony for a long time, smoking several cigarettes in session, a habit he typically found distasteful. The ground around him was littered with ash and discarded cigarette butts. After finishing his fifth cigarette, he went back to the room. There, Violety wrapped in the nket, her fair face visible. Her eyshes were thick and beautifully fanned above her eyes, enhancing her stunning features, except for her lips, which bore bloodstains and wounds from being bitten, adding a touch of disarray to her look. Lucius gently reached out to caress her face, tracing her features and finally pausing at her eyes. He realized he couldn¡¯t bear to part with her. Chapter 86 Chapter 86 ms crossed. Upon waking. Violet, feeling groggy, noticed Lucius seated in a leather chair beside the bed, arms silently observing her. She instinctively recolled, herplexion pale, as memories of the previous night¡¯s harshness came flooding back. Lucius furrowed his brow. He then stood, dering, ¡°Breakfast time.¡± Was he waiting for her to wake up just to inform her about breakfast? After freshening up, Violet made her way downstairs. Lucius was already at the dining table, yet he hadn¡¯t begun eating. Violet observed his knitted brows and pursed lips, sensing his disturbance. Then again, why should it concern her? She quietly chooses a seat across from him at an angle, keeping enough distance to avoid direct confrontation. Lucius¡¯s frown deepened, but he showed no anger. Eventually, he began to eat, showcasing his typical refined table manners. Worn out from the night¡¯s events, Violet was starving. She unceremoniously popped a piece of bread into her mouth, quickly filling up her stomach. Lucius stopped eating, and watched her with a look of disapproval. Believing he was repulsed, she disregarded his gaze ¡°Don¡¯t you fear choking, eating in such a hurry?¡± Lucius actually handed her water! To her surprise, he offered her a ss of water, querying. This sudden act stunned Violet, causing her to momentarily forget the food in her mouth and nearly choke. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Her cheeks turned bright red as she began to cough hard.. Lucius¡¯s annoyance red when he saw her choking. He reached out, yanked her cor, and tried to help her drink water, which caused her to choke even more. Consequently, she spat out water, sshing Lucius¡¯s face and scattering tiny bread crumbs on him, which covered his face in an unsightly manner. His expression, typically neutral, slowly shifted to irritation. Violet, still coughing, shrank back, covering her mouth. ¡°Can¡¯t you eat properly?¡± Lucius eximed angrily, taking a towel from George to clean his face. ¡°I¡¯m¡­sorry,¡± she managed to say. +15 BONOS What she truly wanted to express was, ¡°Would I have choked if you hadn¡¯t interfered?¡± However, shecked the bravery to confront him. ¡°Come here!¡± he demanded impatiently. Fearing punishmeher fear intensified, and she couldn¡¯t bring herself to move closer to him. Eventually, Lucius lost his patience and yanked Violet toward him, harshly dabbing the towel on her lips. What was his intention? To clean her mouth? But why so aggressively, to the point he nearly scrubbed off her lips? Lucius was not used to caring for others because he had been spoiled his entire life. The fact that he was attempting to wipe her mouth was astonishing in itself, let alone doing it gently. Violet¡¯s lips, initially soft, turned red from his rough treatment, resembling a ripe, squishy persimmon. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbled, and feeling an urge to kiss her, he leaned in closer. Sensing his motive. Violet hastily covered her mouth, protesting. ¡°Don¡¯t! There are others here!¡± Mindful of the servants and George¡¯s presence, she objected and expected her protest to be ignored, but Lucius unexpectedly withdrew. ¡°Just eat,¡± he ordered, his mood still sour. Today¡¯s Lucius was drastically different. Violet felt certain of this conclusion, but she couldn¡¯t figure out Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. why. Of course, she preferred not to dwell on it. Recalling their contract and his insensitive demands at night, she lowered her head to eat, deliberately turning away from him. Lucius ate quickly, not consuming much. He lingered, elegantly wiping his mouth as if waiting for her. Violet dismissed the thought as overanalyzing. After hastily finishing her meal, she got up and left. ¡°Ms. Agatha, where are you going?¡± George questioned her as she walked past. Violet indicated the sprawlingwn. ¡°To weed.¡± This had be a routine task for her. Meanwhile, Lucius¡¯s expression grew even more grim. ¡°Haven¡¯t I already instructed her that she doesn¡¯t need to weed anymore?¡± This was meant for George. George, sweating, offered, ¡°Ms. Agatha, perhaps you should rest upstairs instead?¡± Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Violet , , Regina , ¡°Agatha¡°, Violet Lucius , ,¡° , , , Grandma!¡± ,Violet , , Regina ,Regina , , , , , , , Lucius , , , ¡° ?¡± , Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Violet , , ,¡° , , ? , , ¡°Violet¡­¡­ Violet , ?¡± Rest upstairs? Getting rested to fulfill his desire to bear his child? Preferring not to dwell on such humiliating thoughts while idle, she shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯d rather stick to weeding.¡± ¡°Violet!¡± Lucius exploded in anger. His shout was so loud that it made the dining room tremble. Violet stopped in her tracks and asked in confusion. ¡°You¡¯re calling me¡­¡± Before she could finish, she realized he must be putting on an act, perhaps afraid of identally calling Agatha¡± in front of Regina. So, he was addressing her as Violet even in private. Lucius, too, realized his slip after calling out her name, then quickly changed his tone, ¡°With the speed you weed, it would take a year to finish. I¡¯ve hired professionals to handle it. From today on, you stay at home. If you¡¯re bored, go keep Grandmapany!¡± Hearing this, Violet was even more convinced of her suspicion. She touched her nose and went upstairs. listlessly. She didn¡¯t visit Regina¡¯s room; the old woman¡¯s endless questioning about whether she was pregnant would only add to her misery and guilt. Instead. she returned to her room, sitting on the bay window, nkly staring at thewn outside. +15 BONOS She sat for an unknown length of time, and when she came to her senses, the day had already turned to dusk. The door slowly opened from behind, and Lucius, who she hadn¡¯t seen since breakfast, walked in. He saw her engulfed by the twilight, indistinct and shadowy, feeling an unexined difort in his heart. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± he asked softly, his tone gentler than ever. Violet gave a bitter mile, burdened with her thoughts, and replied nonchntly, ¡°Just looking.¡± Could she tell him she didn¡¯t want to have children this way and that she wanted to leave? He came over and sat beside her on the window seal, making the space feel cramped. ¡°Violet, if I gave you a chance to be Violet, what would you do?¡± Chapter 88 Chapter 88 ¡°What should I do? Naturally, I¡¯d leave.¡± Violet stated sincerely. ¡°Leave!¡± That word caused Lucius¡¯s expression to turn instantly grim and his voice harsh, and he spat it out with a biting edge. He let out a cold hum, clearly distressed, then rose to his feet, Indicating a desire to distance himself from her. ¡°It¡¯s a shame! You aren¡¯t her. You¡¯re Agatha. So, forget about the idea of leaving!¡± With that, he stormed out, the door banging loudly behind him. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Violet weakly eyed the shut door, and buried her head on her knees. She¡¯d always known he¡¯d never ept her for who she was. What else could she possibly expect? That evening, George delivered a dinner specially prepared for her. It was avish meal, rich in nutrients. ¡°This is specially prepared for you under Master Lucius¡¯s instruction.¡± After learning of Violet¡¯s real identity, George¡¯s attitude toward her changed dramatically. Feeling remorseful and wishing to keep her, the butler was exceptionally careful and attentive. The mention of Lucius brought a bitter sensation to Violet¡¯s mouth. He had arranged for such nutritious meals, likely in the hopes of improving her health for childbearing. ¡°I see,¡± she replied quietly, mechanically eating her rice and ignoring the delicacies. A look of sadness crossed George¡¯s face, but he refrained from furtherment, only advising her after she had finished eating, ¡°Madam Davis is very fond of you. She talked about you several times today. Ms. Agatha, she would appreciate a visit from you.¡± Violet went to visit Regina regardless. Regina was eating porridge when Violet arrived. Upon seeing her, Regina gestured the servant away with the porridge and called, ¡°Vivi,e here.¡± Violetplied, approaching the bed and allowing Regina to hold her hand. ¡°Any updates? Are you experiencing any symptoms like nausea or cravings for sour foods?¡± Regina wondered, her eyes filled with anticipation. Her urgency only added to Violet¡¯s sadness.. After a pause, Violet gently replied, ¡°Grandma, can we¡­not be so eager about having a child?¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± Regina responded, her concern evident. Violet bowed her head silently. +15 BONOS ¡°Don¡¯t you want to bear Lucius¡¯s children?¡± She remained silent. Lucius, by chance, had pushed the door open and was about to enter the room. He overheard the exchange, and noticed Violet with her head down and sitting quietly by the bedside. Her silence was intpreted as agreement with Regina¡¯s statements. Violet appeared unwilling to bear his children. Seeing her reaction, Lucius clenched his fist tightly, nearly damaging the doorknob.. He then entered the room, his presence marked by a chilly demeanor, though he said nothing. ¡°Lucius,¡± Regina called out, effectively halting the conversation and shifting the focus elsewhere. Het talked to Regina without even looking at Violet, as if she were invisible. Violet chose not to interject, sitting silently to the side out of courtesy, listening in, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯m tired, so you should go now,¡± Regina said an hourter, motioning. Lucius agreed with a hum. He stood up and walked out the door without beckoning Violet. Violet lingered briefly before leaving, heading toward her own bedroom. On her way past Lucius¡¯s room, she was suddenly pulled inside, taken by surprise. She had no time to cry out, because she waspletely caught by surprise. By the time she regained her senses, her body was already pinned to the bed. He then pressed down on her, nearly crushing her. His tone was filled with anger. He roared, ¡°You refuse to bear my child, is that it?¡± He was pressing down on her heavily, making it difficult for her to breathe, let alone reply. She tried to push his hand off her chest. He held her hands aggressively above her head, using her, ¡°You don¡¯t want my child? Do you think you can escape that fate? If you refuse to bear my child, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Rrrip! He ripped her clothes and tied her hands above her head. Violet fought valiantly, but he made no attempt to stop her. Instead, he took advantage of the opportunity she presented¡­ An uncontroble torrent of wrath erupted, and his self¨Ccontrol shattered. He was fixated on the single thought of impregnating her that night, disregarding her exhaustion, pain, and his own roughness. The only thing on his mind was to ensure Violet conceived his child. ¡°Go to hell! I despise you, Lucius! I hate you!¡± she yelled. I I Unable to free her hands, she continued to curse him, tears streaming down her face. The pain was excruciating; it seemed like a knife was stirring inside her, pulling her apart. In her anguish, she bit down fiercely on his shoulder. Lucius, seemingly impervious to the pain, allowed her to bite, persisting in his actions. Several hours passed, and tranquility settled in the room. +15 BONOS Violet had once again lost consciousness, while Lucius¡¯s shoulder disyed deep bite marks, oozing with blood.. He ignored his own wound, instead panting for air with his head lowered on top of her. No matter how many times he looked at her pale, innocent face, he could never get enough of it. It hurt him to see her in such a state, as if his most prized property had been harmed. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 He touched her face softly, trying to rouse her, but she remained unresponsive. Even though he hadn¡¯t Unaware of her deep slumber, Violet didn¡¯t realize that Lucius, while cleaning her up, was gentle throughout, his eyes filled with her reflection¡­ Later, around noon, Violet woke to a knock on the door. Struggling to rise, she saw bruises covering her body, a grim reminder of the recurring events if she stayed. With a shiver, she dressed and opened the door. There, a nurse was wheeling Regina in a wheelchair. ¡°Grandma, what brings you here?¡± Violet asked, surprised. Regina looked around the room, and said, ¡°You hadn¡¯t visited me all day, so I decided toe and see you.¡± In the past, Violet would sometimes go days without visiting Regina. Violet stepped aside to allow Regina to enter. Regina dismissed the caregiver with an excuse, and then held Violet¡¯s hand, asking. ¡°Vivi, tell me. Do you dislike Lucius?¡± The question caught Violet by surprise. She had never really pondered it. Did she not like him? Logically, she should have responded immediately, but why couldn¡¯t she just agree? Lucius should have made her loathe him because of his harshness, hubris, and the agony he caused her. But why did she sometimes find a sense of defeat in his harshness, a hint of helplessness in his dominance, and a trace of tenderness in the hurt he inflicted? *So, you do have feelings for him, don¡¯t you?¡± Regina asked, suddenly hopeful. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know,¡± she replied quickly,forting herself that she only said this to avoid hurting Regina. ¡°That¡¯s reassuring.¡± Regina responded with a pleased nod. Violet felt perplexed, unsure of Regina¡¯s intentions. ¡°I was impulsive, and I didn¡¯t take your emotions into ount. Now that I think about it, love and marriage should be there before having a child. You haven¡¯t experienced these stages yet, but we expected you to have a child. ¡°It¡¯s natural for you to be hesitant. Vivi, I won¡¯t pressure you anymore. Just seeing you and Lucius happy together is enough for me.¡± Regina exined. Was Grandma finally freeing her from this pressure? Violet was almost in disbelief at hearing this. Gratefully, she held Regina¡¯s hand and uttered. ¡°Thank you, Grandma. Thank you.¡± +15 BONOS She felt a wave of relief, freed from the burden of possibly abandoning a child and ensuring her child wouldn¡¯t endure a loveless upbringing like hers. Violet hugged Regina and whispered. ¡°Thank you.¡± As she was leaving. Regina stressed that Lucius was already aware of this situation, sparing Violet the need to exin it to him. She felt immense lehet, as it the cloud above her head was finally dissipating. Unexpectedly, Lucius entered her room that evening. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Grandma¡­ informed you?¡± She assumed he wouldn¡¯t return, especially since ¡°Agatha¡± had left such a negative impression on him, one he would never forget in his life. Lucius responded with a nomittal hum, neither confirming nor denying anything. He then briskly walked over to the bed and sat down. Violet recoiled, trying to maintain distance. He frowned in displeasure, and demanded. ¡°Come here!¡± She resisted, and in response, he yanked her toward him. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Her resistance led to scratches on his hand, visibly angering him, but he refrained from being harsh, instead forcibly pulling her into an embrace. Violet persisted in her struggle. He issued a dark, hoarse warning. ¡°If you keep struggling, don¡¯t me me for whates next.¡± Feeling the tension in his arms, Violet stopped moving, remaining still. He held her for about ten minutes, trying to calm himself. His heartbeat was intense, and right next to her ear, his body heat was nearly overwhelming. Violet¡¯s face grew warm under his intense embrace. Just when she thought she couldn¡¯t take it anymore, he released her, having calmed himself. ¡°Lie down,¡± he instructed. Violet remained motionless, still processing. He questioned her inaction, revealing a small tube of ointment. ¡°How am I supposed to apply this if you don¡¯t lie down?* ¡°Ointment?¡± Confused, Violet quickly sat up. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself!¡± Her hair caressed his nose, reawakening his buried need. Knowing that applying ointment could cause him more pain, he threw the ointment on the bed and retreated a good distance. 24 +15 BONOS Surprised by his abruptpromise, Violet hesitated before taking the ointment. ¡°You¡­ Get out of my room.¡± How could she apply ointment in his presence? Albeit dissatisfied, Lucius said, ¡°Call me when you¡¯re done.¡± What did he mean? Violet couldn¡¯t figure it out, and instead concentrated on healing her wounds. By the time she finished andy down on the bed, she had forgotten about Luciuspletely. Outside, Lucius waited impatiently for ten minutes. Yet, heard nothing from Violet. He entered the room to find her lying down, stretching outfortably. ¡°Are you deaf?¡± he asked irritably, his eyes dark and gloomy. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Violet remained on guard around him. Startled awake in bed, she eximed, ¡°Why are you here again?¡± Lucius, visibly irritated, grumbled coldly. He settled himself on the bed, and snatched the nket over himself. Violet, taken aback, asked, ¡°Hadn¡¯t we already agreed? What¡¯s this about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sleeping!¡± he snapped back. He drew her into the bed and wrapped the nket around them securely. She found herself cocooned with him, squeezing her body against his fiercely hard shape. ¡°Lucius!¡± ¡°Just go to sleep!¡± ¡°But you¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Sleep. I said!¡± Lucius found a cozy spot, encircling her in his arms as though she were a cushion, pressing her head against his neck. No further moves were made. They both drifted into sleep. Violet sensed the surreal nature of the moment, anxious that he might make another move. Shey rigid, her eyes wide open.. A few minutester, his regr breathing suggested he was asleep. She peered up in disbelief; his eyes were indeed shut. His facial expression, softened by the dim light, contrasted with his daytime demeanor, yet his grip around her remained firm and possessive. He sped her so tightly to his chest that turning was impossible. Attempting a slight shift, she felt his arms constrict further, drawing her even closer. Resigned, she ceased moving, settling quietly in his embrace. This was her first experience of being held in sleep like this, and she struggled to adapt, unable to find sleep. She gazed at Lucius, puzzled as to why he had suddenly changed his attitude toward her. Violet found no answers to her previous questions and eventually fell asleep in his arms. Upon waking, Lucius¡¯s arms were still encircling her. A deep, yet soothing voice from above asked, ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. She didn¡¯t dare nce up, instead responding with a murmur. Last night¡¯s unanswered questions resurfaced: What was wrong with him? +15 +15 BONOS ¡°I¡¯ve got work to do. You¡¯re in charge of cooking during the day,¡± he said as he pushed himself out of bed. Violet stayed quiet, still cocooned in the nket. She observed Lucius confidently walking into the bathroom for a shower, nonchntly leaving the door open. As he undressed, his toned, sculptured physique and tanned muscles were exposed. Violet quickly averted her gaze, refusing to look any further. He purposefully faced her, calling out, ¡°Fetch me some pajamas from the closet.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you get them yourself?¡± she replied, unustomed to serving others. ¡°Should Ie out to get them?¡± he questioned, implying he might step out of the shower area in his bare state. Violet, knowing full well he was naked, hurriedly rose to get the pajamas, saying. ¡°I¡¯ll get them.¡± His deepughter followed her, resonating like a cello. Was that funny? She mused internally, entering his extensive walk¨Cin closet. The closet was remarkablyrge. Despite her familiarity with the ce, this was her first time inside. Every item, from clothes to shoes to belts and watches, was meticulously arranged in separate almost like a showroom. She couldn¡¯t ignore the opulence of the closet, made of tercolia wood, a material pricier than gold, and found herself silently critiquing hisvishness. Then, she randomly grabbed a pajama and walked out, only to be startled upon returning. Lucius had emerged from the bathroom in his natural state. Why did he ask for pajamas if he was just going toe out like this? Clutching the pajamas tightly, she refused to let go as she used them to shield her eyes. ¡°What? Are you going to dress me?¡± he asked in a cold yet teasing tone from above. Violet let go of the pajamas just in time to notice the yful glint in his eyes. She realized Lucius was acting more peculiarly than usual. But in such a situation, she wasn¡¯t in the mood to dwell on it and quickly fled from the room. Seeing her dash out like a frightened mouse, Lucius felt a rare sense of satisfaction, smiling genuinely for the first time in ages. After freshening up anding downstairs, Violet found no sign of Lucius. George assembled the staff at the entrance, and announced, ¡°Master Lucius will be upied with work for the next few days. Ensure you don¡¯t disturb him!¡± The servants understood the gravity of the situation, well aware of Lucius¡¯s meticulous nature during work. +15 BONOS Violet didn¡¯t probe, and proceeded to have her breakfast at the dining table. As per the arrangement, Violet prepared Lucius¡¯s lunch. She handed the dish to a servant, instructing, ¡°Please take this to him.¡± The servant returned shortly with the untouched te. ¡°Isn¡¯t he eating?¡± Violet asked, wondering if the repetitive menu had be unappealing. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡± George rified, shaking his head, ¡°Master Lucius specifically requested that Ms. Agatha serve his meals.¡± Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Such particr demands! ¡°Ms. Agatha is well aware of Master Lucius¡¯s temperament when he¡¯s working, so¡­¡± Violet had no choice but to take the te after hearing George¡¯s exnation. Lucius was, as before, surrounded by multipleputers, adeptly controlling operations with a joystick. Despite the myriad of shing screens, he appeared unbothered, handling everything with ease and precision. He seemed aware of her presence immediately, calling out ¡°Come here¡± as she entered, his voice tinged with a hint of urgency, likely due to hunger. Violet came closer, and he once again drew her into his arms. His hand was burning hot. While she embraced him, he continued working on hisputer, Violet¡¯s presence obstructed him. Each time he moved, he would slightly bump into her, unintentionally drawing them closer. She questioned how this hadn¡¯t affected his work. Without a word from him to leave, she reluctantly began feeding him. He ate quickly, finishing in just a few minutes. Attempting to pull away, she found herself restrained by his tightening grip, ¡°Stay here!¡± Consequently, she found herself confined within his arms, observing him work on theputer. His breath lightly brushed her, hovering near her nose. Hisrge hand asionally bumped her, causing her to wobble. ¡°Grab onto me!¡± He hastily guided her hand around his waist. Baffled, she wondered how he could remain focused on his work in such a situation. Lucius didn¡¯t show any signs of difort, while Violet, anxious not to disturb him, broke into a sweat. A single error could disrupt the rapid sequence of numbers on his screen. The sound of keyboard tapping filled the air. +15 BONOS Violet felt incredibly bored, yearning to be outside, even if just for simple outdoor activities. That seemed preferable to being seated on hisp. Eventually, she couldn¡¯t hold back and softly asked, ¡°May I¡­¡± ¡°Nol¡± he quickly silenced her, pressing her head down, not even considering her request. Violet, feeling difort in her neck, protested. ¡°But¡­ It¡¯s really dull.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s chat.¡± ¡°Chat?¡± She hesitated to even breathe too loudly, unsure if speaking was allowed. She gave him a doubtful nce. He offered a small smile. ¡°My work isn¡¯t so restrictive that I can¡¯t talk.¡± She found it unbelievable that he could manage the rapid data on his screens and still converse. ¡°Aren¡¯t your eyes strained with all this constant shing?¡± she ventured. ¡°No,¡± he replied, his hand adeptly operating a key. ¡°Do you actually keep track of everything on the screen?¡± ¡°Absolutely. It¡¯s crucial to memorize each number set on theseputers for precise control.¡± ¡°Right, what¡¯s the second¨Ctost row of numbers on the firstputer?¡± He quickly uttered a series of numbers. Violet blinked. She only caught thest few digits. Despite her close observation, she couldn¡¯t ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t y games with money,¡± he responded, indirectly addressing her usation. Violet fell silent. Two hourster, he hit the Enter key, bringing a momentary pause to theputer¡¯s activity. He reclined back, indicating his work was finished. As Violet tried to leave hisp, he effortlessly pulled her back against him, enveloping her in his ¡°Check if this is the set of numbers you asked about.¡± Thest digits matched what she remembered, confirming his uracy. +15 BONOS ¡°How can you be so skilled?¡± she asked in amazement, reevaluating him. He simply hummed, appearing cool on the outside but evidently pleased inside. ¡°It¡¯s just a minor talent.¡± Violet recalled a variety show where such skills were showcased, realizing world champions were at simr levels. It seemed the world champions were only as good as him. ¡°Is your IQ¡­really high?¡± ¡°230¡± ¡°2¡­30?¡± Violet was astounded. Normally, an IQ between 120 and 140 was considered high, but 230 was extraordinary. ¡°You aren¡¯t¡­misleading me?¡± ¡°Possibly, but that¡¯s what Mensa assessed.¡± Mensa, the renowned high¨CIQ society? Violet couldn¡¯t help but view him with a newfound respect. Lucius enjoyed her admiring gaze and continued holding her for the afternoon. Violet remained tense in his embrace, almost overwhelmed, almost peeing her trousers. She didn¡¯t know how long she would have stayed if it hadn¡¯t been for the pretext of making dinner. ¡°Ms. Agatha.¡± When he saw her walk out, George smiled with relief and treated her with greater respect. Rubbing her sore neck, Violet approached George and asked, ¡°Did Lucius really have his IQ tested at Mensa?¡± ¡°Yes, he was a member there.¡± Violet responded with a simple ¡°Oh¡°, and then scoffed, ¡°What good is such a high IQ if he can¡¯t even recognize his own wife?¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 hapter 0092 George¡¯s face changed subtly. He lowered his head, carefully hiding his reaction. He exined calmly. ¡°Those with high IQs oftenck emotional intelligence, the wordvances things out that way.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s true,¡± Violet, finding some sce in his words, nodded in agreement. Lucius¡¯s remarkable talents made her feel in byparison. Then again, why was the a problem? They weren¡¯t a couple, after all. The term couple unexpectedly resonated within her, tightening her chest and sending a jolt through her heart. Over the next few days. Lucius remained preupied with work yet made a point of spending hours each day holding Violet, insisting she apany him. Enduring the unease, she waited for him to conclude his tasks. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Her eyes widened in wonder upon seeing the endless stream of numbers on hisputer. ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± she inquired. ¡°Money,¡± he replied. ¡°Is it really that simple to earn money by just working on aputer? She pondered the ease of acquiring wealth. He neither confirmed nor denied, but his self- assurance was apparent. ¡°Anyone who marries you is bound to be lucky,¡± shemented. ¡°Why do you think so?¡± he queried. ¡°Because you¡¯re wealthy!¡± ¡®Do you also wish to marry me?¡± His intense look suggested he hoped to maintain their marriage, even if it was initially unintended. Violet instantly denied it. ¡°To me, enough money is all that¡¯s needed. A marriage should be rooted in emotion. Without that, it¡¯s meaningless.¡± ¡°Really?¡® he responded, his expression growing solemn. Abruptly, he cupped her chin. ¡°Are you hinting that for us to be together, I must have feelings for you?¡± +15 BONOS ¡°To be exact, love.¡± She bravely met his stare, not quite sure why she said that. Lucius released her abruptly, sneering, ¡°Love is a myth. Marriage is merely a bodily union, nothing else.¡± Violet felt as if a bucket of ice¨Ccold water had been dumped on her. She yearned to question if his recent tender gestures were solely for physical gratification, devoid of any feelings, yet she refrained. He was a nonbeliever in love, and her inability to fall for someone was not new to her. Asking again would invite further self¨Cdegradation. Masking her turmoil with a feigned smile, she departed the room. Her heart experienced a loss, a part of it seemingly slipping away. Lucius observed her exit, her smile striking him with agonizing rity. His lips were pressed firmly together. He harbored affection for Violet, but as George said, his low EQ kept him from understanding it. Violet had also voiced her desire to depart. Why should he express his actual feelings to someone who was ready to leave at any time? He was resolved never to fall in love with another woman. After days ofbor, Lucius returned to his bedroom to sleep. Alone in the living room, Violet aimlessly switched TV channels, unable to find a show that piqued her interest. Suddenly, the phone in the living room rang. George was absent. Reluctantly, she answered it. ¡°Put that insolent boy on the phone!¡± The voice exploded on the other end, nearly deafening her.¡± How dare he send people to stop me? He must be tired of living!¡± Violet had to move the receiver away from her ear, but that voice was somewhat familiar. Amidst the tumult and ongoing fury, ¡°Let¡¯s see who dares to defy me!¡± Violet could hear the voice approaching closer. When she looked up, she noticed the door had been kicked open. It was Howard, seething with fury. His brows and mustache bristled with rage, casting a menacing look Inside the room. George interjected, ¡°Master Davis, such intrusion will infuriate Master Lucius.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°I am the head of the family, not him!¡± Howard thundered, his voice so powerful it appeared to blow the roof off. A squad of armed men in ck uniforms stood disheartened behind George. Lucius had issued a strict edict that death would be the penalty for anyone trespassing in the Imperial Pce, without exceptions. Despite knowing this, Howard brazenly barged in. His shout forced George to stand aside; his face was clouded with dread. Violet, recalling Howard¡¯s previous impudent attempt to take Regina, quickly stood in his path. dering, ¡°You¡¯re not permitted upstairs!¡± Howard¡¯s face hardened when he recognized her, and he scoffed at her, ¡°Who are you to block my way!¡± Effortlessly shoving her aside, he thundered upstairs, ¡°Where¡¯s that insolent boy? I¡¯ll shoot him!¡± Fueled by the indignity of his previous eviction, Howard was determined to exact vengeance and even drew a gun, ready to use it. ¡°Master Davis, please calm down!¡± George rushed in, horrified. ¡°I can¡¯t calm down! Anyone who tries to stop me shall face my fury!¡± He was on the verge of shooting George. Violet, acting swiftly, seized the gun¡¯s muzzle, her palm in the line of fire. George, rmed by her action, gasped, ¡°Ms. Agatha!¡± ¡°Ms. Agatha?¡± Howard connected her to Lucius¡¯s anxious care for her. He scrutinized her. ¡°You¡¯re Agatha?¡± Without further exnation, she simply confirmed, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Agatha.¡± Howard sneered, ¡°Lucius, the fool, has weed a traitor into his home. How disgraceful!¡± Chapter 93 Chapter 93 ¡°Aren¡¯t you betraying him too? Should he shun you forever?¡± Violet retorted. A different emotion drove Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. her statements in support of Luclus. ¡°You¡­ How dare you challenge me?¡± Howard, stung by her words, roared in fury. Violet faced the enraged elder withposure. ¡°Agatha is his wife, receable over a lifetime. But you, his grandfather, deserted him in his darkest hour. What does that make you? It¡¯s like adding salt to his wound, destroying him for life!¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Though he wasn¡¯t shooting, Howard was visibly shaken, his expression betraying his inner turmoil. Meanwhile, a figure quietly approached, his eyes coldly fixed on the irate old man. Lucius announced, ¡°Grandma says If you persist, she¡¯ll never see you again.¡± His eyes betrayed every bit of disrespect for Howard, even if he spoke to him politely. Howard, initially seething with anger, suddenly seemed to lose all his fiery energy, resembling a deted balloon. George pushed Violet away from the gun¡¯s muzzle. Lucius approached and subtly distanced Violet from George, drawing her close. ¡°Also, don¡¯t handle my woman roughly next time,¡± he warned. The phrase ¡°my woman¡± astounded Violet, who was in shock at his brazen defense of her in front of his grandfather. Howard, clearly upset by Lucius¡¯s words, grumbled, ¡°How dare you speak to an elder in such a manner?¡± His howl was loud enough to rattle the roof tiles. ¡°If you¡¯re truly an elder, act with some dignity!¡± retorted Lucius sharply. ¡°You rascal!¡± Howard¡¯s anger escted, met by louder rebukes from Lucius. The intensity of their quarrel left everyone, including Violet, overwhelmed, as if their very eardrums might rupture. +15 BONOS Violet admired Regina for being able to live with such a man without bing overwhelmed by his presence. Observing the stark contrast between Howard¡¯s flery temper and Lucius¡¯s Icy demeanor, she couldn¡¯t help but question whether they were truly rted. George, attempting to ease the tension, interjected, ¡°Madam Davis is still recuperating and should not be disturbed. Master Davis, please think of her health.¡± This appeared to be calming Howard down a little. He grunted before turning to leave. Stopping midway, he instructed George. ¡°Inform Lucius to ry a message to his grandmother. She is mine, in life and in death, forever my woman!¡± Lucius was present, yet Howard¡¯s stubborn demeanor mirrored that of Lucius himself. Despite their distinct dispositions, both shared a simrly overbearing, arrogant, and unreasonable nature. Outside, a helicopter lifted off, carrying Howard away. The wind creates ripples in the grass. The room finally fell silent. ¡°Should we really let the old man go just like that?¡± Violet mused, gazing skyward at Howard¡¯s diminishing figure, finding a sense of loneliness in Howard¡¯s departing form. Lucius hummed indifferently, as if relieved to see him go. Violet, realizing Lucius was still holding her shoulder, tried to move away. ¡°What did you mean by what you said just now?¡± Lucius asked, not releasing his grip.. Violet was perplexed. ¡°What did I say?¡± ¡°Never mind.¡± He evaded the question with an ambiguous answer. When he came downstairs earlier, he had overheard her bold confrontation with Howard. No one had ever dared to challenge Howard in such a manner, nor had anyone openly discussed the past events with him. Lucius harbored deep¨Cseated bitterness towards Howard, a sentiment that had driven a wedge. between them over the years. Yet, it was only in Violet¡¯s presence that he found the courage to articte these suppressed emotions. The sense of abandonment he felt from his grandfather lingered heavily in his mind. He ascended the stairs. +15 BONOS Violet, lost in thought and touching her chin, struggled to decipher the meaning behind Lucius¡¯s earlier question. Eventually, she too made her way upstairs. Lucius rested against the wall at the top of the steps, his typical poised and graceful manner tainted by loneliness and despair, like an abandoned child. His eyes lingered in the direction Howard had departed. The hurt of Howard leaving him must have been profound. Coupled with the betrayal by his most beloved woman and the alienation from his nearest kin, he must have felt an overwhelming sense of istion. Violet, driven by a sudden impulse, approached and embraced him. ¡°V¡­Vivi!