Chelsea's tone carried a hint of smugness as she recounted her observations.Tobey was often likened to a cunning fox in public. He was calculating, ruthless, and unyielding. Yet, his presence at Ashthorne's financial summit was a testament to his brilliance.Though merciless in the corporate world, he had established several charitable foundations. Tobey's actions against opponents were always within the bounds of legality. While some of them might go overboard, no one could find any fault in them.But in front of Chelsea, Tobey was a completely different person.Five years ago, he might have still kept up appearances around her, but over time, even a beast with sharp claws and fangs would occasionally reveal its vulnerable underbelly.For instance, Tobey rarely drank excessively in public. Stories of him being visibly drunk were from so long ago that barely anyone had seen him in that state. But Chelsea had witnessed it.Tobey would lose himself when he was drunk. His body woul
Chelsea froze.Liesel turned slightly, and her eyelids twitched. It seemed like talking behind someone's back always backfired.Tobey let out a cold laugh. "I'm like your tamed wolfdog? I let you kick me out of bed, and then I hug you and whine?"Chelsea instinctively rubbed her temple. But in the next moment, she straightened her spine with righteous indignation. "Did I say anything that wasn't true? Don't you have morning tantrums? Haven't you hugged me and grumbled about not wanting to get out of bed?""Chelsea, why don't you try saying that louder?" Tobey's gaze darkened as he gripped her wrist and pulled her into his arms."If I say it any louder, everyone here will know my darling husband likes to act cute with me in the morning." She leaned into his chest as her fingers played with the edge of his tie. "And you know I love it when you do that, just like how I love calling you daddy. Isn't that just… our thing?"Her words dripped with teasing charm, expertly flipping the na
Tobey had always understood Liesel's importance to Chelsea. She reminded him of it constantly. Chelsea cared about Liesel above all else, even more than she cared about herself.His gaze darkened as he looked at Chelsea, but she was ever unbothered as she kept her playful, knowing smile. She could tell Tobey understood her unspoken message, and just like that, her demeanor softened as she clung to his arm."Honey, Lili is my best friend. We were just joking around. You don't mind, do you?"Tobey didn't answer, but his silence said enough.Liesel couldn't shake the sense that something was off with their interaction. She couldn't place a finger on it, though.Chelsea planted a feather-light kiss at the corner of Tobey's mouth. "Go on, honey. Don't you have a meeting about that partnership? I won't keep you."With that, she dismissed him. She even plucked the very box of pastries he'd gone out of his way to get for her from Heritage Hotel.Tobey didn't know who he was supposed to
Tobey was the easiest to deal with. Crying, acting, and pretending made everything go away. He had a soft spot for Chelsea.As Tobey left, Kellan stood by with a blurred vision. It felt as though the future of Lark Corporation had a dead end in sight."Seems like you and Tobey have a good relationship." Liesel reached for Chelsea's earlobe and gently rubbed it. Her voice was calm and soothing. "That makes me feel better."She had always worried Chelsea's stubborn nature might get in her way, but now it was clear she had her own ways of handling things. It was a blessing since that meant that no one could hurt her.Chelsea handed her a cup of hot milk, and Liesel took it naturally. She listened as Chelsea spoke."Don't worry, I was just pretending whenever I'm with you. I'm not the innocent, harmless girl you think I am."Chelsea had always known she had a complex mind. When Liesel took her in, Chelsea understood much about the world. But she played the role of the naïve girl beca
Tobey didn't say a word. He just turned his head and stared at Liesel for a few seconds, but his expression gave away that Jimmy had hit the nail on the head.Jimmy silently cursed to himself.The Walkers weren't like Tobey. They weren't just there for appearances. They had real business to discuss. Jasper had come fully prepared with documents and contracts. He was ready to finalize a partnership on the spot.Jimmy, on the other hand, had been dragged along to fill out the numbers and liven up the scene. While the other executives were busy, Jimmy had parked himself on a couch, idly gaming away.Earlier, a reporter live-streamed interviews at the summit. While everyone else was busy discussing partnerships, Jimmy was lazily on his phone. From afar, it looked like he was reviewing documents. The reporter approached him, only to discover that he was playing a mobile game.When asked why he was gaming during a summit, Jimmy casually replied, "Are you kidding me? I'm a Walker."In A
The financial summit, which was aimed at fostering global economic development and international collaboration, concluded with Shifter Corporation and Hardin Group securing a significant number of contracts. Their success made headlines overseas.Industry insiders knew that Shifter Corporation's dominance was no surprise as it was a titan with an extensive network of international connections. But Hardin Group puzzled many.Before Elijah took the helm, Hardin Group was an old family business on the brink of collapse. Elijah reformed the company, and Liesel's leadership injected fresh talent and Howard into their research team, which brought innovation that culminated in Hardin Group's impressive performance at the summit.It was late at night when Charles studied data about the financial summit on his laptop. His usually mild expression was replaced by a cold demeanor. Slowly, he removed his glasses, revealing piercing eyes brimming with predatory intensity.Liesel was a wild card.
