"Angela, you've gotten quite bold," Dexter remarked with a hint of amusement as he looked at her."If you keep sending this snarling dog to provoke me, I can be even bolder, "Angela replied fearlessly, meeting his gaze."Leave us," Dexter suddenly ordered.Erica was stunned. Did he want her to leave too? But the matter hadn't been resolved yet!"It looks like you're having a good time here. Is the master bedroom not comfortable enough for you anymore?" Dexter asked.Unexpectedly, he seemed to be in a good mood. However, the look in his eyes was more of a mocking one."It's never been comfortable," Angela retorted as she plopped onto the couch.She accidentally pulled at the wounds on her arm, and it caused her to hiss in pain. Erica had clawed her arm so hard that it had left bleeding scratches."Serves you right," Dexter said with a scoff, glaring at her. "Who told you to be so difficult all the time? Now you're getting what you deserve." "Get lost!" Angela still had a lot o
Donna took off the thin golden necklace to show it to Angela. It looked delicate and elegant. Angela felt a twinge of envy. She sighed and lamented, "No one is quite the same, Donna. Your husband treats you well, and you treat him well in return. That's how it should be. "But with someone like Dexter… Do you think I can bring myself to treat him well? I stopped seeing him as my husband a long time ago, so why should I respect him or love him? I'd rather use that energy to treat myself better." Donna didn't know what to say to that. In the shadows, Dexter overheard her words with absolute clarity. Did she no longer consider him her husband? Dexter took a deep breath and pushed down the strange, stifling feeling within him. He coughed and stepped out of the shadows.Angela quickly finished the oatmeal porridge in her bowl."Tomorrow night, come with me to Bamford Manor. Grandpa is hosting a mixer." He informed Angela coldly, his expression unreadable.Angela didn't look up a
Angela felt a bit confused because she was already married."Why are you looking at me like that? Even though you're married, you still have the right to have some fun. I noticed you haven't been in the best spirits these past few days. Go relax a bit—it'll do you some good," Joseph advised sincerely.Unable to refuse his kind intentions, Angela reluctantly went into the dressing room.It was a professional makeup team that typically worked with celebrities. However… it seemed everyone would be styled into white swans.The rules for Joseph's event were simple. It was essentially a masquerade, where everyone's face would be disguised. Only their eyes would be visible to tell them apart. The room full of men and women would mingle, chat, and, if they felt a connection, they could exchange contact details.By the time her makeup was done, even Angela could barely recognize herself. There were a dozen or so women, and all of them were dressed identically. Could this event even be fu
Angela nodded and was about to say something in response to Finn's kind offer of help when someone suddenly bumped into her forcefully from behind. It nearly sent her tumbling to the floor on all fours. Luckily, Finn was quick enough to catch and steady her.But before Angela could fully regain her balance, the brute who had bumped into her grabbed her wrist and murmured, "May I have this dance, miss?" It was Dexter.Even with his dark costume and makeup, his commanding presence and those deep-set, piercing eyes gave his identity away immediately.Why couldn't he leave her alone?Finn hadn't recognized Dexter's voice. Holding onto Angela's hand, he looked Dexter in the eye and said, "She's my partner for this evening, sir." Inwardly, Angela cursed like a sailor vehemently. Still, she chose not to acknowledge Dexter. She pretended as if she didn't recognize him either."Oh, really?" Dexter fixed his gaze on her, his eyes flashing dangerously. "So, do you like him?" Angela wan
When Angela got home, she went straight to the bathroom for a shower. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw Dexter's reddened eyes.He was truly furious today.Angela felt a wave of irritation, but what worried her more was the thought of Dexter causing trouble for Finn.After all, Dexter never cared about reason. He only acted based on his mood."Mrs. Bamford, Madam Fiona is here." Donna's nervous voice came from outside the bathroom.Angela frowned. She hurriedly finished cleaning up, slipped into some loungewear, and rushed downstairs.Fiona was already there, her elegant face as cold as ice. Before Angela could say a word, Fiona slapped her hard across the face.The sound rang out loud and clear. Angela's head snapped to the side, and a sharp, stinging pain spread across her cheek."Angela, have I been too lenient with you? How dare you flirt with another man in broad daylight and humiliate Dexter in front of everyone?" Fiona's voice was frosty.Angela clenched her t
At that moment, the doctor walked in, carrying a medical tray. "Mr. Bamford Sr., there's no need to worry. Mr. Bamford will wake up soon. It's just a minor injury."Angela froze as the familiar voice reached her ears. Turning around, she was stunned to see Finn once again.What was he doing here?Fiona's face twisted in shock and anger. "Dad, why is he here?" Her words were laced with unmistakable questioning.Joseph was displeased. "Finn is the grandson of an old friend of mine, and he's exceptionally skilled in medicine. I invited him to assist."Seeing Joseph openly defend Finn, Fiona had no choice but to suppress her frustration. She replied in a forced, calm voice, "Our family has no shortage of excellent doctors. There's no need to—""Fiona," Joseph interrupted before she could finish. "If work is keeping you busy, you can leave. Angie and I can take care of Dexter from here." It was a thinly veiled dismissal. Fiona's expression froze. This wasn't the first time Joseph ha
