This was the first piece of positive feedback Angela had heard all day, and it felt like a warm current flowing into her heart.Her nose tingled, and her eyes began to sting with tears. "Thank you, Mr. Snowden."Callum watched her trembling eyelashes with a glint of interest in his eyes."Mr. Snowden, do you have any words for this exceptional designer standing next to you?" Benton asked with a smile as he handed the microphone to Callum.The latter took the mic with an indifferent air but then dropped a bombshell that left the room stunned. "Ms. Graham is incredibly talented. If she were to join DawnStar Co., it would be an immense honor for us."Angela was in shock. She couldn't believe her ears. This was beyond surprising!"I'd be honored," she blurted out without thinking. "To work for DawnStar Co., even as a junior designer starting from scratch, would be an honor."Her voice trembled. She was deeply grateful.Callum shot a half-smile at Dexter in the audience before turni
If Angela could get a divorce, that would be a huge relief. Three joys all at once. It was definitely worth celebrating."Fine, let's get a divorce!"Dexter's mind buzzed. The feeling of losing control over his prey flooded his mind.But what had he just said? How could he agree to this so easily?"Alright, don't go back on your words!" Angela's heart raced with excitement.She called the butler, Winston Hendrix, out. "Draft the divorce papers immediately. I don't want anything—just a clean break!""You're that eager? You want to go running to Callum so badly?" Dexter ground his teeth. His voice was cold and filled with venom.If this had been before, his tone and demeanor would have made her believe he still had feelings for her. She would have been ecstatic.But now, looking at his grim and chilling face, Angela felt nothing but weariness deep inside."Think whatever you want." Scoffing, she sat down on the couch and offered him a casual smile. "Mr. Bamford, don't tell me yo
Angela said calmly, "As long as we sign the divorce papers and get the divorce certificate, you and I will part ways cleanly."With your generosity, I trust you won't use the Graham family to manipulate me or threaten me again. I hope we can sever all ties, ideally never to cross paths again."She continued, "I would be grateful for your magnanimity then, Mr. Bamford.""Mr. Bamford, our subsidiary will be going public next year. If the divorce agreement is made public, it could harm your and the company's image," Winston interjected.Dexter's expression changed slightly. But before he could respond, Angela took over the conversation."I can sign a non-disclosure agreement for three years. During that time, I will keep our divorce private. I'll cooperate with you in front of Grandpa as well, but you'll need to pay me a certain amount."What a perfect solution.Dexter, livid with anger, laughed mockingly. "You really thought this through, Angela. How come I never noticed how eloqu
Angela looked around but didn't spot Dexter anywhere."I'm here for a divorce," she said with a grin.The woman was shocked. She had never seen someone so carefree about a divorce, let alone dressed up in such a flamboyant way.Dexter arrived half an hour late. Angela only stood up when she saw him. Luckily, he had already arranged for their private service that morning.His expression wasn't a happy one, and seeing her dressed so brightly only fueled his anger."Angela, are you already looking for your next man before the divorce is even finalized?" He sneered coldly. His words were sharp like knives."Yes," Angela replied with a laugh. "After all, I can't live without men."Dexter fumed.The divorce process took quite some time, with staff members repeatedly asking if they were really sure about it. After all, the two of them looked like a movie star couple.Angela patiently explained again and again.When the process was finally over, she felt an immense sense of relief.
Judy was increasingly anxious.She had already told her friends that they were going to have a party here. If Angela kicked her out, it would be a huge embarrassment.Moreover, the house was truly beautiful. It was an enchanting castle-like villa built over a decade ago, fulfilling every romantic fantasy a woman could have.This was also a trophy from her victory over her rival. That sense of spiritual pleasure couldn't be matched by any other form of happiness.She needed to calm Angela down first."Angela, why don't we do this? We could live here together, as a family, all under one roof. Then, we can bring your sister back from abroad, and we'll all live happily together. Doesn't that sound better?"Judy had a 20-year-old daughter, Noelle Graham, who was studying abroad. She came back only once a year. Compared to her useless son, Noelle was the true apple of her and Bill's eye."No way," Angela replied without hesitation. She pointed toward the door. "Get out. Now."Judy's
Bill's face paled at once.Right. He wasn't just afraid of Tyler. He was also terrified of Dexter."What sort of play are you two putting on?" Dexter's voice was calm.He was tall, with an imposing presence that seemed to shrink the spacious living room the moment he stepped inside.Bill's face twisted in panic as he instinctively glanced at Judy. He looked as if he wanted to hide behind her."Dexter, y-you should have let us know you were coming." Judy's smile was strained as she fumbled for words.Dexter casually sat down on the couch. "Can't I come? This is Angie's house. As her husband, I'm likely more entitled to be here than either of you."Bill's face turned as pale as a sheet.This didn't make sense! Wasn't Dexter the one who had always looked down on Angela and was eager to cut her loose?"Yes, yes, of course." Judy's forced grin widened as she wrung her hands. She struggled to find something to say.At that moment, the friends Judy had invited for a house tour arriv
Angela spent the afternoon bonding with her new pets. She set up cozy spots for them by the large floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room. In no time, the once-silent house came alive with warmth and activity.That evening, rain began to patter against the windows. Angela ordered takeout and prepared steak for herself, reveling in the small joy of solitude.On Monday, she reported to DawnStar Co. for her first day.The HR personnel led her to the design department on the 23rd floor.As soon as Angela stepped inside, she was stunned by the size of the space. The entire floor, around 5,000 square feet, was filled with the design department's offices."Hi, I'm Nora Rutherford, the head of the design department." A stylish woman in professional attire walked over, her high heels clicking with each step. She extended a friendly hand to Angela.Behind her, the design department staff watched Angela curiously.Angela returned the gesture with a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Ms.
