《Echoes of Unrequited Love》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    Chapter 1


    By the time | made it to the alumni gathering, everyone was already having a st.


    Among the crowd, Hogan Zade sat solemnly at a round table, bathed in the halo of light refracted from the chandelier above. His


    prominent nose and sharp features looked as if chiseled from fine jade ¡ª cool, aloof, and impable.


    Next to him was a girl with a pretty face.


    His hand rested casually behind her, every move he made was filled with tenderness.


    The bottle for truth or dare just happened to point at the girl.


    A busybody, eager to stir the pot, said in a pleasing tone, ¡°Pick someone of the opposite sex here and kiss for two minutes.¡±


    After hearing this, the girl shyly bowed her head and gave Hogan a look that practically screamed ¡®rescue me¡¯, and no one¡¯s


    heart would not go out to her.


    Hogan shot the crowd a look, and in a soft voice said, ¡°Cut it out, she¡¯s shy.¡±


    When he said ¡®cut it out¡¯, nobody dared to push her further. But out of respect for the game rules, Hogan still downed his drink.


    It was pretty clear he was looking out for her.


    The teasing and jeering continued, but nobody noticed me standing in the corner.


    | touched the scar on my wrist, turning away quietly.


    ¡°Xaviera, did you just get here?¡± Darren Yearwood, the ss rep, asked, drawing everyone¡¯s


    attention.


    ¡°It''s Hogan¡¯s wife.¡±


    The title | once wore with pride now felt like a joke.


    In an instant, all eyes were on me. | forced a smile and said calmly. ¡°Long time no see.¡±


    No response.


    The room fell into an awkward silence.


    You could hear a pin drop.


    After all, Hogan seemed to have found his match now. Who would bother with me, someone who¡¯s been fawning over him for six


    years?


    My appearance was indeed ill-timed./


    But then, the girl by Hogan¡¯s side broke the ice. ¡°I know you, Xaviera March, the famous top student belle from our department''s


    previous years!¡±


    1/3


    11:35


    Chapter 1


    She was sweet-looking and spoke so softly, it was impossible to dislike her.


    ¡°Hi Xaviera, I''m Cecilia Irwin, also from theputer science department,¡± she introduced. herself. Then, turning to Hogan, she


    whispered, ¡°Hogan, why didn¡¯t you tell me Xaviera wasing tonight?¡±


    Hogan nced at me indifferently and said with a nonchnt tone, ¡°An insignificant person, why bring her up?¡±


    Insignificant.


    So that was how Hogan saw me.


    But when | thought about it, he was not wrong.


    Otherwise, howe | never had the chance to sit by his side openly, even after six years?


    He never acknowledged me, let alone stand up for me.


    The irony was, | always thought Hogan, being so reserved and self¡ªcontrolled, didn¡¯t drink.


    When the party ended, we all headed downstairs.


    Hogan and Cecilia were surrounded by people at the front.


    | overheard her tender voice, ¡°I told you to drink less, you see, you¡¯re ufortable now, right?¡± Hogan¡¯s response was on point.


    ¡°You know the reason.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s eyes teared up as she said, ¡°Hogan, don¡¯t walk me out, it hurts to see you like this.¡±


    Whatever Hogan replied made herugh through her tears instantly.


    The two of them were lost in each other, oblivious to the world, while | received sympathetic nces from the back row.


    | was feeling a bit down.


    | had nned towork with some folks from the investment circle at this alumni event.


    Now, that n had fallen through, and I''d been the butt of the joke altevening..


    Darren couldn''t stand it any longer and offered to walk me to the subway ehtrance.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°Sorry, | didn¡¯t know Hogan woulde,¡± Darren said with regret. ¡°He never attends these kinds of gatherings.¡±


    Darren was telling the truth; Hogan¡¯s name wasn¡¯t even on the alumni list.


    | replied evenly. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s all in the past. I''ll be counting on you to pull some strings for me in the future.¡±


    Darren nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve got your project proposal. I''ll contact you as soon as | have news.¡±


    See, talking business was so much easier than dealing with emotions.


    Chapter 1


    An hourter, | was on my way back to my apartmentplex with a hangover cure in hand.


    The elevator door opened, and standing before me was a familiar tall figure. On closer inspection, it was none other than Hogan.


    He was holding a cigarette, his lighter hanging in mid-air, and his navy¡ªblue striped tie hung loosely around his neck. He looked


    a bit defeated.


    Seeing me, his gaze faltered, and his eyes trembled slightly as his lips pressed tightly together.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    Chapter 2


    | nced down, casually withdrew my gaze, and reached out to press the elevator button.


    Neither of us spoke.


    Suddenly, a shadow loomed over me, a strong reek of alcohol enveloped me, and | felt a tight grip around my waist as Hogan


    pulled me into his embrace.


    His husky voice tickled my ear, ¡°Xaviera, you still care about me, don¡¯t you?¡±


    As he spoke, Hogan gently nuzzled my neck, his toneced with a hint of charm.


    This was something | hadn¡¯t experienced in the past six years.


    | couldn''t help but think of how he¡¯d been sweet-talking Ms. Irwin at the party an hour ago.


    Care about him?


    That was Cecilia¡¯s thing.


    The heavy scent of booze was a dead giveaway that he was stered.


    | lifted my head wearily and reminded him, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not Ms. Irwin.¡±


    Hogan, still holding me, froze for a moment.


    When our eyes met, | tactfully stepped aside, catching a glimpse of his stiff expression from the corner of my eye.


    The atmosphere turned awkward for a second.


    With a ¡°ding.¡± the elevator reached the floor, and | walked out with an expressionless face. faintly aware of his gaze that seemed


    to follow me.


    | walked briskly into my apartment, but as the door was about to close, Hogan suddenly barged in, pinning me against the foyer


    wall.


    His long legs encroached decisively, and in an instant, | was trapped in his little world.


    ¡°Xaviera, you live here?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s voice was chilling, a coldness enveloping him.


    It was the same apartment we''d shared two years ago.


    | told him the truth, ¡°Thendlord said, ¡®Old customers get a $30 discount each month.*¡±


    Thirty bucks, for us corporate drones, every penny counts.


    Hogan clearly wasn¡¯t happy with my answer, sneering. ¡°On purpose?¡±


    | flicked on the light and pointed to the newly rearranged interior, retorting, ¡°Does it look like it?¡±


    Chapter 2


    His preferred minimalist style had been reced by a lively design,pletely the opposite.


    Hogan looked away, furrowed his brows, and after a two¡ªsecond pause, said, ¡°You need to move out, I''ll cover the difference.¡±


    | wasn¡¯t sure what Hogan was still hung up about.


    All those corners we¡¯d slept in and lived in were long gone, and besides, he wasn¡¯ting back was he?


    The next second, Hogan cleared up my confusion, ¡°Cecilia lives upstairs.¡±


    Well that exined it.


    Talk about a small world.


    No wonder we¡¯d bumped into each other; he must have just seen Cecilia home.


    He¡¯d gone to great lengths to avoid any misunderstandings on her part.


    ¡°The solution''s pretty simple,¡± | nced at the apartment''s dated fixtures and suggested, ¡°You could get Ms. Irwin a better ce.¡±


    Hogan could easily afford a swanky high-rise suite in the CBD with a view of the city lights at night.


    Money was never an issue for him.


    Hogan ignored my suggestion, refusing, ¡°I don¡¯t want her to be misunderstood.¡±


    His tone was firm, and had | not witnessed it, I¡¯d have never imagined the aloof Hogan could be so considerate of someone.


    Asting of pain brushed my heart, and after a moment, | calmly responded, ¡°Sorry, | don¡¯t want to move.¡±


    This ce was near the university area, cheap, with a subway line directly to the office ¡ª very convenient.


    But to avoid any unnecessary friction, | said sensibly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Irwin and | won''t cross paths.¡±


    ¡°Nor will you and I.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    | added silently in my mind.


    ¡°You better keep your word.¡±


    After giving me a warning look, Hogan mmed the door and left.


    I stood there, feeling a lump in my throat.


    The jarring ring of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts.


    It was a call from my boss and friend, Wallis Lott.


    11:36


    Chapter 2


    ¡°Get ready, you''reing with me to meet a new investor tomorrow morning.¡±


    The assertive voice of a thirty-something career woman burst through the receiver, shattering any lingering confusion in my


    heart.


    Thinking about the monthly bills, | snapped back to reality.


    But when Wallis¡® car pulled up in front of Rainbow Capital, | lost my cool.


    Rainbow Capital the rising star in the investment banking scene, and its founder, Hogan.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    Chapter 3


    Before hopping out of the car, | learned from Wallis that the chance to meet the big shot was courtesy of her knocking back


    vodkast night.


    When it came to her career, she had always been one to go all-in.-This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    In fact, | had asionally caught glimpses of Hogan in the financial news over the past couple of years ¡ª the guy with the Midas


    touch, never taking a hit. Especially after taking over that inte behemoth half a year ago, he had been making waves in the


    investment world.


    It was no surprise that the former finance wiz kid has be the darling of the capital scene. It was both expected and totally


    reasonable.


    That was also one of the reasons he was the belle of the ball atst night''s alumni gathering.


    By all ounts, as his ex who was supposed to be out of the picture, | should have kept my distance. But seeing Wallis¡® face


    caked in makeup, | bit the bullet and went upstairs.


    | figured, we were just a no-name indie game studio; Hogan probably wouldn''t have the time to meet with us personally.


    Turned out, my hunch was spot on.


    Inside the meeting room, three spiffy-looking execs sat in a row, listening patiently to Wallis and me pitching our hearts out.


    Q&A, back and forth the whole shebang took a good two hours.


    One of the execs escorted us downstairs, where Wallis, smooth as ever, made lunch ns with him. | just stood there, grinning


    awkwardly.


    Then, a sugary voice hit my ears, ¡°Xaviera, is that really you?¡±


    | turned around and there they were Hogan and Cecilia, not too far away.


    Hogan was all dressed up, his suit tailored to perfection, enhancing his already impressive stature, with his chiseled features


    making it hard to look away.


    Next to him, Cecilia, in a sky¡ªblue blouse and ck cks, exuded both innocence and a touch of sass.


    On closer inspection, the sapphire cufflinks on Hogan¡¯s wrist subtly matched Cecilia¡¯s blue earrings.


    Quite the pair ¡ª if you ignored that brief flicker of displeasure in Hogan¡¯s hawk-like eyes.


    As they came closer, Cecilia, ever the curious one, asked me, ¡°Xaviera, are you here to talk business?¡±


    Pretty sharp.


    Wallis, quick on the uptake, sensed something off. Stepping forward, she reached out to Hogan


    11:36


    Chapter 3


    with a grin, ¡°Mr. Zade, I''ve heard so much about you from Xaviera. It¡¯s an honor to finally meet you in person.¡±


    Standard Wallis schmooze, but today, she was about to hit a brick wall.


    Sure enough, Hogan gave her a cursory nce and looked past her at me, his voice dripping with sarcasm, ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    Thinking back to my own overconfident blusterst night, | felt like | wanted to sink into the


    floor.


    ¡°Have you guys had lunch yet?¡± Cecilia chimed in enthusiastically. ¡°Ourpany canteen is legendary. Why don¡¯t you stay and


    eat before you go?¡±


    That was when | realized Hogan had already brought Cecilia into hispany fold.


    Apriceless opportunity for a senior still in college.


    He was already looking out for her.


    | remembered how back in the day, I¡¯d shamelessly seek him out in the library, only to be seated across from him as if I''d tarnish


    his high-and¡ªmighty image.


    Back then, | took pride in that, considering it an honor.


    ¡°No, thanks,¡± | managed to find my voice, ¡°we have another appointment soon, so we''ll be on our way.¡±


    After signaling Wallis with a nce, | caught a glimpse of her ¡®you can¡¯t be serious¡¯ expression. Once we were back in the car,


    Wallis stared at me, clearly not amused, ¡°Not going to exin yourself?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not going to invest in us,¡± | sighed, ¡°I didn¡¯t want you to waste your effort.¡±


    Wallis frowned, hesitated for a couple of seconds, then her mouth dropped open, ¡°No way. Xaviera, your scumbag ex is Hogan?¡±


    The cat was out of the bag.


    ¡°Great,¡± Wallis concluded, ¡°What if Hogan actually reads our project proposal?¡±


    We locked eyes, suddenly realizing the gravity of the situation.


    Because in our romance game, one of the lead male characters, the finance genius, was written as a ¡®simp¡¯ ¡ª the kind who tried


    everything he could but never won over the girl he loved.


    The game¡¯s prospects didn¡¯t look too bright.


    All | could hope for now was for Hogan to swiftly toss the project proposal in the bin without a second nce. At least then, we


    wouldn''t be used of deliberately causing trouble.


    With Hogan¡¯s clout in the investment world, he could indeed make things very difficult for us if he wanted to.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    Chapter 4


    This was definitely rubbing salt into the wound for us, who were already up to our eyeballs in debt.


    We had a peaceful afternoon, and Wallis and | gradually came back to our senses, deciding to keep looking for investors.-


    At nine in the evening, | dragged myself back to my ce, listless. No sooner had | stepped out of the elevator than | spotted


    someone from a distance.


    The hallway was dimly lit, and there was a man leaning against the wall with his arms folded, his expression hidden in the


    darkness, but a hint of crimson showing at his fingertips.


    It was Hogan.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    As the motion-sensor light flicked on, Hogan and | locked eyes in the charged air.


    The smell of smoke was choking.


    | looked at him and said casually. ¡°What a coincidence.¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t say a word.


    | felt an oppressive tension bearing down on me and kept exining, ¡°We''re already scouting for other financial backers, so Mr.


    Zade, no worries.¡±


    | wasn¡¯t scared of rubbing Hogan the wrong way, but | had to consider the wholepany.


    Sure enough, when | put it that way, Hogan¡¯s aggressive aura simmered down a bit.


    | didn¡¯t say much more, just reached for the door. But then, | heard Hogan say, ¡°We''ll fund the project.¡±


    My hand froze on the doorknob, and an odd feeling flickered through me.


    Looks like he¡¯d already checked out the project proposal.


    But why?


    Hogan isn¡¯t short on big projects, and if he wanted to coborate, he could have just reached out to Wallis directly. Why go to the


    trouble of waiting here?


    | lowered my gaze, wanting to ask, but not sure


    | had a hunch it wasn¡¯t that simple.


    how to broach the subject.


    Sure enough, Hogan followed up with, ¡°But I have one condition.¡±


    I knew it.


    Meeting Hogan¡¯s gaze, | said politely, ¡°Please, Mr. Zade, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Cecilia needs a project for her graduation design. | want her involved in this game.


    11:36


    Chapter 4


    So, he wanted to gild his girl Cecilia with all our hard work.


    | curled my fingers into a fist, then rxed, and said. ¡°I''ll report to President Lott first thing in the morning.¡±


    | was just a tech stakeholder; | couldn¡¯t reject Hogan¡¯s olive branch over personal matters.


    Besides, we were strapped for cash, seriously strapped.


    Hogan seemed taken aback by myposure, gave me a brief nce, and simply acknowledged.


    When he makes that face, it usually means the conversation is over.


    | smartly went inside without another word.


    Outside, his footsteps faded away, and | crouched down, burying my face in my knees.


    The next morning. | broke the news to Wallis that Rainbow Capital was willing to invest.


    Wallis was dumbstruck for a moment, then quipped, ¡°Even a jerk¡¯s connections are connections, huh?¡±


    | couldn''t help butugh and cry at the same time, then | brought up Hogan¡¯s condition. After hearing it, Wallis patted my


    shoulder,forting me. ¡°Think about that sprawling 208 square meter apartment, and those male models at the club. We gotta


    take the money.¡±


    | nodded pragmatically. ¡°Can¡¯t let this opportunity get away.¡±


    So, Wallis and | went back to Rainbow Capital.


    This time, the receptionist led us to the CEO¡¯s office on the top floor.


    Just before pushing the door open, | faintly heard a girl¡¯s crispyughter. Looking up, | saw Cecilia sitting demurely next to


    Hogan,ughing without a care.


    She immediately put some distance between herself and Hogan when she saw us enter, blushing as she said, ¡®I''ll leave you


    guys to it.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Hogan stopped her, his gaze falling on Wallis and me, ¡°Say hello to your new colleagues.¡±


    ¡°New colleagues?¡± Surprise flickered in her eyes, quickly filling with a touch of grievance, Cecilia murmured, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m


    dumb?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about,¡± Hogan replied gently, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about your graduation project? Now you''ve got one.¡±


    Cecilia looked up, her face a picture of bewilderment.


    Wallis elegantly reached out his hand, saying, ¡°Yes, Ms. Irwin, wee to the LOVE STORY family.¡±


    Cecilia looked at Hogan with joy and mixed emotions, ¡°Hogan, you¡¯re so good to me.¡±


    11:36


    Chapter 4


    | could tell the unexpected surprise touched Cecilia deeply.


    And | was pretty surprised too.


    Looking back over the past six years, | had given Hogan his fair share of surprises ¡ª anniversaries, birthday parties, and the like,


    and | did it with pleasure.


    Now, he seemed to be getting the hang of it.


    Still, Hogan''s inconsistent behavior left me a bit puzzled, but in the face of money, all that seemed trivial.


    Hogan invested five hundred thousand.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    Chapter 5


    The financial crisis was barely averted, and the whole studio breathed a sigh of relief.


    To show her importance, on Cecilia¡¯s first day at work, Wallis threw her a wee party.


    They upgraded the team-building venue from a budget KTV to the swanky Fragrance Hotel


    All eight of us from thepany showed up, waiting for her.


    Out of boredom, Wallis crammed a dessert into his mouth and said, ¡°She¡¯s the pampered little princess after all even had to go


    change her outfit, tsk.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the cash cow right there,¡± | stated the obvious.


    ¡°It''s like she¡¯s here to be worshiped, not to work.¡±


    | had a nagging bad feeling.


    Lost in thought, amotion from the hall snapped me back to reality. Following everyone¡¯s gaze, | saw Cecilia, d in a tender


    pink tulle dress, on Hogan¡¯s arm, looking every bit the princess, a real showstopper.


    Wallis quipped, ¡°The real cash cow has arrived.¡±


    | didn¡¯t expect Hogan toe.


    | always thought he wasn''t into social scenes.


    During college, whenever there were events in the department, even if the heads of the school were involved, Hogan would give


    them a wide berth.


    He was aloof, even antisocial.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Back then, | was the one buttering up the school officials for him. Looking back, it was such a


    waste of time.


    | downed my ss in one go and made a beeline towards them.


    ¡°Sorry everyone, Hogan insisted on escorting me to the wee party.¡± Cecilia said with a bashful softness that could disarm


    anyone.


    | politely said, ¡°Mr. Zade, having you here is an honor for us.¡±


    After all, these days, anyone who stood next to Hogan was either rich or noble.


    Hearing my words, Wallis chimed in, ¡°Xaviera had wanted to invite you, Mr. Zade, but was worried you''d be too busy. What a


    coincidence.¡±


    Wallis, the queen of white lies, spits them out so easily.


    | nervously twitched my mouth into a smile, only to meet Hogan¡¯s probing gaze.


    That made me even more nervous.


    11-37


    Chapter 5


    Thinking on my feet. | gave the host a meaningful look.


    The wee party was officially kicking off.


    Wallis had a knack for breaking the ice, and in just a few words, he had everyone in the right


    mood.


    He suggested we y Pictionary, a staple at everypany event.


    Last year, with seven people, excluding Wallis who yed referee, we''d split into three teams. Now with two more, we added


    another team.


    Sure enough, Cecilia roped Hogan into the game.


    The girl was eager to jump in, you could see it written all over her face.


    We drew lots for teams.


    Unexpectedly, Hogan and | ended up on the same team.


    Cecilia, standing next to me, also noticed and her face showed clear disappointment.


    | discreetly swapped our slips of paper while no one was looking.


    Surprised, Cecilia nced at me and her lips curled into a happy smile. ¡°Xaviera, you''re the best.¡±


    Just being polite, | silently said to myself.


    It was our duty as the service provider to ensure the client had a good time.


    The game went on tillte into the night.


    Seeing everyone getting tipsy, | called the waiter to bring some strong tea, handing them out one by one.


    When | got to Hogan, | stood a meter away, quietly watching Cecilia tenderly wipe the sweat from his brow.


    The man was half¡ªclosed eyes, leaning back on the sofa, his shirt buttons undone to reveal a delicate corbone, his noble


    profile bathed in the shifting light and shadow, tinged with weariness.


    He seemed drunk.


    Not wanting to disturb. | turned to leave but then heard his husky murmur, ¡°Xaviera.¡±


    | froze in ce, my feet heavy as lead, unable to move. Then | heard Hogan say, ¡°Babe, please don¡¯t

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    Chapter 6


    The word ¡°babe hit me like a bolt from the blue, making my chest explode with surprise.


    When | turned to look at Hogan, | saw Cecilia¡¯s little face, full of shock and confusion.


    Somehow, our gazes met in mid-air.


    Inudged her. ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s calling you.¡±


    The lingering, reluctant tone of his voice definitely wasn¡¯t meant for me.


    Cecilia blinked, pouted, and gave Hogan¡¯s prominent nose a yful scratch, whining, ¡°Hogan, the party isn¡¯t over yet.¡±


    Hogan lifted his eyelids at the sound, a smirk ying at the corners of his mouth.


    That confirmed my hunch.


    Watching the Maybach drive away, Wallis elbowed me, her tone soothing. ¡°Tough night, huh?¡±


    | quipped half-jokingly, ¡°How ¡®bout something tangible, President Lott?¡±


    Wallis just shot me a look..


    Still the generous President Lott had the heart to drop me off at my apartmentplex and even gave me a nod that | could skip


    punching in tomorrow morning.


    Abit of mentalpensation finally made its way into reality.


    But that night, | was restless.


    Over and over in my dreams, his figure appeared, holding me tight through countlesste nights.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    In our most intimate moments, he¡¯d grip my waist and coax me with a husky voice, ¡°Louder, babe.¡±


    That was a side of Hogan no one knew.


    Intense desires, overpowering possessiveness.


    Yet, it was underhanded.


    | was sleepless.


    During the morning rush, | spilled out of the subway like a sardine, only to find one of my wireless earbuds had been jostled off.


    As | was mentally sighing about it, | looked up to see a ck Maybach parked not too far away. There, Hogan, all dapper in his


    suit, was opening the passenger door like the perfect gentleman. In a moment, Cecilia emerged from the car in an orange¡ªpink


    cinched dress, vibrant as a


    11:37


    butterfly in the morning sun.


    He actually drove her to work himself.


    Rainbow Capital is on the opposite side of town from our studio.


    Which meaned grumpy morning Hogan had tomute an extra hour.


    | thought about the days | used to wake up early to make breakfast and coax him out of bed, and a bitter taste filled my mouth.


    The difference between his attitude could be so vast.


    | nned to avoid them.


    But as soon as | took a step, Cecilia¡¯s soft greeting reached my ears, ¡°Good morning. Xaviera!¡±


    | couldn''t just ignore her and walked over, my face calm, my eyes briefly sweeping over Hogan, ¡°Good morning, Mr. Zade, Ms.


    Irwin.¡±


    Cecilia was all friendly, ¡°Xaviera, just call me Cecilia.¡±


    | responded briefly, caught between staying and going.


    Hogan didn¡¯t seem in a hurry to leave.


    | asked knowingly, ¡°Mr. Zade, are you here for an inspection?¡±


    Cecilia covered her mouth and giggled, ¡°No, Xaviera. Hogan is worried I''d get lost and can¡¯t find the newpany¡¯s address, so


    he specially drove me here.¡±


    Pretty much what | had figured.


    | kept my cool and politely said, ¡°Mr. Zade, you are wee to visit and guide us anytime.¡±


    Hogan nced at his watch, his gaze suddenly on my face, his tone casual, ¡°Thank you, Ms. March, for leading the way.¡±


    Wait, was Hogan nning to follow us up?


    Cecilia got it too, her eyes shining with excitement, ¡°Hogan, are youing with us?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s lips curved into a smile, his voice low, ¡°Yeah, | want to see your work environment.


    So, it wasn¡¯t enough for Hogan to just give Cecilia a golden ticket to our studio; he cared about her day¡ªto¡ªday work too.

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    Chapter 7


    Hogan¡¯s surprise drop-in totally caught everyone off guard.


    At that moment, Jack, who was pulling an all-nighter, came out of the pantry looking like a hot mess, with a toothbrush still


    dangling from his mouth.


    Just another day in the life of us coders, but Hogan still raised an eyebrow when he saw it.


    I get it.


    Our little studio was no match for the big leagues like Rainbow Capital.


    | bet Hogan was kinda kicking himself for parking Cecilia here.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    But Cecilia herself didn¡¯t seem to mind, pointing to a spot by the window and saying, ¡°Hogan, this is where | camp out.¡±


    Hogan kept mum.


    | followed his gaze and saw itnd on the desk opposite Cecilia.


    That was my usual code¡ªcrunching haunt.


    On the desk, besides the desktop, there was an old ckptop, prize from Hogan¡¯s sophomore yearpetition.


    One of the few gifts he had ever given me.


    It had got decent specs, been using it till now.


    ¡°Huh, Xaviera, yourptop looks exactly like the one Hogan has.¡± Cecilia noticed it too, her eyes. wide as saucers, she asked


    me. ¡°Is itfy for coding?¡±


    | had no idea Hogan had the same model.


    But to dodge any drama, | yed it cool and said, ¡°It¡¯s old, doesn¡¯t hold a candle to the new


    ones.¡±


    No sooner had | finished speaking than Cecilia turned to Hogan and asked, ¡°What do you think. Hogan?¡±


    Doing interviews, is she?


    Instead of answering. Hogan shot back, ¡°Thinking of switchingptops?¡±


    Cecilia rubbed her nose. ¡°Got duped by the sales guy when | bought thest one, didn¡¯t pay attention to the specs.¡±


    ¡°You, | swear.¡±


    It


    was a


    that screamed ¡®I¡¯m die annointed in you! buting from Wanan it counded oddly


    Chapter 7


    Totally shed with his usual ice-cold persona.


    ¡°Hogan, you¡¯re not about to call me dumb again, are you?¡± Cecilia pouted, about to retort, but out of nowhere, she sneezed.


    Hogan stepped forward, concernced in his voice, ¡°Caught a cold?¡±


    Cecilia sniffled, a flicker of panic in her eyes, ¡°Crap, might be pollen allergies.¡±


    She was cut off by two more sneezes.


    Before | could offer soothing words, Hogan dered, ¡°Get rid of these useless nts immediately.¡±


    He was talking about the sulents on the windowsill.


    Those are Wallis¡¯ babies.


    | hesitated, ¡°Mr. Zade, these sulents are past blooming, you see.¡±


    ¡°| don¡¯t want to repeat myself.¡± Hogan cut me off, firm as ever, ¡°And add another air purifier.¡±


    | was left speechless.


    Cecilia chimed in. ¡°Hogan, Xaviera didn¡¯t know about my allergies, or she wouldn¡¯t have ced me here.¡±


    She was referring to the spot by the window.


    The spot | considered to have the best light and privacy in the whole office.


    Seeing the girl¡¯s innocent eyes, | thought for a moment and then suggested, ¡°We weren''t considerate enough. How about this,


    the office on the right is usually empty. Ms. Irwin could work there.¡±


    Jack, who was standing by, quickly objected, ¡°Xaviera, that¡¯s not cool. That''s the office. President Lott reserved for you.¡±


    What he meant was Cecilia wasn¡¯t quite there yet.


    Cecilia got the hint too and shook her head, declining, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Xaviera. A couple of allergy pills and I¡¯ll be good. I¡¯m just a


    newbie, doesn¡¯t make sense for me to take an office.¡±


    Rules were made by people, and with Hogan, the investor, around, those rules suddenly became flexible.


    Sure enough, the next second, Hogan made up his mind, ¡°That¡¯s settled, then.¡±


    Cecilia looked at Hogan, unsure, ¡°Hogan, that doesn¡¯t seem right.¡±


    His bottomless eyes suddenly swung my way, and | heard Hogan ask in a tone that was neither here nor there, ¡°Ms. March, your


    thoughts?¡±

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    Chapter 8


    My perfectly disguised mood cracked just a tad in that second. | forced a smile and said. ¡°Let¡¯s do it your way, Mr. Zade.¡±


    Just like Hogan wanted, Cecilia moved into the office.


    Wallis, who had rushed over, pulled me down to the coffee shop and griped, ¡°This isn¡¯t investment; it¡¯s aplete torture.¡±


    | kept my cool and replied. ¡°It¡¯s just an office space, no big deal.¡±


    Wallis took a sip of her coffee, frowning, and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried this is just the tip of the iceberg? How can | rx and go


    on a business trip now?¡±


    | dodged the bullet, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Hogan is an investor. Would he let his money go down the drain?¡±


    Neither would Cecilia.


    She still needed this project for her graduation thesis, after all.


    Besides, it was normal for the moneybags to want to meddle a bit.


    Back at the office, | called Jack and Cecilia for a meeting and delegated tasks with my usual


    composure.


    Jack got cracking right away, but Cecilia bit her lip, looking like she had something to say but hesitated.


    | looked at her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Xaviera, | don¡¯t have experience with front-end development.¡±


    Surprised, because | thought software students would get hands-on practice at school, | picked up a rted book from my desk


    and said, ¡°Start with this, and ask me if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Cecilia murmured a soft yes and headed back to her desk.


    | dove back into my work.


    Next thing | knew, the city lights were on, and after a quick tidy¡ªup, | was out the door.


    | had to hit the mall before it closed to pick up an air purifier.


    The mall was bustling. | had just stepped off the esctor when | heard my name called from the side.


    ¡°Xaviera.¡±


    | turned around, puzzled, and saw her, two meters away, the woman in the dark red velvet dress cinched at the waist, Hry


    Zade.


    11:37


    She looked money but thedy of ecours after two years.


    Our eyes met and she quickly avansated me from a smile and ashed ¡°When did you e


    ¡°You staying for good


    ther she said it, she sesated snaressed and quickly added. Thow a few great guys. If you¡¯re staying | can set you up wiTH STE


    YOU TON I''ve always been fond of you


    | got the picture.


    She was arvious, probably afar to ding to ter son


    It made senser | used to be so into hogan that | went out of my way to charm Hry.


    It was sweet talk that bridges the sooneen Hiry and L


    She was wary of the which was to be expected.


    | understood, but it call sturga or to see the once-find elder look at me with such caution.


    She probably didn¡¯t know | was working with Hogan now.


    Or that Hogan had moved on to Cedlia


    His new prized possession


    Tavera? Hry tried to probe when | didn¡¯t respond. ¡°You and Hogan...¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Hry, don¡¯t worry about me lout her off meeting her gaze, and declined. ¡°I¡¯m already seeing someone.¡±


    See, two years with Wallis, and I''d gotten pretty good at spinning tales.


    Hry visibly rxed at my words, but then, a flicker of panic crossed her face.


    ¡°Hogan, why are you here early?!


    | followed her gaze and sure enough, there was Hogan, a few steps away.


    Dressed to the nines in a sleek turado, he had an air of aloofness like he''d just stepped out of a magazine, strikingly handsome.


    He was staring straight at me.


    But the smirk on his face was unmistakably mocking.

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    Chapter 9


    ¡°Hogan, talk about a coincidence.¡± Hry stuttered while kicking off the conversation, ¡°Xaviera¡¯s back in Rivertown, and she¡¯s got


    herself a boyfriend.¡±


    Elders sure know how to hit the nail on the head.


    But this topic didn¡¯t tickle Hogan¡¯s fancy. He just nced indifferently at his watch and reminded her, ¡°The auction¡¯s about to


    start.¡±


    ¡°Shoot, almost forgot why we''re here.¡± Hry said enthusiastically, grabbing my hand, ¡°Xaviera, let¡¯s do lunch sometime soon,


    and bring your boyfriend along so | can give him the once-over.¡±


    Just polite chit-chat. | didn¡¯t take it to heart, just nodded along to y nice.


    But Hry


    ry seemed to feel that wasn¡¯t enough, shooting Hogan a look and saying, ¡°Come on, say


    something, will you?¡±


    Hogan let out a cold snort, ¡°You two close or something?¡±


    The temperature in the room dropped to freezing in an instant.


    But Hogan was right, without him, Hry and | were like two ships passing in the night.


    | found my own way out, ¡°Mrs. Hry, Mr. Zade, I¡¯ve got to run.¡±


    It took me a moment to muster that line.


    I''d paid my dues to the money god, now it was time to make my exit.


    In the background, | could vaguely hear Hry asking, ¡°Why does Xaviera call you Mr. Zade?¡±


    There was a hint of probing in her tone.


    | rubbed my throbbing temples and silently headed to the home appliances section.


    It was half an hourter when | finally bought an air purifier. The vendor was decent enough to offer free delivery, which put me at


    ease as | headed downstairs.


    When | passed the third¡ªfloor food court in the elevator, a lively crowd headed my way, led by none other than ss rep Darren.


    Dressed in a ck cored jacket over a white tee, dark casual pants, and sporting silver¡ªrimmed sses, he looked every bit


    the family man.


    Truth be told, he didn¡¯t join a bigpany after college but stayed on campus to teach.


    If | was not mistaken, those tagging along were probably his students.


    He had always been Mr. Popr.


    | was debating whether to say hi when Darren spotted me.


    He walked briskly towards the elevator, smiling, ¡°Xaviera, what are the odds?¡±


    11:37


    Chapter 9


    His youngpanions followed suit, their curious eyes on me. One of them joked, ¡°Professor. Yearwood, you''re quite the


    charmer, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Cut it out.¡± he said with his usual humility, ¡°She¡¯s Xaviera, my former ssmate. Technically, she¡¯s your senior.¡±


    The youngsters straightened up and chorused, ¡°Hello, Xaviera!¡±


    Their antics were amusing.


    When we hit the ground floor, the bunch scattered like they''d nned it, not before asking me to look after their Professor


    Yearwood.


    Darren had been drinking.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    We headed to the parking lot together, and | called him a ride.


    He asked when | wasn¡¯t getting in, ¡°Aren¡¯t you joining?¡±


    ¡°Not on my way.¡± | said truthfully, not wanting to burden him, ¡°I¡¯ve called for a ride.¡±


    Darren sighed, stepping out of the car but now holding a beige id business bag.


    ¡°Thanks for the website helpst time,¡± he said earnestly, ¡°Consider this a token of my gratitude.¡±


    Whether by coincidence or not, the bag matched myptop size perfectly. It was finely crafted, high-quality leather, obviously


    expensive.


    | declined, ¡°This isn¡¯t right, | hardly did anything.¡±


    ¡°Is it not to your liking?¡± Darren''s tone was one of disappointed self¡ª-reproach, ¡°Seems I¡¯m no good at picking gifts.¡±


    ¡°That''s not what | meant.¡±


    ¡°Then take it,¡± he insisted unusually firmly, ¡°I was presumptuous this time, can we not make a habit of it?¡±


    After showing a face like he was ready to reflect on his actions, | knew | had to ept the kindness, so | nodded reluctantly.


    Only then did Darren seem reassured, getting back in the car but reminding me to message him once | got home.


    Watching the car fade away. | turned towards the subway entrance, but after just a couple of steps, the crisp sound of a lighter


    caught my attention.


    | nced over, puzzled, and there was Hogan, not too far off.


    His face flickered uncertainly through the wafting smoke.


    | moved forward without a word, only to hear his chilling voice, ¡°Is that the new design you''ve picked out?¡±


    11:37


    Hogan¡¯s gaze rested on the business bag in my hand as he spoke.

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    Chapter 10


    His gaze was sharp as a tack.


    | had no clue when Hogan popped up and why he was nitpicking over someone¡¯s handbag.


    Puzzled, Cecilia''s question from earlier in the studio suddenly shed through my mind.


    My guess was Hogan thought I¡¯d switched to a newptop.


    What was his deal with old versus new, anyway?


    | met Hogan¡¯s gaze head-on and said coolly, ¡°Isn¡¯t that none of the investor¡¯s business?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s expression froze, he took a drag on his cigarette, then stubbed it out hard and took off. Talk about a mood swing.


    My bad.


    Crossing the cash cow was not a smart move, | should¡¯ve bitten my tongue.


    Thest thing | want was for Wallis toe back from a trip to find the ce turned upside down because of me.


    The next morning. | got to work as usual, and thankfully, didn¡¯t run into Hogan downstairs.


    | felt a bit relieved, but that feeling got jumbled up real quick with one delivery after another.


    ¡°Ms. Irwin, please sign for yourptop.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Irwin, yourputer bag is here for you to sign for.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Irwin...¡±


    t


    By the time Cecilia opened the eighth delivery, it turned out to be allergy medicine.


    Zora at the front desk loves a good show, pointing at the sender''s name, ¡°Still Mr. Zade? Dang. easy on the eyes and doesn¡¯t


    mind splurging, what kind of dream boyfriend is that?¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Cecilia, her eyes sparkling with barely concealed joy, blushed and closed the door, unpacking parcels and calling.


    Her melodramatic voice from the corridor, uncontrobly seeping into my ears, was too close


    to the office.


    ¡°You really shouldn''t have, Hogan. That must¡¯ve cost a pretty penny, huh?¡±


    ¡°How about | treat you to dinner then?¡±


    | couldn''t hear the response, but Cecilja giggled and covered her mouth, ¡°Hogan, you''re teasing me again.¡±


    | looked down at my notebook and smirked wryly at myself.


    11:37


    Chapter 10


    Six years of licking boots just for a prize nobody really wanted, couldn''t hold a candle to gifts picked out for a girlfriend.


    After lunch, Jack handed me the code he finishedst night for review. After a moment''s thought, | knocked on Cecilia¡¯s office


    door.


    When | walked in, Cecilia was fiddling with her newptop.


    Rose gold, designer brand, starting at a cool grand, at least.


    Mr. Zade sure doesn¡¯t pinch pennies,


    She shot me a sheepish look and said, ¡°Sorry, Xaviera, | had no Idea Hogan would send so many gifts out of the blue. Hope it


    didn¡¯t bother everyone.¡±


    ¡°How far did you get with the work | gave you yesterday?¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s eyes went wide, innocence written all over her face, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Xaviera, | just set up the newptop, haven''t started


    on the code yet.¡±


    Predictable.


    ¡°Think you can get a piece done before we clock out?¡±


    She looked troubled, ¡°I''ll try my best.¡±


    She said she''d try, and | didn¡¯t push. But back at my desk, | took over her work anyway.


    Although she was the boss¡® pet, she was also part of our tech team. If she was going to take credit, she gotta show she¡¯d earned


    it.


    The simple stuff needed to be done.


    Otherwise, it could rub the other colleagues the wrong way.


    Since she didn¡¯t finish, it''s up to me to pick up the ck.


    And just like that, | was busy till the moon was hanging high. ncing at the time, it was already past seven in the evening.


    | looked over at Cecilia''s office: she was still there, typing away at a message


    Sensing my gaze, Cecilia stood up, clutching herptop, and stepped out.


    ¡°Xaviera, | wrote a bit, can you take a look?¡± she asked, her voice tinged with eagerness.


    It made me feel a bit awkward, actually.


    | quickly scanned the code and was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Maybe I''d been too hard on her.


    Just as | was about to speak up, the girl¡¯s eyes suddenly welled up. ¡°Am | too dumb, Xaviera?¡±


    Before she could finish, the studio door swung open without warning. | looked up and there was


    11:37


    Chapter 10


    Hogan in the doorway.


    His gaze instantlynded on Cecilia¡¯s face, and she looked back, surprised. Then, hershes fluttered down, and she bit her lip


    gently, looking pretty downhearted.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    Chapter 11


    As soon as | got close, | could spot the displeasure in Hogan¡¯s eyes in a heartbeat.


    ¡°Ms. March, care to exin?¡±


    He sure was acting all by-the¡ªbook.


    Cecilia beat me to the punch and said, ¡°Hogan, it''s not Xaviera¡¯s fault, I¡¯m just a bit of a klutz.¡±


    The girl finished talking and then put on a guilty face.


    ¡°Go wait for me in the car,¡± Hogan said with a soothing tone, clearly trying to calm her down.


    Cecilia nced at me right away, as if she was asking for my opinion.


    | couldn''t help butugh and cry at the same time.


    With her sugar daddy here, why the heck would she care about my reaction?


    Seeing her still standing there, Hogan spoke again, ¡°Be a good girl.¡±


    Only then did Cecilia obediently pack up her things and leave.


    After a little while, | was summoned into Cecilia¡¯s office by Hogan.


    He was standing with his back to me, but his gaze was roaming all over the office, finallynding on my face. He asked, ¡°Still


    haven''t gotten the air purifier?¡±


    He was really sweating the small stuff.


    | said in a deep voice. ¡°The store said they''ll deliver it tomorrow.¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t jump right into a response. His long fingers were lightly tapping on the desk, and after a moment, he said, ¡°Cecilia


    isn¡¯t you. She barely made it into N University. Don¡¯t be too harsh on her.¡±


    Harsh.


    Just because | had her write a simple piece of front-end code, it was considered harsh in Hogan¡¯s book.


    Alright, he was the cash cow after all.


    | paused for a couple of seconds, then asked sensibly, ¡°So, Mr. Zade, what do you suggest should do when assigning tasks to


    Ms. Irwin in the future?¡±


    At that, Hogan raised his eyes, his gaze shing with mine, and he said seriously, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see a repeat of today¡¯s


    incident.¡±


    His tone was knocking on my conscience, underpinned by his firm stare, and that was when | realized that this was what it


    looked like when Hogan went all out to protect someone.


    Asharp pang of pain rushed through my chest as | heard myself say, ¡°I''ll follow your lead, Mr.


    11:38


    Chapter 11


    Zade.¡±


    By the time Hogan left, it was already 8 PM. Jack was still around, and seeing me motionless at my desk, he asked with concern,


    ¡°Xaviera, you feeling okay?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°Why do you look so pale then? Want me to take you to the hospital?¡±


    | waved him off, ¡°Probably just hungry, you head out first.¡±


    Jack hesitated, looking like he wanted to say more.


    He was there, sitting in the corner when Hogan and | were having our standoff.


    After a moment, | added, ¡°Really, I¡¯m fine. Go get some rest.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Only then did Jack leave.


    I sat in silence for a moment, then quietly started up myputer, but the code | was typing got more and more jumbled.


    Memories of the past wrapped around my heart like vines in the dark night, getting tighter and tighter until | could barely breathe.


    Six years, over two thousand days and nights... maybe in Hogan¡¯s eyes, these weren''t even in the same league as a bit of


    hardship for Cecilia.


    | worked on the code all night and spent time meticulously breaking down the entire front and back end of the game.


    If things went well, the build could be done in three months.


    | just needed to push myself a bit harder.


    Cecilia ran into me in the pantry while Lwas brushing my teeth, panic fleeting through her big almond eyes.


    ¡°Xaviera, did you spend the night here?¡±


    | spoke calmly. ¡°Had a bit of trouble with a line of code, just took some time to straighten it out.¡± Cecilia looked sympathetic,


    ¡°That¡¯s way too hard on you, hold on, I¡¯ve got some nuts that Hogan. sent over, I''ll grab some for you.¡±


    And with that, she darted off like a yful little bunny.


    Blissfully unaware.


    Acting like yesterday¡¯s upset never even happened.


    That must be what it was like to be someone¡¯s pampered princess.


    Not like me, whose only im to fame was a pile of code.


    2/3


    11:38


    Chapter 11


    For two consecutive days, | was submerged in non-stop work until a phone call broke through.


    It was Hry.


    ¡°Xaviera, the weekend is almost upon us. | know this great restaurant. Why don¡¯t you and your boyfriende and give it a try?¡±

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    Chapter 12


    No clue how Hry got her hands on my digits.


    And it was crystal clear that her dinner invite wasn¡¯t just about the food she had got ulterior motives.


    What was she fishing for?


    Could it be that Hogan hadn''t spilled the beans about Cecilia to her yet?


    Whatever it was, | was not keen on getting tangled up in the Zade family drama anymore.


    So | said, ¡°Sorry Mrs. Hry, gotta grind at work tomorrow.¡±


    She probably didn¡¯t see thating. There was a pause on the line before | heard Hry start to gripe, ¡°I heard from Hogan that


    Rainbow Capital¡¯s backing your project. I¡¯ll have to talk to him about not putting too much on your te.¡±


    Talk about pulling the investor-mom card to pressure me.


    | rubbed my temples and relented, ¡°Mrs. Hry, is tomorrow night okay?¡±


    ¡°Sure thing! I''ll send you the address. Just remember to bring your boyfriend along, okay?¡±


    Boyfriend? Since when?


    Oh well, | would cross that bridge when | get to Hry tomorrow.


    Saturday evening rolled around, and | showed up at this fancy restaurant on the outskirts of


    town.


    The ce was all decked out in fancy decor, and even the waitstaff were dressed to the nines ¡ª clearly, this joint was a money


    pit.


    Hry¡¯s riding high these days.


    Inside the private room, the well-kept woman looked at me in surprise, ¡°Why solo? Where¡¯s your boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s busy.¡±


    Hry¡¯s eyes narrowed with suspicion before she continued, ¡°No worries, Hogan¡¯s still on his way. Let¡¯s order first.¡±


    My grip on the teacup tightened.


    Hogan wasing tonight too?


    Seeing me silent, Hry shot me a probing look, ¡°Xaviera, yourpany¡¯s working with Hogan, right? Know a girl named


    Cecilia?¡±


    Bingo. Hogan hadn''t introduced Cecilia to the fam officially.


    Chapter 12


    | kept it professional, ¡°I don¡¯t really cross paths with Mr. Zade much, not sure about that.¡±


    Hry sighed, ¡°I was at Rainbow Capital yesterday and overheard the receptionist gossiping


    about Hogan ordering an expensive cocktail dress from a designer, for a Ms. Irwin.¡±


    Her eyes were fixed on me after she said that.


    | just smiled, ¡°Mrs. Hry, you might want to check with Mr. Zade directly on that.¡±


    Not my circus, not my monkeys, especially when it¡¯s Hogan.


    Hry, realizing | wasn¡¯t giving anything away, grumbled, ¡°Xaviera, I¡¯m just worried, you know. I¡¯ve seen Ms. Irwin¡¯s file regr


    background, her family runs a snack shop, nothing special academically. | just can¡¯t fathom what Hogan sees in her.¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    It was in and simple ¡ª in Hry''s book, Cecilia wasn¡¯t good enough for Hogan.


    Even | was surprised.


    I''d always figured the girl Hogan doted on would be some heiress from a big¡ªshot family in Rivertown.


    ¡°Look at me,¡± Hry saw my silence and quickly covered her mouth. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything by it, Xaviera. Let¡¯s just order, shall


    we?¡±


    | guess she was irked that Hogan would choose a girl who couldn¡¯t hold a candle to me.


    But then, love was never made much sense in this world, right?


    Before long, Hogan strolled in, suited and booted. When he saw just me and Hry, a smirk crossed his face.


    ¡°Boyfriend didn¡¯t make it?¡±


    As if he¡¯d pegged me for a liar from the get-go.


    Maybe | yed it too meek with these two before, giving them the illusion that they could push me around.


    Right on cue, my phone buzzed with a notification.


    Sneaking a peek, it was a message from Darren.


    [Free tomorrow night? Heard this thriller¡¯s pretty good, wanna check it out together?]


    | clutched the phone, casually said, ¡°Next time, for sure. I''ll bring him along.¡±

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    Chapter 13


    The meal was so nd | could hardly taste a thing.


    | was gritting my teeth, hanging out with Hry for a quick drink.


    Hogan didn¡¯t join in; between us, we barely exchanged a few words during the entire dinner.


    But his phone was buzzing non-stop.


    Hogan wasn¡¯t annoyed, though. He patiently replied to each message, a smirk asionally crossing his lips, barely touched his


    food, too.


    Didn¡¯t need a crystal ball to know who was blowing up his messages.


    Hry saw it all the worry in her eyes growing by the minute. Seizing the chance when Hogan stepped out, she vented to me,


    ¡°Xaviera, what¡¯s gotten into Hogan? He¡¯s acting like he¡¯s possessed or something.¡±


    I got it.


    After all, the old Hogan wouldn¡¯t dream of spending all his time texting back and forth.


    Now he had changed.


    After the meal, the Zade family¡¯s driver was waiting outside the restaurant. Hry nced at Hogan, still buried in his messages,


    and instructed, ¡°It''ste. You take Xaviera home.¡±


    Hogan acted as if he heard nothing..


    | found myself an out, ¡°Mrs. Hry, I¡¯ve called a ride.¡±


    A flicker of guilt crossed Hry¡¯s eyes, rare for her.


    Soon, it was just me and Hogan left in front of the restaurant. | was app when Hogan¡¯s deep voice reached my ears, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    | looked at him, surprised, realizing he meant to drive me home.


    ¡°Thanks, Mr. Zade, but I¡¯ve got a ride.¡±


    firing up the rideshareContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Hogan stopped in his tracks, he calmly studying my face, then said with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°What, worried your boyfriend will get


    the wrong idea?¡±


    | dropped the act.


    | mean, why waste seven or eight bucks on a ride if | could help it?


    I''d got to say, thefort of a luxury car was hard to beat.


    And sure enough, no sooner had | settled into the passenger seat than my eyelids started squabbling with each other.


    I''d been running on fumes for two or three days straight, and the alcohol was nudging me


    1/2


    11:38


    Chapter 11


    towards sleep.


    Somehow, Hogan picked up on that and said softly. ¡°Sleep. I¡¯ll wake you when we get there.¡±


    His voice was unexpectedly kind.


    | hesitated for a mere two seconds before sleep snatched away my willpower.


    | didn¡¯t know how much time passed, but | vaguely heard the vibration of a phone and cracked


    my eyes open.


    Through the fuzziness, | saw Hogan up close.


    He was staring at me.


    But those familiar eyes weren''t sharp and cold as before; they were tender as water.


    Illusion or reality?


    The familiar scent of soap filled my nostrils.


    The crisp fragrance was eroding my senses in this confined space.


    My gaze drifted down, and | noticed Hogan¡¯s usually neat cor hade undone at some point, revealing a patch of pale skin


    and the edge of his straight corbone.


    Just like in countless dreams, he sat there, reserved and alluring.


    But if this was a dream, why would those cool eyes suddenly flicker with a vivid spark?


    Oddly out of character.


    The night was silent, and we just looked at each other quietly.


    But a dangerous vibe was growing like mildew after rain, uncontrobly burgeoning deep within


    1.me.


    My heart fluttered, my breathing grew heavy.


    My sanity started to crumble, and next thing | knew, my hand reached out on its own, grabbing Hogan¡¯s tie and pulling him


    closer.


    It was just a dream, right?


    My breaths were erratic as | heard myself whisper, ¡°Babe.¡±


    In an instant, the scorching breath brushed my neck, too real to be a dream.


    | btedly tried to pull back, but Hogan¡¯s icy fingers gripped my shoulder de, imperiously possessive.


    No, this wasn¡¯t a dream.


    My eyes snapped open, and as Hogan leaned in, | turned my face away without a second thought.

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    Chapter 14


    The ambiguity finally ended.


    My heart pounding against my chest felt like an invisible p across my face.


    I snapped to my senses in a second.


    ¡°Your phone is ringing.¡±


    | jolted, shifted slightly, and suddenly noticed something had slid to my feet. Looking down, | saw Hogan¡¯s suit jacket.


    | pretended not to notice, fixated on the shing name on my phone.


    It was a call from Darren.


    ¡°Aren''t you going to answer?¡± Hogan reminded me again, his tone neither warm nor cold, ¡°It''s been ringing for a while.¡±


    | gripped my phone tighter, looked out the window, and realized the car had stopped in front of my apartment building.


    I said my thanks. ¡°Thanks for tonight, Mr. Zade. Get some rest early.¡±


    ¡°No worries, just on my way.¡±


    His voice was soft, betraying no emotion.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    If not for the thunderous beating of my heart, | might have doubted that everything just now was merely my own illusion.


    As my gaze swept past Hogan, | saw him open a pink kitty avatar and ask with a tender tone. ¡°Are you asleep yet?¡±


    | had seen that avatar in thepany group; it was Cecilia.


    That was when | realized Hogan¡¯s ¡®on my way¡¯ was quite literal.


    His pampered princess just happened to live right above me.


    | pinched the palm of my hand and silently got out of the car.


    It was just a dream.


    In an instant, my phone in my palm rang again, | steadied myself and answered.


    Awarm voice tinged with rare impatience came through, ¡°Xaviera, are you alright?¡±


    | was a bit stunned, ¡°I¡¯m fine, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°| heard from Jack that you¡¯ve been pulling all-nighters these past days and haven''t been replying to messages.¡±


    Jack was initially rmended by Darren to join the studio.


    1/2


    11:38


    Judging by Darren¡¯s tone, | thought he was probably worried I¡¯d work myself to death.


    Considering the message he sent during dinner and the handbag he¡¯d given me earlier, my feelings were mixed.


    It was rare to have such a friend looking out for me In this vast Rivertown.


    So | suggested. ¡°Are you free tomorrow night? I''d like to treat you to dinner.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    As the words left my mouth, | felt it was a bit abrupt and corrected myself, ¡°Another day is fine


    too.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow night,¡± Darren said eagerly, ¡°finish up and send me a message, I''lle pick your up.¡±


    The next afternoon, Darren arrived at the studio as promised.


    Dressed in a white embossed crew neck sweatshirt, dark brown casual pants, and white sneakers, he looked rxed and artsy.


    He was also carrying a shopping bag.


    Seeing that | was still coding, he confidently headed to the pantry with a box of blueberries.


    I started packing up my desk to leave.


    That was when a video call came through. | checked, and it was Hry.


    At this hour, why was she calling me?


    After hesitating for a few seconds, | still answered.


    And instantly, Hry''s urgent voice came through, ¡°Xaviera, Hogan¡¯s lost his mind, he¡¯s actually taking Ms. Irwin to tonight''s


    family dinner, and no one can talk him out of it.¡±


    Hry was already freaking out about a family dinner, she¡¯d probably explode if she knew Hogan had offhandedly invested five


    hundred thousand to ¡®gold¡ªte¡® Cecilia for us.


    And | had to keep it a secret from Hry.


    To talk or not to talk, that was the dilemma.


    Feeling uneasy, | didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Just as | was pondering how to decline, Darren came over with the washed blueberries.


    ¡°Xaviera, try these.¡±


    His long fingers suddenly appeared in front of my mouth, shocking me speechless.


    Then, | heard Hry¡¯s gasp. ¡°Xaviera, is this your new boyfriend?¡±


    Darren''s smooth facial contours were captured on the video at that moment.

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15


    Chapter 15


    By the time | realized what was happening, | hastily switched the camera.


    Through the earpiece, Hry¡¯s voice had an unmistakable hint of disbelief, ¡°Sorry about that, Xaviera. You see, | got carried away


    chatting your ear off. Let¡¯s catch up some other time, shall we?¡±


    Before | could even respond, Hry had already hung up.


    | awkwardly turned to Darren and said, ¡°Sorry about that, Hogan¡¯s mom might have...¡±


    ¡°Rough, huh?¡± Darren blurted out unexpectedly, with a touch of concern in his voice.


    | looked up at him, unsure which kind of ¡®rough¡® he was referring to.


    Work, or dealing with my ex¡ªboyfriend¡¯s mother.


    Seeing that | didn¡¯t say anything. Darren handed me a blueberry, ¡°For your eyes, they help with the fatigue. Have some more.¡±


    | felt a bit off inside but changed the subject, ¡°It¡¯s about time for lunch, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Darren tactfully dropped the topic.


    At the restaurant, | looked at the mountain of tes in front of me and sheepishly said, ¡°Darren, it''s not often | treat someone, so


    please eat up.¡±


    After speaking. | politely pushed the salmon his way.


    Darren gave me a look and said, ¡°Xaviera, you''re too skinny. Health is the real wealth, especially


    if you want to conquer the business world. You can¡¯t afford to be under the weather.¡±


    And he pushed the salmon back to me.


    | couldn''t argue with him and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat it together.¡±


    The meal was actually quite enjoyable.


    But when it came time to pay, the server politely informed me that Darren had already taken care of the bill.


    ¡°How about you treat next time, is that okay?¡±


    He was gentle and modest, and as he spoke, he refunded the transfer right in front of me.


    | didn¡¯t agree and suggested we go Dutch, to which Darren chuckled as if he had something on me, ¡°I treat once, you treat once;


    that¡¯s still going Dutch.¡±


    | was momentarily at a loss for words!


    By the time the outing wrapped up, it was already 9 PM, and Darren insisted on walking me down to my building.


    11-38


    Chapter 15


    Under the streetlight, his shadow stretched out long and thin, but he showed no sign of leaving.. After a moment, he adjusted his


    silver-rimmed sses and said, ¡°You see, aside from coding. there¡¯s a lot of fun stuff to do, right?¡±


    He was referring to the hoop-throwing game he''d taken me to after dinner.


    | didn¡¯t want to burst his bubble, so | went along, and it was clear he was having a st.


    | was not really used to this kind of attention, so | just said, ¡°Thanks for today, be careful on the road.¡±


    Darren, always knowing when to advance and when to retreat, wished me goodnight and drove


    off.


    | quietly returned to my ce and turned in early for a change, but as soon as | closed my eyes, sleep eluded me.


    Hry¡¯s words came to mind.


    If | wasn¡¯t wrong, tonight was the night Hogan would formally introduce Cecilia to the Zade family.


    And me, who had been humble for six years, didn¡¯t even know which way the Zade family¡¯s front door swung.


    The contrast was stark.


    Right, from two years ago, Hogan and | were on different paths.


    The most pressing matter was something else entirely.


    Aknock interrupted my thoughts.


    ¡°Who''s there?¡± | was totally confused.


    ¡°It''s me.¡±


    The deep voice barely made it through the crack of the door before | stood there, stunned.


    It was Hogan''s voice, no mistake.


    But wasn¡¯t he supposed to be at the family dinner with Cecilia tonight?


    Why would he show up at my ce at this time?


    Suspicious, | heard his voice again from outside, ¡°Open up.¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    He sounded pretty assertive.


    But why should I?


    Even though he was the investor, it didn¡¯t make sense for him to be dropping by my house in the middle of the night, right?


    Chapter 15


    | stood there expressionless, and the next second, | heard Hogan¡¯s increasingly insistent knocking.


    It was getting louder.


    Not wanting to disturb the neighbors, | cracked the door and asked, ¡°Mr. Zade, what''s the matter?¡±


    | looked up only to collide with his hazy, drunken eyes.


    The heavy smell of alcohol barged into my nostrils, and before | could even close the door, Hogan pushed through with force,


    slumping onto my shoulder.


    ¡°Babe, you''ve got a cold heart, howe you didn¡¯t leave the door open for your hubby?¡±


    When Hogan called me babe, his face was buried in my shoulder, and his tone was full of self-pity.


    Clearly, he¡¯d had one too many.


    Leave the door open?


    Did he really think he still had a ce in my life?

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    Chapter 16


    | was fuming inside, and then it hit me that this might be a big misunderstanding.


    Calling for his babe was the real deal.


    As was leaving the door open.


    But Hogan was definitely not looking for me.


    Connecting the dots with Hry''s mention of a family dinner, | figured Hogan must have had some beef with Ceci tonight.


    After all, other than Cecilia, no one else could get Mr. High¡ªand¡ªMighty Hogan toe knocking for peace at this hour.


    Certainly not me.


    With that in mind, | collected myself and reminded him, ¡°Mr. Zade, your babe¡¯s upstairs.¡±


    After saying that, | tried to shove him away.


    But instead of letting go, Hogan pulled me in even tighter, ¡°Babe, you''re still mad at me, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    His sweet-talking and clingy hug stoked the fire in my chest even more.


    | gritted my back teeth and said earnestly, ¡°Hogan, you¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡±


    But Hogan wouldn''t have it, ¡°Too much, huh? Last night you were calling me ¡®babe,¡¯ and now straight to first names?¡±


    Clearly, the guy was stered.


    | took a deep breath and said, ¡°Hogan, look up and see who | really am, will you?¡±


    The man slowly lifted his head, our eyes met, and | caught a glimpse of red at the corner of his


    eyes.


    | was taken aback, feeling like something lightly scratched at my heart, swallowing the words |


    was about to say.


    This was the first time I¡¯d seen Hogan lose his cool like this.


    The next second, he was all over me like a man possessed, pinning me against the foyer.


    When our lips met, | unexpectedly saw a surge of desire in his eyes.


    My breathing was all over the ce.


    A total mess.


    It felt like there was a hole in my chest, the more intense Hogan¡¯s kisses, the colder my heart


    got.


    11:39


    Checta


    | couldn''t stand it anymore and bit down on his lip without any courtesy.


    ¡°Hisss.¡±


    Hogan winced in pain, took a sharp breath, and looked at me in astonishment.


    Ljust watched him calmly, my breathing still erratic, ¡°Clear-headed now?¡±


    Hogan seemed to still be tangled in the moment, and after a few seconds, he licked the blood off his lip and stormed out the


    door.


    With the mming of the door, | copsed like a deted balloon, slumping to the ground.


    Come Monday morning, | went to work as usual, only to bump into Cecilia at the elevator.


    The girl was sporting a cute bun, engrossed in messaging.


    She seemed in a good mood.


    When she saw me, she cheerfully greeted, ¡°Hey Xaviera, good morning.¡±


    The joy in her eyes was obvious.


    Not the look of someone who had been cornered at the Zade family dinner.


    When | thought of Hogan''s disheveled statest night, a flicker of doubt crossed my mind.


    Just then, a man¡¯s voice came from Cecilia¡¯s phone, ¡°You had a tough night too, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle things at home.¡±


    Deep and husky, as if he had just woken up.


    Hogan¡¯s voice.


    Cecilia probably didn¡¯t realize she had identally turned on the speaker, and after locking the screen, she sneaked a peek at


    me.


    Then she stepped aside to text back.


    As the elevator doors closed, | faintly heard Cecilia say, ¡°Hogan, hearing you say that really makes me happy.¡±


    Now it all made sense.


    Hogan, bitten by the love bug, swallowed his pride and silently protected Cecilia.


    How could the girl not be in high spirits?


    Not like me.


    away at


    I spent the morning hammering coding.


    After lunch, the studio door burst open, and a man in a suit, carrying coffee, stepped in, ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m Mr. Zade¡¯s


    assistant, Zachary, here to bring Mrs. Zade her afternoon tea.¡±


    | found the voice familiar, and when | looked up at Zachary, it clicked.


    He was Hogan¡¯s junior from the finance department, who idolized Hogan back in the day, and now here he was, running errands


    post-graduation, delivering afternoon tea.


    It seemed that Cecilia had managed to spark some romance in Hogan.


    | gave a self-mocking smirk, and as | was about to look away, | saw Zachary striding towards


    1.me.


    As our eyes met. | heard him chuckle. ¡°Mrs. Zade, your coffee.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    As he said this, Cecilia just stepped out of the office, and hearing him, she bowed her head.


    Her face went pale in embarrassment.

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    Chapter 17


    | really didn¡¯t expect to stir up such a mess.


    Seeing the hurt in Cecilia¡¯s eyes, | quickly smoothed things over and said, ¡°Assistant Zachary, this tea is for Ms. Irwin.¡±


    Zachary caught on quick. After hearing me out, he pivoted on his heel and handed the coffee to Cecilia.


    She gave it a nce and murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t do ck coffee.¡±


    ck coffee was Hogan''s thing.


    | used to drink it just to go along with him, and now it¡¯s be a habit.


    Zachary pped his forehead and said, ¡°Look at my memory. Please don¡¯t hold it against me, Ms. Irwin.¡±


    Cecilia wasn¡¯t holding a grudge, but once she got back to her office, she stayed put all afternoon.


    She kept at her desk until the end of the day.


    One by one, folks trickled out, leaving just the two of us in the now-empty studio.


    | worked on, business as usual, until a notification bell rang in my ear.


    | looked up, and who should show up but Hogan, looking like he''d just finished a marathon.


    Our eyes met, and | instantly noticed the scab on his lip, which irked me a bit.


    ¡°Where''s Cecilia?¡± he asked, his voice making an entrance as if the kiss fromst night never happened.


    Talk about perfect timing.


    | gave him a look and said, ¡°She hasn''t left.¡±


    Without another word, Hogan beelined it to the tech department office.


    Not a peep more.


    Momentster, Cecilia¡¯s tender voice floated out, ¡°Hogan, what brings you here all of a sudden?¡±


    All soft and sweet, with a touch of vulnerability.


    ¡°Zachary said you looked a bit off. Feeling unwell?¡± he asked.


    Cecilia¡¯s voice dipped a couple of notches, ¡°Did youe because you were worried about me?¡±


    | didn¡¯t catch what Hogan replied, but Cecilia¡¯s mood flipped to cheerful in an instant.


    11:39


    They seemed to be in a good ce,


    But then, the girl caught sight of Hogan¡¯s lin, ¡°Hogan, what happened to your mouth?


    My hand on the mouse froze as | heard Hogan''s unflustered response, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a little bumb,¡±


    Cecilia, ever so obedient, didn¡¯t press further..


    They left the office together, Cecilia heading to the restroom and Hogan patiently waiting


    outside.


    Noticing | was still coding, he took a couple of steps forward and, out of the blue, asked, ¡°How¡¯s the progress?¡±


    ¡°It''s alright.¡±


    ¡°No need to rush. You''re not a machine,¡± he said, ncing at the calendar on my desk with my work schedule clearly marked.


    | kept typing, not biting.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    | had a feeling he wasn¡¯t done talking.


    Soon after, | heard the flush from the restroom, and then Hogan said, ¡°Aboutst night, don¡¯t tell Cecilia.¡±


    My heart skipped a beat, and that was when | got the gist of what Hogan wanted to say.


    He hadn''t forgotten.


    He just wanted to let me know it was a slip¡ªup.


    As expected, yet hearing him say it made my heart twinge.


    | kept myposure, met Hogan¡¯s gaze, and asked with a smile, ¡°What incident are you referring to. Mr. Zade?¡±


    He looked taken aback, probably not expecting me to y it that way.


    Cecilia walked up at that moment, and seeing us talking, she stayed quiet and just stood there.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, don¡¯t worry,¡± | said, not looking for trouble, ¡°I won¡¯t let it affect my work.¡±


    Cecilia seemed relieved at my words.


    After they left. | pulled a longer shift. By the time | got to my neighborhood, Wallis rang me up.


    ¡°That Simon is such a piece of work. | offered him such a sweet sry, and he¡¯s still ying hard to get.¡±


    Wallis was talking about a PR manager she had been eyeing to take charge of our game¡¯s promotion.


    Half-jokingly, | said, ¡°If all else fails, why not seduce him?¡±


    11-79


    ¡°Stop it,¡± Wallis gigated flirtatiously, ¡°And to be honest, he is kind of my type.¡±


    Was this a business trip or a fling?


    Better keep it from the investors.


    Over the phone, Wallisughed heartily, then shifted gears, ¡°How about you? I¡¯ve been away for


    a few days, they haven''t given you too much grief, have they?¡±

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    Chapter 18


    | casually said, ¡°No biggie, if Hogan is cool with tossing in another five hundred thousand, make sure even his precious girl is


    well taken care of,¡±


    What was more solid than cold, hard cash, right?


    | was about to hang up when, lo and behold, | spotted Hogan and Cecilia not too far away.


    Talk about freaky timing.


    Cecilia blinked those big beautiful eyes of hers and said in a tone of surprise, ¡°Xaviera, you live


    here too?¡±


    Hogan and Cecilia were just a stone¡¯s throw away.


    | wasn¡¯t sure if they caught any of my chat with Wallis,


    Awkwardness washed over me, tinged with a hint of guilt.


    | was worried Hogan might read my mind.


    After all, no investor likes someone eyeballing their wallet all day, every day.


    yed it cool and said, ¡°Been living here for a few months now.¡±


    ¡°Me too,¡± Cecilia¡¯s voice rose and fell dramatically. ¡°But I''ve barely seen you around.¡±


    ¡°My schedule¡¯s all over the ce.¡±


    Us coders were a different breed ¡ª burning the midnight oil was business as usual, and my sleep was all messed up. Sometimes


    | was nocturnal, so running into someone was pure serendipity.


    Kinda like today.


    The three of us ended up sharing an elevator ride.


    The only thing separating Cecilia and me were the ninth and tenth floors.


    When | pressed my floor button, Cecilia¡¯s face froze for a sec.


    | thought, if | hadn¡¯t moved in before her, she¡¯d probably tag me as some sort of schemer.


    me Hogan for not thinking things through.


    | did give him a heads-up.


    Cecilia¡¯s gaze was darting all over me, finallynding on my hand.


    ¡°Wow, Xaviera, a new Davidliu design?¡± Cecilia eyed me enviously, ¡°It¡¯s not even out at home yet, how¡¯d you snag it?¡±


    She was referring to the handbag Darren had given me.


    11:39


    Chapter 18


    When | got it, all | thought was it felt nice, had no clue about this Davidliu hype.


    But judging by Cecilia''s look, it must be a big deal.


    | told her straight, ¡°A friend gave it to me.¡±


    Cecilia blinked and teased. ¡°Your friend sure went all out. That bag¡¯s a limited edition, only a hundred in the world ¡ª a real


    collector''s piece.¡±


    Now | was the one lost for words.


    I had no idea it was some exclusive limited edition.


    Hogan¡¯s scoff came at just the wrong moment.


    | heard him ask Cecilia, ¡°It¡¯s just a bag, you like it?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that,¡± Cecilia dialed back the envy, ¡°I just think Xaviera has good taste.¡±


    The elevator door opened, | nodded slightly and walked out without a word.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    In the back, | vaguely heard Hogan say, ¡°Your understanding of taste isn¡¯t that great.¡±


    He was spot on.


    Not only was | clueless about bags, but my taste in men was even worse.


    Speaking of bags, | took a peek at the logo and looked up the price online.


    Ignorance is bliss, they say well, | was shocked.


    For a niche brand with such a straightforward design, the price tag was in the five digits.


    Suddenly, carrying it on the subway felt like a sacrilege.


    he website | built for Darren, even with a price tag on it, wouldn¡¯t evene close to this.


    The


    | felt kind of bad about it.


    | dug up Darren¡¯s contact, racked my brain, but couldn¡¯te up with the right words.


    Just as | was about to put my phone away, a friend request caught my eye.


    My heart skipped a beat.


    It was a picture of a sunset glow.


    Along time ago, taken by Hogan at N University¡¯s artificialke.


    That day marked 1,460 days of my crush on him. We sat on the grass outside the crowd, the sunlight was just right, a gentle


    breeze in the air. He was engrossed in his book, | was engrossed in him, until the sun set, and we maintained that not-too¡ª


    close¡ªnot-too-far distance.


    Feeling a bit down, | started packing up. My hand identally brushed against his knuckles, | was about to pull away, but he


    took my hand in his.


    11:39


    Chapter 18


    It was the first time Hogan held my hand on his own. Right before the afterglow faded, he snapped that picture.


    Two years had passed, and | never thought this deleted avatar would reappear in my friend requests.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    Chapter 19


    | was zoning out staring at Hogan¡¯s profile pic.


    Honestly, | was nning to give this friend request a pass.


    But of course, Hogan had to be a big¡ªshot Investor.


    If he just wanted to talk shop and | got all petty now, that would look bad on me.


    After much thought, | epted the friend request.


    And within moments, a transfer notification popped up unexpectedly.


    Like, what¡¯s up with this investor ying Santate at night?


    | didn¡¯t say much, just shot over a question mark.


    Then a voice message popped up.


    ¡°Compensation.¡±


    Suddenly, that steamy kiss fromst night shed through my mind, and everything clicked.


    That investment banker sure knew how to y the generosity card.


    | wasn¡¯t shy; | hit ept on that payment.


    No one everined about having too much cash, right?


    And if | didn¡¯t take it, Hogan would probably be restless.


    After collecting the dough, | thought about saying thanks, but as | started typing, | hesitated.


    With the way things were between us, even one extra word seemed out of ce.


    So, | ended up saying nothing.


    Omeone


    The next day, business as usual at the office, but | couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that from the tech department kept sneaking


    nces my way, like they were probing for something. It left a sour taste in my heart.


    Post-lunch, Cecilia came up to me, ¡°Xaviera, can | take a half-day off?¡±


    | secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    So she just wanted time off.


    Before | could reply, Cecilia added, ¡°Hogan¡¯s mom invited me for tea, and | just don¡¯t know how to say no.¡±


    She looked down, all helpless.


    She didn¡¯t need to spill the beans to me, but | was cool about it, ¡°No worries, go ahead. If it¡¯s


    Chapter Ty


    late, feel free to call it a day.¡±


    Cecilia looked up, hershes fluttering, ¡°You¡¯re so understanding, Xaviera.¡±


    | didn¡¯t have the heart to tell her | was just ying nice because of the cash,


    Plus, I''d already finished the work she had on her te, so no dys there.


    | figured my decision was fair and square, but it wasn¡¯t long before | got a call from Hry.


    ¡°Xaviera, you''ve really done me dirty, haven¡¯t you? And | trusted you so much!¡±


    Her using tone, paired with her booming voice, sounded like fury was about to burst through the phone.


    Confused, | asked, ¡°What''s going on?¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me Cecilia was working at your studio?¡± Hry was fuming. ¡°Are you and Hogan ying me for a fool?¡±


    | had seen thising, but Hry¡¯s reproach still managed to stir up a sense of Injustice in me.


    In a daze, it seemed like | could hear Cecilia¡¯s timid apologies.


    Rubbing my temples, | said, ¡°Mrs. Hry, hold on. I''lle over now.¡±


    Some things just couldn¡¯t be settled over the phone.


    Fifteen minutester, | rushed to the fancy cafe where Hry and Cecilia were.


    From a distance, | saw Cecilia with her head hung low, sitting across from a fuming Hry, her face ashen.


    The vibe was anything but chill.


    ¡°Mrs. Hry.¡± | sat down and pushed aside the coffee in front of Hry, signalling to the waiter, ¡°A low¡ªsugar juice for thisdy,


    please.¡±


    Hry got a bad heart, and the doc told her toy off the coffee.


    Seeing my gesture, Hry cooled down and said gruffly, ¡°Hogan¡¯s being a fool, and you''re joining in the nonsense. How could


    you agree to have this person under your watch?¡±


    She shot Cecilia a look.


    Cecilia turned pale, biting her lip tightly.


    | sighed and said, ¡°Mrs. Hry, it¡¯s our fault for keeping it from you, but Ms. Irwin was just following Mr. Zade¡¯s instructions. She¡¯s


    not to me.¡±


    Hry looked at me in disbelief and asked, ¡°Doesn''t it bother you?¡±


    | forced a smile and said. ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s generous. I¡¯m too busy being grateful to be bothered.¡±


    Chapter


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    Chapter 20


    Before | even finished talking. Cecilia across from me suddenly stood up, staring past me, and stuttered. ¡°Hogan.¡±


    Her eyes were getting even redder as she spoke.


    Hogan quickly moved to Cecilia¡¯s side in just a couple of strides, shielding her with his body. and demanded, ¡°What the heck


    have you two said to her?¡±


    He said ¡°you two.¡±


    That included me too.


    When Hogan spoke, a vein on his forehead was throbbing.


    He was clearly peeved.


    For someone as usually cool as a cucumber like him, this was a rare loss of control, especially with Hry standing right there.


    In my memory, those two, mother and son, had never had a heated argument.


    But now, for Cecilia¡¯s sake, even his tone with Hry had an edge to it.


    Hry seemed blindsided by how things had escted, pointing at Hogan and saying, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for you, don¡¯t you know


    that?¡±


    After saying that, she stormed out with tears in her eyes.


    Just as | was about to follow, | heard Hogan say, ¡°In a rush to brown-nose?¡±


    | stopped dead in my tracks, torn betweenughter and tears.


    That was when Cecilia, standing off to the side, spoke up, ¡°Hogan, you''ve got it all wrong, it¡¯s not Xaviera¡¯s fault, | identally let


    something slip.¡±


    Hogan gave me a skeptical look, half-believing.


    It was my bad for getting my hands dirty in this mess.


    After a while, | said, ¡°I¡¯m heading back to the office.¡±


    ¡°Xaviera, let Hogan give you a lift.¡±


    | declined with a smile, ¡°Nah, it¡¯s out of his way.¡±


    Back at the office, the more | thought about it, the more it bothered me. After this afternoon¡¯s drama, | figured my cover as the


    ¡®ex¡¯ was pretty much blown.


    Judging by how Hogan dotes on Cecilia, | had this nagging feeling that something bad was brewing.


    | hope Wallis wasn¡¯t right.


    Chapter 20


    The ping of a notification snapped me out of my thoughts.


    | checked it and, lo and behold, another transfer.


    I stared at those tempting digits, my lips twitching stiffly.


    Should | call him nuts, ormend him for knowing the score?


    While | was hesitating, a message caught my eye. [Tough day,pensation.]


    Dry words, no emotion to be read.


    | clenched my jaw and epted the money without a second thought, pondering whether I¡¯d stumbled upon a new money¡ª


    making scheme, but quickly scrapped that idea.


    After all, Hogan was the finance whiz¡ªkid with a Midas touch. He¡¯d never let me get the upper hand for free.


    After a moment''s thought. | putled up my friends list and hit delete.


    Looking at my phone bnce, | felt a wave of relief.


    Before clocking out, Jack sidled up to me and asked, ¡°Xaviera, what time are you heading out the day after tomorrow?¡±


    | was clueless. ¡°Heading out where?¡±


    ¡°To Darren¡¯s birthday bash,¡± Jack said, then realizing something was off, he added in surprise. ¡°He hasn¡¯t told you yet?¡±


    Darren hadn''t mentioned it, which was normal since we weren''t that close.


    But Jack¡¯s remark gave me an idea for a return gift.


    | silently opened a shopping app but ended up browsing with no luck.


    Then | remembered Darren liked photography back in college, so | decided to hit the mall during lunch the next day.


    Come the next day, | was at the counter, looking and looking, indecisive.


    ¡°Miss, looking for a particr style?¡± the sales assistant asked.


    | replied seriously, ¡°It¡¯s a gift, for a guy.¡±


    The assistant gave a knowing look and pointed to a vintage¡ªstyle SLR, ¡°This retro brown one is really good value, you might


    want to consider it.¡±


    | checked the price tag and thought it was pretty reasonable, so | said, ¡°Wrap it up, please.¡± ¡°Your boyfriend¡¯s one lucky guy, he¡¯s


    going to love this gift¡± said the assistant.


    | didn¡¯t respond, secretly scoffing that I¡¯d have to pay more attention to price tags when receiving gifts in the future. Thank


    goodness for Hogan¡¯s transfer, or I''d be in over my head.


    Chapter 20


    While | was sighing over this, a familiar sharine voice suddenly rang out next to me. ¡°Xaviera, what a coincidence.


    | looked towards the voice, involuntarily furrowing my brow.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Hogan and Cecilia were standing just a couple of steps away.


    Talk about a coincidence.

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    Chapter 21


    The mall where | visited was just four stops away from my studio.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for overhearing Cecilia on the phone talking about grabbing a bite before lunch break, | would¡¯ve bet she and


    Hogan had bugged me or something.


    But since | bumped into them, | had no choice but to say hi.


    Cecilia took a quick peek at the camera bag in my hand and asked, ¡°Are you into photography too, Xaviera?¡±


    | replied softly, ¡°Just window shopping.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a coincidence.¡± Cecilia shot Hogan a look, then turned back to me and said, ¡°I was worried | wouldn''t pick the right one.


    Could you help me decide?¡±


    The cameras from this brand start with a four¡ªfigure price tag. pretty much what Cecilia makes in two months. She sounded so


    casual about it, | figured Hogan was footing the bill.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Sorry, | haven¡¯t had lunch yet.¡± | turned down her request, adding, ¡°You should ask the saleswoman. She¡¯s the pro.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s smile froze for a sec, but she quickly yed it cool, saying. ¡°My bad, | didn¡¯t think it through.¡±


    | gave a smallugh and disappeared into the crowd.


    | did buy the gift, but how to deliver it was another story.


    | couldn''t just crash Darren¡¯s birthday party unannounced.


    Though I''d done that kind of dumb move before, like on the first birthday Hogan and | held hands.


    In front of everyone, he subtly suggested | take off early, not exactly a fond memory.


    The sound snapped me out of my thoughts.


    It was a call from Darren.


    ¡°Free tomorrow night?¡±


    | wasn¡¯t really keen on going to a birthday bash, but it¡¯d be rude not to show when returning a favor, so | asked, ¡°Who''s gonna be


    there?¡±


    ¡°Just three or four friends, you know them.¡±


    He didn¡¯t mention the birthday thing, probably didn¡¯t want me to splurge.


    | paused for a second, then said, ¡°Send me the address.¡±


    Funnily enough, he sent the location where Hry had invited mest time.


    11:40


    Chapter 21


    Honestly, the chef''s skills were nothing to scoff at.


    | was kind of looking forward to it.


    Fast forward to the next day.


    After wrapping up my work, | started tidying my desk.


    Seeing this, Jack quipped, ¡°Xaviera, no rush. Darren won''t dare to blow out his candles without you there.¡±


    | was about to mention catching the subway when Cecilia¡¯s office door swung open, and she looked at me curiously, ¡°Got ns


    tonight, Xaviera?¡±


    | nodded and then heard Jack say, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Xaviera. Darren made me promise to get you to Aurora Eats safe and sound.¡±


    Who knew this geeky guy could be such a chatterbox?


    The car sped along, and we finally arrived at the private room at half-past seven.


    Not many people inside, just Darren and a couple of ssmates, Tina Ferber and some familiar¡ªlooking guy, all around the


    same age.


    Darren came up to greet us as soon as he saw me and Jack, ¡°Hungry? I''ll get the kitchen started.¡±


    Jack teased, ¡°Hold your horses, Darren. Xavieraes bearing gifts, carried all the way here.¡± Darren¡¯s eyes flickered with


    surprise, joy obvious but unspoken, ¡°Really? That¡¯s too generous.¡±


    ¡°Darren, can you at least manage your face when you speak?¡±


    Darren shot Jack a re, then turned to me. ¡°Let¡¯s take our seats.¡±


    | handed over the gift, ¡°Happy birthday, Darren.¡±


    Darren paused pulling out a chair, turned around, and his eyesnded on the camera bag in my hand. His happy expression


    suddenly cracked.


    Seemed like he wasn''t too thrilled.


    The guy next to him blurted out, ¡°A Leica camera, huh? That''s straight to Darren¡¯s heart.¡±


    As he finished speaking, the door to the room opened out of the blue.


    Our gazes all shifted to the entrance, and Hogan¡¯s tall figure came into view.


    His eyes narrowed, focusing on the camera bag in Darren¡¯s hand, pupils trembling slightly. Then, Cecilia''s face popped out from


    behind him.


    ¡°| told you | heard Xaviera¡¯s voice,¡± Cecilia clung to Hogan¡¯s arm, proudly saying, ¡°And | was right.¡±

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    Chapter 22


    Hogan and Cecilia¡¯s private room was right next door.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Talk about a crazy coincidence.


    ¡°It''s fate.¡± Darren said with his usual chill vibe, his voice gentle. ¡°Hogan, mind if we have a drink. together?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s response came cool and distant, ¡°Is that appropriate?¡±


    There wasn¡¯t any emotion in his voice.


    Darren joked half-seriously, ¡°Mr. Zade, are you giving me the cold shoulder?¡±


    After that, he called them over to sit down.


    The head of the table.


    Cecilia had just taken her seat when her eyes suddenlynded on Darren¡¯s camera bag. She eximed in surprise. ¡°Wow, the


    camera bag Xaviera was so choosy about turned out to be a gift for Mr. Yearwood.¡±


    Darren paused. ¡°Choosy?¡±


    Cecilia, ever the social butterfly, said in her sweet, soft voice, ¡°Yeah, in the middle of broad daylight, Xaviera ran off to the mall.


    The salesdy said she took ages to decide.¡±


    After Darren heard this, he nced my way, a twinkle in his eye.


    It made me feel kinda embarrassed.


    After all, it was a return gift: too expensive or too cheap wouldn¡¯t be right. Of course, | had to pick carefully.


    Now, with Cecilia painting it this way, it seemed like I¡¯d gone to great lengths.


    | was slightly annoyed, hoping to get the meal over with and clear out early.


    Just then, Jack''s reminder came, ¡°Xaviera, you''re sitting over there.¡±


    He earnestly pointed to the seat next to Darren.


    Jack, being an old middle school buddy of Darren¡¯s, didn¡¯t know the backstory between Hogan and me.


    And just like that, with his cue, all eyes, as if on cue, turned to me.


    In an eight-person room, there were still two seats open, but if | stubbornly refused to go over, it would be a bit of a p in


    Darren''s face.


    | didn¡¯t make a scene and quietly took my seat.


    From the corner of my eye, | felt a gaze brushing past me, and when | looked up, | saw Hogan.


    11:40


    carefully cleaning utensils for Cecilia.


    Those long fingers | thought were only made for holding a pen were now tainted with the scent of everyday life, all because of a


    young girl.


    The food and drinks were served, and after toasting the birthday star, everyone started drinking and chatting.


    | kept my head down and focused on my meal, getting to about sixty percent full when Cecilia¡¯s sweet voice floated over from


    two guys away, ¡°Xaviera, Mr. Yearwood, thanks to you both, I¡¯ve had a delightful evening. Here¡¯s a toast to you.¡±


    She actually stood up, her ss filled with juice held respectfully, looking so well-behaved.


    But she put extra emphasis on ¡°both.¡±


    The slight difort that had lingered in my chest all night suddenly spread in that second, rushing to my head.


    It was about to burst out.


    Darren seemed to pick up on it and spoke calmly, ¡°Ms. Irwin, you are mistaken. Xaviera and | are just friends, but | appreciate


    the sentiment.¡±


    With that, Darren picked up his ss and downed his drink in one gulp.


    Cecilia, with her big doe eyes full of confusion, stammered. ¡°Sorry, | thought you and Xaviera


    were.¡±


    She didn¡¯t finish her sentence, but her implication was clear,


    Even if Cecilia, a guest brought by Hogan, had said something that truly offended me, no one would make a fuss about it,


    especially since she was just a young girl.


    Who would pick a fight with a young girl?


    But Hogan seemed a bit uneasy. He picked up his ss, gave a slight nod, and said, ¡°Ms. March, on behalf of Cecilia, | offer my


    apologies.¡±


    He said this, but his tone was anything but apologetic.


    Even the way he held his ss was so casual.


    At this point, | had to respond, right?


    So | picked up my ss as well, politely saying, ¡°Mr. Zade, you''re overthinking it. It''s not a big deal, and besides.¡±


    | paused, ncing at Darren next to me, and added, ¡°Being mentioned in the same breath as such an outstanding young man


    like Darren is an honor for me.¡±

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    Chapter 23


    With a ¡°ding.¡± Hogan¡¯s ss suddenlynded on the table, making a crisp sound. | couldn¡¯t tell if it was on purpose or not.


    He gave me a casual nce, grabbed his ss, tapped it on the table, and downed it in one go. Pretty decisive.


    | pretended to take a sip of my juice, too.


    The scene looked like everyone was having a st, but the vibe was kinda stiff, for some


    reason.


    | felt like a total jerk, stirring up trouble at someone else¡¯s birthday bash¡ªdefinitely not cool.


    Clueless Jack, just there for the grub, didn¡¯t pick up on it and, loving a good show, said, ¡°Darren, Xaviera¡¯sid it out for ya, aren¡¯t


    you gonna respond?¡±


    Great, now it was even more awkward.


    | wished | could just vanish into thin air.


    Thank goodness Darren''s got social smarts. Holding his ss, he said, ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯ve given me such high praise, | should


    definitely return the toast.¡±


    His voice was teasing, a yful twinkle in his eye as he gave me a secret wink.


    At his cue, | reluctantly raised my ss.


    That warmed things up a bit.


    We


    were at the meal for over an hour.


    +


    When we left the restaurant, Hogan''s car was already waiting by the curb.


    Zachary hopped out of the car and helped a tipsy Hogan into the back seat.


    Cecilia got in, too, but then popped her head out the window and asked. ¡°Xaviera, wanna join us?¡±


    I smiled and declined.


    Who wanted to be a third wheel, right?


    Wasn''t a cheap subway ride way more appealing?


    ¡°Xaviera, let Darren take you,¡± Jack said when he heard | was hitting the subway, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, not safe.¡±


    | looked at Darren, cheeks flushed, and said, ¡°No need.¡±


    ¡°Let''s go together,¡± Darren interrupted, ¡°The university¡¯s put me up in a two-bedroom near campus, it¡¯s on the way.¡±


    1/3


    Chapter 23


    | couldn''t tell if he was for real or not.


    It was so out of the blue.


    Noticing my hesitation, Darren just pulled out a key card from his briefcase and said, ¡°Believe me now?¡±


    So there | was, catching the subway with this slightly buzzed guy.


    In the end, he even walked me to my building.


    Thinking about my antics at the dinner, | seriously apologized.


    Darren just grinned and said, ¡°Xaviera, | actually had a great time today. You being you, it¡¯s really quite something.¡±


    | was totally baffled.


    ¡°That¡¯s our Computer Science Department''s pride and joy, Xaviera.¡±


    That word ¡°pride¡± felt both foreign and familiar, sending a little tremor through my heart.


    Back at my ce, | sat silently by the window, pondering my life¡¯s many ws, and forced a bitter smile.


    Me, worthy of ¡°pride¡°?


    My phone¡¯s dark screen flickered unexpectedly.


    It was a friend request from Hogan, with a question mark.


    | hesitated for two seconds, then locked the screen and headed to bed.


    | overslept.


    Wallis called as | was dashing for the subway.¡±


    ¡°What''s Hogan ying at? Why set up this nning department out of the blue?¡±


    | stopped and took a couple of minutes to get the story straight.


    Turns out, Hogan wanted to add a game nning department to our studio, with Cecilia as the nning manager.


    Game development mainly consisted of three indispensable parts: nning, tech, and art, with nning at the forefront, showing


    its importance.


    But we''d already nailed down the entire game framework for LOVE STORY, and now letting Cecilia meddle seemed off.


    ¡°| think we need to talk to Hogan. He may have invested, but that doesn¡¯t mean he can lead us by the nose.¡±


    ¡°Did Hogan explicitly say Cecilia could get involved in the game details?¡± | asked.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Chapter 23


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s wait.¡± | reasoned, ¡°Cecilia needs some veneer for her gold¡ªting, as long as she doesn¡¯t overstep, we don¡¯t have to


    upset the investor over her.¡±


    Hogan probably knew better than to blur personal and professional lines,


    After a pause, Wallis agreed, ¡°Makes sense, we''ll talk when | get back.¡±


    Call ended, | raced to the studio, and right as | walked in, | saw the receptionist Zora standing on a stool, taking down the sign


    from the office door,

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    Chapter 24


    The sign for the Tech Department was being taken down right under my nose, bit by bit.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    That was when Cecilia popped out of the break room, a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. and greeted me with a smile.


    Then she added, ¡°Oh hey, Xaviera, I¡¯ve started a work group chat. Hit me up on WhatsApp, and


    Pll add you in.¡±


    She spoke with the same tone as before, but | caught a glint of willfulness in her eyes.


    I got it.


    Being pampered by a guy like Hogan, which woman wouldn''t be a bit loopy?


    Joining the group chat was to be expected.


    With an attitude of ¡°less fuss is better, | cooperated sincerely.


    To my surprise, Hogan was also in the chat.


    His profile picture, followed by Cecilia¡¯s, gave off a vibe like he was the boss and she was his doting wife.


    It seemed that the investment banking gig wasn¡¯t as hectic as | thought.


    | closed the chat nonchntly and got back to coding for real.


    Before long, the first message popped up in the group, courtesy of Cecilia.


    She wanted me to share some code data and politely informed everyone that our work updates would shift from bi-monthly to


    weekly.


    Wallis saw it and messaged me straight away. [Isn¡¯t she getting a bit ahead of herself, giving orders before she¡¯s even the


    investor''s wife?]


    | yed it down, [If the sugar daddy isn¡¯tining, let''s just roll with it. Who knows, maybe he''ll bump up the investment if he


    likes our attitude?]


    Wallis shot me a thumbs up, [You''ve been with me for over a year now, your game has changed.]


    | humbly replied, Isn¡¯t that because | had a great teacher?]


    Alittle banter like this, and Cecilia¡¯s move didn¡¯t seem like much.


    But what | didn¡¯t expect was Cecilia identally deleting a line of data when she was poking around the back-endter that


    afternoon.


    Jack went ballistic, ¡°Do you have any idea how much work we put into that over the past month? One click from you and it¡¯s all


    for nothing!¡±


    He wasn¡¯t exaggerating. A small piece of code might seem trivial, but one mistake could bring


    10


    11:4


    Chapter 24


    the whole framework crashing down.


    Cecilia looked guilt-ridden. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to, | just wanted to see if there was anything | could. help with.¡±


    ¡°Please, your highness, I¡¯m begging you, can¡¯t you just be a pretty face and stay put?¡±


    Jack might have crossed the line there.


    Cecilia¡¯s eyes welled up, looking like she was about to cry.


    | watched them go at it hammer and tongs, then chimed in calmly. ¡°Arguing won''t fix anything. Cecilia, just don¡¯t do it again.¡±


    Cecilia paused, her face flushed as she ran out.


    | hesitated for a moment.


    Jack was still fuming. ¡°We¡¯re the ones who should be crying, okay? If tears were any help, | bet we could flood the whole studio.¡±


    Rubbing my temples, thinking about keeping the peace in the team, | went downstairs with Jack to look for her.


    But Cecilia was nowhere to be found.


    | left her a message with a sigh and went back to the office to trawl through the data line by line, working until it got dark.


    When | snapped back to reality. | saw that Cecilia had sent a message in the new work group. two hours earlier.


    [Xaviera, I¡¯m useless, I¡¯m really sorry. | know my mistake has affected everyone and | sincerely apologize.]


    She ended it with a downcast emoji.


    The timestamp on her message was when Jack and | couldn¡¯t find her, right when we had just returned to the studio.


    After all, she was still a young girl. Annoyance aside, we couldn''t hold her mistake over her head forever.


    So, | dug out Cecilia¡¯s number, about to call her, when the studio door suddenly swung open.


    Hogan walked in with a stern face, looked straight at me in front of everyone, and said, ¡°Ms. March, we need to talk.¡±


    | met his cold gaze, momentarily at a loss for words.


    | remembered not long ago, Hogan had appeared in our studio out of the blue, waiting for Cecilia to finish work, only to find her


    with teary eyes, and he was beside himself with concern.


    This time, he was here to stand guard at the door.

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    Chapter 25


    In the office, Hogan sitting across from me cut to the chase, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit much?¡±


    His voice was steady, but his condescending attitude was like an invisible hand, squeezing my heart tightly.


    | thought, how desperate was he to rush over from Rainbow Capital just to take Cecilia¡¯s side?


    And he showed up in person, no less.


    | took a breath and said tly, ¡°Please enlighten me, Mr. Zade.¡±


    Hogan nced at me and said seriously, ¡°It¡¯s just a minor mistake. A good team should be one that allows its members to make


    mistakes, and besides, she hasn¡¯t even graduated yet.¡±


    Aminor mistake.


    | managed a forced smile, realizing that our hard work over the past month was nothing more than a ¡®minor mistake¡¯ in Hogan¡¯s


    eyes.


    Suddenly, | remembered the time | brown¡ªnosed Hogan by offering to do hisundry, only to shrink his sweater because | didn¡¯t


    pay attention to the fabric, and he gave me the silent


    treatment for a whole week.


    Seeing that | remained silent, Hogan spoke up again, ¡°I''ll sign her up for a course, and you, you need to be more patient with


    her.


    | looked up, wanting to say something, but my throat felt glued shut, and | couldn¡¯t utter a word. | had been sucking up to him for


    six years, now questioned for not having enough patience.


    ¡°Any issues?¡±


    | suppressed the difort in my chest and replied with indifference, ¡°Mr. Zade, your thoughtfulness is beyond me.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to agree,¡± he said, his gaze fixed on my face, Hogan pressed on, ¡°Ms. March, are you not satisfied with how I¡¯m


    handling this?¡±


    He was like a judge on the bench, who had already sentenced us but was absurdly asking the convict if they were satisfied.


    Thinking about the hard¡ªwon investment money, | met Hogan¡¯s gaze and said with polite detachment, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s eyshes quivered, and after a scoff, he got up and left.


    | escorted him to the elevator like a robot.


    As soon as the elevator doors closed, | rushed to lean against the wall, gasping for air, my mouth bitter as if I''d swallowed bile.


    Chapter 25


    Shortly after, a message from Cecilia popped up on my phone. [Xaviera, I''ll work hard, | won¡¯t let you and Hogan down.]


    | closed the chat and continued to code.


    The next day, true to her word, Cecilia was studious and even stayedte at work, which was unprecedented.


    Inwardly, | marveled at the power of love.


    At 9 p.m., my stomach inconveniently growled, so | picked up the cup noodles from my. and headed to the pantry.


    desk


    As my noodles were soaking, there was a noise at the door. | looked up, thinking my eyes were. deceiving me.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Hogan was standing at the door, holding a fancy meal box.


    It bore the logo of Aurora Eats.


    Astark contrast to the cup noodles in my hands.


    Our eyes met, and | heard him ask, ¡°Where''s Cecilia?¡±


    Upon hearing him, Cecilia emerged from her office, beaming at Hogan, ¡°Hogan, | told you not toe, what if you¡¯re neglecting


    your work?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s lips curved slightly as he spoke softly, ¡°Hungry? Let¡¯s eat first.¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it, | am getting a bit hungry.*.


    After her words, Cecilia linked arms with Hogan and headed into the office. She took a few. steps, then turned to look at me.


    Her gaze fell on the cup noodles in my hand.


    ¡°Xaviera, that¡¯s not healthy, want to join us?¡±


    Her offer was well-intentioned, but my heart still gave an involuntary twinge.


    Suddenly, the cup noodles didn¡¯t smell as appetizing.


    In a moment of rebellion, | blurted out. ¡°No worries, I¡¯m not that precious.¡±


    Then Cecilia''s smile froze, her eyshes drooping like a wounded kitten, she murmured, ¡°Xaviera, | didn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡±


    Chapter 26

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    Chapter 26


    Standing next to her, Hogan furrowed his brow upon seeing the situation and seriously said, ¡°Ms. March, Cecilia meant well.¡±


    Meant well, huh?


    Yeah, right. The beloved princess giving a beggar a piece of candy in front of the prince ¡ª in his eyes, that was a grand gesture


    of kindness.


    Who cares about the beggar¡¯s pride?


    | suddenly realized | was being a bit small¡ª-minded.


    After all, cozying up to investors was part of the job too.


    So, | picked up my noodles and said, ¡°Lately, nothing¡¯s been tasting right, just craving this bite.¡± Cecilia¡¯s face lit up with


    understanding. ¡°Oh right, the dishes from Aurora Eats are on the nd side.¡±


    Different strokes for different folks, | guess that exnation will do.


    The issue was dropped, but eating the cup noodles felt all kinds of wrong.


    Before long, | started feeling queasy in my stomach.


    A dull pain.


    At first, | didn¡¯t think much of it, but soon, the cramping hit me from all sides, making me break


    out in a cold sweat.


    | grabbed some stomach medicine and, clutching my belly, headed to the break room.


    Man, it hurt.


    It hurt so bad | couldn¡¯t even hold the cup steady.


    | heard a ¡°crash¡± as the ss slipped from my grasp and smashed to pieces on the floor, shattered to bits.


    Fighting through the pain, | tried to move and felt my legs give out, my whole body uncontrobly falling.


    Thinking of the ss shards on the floor, | panicked and shut my eyes.


    But the expected pain didn¡¯te.


    Instead, a strong arm tightly embraced me around the waist, and the sharp, brisk smell of soap filled my nostrils, bringing back a


    flood of fiery memories from long ago.


    This hug was too real.


    Chapter 26


    So real it felt surreal.


    Confused, | opened my eyes and looked up to meet Hogan''s gaze.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Under the bright overhead light, his eyes seemed veiled with ayer of misty sand, shimmering with slivers of concern and


    tenderness.


    He asked softly. ¡°Can you stand?¡±


    That was when | suddenly realized | was lying in Hogan¡¯s arms.


    Just as | was about to speak, Cecilia¡¯s sweet voice cut in unexpectedly, ¡°Hogan, what are your two doing?¡±


    | pushed through the difort to break free from Hogan¡¯s embrace, politely saying, ¡°Thanks, Mr. Zade.¡±


    Hogan turned to Cecilia, calmly exining. ¡°Ms. March is feeling unwell, she just lost her bnce.¡±


    He was exining to her.


    Cecilia nced at me suspiciously and suggested. ¡°Then we should take her to the hospital.*,


    Her voice was light, obviously just a formality.


    Leaning on the counter. | pressed down the pain in my stomach and tactfully made an excuse, ¡°It¡¯s just that time of the month,


    some medicine will do, don¡¯t bother.¡±


    Cecilia visibly rxed, but Hogan suddenly insisted, ¡°Can¡¯t even stand properly, better go to the hospital for a check-up.¡±


    He seemed pretty adamant, almost as if he was scared something bad would happen to me. which was out of character.


    Cecilia noticed this too, biting her lip and looking timidly at Hogan, saying, ¡°Hogan, you are really thoughtful.¡±


    Hogan paused, gave me a nce, then quickly took Cecilia out of the break room, probably off to sweet-talk Cecilia.


    | took the opportunity to swallow the stomach medicine, and after a short break, | left the break


    room.


    I''d barely taken two steps when Hogan''s deep voice reached my ears, ¡°After all, she¡¯s in charge of this project. If she¡¯s unwell,


    wouldn''t that mess up your graduation presentation next year?¡±


    It was like a bucket of cold water was dumped over me from head to toe.


    That was when | got it - Hogan¡¯s kindness was just him worrying that me, the person in charge. might screw up Cecilia¡¯s


    graduation presentation.

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27


    Chapter 27


    | know my own body like the back of my hand.


    After sleeping on it. | woke up the next morning without that burning pain, but | didn¡¯t let my guard down. Back at the office, |


    made sure to pop some stomach meds, no funny business


    there.


    As the investor, Hogan was all heartache over his precious girl, and | was all about babying the project. After all, we were


    counting on this game to make us a pretty penny, so | gotta keep myself in tip-top shape.


    However, eagle-eyed Jack caught me red-handed taking my stomach medicine and, with a sheepish look, he said, ¡°Xaviera, it¡¯s


    on me, | shouldn¡¯t have left you to workte alone.¡±


    So, after seven in the evening, he didn¡¯t take off either.


    | felt pretty touched by that and suggested we treat ourselves tonight, but Jack nixed the idea, ¡°No, dinner¡¯s on its way.¡±


    | thought Jack had called for takeout, but in no time, | saw Darren bustle in with a big, square


    box.


    His sses fogged up, he looked all rushed and flustered.


    | gave him a puzzled look and asked, ¡°What brings Darren here?¡±


    ¡°Come on, Darren, you''re dragging your feet. Xaviera and | are starving here.¡±


    | nced between Jack and Darren, eyes finally settling on the big box, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that¡¯s our dinner?¡±


    Darren gave a sly smile, ¡°Pretty smart.¡±


    He¡¯d actually brought over four dishes and a soup.


    The scrumptious¡ªlooking food still had steam rising off it.


    ¡°It''s all thanks to the thermal box,¡± Darren exined.


    ¡°Where¡¯s this from? The soup¡¯s rich and bursting with vor,¡± Jack praised after a sip of the rib soup, ¡°The chef''s really


    delivered.¡±


    Darren pushed up his sses, gave a smile without a word, and then served up some ribs into my bowl.


    Seeing this, Jack rolled his eyes and in a mock-whiny voice said, ¡°Darren, | want some too.¡±


    Both Darren and | couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    Suddenly, the door chime went off, and curious, | looked over to see Cecilia making a


    Chapter 27


    comeback.


    Cecilia¡¯s gaze swiftly swept over Darren¡¯s face and thennded on the food on the table. With at smile, she said, ¡°Mr. Yearwood,


    are you here to deliver dinner for Xaviera, huh?¡±


    Darren turned his head, paused for a beat, and then politely offered, ¡°Ms. Irwin, have you eaten? If you don¡¯t mind, join us?¡±


    ¡°No, thanks,¡± Cecilia sweetly declined, ¡°I¡¯m just grabbing something and heading out.¡±


    We didn¡¯t press the issue, but as she went into her office, Darren''s expression momentarily stiffened, and his look at me grew


    complex.


    After dinner, | walked Darren down, only then learning he¡¯d taken the subway over.


    ¡°Rush hour, | was worried about traffic jams. Jack said your stomach was upset, and you gottal eat food while it¡¯s hot.¡±


    So he braved the subway just to make sure the food didn¡¯t get cold?


    Carrying that big thermal box must have been a hassle.


    Feeling a bit guilty, | urged him, ¡°Don¡¯t go to all that trouble next time.¡±


    ¡°It''s no trouble.¡± Darren said with a humble demeanor, ¡°Teaching can be dry, so working on my cooking skills is a way to put


    theory into practice.¡±


    He always had a way with words.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Darren hesitated, ¡°Ms. Irwin, she-


    He was cut off mid¡ªsentence by a sweet, soft voice.


    ¡°Hogan, have you been waiting long?¡±


    Darren and | both turned, and that¡¯s when we spotted Hogan not far off.


    With the first frost settling over Rivertown, the night dew was heavy. Hogan stood under the dim streetlight in a long gray coat,


    looking dashing, with what looked like droplets of water clinging to his slightly damp hair ends, indicating he¡¯d been waiting for a


    while.¡±


    And the girl he was waiting for was bounding down the steps toward him, full of life and joy.


    A perfect match, they looked awesome together.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    | quickly averted my gaze, telling Darren, ¡°I''ll walk you to the subway entrance.¡±


    He didn¡¯t object.


    But just as | took a step forward, Hogan¡¯s untimely greeting rang out behind me, ¡°Ms. March, you are finishing up early today.¡±


    Under the streetlight, the four of us stood together, looking as if everything was perfectly normal.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    Chapter 28


    Hogan nced at the insted food container In Darren¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°What''s this?¡±


    Before Darren could say a word, Cecilia jumped in. ¡°The food container? Hogan, you''re out of the loop. Mr. Yearwood knew


    Xaviera wasn¡¯t feeling well and whipped up a special dinner with some TLC.¡±


    Hogan gave Darren the once-over, then turned to me and said, ¡°Ms. March, you are not just a coding whiz, but also ace at


    keeping her friends close, huh?¡±


    His voice was even, but | detected a hint of sarcasm in his words.


    Darren, ever the gentleman, said, ¡°Xaviera¡¯s often lent me a hand. She¡¯s been under the weather with a stomachache these past


    couple of days, so | thought I¡¯d check in on her.¡±


    It sounded like he was sticking up for me.


    After hearing this, Hogan snickered, ¡°One day it¡¯s ¡®that time of the month,¡¯ the next it¡¯s a stomachache. Ms. March¡¯s health sure is


    full of surprises.¡±


    | looked at Hogan in disbelief.


