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Stuart suddenly woke up. The sensual pleasure was so intense it almost devoured his mind. No man could resist such "hospitality."Alice felt his "loquat candy" had now turned into some monstrous thing. She started to doubt whether she could handle it. If it went in... would she survive? As her thoughts spiraled, the man beneath her suddenly flipped and pinned her down. A mix of ebony musk and faint alcohol rose over her- Both his rough hands gripped her waist hard, callused knuckles pressing in. He began to fight her back. She even thought he might bite her nipple off. Charles never treated her like this. Charles had always been distant with her, but this intensity-it made her feel something real. "Brother Charles."She moaned. Alice could clearly feel the man's movement freeze for a second. She opened her eyes. In the sliver of moonlight sneaking into the room, she finally saw the sharp and rebellious brow bone of the man above her. Stuart gripped her wrist tightly, his fingers digging deep. "Get out." Stuart's hoarse voice was drenched in fury... Alice was an orphan, adopted by the wealthy family, and whenever she was bullied, Charles would protect her in the name of her brother. Over the course of ten years, a love, hidden in the corners of their hearts, grew uncontrollably. It wasn't until the humid summer of her nineteenth year, in her room, that Charles personally put a star necklace around her neck. "Alice, do me a favor." Charles asked Alice to seduce Stuart, the heir of the William family, to ruin his engagement and prevent him from marrying the lady of the Green family. Everyone said that Stuart, the heir of the William family, was calculating, ruthless, and sinister. At a cruise ship banquet, Alice, holding her skirt, stumbled into his room... Stuart pinned her to the head of the bed, his fingers tracing the star necklace at her collarbone, "You are my gift sent by Charles?" Later, he personally unwrapped the "gift." Day and night, they sank deeper and deeper into obsession, unable to escape. Three months later, Stuart announced his engagement, and all of London was in an uproar! The man who had always been indifferent to women, now willing to break off his parents' arranged engagement and marry a nobody? At the engagement party, Stuart tore off the star necklace Charles had given Alice, carelessly tossed it aside, and placed a Graff pink diamond necklace around Alice's neck. "Did you feel sad when I threw your star necklace away?" Alice didn't answer. She grabbed Stuart's tie, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him. The guests screamed, and the reporters snapped photos frantically. Alice's eyes narrowed, and she turned her head toward the guests. In the crowd, Charles, who had "gotten what he wanted," tightly gripped his wine glass. His dark eyes were cold enough to freeze. He felt a sharp, uncomfortable pain in his chest as if there were needles pricking at his heart.
Alice opened the locker door, and a clear sapphire bracelet slid out.
Before she could react, a girl exclaimed, "Elizabeth's bracelet, you stole it!"
"..."
In just one morning, rumors of Alice stealing the bracelet quickly spread throughout the entire academy.
This "Tears of the Stars" bracelet was a gift from Elizabeth's father to her for her eighteenth birthday. It was auctioned at Ston's Auction House for thirty-six million, attracting media attention and becoming a hot topic.
With such a precious item stolen, if the accusation stuck, Alice would likely spend the rest of her life behind bars-both this life, the next, and the one after that...
Fortunately, the academy had yet to inform the police, taking Charles's position into consideration.
After all, Alice had grown up with The Thomas family. Though she was a sponsored student, she had been by Charles's side for eight years. Everyone knew how much Charles adored his "sister," despite not being biologically related.
A group of teachers, directors, and board members questioned Alice for the entire morning.
She explained tirelessly, but no one believed her innocence.
The dean, always skilled at smoothing over issues, said, "Alice, the women's changing room has no surveillance. Although we trust your character..."
"But in front of so many people, we all saw the bracelet fall out of your locker. It's hard to explain."
"It's okay. Since the bracelet has been found, I don't want to hold Alice accountable," Elizabeth, the owner of the bracelet, graciously said, "I believe she didn't do it on purpose. It was probably just a moment of carelessness. There's no need to involve the police. She should just apologize, and it'll be over."
