Chapter 104 Have You Ever Liked Me The knocking sounded urgent, and the sound was deafening. It was so loud that it probably disturbed not only her neighbors but also others who lived a floor above and below. Calista rolled out of bed and quickly walked to the door. She pulled the door open exasperatedly. Outside, Nikolette was completely covered, so even her mother probably wouldn’t recognize her. “What do you want?” Calista asked. She had been wondering how Nikolette had managed to get in, but now, she understood. Nikolette wore a janitor’s uniform, and even Calista could barely recognize her. She had underestimated her indeed. “Sis, can you ask Lucian for help? Those people are being unreasonable. They found some random videos and posted them online.” She tried to push past Calista’s door and enter, but after several attempts, she gave up. Calista waited for her to finish speaking before responding slowly, “Why do you think I would help you? I think I’m kind enough to do nothing, given our current relationship. Do you expect me to rescue you? When you betrayed me, it must have been enjoyable watching me suffer, right?” Nikolette either didn’t grasp the point or was playing dumb. She thought briefly before gritting her teeth and asking, “Did you release those videos?” Calista raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer. “Tell me, was it you? It must have been you. No one hates me as much as you do.” Calista chuckled, “You’re quite confident in yourself, right? I bet even the people you bullied in those videos want to see you suffer.” “You bitch!” Nikolette lunged at her, barring her teeth and nails. Calista acted quickly, raising her hand and slamming the door shut. Nikolette crashed into the door, and her nails scratched the door instead of Calista’s face. +15 BONOS “If you make one more sound, I’ll have the entire building come out and see the trending celebrity online these past few days,” Calista threatened. Nikolette reluctantly covered her face with her mask and hat. She glanced around to ensure no one was coming and said through gritted teeth, “Calista, you’re ruthless!” The atmosphere at the Northwood Corporation had been tense these past few days. Everyone wore a solemn expression and spoke softly. All because their president, Lucian Northwood, was in a bad mood. Anyone who had entered his office the past few days had come out drenched in cold sweat and trembling. He wouldn’t even yell at them. All he did was look at them coldly. His gaze made people feel utterly worthless. His presence alone can make it hard to breathe. David held the newly framed painting and stood at the door. After a few deep breaths, he knocked on the door. Beside him was Lily. She came to give Lucian the contract for the sponsorship. Although he had verbally agreed to sponsor, he […]
Chapter 103 Knock Your Head Off +15 BONOS Lucian had anticipated Calista’s reaction when she reached for the phone. He didn’t move and allowed her to take her phone. Calista glanced at the screen. It was locked, with all her notifications unopened. Didn’t he go through her phone? Wasn’t that why he had been staring at the screen all along? Calista asked displeasedly, “What are you doing here?” “You’ve taken over my bed. Where else should I be? Or are you disappointed that I didn’t sleep with you?” It seemed Lucian had stayed up all night. His eyes were bloodshot, and his coat was casually thrown aside. He looked very rugged, wearing a shirt with a few buttons undone and trousers. Calista looked at him incredulously, “How can you be so shameless with a straight face?” She was implying why he slept on the couch instead of in another room. Who knows what he might have thought while staring at her face while she slept? She couldn’t help but think this whole situation was creepy. Ignoring her sarcasm, Lucian asked, “What’s with your phone’s lock screen?” Calista hesitated. Her lock screen was a hand–drawn cartoon character. Strangely, the character looked like Lucian. It didn’t have a head, and the caption next to it said ” I’ll knock your head off.” Lucian continued, “Do you want to knock my head off?” “Isn’t that obvious? Don’t you know how annoying you can be?” She checked her messages to see Josiah had sent her an address attached with a text. “Is this enough? Do you need more information?” Calista put away her phone and then opened the door to the wardrobe. Her current set of clothes wrinkled and reeked of alcohol. She had moved out months ago, and Lucian said he would throw her belongings away. So she didn’t have much hope of finding clean clothes. +15 BONOS However, all her clothes hung nearly in place. Everything was arranged how she was used to, along with matching accessories sealed in bags hanging beside them. Wasn’t he supposed to throw all of these away? But this question would only make the situation. awkward. So Calista kept it to herself. She took some clothes and went into the bathroom, where she found a set of toiletries. All her things were still there. After