Dexter's frustration was evident as he placed his hands on his hips and took a few quick strides before saying through gritted teeth, "She's also a friend of Julian's. Is there an issue with her wanting to congratulate him and his wife?"The banquet began shortly. Angela sat next to Dexter, silently checking her phone every now and then, hoping time would speed up.As the newlyweds made their rounds to toast everyone, Angela managed to force a smile."Well, well, well. If it isn't Angela. What a rare sight!" Julian remarked with a hint of genuine surprise in his tone, as if seeing her there was something out of the ordinary.After all, he had never seen Dexter bring her to any important events in the past few years."Congratulations on your marriage," Angela smiled faintly and said no more."Hello, Ms. Graham." At this moment, the bride reached out her hand first.Angela was a little surprised but still smiled and shook her hand, feeling that she had seen this woman somewhere be
Dexter released a lengthy breath. "Don't speak of such nonsense."Looking at him intently, Julian said, "Hey, remember when you told me I understood you better than anyone else? Have you forgotten about that? I can probably figure out how you're feeling right now. "Angela's been making strides, and it seems like she's slipping out of your grasp. That must be unsettling for you, huh? You want to hold on to her, but it feels like you can't."Dexter didn't say anything."Given your current state, perhaps it's best to take a moment and relax. Why don't I lend you a hand?" Julian's eyes lit up as if he'd just thought of something.Angela and Bella were engaged in lively conversation off to the side. Julian approached them, holding two glasses of wine, and asked, "May I offer you ladies a drink?"Angela hesitated. After all, Julian had just been chatting with Dexter. Who knew what they'd been discussing?However, he didn't clarify which glass was intended for whom. Surely he wouldn't
Angela's eyes were bloodshot from the fever, and her arms were burning hot."Dexter, it's all your fault. Don't think I don't know what you've done. You drugged me! Dexter, you despicable man! How could you be so mean? I hate you!" Angela was so dazed that she could hardly open her eyes. She could only vaguely see figures moving around in front of her. Dexter was right beside her.A group of doctors and nurses were present, having heard every word of her reprimands directed at him. The atmosphere became awkward for everyone, and a dark expression painted Dexter's face."I apologize, sir. There has been a sudden influx of patients, and all the rooms are currently occupied. You will have to receive the IV here," stated the nurse politely.With no other option, they both settled down in the corridor.Dexter maintained a rigid posture as he sat. Angela tilted her head and rested it on his shoulder as if she were on the verge of collapsing.Dexter felt an ache in his heart as he gaz
The group turned to face her, their expressions filled with concern.Angela was the pillar of the group, and without her, they would be lost. They couldn't afford for anything to happen to her.But Angela regained her composure and let out a hearty laugh. "Do I look like something's wrong? I'm perfectly fine. When the results are announced later, no matter how we place, none of us should feel down about it."Everyone nodded in agreement.When they arrived at the venue, half of the competitors were already there, chatting quietly amongst themselves. The judges soon joined them and wasted no time in announcing the rankings of the competition, forgoing any unnecessary words or small talk."Oh my goodness!" Alan exclaimed when he saw Angela's name. "Angela, you're first! That's incredible; you definitely earned it!"The others were equally amazed and expressed their surprise. Angela gestured for everyone to calm down with her eyes; she had also seen her own name at the top.She lo
Angela was surprised when she saw how distressed Fiona looked on the video call. After all, the latter had worked in the PR department for many years and had seen her fair share of crises. Angela wondered what could be causing such turmoil."Don't mind her," Dexter interjected in a deep tone. "It's just a minor issue that will resolve on its own soon enough. They're making a big deal out of nothing."But Angela couldn't help feeling helpless, especially after seeing how calm Dexter was acting. "She must really be desperate if she's begging you to come back. Maybe it's something only you can handle. Besides, you don't have much to do here anyways, so why not put everyone's mind at ease by going back?"As soon as she finished speaking, Dexter lifted his head slowly to meet her gaze. His eyes were like the bottom of the ocean—dark, mysterious, and intimidating."Do you want me to leave that badly?" His question caught her off guard.Angela reached for a cherry on the coffee table,
The driver didn't respond. Everyone woke up, including Angela.After a brief moment of calm contemplation, she spoke in a hushed tone, "If money is what you want, I can give it to you. If this is about revenge, please don't involve the others."She worried she was the reason for the danger they were facing. She didn't want anyone else to get hurt.The man with the black baseball cap let out a cold laugh and replied, "You'll find out soon enough. Don't even think about attacking me. I have a bomb on me that could turn this car into dust."Clara's voice trembled as she hugged Angela's arm tightly, asking, "What do we do now?"At that moment, Angela became the backbone of the group once again. She forced herself to remain calm and keep her true emotions hidden. She reached into her bag for her phone, ready to call for help, but realized there was no signal at all. There must be a signal jammer in the car.Angela's voice was sharp and icy as she asked, "So, what do you want?"Nobo
