What the heck was Mia saying?"I just feel bad since he saved my life before. If I don't accept his kindness, wouldn't that make me seem ungrateful? I want to repay him, but every time I have that thought, I feel like I'm being presumptuous. It's frustrating enough as it is, so stop spouting nonsense."Angela let out a frustrated sigh. She wished she could just set things straight with Dexter, lay everything out, and make a clean break."If you truly wanted to sever ties with him, you would have done so long ago. Otherwise, why would you still be waiting around?" Mia said calmly, as if she had seen right through her.Angela frowned deeply, her thoughts a mess."What do you mean by that? What should I do then?" She remained silent for a long time, feeling like she had encountered a difficult problem."He loves you, and you have feelings for him. It's a good thing—a happy thing. Why make it so complicated? Or are you still holding a grudge for the way he treated you in the past?" M
Angela was a little irritated. "Me too. She's definitely doing this for Trevor.""She said Trevor won't be there," Fiona replied."I don't want to do it. I'm busy since I need to go to Yedren to inspect the project revisions. Plus, the kickboxing club from last time just invited me to their exhibition match, and Mia also needs my help from time to time. I don't have time to put in all this effort just to be unappreciated," Angela said bluntly.Fiona nodded. "I'm not that free either. She always favors that bastard. It's honestly disheartening."As such, the two of them sent messages in the family group chat, saying they were both busy and suggesting that Natalie assign the task to someone else.But that very night, Natalie had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital.Upon hearing the news, Angela and Fiona were left with no choice but to visit her.As expected, Natalie scolded them both the moment she saw them, accusing them of being disrespectful and uncaring toward their
Zack grinned eagerly. "Angie, if you like him, I'll get his contact info for you.""What contact info?" Dexter's tall figure suddenly loomed over them as he forced his way into the conversation.Angela and Zack exchanged a glance and instinctively dropped the topic. Just then, the good-looking waiter from before walked over with a tray and set a fancy Black Forest cake in front of Angela.In an especially gentle voice, he said, "For the lovely lady. Please enjoy."Not only was he dashing, but his voice was also music to the ears. He was like a breath of fresh air. Angela couldn't help but smile as she lifted her gaze to take a proper look at him.Goodness. He was even more attractive up close. Those dark, deep-set eyes seemed to contain an endless galaxy, making them utterly mesmerizing.How could someone like this be a mere waiter?"What's your name?" The moment the words left Angela's mouth, she regretted it.What the hell was she doing? If she wanted to know, she should've l
Natalie's outfit was especially striking. She wore a stunning blue evening gown, complemented by a string of pearls, and was smiling radiantly, exuding an indescribable elegance and grace.As soon as she appeared, the crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause, bringing the atmosphere to its peak.Angela and Fiona, however, remained calm, each lost in their own thoughts.Waves of applause surrounded them, and Natalie seemed thoroughly pleased with the event.The two women, unbothered, occasionally clinked their glasses together in quiet understanding whenever the applause grew too loud, like old confidants sharing an inside joke.Then, out of nowhere, the host said, "Let's welcome Ms. Graham and Madam Fiona to the stage!"Angela jolted in surprise, instinctively turning to Fiona. What was going on?Fiona was just as bewildered as she looked back at Angela in surprise. Before they could react, the lights in the banquet hall suddenly went dark. Only a single spotlight remained, shin
Angela didn't hesitate to follow along. She had no interest in putting up with Natalie's pointless anger and would much rather spend her time grabbing a late-night snack.However, she was still a bit puzzled. Who were the two people that had taken Trevor away earlier? The timing had been too perfect."Stop right there!" Natalie's shoulders trembled with rage as she pointed at Fiona. "You… You're a disrespectful daughter-in-law! The reason you ended up like this is because you weren't capable enough. You failed to keep your husband's heart and couldn't control him."That's why he went to someone else! Given that, you should reflect on your mistakes, accept, and tolerate your husband instead of constantly opposing the family!"What kind of twisted logic was this?Angela let out a scoff, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. But since Fiona remained silent, she didn't bother to speak either.Unexpectedly, Natalie intensified her attack. "I'm doing this for your own good. If people
"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Grandma. I truly can't lay eggs," Angela replied with amusement as she watched Natalie's livid face.What was Natalie thinking? Did she want to turn the whole family upside down?Natalie pointed at Angela. "You! Get out!" she snarled as she rose from her seat."Calm down, Grandma." Dexter, who'd been silent until now, spoke calmly. "We won't stop you from bringing Trevor into the family but don't expect others to welcome him with open arms." His words instantly sent Natalie into a fury. "You too? He is your brother! He—" "I have no brother. My mother had only one child—me," Dexter interjected coldly. "Also, if you continue to make unreasonable claims against my mother and my wife while favoring an outsider…"He paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and continued, "I'll send you away, and whatever you do after that is none of my business. " "You piece of shit! It's all because of you that your mother and your wife dared to treat me w
