《I Became His Sweetheart》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 She¡¯s a Cripple Harbor Mall. At the car park, a silver Audi was shaking. There was a crack in the trunk. Mnie Jones was hiding in the trunk as she listened to the sounds of a man and a woman panting in the car. Her heart twitched painfully. Without telling her fianc¨¦, Mnie had finished her work early toe home sooner. She decorated and filled the trunk with balloons. She then dressed up as a huge present and climbed into the trunk while holding her fianc¨¦¡¯s favorite limited edition tequ in her hands.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Feeling hopeful, she eagerly awaited the sound of the car door unlocking but what followed were words of betrayal... ¡°Bryan, today¡¯s your birthday. Aren¡¯t you worried that Mnie wille and find you?¡± ¡°Hmph, yourwsuit is a pain in the ass. She¡¯s in Paris and doesn¡¯t even have time for me. How could she possiblye back here?¡± ¡°Well, do you mean that | should create more trouble next time?¡± the woman said coquettishly. ¡°You bad girl!¡± the man replied in a pampering tone. ¡°Since I¡¯m a bad girl, do you love me or your hard-working wife more?¡± The woman wrapped her hands around him. They made out intimately for a short while before the man said, ¡°How could youpare yourself to her? She smells like garbage! She¡¯s a cripple, too! If it wasn¡¯t because of her family business and my parents admired her business mindset, | wouldn''t even look at her once!¡± Stuck in the cramped trunk, Mnie could not help but cry. Their voices were all too familiar to her! Mnie would be officially engaged with Bryan West in two days. She had never thought that her fianc¨¦ would have an affair with her cousin! ¡°Mnie was lucky! Back then, the car ident that we had nned was perfect, but she survived! Fortunately, | asked the doctor to prescribe the wrong medicine which caused her to be crippled. Otherwise, it''d be a waste of our efforts!¡± Lena Jones, Mnie¡¯s cousin, spoke wickedly, apanied by a hint of disappointment in her tone. ¡°Well, she¡¯s a cripple now. Besides, her business mindset is still in y. Didn¡¯t she make you famous, my dear?¡± Bryan could not help butfort Lena. Mnie trembled upon hearing their voices. She could not tell whether her trembling came from her broken heart or the car¡¯s intense shaking. After both of them were done and left the car, Mnie slowly crawled out of the trunk. She was in a daze, stumbling and identally hurting her wounded left leg, which stung with pain. However, the pain in her heart was far more agonizing. Then, Mnie limped out of the parking lot aimlessly... A devastating car ident had made her go from Harbor City¡¯s number one celebrity to a cripple ugly duckling. When she was at her lowest, it was Bryan¡¯spanionship that touched her heart. Since then, Mniemitted herself to Bryan¡¯s media firm and helped him build his reputation. The influencer whom the company strongly supported happened to be her cousin, Lena Jones! This time, Lena had breached her agreement and was sued by a production crew. Therefore, Bryan requested Mnie to solve this issue. Mnie racked her brain, negotiating with the production crew numerous times. She had managed just two hours of sleep over the past three days! She did this because she wanted to get it done faster and rush back home to celebrate Bryan¡¯s birthday! In the end, Bryan, who said that he loved her with all of his life, had given her a huge surprise! What a joke! Throughout these years, the hard work that Mnie had poured in by giving everything she had was just to fulfill the wishes of the couple who ultimately betrayed her! She kept walking, not realizing how far she had gone when it started to rain heavily. Mnie raised her head. It was as if the heavy rain was pouring into her heart. Amid the sound of the rain, she could also hear the shattering of her rtionship. She was exhausted so she sat in the middle of the road under a signboard. She looked at the tequ in her hand, opened the bottle, and chugged all of it. Half an hourter... A ck Bentley drove by. The in color could not disguise the elegance of the car. It had already driven past Mnie, but it moved back and stopped beside her. Mnie was swiftly dragged into the car, lying in front of a man. Mnie¡¯s face, which was drenched by the cold rain, was pinched with no care. While she was in a blurry state, she saw a familiar handsome man and started guessing. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know who | am. | know who you are, Miss Jones.¡± The man¡¯s cold voice was filled with a hint of hostility. Mnie shook her head, trying her very best to remain conscious. However, the man¡¯s proud, narrow gaze resembles a cold winter pond. The more she gazed into his eyes, the more they seemed to draw her in as if she was gradually falling for him. She turned her body but was held onto by the man¡¯s huge hands. ¡°I should¡¯vee to find you earlier!¡± ¡°What?¡± Her gaze fell onto the man¡¯s chest, where she noticed two unbuttoned buttons, exposing his strong chest muscles. The intense male hormones heightened the effects of the tequ in her blood in an instant. Mnie pondered for a moment. Since Bryan could have an affair, why not her? The man in front of her was a hundred times better than Bryan in terms of physique and appearance. Mnie then straightened her body and wrapped her hand around the man¡¯s neck. ¡°Are you so eager to see me? Come then, let me satisfy your needs!¡± The man frowned as he stared at the woman who was half kneeling in front of him. He observed her gorgeous silhouette, like a mesmerizing siren emerging from the sea at night, breathtaking. ¡°Are you sure?¡± His voice was hoarse. Mnie nodded softly in agreement. She then ced her other hand on the man¡¯s leg and slowly moved downward. The man stiffened. He then carried her onto hisp. His voice was as cold as ice as he uttered, ¡°Let me help you!¡± Several hourster... Mnie opened her eyes and realized that a man was sleeping soundly beside her. She stared at the man¡¯s jawline and strong muscles, and fragments of memories fromst night slowly strung together... Mnie was drunk at the roadside and a man brought her into his car. After that, she slept with him. The lights were still on. The man looked handsome from the side, and he seemed familiar. So, Mnie took a closer look at him, and she was stunned! It was him! Chapter 2 Chapter 2 I¡¯m d You Like ItC¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Stephen Morgan was the second young master of the Morgans. Although Stephen did not have the best reputation, he had the advantage of being the most popr influencer at the moment. Lately, Bryan had been trying extremely hard to involve Lena and Stephen in theirtest project. However, Mnie had never thought that she would have a one-night stand with Stephen. Mnie¡¯s eyes lit up before she took her phone from the bedside. She then switched on her front camera and started taking pictures of them... Even though she was betrayed by Bryan, she should not grieve for too long nor should she question his intentions mindlessly. She had to keep herself calm and cool. A horrible fianc¨¦ could not change her life. Instead, she should turn on him and get something out of it! Since Mnie had already gotten the things she wanted, she endured the pain in her lower body and quickly got dressed. Before leaving, she left a note for Stephen. ¡°Clicked.¡± The door closed. The man on the bed opened his eyes. The light in his eyes fell upon the note on the bedside as he gave out a freezing aura. ¡°We will meet again soon.¡± As soon as she got out of the room, Mnie made two phone calls and had her hands on the surveince footage from the hotel yesterday. Although the footage was not in HD, it clearly showed that the tall man who brought her back to the hotel was covered from head to toe. Indeed, this was how Stephen would dress to avoid the paparazzi from following him. Seeing this, Mnie¡¯s eyes were cold. Even though she did not mean to lose her virginity to this man, in some sense, she struck gold by having a one-night stand with him! With Stephen in her hands, Mnie swore that she would use him to settle her debt with Bryan and Lena once and for all! The moment Mnie got out of the hotel, her phone started ringing. ¡°Dear.¡± Mnie¡¯s fianc¨¦, Bryan, spoke with a voice that was full of spurious passion, ¡°Thank you so much for the little surprise that you had ready for me yesterday! There were so many balloons flying out of my trunk when | opened it. It''s so romantic. | like it very much!¡± ¡°I''m d that you like it.¡± Mnie frowned as she felt disgusted after hearing this. ¡°Oh, yeah. Mnie, who did you ask for help to get the balloons in my trunk?¡± Bryan asked with a joking tone. However, she could feel his guilty conscience. ¡°Who did you bribe?¡± It seemed like the bitch couple only realized the decoration in the trunk after they had had their fun. Both of them were worried that Mnie actually came, so Bryan even tested her by calling her. ¡°Well, I''m not going to tell you that...¡± Mnie tried her best to flirt with him. With that, Bryan did not ask further. He then said, ¡°I¡¯ve made an appointment with Stephen¡¯s manager tomorrow in Paris. Since you''re in Paris at the moment, can you attend the appointment on my behalf?¡± ¡°Our engagement ceremony is in two days, and | have a bachelorette party tomorrow night. Don¡¯t you think | should make it back home earlier?