"You think I wanna be here?" Angela snorted. "I'm here to tell you to move your secret family elsewhere. Make sure they don't appear in public."Bill averted his gaze, trying to grasp the meaning behind Angela's words."I'm part of the Graham family, part of the Graham Group," Angela continued, her voice sharp with frustration. "Do you really think I'd dig my own grave?""I'll call them," Bill started to say, but before he could finish, the door swung open again. This time, it was Judy and Zack. "Mom, calm down. When you were dating Dad, didn't you already know how much of a flirt he was? You're just the product of his infidelity. Now that he has a mistress, why are you so upset and angry?"Zack was good at defusing tension, spreading his arms as if to block Judy, his posture awkward but well-meaning. "Get out of my way, you traitor! How dare you help that bastard! You're not even my son anymore!" Judy was fierce and domineering. She shoved Zack aside, took a few steps for
Angela pressed her lips together, letting silence speak for itself. Judy's tears flowed instantly, her composure shattering. "You heartless bastard! How could you be so cruel? I've stayed by your side all these years, running the household, being your wife, and this is how you repay me?"Watching her break down like this, Angela felt an odd sense of satisfaction."Angie, so what's the plan now? We'll do whatever you say." Zack grinned foolishly, as if the entire mess had nothing to do with him. Both Bill and Judy froze, their heads snapping toward Zack in perfect unison. They glared at him, their shared disapproval unmistakable, but neither said a word.For now, they were like ants on a hot pan, frazzled and clueless, while Angela remained surprisingly calm."First, the two of you need to appear in public together. When people see you united, the rumors will naturally lose their power. Second, issue an official statement. Make it clear that anyone who spreads defamatory claims
At once, the PR department of Graham Group issued a statement clarifying that the rumors circulating online were baseless slander and warned that any further false claims would result in legal action.This matter was effectively controlled in a very short period, avoiding further fallout.Angela was relatively satisfied with it.On her way home from work, she passed by a restaurant that served Aldairian cuisine and remembered that Fiona loved their beef stew, so she bought her a portion.Unexpectedly, when she got home, Fiona wasn't back yet, and Dexter was sitting in the living room, busy on his computer. It was unclear what he was working on."You brought food for me?" He noticed the food container in Angela's hand and smiled. "Bring it here. I just happen to be hungry.""This isn't for you." Rolling her eyes at him, Angela headed straight for the kitchen."I just helped you big time, and instead of thanking me, you're going to starve me." Dexter shot her a glare. "That's so u
Bill's face was already marked with several bloody scratches that were shocking to look at. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was practically bald now—he was on the verge of losing his mind."You still won't admit it? If not you, then who else? Who else would bother to abduct a single mother and her child? You vile woman! What was I even thinking when I married you?" Bill gritted his teeth, cursing furiously, as though he wanted to rip Judy's mouth apart with his bare hands.Zack, their "love child," stood helplessly in the middle. If he blocked one, the other would hit him, and if he stopped the other, the first would kick him. It was pure agony."Can you two just stop? Dad, shouldn't you be figuring out how to find them? Hitting Mom isn't going to help!"Zack sighed helplessly, rubbing his temples, then turned to Judy. "Mom, as for you—you still need to depend on him financially in the future. If you tick him off, we'll be the ones who end up as the single mother and fatherless chi
Judy's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for Zack to catch every word outside the door.This was clearly her first time doing something like this, as she had forgotten to check if the door was locked in her panic, which was a foolish mistake.Zack was utterly horrified by what he overheard. He couldn't believe that his mother, who wouldn't even dare slaughter a chicken, was capable of doing something so terrifying.Even though she was doing it for his benefit, Zack knew better than anyone that even if he got the shares, Bill would surely come after him.He was just a clueless young man. Even if he held onto those shares, what could he do with them?He'd still end up being manipulated by his father. Besides, if he took the shares, Angela would undoubtedly target him. He wanted to stay on her good side so that she would support him, not become her enemy. And most importantly, what Judy was doing was a crime!How could he stand by and watch his own mother commit such a mist
Through gritted teeth, Bill said, "I confronted that vicious woman and questioned her whether or not she abducted Linda and her daughter, but she denied it completely! How utterly despicable! And now, she even poisoned me to try to kill me. That woman is just…"He coughed violently, unable to finish his words.Angela froze, instinctively glancing at Dexter. So, that was the reason.Dexter, equally stunned, realized he had inadvertently become the trigger for the couple's fallout. However, he had no intention of apologizing or explaining himself."So, what do you plan to do now?" Angela asked calmly, her tone betraying no emotion.The pale Bill replied weakly, "Of course, get me the antidote and save my life first. Everything else can wait.""I can get someone to neutralize the poison, but you have to agree to one condition—give her another 10% of the shares," Dexter said coolly.Bill felt like he could cough up blood from rage at this point. Once again, they were making outrageo
