Why did Jacob say it like Liesel and Ophelia were the victims?Resentment brewed within Natalie, and her hands clenched into fists. Her eyes turned cold, and she swore she would never let Liesel win again!…Jacob was naturally unaware of Natalie's thoughts. When he returned to their table, he found Liesel plopped on the table, dead asleep.She had always been pretty, and her exquisite features could even be seen from her side profile. When she closed her eyes, her originally intimidating demeanor diminished greatly and left her looking gentle and harmless."Bill," Jacob said expressionlessly. His somber gaze was focused on Liesel.Once he paid the bill, he gazed at the sound-asleep woman and furrowed his brows slightly. Then, he carried her in his arms and brought her into the car.With a chicken skewer in his hand, Drew almost choked on his food at that sight.Jacob shot him a glance. "Back to Viewpoint.""Yes, Mr. Ford."During the car ride, Liesel would occasionally mumbl
"Mrs. Ford. Mrs. Ford?"Deep in slumber, Liesel could feel someone shaking her.She slowly opened her eyes and saw the amicable-looking woman in her 40s—Eloise. Since she became Jacob's wife, Eloise had been looking after her.Liesel frowned and propped herself up. "What's up, Eloise?""Mr. Ford has told me to wake you up, or you'll be late to work, Mrs. Ford," Eloise informed politely.Taken aback, Liesel nodded and then realized she was in a nightgown.Before she could react, Eloise explained, "When Mr. Ford took you home last night, you were already in a deep sleep. He didn't want to wake you up, so he changed your clothes for you."Liesel's body froze. Before the divorce, she would often fall asleep on the desk whenever she stayed up late to finish writing her proposal in the study.At that time, Jacob would carry her back to the bedroom and change her into a nightgown. If she woke up in the middle of that process, he would bring her into the bathroom and do other things…
Jacob pinched the space between his brows, not intending to entertain Liesel further.The nightgown she wore at that moment cascaded to her thighs while revealing most of her back. From his angle, he could perfectly see the contour of her breasts as she sat. They looked tempting and irresistible.He had a fond memory of the time they shared a steamy encounter while she donned this exact nightgown in the study.Jacob's scrutinizing gaze went unnoticed by Liesel. Instead, she slowly said, "You know? You should have woken me up last night, Mr. Ford. That way, I could've returned to my own apartment and spared you the trouble.""Are you saying I was in the wrong?" He looked at her and said, "I'll be sure to toss you out on the streets next time so you can't get all sassy with me."Liesel stared at him for a few seconds, then asked, "Did I talk in my sleep last night?"Jacob stiffened visibly, but Liesel did not notice. He grunted lightly and said, "Maybe you did. I'm not sure."Lowe
Three years ago, when Liesel first became Jacob's secretary, a lot of people talked because of her beauty.Even though she completed her university credits in just two years with nearly perfect grades, she still faced her share of gossip and speculation.The resort project in collaboration with the authorities was supposed to end, as they had set their sights on another company, which just happened to be the Ford family's business rivals.At that time, Jacob was abroad negotiating another contract and couldn't return to the country to salvage the situation due to weather issues.Just as the authorities were about to sign the contract with the other company, Liesel seized the last opportunity.She laid out the pros and cons of both companies and leveraged public opinion to outmaneuver the rival, successfully ensuring that Ford Corporation continued its collaboration with the resort.As such, the authorities specifically assigned Liesel as one of the project managers. Of course, th
"I'll take the cab." Liesel's nausea had settled after she had drunk the orange juice."Are you sure? Even if you're gonna be late?" Jacob raised his brows at her, which to Liesel, felt like mockery.She glanced at her watch, learning she had only two hours left until the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It would take at least one hour and 30 minutes to arrive in Dove District even if she took the cab."Well, I'll gladly take up your offer then, Mr. Ford."Then, Jacob brought up the matter from last night. "Elijah called you last night. I found it too noisy, so I switched off your phone.""Oh. No wonder Chelsea didn't give me a single call after my whole night out," Liesel thought."Yeah, he can be," she replied with a random excuse.He grunted in response. "He is."Liesel looked at him in silence. She was utterly speechless.Once she finished her breakfast, Jacob headed to the door quietly without notifying her it was time to leave. Frantic, she quickly went to change her clothes, gr
At last, the car halted at the resort's entrance. Fortunately, the only people coming and going were those attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony or journalist friends, so Liesel didn't encounter anyone from the company.As she observed the company's entrance, she suddenly felt a breath of warm air grazing her ear and neck along with Jacob's scent. She turned her head and was so startled that she held her breath.Jacob's face was mere inches away from hers. When she turned her head earlier, his lips almost brushed against her cheek and the corner of her lips. The warmth radiating from his body made her freeze.They were so close, and she looked into his eyes through the side mirror.A hint of warmth was evident in his gaze, and she swore it wasn't just her imagination. It felt as if his deep eyes had captivated her and made it impossible to look away.She stared blankly into his eyes and found herself drawn in by his gaze.Their breaths intertwined, and Liesel's heart started raci
