Adam had it in mind that Charmine would turn his offer down, thus it surprised him at how she agreed to get in the car. Delighted, Adam briskly walked to the driver’s seat and started the car. Charmine reclined on the passenger’s seat languidly as she took out her phone and took a selfie, which she barely ever did. Tiffany, for 18 whole years, flaunted the love and attention their parents showered her with… At that moment, it was Charmine’s turn. She wanted Tiffany to taste every second of pain she had endured throughout the years. Hopefully, Tiffany could tank in the blows to come. Coincidently, a notification from the Jordans’ family chat popped up, and Charmine clicked it open to see Lily posting the photo taken during breakfast earlier. In the photo, Charmine was sitting on the opposite end of the long table and ate her steak while Joey placed more steaks on her plate. Lily wrote the following: [Let’s welcome Charmine home! This is our first family breakfast, and ther
“Will Charmine be able to manage the company? She’s only twenty-three, and she doesn’t have any experience working in the architecture industry.” “I share the same concern. Although she’s loaded, money doesn’t really get you anywhere in the industry. If we stay with her, and if the company loses money, we won’t get any dividend at the end of the year!” “I heard someone else managed her RisingHawk, that all she does is throw money to gain fame. It’s something only the nouveau riche would do!” “Exactly! She gave out houses when that’s the shareholders’ money. These were all the profits of the shareholders! She spends so much money and wasted all the profits!” “At least Tiffany majored in economics and also interned in the company from a small assistant. Charmine didn’t even go to college, but now she’s our Director just because she’s rich?” “That does it! Once she gets here, we’ll have to ask her properly. If she doesn’t convince us, we’ll make her return the seat to Senior Jor
Everyone in the meeting room glanced at the five documents with anticipation. It was apparent that Brandon came prepared. Those five diagrams were of the most difficult designs, so much so that even people like Senior Jordan could not point out the flaws in the documents until after they built the buildings. They only realized the problems when the buildings were on sale. These diagrams were almost perfect. How would Charmine be able to tell the problems? Charmine lowered her head as she disinterestedly eyed the diagrams and said, “The passage here is too long—it looks spacious when it actually takes up too much space. The clients would feel that it’s not worth the price after getting in there. “This property has four bedrooms and one living room. However, one room is merely nine square meters, too small to be a nursery or even a study room. “This design isn’t bad, but the bedroom door is facing the main road, and it’s a bad direction. “The master bedroom in this house is
Brandon scanned the plan intently, trying to find the flaw in it, but he had nothing even after looking back and forth. How…could it be? How was it possible for someone like him to not see a problem? Seeing that he did not speak, the rest of the people went over him to help out. However, each of them was more dumbfounded than the other… Unhurried, Charmine reclined on her seat and waited patiently. Brandon lost his patience about five minutes later, and he glared at Charmine. “Where did you get this floor plan from? What’s the problem with it?” “Can’t Director Jordan find the problems?” said Charmine questioningly. Brandon’s face morphed into bitter resentment as he could only say, “You better tell us a problem that’s convincing enough.” If not, she was merely trying to make them look bad. Everyone stared at Charmine and waited for her answer. A floor plan that even they could not find any problem in… How would Charmine be able to point out any major problem? She
Despite the scrutiny, Charmine remained unperturbed as she calmly spoke, “What else do you want?” Peter’s eyes landed on a woman dressed in a bright red suit. She was in her thirties and looked experienced and professional. “Charmine, right?” the woman began. “Hello, I’m the marketing director. As we all know, we’re now in an era that the actual products don’t mean as much without good marketing. There were lesser competitors back then, and those with outstanding products would succeed, but we’re seeing a change as more competitors emerge. Without a good marketing plan and unique strategy, it’ll be immensely difficult to stand out from the rest. Since everyone is doubting the Jordan Group now, do you have any marketing ideas that could save the company?” Although she asked in a rather humble tone, the rest would not approve of Charmine if she failed to provide her with a good strategy, Sheena was a woman of high standards. Determined to strive for perfection, she would never
Charmine turned out to be the Avex Group’s shareholder and owned half of the company! They heard that the Avex Group’s chairman started from nothing. He was an ordinary man who worked his way up to become a young entrepreneur. Nobody would have thought that Charmine was the one investing in him! The revelation made everyone bewildered. Everyone looked at Charmine with a completely different look. Charmine’s red lips curled up. Five years ago, she had considered every possibility that could happen, and she had done adequate preparations. By chance, when she met the Avex Group’s chairman, he was a final year student in college, broke as could be. In his search for investors, many had tricked him. Charmine decided to invest in him so that if anything happened to the Jordan Group, he would be able to help out. Well, the moment came that that favor would be put to good use, just in the nick of time as well! She glanced at everyone calmly. “Any more questions?” Any more quest