"Hey, do I look like I'll lose my composure that easily?" Angela scoffed as she prepared to get out of the car. "But don't blame me for being ruthless if he doesn't fall in line. Since you've entrusted the matter to me, stay out of it and just play along when the time comes."Seeing her confidence, Dexter was at a loss for words. "Just act accordingly, okay?"As Angela nodded casually, she asked, "Were you the one who took Trevor away?"Dexter responded with silence. Until now, he still suspected that Trevor was behind the scheme against Angela, causing her injuries. Since Trevor had ended up in his hands, there was no way he would let this opportunity pass by.After briefly handing over company affairs, Angela took Joanne to Emerelda Jewelries, the subsidiary under Bamford Co.Although it was just a subsidiary, it was anything but small—judging by the two towers that made up the office alone. Angela was stunned by the sight of the skyscraper when she got to the office. Even Graha
Felix was taken aback when he followed Hank's gaze. Angela looked too familiar to him. However, he couldn't remember who she was or why she was here.After all, he was obsessed with the feeling of being in control of Emerelda Jewelries. He had lost all common sense long ago."I'm Angela," she reminded him with a smile. "So you were behind the theft of our company's antiques?"Felix was furious, but he laughed and replied, "Who let her in? How dare she spout nonsense here? The company is mine, and so is everything inside it! What does any of this have to do with you?"Still, the name "Angela" felt oddly familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before."How ridiculous! Do you even hear yourself? 80% of the company shares belong to me, yet you dare to claim it for yourself? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" Angela sneered. Suddenly, as though struck by a realization, she exclaimed, "Oh my! Wait, are you Uncle Felix? No, there's no way. Uncle Felix wouldn't commit inventory theft o
Angela was taken aback when her thoughts escaped her lips. She froze and gave an awkward chuckle. "Well… um... no matter how handsome they are, they're nothing compared to you. You're way more attractive. You're..."Dexter was visibly upset and glared at her. "Shut up! Stop going to places like that in the future!"Angela pouted but had no choice. She could only agree for now to calm his anger. Afterward, the two of them headed to Azure Club together. They arrived half an hour earlier than scheduled. Yet, to their surprise, Austin was already there, casually sipping his drink in the booth.He wore a black shirt and radiated an understated allure. The gold-rimmed glasses lent a touch of intellect to his sophisticated presence, while his graceful and composed movements further enhanced his charm. Just by sitting there, he attracted countless glances from other patrons. Some bold women even walked up to ask for his number, only to be met with a cold, piercing gaze that sent the
Dexter frowned instinctively.Angela's phone wasn't locked, and a message from someone named "Drifting Cloud" appeared on the screen. "Let's meet tomorrow at 6:00 pm in Azure Club."After seeing the location, Dexter instantly became nervous. Without hesitation, he picked up the phone and tapped into the message. Sure enough, "Drifting Cloud" was none other than Austin. Of all places, why did he have to choose Azure Club? There was no way Dexter would allow Angela to go there.Angela had become quite fond of handsome men. Whenever she saw a good-looking guy on the street, she would keep glancing at him. A couple of times, her colleagues had taken her to Azure Club to see the escorts. Ever since, she'd been obsessed, always looking for an excuse to go back. If it weren't for the fact that Callum owned the place, Dexter would've already bought out that indecent establishment and shut it down.But the one asking her out was Austin, someone she'd been eager to see for a long time
That kind of personality, combined with Austin's good looks and talent, made countless women flock to him. Yet, no one had ever seen him get particularly close to anyone. Even with Angela, he'd always been distant, rarely showing any warmth. Because of this, Angela had always felt a little intimidated around him and had never dared to get too close. But today, he'd taken the initiative to add her.She wondered if she should send him a message. Since he'd already made the first move, she figured she should at least show some sincerity in return.Suddenly, someone knocked on her door. Angela was shocked, then let out a sigh. The only person who'd come at this hour was Dexter. She wondered why he always appeared in the middle of the night instead of just going to bed like a normal person.Feeling helpless, she opened the door, ready to confront him. However, she found Dexter standing there with a thermometer in his mouth, looking sick and pitiful. "I'm having a fever," he said
Dexter took a deep breath and stared straight into Angela's eyes. "Do you think I need your damn money?"A rebellious thought suddenly popped into Angela's mind. "You might not need the money, but plenty of others do, like that tall, muscular male escort at Azure Club.""You have no sincerity at all! I went out of my way to help you with such a big favor," Dexter snapped before yanking the car door open and stepping out, slamming it shut with a loud bang.Angela was puzzled by the way he mistreated his cherished car. She hurried out as well. Hearing her footsteps, Dexter slowed down, adopting an effortlessly cool demeanor. He thought she was chasing after him. However, after a few moments of silence, he sensed something was off. He turned his head and was furious by what he saw. Angela had settled into the driver's seat and was following him at a relaxed pace, giving off the vibe of a commanding CEO. Dexter, already fuming, finally lost it. He strode toward her. "Get out!"
