Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

Diana felt like a ragdoll, lifeless and limp, as she was yanked up off the ground. Her eyes fluttered open for a moment, but when she realized it wasn't
the person she longed to see, she shut them again.
"Diana, talk to me. How did you get your hands on this?" Claire demanded. Diana was like a battered puppet, completely at Claire's mercy. In a fit of
anger, Claire threw her to the floor, then stormed out of the room.
The manager of The Garden stumbled upon Diana, sprawled out on the floor, unsure if she was dead or alive, and was left at a loss for what to do
next.

Claire made her way back to her office, leaving the lights off. She melted into the shadows, settling into her chair, clutching a small glass bottle. Tears
streamed freely down her face as memories dragged her back in time.
Decades ago, Paul White had been invited to perform at the university theater, and she was in the audience. They were performing "The Quest for
Mother" that day. One scene showed Yang Si Lang marrying Princess Tie Jing, played by Suzanne, and it stirred a storm of jealousy in Claire.
After the performance, Claire insisted on a mock marriage with Paul White. Paul, indulgent as ever, went along with her whimsy. They each plucked a
strand of hair, tied them together with a red ribbon, and placed them in a small glass jar. Claire remembered burying that jar under a century-old
ginkgo tree on campus.
After Paul passed away, Claire returned to that spot to dig it up, hoping to cling to the memory. But the tree had been uprooted, and the jar was
nowhere to be found. She never imagined that old relic would resurface here. Claire was certain Suzanne had stolen it all those years ago.
Thinking of Paul, Claire was swept away by a tide of emotions. "Colin, ever since you left, the world feels like a living hell. I keep dreaming of your
tragic end, and I've grown to despise this world. Every moment is agony, especially when I see Connor. He’s like a ghost, constantly haunting me with
memories of those brutal days and your untimely death.
I want to lash out at this rotten world, to be the one causing pain. Only when others suffer do I find a sliver of relief. But I’m so exhausted now, with
nothing left. Yet, I can lose to anyone, but never to that wretched spawn. A seed of evil, now masquerading as righteous. The whole world seems to
back him up. It’s a cruel joke. Does he deserve happiness? His joy is the biggest insult to our tragedy. I won't let him win. I’ll make sure he loses
everything he loves, make him endure the deepest pain, and drag him down to hell with me."
Meanwhile, chaos erupted at Villa No. 9 as several cars barged in during the night. Chloe, jolted from her sleep by the noise, quickly woke Connor.
"What’s going on?" Chloe asked, getting up.
Connor dressed hurriedly. "I'll go see."

Stepping out onto the balcony, Connor caught sight of Desmond and Suzanne scrambling out of their car, trailed by a group of security guards.
Clearly, they’d forced their way in. Connor frowned and headed back inside. "Is it the Gilbert family?" he wondered aloud.