Angela didn't look up. "Please move aside."She was polite, but the person in front of her didn't budge."It's only been a few days, and you've turned yourself into a beggar? Angela, would you really rather degrade yourself like this?" A familiar, cold voice came from above. The speaker's tone was dripping with contempt.Angela froze and looked up, meeting Dexter's deep, dark gaze. As their eyes met, she swallowed nervously. Nevertheless, her initial surprise quickly turned to annoyance."Why can't you just leave me alone?" She gathered up her chicken thigh and snacks, ready to leave.Her days had been fulfilling and busy lately, so she had barely thought of him. But she had only managed to take a few steps before Dexter grabbed her by the collar and dragged her back to his car.As he leaned close, Angela glared at him warily. "If you come any closer, I'll bite you again."Dexter pulled a long face instantly, and he grabbed her wrist."You look ugly. How am I supposed to take y
After a brief pause, Angela smiled. "Oh, really? I didn't know that. Dexter bought this dress for me. As for where he got it, or how many there are in the country—I honestly have no idea. I have plenty of dresses like this in my closet, Ms. Carrey. If you like, I can give you a few."Angela's voice was clear and pleasant to the ears. Her gaze was pure and free of any hint of sarcasm. It was as if she hadn't noticed the mocking undertone in Shelley's and Elena's words.Elena's face fell instantly. She couldn't believe that the dress she had been so proud of was nothing more than one of the less remarkable pieces in Angela's closet. It was impossible. Dexter would never take Angela shopping, let alone buy her such a dress!Shelley noticed Elena's reaction and took a step forward. She snapped at Angela, "What nonsense are you saying? Why would Dexter buy you clothes? Everyone knows you threw yourself at him. He—" "Why are you so worked up, Ms. Ruthford? You're getting a bit too emo
Instinctively, Dexter turned to look just as Angela glanced back at him. She flashed him a smug smile."Angie, you look beautiful today. This dress suits you so well. Dexter and I spent quite some time picking it out for you. It really is stunning!" Joseph praised her with a smile.With that, all doubts were dispelled instantly.It turned out that Joseph himself had chosen this dress for Angela. Of course, he wouldn't buy her counterfeit dress.Elena felt as if she had been slapped across the face. It left a stinging, burning sensation on her cheek. The faces of those who had mocked Angela earlier turned pale as they fell silent too.Angela's nose tingled as she fought back the urge to tear up. Of all the Bamford family members, only Joseph had ever shown her true kindness. She knew very well that Dexter would never care about her clothing. Joseph had said that the dress was from him to salvage her dignity.As the drinks flowed and the guests mingled, Angela remained by Joseph'
Inside the bag were… adult toys!"My goodness…" Angela's face flushed red. She looked down, unable to say a word.Fiona laughed mockingly and said, "What's the matter? Are you still some innocent little girl? You've been married for so long, yet you can't even produce a child. What value do you have left in the Bamford family?"Angela froze instantly. Fiona's words hit her like a bolt of lightning. She didn't know how she had put up with this in the past.From the beginning until now, she had been nothing but a birthing machine in Fiona's eyes."I can't get pregnant because your son refuses to cooperate, and I'm not capable of asexual reproduction either," she retorted coldly, placing the bag of items back on the coffee table.This was the first time she had spoken up so firmly.Fiona's gaze darkened, surprised by her response. Then, she let out a cold laugh."Oh, I see. Someone has grown a spine." Fiona stood slowly, her tone sharp with authority. "I'm warning you, if there's
"Mr. Bamford, isn't that Mrs. Bamford?" Erica spoke cautiously. In contrast to her somewhat anxious expression, she was secretly thrilled and was barely able to contain her excitement.Dexter's gaze was locked on the slender figure behind the floor-to-ceiling glass. He took out his phone and dialed Angela's number. Then, he watched as she pulled out her phone, glanced at it briefly, and casually hung up his call.The two business associates who were with Dexter asked tentatively, "Mr. Bamford, what's going on? Why aren't we leaving?" Erica responded on his behalf, "Mr. Hart, Mr. Levin, please come this way. Let's take a look at the other facilities in the mall." At that moment, Angela was still unaware of the impending danger."Are you really giving me this painting? Can you bear to part with it just like that?" Finn smiled as he admired Angela's artwork, obviously delighted.Angela raised an eyebrow. "Why? You don't want it? If that's the case, I'll take it back." She reac
Angela seemed oblivious as she sat calmly on the couch and sipped her now-cold coffee.Erica found nothing and could only cross her arms as she emerged. Her eyes were filled with mockery as she looked at Angela."It seems you've hidden it well. Could it be on you?" she said with a sneer, casting a disdainful glance over Angela."It's not," Angela replied curtly, too tired to argue further. She set down her cup and got up, ready to go to bed. The maids could clean up the mess later on."Stop!" Erica snapped, grabbing her arm to stop her from leaving. "If you won't bring it out yourself, strip down so I can check. That necklace is a Bamford family treasure.""Get lost!" Angela had had enough and slapped Erica hard across the face. She shot back hotly, "It's always Bamford family this, Bamford family that—are you a dog belonging to the Bamford family?"Her gaze was icy, and her voice was filled with contempt. She then pulled out her phone and pressed three numbers."W-What are you
