Ch. 821..830

Chapter 821 Chapter 821 The aroma of grilled meat quickly filled the air, pulling Aveline's attention back to the present. She was genuinely hungry.

It was clear that the presence of the men at the next table affected Selena's mood; several times, she seemed on the verge of saying something, only to catch sight of them out of the corner of her eye and sigh in frustration. "So annoying," she finally muttered.

Aveline suggested, "Just enjoy the meal for now; we can talk about it later."

"Alright," Selena replied with a nod.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward, but the meat was delicious, and Aveline ate quite a bit.

Meanwhile, the men at the next table were also getting fresh charcoal for their grill.

A man carrying a pan of hot coals approached and, just as he was about to place it in their grill, his expression sharpened, and suddenly he hurled the hot coals directly at Lucas!

If the burning coals hit Lucas, it would undoubtedly cause serious injury!

Everything happened too quickly. Although Lucas reacted in time, there was nowhere to escape, with the wall right behind him. He could only raise his arm to shield his head, but the coals still struck his forehead, and a searing pain shot through him! "Ah!"

Gasps of shock erupted around them!

Aaron immediately grabbed the man, his voice cold as he barked, "Call the police!"

The man struggled violently, glaring at Lucas with pure rage. "You scum! You dared to hit someone in the hospital, and you think you deserve to be Chairman of the Tudor Group? People like you should just die!"

The scene descended into chaos!

Aveline jumped up and rushed over to Lucas, anxiously asking, "Lucas, are you alright?"

Lucas' face was pale with pain, and a patch of his forehead was red and burned, but he seemed otherwise uninjured.

However, there was ash and dust everywhere.

Lance, sitting beside him, had also been affected, and his expression was just as grim.

The restaurant manager quickly came over to assess the situation. With the police already called, he hurriedly explained, "He's just here to help today; he's not one of our employees! This has nothing to do with our restaurant!"

Aveline responded coldly, "Whether it has anything to do with you or we'll wait for the police investigation to find out."

His urgency to distance the restaurant from the incident was infuriating.

Selena glanced at the man pinned to the ground and couldn't help but give him a thumbs up. "Buddy, you've done what I never dared to do. Your courage is commendable."

The man struggled on the floor, his face flushed, but his eyes still burned with anger.

The police arrived shortly after, and the man was taken away for questioning.

Aveline suggested, "We should head to the hospital."

Lucas' eyes settled on her face. "Are you worried about me?"

Aveline frowned. "Is this really the time for that?"

"But I want to be sure of how you feel," Lucas insisted.

Aveline felt a strong urge to turn and walk away.

Aaron interjected, "Aveline, just humor him with something, or he'll keep pestering you."

Aveline sighed. "Let's get to the hospital now, or I'm leaving you here."

"Okay."

Lucas responded promptly, obediently following behind her.

Seeing this, everyone else looked surprised.

They had thought Lucas would be difficult to handle, but one cold stare from Aveline, and he was instantly docile. Aaron raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lance. "See? There's always someone who can keep him in check."

Lance replied calmly, "If he'd had that realization sooner, things wouldn't have escalated to this point."

Chapter 822 Chapter 822 Lucas overheard the conversation, and his steps visibly slowed.

Aaron gave Lance a thumbs up and then joined the group heading to the hospital.

By the time they arrived, the burn on Lucas' forehead had already formed a small blister. The doctor treated it briefly and said there was nothing serious, and they were free to leave.

It wasn't a big deal, but Aveline had insisted on coming to the hospital to make sure.

As they exited the hospital, Selena clung to Aveline's arm, hesitating to speak several times.

Aveline glanced at her. "If you have something to say, just say it."

Selena looked back at the men following them, then tugged Aveline ahead a few steps until they were a good distance away. She finally stopped and whispered closely, "Aveline, are you having second thoughts? Are you thinking of not divorcing him?" Aveline's expression froze for a moment. "I'm not having second thoughts."

Selena, however, looked worried. "But you don't look like someone who isn't regretting it. Lucas just got a little burn and you were so anxious. If he were maliciously attacked and stabbed a few times, wouldn't you be ready to fight to the death for him?" Aveline pursed her lips, saying nothing.

Selena felt her point was right on target. Seeing the men getting closer, she lowered her voice even more. "Look, the date is almost here. You can't waver now, or all your previous persistence will just seem like a joke."

As she finished speaking, the men had already caught up.

Aaron raised an eyebrow and asked, "What are you two whispering about that I'm not allowed to hear?"

Selena glanced at him. "If you were one of my friends, you could listen all you want."

Aaron's face darkened.

Lucas walked up beside Aveline, his dark eyes fixed on her. "Ready to go home?"

By now, the sky had darkened. The city's lights were just beginning to twinkle, and a cold wind was blowing; this was not the place for a long conversation.

Aveline looked at Lucas. "Who was that man?"

Lucas replied, "The investigation isn't complete yet. I'll let you know once I have the results."

"Alright."

Aveline nodded, then turned to Selena. "Could you give me a ride?"

Selena was just about to agree when Aaron grabbed her arm. "We still have unresolved matters. Besides, Lucas lives in the same building as her, why would you need to drive?"

en FindNovel Selena struggled, "No, I want to give her a ride! Let go of me."

Instead, Aaron pulled her closer, narrowing his eyes dangerously. "Selena, you still owe me an explanation for what happened earlier. Don't you think it's time to clear things up?" en FindNovel Selena blinked guiltily. "What earlier incident? I have no idea what you're talking about!"

She reached out to Aveline, looking pitiful. "Aveline, save me!"

Aveline's lips twitched slightly, then she glanced at Lucas. "Let's go." Lucas' lips curved into a faint smile as he led her directly to the car.

Aaron let out a cold snort. "See? Your friend has abandoned you."

Watching denly fetreating figure, Selena suddenly found some pushing Aaron all to r might. Content net "You stupid man!"

She spat angrily before stomping off.

Aaron frowned. "Who are you calling a stupid man? Explain yourself!"

He chased after her, demanding answers.

Lance stood there, looking at the two pairs of departing figures, and sighed at the sky.

Did he come all this way just to be a third wheel?

...

In the car.

Aveline closed her eyes, feeling exhausted, but Selena's words from earlier kept replaying in her mind.

Chapter 823 Chapter 823 Was she wavering?

Backing down? Hesitating?

It seemed so.

When that answer appeared in her mind, Aveline realized that her persistence all along had indeed become a joke.

Reflecting on the past, there were moments of pain, but also moments of care. Why had she insisted on divorce so stubbornly?

Perhaps it was the repeated lack of trust, the stark contrast between who he was before and who he became after regaining his memory and identity. He was no longer the same man she once loved so deeply. His entanglements with other women, and his desire to repay favors, all while ignoring her role in his life.

Those disappointments eventually turned into despair. She didn't want to hold on anymore, and that was why she sought a divorce.

Her heart, once filled with love for him, had gradually dried up like a riverbed cracked with fissures, and every time she thought about it, the pain became unbearable.

She just didn't want to feel that pain any longer.

Her thoughts were chaotic, but she finally understood the reasoning behind them. Divorce was merely a step toward starting anew, toward a better life.

For both of them, it would be a good thing.

So yes, the wavering was real, the worry was real, and the desire for divorce was real too.

"Aveline."

A deep, magnetic voice suddenly sounded by her ear.

"Hmm?"

She turned her head to meet his deep, dark eyes.

Lucas gazed at her, his Adam's apple moving, and after a long pause, he asked, "You are worried about me, aren't you?" "Yes."

This time, Aveline didn't deny it, nor did she avoid it; she admitted it openly. His eyes widened.

Aveline continued calmly, "You once said that if Hoved you, I couldn't just stop loving you. I didn't agree with you back then, but now I do. I worried about you, deeply am shaken at times, but that doesn't change my decision."