    What was he getting at?


    Thinking | was faking it?


    Cecilia, catching on, chided, ¡°You don¡¯t get it, Hogan. A girl¡¯s period can indeed lead to other diforts.¡±


    It was like she was trying to exin on my behalf, but it almost made things worse.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Hogan gave me a look, the smile on his lips ambiguous, ¡°Well then, Ms. March, you¡¯d better take good care of


    yourself.¡±


    That one sentence put me on the hot seat.


    ¡®Take care."


    Coming from Hogan, it was dripping with irony.


    Suddenly remembering his exnation to Cecilia the night before, | replied calmly. ¡°Of course, Mr. Zade, you have put so much


    money into us, I¡¯ve gotta take care of myself.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s pupils quivered, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.


    | wasn¡¯t about to waste my time on this kind of idle chatter and spoke up again. ¡°Mr. Zade, we''ll be on our way.¡±


    After saying that, | shot Darren a look.


    With a slight nod, Darren followed by my side.


    We crossed the street in silence.


    11:42


    *This is as far as you go.¡± Darren looked at me, worry mingling in his eyes, as if he had more to say but held back.


    | didn¡¯t mince words, reminding him. ¡°You¡¯re busy with work too. Don¡¯t do this kind of silly thing again.¡±


    Darren paused, looked at me, and asked, ¡°Xaviera, can | ask you an abrupt question?¡±


    | curled my fingers slightly and nodded.


    ¡°Your rtionship with Hogan...¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the investor and I¡¯m the project manager,¡± | answered frankly.


    Darren seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and, with a smile, said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then it¡¯s not silly.¡±


    Why couldn¡¯t he just drop it?This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡®Alright, time is money, get back to cranking code,¡± Darren pointed to his wristwatch, ¡°if you wait any longer, you''ll miss thest


    subway.¡±


    Darren knew how to tease me.


    And | did go back to coding in all earnestness.


    By the time | returned to my apartmentplex, it waste at night.


    Carrying myptop, | entered the building and looked up only to bump into Hogan.


    He was still wearing that dark grey overcoat, with a turnover cor, knee-length, drop¡ªshoulder lesign, simple yet timeless, just


    like the one | gave him years ago.


    ¡®robably just a coincidence.


    it the moment, the belt around his waist casually hung behind him, making him look both tylish and easygoing.


    logan really did wear clothes well.


    ut | only spared him a nce before silently walking past him.


    fter a long day, | needed to rest.


    Do we have to do this?¡±


    lis deep voice came from behind me. | stopped in my tracks, reluctantly turned around, and aid, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Zade. Sorry, I¡¯m not


    wearing my sses.¡±


    ogan fell silent, but his eyes remained fixed on me, making me feel ufortable.


    ¡®m off the clock,¡± | really couldn¡¯t deal with this guy any longer. ¡°If you have something to say. Ir. Zade, let¡¯s talk tomorrow.¡±


    fter that, | walked away.


    Chapter 28


    ¡°Why delete my contact?¡± His persistent, mocking tone hit my ears as Hogan said, ¡°Afraid Darren might get the wrong idea?¡±

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    Chapter 29Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Talking about that, | just realized what got Hogan¡¯s goat was me axing him from my friends¡®


    list.


    That was ancient history, happened days ago.


    He just found out today?


    But the dude was an investor, so | couldn¡¯t exactly give it to him straight, can |?


    That would make me look petty.


    | had to save face and say, ¡°Oops, sorry Mr. Zade, my friends list is crazy long, must''ve been a mistake.¡±


    Right after | finished, Hogan couldn''t help but let out a snort, ¡°Xaviera, can¡¯t youe up with a better excuse? It¡¯s just a


    WhatsApp friend, what¡¯s eating you?¡±


    Hogan had his usual confident tone when he said that.


    That kind of confidence that says he¡¯s seen right through me.


    Suddenly, his confidence hit me hard, and | locked eyes with him and shot back, ¡°Yeah, just a WhatsApp friend, what''s it to you,


    Mr. Zade?¡±


    Hogan was clearly taken aback, speechless for a moment.


    There we were, standing at the entrance of the corridor like a couple of loons, staring each other down without another word.


    My fingertips were digging into my palm.


    My heart was trembling, bittersweet.


    Amomentter, Hogan, with a dark look on his face, said, ¡°Xaviera, you think too highly of yourself!¡± and then vanished into the


    chilly night.


    Leaning against the wall, | took a deep breath and it took a while before | could shake it off.


    In the end, | didn¡¯t bother adding Hogan back.


    Emails, work group chats, phone calls if Hogan really had something work-rted, he could use any of those to get in touch, no


    need to go crawling back just because of a word or two from him.


    | really didn¡¯t need to hear his snark anymore.


    But as much as | said that, | still spent the night tossing and turning like a loser.


    In my dream, Hogan was all self-righteous, threatening to pull his investment, and | woke up in a cold sweat, sleep out of the


    question.


    So | went to the office with bags under my eyes.


    11:42


    Chapter 29


    Unlike my downbeat vibe, Cecilia was all smiles, looking like the cat that got the cream.


    She was handing out coffee and croissants to everyone, one by one.


    Seeing mee in, she greeted me with a smile, ¡°Your ck coffee, Xaviera.¡±


    | had just had a bout of gastritis a couple of days ago, so naturally, | couldn¡¯t just grab any coffee, but | couldn¡¯t snub her


    kindness.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    | reached for the coffee and then heard Zora¡¯s excited voice, ¡°Wow, a Cartier Love bracelet with diamonds, so pretty!¡±


    Following Zora¡¯s gaze, | immediately spotted the rose gold bracelet shining on Cecilia¡¯s wrist.


    It suited her, making her wrist look even more delicate and fair.


    ¡°Mr. Zade sure is generous,¡± Zora said enviously. ¡°If | had a domineering CEO like him pick me up in a Maybach, | could die


    happy.¡±


    Cecilia blushed, shyly replying, ¡°It''ll happen for you.


    | wasn''t interested in joining their gossip and headed to my desk, only to hear Zora say, ¡°Mr. Zade is so romantic, not just giving


    you a love token but also matching avatars, how are we single folks supposed to live?¡±


    The words ¡°matching avatars¡± made me pause for a moment.


    After sitting down, | couldn¡¯t help but stealthily check the work group chat.


    Hogan¡¯s avatar had changed from a sunset to a cat with a bow tie, matching Cecilia¡¯s avatar of a cat in a pink hat.


    They looked quite the pair.


    Cecilia had treated everyone to coffee two days in a row, and | got a piece of that action too.


    Wallis just confirmed her itinerary, saying she¡¯d be back tomorrow afternoon.


    That meant I¡¯d have to go to Rainbow Capital alone for the weekly report summary this


    afternoon.


    | was considering postponing it when Cecilia bounced over, all excited, asking, ¡°What time are we heading out, Xaviera?¡±


    It took me a couple of seconds to realize she was talking about the Rainbow Capital briefing.


    It was pretty sudden.


    But after a bit of thought, | felt that it made sense.


    After all, she was the new manager of the nning department, so it was only fitting for her to go to Rainbow Capital to present.


    Chapter 29


    So | said. ¡°Three o''clock, | guess,¡±


    Cecilia chirped a ¡°Okay,¡± and buzzed off to ¡°get ready.¡±


    Right before we left, | found out her idea of getting ready was putting on a full face of natural makeup.


    Soon after, we arrived at Rainbow Capital''s building.


    The receptionist greeted Cecilia with a polite ¡°Ms. Irwin¡± and respectfully ushered us to the executive elevator.


    Their attitude couldn''t have been more courteous.


    | thought back to a month ago when Wallis and | first came here, and the receptionists was acting all high and mighty, like they


    were too good for us.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    Chapter 30


    Sure enough, having someone to back you up really makes a difference.


    ¡°Xaviera, hang here for a sec, I''ll be right back,¡± Cecilia said politely as she reminded me while standing at the reception desk.


    And just like that, she breezed Into Hogan¡¯s office like it was her second home.


    All| could do was wait.


    But | didn¡¯t expect that this wait would turn into over an hour.


    Cecilia still hadn''t reappeared.


    ¡°Why are you hanging around here, Mrs. Zade?¡± | looked up to see Zachary, with a stack of papers in his hands, standing in front


    of me, a hint of surprise in his eyes.


    ¡°Assistant Zachary,¡± | took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Is Mr. Zade still tied up?¡±


    ¡°Nah, just one meeting this afternoon, the one with you, Mrs. Zade¡± Zachary said, ncing at Hogan¡¯s office door before kindly


    offering. ¡°I''ll go check it out.¡±


    ¡°Hold your horses, no rush,¡± | stopped him, saying, ¡°And hey, from now on, just call me by my


    name.¡±


    He probably didn¡¯t know yet that Mrs. Zade had flown the coop.


    Zachary paused, gave the office door a couple of nces, sighed, and said, ¡°Mrs. | mean, Xaviera, don¡¯t be mad.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Before he could finish, the office door swung open, and Cecilia nced at Zachary without a ripple of emotion, then turned to me


    and said, ¡°Xaviera,e on in.¡±


    Her voice was neither here nor there.


    | didn¡¯t make a big deal of it and went through my work report as usual. When | was done, | nced at Hogan, who was sitting


    straight ahead, only to catch him and Cecilia in mid¡ªconversation, heads bent together.


    The girl was smiling, her eyes curved with joy, obviously in a good mood.


    Suddenly, | felt like a third wheel.


    ¡°If Mr. Zade has no objections, I''ll take my leave now.¡±


    | wasn¡¯t keen on ying the gooseberry.


    But just then, the usually silent Cecilia piped up. ¡°Xaviera, | have a suggestion. I¡¯m not sure if | should say it or not.¡±


    | stopped in my tracks, hearing Hogan say. ¡°You''re one of the project leads. It¡¯s your right to make suggestions.¡±


    11:4


    Cecilia looked at me, as if waiting for my response.


    ¡°Director Irwin, please speak,¡± | said, all business.


    ¡°| was looking at our game interfacest night and, well | feel the color saturation isn¡¯t quite there.¡± Cecilia began, ncing at


    Hogan, ¡°Our game is a romance simtion, so the overall palette should be bright and lively to give off that feeling of being in


    love.¡±


    That feeling of being in love.


    | mulled over these words silently, asking, ¡°What kind of feeling are you referring to. Director


    Irwin?¡±


    Cecilia hesitated, her eyes downcast, as if she had more to say but stopped short.


    As if | had somehow wronged her.


    | softened my tone and said gently, ¡°Director Irwin, I¡¯m just talking shop here.¡±


    ¡°It''s okay, just say it.¡± Hogan suddenly interjected, his voice softening. ¡°Ms. March isn¡¯t stubborn for the sake of it, and besides,


    I''m here, aren''t 1?¡±


    | thought, ¡°Am | supposed to thank him for that?¡±


    Encouraged, Cecilia smiled and said, ¡°Love should be beautiful and dreamy. | think a pink main color scheme would be more


    appropriate.¡±


    After a pause, she added, looking at Hogan, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    We were currently using a light aqua blue.


    The idea was to keep it bright and fresh, offering yers a clean andfortable gaming


    experience.


    But Cecilia felt itcked that romantic vibe.


    ¡°Ms. March, what¡¯s your take?¡±


    His deep voice brought me back to the present, and looking up into Hogan¡¯s eyes, | said, ¡°I think the current interface is fine, but


    Mr. Zade, if you insist on making changes, we can certainly tweak it a bit.¡±


    That was as far as | was willing to bend.


    As the project manager, | had to stand my ground.


    Hearing this, Hogan furrowed his brow slightly, his long fingers drumming lightly on the desktop, then asked, ¡°And your reason?¡±


    | stated inly, ¡°Lovees in a million forms; it can¡¯t be confined to a single color.¡±


    One man¡¯s meat is another man¡¯s poison.


    No one knows this better than | do.


    Chapter 30


    I


    But as soon as | finished speaking, Cecilia¡¯s face went ghostly pale.


    | was just being factual.


    ¡°So be it,¡± Hogan¡¯s gaze settled on me for a moment before he concluded, ¡°Ms. March, please integrate pink into the current


    interface.¡±


    That settled it.


    This report took more out of me than | expected.


    As | looked down to organize my papers, | overheard Hogan and Cecilia discussing which restaurant to hit up.


    Cecilia¡¯s voice carried a note of caution, ¡°Hogan, I¡¯m still on the clock.¡±


    She sneaked a peek at me after speaking.


    | pretended not to notice, ready to make my escape.


    But then, to my surprise, Hogan said. ¡°Easy fix. Ms. March, join us.¡±

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    Chapter 31


    | thought | heard it wrong.


    But seeing Cecilia hemming and hawing, | knew Hogan''s Invite was legit.


    Or was it just lip service?Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | didn¡¯t want to be a pain in the neck, so | politely declined, ¡°Thanks for the kind offer, Mr. Zade, but I¡¯ve got work to tackle. I''ll


    treat you next time.¡±


    Hogan wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer, ¡°You''ve got to eat no matter how busy, right?¡±


    His voice oddly pitched a notch higher, made me feel like | was too dumb to appreciate his goodwill.


    Cecilia stood there with her head hanging low, murmuring, ¡°Hogan, maybe Xaviera really has


    her reasons.¡±


    Look at that, his baby girl had an opinion.


    | stood there, waiting to see how Hogan would handle the situation.


    After a moment, he said with strained patience, ¡°Cecilia¡¯s been at yourpany for over al month now, Ms. March. She must


    have caused you some trouble, so | ought to give a proper


    thanks.¡±


    | immediately read between the lines of Hogan''s implication.


    Turns out, he was settling a debt for Cecilia.


    Cecilia caught on, too, her pale face finally breaking into a small smile, ¡°Hogan Is so thoughtful, Xaviera, maybe you shouldn''t


    refuse?¡±


    Full of sincerity.


    | felt a bit miffed inside, but face¡ªsaving is still a thing.


    So, | ended up hitting the restaurant with Hogan and Cecilia.


    The ce had ss, and there was even someone tickling the Ivories in the corner. The no music helped ease the blockage


    in my heart a bit.


    But one thing | couldn''t figure out: in such a romantic restaurant, wouldn''t it be better for Hogan to enjoy a cozy world for two with


    Cecilia?


    Why insist on bringing me along, the third wheel?


    Soon enough, | got my answer.


    Hry stormed in like a force of nature.


    When she saw me, her angry face clearly flickered with surprise, ¡°Xaviera, you''re here too?¡±


    12:18


    Cacter 31


    Yea, even Hry knew | was out of ce here.


    But Hogan still dragged me into this.


    | casually chewed on my steak. ¡°Mr. Zade and Ms. Irwin are treating, | couldn¡¯t resist.¡±


    Hiry cooled down, asked the waiter for an extra set of cutlery, and whether deliberately or not. sat opposite Cecilia.


    ¡°Nowadays, girls,¡± she started with a snide tone, eyeing Cecilia casually. ¡°are something else.¡±


    With a ¡°zing*. Cecilia¡¯s hand slipped off the fork, shing with the te with an untimely screeching sound.


    Cecilia¡¯s face changed colors. She was clenching the knife and fork so tightly her fingertips went white.


    Pretty awkward.


    Hogan, cool as a cucumber, served up a freshly cut steak and naturally swapped it with the one in front of Cecilia.


    The epitome of considerate.


    Cecilia lifted her longshes, looking surprised and grateful, ¡°Hogan, | can manage it myself.¡±


    After that, she nced cautiously at Hry.


    Just like a startled little bunny.


    It took me back to the first time | met Hry.


    We had a buffet together.


    Back then, she wasn¡¯t as bossy as now, but her attitude wasn¡¯t much better towards me.


    Throughout the meal, she had me fetching this and that. It was the crayfish season, and just because she mentioned she liked


    them, | ended up peeling crayfish all evening.


    My fingernails even smelled like crayfish.


    All that for a ¡°pretty clever¡± from her.


    And all the while, Hogan just sat across, silently eating, not saying a word.


    Now, same scenario, but he was cutting steak for Cecilia right in front of Hry.


    ¡°Hogan, aren¡¯t you babying her a bit too much?¡± Hry couldn¡¯t stand it. ¡°She¡¯s got hands, doesn¡¯t she? Does she need you to


    cut and feed her?¡±


    Right when she said this, Hogan was passing a napkin to Cecilia.


    The man replied without batting an eye, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±


    Hry was left speechless, storm clouds gathering on her face.


    17-18


    Chapter 31


    Not wanting to be dragged Into their drama, | changed the subject, ¡°Mrs. Hry, the pan-seared cod here is quite good, you


    should try it.¡±


    ring this, Hry looked down, saw the deboned cod pieces, and smiled, ¡°Xaviera knows best, not like some youngdies, with no


    tact at all.¡±


    The meal was like a roller coaster ride.


    After dinner, the four of us stood at the neon-lit intersection. Hry grabbed my hand, ¡°Xaviera,e over this weekend, Hogan


    just fixed up the yard with awn, and there¡¯s a big patch of bougainvillea in the back, you''ll love it.¡±


    My heart skipped a beat, and | nced at Hogan involuntarily.


    His expression was unchanged, calm, and unreadable.


    Right, as if someone like Hogan would remember my preferences.


    It must be a coincidence.


    After we sent Hry off, it was just the awkward three of us


    left.


    | fiddled with my phone. ¡°Mr. Zade, my ride is almost here, I''ll head out first,¡±


    Hogan gave a brief nod, not an extra word.


    I crossed the street.


    In the distance, | could hear Cecilia¡¯s voice tinged with self-reproach. ¡°Sorry, Hogan, it¡¯s my fault, | couldn¡¯t win your mom¡¯s


    favor.¡±


    | took a deep breath, forcing a smile.


    As if Hry really approved of me.


    She was just using me as a pawn.


    And Cecilia, at least she had Hogan looking out for her, right?


    Speaking of Hogan, it just made me feel worse.


    Clearly, | was his shield for the evening.


    Mother and son, quite the tacit understanding.


    Chapter 32


    But why did he think he could do that?


    Did he think | was a pushover?

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    Chapter 32


    | went back to my ce boiling with anger.


    Aftering out of the bathroom, | noticed my phone lighting up like a Christmas tree. It wasn¡¯t until | got closer that | could see


    the number shing on the screen.


    Curse my good memory-I recognized it as Hogan¡¯s number in a heartbeat.


    But why the sudden call at this hour?


    After hesitating for a few seconds, | answered the call anyway.


    ¡°Are you home?¡± The man¡¯s voice was hoarse, tinged with weariness.


    ying dumb, | asked, ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡±


    There was a pause on the other end before | heard Hogan ask, ¡°Xaviera, did you delete my number too?¡±


    Deleted. Two years ago.


    And | never saved it again.


    He should have seen iting: Hogan was smart enough to figure that out.


    Rubbing my temples, | asked, ¡°Is there something you need, Mr. Zade?¡±


    Then Hogan went silent.


    it


    With the wind chill from my walk home giving me a splitting headache, my patience was thinner than usual. He wasn¡¯t talking,


    and | wasn¡¯t in the mood to wait, so | said, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going to get some rest.¡±


    histone


    ¡°Add me back on your WhatsApp friend list,¡± Hogan finally spoke, his tone on the gruffer side.


    Then my hand froze mid¡ª-temple rub.


    Then | heard him say, ¡°Today''s effort shouldn¡¯t go to waste for you, Ms. March.¡±


    Ah, that¡¯s what this was about.


    He was calling to pass on Cecilia''s thanks.


    | wasn¡¯t sure exactly which incident he meant.


    But whatever it was, | wasn¡¯t about to turn down a perk thatnded in myp.


    | ttered, ¡°Mr. Zade, you''re too kind. Just a moment.¡±


    Before | could finish, he had already hung up.


    12


    12:18


    Momentster, a notification popped up¡ªa transfer notification.


    Followed by a voice message.


    Just as | was about to y it, the message was retracted.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    After a two-second ponder, | sent Hogan a bowing emoji as a thank you.


    Suddenly, | didn¡¯t feel so choked up inside.


    Thanks to Cecilia.


    The next day was business as usual at work. As soon as | walked into the office, Zora at the front desk told me, ¡°Xaviera,


    Director Irwin is in the meeting room; the meeting starts at ten.¡±


    | was a bit dazed.


    When | saw Cecilia in the meeting room, she exined, ¡°Xaviera, you forgot? The interface color adjustment we discussed


    yesterday.¡±


    She spoke so naturally, and just so happened to be overheard by Candy walking into the meeting room.


    Candy, our art department head, a young art school grad about Cecilia¡¯s age, looked at me and asked, ¡°Xaviera, what''s this


    about?¡±


    | was nning to discuss this with Candy when Wallis got back, but it seemed the meeting couldn¡¯t wait.


    So Cecilia, Candy. Jack, and | all entered the meeting room.


    After hearing the case. Candy exploded. ¡°I spent two whole months on that interface, and now just because she says so, we''re


    supposed to change it?¡±


    Her words were directed at me but her dissatisfaction was aimed at Cecilia.


    Just as | was about to exin, Cecilia spoke up. ¡°This decision was made by Mr. Zade, Xaviera, and myself. If you''re getting


    paid, shouldn''t you be willing to make the changes?¡±


    Her tone was gentle, but between the lines, there was an unusual air of haughtiness:


    Candy, incredulous, retorted, ¡°So what? Throwing money around is impressive? I¡¯m not unwilling to change it, but | just think the


    pink is tacky, you get that?¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s cheeks flushed a fiery red, ¡°Without funding, this project wouldn¡¯t even be possible.¡±


    Hearing that, | inwardly cursed. Before | could intervene, | saw Candy stand up, ¡°Whoever wants to do it, do it. I¡¯m not your


    maid!¡±


    | hurried to stop her but heard Cecilia¡¯s sobs behind me.


    Turning around, | saw her in tears.


    | sighed, handing her a tissue, and gently said, ¡°Director Irwin, | know you''re thinking of the project, but we¡¯re all on the same


    team here, and we need to be more careful with our words.¡±


    Using Hogan might be a deterrent, but apany¡¯s cohesion wasn¡¯t built on external pressure but on each member¡¯s heartfelt


    passion..


    Like Candy, willingly working overtime at home out of love for the project


    But Cecilia shot back at me. ¡°So Xaviera, you think I¡¯m wrong too?¡±


    All | could do was console her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I''ll handle it.¡±


    After this episode, the whole studio was inexplicably shrouded in gloom


    That afternoon, | called Candy and asked her to meet me at the coffee shop downstairs.


    ¡°Xaviera, you know how much | care about this project. Candy spoke indignantly. ¡°Cecilia can act all cute in front of the investor,


    but when ites to work, she doesn¡¯t deserve the title of game director. And now she even wants to meddle in my .¡±


    | soothed her, ¡°Taste is subjective, but if the investor has given the green light, let''s take the good and leave the bad. Plus, | trust


    in your abilitiesthis is just a minor hurde, right?¡±


    Candy sighed, looked at me, and said, ¡°Xaviera, I¡¯m doing this for you. You know our interface is fine.¡±


    That¡¯s when | finally rxed, but then | looked up and saw Hogan and Cecilia standing not far


    away.


    | had no idea when they arrived or how much they''d heard.


    Hogan had a dark expression, while Cecilia bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears.


    Abad feeling washed over me.


    The next second, | heard Cecilia¡¯s choked voice, ¡°Xaviera, is this really how you guys see me?¡±


    Co was ush Y

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    Chapter 33


    Chapter 33


    Cor de board my chat with Candy


    BUL 11 9080 100 15390d a bit more, she would''ve known my endgame was to make a mountain


    Out


    L


    It was to disse when colleagues didn¡¯t see eye to eye, but | didn¡¯t expect her to drag Hogan


    Since she heard it. Hesan must''ve had his ears wide open, making Candy and me look like we MERE BIG-POLINUS A.


    Coworker behind their back.


    a


    Cand probably don¡¯t see thising either. She whispered. ¡°Xaviera, if someone¡¯s gotta take the foll


    | shot her a look and soothed ¡°1 got this.¡±


    Then headed over to the duo


    When our eyes met. | said to Cecilia. ¡°My bad, | should¡¯ve handled things better. Sorry for the


    Subcenty, Cec¡¯s eyes welled up, and tears started falling like pearls off a string.


    She was naturally fair and delicate, and now all teary-eyed, she looked pitiful


    it tugged at your heartstrings.


    Then Hogan whipped out his handkerchief and shot me a look before scoffing, ¡°Ms. March, your skills are know backing aren¡¯t


    they?¡±


    His voice was low, but it was wrapped in a chillmanding respect without even trying.


    And there he went, ying the protector again.


    ¡°Sorry, Xaviera, | just couldn¡¯t keep it together.¡± Cecilia choked up, her voice trembling, ¡°Hogan, let it go.¡±


    ¡°Director Irwin, I¡¯m the one who talked smack, why are you making Xaviera pay for it?¡±


    Candy suddenly burst out from behind me, letting Cecilia have it.


    Cecilia¡¯s eyes went wide, and she looked at Candy, mouth agape, unsure what to say next.


    Even more upset now.


    | was about to y peacemaker when Hogan said, ¡°Easy fox. You apologize to Cecilia, then. resign.¡±


    Resign?


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    Chapter 33


    Hogan was actually suggesting firing Candy.


    | always thought he kept work and personal separate, but there he was, as an investor in the project, meddling in ourpany


    affairs for Cecilia''s sake.


    Didn¡¯t see that oneing.


    | knew he was a man of his word, so | tried to reason, ¡°Mr. Zade, at the end of the day, this was on me. Let¡¯s head back and...¡±


    ¡°I''m saying.¡± Hogan cut me off coldly, ¡°fire her.¡±


    My words got stuck in my throat.


    It was like swallowing a fishbone by ident ¡ª not deadly, but enough to throw me into a moment of panic and frustration.


    That was when | realized, | had no sway in front of Hogan.


    Notpared to Cecilia¡¯s plight.


    | managed a weak smile and said, ¡°Mr. Zade, hold your horses, I''ll talk to President Lottter.¡±


    ¡°Then do me a favor and tell President Lott, if she¡¯s still here tomorrow,¡± Hogan said, ncing at Candy, ¡°our partnership is as


    good as over.¡±


    With that, he walked off with Cecilia.


    | was thunderstruck, rooted to the spot, unable to utter a word.


    So, was Hogan pulling his funding over a couple of snide remarks about Cecilia?


    ¡°Hogan, let it go, | won''t take it to heart.¡±


    Her soft voice brought me back to reality. My clenched hands flexed and rxed as | faintly heard Hogan say, ¡°You''re too kind,


    but now¡¯s not the time for mercy.¡±


    Yeah, in Hogan¡¯s eyes, Cecilia was the gentle soul, and we were the baddies.


    | didn¡¯t catch up with Wallis until 9:30 that night.


    She was decked out in an off-white trench coat and towering heels, looking stunning and fierce. Seeing me, she grinned, ¡°It¡¯s


    just a little hup, Xaviera. We''ll stand tall together.¡±


    On the way, we brainstormed some damage control.


    ¡°We can¡¯t fire Candy, but if Hogan wants to flex for Cecilia, we''ll y along.¡±


    | massaged my temples and asked, ¡°What''s your n, President Lott?¡±


    ¡°Apologize, of course,¡± Wallis said, determined as ever, ¡°Give Hogan and Cecilia the respect they¡¯re due, and we''ll turn the page


    on this.¡±


    She still didn¡¯t get Hogan.


    12:18


    He had always been about swift action, probably not so easy to bluff.


    But we had to try Wallis¡® approach.


    So, bright and early the next day, Wallis and | showed up at Rainbow Capital with gifts in hand as a peace offering.


    The receptionist recognized me and said, ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s busy, flew to Spring Cityst night with Ms. Irwin to see the snowy


    mountains. You can call him directly if you have his number.¡±


    Wallis and | exchanged surprised looks.


    Neither of us received Cecilia¡¯s leave request.


    And we just got the cold shoulder at Hogan¡¯s.


    Wallis figured this was Hogan''s way of pressuring us.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

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    Chapter 34


    Chapter 34


    Thinking about the hard-earned five hundred thousand that finally hit our ount, both of us fell into silence.


    Wallis figured we had to start with Cecilia.


    ¡°Even King couldn¡¯t dodge the pillow talk, right?¡± she exemplified. ¡°One word from Cecilia is worth a thousand from us.¡±


    Hearing that, | looked down, feeling kinda crappy inside.


    This mess happened right under my nose; no one¡¯s better suited to make this call than me.


    Thinking about the project''s future, | dialed Cecilia¡¯s number.


    But no answer.


    Wallis looked puzzled. ¡°Probably didn¡¯t see it. We''ll try againter.*


    Spot on she was.


    Come evening, Cecilia finally rang back. ¡°Sorry, Xaviera. | was up the mountain with Hogan and left my phone at the hotel.


    What''s up?¡±


    Turns out, while we were anxious as hell, those two were leisurely enjoying the snow.


    | steadied myself and said, ¡°Director Irwin, Candy and | have deeply reflected on yesterday¡¯s incident. Could you forgive us this


    time?¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Cecilia¡¯s voice floated back, airy. ¡°But from what | see on Facebook, Candy seems to be having a st.¡±


    Candy hadn¡¯t shown up for work today either. What she was up to, | hadn¡¯t paid much mind.


    | sincerely said, ¡°I''ll have her personally apologize to you, Director Irwin. And with Mr. Zade, I¡¯d appreciate your help.¡±


    Mentioning Hogan got a swift response from Cecilia. ¡°Xaviera, it''s tough for me, you know. Hogan¡¯s really ticked off this time.¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    | hung up, feeling utterly deted, a bitterness in my chest.


    Momentster, my phone rang again. | checked nervously, only to find it was my aunt calling.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    | took the phone and stepped into the hallway.


    ¡°What''s up, Auntie?¡±


    ¡°Nothing bad, Xaviera. Just some good news,¡± her worn voice tinged with joy. ¡°Your uncle managed to find a security job in


    Rivertown through a connection. Rakes in over four hundred a month. If things go well, I¡¯m bringing your cousin over next year.


    Then the family can all be


    12:19


    Chapter 34


    together.¡±


    My fingertips dug into my palm as a sour sting hit my nose.


    ¡°Xaviera? You don¡¯t agree?¡±


    ¡°| do,¡± | said with a smile. ¡°Things are bound to get better.¡±


    After hanging up, | briskly entered Wallis¡® office and asked, ¡°Where''s that bottle of red we prepped this morning?¡±


    ¡°Why are your eyes red?¡± Wallis looked at me, concern etched on her face. ¡°Xaviera?¡±


    | shot her a nce and calmly said, ¡°Hry¡¯s probably not sleeping well these days. I''ll go check


    on her.¡±


    Hry loved wines.


    | figured, since the Cecilia route was a no-go, | had to carve out a new path.


    An hourter, with the priceless red wine in hand, | showed up at Mountain Vi¡¯s gate.


    Behind the understatedly luxurious iron gate stood a four-story vi, nestled among mountains and water, reminding me of the


    retreat an ancient poet bought when he was forty¡ªelegant, understated, and unassuming.


    No need to guess, the decor had to be Hogan¡¯s handiwork.


    Hry greeted me with a smile. ¡°Xaviera,e in, have a seat.¡±


    At the ground floor¡¯s round table, | lifted the ss in my hand and downed the contents.


    Hry stopped me. ¡°Xaviera, don¡¯t rush your drink; you''ll get drunk.¡±


    | kept silent, pouring myself another ss, and smiled. ¡°To drink with you is a pleasure. I''ll finish this one; you take your time.¡±


    Hry finally sensed something was off and asked, ¡°Something happen?¡±


    | shook my head and stayed quiet.


    ¡°Something did happen, right?¡± Hry pressed, her tone certain, setting her ss aside. ¡°Come on, tell me.¡±


    | felt the timing was right and came clean. ¡°We messed up and upset Mr. Zade.¡±


    After hearing me out, Hry exhaled In relief. ¡°I thought it was something serious. Him, he¡¯s a workaholic, doesn¡¯t know how to


    cut others some ck. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got this.¡±


    Workaholic.


    | couldn''t help a bitter smile at Hry¡¯s description.


    Her workaholic son was always finding time, despite being swamped, to look after his Cecilia.


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    Chapter 34


    But with Hry¡¯s promise, | figured Hogan wouldn''t be so cutthroat anymore.


    With that thought, | lifted my ss again. ¡°Mrs. Hry, thanks. I''ll just-¡±


    Before | could finish, the sound of a sliding door interrupted.


    Hry and | both turned to see Hogan standing at the entrance.


    Our eyes met, and I could see displeasure in his.


    | looked away guiltily, feeling the awkwardness of being caught red-handed.


    | had a bad feeling about this.

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    Hry and | went up to greet him at the same time.


    ¡°Didn''t you say you''ll stay for several days?¡± she asked, taking the rolling suitcase from Hogan¡¯s hand. ¡°Have you eaten?¡±


    His piercing eyes suddenlynded on my face, and Hogan frowned. ¡°Why is she here?¡±


    The disdain in his voice couldn¡¯t be more obvious.


    It seemed that he was about to show me the door.


    ¡°Xaviera was invited over by me.¡± Hry defended firmly. ¡°Be nice.¡±


    Hogan nced at the red wine on the table, his frown deepening. ¡°Drinking again?¡±


    Clearly not pleased.


    | admitted casually. ¡°Just had a bit with Mrs. Hry.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s face turned to steel a look demanding an exnation.


    Hry couldn''t stand it said soothingly. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s just a minor slip¡ªup at work, isn¡¯t it? Is it really such a big deal?¡±


    She thought the beef between Hogan and me had to do with work


    But Hogan, smart cookie that he was, smelled a rat from just one sentence and scoffed coldly. ¡°Now you¡¯ve started snitching


    too?¡±


    ¡°Xaviera didn¡¯t say anything, it''s my guess.¡± Hry cut in standing up for me with a re at Hogan, ¡°Now that it¡¯s out in the open,


    let''s just put it behind us.¡±


    Hogan kept at it. ¡°Encouraging subordinates to badmouth others, shouldn''t there be a lesson?¡±


    Just a few fair words from me, and in Hogan¡¯s eyes, | was stirring up the troops.


    | bowed my head, forcefully swallowing the difort in my heart..


    But Hry caught the crux of the matter, incredulous. ¡°The ¡°others you¡¯re talking about, you don¡¯t mean Ms. Irwin, do you?¡±


    Hogan paused for a moment.


    Not my fault, he¡¯s the one who let it slip.


    Sure enough, in no time, Hry switched into lecture mode.


    Standing there. | felt out of ce, so | carefully said, ¡°Mrs. Hry, Mr. Zade, it¡¯s gettingte, I''ll take my leave.¡±


    Hry¡¯s anger subsided, and pointing at Hogan she said. ¡°It¡¯s sote, you should see Xaviera


    out.¡±


    C35


    ¡°She¡¯s thorough, must''ve called a cab already.¡±


    | took the hint. ¡°Yes, it''s almost here.¡±


    With that, | left.


    As | passed through the big iron gate, | had to steady myself on a green nt at the entrance, barely standing upright.


    The aftereffects of the wine were strong.


    | walked and summoned a ride, but this was the suburbs, cabs were rare.


    In the end. | resigned myself to trudging forward with feet that seemed to float.


    The temperature difference between day and night in Rivertown was huge, and the chilly night breeze was freely invading my


    cor, making my teeth chatter in no time.


    Suddenly, | thought of the snowy mountains Cecilia mentioned over the phone and, in a prankish spirit, told myself | was


    enjoying the snowscape.


    Alone.


    But just then, a strong light inexplicably shone from behind, and | stopped, puzzled, only to see a sedan had pulled up beside


    me.


    The window slowly rolled down, revealing the man¡¯s sharply carved profile.


    Hmm, good bone structure, smooth facial lines, definitely a looker.


    It was just that his appearance reminded me of that icy, merciless God-like man from my


    memony.


    ¡°Get in


    God actually spoke to me.


    | smirked. ¡°My God has finallye to save me.¡±


    In the passenger seat. Lcocked my head to look at those hands gripping the steering wheel the more | looked, the more familiar


    they seemed.


    Long, pale, just like Hogan¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Are the snowy mountains nice?¡±


    ¡°How much did you drink?¡±


    His answer was beside the point.


    | turned my face away in frustration, quietly watching outside the window, then heard Hogan warn. ¡°Don¡¯t say | didn¡¯t remind you,


    keep your little schemes to yourself.¡±


    | closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and asked, ¡°What schemes?¡±


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    Chapter 5


    His tone was ic ¡°Thinking of achieving your goals through indirect means, not even checking if


    the path is right or not.¡±


    Oh, so he knew


    | couldn''t keep anything from him.


    | went with the defiant approach. ¡°Mr. Zade, you are right. I¡¯ve always been way off the mark.¡±


    Just then, the screeching of tires on pavement abruptly sounded by my ears, and my body lurched forward and then shook,


    before setting back to normal.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    | opened my eyes in contusion, only to see the car had stopped at the roadside, and Hogan, unusually was intently staring at me.


    Even the arms holding the steering wheel tensed up a bit.


    | caught a whiff of danger for no reason.


    Before | could speak, he beside me suddenly leaned in.


    His knuckles graced my shoulder de, stirring a shiver in the dim light.


    The biting scap scent invaded my senses, his hot breath sprayed on my face, and in a daze. | heard his voice say ¡°Xaviera,


    louder.¡±


    | dreamed again of those hands, tightly gripping my waist.


    But when | woke up. | was already lying in my ce.


    Athrobbing can apanied by muscr soreness assaulted my brain.


    Locking down, | saw a fading tattoo beneath my corbone, now bruised purple, like someone deliberately stamped mark


    My sleepiness vanished instantly.


    Everything in the dream seemed real.


    Yet, there was no trace of Hogan having been in the room.


    | went to the office in a daze.


    As soon as | entered, Wallis pulled me into her office, jubnt, ¡°Xaviera, that roundabout tactic of yours is pretty good. Hogan has


    loosened up.¡±


    My heart skipped a beat. ¡°When did that happen?¡±


    ¡°First thing this morning Assistant Zachary called me, but Hogan also said, if Candy can¡¯t get the results Cecilia wants, we''ll still


    need to fire her.¡±


    | felt slightly uneasy.


    The timing, too coincidental

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    Chapter 36


    Just my luck, it had to be after that incident.


    Cecilia¡¯s greeting snapped me out of my reverie.


    Wallis and | exchanged a look before she opened the door.


    Cecilia handed over a box of cakes with a gentle smile. ¡°President Lott, Xaviera, | picked out this gift especially for you two.¡±


    Wallis chuckled in response. ¡°Director Irwin, you¡¯re too kind.¡±


    Cecilia''s eyes crinkled with mirth, ¡°President Lott, Xaviera, | mishandled things earlier, please don¡¯t take it to heart. I¡¯ve already


    smoothed things over with Hogan, let¡¯s all work together and shine bright from now on.¡±


    She finished with a yful but earnest fist pump, making it hard to hold a grudge.


    But when did she talk to Hogan about this?


    ¡°Last night,¡± Cecilia blinked herrge eyes and said, ¡°I messaged you, Xaviera, didn¡¯t you see?¡±


    | fished out my phone and checked the notifications, indeed there was a message from Cecilia.


    [Xaviera, Hogan has agreed.]


    It was sent shortly after | left Mountain Vi.


    At that time, my mind was in a whirl, | hadn¡¯t noticed.


    So, Hogan had let things slide only after Cecilia''s intervention?


    | felt like | had cotton stuffed in my chest, making it hard to breathe.


    Wallis texted me. [Anyhow, d that¡¯s settled Clear your evening schedule, I¡¯m taking you out to unwind.]


    With the front and back ends of the project still iplete, | wasn¡¯t ip the mood.


    Wallis insisted, [Xaviera, after this ordeal, I¡¯ve realized something ¡ª we shouldn''t put all our eggs in one basket, and that goes for


    investors too. So, you have to join tonight''s banquet.]


    That¡¯s when | caught on to Wallis¡® n.


    | must say, when ites to making money, she was a real role model.


    | agreed.


    The banquet was set at the Bluebell Bistro & Bar, a go-to for Rivertown¡¯s elite events.


    Everything from the hotel¡¯s facilities to the dessert trays was exquisite.


    Thanks to Wallis, in my half-year at Rivertown, I¡¯d been freeloading here often enough to be a bit of a food snob.


    Chapter 36


    ¡°Heard that Michelin chef went back home to get hitched.¡± Wallis handed me a raspberry mousse and said, ¡°The new chef''s skills


    are a bit off.¡±


    | sipped my juice and asked, ¡°What about that Rich Man? Has he shown up?¡±


    Wallis scanned the crowd, then nced at her watch and said, ¡°What''s the rush? Big shots usually make a grandte entrance.


    Let''s snack first.¡±


    | was about to grab another bagel when | heard Wallis exim, ¡°Herees the moneybags!¡±


    | followed her star¡ªstruck gaze and sure enough, spotted the middle-aged man in a suit, looking like Winnie the Pooh, not too far


    away.


    We made a beeline for him.


    ¡°Mr. Bishop, good to see you,¡± Wallis greeted with eager warmth, ¡°We are,¡±


    Before she could finish, Frank had turned away.


    We were straight-up ghosted by the big shot.


    But then, | heard Frank call out a familiar name.


    Looking up, there was Darren shaking hands with our cash cow.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Darren saw me too.


    His warm gaze shed with surprise, his smile spilling over.


    at are you


    ¡°Darren knows Frank?¡± Wallis, ever the bloodhound, elbowed me, waiting for? Go


    for it.¡±


    We immediately positioned ourselves before Frank and Darren.


    Darren looked me over andplimented, ¡°You look lovely tonight.¡±


    | was in a simple ck dress, nothing special, but with Darren¡¯s words, | felt a touch


    embarrassed and returned thepliment. ¡°You''re quite dashing yourself tonight, Darren.¡±


    | was only stating the obvious; this was my first time seeing Darren in formal attire.


    Frank, seeing our chummy demeanor, asked Darren, ¡°Your girlfriend?¡±


    | rified, ¡°College mates. Darren is our ss monitor, and this is President Lott, my boss and friend.¡±


    Wallis introduced herself with ease.


    After her intro, Darren chimed in, ¡°Mr. Bishop, you might not be aware, but for the website you asked me to set up, Xaviera and


    Ms. Lott yed a major part.¡±


    He was exaggerating, obviously catching on to our little ploy.


    Frank¡¯s gaze towards me and Wallis warmed up, ¡°So, the IT beauties are the real brains.¡±


    12:19:


    Chapter 36


    Wallis and | exchanged nces, wondering how to segue into our project, when Darren added, ¡°Xaviera and Ms. Lott are


    currently developing a dating sim game with unique concepts and gamey that¡¯s rare at home. If you''re interested, Mr. Bishop,


    we could discuss this further sometime.¡±


    Frank seemed to trust Darren and agreed, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Wallis promptly handed over her business card.


    The smoothness of the situation left us speechless.


    Just then, a familiar sharine voice cut in, ¡°Xaviera, President Lott, it really is you guys!¡±


    As luck would have it, there was Cecilia in her yellow dress and Hogan in his tails.


    Oh, how could | forget? This was Hogan¡¯s turf.


    Had he already been this eager to introduce his girl to everyone?

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    Chapter 37


    Dressed in a ducky yellow cocktail dress, with makeup on point, Cecilia still had a bit of that pampered princess vibe going on as


    she showed up looking all fancy.


    At this swanky shindig with all the high society folks, she had no qualms about clinging to Hogan''s arm.


    It was right then and there that the question nagging at my heart suddenly unraveled.


    | figured, the only person who could make Hogan change his mind had to be Cecilia.


    Funny enough, Frank knew Hogan as well.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, you are in your prime, a force to be reckoned with,¡± Frankplimented Hogan.


    Used to such ttery, Hogan kept his cool with a mild ¡°Glory Capital is miles ahead in the game. but we''ve still got heaps to learn


    from you, Mr. Bishop.¡±


    Bigwigs chatting. Wallis and | knew to just stand by smartly, but then Cecilia chimed in. ¡°So you''re the famous Mr. Bishop, my


    apologies for not recognizing you.¡±


    Frank nced at Cecilia and offered a slight smile.


    Wallis and | were all too familiar with that look ¡ª the haughty air unique to those at the top.


    Frank was polite enough, but Cecilia still looked a bit mortified, pressing her lips together like she felt slighted.


    ¡°Feeling peckish?¡± Hogan, sensing Cecilia¡¯s difort, said, ¡°Let¡¯s grab a bite.¡±


    And just like that, he smoothly changed the subject.


    Slick move, giving Cecilia a way out without making a scene.


    Protective as hell.


    Seeing Cecilia breathe a sigh of relief, | instinctively reached for my drink but got intercepted by Darren, who asked the waiter for


    a juice.


    ¡°You''ve got a weak stomach, better toy off the booze.¡±


    In truth, Wallis had already watered down my wine, but Darren¡¯s concerned look had me switching to juice anyway.


    Frank stood by, chuckling, ¡°Professor Yearwood, you sure know how to treat thedies.¡±


    Darren didn¡¯t bite, deftly switched the topic to some inte stuff, and | took the chance to look for Wallis.


    She had excused herself to the restroom earlier and hadn''te back.


    | had only taken a few steps when | spotted Wallis skulking in a corner, looking all flustered.


    Chapter 37


    ¡°What''s up?¡± | asked, puzzled.


    Wallis spat out, ¡°Talk about a run-in with bad luck, bumped into someone | know.¡±


    ¡°Your ex-husband?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± Wallis nced towards the hall and muttered, ¡°Simon.¡±


    Ah, the PR manager she was scheming to poach. But business aside, how did they end up at odds?


    Wallis was shifty-eyed and exined, ¡°We, uh, got a little too close forfort.¡±


    Took me a couple of seconds, then it clicked.


    ¡°It was supposed to be a no-strings¡ªattached thing, but out of the blue, he says he wants to ¡®talk¡¯ again,¡± Wallis said with disgust,


    ¡°Obviously, he¡¯s still hoping for a free ride.¡±


    Adults with mutual needs, huh?


    So that was one way to sum up the birds and the bees.


    Seeing | didn¡¯t respond, Wallis softened her tone, ¡°Xaviera, | know what you''re thinking. You were young, it¡¯s normal to have


    illusions about love. But in this day and age, hopping into bed doesn¡¯t mean you''re bound for life, and a ring doesn¡¯t guarantee


    undying loyalty, get it?¡±


    Wallis had a whirlwind marriage and divorce, and she¡¯d often caution me not to harbor fantasies about men.


    It was her words that suddenly cleared the funk I¡¯d been in all evening.


    So what | had with Hogan could be summed up in two words.


    Mutual needs.


    Cool.


    Before the banquet wrapped up, Wallis had already made her escape, and Darren, notfortable with me going home alone,


    caught up with me at the hotel entrance.


    ¡°It''s notte, | can manage on my own.¡±


    ¡°Who''d feel alright letting a pretty girl like you head home solo?¡±


    | was about to decline when | saw Hogan and Cecilia emerge from the hall. That second, | changed my mind.


    ¡°Thanks, Darren.¡±


    Darren and | shared the backseat.


    | hadn¡¯t drunk much tonight, but shortly after getting in the car, my stomach started cramping


    1. up.


    Darren noticed and told the driver to pull over. Momentster, embarrassingly, | found myself


    12:19


    Carter 37


    hugging a trash can on the sidewalk, throwing up big time.

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    Chapter 38


    | wanted to crawl into a hole and die.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± | said to Darren beside me, fiddling with a water bottle, mortified. ¡°I¡¯m usually not such a lightweight.¡±


    Darren''s eyes crinkled with a smile, but there was a teasing lilt in his voice, ¡°Maybe the driver drives in a terrible way.¡±


    Great, now | felt even more embarrassed.


    Back in the car, Darren pointed at the wristband in my hand and casually mentioned, ¡°It¡¯s dirty.¡± | retracted my left hand


    nervously, staying mum.


    He was just giving me a heads-up, but what he didn¡¯t know was the gnarly scar hidden beneath the wristband.


    Dirty, he got that right.


    | thought to myself, dejected, it¡¯d been dirty for a long time.


    Half an hourter, at my request, the sedan stopped at the entrance to myplex.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | thanked Darren and turned to leave when suddenly a jacketnded on my shoulders.


    In an instant, the subtle scent of ambergris filled my nose, apanied by Darren¡¯s gentle voice in my ear, ¡°It¡¯s chilly with the


    night dew, take it slow.¡±


    The booze had hit me and the breeze made me shiver, so | didn¡¯t refuse the offer.


    | staggered down to my building, and before | could step inside, | heard Cecilia¡¯s sweet and sticky voice.


    ¡°Sorry, Hogan, | was just too nervous today, didn¡¯t do great, huh?¡±


    Her tone of self-me was kind of heart-wrenching.


    Hogan was quick to respond, ¡°No rush, practice makes perfect, you did great today.¡±


    His deep, raspy voice, with its honest inflection, was reallyforting.


    It was Cecilia¡¯s Hogan, alright.


    | couldn''t bear to eavesdrop any longer and headed to the staircase on the other side.


    Then | heard Cecilia ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t youing up, Hogan?¡±


    | half-lifted my eyelids, looking out at the bright moonlight, and managed a weak smile.


    Yeah, under such moonlight, it was perfect for lovebirds to whisper sweet nothings all night long.


    Chacher 33


    Maybe the alcohol was to thank, because that night. | actually slept like a rock.


    So much so that | didn¡¯t notice Hogan¡¯s call until the next day.


    It was fromst night at ten, not long after he¡¯d dropped off Cecilia.


    Rubbing my temples, out of politeness, | sent him WhatsApp message.


    Mr. Zade, what¡¯s up?)


    | didn¡¯t expect Hogan to reply instantly with [Wrong number.]


    I knew it.


    | tapped my fingers, then deleted the message and headed to the bathroom.


    Amomentter, the notification sound chimed again. Hogan had sent a dry line [Ms. March, you seem busy.]


    Somehow feeling cheeky, | quickly typed back, [Still got a ways to gopared to a time master ke you Mr. Zade.]


    Hogan didn¡¯t reply after that.


    The chat went dead.


    I rushed to get ready for work, and as my eyes swept over the couch, ''t noticed Darren¡¯s navy blue suit jacket.


    It still faintly smelled of ambergris mixed with the stench of booze.


    Yup, | was the culprit.


    1 packed up the jacket neatly, taking it with me to the office building, on the hunt for a dry cleaner.


    Unfortunately, | hadn¡¯t found the dry cleaner yet when | bumped into Hogan, who was dropping off Cecilia for work.


    Cecilia was wearing a soft pink knit sweater, paired with a ck skirt and Mary Janes, exuding innocence and vitality.


    Seeing me, she smiled and asked, ¡°Xaviera, what¡¯s that?¡±


    Her eyesnded on the suit jacket | was carrying.


    | replied frankly, ¡°Looking for a dry cleaner.¡±


    Cecilia nodded knowingly and pointed down the street, ¡°There¡¯s one at the second corner.¡±


    | was about to thank her when she curiously asked, ¡°That suit, it¡¯s Mr. Yearwood¡¯s, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    | looked at Cecilia quietly, and saw her nce sheepishly at Hogan, ¡°Xaviera¡¯s so nice to Mr. Yearwood. | should take a leaf out


    of her book.¡±


    Chapter 38


    | nced over at Hogan standing across the street and said evenly, ¡°Director Irwin, you have a lot to learn then.¡±

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    Chapter 39


    When she heard my response, Cecilia¡¯s expression clearly froze for a sec.


    She couldn¡¯t squeeze out a word for the longest time.


    Then Hogan couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, gave me a quick look and said to her, ¡°Just be yourself. no need to copy anyone.¡±


    When Hogan said ¡°anyone,¡± his piercing gazended right on my face.


    Talk about beating around the bush.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Cecilia looked at him, all surprised and fluttery eyshes.


    Guess she was touched.


    | didn¡¯t want to waste my time watching this soap opera unfold, so | said ¡°Excuse me,¡± turned on my heel and left.


    Turned out | actually found that dry cleaner Cecilia mentioned.


    At three in the afternoon, the owner of the dry cleaners gave me a ring, saying my suit was ready.


    | thought about it for a moment and dialed Darren¡¯s number.


    Soon after, the call connected, and | heard Darren ask in a hushed voice. ¡°Xaviera, what''s up?¡±


    He sounded pretty worried.


    Only then did | realize the timing of my call might not have been great. | said, with a hint of apology. ¡°You free tonight? Your


    coat¡¯s all clean, | can drop it off.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Darren answered decisively, ¡°How about after six?¡±


    ¡°Works for me.¡±


    We set the time, and there | was, carrying the suit to N University.


    It had only been two years, but being back in this ce, filled with memories of Hogan and my youth, | felt like a lifetime ago.


    Underneath the academic building. Darren approached me in a light brown trench coat, puffing and panting, ¡°Been waiting long?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± | handed him the suit, asking. ¡°Didn''t interrupt your work, did |?¡±


    Darren rolled his eyes at me. ¡°Got your head stuck in coding? It¡¯s off-duty hours now.¡±


    It didn¡¯t feel right to just take off, so | offered, ¡°Well, Darren, let me treat you to dinner.¡±


    Darren smiled contentedly. ¡°Wouldn''t say no to that.¡±


    But who would¡¯ve thought, Darren took me to the student cafeteria to the spaghetti section.


    12:20:


    ¡°Ketchup spaghetti?¡±


    | was a bit surprised.


    That was my go-tofort food during my college days¡ªcheap and filling, but how did Darren know?


    When we sat down, Darren also got me an extra cup of hot milk.


    ¡°Are you trying to save me some cash?¡±


    Darren passed me some disposable cutlery and said, ¡°Not really, just been craving this spaghetti for a while.¡±


    Seeing | didn¡¯t say anything, he reminded me, ¡°Finish your spaghetti, and the milk too, okay?¡±


    Suddenly, | pictured Darren back in college, herding us all to do morning exercises with the discipline book, dubbed ¡®Nanny


    Darren by the students, and | couldn''t help butugh.


    Darren looked at me, puzzled, and exined, ¡°Just remembered how you used to take care of everyone back in the day, Darren


    No sooner had | finished, Darren ficked my forehead gently with his finger, ¡°Xaviera, focus on your food.¡±


    After eating. | headed back to the studio, only to bump right into Hogan as | walked in.


    | stepped back, knowing my ce, but his cool voice hovered near my ear. ¡°Date¡¯s over?¡±


    Date?


    | was clueless.


    Just then, Cecilia carpe out with her chain bag, saw me, and first her gaze sharpened, then she smiled and said, ¡°Xaviera, are


    you and Professor Yearwood dating now?¡±


    She actually called Darren Professor Yearwood.


    But why the sudden change of title?


    ¡°We''re just...¡±


    ¡°| get it,¡± Cecilia cut me off before | could finish, winked at me and said. ¡°The forums are buzzing, saying you and Professor


    Yearwood are a perfect match.¡±


    | had no idea how my trip to N University sparked this gossip. But considering Darren, | still exined, ¡°We''re just friends.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Cecilia replied, her voice sweet and coy, ¡°I don¡¯t think Professor Yearwood sees it that


    way.


    She drew out thest words, all innocent-like.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    Chapter 40


    Hogan cut into our chat, ¡°We''re gonna bete for the concert.¡±


    Cecilia waved at me with a grin, ¡°So, Xaviera, we''re heading off first, alright?¡±


    Once they were gone, | immediately fired up the N University forum.


    Boom, there it was, the top post ¡ª Hot rumor: N University¡¯s hunkiest prof, Darren, is off the market!


    And pped right there was a pic of Darren and me chowing down in the student cafeteria.


    Gotta hand it to the OP, they''d got some mad candid skills. Smiles, forehead flicks- even |, the subject, felt like there was


    something fishy in those snaps.


    Thements were all over the ce.


    [Holy moly, is this the legendary match of brains and beauty? That prof¡¯s date¡¯s got some killer looks!]


    [I mean, how can someone rock both sweet and icy vibes? She got a celestial face!]


    [We totally approve of Professor Yearwood¡¯s love life!]


    The more | read, the wilder it got, until my eyesnded on this gem: Ain¡¯t that Xaviera, the one who used to drool over the


    finance department''s golden boy?


    The reply was fresh, with just a handful of likes.


    After some thought, | decided to y hacker and wiped that gossip post off the map.


    Alittle misunderstanding about me was fine, but | couldn¡¯t let Darren¡¯s rep take a hit.


    By the time | wrapped up, it was the dead of night.


    Stepping off the elevator, | spotted a lean figure in the distance, standing by the window, fingers holding a half-smoked cigarette.


    Outside, bare branches swayed, the man¡¯s face obscured in the backlight, murky and indistinct. But | recognized Hogan from


    that familiar silhouette.


    | was surprised.


    Wasn''t he at the concert? What¡¯s he doing here at the office building?


    Pretending not to notice, | walked past with a poker face, but when | was just two meters from Hogan, | heard him ask, ¡°All this


    for a project, really?¡±


    | paused, puzzled, and looked up at Hogan.


    Our eyes met, and | heard him scoff, ¡°Or is it, you programmers are best at making backups for


    1/2


    12-20 -


    yourselves?¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Backups?


    Now | was totally lost, so | just came out with it, ¡°Mr. Zade, care to exin?¡±


    Hogan slowly exhaled a ring of smoke, eyes sharpening as he replied, ¡°Frank''s just being polite for the Yearwood family¡¯s sake.


    You don¡¯t actually think, with his status, he¡¯d be into your project, do you?¡±


    My heart skipped a beat as | caught Hogan¡¯s insinuation.


    Guess he figured out why Wallis and | approached Frank.


    And in Hogan¡¯s eyes, my closeness to Darren was just to use him to snag more investment bucks.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, | don¡¯t think that¡¯s against any deal we have with yourpany,¡± | said calmly, ¡°but still thanks for the high regard.¡±


    Climbing thedder by any means, even flirting ¡ª it was kinda like a backhandedpliment.


    But my thanks didn¡¯t sit well with Hogan. He watched me quietly, frowning. ¡°You''d do better focusing on things that matter.


    Rainbow Capital won''t shortchange you.¡±


    | almost burst outughing...


    So Hogan¡¯ste-night mission was just to give me a heads-up?


    | met Hogan¡¯s frosty gaze and shot back, ¡°If Frank¡¯s so uninterested in our project, then pray tell, what caught your eye in the first


    ce, Mr. Zade?¡±


    Hogan was taken aback, speechless for a moment.


    | smirked, drawing my own conclusion, ¡°Was it because you''re head over heels for Director Irwin, Mr. Zade? Blinded by love?¡±


    He stiffened at my words, his pupils contracting slightly. ¡°So, you n to follow in her footsteps?¡±


    Suddenly, | was the one caught off guard, defiance bubbling up as | retorted, ¡°What''s that to you, Mr. Zade?¡±


    Hogan was silent for a long while.


    His imposing aura almost suffocating me.


    Just when | felt at a loss, he finally spoke, his toneced with mockery, ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯re quite something.¡±

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    Chapter 41


    Chapter 41


    Hogan and | finally parted ways on a sour note..


    But this time around, | wasn¡¯t freaking out.


    Sure, Hogan was a tough cookie, but with Cecilia in the picture, he¡¯d got his Achilles¡® heel


    Had a dreamless night, and when | woke up, my phone was buzzing with a few unread


    messages.


    They were from Tina.


    We hit it off at Darren¡¯s birthday bash and added each other.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    [Xaviera, are you and Darren actually an item now?]


    She was fishing for some juicy gossip.


    It seemed that she caught wind of that post too.


    | had no choice but to run through the whole spiel | gave Cecilia yesterday, and ended it with [Do me a solid and clear the air with


    the rest of the gang, will ya?]


    Tina was a peach, and she agreed right away.


    But thinking about how all this might affect Darren, | was still feeling edgy, so | gave him a ring.


    ¡°This is why you''re blowing up my phone first thing in the morning?¡± Darren asked in his usualid-back tone, sounding a bit


    miffed, ¡°Xaviera, do you really think I¡¯m that petty?¡±


    ¡°Darren.¡±


    ¡°And besides, to be linked with you, Xaviera, is an honor for me.¡±


    Darren cut me off, his voice as warm andforting as the autumn sun at its zenith.


    ¡°I''m tied up at the moment, you go on with your day.¡±


    | quickly hung up.


    Of course, | wasn¡¯t trying to brush Darren off on purpose. | had to check in on my uncle today-¡ªit was his second day here in


    Rivertown.


    He was staying in a no-frills residential area in the eastern part of Rivertown.


    When | got to the staff dorm with some fruit, his colleague told me my uncle had the morning shift and was already out patrolling


    themercial street.


    | politely handed out some snacks to everyone and then headed to the street corner to look for him.


    | hadn''t gone far when | heard my uncle¡¯s intermittent voice. My heart skipped a beat, and | hurried over.


    There was this middle-aged woman with dyed yellow hair, red lips, and dressed to the nines in Chanel style, pointing fingers at


    my uncle.


    ¡°When did our neighborhood lose its ss? Are we hiring security guards or inviting trouble?¡±


    My usually meek uncle was nervously sping his hands, apologizing to the woman while stuttering. ¡°I just thought n-nobody


    wanted it, I-I¡¯m not a thief.¡±


    His dark skin glistened with sweat, and his eyes were filled with embarrassment.


    ¡°Uncle!¡±


    My uncle Jason turned at the sound of my voice, and a genuine smile briefly crossed his simple face before he looked down


    again, clearly ufortable.


    Jason had a stutter his whole life.


    Probably worried about embarrassing me, he hung his head low, looking like he was caught red-handed.


    | stepped in front of him and asked the woman, ¡°Ma¡¯am, seems like there¡¯s been some misunderstanding?¡±


    She tilted her chin up arrogantly, ¡°And you are? Rted to this thief?¡±


    Her calling him a ¡°thief¡± drew a small crowd.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, you''re calling my uncle a thief. Got any proof?¡± | nced at the cardboard boxes at her feet, speaking with authority.


    The woman probably didn¡¯t expect me to push back so hard. She pointed at me and said, ¡°Denying it, huh? | had my cardboard


    boxes sitting right outside my door, and he just takes. them without a word. Isn''t that stealing?¡±


    | got the picture right away.


    Jason had been a pushover his whole life, always on the receiving end of bullying; he¡¯d never stoop to petty theft.


    | nced over at the snack shop and said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, this is amercial street. The area where you dumped your cardboard is


    managed by the propertypany. Since my uncle works here. he¡¯s naturally obliged to keep the street clean. As for stealing.¡±


    | paused, then continued, ¡°Ma¡¯am, who would steal something in broad daylight?¡±


    The woman was left speechless by my argument, stomping her foot in frustration, ¡°He just took the boxes without saying a word.


    Isn''t that theft!¡±


    | turned to my uncle and asked patiently. ¡°Is that what happened?¡±


    Jason looked at me, shook his head, and managed to say, ¡°I-I told the shopkeeper.¡±


    Now the woman had noeback.


    Chapter 41


    The onlookers couldn¡¯t stand it either, chiming in. ¡°It¡¯s just a few cardboard boxes, no need to make a mountain out of a molehill.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, give the security guard a break, don¡¯t nitpick.¡±


    The more the woman listened, the more annoyed she became, waving us off. ¡°Alright, alright, that¡¯s enough, off you go!¡±


    Her gesture was like she was shooing away a beggar.


    Watching my uncle¡¯s unwillingness to make a fuss, | felt a bitter taste in my mouth.


    Just because he stuttered and couldn''t talk smoothly, this woman thought she could trample on his dignity in public?

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42


    Chapter 42


    Chapter 42


    | took a deep breath and said with a straight face, ¡°Madam, since everything has been cleared up, don¡¯t you think you owe us an


    apology?¡±


    The woman who was about to leave the scene spun around in shock, fixed her gaze on me. said, ¡°Apologize for what? You just


    can¡¯t let it go, huh?¡±


    and


    She had this bossy attitude, as if we were the ones causing trouble on purpose.


    | shielded Jason by my side and insisted, ¡°You need to apologize to my uncle.¡±


    The woman rolled up her sleeves, ready to retort, but was interrupted by a new voice.


    ¡°Mom, what''s going on here?¡±


    That voice sounded so familiar.


    | followed the sound and immediately saw the Maybach parked on the side of the road.


    And there were Hogan and Cecilia, standing in front of the car.


    Hogan was carrying two bottles of expensive wine, looking exactly like a son-inw visiting for the first time.


    Suddenly, it hit me why the location of my uncle¡¯s workce had seemed familiar at first nce.


    Cecilia lived here too.


    Clearly, this middle-aged woman was Cecilia¡¯s mom, Sibyl Irwin.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Cecilia, dressed in a light blue knit dress and ck boots, walked up to me and asked in surprise. ¡°Xaviera, what are you guys


    doing here?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Sibyl gave me a wary nce, adjusted her slightly ill-fitting Chanel jacket. and said, ¡°Cecilia, is this the


    Xaviera you often talk about?¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s expression froze for a second before returning to normal, saying, ¡°Yes, Xaviera has always been very helpful to me at


    work.¡±


    Sibyl took another look at me, her tone noticeably warmer, ¡°Ms. March, | don¡¯t know you are my daughter''s colleague. Please


    don''t take offense.¡±


    With her saying that, if | kept pushing the issue, I¡¯d juste off as someone who can¡¯t take a step back even when I¡¯m in the


    right.


    Thinking about how my uncle still needed to work here, | decided to downy the situation, ¡°It¡¯s all a misunderstanding; it¡¯s good


    that it¡¯s resolved.¡±


    Sibyl visibly breathed a sigh of relief, quickly shifting her gaze to Hogan, smiling as she said. ¡°Cecilia, is this Mr. Zade?¡±


    Chapter 42


    Hogan was in a dark patterned sult that day, looking sharp, and with his striking features, it made Sibyl smile from ear to ear.


    No wonder, with Hogan¡¯s assets, there weren¡¯t many future mothers¡ªinw who wouldn''t be pleased.


    Hogan also adopted the humble demeanor of a prospective son-inw, politely greeting her, ¡°Hello, Mrs. Sibyl.¡±


    As he spoke, Jason by my side stiffened visibly. | btedly realized and grabbed his arm, saying, ¡°We have other things to take


    care of, so we won''t disturb you any longer.¡±


    But Jason didn¡¯t want to leave, ring fiercely at Hogan.


    His eyes were undisguised with loathing, and he wasn¡¯t trying to hide it.


    Hogan, keenly aware of the challenging re, frowned slightly.


    | felt a pang of anxiety, breaking out in a cold sweat, and could only plead, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    Hearing this, Jason reacted as if struck by lightning, reluctantly looked away, and his expression softened a bit as he nced at


    me with concern.


    That was the first thing | said when | woke up after that incident.


    Out of the blue. Cecilia offered, ¡°Xaviera, if you don¡¯t mind, why don¡¯t we have lunch at my ce? My dad¡¯s cooking is really


    good.¡±


    | was at a loss for words.


    What was she up to, inviting us like this?


    After a moment, it dawned on me; she was probably just being polite, especially in front of Hogan.


    But this time, Jason, with a stern face, said, ¡°No need, | will cook for Xaviera.¡±


    His tone was so firm it was almost rigid,


    Back at the staff dormitory, Jason did as he said, using themunal kitchen to whip up two dishes and a soup for me.


    The vegetables were all grown by him and my aunt back home.


    Looking at the weathered middle-aged man in front of me, someone | deeply respected, my eyes welled up, and | almost cried.


    ¡°There are plenty of good men out there,¡± he said mechanically, serving food into my bowl, ¡°Xaviera, y-you are outstanding; you


    will ffind someone better.¡±


    | choked down a bite of food, feeling a dense throb of pain in my chest, almost suffocating.


    On the way back, | immediately called Wallis.


    ¡°Reach out to Frank proactively?¡± Wallis was puzzled, ¡°But would a big shot like him even care


    12:20


    Chapter 42


    about us?¡±


    | was calm, ¡°We have to give it a try.¡±


    It was only by trying that we would know if there was another possibility.

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43


    Chapter 43


    Wallis quickly scoped out that Frank hits the links every weekend.


    At Lake Golf, a low-key yet swanky golf club.


    After huddling with Wallis, we decided to stage a chance encounter.


    Come Saturday afternoon, we rocked up to the course bright and early, lying in wait.


    It was a hot minute before we spotted Frank, fashionablyte, rolling deep with his entourage.


    Wallis and | exchanged a look, then she strutted over with her club in hand.


    ¡°Mr. Bishop, fancy seeing you here again.¡± Wallis put on her CEO charm, all polite and stuff.


    Frank paused when he heard her, his gaze lingering briefly on Wallis before flitting away, cool as a cucumber, like he couldn''t


    ce us.


    One of his buddies couldn¡¯t resist a dig. ¡°Man, you''ve got that love charm. Works wherever he goes.¡±


    His look at me and Wallis was so tant it bordered on rude.


    Guess he figured we were gold diggers.


    | brushed it off, stepping forward. ¡°Mr. Bishop, with your busy schedule, no wonder you don¡¯t. remember President Lott. Looks


    like President Lott''s wish isn¡¯t happening today.¡±


    | let out a sigh to drive it home.


    That got Frank¡¯s attention, his curiosity piqued as he gave Wallis a once¡ªover.


    Wallis scratched her head, awkward as hell, then nced my way.


    | chimed in, ¡°No sweat. President Lott. We can always hit the green with Mr. Bishop some other time.¡±


    Wallis quickly agreed, ¡°Guess we''ve been twiddling our thumbs for nothing these past two


    hours.¡±


    Wallis was a total bombshell ¡ª stood out even in a crowd, and those doe eyes of hers looked. like they were always telling a


    story. Right then, she was the picture of pity.


    The onlookers were having a field day. One piped up. ¡°Look, no offense, but Mr. Bishop¡¯s golf game is top-notch around


    Rivertown. You looking to y him or y him for a fool?¡±


    Wallis swung her club with a flourish, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure about that.¡±


    ¡°Let''s just hit a few then,¡± Frank finally chimed in, cool as you like. ¡°But just so you know, | don¡¯t


    go easy on anyone.¡±


    He was exuding a serious aura. Wallis literally held her breath, lost for words.


    1/3


    12:21


    Chat


    | stepped in to shield her, whispering. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. Winning or losing doesn¡¯t matter now.¡±


    What mattered was we¡¯d snagged a chance to talk to Frank.


    Turns out Walls could hold her own with a club.


    Back when she was trying to impress her loaded ex, she went all out practicing golf. Among the weekend warriors, she''d got


    some serious chops.


    Just not quite in Frank¡¯s league.


    So yeah, by the end of the game, with the sun dipping low, Wallis was wiped but took the loss like a champ.


    Frank tossed his club to the caddy, shot Wallis a nce, and said with a hint of respect. ¡°That birde by President Lott wasn¡¯t half


    bad.¡±


    He''d sunk a handful himself.


    Walls¡®petitive streak was all ried up. ¡°We''ll have a rematch someday.¡±


    The peanut gallery teased, ¡°Mr. Bishop, she¡¯s asking for a second date!¡±


    On now Walls and | had names, it seemed.


    Frank cracked a smile, his gaze suddenlynding on me, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring Darren along?¡±


    Mentioning Darren got everyone giving us that knowing look


    ¡°Professor Yearwood¡¯s tied up, wouldn¡¯t want to bug him.¡± | replied, all sincerity.


    ¡°After a long game, you must be tired. If youdies don¡¯t mind, join us for a drink at our club.¡±


    Walls and | locked eyes, and in unison, we were like. ¡°Lead the way.¡±


    The club wasn¡¯t just us girls.


    While Frank was changing, Wallis and | shot the breeze with some of the others.


    Someone casually brought up Hogan, griping about how he¡¯s always out of reach.


    ¡°Heard he¡¯s got a thing for some college girl Been chasing her like a man possessed, turning the whole Zade family upside


    down. No clue what he¡¯s after.¡±


    Some trust-fund kiddo chimed in ¡°You don¡¯t get it, man. It¡¯s all about that fresh college vibe. It¡¯s a different story in the bedroom¡ª


    gets you hooked.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    The dude barely finished his sentence before the others burst outughing.


    | kept my head down took a swig of my drink. It tasted foul.


    ¡°Enough¡¯s enough¡± Frank cut in ¡°There aredies present.¡±


    Walls shot me a lock, half-joking. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t a bit of young flesh?¡±


    That quip cleared the air of ankwardness.


    22


    Phad business to tend to, so | sidled up to Frank with my drink


    ABisho¡± | said, keeping my ss tow, ¡°thanks for today?


    ¡°Attend of Darren¡¯s is a friend of mine, Ms. March, Ho need for thanks.


    lwasn¡¯t about to beat around the bush, ¡°You''ve probably guessed today wast


    Frank staved qutet, desturing for me to go on.


    ¡°We like to discuss a project with you,¡± Leul to the chase,


    Frank took a sin, then said after a moment. ¡°Since you are working with Mr. Zade, money shouldn¡¯t be an issue, right?¡±


    He knew about Hodan¡¯s investment.


    | steeled myself. ¡°Sure. Mr. Zade¡¯s loaded. But when ites to insight and strategy, President Lett and | think you¡¯ve got the


    upper hand.¡±


    Frank seemed used to this kind of ttery. He squinted his eyes, ¡°I want the real reason, Ms. March¡±


    His tone was gentle, but there was an undercurrent of pressure that told me if | tried any funny business, he might just toss


    Wallis and me out on our ears,


    lak it out straight, ¡°We''re in this project for the money. Mr. Zade¡¯s ying a different game.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s just trying to impress his girl.¡± | chose my words carefully, ¡°Different goals,¡±


    No sooner had | spoken than Frank burst intoughter, ¡°Sounds like Mr. Zade isn¡¯t doing his job as an investor if he¡¯s got you


    thinking that.¡±


    It was casual banter, but Frank¡¯s eyes stayed fixed over my shoulder.


    With a skeptical look stered on my face, | just turned my head and boom-there was Hogan, standing right behind me.


    He was staring right back at me, too.

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44


    Chapter 44


    Hogan rolled in with Zachary.


    Honestly, the moment those trust fund brats started trash-talking Hogan, | had this bad feeling creeping up on me.


    The Rivertown circle was small, and since they were both in the investment game, bumping into each other wasmon.


    But of course, today of all days, it had to happen.


    Right when | was bad¡ªmouthing him, no less.


    | was a tad embarrassed, but then | remembered discussing the whole bringing in new investors thing with Hogan, so | quickly


    got my act together.


    But thatposure cracked a bit when Hogan came over with a drink and nted himself next


    tome.


    That perfect not-too¡ªclose-yet-not-too-far distance, his expression unreadable, showing zero emotion except for that sharp,


    soapy scent of his that was practically barging into my nostrils.


    Feeling uneasy, | clutched my ss tighter and threw Wallis a look for backup.


    Hogan slowly parted his lips, ¡°Ms. March, do tell, how exactly am I not doing my job?¡±


    His voice was deep, steady, and sounded pretty chill.


    But there was a hint of mockery in those eyes of his as he looked at me.


    With his status, once he spoke up, the others zipped it.


    They sure knew how to read the room.


    In a sh, the whole buzzing atmosphere got smothered by this heavy tension.


    All eyes on me, the pressure was cranked up my way.


    | figured Hogan was out to make me squirm.


    | pinched my palm and confessed, ¡°Mr. Zade, if | had to point out a w, it¡¯s probably that you are a bit too stingy.¡±


    At that, Hogan¡¯s brows did a little dance.


    And the faces around were holding back grins, waiting to see his reaction.


    The man swirled his wine ss and asked, ¡°Think the money is not enough?¡±


    | couldn''t just blurt out in front of everyone that Hogan threw us a cool five hundred thousand for Cecilia¡¯s sake.


    That''d be like announcing through a megaphone that Hogan was like a tyrant totally bewitched.


    Chapter 44


    Hogan rolled in with Zachary.


    Honestly, the moment those trust fund brats started trash-talking Hogan, | had this bad feeling creeping up on me.


    The Rivertown circle was small, and since they were both in the investment game, bumping into each other wasmon.


    But of course, today of all days, it had to happen.


    Right when | was bad¡ªmouthing him, no less.


    | was a tad embarrassed, but then | remembered discussing the whole bringing in new investors thing with Hogan, so | quickly


    got my act together.


    But thatposure cracked a bit when Hogan came over with a drink and nted himself next to me.


    That perfect not-too¡ªclose-yet¡ªnot-too-far distance, his expression unreadable, showing zero emotion except for that sharp,


    soapy scent of his that was practically barging into my nostrils.


    Feeling uneasy, | clutched my ss tighter and threw Wallis a look for backup.


    Hogan slowly parted his lips, ¡°Ms. March, do tell, how exactly am | not coing my job?¡±


    His voice was deep, steady, and sounded pretty chill


    But there was a hint of mockery in those eyes of his as he looked at me.


    With his status, once he spoke up, the others zipped it.


    They sure knew how to read the room.


    In a sh, the whole buzzing atmosphere got smothered by this heavy tension.


    All eyes on me, the pressure was cranked up my way.


    1 figured Hogan was out to make me squirm.


    | pinched my palm and confessed, ¡°Mr. Zade, if | had to point out a w, it¡¯s probably that you are a bit too stingy.¡±


    At that, Hogan¡¯s brows did a little dance.


    And the faces around were holding back grins, waiting to see his reaction.


    The man swirled his wine ss and asked, ¡°Think the money is not enough?¡±


    | couldn''t just blurt out in front of everyone that Hogan threw us a cool five hundred thousand for Cecilia¡¯s sake.


    That¡¯d be like announcing through a megaphone that Hogan was like a tyrant totally bewitched


    by beauty.


    | decided to double down on the blunder, ¡°Yeah, when Mr. Bishop makes a move, he hits his targets big time.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s swirling hand paused, and he let out a soft snort.


    That was when Wallis Jumped In, ¡°Xaviera, | can¡¯t agree with that. Mr. Zade invested the five hundred thousand when we were


    out of options. It was like sending charcoal in snowy weather


    less money but more meaningful.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Frank raised an eyebrow. ¡°Mr. Zade, not gonna clear the air?¡±


    Hogan took a sip and said slowly, ¡°Every project has its assessment criteria.¡±


    | almost burst outughing.


    Hogan¡¯s ¡®assessment criteria¡¯ must be Cecilia, right?


    ¡°If ¡¯m not mistaken, Mr. Zade, both you and Ms. March are graduates of N University?¡± Frank stirred up another convo, ¡°Never


    bumped into each other back then?¡±


    | took a sip and replied. ¡°Not close.¡±


    As soon as | said that, | could feel the guy next to me drop in temperature.


    But publicly denying our history, wasn¡¯t that his favorite tactic?


    Why did he seem upset now?


    Wallis caught on too, chuckling, ¡°Yeah, if we had known a big shot like Mr. Zade sooner, we''d be clinging to his coattails, right?¡±


    Nice save.


    And just like that, the chat about judging Investors behind their backs was smoothly bypassed.


    Later, we talked about this and that until | nced out the window and saw the dry leaves soaked with rain.


    It started to rain.


    ¡°The roads are slick; if no one minds, you can all stay the night.¡±


    It waste, and Frank, being considerate, had someone arrange rooms for each of us.


    After the gathering, Wallis and | went to our rooms, and soon my phone rang unexpectedly.


    Hogan¡¯s call.


    Guess he was on the warpath.


    After an afternoon of fake smiles and Intenseworking, | was beat, so | chose to Ignore it.


    The call ended, but then a message popped up. Just three words, (Open the door.]


    Chapter 44


    I shot up and tiptoed to the door, peeking through the peephole to see Hogan¡¯s handsome face.


    Thinking | was on Frank¡¯s turf and didn¡¯t want to stir up drama, | reluctantly cracked the door


    open.


    He caught my movement and his gaze met mine, naturally wedging his foot in the door as if he knew I''d m it shut right away.


    ¡°Something up?¡± | asked awkwardly.


    Somehow, it felt like | was in the middle of a sneaky affair.


    What a mess.


    Hogan stared at me, a coldness in his eyes, and asked, ¡°Xaviera, we''re not close?¡±


    | didn¡¯t want to argue with Hogan.


    After all, we were both guests of Frank that night, and it wouldn''t be cool to cause a scene at the host''s ce.

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    Chapter 45


    It was not exactly smart to tick Frank off before the new investment doughnded.


    | chirped up. ¡°Toote for this, can we talk tomorrow morning?¡±


    Hogan snorted coldly, already halfway through the door.


    | blocked the entrance, not letting him in.


    Just then, Wallis¡® voice hit my ears outta nowhere, ¡°Which room¡¯s Xaviera¡¯s?¡±


    Panic hit me like a truck, my hand strength went MIA, giving Hogan the perfect opening.


    He managed to worm his way in anyways.


    Feeling kinda deted, | looked up at the guy in front of me and asked, ¡°Mr. Zade, you think this is cool?¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t utter a word, just furrowed his brow and yanked at his tie in irritation.


    That was rare.


    Outside, Wallis¡® voice was closing in, ¡°Xaviera, you hit the sack yet?¡±


    | pinched the bridge of my nose, forced some pep into my step, and threw Hogan a look to hide behind the door.


    Just as my fingers touched the doorknob, his hand swooped in, right on top of mine.


    His sleeves rolled up, revealing some solid forearms, his palm burning up like nobody¡¯s


    business.


    ¡°Xaviera,¡± his deep voice pressed against my ear, ¡°aren¡¯t we close?¡±


    Bonkers.


    Hogan was really not scared of stirring the pot, huh?


    | met his gaze, ticked off, but silent.


    During the quiet, | felt a tight squeeze around my waist, and Hogan pulled me into his arms.


    Through a thinyer of fabric, | could feel his solid arms across my waist.


    | squirmed, but my feet were like jelly, couldn¡¯t find my footing.


    Hogan leaned in, eyes locked with mine, and grilled me like he was possessed, ¡°Aren¡¯t we close?¡±


    His warm breath, heavy with the scent of booze, washed over my face.


    | turned away, feeling my face re up, as Hogan cupped my cheeks.


    ¡°Answer me.¡±


    1221


    Chapter 45


    ¡°Not close,¡± | said through gritted teeth, anger rising. ¡°Hogan, we-


    His lips crashed onto mine, cutting off my next line.


    | reached out to stop him, but he pinned my hands above my head.


    The kiss was fierce, his face an imposing blur, impossible to fend off.


    my dream, Hogan nibbled on my tattoo, calling out ¡®Xaviera¡® over and over, just like the old times.


    Booze was no good, really.


    The jarring ring of my phone yanked me out of the dream.


    | opened my eyes to unfamiliar surroundings and snapped right awake.


    But once | did, | plunged into a whirlpool of cluelessness.


    The bite marks were pretty obvious.


    On the other end of the line, Wallis excitedly blurted, ¡°Xaviera, great news, Hogan¡¯s decided to throw in another five hundred


    thousand!¡±


    Another five hundred thousand?


    My mind was boggled.


    Thinking about the steamy scenes from my dream, | couldn¡¯t crack a smile.


    Dragging my weary legs to the bathroom, through the steamy mist, | clearly saw the bruise on my chest, right where the tattoo


    was.


    The faded words barely revealed an English phrase.


    *iiyloveyou, Hogan.¡±


    The word ¡®love¡® was all but obliterated, like a sudden sh of time¡¯s ws, mocking my foolishness.


    So Hogan, this your way of making amends?


    Wallis and | both werete.


    Even though Frank wasn¡¯t too keen, at least there was fresh cash in the till.


    And it sorted out the marketing budget issue that Wallis had been fretting over.


    She was buzzing with ns for a team-building event, ready to share the good news with


    everyone.


    But Cecilia, catching some buzz from who knows where, suddenly stood in front of me at lunch, asking, ¡°Xaviera, | heard we


    snagged another investment, is that legit?¡±


    She didn¡¯t mention Hogan.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    2/3


    12:21


    Chapter


    Guess the news about his extra funds hadn¡¯t reached her yet.


    ¡°President Lott will make the announcement.¡± | didn¡¯t want to get mixed up in their drama, sol said, ¡°Just wait a bit.¡±


    A flicker of disappointment crossed Cecilia¡¯s eyes, ¡°Oh, | see.¡±


    Not wanting her to overthink, | added, ¡°In the next few days.¡±


    Cecilia didn¡¯t pry further.


    Just when | thought the topic was done and dusted, her big round eyes weirdlynded on my neck, her expression stuck.


    | asked, puzzled. ¡°What''s up?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Cecilia stammered, ¡°Xaviera, you go ahead with your stuff.¡±


    She looked all out of sorts, quite out of the ordinary.


    It wasn¡¯t until an hourter, when | went to discuss work with Wallis in her office, that | got the picture.


    Wallis told me there was a deep red mark on the back of my neck, looked like a hickey.


    My heart skipped a beat, and | held my forehead in frustration.


    | bet Cecilia saw it too.

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46


    Chapter 46


    When | saw Cecilia at the office the next day, the poor girl was as pale as a ghost, with dark. circles under her eyes like she


    hadn¡¯t slept in a week.


    She was naturally on the petite side, with fair skin, but right then, she looked like a frostbitten white rose, all frail and sickly, pitiful


    as can be.


    Wallis stumbled upon Cecilia¡¯s Facebook update and screenshotted it to me.


    Alonely silhouette shot with the caption, [Your understanding is just because no one cares about you, right?]


    Wallis, with that gossip¡ªhungry look, was like, ¡°Bet they had a lovers¡® tiff, huh?¡±


    It got me wondering too.


    | mean, Cecilia and Hogan hadn''t been an item for that long.


    I started to think it might have to do with the love bite on my neck.


    Cecilia was in that sorry state until the afternoon.


    Just as Wallis was about to ask me if we should go and cheer Cecilia up, the studio door swung


    open.


    In came Hogan, with afternoon tea in hand.


    Everyone greeted him like it was no big deal, and he just nodded hastily before making a beeline for Cecilia''s office, looked


    pretty urgent.


    ¡°Hogan, what brings you here all of a sudden?¡±


    Hogan handed her a cup of hot milk and said, ¡°Drink it while it''s hot.¡±


    Cecilia replied weakly, ¡°It¡¯s just that time of the month, Hogan. You¡¯re making a mountain out of


    a molehill.¡±


    Her office door wasn¡¯t closed properly, so their whole conversation fell on my ears.


    Turns out, it was that time of the month.


    Soon after, they both emerged from the office. Wallis went up to chit-chat with Hogan, and Cecilia, looking all wan and feeble,


    started handing out the afternoon tea to everyone.


    When she got to me, she said affectionately, ¡°Xaviera, there¡¯s only hot milk left, hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Sweet stuff was not really my jam.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± | replied while tapping away at my code, ¡°I¡¯m not much for sweets, keep it for yourself.¡±


    No sooner had | said that than, out of the blue, ¡°Ssh!¡± A warm cup of milk mmed onto my


    1/3


    12-21N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Chapter 46


    laptop!


    In an instant, the top blew off and a flood of liquid poured all over my keyboard, drenched my fingertips.


    It hit me like a bolt from the blue. By the time | came to and reached for a tissue, it was already


    toote.


    After a few sputtering sounds, myptop screen went ck.


    ¡°Xaviera, I¡¯m so sorry, | just wanted to...¡± Her delicate voice was close to my ear.


    ¡°Wanted to what?¡± | cut her off, my voice involuntarily rising a notch, ¡°Even kids know electronics and water don¡¯t mix.¡±


    My hard drive was packed with vital files.


    For a coder like me, aptop was out lifeline.


    | just couldn¡¯t hold back anymore.


    ¡°Xaviera.¡± Cecilia¡¯s sobbing voice was breaking, her eyes rimmed red, ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean it.¡±


    Themotion caught everyone''s attention.


    And Hogan¡¯s, who was still talking to Wallis.


    He walked over and, seeing Cecilia''s tear¡ªstained face, frowned deeply.


    Even Wallis sensed something was off and, spotting myptop soaked in milk, blurted out, ¡°Who the heck drenched Ms. March¡¯s


    baby?¡±


    At that, Cecilia¡¯s eyes lowered, and she bit her lip tightly.


    Wallis gasped and covered her mouth, ¡°Sorry, Director Irwin.¡±


    ¡°It''s all my fault.¡± Cecilia sniffled with her head down and then sheepishly nced at me, ¡°Xaviera, scold me a bit more.¡±


    | was at a loss for words.


    What did she mean by ¡®scold me a bit more¡°?


    | had just been a bit stern, and in her mouth, it had turned into a scolding.


    ¡°It''s okay.¡± Hogan passed a tissue to Cecilia, trying to console her, ¡°It was just an ident, stop crying.¡±


    Her eyes got even redder.


    That¡¯s when | realized,pared to Cecilia¡¯s tears, the spilled milk on myptop was trivial in Hogan¡¯s eyes.


    But if he had paid a bit more attention, he would have noticed that theptop stained with milk was the very gift he once gave


    me.


    12:22


    Chapter 46


    Perhaps he no longer remembered.


    Thinking of this, | felt a sudden chill in my heart, a coldness that shot from my brain to my spine, then | heard Cecilia say,


    ¡°Xaviera, it¡¯s all because I¡¯m such a klutz, send me the model and I''ll buy you a new one.¡±


    She sounded pretty serious, apologizing so earnestly it was as if not forgiving her would be a crime.


    How could | not appreciate such good intentions, right?


    So | replied, ¡°For the model, you might want to ask Mr. Zade, after all, it was a gift from him.¡±


    Cecilia clearly choked up a bit, her gaze shifting uncertainly to Hogan.


    Hogan probably didn¡¯t expect me to y that card, and his eyes suddenly frosted over, ¡°It¡¯s just


    aptop, Ms. March, do you really need to make such a fuss?¡±


    Just aptop?


    He really didn¡¯t remember, or maybe, he didn¡¯t want to.

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47


    Chapter 47


    | gritted my back teeth, feeling a surge of rage welling up in my chest. In the next second, | pointed at Cecilia¡¯s desk and


    snapped, ¡°Then you better cough up a rose gold one just like it. Mr. Zade. You clearly have an eye for the good stuff, saves me


    the hassle of picking another.


    Hogan probably didn¡¯t expect me toe on so strong, and for a moment he was totally lost


    for words.


    Cecilia, the instigator, was turning all shades of red and white.


    The atmosphere got super tense real quick.


    Just in time, Wallis stepped in to smooth things over, ¡°Even though Director Irwin didn¡¯t mean any harm, theptop¡¯s definitely


    toast. Considering she¡¯s still a student, how about thepany covers the difference?¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s eyes went wide with confusion, her lips quivered, showing she was on the edge of saying something but held back.


    ¡°No need.¡± Hogan cut in crisply. ¡°We''ll do as Ms. March suggested. I''ll handle it.¡±


    ¡°Hogan,¡± Cecilia burst out, obviously worked up, ¡°this isn¡¯t right, | can¡¯t let you shell out for this.¡± ¡°Come on, Director Irwin,¡± Wallis


    interrupted Cecilia with a chuckle, ¡°Let¡¯s just go with that. you¡¯re really in luck, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    After finishing, Wallis turned to Hogan and asked, ¡°Are we heading straight to the store. Mr. Zade?¡±


    She was even more down-to-earth than me.


    So there we were, me, Hogan, and Cecilia hitting the mall together.


    The shop owner took one look at the friedptop, sighed, and said, ¡°The motherboard¡¯s fried, it''s a goner, no fixing it.¡±


    | wasn¡¯t nning on fixing it anyway, but it was packed with important files that | needed to ensure wouldn''t leak.


    Hogan got right to the point, pointing at aptop priced at 1,999 dors, ¡°Wrap this one up.¡±


    The owner was caught off guard by his decisiveness and paused before suggesting. ¡°Sir, there¡¯s an upgraded model of this one,


    just two hundred more.¡±


    Hogan nced at me immediately, as if asking for my input.


    Before | could even open my mouth, the shop owner added, ¡°Your girlfriend must be in IT, right? In that field, theptop is all


    about showing off. Gotta get something snazzy.¡±


    Suddenly, Cecilia piped up, ¡°Hogan, since the owner suggests it, why don¡¯t you get Xaviera the upgraded model?¡±


    Chapter 47


    The shop owner¡¯s eyes were darting between the three of us, his gaze loaded with unsaid thoughts.


    Hogan looked at Cecilia and said, ¡°Alright, we''ll go with your suggestion.¡±


    After Hogan swiftly swiped his card, the owner, grinning from ear to ear, asked, ¡°What about this one?¡±


    He was referring to the waterlogged wreck Cecilia had created.


    It was my stuff, and | made up my mind quick, ¡°Could you toss it in the trash for me, please?¡±


    After that, | made up some excuse and left with my newptop.


    Back at the office, everyone''s eyes practically popped out when they saw theptop in my hands.


    Zora just blurted out, ¡°Man, | wish Director Irwin would spill coffee on myptop tomorrow morning.¡±


    Wallis joked, ¡°You''re daydreaming.¡±


    | couldn''t help butugh.


    At the end of the day, Tina suddenly called.


    ¡°Xaviera, there¡¯s aic con at the convention center tomorrow afternoon, wannae check


    it out?¡±


    | wasn¡¯t really interested.


    But thinking about how she went out of her way to clear up that photo mix-up for me, | felt bad


    saying no.


    ¡°Come on, once your gameunches, you might need to do all sorts of offline promotions too. Consider it a learning experience.¡±


    That reasoning was pretty tempting.


    After talking it over with Wallis, | agreed to Tina¡¯s invite.


    Time flew, and the next afternoon | showed up at the convention center as promised.


    Right at the entrance, | saw a bunch of cosyers, all decked out and catching people¡¯s eyes.


    There were characters from various online games, fresh and exciting.


    | walked and looked around, my gaze finallynding on a guy cosyer in a ck robe with a waist¡ªlong skirt.


    He wore a ck patterned mask on his face, and his eyes were slender and long, with a touch. of red at the corners, holding an


    old-school umbre matching his outfit. He sat there quietly. exuding a vibe of being both righteous and wicked.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    He was drawing quite a crowd, like a handsome man stepping out of an ancient-style poster.


    12:22


    Chapter 47


    For some weird reason, he kinda resembled one of the male leads we had set up in our game.


    My heart skipped a beat, and my feet involuntarily moved towards the cosyer,


    As | got closer, he noticed me too. Our eyes met, and his trembled slightly, his gaze suddenly softening with tenderness.


    It felt eerily familiar.


    ¡°Do | look good?*


    His warm voice reached my ears, and | was taken aback, blurting out, ¡°Darren?¡±

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48


    Chapter 48


    | never expected the guy | was staring at to actually be Darren.


    He was usually rocking those silver specs and had thisid-back artsy dad vibe going on. To put it bluntly, he gave off this


    slightly stuffy and old-fashioned air.


    It was like he was a whole different person from the smooth charmer standing in front of me


    now.


    What a stark contrast.


    ¡°So, Xaviera, you''re disappointed to find out it''s me?¡± he teased.


    | waved my hand dismissively, rifying, ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not what | meant. It¡¯s just that your current look is a dead ringer for a


    character in our game, and that¡¯s why | couldn¡¯t take my eyes off you.¡±


    That probably came across a little rude.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Darren seemed taken aback, he sighed and said, ¡°And here | was thinking you had a thing for


    this version of me, Xaviera.¡±


    | raised my eyebrows, momentarily at a loss for words.


    Just then, Tina and Kevin came bounding over from the right and greeted me enthusiastically.


    ¡°Xaviera, you have no idea, before you got here, a bunch of chicks were hitting on Professor Yearwood,¡± Tina said with a hint of


    pride, lowering her voice, ¡°and they even brought him coffee.¡±


    Kevin mimicked in a falsetto, ¡°Sweetheart, sweetheart, what vor do you like?¡±


    4


    | couldn''t help but chuckle, ¡°Darren, you really do have a chick ma vibe.¡±


    Kevin was about to say something more but Darren cut him off, ¡°If you guys keep ribbing me like this, don¡¯t bother calling me


    next time.¡±


    Tina and Kevin wisely backed off.


    That was when | found out that Darren, the university professor, was often bossed around by Tina and Kevin to attend various


    comic cons as their errand cosy boy.


    No wonder our paths crossed.


    Later, Darren showed me around different areas and introduced me to various unique anime promotion techniques. | actually


    learned quite a bit from the experience.


    It was a busy day, and | couldn¡¯t let their help go unrewarded, so | suggested we all go out for a meal after the convention.


    We ended up at Aurora Eats.


    Little did we expect, as we passed by a second-floor private room, we bumped into Hry dining with a few wealthydies.


    Hry nced at Darren by my side and asked, ¡°This guy looks familiar, Xaviera. Is he your new boyfriend?¡±


    | was about to set the record straight when Darren beat me to it, ¡°Hello, Mrs. Hry, my name¡¯s Darren.¡±


    Hry paused for a moment before extending her hand, ¡°Handsome young man, where do you work?¡±


    Curious cat, | thought, frowning slightly.


    ¡°| teach at N University,¡± Darren replied politely, ¡°and I¡¯m a ssmate of Xaviera¡¯s.¡±


    No sooner had he spoken than Hry¡¯s look became more scrutinizing.


    | smoothly changed the subject, asking Darren to go ahead and order while | stayed behind to handle Hry.


    In the hallway, she sighed, ¡°Xaviera, I¡¯m actually happy to see you settling down well, unlike Hogan, who¡¯s really wearing me


    out.¡±


    Only


    when close did | notice that Hry¡¯s makeup was a bit off, with powder caked at the corners of her eyes.


    ¡°Not to hide it from you, Hogan¡¯s really been over the toptely. He¡¯s even been pushing me to bring Ms. Irwin to social


    gatherings. If his grandma finds out.¡±


    She trailed off, turning her face away, looking like she was about to cry.


    All | could offer wasfort, ¡°If Mr. Zade insists, just go along with it. There¡¯s nothing between mother and son that can¡¯t be


    worked out.¡±


    ¡°I''m just worried about those people in the Zade family.¡±


    As the richdies called out to her, Hry stopped and then returned to the private room, not before making ns to have tea


    with me sometime.


    She was really getting the hang of this wealthy lifestyle.


    Unlike me, still hustling for my daily bread.


    But | actually enjoyed dinner tonight; we were all old ssmates, reminiscing about our college days,ughter filling the air.


    Even | was surprised.


    Back home, lying in bed, | felt a strange sense of contentment, like maybe life had its moments.


    Then my phone rang.


    It was Hry.


    2/3


    Chapter 45


    At nine in the evening.


    Quite unexpected.


    Worried something was up, | answered.


    ¡°Xaviera, you''re not asleep yet, are you? | just remembered where I¡¯ve seen your boyfriend before.¡±


    | pinched the bridge of my nose, tempted to hang up.


    ¡°There¡¯s this well-known schr in Rivertown, Leonard Yearwood, have you heard of him?¡± Hry continued her gossip,


    ¡°Leonard''s wife Is also a big deal in physics here. The whole Leonard family is high-end talent, and your boyfriend is Leonard¡¯s


    grandson.¡±


    | was speechless, surprised.


    And | finally understood why a big shot like Frank was so friendly with Darren.


    It was just that Darren was usually so low-key and mild¡ªmannered, you¡¯d never connect him to the famous Yearwood family of


    Rivertown.


    But then it hit me, Hry was so eager to share Darren¡¯s background, probably to hint that someone from his world wouldn''t


    ept someone from my humble beginnings.


    Chapter 49


    She''d been through the wringer too.

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    Chapter 49


    ¡°Mrs. Hry, if there¡¯s nothing else, I''ll just...¡±


    ¡°Howe you didn¡¯t bring Cecilia along to the party today?¡±


    The icy line popped out of the receiver, and in the blink of an eye, | recognized Hogan¡¯s voice.


    Thinking back to the wealthydies who stood with Hry earlier that evening, | quickly figured out what was going on.


    It seemed that Hogan wasn¡¯t just trying to get Cecilia into the high society scene; he wanted Hry to take her under her wing


    and show her the ropes.


    ¡°She was off work by the time our gathering started. If she¡¯s going to bete, might as well note at all.¡±


    Hry¡¯s response was quite blunt.


    It was no secret that she was not Cecilia¡¯s biggest fan.


    Since it was a private conversation, it didn¡¯t feel right for me to eavesdrop, so | discreetly hung up the phone.


    The next day at the office, | shared the experience | got from theic expo with Wallis, and then we discussed the team


    building event.


    ¡°Let''s hit up a B&B in the nearby mountain. Nice scenery, and we can have a bonfire party or soak in a hot spring in the evening.


    Chill out and unwind.¡±


    We were setting off tomorrow morning.


    | had no objections. When it came to having fun, Wallis had the final say.


    She basically toured the whole country in the first six months after her divorce.


    Not to mention she was a pro at finding team building spots around Rivertown,


    Once decided, she summoned everyone to the conference room and announced the good news. Everyone was pretty stoked,


    except Cecilia who sat quietly on the side, unreadable.


    | figured it might be rted to Hry standing her up on purpose but didn¡¯t dwell on it.


    In the afternoon, Wallis suddenly called me into her office with a mischievous look ¡ª a rare expression for her.


    ¡°What''s up?¡±


    Wallis shed her phone book, saying ¡°Assistant Zachary just called me.¡±


    Chapter 49


    ¡°What did he say?¡±


    ¡°He mentioned that Mr. Zade got wind of our team building ns and has a better suggestion.


    Turns out. Hogan hoped to merge our team building with hispany¡¯s...


    He¡¯d bring along his own secretarial team and himself.


    And he generously switched the venue from the nearby mountain to Honto Abbey up north of Rivertown, with Rainbow Capital


    footing the bill.


    | was baffled. ¡°What¡¯s Honto Abbey?¡±


    Wallis put it simply. ¡°In a nutshell, one night costs this much.¡±


    She shed all ten fingers, and | went silent.


    ¡°Assistant Zachary also said that the cold winds at the nearby mountain at night aren¡¯t ideal for team building.¡± Wallis added with


    a smirk, ¡°Guess Hogan doesn¡¯t want to freeze his little kitty


    cat.*This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    That''s when it clicked.


    Cecilia was probably still in her period.


    Hogan¡¯s doing a bang-up job as a boyfriend, making us look a bit inconsiderate.


    ¡°Xaviera, what do you think?¡±


    Twirling my pen, | said in a singsong voice, ¡°Since Mr. Zade¡¯s feeling generous, who are we to decline?¡±


    Wallis paused, her gaze drifting to my neck and said with a hint of pride. ¡°d you see it that way, Xaviera.¡±


    Shortly after, Wallis updated the team building news in the group chat.


    When she mentioned Honto Abbey, the chat exploded with excitement, everyone thanking Hogan.


    But Hogan didn¡¯t respond.


    Until Cecilia chimed in with the crowd, and Hogan suddenly appeared out of nowhere.


    ¡°Remember to bring extra clothes.¡±


    He was thoughtful enough to remind Cecilia to pack more for our overnight stay at the estate.


    In full view of everyone, he showed his care without any pretense.


    It was clear as day that our golden ticket to the swanky Honto Abbey was all thanks to Cecilia¡¯s clout.


    At the end of the day, | saw Cecilia enter Wallis¡® office.


    ¡°President Lott, | won¡¯t be leaving with you guys in the morning.¡±


    The office door was open, and everyone heard loud and clear.


    Curiously, Wallis asked. ¡°What''s up? Not feeling well?¡±


    Cecilia shook her head, ¡°Hogan said he¡¯d give me a ride on the way, and | couldn''t really say


    no.¡±


    So, she had a private chauffeur.


    ¡°Got it.¡± Wallis replied coolly, ¡°head back early and rest up, see you at Honto Abbey tomorrow¡±


    Cecilia nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Oh, and,¡± Wallis took a sip of her tea, looking straight at the young girl, and said with a smile, ¡°I should really thank you on


    behalf of the wholepany, Director Irwin.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s voice was so soft it could melt, ¡°President Lott, you¡¯re too kind. Hogan Just wants. everyone to enjoy themselves, it¡¯s


    not just for me.¡±


    Wallis¡® fingers, twirling the teacup lid, couldn¡¯t help but flicker.


    Chapter 50

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    Chapter 50


    After Cecilia left with her poker face intact, Wallis grabbed me and vented, ¡°Do | have this weird feeling of being challenged by a


    subordinate?¡±


    | consoled her. ¡°It¡¯s all good.¡±


    Acouple of days ago, Wallis had a go at Cecilia in front of Hogan. Cecilia must¡¯ve taken it to heart.


    Puffed up with vanity.


    Wallis sighed and said, ¡°Being the apple of the investor¡¯s eye really does make a difference, huh?¡±


    ¡°Jealous much?¡±


    Wallis shook her head, snorted dismissively. ¡°Honey, when | was the center of attention back in the day. | saw it all.¡±


    She cut off abruptly, probably hit by some unpleasant memory.


    | was a bit worried and asked a bold question, ¡°If your ex-husband, that jerk, came back to the country to look for you, would you


    forgive him?¡±


    ¡°Hah,¡± Wallis scoffed, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, not enough obedient pretty boys at the club, or not enough eye candy fawning over


    me?¡±


    Tough cookie.


    I didn¡¯t call her out on it.


    The next day we hopped into a rented seven-seater van and headed for the legendary Honto Abbey.


    Getting there, | started to get why everyone was fussing over Cecilia.


    Standing in the middle of a 70-80 acre exotic¡ªstyle estate, | almost thought I¡¯d stepped into a fairy tale.


    Every de of grass, every door and window, screamed luxury and precision.


    Not to mention the exquisite carpet underfoot and the massive crystal chandelier overhead.


    Designs and patterns you''d never see in the stores, truly one of a kind.


    The waiter, all polite and courteous, said, ¡°Mr. Zade has arranged amodations for everyone, please follow me.¡±


    They were even fighting to carry our suitcases.


    Wallis, curious, asked, ¡°Has Mr. Zade arrived yet?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Zade is currently resting with his partner, said the event will start in the afternoon.¡±


    12:22


    The activities at the estate were divided into three parts: a bike ride around theke, a party at night, and organic picking the next


    day.


    Hogan, for Cecilia¡¯s sake, had even postponed the bike ride.


    Looking around the ornate hall, | suddenly felt a bit off.


    Inappropriately, my mind drifted to my first trip with Hogan, not long after he''d taken the initiative to hold my hand.


    I''d suggested the trip and Hogan had agreed.


    Eager to please him, | secretly coded for an off-campuspany, researched travel guides, booked hotels, and after all that


    effort. Hogan changed his mind at thest minute, opting out.


    He said it was a waste of time.


    The hotel wouldn¡¯t refund the booking, and there went hundreds of bucks down the drain.


    Money I''d earned from coding non-stop for half a month.


    Back then, I naively thought Hogan was a big¡ªshot, disciplined and restrained.


    The hidden wound in my heart felt like it had been unexpectedly sshed with acid, festering in an instant.


    Only now do | understand, Hogan wasn''t lying; it¡¯s just that | wasn¡¯t the one he thought worth spending time on.


    In the afternoon, we all gathered for theke bike ride.


    The first to finish would get a fancy reward that evening.


    Wallis and | were itching to go, but then we heard Cecilia say, ¡°I can¡¯t make it around theke. maybe I¡¯ll just wait here for you


    guys.


