"Angela, aren't you going to apologize to Mr. Hood?" Nora said coldly. Her tone was filled with reproach.Angela's response was a sneer. "What now? Will we lose the deal if I don't drink this glass of wine?"She felt a deep unease. The contract between the two companies had already been finalized by the higher-ups. It was essentially a done deal. Her presence here was merely a formality.Nora was clearly targeting her, using her as a pawn for Dave's amusement."Don't talk nonsense. I'm giving you one more chance. Apologize to Mr. Hood!" Nora suddenly stood up and glared at Angela with icy eyes.She had never encountered such a bold employee who dared to speak back to a superior like this. It was outrageous."Why should I apologize?" Instead of being angry, Angela looked at Nora calmly and said, "Ms. Rutherford, please tell me what I said or did wrong.""You—""Alright, alright. Mr. Hood, I'll drink with you, okay?" Clara quickly intervened. Not waiting for Dave's response, she
Angela's breath hitched.It was Dexter. Why was he here?Dexter's sharp gaze scanned the room. He immediately locked onto the hand on Angela's shoulder.Without a word, he strode over and pulled her aside. Then, he rolled up his sleeves and delivered a powerful punch straight to Dave's fat face.Dave hadn't seen it coming. The force of the blow nearly snapped his neck.A bruised purple imprint quickly appeared on Dave's face. It was a horrifying sight.Dexter's eyes were menacing, filled with murderous intent. He looked as if he were about to devour Dave.As he delivered punch after punch, each one seemingly with lethal force, it didn't take long before Dave's face was left unrecognizable."Mr. Bamford… Mr. Bamford, please stop!" one of Dave's lackeys pleaded, but he was kicked across the room in the next instant.Still not satisfied, Dexter grabbed a bottle from the coffee table and smashed it down on the hand that had touched Angela.With a loud crash, the bottle shattered.
Dexter had come here for business. Yet, midway through negotiations, he walked out, leaving Lucas Cullen behind without explanation or concern."Mr. Bamford, Mr. Cullen is still waiting upstairs. We—""Get out," Dexter cut Erica off coldly before she could finish her sentence.Erica froze for a moment, but she knew Dexter's commands were absolute. Without a word, she got out of the car, only to spot Angela slumped in the passenger seat, her face alarmingly flushed.She thought Angela's ability to keep a man like Dexter wrapped around her finger was remarkable. Erica needed to think of a new approach.Dexter took the wheel himself. Before long, they arrived at Bamford Estate.By that time, Angela was completely unconscious. She mumbled softly, but her words were incoherent.Looking at her pale and pitiful state, Dexter felt a surge of frustration. Yet, he still called the family doctor to check on her."M-Mr. Bamford, Mrs. Bamford has been drugged," the doctor stammered before h
The atmosphere in the room grew so thick with tension that it was hard to breathe.Dexter's expression darkened, and he glared at her. "Angela Graham!"Yesterday, he had held back and even lowered himself to help her, yet Angela was now turning on him. It was infuriating."I'm going to work, Mr. Bamford. Goodbye." Angela quickly left, closing the door behind her.That was close, but it felt satisfying. She felt like laughing as she thought of Dexter's face turning crimson. Finally, he'd had his moment. However, her smile quickly faded.As Angela entered the design department, Nora approached with a cold expression. "You've been fired. I've already informed HR. You don't meet the company's standards. The compensation will be transferred to your account shortly."Angela froze in disbelief. "You? Fired me?" she asked.Nora was merely the head of Division One in the design department. What gave her the authority to dismiss someone Callum had personally hired?"You ruined a major
Angela's anger grew with every word she uttered. She showed no shame about almost being harassed.Nora, on the other hand, seemed at a loss. "Don't you feel embarrassed? You...""Why should I be embarrassed? I'm the victim here. Is there something wrong with that?" Angela shot back. "Ms. Rutherford, shouldn't you be reflecting on your own actions?"Just as Angela finished speaking, a low voice from the corner sounded. "Exactly."The whispers around them began to grow louder."She once took me to a business meeting where I was forced to nearly drink myself to death.""Nora always takes the pretty employees to entertain men. I don't know what she's thinking.""She secured half of her deals by using female employees. She's not as clever as she thinks."The murmurs were coming from all directions now. Nora was suddenly the target of everyone's criticism.No one had expected this, not even Clara, who had been observing quietly. She was surprised by Angela's boldness, which seemed t
Nora's frustration reached its peak, and for the first time, she dared to challenge Callum's orders. As she began to speak, Callum's piercing gaze locked onto her. It was so cold and unforgiving that it silenced her in an instant.As soon as Callum left, Angela quickly followed him."Mr. Snowden," she called out.Callum turned back, his expression now as gentle as always. It reminded her of that moment on the podium, when his gaze had been just as warm and encouraging."Yes?" he asked with a smile. His gaze was akin to an older brother's as he watched his younger sister grow up."Mr. Snowden, I'm new here. I don't have the experience, and I'm not sure if I'm ready for this—" she faltered."You're more than capable," Callum interrupted. "Someone told me you're exceptional and that I should look after you. Your ability to win that award proves you're meant for more than just being an ordinary designer."With that, he turned and left, leaving Angela in a daze.She couldn't help bu
