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
"Angela, I've brewed your favorite coffee. Would you like to have some?" Cecilia's voice was soft and warm, and her demeanor was that of an endearing young lady.Angela knew Cecilia had something to say, so she replied, "I'll skip the coffee. Just say what you need to say."The two descended the stairs together, looking no different from a pair of cousins-in-law engaged in casual conversation."Your patience amazes me, Angela. If Aunt Fiona treated me like that every day, I would've gone mad by now." Cecilia sighed. Her expression was a mix of helplessness and sympathy. "If only there were a way to change things, you'd be able to live more comfortably. Don't you agree?"Angela nodded slightly as she subtly led Cecilia toward the nearby poplar trees.She deliberately avoided the lawn, knowing Fiona might see them through the window and start feeling unnecessarily suspicious."Angela, you've always been so kind to me since you married Dexter. I know you're a good person, and I trul
Just then, a flurry of notifications started blaring from the screen.Someone had just sent her ten rockets. That was a donation worth around 100 thousand dollars on the streaming platform.Angela put down her paintbrush and glanced at the account that had sent her the gift. The username was "EternalStarlight". It sounded quite artistic."Shout out to EternalStarlight. Thank you," Angela said with a soft smile. She had seen other streamers acknowledge big spenders this way.…Meanwhile, at Bamford Manor, Zayn lounged on the couch, laughing heartily.Dexter cast him a side-eye, looking as though he was observing a lunatic.Zayn walked over to the bed. "Dexter, you've got to see this! My favorite streamer is live again. I just dropped over 100 grand on her, and she thanked me!""If 100 grand doesn't even get you a thank you, that money might as well be thrown away." Dexter couldn't be bothered to respond. He gave the screen only a quick, sideways glance.But just that one glance
Shelley boldly pulled a chair and sat down beside Angela. Resting her chin on her palm, she gazed at her with a half-smile.Elena, naturally, was right behind Shelley."Didn't expect you to have an interest in art, Ms. Graham," Elena commented with a smile as she sat on Angela's left.Elena wore a chic black-and-white ensemble that day. The buttons were made of lustrous pearls, catching the light in a subtle shine.The fitted, mermaid dress perfectly accentuated her figure, and her brown curls added to her striking femininity.Together, she and Shelley flanked Angela on both sides.Angela locked her phone and sighed inwardly."I didn't know you joined the competition too, Ms. Carrey," she replied casually as she looked at Elena. After all, she hadn't seen Elena at the competition when it had been first held.Shelley couldn't hide her smug smile. "Elena was specially invited by the organizers to participate online. A fool like you, who only knows how to work hard, can't be compa
Andrew's fury was palpable. "Nonsense! You didn't even acknowledge my contribution to the company!""Didn't the company reward you appropriately? Your salary and stock dividends are the highest besides Bill's, not counting those bribes you received. "Mr. Graham, there are things I'm aware of but won't mention for the sake of your dignity. Please don't create a scene unless you want to lose what's left of your reputation."As Angela confronted Andrew, she went from seeming quiet to confident. She could even tackle problems with a sense of humor.Andrew's anger continued to grow. The harder he fought, the more he felt defeated."Uncle Andrew, Angela has been merciful. If you know what's best, leave now. If you refuse, I can take you." Zack, who had been observing the situation with amusement, chimed in.Angela remarked, "Ask Joanne to send Mr. Graham out. If he creates trouble again, don't intervene. There's no point in giving him more chances since he's being unreasonable."Afte
Angela couldn't shake off her concern for Dexter. After all, he had been injured because of her. How could she not feel anxious about it?The doctor arrived promptly and conducted a thorough checkup on Dexter. He concluded that Dexter's injury was acting up again, leading to poor blood circulation. He needed to go to the hospital for medication and injections. Angela went with him. Meanwhile, Zack stayed home to wait for Joanne."Mr. Bamford, it's best for you to stay in the hospital. Given your current health condition, it's not advisable..." the doctor advised worriedly.The nurse had assisted Dexter in changing into a hospital gown. He propped against the bed, visibly uncomfortable due to the lack of support behind him. Noticing his discomfort, Angela quickly fetched a pillow and offered him a box of tissues to wipe the cold sweat beading on his forehead. Dexter glanced at her intensely and remained silent."You should consider staying here for the next few days. There's no
The abrupt ringing of the phone shattered the stillness in the room, startling everyone present. Andrew answered impatiently, "Who is it?"On the other end of the line, Angela replied with a smirk, "It's me, Mr. Graham. The deadline I set has passed, and I still haven't heard back from you. I've asked someone to clear the COO's office for the department of supervision, which was previously cramped in the executive office."Andrew was furious. "How dare you!""Did I not inform you ahead of time? Oh, by the way, it seems you didn't select any of the options I proposed, so I've decided to take matters into my own hands. "There's a small company in Cetol that opened a few years ago. If you're okay with it, you can start working there. I've sent all the relevant information to you via email."In a moment of frustration, Andrew hurled his phone away before Angela could complete her sentence. All his life, he had enjoyed success at Graham Group, always managing to get what he desired.
