"Damian! Liesel Sharp replied! She asked me to bring you to Hardin Group! It's Liesel Sharp who replied to me!"Liesel Sharp…Damian froze. He remembered that name.Two years ago, when he was working at the Ashthorne construction site building a hotel for Ford Corporation, he had come into close contact with Liesel.He vividly recalled that late night when he sat in the security booth, reading a book under the dim light.Liesel, who was inspecting the site as an executive of Ford Corporation, had seen him reading but hadn't scolded him. Instead, she flipped through the book he was reading and praised his taste.Before leaving, she had said, "If you get the chance, continue your studies."She even left him a business card and told him, "If you ever need help, you can contact me or reach out to the Alden University Foundation. Someone will assist you."Since Damian was still young, Liesel didn't want him to waste his life.But at that time, it was the most crucial time for Hendr
The senior executives at Hardin Group, who were furious over Liesel's lavish spending to help ordinary people, stormed in to question her about her motives.At that moment, Liesel was engaged in a heated argument with Howard in the research department over some herbs. The executives barged in just as the tension between the two reached its peak.Howard's face darkened after being sharply rebuked by Liesel. Standing off to the side, he glanced at the executives and clicked his tongue. "They're here for you. Deal with them first, then we'll talk."Liesel frowned. "What's this about?"One of the executives snapped, "What do you think? Liesel, why are you spending so much money on saving those ordinary people?"You and Howard may have come up with the anticancer drug, but those herbs don't come cheap! Do you think you're some sort of charity case, handing out money? This is Hardin Group's money!""Exactly," another chimed in. "I've never seen anyone so generous when it comes to R&D."
"Right, Elijah is your lover, so his things are naturally yours," Howard said, biting into his candy and slyly snatching the data sheets Liesel was working on. He began scribbling notes on it with his pen.Liesel was rendered speechless by his actions.Rubbing her temples, she said, "Howard, just because you take this doesn't mean I'll blindly follow your advice. We need to stick to the data and analyze it properly."Howard, who was unperturbed, pressed on with his argument. "But pyraflora clearly works faster than cryophloem. We're treating cancer patients, right? If we need to destroy cancer cells, we need the most powerful herbs.""Have you considered that the faster-acting herbs come with more side effects?" Liesel asked. "Cancer patients already have weakened immune systems. If we use a drug that acts quickly, it may kill the cancer cells, but it could also kill the patient."People with cancer often have other underlying conditions. If such a potent drug can't be applicable
Anyone who insulted Heather online was almost immediately banned, and the account of that foreign company had already been investigated by several forces. Liesel couldn't help but wonder if this was the work of Heather's former suitors.How exceptional must Heather be to make these people remain obsessed with her after all these years?Howard didn't take the book off his face. His breathing was soft as though he hadn't even heard Liesel speak."Howard," Liesel called his name again.The lab was eerily silent, with only the sound of their breaths filling the space. The lights were too bright, almost blinding.Howard lowered the book from his face and couldn't help blinking. His eyes burned, and a tear slipped from the corner. The sharp, bittersweet feeling rose from deep within him, leaving him at a loss."No one can resist a noble, perfect princess."He looked up. His gaze was fixed on the harsh light above him."Even the dirtiest maggot trapped in the mud would feel a burning
"Do you really think I'm worried?" Liesel countered. "She has a weakness."Jason was Heather's weakness.Howard pointed at his own head and looked at Liesel with a meaningful expression before saying, "She has a weakness, but do you not?"She only has one weakness. How many do you have? Forget about Heather. Anyone can threaten you with your own weaknesses. Don't you know that?"Like Matthew, the CEO of Solstice Inc., and Dash.Liesel's eyes darkened. Seeing her change expression, Howard decided to drop it. He calmly pulled out his phone.He was honestly tired of arguing with Liesel.In truth, he knew she had a point, but his pride wouldn't let him admit it. Tired of the bickering, he decided to scroll through his phone to unwind.Then, he saw Liesel's name appear on the trending list. The discussions were all about her offering free treatment to those in the late stages of cancer.Howard was stunned. "Are you serious? Wasn't what those old geezers said a joke? I thought you w
"You're selling yourself short. If the two of us combined had 800 schemes, it'd still be a fifty-fifty split," Liesel said.Howard pouted. He had nothing to retort. After all, he had tried to outmaneuver Liesel in the past.But Liesel and her circle were all cut from the same cloth. He found himself mentally dubbing her group as "the sieve crew," because their combined scheming could rival the number of holes in a sieve.As Liesel and Howard had predicted, the internet was in chaos. Social media was ablaze with people praising Liesel's generosity and using it as ammunition against Natalie. However, no one could tell whether it was Heather's team or Liesel pulling the strings."Natalie's nothing but a walking disaster. Wherever she goes, trouble follows!""Of course, she's a mess! What do you expect from the daughter of a homewrecker? She'll never be respectable!""Does Natalie actually think she can compete with Liesel? What, with her petty schemes? I'm no saint, but if I had Lie
"Don't come looking for me again. From now on, I don't have a daughter. Go ahead and destroy yourself if you want, but don't drag me into it!" Angeline spat the words before slamming the phone down.Natalie felt as if her heart was being ripped apart. The pain was so intense she could barely breathe.She didn't know why everyone was blaming her. She wondered what she had done to deserve it.She had no idea about the truth behind Heather and Jeffrey's relationship. She truly believed Xavier was illegitimate. She genuinely thought Heather had betrayed Jeffrey. She admitted she wanted to ruin Xavier and Liesel, but how could she be blamed for acting on lies she didn't know were false?It wasn't her fault she was an illegitimate child. She couldn't understand why everyone acted as if the world's misfortunes were her fault.Her father blamed her. Her mother blamed her. The patients blamed her. It was as if her existence alone had dragged them all into misery.It was ridiculous to her.
