Willow was displeased."Wilson, we're family, and you've never given me such an expensive gift," she complained.Wilson narrowed his eyes slightly. "You've never asked me for one," he replied calmly.Willow said, "Well, I'm asking now! Give me something valuable too, will you? Wilson, the way you spend money is so dashing. From today onward, you're officially my favorite person in the family!"Wilson's expression remained nonchalant. "Your flattery is too fake. It's sycophantic."Willow was speechless. His standards were ridiculously high.Lauren grinned and leaned closer, throwing an arm around Willow's shoulders. "You won't make it. You've been a pampered girl for too long. You'll never master my level of bootlicking. Don't worry, though. I'll teach you my tricks someday."Wilson's gaze shifted to Serena. "What about you, Ms. Judd?" he asked.Serena lifted her beautiful eyes. "Hm?" she murmured."Aren't you going to ask me for something?" he questioned."No need," Serena an
Aaron smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes, real estate is our main business. However, the industry has hit a bottleneck in recent years. The economic environment hasn't been great, and things have been going downhill. It's been tough."Wilson didn't respond to his words.He merely gave a faint acknowledgment, resting one hand against his head while scrolling through his phone with the other. Aaron was left standing awkwardly to the side, feeling an invisible pressure.Earlier, Wilson had seemed warm and approachable when he was around Serena and the others. It had given the impression that he was easy to get along with.Now, Aaron realized Wilson had never been easy to approach.In the kitchen, Serena and the others had finished preparing the barbecue. They carried out a small tabletop grill along with plates of marinated meats, vegetables and sauces.Since Serena was injured and couldn't eat anything too spicy, they had prepared a mix of mild and spicy options to suit everyone's tas
After the barbecue, everyone eagerly pitched in to clean up. They washed the dishes, tidied up Serena's small apartment, and had everything spotless in no time. Aaron even rolled up his sleeves and helped wipe down the table.The only one who stayed seated was Wilson. He casually leaned back in his chair, watching the stock market trends on his phone.Willow muttered, "Wilson's something else. He couldn't even make an effort in front of Serena. How could he just sit there like a king while everyone else cleans? He's completely oblivious."Lauren immediately fired back, "You don't get it, do you? Mr. Quade is busy. He's managing multimillion-dollar deals, and you want him to mop the floor? I think you're the one who's clueless."Willow laughed wryly. "Seriously? A watch is all it takes to win you over? You're his little lackey now."Lauren grinned. "Hey, not just anyone gets to be Mr. Quade's lackey. If I can, it's because I earned it."Willow rolled her eyes.The apartment was s
Candice's smile froze the moment she stepped into the office and saw the scene inside."Ms. Ashton, you're here too," Jessica said, looking smugly at Candice. "Mr. Farrow didn't have lunch today, so I personally prepared something for him."Candice walked in calmly. "What a coincidence, Justin. I brought you some homemade food, too," she said, placing her thermal food container on the table and casually sliding Jessica's thermal food container to the side."Ms. Hayes, you can keep that for yourself," Candice said with a forced smile. Her gaze lingered on Justin, and she waited for his response.Justin set his spoon down slowly and said, "Ms. Hayes, take it away.""Alright," Jessica replied before leaving in frustration.A triumphant smirk flashed across Candice's face as she watched Jessica leave, but when she turned back to Justin, she quickly reverted to her sweet, demure expression."Justin, try my cooking," she coaxed softly.Justin didn't respond. He simply picked up a spo
Candice asked, "Justin, why did you stop eating?""You don't need to bring me food anymore," Justin said, setting down his spoon. "You should focus on your own things. Didn't you already settle on opening a bakery? How's that going?""I've been keeping an eye on it," Candice replied quickly. The shop is brand new, so I took it over directly. The franchise has also been finalized and should open in a few days."Justin raised an eyebrow. "That fast?""Of course, mainly because of your support. With the funding in place, everything's moving quickly," Candice replied, leaning in to grab his arm.Then, she asked, "Justin, if the bakery opens in three days, can you come? I'm a bit nervous about handling it alone."Justin glanced at his schedule and noted that he was free that day. "Sure," he said.…That night, Nocturna experienced a heavy downpour. After the rain, the temperature dropped by several degrees.While out buying groceries, Serena heard the faint sound of a cat meowing f
Wilson raised his brows slightly. "Are you close with Serena?"Sebastian suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. "Not really, but she might need something.""Answer it," Wilson instructed.Sebastian had no choice but to accept the call. After a few polite exchanges, he said, "I'm not sure about this, Ms. Judd; Mr. Quade is right here. Perhaps you should ask him directly."Serena agreed, "Alright."Wilson looked mildly surprised. Since she was looking for him, he couldn't help but wonder why she had called Sebastian instead.Wilson reached over and took the phone.Yvonne anxiously spoke up, "Wilson, I—"Wilson shot her a glance.His usually lazy eyes suddenly turned cold, a sharp, icy gleam in them, making Yvonne fall silent. By the time she recovered, Wilson had already stepped onto the terrace with the phone in hand."Ms. Judd, is there something you need from me?"Serena's gentle voice came through. "Yes, I just wanted to ask—Mr. Quade, are you allergic to cats?"Wilson replied,