    The server, ever so considerate, said, ¡°We also have tandem bikes here, it¡¯s more efficient for two people to ride together.¡±


    Cecilia batted her big eyes at Hogan, who paused before saying. ¡°Okay.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    So, among the group of cyclists, there was one conspicuous tandem bike.


    The weather was on our side, bright and sunny, and we all tacitly pedaled along, not disturbing the couple behind us..


    Midway through the ride, | started to g, seeing Wallis waving at me from a bend in the road. | bit the bullet and pushed myself


    to keep up, only to look up and realize there was a downhill ahead.


    | didn¡¯t react in time, and after a silent curse, | took a nasty fall.


    Pain covered me from head to toe, and | clenched my teeth to bear it, but deep down | was terrified.


    Chapter 50


    | thought, if | died here, what would happen to my aunt and uncle?


    At that moment, my world turned upside down, and tears streamed down like pearls off a string.


    ¡°Xaviera, don¡¯t be afraid, I''ll call someone!¡±


    Wallis shouted, panicked.


    | closed my eyes, forcing myself to rally, and suddenly felt a tight squeeze around my waist, and my body was lifted into the air.

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51


    Chapter 51


    When | opened my eyes, | was already in Hogan¡¯s arms, carried sideways.


    Our eyes met, and his voice trembled, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, the paramedics will be here any second.¡±


    The exhaustion was evident in his eyes, and his brows were furrowed together in a rare disy


    of panic.


    Was this just my imagination?


    | steadied myself, closed my eyes and then reopened them, pushed against his tense arms, and said in a deep voice, ¡°I¡¯m okay,


    put me down first.¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t budge, and he looked up at Zachary who was rushing over, ¡°Where are the paramedics?¡±


    His tone was questioning, and the tremor in his voice was unmistakable.


    We were so close, | could see the veins on his forehead throbbing.


    He was clearly out of sorts.


    ¡°They''re on their way, almost here.¡± Zachary sald, looking clueless. He turned to me, trying to reassure, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Zade.


    The medical station is close by, you''ll be fine.¡±


    | corrected him, ¡°You got the wrong person.¡±


    As soon as | said that, | saw Ceciliaing from behind Zachary.


    Panting, she ran up and stared at Hogan, ¡°Hogan, why are you holding Xaviera like that?¡±


    There was a mix of grievance and probing in her volce.


    Pressed by Cecilia¡¯s question, Hogan seemed to realize something was off and said with furrowed brows, ¡°She¡¯s Injured.¡±


    His tone was icy.


    Cecilia paused, lowering her voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that. | meant that you shouldn¡¯t pick someone up right away after they''ve


    fallen.¡±


    Hogan was clearly taken aback for a moment, and nced at Zachary, ¡°What, are the paramedics turtles or something?¡±


    Zachary was a bit flustered, his eyes betraying a feeling of being wrongfully used.


    | took a deep breath and said, ¡°Mr. Zade, Director Irwin is right, you should put me down first.¡±


    Thest thing | needed was for him to identally cause a bone dislocation or something.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Hogan instructed, ¡°get in the car first.¡±


    Chapter 51This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    He insisted on carrying me into the ambnce at the tourist site.


    Cecilia followed closely. ¡°The bike ride is still going on. It¡¯s not right for you to just leave, Hogan. I''ll follow and take care of


    Xaviera.¡±


    She had a point, it was not cool for the boss to ditch during a team-building event.


    Then Wallis caught up with us, and | gave her a look, ¡°It¡¯s fine as long as President Lott¡¯s here. No need to trouble you guys, Mr.


    Zade and Director Irwin.¡±


    Hogan frowned, nced at Cecilia, and silently got out of the ambnce.


    Inside the medical station, the doctor checked me over, and identally touched my wristband. his eyes flickering with an


    indistinct meaning.


    *Sprained left wrist, nothing serious,¡± he said while writing the medical report, ¡°but the patient is too thin.¡±


    I''m five foot six and weigh less than 100 pounds.


    Wallis shot me a look, ¡°Did you hear that? Eat on time and cut back on overtime.¡±


    The doctor gave me a sympathetic nce and added, ¡°Health issues aren¡¯t always about diet; they could be due to too much


    stress. Mental health needs attention too.¡±


    Before the doctor could finish, the door burst open, and Hogan and Cecilia appeared at the doorway.


    Hogan¡¯s gaze at me was full of meaning.


    | felt a tightness in my chest and instinctively curled my hand, unfortunately pulling on the tendon..


    It hurt a bit.


    ¡°Is it serious?¡± he asked the doctor nervously.


    ¡°Asprain. Coldpress and rest, no strenuous exercise,¡± the doctor advised.


    ¡°Cecilia suddenly interjected. ¡°After all, it''s an injury. Does she need to be hospitalized overnight?¡±


    Her tone was caring, and it was hard to fault her.


    The doctor pondered for a moment and said, ¡°It¡¯s best to observe overnight.¡±


    At that, Cecilia clearly breathed a sigh of relief.


    That was when | guessed her intentions and graciously said, ¡°Mr. Zade, I¡¯m sorry | won''t be able to join the party tonight. | hope


    everyone has fun.¡±


    Hogan nodded slightly, his voice subdued, ¡°Rest well.¡±


    After they left, Wallis took a frustrated sip of water, ¡°Cecilia¡¯s obviously guarding against you.¡±


    I shrugged, ¡°Now it¡¯s nice and quiet.¡±


    Wallis paused, then said, ¡°Back when you fell down the slope, Hogan heard my cry for help and panicked. He got off the tandem


    bike, leaving Cecilia hanging.¡±


    | closed my eyes and whispered. ¡°Yeah, after all, Rainbow Capital is responsible for this team-building event. If something


    serious happened, Hogan would have to take the me.¡±

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    Chapter 52


    Chapter 52


    Wallis mmed up.


    | nced at the clock and prodded, ¡°The party¡¯s about to kick off, let¡¯s get a move on.¡±


    Wallis rolled her eyes at me. ¡°Do | look like the type to ditch my friends for some eye candy?¡±


    On the way there, she¡¯d filled me in on Honto Abbey''s strict criteria for hiring waitstaff, nearly as picky as a host club scouting for


    new talent.


    All | could do was pout, ¡°Come on, make sure you post it in the group chat. | wanna live vicariously through you!¡±


    Wallis took the hint and didn¡¯t push further.


    By 7 PM, the work group chat started buzzing with updates from the party. After skimming through, | set my phone aside.


    In the midst of half-sleep, | was roused by a knock at the door.


    It was a server from the estate bringing me food.


    Athree-dish spread with a soup, including my favorite ketchup spaghetti.


    Surprised, | asked, ¡°Who ordered this?¡±


    The server politely replied, ¡°A Miss Irwin arranged it.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    | looked down, staying silent.


    My phone on the table was buzzing non-stop.


    | checked it and saw over two hundred new messages in the work chat. | casually scrolled through and my eyesnded on a


    video.


    After erging it, | saw my colleagues egging on Cecilia to have a love shot with Hogan.


    In the video, Cecilia, shyly holding up her ss, looked at Hogan with,eyes full of emotion and asked, ¡°Is it okay with you,


    Hogan?¡±


    Under the bizarre lighting, Hogan''s face was hidden in shadow, his emotions unreadable.


    But the next second, he took Cecilia¡¯s ss and whispered something in her ear.


    The video was noisy, their words lost, but Cecilia¡¯s bashful expression told me Hogan must have sweet-talked her.


    ¡°Is there something wrong with the meal?¡± the server asked cautiously, snapping me out of my reverie.


    | nced at the food and after a moment''s thought replied, ¡°Could | get a bottle of red wine? The priciest one you''ve got.¡±


    1/2


    10-02


    With a little help from Roman¨¦e¡ªConti, | slept like a log that night.


    The next morning. | joined the gang at the estate¡¯s organic farm for a picking activity.


    There was a wide variety of fruits and veggies, and the host was generous, allowing us to eat our fill and take two baskets each


    when we left.


    Wallis dragged me into the strawberry patch.


    | tried one; they were sweet and juicy, top-notch stuff.


    | nned to take a basket back for my uncle.


    Wallis leaned in, asking. ¡°And the other one?¡±


    | eyed her mischievous look and responded, ¡°What''s your bright idea now?¡±


    She patted my shoulder and said, ¡°Professor Yearwood¡¯s been a big help to us, why not butter him up a bit?¡±


    Just as she finished, my phone rang....


    It was Darren.


    Pretty coincidental.


    ¡°Got a bit chilly in the nearby mountainst night, y¡¯all doing okay?¡± Darren greeted me as soon as | picked up.


    | quickly filled him in on the Honto Abbey gig and then heard him ask, ¡°Going to Honto Abbey. was that Hogan¡¯s idea?¡±


    | confirmed, ncing over at Wallis who pointed at the basket, and | quickly caught on, ¡°Right. we''re at the strawberry patch right


    now. They¡¯re super fresh. Want me to bring some back for you and Tina?¡±


    There was a sudden pause on the other end, silence.


    Thinking of Darren¡¯s status, | thought that he probably wouldn¡¯t care much for this, so | started to backpedal, ¡°If you''re not into it.¡±

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53


    Chapter 53


    ¡°Into it,¡± Darren suddenly interjected, ¡°then | owe you one.¡±


    After hanging up. Wallis raised an eyebrow, ¡°Professor Yearwood seemed pretty hyped, huh?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got a good temper.¡±


    ¡°| beg to differ.¡± Wallis pinched his chin, pondered for a couple of seconds and said, ¡°Last time. at the party, some girl was hitting


    on him, and he barely said two words before he ditched her with his dessert to find you.¡±


    hadn''t noticed that bit. ¡°You talking about Darren?¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡± Wallis pped me on the shoulder, ¡°So, when you''re picking out a basket for Professor Yearwood, make sure you choose


    carefully.¡±


    | was about to argue, but then | saw Hogan and Cecilia standing a few steps away.


    Cecilia, with a smile beaming across her face, said, ¡°Is Xaviera picking out some strawberries for Professor Yearwood?¡±


    They all heard it.


    Wallis responded, ¡°Director Irwin, you''ve got some sharp ears, catching all that from way over there.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Cecilia wasn¡¯t annoyed, replying, ¡°Hogan said the strawberries here are super crunchy, brought me over to try them, we just


    happened to pass by.¡±


    Wallis grinned, ¡°Why take it so seriously, Director Irwin? It¡¯s all in good fun.¡±


    Cecilia eyed the basket in my hands and sighed, ¡°Xaviera, you are so sweet to Professor Yearwood, thinking of him even when


    you''re out having fun. Professor Yearwood would be thrilled if he knew.¡±


    | looked down at the plump berries in my basket and said calmly, ¡°You''re right, Director Irwin. | should¡¯ve invited Professor


    Yearwood along.¡±


    After all, it was free. Why not take advantage of it?


    But Cecilia''s smile froze at theers of her mouth.


    Wallis picked up the conversation. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea, next time we do a team building, we should allow plus¡ªones.¡±


    Plus¡ªones?


    Where was thising fro


    from?


    As evening approached, we returned from Honto Abbey with our spoils.


    | went to see my uncle with strawberries in hand.


    1/2


    Chapter 53


    Looking at the fresh and appetizing strawberries, my uncle sighed. ¡°1¡ªIf only your aunt and m¡ªm-my girl were here. She¡¯s g-got


    crafty hands. c¡ªcould¡¯ve made s¡ªsome strawberry jam for the k-kid.¡±


    1forted him, ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    He was in a rush to his night shift, so | didn¡¯t linger long. Before | stepped onto the subway, he hurried over and handed me a


    bag of roasted chestnuts. ¡°E-eat them while they''re here¡±


    | didn¡¯t think much of it until | was on the subway and found something extra in the cadragine


    Opening it. | saw several neatly rolled¡ªup cash.


    Not much, just fifty dors.


    There was also a note from my uncle. [Xaviera, | have a job now. Remember to treat yourself to something nice.]


    Suddenly, | felt a lump in my throat, almost bursting into tears.


    Fifty dors couldn¡¯t even buy one of Hogan¡¯s pens.


    See, life¡¯s just that unfair.


    In a daze, | missed my stop and didn¡¯t get back to my neighborhood until it was quiette at night.


    As fate would have it, just as | entered the building, | ran into Hogan lighting up a cigarette.


    He was wearing just a thin crew-neck sweater, sleeves slightly rolled up, revealing a bit of his


    firm muscles.


    When | looked over, he was leaning against the wall, gently blowing out a ring of smoke, frowning slightly, his eyes revealing a


    hint of corifusion, a sort of inexplicable dejection.


    | remember he didn¡¯t use to smoke.


    Seeing me, he gave me the once-over, his gaze finally resting on the basket by my side, and he said in a deep voice, ¡°Did you


    deliver it already?¡±

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54


    Chapter 54


    | only grabbed a basket of strawberries, meant for Darren and Tina.


    But | got held up on the road, so had to swing by home with them.


    Wouldn¡¯t you know it, | bumped into Hogan.


    And he was about to throw some shade my way.


    Obviously, the basket of strawberries for my uncle got mistaken for a gift to Darren by Hogan.


    | didn¡¯t want to argue.


    Pissing off my investor wasn¡¯t the smartest move, especially when | was counting on his cash injections.


    ¡°I''m heading upstairs.¡±


    ¡°Ms. March, are you in a hurry to brownnose?¡±


    | paused, giving Hogan a puzzled look, and in a sh, | got his drift.


    He probably thought | was sucking up to Darren.


    | gave a little smirk and say, ¡°I recall the boss saying the strawberries were on the house, so no need to report their whereabouts


    to you, right?¡±


    | kept my tone even, emotions under wraps.


    Hogan squinted at me, chuckled, ¡°Seems like even that little scrape on your wrist can¡¯t dampen your ambitions, Ms. March.¡±


    |ughed it off, ¡°ttery will get you everywhere, Mr. Zade. Still got lots to learn from you.¡±


    Exchanging pleasantries, right?


    But Hogan mmed up, his gaze turning icy.


    | cut to the chase, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I''ll just...¡±


    ¡°Why the sudden drinkingst night?¡± Hogan cut in, curiosity tinged in his voice, ¡°Drowning your sorrows?¡±


    He caught me off guard, totally slipped my mind.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    My bad.


    In a heartbeat. | decided to go all out on the shameless front and looking up at Hogan, | said with a cheeky grin, ¡°Mr. Zade, you


    care about me?¡±


    Hogan opened his mouth to reply but his phone rang.


    | took the hint, waved him off, and made a beeline for the elevator.


    Chapter 54


    Gotta give Hogan a taste of how scary | could be without a shame threshold.


    Next morning, | was back at the office with that same basket of strawberries.


    Wallis was surprised. ¡°Didn''t manage to deliver them?¡±


    ¡°Toote, wasn¡¯t appropriate,¡± | told it like it is, ¡°Today¡¯s the day.¡±


    Then | hit up Tina on WhatsApp.


    [Xaviera you''re so thoughtful, strawberries from Honto Abbey, and you remembered us.)


    Tina suggested we meet up after Work at the bookstore on the corner.


    But when | got there, lo and behold, Darren was there too.


    There was a book club meeting happening, and he was right in the thick of it. He saw me and came over to say hi.


    ¡°Why deliver them in person?¡± Darren eyed the basket, a glint of surprise in his gaze. ¡°You could¡¯ve just told me, | would¡¯ve


    picked you up.¡±


    Awkward me.


    Then Tina rushed over, took the basket from my hands. ¡°Thanks, Xaviera, they look delicious. I¡¯m gonna wash them and give


    them a try.¡±


    Darren shot a nce at Tina, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. ¡°So they weren''t just for


    me.


    Making a mountain out of a molehill, | had to tough it out and change the subject, ¡°Do your always join book clubs like this,


    Darren?¡±


    Darren''s interest was, piqued, ¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯ve got a book for you,e with me.¡±


    | breathed a sigh of relief and followed him upstairs.


    After a bit, he handed me a mystery novel, ¡°This story is amazing, you''ll never guess the ending.¡±


    | was more into programming books, but didn¡¯t want to burst Darren¡¯s bubble, so | nced at the author¡¯s name and asked, ¡°Are


    they any good?¡±


    Darren rubbed his nose. ¡°You''ll see.¡±


    | got down to brass tacks, ¡°How much? I''ll send you the money.¡±


    Darren¡¯s face fell, ¡°Xaviera, we don¡¯t need to be so transactional, do we?¡±


    He said it so naturally that | felt like offering to pay for the book was almost an insult to our friendship.

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55


    Chapter 55


    Wallis had ribbed me before for being a bit too serious.


    So | decided to y it cool and said with a smile. ¡°Alright, then | won¡¯t hold back.¡±


    ¡°Professor Yearwood, Xaviera,¡± a soft, out-of-ce voice chimed in. ¡°What a coincidence.¡±


    | turned and instantly spotted Hogan and Cecilia not far away.


    Hogan, clutching a stack of research books, stood quietly beside Cecilia, gazing in our direction.


    His eyes were deep and mysterious.


    Asubtle smirk, almost imperceptible, yed on his lips.


    Cecilia hade to the bookstore hunting for some gaming programming material.


    And, needless to say, Hogan was tagging along with his sweetheart to level up.


    They''d been browsing the bookstore for a while but hadn''t found the game backend construction guide on their shopping list and


    were getting antsy.


    ¡°Professor Yearwood, are you here to help Xaviera pick books too?¡± Cecilia fluttered her big eyes at Darren, ¡°Detective novels,


    huh?¡±


    Darren scratched his head and said, ¡°Just bumped into each other.¡±


    No sooner had he spoken than | caught a beam of scrutiny from across the way; lifting my eyes, it was from where Hogan stood.


    Our gazes shed; | yed it cool, looked away, and pointed at the bookshelf, ¡°Top shelf, second row from the left.¡±


    Cecilia was clueless, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The book you''re looking for.¡±


    She peeked where | was pointing, and momentster, she beamed, ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯re awesome.¡±


    | just smiled and kept mum.


    This bookstore¡¯d been around near the university town for a good seven or eight years. Hogan and | used to hit this ce up all


    the time during college: | had scoped out the programming books, so how could | not know?


    Cecilia, grateful for the help with the book, said, ¡°Xaviera, thanks a bunch. How about this, let us treat you and Professor


    Yearwood to a meal?¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Just pointed out a book and | was in for a free dinner, should | feel lucky?


    Darren seemed to catch my drift and politely declined. ¡°Ms. Irwin, you''re too kind.¡±


    Chapter 55


    ¡°How about the campus cafeteria?¡± Cecilia, acting like she didn¡¯t get the hint, suggested, ¡°The same ce you and Xaviera ate


    last time, sound good?¡±


    She was really pushing it.


    That spot. Hogan knew it better than us.


    So | turned to Hogan and asked, ¡°What do you think, Mr. Zade?¡±


    ¡°Hogan, let''s go.¡± Cecilia pouted, tugging at Hogan¡¯s sleeve, ¡°I wanna try the chef''s specials too.¡±


    Hogan put on a look like he couldn¡¯t bear to say no.


    Seeing that, | chimed in cheerfully, ¡°Cool, then let¡¯s go for some mixed spaghetti.¡±


    Half an hourter, the four of us showed up in the school cafeteria.


    Darren was well-liked, so it was no surprise students came over to say hi. Plus, Hogan, decked. out in a suit, looking like a


    walking bjd, turned quite a few heads.


    Cecilia didn¡¯t mind one bit, even seemed a tad proud, giggling with the menu, ¡°Hogan, what will you have?¡±


    ¡°Ketchup spaghetti.¡±


    ¡°I''ll have what he¡¯s having.¡±


    Funny enough, Hogan ended up sitting in the exact same spot as back in college.


    Even ordered the same dish.


    Only now, the person sitting next to him wasn¡¯t me.


    ¡°Xaviera, how about you? Ketchup spaghetti too?¡±


    Darren''s voice snapped me back.


    Suddenly, the dinner at Honto Abbey shed through my mind, and | shook my head, ¡°Got tired of it, let''s switch it up.¡±


    Darren rmended a couple, and I¡¯m not fussy, so | casually said, ¡°Same as you


    fine.¡±


    Ironically, Hogan and Cecilia both went for ketchup spaghetti, while Darren and | ended up with stir-fried pork.


    And hey, it was actually pretty tasty.

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    Chapter 56


    After dinner, Darren mentioned needing to pick up some materials from the academic building. and that¡¯s when we split from


    Hogan and Cecilia.


    Strolling through N University¡¯s campus, | suddenly felt like those once intimidating ces weren''t so scary after all.


    What caught me off guard, though, was that Darren didn¡¯t actually take me to the academic building; instead, he walked me all


    the way to the back gate of the school.


    | genuinely thanked him, ¡°Darren, thank you so much.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no sweat,¡± Darren replied briskly before asking. ¡°So, that stir-fried pork, you really dig it?¡±


    | nodded, saying, ¡°Even though it¡¯s a bit spicy, it''s pretty addictive.¡±


    I never used to touch that stuff.


    Darren''s lips curled into a smile, his eyes twinkling, ¡°See, Xaviera, trying a new vor can bring a whole new experience.¡±


    Thanks to him, | discovered the deliciousness of stir-fried pork.


    The next day at work, | immediately suggested to Wallis that she should give this dish a go.


    Wallis frowned upon hearing it and said with a pinched voice, ¡°Pigs are so cute, how could your eat their meat?¡±


    Right after she finished speaking, Cecilia came over with herptop.


    ¡°Xaviera, | wrote a bit of codest night, but it¡¯s not passing the tests. Could you help me take a look?¡±


    | nodded and took theptop from her.


    It was a simple piece of backend code for a game, the kind you''d find in textbooks. After a quick nce, | pointed out the


    problem.


    Ceciliaughed in relief, ran the tests in front of me, but then didn¡¯t immediately grab theptop back.


    | casually nced at the screen saver and saw a cozy photo of Hogan and Cecilia.


    Cecilia was leaning in front of Hogan, shing a peace sign at the camera, while Hogan stood behind her with a gentle smile.


    ¡°Xaviera,¡± Cecilia caught my eye and said with a grin, ¡°You think this pic is quite atmospheric too, right?¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s bragging was in as day, even a bit provocative.


    She was still so young, unable to hide her feelings.


    Looking closely at the photo, | saw that it was obviously taken at N University¡¯s campus, meaning yesterday, after splitting up


    with us. Hogan took Cecilia for a spin around their almal


    mater.


    All out in the open.


    Not like back when | had to coax Hogan for ages to change his phone¡¯s wallpaper to our hand-holding pic, only to be coldly


    rejected.


    | didn¡¯t even dare dream of a couple¡¯s photo.


    Cecilia had the goods to show off.


    ¡°They go well together,¡± | said nonchntly. ¡°A filter could give it more texture.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Really?¡± Cecilia stumbled over her words, barely managing a smile, ¡°I''ll give it a tryter.¡±


    After that, she left with herptop.


    Out of the blue, Hry called me in the afternoon.


    ¡°Xaviera, I¡¯ve got a gathering this weekend, could you help me pick out a couple of nice dresses?¡±


    | knew Hry''s tastes well; her biggest hobby was shopping, and thanks to her, I¡¯d been dragged to the mall more times than |


    could count, so saying | was always on call wasn¡¯t an exaggeration.


    But times had changed.


    | gently excused myself. ¡°I''ve still got work on my hands, maybe you could take Ms. Irwin with


    you.¡±


    A mother-inw and taughter¡ªin¡ªw shopping together would surely be more fitting than me.


    ¡°| don¡¯t want to,¡± Hry was always straightforward, ¡°Just getting a headache thinking about her timid ways.¡±


    | was a bit at a loss for words and then heard Hry¡¯s dramaticints from the other end, ¡°Xaviera, be honest with me, do


    you find me too naggy?¡±


    As if she was the most aggrieved party.


    | pinched the bridge of my nose andpromised, ¡°How about after work then?¡±

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    Chapter 57


    Well, she was the investor¡¯s mommy, wasn¡¯t she?


    Right after we hung up, Hry shot over the shop¡¯s address like a bullet.


    It was this ancient tailor shop that¡¯s pretty big with the richdies in Rivertown.


    Before clocking out. | chugged down a coffee to perk up and headed out.


    What | didn¡¯t seeing was Hogan and Cecilia also showing up.


    As the waiter was taking me to Hry, there was Cecilia, handing over this fancy piece of fabric to Hry, biting her lip when she


    caught sight of me.


    Hogan was straight up. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    | was caught between a rock and a hard ce.


    Hry, hearing themotion, turned around with a grin, ¡°I invited Xaviera over. You two put together don¡¯t know my tastes as


    well as she does.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s face fell, and she clutched the fabric in her hands even tighter.


    Awkward as hell, | was.


    Cecilia did have a good eye, though. The fabric she picked was a bit old-fashioned pattern¡ªwise, but the color wasn¡¯t half bad


    for Hry¡¯s tastes.


    She digged the glitz and m.


    So when Hry looped her arm through mine, asking me to choose for her, | deliberately went for something in.


    5


    Hry was surprised when she saw it, but probably just to tick Cecilia off, she made a point of praising it, ¡°See? Understated yet


    elegant. Xaviera, you''ve got the eye.¡±


    Cecilia didn¡¯t say a peep, just hung her head lower.


    | tried to smooth things over, ¡°Mrs. Hry, you¡¯ve got such fair skin, anything suits you. Director Irwin¡¯s choice might be a bit


    picky, but only someone with yourplexion can pull it off.¡±


    It was only then that Hry begrudgingly settled on a piece.


    Hogan, probably couldn''t stand the scene, pointed to a bunch of fabrics, ¡°Make one of each of these colors, tailor them to Ms.


    Irwin¡¯s measurements.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s eyes widened as she cooed, ¡°Hogan, that¡¯s way toovish.¡±


    Hry wasn¡¯t pleased either, ¡°Xaviera¡¯s been running around with me, and you haven''t even properly thanked her.¡±


    Hogan just gave me a look and asked, ¡°Ms. March, got any favorites?¡±


    Chapter 57


    | mean, he asked, so ying coy just wouldn''t fly. | casually pointed to a beige embroidered sample. ¡°This one¡¯s fine.¡±


    After we wrapped up the choosing, Hogan found an excuse to leave with Cecilia first.


    Hry pulled a face. ¡°You saw that, Xaviera. Busy with work, my foot. He¡¯s just scared I¡¯ll give Ms. Irwin a hard time.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    | tried to reassure her. ¡°If Mr. Zade cares about her that much, you should take her under your wing, help her out. After all, she¡¯s


    the one to share his worries down the line.¡±


    Hry looked at me, gloomy, and started, ¡°Xaviera, if you and Hogan.¡±


    She sighed midway through.


    | had a hunch about what Hry was getting at.


    She probably thought, if Hogan had to pick someone with an ordinary family background, she¡¯d rather it be me.


    But she forgot, once upon a time, she looked down on me too.


    Hogan¡¯s call camete at night.


    ¡°Ms. March, you were quite helpful today.¡±


    His voice was indifferent.


    | was holding back my own frustrations and shot back, ¡°Mr. Zade, you are too kind. | did receive properpensation, after all.¡±


    Wallis had mentioned once that the old tailor¡¯s craft wasn¡¯t something you could simply buy


    with money.


    ¡°Ms. March, you have really impressed metely, got your eyes on the prize?¡±


    His tone was mocking, with that arrogance that only those higher up have.


    Suddenly, | remembered the fifty bucks my uncle had slipped me secretly, paused, and said, ¡°Just saw the light, that¡¯s all.¡±

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    Chapter 58


    ¡°So. Ms. March, what you are saying is that as long as | cough up enough dough, you¡¯re down for letting your ex-mother-inw


    warm up to Cecilia?¡±


    | was not sure if it was just me, but it felt like Hogan¡¯s voice went up a couple of decibels when he said that.


    | kept it real and said, ¡°Depends on how much you are willing to shell out.¡±


    If the price was right, pride could take a hike, right?


    Achuckle came through the receiver. ¡°Xaviera, you better walk the talk.¡±


    He was probably questioning my allegiance as a business partner.


    After a few seconds of thought, | cheekily asked, ¡°So, what''s the offer, Mr. Zade?¡±


    The line went dead silent.


    | thought the call dropped, but a quick nce at my phone screen showed we were still connected.


    | figured the capitalist on the other end was crunching numbers, so | didn¡¯t sweat it and just chilled.


    After a good while, | heard Hogan say, ¡°If you can get the Zade family to take to Cecilia, I''ll make sure you get a fat reward.¡±


    ¡°How fat? Fat enough to buy a ce in Rivertown?¡±


    Hogan probably didn¡¯t expect me to have such thick skin after ditching my shame, and after. hesitating for a few seconds, he


    replied, ¡°Fine, a house it is.¡±


    And with that, he hung up.


    I let out a sigh, kinda kicked myself for not talking about an advance with Hogan.


    Maybe the years of working together gave us some kind of unspoken understanding, because momentster, | actually got a


    transfer of five grand.


    ¡°Advance.¡±


    | immediately flipped it over to my aunt.


    It was already ten at night. Not two minutester, my aunt rang me up.


    ¡°Xaviera, why the sudden windfall?¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | beat around the bush, ¡°Just struck a deal.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t just hand it all over to us,¡± she said tiredly. ¡°My daughter has been much better recently, hardly any attacks. You need


    to keep some cash on hand for yourself.¡±


    My cousin had asthma; it red up a lot in the fall and winter. There were a couple of close callsst year, and my aunt was just


    trying to ease my mind.


    Having a nest egg was never a bad idea.


    | swallowed the lump in my throat and made up an excuse to end the call.


    Saturday, | was working overtime as usual when Darren suddenly showed up.


    He closed myptop and stared at my wrist.


    | looked at him awkwardly and asked, ¡°Something up. Darren?¡±


    ¡°Working so hard with an injured wrist, what if it gets worse?¡±


    | breathed a sigh of relief and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a scratch, no big deal.¡±


    Darren seemed to hesitate.


    Figuring he had something to say, | stopped my work and asked, ¡°What''s up?¡±


    Scratching his head, Darren tentatively said, ¡°There¡¯s a dinner tomorrow night, need to bring a date, you free?¡±


    Before | could answer, my phone on the desk buzzed twice, a message from Wallis.


    [Professor Yearwood made it, right?]


    Clearly, Wallis had spilled the beans about my wrist to Darren.


    No idea if they¡¯d chatted about tomorrow night¡¯s shindig.


    | was suddenly at a loss for a good excuse.


    Darren, perceptive as ever, said kindly, ¡°If you¡¯re busy, we can do it another time.¡±


    | felt a bit guilty and asked, ¡°Anything | should know? Like, dress code, gifts, that sort of thing?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You know, what to wear, what to bring.¡±


    Darren''s face lit up, ¡°No need, just show up.¡±


    He said that, but | couldn¡¯t just rock up any old way. I''d heard plenty about Rivertown¡¯s high society and thest thing | wanted


    was to embarrass Professor Yearwood.


    After some thought, | picked out the dress from the tailor¡¯s shop, paired it with a matching cashmere shawl and set off.

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    Chapter 59


    The spot was at Bluebell Bistro & Bar.


    As soon as | walked in. Darren was there to greet me in a sh, his eyes full of astonishment.


    ¡°Is it not appropriate?¡±


    Darren¡¯s voice was deep, ¡°No, it¡¯s just stunning.¡±


    Wallis onceplimented me as a cool beauty.


    But that¡¯s just scratching the surface.


    ¡°No wonder Professor Yearwood has been so distracted, turns out he had a date with a beauty.¡±


    Acouple of rich kids came over to say hi.


    Darren brushed them off with a few words and led me towards the elevator. At the same time, from the opposite direction, Hogan


    came over, escorting Cecilia.


    We bumped into each other at the elevator.


    Cecilia was wearing a delightful pinkce¡ªtrimmed dress, all dolled up like a sweet beauty.


    ¡°Professor Yearwood, Xaviera, what a coincidence,¡± she initiated the conversation with us.


    Darren nced at Hogan and amiably said, ¡°Bringing Ms. Irwin to your dad¡¯s birthday party?¡±


    Hogan threw back a question instead of answering, ¡°The Yearwood family has a gathering tonight?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my cousin''s baby¡¯s hundred¡ªday celebration.¡±


    Hogan nodded slightly, without further ado.


    Both parties were on the third floor, one to the east and one to the west. After stepping out of the elevator, we went our separate


    ways.


    The Ferber family¡¯s rtives were more humble and polite than | expected, sticking to brief greetings and conversations that


    didn¡¯t overstay their wee.


    Except for Darren¡¯s cousin, Zoey Yearwood.


    ¡°Ms. March, you have a distinguished air, surely your parents have taken great care of you.¡±


    He was beating around the bush, trying to dig into my family background.


    | wasn¡¯t surprised, and took the chance to excuse myself to the restroom.


    How should | put it, after tagging along with Wallis to find investors for so long, I''d realized that to mix with the high society,


    education and ability were just trivial door openers, background was what truly matters.


    Chapter 59


    In the eyes of those at the top, just hint a little here and there, and they¡¯d got your worth pegged down to thest dime.


    It was brutal but real.


    I''d gotten used to it.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Afterposing myself, | silently left the restroom, vaguely feeling a stare on me.


    Lifting my eyes, Hogan was leaning against the wall, looking at me.


    His gaze was quite unfriendly, even aggressive.


    | quickly averted my eyes and had just taken a couple of steps when a shadow suddenly loomed over me, blocking my path.


    It was Hogan.


    Up close, | noticed his pupils were dted, his eyes hazy and misty.


    ¡°Wearing the dress | gave you to impress Darren,¡± his voice was cold and icy, ¡°Xaviera, your really went there.¡±


    Right there in the open, Hogan cornered me in front of the lounge.


    Utterly unreasonable.


    | steadied myself and patiently exined, ¡°Mr. Zade, you know it was a gift, and how | use a gifted item is not really something |


    need to report to you, is it?¡±


    was


    The CEO of Rainbow Capital, and he so stingy.


    ¡°On purpose?¡±


    Ascoff echoed close to my ear, and for some reason, | felt a bit miffed. | looked up at Hogan and said, ¡°Even if it was, what are


    you gonna do, ask for the dress back?¡±


    It was just a game of chicken, and | could y too.


    Hogan frowned, indignantly imed, ¡°I will take it back.¡±


    Clearly, he¡¯d had one too many.


    | didn¡¯t want to stoop to his level, so | sighed and said, ¡°If it reallyes down to it, I''ll just buy it off you.¡±


    With that, | tried to walk past him, but my wrist was suddenly gripped tight, and Hogan pulled me into the lounge.


    | panicked a bit, hurriedly trying to reach for the doorknob, but Hogan pinned me against the door.

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    Chapter 60


    Hogan perched up high with that shady look in his eyes.


    ¡°Ever since you hitched your wagon to Darren, you''re talking like you¡¯re a whole new person.¡±


    | pulled a wry smile and didn¡¯t mince my words, ¡°You¡¯ve had one too many, buddy. Should | call Cecilia over for you?¡±


    The mention of Cecilia knotted Hogan¡¯s brow; clearly, I¡¯d hit a nerve.


    | didn¡¯t want to stir up trouble in such a setting, so after a brief silence, | reached for the doorknob, only to feel a sudden heat on


    my lips as Hogan mmed my hands against the door with force.


    This guy was crazy.


    Certifiably bonkers, Hogan was.


    Panic set in as | struggled, but it was futile. His kiss was passionate and domineering, like he was trying to devour me, bones


    and all.


    Fuming. | bit his upper lip and yanked hard. In a sh, the taste of iron flooded my mouth.


    But Hogan didn¡¯t stop; his kisses only grew deeper, as if he couldn¡¯t help himself.


    There was a ripping sound as his slender fingers skimmed the slit of my dress, growing bolder by the second.


    | was at my wit¡¯s end and said dryly, ¡°Mr. Zade, why are you so horny? Can¡¯t Director Irwin keep up with you?¡±


    Hogan froze as if struck by lightning, looking at me in disbelief.


    | just stared straight back at him.


    The break room was dead silent, so quiet it felt like you could hear his ragged breathing. But it was also noisy, with the muffled


    sound of chatter seeping in from outside the door.


    So there we were, locked in a standoff.


    This time, | wasn¡¯t backing down.


    After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke with a quiet voice that nheless felt like a p, ¡°Didn¡¯t want to scare her.¡±


    Didn''t want to scare her.


    Oh, | got it. That girl was untouched and timid, needed protecting, unlike me, someone he''d already bedded.


    We parted on bad terms.


    It took me a while to regain myposure, looking at the torn slit of my dress, | couldn¡¯t help


    10


    10:03This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Chapter 60


    butugh and cry at the absurdity.


    When the new week rolled around, we had to report back to Rainbow Capital.


    It was supposed to be Wallis and my gig, but Cecilia came up all smiles saying, ¡°President Lott, I¡¯d like to give the report a try this


    time.¡±


    It was just a formality anyway, and neither Wallis nor | made a fuss, so we let her.


    But since it was sost-minute, Cecilia wasn¡¯t prepared and just made a copy of the slides I''d put together.


    She said she''d rehearsed several times, no sweat.


    Wallis and | decided | wouldn''t show my face this time; it''s just a chinwag with Hogan, no need for a crowd.


    | could spend that time banging out more code.


    Cecilia seemed pretty chuffed when she heard, saying sweet as pie. ¡°Xaviera, don¡¯t worry, I''ll handle these errands from now


    on.


    Look at her, ying the sweet talker.


    So, it was settled, but shortly after they left, my right eyelid started twitching like crazy, and | had this uneasy feeling in my chest.


    Sure enough, trouble brewed.


    Turns out, today¡¯s meeting at Rainbow Capital was way more formal than any before, with not just Hogan attending, but several


    other big shots from the board.


    Cecilia, who¡¯d never been in such hot water, tried to keep her cool on stage, but a couple of sentences in and the board


    members had her stumped.


    In a fluster, she bungled the slides and basically got booted off stage by the board members.


    That was what Wallis told me over the phone.


    Gripping my phone tightly, | asked, ¡°What was Hogan¡¯s reaction?¡±


    ¡°He was protecting Cecilia. Saw her crying and he ditched the board members tofort her,¡±


    Wallis whispered, ¡°I overheard some managers nning to find a way to make Hogan pull the


    plug on our lousy project.¡±


    Pull the plug.


    | chewed over those simple words, feeling a whirlwind inside, and advised Wallis, ¡°Hold the fort. Feel out Hogan¡¯s stance, and


    we''ll figure out a nter.¡±

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    Chapter 61


    But | never saw iting, thatter. I¡¯d get grilled by Hogan.


    ¡°Hey Mrs. Zade. Mr. Zade wants you to swing by Rainbow Capital ASAP, Zachary sounded all wound up. ¡°He¡¯s not looking too


    hot, so brace yourself.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    In the boss¡¯s office, Cecilia was sitting next to Hogan with teary eyes, looking like a wronged


    wife.


    | turned to Hogan and asked, ¡°Mr. Zade, what''s up? Why did you call me in?¡±


    Hogan spun hisptop around to face me and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the deal here?¡±


    On the screen was the presentation I¡¯d prepared.


    But the formatting was all wonky, just like Wallis had mentioned.


    In a sh, it hit me, and | looked straight at Cecilia and said, ¡°Director Irwin, what''s your take on this?¡±


    Cecilia blinked those big doe eyes, looking clueless and innocent.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to beat around the bush if you didn¡¯t want Cecilia to present. Handing her this jumbled mess, what¡¯s that


    about?¡±


    | was bbergasted and said with a huff, ¡°Is this how you see me, Mr. Zade?¡±


    ¡°Hogan, maybe Xaviera just missed it, it¡¯s not on her,¡± Cecilia¡¯s voice was all sugary sweet and self¡ªming. ¡°If only | had


    prepped earlier.¡±


    Wallis couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and snapped, ¡°Director Irwin, that¡¯s not what you were saying before we left.¡±


    4


    ¡°President Lott,¡± Cecilia sounded even more pitiful, ¡°so you think I¡¯m not cut out for this presentation too?¡±


    ¡°| mean...¡±


    ¡°Forget it,¡± | cut Wallis off and asked Hogan, ¡°Is Rainbow Capital pulling out?¡±


    That was the million¡ªdor question.


    Hogan nced at me and said, ¡°I''ll handle it, but | don¡¯t want to see this kind of thing happen again. Ever.¡±


    That line sounded all too familiar.


    If my memory served me right,st time Hogan was covering for Cecilia, he gave me the same warning.


    And this time, the warning was for our whole studio.


    | was going to ask Hogan if he needed any damage control, but from the looks of it, that was off


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    10:03


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    the table.


    Hogan would wrap things up for Cecilia.


    Back at the office, Cecilia came to me, all cautious and apologetic, ¡°Xaviera, I¡¯m sorry, I''ll keep at it, really.¡±


    Watching her put on that act, | couldn''t help but chuckle, ¡°You better hustle, or you won''t even have a decent final graduation


    project to show.¡±


    Her face went pale at that, and she stormed off to her office without a peep.


    Cecilia was just not ying with a full deck.


    She should¡¯ve thought twice about stirring up trouble under Hogan¡¯s nose. The one who was going to end up in hot water was


    Hogan, her sweetheart.


    Walls have ears, and once this mess reached the Zade family, those shrewd sharks would think even less of her.


    What was she ying at?


    Sure enough, in less than a day, my worries came true.


    Hry, having caught wind of the drama from God knows where, stormed into the studio and gave Cecilia an earful.


    ¡°You being a nitwit is one thing, but dragging our Hogan down with you?¡± Hry''s voice boomed from behind the door. ¡°A dead


    weight who can¡¯t cut it!¡±


    Cecilia, looking all forlorn, said, ¡°Mrs. Hry, | didn¡¯t think the slides would flop.¡±


    ¡°Save your excuses,¡± Hry cut her off, ¡°If it''s beyond you, maybe we should just scrap this lousy project!¡±


    The words ¡®scrap


    4


    the conference room Project¡¯ had me jumping out of my seat. | managed to corral Hry into


    ¡°Xaviera, my heart aches,¡± Hry said, wiping away tears in front of me, ¡°Last night, Hogan went to the old house and got an


    earful from her grandma. She used him of not taking things. seriously. They had it out, the two of them, and all the Zade folks


    were snickering behind his back.¡±


    That was when | realized, Cecilia really was special to Hogan.


    And that was when | felt the first whiff of danger.

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    Not long after we saw Hry off, Cecilia ducked out early too, leaving me and Wallis in a real


    pickle.


    ¡°| doubt there¡¯ll be any pulling of funding.¡± | mused, thinking about Hogan as mentioned by Hry. ¡°If nothing else, for Cecilia¡¯s


    sake, he''d likely steady the ship.¡±


    Wallis wasn¡¯t quite on board with my take. ¡°Even if things do steady, so what? Today Cecilia¡¯s throwing us under the bus in front


    of everyone: tomorrow she could be hijacking our hard work. If you ask me, we better have a n B up our sleeves.¡±


    What Wallis meant was we should start scouting for other investors.


    But Frank seemed less than keen, so who else could we turn to?


    ¡°Simon¡¯s got some connections. | was thinking of getting him to scope things out for us.¡±


    | was a bit taken aback. ¡°You''re still in touch with him?¡±


    Wallis looked a bit sheepish, ¡°Well, you know, he¡¯s got a certain knack for that sort of thing.¡±


    Thinking about the project¡¯s prospects, | agreed, ¡°Alright, let''s give it a shot then.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    For two straight days. Wallis was busy hobnobbing with Simon. Simon was once a big shot in the Oakridge City scene, hada


    widework, and even knew a bunch of international capitalists. He agreed to broker some deals for us.


    Wallis and | were on tenterhooks, not daring to ck off for a second.


    Just then, Zachary¡¯s call came through. ¡°Mrs. Zade, Mr. Zade¡¯s asking for you and President Lott to hit up Rainbow Capital,


    pronto.¡±


    That was out of the blue.


    | probed indirectly. ¡°Did he mention what it¡¯s about?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t say, but judging by Mr. Zade¡¯s expression.¡±


    Wallis and | instantly felt a headacheing on.


    It was a no-win situation; who knew what kind of game Hogan was ying.


    Half an hourter, we showed up at the CEO''s office.


    As we entered, Hogan was on the phone, rattling off at a clip and throwing around some jargon ¡ª | barely followed.


    But he didn¡¯t sound too friendly.


    Wallis and | exchanged a nce and patiently stood by.


    Eventually, Hogan hung up and gave us a cursory nce before asking, ¡°Do you two know why I''ve asked you here?¡±


    1/2


    10.04


    ¡°Cut to the


    chase, Mr. Zade,¡± | said, without beating around the bush.


    Hogan twirled his pen, gave a slight raise of his eyebrow, and said, ¡°| hear you¡¯ve been courting. new investors?¡±


    So the news had reached his ears.


    ¡°Heh, so you''re already looking for a new cash cow while I¡¯m still in the picture?¡± Hogan scoffed. ¡°Ever consider that if Rainbow


    Capital drops a project, who else would pick it up?¡±


    Wallis and | had a sinking feeling.


    And then we heard Hogan say, ¡°If youck themitment, then maybe it''s best we call it quits.¡±


    Wallis and | were blindsided by Hogan¡¯s outburst.


    And he knew we had been looking for other investors, so why the sudden fury?


    Hogan gave me a sidelong nce and quipped, ¡°Times change.¡±


    | was left speechless.


    Money talks, after all.


    Wallis, trying to smooth things over, chimed in, ¡°Mr. Zade, you know we''re just a small studio: we can¡¯t hold a candle to a big


    group like yours.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of yourpany¡¯s ethos,¡± Hogan interrupted Wallis, ominously adding, ¡°it seems to reflect the character of its


    manager quite well.¡±


    He nced at me before adding, ¡°Specializing in backups, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    His sarcasm cut deep, insinuating without directly using.


    Momentster, Zachary ushered us out of the CEO''s office.


    We were shown the door.


    Wallis was baffled, ¡°Hogan doesn¡¯t seem like the type to lose perspective. Why the sudden cold shoulder?¡±


    | also felt Hogan was off his game today.


    ¡°Could it be someone¡¯s been whispering in his ear?¡±


    Wallis mentioned Cecilia had been to her office that morning and had taken a long look at the project file on her desk.

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    Chapter 63


    ¡°Cecilia must''ve been spicing things up in front of Hogan.¡±


    Pretty standard, really.


    When coboration was at stake, why would Cecilia happily join forces with us?


    But what was in it for her if the partnership went south?


    Beats me.


    ¡°What do we do? Hogan doesn¡¯t seem to be joking around,¡± Wallis said with a grave look. ¡°If Rainbow Capital really ns to cut


    us off. I¡¯m afraid we''re sitting ducks this time.¡±


    | rubbed my temples and said, ¡°Let''s wait and see what Simon has to say.¡±


    Simon reached out to Wallis the next afternoon, regretfully informing us that the two foreign. investors we had previously


    contacted had heard some rumors and decided to bail on us.


    Thinking back to Hogan in the CEO''s office, with his spot-on foreign ent, my thoughts were


    in turmoil.


    He was one step ahead in this game.


    In the afternoon, Wallis called me into his office, saying, ¡°Assistant Zachary called, the contract termination is scheduled for the


    day after tomorrow.¡±


    Thepany was in hot water.


    | clenched my fist, trying to stay cool, ¡°We''ve got to give it another shot.¡±


    ¡°You''re going to reach out to Hry?¡±


    | shook my head, ¡°Cecilia.¡±


    At the caf¨¦, Cecilia looked up with her big doe eyes, ¡°What can | do for you, Xaviera?¡±


    | wouldn''t dare order her around.


    | ordered her a juice, and said casually, ¡°Director Irwin, I¡¯m sure you have caught wind of


    Rainbow Capital wanting to pull out, our project is likely doomed.¡±


    Cecilia was unfazed, ¡°Hogan seems really mad this time.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, | followed her lead, ¡°in the end, he¡¯s just looking out for you, not wanting to drag you into the mess, right?¡±


    Cecilia looked up, ¡°Xaviera, you''re giving me too much credit.¡±


    Her words were modest, but the pride in her eyes was unmistakable.


    | coaxed her, ¡°But it¡¯s everyone''s project. Without it, you lose out too, right?¡±


    ¡°No worries,¡± Cecilia confidently said, ¡°Hogan mentioned that with Rainbow Capital getting into


    Chapter 63


    the mobile gaming scene, lots of projects areing our way. I''ll find something fitting.¡±


    A clear refusal to reconcile.


    She was starting to act like the wife of Rainbow Capital¡¯s CEO.


    | nodded, ¡°True, but with your graduation looming, finding the right project isn¡¯t easy. Plus, they


    might not have the chops. Since you have heard of me at N University, you must know


    carries some weight, doesn''t it?¡±


    | was subtly hinting that our game could bring her fame and glory.


    Cecilia chuckled, ¡°You''re really not one for modesty, Xaviera.¡±


    my name


    With that said, beating around the bush seemed pointless, so | pulled out the printed document from my bag and handed it to


    Cecilia.


    She gave me a suspicious nce. ¡°What''s this?¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°I''ve listed all of Hry''s preferences,¡± | said with a knowing smile, ¡°If you are good, we''re all good.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s confused, probably doubting the document''s authenticity.


    | sighed inwardly.


    Originally, | nned to use this to bargain for more from Hogan.


    But | wasn¡¯t in a hurry, waiting for Cecilia to make her move.


    After a while, she finally slipped the document into her bag and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xaviera. Hogan''s probably just blowing off


    steam. I''ll try to talk to him.¡±


    Her nonchnt tone stung a bit.


    | thought of how Wallis and | had been running around over money issues these past days.. while she was acting like it was no


    big deal.


    We just led different lives.

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    Chapter 64


    Chapter 64


    After Cecilia left, Wallis sidled up to me and said, ¡°I could smell that bitchy scent from a mile away, looked like the real deal.¡±


    | pinched the bridge of my nose, not saying a word.


    ¡°What did you give her? She seemed pretty chuffed.¡±


    I spilled the beans about Hry¡¯s preference manual.


    Wallis gave me a thumbs up, teasing. ¡°Right on time, like coal in snowy weather. You sure know your stuff, Ms. March. But what


    if she gets cold feet?¡±


    Cecilia was no fool. With that manual in her arsenal, she and Hry were bound to hit it off sooner orter. Weighing the wife of


    Rainbow Capital¡¯s president against a small project, she knew which side her bread is buttered on.


    ¡°Aren''t you happy?¡±


    How could | not be? Given Cecilia¡¯s attitude, there was a good nine out of ten chance that Rainbow Capital wouldn¡¯t pull our


    funding.


    But the thought of ying such a good card and just handing it over like that it just sticks in


    my craw.


    I''d been counting on it to rake in some serious dough.


    ¡°Let''s head back and wait for news,¡± |forted Wallis, ¡°Maybe we can finally catch some decent Z¡¯s tonight.¡±


    That night, as | doubled back to theplex, | reached the foot of the building and saw Hoganing from the other side.


    The man was d in a navy blue, single¡ªbreasted wool suit that made him look sharp and upright, standing under the clear


    moonlight like some noble and aloof gentleman.


    | paused, then broke the ice, ¡°Here to see Director Irwin?¡±


    | was fishing to see if the two had met.


    Hogan nodded slightly, and we walked side by side into the building. After a while, he asked, ¡°Did you provide the manual?¡±


    Looks like they had met.


    | told him straight, ¡°Mr. Zade, you put down a deposit, so | had to show some good faith.¡±


    ¡°You''re quite thorough.¡±


    His voice was even, couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it.


    | didn¡¯t downy it, just grinned and said, ¡°I always keep my word. Give it time, and you will


    See.¡±


    | was still trying to steer the conversation toward our coboration.


    But Hogan didn¡¯t bite. just stood there in silence, not giving an inch.


    When the elevator doors opened, we stepped in one after the other. | felt inexplicably deted and found myself absentmindedly


    stroking my wristband.


    ¡°Who gave it to you?¡±


    | looked at Hogan, perplexed, and followed his gaze to my wristband.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    He added. ¡°You seem quite attached to it. An heirloom, maybe?¡±


    | didn¡¯t know how he figured | was so fond of it, but suddenly my wrist felt too warm, ufortably so.


    Then | heard Hogan¡¯s teasing tone, ¡°Is Darren that stingy?¡±


    It seemed he¡¯d gotten the wrong end of the stick, thinking the wristband was from Darren.


    | looked down at my toes, pulling my sleeve over the wristband, not picking up his line.


    But inside, it felt like something was tearing, making my heart and lungs ache a bit.


    ¡°Ms. March, you''re clever enough. Why bother having Cecilia plead your case?¡±


    The heart of the matter came up, and pushing down the difort in my chest, | looked up at Hogan and said, ¡°Mr. Zade, we


    both understand the unique nature of the project. Why let a trifle sour our rtions?¡±


    ¡°A trifle?¡± Hogan¡¯s tone hardened, and a hint of hurt shed through his usually cool eyes.


    Was | seeing things?


    ¡°Forgive my poor choice of words,¡± | quickly amended. ¡°What | mean is, once the game goes live, I¡¯m sure it''ll pay off for you, Mr.


    Zade.¡±


    Hanging out with Wallis, I''d learned a thing or two about sweet-talking.


    Hogan snorted at that and shot back, ¡°Will that day evere?¡±


    My heart skipped a beat, and after a pause, | met his inscrutable gaze, trying to glean something.


    But unfortunately, | came up empty.


    | said softly, ¡°It will.¡±


    He sneered, ¡°You''ve reached your goal.¡±


    My hand clenched nervously, but | tried to stayposed. However, when | looked at Hogan, | realized he was referring to the


    floor | had reached.

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    Chapter 65


    | heaved a secret sigh of relief and stered on a business-like fake smile, ¡°Sweet dreams, Mr.


    Zade.¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t respond, but the stormy look on his face had cleared.


    | leaned against the wall. It took a hot minute for me to catch my breath before | immediately called up Wallis.


    ¡°No more talk of pulling out the investment?¡± Wallis was gobsmacked, ¡°Man, these past few days have been a real rollercoaster.¡±


    Rubbing my temples, | said, ¡°Cecilia¡¯s words, after all, carry more weight than ours.¡±


    On the other end, Wallis let out a sigh.


    | got the message loud and clear. Cecilia¡¯s favor wasn¡¯t something easy to repay, was it?


    Sure enough, three days after the crisis was averted, Cecilia came to me on her own ord.


    The girl had this caring vibe going on and beat around the bush for ages before she got to the point, ¡°Xaviera, I¡¯ve memorized


    Mrs. Hry''s likes and dislikes these past few days. Do you think | could find a chance to put that into practice?¡±


    Turns out she wanted me to set her up with Hry.


    Remembering the time Hry invited me over for dinner, | said, ¡°Let¡¯s do this. We''ll hit the supermarketter, you can grab some


    gifts, and after work, we''ll swing by Mountain Vi together.¡±


    Cecilia blinked in surprise, ¡°You sure, Xaviera? Isn''t that a bit too forward?¡±


    She suggested | give Hry a heads-up call.


    It was more of a hint for me to test the waters than a suggestion.


    | figured | owed it to them, so | went along with it.


    Hry seemed pretty stoked on the phone, but her tone shifted when | brought up Cecilia, ¡°Nah, she¡¯s an eyesore.


    | decided to push my luck, ¡°Mrs. Hry, a mother¡¯s love is deep. Think about Mr. Zade, and besides, Director Irwin has you on


    her mind. That kind of filial piety is rare.¡±


    That was when Hry relented.


    So after work, Cecilia and | made our way to Mountain Vi.


    Seeing the rustic charm of the detached vi, Cecilia was just as gobsmacked as | was, totally stunned.


    When Hry came out to greet us. Cecilia was still fixated on the nt at the entrance.


    10:04


    Chapter 65


    | quickly nudged her, ¡°Director Irwin.¡±


    Cecilia suddenly perked up and approached to say hello. ¡°Mrs. Hry, nice to meet you. I¡¯ve brought a little something for you,


    please ept it.¡±


    Hry¡¯s face wasn¡¯t too sour as she eyed the nutrition Cecilia was holding.


    But not long after we entered the house, she dropped a zinger, ¡°The cook had to leave suddenly for home, so I¡¯m afraid we won''t


    have dinner tonight.¡±


    Reading between the lines, there was nobody to cook tonight.


    | took a sip of tea and stealthily signaled Cecilia, who quickly caught on and volunteered, ¡°Mrs. Hry, | usually cook for myself. If


    you don¡¯t mind, | can whip up dinner.¡±


    Hry gave her a meaningful look, ¡°You can cook?¡±


    Cecilia nced at me for support and nodded, ¡°I can manage a few home-style dishes.¡±


    Hry put on her matriarchal air and drawledzily, ¡°Well then, Ms. Irwin, that would be much. appreciated.¡±


    Cecilia obediently went into the kitchen.


    Hry wasn¡¯t idle either and took me to the backyard to see the bougainvillea.


    It wasn¡¯t just one nt, but a whole patch, lush and thriving, even more robust than the ones you''d see in the shops.


    Clearly, they were well-tended.


    Amidst this sea of red, a white bougainvillea stood out conspicuously, just like the one | used to have in my apartment.


    =


    The one that Hogan considered a total waste of time¡ªa couple''s nt.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    ¡°You mean that prime spot with the white-edged bloom?¡± Hry chuckled, ¡°Who knows? The gardener said Hogan brought it


    from somewhere. Maybe it adds to the aesthetic in


    combination with the others?¡±


    Brought from somewhere-then it probably wasn¡¯t the one | had.


    | remembered thendlord telling me they had cleared out all the indoor decorations, including that nt, probably just a


    coincidence.

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    Chapter 66


    | made an excuse and ducked out of the backyard.


    Meanwhile, in the spacious kitchen, Cecilia was in a tizzy, scrambling to get the ingredients ready.


    When she saw me, it was like I was her knight in shining armor. ¡°Xaviera, what am | gonna do? My cooking skills are so¡ªso at


    best.¡±


    took a look at the chaotic countertop, ¡°so-so¡± was an understatement ¡ª it was a hot mess..


    | tied on an apron and said, ¡°Better let me handle it.¡±


    | was no master chef, but whipping up a few of Hry¡¯s favorite home-cooked dishes was a piece of cake for me.


    Plus, I''d spent a good two years cooking for Hogan ¡ª | knew exactly when the meal was done, and whether to hold back on the


    spring onions or skip the ginger. | had their preferences down


    toaT.


    In less than half an hour, | had five dishes and a soup ready to go. The carp soup was one of Hogan''s favorite stomach-friendly


    brews from the ingredients we had on hand, simmering


    away.


    Hry¡¯s stiff expression finally softened a bit as she looked at the spread on the table.


    She didn¡¯t even realize it was my handiwork.


    For a moment, | didn¡¯t know whether to feel relieved or sad.


    When she was hospitalized with a heart attack, | was in charge of her meals, every single day for over a month.


    ¡°Mrs. Hry, give it a try,¡± Cecilia said enthusiastically, passing Hry the utensils, ¡°see if it¡¯s to your liking.¡±


    ¡°Hold on, Hogan¡¯s still on his way.¡±


    ¡°Hogan¡¯sing back too?¡± Cecilia¡¯s eyes were brimming with anticipation.


    Speak of the devil, Hogan walked in.


    Seeing the three of us, he didn¡¯t seem surprised; he must''ve caught wind of it beforehand.


    Cecilia tiptoed over with a beaming smile, ¡°Hogan, | cooked tonight,e and taste my culinary magic.¡±


    Hogan took the seat of honor.


    With Hry, the elder, on his left, and Cecilia on his right, dishing up enthusiastically, she was the picture of a considerate young


    wife¡ªto¡ªbe.


    | was the odd one out.


    But the mother and son seemed to approve of Cecilia¡¯s ¡°culinary skills,¡± tucking in with gusto.


    When the carp soup was served. Ceciliadled out a big bowl for Hogan. He took a sip and couldn''t help but frown.


    ¡°What''s up, Hogan?¡±


    Hry noticed themotion and nced at the carp soup, saying coldly. ¡°Hogan can¡¯t stand ginger. Don¡¯t you know that as his


    girlfriend?¡±


    The usatory tone, the displeased look.


    Cecilia was dumbfounded, her face a picture of shock as she looked at me.


    Of course, | knew Hogan couldn¡¯t stand ginger. So | used to use lemon juice to get rid of the fishy smell when | made this dish,


    but not today.


    With an apologetic tone, | said, ¡°Sorry, Mrs. Hry, I¡¯m the one who added the ginger.¡±


    Hry stared at me in disbelief, ¡°Xaviera?¡±


    In her mind, | was probably someone who treated Hogan¡¯s preferences as gospel.


    | drooped my eyelids, feigning innocence.


    Out of the corner of my eye, | caught the hint of a smirk on Cecilia''s lips.


    Little did she know, just tonight''s act wasn¡¯t enough. At the right time, they still needed me, the faux ex, to throw things into sharp


    relief.


    The ginger was a deliberate move on my part.


    After dinner, Cecilia stayed behind to y the role of the good girlfriend, while | made some excuse to high-tail it out of there.


    By the time | made it back to my ce, it was dead quiet. | took off my mask of pretense andy silently in bed.


    | thought, after tonight¡¯s drama, Hogan should be even less inclined to cast me aside, right?


    Out of the blue, my phone started to ring.


    When | saw the caller ID, my eyebrows shot up.


    Hogan¡¯s call.


    At this hour, shouldn''t he be with Ms. Irwin?


    With a mix of confusion and nervousness, | answered the call.


    ¡°Mr. Zade.¡±


    ¡°Nice performance tonight,¡± the man¡¯s voice was husky, ¡°what kind of reward are you looking


    Chapter 66


    for?¡±


    Caught off guard, | paused for a few seconds before replying, ¡°It was nothing, Mr. Zade. YouN?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    decide.¡±

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    Sure, throwing in a bit extra was no biggie.


    The moment the words left my mouth, a notification for a bank transfer popped up on my phone.


    Hogan had sent another 2 grand my way.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, you are too kind. If you need anything in the future.¡±


    ¡°Ms. March, you could try dipping your toes into the showbiz.¡± Hogan cut me off, ¡°ying the contrast card, you nail it every time.


    My voice got stuck in my throat.


    | pride myself on my acting chops, but how did Hogan catch on?


    ¡°Ms. March, you intentionally slipped in ginger slices, so why didn¡¯t you switch to a willow de when slicing the carp?¡±


    The willow de was my go-to technique for slicing fish.


    But | hadn''t realized Hogan would remember that.


    The next day at work, Cecilia brought me breakfast on purpose and gushed, ¡°Xaviera, you really know how to handle things.


    Mrs. Hry invited me to go to a floral salon tonight, I¡¯m so thrilled.¡± Predictable.


    | figured Hogan forking over 2 grand so easily had to be connected to this too.


    | reminded her, ¡°Mrs. Hry¡¯s favorite is the Damascus rose.¡±


    Cecilia had her lightbulb moment and gratefully said, ¡°Then I''ll go get ready.¡±


    See, when you''re on the same page, past and present beaus can be buddies.


    Wallis, though, wasn¡¯t feeling great about it, admitting, ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just small-minded, but if it were me, | wouldn''t be so


    generous.¡±


    | rolled my eyes at her, ¡°Who said, ¡®A good name is better than a good face, but cold hard cash is king¡®?¡±


    Wallis hugged me tight and said, ¡°Xaviera, stop working your butt off, go on a date or something, even a pity date would do.¡±


    Talk about being blunt.


    But it wasn¡¯t long before | got an invite.


    From Darren.


    Chapter 67


    [Free tonight? There¡¯s this cool new mystery flick at the cinema. Wanna join?]


    | wasn''t really into it, but thinking of Wallis¡¯s self-pitying look, | changed my mind.


    | didn¡¯t want Wallis to think | was chucking my self-respect just for the studio¡¯s sake.


    So | asked Darren. [What time?)


    He immediately sent a voice message, (Eight tonight, I''ll pick you up.]


    His voice was bright and cheery, a stark contrast to the bleak winter scene outside.


    | looked calmly at the nearly bare Branches outside the window and sent back a thumbs-up.


    As soon as it was time to clock out, Wallis dragged me toward the elevator, insisting on grabbing a drink with me, but | frantically


    stopped her, ¡°Sorry, I''ve got ns tonight.¡±


    Wallis was dumbfounded, ¡°Who with, Professor Yearwood?¡±


    | nodded, clearly feeling her sigh of relief, ¡°Good on you, Xaviera. And hey, don¡¯t forget to y it safe.¡±


    Her words had barely dropped when a gasp came from behind.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Turning around, | saw Cecilia covering her mouth, awkwardly looking at us.


    An innocent girl easily shocked, that was normal.


    The three of us exited the elevator, each lost in our thoughts.


    As luck would have it. Darren was already waiting downstairs.


    The cold in Rivertown was biting after the start of winter. He was wearing just a simple khaki cashmere jacket with a ck


    turtleneck, looking both schrly and shivering.


    He was rubbing his hands together.


    Inexplicably, it was kind of funny.


    ¡°Isn''t that Professor Yearwood?¡± Cecilia eximed as if she¡¯d discovered a new world, ¡°So he¡¯s the one with ns with Xaviera


    tonight.¡±


    Hearing us, Darren quickly walked over.


    He gave me a once-over and said, ¡°It¡¯s gotten colder, aren¡¯t you cold wearing so little?¡±


    ¡°I''m okay.¡± | looked at Darren¡¯s nose, reddened from the cold, and asked, ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡±


    ¡°No, | just got here.¡±


    Cecilia giggled behind her hand, ¡°Professor Yearwood, you are so thoughtful.¡±

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    Chapter 68


    At the movie theater, Darren scratched his head awkwardly as he gazed at the love seats in front of us, muttering ¡°Sorry. | had


    no idea.¡±


    Our seats were smack in the middle, surrounded by couples on every side.


    Putting on a cool front, | said, ¡°The movie¡¯s about to start, let¡¯s just sit down.¡±


    Darren plopped down on the edge of his seat, careful not to cross any lines, as if he was on thin


    ice.


    | couldn''t help but notice and felt a pang in my chest, as if it were being filled with seawater. both bitter and salty.


    Truth be told, I¡¯ve pulled this kind of ¡°dumb stunt¡± myself before.


    The difference was, Darren did it unknowingly, while I, years ago, did it on purpose.


    | had deliberately chosen a horror movie and, at the scariest moment, threw myself into Hogan''s arms.


    All | wanted was for that unppable man to secretly develop a soft spot for me.


    But even after the movie ended, Hogan didn¡¯t make a move, remaining as aloof and noble as


    ever.


    Looking back, | felt that it was just a case of the wrong person at the wrong time.


    Lost in thought, | felt a warmth on my fingertips and looked down to realize | had identally brushed against Darren¡¯s hand


    while reaching for my drink.


    He paused for a moment, his eyes shing surprise.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | was about to exin when the buzzing of my phone in my bag interrupted me.


    Seizing the chance, | stepped out of the screening room.


    However, seeing the caller ID, | zoned out again.


    It was Hogan calling, probably another task for me.


    Rubbing my temples, | answered with a polite, ¡°Mr. Zade, what''s up? Calling sote?¡±


    Not that it was reallyte; it was just nine o''clock.


    His cough came through the receiver, followed by a scoff, ¡°Ms. March, aren¡¯t you the model worker who always catches thest


    train home? What''s different today?¡±


    | sighed, cutting to the chase, ¡°What do you need, Mr. Zade?¡±


    ¡°Not so much a request as a favor, | need you to set up a plugin for me on WhatsApp.¡±


    So it was work talk.


    Chapter 58


    | straightened up, asking, ¡°What kind?¡±


    ¡°Something like a space for couples, where two can share photos and videos, that¡¯s all


    His tone was calm, as if it was the most ordinary request.


    But on my end, | suddenly found myself speechless.


    Acouples¡¯ space was one of the hundred coupley things | had once promised him.


    Back then, |ined about some tform being too rigid and many features being behind a paywall, swearing I¡¯d create a


    unique space just for us.


    Now he wanted to use it for Cecilia.


    My emotions split in two.


    For a moment, | didn¡¯t know whether to praise Hogan for being such an attentive boyfriend or to outright call him a jerk.


    After a moment''s thought, | chalked it up to coincidence.


    The ever¡ªbusy Hogan, with a million things on his mind, how could he remember every little thing I¡¯d ever mentioned?


    | heard myself asking. ¡°What style do you want, Mr. Zade?¡±


    Without missing a beat, Hogan said, ¡°Dreamy, romantic.¡±


    The same old lines he''d use with Cecilia.


    Obviously tailor-made for her.


    ¡°Ms. March, aren¡¯t you going to ask me what | need it for?¡±


    4


    I snorted, ¡°Is there a need to ask? It''s pretty obvious.¡±


    Hogan replied with his usual indifference. ¡°Ms. March, you are, as ever, sharp-witted.¡±


    ¡°ttery will get you nowhere.¡±


    Task in hand, | was ready to hang up when | heard Hogan add, ¡°By the way, keep this under wraps. We''ll discuss the details


    directly.¡±


    Huh, just as | thought. Not only was Hogan swiping my idea, but he was also nning a surprise for Cecilia.

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    Chapter 69


    Chapter 69


    Capitalists sure didn¡¯t just hand out their cash willy-nilly.


    | responded with a ¡°Roger that. Mr. Zade¡± and then hung up the phone.


    Now, I''d totally lost the mood to watch any movies.


    The next afternoon, Hogan hit me up on WhatsApp asking about my progress. | sent him a screenshot and it took him a while to


    reply. [Swing by Rainbow Capitalter, let¡¯s talk face-to-face]


    He seemed pretty serious.


    | had no choice but to cook up some excuse to leave right after work.


    In the president''s office. | ran into Zachary again.


    ¡°| was wondering why Mr. Zade suddenly canceled tonight''s ns, turns out he¡¯s got a date with you, huh?¡±


    He got it wrong again.


    But Hogan had ns tonight?


    Looks like he really went the extra mile to whip up this surprise for Cecilia.


    Once in the office, Hogan was still buried in work, so | didn¡¯t dare to disturb him. | just sat by the coffee table, coding and waiting.


    ¡°How¡¯s the progress?¡±


    His deep voice echoed by my ear, and when | looked up, ready to reply, | realized Hogan was standing right by my side, leaning


    in close.


    We were so near | could even see his freshly trimmed stubble.


    The crisp and sharp scent of soap enveloped me, making my heart skip a beat.


    ¡°I''ve sent both versions to your email.¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of leaving, simply saying, ¡°Open it up, let''s see.¡±


    | reluctantly pulled up the webpage.


    After he looked it over, he was not impressed, ¡°Tacky.¡±


    I''d used Cecilia¡¯s favorite, dreamy pink.


    | was sure Cecilia would love it, but cautiously suggested, ¡°Maybe we should get Director Irwin¡¯s take on it?¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Hogan said firmly, pointing at several button widgets, ¡°Change these, and this, to a different color.¡±


    09:54


    Chapter 69


    The cash cow had spoken; what could | say? | just had to follow orders.


    But when | showed Hogan the revisions, he frowned slightly and said, ¡°How about a gradient?¡±


    It sounded simr to my first version.


    If | didn¡¯t know better about Hogan¡¯s picky nature from the get-go, I¡¯d think he was just messingContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    with me.


    Luckily, my tech skills weren¡¯t just for show, but by the time | was done, it was pitch dark outside.


    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else. Mr. Zade. I''ll take my leave.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ste. I''ll give you a ride.¡±


    | figured he probably wanted to swing by Cecilia¡¯s.


    But considering the delicate nature of our rtionship. | made up an excuse, ¡°I need to head back to the office.¡±


    | saw Hogan¡¯s hand holding the car keys pause momentarily.


    Stepping out of Rainbow Capital | breathed a sigh of relief and looked at my palm, only to find a thinyer of sweat.


    | guess Hogan was just too upfront to have considered keeping a distance from me.


    He could afford to be that way, but | sure didn¡¯t want to invite trouble.


    So the next morning. | gently informed Hogan that I¡¯d caught a cold by ident and would have to update him online.


    Hogan didn¡¯t reply. ¡é


    That night, alone in the empty office, warming my hands with a heater, | happily tapped away at the keyboard.


    Then the door chime rang, and my brows knitted together in surprise.


    Hogan had actually shown up.


    | cleared my throat and pointed towards Cecilia¡¯s office. ¡°Director Irwin has already left for the day.¡±


    Hogan stepped closer, cing a few boxes of medicine in front of me. ¡°I¡¯m here to see you, Ms. March.¡±


    | looked down and, lo and behold, the boxes read ¡®Cold Granules¡®.

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    Chapter 70


    Chapter 70


    | didn¡¯t expect Hogan to swing by with meds in the dead of night. Caught me off guard, and | felt a tad guilty, too.


    But then | thought, our slim thread of a connection wasn¡¯t enough for Mr. Zade to go out of his way like this.


    | figured it must be something to do with the couple¡¯s space on the site.


    Looking at the code | was hammering out, | got this weird itch in my chest.


    | muttered a thanks, deliberately sidestepping that awkward moment, and said all polite¡ªlike, ¡°Still knee-deep in code, not gonna


    walk you out, Mr. Zade.¡±


    Basically showing him the door.


    Hogan blinked, rooted to the spot, his gaze sliding over the hand warmer | was clutching, and he asked, ¡°No heating?¡±


    Heating? He thought this was the Rainbow Capital or something.


    In an old office block like ours, we were lucky to have central air, let alone heating.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    | forced a smile, ¡°Not cold.¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t bite, surprisingly pulled up a chair, and sat down.


    | guessed he wasn¡¯t leaving tonight without some answers, so | flipped to the couple¡¯s space


    page and asked, ¡°See anything that needs tweaking, Mr. Zade?¡±


    Hogan scooted closer in his chair, took a quick peek, and said, ¡°Not punchy enough.¡±


    +


    Heard that line before.


    | yed it cool, ¡°Give me ten minutes.¡±


    After Hogan grunted an okay, his gaze drifted to the bookshelf, and the next thing, his long, even fingers were touching one of


    the books.


    | heard him ask, ¡°Since when did you get hooked on whodunits?¡±


    | nced over and realized he was holding the detective novel Darren had given me. I''d


    thumbed through it a few times when | was stressed out, but had no clue how Hogan pegged me as a mystery buff. | fobbed him


    off, ¡°Good content, colorful plot.¡±


    ¡°Huh.¡±


    Conversation was going nowhere, so | zipped it and focused on fixing the page.


    The night was deep, and we both fell silent. In the wide office, all you could hear was the click¡ªck of keyboard keys and the


    asional page turn.


    It was lively yet eerie.


    1/2


    09:54.


    Chapter 70


    Finally, task done, | asked, ¡°How about now, Mr. Zade?¡±


    ¡°Let me see.


    Hogan wheeled his chair over, suddenly closing the gap between us.


    Just as | clicked the mouse, there was a ¡°pop,¡± and the overhead light went out, the monitor screen following suit into darkness.


    | sighed, ¡°Probably a blown fuse, I''ll check.¡±


    | told Hogan to scoot over.


    As | got up, my palm identally covered the back of his hand.


    | quickly pulled back, but in a sh, Hogan had grasped my left hand.


    His long fingers covered mine, fitting together seamlessly.


    His palm was burning up against my icy fingertips, making my cheeks flush and my breathing quicken.


    In the dim light, | saw the bob of his throat.


    We were way too close.


    | awkwardly tried to pull back, but in a moment, Hogan had yanked me into his embrace.


    He held my hands tight, tucking them expertly at his waist. Through the thin fabric, | could faintly trace the firm lines of his abs.


    Awhiff of soap mixed with an unexpected hint of aggression filled my nostrils.


    | blurted out Hogan¡¯s name in panic.


    With a hint of warning.


    ¡°Your hands are too cold,¡± his voice raspy, as if stating the most ordinary fact, ¡°Warm them up.¡± ¡°No need.¡±


    Hogan ignored me, not only did he not let go, but he held me even tighter, ¡°Xaviera, don¡¯t move.¡± My heart skipped a beat, a


    tingling sensation shot from my brain to my spine, sapping all my strength to resist.


    Suddenly, | remembered those two years in that cold, harsh apartment. Hogan tenderly holding my little feet, carefully tucking


    them into his embrace, saying he¡¯d use his body warmth to chase away the long winter nights for me.

 Chapter 71

    Chapter 71


    Chapter 71


    But let me tell you, that was just Hogan¡¯sme excuse. What he really wanted was a tangled mess of us in the dead of night.


    Just like this moment, it was dangerous and yet, oh so captivating.


    Asudden ring from my phone snapped me back to reality, with ¡°Cecilia¡± spelled out crystal clear on the caller ID.


    It hit me like a sledgehammer, dragging me back into the here and now.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, you''ve got a call from Director Irwin,¡± | gave Hogan the heads-up.


    At the mention of Cecilia, Hogan¡¯s tight embrace finally eased up a bit.


    The overhead light bulb chose that exact second to ze on, its ring brightness as if it could burn away all the secrets and


    shame hidden in the night.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Cecilia¡¯s soft sobs leaked through the phone. ¡°Hogan, I¡¯m feeling really down. Can youe pick me up?¡±


    Hogan massaged his temples and after a short pause said, ¡°Send me the address.


    The call ended and the man stood there, hesitating, as if he had more to say but couldn¡¯t spit it


    out.


    met his gaze squarely and said with openness, ¡°Go ahead, before Director Irwin gets steamed.¡±


    Hogan looked at me as if I¡¯d cracked a joke, with a storm brewing in his eyes.


    *All good. Mr. Zade?¡± 1 asked coolly.


    The man let out a scoff and quickly walked away.


    The night returned to its peaceful state, with only the breeze outside teasing the soon-to¡ªwither branches.


    The next morning. | unexpectedly got a call from a heating guy wanting to schedule a time to install some radiators.


    Completely baffled, | confirmed with the guy several times. Then, it hit me-I rememberedst night and immediately dialed


    Hogan.


    On the other end, his voice was calm, ¡°Rivertown¡¯s too cold. | don¡¯t want anything dying the project.¡±


    The heating guy told me the bill for the radiators had already been paid¡ªand it wasn¡¯t cheap.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, you are really sshing out,¡± | carefully phrased my response. ¡°Our heating¡¯s not that bad, you know.¡±


    Chapter 71


    ¡°| just want Cecilia to be morefortable at work. Why the hard pass. Ms. March?¡±


    So that was it, he was worried about Cecilia getting cold.


    With that said, | had to show some tact. ¡°Then, on behalf of everyone, thanks, Mr. Zade.¡±


    After hanging up, | let out a sigh, but when I turned around, there was Cecilia standing behind


    1.me.


    Our eyes met, and the questions in the young girl¡¯s eyes were loud and clear.


    She started the conversation, ¡°Xaviera, were you on the phone with Hogan?¡±


    | nodded, and her frown deepened.


    Coming closer, she fiddled with her mug, ¡°Hogan must have asked you for quite a few favors to keep me and Mrs. Hry happy,


    huh?¡±


    I stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.


    Sure enough, she asked. ¡°Xaviera, did Hogane to thepany looking for youst night?¡±


    Her tone was probing yet certain.


    Surprised, | heard Cecilia add, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. Xaviera, | just happened to see the GPS and found out Hogan had been


    here. But,¡±


    She paused, then said, ¡°I guess he must have been asking for your help to continue being the peacemaker between me and


    Mrs. Hry, right?¡±


    Look at that, me, just a hired hand, suddenly turning into some kind of saintly mediator.


    | replied evenly, ¡°Actually, Mr. Zade had arranged a little surprise for you.¡±


    Cecilia raised an eyebrow, ¡°Oh?¡±


    | had been worried about how to exin the radiator thing to everyone, but now | had my out.


    ¡°Mr. Zade came to discuss installing radiators in the studio,¡± | looked her straight in the eye, ¡°didn¡¯t want you to catch a chill.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s gloomy face finally brightened a bit, ¡°Really? Hogan didn¡¯t tell me.¡±


    | kept my tone neutral, ¡°After all, it''s supposed to be a surprise.¡±

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    Chapter 72


    Chapter 72


    Cecilia was over the moon after hearing my exnation and immediately rang up Hogan. Through the ss door, the cheerful


    ups and downs of the girl¡¯s sweet and glutinous voice spilled out non-stop.


    It was a stark contrast to her earlier stance, where she was giving me the stink eye from outside the pantry.


    For some reason, | felt like I''d dodged a bullet.


    Thank goodness it didn¡¯t turn into aplete circus.


    That would''ve just slowed down my money-making.


    Speaking of which, after | sent the lovey¡ªdovey pic to Hogan, he promptly wired me another 2 grand.


    Listening to the howling north wind outside the window, | called up my uncle.


    ¡°| got paid today, uncle. Swing by my ce tomorrow, | wanna pick up a couple of new outfits for auntie.¡±


    He was a real softie when it came to my aunt Grace, and he was always game for spoiling her with new clothes.


    We agreed to meet up at the mall.


    But wouldn''t you know it, Hry called shortly after.


    ¡°Xaviera, we''re out of skincare products at home, are you free tomorrow? Join me for a shopping trip?¡±


    | told her straight up, ¡°Sorry, Mrs. Hry, I¡¯ve already got ns.¡±


    Hry let out a disappointed sigh, ¡°Ah well, some other time then,¡± and hung up pretty decisively.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    She probably thought | was blowing her off on purpose and got miffed.


    Back in the day, | might''ve sweet-talked her a bit, but now, it just doesn¡¯t fit.


    Bright and early the next day, | showed up at the mall as nned and browsed through the men¡¯s and kids¡¯ sections.


    Ended up getting a thick brown men¡¯s down jacket and paid for it.


    As | turned around, there were Sibyl and Cecilia right behind me.


    Sibyl has a good memory, greeted me with a smile, and Cecilia came over all nosy, ¡°Xaviera, picking out a coat for Professor


    Yearwood?¡±


    | just smiled and didn¡¯t answer, ready to bounce, but then Sibyl went, ¡°Ms. March, do you


    have


    09:54


    Chapter 72


    kids at home?¡±


    | was taken aback, and as | looked at Sibyl, her eyes were shining bright on the kids¡® clothes in my shopping bag.


    ¡°It''s for a rtive¡¯s kiddo.¡±


    Sibyl doled out apliment. ¡°Ms. March, you''re not just a looker but have a heart of gold too.¡±


    | didn¡¯t make much of it, remembering the time I''d set with my uncle, exchanged a few pleasantries, and split.


    In the background, | caught a bit of Sibyl and Cecilia''s convo.


    ¡°Cecilia, you are fair and lovely, and Hogan¡¯s such a catch. The baby you two would have is going to be a knockout.¡±


    Cecilia yfully retorted. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t count your chickens before they hatch.¡±


    ¡°It''s only a matter of time, and not to nag, but you gotta put in some effort to speed things up. After all, which guy doesn¡¯t indulge


    a little.¡±


    Sibyl spilled such private beans in public, but her point was crude yet true. Even a straightced guy like Hogan has his needs.


    Was he holding back with her and looking to me to fill that void?


    The thought took me back to the ckoutst night, and | smirked at myself.


    Half an hourter, | was anxiously calling my uncle from the mall entrance.


    He couldn''t find his way in.


    ¡°Don''t worry, just stay put, I¡¯ming to find you.¡±


    The mall was bustling with some event, and it was easy for my uncle, unfamiliar with the ce, to get lost.


    The more | thought about it, the more | regretted suggesting we meet there.


    As | passed the elevator, lost in thought, | missed a step and twisted my ankle.


    Asharp pain shot up from my foot, and | scrunched my eyebrows, fighting through the pain as | stepped off the esctor.

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    Chapter 73


    Chapter 73


    Jason called again, but suddenly there was a different voice on the line.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m at Gate 3, would you mind helping me out, sir.¡±


    ¡°Xaviera?¡± came the surprised voice through the receiver, ¡°It¡¯s me, Darren.¡±


    To my total shock, the person who was helping my flustered uncle find the entrance to the mall turned out to be Darren.


    Ashort whileter, when we met up, Jason, with a grateful look, told me, ¡°He was the one who helped. The guy¡¯s awesome.¡±


    Darren listened to him finish his choppy sentences without caring about his stuttering and said with a gentle smile. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re


    pretty amazing yourself, but next time, remember to check the floor number, okay?¡±


    | exined to Jason, ¡°Darren and | are ssmates.¡±


    Jason¡¯s face lit up with surprise and he happily said, ¡°Really? That''s... that¡¯s fate for you.¡±


    Darren told me he was there to take his cousin shopping and had bumped into my lost uncle in the parking garage.


    Jason had gotten stuck on the basement level.


    Jason looked at me and then at Darren and said, ¡°Xaviera, he helped me out. Let¡¯s¡ªlet''s treat him to a meal.¡±


    As was only right and proper, | immediately checked with Darren, who said with a chuckle. ¡°You know, | am actually kind of


    hungry. So, uncle Jason, I''ll gracefully ept your invitation.¡±


    4


    We went into a local cuisine restaurant.


    Darren was the epitome of tact, asking my uncle for his opinion with every dish he ordered, and even thoughtfully ordered a cup


    of tea for him.


    Jason, not a tea connoisseur, just held the cup and gave Darren a.simple, honest smile, starting off a bit stiff but gradually


    rxing during Darren¡¯s casual conversation.


    It was that instinctive inferiorityplex that can surface when amon man meets someone of higher status, but Darren


    covered all bases, his actions easing Jason¡¯s awkwardness.


    | was really touched inside.


    When he heard that we were shopping for new clothes for my aunt, Darren was eager to join in, ¡°Perfect, I''ve been meaning to


    get a coat for my dear mother as well, and Xaviera, you''ll have to lend me your eye for fashion in a bit.¡±


    | nodded, ¡°Just don¡¯tugh at me if my taste¡¯s old school, Professor Yearwood.¡±


    Chapter 73


    After the meal, the three of us headed to the women¡¯s clothing section.


    Jason chose a tender pink down jacket for my aunt among the array of women¡¯s coats.


    ¡°She has skin as white as Xaviera¡¯s.¡± he exined, bashfully like a young man in love. ¡°She''ll definitely look good in it.¡±


    My aunt was 49 this year, but to Jason, she was forever young and lovely.


    | felt a twinge in my nose. ¡°Let''s go with this one.¡±


    ¡°Aren''t you going to try it on, Xaviera?¡±


    It was Darren who asked.


    | wasn¡¯t nning to buy clothes and declined, ¡°You pick out something for your mom first.¡±


    Darren seemed to read my mind and hesitantly said, ¡°Her figure is pretty much the same as yours, Xaviera. Would you mind


    trying it on for me?¡±


    Of course, | wouldn''t say no to helping out.


    Darren picked out a camel-¡ªcolored, old money-style cashmere coat. The coat was soft and the fabric was top-notch. | sneakily


    nced at the price tag and it was over one thousand.


    Definitely fitting for someone like Darren.


    When | came out of the fitting room, the sales associate came up enthusiastically, ¡°Miss, your boyfriend has great taste. Look at


    you, as pretty as a movie star.¡±


    | was about to rify when a familiar, sweet voice reached my ears, ¡°Oh my, look, isn¡¯t that Xaviera and Professor Yearwood


    over there?¡±


    | looked up and immediately spotted the trio standing diagonally across from us.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    It was Hogan, Cecilia, and Hry.

 Chapter 74

    Chapter 74


    Chapter 74


    Running into Cecilia again didn¡¯t exactly knock my socks off.


    But | sure as hell didn¡¯t expect to see Hogan and Hry tagging along.


    In my book. Hogan was thest guy you¡¯d catch dead at a shopping mall, let alone ying the tame sidekick, lugging bags for


    thedies.


    It was out of left field but somehow made sense.


    Well, since our paths crossed, | couldn¡¯t dodge saying hi to the trio withouting off as a total jerk.


    Though | wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled about it.


    Hry threw an extra nce at Darren and my uncle standing next to me and clicked, ¡°So when you said you had ns, it was


    with Professor Yearwood, huh?¡±


    | could hear a hint of sour grapes in her voice.


    Only then did | remember her asking me out over the phonest night.


    Looks like she got the wrong end of the stick.


    Before | could clear the air, Cecilia chimed in with her sugary voice, ¡°Mrs. Hry, look at Xaviera in this new coat. Doesn''t it just


    make her look more elegant and poised?¡±


    Herment effortlessly shifted everyone''s gaze onto me.


    | was about to bring up the dressing room saga when Hogan, from across the way, suddenly piped up. ¡°You dig this piece?¡±


    #


    He was fishing for Cecilia''s opinion.


    Cecilia¡¯s eyes did a once¡ª-over on me and she said, ¡°I just think this vintage old¡ªmoney vibe is really ssy, understated yet


    comfy. It¡¯s a rare find.¡±


    Hogan gave me a quick once-over, then his eyes settled back on Cecilia¡¯s face; saying gently, ¡°Then give it a go.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    No sooner had he spoken than the eager salesperson¡¯s face twisted with awkwardness, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, but this coat is the pride of


    our store, and it¡¯s the only one we have.¡±


    Cecilia''s eyelids drooped a bit as she muttered, ¡°Let¡¯s not fuss over it, Hogan. I¡¯m not that into it


    anyway.¡±


    Pretty considerate of her.


    That kind-hearted gesture probably tugged at Hogan¡¯s heartstrings because he stubbornly asked the salesperson, ¡°Has it been


    paid for?¡±


    His blunt and domineering question also hinted at something else to me.


    1/2


    09:55


    Chapter 74


    Yep. if | wasn¡¯t mistaken, Hogan, head over heels for Cecilia, was probably trying to muscle in on the coat.


    | was at a loss for words.


    Never thought Hogan would pull such an ungentlemanly stunt.


    The salesperson, catching the drift, nced at Hogan¡¯s pricey suit and then at our more modest get-up, tentatively asked me.


    ¡°What do you think, miss?¡±


    Smart move, passing the buck to me.


    ¡°Wrap it up.¡± Darren cut in out of the blue, irritationcing his voice. ¡°Sorry, Hogan, but we¡¯re taking the coat.¡±


    He was unexpectedly assertive.


    | got it, nobody wanted the perfect pick for their mom swiped from under their nose.


    There was something to be said for firste, first served.


    But Hogan, hell-bent on winning Cecilia¡¯s favor, stepped forward and suggested to the salesperson, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give Hans a


    ring?¡±


    With Hry''s shopping spree habits, she was bound to be a VIP, and Hogan¡¯d made quite the ssh in Rivertown these past


    couple of years. He was dead set on snagging that coat.


    But did he really have to stoop this low?


    Darren frowned at Hogan¡¯s words, ¡°Hogan, a gentleman doesn¡¯t snatch what others fancy.¡±


    Darren was trying to reason with a guy who was clearly smitten and not thinking straight.


    Hogan scoffed, ¡°Professor Yearwood, if it hasn¡¯t.been paid for, it¡¯s not yours, is it?¡±


    Trust an economics guy to twist logic like it¡¯s a game.


    My uncle, silent up till now, couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and blurted out angrily, ¡°What¡¯s the deal? Did you do it just to make life hard


    for someone else?¡±

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    Chapter 75


    Chapter 75


    He was making perfect sense, lists clenched and giving Hogan the stink eye,


    Suddenly, the vibe got super tense.


    Seeing this, Cecilia shot me a quilty look and said, ¡°Sorry. Xaviera, we weren''t trying to step on your toes or anything. Hogan just


    wanted me to give it a whirl. If you¡¯re really into it, I¡¯ll back


    off.¡±


    Her voice trailed off and her eyes started to well up.


    Meanwhile, Hry was just standing there the whole time, not saying a peep.


    My ankle was throbbing and | winced, telling Darren. ¡°This number¡¯s a bit snug around the waist, not exactly the epitome of


    comfort.¡±


    | was being straight up, but also waving a white g.


    Darren blinked, took a beat, then suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s browse around some more.¡±


    The drama ended with ourpromise.


    As we were leaving the store. | overheard Cecilia yfully scolding. ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of clothes, Hogan. No need to ssh out,


    pick something for Mrs. Hiry.¡±


    She''d got her head screwed on right.


    Guess that was why Hogan was willing to take the heat for ying favorites to keep her sweet. After that hot mess, none of us


    were in the mood to keep shopping. Darren saw Jason loaded down with bags and insisted on dropping him off in the East


    District.


    Getting out of the car. Jason looked pretty down in the dumps. After hesitating for a few seconds, he asked, ¡°Xaviera, you still in


    touch with the Zade family?¡±


    Looks like he recognized Hry.


    And they¡¯d only met once.


    Hry, though, clearly didn¡¯t remember him at all.


    Not wanting to worry him, | said, ¡°Not much interaction.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± It was clear he wasn¡¯t buying it.


    | forced a smile and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, | know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    He didn¡¯t press further, but as he was leaving, | could see the unease he couldn¡¯t quite hide in his eyes.


    Suddenly, | felt like a real jerk.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    As Darren¡¯s car approached the neighborhood, he unexpectedly pulled up in front of a


    09:55


    Chapter 25


    pharmacy.


    ¡°Give me five minutes¡±


    He dashed out without exining, but came back with some medicinal wine and anti-inmmatory meds.


    Handing them over, he said. ¡°Rub this on.¡±


    He noticed the injury on my ankle, his eyes full of concern.


    | had no idea when he figured out Lwas hurt; I''d been toughing it out so my uncle wouldn¡¯t worry.


    And | was wearing casual pants that covered my boots.


    | murmured thanks and felt too shy to roll up my pant leg in front of Darren.


    He didn¡¯t catch on to my hesitation and started to lift my pant leg himself, then froze. ¡°How did you bear it till now?¡±


    Looking down, | saw that my ankle had swollen up, red and puffy. | mumbled, ¡°Almost home. I''ll


    manage.¡±


    Darren paused, sighed, and walked me back to my ce.


    He helped me hobble all the way to my door.


    ¡°Coldpress then apply the medicine, and don¡¯t walk around,¡± he instructed. ¡°Call me if your need anything.¡±


    He was the perfect gentleman, not stepping inside, leaving me feeling all sorts of embarrassed. Ten minutester, | was on the


    couch, icing my ankle and sorting through work, when | absentmindedly scrolled through Facebook and saw Cecilia¡¯s post.


    [Today, I¡¯m everybody¡¯s little princess.]


    She posted a pic with a bunch of fancy gifts.


    Among all the high-end brand loot, | spotted the shopping bag from that posh coat.


    Looks like Hogan did buy Cecilia that coat in the end.

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    Chapter 76


    Chapter 76


    Just as | expected, | didn¡¯t sweat it.


    | mean, Cecilia¡¯d just got that golden touch, didn¡¯t she?


    But what | didn¡¯t seeing was this, walking into the office on Monday, the first thing | spot is Cecilia, decked out in her fancy¡ª


    schmancy coat, chit-chatting away with Zora.


    She was unting that thing like it was hertest trophy, all smiles, going. ¡°After the discount, it still cost me a whopping more


    than one grand. | just couldn¡¯t bring myself to buy it, but Hogan thought it looked fab on me and just went ahead and paid for it


    without so much as a by your leave. No chance for returns now!¡±


    Zora¡¯s all googly-eyed, ¡°Oh my gosh, where do you even find a Mr. Zade who¡¯s both hot and loaded like that? Come on, God,


    give us a break!¡±


    | couldn''t help but give Cecilia a second nce.


    | mean, no offense, but | was not exactly on board with Hogan¡¯s taste.


    Cecilia was petite and cute, right? Sweet and sugary or y2k style would suit her best. But wrapped up in that coat, coupled with


    her pity-me face, she looked kinda out of ce.


    But hey, who am | to argue when Hogan¡¯s rolling in dough?


    ¡°Look who¡¯s here. Xaviera,¡± Cecilia chirped when she saw me, all bubbly, saying. ¡°I meant to call youst night to apologize, but


    it waste and | didn¡¯t want to disturb your beauty sleep.¡±


    | was clueless, ¡°Apologize for what?¡±


    Cecilia twirled the belt of her coat, all sheepish, ¡°About the whole coat situation, | actually felt pretty bad.¡±


    Sure, she said she was sorry, but look at her, strutting into the office in that coat like it was no big deal.


    | cracked a smile, ¡°You''re thinking too much, Director Irwin. There¡¯s plenty more where that came from in the stores. Just pick


    another one.¡±


    Same went for guys.


    Out of nowhere, Wallis popped up, gave Cecilia the once¡ªover, and went, ¡°when did you switch up your style, Director Irwin?¡±


    Cecilia, all pleased with herself, nced at her coat¡¯s cor, ready to respond, but then Wallis dropped another one, ¡°You know,


    the sweet look suits you better. This one¡¯s aging you.¡±


    Cecilia''s smile froze right on her face.


    Back in the office, | took a peek at Wallis and quipped, ¡°A cashmere coat worth over one grand just turned into street market


    goods in your book.¡±


    Chapter 76


    Wallis let out a chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, | used to be part of the blue¡ªbloods.¡±


    True that. Wallis¡® wardrobe might not be fresh off the runway, but any random piece could buy Cecilia seven or eight of those


    coats.


    Put it that way, and Hogan didn¡¯t seem all that generous after all,


    Suddenly, | didn¡¯t feel so choked up about it.


    But then, in the afternoon, | got a call from Hry.


    ¡°Hey Xaviera, | just happened to be near your office. Wanna grab a coffee?¡±


    She sounded all nice and friendly.


    But | could tell there was more to it than just coffee.


    Knowing | couldn¡¯t dodge her forever, | took her up on the offer.


    At the caf¨¦, by the floor-to-ceiling windows, Hry was lounging in a light brown fur, exuding wealth with every move.


    She was really nailing this richdy gig.


    ¡°Hi, Xaviera.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Hry, did you need something?¡± | cut to the chase.


    Caught off guard by my directness, Hry grabbed a Chanel bag from beside her and handed it over, ¡°Saw this while shopping


    yesterday, thought the color was perfect for you, so | got it.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    | nced at it. ssic ck Chanel 255, a timeless piece, versatile color. Even second-hand. these babies could fetch a couple


    grand, never mind a new one.


    | had no clue how Hry figured it''d suit me, but | declined, ¡°Mrs. Hry, that¡¯s too generous, | can¡¯t ept it.¡±


    Hry¡¯s face stiffened, a forced smile tugging at her lips. After a pause, she finally asked, ¡°Xaviera, are you nning to settle


    down in Rivertown?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Hry, what are you talking about?¡±

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    Chapter 77


    Chapter 77


    Hry lifted her mug, took a delicate sip, and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t recognize your uncle for a moment at the mall yesterday.¡±


    Right then, a lightbulb went off in my head, and my heart sank.


    | guessed our recent okay-ish interactions almost made me forget that we were never on the same side of the fence.


    ¡°Xaviera, | didn¡¯t mean anything by it. I¡¯m just saying, since we''re all in Rivertown, if there¡¯s anything | can help with.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Hry.¡± | cut Hry off, my tone a tad frosty. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got to get back to work.


    Hry will probably never get it - we might be broke, but we don¡¯t need her cheap pity.


    After circling the block downstairs, | headed back to the office, and just my luck. | ran into Hogan right by the elevator.


    The man had a frown, his jawline was tense, and he was radiating major bad vibes, looking like he was in a foul mood..


    At this time. | bet he was here to pick up Cecilia from work, no clue what kind of tantrum Mr. Zade was throwing now.


    These two, mother and son, really knew how to give me a hard time.


    | had to bite the bullet and say hi, and Hogan just gave a nomittal grunt without event looking me in the eye clearly not in


    the mood to deal with me.


    4


    In the elevator, | took the hint and stood behind him to the right, turning myself into part of the background.


    Neither of us initiated any conversation.


    Just when | thought I¡¯d get a moment of peace, the guy in front suddenly asked. ¡°Doesn''t it


    gross you out?¡±


    His out-of-the¡ªblue question threw me for a loop, and | was at a loss for words.


    Seeing my silence, Hogan pressed on, ¡°Flirting with other guys in a room you''ve shared with an ex, doesn¡¯t it gross you out?¡±


    His voice was faint, but it felt like an invisible p across the face, leaving me speechless and rooted to the spot like a block of


    wood.


    But it didn¡¯t take long for me to catch the gist of his words.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Hogan was using me of flirting with men, and in that apartment we shared, no less.


    MOSS T


    So it wasn¡¯t hard to figure out that he must have identally seen Darren dropping me offst


    night.


    Cecilia lived upstairs, so a chance encounter made sense, and | guessed Hogan had gotten the wrong idea about me and


    Darren.


    In the past, | might have tried to exin, but right now, it felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my heart, making it hard to


    breathe.


    | thought, ¡°what right does Hogan have to judge me?¡±


    What gives him the right?


    Thinking this, | pinched my palm, looked up, and said coolly, ¡°Aren¡¯t your priorities a bit skewed?¡±


    Shouldn''t he be more concerned about Ms. Irwin?


    Hogan turned to face me, his eyes piercing, a hint of menace flickering in them, ¡°Xaviera, you sure do love to put on airs.¡±


    His tone was mocking, and he didn¡¯t mince words.


    I clenched my jaw but didn¡¯t back down, firing back, ¡°Mr. Zade, you used a word just now that¡¯s quite inurate. | think | need to


    set the record straight.¡±


    Hogan, Silent under the overhead light, his sharp features casting an even more daunting shadow, waited.


    | couldn''t care less and said bluntly. ¡°To me, Hogan, you are not an ex, never have been.¡±

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    Chapter 78


    Chapter 78


    | was just spitting facts, but Hogan¡¯s brows were all knotted up like he was trying to solve the world¡¯s hardest puzzle.


    Just then, the elevator doors slid open, and | tried to y it cool as | stepped out. But bar, suddenly | felt a grip on my wrist.


    Hogan had followed me out and grabbed hold of me.


    ¡°Xaviera, say it again.¡±


    His tone was urgent, his voice trailing off in a husky whisper, weirdly making him sound all wronged.


    | took a deep breath and was like. ¡°Just stating the obvious. Did you think there was something off in what | said?¡±


    ¡°Hogan.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s voice butted in out of nowhere, making Hogan pause and instantly let go of me.


    The girl trotted up to Hogan andtched onto his arm all lovey¡ªdovey, ¡°I just texted you. Didn¡¯t you see it?¡±


    Hogan responded with a chill vibe, the irritation on his face vanished into thin air, acting like the standoff we just had was all in


    my head.


    ¡°What were you and Xaviera chatting about so intensely?¡±


    The subject suddenly swung back to me.


    Staring into Cecilia¡¯s big innocent eyes, | deadpanned, ¡°Nothing much, just discussing the profoundplexities ofnguage.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Cecilia looked up at Hogan, ¡°Hogan, you¡¯re into that stuff too?¡±


    ¡°Xaviera, finally found you.¡± Wallis was at the door, throwing me knowing nces.


    | couldn''t have been more grateful, and | bolted towards her office..


    ¡°What''s up, did our cash cow wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?". Wallis leaned in for thetest scoop.


    Her sixth sense was always on point.


    | sighed and said, ¡°It''s my bad for ying the wise guy.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Yesterday Mr. Zade schooled me a bit in economics, and today | hit him back with some crisp phrases,¡± | said, downying the


    whole thing.


    Wallis let out a sigh and pouted, ¡°Is this how you brainiacs always talk shop?¡±


    We were veering off topic.


    09:56


    Chapter 78


    Guess my skills were still not up to snuff.


    Seeing | mmed up, Wallis quickly handed me a dark red, gold¡ªembossed invitation.


    ¡°There¡¯s a business mixer at the Vienna Hotel the day after tomorrow, hosted by Rich Frank. Lots of big names in the industry


    are gonna be there,¡± she paused, ¡°the man you admire, Tack, will be there too.¡±


    | was a bit shocked, ¡°Tack, as in the world-famous software engineer?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    ¡°Yep.¡± Wallis grinned at me. ¡°So, feeling better now?¡±


    My heart skipped a beat, and | was too stoked to speak.


    Tack was this world-ss software engineer I¡¯d been fangirling over since my college days. His im to fame was spotting bugs


    with just a nce at the code, no debugger needed.


    To have a chat with a legend like that was on my wish list.


    | spent the whole night prepping tech questions to discuss with Tack.


    But word about me hitting the mixer somehow got to Cecilia, and the next morning, she hit up Wallis in the work chat.


    [Wallis, | heard we got an invite from Glory Capital too. Mind if | tag along for the fun tomorrow night?] She even dropped a


    cheeky tongue¡ªout emoji, all coquettish.


    Wallis ain¡¯t one to hold grudges, but the invite was crystal clear - eachpany could only bring one key person.


    Glory Capital was this big¡ªshot group, and they were sticklers for rules and regs. If they put it in writing, it meant the mixer had a


    strict guest list, and there was no way Wallis could bring Cecilia along.

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    Chapter 79


    Chapter 79


    She called Cecilia and me into the office and made things crystal clear.


    ¡°Director Irwin, it¡¯s a bummer we can''t hit up the party together this time, but don¡¯t sweat it.


    there''ll be plenty more shindigs in the future we can crash,¡± | reassured her.


    Cecilia''s eyelids drooped as she murmured, ¡°I''ll roll with whatever Wallis says.


    After dropping that, she ducked out of the office, her face a billboard for disappointment.


    | thought, if Hogan caught a glimpse of that, he¡¯d probably be all torn up inside.


    Wallis saw it too and, with a ton on her mind, muttered, ¡°This ain¡¯t over yet.¡±


    | looked at her, and when our eyes met, she added, ¡°Cecilia brought it up in the work chat, remember? Hogan''s in that chat too.¡±


    | got Wallis¡¯s drift; she figured Cecilia did it on purpose.


    | had a bad feeling about it too.


    But sometimes what you dread just heads your way, and just before quitting time. Wallis sent me a screenshot of her chat with


    Zachary.


    [Mr. Zade¡¯s idea is to have President Lott figure out a way to bring Ms. Irwin to the soir¨¦e tomorrow night.]


    Zachary was being all subtle, but Wallis and | couldn¡¯t miss the subtext.


    Only two could go to the party, and Hogan was asking Wallis to pick between me and Cecilia.


    Wallis was livid, ¡°Usually ying favorites is one thing, but what¡¯s the deal with tomorrow night? What''s a green girl with no


    degree got to do with it? Has Hogan lost his mind to lust or what?¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Wallis shot down Zachary¡¯s suggestion, ¡°Thepany¡¯s ours, and as the boss, | sure as hell get to call the shots on this.¡±


    | knew she was sticking up for me.


    But | also knew if it was Hogan¡¯s wish, he¡¯d move heaven and earth to see it done.


    | didn¡¯t want Wallis in the line of fire, so | took the initiative to ring him up.


    ¡°Ms. March, what¡¯s up?¡±


    | hesitated for two beats before asking. ¡°Mr. Zade, you got a sec? About tomorrow night¡¯s bash. I¡¯d like a word.¡±


    There was a pause on the other end before | heard Hogan ask, ¡°Where?¡±


    He was all business, like he couldn¡¯t stand wasting words.


    Chapter 79


    | picked the same coffee shop Hry had booked for our meet-up the day before.


    Half an hourter, Hogan and | were sitting face to face, the man¡¯s expression stony as he waved away the menu, cutting to the


    chase. ¡°I¡¯ve got ten minutes, I¡¯m taking Cecilia dress shopping after.¡±


    The words ¡°dress shopping¡± clogged my throat.


    So. Hogan wasn¡¯t giving us an inch, huh?