Everyone turned to look at Alice in the corner.
She stood alone by the door, dressed in a school uniform just like Elizabeth, with a blazer and a white shirt inside.
Her thick black hair was casually tied up into a small bun, with a playful wave at the tips.
Her face was calm.
If it were anyone else, they would have been trembling with fear at such a situation, but she remained unflustered.
Her mental fortitude was too strong.
......
Actually, it was impossible for Alice not to be anxious inside.
From the beginning, this was a one-sided trial. She explained, but no one believed her.
Without investigation, they immediately pushed her into apologizing.
Alice was very clear that she could not let them sweep this under the rug.
A theft of such a huge amount would draw the police, and with that, media attention. The Thomas family's reputation would be at stake.
Apologizing would be equivalent to admitting the theft, and she might be kicked out of The Thomas family.
Alice didn't want to leave The Thomas family. She didn't want to return to the poor, crime-ridden fishing village, where every night she would be watched by disgusting, lecherous old men. She didn't want to live in constant fear.
She could not back down and admit to something she didn't do.
"I didn't steal anything." She looked around and calmly gazed at them. "I won't apologize for something I didn't do."
At such a moment, she couldn't show weakness, or she'd be bullied to death.
"Still stubborn? The bracelet fell out of your locker. How do you prove you didn't steal it?"
Alice looked at Elizabeth's group of friends, "I have no way to prove it, so we should call the police and let them investigate."
The school leaders exchanged glances. They didn't want to call the police.
If this became a big deal, it would affect the school's reputation and the relationship between The Green family and The Thomas family.
The situation seemed to reach a deadlock.
The dean looked helplessly at the owner of the bracelet, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth didn't want to offend Charles, so she immediately said, "This is just a small issue. There's no need to involve the police. Since Alice insists she didn't steal it, I'll believe her. Maybe she just found it. Anyway, it's been returned, and that's enough. Everyone, please disperse."
Thanks to Elizabeth's graciousness, the matter was finally brushed aside.
Some students still muttered behind her back,
"Doesn't she need to apologize for what she did?" "Mr. Charles spoils her. With all her designer clothes, why would she steal something?" "She's probably too shallow." "She's lucky that Elizabeth is so kind-hearted. If it were anyone else, she'd be in jail by now."
Alice coldly looked at the people around her, fully aware that here, she wouldn't get any fair treatment.
After the crowd dispersed, the counselor informed Alice that the school would discipline her.
Heaton Academy was London's top noble school-a cradle for entrepreneurs, politicians, and world-class artists.
Such a prestigious institution would never allow a "rotten apple" to spoil the whole bunch.
If she couldn't prove her innocence before the punishment was handed down, she would be expelled.
Alice knew it would be hard to prove her innocence, but she had to try.
This incident happened while Charles was abroad. The school knew her relationship with Charles but still didn't want to investigate the truth thoroughly. They were just going along with the flow and preparing to "discipline" her.
There was undoubtedly someone behind the scenes, scheming to frame her and drive her away.
She wasn't one to be easily manipulated.
......
Alice caught up with Elizabeth in the Duke's Hall and smiled.
"Elizabeth, thank you earlier. If it weren't for your generosity, I might have been sent to the police."
Her friends seemed to admire how she stood firm earlier in the dean's office, adamantly denying the theft and insisting on proving her innocence. But now, she suddenly switched to thanking Elizabeth as if she were a life-saver.
Elizabeth had always been good at accepting gratitude.
"It's fine," she patted Alice on the shoulder, smiling. "It's all over. Let's pretend it never happened."
"Hmm, I want to ask, how did you realize the bracelet was missing?"
"Don't ask if you already know," one of Elizabeth's friends mocked. "You stole Elizabeth's bracelet and now you're asking how it disappeared? Are you still trying to argue?"
Alice ignored the side remarks, earnestly looking at Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, please, I need to know."
Elizabeth thought for a moment before replying, "It was during dance class. I took off the bracelet and put it in my pocket. When I returned to the classroom, it was gone."
