If I could have suppressed my feelings earlier, convincing myself that Hugh's defense of me was simply due to his upbringing and character, Carol's question now made my heart waver.But love?During those years together, I was his wife. Yet when other women appeared, he abandoned me without hesitation. I couldn't believe he loved me now.Or... even if he did.Esther was gone, out of the picture, and suddenly he remembered my worth.He started to love me again?This kind of love only made me feel nauseous, disgusted, and cheap!I couldn't accept it, no matter what.Hugh didn't answer, remaining silent for a moment before speaking. "Remember why we're here today. If you mess this up, I'll kick you out immediately.""Mess up? I'm insulting her for our benefit," Carol snarled, glaring at me. "This woman is deliberately working against us. Without her involvement, Ada would definitely entrust her wedding to us." She turned to me, her eyes full of venom. "You shamelessly schemed you
I found myself suddenly in the spotlight as a guest of honor for a top designer. Hand in hand, I entered Ms. Rose’s private room, and I couldn’t help but feel confused. Something wasn’t right. Why was this woman going out of her way for me?After about thirty minutes, it finally dawned on me why she seemed so invested. Back when I was still in school, there was a massive car accident. The car in front of us exploded, and the one behind us was at risk of catching fire at any moment. The situation was dire. There was a little boy trapped inside, whispering for help. I could see blood streaming from his leg, and his lips were pale—he was losing blood fast. If we didn’t stop the bleeding, he’d die, even if the car didn’t explode.No one dared to move forward, even the rescue team concluded it was too risky. But I couldn’t just watch him die there. I grabbed a medical kit and rushed in to help him. I managed to stop the bleeding, and with the help of two police officers I called over, we
The moment we got home, Hugh ripped off his tie, his eyes blazing with anger."Listen up," he growled. "Stay out of this from now on. Dad put me in charge, not you. Don't overstep."His words lit a fire in me. "If you weren't so hung up on your loser ex-wife, Rose would be working on our project right now!"Ever since running into Shelia, Hugh had been like a different person. It was clear his mind wasn't on the job anymore. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been dumb enough to start a fight at Rose's party.What an idiot!"You fell for that trash Esther before. If I hadn't been there, would you have just handed this project to Shelia on a silver platter? God, you're such a moron!"I could see the vein throbbing in Hugh's forehead. It was almost funny. As if he had any right to be mad!"If it weren't for you, we might still have a shot at talking to Rose. But now? You've probably blown our chances completely," I taunted."Ha! A chance to talk? You mean a chance to help Shelia steal A
Three days went by, and Mom and I showed up at Hugh's meticulously planned shindig, decked out in our fanciest dresses. The Thornton Hotel's reputation had taken a nosedive after the Esther mess, and Hugh had been busting his butt trying to fix it.The harder he worked, the more I wanted to laugh.No matter how much sweat he poured in, I'd end up with all the credit because Dad only had eyes for me. What Hugh had to struggle for, I could snag with just a bit of sweet talk.As the party kicked off, there was a buzz outside. I peeked out to see a line of fancy cars parked up front, with excited fans screaming Ada's name. I held my head high as Mom tugged my arm, reminding me, "Don't let Hugh hog the spotlight. We need to wow Ada, and don’t forget to strut your stuff. Everyone needs to know you're the face of Thornton Group tonight."I rolled my eyes. "Chill, Mom. I'm not some amateur. I'm the Thornton Group heiress—I've got this."Ignoring Mom, I strutted towards Ada's car, soaking
I had already discussed the wedding dress details with Ada. While the dress was important, what she valued most for this wedding was the ceremony itself, as it held special meaning related to her mother. The dress was just a way to gauge how much care the planners put into the event. So, Thornton Group still had a chance.I’d promoted Ada’s attendance at Thornton Group’s welcome party heavily, turning it into a great marketing opportunity. I was doing my best to restore our reputation and generate profit, yet my family seemed hell-bent on sabotaging me. It was laughable.As the party began, I saw Carol strutting around, pretending to be busy, probably thinking everything today was because of her efforts. I figured as long as she stayed out of trouble, the night would go smoothly, so I kept close to Ada."Hugh, I came to this party for you. You’re my hero," Ada said with a playful curiosity, "but why isn’t your name listed as the host?""True bosses are always in the background," I
I was caught off guard when Ada called me in the middle of the night, especially after all the hype about her staying at the Thornton Hotel. However, I didn't hesitate to give her my address as soon as I picked up.Thirty minutes later, she was at my door, looking frazzled."I'm so sorry to barge in like this, Shelia," she said, her voice tight. "I couldn't sleep, and you're the only one I felt I could turn to right now.""Don't sweat it," I assured her. "Come on in and take a load off. We can talk as long as you need."After a couple of glasses of wine, Ada finally started to open up."I was planning to choose between Thornton and Warner for my wedding, but Thornton's really let me down. Shelia, I feel like you're the only one I can trust with this."Normally, hearing a client pick me would be thrilling, but seeing Ada so stressed took the wind out of my sails."Don't worry," I promised. "I’ll do everything in my power to make sure your wedding is flawless and memorable.""Tha
