A rare trace of pity rose in Elijah's heart and he said, "You're just a joke."He was a joke, and so was Liesel."Jacob has to know what I know."The mischievous look in his eyes darkened, but his voice was calm, unusually serious compared to his usual carefree demeanor. "He knows you're the victim, but he still chooses to protect the perpetrator and even accepts everything about them. Liesel, what are you still holding on to?"What was she still holding on to?Liesel's fingers turned pale as she gripped the window frame tightly while biting her lower lip. "I just can't accept it."Of course, Elijah understood why she couldn't accept it.She couldn't accept losing to someone as despicable as Natalie, and couldn't accept the fact that the man she loved so deeply was so blind.As Liesel watched the three people outside, the bitterness in her heart almost made her cry out loud.Perhaps sensing her discomfort, a sharp and keen gaze suddenly swept over.Liesel froze for a moment
Natalie and Jeffrey were genuinely worried that Jacob might hold them accountable for what happened tonight. Although they were indeed involved, they still wanted to distance themselves from it.From a distance, they saw Jacob leaving the banquet and heading to his car. Hence, Natalie quickly ran up to him with Jeffrey following closely behind.They were panting heavily. Cold sweat broke out on their faces, and they looked anxious and innocent."Didn't you two leave just now?" Jacob stood still as he gazed at the father and daughter who had suddenly appeared.Yet, all he could think about was the image of Liesel's radiant and striking face accusing him of injustice. She had accused him of protecting Natalie and Jeffrey.The coldness was evident in his deep eyes when he looked at the two of them. "What do you two want?"Jacob's voice was cold, and his attitude toward them at that moment was as if they were strangers.Natalie felt anxious but still stepped forward. She clung to
"Oh my, what's wrong with Liesel? Why did she suddenly throw those things out? That's so weird, I don't know why she even did that."Of course, Natalie saw Liesel. At that moment, her heart leaped into her throat. She was afraid that she might do something unexpected.To her surprise, Liesel simply tossed out a few pieces of torn red fabric.She thought Liesel must have lost her mind. However, she could only make a veiled comment, suggesting that Liesel was going mad while fearing a hidden meaning might be behind her action."She's saying goodbye." Jacob pursed his lips and picked up a piece of red fabric from the ground casually as if he could still feel the warmth of her skin.He knew everything Liesel had done tonight was her way of saying goodbye to their past. Yet, her actions felt more like a provocation to him.Jacob's gaze deepened, but Natalie had no idea what was going on.She tried to steer the conversation back, but she heard the man's indifferent voice just as she w
The person in charge immediately accepted the card with a beaming smile.Only then did Liesel leave. She was unaware the young man holding the rag had turned around and that he was staring at her in a daze.The man beside him nudged him. "Xavier, what are you looking at?"The man, named Xavier Scott, shook his head. "I just felt that the woman from earlier looked familiar. It’s like I've seen her somewhere before."Hearing this, the man next to him racked his brain to figure it out. "Right, I remember now. Isn't she that senior from our school who almost scored full marks and got into Alden University? Her photo is still on our school's honor wall."Xavier paused. Was that why she looked familiar?At this moment, Elijah, who had been watching from a distance, raised an eyebrow.He thought he had caught Liesel doing something shady, but it turned out she was just helping out her juniors. How boring.Elijah clicked his tongue, walked over to the person in charge, and handed over
After much hesitation, Zack decided the idea was feasible.After all, Xavier was still young, and delaying his higher education for a few years wouldn't matter much. They might even make a fortune from it.After thinking about it for a moment, Zack agreed. "You're bringing this up out of the blue. Do you know someone?""Of course, I do." Sky grinned, scrolling through a list of names on his phone."These are all wealthy families. We'll see who offers the highest price, and we can have Xavier take the exam for them. Maybe just one exam could get us enough money to buy a house."Housing prices in Ashthorne were in the tens of millions of dollars, even in less desirable areas. Could Xavier buy them a house by taking one exam?Greed overwhelmed them and Zack's mind was completely filled with that idea.Why not have him take the exam a few more times since the money was so easy to make? Those wealthy people had money and influence. They certainly wouldn't get caught easily.Zack's f
To Liesel, Natalie was indeed a thief.She was a thief who had stolen her father's love for her, her husband, and her position. Maybe the thief even wanted to steal her identity and network of connections.Was it appropriate to describe Natalie as a thief? It didn't quite fit.Liesel chuckled lightly. "She's more like a robber compared to a thief."She didn't steal but brazenly robbed right before her. After that, she would flaunt it, making sure Liesel knew. How disgusting and shameless."You're right. Robber is a much better fit." Drew couldn't help but laugh and lowered his head to flip through the documents.The information was well-organized and clear, so he understood the key details after a quick glance.He had a sense of clarity but couldn't resist asking, "What exactly is Principal Davis talking about with the boss? It's been over an hour. She came so early in the morning and they're still talking."Principal Davis? "You mean Principal Davis from Ashthrone First High S
