Beatriz observed Luca’s expression, unable to discern his emotions, and immediately continued her probing. "Forget that for now. I'm here today to discuss whether we should change Ezra's school. I’m worried about him being in the same kindergarten as Vanessa's child."
With a loud ‘bang,’ Luca slammed the folder shut, a flash of anger flickering in his eyes. "Get out." Meeting his gaze, a chill spread through Beatriz's heart. She remained still and continued, "Vanessa and Daxton are not good people. How can their child be any better? I heard that she even got into fights with other kids in kindergarten, and I..." "Have you said enough?" "This is the truth! Five years ago, she betrayed you and slept with Daxton, colluding to deceive you. These..." Luca's dangerous gaze wrapped around Beatriz like a snake, his thin lips parting slightly. "Get lost." Realizing that Luca was genuinely angry, Beatriz smartly chose to leave, secretly breathing a sigh of relief. Although she had angered Luca, she at least knew that the thorn in his heart remained, unable to be erased. With this, she felt reassured. However, Vanessa was in Beatriz's eyes, plotting and calculating. She was more than willing to continue the unfinished business from five years ago. Only Luca remained in the office. He pinched the bridge of his nose, pushing aside all the chaotic thoughts. The secretary entered with a pile of documents and hesitated upon seeing his fatigued expression. "Mr. Kensington, regarding the bidding conference this afternoon..." "Proceed as usual." The secretary nodded, "I just received news this morning. In addition to the usual competitors, there’s a formidable opponent this time." Handing the documents to Luca, he continued, "This company has strong capabilities overseas. The owner is a foreigner who has always intended to develop in the domestic market. They recently established a branch, and the owner is Miss Saxon." Luca paused for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. "Proceed as usual." "Understood." Meanwhile, Vanessa was busy preparing the bidding materials to hand over to her assistant. "It's almost time. Go prepare the car." "Okay." At one o'clock in the afternoon, cars from various companies began to arrive at the X Business Building as scheduled. Vanessa and her assistant arrived early. They noticed that other companies were represented by vice presidents accompanied by relevant personnel, a group of ten or so, looking imposing and unstoppable. In contrast, Vanessa's group consisted of just the company owner and a secretary, exuding an aura of being out of place. Everyone else was greeting each other, but Vanessa’s surroundings felt cold and desolate. "I didn’t expect our company to be so low-profile," Vanessa remarked with some emotion. "It’s not just low-profile; it’s completely unknown, boss. Look at their expressions—thirty percent smile, seventy percent mockery," the assistant grumbled, handing Vanessa a glass of champagne. "They really have no vision." Vanessa chuckled lightly, her gaze falling on a familiar figure not far away. Beatriz Langley, representing Ness Corp to participate. A surge of hatred crossed Vanessa's face as she tightened her grip on the glass in her hand. Beatriz also glanced over, sending a provocative look in Vanessa's direction. Vanessa raised her glass, a smile curving at the corners of her lips as she returned the gesture with the same smile. At 1:30 PM, it was time to enter. Vanessa was assigned to the left side of the front row. Once everyone settled in, they realized that a no-name small company had managed to take a seat above them? Focusing on the prepared materials, unfriendly remarks drifted into her ears. "How come I've never heard of this company?" "I heard it’s a newly established small company. The people here are quite young; they’re probably just here to gain some experience." "I’m afraid they won’t even be able to speak up later." Laughter followed from the crowd. Vanessa cast a cold glance at the speaker, her smile remaining on her face but not reaching her eyes. With her red lips parting, her tone was calm yet firm: "If you don’t conduct prior research on opponents you’re unfamiliar with, then if I were your boss, I would have fired you on the spot for such a blunder." The few individuals who spoke were relatively high-ranking within their company. Being publicly reprimanded by Vanessa, their faces turned a mix of red and black, and just as they were about to retaliate, the door to the conference room was pushed open. The clients had arrived. The entire room fell silent as the head of the advertising department began to announce the bidding rules and the order of presentations. Beatriz stood up, her face lit with a confident smile, as if she had already secured victory, and walked up to the podium. After a round of discussion, applause erupted in the hall. Enjoying the praise, Beatriz looked towards Vanessa with a smirk and said, "This time, Ness Corp is collaborating with the K Group, and we have the most robust resources and experience, which cannot be compared to those small, lesser-known companies. Having a little self-awareness would do them good—especially those who don’t know their limits and still try to take on big projects. ." Her words were pointed, drawing the crowd’s attention to Vanessa, who faced their derisive gazes. Vanessa raised her eyelids to look at Beatriz and smiled. "I