    ¡°Well?¡± Hogan saw | was speechless, his brow furrowed, ¡°Ms. March, what is it you want to say?¡±


    | tried to reason with him, ¡°Mr. Zade, you¡¯re a man of stature. Surely, getting Cecilia into a party isn¡¯t too tough for you?¡±


    ¡°I''ve said it before.¡± Hogan¡¯s gaze was icy, ¡°I don¡¯t want her to be the subject of gossip.¡±


    I clenched the mug tight, forcing calm, and blurted out, ¡°Mr. Zade, are you dead set on passing the invite to Director Irwin?*.


    Hogan stressed, ¡°It¡¯s not about passing it on. Ms. March, you should understand that the opportunity goes to whom the person in


    charge decides.¡±


    And he was that person in charge, wasn¡¯t he?


    | figured if Wallis and | defied him, Hogan had a hundred ways to make us fall in line.


    And | had no intention of risking thepany¡¯s future over something so trivial.


    l arched an eyebrow and managed a strained smile, ¡°Mr. Zade, if your mind¡¯s made up, then let¡¯s talk turkey.¡±

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    Chapter 80


    Chapter 80


    When it came to money, a crack inevitably appeared on Hogan''s otherwiseposed face, his brows furrowing even deeper in


    an instant.


    | feigned nonchnce and quipped. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mr. Zade? Got cold feet?¡±


    The man lifted his eyelids, his eyes brimming with sarcasm, ¡°Xaviera, did you not catch that? | said it¡¯s not a giveaway.¡±


    ¡°The opportunity is mine, though.¡± replied with a mix of indifference and sarcasm, having long abandoned any moral high ground.


    ¡°Think about it, Mr. Zade. If President Lott is hell-bent on taking me to the g, what could you possibly do? If this blows up, it¡¯s


    gonna be Director Irwin who looks like a troublemaker, tarnishing the reputation of a youngdy in the process.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s eyes narrowed to slits, his displeasure evident. ¡°Xaviera, are you threatening me?¡±


    ¡°Me? Threaten you? Never,¡± | replied with a humble tone, sipping my coffee gently. ¡°If | remember correctly, there¡¯s a section for


    the internship provider¡¯s assessment in the graduation defense, right? How that¡¯s written is just a word away from you, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    At that. Hogan seemed to be enveloped in ayer of ice, his already frosty demeanor now exuding an even more


    unapproachable vibe that sent chills down one¡¯s spine.


    Truth be told, | was scared too. But | figured, Hogan wouldn¡¯t want to see us both go down in mes either.


    | was gambling on Cecilia¡¯s ce in Hogan¡¯s heart. ¡ª


    After a while. | heard him ask, ¡°Ms. March, how much do you want?¡±


    He did care about her, after all.


    Yet, even though I''d won the bet, why did my chest feel like it was weighted down with bitterness?


    | replied evenly. ¡°We''ve worked together before, Mr. Zade. You decide what''s fair.¡±


    There went my pride, and the chance to meet my idol. | had to score some kind of win to console myself.


    Hogan took out his phone, reluctantly tapping away on the screen right in front of me, his every move screaming resistance.


    [Received a transfer for ten thousand.]


    The notification sound snapped me back to reality, and the next second, | saw the surprised and curious looks from others


    around us.


    | mean, who could me them? | was just as astonished.


    Ten grand.


    Chanter Bo


    Hogan really broke the bank for Cecilia this time.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Satisfied?¡± Hogan sneered coldly. ¡°You know what to tell Cecilia, right?¡±


    The joy from the money was fleeting. Gazing at Hogan, | empathetically said, ¡°Of course.¡±


    As the words left my mouth, | realized my voice was trembling.


    Watching Hogan¡¯s figure disappear from my view, | quietly unlocked my phone, feeling as if 1 was in a dream.


    | should be happy, right?


    At least Wallis wouldn''t be caught in the middle, and | could use this as a chance to get a new ride.


    | wanted to buy a car.


    Rivertown winters were too cold, and with a car, | could spare my uncle the harshmute on the subway.


    Wallis was ecstatic when she heard, saying. ¡°What did | tell you? You¡¯re our tech department manager now, how could you not


    have a car? Wait up. I''ll tar


    you car shopping tomorrow


    morning.¡±


    | dly epted.


    But what | didn¡¯t expect was


    for Wallis to lead me straight to a BMW dealership.


    Faced with the eager salesperson, | muttered under my breath. ¡°I was only nning on spending around a ten grand or so.¡±


    Wallis looked displeased, ¡°Am | that embarrassing to you?¡±


    After saying that, she signaled the salesperson and said, ¡°Bring that red one over here.¡±


    | nced at the price tag ¡ª the car itself was over thirty grand.


    | found myself being nudged by Wallis into the driver''s seat.


    Though the color was a bit shy, the driving experience was indeed nice.


    Wallis, looking proud and speaking earnestly, said, ¡°The moment | saw it, | knew it was for you, Xaviera. You were meant for the


    passion of the red.¡±


    | looked down. ¡°But my wallet disagrees.¡±


    Wallis burst intoughter, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I''ll cover the difference. Thepany¡¯s got perks for this kind of thing.¡±


    After much persuasion, | couldn¡¯t stand up to Wallis and ended up carefully driving the red BMW back to thepany.

 Chapter 81

    Chapter 81


    Chapter 81


    After walking in, Wallis gave me a heads up, ¡°The new car¡¯s gonna need a break-in period. Knock off work early for the next


    couple of days and take it for a spin where it''s not bumper¡ªto¡ªbumper. Oh, and maybe hit up Professor Yearwood to join you.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Wallis raised an eyebrow and let on, ¡°You guys are twinning.¡±


    No wonder | felt some familiarity hopping into the car.


    | was about to chime in with something when | caught sight of Cecilia, all peppy,ing out of the break room.


    Our eyes met, and she quickly toned down her triumph, whispering a greeting, ¡°Xaviera, you are back.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    ¡°| heard from Hogan that you had to bail on tonight''s shindig at thest minute?¡±


    The moment her words hung in the air, all eyesnded on me, and Wallis¡¯s face dropped a notch, instantly.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± | said, nonchnt as ever. ¡°so Director Irwin, you and President Lott will have to fly solo tomorrow night.¡±


    Cecilia''s lips curled up at my confirmation. She humbly boasted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xaviera, |¡¯ll make sure to shine.¡±


    The kid¡¯d got spunk, thanking me when it was Wallis and Hogan who threw her a bone.


    ¡°Whoa, Xaviera got a new ride?¡± Zora barged in cluelessly, eyeing the car keys in my hand and gushed, ¡°And it¡¯s a BMW, no


    less!¡±


    | brushed it off, but when my nce swept over Cecilia, she was eyeing my keys like a hawk, her smile quickly turning sour, a


    flicker of annoyance that was gone in a sh...


    By the time | looked her way again, she was all smiles, assuring me, ¡°With your paycheck, Xaviera, a BMW¡¯s small potatoes.¡±


    She''d got a mouth on her, giving me props like that.


    Little did she know it was thanks to her that | could afford the down payment.


    Wallis didn¡¯t miss a beat.


    Later, she hauled me into her office and griped, ¡°You sold out for a measly ten grand?¡±


    | tried to smooth things over, ¡°At least there¡¯s some extra cash in it. Who knows, maybe Hogan. will have an epiphany and throw


    some more investment bucks our way.¡±


    Chapter 81


    Wallis was having none of it, ¡°I don¡¯t care. Deduct the car money from the books. If Hogan dares to object. I''ll have Gecilia pack


    her bags and hit the road!¡±


    Gotta hand it to President Lott for her way of thinking.


    After work, | gave Tina a ring to talk shop about driving practice...


    She was the first in our ss to get her license, a real hotshot behind the wheel, and thanks to that, she was living it up with the


    boss.


    ¡°You''vee to the right person, Xaviera. I¡¯ve got the perfect spot, just wait for me.¡±


    True to her word, Tina zoomed to our office building on her Kawasaki 400.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Same as Darren''s, huh,¡± she eyed my new car. ¡°You''ve always had an eye for the good stuff. Xaviera.¡±


    | facepalmed, exining. ¡°It was President Lott¡¯s pick.¡±


    Tina shot me a knowing grin, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hit the road and get you driving!¡±


    Like magic, Tina led me to a driving school.


    As we chatted during practice and brought up tomorrow¡¯s business mixer, Tina chuckled, ¡°You should wear that dress again,


    Xaviera. You''ll knock ¡®em dead.¡±


    | sighed, ¡°Can¡¯t make it to the mixer tomorrow night.¡±


    | didn¡¯t mention Cecilia, just that there weren''t enough invites to go around.


    ¡°You should''ve said something earlier, Xaviera. Glory Capital and N University set up a joint program. Darren might still have a


    spot.¡±


    Darren hadn''t mentioned it, but I¡¯d already leaned on him too much, and it felt wrong to ask for more favors.


    | was about to decline when | heard Tina on the phone. ¡°Darren, you''re dropping the ball here. Xaviera¡¯s missing out on the


    mixer, and you''re not even trying to help out.¡±


    She had already dialed him.


    Darren, caught off guard, said, ¡°Hand the phone to Xaviera.¡±


    Tina obediently passed me the phone, and within moments, Darren¡¯s concerned voice came through, ¡°Xaviera, what¡¯s up?¡±

 Chapter 82

    Chapter 82


    Chapter 82


    Darren rocked up at the driving school half an hourter.


    He caught a cab over.


    As he got closer, | could clearly see a blush spread across his fair cheeks, a hint of booze on his breath wafting over to Tina and


    me.


    ¡°Got tied up in ast-minute thing,¡± he whispered, his concern apparent as he checked in on us. ¡°You guys haven''t been waiting


    long, have you?¡±


    Thad already filled Darren in over the phone about why | was missing in action, same spiel 1 gave Tina, but Darren seemed


    genuinely worried, insisted oning down in person.


    Straight from the booze-up.


    ¡°I''m the one who should be saying sorry.¡± | admitted, feeling sheepish. ¡°Did | mess up your party vibe?¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Before Darren could reply. Tina chimed in with, ¡°Xaviera, don¡¯t be a stranger! Darren¡¯s our beloved ss rep, the kindest of the


    bunch. He''d be thrilled to have you hitting him up every day.¡±


    ¡°Knock it off.¡±


    Tina shrugged it off. ¡°Ah well, my dad¡¯s calling me home for dinner. Since our dear ss rep is here, he can take over and show


    you the ropes with driving.¡±


    She dashed off, disappearing from view in a sh.


    Darren exined. ¡°Tina¡¯s dad¡¯s the top coach around here.¡±


    Suddenly, it all clicked.


    That figured. Only someone with connections could score such a primo practice spot. ¡°Let''s talk about you,¡± Darren steered the


    conversation back to me. ¡°Xaviera, at tomorrow night¡¯s shindig. Tack¡¯s gonna be there too. Hispany¡¯s eyeing our market,


    sending him and the big guns over to scope things out. It¡¯s a golden opportunity.¡±


    The hope that had been doused inside me suddenly sparked to life again with a few words from


    Darren.


    Seeing me speechless, he prodded, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a huge fan of his? Don¡¯t you wanna meet him?¡±


    | was taken aback, ¡°How''d you know?¡±


    Darren shed a grin. ¡°That¡¯s not all | know.¡±


    Suddenly lost for words, | heard Darren add earnestly, ¡°Xaviera, everyone¡¯s seen what you''re capable of. Go meet Tack. You


    can¡¯t let one rejection from back in the day keep you down, right?¡±


    Chapter 62


    ¡°Rejection?¡± | was totally at sea..


    Darren nced at me, ¡°Sorry, | stumbled upon your study abroad application at the counselor¡¯s office. | mean,petition for


    Software Engineering at Elysium University is fierce, and Tack¡¯s one of the top engineers worldwide. It¡¯s no surprise, really.¡±


    The words ¡°study abroad application¡± detonated in my mind, leaving me stunned.


    | thought that was a secret known by very few.


    Memories flooded back, and | couldn¡¯t help but think of the Elysium University eptance letter | had secretly torn up.


    Tack was the man in charge back then.


    Darren must''ve thought | was turned away.


    But swirling with those memories was a mix of resentment and frustration buried deep in my heart.


    My voice was barely audible, ¡°Darren, is there still a spot?¡±


    lll admit it, | was tempted.


    Darren lit up. ¡°Of course, Xaviera, I¡¯m stoked you''ve made this decision.¡±


    He opened his arms wide, way more fired up than his usual polished self.


    Guess he wanted to fire me up too, so | reached out, ¡°Darren, thanks a bunch.¡±


    After a bit more chat, | offered to drop him off.


    Darren nced at the BMW, same model as his, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.


    ¡°Company perk, chosen by President Lott,¡± | admitted, feeling kinda awkward.


    Darren raised an eyebrow, a sly smile on his face, ¡°President Lott''s got good taste, huh?¡±


    Fifteen minutester, | dropped Darren off near University Town at the Youth Hostel.


    Standing in front of the car, he pointed at the building and said, ¡°Well, now you know the way. Swing by when you''ve got time.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°What I mean is, Kevin and Tina crash here for a free meal now and then,¡± Darren rified, ever patient. ¡°I¡¯m pretty handy in the


    kitchen.¡±

 Chapter 83

    Chapter 83


    Chapter 83


    | nced at the clock and casually asked, ¡°Hey, Darren, can | swing by here and pick you up at seven tomorrow evening?¡±


    Darren looked at me like | just grew a second head, then after a brief pause, he chuckled and said, ¡°Sure, let¡¯s roll with that.¡±


    | mean, | felt kinda bad always bumming favors off him. Just got myself a new ride, so ying chauffeur was really no biggie, just


    going with the flow.


    But there was something off about Darren¡¯s tone.


    After leaving the Youth Hostel, | immediately called Wallis.


    As soon as she picked up, | heard heavy breathing on the other end. ¡°What¡¯s up, Xaviera?¡±


    Realizing | might have caught her at a bad time, | plucked up the courage and said, ¡°I need a full set of threads, the battle-dress


    kind.¡±


    ¡°Whoa there,¡± Wallis¡¯s voice spiked, ¡°With who?¡±


    ¡°Professor Yearwood,¡± | spilled the beans. ¡°I''ll be at the soir¨¦e tomorrow night too.¡±


    ¡°Nice.¡± Wallis let out a thrilled yell, ¡°Leave it to me, oh.¡±


    Aweird moan leaked through the phone.


    | froze for a sec, then tactfully hung up.


    Was this what they call the ¡®thirsty thirties¡°?


    Wallis showed up at the office the next day, looking like she was glowing.


    | teased her, ¡°Get a good night''s sleep?¡±


    She shot me a flirty nce and in a sing-song voice said, ¡°You naughty thing, you should be asking how many times | scored.¡±


    What a saucy line.


    Rolling her eyes, Wallis said, ¡°Xaviera, you seriously need to stop ying the nun. You know a woman''s eggs start to feel their


    age past thirty, right? Time to spice things up, embrace the sweet side of love, ya know?¡±


    | was blushing head to toe.


    ¡°Don''t live like a saint all the time. It''s been ages; you should switch things up, try a new vor.¡± Images | had no control over


    shed through my mind, setting my face on fire.


    Nearly got derailed by Wallis¡¯s banter there.


    Chapter 83


    So, | changed the subject, ¡°When are we going shopping?¡±


    Wallis flicked her hair and giggled, ¡°How about now?¡±


    She took me to her ex¡ªhubby¡¯s three-story vi he left her in Forest Whisper.


    | was floored by the variety of chic dresses in her walk-in closet.


    Suddenly, it struck me that even though her ex was a bastard, he sure didn¡¯t shortchange her on the financial front.


    ¡°Money or a pretty man, darling, gotta have one.¡± Wallis quipped about money and looks.


    | mulled over those words, then it clicked.


    Wallis then handed me an ivory satin slip dress, ¡°I ordered this at a Bulgari event two years. back, never wore it. It''ll look fab on


    you.¡±


    The dress was simple but made of top-notch fabric, felt like feathers on my skin, definitely


    haute couture..


    Wallis even called in a stylist and makeup artist to do house calls. And vo, dressed in the white gown, hair up, with subtle


    eyeshadow and lip color, essorized with a ruby ne and bracelet from the same designer, and strutting in nude stilettos,


    | was out the door.


    ¡°Xaviera, | can almost see the hordes of guys that''ll be lining up at our office after tonight,¡± Wallis patted my hand, ¡°See you at


    the party.¡±


    | drove to the Youth Hostel to pick up Darren.


    Dressed in a ck suit and still sporting those silver specs, he looked a bit more solemn, but weirdly, it added a hint of a rakish


    charm.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Doesn''t fit right?¡± he adjusted his sses, ¡°Too¡® formal?¡±


    | awkwardly looked away and muttered, ¡°Looks good.¡±


    For some reason, Wallis¡¯s words about ¡®trying a new vor¡± popped into my head.


    ngan


    My bad.


    Clueless, Darren gave me a gentle smile, ¡°Well then, Ms. March, shall we head out?¡±

 Chapter 84

    Chapter 84


    Chapter 84


    The Bluebell Bistro & Bar wasn¡¯t far from the Youth Hostel, and in no time, we hit the parking


    lot.


    But just as | was gingerly backing into a spot, out of the blue, a Maybach swoops into the space


    next to us.


    Out step two figures | know all too well.


    It was Hogan and Cecilia.


    | should''ve seen iting: for a night like this, Mr. Zade surely wouldn¡¯t befy letting Cecilia fly solo.


    Still, when | caught sight of them, a wave of bitterness just bubbled up in my chest, unbidden.


    | couldn''t help but grip the steering wheel a little tighter.


    Darren caught sight of them too and asked, ¡°Should we go say hi?¡±


    We were all at the same shindig, and we were tight, it¡¯d be rude to just ignore them.


    | nodded, ¡°Yeah, sure.¡±


    With my okay. Darren took the lead and called out to Hogan.


    The guy turned around, his eyesnding on Darren and me, pupils giving the tiniest of shudders.


    Probably a bit taken aback.


    Cecilia, all dressed up, was a different story. Her big doe eyes went wide as saucers, totally gobsmacked, before her cherry lips


    finally quivered, ¡°Xaviera, you''re here for tonight''s bash too?¡±


    The girl¡¯d got her emotions on lockdown, but there was a hint of disappointmentced in her voice that was hard to miss.


    I nod, ¡°Yeah, came with Darren.¡±


    Gottay it out clear. | didn¡¯t want Hogan thinking | was two-faced, all sweet to Wallis and shady behind his back.


    Cecilia nced at Darren, then back at me, and beamed, ¡°I get it! Xaviera¡¯s ¡®busy tonight¡¯ meant tagging along to the party as


    Professor Yearwood¡¯s plus one, right?¡±


    | couldn''t tell if she was genuinely clueless or just ying it cool, but | yed along. ¡°All thanks to you guys, Mr. Zade and


    Director Irwin.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s brows knitted in confusion, ¡°Are you pulling our leg, Xaviera? It¡¯s your own good fortune you fought for, why give them


    credit?¡±


    Chapter 84


    Not wanting to waste more time on chit-chat. | turned to Darren with a smile, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say some of our fellow disciples were


    also attending tonight?¡±


    Darren got the hint, nced at his watch and said, ¡°By my count, they should be here by now.¡±


    After his words, he looked back at the other two, all courtesy. ¡°Hogan, Ms. Irwin, we''ll take our


    leave now.¡±


    We walked off, leaving them behind, and no sooner had we stepped away than that familiar, soft voice hit my ears. ¡°Hogan, don¡¯t


    you think Xaviera looks really different tonight?¡±


    | bet if Wallis heard that, she''d be like. ¡°No joke, my getup cost an arm and a leg, how could I


    not?


    ¡®Cause let''s face it, the envy in Cecilia¡¯s eyes earlier was about to spill out of her sockets.


    At the party, we mingled, and Darren introduced me to a bunch of our peers. What surprised me was when my name came up,


    some seniors actually recognized it.


    ¡°So you''re the legendary Xaviera who single-handedly took down the top universities in the nationalputer science


    competition and snagged the championship?¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    That was three or four years ago, but from the way they talk, it was as if it happened yesterday. *And Darren, you sly dog, fess


    up, were you already eyeing Xaviera back in school?¡±

 Chapter 85

    Chapter 85


    Chapter 85


    Darren pushed up his sses and said, ¡°Guys, it¡¯s cool to rib me a bit, but Xaviera¡¯s a bit shy. Can we tone it down a touch?¡±


    The seniors burst outughing. ¡°Look at you, jumping to her defense already!¡±


    Then someone shifted the spotlight to me, ¡°Xaviera, just a heads-up, Darren is a real piece of work. Keep your eyes peeled,


    alright?¡±


    They totally got the wrong idea about me and Darren.


    In Rivertown, social circles were clear-cut. In the past. | would have gone all serious and set the record straight, but after getting


    a few knocks from life, you learn to wise up. So in that


    moment, faced with their teasing, | just smiled and kept mum.


    Why spill your guts when you barely cross paths?


    The more you say, the guiltier you look.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    The party vibe was pretty chill, but for some reason, standing among these folks, | felt like someone was watching me, on and


    off.


    But when | tried to catch that gaze, it was like chasing a ghost.


    Just my imagination?


    The buzz from my clutch snapped me out of it.


    | stepped aside and saw Hogan¡¯s message right away, [Right side of the hall,e over.]


    Short and to the point, that was his style.


    | had no clue why Hogan wanted to see me at this time, so | asked, [What¡¯s up?]


    His reply came fast, [Better to talk in person.]


    To be honest, if Hogan wasn¡¯t my investor, | probably wouldn¡¯t bother with him now.


    But since he was the money man, when he talked, | gotta listen.


    In the corridor, Hogan stood alone by the floor-to-ceiling window, brows knitted like he was wrestling with some big life question.


    Hearing my approach, he turned, gave me the once-over, and said, ¡°Ms. March, didn¡¯t you promise you wouldn''t attend tonight?


    What''s with the backpedaling?¡±


    Came to settle scores, did he?


    | replied calmly. ¡°Mr. Zade, | think there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. | only agreed not topete with Cecilia for a spot at the


    banquet.¡±


    Hogan snorted, ¡°Getting clever, ying word games with me? What gives you the nerve, Darren?¡±


    09-57


    Chapter 85


    His tone was pretty off-putting.


    With all the high and mighty at tonight¡¯s shindig, watching eyes all around, | didn¡¯t want any bad blood with Hogan right now.


    | said nicely. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, Mr. Zade, I''ll take my leave.¡±


    Can''t fight ¡®em, might as well avoid ¡®em, right?


    ¡°I''m not done talking.¡± Hogan stopped me, his inscrutable eyesnding on my face. After a brief silence, he said. ¡°The dinner


    hasn''t started yet. Ms. March, find yourself an excuse to leave


    early.¡±


    Leave early? I¡¯d already shown my face, and now he was casually telling me to take a hike? On what grounds?


    Something inside me felt like it was breaking, making it hard to breathe..


    Caught off guard, | remembered the look of disappointment in Cecilia¡¯s eyes as | entered, and with a touch of defiance, | met


    Hogan¡¯s gaze, ¡°Because Director Irwin is upset?¡±


    Hogan seemed taken aback, awkwardly avoiding my eyes, and muttered, ¡°Your presence makes her somewhat ufortable.¡±

 Chapter 86

    Chapter 86


    Chapter 86


    Hogan¡¯s response just confirmed my hunch.


    I''d seen his soft spot for Cecilia first thing in the morning, but hearing him say it out loud still hit me right in the feels.


    Just because Cecilia felt a tad ufortable, | had to bow out early?N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    That was just in unreasonable.


    Under normal circumstances, I''d be down to give the investors some face, but today was a different story. Scoring an invite to


    this shindig was a battle and a half for Darren, and if | bail now, it''d be super shady.


    | steadied myself and said, ¡°Sorry Mr. Zade, | can¡¯t do that.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s brow knitted into a knot at my words, and his tone was anything but friendly. ¡°You do realize I¡¯m not asking for your


    opinion.¡±


    It seemed that he¡¯s dead set on showing me the door.


    | curled my fingers andid it on the line, ¡°Mr. Zade, if | were here as a rep for thepany tonight, I¡¯d dly y nice. But I¡¯m


    here as Professor Yearwood¡¯s plus one. You get that, right?¡±


    After all, he was the investor, and | couldn¡¯t have us both losing face.


    But the moment | finished talking, Hogan let out a snort, ¡°Using Darren to strong-arm me? Ms. March, have you forgotten where


    you stand?¡±


    Staring down the aggressive Hogan, | was at a loss for words.


    | never meant to stir up any bad blood between Hogan and Darren.


    ¡°So, what do you want? More investment?¡±


    Hogan quipped when | kept mum, probably thinking | was ying coy, to squeeze more out of him.


    ¡°No thanks,¡± | said, cutting to the chase. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡± Hogan red at me, sneering, ¡°Is this bash that important to you, Ms. March? What, you''re that eager to brown¡ª


    nose Darren?¡±


    The word ¡®brown-nose¡¯, along with that mocking smirk, nted me firmly on the pir of shame.


    And all because | made his precious Cecilia a tiny bit ¡®ufortable¡¯.


    With that in mind, | forced a smile and said coolly, ¡°The party¡¯s about to start, Mr. Zade. Please excuse me.¡±


    Chapter 86


    After dropping that line, | turned to leave but then Hogan¡¯s voice followed, ¡°Ms. March, are you sure yourpany can handle


    the fallout?¡±


    | stopped dead in my tracks, feeling like my feet were cast in lead.


    Hogan¡¯s words reeked of a threat.


    But my mind was made up, and without turning back, | said, ¡°As you wish.¡±


    | can be amodating, but there¡¯s a limit.


    When | got back to the banquet hall, Darren was looking for me.


    ¡°You look a bit off, what¡¯s up?¡±


    | rubbed my throbbing temples and came up with an excuse, ¡°Probably had one too many.¡±


    ¡°I''ve always told you, just y along with the toasts. And if all else fails, I''ve got your back, right?¡±


    Darren¡¯d always been a stand-up guy.


    Just for that, | don¡¯t regret giving Hogan the cold shoulder.


    ¡°Also,¡± Darren went on, seeing my silence, ¡°Did you check the seating for the cocktail event?¡±


    That had actually slipped my mind.


    Seeing my puzzled look, Darren scratched his nose and exined, ¡°We''re all at the head table, Tack too, and you, is that gonna


    be okay?¡±


    Darren always thinks things through.


    His mention of Hogan meant Cecilia would be at our table too.


    He was probably worried about me feeling awkward.


    | yed it cool, ¡°No worries, don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m here tonight to meet my idol.¡±


    As the banquet kicked off and the guests took their seats, just like Darren said, we were at the head table.


    Hogan and Cecilia were seated right across from us.

 Chapter 87

    Chapter 87


    Chapter 87


    The room was packed with big shots, and there | was, a no-name coder, smart enough to blend into the background.


    Before long, my long-awaited Tack and the boss showed up, taking their seats right next to Frank, super close to Hogan and


    Cecilia.


    Cecilia seemed to recognize Tack and seized the moment to slip him her business card.


    Pretty standard move, considering that Tack, a world-ss software engineer, wasn¡¯t someone we bumped into every day. But


    Cecilia came on so strong that she ended up looking a little too


    eager.


    Luckily, Tack had enough EQ to handle it. He took the card, gave it a polite nce, and handed it off to his assistant.


    He didn¡¯t leave Cecilia hanging.


    Cecilia, all smiles, struck up a convo with Tack in her less-than¡ªperfect tone about the game we were developing.


    Tack showed a flicker of interest, but then he switched gears and asked, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about this game from Mr. Bishop. Isn¡¯t the


    engineer named Xaviera?¡±


    Cecilia''s face froze for a second.


    | didn¡¯t expect Tack to bring me up.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    But Darren, quick on his feet, introduced me, ¡°The Xaviera you want to meet is right here.¡±


    Tack gave me a probing look.


    | wasn¡¯t about to let this chance slip by, so | stepped up and greeted him, ¡°Tack, I¡¯m Xaviera. Pleased to meet you.¡±


    Tack sized me up and then mused, ¡°So it is you, Xaviera. | didn¡¯t expect to meet you here after two years.¡±


    | was a bit surprised, ¡°Tack, you remember me?¡±


    We''d exchanged a bunch of emails about getting into school.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said confidently, ¡°I was pretty bummed when you turned down Elysium University. Xaviera, you''ve got a real


    knack for software.¡±


    | was ttered, and his words drew everyone''s attention to me.


    Not many knew about my Elysium University decision.


    But Tack¡¯s mention changed the way everyone looked at me, especially Hogan.


    We had ns to go to Elysium University together.


    Chapter 87


    | yed it cool and steered the conversation toward our new project, hitting it off with Tack.


    Cecilia tried to get a word in edgewise several times but got brushed off by Tack, ending up sitting there high and dry.


    At the end of the party. Tack handed me his business card.


    He only gave out two cards that night; the other went to a big name in the online industry.


    | left the party feeling like | hit the jackpot.


    Downstairs at the Youth Hostel, Darren, bleary¡ªeyed, said, ¡°Xaviera, you know, I¡¯m really happy tonight.¡±


    ¡°You did y a big part tonight.¡±


    ¡°But.¡± Darren looked at me intently, ¡°Xaviera, why are you always so polite to me?¡±


    | was caught off guard by such a left-field question, ¡°I guess it''s because you used to be my


    ss rep.¡±


    ¡°How about being more casual from now on?¡±


    | was about to agree when my phone buzzed.


    It was Hogan calling.


    Darren nced at me and said, ¡°I''ll take that as a yes,¡± before wisely heading inside.


    Back in the car, | took a deep breath and answered the phone.


    ¡°Xaviera March, you¡¯re not at home?¡±


    Hogan actually called me by my name, sounding pretty urgent.


    But how did he know | wasn¡¯t at my ce?

 Chapter 88

    Chapter 88


    Chapter 88


    ¡°I''m at your door.¡± Hogan cleared up my confusion, ¡°Xaviera, get back here pronto.¡±


    Before | could even peep a word, Hogan hung up. The tone? His usual brusqueness.


    Thinking about Cecilia, who was practically invisible at the party, | could rte. | bet Hogan came to stick up for his darling.


    Gotta finish today¡¯s business today, | calmly headed back to my ce.


    Trouble was knocking: gotta face it head¡ªon. Even though I¡¯d prepped myself mentally, catching sight of Hogan leaning on my


    door still sent a flicker of surprise through me.


    The man had his eyes half¡ªclosed, looking all worn out leaning against the door, with his high¡ªquality suit and tie off, which was


    casually draped over his arm, only sporting a white shirt. The usually neat cor was now loose, revealing a swath of fair skin.


    In the dimly lit hallway, with his delicate features, there was an odd sense of brokenness about him, a far cry from the dazzling


    CEO of Rainbow Capital at the party. Seemed even more beat than me.


    Suddenly, | had no clue how to even say hi. But just then, as if sensing me there, he lifted his lids slightly, revealing those deep¡ª


    set eyes.


    Our gazes locked and | heard Hogan ask, ¡°Decided to show up, huh?¡±


    His voice was already on the lower side, a bit standoffish when serious, but when he softened it, there was this indescribable


    warmth, just like now.


    | gripped my car keys tighter, feignedposure and said, ¡°Mr. Zade, what brings you by sote?¡±


    His gaze dropped, eventually resting on my hand, and then he quirked a smile, ¡°Ms. March, you really went all out to butter up


    Darren.¡±


    He was staring the car keys in my hand; looked like he too had noticed the same car brand.


    | jiggled the keys, keeping it cool, ¡°Speaking of which, you had a hand in this too, Mr. Zade.¡±


    Hogan frowned upon hearing this, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°If it weren''t for that transfer from you, | wouldn¡¯t even make the down payment,¡± | spilled the beans.


    Hogan watched me with an intensifying stare; incredulous, he asked, ¡°Xaviera, you used my money to cozy up to another man?¡±


    He cranked up the volume on thosest few words.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, like | told you before,¡± | didn¡¯t want to rite things up, so | yed it down, ¡°the money''s yours, sure, but we made a


    deal, didn¡¯t we? | don¡¯t have to report back to you on every penny, do


    Chapter 88


    1?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s expression stalled for a moment, and he irritably tugged at his cor; then realizing the tie was already gone, he fixed


    his gaze on me, ¡°Ms. March, after all that effort, did Darren agree to invest?¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    He was fixated on the idea that my ¡°sweet-talking¡± Darren was all about the cash. But what had got him so worked up?


    ¡°Seems not yet.¡± Hogan deduced from my silence, ¡°So, what¡¯s next? Ms. March nning to pull the same stunt on Darren that


    you did with me?¡±


    Tonight¡¯s Hogan was a bit off his game, more chatty than he''d be in a normal month. And what threw me was that he wasn¡¯t here


    for Cecilia¡¯s sake.


    Facing Hogan¡¯s gaze, | felt an uninvited irritation and blurted out, ¡°What exactly are you so concerned about, Mr. Zade?¡±


    His question caught Hogan off guard too, and he quickly looked away, silent. Details were the devil ¡ª it hit me in that second, and


    | realized my tipsy slip¡ªup.


    | was about to rify when Hogan threw another curveball, ¡°What''s the deal with the eptance letter?¡±


    Chapter 88


    1?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s expression stalled for a moment, and he irritably tugged at his cor; then realizing the tie was already gone, he fixed


    his gaze on me, ¡°Ms. March, after all that effort, did Darren agree to invest?¡±


    He was fixated on the idea that my ¡°sweet-talking¡± Darren was all about the cash. But what had got him so worked up?


    ¡°Seems not yet.¡± Hogan deduced from my silence, ¡°So, what¡¯s next? Ms. March nning to pull the same stunt on Darren that


    you did with me?¡±


    Tonight¡¯s Hogan was a bit off his game, more chatty than he''d be in a normal month. And what threw me was that he wasn¡¯t here


    for Cecilia¡¯s sake.


    Facing Hogan¡¯s gaze, | felt an uninvited irritation and blurted out, ¡°What exactly are you so concerned about, Mr. Zade?¡±


    His question caught Hogan off guard too, and he quickly looked away, silent. Details were the devil ¡ª it hit me in that second, and


    | realized my tipsy slip¡ªup.


    | was about to rify when Hogan threw another curveball, ¡°What''s the deal with the eptance letter?¡±

 Chapter 89

    Chapter 89


    Chapter 89


    | finally had that ¡°aha¡± moment. So all those lines he dropped earlier were just a warm-up act. What he was really itching to ask


    me about was this.


    | yed it cool and said, ¡°Well, as Mr. Zade can see, | don¡¯t wanna go, so | just bail.¡±


    As | spoke, | was a bundle of nerves, gripping my car keys like they were a lifeline. shing through my mind was that day |


    handed over my hard¡ªsaved money to the study abroadContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    agency.


    The scrutiny for studying abroad wasn¡¯t ridiculously strict back then, but there was this one non-negotiable: the proof of funds.


    That was the make-or-break part of the application and there was only so much cash I, a student, could scrape together.


    But the kicker was when the agency told me our total savings would barely cut it for just one of


    us to go.


    At the time, | thought, no biggie, with my skills, | could dy it a year or two. It was not like I''d be missing out on much. And


    Hogan needed that break more than | did.


    So | kept my eptance under wraps. | handed over my entire nest egg, that precious ten grand, to Hogan.


    ¡°Why would you keep this from me?¡±


    His voice, demanding and in my face, snapped me back to the present. | forced a smile and said, ¡°Giving up the study


    opportunity was my own call, Mr. Zade. No need to dwell on it. If it really bugs you, just think of it as a fixed deposit at the Bank of


    You, and now you''re just cashing me out.¡±


    ¡°Xaviera!¡±


    His roar startled me, and there was Hogan, looking at me with this incredulous, stormy expression.


    His eyes were storm clouds, his whole vibe screaming danger. | suddenly figured that bringing up money right then was a pretty


    boneheaded move.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± | mustered the sincerest tone I¡¯d use for my cooperative partner.


    ¡°Is that all it is, Xaviera March?¡± He called out my full name again, ¡°Just that?¡±


    For some reason, his question sent a shiver straight to my heart. Being head over heels wasn¡¯t exactly something to brag about.


    | heard myself asking, ¡°Or what?¡±


    Hogan snorted augh, and then headed for the elevator, iming while walking away, ¡°Fine, a fixed deposit it is, then. I''ll pay up


    with top interest, Xaviera. You won¡¯t miss a penny.¡±


    As the elevator doors closed, my legs turned to jelly; and | slumped against the wall like I¡¯d just been deted.


    Chapter 89


    | finally had that ¡°aha¡± moment. So all those lines he dropped earlier were just a warm-up act. What he was really itching to ask


    me about was this.


    | yed it cool and said, ¡°Well, as Mr. Zade can see, | don¡¯t wanna go, so | just bail.¡±


    As | spoke, | was a bundle of nerves, gripping my car keys like they were a lifeline. shing through my mind was that day |


    handed over my hard¡ªsaved money to the study abroad


    agency.


    The scrutiny for studying abroad wasn¡¯t ridiculously strict back then, but there was this one non-negotiable: the proof of funds.


    That was the make-or-break part of the application and there was only so much cash I, a student, could scrape together.


    But the kicker was when the agency told me our total savings would barely cut it for just one of


    us to go.


    At the time, | thought, no biggie, with my skills, | could dy it a year or two. It was not like I''d be missing out on much. And


    Hogan needed that break more than | did.


    So | kept my eptance under wraps. | handed over my entire nest egg, that precious ten grand, to Hogan.


    ¡°Why would you keep this from me?¡±


    His voice, demanding and in my face, snapped me back to the present. | forced a smile and said, ¡°Giving up the study


    opportunity was my own call, Mr. Zade. No need to dwell on it. If it really bugs you, just think of it as a fixed deposit at the Bank of


    You, and now you''re just cashing me out.¡±


    ¡°Xaviera!¡±


    His roar startled me, and there was Hogan, looking at me with this incredulous, stormy expression.


    His eyes were storm clouds, his whole vibe screaming danger. | suddenly figured that bringing up money right then was a pretty


    boneheaded move.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± | mustered the sincerest tone I¡¯d use for my cooperative partner.


    ¡°Is that all it is, Xaviera March?¡± He called out my full name again, ¡°Just that?¡±


    For some reason, his question sent a shiver straight to my heart. Being head over heels wasn¡¯t exactly something to brag about.


    | heard myself asking, ¡°Or what?¡±


    Hogan snorted augh, and then headed for the elevator, iming while walking away, ¡°Fine, a fixed deposit it is, then. I''ll pay up


    with top interest, Xaviera. You won''t miss a penny.*.


    As the elevator doors closed, my legs turned to jelly; and | slumped against the wall like I¡¯d just been deted.


    Chapter 89


    ''d scored another sum of money. | should be thrilled, right? But that night, | couldn¡¯t catch a


    wink of sleep.


    Next morning, | got to the office early and, lo and behold, | bumped into Cecilia at the elevator. The girl had her ponytail tied up


    high, a folder in her hands, looking all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.


    Didn''t look likest night''s drama at the party had fazed her. Seeing me, Cecilia was surprised, ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯re up with the birds


    too?¡±


    Her voice was as sweet as ever. | nodded, ¡°Director Irwin¡¯s an early bird, too.¡±


    ¡°Well, after overhearing your chat with Tack yesterday, | was so embarrassed.¡± Cecilia nced at me shyly and confessed, ¡°So |


    went home and crammed all night to get up to speed with our project.¡±


    | looked up, my gaze skimming over Cecilia''s delicate features, and stayed quiet. Then came her next bombshell, ¡°But you know


    what, Xaviera? Digging into it, | actually stumbled upon a massive bug in our game.¡±

 Chapter 90

    Chapter 90


    Chapter 90


    When Cecilia handed me the three-to-four¡ªpage proposal, | was quite taken aback, to say the


    least.


    Gotta give it to her, the girl had got more hustle than | expected in some areas. The formatting andyout of the proposal did


    have their merits, after all.


    But once | got through the whole thing, | started to lose my cool a bit. Her entire spiel was about the four hunky, romanceable


    lead guys in our game.


    In the proposal, she wrote that the character design was key to users¡® top¡ªup amount, and that the hunks¡® looks were of utmost


    importance.


    And Cecilia, who''d never seen a project through topletion, thought our leading men weren''t up to snuff and suggested a


    total redraw.


    That was her first point.


    | wasn¡¯t exactly shocked by that; beauty was in the eye of the beholder, and she¡¯d pulled simr stunts before, so | could see


    where she wasing from. But her next suggestion blew my mind. She wanted to change one of the leads ¡ª our guy majoring


    in finance, the so-called ¡°tterer¡± ¡ª to a ¡°genius¡± persona.


    From tterer to icy schr, with the new image looking a dead ringer for Hogan.


    ¡°The backstory of a tterer could easily cast a shadow on Hogan¡¯s image.¡± She wrote in her proposal, ¡°It might not reflect well


    on Rainbow Capital¡¯s public image and needs changing.¡±


    She sounded like the missus of Rainbow Capital¡¯s chairman, pretty bossy.


    | closed the proposal gave Cecilia a quick nce, and said, ¡°You''ve certainly done your homework on this, but Director Irwin, if


    you had taken a closer look at our project file, you¡¯d know that Mr. Zade green-lit our concept.¡±


    | was hinting that Hogan didn¡¯t see any issue with our lead¡¯s persona.


    Cecilia¡¯s expression froze for a split second before she said, ¡°Xaviera, originally Hogan was just trying to find a project for me to


    satisfy my school requirements. It was all so sudden, and since you were an old acquaintance, that¡¯s how our coboration came


    about. But,¡±


    Her tone went up a notch as she continued, ¡°he probably never really looked at the project file in detail.¡±


    Her voice was sweet, her big eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement. It didn¡¯t seem like she was picking a fight.


    When she thought it over, what she said wasn¡¯t out of the realm of possibility. And as the game¡¯s nner, now that Cecilia had


    brought up these suggestions, we couldn¡¯t just ignore them.


    Chapter 90


    Even if her ideas seemed like gilding the lily to us, she had Hogan backing her up, which put the intangible pressure on me.


    So | told her, ¡°Director Irwin, if there¡¯s no rush, allow me to discuss this with President Lott


    first.¡±


    Wallis always said that when it came to work, if all else failed, they could always y for time. But Cecilia didn¡¯t seem keen on


    giving me that chance and said with a grin, ¡°Sure thing, Xaviera. I''d love to join in on the discussion, and if needed, | could even


    bring Hogan along.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Hogan, Hogan, always Hogan. It seemed Cecilia was dead set on having us respond to her suggestions ASAP.


    ¡°No worries.¡± | replied smoothly, ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s a busy man, and we can hash this out internally first to spare the bigwigs at Rainbow


    Capital¡¯s board from sweating the small stuff.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Mention of the board softened her stance a bit, and with droopy eyes, she murmured, ¡°Then I''ll follow your lead,


    Xaviera.¡±


    With that, the conversation wrapped up, and | watched the youngdy trudge back to her office, feeling a wave of relief as |


    closed my eyes and exhaled.

 Chapter 91

    Chapter 91


    Chapter 91


    If Hogan got wind of this, wouldn¡¯t he think we were picking on his darling? I¡¯ve got this sneaky feeling something bad was


    brewing.


    Soon, | handed the proposal over to Wallis, who after giving it a read, pursed her lips and said, ¡°I knew it; the dinner issue wasn¡¯t


    going to be that easy to settle.¡±


    | just stared at her, silent. She looked back at me, her slender fingers tapping the desk lightly, and said, ¡°She¡¯s peeved you stole


    the show at the party and now she¡¯s throwing a spanner in


    the works.¡±


    Sticking to the facts | said, ¡°But if you put it in front of Hogan, he might think the girl is just showing some initiative.¡±


    Wallis saw this too and grumbled, ¡°If she had actually gone through the project brief, she¡¯d know the talented character was


    already assigned to the male lead in art. | mean, how can you have two Mr. McDreamys in one game? Isn¡¯t she just messing


    around?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Cecilia wouldn¡¯t bother us with something like ovepping game character images.¡±


    Hearing this, Wallis scratched her head, ¡°We''ve got to give some sort of exnation for this, right?¡±


    We were indeed on the same wavelength.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    ¡°Since you brought it up, | guess you''ve thought of a way to handle it?¡±


    Wallis sure thought highly of me. If we outright rejected Cecilia''s those two suggestions, we might end up her causing a scene


    with Hogan, but if we didn¡¯t deal with it, it looked like we were not taking her seriously as a nning manager. Either way, it was


    a tough spot, quite the pickle.


    ¡°Cecilia probably saw thising.¡± Wallis mused, resting her chin on her hand, ¡°The game¡¯s character design and image were


    set in stone before we even started. She¡¯s overstepping her bounds. To me, it looks like she¡¯s using this as an excuse of


    defending Rainbow Capital¡¯s image to y power games with us.¡±


    Wallis figured Cecilia was too calcting, and made a decision on the spot, ¡°We both know how pivotal character images are to


    the game¡¯s overall storyline. It¡¯s impossible to change them. Otherwise, if word gets out, won''t it look like we, the project leads,


    are being led by the nose by some undergrad?¡±


    | hadn¡¯t thought it through as much as Wallis, but | agreed with her. The issue now was how to tactfullymunicate this


    decision to Cecilia.


    ¡°Let''s stall for a couple of days,¡± Wallis suggested, looking at me, ¡°and see how Cecilia ys it.¡± | didn¡¯t object, but then Wallis


    changed tack and asked, ¡°But Xaviera, did you really get


    Chapter 91


    epted into Elysium University?¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t it look like it?¡±


    Wallis eyed me, puzzled, ¡°I was just wondering, you love programming so much. It was a golden opportunity; how could you just


    let it go?¡±


    The scar on my wrist gave a faint throb, and | said with self-mockery, ¡°Back then, | was probably suffering from a severe case of


    lovesickness.¡±


    ¡°And now?¡± Wallis picked up the thread.


    Now, the sickness was cured.


    We wanted to dy, but Cecilia didn¡¯t give us the chance. Just one dayter, she found me again.


    ¡°Xaviera, how¡¯s the discussion with President Lott going?¡±


    Cool as a cucumber, | said, ¡°Still in progress.¡±


    ¡°Oh, | see,¡± the disappointment in the girl¡¯s voice was palpable.


    All | could do was offer somefort, ¡°Character images in the game are crucial, Director Irwin; we need some time.¡±


    Cecilia smiled, ¡°Then I''ll wait a bit longer.¡±


    | thought | handled it pretty well, but before lunchtime was over, Hogan¡¯s call abruptly came


    through.


    He started off on a sour note, ¡°Ms. March, pleasee to Rainbow Capital with President Lott immediately.¡±


    His tone was all official, but it was clear we were being ordered around. Great, looked like it was probably about that proposal.

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    Chapter 92


    Chapter 92


    Wallis and | hightailed it to the president''s office at Rainbow Capital, only to find out from the secretary that Hogan had left a little


    while ago.


    It was his call that brought us over, and now that we¡¯d arrived, Hogan was ying hide and seek. They could guess the answer


    to that one.


    | didn¡¯t sweat it, but Wallis was fuming. ¡°The big boss of Rainbow Capital going AWOL for Cecilia? Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Why not? I¡¯ve never seen Hogan dote on anyone like this in all these years. Now, what¡¯s got us on edge is figuring out how to


    tackle the hot mess this proposal¡¯s going to bring. Hogan¡¯s no Cecilia when ites to brushing people off.¡±


    Hearing this, Wallis cooled her jets instantly and nced at the female secretary outside the reception, murmuring, ¡°Leave it to


    me.


    Five minutester, she¡¯d sweet-talked the secretary into spilling the beans on Hogan and Cecilia¡¯s whereabouts ¡ª they were at


    thepany cafeteria; probably hadn¡¯t even had lunch yet.


    Wallis suggested we take the bull by the horns.


    ¡°Let''s keep it real and thicken our skins.¡± She advised me, ¡°If pushes to shove, we can pull a Cecilia and y the sympathy


    card.¡±


    That got a chuckle out of me, ¡°You might be game, but it depends on whether Hogan wants to watch the show.¡±


    At the cafeteria, we immediately spotted Hogan and Cecilia sitting opposite each other not far away. Hogan¡¯s back was to us,


    sitting ramrod straight, his face unreadable, while Cecilia¡¯s eyes were rimmed red, her makeup slightly smudged, looking for all


    the world like she¡¯d been totally wronged.


    Not just Hogan, even | felt a tug at the heartstrings. As Wallis and | were about to make our move, Cecilia suddenly picked up a


    piece of bamboo shoot from her te and held it to Hogan¡¯s lips.


    ¡°You must be bored to death listening to me bbering.¡± She cooed sweetly with a sniffle, ¡°Here, have a bamboo shoot as a little


    reward.¡±


    With her tear¡ªstreaked face and that forced smile, it was a picture of trying to stay strong despite being wronged. Who wouldn¡¯t


    feel a twinge of pity at this sight?


    | was sure Hogan would chow down on that bamboo shoot without hesitation, but instead, he signaled the kitchen to add soup to


    Cecilia''s bowl.


    Well, it was a public ce after all. Hogan might not care about his own rep, but he had to consider hers.


    Chapter 92


    Just as Wallis and | were spying on how things might unfold, Cecilia caught sight of us.


    ¡°Xaviera, President Lott, what are you doing here?¡± She asked, puzzled.


    Her voice drew Hogan¡¯s gaze, and the man silently turned, his eyes calmly sizing us up and then his brow furrowed. Clearly, he


    wasn''t thrilled with the unexpectedpany.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, Director Irwin.¡± Wallis said with a grin stered on her face. ¡°We heard you were still dining, and what do you know,


    Ms. March and | haven¡¯t eaten yet either. Mind if we join you two?¡±


    This line caught me off guard. Thinking about the lunch I''d scarfed down earlier, | felt a bit sheepish.


    Cecilia quickly chimed in, ¡°President Lott, you haven¡¯t had lunch yet?¡±


    Wallis turned on the dramatics, ¡°Was about to, but Mr. Zade¡¯s call came and Ms. March and | didn¡¯t dare dawdle ¡ª we came right


    over.¡±


    Cecilia nced curiously at Hogan and whispered, ¡°Why did you...¡±


    Hogan threw us a look, his voice dripping with double meaning, ¡°I¡¯m afraid our Rainbow Capital''s cafeteria might not be up to


    your usual standards.¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    His words immediately shut Wallis up.


    Sure, Hogan could give me the cold shoulder on a regr day, but dissing Wallis in front of the subordinate Cecilia was a bit


    much.


    So, | decided to cut to the chase, pulled out the chair opposite Hogan, and said breezily, ¡°Mr. Zade worries too much. President


    Lott and | are easy to please when ites to food.¡±


    And just like that, the four of us ended up sharing a table. | ordered a couple of vegetable dishes, and picked at them to keep up


    appearances. They were decent, but my appetite was


    MIA.


    Cecilia perked up, ¡°Xaviera, you really should havee earlier. Our chef''s stewed meatballs are to die for. You should try them


    next time.¡±


    Her choice of words was intriguing. ¡°Our chef¡± as in hers and Hogan¡¯s, leaving Wallis and me on the outside.


    Wallis caught that too and quipped back, ¡°With Director Irwin personally inviting us on behalf of Rainbow Capital, how could Ms.


    March and I possibly refuse?¡±


    Cecilia faltered, biting her lip slightly, and said, ¡°President Lott, | didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡±


    As Wallis started to look cross, | went straight to the point, ¡°Mr. Zade was in such a hurry to call us over; there must be some


    instructions you want to make, right?¡±


    Just then, | saw Cecilia¡¯s hand under the table clench noticeably.

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    Chapter 93


    Hogan wiped the corner of his mouth in a leisurely fashion and said, ¡°Ms. March, you''reying it on thick. Afterst night¡¯s dinner,


    the whole scene knows there¡¯s this hotshot software engineer named Xaviera who''s caught Tack¡¯s eye. I¡¯m just an investor, who


    am | to give instructions?¡±


    His voice was steady, t as a pancake with not a ripple in sight, but every word was dripping with sarcasm.


    ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s just kidding around.¡± | said with a canned smile, ¡°It¡¯s all smoke and mirrors. You are the real deal here. Don¡¯t you


    worry; Rainbow Capital will always be our knight in shining. armor.¡±


    | could y the bureaucrat too, no biggle.


    Hogan, seemingly caught off guard by my ready response, snorted coldly and said, ¡°But Ms. March, you talk a good game, but


    your actions are not so much.¡±


    ¡°What are you getting at, Mr. Zade?¡±


    ¡°Why y dumb, Ms. March?¡± Hogan called me out, his eyes questioning.


    | wasn¡¯t about to beat around the bush. | got serious and said, ¡°Mr. Zade, we never intended to give you and Director Irwin the


    brush-off, but changing character designs and image on a whim. isn¡¯t the way to go.¡±


    Hogan looked up and said, ¡°So making the lead in finance the ultimate ¡®tterer¡¯ is the way to go?¡±


    | was left speechless. Of course, | wouldn¡¯t admit to Hogan that there might have been a touch of personal vendetta in that


    character design, but as of today, we were all business, discussing the matter at hand.


    Wallis, picking up on Hogan¡¯s displeasure, tried to smooth things over, ¡°Mr. Zade has a big heart; surely you don¡¯t think we''re


    taking a dig at you, right?¡±


    Hogan kept his gaze fixed on me and said, ¡°Ms. March seems to have a real issue with this character.¡±


    Suddenly, rm bells went off in my head, ¡°Do I?¡±


    ¡°A character who''s been chasing after someone for years without sess, still persistent. Heh, if you were him, would you do


    that, Ms. March?¡±


    | choked up again. Would | do it? The answer was as clear as day in Hogan¡¯s eyes.


    felt like Hogan was settling personal scores. But he kept pressing on, ¡°This setup is so unrealistic. After all, nobody waits around


    forever.¡±


    That was a bit harsh. Cecilia just wanted to tweak the game¡¯s lead character, and Hogan, he


    Chapter 93


    was branding it as a flight from reality. But it did fit his cool and collected persona.


    | patiently exined. ¡°Mr. Zade, it¡¯s precisely because this doesn¡¯t exist in reality that we want to fulfill yers¡® fantasies in the


    game.¡±


    ¡°Fantasies.¡± Hogan repeated the word, saying with a sneer, ¡°Ms. March sure knows what theN?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    users want.¡±


    Staring at the disdain in Hogan¡¯s eyes, | was at a loss for words again.


    Wallis chimed in, trying to be the peacemaker, ¡°Hear that? Mr. Zade¡¯s giving us props for our skills.¡±


    Talking out of his hat, | only took my hat off to Wallis. Yet Hogan still had his eyes on me, ¡°Ms. March, all this hard work, gotta


    say, I''m impressed.¡±


    That didn¡¯t sound like a veto. Cecilia, too, caught the drift, and her face turning red and pale by turns, timidly said, ¡°Mr. Zade,


    Xaviera, I¡¯m sorry; the proposal was ill-considered, an


    unnecessary move.¡±


    She bit her lip after speaking, looking like she was holding back tears, like they were about to burst out any second.


    Hogan noticed and softened his tone, ¡°You''ve done well already. For instance, the character design, it¡¯s as rough as you said.¡±


    At that, both Wallis and | were taken aback. | suddenly had a bad feeling.


    Next thing | knew, Hogan said, ¡°Let¡¯s redefine the lead character''s artwork. Bring in a famous artist to do the job.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zade?¡± | was caught off guard.


    We never doubted Candy¡¯s artistry, but look, Hogan, in just a few words, dismissed all her hard work.


    ¡°How about FreeMan?¡± Hogan cut me off, his gaze falling on Cecilia, asking in an indulgent tone, ¡°You¡¯ve always admired his


    work, haven''t you?¡±


    Aglimmer of joy shed across Cecilia¡¯s gloomy face, ¡°I do like his work, but FreeMan, he¡¯s surely hard to get, right?¡±


    My heart skipped a beat. FreeMan, that elusive genius among concept artists in games, a mystery rarely seen, let alone


    approached by us mere mortals.


    And to this day, no one had even seen his true face. Where were we supposed to find him? But then | heard Hogan say, ¡°Ms.


    March, that won''t be a problem, right?¡±

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    Chapter 94


    Hogan wasn¡¯t really asking for our opinion; he was totally bossing us around again. The only reason he¡¯d made this decision was


    because Cecilia herself was head over heels for the work of the illustrious FreeMan.


    But then again, in the realm of concept artists, | bet there was hardly anyone who didn¡¯t dig FreeMan¡¯s work. His style was


    lifelike, unique, and the colors popped. He was already miles. ahead of the pack in the scene, and what¡¯s more, a lot of times he


    was all about that traditional hand¡ªdrawing.


    Talked about a real challenge for any artist. But the more talented he was, the more likely he was to be entric. That was why


    since his debut, FreeMan had never shown up for an interview, nor had he ever been seen in the media.


    Mr. Mystery, that was what he was.


    ¡°Ms. March.¡± Hogan didn¡¯t give a hoot about my exnations; he just tly said, ¡°If it was easy peasy, why would | even bother


    bringing it up to you?¡±


    So, yeah, changing his mind was a no-go.


    Then Cecilia, ever the empathetic one, said, ¡°Hogan, Xaviera does have a point. Getting an concept artist of FreeMan¡¯s caliber is


    super tricky. I¡¯m a huge fan, but | don¡¯t want to make things tough for Xaviera and President Lott.¡±


    She batted those big, pretty eyes while she said it, oozing this ¡°who, me?¡± innocence.


    Seeing this, Wallis chimed in, ¡°Director Irwin¡¯s got the touch, always considerate. Aside from the fact that no one has ever seen


    FreeMan¡¯s real face, just his status alone is way out of our league.¡±


    Wallis always had a knack for keeping it real.


    A few years back, one of FreeMan¡¯s original pieces already fetched five figures. These past couple of years, after a few cobs


    with film studios for some famously iconic posters, his stock has soared even higher.


    ¡°No worries, money isn¡¯t the issue.¡± Hogan replied crisply, his gaze tenderly falling on Cecilia, ¡°As long as you guys can actually


    get him here.¡±


    ¡°Hogan.¡± Cecilia murmured shyly, looking down, bashful, ¡°I¡¯m at a loss for words.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s see how Ms. March and President Lott do.¡± Hogan said, standing up and dropping the hammer, ¡°I trust you two won''t


    disappoint me, yeah?¡±


    He dropped that bomb and walked off with Cecilia, leaving me and Wallis just standing there with our jaws on the floor.


    We left Rainbow Capital with our tails between our legs. That meal was nothing short of a rollerText ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    coaster.


    Chapter 94


    Neither Wallis nor | could have guessed that Hogan would throw such a curveball at us. Ironically, | heard that another big-name


    software developmentpany that got Tack¡¯s business card atst night¡¯s dinner had tried tomission FreeMan through a


    middleman not too long ago. But the agent just brushed them off with ¡°FreeMan¡¯s job has been arranged till early next summer¡±


    and that was that.


    How the heck were we supposed to chew on this tough bone?


    ¡°Don''t you get it?¡± Wallis gripped the steering wheel, fuming, ¡°That sly old fox Hogan probably saw thising a mile away. But


    he couldn¡¯t let us push Cecilia around, so he threw us this impossible task on purpose.¡±


    Turned out, he was so protective of her.


    ¡°And don''t forget,st time Candy went head-to-head with Cecilia.¡± Wallis recalled with a sigh, ¡°If FreeMan really shows up,


    how¡¯s she gonna handle it?¡±


    | hadn¡¯t thought that through; knowing Candy¡¯s fiery temper, she was not one to swallow her pride.


    Wallis let out a wry chuckle, saying, ¡°We''ve underestimated Cecilia; that¡¯s for sure.¡±


    | looked at Wallis, puzzled, and after a brief silence, said incredulously, ¡°Are you suggesting that Cecilia intentionally brought up


    FreeMan to Hogan?¡±


    ¡°What else?¡±


    | was taken aback. If Wallis was right, then thepany was in for a rocky ride.


    As sharp as Hogan was, he must''ve seen right through Cecilia¡¯s little scheme. But the decision was his. He really did keep her


    under close watch.


    ¡°About the cooperation with FreeMan, if we somehow manage to get in touch with FreeMan and pull off a coboration, we''re


    just doing our job. But if we fail, this thing could drag on forever.¡±


    ¡°Killing three birds with one stone.¡± Wallis scoffed and said, ¡°Xaviera, we''ve really stepped in it this time.¡±


    Whether Wallis¡® analysis hit the mark or not, one thing was crystal clear ¡ª if we couldn''t find FreeMan, we were gonna be in deep


    trouble.

 Chapter 95

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    Chapter 95


    After chatting with Wallis, we decided to split up and tackle different fronts. She took on the task of negotiating with Candy, since


    she had been busting her chops over designing the protagonist¡¯s look. To have her work totally nixed might just be too much for


    her to swallow on the fly.


    As for me, | was on the hunt to connect with the agent of the legendary concept artist. If | could just score a face-to-face with


    this man, we''d be halfway to victory.


    But as a small-time gamingpany, were we even a blip on FreeMan¡¯s radar? | was all


    nerves.


    A dayter, thanks to some insider friends, | snagged the contact details for FreeMan¡¯s agent and set up a meeting for the


    afternoon.


    The guy was Morgan, a smooth-talking middle-aged fe in his thirties; the meeting ce was at an art studio he ran himself.


    He was pretty decent when we met, and didn¡¯t give me the cold shoulder or anything. Just handed me a form and said, ¡°If Ms.


    March doesn¡¯t mind, please fill out this intention to coborate form.¡±


    Well, that was a first for me. But hey, FreeMan was a big shot, so a bit of ir was to be expected.


    One part of the form was particrly interesting ¡ª the original reason for wanting to coborate.


    Morgan exined, ¡°Everyone knows FreeMan¡¯s got a bit of a temper; just jot down whatever, Ms. March.¡±


    But | knew better than to just jot down any old thing. Given FreeMan¡¯s status, this form was clearly a test, a hurdle to see if | was


    worthy. | bet as soon as | left, Morgan would hand it straight to FreeMan.


    It was like a written exam. After mulling it over, | put down my honest-to¡ªgoodness reason ¡ª it was a matter of life and death.


    Morgan did a double-take at that and chuckled, ¡°Ms. March has much more the sense of humor than expected.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Hogan, I''m not joking.¡± | said earnestly, gripping my wristband, ¡°Our project needs FreeMan, no two ways about it.¡±


    | owed Hogan that much.


    After the meeting, | left with a head full of worries, and then my phone rang. It was Zora.


    ¡°Xaviera, you bettere back quick.¡± Zora¡¯s panicked voice came through, ¡°Candy heard through the grapevine that Director


    Irwin is looking to rece her with a new concept artist,


    1/2


    10:35


    Chapter 95


    and she¡¯s gonna settle the scores.¡±


    My heart started pounding, and | asked, ¡°Where are they now?¡±


    ¡°Director Irwin went out for afternoon tea, and Candy¡¯s gone after her.¡± Zora spilled the beans, ¡°But | didn¡¯t tell her where.


    Xaviera, President Lott is out; you¡¯re the only one who can calm Candy down.¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    My head was spinning. | hung up and tried calling Candy, but her line was busy. | floored it to Cecilia¡¯s favorite coffee shop. And,


    bingo, both Cecilia and Candy were there, clearly at each other¡¯s throats.


    Just as | was about to step in and y peacemaker, Candy unceremoniously chucked her mug of coffee right at Cecilia.


    ¡°I call you ¡®Director Irwin¡® out of respect, but who are you trying to unt here?¡±


    Candy was red in the face, obviously livid. | rushed over, signaling for the waiter to bring over some napkins while | urged,


    ¡°Candy, apologize to Director Irwin, now.¡±


    Candy, not expecting me to show, curled her fingers and stood her ground, ¡°She started it; | did nothing wrong.¡±


    | looked at Cecilia, surprised, only to see her looking downcast and aggrieved, with a ssh of coffee staining her chest, hardly


    the instigator.


    ¡°Candy, I¡¯m just thinking about the project.¡± Cecilia piped up softly, sounding utterly defeated, ¡°Xaviera agreed too, right?¡±


    | was at a loss for words. But Candy wasn¡¯t having any of it. She red at Cecilia and used, ¡°You hypocrite, don¡¯t think | don¡¯t


    know it¡¯s you, Cecilia, stirring the pot!¡±


    Right then, tears started streaming down Cecilia¡¯s face as she sobbed, ¡°Xaviera, you heard all that, right?¡±


    Before | could respond, a stern voice cut in, ¡°What on earth is going on here?¡±


    | spun around, rmed, to find Hogan and Zachary standing at the door. But why on earth. would he show up at a time like this?

 Chapter 96

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    Chapter 96


    Hogan didn¡¯t waste a second before he draped his coat over Cecilia. When his gaze flitted across me and Candy, it was like he


    dipped it in venom. He was clearly ticked off.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, | have some spare clothes in my office, do you want...¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Hogan cut me off with an icy tone and ordered Zachary, ¡°Call the cops, now.¡±


    When | heard the words ¡°call the cops¡°, | was caught in a brief moment of shock and quickly interjected, ¡°Mr. Zade, there¡¯s been


    a misunderstanding, | can exin everything to you and Director Irwin.¡±


    After saying that, | shot a pleading look at Cecilia, only to see her crying up a storm, sobbing and choking out. ¡°Hogan, I¡¯m fine,


    really. It¡¯s just that | misspoke and ticked off the colleague.¡±


    Following this exnation, Hogan¡¯s face darkened as heforted her. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m here.¡±


    He then shot Zachary a look. Zachary, clearly in a tight spot, hesitated before pulling out his phone.


    ¡°Mr. Zade.¡± | was getting a bit desperate, considering Candy was still pretty green behind the ears. At her age, getting hauled to


    the station was definitely not a good look, ¡°Please.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    ¡°If she¡¯s done something wrong, she¡¯s got to face the music.¡± Hogan interrupted me with his no-nonsense demeanor, ¡°We''ll sort


    this out at the station.¡±


    With that, he whisked Cecilia off to the break room, not an ounce of mercy.


    Half an hourter, our group was escorted to the police station. The head of Rainbow Capital''s legal department also rushed


    over, looking all flustered.


    After giving our statements, a kind-hearted officer reminded us. ¡°The other party¡¯swyer pointed out the coffee was scalding


    hot, not ruling out the possibility of deliberate bodily harm.¡±


    My forehead knitted in worry, | asked, ¡°Are you saying they might push for criminal charges?¡±


    The officer gave me a meaningful look and nced at Candy, saying, ¡°Since you¡¯re colleagues, | suggest you settle this privately,


    and you better be sincere about it.¡±


    The message was crystal clear: Hogan was aiming to hold Candy criminally responsible. With Rainbow Capital''s resources,


    nitpicking would be a piece of cake.


    Candy probably never anticipated her impulsive act could snowball into this mess. At that moment, she waspletely shell¡ª


    shocked.


    | tried tofort her. ¡°It¡¯s never okay tosh out at someone, Candy. You¡¯ve definitely messed up this time.¡±


    ¡°But Xaviera, Cecilia shouldn¡¯t have called the character model | designed trash.¡± Candy''s eyes


    13:30


    Chapter 96


    welled up. ¡°You know, my work is my treasure, and | won¡¯t stand for any nder!¡±


    | was taken aback ¡ª sweet-natured Cecilia said that?


    ¡°Hold on. I''ll go talk to Mr. Zade and Director Irwin.¡±


    Sure, Candy needed to learn her lesson, but not to the extent of facing criminal charges. Getting tagged with a rap like that could


    ruin a young person¡¯s future.


    But when | went to smooth things over with Hogan, | found out he and Cecilia had already left the station.


    Thewyer told me, ¡°The youngdy was a bit shaken up, still quite emotional. Mr. Zade didn¡¯t feelfortable leaving her, so


    he took her home.¡±


    Thewyer also mentioned that Hogan had made it clear before he left: this matter was not up for discussion.


    After much thought, | had no choice but to call Cecilia.


    ¡°Director Irwin, Candy realizes her mistake. She''ll apologize to you in person first thing tomorrow. Can you please talk to Mr.


    Zade about settling this privately?¡±


    Silence fell on the other end of the line, and after a moment, | heard Cecilia ask, ¡°Xaviera, if you were the one who had coffee


    thrown in your face today, would you be so forgiving and let it go easily?¡±


    Suddenly, | was at a loss for words; feeling guilty, | muttered, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°You''ve done nothing wrong, Xaviera. Why apologize to me?¡± There was a hint of displeasure in Cecilia¡¯s voice as she said, ¡°At


    the end of the day, you and President Lott, you''ve never really seen me as one of your own.¡±

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    just found out that Cecilia was the one who saw things most clearly. Seeing that | kept mum, Cecilia piped up again, ¡°Xaviera,


    you don¡¯t need to try to talk me out of it. The decision to sue was Hogan''s call; sorry, my hands are tied.¡±


    After she said her piece, she hung up on me, not giving me a chance to smooth things over.


    Wallis¡® words from before suddenly popped into my head, and anxiety washed over me. | figured, if reaching out to make peace


    didn¡¯t work, then we betterwyer up, just in case.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Wallis and | only knew twowyers who handled civil cases, but as soon as they heard thewsuit was from the legal department


    of Rainbow Capital, they bolted.


    Wallis was stomping mad, ¡°Look at them, all wussy.¡±


    | got it; nobody wanted to shoot themselves in the foot for no good reason.


    Upon learning this news from who knew where, Darren showed up at our studio with a criminalwyer in tow.


    Wallis and | were super grateful, and we listened to thewyer''s advice, ¡°It¡¯s all about the evidence. The caf¨¦¡¯s surveince


    wasn¡¯t clear enough to capture the whole story, but my opinion is, you can talk to the staff on duty that day to get the lowdown.¡±


    That helped Wallis and me start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Before sunset, Darren and I, with the staff''s recording in


    hand, got Cecilia to meet us.


    The girl looked surprised to see me and Darren, asking, ¡°Xaviera, you looking for me?¡±


    Darren and | exchanged a look and handed the recording to Cecilia, saying, ¡°Director Irwin, here¡¯s a recording of one of the caf¨¦


    staff; have a listen.¡±


    At that, Cecilia¡¯s face went white as a sheet, ¡°What recording?¡±


    | patiently exined, ¡°A staff member mentioned that before Candy spilled coffee on you, there was a bit of a tiff.¡±


    ¡°R-Really?¡± Cecilia curled her fingers nervously, stumbling over her words, ¡°Xaviera, after our talkst night, | thought it through,


    and honestly, it¡¯s not as serious as thewyers make it out to be, right?¡±


    Darren and | exchanged another look, and he asked, ¡°So what are you suggesting, Ms. Irwin?¡±


    Cecilia nced at me and said, ¡°I''ll talk Hogan out of thewsuit.¡±


    Only then did | breathe a sigh of relief.


    Then | heard Cecilia ask, ¡°And this recording?¡±


    Little did she know, the recorder was just filled with some banal chit-chat we had with the caf¨¦ staff member. The staff nowadays


    were no fools; they didn¡¯t want to stir up trouble.


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    But she had already shown her hand. So, it wasn¡¯t hard for Darren and me to put two and two together that the provocation


    Candy spoke of might''ve really happened.


    ¡°Ms. Irwin.¡± Darren sipped his coffee, calmly saying, ¡°We''ll, of course, destroy the recording, but we''ll leave thewsuit to you.¡±


    Cecilia looked at me timidly, nervously saying, ¡°I-I understand.¡±


    She always looked so fragile, and now with this cautious vibe, she indeed seemed like she¡¯d been wronged.


    But at least the oue wasn¡¯t too shabby.


    ¡°Hogan, what are you doing here?¡±


    The question hit my ears, and following Cecilia¡¯s gaze, Darren and | saw Hogan standing just a few steps away.


    The man came over with furrowed brows and a serious look. He silently gave me a once-over, his gaze sliding past Darren, and


    scoffed, ¡°What, you knew you couldn¡¯t get through to me, so you brought backup to gang up on her?¡±

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    Hogan¡¯s sudden appearance caught me off guard. And, he dropped the words ¡°gang up on*.


    Looking at how things had panned out, sneaking around to meet Cecilia in private did smell a bit fishy. Not to mention, Darren


    and | have set up a little recording pen trap for the youngdy. Keeping this from Cecilia was one thing, but pulling the wool over


    Hogan¡¯s eyes? That was gonna be tough.


    In a sh, my heart was hanging by a thread. Thankfully, Cecilia yed it cool and smoothed things over, saying, ¡°Hogan, you¡¯ve


    got it all wrong. My little get-together with Xaviera was just for fun, really enjoyable.¡±


    She was still wet behind the ears, though; one could tell her fibbing wasn¡¯t quite natural.


    Hogan caught on quick. He sat down beside Cecilia, his gaze flicking over the recording pen on the table, and asked, ¡°What''s


    this?¡±


    ¡°A gift.¡± Cecilia jumped in before Darren and | could respond, exining, ¡°A gift from Xaviera.¡±


    After saying that, she looked at me with puppy eyes. | had no choice but to go along with her story, ¡°Director Irwin has been with


    thepany for a while now. She deserves some award.¡±


    No sooner had | finished than Hogan chimed in with a sarcastic tone, ¡°Ms. March, what perfect timing for a gift.¡±


    Hogan wasn¡¯t wrong with his sarcasm. Giving a gift amid the drama with Candy, the intention was clear as day.


    But | couldn¡¯t spill the beans about the real purpose of the recording pen to Hogan, so | had to y along with the mistake.


    t


    ¡°Hogan, you really got the wrong idea about Xaviera.¡± Cecilia¡¯s sweet voice filled my ears as she snuggled up to Hogan and


    cooed, ¡°But you know, I¡¯ve thought it over, and | realize I¡¯ve had my share of slip¡ªups with Candy too.¡±


    She paused, then resolved, ¡°After all, she¡¯s a colleague of mine and Xaviera¡¯s. How about we let bygones be bygones?¡±


    Cecilia yed the magnanimous card to the hilt, suggesting they bury the hatchet.


    Hogan gave Cecilia a deep look, then nced at me and said, ¡°Last time you let it slide without making a fuss, but look, some


    people just push their luck.¡±


    He was referring to the time Candy bad¡ªmouthed Cecilia in front of me. Clearly, he wasn¡¯t ready to turn the page.


    ¡°Hogan.¡± Darren finally spoke up, earnestly saying, ¡°Candy¡¯s young and reckless, and sure, she¡¯s under Xaviera and Ms. Irwin¡¯s


    wing. But dragging this to court won''t do any good for either of them; don¡¯t you think?¡±


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    At that, Hogan let out a scoff, his eyesnding on Darren¡¯s face as he shot back, ¡°Professor Yearwood, are you trying to teach


    me how to handle my business?¡±


    The air went stiff in an instant, tension skyrocketing.


    | didn¡¯t expect Hogan to be so unforgiving when it came to defending Cecilia, and quickly tried to defuse the situation, ¡°Mr.


    Zade¡¯s got it wrong. Darren was just trying to pour oil on troubled waters, he didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Cold aura exuding from Hogan, he cut me off gloomily, ¡°Ms. March seems to have Professor Yearwood all figured out.¡±


    Suddenly, | was at a loss for words.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Hogan and Darren, while not best buddies, had both been part of N University¡¯s student council and knew each other. Hogan


    snapping at me was one thing, but taking it out on him seemed


    unnecessary.


    But Darren wasn¡¯t upset, instead exining. ¡°Hogan, you know that¡¯s not what | meant.¡±


    ¡°She spills coffee on Cecilia today; she could be dumping trash on me tomorrow.¡± Hogan said sharply, ¡°You said she¡¯s young, but


    she¡¯s an adult, isn¡¯t she? Why should | coddle her?¡±


    At this point, it became clear to me that deep down, Hogan was still hung up on Candy ¡°bullying¡± Cecilia.


    He doted on her, blind to the other side of the story. Even if Cecilia had already pleaded for peace, all he could see was her


    kindness and generosity.


    When | realized this, a chill ran through me, and | earnestly asked, ¡°Mr. Zade, is there really no room for negotiation here?¡±


    Hogan nced at me his decision final, ¡°Yes, haven''t you already found awyer, Ms. March? Then | guess I''ll see you in court.¡±

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    After he finished speaking, he took Cecilia and left; even his retreating figure screamed ¡°cold


    fish".


    | never expected we¡¯d end up at each other¡¯s throats, ready to duke it out in court. And | was totally blindsided by the fact that


    Hogan had his ear to the ground about us secretly chatting upwyers.


    ¡°We can¡¯t rush these things.¡± Darrenforted me before we parted ways, ¡°I''ll dig a little deeper on my end and hit you up when


    I''ve got something.¡±


    Thinking back to the way Hogan was all up in Darren¡¯s grill at the dinner table, | diplomatically said. ¡°You''ve helped us a lot. I''ll


    handle the rest on my own.¡±


    Darren did a double-take, hesitated for a hot second, and then said, ¡°Sure, it¡¯s your call.¡±


    After seeing Darren off, night had just started to light up the town, and before long, Wallis was on the horn with me.


    ¡°Come scoop me up at the Bluebell Bistro & Bar.¡± Her voice was all stumbly¡ªbumbly, clearly liquored up, ¡°It¡¯s an emergency.¡±


    | didn¡¯t drag my feet; hit the gas and bee¡ªlined there. Busting through the door, Lsaw her, one woman hemmed in by three or


    four dudes, and my heart just went out to her.


    | had to knock back three drinks before | could get her out.


    Once we hit the parking garage, Wallis dropped her act and started griping, ¡°If | wasn¡¯t fishing for info on that FreeMan, | wouldn¡¯t


    bother shooting the breeze with those clowns. And you, | said | could handle my liquor, why¡¯d you start chugging?¡±


    It didn¡¯t sit right with me, ¡°Next time you''re in a tight spot like that, you''re bringing me along.¡±


    Wallis caught my drift, scooted over, threw an arm around me and said, ¡°Chill, | can take a little booze. What''s lit is, | snagged


    the intel on FreeMan.¡±


    She said that in two days, FreeMan would be making a low-key appearance at an uing fan meet-and-greet.


    That was like manna from heaven for us. | really didn¡¯t want to drag Candy into anything that would bum her out.


    After dropping Wallis off at her ce, | chewed it over and decided we absolutely couldn¡¯t let Candy¡¯s thing blow up into a


    courtroom circus.


    Looked like groveling to Hogan was my only y. Wallis put her neck on the line for thepany, so my pride wasn¡¯t worth


    squat.


    When the cab pulled up at Rainbow Capital, night had already thrown its cloak over the city. | took a deep breath and stepped


    into the building. But then | got stopped by a security guard on


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    duty.


    ¡°I''ve got a meeting with Mr. Zade.¡± | bluffed with a straight face, ¡°My phone¡¯s dead. Could you pass the message?¡±


    The guard gave me the side¡ªeye, half buying it.


    Desperate times, | went all in, ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. Mr. Zade and | go way back; he won¡¯t hang you out to dry.¡±


    Right as | finished, the guard suddenly snapped to attention and bowed towards someone behind me, ¡°Mr. Zade.¡±


    | spun around and wanted to crawl into a hole. There stood Hogan and Zachary, just a stone¡¯s throw away.


    Judging by Hogan¡¯s stiff expression, he¡¯d caught my little chat with the guard.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Mr. Zade.¡±


    Not wanting to be cklisted by Rainbow Capital¡¯s security detail, | forced a smile and cut in, ¡°Mr. Zade, you''re finally back. I''ve


    been waiting for ages.¡±


    Maybe it was the booze talking, but my voice came out softer than usual, sounding a tad ingratiating and eager to please.


    Hogan seemed to sniff that out, his frown deepening by a degree, his tone unfriendly, ¡°You¡¯ve been drinking?¡±


    He didn¡¯t shoo me away though. | nodded, pinched myself, and thickened my skin to ask, ¡°I¡¯m a bit dizzy; could | trouble Mr.


    Zade for a cup of tea?¡±


    At this, the man¡¯s eyes flickered with scorn, and after a snort, he strode towards the elevator, not sparing me an extra line.


    In a heartbeat, | felt like | was dropped into an ice bath, my heart sinking. Clever as Hogan was, he could see right through my


    little ploy.


    But | was no Cecilia, not worthy of even a shred of his pity. It had been true then, and it was true


    now.


    Just as | was about to leave, Zachary¡¯s voice unexpectedly reached my ears, ¡°Xaviera, don¡¯t just stand there; the elevator¡¯s


    almost here.¡±

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    Chapter 100


    | trailed behind Hogan and Zachary, tiptoeing into the CEO¡¯s office with butterflies in my stomach.


    ¡°Hey, would ck tea be okay?¡±


    | nced at Hogan as he was taking off his suit jacket and gave a small nod.


    Momentster, in the vast CEO¡¯s office, it was just Hogan and me. The man sat in his ck shirt at his desk, his long, slender


    fingers flipping through documents, a face already serious now etched with deep concentration, as if | didn¡¯t exist.


    He was obviously giving me the cold shoulder. But | wasn¡¯t in a rush. When people were asking for a favor, they''d got to y the


    part, right?


    So | picked up a business magazine from the coffee table and started reading patiently. However, before | could even finish the


    table of contents, Hogan spoke up, ¡°Ms. March seems to be quite at ease.¡±


    He said this without looking up from his documents, his tone casual but dripping with sarcasm. To be precise, this was the


    second time I¡¯d seen him tonight, and both times he¡¯d spoken with this weird, sarcastic twist.


    | was used to his antics. Closing the magazine, | spoke softly, ¡°Mr. Zade, there¡¯s something | feel | need to rify with you.¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t respond, which usually meant | could continue.


    ¡°Reaching out to Director Irwin privately was out of line, | admit, but | had no intention of making things difficult for her.¡± | paused


    for a breath before continuing, ¡°Also, contacting awyer wasn¡¯t to go against Rainbow Capital, but rather...¡±


    ¡°Not so?¡± Hogan suddenly cut me off, ¡°Yet I''ve heard you went out of your way to find awyer specializing in criminal cases.¡±


    He put deliberate emphasis on ¡°out of your way*.


    Confronted with his piercing gaze, | had no choice but to swallow my pride and say, ¡°It¡¯s our fault.¡±


    ¡°Whye to me?¡± Hogan nced at me with disdain, ¡°Don¡¯t you already have thepetent Professor Yearwood on your


    side?¡±


    Mentioning Darren left me momentarily speechless. After all, Darren meant well.


    ¡°Hah, one minute you¡¯re talking settlement in front of thewyer, the next you¡¯re busy scouting for one.¡± Hogan sneered, ¡°Is this


    how you always y the field, Ms. March?¡±


    He practically gritted his teeth over the words ¡°y the field".


    Of course, | couldn¡¯t tell him that our rush to find awyer was only because Cecilia had taken


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    such a firm stance, so | softened my tone. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Zade. Our biggest mistake was imagining you as someone who is


    petty. But now that I think about it, you¡¯ve always been so magnanimous. Why would you stoop to our level?¡±


    Normally, | wouldn¡¯t be caught dead saying something like that, but desperate times and a bit of liquid courage made the ttery


    flow easily.


    Hogan probably didn¡¯t expect me to butter him up like that. He was silent for a couple of seconds before awkwardly averting his


    gaze back to his documents and saying lightly. ¡°Xaviera, | never realized before how slick you are with words.¡±


    His tone was light, as if he wasn¡¯t put off by it. | decided to strike while the iron was hot, ¡°Just speaking from the heart, telling it


    like itis.¡±


    ¡°Ahem.¡± Hogan cleared his throat and pressed the phone on his desk, asking, ¡°What¡¯s taking you so long to make a cup of tea,


    huh?¡±


    Great, he didn¡¯t want to continue our conversation.


    Shortly after, Zachary came in with the tea, ¡°Xaviera, your ck tea.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    | immediately stood up to take it, but suddenly felt a weight on the back of my head, and my hands started to fail me. With a


    whoosh, the cup of tea spilled onto my chest.


    ¡°Watch out!¡±


    The warning came with the sharp pain of scalding hot tea hitting my skin.


    ¡°Are you okay? Does it hurt?¡±


    The man¡¯s anxious voice was right next to my ear. | looked up to see his distinct knuckles reaching towards my cor, starting to


    undo my buttons.


    | tried to stop him, but ended up touching the warmth of his palm. My heart skipped a beat at the brief touch.


    The next second, as | tried to pull my hand away, Hogan held it tightly.

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    ¡°You can go now.¡±


    Hismand buzzed in my ears, and in the blink of an eye, | felt a sudden tug around my waist and was yanked into Hogan¡¯s


    arms.


    That familiar scent of soap wreaked havoc on my nostrils, sending my heartbeat into overdrive. | looked up, puzzled, only to see


    the mes of desire igniting in the depths of his eyes.


    Was | seeing things? Just a second ago, Hogan was ready to kick me to the curb.


    | took a step back, politely declining, ¡°Thanks, I¡¯m good.¡±


    But my retreat only prompted Hogan to close in more aggressively. It was a game of push and pull until my feet hit the couch ¡ª


    nowhere left to run.


    The man before me exuded an inexplicable sense of invasion, staring me down intensely. We were so close that | could clearly


    see his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, | think | should,¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t let me finish, cutting me off with a kiss. He devoured me fiercely, prying my lips apart, his eagerness fanning the


    mes of my dormant instincts.


    Probably on the booze, but at that second, the word ¡°craving¡± popped into my head. My sense slowly drowned in the heat of his


    kiss.


    It was absurd and yet so very real. But then, | felt his fingers tracing over my wrist, and my crumbling sanity snapped back. |


    turned my face away, my expression one of disgust.


    Hogan caught on to this change, his body stiffening against me. The moment of intimacy was lost, leaving nothing but


    awkwardness and a standoff between us.


    After a moment, | heard Hogan ask, ¡°Is that bracelet really that important to you?¡±


    If | wasn¡¯t mistaken, he had been trying to rip it off just now. At the thought of the hideous scar it hid, a pang of pain echoed in my


    chest.


    ¡°Speak up.¡± His tone grew heavier, his irritation palpable, ¡°Xaviera March, is that trinket Darren gave you so precious that you


    can¡¯t bear to take it off even when we''re getting cozy?¡±


    | met Hogan¡¯s gaze in disbelief, his eyes red at the edges, dark pupils brimming with


    resentment. The pain of my wound morphed into a dagger, stabbing me fiercely.


    Itd been two years, and the wound should have be better by now; even if it lost some beauty, it¡¯d somehow healed now,


    right?


    So why did my heart still hurt so much at this moment? Oh, Hogan, if only you took a closer look at the pattern on the bracelet,


    you wouldn¡¯t be saying such things.


    After a few seconds of standoff, his lips barely moved as he uttered one word, ¡°Scram.¡±


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    Instantly, my nose tingled, tears spilling uncontrobly. Xaviera, you said after that day you wouldn¡¯t shed another tear for this


    man. So why were you falling apart now?


    Looked like I¡¯ve botched things up. First thing next morning at the office, | called mywyer to discuss our next steps.


    If making peace wasn¡¯t an option, we¡¯d have to talk sense. Hanging up, | turned around to see Cecilia standing at the door.


    She looked at me, astonished, ¡°Xaviera, are you really gonna sue Hogan?¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    | found it both funny and annoying at the same time. Yeah, | was going to sue Hogan, but the person who started this whole


    mess was now looking at me with a face full of innocence.


    ¡°What else can | do?¡±


    ¡°Don''t rush, Xaviera. I¡¯ve got an idea.¡± Cecilia¡¯s lips curled into a smile, ¡°Tonight, I''ve booked a private room at Aurora Eats for


    me and Hogan. |¡¯ll send the details to your pher. Youe with Professor Yearwood, pretend it¡¯s a chance encounter,


    then we all sit down and have a proper chat, okay?¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s unexpected proposal caught me off guard. But then she added, ¡°Tonight''s our hundred¡ªday of being together.¡±

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    Hundred¡ªday. | chew over this phrase, and when | thought back to that guy¡¯s lust-filled eyesst night, it was like | suddenly bit


    into an unripe olive nothing but bitterness in my mouth.


    | honestly thought that someone like Hogan, who was so busy he didn¡¯t know whether he wasing or going and always so


    frigid and serious, wouldn¡¯t remember these ¡°trivial¡± dates he always talked about.


    But not only did he remember, but he also carefully booked a private room, nning to celebrate with Cecilia.


    In the six years our paths had crossed; this kind of thing had never happened before. And Cecilia, she chose this day, one that


    was supposed to be a cozy twosome affair, to invite me.


    ¡°Is that really cool?¡± | thought about Candy¡¯s future and, pushing down the difort in my chest, | asked, ¡°What if we tick off


    Mr. Zade? We''d be in deep trouble.¡±


    | already rubbed him the wrong wayst night; couldn¡¯t afford to stir up more trouble now.


    Hearing this, Cecilia quickly reassured me, ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with it, Xaviera. It¡¯s just a ¡®coincidence¡¯, after all. Plus, on


    such an important day, whatever | ask Hogan for, he will say yes.¡±


    She was so sure of herself; | know that was the confidence Hogan had nurtured in her day and night.


    | curled my fingers and said, ¡°Thanks for going to all this trouble, Director Irwin.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Xaviera, it''s nothing.¡± Cecilia giggled, batting her big eyes, ¡°I can see everyone¡¯s been running around like headless


    chickens over this, and | feel really bad about it, too. After all, it started with me, and | don¡¯t want there to be any hard feelings


    later on.¡±


    Cecilia looked so sincere when she said this, so genuine that | couldn¡¯t bring myself to doubt its truthfulness.


    ¡°Besides, don¡¯t you want to smooth things over between Hogan and Professor Yearwood?¡± Cecilia, seeing that | didn¡¯t respond


    right away, looked at me expectantly, whispering, ¡°I feel like there¡¯s some kind of misunderstanding between them. Wouldn''t it be


    better to clear things up?¡± She made a good point, but for some reason, | was a bit resistant. Still, considering her good


    intentions, | stuck to the facts, ¡°You think you can convince Mr. Zade?¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s eyes crinkle with certainty, ¡°Xaviera, you should know. Hogan¡¯s not one to sweat the small stuff. Right now, he¡¯s just hot


    under the cor. But tonight, on our hundred¡ªday, he¡¯s bound to ask me what gift | want. When | bring up making amends, he''ll


    have no reason to say. no.¡±


    Yeah, how could Hogan ever refuse his darling, the apple of his eye? Since Cecilia didn¡¯t mind, why should | hold back?


    Chapter 102


    After all, once they got tangled up in legal stuff, things could get pretty thorny. | had to be rational.


    Cecilia seemed to read my mind and asked again, ¡°What do you think of my idea, Xaviera?¡±


    ¡°It''s good,¡± | said, though my heart was not in it.


    ¡°Oh, and the recording pen.¡± Cecilia opened her backpack and handed me the recorder, ¡°Yesterday was so hectic; | forgot to give


    it back to you.¡±


    | looked at Cecilia, words on the tip of my tongue.


    She carefully exined, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xaviera. | haven''t listened to a single word on it.¡±


    Her words brushed away the worries in my heart. It made sense, if Cecilia had actually listened to the recording, with her


    temperament, she probably wouldn''t be so eager to make peace with


    Us.


    Thinking this, | nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s do as you suggest.¡±


    In the face of Candy¡¯s future, my own pride didn¡¯t count for much.


    Such a rare moment of harmony. But when | shared this with Wallis, pouting, she barbed, ¡°Thatdy is young, but she sure is


    crafty.¡±


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.

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    Chapter 103


    She felt that Cecilia did this on purpose. But was it really necessary? Hogan¡¯s favoritism towards her was no secret, even going


    so far as to nearly drag Candy to court. That kind of special treatment was something us mere mortals could hardly dream of.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Now, what was bugging me was whether | should meet up with Darren or not.


    ¡°Go for it. Professor Yearwood would probably be over the moon.¡± Wallis said, eager for some drama, ¡°Besides, Cecilia¡¯s the one


    who set this whole thing up, so even if Hogan¡¯s not thrilled, he can¡¯t pin any me on us.¡±


    Wallis made a good point, but | didn¡¯t want to drag Darren back into this mess. After much thought, | decided to go alone.


    The celebration was set for 7:30 pm. Before Cecilia left the office, she made a point to say goodbye to me.


    | didn¡¯t dare waste any time and followed her out soon after. But being a newbie on these streets, | wasn¡¯t familiar with the area,


    and by the time | got to Aurora Eats, it was nearly dinner time.


    | was about to ask a server for the private room location when | unexpectedly spotted Darren not too far off.


    He was dressed in a light camel long cashmere coat, with a ssic Burberry check scarf around his neck, and under the coat


    was a sharp, formal suit that was both casual and dignified.


    He was patiently talking with a staff member. Then, as if sensing my gaze, he suddenly turned his head, saw me standing there,


    and strode over with long steps.


    ¡°Xaviera,¡± Darren said with a slight smile, ¡°I thought | was the one who waste.¡±


    | looked at him, baffled, and asked, ¡°You were waiting for me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t we have ns with Ms. Irwin for dinner tonight?¡±


    After some probing, | found out that Cecilia had not only invited me but had also personally called Darren. She reminded him not


    to bete.


    What Cecilia didn¡¯t know was that | had no intention of bringing Darren along. Talked about a mix-up.


    ¡°Xaviera,¡± Darren said, sensing my thoughts and speaking apologetically, ¡°| made a mess with thatwyer thing, so please, give


    me a chance to make up for it.¡±


    Everything sounded so much better when Darren said it. It was me who owed him a favor, not the other way around.


    But looking at his earnest face, | just couldn''t bring myself to ask him to leave, so | sighed and


    Chapter 103


    said, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. If anyone¡¯s to me, it¡¯s me for being too hasty.¡±


    Darren grinned and said nonchntly. ¡°Since we¡¯re both at fault, why don¡¯t we make amends together?¡±


    | was about to reply when Cecilia''s sweet voice rang out, ¡°Xaviera, Professor Yearwood, what a coincidence.¡±


    | looked in the direction of her voice and saw Cecilia, harmlessly clinging to Hogan¡¯s arm, her face brimming with liveliness and


    innocence, perfectly acting out the surprise of an unexpected encounter.


    It didn¡¯t seem feigned at all.


    Hogan, standing by her side with a subtle gleam in his deep pupils, clearly disyed an unmasked aversion.


    Right, no matter how convincing Cecilia¡¯s act was, in Hogan¡¯s eyes, Xaviera was already marked as someone with selfish,


    scheming tendencies.


    Just like in this so-called unexpected encounter, | came with my own agenda, carefully orchestrating this coincidence.


    But, even if it was all scheming, so what? Achieving my goal was what mattered most, wasn¡¯t it? So, | approached


    enthusiastically, acting as if nothing was amiss, and greeted them, ¡°Mr. Zade, Director Irwin, it seems we really are fated to


    meet.¡±

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    Chapter 104


    | was using a self-deprecating tone, sort of trying to cut the awkward air at the time. But Hogan kept his poker face on, making it


    crystal clear he wasn¡¯t in the mood to deal with us.


    Cecilia stepped up to smooth things over, ¡°Talk about a coincidence; did Xaviera and Professor Yearwood reserve a private


    room? If you don¡¯t mind, we could share a table.¡±


    This was the scene we''d agreed on earlier. | was just about to chime in when | heard Hogan say, ¡°On such a significant night, are


    you sure you want a couple of outsiders crashing our party?¡±


    His voice was even, but he deliberately put some sting into the word ¡°outsiders*. He wasn¡¯t wrong, even though we once had a


    closeness that ¡°outsiders¡± never had.


    Cecilia didn¡¯t seem fazed, her dimples showing, ¡°How can Xaviera and Professor Yearwood be outsiders? Besides, the more the


    merrier.¡±


    Her voice was sweet, ending on a yful, soft note, her girlish charm making her hard to refuse. Darren, the guy left in the dark,


    sensed something was up and curiously asked, ¡°What''s so special about today?¡±


    Cecilia''s eyes, bright as a doe¡¯s, brimmed with joy, ¡°Not to hide it from Professor Yearwood, today marks the hundredth day of


    my rtionship with Hogan.¡±


    Darren''s first look was at me. There was a flicker of pity in his eyes. He held his tongue.


    All | could do was keep up the act with Cecilia, ¡°I see, then it¡¯s really not cool for us two outsiders to intrude at this time.


    Professor Yearwood, let¡¯s meet up separately.¡±


    That response should be fine; just depended on how Cecilia would y it.


    ¡°Don''t be like that, Xaviera. Hogan was just teasing.¡± Cecilia suddenly grabbed my hand, giving it a shake, her pleading eyes on


    Hogan, ¡°Hogan, say something, will ya?¡±


    His indifferent gaze swept over me briefly, and Hogan softened a bit, resignedly saying, ¡°You call the shots tonight.¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    His voice wasn¡¯t exactly warm, but he clearly gave Cecilia face. | thought, any normal guy wouldn''t bring an ex to him and his


    new girlfriend¡¯s party.


    But Hogan, he actually agreed. | thought someone as principled as him would¡¯ve said no on the spot. Reality, however, kept


    blowing my mind over and over.


    Inside the private room, pink and white balloons filled every corner, and beneath bouquets of roses tied into hearts, it read


    ¡°Happy One¡ªHundred¡ªDay*.


    Even the air smelled sweet like hot cocoa. Clearly, a lot of thought had gone into the setup.


    So much so, that even the cream cake on the table had miniatures of Hogan and Cecilia as a


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    Chapter 104


    couple. It was a far cry from the Hogan who never remembered any anniversaries.


    And there was Cecilia, the star of the story, just as stunned, her hands over her mouth. After marveling, she looked at Hogan and


    said, ¡°Did you do all this for me, Hogan?¡±


    Hogan paused, and then gave a soft acknowledgment.


    Tears started to well up in the girl¡¯s eyes, her voice choked with emotion, ¡°Hogan, you''re too good to me.¡±


    The emotional look in her eyes, her choked voice, and the suggestive backdrop instantly set an intimate mood between them.


    | stood quietly in the corner, watching his usually stiff back, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. What could | say? At a time like this,


    Darren and | really did seem third wheels.


    | was starting to admire Hogan. After all, he looked at me with the same deep affection justst night. When it came to ying


    the field, | was no match for him.


    Just when | thought they¡¯d lock in a passionate kiss, Hogan stepped back and reminded Cecilia, ¡°Let''s blow out the candles first.¡±


    Disappointment flickered in the girl¡¯s eyes, probably thinking Hogan was a mood-killer, but she bounced back quickly.


    ¡°Is it greedy to make two wishes, Hogan?¡± Cecilia asked innocently, facing the glowing candles.

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    Chapter 105


    ¡°Not at all,¡± the guy was all business in his tone.


    Cecilia sped her hands together in delight, sincerely wishing, ¡°For my first wish, | hope that for every hundred days from now


    on, Hogan can stick by my side.¡±


    After she said that, she looked at Hogan with all the feels, waiting for hiseback.


    | was super curious too, wondering how Hogan would respond to such a straight-up confession. But Hogan, instead of replying,


    shot back with, ¡°And what''s your second wish?¡±


    Cecilia hesitated, treading carefully, ¡°If it¡¯s cool with you, Hogan, I¡¯d like to bury the hatchet with Candy.¡±


    The mention of Candy perked me right up, but when | looked up, | found myself locked in Hogan¡¯s deep, unfathomable eyes.


    In the dimly lit private room, our gazes inexplicably collided. It was like we were in sync or something.


    And in his eyes, | caught a glimpse of teasing and a dash of sarcasm.


    ¡°Hogan,¡± Cecilia tugged at Hogan¡¯s arm to snag his attention back, ¡°I know you''re feeling for me, but look, I¡¯m happier right now


    than anyone else in the world. Can¡¯t we just let bygones be bygones?¡±


    Hogan leaned in to look at Cecilia, paused for a sec, and then relented, ¡°I have no idea what to do with you.¡±


    His voice was soft; seemed like he was on board with making peace, just like Cecilia had promised me.


    It should¡¯ve been a happy moment, right? So why the heck wasn¡¯t | feeling it? It just showed me, once again, how important


    Cecilia was to Hogan.


    After the ceremony, Darren suggested we toast to Hogan and Cecilia


    ¡°Much obliged to Hogan and Ms. Irwin for your generosity.¡± He sald earnestly, ¡°Xaviera and | would like to raise a ss to you


    both.¡±


    Hogan eyed the ss Darren handed him, a slight smirk on his face, and said, ¡°How does this involve Professor Yearwood? This


    mess was Ms. March¡¯sck of guidance among her team, wasn¡¯t it?¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Darren was caught off guard. | bet Hogan was itching to see where | stood. So | lowered my ss, bowed slightly, and said


    politely, ¡°Mr. Zade, you''ve got a point there. This drink, I''ll toast to you alone.¡±


    Before he could say anything, | downed it in one go.


    One drink followed another. The booze was Hogan¡¯s fave, La Roman¨¦e¡ªConti ¡ª good stuff, but


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    after a bit too much, my stomach started to protest.


    | excused myself and hit the restroom, dry heaving over the sink for a good while before | felt any better.


    Stumbling out of the bathroom, | somehow caught Hogan¡¯s scolding voice.


    ¡°Just a simple meal, why all the bells and whistles?¡± His tone was sharp, each word cutting, ¡°cklist this event nning


    company, no more deals! And you, a ten¡ªthousand¡ªword written self-criticism, not a word less.¡±


    Event nningpany? Written self-criticism? So, Hogan wasn¡¯t happy with tonight''s setup and shindig?


    But honestly, as an outsider, I¡¯d give it a solid B+. And our girl of the hour, Cecilia, she was clearly having a st.


    So, what exactly was Hogan not digging? Anyway, the big boss¡¯s thoughts weren¡¯t something | could just poke my nose into.


    However, just as | was tip¡ªtoeing away, Hogan''s deep voice hit my ears again, ¡°Ms. March¡¯s acting skills are getting pretty darn


    masterful.¡±


    | stopped dead in my tracks, looking up at Hogan, only to see him leaning against the wall, his face obscured by backlight,


    ambiguous and unclear, with only the dim glow of a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers.


    | suddenly found myself at a loss for words. Just as | expected, Hogan had pegged me as the mastermind behind tonight''s so¡ª


    called coincidence. No point in more talk.


    ¡°What''s up, felt likest night¡¯s trick didn¡¯t cut it, so you roped in some reinforcements to try a new angle?¡±


    He kept talking as he walked towards me, and in a sh, | was engulfed in his shadow, ¡°Tell me, you doing all this, Darren¡¯s cool


    with it?¡±

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    Chapter 106


    Once | got closer, | could clearly see the restlessness hidden in Hogan''s eyes, an emotion | hadn¡¯t seen in him before.


    With the hazy feeling brought on by the booze, he seemed oddly vulnerable at that moment. Yet this was the same guy who''d


    just celebrated their important day with Cecilia.


    What was he so curious about? Curiosity at times like these, even a little bit, could be downrightughable.


    If | didn¡¯t consider Darren¡¯s position, | had no reason to exin myself.


    ¡°We''re just friends.¡± | said honestly, feeling that a good Samaritan shouldn¡¯t be subjected to unwarranted hostility. ¡°You''re


    worrying too much.¡±


    ¡°Why exin?¡± Hogan stepped closer, looking down at me, ¡°You think I¡¯m still curious about things after all this?¡±


    His arrogant tone was like a weight on my ears. | looked up, meeting Hogan¡¯s eyes, and saw a sh of resentment. Must be the


    alcohol ying tricks on me, | thought.


    ¡°Wasn''t it Mr. Zade who asked first?¡± | quickly averted my gaze, ying it cool.


    Out of the corner of my eye, | saw Hogan¡¯s hand holding the cigarette butt twitch slightly. The next second, | heard him say,


    ¡°Xaviera, you really like to toot your own horn.¡±


    With a shadow of a sneer, he turned on his heel and walked away. | watched his staggering figure, slowly opened my palm, and


    let out a gentle sigh.


    | thought tonight was going to wrap up nicely, but the next morning, we got Candy¡¯s resignation letter.


    4


    ¡°I''ve caused you and Wallis so much trouble; | just can¡¯t face staying on.¡± Candy said, seemingly more grown-up overnight, her


    usual wildness tempered with a hint of regret, ¡°And you know, Xaviera, | joined this team because | loved the work, but now, | just


    can¡¯t hang on anymore.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    She said she couldn¡¯t hang on. It was clear the girl was still hung up on what had happened. Forcing her to stay and work with


    Cecilia would be torture.


    But with the project at this stage, losing a familiar artist meant serving up a dish without its presentation ¡ª a surefire way to grind


    progress to a halt. Areal headache.


    And as for the coboration Hogan wanted with FreeMan, there was zilch progress so far. Since | filled out that form from


    Morgan, it''d been radio silence ¡ª hope was slim.


    We were suddenly on the back foot. After some negotiation, Candy agreed to handover until the end of the month.


    But Wallis and | knew that once her attention wasn¡¯t in thepany, she was as good as gone.


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    Chapter 106


    That meant we had to nail down a deal with FreeMan before she left. It was like climbing Mount Everest.


    Wallis rubbed her forehead and sighed, ¡°You''re just too nice. Even if we get lucky and bring in FreeMan, it''ll take at least a month


    or two to gel. If it affects Cecilia¡¯s thesis defense, we¡¯d be breaching the contract, and Hogan won''t let us get off easy.¡±


    Wallis¡® words plunged me into a funk, feeling the pressure mount. Our hopes were pinned on the FreeMan fan meet-and-greet


    happening that afternoon.


    ¡°Traditionally, FreeMan himself never shows up.¡± Wallis patiently analyzed, ¡°But a little birdie told me over drinks that day that he


    likes to blend in with the crowd, watch the reactions from the sidelines. So Xaviera, FreeMan has got to be among the fans this


    afternoon.¡±


    But with fifty fans in attendance, spotting FreeMan himself in the crowd wasn¡¯t going to be


    easy.

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    Chapter 107


    ¡°Gender can help us weed out some of the female fans; then it¡¯s just down to luck with who¡¯s left.¡±


    No sooner said than done; after lunch, Wallis and | hit the road to the resort''s fan


    meet-and-greet.


    This was my first time crashing a big-time concept artist¡¯s fan event, and boy, was it buzzing. A bunch of fresh-faced kids were


    clutching FreeMan¡¯s artwork, patiently queuing up.


    Every now and then, I¡¯d spot a few older faces ¡ª either too nerdy or just riding the hype train ¡ª none of them seemed to gel with


    FreeMan himself.


    To top off our bad luck, the security at the entrance made it crystal clear that the invite Wallis was holding was only good for one


    person.


    Wallis dropped a few choice words, ¡°That scalper swore to me it was good for two.¡±


    After a bit of back-and-forth, we decided Wallis would go undercover ¡ª she¡¯d got more chops when it came to sizing people up.


    And me? | was tasked with stakeout duty outside.


    ¡°If he¡¯s got a peeping tom streak, he might duck out early. Keep an eye on the back door, and hit me up the moment you spot


    anyone fishy.¡±


    Wallis¡® street smarts cracked me up, but | replied earnestly, ¡°You got it, President Lott. Consider it done.¡±


    So, | grabbed a coffee and parked myself by the back door, ready to wait for the rabbit to hit the


    trap.