Her clear eyes focused on Lucas' handsome face; her voice was soft, but every word was resolute.

"Lucas, I can't make peace with the past, even if I love you."

The flame of hope in Lucas' eyes was suddenly extinguished.

How cruel.

She had made it clear that she still loved him, but just as decisively, she rejected him. They would not be together. The past wounds had left deep scars on her heart, and so she said she couldn't make peace with it.

QUMS "Should I feel happy, or should I feel sad?" Lucas stared at her for a long moment before speaking.

Aveline said nothing.

How he felt was his business; it didn't seem to have much to do with her.

Suddenly, she felt a sense of relief.

Her heart was no longer conflicted.

She began to look forward to the future even more.

Lucas let out a low chuckle and said, "Aveline, you certainly know how to pierce the heart. Can I just say I'm now riddled with holes?" Aveline smiled slightly. "Yet you're still here talking to me."

Lucas fell silent.

The car grew quiet, and neither of them spoke again for the rest of the ride.

Back at Maple Garden, Aveline took a shower first, then sat in front of her vanity to do her skincare routine.

Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at it-Lucas was calling.

It was likely about the man who had been taken away earlier.

She answered and put it on speaker.

"Hello?"

Lucas' deep, pleasant voice came through, The investigation is complete. He was just an ordinary person, with no background and no one behind him. He simply wanted to hurt me out of spite."

Chapter 824 Chapter 824 Hearing this, Aveline furrowed her brows. "The situation is getting more and more heated. Aren't you going to find a way to cool it down?"

Lucas replied, "It's too late to suppress it now. The capital has already gotten involved, and there are people fueling the flames behind the scenes. The attention is only going to increase." Aveline's worry deepened. "Then what should you do?"

If things continued like this, Lucas' situation would only become more precarious. It wouldn't just be pressure from the board; the public could turn against him too. If it caught the attention of the higher authorities, there was a real risk of him being blacklisted. "Hearing you worry about me, I should be happy," Lucas suddenly shifted the topic, "but why does it make me so sad?"

Aveline paused for a moment and then suggested, "Maybe I could do a livestream to clarify things."

"No need for you to appear," Lucas replied, "I'll handle everything."

His words brought her a strange sense of calm.

Still, she said, "If you need anything, just let me know."

"Alright."

Lucas agreed but didn't hang up immediately.

Aveline glanced at her phone and asked, "Is there anything else?"

"No," Lucas replied, "but I don't want to hang up. I just want to hear your voice. If you'd allow, I'd like to come over."

Aveline's tone was indifferent. "It's late. Go to sleep."

With that, she ended the call.

Lying on her bed, Aveline scrolled through videos on her phone. Out of every ten videos, six were about Lucas's altercation. The topic was unprecedentedly hot.

Who had released the footage during this period?

Was it Lucas's rivals?

Or someone specifically targeting them?

Aveline leaned toward believing that they were being targeted.

So, what other moves were waiting for them?

With her mind racing with these thoughts, Aveline soon drifted off to sleep.

The next day.

Tudor Group.

The spacious conference room was filled with numerous reporters; some were live-streaming on their phones, while others were holding cameras, ready to capture the moment.

The room buzzed with endless chatter.

The door to the conference room opened, and Desmond walked in first, followed by Lucas.

The moment he appeared, all the reporters' cameras turned toward him.

He was dressed in a black suit with a meticulously knotted striped tie. His short hair was neatly styled, and his handsome, captivating face bore a sharp and cold expression. His eyes swept over the cameras, sending an inexplicable chill through those watching the live stream.

The pressure was palpable!

"Wow, this man is way too handsome!"

"He just glanced at me, and I went weak in the knees, like, seriously."

"With his status, does he even need to personally get his hands dirty?"

"By the way, it's been two days since that video went viral. Why hasn't he been arrested?"

-"Abusing his power to bully people, no matter how handsome he is, he's still trash!"

The comments continued to flood in, and the heat kept rising.

Lucas sat down on the chair, his expression calm and indifferent.

Desmond pointed at a reporter, who immediately raised the microphone to Lucas and asked, "Mr. Tudor, was the person in the video who hit someone you?" Lucas replied, "Yes, it was me."

The reporter continued, "Can you explain why you hit them? I watched the video repeatedly and saw that it was just middle-aged woman with no strength to fight back. Don't you think it's inappropriate to use your youth and strength to hit someone like that?"

Lucas' sharp gaze fixed on the reporter's face. His thin lips curved slightly as he replied coolly...

Chapter 825 Chapter 825 "Desmond," Lucas called.

"Yes," Desmond responded immediately.

Desmond quickly took out his laptop and projected a video onto the screen behind them.

He said, "I'm sure many of you haven't seen the full video yet?"

As his words fell, everyone's attention turned to the screen.

The video showed a hospital corridor, where a middle-aged man and woman stood at the doorway of a patient room, shouting.

A young woman approached them, trying to reason with them.

Due to the angle, her face was not visible in the footage.

However, it was clear that the middle-aged woman attempted to hit the young woman, and only then did Lucas step in.

"Here's the full video," Desmond said, pausing the footage at the right moment. "As you can see, Mr. Tudor was just defending the lady, not abusing his power like some people online are saying. If Mr. Tudor had really done something wrong, it'd be a police matter, not a matter of public opinion."

After watching the video, the reporters in the room were stunned.

Was this what really happened?

Defending a lady?

- "I knew it! How could someone so handsome do something like bullying others?"

"I suspected there was more to this from the beginning. The video was so short, and it kept going viral these past two days. Could this be some sort of corporate battle?"

"So, a corporate war now involves smearing the rival Chairman's reputation?"

"Even so, it's still no reason to use force. The other person is much older; what if something serious happened?"

The comments continued to flood in, filled with mixed opinions.

Lucas stood up and said coldly, "The facts are right in front of you. I have nothing more to add. If anyone still has doubts, report it to the police directly."

With that, he turned and left the conference room.

The reporters were left bewildered, expecting to uncover some fresh scoop by coming here.

Instead, it turned out to be a clarification press conference.

Once the full video was released, the online narrative was bound to shift-unless another twist emerged.

At the same time.

Aveline watched the live stream.

Seeing Lucas handle the situation so calmly and methodically, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

He clearly didn't care much about it, yet he still showed up at the press conference. And while everyone was focused on the video, he was casually looking at his phone, showing that this whole thing didn't affect him much at all.

Throughout the entire video, she hadn't appeared, and not a single word about her had been mentioned.

This matter should be close to being resolved, right?

Tomorrow, they could finally go and get the divorce certificate.

Thinking about it made Aveline quite happy.

"You seem pretty pleased to see he's okay," Sidney's voice came from behind her.

Aveline turned around to face him. "When did you get here?"

"I've been here since the live stream started," Sidney replied.

He looked at her with a complex expression, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he held back.

Right now, he didn't have the right to say those things.

Aveline said, "Of course I'm happy he's okay."

Sidney looked at her, surprised. "Did you two... make up?"

Aveline shook her head. "No, we haven't, but I won't let our personal issues drag into anything else.

Besides, he's not exactly a villain."

Sidney's expression grew even more conflicted.

"Phew... I'm austed. Finally made it back, it doordria's voice came from the drawing everyone's attention.

They saw her looking utterly worn out.

Aveline asked, "Where did you go?"

Chapter 826 Chapter 826 "I had to take care of some personal matters," Maria replied as she walked in, giving Sidney a playful glance before winking at Aveline. "Did you miss me?"

Aveline, a bit exasperated by Maria's antics, pushed her hand away. "Actually, there are a lot of files that need your attention. Get to work and don't delay the progress of our studio."

Maria sighed dramatically. "Workaholic!"

If she'd known it would be like this, she wouldn't have come back so early!

