It was Jacob.Liesel froze momentarily. When she turned around, she was met with his gloomy gaze."Weren't you just entertaining the guests?" How did he get here so quickly?Jacob glanced at the glass of juice in her hand and replied flatly, "They're civilized enough to know not to pester me."Liesel would like to differ. But since he had said so, she decided to let it go.The music at the party changed, and the gentlemen started inviting socialites to the dance floor. Jacob looked at her with an extended hand and asked, "Care for a dance?"Liesel was surprised, while Elijah narrowed his eyes."Isn't your dance partner Natalie?" she asked."Since when has she become my dance partner?" Jacob replied casually."Besides, she's not fit for an occasion like this yet." He gazed longingly at her.Meanwhile, Elijah let out a chuckle. "You seem to be controlling Ms. Sharp, Mr. Ford. Although she's your plus-one, it still means she can choose who she wants to dance with, doesn’t it?"
Liesel grunted in response and felt a little warmth reach her eyes."I'll take you for a wardrobe change." Without waiting for her response, Jacob pulled her away from the dance floor.Perhaps due to his quick reflexes, few noticed anything amiss. When someone inquired why they were leaving, he simply replied that Liesel was feeling unwell and needed to rest. Those who sensed something was off didn't dare to ask further.There were backup gowns sitting in the lounge on the second floor. Before Liesel could regain her composure, Jacob had already selected a red dress for her. At that, the terror in her heart quickly diminished."I like red, but that doesn't mean I'll only ever wear red." She scanned the variety of gowns hanging in the wardrobe. "I like them as long as they're pretty."Jacob paused briefly and put the red dress back into the wardrobe before selecting an olive green gown. Its design was simple yet elegant. It highlighted the wearer's femininity and accentuated the bo
"He doesn't care about the consequences because he knows you'll back him up." Liesel revealed a gentle smile reminiscent of the days before their divorce.However, Jacob knew that underneath her calm gaze was an indistinct chill."Are you sure it was Jeffrey's doing? He looked at her and asked softly, "Why would he do that?"A faint laugh escaped from her lips as she slowly traced the silky material of the red dress. She had fallen in love with it since the moment Jacob gifted it to her. In a way, that was his first proper present to her.In three years of their marriage life, she had never once received any gifts from him. Despite occasionally hinting at him that she wanted surprises, all she received was a black credit card.Now that she had finally received her first present, it got destroyed just like that.What did that signify? Was it a hint to her that she and Jacob would never belong together?The relationship was synonymous with the red dress—luxurious, elegant, and nob
Jacob stared at Liesel in a prolonged silence, as if trying to decipher something through her eyes. Their gazes remained locked in the quietness, and the air was so still that they could hear each other's breathing.The high-end gray tablecloth, the polished tableware bathed in light, the delicate pastries on the table, and the ice bucket holding the red wine all made the room feel less like a lounge and more like a VIP room.As Jacob picked up the decanter, he slowly made his way to Liesel's side.She froze momentarily and gazed at him, only to see him pour her a glass of wine. His shadow cast over her. He cast an invisible pressure that made it almost hard to breathe.It felt as if he was imposing his will on her—yes, for Natalie's sake.The iciness in Liesel's gaze intensified. "What does this mean now, Mr. Ford?"Jacob shot her a glance. "Wine? I remember you like the ones from this particular winery. The grapes from this vintage have a wonderful flavor, giving it a much rich
Jacob's gaze landed on Liesel's face. He seemed extremely calm, and he pulled a straight face. Even in such proximity, she couldn't locate any clue of emotional fluctuations on his face.The fleeting complexity in his eyes made him even more difficult to read. Even after spending three years with him, she hadn't truly understood him."See? You chose Natalie; you chose to make me endure in silence."Jacob couldn't help but furrow his brows upon seeing her current state. The ice bucket on the table was filled to the brim, so he randomly took one and pressed it against her forehead.The sudden cold sent shivers down her body.While mumbling, Liesel released her grip on his collar but suddenly felt the invisible pressure intensifying. The ice cube melted into water streaks, gliding down her face and diminishing her tipsiness.A single glass of wine was enough to make her tipsy, but its effects faded within minutes, allowing her rationality to slowly return.Jacob's towering figure l
The red wine in the glass was no longer chilled and instead turned to room temperature.As Jacob downed the burgundy, images of Liesel's resolute departure flashed through his mind, and his thin lips pursed ever-so-slightly."Is Natalie really like that? In my memories, she's harmless and innocent while Jeffrey is the douche," he pondered.He stood up, and before he left the room, his gaze landed on the destroyed dress. Picking up the gown that Liesel had left behind, he brushed the smooth edge created by the scissors before his eyes turned gloomy.As much as he knew that Jeffrey was the perpetrator, he couldn't possibly do anything to him. He wanted to keep Natalie's family safe.Perhaps this time he would embrace the label of selfishness and offer Liesel compensation that would meet her approval.…When Liesel returned to the venue, the atmosphere grew tense. Small groups were huddled together and whispering to one another.Meanwhile, in the center of the venue were a few men
