"If I had insisted, it would prove that I had set this up." Xander massaged his temples."But I think Mr. Fulton Senior is very happy with Ms. Lewis dating you," said Hazel.Xander's face darkened. He didn't express any opinions on that."He's already supporting Jake. When Jake returns from Pamore, this project will be a crucial step in his promotion. By then, there might be another director added to the Fulton Group's board."Hazel was astonished. "Is it a dead end?""He doesn't know the difference between me going to Pamore and staying in Fulton Group. As long as I'm here, I won't let him have this opportunity."It was already nighttime in Frenda when Xander left the company and went to Hestia's place.When the housekeeper opened the door and saw him, she excitedly called out, "Mr. Xander, you're back."Xander raised a finger to signal her to keep it down. He then took off his coat. "Where's my mom?""She's in the living room, having a video call with Ms. Lewis."As he walk
Upon hearing that, Hestia asked, "Are you blaming me, Xander?""I didn't mean that.""I can't help it. I hate him whenever I think about how he betrayed our marriage and had a child with another woman. "I just hate them so much that I wish they were dead. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even see him again."Hestia gritted her teeth, unable to control her trembling.Xander understood that these years of deception and compromise had been hard for Hestia. He held her hand and said wearily, "I understand. Leave it to me. I'll handle it.""I’m sorry that you can't do what you want because of me. You can't be in charge of Futurelink and can't reunite with Grace." Hestia looked at him with a sense of guilt.She knew Xander had not had an easy time in both his career and relationship these past few years.Raymond was right about something."If it's true love, we don't have to be constantly together." Getting up, Xander said, "Grace is not a petty person."Back in the bedroom, he t
Xander had never overslept. Early in the morning, as he was putting on his coat, the housekeeper knocked on the door. "Ms. Yale is here."Hazel stood in the villa's living room. She was carrying files in her arms.Hestia invited her for tea, so she drank politely and didn't overstep. She had been doing this for the past few years.Hestia appreciated her. "You've been with Xander since he joined the company. At that time, there were many elites, and quite a few pretty ladies among them threw themselves at him. Do you know why I chose you?"Hazel respectfully said, "I dare not speculate on your thoughts, Madam Fulton, but I am curious about why I stood out.""Those people were too ambitious. They had too many ideas and wanted to achieve too much. Only you simply stood there with both honor and disgrace. I like that."Hestia rarely praised someone. But over these years, Hazel had indeed passed the test.Pleased, Hazel smiled and said, "Thank you for your praise, Madam Fulton. But I
Hazel glared at the lady. "How dare you have your eyes on Mr. Fulton?""I didn't mean that. Everyone says Mr. Fulton is cool and poised. I just want to see it for myself. I would never dare to covet Mr. Fulton in front of you, Ms. Yale."The lady's words were filled with hidden meaning. She was trying to please Hazel.Xander avoided women and had no scandals. If there were any rumors, they were about his closest secretary, Hazel.They said that the reason Xander maintained a clean image was because he already had Hazel.Xander ignored these rumors. But over time, it became the unspoken truth among those people."Don't talk nonsense," Hazel scolded, but she didn't directly deny it. "If the higher-ups find out, they'll skin you alive."Curiously, the lady grabbed Hazel's arm. "Ms. Yale, what type of woman does Mr. Fulton prefer?"Hazel squinted her eyes, involuntarily recalling Grace—proud and beautiful."That's not something you should be asking."…On the other hand, Grace h
Since it was a place where social events were held, it naturally involved women and alcohol.The room was filled with alluring music, and beautiful women stood in a row.Hazel bent down to pour a drink for Sean. "I've heard a lot about you, Mr. Brooke. I finally got to meet you today. You truly live up to your name. Let me make a toast to you."With a gentle expression, Sean pushed the glass away with a smile. "Xander came in person. This drink should be for him."Hazel hesitated and looked at the man behind her.Though Xander's eyes flashed with a cold glint, his expression remained respectful. He took the glass. "Mr. Brooke is my senior. All things considered, I should be drinking this."He downed the full glass of whiskey.Sean clapped his hands approvingly. "Xander, I have to say, Jake is doing better than you in recent years."To reach his current position as Fulton Group's president, Xander had stepped on numerous people and brushed aside many personal relationships. Se
Xander nodded.Hazel's heart was pounding like a drum. She feared he might act impulsively, but she also wanted to see how far he would go for her. She remained silent for quite some time.After a while, Xander said with a darkened face, "I've reviewed the contract Jake signed with you. He offered you a 30% profit margin. I'll be the boss today. I can offer you 40%. As long as you're happy."The 10% increase in the profit margin shocked Hazel.Sean's pupils contracted slightly. He hadn't expected Xander to be so generous."You'll be the boss? Do you know what that means?"Xander's smile reappeared. "I know. Consider it compensation for my foolishness all these years. Will you forgive me?"At this point, Sean was somewhat shaken.Xander had given him enough respect today. Of course, as Xander's senior, he could act arrogantly, but he knew when to stop. If he went too far, it wouldn't end well.After a moment, Sean laughed heartily and released Hazel. "It seems you do cherish