¡± Mnie questioned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about those as you can count on me. You only need to dress up beautifully and attend our engagement ceremony.¡± Bryan quicklyforted her. ¡°Moreover, Stephen¡¯spany has agreed to coborate with Lena. You can discuss the details with them tomorrow. It won¡¯t waste a lot of your time.¡± ¡°Okay, then.¡± After hearing Mnie¡¯s submissive voice, Bryan felt somewhat relieved as he reiterated his point to her. ¡°Lena¡¯s career is starting to take off right now. We really should take advantage of Stephen''s poprity and give Lena a little push!¡± Mnie formed a sarcastic smile on her face as she uttered, ¡°Of course, | shall give her a well-deserved push this time!¡± After hanging up the phone, Mnie quickly rushed to the airport. To keep Bryan in the dark, she needed to board the next avable flight to Paris so that she could make it to tomorrow¡¯s meeting on time. Mnie bought her flight ticket and proceeded to wait for her flight in the VIP lounge. While she tried to call Stephen¡¯s manager, she suddenly heard loud noises at the entrance of the lounge. ¡°Stephen! Stephen! | love you! Can | have your autograph?¡± Upon hearing that, Mnie looked up and saw a cool and fashionable man with shades surrounded by a group of fans. She squinted her eyes. What a coincidence. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Who Did You Sleep With? After a while, Stephen walked into the VIP lounge when he was done dealing with his fans. Seeing this, Mnie approached him and said, ¡°Hi, there. I¡¯m Mnie Jones.¡± ¡°You''re Mnie Jones?¡± Stephen asked impatiently, ¡°Where do | sign?¡± Mnie raised her eyebrows as she paused before asking, ¡°Do you mind taking a closer look at me? Do you know me?¡± ¡°Uhm...¡± Her stunning silhouette... The man removed his shades as he sized Mnie up from head to toe. ¡°Well, you have a unique cane, and it sessfully caught my attention. Do you find it interesting using it at night?¡± While Stephen was talking to her, he reached out his hand toward her cane. Seeing this, Mnie reacted with disgust and swiftly swung her hand at the cane, hitting the man¡¯s hand. ¡°Ouch!¡± Stephen ced his hand beside his lips and licked it. ¡°You¡¯re an interesting one, aren¡¯t you? | like you!¡± Mnie squinted her eyes. She felt that this Stephen waspletely different from the one she slept withst night. Even though they had not exchanged a single word yesterday, he emitted a reassuring vibe that made her at ease, unlike the fickle way he was making her feel now. Seeing Mnie spaced out, Stephen blinked. ¡°Do you want toe to Paris with me tonight?¡± Mnie came back to her senses and replied, ¡°No, we''re adults. I¡¯m not expecting you to take responsibility for your actionsst night, but | have one simple condition for you.¡± ¡°Last night? | don¡¯t remember anything aboutst night.¡± Stephen looked confused. ¡®Hmph! All men are the same!¡¯ Mnie smiled coldly as she knew that Stephen was trying to evade his responsibilities but fortunately, she had evidence with her. Calmly, Mnie took out her phone and showed Stephen two pictures of them, where he could be easily recognized, sleeping together. ¡°Last night, Paris Hotel, room 8868. Do you need me to provide you with more details?¡± Stephen¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at her phone. After checking out the pictures for a moment, his eyes lit up. ¡°Are you sure... you were at...the Paris Hotelst night?¡± ¡°| also have the hotel''s surveince footage with me.¡± Mnie responded impatiently, ¡°I only have one simple condition for you. It won''t cost you anything. But if you still won¡¯t admit to it, | don¡¯t mind going to war with you. Try me.¡± Stephen was intrigued when he heard this. Before Mnie could finish her sentence, he said, ¡°Well, one moment.¡± He then went to a corner to make a phone call. Two minutester, he came back and reced his unruly tone with a respectful one as he asked, ¡°Miss Jones, what do you want? Name it! ¡°Besides, Harbor City is hosting a pageant selection for the International Socialites G. | think you have extraordinary personalities. Do you want to give it a try?¡± Mnie squinted her eyes because she had her concerns about him. However... A few days ago, Bryan did mention to Mnie to seal the coboration between Lena and Stephen. He also told her to leverage the meeting to get Lena to audition for the International Socialites G. The Morgans had the final say in this selection, so Mnie was asked to help Lena build a good rtionship with the Morgans. Since this audition was somehow rted to Lena, Mnie was a little interested in it.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Moreover, this banquet was named by Forbes as one of the world¡¯s top ten most luxurious parties. Coincidently, she needed a tform to tell the world that she, Mnie Jones, had decided to start over again and live her life! ¡°lm a cripple. Do you think | can fit in?¡± Mnie asked prudently. ¡°The theme for this year¡¯s International Socialites G is ¡®Dream Girl¡¯. Why can¡¯t a cripple chase her dream?¡± Stephen was on point, and Mnie did not know how to respond to him. With that, she paused for a while before asking, ¡°Will | get something if | try it out?¡± ¡°As long as you participate in our G, you''ll get something out of it. You know, right?¡± Stephen blinked at her. Mnie pursed her lips and raised her brows. ¡°Is this your way to keep my mouth shut?¡± The Morgans had been in the business world for decades. They were aplex group of individuals. So, a simple condition might not be in her best interest and Mnie fully understood this. ¡°If you want to think about it this way, | have no problem with it.¡± Stephen¡¯s expression seemed a little funny. ¡°Fine, if you can get me in, I''ll delete all these pictures.¡± Mnie assured him. Hearing this, Stephen nodded with a smile. ¡°Oh, yeah. You said you have a simple condition just now, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It''s simple, you just need to cancel the meeting with Lena. If they call youter, just tell them that you have a sudden schedule change. You''ll meet with them another time. Do you understand me?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Seeing Mnie turn around elegantly, Stephen touched his chin and started pondering... He called his butler earlier to confirm his uncle¡¯s whereaboutsst night. This time, his curiosity was piqued as he took out his phone and called another number... In the meeting room on the top floor of the Morgan Complex, all the department directors from the HQ were sitting at the table as their president was having a meeting with all of their subsidiaries from all over the world. The president''s phone vibrated, so his assistant, William Moore, picked up the call and passed it to the man respectfully. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s the Second Young Master. He said there¡¯s something urgent.¡± ¡°Turn on the speaker.¡± Jeffrey Morgan nced at the phone coldly. What was so urgent? Once the speaker was turned on, Stephen asked excitedly from the other side of the phone, ¡°Uncle, did you have a one-night stand yesterday?¡± The atmosphere in the meeting turned strange all of a sudden. Everyone was trying their very best not to change their expressions. Jeffrey took the phone from William after hearing this. He turned off the speaker and spoke indifferently, ¡°What did you say?¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Bachelorette Party ¡°Uncle, just admit it. | saw your future wife. She mistook me for you, and she...¡± ¡°Tell me everything, immediately,¡± Jeffrey interrupted Stephen¡¯s long-winded exnation as he said in a deep voice. ¡°Cough...¡± Hearing this, Stephen dared not waste Jeffrey''s time as he told him what happened. Of course, he only told Jeffrey about the second half of the story. If Jeffrey knew that he dared to flirt with his woman... Stephen had a chill down his back just by thinking this. ¡°Now, do as | tell you.¡± The voice from the other side of the phone was emotionless but terrifying. After Mnie left the airport, she took a cab straight to the hospital. The Joneses started out in the medical field. Although they had declined a little after Mnie¡¯s father passed away, they were still the leader in this industry. With that, Mnie went straight to the hospital that she trusted the most and got an orthopedic specialist to examine her leg. The specialist told her that her leg injury was not that serious. However, it became worse because of the use of the wrong medicine. If she resumed using the right medicine and took care of herself, her leg could fully heal. Mnie¡¯s eyes turned cold when she thought of this. Back then, Bryan would always apany her to the hospital, and it seemed like he had been nning this early on. Her fianc¨¦, whom she had loved the most, was so cruel to her. She then went for massage rehabilitation in the therapy room after taking her medicine. Mnie nced at the clock. Bryan must have thought that she was still in Paris. Thinking of this, she decided to get the hospital admittance procedure done and stayed in the hospital. The next day in the evening, Mnie took a cab to Starlight Lounge after shepleted her rehabilitation. Starlight Lounge was the ce where Bryan insisted on throwing a bachelorette party for her. Back then, Mnie thought that Bryan did this because he valued her. However, when she thought about it again, he must have something up his sleeve for doing this. This might be a part of the schemes that they nned for her. With that, she had to get herself ready. The moment Mnie entered the ballroom, she saw Bryan and Lena standing side to side, having a wonderful conversation. When Bryan saw Mnie, he stood up for Lena without even caring what she would think of him. ¡°Mnie, | was so busy yesterday that | didn¡¯t have time to check on you. You weren''t able to meet with Stephen¡¯s manager, but were you able to build some rapport with them? Can the Morgans help to secure Lena a ce in the International Socialites G?