freshening up and changing into clean clothes, Calista left without a word. She had thought that Lucian might try to stop her, and she had even thought of how to respond. But he only casually said when he saw her, “Take your dirty sheets with you.” Calista scoffed. She would never call Lily pretentious again. Anyone who could tame someone like Lucian was a saint. She would be saving people from suffering and distress! Gritting her teeth, she wrapped up the expensive bed sheets and duvet on the bed angrily and dragged them outside along with the pillow. She was drenched in sweat after finally throwing everything into the bin She took a taxi to the address Josiah had given her. It was a general store. After explaining her purpose, they handed her a USB drive. Back at home, she plugged in the USB drive, which contained five videos. Although she knew Nikolette wasn’t an upright person, she hadn’t expected her to resort to sleeping with others to get the contract signed. Then, she stole other’s work and tried to coerce them into silence. Bullying people was a habit of hers. Calista transferred some money to Josiah and waited for the right moment. Initially, she could have simply sent these videos to the press and then paid some people to make the news trending. However, that approach would risk exposing herself and wouldn’t guarantee a long–term impact. After all, Nikolette wasn’t a celebrity, and people were rarely interested in business matters. Besides, she had Rongkan Enterprise’s support too. However, before she found the right timing, Nikolette had gotten herself into trouble. +15 BONOS She had a brawl with an online celebrity with millions of followers at a restaurant due to some seating arrangements. Both of them lost their temper, and the argument escalated into a physical fight. Nikolette was accompanied by a few intimidating and shady men. The celebrity’s nose was bloodied; even her nose job implant had popped out, and she howled in pain. Diners at the restaurant recorded the incident and posted it online, which quickly went viral. With the celebrity’s fans demanding justice, it caused quite a stir. In an instant, Nikolette became the subject of countless memes circulating online.
Chapter 102 Force Her Calista pursed her lips and remained silent. Just when Lucian thought she had finally recognized who he was after regaining her senses, she once again reached out to push his face away, annoyed, and said, “Stay away from me; just looking at you annoys me.” Johnathan, standing nearby, watched with a pounding heart. Although Calista had not always been gentle, she was never as hostile as now. He feared Lucian would get mad at her and leave her by the roadside. Lucian tried to keep his irritation at bay. He opened the car door and pushed her inside. Then, ordered, “Go to Everglade Manor.” “I’m not going to Everglade Manor. I want to go back to The Oasis. Take me there!” Even in her drunkard state, Calista refused to return to the Everglade Manor. The Oasis was the name of the apartment she currently lived in. Lucian immediately thought of the apartment’s owner when he heard the name. His eyes turned dull, but he ignored her. He turned his head toward the window, closed his eyes, and pretended to rest. If Calista were sober, she would have realized that his patience had reached its limit. However, she was so drunk she couldn’t read the room. She only knew that he was ignoring her. “Talk to me.” Calista swung her hand towards him, but he quickly grabbed her before she could reach him. Anger welled up in him, and he roared at her, “Shut up.” Calista looked at him with a helpless expression. “You’re being mean to me.” Lucian replied, “I’m not being mean to you.” Without warning, Calista swung her other hand again. He didn’t stop this time; her nails grazed his throat, drawing blood. “If you want to talk, then talk. Why are you being mean? Shut up!” +15 BONOS She transformed from a helpless little girl into a ruthless, violent lady. Lucian’s face turned dark, and he removed his tie to wrap it around her hands. Then he pressed pressed her onto his lap. “Don’t move.” There was no way Calista would obey him. The more he ordered her, the more she struggled. “Let go of me!” Her hands moved against his legs through the layer of fabric, and Lucian pursed his lips, swallowing hard. He looked out the window with a blank face, allowing Calista to do as she pleased. After some time, she seemed to have had enough and finally calmed down. But this lasted under five minutes before she leaned against his chest and said, “Your heart is beating so fast.” Lucian pushed her away, his face growing colder. “Sit down and shut up.” Calista licked her lips and said, “I want some water.” “You’re pushing it. Get it yourself.” Despite his words, Lucian gave her some water patiently, fearing she might choke. He did it until she furrowed her brows and began to protest, at which point he stopped. After a few minutes of silence, Calista suddenly said, “Should I help you win over Lily?” Lucian wondered how to shut her up. “Bro, don’t be so concerned about your image,” Calista circled her arms around his neck, pulled him closer, and advised, “This won’t get you the girl. Listen to me, and I guarantee Lily will be head over heels for you in a week.” As she inched closer, Lucian seemed to recall something. This scene felt like it had happened before. But, he chuckled self–deprecatingly and pushed it back. “So, what’s your advice on pursuing her?” +15 BONOS Tust you sleep with her ” At the Hatte boht ahead Johnathan nearly lost control and accidentally stepped on the gas instead of the brakes Tusan looked up and glared at him through the rearview mirror
