This dog isn't any rare breed—it was picked up off the street by Grace Sutton and Isabelle Somerville back in the day. Durrell Landon doesn't like fragile creatures, so Grace couldn't take it home; Isabelle ended up keeping it.
Back then it was all scruffy, but now it's totally transformed.
They found it in the wild, so they named it "Wildling."
She poured some dog food for Wildling. When it saw her, it seemed super happy and dug in with gusto.
After playing with Wildling for a while, she went back to the living room and glanced at Isabelle Somerville.
"Joy, the idea to have me do a duet with your brother—that was you, wasn't it?"
Isabelle let out a guilty giggle. "Cece, you figured it out?"
Even though she complained about her big brother all the time—even in her dreams—the truth was she secretly wanted Cece to be her sister-in-law.
Too bad Cece wasn't interested. Isabelle figured that if they had some 'ship' fans, maybe Cece would change her mind.
She grabbed Quiana Sutton, forced her onto the sofa, and shoved a game controller into her hands.
"Cece, I totally got destroyed by my brother just now—you have to help me beat him up."
Axius Somerville was a little annoyed. "Sis, how can you call in outside help?"
Isabelle shot him a glare, and Axius immediately fell in line.
All mopey, he muttered, "Alright, let's play, then."
Quiana Sutton was half absent-minded playing games against Axius, and after Axius lost for the 108th time, she finally lost her patience.
"You're just hopeless at this."
Axius practically choked. Every time he played with Quiana, she wiped the floor with him so bad he was starting to develop a complex.
"I'm done. I'm going to go rest."
He lived in the apartment right below Isabelle, and he'd even tried to get the two floors connected, but Isabelle refused, saying she needed her own space and didn't want to live with her brother. He'd always spoiled his little sister, so in the end, he let her have her way.
When he was leaving, he saw Isabelle clinging to Quiana's arm, all intimate—he really didn't get who was actually the real sibling here.
That frustration he'd swallowed down felt like it was about to escape.
He hurried out of Isabelle's place, afraid he couldn't resist beating up Quiana.
Suddenly, he wondered: could he even win against Quiana in a fight?
The next day.
Early in the morning, Quiana Sutton got a message from Grace Sutton.
[The show agreed. Get ready.]
Quiana replied: [Got it, thanks.]
Right now, her biggest wish was to clean up her crybaby reputation.
Durrell Landon likes girls who are gentle and poised, cool and calm—like Evelyn Windsor. Since she was playing double, of course she had to fit the role.
Now, she didn't have to pretend anymore. The first thing to ditch was that persona.
She wasn't some fragile lotus—she was a poppy blooming under a moonlit cliff, dangerous and deadly.
Grace put down her phone, rubbing her temples in frustration. She understood perfectly—the show just wanted Quiana's popularity to boost their ratings.
She comforted herself: even haters are fans.
Sometimes, she really did admire Quiana's way of stirring up drama wherever she went.
Isabelle came out of her room and saw Quiana sitting on the sofa, her long legs stretched carelessly across the coffee table.
Rebellious and full of presence.
Isabelle nervously swallowed.
Quiana noticed Isabelle coming over and slipped her phone back into her pocket.
She casually asked, "Wanna go out today? I'm free to hang."
Isabelle looked a bit disappointed. "I'd love to, but I have a doctor's appointment today—I have to go to Riventon Hospital."
Quiana gave Isabelle a once-over. "You're not feeling well?"
Isabelle looked a bit embarrassed. "Every time I get my period, it's torture. This time, I've even needed painkillers. I want to live a few more years, so I figured I'd go get checked out."
"I'll go with you."
Isabelle looked worried. "What if someone recognizes you?"
Quiana didn't mind at all: "I'll wear a mask and a hat."
Riventon Hospital.
Gynecology was on the seventh floor.
The VIP wards were on the eighth.
While waiting with Isabelle, Quiana's mind unexpectedly conjured up a certain figure.
Turns out, she cared more than she thought.
After a while, she couldn't deny herself and stood up, saying to Isabelle:
"Joy, wait for me here. I'll be back in a bit."
Isabelle was about to say something, but Quiana disappeared around the corner.
Isabelle blinked. How come it felt like Cece was really familiar with this hospital?
Quiana stood at the hospital room door, surprised to find it empty.
She didn't see Durrell Landon but did run straight into Julian Haworth.
At first, Julian thought this woman in a mask and hat was some kind of criminal—turned out it was Quiana.
Narrowing his long eyes, he looked her up and down and sneered:
"Didn't expect you to care about Durrell. Got kicked out and you still come visiting?"
She shot him a frosty look, voice cool as ice: "None of your business."
Ever since he'd first met this woman, Julian felt he'd never gotten the upper hand—most of the time, she drove him silently mad.
Still unwilling to give up, he snarked:
"Durrell's gone back to Imperial View Manor. You probably won't see him again."
"Imperial View Manor?" Quiana's face was full of suspicion.
Seeing her confusion, Julian's mocking tone deepened:
"Imperial View Manor is Durrell's real home. You've been married three years—you haven't been there, have you?"
It suddenly hit Quiana: she actually didn't know much about Durrell at all.
She didn't even know where his real home was.
But it didn't matter anymore.
What mattered now was getting divorced.
As long as Durrell signed those divorce papers, everything would be fine.
Her shift from shock to calm was almost instant. Julian suddenly found this woman more impressive than expected.
If he provoked anyone else this much, they'd be furious, but she was unshakeable.
He couldn't tell if it was her dark, cold eyes or her icy, flawless skin—at first sight, you'd think this woman was made of stone.
Now, she seemed heartless.
"I'm actually curious—why did you marry Durrell?"
Quiana shot him a sidelong glance. "I liked him, isn't that enough?"
"Liar!"
If she really liked him, how could she be so calm when Durrell was hurt in the hospital? And if she really liked him, how could she tolerate her man having another woman in his heart?
"You only ever liked Durrell's money…"
That's what Julian had always believed. That when Quiana, a Z-list actress, married Durrell Landon, it was just for money and connections.
He had to admit, Julian's imagination was top-notch. Quiana's lips twisted in a half-smile, and she said with a hint of mockery, "So you think Durrell's got nothing but money going for him? What if I just really liked him for himself? At least that face is one of a kind, right?"
Julian: "???"
Thinking of Durrell's heartbreakingly handsome face, he suddenly had no words to refute.
With Julian successfully shut down, Quiana turned away in a good mood—but as she rounded the corner, her steps slowed. The hidden elevator doors slid quietly open, revealing Charles Foote standing in front.
He fixed his gaze on Quiana, eyes deep and inscrutable. Yet somehow he still looked like a harmless gentleman, every gesture refined and elegant.