¡± Mnie lowered her eyes after hearing this. How blind was she back then? How could they have the audacity to act so tantly in front of her? Mnie concealed her fury and answered, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Bryan could not hide his joy. ¡°I knew they could help! Well, you should get started with the announcement.¡± He cared so much for Lena. Did he forget that tomorrow was their engagement day? Seeing Mnie standing there without moving a muscle, Lena tried to y nice after getting what she wanted. ¡°Thank you, Mnie! You guys should spend some time together. I''ll be back soon.¡± After Lena left them, Mnie purposely turned her body to block Bryan¡¯s vision and looked at him merrily. ¡°Dear, you look amazing tonight.¡± Bryan only had time to look at her at this moment. Mnie pursed her lips and nodded at him as she picked up a ss of champagne. ¡°Cheers.¡± She tapped on Bryan¡¯s wine ss and the crisp sound made his heart drop. Mnie wore a ck deep-V tailored nightgown, whichplemented her amazing figure. The lights in her eyes were different as she seemed to have changed into another person. Bryan smiled at Mnie as he raised his wine ss in response. He could not help but wrap his hand around her tiny waist. Seeing this, Mnie frowned as she endured the awful feeling and ced her hand around his neck. She reached into his breast pocket and threw a bug into it... They could hardly exchange a word as Bryan¡¯s phone kept ringing. He took a look at his phone and hung it up. ¡°It¡¯s your bachelorette party. I¡¯m not going to cling to you. You should enjoy yourself.¡± Seeing Bryan hastily wanting to leave, Mnie knew that he was going for Lena. They should not me Mnie for being cruel. She could offer the sweetest smile while delivering the sharpest sting to them! Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Messy Private Life ¡°Ding.¡± Mnie¡¯s phone rang. She looked at the message that her bestie, Annie Snow, sent from the second floor. [Everything''s perfect. Don¡¯t worry.] Although the Snows were not the best in doing business in Harbor City, all of the famous families were afraid of them because they were the best private detectives. Therefore, with Annie¡¯s assistance, she was a lot more relieved. Mnie then kept her phone as she wanted to sit in a corner quietly and execute her n after nightfall. However, the voices around her started to grow and she could not help but get distracted by them. ¡°Mnie¡¯s a cripple. Why did Bryan want to marry her?¡± ¡°How can you not know about it? The Wests want to get involved in the medical field as well, of course, they¡¯re using her!¡± Listening to the crowd badmouthing Mnie and seeing her pale face, Lena had never felt so happy before. Lena purposely asked her friends to set the pace by joining in. She hoped they could make nasty remarks about her! Mnie listened to the crowd quietly as she nced at them asionally. With one look, she knew which one was talking the most among the crowd. It was Lena¡¯s best friend. ¡°Although their perfume business is dying, their medical business is still operating fine. Mnie¡¯s dad is dead, and now her mother is holding on. Undoubtedly, her mother is truly a capable woman!¡± ¡°How can an old woman run their family businesses? She must¡¯ve done those... Well, you know...¡± Lena¡¯s bestie said in a weird tone. ¡°p!¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Mnie went up and pped her. ¡°Ah! What are you doing?¡± After Lena¡¯s bestie let out a sharp scream, Mnie warned with cold eyes, ¡°What difference does it make if your parents are still around? Have they not taught you any manners? If not, let me do it. So, mind yournguage!¡± Lena never thought that Mnie would have a temper. However, she tried to suppress her annoyance and separate her bestie from Mnie. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. It¡¯s my sister''s bachelorette party today. Can you all do me a favor, please?¡± ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Again, Lena did not expect Mnie to refute her, so she turned to look at her pitifully as tears started welling up in her eyes because she felt wronged. ¡°Mnie... Why are you acting so strangely today?¡± ¡°Strange?¡± Mnie sneered disdainfully. ¡°Well, | can only talk sense to a human.¡± Lena choked as tears streamed down her cheek. ¡°Mnie! How could you say such a thing to Lena?¡± Bryan rushed over when he heard themotion and quickly stood beside Lena, the bitch. ¡°Does it pain you?¡± Mnie shifted her gaze to Bryan. Bryan avoided her eyes. ¡°I just... | don¡¯t want you to be controlled by your emotions. Lena was trying to protect you.¡± What a lovely couple! Mnie squinted her eyes, trying her best to keep herposure. It was not the right time to expose them yet. Suddenly, the lights in the ballroom were turned off and the big screen was turned on as it started to disy some of Mnie¡¯s pictures. Then came the emcee¡¯s enthusiastic voice. ¡°For the past 800 days and nights, these are the proof of Mr. West and Miss Jones¡¯ undying love...¡± Mnie had never thought that he would prepare a surprise for her. She fixed her gaze on the big screen. The ballroom fell into a hushed silence as everyone was enjoying her beautiful pictures. However, after a moment, the pictures took an unexpected turn. Toward the end, the pictures were all about Mnie drinking and having fun with different men. She looked at them coldly because she knew that something was going to happen. The men in the pictures were renowned figures in the business world. With that, the crowd in the ballroom started murmuring. ¡°Hey, do the Joneses use their daughter to maintain their family businesses?¡± ¡°Well, I''ve never thought that a youngdy from a distinguished family would have two different personalities!¡± ¡°Lena is so pure and on the other hand, Mnie is such a dirty woman. They¡¯repletely different from each other.¡± Some of the directors from Jones Enterprise were there as well. They were discussing several different projects with a few partners, but they chickened out after seeing this. ¡°It seems like Young Lady Jones didn¡¯t learn her principles from President Jones...¡± President Tyler Jones and his wife, Eliza Jones only had one daughter, Mnie. She was the only heir of Jones Enterprise. Hence, her improper behaviors would have a huge impact on them. The directors wore grim expressions as they approached Mnie and asked, ¡°Young Lady Jones, how are you going to exin this? We''re not interfering with your private life, but you¡¯ve been exposed this time. Some of our partnerships are on the verge of falling apart!¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Bryan¡¯s parents looked grim as well. The Wests were a distinguished family in Harbor City. Now, the crowd was discussing why Bryan wanted to marry a woman with such a messy private life. With that, Bryan¡¯s mother went up to Mnie. ¡°Mnie, what is this? Bryan said that you were a gracious and intelligent woman. Is this how you prove to us that you¡¯re such a woman?¡± Lena concealed her satisfaction as she tried to fuel the mes. ¡°Yeah, why didn¡¯t you filter out some of those pictures? You should¡¯ve kept some of them hidden.¡± The crowd started to grow. Some of them wereughing at Mnie while the others sneered. When faced with criticisms, Mnie looked down, covering the light in her eyes. No one knew her emotions at that moment. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Tone-Deaf Mnie knew that if the deals between Jones Enterprise and the other partners copsed tonight, everything would be on her. Lately, Lena¡¯s father, Daniel Jones, who was also Mnie¡¯s uncle, had joined forces with the board of directors and threatened her mother to resign from her CEO position several times. It appeared that Lena must have been working with her father to have their hands on those pictures. If Mnie were to allow that to happen, she would have failed her mother, who was still giving everything she had to Jones Enterprise. At this moment, Annie ran into the ballroom and stood beside her, out of breath. She said, ¡°Mnie, I¡¯ve sent my men to control the backstage. Once my men are there, they¡¯ll cut off the screen.¡± ¡°Let it be.¡± Mnie raised her eyes and stared into the screen calmly. Annie asked anxiously, ¡°Are you sure?¡± Mnie nodded in agreement. She took out her phone calmly and logged into her personal email ount to retrieve some data before sending it to Annie. ¡°Get your guys to include this in the slideshow. Loop it with the pictures.¡± Feeling Mnie¡¯s familiar aura, Annie felt more confident. As such, she took the data from her, snuck through the crowd, and left the ballroom. ¡°Mnie.¡± Lena¡¯s eyes were filled with hostility. She was not nning to leave a way out for Mnie as she said in an unruly tone, ¡°You only care for yourself. You never considered what would happen to Jones Enterprise. | heard my father say these businesses are vital to Jones Enterprise.¡± ¡°Are you sure that we aren¡¯t able to close the deal just because of a few pictures?¡± Mnie held her cane and positioned herself before saying confidently, ¡°Well, let''s make a bet. What if | can close the deals?