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Chapter 74
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 75
The next morning, Angela arrived at the office in a great mood. She couldn't wait to share the exciting news with Division One of the Design Department."In three days, we'll be heading to Bamford Co. to attend their industry training event. Let's go see for ourselves what it is that makes the event so special."With just a few words, the room went silent as everyone processed the news in disbelief.Within minutes, the announcement spread throughout the design department, and soon, even other departments in the company caught wind of it.Callum also heard about the news and called Angela into his office to confirm the details.Upon discovering that Angela had secured the opportunity through Fiona, Callum couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile."Attending such a prestigious event is great news, but could you perhaps take a few from Division Two along as well, Ms. Graham? Otherwise, I'm afraid it might stir up some tension within the team."Since Callum had now brought
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 76
"Don't worry about it," Angela replied with a faint smile. She seemed entirely unbothered.The group walked past them with a mocking expression, further infuriating everyone from Division One. "What's there to be smug about?" Clara huffed. She glared at their retreating figures, too angry to say anything else.The others felt the same—frustrated but utterly powerless.After a while, Alan chucked awkwardly to break the silence. "Ms. Graham, maybe we should just head back?""I agree. This event doesn't even seem worth attending, "George added dismissively."Exactly. What's so great about it anyway? Why do they have to be so particular about a ticket? We shouldn't have to tolerate that!" Alicia Sloan, another employee under Division One, chimed in.Angela chuckled helplessly. "Don't worry, everyone. She'll be here soon."The team exchanged puzzled looks. Although they were disheartened, they couldn't bring themselves to leave and make things difficult for Angela.Soon, the secur
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 77
As she finished speaking, Fiona shot a quick glance at the woman sitting beside Dexter. She added coldly, "You'd better keep your distance from women like her. Don't say I didn't warn you."Dexter was taken aback. What was going on?He couldn't help but wonder if Angela had cast some spell on Fiona.How did she manage to change Fiona's opinion of her so quickly?Dexter was irritated. It wasn't just Angela cozying up to Fiona—she was also working for DawnStar Design, his rival company. The owner of DawnStar Design, Callum Snowden, was the only person he truly considered a competitor in the industry. The design industry was relatively niche. Therefore, every time their names were mentioned together, it was always in a way compared against each other—one being praised at the expense of the other.So, how could he allow Angela to bring DawnStar's employees into his event? How could they sit on his turf, grinning as if they belonged?Meanwhile, Angela cleared her throat, signali
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 78
Simon called on a few participants. However, most of the answers he received were vague and filled with empty cliches.His expression gradually darkened with disappointment, and the atmosphere in the hall grew tense.Just then, Elena stood up on her own and said confidently, "Mr. Rutherford, in my opinion, design is my life." Her words were vague, sounding somewhat impressive but lacking clear substance. However, Simon only paused momentarily before giving her a faint nod.Then, he pointed at Angela, signaling for her to share her thoughts.Everyone's gaze landed on her, including Dexter, who was sitting front and center in the first row.Angela was slightly taken aback but quickly composed herself. She stood up confidently and said, "I believe design is about turning challenging circumstances into something beautiful, better, and meaningful; it's about finding the beauty in life even in the toughest of times." Her description was concise yet carried a depth that left room for
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 79
Angela's expression darkened instantly.Why did Elena always have to be so persistent? And what was with her comment? She and Alan weren't even sharing the same cookie!Angela didn't bother responding. She simply took a bite of the cookie without even turning around."Ms. Graham, I grabbed some extra pastries from the refreshments table. Would you like to try some?" Elena chimed in again. "Just ignore her. She's not worth it," Angela said to Alan.Dexter sneered coldly, his gaze piercing even though Angela's back was turned to him. Everything about her seemed to annoy him.Alan and the rest of the team watched as the scene unfolded, their curiosity piqued.Was Dexter angry, or perhaps jealous? But it didn't seem like it.His gaze was so intense it felt like it could burn a hole through her.The group couldn't help but recall the rumors about Angela and Dexter not getting along—it seemed they were true.Initially, they thought that as long as he was the man Angela chose,
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 80
Clara took a more direct approach. She grabbed Angela's shoulder and said, "Angela, men are nothing but hot air. Just treat him like air and let him go! You've got us who've been through thick and thin with you! We're better than those men!""Angela, we'll take you out someday to have fun with some male models!" someone else boldly chimed in.Angela couldn't help but feel amused.Her spirits were much lighter now.When the classes finally ended, Fiona was waiting for Angela outside the venue. She said she wanted to take her to Bamford Manor for dinner.Joseph had already prepared a table full of Angela's favorite dishes. "Come, Angie. You've been working so hard for the past few days. You need to feed and replenish yourself! Look at those dark circles under your eyes. Have you been staying up late again? You're young. You can't torture your body like that. It's terrible for your health, do you understand?"Joseph enthusiastically piled food onto her plate until it was overflowing
