Vivian's face turned pale at his words. Her lips trembled, and for a long moment, she couldn't find the words to respond.She couldn't blame Lucian for this.Lucian held a deep admiration for both Jacob and Liesel, and he was Liesel's mentor. He had often said that Jacob and Liesel were the most outstanding, intelligent, and courageous entrepreneurs he had ever taught.Lucian held Liesel in such high regard. If he knew she was twisting the truth to flatter Jacob, he would surely be upset.Vivian was at a loss for words.Her every thought seemed laid bare under their sharp gazes. Panic and fear flashed across her face as everyone watched her.She knew well that from the moment she tried to use her cleverness to get ahead, everyone had been waiting for her to fail.They were all jealous and envious, hoping to see her humiliated. No one wanted her to truly succeed and climb the social ladder.At this moment, Vivian was so nervous and frightened that she wanted to cry.Liesel look
Liesel gently sought her opinion.Vivian's heart fluttered.How could someone who had been admitted to Alden University and was valued by Lucian be anything but intelligent? Liesel certainly wasn't foolish.Liesel understood her situation. She knew that everyone was watching her. Those people were waiting for her to fail. They were hoping to see her embarrassed and humiliated. However, Liesel offered her an out and even lifted her up with praise.Liesel was like a living legend in the finance faculty at Alden University. The charity organizations she founded for disabled individuals and women who had lost the chance to attend school were still operating, and they were even profitable enough to help more people each year.That was her gift to Alden University, and also the greatest contribution to those in need.For this reason, she was seen almost as a figure of reverence among some students in the finance faculty. She was the example Lucian always spoke of, an outstanding gradua
"She admires you and has feelings for you. It's natural for her to feel hostility toward me. She simply bumped into me when she rushed over and said some half-hearted words. She ignored my contributions just to get closer to you in front of me. She has no real impact on me," Liesel continued."She's just a naive student. How could she possibly insult me? You're the one who's gone too far."A sharp glint flashed in Liesel's cold eyes as she fixed her dissatisfied gaze on Jacob.Jacob looked at her impassively and gave her space to explain. Liesel seized the opportunity and calmly said, "You know everyone was watching her. They were waiting for her to be humiliated and forced to flee. They were waiting for her to be crushed by your disdain. Just as they expected, you responded with cold, harsh words. Maybe you don't care, and maybe she won't affect you, but your actions could ruin her life."Vivian hadn't actually done anything wrong. She was bolder and more calculating than the ot
Knowing that Jacob would keep his word, Liesel finally turned and left. After everything that had just happened, she didn't want to be near him. The very thought made her feel suffocated.As Liesel walked away, Jacob remained on the balcony. He was staring at the few faint lights glowing on the lawn.The warm yellow glow spilled from the grass, casting a subtle green hue around it. It shimmered like hidden fireflies in the night. To him, it was just another beautiful scene, one that only felt meaningful when Liesel was there.Shaking his head, Jacob pushed his swirling thoughts aside and returned to his indifferent state.He set his empty glass down and turned to leave. As he walked through the crowd, he passed well-dressed guests, tables laden with elegant dishes, and floral arrangements thoughtfully placed around the room.Everyone's gaze was fixed on him, each one brimming with a variety of desires—desires to attach themselves to him, manipulate him, or possess him. At the core
The night sky was empty, yet it seemed the whole universe was shining in Liesel's eyes.Jacob watched her.Liesel only cast a brief glance at him before shifting her gaze elsewhere.Jacob had always known that she was extraordinary.Since marrying him, she had gone out of her way to prove herself. She was always buried in complex plans and a packed schedule. Their interactions were mostly limited to work and the bedroom.He knew Liesel could play the piano, but he had never truly seen her play.Dressed in a fiery red evening gown, she radiated a brilliance so dazzling it seemed to light up the room.In his eyes, everything else faded into the background the moment Liesel entered.Her slender, graceful fingers flew across the piano keys, filling the room with a powerful and passionate melody. The music wasn't just beautiful. It was commanding. It added a striking strength to her already captivating charm.She was breathtaking.Not far from the stage stood a grove of locust tre
Liesel's irritation was growing."Ophelia, this is no longer his decision to make."Her smile widened. "Even if he gave me a choice, I wouldn't choose him. What we had is really over."Her voice carried a lightness. It was as if she had finally been freed.Ophelia sighed heavily, knowing there was no point in trying to convince her further. Still, she couldn't help but privately resent Natalie."When you met Natalie at Heritage Hotel, I happened to be there too. Ophelia, don't make it hard for her anymore. She's the kind of person who doesn't deserve your attention."Ophelia mumbled under her breath, "I just can't stand her arrogant attitude. She's a mistress and an illegitimate child, yet she acts so cocky. It's disgusting."Liesel couldn't help but shake her head slightly.Ophelia noticed and grunted. "Fine, I'll stop. I won't let that woman come near me again. If she does, I won't let her off easily. Liesel, I've got a dance to get to, so I'm leaving now."With that, Opheli