¡± Lena looked like she had heard a joke, and she could not help but burst outughing. ¡°Mnie, there¡¯s enough time to take back what you''ve said.¡± ¡°Stop messing around. What do you think?¡± Mnie was not backing off. ¡°Fine!¡± Lena was more afraid that Mnie would take back what she said. Therefore, she quickly came out with a wicked bet. ¡°If you lose, you''ll pole dance on the stage.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Mnie agreed to Lena¡¯s bet. ¡°But if | win, you''ll have to sing for us on stage.¡± Lena was stunned for a second. The crowd murmured as they heard their bets. Both of their personalities were pr opposites. Lena appeared pure on the surface but harbored a wicked side within. Her wanting a cripple to pole dance on stage was a clear attempt to shame Mnie. However, they never thought that Mnie would be so merciful because to an influencer like Lena, singing a song was no big deal to her. However, only Lena knew in her heart that she was tone-deaf. The singles that she released were touched up by a sound engineer at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dors. If she were to perform in public, she would be jeopardizing her reputation. The crowd around them started heckling, so Lena had no choice but to agree. She then nced in the direction of the partners and noticed their disapproving expressions, ignoring the directors¡¯ exnations. This sight boosted her confidence significantly. Lena thought Mnie said this on a whim, so what was she afraid of? ¡°Fine, deal!¡± Lena agreed to Mnie''s bet. Hearing this, Mnie lowered her eyes as hostility shed across her eyes. Shortly after, someone in the crowd shouted, ¡°Huh? Look, what is that?!¡± Suddenly, the pictures on the big screen transitioned to documents, zooming in for everyone to see. The crowd noticed that they were copies of Bryan''s media firm¡¯s contracts. These were among the pictures featuring Mnie socializing with various businessmen. Soon, the crowd understood what was happening. ¡°These contracts are linked to the people in the pictures. Look, Miss Jones¡¯ name is on the contracts as well. So, she was the one who dealt with the businessmen personally.¡± The tables had turned in an instant.From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Young Lady Jones has exceptional business capabilities. She was the one who closed the deals for some of the major projects of Bryan¡¯s media firm!¡± ¡°I''m surprised that Young Lady Jones is a gorgeous woman with extraordinary businesspetencies! It¡¯s a blessing to the Wests that Bryan has a fianc¨¦e like her.¡± The crowd shifted their perception toward Mnie. Not only did she showcase her professional abilities on the big screen, but she also maintained a dignified demeanor while they were badmouthing her earlier. As expected of a youngdy from a prestigious family... Chapter 7 Chapter 7 A Bet¡¯s a Bet Listening to the crowd say that it was Mnie who had been the sole pir to support Bryan¡¯s media firm, his parents did not seem to be happy with it. However, they still had to put a smile on their faces. The directors of Jones Enterprise quickly took this opportunity to close the deals with the partners as they hung big smiles on their faces. Mnie quietly looked at the people¡¯s faces and cheekily smiled at them. ¡°A bet''s a bet. Now let¡¯s enjoy Lena¡¯s performance.¡± Mnie¡¯s sudden, sharp voice pierced through the mor of the crowd. It was only when she pointed it out that they remembered Lena¡¯s unfulfilled promise. She was an influencer, so the crowd yfully teased her, eagerly anticipating her singing. ¡°My throat doesn¡¯t feel good today.¡± Lena waved her hands as she gave an excuse. ¡°You''re an influencer who has released several singles. Is it that hard to sing in front of everyone?¡± ¡°Quit giving excuses. You still can sing even if your throat isn¡¯t at its best. Where¡¯s your professionalism? | even wondered if you''re the one behind your songs.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Hearing this, Lena had no choice but to go up the stage and stand in front of the microphone. Once the music began, Lena started to hum along. As she sang softly, the backstage sound engineer yed the music even softer. As a result, the crowd could clearly hear that Lena''s singing waspletely off-key, and amotion erupted among the crowd below the stage... ¡°What the hell?¡± ¡°You''ll kill someone with this voice!¡± ¡°| remembered that Lena¡¯s singles were pretty decent. Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s all fake...¡± Bryan got back to his senses and quickly asked the staff, ¡°What are you doing? Shut it off!¡± ¡°Mr. West, I¡¯m not sure what happened, but it seems like the sound system is having some issues. | can¡¯t turn it off.¡± ¡°Cut off the power!¡± Bryan shouted. After the power was cut off, the ballroom fell into darkness. The crowd started discussing if Bryan did all these just to protect Lena. Why did it feel like Bryan loved Lena more than Mnie, his fianc¨¦e? When Mnie was framed a few moments ago, he did not even stand up for her... Two minutester, the staff came to Bryan, panting. ¡°Mr. West, I¡¯m not sure who started the emergency generator. It¡¯s useless even if | cut off the power.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Bryan was exhausted. Although Lena¡¯s performancested only for a few moments, the crowd felt awfully sick after listening to her sing. It would be funny to say that her singing was out of tune because Lena hummed along like she was mourning at a funeral. The crowd felt like they were forced to listen to her terrible singing, and it was utterly disgusting. Lena held her tears as she clenched her teeth. She could not help but feel embarrassed. Mnie stood in the crowd, staring coldly at what was happening. This was only the beginning of what she had prepared for Lena and Bryan as a bigger surprise awaited them. She went out of the ballroom with Annie and asked, ¡°Have you arranged your men?¡± ¡°Consider it done.¡± Annie patted her chest to assure Mnie. ¡°The entire ballroom is installed with CCTV with no dead angle. The bug that you nted in Bryan¡¯s breast pocket...someone¡¯s listening to him as well. ¡°I''ll make them pay for what they¡¯ve done to you!¡± Annie was mad at them on behalf of Mnie as she cursed. Hearing this, Mnie asked her to stay low since she had already moved past her most intense anger. She then added, ¡°Now it¡¯s time for us to attack!¡± ¡°Yes, attack!¡± Annie calmed down a little and said, ¡°Oh, yeah. Lena had ced a gigolo in your guest room. Don¡¯t worry, my men have sorted everything out. You won¡¯t have any unexpected encounters in your room tonight.¡± Mnie nodded. It appeared that Lena and Bryan nned topletely ruin her reputation by making her lose her virginity before their engagement ceremony. However, everything was under her control. ¡°But | find it rather odd that they put a gigolo in your room without tampering with your drink. Did you drink anything just now? You must be extra careful,¡± Annie cautioned. ¡°Yeah.¡± Mnie did not touch anything at the party just now, but she was concerned. ¡°There¡¯s a chance that they might have tampered with my drink. However, to be safe, | think | should check my room.¡± Bryan had invited all the elites from around the world to this G. The party was expected tost untilte at night. Starlight Lounge was located near the seaside, so Bryan had prepared guest rooms for his guests to spend the night and attend his engagement ceremony the following day. Once she opened the door, Mnie was stunned. Annie told her that her men had dealt with the gigolo, did she not? So, why was there another man in her room? Besides, it was no ordinary man. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Who Did She Sleep With? The man in the room was in a wheelchair. He was quite imposing, and even though he appeared unwell, his good looks still shone through. His disability could not suppress his powerful andpelling demeanor. Mnie narrowed her eyes. This man¡¯s demeanor resembled the one she had slept with in the Paris Hotel. This man bore a stronger resemnce than Stephen! At this moment, a bodyguard came from another room and said, ¡°President Morgan is waiting for you, Miss Jones.¡± President Morgan? Rumor had it that Jeffrey, the second master of the Morgans was in charge of the Morgan Group. It was said that he was ruthless because he had been living abroad for a long time. Besides, he was a cripple as well. Mnie was not curious why Jeffrey would appear in her room. After all, the entire Harbor City was his territory. What she was curious about was the man¡¯s appearance. Jeffrey''s eyes appeared to conceal an unreachable vulnerability. Mnie tried to avert her gaze but she could not help but dwell in his deep eyes. In her memories, Jeffrey felt very simr to the man she slept with that night. Mnie attempted to maintain aposed expression, feeling her face redden as she recalled the events of that night at the hotel. The man seemed strong, so it did not seem likely that he was disabled. If Jeffrey was partially paralyzed, could it be that the man in the hotel was Stephen? Mnie doubted herself. Then, she felt that Jeffrey was looking at her with aplicated look.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°I''ll agree to the request that you mentioned to Stephen. However, | have one for you, too,¡± Jeffrey said, interrupting her thoughts. His cold voice exuded a sense of elegance. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You''ll marry into the Morgans.