Chapter 101 Bastard, It Hurts Calista had never seen such a shameless man before! She pushed him away and exclaimed, “I’m worried I might contract some disease from you!” She relaxed slightly as Lucian maintained a safe distance from her and retorted to his statement from earlier, “What do you mean another? I’ve never pursued any men.” Lucian raised an eyebrow and mocked, “Never? Am I not one of them? I’ve spent millions on you, and you’re demanding a divorce before the bed is warm. Is there anyone who could be in a worse position than me?” Calista was speechless. Lucian was even more malicious than poison. “You’d better give up the idea of looking for another sorry ass to bear the brunt. I don’t know about him, but I’ll make you regret it if I catch you fooling around with another guy.” He closed the car door and instructed, “Send her home, Johnathan.” Calista wanted to explain further, but she held back her words. She could forget it, and there was no point in reasoning with an animal! After leaving the courthouse, she didn’t go home but had Johnathan take her to Yara’s antique shop. Yara saw her looking dejected and guessed the lawsuit might not have gone well, so she didn’t ask about the details. “You came at the right time. Let’s go get a drink.” Yara had pulled her out of the store before Calista could enter. They were old friends, so she quickly understood Yara’s intentions. She helplessly sighed, “I’m fine.” “I’m just craving it, you know/ My dad has gone crazy recently, saying he wants to quit smoking and drinking. He’s quit smoking, but he won’t let me drink. He watches me like a hawk every day. He went on a business trip today, so I must take advantage of this opportunity.” Johnathan dropped Calista off and left, but he saw Yara walking out of the rear–view mirror. HIS BONOS Worried that Calista might need the car, he stopped momentarily and found out they had entered a has not far aWAY After some thought, he called Lucian and said, “Mr. Horthwood, Madam Calista, and Miss Quinn just went Luetan asked for the address and ordered, “Wait for them at the entrance.” The bat did not have many patrons during the day. There weren’t many drunkards either, so it was relatively sate He knew she was emotional, so having a drink to vent her frustrations might be good Yara led Calista inside a private booth she had reserved and immediately ordered drinks for the Test of the day “Let’s start with three beets.” Although it couldn’t compare with the lively atmosphere at night, it was still somewhat decent. Calista had bought some snacks when passing by a convenience store and ordered takeout. Yara raised her glass “We’re going to get so drunk tonight! I’ve already sent the address to
Chapter 100 Think It’s A Kiss Lucian remained silent and leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed as if pretending to nap. He appeared pretty exhausted, with noticeable dark circles under his eyes. Timothy, representing him as his lawyer, spoke first. “Miss Calista, the court hopes you and Mr. Northwood can settle this matter privately, Marriage is meant to last forever. It wouldn’t be good for you and Mr. Northwood to drag this out in court.” Harvey had informed her that this was standard before a divorce case went to court. It was part of the legal procedure. Typically, it would happen a few days before the court hearing, but it was postponed until now due to Lucian’s busy schedule, it was postponed until now. Calista replied, “If you can make him agree to the divorce, I will immediately withdraw my lawsuit. Timothy remained silent and unfazed. His previous statement seemed more like a routine inquiry, devoid of genuine concern. Shortly after, the judge and some marriage counselors joined them. They were experts in this field, offering various forms of emotional support and encouragement. Calista felt somewhat ungrateful for not appreciating their efforts but remained firm. She had to get a divorce! Seeing her unwavering attitude, everyone had no choice but to give up. Not long after everyone left, Calista received a call from Zachary, and she realized it was from overseas. She picked up the phone, recognizing the voice in an instant. “Withdraw the lawsuit immediately!” Zachary sounded furious. His breath was heavy as if he had just run a marathon. Upon hearing this, Calista’s first