However, Angela appeared nonchalant. She was experienced in public speaking, having frequently delivered speeches at the company and even gained a following of admirers. To her, a speech at a homecoming didn't seem like anything particularly impressive.Sure enough, the first speaker was the nephew of Westbridge High School's principal. As a newcomer with little experience, he was supported by a group of backers, and his speech was passionately and eloquently written. However, his slightly hoarse voice and trembling hands made it clear to everyone just how nervous he really was."Just a rookie. Nothing special." Angela leaned back in her seat absentmindedly. She was clearly unimpressed.Dexter wasn't interested either. Every so often, he glanced toward a seat ahead of him as if something had caught his attention.Angela was curious. He was typically the one intriguing others and was always calm and distant. She wondered why he was suddenly so distracted.Following his gaze, her
Felix was frustrated.Once Angela stepped out of the living room, she found Cecilia waiting for her in the courtyard. Angela barely had any interactions with her. Despite Cecilia's cheerful demeanor, she was actually just as scheming as Ursula. This made it hard for Angela to feel any fondness toward her. "Cecilia, is there something you need?" Angela asked with a smile as she approached. Cecilia casually grabbed Angela's arm and led her for a walk around the courtyard. "Angela, our school is celebrating its homecoming event next week, and many famous alumni will be attending. Could you come too? Think of it as a chance to make some new friends."Angela was momentarily stunned. Cecilia was currently at high school. If Angela remembered correctly, her school was Westbridge High School. The school had a long history of producing talented individuals, including exceptionally gifted graduates like Dexter and Mateo. "It wouldn't be very appropriate for me to attend, would it
Angela was stunned and looked at Dexter in astonishment. Then, she instinctively glanced at Joseph, who was seated at the head of the table.Joseph frowned, looking helpless. "Dexter, what do you mean by that?" Ursula asked with a displeased expression, staring at him intently. Her gaze carried a hint of provocation. Joseph exclaimed impatiently, "Enough! Ursula, all of you should head back for now."Ursula frowned, wanting to say something but ultimately holding back."Grandpa, Grandma, we'll be leaving first then." Mateo picked up his tablet and stood up, his expression calm and gentle.Angela gazed over at him. Among Mateo, Trevor, and Dexter, Mateo appeared the gentlest. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and a white suit, radiating a unique warmth and elegance that suggested sophistication even without him needing to speak. He was strong-willed and never compromised on the path his parents had arranged for him. If it weren't for Dexter being naturally gifted in business leader
Angela smiled faintly. "What are you doing this for? You're Dexter's uncle. As long as he's around, you'll never face any difficulties. "Wouldn't it be better to just enjoy a carefree life of luxury? Why insist on making a mess of the company and ruining whatever goodwill others still have for you?"Felix suddenly froze as a sudden realization struck him. "Are you saying... this was all that brat Dexter's idea?"Angela spread her hands casually. "I never said that. Don't make things up."Felix glared at her and turned to leave. He directly went to find Dexter. He even went straight to Bamford Manor to inform Natalie and Joseph about Angela's actions and complain about her.Before the workday ended, Angela received a call from Natalie asking her to return. She was reluctant to go back, knowing she would likely be scolded. Yet, now that the issue was exposed, backing down without a fight was simply not her way.Upon arriving at Bamford Manor, she noticed that everyone, including M
"But you still continue to hire your distant relatives for important positions. If something goes wrong, who will be responsible for it?" Angela asked.If it had been in the past, she might have tolerated it. But these past two days, she'd been in a foul mood and naturally had no patience for this shameless scoundrel.Felix was stunned, looking at her in disbelief. "How... how can you talk to me like that? After all, I'm technically your uncle."Angela didn't even lift her head as she replied impatiently, "Go ask Dexter or Madam Fiona how I dealt with my own biological father. As for you, you're just an uncle. Do you really think I'd care?"She paused for a moment, then slowly raised her head and said in a leisurely tone, "To be honest, I've had enough of you for a long time. If you're willing to keep your head down and behave yourself, I won't go out of my way to make things difficult for you. "But if you insist on being ignorant and desperate for attention, then don't blame me