¡± Jeffrey pursed his lips and said indifferently, ¡°Secretly.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Mnie raised her eyebrows. ¡°Don¡¯t you know why?¡± Jeffrey stared into her eyes calmly with his sharp gaze. Was it because of that night? Mnie lowered her eyes, sizing Jeffrey up secretly. His calm and sensible appearance resembled that of a father cleaning up after his kid''s mess. This meant that the man she slept with that night was indeed Stephen. However, what she was curious about was that Stephen was at the peak of his career, so could a secret marriage bring any benefits to him? Then, Mnie felt suspicious. She inhaled before fixing her gaze on the fragrance by the bedside. It seemed like she had to solve another problem first. She went up to take the fragrance and asked, ¡°How long do you n to stay in my room?¡± ¡°Ten minutes.¡± Jeffrey''s eyes changed as he looked cautiously at her. ¡°Please wait for a moment. I''ll be back soon.¡± Mnie noticed the blush on Jeffrey¡¯s cheek as she spoke while walking out of the room. ¡°How dare you make him wait for you?¡± Behind Jeffrey, his bodyguard went up to stop her as he warned in an unfriendly tone. Mnie turned around and waved the fragrance in her hands at them as she said, ¡°If President Morgan doesn¡¯t want to be under the influence of this, | believe it''s best to dispose of it soon.¡± Although the fragrance in her room appeared simr to the ones in the other guest rooms, the scent was a little different. She was not +15 BONUS Jeffrey''s eyebrows twitched as he sensed warmth in his chest. He then signaled his bodyguard to let her go. Mnie walked out of the room with her cane. She even said to the bodyguard without turning her head, ¡°For the sake of your president''s health, | suggest you open the windows for venttion.¡± She went out and handed the fragrance to the private detective outside her room. She then ordered, ¡°Take this and swap it with the one in Lena¡¯s room. Let her have a taste of her own medicine.¡± When Mnie entered her room again, all the windows were opened and the blush on Jeffrey''s cheek gradually subsided. Jeffrey nced at the petite girl in front of him. He had instructed his men to retrieve the room¡¯s surveince footage, realizing that Lena hade to Mnie¡¯s room before the party and even swapped the fragrance on her bedside. However, the smell was so mild, so how did she notice it? Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Refuse to Marry Him Again, Mnie stood in front of Jeffrey and rejected him. ¡°I''m sorry, | don¡¯t think | can ept your request.¡± Jeffrey did not raise his eyes as he did not care about her answer at all. He continued. ¡°There was a man in here. Did you get yourself into some trouble?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me. | can handle it myself.¡± Mnie rejected him firmly. Jeffrey narrowed his eyes after hearing this. With her intelligence, she must have figured out that he was the man she slept with that night. Did she not want to marry him this badly? He then spoke in a strange tone, ¡°But | can get another one in here anytime | want.¡± Mnie lowered her eyes. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°| don¡¯t want to.¡± Jeffrey continued calmly. ¡°As long as you ept my request, the Morgan Group can provide you with unlimited support. Don¡¯t you want to restore your family¡¯s reputation? | can fix your leg, too.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. His condescending tone disgusted Mnie. However, his words hit her in the right spot. Mnie looked at her left leg. If she did not fix her leg soon, how was she going to make aeback? What was she going to use to fight the shameless couple? Her uncle had taken over the board of directors of Jones Enterprise. Therefore, even if she wanted to straighten things up, she would need to think of a long-term n. However, would reality give her enough time to do so? Mnie took a deep breath and asked, ¡°How are you nning to fix my leg? How long do you need?¡± ¡°Go to this ce. The doctor will prescribe you a special medicine. You''ll be able to walk again in three days.¡± Jeffrey left a name card on the table. In three days? Mnie narrowed her eyes a little. She had had this leg injury for two years. Even her most trusted doctor could not guarantee her recovery. Did he just say her leg would recover in three days? What a joke! However, the man¡¯s firm look sparked hope in her. ¡°If there¡¯s such a doctor, why don¡¯t you fix your leg first?¡± ¡°It¡¯s up to you to believe me or not!¡± No one had talked to him like this before! He had never thought that someone with such audacity would appear here! Jeffrey''s eyes were filled with hostility as he signaled the man behind him to push him out of the room. ¡°All the women in the Morgans are not allowed to be a cripple! In three days, if your leg recovers, someone will pick you up to obtain our wedding license.¡± Jeffrey''s voice was deep, and even his back looked terrifying. Jeffrey got out of Mnie¡¯s room. His phone rang, so he picked it up and an impatient voice came from the other side. ¡°Mr. Jeffrey, are you nning to marry Mnie?¡± Jeffrey narrowed his eyes and replied in a deep voice, ¡°I''m impressed by your intel.¡± The man on the other side of the phone said hurriedly, ¡°Don¡¯t forget the vengeance that you¡¯ve nned before you return home!¡± ¡°No rush.¡± Jeffrey''s Adam¡¯s apple twitched a little as he spoke in a deep tone. ¡°This time, | have a more interesting way to y the game.¡± After Jeffrey left Mnie¡¯s room, she sat on her bed, clenching the name card in her hand. Mnie recalled the unwavering confidence in the man¡¯s eyes when he spoke those words to her. Should she believe him? +15 BONUS Not long after, Annie¡¯s voice came from her earpiece. ¡°Just now Bryan went upstairs with Lena and went into ner room. Annie ordered her men to start working, and the moaning sound of the couple came from her earpiece. It was simr to what Mnie had heard when she was in the trunk. Mnie frowned and said, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Hearing this, Annie quickly cut off the sound that the bug in Bryan¡¯s breast pocket was recording. ¡°My men had ced the doctored fragrance in Lena¡¯s room. With the special ingredients, I¡¯m confident our n will work out perfectly! By the way, although you can¡¯t work as a police dog with your nose, it¡¯s obvious that your nose is built for the perfume industry.¡± Annie was amazed by Mnie''s sense of smell. Back then, after Mnie¡¯s father, Tyler Jones had established their medical business, he led his technical team and began research in the perfume industry to diversify their family business. Mnie was very sensitive to smell, and she always wanted to help out in the development department, but Tyler did not allow her to do so. Hence, no one in theirpany knew that she had this hidden talent. Maybe Mnie¡¯s father wanted her to live her life as a carefree youngdy. However, she went to work for Bryan and gave him everything she had. In the end, she almost lost everything. Mnie felt like crying but she quickly reminded herself to stay calm and said, ¡°They¡¯ll pass out tonight. Instruct your men to leave them alone. Let''s wait for the news tomorrow.¡± The next morning. Before Mnie woke up, she heard a series of knocking sounds. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± The people outside her room were knocking impatiently. Were they afraid that something would go wrong if they werete to expose her? With that, Mnie got out of bed and tidied her hair. She wanted to see who was on the front line. ¡°Screech.¡± She opened the door. Lena¡¯s parents, Daniel and Lily, stood at the front. Bryan¡¯s parents followed behind them, and even some of the directors from Jones Enterprise were with them. What a warm gathering! It seemed like Lena¡¯s intention was not only to make Bryan¡¯s parents witness her loss of virginity before marriage and to cancel their engagement. In addition, she wanted to suppress Mnie¡¯s position within the board of directors of Jones Enterprise. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Caught Red¡ªHanded Mnie concealed the hostility in her eyes and pretended to ask, ¡°What happened? Why are you guys here?¡± ¡°I came here to wake you up! Today is your engagement ceremony. You need to wake up early to get your makeup done!¡± Lily squeezed past her as she rushed into her room. Her eyes darted around before fixing her gaze on the huge bed in her room. There were some messy clothes on her bed, and the nket appeared puffed up. ¡°Come on. Let''s clean this ce up. The makeup artist will be here very soon,¡± Lily walked toward the bed as she spoke. Seeing this, Mnie followed closely behind her. ¡°I''ll do it myself.¡± ¡°Let me help you!¡± How could Lily give up this opportunity to expose her? She rushed to the bedside and lifted the nket from the bed without hesitation! Mnie¡¯s nket was thrown to the floor. However, when Lily saw her bed, she was shocked. The bed was clean. There was no man on Mnie''s bed. Lily hunched up her shoulders and nced at Daniel, who was also doubtful like her. ¡®Didn''t Lena say a man was in her room? Where''s the man?¡¯ ¡°| can clean up my room myself. You should save some of your energy to help your daughter clean up her room.¡± Mnie picked up the nket from the floor as she sneered. Lily had not figured out the meaning behind her words. She was busy talking to Daniel, ¡°Why is Lena still not up yet? Something¡¯s wrong. Let me look for her.