At the banquet, I used the slight influence of alcohol to project an image of boldness and strength. I stood at the center of the stage, confidently discussing the present and future of Jones Corporation.Over the years, Douglas had not been idle. Of the 24 shareholders, some were still holding on a
I pressed my hand against Nicholas's shoulder, unable to suppress a sneer. "Mr. Hawk, you really are everywhere, always showing up uninvited like you've mastered the art.""Where I want to go, no one can stop me."As he spoke, his gaze traveled from the top of my head to my feet, lingering in a part
I ran out and bumped right into Pete, who had been searching for me. He steadied me, his gaze drifting over my head to glance behind me. I subtly glanced back, relieved not to see Nicholas anywhere.Pete clenched his fist behind his back. His voice was deep as he asked, "Did you see him?"I knew I c
"Ariana Jones! Do you even realize what you're saying?"For the first time, Pete yelled my full name. His face contorted, unable to hold back his emotions any longer. He grabbed my shoulders tightly and shook me. "Did Nicholas say something to you? Did that bastard threaten you!""No, he didn't...
The banquet wasn't over yet, so Nicholas still hadn't left.He found a quiet corner to pour himself a drink, although it wasn't clear what he was waiting for. I clearly didn't need him, and I even slapped him.His hand paused mid-air as the glass hovered near his lips. For a moment, he seemed lost,
Pete's fury skyrocketed the moment Nicholas raised his fist to strike him. He forcefully shoved Nicholas off and hurled himself on top of him. He used all his weight to pin Nicholas to the ground.In an instant, the tables turned. Pete looked down at Nicholas, a sneer spreading across his face."Nic
As the elevator doors opened, a lone figure in black sat motionless in the middle of the open space. Nicholas had his arms wrapped around his knees, his head buried deep.If it were anyone else, I might have assumed they were crying. But Nicholas wasn't the kind of man to shed tears over a fight.Pe
I ended up not attending Christopher's wife's birthday party after all.As soon as my car pulled into an empty spot and came to a halt, someone swiftly grabbed me by the waist and shoved me into a black SUV parked nearby. The movements were so smooth and practiced. If I hadn't seen Nicholas's dark
The ambulance arrived swiftly, its flashing red warning lights casting Yasmine's pale face in an even starker hue.She got into the ambulance with Leo, while Nicholas and I drove together to the hospital.Nicholas sighed regretfully, "I arranged everything as quickly as I could, but I was still a bi
The crowd was gripped by terror, some clutching their heads and scattering in panic. Seeing the commotion, the bodyguards fired two shots into the ceiling.Nelson, emboldened, began to struggle fiercely, and Leo started losing control of him.Despite his injuries, Leo gritted his teeth, snatched the
I could hardly believe it—something even Neal couldn't achieve, Nicholas managed effortlessly. The evidence against Nelson was laid bare for everyone to see.I stared coldly at Nelson, already envisioning his inevitable downfall.It turned out that beyond his flesh trade, he had also ventured into t
The auction hall's large screen flickered, casting an unsettling light and filling the room with a sense of dread. The once-curious crowd now stared wide-eyed, frightened by Claudia's eerie smile and the sinister laughter echoing from the speakers.Nicholas spread his coat wide and wrapped me tightl
Nelson stumbled to the front of the stage, grabbed the microphone from the host, and shouted loudly, "Today's auction is canceled! Canceled!"Nicholas stood up calmly and said, "Since there was a bid, and my bid complies with the rules, this land is already mine! There's no justification for canceli
The auctioneer initially thought starting the bid at zero would ignite a frenzy in the auction room, given that this was a plot of land worth over 100 million dollars.But the moment he announced the starting price, the entire venue fell into an eerie silence.With Nicholas present, no one dared to
On our way back, Leo was still standing beside Yasmine. When he saw us approaching, he surprisingly nodded at both me and Nicholas—a rare acknowledgment.I frowned and glared at him. He had upset Yasmine again! I had expected Nicholas to ignore him entirely, but to my surprise, he nodded back sligh
Dressed in a black coat, the hem of Nicholas' garment billowed as he took a long stride forward.He walked toward me, his dark eyes seeming to hold an infinite power. At the moment our gazes met, a sense of calm washed over me.Only Nicholas made me truly think of this word. He was my calm, but he w
"Yasmine, check the brooch. Claudia will probably reveal my photos in the second half," I said.Yasmine had worn a sunflower brooch on her outfit today, equipped with a portable recording device to capture the events at the scene.She nodded with a serious expression. "Don't worry. It's all set."Sh