After work, Nora arrived at a café near the company. A woman was already waiting for her."Nora, over here!" A young woman waved her hand.Nora walked in confidently with her high heels clicking on the floor. Her every step exuded elegance."Shelly, what brings you by today?" she asked, pulling out a chair. Nora was Shelly's cousin.Noticing Elena sitting next to her, Nora froze for a second. Why was Elena here too?"Ms. Ruthford," Elena greeted, extending her hand.Nora quickly composed herself, smiling as she shook Elena's hand."Nora, I heard Angela's joined your company. How's she doing?" Shelly went straight to the point.Nora raised an eyebrow. "She's just a regular team member. She only started today. I haven't seen Mr. Snowden paying much attention to her. She seems pretty down-to-earth, but honestly, she doesn't look all that innocent."The thought of Angela's stunning, makeup-free face made Nora feel a twinge of annoyance.On her way out of the office that day, she'
"You've all seen the rules," Angela began, her sharp, unwavering gaze sweeping across the room. "Mr. Snowden has only given us two days. This time, we must shine for ourselves! Are you confident you can do that?"The 20 people in the room exchanged hesitant glances, but none dared to voice absolute confidence.They were still haunted by the oppression they had endured under Nora's leadership.Seeing the bowed heads of her team, Angela felt a wave of frustration but tempered it with an understanding of their struggles."Ashley, we do want to win for Division 1, but Division 2 has more than 80 people, and we're only a quarter of their size. Plus…""Plus what?" Angela interrupted before Clara could finish. "Numbers don't matter if you've got the right people. So what if they have more people? Only one in eight of their members might make it. For us, it's one in every two. What's there to fear?"Her fierce gaze swept across the room, and after a brief pause, she declared boldly, "Don
Angela instinctively glanced at Fiona."Wrongdoings deserve punishment," Fiona said with a faintly grim expression, casting a cold look at the flustered Talia. "You have three days to recover all the stolen items. If not, don't expect me to show any leniency."Talia's tears flowed like a river. The stolen items had already been sold; how could she possibly get them back?"Fiona, isn't this too harsh? If her family had the money, would she have resorted to this? It's clear you have no intention of letting them off." Ursula's voice carried a cold edge, her growing frustration with Fiona evident."And if you were handling this, what would you do?" Fiona replied, her tone sharp yet faintly amused. She fixed her gaze on Ursula, her eyes unyielding. "Since you're so kind-hearted, why not pay for their medical expenses and redeem Natalie's valuables yourself?"Ursula's expression darkened, and she retorted coolly, "What does this have to do with me?"She had only come to watch the drama
Using her position, Talia had entered the room once occupied by the late Natalie, stolen valuables, and taken a few small antique vases from storage, hiding them beneath the floorboards in her room. The stolen items were discovered during the search, leaving no room for denial."She's the one, Dad," Fiona said coldly, her tone laced with anger.The servant, Talia, immediately showed fear, casting a quick, terrified glance at Fiona before lowering her head and trembling.Angela observed the scene, an uneasy feeling settling in her chest."Talia, you've worked here for over eight years. You're practically a veteran in this household. What made you do something so reckless?" Joseph asked with a heavy sigh.Talia, in her early 30s, had been working for the Bamford family alongside her husband, drawn by the generous benefits."Sir, I had no choice," Talia began, her voice breaking. "My son was diagnosed with acute leukemia. He needs money for treatment. I tried asking Madam Fiona for
Angela was nearly choked by Fiona's words.Good grief, Fiona's way of thinking was way too bold."Mom, do you have to be this blunt? Could you at least pretend to say something comforting?" Angela said, caught between laughter and exasperation."What's the point of that?" Fiona replied, unbothered. "Feelings are what they are. If they're gone, they're gone. No use clinging to something that's already lost. Look at me and Dexter's father—we haven't spoken in over a year. The last time we exchanged words was during last year's Christmas dinner, when we said 'Merry Christmas.' And yet, here I am, living just fine."Fiona's tone carried the air of someone who had already planned out Angela's future. She spoke like a seasoned veteran of life's harsh realities."How can two people live under the same roof without any affection?" Angela forced a weak smile. The thought alone left her heart feeling heavy and dull.She had only ever loved one person in her life, only to be discarded like