¡± Hearing this, Daniel went to the next room with Lily to search for Lena. Mnie followed behind them, and she even brought the rest of the crowd to follow them. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go and have a look?¡± The people behind them were confused from the very beginning. Today was supposed to be Bryan and Mnie¡¯s engagement ceremony. However, in the morning, Daniel woke all of them up and told them that something happened upstairs, urging them to join in and witness the event. What were they going to witness? They had no idea at all, so they just tagged along with the two of them. Lily took out another card to open Lena¡¯s room door. ¡°Beep.¡± She then opened the door. The moment they saw the situation inside the room, they were both stunned. Bryan¡¯s parents and the directors behind them looked even more shocked. ¡°Bryan, why are you in Lena¡¯s room?¡± Time seemed to stop at that moment. ¡°D-don¡¯t misunderstand. | just came up here...¡± Bryan''s hair was disheveled, and he just had his pants on. His shirt remained unbuttoned as he appeared flustered while struggling to fasten the buttons. Lena had not even had the chance to get dressed. She wrapped herself in a nket, hiding in embarrassment on the bed. She had been nning to have a quick one with Bryan yesterday and leave after they were done, but...why did they sleep through the night in her room? Without giving the shameless couple a chance to exin themselves, Mnie promptly pointed out the ws in Bryan¡¯s reply. ¡°You left your shirt unbuttoned when you came up here?¡± ...¡± Bryan got even more panicked. He stammered as he could not get the words out of his mouth. ¡°Bryan, if you don¡¯t want to marry me, just tell me. You specifically chose this day to be our engagement ceremony and had a one-night 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°| didn¡¯t specifically pick this day to Bryan refuted. Mnie did not leave him any room to respond as she continued, ¡°Are you telling me that you¡¯ve been cheating on me all this time?¡± As Mnie spoke, she worked on her emotions and started weeping. ¡°Why do you guys do this to me? I¡¯ve given everything | have to you and your career, and in the end, what | gained in return is your betrayal?¡± How hard could it be for her to y the victim? Mnie continued expressing herself as shemented, ¡°I knew you were close to her, and | thought you two were getting along well just for my sake.¡± The directors of Jones Enterprise could not bear to watch anymore as they shook their heads in disdain.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. ¡°This is absurd!¡± ¡°President Jones, is this how you raise your daughter?¡± ¡°Young Master West, you''re cheating on Young Lady Jones in broad daylight! You¡¯d better give her an exnation!¡± Daniel had been eyeing the CEO position all along, so when he heard the directors say something like this, he hurriedly exined,¡± Everybody, calm down. There must be a misunderstanding. It¡¯s still unclear that.¡± ¡°Yes, this is impossible. Let¡¯s calm down and listen to their exnations.¡± Since Bryan¡¯s father, Felix West was also interested in the Joneses¡® medical business, he immediately sided with Daniel, trying to calm them down. However, before they could finish their sentences, a soft and weak sob disrupted their futile exnations. ¡°Bryan, maybe you no longer want to marry me. But by doing this, will it benefit the reputation of the Jones and West families?¡± The room fell into a chilling silence, with only Mnie¡¯s sobs resonating loudly in the quiet room. Mnie intentionally involved their family reputations to confront them, causing the directors of Jones Enterprise to wear grim expressions upon hearing this. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 All in One Swoop ¡°Hah!¡± The directors of Jones Enterprise left hurriedly, leaving behind a warning. ¡°We will settle this score sooner rather thanter!¡± Daniel was pale and dejected. Even Bryan¡¯s parents were sighing repeatedly. They knew the kind of man their son was. The moment they saw Bryan and Lena¡¯s reaction upon entering the room, they knew what had happened. What was Lenapared to Mnie? Lena was merely a girl from the Joneses¡¯ branch family. Hence, it was essential to console Mnie. Bryan understood the hint from his parents and hurriedly stepped forward to exin. ¡°Mel, please believe me. We didn¡¯t do anythingst night.¡± Mnie pushed Bryan¡¯s hand away, crying as she attempted to leave. Bryan''s mother held her back, saying, ¡°Sweetie, we''re about to hold the engagement ceremony. You can¡¯t leave now.¡± ¡°Bryan cheated on me, and he can¡¯t even exin it properly. Are you trying to force me to marry him?¡± Her determined gaze left Bryan¡¯s mother with no argument. She turned away, and in a fit of humiliation and anger, shouted at Daniel Jones, ¡°This is all because of your daughter, Lena! She schemed to marry into the Wests. Let me tell you now, that¡¯s never going to happen!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jump to usations! You said my daughter schemed this? Exin yourselves!¡± Lily jumped in to defend her daughter. ¡°Hah! Like mother, like daughter, I¡¯d say!¡± The two families went at each other¡¯s throats, and Mnie took the opportunity to leave. Unknown to them, everything in the room had been recorded by the hidden camera set up by Annie. It would be all the evidence she needed to bring down the deceitful couple. Just as the engagement ceremony was about to begin at nine o¡¯clock, the guests received a notice-the engagement ceremony between the Joneses and the Wests had been canceled. ¡°What happened? Wasn''t everything going finest night?¡± ¡°| heard someone saying that Bryan had an affair...¡± As the departing guests contemted, Mnie and Annie sifted through the evidence captured by the camera from the previous night. Mnie selected several blurry photos and said, ¡°Send these out first.¡± ¡°Only those?¡± Annie replied, surprised. ¡°Why don¡¯t we release the entire video and nail that unfaithful couple? Why leave any room for denial? These pictures aren¡¯t clear. They''ll surely deny it.¡± ¡°It''s not the right time,¡± Mnie calmly said. ¡°When will it be the right time then?¡± Annie asked, frustrated. ¡°After the way they¡¯ve treated me, | can¡¯t miss the perfect opportunity to expose their wrongdoings and let the world know the truth. It¡¯s the only way to make up for these past two years of my life.¡± Mnie leaned in with a sly grin and said, ¡°The day after tomorrow is the 30th anniversary of the West Corp. The Wests are inviting almost every influential figure from Harbor City, including the media. That''s when I''ll catch them all in one swoop!¡± After finalizing their ns, Mnie and Annie parted ways. Mnie returned home and was greeted by her mother, Eliza Jones, who had rushed back from overseas. +15 BONUS Ever since Tyler¡¯s passing, Eliza had been managing the family business single-handedly, all white fending off the power ys led by Daniel in the boardroom. ¡°| heard about the trouble at your engagement ceremony right after arriving at the venue. Are you alright?¡± Eliza asked as she took the cane from Mnie¡¯s hand, and helped her sit. Looking into her mother¡¯s smiling face, Mnie felt an overwhelming surge of courage fill her heart. ¡°Mom, what if | told you that I''ve not wanted to get married for a while now?¡± Eliza gazed at Mnie with a loving look and said, ¡°I know my daughter has a good sense.¡± Mnie smiled. She nuzzled her head into her mother¡¯s embrace. A profound sense of maternal love filled the icy void in her heart.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°Mel, after what happened today. I¡¯ve decided to let you officially join Jones Enterprise.¡± Her mother¡¯s surprising words made Mnie sit up straight. Her eyes were filled with astonishment as she asked, ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t Dad''s will state that | shouldn¡¯t be involved in thepany?¡± When her father passed away, he left a will explicitly forbidding Mnie from participating in thepany¡¯s affairs. Over the past few years, Mnie had tried to offer her help several times, but her mother had consistently refused. To her amazement, her mother was now voluntarily granting permission. Eliza gently caressed Mnie¡¯s long hair, her eyes glimmered with pride. ¡°My dear Mnie, you¡¯ve grown up.¡± Mnie grasped her mother¡¯s hand firmly and said, ¡°Mom, rest assured. With me around, you won''t have to carry the burden alone.¡± Tears welled up in Eliza¡¯s eyes. She never wanted her daughter to be caught up in the storm. After the heartfelt moment, they each retreated to their rooms for the night. Behind her closed bedroom door, Eliza stood before a photograph of Mnie¡¯ste father, whispering, ¡°Some things are written in her destiny, and there¡¯s no avoiding them. If those peoplee looking for her in the end, you won''t me me, will you?¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Exposed +15 BONUS The next day was the pageant for the International Socialites G. Last night, Mnie had slept peacefully. Her skin was glowing this morning. She carefully applied her makeup and had breakfast with Eliza.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Mnie, I¡¯ve transferred half of my shares to you. You will be a board member of the Jones Enterprise from now on,¡± her mother said, before pausing to inquire. ¡°Which department do you n to oversee when you join thepany?