"Ms. Watson, someone mentioned that your ideal type is Mr. Ford. Are you two dating? Are you here because of him?" a journalist asked.Lara's cheeks grew red. Her dimples appeared as she smiled and said, "Mr. Ford and I are still just friends. So, stop speculating."With that said, the journalist perceptively captured the word "still.""Still friends… So, it means there is a possibility for you to explore this relationship. Is that what you mean, Ms. Watson?" the journalist probed.Lara flushed and stealthily glanced at Jacob. Beside him, she looked reserved and shy. He was tall, and she had to raise her head to see his face.She even felt he had shielded most of the cold wind coming their way just by standing beside her. Deep inside, she was elated in a way words couldn't describe.She couldn't help but recall his impressive background and looks, which rivaled those of other A-list celebrities, along with a social status that no other beautiful stars could match.Every move of
At the Sharp residence in Ashthorne, Natalie returned to her room and hadn't come out since.She was the daughter that Jeffrey loved and adored the most. Although it might not be genuine, he viewed Natalie as a stepping stone for his own advancement due to her connections with Jacob.He wanted to use her to move up the ranks.Jeffrey knew he had to do something after seeing her sad expression, so he pushed open the door and asked her about it. She sat on the bed, hugged her knees, and wore a pitiful expression."Liesel is showing up to the resort's ribbon-cutting ceremony and dinner party tonight as Jacob's plus-one." She uttered softly, "I'm his secretary, but Liesel had to tag along to the dinner party instead. The whole company is going to laugh at me!" At least Natalie was self-aware.Typically, the plus-ones accompanying the management team at the dinner were either their secretaries or assistants.Choosing Liesel over her was a loud message to her that Jacob wasn't convin
"You know how it is. It's always hard to strike a deal between two smart people."Charles laughed.He knew that when Liesel suggested a partnership with Ford Corporation to manufacture anti-cancer drugs, it was actually a huge trap.Liesel and Howard were both researchers. Who could say for sure that after they gave Ford Corporation the drug formula, they wouldn't refine the drug further and make something even more effective?Considering Liesel's and Howard's intelligence, there would undoubtedly be a more potent version of the drug. However, Liesel would never choose to continue working together with Ford Corporation. Therefore, he had decided to ask for a mile. He had asked to collaborate on the artificial intelligence project.It wasn't that he was being greedy.It was because Ford Corporation wasn't the same as it had been a year ago. He had to tread very carefully to avoid falling for someone's scheme again.Without Liesel and Drew, there were many tasks that only he and
"Do you not want to hug?" Liesel cocked her head at him. "Don't think I don't know you. I bet you already wanted to kiss me and hold me the moment you spotted Jacob. Otherwise, you wouldn't have tightened your arms around me."Hadn't Elijah done that to send Jacob a message that Liesel belonged to him?Having been together for so long, there wasn't anything that she didn't understand about him."In that case, thank you for giving me a chance and playing along." Since he couldn't think of an excuse, he just came clean. There was even a look of amusement on his face.He pulled her into his arms affectionately. She also hugged him back, like she was a child staking her territory."Should we add some more spice and kiss?"This was really becoming more and more provocative.Why not?A smile appeared on Elijah's face, as if he was saying to her, "Bring it on."And she did. She peppered Elijah's face with continuous pecks. Then, she yanked on his collar, like she was claiming him as
From a short distance away, Jacob could see Elijah's arm curled around Liesel's tiny waist. She seemed very dependent on him as she lay in his arms listlessly. It was a stark contrast to the way she behaved in public with other people.Whether it was with reporters or business partners, she always seemed like a steady pillar of strength. She was graceful and calm, but there was a hidden sharpness within her.Anyone who interacted with her could feel the hidden threat that was lurking inside of her.Yet, the Liesel now seemed to have shed all the sharp spikes on her body, revealing only the soft insides. She appeared gentle and submissive… Or rather, she only showed this side of her to her lover.He should have been the one to get all of this.He should have been her lover.He was the one who'd thrown all of this away. All he could do was watch as Elijah purposely pissed him off.He was a man too. Of course, he knew that Elijah was doing it on purpose.Of course, he resented Eli