"Is it possible... it fell out and someone else picked it up?"
"I've already explained to the teachers. Even if you picked it up and didn't want to return it, it's fine. I won't pursue the matter," Elizabeth said with a pitying look. "But, you know, Alice, sometimes one should know when to stop, right?"
Picking something up and not returning it was indeed different from stealing, but Alice didn't understand what "knowing when to stop" meant.
If she hadn't done it, she wouldn't admit to it.
"Elizabeth, after you put the bracelet in your pocket and before you noticed it was gone, where did you go?"
Seeing that Alice was still stubbornly "pretending ignorance," Elizabeth's face turned colder. "The dance studio and the beautiful drink shop."
"Got it. Thanks."
After Alice left, some girls around Elizabeth commented, "Elizabeth, she stole your jewelry, and you're still talking to her like this?"
Elizabeth gently touched the fine blue bracelet on her wrist. "One mistake can lead to a lifetime of regret. It's sad she's so stubborn and unwilling to repent."
"Society will teach her a lesson," one of her friends sneered. "I still don't understand how someone like Charles can keep her by his side."
......
In Washington, USA.
After the meeting, Charles took out his phone and saw the photo sent by his friend Joyce.
The girl in the photo stood alone in the corner of the dean's office, pale and thin, with flawless skin and sharp, delicate features. There was a small, seductive red mark on her neck.
A rare beauty.
Over the years, Charles had truly "raised" her like a flower.
Joyce's voice message carried a hint of teasing, "Brother Charles, your little follower is in trouble. Shouldn't you come back?"
"I've known for a while." Charles replied calmly.
"Are you really going to sit this out? Every time she's been in trouble, haven't you always rushed to be her protector?"
"Why don't you rush down and show me how it's done?" Charles looked out at the Pentagon, its shape barely visible through the haze of sunset, and said in a calm voice, "If she can't solve this little issue on her own, she doesn't deserve to stay by my side."
......
In the dimming evening, rain fell softly, the streets dark, and raindrops scattered in the air, blown by the wind.
The weather reminded Alice of the time when she first came to London with Charles.
A poor girl from a fishing island, who had been taken in and raised by the wealthy Thomas family.
All because of Charles's mercy.
At her most helpless moment, she had encountered the kindest of saviors.
Now, she didn't have much time. If she didn't clear her name, she might be sent back to that poor, miserable island, with no future ahead.
Alice arrived at the entrance of the "Beautiful Drink Shop."
She suspected that the people who framed her didn't have the courage to directly search Elizabeth's pocket.
Most likely, the bracelet fell out, was picked up by someone, and then framed her.
It wasn't a particularly clever scheme.
Everything seemed to have happened by chance.
Previously, Alice had already tried to access the surveillance footage from the classroom but was denied.
No one would risk offending the other wealthy students at Heaton Academy just to clear a poor sponsored student like her.
The footage from the drink shop might hold a clue.
She entered the shop, saying she had left important exam materials behind and asked to check the surveillance footage.
The shop staff refused.
Alice even offered a sum of fifty thousand London pounds, but the staff remained unmoved, almost as if they had a personal grudge against money.
It was strange.
If money couldn't buy this favor, it must have been offered at a higher price by someone else.
Alice didn't have much money. Everything she had was earned through hard work, little by little.
Charles bought her designer clothes and bags, but her allowance was not substantial.
If she had more money, it might make her think of other things, but in terms of living expenses, she was far behind the other rich kids.
So, she couldn't outbid those who were framing her.
She walked out of the drink shop without leaving immediately, instead glancing around cautiously.
The rain fell lightly, pedestrians walked in small groups, umbrellas in hand.
Every now and then, someone would glance at her oddly. She didn't carry an umbrella, and the rain dampened her bangs.
Maybe it was because she had been bullied since childhood, but she gave off a vulnerable, harmless vibe, one that easily triggered a sense of protection in men.
A few boys even came over and asked if she needed an umbrella.
