As Marcia stepped out of the restaurant, Andrew was already waiting with the car parked at the entrance.When he saw Marcia wearing Elijah's jacket, he pretended not to notice, not even glancing her way.Yet, this pretense made Marcia feel even more uncomfortable.She instinctively tightened the jacket around her, catching a faint whiff of Elijah's cologne, which made her heart flutter."Patricia, you won't need to attend the meeting later," Elijah said."Why not?" Marcia asked, her large eyes filled with confusion as she looked up at him."Go home and change," Elijah replied calmly.Marcia's expression shifted slightly. "What about the meeting notes?""There has more than one secretary," Elijah said, frowning slightly. "Are you really going to attend the meeting dressed like that?"Marcia paused, lowering her head in response. "Understood, sir."The car fell into a heavy silence.As they neared Azure, Elijah finally spoke up, "Andrew, take her back to the villa, and come back to pick
"Hey, where are you going? Do you need a ride?"A male voice came from a half-open car window.Marcia instinctively shook her head, a bit wary. "No, thank you."The man didn't seem to mind. "Well, take care then. It'll take at least an hour to walk to the city center," he said, starting his engine to leave.Marcia paused, looking down at her bare, dirty feet. "Wait!" she called out.He slammed on the brakes, slightly annoyed. "Can you just finish your sentence in one go?"Feeling embarrassed, Marcia quickly added, "I'll pay you if you can take me to Clayton Square.""Oh, going there, huh? That'll cost you three times the fare," the man chuckled, unaffected by her reaction."Why? You just said you could give me a ride!" Marcia frowned, not wanting to be taken advantage of."You refused before, didn't you?" he replied, grinning. "Besides, a ride isn't free. If you took an Uber from here, it would cost a lot, too. People who shop at Clayton Square are usually wealthy."Not wanting to arg
By the time Marcia returned to the villa, it was already dark outside.She opened the door and cautiously made her way toward the guest room, but just as she reached for the doorknob, the room lit up.Elijah's deep, magnetic voice came from behind her. "What are you sneaking around for?"Marcia turned quickly, feeling guilty. "Sir, you're back!""Of course. What time do you think it is?" Elijah replied coldly, but his eyes brightened slightly as he looked at her. "So, were you out on a date?"Marcia lowered her gaze, tugging nervously at the hem of her dress. "You're just joking.""Oh?" Elijah replied, but then asked, "Have you eaten?"Marcia nodded, recalling she had grabbed a quick bite before coming back.Noticing her nod, Elijah's brow furrowed ever so slightly. "You did eat?"Marcia blurted out, "Sir, you haven't had dinner yet, have you?"Elijah shot her a glare, sounding impatient. "How could I? There are plenty of people lining up to treat me to dinner. I'm not going hungry!"
Nicole seemed to have been drinking; her eyes were watery, reflecting a hint of inebriation.Marcia helped Nicole inside and politely said, "Miss, let me go upstairs to ask the boss to come down. Please have a seat."But Nicole, irritated, pushed Marcia hard, causing her to stumble and fall awkwardly to the ground.Leaning back on the sofa, a sneer danced on Nicole's lips.She chuckled, "Oh dear, Patricia, how clumsy of you! If Eli saw this, he might think I'm bullying you!"Her mood had been sour today, and since she already disliked Marcia, she took out her frustration on her, feeling much better afterward.Marcia, nursing a sprained ankle and wincing in pain, calmly replied, "Miss Winter, it was just a moment of unsteadiness. Please sit; I'll go upstairs to inform him.""Since when do I need to ask for permission to see Eli?" Nicole snapped, raising an eyebrow and sharpening her tone.Marcia subtly took a step back, enduring the pain, and quietly said, "I'm sorry, Miss. I misspoke.
Elijah changed into comfortable clothes, and the two went downstairs together."Eli... you came to Liverpool and didn't even tell me?" As soon as Nicole saw him, she leaned against him like a limp doll, ignoring the awkwardness of Marcia behind her.Elijah furrowed his brow but didn't push her away, responding coolly, "Even I didn't tell you, you found out anyway, didn't you?"Nicole giggled behind her hand, a look of triumph on her face. "Of course! Who do you think I am?"Her eyes darted around until she caught sight of Marcia's uncomfortable expression.A glimmer of triumph appeared in her eyes as she cheerfully grabbed Elijah's arm, pulling him back to the sofa. "Eli, why did you let Patricia move in? People might misunderstand!""No one will misunderstand," Elijah glanced at Marcia. "After all...""Ha, after all, everyone knows you don't think highly of her, right?" Nicole interrupted, laughing. "People should know their place; don't take yourself too seriously!"Elijah's frown d
After pushing her suitcase out, Marcia felt utterly lost.With no one to turn to, where could she go?But she was no longer the woman who could do nothing but cry two years ago.She picked a direction at random and walked briskly. As she passed by Alan's house, she clearly heard shouting and a baby crying from inside.She instinctively paused, listened for a moment, and a smile crept onto her lips.Inside, Dinah and Kate were engaged in an increasingly heated argument.Dinah was her usual abrasive self, but Kate didn't hold back either, and soon both were hurling insults, even resorting to physical blows.Marcia couldn't help but feel a hint of derision. "Just fight, as long as you can still talk—let you go wild."Her eyes were filled with a deep-seated hatred.She wouldn't let any of them go unpunished for what they had done to her; she would make them pay in full!When another wail pierced the air, Marcia pulled her suitcase forward, stepping lightly as she moved on.The streetlight
"Alan, I'll give you one last warning: don't mess with Patricia. She's mine, and you can't handle the consequences!"Marcia's heart raced as she turned to look at Alan, who appeared pale, his lips almost white.His eyes were filled with a mix of shock and anger, jealousy flickering in his gaze as he watched their closeness.Elijah ignored Alan, looking down at Marcia with a gentle but resigned expression. "Cia, let's go home together!"He reached out his hand, and though Marcia's palms were slightly sweaty, she smiled back at him and nodded earnestly. "Okay."Alan could only watch as they walked hand in hand toward the villa. From behind, they looked like a couple in love...But as they left the park, Marcia instinctively pulled her hand away, feeling awkward. "Sir, thank you, but why are you out so late?""Hmm? Thank me for what?" Elijah replied, his brow furrowing in confusion. But when he saw the seriousness in Marcia's eyes, a smile crept onto his lips. "I came to take you home!"
After waiting a while in the lobby on the first floor, Marcia checked the time—it was already a quarter past ten. Realizing she still had to take minutes for the meeting, she felt a rising impatience."No matter how brilliant someone is, being late is inexcusable." She stomped her foot and turned toward the elevator.Just then, someone came up from the underground parking lot.With a "ding," the elevator doors opened.Marcia hurried in, intending to press the button for the 23rd floor, but saw the light was already on.She cautiously moved to the back, observing the people in front of her.There was a young woman dressed provocatively and a young man with a buzz cut, listening to music through headphones—neither looked like they belonged in a research setting.Her gaze landed on a middle-aged man with slightly graying hair, slim in build, wearing a simple white shirt and loose black slacks, with casual sneakers on his feet.How should she put it? Quite "fashionable"...Ding! The eleva
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