It was a sign that the war was on between the two men.Liesel raised her gaze, and her eyes were cold and emotionless. She looked at Jacob and smiled.She appeared to be telling Jacob through her smile that she had found someone new. It was like a warning.Seeming to get her hint, Elijah purposefully wrapped his arm around her waist.Though he felt her body stiffen slightly, he didn't let go. Instead, with a low and gravelly voice, he said, "If the world comes crashing down, I'll shoulder the burden for you.""I have no use for you right now." Her gaze never left Jacob. "If the world comes crashing down, I can still manage on my own."They seemed utterly oblivious to everyone else. Liesel in particular acted as if Jacob was long gone and their relationship had never existed."Are you here to call us to the meeting, Mr. Ford?" Elijah's smile deepened. "I'm really sorry. Whenever I see Lili, I find it hard to keep my feelings in check. That's why we were held up. I hope you don't
Eventually, Elijah looked at Liesel and asked languidly, "What's our relationship?"With an arm resting on the back of a chair, he spoke casually, yet his gaze was fixed on Liesel.It was clear that he cared deeply about the answer as well.Meanwhile, Jacob's deep eyes were trained on the two.Liesel wanted to laugh.Elijah was truly quite a calculating man.He had come to Ford Corporation that day to make a show of being affectionate with her so that the others would speculate about their relationship.On the rooftop, he'd said that he'd leave the decision to Liesel.In reality, she didn't have much choice in the matter.They did nothing on the rooftop, yet who would believe that?That post had been shared everywhere. Everyone was saying that their relationship was ambiguous.Rather than leaving it ambiguous, she might as well give him a role right now. The only reason Elijah was so calculating was that he wanted Liesel to acknowledge him. He wanted their relationship to
Why did she choose Elijah when they had just gotten a divorce?Why did she give up on him so quickly?If this was the love Liesel had for him, why was her love so feeble?"What?" Liesel was stunned. The question had come out of nowhere. She didn't understand.However, Elijah did. Amused, he clapped his hands and chuckled."Because we're two of a kind. It's that simple." Elijah spoke up, making sure Jacob could hear his words clearly.In truth, Liesel could acknowledge their relationship in this situation largely because she had fallen into Elijah's trap.He had put his cards on the table.Of course, he was her best option right now. There was no reason for her not to choose him.Besides, it was his deliberate schemes that had brought about this situation.When Elijah noticed Jacob's reticent face and subdued gaze, he turned his head away and smiled, somewhat amused.Liesel looked up at Jacob and asked, "What do you mean 'why'?"Jacob glanced at Elijah, who was grinning wi
Elijah held the hand of his new girlfriend.This time, Liesel didn't avoid him."Take a dip in a hot spring during summer?" Liesel raised a brow. She could tell that Elijah had some cheeky ideas in mind."Tomorrow's my birthday. What will you give me as a present?"Elijah gently stroked the softest and smoothest part of Liesel's wrist as he asked. There was a hint of longing in his voice.With her head tilted, Liesel gave him a meaningful smile.She grabbed Elijah's hand in turn and warned him, "Elijah, do you want me to visit a hot spring and get even more intimate with you while Jacob's child is in my belly? Is that what you want?"Elijah's expression stiffened.He was well aware that Liesel was giving him a reminder.Even though they were in a relationship now, they weren't together because they were in love. They were together simply because they were compatible.It was simply because the shareholders had forced them to acknowledge their relationship. In other words, it w
Jacob's gaze never once departed from Liesel, as if he were waiting for her answer.Liesel softly chuckled and said, "If that's what you like, sure. You might have to wait a little longer if a pen is all you want."Elijah tightened his grip on her hand and chuckled. He was clearly happy. "I don't mind waiting for even longer if that's what it takes to get your handmade gift."Without a word, Jacob grabbed his phone and turned to leave.He strode into the elevator and stopped suddenly. He then supported himself against the metal wall and let out a heavy sigh.The other shareholders, who had been waiting for him, followed him into the elevator. They surrounded him and started talking about how the partnership with Dash would bring huge profits to the company."I'm not in the mood to discuss this with you now," Jacob said. His voice was laced with evident coldness.The shareholders fell into silence, clearly intimidated. None of them dared to cross him.Jacob braced his arms again
