Upon receiving the response, Vanessa felt a bit disappointed, but at least the other party hadn’t outright rejected her, which made her feel there was still a chance to negotiate.
“Alright, I hope Mr. Aamon will reconsider. I’ll take my leave for now.”
After leaving Mr. Aamon's office, Vanessa met with several other executives, but received the same reply from each of them.
Back at Cortex, she sat down and closed her eyes for a moment to rest.
After a day of running around, she was utterly exhausted.
When Luca arrived, her assistant stopped him at the door. “Mr. Kensington, Miss Saxon is resting right now and isn’t available to meet. Would you like to wait in the reception area?”
Upon hearing this, Luca furrowed his brow and asked worriedly, “Is she unwell again?”
‘Ness Corp, a well-known company in the capital, is suspected of defrauding consumers, as the quality of their products has significantly declined, raising concerns among customers about the materials used in their products.’ Just a few days after the delivery, Ness Corp found itself in the news due to quality issues.The efficacy of the products was something only industry insiders could truly assess. Beatriz had hoped to weather this materials crisis by delivering on time, but she never expected that someone would seize the opportunity to expose their problems.As more and more customers reported obvious defects in the products they received, and some even conducted experiments to verify their suspicions, it became apparent that Ness Corp might be involved in consumer fraud. The company was thrown into chaos.All morning, Beatriz wore a gloomy e
After confirming that the person seated before her was Vanessa, whom she despised to the core, Beatriz exclaimed sharply, “Vanessa, how dare you be here? This is the board meeting of Ness Corp; who gave you the audacity to sit here as an outsider?!”Beatriz’s emotions were running high, her tone involuntarily rising, and her voice slightly trembling.“I am a shareholder of Ness Corp, so why shouldn't I be here for the board meeting?” Vanessa replied fearlessly, locking eyes with Beatriz.Compared to Beatriz, Vanessa appeared remarkably calm.Hearing this, Beatriz remained skeptical and turned to her assistant, whispering, “Is what she said true?”The assistant nodded but dared not meet Beatriz’s gaze.“Why are you only mentioning something so important now?” Beatriz’s voice carried an unmistakable edge of anger.The assistant lowered her head even further.The ot
“This is a list of some projects currently managed by our project department, along with their respective leaders. You can take a look.”Luca glanced over it, and finding it satisfactory, he replied, “Can I take this back to review? Of course, if possible, it would be great if I could also borrow the project materials to look at.”“Of course.” Beatriz handed over a stack of documents without hesitation.With the materials in hand, Luca felt he had achieved the purpose of his visit and didn’t want to linger a moment longer. “Then I’ll take my leave, President Langley.”“Wait a moment,” Beatriz called out hurriedly as she saw Luca about to leave. “Luca, don’t you have anything you want to say to me? Ezra has been missing you a lot these days.”Thinking of Ezra softened Luca’s heart momentarily, but he quickly reminded himself that this was just Beatriz&rsq
Hearing this, Luca’s face paled slightly, and his thoughts were pulled back to the past…“I actually didn’t hate you. I mean, back five years ago.” Luca hesitated, unsure how to convey his feelings to Vanessa so that she would believe him.Five years ago, when he learned that he was about to marry Vanessa, Luca felt a sense of resistance. He knew that Vanessa liked him, but at that time, he didn’t have any feelings for her.Luca disliked the feeling of being controlled by others. He initially didn’t want this arranged marriage and even transferred his frustration onto Vanessa.However, it seemed that Vanessa didn’t notice his aversion. She continued to revolve around him every day.Seeing the pampered young lady, who had never touched the kitchen before, learn to cook for him, burning her hands and hiding them behind her back in fear of him noticing, Luca had to admit that, from that moment on, his h
“Really?” Mariah’s interest was piqued. The actor Leonardo Blue was her perfect idol—talented and skilled, it was as if heaven had blessed him with a career.“I wouldn’t joke about this. Recently, at an event, I happened to be a guest alongside him. Since you mentioned before that he’s your idol, I casually asked him for an autographed photo for you. When are you free? I can give it to you,” Cassandra said.Hearing that she could get an autographed photo of her idol, Mariah felt her spirits lift, sweeping away the earlier gloom. She quickly replied, “I’m free tonight. How about we grab dinner?”“Great! It’s a deal. I’ll send you the location later.”The two quickly settled on a time and place to meet.Cassandra’s sudden call to Mariah wasn’t coincidental; it was actually a request from Luca.Luca had been keeping an eye on Vanessa&rsqu