Alice declined.
What she needed wasn't an umbrella.
She suspected that the people who framed her were following her. Seeing her come out of the drink shop, they would likely go back in to confirm the loyalty of the shop staff.
All she needed to do was wait for the right moment.
Alice stood in the rain, walked across the street to the park, and stepped into the lush bushes, looking for a good spot to observe.
Just as she crouched down, she saw, two meters away, a girl holding a knife, the thin blade pressed against her wrist.
The girl was trembling, fearfully.
Choosing to commit suicide here? Not a bad choice of location.
The two of them made eye contact.
The girl expected Alice to stop her, but Alice simply blinked, then turned her head away.
"..."
A little awkward.
Alice ignored her and crouched down, not caring about the rain soaking her skirt or the mud staining her little shoes.
Two minutes later, she looked at the girl again, as though urging her to hurry up and not delay her own business.
The girl bit her lip. She clearly couldn't bring herself to cut her wrist. Instead, she pulled out her phone and sent a video message.
"Stuart, if you don't delete those videos, I'll die right in front of you!"
In the video, almost no one could be seen.
Only the cold white light of the lab was blinding.
Then, a voice, indifferent and dismissive, came from the video. "I'm watching."
The gentle twilight cast a soft glow on Alexander's face. His striking features seemed sculpted by the gods. He was the same age as Sunny's dad, Lucas, and yet why was Alexander so gorgeous and young? Sunny had always believed her father Lucas was already impossibly handsome. But compared to Alexander, her dad suddenly seemed dimmed. "Uncle Alexander, what are you doing here?" Alexander replied gently, "Waiting for someone."Sunny tilted her head. "Who are you waiting for?"Alexander said softly, "Someone who may never come." There was a faint sadness in his eyes as he spoke, and something about it pierced Sunny' s heart. A wave of sorrow surged through her, tightening her throat and bringing tears. Sunny asked, "If the one is never coming back, why keep waiting?"Alexander looked at her and said seriously, "Because I promised her I would." Alexander then asked, "Sunny, have you ever fallen in love with someone?"Sunny answered,"Nope. My dad doesn't let me date early."Alexander smiled faintly."I did. I fell in love young."Sunny looked at him curiously, and Alexander added with a subtle smile,"Loving her was the happiest thing in my life. She means my world." Before turning twenty, Sunny had always been the apple of her billionaire father Lucas's eyes, until he was ruined overnight by his nemesis, trillionaire Alexander, the cold-blooded rising king of Chicago. Not only did this ruthless tycoon destroy Lucas's corporation, he even took Lucas's daughter Sunny back to his luxurious mansion...Then came an accident, and Sunny was back to the time when her father Lucas was still a teenager. She watched, stunned, as her father laughed wildly, hanging out with a group of reckless boys. And there he was, gripping Alexander by the collar, patting his cheek,"Admit it, Alexander, you lost, huh?" Everyone at school knew there were two people you couldn't mess with. Lucas, the heir to a powerful family, arrogant, fierce, born to be bad; Alexander, stunning, silent, stoic, with fists as hard as steel and bones even harder. They were sworn enemies. Lately, the school prince Lucas had a teenage girl trailing behind him, named Sunny, who looked 90% like him, always following in his footsteps. One day, Lucas, completely exasperated, shoved some cash into her hands. Lucas, "This is the last time. Stop following me. We are almost the same age. I can never be your dad!" Sunny was in tears, "Dad..." After that, Sunny really stopped following him. And Lucas found himself weirdly missing Sunny. Until he saw his archenemy Alexander pinning Sunny to the wall, asking coldly, "Do you like me?"Sunny blushed. "Y-yes... I do." Lucas gaped. His Sunny, dated with his nemesis Alexander? He was so furious he nearly exploded. Alexander smirked, "Admit it, Lucas, Sunny likes me, not you." Lucas, "..."
