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Chapter 214
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 215
The head of the operations and logistics department was Sean Graham, Andrew's son, whom Andrew had personally promoted through nepotism. Sean's monthly salary was 30 thousand dollars. However, he did nothing but exploit the system, while his two vice heads worked tirelessly day and night.Angela had gotten all of this information from the documents Dexter had given her.She had conducted her own investigation, but it wasn't nearly as detailed. Dexter had even uncovered the hidden arrangement for Sean's salaryโit was split, with 10 thousand deposited into his account and 20 thousand paid in cash.Sean was absent that day. He had been out drinking the night before and was too hungover to wake up in the morning, so his subordinate attended the meeting in his place.Andrew, aware that his son was absent, asked, "Why are you looking for the head of the operations and logistics department?"Angela spoke in a steady, serious tone, "There are ten elevators in the company building. This
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 216
As Logan's name was suddenly called, he immediately turned pale.There was no way Sean had reported his absence. He barely showed up ten days a month.Not only was Logan unable to hold anyone accountable, but he also had to help cover things up. After all, Andrew was the boss."Mr. Chapman, it seems that despite being the head of the HR department, you aren't too familiar with the company's leave policies. If that's the case, perhaps we should find someone more competent for the job?" Angela arched a brow at Logan, her eyes carrying a sharp warning.Logan was immediately shocked and became anxious. With Angela raging at the moment, he certainly couldn't risk being the scapegoat and losing his job."Ms. Graham, as far as I know, Mr. Sean didn't submit a leave request." Logan lowered his head, avoiding Andrew's gaze as he spoke cautiously.Unbelievable. Just this morning, he had been so sure of himself, confident that Angela was no threat, and taken her lightly. Yet, within less th
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 217
Andrew was the lifeblood of the company. When he collapsed, everyone was thrown into chaos.In the midst of the turmoil, Angela calmly walked up to the podium, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "The meeting will continue!"Her voice wasn't too loud, but the four words were enough to make the atmosphere in the room even more tense. Everyone froze, staring at her in astonishment.Angela's gaze was sharp. "Even if all the senior executives of the company pass out, the company must continue to operate as usual!"Her attitude and presence were far from that of a young person in her 20s. She exuded the air of someone with decades of experience in the business world, and her every movement radiated formidable confidence.The crowd exchanged glances, but ultimately, they returned to their seats in silence, watching Angela on the podium.Angela had never been in such a high position before, with hundreds of eyes on her. No wonder Dexter always had such a stern face.If one had to face
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 218
Even Dexter himself couldn't explain why he instinctively wanted to avoid Angela's gaze.Was he afraid she'd find out he was here?Rocky fumbled to roll up the window, only to realize that Angela hadn't even spared them a glance. She got into her car and drove off without hesitation.Rocky couldn't help but feel that Dexter was overthinking things.Angela had left alone and headed to the hospital to check on Andrew.At a time like this, she wouldn't allow herself to be caught in a scandal. Too many people were watching her, waiting for her to slip up so they could seize the opportunity to attack.Andrew had suffered a sudden heart attack. Luckily, the people around him had given him a fast-acting heart medication, so by the time he had reached the hospital, he had already been out of danger.But he refused to leave. Instead, he insisted that the doctors exaggerate his condition in front of the assistants who had accompanied him."She's heartless! Mr. Graham has worked tirelessl
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 219
Sean stood in the doorway of the hospital room. His large frame was almost too big to fit through.Before he even stepped inside, he pointed at Angela's nose and started yelling, "You vicious woman! My dad worked tirelessly for your family his entire life, and this is how he ends up? How can you be so heartless?"I've seen people bite the hand that feeds them, but I've never seen someone as stupid as youโstriking before you've even secured your place. Aren't you afraid people will curse you behind your back?"He looked like he had the moral high ground with his show of aggression.Angela crossed her arms before smiling. "Mr. Sean, don't get so worked up. When did I ever bite the hand that feeds me? I merely got rid of a parasiteโyou. At most, Mr. Andrew's reputation being affected is just collateral damage. That's hardly what I'd call biting the hand that feeds me. Wouldn't you agree?"It was true. Andrew was still too valuable to remove him from the company. He held control over
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 220
It was Angela's first day at the company. Bill wondered whether those people had done their part. Had they managed to put pressure on her?Bill was now completely under Angela's control. The hospital staff wouldn't allow him to contact the outside world, and his phone had been confiscated.All he could do was read, watch TV, and tend to the garden. He was on the verge of going crazy."Mr. Graham, Mr. Graham!" A familiar voice suddenly called from behind.Bill stiffened, thinking he must have misheard.Turning around, he saw two people dressed as janitors hurrying toward him. At first glance, he didn't recognize them, but the voice he had just heard was unmistakable."Bill, it's me, Andrew." Andrew lifted his messy wig while pretending to sweep beside Bill, but his expression couldn't hide his excitement.Bill's expression changed. He knew it must not have been easy for Andrew to sneak in. He turned back around, continuing to feed the fish, and lowered his voice. "Why are you her