remember there’s a gazebo the locals are reluctant to tear down. It can’t be forcibly demolished, so renovation is the only option. Yet, in your so-called plan, it hasn't been mentioned at all, has it?" Just as Beatriz opened her mouth to explain, Vanessa didn’t give her the chance. "Ness Corp and K Group’s design aims to establish a commercial district. Setting aside the fact that the proposal has a short-lived, plastic aesthetic, don’t you think a gazebo would feel completely out of place in a modern architectural setting?" Beatriz kept her smile but said nothing. "I assumed Ness Corp would’ve conducted a field investigation, but I didn’t expect such a basic oversight." ***Catching the hint of sarcasm in Vanessa’s tone, Beatriz's eyes flickered with anger."Well, I’m quite looking forward to seeing what President Saxon can come up with that’s better than Ness’s proposal."Her tone seemed calm, but internally, Beatriz was burning with rage."Next, please."Vanessa prepared her materials, stood up, and walked to the front."Let me introduce myself, I'm Vanessa Saxon from Cortex Group." She pulled up her PowerPoint presentation and continued, "Everyone, please take a look. This is the design draft we created after our company conducted a field investigation..."Before she could finish, she was interrupted: "I thought President Saxon's design draft would be something fresh. There's nothing innovative at all; it’s overly complicated. If we proceed with your proposal, it will be costly without any appealing features. Isn’t that just a facade?"Vanessa smiled slightly, "But compared to other companies, we place greater emphasis on the building's value retentio
Luca was startled to realize that Vanessa’s strength was comparable to his own staminaThe car was parked not far away, but the people behind were closing in. In the heat of the moment, Luca gave Vanessa a push. “Go start the car.” “Got it!” Vanessa sprinted towards the car like the wind, fishing the keys out of her pocket as she ran. Meanwhile, Luca spun around, raised his right fist, and swung his arm. The first attacker groaned in pain, stumbling back a step. Following his gaze, Luca saw another man charging from the side, brandishing a club. Unfazed, he took a calm step back, slammed a punch into the man’s gut, then kicked him hard in the groin. In less than a minute, two out of seven were down. “Oh wow, not bad at all, huh?” The remaining attackers, undeterred, swarmed Luca in unison. Even though two fists couldn’t match the power of many ha
At 1 a.m., the two of them crossed paths at the stairwell. Mariah casually waved the slip of paper in her hand, glancing around her surroundings. “So, you knew my place was bugged?” Vanessa gave a slight nod. “You went through all this trouble. What do you want to say?” “There might be issues in the stock market,” Vanessa replied calmly. Mariah remained silent, her sharp eyes studying her closely. “Evidence?” Vanessa spread her hands. “None. I only pieced it together on my way back today. Your company announced two major projects at the press conference, but neither of them succeeded in development. Doesn’t that sound like a stock manipulation scheme? If you check the data, you’ll see VH’s stock has been surging and is likely to keep climbing.” Mariah stood still, her gaze locked on her, as though trying to decipher her true intentions. “This information,” she said coolly,
*Morning News*"...Reports have surfaced about a significant financial gap in VH Group. Just recently, the company was promoting a new project. But is VH Group truly thriving as it appears on the surface, or has it already become an empty shell?" "Now, let's connect with our reporter on the scene..." ‘Click.’Vanessa turned off the TV and stretched lazily before heading toward the bathroom to wash up.When breakfast was ready, Isla emerged from her room, rubbing her sleepy eyes. The little girl, wearing a white nightgown, whined softly, "Mommy... I’m hungry."Vanessa walked over, scooped her up, and smiled. “Come eat. Do you want to go somewhere fun afterward?”Since returning to the country, Vanessa had been busy with work and rarely found time to spend with Isla. Now, she wanted to make it up to her whi
“I am looking for you.” Luca glanced at her coldly, then accelerated the car, as if venting his emotions. In the backseat, Isla was frightened and tightly nestled in Vanessa’s arms. “Mr. Kensington, there’s a child in the car. Please drive safely,” she said, furrowing her brows and holding Isla close, her tone carrying a hint of anger. Only then did Luca glance back at Isla and gradually reduce his speed. “Let’s talk.” Seeing how scared Isla was, Vanessa didn’t want to spend another second with him. “We have nothing to discuss.” “Are you sure?” He teased her, adding, “Don’t you want to talk about Mariah or her?” Vanessa tightened her hold on Isla and exclaimed, “Isla is my child; she has nothing to do with you!” “Vanessa, you’re still the same as you were five years ago.” “What do you mean?” Vanessa tensed, her heart racing. Did she inadvertently reveal that Isla was his c