¡± ¡°I''ll start from the weakest portfolio in Jones Enterprise¡ªI¡¯d like to take charge of the research and development for the new perfume line,¡± Mnie replied. She presented the proposal she had been working on to Eliza. ¡°Here¡¯s the new perfume product line I¡¯ve been nning. I''ve gotten it looked over by professionals. What do you think?¡± Eliza skimmed through the proposal and her eyes lit up. ¡°I trust you. With your abilities and talent, you can bring that portfolio back to life.¡± With her mother¡¯s approval, Mnie smiled from the bottom of her heart. After finishing her meal, she changed into an elegant dress that showcased her graceful figure and headed out to participate in the talent show. Just as she got into the car, she received a message that Annie had posted pictures of Lena¡¯s night out with a mysterious man just ten minutes ago, and it was already causing a buzz online. Mnie instructed the driver to go to Harbor Mall, all the while scrolling through the onlinements with a cold gaze. *Lena imed she had never been in a rtionship, didn¡¯t she? She said so in an interview. What''s this? It¡¯s all but a lie!¡± ¡°Who''s this man?¡± ¡°They say he¡¯s her brother-inw who''s also her boss. Her cousin¡¯s the manager with a broken leg. What a horrible pair!¡± Before she could even finish reading thements, Bryan West called. ¡°Mnie.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Let me exin.¡± Sensing her anger, Bryan¡¯s tone grew anxious. ¡°Don¡¯t believe everything you see... | did have too much to drinkst night, but | promise you, nothing happened between me and Lena.¡± ¡°How can you guarantee that?¡± she calmly asked. |...¡± Bryan hesitated for a moment before changing his tone. ¡°Mel | don¡¯t care if others doubt me. But after all this time we¡¯ve spent together, don¡¯t you know how much | care about you? How could | possibly be in love with someone else?¡± Mnie pursed her lips. He would not even dare to make a promise. Was he afraid of divine retribution? He was truly the worst! Suppressing her disgust, she replied, ¡°I understand. Right now, the most important thing is to manage public opinion.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Bryan thought she could still be easily appeased and quickly followed up with more sweet talk. ¡°My dear, with you handling all those online opinions, I¡¯m not worried at all.¡± With a cold look, Mnie nced at the iing call and said calmly, ¡°I need to take another call.¡± She hung up on the lousy man¡¯s call and answered the other. It came from one of thepany¡¯s subordinates, and their tone was filled with despair. ¡°Boss, what should we do? Several of Lena¡¯s sponsored brands and shows are taking a beating online. They want us to come up with a solution.¡± ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°We''re thinking of announcing that these are just photos of Lena acting in a drama and that the man is just a co-star. That should divert public attention.¡± 1/2 Han. +15 BONUS Mnie raised an eyebrow, amused by the suggestion. Over the past two years, she had taken charge of everything within the company. be it from managing talents and legal affairs to publicity. It was herpetence that allowed Bryan West to keep so many ipetent employees. The proposed suggestion had so many ws that Inte users would tear apart in an instant. With a smile, she replied. ¡°Very well, let¡¯s go with your suggestion.¡± Before hanging up, she heard jubnt voices on the other end. The inept subordinates had endured her harsh scolding for two years and they thought they had finally earned her recognition. She chuckled to herself. Let Bryan have a taste of how hispany would run without her. Mnie paid no further attention to the online discussions and put away her phone. She wanted the discussions to continue heating up while she attended the pageant. (1) The elevator doors opened. The crowd waiting in the outdoor seating area nced her way, and what began as a casual nce soon turned into silent admiration. This woman was undeniably beautiful! Moreover, she looked naturally elegant. The elegance did not stem from the high-end jewelry she wore but from her distinctive aura. After a brief moment of astonishment, the crowd noticed the cane in her hand. Wait. She was handicapped? ¡°An unknown, handicapped girl is trying out for the pageant... What a joke!¡± + Chapter 13 Chapter 13 The Fake Act ¡°Oh! Isn¡¯t she Mnie Jones, the heiress of the declining Joneses? She¡¯s the one whose fianc¨¦ was stolen by Lena Jones! Is she really this naive or just putting on a show bying here to aid Lena?¡± Two unknown celebrities led the mockery, quickly joined by others. Mnie remainedposed. Before she could respond, someone stepped up to defend her. ¡°How can you say that? Mnie is my cousin! When you criticize her, you''re criticizing me!¡± Lena, with a sweet and innocent appearance, navigated through the crowd and took Mnie¡¯s hand. She whispered in Mnie¡¯s ear, ¡°Mel, | knew you wouldn''t be mad at me. Last night was just a huge misunderstanding. There was nothing between me and Bryan.¡± Mnie turned to Lena, her lips curved into a sarcastic smile. ¡°Is that so?¡± Lena¡¯s eyes glittered. She continued. ¡°Of course, Mel! There are too many people here. Let''¡¯s talkter. But I¡¯m grateful that you''ve already secured an international endorsement deal for me this morning.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes simmered with a hidden resolve. She had secured not just one but several endorsement deals for Lena in the past couple of days. As Lena¡¯s public image continued to crumble in the days toe, thebined penalties from the breached contracts would be enough to leave her financially ruined. That was Mnie¡¯s way of holding Lena ountable for her behavior and her role in stealing her fianc¨¦. Unaware of Mnie¡¯s true intentions, Lena believed that her naive cousin was here to support her. Lena expressed, ¡°Today¡¯s talent show is super important for me. With you by my side, | feel confident.¡± ¡°Who said I¡¯m here to support you?¡± Mnie pushed Lena¡¯s hand away, her gaze icy.From N?velDrama.Org. Lena was taken aback. If Mnie was not here to support her, did she trulye here for the talent show? A cripple like Mnie? At that moment, the elevator doors opened again, and a naturally stunning figure emerged¡ªStephen Morgan. He had recently dyed his short hair chestnut color, and his fairplexion and youthful appearance left asting impression. Some folks in the crowd urged Lena. ¡°Hey, Lena. You know Stephen, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°| do, we¡¯re about to start filming together.¡± ¡°Could you go say hi to him and maybe introduce us? We might be able to probe for some information about the talent show¡± Lena was ttered by their praise and took a deep breath. She adjusted her bangs and approached Stephen. ¡°Stephen? Are you freeter? Our previous contract...¡± Stephen frowned, clearly irritated as he nced at Lena. He cut her off. ¡°Have we met?¡± A few people in the crowd could not contain theirughter. Lena¡¯s face turned ugly with displeasure. To her surprise, Stephen walked toward Mnie and initiated a conversation. ¡°You''re here, just as | expected!¡± Mnie had a striking appearance and an air of self-assuredness. It was easy to see why she had managed to captivate his uncle''s unyielding heart. That leg of hers though... Thankfully, there was a renowned acupuncturist within the family. When Stephen¡¯s uncle suffered a severe injury and was left paralyzed, experts from all over the world had dered his condition incurable. Yet it was this renowned doctor who had managed to heal him. Mnie would be cured in no time as well. Watching Mnie and Stephen¡¯s casual interaction, Lena clenched her fists. Her nails dug deep into her palms. That witch! +15 BONUS How could she possibly know Stephen? She must have gotten in touch with him behind thepany¡¯s back. Even Bryan was. kept in the dark! ¡°Here¡¯s your number tag.¡± Stephen handed a card to Mnie. Lena was shocked by this revtion. Mnie was genuinely participating in the talent show! Had she lost her mind? How could Morgan Group possibly select ame person for the International Socialites G? + Chapter 14 Chapter 14 She Has the Upper Hand ¡°Are you among the judgester?¡± Mnie asked. Stephen grinned mischievously. ¡°Although | won''t be there, my uncle is here today. He''ll be handing you your pass. Does that make it more prestigious?¡± Mnie took a step back, not appreciating Stephen¡¯s tone. Stephen did not linger further. He said, ¡°Il should get going!¡± Stephen was the second young master of the Morgan Group, and his words must carry some weight when it came to selecting the contestants. Mnie¡¯s open interaction with him made others envious. As Stephen left, mocking voices began to fill the air. ¡°A cripple aiming for the socialite gathering? She must be deeply affected by her fianc¨¦¡¯s affair. It''s that or she¡¯s lost her mind!¡± ¡°| heard that Mnie used her charms to promote Lena in the past. Now, she¡¯s gone all out for her own sake. Maybe there¡¯s something between her and Stephen...¡± ¡°Come on! Stephen wouldn''t even nce at her!¡± Mnie could not stand the ridicule any longer. She turned around and spilled her coffee all over that person. ¡°Argh! What are you doing? I¡¯m performing on stageter!¡± As the person was about to retaliate, Lena pretended to support Mnie and said, ¡°It¡¯s all because you started with the rude comments!¡± Lena turned to Mnie and said sweetly, ¡°Mel, if you wanted to participate in the selection, you should have told me in advance. Why hide it from me? We''re as close as sisters. | would never snatch something you like. How about | withdraw from this competition?