instinct was to look at Lucian. She couldn’t tell if he had been waiting for this moment or if it was just a coincidence. But when she looked at him, he had just opened his eyes and locked eyes with her. Calista silently mouthed to him, “You’re despicable.” +15 BONUS She hadn’t expected him to take the issue to Zachary. Did he think she would listen to him? Or did he believe his status as her father still held some power and could change her decision? “Did you hear me?” Zachary raised his voice when he didn’t get a response from her. It sounded deafening as he repeated, “Withdraw the lawsuit immediately! The Everhart family can’t afford this humiliation!” “Is that the case? Or you can’t afford to lose a precious son–in–law like Lucian?” Calista ran her fingers through her hair and drove the knife deeper into Zachary’s heart. “But despite his prestigious status, you haven’t enjoyed a single benefit. Look at the other fathers whose daughters married rich. They’re living a life of luxury. And you? You can’t even return home because of your debt. Do you still remember how the food here tastes after all these years?” Back then, Zachary used to have a penchant for local cuisine even when they dined out. Calista detested Zachary, but she equally despised Lucian. Therefore, she didn’t mind using either of them as a tool to hurt the other. She was happy to see both hurt. On the side, Harvey, who was watching the show, took a sneaky glance at Lucian. He had a calm expression. He was being put on the spot by Calista, and yet it seemed he was unfazed. Lucian was indeed able to keep his composure. Calista continued to taunt Zachary through the phone, “Look at you, you’ve me all these years and haven’t gained a single advantage. You might as well let me get rid of him, and then we can move on to another victim. Who knows, you might be able to return home freely.” Zachary was utterly speechless. There was a loud squeak from the bench as Lucian stood up. He glanced at Timothy blankly and said, “The court is in session.” The two walked ahead while Calista and Harvey followed, maintaining a distance between them Lucian asked, “When will it be over?” 214 Timothy replied, “Within half an hour.” +15 BONUS Harvey was flabbergasted. He knew Timothy was excellent. But the least he could do was spare him some dignity. Timothy was talking about winning with him right there! As this thought briefly crossed his mind, he felt Calista shoot him a look. His heart skipped a beat, and then he heard her sigh and ask, “Do you need to go back to university and get a higher qualification?” Calista was just making a sarcastic comment. Harvey was quite skilled. While he couldn’t guarantee success, he was still one of the best lawyers in Capeton. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have chosen him despite knowing the formidable reputation of the Northwood family’s legal team. Harvey kept his eyes forward and felt utterly defeated. “A lawyer is merely that. Timothy is in a completely different league. You can’t compare us with him. I might not win even if I get a higher qualification.” After spending time with Calista, he had become less formal in talking to her. Calista retorted, “You’re just undermining your ability to butter him up. I’ll file a complaint against you at your law firm.” Lucian remarked without looking at them, “He’s just self–aware, unlike someone else who’s like a fish trying to swim on land.” Calista was about to protest, but they had arrived at the courtroom. This was her first time in a courtroom, sitting in the plaintiff’s seat. Lucian was sitting across from her. He still wore the same weary expression, looking very distressed as the defendant. After the court confirmed everyone’s presence and announced the courtroom rules, they proceeded with the hearing. Timothy had predicted it would end within half an hour, and he was right on schedule. Although Calista had long prepared herself for the inevitable divorce, she didn’t expect the judge to pronounce the verdict right in the courtroom, leaving her with no hope. After leaving the courtroom, Timothy turned to Harvey and said, “Well done. You held out longer than I expected.” 3/4 Harvey replied, “Thank you. It was an honor.” +15 BONUS Calista saw the admiration in his eyes. He looked so pathetic she couldn’t help but roll her eyes and walk away. However, before she could reach the car, Lucian grabbed her hand and ushered her into the back seat of his car. “Let’s talk.” “About the divorce?” she asked. Lucian smirked, leaning toward her, surrounding her with his familiar scent. He gazed into her eyes and inched closer as if he was about to kiss her. Everything happened too fast! Calista instantly froze, and her back pressed tightly against the seat, and she even unconsciously held her breath. Lucian reached over and fastened her seatbelt. “We’re going to discuss your plan to find another sucker.” He stared at her with amusement in his eyes. “Why are you so nervous? Did you think I was going to kiss you?”