Beatriz was taken aback and quickly pushed her away, retreating as she said, “What are you talking about? I don’t understand!” Vanessa gave a slight cold smile. “Since you don’t understand, I won’t bother explaining further,” she said, preparing to roll up the window and drive away. Halfway through, she suddenly remembered something and added, “By the way, I believe you know that both our companies successfully entered the second round of the bidding. See you then.” With a casual smile and bright eyes, she rolled up the window and drove away. Left behind, Beatriz stomped her feet in anger. “This is what you’ve forced me into, Vanessa!” With hatred in her eyes, she had originally just wanted to keep Vanessa away from Luca, perhaps letting her off the hook, but now it seemed this woman couldn’t be spared! ...HM Group’s President Office.“Is the recent news about VH your doing?” The short, plump man gl
Vanessa walked over, carrying the prepared dishes and waved her hand, saying, “It’s good that you’re awake; come and eat!” “Mommy, is there the braised beans I love the most tonight?” Vanessa lifted her onto the child seat and smiled, “Yes, yes, yes, you little eater!” At the dinner table, Mariah appeared somewhat reserved, making the mother and daughter both notice her demeanor. “Sister, my mommy told me to call you auntie, but I think you’re so pretty you shouldn’t be called that,” Isla said sweetly, offering Mariah a piece of braised bean. “Can I call you sister?” Mariah was taken aback and blushed at the sight of the braised bean. “Um, sure.” “Yay! Then what is your name?” “Mariah.” “Hello, Sister Mariah!” “Hello,” Mariah replied, returning the gesture by giving her a piece of braised bean and asking, “What’s your name?” Isla looked at Vanes
The Next Day.*Morning News*“Late last night, a car accident occurred on X Road. According to witnesses, the accident was caused by brake failure, and the injured driver is identified as Vanessa Saxon, the president of Cortex Group. A bystander who provided video footage reported that the driver fell into a coma and is currently undergoing emergency treatment in the hospital...”Luca was shocked. After confirming that the injured party was indeed Vanessa, he postponed the morning meeting just to visit her at the hospital. His assistant looked helplessly at the pile of work left behind and muttered, “If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have acted like this.”At the hospital, Luca inquired and found himself in the corridor outside the emergency room. The area was filled with cries and the chaotic sounds of families and doctors discussing cases, making it uncomfortable for him.At the end of the corridor, he saw a familiar figure and a brigh
Ever since Senna passed away, three years had gone by. With the powerful Voss family as her backing, Astrid had been thriving in the entertainment industry, securing endorsement deals left and right. Her commercial value had skyrocketed, and now, she was the one choosing others, not the other way around.She had believed that she would seize the Best Actress award at the ceremony, adding another glorious achievement to her career. But to her shock, not only did she lose the award, she didn’t even receive a consolation prize."This is infuriating! Zara is just a rookie—how dare she compete with me?" In her office, Astrid smoked impatiently, growing angrier by the second. The more she thought about it, the more irritable she became. Frustration overtook her, and she swept everything off her desk, leaving a chaotic mess on the floor."Astrid!" Her assistant rushed in with a stack of documents, her face pale and tense.
Sitting inside the car, she stared at the rapidly passing scenery outside. Her fist, resting on her lap, tightened once more as her thoughts churned.The driver, trying to make conversation, said, "Miss Skye, Mr. Voss treats you very well. This is his personal car—no other woman has ever ridden in it before."Zara scoffed. "Just now, Assistant Edric was still saying that your young master deeply loves Senna Thorne. Yet the first day he saw me, he knocked me out and dragged me home, and now he’s letting me ride in his exclusive car. So much for his 'deep love.' Nothing but a cheap lie."The driver had no words to counter her and could only continue driving in silence.The rest of the journey passed without a word. When Zara finally got home, she rushed straight to the bathroom and vomited violently over the sink.At that moment, a pale, slender male hand gently patted her back. A soft sigh sounded behind her."Why put yourself thr
Watching Magnus’s face darken, Astrid was secretly delighted. She sobbed even harder, tears streaming down as she pleaded, “Magnus, you’re my brother-in-law, you have to stand up for me…”Zara fanned the flames from the side, smirking. “Look how miserable she looks, crying like that. You really need to stand up for her, or people will say you’re an unkind brother-in-law, just standing by while outsiders bully your sister…”She suddenly stopped mid-sentence.Magnus had stepped in front of her and, without warning, grabbed her hand. His grip was firm and domineering, completely overpowering her struggles. No matter how much she tried to wrench her hand away, she couldn’t break free. She glared at him, her anger surging—if he was really standing up for Astrid, she would tear him apart.“Magnus…” Astrid watched as Magnus held Zara’s hand tightly. Though tears streamed down her face, her heart was filled with twisted delight. She was screaming in