When Ada announced that KS would be handling her wedding, I laughed. Hugh was finished! He’d insisted on taking this project, only to fail spectacularly. It was amusing, really—now he wouldn’t be able to strut around in front of Dad.He had claimed that Ada’s partnership fell apart because of me, which was absurd. But now that this deal had blown up in his face, he would probably be kept out of the company for a long while.With my spirits high, I called over two male models, including the one who had danced with Shelia at the party. I gave him a sly smile."Well? Are you waiting for me to undress you?"Without hesitation, he stripped off his clothes and slipped a leather collar around his neck. "Of course not, ma’am," he replied, then began crawling over to me on his knees.I reveled in the power, watching Shelia’s former dance partner act like an obedient dog, completely under my control. It was the perfect way to boost my mood.I injected the good things on the table into my v
Shelia's POV:These past few days, I’d been pouring all my energy into Ada’s wedding, barely catching any sleep. But as the plans came together, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. This was the first project I’d taken on since the divorce, and it held a lot of meaning for me. I cared deeply about making it perfect.Just as I lay down to rest at home, the doorbell rang.Zachary was standing at my door with a bag of food, and as I opened it, he brought out a bouquet from behind his back with a smile."Congratulations, Shelia," he said, handing me the flowers.I beamed. "I love your little surprises." He had a knack for romance."You look exhausted, Shelia. Have you been eating properly?""Well, I tried to eat well, but most days I get so busy I forget," I admitted with a shrug.He rolled up his sleeves and headed straight to the kitchen. A warm feeling spread through me. Back when I was with Hugh, I was always the one cooking, and he never took care of me. I used to convince
Hugh’s actions made me want to laugh. Did he really think throwing money around could make up for all the hurt he caused me? What did he take me for? A cheap decoration he could put on display when it suited him and toss aside when he didn’t need me? I looked at him coldly, as if he were nothing but a pathetic clown—ridiculous and pitiful.Carol’s face turned green with jealousy when she saw Hugh "defending" me. She clung to his arm, her voice dripping with bitterness. "Hugh, why are you bidding on that worthless thing?"Before she could finish, Hugh cut her off, his voice calm but firm: "It’s just an auction, Carol. Stop talking."Carol was furious but swallowed her words, glaring at me like she wanted to tear me apart. I smirked inwardly but pretended not to notice, casually watching the next auction item on stage.Just then, Ada gracefully walked onto the platform, dressed in an elegant white gown and with flawless makeup. She took the microphone from one of the staff and began
*The charity gala began with the clinking of glasses and the buzz of polite conversation.Susanne was dressed in an elegant light blue gown, adorned with expensive jewelry worth millions, giving off an air of sophistication and grace. But I instantly recognized her necklace—it was an old piece, the same one she wore when she got married. Carol, on the other hand, was dressed in a perfectly tailored red gown, showing off half of her large chest, exuding a bold, radiant beauty. She clung to Hugh’s arm like a proud peacock, flaunting her charms for everyone to see. She whispered sweet nothings to every man who passed by, always on the hunt for new admirers.I looked at Hugh, unsure how to feel. There was a time when I used to attend events like this on his arm, foolishly believing that was what love looked like. Now, we were strangers.Carol had become the center of attention lately, thanks to all the media coverage.Zachary couldn’t come because his back injury was too severe, an
In the past, I would have apologized to him out of habit, a natural sense of submission. But things are different now.“What does it have to do with you?” I snapped back at him.Furious, Hugh threw the cake to the ground. Cream and fruit splattered across my shoes, but I barely noticed. I just stood there, staring at him in disbelief. Hugh, how could you do this?“Hugh, what’s wrong with you?” I tried to keep my anger in check, but my voice trembled despite myself.“You have the nerve to ask me that?” he growled through clenched teeth. “Shelia, how many times do you expect me to stand by and watch? Huh?”His hot breath, laced with the smell of alcohol, hit my face as he leaned closer. The rage in his eyes was like sharp knives cutting into my heart. I could feel the sting deep inside.“What did I do?” I lifted my chin stubbornly, refusing to back down. “Zachary is just a friend. He was hurt, and I helped him bandage his wound. What’s the problem?”“Friend?” He laughed bitterly,
