Upon hearing that, Darla was enraged, which was rare for her. "That's despicable. It was bad enough that they pressured you back then. But to be as heartless as to curse the birth of a child? It is still their flesh and blood! How could they be so ruthless?" Mandy looked desolate and sighed helplessly. "If only I were from a better family, my poor child wouldn't have suffered." Darla asked furiously, "And what about him? You've dedicated yourself to him all these years. Now, we don't even know where the child is. Don't you resent him at all?" Mandy's beautiful eyes filled with tears as she shook her head. "Darla, he had no choice." Darla shook her head in resignation. "Since you were young, you've always been so soft-hearted. If I were you, I would never forgive him even if I died." Darla's good temper was well-known. It took a lot for her to utter such harsh words. Seeing Mandy in distress, Darla couldn't bring herself to ignore her matters. "Where do you plan to s
"Mr. Clark, I hope it won't be too much trouble for you. Can you say a few kind words to Carol?" At the dining table, Zeke happily accepted toasts from others. With a half-burnt cigarette in his mouth, he grinned and said, "You can rest assured. My Carol would never neglect anything related to you, Mr. Perez."After a period of lows, the Clark family had once again risen with the help of Carol and Chris.Looking at people who had ignored him before, Zeke felt satisfied as they always invited him for meals.Carol had always spread rumors that she and Liam were a couple. From that, many people sought to collaborate with Zeke because of Liam.But after observing for a while, they found that Liam rarely paid attention to Carol. They couldn't understand where she got the audacity to claim that Liam liked her.This led to their collaborations with the Clark family being one-time deals. That in turn hindered the Clark family's growth.Now, it was different. Carol and Chris had offic
"Have you noticed how close you've been getting to Howard recently?" Lana suddenly asked during breakfast.Nadia paused for a moment before replying, "What makes you think that? Dr. Howard and I are just good friends."Lana found it perplexing. The two often went out together. They would stargaze and enjoy the view of the sea, yet she said they were only friends. Lana observed that Nadia seemed focused on making money, even more so than herself. It might have been a result of scars from her past relationship. She also showed little interest in anything else.Nadia might not have been aware of the depth of Howard's feelings for her. However, Lana could tell that Howard's feelings went beyond the usual doctor-patient relationship.Despite that, Nadia didn't seem to want to discuss it, and Lana respected her decision.She steered the conversation toward the topic of money. "Nadia, have you completed the plan I asked you to work on?""Are you referring to the plan for opening new b
"Are you 'S'?" Lana asked.Carol avoided her gaze, and her response remained ambiguous."I'm sorry, but I can't disclose that information. People from the National Security Bureau tend to keep their identities confidential."Carol's response was carefully crafted, leaving room for two interpretations.The first interpretation was that she was "S". However, her association with the National Security Bureau stopped her from confirming it.The second interpretation was that she wasn't "S". But her position within the National Security Bureau prevented her from speaking freely.However, despite Carol's explanation, Lana remained unconvinced.The truth was, Lana was "S"!Lana quickly figured that Carol must have a hidden motive for impersonating "S".One onlooker exclaimed, "Ms. Carol, you're 'S' after all? What a surprise! I've been a huge fan. I've been revisiting your exploits every day."Another chimed in, "You've been trending all over recently. You're a true hero in Zanteles
In the evening, Liam attended a wine-tasting event at Irwin Winery. It was the largest winery in Gilsbury. The owner, a true Fleinese, exclusively imported their red wines from Fleines by air.Businesspeople were drawn to this venue for their negotiations. On one hand, the atmosphere was tranquil, and on the other, they could enjoy authentic wines. It was a perfect win-win.Liam, a connoisseur with a taste for meat and red wine, held a VVIP status here. The winery's owner extended a personal welcome, even pouring a glass of wine that had just arrived on a plane earlier that afternoon.Savoring his drink leisurely, Liam quietly eavesdropped on conversations around him. His deep gaze was focused on a particular spot, showing his thoughts were elsewhere.As the evening unfolded, people entered and exited, yet Liam remained silent. He didn't say a single word.The others believed Liam was in a foul mood and it was wise to avoid him.Before long, two more individuals arrived—a man
Olivia and Billy anxiously followed Lana into the dining area. But they were left utterly dumbfounded.Lana was chatting enthusiastically with the foreign guests in fluent Balanese. The foreigners were visibly astonished. They hadn't expected such fluency from the owner of a pasta restaurant in Zanteles.Olivia and Billy exchanged surprised glances, both in awe of Lana's remarkable abilities.After completing the foreigners' orders, Lana found herself surrounded by Billy and Olivia."Boss, you're incredible," Billy exclaimed. "I admire you even more now.""Lana, I want to be your apprentice. Consider me at your service from now on," Olivia eagerly added.Lana blushed in response to their unexpected reactions. She wondered if they truly believed she lacked competence.However, today's unfolding events served as a wake-up call for Lana. As a renowned chain restaurant owner, she realized that her wait staff should not only speak one language.It was time to implement a training pr
"Are you really 'S'?" a voice asked in awe."'S', could you please give me an autograph? I can talk about every case you've been involved in. I'm your loyal fan," another voice exclaimed excitedly."Please do your best tomorrow, 'S.' I will be there to support you," chimed in another.Carol smiled at Nelson's classmates and said, "Thank you for your support. I will give my best performance tomorrow. Now, please allow me some time to complete my task, okay?"Upon the top hacker's words, no one dared to linger. After they pledged their support for Carol at the competition, Nelson politely escorted them away.Zeke didn't know much about hacking. Still, he knew it was an impressive skill that brought glory to the country.Looking at Carol, his eyes filled with affection. "Carol, if that's the case, I won't disturb you anymore. I'll also be at the competition tomorrow to support you."Carol remained silent. Her fingers danced across the keyboard, the rhythmic clacking sounds filling
Inside the stadium, Liam and other key sponsors occupied the front row just below the stage. It gave them a direct view for easy communication with the contestants later.Behind them stood the translation team. It was essential as the competition featured not only Zantelians but also contestants from around the world.Further back, excited hackers and dedicated fans filled the seats. They eagerly awaited the opportunity to see their idols in action.In the farthest corner were fans of the renowned hacker "S". They waved banners, spun glow sticks, and cheered loudly. Their voices echoed throughout the stadium, creating a vibrant atmosphere.Onstage, after the host's introduction, all contestants stood in perfect formation.Amidst them, one elegant figure stood out, immediately capturing everyone's attention.As the only female contestant, Carol naturally attracted admiring glances from the men. It caused Chris in the audience to feel a flush of heat wash over him.The host was ab