Elijah seized Liesel's wrists while chuckling coldly. "So what if you're someone's wife? If I wanted you, all I'd have to do is tell him. Then, he'd definitely have someone clean you up nicely and send you straight into my bed."He lifted her chin with his finger. "Do you think that your husband is a decent man? Do you think that he'd disobey me for you?"Liesel swallowed. She was enraptured by the look in Elijah's eyes right now.He nibbled on her ear while patting her panicked and pale face. "If you're obedient, I'll treat you well. If you're unwilling to play along and make me happy, I'll kill your husband and lock you up in my home. You'll never see the light of day again."Stripping off her clothes, Liesel bit his earlobe and whispered, "It's such a waste that you didn't go into the acting industry with Chelsea."Elijah chuckled quietly, letting her hands roam all over him. They left a trail of fire in their wake. When he was all riled up and ready to go, Liesel suddenly hugg
Liesel left.Charles gazed at the still-warm cup of tea on the table. There was a chilling look in his eyes.This was one of the times he'd made the wrong move.After walking out of Charles' office, Liesel wasn't surprised to see Jacob. However, she didn't even stop and simply walked out.He trailed after her leisurely until she was nearly out of Ford Corporation. Just as he was about to call out to her, he heard a cheerful, gentle voice calling her name."Lili, I'm here to pick you up." Jacob's eyes darkened. When he looked up, he saw Elijah sitting in a wheelchair and smiling at Liesel.Liesel didn't mind at all that he was a cripple. With a grin on her face, she crouched down next to him. Then, she grabbed his hand and placed it against her cheek.Jacob's chest clenched when he saw that. It felt like arrows piercing his heart.Liesel could still feel Jacob's eyes on her, but she didn't care. She even pecked Elijah lightly on the lips in front of Jacob. Then, while pushing
"Charles, even though we worked together for three years, you still don't understand me at all."Liesel tapped her fingers against the desk. While it was quiet, it also sounded indescribably threatening."Have you not seen what happened to Dash?"If someone tries to snatch something from me, not only will I make their wishes come true, but I'll also make them pay the price."You can only take what I give you. If you insist on snatching what I'm unwilling to give… then you will find out the price you'll have to pay."She grinned, but it carried an obvious iciness.Dash was indeed the best example.He had tried to snatch collaboration opportunities from her, so she squashed him. And that wasn't all. She also bought his land and assets from him for dirt cheap.Dash tried to steal her data and establish his own vehicle manufacturing plant in Draskia, so she simply chased him and all his businesses out of Draskia.Anyone who tried to plot against her and steal from her suffered hor
"If you have something that even Jacob doesn't, you must be very loyal to him.""Thanks for the compliment." Charles chuckled quietly. "Of course, I am loyal to Mr. Ford. It's because I'm loyal to Mr. Ford that I kept the evidence just in case."If Matthew decided to betray Mr. Ford one day, then I could use this to retaliate against him. After all, you also know that Matthew is far from a nice person."Jacob placed a lot of importance on Matthew because his parents had passed away early, so he'd been raised by Matthew and Vincent since he was younger. He ended up viewing Matthew as somewhat of a father figure. His love for his family had ended up blinding him, making him unwilling to bring harm to Matthew.However, Charles was different. He didn't have any significant feelings toward Matthew. He only cared about protecting Jacob's interests.Matthew was a selfish person who only cared about his own interests. This was why Charles had gone against Jacob's orders and kept the evi
If it had been Elijah who'd done this, what would Liesel have done?Could she still be so righteous?However, Jacob's words only made her stifle a laugh. Without even turning around, she said sardonically, "If Elijah was this kind of person, then I would never have gotten together with him."Whether it comes to family or lovers, first of all, they should have the right principles. They should know what they should or shouldn't do."Even a child can tell what's right from wrong, but an adult like Matthew doesn't know where to draw the line. Jacob, one day he will pay the price for everything that he's done."In the end, Jacob didn't stop her from leaving.He couldn't help but clench his fists. His eyes darkened.Liesel had always been strongly opposed to evil. Making things worse, Drew was the scapegoat for Matthew's misdeeds this time.Over the years, Jacob had already gotten Matthew out of trouble countless times. He was getting tired of it.He really wanted to call out to Li
Natalie wanted to destroy Ford Corporation as soon as possible.Once there was a new leader in Ford Corporation, would Jacob still be so arrogant?Natalie laughed coldly. Then, she remembered the words she heard in the hospital, and her expression frosted over.She thought that since she was already in the same boat as Edward, and that Edward might become the future leader of Ford Corporation, she could go for him instead.After all, Edward was tall and handsome. In her eyes, he wasn't inferior to Jacob at all.However, she never thought… that Edward already had a lover, and that it was his sister, Ophelia, of all people.Till today, she still remembered how that bitch, Ophelia, had once insulted her because of her background. To defend Liesel, Ophelia had mocked her for being a bastard child.How come Ophelia deserved to be with Edward? They were siblings! Even if they weren't related by blood, they had still grown up as brother and sister. Weren't they afraid of getting expose