"Claire, the discharge procedures are all done. Once Eli gets here, we can leave," Marcia announced, waving the payment receipt in her hand with a bright smile.Claire, sitting on the bed folding clothes, looked up and grinned. "Finally! I was starting to feel like I was growing roots in this bed and might sprout mushrooms!""You're exaggerating!" Marcia chuckled. "Alright, don't move. Let me take care of the packing."As Claire got up and moved toward the cabinet, Marcia quickly stopped her, guiding her back to the couch. With a gentle but firm tone, she scolded, "The doctor said that while the baby is stable now, your health is still delicate. You need proper rest! Leave all this to me. And stop overworking yourself. Your boss is terrible! Not even a visit, just endless calls asking you to return to work. What a bloodsucker!"Claire sighed helplessly. "Jobs for women are hard to come by these days. All bosses are the same. If you're not creating value for them, why would they pay yo
Marcia's face was flushed with embarrassment.She opened her mouth to explain but couldn't find the words. In a panic, she glanced at Elijah for help, but he simply crossed his legs lazily, leaned back against the sofa, and gave her a cryptic smile.At the critical moment, it was Myron who thought quickly. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, he put on a serious face and addressed the group of medical staff at the door. "Oh, the Jeff we were talking about is actually a good friend of ours. What a coincidence—he shares the same name as Dr. Jeff. Please don't misunderstand!"Marcia nodded hastily. "Yes, Dr. Jeff! I wasn't saying your face is square—it's clearly round, not square at all!""Pfft..." Claire had been trying to maintain a neutral expression, but at Marcia's words, she couldn't hold it in.She quickly covered her mouth. "Sorry, I have a sore throat..."Jeff stared at them impassively before slowly walking forward. Marcia instinctively shrank back, only to realize he wasn
A large group made their way to Demon with a sense of purpose. Myron casually grabbed a passing waiter and asked, "Where's your boss?"The waiter, recognizing the identities of the group, hesitated before replying nervously, "He's still asleep."Myron burst into laughter. "Come on, quit stalling. Lead the way. We're all here, and he's still sleeping?"The waiter looked exhausted, knowing he couldn't afford to offend these people. "Um, our boss said no one is allowed to disturb him…""Disturb him?" Myron shot the waiter a sharp look before smirking at Elijah and Kevin. "He must be on the fifth floor! Looks like he had a busy night."Kevin, suddenly energized by the gossip, chimed in with a serious tone, "The rooms on the fifth floor haven't been used in nearly two years. We have to go see this for ourselves."Elijah hesitated, glancing at Marcia, but Marcia dismissed his concern with a shrug. She exchanged a glance with Claire and quickly announced, "We're staying here. You guys can go
After Calvin's inexplicable disappearance from the hospital, Marcia hadn't seen him again. Looking at Nicole's current state, could it be that the two of them had a falling out?Marcia couldn't hold back and asked, "Nicole, Calvin is a childhood friend of mine. We're just friends, nothing more. But why are you here? Didn't you used to hate Hayden?""Friends?" Nicole sneered, her expression dripping with sarcasm. "Whether you're friends or something more… it has nothing to do with me! And where I am, or who I hate, is none of your business! Why would I hate Hayden? He feeds me, shelters me, and now he's even investing money in me. Why would I hate him? You, on the other hand, should drop the innocent princess act in front of me!"Marcia frowned slightly, unable to comprehend why Nicole was speaking so bitterly."Nicole, are you misunderstanding something?""Misunderstanding?" Nicole scoffed, her voice sharp with anger. "You invite a man to your home in the middle of the night, and that
Marcia and Myron entered the restaurant one after the other. Elijah and the others were already seated. The moment Claire saw Marcia, she stood up excitedly and waved."Come sit over here! You just went upstairs, and Elijah came down right after. He ordered a whole table full of dishes, all your favorites," Claire said with a playful grin, her face full of envy.Marcia forced a smile. "Oh, come on. These are dishes you like too. Claire, eat more. Weren't you saying you were starving earlier?""Hehe, as if I need you to tell me! I've already started eating," Claire said sheepishly, completely oblivious to Marcia's strained demeanor.Elijah cast a deep glance at Marcia, noticing Myron signaling him discreetly. His brows furrowed slightly, but he kept his tone gentle as he spoke to Marcia. "Sit down and eat something first. We can talk afterward."Claire quickly nodded in agreement. "Exactly! Eat first. The shrimp is really fresh—try it!"As they spoke, Hayden walked in slowly, his arm a
Marcia curled up on the couch, stealing a glance at Elijah, who was engrossed in his book. She couldn't hold back any longer and blurted, "Eli, are you really okay with Claire and Myron living together?"Elijah didn't even look up, his expression calm. "Why wouldn't I be?""They're members of the opposite sex. Isn't that… inappropriate?""Myron won't do anything reckless," he replied matter-of-factly.Marcia hesitated. She wanted to say she was more worried about Claire acting impulsively, but Elijah's unwavering confidence threw her off. Instead, she muttered, "Are you saying Myron doesn't like women?"Elijah finally closed his book and set it on the coffee table, raising an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?""Claire's not bad at all! She's got a great personality, and she's beautiful." Marcia paused, a teasing smile spreading across her face. "Besides, if someone like me could marry you, why can't Claire find her match? Myron might not seem serious, but he's attentive and gentle.