Wilson remained unmoved."What are you all standing there for? Escort Ms. Jenkins out."The bodyguards immediately stepped in, swiftly escorting Yvonne out of the office.It wasn't until she was back in her Porsche that Yvonne regained some of her composure. She shakily took out her phone and dialed a number.As soon as the call connected, Yvonne couldn't hold back her anger. "Simon, your son is in trouble! Shawn's been kidnapped by that wicked Wilson! Do you know that?"Simon's voice was surprisingly calm. "Wilson has already informed me about this."Yvonne was taken aback. "You knew?""This is Shawn's fault. He took Wilson's people for no reason and still has yet to learn his lesson. How do you think Wilson feels about that?" Simon replied. "Why did he have to provoke Wilson of all people? Now, Wilson's going to send him off to Westeros, and there's nothing I can do about it!"Yvonne shouted in frustration, "Are you seriously saying that? He's your son!"Simon was also angry
The doctor recommended Serena take a week off to rest due to her injuries. With no work to go to, she quickly found herself feeling unusually idle. On the first day, Willow also took a day off and spent it with her, feeding Bingo and cooking. For the next two days, Serena stayed at home binge-watching TV shows.When Lauren found out, she immediately rushed over, eager to drag Serena out for a shopping spree.Serena was puzzled. "Aren't you working?"Lauren smirked, clearly in control. "I requested time off. If that Stupidron refuses, I'll—"Serena raised an eyebrow. "What will you do?"Lauren leaned in close and whispered something in her ear. Serena blushed slightly."Does that really make him burn with desire?" Serena asked."You don't get it. Once a man has tasted it, he'll only think with his lower half," Lauren said, adopting a worldly tone. "If he can't get what he wants, it's worse than killing him. It's pure torture!""Are all men like that?" Serena asked skeptically.
"You broke up with her?" Serena asked.Justin hesitated for a moment before saying yes. Technically, it wasn't a complete breakup yet, but it would be soon.His eyes glistened as he added, "Serena, Candice is no longer in the picture. Come back to me. We'll be just like we were before. Nothing has changed."Serena, however, remained unmoved. "But I don't want to," she said.Justin froze.Serena's expression was cold. "I used to think you were my whole world, but after leaving you, I realized I could live without you. In fact, I'm living a better life without you.""I don't believe it. You loved me so much. How could you let go so easily?" Justin asked."In the beginning, it hurt," Serena admitted. "But now, it's nothing. I got used to it."She chuckled, "Habit is a strange thing. I could get used to loving you, but I can also get used to not loving you."Her calm expression made Justin uneasy.Suddenly, he grabbed her arm and stepped closer. "Love is a feeling on its own. It's
The atmosphere felt unfamiliar to Serena. It almost felt like they were a family.Wilson suddenly asked, "Your cooking skills are impressive. Did you hone them while you were with Justin?"Serena blinked in surprise. "Well... I guess you could say that. He's quite picky, and if something's even slightly off, he won't eat it. Mr. Quade, why are you asking me this all of a sudden?"Indeed, why did he? He was just torturing himself. He became slightly annoyed. "I'm just curious. Is that such a crime?" Wilson asked.Serena was rendered speechless. Why was he angry again?While they ate, Bingo crouched nearby, peering out from under the couch. It seemed to want some food but was too shy to come closer.Wilson threw a piece of beef in its direction. The piece was too large, and the kitten struggled to bite into it. Its efforts were surprisingly adorable.But to his surprise, Bingo swiped the beef out of his hand, nudged his sleeve with its paw, and trotted over to Serena.Wilson was a
When Serena returned to the office, she found Wilson leaning against her desk with a cup of coffee in hand. There was a wide smile on his face."Ms. Judd, welcome back."Serena was speechless. What had gotten into him?"Mr. Quade, are you not angry anymore?""When was I ever angry?" Wilson took a sip of his coffee. "Mrs. Zeller just called me. She couldn't stop praising you and even invited us to her place. She said we should visit whenever we have the chance."From the way she was talking, it almost seemed like she wanted to adopt you as a daughter. Ms. Judd, I didn't know you were so good at winning people over," Wilson said.Serena responded, "I didn't do much. Mrs. Zeller is just a kind person.""This project should be a done deal now. What reward do you want?"Wilson then shook his finger. "Don't refuse. I've always been clear about rewarding and punishing. You've helped me secure such a big contract, so I should reward you."Serena thought for a moment. "Right now, I can