¡± Lucius uttered, his voice tinged with surprise and uncertainty. By the time Violet realized the inappropriateness of her gesture, it was toote. She quickly withdrew, her face flushed with embarrassment. ¡°I¡­I was just trying to measure your waist.¡± The excuse sounded painfully awkward. Lucius, tilting his head, looked at her with a knowing gaze and asked, ¡°Did you manage to take the measurement?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she replied in a rush. ¡°And why do you need my waist measurement?¡± ¡°That is¡­¡± Feeling his piercing gaze, which seemed to prate her facade, she found it impossible to continue her pretense. Finally, she confessed, ¡°Honestly, I saw you standing there, so alone, and I thought about your past. I just felt an urge to hug you.¡± Chapter 94 Chapter 94 ¡°Are you in love with me?¡± This sudden query left Violet choking on her saliva, too taken aback to reply. Lucius, observing her face redden from the choking, approached to pat her back. His approach was anything but gentle, rather rough, making her cough to near suffocation. ¡°Lucius, please don¡¯t make such jokes again.¡± Once she regained her breath, she spoke in a raspy voice, swiftly bypassing him.. Lucius watched her leave, his once¨Cbright eyes gradually losing their luster. Violet walked a considerable distance before she stopped, clutching her chest, her heart pounding furiously. Why this intense reaction? It was just Lucius asking about her feelings. She had no feelings for him. After all his cold¨Chearted actions and his yboy nature, she surely couldn¡¯t. Was that so? Was that theplete truth? Or did she? She found herself unable to decipher her own feelings. Violet returnedte, hesitating briefly outside Lucius¡¯s room before heading to her own. She couldn¡¯t allow herself to fall in love with Lucius. The dawn at the Imperial Pce came unusually early, with the sky brightening well before five. Clouds amassed, enhancing the beauty of the scenery below. Lucius, d in a simple outfit, stood on the balcony of the second floor, his clothes billowing in the wind, an image of effortless grace. He lit up a cigarette, the smoke dispersing far into the air. ¡°Why are you smoking, Master Lucius?¡± Lucius, not usually fond of smoking or drinking, rarely touched cigarettes. Without turning around, Lucius asked, a little bitterly. ¡°George, is this really okay? To keep her here, to make her continue to be the despised Agatha?¡± ¡°Has Master Lucius truly developed feelings for Ms. Agatha?¡± George asked, his face filled with +15 BONOS Lucius replied with a nonchnt smile, ¡°Have you forgotten? I¡¯m Incapable of loving anyone again. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°There are no buts,¡± He discarded the cigarette, crushing it beneath his shoe, and turned around to see Violet standing silently behind George. She hade down for a drink due to thirst, not anticipating encountering them or overhearing their conversation. ¡°What are you discussing? What does that mean?¡± Her eyes trembled as she nced at Lucius for a moment before she asked. Lucius remained motionless, his usually proud gaze now fixed on the floor. Continuing to make her live as the despised Agatha, the implication of his words was apparent. ¡°You know I¡¯m not Agatha, don¡¯t you?¡± she pressed, her voice shaking. ¡°Ms. Agatha,¡± George interjected gently. Violet¡¯s eyes, brimming with tears, were locked on Lucius. ¡°Lucius, is it true?¡± she implored for confirmation. All she wanted was for Lucius to tell her the truth. Lucius finally responded faintly, ¡°Yes.¡± Her tears flowed upon hearing his admission. ¡°Why stay silent, knowing I¡¯m not Agatha? Why?¡± George attempted to intercede, ¡°Ms. Agatha¡­ Master Lucius only recently discovered this.¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Lucius interrupted him, stating, ¡°Since you¡¯re Violet, you¡¯re now free.¡± His statement of her freedom puzzled her, but before she could seek an exnation, Lucius swiftly exited. Violet stood there, not pursuing him, with tears streaming down her face and a sense of injustice overwhelming her. +15 BONOS He had simply released her with the words ¡°You¡¯re free.¡± despite the pain she had suffered. Wasn¡¯t freedom her ultimate desire? Then why did it hurt so much? She spent the entire day in her room, neither eating nor going out. George had a servant bring her food, but she sent it back untouched. Concerned. George roached Lucius. ¡°Ms. Violet is in a bad state. Master Lucius. Please visit her.¡± Lucius discarded another cigarette butt. The ground was strewn with several others, reflecting his heavy consumption and the bitterness it left in his mouth. Observing the discarded butts, George felt troubled. Lucius, usually so confident and vibrant, was now deeply troubled because of Violet As Lucius took a step. George followed and asked. ¡°Master Lucius, what are you going to do with Ms. Violet?¡± Lucius momentarily hesitated in his stride but remained silent. Approaching Violet¡¯s room, he gently pushed the door open. Inside, Violet sat by the bay window. Her slender form appeared lonely, her eyes fixed on the horizon; it was unclear how long she had kept that pose. He walked towards her, the soft click of his leather shoes on the floor breaking the silence. Violet, startled by the sound, turned around, her tear¨Cstained eyes meeting Lucius¡¯s. A pang of pain struck his heart. As he entered, she instinctively shrank back, signaling her wariness. Lucius refrained from getting closer, instead opting for a chair opposite her and taking a seat. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 +15 BONOS ¡°Violet, the choice is yours¨Cto stay or to leave. Should you stay, you¡¯ll be mine. If you leave, I¡¯ll ensure you¡¯repensated.¡± Violet, caught in a whirlwind of thoughts, gazed back at him. Deep down, the idea of being his wasn¡¯t entirely unappealing; she had grown used to his Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. presence, his assertiveness, temper, sporadic tenderness, his entirety¡­ Yet he had vowed never to emotionallymit to a woman again, a deration he repeated this morning for the third time. Thus, she saw herself as no different from the other women in his past. ¡°I¡¯ll leave.¡± The response elicited a sharp, agonizing sensation in Lucius¡¯s chest. An unfamiliar bitterness filled his mouth. Not even Agatha¡¯s departure had struck him this hard. ¡°Violet Wickham¡­¡± he began. ¡°If this is your decision, I respect it.¡± Hisck of insistence signaled to her that she was truly dispensable in his eyes. A sudden, uncontrobleughter erupted from Violet, contorting her face with its intensity. Her response rmed Lucius, who hastily left the room without realizing that her initial The following day, Violet departed, carrying only her bag and a sizable check. She left without a backward nce, mechanically pushing herself forward, step by step. Behind her. Lucius watched from the balcony, his gaze lingering on her diminishing figure until she was long out of sight. As the helicopter lifted off, Violet silently bid her farewell. Goodbye, Imperial Pce. Goodbye, Lucius. Goodbye! She resolved to regard her experiences there as nothing more than a dream. +15 BONOS With the dream¡¯s end, she returned to the start, where Agatha and Lucius were mere figments of a fleeting dream. Upon her return to the city, Violet didn¡¯t head straight to her family home. Instead, she made a detour to the Blue Cross organization to donate the check she had received. Of course, she had no ce to go back to. She had no desire to enter Wickham¡¯s residence as she stood at the door. Her father had dered her dead and expelled her from this house. Opting against entering, she headed to her previously rented apartment. ¡°V¡­Violet?¡± Tess Powers, her surprised roommate and friend, greeted her. ¡°Why have you Violet, who had abruptly left her job to travel, hadn¡¯t informed Tess of her ns. ¡°Tess, it¡¯s like this¡­¡± ¡°Who¡¯s here? Before Violet could borate on her situation, a male voice interrupted. A young man in beach shorts appeared, casually draping his arm around Tess¡¯s shoulders, eyeing Violet curiously. Tess, looking ufortable, exined, ¡°I assumed you¡¯d gone home after quitting, so¡­¡± Evidently. Tess¡¯s boyfriend had taken over her room. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Violet replied, masking her feelings with feigned nonchnce. ¡°Congrattions. Tess.¡± Tess blushed, a mix of embarrassment and happiness visible on her face. Violet left, feeling adrift and alone in the expansive world with no ce to call her own. ¡°I didn¡¯t n on confronting you, but it¡¯s because of you that my voice is damaged,¡± Emily used.. ¡°You¡¯re really here!¡± Violet was surprised when she heard a gruff voice. Emily emerged from the shadows as Violet gazed up, her gaze icy and piercing. It wasn¡¯t Violet¡¯s fault that it happened. Violet had previously said that, and didn¡¯t wish to borate. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to find me, then don¡¯t.¡± +15 BONOS Emily announced, ¡°I¡¯m getting engaged to Oliver.¡± Violet staggered backward, her body weakly leaning against the wall as the words resonated in her ears. Emily¡¯s eyes gleamed with a sense of victory. Violet had caused her grief, and she now desired that Violet suffer even more. ¡°Of course, as the elder sister, you must attend our engagement ceremony. It¡¯s Dad¡¯s wish, and Oliver¡¯s as well.¡± The cruelty of Oliver¡¯s actions was a heavy blow to Violet. Feeling her heart constrict with pain, she clung to the wall to keep it from copsing. ¡°Alright¡­¡± She forced a smile, though it felt rigid and difficult to maintain. A whole year of waiting, only to be greeted with news of Oliver¡¯s engagement to another. Tears threatened to spill from Violet¡¯s eyes, but she resisted, determined not to show vulnerability. ¡°I know you like Oliver,¡± Emily said, pressing the knife deeper into Violet¡¯s heart, ¡°but he doesn¡¯t like you. Did you sabotage my voice because of this? I swear to you, I¡¯ll curse you for the rest of your life. I curse you to never find happiness!¡± Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Emily¡¯s malice infuriated Violet, who didn¡¯t want to continue the conversation. However, her words were too offensive to ignore. ¡°Emily, remember, When you curse others, you might just invite misfortune upon yourself, Imagine if I told Oliver that it was me, not you, who was there for him, singing as hey unconscious. Would he still N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. be eager to get engaged to you?¡± Her revtion visibly paled Emily¡¯s face. ¡°How¡­ How did you know that?¡± Emily had been confident in her deception, believing Violet wouldn¡¯t have seen the interviews where she appeared alongside Oliver, iming credit for his recovery. ¡°Heaven observes all our deeds. If it disapproves, retribution might follow,¡± Violet warned. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say a word!¡± Emily¡¯s voice, hoarse with agitation, echoed sharply in the air. ¡°Even if you do tell him, Oliver will think you¡¯re acting out of bitterness. My lifelong rtionship with him outweighs your years of being together. Speaking out will only bring you disgrace!¡± With a mix of anger and panic, Emily quickly left, her heels clicking furiously against the ground, betraying her turbulent emotions. Violet¡¯s words struck at the heart of Emily¡¯s fears. This truth was like a ticking time bomb. threatening to destroy the carefully constructed happiness she had arranged. Convinced of Oliver¡¯s current negative feelings towards Violet, Emily was sure he would dismiss any ims from her sister as unfounded. Back at the Imperial Pce, Lucius exited Regina¡¯s room, tiredness evident in his eyes.. Regina had asked about Violet repeatedly, four times today alone. What significance did Violet hold for her? Learningt¡¯s departure, Regina showed no further interest in ho of away without a second thought. Violet! Violet! grandson, sending him Lucius, returning to his bedroom, copsed onto the sofa, expressing his frustration by pounding on the back of the sofa. 5 RGCA George entered, standing respectfully in front of him. ¡°Did Violet make it back home?¡± he asked casually, pretending to be uninterested, It was his obligation to ensure she got home safely, as he was the one who put her in this scenario. That was how he justified having someone fall her. ¡°Ms. Agatha I mean, Ms. Violet went to her home but didn¡¯t enter. She just stood outside for a while and then left.¡± George corrected himself mid¨Csentence, sharing the details he had gathered ¡°What?¡± Lucius¡¯s expression lightened in concern. ¡°She didn¡¯t go home?¡± His voice unintentionally rose, revealing his surprise, before heposed himself. ¡°Then where did she go?¡± ¡°She visited the Blue Cross first, then her house, but didn¡¯t go inside, Later, it looked like she tried to visit a friend but didn¡¯t stay.¡± George detalled Violet¡¯s movements. ¡°Why did she go to the Blue Cross?¡± Lucius asked, trying to sound casual. George shook his head. ¡°We didn¡¯t follow her inside, so I¡¯m not sure. But it appears she¡¯s still roaming the streets.¡± This information troubled Lucius. Why wouldn¡¯t Violet go home or find somewhere to stay? What on earth was she thinking? Why wouldn¡¯t she return home or look for a ce to stay? Couldn¡¯t she see that it was already dark? A wave of irritation surged through him, but soon ebbed away. Why was he concerned about Violet? She had left of her own ord, not even ncing back. ¡°She¡¯s not short of money. She¡¯ll find a ce to stay,¡± he remarked coldly, dismissing George with a wave of his hand. The butler sighed as he walked out the door. Lucius clearly had feelings for Violet, but he pretended to be unconcerned. It was perplexing how someone so bright can be so emotionally inept. George, knowing his role as a servant, did not dare to offer any advice and quietly went. Once alone, Lucius abruptly rose, his agitation evident. Eventually, he reached for his phone¡­ Violet, with nowhere to go and her apartment gone, was overwhelmed with misery, especially after Emily¡¯s taunts. +15 BONOS How had her life devolved into such misery? She sighed deeply as she gazed at the gray sky. dotted with barely visible stars that struggled to shine. She rummaged through her bag. Her items had clearly been tampered with. Her wallet had gone. leaving her penniless. Regretting her impulsive donation, she wished she had kept some money for emergencies. Such regret gnawed at her. Her impulsive generosity, intended to uphold her dignity, now seemed like a significant mistake. Could she even get it back? However, this was just a passing thought. After spending hours wandering the streets, hungry, thirsty, and tired, she slumped under a tree. longing to escape her worldly woes. Then, a gentle voice reached her ears, ¡°Aggie?¡± Violet, startled, swiftly turned around. There, just a few steps behind her, stood Naomi, looking at her with a loving stare. ¡°Mom!¡± She jumped up and screamed out to her, a mix of excitement and other feelings coursing through her. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Naomi responded with a nod, her eyes glistening with tears, unable to utter a word. ¡°Do you also live in this city?¡± Violet, aware of Naomi¡¯s departure, had not expected to find her in the same city. ¡°Yes,¡± confirmed Naomi, her voice solt. ¡°What a lucky coincidence to run into you here,¡± Violet eximed. Naomi bowed her head and wiped away a tear. ¡°It is. I heard about you not being Agatha and that you left the Imperial Pce. I learned you were back in the city, and thought I might just bump into you by chance. I never really expected to actually meet you.¡± She concealed the truth that Lucius had orchestrated their meeting, fabricating a story instead. Violet bowed her head, unsure how to respond when she learned Naomi knew everything. Agatha¡¯s location remained a mystery now that she was back to being Violet, a scenario filled with uncertainty and worry for a mother. Violet could only imagine how distressed Naomi must be. ¡°I should have revealed my true identity to you sooner,¡± Violet admitted regretfully. ¡°I don¡¯t hold it against you. Truthfully, you¡¯ve been more considerate than Aggie ever was, and I¡¯ve enjoyed yourpany,¡± Naomi said gently, shaking her head. ¡°I wish I could have a daughter like you.¡± These are her words, straight from her heart. Violet¡¯s eyes, which had been clouded with uncertainty, lit up at Naomi¡¯s heartfelt words. ¡°Do you truly feel that way?¡± Given the general perception of her being ruthless, particrly after Emily¡¯s injury, Violet was deeply touched by Naomi¡¯s kindness. ¡°Absolutely. Do I seem like someone who would lie?¡± Naomi reassured her with sincerity. Violet cried uncontrobly. ¡°My mother abandoned me a long time ago. When I first saw you, I was tempted to reveal my true identity, but you were so gracious. At the time, I reasoned that since I was obliged to be Agatha anyway, why not do it for the rest of my life? I would be eternally grateful for your generosity if that +15 BONOS that what you thought?¡± Naomi asked, visibly touched, as she took Violet¡¯s hands. ¡°I don¡¯t have a daughter, and you¡¯re without a mother. What if we start a mother¨Cdaughter rtionship now?¡± This idea, though seemingly oundish, deeply moved Violet. Feeling abandoned by the world, Violet was warmed by Naomi¡¯s gesture to reach out. She immediately epted. ¡°Mom ¡°My daughter!¡± They hugged each other tightly. Naomi then brought Violet to her home. Despite residing in Bka City, Naomi¡¯s home was quite a distance from where Violet had been found, nearly on the other side of the city. Violet, who was oblivious to Lucius¡¯s involvement, thought the universe was genuinely wonderful and the workings of fate unbelievable. Naomi¡¯s rented ce was a modest one¨Croom apartment. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind the small space,¡± Naomi murmured as she opened the door, slightly embarrassed. ¡°Why would I?¡± For Violet, it felt like a heavenly gift, far from aint. Naomi began preparing food in the kitchen, while Violet, with teary eyes, observed her new home, feeling an unexpected sense of peace. Life slowly normalized. Violet started job hunting the next day. Although she wasn¡¯t a great artist, her design experience and past work history helped her secure a nearby job quickly. Naomi would make breakfast, and Violet took a packed lunch to work, leading a simple life. In the evenings, if Violet returned early, they¡¯d shop and cook together, enjoying a serene life. Having never experienced such a life in over twenty years with her family, Violet found it immensely satisfying. Violet nned to ask Naomi to quit her cleaning job once she received her first sry and their lives stabilized.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, at the Wickhams, Emily reported, ¡°I¡¯ve talked to my sister, and she won¡¯t attend our +15 BONOS In reality, Emily had only shown off her happiness to Violet. She never mentioned the actual date. of the engagement. Emily wouldn¡¯t risk Violet attending, knowing her feelings for Oliver and the potential for unexpected revtions. ¡°It she doesn¡¯t wish to attend, so be it,¡± said Belle, who harbored disdain for Violet and loathed her even more after Emily¡¯s voice was wounded. She saw Violet as an outcast. Patrick, torn and silent, reflected on his rtionship with Violet. Violet had always been a rebel, and he couldn¡¯t simply forgive her after thetest episode. Nheless, as her father and as the child of a woman he once dearly loved, he harbored unresolved feelings for her. The more he struggled to let go, the more he remembered the agonizing past. He unwittingly focused his rage on Violet. Because of this, he had generally stayed out of her life in the past few years. Chapter 98 Chapter 98 ¡°Violet should attend our engagement because it is a big deal,¡± Oliver stated, breaking his silence. His white suit lent him an air of refined elegance. ¡°What if she refuses toe?¡± Emily said, feigning a sweet demeanor. ¡°I sincerely wish she¡¯de. Regardless, she is my only sibling. I¡¯m still hoping for her blessings.¡± Under her mother¡¯s influence, Emily had gotten skilled at making her falsehoods sound true. ¡°I¡¯ll speak with her,¡± Oliver suggested, standing up. Patrick gave a slight nod in agreement, showing minimal reaction to Oliver¡¯s proposal. Both Belle and Emily¡¯s expressions changed, but due to Patrick¡¯s presence, they kept their emotions in check. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I should go,¡± Oliver announced, casting a warm look at Emily before saying goodbye to her parents. ¡°I¡¯ll see you out,¡± Emily said hurriedly, following beside him. ¡°Do you really intend to see Violet?¡± she probed cautiously. ¡°You¡¯ve always had such an aversion to her. Won¡¯t her presence at our engagement upset you?¡± ¡°Regardless of my feelings, she¡¯s your sister. I¡¯m aware of the circumstances and will manage my emotions.¡± Inside, Emily wished Oliver wouldn¡¯t restrain himself. Ideally, he would confront Violet harshly, prompting her to keep her distance in the future. Better yet, he shouldn¡¯t seek her out at all, nor should she attend the engagement. ¡°Oliver, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve never mentioned to you.¡± Emily halted, biting her lip, embodying the image of a wronged innocent. ¡°Violet damaged my throat because¡­she¡¯s been in love with you for ages. Her feelings began even before your ident,¡± she revealed. With her face hidden in her hands, she continued, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Oliver. My love for you made me overlook her emotions. Believing you might not recover, I wanted nothing more than to be by your side. I thought¡­ I thought Violet¡¯s feelings for you have faded since she never visited you. I me. +15 BONOS ¡°How could that be your fault? Without you, I¡¯d still be unconscious in the hospital. You¡¯re my lucky star, remember?¡± Oliver reassured her, enveloping Emily in aforting embrace. His voice was tender and deep, and his arms offered sce. ¡°Emily, don¡¯t worry about others. Just know that I adore you, and that you¡¯re the only person I¡¯ll ever love.¡± That was precisely what she wanted to hear. Emily, still trembling, looked vulnerable and fragile, like a leaf in the wind. ¡°But what about Violet? How do we confront her? She believes I took you from her, oh¡­!¡± ¡°Emily, your heart is too pure. There is no stealing in matters of love, but about choosing whom to be with. My choice is you.¡± ¡°Oliver¡­¡± Emily embraced him more tightly, her voice filled with relief. ¡°Hearing you say this makes me feel relieved. I really, really love you. I thought of you every day while you were in aa, hoping you¡¯d wake up. I continued to sing to you, saddened that you couldn¡¯t hear me.¡± ¡°Your dedication moved fate itself. I did hear you, my love,¡± he replied. Oliver gave her a gentle kiss. They remained in each other¡¯s arms for a long time before parting reluctantly. Oliver entered his car and drove away. As the car drove away, picking up speed, Oliver felt a tightness in his throat, as if something was suffocating him and making it difficult to breathe. Violet loved him, so why wasn¡¯t she by his side when he was in aa? Why hadn¡¯t she been the one to wake him up? She was unaware of his initial disappointment upon seeing Emily when he woke up, and her im that she was the one who sang to him during hisa. Perhaps this disappointment fueled his eagerness to me Violet for Emily¡¯s predicament. foregoing any investigation. Emily had been his savior, and he resolved to devote his life to her, to cherish and protect her. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Farewell, Violet! He removed a long¨Cworn ne and threw it out the window. For two weeks after Violet¡¯s departure, life at the Imperial Pce had gone on as usual. Her departure didn¡¯t seem to have much of an impact here, at least on the surface. Lucius went +16 BONOS He rarely lost his fury over food, for George uncovered his culinary preferences and employed a countryside chel known for simple, rustic cooking. Observing Lucius consistently finishing his meals, George remarked cheerfully, ¡°All credit goes to Ms. Violet. We never would¡¯ve guessed Master Luclus¡¯s dietary preferences without her insight.¡± Realizing his slip of the tongue, George quickly fell silent. One of the servants shared, ¡°I really miss Ms. Violet. She wasn¡¯t one to cause trouble or put on airs. Her being here made our work smoother. And the way she handled Regina¡¯s care¨Ca task we all feared¨Cmade it look effortless. We were harsh to her at times, but looking back, she was quite pitiful.¡± George, in fact, shared this sentiment but kept it to himself. Chapter 99 Chapter 99 +15 BONOS He then sternly reminded the servant, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t casually link everything to Ms. Violet. And remember, more work, less talk.¡± The servant, covering his mouth, walked away. George sighed, reminiscing about Violet¡¯s presence; she dared to confront Lucius and spoke up for the oppressed, voiceless staff. Lucius was worn out after several days of continuous work, and headed upstairs. He didn¡¯t realize he had strolled inside Violet¡¯s old room until he got there. The room was tidy, Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. everything in order except for a missing bag¨Can insignificant detail. The rest remained as they were. Violet had taken only her original bag and some money. In her eyes, the money and the bag were more valuable than him. He envisioned her enjoying a grand life. He realized it was he who created unnecessary problems, and even sent Naomi to apany her. Lucius felt uneasy all over as he imagined her living her life to the fullest. Then, he started to find everything in the room irritating. ¡°George! Tear this room down and redecorate it!¡± he ordered. Lucius, previously known for losing his temper only during work, now appeared to be irritable even after his tasks werepleted. The entire staff at the Imperial Pce was on edge, being careful not to make any mistakes. George, holding a phone and treading carefully, reported, ¡°Master Lucius, you¡¯ve been invited to the Charity Federation¡¯s G Dinner in gratitude for your generous donation.¡± ¡°Charity Federation?¡± Lucius looked puzzled at the phone. ¡°When did I make a donation?¡± ¡°Well¡ª¡± The call baffled George, because he was aware of Lucius¡® typical disinterest in charitable endeavors. Amidst Lucius¡¯s recent unpredictable behavior, George cautiously conveyed, ¡°They mentioned a donation of fifty million from you, making you the top individual contributor.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Lucius was known for not engaging in charitable acts, something George was aware of. But such a call wouldn¡¯te without reason. Considering Lucius¡¯s recent erratic behavior, George wasn¡¯t sure what to think, so he ryed the message. ¡°They said you donated fifty million, making you thergest individual donor, so¡­¡± ¡°Fifty million?¡± He had never given a dime in his life. Luclus frowned, and turned to face George. *I¡¯ll find out right away!¡± George murmured, uneasy beneath his gaze. In true butler fashion, George returned in ten minutes with a tablet disying a scanned copy of the check Lucius had signed for the donation. ¡°This is the check for the donation, Master Lucius.¡± ¡°Are you confused?¡± Lucius asked without looking. ¡°My signature is on numerous checks! They all look identical. How does this prove anything?¡± Feeling the pressure, George hesitantly asked, ¡°Do you truly not recall making a fifty million. donation?¡± This amount resonated with Lucius, reminding him of a simr amount he had given to Violet. ¡°Did Violet go to Blue Cross?¡± he asked with a slow, deliberate tone. George gave a nod and confirmed, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Bring it here!¡± Lucius demanded abruptly. George gave over the tablet without hesitation, despite his confusion. Upon reviewing it, Lucius¡¯s grip tightened. The check, dated May 10th, the day Violet left, indicated she had donated his money to Blue Cross. She wasn¡¯t even interested in his money. People who were caught up in specific emotions frequently overthink things. Lucius¡¯s face hardened with murderous intent at that instant. Paralyzed with fear, George prayed he would survive his ordeal at least a little longer. Being a butler was proving to be a dangerous upation. ¡°Notify the Charity Federation that I will be attending their g dinner. Also, ensure Violet is informed of her attendance,¡± Lucius instructed before vanishing upstairs. +15 BONOS George stood dumbstruck, pondering Lucius¡¯s unexpected actions. Why donate suddenly and attend a non¨Cprofitable event? And why did this involve Violet? His mouth dropped as he pieced everything together. A revtion dawned on George, Violet had donated all the money to Blue Cross. It was clear now that Lucius cared more about her actions than the money itself. The night was fouuy. Despite his best efforts, Lucius¡¯s imperial aura could not be hidden. It was as if a high¨Cintensity light bulb had been sparked within him, causing him to shine wherever he went, drawing screams of appreciation. This year¡¯s G Dinner took ce at Bka City¡¯s most opulent hotel. The presence of Lucius transformed the amnce of the asion; being next to the world¡¯s wealthiest man was an honor in and of itself. More importantly, establishing a rtionship with him could propel one¡¯s brand to the top without the need for advertising. Following the announcement of Lucius¡¯s participation, the once hard¨Cto¨Cdistribute invitations. were snatched up in an auction. Lucius wasn¡¯t a fan of bustling events. Those who had paid for invitations naturally didn¡¯t want to miss the chance to speak with such a powerful figure, resulting in a flood of individuals seeking him out. Despite his reluctance and exhaustion by the superficial smiles, Lucius forced himself to stay until the event began. ¡°Mr. Davis?¡± He abruptly ran into someone at the door. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Lucius unexpectedly ran into someone who seemed surprised by his early departure. ¡°Are you leaving already?¡± the stranger asked. ¡°Who might you be?¡± Lucius asked coldly. He was struck by a sense of familiarity in the man¡¯s eyes, usually a detail he would overlook in people he deemed unimportant. ¡°Hello, Patrick Wickham, and this is my daughter.¡± Patrick said, introducing himself and Emily, who was standing by his side. Lucius realized why their eyes were familiar; they were identical to Violet¡¯s, and that caused his expression to turn icy. Patrick can¡¯t help but shiver, sensing a coldnessing from Lucius, despite no known animosity or business connections between them. ¡°Mr. Davis.¡°Emily greeted, her eyes twinkling with delight. Meeting such a top¨Ctier tycoon would astonish anyone, even someone from a wealthy family like her. Lucius¡¯s gaze shifted to Emily, taking in her elegantly figure¨Chugging Chte gown that entuated her form, and her professionally done makeup. ¡°I¡¯m a frequent shopper at your mall,¡± Emily replied, attempting to strike up a conversation. Patrick had been encouraging her to get engaged in business since her voice had been destroyed, which was what brought her here. Not everyone could afford Imperial Pce goods, and her desire to establish herself was obvious. Nevertheless, the price tag of her Chte gown was an intimidatingly expensive piece. Violet, on the other hand, appeared considerably more modest. The clothes she wore when she arrived and departed were clearly cheap, probably not costing more than a few hundred dors. Curious, Lucius asked, ¡°How many daughters does Mr. Wickham have?¡± The question baffled Patrick. If Lucius was interested in Emily, he should have asked about her rather than how many daughters he had¡­ ¡°This is my daughter, Emily, who just graduated from college.¡± +15 BONOS Or, more urately, she dropped out after her voice was damaged and refused to return to school. Patrick never mentioned Violet¡¯s presence, owing to lingering resentment. Emily¡¯s future wouldn¡¯t have been so dark if it hadn¡¯t been for Violet. Luctus acknowledged this with a nod, recalling a phone call where Patrick imed, ¡°My daughter Is already dead!¡± A cynical smile yed across his lips. He quickly lost interest in the conversation, and walked away. Left behind, Patrick and Emily were baffled, trying to decipher Lucius¡¯s motives. Emily, still captivated by Lucius¡¯s presence,forted her father, ¡°People as young and wealthy as him tend to be arrogant. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± To Emily, Lucius appeared taller, more striking, and more authoritative than Oliver. After getting into his car, Lucius¡¯s mood was noticeably somber, and his expression was stern. Previously, he had been simply weary at the event, but now, he was clearly irritated. George, unsure of Lucius¡¯s current state of mind, tentatively probed, ¡°Master Lucius, shall we head back to the hotel?¡± ¡°Let the Charity Federation know that Violet¡¯s presence at the dinner is no longer required,¡± Lucius directed with a firm tone. Patrick, Lucius reasoned, was avoiding any mention of Violet on purpose, likely indicating a significant rift between them. Violet would be upset if she had to face her father, who had dered her dead and favored her sister. He recalled Violet¡¯s anguish at her father¡¯s promation that she was dead, and his heart tightening at the thought. Yet, he pondered, why should he be concerned with Violet¡¯s emotions? After all, she had left him, and her feelings were not his responsibility. In irritation, Lucius clenched his hands. ¡°Return to the hotel and leave the car to me,¡± he ordered, his voice growing harsher. ¡°But¡­¡± George hesitated, concerned about leaving Lucius alone. However, a harsh nce from Lucius forced George to pull over to the side of the road and leave. +15 BONOS Lucius remained seated in the car, engulfed in silence. He didn¡¯t start the engine. Throughout Violet¡¯s life. Belle had always coaxed her father to take Emily to significant events. Emily was an obvious choice as a skilled vocalist, and Violet had gotten ustomed to being neglected. However, the caller was quite persuasive, almost indicating that the dinner would be impossible to hold without Violet¡¯s presence. She doubted her own influence, ignorant that Lucius had made it clear to the organizers that he wouldn¡¯t go without Violet. Following their sincere invitation, Violet eventually decided to attend. Traffic held up her arrival that evening. Her phone rang as she neared the hotel ¡°Ms. Wickham. I apologize for thete notice, but you are no longer required at the dinner due to certain reasons,¡± a staff member informed Violet as she stepped out of the taxi. Violet was irritated, yet she didn¡¯tsh out at the workers. After all, she wasn¡¯t very interested in such gatherings in the first ce. She saw them merely as a way to pass the time. After responding calmly, she was ready to head back. She did, however, catch a glimpse of the ss hall as she turned her head. The lights were dazzling, and numerous attractive individuals were scurrying around, socializing, and clinking drinks. Among them, she noticed two familiar figures standing arm¨Cin¨Carm in a particrly visible spot-Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Patrick and Emily! Violet observed from afar how tenderly Patrick treated Emily, as he introduced her around. s every gesture radiating affection Chapter 101 Chapter 101 When Emily had previously shared news of her engagement to Oliver, basking in her own joy, Violet felt nothing more than heartache and sorrow. Yet, at this moment, her emotions were indescribable, as if the very essence of her being had shattered. Each part of her dissolving into nothingness, vanishing from existence, Patrick, being her father, should have shown equal affection to both his daughters. Yet, it was evident that his warmth and affection were reserved only for Emily. Oliver was entitled to choose his love, a privilege that belonged to him. Violet wondered about her father. She, too, was his daughter. She should have been entitled to the same level of paternal love. As these thoughts overwhelmed her, Violet¡¯s bag slipped from her grasp, falling to the ground. She felt the coldness engulfing her world. It took her some time to reach out and hug herself, Lucius had been watching Violet as soon as she got out of the car and noticed her looking inside. He didn¡¯t have to guess to know she had seen her father and sister. Although he tried to restrain his anger, the loss and sorrow emanating from Violet was too palpable for him to ignore and drive away as if nothing had happened. Her anguish was, after all,rgely his fault. He approached her to apologize, believing that it was the appropriate thing to do. Exiting the car, Lucius¡¯s steps were quicker than usual, a detall he himself hadn¡¯t noticed. He didn¡¯t recall that he never felt sorry for anyone. He approached Violet with a blunt remark, ¡°What are you doing, wandering around at night?