Chapter 99 Teach Her How To Seduce Men The two of them parted ways unhappily. As soon as Calista left, she called Harvey. “I want to file for divorce.” Harvey had already looked over the advantages and disadvantages of filing a divorce for her before. So, he didn’t say much and advised her on the documents she had to prepare. After hanging up the phone, she let out a long sigh. Calista had not planned to make such a big deal out of it. She wanted her marriage to end quietly, like how it started. The media kept a watchful eye on the Northwood family due to their high social status. Any event would be publicized. She didn’t want to expose this troubled marriage to the public, subjecting herself to gossip, sympathy, and sarcastic remarks. But she hadn’t expected that she would ultimately end up in a courtroom with Lucian. She found a coffee shop, ordered a simple meal, and arranged to meet someone in an hour. Soon, a man in a black jacket and a face mask walked in. He looked around before heading straight for Calista’s table. “Calista.” Josiah Neil removed his mask and ordered from a waiter, “An Americano please.” “I need your help to investigate someone.” Calista took a photo of a person and handed it to him. Josiah used to be a journalist with impressive skills. He exposed insider information that other reporters couldn’t get. He was even able to provide previews of the news. He was the nightmare of any celebrity or public figure with skeletons in their closets. However, due to his high profile, he got beaten up pretty badly and was left lying in the ditch. Calista saved him by chance, and he owed her his life. 1/4 +15 BONUS Josiah looked at the photo and raised an eyebrow, “What information are you looking for?” He had a hunch that she was not after any general information that anyone could find since she came to him. Calista looked at the arrogant photo of Nikolette and said with a slight smile, “The kind that can ruin a person’s reputation.” Josiah didn’t ask any further questions. He took a photo with his phone and asked for some basic information. “I’ll call you if I find anything.” Dealing with such matters directly through text messages could be easily used as evidence against him. “Also, please help me look into any news related to Lucian and any women,” Calista added. Josiah shook his head. “I’ve dealt with him before. Any reporters investigating him would be caught almost immediately. Besides, the Northwood family practically owns the media industry. Anything on the news would have been leaked deliberately by them.” Of course, some foolish individuals tried to gain a moment of fame, but their reports were quickly taken down. No one would make such a mistake nowadays. Although she had expected this, Calista still felt a bit disappointed. “Alright, then I’ll leave Nikolette to you.” Their coffee arrived not long after they finished their discussion. Josiah didn’t stay, and he took the coffee and left. Calista wasn’t rushing to leave, so she sat at her table and sipped her coffee. There was a notification on her phone. She opened it to see a text message from Zachary. It was an attempt to rekindle their relationship. Previously, he spoke about their future as a family and tried to talk to her about the importance of acquiring wealth for the family. +15 BONUS He had now switched to reminiscing since she had ignored him. However, he didn’t know that ever since her mother’s death, all memories of her family had turned into hatred directed at him, her stepmother, and Nikolette. The thought of how Nikolette would soon fall from grace as a well–respected executive in her company because of what Lucian did slightly eased her frustration. On the other hand, Lily was having a fit in her apartment! She had thrown and smashed everything on the table, leaving a mess on the floor. Queenie sat on the nearby couch, watching coldly without a word. She finally spoke after Lily finished her venting, “What’s the point of making a mess in front of me? Do you expect me to help you?” She looked at Lily carefully. The handprints were no longer visible, but her face was still flushed from her outburst. It emphasized her exceptional looks. However, Queenie couldn’t help but shake her head. Even God couldn’t save a woman who played poorly after being dealt a good hand. Yet, here she was, tied to this fool. “You don’t need to worry about the painting. I will handle it. What’s most important for you now is to find a way to rekindle Lucian’s interest in you. As long as he loves you, whatever you did in the past won’t matter.” Queenie thought for a moment before adding, “I’ll find someone to teach you how to seduce a man tomorrow.” Lily pursed her lips tightly as if she was insulted. “You want me to seduce him?” What else could she do? Did she think she was so charming that anyone would fall head over heels for her?” Queenie struggled to suppress her sarcastic remarks and patiently said, “Lily, I know you’re proud, but Lucian doesn’t seem to be falling for your usual charm right now. Can you still sway him with your past relationship? What happens when his feelings for you run out? Don’t expect men to stay loyal. Their love comes and goes. Soon, they would forget you.” She thought this would make Lily realize, but she was adamant. 