However, she couldn't say too much about what she'd been up to. If Aveline found out, she might get angry. Things between the boss and Aveline seemed to be easing up, and the last thing Maria wanted was to mess it up now and become the eternal villain in their story. "Fine, I'll get to work. But feel free to slack off," Maria said with a slight smile before heading to the office.

As she passed Sidney, she gave him a meaningful look.

Sidney frowned but ignored her.

Aveline turned her attention back to the screen and ended the live stream.

It seemed like the matter was finally resolved.

Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen-it was a call from Lucas.

"Hello?" Aveline answered.

Lucas' deep, pleasant voice came through, "Did you watch the live stream?"

"Yes, I did," Aveline replied.

Lucas chuckled softly. "Did my appearance charm you?"

Aveline was speechless for a moment.

She stared at her phone, thinking she might have misheard.

She had assumed he called to discuss the video incident, but instead, he was asking if she found him handsome?

Feeling slightly annoyed, Aveline said, "Is this matter settled now?"

Lucas replied, "Why are you avoiding my question? I watched the replay, you know. The comments were all about how outrageously handsome I am. Aveline, are you sure you don't want to reconsider? I'm quite the catch." Aveline's mouth twitched slightly. "No, I'm sure I don't."

With that, she hung up the phone.

This man could be so childish!

...

Tudor Group.

President's Office.

Lucas stared at the phone that had just been hung up, letting out a small sigh.

He opened the weather forecast, checking the conditions for tomorrow. He really hoped for a snowstorm-something that would make it hard to go out. But what did he see instead? en FindNovel The forecast showed a clear, cloudless sky, with temperatures rising several degrees.

His expression darkened. This weather forecast was unreliable.

He tossed the phone aside and pressed the intercom button.

"Yes, Mr. Tudor, any instructions?" Desmond's voice came through.

Lucas asked, "What's my schedule for the rest of the day?"

Desmond quickly ran through the upcoming tasks.

Lucas replied, "Push everything to tomorrow."

"What?" Desmond was stunned. "But some of these can be finished today."

Lucas said, "I want to rest today. Is that not allowed?"

Desmond paused and thought, "... Of course, you're the boss. If you want to rest, who would dare to say no?"

"Alright," Desmond reluctantly agreed.

"Forget it." Lucas suddenly changed his mind. "Let's finish everything today."

Desmond was speechless. His boss' road with endless t s were truly like a winding et turns. Content belong Wists and to With the video clarification, the hype was slowly dying down.

Netizens, known for following trends, had shifted their focus back to discussing Lucas' looks.

Thankfully, the buzz wasn't as high as before, gradually being replaced by other news stories.

Evening.

Aveline finished work early and went to the supermarket to buy groceries, planning to cook a nice dinner at home.

Just as she was about to leave, someone called out, "Aveline, check the news!"

Chapter 827 Chapter 827 Sidney walked over, holding his phone out to show her.

Aveline, who was packing up her things, glanced over in confusion. "What's going on?"

Another video had taken over the trending topics.

In the video, the middle-aged couple from earlier were crying in front of the camera, and behind them was none other than the hospital owned by the Tudor Group!

The middle-aged woman was sobbing hysterically," "My daughter's arm was broken in a car accident caused by that big shot's wife, and we had no idea!" the middle-aged woman sobbed.

"They've kept my daughter locked up in this hospital and won't let us see her! It's been over a month since she last came home. When I tried to visit her, that boss hit me! Can you believe it? Is it so wrong for a mother to want to see her own child?"

The middle-aged man, his face full of anger and helplessness, added, "I only saw my daughter because I was sick and went to the hospital. I hadn't seen her in over a month, and she looked so thin, like a ghost!

"Her arm hasn't recovered, and yet the person who hit her still won't let us see her. They even moved her to another hospital. There are security guards at the entrance, and we can't get in! We just want to see our daughter. Why are you stopping us? Are you doing experiments on her? Let my daughter go!"

Their words were earnest and filled with righteous indignation, and their pitiful tears painted them as victims, perfectly portraying the image of a powerless group facing injustice.

Below the video, the comments section was filled with supposed "witnesses" chiming in:

"I was at the hospital that day and saw everything. The Chairman of the Tudor Group was abusing his power, kicking the woman in the video. When she said she would call the police, he just said, 'Who saw it?' and no one dared speak up. That's the power of capital!" -"I also saw the whole thing. Those parents just wanted to see their daughter, but they were constantly blocked. It makes no sense."

"I've seen that girl too, and she really is shockingly thin. If you hit someone, you should compensate and treat them properly. Why not let the parents see her?"

"Where did these so-called 'witnesses' come from anyway? And why isn't anyone talking about the horrible things this couple said at the hospital? The CEO was just trying to protect someone. Plus, the girl herself admitted she was the one who hit the other person. Out of kindness, they let her stay in the hospital and paid for everything. How on earth did this turn into some story about imprisoning her and keeping her parents away?"

Even when a genuine witness tried to explain the situation, the comment was quickly drowned out by a flood of opposing voices, and the controversy once again reached a fever pitch on the internet.

Aveline's expression turned grim.

How could this happen?

How did Annie's parents find out that she had been transferred to a hospital under the Tudor Group?

Was it the person behind all this?

Sidney noticed her troubled expression and asked, "Do you want to call Lucas?"

"Yeah, I'll ask him," Aveline replied, taking out her phone to call Lucas.

However, the call didn't go through immediately, and she didn't try again.

She decided to wait patiently.

If there was anything urgent, he would contact her.

After packing up her things, she left the office directly.

Her to the supermarketet she headed straight home As she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Selena standing at her door. The moment Selena saw her, she quickly asked, "I saw the news and came right over. What's going on?"

IMS

Chapter 828 Chapter 828 As Aveline unlocked the door, she said, "I don't know yet. I called him, but he didn't answer. What is certain, though, is that someone is targeting us." Selena followed her inside, frowning. "Aren't they going after him? What does this have to do with you?"

Aveline pressed her lips together slightly. "I have a feeling things aren't as simple as they seem."

Selena sighed. "Oh, my dear, you're scaring me. Why does it sound like it's getting more complicated?"

Aveline sighed helplessly. "We still don't know what the other side wants, so we'll just have to take it step by step. But I'll be fine."

At least for now, all the moves seemed aimed at Lucas.

Selena took out her phone. "I'll ask Aaron to help investigate and see what's really going on."

Aveline replied, "He and Lucas are like brothers. Don't you think he's already involved?"

"True enough," Selena said, putting down her phone. "I suddenly feel so powerless, like there's nothing I can do to help."

Aveline smiled and said, "Just focus on our own things and don't get involved. That's the best way to help them."

When the front lines are on fire, the rear must stay stable. Otherwise, getting hit from both sides would overwhelm anyone.

"Yeah, you're right," Selena agreed.

Aveline asked, "Have you eaten?"

Selena shook her head. "I saw the news and came straight over. I even had a fight with my boss over it. That lousy boss of mine, always obsessed with meetings! Every day it's another meeting about pointless stuff; it's so annoying." Listening to her rant, Aveline felt oddly more at ease and said, "All bosses are like that. Just bear with it."

Selena slumped into the sofa. "Yeah, I guess there's no other choice."

Aveline went to the kitchen and quickly cooked some pasta. Before long, she called Selena to the dining area to eat.

After their meal, the two of them kept an eye on the situation, watching the news on their phones.

This time, the response was the same as before.

The Tudor Group did not issue an immediate clarification; instead, they maintained a wait-and-see attitude.

It was almost comical-just that morning, netizens had been apologizing over the clarified video and by the afternoon, they were already back to their usual insults, not even waiting until the next day to change their tune.

Selena put down her phone, exasperated. "I can't watch this anymore. They're all nuts." Aveline, however, continued to watch.