    As time ticked by and the meet was halfway through, | hadn¡¯t spotted any shady characters. Just then, | heard someone say,


    ¡°Move, move,e on, let¡¯s go!¡±


    Following themotion, | saw a loaded trolley barreling out of the service elevator not too far from me. In its path stood a


    toddler, no more than three years old.


    Without a second thought, | dashed over and scooped up the little munchkin. At the same time, a sharp pain shot through my


    back, and | saw stars.


    ¡°Watch out!¡±


    risp voice rang in my ear, and contrary to my expectation of getting mmed by the cargo, nothing happened. | cracked my


    eyes open and looked up to see a young, innocent face beside me, blocking the falling objects from the trolley.


    There stood a twenty-somethingd with granny-gray hair, rocking a pair of deep red over¡ªear headphones, fair skin, and


    sparkling eyes that seemed to twinkle with starlight when he nced my way.


    ¡°Are you okay, Miss?¡±


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    13:32


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    Before | could respond, the kid in my arms burst into terrified sobs. When the parents rushed over and realized | had yed the


    hero, they insisted on treating me to a meal.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    ¡°You''re too kind. It was this young man¡¯s bravery that saved the day.¡± | said, ncing at the guy next to me, ¡°He¡¯s the one we


    should be thanking.¡±


    After a bit of negotiation, the parents suggested coffee, and | ended up sitting in the waiting area with our young hero.


    That was when my phone rang ¡ª it was Wallis. Turning away discreetly, | answered the call.


    ¡°Xaviera, just got the intel - FreeMan is a lefty with a tiny ck mole between his thumb and index.¡± Wallis said, pumped, ¡°Keep


    an eye out for guys like that.¡±


    | murmured a careful acknowledgment, turned back around, and caught the guy in front of me deftly tapping on his phone with


    his left hand, which gave me pause.


    Taking a closer look, sure enough, there was a sesame-sized ck mole on his hand. So, | ventured, ¡°FreeMan?¡±

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    Chapter 108


    When the man heard me asking around, he snapped his head up and locked eyes with me. In that moment of eye contact, |


    caught a flicker of surprise in those killer eyes of his. But it was gone in the blink of an eye.


    Then | heard him chuckle and say, ¡°You''re a fan of FreeMan too?¡±


    | didn¡¯t jump right in with an answer, my gaze slid over his well¡ªproportioned left hand, and | shot back. ¡°Are you?¡±


    ¡°Kinga.¡± he said, all casual-like, ¡°But if FreeMan knew he had a knockout fan like you, he¡¯d be over the moon.¡±


    ¡°| heard FreeMan always draws with his left hand.¡± | didn¡¯t beat around the bush and stared straight at Mr. Suspect in front of me,


    ¡°You caught that stuff falling off the cart with your left hand too.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    I cut to the chase, ¡°He¡¯s got a mole the size of a sesame seed between your thumb and index, just like you.¡±


    The guy¡¯s expression froze for a sec, and then he let out a lightugh. ¡°You don¡¯t think I''m FreeMan, do you?¡±


    ¡°I''m not ruling it out.¡± | said, dead serious, ¡°Are you him?¡±


    | must''ve freaked him out with my straight face because he finally dropped the act and said earnestly, ¡°Miss, FreeMan¡¯s been on


    the scene for ten years, and | just turned twenty-two. Given his rep as a renowned concept artist, that would mean | started


    creating at twelve, with a mind that¡¯s quick and inspiration that never runs dry, right?¡±


    Twenty-two, huh? That was miles off the rumor mill.


    ¡°Wow, so in your eyes, I¡¯m some kind of genius, huh?¡±


    | looked into those innocent eyes and said matter¡ªof-factly, ¡°The world hasn¡¯t pegged down FreeMan¡¯s age.¡±


    | paused and added, ¡°Plus, you seem to know a lot about him.¡±


    I''d seen fans getting all hyped meeting their idols, but this guy was too chill, like he couldn''t care less.


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m FreeMan¡¯s rabid fan.¡± He exined patiently. ¡°No lie, | even gamed with FreeMan before. I¡¯m the one who leaked the


    lefty thing.¡±


    | was suddenly at a loss for words, ¡°So, the news is fake?¡±


    He just shrugged and didn¡¯t say more. Turned out Wallis, that fox, got yed by some little bird.


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    ¡°Are you mad, Miss?¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Not mad, just not cool with having my hopes dashed like that.


    ¡°Here¡¯s my card.¡± | offered politely, hoping to tap into the fanwork, ¡°If you catch wind of FreeMan, could you hit me up?¡±


    He took the card, curious, and smiled, ¡°Xaviera, so it''s Xaviera.¡±


    | wasn¡¯t in the mood to hang around and got ready to leave when | heard him say, ¡°By the way, Xaviera, I¡¯m Timothy Temple. Till


    fate brings us together again.¡±


    Half an hourter, the fan meet was a wrap, and Wallis and | left the resort with long faces. When the left-handed thing came up,


    Wallis was gobsmacked, ¡°Looks like meeting FreeMan in the flesh is gonna take some extra effort.¡±


    Back at the office, we bumped into Cecilia clocking out. She leaned in, all curious, ¡°Xaviera, | heard you went to see FreeMan


    this afternoon. How was it? Did he agree to work with us?¡±


    That was adding salt to Wallis¡® and my injuries.

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    Chapter 109


    Wallis grumbled, ¡°We''re not like Director Irwin, who¡¯s got a bigwig like Mr. Zade to back up. So, | might have to burst your


    bubble.¡±


    Cecilia looked down, murmuring softly, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything by it, President Lott.¡±


    Wallis cracked a small smile but kept mum.


    But in the next breath, Cecilia said, ¡°You''re right though, President Lott. For the sake of the project, maybe | should hit up Hogan


    and see if there¡¯s a chance to meet FreeMan himself.¡±


    | was taken aback and didn¡¯t chime in.


    Wallis¡® lips were curled into a smile, ¡°Cool, I''ll thank Director Irwin in advance then.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s dimpled smile was sweet, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, President Lott.¡±


    Her smile was sugary, but it had a hint of showing off. Wallis caught that too and after Cecilia had left, she huffed, ¡°She¡¯s the one


    who made this mess; now she¡¯s ying the good Samaritan while we''re tied up in knots. If she actually pulls off getting FreeMan


    here, where does that make us?¡±


    ¡°Didn''t you say, ¡®What¡¯s face worthpared to cold hard cash¡®?¡±


    Wallis rolled her eyes at me, ¡°She¡¯s trying to show off to me? She¡¯s still wet behind the ears.¡±


    Soon enough, | saw her picking up her phone and putting on a voice, fishing for info on FreeMan.


    Why lose sleep over pride when there was no bread to eat? | thought it over and decided to call Morgan to meet one more time.


    But he turned me down, citing a packed schedule.


    | mulled it over all night and then, uninvited, showed up at Morgan¡¯s art studio with a gift in tow. The secretary ushered me into


    the waiting room, where | sat from 10:30 am until noon, and then she politely told me, ¡°Sorry, Ms. March, Mr. Paisley¡¯s still tied


    up. Maybe you should head back.¡±


    When the message was that clear, | gotta take the hint. But the gift had to be given.


    ¡°Ms. March, you really should take this back.¡± The secretary said snootily, ¡°Mr. Paisley¡¯s got no shortage of these trinkets.¡±


    She pushed it carelessly, misjudging her strength, causing the gift box to slip from my hands and crash down on my foot with a


    loud ng.


    | had chosen a heritage craftsman¡ªmade artifact, which was quite heavy, and the sudden impact was no joke.


    The secretary nced at me awkwardly and said, ¡°I told you, we¡¯re not epting it. Take it with you.¡±


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    13:33


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    She sounded like she was shooing away a beggar. In an instant, the frustration I¡¯d kept bottled up surged, and as | crouched to


    pick it up, Cecilia¡¯s familiar voice of surprise rang out, ¡°Xaviera, what are you doing here?¡±


    | looked up, puzzled, and saw Cecilia standing in front of Morgan¡¯s office, along with Hogan.


    | hadn''t gone to the office this morning, so bumping into Cecilia here was quite the surprise. But what blew my mind was seeing


    Hogan there too.


    Their agenda was obvious.


    And Morgan, who had been so distant to me earlier, was now all smiles, cozying up to the two, his face full of ttery for those


    higher up thedder.


    | suddenly remembered the conversation | had with Cecilia the night before we left work. In just one night, the usually fair and


    stern Hogan was already leading her to Morgan, protecting her to the fullest.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Unlike me, now being kicked out of the studio, looking all sorts of awkward.

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    Chapter 110


    Riding on Hogan and Cecilia¡¯s coattails, | got invited into Morgan¡¯s office too.


    Just a moment ago, that secretary who was all high and mighty was now shaking in her boots, obediently taking a tongue¡ª


    lashing from Morgan.


    After he gave her an earful, he turned to me with an apologetic look and said, ¡°Now hurry up and apologize to Ms. March.¡±


    The performance was quite something. Seeing the secretary all jittery, | yed it down and said, ¡°It¡¯s not on her; | just wasn¡¯t


    paying attention.¡±


    When Morgan heard that, he nced at Hogan and Cecilia, like he was trying to read the room, and thenforted me, ¡°Ms.


    March, you''re really big¡ªhearted. | just found out you work with Mr. Zade and Ms. Irwin. Please forgive me if there¡¯s been any


    oversight.¡±


    The apology was meant for me, but the exnation seemed more for Hogan¡¯s ears. But it was the same in every crowd, wasn¡¯t


    it? It was all about who people knew. If ying second fiddle got me where | wanted to go, | was game.


    ¡°Mr. Paisley is making too much of it. Xaviera is famously forgiving.¡± At the moment, Cecilia chimed in, still with that dimpled


    smile, ¡°But speaking of which, Xaviera, | really didn¡¯t expect to bump into you here at Mr. Paisley¡¯s. Talk about serendipity.¡±


    | shuffled my feet, managing a strained smile. My feet were throbbing, but | bit my tongue and didn¡¯t make a peep, although |


    couldn¡¯t help feeling a twinge of heartache.


    | decided to cut to the chase, ¡°Mr. Paisley, we came here in good faith to invite FreeMan to coborate with us. But | do believe


    it''s essential for a master to fully understand their partner before teaming up. Last time was a rush visit, and | didn¡¯t bring


    anything. Today, I¡¯ve prepared a brief project intro video, just two minutes long, if you could kindly pass it on.¡±


    | finished speaking and handed over the USB drive with the video. | had edited the video overnight, making it detailed yet


    concise ¡ª definitely more fun than flipping through pages of project proposals and a real time-saver.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    In the age of information, we''d got to figure out how to keep a customer¡¯s attention in a couple of seconds, especially someone


    as sought-after as FreeMan.


    | bet he didn¡¯t spend more than a second or two on each spreadsheet, so I¡¯d got to bring something special to the table.


    Morgan raised an eyebrow, a sh of surprise in his eyes, and asked curiously, ¡°Ms. March, do you mind if | take a first look?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, if Mr. Paisley is willing to provide feedback, | couldn''t ask for more,¡± | said confidently.


    ¡°| gotta learn from Xaviera too,¡± Cecilia stood up and joined us, her attitude humble, ¡°to see what kind of secret sauce Xaviera¡¯s


    been cooking up.¡±


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    She said it yfully,pletely oblivious to the fact that this was a critical moment for me to win over Morgan.


    Oh, right. From her standpoint, she needn¡¯t bother. With Hogan as her ace in the hole, she could do as she pleased. Why would


    she need to tread as carefully as | did?


    Ashort whileter, as the video ended, Morgan looked at me in astonishment and said, ¡°Ms. March, you''re really something else


    coming from an IT background. To make such a creative video in such a short time, I¡¯m impressed.¡±


    | did put some thought into the video, tailoring the style to match the asional updates FreeMan made on Twitter. | guessed the


    busy man himself wouldn¡¯t have time for such fancy stuff, so it had to be one thing ¡ª Morgan¡¯s taste.


    ¡°Mr. Paisley, you tter me.¡± | said sincerely, keeping my cool, ¡°It was just a little trickery, nothing worth showing off.¡±


    ¡°You''re being too modest, Ms. March.¡±

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    Chapter 111


    cottatu


    one sise


    call the shots for him.


    wide room and was title sincmotiously putting an a


    couldn''t for the life of me


    ure out Morsan Wanting it


    stignit is ziowma


    just how smokN?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    are all about the vibe from both sides Hogan, who''d been asuintas daves Thatly ined wet his gravely ice, ¡°If our sig deeen at


    fboat, dig


    hership at cool Fight Ms. March?


    Mogart¡¯s sunden Bacall stence caut me off-guard for a short while, but trolled with ¡°Mr ages pot a point. But something tells


    Fresans gonna in stoked about our project once


    wdown What''s your tiliw


    Taved it both ways yoon coobed cap, four and had two different attitudes. He was the money man hild got the clout tetan Me? |


    was just a grant, solotto keep unble


    we it


    Vie cortemente eachother lite paarur butter and elly so it sy it even surprised me And Morgan, M. Hab¡ªard-hit y finally showed a


    crack his armor when he misdireni duo in action


    Guess he could take the neat. At all loquis presente abre was enGKAN TE MAKE ungere swell, even if no jurt sill thote att


    did¡¯nothing.


    The mealing wrapped up with Hogas mira the Cecilia¡¯s starving card, and despite Morgan¡¯s best torts to keep up for a mea.


    Hog.hawngary df 11.


    an


    Cleary, during this round of negotiation, with just a few warnin. Hogati flipped the script au ma shali Ptuation


    50 W stuck


    Out in the parking for the three of us stoods de by side (djust found out from Hasan¡ªphone that Zachary was stuck at the


    intersection delore alcking him and Cell ying the waiting pame with their.


    | noticed Cecilia was feeling low ever since we lett Morhies office, and now she seemed downright debates


    The girl was at open book, hanging her head distilledly, nel face a billbound for her barrimed. ¡ª mood


    Hogan caught oil too, and lished with a touch of concern, ¡°Time47*:


    Cicilia nced my way with a half-hearted lock before sighing softly. That will when it hitimis that | was the third wheel big time


    Sa yed it cool i said. Sorry Mr. Zade got an energinity fu ruh tail:


    do


    Chapter 111


    Morgan¡¯s vibe was a bit more chill than before. | thought by now we''d have something to show for all the hassle, but then he


    pulled a 180 and went. ¡°But we all know FreeMan¡¯s a hot-head, right? Unless the guy himself is down for a cob, no one else


    can call the shots for him.¡±


    He kept it real, leaving some wiggle room, and was totally sincere ¡ª obviously putting on a show for Hogan.


    | couldn''t for the life of me figure out if Morgan was ying it straight or just blowing smoke,


    ¡°No biggie, cobs are all about the vibe from both sides.¡± Hogan, who''d been as silent as a grave, finally piped up with his


    gravelly voice, ¡°If our gig doesn¡¯t float FreeMans boat, dragging him into a partnership ain¡¯t cool. Right, Ms. March?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s sudden hardball stance caught me off-guard for a short while, but | rolled with it. ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s got a point. But something


    tells me FreeMan¡¯s gonna be stoked about our project once he gets the lowdown. What''s your take, Mr. Paisley?¡±


    | yed it both ways, good cop, bad cop. Hogan and | had two different attitudes. He was the money man; he¡¯d got the clout to


    be tough. Me? | was just a grunt, so | gotta keep it humble.


    Weplemented each other like peanut butter and jelly, so in sync it even surprised me. And Morgan, Mr. High¡ªand¡ªMighty,


    finally showed a crack in his armor when he saw this dynamic


    duo in action.


    Guessed he couldn¡¯t take the heat. After all Hogan¡¯s presence alone was enough to make anyone sweat, even if he just sat there


    and did nothing.


    The meeting wrapped up with Hogan pulling the ¡°Cecilia''s starving¡± card, and despite Morgan''s best efforts to keep up for a


    meal, Hogan wasn¡¯t having any of it.


    Clearly, during this round of negotiation, with just a few words. Hogan flipped the script on our


    whole situation.


    Out in the parking lot, the three of us stood side by side. I¡¯d just found out from Hogan¡¯s phone that Zachary was stuck at the


    intersection before picking him and Cecilia up, so | was stuck ying the waiting game with them.


    | noticed Cecilia was feeling low ever since we left Morgan¡¯s office, and now she seemed downright deted.


    The girl was an open book, hanging her head dispiritedly, her face a billboard for her bummed mood.


    Hogan caught on too, and asked with a touch of concern, ¡°Tired?¡±


    Cecilia nced my way with a half-hearted look before sighing softly. That was when it hit me that | was the third wheel, big


    time.


    So, ying it cool, | said. ¡°Sorry Mr. Zade, got an emergency to run to.¡±


    10:48-7


    do


    At those words. Cecilia¡¯s long eyshes fluttered, her face flickering with delight, ¡°You''re not joining us for lunch, Xaviera?¡±


    ¡°Nah.¡± | turned her down without missing a beat, ¡®Don¡¯t really know my way around this parking lot; I''ll head out and find my


    spot.¡±


    gave myself a solid excuse to bounce. But as | hit the corner, | realized I¡¯d left my phone back in Morgan¡¯s office and had to U-


    turn.


    Passing the spot where Hogan and Cecilia were, | couldn¡¯t help but sneak a peek. Cecilia was giving Hogan the puppy eyes,


    choking up, ¡°I just wanted to help share the load for you today. but it feels like you¡¯ve got a better thing going with Xaviera. I¡¯m


    just there, like an outsider: can¡¯t even get a word in.¡±

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    Chapter 112


    Bustling neighborhood, there was only this one main drag, and if | wanted to swing by Morgan¡¯s studio there was no way to


    sidestep Hogan and Cecilia.


    We weren''t exactly miles apart, but Hogan was all ears for Cecilia¡¯s chit-chat, so he didn¡¯t even clock me.


    Just found out that Cecilia was ticked off about more than just me ying third wheel-she was also green with envy about work


    stuff.


    Didn¡¯t mean to eavesdrop, and was about to hit the road when Hogan¡¯s deep voice hit my ears.


    ¡°Who was it looking all sad and sorry in my officest night, and who ditched the morning meeting to keep youpany?¡±


    In a sh, my feet felt like they were filled with lead. Turned out, Hogan was the one who skipped the meeting toe over.


    Then | overheard Ceciliaying on the guilt, ¡°I know this breaks your rules, but look. Xaviera and Wallis are already at their wits


    end. | just couldn¡¯t bear it. Besides, it was my idea to tweak the character design: | wanted to pull my weight. Sorry for the


    hassle.¡±


    I


    ¡°No trouble,¡± Hogan said cool as a cucumber.


    At that, Cecilia¡¯s face eased up a bit, she hooked onto Hogan¡¯s arm with a beaming smile, ¡°I just wanted to show off in front of


    everyone, my bad for being jelly of Xaviera.¡±


    Hearing my name, | nced up, my gaze involuntarilynding on Hogan''s face. | saw him with slight smile, speaking softly. ¡°No


    rush, take it easy: we''ve got all the time in the world.¡±


    That was when | realized, Hogan had this patient side to him. The guy who thought even growing a bougainvillea was a waste of


    time was actually willing to push aside his hectic work to nurture his little darling slowly.


    Guessed | wasn¡¯t that lucky. But looking at it another way, | should be stoked. Once Hogan had set on something, there was


    nothing he couldn''t do. | figured, it wouldn¡¯t be long before we saw FreeMan.


    Back at thepany, | filled in Wallis on thetest developments. She was all doom and gloom, ¡°Nothing to celebrate. If Cecilia


    gets one up on us with this, the work ahead¡¯s gonna get thornier, maybe even slip through our fingers.¡±


    I''m baffled, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Think about it, FreeMan¡¯s handling the art for our game. If Cecilia pulls strings to get him over, they could start their own clique.


    What then, we battle it out daily?¡±


    A few words from Wallis, and | suddenly grasped the gravity of the situation. Looked like I''d got to pull out all the stops to win


    FreeMan over at this meet-up.


    do


    | waited a whole two days, but there was zilch from Morgan¡¯s end. Logically, with Hogan backing us, Morgan had no reason, and


    shouldn''t dare, to give us the runaround.


    Feeling a bit uneasy, | decided to ring up Morgan.


    ¡°He watched the short video, FreeMan thinks your project is really intriguing, but shame he¡¯s tied up with another work right now,


    so he¡¯s declined this coboration.¡±


    Declined. Such big news, and | was thest to hear?Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°But lucky for Mr. Zade, the bright spark insisted | set up a meeting with FreeMan.¡± Morgan shifted gears, ¡°There¡¯s a private art


    show tomorrow afternoon in the eastern suburbs, FreeMan will be there too. What, Mr. Zade didn¡¯t mention it to you, Ms.


    March?¡±


    do


    Chinder 112


    | waited a whole two days, but there was zilch from Morgan¡¯s end. Logically, with Hogan backing us, Morgan had no reason, and


    shouldn''t dare, to give us the runaround.


    Feeling a bit uneasy. | decided to ring up Morgan.


    ¡°He watched the short video, FreeMan thinks your project is really intriguing, but shame he¡¯s tied up with another work right now,


    so he¡¯s declined this coboration.¡±


    Declined. Such big news, and | was thest to hear?


    ¡°But lucky for Mr. Zade, the bright spark insisted | set up a meeting with FreeMan,¡± Morgan shifted gears, ¡°There¡¯s a private art


    show tomorrow afternoon in the eastern suburbs, FreeMan will be there too. What, Mr. Zade didn¡¯t mention it to you, Ms.


    March?¡±

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    Chapter 113


    do


    Private art show, set up the meetup.


    Couldn''t believe Hogan already had everything in the bag. But as one of the key yers, here | was,pletely in the dark.


    | fudged, ¡°Oh, that, Mr. Zade mentioned it in passing: | just didn¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    | came up with a decent excuse for myself. After hanging up, | nced at my shaking hands, feeling like | had a ton of bricks


    sitting on my chest.


    From what Morgan hinted, Hogan must''ve had it all nned out bright and early. Given what I knew about Hogan, he was a


    stickler for detail, always ahead of the game, never dragging his feet.


    Maybe, he had it all squared away the day before. But Hogan didn¡¯t spill the beans, and Cecilia didn¡¯t breathe a word either.


    So there was only one conclusion-they didn¡¯t want me in on it.


    Thinking about it made my heart sink, but considering the project¡¯s future, | bucked up and drove over to Rainbow Capital


    | thought, no way | was letting my piece of the pie slip through my fingers.


    When Hogan found out | wasing, he didn¡¯t sound too shocked. On the phone, he asked casually, ¡°Anything pressing that


    Ms. March needs toe in person for?¡±


    ¡°Better to talk face-to-face.¡± | said patiently, catching the brush¡ªoff in Hogan¡¯s tone. ¡°I¡¯m already downstairs at Rainbow Capital¡±


    Ten minutester, the receptionist led me to the CEO''s office.


    Pushing the door open, | found Hogan at his desk, going through documents, silver specs on. looking all serious and focused.


    Hearing mee in, he didn¡¯t even look up, and just said, ¡°Board meeting¡¯s pushed to next Monday: got other ns tomorrow.¡±


    | was taken aback; felt like my throat was clogged with glue, the words | had ready just stuck there.


    If | was not wrong about tomorrow''s ns, Hogan was probably looking to escort Cecilia to meet FreeMan in person. He actually


    shuffled the board meeting for that.


    We were talking about a board meeting here. Sure enough, once he was calling the shots. status and power were a whole


    different ballgame.


    Noticing me standing there, silent. Hogan finally sensed something was off. He adjusted his sses and looked up at me. When


    our gazes met, | could discern a flicker of impatience in his, ¡°Quite quick.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    do


    Chapter 113


    | clenched my fists and got straight to the point, ¡°Are you avable? There¡¯s something | want to discuss.


    While flipping through his papers, Hogan responded, ¡°What''s it about?¡±


    1 heard from Mr. Paisley that you''ve set up a meeting with FreeMan,¡± | said, realizing my voice was soft. ¡°But | haven¡¯t caught


    wind of it at all.¡±


    Right after | finished. Hogan stopped his work, looked up after a few seconds and said, ¡®If it¡¯s all arranged, then there¡¯s no need


    to trouble Ms. March.¡±


    ¡°No need to trouble?¡± | echoed his words, my voice shaking. ¡°You mean to say, this meeting will just be between you and


    Director Irwin??


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s answer was firm, not a hint of hesitation. It confirmed my suspicions.


    I stared at him, frustrated, ¡°Why? I¡¯m in charge of this project; there¡¯s no reason to sideline me from this meeting.¡±


    As Hogan heard this, his brows furrowed, and after a couple of seconds, he said. ¡°The


    opportunity was snagged by Rainbow Capital Do | need to run it by Ms. March who gets to be in on it?¡±

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    Chapter 114


    Even though | had a hunch early on about Hogan¡¯s possible arrangement, my heart still felt like It was stabbed by an invisible


    dagger when | heard him admit it in person, it hurt like hell,


    That guy was so sharp; what Walls could think of, he¡¯d definitely got figured out too. But he just had to let Cecilia take the reins


    on the project, instead of having her juste to ourpany for a transition.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    He wanted to give her the real deal, and then some


    It took me quite a while to find my voice again, and | said coolly, ¡°Mr. Zade, this isn¡¯t what we talked about before.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Hogan looked away, nonchntly saying, ¡°I never promised to bring you along


    from the start, did 17"


    Yeah, he never said it. Even when Morgan was singing praises about the short video | made i front of three people, in the end,


    Hogan¡¯s approval was what really mattered.


    He treated Cecilia like a prized bougainvillea in the garden, pruning and watering it himself, while | was just a little gardener he


    dragged along to help nurture the nt.


    Insignificant, disposable. Who would care about a gardener¡¯s feelings?


    ¡°Huh,¡± Icouldn¡¯t help but snort, ¡°Mr. Zade, I''ll be the only one leading this project.¡±


    At that. Hogan¡¯s pen-holding hand froze. He slowly lifted his head, his gaze calmlynding on my face, asking, ¡°What do you


    mean, Ms. March?¡±


    |id it out straight. ¡°The contract with FreeMan hasn¡¯t been signed, Mr. Zade. May the best


    person win.


    My principle was, | never threw in the towel until thest second.


    Hogan chuckled as if he¡¯d heard a funny joke, then leaned back in his chair andzily said. ¡°You really think you still have a


    chance?¡±


    ¡°Can''t know if you don¡¯t try.¡± | said, filled with fighting spirit.


    Hogan didn¡¯t respond right away. After a few seconds, he said, ¡°Xaviera, you really haven¡¯t changed at all.¡±


    | knew he was mocking me. Not to mention that he¡¯d already given Cecilia a head start with FreeMan, just the idea ofpeting


    with Hogan felt a bit like | was punching above my weight. After all, with Rainbow Capital¡¯s current resources, Wallis and | were


    like a tiny insect trying to shake a giant tree. But so what? It was Hogan who started ying dirty: we couldn''t just keep taking it


    lying down.


    When | left Rainbow Capital, it was already afternoon, and the previous cozy, warm weather had


    do


    Chapter 114


    taken a turn for the worse, freezing cold.


    The wind blew through me, chilling to the bone, making me shiver uncontrobly. It was only then that | realized | was sweating


    bullets during my chat with Hogan.


    Now | was wide awake. | hadn''t expected the me who used to follow his every word would actually have the guts to stand up to


    him today.


    It was a rash move. Talk was cheap, but putting it into action was as tough as scaling the heavens, especially when it came to


    the elusive FreeMan


    | set my sights on the private art show. But these kinds of exhibitions were usually a form of socialworking among the elite,


    small in scale and very private, aimed at fostering rtionships within the inner circle. Breaking into that scene was tough..


    My only hope was Wallis.


    After a night of digging, Wallis got the scoop ¡ª there were two private art shows in Rivertown that afternoon, one in the southern


    suburbs, which was open to the public, and the other at the Art Gallery in the western suburbs, which was by invitation only.


    Moreover, as Wallis exined, this Art Gallery was founded by an up-anding artist who had returned from abroad, and it


    was rarely open to the public, maintaining a low-key and mysterious vibe.


    ¡°Sounds right up FreeMan¡¯s alley.¡± | said, jotting down notes, ¡°So how do we get in?¡±

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    ¡°Man, this is tough, Wallis looked totally stumped. ¡°The quests at the art show are all loaded or high-flying, and what they care


    about the most is their privacy. The security in the afternoon is gonna be tight as a drum, and my usual party¡ªcrashing tricks


    might just not cut it this time.¡±


    I''d never seen Wallis at a loss like this before. Whenever we wanted to crash a party in the past. she always had the inside


    scoop ¡ª from the quest list to the gourmet grub in the kitchen¡ªbut today seemed like a real thorn in the side.


    | tried to cheer her up, ¡°How about this, you focus on your stuff for now, and I¡¯ll head over there early to stake out the ce. If |


    spot someone | know, I''ll figure out a way to get in.¡±


    The publicity and distribution n had Wallis tearing her hair out. She nodded, ¡°Stay in touch.¡±


    So off | went, driving solo to the Art Gallery. But since | didn¡¯t know the way that well, plus the gallery was remote. | ended up


    driving in circles nearby without finding the exact spot.


    Scouting ahead was always Wallis gig. With no other choice. | had to call her for help.


    ¡°Don''t sweat it: those streets are a real rat maze.¡± Wallisforted me. ¡°But there¡¯s another trick you can try.¡±


    Wallis told me to park on the side and watch the passing cars, betting that if | saw three or more low-key luxury cars heading in


    the same direction, they were probably bound for the gallery.


    Made sense to me, but right after | hung up. | suddenly lurched forward, smashing uncontrobly into the steering wheel.


    Ouch. I''d rear-ended someone. A posh navy Porsche, no less.


    As | grimaced from the sharp pain in my wrist and looked in the rearview mirror, | couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit irked.


    A mess in the middle of a rush ¡ª just what | hate most. | got out of the car feeling down in the dumps, but when | looked up, | saw


    that familiar gray hair.


    It was Timothy. He still had those fiery red headphones around his neck, wearing a vintage biker jacket with matching casual


    jeans ¡ª the rebel vibe was strong but full of energy.


    After a brief eye contact, he looked at me with a smirk and said, ¡°Xaviera, isn¡¯t this fate that brings us together?¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    | couldn''t help butugh. ¡°Talk about coincidence.¡±


    No sooner had | finished speaking than a fresh wave of pain shot through my wrist, making me wince.


    ¡°Did you hurt?¡± Timothy was quick on the uptake. He came over to me in few strides, concerned, ¡°I''ll take you to the hospital.¡±


    do


    Charter 115


    ¡°It''s nothing.¡± | thought about the Freeman thing and said. ¡°If it''s not too much trouble, could you check my car for me?¡±


    Timothy looked bbergasted, ¡°You can¡¯t be serious about the car being more important than you!¡±


    ¡°It''s not that.¡± | struggled to exin. ¡°I¡¯ve got something really urgenting up.¡±


    ¡°Urgent or not, you need to get to the hospital. Timothy insisted, ¡°Leave the car to the insurancepany.¡±


    He then steadied me, probably trying not to hurt me with his cautious moves. | tried moving my wrist and the pain hit my nerves


    like a tidal wave. Definitely a sprain.


    ¡°That settles it; we¡¯re going to the hospital. Timothy looked urgent. ¡°I''ll call a ride.¡±


    Torn between the throbbing wrist and the uing art show, | turned down Timothy¡¯s offer after a moment''s thought.


    *Just a minor injury.¡± | put on a brave face, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious.¡±


    Timothy, who was reaching into the car for his phone, looked up at me, ring. ¡°You really don¡¯t care about yourself, do you? |


    don¡¯t care; you are going to the hospital.¡±


    | pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling overwhelmed. The guy might be young, but he was pretty stubborn.


    Just as | was about to refuse again, | noticed the gold, gilded invitation on Timothy¡¯s passenger seat. Emzoned on the cover


    were the words ¡°Art Gallery¡°

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    Chapter 116


    do


    Things often caught people off guard, didn¡¯t they?


    stared at the invitation on the passenger seat and blurted out. ¡°Are you heading to the Art Gallery?¡±


    Timothy did a double take, shooting me a curious nce, and asked, ¡°You''re going too?¡±


    Suddenly, | felt like I¡¯d hit the jackpot and shamelessly asked, ¡°Mind if | tag along?¡±


    Timothy sighed and said. ¡°So the important thing you mentioned is the art exhibition? Honestly, the organizer¡¯s taste is so-so.


    You''ll probably be disappointed. | should just drop you off at the hospital.¡±


    | shook my head, and said earnestly, ¡°This exhibition is really important to me.¡±


    Seeing my serious face, Timothy gave me a longer look, suspicion flickering in his pretty eyes. We barely knew each other, and


    here | was, asking for a favor, so of course, | couldn¡¯t keep things under wraps.


    | came clean and said, ¡°Since you¡¯re going to the exhibition, did you know FreeMan is going to show up there this afternoon?¡±


    ¡°Um.¡± Timothy immediately averted his gaze, hemming and hawing. ¡°Are you going to the exhibition just to see him?¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    | nodded. ¡°I mentioned it before; we''ve got this project, and | really need to get his backing.


    Timothy didn¡¯t respond right away, probably weighing my proposal. | understood. After all, we were practically strangers.


    To help or not to help, it was his call to make.


    ¡°If it''s not convenient.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s amunity hospital nearby.¡± Timothy nced at my wrist and said. ¡°Get it checked out first.


    Talked about stubbornness!


    ¡°Alright. How about we go to the exhibition together after your check-up, deal?¡±


    That was a relief. Honestly, | felt a bit shady about the whole thing. The fender bender was an ident, and now here | was,


    leveraging my injury, not exactly fighting fair.


    At themunity hospital, the doctor felt my wrist and said, ¡°Take off the wristband.¡±


    It was the wrist with the scar that was injured. | hesitated, ncing over at Timothy and made an excuse. ¡°Could you grab me a


    bottle of water?¡±


    Timothy didn¡¯t refuse and promptly left the examination room.


    do


    Chaoter 116


    Luckily, my wrist was just sprained. After the doctor gave me a spray, we were done. Back in the car, Timothy reminded me to


    spray it and, catching sight of my wristband,mented, ¡°That kind of embroidered wristband is pretty rare.¡±


    | didn¡¯t expect him to notice the craftsmanship and pattern, so | exined, ¡°It¡¯s hand¡ªstitched.¡±


    ¡°That''s some real skill there.¡±


    | nced at my watch and shifted the subject, ¡°Are we going to bete?¡±


    ¡°Nah, the organizer¡¯s a serious procrastinator.¡±


    However, when the driver dropped us off at the front entrance of the Art Gallery, | was dumbfounded. Not long ago, I¡¯d driven


    past its back entrance a couple of times.


    The security guy, looking at the invite in Timothy¡¯s hand, said. ¡°Sorry Mr. Temple, the invitation is for you alone.¡±


    Timothy¡¯s brows knitted slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t recognize me?¡±


    The guard looked chagrined, ¡°Mr. Temple, I¡¯m just following the rules.¡±


    Threeyers of security here, and | hadn¡¯t expected the final checkpoint to be so tight. | was torn between feeling relieved or


    upset.


    | figured it Wallis and | had tried to get in on our own, we''d probably end up in the security room before evenying eyes on


    FreeMan.


    Seeing the situation, Timothy, clearly annoyed, pulled out his phone. Momentster, | heard him say on the phone, ¡°I¡¯m bringing


    a friend, and your guy says we can¡¯t get in?¡±

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    Chapter 117


    The next second, he cranked up the volume right in front of me.


    ¡°| wouldn¡¯t dare. Hand the phone to the security guard: I''ll talk to him.¡±


    It was like | got the green light. | followed Timothy, slipping into the art exhibition without a hitch.


    But then, things took a turn | didn¡¯t seeing.


    No sooner had we entered the ce, a pair of folks, a guy and a gal, both Timothy look-alikes, made a beeline for us, giving me


    the once-over.


    ¡°Wow. Timothy, | thought | was seeing things.¡± Said a well-dressed man, eyeing me up and down, ¡°Got quite the taste.¡±


    | coughed lightly, suddenly at a loss for words.


    ¡°Cut it out.¡± Timothy scoffed coldly. ¡°This is Xaviera March. Show some respect, will ya?¡±


    ¡°Sean Abbott.¡± The dude who had spoken earlier extended his hand to me, ¡°Timothy¡¯s childhood buddy, responsible for this Art


    Gallery, nice to meet you.¡±


    Hearing the words, | couldn¡¯t help but give the man in front of me a few nces. If he was the big cheese, could it mean he was


    clued in on who FreeMan was?


    ¡°Xaviera.


    Timothy''s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. | tilted my head up slightly, only to realize he had somehow snuck up close,


    whispering in a yful tone. ¡°Is he that good-looking?¡±


    He was pretty tall, easily over six feet, and as he leaned in, it was almost too much to handle.


    | shifted to the side a bit and said. ¡°Just thought he looked a bit familiar.¡±


    As soon as the words left my mouth, Sean cracked a smile,ughing as he said, ¡°Timothy, your friend here is quite the wit, huh?¡±


    | immediately ditched the idea of asking this man any questions. Way too unreliable.


    Timothy seemed to pick up on my vibe, chuckling. ¡°This guy¡¯s always a clown; don¡¯t stoop to his level.¡±


    Sean pouted, ¡°Choosing chicks over pals, huh?¡±


    | was just about to set things straight when | felt a piercing gaze from not too far away. When | looked up, | locked eyes with


    Hogan¡¯s stoic ones.


    As our eyes met, the corners of his mouth dipped slightly, revealing a smug smirk. At that moment, Cecilia was standing by his


    side, the youngdy dressed in a cute Audrey Hepburn-style dress, sporting an adorable topknot ¡ª both chic and pretty.


    do


    Charter 117


    But the fancy outfit didn¡¯t seem to help Cecilia getfortable in this social environment. After exchanging a few words with a


    guest next to her, she turned her big, pitiful eyes towards Hogan.


    It was a look that screamed for help. But Hogan didn¡¯t notice, his gaze fixed emotionlessly on


    1.me.


    | didn¡¯t feel like making a fool of myself, so | quietly looked away. We were, after all, rivals now.


    Judging by their expressions. | figured they probably hadn¡¯t seen FreeMan in the flesh yet. | pulled myself together, and just then,


    | heard Cecilia¡¯s sweet, soft voice, ¡°Hogan, isn¡¯t that Xaviera? I¡¯m not mistaken, am I?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Great, there was no escaping now.


    Timothy, standing beside me, caught themotion too. He nced at me, then at Hogan and Cecilia not far off, and curiously


    asked, ¡°Xaviera, friends of yours?¡±


    Friends. | mulled over the word, a bitter feeling spreading through my chest as if I''d swallowed a mouthful of bitter herbs.


    When | looked up again, Hogan and Cecilia had already closed in. The youngdy¡¯s eyes unabashedly fell on Timothy, and then


    with a smile, she asked, ¡°Xaviera, who¡¯s this gentleman? Aren¡¯t you going to introduce us?¡±

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    Cecilia was all smiles as she gossiped with me, like we were old pals. Anyone out of the loop would¡¯ve thought we were super


    chummy, like mentor and mentee or something.


    | didn¡¯t bite but shot back with, ¡°Have Mr. Zade and Director Irwin actually met FreeMan in the flesh yet?¡±


    As soon as the words left my mouth, Cecilia¡¯s smile froze, and she awkwardly mumbled, ¡°Not yet, probably got held up or


    something.


    Her voice was so faint: she could tell she wasn¡¯t feeling too sure about it. Sounded more like she was trying to reassure herself.


    Seemed like my hunch was right; things weren''t going as smooth for Hogan¡¯s side as | thought. ¡°You seem to have more tricks


    up your sleeve than | thought. Ms. March.¡±


    Acold voice reached my ears, and when | slightly looked up, | caught Hogan¡¯s eyes, brimming with mockery, briefly ncing


    between Timothy and me.


    The sarcasm was loud and clear. Normally, | wouldn¡¯t have given it a second thought, but Timothy had my back, and he didn¡¯t


    deserve to be ridiculed by Hogan.


    So, | forced a smile and said in a neutral tone. ¡°Thanks for thepliment, Mr. Zade. Takes one


    to know one.¡±


    Hogan gave me a look, then turned to Cecilia and asked, ¡°Decided which of those two paintings you want?¡±


    His tone had softened a bit.


    Cecilia shook her head, looking all kinds of hesitated, ¡°One''s got soul; the other¡¯s a goldmine. It''s such a tough call.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Hogan seemed to console her with a patient voice, ¡°Don¡¯t choose then: let''s just get


    both.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Cecilia pped a hand over her mouth, her face a picture of delighted surprise, ¡°Hogan, isn¡¯t that a bit too


    extravagant?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t wrong. Though the price tags weren''t exactly visible, given the vibe and ss of the ce today, those two paintings


    had to be at least five figures each.


    And here was Hogan, ready to splurge like it was nothing. Of course, that was their couple¡¯s vibes, none of my business.


    But just then, Timothy by my side suddenly chimed in. ¡°The paintings on the first floor are mostly frommercial artists. I¡¯m


    afraid they don¡¯t hold much value for collectors. As for the ones upstairs, no offense, but the artist is just riding the trend, painting


    whatever¡¯s hot. Even the so-called nostalgic themes are just old hat that everyone¡¯s tired of. Not worth mentioning.¡±


    do


    Chapter 118N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Timothy had this matter-of-fact tone, like he was some celeb critic, casually doling out his verdict. But his words galled both


    Hogan and Cecilia, It was supposed to be a romantic moment for the couple, yet his few remarks managed to throw a wet


    nket on them.


    Being a few years younger, he sure didn¡¯t hold back. To avoid making things more awkward, 1 jumped in to smooth things over,


    ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s choice of artwork is a gesture for someone special, and it¡¯s the thought that counts above all.¡±


    Timothy wasn¡¯t dense. He got the hint and quickly added, ¡°Sorry, | saw you were close with Xaviera, so | spoke my mind. If | was


    too blunt, my apologies.¡±


    With his fair skin and those pretty eyes, plus the naive and innocent look on his face, his apologetic words actually matched


    Cecilia''s cuteness.


    After all, who would get worked up over a fresh-facedd? Sure enough, the next second, | heard Cecilia say, ¡°Thanks for the


    heads-up. Xaviera, your friend sure is frank.¡±


    | nced at Timothy but didn¡¯t deny it, yet when my eyes swept over Hogan, | noticed the corners of his mouth dip slightly in


    displeasure.


    He rarely let his emotions show like that. Probably felt like we killed his vibe of spoiling his girl


    ¡°Xaviera, you guys chat.¡± Cecilia said naturally, looping her arm through Hogan¡¯s to wrap things up. ¡°It¡¯s about time. We should


    be heading off.¡±

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    Hogan didn¡¯t put up a fight, but | caught another piece of intel, sharp as a tack


    Cecilia mentioned it was about time¡ªcould that mean FreeMan was about to make his grand entrance? | was all revved up and


    raring to go.


    ¡°Xaviera,¡± a crisp voice snapped me out of my reverie, looks like you¡¯re not exactly batting at thousand with your judgment, huh?¡±


    Those eyes were glinting with mischief, and | suddenly realized I¡¯d underestimated the man in front of me. Timothy was way


    more on the ball than I''d given him credit for.


    Soon. Timothy got roped into schmoozing by Sean, while | mingled with the crowd, trying to spot anyone shady. But no dice¡ª


    couldn''t pick out a single suspect.


    So, back to square one: Hogan and Cecilia. After some people¡ªwatching, the guy who chatted up Hogan the longest was this


    middle-aged dude with a tiny braid, looked about forty-something. Kinda matched FreeMan¡¯s vibe, to be honest.


    Once their convo wrapped up, | strolled over with a ss of bubbly to say hi. A bit of small talk, and | fished out some art-rted


    tidbits from him, which only thickened the plot.


    | was low-key thrilled, but then he hit me with, ¡°Got any ns after the party?! know this killer restaurant. We could grab a bite


    and talk.¡±


    | fraze, words stuck in my throat. Hanging out with Wallis, I''ve learned to read between the lines


    when people talked.


    ¡°She¡¯s busy,¡± came a frosty voice at my ear, ¡°very busy.¡±


    | whipped around to see Hogan, all dapper in a ck suit, just standing there like a ninja, solo. His Siamese twin, Cecilia, was


    nowhere to be seen.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    He had this stormy look about him, like he was in a foul mood.


    The middle-aged guy, with a chuckle, threw a puzzled look at Hogan. ¡°You know this beauty too, Hogan?¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t even bother with him, justsered his eyes on me and snapped, ¡°Ms. March


    seems idle, How¡¯s the jobing along?¡±


    ¡°Ms. March.¡± The guy gave me a surprised once-over, and then after a beat, straightened up, all business-like, ¡°Ah, the Ms.


    March praised by Tack himself, my apologies.¡±


    Just as | was about to respond. Hogan cut in. ¡°| asked you a question.¡±


    He was all keyed up, a far cry from his usual cool and collected self.


    | told it to him straight. ¡°No progress yet.¡±


    ¡°So you''ve got time to flirt around?¡±


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    do


    || Chaster 119


    The wine¡¯s aroma raced the man¡¯s breath into my nostrils as | locked eyes with Hogan, His gaze was hazy, his eyes swirling with


    mockery and irritation.


    Flirting around? Who was ying who here?


    I sure as heck wasn¡¯t about to spill the beans that | was trying to suss out FreeMan¡¯s identity. so | just pressed my lips, staying


    mum.


    Seeing this, Hogan¡¯s brows knitted together, he huffed, ¡°How did you sweet-talk the Temple family¡¯s son into bringing you to the


    art show this time?¡±


    The Temple family¡¯s son. The same big¡ªshot Rivertown Temple family | knew of?


    | blinked, stunned, not expecting Timothy to have that kind of pedigree. Considering his earlier actions, it all made sense. But the


    way Hogan put it, didn¡¯t sound like he meant anything nice.


    The frustration that had been brewing in my chest rushed to my head, but | squashed it down. nced around, and realized the


    middle-aged man had vanished into thin air, leaving just Hogan and me in the corner.


    And his presence was brimming with a low pressure, so stifling | could barely breathe.


    ¡°Mr. Zade.¡± | tightened my grip on the ss, trying to shake off the difort. ¡°if you''ll excuse


    1.me.


    ¡°Heh,¡± the sneer hit my ears again, and | heard Hogan say, ¡°Darren''s taken a shine to you, but he really mistook the moon¡¯s


    reflection for a pearl.¡±

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    Although | had been used to butting heads with Hogan when | heard him dissing me over and over, | couldn''t help but let out a


    sneer. ¡°Yeah, if I¡¯m such a small fry, how did Mr. Zade put up with me for she whole years?¡±


    Why not cut ties clean and sharp right from the start? My words seemed to have caught Hogan off guard. He just stared at me


    silently, his pupils swirling like they could suck someone in at any moment.


    Weirdly out of character. This was a side of Hogan I''d never seen before.


    Just as | was squirming under his intense gaze, a familiar sweet and mellow voice cut in ¡°Hogan, Xaviera, what¡¯s up with you


    two?¡±


    | looked towards the voice and there was Cecilia, looking totally baffled, standing a couple of steps away, clutching her skirt with


    both hands, all uneasy and on guard.


    Defensive much? | felt a bit awkward, especially thinking about how Hogan had just embarrassed me, and | was at a loss for


    words.


    ¡°What''s the situation?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s deep voice echoed at my side. | nced at him casually; the guy was already back to his cool,posed CEO


    demeanor.


    Cecilia hurried over, nced at me, and said, ¡°Mr. Paisley just got the news too; says he wants toe over and personally


    apologize.¡±


    To apologize? Suddenly, | had a bad feeling.


    Out of the blue, Cecilia added, ¡°FreeMan definitely can¡¯t make it today.


    That took me by surprise. Given Hogan¡¯s fortune and clout around Rivertown, there weren¡¯t many who''d dare to stand him up.


    Not to mention they had a meeting scheduled with FreeMan in advance. How could it just get blown off like that? Way too


    sudden.


    | shot a sideways nce at Hogan and saw a sharp, displeased look in his eyes.


    ¡°Hogan, don¡¯t be mad.¡± Cecilia too sensed the palpable tension around the man, and soothed him. ¡°Mr. Paisley said there¡¯s a


    reason for it, and he¡¯ll exin it to you himself.¡±


    Hogan raised an eyebrow, ¡°A reason?¡±


    Cecilia faltered, her pretty eyes suddenly darting towards me, ¡°Maybe you should ask Mr. Paisley yourself?¡±


    She shouldn''t have said that ¡ª it just piqued my curiosity. Hogan, sharp as ever, caught on to this and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this reason


    Mr. Paisley mentioned?¡±


    do


    As soon as he finished, Cecilia¡¯s gaze fell on me again, hesitating. Hogan was smart as a whip and immediately sensed


    something was off from Cecilia¡¯s expression. ¡°It¡¯s okay; just spit it


    out.¡±


    Cecilia twisted her fingers, nced at me timidly, and said, ¡°Mr. Paisley mentioned that FreeMan isn¡¯t one to break his word


    lightly. If he decided to bail at thest minute, it must be because something unexpected came up at the art show, or maybe he


    caught wind of something.


    ¡°And?¡±


    Cecilia took a deep breath and continued, ¡°From what Mr. Paisley suggests, it seems like the problem originated from our end.


    Her hint couldn''t be clearer ¡ª FreeMan¡¯s sudden change of ns might have something to doText property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    with me.


    Hogan caught that too and sneered before looking at me. ¡°Ms. March, are you happy with this situation now?¡±


    | stared at Hogan in disbelief, feeling like my throat was clogged with glue. | wanted to exin. but words failed me.


    Trouble, sparked by me. | admited it was a possibility, but Hogan, the man ofposure, was he really going to jump to


    conclusions based on a few spective remarks from Mr. Paisley and Cecilia and pin the me on me?


    Could FreeMan really be so omniscient to know that | was at the art show and throw a fit by not showing up? Just be clear, |


    didn¡¯t even have a chance to speak with FreeMan.


    Did that make any sense? A situation illogical, yet there was Hogan, after just some words from Cecilia, even his gaze at me was


    tinged with suspicion.


    ¡°Mr. Paisley is on his way,¡± Cecilia, seeming to feel a bit sorry, nced at me before adding. ¡°Let''s hear what he has to say.¡±


    Twenty minutester, Morgan appeared outside the art gallery with his secretary. He started off with a whole lot of apologizing to


    Hogan, and then got to talking about FreeMan, ¡°We''ve been partners for seven or eight years, Mr. Zade, and nothing like this


    has ever happened before.¡±

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    It was pretty straightforward, wasn¡¯t it? After a solid seven or eight years of coboration. FreeMan never stood anyone up. The


    problem definitely wasn¡¯t on their end.


    ¡°Did he mention any specific reasons?¡±


    Hearing that, Morgan nced at me awkwardly and said. ¡°He didn¡¯t spell out any reasons.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Paisley, spit it out.¡± Hogan was clearly at the end of his rope. ¡°If there¡¯s no good reason, Rainbow Capital ain¡¯t gonna let this


    slide.¡±


    His fone was icy, carrying an invisible weight that pressed down on him.


    Morgan, who''d been around the block a few times, could smell what Hogan was stepping in and sighed. ¡°Somehow, FreeMan


    got wind that there¡¯s some aesthetic disagreements within yourpany. He said he hates getting into a fuss.¡±


    The words ¡°aesthetic disagreements¡± hit my ears and | suddenly got a bad feeling. That should be ourpany¡¯s confidential


    business. How did FreeMan get his hands on that info?


    ¡°No way, we haven''t even met with FreeMan.¡± Cecilia suddenly chimed in, confused. ¡°How did he catch wind of our aesthetic


    disagreements, Xaviera?¡±


    With that ¡°Xaviera*, all eyes were back on me. | was already stewing, and now | was about to blow a gasket, ¡°is Director Irwin


    implying that | spilled the beans?¡±


    Cecilia looked downcast, ¡°Xaviera, you got it twisted. | didn¡¯t mean that.¡±


    She said so, ying the victim card.


    | dialed back my tone, and replied, ¡°I¡¯m just talking facts here.¡±


    ¡°Talking facts?¡± Hogan¡¯s voice spiked, ¡°Xaviera, at this point, don¡¯t you get that you''ve screwed up?¡±


    | looked up at Hogan, his gaze sharp as a tack, like a de hidden in his eyes.


    ¡°What I¡¯ve screwed up?¡± As | spoke, | found my voice shaking, ¡°I''d appreciate Mr. Zade enlightening me.¡±


    ¡°You showing up at the art show out of the blue, nosing around and asking guests about FreeMan. Those folks can smell a rat a


    mile away. Did you think they wouldn¡¯t catch on?¡±


    | prided myself on always holding back a little, never letting slip about our internal disagreements. But now, Hogan was


    convinced | was the spark that lit this dumpster fire.


    | mustered a bitter smile and kept my mouth shut. What was the point in arguing? It was like talking to a brick wall.


    ¡°Hogan, now¡¯s not the time for finger¡ªpointing.¡± Cecilia interjected cautiously as the atmosphere turned frosty, ¡°Mr. Paisley,


    there¡¯s a reason for everything. If it¡¯s possible, please


    do


    Chapter 121


    let FreeMan know we¡¯d like to clear the air with him personally.¡±


    Morgan sneaked another nce at me, hemming and hawing. Then Hogan added, ¡°Mr. Paisley. you''re not suggesting we let this


    go, are you?¡±


    Morgan¡¯s eyebrows shot up, his tone eager to please, ¡°Of course not, but FreeMan¡¯s always been a free spirit, and he¡¯s leaving


    Rivertown tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Leaving?¡± Cecilia blinked, ¡°Is he off to a new gig?¡±


    ¡°Fieldwork, down in Meadowbrook¡¯s southern parts.¡± Morgan said candidly, ¡°Mr. Zade, that''s all | can share with you.¡±


    Morgan was clear he''d done us a solid with that info. Whether we could find and persuade FreeMan was on us.


    After Morgan left, Cecilia sidled up to Hogan, ¡°Hogan, | think this is our shot.¡±


    ¡°Ms. March, what¡¯s your take?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    | didn¡¯t expect Hogan to bring me up ata time like this, but | figured he had a n, so | said. ¡°What do you have in mind. Mr.


    Zade?¡±


    | felt aggrieved, sure, but not so much that I''d lost my marbles. After all, we all wanted the game tounch without a hitch.


    But then I heard Hogan say, ¡°Well then, the task of convincing FreeMan falls to Ms. March.¡±

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    do


    In a breezy tone, Hogan just dropped this hot mess right on my shoulders. Suddenly, it felt like an invisible giant


    squeezing my heart, so tight | could barely the


    When we visited Morgan, me, Hogan and Cecilia were all there. It was hard enough to get the meeting since Hogan was busy


    pampering Cecilia with her career and leaving me out in the cold


    Now that there was a curveball and things were heading south fast, he was looking at me to


    clean up the mess


    Turned out after all this hustle, | was just the fall guy


    looked like ¡ª was like chasing a


    Convincing FreeMan- when we didn¡¯t even have a clue what he looked like- fairy tale.


    if by some fluke | pulled it off, that was just me doing my job. But if | didn¡¯t, well, we all knew what wasing.


    And there was Ceci, ready to throw her hat in the ring. | curled my fingers, trying to w back some sanity, and said with a hint


    of sarcasm. ¡°Mr. Zade sure has a lot of faith in me.¡±


    | was obviously talking in opposites. Hogan got the hint and nonchntly said, ¡°Ms. March, aren¡¯t you full of tricks? Alright, this


    time. I''ll give you plenty of room to show me what your got. One week, | expect to see satisfying results.¡±


    One week. Not only did Hogan give me a tough nut to crack, but he only gave me a measly week


    The southern part of Meadowbrook was a famous tourist spot, crowded with thousands of visitors every day. Firlding FreeMan


    there in such a short time was like looking for a needle in a haystack.


    It dawned on me that Hogan was probably setting me up on purpose, targeting me.


    Cecilia, seeing the situation, piped up. ¡°Hogan, isn¡¯t one week a bit too short? It¡¯s really putting Xaviera in a tight spot.


    That was quite considerate of her.


    Hogan looked at me as if he¡¯d heard a joke and said. ¡°Ms. March, you feel it¡¯s too much?¡±


    | gritted my teeth and forced a casual tone, ¡°Fine. I''ll take on the mission.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    When Wallis heard the whole story, she was livid, ¡°This is the time to y dumb or throw a tantrum, for heaven¡¯s sake. Why not


    act cute with Hogan and save yourself the headache?¡±


    Tugging the corners of my lips, | replied, ¡°You think I¡¯m Cecilia?¡±


    ¡°But the fact that FreeMan stood us upst minute is really weird.¡± Wallis snapped back to reality, pondering, ¡®Seems this guy¡¯s


    got more intel than we thought.¡±


    12


    10:50 7


    do


    Chip 122


    This just got trickier.


    ¡°No worries, I¡¯ve already infiltrated FreeMan¡¯s fan group. | believe we''ll have new leads soon enough.¡± Wallis reassured me. ¡°But


    it looks like you''ll have to make the trip to Meadowbrook alone.


    | Thepany couldn¡¯t run without a boss; if we were both gone, it¡¯d be chaos. | knew then that this time, | had to rely on myself.


    But charging in blind would get me nowhere: | needed a n. As | was seriously scrolling through FreeMan¡¯s Twitter, a message


    suddenly popped up on my phone.


    ¡°Xaviera, the insurancepany has sorted everything out; you can pick up the car in four- days.¡±


    | opened it and saw it was a message from Timothy. Before leaving the art show that afternoon. we¡¯d exchanged contact info.


    The message also had a photo of the insurancepany¡¯s settlement receipt. Gotta say, the guy was pretty efficient.


    ¡°Thanks a lot. I''ll transfer the money to you right away.


    No sooner had | sent the message than Timothy called.


    ¡°Are you dissing me. Xaviera?¡± There was a hint of irritation in his voice as he gruffly said, ¡°It¡¯s the other driver¡¯s fault entirely:


    how can | let you pay?¡±


    | exined, ¡°You''ve been running around handling this; you deserve it.¡±


    ¡°You really feel that way?¡±


    | didn¡¯t expect such a question out of the blue and replied earnestly. ¡°Truly and sincerely.¡±

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    ¡°Hey, how about you treat me to a meal tomorrow? Timothy¡¯s voice was crisp, with a hint of coquettishness at the end. ¡°I¡¯m still


    worried about that injury on your wrist, you know.


    Gotta say, his emotional intelligence was off the charts. | pinched the bridge of my nose, about to decline, but then | remembered


    Timothy was a die-hard fan of FreeMan and quickly changed my tune. ¡°Sure, how does Aurora Eats sound?¡±


    Any clue was still a clue.


    The next second. Timothy¡¯s heartyugh came through the phone, ¡°Whatever you say.¡±


    Since | had to head out to Meadowbrook in the afternoon, | made ns to grab lunch with Timothy.


    After wrapping up my work. | headed downstairs. No sooner had | stepped out of the building than someone blocked my path. |


    looked up to see Timothy, all cool and yful in his shades. standing in front of me.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    He was decked out in a ck shearling cor jacket, paired with matching casual pants and Doc Martens, looking like he¡¯d just


    stepped out of a fashion spread as a motorcycle model Quite the eye¡ªcatcher.


    | didn¡¯t expect Timothy to show up at the office. Then | heard a sigh. ¡°Come on, Xaviera, is that all the reaction | get? Aren¡¯t you


    even a little bit surprised to see me?¡±


    Thinking of the business card | had handed out earlier, | asked. ¡°What brought you here so early?¡±


    ¡°Just picking you up.¡± Timothy quipped with his usual humor, ¡°I mean, getting a chance to eat with you? | gotta be proactive.¡±


    Confidence and mboyance were in his DNA, thanks to his fancy family background.


    He actually made me chuckle, and | half¡ªjoked. ¡°Where¡¯s your noble steed for this chariot ride. then?¡±


    Timothy probably didn¡¯t expect me to y along, and after a second¡¯s pause, he bowed slightly and gestured with his hand,


    ¡°Right this way.¡±


    Total drama king.


    Just as we were about to leave, Cecilia¡¯s unexpected greeting rang out from behind us, ¡°Xaviera, so you¡¯re here.¡±


    | turned around, puzzled, and there stood Cecilia and Hogan not too far away.


    Why on earth was Hogan here in the middle of the day? After a brief pause, | asked Timothy to wait for me in the car and


    approached them.


    Cecilia cocked her head, nced at the Maserati nearby, and gossiped, ¡°Xaviera, He looks


    1/2


    10:50 T


    do


    Chatter 121


    familiar. Was that Mr. Temple from the art show yesterday?¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s memory sure was better than | thought, and her eyes were sharp, too..


    | didn¡¯t bite, just nced at Hogan and asked, ¡°Mr. Zade, you needed to see me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not Hogan, it¡¯s me. Cecilia jumped in, all serious, ¡°Here¡¯s the thing, | have a friend that was enrolled at the same university


    earlier than me. Her family runs a hotel business in the southern part of Meadowbrook. | was hoping to ask her to keep an eye


    out for FreeMan, and i was nning to visit her folks with Hogan.¡±


    | was taken aback and momentarily lost for words. The whole convincing FreeMan thing was supposed to be none of Cecilia¡¯s


    business anymore.


    But the kind-hearted gal couldn¡¯t stand to see me stressed and went out of her way to pull some strings. And wouldn''t that just


    warm the cockles of Hogan''s heart?


    ¡°| was actually hoping to invite you along, but now,¡± Cecilia paused, and then added, ¡°It seems you might be a bit tied up.¡±


    Her eyes flickered meaningfully toward the figure behind me. We worked in the same building. separated only by a ss door. If


    Cecilia had really wanted to let me know in advance, why wait until now?


    Curling my lips into a knowing smile, | replied, ¡°| appreciate the thought, Director Irwin, but as you can see. I¡¯ve got ns.¡±

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    Chapter 124


    | was just keeping it real here- time was money. Instead of banking on Cecilia and Hogan, I¡¯d rather hit up Timothy,


    But the truth could sting, and boy, did it sting. No sooner had | dropped the bomb than Cecilia¡¯s smile froze like a deer in


    headlights, and Hogan, standing next to her, let out a mocking snort.


    Here we are, hair on fire, and Ms. March is still ying moonlight and roses. Talk about being in the mood.¡±


    Gotta hand it to the finance major ¡ª he was prominent in using the fancy talk.


    | wasn¡¯t looking to start a beef, so | kept it cool and said. ¡°My personal affairs don¡¯t need to be your concern. Mr. Zade


    | was about to bounce when Hogan¡¯s icy voice caught up with me. ¡°Xaviera, what¡¯s with the


    attitude?


    | paused, looked up at Hogan, and heard him say. ¡°We went to bat for you, and you can¡¯t even cough up a thank you? Who are


    you giving the cold shoulder to?¡±


    So my annoyance was that obvious, huh?


    | nced at Hogan and then at Cecilia, who was looking down, tugging at Hogan¡¯s sleeve with a hurt puppy look, saying, ¡°It¡¯s


    okay, Hogan. | never did any of this expecting thanks from Xaviera. Don¡¯t get heated on my ount.¡±


    At her words, the anger in Hogan¡¯s face seemed to dial down a notch, but the look he shot me


    was still venomous.


    ¡°Seriously,¡± he muttered, ¡°some people just don¡¯t know chalk from cheese.¡±


    With that, Hogan and Cecilia left, and | didn¡¯t exhale until their silhouettes had vanished from my sight. | opened my palm and


    took a deep breath.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    At the car, Timothy gave me a puzzled look and asked, ¡°Xaviera, you feeling alright? You look kinda pale.¡±


    | forced a smile and said. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just hungry.¡±


    In the private room at Aurora Eats, | pushed the dishes towards Timothy and said, ¡°I¡¯m treating today, so don¡¯t be shy, eat up.¡±


    Xaviera, you really know how to look after someone,¡± supporting his chin. Timothy said to me. joy palpable in his pretty eyes.


    With FreeMan¡¯s deal on my mind, | didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°Actually, | invited you to be here because there¡¯s something |


    want to ask you.¡±


    ¡°Shoot.¡±


    do


    Chapter 124


    Seeing Timothy''s eager response, |


    laid it out, ¡°You say you¡¯re a die-hard fan of FreeMan, Do you know he¡¯s got a habit of visiting old towns every year for


    inspiration?¡±


    Timothy crammed a piece of crunchy yam into his mouth and said nonchntly. ¡°Yeah, the guy¡¯s a real free spirit. Finishes a


    plece and then he¡¯s off wandering for days. Why you suddenly interested?¡±


    ¡°Do you know his travel preferences?¡± | pressed on for details, ¡°Like, does he prefer driving or public transport, hotels or B&Bs?


    The more details, the better.


    At those words, Timothy ced down his utensils mid-air, giving me a curious look, ¡°But | heard FreeMan t-out declined to


    work with you, Xaviera. Still not taking no for an answer?¡±


    | thought about where | stood, and stayed quiet. To give up or to keep going¡ªit was not really


    up to me.


    Seeing | remained silent, Timothy sighed and tried to be the voice of reason, ¡°Xaviera, take my advice. FreeMan¡¯s a stubborn


    guy. If he¡¯s said no, he won''t change his mind. You might as well drop it.


    | just stared at Timothy, not responding. And what shed through my mind was Cecilia¡¯s


    question.

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    ¡°Yeah, howe FreeMan gave us the cold shoulder without so much as a hello? Unless he got wind of something through the


    grapevine. Of course, there¡¯s another possibility | haven¡¯t ruled out.¡±


    ¡°What possibility?¡±


    | shifted my gaze back and said calmly. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit bizarre how well-connected FreeMan is? Timothy, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit


    too incredible?¡±


    Timothy shot me a nce, his bright eyes twinkling with surprise. ¡°Xaviera, you''re not suspecting that I¡¯m FreeMan, are you?¡±


    | didn¡¯t deny the spection.


    Seeing my reaction. Timothy facepalmed and said. ¡°Xaviera, I¡¯m ttered that you think so highly of me. Alright, alright, since


    you''re such a looker, I''ll throw you a bone and spill a couple of freebies.


    Timothy let me in on the fact that FreeMan had a go-to B&B he stayed at in the southern part of Meadowbrook, called Lucky


    Star.


    Hearing that, | breathed a sigh of relief. At least the trip wasn¡¯t a total bust.


    Soon enough, | tracked down the B&B¡¯s address online. It was this standalone rainforest hut nestled among mountains and


    bamboo seas ¡ª not too big but super popr locally for its unique vibe.


    So hot people gotta book six months in advance. No chance | was getting a room there. That night, | ended up dragging my


    luggage to a budget hotel right across from Lucky Star, ying the waiting game.


    Another clue | got from Timothy was that FreeMan was also a mountain climbing enthusiast.


    Thanks to Wallis, I¡¯d got to know all sorts of outdoor brands these past couple of years. With FreeMan¡¯s status, his gear had to


    be top-notch. And one could tell a lot about a person who exercised regrly by their physique.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    | was starting to get the picture. The next morning, | strolled to the cafe by Lucky Star as nned, ordered a simple meal, and


    sat by the window, patiently waiting.


    But what | didn¡¯t seeing was that familiar Maybach pulling up before long, just like Hogan¡¯s.


    | paused for a sec, and then in a sh, | saw Zachary nimbly head to the trunk to grab some luggage.


    Just as the rear door swung open, | froze seeing those long, straight legs stepping out. There stood Hogan, dressed to the nines


    in a dark grey herringbone cashmere suit, topped with a ck turtleneck and matching vest. The whole look was elegant yet


    rxed, understated yet


    10:50 M


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    Chapter


    confident.


    He was a real head-turner in the soft morning light. Even the cafe¡¯s waitstaff couldn¡¯t help but pop their heads out for a better


    look, eyes glued to the man.


    Right on cue, Lucky Star¡¯s manager stepped forward to greet him, taking the car keys from Zachary and politely saying, ¡°Mr.


    Zade, your room is all set. President Stapleton made sure you got the best suite reserved.¡±


    The ttery in his voice was pretty obvious. Unfazed, Hogan looked out toward the mountains and gave a slight nod, ¡°Much


    appreciated.¡±


    With that, he strode towards the front door of Lucky Star without a sideways nce.


    For a moment, it all felt like a dream, and it took me a while to grasp the reality-Hogan was actually here, and he¡¯d checked into


    the very B&B | couldn¡¯t even book.


    But why? He''d already dumped the FreeMan hassle on me, so why show up in person? Could it just be a coincidence?

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    | didn¡¯t hit up Hogan first. Knowing him, there was no way he hauled his butt all the way over


    here just to take a break. And out of all the hotels, he just had to pick that one.


    After giving it some thought, there was only one reason that could ve cooked up this coincidence¡ªHogan was here for FreeMan


    too. For Cecilia.


    That meant the moment he showed up, it was game on between us.


    Hogan managed to snag a spot at Lucky Star and was tight with the hotel¡¯s big cheese, clearly one-upping me. Feeling the heat,


    | pumped myself up to full throttle.


    After a day of scoping the ce out and small talk, | got they of thend around this hotel, figured out the hiking trails and


    paths, and, with a little nudge from a caf¨¦ waiter. | hit up the local climbing clubs to rent some gear for tomorrow¡¯s hike.


    Waiting for things to fall into myp was not gonna cut it ¡ª | had to take the bull by the horns.


    The next day, | rocked up to the trailhead as nned, and would you believe it, | bumped into Zachary,


    ¡°Didn''t expect to see you at Pinecrest Hollow so soon, Xaviera.¡± Zachary looked all gobsmacked, ¡°You could¡¯ve given me a


    heads-up, and I would''vee to fetch you.


    That threw me for a loop. | was not Cecilia; what right did | have to boss around Hogan¡¯s right-hand man? But then it hit me¡ª


    clever as Hogan was, he probably guessed I¡¯d show up here.


    ¡°Just you?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Zachary blurted. ¡°Mr. Zade and President Stapleton are on their way: should be here any minute.¡±


    Right as he said that, his gaze shot past me, his face lighting up, ¡°Look, here theye now.¡± | followed Zachary¡¯s eyes and


    spotted the duo approaching from a distance.


    Hogan, decked out in an army green jacket, dark pants, and matching hiking boots, had ditched his usual meticulous look for


    something more spirited and a touch less stern.


    But what really caught me off guard was the bombshell standing beside him, donning a matching set in a different color.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Yep, the President Stapleton striding alongside Hogan was a dazzling long-haired beauty. She looked about our age, with a


    pretty oval face, and when she smiled at Hogan, it was extraordinarily infectious.


    In her eyes, there was an unhidden admiration and fondness for the man before her. But that look hesitated just a tad when her


    eyesnded on me.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, who''s this?¡± She asked, eyeing me with curiosity.


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    ¡°Xaviera,¡± Hogan didn¡¯t miss a beat at my surprise appearance, his tone steady, ¡°a partner from Rainbow Capital¡±


    ¡°Quite the looker, aren¡¯t you?¡± The girl said, giving me the once¡ª-over before extending her hand, ¡°Shirley Stapleton.¡±


    Talked about confidence.


    But just as | reached out, Shirley suddenly shifted gears, her gaze sliding over to Hogan, ¡°Mr. Zade, you''re here on business at


    Pinecrest Hollow with such a stunner; aren¡¯t you worried about making Cecilia jealous?¡±


    Her teasing tone had an edge, clearly more to it than met the eye. Suddenly, it dawned on me -this Shirley might just be that


    friend Cecilia had mentioned.


    | quickly rified, ¡°I¡¯m not with Mr. Zade: we just happened to run into each other here.¡±


    Shirley''s lips curled into a smile, saying, ¡°Oh, Ms. March, no offense, just pulling your leg. 1 personally took care of Mr. Zade¡¯s


    check-in, so I¡¯m well aware whether you¡¯re traveling together or not.¡±

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    | was suddenly at a loss for words. My gut was screaming that this President Stapleton was no ordinary Joe.


    Sure enough, the very next second, | heard Shirley say, ¡°I bet it¡¯s Ms. March¡¯s first time here at Pinecrest Hollow. Since we''re so


    fated, let me show you around and soak in the beauty of this ce, shall we?¡±


    On the surface, her words seemed super friendly, but thinking about Shirley''s rtionship with Cecilia, | tactfully responded, ¡°I


    really appreciate your offer, President Stapleton, but | was just nning on wandering around a bit, so no need to,¡±


    ¡°President Stapleton is being so hospitable.¡± A chilly voice cut me off, ¡°Ms. March, it¡¯s not good to decline.


    That was Hogan speaking. With a casual tone, he just went ahead and made the decision for


    1.me.


    As sharp as he was, could he not see Shirley¡¯s animosity towards me? | felt a bit miffed and when | looked up at Hogan, he


    seemed totally unfazed, not a hint of any other emotion, pretty innocent-looking.


    Gritting my teeth, | said calmly, ¡°Well, then, | guess | should just roll with it.¡±


    But looking at it from another angle, Shirley was the big cheese of Lucky Star after all. Rubbing shoulders with her might just let


    me dig up some info on FreeMan.


    One gotta think big in life.


    After we all had our tickets checked, the four of us set out for our hike, with Hogan and Shirley leading the pack, and Zachary


    and | tagging along behind. All the way up, Shirley was chatting up a storm with Hogan, asionally throwing in a bit of a


    coquettish charm.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    And Hogan, true to form, didn¡¯t talk much but didn¡¯t show a speck of impatience either.


    | suddenly felt a twinge of sympathy for Cecilia. If Cecilia was a delicate little white kitten, then Shirley was a seductive little


    vixen, and with those long legs. slender waist, and curves in all the right ces, | figured any guy would have a hard time


    resisting.


    Watching the scene unfold, | had a hunch | wouldn''t be getting any intel on FreeMan today. Thinking it over, | couldn¡¯t just waste


    my time ying third wheel, so when we reached the first viewing deck, | took the hint and said, ¡°Mr. Zade, President Stapleton,


    I''m not feeling too strong. so | might not continue the hike with you all.¡±


    | was speaking the truth; ever since that incident. | haven''t been the same. Climbing mountains and such really took it out of me


    these days.


    Shirley, upon hearing this, said with a tinge of regret, ¡°That¡¯s such a shame; the sea of clouds up here is famous. But no worries,


    the porters here all know me: | can arrange for them to escort Ms. March down if needed.


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    Chapter 127


    ¡°Thanks for the offer, President Stapleton.¡± | declined politely. ¡°But it¡¯s all good. | can take the cable car down. You just enjoy the


    mountain scenery with Mr. Zade.¡±


    | still needed to scope out the tourists, so of course, | couldn¡¯t just bail


    At those words. Shirley shed a grin, ¡°Of course, Mr. Zade is our esteemed quest. I¡¯ll make sure to take good care of him.¡±


    After saying that, her alluring gazended on Hogan¡¯s face without any inhibition, a mix of charm and flirtation.


    This should have been a happy ending for everyone involved, but the very next second, | heard Hogan say, ¡°Ms. March doesn¡¯t


    strike me as the type to give up halfway. What''s the matter? Trying to ck off?¡±


    Instantly, the smile hiding in the shadows of my face froze. And then | heard Hogan follow up with. ¡°If you were afraid of getting


    tired or dealing with hardship, you could have chosen not toe. What''s the point of starting something if you¡¯re not going to


    finish it?¡±

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    | didn¡¯t expect Hogan to drop such a bomb on me out of the blue. | was stuck between a rock and a hard ce, not knowing


    whether to stay or go.


    But then, Zachary stepped in to smooth things over, ¡°Mr. Zade, Ms. March looks like she hardly hits the gym and seems totally


    wiped out.¡±


    At that, Hogan shot Zachary a frosty look and sneered. ¡°You sure have an eye for details.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    It was clear as day that Hogan was out to get me.


    Zachary¡¯s mouth hung open for a sec, and he shot me an aggrieved look, but he didn¡¯t dare to make another peep.


    | thought to myself, dealing with a boss with such a short fuse was really putting Zachary¡¯s nerves to the test.


    In that moment, the air was thick with awkwardness.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, lighten up, will ya?¡± Shirley chimed in then, ¡°Usdies just don¡¯t have the stamina you guys do. How about this? I¡¯ve


    got a win-win solution. Wanna hear it?¡±


    She spoke with a smile, totally unfazed by the chill on Hogan¡¯s face.


    ¡°Go ahead, President Stapleton.¡±


    ¡°Since Ms. March is running on fumes, let¡¯s just give her enough time to recharge.¡± Shirley said with a cunning glint in her eye,


    turning to Zachary, ¡°How about this, Zachary takes care of Ms. March, and I''ll keep Mr. Zadepany climbing the mountain.


    We''ll meet at the mountaintop restaurantter, deal?¡±


    Her tone was inquiring, but it was obvious she had already made up her mind. Smart women often knew how to create their own


    opportunities. Shirley was one of them.


    Zachary was taken aback for a moment, and then quickly shot Hogan a look begging for backup. But Hogan dodged Zachary¡¯s


    gaze like he was invisible.


    Fair enough, turning down or immediately epting an offer from a beauty like her would¡¯ve been a no-go, especially since


    there was a Cecilia in the picture with him and Shirley.


    But Shirley¡¯s suggestion was music to my ears. So | boldly said, ¡°President Stapleton, you''re so thoughtful. This way, | get to rest


    up without holding you and Mr. Zade back from enjoying the sea of clouds. It¡¯s the best of both worlds.¡±


    Shirley cracked a satisfied smile and turned to Hogan, ¡°So, Mr. Zade, we good to go with this n?¡±


    Then, without warning, those piercing eyesnded on me, and | heard Hogan say in a nonchnt tone, ¡°Whatever.¡±


    Soon, only me and Zachary were left at the viewing deck.


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    Chabler 128


    Zachary took a sip of water and said, puzzled, ¡°Xaviera, it¡¯s obvious President Stapleton is up to no good. Are you really cool


    with Mr. Zade going off with her alone?¡±


    Shouldn''t Cecilia be the one to worry? | scoffed at myself. ¡°After all, your boss is quite the charmer.¡±


    ¡°Don''t get it twisted, Xaviera, Mr. Zade is just doing it for work.¡±


    gave Zachary a curious look and ribbed, ¡°What kind of work involves going two by two with Ms. Stapleton?¡±


    ¡°Xaviera, I¡¯m telling the truth. Mr. Zade agreed to President Stapleton¡¯s invite just to get his hands on that guest list.¡± Zachary


    was getting worked up, his voice growing louder. ¡°Once we have it, we can find.


    He mped his mouth shut abruptly, panic¡ªstricken, and blurted out, ¡°Crap. Mr. Zade told me to keep it under wraps.¡±


    | mused for a few seconds and finally pieced together what was going on. So the reason why Hogan was giving Shirley the time


    of day, even willing to hike up a mountain to see a sea of clouds, was all because he was after that hotel¡¯s guest list.


    That kind of info was super private; one couldn¡¯t even buy it with money. No wonder Hogan was willing to go the extra mile.


    For Cecilia¡¯s sake, he really was going above and beyond. Since Shirley had something so important, | figured | needed to make


    nice with President Stapleton too.

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    Thinking about this, | immediately got fired up and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m all rested up. Let''s hit


    the road.¡±


    An hourter, the four of us regrouped at the viewing deck in the sea of clouds area.


    Surrounded by the poetic and picturesque sea of clouds, it felt like stepping into a fairnd, and for a moment, the weight on my


    heart seemed to lift.


    ¡°Ms. March, would you mind snapping a pic of me and Mr. Zade together?¡±


    As | took Shirley''s smartphone, | was only too happy to oblige. ¡°Of course.¡±


    When opportunity knocked, who was | to turn it away? No sooner had | spoken than Shirley eagerly linked arms with Hogan,


    cozying up like they''d known each other for ages.


    The man in the frame, though unresponsive, didn¡¯t push her away either.


    Suddenly, | felt a bit dazed. For some reason, a sh of difort zipped through my chest.


    It hit me that Hogan and | had never taken such an intimate photo together. Every time | suggested taking a snapshot for


    keepsakes, Hogan would tell me that precious memories didn¡¯t need photos to endure.


    Looking back now, it was probably just his way of sugarcoating his indifference.


    ¡°Ms. March, is this okay?¡± Shirley¡¯s question snapped me back to reality.


    ¡°Move in a bit closer.¡± | steadied myself and decided to fan the mes for Shirley, ¡°President Stapleton, scooch over to the left a


    bit.¡±


    Hogan stood to Shirley''s left. In reality, they were already way closer than mere acquaintances. but Shirley was so star¡ªstruck by


    Hogan that upon hearing my suggestion, she practically glued herself to him, eager and proactive.


    ¡°Like this. Ms. March?¡±


    Knowing Shirley and her ties with Cecilia, she had to know Hogan was Cecilia¡¯s boyfriend. But that fine moral line seemed to


    crumble in the presence of a catch like Hogan.


    ¡°Perfect.¡± | humbly said, ¡°One, two, three.¡±


    The moment my camera clicked, Hogan couldn¡¯t wait to put some distance between him and Shirley, his expression a bit stiff.


    Pretending not to notice, | handed the phone back to Shirley and said politely. ¡°Please have a look, President Stapleton.¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Shirley happily took the phone, nced at it, and then showed it to Hogan. ¡°Mr. Zade, you know, we actually look quite good


    together.¡±


    Hogan kept a straight face and said, ¡°President Stapleton sure knows how to joke.¡±


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    Shirley, not expecting her enthusiasm to hit a brick wall, suddenly seemed a bit embarrassed. Her little crush on Hogan was in


    as day to anyone with eyes.


    It was just that she overestimated her charm and underestimated Cecilia¡¯s ce in Hogan¡¯s heart


    With the guest list in mind, | quickly smoothed things over. ¡°President Stapleton is so attractive, and Mr. Zade is graceful and


    handsome. When | saw you two together just now, only one phrase came to mind.¡±


    Curiosity piqued. Shirley bit. ¡°What phrase?¡±


    ¡°Amatch made in heaven.¡±


    After hearing this, Shirley shyly nced at Hogan and said, ¡°I never knew Ms. March had such a sense of humor. Looks like we''ll


    have to make a toast at lunch.


    | was more than willing, ¡°I¡¯m at President Stapleton¡¯s disposal.¡±


    I''d yed thepliment card. Watching Shirley beam and walk ahead, | let out a small sigh of rellet, but lifting my eyes, | met


    Hogan¡¯s piercing gaze.


    | quiltily avoided his stare, only to see him stride over and whisper. ¡°Not bad. Xaviera, getting bold. Using me to score points


    now?¡±

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    Hogan¡¯s sharpness totally knocked my socks off. | thought at most he¡¯d chalk my actions up to sucking up to a young hotshot


    CEO. But now, it seemed like he¡¯d got my number¡ªfigured out my little game.


    Life was all about acting, though, right? When it was our turn to take the stage, we gotta y the part to aT.


    Considering Hogan was the money man, | yed it cool to keep things smooth on the surface, shing a grin and saying, ¡°Cut it


    out. Mr. Zade. Even if you grant me the chance, | wouldn''t dare to pull your leg.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± He shot back with a look that could drill holes, ¡°I beg to differ


    That confident tone of his sent a flutter through my chest. Curling my fingers. | spoke one way and thought another. ¡°Of course,


    and you seemed pretty down to y along just now, didn¡¯t you, Mr. Zade?¡±


    Hearing that, Hogan¡¯s expression faltered, and he mmed up.


    I''d admit, there was a hint of snark in my words. Seeing my chance to bow out gracefully. | nced over at Shirley in the


    distance and said, ¡°President Stapleton is calling me over; | gotta


    jet.¡±


    Compared to Hogan, getting in good with Shirley was top of the to-do list.


    At the restaurant, by the floor-to-ceiling windows, Hogan and Shirley took the seats of honor at the antique, fancy long table,


    while me and Zachary faced them from across.


    The table was a feast for the eyes, and the ¡¯85 Lafite had been uncorked and allowed to breathe well ahead of time. Every detail


    screamed luxury and ss, showing the host¡¯s sincerity.


    After a beat, Shirley gave the waiter a nod, signaling to pour Hogan a ss. Hogan raised his hand just a bit, politely saying.


    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Zade, she runs a tight ship.¡±


    His words caught both Shirley and me off guard. No exnation needed, Cecilia was this ¡°she¡± Hogan referred to.


    The fact that Hogan was this whipped even when out and about was quite the jaw¡ªdropper. | had to tip my hat to Cecilia ¡ª girl


    knew how to keep her man in line.


    Anyone else might have blown their top hearing that response, but not Shirley. She took the decanter from the waiter with a


    warm smile and cooed, ¡°With such a perfect setting, it''d be a shame not to drink up. Mr. Zade. Right, Ms. March?¡±


    | was caught off guard by Shirley suddenly putting me on the spot. | knew messing up my answer couldnd me on Shirley''s


    cklist faster than one could say ¡°cheers*. But | couldn¡¯t afford to tick off Hogan either.


    Weighing my options, | decided to toss the ball back into Hogan¡¯s court, ¡°President Stapleton


    18:51 w?


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    Chanie 110Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    makes a good point, but Mr. Zade is also known for his self-discipline.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Shirley said with a sly grin, ¡°Mr. Zade, are you really gonna snub the effort | put into this feast? Is my wine not up to


    par, or is it me you''re not keen on?¡±


    That was a sticky wicket, especially since Shirley delivered it with a mix of sweet and sassy ¡ª abo most folks would find


    hard to resist.


    | silently crossed my fingers for Hogan, but the next second, | heard him say, ¡°Why the silent treatment, Ms. March? President


    Stapleton is talking to you.


    Hogan must''ve misread the room, because Shirley was clearly asking him, not me. | suddenly realized | was being thrown under


    the bus by Hogan again.


    Looking up at him, | saw him casually sipping his tea with aid-back air. Looked like | was being set up as a no-hoper, eh?


    Well then, no hard feelings if | didn¡¯t y nice.


    ¡°Mr. Zade,¡± | said, keeping my voice even but stern, ¡°given President Stapleton¡¯s kind gesture, it''d be pretty rude not to have at


    least one drink.¡±


    As soon as my words hit the air, | heard a thud ¡ª Hogan''s tea cup had been set down gently yet firmly on the table. Seemed like


    he wasn¡¯t too pleased.


    | had no choice but to borate, ¡°Plus, President Stapleton and Director Irwin are thick as thieves. With Director Irwin¡¯s generous


    nature, she surely won¡¯t hold it against you.

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    Well, | had no choice, did |? Everyone was here for FreeMan, so naturally, | sided with the team that worked in my favor.


    As for Hogan, | couldn¡¯t bother with too much about him. And sure enough, after my piece, Shirley was all smiles, ¡°Ms. March,


    always so understanding: what do you think, Mr. Zade?¡±


    His calm gazended on my face without a ripple. After a two-second pause, | heard Hogan say. ¡°Alright, but it gotta stop before


    we get tipsy.


    And so, the drinking began. The vintage wine was top-notch, but starting to drink was easy; stopping, not so much.


    Added to that President Stapleton, who could talk your ear off with a bottomless capacity for booze. His toasting was relentless,


    and after a while, both Zachary and | were struggling to


    keep up.


    Hogan, though, was sticking to his guns, sipping away quietly.


    Shirley caught on to that and scooted her wooden chair closer to Hogan, pouring wine and starting in. ¡°Mr. Zade, you know,


    when | first saw you, | was totally wowed.¡±


    She wasying her heart on the line.


    ¡°| was thinking, how can a guy be this drop-dead gorgeous?¡± Shirley leaned in closer, ¡°Cecilia¡¯s one luckydy.¡±


    At that, my fork slipped and ttered to the floor. | bent to pick it up without making a fuss, but caught a glimpse of Shirley,


    swinging her long legs, rubbing them up against Hogan¡¯s.


    The scene was heating up. But Hogan? He remained as detached and unruffled as ever.


    ¡°Mr. Zade. | might have had a bit too much; would you mind walking me back to my room?¡±


    Shirley''s hint couldn¡¯t be more obvious.


    | nced at Hogan and quickly looked away. At times like this, Zachary and | should just blend into the background.


    Just as | was thinking of an excuse to duck out, Hogan¡¯s voice reached my ears again, ¡°Ms. March, you go ahead and take


    President Stapleton back to her room.¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Sometimes, what you feared came true. Shirley wanted Hogan, and if | messed this up for her. there was no way we¡¯d talk about


    the guest list.


    With that in mind, | took a breath and pretended to be drunk, ¡®Sorry President Stapleton, I¡¯m dizzy and gonna puke, | gotta hit the


    restroom.


    When | couldn¡¯t confront it, I''d gotta know how to duck. As | got up, | clearly saw a sh of approval in Shirley¡¯s eyes.


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    Charter 131


    | hid out in the restroom for a good twenty minutes. By that time. Hogan must have left the restaurant with Shirley.


    | figured, smart as Hogan was, if he didn¡¯t want to, he¡¯d have a hundred ways to turn Shirley down; not like me, | couldn¡¯t afford


    to offend her.


    But, of course, there was another possibility. After all, President Stapleton had the looks and the charm if he couldn¡¯t resist, that


    wouldn''t be weird, right? The one who should worry was Cecilia.


    After some mental prep, | inched back to the restaurant and from afar, | saw a lone figure at the table. Taking a closer look, who


    else could it be but Hogan?


    The man sat quietly like a cold and detached statue at the window, eyes slightly closed, his face lost in the backlight, unreadable.


    It was that air of asceticism about him that made him feel like a spectacle to be admired from a distance, but not trifled with.


    Shirley and Zachary were nowhere to be seen. Seeing this, | let out a sigh of relief. | had guessed right: Hogan knew how to


    make an exit.


    The wind was strong at the top of a mountain, and in the dead of winter, it was even colder. | eyed the man by the window and


    asked the waiter for a nket.


    Approaching Hogan, | fancied myself quiet and cautious, but the moment the nket was draped over him, the man who


    seemed to be dozing suddenly looked up with a cold voice. ¡°Not feeling dizzy anymore?¡±

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    Dude, | was seriously feeling dizzy. Red wine always packed a punch, and | definitely didn¡¯t skimp on it during the meal.


    But if | were to tell Hogan that straight up, he¡¯d probably think | was just putting on airs. So replied. ¡°Thanks to Mr. Zade and


    President Stapleton¡¯s care, I¡¯m feeling much better now.¡±


    Hearing that, Hogan lifted his eyelids, a hint of coldness shing through those attractive eyes. When he was silent, his whole


    face exuded a natural authority that didn¡¯t even need to get angry to be intimidating.


    | didn¡¯t want to bore him or bug him, so | tentatively asked, ¡°Does Mr. Zade have any other instructions?


    If not, I¡¯d got real work to attend to. It was a casual question, but the next second, | heard Hogan order, ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there


    like a pole,e over and give me a hand.¡±


    | thought | heard wrong. As my gaze swept over Hogan¡¯s sharply chiseled profile, | saw he still looked like he was just resting,


    but with a touch more weariness between his brows.


    Gave him a hand? Did | hear that right? After that whole dinner ordeal, the one who had it tough was Zachary, Hogan had only a


    couple of drinks, tops: he needed help?


    ¡°What''s the matter, not keen on it?¡±


    His cool gaze fell on my face again, and | was momentarily taken aback, half¡ªjokingly saying, ¡°| remember Mr. Zade can hold his


    liquor quite well.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn''t that be thanks to Ms. March¡¯s kindness?¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    His mocking tone hit my ears, coupled with Hogan¡¯s piercing look, and all of a sudden, | was hit with this weird feeling of being


    seen through, a guilt that crept up on me.


    Somehow, | ended up doing as Hogan instructed, and supported him. In an instant, the guy leaned a good chunk of his weight


    on me, and | nearly lost my bnce..


    It seemed like Hogan was actually drunk, not faking it. The familiar scent of soap mixed with the rich aroma of red wine spread


    through my nose. | steadied myself and focused hard on helping him move forward.


    A quarter of an hourter, Hogan and | arrived inside a standalone thatched cottage. The ce was fully equipped and had a


    great view-clearly a rare suite,


    ¡°Mr. Zade, the bed¡¯s on your right.¡±


    Hogan barely opened his eyes, scanned the room with a blurry look, and then pointed to the bathtub, saying, ¡°Honey, | want to


    take a bath.¡±


    | felt a twitch in my forehead and was instantly frozen on the spot. This scenario seemed all too tamiliar.


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    do


    In fact, Hogan could usually handle his drinks just fine, but he didn¡¯t like drinking, and he liked the lingering smell of alcohol on


    him even less. So every time he finished drinking and got back to the apartment, the first thing he did was mumble about me


    running a bath for him.


    Just like now. But Hogan, were you really that sloshed? | was no longer the one who ran baths


    for you.


    With that thought, | pressed down the bitterness in my heart and calmly said. ¡°Wait a moment. I''ll call Zachary over.¡±


    As | spoke. | withdrew my arm that Hogan was gripping tightly. In a sh, he suddenly pulled me in, yanking me into his


    embrace.


    ¡°Honey, are you disgusted with me?¡± Hogan held me tight. ¡°Then how could you bear to let another woman ply me with drinks?¡±


    This was getting more and more absurd. Hogan exercised regrly, his arms were strong and toned, and he was incredibly


    strong. | struggled a couple of times before | managed to get


    some space.


    ¡°Hogan,¡± looking into his cloudy eyes, | lowered my voice and said seriously. ¡°I¡¯m really getting angry now.¡±


    Hogan paused, gave me a pitiful look, then with a whine, and said. ¡°I''ll listen to you, honey.¡± He didn¡¯t look anything like his usual


    untouchable, high¡ªand¡ªmighty self. Right now, Hogan seemed more like an obedient, henpecked husband.


    It was a side of him | had never seen before. | couldn¡¯t help but wonder, so this was how he acted when he was drunk in front of


    Cecilia? All docile like this?


    With that thought, a tinge of heartache involuntarily surged in my heart. Me staying here would definitely be inappropriate.

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    Thinking of this. | made an about-face, but as soon as | reached the doorway, there was a sudden ng right next to my ear.


    When | looked up, Hogan had already taken a spill right at the bathroom door.


    ¡°Honey,¡± he frowned and the corners of his mouth turned down ¡°I¡¯m hurting.¡±


    I''d never seen Hogan in such a sorry state before. My heart went all mushy, and | quickly walked over to him, saying, ¡°Cut it out:


    time for bed.¡±


    And Hogan actually listened and headed off to the bedroom, but the hand he grabbed onto mine with, he didn¡¯t let go.


    The booze was hitting me hard, and | just didn¡¯t have the energy to wrestle with him any longer. After all, the more we tugged,


    the more time we wasted.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    | was thinking of taking a stroll around the ce once he was settled down. But the moment | leaned against the bed, my


    consciousness went rogue, and as my eyelids started to battle it out. | drifted off to dreand too.


    No clue how long | slept, but when | woke up. | was lying on a soft, big bed. The downforter covering me was the one


    Hogan usedst night. But the guy was nowhere to be found.


    Trubbed my eyes only to see a faint dawn breaking in the sky, the east hinting at daybreak. That was when it hit me that, without


    realizing it, a whole night had passed.


    Did | just spend the whole night in Hogan''s thatched cottage? As the realization dawned on me | hurried out of bed and was


    about to pull open the bedroom door when | overheard a conversation outside.


    ¡°President Stapleton is up at the crack of dawn sending hangover soup to everyone¡¯s rooms. Bet she¡¯s up to no good.


    That was Zachary¡¯s voice. My heart immediately hitched up into my throat.


    ¡°So what?¡±


    ¡°I''m just worried that President Stapleton hasn¡¯t given up on her sneaky ns for you. We need a way to deal with her without


    messing up our own ns,¡± Zachary said, getting straight to the


    point.


    ¡°No sweat.¡± Came Hogan''s cool voice through the crack in the door. ¡°Remember, we''re here to talk business. Let her hang for a


    bit.¡±


    Hearing Hogan''s confident tone. | couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of impending doom. And then! heard Zachary switch gears, ¡°But


    seriously, President Stapleton is a tough cookie. Lucky | gave the staff a heads-up. Otherwise, a quick peek at the surveince


    and she''d know Xaviera was in your room all night.¡±


    Right, the hotel was Shirley¡¯s turf, Digging up dirt would be a piece of cake for her. | was kicking


    do


    myself for letting my guard down.


    ¡°What''s there to panic about?¡± Hogan¡¯s nonchnt voice rose again, ¡°Even if she finds out, it might just save us some trouble.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zade, you mean use Xaviera to deal with President Stapleton?¡±


    Silence fell outside. Hogan didn¡¯t respond, but from what | knew about him, silence often meant agreement.


    So, did Hogan go out of his way to keep me therest night, or was it just a fluke? Either way, it looked like | was the designated


    shield.


    Yeah, better to use insignificant me to tick off Shirley than to have Ceci butt heads with her dear friend.


    Even if | got busted, Hogan probably wouldn¡¯t lose sleep over it. He¡¯d easily ditch a rival like me: probably couldn¡¯t wish for more.


    Suddenly, | felt like I''d plunged into an ice bath, my insides covered with a thickyer of frost, sending shivers through my limbs.


    Fortunately, Zachary was on the ball, and it seemed Shirley''s side hadn¡¯t grown suspicious yet. | had to get out before she


    caught on.


    With that thought, | took a deep breath and flung the door open. There in the living room, Hogan and Zachary were seated at the


    dining table, tucking into breakfast.


    Seeing me, Zachary politely got up, a smile on his face, and greeted, ¡°Mrs. Zade, you¡¯re awake! Have some hangover soup first.¡±


    | nced at the hangover soup on the table and at Hogan, who was leisurely enjoying his breakfast, with my lips arched


    upwards, | said, ¡°Nah, not feeling it.¡±

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    As soon as the words left my mouth, | realized | was oozing displeasure.


    Zachary picked up on it too. His smile froze for a sec, and he tried to smooth things over, ¡°Got it, hangovers are brutal. You were


    also taking quite a few for Mr. Zadest night, probably still recovering.¡±


    His words seemed more for Hogan¡¯s benefit than mine.


    Given our business ties, | couldn¡¯t just throw shade, so | went along with Zachary, saying. ¡°Indeed, I''ll excuse myself.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn''t you grab something to eat first, with a hangover and all?¡±


    His icy tone hit me, and | looked up to see Hogan still sitting there, stone-faced. Maybe it was the aftereffects of the booze, but


    he looked pale, his sharp profile exuding a distant. unapproachable air.


    At the thought of the chat I¡¯d overheard, my heart sank bit by bit. Yeah. Hogan, always on top of the game, even at the poker


    table he was the one setting the rules. Was him inviting me to dine some kind of favor?


    | couldn''t help but tug the corners of my lips, keeping my distance. ¡°Thanks for the offer, Mr. Zade, but I''ll pass.


    After saying that, | went to open the door, only to hear him grumble, ¡°Xaviera, have | been spolling you too much these past


    days?¡±


    My hand froze mid-air on the doorknob. When | looked at Hogan, | saw him staring at me intently with a livid expression.


    Our eyes locked, and a dull pain struck my chest, | couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°You¡¯ve got quite the sense of humor, Mr. Zade.¡±


    Spolling me? That was riching from Hogan.


    ¡®Mrs. Zade, Mr. Zade¡¯s¡±


    ¡°Zachary,¡± | cut him off, dead serious, ¡°Call me Ms. March.¡±


    | noticed, with every word | spoke, the anger in his eyes deepened. But | was at my limit.


    Even if he was the money man, so what? With things havinge this far, | wasn¡¯t naive enough to think we could end things


    amicably.


    It was a standoff, silent, Hogan and | just staring at each other, neither of us uttering another word. Until the doorbell rang,


    breaking the silence.


    And then Shirley¡¯s bubbly voice filtered in, ¡°Mr. Zade, you up?¡±


    My mind was a mess. It was like whatever | dreaded most was bound to happen.


    do


    OKIOMI 134Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shirley was always lukewarm towards me, and seeing me in Hogan¡¯s room first thing in the morning, I¡¯d be screwed, unable to


    clear my name even if | put all my efforts into exnation.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, not up yet?¡±


    The soft voice pressed on my ears. | steadied myself, nced at Hogan sitting by the dining table, who was cool as a cucumber,


    like nothing was wrong.


    Realizing my own slip¡ªup, | steadied myself and decided to go all in, opening the door right in front of Hogan.


    Shirley saw me, her voice hitching in her throat, the smile on her face fading a bit. ¡°Ms. March is


    here too.¡±


    After sizing me up, her sly eyesnded on the hotel slippers | hadn¡¯t had time to change out of. Then she hall¡ªjoked, ¡°Ms. March,


    you''re here early.¡±


    At that, my temples started throbbing, my heart instantly sinking. | knew then, the harmony I''d tried to maintain was as shattered


    as a broken mirror.


    And the instigator? He was still sitting there, all high and mighty, sipping his hangover soup.

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    | guessed | just had to save my own face and say, ¡°Can¡¯t do nothing about it. Working with Mr. Zade, if he just snaps his fingers,


    not to mention getting up early and braving the cold. | wouldn¡¯t dare say ¡®no¡¯ even if he asked me to collect dew from the


    treetops.


    It was just some passive¡ªaggressive talk, wasn¡¯t it? Anyone could y that game.


    No sooner had | finished speaking than Shirley¡¯s attention shifted to Hogan¡¯s face. ¡°Mr. Zade, what kind of task have you


    assigned to Ms. March, leaving such a gorgeous woman feeling so wronged?¡±


    Hogan lifted his eyelids, all chill and breeze. ¡°Just some trivial stuff.¡±


    Hearing him brush it off like that. Shirley nced my way but didn¡¯t press further. She quickly changed the subject to the day¡¯s


    agenda.


    ¡°Our hotel¡¯s hot springs are famous far and wide. Now that Mr. Zade is here, you''ve got to give it a proper go.


    Thank goodness for the famous hot spring they had, known for its mineral¡ªrich waters that attracted tourists all year round. It


    made sense for Shirley to invite Hogan.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But getting into a hot spring meant swimsuits, and those two alone.


    If you asked me, President Stapleton sure had a trick or two up her sleeve when it came to wooing someone.


    | sneaked a peek at Hogan and, the next second, heard him agree. ¡°I''ll follow your lead.¡±


    He actually said yes.


    ¡°Ms. March doesn¡¯t have any ns, right?¡± Shirley suddenly looked up at me with a friendly face, ¡°Thene along with us.¡±


    If | took that seriously, I¡¯d be denying all the savvy I¡¯ve picked up from Wallis over the past two


    years.


    So, | made an excuse. ¡°Sorry President Stapleton, | didn¡¯t n on hitting the hot springs when | packed, and | don¡¯t have a


    swimsuit with me. I¡¯m afraid | can¡¯t join you and Mr. Zade.¡±


    | liked to think | knew when to step forward and when to step back. | wasn¡¯t looking for Shirley''s approval with my move, just


    trying to avoid making more mistakes. But right after | finished talking, she said. ¡°No worries. Ms. March, our resort sells


    swimsuits. That¡¯s not an issue.


    | was a bit taken aback. Shirley actually didn¡¯t mind me joining?


    Something told me this might not be a good thing. But with her putting it that way, | really couldn¡¯t find a good reason to say no


    and just had to say, ¡°Then I''ll go with President Stapleton¡¯s arrangement.¡±


    An hourter, the four of us arrived at the famous hot spring.


    At the changing area, Shirley led me into the women¡¯s changing room. The cubicles were neat and clean with great privacy.


    Shirley looked at me and pointed to one in the corner. ¡°Your swimsuit is in there; you can hang your coat here.¡±


    She was so detailed it made me uneasy. | thanked her, hung up my cashmere coat and stepped into the cubicle.


    It took me five minutes to get changed into the swimsuit. Luckily, the swimsuit was pretty standard, which eased some of my


    worries.


    But just as | was about to step out in my swimsuit, | found the door jammed. After a few tries, it still wouldn¡¯t budge.


    To make matters worse, since phones couldn¡¯t be brought into the hot spring. I¡¯d locked mine in the locker while changing.


    Meaning, | had no way to ask for help.


    | wasn¡¯t foolish enough to think this was just a coincidence. If | wasn¡¯t wrong, this must be one of Shirley¡¯s schemes.


    Fine by me. | never wanted to get involved in her and Hogan¡¯s drama. Dodging it with this kind of ¡°ident¡± was more than


    wee.


    But what | didn¡¯t expect was that, being locked up aside, the temperature in the room started to drop suddenly.

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    Separated by a door, | could hear the whooshing of the wind outside. Thinking back, when | entered this cubicle. | caught a


    glimpse of what seemed like a vent not too far away.


    It | was not mistaken, that must be where the wind was barging in from.


    The mountain was already a few degrees chillier than ground level; it didn¡¯t take long for me to start shivering like crazy.


    And on me? Just a swimsuit that was barely there, and my shirt I''d taken off and tossed aside. Those skimpy clothes didn¡¯t stand


    a chance against the sudden drop in temperature.


    Knowing that waiting it out wasn¡¯t going to work, | banged on the door, calling for help. But even as my voice was about to give


    out, there wasn¡¯t a soul in sight ¡ª just the howling wind for


    company.


    It figured, right? The whole hotel belonged to Shirley. If she had it in for me, why would she let me off the hook that easy?


    Gotta admit, | let my guard down. Still, | figured Shirley just wanted to teach me a lesson, not actually off me. Maybe help was on


    its way. If not, surely Hogan and Zachary would notice my absence at some point, right?


    Shirley was ying the magnanimous host: she wouldn¡¯t want to make a scene at her own hotel. With that in mind, | wasn¡¯t so


    panic as before, but ever since that incident, my health had been on the fritz. especially when it came to enduring the harsh


    winter.


    Yep, in no time, my hands and feet were stiff, and | was so cold | could barely feel a thing. | was thinking, if there were a mirror in


    front of me, | was sure I''d see myself pale as a ghost, lips turning blue, body stiff as a rock.


    | was about to give out, leaning against the wall, looking for something to hold on to. And then. in my fading consciousness,


    Hogan popped into my head.


    Thanks to him, this trip to Pinecrest Hollow ¡ª supposed to be about fighting for my rights ¡ª turned into me nearly losing my life.


    But for all | knew, he could be cozying up in a hot spring, flirting with Shirley. The thought made resentment bubble up inside me.


    | really wanted to cuss someone out.


    Just then, a warmth pressed against my chest. | barely managed to pry my eyelids open, and next thing | knew. | was wrapped


    up in a broad embrace.


    Like a dying fish finding water, | clung greedily to the warmth and familiarity of the embrace. For some reason, it made me think


    of Hogan. Unlike his usually cold demeanor, his arms provided an unexpected sense of security.


    It made me believe, each time when we hugged each other, that we could be together forever. But that was not reality, was it?


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    | suddenly felt wronged, thinking back to tender moments only in this confused state. But oddly. this embrace was firmer and


    more passionate than I''d imagined.


    So when | reached out and identally touched something off, | heard a choked sound next to my ear, felt the man¡¯s muscles


    tense up, followed by the sound of him swallowing.


    No, this wasn¡¯t a dream. | weakly opened my eyes, looked up, and my heart skipped a beat.


    Hogan. What on earth was he doing here? And we were so close, his breath palpable, his eyes burning with a desire | could see


    clear as day..