Zack then approached Bill's bedside. In a hushed voice, he said, "Think about it—even if you leave all your shares to me, what can someone like me achieve? Eventually, I'd still hand them over to Angie. You might as well agree now and save your life."Besides, even if you don't give them to her, she'll still inherit a share of your estate anyway when you kick the bucket. With her abilities, who's to say she won't target me after that? She might even kill me to get rid of any obstacles."His words, though blunt, carried undeniable logic.Bill shot Zack a glare so sharp it seemed he wanted to smack the foolish young man right then and there. Yet, upon reflection, Bill grudgingly admitted that the ignorant Zack had a point.With Zack's spineless nature, he'd sooner worship Angela than oppose her.Bill felt like crying.Staring hopelessly at the ceiling, he felt an overwhelming sense of futility—his life's struggles had amounted to nothing. Now, even his life was on the line.Defeat
Unfortunately for Judy, Bill spat at her before she could finish speaking.The spit landed squarely on her face, leaving her stunned and her cheeks burning hot. When she realized it was saliva, the revulsion nearly drove her insane."Go… Get out!" Bill roared, his voice hoarse from rage. He was utterly infuriated. These people were already ready to tear him apart when he wasn't even dead yet.He wasn't some rotting carcass, yet they were acting like a flock of damned vultures!"What's with your attitude? Don't forget—your life is in my hands. If you don't want to cooperate, fine, go rot in your grave!" Judy sneered, any lingering feelings she might've had for Bill now entirely gone."Mom, what are you shouting for? You haven't even asked me about the current situation. Dad's already been detoxed—thanks to my brother-in-law! You really are being too much right now." Zack finally spoke up from outside, unable to listen any longer."What?" Judy froze, her body stiffening as she turn
The fact that Raquel had shouted Harry's full name showed just how panicked she was.Harry rushed in. Together, he and Raquel hurriedly helped Angela to the employee medical room on the eighth floor."It's viral gastroenteritis." The doctor delivered the diagnosis calmly."Gastroenteritis?" Angela was stunned. No wonder her stomach had been uneasy all day. But she hadn't consumed anything unusual. How did she end up with gastroenteritis?"It has nothing to do with me! I didn't touch her!" Jennifer exclaimed suddenly, her voice rising in pitch as if she were trying to persuade someone. In fact, there was another person listening to the conversation. In truth, she was secretly on a call, and the person on the other end of the line was none other than her golden ticket, Dexter. If he thought she was the one who had laid a hand on Angela, she would be doomed."Ms. Graham, let me take you to the hospital. They can only handle minor issues here. It's better for you to receive treatme
Angela smirked nonchalantly. "Dexter sent you? Isn't he afraid his pretty little figurehead might sell off Bamford Co.?"Jennifer immediately flew into a rage, glaring at Angela. "How dare you mock me?""Spit it out if you've got something to say. Don't waste my time." Angela got up and poured herself a glass of water. She silently cursed the fever medication for taking so long to kick in. Her palms still felt burning hot, and she was completely drained."Our company is planning to launch a jewelry line. We want your design department to act as our consultants, and at the beginning, we'll need a few people from your side to help out." Jennifer finally decided to speak seriously. Angela sat lost in thought, her fingers rhythmically tapping against the sturdy tabletop. She didn't respond to Jennifer right away. Instead, she wondered what Dexter was trying to achieve by bringing this up suddenly.Horizon might be considered a major multinational group, but it was still a few leag
Bamford Co. had expressed their desire to collaborate all of a sudden. What exactly was there to cooperate on?Angela replied flatly, "Just tell them we don't have anything to discuss."Harry was clearly surprised. "Uh… Ms. Graham, Horizon and Bamford Co. have never been on good terms. As a result, we've faced intense pressure from other companies in the industry, which is a key factor contributing to our stagnation over the years. "Bamford Co. has taken the initiative to break the ice. Shouldn't we at least acknowledge their efforts? We need to make sure our relationship with them doesn't deteriorate any further; that could exacerbate our situation even more."Harry's voice was laden with emotion, revealing a hint of helplessness. Frustration surged through Angela. Then, she gestured dismissively, saying, "Go ahead and handle your tasks first. I'll give you an answer tomorrow."Harry immediately left, and soon the office was empty, with only Angela left. Silence enveloped her,