Angela grabbed a glass of hot milk and went upstairs, where she noticed the study door was slightly open. She could hear Dexter's voice from inside."What would I need you for if you can't locate him?""Surely you can find either Gideon Lawson or Austin Howard, can't you?" "You're so useless."Angela stood frozen, struck by his words. She couldn't help but wonder what his intentions were and if he was helping her find them.Her mentor, Gideon, and her senior, Austin, were the two people who had once cared about her the most. Yet, she hadn't seen them in many years.She was stunned. After a moment of contemplation, she quietly turned and walked away. It struck her how little she truly knew about Dexter.She couldn't fathom how he could act in such a way, considering he was known to be a cold-hearted man. Yet, in that critical moment, he had even jumped and saved her from possible death.Angela's thoughts were chaotic. She even wondered if Dexter had been possessed.Someone kno
Angela looked at her phone and saw a photo of herself exiting the hospital. She had no idea who had shared the post, but the headline read, "Leaving Her Biological Father to Fend for Himself: Is This a Failure of the Law or a Moral Decline?"The content was very straightforward. It detailed that Angela ignored her critically ill father in the hospital, leaving him alone to fend for himself. In conclusion, her behavior was outrageous.Angela nonchalantly scrolled through the content and read through the unpleasant comments. She smiled faintly and handed the phone back to Fiona."I'm feeling a bit hungry. Shall we eat, Madam Fiona?" she asked as she headed to the kitchen for cutlery, but Fiona stopped her."Are you sure you don't need any assistance? At the very least, please try to manage the negative news. Graham Group's PR is truly rubbish," Fiona remarked.Angela snorted coldly. "The PR department works for Andrew, so they won't support me. I'm still handling it slowly. Don't
As Francis spoke, his gaze shifted from Bill to Angela. It was as if he were assessing them, contemplating his next move.Others followed suit. For a moment, Angela and Zack were celebrated as the perfect children, as if no one could be better.Zack's face flushed with embarrassment as he stumbled over his words. In contrast, Angela remained silent throughout, maintaining a perfect smile on her flawless features.She glanced at her watch calmly. "I appreciate your kind words, but I need to get back to work. The project with MK Corporation is crucial for Graham Group, and I can't afford to waste time here."She said it so bluntly that it shocked everyone."Angela, how could you consider this a waste of time? You're aware of Bill's current situation. What if something goes wrong with him again—""I've hired the best doctors, and they'll be here soon to take over. I care more about my dad's health than you do. I know your concerns too, but I suggest you don't waste your efforts."A
When Angela and Zack arrived at the hospital, Bill had still not been brought out of the emergency room.However, what they didn't anticipate was that someone had arrived ahead of them and was already waiting nervously in the corridor. It was Andrew, Francis, and several of their subordinates.Upon spotting Angela, Andrew immediately exclaimed, "Angela, why did you arrive so late? Your dad's condition is uncertain, yet you're focused on work instead of caring about him.""Mr. Andrew, Ms. Graham has arrived. She won't abandon Mr. Bill—we all know how devoted she is," Francis added."That's right. Ms. Graham stopped what she was doing and came here as soon as she found out. She seems very dedicated to Mr. Bill. She is truly a good daughter." "With a caring daughter like Ms. Graham, Mr. Bill will definitely get better soon."The group of people labeled Angela as a "good daughter" forcefully."You guys are exaggerating," Zack sneered.Out of nowhere, a group of men wielding camer
Just then, Angela's phone rang unexpectedly. It kept ringing repeatedly. Zack was calling her. He would never come to her without a reason. If he was this anxious, something serious must have happened."Angie, come out now. I'm in your office."Angela rushed to her office, where Zack was already on his feet to greet her. "Angie, Dad suddenly vomited blood. I got someone to take him to emergency care. You need to come with me. I think it's really bad this time."Angela put down her bag and asked as she hurriedly followed Zack outside, "What happened?" His brows were furrowed tightly. "I don't know either. Oh, right—earlier today, I went to visit him. He asked how things were going, and I told him you were doing great. I even praised you like crazy, telling him how you've turned the company around with your leadership skills and landed a huge deal—""Stop right there." Angela was at a loss. "Are you really not aware that he has a problem with me? What is wrong with your brain? Di
"Yeah, Pete! How could you do this to us?" Francis reproached him with knitted brows.Outwardly, he was backing Andrew up, but on the inside, he was filled with doubts.He hadn't expected Angela to send gifts not just to him, but to Pete as well. He believed Angela must be desperate, resorting to such a foolish strategy as buying them off.However…Francis stroked his chin. That painting was exquisite—so much so that he couldn't stop admiring it. He had already hidden it away at home, reluctant to let anyone else lay eyes on it."Uncle Andrew, I just want to gain some experience away from headquarters. Don't worry, even if I go to the subsidiary, I would never betray you. Angela wants you to move to a subsidiary too, right? That way—""You're an absolute fool!" Andrew interrupted Pete with a cold sneer. "Can't you see this is clearly a ploy to weaken you? Once you leave for the subsidiary, there's no telling if you'll ever return. By the time she dismantles everything you've pa