In San Francisco, everyone knew that the always cold and aloof daughter of The Green family had married a crippled man from a wealthy family. Three years into the marriage, she remained childless, and outsiders mocked her, saying she was still a virgin. But no one knew- For three years, she had been unable to sleep every single night. Due to a car accident, a top billionaire became disabled, and his lover left for abroad. Cathy had no choice but to marry Lucas, being his wife at night and his caretaker during the day. Until one day, there was hope for his legs to recover, and his first love returned. Cathy overheard him saying that he would definitely divorce her. Cathy fulfilled her duty and took good care of him. Since he wanted a divorce, she turned and left without hesitation. Three years of marriage? She considered them a moment of misplaced responsibility-just a good deed to make up for the past.
For the three years he was my live-in husband, there was no physical contact between us. He was like my most loyal butler, servant, and caretaker. But when he became my financial backer, we were intimate all the time, indulging in passion every night. "I've been thinking about you for a long time..." In the darkness of the night, the man kissed me recklessly. He was my live-in husband. Thus, as the precious daughter of a wealthy family, I had no choice but to let this destitute man marry into my family and become my husband. Out of resentment, I humiliated him repeatedly, mistreated him, and even resorted to physical abuse. Yet, he never got angry, always maintaining the appearance of an obedient and gentle man. But just as I was slowly falling for him, he suddenly asked me for a divorce. The once gentle and submissive man turned into a cunning and terrifying figure overnight. In an instant, my family fell into ruin, while he rose to power. The man I once trampled underfoot had transformed into my financial backer.
The Tragic Fate of Alex, the Rise of Diana The head of the top US consortium, Alex, met an untimely demise, and all his assets were transferred to Diana. The real heiress of The White Family was found after eighteen years. Yet, everyone mocked her, calling her uncultured, useless, and nothing more than a pretty vase. However, at the wedding of the century, when the wife of the young head of The Smith Family was revealed to be none other than the "vase" Diana, the socialites of New York City were left pounding their chests in disbelief-How could she deserve this?! After Alex's death, Diana not only had to face the covetous gazes of The Smith Family but also play the role of a leader among various powerful organizations. Alex's subordinates assured her, "We will handle everything; you just need to sit on the throne." But later... When Diana was in danger, she wielded a gun, stepping on her enemy with a dazzling smile, "Be good, and I'll give you a quick death." When her loved ones fell ill, the legendary medical master personally visited and admitted-she was Diana's senior disciple! The renowned racing legend willingly became Diana's personal driver, calling her "Boss" at every turn. Alex's subordinates were in utter disbelief, "Wasn't she supposed to be a weak little white flower, a soft and obedient golden canary?!" But Alex wasn't entirely dead. When his consciousness awakened, he found himself soul-bound to a plush doll-one that Diana had designed in his likeness. Now, he not only had to endure being dressed and undressed by Diana but also be at her mercy, bathed and squeezed in her hands... Watching her reveal one hidden identity after another, Alex was utterly dumbfounded. Even the woman he admired and respected the most-was her?! [Mini Theater 1] Alex, now in plush doll form, was held against Diana's soft, snowy chest as she stood before a mirror. Staring at his own ridiculously extravagant appearance, his expression cracked- "Is this really how she sees me in her heart?!" Diana's fingers teasingly unfastened his tiny clothes, one button at a time. Alex shut his eyes, his mind filled with only one thought- "I want to die." [Mini Theater 2] Diana stared at the dust-covered plush doll, frowning, "My doll is precious-I have to wash it myself." Alex's inner monologue, "Stay away from me!" After an intense round of scrubbing and kneading, his soul burned with shame, his spirit flushed red, on the verge of tears. Diana, completely satisfied, gave him a kiss-he turned even redder... They said Alex had a cleanliness obsession, high standards, and was impossible to please. But now? He felt that... maybe staying dirty wasn't so bad after all. [Mini Theater 3] Once back in his real body, Alex trapped Diana against the wall, his gaze burning as he questioned, "You took so much advantage of me, destroyed my innocence-how are you going to repay me?" Diana's eyes gleamed mischievously. "That bad, huh? How about you cry for me first?" Alex, "..."