"Why are you here? Do you need something?" Jacob's gaze was cold.When he looked at Liesel, images of her standing alongside Elijah and those scattered pieces of fabric flashed through his mind.His heart sank a little, and his dark eyes deepened.Liesel's eyes fell on his face, but she didn't mention anything about last night. "Just now, I ran into Principal Davis outside. She's here to invite you to attend the motivational event at First High School. Did you accept?"Jacob looked at her. "I declined Alden University's invitation for a lecture last month."His words were more of a rhetorical question to Liesel. He had already declined Alden University's invitation, so why would she think he would agree to a high school's motivational event? It seemed even more absurd."Just because you rejected Alden University's invitation doesn't mean you have to reject First High School." Liesel pushed the thick stack of documents toward him. "Here's the information you need. In return, I w
Liesel halted in her tracks when she heard Jacob's words.She turned around and stared at Jacob for a long time before slowly nodding in agreement."Since you said so, I'll go." After saying this, Liesel didn't linger any longer.She was truly afraid that her heart would break into pieces if she stayed longer.Jacob didn't understand her, nor did he know anything. It was as if he had never known her. He was completely unaware of her pain.Jeffrey's birthday was also her mother's death anniversary. Asking her to attend Jeffrey's birthday party was like stabbing her heart with a knife.Yet, she would still attend Jeffrey's birthday party.…The Sharp residence was located in a bustling area of Ashthorne.Standing on the edge of the vibrant city, this building exuded luxury and elegance in every brick and tile. It was designed and built by a famous architect Jeffrey hired to showcase his wealth.Anyone unfamiliar with the Sharp family's background might have assumed they were pa
Anyone who harbored any ill intentions toward Ophelia would find themselves a target of the Ford family's plot and removed from the picture."You're a smart guy to be able to tap into my virtual chat room and make it this far. Are you reaching out to discuss a partnership?" Liesel typed.She made no effort to look into any information related to Stanley. Liesel first encountered Stanley at a party at Alden University. All she knew about him was that he came from a humble background. However, he carried himself with class, making her suspect that he was far from ordinary. She didn't expect to come into contact with Stanley again. Stanley approaching Ophelia was a bold move considering Matthew's protectiveness over his daughter. He was brave to do so.Liesel refrained from digging for more information as a test of his sincerity. She was waiting to see if Stanley would come clean."My parents passed away the same year as Ms. Mallone. Following their passing, my relatives fought t
Edward didn't dodge the cup that Matthew threw at him. It hit him squarely in the forehead. Blood trickled from the wound, dripping steadily onto the cold, smooth floor.Edward lowered his gaze. A trace of gentle humor still lingered in his eyes.He wiped the blood from his face."Do you think I've made a mistake, Father?" Edward asked with a smile.Matthew slammed his hand hard against the armrest of his wheelchair."You're well aware that I don't want Ophelia exposed to any of this!" His voice trembled with a fury that was hard to contain.To Matthew, Ophelia should live in an ivory tower and remain forever a pure, carefree princess untouched by reality.He wanted her to have the best…"Father."Edward took out a wet wipe and methodically cleaned the blood off his hand. "Ophelia is the future heir to the Ford Corporation. She will be the true helmsman of the Ford family. I will reclaim the Ford Corporation and personally present it to her. Ophelia cannot afford to remain n
"But… But… Liesel said…""Why does what Liesel said matter? Ophelia, we are your family. Liesel divorced Jacob. She chose to leave Ford Corporation to join the Hardin Group. She's already made her choice—she opposes both the Ford Corporation and the Ford family. "Stop listening to Liesel, Ophelia. Trust me and Dad. We would never hurt you. We're the ones who love you the most."Ophelia's eyelashes fluttered as the foundation of everything she'd been taught since childhood began to crumble.She had a feeling that Edward was forcing her to make a choice.Though she could be naive at times, she wasn't an actual fool. She could discern truth from lies.By saying this much, Edward was essentially telling her that the world wasn't black and white and that they were standing in a gray area.He wanted Ophelia to choose and realize that she and Liesel were not allies. He was her ally.Deep down, Ophelia knew that Howard was right. But did that automatically mean that her brother's word
