"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
That kind of person would be the best candidate for an executive secretary serving Ford Corporation. So… What the hell was Natalie?Alex swirled his wine glass. The red liquid seeped into his faint smile before he slowly diverted his attention to the entrance. At last, Elijah arrived fashionably late, followed by Jeffrey and Natalie.He had a feeling a good show would unfold soon."Mr. Ford, we meet again." Jeffrey smiled as he led Natalie before Jacob, not daring to act like his father-in-law.Jacob swept his cold eyes across Natalie, whose eyes were somewhat teary and carried hints of anguish. Tightening his brows, he subsequently heard her softly calling out, "Jake."With furrowed brows, Liesel shielded Jacob and confronted Jeffrey coldly. "Dad, this is the dinner party Ford Corporation organized for the resort. This isn't the right place and time for you to do your thing."Of course, she knew why Jeffrey had come. He wanted to show off his connection with Jacob so he could sc
On the surface, these CEOs were respectful to Liesel and praised her. However, they merely made fun of her for being a woman behind her back.For someone as brilliant as Liesel, all her efforts were wiped away just because she was once married."Did you think I was the one who chose Lili during our time together? No. From the start until now, I've always been the one who was chosen. Lili's the one who calls the shots." Elijah chuckled lightly. "Lili's amazing. She's my lover." He sounded determined. "I think you've really gone mad," Sam muttered. His gentle expression was gone. "I'm quite lucid. You guys have always been crazy. All these years, I still never learned all your old-fashioned ways. "I've always liked to be different. To me, my ideas are correct. My lover can only be Lili." Every word Elijah said was to express his love for Liesel. Elijah didn't hide his feelings for her. He wanted Sam to know what his choice was. With how things were going, there was no need fo
Sam almost never spoke to Elijah in such a tone. Elijah almost wanted to laugh.Elijah used to act like a loser. None of the ladies from wealthy families were interested in him and would just flirt with him. Only families that weren't as well-off wanted to get close to him and rub shoulders with the Hardins.As for Liesel, although she didn't have the perfect background, everything else about her was enough to make up for it. Apart from that, Heather was Liesel's biological mother. That alone was enough for Liesel to stand out among everyone else."It's better for you to say I'm not good enough for Liesel. Someone as brilliant as her could have anyone she wants. Why do you think she chose me?" As soon as Elijah finished speaking, Sam interrupted him."Because she was once married and had Jacob's child. No matter how brilliant she is in the future, everyone else thinks she's no longer pure. "Do you actually think these sly old men in the elite circles are truly stupid? Why would
Richard was even more delighted. "While Elijah was studying at Alden University back then, his lecturers kept his grades down. At that time, he was considered their genius student."Ms. Miller also participated in several projects with Elijah, so she truly understands what he's capable of. In fact, she brought up the marriage first. "Since she suggested marriage, it would be far too rude of us to reject her. That's why we need you to step aside."Richard didn't actually mean for Liesel to simply step aside. He wanted her to get lost. Liesel's gaze remained calm. She looked downward while estimating the time in silence. A faint smile formed on her lips."It's no use talking about all this with me. Why don't you wait for a few more minutes? He'll talk this out with you personally."Liesel was clearly seated in the wheelchair but did not seem like a victim at all. She looked up at Richard while speaking sarcastically. "If Elijah agrees to the breakup, I definitely won't bother h
"Since Elijah is the heir of the Hardin family, the woman standing beside him must be pure enough. She should be of high status, elegant, pure, and outstanding. Not some woman who was once married and had a miscarriage."His blunt words pierced into Liesel's heart. She looked up at Richard with a darkened gaze before letting out a mocking laugh. "You truly did your homework, Mr. Hardin, but you don't represent Elijah's stance. If he cared about all this, he wouldn't have pursued me from the start."Of course, Liesel did not reveal who she truly was. She was rather sensitive and suspicious at the moment. She remembered very clearly that she and Elijah started off with him being interested in her. He only truly pursued her because she was the one leading Shifter Corporation. Her identity was also the reason why Elijah slowly got close to her and began to understand her. Indeed, she had agreed to Elijah's pursuit because he was heir to Hardin Group. Both of them had ulterior mot