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 81
Angela mentally slapped herself when she came to her senses. She thought something was wrong with her and that she had completely lost her mind by succumbing to lust."Either we share the bed, or you sleep on the couch!" Dexter said coldly.He felt even more displeased when he recalled what happened earlier in the day.Angela was utterly exasperated by his shamelessness.She reluctantly climbed off the bed and curled up on the couch after a fierce internal struggle.She felt that it was better than sharing a bed with that obnoxious man.Dexter still couldn't fall asleep in the dead of the night.Angela seemed exhausted and was already snoring softly on the couch.He couldn't fully harden his heart in the end. He got up and carried her back to bed and resigned himself to spending the night on the couch instead.He had ended up catching a cold by morning.He sneezed multiple times during breakfast.Joseph was out exercising, and Fiona had left the house early. That left only t
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 82
Simon unexpectedly stepped off the stage and began walking toward Elena.She felt an inexplicable sense of nervousness and silently scolded herself for it. Wasn't this supposed to be a solemn moment?"Ms. Graham, congratulations." The unfamiliar words rang in her ears like an explosion.Elena immediately froze in place. She was already halfway out of her seat, preparing to shake Simon's hand!Everybody was stunned, casting unbelievable glances toward Angela sitting beside Erica.How could this be possible? She was only an obscure and unremarkable designer!What had she done to deserve such honor?Angela herself was equally surprised. She had assumed the top scorer would be Elena.She had even been preparing to seek advice on where she had fallen short so she could improve in the future moments ago."Ms. Graham?" Simon smiled warmly. Angela quickly got to her feet and followed him to the stage.The distance was short, but she felt like an eternity.All eyes were on her. She h
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 410
How horrifying!"Sorry, please wait a moment." Angela forced herself to stay calm, got up, and walked out of the conference hall.Clara followed her out, concern written all over her face. "Ms. Graham, are you feeling unwell? Do you need to see a doctor?"Angela avoided looking at Clara's face as she whispered angrily, "That's enough, Dexter!" Clara looked surprised, confused even. "What's wrong, Ms. Graham?"This meeting couldn't go on, and work was unbearable. It was unacceptable.Angela took a deep breath, returned to the conference hall, and stuck to her prepared proposal to finish hosting the meeting. Then, she rushed back to her office.However, the moment she opened the door, Dexter turned around from where he'd been sitting at her desk. With a warm smile, he said, "You're finally done. Time for lunch."Angela suddenly felt like she was living in some surreal fantasy world. Hadn't she just left Clara behind? How was she suddenly…No, wait. This was the real Dexter with
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 409
Mia, who was next to Angela, replied, "You've got it all wrong. All of this was made by Mr. Bamford. Try some. It's really good."Dexter flashed Mia a friendly smile. She found it so odd that she froze for a moment.After all, she'd always thought that this cold-faced CEO didn't even have a "friendly smile" in his facial expression system.Mia keenly sensed that something was up between Angela and Dexter, both of whom seemed awkward."Really?" Angela was slightly taken aback. She glanced at Dexter, who was sitting at the dining table, waiting for them to dig in."Try some. I learned how to make these from Darlene," he said casually. "It was a piece of cake."Outside the kitchen, the plump and kind-hearted maid, Darlene Hines, wiped away a tear of exhaustion.She'd been woken up by Dexter before four or five in the morning, forced to give him an emergency cooking lesson while yawning the whole time.For several hours, she couldn't rest at all. She was so tired she almost passed
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 408
Dexter was so excited he couldn't sleep all night. He finally gave up trying and decided to wake Fiona up just so he could share his earth-shattering news.Fiona had barely slept for an hour after burning the midnight oil for work.When the knock on her door jolted her awake, her first instinct was to hurl a pillow at the culprit, but then she thought that maybe Angela needed help with something.She quickly got up and opened the door, only to find Dexter standing there with an oddly excited expression as if he wanted to say something but was holding back."What?" Fiona's voice came out hoarse. She'd pushed her voice too hard after days of lectures. Angela had even given her some medicine for it, but she hadn't gotten around to taking it.Dexter walked in without hesitation and announced, "I have a girlfriend now."Clearing his throat, he put on a composed front, concealing his excitement behind an air of nonchalance. He barely pulled it off.Fiona frowned in surprise. Girlfrien
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 407
