Regardless of whether Liesel was truly responsible, Natalie had already attributed all blame to her.She and Liesel weren't on good terms.How could Liesel, injured at Jeffrey's birthday party, not seek revenge?Lately, Natalie hadn't offended anyone else. The only person she had crossed was Liesel. If it wasn't Liesel, who could it be?Moreover, how could it be such a coincidence?Liesel had a cut on her forehead, and Natalie had one too. Liesel injured her hand, and Natalie had a similar injury as well.Wasn't it obvious that Liesel was deliberately hurting her to let her know that this was all her doing? How could she not report this to Jacob?She needed to tell Jacob and let him know how malicious Liesel truly was.Suddenly, Jacob's expression darkened. His voice was cold. "You think it was Liesel who did this?"Natalie shivered at his gaze. Her lips trembled as she asked, "Wasn't it her?"Even at this point, she still wanted to drag Liesel down."You can ask her." Jacob
Natalie immediately retorted, "How can you say that about me, Liesel? I'm Jake's secretary now and a member of Ford Corporation."As soon as she said that, Liesel replied coolly, "So, are you calling to discuss the recent business contracts? Do you want to talk about the new energy initiatives or Ford Corporation's recent market expansions? Or perhaps the electronics sector?"Liesel's words left Natalie momentarily speechless. As an art student, she had no knowledge of these topics.The only reason she could enter Ford Corporation was because of Jacob. Mentioning any collaboration proposal made her feel completely lost."I'm not calling about that, Liesel. I just wanted to ask if this car accident has anything to do with you." Natalie spoke cautiously, as though she were being bullied.Liesel paused for a moment. "You had a car accident?"Natalie responded with a whimper, "Yeah, when I was on my way to the office this morning. I happened to hurt my hand and forehead."This was a
Aside from Elijah, Liesel couldn't think of anyone else who would do this.Neal hadn't returned to the country yet. And even if he had, he wouldn't resort to such childish methods of revenge.As for Jordan, he wouldn't concern himself with someone as insignificant as Natalie. But that made him overlook how much of an impact someone like her had on Liesel.Despite Natalie's humble origins and low character, she had inflicted deep emotional and physical wounds on Liesel.Jordan and Neal weren't in the country and were unaware of what Natalie had done.The only ones who knew the truth were Jacob, Elijah, and Natalie herself.With Jacob defending Natalie so fiercely, how could he possibly harm her? Since she hadn't done it, the only person who could take action against Natalie was Elijah.He was pretty decisive, perhaps with no intention of sparing Natalie.Compared to what Natalie had done to her, Elijah's retaliation was considered quite ruthless.Elijah had returned to the head
"Both of us want to start fresh, so there's really no need for the dress." Liesel declined with a smile.Of course, it wasn't just a dress.Ever since Natalie had ruined the dress Heather made, Liesel had developed a strong aversion to such gifts.She had vowed not to accept anything from Jacob again. She believed that if they were to sever ties, it had to be done completely.Drew let out a sigh. He was clearly taken aback by how things had turned out. "I thought you and boss would last."He had even picked out baby names and gifts for the couple. Who would have thought that they would end up divorced in just three years?"I'll pass your message along to him."After a pause, he offered some earnest advice. "I know you're upset with him after yesterday, but… I really hope you can take a serious look at your relationship.""I'm really serious." Liesel stood up to pour him a cup of coffee.Having worked together for three years, they had become close friends, and Liesel didn't in
"Are you sure this won't get found out? I mean, it's cheating on the college entrance exam," Zack said. No matter what, he was still a teacher and acutely aware of the consequences.Sky shrugged nonchalantly. "Dad, you've been teaching long enough to know that some people get away with bending the rules. Those with money and power don't want things like this going public."That was true. Though Zack felt uneasy, the large sum of money that Sky mentioned while draping an arm around his neck blinded him.As long as the payoff was substantial, sacrificing Xavier didn't seem like a big deal.The two of them were plotting openly in the living room, unaware of the need for discretion.By then, it was midnight. Xavier, who had just returned from his part-time job at a nightclub in the city center, overheard them.The two probably assumed Xavier wouldn't be back tonight, so they didn't bother to lower their voices.Xavier was still in his work uniform, with lipstick marks on his white s
This wasn't the first time Sky and Zack saw Xavier in this state. Sky clapped his chest reassuringly. "Don't worry. Xavier is just drunk. He won't hear a thing. He has no idea about our plans."Despite his words, Zack felt a nagging sense of unease.But before he could dwell on it, Sky had already brought up how much money they could get, and Zack simply stopped worrying about what felt off.Once back in his room, Xavier locked the door and finally let out a sigh of relief as he lay on his bed.He felt utterly lost and betrayed. His father and brother were using him without a thought for the consequences he might face.He needed to find a way to thwart their plans. He couldn't let them succeed.The stress weighed heavily on him, and he barely slept that night.The next day at school, he slept through the morning classes.Fortunately, his excellent grades meant the teachers turned a blind eye.…In the afternoon, sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting dappled shad
Xavier couldn't shake the feeling that he recognized Liesel. It was a strange mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity.People flowed around them, but their gazes remained locked.Noticing Liesel's attention on Xavier, Helena quickly signaled to a department head to call him over and introduce him to Liesel."Liesel, this is Xavier Scott, our all-around genius. He's likely a top scorer for this year's college entrance exam." Helena spoke with a hint of pride at the mention of Xavier.Liesel could sense that Helena genuinely had a positive impression of Xavier, which brought her a sense of happiness. "That's wonderful."Smiling, she said, "Principal Davis, since you think so highly of Xavier, how about I give him a little incentive?"Xavier, if you can achieve a top-three score in the Ashthorne college entrance exam, I'll cover all your expenses during college and graduate school. Plus, I'll throw in a special gift. What do you think?"This offer was exceptional. It practically gave
Xavier watched Liesel as she handed him her business card and murmured his thanks.Liesel stood beneath a sycamore tree. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, scattering them softly onto her shoulders. Her long hair danced in the wind, occasionally veiling her cool yet gentle eyes.With a warm smile, she looked at Xavier. "Contact me if you need anything."With that, she turned to leave.Xavier's gaze dropped to the card she had given him, which read, "Liesel Sharp, Project Department Manager, Ford Corporation."Her name struck him as beautiful.He recalled her words and wished she could really fulfill his wishes. He hoped to shed his past, an unspeakable chapter of his life, and start anew.But why would someone he had just met actually want to save him? Those trapped in the mire needed the ability to rescue themselves.Tightly gripping the card in his hand, Xavier remained rooted in place. His eyes followed Liesel as she walked away."You're really lucky to catch Liesel's eye,
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