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Chapter 85
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 86
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
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 87
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.
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 88
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
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 89
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
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 90
Simon silently observed Angela before him.He seemed to glimpse traces of the helplessness she bore from her past in her gradually dimming eyes."My apologies if I've offended you." There was a hint of regret in his tone.Angela said, "Mr. Rutherford, I'm still me, am I not?"The truth was, she had changed.Her teacher wouldn't have revoked her title or severed ties with her if she hadn't.She wouldn't have lost three precious years to slowly get herself together if she hadn't.Simon pursed his lips as a knowing smile briefly crossed his face. "My colleagues and I greatly admire your talent, Ms. Graham. We'd love for you to join WestJet Design. Would you be interested?" he asked.Angela couldn't help but feel surprised as the blood in her veins suddenly surged with intensity.WestJet Design was one of the most prestigious luxury companies in the world. Their handbags, clothes, and accessories were the epitome of high fashion.It would be the crowning achievement in any design
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 91
Dexter's gaze bored into Angela, his sharp eyes catching a faint whiff of alcohol on her. His displeasure deepened."Was dinner supposed to take that long?" His tone was icy. His stare was piercing, almost as if he could see through every secret she tried to hide.Angela rolled her eyes at him. "That's my business. What's the matter? Even though we're divorced, do you still want to pluck my feathers, break my wings, and keep me by your side like some pitiful recluse, only to cast me aside when you tire of me?"She gave a cold laugh and turned to leave without looking back.Dexter froze, his eyes locked on her swaying silhouette as she walked away. His throat tightened, an unfamiliar ache rising. For a moment, he recalled the woman Angela had been before their marriage—a fiercely independent individual.Back then, when she insisted on marrying him despite his objections, he had laid down one condition: she must abandon everything and stay home as a housewife. Without hesitation, sh
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 92
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
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 93
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
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 460
After downing two glasses of liquor, Angela turned her head, only to be startled by a face that was eerily familiar. Her hand trembled, nearly dropping the glass."Good evening, miss." One of the escorts greeted her with a youthful smile.Angela thought she was seeing things—this person, this face, looked exactly like an 18-year-old Dexter!She quickly stood up, regretting coming to this place. Zack must have lost his mind to come up with such a ridiculous stunt to tease her."Angie, what are you doing? Sit down for now." Seeing that things were going south, Zack grabbed Angela's arm. "If we leave now, these guys will get fined," he added, showing his supposed kindness."Tell them to leave." Angela frowned.Zack laughed it off, pulled Angela back to her seat, and waved his hand. The men immediately got the message, each grabbing a microphone and starting to sing."I'm a proper CEO of a company now. Drinking in a place like this is one thing, but I can't be doing this kind of stu
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 459
Angela's decisiveness in handling matters was commendable, but that didn't change the fact that she was merely a so-called CEO parachuted in through connections.Since Genevieve had faith in her, Erwin was willing to show some courtesy for Genevieve's sake and give Angela a chance to prove herself.If Angela truly was capable, he was willing to let things be. However, if she weren't up to par, he would have every reason to make her step down.He was simply nipping a potential problem in the bud."Mr. Mack, that wouldn't be right." Austin suddenly stood up, staring disapprovingly at Erwin.Erwin chuckled. "Why not? Didn't Ms. Graham make those statements herself?"At that moment, Angela had already guessed his intentions. She slowly got up, signaling Austin to stay calm.Then, she confidently declared, "I can promise that I will establish a new set of effective company regulations, increase quarterly revenue by at least half of the previous quarter, and as for employee salaries a
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 458
"Forget it." Dexter took a deep breath. "Do as you please."…On the third morning, Angela went to the company with Austin."I've already announced the matter in the company's group chat. We'll go straight to the meeting, and the handover ceremony will be livestreamed." Austin spoke in a calm voice, as if he were discussing something trivial.Angela, however, was taken aback. "I'm going straight to the meeting? There'll be a handover ceremony?"Why was it so abrupt?She knew that since Genevieve had just passed away, they couldn't hold a grand ceremony, but this was too sudden. She hadn't been informed in advance, meaning she'd had no chance to prepare mentally!"What, are you scared?" Austin raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.Scared? Not exactly. It was just unexpected."Don't worry." He opened the car door and stepped out. "I'll be with you the whole time. You don't need to pay attention to anyone else."Angela wasn't particularly afraid. She had
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 457