3/4 +15 BONUS “No. He won’t stop seeing me.” Queenie raised an eyebrow at her confidence. “Why?” Lily didn’t answer. Instead, she said, “He just won’t.” Queenie was speechless. Even the most confident people in history couldn’t match her self- esteem. But she had said her piece, and if Lily insisted on being foolish, Queenie couldn’t force some sense into her brain. In the following days, Calista prepared the documents required for the divorce. She met with Harvey once, and he said, “Miss Calista, Timothy’s cases are classic case studies. I don’t have the confidence to win against him.” He didn’t hide his lack of confidence regarding the outcome. Timothy was an experienced lawyer and had never lost a case. Harvey wasn’t about to be the first or only one. More importantly, civil cases differed from criminal cases and depended heavily on emotions. Calista replied, “Okay.” She was prepared for a long legal battle. A week after filing the lawsuit, it was time for the court hearing. The hearing was kept private due to Lucian’s status. They met during the court recess. This was the first time Calista had seen Lucian since their previous argument. He was dressed formally and appeared even colder and more imposing than before. Timothy stood by his side, but he was overshadowed by Lucian’s dominating presence. He ignored Calista and instead went straight to an empty seat nearby. The waiting room was small, and the atmosphere tensed up. Calista pursed her lips and broke the silence, saying, “Lucian, your waiting room is next door.”
Chapter 98 He Still Defended Her +15 BONUS Upon hearing this, Lily relaxed slightly, and her lips instinctively curled upward, but she quickly suppressed it. She knew Lucian still cared for her. He must have been cold toward her recently because he was still mad that she left him to study abroad years ago. Calista clenched her fingers and lifted her chin in pride. She sneered at him and spat, “In your dreams! I would never apologise to Lily.” Lucian boiled with anger. His face was red like a raging storm, wanting to tear Calista into pieces. “I’m not asking you to apologize to Lily. Apologize to the child,” Lily was about to interfere and gracefully defuse the situation, but she was speechless to hear Lucian’s words. Calista mocked, “I can’t believe you’re such a good father.” Lucian ignored her sarcastic comment and stood up. He was well–built and instantly towered over her. He forcedly grabbed her wrist and pulled her across the desk into his arms. “Apologize.” Coffee dripped from his face onto her head. He was trying to make things harder for her because he was having a bad time. “If you’re afraid that my words will come true, you don’t need to have the baby. You can live happily ever after with Lily, that scumbag and slut,” Calista retorted. “Calista, at most, our conflicts revolved around jealousy and petty stuff. Aside from a few occasional sarcastic remarks during our university days, nothing extreme happened between us in these years. Isn’t calling me a slut going too far?” Lily was not entirely wrong. Their rivalry mainly seemed like two people who were competing in secret. Although it got ugly at times, they never got into physical fights. But Calista knew people were gossiping about her because Lily had said something behind her back +15 BONUS She still couldn’t figure out why Lily hated her so much. Was it because of that ranking competition online? They excelled in different departments in their respective fields and couldn’t be compared academically. Some bored individuals started fanning the flames, pitting them against each other based on looks, physique, and family background. Calista looked at the painting and said, “Lucian bought this painting at a high price, and you immediately spread the news on campus. Then Sharon came out and accused me of orchestrating the whole thing. You all set me up just to frame me and pick on me. I had to be criticized and judged relentlessly by everyone. You really went to such great lengths just to crush someone as insignificant as me.” Lily felt panic rise in her and looked at Lucían. However, he appeared calm on the surface, but his eyes were strangely cold and eerie. He asked, “Were you bullied?” Calista pushed him away and sneered, “You’ve already known what would happen when you set me up. It’s truly repulsive to see your hypocritical act.” Lily took a deep breath, trying to calm her anger. “I don’t know where you heard these rumors, but I didn’t know that Lucian bought the painting. I found out about it accidentally when I overheard some teachers talking about it. I publicised it for