As night slowly approached, Tiffany briskly took off her windbreaker and picked up a small stone by the side to cut her hair with it. Rex held her hand in shock. “Ms. Tiffany, what are you doing?” “In a moment, you wear my clothes and run out. You have to distract everyone. Also, get in touch with people to wait for me by the pier,” ordered Tiffany as she cut her long hair. Tiffany had nurtured her hair for quite a few years, yet she had to cut them off. She had no choice… Truly no other choice left to take... Tiffany had to cut her losses. As long as someone waited for her at the pier to help her escape, however, she would be pleased! Therefore, one after another, she chopped off her long strands of hair by rubbing the stone. Swiftly after, she tied them in knots and turned them into a wig, handing it to Rex. “We’ll meet at Andros Island, and I’ll contact you. No matter what it takes, you must distract them tonight! I’ll reward you with ten million.” Rex’s eyes twinkled
Tiffany’s body ached as sharp pain was felt all over her being. Her hair was pulled so hard that her scalp bled. She glared at them wildly with reddened eyes. Why? Why did they do this to her?! She was forced to; Charmine had pushed her to a whole new extreme! Charmine lived in glory while she had to hide in a cave for a day and night. Was it not enough that villagers had to abuse her horribly? No! Suddenly, she grabbed a sharp metal from the ground and crazily attacked the crowd, growling, “I’m not a devilish woman! I’m not a witch! Get off me! All of you, get off me!” Tiffany swinging the sharp metal, attacking the people resulted in a few casualties as a few bled from her stabbings. They never thought a woman like her would have so much strength in her. As they were caught off guard, Tiffany ran toward the pier with the metal in her hands. She saw a boat parked by the pier. The boat was here to save her! She had to run over! She had to leave this hellhole, and
There was an unnoticeable glint in Sonia's eyes. She nestled herself further into Harry's arms as she added, "Let’s go to Pares. We'll come back after I give birth to the baby.""Alright."Harry stayed by Sonia's side as he watched over her, cared for her, and talked to her until she finally slept in his care.He stood up tiredly and walked out of the room to sit in the living room.Thuck!Something fell out of his pocket.He narrowed his eyes to the source of sound and spotted a USB.Since when did he have a USB in his pocket?With a small frown on his face, Harry curiously picked it up and noticed the front side of the USB glowing. Something was carved onto its surface, too.[Granger].Was it Dior’s USB? Why was her USB inside his pocket?Harry’s clear fingers held on the USB tightly. He thought for a moment before he took out a laptop, turned it on, and plugged in the USB.A moment later, the screen showed what seemed to be peculiar surveillance footage with a descriptio
Dior was still lost in her storm of thoughts when a shadowy figure zipped past her and ran toward Harry.When she spotted this familiar figure, she reacted quickly and held onto him."Let go of me!" growled Guy. "How dare he slap you and misunderstood you? I have to beat some sense into him!"Harry broke free and chased after Harry.Dior, despite having lost all hope and life in her, mustered the last strand of her will to chase after Guy and reeled him back. "Brother, don't," she muttered, "spare your energy…" Her sorrow clouded her eyes as she mumbled, "He’s the man I love. Even though he hates me, I won’t allow you to hurt him. As for the explanation…"Dior smiled ironically. "Whatever. That slap decimated every beautiful daydream I have about him, anyway."She no longer expected anything from him.He had no trust in her, so what would it matter if she finally got him? He did not even love her, and he did not trust her either.Dior smiled elegantly, but her eyes were fille
Dior looked forward to that new shift.She watched as Harry made his way into the restaurant silently, unable to deter her mind from the daydreams she had of him, of the new chapter of their story they would have.He would apologize to her, trying to redeem himself, and kiss her dearly as he embraced her. Later down the line, they would have a child of their own, too.Harry's long legs walked in strides, his dark gaze trained on Dior.The bright light shone on Dior’s delicately stunning face, and she also wore a red dress.He remembered her wearing this back in Mount Village.He could remember how alluring she looked back then, how they stayed in the same room, how she put down her ego to treat him with so much gentleness.Harry’s cold face mellowed down, but recalling a certain memory, the vague wistfulness in him vanished and he sat in front of her.Dior looked at him fondly, like she always would. "Long time no see."Her eyes burned brightly as if she wanted to drink in his
