"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
Marcia pushed him away in annoyance and walked straight into the conference room, taking a seat at the recording table.The atmosphere in the meeting room felt strange.She glanced at Elijah, whose face was icy, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.Marcia was taken aback; though she maintained a calm exterior, her mind raced with questions. Elijah's behavior seemed casual, but after spending time with him, she knew he was angry—and not just a little.Elijah cast a disinterested glance at her before indicating Kevin, who was standing at the door. "This is the new head of the research department, Professor Kevin Franklin," he introduced flatly.Kevin seemed oblivious to the tense atmosphere. He flashed a grin and waved cheerfully at everyone. "Good morning, everyone! We're all colleagues now, so just call me Kevin. Uh-oh, looks like there aren't any open seats?"He quickly turned and strode over to the empty chair next to Marcia. "I'll just sit here… you all go on with the mee
In the photo, Pag lay limply against Gary, her half-bared chest pressed against him as she fed him something, with a coy look in her eyes. Gary, clearly engrossed, had a lustful expression, while Alan watched from the corner with a glass of red wine and a knowing smile.Gary barely glanced at the photo, panic flashing in his eyes. Desperately, he protested, "Sir, this was from last month when I was in Liverpool, working on connections for Azure. I had no idea he'd even be there! Don't misunderstand—I barely know him! Someone must be trying to frame me with this!"He spoke tearfully, looking utterly distraught.But Kevin was unmoved, giving him a sly smile. "What a clever excuse! I practically had to scour Liverpool to get my hands on this tiny piece of evidence—people even thought I was stalling on purpose!"Marcia shot him a cold look. So he'd lied about not having a set work schedule, hadn't he?Kevin then turned, feigning hurt, and looked over at Elijah. Noticing Marcia glaring at
Seeing Marcia's dazed expression, Elijah's eyes held a touch of indifference."Patricia, I brought up the acquisition proposal to the board last night. A special task force will arrive soon, and I personally selected the team. This is your responsibility now—lead them well. I trust you."Marcia, struck by the pride and intensity in his gaze, forgot to respond.Watching Elijah's indifferent smile, she realized something—he wasn't wary or fearful of Alan. Instead, he seemed to relish the process of tormenting his opponents, breaking them down just before delivering the final blow.To him, this wasn't a battle; it was more of a game. Alan, in his eyes, wasn't even a worthy adversary."Understood," Marcia replied, bowing her head. However, a cold sensation crept into her heart.She had always been close to Elijah, especially since they'd been living under the same roof. But even she knew nothing about Kevin's sudden appearance.She had underestimated Elijah. To the public, he was ruthless
As Marcia finished organizing the documents, she noticed it was finally time for lunch. She shut down her computer and stretched her shoulders, only to feel a hand on her shoulder."Cia, tired from work? Let me give you a massage," Kevin's voice sounded too close for comfort.Marcia shot up from her seat, glaring at him. "Professor!"Kevin pouted, pretending to be wounded. "I'm only concerned for you, Cia. You're working so hard."Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Marcia replied through clenched teeth, "Professor, I don't know what I might've done to catch your attention, but please, can you keep your distance?"Kevin's expression turned wistful. "You really don't remember me, do you?"Caught off guard, Marcia hesitated but then shook her head. "Today was our first meeting. Please stop bothering me, or I'll have to refuse to work with you, regardless of the boss's orders."Kevin shrugged nonchalantly. "Cia, you're too tense! I only wanted to be friends.""Friends don't need to t
Marcia followed the two men expressionlessly, feeling equally irritated by Kevin's endless chatter and Elijah's silence.She didn't even understand why, but today, everything seemed to rub her the wrong way.Nicole had arrived wearing a white dress that accentuated her figure while giving off a pure and delicate vibe.Seeing them approach, she waved excitedly. "Eli, over here!"But when she noticed Marcia, who was also dressed in white, her face soured. "Why are you here too?" she muttered.Kevin, an old acquaintance of Nicole's, casually replied, "She's my date. What, you two can show up as a pair, but I'm not allowed to bring a gorgeous woman along?"Nicole scoffed, "Gorgeous?" Her blatantly judgmental look made Marcia even more uncomfortable."Of course! To me, she's the most beautiful," Kevin said, pulling out a chair for Marcia. "Come, sit here!"He shot a warning look at Nicole. "And wipe that look off your face before one of your haters snaps a photo and posts it online.""Oh,
