It was evident that everyone looked exhausted. Henry didn’t want to summon them at such an early hour, but given the circumstances, he was left with no choice.In the conference room, Javier looked a lot more serious than usual. He scanned the surroundings quietly, noting how everyone kept quiet with their heads bowed. Then, he started speaking in a soft tone.“Who’s in charge of the ‘Love Strategy’ cast?”One of the higher-ups’ complexions became as white as a sheet the moment Javier’s question fell. He replied nervously, “I’m in charge of the cast, Mr. Marquez. However, we agreed to use one of our celebrities as a cast member at first, but for some reason, the production crew suddenly decided to switch to another person. We also didn’t expect that development to happen.”Javier narrowed his eyes slightly as he gazed at the higher-up. However, it seemed like he was addressing everyone at the same time.“So, you allowed the incident to continue festering. Do you know what the publ
Claire finally came up with an excuse to convince Clement that she had to leave right away.As usual, whatever she feared the most would come true. Just as Claire was about to walk out of the main exit, someone suddenly called out to her from behind in a perplexed tone.“Claire?”Claire froze in her tracks out of habit. She could easily discern the speaker’s identity just by his voice, but she could only grit her teeth and walk out of the exit briskly without daring to stop.When Carlyle noticed the woman trying to flee from him, he was even more sure she was Claire. He chased after her without even thinking.He was shouting very loudly at her as he ran. “Claire, wait up! I know you’re Claire!”Even though there were many people around them, they were all engaged in their own businesses, so they didn’t notice Claire’s antics.When Claire noticed Carlyle was about to catch up, she felt cold sweat forming. Left without a choice, she could only take a sharp turn and duck into a vac
The first thing Claire did after arriving home that evening was to open up her computer and look up the movie “Love Strategy.”She had been swamped over the last few days, so she hadn’t had time to deal with these trivial matters.However, after her conversation with Carlyle today, she had a feeling that the matter wasn’t that simple.She didn’t know exactly what had happened, so she had to look it up on the Internet.She immediately noticed the problem.“Love Strategy” was already publicized, with Carlyle and another actress from his company as the leads.Claire paid some attention to the timing of the announcement. It was around when Carlyle’s PR team was working on getting him back on the silver screen after his scandal.However, when the auditions started, the producer insisted on having one of Harley Jensen’s actresses as the lead.The details of what caused the crew to break their contract and change their lead were unknown to Claire, but she was certain that this had a negative
Claire didn’t know why and couldn’t do anything about it.She was staring at the message so intently that she didn’t realize that Ollie was calling her.Ollie called louder when she ignored him the first time, grabbing her hand. “Mommy, what are you doing?”Claire came back to her senses and glanced at the time. It was getting late. “Sorry, Ollie, I was a little out of it just now,” she said apologetically. “Let’s get you to school.”She picked up her coat and got ready to head out with Ollie.At that moment, Charles came down. His hair was damp, like he had just finished showering.His casual outfit made him look more easygoing than he actually was. The dangerous glint in his eye was still there, though.Claire was a little taken aback to see him like this. “Are you not going to work today?” she asked instinctively. “Why are you dressed like that?”By now, Charles was used to Claire’s taunts. He had stopped wanting to murder her for being rude to him. Instead, he laughed. “I was plann
As the cigarette in his hand fizzled out, Charles’ eyes flashed a strange light. He flicked away the cigarette butt and looked at Claire.She couldn’t understand the emotions in his eyes. “I don’t know who’s the spy. Or should I say, I don’t know what’s their motive.”His lack of concern made Claire even more determined to stick her nose into this matter. “How can you not know?” she demanded with an air of righteousness. “A spy is a spy. They can’t have good intentions for you either way! How did you even manage to get your company to where it is today with that attitude?”Nuvola Palace would have folded ten times over if this was how he was running things. Charles laughed dismissively. “You look like you’re interested in this. Why don’t you find the spy for me? I’ll thank you greatly.”Claire was interested. “Really? How would you thank me?”Charles shook his head. “I’ll tell you when you find the spy. Don’t worry. I won’t disappoint you.”Claire didn’t bother to continue pressing h
“You should take care of yourself,” Harley added.Claire glanced at the employee and touched her face worriedly. “You’re right. I’ve been working on a new project for the company, which will take me on a business trip.”“Isn’t that a good thing?” Another colleague, who had been present the day before, immediately joined the conversation. “I heard that you’re getting some good pay for this project,” she said, feigning curiosity. “It may be a little tiring, but the pay makes it worth it, doesn’t it?”Claire sighed. “You don’t know the half of it. Yeah, I get money, but the job’s intense. I’d have quit long ago if it weren’t for the pay.”“Really? There’s really something even you can’t settle?” Another man joined in.Claire gave him a subtle look. “Hey, Harley, I didn’t see you here. I thought you’d be busy with the filming of ‘Love Strategy.’”“Yeah, I am,” Harley said, laughing awkwardly. “Sorry to bother you, Ms. Wiess. I’d just taken over ‘Love Strategy,’ so I’m still fresh. Lately,