There was something about Jennifer's gaze that was so clear and sincere that it made it impossible to look away.Dexter smirked absentmindedly. "You seem to know quite a lot. So what? What does it have to do with you?""You deserve better, Mr. Bamford." There was a hint of nervousness in her voice as Jennifer tentatively suggested, "I took clinical medicine as part of my studies abroad and have a deep understanding of patient care. If you don't mind, Mr. Bamford, I could—""Does this hospital have no staff?" Dexter interrupted impatiently, his tone direct. "What exactly do you want? You have three seconds to answer.""Mr. Bamford, to be honest, I fell for you at first sight a year ago, at Mr. Bamford Senior's birthday banquet. I thought time would help me forget these feelings since you were a married man back then."But even after a year, my feelings haven't faded. On the contrary, they've only grown stronger. Mr. Bamford, can't you give me a chance?"Jennifer was left with no c
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 456
Nonetheless, Jennifer wasn't satisfied with just leaving a good impression on Dexter—she had other plans. Following Ursula's directions, she arrived at Dexter's hospital room.Since Fiona was busy with work, she had specially hired a professional caregiver to take care of Dexter's daily needs around the clock.After a few days, the bandages on his head had been removed. There was nothing hiding his handsome face from view now. Though there were still scratches on the side of his face, they gave him a more rugged and resolute look, which made him just as attractive as before.Jennifer peeked through the gap in the door and caught sight of Dexter's sharply defined side profile. He was looking down at his tablet, seemingly busy with work.Despite being injured, he remained fully dedicated to his work. Jennifer was impressed, and her view of him improved even more.She knocked on the door and, after receiving permission, walked in quietly, hoping to leave a gentle and considerate firs
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 455
"I'm about to go on a blind date with Dexter. I heard that you two are already divorced. You wouldn't still be clinging to some unrealistic fantasy about him, would you? A woman as old and… scandal-ridden as you is simply not worthy of a man like him."Jennifer had originally intended to call Angela "old and ugly," but the word "ugly" simply didn't suit Angela at all. She couldn't bring herself to tell such an obvious lie."Does Ursula know you came to me?" Angela smiled faintly. "Just a few days ago, she was looking to work with me and have us design looks for the artists in her company. You all have a major awards ceremony coming up soon, don't you?""What are you trying to say?" Jennifer frowned slightly.Angela let out a light chuckle. "I'm saying that I could easily tell Ursula that her brainless niece has offended me, and I don't feel like working with her anymore. That means no more custom gowns or luxury jewelry for her. Simple as that."Angela spoke in a calm tone, not sh
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 454
Erwin ultimately couldn't resist the temptation of good food and decided to give Angela's pork ribs a try.Right after he took a bite, his expression subtly changed. His pupils slightly dilated, as if he were surprised."This is nothing special," he muttered gruffly, yet he continued eating at a leisurely pace that was also somewhat hurried.In just over ten minutes, he had already devoured half of the ribs.Angela discreetly observed him, thinking that her first step had been a success. At the very least, he was willing to eat the food she made, which was already a significant change.After the meal, she didn't linger. Using the excuse that she had matters to attend to at Graham Group, she left earlier than planned."What exactly are you trying to do by bringing her here?" Patting his full belly, Erwin shot Austin a glare.Austin shrugged. "You saw it yourself—nothing at all. We just wanted to have a meal with you. In her final days, Ms. Lawson also ate Angela's cooking for a w
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 453
It seemed that Erwin had chosen to live here for the convenience of commuting.When Angela and Austin arrived at the door, the latter punched in the passcode directly.Angela was taken aback. "We're just going to go in like this? Mr. Mack isn't home. We really shouldn't be doing this, should we?"Austin said indifferently, "It doesn't matter. He lives alone, and he's probably out for his morning exercise. He won't be back for a while."Sure enough, Austin's words were proven true the second they stepped inside.It was a two-bedroom unit, decorated in black, white, and gray tones. The space looked quite large, but the living room was rather empty, as only a regular couch and a round coffee table occupied the space.There wasn't even a television. The whole place gave off the vibe of a bachelor's home.After a quick tour, Austin led Angela into the kitchen, which was even more barren—not even a bag of salt could be found.Erwin's favorite food was oven-baked barbecue ribs, suppos
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 452
Dexter stared at Angela's departing figure until it completely disappeared. Only after what felt like an eternity did he manage to recover, if only barely, from her cutting words.At the end of the day, Angela merely wanted to snap him out of it. She wanted to make him treat himself better and stop him from neglecting his own well-being.To him, she had already become an open book. If not for what she had said by his bedside a few days ago when she thought he was still unconscious, Dexter might have really believed her indifference.But even so, what could it change? The two of them were ultimately strangers now. A suffocating sense of pain and frustration welled up within Dexter, one he couldn't describe.Angela trudged out of the hospital, making her way toward Austin's car.He, too, preferred larger vehicles. The dark gray SUV parked by the roadside under the night sky was like a lurking beast."What's wrong?" Austin leaned against the car door, calmly studying her gloomy expr