¡± Violet turned, surprised by his presence. Yet she said nothing more, not even questioning why he was there. She was wearing very thin clothes, which irritated Lucius. It made him want to say something. sharp. ¡°Why are you dressed like this?¡± he grumbled, but his actions contradicted his words as he removed his coat and ced it over Violet¡¯s shoulders. The coat enveloped her, hiding her frame beneath its folds. +15 BONOS ¡°Why did youe here?¡± Violet finally asked, finding some warmth in the coat. Lucius, slightly irritated by the dy in her query, replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious that I should be at such an event?¡± To which she simply responded, ¡°Oh.¡± Violet¡¯s simple responses triggered a strong reaction in Lucius, making him feel an almost N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. overwhelming urge to strangle her. She began to take off the coat he had given her. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. Take it.¡± But as she started to hand it back to him, Lucius fixed her with a fierce re. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about taking it off, or else I swear I¡¯ll kill you!¡± His menacing tone halted her actions, not out of fear, but because she was still processing the favoritism her father had shown Emily. Engaging in an argument with Lucius was thest thing on her mind. Quietly, Violet began to walk away to hail a cab. Just as she was about to get into one, Lucius suddenly intervened, saying firmly, ¡°Come with me!¡± ¡°Where to?¡± she asked. ¡°Just wait and see,¡± he responded, leading her back to the venue. ¡°I really shouldn¡¯t go back in,¡± Violet protested. But Lucius was undeterred, guiding her straight to where Patrick and Emily were. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Violet?¡± ¨C Lucius. uttered it in surprise. Patrick also looked taken aback to see her apanied by ¡°Why are you here?¡± Emily asked softly. Her question wasced with curiosity, particrly about Violet¡¯s presence with Lucius. Lucius, acting as though they were merely passing through, steered Violet toward the food area. ¡°What would you like?¡± he offered thoughtfully. ¡°Let me know, and I¡¯ll fetch it for you.¡± He didn¡¯t turn their way, and added, ¡°This one is pretty nourishing.¡± His customary haughtiness gave way to a disy of protective warmth, captivating not only +16 BONOS His charm had a noticeable impact on the onlookers, who almost wished they could fall into his embrace. ¡°Thanks.¡± Violet murmured quietly, still troubled by the thought of facing her father, who had once dered her dead. ¡°It¡¯s so easy to please someone who never received fatherly love,¡± Lucius said aloud, causing Patrick¡¯s face to flush with humiliation. To make things look more genuine, Lucius tenderly stroked Violet¡¯s hair as If to console her. ¡°It¡¯s all right, Violet. I¡¯ll make up for all the love you missed.¡± These words touched Violet deeply, causing tears to well up in her eyes. She couldn¡¯t face Patrick after his hurtful deration. His announcement of her death had crushed all of her hopes. She could understand his desire to satisfy Belle and preserve the peace, but she couldn¡¯t forgive his words, which had cut her so profoundly. Violet stayed silent, allowing Lucius to lead the way. The setting, along with the presence of Patrick and Emily, made her uneasy. ¡°Dad, did you hear that? Mr. Davis is going tovish Violet with love!¡± Emily whispered to Patrick, her unease growing as she watched Lucius¡¯s attentiveness towards Violet, her jealousy barely concealed. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Emily grappled with jealousy when she saw Violet recelve attention from Oliver, and was further shocked to find Violet with Lucius. Lucius¡¯s earlier remark left Patrick speechless. Emily¡¯s curiosity was wed at, making her uneasy. She left her father, and curiously approached Lucius and Violet. ¡°I need to use the restroom,¡± Violet sald, eventually managing to break free from Lucius¡¯s clutches. She dashed to the restroom without waiting for his response. She had been holding it in for a long time, and had reached her limit. Upon exiting, she found herself blocked by Emily, who confronted her with a pressing question. Violet gave Emily a harsh stare, and remained mute. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Mr. Davis?¡± Emily demanded. Violet, unfazed and cold, dismissed her. ¡°Is that any of your concern?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking on Dad¡¯s behalf! Mr. Davis is well¨Cknown for his power and fortune. What makes him think he¡¯s interested in you? You aren¡¯t his mistress, are you? You¡¯re still a Wickham, even after Dad kicked you out. Your name is still listed in the family register. If you do something shameful, it¡¯ll bring dishonor to Dad and the family name.¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Without wanting to hear anything more, Violet interrupted her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have nothing to do with him. I won¡¯t be tarnishing the family reputation!¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Emily¡¯s strained heart eventually calmed down. ¡°You¡¯re not lying to me?¡± ¡°Are you worth my effort to lie to?¡± Violet responded before walking away. Emily finally quit bothering her. She was convinced that Lucius couldn¡¯t have any serious interest in Violet. To her, Lucius¡¯s interaction with Violet seemed nothing more than a fleeting act of kindness, akin to walking a pet. Wealthy individuals like him often entertained numerous fleeting interests, and were unlikely to remember or deeply care for someone they deemed insignificant. Content with her assumption, Emily confidently returned to the banquet hall. Meanwhile, Violet re¨Centered the hall to find Lucius still where she had left him, now encircled by people eager to engage with him. 3 ¨C +15 BONOS She observed his annoyed expression, and wondered why he remained in a ce he obviously didn¡¯t enjoy. Opting not to join him and avoiding fueling rumors about their rtionship, Violet chose to leave the hall alone. As she approached the parking lot, Lucius called out to her, catching up. ¡°Violet! Why are your leaving without a word?¡± Violet responded with a gentle smile. ¡°You looked busy, so I didn¡¯t want to disturb you. But thank you.¡± The warmth and security she had felt from his earlier expression of affection lingered, even though she knew it wasn¡¯t genuine. Lucius appeared frustrated. Busy? He had stayed only because he was waiting for her, tolerating the uninteresting crowd. ¡°I need to go now. Goodbye,¡± Violet said, seemingly eager to distance herself from him. As a taxi arrived; she quickly got in and departed. Lucius experienced a sh of anger. He was Lucius Davis, after all¨Ca man of great talent and reputation. He wouldn¡¯t let himself be troubled over a woman, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t attempt to keep her there. He promptly got into his car and drove off. Watching from afar, Emily saw Lucius and Violet part ways. She felt utterly reassured, believing Violet was so insignificant to Lucius that he didn¡¯t even bother to escort her. Emily, feeling content with her own assumptions about Violet, returned to the banquet hall, only to find her father, Patrick, standing alone in a corner. He seemed deep in thought, his wine untouched, and his attention disengaged from the others. around him. The recentments from Lucius had evidently impacted Patrick, leading him to question if he had been overly harsh with Violet. His harsh words had been a result of his frustration over Emily¡¯s vocal injury, which cost her a chance to join the Besa choir and led to Emily wanting to drop out of school. This waspounded by Belle¡¯s emotional usations that Violet had ruined Emily¡¯s future. +15 BONOS When Violet had called, Patrick, fueled by his anger, hadshed out with those hurtful words. Though Emily couldn¡¯t fully understand what was going through her father¡¯s mind, she could sense his troubled state. She approached him, and gently called out, ¡°Dad.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Patrick, looking up, asked about his younger daughter. ¡°Where¡¯s Vivi?¡± Emily, showing signs of difort and hesitation, eventually spoke up. ¡°Did she leave with Lucius?¡± Patrick¡¯s concern was evident in his raised voice and furrowed brows, aware of Lucius¡¯s reputation for being adies¡® man. Emily confirmed with a nod. Patrick became visibly agitated. Unable to articte his frustration fully, he turned his questioning gaze toward Emily. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop her?¡± ¡°I¡­ I couldn¡¯t.¡± Emily responded, continuing her deception. She med Violet for her lost singing career, and sought retribution. ¡°You should have tried harder!¡± Patrick¡¯s voice escted, attracting attention from nearby waiters. He quickly regained hisposure. Emily, feigning distress, said, ¡°Dad, I did all I could. I even told her to openly introduce Lucius to us if they were dating, to avoid misunderstandings. But she said¡­¡± ¡°What did she say?¡± Patrick pressed, urgently needing to know. Emily went on, ¡°She said she wants no further rtionship with you or our family, insisting that we shouldn¡¯t meddle in her life. She also imed she¡¯s Mr. Davis¡¯s lover, and is quite content with that role.¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Patrick was stunned and infuriated at the notion. ¡°Mr. Davis¡¯s lover?¡± The concept of such a casual rtionship embarrassed and angered him. ¡°Is she so shameless? Mr. Davis¡¯s lover? Lucius has so many women! She¡¯s destroying the Wickhams¡® dignity by being one of his flings!¡± ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t speak ill of my sister.¡± Patrick¡¯s response was bitter. ¡°Like mother, like daughter!¡± Had Emily been in agreement with him, perhaps Patrick¡¯s anger wouldn¡¯t have reached such heights. However, Emily¡¯spassion and gentleness now stood in stark contrast to his perception of Violet, fueling his rage. Patrick eventually erupted, hurling the most venomous words. Emily internally rejoiced at his reaction, barely containing herughter. The topic of Violet¡¯s mother, who had an affair and left Patrick while pregnant with Violet, was a sensitive and painful subject for him. His hurt and anger had led him to divorce Astrid Spencer soon after Violet¡¯s birth, banning her from their lives. Violet¡¯s mother had always been a taboo subject around Patrick, rarely brought up by anyone. ¡°Well, if she wants nothing to do with the Wickhams, so be it! I¡¯ll remove her from our family registry tomorrow!¡± Violet sat in the back of the taxi, staring nkly out the window, her mind still reying the scenes from the banquet hall. She thought about the affection Patrick showed Emily, his mixed emotions upon seeing Violet, and the palpable awkwardness between father and daughter. They couldn¡¯t even exchange greetings. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. She sighed softly, contemting whether she should have acknowledged Patrick at the banquet. Despite his attitude, she was the younger one. She felt it wasn¡¯t right to harbor resentment against her father. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone receiving a message from Emily. After losing her previous phone, Violet had to buy a new one with a new SIM card, which Naomi +15 BONOS at this number. Reading Emily¡¯s message, Violet¡¯s expression was drained of color in shock.. The text from Emily stated, ¡°Dad¡¯s nning to remove you from the family registry tomorrow. You¡¯ll need to find somewhere else to register quickly, or you¡¯ll be unregistered. Also, Dad wants me to tell you, ¡®Like mother, like daughter.¡°¡± Could these really be her father¡¯s words? Violet gazed at her phone screen in disbelief, hoping it was a fabrication from Emily. She tried to call Patrick for confirmation, but he didn¡¯t answer, and eventually switched off his phone. This action seemed to confirm her fears. Her father¡¯s Intentions were now painfully clear. Violet¡¯s shoulders slumped, her phone falling from her hands unnoticed. She muttered. ¡°Like mother, like daughter! Like mother, like daughter!¡± This sentence wounded her more than any harsh words from her father. Her heart was shattered. overwhelming her with grief. She curled up, seeking sce in her own embrace. When she returned to the ce she shared with Naomi, she found Naomi still awake, knitting on the sofa. Naomi greeted her with a warm smile. ¡°You¡¯re back already?¡± Violet nodded, trying not to let her sadness affect Naomi, and managed a smile. ¡°What are you knitting?¡± Naomi held up the wool, and said, ¡°A scarf, I found some beautiful wool on sale today. I thought this color would be perfect for you. It¡¯s going to look lovely when it¡¯s finished.¡± ¡°For me?¡± Violet was touched. Naomi¡¯s revtion restored a sliver of color to her pale face, despite the sorrow Patrick had caused. ¡°Yes, for you,¡± Naomi reassured her. Moving towards Naomi, Violet carefully cradled the wool she was knitting, her eyes welling up with tears from the emotional moment. Sheplimented Naomi, ¡°Your hands are so skilled, and what you create is truly beautiful. Naomi, with a sigh, reminisced, ¡°Aggie used to say the same.¡± Her mood shifted from calm to reflective, and a bit mncholic. ¡°I often wonder how she¡¯s doing.¡± +15 BONOS Despite any grievances, a child¡¯s bond and concern for their mother can never truly be severed. Violet, at a loss for words, reflected on the differing expressions of care she witnessed. Patrick¡¯s affection for Emily had caused her pain, and Naomi¡¯s longing for her daughter, expressed through knitting a scarf for Violet, brought only warmth to her heart. ¡°You¡¯re so kind,¡± Violet said softly, reaching out to wipe Naomi¡¯s tears. ¡°Agatha is lucky to have a mother like you. She¡¯lle back.¡± Naomi expressed gratitude in response to Violet¡¯s words, which clearly moved her. She affectionately stroked Violet¡¯s hair,forting her, ¡°Vivi, I understand your pain. Remember, even without your biological mom, I¡¯m here for you. I¡¯m your mom now.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re my real mom,¡± Violet agreed with a sigh. Their conversation filled the room with palpable warmth and tenderness. The following day, a weekend, Violet stayed home to assist Naomi with chores instead of going to work. As she was cleaning, a knock came at the door. Violet wiped the soap from her hands on her clothes, and went to see who it was. Lucius was standing there. Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Violet was astonished, barely managing to speak. ¡°You¡­ Why are you here?¡± He walked into the room with great strides without giving her a second nce, as if she were a stranger to him. ¡°I¡¯m here to see Naomi.¡± ¡°Master Lucius,¡± Naomi greeted, almost dropping her bowl in surprise upon hearing him. ¡°You¡­ you¡­ Please, have a seat.¡± It took her some time to clear her mind and decide what to do. She raced to get a stool, wiped it down with a scarf, and set it in front of Lucius. Lucius surveyed the room with a look of contempt, but finally decided to sit on the stool Naomi had cleaned. ¡°I¡¯m going to do theundry.¡± Violet turned and went into the bathroom when she realized her presence wasn¡¯t required. Her delicate arms workedboriously at washing the clothes, her silhouette appearing fragile and slender. Lucius, from his position, could easily see Violet¡¯s figure through the small bathroom¡¯s entrance, his gaze lingering unintentionally. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. He found it infuriating that Violet preferred to remain in such a small space rather than be with a man like him, someone with a plethora of women lining up for his favor and plotting to stay by his side. His annoyance grew, prompting him to stand abruptly. Naomi, still anxious, asked, ¡°Do you need anything, Master Lucius?¡± Lucius dismissed her with a wave. ¡°Nothing.¡± His towering statue made the already small room feel even more cramped when he stood. Naomi retreated to a corner, while Lucius approached Violet from behind. Violet, feeling the weight of his presence, mistakenly thought he needed the bathroom. She quickly wiped her hand and moved aside, only to find him standing quietly at a diagonal angle from her. In the awkward silence, Violet feltpelled to ask, ¡°Do you need to use the bathroom or wash +15 BONOS Lucius¡¯s brows creased repeatedly, and his face was clouded and dissatisfied with everything. As she neared her breaking point, he abruptly yanked her from the faucet, firmly grabbing her shoulder, and dered, ¡°I have to wash my hands.¡± His hold was powerful,pelling her to move Involuntarily. In the cramped quarters, their bodies inadvertently brushed against each other. Despite the fact that he was dressed, Violet could feel the hardness of his muscles through the contact of their skin. She stepped out. She patted the area where their bodies had met, feeling the imprint of his touch. She tried to wipe away the lingering sense of his overpowering presence with a towel. As she wiped, the room grew dimmer. Curious if rain wasing, she looked up, only to find Lucius¡¯s face looming on top of her. He had stealthily moved next to her, observing her with an icy and severe stare, his expression darkening as she kept wiping. ¡°Would you like a towel?¡± Violet, baffled by his anger, extended the towel to him. Lucius, however, just stared coldly and made no move to ept it, his hands resting idly by his side. Feeling awkward, Violet withdrew her offer, and suggested, ¡°How about a drink? I can get it for you. ¡°Do you think you can afford my choice of drink?¡± Lucius¡¯s sharp retort made Violet recoil, her spirits falling. Realizing she couldn¡¯t afford his expensive taste, and even if she could, it wouldn¡¯t be avable for purchase, she gently suggested, ¡°Maybe you could sit for a bit longer.¡± After that, she quickly headed to the bathroom. She would rather wash the bedding than be with him, for fear she would suffocate from ack of oxygen in his overbearing presence. His low pressure was already making it difficult for her to breathe. Lucius thought he was insane foring here as he watched her run away from him, as if he were a dangerous presence. Her demeanor irritated him to no end, and he trailed her with long strides. +15 BONOS While she knelt down, he stood towering above her, his height in stark contrast to her smaller, bent form. Naomi, sensing the uneasy atmosphere, decided it was best to leave. She approached Lucius, and asked, ¡°Would you like to stay for dinner, Master Lucius? Shall I go get some groceries?¡± Lucius gave no clear answer, leaving his intentions unclear. Naomi understood the situation, and prepared to leave with her grocery bag. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll apany you,¡± Violet offered, rubbing her hands together, eager to leave. She was ufortable staying in the same space with him. Naomi nced at Lucius with difficulty, and when she noticed his changing expression, she realized he was pretty adorable. She shook her head, and advised, ¡°No, you stay here. Keep our guestpany.¡°, Violet couldn¡¯t say anything else, and simply nodded. Naomi pushed open the door, and halted at the doorway. Following Naomi¡¯s gaze, Violet saw two imposing men in ck, resembling their guardians, squatting at the door, with George standing beside them. Their presence was menacing outside the modest rented house. So much so that when Naomi ran into a neighbor upstairs, she asked Naomi, ¡°Naomi, did your family borrow money from loan sharks?¡± Lucius¡¯s expression darkened when he overheard thisment. Violet covered her mouth, but failed to contain her chuckling. ¡°Is this amusing to you?¡± Lucius questioned, his tone sharp and his gaze prating. ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± Violet replied, suppressing herughter, though she actually found the situation quite funny. ¡°Maybe they shoulde inside?¡± she suggested, thinking it was better than having them intimidate the neighbors. Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Lucius, giving George a stern look, instructed, ¡°Stay downstairs.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± George, concerned, hesitated; However, heplied after a firm nce from Lucius, and led the guards away.. Now alone with Lucius, Violet swallowed hard, feeling Immense pressure from him. Lucius was oblivious of this. He was in Violet¡¯s path, his gaze coldly fastened on her, tinged with resentment. Violet stroked her hair, unable to fathom the source of his displeasure. She suggested, ¡°How about sitting for a while?¡± Looking at the only two stools in the house, she felt guilty for offering such modest seating to Lucius. ¡°If you¡¯re notfortable, you can sit on the bed,¡± she continued, gesturing inside the bedroom. Lucius nced at the spot Violet pointed to, only seeing a single bed. ¡°You both share one bed?¡± he inquired. Violet simply nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it unusual for two women to share a bed?¡± he questioned. Confused, Violet didn¡¯t grasp his point, responding with a puzzled, ¡°Huh?¡± He moved into the room. ¡°Which side is yours?¡± Violet indicated the opposite side, ¡°Over there.¡± He then sat on the side she pointed out. Violet stood at the doorway and hesitated to enter, but she also didn¡¯t want to abandon him to tend to her chores. Considering Naomi¡¯s request for her to entertain their guests, focusing on household chores would mean neglecting her duties as a hostess. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you say something?¡± Lucius broke the silence. Violet rubbed her nose, trying toe up with anything to say. The only thing that sprang to mind. was Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. the previous night¡¯s incident. +15 BONOS ¡°Aboutst night¡­ Thank you.¡± His gesture, whether it was to make her feel special or had other motives, was acknowledged. Lucius reacted with a casual grunt. ¡°I¡¯m surprised that you care so much about your mother¨Cinw.¡± Violet tried to strike up a discussion. She was astonished that he came to visit Naomi, considering how Agatha had treated him. Lucius wasn¡¯t the kind to be so forgiving. What could have prompted his visit? Was he still in love with Agatha? Violet felt a sour feeling rise in her chest as she realized this. She worked hard to conceal it, not wanting him to notice her miserable situation. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯d prefer to sit by yourself for a bit?¡± she suggested. Lucius remained silent. Violet moved towards theundry room, her emotions in turmoil. ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me forst night. I helped you out of pity, given our acquaintance and the misunderstanding between us. I thought to give you a moment to shine,¡± Lucius said indifferently. Suddenly, Violet stopped in her tracks. She remained motionless, experiencing a sharp, wrenching pain in her chest that nearly brought her to a scream. Simultaneously, it felt as though something within her had plummeted and vanished, leaving al profound sense of emptiness in its wake. She knew better than to expect anything from him, yet his blunt dismissal of any deeper connection pained her deeply. ¡°Okay.¡± Violet replied softly, quickly making her way into the bathroom. She shut the door, breaking the visual connection between them. Lucius, gazing at the closed bathroom door, felt a surge of frustration. Annoyed, he muttered to himself, ¡°Damn it!¡± As soon as Violet crouched down, a loud noise startled her, causing her heart to race. She stayed in her crouched position, momentarily frozen. Then, gradually, she started scrubbing the sheets. By the time she finished and reopened the door, Lucius had left. +15 BONOS He wasn¡¯t there for her, and now that he had departed, he stirred a sense of longing and turmoil in her heart. She admonished herself, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink this, Violet.¡± Lucius departed briskly, his face cold and detached, yet his Inherent nobility remained evident. Naomi, having just returned from shopping, spotted him. ¡°Master Lucius, are you going? Won¡¯t you stay for dinner?¡± Lucius walked past her, heading straight to his car. George resigned to his fate; he politely declined Naomi¡¯s Invitation, and followed Lucius. The car drove off, leaving the area. Back in the t, Naomi found Violet standing dazed in the living room. ¡°Is everything alright? Did you argue with him?¡± Naomi asked In concern. Violet, managing a smile, replied, ¡°No, not at all.¡± She pulled the items from Naomi¡¯s grasp, and offered, ¡°I¡¯ll cook dinner.¡± Naomi let her take the groceries, and her gaze wandered around Violet. As Naomi watched her, shemented softly, ¡°I sense that Master Lucius was here for you.¡± Violet almost dropped the groceries when Naomi said those words. She tried to keep her emotions at bay by speaking without emotion. Why should she wish for more, or be sentimental? Lucius wouldn¡¯t be interested in any other woman besides Agatha. Violet regained herposure, and embraced Naomi. ¡°Because you¡¯re now my mother, you should quit your job next month. I¡¯ll support you. ¡°How can I ept that?¡± Naomi protested. Violet sulked yfully. ¡°If you don¡¯t see me as your daughter, then ignore my words.¡± ¡°Sweetheart!¡± Naomi was deeply touched, almost tearing up. Violet grinned. ¡°This way, I¡¯lle home to a warm meal every day. It¡¯s a win for me.¡± Naomi affectionately called her ¡°Vivi¡°, and hugged her tightly, moved by her thoughtfulness. Upon hearing her nickname, Violet returned the hug. The idea of taking care of her mother was truly heartwarming. As Lucius drove away from the residential area, his face remained stern throughout the ride, his eyebrows knitted and lips pressed together in obvious dissatisfaction. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 George cautiously inquired, ¡°Master Lucius, why didn¡¯t you tell Ms. Violet that you went to see her? Lucius responded with a dismissive snort, ¡°Who said I went to see her?¡± His ambiguous responses perplexed George, who believed his employer ought to have been more forthright with Violet about his visit. He found himself frustrated by Lucius¡¯sck of emotional Intelligence, and was more invested in resolving the situation than his employer. Despite his denial, Lucius was dissatisfied. He silently berated himself, wondering how even the butler could discern his true intentions, yet Violet seemed oblivious. Her apparent avoidance since his arrival perplexed him. Did she genuinely not want to see him that much? Lucius¡¯s frustration only grew with these thoughts. ¡°What¡¯s the n now, Master Lucius?¡± George queried. ¡°Let¡¯s just head back,¡± Lucius replied, signaling an end to the discussion. Naomi took Violet¡¯s advice and quit her work after some internal conflicts, though she could only leave until the month¡¯s end. Violet was running an errand when she walked by the mall where Naomi worked as a cleaner. She noticed Naomi stooping down to sweep the floor from a distance, and swiftly approached her. ¡°Mom!¡± Naomi¡¯s face instantly brightened at the sight of Violet. ¡°Oh, Vivi!¡± Noting that it was almost noon, Violet proposed, ¡°When do you finish work? Let¡¯s grab lunch together.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be done after finishing up here,¡± Naomi replied, pausing to massage her back before resuming her task. Violet seized Naomi¡¯s mop, and started mopping herself. Naomi hurried to take it back. ¡°A young girl like you shouldn¡¯t be doing this. Let me take that.¡± Violet yfully countered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with a young girl mopping?¡± +15 BONOS Naomi, helpless, patted Violet¡¯s head, but didn¡¯t dispute it. She watched from the side, with evident joy and pride. A passerby cleaner asked Naomi, ¡°Is she your daughter?¡± Naomi nodded with pride. ¡°Yes, she is.¡± Violet took note of her smug expression, and found itforting. She began mopping even more diligently. This conversation was overheard not only by Violet but also by Oliver, who hade down the stairs. Oliver, having observed this scene from afar, remained hidden in a discreet spot, surprised to see Violet with Naomi and intrigued by their interaction. Violet was preupied with her work, and didn¡¯t notice him. She worked so hard that sweat beaded on her forehead. In the meantime, the woman Violet referred to as her mother was tenderly wiping the sweat from her forehead with a tissue periodically. Violet looked up at her and shed a radiant smile, revealing her sparkling white teeth. Oliver experienced an unexpected tightness in his chest, feeling strangely captivated by her smile. He Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. quickly gathered himself, and walked away. His phone rang at that moment; it was Emily. Their conversation was brief, and just before hanging up, Oliver casually asked, ¡°Has your sister¡­ found her birth mother?¡± ¡°Not at all. I heard from mom that her birth mother vowed never to return to Bka City or contact her in this lifetime.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Emily¡¯s voice sharpened, sensing something amiss. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a question,¡± Oliver replied, shaking his head. He then ended the call and headed in a different direction. ¡°Vivi, does that man know you? He¡¯s been watching you for some time,¡± Naomi¡¯s question interrupted Violet¡¯s work. When she looked up, she spotted it was Oliver. +15 BOHOS Oliver¡¯s gaze upon her was cold and distant, a change since Emily med her for the damage to her vocal cords. Since his awakening, this man has never looked at her with the warmth he once had. Noticing her nce, Oliver came over and asked, ¡°Can we talk?¡± Violet was hesitant, but Naomi grabbed the mop away, and suggested, ¡°There¡¯s a caf¨¦ over there. It¡¯s quiet enough for you two to converse there.¡± Keen to keep their troubled history hidden from Naomi, Violet headed towards the caf¨¦, with Oliver following. He was on a call, giving instructions to his staff to send a wrapped cup to the caf¨¦. The two entered the caf¨¦ one after the other, and found a table to sit atfortably. The atmosphere was tense. Without consulting Violet, Oliver ordered twottes, knowing from their past that she liked this vor. Violet held hertte, uncertain about how to engage with Oliver. A staff member from the mall approached, handing Oliver a transparent box containing a cup. ¡°Mr. Young, your cup.¡± The sight of the cup sparked a glimmer in Violet¡¯s eyes. She had bought that cup for Oliver during his ¡°Oliver, you¡­¡± Oliver interrupted her and asked sharply, ¡°Did you just call that woman Mom?¡± Upon hearing his question, Violet affirmed with a nod. ¡°Yes.¡± Her gaze stayed locked on the cup, emblematic of all the affection she held for him. The care he showed for it, even going as far as to wrap it, made her ponder¡­ ¡°That woman¡¯s probably not your biological mother, is she?¡± he asked directly. Brought back to reality by his odd tone, Violet acknowledged, ¡°No, she isn¡¯t my biological mother.¡± Oliver¡¯s face grew somber, and he reprimanded her, ¡°What are you trying to do, Violet? You¡¯re causing pain to your own sister while showing kindness to someone unrted by blood. I can¡¯t make sense of you.¡± Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Violet, caught off guard by his outburst, was momentarily speechless. He pressed on. ¡°Do you realize how much Emily cares for you? She always prioritizes you. And what have you done for her?¡± ¡°Did youe here to use me?¡± Violet regained herposure and responded coldly, even though she felt disheartened. Oliver paused, recognizing his overreaction. ¡°We won¡¯t discuss this further,¡± he said moreposedly. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning behind acknowledging this woman as your mother? Are you defying your family and trying to cut ties with thempletely? You don¡¯t need to insult your father by getting yourself a new mother.¡± Violet had previously confided in Oliver about her birth mother¡¯s departure, and her yearning for maternal affection. ¡°Are you trying to taunt your father by choosing a stand¨Cin mother to highlight his failures and negligence?¡± he added, each word cutting deeper into Violet. Her frustration grew. ¡°I¡¯m just seeking familial warmth and love. What¡¯s wrong with finding someone who shows care and N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. offers motherly love? Is that a crime?¡± she retorted. Defiantly, she kept her head high, struggling to hold back her tears. Yet, Oliver showed nopassion. ¡°You talk of warmth and love, but what right do you have to expect them when you¡¯ve contributed nothing? Worse, you¡¯ve actively caused harm. Who would risk loving someone capable of destroying her sister? To love you would be unfair to Emily!¡± His relentless mentio ¡°Enough!¡± of Emily pushed Violet to the brink. She stood up quickly, almost knocking over her coffee, dering firmly. ¡°My life is mine to live, and it has nothing to do with you!¡± The person she had adored now stood in her way, leaving her feelingpletely powerless. +15 BONOS The more she tried to rify things, the more messy they seemed to get. She no longer felt the urge to exin anything, including the issue with Emily¡¯s voice or her connection with Naomi. She walked toward the exit, each step weighed down with emotion. Oliver watched her leave with a detached gaze, his heart filled with a sense of loss. Hemented, ¡± Violet you¡¯ve grown so distant. I hardly recognize you anymore.¡± But it wasn¡¯t she who had changed. Feeling a profound sense of injustice, a tear escaped her eye. Oliver, regaining hisposure, stood and dered. ¡®Regardless of what you think or your feelings towards the Wickhams. I hope you cane to our engagement. Violet¡¯s gaze shifted back to Oliver, puzzled about why he would preserve the cup when nning to marry Emily. Oliver noticed her expression, and softened his expression. ¡°Emily used this cup to give me water daily for an entire year.¡± In reality, it was Violet who had done that. Why couldn¡¯t he see that she was the one who had been there for him, using that very cup? The words almost escaped her lips, but she held them back, remembering his earlier statement. Even if Emily hadn¡¯t been the one to bring him back, it was her he loved. Violet asked quietly. ¡°Why wrap it up like this?¡± Oliver responded with a gentle smile, ¡°I intend to disy it at our engagement ceremony, to show everyone our love and to showcase Emily¡¯s tendemess and dedication. Without Emily, I wouldn¡¯t be who I am.¡± He was nning to disy the cup she had used to symbolize his love for Emily. The irony was too much for Violet to bear. She swiftly snatched the cup from his hands. Oliver was taken aback, realizing only that the cup was already in Violet¡¯s possession. ¡°You¡­¡± Crash! Violet let go of the cup, and it smashed on the floor, fracturing into countless pieces. The shards reflected dazzling light, stinging her eyes and almost blinding her. ¡°Violet!¡± Oliver¡¯s outcry reverberated through the caf¨¦; his fury was unprecedented. ¡°Why did you do this?¡± +15 BONOS He seized her wrist with such force that Violet felt it might snap. Such roughness, she recalled, had only evere from Lucius. Violet responded with a defiant smile, unwilling to offer any exnation. Despite her attempts to rify Emily¡¯s situation, she was stillbeled as the culprit. Turning away, she began to leave. Each step was like walking on those shards¨Cjarring and deeply painful. She bid farewell to what once was¨Cto Oliver, and to the love she could no longer harbor for him. Her portrayed resilience was a mere facade. Once she was out of Oliver¡¯s sight, she realized how heartbroken she was. Instead of seeking Naomi, Violet retreated to a quiet corner. There, her tears flowed freely and uncontrobly. She worked during the day and cared for Oliver at night after his ident: spent countless hours by his bedside, feeding him water, conversing, and envisioning a shared future upon his awakening. When water dribbled from his mouth, she tenderly dabbed it away. Yet, she ended up being the worst person in his eyes. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from sobbing. Oblivious to her, Lucius stood not far away behind her. He¡¯d noticed her and Oliver walking toward the caf¨¦. Later, he followed them and saw their argument, as well as Violet smashing the cup. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Lucius grappled with his emotions upon seeing Violet in tears after she shattered a cup. He realizes that her distress wasn¡¯t about the broken cup but about Oliver, which disturbed him deeply. He wasn¡¯t such a moron as to overlook the underlying source of her anguish. Upon seeing Violet in tears for another man, Lucius felt a wave of anger rush over him. He marched towards her, seized her by the shoulder, and spun her around to face him. ¡°Lucius?