Seeing Aveline's unreadable expression, Selena asked, "Ave, what do you plan to do next?" Aveline looked up and replied, "I think I'll start a live stream and clear things up." Selena's eyes widened in shock, and she immediately tried to dissuade her.

"No, you can't do that! If you start a live stream now, all the backlash will be directed at you. Don't do this! At least Lucas has the Tudor Group and a professional PR team. We have nothing! If you draw their attention, they will come after you, and it won't be hard for them to find you."

Fearing that Aveline was serious, Selena grabbed her hand/ "Didn't you just say we should focus on our own things and not make it worse for them?" Aveline was amused by Selena's anxious reaction. She put down her phone and said, "I was just kidding. Why are you so worked up?"

Selena remained serious. "How can you joke about something like this?

You were clearly thinking about it and planning to go through with it. I'm telling you, no way, absolutely not!

Swr

Chapter 829 Chapter 829 "Alright, I get it," Aveline said, gently patting Selena's hand to reassure her and temporarily abandoning the idea of going live. However, Selena, worried that Aveline might still consider doing a live stream, stuck close to her all evening, refusing to leave her side.

It wasn't out of selfishness.

Lucas, after all, was a powerful man with resources and influence, and he could easily suppress the situation.

A few insults wouldn't bother him much.

But Aveline?

She had nothing like that to protect her.

She couldn't afford to be exposed to the public eye. These netizens could turn vicious on a whim, and Aveline, with her gentle nature, would undoubtedly be deeply hurt by an online mob attack. Selena was worried sick about her!

...

Meanwhile, at the Tudor Group, the lights burned bright late into the night.

The PR manager brought in the emergency response plan, only to hear the sounds of a heated argument coming from the office.

Desmond stood at the door, took the documents, and said, "You should head back."

The PR manager nodded and left.

Desmond glanced at the documents, then pushed open the office door and stepped inside.

Inside the office, Mark was angrily pounding the table, his displeased eyes fixed on Lucas.

"Lucas, explain to me what's going on now. Wasn't the situation just calmed down? Why has it flared up again? It seems you can't handle this matter. I propose we call a shareholders' meeting to re-elect the president!" Several other executives in the room also wore grim expressions.

Just when one crisis had barely been resolved, another was already brewing.

Now, public opinion online was overwhelmingly against them!

Everyone was demanding Lucas' resignation, calling for him to release the woman they claimed he was holding captive!

Lucas sat in his leather chair, his expression cold and indifferent as he watched the furious executives in front of him.

Lucas spoke calmly, "So, after electing a new president, then what? How do you plan to handle this situation?" Mark maintained a stern face, "That won't be your concern anymore."

Lucas continued, "Let me guess: you'll dump all the blame on me, announce that I've resigned, and claim that everything, from the incident at the hospital to hiding the woman, was my personal behavior and had nothing to do with the Tudor Group, right?"

Mark's expression didn't change, but deep down, he was shocked. He hadn't expected Lucas to see right through their plans! That was exactly what they had been discussing.

It seemed like the best course of action.

So, the first step was to force Lucas to resign on his own.

Another board member, Winson Watson, spoke up, "Lucas, it's clear that someone is manipulating things from behind the scenes. Their target might not be the Tudor Group but you. You can't let your personal affairs drag down the entire company. Think about your father; this is his life's work. Can you really stand to see the company destroyed?"

"I can," Lucas replied with a slight smile. "Your suggestion is actually a good one. I'll drag the entire Tudor Group down with me. We'll all perish together."

"You...!" Mark's face twisted with anger. "You are being utterly unreasonable. A shareholders' meeting must be held! The Tudor Group cannot be led by someone like you!"

Lucas slowly stood up, the smile on his lips fading into a cold line, his entire demeanor imposing.

"All this fuss over a minor public opinion storm shows just how complacent you old guys have become. It seems you've lived in comfort for too long and can't handle the slightest bit of turbulence anymore.

"Let me make this clear today: the Tudor Group belongs to me, Lucas Tudor. None of you can remove me. If you want me to resign, I won't mind dragging everyone down with me. If you don't believe me, just try it.

Chapter 830 Chapter 830 He was extremely arrogant, his confidence overflowing with an almost unbearable swagger. The expressions on the faces of the shareholders weren't looking good, but despite his audacity, there was nothing they could do. They had initially thought they could persuade him to resign, but it was clear that this approach was not going to work.

Now, who could possibly rein him in?

Frederick was already paralyzed by a stroke, Yvonne did not involve herself in anything, and Barbara had grown senile.

At this point, no one could control Lucas.

Mark was initially intimidated by the aura surrounding Lucas but quickly recovered, narrowing his eyes as he stared at him. "Lucas, you're really quite arrogant, aren't you? Do you honestly think there's nothing I can do about you?" Lucas raised a sharp brow slightly. "Oh? What exactly does Mr. Lewis plan to do?"

Mark replied in a cold voice, "The Tudor Group needs a qualified and responsible person to lead it, and you are not that person."

Lucas looked at him with a faint, mocking smile. "It seems Mr. Lewis already has a suitable candidate in mind. Who might that be?"

Mark sneered. "You'll find out soon enough!"

With that, he turned and walked away, followed by the other shareholders.

Desmond, standing nearby, took the opportunity to speak up, "Mr. Tudor, the PR department has prepared an emergency response plan regarding the online controversy. Would you like to take a look?" Lucas responded coolly, "No need."

Desmond seemed to have anticipated his response and didn't bother to pick up the documents.

Instead, he continued, "Mr. Fletcher's side has sent a message. The people overseas have already detained the head of that jewelry company, so there shouldn't be any further escalation."

Lucas, however, replied, "The person behind all this hasn't been found yet. Everything is still uncertain."

He took out his phone and noticed a missed call from Aveline. His eyes darkened briefly before he dialed back.

"Hello?"

After three rings, the call connected, and Aveline's soft, gentle voice came through.

Lucas spoke, "You don't need to worry about the online matters. They won't have any impact on me."

Hearing this, Aveline finally felt relieved.

As long as everything is fine.

Even over the phone, Lucas could sense the shift in her emotions. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he asked in a low voice, "Worried about me?"

Aveline replied, "I am worried about you. I'm worried you won't be able to show up on time tomorrow."

The curve of Lucas' smile took on a hint of bitterness. "Don't worry, I promised you, and I'll keep my word."

Outside, the sky had completely darkened it was just a month away from New Year. If they hadn't divorced, he and Aveline would have been married for two years by now.

He took out a cigarette, lit it, and held it between his lips, squinting slightly as the pale smoke spirated upward. The call didn't end immediately, but neither of them spoke.

After a long silence, Aveline's voice finally came through, "It's getting late; I should get some sleep."

"Mm, good night," Lucas replied.

The call ended, and he stood in front of the large floor-to-ceiling window, his figure looking incredibly lonely.

At Maple Garden, Aveline stood on the balcony, wearing a knitted sweater, gazing at the cold stars hanging in the night sky, unable to describe the emotions in her heart. Her resolve seemed to be wavering even more.

"Ave." Selena approached, wrapping her arms around her. "It's so cold; don't stand here and catch a cold."

Aveline smiled slightly. "I'm fine."

Selena urged, "Come back inside. I know you're worried about him, but he's so strong and stubborn; he definitely won't let anything happen to himself."

Chapter 831 Chapter 831 Hearing Selena's words, Aveline couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and helplessness. Still, she obediently went back inside, realizing she did feel a bit cold.

...

A dreamless night. The next day.

At nine in the morning, Aveline arrived punctually at the entrance of the lawyer's office. Within five minutes, a Panamera pulled into the parking space. Lucas stepped out of the car, his tall figure exuding a cold aura, his sharp features looking even colder than the winter air. "You're here so early? Aren't you cold?" he asked as he walked up to her, reaching out and cupping her face in his hands, his palms warm against her chilled skin.