Zayn chuckled. "You might as well try. Desperate times call for desperate measures. No matter how formidable Angela is, she's still a woman. Wasn't she once head over heels for you? It's just that afterward…"…That night, the grand villa was eerily quiet.Dexter paced back and forth outside Angela's room for a long time. He wanted to knock, or maybe just push the door open and go in, but he hesitated every time.With a crack, the door suddenly swung open from the inside.Angela, drowsy with sleep, covered her mouth as she yawned, holding an empty glass in her other hand. She looked like she was heading out to get some water.Their eyes met, and she jolted in surprise. The glass slipped from her hand, about to hit theground, when Dexter swiftly reached out and caught it smoothly."What the heck are you doing here?" In a flash, Angela was wide awake, her expression a blend of wariness and bewilderment.Dexter instinctively avoided her gaze. Without another word, he turned and wa
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 406
Mia was right. What was Angela afraid of?She'd already won against Dexter once. In this relationship, the tides had long since turned in her favor. If she wanted, she could cut ties with him at any moment. If anyone should be worried, it was Dexter."Is that so?" she asked.Mia sighed helplessly. "It depends. Do you want a loyal partner who will stay by your side forever, give you his whole heart, and even lay down his life for you? Or do you prefer fleeting romances from the dazzling world outside?"Angela quickly waved her hands, looking a little embarrassed. "Stop it. Don't talk nonsense. I may let my eyes wander, but I'll never cross the line."…Meanwhile, Dexter and Zayn were also trying to find comfort in each other's company.Dexter had grabbed two bottles of beer on his way down. At the moment, they were in Zayn's car, clinking bottles from time to time.Slumped like a wilted flower, Zayn had been grumbling nonstop about his miserable life ever since Dexter had gotten
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 405
Dexter hastily grabbed Angela's wrist. The once arrogant, self-important man who'd never cared for anyone his entire life was now showing rare humility. "Alright, alright. You're the boss, okay?"At the moment, he was a man with a touch of arrogance, a hint of resignation, and an awkward charm.Angela's heartbeat showed no signs of slowing down, and a hint of joy crept out from the bottom of her heart.Damn it. Had she really fallen for him?"Just get lost for now!" As soon as the words left her mouth, she froze, feeling instantly awkward.She had meant to tell him to step aside.Dexter looked stunned, a hint of hurt crossing his gaze. He had no choice but to step back resignedly, but his gaze never left her as he watched every flicker of emotion in her expression.Angela instinctively turned away, avoiding his piercing stare. Her mind was a mess—she felt trapped in a giant net and felt at a loss.Just then, she caught sight of Mia heading back in without that scumbag Zayn with
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 404
Had Angela fallen for Dexter once again? Was she still as powerless against him as before?No, this couldn't happen.Angela took a deep breath. "Dexter, I have more important things to do, and I love myself the most."She would always love herself, her freedom, and everything she truly wanted to love."I don't want to go back to who I used to be, and I won't give up anything for you. I admit that my heart is wavering because of you, but I—""Then that's more than enough!" Dexter only heard what he wanted to hear, quickly pulling her closer into his embrace. "As long as you have feelings for me, that's all that matters. This is great!"His voice was deep and filled with exhilaration. It was as though he'd conquered the entire world.He was holding her so tightly that she could barely breathe. It rendered her unable to say a single word."Angela, don't be a coward. What's the harm in giving me a chance?" Suddenly letting her go, Dexter stared straight into her eyes while forcing
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 403
"Mia, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I made you suffer. I deserve to die—I really do!" At least Zayn was admitting fault properly, like a spineless fool with no fight left.Angela watched the scene unfold from the third-floor balcony, feeling a bit melancholic.Love and marriage were indeed two very different things. Back then, the love between the two had been so strong that it could make anyone envious. Yet, it was nothing but a complete mess now.Maybe it was true that marriage was love's final resting place."What's on your mind?" Dexter suddenly appeared and walked over, stopping right behind her.He was holding two glasses of red wine. It was as if he knew she was in a bad mood and had come to help her relax."Don't you think it'd be great if people could just date without ever getting married?" Angela blurted out without a second thought.Dexter was momentarily stunned. "Sure, I'm fine with that. Whatever you want."Angela almost choked on her wine. After a long pause,
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 402
"Mrs. Jewell, what's the meaning of this?" Angela rolled down her car window, crossing her arms as she looked at the middle-aged woman who was adamantly trying to argue her way inside to see her grandson.Hearing Angela's voice, Florence turned around. The moment their eyes met, her face twisted with anger."Angela, tell this man to get out of my way! I want to see my grandson! Who does he think he is to stop me?"Her voice was so sharp and grating that it was irritating to hear.Frowning in distaste, Angela instinctively backed off. "Oh, so you're here to see your grandson? I almost thought you came here to start a fight."I mean, look at you—you stormed here empty-handed and with this aggressive attitude. Anyone would misunderstand. Next time, why don't you bring a little something as a gesture of goodwill?""This is my family's matter. It has nothing to do with you, you insolent woman! Mind your own business!" Florence was so furious she was practically smoking from the ears.