Liesel's smile reached her eyes after she heard Elijah's decisive response.Something warm filled his empty heart as Elijah gazed at her bright smile. His restlessness and irritability settled instantly. The vague pain and inconsolable fear he felt had been mollified.He pulled Liesel into a tight embrace as if trying to make her part of himself.…After Matthew and Edward left the dinner party, Ophelia felt too humiliated to stay any longer.She had grown up in a world where everything was either right or wrong. She always believed that her father and brother were the paragons of goodness. They embodied everything that was right. She saw them as her role models. How could they possibly be the villains described by Howard?Ophelia had met so many people who praised her for her beauty and brilliance. No one had ever called her cruel, let alone foolish.Everything she experienced today was too much for her to process. She felt as though she was falling apart."Why did you do that
"I'll never leave him." Not ditching Elijah meant Liesel was rejecting Jacob. After speaking, Liesel refused to talk to Jacob any longer. She didn't even see the struggle and pain in Jacob's eyes as she turned to leave. Even if she noticed, she probably didn't care anymore. Elijah and Liesel got into the car. Xavier didn't get into the same car with them, but he was still tactful enough to hitch a ride in Reuben's car.Liesel drove in silence toward the apartment lobby. "Stop being angry, okay? I apologize." Elijah drew Liesel into his embrace.Although she didn't struggle, she didn't return his hug either. Without a word, she held the remote and drone Howard had given her.Although Elijah held Liesel in his arms, seeing her current expression made him feel terribly empty inside. He kept kissing Liesel's cheeks and ears while murmuring his apologies. "I like you." His hoarse voice sounded pleading. "I said all that because… Lili, I don't want to manipulate you into staying w
Jacob remained standing from a distance while watching Liesel and Elijah's interaction in silence. Jacob became lost in his memories as he recalled that Liesel had never been that affectionate with him before.She wanted to get close to Jacob, but he never opened up to her. Whenever Liesel got close to Jacob, he would handle things with her in a professional manner. They had an employer-employee relationship at Ford Corporation, but they acted more like strangers back at their apartment.Liesel and Jacob couldn't even be considered friends. They would only communicate whenever they needed to satisfy their physical needs.Jacob had seen the most charming side of Liesel, and she only showed him her gentle side. However, Liesel was only ever that carefree with Elijah. In the future, they might be much more affectionate with each other. Elijah… Why didn't he die in the car accident? Why did he survive?Jacob's gaze darkened. His eyes were filled with obvious disdain. "Elijah,"
"I'm willing since it's you." Liesel leaned forward, drawing her lips close to his ear. Her warm breath lingered seductively. It was almost as if she were about to lean into his embrace."Do you really like me controlling you?" Liesel asked Elijah, who hummed in response. "Do you really like being possessed? You've loved freedom for your whole life, but could you give it up for a specific person at certain moments?" Liesel asked. Elijah gazed at her. His expression was unchanged. "Yes, if it's for you."Liesel brushed her lips against his ear before asking in a low voice, "Did you pursue me back then because I didn't like you, and you enjoyed the feeling of not getting what you wanted?"Elijah paused after hearing her question. He scratched his nose and felt slightly guilty. He already had an idea of what Liesel was about to ask. Elijah had clearly gone quiet. Liesel also had an idea why he remained silent. She couldn't help but click her tongue."You lied to me that your b
Liesel's gaze was calm as she stared at Jacob, who was a few feet away. After a mere glance, she turned to leave. "Liesel," Jacob called out her name. "I had nothing to do with what happened today." Jacob had waited there so he could tell her that."What do you want me to say?" Liesel wasn't interested in saying anything at all. She merely found what he said ridiculous after hearing him out."You said you had nothing to do with what happened today. Which part had nothing to do with you?"Liesel's gaze remained nonchalant. "You said you care about me. You mentioned that you want a fresh start with me. "You said you want to marry me again and make me Mrs. Ford once more. Let me ask you. Do you know what it means when Natalie and Matthew are still around?"You're indulging Natalie by letting her hurt me without any restraint. You'll be permitting Matthew to do anything he wants and commit all sorts of crimes. "While Matthew has learned his lesson, he might still dream of takin
If Xavier really made any mistakes, Liesel would definitely back him up since she was powerful and reliable. He was very confident about that at the moment.In the past, Xavier came off as steady since he had matured early, but he was slightly immature now. It was as if he could afford to be stubborn and childish since he had Liesel as his older sister. Liesel mentioned that she could support Xavier since she was wealthy and powerful. What else did Xavier have to worry about? She was his elder sister.Liesel gazed at Xavier and spoke earnestly. "Xavier, I won't force you to make a decision, but have you truly made up your mind to major in performing arts?"No need to get nervous and change your decision because of me. I just want to know what path you want to take for your future.""I'll choose a performance major, but not immediately." Xavier continued to explain, "I'll go for a physics major first and produce some results. Then, I'll choose what I like later."Howard chuckled.