Charmine thought that things would be alright so long as she dragged out the time, but as she stared at the confident Anthony, she felt as though she had somehow fallen into his trap. Would she end up marrying him anyway if he did as promised, fixing everything with Annabel in half a month’s time? This all seemed too sudden… “Can I take back my words?” “You’ve said it yourself, so you’ll have to keep it.” Anthony’s lips curled up, watching her dumbfounded face. Charmine was stunned silent. Whatever. They could negotiate on the matter when the time came. If he could fix everything within half a month, well… It was not a bad thing, no. She did not dwell on it any longer as she turned to walk inside the room. Suddenly, she remembered that Chris was still inside the wardrobe! Instantly, she walked over and opened the wardrobe door. Inside the wardrobe, Chris had already turned around and changed his sleeping position. He was curled up, hugging a pillar inside the wardro
Just as Charmine was about to remove his hands, Anthony reassured in his low voice, “Don’t worry, it’s only for a while. Only one hour.” His low voice was strangely sad and pitiable. After halting for a second, Charmine did not remove his hands and allowed his hands on her—they had not met since they parted yesterday, after all. She did not know whether they would meet tomorrow, so she allowed him to hug her as he pleased. Anthony’s hug was very comforting. He exuded a sense of calmness that made her feel safe. Perhaps she was too worked up during the day, but knowing that she had set an alarm, Charmine allowed herself to drift off gradually. Anthony, on the other hand, could not get some shuteye. With Charmine in his arms, his eyes were heavy and dark. Last night, he could not fall asleep without her. When the sun came out, he had to leave again. Why was it so difficult to be with her officially? Oh, Charmine! He really did not know what to do with her… He played wi
Later that morning... Charmine arrived at the Jordan Group building and held a morning briefing, delegating tasks needed to be done. Their most important task of the day was to recruit those staff who left. However, those staff lived on their wages and thus were scared of unforeseen risks. They feared they would not receive their wages or anything similar to that nature happening to the Jordan Group again, such as bankruptcy or internal conflicts. Charmine had to discuss a strategy with the human resource team to tackle that matter. At that moment, Charmine received a text from Kay. [Kay: Boss Jordan, Nial is doing the DNA test on the top floor of Royal Hospital. Would you like to have a look?] The four Uncles and Kay hoped for Charmine to go so she could get over Anthony. Anthony had a child with another woman. Why would Charmine still insist on staying with him? Charmine was at a loss for a good while, and it was only after a moment she texted, [I’m busy. I’m not
When McKenzie saw a figure leaving the hospital, she thought of something and took out her phone to text, [If the Walker family wants to get back on their feet, do me a favor. I can make the Baileys stop attacking the Walkers.] … At the Jordan Group building. Charmine was alone in her office for a very long while, her thoughts rumbling like a storm. It was then she heard a knock on the door, followed by the voice of her assistant that said, “Director Jordan, it’s time to attend the press conference at the hotel. You’re about to announce the deal with Avex Company.” They had invited many reporters in hopes of shifting the situation to their favor. Otherwise, the longer the properties around the country were left empty, the harder they were to be sold out. Collecting her thoughts and herself, Charmine kept her phone before she walked out of the office. She busied herself with work to distract herself… That was the only way she could stop thinking about the matters with Antho
Charmine swept her eyes over the flaming-red car and said, “This car is a one-year-old, and the two front tires aren’t aligned as it’s probably driven at great speed. It won’t be long until it’ll have problems driving in a straight line or changing direction. According to the current market price, this car is worth three million max, but I’ll offer you eight million. Are you sure you’re not selling?” Eight million? Tristan’s eyes darkened. Was this woman that rich that she was bold enough to make such a pricey offer? However… “Unfortunately, my name is Tristan Walker, and I’m not short of cash. I do lack a pretty woman sitting in my car, though. Why don’t you come in? I’ll give you three seconds to consider.” Tristan placed his hands on the steering wheel as he spoke. Before he started to countdown, Charmine already stretched out her long leg, turned, and went into the car. If he was unwilling to sell, there was no point arguing with him. It was better to do it quickly.
Topics were too extra and unnecessary. With the reporters and everyone else still silent, Charmine calmly continued, “Avex Company will fully support the Jordan Group’s return. As the Jordan family’s heiress, I’ll do my best to help the Jordan Group. As for the future plans of the Jordan Group, we’re planning to…” Professionally, Charmine presented briefly, speaking about her financial capability, funding, connections, as well as the Jordan family’s future development. Though Charmine looked as though she was a beautiful yet empty vase, her knowledge was so in-depth as she used numerous architecture terminologies that stumped the reporters. The crowd eventually broke out into thunderous applause. Charmine convinced them all. Charmine deserved to be the Jordan Group’s director! Furthermore, everyone believed the Jordan Group would regain its stance under Charmine’s leadership. Charmine sat at the small table and placed the microphone in front of her. She had a new sense
Charmine did not want to hear any more of those. She spoke to the bodyguards in a low voice and marched away quickly.The bodyguards formed a man-wall to block the reporters so she could leave. Leaving through Impiana Hotel’s backdoor, Charmine got to a quiet alley; empty with no one around. Charmine put on her shades, but just as she was about to leave, a few women walked past her coincidently as they talked about an article in their phones. “Wow, look at Annabel… I really like her! I’ve decided to become a fan of hers!” “I really like her as well! Look at how she wears plain and simple clothing when she’s farming. She has so much callus on her hands and a simple outlook. She looks like a farmer, nowhere pretentious at all.” “The Bailey Corporation’s official account rewarded her with a million bucks, and she’d get five hundred thousand worth of commission! I’m so envious! Jealous, I tell you! “Not only that, but I also heard Annabel was signed by a high-ranking officer a
Charmine was confused. Tristan continued, “Shocking, eh? An amazing man like me happened to have an ex? She even rented the entire restaurant to celebrate her second anniversary! “I made a reservation for one at Vineman Restaurant a week ago, but they called me earlier to have me cancel my reservation? Hah, what a joke! How dare they cancel on me!” He was initially on his way to Vineman Restaurant, but when he saw Charmine on his way there, he came up with the thought of bringing her on a date. “How childish…” scoffed Charmine at his explanation. “How’s that childish? They bullied me for being single! Why can’t I bring an amazing new girlfriend to feel better? I’m Tristan, and I have three things: money, time, and temper. I’m too bored and I want to watch drama. Ain’t that splendid?” Tristan’s lips curled into an impish grin as he spoke. Charmine was stunned. Ah, yet another wealthy, spoiled man. Tristan pulled over not far away from Vineman Restaurant before turnin
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