Chapter 5 Luke stared at the computer , where the trace had disappeared , feeling totally defeated . Lewis , Ive done my best . Its an international number , leaving no info to track , and now its unreachable Our team is almost there . Once they arrive , well search everywhere until we find her , Luke said . He tried to keep his its up , though he felt more like he was reassuring himself . With so many people coming and gring finding one person would be tough .. Lets head back , Samuel said flatly , Luke nodded , Okay , and Ill take you home to rest first . As Luke turned the car around , he spotted Jesse munching food at a street stall , his face all greasy . Luke blinked and squinted before finally saying , Mr. Lewis , doesnt that look like jesse ? Samuel , who had been resting in the back seat , opened his eyes and looked out the window . When he saw the little figure , his expression turned serious . It really is Jesse . Whys he eating out here ? Wheres Willie ? And whos that girl with hirn ? Luke watched , feeling confused . Samuel was about to get out of the car but hesitated when he saw Jesse eagerly nodding to Lillian and toasting his milk with hers . As the skewers were served , Lillian handed Jesse a hot dog on a stick . Be careful , its hot. Jesse tasted everything with wide eyes , quietly hissing as it was too spicy . His little face turned red , and he chased each bite with gulps of milk . Lillian couldnt help but laugh . Did you not eat dinner ? Jesse nodded . Are you eating or not ? Lillian teased . Jesse nodded again . Lillian paused and couldnt help but ask , Are you just quiet , or is it late development ? At two years old , Jesse could send text messages and was sharper than other kids his age , but she had never heard him say anything beyond hmm . Jesse held a spoon , looking deep in thought . His eyes were watering from the spice as he gazed at Lillian . After a moment , he mumbled something but still didnt speak . Just then , Lillians phone rang again . She glanced at the caller ID hesitating for a moment before answering , Henrys tired but gentle voice came through the line . Are you staying in Jerisburg ? Yeah , Lillian replied . Henry chuckled , sounding relieved . Thats good ? Mesville was pretty remote , and Lillians village was even harder to reach . With her health being so unpredictable , Henry had been really worried while she was staying there . 1/4 12:45 Tue , Dec 31 @ ti Chapter 5 Henry thought for a tomer and tried to persuade her again . Are you really sure you dont want to stay in the hospital ? I know my condition well , and Ill be careful . Dont worry . Yale keeping an eye on me online . Lillian had just gotten out of the hospital half a month ago and didnt want to return so soon . Knowing how stubborn she could be , Henry promised Just wait for me . Ill make sure the surgery goes smoothly . Noticing the weariness in his voice , Lillian wanted to say something . But since she wasnt great with words , she simply replied . She knew even if she did speak , Henry wouldnt really listen right now . Luke held his phone and said to Samuel . Lewis , I just checked with Willie . Turns out Jesse met the girl at a toy store about two weeks ago . He asked for her contact info himself and invited her out today But Willie hasnt looked into her background yet because he didnt think thered be any follow up . Ill get someone on it right away . Then he turned back to the phone while glancing over at the street food stalls . Met by chance ? No way . Who would come out at night to hang out with a quiet two year old ? Especially a girl that cute ! Over the years , countless women had tried to get closer to Samuel using all sorts of tricks , and using Jesse to make that connection wasnt a new idea . But taking Jesse to a street food stall is a fresh twist . Anyway , shes the first one to make it . Pretty impressive , Luke thought to himself . Lewis , should I go get Jesse and bring him home ? Luke asked . Samuel just watched , staying quiet , so Luke figured it was best not to push the issue . While they were eating , Jesse pulled out his phone , fiddled with it for a bit , and then handed it to Lillian with both hands .. Lillian looked at the screen and saw a QR code for WhatsApp . Whats this ? You want me to add me ? Jesse nodded . Who is it ? Your family ? Lillian asked . Jesse nodded again . Lillian kept eating , asking in a relaxed voice , Parents ? Siblings ? Jesse shook his head . Lillian continued , Grandparents ? After thinking for a moment , Jesse nodded . Not adding them , Lillian refused . Jesse looked upset , but he didnt give up . He stretched out his little arms , pushing the phone toward Lillian again , his big dark eyes full of hope Lillian asked , Why should I add them ? Is your phone getting taken away ? Jesse stayed quiet , just holding the phone up . 