Jennifer's eyes watered, but she held her tears back. "Let me clean up first. It's a long story.""Wait, I have something to ask you." Maxwell held onto her wrist, his grip too strong, causing Jennifer to furrow her brows in pain."Last night, the person you saved was Rachel's grandmother. She passed away when she was taken to the hospital. Jennifer, did you already know who she was?"Maxwell's gaze was frigid, filled with suspicion and scrutiny.Jennifer was astounded, her eyes widening in disbelief.That old lady was Rachel's grandmother?And from the way Maxwell was questioning her, it suggested that she had purposely murdered Rachel's grandmother under the guise of saving her, as a form of revenge against Rachel.At that moment, Jennifer felt cold and hopeless. The agony eating up her heart now was worse than being misunderstood and accused by everyone.Letting out a sneer, she didn't answer his question. Instead, she asked, "What do you want? Or rather, what does she want?
Finally, Maxwell and Jennifer arrived at the funeral home.Rachel's grandmother's portrait was placed in the center.Many people were in the funeral home, including the two women who had attacked Jennifer earlier that morning. They were wailing loudly, their behaviors and appearances crude and barbaric, completely different from Rachel's.At one side, Rachel, dressed in black, silently shed tears. She looked absolutely pitiful.Nevertheless, Jennifer looked on indifferently. Even though Rachel's grandmother had passed away, she couldn't muster any sympathy.Maxwell gestured for Jennifer to follow him. He then entered the funeral home and approached Rachel, helping her up."Rach, I brought Jennifer here," Maxwell spoke very gently. "I hope you can accept her apology."Rachel glanced at Jennifer covertly before peering up at him with tearful eyes. She sobbed, "Max, I never thought of competing for anything. Why would your wife be so ruthless? She hates me. That's fine. She can com
Jennifer smiled bitterly. "Would it make a difference if I told you? Just like them, you think I deserve it, don't you?""Jennifer..." Maxwell felt helpless. "Regardless of what happened between us, you are still my wife, at least for now. I won't allow anyone to trample on your dignity!"Jennifer suddenly raised her head, tears shimmering in her eyes. His words unexpectedly warmed her heart and made her feel secure."Drop your kind act," she huffed, but her tone was soft and somewhat coquettish.Maxwell's heart skipped a beat. He looked at her wounds and said, "I wonder what will happen if Grandpa sees that you got hurt."Jennifer let out a chuckle. "Are you afraid that Grandpa will pursue it further, and Rachel will be implicated? You don't want him to vent his anger on her, right?"Maxwell also chuckled softly, saying, "You're too clever for your own good."However, Jennifer didn't want Robert to worry about her either. She glanced at Maxwell and dialed Robert's number."Hey
Jennifer scrolled down the page. As she read the accusations and false information in the article, her hand trembled.She'd never thought that a normal person like her would end up being exposed in public like this.Even though she thought she was mentally strong and generally carefree, she didn't know what to do in the face of the rumors. How was she going to stop them?A while later, her doorbell sounded.Jennifer opened the door to Laura, who was panting. "Jennifer, that article was written to slander you, wasn't it? Did that homewrecker write it? I don't believe you'd do such a thing. I refuse to believe it!"Laura's unwavering trust in her touched Jennifer. She felt like crying.Laura was the first person after her father who believed in her.Maxwell, on the other hand, pitied the villain!In a low voice, Jennifer told Laura about how she had saved the old woman.In the end, she sighed tiredly. "I just didn't expect her to be Rachel's grandmother. Her heart was already fa
Maxwell had been spending the last two days with Rachel and had probably never even thought of her until now. At that thought, Jennifer said coldly, "That has got nothing to do with you. Anyway, I wasn't going to enter through the main entrance. I know a side entrance near my lab that barely anyone knows.""I was right when I called you an idiot," Maxwell said as he fished out his phone. "I told my driver to scout the route for you. Take a look yourself."Jennifer was shocked when she saw the photo.Even the side entrance, where people rarely walked by, was clogged with reporters at the moment."So, why are you here?" Maxwell asked seriously. "Why are you still so bothered about your experiment in this situation?"Dully, Jennifer replied, "My lab rats are about to die, so my classmate reminded me to come feed them.""When did she call you?" Maxwell pressed on."Is that important?" Jennifer gave him an exasperated look.Maxwell did not answer. He called Kurt again and asked him
