Theodore was reassured about Matthew, but if Matthew ever dared to abandon Lucy or even have just a fleeting thought, Theodore would never forgive him.…At that moment, Matthew sneezed.Leon Corporation’s foreign trade business had been booming lately, with a large influx of Eurovian manufacturers seeking partnerships. Given the stability of Charleston, many manufacturers approached Leon Corporation for collaboration.Matthew had been so busy that he was almost sleeping at the office. His routine had been disrupted because other than work and sleep, he had little time for anything else. However, he would still drive home after work sometimes as he had promised to spend time with Lucy.Lucy was very understanding as she even told Matthew not to rush home after work, but he knew deep down that she needed his company more than anyone else. Her facial expressions betrayed her reluctance to let him leave.Matthew was happy to see how much Lucy cared for him, but it also hurt him to
Matthew highly valued the integrity and reputation of his business partners in the industry.Hudson had a good reputation and public opinion, so Matthew had wanted to work with him even before Leon Corporation came to Charleston as he was thinking of venturing into the fashion industry back then.Leon Corporation had a limited understanding of the industry at the time and needed to conduct more market research, so working with Hudson would be beneficial.To work with him, Matthew even had his assistant investigate the current circumstances of his fashion company. He found out that if he had worked with Hudson when his company was in their prime, he could have dominated Charleston’s fashion industry. Unfortunately, just when Hudson was poised for greater success, internal struggles within the company led to his sacrifice. He was forced to move to Eurovia.Hudson achieved decent growth in Gerd, but his performance was not as remarkable compared to his peak in Charleston. However, M
There was a time when Hudson would boast about his business expertise. However, that changed when he was overtaken by his uncle. Only then did Hudson understand that no matter how good he thought he was at something, there would always be someone better.Despite having defeated his uncle at first, his uncle was able to sway all the shareholders to his side with a wave of his hand in the end. There were many reasons behind Hudson’s downfall, with pride and arrogance being the most significant. During his time in Eurovia, he managed to temper his emotions and become more composed.Now, with his return to Charleston, he aimed to reclaim what was rightfully his and get his revenge on his uncle.While his family’s business was not growing as rapidly as before, going up against them with the company he built from scratch was still a challenge. He needed the support of other major companies to stand a chance against his uncle.Upon meeting Matthew’s assistant, Kent, Hudson invited him t
Kent was taken aback by Hudson’s confident response to such an unreasonable requirement. It made him stumble over his words. “So… Are you saying you can reach the targets within a year, Mr. Xender?”Kent needed to confirm that Hudson had not misread the contract. It was one year! Was he so quick to agree because he misread the timeline? However, Hudson showed no hesitation as he signed his name on the contract.“Yes, these requirements aren’t difficult for me. Please tell Mr. Leon that I guarantee to meet his collaboration goals.”Hudson understood why Matthew sent his assistant. It was a test to see if he had the determination to accomplish the goal that many thought was unattainable.In that moment, Hudson’s spirits soared. It was as if he had found a newfound motivation and soulmate—-Matthew.Before this, Hudson had gone to great lengths to win over potential partners, attending numerous gatherings and sacrificing much of his free time, only to receive polite refusals from them
When Koven arrived at Matthew’s detached villa, he could not hide his shock. It was more luxurious than he could ever imagine.Koven had heard about the endless wealth of Leon Corporation before coming here, and he had mentally prepared himself. Even so, the sight of the luxurious villa still left him awestruck.Over the years, Koven had earned a considerable amount with his career as a fashion designer. Even his personal studio was considered one of the largest in Charleston. However, compared to this house, his achievements seemed infinitesimal.When he heard Lucy say that Matthew owned several properties in Charleston, Koven fully embraced the meaning of 'comparison is the thief of joy.'Compared to the grandeur of the ground floor, Lucy’s room was much simpler. Her room was filled with her own paintings and many books, unlike downstairs, which was adorned with Matthew’s collections. If Koven accidentally touched anything and broke it, there was no way he could afford to com
Koven closed the notebook. “Lucy, I underestimated you before. Do you know that if you had a good mentor, you would've definitely surpassed me?”Lucy was pleasantly surprised by Koven’s evaluation. He had already praised her highly before, but Lucy thought that he was just saying it to save her from embarrassment. Listening to him now, Lucy realized that he had high expectations for her.Being held in such high regard, Lucy felt uneasy all of a sudden. Flustered, she was beginning to doubt herself. Was she really as capable as Koven said?“Koven, I just read the books like you asked. Aren’t you exaggerating?”“What? Don’t you believe me? Look at what you’ve highlighted. It’s not easy to express understanding of things you’ve never learned before. When I was first starting out, I didn’t have your insight and skills.”Lucy was even more embarrassed now. Was Koven really being sincere? Lucy was still doubtful.“Y-You’re making me shy.”“There’s no need to be shy. You must accept th
Following Koven’s instructions, Lucy did not abandon her unique style, which was a combination of traditional elements and tailored designs to create a unique piece of clothing. Koven highly admired her current level of skill.“But this isn’t enough. You have a general idea in terms of style, but you still need to improve in terms of professional competence. No need to worry. I believe in your abilities. Just read more books. Nothing is too difficult for you,” said Koven.Lucy used to find fashion design courses boring and dry, so she feared that she would not be able to cope or might give up halfway. However, Koven was a great mentor. Not only was he able to answer Lucy’s questions professionally, but he could also help her better understand some of the more complex concepts. This made Lucy more confident about her future.Without even realizing it, it was time for lunch. Lucy asked Koven to stay for the afternoon. He originally had other plans at his studio, but he could not say
Lucy blushed at Koven’s praise.“You’re exaggerating. Cooking is simple. If you want to learn, I can teach you.”Koven nodded eagerly. “Sure!”He wasted no time in picking up a piece of beef.Although the casserole dish was easy to assemble, the cooking time in the oven had to be precise and required the skills of a professional chef. It was the true test of a chef’s culinary expertise.Koven had a mouthful of beef. It was tender and flavorful, truly delicious.Then, Koven had a mouthful of potatoes. The chunks of potatoes were cut to the perfect size, and they were soft and extremely appetizing.Koven exclaimed in amazement. “Wow! This casserole is better than what I’ve had in restaurants!”He was not exaggerating. The restaurants either overcooked the beef or undercooked the potatoes, but Lucy’s version was perfectly balanced.“Did you learn to make this dish from someone else?”Lucy pushed the food toward him, encouraging him to eat more.“Not exactly. I found a cooking v