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 221
Bright moonlight shone through the window, and occasionally, birds flew by, chirping softly.The soothing warmth of the water enveloped Angela's weary body, easing her tense limbs. She gradually let her guard down and slipped into the water. When Dexter returned, he called out multiple times, but silence was all that greeted him. Noticing Angela's bag on the couch, he confirmed that she was indeed home. A wave of concern washed over him, prompting him to head upstairs to check on her. He found the bedroom door closed and locked from the inside.He knocked on her door once more, yet silence persisted. Overcome by a growing sense of anxiety, Dexter decided to pick the lock and let himself in.Angela was nearly completely submerged. The water reached up to her chin, threatening to engulf her completely. Without hesitation, he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her out.In a split second, Angela was jolted awake. The sight of Dexter and the unfolding scene before her caused her expre
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 222
Jordan served as the head of the finance department at Graham Group and was one of Bill's loyal subordinates. Much like Logan, he often flattered her brainless father. Though he was in his 40s and nearing the age of 50, he appeared to be in his 30s, a testament to his remarkable self-care."Mr. Cooper, why are you being distant? I need your help since I've just taken over the company, and I'm still getting to know it. As you saw in yesterday's meeting, many people don't seem to like me. What should I do?" Angela was concise and straightforward.Having figured out Angela's intentions, Jordan smirked, feeling secretly pleased."Ms. Graham, you think too highly of me. Just yesterday, you flaunted your authority the moment you arrived at the company. I'm sure nobody dares to challenge you now." His tone was neutral and light in a way that could make people feel uneasy.Angela chuckled and asked, "So what's your stance on this? We're both open-minded, so there's no reason to dance aroun
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 510
Angela trembled violently as she stood frozen in place. Her already pale face instantly lost all color.Sure enough, what was meant to come would come, no matter how hard she tried to avoid it."Grandma, this has nothing to do with you." Dexter suddenly stepped forward in three quick strides, planting himself firmly in front of Angela. Every word he spoke was powerful and resolute.Angela was slightly stunned. His back was like an unbreakable wallโsolid and unyielding.Natalie, however, was utterly shocked. She stared at Dexter in disbelief. "What do you mean by that? Isn't the child she's carrying yours? You two have only been divorced for a while. Don't tell me she already has someone else'sโ""Grandma!" Dexter cut her off sharply before she could say anything more offensive. "I said this has nothing to do with you."With that, he turned around, grabbed Angela's arm, and led her out the door. "Where do you want to go? I'll take you.""Home," Angela replied hoarsely. She looked
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 509
Dexter stood motionless outside the room for what felt like forever until Natalie approached with the help of Ursula."Dexter, is it true that that woman is pregnant? Is it your child? Is it a child of the Bamford family?" Natalie was unusually excited. There was even a hopeful glow in her once lifeless eyes.Dexter's mind was in chaos. He nodded vaguely, not wanting to say anything more.Alas, Natalie wouldn't stop asking questions, like whether Angela's previously poor health would make the pregnancy risky or who would get custody of the child now that the two of them were divorced."Grandma, you should go get some rest. We haven't even discussed all of this yet." Dexter finally couldn't take it anymore and gently persuaded her to leave.But just then, someone from Joseph's side came to call him. Dexter had no choice but to get Fiona to stay with Angela while he hurried off.Joseph had also heard about the pregnancy. In fact, the moment the result was confirmed, the news spread
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 508
"Why are you stammering like this? Are you even a man?" Fiona gave Dexter a disapproving smack on the back before bluntly revealing the truth. "Angela, you're pregnant."Angela was speechless. What did Fiona just say?She genuinely thought something was wrong with her ears. How could she have heard something so absurd? How could she possibly be pregnant? Hadn't she become infertile after her body had been exposed to something harmful?Even though Dexter had forced her to undergo treatment for a while, it shouldn't have worked that well.Angela's face shifted between pale and flushed a few times. After a minute or two, she finally came back to her senses. "Madam Fiona, are you joking?"She gave an incredulous laugh, suspecting that Fiona didn't want her to be just a friend anymore and wanted her to be her daughter-in-law instead.With a heavy sigh, Fiona pulled out a blood test report. Angela stiffly accepted the undeniable proof and gave it a quick scan, only to be instantly dumb
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 507
