Angeline's mind went blank for a moment. A familiar yet unfamiliar masculine scent enveloped her, tinged with a faint smell of alcohol. The kiss wasn't deep, but Angeline felt as though she was suffocating.As Angeline grew lost in thought, Sean released her lips and rested his forehead against hers. "Is that okay?" he asked. His rich, deep voice filled her ears, causing her to heat up."W-what?" Angeline spoke with a trembling voice.Sean lifted his hand to touch her delicate, fair cheek. He caressed her lips with his thumb and asked, "May I kiss you?" Without waiting for Angeline's response, he pressed his thin lips on hers again.His breath, mixed with alcohol, filled her lungs and clouded her mind. She felt her face burn up. She panicked, pushed him away, and turned her head. "You're drunk!" she exclaimed.Just as she pushed him away slightly, Sean grabbed both of her wrists from behind with one hand. He sealed her lips again, pressing her waist toward him with the a
Angeline tucked strands of her messy hair behind her ear. She cleared her throat. "Is Fletcher Corporation in a rush?" she asked."They are quite eager," came the reply."Even though they are eager, tell them not to rush. At Vitality Biotech, we always offer domestic partners prices much lower than international rates. We do this to benefit our own country with our technology. I don't want a repeat of what happened with Zenith Ventures. If they disagree with our terms, we'll keep pressing them," Angeline stated.Vitality Biotech had a partnership with Zenith Ventures previously. However, they raised their prices to be higher than international medical centers. Angeline would have preferred Vitality to deal with the hospitals directly if not for the complicated process involved in working with domestic hospitals that ultimately delayed usage."But Tyler said business is about making money…""We're not cutting Fletcher Corporation out from any profit margins. We simply don't have
Angeline's lip hurt at the slightest touch. Sean asked her to sit down. Then, he opened a bottle of distilled water and moistened a cotton ball to clean up the traces of blood.They were in such proximity that Angeline could see Sean's long eyelashes. Her breathing became uneven again as she looked away."Sorry!" they both spoke at the same time.Sean couldn't help but lean in closer as he looked at Angeline's expression. Angeline hugged her laptop to her chest and moved back. "I… My lip is split," she said."Yes, I know," Sean replied. He fixed his deep eyes on hers before leaning in again to kiss her gently on the lip, caressing the corner of her mouth tenderly. "Sorry, I'll be more careful next time."Angeline stood up with her laptop and hurriedly said goodnight before fleeing to the master bedroom.She had to return to Cloudsville early the next morning but struggled to fall asleep. Closing her eyes brought back the image of kissing Sean. Touching her swollen lip insta
Marion was always carefree. Suddenly, she remembered her child at home. She pulled Reese aside by his sleeve and whispered, "Have the housekeeper take our kid to my mom's place. My pregnancy was around the same time as Angeline's. Since Angeline lost her child, I don't want her to feel sad seeing mine.""Brilliant idea, my dear!" Reese praised Marion.While chatting with her seniors, Angeline received a call from James. He asked her and Gregory to head to the auditorium first.After hanging up, Angeline said, "I'll go ahead then.""Okay! You may go with Gregory first. We'll change and come soon," Marion responded.Gregory was on his way to the venue but was delayed because he ran into Angeline."Alright," Angeline nodded.While walking with Angeline, Gregory hesitated but asked, "I heard from my cousin that he saw you in Krontos with a young girl by your side."Angeline didn't mind Gregory's question and smiled at him. "What about it?"Gregory felt embarrassed and scratche
When students from Oceanford College pinned Gregory down, Cloudsville College students instantly clashed with them. "Damn! We're here for a basketball match, and you attack our people!" one shouted. "Who gave you the guts to pick on our Cloudsville people on our turf?" another retorted.Students from both sides fought fiercely, blurring friend from foe. Angeline shouted several times, "Stop, or I'll call the police!" Eventually, they ceased fighting. The thought of police involvement and potential disciplinary action calmed them down while security separated the students.Gregory spat out blood-stained saliva. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve, glaring fiercely at the Oceanford students.Soon, the team leader from Oceanford and the teacher coordinating the match from Cloudsville hurried over. "What's this mess? You're here for a friendly match but end up fighting at the host school?" the Oceanford teacher scolded their students.The Cloudsville teacher also reprimanded t
Gregory's suit and shirt were all dirty. While Gregory returned to his dorm to change, Angeline bought medicine and band-aids. When Gregory came downstairs, Angeline pulled him to sit on a bench and started treating his wounds.Finally, Gregory couldn't hold back. "That guy was talking nonsense. Don't take it to heart. I don't believe you would drug someone. But... Did Ned really post your photos?""Yes," Angeline responded as she focused on tending to the wound.Gregory clenched his fist. "I'm sorry.""It's not your fault," Angeline said with a light laugh. "You don't need to feel sorry.""What exactly happened between you and Ned?" Gregory looked at Angeline. "Don't mind me asking. I grew up abroad and only connected with Ned's family five years ago. So I'm not clear about your situation. I heard some really confusing stories.""It's nothing much," Angeline said while dabbing at Gregory's cuts with iodine. "I accidentally saved Ned when he was kidnapped as a child
"This is Gregory you were asking about!" James introduced him to several leading figures in the scientific community. "Bringing back this genetics prodigy from abroad a few years ago was quite a feat. It really took a lot of effort!"Gregory greeted everyone with a smile and shook their hands."This is Angeline." James remembered that Angeline had asked not to reveal she was the founder of Vitality Biotech. He simply smiled and said, "She's currently with Vitality Biotech.""Angeline, I've heard so much about you! You were brilliant at the exchange meeting in Dmont four years ago."An older biologist shook hands with Angeline. "It's a pity I wasn't there. My colleague spoke so highly of you. We haven't heard from you since. Is it because of your work at Vitality Biotech?""Yes," Angeline nodded. "Many experiments are confidential, but I really enjoy diving into the work in the lab."Everyone had a great time talking. Angeline's sole focus on her experiments allowed he
Ned stormed out and slammed the door behind him.Sherryn furrowed her brows. She wrapped her cloak tighter around her in irritation before storming upstairs to her room.Ned's mind was haunted by Sherryn's words from their morning phone call with Gregory. He could hear Angeline's voice in the background. Specific images in his mind became vivid as he drove with one hand on the steering wheel.When they were just starting high school and went through military training with another school, a boy from the other school confessed his feelings to Angeline. Ned had hit the boy without a second thought. Angeline then took him to the infirmary to tend to the wound at the corner of his mouth.In his memory, Angeline had her hair in two braids, and the sunlight streamed through the window, highlighting her exceptionally fair and delicate features. She had gently dabbed at his wound with a cotton swab and blew on it lightly. The sight of Angeline's plump, rosy lips had impulsively driven Ned