Laura could only offer an awkward smile. "I… I shouldn't use work hours for personal matters. I still have an article from yesterday to finish." She turned on her computer and acted as if she were fully engrossed in her work. Her colleagues whispered among themselves, wondering why someone who had snagged Simon, a lawyer earning tens of millions a year, would still care so much about a job paying only a few thousand a month. She was definitely just putting on a show!The editor-in-chief quickly pulled her aside. "You don't need to work on those basic articles anymore. Let Britney handle them from now on. Laura, let's be honest. How have I treated you? Wasn't I always on your side when Doreen bullied you?" Laura replied awkwardly, "Not… Not really?" The editor-in-chief cleared his throat to cover his embarrassment. "Well, at least you can admit I mentored you, right? Now that our news department is in a critical situation, don't you think it's time for you to step up?" L
Laura thought Simon would finally agree to see her if she went alone this time. However, she realized that his words from the night before were not mere talk upon arriving. Simon did not want to see her even if she came to him now. The receptionist apologized. "Ms. Scott, Mr. Moore has instructed us not to accept any appointments from you in the future. Please don't make things difficult for us. Perhaps it's best if you go back." Laura wished the ground would swallow her whole. To the receptionist, she probably appeared as nothing more than a shameless, clingy woman who refused to let go. Just then, her editor-in-chief sent her a message. "Laura, you have to succeed this time!" She sighed. She might lose her job if she failed this time. After all, an exclusive interview could draw in readers, and more readers meant more revenue. If she succeeded, the bonuses for the entire news department next month would multiply. But if she failed, everyone would blame her for the los
Laura suddenly realized something. According to the housekeeper, Simon hadn't brought Hailey back here since Laura had left.How else could the housekeeper have mistaken someone else for his fiancée if Hailey had been here? For some reason, Laura beamed at the realization.After sending the housekeeper away, she headed to the kitchen to start cooking. In the past, Laura had never cooked a meal in her life since she was born with a silver spoon. But after being with Simon, he demanded she prepare his outfits and cook the dishes he liked. He even signed her up for a training course where she spent three months learning domestic skills. It was as if her entire existence revolved around him and she had to do everything to please him. Simon had turned a pampered young woman who never lifted a finger like her into someone who had to tread carefully every day, learning to read his moods. Laura couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness at this. ... An hour later, Simon re
Simon knew Laura was a master of playing innocent. Maybe she was even secretly cursing him in her mind right now. Yet she stubbornly held the cherry near his mouth. She pouted. "My hand is getting sore, Mr. Moore." Simon finally let out an amused laugh. "Your hand is sore from just this? What else can I even count on you for?"Laura blushed as memories of their past flashed through her mind. She stood up abruptly, deciding not to keep trying to appease him. Just as she was about to turn away, Simon suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms. Laura's heart raced as she sat stiffly in his lap, not daring to push him away. Simon murmured, "Weren't you just trying to feed me fruit?"Laura's face flushed a deep red as she shakily held the cherry up to his lips. This time, Simon ate it but immediately frowned. "It's sour." Laura weakly responded, "I tried one earlier, and it was sweet." In the next moment, Simon cupped the back of her head, and the swee
Laura blushed instantly. She quickly corrected herself. "I… I know you and I are worlds apart. I'd never dare to think of becoming your wife. Only Ms. Brooks is worthy of that. Me? Forget about it!"Simon frowned.Laura thought he was offended by the term and quickly smiled. "Mr. Moore, I promise to stay as far away as possible as long as you help me complete this interview. I won't ever interfere in your relationship with Ms. Brooks. I swear!" Simon didn't know Laura was throwing her self-respect out the window when she said this. But Laura masked her feelings too well. Simon couldn't see how difficult it was for her to utter those words. All he heard was her relentless attempt to push him away and sever ties with him completely. She still wouldn't ask him for anything even when she was at her lowest point. True. Laura had pinned all her hopes on Lionel. Why would she harbor any feelings for him? But the proud Simon refused to mention Lionel. He would never let her think
Thus, Laura and Simon finally reached an agreement, and she managed to fulfill her editor-in-chief's expectations.…The next day, Laura submitted her interview draft to the editor-in-chief, whose face lit up with delight. "Oh, Laurie, you're truly the star of our news department!" The editor-in-chief immediately instructed the team to publish the interview and clapped his hands. "This is great! The collapsed bridge caused many casualties, so the public is concerned about the individual responsible for the construction. It's all thanks to you that we got some insider information from Mr. Moore! Don't worry, I'll make sure to highlight your contributions to the higher-ups by the end of the month." Laura waved it off. "I don't care if you give me credit. But you did say before that the bonus would be doubled, right?"The chief nodded. "Not just double, I'll triple it this time!" When Laura left the chief's office, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing how thrilled
