Harold lowered his head bashfully, and his ears turned a little red.Duke could not help but scoff.This kid was always good at playing nice. When did he learn to be shy?“Okay, let’s go home,” he said coldly.Harold’s happy face instantly froze.He felt wronged as he dragged Adina’s sleeve and pitifully said, “Aunt Adina, can I not leave?”Adina stroked his head and said, “I’m going to work later, while Alden and Mel are also going to preschool. Why would you want to stay at home alone?”Harold acted like a flattened balloon. He lowered his head and spoke absentmindedly. “Can I visit again?” “Yes, but…” Adina cast a glance at Duke. “You have to get permission from your dad. You can’t sneak out on your own. If you can’t do that, you’re not allowed to visit.” “I can do it! I’ll do it!” Harold patted his chest. “Don’t worry, Aunt Adina. I won’t secretly run away from home again!”Duke was speechless.He had scolded and punished Harold before. He had nearly beaten him too, bu
Dew’s eyes instantly turned red.She bit her bottom lip, and her eyes became teary. She looked like a beautiful woman who had just wept.She took one step forward and complained about her grievance. “Duke, when you left the banquet early last night, you didn’t take me along. In the end, Mr. Johnson sent me home. Do you know how inappropriate he was? He leered at me and even grabbed my hand! If I hadn’t put up a strong resistance, he would’ve dragged me to a hotel!”Duke finally looked at her. “Why did you try to resist him?”Dew found herself speechless.The question nearly choked her.Was it not normal for her to resist? Why did he ask such a question?But since Duke had asked her, she needed to answer properly.She blinked, and her tears fell. “Duke, I’m not an easy woman. Our night five years ago was caused by an accident. I regretted sleeping with a man before getting married too, but what could I do? You were drunk that night, and you were so strong. No matter how I fought
Adina drove her kids to their preschool.On the way, she received a call from her assistant. “The staff from Winters Corporation has arrived? Please welcome him for a while. I’ll be at the company in a minute.”After she hung up, she drove faster.Alden frowned. “Mom, are you collaborating with Winters Corporation?”“There’s a smart car project in Winters Corporation, and it’s considered the first of its kind on the market. I’m actually quite interested in it,” Adina casually said.Alden lowered his head.Duke had entered his mom’s life and also collaborated with her on their work.If they spent time together frequently, would his mom fall for that man?After all, Duke was the most desired man in Sea City according to the news.“Alden, what’s wrong with you?”Adina noticed Alden’s expression from the rear-view mirror. She felt worried as she questioned him.It seemed that starting from yesterday, Alden had not been very happy. He appeared to be in a bad mood.“Mom, I’m fine
“Ms. Daugherty, you’re already running a program designing company at this age. You’re really young and capable.” Mr. Garcia and Adina shook hands, and he greeted her with a compliment.Adina smiled and said, “It’s thanks to my friend’s help, or else it would’ve been so smooth sailing.”Ethan had helped her find a place for her office and also introduced a few of the programming staff in the company to her.If Ethan had not helped her, her studio would still be a mess at this point. Mr. Garcia secretly thought that she might not have merely received help. Perhaps she was just the general manager in name.However, Mr. Garcia was experienced in the industry, so he would not express too much emotion in front of his collaborator. He professionally said, “So, Ms. Daugherty, let’s talk about the preliminary design plans for this project—”Buzz!Adina’s phone vibrated on the table.She cast a glance at the incoming call. It was from Flint, and she directly ended it. “I’m sorry, Mr.
One second later, her Whatsapp was flooded with messages.[Addy, you’re so cruel![Addy, this is the 999th time that you’ve blocked my phone number. I’ll remember this![Addy, I’m sorry. Give me another chance!]Adina coldly slammed her phone back on the office desk with the screen facing down.She then raised her head and smiled. “I’m sorry, Mr. Garcia. We can continue now. Regarding Visual Studio Code that you mentioned earlier, it is a rather traditional coding software. I’ve amended a few parts—” “Ms. Daugherty, I think I better take this preliminary design concept back to Winters Corporation to study it.” Mr. Garcia stood up. “A-F is a project that Winters Corporation has invested a lot into. Some details can’t be decided by the two of us.”Adina smiled and nodded. “You’re right, Mr. Garcia. We’ll discuss it again after the Technical Department of Winters Corporation audits and reviews it.”Mr. Garcia held the thick document with the design while he walked out of the stud
Mr. Garcia thought about how he should answer before he slowly said, “I admire Ms. Daugherty’s design concept. She has implemented a brand new programming method, which breaks down traditional coding modules and combines them into a new coding rule. I think it’s very challenging.”Duke nodded, and his gaze was filled with admiration.He was also involved in programming, and he was confident that there were less than three programmers in the world who dared to design a plan like that.Adina was indeed impressive.He threw the proposal back “There are advantages to taking the challenge. The first draft is set for now. Continue keeping tabs on this project.”After Duke spoke, he went to the CEO’s office.Jake patted Mr. Garcia’s shoulder. “Mr. Winters cares about this project very much. If you do well, maybe you’ll be promoted!”But Mr. Garcia chuckled in resignation.Mr. Winters was not an IT person, so he naturally did not understand the hidden risks.Mr. Garcia, on the other h
“If the air there were clean, would I have stayed in Ascrialia for such a long time?” Mrs. Winters said coldly. “I’ll ask my people to pick Harold up so that he can live with me for a few months.”“No,” Duke rejected her request resolutely. “I’ve arranged a course for him, so he can’t go to Ascrialia now.”“Duke, I’m old, and I need someone to keep me company.” Mrs. Winters’ tone was cold and fierce yet inferior. “I’m living alone in Ascrialia in such a big manor. Do you know how I spend my days? I’m not asking you to come and visit me. I just want one of the boys to accompany me for some time. Do you have to turn me down like that?”Duke became silent, which was rare.When the boys were one month old, he had sent them to Ascrialia for his mother to take care of them.Back then, he could not accept that he suddenly had two kids. Besides, his mother had always wanted to have grandchildren, so he sent them to Ascrialia to fulfill her wish.Unexpectedly, after the boys lived abroad
“Mrs. Winters, marriage should exist because of love.”Catherine flashed her a faint smile.“Without love, marriage is just a grave where love goes to die. Duke obviously doesn’t want to build a grave for himself just for the children’s sake.”Mrs. Winters shook her head and did not say anything,She had been in Ascrialia for many years, and she had lost control over her son a long time ago. Whatever she said would not mean anything to him.“Mrs. Winters, I really like Duke’s perspective on love.” Catherine suddenly lowered her head and smiled. “I’ve known you for so many years, and I hear Duke’s name every day. But, I haven’t met Duke before. Mrs. Winters, do you have a picture of him?”Mrs. Winters cast a glance at Catherine.Catherine had appeared in her life about four years ago. She would come and visit her every day. In turn, Mrs. Winters would share her personal thoughts with the young lady who was in her early twenties.Mrs. Winters had even told Catherine about the mis