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
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,
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
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
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
Angela was stunned."Congratulations." Dexter walked over from the side and handed her the trophy.For once, his gaze wasn't icy and distant. There was even a faint glimmer of admiration in his eyes."Thank you." Angela's tone was distant yet courteous.The awards ceremony was over."Angela, you should treat us to dinner! I vote for a seafood platter! I'm going to eat lobster!" Alan carried his black messenger bag across his back and darted around Angela like an excited child.Clara shot him a disdainful look. "Can you calm down? This isn't Division One of the Design Department. Don't embarrass Angela!"Angela simply laughed it off. "It's fine. I'm in a good mood today. Seafood platter's on me!"The crowd cheered, and the air buzzed with joy."You bumpkins, you're acting like you've never had a seafood platter before." Nora sneered suddenly.She had been trailing behind them. Everyone was so happy that they didn't notice her."Wow, what's your deal? Why do you always have to
"Stand straight!" Dexter suddenly barked in a low voice from the side.Fortunately, the people they brought along were senior executives from the company. They were all insiders.Otherwise, he couldn't imagine what the people might say about him if they saw his wife in such a drunken state."Who are you?" Angela glared at him irritably."Mom, you should come with me. I'll take you to meet my colleagues, and we can have dinner together." She grabbed Fiona's arm affectionately and tried to lead her to the private room."This is completely inappropriate!" Fiona was slightly displeased as she tried to wake the intoxicated young lady."Ah, Madam Fiona! You're here too! Please come in! Thanks to you, we successfully joined Bamford Co. Otherwise, we'd have made fools of ourselves!"Clara seemed muddled too.She was usually the discerning one. However, she was just as drunk as Angela at this moment."Madam Fiona, please come in! We've been talking about you!" Alan walked out.It seem
Fiona was in a relatively good mood today. She thought it might be a good time to impart some wisdom on managing subordinates."Mom, you're too tense." Angela wobbled to sit up as she mumbled, "I understand your determination to carve out a space for yourself in a male-dominated world, and I know how tough a business world can be. But honestly, most people are only here for a living. They work hard only for a better life."They want a comfortable work environment and good relationships with others too. Their enthusiasm for work can take a big hit if you're too strict or unfeeling. It's important to have passion and love for our work, especially in the design field. It'll dry up our inspiration without these."Angela finished her heartfelt speech and gasped for breath as if she had run a marathon.Fiona was momentarily stunned. The words she had prepared to say suddenly caught in her throat."Mom, everyone knows how capable you are at work. You might find that sometimes things get
Dexter felt an overwhelming urge to rush in and carry Angela away. He considered that it would be better to pressure the Crawford family than to allow her to use this foolish approach.However, he still waited for her silently, knowing that she didn't want to be disturbed.Joel felt helpless. He wiped the blood from his nose and helped Angela up. "I promise you. Go and see a doctor now. Why are you so stubborn?"Angela's eyes sparkled with excitement, and her voice quivered with joy. "Thank you, thank you..."Before she finished speaking, she collapsed. Dexter quickly lifted her up. "Angela!"Fiona rushed over to assist, urging, "Quick! We need to get her to the hospital now!"…Dexter and Fiona waited anxiously outside the emergency department until the doctor reassured them that Angela's injuries were minor and mostly superficial. Meanwhile, Angela slept with an IV drip, unaware of their concern."Why did she keep pushing herself? It's like she's got some sort of superpower o
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,