Not knowing if Cassandra had understood, Mariah adjusted her face and said earnestly, “Cassandra, don’t misunderstand. I was just trying to help you out. I really don’t like girls!”At that moment, Cassandra's intoxication caught up with her, and she could hardly hear what Mariah was saying before she drowsily fell asleep.Watching Cassandra sleep in her arms, Mariah found the situation both amusing and exasperating. She could only call a car to take her home.The next morning, Cassandra woke up with a terrible headache, groggily sitting up while holding her head, piecing together the fragmented memories of the night before.‘Did I really kiss Mariah last night? Oh no, she can’t seriously think I like girls, or that I have feelings for her, can she?’Realizing what she had done, Cassandra tightly wra
Luca was taken aback. “What’s so uncomfortable about that?”As soon as he finished speaking, Vanessa shot him an eye-roll, silencing him instantly.Luca replied awkwardly, “Well… I still have to attend the meeting. I’ll try my best not to look at you.”Vanessa wasn’t sure how much ‘trying’ that meant, as Luca continued to stare at her throughout the meeting.Vanessa could only do her best to ignore the intense gaze, focusing on the meeting materials instead. However, due to her nerves, she stumbled over her words a few times while speaking, leaving her feeling flustered, but there was nothing she could do about Luca.Meanwhile, Mariah and Cassandra arrived at the agreed location.In front of the elegant Japanese restaurant, a young man in a suit had been waiting f
Vanessa's private elevator had some issues, so she ended up sharing the same elevator with the staff. She didn’t expect to overhear such explosive content and perked up her ears to listen closely to the conversation between two employees in front of her.“Ah, come on, it’s hard to define something like this,” one said hesitantly.Hearing the doubt in the other’s voice, the first person got anxious. “How could I possibly be mistaken? It’s that actress who has been coming to our company often. I bumped into her at a restaurant once, and the way they interacted felt overly intimate.”“No wonder Mariah is cold toward every man. There were a few guys in our department who wanted to pursue her, but she outright rejected them,” the other employee replied.Finally grasping the situation, Vanessa felt a bit surprised.Recently, Cassandra had been coming here frequently. Coupled with what she
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
In his office, Magnus had just picked up his coffee when a sharp, searing pain tore through his chest. His hand trembled, and with a loud crash, the cup slipped from his grasp, shattering on the floor. Coffee splattered onto his shoes."Sir are you alright?" Edric, the stern-faced assistant with cold eyes, quickly stepped forward, took out a tissue, crouched beside him, and meticulously wiped the coffee stain off his shoe."I'm fine. Step back." Magnus withdrew his foot, his sharp brows furrowing. Why did his chest suddenly ache? The unease clawed at his heart like a ferocious beast, making him restless. He paused for a moment before ordering, "Prepare the car. We're going to the prison district."Edric's eyes flickered as he hesitated. "Sir the last time you visited Miss Thorne, the Old Master was already displeased.""Enough nonsense. Hurry up!" Magnus’s chiseled face darkened, his tone commanding.Edric cast him a wary glance
Hearing the commotion, a nurse rushed in. When she saw Senna struggling violently, her wrists bloody, she immediately shouted, "Senna, calm down! If you keep this up, you'll have a miscarriage!"Senna froze. Her bloodshot eyes widened as she stared at the nurse. Her voice, hoarse like an old man at death’s door, trembled. "What... did you just say?""You were unconscious when you were admitted. The doctors discovered you’re already four weeks pregnant," the nurse said with sympathy. "Given your current situation, many would choose to terminate the pregnancy."Senna looked down at her still-flat stomach, unable to process the news.Astrid's eyes darkened as she clenched her fists. Then she sneered. "Senna, you really couldn’t stay lonely, huh? It’s been less than three months since you broke up with Magnus, and you’ve already gotten knocked up by another man. How shameless. When Magnus finds out, he’ll be so glad he left