The pressure on Angela's shoulder vanished instantly. Dexter's face turned as dark as a storm cloud. After a long pause, he turned and walked out of the room. Only then did Angela breathe a sigh of relief.As soon as Dexter left the house, Erica got out of the car and respectfully handed him the phone."Mr. Bamford, Callum's calling."Dexter's face grew even darker at that. He took the phone without saying a word.Neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.Finally, Callum broke the silence. "Mr. Bamford, our past issues don't need to involve an innocent woman."His voice wasn't loud but carried an inexplicable lazy tone that was somehow infuriating.Dexter let out a cold laugh. Angela was anything but innocent. "She's my wife.""I know," Callum replied calmly. "I'm not interested in her. I admire her talent. I can't stand to see it go to waste. If you truly care about her, you wouldn't be so petty and make a fool of yourself."Callum was known for his m
"If I leave, who else will stick around to help you?" Clara shot Angela a glare. "Stop talking and hurry up!"By the time they arrived at Division One, nearly half of the 50 employees were packing up their desks. Some others were just standing by, observing the situation.The ones who stayed put were mostly junior employees that Division Two hadn't bothered recruiting.As soon as Angela and Clara entered, Nora's eyes narrowed sharply."Well, isn't this our lucky Ms. Graham?" she sneered. "I was planning to work hard here in Division One, bring in more projects, and help everyone make money. Thanks to you, Ms. Graham, we'll all just have to survive on scraps now."Her words made it sound like they couldn't land projects because of Angela."Nora, stop talking nonsense. That incident was entirely your fault. Mr. Snowden was already generous enough to let you stay. You're being completely unreasonable!" Clara snapped.Angela was taken aback but felt a warm sense of gratitude. After
"Don't worry," Dexter said coldly. "I won't go the wrong way. Does your arm still hurt?"Angela didn't reply immediately. After a while, she asked, "Can you put me down for now? My back hurts."He was holding her in a way that made her particularly uncomfortable.Dexter had no choice but to set her down on a flat area. Standing up, he looked down at her from above."Why are you carrying me? It's not like we're in a rush to get down the mountain. Don't think this will change my opinion of you," Angela muttered.Ever since that incident, she had been particularly wary of Dexter; she was unwilling to be alone with him.He looked a bit exasperated. "Do you think I want to carry you? You got injured because of my mom. I'm just paying back the favor for her so that you don't accuse us of owing you anything later."Angela was momentarily at a loss for words, silently fuming to herself.This was indeed an obscure path, a narrow trail hidden deep within the bushes. It was nearly invisib
Fiona also came over. "If you like it, take it home to keep Mitsy company."As she spoke, she squatted down and gently stroked the back of the tabby cat.Angela hurriedly stopped her. "Don't touch it. It's a stray cat."It was already too late by the time she finished speaking. Just as Fiona was about to remove her hand, the tabby cat swiped at her with its claws. Angela quickly pushed Fiona aside. In that instant, a sharp pain struck. Angela's arm was scratched, with four vivid red marks that were shocking to see."Oh, no!" Fiona got up from the ground, her face pale at the sight. "Quick, you need—""You need to get vaccinated," Dexter abruptly said. "Otherwise, you might get rabies."Angela knew this too. Her arm stung with a burning pain. The cat had seemed so docile, but its claws were unexpectedly sharp. The deepest scratch was oozing dark blood, and the pain made her face turn pale."Let's head down the mountain," Dexter said.They had just climbed up, so their energy a
With his unchanging gentle demeanor, Finn emitted a calm and pleasant air that could put people at ease.Dexter, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. He was wearing a black jacket, black cargo pants, and black hiking boots.As he was clad entirely in black, he appeared brooding and intimidating, especially when he wasn't speaking or smiling—he looked like he was ready to pick a fight at any moment."What's the matter? Are you hoping I'll hurry up and divorce her so that you can take my place?" Dexter broke his silence after a pause, speaking with biting sarcasm.Finn scoffed. "Whether you divorce her or not makes no difference to me. My feelings for her aren't something you can compare to.""Oh?" Dexter smirked. "Does she know that you're that infatuated with her? Is she okay with that? Or are you just deluding yourself while she doesn't care about you at all?"It was unlike Dexter to talk this much, especially with someone he didn't care for. But today, he was unusually