Hazel's gaze was intense. "So are the women you had me train.""They willingly sell their bodies for profit. It's a fair trade. You're different. You signed a work contract with me, so I have an obligation to ensure your safety."Xander's tone was firm, just like when he was talking about business."Besides, over the years, I did offend Sean. That 10% profit margin can be as my compensation."This was within Hazel's expectations, but she couldn't help feeling a sense of disappointment.Xander picked up his phone. He still had not received a response to the message he had sent Grace.His agitation intensified.Just then, a phone call came in. He squinted as he answered, "Hi, Aaron.""Where's Grace? I can't reach her on her phone. It's already late. You guys should know when to part." Aaron's voice wasn't particularly serious. It even had a hint of a teasing tone.Victor chimed in from the side. "What's wrong with the couple spending a little more time together? Grace is not a l
At this moment, Peter released his grip and stood straight on the side. "Mr. Fulton."Sean trembled as he climbed off the couch. "You bitch, how dare you hit me? Xander, is this how your people handle things?"His head was bleeding. Half of his face was covered in blood, making him look terrifying.However, Xander didn't even glance at him. Instead, he walked over to Grace in the corner and slowly crouched down. He reached out his trembling hand. "Gracie."Grace had been holding back her emotions this whole time. When she saw Xander, she broke down at once. Tears streamed down her face."I don't know him."Xander lifted her face. It was so cold that it pierced his heart."I know. I'm here now. Calm down."Seeing this, Sean’s eyes widened. "Y-You know each other? Xander, you set me up!"Just then, the manager rushed over with people. When he saw the scene, he knew the situation was bad. "Mr. Fulton, this happened because of our negligence."Upon closer inspection, Grace's frai
"Well, it's just that since Mrs. Jarvis introduced me to Ms. Lewis last time, I haven't had the chance to say thanks."The elevator doors opened then, and Dexter left after saying this.…After two hours of emergency treatment, Diana clung to a thread of life. Grace walked out, exhausted, and saw the angry figure of Dexter.Coincidentally, Dexter saw her as well. He turned and called out to her, "Ms. Lewis."Dexter, known for being stern and upright, suddenly smiled, which surprised Grace. "Mr. Hamilton.""You don't need to address me like that outside of work. Just call me by my name."As he had a higher seniority than her, Grace didn't dare be casual. "Are you here visiting a patient?"The weather was nice today. Standing in the sunlight, Grace's complexion was shining, seemingly hovering between youthfulness and freshness. She seemed even more beautiful than the flowers.Dexter suddenly recalled something Orson had said, and his expression darkened momentarily."I must ask
"Mr. Fulton, this.."The guard looked hesitantly at Benjamin lying on the ground and frowned."Isn't this a hospital? He won't die."As Xander said this, he coincidentally met the gaze of a nearby doctor. The doctor flinched and instinctively took a step back."Xander—" Benjamin's call suddenly came from behind as Xander took a step forward."Even if you deal with me, can you handle Alexander?"Benjamin's voice was filled with resentment and self-mockery. He lay flat on his back on the ground, staring at the ceiling. "My elder brother seems to avoid fighting, but if he does, you're no match for him."Xander paused momentarily, then continued to walk away without looking back or responding.Hazel followed closely. "Benjamin doesn't seem to be joking. Could there be a backup plan?""Someone needs to take over to completely deal with the Hawkins family. Let's see if the eldest son of the Hawkins family is willing to step up."As Xander entered the elevator, he coincidentally met
At the entrance, the police saw what was happening and moved to intervene but were stopped. A signal to hold back was given. "Don't worry. Mr. Fulton won't cause any fatalities.""Especially since you dared to make a move against Grace." Xander gave a cold laugh. "She spent a few days in prison, so I'll make sure you repay that a thousand times over.""Xander—"Grace brought this on herself. She even dared to investigate the Hawkins family, to dig into the past of the previous Mrs. Hawkins, to investigate Alexander!" Benjamin endured the pain he felt and was on the verge of a breakdown. "By the way, do you know who Alexander is? And the person he loves the most."Xander's face turned ashen, and he applied more force, causing Benjamin to scream in agony."If you were in my position, you would do the same." Benjamin struggled to speak. "Besides, don't you want Alexander to disappear? Don't you want Grace to be yours and only yours?"Xander remained silent, looking around disdainful