¡± Violet¡¯s face streaked with tears. She was startled at his sudden appearance. ¡°Who else did you expect?¡± he replied icily. Violet hung her head, remaining silent and visibly distraught. Lucius gripped her shoulder tightly and shook her, demanding in a raised voice. ¡°Speak up!¡± His hold was firm, shaking her with ease as though she were merely a doll. Sensing Violet¡¯s frailty beneath his touch, Lucius¡¯s face turned even colder. He questioned her harshly, ¡°Which man had caused you to turn yourself into such a miserable state?¡± Violet, biting her lip, attempted to pull away. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± This response only deepened Lucius¡¯s scowl. ¡°None of my business?¡± Grasping her chin firmly, he forced her to meet his gaze. He reminded her sharply, ¡°You¡¯ve stayed in my house and shared my bed. How can you say it¡¯s none of my business?¡± Violet, feeling cornered, shot back, ¡°Remember, this all started because of your mistaking me for Agatha. None of this should have happened.¡± Lucius¡¯s grip intensified, nearly wrenching her chin off in his rage. Her words only fueled his anger, confirming his suspicion that he meant little to her. His fury was so intense that it could set the mall aze. ¡°Violet, you¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± he thundered, his breath hot on her face. His presence was overpowering and intimidating, yet he suddenly released her chin. This action caused Violet to stumble, barely managing to steady herself. Lucius pulled out a handkerchief, wiping his hands, not out of disgust for her but agitated by her tears for another man. After cleaning his hands, he tossed the handkerchief at Violet andmanded, ¡°Wipe your tears off!¡± Violet failed to catch it. She remained motionless, allowing the handkerchief to slide from her face to her chest and eventually to the ground. Lucius grabbed her arm, and started to pull her outside as his rage grew. Struggling to keep up, Violet stumbled and warned him in a low voice, ¡°Let go of me, or I¡¯ll call the police!¡± Lucius responded with a scornful smirk, ¡°If you believe you can influence the police, go ahead and call them!¡± Ultimately, Violet refrained from calling. She recalled his too¨Cpleasant interactions with the cops and recognized that, in the face of money and power, concepts of justice and fairness were merely illusions. Lucius dragged her to the car, the rough handling causing her pain. Reflecting on the pain and humiliation she had suffered at Oliver¡¯s hands and now Lucius¡¯s bullying, Violet¡¯s tears flowed even more freely. ¡°Stop crying!¡± Luciusmanded. Violet¡¯s sobs just made Lucius angrier, like a ferocious beast imprisoned in a cage. Unable to contain her emotions, Violet¡¯s tears flowed even more fiercely. Luciusunched a punch in a frenzy of rage. Anticipating a violent reaction from Lucius, she was caught off guard when he instead vented his anger on the car seat, his fist missing her by a mere swerve. His face was near hers before she could react, and then¡­his lips sealed hers. His abrupt change in behavior surprised Violet. Wildly, Lucius pushed into her lips and fiercely swirled her tongue, leaving her feeling absolutely overwhelmed. He grabbed her waist and drew her closer, pressing his strong chest against hers. She shut her eyes. ¡°Open them!¡± he eximed. He attempted to force her to confront the reality of who was kissing her. +15 BONOS Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Her eyes widened in shock, allowing him to continue. She tried to fight him off, but his chest was too hard, and his arms were too strong, rendering her fight fruitless. He finally let her go when she was practically out of breath and on the verge of fainting. ¡°Violet, have you never kissed a man before?¡± he asked, observing her inexperience. Lucius had seen her inexperienced reactions before, but had initially dismissed them as pretense. As his feelings for her deepened, these small details became more significant to him. He could tell she was fond of Oliver. ¡°That man you¡¯re always thinking about, is that Oliver?¡± Violet was taken aback that he remembered. So was Lucius, known for not bothering to remember the women he had been with. Yet, he remembered the name of the man she liked. She wiped her lips, and stayed silent. ¡°Has he ever kissed you?¡± Lucius asked, his tone now dangerous as he demanded an answer. She red at him with disdain, rebuked, ¡°Do you think everyone is like you? A casanova?¡± Her blunt response seemed to please Lucius, who smirked. ¡°So, I am indeed your first man, and that was really your first time?¡± The answer was self¨Cevident. Violet¡¯s ears were burning after that powerful kiss, and her former despair had vanished. She remained silent, merely lowering her head and wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Lucius looked on with disgust as she wiped her tears. He picked up a handkerchief off the ground and, without gentleness, yanked her hand away to start wiping her face. He didn¡¯t control his strength and rotated Violet¡¯s face from left to right, hurting her skin. Violet tried to stop him, but he quickly pulled back, looking pleased with his efforts, and She began to walk away, ignoring him. Lucius seized her wrists once again and said, ¡°Violet, you haven¡¯t given me an answer.¡± ¡°Answer what?¡± Violet asked, confused. ¡°Am I your first man?¡± Lucius pressed, his voice loud enough to attract onlookers. Violet blushed. with embarrassment, too embarrassed to face anyone. ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind,¡± she replied, trying to escape his grip. Lucius was adamant. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, and you better answer honestly. I¡¯ll force you to have sex with me if you don¡¯t!¡± He appeared serious, as if he meant his words. Violet wished she could vanish. She tried unsessfully a few times before realizing she needed to offer him an answer for him to let her go. ¡°Yes, okay?¡± She nodded unwillingly. ¡°Are you happy now?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lucius¡¯s stern expression softened into one of gratification. Violet red at him. ¡°Isn¡¯t there anything better you could be doing?¡± Finally managing to free herself, Violet left Lucius behind. Lucius touched his nose, and even though he thought his question was stupid, he was secretly thrilled with her response. Being Lucius, he wouldn¡¯t reveal his joy to Violet. He resumed his cool facade, and continued, ¡°Good, it should be the first time. Remember, being in my bed is an honor. If you¡¯ve been unfaithful, I won¡¯t be kind.¡± +15 BONOS Violet couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Lucius saw himself as an emperor, considering how he described being in his bed as an honor. She rolled her eyes at this, choosing not to engage further. His harshness had surprisingly lifted her spirits, lessening the sting of Oliver¡¯s previous actions. ncing at her watch, she realized It was lunchtime. ¡°I have to go. My mom¡¯s waiting for lunch,¡± she said, hurrying to where Naomi was. Lucius trailed behind her. Initially, Violet was unaware, but when bystanders began looking at something behind her, she sensed something was amiss. Turning around, she saw Lucius following her. She moved aside to let him pass. He gestured with his chin, asking. ¡°Aren¡¯t we having lunch? Why aren¡¯t you moving?¡± Violet questioned why Lucius would be concerned with her lunch ns. She gestured toward the door, suggesting. ¡°You go ahead. We can eatter.¡± ¡°Why wait if it¡¯s already mealtime? Where shall we eat?¡± he asked matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ncing around. Violet found his interest in their dining location a bit overbearing, and was about to retort sarcastically when a sudden realization dawned upon her. In disbelief, she asked, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of joining us, are you?¡± Impossible! The thought seemed hard to believe. She expected Lucius to mock her, even envisioning him using her of delusion. To her amazement, he nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± His confirmation left Violet in shock, as if being struck by lightning. ¡°Really?¡°. He nonchntly replied, ¡°Why not? We¡¯ve eaten together before.¡± Violet remembered that those times were under different circumstances. Back then, she was forced to do it. ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat with you,¡± she said. She was afraid of indigestion. As blunt as it may sound, she desired the freedom to enjoy her food. She yearned for some control over her life after so many setbacks. Lucius¡¯s mood visibly soured at her response, as if he were about to throw a tantrum. +15 BONOS He rified. ¡°My interest is in eating with Naomi, not you. If you¡¯re ufortable, you can eat alone. I¡¯m not going to stop you.¡± His chillyments inly defined a boundary between them. He then took long strides past her. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Violet, considering her rtionship with Naomi, feltpelled to follow. It wouldn¡¯t be right to let Naomi dine alone with Lucius. Upon her return, she found Lucius already waiting near Naomi, who was shaking so much she couldn¡¯t handle the mop. Seeing Violet was like seeing a lifesaver. ¡°Let¡¯s eat together,¡± Naomi suggested, relieved by Violet¡¯s presence. Violet thought she had made the correct decision to go to Naomi. After they helped Naomi to store the mop, the trio left for lunch. Lucius, with his tall and graceful body, was beautiful from every viewpoint. Walking beside Lucius. Violet felt dwarfed by his imposing stature. Annoyed, she purposefully linked arms with Naomi, keeping a distance from Lucius. There was a definite border between them, and neither breached the other¡¯s space. Internally, Violet preferred not dining with Lucius. Therefore, she opted for a simple fast¨Cfood restaurant. ¡°Are you sure this is okay?¡± Naomi asked, worried about Lucius¡¯s presence. As they sat down, Violetforted her, ¡°We have to get back to work in the afternoon. Fast food is more efficient.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Beingte would result in a pay deduction, and taking Lucius to a better restaurant would undoubtedly cause them to bete. ¡°But, Master Lucius¡­¡± Before Naomi could finish her sentence, Lucius took a seat across them. His eyes were filled with contempt, but he said nothing. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 The meal arrived promptly. Violet handed Naomi the utensils, and began to eat with her head lowered. Lucius was sitting opposite her, staring at the food in front of him. He poked at it with his fork, but didn¡¯t actually eat anything. Although the restaurant¡¯s food was reasonably good, Lucius found himself unable to eat. Instead, he spent the meal observing Violet and Naomi relish their food. Violet was eagerly filling her mouth with food. Lucius¡¯s mood soured the more he watched, his eyebrows furrowing in irritation. Having traveled a great distance to see her, he was met with Violet tearfully thinking about another man and eating merrily, seemingly indifferent to his appearance. Did he not matter to her at all? Naomi quickly left for work after the meal. Violet bid her farewell, then turned to see Lucius still there. ¡°Just go on with your work. I need to head back to my office too,¡± she told him, waving goodbye. ¡°But I¡¯m still hungry.¡± Lucius retorted. He didn¡¯t attempt to hold her back, but rubbed his stomach and appeared somewhat pitiful. Her heart softened slightly, but she reminded him firmly, ¡°You chose not to eat just now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like eating out,¡± he stated candidly. ¡°I prefer your cooking.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a ce to cook for you,¡± she said, making an excuse. ¡°Let¡¯s go to your ce,¡± Lucius suggested, countering her excuse. However, Violet stood her ground. ¡°Is it that difficult to cook a meal for me? I¡¯ll leave right after eating. Maybe I won¡¯t return,¡± he argued. She reluctantly agreed, deciding to cook him onest meal before they parted ways. They would forget each other after this meal. She saw it as fulfilling hisst wish and providing closure for herself. 116 BONGS Preparing the meal with extra care, possibly their final one together, Violet cooked diligently. An hour Lucius exerty devsured the food eating as if he hadn¡¯t eaten in days. Finishing, he wiped his mouth contented. ¡°Violet, since your cooking is to my liking. I¡¯ll give you a chance. Come cook for me,¡± he offered, his tone suppesting he was doing her a favor. Violet firmly rejected, ¡°No.¡± Her refusal bruised Lucius¡¯s ego. Others begged for a chance to enter the Imperial Pce, but she was the first to boldly reject him. ¡°You¡¯re just ying hard to get,¡± he used directly. Violet nearlyughed. She shot back ¡°It that¡¯s what you think, then let it be. If you really believe that go home and continue to believe so.¡± She vowed never to engage in such games with him. Lucius frowned. ¡°What¡¯s so bad about cooking for me? I can pay you ten times your current sry. Tempting as it was, she didn¡¯t need that much money. Her current earnings were sufficient for her and Naomi¡¯s needs, and they were debt¨Cfree. ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯d rather someone else take this opportunity.¡± Her eyes showed genuine sincerity, truly meaning her words. Lucius¡¯s frustration escted with each refusal from Violet. He abruptly raised his hand, and shouted, ¡°Violet you¡­¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Expecting he would strike her, Violet instinctively ducked. However, Lucius¡¯s hand caught her arm instead, lifting her chin with one hand and drawing her close with the other around her waist. Confused about his intentions, Violet instinctively shut her eyes, and then she felt a soft touch on her lips¨Che was kissing her. Upon realizing this, she opened her eyes wide and stared at him in shock and bewilderment. ¡°So, this is how I can get through to you,¡± he remarked with satisfaction, licking his lips before. Violet found herself unable to resist his kisses, and was surprisingly entranced by them. She wondered if she was losing her mind. Then, regaining her senses, she bit down sharply. ¡°Ouch!¡± Caught off guard amid his passionate kiss, Lucius reeled back, ring at her in anger. With flushed cheeks, Violet stepped back and walked away. ¡°It¡¯ste, I need to get back to the Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. office. I can¡¯t stay here.¡± She marveled at her ability to speak so calmly andposedly after such an encounter. Violet quickly left her t, fearing Lucius might follow if she lingered. At the Wickham residence, Emily spotted her boyfriend standing at the door as she descended the stairs. She hurried over, calling, ¡°Oliver, why are you just standing there? Come inside.¡± Oliver¡¯s face showed traces of anger, but his expression softened at the sight of Emily. ¡°Emily,¡± he murmured. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside,¡± she suggested, linking her arm with his. C Oliver gently pulled away. ¡°Sorry.¡± Sensing something was off, Emily asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I visited Violet,¡± he admitted. Emily¡¯s heart sank. ¡°What did she say?¡± ¡°She won¡¯te to our engagement party.¡± So that was why he went to see her sister. In reality, Emily didn¡¯t care if Violet showed up to the party; in fact, she hoped Violet wouldn¡¯te up at all. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 She did, however, have to put on a show for Oliver. Emily feigned disappointment. She bit her lip, and sald, ¡°I thought so. Violet wouldn¡¯t agree toe. Sadly, she won¡¯t be there, but the idea of her watching the man she loves marry her sister must be unbearable. Given this, I¡¯d rather she didn¡¯te.¡± Her act was convincing,plete with tears toward the end. Emily¡¯s reaction, full of apparent kindness, tolerance, and understanding, reassured Oliver of his choice of wife. Violet¡¯s rudeness seemed stark in contrast to Emily¡¯s kindness, solidifying his belief that Violet wasn¡¯t right for him. ¡°Emily, you¡¯re really wonderful. You¡¯re too kind,¡± Oliver said, embracing her and resolving to treat her well. Snuggled in his arms, Emily yfully responded, ¡°Is this praise or mockery?¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely praise. You¡¯re the best girl in the world to me.¡± Emily gently closed her eyes, grateful to the gods for finally granting her Oliver. After a brief embrace, Oliver gently pushed her away. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to apologize for.¡± Concerned, her heart fluttered with unease. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Oliver¡¯s serious demeanor heightened her anxiety, as those with guilt often breed nervousness. ¡°I wrapped up the cup you bought for me and disyed it at our engagement ceremony, but it¡¯s broken now,¡± he exined with apprehension. Puzzled, Emily asked, ¡°Which cup?¡± She couldn¡¯t recall giving him any cups. ¡°The one you used for giving me water when I was in aa. It¡¯s been precious to me ever since.¡± It seemed Violet¡¯s breaking that cup had also shattered his heart. ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Emily replied. Understanding dawned on her. ¡°Oh, that cup,¡± she said, grasping his hand. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can always get you another.¡± Internally, Emily felt relieved. She preferred not to have anything around that reminded him of Violet¡¯s or Oliver¡¯s fond memories of her. +15 BONOS Oliver appeared momentarily surprised by herck of concern, but soon continued speaking.¡± Emily, you are truly kind. Having you as my wife is a blessing. I promise to treat you and only you well for the rest of my life.¡± Emily¡¯s heart swelled with joy, feeling incredibly sweet. ¡°Would you like to visit my studioter?¡± Oliver invited her after some time. This being their first such invitation, Emily eagerly epted it. After dinner, they went to his studio. Oliver sat her down and took out a box, spreading some broken fragments on the table. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Emily asked, surprised. ¡°I¡¯m going to glue this cup back together.¡± ¡°Why not let it be? I can get you another one,¡± she added, her eyes wide in disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s different. This cup is a symbol of your love for me. It¡¯s irreceable,¡± he insisted, tenderly holding the fragments. Emily was upset because the tender way he handled that cup was akin to him holding Violet¡¯s face. She had always suspected that this man had affection for Violet, therefore, she was tempted to grab the pieces and throw them into the sea. Eventually, she held back, not wanting to raise Oliver¡¯s suspicions. Oliver began to get to work, and stopped paying attention to Emily. Emily felt a familiar distance between them, transported back in time when Oliver was polite yet distant toward her while being more open with Violet. Violet! Emily bit her lip as she thought of that name, wishing she could rip Violet apart. ¡°Violet?¡± Entering the director¡¯s office with documents in hand, Violet heard her name called. She looked up, her expression turning cold. Emily was sitting in the reception area of the director¡¯s office. ¡°Do you work here?¡± Emily asked with a biting tone. ¡°Yes, what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Violet responded coolly, shrugging her shoulders. 20 +15 BONOS Emily¡¯s mockery intensified. ¡°I figured as much. You¡¯re ipetent. You couldn¡¯t havended a job in a bigpany without Dad¡¯s help.¡± Indeed, Violet had secured her position through her father¡¯s Influence. However, she had since proven herself through hard work and achievement, earning her superior¡¯s respect. Violet countered, ¡°And what about you? Did you get into a bigpany on your own merits?¡± She suppressed her irritation, and ridiculed, ¡°I remember you joining Dad¡¯spany despite your unrted field of study.¡± This struck a nerve with Emily, who clenched her fingers tightly. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. damaged my voice, I wouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s be clear. That was my cup, and the water was meant for me. Had you not used it, nothing would have happened. It¡¯s odd, though. You¡¯ve always been against me, so why use my cup that day?¡± Violet¡¯s pointed questions left Emily speechless and taken aback. ¡°You didn¡¯t drug yourself to frame me, did you?¡± Violet challenged. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Emily trembled all over, and screamed. ¡°Violet, shut up!¡± Her reaction baffled Violet. Why was Emily so Irritated when she was just rambling? Why wouldn¡¯t Emily be agitated? Violet¡¯s usations were urate, Emily had indeed tampered with the water. Her intention was to sabotage Violet¡¯s voice, ensuring Oliver never heard her voice and recognized she was the one singing for him. However, fate had its twist. Someone identally gave her Violet¡¯s water, and in a moment of negligence, she drank it herself, turning the incident into a lifelong regret. Emily lost control, and started throwing everything on the table at Violet. Caught by surprise, Violet could only react defensively. Left with no other option, she instinctively called Oliver. ¡°Come quickly! Emily has lost her mind.¡± Emily copsed into Oliver¡¯s arms as he arrived at the office. ¡°Oliver, what am I to do? My voice is ruined! I can¡¯t sing to you like I used to. What should I do now?¡± Violet observed the drama unfold with a detached coldness, thinking to herself that Emily was quite a skilled actress. Her lies and truths intertwined seamlessly. After Oliverforted her, he turned his questioning gaze towards Violet. ¡°What did you tell her?¡± ¡°What could I possibly say?¡± She was no saint. She felt a stab of jealousy as she watched the two embrac?. After all, Oliver was the one she had patiently awaited to awaken for a year. The amount of effort and hope she had invested back then wasparable to the agony and disappointment she was experiencing today. ¡°Emily wouldn¡¯t have been this worked up if not for you,¡± Oliver said firmly. Violet felt helpless against his words, and responded bitterly, ¡°Believe what you want.¡± ¡°Someone like you doesn¡¯t deserve to work here! My suggestion is to fire her!¡± Oliver stated. Violet¡¯s jaw dropped as suchments came from the usually polite Oliver. He wanted to get her +15 BONOS Oliver escorted Emily out the door, leaving Violet behind. ¡°How do you n to make up for everything you destroyed?¡± her boss demanded, his face stern as he sat in his chair. Violet stood her ground. ¡°I wasn¡¯t responsible for the damage.¡± ¡°If not for you, would any of this have happened?¡± That charge rendered her speechless. Her boss made some calls, quickly learning about Oliver¡¯s influential background as the heir to Young Corporation. ¡°Leave! Whether you¡¯re at fault or not, when the Young Corporation¡¯s heir speaks, we have no choice but toply. Our insignificantpany can¡¯t defy Young Corporation.¡± Violet hadn¡¯t anticipated that her first job, acquired without any special connections, would be jeopardized by Oliver. Her boss¡¯s expression of resignation forced her to confront the harsh reality. She could only gather her belongings and leave quietly. Violet was surprised to see George when she returned to her rental t. She halted, and asked, ¡± What brings you here?¡± She knew George¡¯s presence likely indicated that Lucius was nearby, a meeting she preferred to avoid. ¡°Ms. Violet, I need your help,¡± George said, his tone reflecting his usual politeness. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. As Violet stayed quiet, he borated, ¡°I¡¯d like to request that you prepare meals for Master Lucius for the next few days. He¡¯s preparing for an international business trip and is quite busy. As you¡¯re aware, the more upied he is, the more particr he gets about his diet. He only eats what suits his taste.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t this matter already resolved?¡± She remembered the changes in the Imperial Pce¡¯s kitchen. They stopped preparing luxurious meals for him, opting for simpler ingredients instead. ¡°But what they cook¡­ He¡¯s not satisfied with their cooking.¡± George exined with a sigh.¡± Initially, he was okay with it, but then he got upset and fired all the chefs. I assumed he has grown tired of the food, which is why I didn¡¯t mention it earlier. But yesterday, he visited you and seemed to have enjoyed all the meals you prepared.¡± Violet realized that maintaining privacy around influential people like Lucius was challenging. +15 BONOS Even though Lucius had only visited her ce yesterday, George was already aware that Lucius had eaten the food she cooked. ¡°Please don¡¯t be offended, Ms. Violet. We¡¯re merely concerned about Master Lucius¡¯s safety, which is why we keep a close watch on him,¡± George quickly rified, noticing her reaction. Violet nodded, indicating her understanding. ¡°Rest assured, you¡¯ll be wellpensated for this, certainly more than your regr sry,¡± George promised her. Violet was currently unemployed and in need of money. Though she was tempted, she remained hesitant. ¡°All you need to do is manage Master Lucius¡¯s daily meals. He¡¯ll be mostly busy with meetings and won¡¯t have much time to be alone.¡± George informed her. Her greatest dread was being alone with Lucius. Hismanding presence, as well as the way he gazed at her, which threatened to devour her at any minute, were intimidating. After hearing George¡¯s assurances, she finally said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it.¡± George¡¯s relief was evident, and he nearly approached her for a hug. ¡°Actually, Master Lucius has been eating very littletely. I was afraid he¡¯d pass out from hunger if it hadn¡¯t been for the meal you cooked for him yesterday.¡± Violet internally grumbled that Lucius was being such a picky eater, though she kept her thoughts to herself. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 The following morning. Violet stepped out of her t, luggage in tow. George was waiting for her downstairs. He smiled upon seeing her suitcase, yfully saying. ¡°Ms. Violet, you didn¡¯t need to bring so much. We have everything necessary.¡± ¡°I feel morefortable using my own things,¡± she responded, aware of Lucius¡¯s affluence but choosing to maintain a professional boundary, ¡°especially since I¡¯ll bepensated.¡± George simply smiled in response, offering no furtherment. Lucius had reserved an entire ne for himself. As Violet followed George and boarded the ne, she noticed Lucius reclining in his seat, utterly N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ignoring her presence, yet casting a contemptuous nce at her suitcase. Opting to disregard his attitude, Violet followed George to the staff area of the cabin. ¡°George, bring her over here.¡± Lucius instructed, signaling toward a seat beside him. Violet tensed up at this, and reminded him, ¡°I¡¯m only here to cook.¡± ¡°What else do you think I¡¯d need you for?¡± he said frankly, his disdain and aloofness visible in his gaze. Feeling awkward, as if she had misjudged the situation, Violet chose silence and settled in the indicated seat. Lucius engrossed himself in a magazine, effectively rendering her invisible. Violet pulled out her phone and began scrolling through social media. The journey progressed in silence. He transformed his spacious seat into a makeshift bed, and lowered it into a reclining position. Eventually, he reclined his seat and shut his eyes to recuperate. Despite being such a finicky eater, he seemed unconcerned about his sleep, easily falling asleep on the recliner. Violet was relieved when she spotted his eyes closed. He looked lovely in his sleep, and his harsh demeanor had given way to a childlike gentleness. This man was more gorgeous than many women, his skin firm and stic. What on earth was she thinking? She snapped out of her reverie, suddenly conscious of the cool +15 BONOS She saw the temperature was set too low, and was concerned Lucius might catch a cold. There was a nket nearby, and she hesitated whether to cover him with it or not. Violet saw a lovely flight attendant beat her to it. gently cing the nket over him with a soft expression. With such a beautiful woman attending him, why should she interfere? She chastised herself for her nosiness. Lucius¡¯s rest was brief; he awoke after about thirty minutes. His appearance upon awakening was rxed yet captivating, reminiscent of a fairy tale¡¯s sleeping beauty. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± he asked abruptly. His voice was raspy from sleep, but his prating gaze seemed to read her thoughts. Feeling a bit guilty, Violet looked down and replied, ¡°Nothing, really.¡± He gave her a skeptical look, then pointedly asked, ¡°Did you cover me with the nket?¡± Lucius looked down at the nket draped over him, which had been nicelyid out by the flight attendant. Violet shook her head and denied, ¡°No!¡± She refused to ept credit for what the flight attendant had done. She pointed to the attendant and stood at the entrance, saying, ¡°She did.¡± ¡°Good,¡± he responded. Yet suddenly, he seemed irritated and flung the nket aside. Violet was perplexed. Didn¡¯t he dislike her covering him? Why was he furious when she hadn¡¯t? He continued to disregard her, focusing on his own activities and treating her as though she were non¨C existent. Violet epted the fact that he was ignoring her, and thought it wasn¡¯t so bad. She blinked, then checked the time. The flight was supposed tost seven to eight hours. There would be plenty of time to rest. Gradually feeling drowsy, Violet reclined in her seat and closed her eyes. She was half asleep when she felt someone cover her with a nket. The fabric was harshly +15 BONOS Violet couldn¡¯t help but think that the flight attendant showed favoritism, covering Lucius with care but handling her quite roughly. She wasn¡¯t a vision of stunning beauty, but she deserved some gentleness too. As these thoughts lingered, the nket was finally adjusted properly, and she sumbed to sleep once more. ¡°Time to wake up. We¡¯re about tond!¡± a gruff voice, nudging her. Violet awoke groggily, only to see Lucius stride coldly past her. She sat up and grabbed the nket tightly, still not entirely awake. The flight attendant approached her. ¡°Miss, we¡¯ve arrived. It¡¯s time to disembark.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Violet responded with a grateful smile. ¡°You¡¯ve been so attentive, even taking the time to cover us with nkets.¡± The attendant returned the smile courteously. Lucius, nearing the exit, paused and nced back. The attendant, seemingly caught off guard by his reaction, hurriedly rified, ¡°Actually, it was Mr. Davis who covered you with the nket.¡± Lucius? Violet felt her jaw drop. She would rather doubt well¨Cknown historical events than think Lucius would perform such a gesture, but the flight attendant wouldn¡¯t lie. Rising to her feet, she caught up to Lucius, expressing her gratitude. ¡°Thank you for the nket.¡± ¡°I did it to prevent you from getting sick. After all, there would be no one to cook if you were ill,¡± he replied coldly. Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Violet opted for silence, and touched her nose. She was led to a presidential suite, but she had to share it with Lucius, a prospect she found less than appealing. Violet attempted to persuade George to stay in an alternative, smaller room, as she was ufortable with the idea of staying with Luclus. George appeared distressed, exining. ¡°This hotel only has presidential suites.¡± Violet was on the verge of tears. George reassured her, ¡°You¡¯re not alone, Ms. Violet. All of us are staying here.¡± His words helped Violet rx.. The suite, more akin to a vi, had numerous rooms, making it very spacious for Lucius alone. Violet purposefully relocated her bags to a room farthest away from the master bedroom. But soon, George was at her door, suggesting. ¡°Ms. Violet, staying closer to Master Lucius¡¯s room would be better for meal arrangements.¡± Remembering she was here to work, Violet begrudgingly moved to a room nearer to Lucius, putting professional obligation ahead of personalfort. Lucius didn¡¯t work at the hotel. He frequently visited high¨Cend clubs that provided everything from food to drinks. Despite this, being the odd man he was, he refused to eat there, insisting on meals cooked by Violet being delivered to him punctually. Motivated by her paycheck, Violetmitted to the task, personally selecting ingredients, cooking, and delivering each meal to him. At the grand dining table, amidst an array of exquisite delicacies, there were always Violet¡¯s simpler, average¨Ctasting dishes. Violet felt like a in farmer who had barged into high society,pletely out of ce. Yet Lucius appeared unfazed, focusing on business discussions while eating Violet¡¯s meals. Others nced at him with amazement, their attention gradually shifted to Violet. A few dayster, Lucius¡¯s business partners learned about Lucius¡¯s unusual insistence on eating +15 BONOS Violet felt uneasy as those gazesnded on her, as if stripping her naked. She had no choice except to retreat quietly. Lucius, seemingly aware, pulled her to sit next to him. When he did, the stares of others became even more intense. Violet felt liberated once he finished his meal. She longed to run away from the club as quickly as possible.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Sometimes, she would get lucky. Lucius would reward her with delicious treats to dine with the staff of Lucius¡¯s business partners. Curiosity knew no boundaries of race, nationality, or ethnicity. A woman with tanned skin dining. opposite Violet leaned forward to ask, ¡°What¡¯s the nature of your connection with Mr. Davis?¡± Violet took a generous bite of her meal, responded, ¡°What else could it be? It¡¯s the same as what you have with him¨Cpurely professional, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I think he likes you.¡± Pfft! Violet spat the food out of her mouth, some of which became lodged in her throat. She coughed as she covered her mouth, and vigorously shook her head in denial. ¡°You¡¯re reading too much into it! It¡¯s definitely not like that.¡± Lucius, she knew, would only have such feelings for Agatha. On a windy night, Violet stood on the balcony. She sighed quietly as she took in the night scene. The words of the woman from earlier seemed to linger in her mind, stirring up emotions. She had always been aware that Lucius wasn¡¯t one to easily fall for anyone, but those earlier ¡°Violet! Lucius is unreachable, like the moon. If you haven¡¯t been mistaken for Agatha and get to spend a few days by his side, you wouldn¡¯t deserve to know someone of his caliber. You two are worlds apart; better not to fantasize!¡± Scolding herself and patting her head, she resolved to get some sleep regardless. Bang! A sudden noise came from outside. She¡¯d heard the noise several times tonight, but hadn¡¯t paid much attention until now. +15 BONOS Shortly after, there was a knock on her door. ¡°Master Lucius is acting strangely tonight. He won¡¯t drink the tea brewed by others,¡± George stated as he entered her room. ¡°Could you give it a shot, Ms. Violet?¡± Her room was next to Lucius¡¯s. From the side, she could see the shattered cup and spilled tea on the floor. ¡°I¡¯m skilled at cooking, but tea might not be my forte,¡± Violet confessed, feeling uneasy about approaching Lucius in his current mood. ¡°Trying is all we ask. If Master Lucius continues like this, it¡¯ll disturb everyone, and he might even be dehydrated¡­¡± He probably deserves it, Violet thought to herself. She wasn¡¯t pleased with Lucius¡¯s erratic demands, but George¡¯s earnest plea was hard to ignore. Finally, she softened her stance. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a shot, but don¡¯t hold it against me if it doesn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°Thank you so much,¡± George gratefully responded, nearly embracing her in his relief and saying he couldn¡¯t me her for it. With the cup in hand, Violet hesitantly approached Lucius¡¯s room. After a gentle knock, an irate voice from within barked, ¡°Get in here now!¡± Opening the door, she saw Lucius seated in the room. His face was hard and rigid, his gaze locked on the paperwork in front of him, yet his whole posture screamed of barely contained fury. Drawing a deep breath. Violet moved towards him with heavy, reluctant steps. Lucius finally turned his attention towards her, and sarcastically remarked, ¡°Do you n to just stand there all night?¡± Snapping back to reality, Violet quickly approached him, offering, ¡°You must be exhausted after such a long night. Please drink some water.