By the time Laura arrived at the restaurant, Lionel was already there. Like Simon, Lionel was dressed in a suit. However, Laura thought he lacked Simon's charm."Sorry, Mr. Fowler. I was stuck in traffic," Laura apologized. "Have you been waiting long?" Lionel smiled. "I just got here."Then, he brought out a bouquet of white roses from behind him. "This is for you." Laura was stunned, staring at him without reaching out to take them. Sensing her hesitation, Lionel quickly explained, "I passed by a flower shop earlier and noticed how beautiful these roses were. They reminded me of you, so I bought them. Do you not like them, Ms. Scott?" Laura reluctantly accepted the flowers and awkwardly thanked him. She was confused. Her relationship with Lionel was purely professional. So, why would he suddenly give her flowers? Lionel handed her the menu. "Please order something." "I'll just have whatever you order, Mr. Fowler," Laura said. All her thoughts were focused on
Laura lied, "No, my friend lives there." Lionel already had a good idea of the truth but pretended not to know. He dropped her off at the destination."Thank you, Mr. Fowler. I'll leave my father's case in your hands," Laura said before stepping out of the car. Lionel stared at her retreating figure thoughtfully. Then, he pulled out his phone and texted Simon: "I've safely dropped Ms. Scott off. Shouldn't you thank me, Mr. Moore?"…In the living room, Simon's gaze darkened at the provocative message. Not long after, Laura returned, carrying a bouquet of white roses. When Simon saw the flowers in her hands, his expression hardened.Laura didn't think much of it. She set the bouquet aside and changed into her slippers. "Have you had dinner yet? I'll go and prepare the clothes you need for tomorrow if you've already eaten." "No," Simon spoke coldly from the couch. "I'm paying you 50 thousand dollars a month. So, hurry up and cook!" Laura took a deep breath and force
Almost immediately, Laura pulled out her camera and snapped a photo of the couple on the field. She figured she could ask Britney to write a small feature about it to fill some space in the paper.The young man knelt on one knee, holding out a ring as he asked, "Will you marry me?"On the other hand, the woman was overwhelmed. Tears streamed down her face, and she couldn't even manage a coherent response.Around them, the crowd erupted with cheers. "Say yes! Say yes!" they chanted.Laura stood silently, her eyes glistening as tears clung to her lashes. She envied the woman. There was nothing more beautiful than being proposed to by someone you loved and knowing you were cherished. Unfortunately, that kind of happiness would never be hers.Her choice to be with Simon came with a cost—she had to keep their relationship hidden. She had willingly let go of any hope of a public future with him, of sharing their happiness openly. One day, perhaps soon, Simon would stage a grand pr
Simon hummed softly before explaining, "The police retrieved the surveillance footage, but it wasn't enough to prove anything. Now that he's taken photos of us, we have solid evidence. This confirms he's been stalking and secretly photographing us."Only then did Laura understand why he had asked her out. The excitement that had been bubbling within her vanished instantly at that realization.She pulled her hand away from his, her voice tinged with disappointment as she said, "So, this is why you wanted to watch the fireworks. Well, now that we've got the evidence, can we go home?"But to her surprise, Simon took her hand again, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Who says we can't gather evidence and enjoy the fireworks at the same time?"Laura froze momentarily. He had a point.In the end, they went to Botanical Garden as planned. The fireworks show was just beginning when they arrived. On top of that, Simon had made arrangements beforehand. So, the garden's director personall
Laura blinked innocently and answered, "I was talking about myself."Simon fixed his gaze on her, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Should I call Alex over right now? You can ask him directly if he's willing to accept you."Laura hadn't expected to shoot herself in the foot again, and her face turned red from his teasing. Flustered, she shoved him away. "Oh, come on! I was joking!"I was asking on behalf of Britney. You know, my colleague. If Alex is single, why not let them give it a shot? Britney's great. She's cheerful and kind. They seem like a good match."Simon finally let out a scoff. "You've got a knack for worrying about everyone, don't you?"She pushed him toward his desk and replied, "Alright, that's enough. You should get back to work. I'll tell Britney and have Alex give her a ride back. It's a perfect opportunity for them to spend some time together."With that, Simon sat back down in front of his computer and got back to work.At the same time, Laura texted Britney, a
"No problem, Laura," Alex replied before shifting his gaze to Britney.Then, he shyly said, "Let me show you around our firm. That way, if you guys ever work with us again, you'll have a better sense of how we operate."Britney, ever cheerful and outgoing, flashed a bright smile. "Sounds great! Let's go!"A satisfied smile tugged at Laura's lips as she watched them chat. With that, she entered Simon's office.Work was something both Simon and Laura took seriously. Moreover, the Brooks Group workplace fatality case weighed heavily on her heart.She couldn't shake her frustration and confusion about why Simon had taken the case, but she had a job to do. Setting her personal feelings aside, she switched into professional mode and began asking her questions.This time, Simon didn't make things difficult for her. He answered each question thoroughly and without hesitation. Toward the end of the interview, Laura asked a pointed question that hadn't been part of her original script.