Liesel had never called Elijah "Eli" before.However, she didn't mind purposely using an intimate nickname in front of Richard now. She wanted him to feel the closeness between her and Elijah.Richard's expression fell.That disobedient son!Of course, he had handpicked a woman that suited Elijah more. She came from a noble and spotless background, and she was also good-looking. Of course, she couldn't compare to Liesel when it came to beauty, but her background was enough to defeat Liesel completely.What did Liesel have?If Heather were still alive, then she would have been Liesel's biggest crutch! Everyone would have to worship the ground she walked on.But Heather was dead, so what was Liesel worth now?She was a rising star in the financial circle known for her intelligence, but she was still just a woman. Unless she stood at the very peak, she was bound to get dragged back down into the mud one day.The young lady he'd picked was better suited for Elijah. She could easil
Richard had met Heather before.At the time, when Heather's reputation was at its peak, Richard had been a renowned playboy in their circle. He'd had many paramours and lovers, but the only one he wasn't able to forget was Heather.Heather's beauty wasn't just surface-level. Her beauty was capable of making people aware of her strength. Her elegance was akin to a highly valuable brocade. Whether one was seeing it from afar or up close, one would still get lost in the intricacy of its beauty.However, only when one held up a magnifying glass or an even more precise tool would they be able to see past the ornate patterns on the brocade. Only then would they be able to see the tiny encoded numbers below.Her stunning beauty coupled with her astounding intelligence could crush anyone around her.Liesel only resembled her by 70 percent or so, but both of them radiated the same aura.Heather had been more gentle, but there was a hidden danger lurking beneath the gentleness. A small smi
Denzel fell silent.He was clever enough to guess that Liesel must have lied to Jacob to provoke him.Liesel must not want Jacob to know that it was their baby. She must not want Jacob to continue to bother her, and she must not want anything else binding them together. Therefore, she'd made the decision to bluff Jacob that it was Elijah's child.Since it was Liesel's choice, he had no right to get involved.Denzel sighed heavily. "If you let her go, you would also be letting yourself go."Jacob's gaze darkened, and a snide laugh escaped his throat.Denzel knew that it would be futile to try to talk sense into Jacob, so he didn't bother.Before he left, he saw the danger lurking in Jacob's dark eyes. He couldn't help but feel worried for Liesel.He felt like Jacob had changed too much. He didn't know what kind of crazy things Jacob would be capable of.All he could do was pray that Jacob still held onto a shred of his rational side.…Elijah was in the middle of discussing t
Jacob had never been more aware that Liesel hated him and loved Elijah.His woman had ultimately become Elijah's lover, and he'd been the one who sent her straight to him.He was the one at fault.Jacob's gaze grew darker. He stood up, and his gaze fell on the surveillance system. He saw that Liesel was already awake and reading some documents. Her side profile was still so delicate and pretty. Her sickness couldn't stifle her charm.He couldn't stop himself from reaching out to touch her face, but his fingers only came into contact with the cold digital screen. He couldn't feel her soft and warm skin.Elijah walked into the room, and Jacob saw a smile bloom on Liesel's originally calm face. She grinned cheerfully at Elijah, waving the proposal in her hand.The past Liesel had never treated him so intimately before.Jacob's gaze was ice cold. As he watched Elijah lean down to kiss her forehead, he slowly clenched his fists.They had betrayed him. They had conceived that child
A dangerous look flashed in Elijah's eyes. Amidst the danger, there was blatant ridicule."Yes, the baby was mine." He sneered. Then, catching Jacob off-guard, he smashed his fist into Jacob's face.He moved swiftly and ruthlessly, showing no mercy. He only stopped when he saw purple and green bruises bloom on Jacob's face."Jacob, you're not wrong. The baby belonged to me and Liesel. By hurting them, you've chosen to antagonize Hardin Group." Retracting his fists, Elijah stood up. He stared down at Jacob, a bone-chilling iceness radiating from his gaze. "After this partnership ends, Hardin Group will never work with Ford Corporation again." This time, he still chose Liesel over profits.This wasn't a decision that he had to ruminate over. It was really because Liesel had been hurt by Jacob that he wanted to cut the alliance between Hardin Group and Ford Corporation.At that moment, he wasn't thinking about how Shifter Corporation was backing Liesel. He wasn't thinking about p