Liesel Sharp had just unlocked her phone while waiting for her IV drip to be done when she received a message from her best friend, Chelsea Walden. "Jacob's back."She faltered. She and Jacob Ford had barely spoken throughout their month-long cold war, so she had no idea he was back.Soon, she received another message. "He's brought a young woman back with him."A photo had been sent with the message. The young woman in the photo resembled Liesel a little—she was Natalie Sharp, Liesel's younger half-sister. She'd been raised in the countryside.Chelsea continued, "The Sharp family is throwing them a welcome-back party. Do you want to crash it, Lili?"She knew what Liesel was like. Liesel would give Jacob a taste of his own medicine if he dared to do anything to her. There was even a chance she would set the Sharp residence on fire.Liesel checked her IV bag. She'd had a high fever for three days now, and the back of her hand was swollen from the constant IV drips she'd been on. S
"Don't come looking for me again. From now on, I don't have a daughter. Go ahead and destroy yourself if you want, but don't drag me into it!" Angeline spat the words before slamming the phone down.Natalie felt as if her heart was being ripped apart. The pain was so intense she could barely breathe.She didn't know why everyone was blaming her. She wondered what she had done to deserve it.She had no idea about the truth behind Heather and Jeffrey's relationship. She truly believed Xavier was illegitimate. She genuinely thought Heather had betrayed Jeffrey. She admitted she wanted to ruin Xavier and Liesel, but how could she be blamed for acting on lies she didn't know were false?It wasn't her fault she was an illegitimate child. She couldn't understand why everyone acted as if the world's misfortunes were her fault.Her father blamed her. Her mother blamed her. The patients blamed her. It was as if her existence alone had dragged them all into misery.It was ridiculous to her.
"You're selling yourself short. If the two of us combined had 800 schemes, it'd still be a fifty-fifty split," Liesel said.Howard pouted. He had nothing to retort. After all, he had tried to outmaneuver Liesel in the past.But Liesel and her circle were all cut from the same cloth. He found himself mentally dubbing her group as "the sieve crew," because their combined scheming could rival the number of holes in a sieve.As Liesel and Howard had predicted, the internet was in chaos. Social media was ablaze with people praising Liesel's generosity and using it as ammunition against Natalie. However, no one could tell whether it was Heather's team or Liesel pulling the strings."Natalie's nothing but a walking disaster. Wherever she goes, trouble follows!""Of course, she's a mess! What do you expect from the daughter of a homewrecker? She'll never be respectable!""Does Natalie actually think she can compete with Liesel? What, with her petty schemes? I'm no saint, but if I had Lie
"Do you really think I'm worried?" Liesel countered. "She has a weakness."Jason was Heather's weakness.Howard pointed at his own head and looked at Liesel with a meaningful expression before saying, "She has a weakness, but do you not?"She only has one weakness. How many do you have? Forget about Heather. Anyone can threaten you with your own weaknesses. Don't you know that?"Like Matthew, the CEO of Solstice Inc., and Dash.Liesel's eyes darkened. Seeing her change expression, Howard decided to drop it. He calmly pulled out his phone.He was honestly tired of arguing with Liesel.In truth, he knew she had a point, but his pride wouldn't let him admit it. Tired of the bickering, he decided to scroll through his phone to unwind.Then, he saw Liesel's name appear on the trending list. The discussions were all about her offering free treatment to those in the late stages of cancer.Howard was stunned. "Are you serious? Wasn't what those old geezers said a joke? I thought you w
Anyone who insulted Heather online was almost immediately banned, and the account of that foreign company had already been investigated by several forces. Liesel couldn't help but wonder if this was the work of Heather's former suitors.How exceptional must Heather be to make these people remain obsessed with her after all these years?Howard didn't take the book off his face. His breathing was soft as though he hadn't even heard Liesel speak."Howard," Liesel called his name again.The lab was eerily silent, with only the sound of their breaths filling the space. The lights were too bright, almost blinding.Howard lowered the book from his face and couldn't help blinking. His eyes burned, and a tear slipped from the corner. The sharp, bittersweet feeling rose from deep within him, leaving him at a loss."No one can resist a noble, perfect princess."He looked up. His gaze was fixed on the harsh light above him."Even the dirtiest maggot trapped in the mud would feel a burning