Angela spoke with indifference, as if she had already figured everything out, "So Marcus has an illegitimate child," she stated flatly.The man's face seemed to shift slightly, but then he raised his eyebrows. "Correct. And what else?"Angela shook her head. "All I know is that my in-laws have a strained relationship. Other than that, I'm clueless. And by the way, you just addressed me as Angela. So obviously, you know about Dexter and the Bamford family's affairs. "As for detaining me, I can only assume something has happened to you or someone close to you and you need money urgently. Plus, you can also make the Bamford family look bad, which would probably be a satisfying outcome." The man let out a hearty laugh at her calm demeanor. "That's quite clever; no wonder you're—""And what's your name?" Angela interrupted, raising an eyebrow.She couldn't believe it. She wondered how angry Fiona would be if she found out her husband had been cheating on her so blatantly. She might
Trevor yelled, "Take her away!"Angela was trapped in a small, cramped room measuring about ten square meters. The only way she could see outside was through a tiny window. Every day, someone would bring her just enough food to keep her alive, but no one would tell her what was happening beyond those walls."Hey! How much longer are you going to keep me locked up?" Angela grabbed the hand of the person at the door and demanded answers.It was a pale-skinned maid. She quickly pulled away and ran off in a panic. Looking at the biscuit that had fallen on the ground, Angela's mind raced with worry—not for herself but for Clara and others who might be suffering at the hands of their captors.Another day went by. In the late evening, at around 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm, they finally let her out."You're incredibly fortunate. Someone has come to rescue you," Trevor said in a hoarse voice as he slouched on the couch.Angela was taken aback by his appearance—in just three days, he had lost a s
At night, Genevieve took a sleep-aid medication and fell into a deep slumber. Meanwhile, Austin wandered around the manor with Angela.The courtyard, featuring a garden, lawn, lake, forest, and horse stable, was illuminated by the peaceful light of the stars and moon, creating a dreamy atmosphere. To her surprise, behind the small forest near the horse stable, there was a secluded wooden cabin filled with various painting tools and art supplies.Angela couldn't help but recall the countless times she had casually mentioned that if she ever became wealthy, she would buy a vast manor. Then, she would fill the estate with trees and build a small wooden cabin among the trees, decorating it just the way she had always dreamed. Back then, Angela had still been a somewhat naive woman, indulging in romantic fantasies. However, after going through a difficult marriage and the stress that followed, she had long forgotten her past dreams."Do you like it?" Austin asked.Angela was briefl
Angela couldn't help but feel a bit nervous and uncertain. The last time she had painted was months ago during a livestream session. Though she still remembered what Genevieve and Austin had taught her, she worried that her rusty hands would fail her, earning her a scolding. "Ms. Lawson, what should I paint?" Angela asked as she spread out the canvas and carefully arranged the paints. Genevieve took a small sip of tea, sighing with gentle exasperation. "Why are you still so indecisive? Just paint whatever you feel like. As long as it makes you happy, that's all that matters." Angela shook her head with a wry smile. After that, she began sketching. She was capturing this very moment, with Genevieve sitting by the bed, gazing at her lovingly.Time passed slowly as Angela painted in silence, while Genevieve quietly admired her. She was calm and gentle.On the surveillance feed, Austin watched the scene with a complex expression, feeling conflicted.Elias stared intently at th
Elias and Austin clearly had a good relationship. He was extremely dedicated and responsible.As they reached the upper floor, a loud, furious roar came from the south-facing bedroom. "Get out, all of you! Who are you? Stop staying in my room!"Hearing that voice, Angela couldn't hold back any longer. She started crying again. It was Genevieve's familiar, slightly aged voice.At that moment, two maids rushed out in a panic. A loud thud followed from inside the room as if something had been thrown to the floor.Upon seeing Austin, the maids turned pale with fear, momentarily at a loss for words. After all, they knew that Austin cared deeply for Genevieve and wouldn't allow anyone to mistreat her."You can go now," Austin instructed, waving the two maids away calmly. Then, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.Angela followed closely behind. The moment she entered, her eyes fell on a middle-aged woman crouched in the corner, trembling with fear. She was thin, her hair strea