"Since you know your place, stop chasing after men who don't want you. Understand?" Fiona's voice cut through the tension as she entered the room, carrying several containers of food.Clad in a sharp business suit, Fiona exuded a cold and commanding presence that sent a chill through the room.Elena froze, her face stiff with embarrassment. "Aunt Fiona, I… I was just…""Dexter and Angela are a proper married couple. They have the right and duty to care for each other," Fiona said calmly, her expression unreadable. "As an outsider, a polite inquiry is more than enough. There's no need to go out of your way, and certainly no need to show up looking so elaborately dressed when Angela is sick and unwell."Elena's eyes reddened like a scolded child's. She stammered, "Aunt Fiona, you've misunderstood. I only think of Dexter as a close friend. I… I…"Halfway through, her voice faltered.Back when Dexter and Angela's relationship was on rocky ground, rumors about Elena and Dexter had cir
By the time they arrived at the hospital, Angela was trembling all over, unable to speak due to the pain."Acute appendicitis. It needs to be removed," the doctor said bluntly.Angela flinched, instinctively grabbing Dexter's large hand, her eyes filled with fear.Surgery? She was terrified of the pain."There's no other way. Leaving it untreated will hurt even more." Dexter sighed.It wasn't a major surgery, but Angela's fear was palpable. She was taken into the operating room and came out about three hours later. The night passed in a haze of antiseptic smells as she dozed on and off in the ward.Dexter stayed by her side the entire time, refusing to rest."What's going on with you and Angela? Are you two sleeping in separate rooms?" Fiona asked as she entered the room, scrutinizing Dexter.He froze for a moment."We've been arguing lately," he admitted. "She doesn't want to share a room with me."Fiona scoffed. "You're constantly seen with other women. No wonder she's fed
Nora's face was a kaleidoscope of emotions. Just moments ago, she had been vehemently defending herself, but now her mouth seemed glued shut, unable to form a single word.In the end, the matter escalated to Callum.Angela's proposed resolution was straightforward: terminate Nora's employment."This woman has nothing but ill intentions and is a constant source of trouble," Angela said coldly."I've already agreed to apologize, and you…""I don't accept it," Angela interrupted, her icy gaze cutting through Nora. "Someone as selfish as you, who is willing to jeopardize the company's interests for your own gain, is a liability. Keeping you around will only lead to bigger problems."Nora fell silent, instinctively looking to Stephen for help. He was the only one she could count on now."Mr. Snowden, Nora is under my supervision. I take responsibility for her actions," Stephen said, his voice hoarse and heavy."Then let her work at reception," Callum replied without looking up. "If
Clara froze, confused by the sudden turn of events."Angela, what nonsense are you spouting? Are you out of my mind?" Nora snapped."Enough. Be quiet." Angela rubbed her temples. "You're giving me a headache."Without another word, Angela turned to her laptop, pulled up a video with a few swift clicks, and played it for everyone.The footage showed their former colleague, Rachel Carter—a petite woman often seen in a sunflower-patterned dress. She had a delicate and pleasant appearance.In the video, Rachel accidentally bumped into Clara in passing, causing a piece of clothing to fall to the ground. Rachel was quick to pick it up, glancing at it briefly before handing it back to Clara."Hey, look at this! Doesn't she have a small knife in her hand?" Alan's sharp eyes caught the detail immediately.His comment drew everyone's attention to the screen. He paused the video, zoomed in on the frame, and pointed. "Right here, see? That's a knife!"A murmur spread through the crowd as p
Even so, Angela kept one thing in mind—she knew that Nora wouldn't let things slide so easily. They were bound to find another excuse to stir up trouble, so she waited patiently.She didn't expect it to happen so quickly."Ms. Graham, that gown cost two million dollars just to make. And yet you casually dismissed it? How am I supposed to explain this to the company?"Nora stood with her arms crossed, her expression blank but her voice loud enough for everyone to hear.Angela remained calm, seated at her desk, reviewing the submitted design drafts. Occasionally, she paused to give feedback."Nora, I hadn't planned on holding you accountable for this, but what are you doing now? Are you volunteering to take the blame?" Angela glanced at her with faint amusement, her tone as light as a feather.Over the past few days, Angela had already looked into everything she needed to know. She couldn't fathom why Nora would still try to escalate things.Nora froze, a fleeting panic flashing t