Melanie worked on her computer, tweaking the perfume development plan. At some point, tiredness took over, and she dozed off on the sofa. The next morning, she woke up to hear that Jeffrey had already left for work after finishing breakfast.Melanie got ready quickly and checked the stock market, pleased to see a sea of red for West Corp. Though she had made it known that the engagement would be called off, Bryan had been too overwhelmed to try to appease her. That suited her well, allowing her to focus on the perfume development.Heading to Jones Enterprise, Melanie instructed Mr. Lincoln to gather the top executives for a meeting to discuss the revised plan. However, the meeting was interrupted by Daniel and Lena.Lena, with innocent, bare-faced makeup, entered the room and bowed deeply, her voice trembling with a feigned apology, "I'm here today to apologize to all of you. My actions had a negative impact on the company. I'm sorry-""You're overthinking it," Melanie coldly
"Who are you?"Daniel stood in front of Lena to protect his daughter but his arm was forcefully held by the bodyguards, causing him to wince in pain."We're sent by Mr. Brooks. Your daughter knows him," the sinister bodyguard declared."Michael Brooks?"Both Daniel and the shareholders present were stunned. Michael Brooks has been mentioned in multiple discussions in Jones Enterprise recently and Lena never mentioned knowing him. They wouldn't have gone through the trouble of seeking invitations to his party otherwise.Lena cowered in the background, her eyes filled with fear.Having subdued Daniel, the bodyguard behind him quickly advanced. He grabbed Lena and pulled her to the door. He stood in front of the shareholders in the conference room and the employees watching the commotion outside and shouted, "Lena disguised herself and infiltrated Mr. Brooks' party. She seduced Mr. Brooks first but attacked him at the party. How evil and detestable! Mr. Brooks has ordered us to ta
Melanie had a plan. When she returned to the dressing room, she found the gown and shoes labeled with her name and inspected the dress inside and out. However, she didn't find anything amiss.Melanie tried it on and felt nothing wrong, so she left.Only after seeing her in that dress did two women in the shadows breathe a sigh of relief and start talking."Do you think tampering with her dress was just loosening the shoulder straps or something?""I'm not that basic!"Another woman's voice, with a touch of arrogance, chuckled, "I stuck a nail in her shoe!""A nail? Won't she notice it quickly? What if she changes it before reaching the banquet hall?""I did it quite skillfully. I guarantee she'll feel the power of the nail bit by bit. It won't pierce the sole until it's time to dance. Then, let's see if Melanie can still be proud!" The woman triumphantly declared.Just as Jeffrey exited the elevator, he overheard the women's sinister plot. He narrowed his eyes, recalling th
"Lady Grace, Miss Jones is also one of our invited guests. You can't just..."The staff found themselves in a dilemma, sweating nervously."What? Can't handle it? Who is she anyway? I've never even seen her. She’s a nobody! If you can't solve this, I'll go home. I'll make your socialite gala lose its glamor!" Grace threatened.Several staff members noted that the gala would begin soon. Without a choice, they approached and asked Melanie, "Miss Jones, it's rather embarrassing but could you please change into another gown?"Looking at Grace's exquisite off-white gown in the dressing room, Melanie pretended to sigh reluctantly.After a pause, she said, "I understand your predicament. If it weren't for the importance of the gala, I wouldn't have given in to her whims.""What are you talking about? I want your clothes now! Take them off!" Grace insisted.Beside her, her butler discreetly tugged at her sleeve, reminding her in a hushed tone, "Lady Grae, it’s not good to make a commoti
Just then, the host exclaimed, "Let's give a warm welcome to the fashionably late—Mr. Stephen Morgan!""Welcome to the International Socialites Gala!"All eyes turned to the entrance as a tall and imposing man entered the scene. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. The custom-tailored suit he wore accentuated his perfect form.Morgan Group was a renowned international corporation led by Madam Morgan, who also chaired the gala. The Morgans rarely made public appearances. Stephen's unexpected presence added an exciting twist to this year's high-society event.The glamorous ladies in attendance were stirred up. Some who already had dance partners hastily abandoned them, eager to approach Stephen.Stephen, however, ignored the ladies vying for his attention and headed straight for Melanie. When he reached her, he extended a gentlemanly hand and said, "Miss Jones, would you care to dance?""Woah!"A small ripple of surprise echoed through the crowd. Stephen's arrival turned o
"Ugh."A sudden groan escaped Melanie's lips.Her left foot began to lose strength and her dance steps, guided by the man opposite her, were no longer as smooth as before.Melanie discreetly observed the two waitstaff, noting the delight on their faces. She knew her earlier assumptions were right.Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the man beside her furrowing his brows.His sturdy arms supported her, yet her left foot grew weaker with each step. Despite the hall's moderate temperature, small beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.He watched as the woman, despite evident discomfort, made every effort to match his dance steps. His gaze intensified.Just moments ago, he had contemplated spinning her around. But now as he gazed at her face, the curve of her mouth stirred his heart.With another turn in sync with the music, his Adam's apple bobbed and he lifted Melanie in a smooth movement."What are you doing?" Melanie said, shocked.The man must be insane! There are s
"In the banquet hall, there are a few waitstaff that's rather suspicious. Have your people follow them. You'll discover something unexpected," Melanie said."Why should I help you?" Stephen replied.She looked up, observing the slight raise of Stephen's eyebrow and the scrutinizing, bold look in his eyes. She wanted to say something sarcastic, but she restrained herself."In recent years, the relationship between the Duke of William and the Morgans has been rather complex. Your uncle desires cooperation for mutual benefit between the two families. The actions of those waitstaff involving Lady Grace might offend her family. Don't you think helping me with this small favor to salvage the outcome is worthwhile?" She explained.The man nearby narrowed his eyes slightly and gave a subtle signal. Without hesitation, someone approached and executed Melanie's instructions.Melanie felt satisfied as she stood up, extending her hand to him. "Let's head back to the hall," she said.The two
In his pursuit for Duke Wilhelm's investment, Frank had put his pride on the line countless times. The Duke eventually agreed, but with a condition—take good care of his daughter, the notorious Grace.However, Grace was known for her pickiness. They spent much time and money preparing her gown, but it was all ruined by a jealous socialite. "If you don't get Lady Grace's forgiveness, we'll not only involve the police but also expose your actions to the entire Harbor City. You and your family will have no standing there!" Frank issued a stern threat, "I suggest you apologize to Lady Grace right away!""Are you done with the lecture?"Remaining composed, Melanie responded, "Yes, Lady Grace's dress and shoes were originally mine. But it was Lady Grace who threatened the staff and forced me to exchange outfits with her. Evidence is in the surveillance footage. You're all welcome to watch it."Grace was about to retaliate when her butler quickly reminded her to be mindful of her attitu