¡± Lucius didn¡¯t ept the water; instead, he just opened his mouth and grunted, ¡°Ugh!¡± Chapter 115 Chapter 115 +15 BONOS Violet grumbled internally in frustration. Ugh, does he really expect me to feed him? Though tempted to ssh the water in his face, she ultimately restrained herself. She picked up the spoon, scooped up some water, blew it, and brought it to his lips. He obediently opened his mouth. Was he a child? Always needing to be fed? Careful not to let her irritation show, Violet fed him spoonful after spoonful. Once he drank all the water, Violet felt a sense of relief. She could imagine the appreciative look she would receive from George. Quietly, she made her way to leave the room. But then, a low voice from behind called out, ¡°Violet,e home with me!¡± Violet¡¯s heart skipped a beat in shock, almost breaking apart with his words. What did he just say? She struggled toprehend, only managing to turn and look at him. He was still focused on his work; his expression stern, his lips tightly sealed, and his eyes cold. Convinced she had misheard, she shook her head and continued to exit the room, closing the door behind her. The business trip stretched on for six more days, concluding on the seventh day. To mark the end, their business partner threw a party and extended a special invitation to Lucius. ¡°No, I won¡¯t attend,¡± Lucius tly refused, showing no consideration for his business partner. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the party host invited the renowned international soprano ia.¡± Violet overheard this conversation among staff members as she carried a ss of water toward Lucius¡¯s office. ¡°ia?¡± she uttered, her eyes widening in surprise. ia was her most¨Cadmired soprano. While everyone knew Emily for her singing. Violet held a simr passion. If it weren¡¯t for her desire to stay close to Oliver, she might have attended an art school. Entering the room, she ced the ss on the table. Lucius sipped gracefully from his ss. +15 BONOS Violet wasn¡¯t prompted to leave as usual, and asked, ¡°ia¡­ Is she really going to be at the party? Lucius nced up at her, asking, ¡°Do you like la?¡± ¡°Yes, very much,¡± she said frankly, Once Lucius had finished his drink, Violet left the room, still holding the ss in her hand. As evening approached, Violet was busy preparing Lucius¡¯s dinner. George approached her with news. ¡°There¡¯s no need for dinner tonight. Master Lucius is attending a thank¨Cyou party hosted by his business associate. Also, he wants you to apany him as his plus one.¡± ¡°A party? But didn¡¯t he decline the invitation?¡± Violet asked George, visibly surprised. George simply replied, ¡°Master Lucius¡¯s decisions can often be unpredictable.¡± To Violet, whether Lucius was predictable or not was irrelevant. The fact that she had the opportunity to meet her idol was all that mattered. Violet was so ecstatic that she nearly leaped into the air. She dashed back to her room and changed her attire. She discovered a problem when she looked through her luggage¨Cshe didn¡¯t have appropriate clothing for the party. Violet came here to cook for Lucius. No one in their right mind would dress up for that. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. She scratched her head, realizing she was dealing with a difficult problem. What¡¯s more troublesome was that to attend such a high¨Css party, one must wear an expensive gown, something Violet realized she couldn¡¯t afford even if she had the time to shop for one. She knew life had to go on and couldn¡¯t justify spending her limited resources on a dress, especially when Naomi depended on her. Feeling disheartened, Violet knocked on Lucius¡¯s door ten minutester, and reluctantly said, ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking¡­ I shouldn¡¯t attend the party.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going?¡± Lucius raised his eyebrows, and asked in surprise, ¡°Why?¡± The question put Violet in a difficult position, as she was hesitant to confess her financial +15 BONOS Attempting to sidestep the truth, she replied, ¡°My role here is to cook, and it doesn¡¯t seem right for me to be at such a social event,¡± ¡°Who says it¡¯s not fitting?¡± ¡°Well, I¡­¡± ¡°You wanted to meet ia, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, but¡­¡± He cut her off firmly. ¡°No ¡®buts¡°.¡± It was entirely up to her if she wanted to meet her hero, ia. Taking in such a tyrannical Lucius, she reacted with a ming wrath. She defiantly responded, ¡°Attending the party is my choice. If I decide not to go, then so be it.¡± Violet turned to walk away, but Lucius grabbed her arm and yanked her back. His stern gaze bore into her, and his breathing was heavy as if he were restraining frustration. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯d attend such a dull event if not for you? Is there something wrong with your head? Can¡¯t you even see this?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Stunned by his words, Violet questioned whether she had misheard that he was attending the party for her sake? ¡°This¡­¡± Struggling to articte her thoughts, she finally managed to ask, ¡°But why would you do that for me?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Lucius responded, somewhat roughly caressing her hair. ¡°Because¡­¡± Seeing her expression, Lucius want to smack her. He was a man of great pride, too proud to reveal his true feelings. How could he express his true feelings after she made this assumption? He tapped her head and pushed it aside, saying. ¡°Exactly. d you understand.¡± It was just as she had predicted. Violet was dissatisfied with his response, but she managed to hide it and maintain a forced smile. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Shortly after, George approached Violet with a box. ¡°Ms. Violet, this is your gown.¡± Inside the package was a pink gown made of soft, luxurious fabric. Clearly, it was an exorbitant piece. Having grown up in a wealthy family, Violet Immediately recognized it as a new season, limited- edition plece from Chte, a brand notorious for its steep prices. Reluctant to receive it, she said, ¡°This¡­¡± George noticed her hesitation, and reassured her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s a gift from Master Lucius.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s very expensive.¡± Violet thought, aware that she also received a sry. Lucius suddenly appeared, his face showing displeasure, and said gruffly. ¡°Wear it or throw it Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. away!¡± visibly tou ¡°Well¡­¡± George looked by Lucius¡¯s demeanor. Violet decided to wear it instead of discarding it. She took the gown and went to change.. The gown came with matching jewelry and shoes. When she put them on, it gave her an air of elegance and sophistication. Dressed in the elegant gown. Violet sensed a significant elevation in her perceived status. The saying ¡®clothes make the person¡® truly resonated with her at that moment. The gown beautifullyplemented her petite figure, highlighting her curves, and the design on the waist created the illusion of an even slimmer waist. The high¨Cheeled shoes added grace to her slender legs, and the ankle embellishments further enhanced their delicate appearance. Gazing at her reflection, Violet couldn¡¯t help but smile, admiring her fairplexion, which made her look as lovely as a white rose. Upon exiting the room, she noticed George¡¯s look of admiration. However, Lucius¡¯s reaction was less favorable. He briefly nced at her, and made a disdainful remark. ¡°Do you even eat? What¡¯s there to gaze at when you¡¯re so thin?¡± Internally, Violet felt irritated. She wondered if being slim wasn¡¯t fashionable, considering Lucius¡¯s past preferences for slender women. +15 BONOS Violet wanted to retort, but held back as Lucius had already walked away. Considering Lucius¡¯s bad temperament, Violet had to be the one who appeased the situation. Therefore, George advised, ¡°Something is bothering Master Lucius. Please be kind to him. If at all. possible, try to appease him.¡± Violet didn¡¯t say anything, but she felt slightly wronged as she questioned why she should be the one to indulge and cate him. Was he a baby? Neither of them said anything about the entire journey. Throughout, Lucius kept a grim expression, as if someone owed him money.. His somber mood created palpable tension in the car, making Violet feel uneasy, almost struggling to breathe freely, much less speak. The driver seemed to resonate with her sentiment. Once they reached the venue, Lucius promptly made his way inside, leaving Violet alone at the entrance. It was then that Violet realized she was on the verge of meeting ia, her long¨Cadmired idol. The realization filled her with such nervousness that her fingers tensed up, and she hesitated to even move. She silently pondered what to say to ia, how to react, and whether a handshake would be appropriate. Lucius had initially walked away, unexpectedly returned, and asked her impatiently, ¡°Why are you just standing there?¡± Violet grunted in response, and quickly caught up with him. The difort of walking in high heels was torture for someone ustomed to ts, it caused her to stumble and almost fall In a moment of panic, she instinctively grabbed onto Lucius¡¯s arm. She had braced herself that Lucius would push her away, but was surprised when he didn¡¯t. Lucius unexpectedly supported her, his hand firmly on her waist, helping her regain bnce. She felt his warm and firm grip on her waist. She quickly distanced herself from Lucius once she stood steadily, and expressed her gratitude with a simple thank you. Lucius responded with a cold grunt and asked, ¡°Do you enjoy singing?¡± +15 BONOS Caught off guard that he would initiate a conversation, Violet replied modestly, ¡°I¡¯m okay with it.¡± Truthfully, she was passionate about singing but had alwayscked the confidence to admit it, having never undergone formal training. ¡°Really, just ¡®okay¡® and yet you¡¯vee to meet la?¡± Lucius said, his gaze piercing as he saw through her understated response. Hecked a pleasant personality, but he was undeniably smart. Feeling her cheeks warm, Violet confessed. ¡°Well, yes, I really love it. I even considered going to a music academy once, but had to give up for certain reasons.¡± She wondered why she feltpelled to reveal this to him.. Lucius simply nodded, choosing not to ask more, likely aware that probing might unearth her past emotions connected to Oliver. A sense of regret washed over Violet. If only she had known, she might have followed her passion and attended the Music Academy. ¡°Mr. Davis, wee! It¡¯s an honor to have you with us this evening.¡± An elegantly dressed gentleman approached them with noticeable excitement. His eyes. brightened considerably upon seeing Lucius, and his eagerness to greet Lucius was clearly evident. Lucius responded coolly, offering a stark contrast to the man¡¯s fervent wee. Despite the man being older and seemingly more seasoned, he appeared somewhat diminished in Lucius¡¯s presence, reduced to almost servile status. Violet observed this interaction, noting how some individuals naturallymanded attention and were impossible to ignore. ¡°Please,e this way,¡± the man urged repeatedly. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 +15 BONOS Lucius remained still for a moment before turning to Violet and subtly raising his arm. Catching his cue, Violet hesitated briefly before linking her arm with his. It was only then that he proceeded forward, exuding the regal confidence of a king. For a brief moment, Violet entertained the notion of feeling like a queen herself. She quickly dismissed the thought, regained herposure, and gracefully assumed her role as Lucius¡¯s elegantpanion. Arriving at the venue with Lucius, Violet found herself the center of attention as an eye candy that stood beside Lucius. She was met with curious nces from men and resentful stares from women, as if she had stolen their husbands. Feeling somewhat helpless, she humorously likened Lucius to a Casanova, someone desired by many. This metaphor made her chuckle, a reaction that caught Lucius¡¯s attention. He looked at her with a puzzled expression. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she murmured, shaking her head with a hint of nervousness. ¡°Why are you nervous if it¡¯s nothing?¡± Lucius asked, noticing her difort. ¡°I¡¯m just a bit anxious,¡± she hastily exined, trying to dismiss his concem. Luckily, Lucius didn¡¯t pursue the matter further. Violet realized that ia hadn¡¯t yet arrived. She asked a nearby waiter, ¡°Where¡¯s ia?¡°. ¡°Ms. ia will be hereter. She¡¯s scheduled to perform halfway through the event, about an hour from now,¡± the waiter informed her. ¡°Oh! I see.¡± Disappointed, Violet turned around to find Lucius looking at her with a stern gaze. She wondered if she had done something wrong. ¡°Miss, could you let go of my arm?¡± the waiter asked nervously. Violet noticed her fingers grabbed on his sleeve when she looked down, a gesture that seemed flirtatious, especially given that the waiter was a man with a blushing face. +15 BONOS ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she muttered, quickly releasing his sleeve. Lucius¡¯s chilly voice followed, tinged with evident Jealousy. ¡°You¡¯re quite adept at flirting, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯m warning you, Violet. As my plus one, you¡¯re not permitted to flirt with other men!¡± She had simply held the waiter¡¯s hand to ask a question, yet Lucius Interpreted it as flirting. Reflecting on this, Violet felt a bit wronged as Lucius walked away, leaving her to stand like an abandoned pet. Ufortably rubbing her arm, she moved to a quieter area, deciding to wait there for ia¡¯s appearance. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Although she tried not to notice Lucius, his presence was difficult to ignore. He was radiant wherever he went and attracted everyone, including that of a slender woman who approached him with her arm sliding suggestively up his arm. Lucius calmly sipped his drink, neither encouraging nor dismissing her advances. George had previously noted that Lucius had been without femalepany for some time. Observing the situation, it looked like the woman approaching him could be his target for the evening, especially since her sexy figure matched the type that typically caught Lucius¡¯s attention. Violet¡¯s mood was sour, yet she couldn¡¯t think of a reason why he wouldn¡¯t be interested in that woman. She lowered her gaze, forcing herself to ignore the unfolding scene. After that encounter, Lucius didn¡¯t seek Violet out again. An hourter, when ia finally made her appearance at the event, Violet chose not to approach her. Feeling too ordinary and out of practice with her singing, shecked the confidence to meet her idol. Instead, she found contentment in simply watching ia move among the crowds and perform on stage, believing some people were best admired from a distance. Her gaze inadvertently shifted back to Lucius, who was conversing with ia. Violet sighed, acknowledging her feelings for Lucius but also recognizing her reluctance to act on them because he seemed out of her league. To her, Lucius was a match for ia, they belonged in a different world. She felt insignificant and quietly walked away, only to be interrupted by a sharp voice. +15 BONOS ¡°Isn¡¯t that Violet?¡± She heard as someone obstructed her path. Looking up, she found herself facing Sydney Fisher, a former ssmate of Emily¡¯s at the Music Academy. Sydney, with her heavily applied false eyshes, appeared haughty and overbearing. ¡°I heard you ruined Emily¡¯s voice beyond repair. Is that true?¡± Sydney asked loudly, drawing the attention of nearby onlookers. The revtion shocked a group of people who were standing behind her. Violet was unable to hold back her frustration, and retorted, ¡°Mind your words!¡± ¡°So you did it, and now, you can¡¯t tolerate hearing about it? Our professors praised Emily for her talent as a singer. Wouldn¡¯t she still be in school if not for you? You¡¯re a terrible sister!¡± Sydney used. ¡°No way.¡± The surrounding crowd began whispering among themselves, their expressions turning from shock to scorn. Violet was unprepared for such an encounter in a foreign country. Her face turned pale. ia walked over, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± Sydney respectfully referred to ia as a professor. It seemed likely that ia had overheard their exchange. While no longer bothered by others¡® nders, Violet felt deeply humiliated to be confronted in such a manner by someone she greatly admired. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said quietly before turning to leave. ¡°Violet!¡± Someone called out her name from behind. Chapter 118 Chapter 118 It was Lucius who abruptly stopped Violet from walking away by grabbing her arm. When she looked up at him, tears filled her eyes, and she quivered like a grieving child. He stood firmly before Violet, and told la, ¡°This is Violet, she¡¯s a fan of yours.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± la responded warmly. She wasn¡¯t exactly surprised by Violet¡¯s admiration, but by Lucius¡¯s unexpected Introduction. Despite her reservations, ia respectfully extended her hand to shake Violet¡¯s, and greeted, ¡°Hello.¡± ia¡¯s reaction astonished Violet, and she hastily wiped her fingers before shaking hands with her idol. ¡°Hello, Professor la.¡± ia asked, ¡°Did you study music?¡± Violet answered somewhat awkwardly, ¡°No, but I enjoy singing.¡± Sydney had intended to embarrass Violet due to her loyalty to Emily. Emily had instructed Sydney to humiliate Violet at every opportunity, for she wanted Violet to suffer emotional torment for life, as she couldn¡¯t be punished legally. However, Sydney refrained from speaking when she saw ia¡¯s respectful interaction with Violet and noticed Lucius¡¯s presence. She walked away silently with her friends.. Violet and ia had a brief talk. Violet struggled to find words in the presence of her idol, and was unsure of how to act. ¡°You¡¯re so sweet. I believe you must be a nice girl,¡± la said to Violet, casting a thoughtful gaze at Lucius. Violet wasn¡¯t that gullible. She realized immediately that her remark was in response to Sydney¡¯s earlier remarks. She almost moved to tears when she learned her idol had faith in her. Stepping forward to shake ia¡¯s hand, Violet said gratefully, ¡°Professor ia, you¡¯re so kind.¡± ia soon went to attend to other business. Violet¡¯s smile and the joy of seeing her idolsted as she watched her idol walk away. +15 BONOS She then noticed Lucius rubbing his temples, appearing exhausted and disgusted¨Cclearly, he wasn¡¯t enjoying the asion. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± she suggested, heading towards the exit. Lucius stumbled a little and said, ¡°I¡¯m drunk, give me a hand.¡± Though he didn¡¯t appear truly wasted, Violet appreciated his gesture to introduce her to ia and willingly assisted him. ¡°Can you walk?¡± He leaned forward and put most of his weight on her as he walked. Violet felt overwhelmed, as if she were bearing a great weight, with each step taken with difficulty. Her high heels furtherplicated her bnce, causing her to wobble unsteadily. Lucius leaned his head on her shoulder. The faint scent of alcohol that exuded from his body was surprisingly pleasant. Yet the overpowering aroma invaded her space, stirring a whirlwind of emotions within her. ¡°Can¡¯t you stand up properly?¡± she asked, pushing at his shoulder, attempting to create some distance between them. He remained unmoved, insisting, ¡°Understand this, Violet. I wouldn¡¯t be at this party if it weren¡¯t for you. Do you think I¡¯d let myself be drunk if not for waiting for ia with you?¡± Though he said this. Violet doubted whether anyone could really force him to drink against his will. She inwardly questioned this, eventually helping him walk out with resignation. His arm, which had found its way around her waist, gave the impression he was carrying her as they walked. Their proximity reflected an intimate rtionship. Violet used considerable effort to get him into the car. Once inside, she tried to push him away to create some space, but he wrapped his arms tightly around her and wouldn¡¯t let go. ¡°We¡¯re already in the car,¡± she reminded him quietly. Lucius merely acknowledged it with a hum. ¡°Please, sit properly,¡± she requested, feeling uneasy in his embrace. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± he softlymanded. ¡°I just want to rest.¡± Violet resigned to the circumstances. She considered pinching him, but decided against when she noticed his closed eyes and the visible signs of tiredness on him. +15 BONOS It was understandable, given that he had been working nonstop for days and needed to attend the party without rest. Anyone in his shoes, no matter how tough, would be exhausted. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Violet stopped moving, and let him hold her like afort cushion aspassion welled up within her. The mix of his faint alcohol scent and body fragrance was oddlyforting. Violet blinked, feeling. almost as if she too was under the influence of alcohol. Lucius pressed her head into his chest, enabling her to feel his steady heartbeat and body heat through where they touched. An hourter, they arrived at the hotel. As the car stopped, Lucius suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a clear, cold gaze. There was no trace of the weariness he had shown earlier. Violet believed he was putting on a show, but would he go to such lengths? She quickly broke free of his embrace and exited the car. ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Lucios asked abruptly. Violet came to a halt and nced at him, puzzled. ¡°What does that woman mean when she ims you ruined someone?¡± he pressed further. Her heart sank with despair. She had repeatedly exined the situation, but no one believed her. She feared Lucius, too, would see her in a negative light. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 ¡°This¡¯s my business!¡± she dered. Her pride and stubbornness prevailed, refusing to undergo another judgment, scorn, or doubt. Lucius¡¯s face grew stern as he questioned, ¡°You can refuse, but do you think I can¡¯t discover the truth?¡± ¡°Suit yourself!¡± Violet retorted, her eyes brimming with tears, reflecting her frustration and hurt. She silently exited the car, unconcerned about Lucius. Lucius observed her departure with a narrowed gaze That evening, he called George into his room and ordered, ¡°Investigate the situation between. Violet and her family.¡± ¡°Yes, Master Lucius,¡± George acknowledged, preparing to leave. ¡°Actually, forget it,¡± Lucius interrupted. ¡°Hire a reputable detective agency for this task.¡± He doubted George¡¯s investigative skills. Embarrassed, George nodded. He admitted his mistake and allowed Violet to pass for Agatha, even though the ruse had been effective. ¡°Understood,¡± he agreed eventually. It was the day for them to return to the country. Violet packed her belongings. Aside from her sry, Lucius had also given her a gown and shoes. She debated whether she should return these items to him. She was conflicted, torn between the desire to return them and the sentiment of keeping them as a keepsake. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions as she contemted the possibility of parting ways with Lucius once more. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°Violet, remember, you and Lucius are from different worlds,¡± she reminded herself, trying to dampen her feelings. She took the gift box to Lucius¡¯s room before boarding the ne. Entering his room, she found him halfway through changing. His shirt was undone, revealing his bronzed skin and sculpted waist. +15 BONOS He was fastening his cuff links, and each diamond was shining brilliantly. Their value could easily sustain an ordinary person for a lifetime. Violet found herself captivated by the sight of his cuff links, momentarily forgetting that it was inappropriate to watch someone dress. ¡°Do you need something?¡± Lucius asked. He wasn¡¯t bothered by her gaze, seemingly ustomed to such situations given his history with numerous women. Violet remembered their differences. She turned away and said, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you to finish getting dressed.¡± The rustling noise of garments and Lucius¡¯sugh came from behind her. ¡°Are you shy?¡± he teased. ¡°There¡¯s nothing here that you haven¡¯t seen before.¡± Indeed, they had seen each other in far less time. Blushing, Violet ced the gift box on the table and said, ¡°I¡¯ve brought your things here. I¡¯m leaving.¡± She dashed away as if fleeing. As she walked away, Lucius¡¯s previously narrowed eyes rxed, his eyes reflecting a deep. contemtive look. During the return flight, Violet found herself seated beside Lucius once more. George came over, and asked, ¡°Master Lucius, where to?¡± ¡°To the Imperial Pce.¡± Lucius answered. She realized that this meant an additional journey from the Imperial Pce to her home. ¡°Could we possibly stop at Bka City first?¡± Violet asked quietly. George remained silent and looked at Lucius, awaiting further direction. Lucius motioned for George to leave them alone. Alone with Violet, Lucius said firmly. ¡°Come back to the Imperial Pce with me.¡± His tone was decisive and authoritative, as it always was. Violet firmly declined, ¡°No, I need to go home.¡± She didn¡¯t want to get any closer to him. She didn¡¯t want toplicate her life by falling in love Fortunately, she still had the option of taking a step back. +15 BONGS ¡°Go home? Where to? If I recall correctly, your father disowned you,¡± Lucius pointed out bluntly. Lucius¡¯s frank statements left Violet looking pale and obviously shaken. ¡°That¡¯s¡­my own business!¡± Violet was now certain he had overheard Sydney¡¯s ims the night before. She must appear despicable in his eyes. Lucius¡¯s expression was grim. He had never before lowered himself enough to invite a woman to stay with him. Nheless, this woman continued to push him away. His pride told him he should let go of this unappreciative woman, but hispetitive nature wouldn¡¯t let him. Lucius was the ruler of the Imperial Pce, and he was used to getting his way. Heid down an ultimatum, and stated, ¡°You have one week. You¡¯reing back with me. whether you like it or not.¡± ¡°Why do you have to be so overbearing?¡± Violet objected, annoyed with his dominance. ¡°I¡¯m determined to have it my way! Dare to defy me and see what happens,¡± he retorted, visibly irritated. ¡°Lucius, why do this when your heart¡­¡± wasn¡¯t with me¡­? Violet wanted to express her feelings, but Lucius was Interrupted by a phone call. Ignoring her, Lucius answered the call, leaving Violet feeling even more disheartened. She chose silence over futile confrontation. Once Lucius finished his call, he appeared calmer and asked, ¡°What were you about to say?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Violet replied. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he instructed George over the Inte, sparing no further nce at Violet. Lucius was once again enraged. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 +15 BONOS Violet was too afraid to face Luclus head¨Con. She gave up and endured the tense situation. They didn¡¯t say anything to each other the entire way back. When George asked where the ne shouldnd, Lucius replied, ¡°Bka City.¡± Violet¡¯s eyes lit up with joy as she gazed at him. Lucius issued a warning when Violet disembarked, ¡°Remember, you only have one week. Eithere back on your own, or I¡¯ll make you!¡± Violet moaned as she watched the ne take off, feeling helpless. She wouldn¡¯t even consider the possibility that Lucius had affection for her. She had an instinct that his haste for her return was simply because he enjoyed her cooking, and wanted her to be his personal chef. Moreover, she was afraid of bing too involved and bing trapped in a situation she couldn¡¯t get out of. with Oliver. Violet didn¡¯t want to go through another heartbreak after her experience with She turned her attention to getting a job. At Wickham¡¯s residence, Emily was filled with frustration. She hurried to her room and started tossing her things onto the bed. She then lost control of her emotions, and copsed. Belle entered the room, concern etched on her face. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Sitting up abruptly, Emily¡¯s eyes were aze with fury. ¡°Mom, Oliver repaired that cup and keeps it in a prominent ce, admiring it daily. He¡¯s event nning to showcase it at our engagement party. It¡¯s driving me nuts!¡± she eximed. Belle offered a straightforward solution. ¡°If It bothers you that much, just break it again. If your can¡¯t, I¡¯ll do it. What can Oliver do if I break it? Do you think he¡¯ll stay mad with me?¡± Despite this, Emily remained anxious about the circumstances. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m afraid. Oliver¡¯s attachment to that cup signifies his deep affection for those times. If he learns that it wasn¡¯t me who looked after him- +15 BONOS Belle¡¯s face hardened, and she advised firmly. ¡°Remember, it was you who did it! From this moment on, believe that it was you!¡± Emily continued, ¡°I can try to believe that, but what about Violet? She¡¯s in love with Oliver. Won¡¯t she reveal the truth? If she does, there¡¯s no way Oliver and I can stay together.¡± Belle¡¯s face e grew darker. ¡°You have a point. Violet is a problem.¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± Emily looked at her mother, hope shining in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s too ashamed to mention it.¡± Belle promised, scheming to silence Violet. Meanwhile, in Bka City, Violet embarked on a job search. She prepared numerous resumes and applied both online and at job fairs, eager to secure employment quickly. She dismissed Lucius¡¯s threats as mere jokes, and focused on her goal. With her experience, Violet received an interview call the next day. The interview went smoothly, and the HR manager informed her she could start the following day. However, her excitement was cut short when she was halted at thepany¡¯s reception. ¡°Regrettably, your name isn¡¯t on our list of new employees.¡± the receptionist said. ¡°There must be a mistake. I was called by the HR manager just yesterday.¡± She even showed the receptionist the HR manager¡¯s contact details. Violet was then guided to the HR manager¡¯s office. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Violet. While we had ns to employ you, a more suitable candidate appeared at thest moment. Thankfully, no contract was signed, so you¡¯re free to pursue other opportunities.¡± the HR manager exined. Leaving thepany. Violet felt a deep sense of disappointment. She knew it wasn¡¯t just a courteous refusal, but a clear statement that they no longer wanted her. She soon noticed a troubling trend. Each time she was offered a job, they changed their minds the next day. This wasn¡¯t a one¨Ctime urrence, but happened repeatedly. Violet sensed something was amiss. Confronting another HR manager about to reject her, she demanded, ¡°Can you exin who¡¯s behind this?¡± +15 BONOS The HR manager replied. ¡°I apologize, but this is an internal decision of ourpany, unrted to external influences.¡± ¡°How is this possible?¡± Violet didn¡¯t believe it, and threatened, ¡°This has happened multiple times. I need the truth, or I¡¯ll cause a scene and damage yourpany¡¯s image.¡± The HR manager¡¯s expression changed, and he ultimately said, ¡°The situation is out of our hands, Ms. Violet. We¡¯re not in a position to challenge certain influences. Please try to Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. understand our predicament. The individual manipting these events is no ordinary person.¡± Violet left the HR manager¡¯s office, engulfed in a mix of fury and helplessness. Outside, she sat on the stairs, deep in thought about who could be orchestrating these to make her life difficult. Oliver immediately sprung to her mind. She had mistakenly broken a cup he valued, believing it belonged to Emily. Considering his affection for Emily, it seemed possible for him to react strongly. Determined, Violet resolved to rify the situation with Oliver. At least, she needed to make him understand that she was the one who purchased that broken cup, not Emily¡¯s. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 While en route to the bus station, her phone rang. Answering it, she heard the voice of Arte Design¡¯s HR manager. ¡°Is this Ms. Violet speaking? We¡¯ve learned that you¡¯re looking for a job, and we believe you would be an ideal fit for a role in ourpany. Would you be willing to visit our office for a more in- depth discussion?¡± ¡°Arte Design?¡± Violet repeated. She didn¡¯t remember applying to thispany. The caller was exceptionally courteous, offering a beacon of hope to Violet, who had been consistently faced with rejection and indifference. Yet, she maintained her guard and responded, ¡°I haven¡¯t submitted an application to your firm.¡± ¡°The situation is like this. My boss wasn¡¯t content with the designers we had recruited. He took it upon himself to search online for new talent and stumbled upon your resume,¡± the person on the Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. phone rified. Violet realized that posting her resume online meant that anyone could ess it. She eventually let down her guard, but she didn¡¯t agree right away. ¡°I¡¯m hesitant to ept. I recently offended someone. Your boss may like me, and yourpany might dismiss me due to fear of this individual. I don¡¯t want to waste my time.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. My boss is trustworthy, andes from a strong background. He values talent above all else,¡± the HR manager reassured her. Encouraged by these words, Violet decided to visit thepany, nning to confront Oliver after securing the job. She got off the bus and made her way to the address given to her. Upon arriving at the factory, located in a vast industrial zone, she was weed by apany employee. ¡°Greetings, Ms. Violet.¡± He offered her a bottle of water. ¡°You must be thirsty after your trip. Please, have a drink. While we may not pay the highest wages, ourpany excels in looking after our staff.¡± Violet, who was thirsty, thanked him and sipped the water. ¡°Over there is our factory,¡± the employee pointed out. As Violet gazed towards the factory, she suddenly felt dizzy, and her vision blurred. +15 BONOS She tried to speak, but copsed to the ground before she could finish her sentence. In the Imperial Pce, Lucius descended the stairs and asked the butler about the date of the day in a rather stern tone. ¡°The eighth,¡± replied George with due respect. The eighth? A whole week had passed without Violet appearing at the pce. Curious, he asked, ¡°What has Violet been up totely?¡± After calling Naomi, it was revealed that Violet was actively seeking employment. ¡°Job hunting?¡± Lucius¡¯s anger red, regretting his decision not to bring Violet back sooner. Feeling that Violet needed a stern lesson, heshed out in anger, kicking a nearby object with a loud crash. George stayed quiet, letting Lucius express his frustration. Once calmer, Lucius asked, ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going?¡± George stepped forward to inform her, ¡°It appears Violet has been disowned by her father. She was used of poisoning her sister¡¯s drink, which damaged her sister¡¯s voice.¡± ¡°Are we sure of this?¡± Lucius questioned doubtfully. ¡°Violet wouldn¡¯t do such a thing.¡± ¡°The only evidence we have is that the cup belonged to Violet,¡± George replied. Lucius swiftly concluded, ¡°So, someone aimed to sabotage Violet, but her sister ended up getting it instead?¡± His high intelligence allowed him to effortlessly piece the truth together. ¡°Have these people lost all sense? Don¡¯t they think logically?¡± George kept silent, but seemed to concur with Lucius¡¯s reasoning. ¡°Find who tampered with her drink!¡±manded Lucius, enraged at the thought of someone attempting to harm Violet. ¡°Understood, Master Lucius.¡± George acknowledged, his expression grave as he observed Lucius. Despite not being in an official rtionship, Luclus¡¯s concern for Violet was evident. George was quietly satisfied to see Lucius¡¯s affections shift from Agatha to Violet. ¡°Get the flight ready!