For a moment, she found herself unwilling to pull away from his warmth.

Aveline lowered her gaze slightly and replied, "I just got here too."

"Let's go in, then."

With that, Lucas led the way, and the two of them entered the lawyer's office together. They were the first couple of the day.

With the documents and paperwork already prepared, it didn't take long before their divorce certificate was issued.

When Aveline received the certificate, she opened it and examined it closely. The text was correct, the seal was intact.

It was a real divorce certificate.

Lucas watched her, his eyes dark and intense. "I told you, I won't lie to you again."

Aveline gave a faint smile. "Can't help it, you have a history."

Standing up, she walked outside, exhaling a long breath.

Finally, it was over.

Lucas casually tossed the certificate into her arms.

"Hmm?" Aveline looked at him, puzzled.

Lucas said calmly, "You seem to like it quite a bit. Consider it a gift."

Aveline's mouth twitched. She'd heard of giving flowers or jewelry as gifts, but this was the first time she'd heard of someone gifting a divorce certificate! However, she wasn't going to argue with him!

She extended her hand toward him.

Lucas looked at her. "What are you doing?"

Aveline said, "Congratulations on regaining your single status."

Lucas tugged at his lips, revealing a smile that wasn't particularly joyful. "That's not the kind of congratulations I want."

Sensing his mood, Aveline didn't press further and withdrew her hand. "So, what's your next step?"

Lucas replied, "I'll have Annie go live to clarify the situation. It's best if the person involved speaks up herself."

Aveline's brow furrowed. "Won't she get attacked online?"

Lucas glanced at her. "And you're not worried about me getting attacked?"

Aveline responded honestly, "No, you're shameless."

Lucas let out a scoff and started walking toward his car.

Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen-Desmond was calling.

"Hello?"

Desmond's voice came through, urgent and serious. "Mr. Tudor, something's wrong. Annie is missing!" Lucas' brows knitted tightly. "When did this happen?"

Desmond replied, "I went to the hospital, and the nurse was found unconscious in the room. I checked the surveillance footage, but someone tampered with it-there's nothing on the recording!"

Lucas' eyes darkened. "Keep searching. Go over every inch of the footage. I want to know who dared to take her right under my nose."

"Yes, sir!"

Desmond answered firmly.

Lucas suddenly added, "Check Yvonne's movements."

"Understood."

BUMS After ending the call, Lucas turned to Aveline, meeting her confused gaze. He said, "Annie is missing."

Aveline immediately walked over, her brows knitted with concern. "What happened?"

The hospital under the Tudor Group was top-notch security. How could a person just vanish like that?

Down for its confidentiality and belongs to en.kikistor

Chapter 832 Chapter 832 Lucas opened the car door and asked, "Coming with me?"

Aveline nodded and got in without hesitation.

A sense of unease crept into her heart.

With Annie missing, there would be no way to completely turn around the online backlash.

If it continued unchecked, it would have a major impact on the Tudor Group.

What outcome was the opposition aiming for?

Forcing Lucas to leave the Tudor Group?

What else?

She had a feeling that it wasn't so simple.

Soon, they arrived at the hospital, which was unusually crowded today.

Many passersby were hovering around, glancing inside and whispering among themselves.

Lucas and Aveline paid no attention to the onlookers and headed straight into the hospital.

Desmond had already contacted Maria, who was investigating the surveillance footage both inside and outside the hospital. They finally spotted a familiar face-Yvonne's assistant, Zack Jones. Lucas' voice was cold. "Bring him here."

Desmond replied, "The moment I identified Zack, I sent people to find him, but he's already left the country. He boarded a plane just half an hour ago." Perfect.

It was now almost certain that Yvonne had orchestrated Annie's disappearance.

Lucas' expression darkened. "Where is Yvonne?"

Desmond answered, "Mrs. Tudor has returned to the Skyler family, and our people can't even get access to anyone from the Skylers."

Trisha Betsy, the matriarch of the Skyler family, and Yvonne were sisters.

Naturally, Yvonne would turn to her sister when things went wrong.

Lucas let out a cold laugh. "Quite a well-planned move."

Desmond, still uncertain, asked, "Mr. Tudor, what should we do now?"

Even though they knew Yvonne had taken Annie, they couldn't force their way into the Skyler family to get Yvonne out.

The trail had gone cold.

Lucas replied calmly, "Contact Mrs. Skyler. Ask her if she wants to know the whereabouts of her younger son."

Trisha had two sons. The elder son had died in a car accident some time ago, which was why the Skyler family head had brought Russell, back to groom him. The young ne son had gone missing in his early childhood, and despite years of searching, he had never been found.

Desmond looked at Lucas, somewhat surprised. "Mr. Tudor, have you found Mrs. Skyler's younger son?"

Lucas replied, "Just follow my instructions."

"Yes, sir!" Desmond quickly responded and went to contact Trisha.

Now it was up to Trisha to choose between her younger son and her sister.

Aveline stood by, having heard the entire conversation. She finally asked, "Is this situation very tricky?"

Lucas glanced at her and said, "If you give me a kiss, I'll tell you."

Aveline gave him a look of disbelief and turned away, pretending she hadn't heard anything. Seeing how calm he was, she realized her worry was unnecessary.

At that moment, her phone rang.

She took it out and saw that Gernard was calling.

She frowned slightly, wondering what he wanted this time.

"Hello?" she answered.

Gernard's concerned voice came through. "Aveline, how have you been lately?" Aveline replied, "I'm fine."

Gernard didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "I've been following the recent situation with the Tudor Group, and I understand the key person is that girl, fight? I know where she is."

swn y Aveline's eyes turned cold. "How do you know where she is?"

Gernard explained, "I told you, I've been following this matter too. I thought I might be able to help you."

Aveline asked, "Mr. Cooper, what's the price for your help?"

Chapter 833 Chapter 833 Hearing her words, Gernard felt an inexplicable discomfort in his heart, but he had indeed come with an agenda.

He was silent for a moment, then asked, "How are things between you and Lucas?"

Of course, that was his motive.

Aveline gave a silent, mocking smile. "Mr. Cooper, I'm genuinely curious-why are you so determined to persuade me to divorce Lucas? Selena is my best friend, my family, but even she hasn't been constantly telling me to divorce him." Gernard sighed quietly. His intentions were too obvious, and he wasn't surprised she saw right through him.

"Can we meet?" he asked.

Aveline replied, "Where?"

She was eager to hear what shameless things Gernard might have to say this time. That way, she could completely give up any hope for the Cooper family.

At noon, they met at a restaurant.

When Aveline arrived, Gernard was already there.

He had ordered the food and poured her some tea.

After she took a few sips, he finally spoke, "I must start by apologizing. I'm sorry."

Aveline looked at him calmly. "Why are you apologizing?"

Gernard gazed at her deeply and said, "Because I truly want you to divorce Lucas. He's not right for you."

Aveline stared into his eyes, searching for any hint of emotion, but found none. He couldn't say it, could he? Couldn't admit that it was for his sister? Aveline continued, "As you wished, Lucas and I are divorced. We got the divorce certificate this morning. Now, can you tell me where Annie is?" Gernard was stunned. "Really?"

Aveline nodded. "Yes."

Then, she took out the divorce certificate.

Gernard didn't reach for it, but he could tell Aveline wasn't lying.

Gernard's emotions were complicated; he didn't speak for a long while. Aveline didn't rush him-she was hungry, so she ate her meal while waiting.

After a while, Gernard finally said, "Annie was taken to a halfway rehabilitation center in the suburbs. It's in a remote area, set up by people from another city. It's not a noticeable place." FindNovel Aveline immediately sent a message to Lucas, informing him of Annie's location.

"Thank you," Aveline said to Gernard and then continued eating.

