A Stunning Return

...... Silence hung heavy in the sickroom.  Charles stared at Lucille, and the disappointment and indifference in her eyes sent a shiver down his spine.  Suddenly, he remembered how she had been in a state of constant breakdown the night before, relentlessly questioning Samuel and Zoey with tears streaming down her face.  She never laid a hand on anyone. In fact, Zoey was the one who reached out to hold her hand. When Zoey fell down the stairs, Lucille looked shocked, as though the whole thing was unexpected.  Could he have been wrong about her all along? "Charles, I'm in so much pain," Zoey whined, covering her face and turning to Charles for attention. "Do you think my face is bruised?" She wasn't faking it this time.  Her wrist felt like a thousand ants were biting it, and her face was on fire.  "D*mn Lucille," Zoey thought. She didn't know what Lucille had done to her, but she'd get her revenge when she had the chance.  Charles glared at Zoey's swollen face and seethed, "Lucille, you're a monster! You nearly disfigured Zoey's face!"  Lucille smirked and replied sarcastically, "So what? Her face isn't disfigured, is it?"  "You!" Charles was so enraged that he couldn't even speak, and his chest heaved with anger.  Samuel glared at Lucille with disgust. "Lucille, I love Zoey, and I can't stand the sight of you anymore. I'll find a way to break off our engagement. You're on your own now."  With that, Samuel scooped up the weeping Zoey and headed out of the sickroom. "Don't cry, Zoey. I'll take you to see a doctor." Charles stood his ground, glaring at Jules. "Samuel and Zoey are a perfect match, you don't stand a chance with him. My advice to you is to stop pestering him or you'll just become a laughingstock!"  With that, he stormed off in anger. Lucille sneered, her eyes filled with contempt.  The engagement between Samuel and the original owner of this body was witnessed by both families' elders and recorded in an engagement contract penned by Samuel's grandfather. Even the engagement ceremony was steeped in traditional and ancient customs. All these were clear indications of both families' commitment to the union. It was ironic that the original owner was now being blamed, despite the fact that Samuel, who cheated on her with Zoey, was originally set to marry her. The Jules family was truly blind to what was happening! Lucille clutched her chest in pain. "Do you see now? It's not worth being upset over heartless people like them." Years ago, she, too, witnessed her family's downfall, shouldering the burden of avenging her family and carrying on their legacy.  As a young girl, she found the political situation in Dilsburg to be too complex to navigate, with hidden alliances and deceitful schemes at every turn. His father's enemies were everywhere.  Thus, she had no choice but to bide her time, carefully laying the groundwork and building up her power in secret, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Even so, she still hadn't cleared her father's name or given closure to the Jules family's unjust deaths, all while being deceived by those around her. But so what? Lucille never believed in fate! Determined to make the most of her second chance at life, she vowed to seize every opportunity that came her way.  Nothing would stand in her way, as she was going to rewrite her story and create the future she deserved. With that in mind, Lucille took a deep breath, got out of bed, and left the room. As she arrived at the entrance, she saw Howard hastily getting out of his car and rushing into the hospital, looking panicked and worried. He must be here for Zoey. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought he was going to claim Zoey's body. Hmph! What a blind fool!  His own daughter was standing right in front of him, yet all he could think of was Zoey. Lucille scoffed and looked away, walking straight to the curb to hail a taxi.  Across the street, a black Maybach was parked.  The back window rolled down, and the man inside glanced over, his gaze falling directly on Lucille. She was tall and slender, her baggy hospital gown hanging off her. It was as though a gust of wind could knock her over.  Her delicate and clean-cut face was slightly pale, giving off a hint of frailty.  Below was a long swan-like neck. With the collar open, it revealed a small section of her exquisite clavicle that glinted in the sunlight. The man was momentarily stunned, his gaze fixed on Lucille's eyes.  They were so clear and bright, even more so than crystal, with a chilly aura.  He would say that her aura was mostly aloof but with a healthy dose of pride. She looked so familiar... Joseph Collins narrowed his eyes as his deep and seductive voice filled the car. "Culver, drive over there." Culver Johnson turned around in surprise, only to see Joseph glancing over with a rare and intense passion in his eyes.  Following his line of sight, Culver saw Lucille impatiently flipping her hair.  "Her?!" Culver exclaimed. "Mr. Joseph, you may not know this, but that woman is Lucille Jules, the youngest daughter of the Jules family. Her character is famously terrible – not only is she melancholic and unfriendly, but she also bullies Zoey, the adopted daughter of the Jules family, every day!" "Lucille Jules?" Joseph murmured the name softly, a glimmer in his eyes.  "Someone who is melancholic and unfriendly doesn't seem like the type to bully others." "Mr. Joseph..." "Drive over there." Joseph's voice was calm, but there was an underlying sense of authority that made it impossible to say no. Culver had no choice but to drive the car over. Lucille had been waiting for a taxi for a long time, but none had stopped for her.  The scorching sun was making her increasingly irritable. Just then, the black Maybach slowly pulled up in front of her.  The window rolled down, revealing the stunning profile of the man inside.  Lucille looked up and was taken aback by his charm. Joseph was a man with a chiseled jawline, piercing eyes, and a proud nose. His exquisite features were beyond reproach, and his black designer suit hugged his muscular frame with an air of sophistication. His presence was striking, and his remarkable poise commanded respect. Perhaps sensing her gaze, Joseph turned slightly, revealing a breathtakingly handsome face. His almond-shaped eyes carried a hint of flirtatiousness, with the corners slightly upturned and a smoky redness that diffused outwards. At first glance, Joseph was a complete enchantment.  But his cold, aloof gaze weakened his allure, giving him an air of cool detachment. Lucille raised a brow nonchalantly, making no attempt to hide her amazement.  There was no denying it: this was the most handsome man she had ever seen.  She just didn't like the way he looked at her. It was so composed and scrutinizing, as if he was sizing up his prey.  Lucille's eyes narrowed as her expression turned cold. "What do you want?" she asked.  Joseph's gaze became even more intrigued, as she was the first woman who dared to speak to him in that tone.  He gave a slight smile, his voice low and seductive. "Where are you headed? Let me take you there."  Lucille, who was getting impatient waiting for her ride, did not hesitate to open the car door and hop in. "Thanks," she said.  Joseph's eyes sparkled with amusement as he admired her exquisite profile. "Aren't you afraid that I'm a bad guy?" he asked in a low, sexy voice.  Lucille glanced ahead nonchalantly and raised an eyebrow. "In broad daylight, you can eat me up?"  After all, she was the God of War who was accustomed to living on the edge. Two big men like them? Not a chance. Joseph chuckled at her carefree attitude and asked, "Where?"  Lucille named the hotel where the original owner of this body held her birthday party the night before. Joseph nodded, then turned to the stunned Culver. "Don't know the way?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.  Culver turned his head before coming to his senses. He then started the car. My goodness, not only had Mr. Joseph invited that notorious Lucille to ride with him, but he had also initiated a conversation and even smiled at her.  It must be an illusion. As the black Maybach inched its way through the congested traffic, Lucille gazed out of the window.  The car was barely moving, and she couldn't help being lost in her thoughts. It had been almost 20 hours since the incident the previous night.  The surveillance footage had probably been deleted by now, but she was determined to find it and personally send those who had killed the original owner of this body to jail, one by one.