The station chief reviewed the surveillance footage and explained to Simon personally, "His last known location was at the dormitory building of Haven University. He went inside, but unfortunately, there were no cameras in the restrooms."We believed he changed his clothes and shoes before leaving. Our initial assessment is that he's likely a student at the university. But for now, the trail's gone cold. I'd say he's good at avoiding being tracked. At this point, we don't have enough evidence to bring him in."Simon nodded in response. Now, he was nearly certain of the stalker's identity. "Alright, I think I know who it is. Thank you for your hard work."The station chief hurriedly replied, "Oh, Mr. Moore, no need to thank us! We'll be needing your expertise down the line. Helping each other is what we do."…At the studio, Laura sat in her office, texting Simon to check if there were any updates on the stalker.However, all he replied was, "They're still investigating."The cor
"Mr. Moore…" Laura let out a sigh. After a moment's hesitation, she couldn't hold back any longer. "I really feel for the victim in the Brooks Group's workplace fatality case. Does the Brooks family even care about that small amount of money? One million dollars is just pocket change to them, but to another family, it's everything."Simon showed no emotion as he replied, "Mind your own business."Laura pouted but quickly relented. "So, do you have time tomorrow? My boss said we need to follow up on the progress of the Brooks Group case as soon as possible. Can you—"Before she could finish her sentence, Simon suddenly shut his laptop, set it aside, and leaned toward her.He fixed his gaze on the terrified Laura. His handsome face came dangerously close, stopping just inches from hers. Then, he said, "Well, as long as you behave and stop testing my patience."While unbuttoning her pajama top, he added, "Otherwise, with everything I've got going on, why should I take time to help
Simon pressed Laura against the wall and kissed her.Yet, this was what hurt her the most. He had never cared whether she wanted it or not. In fact, there were so many unresolved issues between them. However, Simon seemed utterly indifferent and showed no intention of addressing them. He kissed Laura for a while. Just when she thought he might take things to the next level, he abruptly stopped.Simon's breathing was unsteady, his voice low and hoarse as he said, "Go take a shower. I've got work to do and can't keep messing with you."It was only then Laura realized he had drawn her in. Now that he had stopped, her cheeks still burned, and she couldn't shake the lingering pull of desire he'd stirred.Simon seemed to notice her unease. He then asked with a smirk, "Or would you rather continue?"Laura's heart skipped a beat. She quickly pushed him away and lowered her head. "I'll go shower."As he stared at her retreating figure, the lust in Simon's gaze gradually faded. In the
In the next moment, Simon's lips curled into a smile. "It was Maxwell who called me and asked me to come help you with this. Don't forget, Jennifer isn't just your best friend. She's also Maxwell's wife and the mother of Caleb and Cassidy."Did you even check if Maxwell was okay with you staying at their place? Not everyone is as comfortable with you as Jennifer is."Laura wanted nothing more than to shut him up. However, she couldn't deny that he had a point. Apart from Harry, Jennifer was the only one who had ever treated Laura like family. While Jennifer might never push her away, that didn't mean everyone else would be as kind. That house belonged to Jennifer, but it was Maxwell's too.At that moment, Laura felt completely alone and helpless. …Just like that, she quickly packed a few essentials and followed Simon back to his place in the dead of night.He then pointed to a small wardrobe and lightly instructed, "You can leave your clothes here for now."After opening it,
Laura cried in Simon's arms for what felt like an eternity before finally lifting her head. Her voice carried a hint of grievance as she said, "Why wouldn't you believe me? I told you someone was following me, but you still didn't trust me."Simon gently wiped her tears away. "I'm sorry. That's on me."But Laura shoved him aside, her tone defiant. "Spare me the fake concern. I've reported it to the police, so it doesn't matter whether you show up or not."A flicker of amusement passed through Simon's dark eyes as he studied her. "Really?""Of course!" Laura lifted her chin, as if she weren't afraid of anything. "I'm trained in martial arts and can protect myself. Besides, the police are involved. Even without you, I'm not scared."Simon couldn't help but chuckle. Suddenly, his arm snaked around her waist, pulling her close again. "Who was trembling in fear earlier? The same person who stayed holed up in the bedroom all night because she was too afraid to come out?" he teased in