"I'm going to the restroom." Angela excused herself, standing up and walking away casually. In a private room upstairs, Amber was indeed waiting.Since the restaurant belonged to the Sheppard family, it wasn't surprising that she had shown up there unnoticed.It had only been a few days, but Amber had noticeably lost weight. Her face looked even more haggard than before, as if she had suffered a great deal.Angela felt uneasy seeing her like this, but she had already said everything she could.Wait, that wasn't quite right. She still hadn't asked why such an outstanding young woman would insist on throwing herself at her good-for-nothing brother."Angela, you're here." Amber forced a weak smile, standing up to greet Angela and reaching out to pull a chair for her.Angela stopped her. "Are you… not feeling well?"Amber's smile became even more strained. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, avoiding Angela's gaze. "It's nothing. I'm just leaving soon, so I just can't help
"Even a grade schooler could do that kind of work. You're just wasting my time and energy. I want to join the sales department and be a salesperson," Zack said with a somewhat peculiar expression, rubbing his nose as he spoke.Angela agreed without hesitation. "Sure, as long as you can put your pride aside, you can choose any position in the company."But sales isn't easy—it's a commission-based job. Do well, and you'll be driving luxury cars. If not, you'll be struggling to make ends meet. Are you mentally prepared for that?"Zack scoffed. "If I set my mind to it, there's nothing I can't do."He gazed out of the car window, a distant look in his eyes.As the sun dipped below the horizon, its orange glow fell on his slender shoulders, making him seem like a dazzling figure straight out of a comic book.Angela said nothing more. Instead, she silently glanced at Dexter. Their eyes met, and at that moment, they both understood why Zack suddenly wanted to change.Perhaps he also fel
Dexter told Joanne to invite Sheldon Larson, the doctor who exclusively treated Joseph, to perform acupuncture on Angela.Angela had always been afraid of those fine needles piercing her skin, but at this moment, she silently agreed.The pain was just too unbearable. It was so intense that she wished she could just die."Are you okay?" Dexter sat beside her, his concern evident.Angela couldn't say a word and merely let out a weak hum. The overwhelming pain washed over her like a tidal wave, making even her breathing rapid and unsteady.Right then, her phone rang. Angela gestured for Dexter to answer it for her.It was Clara calling to ask why Angela hadn't arrived at the company yet. They had scheduled for their business partners to come for a visit to assess the company that day."Help me up." Angela took a deep breath, trying to support herself on the couch and stand.Dexter quickly reached out to hold her. "You're in no condition to go. Let the COO handle it."His tone car
Angela couldn't be bothered to argue with Natalie, who didn't even like her. She simply nodded at Fiona."Dexter, come with me," Natalie called Dexter outside.They stood at the end of the corridor. There was no one else except them.Natalie got straight to the point. "What exactly happened? How did she suddenly end up with such a serious condition? Wasn't she already treated after she fell into the lake last time? Or did she suffer any aftereffects? What's wrong with her anyway? How could she be so irresponsible with her health?"Dexter's expression darkened. "Grandma, who wouldn't care about their own health? This has nothing to do with her negligence."Natalie shot him a sharp look, lowering her voice to say, "If she really can't have children, then shouldn't you start preparing? Our family can't just—""This is none of your business." Dexter's voice turned icy. "Whether we have children or not doesn't affect my relationship with her.""Do you even have a relationship? Does s
In the following days, Angela kept trying to get past everyone who was trying to stop her and hurry back to work.Unfortunately, her biggest obstacle was Fiona, as Dexter was currently fully focused on investigating all the suspicious leads regarding her recent incident.Angela's period cramps had passed, and her complexion had gradually improved with daily rest and care. Fiona was worried Angela would get bored staying in the hospital, so she often took her out for short walks.Many people had come to visit her during this time, but today, two unexpected guests arrived—Ursula and her daughter, Cecilia.The last time Angela had seen them was at the family banquet at Bamford Manor. They'd had no contact since then.Ursula and Fiona had always maintained a surface-level cordiality but never truly got along. After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, Ursula shifted her attention to Angela."How could something like this happen? I really wonder who could be so wicked as to harm someo
Angela was a little suspicious of what it was as she took the box and opened it. Inside lay an emerald bracelet identical to the one she had. It was exquisite and elegant.Her eyes lit up. "Where did you find this dupe?"She picked up the bracelet, comparing it to hers. "How much was it? I'll send you the money."It was good to have a duplicate to wear. If she went to Bamford Manor next time, it wouldn't look good if Joseph saw her wrist bare.Dexter rolled his eyes. "Do you really think I'd buy a dupe, Angela?"She chuckled awkwardly. "Then this must've been expensive.""It's in the double digits. It's not worth that much." Dexter snorted lightly before walking out the door.Curious, Angela later asked Rocky about it. Rocky told her Dexter had gotten one of his friends, a jewelry maker, to bring this piece from a remote place. It was a one-of-a-kind treasure—something money couldn't easily buy.She was momentarily stunned.Angela began to feel bad again, leading to inner tu
Dexter believed that he had finally made the right move. He needed to strike while the iron was hot by inviting Angela out for a meal and taking the chance to strengthen their relationship.With that thought in mind, he got into his car and started the engine before dialing Angela's number, eagerly preparing his invitation."I'm out with Mia. I'll hang up now."Angela's voice was light and cheerful when she spoke, and the background hum of a bustling crowd could be heard. She had actually gone out.Before Dexter could utter a single word, he was completely shut down.He instantly froze on the spot. His expression darkened like an impending storm as he clenched tightly around his phone.This ungrateful woman had no conscience at all! How heartless!Little did Angela know that she had just been branded as ungrateful and heartless in Dexter's mind. She had been bored staying at the hospital, so she had decided to visit Mia and drag her along to watch Zack make a fool of himself.L