Gernard watched her, his mind filled with things he wanted to say, but now he couldn't utter a single word.

After a while, he managed to speak, "If you ever need anything, feel free to contact me."

"No need," Aveline replied, dabbing her mouth with a napkin, her tone calm. Td rather not trouble you especially since the cost seems quite high."

Gernard's face darkened. "Aveline..."

Aveline stood up. "I'm leaving now. Goodbye."

Her distant, indifferent demeanor was unmistakable.

Gernard felt a pang of discomfort in his heart, though he couldn't quite explain why.

Objectively, how long had he known Aveline? They were, at best, just casual acquaintances. He wasn't romantically interested in her there were no feelings of love between a man and a woman. FindNovel But why did her coldness make him feel so uneasy? Why did it make him feel so despicable?

...

Lucas sent a team to the rehabilitation center in the suburbs, but by the time they arrived, Annie had already been moved elsewhere.

He immediately relayed this to Aveline.

Aveline was puzzled. "Gernard had no reason to lie to me."

Lucas replied, "Then there must be a third party involved."

Chapter 834 Chapter 834 The video incident was causing a huge stir online.

The Tudor Group, being such a prominent entity, had attracted a lot of people wanting to take advantage of this chaos. If even Gernard was closely monitoring the Tudor Group's current situation, others could too. It was evident to those who paid attention that Annie was the key to this entire incident.

As long as she made a public clarification, the Tudor Group could once again emerge from the crisis.

Therefore, keeping control over Annie would mean trapping the Tudor Group in this whirlpool of public opinion, making it hard for them to extricate themselves.

So, it wasn't surprising that a third party might have intervened.

Aveline took a deep breath and asked, "So, what do we do now?"

She felt completely at a loss, unsure of what steps to take next.

Lucas replied, "Don't worry. I'll have people continue searching. Whoever took Annie wants to see the Tudor Group suffer, so for now, she shouldn't be in any immediate danger."

Aveline nodded, still trusting in Lucas' abilities.

Lucas added in a serious tone, "Be careful lately. Don't go out unnecessarily and stick to going only between two fixed locations. Baron and Braden will be protecting you. If you notice anything unusual, call them immediately-they'll be there in no time." "Alright, I understand," Aveline agreed.

It seemed Lucas shared her thoughts; this situation wasn't just aimed at him.

After hanging up, Aveline was overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. She felt frustrated and uneasy, mostly because she still had no clue who was pulling the strings or why. It was like fighting an invisible enemy - they were out in the open while their opponent lurked in the shadows. The whole situation left her feeling powerless and on edge.

She drove straight home and informed Maria that she wouldn't be going to the office for a while.

Maria showed no reaction and agreed without any questions. This left Aveline feeling puzzled.

Even if Maria knew she might resign, her response seemed somewhat off.

Normally, if she suddenly decided to take a break without specifying a return date, wouldn't her boss at least ask for a reason?

But Maria didn't ask anything.

Sitting on the sofa, Aveline held her phone, feeling lost.

...

Lucas sat in the car as Desmond turned around and said, "Mr. Tudor, Mrs. Skyler has agreed to meet with you."

Lucas responded, "You go and meet her."

Desmond paused, surprised. "But, Mrs. Skyler wants to see you..."

Lucas replied calmly, "Now that Annie isn't even in Yvonne's hands anymore, why should I meet her?"

Desmond hesitated before asking, "And Mrs. Skyler's younger son...?"

Lucas said, "Proceed with the negotiation as planned. Perhaps Yvonne knows who took Annie." "Understood."

Desmond agreed and left.

That afternoon, in a quiet teahouse.

Desmond entered and saw Trisha looking over. Her brows furrowed upon seeing him. "Where's Lucas? Wasn't he supposed to come himself?"

Desmond put on a professional smile and said, "Apologies, Mrs. Skyler. I'm sure you've heard about the recent events at the Tudor Group. Mr. Tudor is extremely busy right now, so he sent me in his place. Whatever Mr. Tudor knows, I am aware of too."

Trisha eyed him suspiciously but still asked, "Do you truly know where my son is?"

Desmond gave a slight nod. "That depends on whether Mrs. Skyler is willing to cooperate."

Trisha's voice turned cold. "What exactly do you want?"

Desmond replied, "Madam Yvonne hasn't visited Mr. Tudor in quite some time. Mr. Tudor misses her dearly, but I haven't been able to reach her. Could you kindly pass along the message?"

Chapter 835 Chapter 835 Trisha's expression faltered slightly as she recalled what Yvonne had told her when she arrived.

Yvonne had said she needed to stay with her for a while and that if anyone came looking for her, she was to see no one and not let anyone meet with her.

It seemed Yvonne was hiding from Lucas.

Trisha knew her sister well enough to guess that Yvonne had likely done something to anger Lucas and was now seeking refuge with her.

Her expression wavered for just a couple of seconds before she replied calmly, "I'll pass the message along, but she's been taking care of Frederick and is quite exhausted. I hope she can rest a bit longer." After a brief pause, she asked, "Since you say you know where my son is, where is he now?"

Desmond smiled slightly. "As soon as Madam Yvonne returns to the Tudor household, you'll be informed of your son's whereabouts."

Trisha slammed her hand on the table. "You're threatening me!"

Desmond showed no fear. "I wouldn't dare. You've misunderstood, Mrs. Skyler. I have other matters to attend to. Please take your time to consider."

With that, he stood up and left.

Trisha's face turned a livid shade of anger. She took out her phone and dialed Yvonne.

"Hello, sis, what's wrong?" Yvonne's voice came through.

Trisha asked, "What exactly have you done? Lucas' people have come to me!"

Yvonne replied, "Sis, don't worry about it. Just ignore them. They wouldn't dare make a move against the Skyler family."

Trisha pressed, "But what did you do? You need to at least give me a clue!"

Yvonne, unwilling to share, said, "Sis, just leave my business alone."

Trisha closed her eyes for a moment, frustrated.

She had been ready to shield her younger sister at all costs, but what was the result? Yvonne wouldn't even tell her what she had done, and she continued hiding in the Skyler household, refusing to go back. And now, only Lucas knew the whereabouts of her son.

Thinking of how everything in the Skyler family had fallen into the hands of that illegitimate child, Trisha's eyes filled with an endless hatred.

She had to find her younger son and take back the Skyler family!

She hung up the phone and immediately dialed another number. "Tell Yvonne that I'm inviting her to a beauty appointment."

...

Yvonne had been staying at the Skyler residence.

After hanging up the phone, her expression darkened. It seemed Trisha had already made contact with Lucas. Otherwise, she wouldn't be asking questions so suddenly. However, she believed that Trisha wouldn't hand her over. In this world, they were the only family each other had left.

Half an hour later, the butler approached, his demeanor respectful. "Mrs. Tudor, our lady has invited you for a beauty "1 swnever appointment. The car is ready.

en FindNovel "Alright, I understand," Yvonne replied before getting up to leave.

When she arrived at the beauty salon and entered the private room, she saw Trisha. Yvonne smiled. "Sis, why invite me out at this time?"

Trisha replied, "You've been taking care of Frederick all this time; you must be exhausted. could use a little belongs to en. Kilent Yvonne didn't suspect anything and lay down directly.

In the private room, scented incense was burning, and the beautician was massaging her face. Yvonne gradually began to feel drowsy.

Trisha quietly got up and left the room, immediately calling Desmond.

"I'm here with Yvonne at this location. You can bring your people to take her away."

Desmond was surprised at how quickly she had made her decision, but he quickly nodded. "Understood, Mrs. Skyler. Please wait a moment."

Yvonne felt increasingly drowsy and slowly realized something was né wrong. She forced her eyes open, only to find that Trisha was no longer there!

Chapter 836 Chapter 836 Not only was Trisha gone, but the beautician had disappeared too!