After dinner, they drove back to the office. Before getting out of the car, Elijah coldly instructed, "Patricia, follow me to the office."Marcia's face paled, feeling a slight unease. Sensing her anxiety, Kevin patted her shoulder lightly before he left and whispered, "Don't worry. It must be for work."Marcia nodded, subtly putting some distance between them. "Please go back to your office," she replied politely.Their brief conversation didn't escape Elijah's notice, and a glint of coldness darkened his gaze.Following Elijah into his office, Marcia watched as he impatiently took off his suit jacket. She immediately stepped forward, taking it and neatly hanging it on the coat rack before standing quietly, waiting for his instructions."Patricia…" Elijah started icily, his tone heavy with disapproval. "I've always prohibited office romances."Marcia was taken aback. "I know, sir. I'm not involved with anyone in the company," she replied quickly, her sincerity unmistakable.Elijah's
Elijah frowned. "Impossible?" He couldn't understand. "But then... how could you? No, we're going to the hospital right now! The doctors I know are far more reliable than him. I've always found him suspicious. Let's get you checked first, then we can talk about this.""Are you not happy that I can conceive?"Elijah shook his head. "How could I not be happy? But I don't trust him. Let's go to the hospital, okay?"He was overwhelmed with joy, but beneath that joy lay deep concern. If Jeff was lying, how would Marcia handle it? He could live without a child, but he couldn't bear to see Marcia fall into despair again.He never wanted to see her cry. That pain would be far worse than not having a child."Eli, sit down first." Marcia dared not let him take her to the hospital—if they found out she had recently lost a pregnancy, things would be disastrous."The surgery two years ago... Jeff was actually the lead surgeon." Marcia watched Elijah's expression darken as her voice unconsciously d
Marcia leaned against Elijah's chest, yet a slight unease crept into her heart.She still remembered Jeff's instructions—no intimacy for a month. But when she stole a glance at Elijah, his brows were tightly furrowed, his expression serious. For some reason, her heart softened again and again."Eli, what are you thinking about?"Hearing the slight anxiety in Marcia's voice, Elijah held her tightly, resting his head against her neck. His voice was low and gentle. "Nothing. I just think... it's really good that you're here.""Myron is really getting engaged? To... that Nancy?" Marcia traced her fingers over his firm arm, feeling a growing sense of security.She wished she could rely on him like this forever."Mm." Elijah's response was muffled, carrying a hint of an unspoken heaviness.Marcia thought for a moment. "His family has a rule that a man can only marry one woman in his lifetime, right? Does your family have a rule like that?"Elijah chuckled lightly and ran his fingers through
Elijah let out a soft sigh and gently pulled Marcia behind him. "What are you doing?"Marcia bit her lip, feeling a bit foolish for her reaction. Why did she assume Hayden would actually come to blows with Elijah?Elijah, standing tall and unwavering, met Hayden's gaze head-on, his expression calm. "To bring Myron back to Liverpool.""Back to Liverpool? If he's taking that woman with him, then what's the point? He might as well not come back at all! Damn it!" Hayden raised his fist but ultimately slammed it against the table instead."Hayden, sit down." Myron's voice was deep and hoarse. He seemed exhausted, yet his expression remained resolute. "I chose to marry Nancy on my own. It has nothing to do with my mother or Eli. I appreciate your concern, but enough with the arguments."He glanced at Kevin and chuckled. "What are you scheming now? Think I'm lying?"Kevin cleared his throat awkwardly. "Not at all. If you say so, then it must be true." He had initially suspected this was just
"Patricia, I thought you two would head straight to the second floor!" Hayden teased with a mischievous grin, taking a sip of his orange juice.Marcia ignored him, her eyes immediately landing on Myron, who sat beside Kevin with a face as dark as ink. At the head of the dining table sat a frail, pale-skinned elderly woman who was scrutinizing her with an assessing gaze.Marcia couldn't help but feel nervous."Auntie, this is Patricia. What do you think? Beautiful, right?" Elijah draped an arm over Marcia's shoulder, grinning proudly.Gloria took a sip of water before smiling lightly. "Hmm, she is beautiful. No wonder you've been so restless, eager to come home!""That's not true! I'm also happy to spend more time with you!" Elijah chuckled, then gently nudged Marcia forward. "Cia, come say hello to Auntie."His eyes were filled with warmth, a look that was second nature to him in front of Myron and the others. But for Gloria, it was the first time witnessing this side of him, and she