¡± Luciusmanded, determined to confront Violet for her apparent deliance. Meanwhile, at the Elysium Club, an auction was in full swing. +15 BONOS The club¡¯s very name hinted at its uwful nature. The night hadn¡¯t even fully set in, but the club was already buzzing with life. This evening, the club was conducting its regr weekly auction, a far cry from any normal. auction. Here, they sold human beings, particrly women. Such an institution shouldn¡¯t exist, but the auction thrived due to the owner¡¯s influential connections and its poprity among the elite and wealthy. What began as a monthly event had now be a weekly urrence. The women auctioned here weren¡¯t just any individuals. Currently, a woman shrouded in a sheer veil stood on the stage. Her skin was fair and wless, and her features were delicate and refined. Her natural beauty was so striking that she needed no makeup to entuate her looks. Chapter 122 Chapter 122 +15 BONOS Affected by a drug, her cheeks were a rosy red, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. adding a fatally seductive charm to her appearance. The thin nket didn¡¯tpletely cover her body, revealing her elegant corbones and slender shoulders, eliciting numerous imaginations about the rest of her body. She was undeniably a premium auction item. The moment the curtain was drawn, the crowd surged with excitement. Their gazes clung to the woman on stage, where they wanted to swallow her alive. ¡°Tonight, this woman will be imed by one of you!¡± the auctioneer announced with an elongated emphasis, energizing the crowd. ¡°The bidding willmence shortly.¡± In a secluded spot among the audience, a man with an angelic face smirked meaningfully. He alone seemed immune to the allure of the woman on stage. After a moment, he pulled out his phone and requested, ¡°I need to talk to Lucius.¡± At Naomi¡¯s rental apartment. Lucius¡¯s stern demeanor made the small space feel even more confined and tense. Naomi wrung her hands nervously, and exined, ¡°Vivi has gone out job hunting. She¡¯s really not here. No one¡¯s answering her phone, she¡¯s probably at an interview.¡± ¡°An interview at this hour?¡± Lucius wondered. It was nearing six in the evening, and it seemed unlikely for interviews to be held at this hour. He suspected Violet was intentionally avoiding him. Naomi added uncertainty, ¡°Around this time, she¡¯s usually either on her way home or already here. She¡¯d normally call me, even if she¡¯s busy.¡± Worry started to creep onto her face. Despite not being blood rtives, their bond was closer than that of many families. ¡°Could something have gone wrong with Vivi?¡± Naomi¡¯s concern seemed genuine, causing Lucius to sense that something was amiss. His expression turning even more grave. ¡°Master Lucius,¡± George said as he entered, hesitating briefly before informing him, ¡°Edur is on the +15 BONOS ¡°Edur?¡± The mention of the name soured Luclus¡¯s face. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Naomi¡¯s gaze sharply shifted to the phone In George¡¯s hand. She was acutely aware of Agatha¡¯s connection to Edur. With no news of her daughter for years, her concern was paramount. Naomi longed to ask about Agatha; yet she held back, knowing Lucius¡¯s deep¨Cseated animosity towards Edur. Reluctantly, Lucius eventually picked up the phone and squeezed one word: ¡°Speak!¡± On the other end. Edur¡¯s voice was tinged with a hint of satisfaction. ¡°Lucius, I propose a deal.¡± ¡°Do you believe you¡¯re in any position to bargain with me?¡± Lucius retorted sharply, ready to end the call. However, Edur quickly interjected, ¡°There¡¯s a woman you might be interested in.¡± ¡°Agatha? She¡¯lle to me for punishment once your empire crumbles,¡± Lucius dered with domineering confidence. Standing beside him, Naomi felt sweat break out on his back. She knew Lucius¡¯s determination- whatever he set out to do, he aplished. Unruffled by Lucius¡¯s intimidation, Edur calmly uttered the name, ¡°Violet.¡± Edur was familiar with Violet, having deliberately sent her to Lucius. Lucius gripped his phone so tightly in his anger, it nearly shattered the device. He demanded. What have you done with her?¡± ¡°Ha. As I thought, you wouldn¡¯t stand by and let her fall into my hands,¡± Edur replied with a low chuckle. ¡°She¡¯s unharmed for the time being, but that could change quickly. Some man might buy her and turn her into his ve¨Ca sex ve, in particr!¡± The elite¡¯s world was both mad and morally degenerate. Laws and morals that restrained the average person were meaningless to them. Even if they encountered problems, they could effortlessly resolve them with their wealth. This was the very reason Edur¡¯s auction business thrived. A vein on Lucius¡¯s temple pulsated with anger. He warned in a deep, menacing tone, ¡°If you dare. hurt her, I¡¯ll make sure you suffer a horrific end!¡± +15 BONOS The call ended abruptly, and Lucius hurried out of the apartment. George attempted to stop him, and reasoned, ¡°Master Luclus, It¡¯s a trap! You must not go. Edur is sly and will surely hurt you!¡± ¡°He¡¯s not stupid enough for that!¡± Lucius retorted with conviction. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°There are no buts!¡± George¡¯s attempts to stop him were futile, for Lucius was already on his way. The thought of Violet falling into the hands of another man ignited a murderous rage within him. He pushed his car, typically maxing at eighty miles per hour, to an unprecedented two hundred. George¡¯s eyes bulged with fear, silently praying they¡¯d safely reach Edur¡¯s auction house. What normally was an hour¡¯s drive to the Elysium Club, Lucius aplished in half the time. After that excursion, George was terrified and weak in the knees. Lucius exited the car with a solemn expression. The Elysium Club, known for its stringent security, usually denied entry without the club owner¡¯s invitation. Edur had clearly made ns, as Lucius entered the area without being stopped. From a distance, he saw a fric crowd, their eyes fervently fixed on the woman in the ss room on the stage, desperate to own and exploit her. The noise of people bidding echoed incessantly in the hall. The woman he had waited a week to meet, and for whom he had been searching for hours,y within the ss room. Her flushed face and glistening sweat made her irresistibly attractive. Lucius¡¯s fists clenched tightly at the sight. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 ¡°Forty million!¡± The crowd¡¯s lunacy was evident; an ordinary woman was fetching such a colossal sum. ¡°One hundred million!¡± As a bid was raised in a corner of the room, a soft and deep male voice sounded out. The crowd buzzed with excitement, turning to see the bidder. He locked eyes with Lucius. It was Edur. His gorgeous face, capable of enchanting both men and women, bore a yful smirk as he returned Lucius¡¯s stormy gaze. Both men were remarkable in every way. Lucius embodied a severe, mncholic allure, while Edur exuded a free¨Cspirited charm. ¡°Let her go!¡± Lucius demanded authoritatively. He was confident in doing so, because he knew Edur could no longer oppose him. Edur rose and dered, ¡°Once an item enters the Elysium Club, it abides by our rules. We operate on sales, not charity. Unsold items are destroyed.¡± ¡°You really want to fight me?¡± Lucius widened his eyes, incensed at the sight of his woman being scrutinized by so many men. ¡°Why not continue the fight that¡¯s already started?¡± Edur retorted, keeping his cool even though Lucius had cornered him. ¡°Two hundred million!¡± Edur increased his bid once more, reaching a new record for himself. The conflict between the two men captivated the onlookers. A collective gasp filled the room when Edur upped his bid, shattering his previous record. While this defied the club¡¯s norms, being the ruler of this club, Edur made the rules. Lucius smirked. He was no longer irate; he snatched the bid card from Edur, and confidently announced, ¡°Ten billion!¡± The audience was stunned into silence, as if witnessing an illusion. Who would bid ten billion for a woman? The crowd was too shocked to counter¨Cbid. Edur shook his finger, unable to bid further with the card now in Lucius¡¯s possession. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. +15 BONOS Lucius warned. ¡°Consider this carefully. Ten billion could sustain you for some time. If you¡¯re not interested, that¡¯s fine with me. I¡¯m not overly attached to her.¡± Destruction was the inevitable end awaiting Edur. Edur¡¯s face contorted. His perfect disguise finally copsed. After a brief pause, he began pping and announced, ¡°I hereby announce that tonight¡¯s prize is sold for ten billion.¡± Bang! When the gavel fell the item was sold. Lucius was masked as he was escorted through a special entryway by an auction house¡¯s employee. Someone had opened a door specifically for him. He picked up Violet, draped in a nket, under the envious re of the crowd. ¡°Wee to the Honeymoon Suite, prepared just for you. Enjoy your night,¡± a club employee greeted, handing over a bright red key with a warm smile. Such special treatment was reserved for those who secured auction items. Lucius epted the key, and went upstairs. Violet, groggy and disoriented in his arms, struggled in difort. Because of the colder temperature, she was barely hanging on in the ss room. When she was in his embrace, his masculine scent engulfed her. She felt electric currents rushing madly through her body, driving her insane. Violet writhed in his arms, attempting to break free and flee his hold. ¡°Let go,¡± she murmured as her breath softly brushed against Lucius¡¯s skin. ¡°Get me the antidote now!¡± Lucius shouted, his temples throbbing. Shrugging helplessly, the worker responded, ¡°There¡¯s no antidote for this drug.¡± Their primary concern was satisfying clients, not the well¨Cbeing of the auctioned items. ¡°Damn it!¡± Lucius cursed. ¡°Tell Edur! I¡¯ll reduce this damn ce to andfill by tomorrow!¡± That staff member bowed his head in silence. Lucius kicked the door open in the room, and carried Violet inside. He resolved to cool her down with a cold shower, not wanting to exploit her vulnerable state.. Lucius was not a saint, but he didn¡¯t wish to im her under these circumstances. +15 BONOS Violet encircled his neck, and begged, ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Violet!¡± His body heated up her soft breath on his skin, but he tried to keep her at bay, calling her name gruffly. Oblivious to his turmoil, Violet persisted in her attempts to draw closer, her judgment clouded by the drug, leaving her unaware of her actions. Lucius forcefully distanced her, but she responded by sensuously taking his finger into her mouth. ¡°Violet!¡± His self¨Ccontrol copsed, and he shoved her into the bed, It had been a long night. Violet had a vivid and long dream. She was immersed in an endless. intimate escapade with Lucius, enveloped by suggestive sounds. ¡°How embarrassing,¡± she mumbled sleepily, reluctant to open her eyes. ¡°Embarrassed? But you seemed Insatiable,¡± came a teasing, cold voice nearby. It was the voice of a man. Violet¡¯s heart clenched, and she almost lost her cool. When she opened her eyes, she noticed a man lying next to her. It was a man! His powerful arm, casually lying on the bed, was the first thing she noticed, followed. by his muscr chest. ¡°Argh!¡± She sprang out of bed. The movement was so abrupt that she pulled all the nkets toward herself. Naturally, Lucius was left exposed andy there bare. ¡°Gah!¡± She covered her eyes and turned away. ¡°What happened?¡± Lucius gazed at her coldly, unfazed by her reaction. Hey there nonchntly, and said, ¡°Violet. be grateful. If not for me, you could¡¯ve been with someone elsest night.¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124 *Be grateful for you?¡± Violet¡¯s response wasced with irony. ¡°Why should I be grateful to you? You¡¯re responsible for what you¡¯ve done to me. I¡¯m calling the cops!¡± Lucius¡¯s expression darkened and became more menacing by the moment. ¡°Oh? Forgotten already? Who initiated thingsst night? Shall we get the copx here and show them how you seduced me?¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Violet couldn¡¯t fathom it. She was well aware of her character. The idea of her willingly getting into his bed seemed absurd. Confusion gued her about the previous night¡¯s events. Why had she no memory of them? How had shee across Lucius, and how did they end up together? Nothing made sense. ¡°Is it really nonsense? Let¡¯s find out,¡± Lucius challenged, revealing his neck to her. ¡°Shall we go for a medical check? These marks; you bit me here, and here.¡± His body bore several bite marks, and his back showed fresh scratch marks. She began to doubt herself. Could she have been responsible for these? ¡°What¡­what really happened?¡± she asked softly, no longer opposing him. This question infuriated Lucius further. He retorted, ¡°Violet, I¡¯ve yet to question you. How did you fall into Edur¡¯s hands and end up being auctioned?¡± ¡°Edur? Auctioned?¡± She had no memory of these events. ¡°I went for a job interview in an industrial area. A HR manager wanted to discuss the job offer in detail with me. Then, he offered me a drink.¡± Suddenly, realization dawned, her eyes widened and eximed, ¡°That drink was tampered with!¡± ¡°Now you realize, but isn¡¯t it toote?¡± Lucius responded with a sneer, suppressing his anger. Violet clutched the nket, and lowered her head. She argued, ¡°If you knew I was drugged, why didn¡¯t you call the police or take me to the hospital? Her words agitated Lucius. Her desire to dissociate from him was evident. Lucius scowled, opting not to exin further. +15 BONOS ¡°Listen well. Last night, I bought you for ten billion. From now on, you¡¯re mine. When I say left, you can¡¯t go right,¡± he dered, waving a document with numerous zeros. He bought her for ten billion, wasn¡¯t this whole exnation too dramatic? ¡°This is your scheme, isn¡¯t it?¡± she used, skeptical of the document¡¯s authenticity. She couldn¡¯t believe anyone would spend such an amount on a woman. Her attitude irritated Lucius, and he wanted tosh out. He responded bitterly. ¡°A scheme? What¡¯s in you that warrants such an effort?¡± Violet didn¡¯t have a single pleasant word to say to him, and Lucius feltpelled to strangle her. In return, he chose the most harsh words to rebuke. ¡°You think you¡¯re beautiful? You¡¯re just average. Small face, pale skin, short legs. You don¡¯t even meet the standards of a model. Your measurements are even less worth mentioning!¡± Due to her ongoing affection for him, Violet remained silent because of how hurt she harsh words. ¡°If that¡¯s how it is, then why did you purchase me?¡± ¡°I needed a chef. What¡¯s wrong for me to spend ten billion on a chef to cook for me?¡± e felt by by his Violet touched her cheeks, caught between tears andughter at his reasoning. It dawned on her that he had spent an enormous sum just to fulfill his desire. She got up from the bed. ¡°Where are you headed?¡± ¡°Back home.¡± ¡°Violet!¡± Lucius¡¯s anger red up again as he bellowed, ¡°Are you tantly disregarding what I just said?¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. With one hand pressing the bedsheet and the other dangling at her side, Violet¡¯s gaze was filled with defiance. This reaction of hers had Infuriated Lucius, and instilled in him a sense of frustration. The idea of someone spending ten billion on a chef was absurd. He wouldn¡¯t spend so extravagantly if he didn¡¯t harbor feelings for her, would he? But she seemed oblivious to any of this. ¡°Are you a fool?¡± he eximed, his frustration evident. +15 BONOS Tears began to silently stream down Violet¡¯s cheeks. Her rtionship with Luclus, though not Ideal, had previously given her a sense of equilibrium. After he bought her, It had permanently changed into that of master and ve. Lucius expected a sharpeback, but instead, she cried. This unexpected reaction softened his tone. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± His question only intensified her weeping. She tried to wipe her tears away, not wanting to disy her vulnerability in front of Lucius, but they kept flowing. Violet feltpletely defeated. ¡°Enough, stop crying.¡± Lucius was always aloof, having never soothed a crying woman before. Unsure of how to proceed, he said the only thing that came to mind. Her tears touched a nerve in him. Each one seemed to pierce his heart. He detested this sensation, and wished only for her tears to cease. Yet Violet¡¯s sobs grew more heart¨Cwrenching. His anger reached its peak, and he growled, ¡°Stop crying, or I¡¯ll im you right here.¡± Nevertheless, Violet kept crying. Eventually, he pulled her back forcefully, pinning her down on the bed. His hand reached for her bedsheet. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Violet finally showed a reaction and frantically clung to the sheet. Her eyes were red and swollen, pleadingly looking at him. ¡°Please don¡¯t do this!¡± His anger melted away with her soft plea. He rxed his grip, even taking care to tuck her in more carefully. ¡°Forget about the ten billion fromst night. Violet, juste with me, be my woman.¡± His demand rendered Violet speechless. He had initially sought only a chef, hadn¡¯t he? ¡°I enjoy yourpany. It feels right.¡± He stopped short of confessing any deeper feelings. Violet¡¯s heart was heavy with this realization. ¡°I can promise that, as long as you stay by my side, I won¡¯t be with other women.¡± This was the bestmitment he was willing to offer. Violet managed a strained smile, tinged with sadness. ¡°So if you grow tired of me, you¡¯ll just let me go?¡± Would he then seek a recement? His casual reply was, ¡°That¡¯s a distant future. I haven¡¯t thought that far.¡± Lucius lived by a simple philosophy: being with someone he liked was enough. Eternal vows were na?ve in his eyes. ¡°Even if I promised to love you forever, in this pragmatic world, who can guarantee the future? Violet, you¡¯re smart. You must understand this.¡± She grasped the logic, yet yearned for a love thatsted forever. She said decisively. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. but I can¡¯t be part of this.¡± Every word from Lucius left her speechless, yet each word pierced her heart. She felt reduced to merely an object in his eyes¨Cjust another past conquest. Perhaps he felt the same way about her previous rtionships. How long did theyst? A week or a month at most. She recalled the longeststing one barely surviving a few months. Once he grew tired of her, what would be of her feelings? +15 BONOS ¡°Hand me my clothes. I need to leave. Regarding the ten billion you spoke of, I¡¯m uncertain of its truth. I¡¯ll let you know once I verify it.¡± Lucius sensed her genuine intent to depart, and was engulfed in fury. ustomed to having his way, be it in romance or business, he found her defiance unbellevable. He challenged, ¡°Take another step if you dare!¡± Violet hesitated, locking eyes with him. ¡°Lucius, with your wealth, influence, and ability, your desires are easily met. But I¡¯m not like that. All I have is my heart, which I want to safeguard for someone who genuinely loves and cares for me forever.¡± Her words echoed with a tone of mncholy. Lucius¡¯s rage subsided yet again. He couldn¡¯t understand how this unassuming woman could so effortlessly arouse his emotions, leaving him unable to harden his heart against her. ¡°Forget it, just leave,¡± he gave in and waved his hand reluctantly, realizing that keeping her would only heighten his irritation. Violet stepped forward, and requested, ¡°Could you find me some clothes?¡± Once dressed, she exited the room without looking back, leaving Lucius behind all by Himself. Taking a deep breath, Violet moved towards the elevator. A voice of skepticism called from behind, ¡°Vivi?¡± Instinctively, she turned to see Oliver. He stood a short distance behind her, his gaze shifting between her and the door she had emerged from. ¡°You just walked out of that room?¡± he asked gravely, and his expression changed dramatically. Violet remained silent. Though she had resolved to let go of her feelings for Oliver, it was awkward to meet him on such an asion. Oliver¡¯s eyesnded on the marks adorning her neck, which he found extremely jarring. Those were hickeys, a clear sign of intimacy. It dawned on him that she had done something improper. ¡°What have you done? Why are you here in such a ce? What do youck that you would demean yourself so?¡± +15 BONOS Oliver was seething with anger, his typically calm demeanor distorted by rage. His eyes were filled with usatory questions, convinced she had acted dishonorably. Violet steadied herself before responding. She said calmly, ¡°You seem familiar with this ce.¡± Oliver exined, ¡°I received photosst night iming you had put yourself up for auction. I refused to believe it until now.¡± Struggling to ept reality, Oliver grappled with how Violet, once kind and humble, had transformed so drastically. ¡°The auction is real, then.¡± What Lucius had mentioned, which she had doubted, was now validated through Oliver. Oliver didn¡¯t hear her. He was consumed with disappointment and anger, viewing her with disdain. ¡°Violet, how can you stoop so low?¡± He departed swiftly, as if prolonging his stay would tarnish him. Violet recognized that in Oliver¡¯s eyes, she was now perceived as a fallen woman who had sold herself for money. How could she, in her current state, be deserving of someone as pure as him? Tears threatened to fall as Violet bit her lip. She fought the urge to show her turmoil. At that moment, the door opened; Lucius appeared in a bathrobe, his demeanor icy. He demanded, Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°Do you refuse to leave with me because of him?¡± Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Lucius believed her words were sincere; he believed that she cared about him, but rejected him because she was seeking lifelong love. Yet, when he witnessed her deep concern for Oliver, her vulnerability, and the tears that she shed when Oliver walked away, it left him feeling extremely ufortable. Violet was emotionally distressed and too drained to face Lucius. His piercing gaze was too much for her. Without a word, she quickly entered the elevator and left the building. Instead of heading straight home, she wandered aimlessly on the street. It was nothing surprising for Lucius to be at such a ce, but why would someone as dignified as Oliver be there? Her hotel was atop the Elysium Club, a ce Oliver, with his knowledge, would surely know the nature of. Furthermore, it seemed Oliver was aware of her being auctioned. But who had informed him? She grew suspicious of these, but couldn¡¯t arrive at any conclusion. Since then, Lucius hadn¡¯t been in contact, and his whereabouts were a mystery to Violet. Her life had resumed its quiet rhythm. There was no Lucius or Oliver, just herself. She tried to track down the individual who had framed her, but the HR manager¡¯s phone was now disconnected. On visiting the industrial park, she learned there was no such factory. Convinced of her deception, she chose not to report it to the police since she assumed it would certainly involve Lucius. She didn¡¯t want to embarrass him by bringing him to the police station. Subsequently, her focus shifted to Job hunting, Eventually, her persistence paid off, and she Thepany was medium¨Csized, but the role was a good fit for her as a designer. This was a great opportunity for Violet. She was ecstatic to begin her new work. ¡°Are you sure I can start tomorrow?¡± She checked in with the HR manager several times, fearful that something bad would happen. because of her previous experiences. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you can definitely start tomorrow,¡± the HR manager promised her. +15 BONOS Only then did she depart thepany building, anxious yet hopeful. Outside, a sleek, understated ck luxurious car drove past. Inside, Lucius sat with a cold, detached expression. George strained to take a breath. His employer¡¯s aura was overpowering, and being in such a terrible mood made even breathing difficult for the butler. George ufortably nced outside. ¡°Huh?¡± Lucius initially ignored George, treating him as if he were invisible. However, he abruptly reacted, What?¡± George coughed a little before answering. ¡°I think I just saw Ms. Violet.¡± His boss scoffed bitterly, his face contemptuous, as if Violet didn¡¯t matter to him at all. But if she didn¡¯t matter, why was he so depressed? George rubbed his nose, unable to express his displeasure and suppressing his resentment. He had resigned to his fate, and needed to endure this. The car had driven quite a distance when Lucius asked, ¡°Where did Violete from?¡± George truthfully answered, ¡°From an office building.¡± ¡°An office building?¡± Lucius echoed, then fell silent. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. George, ever astute, recognized that to have some good days ahead, he needed to improve rtions between Violet and Lucius. He promptly dispatched someone to investigate Violet¡¯s current circumstances. ¡°Got nothing better to do?¡± Lucius questioned, casting a murderous nce his way. Surprised, George¡¯s phone nearly fell from his grasp. He identally turned on the loudspeaker when his subordinate reported it to him. ¡°I¡¯ve just learned that Ms. Violet went to the city¡¯s business center to seek employment. There¡¯s a design firm on the twenty¨Cfifth floor, and the HR manager has just agreed to her starting tomorrow. The Lucius¡¯s brow furrowed even more in response to the news. So Violet was eager to leave him for a mere 5,000 job? This woman had no foresight at all. ¡°It seems you¡¯re also considering a job that pays 5,000 a month.¡± Luciusmented sarcastically. +15 BONOS George quickly ended the call. He wondered if his employer understood the real reason behind his actions. Seeing Lucius so agitated, the butler shook his head. Some situations, he realized, required patience. Later that night, Lucius was in his study. George entered the study to serve him tea, finding Lucius in the middle of a video conference. On the screen, various senior executives seemed visibly distressed. ¡°Vermeil Studio is rtively unknown and operates in a fieldpletely unrted to ours. Master Lucius, this decision of yours¡­¡± ¡°I have decided, and I¡¯m just informing you,¡± Lucius stated, implying that no one else had a voice in the matter. The expressions of the shareholders and executives varied, reflecting their dissatisfaction. Yet none dared to voice opposition, knowing well that Lucius controlled the entire conglomerate. His word was final. They started to pack their things, and departed when he said so. Despite their confusion, they trusted Lucius¡¯s judgment. Everyone in attendance agreed that he would not strike a losing deal. George sighed and shook his head slightly. This time, it appeared that Master Lucius was determined to make a bad deal. After the meeting, Lucius emerged from the study, looking restless and agitated. He paced in the hall, and was clearly dissatisfied with everyone around him. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 #15 BONGS From his experience, George surmised that Luclus was longing for fermatepanionship. ¡°How about we bring a new lover for you from outside?¡± George proposed. Lucius stared at him with an intimidating gaze. If it weren¡¯t for his known sexual orientation, one may conclude he had feelings for George. ¡°Never mind,¡± Lucius dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. ¡°If it¡¯s not who I want, it only irritates me more!¡± He preferred a cold shower to anypany. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. As Luciusy in bed, his irritation lingered. His mind kept returning to Violet. Had it not been for her, would he have acted so rashly? But she seemed adamantly opposed to being with him. He pondered, what was it about Violet that was so captivating? He couldn¡¯t pinpoint it, yet the more he dwelled on her, the stronger his desire grew. Once more, these thoughts caused his body to tense. ¡°Damn it,¡± he muttered. He rolled out of bed and headed to the bathroom to take his second cold shower of the night. Violet had no idea about any of this. Her anxiousness from the day before carried over into the morning. She had yet to receive a call from thepany to express their regret. Arriving on time, she headed straight to the HR office. The HR manager presented her with a contract, stating. ¡°A one¨Cyear contract, with a three¨Cmonth probation period.¡± She excitedly called Naomi. ¡°Mom, get extra groceries for tonight. We¡¯re having a feast!¡± ¡°Emily, can you print this out for me?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Suddenly, Violet overheard a conversation nearby. She turned, almost dropping her phone in shock. Emily had showed up in herpany. She rubbed her eyes to get a better look. Emily also recognized her, and called out to Violet softly. ¡°Vivi? Is that really you?¡± +15 BONOS Despite her hoarse voice and her acting skills, Violet¡¯s disy of sisterly adoration almost made her forget their past squabbles. ¡°Do we know each other well?¡± Violet responded sharply, pushing Emily away, unable to tolerate her pretense. The onlookers gave them curious nces, but Violet paid them no attention and strode to her desk. ¡°Emily, who is she?¡± someone whispered behind her. ¡°That¡¯s my sister.¡± ¡°Is she your biological sister? Why is she so cold to you?¡± Emily sighed, ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t really me her.¡± she was a natural at ying the innocent victim while discrediting Violet¡¯s reputation. Emily grinned in resentment as she watched Violet walk away. Motivated by both Violet¡¯s nasty words and a desire to demonstrate her independence to Oliver, Emily had chosen to leave her family¡¯s business for this job. Because her sole expertise was singing, she ended up working as a minor office assistant. In contrast, Violet had recently joined thepany as a designer. She had be a designer only two years into her career. This fact intensified Emily¡¯s deep¨Crooted envy. The previous night, upon learning about the new hire, Emily had urged Belle to speak with the HR manager. However, they were toote. Someone had already bought the entirepany on the condition that no newly recruited designer could be fired. Unaware that this gesture was targeted exclusively at Violet, Emily mistook it as a recognition of the design team¡¯s talent. Violet, she thought, had simply gotten lucky. The thought of working for the samepany as Violet was Emily¡¯s least desired scenario, yet it had be a reality. This was exasperating to her. For Violet, Emily¡¯s presence was quickly dismissed from her thoughts, deemed too insignificant to linger in her memory. During a break, Violet overheard a conversation that disturbed her. ¡°Violet is said to have destroyed Emily¡¯s voice. She can¡¯t sing and is forced to work here.¡± 115 BOHOS So da? Docal native when there¡¯s a heartless sister Involved.¡± ¡°This sole sees to have questionable morals.¡± Servemissionate. She didn¡¯t press charges out of concern for Violet,¡± ¡°The contrast between the sisters is stark.¡± It¡¯s brake how a beautiful voice was destroyed by a wicked sister.¡± Violet pushed the pantry door open, undeterred. The chatter ceased instantly. She was met with hostile, icy stares. Stent, she filled her water bottle. It wasn¡¯t in her interest to make enemies on her first day. She strolled out as it she hadn¡¯t heard anything after fetching her water. She ran into Emily, who was carrying a stack of photocoples, at the entryway. ¡°Emily.¡± Violet addressed her, ¡°about your voice. Shouldn¡¯t we report it to the cops and investigate thoroughly?¡± ¡°Why do you suddenly¡­want to investigate?¡± Emily replied, visibly pale. ¡°Everyone¡¯s been saying I¡¯m responsible for your voice. I want the truth to be known.¡± Violet had initially believed her family¡¯s decision not to involve the police was for her benefit. After being disowned and dered dead by her father, she doubted his benevolence. Given Belle¡¯s personality, it seemed doubtful that she would let such an upset go unaddressed. Previously. Violet hadn¡¯t fully processed these events. When she reflected on them, she began to realize that there were many things amiss in the entire Incident. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 ¡°Those weren¡¯t my words, and I¡¯m not sure how they got out. Perhaps Sydney pitled me for only working here and said too much. I¡¯ll make sure she stops,¡± Emily imed. Violet felt as if she had slipped into another universe, as Emily maintained her portrayal as a wronged and submissive girl. ¡°You don¡¯t need to act that way with me. I actually find your bolder side more genuine.¡± Violet responded with a dismissive smirk, eager to move past the conversation. Turning away. Violet encountered Oliver, the very person she least wished to see, who always seemed to appear at the most inopportune times. Now that she was no longer nervous, she could be more of her true self in his presence. Violet simply nodded, and walked over to her desk. Behind her, Emily¡¯s whining voice echoed, ¡°Oliver.¡± Her tone was filled with a nauseating tone of self¨Cpity, as if the office were her personal domain. Violet then approached her immediate superior, Estelle Ruiz, a forthright woman. ¡°Take these and look them over,¡± Este said. ¡°You muste up with an idea. I¡¯lle over ¡°Understood,¡± Violet replied, appreciating Estelle¡¯s candor. When she returned to her desk, she saw Oliver standing next to it and assumed he was about to reprimand her. Violet approached him. She realized it was easier to cope with him after she let go of her affection. for Oliver. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you¡¯re here to criticize me about Emily, I need proof, or I¡¯ll im defamation. If it¡¯s about work, please reach out to the appropriate personnel.¡± Oliver was taken aback. Violet, he remembered, was humble and non¨Cconfrontational. He was unfamiliar with her strong personality. He was unaware that Violet¡¯s previous meek and obedient demeanor was due to her love for him. Now that her love had gone, so had her patience for him. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything,¡± Oliver exined. ¡°I just want you to support Emily. Her life has changed. and I¡¯m worried she won¡¯t be able to cope.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t you take her under your wing? No one could hurt her,¡± Violet retorted sharply. ¡°Do we have to talk like this?¡± Oliver, now upset, questioned. Violet found the situation ironic and countered. ¡°You can be harsh to me, but I can¡¯t be cold with you. It¡¯s my fault for giving you these ideas. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°Vivi¡­ Violet¡¯s detachment upset him, leaving a hole in his heart. Yet the possibility for them to be together was a lost cause. Emily had been by his side while he was in aa, but Violet was nowhere to be seen. Eventually, Oliver gathered himself and dered. ¡°Fine, from now on, I¡¯m only Emily¡¯s fianc¨¦. Nothing more.¡± Nothing more, that¡¯s what he reduced their rtionship to. With those words, he disregarded all her efforts and dedication. Violet felt a strong impulse to confront him and question the value of her tireless efforts and care for him, both day and night. However, she refrained because it was pointless to ask him these questions. While Violet was distracted, Oliver quietly departed. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts. She then unexpectedly noticed Estelle, who had apparently been there for a while. It was likely that her manager had overheard their entire conversation. This thought made Violet uneasy. The possibility of her manager hearing such a personal exchange,bined with the ongoing workce rumors, raised concerns about the security of her position. Finally, Estelle broke the silence and instructed, ¡°Come with me.¡± Violet followed Estelle without a word, feeling the weight of strange and gloating gazes along the way. ¡°Are you and Emily sisters?¡± Estelle asked, getting straight to the point. Violet confirmed with a nod, ¡°Yes, we are. But I want to rity, I didn¡¯t destroy her voice. What you see in our rtionship is simply the tip of the iceberg, the real depth can only be understood over time.¡± Estelle regarded her silently for a long moment, causing Violet¡¯s heart to sink. People usually side +15 BONOS Then, Estelle rified. ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking about her voice. I just wanted to get a clearer picture of the situation, that¡¯s all.¡± Her smile was genuine, without any undertone of sarcasm. ¡°I trust my team members to be honest and not harm others for their own benefit. I believe in the saying, time reveals a person¡¯s true character. Don¡¯t let me down.¡± Estelle expressed her faith in Violet, extending her hand in support. Her words moved Violet to tears. ¡°You¡¯re the first person who¡¯s chosen to believe me.¡± Violet¡¯s voice wasden with emotion and newfound hope. She felt immensely thankful for Estelle¡¯s trust. With Estelle¡¯s backing. Violet found that Emily¡¯s presence didn¡¯t cause more harm. Her design work began to gain appreciation and favor from thepany¡¯s leadership, and she was flourishing in her role. Finally, happiness started to disy itself on her face again. