Maxwell's lips curled into a faint smile as he reached out to hold Jennifer's hand."Dad, you heard what Jennifer said, didn't you? So, there's no need for you to worry. I'm not one to leave my opponents any way out."Suppressing his anger, Zachary let out a disdainful snort. With Lorraine and Jordan in tow, he barked, "Let's go!"With every word Jennifer spoke in defense of Maxwell, Jordan felt a sharp pain in his heart. It was as if something was gripping it tightly, making it hard to breathe.He gazed intently at Jennifer before following his parents into Robert's ward. It was only after they had all left that Jennifer finally heaved a sigh of relief. Immediately after, she felt Maxwell's intense gaze locked onto her. Startled, she quickly lowered her head and asked softly, "Why are you looking at me like that?""Earlier… Why did you suddenly speak up for me?"Maxwell's eyes were fixed on Jennifer. He was afraid he would miss any subtle expression of hers. "You're not tr
Recalling the hurtful words he had said, which reduced Jennifer to nothing, Maxwell was now consumed with guilt.He gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands. Instead of driving away, he sat there in silence while his heart ached terribly. Suddenly, Maxwell leaned over and pulled Jennifer into his arms. He stroked her hair repeatedly and whispered, "I'm sorry, Jennifer. I'm so sorry…""You don't owe me any apologies."Jennifer trembled in his embrace, her voice choking with sobs as she responded, "I wanted the divorce, and now, I need your help with my father's problem. I've asked too much of you. "I can't treat you like my benefactor, and I can't force myself to set aside my ego to please you like other women. But Maxwell, I don't like it when you accuse me. I feel extremely sad whenever you misunderstand me."As he listened to the woman in his embrace, all the pent-up emotions Maxwell had been carrying for days dissipated instantly.He felt a sharp pang shoot throug
Jennifer's face finally lit up with a smile as she said, "Thank you."Maxwell exhaled in exasperation. He could not shake the feeling that he was wrapped around her finger.…Once they arrived home, Maxwell instructed Jennifer to eat dinner first. He, on the other hand, rushed to the bathroom and took a cold shower, calming the desire that had built up throughout the journey.As soon as he was done, his phone rang urgently.Maxwell answered the call, only to hear Michael's panicked voice."Mr. Lance, we have a problem. The news about your plan to acquire Yale Corporation has reached the board of directors. The shareholders are too scared to question you, so they've been calling me for answers."Now that Mr. Lance Senior is critically ill, your father and brother are eyeing your position. At a time like this, we can't let anything go wrong."Maxwell was well aware of everything Michael had said. However, with years of experience in the business world, he had long learned to stay
Jennifer did not understand why Maxwell would slander Zion like that.In her perception, her father had always been so kind and loving toward her. He was dedicated to his job, often leaving early and returning late.So, what gave Maxwell the right to accuse Zion of being a murderer? Jennifer grew increasingly furious the more she dwelled on it. Her eyes were now blazing with anger.She was overwhelmed with disappointment as she wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes. Jennifer had believed that after leaving Robert's ward and pouring her heart out to Maxwell, he would finally understand her. Yet, he remained the same arrogant and selfish man. After what seemed like an eternity, the familiar voice reached her ears. "How long do you plan to stay here? If you catch a cold, I'll have to take care of you."Jennifer was startled into a jump. She turned back to look at him and answered defiantly, "If I catch a cold, I'll manage on my own. I don't need your help! Otherwise,
Zion's face turned ashen with anger. However, for the sake of Yale Corporation, he had no choice but to endure it. Clenching his teeth, he asked in a low voice, "Mr. Lance, Jennifer mentioned that you asked to see me today to discuss acquiring Yale Corporation. If I refuse, you'll respect my decision, right?"Maxwell stared at him quietly and replied, "There are some things I'd like to address first. I believe you'll agree once I say them."Zion could not figure out Maxwell's intentions. So, he answered with a hint of impatience, "Well then, Mr. Lance, please enlighten me.""Jennifer and Laura are best friends. If I'm not mistaken, you and Harry were once very close as well. Why does it seem like you're strangers with no connection now?" Maxwell interrogated, enunciating each word deliberately.In an instant, Zion's expression changed drastically. Though Maxwell did not delve into the details of those years, his gut feeling told him that Maxwell must know something.He struggled