Chapter 97 Slapped Lily David was familiar with the place since he often worked with Lucian in the study. He called softly by the door, “Madam Calista, have you found the records?” He heard everything just now and knew there were no health records. Calista lifted her head; her eyes were red, and her face was pale. She looked at David with a distant and empty gaze. Even though her eyes were fixed on him, it seemed she wasn’t looking at him. “Are you alright?” Calista took the painting out of the drawer. She didn’t avoid David’s puzzled gaze as she walked to the door. Instead, she handed him the picture and said, “I’m fine. Do you like it? I plan to take it home and hang it on the bedroom wall.” David was speechless and swallowed hard. The painting had very dark and eerie tones. It might be more suitable to hang it someplace discreet. Calista could tell what he was thinking from his silence. She was going through a difficult time in the Everhart family when she created this painting. Her dad and stepmother had mistreated her, while Nikolette was constantly at odds with her. She had been in a very dark period of her life. It was a miracle she didn’t get rid of them in their sleep. The painting reflected her emotions. Naturally, it turned out dark and eerie under such circumstances. Hence, she thought it was a stroke of luck that someone foolish with a lot of money had bought the painting. Her teacher thought the same and even brought her to buy lottery tickets several times for a touch of luck. But now it seemed that she was the fool. Lucian spent such a hefty amount on the painting to buy Lily’s smile. This had added a dark chapter into her life and plunged her into the abyss of emotional and verbal abuse/ As she descended the stairs, she was met with Selena’s concerned gaze. Calista forced a smile. “Mom, I have some last–minute business to attend to. Could you let Macy accompany you to the 1/4 +15 BONUS “Alright,” Selena carefully observed her expression Something was not right, she didn’t seem happy at all She asked cautiously, “Calista, did you see something special in Lucian’s study? Why do you seem upset?” Calista didn’t want her to worry “Well, I did see something special, and I’m not upset, just a bit shocked. That’s why I need to go find Lucian now.” Hearing her explanation, Selena felt relieved and patted her hand “Alright, go find him Communication is vital in a marriage. Don’t keep things to yourself, and stop mentioning divorce so casually I’ll have the driver take you there” “No, thank you. I came in my own. After leaving the Stansend Manor, Calista headed straight to Northwood Corporation She walked toward Lucian’s office as usual. The receptionist at the front desk did try to stop her, but she told them she was there to process her resignation paperwork in the HR department, so they allowed her to go through The whole company knew that Calista got the job through connections Her job was easy, she had a high salary, and she worked closely with Mr. Northwood. Moreover, since she left, the position that everyone coveted has been vacant. Currently, apart from David, no one could work by Lucian’s side. David had accompanied Selena to the hospital, so he wasn’t around. The one who stopped Calista
Chapter 96 The Doctors Can’t Cure Him Calista looked at Yara with her mouth full of toothpaste. Yara didn’t beat around the bush and answered, “It’s from Lucian.” Lucian had no intention of hiding that fact either, so she found out about it easily. However, it also proved that he was a heartless man. While others stood united as a married couple, he supported those at odds with his wife. Calista was completely unaware of this. She asked, “How much did he give?” Yara stretched out her hand, indicating he gave her a lot of money. “Without this money, Nikolette wouldn’t even be able to afford a good meal, let alone invest in Ronkan Enterprise.” Calista nodded and said, “I see. Thanks for letting me know.” Initially, she wanted Nikolette to be fired from Ronkan Enterprise to settle the score for what Nikolette did back then. But she had to find another way since she was a shareholder of Ronkan Enterprise. The three relied on selling her mother’s inheritance to make money, and she wanted them to return every penny. Yara waved dismissively and said, “It’s just a small favor. Let me know if you need any more help.” Since Calista had finished getting ready, Yara stood up and said, “Let’s go have breakfast. I have something to do at night. We won’t have enough time.” Neither wanted to go too far, so they found a restaurant nearby. Calista browsed through the trending news and realized that the news of Lily visiting Lucian at the Everglade Manor had been taken