Julian deliberately glanced at the time after Nancy arrived at the company. "It took you almost an hour to get here. Do you take my words as..."He was about to hold Nancy accountable, but he paused when he looked up and saw that Nancy had one foot wrapped in thick gauze. Moreover, she only managed to keep herself upright by holding on to the wall."So you weren't lying when you said you were hurt?""Of course not! I love myself too much ever to do something like stabbing my foot with glass just to skip work. My foot hurts so much that I didn't really get much sleep last night. Not to mention, it's very hard for me to get around with only one foot. So it's not too much to ask for a day off, right?" complained Nancy.Julian rolled his eyes at her and said, "A simple yes or no to the question would have sufficed. Okay, you can go back now that I know you weren't lying."Nancy was speechless. 'Did he really just tell me to go home when he was the one who insisted I come here?'As mu
'Oh my god! Julian went to a hotel with another woman? I should just pretend I didn't see it!' thought Nancy.Nancy pulled Harvey away so they could quickly leave before Julian noticed them. That was certainly one embarrassment she wanted to avoid.Unfortunately, she was not fast enough. Julian managed to overtake her from behind before she could even take a few steps forward. He even deliberately threw something at her when he was walking past her.Nancy was so shocked that she froze on the spot. She looked down and found a beautifully packaged lunch box. However, the delicate packaging was shattered by the fall, and everything inside ended up spilling all over the ground."Are you okay?" asked Harvey."Yeah. Good thing it didn't manage to hit me…" said Nancy.Even though there was a trash can next to Nancy, she could not help but feel Julian purposely threw the lunch box in front of Nancy instead of the trash can.She looked up to see that Julian had already walked away. It se
Nancy kept wondering who the culprit could be while walking out of the security room. 'She must be someone from the company. But what makes her hate me so much? It's one thing to put glass shards in my shoes, but another to try to take my life with the vase!'While deep in thought, Nancy was about to get into the elevator when someone called out to her, "Excuse me, Miss. But you can't take that elevator.""What?""That elevator is out of order. You have to use the other one," reminded the cleaning lady. With a broom in one hand, she then picked up a safety sign with her other to put in front of the out-of-order elevator. "We've already contacted the mechanic to come fix it.""Alright. Thanks for letting me know," said Nancy. After that, she got into the other elevator, and who happened to be there but Taya!"What are you doing here?" Nancy asked Taya. She thought it was weird to bump into her there because Taya and Yaacob did not work in that building."Mr. Getson has a meeting h
The government had dispatched three of their personnel to meet with Yaacob, which was more than his other competitors. In fact, the other competitors had to submit their proposals to compete for the bid.The reason Getson Corporation received preferential treatment was because the government was interested in reaching a deal with Asia's largest enterprise. The government wanted to set aside a piece of land to build a new commercial and cultural center, and they had set their sights on working with Getson Corporation for the project.Thus, they were understandably upset that Yaacob kept them waiting for thirty minutes in the conference room. When the three government personnel walked out of the elevator, they could not help but complain."Well, that certainly was a waste of our time!" said one of them."I heard Yaacob just came back from studying abroad. He has great foresight and skills in doing business, but it seems he's just full of hot air! He doesn't even have basic manners!"
While accompanying Lola for an examination, Nancy reflected on how she had learned to lie in order to survive. She clearly hated such hypocrites in the past!However, after thinking about it, she comforted herself by saying that someone had caused Yaacob a setback in the first place, and what they did later was just to correct it. Moreover, she was sure Yaacob would do his absolute best should he win the right to the project, so it was a win-win situation for everyone.'So it's not wrong to sometimes manipulate others in order to protect myself, right? Of course, I'll never do it if it causes someone else harm or if it's illegal…' thought Nancy.Nancy already had someone in mind who was the culprit that caused Yaacob to be trapped in the elevator. After all, she only needed to consider who would benefit the most from Yaacob missing the meeting.The workday was almost over by the time Nancy got back to the company. She knew there would be consequences for skipping work, but she did
That night, Nancy was so bored in the hospital that she decided to play on her phone. First, she logged into her Twitter, but she logged out again two minutes later.She felt that the posts on Twitter were becoming more and more hostile. She would often come across posts with inexplicable malice, making it no longer fun to read.Thus, she played Candy Crush and Angry Birds for a while.Nancy had always been very loyal. She would continue to play a game she liked even if they were no longer popular. She had downloaded those games when she first bought her mobile phone.However, she had to admit that they did get more and more boring over time. Thus, she quit the game and proceeded to text Yvonne on WhatsApp.[Damn, I really didn't realize Julian would actually be a violent maniac. The last time we attended a party, he was still a sponsor. From a distance, I thought he looked like a calm and collected company president. There were many starlets around who tried to hook up with him,