    After a brief gaze, | shifted slightly but then he pulled me in even tighter.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What kind of brainless move is it to get yourself locked up while changing?¡±


    | pressed my lips, the hurt in my chest growing, and said with irritation. ¡°I¡¯ve got Mr. Zade to thank for that.¡±


    My tone was sour, and because I¡¯d just been freezing, my voice trembled, unintentionally adding a touch of vulnerability.


    He sighed softly by my ear and said, ¡°The bolt was slid shut from the outside. It¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    Of course, | knew it wasn¡¯t on me. After all, the culprit was right there in front of me.


    ¡°I''ll take you to the hospital¡± Hogan added, sounding pretty anxious.


    | thought I¡¯d misheard him, but when | looked up, he was staring right back, calm and steady. Our eyes locked; suddenly, my


    heart lurched, and | was pinned against the door by the man.


    | noticed Hogan¡¯s gaze fixated on the neckline of my swimsuit. His kisses were relentless, on my ears, my neck, his hot breath


    unlike anything before ¡ª so warm, like a huge furnace, zing and then extinguished.

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    Maybe I''d been freezing my butt off here for too long, or maybe this was all just a dream. Before | knew it, like | was possessed


    or something, | reached out and nted a kiss on the man¡¯s


    neck.


    The kiss started getting out of hand, and the warmth slowly began to return to my body. Just as things were about to spiral


    Shirley''s voice abruptly pierced through my ears. ¡°Hold your horses. I¡¯m here to check if Ms. March is actually around or not?¡±


    Her words yanked me back to reality, and | scrambled out of the man¡¯s embrace, standing there catching my breath like I¡¯d just


    run a marathon.


    ¡°Ms. March? Xaviera? Are you there?¡±


    Hearing Shirley''s calls, | nced at Hogan in a total panic, my mind a jumbled mess. | couldn¡¯t let Shirley catch us in this scene,


    no how.


    | quickly shot Hogan a look that screamed ¡°don¡¯t move¡¯, and after taking a deep breath, | flung open the cubicle door.


    | looked up to find Shirley standing just a meter away. She was wrapped in a bathrobe, and peeking out from underneath was the


    latest craze in swimwear ¡ª a bikini that left little to the imagination.


    With her curves on full disy, it was clear as day that she''d pulled out all the stops to seduce Hogan


    Our eyes locked, and Shirley forced a smile, ying dumb, ¡°Ms. March, it¡¯s been half an hour already, howe you''re still in


    the changing room?¡±


    ying innocent, huh?


    After she spoke, her gaze swept the entire changing room beforending back on me. ¡°Mr. Zade isn¡¯t with you?¡±


    So, she was on a manhunt.


    ¡°President Stapleton, you must be joking. This is thedies¡® changing room. Shouldn''t you be looking for Mr. Zade on the other


    side?¡±


    Knowing I''d been left out in the cold for thirty minutes, my tone was anything but warm.


    Shirley shot me a look and said. ¡°Oh, look at me, all flustered. Never mind, Ms. March, get ready and let¡¯s head to the hot pool


    later.¡±


    She was about to leave, acting as if locking me in the changing room had never happened. That ticked me off, so | retorted


    coldly. ¡°Has President Stapleton cooled off now?¡±


    Shirley paused, gave me a sidelong nce, and said with a hint of annoyance. ¡°What are you implying. Ms. March?


    do


    Chacher 137


    ¡°No one else is here.¡± As Shirley was clueless about Hogan hidden in the cubicle, | didn¡¯t beat around the bush, saving.


    ¡°President Stapleton, if you think I¡¯m holding you back from important stuff, just give me a heads-up. I¡¯m all about reading the


    room, but locking someone in a changing room? That¡¯s... Pretty low¡ªss.


    | didn¡¯t finish my sentence, but Shirley was smart enough to catch my drift.


    Sure enough, the once¡ª-smiling woman¡¯s face turned serious, and she stepped closer, ¡°Ms. March, you''re sharper than |


    thought.¡±


    ¡°I''m ttered, President Stapleton. Gazing at the woman before me. | said, standing my ground. ¡°It¡¯s just too bad I''ma


    disappointment to you. The one Mr. Zade is really into isn¡¯t me; it¡¯s her.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°And as for me.¡± | said with a bitter smile, ¡°at best, I¡¯m just a puppet Hogan uses to deal with you.¡±


    | wanted Shirley to realize how dumb it was to mess with me. Shirley got the message, chuckled, and said nonchntly. ¡°No


    worries. I¡¯ve never missed a target | set my sights on.¡±


    Confident, isn¡¯t she? So confident she didn¡¯t even consider me a blip on her radar. To her, I¡¯m just a decoy, nothing more.


    Zachary¡¯s voice cut through my chat with Shirley, President Stapleton, are you in there? Mr. Zade messaged me; he¡¯s got a


    stomach ache and is in the restroom.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Shirley looked up, returning to her approachable demeanor, ¡°Alright, Assistant Zachary, I¡¯ve found Ms. March.


    She''ll head to the hot pool shortly.¡±


    After Shirley left, giving me a smug look like she knew | wouldn¡¯t breathe a word about what happened, she wasn¡¯t wrong. But it


    also meant there was no way we could ever coborate.


    The sound of the cubicle door opening snapped me out of my thoughts, and there stood Hogan, expressionless at the doorway.


    After an awkward exchange of nces, | looked down, embarrassed. In my head, | reyed the scene of this man holding me in


    a passionate kiss. | must be out of my mind.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Then, his deep voice reached my ears. ¡°Is that what you really think?¡±


    Curious, | looked at Hogan and asked, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°That I¡¯m using you to deal with Shirley.¡± Hogan said sinctly.


    What else could it be? Hadn''t he already admitted it to Zachary?


    Seeing my silence, Hogan scoffed and added, ¡°Really, biting the hand that feeds you.¡±

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    | nonchntly rocked up to the hot spring about ten minutester.


    The water was warm andly, soaking into my skin like sweet nectar, washing away the bone¡ªdeep chill | had.


    But for the longest time, it was just me in the spring. Just when I started to feel that something was off, Zachary and Shirley


    hurried over.


    ¡°President Stapleton, my apologies. Zachary said with a tone full of regret, ¡°Mr. Zade has been swamped with work for the past


    couple of years, and it¡¯s taken a toll on his stomach. Had a bit too much to drinkst night and caught a cold. He wouldn¡¯t have


    just taken off without saying goodbye unless he was feeling downright awful.¡±


    Took off without saying goodbye? So Hogan, he''d already left the hot spring? Just like that. without even a heads¡ªup?


    Shirley clearly looked peeved but still made nice. ¡°You know, everyone has their off days. How about this, I''ll send a doc over to


    check on Mr. Zade in person,¡±


    ¡°President Stapleton¡¯s always thinking ahead.¡± Zachary kept up his smile, ¡°I''ll thank you on Mr. Zade¡¯s behall then,


    After saying his piece and checking his watch, Zachary rushed off with a sense of urgency that didn¡¯t seem faked.


    Could Hogan really be under the weather? But just before in the changing room, he seemed well.


    The image of a broad, warm chest shed through my mind, probably from soaking in the spring, because my face suddenly felt


    like it was on fire.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Ms. March,¡± Shirley''s question snapped me out of it, ¡°don¡¯t you think Mr. Zade¡¯s ¡®sickness¡¯ is a bit too convenient?¡±


    | paused, well aware that Shirley wasn¡¯t the kind to be easily fooled. But we definitely weren''t about to sit down and dish about


    another man¡¯s affairs.


    Seeing | didn¡¯t respond, Shirley gave a sarcastic smirk, ¡°Alright, with Mr. Zade gone. I¡¯m not in the mood either. Knock yourself


    out, Ms. March.¡±


    With that, she turned and left me with her crisp exit. Had a bit of that Wallis spunk, she did.


    It was an hourter when | finally left the hot spring. During that hour, | came to a clear conclusion ¡ª trying to find out where


    FreeMan was through Shirley was going to be a dead end. And as for Hogan, his mind was on Cecilia, so he probably wouldn''t


    be of any help either. | had to rely on myself.


    While | was pondering my next move. | bumped into Zachary, of all people. He was carrying a


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    pharmacy bag- | caught a glimpse of the name.


    ¡°Xaviera,¡± Zachary was just as surprised, ¡°How are you feeling now?¡±


    | was confused, ¡°Feeling how?¡±


    Scratching his head, Zachary exined. ¡°I just picked up some meds from the pharmacy, Mr. Zade asked me to get some cold


    and fever stuff for you.¡±


    ¡°For me?¡± | was incredulous, ¡°Are you sure you heard right?¡±


    ¡°Xaviera, I''ve been with Mr. Zade for over a year; you think | wouldn¡¯t have that much insight?¡±


    | was at a loss for words.


    Zachary nced at me, sighed and said, ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s still got a stomachache. Xaviera, could you do me a favor and deliver the


    meds to him?¡±


    | looked at Zachary skeptically but then heard him add, ¡°I¡¯m going to check the restaurant for some stomach-friendly porridge for


    Mr. Zade.


    Thoughtful, indeed. | hesitated for a couple of seconds, remembering the changing room, and then took the bag of medicine.


    Shortly after. | approached Hogan¡¯s thatched cottage with the meds, jittery. Before | got close. | could hear voices inside.


    ¡°President Stapleton, | appreciate the gesture, but I¡¯ve already devoted to someone else. Please understand.¡±


    | stopped dead in my tracks. Then Shirley¡¯s voice reached my ear, ¡°We both know the real reason Mr. Zade is here. And you


    know, | never expected a forever: just once...¡±


    ¡°President Stapleton, please speak with discretion.¡± Hogan cut her off sternly. ¡°You should be aware that I¡¯m here with full


    sincerity to discuss a coboration with you. As the representative, | believe you should seriously consider the potential of our


    partnership.¡±

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    Hogan¡¯s all business attitude and unppable tone really brought his irond persona to life. Made sense, with Cecilia in the


    picture, Hogan was practically an ind- no water could soak him, no wind could break him down.


    Shirley must''ve caught onto that; her voice came off way stiffer than before. ¡°So what if | refuse to partner up with Rainbow


    Capital?¡±


    Looked like she was ticked off, Refusing was just another form of threat, wasn¡¯t it?


    Shirley was still a woman after all, letting her emotions called the shots. She just didn¡¯t get Hogan.


    Next thing | heard was the man¡¯s nd response. ¡°You certainly have the right to refuse. President Stapleton, but as far as |


    know, Lucky Star¡¯s financial statements have been on the downside sincest year, and the cash flow situation isn¡¯t looking too


    hot.¡±


    Well that was news to me. Looked like Hogan did his homework before showing up.


    ¡°So what?¡± Shirley was back in the game, negotiating, ¡°There are plenty of fish in the investment sea; Rainbow Capital ain¡¯t the


    only one with deep pockets.¡±


    She was not wrong there.


    ¡°Rainbow Capital might just be the only one willing to write that check.¡± Hogan was still as cool as a cucumber. ¡°President


    Stapleton, | know it¡¯s tough for you to hand over a guest list, but if we¡¯re talking partnership, that changes things. As


    stakeholders, we''d have the right to look at any relevant documents: don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Even through a closed door, without seeing the face-off between Hogan and Shirley, | could tell


    he had this one in the bag.


    ¡°Looks like you came prepared from day one.¡± Shirley¡¯s tone softened, mixed with a hint of bitterness, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why


    bother spending all this time ying pretend with me? Is it because of Cecilia?¡±


    The room fell into a brief silence. A few secondster, Hogan said: ¡°I definitely have to take her feelings into ount.¡±


    Aself¡ªdeprecating chuckle came from inside; | hear Shirleyugh, ¡°Turns out | was the only one ying for keeps.¡±


    Sheughed, but | couldn¡¯t join in. Because soon enough, | realized something.


    If Hogan had everything nned out from the get-go, why drag me into this charade for the past couple of days?


    In this pointless game, Hogan roped me in, ostensibly to deal with Shirley, but really, he had it all mapped out.


    Shirley got yed, and | was just an insignificant pawn in this standoff game. All because Hogan needed to snag that guest list


    for Cecilia, to secure a head start on the FreeMan deal. Man, talked about ying the long game.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    | handed off the meds to the hotel staff and quickly packed up, ready to head down the mountain.


    Clearly, in thispetition, I''d lost to Cecilia. Lost big time.


    And the winning Cecilia? She didn¡¯t even show her face. What a joke.


    It was just past noon, but the mountain mist made it all hazy. Supported by the railing. | carefully made my way down the steps,


    the bitterness in my chest scratching at my senses. | missed a step, and almost took a nasty fall.


    Good thing I''d got quick reflexes, and grabbed onto the nearby chain. But that sudden jolt of weightlessness just magnified the


    lump in my throat, and before | knew it, tears were streaming down my face.


    Even as a pawn, | guessed | was allowed to feel upset. But if | was just a pawn, why did he have to show up right when it


    mattered? Wouldn''t it be easier to just let this pawn fend for herself?


    The more | thought about it, the more wronged | felt, until finally, hot tears broke free.


    Then out of nowhere, a crisp voice hit my ears. ¡°Xaviera, is that really you?¡±

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    The sound was crisp and clear, ringing with a hint of surprise, like a gentle stream flowing through a mountain valley, pressing


    steadily against my ear.


    | nced up slightly, and through my blurry vision, | saw a familiar figure dressed in a ck and white windbreaker, with a ck


    beanie perched on his head, standing a few steps below, his face lit up with joy as he looked at me.


    Our eyes met, and I recognized those lovely eyes. It was Timothy.


    | quickly fought back the tears and blurted out, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Only then did | realize my voice was quivering with a hint of crying.


    Timothy caught on to that as well, and in a few strides, he was in front of me, bending over and asking. ¡°Did you get hurt?¡±


    No way was | going to share my embarrassing mishap with him, so | yed along. ¡°Just a bit of ankle pain.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t like the time | twisted my ankle at the mall; the pain was noticeably sharper this time around.


    The next second, a warm touch suddenlynded on my foot, and when | looked down, Timothy¡¯s hand was already cradling my


    delicate ankle.


    ¡°It''s a sprain; doesn¡¯t look like the bone¡¯s affected.¡± He looked serious, gently massaging my ankle, ¡°Come on, piggyback ride to


    the infirmary.¡±


    After saying that, he shifted his backpack to his front and crouched down before me, all in one smooth motion. | didn¡¯t even have


    time to think.


    | was a few years older than him; there was no way | could let him carry me like that. ¡°It¡¯s alright; it''ll ease off.¡± 1-downyed,


    adding, ¡°Besides, | need to head down the mountain.¡±


    Hearing this, Timothy turned his head slightly, saying with a hint of annoyance, ¡°Xaviera, didn¡¯t you check the weather forecast?


    There¡¯s a changeing, thick tog and slippery paths on the mountain. It¡¯s dangerous to go down now, get it?¡±


    | hadn''t paid attention to that.


    ¡°Alright, | booked a suite; you could crash there for the night.¡± He sighed in resignation. ¡°Anyway, | can¡¯t just leave you in the


    lurch.¡±


    As he spoke, his slender fingers gently tapped on his shoulder, motioning for me to lean on him. ¡°It¡¯s not that painful. His


    straightforward approach caught me off guard. ¡°I can stand up on my


    own.¡±


    | tried to get up after saying this, but a ripping pain shot through my ankle, making me see


    The sound was crisp and clear, ringing with a hint of surprise, like a gentle stream flowing through a mountain valley, pressing


    steadily against my ear.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    | nced up slightly, and through my blurry vision, | saw a familiar figure dressed in a ck and white windbreaker, with a ck


    beanie perched on his head, standing a few steps below, his face lit up with joy as he looked at me.


    Our eyes met, and I recognized those lovely eyes. It was Timothy.


    | quickly fought back the tears and blurted out, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Only then did | realize my voice was quivering with a hint of crying.


    Timothy caught on to that as well, and in a few strides, he was in front of me, bending over and asking, ¡°Did you get hurt?¡±


    No way was | going to share my embarrassing mishap with him, so | yed along. ¡°Just a bit of ankle pain.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t like the time | twisted my ankle at the mall; the pain was noticeably sharper this time around.


    The next second, a warm touch suddenlynded on my foot, and when | looked down, Timothy¡¯s hand was already cradling my


    delicate ankle.


    ¡°It''s a sprain; doesn¡¯t look like the bone¡¯s affected.¡± He looked serious, gently massaging my ankle, ¡°Come on, piggyback ride to


    the infirmary.¡±


    After saying that, he shifted his backpack to his front and crouched down before me, all in one smooth motion. | didn¡¯t even have


    time to think.


    | was a few years older than him; there was no way | could let him carry me like that. ¡°It¡¯s alright; it''ll ease off.¡± | downyed,


    adding, ¡°Besides, | need to head down the mountain.¡±


    Hearing this. Timothy turned his head slightly, saying with a hint of annoyance, ¡°Xaviera, didn¡¯t you check the weather forecast?


    There¡¯s a changeing, thick fog and slippery paths on the mountain. It¡¯s dangerous to go down now, get it?¡±


    | hadn''t paid attention to that.


    ¡°Alright, | booked a suite: you could crash there for the night.¡± He sighed in resignation. ¡°Anyway, | can¡¯t just leave you in the


    lurch.¡±


    As he spoke, his slender fingers gently tapped on his shoulder, motioning for me to lean on him. ¡°It¡¯s not that painful.¡± His


    straightforward approach caught me off guard, ¡°I can stand up on my own.¡±


    | tried to get up after saying this, but a ripping pain shot through my ankle, making me see


    stars.


    ¡°Stop messing around. Xaviera. A sprain can be minor or serious,¡± Timothy gave me a helpless look and said, e on.¡±


    His words made me a bit scared. After all, | still had so much left undone; | couldn''t just go down like this.


    So, | reached out my hand and said. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Timothy helped me all the way to the mountain¡¯s infirmary. By the time the check-up was done, my ankle had swollen


    dramatically.


    The doctor said it was good that it was taken care of promptly and that it should heal with a couple of days¡® rest.


    My n to go down the mountain was folled, so | had to bother Timothy again to take me back to the thatched cottage.


    We hadn''t gone far when we unexpectedly bumped into Shirley. She looked at us with an incredulous expression, surprised,


    ¡°Timothy, are you and Ms. March that close?¡±


    The way she said the name told me they knew each other too. Made sense, Rivertown wasn¡¯t that big, and the Temple family


    was an old¡ªmoney n; it was logical they¡¯d know each other.


    But the look Shirley gave me was full of insinuation. ¡°Ms. March¡¯s connections seem to be wider than | thought.¡±


    Her tone was so sarcastic; she might as well have written ¡°I¡¯m mocking you¡± on her face.


    | got it: she had just been snubbed by Hogan not long ago, so it was normal for her to be in a bad mood.

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    With a calm tone, | mentioned, ¡°Bumping into Mr. Temple was a lucky ident; he¡¯s always ready to lend a hand.¡±


    If Shirley paid a tad more attention, she would¡¯ve caught the ridiculous sight of me hobbling around.


    But her gaze only briefly skimmed over my foot before she chuckled and said, ¡°You know, for someone like Ms. March who¡¯s a


    stranger to regr workouts, it¡¯s no surprise a little hill could throw you for a loop- totally get it.¡±


    She said she understood, but her tone had that condescending vibe that reeked of someone who thought they were the cat''s


    pajamas. The sarcasm wasid on thick.


    | wanted to avoid a sh, so as | was racking my brains for a way to save face, | heard Timothy say, ¡°Xaviera¡¯s a friend of mine,


    and if it''s not too much trouble, I¡¯d be grateful if President Stapleton could. arrange to have lunch sent to her room, and,¡±


    He paused there, and then added, ¡°The weather¡¯s fickle, and the trails are full of clueless tourists who might get into a pickle.


    Today it¡¯s Xaviera, and she¡¯s not making a fuss about it, but if it were someone else, President Stapleton might not be all smiles


    right


    now.


    No sooner had he finished than Shirley¡¯s smile froze on her face. After a quick nce my way, she was back to her usual self,


    saying, ¡°My bad for not ying the gracious host. Ms. March, please don¡¯t take it to heart, okay?¡±


    There was that teasing tone again, but this time Shirley¡¯s voice had


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    warmed up a bit. She threw me a bone, probably for Timothy''s sake.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    | knew when to quit while | was ahead, ¡°You''re too kind, President Stapleton.¡±


    Shirley made herself scarce just in time, telling Timothy before she left, ¡°The suite¡¯s the same one by the Bright Summit, all


    spruced up. Holler if you need anything.¡±


    Hearing this, | was slightly taken aback. | knew the room Shirley mentioned. It was diagonally opposite to Hogan¡¯s thatched


    cottage, definitely one of the primo suites in this hotel. And. Timothy seemed to be a regr here.


    With that thought, | couldn¡¯t help but take a second nce at the man next to me. The windbreaker, the hiking boots, and the


    trekking poles he had set aside ¡ªplete and top-of-the-line gear. A thought was about to break free in my mind when |


    blurted out, ¡°You look like an outdoor sport enthusiast right now.¡±


    ¡°I''ve always been into hiking, Xaviera.¡±


    ¡°FreeMan digs it, too.¡±


    Timothy faltered in his step, and the hand supporting me tensed up as if he was a bit thrown off. Had | hit the nail on the head?


    After a moment, Timothy was back to his devil-may-care self, ¡°Xaviera, Sean the knucklehead dragged me out here for some


    blind date. What are you thinking?¡±


    Sean? Blind date?


    ¡°His date is someone you know.¡± Seeing | didn¡¯t respond right away,


    Chapter 141


    Timothy said with a smile, ¡°The one from just now.¡±


    Sean and Shirley? Alright, | had to admit, if those two really set up house, that ce would be hopping.


    ¡°Xaviera, that look on your face.¡± Timothy suddenly leaned in,


    eyeing me with a gossipy look, and said, ¡°Seems a bit mischievous, huh?¡±


    | hadn''t expected to be so transparent in front of Timothy.


    Composing myself and about to exin, | caught sight of Hogan


    and Zachary not too far off.


    The man was as stoic as ever, his impassive eyes betraying neither joy nor anger. However, Zachary behind him was all over the


    ce, wildly gesturing at me, his expression suggesting he was in quite a


    tizzy.


    A few secondster, | deciphered Zachary¡¯s subtle gestures which conveyed a message, ¡°Mr. Zade heard you got hurt and


    rushed over here in a hurry, but why on earth are you hanging out with this


    brat?¡±

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    | didn¡¯t catch Hogan being in a rush at all. His face was still that same icy mask, his eyes still like those deep, undisturbed pools.


    Even if he was good at hiding his emotions, and actually a bit worried about me, I''d bet it was only because he was afraid his


    ns wouldn¡¯te to fruition without me, his key pawn.


    Thepetition was pretty much a done deal, but we''d still got ties with Rainbow Capital, andmon sense told me not to


    brush off


    this money man.


    | pulled myself together and after exchanging a knowing nce with Timothy, | hobbled over to Hogan with my swollen ankle.


    ¡°Did you need something from me, Mr. Zade?¡± | asked, all formal-like, trying to keep the difort at bay.


    The man heard that, his gaze slowly trailing down, finally resting on the hem of my pants, and he said tly, ¡°Ms. March, that¡¯s


    quite the timely injury.¡±


    | felt a tightness in my chest, and a surge of irritation rushed up out of nowhere. | managed to choke out, ¡°Just a minor injury, Mr.


    Zade. Thanks for the concern.¡±


    My words were official, my tone not so friendly, leaving Hogan with a stony glint in his eyes and at a loss for words.


    Meanwhile, Zachary chimed in with concern, ¡°Xa...Ms. March, have you visited the infirmary?¡±


    | kept it short, ¡°Yes.¡±


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    ¡°How did the doc put it, serious?¡±


    Zachary''s probing felt like a lump of cotton was stuck in my chest, suffocating me. He was just Hogan¡¯s little helper, and after just


    one meeting, he could offer a few words of concern. Not like Hogan, who was all about the sarcasm, always sarcasm.


    ¡°Just a scratch.¡± | pushed down the bitterness, ¡°No big deal.¡±


    Right after my words fell, | heard Hogan say, ¡°Since it happened on the job, treat it as a work injury. When you get back to


    Rivertown, just submit your expense im to Rainbow Capital¡¯s finance department.¡±


    | looked at Hogan with surprise and a bit of speechlessness. He couldn''t think that covering my medical bills was some kind of


    compensation, could he?


    He must have seen how Shirley treated me these past few days; did he really think that my grievances were worth only that


    much in medical expenses?This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    With that thought, | slightly raised my eyes, distancing myself, ¡°Il appreciate the gesture, Mr. Zade, but | can afford these medical


    expenses myself, no need to trouble you.¡±


    My refusal was firm, probably too much so, as it seemed to take Hogan by surprise, something rare on his face.


    But it was fleeting. Then | heard the man say, ¡°Fine, have it your way.¡±


    His tone was as if telling me | didn¡¯t know a good thing when | saw it. But | figured, no pawn would be all calm and collected after


    finding out they¡¯d been used.


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    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I''ll take my leave.¡±


    After saying that, | turned and limped toward Timothy, dragging my sore ankle. But it was a strain, and the faster | wanted to


    move, the slower. | seemed to go. Just thinking about those two pairs of eyes still watching me from behind made me feel lousy.


    | didn¡¯t want Hogan to see me in this ridiculous state. But the more | worried about it, the more likely it seemed to happen, and


    sure enough, in a sh, | slipped and lost my bnce.


    ¡°Watch out!¡±


    ¡°Xaviera!¡±


    Two voices rang out beside me, and when | looked up, | was already being pulled into Timothy¡¯s embrace.


    We were so close | could smell his unique scent of crisp mint, fresh and direct, just like Timothy himself.


    | quickly put some distance between us, and out of the corner of my eye, | could feel a cold stare boring into me. When | looked


    up, Hogan had already turned and was striding away. So that warning earlier, was it just my imagination?


    When | got back to the suite, | ate a little something and then just crashed. When | woke up, everything around me was pitch


    ck.


    Turned out, night had fallen. Feeling a bit thirsty, | was about to get up when suddenly my phone started ringing. Blinking,


    annoyingly insistent.


    EVE

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    And what | didn¡¯t expect was the caller on the line turned out to be Shirley. My gut was screaming this wasn¡¯t going to be


    anything good.


    All of a sudden, it hit me - the run-in with Hogan and Zachary at noon. If my hunch was right; she was the messenger in this


    little


    game.


    | took a moment to brace myself and then hit the answer button. The next second, the buzzing noise unique to bars flooded my


    ears.


    ¡°Ms. March, feeling any better? There¡¯s a bash at our bar tonight; wanna swing by for a drink?¡±


    Shirley sure thought highly of me. Anyone with a lick of medical sense knew one shouldn¡¯t go near booze with a swollen ankle.


    And Shirley? She¡¯d got the smarts, alright. She was just out to ruffle my feathers. | had some hope for our partnership before, so


    I''d been biting my tongue in the face of her provocations. But things


    were different now.


    ¡°Sorry, President Stapleton, not gonna work for me.¡± | declined t-out, ¡°But thanks for the invite.¡±


    Shirley probably didn¡¯t see that level of straight talking. She paused for a few seconds before letting out a sigh, ¡°Too bad,


    really. Mr. Zade was just saying he expected me to knock back a few with Ms. March tonight, right Mr. Zade?¡±


    Mr. Zade? So, Hogan was there too?


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    13:28


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    His deep, raspy voice confirmed it, ¡°Ms. March, it¡¯s a kind gesture from President Stapleton. You should make the trip.¡±


    At the sound of his voice, | could feel my heart sinking, limbs starting to quake. How long did Hogan n to use me as his pawn?


    Did he really see me as a sucker?


    l inhaled deeply, almost ready to snap back, but held it in. On second thought, this might still be my chance.


    If Hogan had the upper hand with Cecilia in the FreeMan thing, fair y to him. But if he wanted to use me against Shirley, he¡¯d


    better be ready to pony up.


    With that in mind, | coolly said, ¡°Hang tight, I''ll be right over.¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    From a distance, in the bar¡¯s VIP section, | spotted Hogan sitting dead center. The guy was decked out in a ck shirt, sleeves


    rolled up just enough to show off a bit of his solid forearms, while that aloof, fair face of his looked almost out of ce under the


    neon glow.


    And Shirley, across from him, was all dolled up in a ck sequined dress, light smoky makeup adding to her mysterious, sultry


    vibe.


    The moment she saw me, she shed a grin, saying, ¡°Ms. March, flying solo tonight? Where¡¯s Timothy?¡±


    | frowned slightly, replying, ¡°l wasn¡¯t aware Mr. Temple wasing.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Shirley feigned innocence, ¡°I thought with the connection between Ms. March and Timothy, you''de together.¡±


    After dropping that line, Shirley sneakily nced at Hogan, gauging his reaction. Funny thing about her, if Cecilia was standing


    here


    Chapter 143


    instead of me, Hogan might''ve been on edge. But it was me, remember?


    | looked at Shirley unfazed and said, ¡°I had no idea you invited Mr. Temple too. Seems like we¡¯re in for a lively evening.¡±


    No sooner had | finished than a cheerful voice called out right by my ear, ¡°Xaviera, | kept calling you; why didn¡¯t you pick up?


    Turns out you''re already here.¡±


    The couch dipped beside me, and soon a crisp mint scent wafted into my nostrils. | turned to see Timothy, d in a white


    sequined jacket and rocking shades, plopping down next to me with confidence.


    What could | say, the guy had stage presence. | could tell Timothy was no stranger to the bar scene.


    His skin was fair, enviable even; topped with gray hair and those oversized sunsses, he looked just like the heartthrob idol


    young girls went crazy for.


    | couldn''t help but take a few more nces. Out of the corner of my eye, | caught Hogan across from us, silently observing our


    way.


    The corner of his mouth was slightly upturned, but his eyes were unflinching. | knew that look ¡ª it was his way of saying he


    couldn''t care less.


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    The awkward drinking session got a bit lighter when Timothy rolled


    1. in.


    After some small talk, Shirley ordered the server to pour the drinks. But when it was my turn, Timothy put the kibosh on it.


    ¡°Xaviera is still nursing a foot injury, better stick to juice,¡± he said, giving the server the eye. Casual as he was, there was an


    unspoken assertiveness in his actions.


    Obviously, | couldn¡¯t just opt-out. With bigwigs like Hogan and Shirley around, | wasn¡¯t in a position to stay dry.


    Before | could object, Shirley chimed in, ¡°Mr. Temple, aren''t you a bit too caring for Ms. March? I¡¯ve never seen you so attentive


    to any girl before.¡±


    After that, her eyes darted towards me, loaded with insinuation.


    Timothy, all grins, looked at me and said, ¡°Speaking of which, the reason Xaviera can¡¯t drink is all President Stapleton¡¯s fault, so


    quit stirring the pot.¡±


    His careless tone paired with that seemingly innocent face made it hard for anyone to fault him. Shirley seemed a bit thrown off,


    waving her hand and saying, ¡°Alright, alright, my bad. I¡¯ll take a penalty drink, okay?¡±


    As she spoke, she already had her ss in hand.


    | was about to intervene when Timothy said, ¡°It¡¯s just a joke. Don¡¯t take it seriously, President Stapleton.¡±


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    Shirley rolled her eyes at Timothy, teasing, ¡°So you''re picking on me. on purpose. Mr. Zade, Look, | make one littlement


    about Ms. March, and Mr. Temple jumps to her defense with ten.¡±


    Her yful tone seemed to be flirting with Hogan.


    Hogan, who had been silent, nced at me and said tly, ¡°We owe President Stapleton for her hospitality at Pinecrest Hollow.


    Ms. March, you should show your gratitude.¡±


    It seemed Hogan was hinting for me to toast Shirley, probably because Timothy had just undercut her.


    Logically, as a mere project manager visiting thepany, it made sense for me to toast the boss. Buting from Hogan, it


    turned into more of an order. Plus, he knew about my ankle injury.


    Although the swelling had gone down a bit after a good night''s sleep, it was still a sprain, and staying away from alcohol was the


    wise choice.


    It was infuriating. Annoyed as | was, | still picked up my ss,


    ¡°President Stapleton, | owe you one for the Pinecrest Hollow trip, so here¡¯s to you.¡±


    | hadn¡¯t even brought the ss to my lips when Timothy snatched it


    away.


    ¡°Why won''t you listen, Xaviera?¡± He said, exasperated, ncing at Shirley, ¡°Here, I''ll drink this one for her.¡±


    No sooner had he said this than he tipped his head back and downed it. He shook the empty ss and said coolly, ¡°How¡¯s that


    for sincerity?¡±


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    Chapter 144


    Shirley forced augh, ¡°Oh, Mr. Temple, it''s not like we¡¯re ganging up on Ms. March.¡±


    Timothy suddenly turned to Hogan and asked, ¡°What do you think, Mr. Zade?¡±


    At that, my heart skipped a beat. | looked over to see Timothy smiling yfully at Hogan, who was giving him a stern look. The


    two seemed to sh in an invisible standoff.


    The air tensed for a brief moment, and the mood took a sharp dive. | knew Timothy was sticking up for me, so | quickly tried to


    smooth things over, ¡°My foot is fine, and besides, President Stapleton has brought out such fine wine; it¡¯d be a shame not to try


    it.¡±


    With that, | picked up another ss and downed it.


    Shirley, sensing the stiff atmosphere, suggested, ¡°Drinking like this isn¡¯t fun. How about we y a game?¡±


    Timothy, lounging back on the couch, drawled, ¡°What game?¡±


    ¡°Catch the hand.¡± Shirley immediately exined, ¡°It¡¯s simple. We all throw rock-paper-scissors together. If you match with


    someone, you grab their hand. Miss or forget to grab, you drink. How¡¯s that?¡±


    | couldn''t help but let out a wry smile. Hand grabbing was usually for people who were close, but Shirley had deliberately picked


    this game, making her intentions pretty clear.

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    But since she threw the idea out there, | had no ce to veto it, so | just kept mum as a way of giving the thumbs up.


    Timothy didn¡¯t object either, nodding his head, ¡°Sounds kind of interesting.¡±


    Now we were all just waiting for Hogan to weigh in. Knowing him as | did, there was no way he¡¯d usually be caught dead ying.


    such a me¡± game.


    But the next second, | heard him go, ¡°I¡¯m cool with it.¡±


    Color me surprised. | was also pretty curious about what Hogan would do if he ended up in a situation where he and Shirley


    were gripping each other¡¯s hand.


    With four of us, statistically, there was bound to be a pair making the same move. Sure enough, soon after the game started,


    Shirley and | both snipped out scissors.


    We were both sharp as tacks and the same sex, so our handshake was smooth as silk. The second round had Shirley and


    Timothy bothing up with rock ¡ª childhood buddies, they breezed through it.


    Then in the third round, the moment I''d been wondering about happened ¡ª Hogan and Shirley both threw paper.


    Shirley, all smiles, reached out her hand towards Hogan, but the guy cool as a cucumber, just picked up his ss and downed


    his drink. Shirley''s hand was left hanging in the air.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


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    ¡°Sorry,¡± Hogan nced at Shirley and said, ¡°she runs a tight ship.¡±


    Shirley, her hopes dashed, had to save face, ¡°Cecilia''s really got it made.¡±


    Yeah, Cecilia wasn¡¯t even there, but her presence was felt


    everywhere ¡ª talked about being lucky.


    As the minutes ticked by, the vibe got more chill, and | didn¡¯t know how many rounds in, | ended up matching scissors with


    Timothy.


    | was just about to take a penalty drink when Timothy¡¯s broad palm covered the back of my hand, his warmth spreading from my


    fingertips to behind my ears. In a sh, my face was on fire.


    | tried to pull my hand back, but felt Timothy¡¯s fingers gripping a tad tighter, locked in my palm.


    | was kind of freaking out, not knowing whether to wriggle free or just go with it. Then | hear Timothy say, ¡°Xaviera, it¡¯s just a


    game; why¡¯re you blushing?¡±


    | hastily withdrew my hand, about to exin, when suddenly there was this crash ¡ª Hogan¡¯s bottle had taken a dive onto the


    floor. The whiskey sttered all over his light-colored trousers, a real


    eyesore.


    ¡°Are you hurt, Mr. Zade?¡± It was Shirley who spoke.


    Hogan, still not missing a beat, said, ¡°It''s nothing, just a shame about the whiskey.¡±


    Deve


    ¡°Mr. Zade, what are you saying? It¡¯s just booze.¡± Shirley slurred, her eyes adding a seductive glint, ¡°If you want to drink, I''ll keep


    youpany all night.¡±


    Chapter 145


    Chapter 145


    But Hogan wasn¡¯t swayed. He nced at his watch and said, ¡°Sorry, but this is where | call it a night; | promised to call her at this


    time.¡±


    That ¡°her¡± obviously meant Cecilia. Even while out drinking, Hogan didn¡¯t forget her instructions.


    Since he''d said as much, Shirley didn¡¯t object. Instead, she offered sweetly, ¡°My driver¡¯s just outside; | can give Mr. Zade a lift.¡±


    The bar wasn¡¯t far from the penthouse on the mountain. But Hogan nodded in agreement, ¡°Thanks, President Stapleton.¡±


    The moment the two bosses were gone, Timothy was already trying to roll up my pant leg. I¡¯d had a few drinks and staggered


    back a couple of steps, saying, ¡°It¡¯s really no big deal.¡±


    Sometimes his straightforwardness could be too much.


    Timothy seemed to realize his forwardness and scratched his head, saying, ¡°I just wanted to make sure; hope you don¡¯t mind,


    Xaviera.¡±


    Of course, | wouldn¡¯t mind such a good-hearted young man, but my mind was still on something else.


    Half an hourter, | was back at my thatched cottage, nursing a sore calf. As soon as my key card clicked and the door beeped


    open, | was greeted by Hogan¡¯s deep, beguiling voice, ¡°Back so

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    Chapter 146


    Chapter 146


    | didn¡¯t expect Hogan toe looking for me. Just a while ago, he was all about heading back to have a long chit-chat on the


    phone with Cecilia. Did that wrap up already?


    My mind was preupied with the guest list issue, so | asked with a meek tone, ¡°Do you need something, Mr. Zade?¡±


    Hogan gave me a sidelong nce and said, ¡°What, am | not even allowed in the room now?¡±


    Truth be told, | hadn¡¯t nned to invite Hogan in, but after he mentioned it, | felt it''d be kinda rude to leave him hanging on the


    doorstep.


    So we both ended up walking into the suite, one after the other. | made the excuse of getting some water, but | could feel his


    eyes roaming all over me, sending my stomach into somersaults.


    The next thing | heard was Hogan, with that nonchnt tone of his, saying, ¡°Weren¡¯t you nursing an injured ankle? You seem to


    handle these hilly paths quite effortlessly.¡±


    My hand paused while pouring the tea, and after an indifferent nce at Hogan, | responded, ¡°Your invitation was generous; how


    could | refuse?¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Hogan snorted coldly, his tone dripping with sarcasm, ¡°I¡¯m afraid Ms. March''s tirelessness might have an ulterior


    motive?¡±


    My heart skipped a beat. Curiously looking at Hogan, | noticed a slight smirk on his face, but his eyes were frosty cold. Had he


    13:29


    *Chapter 146


    figured out what | was up to?


    ¡°Huh, as if one Darren wasn¡¯t enough, now there¡¯s a Timothy in the picture.¡± He continued mockingly, ¡°Xaviera March, you really


    do surprise me.¡±


    Hogan used my full name again. Even he probably didn¡¯t realize that at moments like these, his sharp features seemed to be


    covered in ayer of frost.


    He was not pleased. But why should he be annoyed?


    ¡°What I¡¯m really curious about is whether Timothy had agreed to invest or not,¡± Hogan, seeing that | was silent, prodded further.


    Hogan¡¯s words were always packed tight, especially after a few drinks. And every sentence seemed to stab right at the heart.


    To invest. | slowly digested it, finally grasping the insinuation ¡ª that my getting close to Timothy was also calcting.


    So, in Hogan¡¯s eyes, that was who | was. A re of controlled anger rushed in with his few words. | forced a smile, feigning


    composure, ¡°You''ve given me a good proposition, Mr. Zade; I''ll give it some thought.¡±


    At that, his brows twitched slightly, furrowing together. The displeasure on his face was now unmistakable.


    Pretending not to notice, | handed him the ss of water, ¡°You¡¯ve spoken quite a bit, Mr. Zade, thirsty?¡±


    Before | could finish my sentence, | felt a sudden tight grip on my wrist, and my body involuntarily fell into his embrace.


    Hogan had pulled me into his arms. Because of the sudden loss ofText ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Chapter 146


    bnce, | ended up seated right between his legs.


    The strong scent of alcohol mixed with his unique soapy fragrance invaded my senses. | turned my face, trying to get up, but


    Hogan¡¯s grip on my waist was unyielding.


    Our breaths intermingled, his gaze fixated on me, intense like a predator that had just found its prey in a deste snowy


    landscape ¡ª so fervent it was almost unbearable to look at directly.


    The heat rose to my cheeks bit by bit, his breath getting closer, and | took a deep breath, awkwardly turning away.


    | wouldn¡¯t forget that this man named Hogan, in his eyes and heart,


    it was all about that woman named Cecilia.


    As he was rejected, his face turned ashen; he red at me, his breathing growing heavier, ¡°What? That''s a ¡®no¡®?¡±


    Surprised, | looked at Hogan, only to hear him add, ¡°Aren¡¯t you quite the daredevil, Ms. March? If that¡¯s the case, what''s with this


    act?¡±


    An act? Daredevil? So what exactly did Hogan think of me? A convenient outlet for when he needed one?

 Chapter 147

    Chapter 147


    Chapter 147


    Awave of shame like I¡¯d never felt before was gnawing at my chest. | pinched the palm of my hand hard, forcing myself to chill


    out, ¡°Mr. Zade, are you looking to make a deal with me?¡±


    | didn¡¯t realize until | spoke that my voice was shaking.


    ¡°If so,¡± | took a deep breath, trying to sound more casual, ¡°I''ve got a


    better idea.¡±


    | met Hogan¡¯s gaze head-on and said it straight. After all, I¡¯d got nothing to lose at this point.


    But Hogan looked at me like I¡¯d just said something out of this world, silently staring.


    This time | didn¡¯t back down but smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Zade, you''ve been through hell and back dealing with President Stapleton


    just to find FreeMan in the guest list, right? I¡¯m down to be your human shield, and I¡¯m cool with you handing the credit over to


    Cecilia, but I¡¯ve got one condition.¡±


    | paused, and then added, ¡°We team up, and once we get a hold of FreeMan himself, | get some one-on-one time with him.¡±


    If thepetition''s oue was already written in stone, | might as well y my cards right and secure FreeMan¡¯s backing for


    future coborations.


    |id it all out in one breath, but the guy in front of me suddenly mmed up. Agreed or disagreed, Hogan didn¡¯t show his hand


    right away.


    | didn¡¯t dare rush him, and just sat there quietly, holding my pose,


    1/3


    13:29


    waiting for him to break the silence.


    A few secondster, | heard him say, word by word, ¡°So, you want to make a deal with me?¡±


    The atmosphere that was brewing something mysterious flipped into a standoff. When | nced at Hogan with the corner of my


    eye, he was cracking his knuckles.


    That was his tell when he was trying to keep his cool. But what was he holding back for? This deal should be win-win for both of


    us.


    With that in mind, | exined, ¡°Teaming up with me, Mr. Zade, you can use me as your shield to deal with President Stapleton


    and smoothly fulfill Director Irwin¡¯s wishes. Isn¡¯t that killing a few birds


    with one stone?¡±


    No sooner had | finished speaking than Hogan shot up so abruptly that it caught me off guard, and | embarrassingly tumbled


    onto the couch.


    When | looked back at Hogan, his chiseled face had lost any trace of warmth, reced by his usual coldness and sarcasm.


    ¡°Xaviera, you really think you¡¯re something, don¡¯t you?¡±


    And with that, he was gone, not giving me a chance to say another word. It wasn¡¯t until the door mmed shut that | deted like


    a burst balloon, slumping onto the couch.


    was toL


    As expected, getting one over on Hogan After all, his efforts included a genuine devotion to Cecilia.


    But speaking up wasn¡¯t all bad. Judging by tonight¡¯s events, Shirley was still hot for Hogan, and him getting the guest list from


    her wasn¡¯t going to be easy.


    13:29Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    If it was gonna be a drawn-out thing, then | still had my uses. With three days left in our week-long deal, | was not throwing in


    the towel just yet.


    After a groggy sleep, Shirley¡¯s call woke me up early the next morning.


    ¡°Ms. March, you up yet?¡± Her, cheery voice came through the phone, ¡°We¡¯re heading down the mountain to pick someone up


    soon, get ready.¡±


    ¡°Pick up someone?¡± | was totally lost and asked, ¡°Who are we picking up?*.


    ¡°Don''t you know? Cecilia¡¯s arrived at Pinecrest Hollow.¡± Shirley exined excitedly, ¡°I told Mr. Zade we could have Ceciliae


    up in a shuttle, but he¡¯s super protective and insists on picking her up himself. Man, it¡¯s envy¡ªinducing.¡±


    That was when it clicked for me. | looked at my slightly swollen. ankle and smirked self¡ªdeprecatingly.

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    Chapter 148


    Chapter 148


    | showed up at the foot of the mountain at the passenger reception an hourter.


    After asking around a bit, | finally found the bus Cecilia was on. | hadn¡¯t even made it to the bus when | saw a girl in a canary


    yellow puffer jacket with her hair in a bun zooming off not too far away. | took a closer look; who else could it be but Cecilia?


    The next second, the petite figure dove into the embrace of a mant with a broad chest. Cecilia looked up joyfully and said,


    ¡°Hogan, I¡¯ve been dying to see you.¡±


    Dressed in a dark blue suit, Hogan stood still, looking all the more tall and dashing, and while he didn¡¯t return the warm hug, a


    smile was ying on his lips.


    Even the usual chill in his eyes seemed to have thawed a bit. He was like a different personpared to the stern, aloof guy he


    usually was. It almost made me feel bad to interrupt.


    ¡°Come on now, you''ve just met and you''re already all over each other.¡± Shirley piped up nonchntly, as if the previous moment


    hadn¡¯t happened, teasing, ¡°Do you want to kill us with this PDA or what?¡±


    Cecilia''s eyelids dropped in a bashful manner and she said, ¡°Shirley, stop teasing me.¡±


    Shirley opened her mouth, her sly eyes darting between Hogan and Cecilia; then she caught sight of me standing not too far off


    and immediately greeted me, ¡°Ms. March, did you just get here?¡±


    13:29


    Chapter 148


    With that, all eyes were on me. | walked over, trying to keep my cool, and said, ¡°Sorry, | got held uping down the mountain.¡±


    There was a cable car, but my ankle was still healing from an injury, which slowed my pace.


    After hearing my exnation, Shirleymented ndly, ¡°Ms.


    March, you sure have a knack for timing. A few more minutes and Cecilia would¡¯ve been back at the hotel. Wouldn''t that have


    been a wasted trip?¡±


    | sensed the sarcasm in Shirley¡¯s voice and felt a mix of emotions.


    In the office, | was sort of Cecilia''s boss, right? It was only proper for me to pick her up since she¡¯de all the way to Pinecrest


    Hollow. But it wouldn''t be the end of the world if | got tied up with something else, would it?


    | came out here just for the sake of Hogan since getting the scoop. on FreeMan directly from him would be the easiest and most


    straightforward way.


    Was being a few minuteste really cause for an interrogation and scolding by everyone?


    ¡°It''s okay, Shirley. Xaviera¡¯s been up to her neck in work these past couple of days.¡± Came Cecilia¡¯s gentle voice, her eyes soft


    as she looked at me, ¡°But I¡¯m still super happy to see you, Xaviera.¡±


    | was speechless for a moment. Cecilia just got to Pinecrest Hollow today; how could she possibly know I¡¯d been burning the


    candle at both ends?


    Looked like Hogan hadn¡¯t been shy about sharing work updates with her over the phone. Updates on my, well, less¡ªthan-ster


    2/3


    13:29


    Chapter 148


    progress.


    Zachary seemed to pick up on my displeasure and suggested, ¡°Lunchtime¡¯s almost here. How about this, Director Irwin, you


    leave your luggage with me and head to the restaurant with Mr. Zade and President Stapleton?¡±


    Hearing this, Cecilia blinked her pretty big eyes and said, ¡°But | came on such short notice, | haven¡¯t even booked a hotel yet.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Shirley couldn¡¯t help butugh at this, teasing, ¡°Book a hotel for what? Mr. Zade¡¯s got a top-tier suite; there''s plenty of space for


    one more.¡±


    ¡°Shirley.¡± Cecilia lowered her voice, her probing gaze briefly resting on Hogan''s face before saying, ¡°Why are you spouting


    nonsense?¡±


    The youngdy¡¯s eyes were downcast, showing off a demure, newlywed-like shyness.


    Seeing this, Shirley grinned at Hogan and asked, ¡°What do you say, Mr. Zade?¡±

 Chapter 149

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    Chapter 149


    Shirley was basically pushing Hogan to call the shots. Logically speaking, Hogan and Cecilia were an item, so bunking together


    wouldn''t be out of line. But would Hogan go for it?


    Amomentter, | heard the guy speak up in a calm voice, ¡°Would you mind, President Stapleton, arranging a separate suite next


    to mine for Cecilia?¡±


    No sooner had he finished than a look of disappointment flickered across Cecilia¡¯s face, but it vanished quickly, and Shirley¡¯s


    expression was one of total disbelief.


    Then she chimed in, ¡°Sure thing, whatever Mr. Zade says.¡±


    While she was speaking, Zachary was already on the move, hauling Cecilia¡¯s luggage. The girl brought a whopping three huge


    suitcases.


    There was a bit of a trek from the reception to the hotel, and making Zachary lug all that gear by himself was no easy feat.


    ¡°| didn¡¯t think this through.¡± Shirley said, ming herself, and then. quickly switched gears, ¡°Maybe Ms. March could help out?¡±


    She said it with a sweet smile that didn¡¯t seem to have a hint of


    malice.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°No way.¡± Cecilia jumped in, waving her hands, ¡°That would be way too much trouble for Xaviera. | should do it myself.¡±


    ¡°Come on, you haven¡¯t seen Mr. Zade in days.¡± Shirley butted in, turning to me, ¡°Is that cool with you, Ms. March?¡±


    1/3


    13:30


    Chapter 149


    Helping with the luggage was just a fancy way of making me her errand boy. | felt a wave of difort in my chest; | knew


    Shirley was stirring up trouble for me in front of everyone.


    But why? Cecilia, the official girlfriend, was here, and Hogan hade down from the mountain early in the morning just to meet


    his pampered princess. Shirley had to have seen that, so why target me?


    | frowned slightly, about to mention my foot injury when | heard Hogan say, ¡°It¡¯s not that far; let¡¯s just go with what President


    Stapleton suggested.¡±


    | looked at Hogan in disbelief, only to meet his impassive gaze, cold


    and heartless.


    Yeah, Hogan was definitely giving me orders. | couldn''t help but feel a mix ofughter and tears.


    Of course, this guy had always thought my foot injury was a fake, so why would he care how seriously hurt | was or whether |


    could carry a suitcase?


    All he had eyes for was his Cecilia, who had traveled miles on a bus to see him. | felt a twinge in my stomach. But then again,


    moving


    luggage meant | wouldn¡¯t have to deal with these people any longer, which was a silver lining.


    With that thought, | suppressed the difort in my chest, forced a smile, and said, ¡°No problem, leave it to me.¡±


    Hearing this, Cecilia showed a guilty look, ¡°Thank you, Xaviera.¡±


    Fifteen minutester, Zachary and | arrived at Cecilia¡¯s suite with the luggage. He shot me a concerned look, ¡°Xaviera, you


    okay? You


    13:30


    Chapter 149


    look kinda pale.¡±


    | was fine until he mentioned it, but then | really started to feel a bit


    weak.


    ¡°It''s nothing; | just need to rest a bit.¡±


    After replying, | dragged the smallest suitcase inside, but lost focus for a second and bumped it against the door frame. Instantly,


    the suitcase flew out of my hand and thetch burst open with a crack.


    Suddenly, a sexy ck lingerie slipped out, along with it, a small square box. On closer inspection, it was a box of


    contraceptives.


    My mind shed back to the day at the mall when Sibyl had


    earnestly advised Cecilia to use any means to bonk Hogan, and my


    heart sank.

 Chapter 150

    Chapter 150


    Chapter 149 Shirley was basically pushing Hogan to call the shots. Logically speaking, Hogan and Cecilia were an item, so


    bunking together wouldn¡¯t be out of line. But would Hogan go for it? A momentter, | heard the guy speak up in a calm voice,


    ¡°Would you mind, President Stapleton, arranging a separate suite next to mine for Cecilia?¡± No sooner had he finished than a


    look of disappointment flickered across Cecilia¡¯s face, but it vanished quickly, and Shirley''s expression was one of total disbelief.


    Then she chimed in, ¡°Sure thing, whatever Mr. Zade says.¡± While she was speaking, Zachary was already on the move, hauling


    Cecilia''s luggage. The girl brought a whopping three huge suitcases. There was a bit of a trek from the reception to the hotel,


    and making Zachary lug all that gear by himself was no easy feat. ¡°I didn¡¯t think this through.¡± Shirley said, ming herself, and


    then. quickly switched gears, ¡°Maybe Ms. March could help out?¡± She said it with a sweet smile that didn¡¯t seem to have a hint of


    malice. ¡°No way.¡± Cecilia jumped in, waving her hands, ¡°That would be way too much trouble for Xaviera. | should do it myself.¡±


    ¡°Come on, you haven¡¯t seen Mr. Zade in days.¡± Shirley butted in, turning to me, ¡°Is that cool with you, Ms. March?¡± 1/3 13:30


    Chapter 149 Helping with the luggage was just a fancy way of making me her errand boy. | felt a wave of difort in my chest;


    | knew Shirley was stirring up trouble for me in front of everyone. But why? Cecilia, the official girlfriend, was here, and Hogan


    hade down from the mountain early in the morning just to meet his pampered princess. Shirley had to have seen that, so


    why target me? | frowned slightly, about to mention my foot injury when | heard Hogan say, ¡°It¡¯s not that far; let¡¯s just go with what


    President Stapleton suggested.¡± | looked at Hogan in disbelief, only to meet his impassive gaze, cold and heartless. Yeah,


    Hogan was definitely giving me orders. | couldn''t help but feel a mix ofughter and tears. Of course, this guy had always


    thought my foot injury was a fake, so why would he care how seriously hurt | was or whether | could carry a suitcase? All he had


    eyes for was his Cecilia, who had traveled miles on a bus to see him. | felt a twinge in my stomach. But then again, moving


    luggage meant | wouldn¡¯t have to deal with these people any longer, which was a silver lining. With that thought, | suppressed


    the difort in my chest, forced a smile, and said, ¡°No problem, leave it to me.¡± Hearing this, Cecilia showed a guilty look,


    ¡°Thank you, Xaviera.¡± Fifteen minutester, Zachary and | arrived at Cecilia¡¯s suite with the luggage. He shot me a concerned


    look, ¡°Xaviera, you okay? You 13:30 Chapter 149 look kinda pale.¡± | was fine until he mentioned it, but then | really started to feel


    a bit weak. ¡°It¡¯s nothing; | just need to rest a bit.¡± After replying, | dragged the smallest suitcase inside, but lost focus for a second


    and bumped it against the door frame. Instantly, the suitcase flew out of my hand and thetch burst open with a crack.


    Suddenly, a sexy ck lingerie slipped out, along with it, a small square box. On closer inspection, it was a box of


    contraceptives. My mind shed back to the day at the mall when Sibyl had earnestly advised Cecilia to use any means to bonk


    Hogan, and my heart sank.


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 151

    Chapter 151


    Chapter 151


    After exchanging a few pleasantries with Timothy, | made a quick U-turn to leave. But just a few steps in, | stumbled upon


    Hogan. standing under the cloister.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    With a cigarette between his fingertips, the smoke swirled around to reveal those calm, untroubled eyes.


    He was staring right at me. | walked by with a poker face, and as | got closer, | heard him say, ¡°Ms. March, you sure are a busy


    bee, juggling work and flirting with ease, huh?¡±


    Flirting? | slightly furrowed my brows and replied indifferently, ¡°Takes one to know one.¡±


    If he insisted that there was something going on between Timothy and me, arguing would be pointless. Might as well just y


    along with his narrative.


    But no sooner had | spoken than a cloud of darkness seemed to cross his sharp features, ¡°Xaviera, have | been spoiling you too


    much?¡±


    Not this line again. | couldn¡¯t help but let out a scoff, ¡°Yeah, right. You go shopping with your girlfriend and still don¡¯t forget to


    make me run errands. I¡¯m really ¡®lucky.¡±


    Hogan shot me a look and sneered, ¡°What, got a problem with that?¡±


    Problem. As if | had any right to have a problem. | did have that much self-awareness, at least.


    I


    The next second heard Hese


    Chapter 151


    to.¡±


    A fact | was well aware of, yet it still twisted my heart into knots hearing him say it again. | curled my fingers and smiled, ¡°Director


    Irwin must be waiting. You wouldn¡¯t want to keep thedy worrying, Mr. Zade.¡±


    After dropping that, | walked away, but in my haste, |pletely missed the step right in front of me.


    Suddenly losing my bnce, | was caught off guard as Hogan pulled me into his embrace. It was so unexpected and took me


    completely by surprise.


    Just as | stood there, dumbfounded, | heard a click from right in front and saw a tourist photographer standing there.


    ¡°Sorry about that.¡± He exined with a smile, ¡°I was just passing by and couldn''t help but capture this intimate moment between


    you


    two.


    He approached us and politely handed over the camera, ¡°You two must be newly in love. From the photo, the affection in your


    eyes is evidently intense.¡±


    At those words, | was stunned for a moment, and when | looked at Hogan, | saw awkwardness on his face too.


    Just as we both felt a bit diforted, Cecilia¡¯s soft voice suddenly cut through, ¡°Hogan, Xaviera, what are you two doing?¡±


    | followed the sound and saw Cecilia and Shirley standing just a couple of steps away.


    | immediately pulled away from Hogan, but it was already toote. The way Hogan had held me close was impossible to hide


    from


    2/4


    13:30


    Chapter 151


    them now.


    Shirley jumped in with a preemptive strike, ¡°What''s with this tourist shoot? Can¡¯t you see? What couple? The real girlfriend is


    right


    here.¡±


    The photographer was clearly baffled, looking from me to Hogan and hurriedly apologizing, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry, my bad. I''ll delete


    the photo right away.¡±


    His move was nimble; seemed anxious to avoid any trouble.


    Meanwhile, Cecilia stood there with a drooping head, looking as if she were about to cry. Hogan immediately went over to


    exin, ¡°Ms. March just missed her step.¡±


    He was telling the truth, his tone somewhat urgent, probably worried about a misunderstanding. Cecilia didn¡¯t respond but her


    face looked even more aggrieved than before. | couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat helpless.


    Then Shirley chimed in again, ¡°Well, Ms. March sure has a knack for timing her pains; knows just when to feel it, almost like it¡¯s


    scripted. Got to admit, it¡¯s impressive.¡±


    | bristled at the sarcasm, retorting, ¡°President Stapleton, I¡¯m ttered. It was indeed a sudden incident, but thanks to your


    reminder, | now feel that my foot is not up for continuing the stroll. I''ll head back to the hotel. If you two need anything, you can


    call me.¡±


    With that, | turned and walked away. Honestly, | was at my limit. | was easy-going but not a pushover.


    As | was about to make my grand exit, suddenly everything went


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    13:30


    Chapter 151


    ck, and | lost consciousness. When | woke up, | found myself in a hospital room, smelling of disinfectant, with an IV in my


    arm.


    That was when | realized | had ended up in the hospital, of all ces. As | was about to get up, Cecilia¡¯s sweet, soft voice floated


    to my ears, ¡°Hogan, you should go back. Ms. March is ady, after all. It''s more appropriate for me to take care of her.¡±


    She seemed like the epitome of considerateness.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I''ll stay,¡± the low, husky voice was somewhat weary. It was Hogan.


    There was a brief pause before | heard Cecilia''s gentle voice close to my ear, ¡°Hogan, are you worried | can¡¯t take good care of


    Xaviera? To be honest, | was a bit jealous when the photographer mistook you two for a couple, but even if I¡¯m petty, | wouldn¡¯t


    take it out on Xaviera¡¯s wellbeing.¡±


    Looked like I was lucky to have such a considerate colleague.


    After a moment, | heard Hogan say, ¡°What are you thinking? With long night and damp weather, I¡¯m just worried you can¡¯t handle


    it.¡±


    Oh, turned out even though | had passed out in the street, Hogan¡¯s biggest concern was not to wear out his precious darling.

 Chapter 152

    Chapter 152


    Chapter 152


    When | brought up the idea of being discharged with the nurse, Hogan was the first one to jump down my throat.


    ¡°Look at you, all sick and pale. You think you can get discharged?¡± His words were sharp as a tack, and his tone was colder than


    a witch¡¯s tit, ¡°Cut the drama, Rainbow Capital isn¡¯t picking up the tab for a partner who''s brought it all on herself.¡±


    | mulled over what he meant and couldn''t help but feel ridiculously amusing. Then, | heard Cecilia persuade gently, ¡°Xaviera,


    Hogan¡¯s just looking out for you. Your health is your bread and butter; you¡¯ve gotta take care of yourself first, right?¡±


    All | felt was that my temples were throbbing, and | lost all desire to even speak. How could these two brainiacs not get it? The


    reason | didn¡¯t want to stay in the hospital was to avoid seeing the two of


    them at the same time!


    But there they were, acting all butthurt as if | didn¡¯t appreciate their good intentions. They really didn¡¯t have a clue about the


    social


    graces.


    Just when I was caught between a rock and a hard ce, bam! The door mmed open, and there stood Timothy, panting at the


    doorway, his puppy¡ªdog eyes filled with worry.


    After his pretty eyes swept over me for a couple of seconds, he bee-lined it to my side and pointed at my ankle, ¡°You forgot the


    doctor¡¯s orders? Wear socks, keep warm, why are you always so


    hard¡ªheaded?¡±


    Gone was his usual Mr. Nice Guy facade, reced by a tinge of


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    13:31


    Chapter 152


    sulk. That was the kind of imposing vibe that only the big shots had. Even if he looked young and usually approachable, in that


    moment, he couldn''t hide his authority.


    | was just about to exin when Cecilia butted in, ¡°Mr. Temple sure is worried about you. Look, since Mr. Temple is here, why


    don¡¯t you stay in the hospital for him, Xaviera?¡±


    Timothy did a double-take, looking at me, questioning, ¡°You wanna leave?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Cecilia piped up again, all woebegone, ¡°Hogan and | couldn¡¯t talk her out of it. Mr. Temple, you have to convince her.¡±


    | curled my fingers, my thoughts a hot mess. | had only one thought ¡ª got out, these two out of here this instant. | didn¡¯t want to


    see


    them for another second.


    Timothy, sensing my difort, asked, ¡°You feeling okay?¡±


    Before | could answer, Cecilia said, ¡°Well, Hogan, since Mr. Temple is here, it seems we don¡¯t need to stay tonight. What do you


    say, Xaviera?¡±


    | nced at the so-called innocent eyes of the young girl and then at Hogan, who was silently standing by, and managed a


    lukewarm. reply, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Getting rid of Timothy would be a piece of cakepared to these


    two.


    But my response earned a snort from Hogan, ¡°Ms. March¡¯s ns are always so thoughiful.¡±


    With that, he spun on his heel and left the room without a backward nce. Cecilia, taken aback, nced at me and then said,


    ¡°Well,


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    13:31


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    Xaviera, you get some rest; we''lle to see you tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow? | muttered to myself, ¡°please don¡¯t. Thanks but no


    thanks.¡±


    | looked up only to see Timothy with a smile on his face.


    ¡°What''s up?¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Seems like | came just in time.¡± Timothy said, eyeing me and propping his chin, ¡°Xaviera, do you know that | freaked out when |


    heard from Shirley that you passed out? And now I¡¯m being used as a handyman by you. Aren¡¯t you gonna thank me properly?¡±


    | knew this man was sharp, but he was even slicker than a fox. |


    was worn out, managing a strained smile, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m really out of options.¡±


    ¡°| knew something was off when | bumped into you at themercial street.¡± Timothy nced at me, saying, ¡°But this Mr. Zade


    is not quite the man the rumors make him out to be.¡±


    ¡°Oh? How so?¡±


    ¡°Word around Rivertown is that the Zade family has this icy man, who looks all ascetic but with wicked skills.¡± Timothy paused,


    ¡°but | think he¡¯s missing a bit of gentlemanly charm. If it were me, | wouldn¡¯t dream of giving you such a hard time.¡±


    3/3

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    Timothy had got a point, but it was not the whole picture. After all, Hogan and | had been going our separate ways for two years


    now.


    Now, the only thing standing between us was the almighty dor. Straight up, it was all about the benjamins. He was all


    business, no hard feelings there.


    ¡°I''ve got a favor to ask of you.¡± | said, not wanting toy eyes on those two in the morning, ¡°Can you help me get discharged?¡±


    ¡°No way.¡± Timothy shot me down, ¡°I can¡¯t just let you do as you please.¡±


    | hung my head low, spilling the beans, ¡°Honestly, | can¡¯t stand the stench of hospital disinfectant. If | stay here, I''ll probably be


    up


    all


    night. Please, help me out.¡±


    | didn¡¯t want a minute more in the hospital.


    Seeing my urgency, Timothy hesitated for a while before sighing, ¡°Xaviera, no idea what to do with you.¡±


    Half an hourter, Timothy was helping me back to the hotel. Staring at the cramped budget room, Timothy went silent.


    | got it. The guy was a real¡ªdeal rich kid; no way he could understand the struggles of us corporate ves.


    ¡°Xaviera, you trekked all the way to Pinecrest Hollow to crash in this dump, all for Freeman? Is it worth it?¡± He seemed puzzled.


    | nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve got no other choice.¡±


    Timothy just stared at me, and then said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid it''ll all be


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    13:31


    Chapter 153


    for nothing?¡±


    I''d thought about that, but I¡¯d still got no other choice.


    ¡°You''re one stubborn cookie,¡± pouting, Timothy grumbled.


    With that, he stormed out. Not sure what exactly ticked him off. Maybe he thought chasing pipe dreams was dumb, but what else


    could | do? After all, | didn¡¯t have Cecilia¡¯s kind of luck, did I?


    Woke up to a few missed calls on my phone; one of them was from Hogan.


    At 5:30 in the morning, before the crack of dawn. Not sure if it was a butt dial; | hesitated before calling him back.


    Soon after, the phone connected, and Hogan¡¯s deep voice came through, ¡°About that deal we talked about, I¡¯ve made up my


    mind.¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    | perked up in an instant, ¡°Your instructions, Mr. Zade?¡±


    ¡°I''m willing to share my guest list with you, but you¡¯ve gotta do something for me.¡±


    Not surprised about this. There wasn¡¯t no such thing as a free lunch, after all.


    Hogan analyzed seriously, ¡°Shirley¡¯s dragging her feet because at present, she¡¯s got another option.¡± He said, ¡°And we need to


    light a fire under her.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zade wants me to cut off President Stapleton¡¯s n B?¡± | got straight to the point, ¡°Aren¡¯t you overestimating me a bit?¡±


    ¡°You can do it.¡± Hogan¡¯s voice was cool as ever, ¡°Her other option is Sean from the Abbott family, Timothy¡¯s buddy.¡±


    Chapter 153


    That was when | started to get his drift. But then | thought of something else ¡ª if Hogan knew about Timothy and Sean''s


    connection, then getting me to mess with Sean would be like betraying Timothy.


    Timothy was a stand-up guy, full of warmth and loyalty. Betraying a friend like that? Couldn''t do it.


    Sharp as Hogan was, he noticed my silence and said, ¡°I''veid out the terms. How to make a choice, it¡¯s your move, Ms. March.¡±


    He was pushing me into a corner. My heart sank bit by bit at the thought.


    Hogan must know, whether it was Sean or Timothy, those were big fish | couldn¡¯t afford to cross. If they ever sniffed out that I¡¯d


    got a hidden agenda, could | even expect toe out unscathed?


    ¡°Mr. Zade, | need some time.¡± | replied seriously, ¡°Can | have a moment to think it over?¡±


    Acold chuckle came through the phone, and | heard Hogan taunt, ¡°What''s the matter, Ms. March, can¡¯t let go of Timothy?¡±


    Chapter 153


    That was when | started to get his drift. But then | thought of something else ¡ª if Hogan knew about Timothy and Sean''s


    connection, then getting me to mess with Sean would be like betraying Timothy.


    Timothy was a stand-up guy, full of warmth and loyalty. Betraying a friend like that? Couldn''t do it.


    Sharp as Hogan was, he noticed my silence and said, ¡°I''veid out the terms. How to make a choice, it¡¯s your move, Ms. March.¡±


    He was pushing me into a corner. My heart sank bit by bit at the thought.


    Hogan must know, whether it was Sean or Timothy, those were big fish | couldn¡¯t afford to cross. If they ever sniffed out that I¡¯d


    got a hidden agenda, could | even expect toe out unscathed?


    ¡°Mr. Zade, | need some time.¡± | replied seriously, ¡°Can | have a moment to think it over?¡±


    Acold chuckle came through the phone, and | heard Hogan taunt, ¡°What''s the matter, Ms. March, can¡¯t let go of Timothy?¡±

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    | didn¡¯t expect Hogan to boil down my rtionship with Timothy to a matter of whether | was willing to let go or not.


    At this point in the conversation, | had no choice but to cut to the chase and say, ¡°I can¡¯t afford to piss off either the Temple family


    or the Abbott family, and let¡¯s not forget Shirley. If she finds out we¡¯re scheming behind her back, | bet she won''t let it slide so


    easily.¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± came another scoff, ¡°isn¡¯t Ms. March usually all gutsy? Why go chicken now?¡±


    Of course I''d chicken out; | didn¡¯t have a solid backup like Cecilia did. I''d got apany to watch over and family members who


    counted on me.


    All | could do was earnestly plead, ¡°Mr. Zade, can¡¯t we find another way to coborate?¡±


    ¡°No can do.¡± Came the definitive reply over the phone, Hogan¡¯s tone all business, ¡°Xaviera, manna doesn¡¯t fall from heaven. You


    should be grateful I¡¯m even considering your terms. Anyone else wouldn''t get this kind of deal.¡±


    So | was supposed to thank him now? | knew we couldn¡¯t keep at this standoff, so | changed the subject, ¡°Mr. Zade, since you


    have this proposal, you must have a n in ce, right?¡±


    ¡°From what | know, Mr. Abbott''s quite thedies¡® man. He¡¯s been busy during his two days in Pinecrest Hollow, never without a


    beauty by his side, even nning to throw some secret shindig.¡± Hogan paused, ¡°Your job is to fish out when and where this


    party¡¯s going down.¡±


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    Hearing this, | got a rough idea of Hogan¡¯s scheme.


    Sean was in Pinecrest Hollow on a family¡ªarranged date with Shirley, but instead, he¡¯d been living it up with some bombshell.


    This wouldn''t be a big deal in private, but if Shirley caught him. red¡ªhanded, the whole matchmaking gig would go up in smoke.


    Hogan was definitely capable of tipping Shirley off. But Shirley was no fool; if she ever put two and two togetherter on, I''d be


    the first she¡¯de after for my slip¡ªup.


    ¡°Ms. March, with all your hesitation, have you considered that without finding FreeMan, our project will keep getting dyed?


    Rainbow Capital can take the heat, but what about you? The New Year ising; do you really want to leave this mess for


    later?¡±


    Gotta admit he hit me where it hurt.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, could you give me some time to think?¡± This was all | could ask for.


    ¡°It''s 8:30 now in Willowdale. I''ll give you an hour.¡± Hogan said arrogantly, as if doing charity, ¡°I won¡¯t be waiting when the time¡¯s


    up.¡±


    An hour, how was this not cornering me? The more | thought about it, the more it didn¡¯t sit well with me, and | blurted out, ¡°Would


    you do the same if it were Cecilia in my shoes, Mr. Zade?¡±


    As soon as the words left my mouth, | realized my voice was trembling a bit. Being used by Hogan was a harsh reality | had


    come to ept, but | didn¡¯t expect him to be so tantly exploitative.


    | also understood that should things go south, I, the little pawn,


    Chapter 154Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    would be the first to be sacrificed.


    The next second, | heard Hogan say, ¡°Talking about such unfounded things is pointless. | await your reply, Ms. March.¡±


    After dropping that line, he hung up, as if another word would be a waste of his precious time. But he was right, it was me who


    was being presumptuous, asking a question | shouldn¡¯t have.


    Deep down, | already knew the answer. Stumped, | limped downstairs, only to bump into a scene where three girls had Timothy


    encircled.


    ¡°It''s our first time in Pinecrest Hollow; if you know the area, could you be our guide, hottie?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, do you mind giving us your number?¡±


    ¡°Do you know which restaurant around here is good?¡±


    On their eager and youthful faces was an unabashed admiration and longing for Timothy.

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    Yeah, with his dashing good looks, no matter where he went, he was probably a chick ma.


    | knew when to make an exit, but then, in the next second, that crisp


    voice came from behind me, ¡°Xaviera, why are you onlying down now? You had me waiting, which was quite the ordeal.¡±


    Thetter part, Timothy seemed to have put on a bit of an act, sounding kind of overdone. | turned around, puzzled, just in time


    to see Timothy breeze past a group of pretty girls and stride towards


    1. me.


    ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°Xaviera,¡± Timothy cut me off, suddenly grabbed my sleeve, and said, ¡°I know | messed up; can you please not be mad?¡±


    The girls behind him were visibly displeased. They were giving me the stink eye, their annoyance and irritation practically spilling


    out.


    Seemed like Timothy nned on using me as a human shield. Sure enough, before long, the three girls left with a sour look in


    their eyes, obviously not happy about it.


    ¡°Alright, they¡¯re gone now.¡± | pulled back my sleeve from Timothy''s grip, saying, ¡°You overyed it a bit.¡±


    Timothy chuckled, his nonchnt attitudeing through, ¡°Xaviera, are youplimenting me?¡±


    He left this ce yesterday with a face full of indignation, and here he was now, all smiles and jokes. Talked about a fast mood


    swing.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    DAN 13:32


    Chapter 155


    ¡°Have you eaten breakfast?¡± | decided not to dwell on it, ¡°I heard the pudding at the street corner is pretty good.¡±


    Timothy gave a slight bow, smiling at me, ¡°Are you offering to treat me to breakfast?¡±


    At the breakfast joint, Timothy was wolfing down the food in front


    of him.


    To be honest, | was surprised. | didn¡¯t think a rich young man could


    stomach such a down-to-earth eatery.


    After a while, Timothy contentedly wiped the corner of his mouth and said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying; | really dide to find you.¡±


    The way how he kept called me gave me the jitters.


    ¡°Something up?¡±


    ¡°It''s about Sean. He¡¯s throwing a bash at River Vi tonight and insisted | bring a date.¡± Timothy said, batting those pretty, flirty


    eyes, ¡°Would you do me the honor of apanying me, Xaviera?¡±


    At that, my heart skipped a beat. Sometimes things just worked out ¡ª the very details of the party Hogan was so eager to know, |


    got. them effortlessly from Timothy on this random morning.


    ¡°What''s up? Not convenient for you?¡±


    Thinking about my arrangement with Hogan, | felt torn. | never thought I''d have a stroke of luck fall right into myp. But | didn¡¯t


    know if | should take it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush to answer, Xaviera.¡± Timothy saw my silence, awkwardly scratching his head, ¡°I¡¯m not used to inviting dates anyway.


    Look, it¡¯s still early. Why don¡¯t you take your time to think about it, okay?¡±


    Chapter 155


    His suggestion was music to my ears.


    After breakfast, he even walked me back to the hotel, making it a point before he left to say, ¡°The party tomorrow night isn¡¯t that


    big a deal, so don¡¯t stress about it, Xaviera.¡±


    Watching his flustered face, he seemed miles away from his usual defiant self, somehow endearingly cute.


    | cracked a smile, but as | turned around, | caught sight of Cecilia standing not too far off. She was holding a fruit basket, and as


    our eyes met, the youngdy immediately beamed, ¡°Xaviera, Hogan and | were worried about your foot, so we came to check on


    you.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± | responded coolly, ¡°Have you been here long?¡±


    ¡°Not too long.¡± Cecilia faltered, ncing in the direction Timothy had left, and cautiously asked, ¡°Xaviera, was Mr. Temple inviting


    you to some sort of party just now?¡±

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    Cecilia''s tone wasced with a hint of probing.


    | brushed it off, ¡°My foot¡¯s all good, thanks for your concern.¡±


    Cecilia paused, clearly not in a hurry to leave. Instead, she chimed in, ¡°You know, it takes a good hundred days to recover from


    bone and muscle injuries. Let me help you upstairs.¡±


    | thought my words were distant enough, but Cecilia insisted on tagging along. | figured she had something else on her mind, so


    I didn¡¯t refuse.


    But when she stepped into my standard room, | couldn¡¯t help but notice her eyes betraying a flicker of a different emotion. I''d


    seen that look plenty of times before it meant she was looking down on something.


    And fair enough, she was staying in the famed thatched cottage in the mountains, where even at the low end, a night¡¯s stay


    would cost seven or eight hundred during peak season. That was worlds apart from my twenty or thirty a night digs.


    ¡°Sorry to make you cringe, Director Irwin.¡± | kept my tone even, ¡°I¡¯m back now, so | won''t keep you.¡±


    ¡°It''s not that, Xaviera; | didn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡± Cecilia waved her hands, nervously exining, ¡°I just feel a bit sorry for you.


    But don¡¯t worry, as soon as | get back, I¡¯ll talk to Hogan and get you sorted with a decent ce for tonight.¡±


    Cecilia still had that innocent look on her face as she said this, making it hard to tell if she was genuinely nice or just ying nice.


    13:32


    ¡°No need to trouble Mr. Zade.¡± | tried to sound casual, ¡°I get where you''reing from, Director Irwin.¡±


    After that, | turned to pour myself some water, avoiding any further eye contact. | was worried. Worried that one more second of


    looking at her would reveal the annoyance | was hiding.


    But Cecilia didn¡¯t leave for a good while. Seeing her awkwardly stand there, | cut to the chase, ¡°Is there something else, Director


    Irwin?¡±


    Cecilia fidgeted with the hem of her clothes and nced at me before stammering out, ¡°Xaviera, what do you think about that


    thing?¡±


    | frowned slightly, puzzled, and looked at Cecilia, ¡°What thing?¡±


    Cecilia averted her gaze and after a moment''s hesitation, said, ¡°You know, the thing about getting the info of the time and ce


    for Mr. Abbott''s party.¡±


    As | heard this, my mind went nk, as if a bomb had gone off in my head. It took a few seconds before | could breathe again.


    After a brief moment of thought, | came to a conclusion ¡ª Hogan had spilled the beans about our deal to Cecilia.


    He had actually told Cecilia about the shady business of trying to make me betray a friend for gain! A secret became more


    dangerous with each person who knew it, and Hogan was no doubt aware of this.


    ¡°Xaviera, did | say something wrong?¡± Cecilia stared at me, a trace of panic in her eyes.


    Counted the time; indeed an hour almost passed, the time that


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    13:32 m


    Chapter 156


    Hogan had agreed to give me.


    ¡°Did Hogan send you to ask me?¡± | blurted out, not realizing my voice was shaking until it was toote.


    ¡°Xaviera, Hogan didn¡¯t mean anything by it. At the end of the day, we''re all just trying to find FreeMan.¡± Cecilia exined gently,


    ¡°As for your concerns, I¡¯ve considered them. Don¡¯t worry, I''ll talk to Shirleyter on. Even if she finds out the truth, she won¡¯t hold


    it against you.¡±


    | almostughed out loud due to anger.


    Snooping around for party details was shady business thatText ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    obviously should involve as few people as possible. But here was Cecilia, nning to chat with the person in question, as if to


    ask Shirley to let me slide for her sake.

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    Chapter 157


    Chapter 157Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Thinking about it, | curled my fingers and took a gentle breath before saying, ¡°No need.¡±


    ¡°Xaviera, do you think this isn¡¯t a good idea?¡±


    My gaze sharpened, and | locked eyes with Cecilia, blurting out, ¡°Is this your idea, or Hogan¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°Xaviera,¡± Cecilia looked at me timidly, cautiously saying, ¡°Are you


    mad?¡±


    | was instantly steamed, waved my hand dismissively, and said, ¡°Hogan¡¯s got you spoiled rotten, out of touch with the real world.¡±


    Seeing that | was showing her the door, Cecilia continued, ¡°Xaviera, you''ve got it wrong, it¡¯s not Hogan¡¯s idea, it¡¯s me, | wanted to


    take some pressure off him, it was my call.¡±


    ¡°Then you can tell Mr. Zade for me,¡± | managed a strained smile, ¡°a partnership is out of the question.¡±


    At my words, Cecilia hung her head and asked, ¡°Can¡¯t you give it another thought, Xaviera?¡±


    By then, my heart had sunk to rock bottom, and | said calmly, ¡°My mind¡¯s made up.¡±


    After Cecilia left, | copsed onto the bed like a deted balloon.


    Weirdly, my ankle was the one that was hurt, but this dull pain spread from my heart to my limbs, like being inexplicably sucked


    into an ocean above the clouds, suffocating.


    I''d always known Cecilia and | were worlds apart, but | didn¡¯t realize


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    it was like heaven and earth.


    And | was still supposed to be the spectator to their love story.


    What a joke.


    A total failure of a spectator.


    Utterly andpletely defeated.


    Thinking this, | slowly pulled back my wristband and caught sight of


    that vicious scar.


    Maybe loving too hard was my biggest mistake.


    The jarring ring of my cell phone snapped me out of it.


    It was Wallis calling.


    ¡°Xaviera, how''s it going?¡±


    When | heard that concerned tone, suddenly, my nose tingled, and tears started streaming down uncontrobly.


    ¡°| lost,¡± my voice was hoarse, filled with resentment, ¡°Wallis, I¡¯ve


    lost.¡±


    ¡°Xaviera, don¡¯t scare me, what happened? Is Hogan giving you a hard time? Or Cecilia, say something, Xaviera?¡±


    She shouldn''t have asked; the tears came pouring down like pearls off a string.


    ¡°I can¡¯t find FreeMan,¡± | choked out, ¡°Wallis, I''m so useless.¡±


    ¡°Is that what''s got you?,¡± Wallis sounded relieved, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, | called you exactly to talk about this. I''ve got a new lead on


    FreeMan.¡±


    13:33


    Chapter 157


    | said incredulously, ¡°What lead?¡±


    It turned out that, justst night, Morgan shared somendscape photos in FreeMan¡¯s fan group from his trip to Pinecrest Hollow.


    The clever fans followed the clues and dug up two


    off-the-beaten-path spots for FreeMan¡¯s shoots, both near a ce


    called River Vi.


    The fans were sure FreeMan would show up there soon.


    River Vi, wasn¡¯t that the ce Timothy mentioned where his buddy Sean was throwing a party?


    ¡°Wallis, thank you,¡± | wiped the tears from my face, ¡°Maybe | still


    have a chance.¡±


    After hanging up, | sshed my face with cold water and scrolled through my contacts for Timothy¡¯s name.


    | dialed, and the call connected within moments.


    ¡°What''s up, Xaviera?¡±


    | steadied my breath, a bit excited, ¡°Can | stille to the party tomorrow night?¡±

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    ¡°Sure thing,¡± Timothy''s voice suddenly shot up a few decibels over the phone, ¡°it''d be my pleasure.¡±


    | let out a small sigh of relief, but felt a bit uneasy on the inside.


    After all, partying was just a front; the real mission was to track down FreeMan.


    But if Wallis¡® tip¡ªoff was on the money and FreeMan had shown up at River Vi, was Timothy in the know or not?


    ¡°Xaviera, I''ve got another favor to ask.¡±


    The crisp voice snapped me back to reality, and | asked in confusion, ¡°What''s up?¡±


    ¡°You know how Sean loves to fuss over fancy stuff, and tomorrow night''s party is going to have a retro theme,¡± Timothy paused


    for effect, ¡°so | might need to trouble you with the dressing up part.¡±


    Aretro theme. Did that mean | had to get myself dolled up in that style of fashion?


    | was instantly in a bind.


    ¡°Don''t sweat it, Xaviera. Our family has a talented tailor living in Pinecrest Hollow. If you head over now to get fitted, they can


    rush. it out overnight.¡±


    Though it sounded like a hassle, | thought to myself, since I''d agreed to go with Timothy, | might as well y by the rules. So |


    agreed, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it your way.¡±


    ¡°Then wait for me, I¡¯ming to pick you up right now!¡±


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    13:33


    Chapter 158


    Before | could respond, the call had ended.


    An hourter, | followed Timothy into an antique¡ªlooking tailor shop with a ssic charm.


    The ce was decked out in traditional decor, with wooden tones not exactly swanky but it had a dignified and understated


    beauty at first nce.


    The owner looked like a man of taste.


    ¡°Mr. Temple, Mr. Louis has been waiting for quite some time,¡± the server said with respectful politeness, ¡°right this way, please.¡±


    Soon after, we were introduced to a man in his fifties wearing a


    traditional suit.


    ¡°This is Louis,¡± Timothy dropped his flippant demeanor, ¡°his grandfather had made a dress for the royal family.¡±


    Hearing this, | was taken aback. | knew | was here to get fitted for clothes, but | had no idea this tailor had such an impressive


    background.


    ¡°Is this thedy you mentioned with stunning beauty?¡± Louis said with gravity, sizing me up, ¡°Mr. Temple, you have quite the eye.¡±


    Curious, | nced at Timothy, who scratched his head awkwardly and hastened, ¡°Let''s cut the chit-chat, please. Whip up a


    matching dress ensemble for her, you know, the one that goes with my suit.¡±


    Louis nodded, ¡°Consider it done.¡±


    Choosing the color, the pattern, the buttons for the dress, and the matching women¡¯s leather shoes, the whole process took over


    an hour.


    Chapter 158


    ¡°Come back tomorrow to pick it up,¡± Louis instructed patiently as we were leaving. ¡°This time I¡¯m cutting in line for you because


    of your grandma, there won''t be a next time.¡±


    That was when | realized the opportunity to get this tailored outfit was a favor Timothy had secured for me.


    My feelings were mixed.


    At the street corner, Timothy suddenly stopped me and pointed at a stall with women¡¯s slip-ons, asking, ¡°Xaviera, which color do


    you


    like?¡±


    | was baffled, ¡°Why are you asking this all of a sudden?¡±


    Timothy nced at my ankle and said, ¡°I noticed your sprain hasn''t fully healed when you were trying on the shoes earlier. You¡¯re


    not working right now, so why not switch to something morefortable?¡±


    After he finished speaking, he squatted down, picked up a pair of grass¡ªgreen slippers with a little red heart in the middle, and


    ced them by my feet, ¡°Give these a try.¡±


    The kid had a knack for being surprisingly thoughtful at times.


    Indeed, wearing those pointy-toed heels with a low cut did tire out my feet. After Timothy¡¯s suggestion, my feet suddenly felt as


    heavy as if they were filled with lead.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Five minutester, Timothy and | were both wandering around Pinecrest Hollow¡¯smercial street in our cotton slippers, which,


    in his words, was pretty darn majestic.


    But just as we were feeling pleased with ourselves, | suddenly caught sight of Hogan standing not too far away.


    3/4


    74 13:33


    Chapter 158


    The alley wasn¡¯t wide; the man stood against the light on the cobblestone road, his face half-shadowed, half-lit. The shifting


    light and shadows sculpted the man¡¯s hard contours and his fierce, frosty gaze.

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    For some reason, when our eyes locked, my heart skipped a beat out of nowhere.


    Logically speaking, Hogan shouldn¡¯t be here at this hour.


    But there he was, unexpectedly, and all alone at that.


    His gaze was so intense, you couldn''t just ignore it.


    Timothy picked up on the vibe too. He dropped the smile and asked with a serious tone, ¡°Can you handle this, Xaviera?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± | didn¡¯t want Timothy getting tangled up in the beef between Hogan and me, so | said, ¡°Let''s call ita day for now. Pick me


    up on time tomorrow night.¡±


    A flicker of hesitation crossed his pretty eyes, and | heard Timothy offer, ¡°If you can¡¯t handle it, | could step in, you know.¡±


    | yed it off, ¡°Underestimating me?¡±


    That got Timothy to back off, and he left without looking back.


    But thatser¡ªlike stare was still glued to my back.


    | steadied myself and walked towards Hogan with feigned


    calmness.


    ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Zade,¡± | said evenly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you enjoying your leisure time here.¡±


    His icy gaze raked over me, finallynding on the cotton slippers at my feet. ¡°When did your taste drop to such lowbrow levels?¡±


    Those slippers were super cute, and old me actually liked them.


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    | had even thought about getting Hogan a matching pair ¡ª ¡ª couple slippers, couple pajamas, the whole shebang. But after he


    called it childish, | always pretended to dislike them.


    Now, to Hogan, they had be ¡®lowbrow¡¯.


    But | couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him, so | just said, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I''ll take my leave.¡±


    As | turned to go, Hogan¡¯s challenging voice stopped me, ¡°Is this why you refuse to cooperate with Rainbow Capital?¡±


    His voice was cold and sharp, like a thousand-year-old ice, chilling


    to the bone.


    Years of knowing him told me clearly that Hogan was pissed.


    Rightly so, | guess. A guy used to having everything at his fingertips probably didn¡¯t see my rejection of the opportunity he


    showed me.


    My heart fluttered slightly, but | responded coolly, ¡°Mr. Zade, you should be happy, right? With one lesspetitor, you¡¯ve got


    fewer headaches, don¡¯t you?¡±


    At that, Hogan¡¯s brows knitted together, and he retorted coldly, ¡°You¡¯ve spent all this time in Pinecrest Hollow trying to find


    Freeman, and now you''re giving up just because you''ve found a big shot to lean on? Xaviera, | expected more from you!¡±


    By the end of his rant, Hogan was almost out of control, his voice trembling.


    But what''s he so mad about?


    Did he really think I''d justp up a bit of pity from him and Cecilia?


    ¡°Didn''t you say it yourself?¡± | took a breath to quell the rising anger,


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    Chapter 159


    m good at making choices, right?¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    ¡°You think you can stop my ns with no leads?¡± Hogan sneered, ¡°Xaviera, you only get one shot, and you should know, with or


    without you, | can get what | want.¡±


    That was his way of implying that him working with me was doing me a favor.


    Sometimes, he and Cecilia really were cut from the same cloth.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, | appreciate the offer,¡± | forced down the difort in my chest, ¡°but sorry, my mind¡¯s made up.¡±


    At that, Hogan¡¯s eyes narrowed, as if he had heard the most unbelievable news, and he just stood there, stunned.


    After a moment, he pointed in the direction Timothy had left and scoffed, ¡°All for that punk? Xaviera, you fancy someone that


    green?¡±


    The disdain in his eyes was so thick, you could almost see it spilling out.


    Sure, Timothy might be a bit rough around the edges and no match for the slick and seasoned Hogan.


    No wonder he looked down on him.


    Just like he had always looked down on me.


    ¡°Speaking of green,¡± | drew a line in the sand, softly saying, ¡°Mr. Zade, you also have a thing for young, juicy girls like Cecilia,


    right? Sometimes, our tastes can be uncannily simr.¡±

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    Chapter 160


    Chapter 160


    So, | spilled the beans about my spat with Hogan to Wallis.


    Honestly, | was pretty chill about how things have panned out, but one thing¡¯d still got me on pins and needles.


    Hogan was a smart cookie, and like he said, he¡¯d got a zillion ways. to snag the deets on the party.


    But once he dug up the dirt, was he gonna sniff out where


    FreeMan¡¯s at too?


    After | filled her in, Wallis went into think mode. ¡°The shindig¡¯s at seven tomorrow night. I¡¯ve been lurking in FreeMan¡¯s fan group


    like there¡¯s no tomorrow, totally blending in with the super fans. If all goes well, FreeMan¡¯s gonna spill the beans on his travels


    tomorrow. We''ll follow the breadcrumbs and give it our all.¡±


    Wallis¡® pep talk gave me a bit of peace of mind.


    The next afternoon, Timothy showed up on cue at the hotel to whisk me away to the tailor.


    He rolled up in a ssic old-timer, decked out in a retro tunic suit, looking every bit the distinguished gent.


    The vintage ride bumped along the twisty mountain roads, taking a scenic detour before pulling up to a quaint courtyard.


    As we got out, a super polite waiter came up to greet us. Timothy nonchntly flicked the car keys his way and asked,


    ¡°Everyone here yet?¡±


    ¡°Almost, Mr. Temple,¡± the waiter replied with utmost respect, ¡°Mr.


    Chapter 160


    Abbott and the others are waiting in the main hall.¡±


    Timothy nodded slightly and shot me a look before leading me down the corridor.


    The ce was tranquil, with ornate carvings and paintings, the whole yard a picture-perfect slice of paradise.


    Soon enough, | caught the sound ofughter, with women¡¯s voices sweet and men¡¯sid-back. Even beforeying eyes on them,


    | could feel the good vibes.


    Sure enough, as Timothy and | stepped into the main hall, we saw a


    group


    of guys and gals mingling. The men were decked out in dapper suits, while thedies were stunning in their own ways, like


    straight out of old-time big cities.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Mr. Temple? And who¡¯s this knockout? Haven''t seen her around before.¡±


    Some dude was eyeing me up, not exactly ying it cool.


    ¡°Put a lid on it, will ya?¡± Timothy shot back with a serious re, then introduced me to the crowd, ¡°This is Xaviera, the big¡ªshot IT


    whiz. Even | have to admire her talent.¡±


    After that intro, the previous brazen stares turned respectful, and someone kicked things off with, ¡°Hello Xaviera, have a seat.¡±


    Acouple of dress¡ªd beauties swarmed around me, ushering me to the center seat, making me feel all bashful.


    Timothy yed it cool, ¡°You¡¯re my senior, after all. They¡¯re just doing what''s right.¡±


    | nced at the gals serving me tea, feeling a twinge of something.


    Chapter 160


    Clearly, they were all about giving Timothy face.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Look here, Xaviera, we''re all friends here,¡± Sean chimed in, schmoozing, ¡°You need anything, just holler. Today¡¯s all about


    kicking back and having fun, got it?¡±


    ¡°You''re too kind,¡± | tried to keep it humble, ¡°Just hope | don¡¯t rain on anyone''s parade.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± Sean cut in crisply, ¡°Having you here is an honor for us all, right guys?¡±


    The crowd nodded like they¡¯d rehearsed it.


    Next to me, Timothy lounged on the couch, legs crossed, ¡°What are we waiting for then? Let''s get this party started.¡±


    On cue, Sean nced at his Patek Philippe and said, ¡°Hold up, we¡¯ve got one more VIP guest on the way.¡±

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    Asingle sentence sparked a wave of confusion, and | couldn''t help but get curious


    too.


    Who could it be that¡¯s got Timothy and Sean waiting on them?


    ¡°You''ll see in a bit,¡± Sean exined to Timothy. ¡°This is a client of our gallery, you guys actually met themst time.¡±


    Met before?


    | frowned slightly, a bad feeling washing over me in an instant.


    Just then, a waiter suddenly came over with a message, ¡°Mr. Abbott. Mr. Zade has arrived at the entrance.¡±


    Mr. Zade?Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    | nervously chewed on those words, my mind reeling.


    Looking up. | caught sight of Hogan and Cecilia walking in through the main


    entrance.


    Hogan was dressed in a dark suit with gold patterns, paired with a royal blue bow tie. looking understated yetvish.


    Cecilia, standing by his side, wore a modernized version of a ruffled dressplemented by a fox fur shawl, looking graceful


    and charming.


    Had | not seen it with my own eyes, | would''ve thought | was hallucinating.


    But wasn¡¯t Hogan trying to mess up Shirley''s marriage alliance with Sean? Showing up like this was practically screaming ¡°I¡¯ve


    got something up my sleeve¡¯!


    Could it be that he also got wind of the rumor that FreeMan might show up at tonight¡¯s retro themed party?


    Thinking this, | clenched my palm, and just as my gazended on the man¡¯s face, | caught those unfathomable eyes.


    After a brief two¡ªsecond eye contact, Hogan emotionlessly shifted his gaze away.


    But Sean was more proactive than | expected, introducing them with fanfare, ¡°This is Mr. Hogan Zade, the head honcho of


    Rainbow Capital, and with him is Ms. Irwin. They are honored guests I¡¯ve invited, please give them a warm wee.¡±


    It all felt like a dream.


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    Like Hogan said, getting the intel he wanted was never a big deal.


    Just like how he could stand before us without a fuss, but for some reason, | felt a


    tad panicky.


    Hogan always walked the talk, and | had a hunch that tonight''s party would not go without a hitch.


    Some folks always end up in the seat of honor, no matter the scene. Sure enough, Hogan and Cecilia were seated at the prime


    spot by Sean.


    Timothy and | were seated on the other side of Sean.


    Compared to Sean¡¯s enthusiasm, Timothy seemed nonchnt, lifting his ss in greeting, ¡°Mr. Zade, if I¡¯d known the VIP guest


    were you, | would¡¯ve made sure to spruce myself up.¡±


    He had a youthful look, with peachy eyes that were naturally inviting, never giving off a cold vibe even when he wasn¡¯t smiling.


    But right then, | sensed a hint of provocation in Timothy¡¯s words.


    | guessed he was sticking up for me.


    Hogan, unfazed, casually nodded with his ss, keeping it short and sweet, ¡°Mr. Temple, you are too kind.¡±


    The two men drained their sses as if it was all prearranged.


    Cecilia wasn¡¯t about to be outdone, raising her juice towards me, ¡°Xaviera, here¡¯s to


    you.¡±


    This cozy vibested until half an hourter.


    Rich kids couldn''t be satisfied with just drinking; no surprise, after a few rounds, someone suggested ying Truth or Dare.


    It was an old-school game, but everyone present seemed to be up for it.


    | had no choice but to buck up and join in, all the while keeping a close eye on everyone there.


    But wouldn¡¯t you know it, just my luck, the bottle spun twice and somehow, inexplicably, pointed right at me.


    The bottle spinner was the same dude who''d greeted me earlier.


    He nced at me, then at Timothy, grinning. ¡°Truth time, Xaviera. How would you rate Timothy¡¯s kissing skills?¡±

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    | should''ve known these trust¡ªfund types loved to get all fancy with their games, so | dodged a bullet by skipping ¡®Truth or Dare.*


    But man, | never saw iting ¡ª they really didn¡¯t treat me like an outsider.


    As Timothy¡¯s plus one, | totally got how tricky that question was.


    If | sang his praises, I''d practically be spreading rumors in front of everyone. But saying no would put Timothy in an awkward


    spot.


    Talk about a rock and a hard ce.


    After hesitating for a couple of seconds, | reached for a ss of booze on the table.


    Since | couldn¡¯t say squat, | guessed I''d just have to take a penalty drink as an apology.


    But before my hand even got halfway. Timothy stopped me, ¡°Mess with me all you want, but why give her a hard time?¡±


    ¡°Come on, Timothy, don¡¯t be like that. We¡¯re just ying a game,¡± the asker said with a smirk, ¡°What, are you chicken?¡±


    Timothy raised an eyebrow and said coolly, ¡°Of course not!¡±


    ¡°Xaviera, rein your man in, will ya?¡± the girl next to the rich boys chimed in, ¡°If the max score for kissing is a ten, what would you


    rate Timothy?¡±


    | nced at Timothy and saw a flicker of impatience in his eyes. He said, ¡°Enough already, how could we share that kind of


    private stuff with you all? Here, I''ll take a penalty. Three shots okay for you?¡±


    ¡°No way, Timothy. Do you always have to y the knight in shining armor for your girlfriend?¡± the rich kid immediately protested,


    ¡°If you''re gonna y like that, we''ll just have to spice up your drink.¡±


    As he spoke, he started mixing a few different spirits into the ss in front of Timothy, clearly looking to pull a prank.


    Timothy didn¡¯t flinch and said, ¡°You''re out to get me, huh? Alright, if | don¡¯t drink it all, call me a sissy.¡±


    After he rolled up his sleeves and geared up to chug it down, | couldn¡¯t help but feet bad and blurted out, ¡°Eight. I''d give an eight


    out of ten.¡±


    | wasn¡¯t loud, but as soon as the words were out, everyone froze like they were hit by


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    Chapter 162


    a stun gun.


    | felt a tad awkward and when | nced over, | locked eyes with Hogan¡¯s deep, inscrutable gaze.


    | saw a frown on his face and a chilly air about him.


    Was | imagining it?


    ¡°Seems like Xaviera thinks highly of Mr. Temple,¡± Cecilia said in a soft, sweet voice, ¡°That¡¯s quite enviable.¡±


    Thest bit was aimed at Hogan.


    The man looked at Cecilia and retorted, ¡°Looks like | need to step up my game, otherwise my own girlfriend might start getting


    jealous of others.¡±


    His tone was casual, with no hint of anything off.


    Makes sense ¡ª he was Hogan, after all, a man with his heart¡¯s desire. Why would he be bothered by my insignificant remarks?


    Then there¡¯s Cecilia, opening and closing her mouth, mumbling, ¡°No way, I¡¯m just happy for Xaviera.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Happy for me?


    Happy about what exactly?


    | didn¡¯t respond, just changed the subject by spinning the empty bottle.


    The game went on for another round, everyone was getting tipsy, and the mood was heating up. Suddenly, the bottle pointed


    straight at Hogan without warning.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, truth or dare?¡±


    The asker was buzzed and looked eager.


    Hogan swirled his drink nonchntly and said, ¡°Dare.¡±


    As soon as he spoke, the crowd got rowdy, ¡°That''s the big boss of Rainbow Capital for you ¡ª bold as brass!¡±


    ¡°So what''s the dare for Mr. Zade?¡±


    ¡°I''ve got an idea,¡± the asker¡¯s eyes flitting between Hogan and Cecilia, ¡°Choose ady. among thedies present and give her a


    passionate kiss for three minutes!¡±


    This was obviously a free pass for Hogan.


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    11:00


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    And that was when | started to admire the sharpness of these high rollers.

 Chapter 163

    Chapter 163


    Chapter 163


    Yeah, with Hogan¡¯s ice-cold vibe, no one in their right mind would dare to butt heads


    with him.


    But would he really kiss Cecilia in front of everyone?


    Doubts began to creep up from the bottom of my heart. | lifted my eyelids slightly, and my gaze involuntarilynded on a spot


    diagonally opposite.


    And, as luck would have it, | locked eyes with him again.


    Our eyes met, and | felt a tiny quiver in my heart, smoothly averting my gaze without batting an eyelid.


    When | looked up again, Hogan was gazing tenderly at Cecilia sitting beside him.


    His eyes were soft as water.


    Cecilia, with a bashful smile, nced at Hogan and then quickly looked down.


    She was the picture of a shy young girl.


    ¡°Kiss her!¡± someone egged them on, ¡°Timer¡¯s set for three minutes, start the clock!¡±


    The atmosphere got rowdier, but amidst the noisy crowd, | felt an inexplicable heaviness in my chest.


    Must be the booze talking.


    When Cecilia boldly hopped onto Hogan¡¯sp, | quietly stood up and slipped away from the crowd.


    It wasn¡¯t until a gust of cold air hit me in the neck that | snapped back to my senses.


    I''d seen enough of the show; it was time to get down to business.


    | pulled out my phone and, sure enough, there was a missed call from Wallis.


    Figuring there was a new lead on the FreeMan case, | called back immediately.


    ¡°About time you picked up, my god,¡± Wallis¡® voice was loud and excited, ¡°An hour ago, FreeMan posted two pics in the group.


    I''ve sent them to your phone. Check out the second one, there¡¯s a cufflink in the shot, super unique, rare find. Compare them


    one by one.¡±


    After hanging up, | opened my phone and saw the photo with the distinctive mechanical cufflinks.


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    11:01


    Chapter 163


    They looked eerily familiar.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    | rubbed my temples, now a bit fuzzy, trying hard to recall everyone | saw at the party tonight. Lost in thought, | overheard a


    couple of guys arguing.


    ¡°Dude, | already promised the gal two FreeMan autographs,e on, help a brother out.¡±


    FreeMan?


    My heart skipped a beat. | followed the sound.


    ¡°Look at you, acting like you haven¡¯t seen a woman in ages,¡± a crisp voice tinged with annoyance, ¡°I¡¯m warning you, three strikes


    and you''re out, or you''ll have no face left to save.¡±


    This voice was familiar.


    It was Timothy¡¯s voice.


    But what''s his deal with FreeMan?


    Was | just tipsy and seeing things?


    ¡°Xaviera, what are you doing here?¡±


    Avoice of concern reached my ears, and | looked up, finding Timothy and Sean with surprised looks on their faces.


    | was about to exin when | spotted that distinct mechanical cufflink on Sean¡¯s suit jacket.


    The exact match of the one Wallis had sent.


    | marched over, grabbed the cufflink, and after scrutinizing it for a few seconds, | blurted out in disbelief, ¡°Sean, you¡¯re


    FreeMan?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Sean looked at me, dumbstruck, ¡°Xaviera, you must be drunk, how could | be FreeMan?¡±


    | shed the photo FreeMan shared in the fan group, ¡°How do you exin this?¡±


    Sean nced at me, then at Timothy, and frowned in frustration.


    He looked like he was in a tough spot and had a hard time exining.


    Just as | was about to grill him for answers, someone burst out from the front hall, running and shouting, ¡°Mr. Abbott,e quick,


    your blind date brought a posse and she¡¯s pping your plus¡ªone!¡±


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    Chapter 164


    Chapter 164


    Chapter 164


    Inside the main hall, a woman was going all out, pinning Sean¡¯s date to the ground, kneeling.


    Just moments ago, the girl had her makeup all neat and tidy, but now her cheeks were swollen, finger marks faintly visible, and


    even her augmented nose bridge had


    been knocked askew.


    These folks didn¡¯t hold back when they threw their punches.


    Meanwhile, Shirley was sitting pretty in front of the girl, sipping tea like she hadn''t a care in the world, looking down from her high


    horse.


    | knew Shirley was bossy, but | had no clue she was this high and mighty.


    Sean was totally gobsmacked when he saw the scene. He hurried over, took a gander at the trembling girl, and red at Shirley,


    ¡°What the heck are you doing flipping out in the middle of the night?¡±


    Shirley barely lifted her eyelids and said coolly, ¡°Some gals just don¡¯t know when to quit, always trying to cross me. Can''t | show


    her a little lesson?¡±


    ¡°She''s just here ¡®cause she was invited to the party, you...¡±


    ¡°What about me?¡± Shirley cut Sean off, her voice sharp as a knife, ¡°Everyone in Rivertown knows you came to Pinecrest Hollow


    to talk about tying the knot with me, and here she is, trying to butt in. You are insulting me, insulting the Stapleton family!¡± Her


    interrogation dropped the room¡¯s temperature a few more degrees.


    Just as Hogan had predicted, Shirley and Sean were on the brink of a fall-out.


    But why on earth did Shirley show up all of a sudden? And who tipped her off?