down. Someone probably stopped its release. She only knew one person who could act so quickly. For the next three days, Calista stayed at home, and Yara was probably afraid that she would go 1/5 she declined. +15 BONUS On this day, she was slumped before a painting when she received a call from Macy. “Madam, can you please come back? Madam Selena has to go to the hospital for a check–up, but she’s arguing with Mr. Northwood and refuses to go. “Is Lucian there?” “He has to work at the company and can’t leave, so Mr. Brown is here.” Calista used to handle these things. Macy hesitated to trouble her since she and Lucian were getting a divorce. But Selena was upset with Lucian and refused to talk to him, making things hard even for David. Finally, Calista agreed. Selena was probably upset about their divorce, so she needed to convince her. Even if she didn’t agree to the divorce, she shouldn’t oppose it, to prevent further complications. When she returned to the Stansend Manor, Selena was sitting on the sofa, in a bad mood. “There’s nothing wrong with my health, I don’t need to go to the hospital. Lucian should be the one who needs to go to the hospital! He needs to get his brain and eyes checked. He might be blind or brain–dead, leaving a jewel for some trash!” David stood by helplessly. He felt he might die from a heart attack at a young age. Both Selena and Calista were so sharp–tongued. “Oh, and make an appointment with a top specialist. Not any doctor can cure his illness.” Macy wondered if Calista was Selena’s biological daughter instead of Lucian. In the future, she must make her support for Calista clear. Lily would not gain any favor from her. She frowned in distress. “Madam, it’s for your good. The doctor’s appointments have already been made. How about you just go, just to humor him.” “1” Just as Selena was about to insist further, she heard Calista call her from the doorway, “Mom!”
Chapter 95 She Might Be Pregnant Lucian was leaning against his bedside in the hospital room, talking on the phone. Upon hearing a sound, he looked up and saw Calista. He furrowed his brows and asked, “Cade called you?” Calista rolled her eyes irritably “He said you were dying and asked me to sign the consent form to give up on any treatment and have you cremated.” She walked in and sat down on the chair next to the hospital bed. Earlier, she had asked the doctor and learned that his stomach problems were caused by drinking on an empty stomach. He could leave once he felt better. Lucian tossed the phone onto the bedside table. “I’m hungry.” Calista stared at him, then reluctantly took out her phone to order some delivery. She just wanted to quickly finish serving him his meal so they could go their separate ways. She didn’t want to return home just to have Cade call her to come by again. She still had some self- respect. Lucian’s gaze fell on her. He spoke lightly. “I might have another stomach ache by the time the food arrives. Is this how you take care of someone sick?” After taking the medicine, the intense pain in his stomach had improved slightly, but it hadn’t completely gone away and would occasionally throb. Calista glared at him fiercely, then suddenly stood up and headed for the door without saying a word Lucian frowned. “Stop, where are you going?” “To buy you some dog food,” she gritted her teeth, her tone laced with resentment. Behind her, Lucian seemed to chuckle, but Calista had already opened the door and walked out 1/4 +15 BONUS Following Cade’s instructions, she bought a bowl of soup without any onions from the restaurant downstairs and headed back up. She unpacked the food and said, “Hurry up and eat. You can go home after you finish this.” Lucian sat still on the bed as if he were asleep. He was facing away, so Calista couldn’t see his face. After hesitating for a few seconds, she leaned in and bent down to look. His eyebrows were tightly furrowed and cold sweat covered his forehead, and his lips and face were pale. He wasn’t asleep; he was clearly in severe pain! Calista hesitated, and she asked nervously, “Lucian, is your stomach hurting again? I’ll go call the doctor.” There was a call button on the bedside table that connected to the doctor’s office. After pressing it, the doctor arrived quickly. The doctor examined him quickly and pressed lightly on Lucian’s stomach. “You can put some pressure on this spot to relieve his pain. He just took medicine, so he shouldn’t eat again in the short term. You can rub his stomach too. It might provide some relief.” Calista remained silent. She had to buy food for him and give him a massage too? The doctor noticed her lack of response. She didn’t seem concerned at all. The doctor quickly became serious and urged, “Are you his family? He’s in so much pain, and yet you seem so indifferent!” Calista returned to her senses and apologized sincerely, “I’m sorry, I am his