A commotion broke out again outside the hospital room. At the same moment, the medical equipment started beeping urgently. Reina's face turned pale with fright as she threw herself onto Diana. "Di Di! Doctor! Someone come quickly!"In a panic, Grace rushed out and pounded on Cael's office door. "Bed 24, Dr. Simpson! Di Di is not doing well!"Cael immediately hurried over with the nurses.Grace was pushed into a corner by the crowd. She leaned against the wall, her face filled with melancholy. This scene did not escape the eyes of someone hidden in a corner, who also felt a sense of wistfulness.She didn't notice the figure cast long shadows in the light, with her being the sole focus in their view.…Meanwhile, in another building, police stood guard at the hospital room door where Benjamin was confined. His face was haggard and unshaven, and he no longer looked like the well-dressed Benjamin Hawkins.Instead, he resembled a prisoner.Before entering, Xander asked, "What's the
"If it were as usual, working for these wealthy families would keep money in my hands. But after Di Di's incident, our whole family got crushed. Her father wanted to give up, but I couldn't, so we divorced.""When I worked at the Hawkins family, both Mr. Hawkins and Mrs. Hawkins treated me well. Mrs. Hawkins knew about Di Di's situation and kept giving me money, but it was never enough. One day, I accidentally stumbled upon Mr. Hawkins having an affair with Susan…"Reina recalled the past with a look of melancholy on her face. "Susan gave me hush money and promised another payment if I did something for her."Grace had a hunch after hearing this. "She wanted you to frame Mrs. Hawkins, who was pregnant at the time.""I didn't want to." Reina shook her head, clearly pained. "But I have a daughter. I couldn't lose Di Di. I needed that money."Even as a mother herself, she could actually harm Felicia Wilson, Alexander's mother."The Hawkins family is wealthy. If you had told Mrs. Haw
Grace thought about it. So that's what happened."So you had someone beat him up?""I forgot to ask. Which hand did he touch you with?" Xander asked seriously.She thought for a moment. "The left hand? I can't remember exactly.""No problem. Both hands were hit," Xander said casually as if discussing the weather. Grace remembered the content of that video. Orson was clearly heavily injured and beaten mercilessly.Luckily, he got what he deserved. Xander had fiercely avenged her.The coat slipped off, revealing her outfit for the day. Xander glanced at it and said, "You're going out."Grace didn't deny it. She thought of today's matter with Celia. "Benjamin was released for medical treatment. I want to see him."Since it had come to this point, a meeting with him was reasonable.Xander leaned back on the couch, not speaking for a moment, his jaw clenched tight. He seemed to be contemplating something, or perhaps he was angry.Grace couldn't be sure, but she was resolute. "I
An hour later, Xander concluded the negotiations, with the partnership successfully sealed and the contract signed that day.He personally escorted the clients to the elevator and then returned to his office. Hazel approached cautiously with a cup of coffee. "Mr. Fulton.""Speak." Xander didn't look up from his documents."Ms. Lewis came by."He looked up at Hazel, his expression shifting. "Where is she?""She wanted to see you directly, but since the contract wasn't finalized, I didn't dare let her in to disturb you, so I…""I asked where she is."His gaze was icy, cutting her off mid-sentence.Hazel immediately lowered her head. "She's in the lounge."He stood up abruptly and headed straight for the lounge, leaving a stern warning, "If you take matters into your own hands again, resign."Hazel was left stunned.Grace hadn't left. Exhausted from the sleepless night, she lay on Futurelink's large couch, lost in thought.When Xander entered, he saw her fragile figure, as if
"What is it?""Ms. Lewis, I just received news that Orson from the municipal bureau is in trouble…"Grace's expression changed. She had just seen him last night. How could something have happened so suddenly? Her first thought was of Xander.Luke sent her a video.It was night time In the video, the street outside a bar was brightly lit, and neon signs flashed from the tall buildings. The place was bustling with people. The videographer had been capturing the night scene when suddenly, the sound of roaring engines was heard—Orson stepped out of a car, dressed formally, and entered a club discreetly. But within minutes, he was kicked out, landing heavily on the ground.Approaching him were five or six masked men in black, clearly part of an organized group of thugs. Orson screamed in fear, "Who are you?"Two men grabbed him, while the others began beating him badly. His screams echoed through the street, and it was clear they were showing no mercy.Blood pooled on the ground.
With nothing better to do, Grace nodded. "Let's watch."Caleb led her out the door.The leading actress of the film they were heading to was a friend of Caleb's in the industry, which allowed him to visit the set under the guise of catching up. As their car parked at the entrance, they saw a throng of reporters pushing their way inside.Celia wore a hat and mask. She was dragging a suitcase, and she looked disheveled and desperate. "You can't fire me! I'm the second female lead! The film is almost finished! You're breaching the contract!""You caused a scandal. That's the real breach of contract. It's a good thing we're not asking you for damage compensation! Get out, get out!"The staff were shoving her out.Reporters swarmed her. "Celia, how do you respond to the video online?""Is it true you have a sugar daddy?""Celia, Celia!""Shut up!" Celia screamed, her hair a mess. "It's fake, all fake! I'm an actress, how could I do such things?""But the video…"Celia lashed out,