Angela's hand that was drawing slowed down. She silently prayed that Dexter wouldn't notice her.Meanwhile, a few judges were quietly discussing in the panel."The contestants this time are of high caliber as they have gone through a preliminary round. If we spot someone suitable, we could consider hiring them as a designer in our companies.""Yes, during the initial screening, I remember seeing a piece titled 'Curse'. The style was remarkably unique. Designers with such a strong personal style are hard to find nowadays.""Do you know the artist's name?""That, I didn't catch…" Dexter sat silently, his slender fingers tapping lightly on his knee. His gaze swept over the contestants, then \became fixed on a slim figure in the distance. Instantly, his expression turned icy.Two hours later, the competition ended, and the contestants submitted their work.The judging panel scored the entries on the spot, after which the pieces were sealed away. The results and rankings were to be
"You're so useless, Dexter. You can't even help someone up properly! I still don't know what Angie saw in you. Oh right, I was the one who arranged your marriage, after all. "Without my aid, how would you have been lucky enough to marry such a beautiful and outstanding wife like Angie? You should count your blessings…" Joseph went on and on, scolding Dexter endlessly. Dexter had no choice but to listen, and it was torturous."Grandpa, don't bother with him. Let's go. I'll make you your favorite bouillabaisse and grilled fish." Angela took Joseph's arm and led him away, giving Dexter an exaggerated eyeroll over her shoulder as she went.Dexter was furious, yet he had nowhere to vent.That night, Angela retreated to her bedroom early and locked the door. With Joseph gone, she had temporarily lost her protector and couldn't afford to provoke Dexter too much."Mrs. Bamford, Mr. Bamford has gone out. You're free to come out." Donna's voice came from the other side of the door.Ange
Everyone was well aware that Celestia Jewels was merely hanging by a thread. All it would take was one final blow, and it would collapse.Maverick's gaze was icy. "As long as I'm here, the company will never fall."The news of Maverick becoming Celestia Jewels' new general manager sent shockwaves throughout the company. No one knew the reason behind it. He was just a low-level accountant, yet he had suddenly risen to become the company's leader. All they knew was that Maverick was resolute. As soon as he took charge, he dismissed many of the top executives in Celestia Jewels. Fear spread like wildfire. For a time, everyone became cautious, no longer daring to act recklessly.Just two days later, Angela unexpectedly arrived at the company, leaving employees stunned, especially those who had begun to question Maverick's leadership. Together, Angela and Maverick took clear actions to show their commitment to a fresh start, assuring everyone that Celestia Jewels was leaving its co
Maverick felt complicated. After a moment of silence, he let out a bitter laugh. "I was forced to resign by Bryan and his lackeys. Can I really go back?"The thought alone filled him with anger. He had dedicated years of hard work to the company, yet he had been sidelined and suppressed, reduced to a mere outcast. In the end, Bryan had even demoted him to the finance department, where he had been left to be humiliated. "Have faith. I believe in you," Angela replied coldly. The next morning, Maverick returned to Celestia Jewels. The moment he stepped into the meeting room, the deputy general manager, Taylor Monroe, let out a cold sneer. He was Bryan's right-hand man and Maverick's former rival."Maverick, your resignation has already been approved. Didn't HR inform you? You don't need to come back anymore. You already took your belongings when you left. So why are you here?" Taylor stood up from the main seat, smirking at Maverick.The two had once been evenly matched rivals,
Freya tactfully hid behind Angela and Zack, trying to minimize her presence as much as possible.Angela glanced at him, feeling that his thin face exuded a sense of righteousness. She couldn't help but develop a favorable impression of him. "Are you Maverick Newton?"Maverick frowned, staring intently at Angela, whose expression was layered with complexity. He said firmly, "Who are you then? No matter who you are, leave my house now.""He doesn't even recognize the CEO. What good can he be?" Zack thought, casting a doubtful glance at Maverick before shifting his gaze to Freya. Freya felt even more awkward and murmured, "Mr. Newton, this is Ms. Angela Graham, the CEO of Graham Group. You must have seen her picture online, right?" Maverick was nonchalant. "So what? I've already submitted my resignation. I'm no longer a part of Graham Group, and I have nothing to do with it. Stop bothering me." He seemed quite irritated."Mr. Newton, Bryan has already been dealt with by Ms. G