"I'm over here." Fiona's voice came from behind them.Angela instinctively turned around and saw her mother-in-law in name stepping out of a black SUV, dressed in hiking attire, looking much younger than usual.However, Angela's smile quickly faded when her eyes landed on the person carrying a backpack behind Fiona.It was Dexter. Why was he everywhere?Why wasn't he in his office working overtime? Why did he have to follow them on this hike?Angela pulled Fiona aside, her tone low and questioning. "Why did you bring him here?" Fiona, usually a commanding woman who never hesitated to get things her way, looked somewhat sheepish at the moment as she forced a smile."Angela, he just happened to have the day off, and when he heard I was going to meet you all, he insisted on coming. I made him carry some food, and he can carry your bag and even drive for us. Isn't that fine?""Why would I need him to carry my bag? I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself." Angela scoffed. "Next
Lately, Angela and Dexter had been living together rather peacefully. Angela had never seen Dexter this angry before—it was entirely unlike him."Did you forget? This is my house." she sneered coldly. "You're just a guest here."Dexter was momentarily at a loss for words. His retort was caught in his throat."Angela, don't be angry anymore. Since Mr. Bamford is back, why don't we just eat together? There's no need for all this tension." Finn spoke up as he knocked lightly on the door from outside.Angela let out a disdainful huff before opening the door to step out.Finn was standing there with his signature gentle smile, his demeanor so refined that it was hard to refuse him."Mr. Bamford, would you like to join us?" Finn asked politely.Angela believed Dexter would never swallow his pride and agree."Sure."To Angela's surprise, Dexter actually headed to the kitchen, grabbed a plate, and sat down at the table.Angela was dumbfounded.Why was Dexter suddenly acting like thi
Angela's face lit up with joy before she quickly walked over."Congratulations on finally getting what you wanted," Finn said with a gentle and elegant smile.There was an indescribable warmth about him that made people feel comforted."It's also thanks to you. Let's go grab a bite. How about I treat you to some barbecue?" Angela suggested with a smile."The barbecue out here isn't good." Finn showed a slight frown.Angela replied without hesitation, "Then let's go to my place. I'll cook, but you'll have to help."The two went to the market together and bought a lot of ingredients. After some time preparing everything, they had the portable grill and ingredients ready by seven.The large living room was filled with the aroma of meat.Angela took a few oranges from the fridge to make juice and poured it into two large glasses, then handed one to Finn.He gladly accepted it. Just as the two were about to clink glasses and start eating, the door was pushed open from outside.Ang
Joanne gave a nod. "Of course. You can make any request. After all, Madam Fiona is paying me a lot.""Oh?" Angela's interest was piqued. "How much does she pay you per month? I can pay you that amount myself in the future.""20 thousand a month." Joanne then added in her usual serious tone, "Madam Fiona gave me an opportunity when I needed it most. I only follow her instructions."Joanne was obviously a person who repaid the kindness she received.Angela became even more satisfied with her. "Alright then. If you need my help with anything, feel free to ask. I only have one request—can you smile?"All morning, Joanne hadn't smiled once. She kept a serious expression, as if ready to fight someone at any moment.Joanne instinctively frowned, as if smiling was particularly difficult for her."Don't force yourself if you can't," Angela said, exasperated.She glanced at her sports watch; it was just past seven. She could still nap a bit before going to work."You should rest. I'll g
Later at the dining table, Fiona couldn't resist asking, "Why are you acting so quickly now? Before, you were always dragging your feet and holding back." Angela took a bite of food and smiled faintly. "I was waiting for the right moment. Bill is so cunning; I had to wait for him to reveal all his cards before taking action."Fiona nodded in agreement and poured her a glass of peach juice. "Not bad. It was both smart and bold. You'll be the head of Graham Group soon. If you need any help, just let me know."Angela chuckled. "Why do I feel like we're becoming more like friends instead of a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law?"Fiona rolled her eyes. "Whether we become in-laws or not is still up to you, isn't it? You're so heartless for deciding you don't want my son and dropping him just like that. Poor him."Angela couldn't help but laugh, but she didn't respond to the comment. Suddenly, she remembered something and asked, "Can you do me a favor?""Tell me," Fiona asked, lowering
"Back then, didn't you do the same by slowly seizing everything from Mom until you left her with nothing, making her die in despair? But unlike you, I'm not that ruthless. I won't drive you to death, nor will I harm Zack. "If you hand over the company sooner rather than later, I might even consider training Zack, turning him into a competent assistant for me in the future." Angela's tone was cold, and her gaze was fixed on Bill, filled with nothing but mockery.This man had never reflected on his mistakes. At his core, he was nothing but a selfish, despicable creature."You… you'll never get what you want!" Bill sneered through gritted teeth, his voice icy and resolute. "Even if you kill me, I'll never let you have your way!"Angela leisurely rose from her seat. "Suit yourself, then. Take care. I'll be leaving now."She truly didn't care. With Bill's doctor firmly in her grasp, she wasn't worried. This weak, pathetic man would eventually have to submit to her.…Time passed qui