Maxwell's frown deepened. So, she only thought of him in times like this? At other times, she was probably enjoying herself with Nathan and completely forgot about him. Thinking of this, Maxwell finally made up his mind. Perhaps the butler was right. At such a critical moment, the inheritance of Lance Group depended on this last gamble. Why should he care about a woman?Maxwell gazed at Jennifer and reached out to lift her chin. "Since you want my help, how about an exchange?"Jennifer looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"Maxwell replied indifferently, "Our situation has always been one of Grandpa's biggest worries. Before he passes away, I want him to see us reconciled, so he can leave the world in peace."Jennifer had thought it would be an unreasonable request. But after hearing his words, she didn't think it was excessive at all. She didn't want Robert to leave with any regrets either and agreed immediately.Maxwell didn't say anything more but there was a weird g
Maxwell narrowed his eyes and snickered coldly. "Alright, I'm not in a rush. When you've made up your mind, come back to the villa. After all, the fate of the Yale family is in your hands." With that, he turned and went back to the hospital room.Watching his cold and distant figure, Jennifer knew that there was no way back for them. She couldn't see him as her husband anymore, and she couldn't give her all just to win his heart. Now, she realized that Maxwell never had a heart, or if he did, it was never with her.That night, Jennifer went to her department for her shift. But Nathan didn't show up and had another doctor substitute for him. Jennifer asked curiously, "Where is Dr. Lowe?"The doctor replied, "Dr. Lowe said he had something come up and would be late. He asked me to cover for him for a while."Meanwhile, at a nearby cafe, Nathan and Maxwell sat across from each other. Even in silence, the tension between them was obvious. Finally, Nathan broke the silence. "I've
Nathan did not concede, either. He met Maxwell's gaze with unwavering resolve and countered sharply, "I have my integrity and professional ethics. If you believe I've acted improperly toward your wife, feel free to take legal action against me."I'm certain that if you had asked your wife about what happened that night or heard her explanation, you wouldn't question me like this."Having said his piece, Nathan rose and left. Maxwell tightened his grip on the coffee cup as his eyes darkened with intense gloom.…In no time, Nathan arrived back at the hospital. Jennifer, oblivious to everything, flashed a smile at him and said, "Dr. Lowe, you're back!"Nathan's gaze held a mix of emotions as he nodded in response. "Come with me to my office."Jennifer was bewildered, yet she followed him. She could not shake the feeling that something was different about Nathan today. His usual gentle demeanor had given way to a hint of sternness.Jennifer trailed behind him into his office.
However, Nathan felt his heart melt as he gazed at Jennifer's innocent face. He smiled and reassured her, "You're overthinking it. As I said, as long as you're willing, I'll guide you and help fulfill your dreams.""Thank you, Dr. Lowe," Jennifer replied, her face radiating with a joyous smile.Nathan could not help but steal a few more glances at her. He immediately felt better, too.…After her night shift, Jennifer knew she could not avoid it any longer. Thus, she took the initiative to return to Maxwell's villa.Martha was overjoyed to see her. "Mrs. Lance, you're back! I knew it. Mr. Lance would definitely bring you home."Jennifer forced a faint smile and responded, "Long time no see, Martha.""Yes, it's been a while." Martha's excitement was evident in the reddening of her eyes. She hurriedly took Jennifer's suitcase, her voice choked with emotions as she spoke. "Thank goodness you've finally come home."Yet, Jennifer felt a twinge of bitterness. Home? Could she even
"Is that so?" Maxwell cocked an eyebrow and countered, "Am I that intimidating?"Jennifer quickly shook her head in response. However, the apprehension in her eyes betrayed her.Maxwell gazed intently at her. "Jennifer, I don't want you to be afraid of me. I want you to love me. Do you understand?"Jennifer's heart faltered. It seemed like he was oblivious to how far he had pushed her. How could Maxwell demand her love? Bitterness and grievances welled up inside her, threatening to drown out the love she once felt for him. Therefore, Jennifer could not promise Maxwell anything. She changed the topic instantly, asking, "When do you think you can loan my family the money?"Maxwell felt a surge of frustration at her question. Yet, he could not vent it out.Whether leaving him or returning to his side, Jennifer appeared to do so out of duty to the Yale family.Maxwell sneered, "Once you realize how to love me, I'll take care of your father's financial needs. Don't worry. I've alr
Jennifer said defiantly, "Fine! From now on, I won't go to school anymore. I'll just stay here and serve you all day. Are you happy now?"With that, she angrily set down her cutlery. Just as she was about to return to her room, Maxwell yelled from behind, "Come back here! Jennifer Yale!"Unfortunately, Jennifer was stubborn as a mule and ignored him.Maxwell gritted his teeth. Had she forgotten why she had returned? The fate of the Yale family was in his hands, yet she had the nerve to defy him. …In the bedroom, Jennifer seethed with anger. She vented her frustrations on a pillow as though it were Maxwell himself.Right then, Zion sent her a message, inquiring about the progress of the loan from Lance Group. Jennifer felt miserable. It appeared that Zion was too ashamed to call her and chose to communicate via text. Yet here she was, behaving as if she were still Mrs. Lance, throwing tantrums and stubbornly challenging Maxwell. But she had forgotten that she was no more t