Liesel chuckled nonchalantly. "Mr. Ford, could you please let your Ms. Natalie know that I've only been temporarily suspended, not kicked out from Ford Corporation?"I'm the manager of the project department—not someone whom a newly hired secretary could humiliate!"Natalie's expression changed upon hearing Liesel's words.She couldn't believe Liesel wasn't fired even after doing such a thing. That was just too unfair!Jacob frowned. The coldness in his voice was evident when he said, "I'll have someone to arrange a new one for you. I'll also get Natalie to explain herself to you."Around them, the onlookers started laughing quietly, mocking Natalie. They had known from the start that she was bound to run into trouble doing such things.No matter how close Natalie was to Jacob, she should have understood Liesel's standing at Ford Corporation. Her things were off-limits.Natalie stood frozen in place. Her face turned as white as a sheet. The smugness and mockery from her expressi
Jacob's gaze darkened slowly, and his eyes turned bloodshot. He couldn't stop himself from typing out a text, "Liesel, do you really not care about Grandpa?"Only after typing that did he feel pathetic and shameless. It was like he was using Vincent to tie her down. He knew clearly that a text like this was inappropriate now that the two of them were together.Jacob stared at the words on his screen. After a long struggle, he slowly erased the message.…The rain came to a complete stop. Liesel looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows of the presidential suite at the Heritage Hotel.In truth, she had felt a niggling in her heart until she received a call from Jeffrey, asking her to explain what happened with Dash and Elijah. Now that the Sharp Group was being targeted, Jeffrey was overcome with anxiety. Many of their contracts had been terminated.Now, he was going all in, placing all hopes on Natalie. He knew that Natalie had been burned by Liesel before.That was not all. After
Natalie daydreamed about these possibilities delightfully.Elijah tilted his head and gazed at Liesel with a gloomy look. "Won't you explain?" He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.Natalie bowed her head while hiding a smile."Mr. Hardin, you should go. It's my family's fault for not educating my daughter properly. I'll teach Liesel a lesson," Jeffrey said coldly. He was asking Elijah to leave.Liesel merely kept quiet and scrolled on her phone. From time to time, she would peek at Elijah with an indifferent look.Elijah chuckled coolly. "Liesel, are you using me?"When he said that, there was an obvious layer of ice in his eyes.Liesel said nothing. She merely glanced up at him with a chilling look, but at the same time, she looked like she didn't care at all.Natalie waited for the conflict to erupt.Someone like Elijah was able to lie low for so many years. It was evident that he wasn't someone who was easy to deal with. Now that Liesel had crossed him, things were
Richard let out a bitter laugh."Liesel, those assets belong to Elijah, which means they're part of the Hardin family's inheritance. Naturally, we'll ensure they stay within the family."Liesel smiled. Her smile was breathtaking, but the cold glint in her eyes was impossible to ignore."Then perhaps you should consider why Elijah didn't leave those assets to you but entrusted everything to me instead."It was a sharp question. If their bond had been so strong, why would Elijah bypass his family and give everything to her?The answer was simple: he didn't trust them. He knew the Hardin family was a bottomless pit, a maelstrom of greed that would swallow everything.If his assets fell into their hands, they would never see the light of day again. Elijah left everything to Liesel not just out of love but because he trusted her, knowing she was the one person who wouldn't betray him. The Hardin family, on the other hand, was different. Their endless hunger for profit would destro
Liesel smiled as she glanced around the room. The room fell into silence, but Uriah couldn't resist sneering. "You claim Hardin Group will collaborate with Shifter Corporation, but does saying it make it true? Do you think you're the CEO of Shifter Corporation? You're not Neal!" Jordan's gaze fell. His eyes were cold and sharp as they landed on Uriah. "I think my presence here already answers that."Richard was nearly driven to fury by Uriah's outburst. He quickly reprimanded Uriah and told him to keep quiet. Though he was partial to his youngest son, Uriah was nothing but a fool! He always said the wrong thing at the worst possible time. Jordan was standing here himself. What more needed to be said? As the vice CEO of Shifter Corporation, Jordan had full authority, just as Liesel, the vice CEO of Hardin Group, did. Together, they more than represented their companies. Besides, it was obvious Jordan was here to support Liesel. Uriah's reckless words risked offending him.