"Right, Elijah is your lover, so his things are naturally yours," Howard said, biting into his candy and slyly snatching the data sheets Liesel was working on. He began scribbling notes on it with his pen.Liesel was rendered speechless by his actions.Rubbing her temples, she said, "Howard, just because you take this doesn't mean I'll blindly follow your advice. We need to stick to the data and analyze it properly."Howard, who was unperturbed, pressed on with his argument. "But pyraflora clearly works faster than cryophloem. We're treating cancer patients, right? If we need to destroy cancer cells, we need the most powerful herbs.""Have you considered that the faster-acting herbs come with more side effects?" Liesel asked. "Cancer patients already have weakened immune systems. If we use a drug that acts quickly, it may kill the cancer cells, but it could also kill the patient."People with cancer often have other underlying conditions. If such a potent drug can't be applicable
The senior executives at Hardin Group, who were furious over Liesel's lavish spending to help ordinary people, stormed in to question her about her motives.At that moment, Liesel was engaged in a heated argument with Howard in the research department over some herbs. The executives barged in just as the tension between the two reached its peak.Howard's face darkened after being sharply rebuked by Liesel. Standing off to the side, he glanced at the executives and clicked his tongue. "They're here for you. Deal with them first, then we'll talk."Liesel frowned. "What's this about?"One of the executives snapped, "What do you think? Liesel, why are you spending so much money on saving those ordinary people?"You and Howard may have come up with the anticancer drug, but those herbs don't come cheap! Do you think you're some sort of charity case, handing out money? This is Hardin Group's money!""Exactly," another chimed in. "I've never seen anyone so generous when it comes to R&D."
"Damian! Liesel Sharp replied! She asked me to bring you to Hardin Group! It's Liesel Sharp who replied to me!"Liesel Sharp…Damian froze. He remembered that name.Two years ago, when he was working at the Ashthorne construction site building a hotel for Ford Corporation, he had come into close contact with Liesel.He vividly recalled that late night when he sat in the security booth, reading a book under the dim light.Liesel, who was inspecting the site as an executive of Ford Corporation, had seen him reading but hadn't scolded him. Instead, she flipped through the book he was reading and praised his taste.Before leaving, she had said, "If you get the chance, continue your studies."She even left him a business card and told him, "If you ever need help, you can contact me or reach out to the Alden University Foundation. Someone will assist you."Since Damian was still young, Liesel didn't want him to waste his life.But at that time, it was the most crucial time for Hendr
"My dad has terminal colon cancer, and he's in so much pain every night he can't sleep. The chemotherapy isn't helping. The doctors have told me to take him home to spend his final days with family."My dad is the most respected person in my life. I can't live without him. I've spent all our family's savings just to try to keep him alive. Hardin Group, I beg you to give my dad a chance."The official Hardin Group Twitter was flooded with similar messages from families of cancer patients, all pleading for a chance at life for their loved ones.Meanwhile, in a rundown house in the remote Crullfeld region, a young man sat at a simple, tidy table while staring intently at the latest Hardin Group tweet on his phone. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes."Damian, you can be saved! You can be saved! Hardin Group has developed a real anticancer drug, and they're looking for volunteers for the trial. You'll surely get better if you take this medicine!"The old house was sparsely decorate
"Looks like Jeffrey thinks way too highly of himself. He really thought he was Heather's husband. No wonder he's got such a grudge against Xavier. What a joke! Doesn't he ever look in the mirror and wonder if he's even worthy of Heather's affection?"These were the mocking comments from people in the circle who had seen Heather before.Some younger folks, not understanding why Heather could stir such a huge uproar in the network, asked, "What makes Heather so special?"Before they even knew it, an old photo from a decade ago surfaced.It was a black-and-white picture. But the moment anyone looked at it, their eyes would be drawn to the person in the center, as if her presence alone illuminated the entire space.She wore a simple black evening dress, but she shone like the brightest star in the night sky. The dress perfectly hugged her graceful figure, and her face was like something out of a masterful painting. Her beauty was unforgettable.Her eyebrows were like strokes of art,