Jennifer froze instantly. It was indeed difficult to wrap the bandage with only one hand. Did she really have to resort to holding one end of the gauze with her teeth? It felt quite unsightly.Seeing her discomfort, Maxwell took the bandage back and commented with an icy voice, "You're so stubborn!""Ah! Be gentle." Jennifer shot him a glare as she warned.The corner of Maxwell's lips curled into a sly grin. "How gentle do you want? Like in bed?"Right away, Jennifer's face flushed with embarrassment. She bit her lip and averted her gaze, stopping just short of calling him shameless.After that, no matter how much it hurt, she endured the pain without making a sound. At last, her finger was bandaged. Maxwell showed no intention of doing anything to her. Instead, he rose and walked out."Maxwell," Jennifer hurriedly called after him before asking cautiously, "I'm back now. W-When will you help Yale Corporation?"Maxwell's wicked smile held a touch of charm. "Do you think I'd be
Jennifer was stunned. Maxwell's relentless pressure made her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.Just like that, under his threats and sweet talk, she felt cruelly mistreated. It was as if she were a defenseless rabbit deceived by a big bad wolf. The night seemed to drag on forever, filled with an increasing sense of dread.…The next morning, Jennifer was awakened by Maxwell's kiss. She could not fathom how he had such boundless energy and stamina. As Maxwell's hand slid under her skirt, Jennifer quickly stopped him. "I have to go to school. I did everything you asked yesterday. Can you let me off the hook today?" she pleaded softly, her face turning red. The memory of Jennifer taking the initiative to seductively tease him the previous night made Maxwell's desire reignite. He held her hand and kissed it. "Yesterday, someone told me they wouldn't go to work anymore and would stay home to serve me."Jennifer was taken aback. She had not expected him to remember
Simon finally looked up from his computer screen and gave Alex a stern look. "Do you not understand what I said, or do you have nothing better to do? Should I assign you more tasks?""No… No need for that! I'll leave now." After being scolded, Alex left the office dejectedly. Britney was still waiting downstairs. Seeing him come out, she rushed up eagerly. "So? How did it go?"Alex scratched his head and forced a smile. "Mr. Moore said… Ms. Scott needs to come in person." Britney sighed, disappointment written all over her face. "I knew it!" Alex was about to console her when she suddenly broke into a bright smile. "Still, coming here today wasn't a total waste. At least I ran into my high school classmate and got your number!"She winked at him playfully and added, "We're both from out of town. So, we've got to look out for each other!"Alex was flustered and nodded. "Of course!""Well, I'll get going then. Let's keep in touch!" Britney shrugged off the rejection. Althou
Britney hesitated but finally gave in. "Fine, I'll give it a try." … With Laura's task weighing heavily on her shoulders, Britney set off for Valor Law Firm solemnly.As expected, it turned out exactly as she had imagined. She was turned away almost immediately.She recalled the last time she had come here with Laura. Back then, Laura had also waited for a long time. Determined to ace the interview, Britney decided to stick around and wait. Surely Simon would meet her, considering how she always supported him and Laura and had even tipped him off before. "Britney!" A voice suddenly called out. Britney turned around and her eyes lit up with surprise. "Alex? What are you doing here?" Britney added, "I had some business here. Wow, you've changed so much since high school! Do you work here? Everyone here looks so formal in their suits.""Yes, I work here." Alex was happy to see a classmate. "Are you here because of some trouble? Do you need a lawyer?"Britney explaine
After leaving Simon's office, Laura headed straight to the studio. The workday had ended when she arrived, and all her colleagues had left. Laura sat at her desk, turned on her computer, and began writing down everything she had seen and heard today. With her fingers furiously typing away, she poured out the full story of Brooks Group's workplace incident. Whether it was out of anger or agitation, the keyboard clattered loudly beneath her hands.In just 20 minutes, she had completed a full article. As she typed the last word, she began to calm down. Looking at the article that was filled with sympathy for Nick's family and criticism of Brooks Group, Laura realized she was betraying her journalistic integrity.She hesitated before deleting the draft. After all, she was a reporter. She shouldn't bring her personal feelings into her work. This article contained too much of her own bias. Such a news piece would be unprofessional. Laura sighed. She checked her phone but ther
