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
Joseph spoke bluntly without a trace of hesitation."Dad, I'm home all day without much to do. Since I can't contribute much to the business, why not let me take on this role? Fiona carries the heavy responsibility of managing the company's PR department. I'd hate to see her overworked." Ursula smiled as she spoke on her behalf.Her voice was gentle and soothing like a warm breeze.Angela felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort.Fiona would be even more marginalized with no place in the family if Ursula were truly put in charge."Grandpa, Mom can easily manage such a massive PR department. It'll be no challenge for her to manage the household. She's experienced, after all. Aunt Ursula is accustomed to a life of leisure. I think it's best to let her live her life that way," Angela said.Fiona was slightly stunned as she cast a puzzled glance at her.Angela's expression remained unreadable when their eyes met. She silently urged her to advocate for herself.This was certainly no
Angela ran into Ursula at the entrance after finishing work that afternoon.Ursula was waiting for her there on purpose. "Angela, let's not beat around the bush. I want control of the household. I'll help you in return if you help me. You know Fiona better than anyone. She's cold-hearted and unfeeling by nature. She's made your life hell over the years. You surely haven't forgotten your suffering, have you?"Angela had to admit that Ursula was impressive at times.She had a knack for hitting where it hurt the most.Angela felt a surge of pressure rising in her throat as a wave of discomfort rose within her, but she kept silent."I've never understood why Fiona treated you like that back then. You may not be the most capable daughter-in-law, but you've been good to her son. Everyone can see that. She shouldn't constantly be targeting you even for her son's sake. Doesn't it make you feel indignant?" Ursula fixed her gaze intently on Angela. Her words were deliberate and unwavering.
Angela pressed her fingers to her forehead. "Are you two serious? We're outside our company, and this is my car. If anyone's out of place here, you two are the ones who showed up uninvited."Ursula and Dexter fell silent.The authority over the household affairs eventually went to Fiona.Joseph decided to let Fiona try her hand at it for a while.Ursula could help her out when the time came.They could work together to manage the Bamford family's domestic matters.Angela had played a significant role in this decision.After all, she had never asked Joseph for favors or made unreasonable demands.It seemed he wanted to give Fiona a chance. He even gave her advice during dinner.Ursula surprisingly had not shown a hint of displeasure despite being passed over.…According to their arrangement, Simon and Angela were about to have dinner at a renowned seven-star hotel in Eldmere City.Angela chose to wear a customized cocktail dress from her company's collection to show her res
Simon was already waiting.Angela spotted him standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows and quickly adjusted her expression before preparing to approach him with a bright smile.A sudden force yanked her out of the private room and into the stairwell corner."Dexter, what… what are you doing?" She was utterly stunned when she saw him.Did he hold such a grudge against her that he had to pick this exact moment to seek revenge?"Shh!" Dexter pulled her into another private room. Angela shoved him away with all her strength before he could explain.She rubbed her wrist in disdain. "What are you doing? Are you here to ruin things for me again?"He was so frustrated that his face darkened.He sneered and stepped forward to pull her into his arms. His hands slid down to her lower back, pressing against her exposed skin.A sudden heat washed over and startled her.Why did this feel different?"You fool. There's a huge tear in your dress. Your backside is practically exposed! Didn't
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,
"Can't you guys just ship them peacefully? Why do you have to compare and put others down? They're a real married couple, not some random lovebirds.""They are both gorgeous. I've never seen such a perfectly matched couple before. They need to be together forever!"What even was this?"You still don't know? You two have been trending online like crazy lately. For some reason, everyone thinks you two are a perfect match. There's even merchandise of you guys—can you believe that?"Mia came over to hang out with Angela and casually brought up the topic. The two women immediately started buzzing about it.Angela began to laugh so hard that the injury on her back got tugged, making her grimace in pain."Does no one care about how I got hurt? Why is everyone's focus on something so weird?" She gritted her teeth.The staff from the operations and logistics department told her that the chandelier had fallen purely by accident. Apparently, there had been ongoing renovations upstairs and
Everyone remained silent, staring straight at the person in the center of the stage.As if nothing had happened before, Angela calmly took the trophy from the event hostess, maintaining her smile and handing it to each award recipient in an orderly manner.Clara, one of the outstanding employees, stood at the front of the line. The moment she received the award from Angela, she could no longer hold back. Tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down uncontrollably."Does… does it hurt?" Her voice was choked with emotion, heartache evident in every word.Curving her lips into a reassuring smile, Angela wiped away Clara's tears. "I'm fine. Don't worry."Then, she continued presenting the awards to the rest of the employees. All ten employees looked at her with admiration.Meanwhile, the livestream chat was going wild."Oh my god, this woman is incredible! Wasn't she the one who got hurt earlier? How is she so strong when she looks so delicate?""I swear I saw a huge gash on her b
The sensation sent shivers down Angela's spine, filling her with an uncontrollable sense of fear. She could barely hold on as cold sweat dripped from her body."Why are you pushing yourself so hard? Do you really have to do this?" Dexter let out a quiet sigh.Angela clenched her teeth, saying nothing in response.About 15 minutes later, the doctor finally completed his work, rattling off a long list of precautions—one of the most important being that she must not overexert herself and should rest properly.Angela nodded absentmindedly, her gaze flicking to the exquisite wristwatch on her arm as she mentally calculated the time.Dexter, on the other hand, listened carefully and even asked about additional precautions, including diet and daily routine, making sure to cover everything.Afterward, the two stayed in the hospital for a short while to rest.Angela unlocked her phone, unsurprised to see that the incident had already gone viral. Hundreds of thousands of netizens had floc