The water in the wooden bucket was filled with ice shards. All of its contents were splashed on top of Elijah and Jacob. The iciness caused their anger to dissipate. Elijah's hoarse voice was filled with obvious fury. "Lili, I just wanted to get revenge on your behalf."After hearing Jacob say all that, Elijah was unable to take it anymore. That was why he hit Jacob. Liesel was Elijah's woman, so he would never allow anyone to humiliate her. Elijah also couldn't accept how Jacob casually dismissed three years of Liesel's passionate love for him. All Jacob said was Liesel deserved it.Jacob was being ridiculous and mean."No need to do that." Liesel wrapped the coat around herself tightly as if she was feeling cold. However, there was a faint smile on her face, which seemed warm and gentle. "I no longer care about whatever he said earlier." As soon as she spoke, Elijah and Jacob were taken aback. No one expected Liesel to hear everything. Elijah pushed Jacob aside and got t
Liesel had always been innocent. "Jacob, I've never hurt you before," she said as she stared at him, her cool gaze filled with hurt. "But why must you keep hurting me?" Why did Jacob have to hurt her? Why did he look down on her? Why did he not consider her human? Was it because she wasn't his beloved? Then, what did her passionate love mean to him all these years?It was okay for Jacob to not love her. But was it necessary for him to be so cruel by torturing her?Liesel clenched her fists tightly. Her face was pale as she pursed her lips weakly. "If I could go back in time, I never would have attended the party that night."I also wouldn't have wanted to marry you. Anyway, I've already divorced you, leaving you without a wife. So, you should let go of me now."Liesel stared at him while emphasizing every word. "Jacob, I don't love you anymore. Let me go."These words left Jacob feeling terribly choked. He seemed to have truly realized that he had lost someone very importa
Elijah cupped Liesel's face with his hands. A glint of helplessness flashed in his narrowed eyes as he looked downward. However, his warm gaze was filled with gentleness when he looked at her.That kind of tenderness might not even represent passionate love. Elijah happened to care for Liesel and was protective of her. Hence, he paid close attention to her.He kept wiping away her endless tears. Still, Liesel was gorgeous.At that moment, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were red. Her eyes, which should have been filled with happiness, held only despair. It looked as if Liesel had applied blush to the tip of her nose as well. Tears fell from the corner of her eyes without stopping.Did Liesel run off so quickly because she knew she couldn't hold herself back from crying? Perhaps she didn't want Jacob to see how miserable she was. Despite knowing that Liesel was crying for Jacob, Elijah still couldn't help but feel sorry for her. There was a slight bitterness within Elijah'
Elijah made a small wish. He prayed that Liesel would still be by his side for his birthday celebration next year. Liesel opened her eyes and met Elijah's friendly gaze, which was filled with desire. The dim room was only lit by the faint candlelight, making his dark eyes sparkle."What are you looking at me for?" Liesel's cheeks burned slightly. She felt weak all over after sensing his intense gaze on her. Elijah instantly leaned closer, his face drawing nearer to hers while watching her look at him."I was thinking." His warm breath fanned her face, causing the atmosphere in the room to turn intimate. "For my actual birthday present, could you let me kiss you?"Liesel tilted her head, not wanting to meet his overly heated gaze. Elijah let out a low chuckle while grabbing her chin gently. Liesel didn't object as she raised her head to meet his eyes."Didn't you want that pen as your birthday present?" she retorted to his request. "I'm slightly greedy." Elijah cupped her
Elijah also wore the same black robe, but his demeanor was more reserved. He seemed much more carefree, though that didn't make him any less threatening than Jacob.Elijah looked up while stroking his thin lips. It was as if he was trying to show off or even declare his dominance.Jacob stood rooted to the spot, his darkened gaze fixed on Elijah's and Liesel's figures. He had no idea when Drew showed up beside him. Drew dutifully handed the information he'd gathered to Jacob, who frowned when he saw Natalie's gloating smile in the surveillance footage."Mr. Ford, what do you need me to do?" Drew asked. He had an idea of what likely happened last night.It was definitely Natalie who harbored sinister thoughts of ruining Liesel. She wanted Elijah to see Liesel and Jacob kiss, causing Liesel to lose Elijah's protection.Even Drew's gentle gaze had turned cold and filled with disdain toward Natalie. "There's no need to do anything."Jacob tore the documents before tossing the bit
A look of contemplation appeared on Liesel's cool face. "I'll be there," she finally said.After a pause, she looked up at Jacob. "I'll bring Elijah along."Once Liesel finished speaking, she did not stay any longer and left with Elijah. She only clenched her fists after getting into the car, unable to suppress the hatred in her heart. "Liesel, something's off about you."Liesel pursed her lips as she gazed at Elijah beside her, but she did not respond.Elijah did not bring it up again. To him, it was far better for Liesel to sit with her thoughts for a while. He guessed that her sudden change in emotions was because of Matthew. That said, based on their current relationship, they probably weren't close enough for Liesel to share everything with Elijah completely. …Since there was a meeting scheduled at Ford Corporation, Jacob returned to the company. Once the meeting was over, he learned that Elijah had dropped by for a visit.Jacob had no clue about Elijah's purpose for