    With these thoughts, | sneaked a peek at Hogan, sitting calmly on the side, his expression as still as water, giving nothing away.


    Was | reading too much into it?


    ¡°You said it yourself, it''s just about marriage talks, you''re not even part of the Abbott family yet and you''re already bossing me


    around?¡± Sean, a bit tipsy and feeling his pride stung, retorted hotly, ¡°If you¡¯re so unhappy, then let''s just forget the whole thing!¡±


    At that, a storm cloud passed over Shirley¡¯s face, ¡°Fine by me, let¡¯s call it off. I¡¯m not


    11:01


    afraid!¡±


    The standoff had everyone holding their breath, but then Timothy stepped in to smooth things over, ¡°President Stapleton, you''ve


    seen what the score is tonight. Sean hasn¡¯t done anything out of line. If you¡¯re interested, why not stay and have a drink?¡±


    Shirley snorted, ¡°I¡¯ve got better taste than that.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    That riled Sean up even more, his brows twisted as he shot back, ¡°Right, we¡¯re the tasteless ones, Ms. Stapleton. Please, don¡¯t


    lower yourself to our level. But I¡¯m curious, if you find it so dull here, why crash the party uninvited?¡±


    Shirley was suddenly at a loss for words, her gaze swept over the crowd beforending on me.


    Our eyes locked, and my heart skipped a beat, right before she said, ¡°Ms. March, is this the ¡®surprise* you told me about?¡±


    As soon as she finished, all eyes, as if on cue, turned to me.


    ¡°President Stapleton, what do you mean by that?¡± | was baffled, a sense of unease settling in my chest.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you have someone tell me Sean had a surprise for me here tonight?¡± Shirley looked at me with irritation, ¡°ying games


    with me, huh?¡±


    Asurprise, and it was supposedly my doing?


    After a brief moment of shock, | realized something | might have been yed.


    And the yer.


    My gaze drifted across the crowd, and when it brushed past Cecilia¡¯s face, | caught her clutching the waistline of her dress


    tightly, looking quite unnatural:


    Asuspicion began to brew in my heart.


    If Cecilia was the one who ryed the message to Shirley, then what role was Hogan ying here?


    Was he in on it?

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    Chapter 165


    ¡°Ms. March, aren¡¯t you gonna give me the lowdown?¡±


    The sharp words were ringing in my ears. | steadied myself and coolly said, ¡°President Stapleton, it wasn¡¯t me.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t you?¡± Shirley¡¯s eyebrows knitted together in a frown. ¡°Then who could it be?¡±


    She clearly wasn¡¯t buying what | was selling.


    | patientlyid it out for her, ¡°If | had a message for you, | could¡¯vee to you directly. Why would | beat around the bush?¡±


    Shirley''s eyes were darting around, suspicion written all over her face. ¡°Then why on earth are people singling you out, Xaviera?¡±


    | was choked up, unable to respond.


    Yeah, I''d also like to know why, when passing along a message, they had to drag my name, Xaviera, into it.


    Wasn''t that just throwing me under the bus?


    Setting me up to take the fall?


    And here | was, with no solid proof to clear my name.


    | felt pretty helpless, to be honest.


    Of course, no one was gonna be chummy with someone who spilled the beans about others, especially not this crowd of yful


    rich kids.


    And just like that, Shirley''sment had them all giving me the side-eye.


    Those were looks of skepticism.


    The more | thought about it, the angrier | got, and my gaze involuntarilynded on the man sitting nonchntly across the way.


    Cool as a cucumber, Hogan was still the same old Hogan.


    Thinking back to what went down the day before, | couldn¡¯t help but suspect that he was up to his neck in this whole mess.


    ¡°President Stapleton, you''re so sure it was Xaviera who passed the message to you, but do you have any proof?¡± A crisp voice


    snapped me out of my thoughts. Timothy''s


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    arm rested casually on my shoulder as he said, ¡°You can¡¯t just throw usations around without evidence.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Temple, what are you implying?¡± Shirley''s eyes widened, her irritation ring up. ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m stirring up trouble on


    purpose?¡±


    Timothy shrugged, ¡°I didn¡¯t say that, but Xaviera is my guest, so naturally, I''ve got her


    back.¡±


    His voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it carried an unspoken weight.


    The point of contention shifted to Timothy and Shirley.


    The atmosphere took a nosedive.


    ¡°President Stapleton, actually, there¡¯s a way to sort this out,¡± a sweet voice suddenly piped up. ¡°Since someone else was


    supposed to have passed the message, why don¡¯t we just call them over and ask? Maybe there¡¯s been some misunderstanding.¡±


    It was Cecilia speaking, eyes demurely downcast, her tone soft and her suggestion hitting the nail on the head, earning nods of


    approval from many.


    In theory, this sounded like a way to prove my innocence, but why then did I feel even more uneasy?


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Shirley agreed with the suggestion and then turned to me and Timothy, asking, ¡°Mr. Temple, Ms. March,


    what do you think?¡±


    As if | had a choice.


    With things having escted to this point, | had to find a way to clear my name, so | agreed, ¡°Let¡¯s go with what you suggest,


    President Stapleton.¡±


    Luckily, the hotel was crawling with cameras, so finding the messenger wouldn''t be tough. Sure enough, in less than an hour,


    they brought that person to the main hall.


    It was a middle-aged woman, around forty or so.


    She nced around at everyone, then at Shirley, and said, ¡°I¡¯m just the messenger. What do you all want with me?¡±


    Shirley tossed the question to the middle-aged woman,manding, ¡°Pick out the Person who asked you to carry the message


    from those present.¡±


    The woman nodded, her dull eyes scanning us, and my heart started racing.


    After a moment, | saw the woman point at me and say, ¡°It was her, she¡¯s the one who told me to pass the message.¡±


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.

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    Chapter 166


    After the middle-aged woman spoke her piece, all eyes in the room swiveled back to


    1.me.


    Shirley let out a snort of derision and red at me, ¡°Ms. March, with the eyewitness right here, what''s your story now?¡±


    | nced at the middle-aged woman, stepped forward, and asked, ¡°Do you even know who | am?¡±


    She looked taken aback and said, ¡°aren¡¯t you Xaviera?¡±


    ¡°When exactly did | supposedly send you to deliver a message to President Stapleton?¡± | pressed on, unwilling to let any detail


    slip by.


    The woman gave me a quick look and said earnestly, ¡°How could you forget? It wasst night, down by our hotel lobby, around 8


    PM or so, that''s when you told me about it.¡±


    8 PM, hotel lobby¡ªmy mind raced through these details, and a knot of panic settled in my chest.


    At that time, | was alone in my hotel room, with no one to vouch for my innocence.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    It seemed that whoever was setting me up had thought of everything.


    They banked on me not having an alibi.


    ¡°A hotel?¡± The confusion in the voices around me grew, and | heard Sean ask, ¡°Which hotel?¡±


    The woman named the hotel, which, by sheer coincidence, was the same one | was staying at, and with her being a


    housekeeper there, she¡¯d have easy ess to me.


    Things were getting hairy.


    Then | heard Sean ask, ¡°Xaviera, so what were you doing during that time?¡±


    His tone was polite enough, but the look in his eyes had changed.


    Timothy caught on to this shift and blurted out indignantly, ¡°What''s the big idea? Xaviera is my guest. You doubting her is like


    questioning my integrity, you get me?¡±


    He was clearly agitated, his gaze sharp and fiery.


    Seeing Timothy''s reaction, the yboy of the group quickly tried to smooth things over, ¡°No way. Timothy. We don¡¯t mean


    anything by it. If Ms. March is your friend,


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    she¡¯s our friend too. Sean¡¯s just trying to get to the bottom of it, no offense.¡±


    Everyone else chimed in, but when they turned to me, they probed, ¡°So, Ms. March, can you tell us what you were up tost


    night at 8?¡±


    They asked nicely enough, but they hit me right where it hurt.


    | knew that if | couldn¡¯t clear my name, Timothy might get dragged down with me.


    And the truth was, | had no way to clear my name.


    People believe evidence. With so many voices against you, who would believe ¡ª- someone who spent the whole night alone in a


    hotel?


    The trap was set with care, and it looked like | was going to be left holding the bag.


    As | clenched my fists, getting ready to speak, a familiar deep voice cut through, ¡°It wasn¡¯t her.¡±


    The voice was low and husky, not loud but enough tomand the room.


    Sure enough, it was Hogan who spoke.


    Those simple three words instantly drew everyone¡¯s attention.


    | was just as stunned.


    That certainty, thatposure-it was totally unexpected.


    What was Hogan ying at?


    ¡°Mr. Zade, what do you mean by that?¡± Shirley''s face was as full of surprise as mine. even her voice shook as she asked, ¡°Why


    are you so sure Xaviera wasn¡¯t the one delivering the message?¡±


    Following this, Cecilia, who was standing next to Hogan, had a kaleidoscope of emotions on her face. She cautiously tugged at


    Hogan¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°Hogan, what are you talking about?¡±

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    She was probably giving Hogan a heads-up not to stick his nose into my business.


    Hogan gently patted Cecilia¡¯s hand, seemingly to calm her, then stood up and said seriously, ¡°It wasn¡¯t Ms. March. At the time the


    janitor mentioned, | was discussing work with Ms. March at the hotel.¡±


    As soon as he said this, the expressions on everyone''s faces were all over the map, with a few murmurs of pity here and there.


    Makes sense, though. Cecilia, his main squeeze, was right there, and Hogan was straight-up telling everyone he was at the


    hotelte at night talking shop with me. Wasn''t that just asking for people to get the wrong idea?


    Smart guy like Hogan, no way he didn¡¯t get that. But why on earth would he drop a bombshell like that to get me out of a tight


    spot in front of everyone?


    Get me out of a tight spot? Nah, Hogan was not the type to y the hero without a


    reason.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, | know you and Ms. March are tight,¡± Shirley''s brows were all knotted up, ¡°but this is no joking matter.¡±


    Shirley shot a nce my way and said, ¡°Talking work, and it has to be at the hotelte at night? Ms. March sure knows how to


    pick her moments.¡±


    With that snide tone, Shirley was this close to using me in front of everyone of fooling around with someone else¡¯s man.


    And then there was Cecilia, looking all droopy-faced, eyes downcast, lips bitten, the very picture of someone who''s been


    wronged.


    ¡°President Stapleton, if | were you, I¡¯d put on my thinking cap,¡± Hogan piped up again, his slender index finger tapping at his


    temple, ¡°and really ponder who¡¯s got nothing better to do than to y this kind of prank on you.¡±


    Shirley was suddenly at a loss for words, stuttering ¡°Of course I''ll get to the bottom of it.¡±


    Next thing I know, | hear Sean¡¯s voice boom out, ¡°Spill it. If you don¡¯te clean with everyone today, do you think | won¡¯t have


    someone rip out your tongue?¡±


    Scared out of her wits by this threat, the janitor dropped to her knees with a thud, blurting out in a panic, ¡®I''ll tell, I''ll tell


    everything!¡±


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    ording to the janitor, she found a letter in her locker yesterday afternoon instructing her to pass a message to Shirley and to


    fake it as if it came from me.


    Oh, and there was a photo of me in the letter.


    Acandid shot from a regr workday.


    At that moment, my heart sank to the ocean floor.


    Acandid workday shot, how could anyone have that unless they knew me well?


    But with how things have escted, | guess no one was likely to care about the innocence of little ol¡¯ me anymore.


    ¡°Seems like we won''t be turning things around tonight,¡± that deep voice rang out again, Hogan was already on his feet, ¡°Mr.


    Abbott, President Stapleton, let¡¯s catch up some other time.¡±


    Sean must''ve felt he couldn¡¯t save face, kept apologizing and offered to walk Hogan and Cecilia out.


    Shirley just stood there with a stony face, not uttering another word.


    Just as | was figuring out how to make my exit, Hogan suddenly asks, ¡°Ms. March, aren''t you leaving?¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    | didn¡¯t see that oneing. | nced at Timothy by my side, but before | could say anything, Timothy said, ¡°Ms. March is my


    guest, so there¡¯s no need for you to worry, Mr. Zade.¡±


    Hogan paused, gave me a fleeting look, and then said, ¡°Ms. March, don¡¯t forget to catch up onst night¡¯s work.¡±

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    Hogan was dead serious when he said it.


    Right in the spotlight.


    I


    And that kinda threw me for a loop. All | could muster was a weak ¡°uh-huh,¡± my face totally betraying me.


    After all, this whole ¡°work¡± thing was just smoke and mirrors.


    But | was not ungrateful. | was crystal clear that without Hogan stepping up to bat for me in tonight¡¯s farce, I¡¯d have been left high


    and dry.


    But why, though? Mr. Brainiac himself surely knew the can of worms he¡¯d open by speaking up for me, yet he went ahead and


    did it, way out of left field.


    ¡°All this hustle¡¯s killed my vibe.¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    That crisp voice snapped me back to reality. Next thing | knew, Hogan and Cecilia had vanished into the crowd, gone with the


    wind.


    The others, seeing Timothy all wiped out, tried to cheer him up. But the guy was dead set on teaving. Looping his arm over my


    shoulder, he was all, ¡°Xaviera is beat. Gotta take her home, right, Xaviera?¡±


    Timothy gave me those innocent puppy dog eyes as he dropped thatst line, grinning from ear to ear.


    | knew he was giving me the wink-wink, nudge¡ªnudge.


    | yed along. ¡°A bit, yeah.¡±


    Five minutester, Timothy was leading me out of the hall and towards the parking


    lot.


    We hadn''t gone far when sobs hit my ears. | stopped dead in my tracks and saw Hogan and Cecilia not too far off.


    The girl was a mess, head hanging low, sniffling, ¡°I just don¡¯t get it. Why¡¯d you have to lie for Xaviera?¡±


    The word ¡°lie¡± pierced my ear and | froze.


    So, Cecilia was in on it?


    ¡°It''s not for her,¡± the guy sighed softly, his long fingers brushing her cheek, ¡°I have my reasons.¡±


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    Chapter 168


    His reasons.


    | quickly looked away, my heart thumping like crazy.


    Eavesdropping was no good, so | nudged Timothy, ¡°Is the car here?¡±


    Seems he read my mind, ¡°It¡¯s chilly here. Let¡¯s wait up front.¡±


    An hourter, Timothy dropped me off at the hotel.


    Scratching his head, he said with a hint of regret, ¡°Sorry for the scare tonight.¡±


    Thinking about the near humiliation, | sheepishly said, ¡°I should be the one apologizing. Killed the mood.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s on me.¡± Timothy was adamant, a touch of urgency in his voice. ¡°None of this. would''ve happened if not for me.¡±


    | eyed him, and suddenly the image of that mechanical cufflink shed in my mind, leaving me speechless.


    If, and | mean if, Sean really was FreeMan, Timothy¡¯s guilt made sense.


    Thinking about his rtionship with Sean, | couldn¡¯t bring myself to ask.


    After all, prying into a close friend¡¯s secrets would just put them on the spot.


    | downyed it, ¡°Overall, had a st today. Get some rest.¡±


    Timothy left with a look of unsaid words on his face.


    The kind that tugged at my heartstrings.


    If my hunch was right, maybe there was still a chance for that deal?


    With that thought, | stumbled back to my room.


    The wine hit me like a ton of bricks.


    But just as | got to my door, | jumped out of my skin¡ªthe door was ajar.


    Lights on inside.


    Panicking, | walked over and looked up to see a tall figure silently standing by the window, motionless.

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    That silhouette seemed kinda familiar on second nce.


    Broad shoulders, slim waist, an inverted triangle of a figure ¡ª and | could just about make out the solid muscle lines hiding under


    his suit.


    It looked like Hogan.


    But why would Hogan be here at this time? Shouldn¡¯t he be in some fancy thatched-¡ªroof suite, sweet-talking Cecilia?


    ¡°Hogan?¡±


    As soon as the words left my mouth, | realized I''d been too forward, and quickly corrected myself, ¡°Mr. Zade?¡±


    At the sound of my voice, the man slowly turned around, gave me a look, and said in a tone neither warm nor cold, ¡°Decided to


    show up, did you?¡±


    | had no idea where his ¡°decided to¡± wasing from, but something told me it wasn¡¯t meant as apliment. All | could muster


    was a polite, ¡°Did you need something from me, Mr. Zade?¡±


    Ascoffnded in my ear as Hogan nced my way and said, ¡°Seems like tonight''s loss hasn¡¯t taught you anything.¡±


    Thinking about tonight''s fiasco got my blood boiling, but considering Hogan did me a solid, | could only reply, ¡°I''ll remember your


    kindness, Mr. Zade.¡±


    With that, | went to get some water.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Hogan suddenly raised his voice, sounding dissatisfied. ¡°Tell me, how exactly do you n to ¡®remember my


    kindness¡®?¡±


    His question caught me off guard.


    To be honest, | wasn¡¯t sure if tonight¡¯s setup had anything to do with Hogan.


    Feeling awkward, | just handed him the water, asking, ¡°Would you like some water, Mr. Zade?¡±


    Hogan, with a stone¡ªcold face, pinched the bridge of his nose and said sinctly, ¡°Headache.¡±


    He spoke softly, a stark contrast to his earlier confrontational demeanor.


    Curiosity got the better of me, and I saw his face, weary. Just then, Hogan suddenly


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    lifted his eyelids, our gazes collided, and he sald, ¡°Come over and give me a rub.¡±


    It was a line | knew all too well.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Like two years ago, when we were living together, he¡¯de home worn out from meeting clients, and I¡¯d pull him to sit on the


    couch, gently massaging his temples.


    But now, what gave him the right?


    ¡°What are you still standing there for?¡± he asked from the edge of the bed, eyes nearly closed, in a deep, assertive voice.


    | took a deep breath and said, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Zade, | appreciate you stepping in for me tonight, but this isn¡¯t right.¡±


    With a slight lift of his cold gaze, he sneered, ¡°What''s not right about it? Worried Timothy won¡¯t like it? Xaviera, seems like you


    still don¡¯t see who¡¯s really got your back when pushes to shove.¡±


    There was sheer disdain in Hogan¡¯s eyes as he spoke.


    When | didn¡¯t respond, he added. ¡°Haven''t you grasped the gist of tonight''s events? If


    | hadn''t stepped in, that Temple family kid would''ve been good for nothing but


    throwing a few punches.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s arrogance was on full disy.


    And he was right, whether or not he had anything to do with it, the deal between Rainbow Capital and my lucky stars, Hogan


    came out on top.


    Sean, who was all about saving face, wouldn¡¯t be caught dead sucking up to Shirley.


    The biggest winner was Hogan, no doubt.


    And me? | was just a pawn in their game.


    Thinking this, my heart soured a bit. Remembering Cecilia''s evasive and dodging gaze, | said irritably, ¡°So, Mr. Zade, are you


    trying to boast about being the biggest beneficiary of tonight''s drama?¡±


    | really didn¡¯t get what he had to be proud of.


    ¡°Xaviera March,¡± Hogan frowned, his gaze fixed on me as if it were welded there, suddenly using my full name, ¡°who¡¯s the


    biggest beneficiary? You know better than | do, don¡¯t you?¡±

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    | had no clue why Hogan would just blurt out something like that out of the blue.


    Turns out, our little jaunt to Pinecrest Hollow was, by andrge, a goldmine for Rainbow Capital.


    Locking eyes with those fathomless peepers, | felt like there was a massive whirlpool in the guy¡¯s gaze, ready to suck me in any


    second.


    My heart started racing.


    That look was part prodding, part judging.


    | turned my face away and continued, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Mr. Zade, you should have the guest list by tomorrow morning at the


    latest, right?¡±


    ¡°So what?¡±


    | took a deep breath and admitted, ¡°Our one-week bet is up today, and | lost fair and square. Whatever punishment you dish out,


    I''ll take it, Mr. Zade.¡±


    Hogan snorted coldly, ¡°Not sure who you thought would be your cash cow, but bad judgment like that deserves a penalty.¡±


    Knowing | was in the wrong, | kept mum, only to hear Hogan add, ¡°But considering you¡¯ve had your fair share of hardships on


    this trip to Pinecrest Hollow without any real glory, I¡¯ll let you off the hook.¡±


    war cli


    words.


    taken aback, incredulously looking at the man beside me, at a loss for


    | didn¡¯t expect Hogan to be so magnanimous.


    ¡°What, not satisfied?¡± Hogan shot me a look and casually said, ¡°How about you just massage my temples as a punishment?¡±


    ¡°What kind of punishment is that?¡± | frowned, ¡°If you really need someone to rub your temples, | can get Cecilia to...¡±


    Before | could finish, my wrist was suddenly gripped tight, and | was pulled into Hogan¡¯s embrace.


    His icy breath hit me, sending my blood boiling, and a flush climbed my cheeks as ! avoided his gaze, annoyed, ¡°So this is what


    you really wanted, Mr. Zade.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


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    shes of Hogan carefully wiping away Cecilia¡¯s tears in the River Vi parking lot crossed my mind as | said nonchntly,


    ¡°Since you are so keen, maybe | can make a condition too?¡±


    His rigid body froze for a moment, and a shadow seemed to cross his face, ¡°A condition?¡±


    My heart hammered, but | feignedposure, ¡°Since you acknowledge my hard. work on this trip, maybe you could share the


    guest list with me as a token of appreciation?¡±


    | couldn¡¯te back empty-handed.


    | had to protect what needed protecting at all costs.


    Even if it meant throwing away my pride and dignity.


    But my suggestion was met with silence from Hogan.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    | could feel the tension in his arm around my waist gradually loosening, and his intense gaze slowly cooling down.


    What spread between us was a chilling standoff.


    One second, two seconds, three seconds. Time crawled as we silently stared at each other, neither of us uttering a word.


    There was still a hint of inquiry in his eyes, as if waiting for me to exin.


    But business is business, and | had nothing to exin.


    The suffocation grew stronger, and that taut arm finally released from my waist.


    Just as | felt my momentum waning, a ring ringtone suddenly buzzed in my ear.


    Hogan¡¯s phone lit up.


    On the shing screen was that familiar and adorable little kitty avatar.


    Obviously, it was Cecilia calling.


    For some reason, | said impulsively, ¡°Don¡¯t keep her worrying, Mr. Zade. Better take the call.¡±


    His eyes narrowed, Hogan stared at me intently, and in the next second, he suddenly stood up as if he¡¯d been electrocuted.


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    | stumbled and it took me a few seconds to regain myposure. When my gazended on Hogan¡¯s face, | heard him say, ¡°Ms.


    March, you are getting quite the hang of doing business, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    | didn¡¯t want to, but what choice did | have? | had to brazen it out and say, ¡°You tter me, Mr. Zade.¡±


    ¡°You''ve had your share of struggles, and I¡¯ve stepped in to bail you out,¡± Hogan suddenly cut me off, ¡°Xaviera, what makes you


    think you¡¯re in a position to call the shots with me?¡±


    His words left me speechless.


    Looking up again, Hogan had already picked up his phone and was heading towards the door, in and out like a sh.


    Achill spread through me as | stared at the slightly ajar window, watching the bare branches sway left and right, teased by the


    mountain wind.


    It seemed that | was in for another sleepless night.


    After a night''s rest, my thoughts were a bit clearer.


    It turned out that Hogan had already rejected my terms.


    If my hunch was right and Sean was FreeMan, | couldn¡¯t just sit around like a sitting duck.


    The guest list was a crucial lead, and luckily, with so many clients, it would take Hogan some time to pinpoint Sean¡¯s identity.


    Meanwhile, | could persuade Sean before Hogan figures it out:


    With that thought, | perked up and quickly located Sean¡¯s suite using the information | had.


    What | absolutely didn¡¯t expect was to bump into Hogan andpany at the door, gift box in hand.


    To be precise, it was Hogan, Cecilia, and Zachary.


    All three were dressed for business, with Zachary even holding a briefcase, their purpose couldn¡¯t be more obvious.


    Seeing me, Cecilia was also taken aback, ¡°Xaviera, what are you doing here?¡±


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    Chapter 171


    | didn¡¯t expect Hogan to work so fast and wasn¡¯t about to y coy, so | said frankly, ¡°I¡¯m here to visit FreeMan.¡±


    If we were all here at the same time to see Sean, that made us even, right?


    My response took all three of them by surprise, especially Cecilia, whose apricot eyes were full of panic, ¡°Look, Hogan, Xaviera¡¯s


    intel is even better than ours, huh?¡±


    Her backhandedpliment sounded pretty ufortable.


    | brushed it off, nced at Hogan, and suggested, ¡°Mr. Zade, since we¡¯ve bumped into each other, why not go together?¡±


    It didn¡¯t make sense to split up into two groups to see Sean at a time like this.


    This yboy might seem carefree, but he was sharp as a tack in business.


    My fear was that he¡¯d already gotten the inside scoop on our project and wouldn''t be easy to convince.


    That was why a win-win was the best way forward.


    But Hogan apparently didn¡¯t see it that way. He gave me a cursory nce and said, ¡°Ms. March, you seem to have forgotten how


    you snooped around FreeMan¡¯s galleryst time trying to dig up his identity. nning on stirring up more trouble this time?¡°¡ª


    Suddenly, | was choked up again.


    If Sean was FreeMan, then he must had seen through all my little schemes.


    My bad.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    As | was mentally kicking myself, | heard Cecilia chime in, ¡°It''s okay, Hogan. Xaviera is also looking out for the project. Besides,


    she has a closer rtionship with Mr. Abbott; maybe she can persuade Mr. Abbott to partner with us, right Xaviera?¡±


    When | looked at the girl''s faint dimples, the pressure mounted on me.


    If the negotiations failed, how was | going to face the music?

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    Under Cecilia¡¯s suggestion, Hogan finally gave in and agreed to head over with me.


    But just before we entered, he gave me another heads-up.


    | knew he had made a concession, so | geared myself up to be on my A-game.


    What took us all by surprise was that Timothy was also there.


    Upon seeing us, both Timothy and Sean were visibly taken aback.


    Sean, a seasoned yer in the business world, paused for a brief two seconds before extending a courteous hand towards


    Hogan, buttering him up with, ¡°Mr. Zade, what an honor! A VIP visit and not a peep beforehand ¡ª | would''ve rolled out the red


    carpet for you.¡±


    Hogan, cool as a cucumber as always, cut straight to the chase, ¡°Mr. Abbott, you''re too kind. We came especially to see Mr.


    FreeMan.¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    At the mention of FreeMan, Sean''s face stiffened, and he started to stumble over his words, ¡°Mr. Zade, what are you talking


    about? It¡¯s just me and Timothy here, not FreeMan in sight.¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t beat around the bush with Sean, simply stating. ¡°Mr. Abbott, this morning Rainbow Capital just inked a deal with


    Lucky Star.¡±


    The subtext was clear ¡ª Hogan had dug up Sean¡¯s lodging records at Lucky Star like an open book.


    Sean, no fool himself, let out a weary sigh and said with a ttering tone. ¡°You''re on the ball, Mr. Zade. Come,e, let¡¯s sit and


    talk.¡±


    He bowed ever so slightly, showing a decent dose of humility:


    We were then ushered into the living room.


    Once we all sat down, Sean seemed a bit out of his element, his hand trembling slightly as he passed Hogan a ss of water,


    quite unexpected.


    Hogan remained aloof andposed, but his brow furrowed ever so slightly when his gaze swept past Timothy.


    ¡°I''d like to get down to brass tacks with you, Mr. Abbott, about a potential coboration. Or | should call you FreeMan,¡± he said,


    exuding an air of authority. ¡°I believe it''s best for unrted parties to step out for a moment.¡±


    Chapter 172


    His message wasn¡¯t sugar¡ªcoated, and anyone with half a brain could tell he was hinting at Timothy.


    Sean got the hint and, after scratching his nose, said, ¡°Don¡¯t take offense, Mr. Zade. Timothy and | go way back ¡ª thick as


    thieves since we were kids. Plus, we''re


    intertwined professionally, he¡¯s not an outsider.¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t respond but shot Cecilia a look.


    She instantly got the hint and handed over a document to Sean with a sweet, cooing voice, ¡°Mr. Abbott, please take a moment to


    review the partnership proposal we¡¯ve


    drafted.¡±


    Sean nced at it without much interest and sighed, ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you, Mr. Zade. It¡¯s been a busy year, and I¡¯m afraid | might let


    you down.¡±


    An outright rejection.


    Hogan didn¡¯t get riled up, but Cecilia seemed a bit flustered as she quickly said, ¡°Hold your horses, Mr. Abbott. Take a gander at


    the contract. I¡¯m sure you''ll be pleased once you see what''s on the table.¡±


    Sean raised an eyebrow, intrigued, ¡°Oh? Care to enlighten me, Ms. Irwin?¡±


    Caught off guard, Cecilia froze for a good few seconds before stuttering out, ¡°In a nutshell, the two conditions we''ve proposed


    are something no otherpany can


    match.¡±


    No otherpany,


    || mulled over that bold statement, a shadow of unease creeping into my thoughts.


    Such absolutes rarely hold water in the world of coboration.


    Sean¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, ¡°Which are?¡±


    Cecilia, sensing interest, confidently beamed, ¡°First, in terms ofpensation, Mr. Zade recognizes your talent and ability and is


    willing to offer you a sry that¡¯s 40% above the market rate.¡±


    40% ¡ª an enticing figure indeed.


    Sure, it was a big draw for us mere mortals, including Cecilia, but for someone like FreeMan, as far as | knew Sean, that kind of


    money was small fry.


    ¡°And the second?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Abbott, if you coborate with us, you''ll haveplete creative control over the


    Chapter 172


    art department,¡± Cecilia chirped, all smiles and brimming with confidence.


    Her confidence, however, gave me a slight sting.


    It was clear that she could only make such a lucrative offer because Hogan had given. it the nod.


    But why? The project was a collective effort, and nopany in their right mind would ever hand over 100% control of a project,


    especially not the crucial art aspect of a game.


    And Hogan had made this decision without consulting me first.


    My hand clenched involuntarily as | fought off the difort in my chest.


    | was also curious to see how Sean would respond.


    Just when we all thought Sean was tempted, Timothy chimed in from the side, ¡°Ms. Irwin, you paint a pretty picture, but as far as


    I''m aware, shouldn¡¯t Ms. March be the project lead? Xaviera, are you willing to hand over that 100% control?¡±


    His words sharpened the edge of the negotiation.


    Had we not had prior dealings, | might have suspected he was doing it on purpose.


    He was deliberately exacerbating the tension.


    How was | supposed to respond? If | didn¡¯t back Cecilia up, it would be like pping Hogan in the face in front of everyone. But if


    | went along with her, | couldn¡¯t follow through.


    After all the teeth¡ªgritting perseverance since my arrival at Pinecrest Hollow, all for a say in the project, to now dere I¡¯d happily


    give it away ¡ª not only would that be a p in the face, but what would happen with the coboration afterwards?

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    Chapter 173


    As | was mulling things over, a sweet and soft voice suddenly popped up next to my ear, ¡°Xaviera, Mr. Temple was talking to


    you.¡±


    My gaze shifted curiously to Cecilia, and when our eyes met, | could clearly see a look of longing flicker in her apricot eyes.


    | knew it was a hint.


    | nced at Hogan. His expression was as usual, no sign of any particr emotions.


    | had toe up with a middle-of-the-road response, ¡°Mr. Abbott is top-notch in his field in the whole scene. Once we team up,


    I''ll make sure to coordinate the whole project team and shield FreeMan¡¯s creativity from any bumps in the road.¡±


    After hearing this, Sean cracked a subtle smile and said, ¡°Ms. March, you have a perfect logic.¡±


    My gut was telling me that wasn¡¯t meant as apliment.


    But Sean¡¯s face was all smiles, and it didn¡¯t seem sarcastic either.


    | was at a loss trying to figure out what my opponent was thinking.


    The negotiation was at a critical juncture.


    | knew that saying more would be useless, so | didn¡¯t add anything else.


    Cecilia wasn¡¯t wrong about one thing: the two conditions Hogan hadid out were impossible to find on the market.


    The earnestness was plenty clear.


    Now it all hinged on what Sean had in mind.


    After a while, the room was dead silent until Sean let out a soft sigh, his tone dripping with regret, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Zade, I¡¯ve seen the


    genuine interest of Rainbow Capital, it¡¯s just that I¡¯m swamped with stuff this year, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m all tied up.¡±


    With those words, the atmosphere took a nosedive, and Hogan let out a cold snort, ¡°In that case, we''ll just have to look


    elsewhere.¡±


    He stood up immediately, not dragging his feet at all.


    Sean got a bit flustered at this and said, ¡°Mr. Zade, don¡¯t get it twisted, it¡¯s not that | don¡¯t want to work with you, it¡¯s just that the


    situation is kind ofplicated.¡±


    1/3


    11:03


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    Hogan shot him a cold re and said, ¡°No worries, FreeMan. It¡¯s not like you have a monopoly on top-notch original artists. But


    I''m afraid, Mr. Abbott, you won''t find anotherpany as amodating as Rainbow Capital.¡±


    With a stone¡ªcold face, Hogan marched out, ignoring Sean¡¯s backpedaling, not once looking back.


    Seeing Sean¡¯s troubled mug, | was a bit baffled.


    Logically, he was the one refusing the partnership and had the upper hand, so why did he look like he was in a bind?


    And Hogan, despite being the one rejected, strutted off with an air of firm pride.


    We left the thatched cottage in a grand procession.


    Hogan, scowling, was leading the way, with Cecilia by his side, trying tofort him, ¡°Maybe Mr. Abbott has his own reasons,


    Hogan. Don¡¯t be mad, what if you make yourself sick?¡±


    ¡°Mad? He¡¯s not worth it,¡± Hogan said with scorn, ¡°I''ll make sure he realizes soon enough that he made a mistake.¡±


    | raised my eyebrows in surprise, catching the deep and unfathomable look in Hogan¡¯s eyes.


    Was he nning to get back at Sean, or was he really considering finding a new original artist?


    If it was thetter, it wouldn¡¯t bode well for our entire project.


    We had been syncing up with FreeMan for so long that starting the coboration would¡¯ve been a breeze, but getting in sync with


    a new artist would set us back at


    least a month.


    | couldn''t let that happen.


    ¡°Mr. Zade,¡± | steadied myself and suggested, ¡°I think | want to give Mr. Abbott another try.¡±


    Hogan looked over, his brows knotted.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    | exined, ¡°Maybe our visit today was a bit sudden, and the two conditions you mentioned are indeed tempting. Mr. Abbott is a


    businessman; he might just need some time to mull things over, so | want to give it another shot.¡±


    n


    If doing a project was like waging a war, then dragging out the battle was definitely


    Chapter 173


    more trouble than it was worth for a smallpany like ours.


    ¡°But Xaviera,¡± Cecilia suddenly chimed in, ¡°do you realize your answer just cost us a golden opportunity?¡±


    Shocked, | looked at Cecilia, asking, ¡°What do you mean, Director Irwin?¡±


    ¡°The question from Mr. Temple,¡± Cecilia stated calmly, ¡°at that moment, if you had gone along with Mr. Abbott''s words, maybe it


    would have been better, right?¡±


    So Cecilia was ming me for not letting Sean steer the conversation?


    ¡ª | felt a bit downcast and replied, ¡°Director Irwin, in front of Mr. Abbott, there are some things | can¡¯t openly discuss. The art part


    of the game is crucial, and the project was developed by me from scratch. | really can¡¯t just hand it over entirely to someone


    else.¡±


    ¡°That may be so,¡± Cecilia followed up on my words, ¡°but Xaviera, he¡¯s FreeMan, a top tier original artist. Even if you had the full


    say, So what? Couldn¡¯t we just hash it out during the coboration?¡±


    Hash it out.


    She was suggesting | agree upfront and then y verbal tug¡ªof-war with FreeManter.


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± Hogan¡¯s icy voice cut me off sharply, and | heard him say, ¡°Ms. March, after all this time, don¡¯t you understand the


    need for flexibility in negotiations?¡±


    | was left speechless.


    Looking up at Hogan, | felt the crack in my heart.


    | remembered how he used to despise such ¡°deceptive¡± tactics, and he was such a sharp guy, he should understand the


    importance of keeping project control in-house. But still, he seemed to endorse Cecilia¡¯s approach.


    | gotta say, | was bummed out

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    If Cecilia¡¯s usations were sugar¡ªcoated, Hogan wasying it on thick with his cheers from the sidelines.


    But | didn¡¯t want to waste my breath on a shouting match, so | gritted my teeth and said, ¡°I get that we might need to y it by


    ear in negotiations, but from what | can tell, Mr. Abbott is totally into the idea of us teaming up. He seems to be holding back


    because of some skeletons in his closet, so | wanna give it another shot.¡±


    ¡°Skeletons in his closet?¡± Hogan snorted, giving me the stink eye, ¡°He¡¯s just ying hard to get because we''ve chased him down


    to Pinecrest Hollow. You sure have a soft spot for him.¡±


    The mockery in Hogan¡¯s eyes fanned the mes in my chest.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    All | wanted was to seal the deal, why¡¯s he gotta be so snarky?


    ¡°What''s up? Scared of giving Mr. Abbott a lesson because he¡¯s Timothy¡¯s buddy?¡±


    The words ¡°Timothy''s buddy¡± rang in my ears, extra grating.


    | took a deep breath, trying to keep my cool, ¡°Mr. Zade, | wish you would chill out.¡±


    ¡°The one who needs to chill is you,¡± Hogan shot me a nce, ¡°Our offer is sweet enough, it''s Sean who¡¯s being ungrateful.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s hardline stance caught me off guard, and | said with a sense of resignation, ¡°I just wanna give it one more try. Is one day


    too much to ask?¡±


    That time frame wasn¡¯t exactly an eternity, but it was no blink of an eye either. Hogan could surely wait.


    But Hogan seemed to have run out of patience, replying coldly. ¡°He doesn¡¯t deserve it.¡±


    Just as he was about to take off, Cecilia stopped him.


    Cecilia grabbed his arm, her voice all syrupy. ¡°Hogan, don¡¯t be mad. Let''s give Xaviera another chance, okay? Maybe Mr. Abbott


    really does have a reason he can¡¯t spill.¡±


    Hogan paused, looking down at Cecilia, ¡°You¡¯re kinda addicted to ying the peacemaker, huh?¡±


    Chapter


    ¡°I''m just looking out for the project,¡± Cecilia said with a coy smile, ¡°You said it yourself, our offer¡¯s tempting, and Mr. Abbott isn¡¯t a


    fool, right?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s expression softened a bit.


    Seeing this, Cecilia turned to me and said, ¡°But Xaviera, you know the score with our offer. The pay is top-notch, but as for the


    lead on the project.¡±


    She paused, batting those big beautiful eyes at me, ¡°Do you really have what it takes to convince Mr. Abbott to give up full


    creative control over the art department?¡±


    Her question caught me off guard.


    Hold on, we were all negotiating here, so why was it suddenly on me to get Sean to hand over the reins?


    Even though this was part of my n, hearing Cecilia throw it out there like that still rubbed me the wrong way.


    ¡°Xaviera, is it too much to handle?¡±


    The weight was back on my shoulders.


    Feeling like | had a lump in my throat, | looked up at Hogan and asked, ¡°So, if | agree to Director Irwin''s terms, Mr. Zade, will you


    give me one more day?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s brows knitted together, scoffing, ¡°You really don¡¯t know when to quit.¡±


    That was a silent nod to Cecilia¡¯s terms.


    | knew it wasn''t fair, but feeling like | had to stand my ground, | shot back, ¡°If the negotiation tanks, I''ll leave it to you to decide my


    fate, Mr. Zade.¡±


    ¡°You''re quite the protector of a friend¡¯s friend,¡± Hogan said with an indifferent nce, ¡°Fine, I''ll give you the chance. But Xaviera,


    if you can¡¯t win Sean over this time, your can kiss the lead goodbye.¡±


    After dropping that bomb, Hogan turned and walked away without giving me a chance to utter another word.


    Cecilia quickly caught up, her heels clicking as she followed him, soontching onto the man¡¯s arm.


    | couldn''t make out what she whispered to Hogan, but soon enough, a smile broke through the clouds on his face.

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    It was faint, but somehow warmer than when he spoke to me just moments before.


    | calmly averted my gaze, thinking about Hogan¡¯s warning, and gently bit down on my back mrs.


    | focused on how to get Sean on my side.


    Logically, after today¡¯s negotiation turned pear-shaped, if | were to rashly approach Sean, I''d probably just be handing him an


    opportunity to keep stalling, just like Hogan said. So, | needed a go¡ªbetween.


    Someone who could speak to both me and FreeMan.


    After mulling it over, | zeroed in on Timothy.


    In the afternoon, | showed up at Timothy¡¯s ce with all my ducks in a row, but what | didn¡¯t expect was to bump into him on his


    way out.


    The sun-kissed boy was decked out in an all-ck windbreaker, a matching cap on his head, and a pair of steampunk goggles


    that gave him a trendy and cool vibe.


    He was also holding a walking stick, looking like he was gearing up for a hike.


    Seeing me, he first froze, then anxiously blurted out, ¡°Xaviera, what brings you here?¡±


    | hadn''t called Timothy beforehand because, with such a big deal at stake, | feared he¡¯d shut me down before we even met face


    to face. So, | had to suck it up and ask, ¡°Heading out?¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    His voice was soft, carrying an unexined distance.


    It made sense. The kid was sharp. He probably had an inkling why.I| was there.


    | felt awkward for a moment and just went with his flow, ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a trek to the trailhead. Mind if | chat with you briefly?¡±


    Timothy scratched his head, his eyes flickering with hesitation.


    | understood. After all, Sean was his best bud, and he had to consider his friend¡¯s


    stance.


    | didn¡¯t want to put him on the spot, so | said apologetically, ¡°You go ahead and have fun, we can talk another time.¡±


    Chapter 175


    After saying that, | turned to leave, but just two steps away, Timothy''s crisp voice called out from behind me, ¡°Why the hell are


    you so set on teaming up with FreeMan? What''s the big draw?¡±


    | stopped dead in my tracks and turned to face Timothy, only to see the boy looking displeased, with a stubborn spark in his


    eyes.


    | shot straight, ¡°First off, Timothy''s skills are top-notch. And after all this time working together, | believe we''ve built a rapport. It


    makes for an easier transition, saving us a ton of time and money.¡±


    ¡°And the life¡ª-or¡ªdeath thing, how do you exin that?¡±


    The mention of life or death left me at a loss for words.


    If | remember correctly, thest time | heard those words was on a questionnaire Morgan gave me.


    But Morgan made it clear that only he and FreeMan himself would see my answers. How did Timothy find out?


    Could it be that Sean shared even such personal details with Timothy?


    And did Timothy also fully grasp the predicament Sean was in?This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I


    ¡°I''d rather discuss this answer with Mr. Abbott in person,¡± | sidestepped Timothy¡¯s question, puzzled, ¡°But before that, if you don¡¯t


    mind me being nosy, during this morning¡¯s negotiation, | could sense that Mr. Abbott was tempted by our proposition, yet he still


    refused to coborate. Is anything bothering him?¡±


    ¡°What could bother him? It¡¯s just that he doesn¡¯t want to mix work with personal life.


    that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°There must be some reason, right?¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t like to mix business with pleasure.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    | stared at Timothy in surprise, but beneath those goggles, | saw his eyes darting about, desperately avoiding mine.


    Suddenly, a bold guess struck me like lightning.


    Piecing together the words about life and death, | blurted out, ¡°Timothy, the truth is, Sean isn¡¯t really FreeMan, is he?¡±


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    Right after | popped my question, Timothy''s face went all kinds of awkward.


    After a brief staredown, he actually turned his face away, dodging my gaze.


    It was like his instinct was screaming. ¡°Abort mission!¡±


    And there was a hint of guilt in that evasion.


    The more | thought about it, the fishier it seemed. Thinking back to when we bumped into each other behind the fan club or that


    random meetup at the gallery, it hit me like a ton of bricks¡ªa theory | had previously tossed out was creeping back into my head.


    This trip to Pinecrest Hollow, Hogan and | were all eyes on the guest list, and we followed that trail straight to Sean, but Sean


    was acting all kinds of weird, nothing like Timothy who was a pro at keeping his tracks covered.


    And they both just happened to show up at Pinecrest Hollow at the same time and both stayed at Lucky Star.


    While Sean¡¯d been here, the most upstanding thing he¡¯d done was try to pick up chicks, not a hint of hiking or mountain climbing.


    But that was exactly what was on the resume of the guy in front of me.


    Realizing this, | looked at Timothy in shock and tested the waters, ¡°So, you¡¯re FreeMan?¡±


    At that, Timothy¡¯s face froze, and after a few seconds, he let out a sigh of defeat, ¡°Xaviera, you''re really smart.¡±


    Now | was the one lost for words.


    He, he was actually the elusive FreeMan we''d been chasing down!¡±


    But this guy had been throwing me off his scent left and right, putting on quite the show.


    For a moment, | didn¡¯t know whether to be ticked off or relieved.


    Timothy waved me over to a nearby cafe.


    When we were sitting face to face, my mind was still a jumble.


    Who would¡¯ve thought, the legendary original artist FreeMan, tearing up the scene,


    Chapter 176


    That meant he was a natural¡ªborn talent, a young gun with fame and a future as bright as it gets.


    ¡°Still mad, Xaviera?¡± Timothy cautiously slid a juice my way, with an apologetic tone, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m just really not into mixing


    business with personal life.¡±


    Looking at his boyish face, | couldn¡¯t help butugh. |id it out straight, ¡°Since you''re the legendary FreeMan, you probably


    know why I¡¯m here, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°We''ve been in touch these past few days, so I¡¯m sure you''ve got a handle on our project and the team,¡± | said patiently, ¡°What


    do you think, is there a chance we could work together?¡±


    With anyone else, even Sean, | could''ve dangled a carrot, because Sean was all business, but with Timothy, | didn¡¯t have the


    heart or the guts..


    Being the scion of the Temple family, a young talent with fame to his name, he¡¯s got enough to stand tall without bowing to


    profits. So all that negotiation mumbo jumbo. wouldn¡¯t cut it with him..


    Might as well keep it simple and cut to the chase.


    Timothy saw the real deal in my approach. Ditching his usual jesting demeanor, he got serious, ¡°Xaviera, | don¡¯t want to lose you


    as a friend.¡±


    That was a no-go.


    Even though I had braced myself, hearing Timothy say no still pulled at my heartstrings.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No room for negotiation?¡± | curled my fingers, hoping for onest shot.


    ¡°Xaviera,¡± Timothy¡¯s gaze was piercing, no trace of jest in those beautiful eyes, ¡°Can you call the shots for the investors?¡±


    Heid it out crystal clear.


    Gotta hand it to him, young as he is, Timothy cuts right to the chase.


    Yep, he knew all too well that if he joined our crew, the biggest sh would likely be between Hogan the investor and the


    founding members of our project.


    Smart cookie, he saw thating from a mile away and wasn¡¯t about to wade into that mess.


    At this point, talking more was useless. | just had to say. ¡°Alright. | respect your


    decision.¡±

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    Chapter 177


    When | stepped out of the caf¨¦, it started to drizzle all of a sudden. It wasn¡¯t pouring buckets or anything, but the chill that crept


    down my neck was bone-chilling, cutting right through to the heart.


    | hustled back to the hotel in the rain and after a hot shower, | suddenly felt like | couldn¡¯t muster an ounce of energy. Flopping


    onto the bed, | quickly drifted into a half¡ªconscious state.


    Guess | was just down on my luck, huh? Failed to protect the one | wanted to, busted my butt on a project that still didn¡¯t turn out


    right. It made me wonder, if | up and vanished from this world one day, would anyone even bat an eye?


    Man, | was really beat.


    That was until my phone started blowing up with a barrage of urgent rings, yanking me back from my thoughts.


    | cracked my eyes open, just in time to catch a beam of light sneaking through the window, and realized it was already daylight.


    My phone screen was still shing, with ¡®Cecilia¡¯ popping up on the caller ID.


    Figured she was checking in about the negotiation results. Taking a deep breath, | pressed answer.


    weet voice was t


    ¡°Xaviera, we''ve got trouble,¡± Cecilia¡¯s usually with panic, ¡°I just walked by Hogan''s room and overheard him plotting to teach


    FreeMan a lesson with Assistant Zachary. What do we do?¡±


    Teach FreeMan a lesson?


    Just as | thought, Hogan still had a chip on his shoulder and was gearing up to target


    FreeMan.


    But poor Sean, he was innocent. He was just covering for Timothy and now he was caught in the crossfire.


    And Sean was no pushover; if he took a hit from Hogan, he was bound to hit back twice as hard. If these two went at it, it was


    gonna be a case of ¡®when two fight, the third wins, bothing out worse for wear.


    With a splitting headache, | pinched the bridge of my nose and asked, ¡°Did Mr. Zade say how he ns to handle it?¡±


    Chapter 177


    ¡°Something about a gallery.¡± Cecilia whispered, ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯ve gottae up with something fast. If Hogan picks a fight with


    Mr. Abbott now, it''ll just give people something to talk about, and that¡¯s bad news.¡±


    The gallery.


    It clicked¡ªHogan had bought those two paintings from Sean. | remembered Timothy saying how the gallery¡¯s collection was a


    mixed bag. For Hogan to find fault there would be a piece of cake.


    No way | could let this blow up.


    Half an hourter, | showed up at Hogan¡¯s suite.


    Seeing me, he frowned and snorted, ¡°Looks like things didn¡¯t go your way.¡±


    Knowing | was at fault, | braced myself and said, ¡°Yes, | got rejected. I¡¯m ready for any penalty you see fit, Mr. Zade.¡±


    Hogan nced at me and said tly, ¡°As expected. inly put, you¡¯ve been too soft on Sean.¡±


    There was a hint of malice in his eyes when he mentioned Sean¡¯s name.


    Recalling Cecilia¡¯s words, | cautiously suggested, ¡°Mr. Zade, you''re right. Maybe we should focus on finding new original artists. |


    have a couple of prospects lined up for you to review.¡±


    With that, | handed over the prepared files.


    This was my ace in the hole, perfect for defusing the situation.


    Hogan looked at the files | handed over with a hint of hesitation, then after a cursory nce, said calmly, ¡°You¡¯ve thought this


    through.¡±


    ¡°Too kind, Mr. Zade,¡± | yed it cool, forcing a smile, ¡°So, does this mean | should start setting up meetings with these


    candidates along with Director Irwin?¡±


    He gave me a skeptical look, and after a two-second pause, he asked, ¡°Xaviera, what''s your angle here?¡±


    My heart skipped a beat, but | kept myposure, ¡°Nothing really, just figured it¡¯s better to ze a new trail than to waste time


    butting heads with rivals.¡±


    At that, he paused, taken aback for a moment before his brows knitted together, ¡°So, you¡¯re here to plead Sean¡¯s case?¡±


    ¡°Something about a gallery.¡± Cecilia whispered, ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯ve gottae up with something fast. If Hogan picks a fight with


    Mr. Abbott now, it''ll just give people something to talk about, and that¡¯s bad news.¡±


    The gallery.


    It clicked¡ªHogan had bought those two paintings from Sean. | remembered Timothy saying how the gallery¡¯s collection was a


    mixed bag. For Hogan to find fault there would be a piece of cake.


    No way | could let this blow up.


    Half an hourter, | showed up at Hogan¡¯s suite..


    Seeing me, he frowned and snorted, ¡°Looks like things didn¡¯t go your way.¡±


    Knowing | was at fault, | braced myself and said, ¡°Yes, | got rejected. I¡¯m ready for any penalty you see fit, Mr. Zade.¡±


    Hogan nced at me and said tly. ¡°As expected. inly put, you¡¯ve been too soft on Sean.¡±


    There was a hint of malice in his eyes when he mentioned Sean¡¯s name.


    Recalling Cecilia¡¯s words, | cautiously suggested, ¡°Mr. Zade, you''re right. Maybe we should focus on finding new original artists. |


    have a couple of prospects lined up for you to review.¡±


    With that, | handed over the prepared files.


    This was my ace in the hole, perfect for defusing the situation.


    Hogan looked at the files | handed over with a hint of hesitation, then after a cursory nce, said calmly, ¡°You¡¯ve thought this


    through.¡±


    ¡°Too kind, Mr. Zade.¡± | yed it cool, forcing a smile. ¡°So, does this mean | should start setting up meetings with these


    candidates along with Director Irwin?¡±


    He gave me a skeptical look, and after a two-second pause, he asked, ¡°Xaviera, what''s your angle here?¡±


    My heart skipped a beat, but | kept myposure. ¡°Nothing really, just figured it¡¯s better to ze a new trail than to waste time


    butting heads with rivals.¡±


    At that, he paused, taken aback for a moment before his brows knitted together, ¡°So, you¡¯re here to plead Sean¡¯s case?¡±


    Chapter 177


    ¡°Something about a gallery.¡± Cecilia whispered, ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯ve gottae up with something fast. If Hogan picks a fight with


    Mr. Abbott now, it''ll just give people something to talk about, and that¡¯s bad news.¡±


    The gallery.


    It clicked¡ªHogan had bought those two paintings from Sean. | remembered Timothy saying how the gallery¡¯s collection was a


    mixed bag. For Hogan to find fault there would be a piece of cake.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    No way | could let this blow up.


    Half an hourter, | showed up at Hogan¡¯s suite.


    Seeing me, he frowned and snorted, ¡°Looks like things didn¡¯t go your way.¡±


    Knowing | was at fault, | braced myself and said, ¡°Yes, | got rejected. I¡¯m ready for any penalty you see fit, Mr. Zade.¡±


    Hogan nced at me and said tly. ¡°As expected. inly put, you¡¯ve been too soft on Sean.¡±


    There was a hint of malice in his eyes when he mentioned Sean¡¯s name.


    Recalling Cecilia¡¯s words, | cautiously suggested, ¡°Mr. Zade, you''re right. Maybe we should focus on finding new original artists. |


    have a couple of prospects lined up for you to review.¡±


    With that, | handed over the prepared files.


    This was my ace in the hole, perfect for defusing the situation.


    Hogan looked at the files | handed over with a hint of hesitation, then after a cursory nce, said calmly, ¡°You¡¯ve thought this


    through.¡±


    ¡°Too kind, Mr. Zade,¡± | yed it cool, forcing a smile, ¡°So, does this mean | should start setting up meetings with these


    candidates along with Director Irwin?¡±


    He gave me a skeptical look, and after a two-second pause, he asked, ¡°Xaviera, what''s your angle here?¡±


    My heart skipped a beat, but | kept myposure, ¡°Nothing really, just figured it¡¯s better to ze a new trail than to waste time


    butting heads with rivals.¡±


    At that, he paused, taken aback for a moment before his brows knitted together, ¡°So,


    you''re here to plead Sean¡¯s case?¡±

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    Chapter 178


    Hogan had always been one to cut to the chase.


    Seeing | couldn¡¯t hide anything anymore, | calmly said, ¡°I¡¯ve talked to Mr. Abbott, and he does have his reasons that are hard to


    articte.¡±


    ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Hogan nced at me casually and said, ¡°What kind of unspeakable reasons would make a guy who lights up at


    the sight of money give up a deal that¡¯s ripe for the picking? Do enlighten me, Ms. March.¡±


    That put me on the spot. After all, | had promised Timothy beforeing that |


    | wouldn''t blow his cover. He''d kept it under wraps for so long: | had to respect his


    privacy.


    With that thought, | sighed and added, ¡°Mr. Abbott also expressed his regret at not being able to work with Rainbow Capital.¡±


    ¡°You believe that line?¡±


    His questioning dropped into my ears, leaving me speechless.


    Indeed, Hogan was no stranger to this kind of corporate sweet talk.


    ¡°Come on, Ms. March, you¡¯re too smart to tell me you didn¡¯t see through that,¡± Hogan said coldly, staring me down, ¡°Or are you


    implying you have a soft spot and were ying dumb on purpose?¡±


    ¡°A soft spot?¡± | echoed Hogan¡¯s words, asking, ¡°What do you mean, Mr. Zade?¡±


    Hogan scoffed and said, ¡°Sean and Timothy are thick as thieves. Crossing him would put you in a tight spot with Timothy,


    wouldn''t it?¡±


    Hogan was so sure of himself, as if | really had something to exin to Timothy.


    l ignored the sarcasm in his words and patiently exined, ¡°Rainbow Capital is in the midst of rapid growth. Taking a shot at


    Sean now would only stir up gossip. Besides, the Abbott family holds forty percent of Rivertown¡¯s clothing trade. They''re not to


    be underestimated economically. Making enemies with the Abbott Group is not a smart move.¡±


    Since reason wasn¡¯t getting through to him, | had to argue from the standpoint of interests. But as soon as | finished, | heard


    Hogan¡¯s sarcastic retort, ¡°Well then, Ms. March, | guess | should thank you for the heads up.¡±


    I stared at his sharp-featured face, momentarily at a loss for words.


    11:06


    Chapter 178


    Hogan was still an enigma to me.


    After a brief standoff, | heard him say, ¡°Too bad, this time, I¡¯m not taking Ms. March¡¯s advice. Since Sean won''t give Rainbow


    Capital the respect it deserves, I¡¯ve got to


    reim it.¡±


    Hearing Hogan''s resolute tone, | was speechless, flustered for a moment, and then snapped, ¡°You''re acting like a petnt child


    right now.¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    At that, Hogan¡¯s expression froze, his brows knitted together, and in a chilling tone he retorted, ¡°Do | need lessons from you on


    how to handle my affairs?¡±


    | knew full well | was in no position to lecture him.


    But my chest felt like it was stuffed with cotton, making it hard to breathe. Just as | was about to respond, his sarcastic voice


    pressed on my ear again, ¡°Of course, if you feel like protecting someone, feel free to tip them off.¡±


    It was like a stab to the heart; | looked at Hogan in disbelief, then suddenly everything went ck, and my mind nked out,


    losing consciousness.


    In my haze, | thought | smelled a familiar soap scent.


    But when | opened my eyes, what filled my nose was the sharp smell of disinfectant.


    | then realized | was actually lying in a hospital room.


    It was the same room as before, even the little potted nt on the windowsill hadn¡¯t changed.


    Its bare branches, tormented by winter, not a sign of life.


    Just like me.


    Thinking back, | felt like a total failure. This trip to Pinecrest Hollow had turned into such a mess, and who would¡¯ve thought it


    would end like this?


    Now, | was even saddled with thebel of a ¡°traitor.¡°, utterly ridiculous.


    While | was internally grumbling, Zachary¡¯s voice came from outside, ¡°Director Irwin, to put it mildly, that¡¯s Rainbow Capital¡¯s


    trade secret. How could you just blurt that out? Don¡¯t you know that could be legally binding for others?¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Cecilia¡¯s voice, both aggrieved and cautious, also came through, ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to see Hogan and Mr.


    Abbott at odds. | was hoping Xaviera would mediate, but who knew it would end up.¡±

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    A bout of sobbing rang out, and if | was not mistaken, Cecilia must have started crying her eyes out by now.


    ¡°Mr. Zade hasn''t even made his move yet. Director Irwin, you are jumping the gun.¡±


    ¡°Zip it,¡± a scolding voice cut in, Hogan¡¯s reprimand booming loud and clear, ¡°She¡¯s just trying to help. If she hadn¡¯t tipped off


    Xaviera, I¡¯d be clueless about how.one move would''ve sent her rushing to the hospital.¡±


    The word ¡°help¡± stung me to some degree.


    When it came to giving a heads-up, | was the one with an ulterior motive, while Cecilia was seen as caring.


    Talk about a double standard.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, actually, Mrs. Zade- | mean, Ms. March might not be entirely wrong. Maybe we should give her suggestion some


    thought, what do you say?¡±


    ¡°| think you should consider looking for a new job,¡± Hogan replied without mincing words, ¡°At this point, | can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re with


    Rainbow Capital or you¡¯re flying the g for the Abbott Group.¡±


    That was quite the usation to throw around; it even made me feel a twinge of sympathy.


    | struggled to sit up, and just as | was about to stand, that soft and tender voice piped up again, ¡°Hogan, maybe we should try to


    see where Xaviera ising from. After all, with Mr. Abbott and Mr. Temple¡¯s rtionship being what it is, it¡¯s tough being


    stuck in the middle.¡±


    Hearing that, | couldn¡¯t help but scoff.


    How should | put it? Cecilia¡¯s understanding nature perfectly highlighted my supposed tantrums.


    Her angle was Hogan, while mine, well, I''d got a different game in y.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Suddenly | recalled her frantic call from this morning and couldn¡¯t help but pull a wry smile.


    It seemed that shaking off this ¡°traitor¡±bel was going to be a bit of a tough sell.


    Just as | was pondering how to negotiate with Hogan, there came a loud ¡°ng,¡± followed by a man¡¯s sharp, urgent voice,


    ¡°Where''s Xaviera?*.


    1/3


    Chapter 179


    | recognized that distinctive voice instantly-it was Timothy.


    But why on earth would he show up at the hospital room now?


    ¡°Mr. Temple, don¡¯t panic, Xaviera is resting in the room,¡± Cecilia kindly pointed out, ¡°If you want to see her, maybe wait a bit, Mr.


    Temple, no need to rush.¡±


    ¡°Move!¡± The rebuke came sharp and sudden as Timothy raised his voice, ¡°I don¡¯t need your fake concern.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Temple.¡± Cecilia started nervously, ¡°Did | say something wrong?¡±


    ¡°What do you think this ce is,¡± Hogan¡¯s voice joined the fray, ¡°and what gives you the right to enter her room?¡±


    With the conversation descending into chaos, my temples began to throb with pain. | made my way to the door, only to hear


    Timothy say, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you guys, would she be in and out of the hospital like this? Huh, just looking for someone, and when


    you can¡¯t do it yourself, you take it out on your subordinates. Mr. Zade, your way of doing things is certainly eye-opening.¡±


    | cursed inwardly, realizing this wasn¡¯t good, and then | heard Hogan retort, ¡°Do | need you to teach me how to handle my


    business?¡±


    Timothy didn¡¯t respond right away. Instead, he stepped past Hogan and Cecilia and strode right up to me.


    ¡°Why the pale face?¡±


    His tone was gentle, a stark contrast to the sharpness he¡¯d shown just a second ago in the standoff with Hogan.


    ¡°It''s nothing, probably just low blood sugar.¡±


    ¡°Low blood sugar means rest, not some damn job. Healthes first,¡± Timothy said pointedly, ncing at Hogan, ¡°Fight back


    when you need to, so some capitalists don¡¯t end up exploiting you for their own gain without caring about the staff''s well-being.¡±


    He didn¡¯t mince his words, and Hogan¡¯s face darkened upon hearing them, ¡°Mr. Temple, how much do you know about our work,


    and what makes you think you can judge me?¡±


    From the sharp look in Hogan¡¯s eyes, it was clear he


    seething.


    Not wanting to exacerbate the situation, | was about to step in when Timothy stopped me.


    2/1


    11:06


    Chapter 1/9.


    And in that moment, | heard him say, ¡°Of course | have the right, because the FreeMan you''ve been desperately searching for is


    me.

 Chapter 180

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    Chapter 180


    | totally didn¡¯t see iting that Timothy outed himself like that. | was so bbergasted that | couldn¡¯t even cobble together a


    decent line.


    The others were clearly gobsmacked by the news too; Cecilia covered her mouth in disbelief and blurted out, ¡°No way, Mr.


    Temple, you¡¯re not yanking our chain, are you? FreeMan, isn¡¯t he supposed to be Mr. Abbott?¡±


    Timothy shot her a look, and said seriously, ¡°Do | look like I¡¯m joking right now?¡±


    Suddenly, Cecilia was lost for words, and she turned to Hogan with those ¡®save me*


    eyes.


    But Hogan, cool as a cucumber, didn¡¯t miss a beat. Instead, he gave me this knowing look and said all chill, ¡°So, this is why Ms.


    March went to all the trouble toe see me, huh?¡±


    | could hear the sarcasm dripping from his words. To exin it or not, it seemed wrong either way.


    Especially since they had already pped the ¡®traitorbel on me not too long ago.


    Since they know Timothy¡¯s real deal now, who knows what kind of colored sses they¡¯re gonna view me through next.


    | had this bad taste in my mouth; it felt like I''d shot myself in the foot.


    Out of the blue, Timothy spoke up, ¡°Why keep giving Xaviera a hard time, Mr. Zade? I¡¯m the one who asked her to keep secrets.


    I''m the one who said no to working with Rainbow Capital. I¡¯m right here, so if you¡¯ve got issues, let¡¯s hash it out.¡±


    Timothy was ying it cool, but then he nced my way and reminded me, ¡°You''re not feeling great. Go lie down on the


    sickbed.¡±


    | figured he was trying to get me out of the line of fire.


    But with all this chaos, how could | possibly duck out? So | shoot back. ¡°It¡¯s no biggie, just a little low blood sugar, no harm done.¡±


    No sooner had | spoken than | felt this icy stare drilling into me. When | looked up, | met Hogan¡¯s frosty, steely gaze.


    It was like an invisible ice dagger, quietly jabbing at me.


    Judgment and disdain, all rolled into one.


    Chapter 180


    ¡°Why¡¯s Mr. Zade gone silent?¡± Timothy''s crisp voice cut through again, and his eyes twinkled with mischief; ¡°Here¡¯s your beloved


    FreeMan right in front of you. Speak your mind, Mr. Zade.¡±


    He then grabbed a water jug nonchntly and poured himself a drink, acting like Hogan¡¯s not even worth his time.


    It was clear as day that Timothy was poking the bear.


    Bold as brass.


    | had this sinking feeling, and when | nced back at Hogan, | saw his face with this icy veneer; he said coldly, ¡°I had some


    expectations before meeting FreeMan in person, but now,¡±


    He trailed off andzily added, ¡°kind of a letdown.¡±


    Timothy¡¯s hand froze; he instantly locked his pretty eyes on Hogan and countered, ¡°Before interacting with Rainbow Capital, the


    outside world had some pretty decent reviews, but after a few encounters, it¡¯s been one surprise after another.¡±


    Listening to their back-and-forth, | was sweating bullets on the inside.


    This wasn¡¯t a negotiation, it felt more like a roast.


    And these two were masters of throwing shade without a single swear word.


    At this rate, any chance of partnership was about to go down the drain.


    My heart was hanging by a thread.


    Just then, Cecilia, who¡¯d been standing off to the side, stepped up with her gentle tone, ¡°It¡¯s all misunderstanding; we never


    imagined Mr. Temple was actuallyThis content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    FreeMan. Looks like you and Xaviera wanted to sneak us a little surprise, doesn¡¯t it, Xaviera?¡±

 Chapter 181

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    Chapter 181


    She suddenly shot a nce my way with her clever almond-shaped eyes. Without following up on herment, | turned to


    Timothy and exined, ¡°You were there when Rainbow Capitalid out the terms of coboration. If there¡¯s anything you''re not


    happy with or want to add, now¡¯s your time to speak up.¡±


    Timothy gave me a quick once-over and said coolly. ¡°Those terms aren¡¯t exactly alluring: they''re prettyckluster if you ask me.¡±


    Well, what can | say? The big shots always march to the beat of their own drum.


    After all, Timothy''s got the clout to do as he pleases.


    Trying to smooth things over, | softened my tone and asked, ¡°So, Mr. Temple, what kind of terms are you looking for in a


    coboration?¡±


    Looking somewhat annoyed, Timothy rolled his eyes at me and said, ¡°You''re sick as a dog, and you still want to get involved in


    this mess? What, is Rainbow Capital so desperate they have to squeeze everyst drop out of you as a partner?¡±


    evoe


    His flicked to Hogan for a second; the dig at him couldn¡¯t be more obvious if he tried.


    Hogan caught the subtext and snorted, ¡°Mr. Temple is already meddling in our business without even starting the coboration?


    Is this the usual work style?¡±


    Timothy was taken aback; he couldn¡¯t help but scowl, ¡°Seems like Mr. Zade isn¡¯t really keen on coborating, huh?¡±


    Hogan, cool as a cucumber, flicked his cuff and said, ¡°Rainbow Capital is always sincere about coborations, but we''re also


    very choosy about our partners. Mr. Temple¡¯s terms are decent. but they might just not mesh well with Rainbow Capital¡¯s vision.¡±


    The words ¡°not mesh well¡± hit me like a ton of bricks, and they momentarily silenced Timothy as well.


    | bet nobody expected Hogan to pull a boomerang after all the trouble of courting FreeMan.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Mr. Zade.¡± | said, getting anxious, ¡°we can still talk about the terms.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Hogan cut me off and stood up. ¡°Our time is precious too.¡±


    With that, he went out, not leaving any room for further discussion.


    Cecilia, noticing the situation, tried to keep things light, ¡°Mr. Temple, Mr. Zade has some urgent business. Don¡¯t worry, we''ll


    discuss it back at the office and get in touch with you.¡±


    She then turned to me and reminded me, ¡°Xaviera, you need to smooth things over with Mr. Temple. You know how crucial he is


    to the project as the head of art at this stage.¡±


    It was both a hint and a reminder.


    11:35


    Chapter 181


    And | was well aware that the art is key to the project¡¯s sess; it can¡¯t be neglected or dyed any longer.


    But with things as they were, what was | supposed to do now?


    ¡°Xavi?¡± The pleasant voice snapped me back to reality. | looked up, only to see Timothy¡¯s displeased eyes, ¡°He¡¯s giving you a


    hard time, and you''re still speaking up for him?¡±


    He was indeed a few years my junior; that''s why he acted without considering the


    consequences.


    ¡°And you?¡± | said, feeling a bit helpless, ¡°Didn¡¯t you keep telling me not to reveal your identity? Why are you blowing your cover


    now?¡±


    Timothy scratched his head, looking resigned, ¡°If | didn¡¯t show up, you¡¯d probably be worn to the bone.¡±


    A flutter touched my heart, as | realized that this kid was worried about me.


    | was about to thank him when he added, ¡°Besides, life and work are intertwined. | want to experience something different, to


    taste a different slice of life.¡±

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    Chapter 182


    Timothy''s 180 really knocked my socks off.


    But at the end of the day, it¡¯s his call. | shouldn¡¯t butt in willy-nilly, plus I¡¯m not one to bite the hand that feeds me. I¡¯ve got a


    hunch that he¡¯s got his reasons; maybe he¡¯s trying to right some


    wrongs.


    I''m a few years his senior, which is, to be honest, a bit embarrassing to admit.


    Seeing me keep mum, Timothy scratched his head and said, ¡°What | mean is, the thrill of life is all about pushing your limits, you


    get me, Xaviera?¡±


    Staring at Timothy''s goofy look, | asked patiently, ¡°What are you actually thinking about this coboration?¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Is he just blowing off steam, or has he really thought it through?


    ¡°I''m dead serious,¡± Timothy confessed, ¡°I never mess around with work. What, you don¡¯t fancy partnering up with me?¡±


    | caught Timothy¡¯s probing gaze and replied, ¡°Of course, teaming up with FreeMan is an honor for us.¡±


    Timothy snorted, ¡°Just an honor? You sure know how to y it cool, Xavi.¡±


    Feeling a bit overwhelmed, | forced a smile and said. ¡°And a pleasure, too.¡±


    Timothy seemed pleased with that answer, and a trace of a smile finally broke through his stiff facade. ¡°You''re just being polite.


    But since you''re under the weather, I''ll let it slide.¡±


    | heaved a silent sigh of relief and said, ¡°I''ll work the angles on the coboration. You go rest up, and I''ll hit you up when there¡¯s.


    news.¡±


    Having such a headstrong guy stick around as my bedsidepanion is more than | can


    handle.


    Timothy seemed to read my mind, so he nodded and said, ¡°Okay, I''ll listen to you.


    Before long, | was left alone in the ward, and my palms were still sweating from the verbal sparring match earlier.


    It''s clear Hogan¡¯s got a beef with Timothy. Pulling off this partnership won''t be a walk in the park.


    After mulling it over, | decided to seek out Hogan once more.


    But | ended up running into Cecilia, who was packing Hogan¡¯s bags in the suite.


    The girl was holding Hogan¡¯s undershirt and folding it with extreme care.


    Looks like they were nning to head back to Rivertown.


    1/2


    11:36


    Chapter 162


    Cecilia did a double-take when she saw me, then she greeted me with a smile, ¡°Xaviera, looking for Hogan?¡±


    | came clean, ¡°I''d like to talk business with him.¡±


    ¡°So, it''s about partnering with Mr. Temple.¡± Cecilia blinked her almond eyes and gave me a knowing look, ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m all for it.¡±


    | didn¡¯t expect Cecilia to voice her opinion in front of me, and | silently gave her a nce without responding.


    Then | heard her continue, ¡°I didn¡¯t see iting that Mr. Temple was FreeMan as well, but that doesn¡¯t seem to matter. As the


    project''s been dragging, it would be time-consuming to find a new concept artist, and the guy we find may not even pan out.


    And,¡±


    Cecilia paused for a moment, then added, ¡°FreeMan¡¯s talent is recognized by everyone. If we coborate with him, we can keep


    the reins in our hands. It¡¯s a win-win. Why not go for it?¡±


    | didn¡¯t expect Cecilia to be so perceptive. Caught off guard, | could say nothing but, ¡°That still depends on Mr. Zade¡¯s decision. If


    it''s not too much trouble, | hope Director Irwin can put in a good word for us.¡±


    ¡°Of course, but you know, Xaviera, once Hogan makes a decision, it¡¯s not easily swayed.¡±


    Cecilia was speaking the truth, and that¡¯s what gave me a headache. | continued. ¡°You''re no ordinary person. Mr. Zade should


    take your words to heart.¡±

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    Chapter 183


    I''m not just buttering her up¡ªthe proof is in the pudding, time and again.


    When Cecilia heard that, she couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips into a smug little smile and said, ¡°Xaviera, chill, I''ll definitely carve out


    some time to have a heart-to¡ªheart with Hogan for our project.¡±


    | was about to express my gratitude when Hogan''s voice barged in outta nowhere, ¡°Talk to me about what?¡±


    | looked up and only then I noticed the dude with a frosty face was standing at the entrance.


    My heart skipped a beat, and it felt like my heart was in my throat.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    No clue how long he¡¯d been there or how much of my convo with Cecilia he¡¯d caught.


    But Cecilia was quick on her feet; she tried to smooth things over, ¡°Nothing much, just shooting the breeze with Xaviera.¡±


    With a fleeting nce over my face, Hogan took the shirt from Cecilia¡¯s hands and said, ¡°Get ready to roll out in an hour.¡±


    Cecilia blinked, with her eyes darting over my cheek and then back to Hogan, ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s response was so firm that it even brought a touch of blush to Cecilia¡¯s fair cheeks.


    That blush quickly spread to the corners of her eyes. The girl bit her lip gently and mumbled with her head down, ¡°Alright, I''ll


    head over first.¡±


    Despite her saying that, her exit was slow and dragging: she was clearly reluctant.


    Guess she didn¡¯t expect that Hogan would ditch her and leave me alone with him.


    Even the way she looked at me had a touch of resentment.


    Finally, it was just me and Hogan left in the suite.


    The man sat back, with his legs crossed, took a sip of tea, and said, ¡°Typical Ms. March, aiming for a cob with the big shot


    from the Temple family, and using Cecilia as your pawn.¡±


    Hogan had that sharp look in his eyes when he said it, like he was about to chew me up and


    spit me out.


    as a peacemaker


    Seemed like he got it twisted: he must have thought that | came to use Cecilia as a


    on purpose.


    | wasn¡¯t about to waste my breath arguing¡ªsince I¡¯ve got enough charges on my rap sheet as it is, one more won''t hurt. | steered


    the convo back to the real deal, ¡°Cob or not, it¡¯s Mr. Zade¡¯s


    call


    Chapter 183


    With a sharp look shing in his phoenix eyes, Hogan raised an eyebrow and grilled me, ¡°You knew FreeMan¡¯s real identity all


    along?¡±


    | had no idea why he was dragging the topic back there, but | kept it real ¡°Not that early, just found out myself.¡±


    ¡°Before or after you came to me?¡± he pressed on. ¡°Is that why you came to me with such eagerness, and to sweet-talk me?¡±


    The more | heard it, the more absurd it seemed, | met his gaze, looking a bit helpless. ¡°Yes and


    no.


    ¡°Beating around the bush,¡± Hogan snorted. ¡°Yes is yes, and no is no; Ms. March, you''re getting more and more corporate with


    me.


    As | was at a loss for words, | just came out with it, ¡°The project is what matters. Mr. Zade should know that we''ve stalled in


    Pinecrest Hollow long enough. With any more dys, Rainbow Capital will have to take the hit.¡±


    ¡°30?¡±


    Without beating around the bush, | went straight for it. ¡°So, teaming up with Timothy is our best shot.¡±


    ¡°Huh,¡± Hogan cracked his knuckles, and said in an icy tone, ¡°Ms. March, you¡¯re going to great lengths to get in with the Temple


    family¡¯s big shot, aren¡¯t you?¡±

 Chapter 184

    Chapter 184


    Chapter 184This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Looking at the man¡¯s knuckles turning white, | knew he was really ticked off.


    Usually, he only does that when he¡¯s biting his tongue and holding back.


    | wasn¡¯t about to argue, but | couldn¡¯te up with a good line to defend myself either, so | just stood there like a bump on a log.


    But Hogan seemed to still have a bee in his bo, and when his gaze bore into me again, | heard him ask, ¡°So, what¡¯s Ms.


    March nning to do next?¡±


    Having no idea how Hogan circled back to this topic, | responded, ¡°After we sign the contract, the project goes on naturally.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? | beg to differ.¡± Hogan looked away and talked to himself, ¡°Ms. March, you''ve yed your cards right. With the


    support of the Temple family¡¯s boy, you can not onlyplete the project but also take the reins; if you y your cards right, you


    might even snag a new investor. It¡¯s like hitting the trifecta.¡±


    His gaze hooked onto my face like a w, and seeing the man¡¯s meaningful look, | let out a wry smile.


    Turns out I¡¯m seen as quite the schemer in Hogan¡¯s eyes.


    Oh well, I''ll take it as apliment. At this point, what matters is to focus on the task at hand...


    | gathered myself and said with an air of indifference, ¡°Since Mr. Zade is so perceptive, I¡¯m curious about what you n to do


    next?¡±


    Ayes or no to a partnership, we needed to get that straight.


    Hogan gave me a sidelong nce and huffed, ¡°Ms. March seems to be in quite a hurry.¡±


    ¡°I''m just concerned about the project.¡±


    ¡°Too bad,¡± Hogan lounged on the sofa, giving me azy look, and said, ¡°Rainbow Capital has no ns to work with Timothy.¡±


    I


    Even though I had braced myself for this moment, | still felt a surge of anger when | heard Hogan decisively refuse to work with


    Timothy.


    He¡¯s seen what I¡¯ve been through these past few days at Pinecrest Hollow. Wasn¡¯t all our effort aimed at finding a Freeman?


    Now that we¡¯ve found one and Timothy has agreed to the partnership, Hogan, for some reason, is beingpletely


    unreasonable!


    With this in mind, | pinched my palm to swallow the bitterness and said sternly, ¡°Mr. Zade, this is a serious matter, please handle


    it with caution.¡±


    ¡°You''re that keen on partnering with him?¡±


    ¡°I''m just here for the project,¡± | admitted, ¡°You can afford to wait, Mr. Zade, but | can¡¯t.¡±


    11:36


    Chapter 184


    ¡°So for the sake of this project, Ms. March is willing to do anything?¡±


    Our eyes locked, and as | looked into the unfathomable depths of his eyes, my heart suddenly clenched.


    Right now, Hogan¡¯s gaze was like a predator in the snow finding its prey, all greedy and bare.


    | stood still, but my heartbeat started pounding uncontrobly.


    ¡°Come here.¡±


    Those two words were sinct, yet they were pulling on my nerves.


    | was well aware of the current situation: | was at his mercy. After a brief hesitation, | shamelessly moved closer to the sofa.


    | was less than half a meter away from Hogan.


    Even though | was standing and he was sitting, | still felt dwarfed by his presence.


    That¡¯s right, if someone asked for favors, how can his soul ever be noble?


    Trying keep my cool, | heard Hogan say, ¡°Give me your hand.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zade.¡±


    ¡°Your left hand.¡± Hogan cut me off in a voice firm as steel, ¡°I won''t repeat myself.¡±


    Not sure what Hogan was up to, | hesitated for a couple of seconds before extending my hand towards him.

 Chapter 185

    Chapter 185


    Chapter 185


    The icy touch zapped from my wrist through my limbs, sending a tingle up my scalp. In the next second, | saw the guy''s long


    fingers creeping towards my wristband and | thought. ¡°Oh no.¡± | yanked my hand back in a panic.


    But it was toote. Hogan, as if he¡¯d read my mind, was mping down on my wrist like he was trying to crush it.


    The thought of the scar hidden under the wristband sent me into a frenzy, and | pulled with all my might.


    But | was no match for his strength. In a sh, | lost my bnce and crashed right into Hogan¡¯s arms; my head smacked against


    his chin.


    A muffled groan hit my ears; | looked up, only to see Hogan''s brows furrowed deep.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    ¡°Does the kid from the Temple family know where that wristband came from?¡± Hogan asked with an icy stare. ¡°If he knew you


    cherished something given by another dude, do you think he¡¯d still be all over you?¡±


    It felt like my heart was being ripped apart, and as | was about to respond, a sweet voice chimed in.


    ¡°Is Mr. Zade around? He left so suddenly, | haven¡¯t had the chance to properly treat you and Cecilia.¡±


    It was Shirley''s voice.


    Wait, why the heck was Shirley popping up now?


    If | wasn¡¯t mistaken, the suite door wasn¡¯t even closed!


    And judging by her voice, Shirley seemed to be getting closer, as if she was about to walk. through the front door any second!


    Panic hit me like a ton of bricks. If she caught me snuggled up in Hogan¡¯s arms, who knows what trouble it would stir.


    | tried to push off with my arms to get some distance from Hogan, but suddenly the grip around my waist tighted, sending me


    stering against Hogan''s solid chest.


    ¡°You...¡±


    Before | could finish, | felt a whirl as Hogan had me pinned down on the couch.


    We swapped ces.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be found out,¡± with his sharp tone right in my ear, Hogan shielded me with his broad shoulders and closed


    in, ¡°keep your mouth shut.¡±


    We were so close that | could breathe in his warm breath, so close that | could see the panicked


    1/2


    11:36


    Chapter 165


    reflection of myself in his eyes.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, maybe you shoulde back tomorrow.¡±


    Shirley''s voice snapped me out of it, then it abruptly stopped.


    ¡°Get out!¡± Hogan¡¯s roar echoed in my ears, ¡°Doesn''t President Stapleton know how to knock before entering?¡±


    ¡°| wasn¡¯t thoughtful enough, Mr. Zade, please carry on!¡±


    Shirley''s voice wasden with hidden bitterness as she spoke herst words.


    As the sound of her high heels faded away, my tense nerves began to rx. But when | looked up, | collided with Hogan¡¯s


    questioning gaze, which was full of anger.


    His eyes were still fixed on the wristband on my wrist.


    | heard him ask, ¡°Which is more important, the project or the wristband?¡±


    I stared at the man in front of me, holding back the turmoil in my heart, and finally blurted out. ¡°The wristband was sewed by my


    grandmother herself.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s expression froze, and he looked at me in surprise for a long while before he managed to say, ¡°How is the olddy


    doing?¡±

 Chapter 186

    Chapter 186


    Chapter 186


    Hogan had seen my grandma, and boy, was that a day to remember.


    It was early in my sophomore year when my grandma, who had never left our small town, decided to venture out for the first


    time. She came to Rivertown, lugging a bag of freshly picked walnuts.


    To save on travel costs, she arrived at the stationte at night, when there was an pouring rain. Hogan and | were just stepping


    out of the library when | got the call. | was thrilled and at a loss all at once, but Hogan didn¡¯t hesitate. He made the snap decision


    to head to the train station with me.


    Taking her to dinner and getting her lodged ¡ª Hogan went all out that day, he took care of everything like it was his second


    nature. It was so heartfelt that | almost thought he truly had a thing for me back then.


    A few years passed, and it¡¯s like a whole different world. How times change.


    ¡°She¡¯s not doing too well,¡± | said casually; my voice was so light as if | was talking about someone else¡¯s grandmother.


    As he heard that, Hogan¡¯s expression softened, and even his grip on my wrist loosened a bit. ¡°You didn¡¯t mention it that day,¡± he


    said.


    That day. He must be referring to that time in the president''s office at Rainbow Capital


    But what''s with him now? His tone seemedced with a tinge of guilt.


    Could Hogan, the guy with a heart of stone, actually feel remorse?


    | couldn''t read his mind, but | sensed an opportunity and quickly said, ¡°I need money for my grandma''s treatment. That¡¯s why I¡¯m


    so eager to push the project forward.¡±


    He looked up at me with a puzzled tone, ¡°Is it for your grandma?¡±


    Our eyes locked, and | saw a hint of softness in Hogan¡¯s gaze that | hadn''t seen since yearsThis content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    ago.


    Feeling unexpectedly ufortable, | swallowed hard and replied. ¡°You didn¡¯t give me a chance to exin that day.¡±


    With that spoken, | avoided his gaze, but Hogan¡¯s intense stare never left me, which made my heart race.


    I


    was gambling on how much Hogan¡¯s conscience weighed, and whether a sliver of guilt might sway him.


    One second, two seconds, three seconds.


    As time slowly ticked by, | felt my breath bated; Finally | heard Hogan remark, ¡°Ms. March, your acting skills have really be


    top-notch.¡±


    11-36


    Chapter 180


    Surprised, | looked up to meet his sharp, hawk-like eyes.


    | wanted to escape this intense atmosphere, but Hogan had me pinned,


    With his warm breath drawing closer, my heart raced increasingly until his long fingers touched my cheek, making me


    instinctively clench my fist.


    ¡°Why are your eyes red?¡± he asked in a low volce, which was so familiar that it almost felt like an illusion. It was the same tender


    tone he used only In Intimate moments.


    The thought made me resist.


    | turned my face away and said calmly, ¡°Medical bills aren¡¯t exactly pocket change.¡±


    | wasn¡¯t sure which word struck his nerve, but suddenly, he got up abruptly and sat down beside me, clearly agitated.


    Out of the corner of my eye, | caught a glimpse of his impatient profile.


    It looked like my ploy might fail, so | decided to bow out gracefully. ¡°Mr. Zade, you must be busy. | won¡¯t bother you any longer.¡±


    As | stood up and took a couple of steps, | heard Hogan say, ¡°I¡¯m not against bringing Timothy into the game, but Xaviera, it''s up


    to you to y this piece well. If you end up causing trouble that can¡¯t be fixed, don¡¯t expect anyone to bail you out.¡±

 Chapter 187

    Chapter 187


    Chapter 187


    My eyes widened in surprise as | looked at Hogan, then a sh of astonishment crossed my chest.


    Did Hogan actually back down?


    Three dayster, Timothy smoothly Joined ourpany, and Wallis became the happiest person in the office; she set the


    wee party in Vienna, of all ces.


    | was thinking about how Ceci¡¯s arrival hadn¡¯t caused such a fuss, so | reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t you think this is a bit much?¡±


    Grinning. Wallis replied. ¡°Time has changed; when Ceci joined, the inner circle didn¡¯t even know we were the workce sister


    act. Now, people know you name, Xaviera, as well as my name, Wallis. Plus, we''re weing FreeMan, who¡¯s no less than a


    god of wealth.¡±


    Wallis had a point, but standing behind Cecilia was Hogan, after all.


    The fact that Hogan gave in at the crucial moment was like giving us a huge favor.


    ¡°You''re not seeing it right,¡± Wallis corrected me, saying, ¡°Capitalists care most about their profits. Hogan¡¯s a sharp cookie: would


    he not realize that dragging the project would hurt him the most? He¡¯s just ying hard to get him, thinking we''re begging him.


    After all, those who truly want to help you don¡¯t need you to beg.¡±


    Wallis¡® words were an eye-opener.


    If it wasn¡¯t a favor, then we could proceed with our ns without a hitch.


    At 7 p.m., we all headed to Vienna, and coincidentally, there was no sign of Cecilia after a long wait.


    Wallis teased, ¡°Doesn''t this feel a bit familiarity?¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Last time, Cecilia also had us waiting for ages at her wee party.


    It would¡¯ve been one thing if she was alone, but Cecilia had mentii before leaving work that Hogan would personally drop by


    Timothy¡¯s wee party tonight.


    It meant that, if Hogan didn¡¯t show up, we had to wait obediently.


    And wait we did ¡ª for nearly forty minutes.


    Timothy, being easy-going, quickly hit it off with Zora and the others, not showing any signs of difort.


    | was anxiously calling Cecilia, but even though the call went through, no one picked up.


    Wallis raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Forget it, she¡¯s just throwing a little tantrum. Don¡¯t waste your effort.¡±


    Just as she finished speaking, the banquet hall door opened, and in walked Hogan and Cecilia.


    1/2


    Chapter 187


    But Cecilia wasn¡¯t dressed in the fancy gown | expected; she still wore her work clothes, which was correct yet somehow off.


    When the two appeared together, | caught a whiff of something fishy from the band-aid on Cecilia¡¯s finger.


    Then | heard her say, ¡°Sorry, Wallis, Xaviera, | wanted to make some desserts for you all, but | identally cut my hand. Hogan


    was so worried; he insisted on taking me to the hospital, and that¡¯s why we''rete.¡±


    Her words suggested a slight dy, but in reality, they were an hourte.


    And the cut on Cecilia¡¯s hand was only covered with a band-aid.


    IF-


    ¡°It''s no problem at all, having Mr. Zade here is our honor,¡± | said calmly, smiling, ¡°Besides, it was an emergency, and it¡¯s good


    that you''re fine.¡±


    | wanted to smooth things over, but momentster, | heard Cecilia say, ¡°Speaking of which, congrattions to Xaviera, too. Think


    about how much effort we put in to invite Mr. Temple to the project, and how we¡¯ve run around like headless chickens, and in the


    end, Xaviera, you''ve got the real talent.¡±

 Chapter 188

    Chapter 188


    Chapter 188


    Cecilia''spliments were soft-spoken, apanied by the faint dimples on the little girl¡¯s face; it was hard to link them to


    sarcasm no matter how hard you tried.


    But deep down, | knew she wasn¡¯t thrilled.


    After all, she was dead set on making this Pinecrest Hollow trip happen and it must have stung when things took a turn and |


    ended up with the sweet deal. A touch of resentment was only natural.


    The ultimate harmony in ourpany is the harmony among the employees, so with a don¡¯t-sweat¡ªthe-small-stuff attitude, |


    kept the peace with a beaming smile, ¡°Director Irwin is just being modest. The sess of our Pinecrest Hollow venture is all


    thanks to the solid backing you and Mr. Zade offered. So, let¡¯s all raise a ss to Mr. Zade and Director Irwinter


    1. on.


    | was buttering up Hogan and Cecilia with those words, all for the sake of harmony.


    Wallis caught on to my game and quickly jumped in to smooth things over, ¡°Now that everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s kick off tonight''s wild


    party!¡±


    ¡°Oh, right,¡± Cecilia interrupted Wallis, and gave the server a knowing look with her sweet, mushy voice, ¡°Il knew tonight was Mr.


    Temple¡¯s wee party, so | made a handmade cake. But, you know, | hurt my hand, so it might not be much of a looker. | hope


    Xaviera and Mr. Temple won¡¯t mind.¡±


    She finished with a timid nce my way, as if worried she¡¯d messed something up.


    With her saying all that, | couldn¡¯t exactlyin, so | politely responded, ¡°Director Irwin, you¡¯re too kind.¡±


    But when the server unveiled the handmade cake, | was floored.


    It was a round fruit cake that had clearly seen better days; now it was totally misshapen.


    Though you could say it was a wreck, the ¡°Wee Timothy in the middle was crystal clear¡ªeven if the ¡°wee¡± had split in


    two and turned into ¡°wee.¡±


    Awkward as hell.


    As the man of the hour, Timothy had his face changed when he saw the mess.


    | heard him say with a teasing tone, ¡°Well, Director Irwin¡¯s got a unique touch, quite thoughtful indeed.¡±


    He said it with a flutter of those gorgeous eyes, which were clear as day without a hint of challenge, yet the words he used were


    anything but polite.


    Hearing this, Cecilia hung her head low, with her eyelids drooping, ¡°Sorry, we shouldn''t have gone to the hospital, must¡¯ve got


    jostled on the road.¡±


    11:37 D


    Chapter 188


    ¡°Director Irwin, don¡¯t be silly, you hurt your hand after all,¡± Wallis chimed in, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t gone to the hospital, Mr. Zade would''ve


    been beside himself with worry.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s expression froze, and her eyes suddenly brimmed with tears; then she turned to Hogan with a look of hurt.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Hogan, who had been silent the whole time, was standing off to the side with a cold face. He shot Wallis a look and said,


    ¡°President Lott makes a good point. She injured her hand just to make this cake; not just anybody gets the honor of having her


    cook for them.¡±


    The word ¡°honor¡± knocked me for six..


    | looked at Hogan in disbelief; when my gaze passed over Cecilia, | saw the girl staring at him with adoration, and her face was


    full of satisfaction and smugness.


    That¡¯s when | realized that, in Hogan''s eyes, Cecilia making a wed cake with her own hands. was a privilege for us, and an


    honor..


    | was at a loss for words, and the others clearly had mixed feelings, especially Timothy, whose snortingughter was hardly


    veiled.


    The lively atmosphere suddenly got a dose of awkwardness and tension. If this drama continued, tonight¡¯s wee party would


    likely end on a sour note.


    Having thought for a moment, | had my eyesnd on the cold mixed three shreds on the table


    tugged at the corner of my mouth and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s right, Director Irwin has gone to great lengths to prepare


    dessert for us all, which is really thoughtful. But seeing that ¡®wee¡¯ is missing a letter, don¡¯t worry, I''ll work a little magic.¡±

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    Chapter 189


    Chapter 189


    As | talked, | started ying with the silverware, which drew all eyes to me. Then, with some cucumber and radish strips, |


    crafted the letter ¡°L¡±


    ¡°Wee, Mr. Temple,¡± | said with a grin, while pointing at the cake, ¡°Check it out, a


    one-of-a-kind design.¡±


    Timothy gave me a cool nce and said with a beaming smile, ¡°Xaviera, you''re just so creative, you know? It¡¯s my first time ever


    having the honor of eating such a cake.¡±


    His tone was crisp, and at that moment, he put on a bit of a coquettish act; he also sneaked a peek at Cecilia while doing so; his


    whole demeanor was childish, mischievous yet somewhat endearing.


    | figured that only a family like the Temples could produce a character as wild as him.


    Thankfully, his showy personality was pretty good at livening up the vibe, so the atmosphere got back to its easygoing state.


    ¡°So, how about we all dig in and try this vor?¡± Wallis, ever the expert at reading the room, snatched a cake knife from a waiter


    and made a beeline for the cake.


    The plot twist was a bit unexpected.


    But since the cake was already sliced, it was time to dole it out.


    Considering the protagonist''s role, | handed the first piece to Timothy.


    Timothy waved it off, saying, ¡°Xaviera, that¡¯s not cool. You just said that Mr. Zade¡¯s been busting his chops on this Pinecrest


    Hollow trip, so this piece here should go to Mr. Zade.¡±


    | was taken aback by Timothy¡¯s uncharacteristic magnanimity and, after giving him a look of admiration, happily passed the cake


    to Hogan.


    ¡°Mr. Temple¡¯s right, Mr. Zade, please enjoy.¡±


    Hogan looked at the slice in front of him and snorted, ¡°Ms. March seems to forget that | don¡¯t do sweets.¡±


    | was at a loss for words when Hogan declined the cake in front of everyone; Cecilia had made


    it herself, after all.


    Then Cecilia chimed in, ¡°Hogan, | made a low-sugar one, so give it a try.¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Hogan relented; he nced at Cecilia, and finally epted the cake.


    And with that, the awkward scene drew to a close.


    The rest of the time was just chilling at home, eating and drinking. Hogan didn¡¯t touch his cake, but thank goodness Zora and the


    others were quite the live wires, so the mood wasn¡¯t too bad.


    The hustle and bustlested over an hour.


    1/2


    11:37


    Chapter 189


    Feeling pretty good, | indulged in a couple of drinks, and before | knew it, my head was spinning. | slipped out of the main hall


    quietly while everyone was busy and headed for the corridor.


    Acold breeze hit me as | rounded the corner; the window was left open, and the wind numbed my scalp.


    That¡¯s when | realized that Rivertown had stealthily slipped into the coldest time of the year.


    | thought, just weather this bone-chilling period, and there should be a glimmer of hope on the other side.


    With that thought, the weight on my chest felt a tad lighter.


    As my senses returned, | spun around, only to lock eyes with the tall figure standing a couple of steps behind me.


    Hogan had been standing there silently all along.


    Backlit, | couldn¡¯t make out his expression, and just caught a vague sense of an icy, keep¡ªaway aura radiating from him.


    ¡°Mr. Zade,¡± | asked politely, ¡°Is there something you need?¡±


    With his eyes lifted slightly, he looked down at me with a detached air, and remarked, ¡°Ms. March, your talent for charming men


    seems to be getting more and more polished.¡±


    Meeting Hogan¡¯s gaze, | caught the sh of scorn in his eyes.


    | couldn''t help but remember that those deep and unfathomable eyes had once shown a moment of tenderness in the suite of


    the Lucky Hotel.


    But now, it seemed more like my own illusion.


    | gave a tight smile and responded calmly, ¡°You tter me, Mr. Zade. Your knack for getting under people¡¯s skin is getting quite


    refined too.¡±

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    Chapter 190


    Chapter 190


    As soon as the words left my mouth, | realized there was a hint of sarcasm in my tone that | couldn¡¯t quite mask.


    What surprised me even more was that my tone matched that of Hogan¡¯s when he threw shade


    at me.


    They say booze is a troublemaker, and boy, did | see that firsthand. After a brief two¡ªsecond pause, without waiting for the guy to


    respond, | quickly backpedaled, ¡°I¡¯ve still got a lot to learn from Mr. Zade in many respects.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his gaze sharpened as he looked at me.


    Feeling a strange sense of pressure sweeping over me, | clutched my stomach and excused myself, ¡°Sorry, | need to hit the


    restroom.¡±


    If you can¡¯t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, right?


    But when I returned to the banquet hall, | realized that Hogan and Cecilia had already left.


    Just a few minutes ago.


    Wallis handed me a ss of juice and said, ¡°Thanks to Cecilia''s blessings, we¡¯ve had a non-stop supply of fresh juice all night in


    the main hall. Here, have a taste. It¡¯s all from imported fruits, so drink up; it¡¯s free.¡±


    Having heard the irony in Wallis¡® words, | sighed, ¡°Why bother with a little girl?¡±


    ¡°Am | the one who want to pick a fight with her?¡± Wallis¡® voice rose a notch as she said. ¡°You''ve seen it all night. Everyone¡¯s been


    drinking, even Hogan raised his ss, but Cecilia was the exception. Oh right, her hand is injured, so she can¡¯t hold her liquor.


    Wallis can be pretty childish sometimes too.


    | tried to soothe her, ¡°It¡¯s not like she¡¯s causing trouble at work. No big deal.¡±


    ¡°People toast and she sips juice. Isn¡¯t that just throwing shade at us? Wallis looked annoyed. venting, ¡°Remember what | said?


    That girl is no easy customer. She won''t take this lying down after losing to us, and | bet she''ll be a pain in our necks in the


    future.¡±


    | shared the concern, but thankfully, we had the tech and art of the project firmly in our hands. A nner in name like her


    wouldn''t be able to cause much of a stir.


    ¡°Really? I¡¯m not so sure,¡± Wallismented, while ncing at Timothy who stood not too far away, ¡°Sure, FreeMan is top-notch,


    but that young master has quite the temper. Remember the rumorsst year about him giving Director an earful over a poster?


    And as he came from at powerhouse family like the Temples, none of us could stop him if he decides to up and leave.¡±


    Wallis was giving me another heads-up.


    During the chat, | nced at Timothy who was fooling around with Zora nearby, and felt allBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    -11:37


    kinds of anxious.


    To be honest, the kid can be hard to read. He seems all Innocent and approachable, but sometimes, he can put you in an


    awkward spot out of the blue, without breaking a sweat.


    Talented and unique as he is, he¡¯s like a double-edged sword.


    As | pondered, Timothy seemed to sense my gaze and looked our way in perfect sync.


    His eyes, velled with a mistyyer, shone with an amazing luster under the lights.


    Paired with his delicate, fair face, he was definitely an eye-catcher.


    When our eyes met, his charming face suddenly broke into a smile; he winked and raised his eyebrows in a one-stop-shop


    gesture, reminiscent of some idol.


    Out of the blue, my heart skipped a beat, and | felt a little overwhelmed.


    All of a sudden, | wasn¡¯t sure whether insisting on bringing Timothy into the team was the right call or not.

 Chapter 191

    Chapter 191


    Chapter 191


    Fingers crossed Wallis is just worrying over nothing.


    We''ve plunged into the weekend amidst all the hustle and bustle.


    Since | had fallen behind on work for a while, | stuck to my guns and chose to work overtime, as usual.


    But halfway through, | got this urgent call out of the blue.


    ¡°Are you Jason¡¯s next of kin? Pleasee to the city hospital right away.¡±


    My heart skipped a beat when | heard that question, and | blurted out, ¡°What¡¯s happened to Jason?


    ¡°He¡¯s got a leg injury, and he can barely make heads or tails of what he¡¯s saying. What are your doing still standing there? Get


    over here, pronto!¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Leg injury? My mind went nk at those words; without hanging around, | bolted from my office.


    An hourter, | saw Jason at the ER, whose leg was all wrapped up in bandages.


    He sat there with a face that had aged a decade overnight, and looked lost. Dark circles under his eyes almost told that he hadn''t


    slept a wink, and his eyes were all panic and flutter.


    And yet, he was the one who was hurt.


    Seeing him like that, | felt my nose tingled, and | nearly burst into tears, ¡°Jason.¡±


    Hearing his name, Jason looked confused and tried to get up, using the chair for support.


    I rushed over, all heartache, and asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Jason looked at me nervously and cautiously mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just an ident.¡±


    He was obviously hiding something.


    Then, this nurse sidled up to us; she gave me the once-over, and said, ¡°You''re the patient''s family, huh? What¡¯s the deal here?


    You leave the patient all banged up and just take off?¡±


    | quickly apologized, and only after learning that the heavy object hadn¡¯t damaged his bones did | breathe a sigh of relief.


    But Jason is a security guard. How on earth did he end up getting stabbed in the leg with ss?


    When | asked him, Jason hemmed and hawed.


    | got this sour feeling inside, and my tone got a bit harsher, ¡°Are you keeping something from me?¡±


    Just as Jason was about to spill the beans, a piercing and somewhat tacky voice cut in.


    11-78


    ¡°Oh my, Jason, heard you were hurt. How bad is it?¡±


    That shrill familiar voice, I''d heard it somewhere before.


    Curious, | turned around and saw this middle-aged woman with bleached blonde hair hustling through the crowd heading our


    way. It was none other than Sibyl.


    But why was Sibyl here if Jason was the one Injured?


    As | pondered, Sibyl had already reached us.


    ¡°Oh, Ms. March, I¡¯m so sorry, the shop was swamped; | just found out Jason got hurt.¡± Sibyl nced at me in a fluster and


    exined, ¡°I should''vee sooner.¡±


    Since when Jason and Sibyl be tight as thieves?


    Sensing my confusion, Jason exined, ¡°For the supermarket stocking job, Sibyl got someone to cover for me.¡±


    ¡°Stocking?¡± | looked at Jason, surprised. ¡°Since when?¡±


    ¡°Ms. March, you didn¡¯t know it?¡± Sibyl looked at me as if | were from another. ¡°Jason said the pressure was too much, and


    wanted to pick up a part-time job after hours. My friend who owns the supermarket was hiring, so | hooked him up. But who


    would''ve thought it¡¯d lead to this mess.¡±

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    Chapter 192


    Chapter 192


    The phrase ¡°part-time job¡± really struck a nerve with me.


    But then I quickly picked up another crucial piece of info from Sibyl¡¯s chit-chat¡ª-Jason¡¯s gig at the supermarket was a favor she


    had pulled strings for.


    | shot Jason a puzzled look and heard him say, ¡°Yes, a coworker.¡±


    Sibyl seemed to catch my drift and chuckled, exining. ¡°Well, Jason¡¯s coworker is actually a cousin on my mom¡¯s side. He filled


    me in on Jason¡¯s situation, so | went ahead and stepped in to lend a hand. Man, | didn¡¯t expect it to backfire like this, Ms. March.


    My bad, really.¡±


    Sibyl sounded sincere, and it didn¡¯t seem like she was ying favorites. It¡¯s just that this ¡°concern¡± came way out of left field; we


    weren''t that tight with her by any stretch.


    But she had helped out after all, so all | could do was politely say, ¡°Thanks for your help, you went out of your way. I¡¯ll swing by


    tomorrow to thank you in person.¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Sibyl looked taken aback for a sec, then she waved it off and said, ¡°Oh, Ms. March, you''re being too gracious. Cecilia¡¯s been


    thriving at yourpany thanks to your support. My little effort here isn¡¯t anything to make a fuss over.¡±


    ¡°It''s the least | could do.¡±


    Seeing | was genuine, Sibyl tentatively asked, ¡°You haven''t tried our restaurant''s dishes yet, have you? How about you and


    Jason swing by tomorrow noon? I''ll whip up some home. cooking for you, how¡¯s that sound?¡±


    Since Sibyl had thrown Jason a bone, it only seemed right to give her business a bit of a boost, so | agreed toe by.


    After Sibyl left, Jason looked at me cautiously and exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t know, otherwise, I-I wouldn¡¯t ha-have gone.


    He finished, with his eyelids drooping, looking like a kid who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar was bracing for


    judgment.


    | reassured him, ¡°I know, don¡¯t sweat it. I''ll just grab a quick bite tomorrow and head back. Just stay put in the hospital for the


    night for observation, okay?¡±


    Jason looked at me, with worry in his eyes, as if he had more to say, but | caught a glimpse of unease in his gaze.


    ¡°What''s up?¡± | asked, feeling a twinge of guilt.


    With his eyes slowly drifted from my face to my hands, he asked, ¡°When did you... buy a car?¡±


    | realized that Jason was fishing for something.


    ¡°It''s apany car,¡± | said nonchntly. ¡°Business has been goodtely, and the boss rewarded me that.¡±


    11:38


    Chapter 132


    Hearing this. Jason let out a relieved sigh and spoke with heartfelt concern. ¡°Xaviera... | know you''re... destined for great things,


    but you¡¯d rather.. keep your distance from him if you can.¡±


    As | listened to him get that sentence out in bits and pieces, my heart couldn''t help but sour a


    bit.


    Looks like he was still on guard against Hogan.


    ¡°Don''t worry.¡± | patted Jason¡¯s hand while calmly saying. ¡°There¡¯s no chance of that happening.¡±


    The next morning, after sorting out Jason¡¯s affairs. | popped by a nearby gift shop, where t picked up some gift boxes, and drove


    to Sibyl¡¯s ce.


    By the time | got to her establishment, the sun was high in the sky.