12:45 Tue , Dec 31 Chapter 3 Looking at his cute , soft face , Lillian sighed and finally picked up the phone to scan the code . She had thought she could play it off , but he was watching her so closely that she had no choice but to send the friend request . Seeing the plain profile picture and the simple WhatsApp name 1.ewis , she guessed it was Jesses grandpa . To avoid any confusion , she quickly added a note to the friend request , Old Timer Luke watched the two , confused . What are they doing ? The next moment , Samuels phone buzzed . He pulled it out to check . A notification appeared on his WhatsApp : [ Lillian has sent you a friend request . ] Samuel turned off his phone and looked back at Jesse . After a moment , his gaze shifted naturally to Lillian . She wore her hair in a high ponytail that highlighted her slender neck . Dressed in casual clothes , she moved with a relaxed , easygoing vibe . Her skin was very pale , giving her a delicate appearance . Her profile showcased a gentle beauty that felt inviting rather the intimidating . Her back was so thin that her collarbones stood out prominently she was truly captivating . Feeling the scrutiny , Lillian picked up her drink to cover her face scanning her surroundings casually . That was when Samuel took a good look at her face . It was small , but her features were striking . Combined with her sharp , edgy vibe , it made her soft profile seem a bit deceptive . Soon , Lillian noticed that Jesses white Bentley was nowhere in sight , replaced instead by a black Maybach with tired windows . Jesse was already full and feeding beef jerky to General , General Lillian was close to finishing her meal too . Before they could wrap up , a group of rowdy guys pulled up chairs . Hey , chick . Mind if we share the table ? A few whistles followed , and a cloud of smoke drifted through the air . Are you out for a late night snack with your little brother ? Hes a real cutie in that cool outfit . Chris Abbott , the leader of the group , flashed a grin that showed off his yellowing teeth . Is that all youre eating ? Its still carly ! Come on, Ill treat you . He snatched up the menu and added , Order whatever you like Lillian didnt even look up . Get lost . Instead of intimidating them , her words only fueled their excitement . Wow , youve got rot some fire , one guy teased . Chris doesnt mean any harm . He just loves making friends with pretty girls , especially someone as gorgeous as you another chimed in , patting a stuffed toy on the chair beside him The third grinned , Yeah , being friends with Chris is definitely worth it . Their voices grew louder , drawing the attention of others around including the shop owner . But no one dared to step in since the guys looked pretty intimidating . Lillian set down her fork , her expression turning icy . She knew she couldnt make any drastic moves given her illness , not to mention Jesse was sitting right across from her . Jesse held General , his little face tense . As Lillian thought about how to get rid of these nuisances , Chris blew smoke right in her direction definitely a reckless Chapter 5 ue , Dec move to provoke Lillian . Title: Couture of Vengeance Author: CrushReel Genre: Romance, CEO, Modern, Revenge, Mansion Status: ongoing In "Couture of Vengeance" by CrushReel, Winona Jensen finds herself betrayed by an impostor, Amelia Jensen, who cunningly infiltrates their family through deceit and manipulation. The story unfolds on Winona's wedding day when Amelia orchestrates a scandal that shatters Winona's marriage and exposes her true intentions. Set against the backdrop of familial deception and romantic turmoil, this novel delves into themes of betrayal, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Winona's struggle to reclaim her rightful place as the heir while navigating treacherous relationships in a lavish mansion captivates readers with its intricate web of lies and secrets. What sets "Couture of Vengeance" apart is its gripping narrative that seamlessly weaves together elements of romance, CEO dynamics, modern intrigue, and vengeful schemes. As the tension escalates between the characters, readers are drawn into a world where appearances are deceiving and loyalty is a rare commodity. For those seeking a riveting blend of romance and revenge in a modern setting, "Couture of Vengeance" offers a compelling read that promises twists at every turn. Available to read at CrushReel for those eager to uncover the hidden truths lurking within the walls of the Jensen mansion.