Joseph's eyes were filled with worry, as if he feared Angela would be left without support in the future.She was about to speak when she suddenly felt a wave of nausea rise in her stomach, causing her to nearly gag. She quickly got up and poured herself a glass of water, barely managing to suppress the discomfort.It seemed like her body hadn't fully recovered yet, as even a little fatigue made her feel unwell."Grandpa, I've been swamped with work recently. I have no energy to focus on anything else," Angela said with a bitter smile before letting out a long sigh.The weight on her shoulders was just too heavy, so heavy that she could barely catch her breath.Joseph looked at her meaningfully, a trace of regret and helplessness crossing his eyes.โฆIt was past 11:00 pm when Angela finally went to the guest room after her conversation with Joseph.By then, she was already physically and mentally exhausted. She collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 506
Back when Angela and Dexter were still together, Joseph had clearly been biased toward them. Now that they were divorced, Joseph was still unable to let go of Angela. How could anyone tolerate that?"Grandma, Aunt Ursula, Grandpa treated Angela very well before. It's only right that she comes to visit him." Dexter's face showed no expression, but his tone was firm.Since he had spoken, Ursula stopped talking. She could sense something was off, but seeing the awkwardness between Dexter and Angela, it didn't really seem like anything was going on. Thinking it over, she decided to stay quiet.Natalie, however, wasn't so easy to deal with.Seeing that Dexter wasn't taking her side, she became annoyed and went straight inside, saying to Angela, "Alright, since you've already seen Joseph, you should go. He needs rest."Upon hearing this, Joseph immediately started coughing, his face turning pale.The exasperated Angela didn't respond to that. Instead, she immediately tried to calm Jose
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 505
Jennifer was rather frustrated. In theory, a man like Dexter, who was so charming and outstanding, should have easily won Angela over with all the effort he had put in to make her change her mind.Yet, the stubborn Angela acted like someone who had kicked a drug addiction. She merely observed from the sidelines, refusing to take the bait.Jennifer also believed that Dexter was being too laid-back about this. He was making her create minor issues for Angela, but he hadn't made any big moves himself. How could that work?"Mr. Bamford, if you ask me, you should get your family to help," Jennifer suggested. "I heard Ms. Graham is very close to your grandfather. If you involve him, she will definitelyโฆ"She didn't voice the rest of her thoughts.Dexter stared silently into space, as if lost in thought. He didn't say anything for a long time.Jennifer became anxious. "Mr. Bamford, you two have feelings for each other. You can't cut off contact. You need to show up in front of her occas
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 504
"You're out of luck. The elevator's to the rightโplease leave." Angela showed no courtesy as she outright told Jennifer to go. She couldn't be bothered to waste any more time on this drama queen."Youโฆ"Jennifer stood up abruptly, furious. "Angela, do you even hear yourself? I'm representing Bamford Co. Since you dare refuse me, does that mean you're not worried that this will anger Mr. Bamford?""Oh, I'm so scared!" Angela made an exaggerated face before smirking, making it clear she wasn't taking Jennifer seriously at all. "If you don't leave now, I'll have to call security.""Then I'll just have Mr. Bamford personally come here to talk to you." Jennifer sneered, waving her phone that had diamond studs on the back."Ms. Graham, you and Mr. Bamford have already gone your separate ways. I'm sure you don't want to have anything to do with him anymore, right? If he comes here to talk to you, your decision will change, won't it?"Angela remained indifferent, looking at Jennifer with
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 503
As a woman, Angela might not be the most perceptive in some areas, but when it came to matters of the heart, she knew what she was talking about.She could tell that Ingrid, despite her cold and distant demeanor, truly liked Austin. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come here and swallowed her pride for him.Angela wasn't petty. As long as things could be cleared up over time, she wouldn't hold onto grudges.โฆIn the afternoon, she and Austin held a management meeting to analyze and summarize the recent live commerce project.At the end, they conducted a vote, and more than half of the people fully supported Angela's decision. The rest had no choice but to go along with the majority. With this, Angela had managed to establish herself in the company for the time being.The live commerce gradually fell into a rhythm, boosting sales several times over and bringing Horizon back into the spotlight with consumers.To maintain this momentum, Angela had the HR department hire a group of youn
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 502
It was just that Ingrid hadn't quite shifted her perspective yet.At the moment, Angela was wondering whether things could be resolved peacefully. If tensions could be eased, wouldn't that mean she would gain a highly capable ally? Why would she go out of her way to maximize animosity?"What a shame; I absolutely hate cream puffs." Unfortunately, Ingrid wasn't having any of it. She shot a disdainful glance at Angela and the cream puffs.Angela froze for a second. Then, shrugging it off, she simply opened the plastic bag and took a bite of a cream puff."Well, if you've got something to say, go ahead. I've got no time to waste on someone who doesn't appreciate cream puffs." She spoke righteously, as if anyone who disliked cream puffs didn't deserve her respect.Ingrid wore a look of complete bewilderment. She stared at Angela, wondering if she had changed overnight. What was going on today? Had everyone eaten some weird mushroom or something, making them act all weird?"My dad w