Yvonne's expression changed instantly.

She realized something was very wrong. She quickly got off the bed, dressed, and walked over to the door, only to find it locked from the outside. Her face darkened. Trisha had betrayed her!

What kind of deal had Lucas offered to make Trisha willing to betray her own sister?

Yvonne quickly composed herself and took out her phone to make a call.

"I'm locked up in the beauty salon. Trisha wants to hand me over to Lucas. Find a way to get me out of here!"

After hearing a response from the other end, Yvonne finally felt a bit relieved. She sat down on the bed, her expression grim.

She had thought Trisha was her last refuge. She hadn't expected that Trisha would abandon her so easily.

Fine, then. She wouldn't hold back either!

...

Half an hour later.

Desmond arrived at the beauty salon with his team.

Trisha was sitting in the lounge area. When she saw him, she stood up and said, "Follow me."

Desmond gave a slight nod, and the group made their way upstairs.

As they walked, Trisha asked, "Can you tell me now where my son is?"

Desmond smiled. "Once we meet with Mrs. Tudor, I'll certainly tell you."

Trisha was a bit displeased, but she figured a short wait wouldn't make much difference.

They soon arrived at the private room upstairs. Trisha had someone unlock the door but didn't enter herself.

"She's inside," she said.

Desmond signaled his bodyguards, and they rushed in.

But moments later, the bodyguards emerged and reported, "There's no one inside."

Desmond immediately turned to Trisha.

Trisha's face turned pale at the news.

"What?" she exclaimed, stunned.

Trisha hurried into the room, but there was no sign of Yvonne anywhere.

"This is impossible! I brought her here myself. I even had them use hypnotic incense in here. When did she leave?" Trisha's face was filled with disbelief.

Desmond smiled. "I believe in your determination, Mrs. Skyler, but you underestimated Mrs. Tudor's abilities. Since she isn't here, be taking my leave."

With that, he turned to leave with his men.

"You can't leave! You haven't told me where my son is-you can't just go!" Trisha was in complete disarray.

To find her son, she had betrayed Yvonne. But now Yvonne was gone, and she had gained nothing. All her efforts were in vain! This couldn't be happening!

Desmond's smile faded into a colder expression. Mrs. Skyler, we were in a negotiation, and since the terms weren't fulfilled, I won't be revealing anything. You must understand the importance of upholding an agreement."

With that, he brushed past Trisha and strode away.

Trisha swayed on her feet, her face turning pale. What should she do now? What on earth should she do? Her sister was gone, and she still didn't know her son's whereabouts. She had nothing left!

Back in the car, Desmond reported everything that had transpired to Lucas.

Lucas' tone was indifferent. "Come back for now."

Desmond hesitated. "Mr. Tudor, with Madam Yvonne now completely missing, we're at a total disadvantage." Lucas replied calmly, "I know. You don't need to remind me."

Desmond pressed on, "So, what do we do next?"

Lucas replied, "Just wait."

Then he hung up the phone.

Desmond was left speechless. Lucas was as unpredictable and free-spirited as ever.

...

Aveline had been at home, eating a light dinner. As the sky outside darkened, her anxiety grew steadily.

Chapter 837 Chapter 837 In the following days, Lucas messaged her daily, but there was still no news about Annie.

Aveline had been struggling with insomnia as well.

The video's hype had diminished somewhat but still lingered on the trending list.

One day, while Aveline was in her study drawing, her phone suddenly rang.

She glanced at the screen-it was an unfamiliar number.

She hesitated for a moment but decided to answer it, guessing that the person behind everything might finally be reaching out to her.

"Hello, who's this?" Aveline asked in a cold tone.

The voice on the other end was a processed electronic voice, making it impossible to discern the gender or emotion.

"Do you want to see Annie? She's with me."

Aveline immediately asked, "Who are you? Where is Annie?"

The caller continued, "I'll give you an address. Come alone. Don't inform Lucas, and don't let those two bodyguards follow you. Otherwise, I'll kill her and frame Lucas for it. With the video still generating buzz, imagine how it would look if news broke that Lucas tortured Annie to death. What do you think would happen to him then?"

Aveline abruptly stood up. "Alright, I agree."

The caller wasted no time and hung up immediately.

Soon, a text message appeared on her phone, giving an address in a remote area on the outskirts of the city.

A sense of unease welled up inside her.

Should she inform Lucas? But the caller's warning still echoed in her ears.

She couldn't risk Annie's life, nor could she let Lucas be falsely accused of murder.

Aveline quickly gathered her things and headed out.

She first went to a mall, blending in with the crowd, and entered a restroom. After changing into a different set of clothes, she reemerged with a hat and a mask, making it harder for Baron and Braden to recognize her.

She rented a car and drove toward the outskirts. When she arrived at the designated location, she saw that it was a secluded compound.

She hesitated for a moment but still decided to walk inside.

"Is anyone here?" she called out as she moved further in.

The house was two stories high, eerily quiet, with an unsettling atmosphere.

Aveline pushed the door open and stood at the entrance; inside, it was pitch black.

"Is anyone here?" she called out louder, but there was still no response.

Not planning to venture further, she turned around to leave. However, the moment she turned, someone rushed at her, covering her mouth and nose tightly!

Her eyes widened in shock as she struently. A sharp, pungent smell filled her nostrils, and the drug quickly took effect, causing her consciousness to slip away.

Before she lost consciousness, she managed to catch a glimpse of the person's face, but she didn't recognize him at all.

When she woke up again, she realized her eyes were blindfolded and her hands and feet were bound. The Surrounding area was completely silent.

"Is anyone there?" she called out.

Her mouth hadn't been gagged.

No one responded. She tried several times, but the ropes around her wrists and ankles wouldn't budge.

Exhausted from struggling, she could only sit still, waiting in silence.

She didn't know how much time had passed when she heard some sounds-someone seemed to be opening a door and walking in.

"Who's there?" she asked, immediately alert, tilting her head slightly to listen for any movement.

But the person remained silent, instead untying the ropes around her feet and grabbing her by the wrist, pulling her to her feet.

"Who are you? Why are you holding me?" Aveline continued to ask.

From the touch and the way he breathed, she could tell the person was a man.

He still didn't speak, guiding her forward until she was pushed into a vehicle.

Chapter 838 Chapter 838 Aveline remained blindfolded throughout, unable to see anything, relying solely on her hearing to make sense of her surroundings. Her heart sank deeper with each passing moment; the person holding her refused to speak, leaving her clueless about who they were.

Why wouldn't they speak? Were they afraid she would recognize their voice? If that was the case, then the person must be someone she knew. But who could it be? During the entire ride, Aveline racked her brain, trying to piece together the situation.

She attempted to communicate with her captor, but he ignored her completely. Eventually, she grew tired of speaking, and the car came to a stop.

She was led out of the car and guided in a specific direction.

The ground beneath her feet was smooth at first, but then she began to feel the uneven texture of bricks underfoot.

She grew more puzzled-where was she?

After some time, someone suddenly gripped her wrist.

"Miss Aveline, I'll be responsible for looking after you from now on," the person said. The voice belonged to a middle-aged woman, who sounded gentle and calm.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Aveline seized the opportunity to ask.

The woman replied, "You can call me Wanda. If you need anything, just let me know."

However, Wanda ignored all the other questions Aveline had asked.

A wave of helplessness washed over Aveline.

"Hey! I'm here now, so why won't anyone talk to me? Weren't you supposed to let me see Annie once I arrived? Where is she?" Aveline shouted angrily, her frustration boiling over. Wanda remained silent. After a moment, an electronic voice suddenly echoed in the room.

"Annie is fine. As long as you stay here and behave, she won't be harmed."

"You're playing games with me!" Aveline snapped, turning sharply toward the direction of the voice. "Why are you doing this? Who are you?"

