"No need to apologize to me. After all, you didn't do anything wrong to me," Cynthia said, knowing that her words would hit him hard, but it was unavoidable.Kendrick was first confused but instantly became shocked.His hand froze mid-air, no longer pulling his hair. "What do you mean by that?" Why did he have a bad feeling about this? Could it be that he went crazy with alcohol in public? That should not be the case. He would never allow himself to act that way in public, and Cynthia knew how much he cared about his reputation."You were at..." Cynthia began to speak, but her words were cut off."I got it!" Kendrick quickly interrupted, relieved that the truth was not as cruel as he had imagined. "I went crazy with alcohol at Mr. Tom's place, and he had no choice but to call you?"It must be it! How could he face Lionel with a serious demeanor in the future?Lionel would definitely think of him as a hypocrite.Cynthia thought about which situation was more embarrassing—
Before Kendrick made the call, Lionel's call came. "Mr. Yates, should I pick you up from Mr. Neal's house, or will you come to the company yourself?"For Kendrick, this sentence was like a bolt from the blue, shattering his last bit of hope."Did I really leave with Joshua last night?""Yes, Mr. Yates.""Why didn't you stop me? As my secretary, is it appropriate for you to let the CEO of a cooperating company take me away?" Kendrick was completely shattered."It's not appropriate," Lionel responded without hesitation."Then why did you let Joshua take me away?""I wanted to take you back myself, but you rejected me and chose Mr. Neal. Both of you told me to leave, so I had no choice but to leave," Lionel spoke truthfully.Honestly, Lionel was still puzzled as to why Kendrick would go with Joshua instead of with him. After all, they had only recently met Joshua.Kendrick hung up the phone decisively, collapsing into despair as he rested his head on the table. Then, he looked
Lionel was confused.What did he do? Kendrick treated him so poorly.To avoid being wrongly blamed, Lionel followed Kendrick and approached him in the office after Cynthia went to attend to her own matters.He asked, "Mr. Yates, is it because of last night that you don't want to see me?"Kendrick's expression turned cold.He had the nerve to say that!"Well, that's not my fault. After you chose Mr. Neal, I confirmed with you again, and you said I didn't need to accompany you, forcing me to leave," Lionel explained. His intuition told him that if he did not clarify this matter, Kendrick would definitely not give him a bonus.Kendrick retorted, "I was drunk at that time. Can you trust what a drunk person says?"Lionel did not answer.No… He could not. However, Joshua had such a strong presence that he did not dare to compete with him."If I get drunk again one day and tell you I want to bungee jump without a rope, would you push me off the building?" Kendrick asked.Lionel w
If someone came to the door to deliver documents or discuss business, Kendrick had to put on a lively facade to deal with them. Once they left, he would slump back in his chair.He had never felt so socially dead and desperate in his life.Cynthia was at a loss for words.She sensed his dread of such situations and suggested, "Why don't you handle these documents, and I'll take care of things with Joshua?""No need. I'm just mentally preparing myself," Kendrick refused. Cynthia did not want to get too involved with Joshua in the first place, and if she were to go instead, it would not reflect well on him as an older cousin.Cynthia did not expose him and simply replied, "Alright, take your time. I'll go ahead.""Wait!" Kendrick called her back.He definitely could not go alone. It would be too easy for Joshua to mock him mercilessly. If Cynthia was there, at least Joshua would not be too arrogant.Cynthia turned around.After much deliberation and conflicting emotions, Ken
Kendrick smiled slightly, his demeanor devoid of any previous uneasiness, as he greeted Joshua confidently, "Mr. Neal." Joshua nodded slightly and politely responded, "Mr. Yates."After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Joshua led Cynthia and Kendrick inside. As the door closed, Kendrick became extremely anxious.However, as the CEO of a company and Cynthia's cousin, he had to gather his composure."Have you had dinner?" Joshua asked Cynthia as they walked inside.Cynthia replied, "Yes."Kendrick was puzzled.When had they eaten?Noticing Kendrick's change in expression, Joshua did not dwell on it and changed the topic, saying to Cynthia, "I would appreciate it if you could help me transfer the data.""Sure," Cynthia agreed.Transferring the data would be easy if the phone was still in good condition. However, since Joshua's phone was severely damaged, he entrusted the task to Cynthia. This also conveniently brought them closer.Joshua led Cynthia to the study, where Cynt