I got breaking news from Gregory—a massive update! Garcie had collapsed in prison, and no one knows why. She’s in a coma now, lying in the ICU. What kind of drama is this?Damn it, just when we were piecing everything together, the trail goes cold! A few days ago, we discovered that Garcie wasn’t just working with Carol—there’s a big boss pulling the strings behind the scenes. Now, with her unconscious, all the evidence she could’ve provided is gone. How could this happen? Did someone try to kill her in prison? Or is she really sick?My head was spinning. I lit a cigarette, something I rarely do, but the nicotine helped calm my nerves a bit. If I could dig into these women’s connections, I’m sure I’d find links to some powerful figures.Just then, I heard a knock at the door. Zachary walked in, looking as handsome and intense as ever. Today, he was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, making him look even taller and stronger. But his deep, brooding eyes always seemed to carry
*These past few days, I’ve been on cloud nine! News about my successful deal with Ada is everywhere, headlines like “Business Genius Carol” and “The Youngest Marketing Queen” plastered all over. Every time I see those flattering articles, I can’t help but smile inside, though I keep my signature "elegant" smile on the outside.Hmph, Shelia, did you see that? The Ada deal you tried so hard to get—now she's working with me! Who do you think you are? Just a discarded woman Hugh threw away!To celebrate my victory, I arranged a get-together with Fiona. After all, we landed this project together. I wonder if Lucas will come too. He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever dated. Maybe tonight, we could rekindle some old flames. I told Fiona to bring him along.I took extra care getting ready—slipping into a red backless gown, my hair elegantly pinned up to show off my long, slender neck. My makeup was flawless, and I looked sophisticated, sexy, untouchable. Glancing at myself in the mirror, I th
"Hugh, I’ve already scheduled a meeting with Ada. How about we go to Vienna the day after tomorrow? I heard the pastry chef at that hotel has won several international awards. We could try some of their desserts while we’re there." I put on a sweet, pleading tone, even though, in my heart, I thought Hugh was a total idiot—arrogant, cold, and not very bright.Without even looking up, he coldly responded with just two words: "Not going."“What’s that supposed to mean? I can’t handle Ada alone. She likes you! You have to come with me!” I tried to hold back my anger, raising my voice. How dare this useless man refuse me!He glanced at me with disdain, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Carol, I’ll say this one more time. Figure out Ada on your own. And honestly, you should give up—this was Shelia’s project from the start.""You!" I was trembling with rage, my carefully applied makeup barely concealing the fury twisting my expression. I’d gone through so much trouble to steal this projec
I sat in the café, gripping a cup of cold latte, my gaze fixed coldly on Marcus, who was sitting across from me. He kept his head down, hands nervously twisting together, looking like a beaten dog with its tail between its legs."Marcus, I really didn’t expect this from you," I scoffed. "I treated you like one of my own, and you..." I let out a cold laugh. "You and Garcie teamed up, scheming behind my back. But your biggest mistake was thinking you could cross me, Shelia!"Marcus jerked his head up, his face pale. "It’s not Garcie’s fault! We didn’t do anything!"“Do you even hear yourself, Marcus? Still defending her? That woman has been cheating on you left and right!"“No way! Don’t slander her! Garcie loves me and only me.”"How pathetic." I sneered. "Let me show you what your precious Garcie is really up to."I called Gregory. "Proceed as planned. Come pick him up."“Got it,” Gregory replied.I hung up, standing over Marcus, my voice cold. "Marcus, I’m giving you one last
The first step was to root out the traitor. To do that, I needed to find Gregory. He had been pursuing me for a while, but he was much younger than me, and I only saw him as a younger brother. I explained the whole situation to him, and he handed me a thick envelope filled with documents, a confident glint in his eyes."Shelia, it’s all in here. Marcus Leedon and Garcie Milton are working together, betraying the company. This time, they won’t get away with it! But for now, we don’t have enough solid evidence."I took the envelope, flipping through the pages. The evidence of Marcus and Garcie’s scheming was worse than I imagined. If it hadn’t been for this incident, they would’ve continued selling company secrets, and the entire company might have been destroyed in their hands! In a way, I should thank Carol for exposing the traitor early.Gregory handed me a stack of photos. "I dug up something else. Garcie is even more complicated than we thought—she’s been involved with several se
After leaving Amanda’s room, I rubbed my temples, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. I needed to think carefully about my next move against Carol. This was like a game of chess, and I had to plan my strategy well.I went to the bathroom and soaked in a hot bath, hoping to relax. But just as I started to unwind, the doorbell rang. I barely had time to dry my hair, so I quickly threw on my pajamas and went to answer the door.“Shelia, are you home?” It was Zachary’s voice from outside, deep and gentle.I opened the door and saw Zachary standing there in casual clothes, looking even more fit than usual. He was holding two bags, his usual warm smile on his face.“What brings you here?” I asked, surprised but touched by his visit.“I came to check on you and brought some things,” he said, stepping inside and placing the bags on the table. Inside was a box of freshly picked strawberries and a beautifully packaged raspberry pie.“Wow, raspberry pie!” I lit up with excitement. It