By the time Marcia's period ended, Elijah had become increasingly bold.That day, Marcia deliberately dressed conservatively as she headed to the office. Upon arriving, she learned that Kevin had been working overtime day and night because Alan had resurfaced again!Alan was now able to attend the Calderstones bidding conference! This news made Marcia feel uneasy. What kind of backing did Alan have?The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. Marcia couldn't shake the nagging feeling in her chest.Jane approached her with a cold expression, clearly impatient. "The manager wants to see you."Marcia looked up at her, nodding. "I know."She opened her drawer to grab her notebook, but Jane snapped, "Hurry up. I have work too! Didn't you hear? The bidding project is at a crucial point. It's ridiculous that I have to chase after you like this!"Marcia paused. She replied softly, "You're coming to get me; it's part of your j
"Patricia, you finally made it!"Kevin stood up and smiled as he saw Marcia walk in.With a mischievous grin, Kevin teased, "What took you so long? Your dear husband couldn't bear to let you go? He couldn't stand being apart for even a few minutes?"Marcia smiled at his playful tone, then nodded seriously, replying, "Yes, my dear husband really can't live without me. So, what is it that you need? I have to get back soon.""Patricia, you've changed!" Kevin put his hand over his chest, feigning a hurt expression.Marcia couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, stop fooling around. What's going on?"Kevin cleared his throat, his expression suddenly turning serious as he said to Marcia, "Looks like we need to head to Calderstones.""Calderstones?" Marcia raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain further.Kevin nodded. "The tender dates have been changed several times. Alan has had multiple private meetings with people from Calderston
Her hand fumbled across the bed, finally reaching the bedside lamp. "You lunatic! It's your fault, not mine. Why do you always blame others? Kate left with someone else—what does that have to do with me? Let go of me!"She rolled her eyes in defiance, but her arms were too weak to resist. Just a little more, and she could grab the lamp...Alan's eyes burned crimson with rage. "It's all your fault! I was fine with Kate before you came along! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have given her to Harold. That bastard said he just wanted her for one night, but now he won't return her! He's no different from Elijah—both beasts! No, fools! Secondhand goods, and yet they enjoy it so much! Is every woman I've been with so desirable? Marcia, tell me—who's better, huh?!"He lost all reason, furiously trying to tear off Marcia's pants. But in his drunken state, he couldn't manage. Frustrated, he pressed against her through her clothes and shouted, "Say it!
Meanwhile, back in his room, Booth snapped out of his daze.Covered in sweat and grime, he had no interest in showering after his conversation with Jane. Instead, he slumped onto the sofa, staring blankly into the distance.It was unclear how long he sat there before irritation drove him to his feet. Booth stormed into the bathroom, peeled off his shirt, and splashed cold water onto his face. Suddenly, something didn't feel right.Jane was staying on the 17th floor—that much he remembered clearly. So why had he seen her waiting for the elevator on the 22nd floor? This was a hotel, not a crowded office building where people often rode the elevator in the wrong direction just to secure a spot.A suspicion crept into Booth's mind—Jane was hiding something from him. He couldn't explain the feeling, but his instincts rarely failed him.Pulling out his phone, he tried calling her, only to find her phone was turned off."Damn it,"
Calvin walked into the hotel lobby and spotted the manager, Charles, speaking on the phone at the front desk.The moment Charles saw Calvin, he hung up immediately and greeted him respectfully. "Sir, would you like me to arrange a car for you?"Calvin raised an eyebrow. "Your efficiency is quite impressive.""My apologies for earlier, sir. I hope you'll forgive us," Charles said with a polite smile.Calvin replied casually, "You were just doing your job, ensuring the guests are taken care of. By the way, she...""Please rest assured, sir. We'll take excellent care of her. Mr. Elijah has already instructed us," Charles responded quickly, knowing exactly who Calvin was referring to.Calvin chuckled. "Seems like he's not too busy in America.""He's just concerned about his wife, that's all. Sir, this way, please. Your car is ready." Charles gestured respectfully. Calvin glanced in the direction Charles indicated, seeing a black Mercedes-Benz van parked at the entrance.Calvin gave Charle
Jane reached out to steady Marcia's back and said softly, "Sir, my name is Jane. May I ask for yours? I joined Sin Corporation the same year as Patricia—quite the coincidence, isn't it?"Calvin frowned slightly at Jane's sudden familiarity but answered curtly, "Calvin."Unbothered by his aloofness, Jane smiled and scanned the room numbers as they walked. "Oh, here it is—2711! Calvin, I almost forgot. Do you have her room card? Without it, we can't get in."After a moment of hesitation, Calvin handed Marcia's bag to Jane. "It should be in her bag. Check inside."Jane accepted the bag cheerfully and rummaged through it. "Found it!"She held up the card and swiped it against the door lock. With a soft beep, the door to 2711 clicked open."Come in, Calvin," Jane said, stepping aside.Calvin nodded and entered quickly, not noticing that Jane discreetly slipped the room card into her own pocket instead of returning it to the bag."Lay her down on the bed," Jane suggested. She glanced at Cal