"Ms. Sharp not only looked at my notes but also borrowed them. She gave me her business card and offered me the chance for an internship. You all saw it from such a distance, didn't you?"Vivian felt even more grateful to Liesel now.Liesel must have known exactly what she would face when she returned, which is why she stepped in to help her beforehand. If not, things would have been much harder for her.Sheyna laughed mockingly."Now you're saying all that? Do you really think we didn't notice you were originally trying to get Mr. Ford's attention? In fact, Ms. Sharp nearly tripped over you when you bumped into her."Vivian's expression darkened. She felt a pang of guilt. Before she could respond, a soft laugh came from behind her."She came to find me. Do we really need to overcomplicate something so simple?"Liesel stood behind Vivian. Her gaze was firm and authoritative.Sheyna was stunned into silence for a moment before stammering, "She was clearly after Mr. Ford...""I
Liesel gave him a faint smile. Just as she was about to say something to Vivian, she noticed Sheyna in the banquet hall stumble and twist her ankle."Ah!" Sheyna cried out.The red wine she had been drinking dripped from her head, splattering onto her pristine white gown and leaving a messy stain across her chest.People around her glanced with disdain. It was almost absurd how someone could be so clumsy as to spill wine all over themselves.Vivian was momentarily stunned, and the people nearby exchanged confused looks at the scene.Liesel rubbed her temples and let out a sigh.The flustered Sheyna clumsily hurried toward the restroom. In her rush, her left foot tangled with her right, and she stumbled forward. She crashed into a long table piled with food.The white tablecloth flopped over her face, and instinctively, she reached out to grab it for support. A moment later, a loud crash echoed as the tablecloth came off, and the dishes piled on the table rained down on her.She
Austin didn't get to witness Liesel's downfall, but instead, he found himself in trouble. His overwhelming desire to bring her down had made him reckless.Investigators from White-Collar Crime Division arrived at Hardin Group. They wasted no time as they launched an in-depth investigation. The theft of such a groundbreaking research project by foreign competitors was a severe blow to the nation's industry and had drawn top-level attention.No one was allowed to leave the premises, and all employees of the research department were under scrutiny.Austin's gaze was cold and venomous. He felt nothing but contempt for Elijah and the others. To him, these men were pathetic fools for degrading themselves for a woman. How could they still call themselves men?He didn't mind the investigation. They wouldn't find anything on him anyway.His dealings with Alisha had been carried out discreetly, leaving no trace. Alisha had handled everything. None of it could be tied back to him.He was in
"Mr. Hardin has always protected Ms. Sharp," someone whispered. "He left a will that stated he would give everything to her. But as long as he's alive, that will doesn't matter. No man could tolerate such betrayal. Ms. Sharp will definitely be kicked out of Hardin Group."By the end of her words, her voice had begun to tremble. Sobs broke out of her chest. She sounded utterly pitiful.Austin wiped his face again and heaved a heavy sigh to blend in. No one knew about the chilling malice and deep satisfaction hiding in his eyes.Just then, slow, deliberate footsteps echoed down the hallway, followed by the sound of the glass door being pushed open.Everyone's heads turned. The murmured discussions fell silent, and the tense air became heavy with a solemn weight.Austin lowered his hand from his mouth and arranged his face into an expression of anxious unease.The moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived. He wanted to see for himself just how far Liesel would fall and how
Austin's face was pale, and he looked down, seemingly like everyone else in the room. But a closer look would reveal that he was the most different of all.A sly smile tugged at his lips. There was even a flicker of light in his eyes, showing an air of ease and satisfaction. He was disconnected from the sorrows of those around him.How was Liesel doing now?The thought crossed Austin's mind, and he couldn't help but blink with interest.The peak of her life was just ahead. With one step, Liesel could have everything everyone dreamed of—applause, wealth, status, and a bright future.But at the closest moment to success, her outstretched hand was brutally severed, and her foot fell into an empty void.The pain must have been excruciating.Austin shook his head and sighed inwardly. Liesel was so pitiful.He put his freshly cleaned glasses back on his high nose bridge. Avoiding the gazes of others, he wore a most comfortable smile.He thought with satisfaction, "I climbed over you