Freya hurried after Angela, her voice shaky as she called out, "Ms. Graham, Ms. Graham... I've transferred the money back to you. Please, take it. I was wrong." Her face went pale. She regretted her actions and wished she could turn back time."You were a talented designer recruited by HR with a substantial salary. How is it that you've lost sight of your original goals and allowed yourself to become a puppet for that fool, Bryan?" Angela sneered.Freya's eyes turned red. "Ms. Graham, we have our own struggles as well. Bryan is merciless, far from human. He always targets vulnerable women like us. Anyone who dares to defy him will be..."Halfway through her words, Freya broke down in tears. Angela sighed and grabbed a tissue from her bag for Freya to dry her face. Her expression softened. "Don't cry. I'm not mad at you."In the workplace, women indeed endured greater pressure than men, and this was something Angela had long been accustomed to seeing. While Freya and the othe
The spacious private room buzzed with palpable tension. Joel appeared to relish the unfolding drama as he casually sipped his coffee, sporting a subtle smile. Bryan stood frozen, his gaze locked on Angela in disbelief. The more he stared, the deeper his fear grew. She resembled their legendary new CEO, Angela, but it didn't make sense. Angela had only recently taken control of the company, and there were so many pressing matters demanding her attention. It was hard to believe she could possibly be here.Bryan's forehead glistened with sweat, and he suddenly turned to glare at Freya. Sensing the tension, Freya quickly interjected, "Angie, what's going on? Are you out of your mind? Why are you talking nonsense?" "My sister is not the one losing her mind. You're the crazy one. You're shameless and lack integrity. This company belongs to the Graham family, yet you think you're in control? I suggest you take a moment to reflect on your disgraceful behavior!" Zack quickly repri
Moreover, Angela found Bryan's gaze so obscene that she felt like gouging out his eyes and kicking him away. She was taken aback as she watched Freya greet Bryan with a kiss on the cheek. Then, Freya turned to introduce her. "Mr. Parker, meet our new design department employee, Angie Grayson. She's incredibly talented as well."As Freya spoke, she arched an eyebrow at Angela, silently conveying that the 35 thousand dollars she spent was worth it. Bryan was taken aback and inquired, "Is she part of our company as well?" Freya smiled and nodded, while Bryan eagerly extended his hand to Angela as if he had found something new. Angela was debating whether to reveal this bastard's true nature when she suddenly heard a familiar voice. "Mr. Parker, how are you?"It was Joel. Zack was following behind him. Bryan eventually collected himself and shook hands with Joel.Zack glanced at Angela, signaling that it would soon be her turn to shine.After a brief exchange of greetings,
Angela gritted her teeth and sent Freya 35 thousand dollars. She felt the expense was worth it if it helped her catch Bryan. Freya responded with an "OK" emoji and added, "Don't forget to dress up nicely for tonight."Fuming with anger, Angela returned to the hotel after work and contacted Clara. She instructed Clara to investigate everyone who had interacted with Bryan lately."They're all a bunch of parasites! Idiots!" Angela scolded furiously, pacing the room with her hands on her hips.She was astonished by the level of corruption at Celestia Jewels. It was alarmingly easy to access information without any effort. It was all too clear how arrogant Bryan had become. He couldn't even control his own subordinates. "Angie, are you sure you want to drink with those people? They might not be good company," Zack asked nervously. Angela sneered. "Don't worry. Why don't you ask who Bryan is meeting today?" Zack sat up straight away. "Who is it?" "Joel." Angela's smile vani
Freya felt pleased by Angela's praises and shared everything with her."Angie, your skin is a bit dull, and even though you wear glasses, you've got nice features. Maybe you should consider wearing some makeup. It might boost your chances for promotion." Freya was a genuinely compassionate person. After a short time together, she shared this well-known secret with Angela.Angela felt a hint of surprise. "What do you mean? Are you suggesting that the company's promotion system is based on appearance?" "Alas. That's the fact. It's common knowledge that our boss has a preference for beautiful women. Just look at how the front desk staff are constantly competing to outshine each other, all just to catch Mr. Parker's attention," Freya remarked, her eyes gleaming with mockery. Angela seethed with anger. Bryan was an old man with a large belly, oily skin, and stained teeth. How dare that scoundrel have the nerve to think he could flirt with every woman at the company like it was
"Sorry! I didn't mean to," Angela said as she quickly helped Dexter up. Luckily, there weren't many people around, or his reputation could have been damaged."All of your energy has been spent confronting me." Dexter glared at her, feeling annoyed. However, he remembered the reason for his visit today—it was a farewell moment."I know I can be quite stubborn at times, but it's all in your best interest. I want what's best for you. If you appreciate it, great. If not, it doesn't matter. That's your choice."This was likely the first time in Dexter's life that he humbled himself before someone. He spoke awkwardly, avoiding eye contact and constantly looking away. "Oh..." Angela immediately grasped what he meant. Seeing his cold, arrogant expression made her hesitant. She decided to let it go and not be upset with him anymore. After a brief pause, she replied, "I'm leaving. Thank you for the gift." Dexter gave her a look that asked, "Is that all?" "I'll bring you some lo