Having been stared at by Liesel's stunning yet chilling eyes, the few bound men were captivated by her and left momentarily entranced. Her gaze drew them in, and they found her charms irresistible.Moments later, a series of muffled pleas emerged from behind the cloth in their mouths, as if they were trying to raise the white flag and ask to be let go.Liesel remained cold as she scanned the men and concluded, "Call the cops."She inherently took the most drastic approach since they were bold enough to stir the pot. Who would've done such a revolting and misogynistic move?A tactic like that was all too familiar to Liesel, whose mother suffered a ruined reputation thanks to her ex-husband, Jeffrey.Of course, Liesel would never be a doormat for anyone, especially him. If he had the guts to break the law, she similarly had no issue exposing the truth.Once her instruction pierced the air, everyone looked at her in surprise. The bound men widened their eyes in shock as they stared
Liesel's sharp and eloquent words brutally refuted the few men. Her bravery to stand up for herself surprised everyone at the scene.Once the men were captured, she gazed calmly in a certain direction. When she saw Jeffrey and Natalie's contorted expressions, a smile broke out on her face, almost as if she was flaunting it.Natalie's expression darkened. After a night of plotting, she had not only failed to humiliate Liesel but had inadvertently showcased her powerful connections and remarkable composure to everyone at the dinner party.One wrong move and Liesel was able to turn the tide around with her luck.Natalie left in fury while Jeffrey followed closely behind her.The ribbon-cutting ceremony for Ford Corporation's resort was filled with unexpected twists and turns. It had captured the attention of many and brought even more focus to Liesel, the mastermind behind the resort's planning.By the time Jacob returned to the venue, the cops had already taken the men. Although th
Felix nodded at Liesel, who was standing on stage. Just as he was about to speak, his phone began buzzing loudly.Every phone call was crucial during such a critical moment. Felix waved his hand, gesturing for everyone to wait for a moment. He checked his phone and saw that he had received more than ten of the same videos over and over again. On the video thumbnail was a silhouette of Liesel embracing Thomas.Felix's fingers twitched as he looked up at Liesel, who was still waiting for his response. At the same time, all the other executives' phones vibrated. Everyone had received the same videos. The crowd stared in shock at the sight of Liesel and Thomas in those videos. She had cheated on Elijah by hooking up with Thomas. Didn't that imply it was actually possible for her to betray Hardin Group? That was the crucial moment Richard had been waiting for. He couldn't help but give some sarcastic remarks. "How exciting for you, Ms. Sharp. You've used my son to take everything aw
Howard paused, but he wasn't surprised that Richard was trying to cast the blame on Liesel at that moment. Felix also instantly looked up with a fiery gaze. He really didn't understand why they weren't coming up with a solution at that moment. Instead, Richard wanted to continue the internal conflict and fight for some power that outsiders would consider insignificant.Dakota hurriedly placed a hand on Felix's shoulder and hinted for him to calm down. Dakota continued, "Mr. Donner, the same technology with the exact specifications happened to be released before we could even launch it."Things can't be that coincidental. We must get to the bottom of this, but we shouldn't panic and lose our composure either."The turbulent emotions within Felix faded away instantly as he ordered, "As long as the matter isn't clear yet, no one is allowed to make any statements that would negatively impact the company or their colleagues!" The first order of business was to keep everyone's mouths
"No. Ms. Sharp wants to achieve a global market share of 35%.""Wow! That target is insane! If Ms. Sharp succeeds, won't our company be making a fortune? Those two are our most profitable projects!""We can't be sure how much our company will earn since those amounts are way beyond our imagination. We might as well think about how much bonuses we'll receive this year.""I think I can use my bonuses this time to pay a down payment for a house in Ashthorne. I might even be able to get a nice car."Everyone's excited voices drifted across the spacious office. Their eyes lit up with excitement and hope. Austin tossed the files aside before reaching for his phone to send a text. "It's time." After sending the message, he deleted it instantly, and the chat vanished as well.A moment later, an overseas car manufacturer suddenly announced some earth-shattering news, causing a stir across the automotive industry.At the same time, Augustine's family also revealed their cancer treatment