But there was no further response.

Instead, she heard the sound of footsteps moving away-the person was leaving!

No! He couldn't leave! What would she do if he left?

"Stop! Don't go!" Aveline called out, trying to chase in the direction of the fading footsteps, but with her eyes blindfolded, she couldn't see anything or determine which way to go. Wanda quickly grabbed her. "Miss Aveline, let me take you to your room to rest."

Saying this, she forcefully pulled Aveline away.

"Let go of me! Let go!" Aveline struggled fiercely, but with her hands bound, her efforts were in vain.

They ascended a staircase and entered a room.

Wanda said, "I'll untie your hands, but you must not wander around There are guards everywhere; you won't be able to escape. If you anger the master, there will be serious consequences."

With that, she untied the ropes around Aveline's wrists.

Aveline pressed her lips together. As soon as her hands were free, she immediately tore off the blindfold. She opened her eyes, but it was still completely dark!

She stared in disbelief, touching her eyes frantically. "What's happening? Why can't I see? What's going on?"

Her voice trembled with fear. She had assumed the blindness was because of the blindfold, but now it seemed that wasn't the case at all. Whoever took her had done something to her eyes!

Wanda explained, "To prevent you from escaping, the master has temporarily blinded you. Once you cooperate, he'll restore your sight."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

Aveline shouted, standing up suddenly, her voice filled with anger.

"Who is this master? Why is he treating me like this? Why did he bring me here? What does he want?"

Chapter 839 Chapter 839 No one responded to her hysterical outburst.

Aveline felt like she was going mad! She had been played!

Not only had she failed to see Annie, but now she was utterly helpless, and her vision was gone!

What should she do? What could she do next?

Confusion, helplessness, self-blame, regret...

These emotions overwhelmed her, swallowing her whole. She crouched down in pain, hugging herself as her body trembled uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, Baron and Braden circled the mall several times but still couldn't find Aveline. They realized something had gone wrong!

Baron quickly reported the situation to Lucas, while Braden contacted Maria and hacked into the mall's surveillance system to search for Aveline. Lucas' expression was dark and stormy.

Watching the surveillance footage, he saw Aveline enter the women's restroom. Less than ten minutes later, a woman with a similar build, heavily disguised, emerged. He immediately said, "Switch the camera, follow her!"

"Got it," Maria replied, her fingers working quickly on the keyboard, though she couldn't help but wonder, "What was Aveline up to? Why would she go through so much trouble to shake off the people Lucas had assigned to protect her? Where was she going?"

The surveillance footage continued to follow Aveline's disguised figure, switching from camera to camera, tracking her to the outskirts of the city.

Maria then said, "There's no surveillance beyond this point. We can't track her location for now."

Lucas' voice was tense. "Her phone has GPS tracking."

Maria shot him a surprised glance. "You installed a tracker on her phone? Aren't you worried she might find out?"

Lucas gave her a cold stare. "Is this really the time to discuss that?"

"Oh, right." Maria quickly snapped back to attention and began to trace Aveline's phone location.

"Got it!"

Maria's voice quickly rang out, pointing to a location on the computer screen. "She's here!"

Lucas's expression remained cold. "Prepare the car!"

Desmond responded, "Already ready. We can leave now."

Forty minutes later, several cars pulled up to the entrance of a small compound.

Desmond led the team inside. Moments later, he emerged, his face grim, holding Aveline's phone.

"Mr. Tudor, the phone is here, but she isn't," he reported.

Lucas stared at Aveline's phone, his expression dark and menacing, the chill around him almost palpable. Desmond didn't dare to make a sound.

No matter what happened with the Tudor Group, Lucas always seemed calm and unruffled. That was because he simply didn't care about the Tudor Group.

But Aveline was different.

He cared deeply about Aveline. Even the slightest scratch on her would make him nervous.

And now, she had completely disappeared!

What was worse, she had purposely shaken off the people he had assigned to protect her! What did that mean?

Was she that desperate to get away from him?

Lucas closed his eyes briefly and then spoke in a low voice, "Search the entire area. Deploy people to monitor all entrances and exits by land, sea, and air. Don't let a single suspicious person slip by!"

"Yes!" Desmond nodded firmly.

Lucas took Aveline's phone, his fingers tightening around it, his knuckles white.

What did she mean by this? Divorced and already trying to run away?

Was he really that unbearable to her?

A dull leaned gripped his heart. Lucas trying to regulate bre trying to regulate his to ease the searing pain tearing through him.

At that moment, his phone rang.

He pulled it out and saw that Aaron was calling.

"Hello?" he answered, his tone icy.

Aaron's voice came through, "What's going on? I heard from Maria that Aveline is missing. What the hell happened?"

But Lucas, ignoring the question, asked in a steady voice, "Where's Selena?"

Chapter 840 Chapter 840 Aaron paused for a moment at Lucas' words.

"Why do you need to find her?"

Lucas replied in a low, stern voice, "She better know nothing about this, or else..."

Aaron's tone grew serious as well. "Lucas, even if she does know something, you can't lay a hand on her. Regardless of whether Aveline would allow it or not, I certainly won't."

Lucas closed his eyes briefly before saying, "Bring her to me."

With that, he hung up the phone.

His only hope was that Selena knew where Aveline had gone or what she had done. Otherwise, he truly didn't know what he might do next.

...

Selena was at work when she got Aaron's call. She tucked her phone between her ear and shoulder, typing away on her keyboard, and asked, "What's up?"

Aaron replied, "Come out for a bit. I need to talk to you."

Selena, already frustrated by her demanding boss, felt annoyed. If she left during work hours, she would surely get scolded. She replied bluntly, "Whatever you need to say, either say it over the phone or wait until I'm off work. I can't leave right now." Aaron responded, "It's about Aveline. Can you really not come out?"

Selena's fingers paused over the keyboard. She grabbed her phone, her tone turning serious. "What do you mean? What happened to Ave?"

Aaron explained, "Aveline is missing."

"What?!"

Selena shot up from her seat, grabbing her bag and heading for the door.

"What happened? When did she go missing?" she asked, rushing out.

Just then, her boss emerged from the office and saw her leaving before the end of her shift. He immediately called out, "Selena, where are you going? It's not the end of the workday yet. Are you planning to leave early? I'm telling you, leaving early means a pay cut!" Selena turned around and snapped, "Cut it! Keep my pay for yourself to choke on it! I quit!"

Without waiting to see her boss' face turn sour, she marched into the elevator and left.

Nothing was more important than Aveline!

A job was just a job; she could always find another one!

Aaron overheard her words and furrowed his brow. "What happened?"

Selena quickly brushed off Aaron's question. "None of that matters right now! Just tell me how Aveline went missing!"

Aaron replied, "I only found out just now. She deliberately shook off the people Lucas sent to protect her and left in disguise."

Selena felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. How could this have happened? Why would Aveline suddenly leave like this? And on her own initiative!

She hung up the phone, and as soon as the elevator doors opened, she rushed out Seeing Aaron waiting by the building entrance, she swnovel.ne immediately asked, "Where's Lucas? Has he sent people to look for her?"

Aaron opened the car door. "Get in first; it's cold out here."

Selena got into the car and immediately tried calling Aveline. But to her surprise, Lucas answered instead!

Selena frowned. "Why do you have Ave's phone? Did you find her?"

Lucas' voice was cold. "Where did she go?"

"I don't know!" Selena replied. "I only found out because Aaron told me!"

Lucas fell silent for a moment before abruptly hanging up.

Aaron drove them to Maple Garden. When they entered the room, they found Lucas holding a cigarette, his expression icy cold.

The moment he saw her, he asked directly, "Do you really not know?"

Selena's eyes turned equally cold as she snapped, "I should be the one e Ź kind you-did you hurt her again?

Why else would she leave?