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Meanwhile, at the top floor of the building, recently leased, housed the president¡¯s office, its upants a mystery to most People would be shocked to learn that the world¡¯s richest man was working in such a remote location. At the very least, the stock market would experience some vtility, which would drive economists to begin examining new economic trends. Although it didn¡¯t cause a widespread stir, the staff of the Imperial Pce were unsettled. especially since Master Lucius had chosen this unassuming location for his office. That¡¯s right¨CLucius rented this space. He had abruptly relocated here following his unusual acquisition of Vermell Studio. ¡°Master Lucius, here are the documents you requested.¡± Lucius casually looked through Violet¡¯s most recent drawings. ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°Her manager agreed with this,¡± said the person in charge. ¡°She¡¯s a talented designer, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± ¡°Talented?¡± Lucius echoed, a hint of a smirk on his face. ¡°Master Lucius,¡± George said. Lucius motioned for the manager to leave, and reminded him. ¡°Keep my ownership of the ¡°Understood,¡± the manager agreed, though puzzled by the instruction. Once the manager left, George presented Lucius with some findings from their investigation. He reported, ¡°Master Lucius, we¡¯ve made some progress in the investigation.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Hismand was brief, but his demeanor was imposing. George promptly ryed, ¡°Our evidence suggests that the person responsible for damaging Ms. Violet¡¯s sister¡¯s voice might actually be the sister herself.¡± ¡°Her own sister?¡± Lucius questioned, skeptical. ¡°Yes. It appears the cup belonged to Ms. Violet, but her sister swapped the water. Her voice was destroyed after that. She most likely did it to herself.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°So, you¡¯re saying Violet¡¯s sister intended to harm Violet¡¯s voice, but ended up damaging her own?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± A smile crept on Lucius¡¯s face. ¡°And what was her motive?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± After being previously misinformed, Lucius harbored doubts about George¡¯s reliability. He said skeptically. ¡°The information you¡¯ve brought seems untrustworthy!¡± George wiped his sweat and cautiously replied, ¡°I¡¯ll double¨Ccheck everything and ensure uracy before I report back.¡± Given his earlier mistake, George was aware that he had lost some standing in Lucius¡¯s eyes. He hesitated to assert theplete uracy of his information, and resolved to do a thorough. recheck. Lucius waved his handzily, g George to leave the room. Respectfully, George left Lucius¡¯s office. Lucius, deep in thought, pressed his palm on the tabletop. Why would Violet¡¯s sister seek to destroy her voice if George¡¯s leads were correct? Violet was not a singer, so losing her voice would have little effect on her. Yet Lucius¡¯s mind wandered away from this puzzle, his thoughts returning to Violet. He wondered if she was contentedly working without sparing him a thought. He pressed the inte on his desk, and ordered, ¡°Send Violet from the design department here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the issue, President?¡± Estelle answered the call, being the head of the design department and Violet¡¯s immediate boss. She was worried about Violet. *Just have here up.¡± he replied, avoiding any exnation. Estelle was always fond of Violet, and suspected she had made a mistake. She felt a need to protect her subordinate. She probed, ¡°Is it about the designs? She¡¯s new to the position and may notpletely ¡°Must you handle everything for her?¡± Lucius rebuked, and abruptly ended the call in irritation. Estelle gazed at the phone, pondering the challenging nature of their new president. +15 BONOS Violet was walking near Estelle with files in her hand and noticed her manager¡¯s apparent concern. ¡°The President has requested to see you. Please go to the twenty¨Cfifth floor.¡± Estelle informed her. ¡°The President?¡± Violet eximed, stunned. Having just joined thepany, she was bewildered as to why the president would summon her. ¡°Why does he want to meet me?¡± she asked anxiously. An unexpected summons from the president, especially with no personal connection, was most certainly bad news. Estelle shook her head, offering only advice. ¡°Be careful. Try to be patient and speak nicely if he criticizes you.¡± Violet became even more nervous at this counsel. ¡°Alright,¡± she said, inhaling deeply before proceeding. A harsh scolding shocked Violet as she approached the door. ¡°Do you see what you¡¯ve done? You messed up the paperwork!¡± She turned to see a colleague furiously mming documents onto a desk, eximing. ¡°How am I supposed to exin this mess to my manager?¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Emily stood there, visibly shaken, her lips trembling and her eyes filled with tears, looking deeply wronged. Their manager approached to understand the situation and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± The colleague vented, ¡°I can¡¯t believe someone could be so careless. I asked her to make copies. but she mixed up my design drawings with someone else¡¯s and brought back this mess to me!¡± Chapter 130 Chapter 130 The manager scanned the documents before sternly addressing Emily, ¡°Can¡¯t you read? Even if you can¡¯t, you should be able to read the page numbers. See, these pages are all mismatched! Do you use your brain when you work?¡± Unlike Violet, Emily had been pampered by Belle since childhood. She was treasured and nurtured with care, with no need to do anything beyond singing. It was understandable for her tock the ability to carry herself. Her upbringing contributed to her current plight. Violet shook her head in resignation. The scenario became more awkward and unpleasant when Emily looked up and met Violet¡¯s eyes. Violet chose not to involve herself in the matter and entered the elevator. Unknown to her, Emily was shooting a resentful nce at her behind her back. Arriving on the 25th floor, Violet¡¯s jaw fell at the vastness of the area. She mused at the opulence of the president¡¯s lifestyle. The office space downstairs was about the same, but the president alone had taken up a space The absence of any staff¨Cno secretary, assistant, or employee¨Cmade her wonder if the president ever felt lonely in such a vast space. Violet wondered if the president would get scared of staying here all alone. She strolled through the space, and heard her own echo. Violet contemted which of the numerous rooms was the president¡¯s office. She began to search all over t ce, trying to locate it. Suddenly, a displeased voice from behind her asked, ¡°Do you n to roam around here all day?¡± Startled, Violet turned quickly, encountering Lucius¡¯s stern, icy gaze peeking out from a doorway. He exuded a charm more captivating than any celebrity. ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked, taken aback. The fact that Lucius had acquired thispany was beyond her. Violet stared at him in confusion. Lucius casually shrugged. Violet then noticed the ¡°President¡¯s Office¡° son above the room n? mes in ¡°Are you the president¡¯s friend?¡± she asked. Lucius touched his face, seemingly uninterested in exining, Pre ansture HAY CA Violet stood still, and refused. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m here to see the president ¡°I¡¯m the one who asked your manager to bring you here, he responded, yinG MOOS ME choosing not to disclose his acquisition of thepany for her sake, Disheartened, Violet protested, ¡°How could you do this? Don¡¯t you now i¡¯m very besp Since Lucius wasn¡¯t the president, she felt no obligation to stay. She turned, and said Tes get back to work.¡± Lucius nearly exploded with anger. This silly woman hadn¡¯t seen him in a long time didn¡¯t she miss him for a bit? Her resolute actions implied she didn¡¯t give a damn about him. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. This infuriated him even more. He took a step forward, and sped her hand in his Her quick pace nearly caused her to stumble when he pulled her and spun her around ¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡± Violet eximed, infuriated. It was terrible enough that he interrupted her work for no apparent reason, but he also treated roughly. She rubbed the sore spot, ring back at him resentfully. Enraged, Lucius twisted his lips, desiring to devour the woman before him. He wondered how this woman could not sense his affection for her. What made him fall for her? ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? We have unresolved business to settle!¡± he dered. Instead of responding with hostility, Violet asked, ¡°What matters? ¡°What business?¡± Lucius pulled out the receipt and waved it before her eyes ¡°Did you forget? It cost me ten billion to rescue you. On top of that, I spent an entire night using my body to counteract that drug for you. Remember who I am? Lucius Davis, the wealthiest man alive. My body is priceless. Tell me, how do you n topensate me?¡± The notion of being ten billion dors in debt for the rest of my life was terrifying. Moreover, his physical involvement also became part of her debt? Violet parted her lips, preparing to object. ¡°Don¡¯t lose sight of the fact that if not for my intervention, you would¡¯ve lost your freedom. You +15 BONOS a hellish location. Once you¡¯re caught in a ce like this, your fate is sealed,¡± he said, cutting her She held her tongue, acknowledging the truth in Lucius¡¯s words. ¡°Furthermore, there was no antidote for the drug in your system. You would¡¯ve died if it hadn¡¯t been for me to care about you and reluctantly be intimate with you.¡± ¡°No¡­antidote?¡± Deep down, Violet harbored resentment towards Lucius, He had freed her, only to bind her to him in such a way. Hearing his exnation, she grasped the entirety of her situation. His use of words like scorn and hesitation to describe his feelings toward her saddened her. Her head lowered, and her shoulders dropped. Her face lost all its radiance, and she murmured a low. ¡°Thank you.¡± Her demeanor somewhat soothed Lucius¡¯s annoyance. His frown eased, and he suggested, ¡°Since you appreciate what I¡¯ve done, show your sincerity. Join me for a drink.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m on the clock,¡± she countered, albeit less vehemently. ¡°Having a drink with me is part of your job,¡± he graciously offered. Violet was reluctant to blur the lines between professional and personal. She proposed, ¡°How about this? What if Ie to see you after work for that drink?¡± Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Her expression was one of desperate pleading, her eyes imploring. She couldn¡¯t afford to jeopardize her hard-won job in this situation. Lucius¡¯s heart softened as he saw her despairing expression. He had nned to im her immediately, but he was now willing to wait a little longer. ¡°Make sure youe up after work. Don¡¯t force me toe looking for you,¡± he instructed before turning and shutting the door. Violet lingered outside for a moment before descending the stairs. ¡°Vivi, did the president give you trouble?¡± Estelle asked upon her return. Having not actually met the president, Violet shook her head. ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Estelle said, oblivious to the turmoil within Violet. She gently patted her shoulder and said, ¡°Back to work now.¡± Violet returned to her workspace. Having recently wept in the restroom, Emily looked up with reddened eyes. Despite working for the samepany, there was a clear difference between the sisters. Violet was skilled and well-liked by the boss, while the other couldn¡¯tplete even a simple assignment. Emily was embarrassed by the sharp contrast. Violet¡¯s employment at the samepany was frustrating to her. Everyone started leaving the office at the end of the workday, though Violet stayedte for overtime. Oliver¡¯s arrival in the office captured everyone¡¯s attention. Everyone here knew his close rtionship with Emily. ¡°Emily, your boyfriend¡¯s here,¡± someone noted. As Emily turned toward Oliver, she noticed his gaze not on her, but through the ss wall, directed at a specific area in the design office. Tightening her grip, she quickly approached, calling out, ¡°Oliver!¡± Only when Oliver finally faced her did he offer a gentle smile. +15 BONOS ¡°He¡¯s not Just my boyfriend, but my nc¨¦,¡± Emily dered openly with a broad grin, her voice loud enough for the whole office to hear. The envious nces from her colleagues were hard to miss. Oliver didn¡¯t object. He maintained a soft gaze, though he no longer focused his gaze on Violet. ¡± We should go now.¡± ¡°Hold on!¡± Emily reached out, ncing in Violet¡¯s direction. ¡°Violet, why don¡¯t you join us?¡± Her donor was yful, giving an air of sincerity to her invitation. Without even looking up, Violet declined, ¡°We¡¯re not exactly headed in the same direction, are we?¡± Awkwardly, Emily¡¯s expression turned to one of hurt as she came closer and said, ¡°Violet, haven¡¯t you been angry with us long enough? Please, let¡¯s go home.¡± Was Emily implying that Violet was the troublemaker here? Violet nearly burst intoughter. Wasn¡¯t it Emily who had falsely used her of ruining her voice and spreading rumors about her? She retorted sarcastically, ¡°Emily, perhaps acting is your true calling. You may not be cut out for lead roles, but as a supporting actor, you¡¯d be perfect.¡± ¡°Violet!¡± Oliver finally lost his temper. His formerly gentle eyes were now filled with disappointment. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± he chided. In his perspective, Violet was being unreasonable. Violet felt a pang of hurt from his disapproving look, tightly clutching her fingers beneath her sleeve. She was acutely aware that Emily¡¯s act was all for Oliver¡¯s sake, but her pride prevented her from ying along. ¡°Oliver,¡± Emily intervened softly, gently pulling him. ¡°Violet¡¯s just in a bad mood. Please don¡¯t be harsh with her.¡± Eventually, Oliver refrained from furtherment and exited the office, firmly holding Emily¡¯s hand and not letting go. Violet watched them leave, and sighed bitterly. She had once dreamed of being the one Oliver N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. would lead like that. Life¡¯s twists can be cruel. At the door, Oliver paused, affectionately stroking Emily¡¯s hair. +15 BONOS ¡°Are you tired?¡± he asked. ¡°No, not at all,¡± Emily lied. In truth, she was exhausted, but she couldn¡¯t admit it to him. Concerned, he suggested, ¡°Perhaps you should quit. You may not be tired, but seeing it pains me.¡± Emily¡¯s response was heartfelt. ¡°One must try to stand on their own. My singing career is over, but I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll find my worth elsewhere.¡± Secretly, she was eager to leave, but Oliver¡¯s words motivated her to demonstrate her resilience. ¡°Emily, your strength sometimes hurts me, but I¡¯m d I chose you,¡± Oliver said as he hugged her and reassured her. ¡°Thank you for being there for me and waking me up.¡± Violet had gotten up from her desk to go get some water. She happened to witness this scene and overhear Oliver¡¯s love confession. Her heart ached involuntarily. Despite her deration that she had let go of Oliver, she wasn¡¯t built of steel and couldn¡¯t remain unaffected. His remarks continued to sting her. She could only imagine Oliver¡¯s disdain if he discovered it was her who had stayed by his side. Shaking off these thoughts, Violet returned to her work with renewed focus. By ten o¡¯clock, Lucius had grown restless in his wait for Violet. He had even skipped his dinner, anticipating her arrival. Yet, there was no sign of her. Unustomed to waiting, his irritation and hunger intensified. He abruptly grabbed his coat and stormed out. Violet was deeply engrossed in her work, and lost track of time. Of course, she had forgotten her earlier promise to Lucius too. Bang! The office¡¯s ss door shattered under a fierce kick. Violet was startled enough by the loud bang that she nearly knocked herputer off the desk. She instinctively covered her head and prepared to flee, believing it was a robbery. Then, she saw the man standing at the door. He stood among the shattered ss, his expression grave, as if about to eat someone. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 +15 BONOS Lucius¡¯s actions surprised Violet. She cried out in rm, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Silent and determined, he grasped her firmly. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Ignoring her pleas, Lucius marched forward with long steps, straight for a special passage. He was seemingly indifferent to her protests. Fear engulfed Violet as she struggled to understand his motives. The special passage was brightly lit and harshly illuminated his face, revealing his icy demeanor. Trying to break free, she stopped when he violently shattered amp on the wall. She finally quieted down, panted, and scowled at him. Fresh blood dripped from his fingertips, falling to the floor drop¨Cby¨Cdrop. His face was dark and brooding, but he showed no signs of pain, as if his hand had be severed from his nerves. Lucius then released her, his voice heavy with emotion. ¡°Do I mean nothing to you?¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Confused and unsure of how to respond. She was ovee with sympathy as she stared nkly at his wounded hand. He pressed for an answer, ¡°Speak!¡± Hesitantly, she asked, ¡°What do you expect me to say?¡± ¡°Define what I represent in your life!¡± What did Lucius mean to her? Agatha had already taken up residence in his heart. What would he do if she dered her feelings or love for him? Surely, he would mock her. ¡°In reality, we don¡¯t have any rtionships, do we?¡± she responded cautiously, ¡°Really?¡± His reply wasced with a bitter resignation. He nodded, a cold smirk crossing his face, and agreed. ¡°You¡¯re right. We¡¯re nothing to each other.¡± Then, he walked away, leaving her standing alone and rooted to the spot, until he disappeared from sight. She felt uneasy as she nced at the puddle of blood on the floor. She returned to her office to pack her belongings and went home because she was no longer in the mood to work. As she reached the door, she recalled her forgotten promise to join him for a drink. In the midst of 123 +15 BONOS He must be upset, she reasoned. He was a proud and aloof man, yet she had ignored him. Why was there such a huge gap between them? Lucius was like the sun shining brightly in the sky in Violet¡¯s mind, desirable yet unattainable. A call from George that night abruptly woke Violet up. ¡°Ms. Violet, can youe over now?¡± ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± ¡°Master Lucius. He¡¯s injured and refuses to be bandaged. Please, we need your help.¡± George¡¯s urgent request jolted her awake. It had been hours since they parted. ¡°Has the wound been open all this time?¡± she asked, concerned. ¡°Yes, and his blood clotting is poor. He could bleed out without medicines and bandaging.¡± These final words worried Violet. She leaped out of bed and dashed out the door, forgetting to change her clothing in her haste. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Naomi asked after being awakened by themotion. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Violet assured her, though she was already rushing out the door. Stepping outside, Violet immediately felt the chill against her thinly¨Cd body, but there was no time to dwell on it. She raised her hand to g down a cab. ¡°Ms. Violet,¡± called a voice from a car that had just stopped before her, driven by an unknown driver. ¡°Mr. George sent me for you,¡± he exined, offering her a phone. George¡¯s voice confirmed the arrangement, expressing gratitude for her presence. Without hesitation, Violet entered the vehicle, which took her to the most opulent hotel in the city. There, she was ushered into a penthouse, where George and Lucius awaited. Upon seeing Violet, George expressed relief. ¡°Ms. Violet, I¡¯m d you can make it.¡± He led her to the room where Lucius was. Lucius was clutching a ss of wine in one hand, his other hand was bandaged, and blood oozed through it and dropped to the floor. +15 BONOS The doctor present seemed reluctant to approach. Lucius¡¯s eyes briefly softened upon seeing Violet, then turned icy. ¡°Why are you here?¡± he questioned coldly. Ignoring his query, Violet walked over and was concerned about his injury. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let the doctor treat you?¡± Lucius pulled away and stated, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± ¡°What do you mean, it¡¯s none of my concern? What would I do if something were to happen to you? Violet¡¯s words were blurted out impulsively. This unexpected confession surprised both of them. She hadn¡¯t expected herself to voice such deep concern. Puzzled, Lucius sought rification. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She avoided giving him a clear answer. She sought for his hand once more, and said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for losing track of time. Please allow the doctor to stop the bleeding.¡± He remained motionless, insistent on a clear response from Violet. Violet¡¯s strength weakened at the sight of the blood, and she muttered, ¡°I feel dizzy.¡± ¡°Hurry up and bandage it!¡± Lucius said, softening his stance and ring at the doctor. The doctor approached promptly with the necessary medical supplies. As Violet tenderly held Lucius¡¯s hand to alleviate his difort, she inadvertently pressed her chest against his clenched fist. Sensing the soft contact, Lucius looked up sharply, his face clouding over with displeasure. Chapter 133 Chapter 133 He bellowed, ¡°Everyone, get out!¡± The others were perplexed and hesitated toply. Seeing Lucius¡¯s fiery gaze on her, Violet thought silently, what now? ¡°Get out!¡± Everyone quickly left, including Violet, who fled in fear of his rising rage. ¡°Why are you leaving?¡± Lucius yanked her back. ¡°Haven¡¯t you had enough people stare at you?¡± His gaze then drifted to her chest. It was only then that Violet became acutely aware of her attire¨Cpajamas without a bra. Embarrassed, she blushed deeply and turned away, attempting to cover herself. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to hide in front of me,¡± he remarked wryly. Violet wished she could vanish. ¡°Call the driver in!¡± Lucius gave themand to George over the phone. George quickly confirmed the driver¡¯s presence at the door. Violet was nearly knocked over as Lucius threw a coat over her. He wrapped her securely in the coat, pulling her close to him. As the driver entered, Lucius interrogated, ¡°What were you staring at when you drove her here?¡± The driver hesitated. He was unsure what he had done wrong. He responded, ¡°On the road.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t look back?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lucius appeared doubtful about the response. ¡°He really didn¡¯t look at me,¡± Violet assured. The driver wasn¡¯t paying attention to her since he was concentrating on driving, which was understandable given the urgency of the situation. Violet¡¯s assurances led Lucius to dismiss the driver, who left the room perplexed and scratching She was confused about Lucius¡¯s reaction to her attire. +15 BONOS Why was he so upset about her attire? Could it be that he had feelings for her? Was that even possible? Perhaps his sentiments for her wereparable to his feelings for other women in the past. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re not allowed to go out dressed like that!¡± he warned. Violet nodded as she was brought back to reality. No one would go out like that under normal circumstances. ¡°Your bleeding hasn¡¯t stopped yet, let¡¯s call the doctor back in.¡± ¡°Do you really care about me?¡± he asked with a smile. Violet¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she exined, ¡°I just¡­ I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll lose too much blood. It was, after all, my fault.¡± His cheerful mood quickly soured, and he roared, ¡°I won¡¯t die!¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Violet was afraid to say anything else. ¡°Fix it!¡± He shoved the medication the doctor had ced in her hands. She bravely gave the medicine to his bloody wound, not wanting him to bleed to death. She finally came to a stop when all the medicine had covered his wound. The medication worked quickly, and the bleeding stopped. ¡°Why would you refuse to treat your wound?¡± Violet asked, still shaken. ¡°I¡¯m irritated!¡± Lucius snapped, pulling a long face. He then reclined on a lounge chair, pulling her into his arms. ¡°I need to leave,¡± she said quietly. He wouldn¡¯t let go, closing his eyes as if he were exhausted. ¡°I¡¯ll get a fever soon.¡± Violet¡¯s initial disbelief turned to concern when she felt his feverish body. She felt agitated, and attempted to push him away. ¡°Lucius, stop it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯m tired.¡± +15 BONOS His eyes were closed, and the longshes cast gentle shadows over his face, creating an image of childlike innocence. Violet gave up trying to escape from his arms when she saw how vulnerable he appeared. She felt the intense heat emanating from his body. Initially, she thought it was from their close contact, but a touch to his forehead revealed he was feverish. Violet panicked, and tried to leave to get George. Lucius awoke, and refused to let go. He gripped her firmly, and drew her back into his hold. ¡°You have a fever,¡± she said quietly. He hummed, ¡°I¡¯m used to it.¡® ¡°People don¡¯t get used to fevers,¡± she replied, concerned about his high fever. ¡°It¡¯ll go away on its own. Don¡¯t leave. Let me hold you.¡± Lucius nestled his head into her neck, his tone beseeching and childlike. Don¡¯t go, don¡¯t leave me alone.¡± Her heart melted at his plea. She embraced him, and promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave. I¡¯ll be here for you.¡± Content with her assurance, Lucius drifted back to sleep with a smile. The fever went away within a few hours, as he predicted. Both were soaked in sweat, their clothing clinging to their bodies in a tight embrace. Their bodies pressed closely against each other, leaving no space between them. Violet¡¯s heart fluttered, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat against her, heightening her nervousness to breathe properly. Suddenly, Lucius rolled over and trapped her beneath him. ¡°Lucius!¡± she screamed in terror. He remained still, holding her close, before falling asleep once more. Violet found it difficult to breathe under his weight. She felt his hot breathing on her neck, which burned her and made her feel like she was boiling on the inside. ¡°Wake up! You need to take a shower,¡± she said, attempting to wake him. Lucius briefly opened his eyes, but upon realizing their proximity, he closed them again. He appeared to love the softness of her body. Violet pushed against him, trying to free herself. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± he growled softly, his breath warm against her neck. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Violety motionless when she sensed his arousal. The night stretched on without further incident. Come morning. Violet woke alone in bed. Lucius had used her as a mattress the night before, but he was long gone. She rolled over, her body aching as if it were ready to fall apart. A testament to being squeezed under someone weighing more than a hundred kilograms all night. Regrettably, it was a workday. Violet struggled to get up. Her hands worked to soothe the ache in her shoulders and back as she made her way out. George greeted her with a warm smile. ¡°Ms. Violet, did you sleep well?¡± Violet gazed at the butler, wondering if it seemed like she had gotten a good night¡¯s sleep. George gave a knowing grin, but his eyes lingered on her for a long time. Realizing his potential misinterpretation, Violet quickly set things straight, exining, ¡°Lucius was ill. I was merely caring for him, nothing more.¡± George stayed deafeningly silent. He took a step forward to set the table for breakfast. ¡°Ms. Violet, eat breakfast before you go to work,¡± he advised. ¡°The car is ready to take you to work whenever you¡¯re ready.¡± She ate with an appetite, the events of the night had left her famished. Post¨Cbreakfast, George saw her off and went on to say, ¡°Actually, Master Lucius never keeps anyone by his side, especially in his vulnerable moments.¡± Violet didn¡¯t entirely get what he was saying, her steps paused ever so slightly. George appeared grave, not joking at all. ¡°Master Lucius reserves his closepanionship for those he deeply cherishes,¡± George insinuated, suggesting that Violet held a special ce in Lucius¡¯s heart. Violet¡¯s stride hesitated at the implication. She dared not respond, but her heart pounded wildly. She wondered about the nature of Lucius¡¯s feelings for her. How cincoro warn thau +15 BONOS did theypare to his past romantic involvements? ¡°Trust me, Ms. Violet. I¡¯ve watched Master Lucius grow up since he was a child. I know his personality well. He¡¯s been with many, but you¡¯re the only person he¡¯s ever shown open affection for.¡± George¡¯s statements shocked her, and appeared surreal. She reasoned that Lucius must have had strong feelings for Agatha. How could George im she was the only one Lucius liked? Restless. Violet entered the car. Her unease deepened as Lucius didn¡¯t seek her out at work, stirring feelings of concern and uncertainty within her. She couldn¡¯t deny the impact George¡¯s remarks had on her that morning. Naturally, she was also worried about his health. His physique didn¡¯t appear to be as robust as it appeared on the outside. At the very least, his stomach was weak. Then, his bleeding led to a high fever, which she found abnormal. These thoughts consumed her, rendering her unable to focus, and her workday passed unproductively. Later, Oliver arrived at the office to collect Emily. Violet didn¡¯t notice until Emily called her. She looked up, and found them standing together and beaming at her. ¡°Join us, Violet.¡± Emily came back to invite Violet despite her refusal the day before, but it was all a ruse. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Violet waved her hand dismissively at them. ¡°You guys should go ahead without me.¡± Yet, Oliver echoed Emily¡¯s invitation. ¡°Come along with us, Violet.¡± Violet¡¯s expression was one of disbelief, suspecting she had misheard. Ever.since Emily lost her voice, this man had never shown her kindness. Emily seemed happy that Oliver had extended his invitation. She promptly said, ¡°I¡¯ll go get the car.¡± She seized the keys from Oliver, who didn¡¯t object. Their istion seemed deliberate, leaving Violet wondering why Emily would trust her alone with Oliver. Oliver walked ahead silently, with Violet trailing behind. She nced upstairs as they moved through the corridor. +15 BONOS ¡°When ites to her work, Emily is severelycking. I hope you can help her,¡± Oliver requested calmly. Violet responded with a simple smile. ¡°You¡¯re her sister. You have manyints, but keep in mind why she got into this situation,¡± he remarked. His tone grew less cordial. Oliver couldn¡¯t figure out why he felt the need to be cruel and mean to her, but her abandonment was a thorn in his side. Violet¡¯s face grew pale, and she asked, ¡°How long will you view me negatively?¡± ¡°How should I view you? The facts are right in front of me. How should I interpret it? Or, how content are you with the way I think about you?¡± he challenged. Violet was at a loss for words, and eventually warned, ¡°Don¡¯t think too badly of me, or you¡¯ll regret it!¡± She then abruptly left. Oliver hesitated before reaching out to stop her. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°What exactly do I mean? Are you truly interested?¡± Violet gave him a chilly stare. She wouldn¡¯t have be upset if he hadn¡¯t kept bugging her, and that secret could have remained concealed forever, but he had to ask. His gaze grew intense and demanded, ¡°I need a clear exnation.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you! There¡¯s nothing to hide here, you-¡± ¡°Oliver!¡± Their confrontation was cut off by Emily, who rushed over, leaning on Oliver for support. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 +15 BONOS ¡°The car won¡¯t start, what should we do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take a look,¡± Oliver said, casting a meaningful nce at Violet before he walked away with the keys. Emily was visibly upset and gazed resentfully at Violet. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Violet thought the scenario amusing, and retorted, ¡°What could I possibly do?¡± She looked at Emily coldly, unafraid and unnerved. Emily¡¯s face was filled with concern and fear, and she was on the brink of copsing. ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Violet scored. Emily finally broke down, and imed fiercely, ¡°You better don¡¯t tell him nonsense. Oliver is mine, and no one can take him from me!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re so sure he can¡¯t be taken, why the outburst?¡± Violet pointed it out. Violet saw through Emily¡¯s victim facade. Her behavior and expressions raised suspicions. Her words and expressions were already questionable. Anyone who cared about Oliver would have realized something was off. Emily bit her tongue, hard. Those who do horrible things, they say, always fear being discovered, and she was in that predicament. Emily turned away, attempting to calm herself. ¡®I¡¯m not upset. I just don¡¯t want you to bother Oliver unnecessarily. We¡¯re getting engaged, you know.¡± Violet was about to say, ¡°When did I ever bother him?¡± However, she noticed a tall, distinguished figure standing around the corner. The expression on his face was indecipherable. It was Lucius. The man upied Violet¡¯s thoughts throughout the day. She wondered if he had overheard their conversation. Given their proximity, he likely did. Violet was worried about Lucius¡¯s reaction to Emily¡¯s allegations of her pursuing Oliver. She feared he might view her negatively. +15 BONOS The situation caught her off guard. Violet had fallen into a daze, uncertain of how to proceed in the unexpected situation. Emily had her back to Lucius. She had no idea someone else was there. Violet¡¯s silence led Emily to believe Violet had acknowledged her suspicions. Her expression darkened. ¡°Violet, remember your ce.¡± she admonished. ¡°Also, Oliver saw everything you did at the hotel. He¡¯d never be able to develop feelings for you. Stop making up stories and stay out of my rtionship with Oliver if you don¡¯t want to embarrass yourself.¡± This confrontation threatened to negatively impact Violet¡¯s reputation yet again. After delivering her warning, Emily walked past Violet and made her way to the elevator. When Violet looked for Lucius again, she found that he had disappeared, leading her to believe he might share Emily¡¯s disdain. George¡¯s remarks from the morning, that Lucius liked her, had lost their meaning. Violet dashed into the elevator before it closed. Not expecting her to follow, Emily was taken aback by her appearance. Violet stood slightly taller than Emily. She looked down at her from above and warned, ¡°I¡¯m warning you, stop going around saying I¡¯m trying to steal Oliver from you. If you keep it up, I will reveal the truth. When it happens, who knows what Oliver will think of you?¡± Actually, she had no illusions regarding Oliver¡¯s affections, especially since he had stated clearly that even if it wasn¡¯t Emily who cared for him, he would be devoted to Emily. On the other hand, Lucius overhearing Emily¡¯s remarks had wounded her pride. Her response was more about setting the record straight. Emily clenched her fists in a mix of anger and fear, too afraid to say another word. The elevator stopped on the lower first floor. Oliver was waiting in his car, and honked at them. Violet turned away, as if she hadn¡¯t heard anything. Emily reacted by running toward the car, as if she was being saved. Violet caught a fleeting glimpse of Emily seekingfort in Oliver¡¯s embrace, her frustration pouring out as she leaned against him. Oliver tenderly held Emily in his arms, and showered her with affection. +15 BONOS Violet observed this with a smile tinged with sadness, and mused, ¡°One day, Oliver, you¡¯ll realize you¡¯re embracing a deceitful woman.¡± As Oliver drove past Violet, he didn¡¯t acknowledge her, his focus solely on the road, as though she Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. were a stranger to him. Violet surmised that Emily had already spoken ill of her. She shrugged helplessly. She had epted they had walked on different paths and the irrelevance of her connection to them. When Emily returned home, she raced to her mother, distraught and tearful. ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t you say someone had taken care of her? Why is she still alive and bossing me around? She threatened to tell Oliver everything. If she does, Oliver will surely¡­ Do you realize how scared I am?