These new projects were worth hundreds of millions in the market, and Liesel was the reason everyone could enjoy the profits. Before the announcement was even over, rounds of applause echoed across the meeting room several times.The optimized cancer treatment medication was enough to surpass the related treatments that foreign countries had always dominated. The medication had outperformed those of the Bergs' family company, which led to Hardin Group capturing their market share.Everyone in the meeting room beamed at Liesel on stage. Even Richard was amazed by how profitable these projects were.Howard held a remote as he leisurely controlled a colorful drone. Despite being present at such a crucial meeting, he remained carefree and indifferent. However, no one dared to criticize him. He was the only one who could develop the blueprint Liesel had drafted. Hardin Group could only go as far as Howard's strong capabilities.The executives' faces had gone red from excitement, and s
Of course, Thomas heard of Elijah before and became indignant instantly. "I can definitely achieve whatever Elijah has! He always spends his time flirting with women. How could I not be better than him?" Thomas was disdainful. To him, Elijah was a spoiled heir just like himself. "You've not kept up with Elijah for so long." Cameron seemed to have aged a lot in a moment. "He's been pretending all this while. Have a look for yourself."Cameron had ordered someone to organize all information related to Elijah last night so Thomas could have a look once he was awake. Thomas looked through every page. The more he read, the more despondent he grew.Elijah pretended to be useless, but Thomas was truly incompetent. If Thomas had to make a point, the Kellers were far wealthier than the Hardins. In terms of looks, Elijah was known for being attractive. Thomas was even once worried that Liesel might find him too muscular.Thomas' eyes lit up as he read the last part of the files. It deta
"I want rewards as I did last time." Howard really wanted to meet Heather, so he began asking for more rewards this time. "I'll give you the latest codes." Liesel forwarded the codes to Howard's computer with a glint in her eyes. "I've rewarded you, Mr. Durham. Time for you to work. You might have to work overtime tonight since there's plenty to do." Liesel rested her chin on her hand with a lazy smile.Howard already started typing to work on the series of codes. After some time, he fastened his white coat with stiff fingers. "I only need to work overtime for one night? I don't mind working overtime for another ten more nights." Howard simply wanted more codes. He looked at Liesel with a darkened gaze before adding, "As long as you reward me."Liesel couldn't help but laugh. "One night will do. If it's not enough, I'll reward you accordingly."Her words caused Howard's eyes to light up. She then stood up and walked around to the back of the chair before placing her hands on h
"Let me explain things properly. The other person might forgive your deceit or even give you another chance."Even if the other person refused, Cameron would still pay for her to give Thomas another chance. Cameron had everything planned out.Thomas gazed at Cameron for a long time before finally saying, "It's Liesel Sharp.""Liesel Sharp. Ms. Sharp, right? Let me get ready before visiting her... Hold up! Who did you say you're in love with? Did you just say that you like Liesel?"I asked you to work at Hardin Group so she can mentor you. I never thought you'd actually fall for her! Have you lost your mind?"If Thomas had fallen for any other woman, Cameron might have been confident enough to use his own money or other methods to convince her to be with Thomas. But things were tricky if the woman Thomas had fallen for was Liesel.Cameron was wealthy, and so was Liesel. The Kellers were indeed the wealthiest family in Bloomfield and also somewhat influential. However, their influe
"Elijah.""Yes, I'm here," Elijah answered."Elijah," Liesel yelled again. "Yes, I'm listening," Elijah replied again. He stroked her soft, long hair with a warm gaze. "I assume you've thought things through," Liesel said. She assumed that he had considered everything and gave up on the idea of leaving her so someone else would take care of her. Instead, he would always be with her.Elijah understood what Liesel meant. He gazed at her gently before leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead. "Yes, I've thought things through."Elijah would not hold Liesel back. He would propose to her if she could heal him and give her everything. If she fell for someone else during that time, he also would not forbid her from leaving him.Elijah loved Liesel, but she would always have her freedom. He knew very well that he loved her, but he always wanted her to be free forever.He wanted her to stay by his side because she loved him, not because she pitied him. It was the only way he could
Liesel's gaze flickered as she waited for Elijah's response. Struggle was written all over his gaze as he looked past her. He was lost in a daze. Her words seemed to pull him into the future.Elijah watched Liesel slowly drifting away from him. He could only sit in his wheelchair as if he were a spectator and watch her run toward another man's arms from a distance.He saw how affectionate she was with the other man, doing things only lovers would do. The way she cast a charming smile at the other man…No. Absolutely not.Elijah was still unable to let Liesel go so easily. She was his lover, so he refused to let her leave. He drew her into his embrace with one arm and held her tightly. "Lili, I was wrong." The hoarseness in his voice was quite evident. "I can't accept the idea of you leaving me. I don't even want to imagine it. Please don't be with Thomas." To Liesel, the current Elijah seemed extremely fragile. A slight push could cause him to break down. She could feel his swe