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Chapter 16 Setup (I)
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Chains of Desire, Bonds of Love Chapter 17 Setup (II)
One of the men, with a somewhat rogueish demeanor, stood up, swaying slightly with his tall, lean body as he held his drink. He greeted them, "Of course we have you. But being late for your own party means you have to down three drinks, no exceptions." He casually draped an arm around Isabella's shoulder, but his lustful eyes fixated on Lily Parker. "Who's this lovely lady? Haven't seen her before..." The moment Lily had walked in, her long, fair legs had caught his attention."My junior, Lily Parker," Isabella swatted his hand away, giving him a stern look. She pulled Lily close, "Lily, this is Preston Harrow. He's a friend. A good guy, but a little over the top at times. Hope you don't mind."Lily, unaware of the underlying dynamics, offered an awkward smile, "Hello.""All good, all good!" Preston's gaze never left Lily. A gulp rolled down his throat, perhaps due to the alcohol, he felt a sudden warmth.Isabella shot him a meaningful look and said, "Let's sit down and talk." She sea
Chains of Desire, Bonds of Love Chapter 18 Setup (III)
On the other side of the venue, Lucas Hartley stepped out after finishing a game of cards with friends. Rounding a corner, he thought he recognized a familiar silhouette, yet suspected he might be mistaken. He grabbed a passing waiter, asking, “Who’s in that private room over there?”The waiter, recognizing Lucas Hartley's identity, quickly responded, "Mr. Hartley, it’s a birthday gathering for Miss Isabella de Valois, hosted by her friends."Upon receiving the answer, Lucas waved the waiter away, deep in thought. He found it odd. Why didn’t he or her cousin know about Isabella's party? And wasn’t she quite fond of Ethan Hart? How could she mingle so effortlessly with someone who was seemingly a romantic rival? His curiosity piqued, he eventually gave in, pulling out his phone to dial. "Hey, it's me. What are you up to?""Just finished a meeting. What's up?" Julian Sterling's voice was even and unemotional.Lucas whistled, quipping, "Wow, still in meetings at this hour? Trying to be t
Chains of Desire, Bonds of Love Chapter 19 Sarcasm (I)
Not far off, Julian Sterling leaned casually against a wall. He held a light-colored coat over one arm, the pose exuding elegance and ease. A faint smile played on his lips, but his gaze never landed on Lily Parker. Instead, he fixed Preston Harrow with a stare so piercing it sent shivers down one's spine.Preston, interrupted in the midst of his wicked intentions, felt humiliated. Red with rage, he bellowed, "Julian Sterling! This is none of your business. What gives you the right to interfere?""Oh?" Julian's lips curled into a cold smile as he sauntered closer, an aura of unmistakable dominance emanating from him. "On what grounds? Simply because I feel like it!" A sidelong glance towards Lily revealed her face flushed in an unnatural shade, her eyes dilated and distant, reminiscent of someone drugged. His brow furrowed in concern."You're joking! I saw her first. Surely, the renowned Julian Sterling wouldn't stoop so low to snatch what caught my eye first?" Preston argued defiantl
Chains of Desire, Bonds of Love Chapter 19 Sarcasm (II)
In the spacious, serene room, a wave of fear that Lily Parker had momentarily suppressed surged back. Fighting off a dizzy spell, she trembled, "Mr. Sterling, I—I need to go." At that moment, she felt as if flames licked every part of her body. She was weakened, barely able to stand, and Julian Sterling's intense gaze only intensified her sense of vulnerability, despite him having just aided her.Julian responded with an amused smirk. Without a hint of gentleness, he dragged her to a full-length mirror, pointing at her disheveled reflection with disdain. "Go back? Looking like this? Do you want someone to take advantage of you right on the spot?""No..." Lily's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the woman in the mirror—her clothes awry, cheeks flushed with a seductive allure. Could she even distinguish this image from that of a lady in a house of pleasures? Was this still her? Disbelief washed over her, and she buried her face in her hands, sobbing quietly.Clearly exasperated, Ju
Chains of Desire, Bonds of Love Chapter 19 Sarcasm (III)
In an instant, the tiny space between them felt as though all the air had been sucked out. Lily, with her unsteady breathing, tried to move away from Julian, but he suddenly pinned her firmly to the sofa. Those who knew Julian were aware that the calmer he appeared, the more dangerous he was. Perhaps he was genuinely angered by Lily. Lily, in her growing fear, squirmed, trying to break free. Little did she realize that such actions could easily provoke a man's excitement. Julian restrained her restless hands above her head, leaning down abruptly to kiss her lips. He nibbled on her lips, sometimes gentle, sometimes harsh. She felt utterly repulsed, her distaste for him intensifying. Acting impulsively, she bit him, the metallic taste of blood quickly mingling between their intertwined lips. Yet, to her surprise, Julian didn't recoil. Instead, he deepened the kiss, as if intending to devour her soul. He drew back slightly, his voice dripping with seduction, "Now, this is shamelessness
Chains of Desire, Bonds of Love Chapter 20 Naive (I)
Lily Parker wasn't quite sure how she had managed to get back to her university. By the time she made it to her dorm room, her legs were numb. She collapsed onto her bed, feeling alternating waves of heat and cold wash over her. Even though her eyes were dry and sore, tears flowed uncontrollably, mocking her foolishness.Perhaps she should never have been with Ethan Hart from the start. Their backgrounds were worlds apart. He belonged to the elite while she was from a much humbler background. Being together seemed almost doomed, a union unlikely to gain approval.She recalled the phone call she received from her mother a few days ago. Her mother reminded her to focus on her studies and, upon graduating, to choose a suitable young man from her father's circle of students for courtship and eventual marriage. This way, they'd know his background, and her parents could rest easy. It dawned on her then that she had never mentioned Ethan to her parents, Ethan, whom she so deeply loved.Late
Chains of Desire, Bonds of Love Chapter 21 Naive (II)
But later, Ethan Hart did break his promise. He got caught up with the subsidiary company's various issues and couldn't free himself. He had no choice but to call Lily Parker to apologize. Although she was a bit disappointed, she understood and told him to handle his business first and not to rush back. Ethan, fearing she might be upset, hesitated to hang up the phone. She reassured him with many comforting words before letting him go, and then she continued to stare blankly at her computer.How long had it been since she received that anonymous email in the morning? She hugged her knees and buried her face in them, feeling as if a heavy stone was lodged in her chest, making it hard for her to breathe. Days had passed, and she thought she could move on and act normal around Isabella de Valois, but someone seemed determined to deny her that peace.The email contained just one line: "Leave, or I will release the photos."Was the threat for her to leave Ethan or to leave the school? If t
Chains of Desire, Bonds of Love Chapter 22 Naive (III)
The commotion from inside had alarmed his mother, elder sister, and second sister, who anxiously waited outside the door. Upon exiting, Ethan gave them a brief nod before hurrying to his car parked in the mansion's driveway. Once inside, he immediately dialed a number. When the call was answered, he heard Lily's voice, thick with drowsiness, "Ethan? Why so late?"Ethan's eyes softened, crinkling with amusement, "Sleeping so early, little piglet?"Lily retorted playfully, "Hmph, if I'm a piglet, you're definitely the big pig!""Lily... is there something you want to tell me?" Ethan hesitated but still asked the question lingering in his mind.There was a pause from Lily's end, and then she softly responded, "What could possibly be on my mind? Every day I worry if you've been ensnared by some beauty in Shanghai. Plus, I've been busy arranging my passport, sorting out paperwork, and preparing for entrance exams. When would I have the time to think of anything else?"As he suspected, she
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