It was apparent, from the phone call the night before, that the only reason Emily came to see Nancy was to threaten her into giving Yaacob up.Emily was expecting some pushback from Nancy, but the latter just nodded and said, "Okay." Her reaction confused Emily. She looked at Nancy suspiciously as if she did not believe what she just heard. 'Shouldn't she at least kick up a fuss?'"I said okay. Can you leave now?" Nancy emphasized again."I don't believe you." Emily crossed her arms and sat there with no intention of moving.It seemed that she had come prepared to fire a few shots at her, and she would leave until she had at least fired a couple."What do you want me to do then?""The easiest way to prove that you have no intention of getting back together with Yaacob is to leave this city. He and I will go to Europe soon. Before that, I don't want you pestering him. Of course, we won't be coming back here after we get married and settle down there. So you can come back here th
Nancy woke up two hours later to find herself in the backseat of a van with her hands tied behind her back.There were two other men in the car with her; one was driving, and the other was sitting in the passenger seat.Nancy did not dare to make a sound; then, she heard the two men talking."How much longer?" asked the man sitting in the passenger seat anxiously."Another thirty minutes and we should be there," said the man driving."Hurry up. The drug may be wearing off soon.""What are you worrying about? Even if she wakes up, she can't take on two grown men by herself. We won't need to be afraid of her man after we're out of Athenapolis. If he finds her missing, then he'll probably look for her near the hospital. By the time he finished searching the entire city, we'd have taken her to a place he'll never be able to find," said the driver in a confident tone. 'Sh*t! They're taking me away from Athenapolis to a place where Yaacob will never find me?' thought Nancy with shock
Yaacob stayed in Nancy and Celica's house in Rhea City for a month without leaving.After sending Celica to kindergarten, Yaacob sent Nancy to the company.Nancy always asked him to stop the car two streets away from the company, but that day, Yaacob went a bit further, and she started to get anxious. "Stop the car, quick. Stop going forward. It's the peak hour right now. I can't let anyone see me."Yaacob stopped the car, but he did not unlock the door.He lowered the top of the convertible and asked her, "Is being with me that embarrassing to you?""I'm not with you. This is just a transaction!" Nancy insisted.She could not open the door and noticed that Yaacob had locked it. When she went to unlock it, her hand was pushed down by the man."Don't I make you happy? Is Celica unhappy? Don't you enjoy every night that we're together? You clearly have me in your heart, but why do you keep denying it? Nancy, what happened to your boldness and carefree spirit? Who do you want to im
Nancy had just stopped at Athenapolis to pick up some things she had left with Benson's friends when they had stayed there.She had also wanted to congratulate Rowena and Randall on their marriage and to apologize for not being able to attend their wedding.However, the next day, she could not get up at all.Fearing another intense night like the one before, she decided to book a flight to Rhea City that afternoon.The moment she sat on the plane, Nancy almost collapsed in her seat. Her lower back was aching.When she shut her eyes, her head was inexplicably flooded with certain images.It was like she was under a spell!"Ms., the flight is about to take off. Please switch off your phones," the flight attendant told Nancy.Nancy remembered that she had already turned off her phone.However, she turned around to see Celica looking at her phone unhappily."Sorry."Nancy switched off Celica's phone, but she did not seem happy about it. "Mommy… will Uncle Yaacob call me?""Even
After half a year, Nancy finally returned from America with Celica.Celica held Nancy's hand in one hand and a cat plushie that was almost half her size in another.As soon as they walked out of the VIP channel, Celica's sharp eyes immediately spotted the man who had come to pick them up. She abandoned her plushie as she rushed to him, hands outstretched and waiting to be carried."Uncle Yaacob! Uncle Yaacob!""Celica, don't run so fast!"Nancy could not stop her and could only follow behind, picking up the plushie along with some candy that had dropped from her pocket as she ran.Yaacob hurried forward and immediately scooped Celica up. He smelled the sweet scent of candy."Uncle Yaacob…"Celica hugged Yaacob, nuzzling her head against his. The fine and soft hair that was unique to a child warmed Yaacob's heart.It had been two years, but she had not forgotten him!It seemed like her memory was better than expected. She had probably gotten it from him.Of course, it was als