Marcia and Elijah walked hand in hand toward the villa. Since it was located in the suburbs, the fresh air was a rare luxury.A cool breeze brushed against Marcia's face, making her instinctively shrink her neck."Are you cold?" Elijah asked, his voice tinged with concern as he pulled her into his embrace. "I was worried you'd feel uncomfortable if we stayed in the car for too long. Looks like I miscalculated again!"Marcia shook her head and snuggled against his chest with a soft laugh. "Not at all. The air is refreshing, and the scenery is beautiful. But how did you know I was feeling restless in the car? Do you have some kind of mind-reading power? That would be incredible!"Elijah chuckled, gently ruffling her hair. "Your nose is all red. You look just like a little bunny. Makes me want to eat you up!"As he spoke, he playfully rubbed her cheeks. When Marcia looked up at him with a smile, he couldn't resist leaning down to kiss her cool lips."Aren't they waiting for us inside? Le
Seeing the two of them like this, Marcia couldn't shake the strange feeling growing inside her. She pulled out her phone to check for any messages from Elijah. The last thing on their chat was a simple "Good night" from both of them. A faint smile curved her lips.She casually snapped a photo of the highway scenery outside the car window and sent it to Elijah.Since it was still early, she hadn't expected an immediate response. But to her surprise, he seemed to have been awake all night—his reply came almost instantly."Already on the road? Are you tired? You should get some rest in the car!"Marcia bit her lip lightly and typed back curiously, "Did you not sleep? I'm not tired. I've been resting at home these past few days.""Hmm, I heard about that. Why are you so lazy and always sleeping?" Elijah chuckled, then added, "Even though I feel bad for you, my love, I'm so happy that I'll see you soon."Seeing him call her lazy, Marcia instinctively glanced at Kevin, who was driving. It h
Ever since that terrible experience, Marcia had developed a subtle aversion to "Calderstones."Elijah had been away for five days now. They spoke on the phone daily—sometimes just exchanging a few words, other times lingering as if they couldn't bear to hang up.The distance seemed to intensify their feelings, making them feel like a couple deeply in love.A call in the early morning. The phone was warm in her hand. Though sadness still lingered in her heart, Marcia felt as if Elijah was slowly healing her, piece by piece.Since her surgery, she had become more sensitive—more reliant on Elijah. She wanted him to return, yet at the same time, she hoped he wouldn't come back too soon. She longed for his embrace but also feared the warmth he brought.Torn between these emotions, her longing for him only grew stronger.Sometimes, as she lay in her empty bed, she couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if he were beside her&md
"He's just a wolf in sheep's clothing," Hayden remarked leisurely, pouring himself a cup of hot water. Watching the steam rise, he smiled faintly and casually asked, "Patricia, did you already know Myron was fine? Otherwise, how could you be in the mood to come out for a meal?"Marcia was momentarily stunned. After a brief silence, she chuckled. "I contacted Eli. Besides, there wasn't much to eat at home. Everyone's had a tough day—it's only right that we treat ourselves to a meal. Why? Do you think there's something wrong with that?"Hayden smirked. "Not at all. Just a funny coincidence." He blew on his cup, took a small sip, and added, "Anyone who didn't know better would think you hadn't been home at all."Shirley shot him a glare. "Hayden, your mindset is all wrong!""Oh?" Hayden raised an eyebrow and turned to look at her.Shirley shook her head dramatically and said with an air of seriousness, "Have you been spending too much time with Demon? You've picked up the nasty habit of
"Did she ask you anything? Or did she want you to do something?" Marcia sat up straight, her tone cold and sharp.Jeff snapped out of his thoughts and replied calmly, "She was curious if you were pregnant. Oh, that reminds me, was she the one at Calderstones that time...?"Before he could finish, he paused, realization dawning on his face. "No wonder!"Marcia stared at him intently. "What did you tell her? Did you take her money? What about Alan? Was he there too?"Jeff shot her a glare. "I'm a doctor. What do you take me for? She's pregnant, and Alan? Oh, you mean that man? No, I didn't see him."Pregnant? A sharp pain struck Marcia's heart. Kate was pregnant again, while she… she had lost her child.Fate was truly laughable. The heavens remained as unfair as ever.Perhaps sensing her hatred too clearly, Jeff coughed lightly and continued, "Alright, stop glaring at me. I'm on your side."Marcia eyed him suspiciously but said nothing.Jeff sighed. "I refused to be her private doctor,