“You’re a corrupt official at StriveStyle Co. I'd rather face defeat than collaborate with someone like you.” “Heidi, you- you're making a mistake.” “Aiden, I'm quite busy now. If you have nothing tangible to say, I'm hanging up.” Heidi cut the call before his reply came. She picked up the report in front of her to go through it, then her phone rang. Thinking it was Aiden again, Heidi decided to ignore it. But her phone rang constantly, forcing her to look at the screen. Heidi stared at the strange number, frowning. She answered it, then came a deep husky voice. “Where do you want us to meet, Sweetheart? I've got an idea. Let's hook up tonight at Rosehills Hotel.” “Huh?” Heidi's frown deepened. Then she cut the call. Her phone rang again with that strange number, but she didn't answer it. Thinking that person must have mistaken her phone number with someone else's, Heidi carried on the whole day, ignoring his calls. But the phone calls were serving as a huge distraction.
Tracy read the message on her phone, wondering what Stella was up to. Then a thought came to her mind- Ha! She didn't waste time to phone Todd. The man sounded anxious when he answered the phone. “What's up? I'm already at Rosehills Hotel, is she coming or what?” “Hehe, Todd…” Tracy spent a long time speaking with the man and getting him to vent out all his frustration. The moment they were done speaking, she saved the recording and sent it to Stella. In the middle of the night, Lucas's phone beeped. He picked it up and sat on the bed, staring at the private number. [Mr. Harrison, this is for your good. You have to listen to it.] A text message accompanied the voice note. Lucas frowned before tapping on the play button. Instantly, the dimly lit bedroom was filled with all sorts of repulsive noises. In the deafening silence, those voices echoed. “Ah, Todd! You're the best!” “Yes, Please! Faster.” “Hehe, you seem to be enjoying this more than I, Heidi-” “Why not?
A look of realization shone on Lucas's face. He rarely stayed home and always left early then returned very late. So those foods he'd been eating all these years were made by that silly woman. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, as he spaced out for a few seconds. Retaining his blank expression, he pushed his chair back, stood up and left, finding the maid's food as if it was something alien. At The Company. Amanda hurried up to him, her voice filled with disbelief and excitement. “Mr. Harrison, this is strange. The tech team found nothing wrong with my computer's privacy. It means no one has tampered with the reports from my end. How strange, you got different kinds of reports-” “Make me a cup of coffee.” It was as if Lucas wasn't listening. His eyes were cascaded with an impending rage, his stern expression making the employees walking past scurrying out of the way. “Y-Yes. Right away.” Amanda gulped and scampered off. Lucas glanced at his wristwatch, his eyes nar
… At StriveStyle Co. Isla showed more reports to Heidi through her tablet's screen. “LuxéAura, VerveC, EclatE; These are the major fashion brands and most popular across the country. Kate Anderson has worked with the two others in the past, and is currently working with LuxéAura which is the biggest.” “I have been looking into Kate Anderson's past these few days,” Isla added. “You can't believe it, Ms. Olsen. But there's a rumor that her family's origin is in this city.” On hearing that piece of information, Heidi's doubts all washed away. Her eyes lit up and she opened her mouth to speak but her phone's ringtone interrupted. Seeing Grandpa Winston's name on the screen, Heidi answered the phone instantly. “Heidi, are you busy? Will you keep Grandpa company on the phone?” “Why not, Grandpa? What's up? How's your health now?” “Since I stopped taking hospital food, I feel much better. But I don't like the food the servants prepare sometimes. Heidi, when will you do me the ho
Grandpa Winston couldn't have mistaken the jewelry's unique design. In his rage, he yelled loudly, dragging the attention of the people. Stella's smile didn't falter. She straightened up, her painted long fingernails caressing the diamonds. “Oh, you mean this?” She laughed. “Dad, don't work yourself up over it. I got this jewelry from your sweet granddaughter-in-law.” “What? What do you mean by that?” “Heidi gave it to me.” Stella stepped close to Blake, looking at him lovingly. “Honey, this is an heirloom that is passed down to every deserving woman in this family. Aren't I the only current daughter-in-law? It should belong to me, right?” An Heirloom? The crowd couldn't help but take an attentive look at the unique jewelry. Never had they seen such exquisite and elegant design wrapped in simplicity. Its several diamonds reflected with the light, casting a soft glow over its wearer. Grandpa Winston's expression turned sour, hearing Stella's explanation. His hand shook
Grandpa Winston's eyes lit up, and his vigor returned. “Heidi, you have come,” he called out, and Heidi finally located him. “Grandpa Winston, I'm so sorry I'm late.” Heidi approached, kissing him on the cheek. “I was supposed to be here since, but something held me back.” And a fleeting rage flashed in her eyes when she remembered that thing. Heidi's anger only subsided after finally seeing Grandpa Winston. “The important thing is you're here. I knew you wouldn't let me down.” Grandpa Winston chuckled deeply, then he turned to Stella. “Aren't you too shameless? How could you lie on Heidi? You think you can deceive everyone with your fake necklace, right?” “Dad, what benefit will I get from lying on her?” Stella put on a look of disbelief. “The person who is wearing the fake necklace is obvious. Can't you differentiate the real one?” Heidi finally noticed Stella and Blake. Her eyes widened a bit when she saw Stella wearing the same necklace. So many thoughts ran inside
“What do you mean, Dad?” Blake frowned. “You must have seen wrong. Stella's jewelry is the real one-” “Silence! Do you take me for a fool not to recognize something I made with my own hands?” He tossed the fake jewelry at Stella and thundered, “The diamonds on this jewelry aren't even real. The gold is just metal painted with color and dust sparkles! Get out of this place. I didn't invite you to my birthday party. You came here to make a scene, isn't it?” Stella stared at the jewelry in a trance, her eyes blinking rapidly. Blake was also surprised that his wife's jewelry turned out fake. How did that happen? “Did you make a mistake, Dad? Maybe you accidentally swapped Heidi's fake jewelry with Stella's real one.” “Enough with your stupidity!” Grandpa Winston showed him Heidi's jewelry. “I was holding Heidi's jewelry in my right hand while I held your wife's fake one in my left!” And the whole crowd saw that. Stella's expression ashened as well as Blake's. The couple exc
“Let go.” Heidi's heart raced and she pushed at his chest. “You- How did you…?” She trailed off, her chest heaving up and down heavily from the sudden attack. “You found the real jewel thief. On your knees, now.” Heidi took in a deep breath, feeling gravely suffocated by his alarming presence. “Lucas Harrison, how did you swap the jewelry?” “Wasn't it easy?” Lucas said mockingly, and Heidi's mind wired back to the moment she stepped foot into the mansion. Lucas had appeared out of nowhere, pinned her against the wall the way he was doing now, and even made advances at her, while Heidi fought him relentlessly. That was the reason why she didn't appear at the birthday hall in time. Was that when he swapped the jewelry? Heidi didn't need to ask, because the answer was obvious. “How did you know it was Stella's doing?” “Maybe you should ask yourself what gave you the idea that I would steal the jewelry from you,” Lucas responded sarcastically. Heidi's guilt returned. Kn