Harley knew that Hattie had a new mission for him.Hattie thought for a moment. “Do you know where that artist lives?”Harvey recalled their conversation from earlier and nodded. “Yeah, Claire told me. She said he lives in a distinctive bungalow on the city’s outskirts.”“Good. You need to trail Hugh Bjorn over the next few days to collect evidence, which will make the news believable. Of course, if you can find anything better, that’d be great.”Hattie was incredibly proud of her plan. Once she got hold of the evidence, the artist’s career would be ruined.Harley agreed to do as she said. Then, remembering something, he frowned. “Boss, what if Hugh’s father and Stardust Entertainment find out we’re behind this? What should I do then?”“Don’t worry. I’ll deal with that when it happens. I’ll pay you what you’re owed and even reward you on top of that. However, if you dare to expose me when you’re caught, you’re done for.”Harvey’s parents were being held as hostages in the hospital. He
Claire thought that she had treated her employees well enough. Why would anyone plot against them?Harley refused to speak. Claire couldn’t do anything about him.Claire raised her eyebrows. One of her assistants brought her a feather as the ones holding Harvey lifted his arms.She went up to Harvey with the feather and began tickling him. Harvey couldn’t continue to keep his silence at that. He began laughing. Even though he struggled and tried to stop Claire, the people holding him up did not let him move. "Stop, please!"Claire did not stop. She just picked up her pace. "Tell me why you're slandering our company. If you don’t tell me the truth, I’ll keep tickling you until you can’t take it anymore.""I… Hahaha! I won’t…! I’m not telling you!" Harvey spluttered through his laughter. "I won’t tell you no matter what you do to me!"He didn’t expect Claire to interrogate him by tickling him. He had been ready for some intense interrogation, but this wasn’t it.In the end, seeing that
Hattie looked extremely sincere in her pleading. However, when Sofia did not answer or even look at her, she began to lose confidence. Sofia's face was impassive. "Hattie, I've known you since you were a baby, but I can't help you with this. Please leave." She did not want to discuss the other stuff with her yet.However, Hattie was obstinate. She looked at her with tears in her eyes. "Aunt Sofia, please, please help me. I know it's not much trouble for you, but it can save our entire family. You've always been so kind to me. I promise that the Snyder family will repay you for your kindness!"Hearing this, Sofia felt uncomfortable. She raised her head and gazed at her coldly. "In this case, Hattie, I'll tell you why I won't help you," she said impatiently. "Do you really not know what you've done? I won't say it, but I know exactly what you've done to Ollie. You deserve everything that's happening to you now."Hattie widened her eyes, partly in shock and partly in disbelief when she h
Javier paused outside the door and waited until Claire left before giving his subordinates a look. They understood perfectly and grabbed Chantelle at once.As Javier had ordered, they were to send this woman abroad as far away as possible and leave her to fend for herself.Outside the hotel, Claire looked up at the sky blankly. She felt like a huge burden had been taken off her shoulders; for the first time in a long time, she felt relieved of all the hurt that she had suffered five years ago. Turning back, she told Javier, "Thank you, Javier, for allowing me to face my fears. I feel so relieved now."Javier's expression fell when he heard her thank him. He tapped her on the nose fondly in exasperation. "What are you talking about? Of course, I won't let those who hurt you get off so easily. They have to pay for what they have done."Claire was touched to see him so protective of her. A surge of warmness spread in her chest as she gazed at him fondly. "I'm lucky to have you, Javier."T
That was all Armand could think of.In just a few minutes, Chantelle admitted to everything she had done to Claire over the past few years.From drugging Claire out of jealousy and getting a stranger to assault her to getting Liam to banish her abroad, she admitted to everything. Claire knew some of them, but not all; only now did she know the extent of her crimes.When she was finished, everyone in the room sported conflicting expressions. Liam looked especially hurt and remorseful. It turned out that his younger daughter had always been evil, and he had wrongfully blamed Claire for all these years.Armand, on the other hand, didn't know how to feel about all this. He glanced at Claire and Javier. He felt that he really didn't deserve Claire, after all he had done. He had thought Chantelle to be kind and naive and had trusted her blindly to the point that he almost married her.Thank goodness the wedding didn't happen. Even so, he had lost Claire thanks to this. It made him regret eve