Austin watched the scene in silence, his expression unreadable. Though he remained indifferent, his fists clenched ever so tightly.Angela walked over, closing the transparent umbrella. "Austin, let's go."Her fingers tightened around the handle, her knuckles pale, and her lips had lost all color. It was an undeniable sign of exhaustion and weakness. "Let's go." Austin reached out to take the umbrella, but she didn't hand it over. Instead, she silently brushed past him and headed toward the airport. A faint pain stirred in his chest as he watched her stubborn figure disappear into the distance. Only now did he truly realize that she was no longer the same person she used to be.After an eight-hour flight, they landed in Yedren. Another exhausting ten-plus hours by car brought them to a remote, almost isolated town on Yedren's border. Unlike Yedren's bustling cities, this place offered beautiful natural landscapes, with mountains on one side and the sea on the other.The to
Angela was completely taken aback, puzzled by the meaning behind his words. For a brief moment, she found herself at a loss for how to reply.Dexter looked into her eyes, showing a hint of tenderness. Suddenly, he softly brushed his fingers through her messy hair and sighed quietly. His voice was gentle, tinged with an unmistakable hint of vulnerability. "I don't want to see you struggle.""You…" Angela hesitated, her gaze softening with a hint of heartache."I'm not someone who falls in love easily. And I believe you're the same. So, go handle your own matters first. As for us… We can talk about it later." He smiled sincerely.Angela's entire body tensed as if she had been hit, leaving her feeling broken. She couldn't believe that he could be this direct and understanding. That wasn't like him at all.She had never imagined facing such a difficult choice. Seeing Genevieve was something she had to do. Yet, Dexter had also become someone she couldn't bear to part with. Feeling
When Angela woke up, the room was utterly silent. She felt like she was being held in someone's embrace, a weight pressing on her chest, making her uncomfortable. "You're up?" Dexter's deep voice, filled with satisfaction, came from right beside her.Angela froze. She instinctively wanted to turn and sit up, but she was firmly held in his strong arms, unable to move. "I... I'm a little thirsty. I want to get some water." She avoided looking at his face. Her voice carried a hint of unease. "Hmm." Dexter stood up and turned away from her to pour a glass of water.He wore only black boxer briefs, showcasing his impressive physique. It was simply mesmerizing. His broad shoulders, trim waist, defined abs, and long legs were striking. But the most captivating feature was his face with sharp features, a chiseled jawline, and icy eyes that exuded indifference. He was absolutely stunning.Angela couldn't shake off the wild memories of last night and suddenly realized how much she h
"You're just getting back? Have you eaten yet? What's going on?" Fiona looked at Angela, surprised to see her return with such a heavy heart. Angela forced a faint smile and shook her head before heading upstairs. After shutting herself in her room, she didn't do anything. She didn't shower or change her clothes. She simply lay there, motionless, for two hours.A little past eleven, Angela heard a door open in the adjacent room. It must be Dexter coming back. She quickly got out of bed, kicking off her high heels and slipping into quieter slippers before stepping out. From the slightly ajar door, she could already smell the faint scent of alcohol. Dexter had been drinking. Without hesitation, she barged in. Before he could react, she switched off the lights and pushed him onto the bed.Dexter was startled. Instinctively, he tried to push her away. But the moment he realized it was her, he stopped moving. In the darkness, he looked at her intensely, feeling puzzled. He a
Austin was surprised by Angela's directness.After all, in the past, Bill and Judy had kicked her out of her home more than once. Despite being a wealthy socialite, she had ended up being a waitress and washing dishes in a restaurant just to make a living, even becoming the subject of ridicule. At that time, she had never even considered defying her family. She had accepted every word they said without hesitation. Her compliance had been so extreme.But at the very least, she'd still had a tiny spark of ambition. Otherwise, Genevieve wouldn't have chosen her as her last mentee.When they arrived at the top-floor office, Clara was already waiting outside. Seeing Angela approach, she quickly stepped forward and handed her an acquisition contract. Angela introduced Clara to Austin before taking the contract and leading both of them into the office. She asked Clara to take care of Austin while she focused intently on reviewing the document. Austin sat on the couch, quietly watc
Angela told Mia about what had happened earlier, hoping to get her opinion.Mia, who already felt that her life was complicated enough, found herself caught in a dilemma at this moment. "Angela, your situation is really tough. Just when Mr. Bamford is being the best to you, Austin suddenly showed up. It's really tricky," Mia said, holding Leo in her arms and furrowing her brows in thought.Angela collapsed onto the couch, staring at the ceiling in deep thought. If she agreed to break up with Dexter, he would be utterly heartbroken. Their relationship would be irreparably damaged. In fact, it might be even worse. Dexter's pride would prevent them from ever crossing paths again.After all, he was the one being abandoned. To him, it was the greatest humiliation.Yet, if she didn't break up with him, she would miss her last chance to see Genevieve. When it came to life and death, everything else should be secondary. She was conflicted, but it felt like she was gradually leaning to