At 10:00 am, the headquarters' live stream officially began.The same three male livestreamers took part once again. Based on their previous experience, Angela chose to let them take the lead this time, allowing them to engage with the audience and boost their confidence. She planned for them to train apprentices, who would then train their own, creating more skilled live streamers for various branch offices.As usual, live streamers greeted everyone and introduced themselves first. Before starting the show, they offered some perks to the viewers in an attempt to gain more favor.Fueled by the excitement from yesterday's news, the viewer count swiftly exceeded ten thousand. Even before the product introductions commenced, the public chat overflowed with messages, all buzzing about the recent incident."Ms. Graham, it looks like these kinds of things happen a lot," Raquel said, referring to the rumors that got spread around and the pressure women dealt with at work.Angela nod
The whole situation was completely ridiculous.Angela hadn't even finished reading the post when her phone rang. It was Raquel calling. "Ms. Graham, how should we handle this? Should we just tell the truth, or…""No need. You saw what was in the package too. Just find a similar image online and send it to me. I'll take care of it myself," Angela replied briefly and coldly.Within a minute, Raquel sent over an identical image of the dildo.Angela promptly censored the key part of the item and prepared a post on Facebook. The caption read, "If you've got the guts, send me razor blades directly. Sending this disgusting trash? That's just pathetic."Without a second thought, she uploaded the post.Even after posting, she still felt furious. So, she searched around on Facebook and shared an empowering article urging women to unite and reject harmful sexual rumors.In no time, the netizens were absolutely stunned. "She is savage. I've been online for years, and I've never seen someo
Angela's expression remained indifferent, her gaze utterly calm. "Get rid of that thing. They're just people who hide in the shadows and resort to cheap, disgusting tricks. There's nothing to be afraid of." With that, she took an alcohol wipe and scrubbed her hands thoroughly. Then, she tossed it into the trash can precisely."And what do you want?" Angela turned around and stared at Ingrid icily.Their eyes met, and Ingrid instinctively wanted to step back. Nothing about Angela had changed. It was the same face and the same person, but for some reason, her presence suddenly felt overpowering. That glance from her was enough to send a chill down Ingrid's spine."I'm here to tell you that if you don't back down, my dad will resign and take the company's key personnel with him. When that happens, things will only get harder for you." Ingrid instinctively straightened her back and lifted her chin arrogantly as she spoke. It was as if she was certain Angela would give in.Sure e
Besides, Angela still had Raquel and Harry to handle PR matters.Over the next few days, she was under unprecedented pressure. Nearly half of Horizon's management went to the hospital to visit Erwin. Unsurprisingly, upon their return, their attitudes toward Angela had changed.Some even confronted her publicly, accusing her of disrespecting Erwin, acting willfully, and putting the entire company in danger.Angela didn't offer much explanation. Instead, she instructed Raquel to quietly observe the company's operations and document all unreasonable management practices. That way, she could develop a new, effective system.While employees might have valid grievances, it was crucial for them to respect their superiors and not undermine their authority.Thanks to Angela's relentless drive for progress, the headquarters' live stream studio was rapidly built and successfully passed its trial broadcast.Around 6:00 pm, just before the workday ended, Angela gathered key team members to re
In Jennifer's eyes, Dexter was no longer just a typical tall, rich, and handsome eligible bachelor. He was a shining golden ticket. If she held on to him tightly, he could boost her career and help her secure a strong position in the entertainment industry.Meanwhile, Angela had no idea she was already being targeted. She was caught in another deadlock altogether. "Immediately stop the live commerce sales," Erwin demanded from his hospital bed. Even though he had just regained consciousness and his face was still pale, he hadn't forgotten his stance. He stared straight at Angela, pressing her for a clear answer. However, Angela wasn't someone who could be swayed by a few harsh words. "Mr. Mack, I'm sorry, but I can't agree to that."She was unmistakably firm. She showed no sign of backing down just because Erwin was ill. Backing down simply wasn't an option. If she did, it would only lead to more concessions. And if that happened, there would be no place left for her in the c
"I'll go take a look," Fiona said. Angela watched her leave, feeling uneasy. She was worried and anxious. At that moment, Austin came over to inform her that Erwin had woken up. Hence, Angela had no choice but to follow him to the ward first.Meanwhile, Fiona approached Dexter and immediately saw through their trick. She shot Dexter an irritated glance, her eyes silently questioning whether he had lost his mind that he had done something so ridiculous. Jennifer was also aware she had made a fool of herself and tried to defend her actions. "Mr. Bamford, you didn't see it, but when you fell, Ms. Graham quickly turned to look. She must still have feelings for you." "Childish," Fiona muttered, clearly exasperated. She personally wheeled Dexter to his ward and then sent Jennifer away. Dexter was unwilling to admit his lingering feelings in front of Fiona. Hence, he maintained a stiff expression and remained silent.Fiona pulled over a chair and sat down with a serious expressi