Randall and Rowena went to the same motel they had the last time.The boss remembered them as the ones who had broken his window, but he did not give them a hard time, warmly welcoming them instead.After all, the money that Randall had given him for it had been enough to replace the windows of the whole building. This time, Randall flexed his financial might again. He pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet and put it on the counter. "Boss, we want an entire floor.""Sir, do you want one room or two?""The whole floor!"Hearing what Randall said, Rowena looked at him in amazement. "Why so many rooms?""Have you forgotten how bad the soundproofing is here?" Randall replied.Rowena was speechless.The hotel owner was a veteran of this. He immediately put the money into the counter drawer and said, "Okay, I'll give you a key to a room on the third floor. I'll go knock on every door to clear the floor out right now. I assure you that you'll have an enjoyable night!"Rowena fel
"How absurd!"Randall's words were not meant to demean her. He just felt that it was too dangerous for the child to be there.Rowena, however, felt like she was being blamed for no reason."Why are you in a restaurant with this girl in the middle of the night?" Rowena asked Randall.Randall did not answer. He walked forward to help secure Dorothy before he took the dangerous weapon off her hands."Rowena, you should bring Sandy back for now."Rowena did not move."It's too dangerous for the both of you to be here. Listen to me!" Randall told her.Rowena did not respond. Instead, it was Dorothy who spoke: "Mr. Smith, why do you think she can just come and go as she pleases? I already told my subordinates that not even a fly is allowed out."Even though Rowena had been captured, she knew that they would not be able to walk free if anything happened to her so the man would not touch her so easily."Mrs. Browning, you just wanted to talk with me."Dorothy really liked talking to
Dorothy and Randall found themselves in a standoff. Suddenly, a hushed report from her subordinate reached Dorothy's ears. "Someone's outside, claiming to have information on Mr. Randall.""Who? Could it be that Yaacob has returned earlier than expected?" Dorothy, determined to prevail over Randall that night, insisted, "Don't let him in; I can't believe he would just barge in!""It's not Mr. Randall. It's a woman, accompanied by a child." The subordinate hesitated before providing more details.Rowena, who had given birth just four months ago, had swiftly regained her pre-pregnancy figure. She wore a navy blue striped shirt knotted at the waist, paired with snug jeans, showing no signs of her previous pregnancy. From behind, she looked slender and youthful, resembling a young girl. Yet, in front, she cradled a baby.The infant, only three or four months old, sported a hat with a few wisps of hair peeking out and a pacifier. The child's intelligent eyes darted around, exploring the
Four months later, the impending presidential election heightened the tension in Athenapolis. Harrison, eyeing reelection, aspired to forge an alliance with the Browning family and assimilate the Getson Group.Simultaneously, at this critical juncture, Yaacob had already partnered with Tom. He opted to collaborate with Yaacob after his unsuccessful bid to become part of the Browning family. Both were cunning strategists with centuries of experience, making their alliance arguably the most formidable.Tom, with backing from overseas financial giants, had a complex and mysterious identity. However, his requirements from Yaacob were surprisingly straightforward. He sought to use Yaacob to advance his political standing.On the flip side, Yaacob needed Tom's support to solidify his position within the Getson family, ensuring it remained stable. The previous presidential transition in Athenapolis had resulted in bloodshed and political turmoil, claiming Xander's life.This time, Randall
Lola pondered her predicament, finding her situation undesirable. She was infertile and struggling to establish stability despite numerous relationships. Her benefactor stood idly by as the original wife attacked her, too hesitant to intervene. After that day, Athenapolis no longer offered a solid ground for Lola.Dorothy sternly cautioned Lola, vowing to teach her a lesson whenever they crossed paths. Leaving Mr. Randall did not lead to greener pastures for Lola. She remained destitute. Rowena, the source of her misfortune, was to blame.Life with Randall had been tolerable. He never mistreated her, though love was absent. However, everything changed when Rowena reappeared. Witnessing Rowena's pregnancy with Randall intensified Lola's resentment, fueling an intense hatred. She harbored a fervent wish for Rowena and the unborn child to die!Lola understood that only Rowena's demise could rekindle hope for her. Unfortunately, Lola was uncertain about the vast power imbalance be
Having finally brought Rowena home, Randall became an aspiring intern dad. Opting against hiring a nanny, he naturally assumed the responsibility of caring for his pregnant wife.He would juggle the demands of running the company and handling household matters. Randall appeared fatigued, yet those with keen observation could discern a tired but content expression on his face. Lately, a newfound joy, previously unseen, frequently illuminated his features—the anticipation of becoming a father.During a visit to the hospital, a woman seated beside Rowena observed her pregnant belly and initiated a conversation, "Your belly is quite prominent. When are you due?""In about a month," Rowena replied."That's wonderful! Congratulations! I saw you during one of my check-ups. Is the man accompanying you each time your husband?" Others looked on with envy, expressing, "My husband isn't as involved. No matter how many times I ask, he never joins me for the appointment."Rowena remained silent