Jennifer smiled. "What do you want to eat? I'll cook."She wasn't the best cook, but she could whip up something edible with no problem."Anything will do. I'll go and get a shower first."Still smiling dumbly, Jennifer went into the kitchen.Maxwell had been on a business trip. He hadn't been spending time with Rachel at all.Moreover, the first thing he did when he returned was to follow her to Haven University to protect her.Her husband was warming up to her.Once she got the food ready, she went upstairs to get Maxwell.When she got to the door, she heard him talking gently."Rach, are you really okay? You have to eat something," he said. "Your blood sugar is low. You should take better care of yourself."He paused as Rachel spoke on the other end. "It's not you, I know. I know it's your relatives that did this. You're not like them, Rach."I'm sorry I can't be there when you need me the most, but I've been really busy these few days. I also have to deal with this who
"Jennifer…" Maxwell did not push her away. He glanced down at his waist and mumbled, "Watch your hands."Jennifer came back to her senses with a jolt when she realized that her hand was on his groin.Embarrassed, she whipped her hand back quickly and explained, "Sorry, it was an accident."She got up quickly.Maxwell looked amused. He touched his lips thoughtfully, still feeling the lingering warmth.The soft warmth reminded him of that night.Maxwell stopped himself quickly.What was wrong with him? That woman was Rachel, not Jennifer.This was ridiculous.Jennifer avoided his eyes and said in a small voice, "You were the one who pulled me suddenly. I wouldn't have slipped if you hadn't.""I didn't say anything," Maxwell said, pressing his fingers to her lips. "Maybe we should've done this earlier," he said meaningfully.She probably wouldn't have cheated on him if he'd satisfied her properly as her husband.Jennifer stared at him. She didn't understand what he was trying
Maxwell walked over to the door.When he saw Rachel, his expression turned into one of guilt.Rachel stared at him. He had clearly just woken up as well.Had the two of them slept together the night before?No wonder he hadn't gone over to her place last night. That wench, Jennifer, had stopped him.Covering up her negative thoughts, Rachel exclaimed, "Max! What happened? Why are there so many rashes on your arms and neck?"Tears began running down her face. "No wonder you weren't picking up your phone last night. You were sick, weren't you? Why didn't you tell me, Max? Thank goodness I came, or I wouldn't have known!"Maxwell thought she was making too much of a fuss out of this. "I'm fine. It was just an allergic reaction.""An allergic reaction?" Rachel said. "You're only allergic to peppers, so I've always avoided putting peppers in your food. Did you not know that, Ms. Yale?"Jennifer stood at the side, feeling like a stranger in her own home.She had no answer to Rachel
Lionel had a feeling that Simon was interested in Laura. Yet when he tested the waters by messaging Simon yesterday, he didn't manage to provoke him. And Simon seemed completely calm when he brought up Laura. Was Laura nothing more than a pastime for Simon? If that were the case, then Lionel would lose his only leverage against Simon. Without any weaknesses to exploit, how could he ever compete with Simon in Haven City?Lionel reflected on his rivalry with Simon, which stretched all the way back to their university days. Simon was as cunning as a fox. Even if he did have feelings for Laura, he would never easily reveal them in front of Lionel.Lionel narrowed his eyes and began formulating a plan. If Laura truly was Simon's Achilles' heel, then Lionel could also hold Simon by the tail by keeping Laura firmly in his grasp. …Laura was at her desk, working on an article when a group of dessert shop servers suddenly entered the newsroom.They handed out afternoon tea to every
Laura bit her lip. She knew Simon was a master at humiliation. He never needed to use crude words to hit where it hurt the most. She retorted, "Mr. Fowler isn't like a certain someone who takes advantage of others! He's the most upright lawyer I've ever met"Although she appeared to be opposing him, Simon wasn't as angry as before. He must have realized that someone with Laura's personality probably wouldn't be won over by a few bouquets of flowers.He smirked. "Well then, I wish you all the best in rescuing your father!"Laura smiled. "Don't worry, my father's case is progressing smoothly!" After finishing the dishes, Laura let out a long sigh of relief. "Now, can I finally leave?" Simon glanced at the time. It was nearly midnight, and the dark sky outside made even him feel uneasy. He tossed her his car keys. "Take my car. Let me know once you're home." Laura took the keys, her confusion and surprise evident. Simon cleared his throat. "Don't overthink it. I'm just
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
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
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
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
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 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
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