"Rose, do you have to be this shameless?" He yanked her hair tighter, forcing her to lift her face. She stared straight into his eyes and let out a cold laugh. "Yeah, I'm shameless. But what, you think you're any better? Talking about marriage one minute and pounding into me like crazy the next. We're just a pair of filthy lovers, aren't we? So stop pretending to be so righteous!" Alexander is aloof and arrogant; she is wild and unrestrained. For revenge, she meticulously approaches him, shamelessly flirts with him, and cunningly schemes against him. She disrupts his engagement party, drives away his first love, and repeatedly steps on his bottom line. One late night, he corners her against the wall. "Rose, what other tricks do you have that I don't know about?" And just like that, she barges into his world, does whatever she pleases, and drags him down from his throne step by step until she completely devours him... Upon returning home, Rose discovers that CEO Alexander who just gave her a sky-high breakup fee is actually her half-sister's fiancé. He broke up with her because he got engaged to her half-sister. To make matters worse, Rose's biological mother had also met her tragic fate because of her stepmother. Her mind remained clear at all times. Now, her goal was no longer as simple as forcing Alexander to call off the engagement. Her desire had grown. She wanted to possess him completely-body and soul-to conquer him, to make him entirely hers. Only his powerful status and background could truly help her reclaim everything she had lost. She had always known what he wanted. She had always known how to provoke his anger, make him compromise, lure him into indulgence, make him lose himself-until he became a puppet of her.
At first sight, in order to create a bond with Angela, Frances risked his life and deliberately staged a car accident. Angela was the adopted daughter of the Moore family. On the night she was kicked out of the house, her fiancé was already on the entertainment headlines, holding her sister in his arms. Later, Angela was caught up in endless scandals because she had gotten involved with the most powerful man. Everyone mocked her, saying she was nothing more than Mr. William's fleeting amusement. Little did they know that from the moment Frances first laid eyes on her, he had only one thought-to steal her away! To take her from the hands of her fiancé. Everyone was waiting to see Angela make a fool of herself, deliberately asking about her relationship with Frances. He merely smiled and said, "Perhaps I haven't tried hard enough. After being married for so long, Mrs. Williams still refuses to acknowledge me publicly and give me a proper title." That night, the air was damp. Angela was breathless as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. His breath was scorching. "Mrs. Williams, have I tried hard enough?" Angela gritted her teeth. He was trying... far too hard!
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
22-year-old Evelyn Carter is attempting to start over in California while avoiding her past. She will be embarking on a new career path as a private school teacher. She is smart, attractive, and doesn't put up with nonsense. Who wouldn't notice her? However, what happens when she attracts the attention of someone unwilling to let her go? Who wants her and nothing else after falling in love at first sight? A 25-year-old billionaire CEO and single father, Lucian Carrington. He takes what he wants and he is also a very dangerous man. All it needed was one look at a stunning woman to realize she was HIS, even though he doesn't believe in relationships because they always end. Preview: Miss Carter, you will be mine. I say firmly. "Release my arm, Mr. Carrington, before I force you to." She says, seeming to smile at me. I give her a sly smile. Squeezing my wrist with her other hand, she twists it uncomfortably. I gave a painful hiss. "Don't underestimate me, Mr. Carrington." "This is the only time I will allow you to walk away from me, Miss Carter." She glared at me as she turned. "Mr. Carrington, I am no possession of yours." I was left standing there when she opened the classroom door and left.
My boyfriend called, "Baby!" as he jumped out of bed and scrambled to pull his pants off the ground. "Please, I can explain my love." Shutting my eyes, I inhaled deeply and tried not to cry when I realized that my dream of the man not being my boyfriend had been dashed. "What?" I asked, "What do you want to explain?" How did you lie about having a business meeting while you were in bed enjoying yourself with my best friend, even though I told you I was in serious pain, is that it?" I stood there, my heart pounding, and tears streaming down my face...
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."