Before Angela could respond, Cecilia suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my, Angela, what happened to your face? It's all red. Did someone slap you?"Angela had tried covering the handprint with foundation before coming here, but it hadn't done a thorough job.Meanwhile, the slap she had given Fiona earlier, though seemingly harsh, had barely left a mark."Fiona, this really isn't right. Angie may not come from a wealthy family, but she's a good girl. How could you treat her so harshly? Imagine how heartbroken her parents would be if they knew!"Ursula's outrage seemed genuine, as though she was standing up for Angela.At that moment, Joseph's expression darkened to a degree that felt almost palpable.Fiona stood silently, clearly in a precarious position. Yet, she refused to glance at Angela.She had indeed slapped Angela. She wasn't the type to bow her head or apologize to someone she deemed unworthy. Especially not when she had acted in Dexter's interest."Grandpa, you've misunderstood,
After Ursula and Cecilia left, Angela persuaded Joseph to rest. This left only her, Fiona, and Dexter in the room.Fiona sneered. "Well, you've shown a hint of wit today. That's a rare sight."Angela felt a wave of frustration lodge in her throat at one. Some things never changed."Why didn't you admit I slapped you just now?" Fiona's voice remained icy.Tired of standing, Angela pulled out a chair and sat down before replying calmly, "I fought back earlier, didn't I? If Grandpa asked about it later, it'd be hard to explain."The ongoing feud between her and Fiona was one thing, but Angela wasn't about to let herself become someone's pawn or a subject of ridicule."Angela, don't think that I'll start liking you just because you backed me up in front of Joseph. You know why he favors you. With your petty tricks, you'd better focus on keeping him happy. If he ever tires of you, that'll be the beginning of your divorce." Fiona's words were sharp.Angela rolled her eyes inwardly. "A
"I can't believe you're still in the mood to drink here. Angela is heading to Otril tomorrow. Aren't you planning to go see her off?" Fiona expressed her disappointment as she attempted to pull Dexter up from the couch, only to realize she wasn't strong enough.She had no idea what was going through Dexter's head. For several days, he had been going out for drinks after work, as if alcohol was the only remedy for his pain. She had never seen him in such a state of decline. She couldn't believe this was the same Dexter who had once excelled in the business industry. He seemed like a hopeless romantic now.Dexter sneered impatiently. "What does it have to do with me? She's so cold-hearted. Do I have a say in her actions? She doesn't listen to me at all. I mean nothing to her!"Several people in the private room were a little surprised, including Zayn. They questioned the situation, recalling how Dexter had always remained indifferent to Angela. It appeared that their roles had sudd
Dexter's voice reflected heartache, disappointment, and helplessness.Angela felt intense pain in her heart. She looked up and briefly saw his red eyes before he turned and ran out the door. The door was wide open, and his scent faded away with the wind.She stayed like that for a while and took time to decide her next move. In the end, she decided not to dwell on it anymore. It was clear that she wasn't mistaken. Yet, her words were just a bit too harsh.He simply didn't understand her, nor did he need to. She felt complicated.…Angela spent almost a week in the hospital, and during that time, Joel visited once. When they finally sat down together, they engaged in an open conversation about the company's future plans. Their discussion flowed easily, and they completely avoided any mention of Bill. Angela and Joel enjoyed each other's company and realized that they had connected far later than they should have.Joel not only lifted the restrictions on Graham Group within the O
Those familiar with Dexter would recognize his tone immediately. It was clear that he was still in a bad mood. He didn't even want to open the door himself and insisted that others do it for him. To prevent Angela from being sad, Kerry quickly opened the door.Everyone noticed Dexter standing there, burdened with a heavy load and wearing a grim expression. "Mr. Bamford, you..." Kerry was taken aback.Dexter couldn't open the door because his hands were full of shopping bags. "I went to bring things for her," Dexter replied reluctantly, pushing past Kerry. Clara cast a questioning glance at Angela, her eyes silently inquiring about the situation at hand. Angela chose to ignore it. After being unjustly scolded, she was still angry, and she had no desire to engage with Dexter.After Dexter entered, he put everything on the coffee table and sat on the couch, appearing cold and unapproachable. No one said a word after that. "Perhaps we should leave first," Kerr