    Hearing me arrive. Sibyl came out from the kitchen, all smiles, ¡®Ms. March, you''re here! Please, have a seat.¡±


    After saying this, she signaled a server to bring over a teapot and courteously poured me some water.


    Looking around the clean and tidy restaurant. | felt a tinge of envy, but as my eyesnded on the menu on the wall | couldn¡¯t help


    but be taken aback.


    There was a dish that looked awfully familiar-twice¡ªcooked pork.


    It instantly brought back memories from my childhood.


    That dish was also one of my grandma¡¯s specialties.


    ¡°Ms. March, you''ve got good taste. That''s the chef¡¯s signature dish. Sibyl said sharply. seeming to have read my thoughts, ¡°I''ll


    make sure it¡¯s on the menu for you.¡±

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    Chapter 193


    Chapter 193


    Feeling a bit embarrassed, | Immediately declined, ¡°No need. Jason¡¯s still in the hospital, so | won¡¯t be having lunch here. I''ll


    definitely swing by some other time to check out your cooking.¡±


    ¡°Hospitals have caregivers, and I¡¯ve already told the kitchen to pack a meal for Jason to be sent over.¡± Sibyl was more


    enthusiastic than | expected, ¡°Just rx and have your meal here.¡±


    Thinking about the situation with Cecilia, | made up an excuse, ¡°Jason likes staying quiet, and he gets awkward with others


    around; | really don¡¯t feel right leaving him.¡±


    ¡°Oh, | see.¡± Sibyl nced at the clock on the wall and suggested, ¡°Ms. March, How about | have the kitchen fire up right now,


    and you can take


    lunch to Jason afterwards?¡±


    With her insisting time and again, it would be kind of rude to refuse further, so | awkwardly agreed.


    Just then, a sweet greeting came from the entrance, ¡°Mom, Hogan and | are back!¡±


    | looked up and sure enough, there were Hogan and Cecilia walking in through the front door.


    What caught me off guard was that Hogan wasn¡¯t in his usual suit and tie, but in a light grey tracksuit, which matched Cecilia¡¯s


    soft pink one to a T.


    It was clear to anyone that they were wearing a his¡ª-and-hers outfit.


    Hogan, dressed down in casual gear, seemed less stern and moreid-back.


    The guy was also lugging bags of goodies, apparently to pay homage to his future inws.


    Cecilia, with her sharp eyes, spotted me immediately with her wide, beautiful almond eyes, and eximed in surprise, ¡°Xaviera,


    what are you doing here?¡±


    Before | could answer. Sibyl chipped in, ¡°Ms. March came especially to visit me. What a coincidence, but weren¡¯t you and Mr.


    Zade going to eat out? What brings you back so suddenly?¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Cecilia nced shyly at Hogan and confessed, ¡°Hogan said he missed Dad¡¯s twice¡ªcooked pork; how could | not indulge his


    craving?¡±


    The young girl¡¯s voice was tender and coquettish; clearly she was ying the doting girlfriend.


    Seeing this, Sibyl looked at Cecilia with satisfaction, then turned to Hogan with a chuckle, ¡°What a coincidence, Ms. March also


    ordered that dish. Don¡¯t worry, I''ll make sure everyone is well taken care of today.¡±


    ¡°By the way, Mom,¡± Cecilia lifted a small gift box with a dimpled smile, ¡°Hogan picked out a jade piece for you at the jewelry


    counter; have a look, do you like the design?¡±


    Sibyl¡¯s face lit up with a pleasantly surprised look. ¡°There¡¯s a gift for me too?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Cecilia¡¯s almond eyes were full of affection as she tenderly looked at Hogan, ¡°Aunt


    11:38


    Chapter 193


    Hry told me earlier that when you have time, she¡¯d like to invite you for afternoon tea, and Hogan has agreed.¡±


    Hearing this, | felt my heart skipped a beat.


    With Hry being so picky, could it mean she¡¯s fully epted Cecilia as her daughter-inw if she invited Ceci¡¯s mother for


    afternoon tea?


    Was this Hry''s own Idea, or was it orchestrated by Hogan?


    As | was pondering. | heard Sibyl ask, ¡°I¡¯m fine with it, but we need to see what Mrs. Zadel thinks.¡±


    She paused, with her gazending on Hogan¡¯s face, ¡°How about tomorrow afternoon?¡±

 Chapter 194

    Chapter 194


    Chapter 194


    Sibyl''s sense of urgency and anticipation were practically oozing out of those street-smart eyes of hers.


    So much so that she didn¡¯t even realize how her simple question came across as downright Intrusive and caused Hogan to


    pause for a beat.


    Well, she snagged such a catch of a son-inw, whom any mother-inw would bend over backwards to keep around;


    besides, Hogan¡¯s doting on Cecilia was off the chartspared to your average dude.


    The air went stiff for a few seconds, with nobody piping up, until Cecilia, ever the quick thinker. smoothly chimed in, ¡°Mom,


    Hogan¡¯s been swamped these past days. We''re not in a big rush.¡±


    With Cecilia''s nudge, Sibyl finally caught on to her faux pas and quickly backtracked, ¡°Sorry about that. Mr. Zade. My bad for not


    considering your schedule. I¡¯m flexible, so it''s really down to whenever you''re free.¡±


    Sibyl called Hogan Mr. Zade, while she called Hry Mrs. Hry Zade ¡ª didn¡¯t see that oneing.


    ¡°Mom, Hogan will sort it out,¡± Cecilia cooed, clinging to Hogan''s arm, ¡°He¡¯s got it all under control. We don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    The question hung in the air by Hogan¡¯s ear. He nced down at Cecilia and said coolly. ¡°Let''s do tomorrow afternoon. I''ll have


    the driver pick you up.¡±


    And just like that, Hogan agreed.


    So, was he actually keen on making this shindig happen too?


    Aweird flutter ran through my chest, and as | was about to look away. Cecilia piped up. ¡°Is Xaviera free tomorrow afternoon?


    Auntie was just bending my ear today about how she hasn¡¯t seen you in ages. If you''re up for it, join us.¡±


    Her voice was soft, and her smile was gentle, but for some reason, | sensed a challenge in her words.


    Ever since our trip to Pinecrest Hollow, it seemed like Cecilia¡¯s vibe towards me had shifted.


    Right here, right now, she seemed to be flexing Hogan¡¯s influence to show me up. Feeling slightly irked, | made an excuse. ¡°Bad


    timing. I¡¯ve got ns tomorrow afternoon.¡±


    It was just a no-fuss brush-off, but Cecilia had to dig deeper, ¡°Oh, Xaviera¡¯s already booked? Is it with Mr. Temple?¡±


    | wasn¡¯t a fan of her prying tone, and as | was about to sidestep with another excuse, my phoneAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Tang.


    It was Wallis calling.


    ¡°Sorry, something''se up,¡± as | saw my chance, | nced at Sibyl and said, ¡°I''ll have to take a rain check on your cooking.¡±


    | didn¡¯t wait for her response and bolted out the door.


    The winter chill in Rivertown hit me hard as | gulped the cold air, and my insides felt like they turned to ice.


    After a wave of dizziness, | braced myself against the car door, figuring that the queasiness was probably from inhaling


    disinfectant all night.


    The persistent ring of my phone snapped me back to reality.


    | gathered myself and answered.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about Jason: Professor Yearwood said he¡¯s found someone, and he¡¯s probably at the hospital by now.¡±


    Before heading to Sibyl¡¯s, | had given Wallis a heads-up, but how did Jason¡¯s situation get to Darren?


    ¡°While you called me, that chatterbox Jack happened to pass by and bbed to Professor Yearwood, and next thing you know,


    Darren showed up at thepany.¡±


    | never liked burdening others with my personal stuff, especially someone like Darren who I''d leaned on way too many times


    before.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, Xaviera; think about it, Jason¡¯s a guy, and for taking care of him, it¡¯s just more practical to have another guy


    around,¡± Wallis said with understanding, ¡°Otherwise, | wouldn¡¯t have spilled the beans to anyone else.¡±

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    Well, | can¡¯t fault Wallis for her line of thinking, but it just doesn¡¯t sit right with me to constantly bug Darren, you know?


    Right after hanging up the phone, | hightailed it to the hospital.


    Standing at the door to the ward, | could hear Jason¡¯s sporadic thanks. Peering through the ss door, | caught sight of Darren,


    who was meticulously adjusting Jason¡¯s pillow, while in front of Jason was a neatly arranged spread of two dishes and a soup.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    And the containers of the dishes, not takeout ones, looked quite familiar.


    After a moment, it hit mest time Darren rocked up at the office with a big ol lunchbox, he used the same set of dishes.


    So, Darren had whipped up Jason''s lunch with his own two hands?


    | knocked on the door at an awkward moment.


    Seeing me, Darren stood up and coolly asked, ¡°All done with your stuff?¡±


    | nced at the meal, feeling a tad sheepish, and said, ¡°Thanks for making the trek.¡±


    ¡°It''s not big deal,¡± Darren said with a smile ying on his lips and in a warm tone. ¡°I just checked with the doc. No bones about it,


    no serious damage. He''ll be right as rain in a few days.¡±


    | finally breathed a sigh of relief, and then | heard Jason add, ¡°Next time... don¡¯t... don¡¯t trouble Darren.


    ¡°Xaviera and | are mates; it¡¯s no hassle at all,¡± Darren leaned in, making eye contact with Jason, and patiently said, ¡°Eat up, I¡¯m


    off to fetch your meds.¡±


    Of course, | didn¡¯t want to bug Darren with this little errand, so | tried to stop him. ¡°I''ll go.¡±


    ¡°You just got back; hang out with your uncle.¡±


    With that, he was off, as if it was all in a day''s work for him.


    Once it was just Jason and me in the ward, he gave me a meaningful look and said, ¡°Xaviera... that kid Darren... he¡¯s a good


    egg.


    ¡°Mhm,¡± | murmured my agreement.


    ¡°Go on... thank him.¡±


    Jason winked at me, probably thinking it wasn¡¯t quite right to send Darren off to the pharmacy. on his own.


    | stepped out of the ward.


    The hospitalyout was a bit of a maze to me, and it took me a while to locate the pharmacy.


    11:381


    But weirdly, Darren was nowhere to be seen.


    Just as | was getting puzzled, a mellow voice reached my ears,


    ¡°I''ll handle Aaron¡¯s situation, but there¡¯s no way | can make it to the blind date tomorrow


    afternoon.¡±


    Blind date?


    ¡°lm an adult, and | don¡¯t need anyone meddling in my love life, besides,¡± Darren paused abruptly, and then continued. ¡°I¡¯ve got


    someone in mind.¡±


    | hadn¡¯t even managed to look away before our eyes met-his eyes were sharp and striking.


    To stay or to leave, both seemed off.


    After a brief exchange on the phone, he hung up and came towards me.


    | fidgeted, trying to find something¡ªanything-to switch the topic but came up empty.


    Who would¡¯ve thought that a catch like Darren would face the old marriage squeeze from his family?


    ¡°Ran into a bit of bother,¡± Darren said nonchntly, ¡°guess | made you see a bit of a joke there.¡± ¡°No, | just got here.¡±


    Alright, | confess that it isn¡¯t exactly a piece of cake to lie to a stand-up guy like Darren,


    ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m in a bit of a pickle,¡± Darren raised his brows and helplessly added. ¡°I wonder if you would be willing to lend a


    righteous hand and give me a little help.¡±


    | looked at Darren, feeling puzzled, then | heard him say. ¡°I have to show up at this ill-intended setup, but | need ady to y


    the part of the girl I''ve got my eye on.¡±

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    Darren¡¯s question totally caught me off guard.


    After a brief moment of silence, | heard him again, ¡°Sorry, that was out of the blue.¡±


    Looking at my old ssmate¡¯s embarrassed face, | could tell that for someone who always minded his Ps and Qs, he must have


    been pushed against the wall to make such a request. Recalling the helpless tone in his voice when he gave the call, | asked,


    ¡°So what exactly do | need to do?¡±


    Darren froze for a second, then he eximed in surprise, ¡°Xaviera, you mean you''ll do it?¡±


    His smooth and melodious voice, apanied by those bright, piercing eyes, made the usually stern and proper guy suddenly


    seem a bit childlike.


    ¡°It''s no biggie,¡± | said;pared to all the favors Darren had done for me in the past, it was a piece of cake to y a role for him.


    ¡°Just shoot me the details ¡ª the time, ce, and any lines | need to watch out for.¡±


    No sooner had | finished speaking than Darren let out a snort ofughter.


    Curious, | looked at him and then heard him say, ¡°It¡¯s not thatplicated; you just need to stand by my side.¡±


    We agreed to meet at the Vienna Hotel¡¯s tea restaurant tomorrow afternoon at three.


    This joint is where all the Rivertown big shots love to gather for high tea, so | thought I¡¯d dress up a bit to show respect. But to


    my surprise, | got stopped by a waiter as | tried to walk in.


    ¡°Miss, please show your membership card.¡±


    | knew this ce was¡¯members-only, but since | was here at Darren¡¯s invitation, | obviously. didn¡¯t have a card.


    | exined the situation, but the waiter replied in a snooty tone, ¡°Then you''ll need to contact the person you¡¯re meeting and have


    hime fetch you.


    | reluctantly pulled out my phone, but as | was about to make the call, a familiar voice called


    out.


    ¡°Xaviera, is that really you?¡±


    | turned around to see Hry, decked out in a ssy Chanel suit, staring at me with a mix of surprise and curiosity.


    A hotel waiter was at her side, politely holding her rare crocodile Hermes bag ¡ª she was the picture of ady of leisure.


    Sometimes, life¡¯s just full of these weird coincidences.


    Seeing me barred from entry, Hry¡¯s waiter immediately asked, ¡°What seems to be the


    1/2


    11:39


    Chapter 196


    problem with thisdy?¡±


    The waiter who had stopped me quickly replied with utmost respect. ¡°She ims to have an appointment but cannot present a


    membership card for our hotel.¡±


    As he spoke, he nced timidly at Hry, and his voice dropped a few decibels, ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware she was meeting Mrs. Zade.¡±


    His tone was clearly filled with fear and trepidation towards someone higher up the social


    ladder.


    Hry stepped forward, and said to the waiter beside her, ¡°I need a moment alone with her.¡±


    The two waiters got the hint and discreetly backed off.


    Once it was just Hry and me, she looked at me and asked, ¡°Hogan¡¯s hosting Cecilia and Sibyl here today. Are you here to join


    in the fun too, Xaviera?¡±


    Her words hit me, and it all clicked.


    Thinking back to that meaningful look she gave earlier, | couldn¡¯t help but feel amused and embarrassed.


    She probably thought | was here to stir the pot.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Feeling like | had a lump of cotton stuck in my chest, | told her the truth, ¡°You might have gotten the wrong idea. I¡¯ve got my own


    meeting today.¡±


    ¡°Here?¡±


    Her probing question was met with a skeptical look on her well-maintained face.


    Those eyes seemed to be questioning me, ¡°You? Xaviera? Why today of all days?¡±

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    | gave a sly smirk and said, ¡°Yep, he should be here any minute now.


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Hry seemed to realize her own bluntness; she shot me an awkward look and tugged at the corner of her mouth.


    Just as | was about to kill the conversation, Cecilia¡¯s sweet, mushy voice suddenly burst into my ears, ¡°Huh? Xaviera? Is that


    really you?¡±


    | nced sideways and immediately spotted Cecilia and Sibyl heading our way.


    Ironically, the mother¡ªdaughter duo were also decked out in Chanel suits. Cecilia, petite as she was, couldn¡¯t quite pull off the


    haute couture look, but she made it work okay. Sibyl was another story, though.


    Her hair tips, dyed with some cheap blonde hair dye, shed horribly with the chic elegance of Chanel.


    | caught Hry''s eyebrows twitching almost imperceptibly.


    As they got closer, Cecilia politely introduced Sibyl to Hry. Sibyl grinned; her smile was so wide it almost reached her ears.


    | felt like a third wheel standing there.


    So, | bid Hry adieu, but then | overheard Sibyl asking. ¡°Didn¡¯t Ms. March have a date yesterday? Howe she¡¯s free to drop


    by today? Is this some kind of surprise for us?¡±


    Her rapid-fire questions made my temples throb. | pinched the bridge of my nose and exined again, ¡°Coincidentally, the


    person I¡¯m meeting also booked a spot in this tea house.¡±


    ¡°Also here?¡± Ceciliatched onto the keyword, and she shot Hry a look before saying with a beaming smile, ¡°That¡¯s quite the


    coincidence.¡±


    Her tone was so nd; | bet if Hry wasn¡¯t around, Cecilia wouldn''t even bother with her passive¡ªaggressive act.


    But | couldn¡¯t me her entirely; who would have thought they''d choose the same spot for their afternoon tea?


    | didn¡¯t want to argue, so | just brushed it off with, ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys go ahead? I¡¯m still waiting for someone.¡±


    ¡°Who exactly is Xaviera waiting for?¡± Cecilia, not seem ready to leave, ventured, ¡°Is it Mr. Temple?¡±


    Sibyl quickly chimed in, ¡°Who''s Mr. Temple? Ms. March¡¯s boyfriend?¡±


    Hry, ever so sharp, sensed something was up, so she looked at me in surprise and asked, ¡°Xaviera, you got a new beau?¡±


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    The questions came at me fast and furious, making me feel dizzy. Feeling a wave of difort. wash over me, | took a calm


    breath, ¡°I¡¯m meeting a senior colleague.¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    It was like dumping a bucket of Ice water into boiling water; all three of them immediately mmed up, and looked at me with


    curiosity.


    After a moment, Cecilia suddenly stepped forward, grabbed my hand excitedly, and blurted out, ¡°No wonder you¡¯ve been so


    secretive, Xaviera. You''re meeting with Professor Yearwood today!¡±


    Her grip tightened around my fingers, and seeing her enthusiastic expression, | couldn¡¯t help but feel suspicious.


    Aauick nce to the side, and it all clicked.


    There was Hogan, all dressed up, striding towards us.


    We weren''t far apart, and if he¡¯d paid any attention, he had probably heard every word of our conversation.


    But, it didn¡¯t matter anymore.


    As | was figuring out how to extricate myself, Darren''s timely greeting rang out. ¡°Sorry Xaviera, | just saw your message.¡±


    He hurried over to me, oblivious to the fact that | was in the eye of the storm.

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    A bunch of people swarmed around the entrance, suddenly making the spacious hall feel cramped.


    Even the air seemed to freeze.


    | thought to myself, if Darren hadn¡¯t shown up just in the nick of time, | bet these folks would start thinking | was up to no good


    again, right?


    And Darren, clueless as ever, didn¡¯t seem to notice the mix of looks being thrown his way. He gave me a gentle nce and then


    politely said hi to Hogan and Hry.


    Hogan was his usual self, all cool, calm, and collected, without a flicker of emotion on his poker face.


    But Hry couldn¡¯t take her eyes off Darren, with a hint of nosiness in her gaze, and she said, ¡°Professor Yearwood is all dressed


    up today; | could hardly recognize him without a closer look.¡±


    That¡¯s when | noticed Darren had gone all out, wearing a charcoal grey single-breasted suit and crease¡ªfree trousers, which


    gave him a more businesslike and polished vibe, dialing down his usual casual andid¡ªback look.


    Pretty snazzy.


    Darren responded in his even¡ªkeeled manner. ¡°You tter me, ma¡¯am. To have tea with the elders, one should dress the part.¡±


    Right-after he said that, Cecilia, who was standing by, chimed in, ¡°Congrats Xaviera, it looks like you¡¯re about to meet the


    parents with Professor Yearwood real soon.¡±


    Having no clue where Cecilia got the idea that | was meeting Darren¡¯s parents, | frowned slightly and lost all desire to correct her.


    Why waste my breath on someone who doesn¡¯t matter?


    Darren, being the straightforward guy he is, sincerely said. ¡°Ms. Irwin, you''ve got it wrong. We''re just having tea with the elders.


    Besides, you and Hogan... are we going to be hearing wedding bells ringing?¡±


    Cecilia probably didn¡¯t expect that question from Darren. She paused, then turned to Hogan with a helpless look, and said with


    her sweet, soft voice, ¡°Well, I''ll go with whatever Hogan says.¡±


    Hogan didn¡¯t give a straight answer. He nced at my face briefly before shifting his gaze to Darren and said, ¡°Since when is


    Professor Yearwood such a gossip?¡±


    His voice was light, but there was a hint of mockery in his tone.


    Kinda ufortable to hear.


    quickly tried to smooth things over by softly suggesting, ¡°Shouldn''t we go to the elders? They might be waiting.¡±


    Darren looked down at me, and our eyes met, then he quickly got the hint. ¡°Look at me, all caught up in chit-chat.¡±


    ¡°C¡¯mon, Hogan, let¡¯s not keep Xaviera and Professor Yearwood,¡± Cecilia sald understandingly, with a smile in her eyes, ¡°It¡¯s not


    polite to make the elders wall.¡±


    Darren and | didn¡¯t linger any further and headed inside.


    From behind. | vaguely heard Hogan say, ¡°Now that everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s go in too.¡±


    We entered the hall one after the other, and just as we were nearing our booth, Darren suddenly stopped and looked at me


    seriously.


    ¡°What''s up?¡±


    ¡°| just realized, ording to the script we set up, you might need to give me some special interaction.¡±


    Just as he finished speaking, he took my wrist, and gently hooked it on his arm.


    Thinking | might as well go all out with the act. | hesitated for a second before taking his arm. But for some reason, | felt like a


    pair of eyes were watching me the whole time. | nced over and saw Hogan and his group already seated in a booth not too far


    away.


    The booths were symmetrically opposite each other.


    Figuring it was probably just my imagination, | quickly looked away.


    After a momentary distraction, | looked up again, only to find Darren had already ushered me in front of a few elders.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    | had seen one middle-aged couple at Darren¡¯s cousin¡¯s baby¡¯s hundred¡ªday celebration. Darren calls them Aaron and Nancy.

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    The two elders looked like the kind-hearted types, pretty reasonable at face value.


    But the mother-daughter duo on the right were a whole other ball game¡ªone was all grace and elegance, yet the other was so


    dolled up that even her nails were decked out. They were obviously the stars of today¡¯s matchmaking scene.


    When they saw us, their expressions did a one-eighty. The middle-ageddy pulled a long face and went, ¡°Mr. Yearwood, what''s


    the deal here? After you made us wait for half an hour, your bring someone else along. What''s that about?¡±


    Aaron Yearwood was clearly mortified and, trying to keep his cool, he asked Darren, ¡°You had a time set, man. What''s with the


    lateness? Go on, exin yourself to Belinda.¡±


    Darren, all politeness, responded, ¡°Sorry, Belinda. My girlfriend had ast-minute thing, which held us up. Apologies for the


    wait.¡±


    Belinda, hearing Darren¡¯s exnation, turned her irritated gaze on me and said, ¡°Girlfriend? Her? Mr. Yearwood, are you and


    your nephew ying me for a fool?¡±


    With that, she stood up, grabbed her daughter, and stormed off.


    Aaron tried to follow, but the mother-daughter team was too quick, leaving him in their dust.


    Amomentter, he turned back to us; he gave me a once-over, then fixed his eyes on Darren and said, ¡°Kid, you usually have


    your act together. What got into you today; why did you pull a stunt like this?¡±


    Nancy Yearwood chimed in too. ¡°Darren, you''ve really crossed the line this time. If the old man gets wind of this, it won¡¯t be


    something you can just brush off.¡±


    Then, out of nowhere, | felt a warmth on the back of my hand. | looked down and found Darren''s broad palm covering mine.


    His voice, soft yet resonant, was close to my ear. | heard Darren say, ¡°If grandpa¡¯s really got a beef, then I''ll just have to take


    Xaviera and go apologize. Anyway, my heart is taken. Aaron, Nancy, you don¡¯t need to worry about my love life anymore.¡±


    The words were meant to show defiance, but when they came from Darren, they were delivered with a gentle firmness.


    The atmosphere froze for a second, and | could see the astonishment and displeasure on the elders¡¯ faces. So | made an


    excuse to head to the restroom.


    | really shouldn''t get too tangled up in the Yearwood family¡¯s business.


    After all, we¡¯re just pretending to be a couple, not the real deal.


    In the restroom, | sat on the toilet taking deep breaths, and carefully wiped the sweat from my palms.


    Chapter 199


    | was about to get up when a familiar sweet voice drifted in.


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re rushing things? Hogan and | haven''t even, you know, and here you are talking wedding with his


    mom. What''s he going to think of me?¡±


    It was Cecilia¡¯s voice, sounding pretty anxious.


    ¡°You mean to tell me you didn¡¯t manage to seal the deal with Hoganst time at Pinecrest Hollow?¡±


    ¡°There was a lot going on, and Hogan wasn¡¯t in the right headspace.¡± Cecilia¡¯s voice was tinged with a plea, ¡°Mom, can you


    please not pressure me?¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, no rush,¡± Sibyl¡¯s patient tone reached my ears, which seemed to be soothing Cecilia, ¡°But mom didn¡¯t do


    anything wrong. The Zade family¡¯s loaded¡ªa measly million for a wedding is chump change to them. Don¡¯t worry, honey, mom¡¯s


    got it all figured out for you. As for any other obstacles, I''ll take care of them too.¡±


    Hearing this, | felt my head start to spin.


    So Hogan and Cecilia, after dating this long, still hadn¡¯t done the deed?


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

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    Chapter 200


    The Yearwood family hung out at the diner for almost another half hour.


    They did ask me a bit about work during that time, and when they heard | was working on my own project, the old folks warmed


    up a bit.


    When it seemed like we had chatted enough, Aaron indicated he had other things to do, so Darren and | walked the aunt and


    uncle to the parking lot.


    | thought the show was finally over, but out of the blue, Nancy caught me off guard by saying, *The old man¡¯s invited a troupe


    from Willowdale to perform at home. Ms. March, why don¡¯t you join us?¡±


    | was so thrown for a loop that | was at a loss for words.


    ying a part at the diner is one thing, but setting foot in the Yearwood family¡¯s house? That¡¯s way out of my league.


    Darren picked up on my SOS signal and made an excuse, ¡°Xaviera¡¯s family is still in the hospital, so she¡¯s got to take care of the


    patient first.¡±


    ¡°Which hospital?¡± Nancy asked with curiosity, looking at me. ¡°I often take lunch with the wives of the bigwigs from the top¡ªtler


    hospitals; maybe | could pull some strings for you.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Mrs. Yearwood.¡± | declined promptly, ¡°everything''s been taken care of.¡±


    ¡°Well, if it''s all sorted, thene over this weekend with Darren to listen to the performance,¡± Nancy insisted patiently, ¡°Darren


    really stuck his neck out for you with the old man today.¡±


    | looked at Darren, feeling confused, but then | heard him say, ¡°Alright, Aaron, Nancy, the driver¡¯s here. Take care on the road.¡±


    Once the elders were off in their car, | finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Didn''t expect our cutthroat CEO will get cold feet,¡± Darren teased.


    | asked cautiously. ¡°I didn¡¯t give us away just now, did I?¡±


    ¡°Not at all, you nailed it,¡± Darren said with a gentle look, while giving me a thumbs-up, ¡°Cool as


    a cucumber in a tight spot, truly a living legend from theputer science department.¡±


    Since | was used to Darren being serious and even a bit stiff, getting showered with hispliments out of the blue kind of


    caught me off guard and cracked me up.


    While we were talking. | thought of Jason who was still in the hospital; just as | went to make a call, | realized that | had left my


    phone back at the diner.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    | had to go back and fetch it.


    Passing through the corridor, | spotted Cecilia standing not far off: she looked pale and seemingly down in the dumps.


    Knowing we weren''t exacto chummy, | was about to walk away when Ceci called out to me.


    | nced at her skeptically and heard her say cheerity, ¡°Xaviera¡¯s got some serious game, huh? With just a bit of TLC. Mr.


    Temple¡¯s head over heels, and now even Professor Yearwood is under your spell¡±


    She was smiling as she spoke; if you were to go by her expression alone, you would never guess that such snarky remarks were


    coming from a sweet-looking girl.


    As | looked around, the penny dropped for me.


    Cecilia¡¯s spot gave her a clear view of Darren.


    If | wasn¡¯t mistaken, the girl must have caught the lively scene of me chatting with the Yearwoods.


    As for her, judging by the look on her face, her afternoon tea today must have been anything but. pleasant.


    Not wanting to get into it with her, | calmly said, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I''ll be on my way.¡±


    ¡°| bet you''re feeling pretty smug right about now, huh?¡± Cecilia suddenly raised her voice, ¡°The Yearwood family elders seem


    pretty pleased with you.¡±


    As her sarcastic tone hit my ears. | turned around and replied calmly. ¡°What''s there for you to envy? Aren¡¯t you halfway into the


    Zade family yourself? If anyone should be envious, it should be me envying Director Irwin, right?¡±

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    Chapter 201


    Oh,e on, it¡¯s just a bit of doublespeak. After hanging around Wallis Lott for so long, I¡¯ve definitely got this.


    Hearing this, Cecilia, with her face flushing and then going pale, struggled for a bit before finallying out with, ¡°Xaviera, are


    you teasing me on purpose?¡±


    | looked at Cecilia, feeling puzzled, not sure why she¡¯de out with such a weird usation; then | heard her say, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not


    as clever as you, Xaviera. | don¡¯t know how to charm the auntie, but that shouldn¡¯t be a reason for you to mock me, right?¡±


    By the end of her sentence, her voice was quivering, and her eyes were even starting to redden. | was taken aback by this


    sudden shift in mood, and the next second, Hogan¡¯s stern and serious voice rang in my ear.


    ¡°What''s going on here?¡±


    As | turned, | saw Hogan standing a couple of steps away.


    What''s weird is that it was just him ¡ª Hry and Sibyl were nowhere to be seen.


    With a stern face, the man walked briskly over and nced at Cecilia, who was looking down; then he shot a questioning look at


    me, ¡°What did you say to her?¡±


    ¡°It''s nothing, Hogan,¡± Cecilia piped up before | could speak; clutching Hogan''s shirt with her delicate little hands, she hurriedly


    exined, ¡°I was just asking Xaviera for some tips on how to get along with the elders, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Her repeated ¡°that¡¯s all¡± sounded so rushed and flustered that it was like she was admitting there was something to hide without


    actually hiding it.


    ncing at Cecilia and then at me, Hogan said, ¡°Why ask her? Her tricks and schemes aren''t worth learning.¡±


    Those words ¡°tricks and schemes¡± got under my skin.


    | admit that | did y some tricks when it came to dealing with Hry, but that was all for a harmonious mother-inw and


    daughter-inw rtionship.


    But now, things were totally different.


    ¡°Hogan, how can you say that about Xaviera,¡± Cecilia''s soft voice sounded again; she gave me a quick nce before continuing.


    ¡°Just now, | even heard that the Yearwood family elders invited Xaviera over to their ce for music. It seems that the Yearwood


    family elders must really value Xaviera.¡±


    From such a distance, she must have really strained her ears to listen so intently.


    What was she trying to emphasize in front of Hogan? Mr. Zade¡¯s heart has always been with


    Chapter 201


    her, so much so that he hasn¡¯t evenid a finger on her to this day, so why bother making an extra fuss?


    Thinking this, | curved my lips into a smile and said, ¡°Mr. Zade is absolutely right. There¡¯s nothing on me worth being consulted


    by Director Irwin, after all.¡±


    | paused and calmly stated the fact, ¡°My taste in men is, as everyone knows, notoriously short-sighted and myopic.¡±


    Both of them changed their expressions after hearing my two descriptors.


    Especially Hogan, whose displeasure was almost spilling out of his eyes, and he fixed his eyes on my face unblinkingly.


    Like there was a silent usation.


    But I¡¯ve been holding back all day; even if I¡¯m usually patient, | couldn¡¯t take it anymore.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    So, | pretended not to notice it and casually nced at my watch before | said, ¡°Sorry, Professor Yearwood is waiting for me. I''ll


    have to excuse myself.¡±


    Without waiting for Hogan and Cecilia to respond, | turned on my heel and left. In the distance, | vaguely heard Cecilia say,


    ¡°Hogan, look, Professor Yearwood really does weigh a lot in Xaviera¡¯s heart, doesn¡¯t he?¡±

 Chapter 202

    Chapter 202


    Chapter 201 Oh,e on, it¡¯s just a bit of doublespeak. After hanging around Wallis Lott for so long, I¡¯ve definitely got this.


    Hearing this, Cecilia, with her face flushing and then going pale, struggled for a bit before finallying out with, ¡°Xaviera, are


    you teasing me on purpose?¡± | looked at Cecilia, feeling puzzled, not sure why she¡¯de out with such a weird usation;


    then | heard her say, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not as clever as you, Xaviera. | don¡¯t know how to charm the auntie, but that shouldn¡¯t be a reason


    for you to mock me, right?¡± By the end of her sentence, her voice was quivering, and her eyes were even starting to redden. |


    was taken aback by this sudden shift in mood, and the next second, Hogan¡¯s stern and serious voice rang in my ear. ¡°What¡¯s


    going on here?¡± As | turned, | saw Hogan standing a couple of steps away. What''s weird is that it was just him ¡ª Hry and Sibyl


    were nowhere to be seen. With a stern face, the man walked briskly over and nced at Cecilia, who was looking down; then he


    shot a questioning look at me, ¡°What did you say to her?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Hogan,¡± Cecilia piped up before | could speak; clutching


    Hogan¡¯s shirt with her delicate little hands, she hurriedly exined, ¡°I was just asking Xaviera for some tips on how to get along


    with the elders, that''s all.¡± Her repeated ¡°that¡¯s all¡± sounded so rushed and flustered that it was like she was admitting there was


    something to hide without actually hiding it. ncing at Cecilia and then at me, Hogan said, ¡°Why ask her? Her tricks and


    schemes aren''t worth learning.¡± Those words ¡°tricks and schemes¡± got under my skin. | admit that | did y some tricks when it


    came to dealing with Hry, but that was all for a harmonious mother-inw and daughter-inw rtionship. But now, things


    were totally different. ¡°Hogan, how can you say that about Xaviera,¡± Cecilia¡¯s soft voice sounded again; she gave me a quick


    nce before continuing. ¡°Just now, | even heard that the Yearwood family elders invited Xaviera over to their ce for music. It


    seems that the Yearwood family elders must really value Xaviera.¡± From such a distance, she must have really strained her ears


    to listen so intently. What was she trying to emphasize in front of Hogan? Mr. Zade¡¯s heart has always been with Chapter 201


    her, so much so that he hasn¡¯t evenid a finger on her to this day, so why bother making an extra fuss? Thinking this, | curved


    my lips into a smile and said, ¡°Mr. Zade is absolutely right. There¡¯s nothing on me worth being consulted by Director Irwin, after


    all.¡± | paused and calmly stated the fact, ¡°My taste in men is, as everyone knows, notoriously short-sighted and myopic.¡± Both of


    them changed their expressions after hearing my two descriptors. Especially Hogan, whose displeasure was almost spilling out


    of his eyes, and he fixed his eyes on my face unblinkingly. Like there was a silent usation. But I¡¯ve been holding back all day;


    even if I¡¯m usually patient, | couldn¡¯t take it anymore. So, | pretended not to notice it and casually nced at my watch before |


    said, ¡°Sorry, Professor Yearwood is waiting for me. I''ll have to excuse myself.¡± Without waiting for Hogan and Cecilia to respond,


    | turned on my heel and left. In the distance, | vaguely heard Cecilia say, ¡°Hogan, look, Professor Yearwood really does weigh a


    lot in Xaviera¡¯s heart, doesn¡¯t he?¡±


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

 Chapter 203

    Chapter 203


    Chapter 203


    | stopped dead in my tracks and looked up at Darren, only to hear him chuckle, ¡°Just kidding.¡±


    After hanging around the hospital room for over an hour, Darren finally took off. | walked him to the parking lot before doubling


    back to the inpatient ward. But no sooner had | stepped into the lobby than | unexpectedly got an earful of Hry¡¯s raging.


    ¡°You tell him, if he doesn¡¯t show up now, I¡¯m gonna drop dead in this hospital tonight!¡±


    | followed themotion and sure enough, there was Hry, decked out in a brown fur coat, who looked wiped out and was


    bossing her butler around with wild gestictions.


    Talk about timing ¡ª just as | nced over, she locked eyes with me.


    Once our gazes met, Hry cracked a dazzling smile and strutted towards me in her CL red bottoms, all the whileughing.


    ¡°Xaviera, you''re the one who cares about me. | knew you wouldn¡¯t leave me high and dry like that heartless guy.¡±


    She must''ve thought | was there specifically for her.


    Before | could set the record straight, she went on, ¡°You have no idea how today¡¯s tea party nearly brought back my old affliction


    ¡ª my chest¡¯s still giving me hell. Xaviera, you¡¯ve got to keep mepany for a good chat.¡±


    After saying this, she reached out to link arms with me in a way cozy and condescending as she had been in the old days.


    But in a split second, | took a step back to dodge Hry¡¯s reaching arm.


    Hry, left hanging, stood there dumbfounded and stared at me, muttering, ¡°Xaviera, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Auntie, sorry, I¡¯m here to see Jason,¡± | confessed, ¡°I need to get back to his room.


    Hry frowned; she paused for a second, and asked, ¡°Jason¡¯s in the hospital too?¡±


    Her tone was skeptical; | figured Hry thought | was making excuses.


    ¡°Yeah, so | can¡¯t stick around with you today,¡± | said, not keen on borating, and suggested, ¡°If you¡¯re really feeling under the


    weather, you could call Director Irwin over.¡±


    ¡°Her?¡± Hry¡¯s face instantly twisted in disdain, ¡°Xaviera, you missed the ugly mug on those Irwin women at the tea party. Thank


    goodness | set it up, or if this drama reached the olddy.¡± Hry stopped mid-sentence, and then she grumbled, ¡°I¡¯m this


    worked up all thanks to Ms. Irwin.¡±


    Having not expected Hry to have such wild imagination, | was caught betweenughter and tears when she added, ¡°Xaviera,


    with all your connections, could you scout out some


    Chapter 203


    high-fiving guru for me? Maybe take Hogan to see if they¡¯re any good?¡±


    As she said this, Hry earnestly grasped my hand, her eyes brimming with a hint of desperation.


    knew that look all too well ¡ª it appeared every time when she ¡®needed a favor.


    But | knew it was all an act.


    | spoke calmly, ¡°Mr. Zade is his own man; how could | possibly make decisions for him?¡±


    With that, | gently pulled my hand from Hry''s grasp, while offering a strained but polite smile.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Only then did Hry seem to remember who | was. After a brief pause and an awkward tug at the corner of her mouth, she


    asked, ¡°Xaviera, did Professor Yearwood tell you something?¡±


    The mention of Darren put me on guard, ¡°Why did you say that?¡±


    Hry shot me a look, sighing. ¡°In the past, you always took Hogan¡¯s matters to heart, but today.¡±


    So she was ming me for not prioritizing her son.


    But why should I? Hogan already had Cecilia.


    With that thought, | forced a smile and calmly said, ¡°Mr. Zade is our investor, and I¡¯m totally on board when ites to work. But


    if it''s personal, sorry, that¡¯s none of my business.¡±


    At my words, Hry had her eyes bulged; her mouth was pped open and shut, and then | heard her blurt out, ¡°Hogan, when


    did you get here?¡±

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    Chapter 204


    | have no clue when Hogan snuck up behind me. When | looked up, all | saw was a man looking worn out with a hint of dark


    circles under his eyes.


    Arare sight of dishevelment.


    Looks like this afternoon¡¯s tea party made both him and his mom feel a bit queasy.


    As he got closer, those brooding eyes of his swept over my face andnded on Hry''s.


    ¡°Aren''t you supposed to be having heart troubles? How do you still have the energy to chit-chat?¡± he said.


    Though his words weren¡¯t exactly kind, there was a clear hint of yielding in Hogan¡¯s tone.


    Having picked up on it, Hry plopped down on the reception chair nearby, with his chin up, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me.


    After all, with Ms. Irwin in the picture, my own son couldn''t care less if | dropped dead.¡±


    She then turned her head away, acting every bit the spoiled brat.


    Seeing this, Hogan slightly furrowed his brows, and had his gaze suddenly shift to me as he said. ¡°She doesn¡¯t know her own


    limits, and you''re joining in on the nonsense?¡±


    | stared at Hogan, feeling surprised and a bit confused.


    Wait, what have | done to join in on the nonsense?


    *Alright, Dr. Alex is waiting,¡± Hogan said with a touch of resignation, and then he addressed Hry, ¡°Let''s go get that check-up


    done.¡±


    ¡°I''m not going.¡± Hry dered firmly. ¡°It¡¯s always the same old routine every time. I¡¯m tired of it. Whoever wants to get checked


    up can go, but count me out!¡±


    Hry put on that ¡®I¡¯m not scared of boiling water¡¯ attitude, which stood in stark contrast to her designer¡ªd figure.


    Hogan might have a tough exterior, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to be too harsh on Hry. Figuring it was their family business


    and none of mine, | was about to take my leave when | heard his stern voice, ¡°Why are you standing there like a log? Help her


    inside.¡±


    Only then did | realize that he was talking to me.


    All high and mighty.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    It was true that Hry was scared of check-ups, and true that | was the one who had been apanying her to the hospital. So


    in Hogan¡¯s eyes, | was still the Xaviera March at his beck and call, huh?


    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Zade,¡± | gathered my thoughts and said, ¡°My family member''s still in consultation. I¡¯m afraid | can¡¯t stick around.*


    Chapter 204


    At that, Hogan¡¯s expression faltered, and he was momentarily at a loss for words.


    | guess he thought | was deliberately reaching out to Hry, maybe even with an ulterior motive. Hry noticed this and rified,


    ¡°Xaviera¡¯s family is ill, and he¡¯s staying at the inpatient department.¡±


    | jumped in promptly, ¡°She¡¯s telling the truth, Mr. Zade. I''ll take my leave now.¡±


    With that, | turned and walked away, but just two steps out, | heard Hogan¡¯s cry of rm.


    Turning back, | saw that Hry had fainted, pale as a ghost.


    Hogan and | rushed to support Hry into the consultation room.


    Luckily, she came to awareness after a short while, but she was vehemently opposed to getting checked. She clung to my hand,


    refusing to let go.


    In the past, | might have softened and stayed, but things were different now. Thinking of Jason back in the ward, | firmly let go of


    Hry¡¯s hand.


    Leaving the room, | saw the hopeful yet aggrieved look in Hry¡¯s eyes.


    But | couldn¡¯t afford to care about that anymore.


    What | didn¡¯t expect was, just as | reached the corner, | ran into Hoganing back from the pharmacy.


    Our eyes met, and before | could say anything, Hogan remarked, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve climbed up with the Yearwood family, your


    attitude sure is different from before.¡±


    It was the same mocking tone, and the same cold demeanor, but this time, it didn¡¯t stir anything in my chest.

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    Chapter 205


    Chapter 205


    He has always thought of me like that, hasn¡¯t he?This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    With that thought, | took a deep breath and said, ¡°Mr. Zade, run out of new insults? Looks like your trash-talking game hasn¡¯t


    leveled up much over time.¡±


    Hogan¡¯s face soured visibly as he stepped closer and loomed over me with a sneer. ¡°Haven¡¯t even stepped foot into the


    Yearwood family and you''re already dissing your ¡®investor''?¡±


    He put some extra mustard on the word ¡°investor.¡±


    That¡¯s when it hit me; he must have overheard my chat with Hry.


    Not wanting to butt heads, | could only force a smile and y it off, ¡°Ohe on, Mr. Zade, it¡¯s an honor to lighten your load. But


    shouldn''t you be calling your girlfriend for this sort of thing¡ªtaking care of the investor¡¯s mom and all?¡±


    It makes perfect sense for the future daughter-inw to look after her future mother-inw.


    | said this with a grin, but Hogan listened with a face as dark as thunder. So what if he¡¯s in a mood? Since he and Cecilia have


    already met each other¡¯s folks, wouldn''t it make more sense for him to boss around his girlfriend?


    After a brief stare¡ªdown, Hogan had his lips curled into a cold sneer. ¡°Aren''t you getting a bit ahead of yourself?¡±


    | had no clue why he¡¯d pull thatment out of thin air. | gave him an indifferent look and turned to leave.


    But the next second, he dropped another bombshell, ¡°Neither the Yearwood family nor the Temple family would just let any


    average Jane waltz in. Not to mention that the Yearwood elder you met this afternoon is famous for cracking cases. If he decides


    to dig into your past, do you really think your little secrets can stay buried?¡±


    Suddenly, | felt like my feet were encased in lead.


    Digging into my past?


    If what Hogan was saying was true, then Grace and the others...


    | started to feel a bit antsy.


    ¡°That¡¯s why, Xaviera, focusing on your projects would beat scheming tond a man by a long shot.¡±


    The more | heard, the sourer | felt. When I turned around, Hogan was already striding away with his head held high.


    | didn¡¯t want to get into a verbal sparring match with him, but | couldn¡¯t shake a sense of


    unease.


    Chapter 205


    Looks like I¡¯ve been getting too cozy with Darren.


    The next morning, Darren came through as promised, and brought the male nurse to Jason¡¯s


    room.


    After getting everything set up, | walked him out to the parking lot.


    In front of Darren, | transferred the nurse¡¯s fee to him.


    Darren, looking totally gobsmacked,ughed and said, ¡°Xaviera, why are you transferring so much?¡±


    ¡°The nurse¡¯s pay, and,¡± | paused, ¡°a subsidy.¡±


    | had learned from the nurse that the subsidy was Darren¡¯s personal doing.


    He¡¯d been slick about it, keeping Jason in the dark.


    Scratching his head, Darren admitted awkwardly, ¡°Thought | was being all stealthy, didn¡¯t realize that | blew my cover. But


    Xaviera, do we really need to split hairs over money between us?¡±


    ¡°| square up even with Wallis,¡± | said with a smile, ¡°so you''d better take this cash.¡±


    Darren let out a resigned sigh and said, ¡°Alright, alright, your call.¡±


    While we were talking, a BMW screeched to a halt in the spot next to us, whose tires squealed against the pavement.


    Darren and | both looked over, only to see a pretty figure stepping out of the car. A closer look revealed it was none other than


    Cecilia.

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    Chapter 206


    Chapter 206


    It''s Cecilia, yet she didn¡¯t quite seem like Cecilia.


    The girl who used to rock a bun all the time has suddenly let her hair down and ditched the cute curls for long, flowing locks. She


    even had her sweet and adorable fashion sense do aplete 180, by sporting a mature¡ªlooking suit set.


    Her lipstick shade has deepened a couple of notches too, from the previous tender pink to a bolder red.


    Even those almond-shaped eyes behind her shades seem to sparkle with a cunning light.


    It''s like Cecilia has had a total makeover.


    When she spotted me and Darren, she whipped off her sunsses with a feigned surprise, ¡°Wow, trust Xaviera to always be one


    step ahead, even when ites to visiting an investor¡¯s sick mom. No wonder | can¡¯t seem to win Hry over as much as you


    do.¡±


    It was the same sweet tone, but the words thate out of Cecilia¡¯s mouth were anything but polite.


    It seemed like she¡¯s dropped the act since Hogan wasn¡¯t around.


    But what really got my goat was that even Cecilia thought the reason I¡¯m at the hospital was to check in on my ¡°ex¡¯s¡± sick mom.


    Or as she put it, an investor¡¯s mom.


    She made sure to rub that in.


    So how low do | have to be that visiting my own flesh and blood in the hospital earned me snidements from these people?


    The more | think about it, the angrier | get. | had my gaze fall on Cecilia, who had her chin up and carried car keys in hand, and


    said calmly, ¡°You might be mistaken.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What have | misunderstood about Ms. March?¡±


    ¡°The reason I¡¯m in Hry¡¯s good books is this,¡± | pointed to my forehead and said seriously, ¡°If you¡¯re envious, maybe you should


    hit the books a bit more.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    At that, Cecilia¡¯s expression froze, and her face went through fifty shades of pale.


    Not wanting to get into a tiff with her, | exchanged a look with Darren and turned to leave.


    But then, | heard Cecilia say, ¡°Yeah, | can¡¯t match your emotional intelligence. With Professor Yearwood before and Mr. Temple


    now, maybe you could give me some pointers sometime.¡±


    I can take Cecilia¡¯s digs at me, but the way she brought the innocent Darren into it was just picking a fight for no reason.


    Stopping in my tracks and turning. | looked at the girl who pretended to be all grown-up and


    12


    11:42


    Chapter 200


    said, ¡®| wouldn¡¯t say pointers, but from what | know of the Zade family, they''re not too fond of decorative vases that just sit there


    looking pretty. Director Irwin, If you¡¯ve got time, maybe you should hammer out some code. If you can¡¯t graduate, it might be a


    tall order for you to get in with the Zade famib.¡±


    Cecilia was taken aback: standing there dumbstruck, she had her lips move but no sound came


    out.


    | turned my back and left without a second nce.


    | hadn¡¯t gone far when Darren¡¯s voice of admiration caught my ear, ¡°It¡¯s been a while, but there¡¯s Xaviera, leaving someone


    speechless again.¡±


    | stopped dead in my tracks, all surprised, and looked at Darren.


    Our eyes met, and he immediately toned down his smile, nervously saying, ¡°Did | say something wrong?¡±


    *Did | use to put people in their ce?¡±


    ¡°In our sophomore year during the debate, you stepped inst minute and left the literature department with noeback.¡±


    Darren started excitedly. ¡°Remember that debate about whether love or bread is more important?¡±


    With Darren¡¯s reminder, memories flooded back like a rush of water.


    How could | forget? In that debate, with little preparation, | passionately argued that love was more important than bread, as if |


    was serenading Hogan with the most beautiful ode. In front of over a thousand people in the multimedia hall, | didn¡¯t hold back


    my feelings.


    Back then, | was bold and uninhibited.


    But looking back now, it felt like a dream.


    And that youthful me invested so much energy and beauty into one man.


    | wonder if that¡¯s lucky or not.


    ¡°Xaviera?*


    Darren''s voice interrupted my reverie.


    | looked at him, feeling puzzled, and then heard him say, ¡°The old man called me just now. Aaron mentioneding back to the


    estate this weekend for music, what are your thoughts?¡±


    | looked at Darren calmly, but as | thought about Hogan¡¯s warning from yesterday, | quickly averted my gaze.

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    Chapter 207


    Heading back home, it might just mean casually jamming to a tune, but there¡¯s always room for a twist.


    And my n? It¡¯s to make sure there¡¯s no room for even the tiniest hup.


    Just as | was gearing up to say no, my phone buzzed in my bag.


    It was Timothy calling.


    | barely hit the answer button when his sweet, melodious voice popped through the speaker. ¡°Xaviera, what¡¯s going on? Why


    aren''t you at work yet? I¡¯m here waiting to catch up with you on some work stuff.¡±


    His voice is naturally soft, but with that yful litt, it¡¯s like he¡¯sying on the charm thick.


    ¡°Im on my way,¡± | said, while awkwardly pinching the bridge of my nose, ¡°We''ll talk at the office.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I''ll be waiting for you


    Ro 11


    Timothy dragged out his words, all soft and elongated ¡ª no clue if he was doing it on purpose or not.


    When | looked up at Darren, | saw him with a fist at his mouth, coughing softly.


    | bet he couldn¡¯t stand Timothy¡¯s cutesy act either. So he chimed in, ¡°Work¡¯s been crazytely; | might not make it to the gig this


    weekend, sorry.¡±


    Darren paused briefly, then he smiled, ¡°No worries, we''ll catch a show some other time. No rush.¡±


    Half an hourter, | circled back to the office; the moment | walked in, Timothy blocked my path. This kid sized me up for a


    second, with a smirk on his lips, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the model worker, Xaviera? What¡¯s got you running behind schedule?¡±


    Look at this smart aleck.


    | didn¡¯t give him a straight answer, but steered the convo to work, ¡°So, the main character design is done?¡±


    ¡°Of course, who do you think | am?¡±


    Hearing this, | immediately rallied everyone into the conference room.


    I''ve never doubted Timothy¡¯s abilities, but when | saw those four main character designs on the projector, | was floored.


    Thepleteness of the character designs, the details, and the range of motion ¡ª all simply ster. He¡¯s even nailed the


    silhouette rtionships between the side characters and the


    Cha


    backdrop harmony. Truly, FreeMan¡¯s reputation in the industry is well-deserved.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    By the end of the discussion, Timothy''s work got a unanimous thumbs-up. Even Wallis, who¡¯s super critical about art, was totally


    sold.


    We passed the news on to Zachary and set up a meeting with Hogan at Rainbow Capital the next afternoon.


    | figured that as long as we locked down the character designs, we could catch up on everything else.


    The next day, me, Wallis, and Timothy headed over to Rainbow Capital.


    With an appointment set, the receptionist led us straight to the conference room.


    But what none of us had expected was that we ended up cooling our heels in the meeting room for an extra hour with no sign of


    Hogan.


    Zachary said that Hogan got held upst minute and was on his way.


    After Zachary¡¯s exnation, we waited another forty minutes.


    Wallis and | started to lose our cool, and Timothy was absolutely livid, as if ready to storm out.


    ¡°The big shot from Rainbow Capital can¡¯t even keep track of time? We''re better off without a partner like that!¡±


    Timothy fumed; as he was about to ditch his papers and leave and | stood up to follow him, suddenly the conference room door


    swung open.


    In walked Hogan, who looked like he¡¯d been through the wringer; his piercing eyesnded on Timothy as he said in a deep voice,


    ¡°You live up to your reputation as a renowned artist, Mr. Temple. Such a fiery temper you have.¡±


    As soon as Hogan finished, Timothy¡¯s face turned sour, with a sharp look shing through his pretty peach blossom eyes, ¡°Does


    Mr. Zade¡¯s judgment alwayse from wild guesses? How can you critique without having seen my work?¡±


    Hogan nced at Timothy, all indifferent, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a saying in the circle? The work reflects the artist. Mr. Temple, it seems


    you''re still a bit short on patience.¡±


    | anticipated that this afternoon¡¯s report might not go smoothly, but | didn¡¯t expect Hogan to show up two hourste and then, in


    front of everyone, put Timothy on st.


    But Timothy really hadn¡¯t said anything wrong.


    As | saw the molten anger bubbling up in the kid¡¯s eyes, | stepped forward to shield him, and calmly said, ¡°Mr. Zade uses us


    ofcking patience. What about you¡¯re short of?¡±

 Chapter 208

    Chapter 208


    Chapter 208


    When the words ¡®professionalism¡¯ popped out of my mouth, | realized my hands were shaking and even my breathing was all


    over the ce.


    | guess it¡¯s because I¡¯ve been holding back for too long. Or maybe, I''d rather be the one who were shing with Hogan right now


    instead of Timothy.


    But maybe I¡¯ve been too soft for too long, so when | shielded Timothy and confronted Hogan, | caught a flicker of surprise on his


    face.


    Hogan rarely showed his emotions, but for that split second, his panic and astonishment were in as day to me.


    And that looksted for a few seconds.


    His eyes were glued to me, unblinking, unwavering, as if they were welded onto me.


    He couldn''t spit out a single word for the longest time.


    The atmosphere suddenly became oppressively tense; | was cool as a cucumber at first, but within the next few seconds, | could


    feel the intimidation oozing from this man.


    Like he was about to chew me up and spit me out.


    At this moment, Zachary, who had been standing behind Hogan, quickly stepped in and tried to smooth things over, ¡°Xaviera,


    you''ve got it all wrong. Mr. Zade didn¡¯t mean to bete today, and he really couldn''t.¡±


    ¡°Zachary!¡± A roar burst from Hogan¡¯s mouth, and he said icily, ¡°I¡¯m talking to Ms. March. Did | ask for your input?¡±


    Zachary sheepishly nced at Hogan, then hung his head; it looked like he was mad but didn¡¯t dare to speak up.


    Of course, | knew Zachary was trying to y peacemaker, but ended up catching Hogan¡¯s k. | felt a bit guilty about it.


    | softened my tone a bit and looked at Hogan, ¡°It seems that Mr. Zade isn¡¯t in the best state to listen to our report today. Let''s


    pack up for now and we can reschedule another time.¡±


    No sooner had | finished gathering my papers than | heard Hogan''s sneer, ¡®Is this all the patience you have for Rainbow Capital?


    Or do you feel you''ve got more options now and can afford to look down on Rainbow Capital?¡±


    Hogan was mocking me openly, but what was he getting at? If | had other options, why would | stick around with him?


    Wallis also tried to defuse the situation with a smile, ¡°Mr. Zade got the wrong end of the stick. We''ve always beenmitted to a


    serious partnership, and there¡¯s been no...¡±


    ¡°I''m talking to Ms. March,¡± Hogan rudely interrupted Wallis, and his gaze fell back on my face.


    Chapter 203


    ¡°Ms. March surely knows best what | mean.¡±


    ¡°Is Mr. Zade suffering from paran or something?¡± A crisp voice suddenly butted in. Timothy popped up from behind me,


    looking indignant. ¡°I do know a couple of shrinks, want me to introduce you to one?¡±


    Hogan¡¯s face visibly darkened.


    | didn¡¯t want the conflict to escte, so | immediately grabbed Timothy, ¡°Just go out with President Lott for a bit, and I''ll be right


    over.¡±


    But Timothy was stubborn, pouting, ¡°No way, paran isn¡¯t scary, but when it hits, it doesn¡¯t recognize anyone. | have to stay to


    protect you.¡±


    Anyway, | really can¡¯t deal with Timothy''s unreasonable behavior.


    Seeing that it was futile to reason with him, and that Hogan had already turned as cold as an iceberg, like he would freeze you


    solid if you get too close, | had to change tack, ¡°But if Mr. Zade insists, we could record it and continue with the report.¡±


    | had barely finished my sentence when Timothy shot me a disgruntled look. | tugged on his sleeve to signal him to keep quiet,


    but it was toote.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No need,¡± the man¡¯s chilling voice weighed heavy on my ears, and | heard Hogan say with finality, ¡°I¡¯m afraid this partnership


    can no longer proceed pleasantly.¡±

 Chapter 209

    Chapter 209


    Chapter 209


    He said his piece and walked away, leaving us staring at his cold shoulder.


    The very thing | dreaded most happened.


    After leaving Rainbow Capital, Timothy was still fuming, ¡°It¡¯s just about shelling out some measly cash. This dude ain¡¯t ying


    their game.¡±


    True to his silver¡ªspoon upbringing, Timothy had the privilege to talk big.


    But when all is said and done, Hogan still holds the purse strings. The way characters are cast is crucial, and without his nod, we


    can¡¯t even take the next step.


    It means that the project¡¯s progress is about to get derailed. Again.


    It was nearly year-end, and if this drags on, next spring¡¯s work n could be dead in the water.


    And Hogan is not the kind of guy you can easily sweet-¡ªtalk.


    | had this nagging feeling of unease.


    Who knows what kind of drama Hogan¡¯s gonna stir up this time.


    Wallis saw it too, so he had been on the horn with Zachary for two days straight, trying to pin down the next briefing session. But


    the answer was the same old song ¡ª Mr. Zade¡¯s calendar is packed, and they¡¯ll have to push it back.


    ¡°They''re showing us the back of their hand, clear as day. What do we do? If we don¡¯t sort this out, we won''t be able to enjoy the


    holidays.¡±


    | twirled my pen, without saying a word.


    Passing by the break room, | bumped into Cecilia, who just went back from outside.


    She''d been burning the candle at both ends these days. It looked like she was taking care of Hry at the hospital.


    As | passed the front desk, | heard her telling Zora, ¡°I¡¯m clocking out early today. If President Lott asks about it, you know what to


    say, right?¡±


    She sounded pretty cocky.


    And ording to what Zora said, Cecilia¡¯s beening and going without so much as a leave slip.


    She acted like she owned the ce.


    Before this, she would¡¯ve followed procedure to the letter.


    As Wallis had already started grumbling about it, | reckon if this keeps up, the rest of the crew will start to get ticked off.


    At that moment, Zora shed an awkward smile and nced my way, before she called out like


    1/2


    07:30


    Chapter 209


    | was her lifeline, ¡°Xaviera, Director Irwin got held up, and she asked me to give you and President Lott the heads up.¡±


    Cecilia hadn¡¯t left yet. Hearing this, she shot me a couple of nces and quirked her mouth, ¡°Oh, Xaviera, you''re in the office?


    Wasn''t it the buzz that you and President Lott were heading to Hogan¡¯s to report on work? How¡¯s that going?¡±


    Right then, | got why this girl was so full of herself.


    | figured that the well-informed Cecilia must¡¯ve caught wind of our snub at Rainbow Capital, and here we were, at a standoff with


    Hogan. The only person who could talk to Hogan was her, Cecilia.


    This plot seemed all too familiar.


    | remember when Wallis and I, the supposed bosses, had to call Cecilia and beg her to intercede on our behalf.


    But this time, | wasn¡¯t about to do that.


    ¡°Director Irwin must be in the loop,¡± | said, trying to keep my cool, ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s giving us the cold shoulder. What do you suggest?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Cecilia flicked her pretty nails and gave me a sidelong nce, ¡°Xaviera, aren¡¯t you the one with all the answers? Do you need


    me to sweet-talk Hogan?¡±


    I smiled slightly and said, ¡°Sweet-talk? Absolutely.¡±


    ¡°But Xaviera, you know Hogan. He¡¯s a man of principle. If | go to him now, it might...¡±


    ¡°Sweet-talk¡¯s a must,¡± | cut her off before she could finish, and my gazended on the youngdy¡¯s face, ¡°You''ll have to tell Mr.


    Zade, if we keep stalling like this, it might throw a wrench in your graduation defense next year.¡±

 Chapter 210

    Chapter 210


    I spoke softly, but you could literally see the color drain from Cecilia¡¯s face.


    Just a second ago, she was all high and mighty, but now her face was flipping between red and white,


    like she¡¯d hit the pause button on even thinking of aeback.


    Looks like she knew the score.


    I figured that I should quit while I was ahead, but then the next second, the girl piped up, ¡°You really


    know your stuff, huh? Now you¡¯ve learned how to y hardball. But Xaviera, do you think Hogan would


    fall for this?¡±


    I looked her straight in the eye, those smug apricot peepers of hers, and fired back, ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s not


    gonna fall for my tricks, sure, but when it¡¯s about you, Director Irwin, he might just have to think twice.


    What do you say?¡±


    Cecilia choked on her words, biting her lip and looking all kinds of frustrated, and spat out, ¡°Business is


    business, and personal is personal. Hogan¡¯s always kept them separate, and he won¡¯t mix up the two!¡±


    Listening to Cecilia¡¯sme excuses, I almost burst outughing.


    Thinking back on our time working together, Hogan never kept business and personal apart.


    This was just Cecilia¡¯s way of trying to keep us in check.


    Before, I might have turned a blind eye, but times change; this time, I can¡¯t help fuel her


    arrogance anymore.


    So I said, ¡°Since it¡¯s all about keeping things separate, next time when you decide to skip out, make


    sure to slip President Lott a sick note, will you?¡±


    At that, Cecilia¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her head, and she stared at me in total disbelief.


    I smirked and said, ¡°You get that, right, Director Irwin?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Cecilia took a deep breath, nced at her watch and said, ¡°But I might not make it today,


    as Hogan¡¯s waiting for me downstairs. It¡¯s okay if I bring it tomorrow, right, Xaviera?¡±


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± I said, poker¨Cfaced. ¡°Can¡¯t have Mr. Zade waiting too long, can we?¡±


    Cecilia shot me a look and then, clutching her white Chanel tote, stormed out of the studio without


    looking back.


    Out of nowhere, Wallis popped up; she pped a hand on my shoulder and went, ¡°Way to be a


    badass, Ms. March! Nice job!¡±


    I bet she was hiding somewhere and watching the drama unfold. Just as I was about to reply, she went,


    ¡°Zora, make sure you¡¯ve got all of Cecilia¡¯s tardiness and early leaves logged. When it¡¯s payday, let¡¯s


    have it all neat and tidy on her paycheck!¡±


    1/2


    11:40


    Zora blinked, and it took a couple of seconds before she nodded like a good soldier.


    Back in the office, Wallis handed me a hot Americano like a true pal and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your game


    n now?¡±


    I paused for a sec, meeting Wallis¡® gaze, and she was like, ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve been sisters in arms for


    ages. You think I can¡¯t see what you¡¯re thinking?¡±


    I nced at the calendar and said, ¡°With the Christmas just around the corner, if we want a decent


    holiday, we can¡¯t keep waiting.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°Testing the waters,¡± I said, while locking eyes with Wallis. ¡°Right now, we¡¯re at a standoff with Rainbow


    Capital. It looks calm on the surface, but we¡¯re still on the losing end. Hogan can drag this out as long


    as he wants, and we¡¯ll be the ones to suffer. So, we need to throw a stone into this stillke.¡±


    ¡°Cecilia is that stone!¡± Wallis caught on, her face lighting up, then a shadow of worry crossed her


    features. ¡°But knowing Hogan¡¯s temper, if he finds out that we¡¯re using Cecilia as a pawn, won¡¯t he go


    through the roof?¡±


    I slowly tore off another page from the calendar and said, ¡°Sometimes, what you care about


    bes your weakness. If Hogan really cares that much about Cecilia, he won¡¯t let the project fall


    apart.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 211

    Chapter 211


    I guess it¡¯s about time to hit him where it hurts.


    True to its name, a soft spot is a soft spot. The moment I squeezed it, there came Hogan¡¯s call


    immediately.


    It was already six¨Cthirty in the evening, and I was at home, whipping up some soup for Jason.


    As soon as I hit the answer button, Hogan¡¯s icy voice came through the earpiece, ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯re


    really upping your game.¡±


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    His tone was steady, but his manner of speaking was just as brusque as ever.


    If I¡¯m not mistaken, Cecilia must have spilled the beans about our chat earlier today.


    I calmly stirred the soup in the pot, watching the steamy vapors rise, as I said, ¡°Mr. Zade, if you keep


    praising me like this, I might just get dizzy from all the ttery.¡±


    ying the good girl isn¡¯t so hard, it seems.


    ¡°Oh, trying to feed me a line again?¡± Hogan scoffed coldly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you consider how I¡¯d react when you


    set me up using Cecilia?¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± I replied evenly, ¡°but Mr. Zade, what I said was true, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°So now you¡¯re too tough to even agree to a small favor?¡± Hogan¡¯s voice suddenly fluctuated and rose


    a notch, ¡°Let¡¯s see if your two backers can really hold up the sky for you!¡±


    With a ¡°snap¡°, Hogan abruptly hung up.


    I stared at the darkened phone screen and zoned out for a moment, not even sure what Hogan¡¯s so¨C


    called ¡®small favor¡® was.


    But judging from his tone, he seemed pretty steamed.


    No matter what, anger is still a sign that there¡¯s room for negotiation.


    After some thought, Idled the soup into a thermos and drove off to the hospital.


    What I didn¡¯t expect was that just as I stepped out of the hospital¡¯s parking lot, I heard that sweet, soft


    voice of Cecilia¡¯s, apanied with a hint of sobbing.


    I thought I was mishearing things, but when I looked over in confusion, I actually saw Cecilia.


    And there was Hogan, who had just hung up on me, along with a inly dresseddy.


    Oh, that¡¯s the nanny Hry had hired at Mountain Vi.


    Only, the scene looked a bit off.


    There was an inexplicable damp spot on Cecilia¡¯s white wool coat, right over her heart.


    The poor girl¡¯s face was streaked with tears, as if she¡¯d suffered quite the wrong.


    1/2


    11:45


    Chapter 211


    Hogan had a stern look, and when his gaze fell upon the nanny¡¯s face, she nervously exined. ¡°The


    lady said the vor of the carp soup wasn¡¯t right.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not auntie¡¯s fault.¡± Cecilia jumped in. ¡°It¡¯s on me; it¡¯s my fault for not getting the soup to taste as


    auntie likes it. But if Xaviera were here, it¡¯d be different. Seeing auntie eat so little all day, I just feel so


    bad.¡±


    I hadn¡¯t even taken a step forward when I heard my own name.


    Then Cecilia added, ¡°Why don¡¯t I give Xaviera another call? Auntie is always so fond of her, and


    Xaviera surely won¡¯t ignore us.¡±


    The words ¡°ignore us¡± piqued my curiosity.


    ¡°No need for that.¡± Hogan cut off Cecilia¡¯s suggestion sharply, adding, ¡°She¡¯s thest person to


    care.¡±


    Suddenly, I remembered Hogan¡¯s words on the phone about ¡°a small favor;¡± after piecing it together


    with the conversation just now, I couldn¡¯t help but smirk.


    Looking at the soup in my hand, I pondered.


    Turns out that I was the one being set up.

 Chapter 212

    Chapter 212


    I had a night when I just yed it cool, like nothing happened.


    Back in the day, I might¡¯ve taken a moment to clear the air with Hogan, but now, it feels like there¡¯s no


    need to make a fuss about it.


    It¡¯s just a bowl of soup. If Hogan put his mind to it, this little hup wouldn¡¯t even make him


    break a sweat.


    Why should I bother?


    Especially now, with the timing being so delicate, if I went out of my way to butter him up, people might


    take it the wrong way and think I¡¯ve got an ulterior motive or something.


    I¡¯m better off spending my time on work.


    But what I didn¡¯t seeing was that Cecilia didn¡¯t keep at me. Instead, the gal went off to Jason¡¯s


    hospital room.


    And she brought her mom, Sibyl, along for the ride.


    When I pushed open the hospital room door, there was Sibyl,dling out soup for Jason with all the


    warmth in the world. It was lunchtime, and his little table was decked out with a full


    spread¨Cchicken, fish, you name it. Quite the feast.


    Seeing me, Sibyl shed a big grin and came over, chuckling, ¡°Ms. March, what brings you here? Hope


    Cecilia and I aren¡¯t cramping your style at work.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re looking out for Jason¨Cthat¡¯s something I should be thanking you for,¡± I replied, trying hard to


    keep my voice even and to keep my difort at bay.


    Then Sibyl went, ¡°Ms. March, you¡¯re too kind. You¡¯ve always looked out for Cecilia at thepany. It¡¯s


    only right wee to see Jason, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Yep, the mother¨Cdaughter duo dropping by to see Jason without giving me a heads¨Cup¨Cpretty


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    sly.


    Picking up the fish from the table, I calmly said, ¡°The wound¡¯s heating up, and the doc¡¯s already warned


    against eating anything too ¡®rich.¡® You forgot about that, Jason?¡±


    After handing the fish to the nurse, I caught Sibyl and Cecilia¡¯s gaze, who both seemed taken aback.


    Sibyl was quicker on the uptake; she pped her hands and said, ¡°Hey, look at me, my memory¡¯s just


    not what it used to be. Ms. March, please don¡¯t be mad. I just wanted to give Jason a bit of a boost, my


    bad.¡±


    I forced a smile and said, ¡°We appreciate the thought, but the doctor said Jason needs lots of rest.¡±


    Sibyl paused, probably not expecting me to be so upfront, and then she nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right,


    1/2


    10:58


    Chapter 212


    Ms. March. Cecilia, didn¡¯t you have something to discuss with Ms. March? Why don¡¯t you two step


    outside?¡±


    Reminded by Sibyl, Cecilia awkwardly pulled a smile and nced at me timidly, ¡°Xaviera, is that okay?¡±


    I had a hunch that this mother¨Cdaughter duo had an angle, so Cecilia¡¯s question didn¡¯t surprise


    1. me.


    Out in the corridor, Cecilia fidgeted with the hem of her clothes and gave me a cautious look before


    murmuring, ¡°Xaviera, about yesterday¨CI was wrong. Can we just let bygones be bygones?¡±


    With her voice being soft, and her eyes downcast, she was the picture of a wounded little flower.


    ¡°It¡¯s cool, I get it. You¡¯ve been under a lot of pressuretely.¡±


    I knew Hry¡¯s type all too well. If she wanted the moon from the bottom of the sea, she¡¯d make


    everyone around her jump through hoops to fetch it. Time and again, it¡¯s no surprise that Cecilia


    couldn¡¯t take it.


    And wasn¡¯t she the one who got sshed with fish soupst night?


    Cecilia breathed a sigh of relief at my response and mumbled, with her head hanging, ¡°Not gonna lie,


    Xaviera, I¡¯ve been having a tough timetely.¡±


    I nced at the young woman and got straight to the point, ¡°So what exactly does Director Irwin want


    to talk to me about?¡±


    Cecilia looked up, all stunned, and after a moment¡¯s freeze, she said pitifully, ¡°I know you¡¯re great at


    cooking, Xaviera. I was hoping to learn how to make soup from you.¡±


    The word ¡°soup¡± almost made me burst outughing.


    So that¡¯s what this was all about.


    ¡°The key to making soup is all about the simmer. It takes time with a gentle me,¡± I said, not calling it


    out though I¡¯ve seen right through her, ¡°But you know how things are at thepany right now, Director


    Irwin. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have the luxury to hold your hand through it.¡±

 Chapter 213

    Chapter 213


    ¡°Chill out, Xaviera, I¡¯m totally on top of thepany stuff,¡± Cecilia blurted out, her voice shooting up a


    few decibels, ¡°I¡¯ll have a word with Hogan and guarantee to nip this issue in the bud before the year¡¯s


    out, how about that?¡±


    My brows knotted as my gazended on Cecilia¡¯s face, and just then I caught that smug sparkle in her


    almond eyes.


    It was fleeting.


    And in that sh, a wave of restrained nausea surged up inside me.


    It was like a game of poker. Cecilia knew full well that the moment she offered to help persuade Hogan


    for thepany, I wouldn¡¯t be able to turn her down.


    As for me, even though I really hated this kind of bargaining, it was still a pretty sweet deal if looking at


    the bigger picture.


    Of course, the premise was that Cecilia genuinely wanted to help.


    With that thought, I toned down my voice a bit and said, ¡°Mr. Zade has always been one to keep work


    and personal life separate. Wouldn¡¯t it be a bit off to bother Director Irwin with this?¡±


    I was throwing her words from yesterday back at her.


    Cecilia must have caught the subtext because her smile stiffened before she obediently replied,


    ¡°Xaviera, if you can find time in your busy schedule to teach me how to make soup, then it¡¯s no biggie


    for me to persuade Hogan. Plus, you know how he is ¨C all bark and no bite.¡±


    All bark and no bite.


    I chewed over the phrase silently, and helplessly curled the corners of my mouth.


    I mean, after dealing with Hogan for so long, I¡¯d only ever witnessed his bite, and never have I seen the


    mythical soft heart of his.


    His soft side was probably reserved for Cecilia alone.


    Today, with Cecilia bringing Sibyl along, they were clearly here to cash in oh some old favor. Seeing


    their determination, they¡¯d likely hassle Jason if they didn¡¯t get their way.


    After a brief ponder, I replied more amicably, ¡°I¡¯ve almost wrapped up today¡¯s work, and I might be free


    later.¡±


    At this, Cecilia beamed, and sped her hands in front of her chest with glee. ¡°You¡¯re the best,


    Xaviera. Alright, I¡¯ll head to the supermarketter. Oh, what ingredients do we need for the soup?¡±


    At the mention of ¡°crucian carp soup,¡± I couldn¡¯t help but clench my palms, then responded, ¡°I¡¯ll send


    you the list of ingredientster.¡±


    Chapter 213


    Cecilia seemed to take a chill pill, and her demeanor became much more rxed. She blinked those


    pretty almond eyes and tentatively asked, ¡°So, are we doing this at your ce or mine?¡±


    Her question caught me off guard.


    Seems like she was all¨Cin for a bowl of soup.


    If she were a bit more observant, she should have guessed that my ce was once shared with her


    current squeeze.


    Not interested in satisfying her curiosity, I answered, ¡°Let¡¯s go to your ce.¡±


    Cecilia¡¯s eyes curved into a smile, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll head back first and wait for you, Xaviera.¡±


    When quitting time rolled around, I drove back to my familiar digs and stood in the familiar elevator,


    stretching out my hand to silently press for Cecilia¡¯s floor.


    Her apartment number was perpendicr to mine.


    Even the door locks of us were of the same brand.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    For some reason, my mood started to getplicated.


    After I rang the doorbell, the door quickly opened. Cecilia, donning a tender pink apron, greeted me


    with a politeness that was almost over the top.


    I stood mechanically at the door, stepping into the apartment only to freeze in my tracks.


    The interior wasn¡¯t decked out in pink tones but the familiar, chic minimalism.

 Chapter 214

    Chapter 214


    Nobody knows the minimalist chic vibe better than me.


    If I hadn¡¯t double¨Cchecked the apartment number before walking in, I would¡¯ve thought ! ? stepped into


    a time machine and ended up back in that ¡°home¡± from two years ago,


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The one I shared with Hogan.


    Gray curtains, a beige love¨Cseat, and the ck¨Cand¨Cwhite checkered carpet¨Cnot only was the color


    scheme identical, but theyout was a carbon copy too.


    And yet, I clearly remembered that thendlord said all our ¡°home¡± stuff had been dumped at the


    landfill.


    So is this just a freaky coincidence?


    ¡°Xaviera, why the freeze frame at the door?¡± Cecilia, noticing my trance, grabbed a pair of shoe covers


    from the hall cab and tossed them my way, adding, ¡°Surprised, huh? When Hogan moved in, he got


    everything sorted out, from big¨Cticket appliances to the nitty¨Cgritty essentials. The dude¡¯s got an eye for


    detail.¡±


    So, all of this was Hogan¡¯s handiwork?


    I awkwardly slipped on the shoe covers without picking up on Cecilia¡¯s cue and shot back, ¡°Where¡¯s the


    grub?¡±


    A flicker of disappointment crossed Cecilia¡¯s eyes¨Ca subtle sign that she was bummed I didn¡¯t y ball


    with her chitchat. Pointing towards the kitchen, she said, ¡°All the ingredients are there. I barely touch


    the kitchen stuff, so, Xaviera, you do you.¡±


    With my mind set on ¡®get in, get out,¡® I bee¨Clined for the kitchen. But when I caught sight of the pots and


    pans on the stove, my calm heart hit choppy waters again.


    They were from the same niche brands I always use.


    One of them was a spitting image of the y pot I use for my soups.


    Another coincidence?


    ¡°Xaviera, what¡¯s up?¡± Cecilia leaned on the kitchen¡¯s sliding door. ¡°Something wrong?¡±


    I snapped out of it, shook my head, and said, ¡°Prep¡¯s gonna take about twenty minutes. You can hang


    here or chill in the living room.¡±


    Cecilia covered her mouth, yawning, ¡°I¡¯m beat. I¡¯ll wait outside.¡±


    Fine by me. I¡¯m more at ease flying solo.


    But as I faced the familiar knives and cookware, I couldn¡¯t help getting sidetracked.


    And in that moment of distraction, I nicked my finger while filleting the carp.


    1/2


    11:16


    A surge of blood sprang from the cut, and the sting jolted me back to my senses.


    After the carp hit the pot, I called Cecilia over and instructed, ¡°When the timer dings, the soup¡¯s done.


    It¡¯s best served piping hot, all milky and tender.¡±


    ¡°Thanks a ton, Xaviera, Let¡¯s do this: Hogan and I will treat you sometime soon, and you better hot bail


    on us.¡±


    The mention of Hogan snapped me back to business. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the coboration progress to you.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Cecilia said as she walked me out. With her eyes briefly meeting the dessert box in the


    entryway, she politely offered, ¡°Hey, Xaviera, Hogan and I picked up some treats from Pinecrest Hollow.


    If you don¡¯t mind, grab a box to try.¡±


    ncing at the elegantly packaged desserts, I smiled and declined, ¡°Nah, I¡¯m not big on sweets.


    Director Irwin, keep them for yourself.¡±


    It¡¯s just business, after all.


    Leaving Cecilia¡¯s ce, I found myself drifting to the hospital, but my mind was still wrapped around


    that minimalist apartment.


    Was Hogan ying games?


    But till now, he hasn¡¯t made any real moves.


    Suddenly, I felt all at sea.


    Seeing me deep in thought, Jason voiced his concern, ¡°If you¡¯re busy with work, you don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t need


    toe every day.¡±


    Not wanting to worry Jason, I forced a smile and said, ¡°Not too busy. President Lott¡¯s way out of my


    league.¡±

 Chapter 215

    Chapter 215


    Shooting the breeze really made time fly. Just as I was getting ready to leave the hospital room, my


    phone in the bag started buzzing.


    To my surprise, it was Cecilia on the other end of the line.


    I stepped away from Jason and walked down the corridor before hitting answer.


    ¡°Xaviera, you busy? Can you swing by the hospital?¡±


    The shaky voice of Cecilia pressed against my ear; there was panic mixed with urgency in her voice.


    I suddenly got a bad feeling and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Just the soup,¡± Cecilia cautiously began, ¡°You know, the fish soup you taught me to make? I brought it


    over for your aunt, she tried, but she was still not happy with the taste.¡± ¡°Get Xaviera over here now!¡±


    Hry¡¯s angry voice suddenly cut in. ¡°I want to ask her myself!¡±


    Having pondered for two seconds, I roughly pieced together what had gone down.


    When Cecilia asked me to teach her how to make soup, I already had a hunch that she¡¯d use it to


    score brownie points with Hry, but what I didn¡¯t seeing was that I would have to take the me


    for it.


    I made the soup, and if Hry liked it, Cecilia would be showered with praise. But if not, I¡¯d be the one


    holding the bag.


    Caught off guard, I had no clue what could be wrong with the fish soup; I¡¯d have to see it for myself to


    know.


    ¡°Xaviera, can you make it?¡±


    Knowing that there was no dodging this bullet, I replied softly, ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    Fifteen minutester, I showed up at the top¨Cnotch hospital room.


    Unlike Jason¡¯s simple triple, this ce was spacious with an expansive view,plete with huge floor¨C


    to¨Cceiling windows. Looking out, you could see Rivertown Bay in the distance. If you didn¡¯t know any


    better, you¡¯d think you were at a hotel.


    And there was Hry, lying in thatfy hospital bed with a face like thunder.


    The nanny stood by with a¡¯look of distress, and opposite her was Cecilia.


    The poor girl was hanging her head low, with her eyes red¨Crimmed, the picture of misery. When I


    walked in, all three sets of eyes turned to me. I nced at Cecilia, and she dropped


    her gaze again, the image of woe personified.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But Hry¡¯s face softened for a moment when she saw me. She lifted her arm and said, There¡¯s


    Xaviera,e here,e here.¡±


    I walked over calmly, eyeing the insted jug and the soup spilled all over the table, and smiled,


    ¡°Haven¡¯t had dinner yet?¡±


    Hry snorted coldly and, after giving Cecilia a chilly nce, fixed her eyes on the bowl of fish soup


    and asked, ¡°She said you made this?¡±


    I nodded, ¡°Director Irwin really wanted to make sure you had a soup to your liking, so she asked me for


    advice. She put a lot of effort into it.¡±


    ¡°Then didn¡¯t you tell her that I can¡¯t stand white pepper in my soups?¡± Hry¡¯s voice suddenly raised,


    sounding indignant, ¡°How is that considered effort?¡±


    At that, I raised my eyebrows, feeling a little taken aback, but I didn¡¯t respond right away.


    I was sure I hadn¡¯t added any white pepper to the soup.


    Hry has always hated that spice; one taste of the soup, and she¡¯d know. If she says there¡¯s white


    pepper in it, then it¡¯s definitely there.


    So, the million¨Cdor question is, how did that white pepper end up in the soup?


    With that doubt in mind, I curiously nced at Cecilia, and the next second, I heard her timidly ask,


    ¡°Xaviera, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Right after she spoke, the door to the hospital room was pushed open; I turned around, only to see


    Hogan, all suited and booted, looking worried at the doorway.


    My guess? He must¡¯ve caught wind of the situation early.

 Chapter 216

    Chapter 216


    At this moment, Hogan¡¯s appearance must have made Cecilia the happiest.


    When I nced at the young girl¡¯s almond eyes, they sparkled involuntarily, revealing an fleeting hint of


    happiness.


    Well, no wonder, her knight in shining armor had arrived. That would also make me happy. But Hry


    caught that detail as well. She snorted coldly and grumbled, ¡°Does Rainbow Capital have a lot of


    downtime? The big shot isn¡¯t at the office handling business but makes a beeline for the hospital


    instead. Would you be here because someone unappreciative invited you over?¡±


    After saying that, she threw Cecilia a look. Seeing the girl keeping her head down and silent, she


    continued, ¡°If those old fossils on the board were to know this, who knows what kind of trouble they¡¯ll


    stir up. Do I really need to teach you these things?¡±


    Although she was speaking to Hogan, anyone with discernment could tell that Hry was actually


    directing her words at Cecilia.


    Cecilia of course understand, she bit her lip tightly, an expression revealing that she was trying hard to


    restrain her feelings.


    Hogan saw all this and his tone wasced with helplessness as he said, ¡°If you know I¡¯m busy, why


    can¡¯t you spare me some troubles at night?¡±


    At his words, Hry immediately sat up in her sickbed, ring at Hogan, she snapped angrily, ¡°I


    wouldn¡¯t bother you at night if I could, but why don¡¯t you see what kind of turmoil your chosen one is


    causing me?¡±


    This time, Hry didn¡¯t hide her annoyance at Cecilia, instead giving her a sharp look.


    The young girl¡¯s eyes instantly filled with tears, she said carefully, ¡°I really had no idea about the white


    pepper in the fish soup.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Are you saying Xaviera put it there?¡± Hry, in her agitation, even slipped into her


    hometown dialect. ¡°She knows my tastes like the back of her hand; she wouldn¡¯t make such a rookie


    mistake!¡±


    After her statement, both Hogan and Cecilia turned their gazes towards me. Cecilia still had that look of


    a deer caught in headlights, while Hogan¡¯s eyes, apart from a touch of surprise, also held a hint of


    suspicion.


    Yes, how well I yed up to Hry, Hogan should have seen it all clearly.


    How could he forget Hry¡¯s preferences?


    After a brief exchange of looks, I let out a sneer inside.


    What was I expecting, anyway? No matter how much that apartment¡¯syout and decoration reminded


    me of our old home, it had nothing to do with me anymore.


    Maybe it was just Hogan¡¯s personal preference.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nothing more.


    Turning my head, I forced a smile and calmly said, ¡°There¡¯s been a misunderstanding here.¡±


    At that, Hry turned to me with a puzzled look and asked, ¡°Xaviera, what do you mean by that?¡±


    I didn¡¯t answer her question, instead continuing, ¡°Auntie, the white pepper, I was the one who added it.


    At this point, I had to y along.


    The next second, I walked to the thermos, gently pouring soup into the bowl, and while doing so, I


    exined, ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? Thest checkup, the doctor warned you about your cold


    constitution, telling you to take care of it. So, I consulted with a physician who suggested adding a bit of


    white pepper to fish soup, saying it could moderate and warm the center, benefiting the spleen and


    stomach.¡±


    I finished exnation, picked up the soup bowl, and looked earnestly at Hry, saying, ¡°You can¡¯t just


    prioritize taste.¡±


    Hry looked at the fish soup brought to her lips and frowned, murmuring with reluctance, ¡°But


    Xaviera.¡±


    ¡°You need to listen to the doctor,¡± I cut her off and said gently, ¡°White pepper also has the effect of


    dispelling dampness and reducing swelling. By tomorrow morning, you¡¯ll see that your face is no longer


    bloated.¡±


    Hry was a beauty¨Clover, even once unhesitatingly using Hogan¡¯s schrship money for aesthetic


    treatments. So beauty was the most persuasive argument when it came to her.


    Sure enough, with just a few words from me, Hry finally picked up the fish soup and gulped it down,


    despite her distaste.

 Chapter 217

    Chapter 217


    I handed her a napkin at the right moment, and as my gaze swept across Cecilia, I noticed the


    unmistakable surprise in her eyes.


    1 quietly averted my eyes, with apology, I said, ¡°Sorry, Director Irwin, I totally forgot to mention it to you


    before I made the soup, and it¡¯s caused such a big misunderstanding.¡±


    Despite her nervousness, with her fingers tightly clutching the corner of her clothes, Cecilia endeavored


    to respond, ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. It was my oversight.¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± Hry suddenly jumped in, ¡°Look at you, all spineless. You even called Hogan over. What,


    are you afraid I will eat you?¡±


    Hearing this, Cecilia grew even more flustered and quickly tried to exin, ¡°I didn¡¯t, I


    mean¡­¡±


    Hry cut off Cecilia¡¯s words, waving her hand dismissively, ¡°I do want to see how Cecilia would take


    care of me.¡±


    As soon as Hry finished, Cecilia¡¯s tears started to flow, pitter¨Cpattering down her face.


    Hogan¡¯s brows furrowed at the sight, but before he could say anything, he was interrupted by a sharp


    look from Hry, ¡°You may leave first. I¡¯ve got a few words for Xaviera.¡±


    Cecilia left the hospital room filled with frustration, trailing behind Hogan.


    After hanging around for a bit, I excused myself and left.


    When I got back to the regr ward and saw Jason already asleep, the unease in my chest finally


    settled a bit.


    Staring at the slight dampness on my palms, I felt a sudden chill.


    Outside in Rivertown, the temperature had already dipped to five or six degrees below


    zero.


    Suddenly, I thought to myself, betrayal wasn¡¯t that hard.


    It took me a while before I finally dragged myself out of the room and headed for the parking lot.


    But I hadn¡¯t even reached the car when I saw Hogan smoking by a column not far away.


    Oblivious to my presence, he took a deep drag and slowly exhaled, the smoke swirling around his face,


    casting a mncholic veil over his features.


    I wondered, was he agonizing over hisplex family rtionships?


    I remembered how he looked leading Cecilia out of the room and discreetly turned away.


    But I had barely turned around when I heard his deep voice from behind me, ¡°If you were


    05 50


    Chapter 21


    so eager to help, why did you change your mind?¡±


    I stopped in my tracks, slowly turning around, and after a brief eye contact with Hogan, I saw a hint of


    mockery in his gaze.


    Taking a deep breath, I answered his question with another, ¡°Mr. Zade is so intelligent, can you guess


    why?¡±


    Hogan looked at me, irritation shing across his eyes, ¡°What, feeling guilty?¡±


    I let out a cold chortle, dismissing his words, ¡°Guilty about what?¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who advised Cecilia to please Hry in this manner, and now you¡¯re backing out?¡±


    I gazed at Hogan, trying to find an answer in his expression.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But his look was too calm, soposed it gave nothing away.


    I softly replied, ¡°It has nothing to do with me, I have no need to worry about such matters, Mr. Zade,


    you¡¯re overthinking.¡±


    Saying that, I turned around to leave.


    I had barely taken a step when I heard his voice rise, ¡°Ms. March, do you dare ept responsibility,


    wasn¡¯t it you who personally gave Cecilia that guide on how to please Hry?¡±

 Chapter 218

    Chapter 218


    The matter of giving Cecilia a guide to winning Hry¡¯s favor was a private deal between us.


    Surprisingly, Hogan had gotten wind of it.


    Ironically, in this guide, when it came to the section about food, I had emphasized repeatedly that Hry


    hated white pepper.


    I figured if Hogan had even skimmed through the guide, he¡¯d see right through some of my thoughts.


    However, my act of deliberately ¡°confessing¡± had backfired, and I had pped my own face.


    I felt a tightness in my chest but managed to keep my cool, sneaking a nce at the guy a couple of


    steps away, without jumping in with a response.


    When I think about it, that mother¨Cdaughter¨Cinw handbook was a good five or six pages long, with


    F


    nitty¨Cgritty details on Hry¡¯s do¡¯s and don¡¯ts, from eating to dressing to living. As the President of


    Rainbow Capital, he probably didn¡¯t have the leisure to read it from beginning to end.


    Maybe I was overthinking it.


    Upon sorting it out, I felt somewhat steadier and said in a calm and collected tone, ¡°Since Director Irwin


    joined, she¡¯s done a lot for thepany. Helping her means relieving your worries, doesn¡¯t it, Mr.


    Zade?¡±


    ¡°Then keep relieving my worries,¡± The man¡¯s voice became inexplicably more rigid, and colder, ¡°Why


    are you ying both sides today?¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Upon hearing those words, ¡®ying both sides¡®, I instantly got the hint¨CHogan was convinced I¡¯d done


    the white pepper thing on purpose.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a question too,¡± I said, with a light smile and a soft voice, ¡°Mr. Zade, why do you think I would


    do such a thing? What good does angering an investor¡¯s mother do for me?¡±


    At that, Hogan¡¯s brows furrowed, and he took a step closer, giving me a hard stare, saying in a low


    voice, ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s in it for you, Ms. March? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re eyeing Mrs. Zade¡¯s spot?¡±


    Teasing intermixed with ridicule, Hogan¡¯s tone was harsh, and those piercing eyes were inscrutable.


    It made my heart flutter.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, you really have a knack for humor,¡± I dodged his gaze, trying to keep my tone as natural as


    possible, ¡°If Director Irwin heard that, it could stir up some trouble.¡±


    Before I could finish, he suddenly stepped even closer. Alerted, I took two steps back, finding myself


    pressed against the car door.


    And Hogan was right before me.


    ?? ? ? ??? ???? ? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??? ? ?


    Under the dim light, his tobo¨Cscented breath filled the air, and he looked down at me, none too


    pleased, ¡°What Ms. March wants, hasn¡¯t she always used any means necessary to fight for it?¡±


    His oppression made me feel ufortable.


    My hand tightened, then loosened, then tightened again, only then I adjusted my breath to normal. And


    when I looked up at Hogan again, he was still all up in my grill.


    Maybe he was sticking up for Cecilia?


    With that thought, I gave a half¨Csmile, mockingly saying, ¡°Mr. Zade, you¡¯re giving me too much credit.


    Someone like you is way out of my league.¡±


    As soon as the words left my mouth, his facial muscles twitched, his pupils dted, a mix of surprise


    and


    11.17


    distaste crossed his face.


    Had I misinterpreted? Hogan seemed displeased with this response.


    ¡°Alright, Xaviera,¡± he raised his arm, pointing a finger near my face, ¡°You¡¯d better remember what you


    sald today.¡±


    He strode off, and I watched his retreating figure, finally allowing myself to breathe.


    But why did I feel so empty all of a sudden?


    Something was off with Hogan tonight.


    Hopefully, it wouldn¡¯t affect our cooperation.


    With this doubt in mind, I nervously returned home to find a petite figure standing at my doorstep as


    soon as I stepped out of the elevator.


    The youngdy was holding a small gift box, looking at the number on my door.


    It was Cecilia.


    Quite unexpected.


    She should know better; we¡¯re not exactly on house¨Ccalling terms.


    As Iposed myself and was just about to speak, Cecilia who heard my footsteps immediately turned


    around and said with a smiling face, ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯re back.¡±


    Her voice was as always, soft and soothing.

 Chapter 219

    Chapter 219


    ¡°Something¡¯s up?¡± Cecilia a guide to winning Hry¡¯s favor was a private deal between us. Surprisingly,


    Hogan had gotten wind of it.


    Ironically, in this guide, when it came to the section about food, I had emphasized repeatedly that Hry


    hated white pepper.


    I figured if Hogan had even skimmed through the guide, he¡¯d see right through some of my thoughts.


    However, my act of deliberately ¡°confessing¡± had backfired, and I had pped my own face.


    I felt a tightness in my chest but managed to keep my cool, sneaking a nce at the guy a couple of


    steps away, without jumping in with a response.


    When I think about it, that mother¨Cdaughter¨Cinw handbook was a good five or six pages long, with


    F


    nitty¨Cgritty details on Hry¡¯s do¡¯s and don¡¯ts, from eating to dressing to living. As the President of


    Rainbow Capital, he probably didn¡¯t have the leisure to read it from beginning to end.


    Maybe I was overthinking it.


    Upon sorting it out, I felt somewhat steadier and said in a calm and collected tone, ¡°Since Director Irwin


    joined, she¡¯s done a lot for thepany. Helping her means relieving your worries, doesn¡¯t it, Mr.


    Zade?¡±


    ¡°Then keep relieving my worries,¡± The man¡¯s voice became inexplicably more rigid, and colder, ¡°Why


    are you ying both sides today?¡±


    Upon hearing those words, ¡®ying both sides¡®, I instantly got the hint¨CHogan was convinced I¡¯d done


    the white pepper thing on purpose.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a question too,¡± I said, with a light smile and a soft voice, ¡°Mr. Zade, why do you think I would


    do such a thing? What good does angering an investor¡¯s mother do for me?¡±


    At that, Hogan¡¯s brows furrowed, and he took a step closer, giving me a hard stare, saying in a low


    voice, ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s in it for you, Ms. March? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re eyeing Mrs. Zade¡¯s spot?¡±


    Teasing intermixed with ridicule, Hogan¡¯s tone was harsh, and those piercing eyes were inscrutable.


    It made my heart flutter.


    ¡°Mr. Zade, you really have a knack for humor,¡± I dodged his gaze, trying to keep my tone as natural as


    possible, ¡°If Director Irwin heard that, it could stir up some trouble.¡±


    Before I could finish, he suddenly stepped even closer. Alerted, I took two steps back, finding myself


    pressed against the car door.


    And Hogan was right before me.


    ?? ? ? ??? ???? ? ???? ? ????? ?? ??? ? ?


    Under the dim light, his tobo¨Cscented breath filled the air, and he looked down at me, none too


    pleased, ¡°What Ms. March wants, hasn¡¯t she always used any means necessary to fight for it?¡±


    His oppression made me feel ufortable.


    My hand tightened, then loosened, then tightened again, only then I adjusted my breath to normal. And


    when I looked up at Hogan again, he was still all up in my grill.


    Maybe he was sticking up for Cecilia?


    With that thought, I gave a half¨Csmile, mockingly saying, ¡°Mr. Zade, you¡¯re giving me too much credit.


    Someone like you is way out of my league.¡±


    As soon as the words left my mouth, his facial muscles twitched, his pupils dted, a mix of surprise


    and


    11.17


    distaste crossed his face.


    Had I misinterpreted? Hogan seemed displeased with this response.


    ¡°Alright, Xaviera,¡± he raised his arm, pointing a finger near my face, ¡°You¡¯d better remember what you


    sald today.¡±


    He strode off, and I watched his retreating figure, finally allowing myself to breathe.


    But why did I feel so empty all of a sudden?


    Something was off with Hogan tonight.


    Hopefully, it wouldn¡¯t affect our cooperation.


    With this doubt in mind, I nervously returned home to find a petite figure standing at my doorstep as


    soon as I stepped out of the elevator.


    The youngdy was holding a small gift box, looking at the number on my door.


    It was Cecilia.


    Quite unexpected.


    She should know better; we¡¯re not exactly on house¨Ccalling terms.


    As Iposed myself and was just about to speak, Cecilia who heard my footsteps immediately turned


    around and said with a smiling face, ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯re back.¡±


    Her voice was as always, soft and soothing.


    1 came here specifically to thank you,¡± Cecilia said with a t tone, handing me a box of desserts, ¡°I


    owe you one for helping me at the hospital today.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    She used the term ¡®help¡®.


    Something I hadn¡¯t expected.


    I looked at her sweet, soft face and didn¡¯t call her out on it, just softly said, ¡°You tter me, Director


    Irwin. It was nothing, really.¡±


    Cecilia probably didn¡¯t expect me to be so calm. As she held out the gift box, she asked hesitantly, ¡°You


    don¡¯t feel wronged, Xaviera?¡±


    Seeing the probing look in her almond eyes, I just shrugged and said, ¡°The result has been seen by


    Director Irwin, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Hry didn¡¯t me me at all.


    Cecilia must have caught the drift, as the smile on her face stiffened a bit.


    I didn¡¯t n to argue with her. I continued, ¡°It¡¯s an honor for me to alleviate the investor¡¯s worries. As for


    pushing the cooperation forward, I do hope Director Irwin would put more thought into it, otherwise, I¡¯ll


    have to go ask Hry.¡±


    Cecilia blinked, chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Of¡­ of course.¡±


    Watching the youngdy¡¯s reaction, I suddenly felt less suffocated.


    Sure enough, the next day, Rainbow Capital responded and arranged our reporting work for the


    following afternoon.


    The weight in my heart lightened a bit.


    And I took the opportunity to rope Cecilia into the reporting work team.


    The day of the report came fast.


    After packing the documents, we all went downstairs together.


    Not long into the garage, my phone suddenly rang disruptively. When I nced at the caller ID, my


    heart started pounding.


    The call was from Grace.


    Normally, at this time, she wouldn¡¯t call me herself.


    My chest felt like it was harboring a wild butterfly. I steadied myself before pressing answer.


    ¡°Xaviera,e to the county hospital quick,¡± Grace¡¯s frantic voice burst through the speaker, ¡°Nydia¡¯s


    sick again.¡±


    With a ¡°crack¡°, my fingers went limp. In an instant, my phone slipped from my grasp, crashing to the


    ground.


    The screen shattered.


    Hopefully, it won¡¯t be serious?


    Without another thought, I made a brief call to Wallis before immediately speeding off to Havenport.


    Two hourster, I arrived at the county hospital and upon pushing the door to the ward. As I pushed


    open


    11:47


    the ward door, I immediately saw the little one lying in the hospital bed.


    The little guy looked pale, his tiny face devoid of color.


    But those beautiful eyes held a defiance and resilience that belied his age.


    In that moment, my heart felt like it had been ripped apart, hurting to the extreme.


    ¡°Xaviera,¡± a babyish tone reached my ears as Nydia cleverly spotted me, surprised, ¡°Is it really


    Xaviera?¡±


    It took half an hour for Grace and me to coax Nydia to sleep.


    Outside the ward, Grace wiped away tears with a heartache, ¡°Why does this child have to be so


    unfortunate?¡±


    I took Grace¡¯s hand andforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve spoken to the doctor. As soon as the timing¡¯s


    right, they¡¯ll have surgery immediately.¡±


    ¡°Xaviera,¡± Grace looked at me with teary eyes, anxiously saying, ¡°Nydia¡¯s going to be okay, right?¡±


    I nodded firmly, ¡°She¡¯s tough as nails.¡±


    After calming Grace down, I met with the attending doctor, who reiterated that with Nydia¡¯s condition,


    we have to prepare for the surgery as soon as possible.


    He brought up the surgery cost again.


    A hefty sum.


    ?


    During our talks, Wallis¡® call broke in. Twice in a row.


    I sensed that something was wrong, so I had to go answer it.


    ¡°Xaviera, how¡¯s it going on your side?¡± Wallis was quite agitated, his words took a turn, ¡°Things aren¡¯t


    going smoothly here. Hogan vetoed our proposal.¡±


    A dull pain hit my chest. I gripped my phone tightly, barely suppressing my escting emotions.


    Indeed, God seems to want to give me an additional test.

 Chapter 220

    Chapter 220


    Wellis told that the afternoon report had nearly spiraiad out of control.


    In fact, after Hogan checked out Timothy¡¯s character design, he went began to critique one of the male


    protagonists¨Cnitpicking everything from the look to the threads, even down to whether the protagonist¡¯s


    shirt was tucked into his suit pants or not. He specifically asked Timothy to redesign the character.


    Timothy, full of pride, naturally couldn¡¯t handle such ridicule. And just then, Cecilia jumped into the fray


    to y peacemaker, saying Hogan had a point, suggesting Timothy should seriously consider a do¨C


    over.


    ¡°And then what?¡± I asked, pinching the bridge of my nose in exasperation.


    ¡°Then the meeting just got interrupted,¡± Wallis stated, clearly annoyed, ¡°Cecilia really did a number on


    Timothy, throwing him under the bus in front of Hogan. Timothy was so steamed he just dropped the


    mic and bailed.¡±


    Hearing this, I got antsy, ¡°Where is he now?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t even answer phone calls. He only mentioned that change is unlikely unless we change


    investors, else he won¡¯t continue with this work,¡± Wallis paused, then asked, ¡°Xaviera, what should we


    do now?¡±


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    I expected Hogan to stir up troubles again, but I never imagined it would blow up like this.


    Considering Nydia¡¯s situation, it just felt like everything was going to hell in a handbasket.


    In the end, I didn¡¯t prolong my stay in Havenport. After spending one night, I drove back to Rivertown at


    the crack of dawn.


    By the time I reached the office, it coincidentally was time to start work.


    Stepping out of the car, I spotted Cecilia emerging from her fiery red ride across the way.


    The youngdy was rocking a short brown leather jacket, paired with a matching suede mini skirt and


    ck ankle boots, bouncing along like a peppy little deer, radiating energy and youth.


    She looked like she was in a good mood.


    The next second, she caught sight of me.


    After a brief two¨Csecond stare¨Cdown, Cecilia awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, batting


    those doe eyes at me, ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯re early. What were you so busy with yesterday? You weren¡¯t


    present for such an important meeting.¡±


    Her voice was gentle and soft, but her eyes held a hint of mischief.


    Thinking back to Wallis¡® words, I gently responded, ¡°I heard you vetoed Mr. Temple¡¯s proposal in the


    meeting.¡±


    ¡°Xaviera, you¡¯ve got me all wrong,¡± Cecilia nced at me cautiously, ¡°It was Hogan who shot down Mr.


    Temple¡¯s idea, not me. I was just considering Rainbow Capital¡¯s image and went along with it. I mean, I


    had to back him up in a disagreement,/right?¡±


    Fair enough. From Cecilia¡¯s angle, if there¡¯s any disagreements between ourpany and Rainbow


    Capital, she¡¯s got every reason to side with her backers.


    ¡°But Xaviera, you always treat work like it¡¯s your lifeblood. What made you skip out suddenly


    yesterday?¡± Her probing gazended on me, her curiosity almost spilling out of her eyes.


    ¡°Thank you for your concern, Director Irwin,¡± instead of answering her question, I said, ¡°I¡¯ll exin


    things personally to Mr. Zade.¡±


    11.515


    As I made to leave, Cecilia chimed in. ¡°Well, you better make it good, Xaviera. From what I see,


    Hogan¡¯s atand this time is particrly firm.¡±


    One¡¯s pressing me to find a new investor, the other¡¯s being stubborn. It felt as if I am caught between a


    rock and a hard ce, receiving criticism from both sides.


    Regardless of my dissatisfaction, I promptly arranged a meeting with Hogan.


    At 2 PM, Wallis and I arrived at Rainbow Capital, only to be told by the secretary that Hogan was tied


    up and asked us toe another day.


    The same old runaround. Wallis and I weren¡¯t surprised, so I had no choice but to call Zachary.


    ¡°Mr. Zade¡¯s indeed in a meeting. If you wish to wait, they can arrange for you to stay in the far right


    reception room,¡± Zachary suggested, ¡°After the meeting, Mr. Zade will pass by the entrance. Then it¡¯s


    all up to you.¡±


    Wallis and I got the hint and settled into the reception room, waiting patiently.


    We waited a solid hour.


    Finally, there was somemotion outside the room. We jumped to our feet and sure enough, we


    caught sight of Hogan andpany exiting the meeting room.


    Beside him, an elderly director was pointing his finger towards Hogan¡¯s face and scowling, ¡°Your dad


    would¡¯ve had to call me ¡®Mr. Darcy¡® with respect when he was alive. What do you think you you are!¡±


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