The atmosphere at the initially laid-back gathering underwent a noticeable shift upon Liam's arrival.In Liam's presence, the usually animated discussions among the aristocratic young men took on an air of unnatural deference.However, no one dared voice any dissatisfaction. After all, sharing a drink with Liam was considered a prestigious affair.Throughout the gathering, Chris maintained an air of indifference, continuing to eat, drink, and boast as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.After growing tired of his banter, Chris couldn't help but feel the evening lacked excitement. In response, he suggested, "This is getting dull. How about we invite more people to join us?"By people, Chris was, of course, referring to women.During their usual gatherings, many of these young men would bring along a few female companions.However, Liam's unexpected presence acted as a deterrent, restraining them from indulging in their typical, more uninhibited behavior."No, no! Le
"Mr. Chris, stop putting on a show for Mr. Liam. We all know you've recorded plenty of this kind of stuff too," someone remarked."Yeah, no matter how you play the good guy, Mr. Liam surely won't buy it."While many assumed Chris was merely maintaining a façade for Liam, little did they realize that Liam had already detected unsettling nuances in Chris's gaze.Chris casually threw the water-damaged phone back to the hostess, declaring, "I'll make it up to you with two brand-new ones tomorrow."Approaching Chris swiftly, the hostess declared, "Mr. Chris, I'm not interested in a phone."Intrigued, he sat upright and asked, "Well then, what do you want?"With a flirtatious touch, the hostess playfully responded, "I want you!"On an average day, Chris might have been inclined to go along with such things, acknowledging that he wasn't necessarily a saint and merely wanted to have a good time.However, today was different. He had pressing matters to discuss with Liam. Thus, he pushed
Liam rarely showed signs of distress, so Lana was taken aback the first time she heard him openly express such emotions.Reacting instinctively, Lana asked, "Is there something bothering you?"She speculated whether an issue had arisen within the company or if he had a disagreement with Hector, but Liam remained unresponsive to her questions.In a subdued tone, he said, "Please, go ahead and rest. I have a few tasks to attend to, and I won't be able to come over tonight."Following Liam's harrowing ordeal, he and Lana consistently spent their nights together, with very few exceptions, usually occurring only during his business trips.Even when Lana was hesitant, Liam would persistently find a way to stay with her. So, what had happened that night?Why did he choose not to return to Mandy's house on his own accord?Initially, Lana assumed he was just in a sour mood. "Alright, take care of yourself. I—" "Whatever, I get it!" Liam cut her off and promptly ended the call.Staring
Hector was profoundly distressed by the recent fluctuations in Liam and Lana's relationship.Hence, Lana's sudden visit to the Garrisons today brought immense joy to Hector."Lana, what's been keeping you busy lately? It's been forever since you last dropped by! I'm seriously missing you, you know?" Hector said. With that, he added, "Just relax and make yourself at home. If you're craving something or need anything, just tell me. I've got you covered, no problem."As Lana walked in, Hector greeted her with unbridled enthusiasm, chatting away happily and displaying his genuine affection for Lana as his granddaughter-in-law.Lana presented some homemade pastries, remarking, "Don't worry, Grandpa Hector. I made these during my free time. It's just a bit of experimenting. Please, do give them a try."As Lana spoke with an unexpected formality and a hint of distance, Hector felt a sudden pang in his heart.This wasn't going as expected!In the past, Lana never approached him with r
Lana's confidence in their relationship faltered upon encountering Liam today and noting his demeanor.Although she had initially believed Liam lacked the courage to leave, Lana was surprised when she observed his momentary hesitation before rapidly ascending the stairs.It seemed as if he had metaphorically extracted her heart, leaving a tangible void.While there was no physical pain, Lana found herself contending with an emotional ache."Understood! From this moment forward, we're done!"As Liam went up the stairs, the lingering echo of Lana's decisive words resonated in the air.Instinctively, he bolstered his legs with determination, moving forward with mechanical precision, climbing gradually. He bore an uncanny resemblance to a zombie.Parting with Lana was unbearable for Liam. Yet, if her happiness lay elsewhere with those older men, he believed it was better to let her go.This, he thought, was the last bit of dignity he could salvage for their relationship.Hencefort
As Alice was about to ask for more information, she was stopped by a cautionary glance from Lana.Lana's ability to convey messages through her piercing gaze had developed significantly over the past year.As Alice made her way to leave, she suddenly recalled something and turned back."Lana, how's Nadia handling the new product trial?" she asked. "I haven't seen her around the store lately."Lana, who typically upgraded the store's products annually to stay competitive, had gradually handed over the reins to Nadia as she took a step back from daily operations.Following Nadia's recent reunion with her biological family, Lana had approved a two-week leave of absence for her.Yet, despite the elapsed time, Nadia displayed no eagerness to resume her responsibilities.Despite Lana's trust in Nadia's commitment, a lingering worry crept in, causing Lana to wonder if something had happened to Nadia."You may head out first. I'll get in touch with Nadia to find out when the trial resu
Upon hearing Nadia's assertive words, Emilia's heart raced.Was Nadia declaring war against her?Yet, Emilia, true to her cultivated façade, remained composed, betraying no signs of panic.She responded with a sudden smile and asked, "Nadia, what on earth are you saying? I don't seem to understand."Nadia was well aware that Emilia was feigning ignorance, but her years of experience had honed her ability to detect lies.She refused to let Emilia manipulate the situation within the Watson family any longer."If you can't grasp a simple statement, what else are you capable of? With your level of intellect, why do you even aspire to become the heir of our Watson family? Where do you find the audacity?"Nadia's sharp retort left Emilia speechless. She couldn't fathom why Nadia had suddenly turned hostile. It seemed Emilia had arrived at the wrong time."Nadia, don't be upset. Weren't you about to head out? Hurry! Don't delay your important matters."Nadia, her handbag casually slu
Lana scrutinized the video repeatedly, not out of personal interest, but to investigate any potential traces of manipulation.Despite its numerous shares and blurry pixels, Lana, to her dismay, could distinctly ascertain that the video remained untouched—neither edited nor manipulated in post-production.In essence, someone was impersonating her, engaging in inappropriate behavior!"Bastard!" Lana muttered angrily under her breath, slamming her phone to the ground.Just then, Jane's voice message arrived, providing a timely distraction.The phone, now lying on the ground, resonated with Jane's voice."Lana, there are certain things that are hard for me to say, but please, be more cautious in the future."This video has been circulating for several days, and it seems you're not aware of it. After thinking it over, I've chosen to bring it to your attention."I suspect Mr. Liam may have seen it as well. It's important to give him a proper explanation. Mr. Liam is a person of integ