"You think you're hot stuff? Sales reps like you are a dime a dozen."The group grew nastier by the second, reducing Zack to nothing.Even Mia, who had been watching quietly, couldn't stand it anymore. "These guys are way out of line. What kind of friends are they?"Angela, however, merely smiled. "Letting him see their true colors sooner rather than later is a good thing. It will save him from wasting time with them and ruining his life."Mia tutted in amusement. "I can't believe a sister as ruthless and cold-hearted as you exists, but I suppose it is for his own good."Meanwhile, Zack was nearing his breaking point. His handsome face was ablaze with anger.The group, however, seemed to enjoy watching him on edge, eagerly waiting for his outburst like a live show.Angela, too, was watching intently, but there was a hint of concern in her heart."You lot seriously came all the way here just to run your mouths at me? If that's all, then get lost. Besides, you guys are just a bun
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
Nigel never expected Angela to be this determined—at the very least, her perseverance was commendable.By the time Dexter arrived, Angela was already battered and bruised. With clenched teeth, she desperately tried to fight back, but she was blocked time and time again. It was downright tragic to watch."Dexter, you have to talk some sense into her!" Fiona pleaded anxiously. Watching Angela get knocked down over and over again made her wince just from witnessing it.Dexter's face was dark with frustration. He stared intently at the bruised Angela on the training ground, unable to vent his anger and frustration.What right did he have to stop her? The more he tried to talk sense into her, the more stubborn she became, and the more she would deliberately go against him.She didn't even see herself as a woman anymore—she was acting like a lunatic."Why would I do that? Let her suffer." Dexter scoffed coldly, turning away.At first, everyone around Angela tried to dissuade her from
Yet, the way Nigel spoke was a bit strange and amusing.Feeling her blood boiling with excitement, Angela nearly laughed out loud. She barely managed to suppress it before nodding firmly. "Understood. I'll do my best not to disappoint you, coach."Her determination was unwavering. This wasn't just a fight for herself—it was another battle for Graham Group.She had to start strong, with full confidence, and give it her all to seize everything she wanted.Nigel looked at her with a complex expression, watching her for a long moment before a trace of hesitation flickered in his eyes."If you're really sure about this, then there's nothing more to say. You can start by fighting me."Angela immediately felt a chill run down her spine.She had learned everything she knew from Joanne, who had always praised her perseverance and rapid improvement. But that didn't mean she was ready to take on a state-level kickboxing coach!"What, got cold feet?" Nigel raised an eyebrow at her. "If y
"But this whole issue started because of Mr. Graham," Clara explained. "Apparently, he and Joel were love rivals in their youth, which made them particularly dislike each other."Their rivalry has lasted to this day. Even though Mr. Graham is no longer involved in company affairs, Joel still refuses to let us off."Angela was stunned. "Love rivals? Joel also liked Judy?"Clara shook her head fervently. "No, not her. I believe he liked Madam Marie."The moment those words left her mouth, Clara looked a bit uneasy, not daring to lift her head.Marie was no stranger—she was Angela's mother.Angela remained silent, flipping through the information Clara had compiled on Joel. Her gaze lingered on his picture. He was a man in his 50s who still had an air of refined elegance.Joel Crawford… Marie had never mentioned him, nor had she left behind any notes about him.Angela couldn't help but wonder whether Joel had gone against Bill all these years as a way to avenge Marie. It seemed
As Angela noticed Dexter's slightly tense face, an unexplainable thought arose in her mind.She could almost picture him awkwardly giving orders to Rocky, telling him to hire online commenters to stir up rumors about them.Rocky would probably think he had misheard and ask for confirmation, only to be scolded in a low voice before he scurried away with his tail between his legs.Clearing her throat, Angela asked casually, "Have you eaten?" Dexter didn't meet her gaze. "I have." Then, he quickly went upstairs."I genuinely think he has strong feelings for you. Are you really not going to consider being with him? It's not every day you come across a good man like him—even in a place like Eldmere City."Chuckling, Mia then added, "Besides, he's completely devoted to you. Imagine the prestige of being able to conquer a man like that!"Angela merely smiled noncommittally.The world truly didn't make sense. Since ancient times, men had always been the ones taught to pursue power,
"Can't you guys just ship them peacefully? Why do you have to compare and put others down? They're a real married couple, not some random lovebirds.""They are both gorgeous. I've never seen such a perfectly matched couple before. They need to be together forever!"What even was this?"You still don't know? You two have been trending online like crazy lately. For some reason, everyone thinks you two are a perfect match. There's even merchandise of you guys—can you believe that?"Mia came over to hang out with Angela and casually brought up the topic. The two women immediately started buzzing about it.Angela began to laugh so hard that the injury on her back got tugged, making her grimace in pain."Does no one care about how I got hurt? Why is everyone's focus on something so weird?" She gritted her teeth.The staff from the operations and logistics department told her that the chandelier had fallen purely by accident. Apparently, there had been ongoing renovations upstairs and