A man with striking purple hair was stopped at the front desk.He presented an interview letter with an expression laced with irritation. The receptionist couldn't help but stare at his face. Her ears were tinged with red.The man had deep-set eyes, a sharp nose, and an almost otherworldly handsomeness. He exuded a wild, untamed energy. His expression was a mix of arrogance and defiance. He stood well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders, a lean waist, and long legs.As he strode through the entrance, the receptionist wondered if she'd accidentally joined an entertainment agency.Even the hottest Hollywood stars couldn't hold a candle to this guy."Thomas Keller… what a nice name," she murmured under her breath as she watched his retreating figure. "Even his name sounds like it belongs to a celebrity."But instead of heading to the elevator, Thomas pushed open the door to the stairwell.Inside, his phone crackled with a sharp voice."You'd better get that job, or you're not
Liesel excused herself. As she walked down the corridor, her eyes scanned the waiting area. She didn't see Austin's face in the crowd. Perhaps he was off exploring other parts of Hardin Group.Her gaze darkened momentarily, but she quickly dismissed the thought.The interviews had begun.Thomas leaned against the wall at the far end of the hallway while chewing gum. He observed the other applicants pacing as their faces taut with worry and anticipation.Whenever their gazes landed on him, they'd frown and quickly look away. Thomas glanced down at his outfit. He could see why they would react that way.He pulled out his phone and typed a message."Old man, think I'll get the job this time?"The reply came almost instantly, "I'm betting you will."Like hell he would. He was here to bomb the interview spectacularly.Thomas chuckled under his breath. Then, he slid the phone back into his pocket.Meanwhile, Felix, Hardin Group's vice president, received a call. Whatever was said o
Austin didn't get to witness Liesel's downfall, but instead, he found himself in trouble. His overwhelming desire to bring her down had made him reckless.Investigators from White-Collar Crime Division arrived at Hardin Group. They wasted no time as they launched an in-depth investigation. The theft of such a groundbreaking research project by foreign competitors was a severe blow to the nation's industry and had drawn top-level attention.No one was allowed to leave the premises, and all employees of the research department were under scrutiny.Austin's gaze was cold and venomous. He felt nothing but contempt for Elijah and the others. To him, these men were pathetic fools for degrading themselves for a woman. How could they still call themselves men?He didn't mind the investigation. They wouldn't find anything on him anyway.His dealings with Alisha had been carried out discreetly, leaving no trace. Alisha had handled everything. None of it could be tied back to him.He was in
"Mr. Hardin has always protected Ms. Sharp," someone whispered. "He left a will that stated he would give everything to her. But as long as he's alive, that will doesn't matter. No man could tolerate such betrayal. Ms. Sharp will definitely be kicked out of Hardin Group."By the end of her words, her voice had begun to tremble. Sobs broke out of her chest. She sounded utterly pitiful.Austin wiped his face again and heaved a heavy sigh to blend in. No one knew about the chilling malice and deep satisfaction hiding in his eyes.Just then, slow, deliberate footsteps echoed down the hallway, followed by the sound of the glass door being pushed open.Everyone's heads turned. The murmured discussions fell silent, and the tense air became heavy with a solemn weight.Austin lowered his hand from his mouth and arranged his face into an expression of anxious unease.The moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived. He wanted to see for himself just how far Liesel would fall and how
Austin's face was pale, and he looked down, seemingly like everyone else in the room. But a closer look would reveal that he was the most different of all.A sly smile tugged at his lips. There was even a flicker of light in his eyes, showing an air of ease and satisfaction. He was disconnected from the sorrows of those around him.How was Liesel doing now?The thought crossed Austin's mind, and he couldn't help but blink with interest.The peak of her life was just ahead. With one step, Liesel could have everything everyone dreamed of—applause, wealth, status, and a bright future.But at the closest moment to success, her outstretched hand was brutally severed, and her foot fell into an empty void.The pain must have been excruciating.Austin shook his head and sighed inwardly. Liesel was so pitiful.He put his freshly cleaned glasses back on his high nose bridge. Avoiding the gazes of others, he wore a most comfortable smile.He thought with satisfaction, "I climbed over you
An elderly man sitting next to Richard said, "One month. Liesel has to go if things aren't settled in a month."Felix looked at Liesel, who nodded.And just like that, it was decided.Richard, along with his subordinates, left the meeting room. As they passed Liesel, Richard shot her a look full of disdain.Liesel stood there with a faint smile. She was completely indifferent to the situation.As the group walked by, Howard subtly extended his long leg.Richard tripped and went tumbling to the ground, landing face-first. As he scrambled up, he glared back with a grim expression.He could deal with Liesel and plot against Felix, but Howard was a different story. He couldn't do a thing to him."Let's go, Ms. Sharp." Howard stood up leisurely while casually adjusting his silver-gray tie. His Adam's apple sat perfectly at the collar of his shirt.Howard had once again reached new heights of attractiveness today.In the elevator, Liesel asked curiously, "You didn't even use a remo
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