Dior examined the footage the moment she received it.True enough, it showed Sonia and George talking about their little deal. It also showed how Dior was telling the truth while they both ganged up on her.Dior’s frail heart felt as though it was rejuvenated once more, feeling as though blood was once more pumped into her heart. Her dull eyes devoid of hope regained their lost luster once more.Not thinking twice, she dialed Harry's number with this evidence, though he had to be busy, seeing as he did not pick up even after the phone rang for a long while.Just as she was about to hang up, Harry picked up the phone."What do you want?"On the other end of the call was the voice that she had missed for so long. His low, hoarse voice sounded so cold and emotionless.Hearing his voice brought Dior back to the image of his handsome face, and her heart skipped a beat.She tried her best to restrain her fluttering emotions as she tried to speak calmly, "Do you have time? I’d like to
At Mount Village…Inside the elegant bamboo house was Dior, dressed in a beige dress. She sat in the front yard as she took sips of her wine.The sunlight shone past the leaves and illuminated her, yet she exuded an air of loneliness.She swirled the glass and could not help recalling the moments she spent with Harry.In the beginning, she was attracted by his looks; he looked so gentle and elegant.She gave him money, kept him company, and continuously showed up around him in hopes of conquering him.Alas, she ended up in this state.The time she spent with him in Mount Village was the happiest time she had ever had. They had lived inside the bamboo house together, where he took care of her and claimed her to be his woman.They even laid inside the same room.Everything was so beautiful.Cursed was her luck, however, that it was just an illusion. He had been using her from the start, while he chose to stay with the woman who lied to him and even hurt him!No matter how mu
"Although Susan was unhappy, she should've voiced out her displeasure instead of bottling things. Cheating is wrong, regardless. Furthermore, if she wanted a career, she didn't have to stay home and depend on her husband."Grandma Bailey halted.Was that what Charmine truly thought of?Grandma Bailey thought Charmine would find Susan too aggressive unto herself.Charmine glanced at Susan again and apathetically commented, "She doesn't want to make money on her own, but she wants to be rich while complaining about her man not making time for her and taking care of her? If a woman has no ability of her own and also blames others for her miseries, all she's worth is to sit quietly at home and wait for her husband to come home. She also has no right to cheat! This is how the world works."Charmine patted Grandma Bailey’s shoulder and held Anthony’s hand, her words met with everyone's evidently surprised gazes and their silence.Grandma Bailey was shocked. Sure, Charmine sounded rathe
The colossal cruise started to drift away from the pier.Eric stood on the cruise and let the wind blow at him, loneliness and hatred still oozing from his being.He stared at the blue ocean ahead of him as Charmine's words rang in his mind unceasingly.'Will you really feel good after you've killed them?''You saw Susan suffering from a serious wound; would you still kill the one sibling you have left in the world?'"Forgive them and yourself.'Deliberating everything carefully, his lips curled into a bitter smile.It was true, after all, that Charmine understood him the most.Eric poured himself another drink and downed it with loneliness as he allowed the cruise to bring him wherever it would take him.…Susan was still inside the operating room when Charmine and the rest of the Baileys rushed into the hospital.Darryl stood before the room, his expression blank, his figure lonely and helpless.So many things had happened in half a day.He found out about his wife's inf
"No one's stopping you now. Eat!"Anthony clenched his hands tightly and took another glance at Charmine. He was more determined than before, and he was close to eating the pills in the bottle.Charmine, who was held hostage, gradually opened her eyes at that moment. Her gaze drifted toward Eric before she asked, her tone challenging, "Will you really feel good after you've killed them? You saw Susan suffering from a serious wound; would you still kill the one sibling you have left in the world?"Eric halted, and his eyes darkened.Charmine had just woken up, yet what she said…He cast a cold glance at Charmine. "It's my business, and it has nothing to do with you!"They were his family, and he did not want a family like this!Charmine looked squarely at him. "Eric, I don’t care if you used me or plotted against me all these years; I've treated you like a true friend, nothing more nor less. You were the only person who stayed by my side in the past five years, so I hope that you
Anthony's breath hitched when he saw Charmine.He clenched his fists and, without doubting himself, relented "I can agree to your terms, so let her go right away. This has nothing to do with her; you only hate me after all. As long as you let her go, I'll take the pill. Everything will end right away."Susan shook her head. "We'll die after eating the pill. I’m not taking that!"She had just reunited with Eric, and she did not want to die yet. She looked at Eric and begged, "Please let Anthony be, why don't you? He’s your brother, after all, and he doesn’t even know about your existence. If you’re really angry, just kill Charmine, and I'll make it up to you—"Anthony's expression contorted in sheer fury upon hearing Susan's plea, and he glared at her with murderous intent."This was all your fault, so what right do you have to make Charmine take your blame?!""What on earth are you going on about?" snapped Grandma Bailey. "Charmine has been kidnapped because of you, yet you want