Jessica walked out with a pale face.Justin's expression was dark. He was in a bad mood.Serena had been there too? Had she come to secure this project for Wilson? The thought only deepened his frustration.Candice, observing the scene, couldn't suppress a small smile. She had never liked Jessica. She was just an employee here, yet her ambitions were sky-high, daring to set her sights on Justin!Turning her head, Candice noticed Justin was looking at her. She quickly adjusted her expression and smiled gently. "Justin, did you call me over today for something important?""Yes." Justin took a moment to calm his nerves, then lit a cigarette."The villa is yours now. I'll also cover the expenses for the cake shop. Additionally, I'll transfer two million dollars to your account."Hearing this, Candice immediately felt something was off. "Justin, why are you suddenly—""Consider it a breakup fee." Justin's voice remained cold and detached. "From today on, we have nothing more to do w
The mere thought of the possibility filled Jessica with dread.Seeing her distress, Carla immediately noticed something was amiss. Her smile gradually faded."Ms. Hayes, I have no further business today. You can leave now." It was a clear dismissal.Jessica stumbled over her words. "Carla, this is all a misunderstanding... Please don't tell Mr. Farrow. I'm young, and if Mr. Farrow finds out, he won't forgive me…""Leave. Whatever happens between you and Mr. Farrow is none of my concern."Jessica bit her lip. Feeling awkward, she turned to leave.As she reached the staircase, she glanced over at the surveillance camera. Her eyes widened in shock when she realized something was amiss."Wait... this camera isn't even switched on!"Carla responded coldly, "There are so many cameras in the house, and I'm not used to them. Unless we have many guests, they usually stay off."Jessica immediately turned around, her gaze filled with disbelief as she looked at Serena.Serena simply smil
Serena asked, "Could you still think Carla would prefer you over me?"Jessica was left speechless. Deep down, she knew that Carla favored Serena more. "This isn't over yet. You're celebrating too early."Serena sighed softly. "As a senior, I thought I'd share some career advice. There's a reason why you lost to me today, aside from not being as skilled as I am."Unable to resist, Jessica said, "What?""You've misjudged your own position," Serena spoke slowly. "It's true that you came here with something to ask for, but you also represent Farrow Corporation. "You should maintain your dignity, neither overly humble nor servile. If you continuously lower your stance to please others, people will only look down on you more. Today, you acted like a household staff—cooking and serving Carla. Have you forgotten your role?"In the business world, Justin was even more successful than Charles, and Charles had to flatter Justin. However, Jessica had reduced herself to nothing more than a s
Footsteps echoed from the staircase.Carla, dressed in a gray bodycon dress, gracefully descended.Jessica immediately rose. "Mrs. Zeller.""Serena?" Carla walked directly toward Serena instead. "It's been a while. "I was wondering why Mr. Farrow changed his assistant... I heard you resigned?""Yes, I'm now working at Quade Group," Serena replied.Jessica's smile faltered slightly when she saw how familiar Carla was with Serena. "Mrs. Zeller, do you know Ms. Judd?""Yes. My husband often played golf with Mr. Farrow. Over time, I became acquainted with Serena."Carla patted Serena's hand. "You came at the right time. I have something I can't quite decide on."Still holding Serena's hand, she led Serena upstairs. After walking a few steps, she glanced at Jessica. "Ms. Hayes, why don't you come along too?"The three of them ascended to the second floor, where Carla pointed to two vases in front of her. "Which vase should I use for this entrance area?"Jessica rushed to speak u
Desiree couldn't tolerate another woman stepping into Wilson's world. Even she hadn't been allowed to stay at his place.Serena noticed Desiree's subtle shift in demeanor.Not wanting to get entangled in their matters, she explained politely, "Ms. Stone, Mr. Smith called me last night to pick up Mr. Quade. After I dropped him off, it was difficult to hail a cab near his place, so I had no choice but to stay in the guest room for the night."Desiree's expression finally softened a little. "I'd like to have a word with Wilson alone. You can head inside now," she said.Serena sensibly excused herself. Desiree tugged on Wilson's sleeve. "Wilson, I spoke with my father, and he agreed to let me stay at the Nocturna branch. From now on, we'll be able to see each other more often.""That sounds good," he replied half-heartedly. "You don't seem happy about it.""I'm happy," Wilson said, slipping one hand casually into his pant pocket. "Having another friend nearby is always a good thing
Perhaps it was exhaustion from the night before, but Serena slept through several alarms and didn't wake up until after nine.Startled, she leaped out of bed, hurriedly washed up, and rushed downstairs. Wilson sat leisurely in the spacious living room on the couch, one leg crossed over the other. He seemed to have been waiting for someone.When he saw her, he glanced at his watch. "Still a few minutes to half past nine. No problem. We won't be late if we can get to the company within five minutes."Serena flushed in embarrassment. "Sorry, I overslept.""I thought I'd wake up to the smell of a delicious breakfast prepared by you, Ms. Judd. But instead, the kitchen was as silent as a tomb. You were sleeping so soundly; I didn't have the heart to disturb you."Wilson wore an expression of mock regret. "Truly, I must be the most cowardly CEO in existence."Serena, already accustomed to his sarcastic jabs, remained calm."Well then, Mr. Quade, would you like breakfast first, or sho