Zion, unable to contain his emotions, defended himself, "Jennifer is my daughter, and I cherish her more than anything. How could I possibly use her for my gain?"Yes, I've made mistakes in the past, but I intended to help people, not harm them. I'm not someone who would stop at nothing to get what I want!"Maxwell laughed sarcastically in response. "If you truly felt guilty and knew you were wrong, you would be in prison by now. In the end, you still covered up your crimes and remained free." Zion could not hold it in any longer. In the next second, he burst into tears as he covered his face with his hands. "Yes, you're right. I didn't step forward back then and did everything I could to hide my crimes instead. But all these years, I've deeply regretted it. I haven't had a single good night's sleep!"Yet, Maxwell did not feel sorry for him. After all, compared to Simon's ordeal, Zion got what he deserved.He reminded Zion, "I'll try my best to protect you and Yale Corporation
Jennifer lowered her head shyly, her heart in turmoil. She wondered what she meant to Maxwell now.But after hearing what Zion said, she was grateful for everything he had done for her and Yale Corporation. Agnes was also delighted to see that the issue was resolved. For the first time, she looked kindly upon Jennifer. She could not help but think that her granddaughter had finally proven her worth.At the very least, Yale Corporation now had Maxwell as a powerful backer. Therefore, Agnes hurriedly told Jennifer, "Jennifer, moving forward, make sure you get along well with Mr. Lance. You should also come back and learn some cooking from me. Being more domestic will appeal to men."Jennifer furrowed her brows awkwardly and replied, "Grandma, I've already divorced Maxwell."Even if she had not, she did not want to resort to treating herself poorly to win his favor. Agnes' expression darkened right away. "Take it as doing it for your father and our family. Shouldn't you be more
So, Jennifer took the wine glass from Agnes, set it aside, and uttered, "Grandma, he said he doesn't want to drink. Besides, alcohol isn't good for our health."Agnes felt embarrassed and shot her a glare. In contrast, Maxwell chuckled lightly."Okay, I'll listen to you," he said to Jennifer, his voice tinged with affection.At that moment, Maxwell seemed like a man under his wife's thumb.Jennifer's face flushed red with embarrassment. She could not fathom why he had chosen to speak to her in such a suggestive tone in front of her father and grandmother. After finishing their meal at the Yale residence, Agnes insisted on Maxwell staying for coffee. "No, thank you. I have things to attend to back home, so I'm leaving with Jennifer now."After declining, Maxwell held Jennifer's hand, ready to leave.But right then, Zion called out to them. He looked at Maxwell intently and remarked, "Mr. Lance, I'm entrusting Jennifer to you."In the gaze shared between Zion and Maxwell, ther
Laura anxiously waited as the police retrieved the surveillance footage. But in the end, all they told her was that the alley she had mentioned was in an area slated for demolition. Hence, no cameras had been installed there. When she suggested they start investigating from the street where her office was located, the officer replied, "Miss, if we follow your suggestion, it would require a massive undertaking."We have other cases to handle as well. Please, go home and wait. If we find anything, we'll notify you immediately, okay?"Laura's urgency stemmed from how terrified she felt. After all, it was the first time she had been followed. Still, she didn't want to make things difficult for anyone. Since the police officers had made their stance clear, she decided not to press further and relented. Before leaving, she couldn't help but plead, "Please, do your best to look into this as soon as possible. Contact me immediately if there's any news."With that, she left the station,
Laura's heart pounded violently in her chest. She immediately pulled out her phone, instinctively thinking of calling Simon. However, she remembered they weren't on speaking terms, so she dialed Jennifer's number instead. A nurse answered the phone. "Hello, Dr. Susan is currently in surgery. Please call back in two hours."Left with no choice, Laura reluctantly called Simon. His deep voice came through almost immediately. "Hello, what is it?"Simon's voice, though pleasant, held an icy undertone. Laura knew he was still angry. But right now, someone was following her. She couldn't afford to care about anything else—not even her pride.She gripped the phone tightly, her voice trembling as she said, "S-Someone's following me. Can you come pick me up?""What?" Simon's response was indifferent. Then, he mockingly added, "Aren't you a martial arts expert? A good fighter, right? What's there to fear from a thief?"After all, Britney hadn't been able to secure her interview with hi
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