Calvin didn't drive. Partly because he had been drinking, and partly because it had been a long time since he had been this close to Marcia.Marcia was light as a feather on his back as he slowly carried her toward the hotel.He had grown used to keeping track of Marcia's every move, but her heart had always been out of his reach.As a child, Marcia would cling to his arm with a sweet smile, half-coquettish, half-pleading, as she said, "Calvin, when I grow up, let's get married, okay?"She was just speaking innocent words of a child, but he took them seriously.Her casual remark stayed with him all these years. He had waited for her to grow up, imagining her as his perfect bride. But when she finally did, she showed up holding Alan's hand."Calvin, this is Alan. I...I want to marry him. You're the most important person to me, so you're the first to know," she said.Back then, Alan was a nobody, his humble demeanor barely concealed by his clean, smiling face.Calvin couldn't recall wha
Some people completely lose their memory once they get drunk.After just three glasses of red wine, Marcia had already lost all self-control.Kevin was slightly better off, still holding on to a sliver of rationality as Booth supported him. Kevin managed to exchange a few polite words with Bill and Cliff, ensuring they left the Cote Bistro with the contract in hand.Only after confirming its authenticity did Kevin collapse onto the sofa in the lobby, refusing to move no matter how hard Booth tried.After a chaotic mess, Booth entrusted Kevin to the lobby manager and went back to look for Marcia, only to find Calvin already carrying her. "I'll take her back to the hotel," Calvin said indifferently before striding off.Booth instinctively wanted to follow but was stopped by a waiter. Apparently, someone else had passed out in the private room.Pushing open the door, Booth found Myron slumped awkwardly in a corner, dozing.What's worse than one drunk person? Two drunk people—and worse st
Kevin's eyes were slightly red, but he let out a hearty laugh. "Look at what you're saying. It's an honor for Azure to have you both here today!"With that, he downed another glass of red wine.Marcia hadn't expected him to drink so heavily and looked at him with concern. Just as she was about to intervene, Myron gently shook his head. "Gentlemen, Kevin is like a brother to me. We're mainly here to catch up today, so I won't say too much. Let me also raise a glass to you both! Even though Eli isn't here, I hope you'll consider working with us on my behalf."After speaking, Myron downed his glass in one go. This time, Bill and Cliff clinked glasses with him and took a sip of their own drinks.Bill set his glass down and chuckled. "Myron, I'll toast with you today, but next time, you'd better bring a wife, or marry Nancy already! Otherwise, don't even think about getting me to drink again."Cliff, after finishing his glass, was stopped by Alison, who took over drinking on his behalf.Ma
After laughing, Marcia felt she had been too distant with Calvin, so she smiled at him and said, "Calvin, since you've returned to the country, I haven't properly hosted you. When are you heading back to Liverpool? Let me treat you to a meal before then.""I'll contact you after I get there," Calvin replied with a gentle smile, raising his glass toward her.Marcia nodded firmly and responded enthusiastically, "Alright."Just then, there was a knock at the door.Knock, knock, knock...As they were chatting, Booth pushed the door open and entered."Ma'am, everyone has arrived!" Booth announced.Marcia and Kevin exchanged a glance before quickly heading toward the door. Three individuals entered slowly as introductions were made, and the group exchanged pleasantries before taking their seats with smiles all around.Due to Elijah's influence, the guests were exceptionally polite. Myron also played the perfect mediator, lightening the atmosphere with a few jokes, making everyone laugh.Mar
Calvin looked at Marcia's surprised expression and let a faint smile tug at the corners of his lips. "Are you really that shocked to see me?" he asked softly.Marcia shook her head with a light laugh. "I should be asking you that! You disappeared from the hospital that day without a word. What brings you here?""Elijah personally invited me. It's hard to say no to his invitations, don't you think?" Calvin chuckled. "I'm here representing Shine Glow Group."Kevin, who had been wearing a playful expression, paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow curiously. "SG Group?""The owner of SG, John Linton, is my uncle. He's not feeling well and specifically asked me to attend in his place," Calvin explained, extending a hand toward Kevin. "I'm Calvin, Marcia's childhood friend."Marcia couldn't help but laugh. "We grew up as neighbors. He's closer to me than a real brother. But wait—how did I not know John was your uncle? You don't even share the same last name!""It's through my mother's side