Upon entering the dining room, she was stunned by the lavish spread before her—an extravagant feast fit for royalty. Her lips twitched—rich people’s world was something she would never understand. This was considered a ‘simple meal’?!She casually picked a seat and was just about to sit down when a maid beside her immediately spoke up in alarm, “Miss Skye, you can’t sit there…”“Oh? I can’t?” Zara looked up at Magnus, blinking innocently. “Then where should I sit?”“Step back,” Magnus cast a cold glance at the maid before his lips curved into a gentle smile. “That seat is meant for you. No one else is qualified to sit there.”“What’s so special about this seat?” Zara raised an eyebrow as she sat down.“You’re hungry, so just eat.” Magnus didn’t answer her question. Instead, he picked up the cutlery and handed them to her before using the serving spoon to place a portion of crab roe into her plate.“I can do it myself. Don’t serve me food. I
Seeing the man in the wheelchair, still exuding an undeniable aura of dominance, Zara paused for a moment before smiling. "Mr. Voss, I must say, I'm truly flattered."Magnus maneuvered his wheelchair closer, his deep, piercing black eyes locked onto her face, as radiant as the moon surrounded by stars. "You look very much like my ex-wife. When I see you, it's as if I'm seeing her again. I want you to stay by my side. I can give you anything you desire."Zara's expression darkened slightly as she arched a brow, her tone turning cold. "And what do you take me for? A mere substitute to fill your emptiness?"The bodyguard beside him spoke emotionlessly, issuing a veiled warning. "Miss Skye, you work in this industry—you should know our boss’s influence. He decides who rises and who gets blacklisted with just a snap of his fingers.""Magnus Voss, do you really think you can control everything?" Zara shot him a sharp, defiant glance. "
The moment to reveal the Best Actress award had finally arrived. Before the host could even announce the name, the audience erupted into chants of "Zara," growing louder with each passing second.Astrid gripped the arms of her chair in anticipation. The moment the name was announced, she would stand up immediately—there was no way Zara, a mere newcomer with just one film, could overshadow her.This prestigious award, presented once every three years, was hers to claim. More importantly, it was being handed out by Magnus himself—an unprecedented honor. She was determined to seize it.The host glanced at the name in the envelope, his eyes lighting up before he declared loudly, “The Best Actress award goes to Zara Skye!”The audience erupted into thunderous applause and cheers, chanting Zara’s name over and over.Astrid felt as if she had been slapped across the face. Her cheeks burned as she shook her head in disbelief. “Impossible! How
Astrid nervously watched the doctor, silently praying. Magnus must be okay—if something happened to him, everything she had done would be for nothing.The doctor’s expression was grave as he said, “Mr. Voss’ injuries are severe. We’ve done everything we can; the rest is up to fate.”The old master was struck as if by lightning. His cane fell to the ground with a loud thud. His body trembled violently, and the color drained from his face.“Master!” The butler quickly supported him, his voice anxious. “Young Master will be fine, please don’t worry too much.”The doctor glanced at the old master hesitantly before saying, “There’s… one more thing.”The butler shot him a warning look and quickly intervened. “Whatever it is, it can wait.” Couldn’t he see that the old master had already suffered enough?“Let him speak. I can handle it.” The old master’s voice was firm.The doctor sighed and said apologetically, “Mr. Vo
The road was a chaotic scene as a world-class luxury car sped recklessly, weaving through traffic at a breakneck pace. Other vehicles swerved desperately to avoid a collision, honking frantically in alarm.Magnus's chiseled face was shrouded in grief, his deep-set eyes drowning in sorrow. His heart felt hollow, as if someone had carved it out, leaving behind only emptiness. His slender fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly, while his foot pressed mercilessly against the accelerator, pushing it to the limit.The car was practically flying.Dark clouds gathered, obscuring the sky, and a fierce wind howled through the streets. Pedestrians hurried along, shielding themselves from the incoming storm.A discarded newspaper was suddenly lifted by the wind, slamming against the windshield, momentarily blinding him. A sharp honk blared ahead—a massive truck was making a turn.By the time he reacted, it was too late. His speed was
“What did you just say?” The emotions Magnus had been suppressing finally erupted. He suddenly reached out and grabbed the doctor by the throat, his chiseled yet icy face filled with murderous intent as he roared furiously, “You’re lying! She won’t die! Who allowed this?!”“Ugh…” The doctor, exhausted from hours of surgery, struggled as his throat was constricted. He gasped for air, his eyes rolling back.What a terrifying man! Everyone around was stunned, quickly rushing forward to rescue the doctor.“Mr. Voss, let go!” Edric, who had just arrived, pushed through the crowd and grabbed Magnus’s arm, trying to pry his fingers open.But Magnus, unwilling to accept reality, possessed an inhuman strength. No one could move him an inch. His bloodshot eyes burned with fury, as if they could set the world on fire.“Mr. Voss, stop!” Seeing that the doctor was on the verge of suffocation, Edric spotted a chair in the corner, grabbed it, and slammed it hard