No matter how much Senna denied the charges, she was ultimately convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.She shared a cell with seven other female inmates. The moment she stepped inside, she could feel the hostility thick in the air. As the cell door slammed shut behind her, a woman with a hideous scar on her face led the others toward her, their eyes filled with malice, their lips curling into sinister smirks.Senna gripped the washbasin in her hands tightly, her expression unshaken by fear. She stood tall, her spine straight, exuding defiance.“So, you’re Senna Thorne. Someone paid us to give you a warm welcome.” The scarred woman sneered before turning to the others. “Ladies, we’ve got ourselves a new toy. Don’t hold back—beat her!”Senna had braced herself for this before she even walked in, but she hadn’t expected Magnus’s hatred to run so deep. Sending her to prison wasn’t en
Senna sat in the detention cell, waiting for her sentencing. She had given up struggling—Magnus was convinced she was the murderer. There was no escape. Now, the only thing she cared about was Tobias. The door swung open, and a uniformed female officer called out, “Senna Thorne, someone’s here to see you.” Who would visit her at a time like this? She stood up hesitantly and followed the officer out. The moment she saw who it was, her heart clenched. Her voice trembled with urgency. “Nurse Zeta, what happened to my brother?” Nurse Zeta was the one taking care of her younger brother at the hospital. The solemn expression on her face made Senna’s anxiety spike. “Miss Thorne, your brother found out about your situation online. He’s devastated, and his condition has become unstable. He’s now experiencing complications. We had finally found a bone marrow donor, but for the past few days, we haven’t been able to reach them. Things aren’t looking good.” Senna f
The torrential rain poured down in sheets, and the raging thunder seemed determined to tear apart the pitch-black night sky.Magnus Voss stood by the window, his dark eyes as cold as if they had been submerged in ice water. His long fingers gripped a glass of blood-red wine, his knuckles turning white—silent evidence of the fury simmering inside him.“Sir, Mrs. Voss has been standing outside for three hours,” Edric, his cautious assistant, reported in a low voice from behind him.Through the storm, he watched her—frail and trembling yet still holding onto her stubborn pride. Without a word, he tilted his head back and drained his glass.With a sharp crash, the glass shattered against the floor. In the heavy silence that followed, the steady sound of his footsteps echoed.Senna tilted her head up, letting the freezing rain drench her pallid face. Her misty eyes blurred, indistinguishable between raindrops and tears.A
Three days later, the police finally announced the final verdict on Beatriz's case: death penalty.Both the public and Vanessa felt no surprise at the outcome. Even though Beatriz had hired the best lawyers, her crimes were beyond redemption, carrying multiple murder charges and various other offenses. There was no hope for her to turn things around.On the day of Beatriz’s sentencing, Vanessa and Luca did not attend the proceedings due to business commitments. Only William and Leonardo went, bringing with them Mariah’s hopes. Although Cassandra wanted to come as well, her schedule had already been set and could not be changed.When William and Leonardo later relayed the news to the others, it felt as though the frustration that had been lodged in their throats for days had finally dissipated.That evening, upon hearing the news, Luca stared at a photograph of Grandpa Kensington for a long time, murmuring softly.To comfort his grandfather's spirit, Luca decided to hold a solemn funera
As Isla warmed Luca’s hands, she looked at Vanessa with a serious expression and said, “Mommy, Daddy has been sitting outside for a long time, and his hands are freezing. Can we let him come in and warm up a bit?”Upon hearing this, Luca was so moved he almost cried. His little girl was truly a sweetheart, always so considerate at critical moments.Vanessa didn’t want to waste time with these two drama queens any longer and quickly stepped aside to let them in.They ended up staying like this for several days.News about Beatriz had spread wildly online; the entire business community was aware of her ruthlessness, marking her as someone without precedent.The police had already uncovered a series of murder cases connected to Beatriz, with the cases of Grandpa Kensington and Mariah being solidly linked to her. As for President Pako's incident, Beatriz was a