"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
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
"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,
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
"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
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.
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
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
Edward chuckled quietly in her ear. "Where do you want to go tomorrow, Ophelia? Should I take you on an overseas getaway? Or perhaps, we could take a stroll nearby and watch a movie.""I can't go overseas; I'm not on break yet. Let's go watch a movie," Ophelia replied. "I've only watched a movie with you as my brother. This time, I want to try watching a movie with you as my boyfriend."Although Edward was still the same person, his identity had changed.She could now touch Edward openly. She could hold his hand, hug him, and kiss him.It was… really great."Alright, get some rest today. I'll come pick you up tomorrow," Edward said.Ophelia nodded and walked him to the door. As soon as she shut the door, she pressed her hand to her chest, feeling her heart thudding rapidly from the kiss earlier.She hopped into bed and rolled from side to side.After Edward got into his car, he finally let out a loud laugh. He pressed his fingers to his lips, reminiscing about the aftertaste sh
As their tongues intertwined, Edward could taste a sweet and sour flavor on Ophelia's tongue. It tasted like she just had a piece of strawberry candy that made her entire mouth taste sweet.Even her breath smelled like this refreshing and saccharine fruity scent. It was as if she was enticing him to take a bite of her and swallow her.The more they kissed, the more forceful Edward got. The air around them felt syrupy and intimate."Are you sure you really have never dated before? Am I really your first? If I am… then why are you so good at kissing?" she asked like it was an interrogation.She didn't know how to kiss and was very inexperienced. However, Edward had practically conquered her. He kissed her until her knees went weak.At the thought of Edward doing this to another woman, her chest began to ache terribly.Edward played with her hair, which had become messy from the kissing. "Like I said, you're all I dream about. I don't even know how many times I've kissed you in my d
"How would you know that I also didn't have the same kind of thoughts when you secretly kissed me all those years ago?"You said that I was born in a tall tower, but I didn't get to choose my background. Meanwhile, you have climbed your way up to where I am to be with me."In ancient times, we would have been innocent and carefree childhood sweethearts. We would've been considered a match made in heaven."Edward, what I'm saying is the truth." Ophelia said each word solemnly. She stared unblinkingly at Edward as she spoke. "While you were struggling with these emotions, who said I was not struggling too?"However, I just couldn't forget you. I couldn't accept a future without you. What I wanted was to have you by my side. I wish you were my lover, and I want to be with you, Edward Ford."Her response was firm and resolute. It echoed with conviction.At the same time, she seemed to be giving her answer to the Edward who had been hiding his feelings in fear and panic for many y
"If you're ever unhappy, you can come find me anytime. I'll always be here for you."This was Edward's promise.These were the moments when Ophelia had seen Edward smoking. Each time, it seemed to have something to do with her.She recalled the past. The way Edward always looked at her became even clearer in her mind. Back then, she might not have understood the struggle and yearning in his eyes.But now, she thought she understood.Her mind was filled with too many thoughts, and their embrace had lasted far too long.She wanted to push him away, but at that moment, he suddenly whispered in her ear, "Your first kiss wasn't him. It was me."What?Ophelia was stunned. She even thought that she'd heard wrong.When had she ever kissed Edward? How come she never knew about it?She pushed him away. Her doe eyes widened."You're lying. E-except just now, we've never kissed before!""The night before I left the country, you held onto my shirt and refused to let me leave. After you
Ophelia still remembered the melancholy and confusion that she'd seen in Edward's eyes. He had looked like a young boy who couldn't find his way home.The moment Edward saw her, he stubbed out his cigarette. Holding her hand, he led the bleary-eyed Ophelia back to the bedroom.Worried that she'd catch a cold from the freezing winds, he made her a cup of hot chamomile tea. She didn't like the taste, so he had to try his hardest to coax her into drinking it.Upset, she said to him accusingly, "Edward, I feel I'm turning into a chamomile plant."Edward laughed.He was handsome. Even when he laughed, he looked attractive. Amusement bloomed on his charming and elegant face.She complimented him dazedly, "Edward, you're really good-looking."Even though she was still mad that she'd been coaxed into drinking a whole mug of chamomile tea, she still found herself lost in his handsomeness. Edward's eyes were curved from his broad grin, and he reached out to rub her head."You're very goo
"So it is because of Stanley.""Well, I'm much older than you. Stanley is young so there wouldn't be a generation gap between you two. You must like someone younger."That's not all. Stanley has excellent grades. I naturally understand that you'd choose him. After all, he's the first guy you've ever called your boyfriend."You don't have to say anything; I understand. I'm not up to standard. Stanley will definitely achieve greater things than me in the future, so I shouldn't keep clinging to you…" I must have put you in a difficult position. If I had known that you had picked Stanley, I wouldn't have come back and disturbed you. I've disturbed the peace in your life."Every single word Edward said felt like a stab in Ophelia's heart.Was he crazy? Why was he talking about Stanley in every sentence?Ophelia tried her hardest to bite her tongue, but in the end, she failed to hold her anger in."You keep talking about Stanley, but didn't I already tell you that we've broken up? A
Ophelia snatched the junk food box in a huff to fill the gift boxes with snacks."You! Stop causing trouble!""Okay, okay! I'll stop messing around." With that, Joseph muttered, "It was just a few sweets…"Ophelia glared at him. Joseph immediately cleared his throat and no longer uttered a word. Instead of teasing her, he also began helping her pack the boxes. Not trusting him, Ophelia intentionally inspected each box. She only felt assured to hand him the boxes once she was certain none of the chocolates or snacks were missing.Not long after Joseph started packing, he began looking around absentmindedly. He looked down and noticed many private messages on Ophelia's phone. Those still part of Yvonne's fandom had sent those messages. They were scolding Ophelia.Ophelia merely glanced at the messages before nonchalantly turning off the phone screen. Not only were she and Joseph done wrapping the boxes, but Edward had finished preparing breakfast as well. Edward prepared all of
"Oh!" Joseph exclaimed. He whirled around and took a step back before patting Edward's palm. "Shouldn't you give me something in return for my advice? A present or something, right?"Edward came off as rather domineering as he asked icily, "Tell me which car you want. What model and series? When do you want it?"Yes, Edward had brought up cars. Joseph's eyes lit up. "I want the latest SUV from Land Rover within the next three days."It wasn't as if Joseph couldn't afford the car. He simply liked messing with his friends. After all, free things were the best. "Sure." Joseph continued flatteringly, "Bro, this is how it works. Women are usually more soft-hearted, especially someone like Ophelia at her age. You should give in sometimes."Be shameless if she ever tries to drive you away. Hug her and act pitiful by saying that you don't want to leave her. Say that you can't sleep or will have nightmares if you don't see her. You can even be more dramatic."Joseph was quick-witted enou
Ophelia was left dumbfounded after hearing Joseph's advice. What nonsense was he talking about? He was supposed to be on her side, not sabotage her. Edward shoved Ophelia out of the kitchen. "Something's wrong with his brain, so just ignore him. Go and rest."Ophelia was still perplexed as Edward pushed her out of the kitchen. However, she didn't probe further since she refused to speak to him for now. Once Ophelia was gone, Joseph immediately cursed. "You're such a beast. 28cm, 28cm. Why don't you cut off that thing of yours? Did you think your sweetheart is someone who appears in those adult films?" Edward's eyes twitched. He finally understood what Joseph had been blabbering about. Joseph was such a pervert through and through. Edward slammed the knife onto the chopping board. "I'm talking about my age. What's gotten into you?""Oh, it's your age." Joseph sighed in relief. He had been worried about how Draskia could have such a pervert like Edward.After a while, Joseph e