Cynthia's gaze fell on his phone. "Your phone is worth more than that.""In that case, 8314 USD," Joshua replied."Joshua!"Cynthia also knew that 8314 meant 'I love you forever' in cyber terms, and she was getting annoyed."Hmm?" Joshua lowered his voice, his sharp and handsome face maintaining a serious expression.Nevertheless, Cynthia could not resist his charm when he behaved like this, subtly alluring. She kept her phone aside and locked eyes with him, questioning, "Are you sure the damages from last night only amount to 8314 USD?""Mm," Joshua responded softly.Cynthia agreed, "Okay."Joshua, setting aside their previous issues, was undeniably an alluring man. His presence satisfied her severe case of 'looks addiction' and cultivated her fondness for a man's voice, hands, dressing in formal attire or shirts, legs, and so on. In other words, Joshua's physical attributes were off the charts, surpassing celebrities in the entertainment industry.In the past, Cynthia ofte
Cynthia glanced at Kendrick, wondering what was going on with him today.Joshua also found Kendrick's behavior peculiar but did not say much and simply gestured toward the restroom.Once Kendrick left, it was just Cynthia and Joshua standing there in silence. Neither of them spoke. It would have been an awkward atmosphere if it were any other pair in this state, but Cynthia and Joshua managed to exude a strong sense of chemistry.After Kendrick went to the restroom, he took out his phone and sent a WhatsApp message to Cynthia.[Kendrick: Cyn, do me a favor and ask Joshua to delete last night's surveillance footage.][Kendrick: Just this one time. After it's done, I promise to listen to everything you say in the future.][Kendrick: Is that okay, Cyn?]He sent three messages and waited for Cynthia's response. Whenever she saw his messages, she would reply. However, he waited…One minute…Two minutes…Three minutes... Five minutes, and still no reply from Cynthia.He se
Kendrick started to act cute, like a cat.Cynthia always had a bit more patience for attractive people and things. Moreover, Kendrick was her cousin, so she agreed."I can only talk to him. If he refuses to delete it, we can't force him," Cynthia informed Kendrick.Kendrick nodded in agreement.In his view, Joshua's reactions throughout the day had already made his feelings for Cynthia quite obvious. If Cynthia asked for it, he would definitely delete it!Cynthia frowned. Then, after careful consideration, she turned to face Joshua, contemplating how to approach the topic.Joshua noticed that she had something on her mind and asked, "What's the matter?""There's something," Cynthia began."Tell me."Joshua exuded a detached aura, but he was clearly looking at Cynthia with affection.Cynthia did not shy away from his gaze and went straight to the point, "Can you please delete the surveillance footage from last night?"Upon hearing her request, Joshua's gaze instinctively fe
Isabella glared at Nick. He actually betrayed her! Caught off guard by Luther's honesty, Nick quickly explained, "Don't look at me like that. Luther forced me to do it. If I didn't agree to his request, he would've spilled my past to my current girlfriend.""Current girlfriend?" Isabella looked puzzled.Nick confessed honestly, "My new girlfriend."Isabella was at a loss for words. Nick was very handsome. His looks could rival top celebrities. Naturally, with his face and charisma, he had no shortage of admirers. That led to a habit of frequently changing girlfriends."I made my rules clear to her. No shady behavior allowed," Nick added quickly, sensing what Isabella was thinking.Hearing this, Isabella did not say much.A moment later, Luther, seeing that their conversation had wrapped up, took Isabella's hand and left. On the way back, he deliberately brought up the topic of proposals."What kind of proposal do you like?" Luther asked."Anything works," Isabella replied
There was a time when Isabella considered letting Luther propose to her. However, he had not shown any signs that he would or asked for her ring size. There was no need to overthink it; that fool probably had not even thought about it. Nonetheless, Isabella did not blame Luther. After all, she was well aware that everyone expressed love differently. Yet, that was also precisely why she wanted to propose to him, to make him understand just how much she cared."What's wrong?" Annie asked, concerned."I'm just worried," Isabella replied. The ring sizes had been a constant worry for her."Because of what you just mentioned?"Isabella nodded. "Yeah.""Why do you want to propose to him?" Annie looked toward a dark corner. "In most relationships, the boyfriend proposes to the girlfriend, right?""I want him to feel loved," Isabella answered simply.Luther was different from most people; he always suppressed his negative emotions and limited his freedom. He no longer wanted to restr
"No," Luther declined; he still wanted to be the one proposing to her."Okay," Joshua agreed readily.Luther nodded, letting his mind wander. In the following days, Isabella kept checking on the progress, each time being informed that there was no opportunity to measure Luther's finger.In the blink of an eye, three days passed.Cynthia and Matthew had a conversation with Isaiah.Due to prior preparation, Isaiah handled Cynthia and Matthew's questions smoothly. Although they knew Isaiah had not been entirely truthful, based on his attitude toward Sandra, they agreed to the marriage without excessive probing into his relationship with her.As for Isabella, she waited for a few days but had not received any news. Frustrated, she decided to go to Jiverton herself to find Luther.When Joshua heard about her plan, he asked her to give him a bit more time. He assured her he would have the sizes by next Friday at the latest."Really?" Isabella was worried about running out of time.