An elderly man sitting next to Richard said, "One month. Liesel has to go if things aren't settled in a month."Felix looked at Liesel, who nodded.And just like that, it was decided.Richard, along with his subordinates, left the meeting room. As they passed Liesel, Richard shot her a look full of disdain.Liesel stood there with a faint smile. She was completely indifferent to the situation.As the group walked by, Howard subtly extended his long leg.Richard tripped and went tumbling to the ground, landing face-first. As he scrambled up, he glared back with a grim expression.He could deal with Liesel and plot against Felix, but Howard was a different story. He couldn't do a thing to him."Let's go, Ms. Sharp." Howard stood up leisurely while casually adjusting his silver-gray tie. His Adam's apple sat perfectly at the collar of his shirt.Howard had once again reached new heights of attractiveness today.In the elevator, Liesel asked curiously, "You didn't even use a remo
Felix nodded at Liesel, who was standing on stage. Just as he was about to speak, his phone began buzzing loudly.Every phone call was crucial during such a critical moment. Felix waved his hand, gesturing for everyone to wait for a moment. He checked his phone and saw that he had received more than ten of the same videos over and over again. On the video thumbnail was a silhouette of Liesel embracing Thomas.Felix's fingers twitched as he looked up at Liesel, who was still waiting for his response. At the same time, all the other executives' phones vibrated. Everyone had received the same videos. The crowd stared in shock at the sight of Liesel and Thomas in those videos. She had cheated on Elijah by hooking up with Thomas. Didn't that imply it was actually possible for her to betray Hardin Group? That was the crucial moment Richard had been waiting for. He couldn't help but give some sarcastic remarks. "How exciting for you, Ms. Sharp. You've used my son to take everything aw
Howard paused, but he wasn't surprised that Richard was trying to cast the blame on Liesel at that moment. Felix also instantly looked up with a fiery gaze. He really didn't understand why they weren't coming up with a solution at that moment. Instead, Richard wanted to continue the internal conflict and fight for some power that outsiders would consider insignificant.Dakota hurriedly placed a hand on Felix's shoulder and hinted for him to calm down. Dakota continued, "Mr. Donner, the same technology with the exact specifications happened to be released before we could even launch it."Things can't be that coincidental. We must get to the bottom of this, but we shouldn't panic and lose our composure either."The turbulent emotions within Felix faded away instantly as he ordered, "As long as the matter isn't clear yet, no one is allowed to make any statements that would negatively impact the company or their colleagues!" The first order of business was to keep everyone's mouths
"No. Ms. Sharp wants to achieve a global market share of 35%.""Wow! That target is insane! If Ms. Sharp succeeds, won't our company be making a fortune? Those two are our most profitable projects!""We can't be sure how much our company will earn since those amounts are way beyond our imagination. We might as well think about how much bonuses we'll receive this year.""I think I can use my bonuses this time to pay a down payment for a house in Ashthorne. I might even be able to get a nice car."Everyone's excited voices drifted across the spacious office. Their eyes lit up with excitement and hope. Austin tossed the files aside before reaching for his phone to send a text. "It's time." After sending the message, he deleted it instantly, and the chat vanished as well.A moment later, an overseas car manufacturer suddenly announced some earth-shattering news, causing a stir across the automotive industry.At the same time, Augustine's family also revealed their cancer treatment
These new projects were worth hundreds of millions in the market, and Liesel was the reason everyone could enjoy the profits. Before the announcement was even over, rounds of applause echoed across the meeting room several times.The optimized cancer treatment medication was enough to surpass the related treatments that foreign countries had always dominated. The medication had outperformed those of the Bergs' family company, which led to Hardin Group capturing their market share.Everyone in the meeting room beamed at Liesel on stage. Even Richard was amazed by how profitable these projects were.Howard held a remote as he leisurely controlled a colorful drone. Despite being present at such a crucial meeting, he remained carefree and indifferent. However, no one dared to criticize him. He was the only one who could develop the blueprint Liesel had drafted. Hardin Group could only go as far as Howard's strong capabilities.The executives' faces had gone red from excitement, and s
Of course, Thomas heard of Elijah before and became indignant instantly. "I can definitely achieve whatever Elijah has! He always spends his time flirting with women. How could I not be better than him?" Thomas was disdainful. To him, Elijah was a spoiled heir just like himself. "You've not kept up with Elijah for so long." Cameron seemed to have aged a lot in a moment. "He's been pretending all this while. Have a look for yourself."Cameron had ordered someone to organize all information related to Elijah last night so Thomas could have a look once he was awake. Thomas looked through every page. The more he read, the more despondent he grew.Elijah pretended to be useless, but Thomas was truly incompetent. If Thomas had to make a point, the Kellers were far wealthier than the Hardins. In terms of looks, Elijah was known for being attractive. Thomas was even once worried that Liesel might find him too muscular.Thomas' eyes lit up as he read the last part of the files. It deta