¡± Upon further conversation, Belle was stunned to learn that Violet remained unscathed and was even working at the samepany as Emily. ¡°You assured me she¡¯d be trapped there, her life ruined. But she doesn¡¯t seem affected at all. It feels like I¡¯m the one being destroyed by her,¡± Emily cried. Belle was equally angry and bewildered. ¡°How can this be? I was certain she had been dealt with and sold off for arge sum,¡± Belle said, perplexed. ¡°A huge sum?¡± At this revtion, Emily ceased her tears and turned to her mother. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Belle nodded gently, saying, ¡°I was told by the man who delivered her to the auction house that she was sold for ten billion.¡± ¡°Ten billion!¡± Emily eximed. She pondered in disbelief, thinking about the enormity of ten billion. Even her family, who ran a ¡°Are you sure you heard that right?¡± she asked. Belle admitted, ¡°Initially, I doubted it too. But the incident created a massive stir that night. People are still talking about it. It must be genuine.¡± ¡°Violet, worth ten billion?¡± Emily¡¯s jealousy had reached new heights. Her sister was beautiful, but ten billion dors? Even if her beauty topped all other women on the Belle spected, ¡°Who knows? Maybe some wealthy old men, flush with cash and nowhere to spend it, fell for her charm.¡± To be honest, Belle was envious of this finding. She viewed Violet as nothing extraordinary. Why would anyone pay ten billion for her? Belle had withheld this information from Emily until she could verify it, finding the concept of purchasing someone for such a sum to be dubious to her. Emily grasped the meaning in Belle¡¯s words, and wondered, ¡°So, an elderly man bought her?¡± Belle neither confirmed nor denied it, as the buyer¡¯s identity was concealed behind a mask when he went on stage. His identity, age, and other details remained unknown. She reasoned, ¡°It¡¯s a simple guess. How many young men can afford to spend ten billion dors on a woman? If they could, they wouldn¡¯t need to. There are plenty of women willing to be with them for free. It¡¯s likely an old man nearing his end, with more money than he can use.¡± Belle¡¯s analysis was reasonable. Emily¡¯s envy had finally gone, but she was still bitter about the oue. ¡°Violet¡¯s luck to fetch ten billion is astonishing! I doubt she¡¯s worth even ten thousand! But now that she has been sold, it means Oliver is now avable for me,¡± Emily thought, findingfort in the idea. Even though Oliver was merely a painter, the influence and power of his family¡¯s business were 143 +15 BONOS dors for any business transaction. In this context, a sum of ten billion seemed minorpared to Oliver¡¯s worth. This realization provided some relief for Emily. A voice cut them off their conversation. ¡°What are you talking about? Who¡¯s being sold and bought?¡± Patrick entered the room, his expression grim and serious, catching the mother and daughter off guard and causing them to turn pale. He wore a stern expression. ¡°Who are you talking about being sold?¡± It was clear from his questioning that he had heard enough to ask for more information. Emily was well aware of her father¡¯s strict demeanor. She was visibly shaken and nervous. In contrast, Belle maintained herposure and quickly assumed a shameless expression on her face. She disclosed, ¡°Who else but your precious daughter? I never imagined she¡¯d stoop to such shameless and dishonorable behavior. Not only did she defying back home, but she even resorted to selling herself.¡± Patrick¡¯s face darkened further at these usations. Emily tugged on Belle¡¯s clothes, and urged, ¡°Mom, stop it.¡± ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I say it? How many times have you tried to reason with her? Did she ever heed your advice?¡± Patrick sought confirmation. ¡°Is this true?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± The affirmation came from Oliver, who had followed Patrick from behind. Oliver inhaled deeply to relieve the pain in his chest. When he spotted Violete out of someone else¡¯s room that day, he wanted to strangle her. He also checked thereafter, and confirmed that Violet was purchased by someone. However, he didn¡¯t pay attention to the specifics and chose not to delve deeper, preferring to distance himself from any further heartache associated with Violet. ¡°Emily tried to persuade her toe home,¡± Oliver stated, ¡°but she didn¡¯t want to.¡± +15 BONOS This truth irritated him even more. What was she getting herself into for refusing toe home? In a moment of frustration, Patrick mmed the shoe cab forcefully, nearly causing the artwork above to fall. Before he strode into the room, he said gruffly, ¡°Forget about her!¡± Oliver observed the impact of Patrick¡¯s blow. Patrick, like him, was heartbroken and hurt by Violet¡¯sck of self¨Crespect. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. In fac Oliver¡¯s appearance caught Emily off guard. Herplexion became noticeably pale and didn¡¯t recover despite a long time. The extent of what Oliver had overheard was uncertain, especially if he became aware of their involvement in the matter. ¡°Oliver¡­¡± she uttered his name softly. His demeanor softened as he turned to face Emily. Oliver brushed her hair tenderly, and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t stress over Vivi¡¯s problems. Focus on taking care of yourself.¡± At that moment, Emily was the sole focus of his gaze and attention. Rxed, Emily let go of her apprehension, and nodded obediently. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Oliver, would you like to stay for dinner?¡± Belle quickly approached him, extending the invitation. He shook his head. ¡°No, thank you. I have othermitments. I was just dropping Uncle Patrick off.¡± With those words, Oliver exited the room. Lucius remained absent, as though he had disappeared from Violet¡¯s life, not even bothering to call. This made Violet acutely aware that he was taking Emily¡¯sments seriously, likely repulsed by her actions. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Violet felt devastated, engulfed in a deep sadness. Then, her phone unexpectedly rang. She nced at it, half¨Cexpecting Lucius, but saw Oliver¡¯s name instead. Knowing Oliver¡¯s call wouldn¡¯t bring good news, she decided not to answer. Oliver didn¡¯t call again. Instead, a different number appeared. Violet answered tentatively. ¡°Hello, Ms. Violet. I¡¯m Mr. Wickham¡¯s driver. Could you pleasee to Ind Cafe?¡± Although puzzled, Violet recognized the driver¡¯s number and voice. She prepared herself, and informed Naomi before leaving. Instead of the driver, her father met her at Ind Cafe. The sight of him caused Violet¡¯s heart to ache sharply. She pondered the meaning behind her father contacting her through his driver. Patrick sat in a private booth, his face somber and devoid of any emotion upon seeing Violet. He didn¡¯t even bother to greet her. Violet was unsettled, yet there was a small sense of relief that her father cared enough to meet her. Her anger and resentment quietly melted away as she softly called out, ¡°Dad.¡± Patrick, without a word, stood up and raised his hand. p! In a swift motion, he pped her face. Stunned, Violet couldn¡¯t fathom what she had done to deserve such treatment. ¡°This p is to repay you for all the kindness I¡¯ve shown in raising you. From now on, we¡¯re even,¡± he announced coldly. Violet was overwhelmed with that p. She leaned weekly against the wall, feeling a deep chill. Patrick departed without a backward nce, his purpose in meeting her was solely to deliver that p. +15 BONOS Violet¡¯s tears clouded her vision. Her heart shattered into pieces with that p and was beyond repairable. She bit her lip, wanting to question him, but her voice was too hoarse to speak. Her father¡­ The driver who escorted Violet gave Patrick a look of disapproval before softly addressing him.¡± Boss!¡± Patrick responded curtly with a singlemand, ¡°Leave!¡± They then exited the caf¨¦. Violet remained in the private room for an unknown amount of time. Her tears flowed uncontrobly down her cheeks, feeling forsaken by the world. The following day, Violet arrived at the office, the mark of the p visible on her face. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Upon entering, she encountered Emily. Emily noticed the bruises on her face, and said concernedly, ¡°Oh, Violet, your face¡­¡± Violet, indifferent, simply shrugged and continued on her way. Oliver, who had driven Emily to work, watched with a conflicted look in his eyes, yet remained silent. Emily spected aloud, ¡°Dad said he was going to meet Violetst night. Could he be the one who hit her?¡± She acted shocked and distressed on the outside, but she was overjoyed on the inside. She had long wanted to p Violet herself. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have said those things about Violet.¡± Oliver stepped in to console Emily, assuring her, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Emily covered her face, and whispered, ¡°I feel so terrible, Oliver.¡± Her reaction contrasted sharply with Violet¡¯s indifferent demeanor, reinforcing Oliver¡¯s belief that he had made the right decision. He concluded that a girlcking self¨Crespect and dignity wasn¡¯t worthy of his affection. He resolved not to dwell on her, but to move on decisively. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside, or you¡¯ll bete,¡± he gently prompted Emily. Emily nodded and proceeded towards her office. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of glee upon seeing Violet standing at a distance, almostughing at her plight. +15 BONOS The mother¨Cdaughter duo had spent the night worrying about Patrick¡¯s intentions for meeting Violet, and now, they had their answer. Strangely, Emily found Violet¡¯s misery gratifying. The office was abuzz with whispers and gossip. Violet had been focused on her work and not one to pay attention to gossip, but she noticed the peculiar look in her colleagues¡® eyes, as if they were specting something. It was only in the pantry, a hotspot for office gossip, that she realized the nature of the rumors. ¡°I never would have guessed. Violet always seemed so nice and innocent, yet she¡¯s caught up in such scandals.¡± ¡°Going after her sister¡¯s man, how low can you get?¡± ¡°Not just low, it¡¯s downright shameful!¡± Violet pushed open the door, causing the gossipers to fall silent. With a scornful grin on her face, one of the colleagues mockingly mimed, zipping her lips. Violet confronted the girl who had been the most venomous in her remarks. ¡°Did you actually see me steal someone¡¯s husband?¡± she asked coldly, not one to take things. lying down. Unfazed by being caught gossiping, the woman stood her ground, retorting. ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t want people to know, you shouldn¡¯t have done it. And I happened to see you and your sister in conversation.¡± It dawned on Violet that not only had Lucius witnessed her exchange with Emily, but this woman. had seen everything too. ¡°Really? How fortunate for you,¡± Violet responded dismissively, her thoughts drifting to Lucius, no longer wishing to justify herself. She abandoned the idea of getting water and left the pantry. Behind her, the whispers continued, ¡°Did you hear about how her sister lost her voice? Rumor has it¡­¡± She surmised that Emily must have spread the story. In her cubicle, Emily was busy, still facing judgment from her peers. When she saw Violet, Emily approached with an air of innocence, calling out, ¡°Violet¡­¡± Chapter 138 Chapter 138 +15 BONOS ¡°Mind dropping your act?¡± Violet asked sharply, her tone dripping with disdain. ¡°You¡¯re overdoing it.¡± Emily¡¯s face morphed into one of sorrow as her eyes quickly filled with tears. ¡°I never intended any harm¡­ I don¡¯t want us to be at odds,¡± she pleaded. ¡°Losing your voice isn¡¯t a major issue. Many actresses aren¡¯t known for their voices, right?¡± Violet remarked, indirectly mocking Emily for having the talent to be an actress. Pretending to not understand, Emily covered her face and wept. ¡°Violet. I¡¯m so tired. Why must you keep antagonizing me?¡± Tired of Emily¡¯s charade, Violet walked away. Soon, rumors spread about Violet¡¯s entanglement with her sister¡¯s fianc¨¦. Estelle¡¯s view of Violet shifted as well. Violet struggled to defend herself. She hadn¡¯t chased after Oliver, yet she couldn¡¯t deny her past. feelings for him. Feeling uneasy under Estelle¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, Violet was subtly warned by Estelle during a design submission. ¡°Vivi, this isn¡¯t a bigpany, but we must be conscious of our image.¡± Estelle cautioned. Violet recognized her implication. Because her manager was one of the few people who believed. in her, she found Estelle¡¯s remarks to be depressing. ¡°I never pursued anyone¡¯s fianc¨¦,¡± she softly said. Estelle¡¯s gaze was on Violet¡¯s facial bruise, neither fully believing nor doubted her statement. ¡°Things happen for a reason. If it were just one incident, it might be seen as a misunderstanding. But multiple¡­¡± Estelle¡¯s remark trailed off, leaving Violet disheartened. Clearly, her manager didn¡¯t believe her either. ¡°Return to work,¡± Estelle directed. Leaving Estelle¡¯s office. Violet couldn¡¯t hold back her tears. She quickly wiped them, not wanting to seem overly upse?. Estelle¡¯s assistant informed Violet in the afternoon that she was no longer required to work on her current design draft. Someone else had been assigned the assignment. This seemed to imply that Violet had been sidelined in the workce, and that she might lose her job shortly. Violet shrugged helplessly, devastated at the possibility of losing her job. ¡°Violet!¡± Estelle called out at day¡¯s end, curiosity sparkled in her eyes. ¡°The President wishes to see you.¡± Other whispers inevitably reached Violet¡¯s ears. ¡°She¡¯s rumored to be a working girl. Is our president her client?¡± ¡°Perhaps. No one¡¯s seen our president, but she¡¯s been summoned frequently.¡± Violet wiped her tears, and resolved to confront the president about these private meetings. Upstairs, Lucius was in the President¡¯s Office. Violet scowled at him in dissatisfaction. She wondered if this man had nothing better to do than keep showing her. He even used the president¡¯s name to summon her, further tarnishing her already soiled reputation. Lucius¡¯s initially calm eyes darkened when he set eyes on her. He drew her close, his gaze intense, and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± His question was directed at the bruise on her face. Violet nervously touched it, tilting her head in silence. ¡°Who did this?¡± Lucius asked, his fury rising as he demanded an exnation. She didn¡¯t want to bring up the incident with her father, which had left her both ashamed and heartbroken. Violet lied, saying, ¡°I bumped into something.¡± ¡°Do you really expect me to believe that those finger marks came from bumping into something?¡± Lucius challenged her, clearly skeptical of her exnation. Violet remained motionless, knowing full well that bumping into something wouldn¡¯t result in such marks. His frustration was evident, and hemanded, ¡°Tell me the truth!¡± N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. While he was saying this, he gripped her waist and pulled her into an intimate position on hisp. +15 BONOS Violet struggled briefly, but Lucius gave her a menacing look. Reluctantly, she remained seated on hisp, confessing. ¡°It was my father.¡± ¡°And why would he strike you?¡± She wished she knew the answer. ¡°Maybe he thinks I¡¯m misbehaving.¡± ¡°Good that you know!¡± Violet¡¯s mind raced back to when Lucius had overheard Emily¡¯s usations against her. She felt her cheeks burn with shame. Trying to escape his hold, she protested, ¡°If you had any sense, you¡¯d stay away from me!¡± Her anger surprised even herself, leaving her feeling embarrassed and on the edge of tears. unwilling to show her vulnerability in front of Lucius. Lucius gripped her waist tightly, refusing to let go despite her struggle. Violet eventually became weary, and gave up with her attempt to escape his hold. She was defeated and began to sob, asking, ¡°Why does everyone enjoy seeing me suffer? What have I done?¡± ¡°Who said you did anything wrong?¡± Lucius finally loosened his grip, shifting from a forceful grip to a moreforting embrace. Violet was ovee with emotion. She sobbed, burying her face in his chest. He showed a hint of irritation at his tear¨Cstained shirt, but this woman clung to him as if he were her sole support, demonstrating her dependency on him. His struggle to push her away eventually turned into an embrace. He felt a sense of satisfaction at being needed. Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Violet calmed down after crying for a long time. Still in his embrace, she spoke up. ¡°I liked him once, but I never pursued him.¡± Lucius felt a twinge of unease at her confession. He became concerned by Violet¡¯s obsession with that man. ¡°Why are you here so often? Aren¡¯t you busy? Do you know my boss?¡± Violet questioned him, puzzled by his frequent visits. That was the only thing she could think of. For her, the mere fact that Lucius knew thepany¡¯s president was amazing, the fact that he owned thepany was beyond her.. Lucius¡¯s rage erupted in response to her remarks. What brought him here? Did she not understand anything? Of course, as proud as he was, he refused to reveal the true reason. He grumbled, ¡°Your designs aren¡¯t terrible, but why are you such a fool?¡± Frustrated, Violet wiped her eyes, exining. ¡°I¡¯ve dedicated a lot of time to my art.¡± She had devoted countless hours to the library and dorm, working tirelessly to ovee her innate limitations and to remain near Oliver. ¡°Why did you work so hard on learning to draw?¡± Lucius probed, not easily duped. His question caught Violet off guard, and she had no idea what to say. ¡°For your crush?¡± he pushed, seeing right through her. Violet bit her lower lip and remained silent. He used, ¡°How can you im you haven¡¯t pursued another man¡¯s man? Isn¡¯t this some kind of pursuit?¡± She was speechless because she had never heard such an usation before. Her apparent fixation on Oliver irritated Lucius. He retracted his hand and decided against giving Violet the USB stick, which contained proof of Emily¡¯s deceitful acts. ording to George¡¯s research, Oliver might have had affection for Violet, but Lucius was no longer entirely convinced by this and chose caution. +15 BONOS ¡°What are your colleagues¡® rumors about you?¡± he asked, diverting the conversation from her personal feelings. There was no need to disclose that information to Lucius, because he wasn¡¯t close to her. Violet shook her head, and answered, ¡°Nothing.¡± Lucius didn¡¯t push the issue, and got up to leave. Believing the discussion was over, Violet also prepared to exit the office. ¡°Come back here immediately!¡± Lucius¡¯s voice thundered. Violet spun around at the doorway, startled to see Lucius clutching an ice pack. His eyes were icy and stern. She returned to him with reluctance. He walked over to the sofa and sat down, motioning for her to join him. Obediently, Violet sat down. ¡°Your face is so swollen, it¡¯s rming. Do you really intend to go out and frighten people looking like that?¡± hemented scornfully. Violet felt a surge of anger. While her face was swollen, it certainly didn¡¯t reach an rming state. Before she could retort, the ice pack was pressed forcefully against her face. The pressure aggravated the pain on her injured face, causing her to instinctively pull away. Lucius kept pressing down on her, holding her in ce. ¡°Ice is supposed to help with the swelling.¡± She knew that ice could reduce swelling, but Lucius¡¯s heavy¨Chanded method might just make it worse. Lucius was unskilled in providing care for others, and he used too much force, causing her teeth to tter in difort. Violet took the ice pack away from him. ¡°I can manage it myself.¡± ¡°Stay still!¡± Lucius insisted, disregarding her attempt and reapplying the ice pack. ¡°It¡¯s painful,¡± she blurted out. ¡°Good, now you understand the pain. Will you still let yourself get into such situations?¡± His rough handling was a reflection of his anger. Realizing this Violet Innked at him in confucion Wae ble annar a cinn of him worrying about her? +15 BONOS ¡°How could I have known he would hit me?¡± she responded, feeling unjustly treated. He pressed, ¡°Would knowing prevent it?¡± Lucius softened his touch with the ice pack but continued to move it impatiently around her face. Violet quietly followed his actions, feeling a sense of safety. She didn¡¯t respond. The truth was evident to her. Patrick was her father; would she be able to evade his wrath? Her heart ached at the thought of his hard stare and harsh words. Lucius noticed the sorrow in her expression. Seeing her look so pitiful and wronged, his rage subsided somewhat. He offered, ¡°Next time something like this happens, call me.¡± She wanted to know why. To help her fight her battles? But she remained silent for fear of upsetting him. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Gradually, Lucius became more adept at applying the ice, careful not to overdo it and frequently removing the pack, concerned about freezing her skin. He focused intently on her face, his movements precise. His long eyshes almost brushed her skin, and his breath was warm on her face. His attentiveness was both overwhelming and alluring. Her face involuntarily blushed in response. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 As George walked in, he was utterly speechless at the scene before him. His employer was¡­applying ice to someone¡¯s face! Could the world turn upside down? Was the Third World War underway? Opting not to disturb them, he discreetly exited the room. Lucius¡¯s adeptness made Violet aware that this man was actually proficient at this. She suspected his initial roughness was a deliberate act, a form of yful punishment. Once he was done, she covered her face andined yfully, ¡°So, you¡¯re teaming up with those people to bully me?¡± Lucius was innocent. He applied ice because he cares about her. At the question, he wondered if Violet was blind enough to see that. Unbeknownst to Violet, Lucius had quickly mastered this task with his exceptional intelligence. Initially, he had no clue about the proper way to do it. After discarding the ice pack in the bin, hemanded, ¡°Make something for me to eat.¡± In light of his earlier care, Violet obediently made her way to the fridge, which she found fully stocked Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. with various ingredients. Additionally, there was a small, well¨Cequipped kitchen area. She sighed, and began chopping up ingredients on the cutting board. Lucius felt a strange satisfaction as he watched her cook from behind. Settling down with a pillow, he turned on the TV, waiting for the meal while watching some shows. Violet nced back at him asionally, loungingfortably, and couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he was too rxed for someone in another person¡¯s office. An hourter, she served several delicious dishes, filling the room with their tantalizing aroma. Lucius dove into the meal with an enormous appetite, as if he hadn¡¯t eaten in days. Violet spected whether his earlier kindness was just a ploy driven by hunger to have her cook him a hearty meal. Knowing his delicate stomach, Violet intervened when he grabbed for his third serving of pasta. Lucius, visibly annoyed, shot her a deadly look. ¡°You¡¯re going to control how I eat now?¡± Violet was helpless in the face of his reaction. Couldn¡¯t someone who has a weak stomach be self - aware? +15 BONOS ¡°Just eat at the next meal, that¡¯s enough for now.¡± ¡°Are you going to cook for meter?¡± He was skilled at capitalizing on opportunities. She hesitantly nodded to urge him to put down his cutlery. With this promise, Lucius reluctantly agreed to let her remove the remaining dishes. After cleaning up. Violet took off her apron and wiped her hands. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Lucius¡¯s eyes, burning with a different hunger, fixated on her chest, and she dered, ¡°I¡¯m not done being hungry.¡± Violet nced anxiously at her chest, found nothing amiss, and suggested, ¡°Perhaps you should drink more water if you¡¯re still hungry.¡± He suddenly rose from the sofa and walked towards her. Violet was ovee with dread. She took an involuntary step back, but he had already closed in. ¡°I don¡¯t want water, I want you,¡± Lucius confessed, his stare bing scorching hot. Violet¡¯s heart skipped a beat as those final few words brushed against her ear. Before she could answer, his lips were gently kissing and nibbling on her earlobe. Her legs gave way, causing her to fall backward, but his firm grasp caught her. In the next instant, their lips met in a deep, passionate kiss. The unexpected kiss left Violet in shock, her instincts to resist were momentarily forgotten. Lucius deepened his fervent kiss, his passion evident. It seemed like an eternity before he released her. As he nced at her, the fire in his eyes was still burning brightly, hinting at something. Touching her lips, Violet asked in confusion, ¡°Why¡­ Why did you kiss me?¡± Lucius was ovee with the impulse to devour her right then. ¡°Can¡¯t you see why?¡± She could only shake her head, too bewildered to y along. In a fit of irritation, Lucius swept her onto the sofa, his kiss even more intense than before. It wasn¡¯t simply a kiss this time. His hands were actively setting fire to her body. Violet was caught in the storm of hie naceion weakly attamatina to nuch him away. Her offarte +15 BONOS barely affected him, as his advances were gradually softening her shields. Finally, in desperation, she bit him. ¡°Have you turned into a dog?¡± he asked, releasing her, his expression dark with anger. Shaking, Violet backed away and stammered. ¡°You¡­you¡­¡± She was painfully aware that she was dangerously close to losing control over her emotions. Violet didn¡¯t want to yearn for an unattainable love, especially since he had vowed never to love another. Hastily, she escaped the room, leaving Lucius alone. The finger marks on her cheeks faded that night, but her swollen lips were a stark reminder of their encounter. Violet avoided Naomi, fearing she might notice something was off. She locked herself in her room as soon as she went home, iming the need to work overtime. Throughout the night, the sensation of Lucius¡¯s warm breath on her neck haunted her. The next day, with eyes red from a restless night, she went to the office. The mood in the office was darker than it had been in previous days. Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Violet recalled Estelle¡¯s demeanor from the previous day, and suspected she might soon have to leave her job. She acknowledged that her straightforwardness and inability to be diplomatic were to me. If only she had yed along with Emily¡¯s charade, perhaps none of this would have urred. But instead, she had exposed Emily, inadvertently casting herself as the viin and Emily as the victim. With a sigh, she approached her workspace. ¡°Vivi,¡± came Estelle¡¯s voice,cking its usual vivacity and seeming mncholy. ¡°Ms. Ruiz.¡± Violet responded, preparing herself for the worst. Estelle gently patted her shoulder and advised, ¡°Do well in whateveres next.¡± Puzzled, Violet then noticed the box Estelle was holding..¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been let go.¡± Estelle said, her smile tinged with sadness. Violet was taken aback. Estelle had been one of the founding members of thepany. ¡°Several colleagues, not just me, were let go,¡± Estelle informed Violet. The situation baffled Estelle. Despite her confusion, as a manager, she maintained herposure in front of Violet. She approached Violet with the intention of not leaving any hard feelings behind as she exited her role. ¡°You have great potential, and you¡¯ll aplish great things,¡± Estelle said encouragingly before she departed. Soon after, Violet discovered that the other dismissed employees, including Emily, had been badmouthing her in the pantry. Emily was seen crying at her desk, visibly heartbroken. Violet, however, felt little sympathy for her, regretting more that Estelle was leaving. She suspected Lucius¡¯s involvement in the firings. Violet quickly made her way upstairs to confront Lucius. He was working in the office. +15 BONOS When he saw Violet, he raised his brows ever slightly and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did you miss me?¡± Unaffected by his cheerfulness, Violet directly questioned, ¡°Did you orchestrate the firings? How did you persuade the president to fire them?¡± Unaware that Lucius was the actual owner of thepany, she wrongly assumed that he must have pressured the president into making such a decision. Upon hearing her usations, Lucius¡¯s expression turned grave. He had expected gratitude, not confrontation. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Storms were gathering in his eyes as he pursed his lips. Violet waspletely unaware of his mood shift. ¡°Those people aren¡¯t like you,¡± she said angrily, defending the others. ¡°They relied on this job for their livelihood. How are they supposed to survive without it?¡± ¡°Are you done with your lecture?¡± he asked coldly, evidently annoyed by the confrontation. He clenched his fists, feeling his good intentions were misunderstood. ¡°I own thispany. Am I to take directives from you on personnel decisions?¡± Violet¡¯s jaw dropped in surprise, and she blurted, ¡°Thispany¡­is yours?¡± He turned away, responding with a cold silence. ¡°Leave now!¡± hemanded, barely containing his anger. What an ungrateful woman! Lucius feared he might lose control of his rage if she stayed. Violet was oblivious to his growing rage. She approached him and crouched down, persisting. ¡°You mean, you own thispany? Since when?¡± She remembered the organizational chart Estelle had shown her, which didn¡¯t identify Lucius as the legal representative. Lucius was irritated. Unwilling to admit he bought thepany for her, retorted sharply. ¡°Do I need your permission to acquire apany?¡± ¡°No,¡± she murmured quietly. His harsh words felt like daggers, emphasizing their vast contrast. The distance between the +15 BONOS gxy and Earth could serve as a measure of their distance from one another. Overwhelmed by a profound sense of loss. Violet¡¯s expression darkened. Meanwhile, Lucius was seething with anger. He barely held back from forcibly removing her from his office. This vexing woman was like a thorn in his heart, causing anguish at the slightest touch. particrly when confronted with her current despondent look. His inherently cold demeanor stopped him from extending any warmth toward her. Violet retracted her hand from where it had been resting on his knee. Her voice was filled with a plea. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what their mistake was, but if it¡¯s rted to me, could you please reconsider their dismissal?¡± ¡°Do you think you¡¯re so important that I¡¯d bother doing that for you?¡± He had clearly done it for her, but his pride would not allow him to admit it. Lucius had expected a further response from Violet, but she simply whispered a quiet ¡°Oh¡± and began to leave. She was actually walking out of his office just like that. Lucius was so angry that he almost smashed the desk. He quickly sprang up and yelled, ¡°Violet. do you see me as a tool? Something to engage with when needed, and then cast aside?¡± His outburst startled Violet, who then turned around in confusion. His expression was etched with intense anger¨Che was clearly enraged. Her silence seemed to confirm his suspicions. He was on the verge of throwing her off the 25th floor. Finally, he moved quickly toward her, grabbed her arm forcefully, and demanded, ¡°Come back here! Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Violet was dizzy from Lucius¡¯s abrupt pull. She found herself copsing onto the sofa by the time she regained consciousness. Lucius towered over her. His piercing stare was murderous. Reacting instinctively, she recoiled, her eyes betraying fear. She was no stranger to his ruthless side. Her retreat only worsened his irritation. His mood soured as he used, ¡°You¡¯re here to use me, aren¡¯t you?¡± His usation had pained undertones and sounded almost childlike. Violet felt a twinge of guilt and tried to exin. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± ¡°Since you¡¯vee to use me, let¡¯s make a deal. I can spare them, but what¡¯s in it for me? What can you bring to the table to make it worthwhile?¡± Lucius then lounged on the sofa, adopting a businesslike demeanor. He sprawled his arms across the back of the sofa, appearing rxed. His earlier anger ostensibly dissipated as he started treating Violet as if she were non¨Cexistent. Violet was ovee with an unexinable sense of disappointment. She sat motionless with her head lowered, biting her lip repeatedly. He warned, ¡°My patience is limited. Those people will be gone if you don¡¯t give me a satisfactory answer within a minute!¡± Violet tasted the metallic tang of blood from biting her lip too hard. ¡°Are they not worth anything to you?¡± His tone was cold andced with mockery. ¡°If so¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean,¡± Violet interjected quickly, ¡°I have nothing to exchange, and you won¡¯t find value in anything I could offer.¡± What could she possibly give to someone who had everything? ¡°At least you¡¯re self¨Caware.¡± Lucius snorted. Violet¡¯s anguish was¡¯amplified by hisments. She bit her lip again, this time harder. +15 BONOS Lucius was drawn to the sight of blood on her lip. Instinctively, he reached out andmanded, Let go!¡± Violet was perplexed. She raised her eyes to meet his. Lucius could see the tears welling up in her eyes at that moment, and it crushed his heart. ¡°Let go!¡± he ordered again, his voice now husky and low. Abruptly, he leaned down, capturing her lips in a firm kiss. She was stunned. Violet could not understand what was going on and parted her lips in disbelief. The salty taste entered Lucius¡¯s mouth, kindling a fire within him and motivating him to deepen the kiss, iming her mouth entirely. Violet stared wide¨Ceyed at the man taking liberties in her space, bewildered by the sudden turn of events. How had things taken such an unexpected turn? Lucius¡¯s strong arms were beside her, and they pushed her further back onto the sofa. She could not keep her bnce and fell. He leaned forward, and his weight nearly crushed her. Pent¨Cup resentment drove his actions. which grew too ferocious and intense to express. Violet felt breathless, her thoughts clouding over, unsure of how to react. Eventually, she closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment. As she regained her senses, the kiss had ended. Lucius sat at the other end of the sofa, his gaze icy. ¡°Violet, you really are something, fainting from a kiss,¡± he remarked. His tone was harsh, yet his lips curled in a yful smirk, his demeanor less rigid than before. Embarrassed, Violet¡¯s cheeks reddened as she sat up. She touched her neck in disbelief. She had actually fainted. Lucius ordered unceremoniously, ¡°Stay there!¡± Still dizzy from the sudden movement, Violet gazed at him in confusion. Her mind felt as if it had shut down after passing out. Lucius bent over her, pressing her firmly against the sofa, his voice escting from impatience into a growl, ¡°Are you deaf?¡± Violet¡¯s ears twitched at the ominous tone. +15 BONOS Frozen on the sofa, shey motionless, her body rigid with tension, as she watched him defensively. Lucius was furious because he could feel her tension and wariness easily. He averted his gaze. and threatened, ¡°If you keep ring at me like that, I¡¯ll stand by my decision to fire them!¡± Unable to figure out how to appease him, Violet quickly shut her eyes. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Slightly satisfied, Lucius picked up the phone andmanded, ¡°Reinstate those who were terminated, for now.¡± Violet was pleasantly surprised by the oue. She opened her eyes and her mouth in disbelief. speechless. ¡°Where¡¯s your gratitude?¡± Lucius asked coldly after hanging up. Violet sat up and sincerely offered her thanks. ¡°Thank you.¡± He responded with a dismissive hum, ¡°Quite a simple thank¨Cyou.¡± She exined nervously, ¡°I do want to express my gratitude, but I¡¯m not sure how.¡± ¡°Give yourself to me,¡± he suggested bluntly. Violet was shocked, her mouth agape. ¡°How about that? Something wrong? Remember, I paid a billion dors for you. You couldn¡¯t refuse if I ordered you to strip and serve me right now!¡± His words, a reaction to her astonishment, were harsh. Was being with someone like him really something to feel bad about? Her expression turned somber again. Hisments had deted her spirit. She softly pinched her fingers but could not say anything. Lucius interpreted her silence as reluctance to be with him, his expression turning icy as he