If Chantelle told Claire the truth about what happened that night, then there would be nothing stopping her from having a happily-ever-after with Javier.Back then, driven by jealousy, she had drugged Claire and put her in Javier's bed without their consent. She had planned all of this out herself meticulously. She had gotten Armand to catch Claire in the act so that he would call off the engagement and be with her instead. Liam banished Claire abroad to fend for herself. However, if she had known that the random stranger she had arranged to assault Claire was Javier, she never would've done it.Even so, it was a perfect plan worthy of a blockbuster film. Claire and Javier never found out the truth, nor did they know that Ollie was actually Javier's son.It took them two years of skirting around each other only to find out that they were meant to be in the first place. Now that the truth was out, Claire would not settle for prison as a punishment for the cause of all her suffering. Sh
After a lot of persuasion, Claire and Sofia finally managed to get Ollie to agree to stay in the hospital for another three days.Of course, three days weren't enough. Sofia and Pedro tried everything they could to convince Ollie to stay in the hospital for as long as possible.However, Ollie was smart enough to see through their ruse. He felt guilty when he saw them trying to cajole him into staying, so one day, after another attempt, he spoke up hesitantly, "Grandma, Grandpa, I'm glad that you're trying to keep me happy, and I'm touched that you're concerned about me, but I've been in the hospital for too long and it's making me sad. I promise that I'll listen to the doctor even when I'm at home, okay?" Under his bright, clear gaze, Sofia's protests died in her throat, leaving only exasperation and wordless sorrow.Ollie was too mature for his age. How could they not love him?Therefore, Ollie got his wish and was discharged three days later. In order to take care of Ollie, Sofia an
Hearing this, Javier narrowed his eyes. He felt like he was on the verge of grasping something, but the feeling passed too quickly for him to register it. Softening his tone, he said, "There's no need to be scared, Ollie. We're all right here with you. We'll protect you no matter what happens. Can you tell me what you remembered?"Ollie might have regained his memories from before he'd been drugged.Buoyed by the encouragement, Ollie thought hard for a moment and said with a frown, "I … I remember a lady beating me. She locked me up and didn't let me eat anything while saying bad things about me and Mommy all the time. I wanted to fight back, but I was too weak. After I tried to run, she caught me and beat me up some more and forced me to eat food off the floor." Toward the end of this, Ollie burst into tears.Claire's heart hurt for him. She wanted to hug him, but Javier got there first."Tell me, Ollie, do you know her name?" Javier's voice was thick with tears as well. "Do you remem
With that, Henry threw a glance at the rest of the employees and hurried them out. He also dragged Raina and Thomas out with him, leaving only Claire and Javier's parents to keep him company.Since it was only a small procedure for Javier, he did not get a lot of anesthesia. He tried to wriggle his body a little. Realizing what he was doing, Claire quickly helped him sit up.Javier did not look like he had just come out of surgery. Thanks to his strong physique, he looked fine.Seeing this, Sofia finally eased up a little on her worries. "How are you feeling, Javier?"Javier shook his head. "I'm fine, Mom. I just need some rest. How about Ollie? Did they say when he'll wake up?" He already knew that the surgery was a success, so he wanted to know when he would be able to see Ollie."Randy said that Ollie will be out for some time, but he's fine," Claire replied. Javier nodded. He, too, finally eased up on the tight knot of worry that was weighing his chest.Once he was sure that Javie
The surgery took three hours.As time went by, Claire got more and more anxious. However, there was nothing she could do but wait.In the end, Sofia was the first to crack. She went up to Claire and said anxiously, "Claire, are you sure that Dr. Xenos is good? It's been three hours, why aren't they out yet? I have a bad feeling about this."Claire wasn't exactly relaxed either, but she didn't show it. She gathered her thoughts and comforted Sofia. "Everything will be fine, Mrs. Marquez. Randy is a well-known surgeon, I'm sure he knows what he's doing. Don't worry." She wanted to reach out to comfort her, but in the end, she just sat there with an awkward expression. This was probably how their relationship would be in the foreseeable future—awkward and distant.Pedro watched their interaction with an air of knowingness. "Stop crying, Sofia," he said. "They're fine, you don't have to cry about them. Claire's still pregnant, don't upset her."Sofia was about to get angry about his admoni
At that, Javier narrowed his eyes dangerously.The Weiss family wasn't in a stable condition right now, so it wouldn't be hard for him to take revenge on Claire's behalf. Now that he knew the truth of what had happened, he had to find a way to punish the perpetrators.The news that Ollie was Javier's biological son quickly spread, especially after Sofia held a party in celebration. In fact, it made headlines the day before Ollie's scheduled surgery.Javier wasn't surprised about it. He had been looking for an opportunity to announce it to the public so that there wouldn't be unsightly rumors that would affect Claire. Claire, on the other hand, felt a little uncomfortable about the announcement. After all, she had always been a private person; she didn't want anyone to disturb her peaceful life.After a while, though, she got used to it.The most important contributor to this was that it benefited Ollie. From now on, he wasn't a fatherless child anymore. He could tell anyone who would l