Laura had to accept reality. Simon feigned nonchalance. "Wait for me. I have some work to finish, and then I'll take you out for dinner, alright?"Laura sat quietly on the couch nearby, listening to the sound of him typing on his computer. Her heart tightened.Her mind replayed the events of how she and Britney had gone to interview the victim's parents. Their cries echoed in her ears as did Simon's conversation with William. Finally, Laura walked over to him. "The work you're handling... Is it related to Brooks Group?" Simon paused and looked at her. "How do you know about this case?" Laura replied truthfully, "My boss assigned me to interview the victims. I... I just visited the family this afternoon and got back from the countryside not long ago.""I see." Simon didn't think much of it and even teased, "Well, it looks like we might see each other more often now. You could say we're mixing business with pleasure." Laura wasn't in the mood to joke. "Are you going to
But it seemed like Simon was slowly warming up, though Laura couldn't tell if it was just her imagination. Laura tapped Britney on the back of her head. "What are you daydreaming about?"Britney answered solemnly, "I'm worried about you, Laura! Let's check things out at Valor Law Firm tomorrow, okay? After all, each side has its own version of the story. Maybe Mr. Moore will have a completely different explanation tomorrow." Laura felt a sense of unease. When they reached the city center, she got out of the car. "Go back to the studio on your own. I... I need to take a walk." Britney knew Laura was planning to see Simon to clarify things. So, she didn't press the matter and drove off.Laura headed straight to Valor Law Firm. The receptionist saw her and asked, "Do you have an appointment, Ms. Scott? Mr. Moore is currently in a meeting.""It's fine. I'll just wait for him here." Laura had just sat down when she noticed Alex coming in. Alex walked over eagerly. "Are y
Laura spent the entire morning investigating the Brooks Group's construction site incident and the people involved.In the afternoon, she took Britney and visited the victim's family.The family lived in a remote rural area and looked poor. When they heard Laura was a journalist from a well-known studio, the victim's family members broke into tears. "Please, you must stand up for us!"These were ordinary people with no way of beating influential figures. Having someone to speak for them filled them with gratitude. Laura quickly helped the victim's grieving parents to their feet. The deceased worker, Nick Klaus, was only 20 years old. His parents were in their early 40s, yet their hair had turned completely white, and their wrinkles made them look much older.Laura couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness, while Britney looked like she was about to cry from sympathy.The victim's father cried, "Those bastards at Brooks Group are so heartless! It was their fault for not ensuri
Laura sighed to herself. She just needed to coordinate with Simon to get the news. Why did Joseph make it sound like such a difficult task?She promised, "Don't worry, Mr. Zone. Our News Department has coordinated with Valor Law Firm before, and we've done quite a few exclusive interviews with Mr. Moore. This shouldn't be a problem."Joseph smiled. "You're good at keeping work and personal life separate, but I haven't finished yet. The reason we're focusing on this news piece is because the family of the deceased worker is suing Brooks Group for insufficient safety measures. Plus, the workers at the site are agitated. The company is unwilling to pay compensation and hired a lawyer to minimize the settlement. The family of the deceased refuses to accept the proposed 200 thousand dollars as compensation. Both sides are at a stalemate." "200 thousand dollars?" Laura was stunned. "A human life, and they're offering only that little?" Joseph nodded. "Even you're outraged. That's why
"Simon Moore!" Laura had enough and huffed. "I never thought you were so frivolous! I know I can't stop you, nor do I have the right to. But can you leave me out of it? I don't want to watch you guys mess around!" Simon's voice was low and husky. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken you. I thought since Joseph is your superior, it might be good to introduce you two so he would go easier on you at work. I didn't expect to upset you." Laura shot him a gloomy look. "Do you wish I was more like those two hostesses? What did you guys even do after I left?" Simon couldn't help but laugh. Her jealousy pleased him.His tone softened. "I could go to any club if I wanted women like that. Why would I need you?"Laura snorted. "Who knows what you and Joseph used to do together? Only a fool would believe you!"Simon knew that she was just upset. He ruffled her hair and explained, "Joseph wasn't always like this. He was hurt by a woman, and... He became cynical and stubborn after. He's bee
Laura's expression turned unpleasant after hearing the rules. She quickly turned to Simon.Did this mean they always played games like these when Joseph visited? The thought of Simon being with hostesses in her absence disgusted Laura. Joseph chimed in, "Come on, Simon! Let's play a few rounds, then we'll eat! I rarely get to visit Haven City, so you have to party with me until I'm satisfied!" The two hostesses by his side set a pair of dice on the table. They smiled flirtatiously. "Let's just play the dice game. If Mr. Zone loses, we'll take something off. If Mr. Moore loses, then…" Simon cut them off. "Laura doesn't play these kinds of games, and she won't." One of the hostesses rolled her eyes. "Isn't this the most basic game in any club?" Simon's expression darkened. Noticing his mood, Joseph quickly shot the hostess a look, signaling her to stop talking. Then, he tried to lighten the awkward atmosphere with a laugh. "Simon, are you keeping things solid at hom