"I would never force my personal opinions on you. However... as you all know, companies that have already made breakthroughs in 3D technology have accumulated strong financial backing. After 3D comes holograms... and what comes after that?"What I offer you is always the latest cutting-edge technology. Tell me, what can anyone else provide you with that can match that? Immediate gains or long-term benefits—what is it that I can't offer?"Greed was a part of human nature.You give someone a hundred, and they'll want a thousand. You give them a thousand, and they'll want ten thousand.Liesel didn't know what the Hardins were offering, but whatever it was, she could certainly offer more. In the face of immense benefits, small, petty gains couldn't compare.The deals she could bring in were big deals and not empty promises. Just her recent 3D imaging had already caused Hardin Group's stock prices to skyrocket.Even with what happened to Elijah, Hardin Group's stock barely even droppe
Jordan raised an eyebrow as his gaze settled on Sam's gentle smile. He had encountered his fair share of duplicitous businessmen—those with dark hearts, aggressive tendencies, or deeply buried schemes. But to Jordan, Sam was nothing more than a fool. "Mr. Sam, I thought you only had one brother?" Jordan narrowed his eyes. "And isn't that Mr. Elijah? Since when did you and Uriah become so chummy?"Elijah's barely out of the picture, and yet here you are, toasting drinks and forming alliances. It seems your so-called 'brotherly bond' with him wasn't all that deep." Sam had always harbored a hidden resentment toward Elijah. For years, he had quietly hated him. He kept this dark feeling hidden because he knew he was a failure, reliant on Elijah's protection and care for the rest of his life.So, he had to play a part, pretending to be someone he wasn't.The truth was, he knew deep down that he was already mentally disturbed, a parasite hiding in the shadows.Uriah and Elijah s
"Wait! My friend's a top talent agent! I'm sending this guy's photo to them right now. Seriously, that guy's face alone is going to make him jump for joy!" "He's standing next to Liesel and he still manages to stand out? That's what you call a real beauty!" Those who recognized Jordan's name were stunned. "Wait, are you guys seriously saying you don't know who Jordan is?" "Jordan! As in Shifter Corporation's vice president!" "Shifter Corporation? The multinational conglomerate that's basically untouchable? The same one with international influence, where even seasoned capital firms clamor for partnerships?"Yeah, Shifter Corporation. Do you want him to ditch all that to join the entertainment industry? Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea how much he earns per second?" The chat slowed down for a brief moment before exploding in a torrent of frenzied comments. "Jordan lives up to the hype. That face could make anyone lose their train of thought." "So,
Liesel raised her gaze. Her eyes were cold as they locked onto Uriah. The chill radiating from her was impossible to miss. "And who exactly are you supposed to be?" she asked with one hand resting lightly on the edge of the table. "I worked at Ashthorne for three years and never once heard of some grand figure like you at Hardin Group." She made a shocked face. "Ah, Mr. Uriah. My apologies. It's been so long since I've seen you. You look so diminished. Have you lost your appetite? Or maybe you're just too weak to keep up." The remark was a blatant jab. Everyone in the room knew it hadn't been long since Elijah ousted Uriah from his position at Hardin Group—a coup that wouldn't have been possible without Liesel's support. To Uriah, Elijah couldn't have taken Hardin Group away without Liesel. She was the reason he had lost everything. He slammed his hand on the table as he stood abruptly. "Liesel! Without you, do you think Elijah would've had the guts to take Hardin Group
"I'm not crazy, but sitting in a wheelchair for negotiations is not my style." Jordan rubbed his temples. "Ms. Sharp, you're stunning enough. You could sit in a wheelchair and still be the most beautiful person in the room. Can you just be reasonable for once?" "No," Liesel shot back. "If I'm sitting in a wheelchair next to you, it'll make you look better than me. I can't have that." Jordan was annoyed. It wasn't his fault that he was good-looking. "Fine. I'll bring the wheelchair, but you don't have to use it. Just promise me you'll call if you feel like you need it. I'll be right there." Liesel trusted Jordan completely. But she knew that showing even a hint of weakness would give the board members ammunition to undermine her. They'd latch onto the fact that she was recovering from a miscarriage. They would turn that into a weapon to question her capability.When they arrived at Hardin Group, the board meeting was already underway. Employees gave Liesel suspicious loo
"The Hardins claim that Mr. Hardin was a hopeless romantic who foolishly left all his assets and shares to Liesel in his will. If they can't find Mr. Hardin's body, Liesel becomes the sole beneficiary. She'll inherit years' worth of the Hardin Group's wealth!" "Get rich and lose the husband? That's definitely suspicious!" "The issue is that Liesel cheated with Elijah. She moved on seamlessly, only to have her child with Elijah miscarried shortly after leaving Ford Corporation. And now Elijah's in trouble? Who wouldn't think Liesel's involved?" "If I were one of the Hardins, I'd be fuming too!" "If Liesel orchestrated all this, she needs to be investigated thoroughly. She's a cold-blooded murderer who doesn't see people as anything but obstacles to her ambitions!" "Liesel's no saint, but are the Hardins any better? Let's be real—they only care about what Elijah left behind. Otherwise, why call a board meeting at a time like this? Why not focus on finding Elijah? It's absu
Elijah's gaze remained cold. "You should know by now that the Hardins are eager for me to solidify ties with the Miller family through marriage. Liesel would never tolerate a betrayal like that."Matthew's eyes widened. He glared at Elijah with a hatred so intense, it was as if he were facing his mortal enemy."You're insane! With Liesel by your side, why would you even consider someone like Belinda?"Elijah hadn't contacted Belinda. He wanted to convince Matthew that his ties to Liesel were irreparably broken. He didn't want Matthew to continue to have a hold on her. He couldn't bear to be Liesel's weak link.Elijah clenched his fists as his expression clouded with sadness. He didn't need a doctor to tell him how broken he was. He was nothing more than a cripple now. Someone like him had no right to stand by Liesel's side.The woman he loved deserved a man who was exceptional in every way. And yet, that someone could never be him.Liesel was surrounded by extraordinary men like