The Ford family's current manor was located in an extremely busy area, but that wasn't their initial family home.After being persecuted in their earlier years, the Fords' property was sold off, eventually ending up in the hands of the Hardin family.The Ford family's original property was in Ashthorne's most thriving area. It resembled a grand castle and had been considered a protected site in Draskia for a long time. Even without considering the value of the Fords' initial family home, the land alone was worth more than ten billion. Elijah must have been mad to casually use the Fords' initial family home as a bet.Jacob asked in a low voice, "Elijah, are you being serious right now?"Elijah's gaze was icy as he replied, "I wouldn't joke about something like that. If Hardin Group wins, you must hand me evidence of Matthew's crimes. If you're the winner, I'll transfer the Fords' initial family home to you."Jacob's gaze darkened. "Sure. It's a deal."Elijah looked downward as
"Of course! Liesel guided me on my thesis and graduation project. She's like a mentor to me," Ophelia said, clearly holding Liesel in high regard.After that, she started waving her arm at Liesel. "My dear sister-in-law! Come over here!"She kept calling Liesel her sister-in-law without caring for Elijah standing next to her.At the sound of Ophelia's voice, Liesel instinctively grabbed Elijah's hand.Elijah hesitated for a moment, then a smile spread across his face. He took her hand and locked their fingers together.Leaning in, he whispered, "Lili, are you feeling sorry for me?"Without a word, Liesel stepped on his foot.Elijah chuckled in resignation. "Ouch, that hurt. Fine, I deserved it."He knew he'd misspoke, so he decided not to push her buttons further. Instead, she squeezed her hand and moved toward Matthew and Ophelia.The night air wasn't cold. To make matters worse, the approaching summer heat made the air feel somewhat stuffy.Elijah could feel Liesel's body t
Where there was drama, there was Jordan.Liesel naturally didn't say anything. She considered hitching a ride in Neal's car when she suddenly thought of a very real problem.Ever the law-abiding citizen, she said seriously, "Neal, you weren't in Draskia the past few years. I bet you only have a driver's license from Matristan, so even if you buy a car here, you can't drive it. If you get caught, you'd be sent to prison. You can only drive once you get the local driver's license."She remembered clearly that the past few times Neal visited her, he had a driver to drive him around.Neal's head began to throb.Liesel fiddled with her keys, allowing Neal to push her wheelchair.Despite her frail wheelchair-bound frame, she could still talk Neal's ear off. Because of his sudden return, she was able to ignore the headache and discomfort she was feeling. Aside from some fatigue, she was able to endure the other aches.Setting aside the pain, Liesel didn't forget to tease Neal. "It's so
Liesel only ever showed this kind of vulnerability in front of Neal. Neal raised his gaze while watching her quietly. The warmth from her grip on his wrist seemed to seep into his very core and spread all through his body. He looked down before letting out a familiar chuckle. The dangerous, untamed aura he carried was now completely subdued.He ruffled her hair and said, "You didn't fix yourself up even after you came back. Look at your hair. It's a mess." As he spoke, he began tidying her slightly disheveled hair.Liesel smiled softly.Neal ruffled her hair again. It was a wordless reassurance."Back to the topic. Tell me what kind of mischief you want me to help you with." He was still 'fixing' Liesel's hair.Liesel explained, "Neal, since you already know everything, you must realize Sharp Group is on the verge of collapse. I plan to attend today's board meeting and personally see to it that Jeffrey is removed from the upper management. "And right in front of him, I'm g
Neal pinched Liesel's ear as he chided with a hint of jealousy in his tone, "Calling someone else your brother right in front of me? How bold of you." Neal wasn't exerting any force. He just couldn't bear to hear her calling someone else her brother.Liesel crossed her arms and teased, "Well, blame Jeffrey. He sowed seeds everywhere, so now I have plenty of brothers and sisters." Caleb couldn't hold back his laughter. "He may have spread his seeds far and wide, but not everyone qualifies to be my sister." Liesel smirked. "Of course. Only someone like me is worthy." Given her status, it was obvious that Caleb was the one benefitting from this connection. After ending the call, Liesel began to consider her next move. She wasn't going to show mercy to Jeffrey. "Neal, do you want to join me in some mischief?" she asked. Neal perked up and humored her. "That depends. What kind of mischief are we talking about?" Liesel hesitated for a moment. She worried that Neal might thin
Jordan had already sent people to investigate the mastermind behind the recent incident. To everyone's surprise, the names at the top of the list were none other than Liesel's own family. Jeffrey and Natalie. Their insatiable greed and jealousy made it impossible for them to leave Liesel and Scott alone. To Natalie, Liesel's very existence was a constant affront. To Jeffrey, Scott was a stain on his reputation. He wanted to take revenge.Had Elijah not insisted on leaving Liesel behind this time, she too might have been caught in the car accident. Liesel knew that her family were scapegoats, but that didn't mean she would let them off lightly. As she was leaving, Liesel crossed paths with Neal, who had rushed over to see her. Seated in her wheelchair, she looked up at him with a radiant smile. "Neal, you came to see me." "I've been swamped recently, so I'll have to leave the financial summit preparations to you and Jordan," Liesel said with a hint of apology. "You're t
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,