"Okay." Isaiah already had a plan in mind.After discussing the matter, the two did not say much more. In the following two days, Cynthia and Matthew stayed home while Isabella prepared the details and processes for the proposal.However, after going through the general plan, Isabella suddenly realized a problem. She did not know Luther's ring size. How could she prepare a ring for the proposal without knowing the size?Realizing this issue, she immediately thought of flying to Jiverton to find out but hesitated due to Luther's caution. If she returned so soon after just coming back, he would surely be suspicious. After much contemplation, she came up with a solution—Joshua.When Isabella called, Joshua happened to be having a meal with Luther."I'm not busy, what's up?""I need your help with something," Isabella said, trusting Joshua's abilities, "but Luther can't know about it."Joshua instinctively glanced at Luther.Luther was confused. He glanced at Joshua's phone and
"Quit the act," Matthew said to Isabella, "It's too bad."Isabella stayed quiet. Matthew bluntly stated, "Isaiah currently oversees the company, and the annual revenue has been consistently increasing under his management. He even took a few subsidiaries public.""And?" Isabella inquired."He has a talent for this," Matthew hinted, leaving Isabella puzzled as she struggled to keep up with Matthew's pace."He's barely in his twenties, so there's no rush to get married," Matthew explained. He saw through everything, understanding Isaiah well, adding, "If there were truly such a concern, he could easily establish a company under Sandra's name in the next few years, operate it until it goes public."With Isaiah's abilities and connections, starting a company and taking it public would be a simple task. After the IPO and proper management, Sandra's value would naturally rise. This would effortlessly 'shut their mouths'. Isabella wanted to say something, realizing her dad's words
"That depends on the secret he's keeping," Matthew responded immediately, taking the opportunity to tease Isaiah, "If it's something against our moral values, it'd be hard not to form an opinion, even if we try not to.""He's not that kind of person," Isabella defended Isaiah.Matthew did not respond but just sat there. Their father-son dynamic involved banter and teasing, but when it came down to it, they genuinely cared about each other."He's just worried that you might object to Sandra's background," Isabella continued to spin her tale convincingly.Cynthia and Matthew were confused, both staring at Isabella.Isabella felt a bit uneasy. Something seemed off with her parents' expressions. "What's wrong?""Are you sure Isaiah is worried about this?" Cynthia asked.Why was their beloved daughter so bad at lying? Not catching on, Isabella nodded, "Absolutely.""Setting aside the fact that we've always taught you not to treat people differently based on their family background
"Ah, I see." Isabella breathed a sigh of relief and purposely asked, "Is it possible that Isaiah got to know Sandra through Uncle Yves and Uncle Sean?""It's unlikely," Cynthia denied. Even though they had not arranged any blind dates or rushed Isaiah into marriage, given his personality, he would not seek an introduction from anyone."Whenever you have time, ask Isaiah to bring his girlfriend home," Cynthia said, truly wishing for her children to find happiness. Isabella agreed, "Sure.""Isabella," Cynthia suddenly spoke up.Putting away her plan book, Isabella responded, "Hmm?""Do you think I look stern?" Cynthia sounded gentler than usual, lacking the usual nonchalance.Having been accustomed to being herself, Cynthia found it a bit awkward to take on the role of an elder suddenly. If she left a bad impression on Sandra during their first meeting, it could easily jeopardize Isaiah's relationship."Not at all," Isabella spoke sincerely, looking at Cynthia affectionately. "Y
Isaiah had seen through their plans. He knew that his parents' friends enjoyed watching him banter with Matthew. Every time something was like this, they would eagerly make things difficult for him.Early the next morning, Mitchell and the others began implementing the plan. Initially, Matthew did not suspect anything and thought they genuinely had urgent matters to attend to and brought Cynthia back home first.Considering Luther's upcoming proposal, they decided not to travel the world but instead explored nearby cities. After Mitchell and the others called Matthew aside, Isabella approached Cynthia. Cynthia was surprised to learn about Isabella and Isaiah's plan."Aren't you afraid of getting in trouble?" Cynthia asked."Not at all," Isabella responded very directly, her mind focused on planning her and Luther's engagement. "Isaiah said he can handle this matter, so let's discuss the proposal first. I've thought about several options, but none seem good enough.""Okay," Cynth
Isaiah was surprised."Take her to shoot wedding photos first," Isabella suggested seriously. After giving it some thought, Isaiah said, "I'll ask her during dinner.""Why bother asking?" Isabella thought Isaiah's emotional intelligence was lacking, and Sandra's expectations were too low. "Just pick a few reputable studios and let her choose one she likes."During their conversation, Isabella noticed that Sandra was slightly anticipating a wedding, although she had refused for some unknown reason. If she was not truly opposed to weddings, there should not be an issue with pre-wedding photos."If you give it directly to her, she'll probably say she doesn't need it," Isabella coined. She could see through people and was quite clever.Isaiah clearly did not consider this possibility."Take a look at these studios. My friends suggested them," Isabella had already made the selections and recommended them to him. "Weren't you against my decision before?" Isaiah, not understanding h