Dexter immediately rushed out, slamming the door. "What happened?" Fiona asked. Angela remained perplexed. "No idea. I only said my wound hurt. I didn't say anything else or offend him."She wondered if he had caught the alpha male syndrome. She hoped not—otherwise, Fiona would be in for a nightmare.After that, the doctor carefully examined her and assessed her wounds, explaining that her reactions were typical once the anesthetic wore off. He assured her that as long as she took her medication as prescribed and allowed herself adequate rest, there would be no cause for concern.Angela repeatedly thanked him. Despite the pain, she felt uplifted by her ability to control her fate and make a difference through hard work. She preferred to keep striving rather than seek others' approval through flattery.In the afternoon, Clara called to say that everyone wanted to visit her. They had bought gifts, and Clara hoped she wouldn't refuse them. Naturally, Angela would not decline. S
Dexter felt an overwhelming urge to rush in and carry Angela away. He considered that it would be better to pressure the Crawford family than to allow her to use this foolish approach.However, he still waited for her silently, knowing that she didn't want to be disturbed.Joel felt helpless. He wiped the blood from his nose and helped Angela up. "I promise you. Go and see a doctor now. Why are you so stubborn?"Angela's eyes sparkled with excitement, and her voice quivered with joy. "Thank you, thank you..."Before she finished speaking, she collapsed. Dexter quickly lifted her up. "Angela!"Fiona rushed over to assist, urging, "Quick! We need to get her to the hospital now!"…Dexter and Fiona waited anxiously outside the emergency department until the doctor reassured them that Angela's injuries were minor and mostly superficial. Meanwhile, Angela slept with an IV drip, unaware of their concern."Why did she keep pushing herself? It's like she's got some sort of superpower o
Angela clenched her jaw, her every move radiating intense hostility with every move, embodying the wrath of a vengeful queen. Joel was briefly distracted before receiving a strong punch to the nose. The metallic scent of blood overwhelmed him as he collapsed to the ground.Angela was astonished by what she saw.Joel struggled to stand. His nose was bleeding, making it hard for him to breathe. He felt dizzy and lost his initial fighting spirit. On the other hand, Angela was incredibly strong, seemingly pushing beyond her limits in a frenzied state.Then, the two fought again, resulting in an unexpected draw. Angela realized she couldn't compete with Joel for long, so she put all her strength into each attack. She noticed that Joel's strength was diminishing as he bled.A few minutes later, the standoff ended when Angela knocked Joel down with a punch. As he rose, blood streamed from his nose, distorting his vision and leaving him unable to continue the fight. The team arriv
Angela had already humbled herself significantly. Despite Joel's consistent indifference, he found it increasingly difficult to dismiss her completely. After all, those who came here were far from ordinary. In the end, he agreed. He would just treat it as a game to see if she was anything like Bill. Angela and Joel soon found themselves on the ring. Angela felt honored and bowed to Joel. Despite secretly looking down on her, Joel maintained a gentlemanly demeanor and smiled.After that, it was time for a heated exchange. Joel sarcastically said, "I'll draw the line somewhere and do my best not to hurt you."Angela smiled with determination, replying, "I'll give it my all until I defeat you." Joel frowned, wondering what this arrogant woman was planning. The battle began quickly. Joel was obviously different from the other contestants Angela went up against. He toyed with her, effortlessly neutralizing her attacks and waiting for her next move, like a cat playing with a mo
Jorina launched a powerful uppercut at Angela, but the latter anticipated the attack and swiftly evaded it. Then, she lowered her stance and delivered a decisive strike to Jorina's abdomen.Her strength was astonishing as well. It was truly unexpected. With another powerful strike, she forced Jorina back a few paces, causing her to lose her balance and crash to the ground. The audience was left in shock. Meanwhile, a hint of a smile graced Dexter's lips, and admiration sparkled in his eyes.In the first match, Angela won effortlessly. The second and third matches followed, and once again, she secured victory easily.She was stunned. When her opponent was knocked out in the third match, she gazed at her fist in disbelief. She couldn't believe that she possessed such strength. It was utterly shocking.The audience buzzed with excitement, captivated by her presence. "Wow, she's incredible! Not only is she stunning, but she's also an amazing fighter!" "Isn't that Angela? It's so
Not only did the male contestants boast impressive muscles, but even the female participants also showcased clearly defined physiques and strength. It appeared that Angela's muscles fell short in comparison."Could you please pass me a towel?" a female contestant requested Angela politely.This female contestant was notably larger, with shoulders that were one and a half times wider than Angela's. When she stood up, her shadow completely covered Angela, making the latter look particularly thin. Yet, she seemed completely oblivious to anything amiss, or perhaps she simply chose not to care, even if she did notice."I'm sorry. But I'm a contestant too, so I don't know where the towel is."After saying that, Angela sensed the gaze of those around her. Some expressions were a mix of shock; others hinted at disdain, while most radiated contempt. Yet, she felt self-satisfied and unfazed by their reactions. Despite her petite stature, she was proud of her hard-earned muscles and confi