¡° The fakeness of Lena¡¯s act filled the air. ¡°Is this worth it, Miss Lena?¡± said Lena¡¯s assistant in a regretful tone, cleverly following her lead. ¡°Our rtionship has always been good. | wouldn¡¯t want to ruin it over a mere contest. Besides, Mel is beautiful and wealthy. She¡¯s a much more suitable candidate than me.¡± Lena skillfully yed the role of boosting Mnie¡¯s confidence while subtly emphasizing her beauty and wealth. That further fanned the mes of jealousy among the crowd. Mnie grew impatient. She frowned and said, ¡°Great! You¡¯d better do what you said!¡± Lena was at a loss for words, realizing that Mnie still doubted her. As the people around them observed Mnie¡¯s straightforward demeanor and Lena¡¯s evasive attitude, they could not help but feel that Lena¡¯s words were insincere. The atmosphere grew tense. Lena knew better than to push things further, so she found a quiet spot and sat down. She nced at the number on Mnie¡¯s card. It seemed like there were quite a few digits on it. Lena could not help but smirk in secret. Even if Mnie knew Stephen, what did it matter? Stephen¡¯s favor was based on the rtionship with Bryan¡¯spany. Mnie was likely just a token gesture, and she would be ced at the end of the list. Just then, Lena¡¯s assistant emerged from the venue, handing her the contestant number. As the onlookers nced over, it was evident that Lena was indeed a hot favorite for today. Others had waited for two hours and were handed contestant numbers toward the back of the line. However, as soon as Lena arrived, she was ced as contestant number two. However, Lena was not satisfied. She frowned and said, ¡°Why am | not the first contestant?¡± Bryan had made all the necessary arrangements for her over the past few days. She was practically guaranteed a spot as long as there were no objections from the Morgan Group. +15 BONUS Her assistant snook ner nead, equally confused by the situation.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. At that moment, the doors to the exhibition hall swung open. The organizer¡¯s voice echoed through the room, announcing, ¡°Contestant number one, please enter!¡± That caused amotion among the celebrities and socialites seated in rows. They looked around, wondering why they had not heard anything about who was assigned to be contestant number one. Even Lena, who was the center of attention a moment ago, only held contestant number two. Amid the sea of doubt and whispers, Mnie gracefully rose from her seat with her cane and confidently walked toward the stage. Her entry was met with visible surprise on everyone¡¯s faces, especially Lena¡¯s. ¡°M-Mnie... She''s contestant number one?!¡± Mnie paid no attention to the chatter outside and calmly walked into the exhibition hall. She took the stage and greeted the judges. The reaction from the judges was far from weing. ¡°Who is this? Ame person participating in a talent show? Are they mocking our organizingmittee?¡± Several judges in the audience were clearly unhappy, their sarcastic remarks audible even on stage. ¡°Thank goodness Mr. Moore isn¡¯t here,¡± one judge remarked, casting a worried nce at the empty seat at the center. ¡°If Mr. Morgan¡¯s assistant had been present, they would think we¡¯re not taking this seriously for allowing a cripple to participate!¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 President Morgan Appears in Person Mnie maintained a professional smile as she gazed at the judges¡® panel. One of the figures among the judges was a man named Mr. Hans. She remembered him as the father of Lena¡¯s friend¡ªthe girl Mnie pped at the bachelorette party. Mnie anticipated that the man might try to make things difficult for her. Unfazed, she projected her prepared materials onto the screen. ¡°Here¡¯s my resume. I¡¯ve tailored it for my participation at the International Socialites G,¡± Mnie said calmly. Slide by slide, her presentation showcased her achievements. ¡°| started learning the piano, arts, and music from a young age. | also learned how to dance from the age of nine and excelled in various genres, especially ballet. ¡°This is the certificate | received from the Royal Academy of Dance at the age of fourteen for achieving the highest level in ballet. ¡°And these are photos from my performances in renowned ballet productions.¡± Mnie presented her aplishments confidently, but it was evident that the judges were not interested in hearing her out. After a few sentences, a judge impatiently interrupted her. ¡°That''s enough!¡± ¡°I''m not finished yet,¡± Mnie responded calmly. Mr. Hans, the most influential figure on the panel, furrowed his brow and waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Enough, please. Don¡¯t embarrassC¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org yourself. What''s the point of showcasing your abilities when you have a disability?¡± ¡°Mr. Hans is right! Who picked her? They must be making light of this event!¡± echoed a few judges. ¡°I''m currently receiving treatment for my injury. I''ll likely recover in time for the ball. Besides, can¡¯t a disabled girl pursue her dreams? My story of perseverance could be excellent publicity for Harbor City,¡± Mnie responded, determined to make her point. ¡°You''re just trying to justify it!¡± Mr. Hans eximed, ring at her impatiently. ¡°Are you leaving on your own, or should | get you to leave?¡± Seeing the tense atmosphere, the event organizer quickly intervened. ¡°Miss Mnie, you can leave your materials here.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Mnie replied, pursing her lips. She had an ace up her sleeve. Why should she argue with these irrational people? She was about to step down from the stage when a cold, stern voice echoed through the exhibition hall. ¡°You talk big, but why don¡¯t you prove your abilities? Disability is no excuse. A girl with a bad leg can dance, or at the very least, showcase their grace!¡± The doors to the exhibition hall swung open. Light shone upon a man sitting in a wheelchair. He had a handsome face, but his eyes were sharp and piercing. A single nce from him exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance, making one feel weak in the knees. ¡°President Morgan!¡± Jeffrey Morgan showed up in person! Several judges stood up, treating him with the utmost respect. They hurriedly offered him the center seat on the panel. Seeing Mnie¡¯s hesitation, Mr. Hans yelled at her in an attempt to kiss up to Stephen, ¡°What are you waiting for? President Morgan asked you to dance, can¡¯t you hear? So start dancing!¡± ¡°Please, go on ahead.¡± Stephen¡¯s assistant, William Moore, extended a hand to encourage her. Mnie had no chance to refuse; the music had already started. She took a deep breath and, with a strong grip on her cane, began to dance gracefully to the music. Her grace and fluid movements, developed through years of practice, allowed her to create smooth arcs around her crutch. She was like a butterfly fluttering its delicate wings. Mnie had a well¡ªdefined face, with especially expressive eyes. Although she wore minimal makeup, her presence on stage was 1/2 +15 BONUS Stephen''s eyes flickered. Even he could not help but admit that she was truly outstanding. As the dance concluded, the entire room fell silent. No one dared to speak before Jeffrey Morgan. To their surprise, Mnie broke the silence first. ¡°What do the judges think of my performance?¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Mr. Hans managed to regain hisposure and eximed, ¡°It was a mess! There was no grace nor beauty in that dance. Stop being an eyesore to President Morgan and get off the stage immediately!¡± ¡°You think | didn¡¯t dance well, Mr. Hans?¡± Mnie inquired. ¡°Only a blind man would think you danced well!¡± he retorted. Mnie lowered her gaze and tugged at her lip. She replied, ¡°Well, if | can get the pass from President Morgan, wouldn''t that mean you''re the blind one here?¡± Mr. Hans was caught off guard by her taunt. He red at her, infuriated, and yelled, ¡°Get off the stage, now! You''re out of your mind if you think you can get a pass from President Morgan!¡± Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Mnie Was Selected +15 BONUS ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Jeffrey Morgan''s voice resonated in the room. The statement finally put an end to Mr. Hans¡® need to impress. He adjusted his suit and thought. We might finally secure that investment from Morgan Group next quarter!¡¯ ¡°Miss Mnie.¡± At that moment, Jeffrey spoke again, addressing Mnie, ¡°Prep yourself. You''ll be attending the International Socialites G with representatives from Morgan Group.¡± What? Mr. Hans had initially nodded along but his smile had now frozen in ce. He looked as if he had seen a ghost. Mr. Hans stammered. ¡°Mr. Morgan, a¡ªare you confirming your selection?¡± Jeffrey''s voice turned cold, and he inquired, ¡°What? Do you think | have poor judgment? Or that I¡¯m blind?¡± ¡°N-no, I-I dare not...¡± Mr. Hans trembled in fear, no longer concerned about hispany¡¯s growth. He was solely thinking about how to save his own skin. The other judges in the room exchanged uncertain nces, realizing that not speaking up earlier had been a stroke of luck amid it all. The talent show had been meticulously prepared for three months, with numerous applications and screenings. In the end, the contestant was selected just after the first audition, and she happened to be a person with a disability. The decision was unconventional, but it was undoubtedly something Jeffrey Morgan woulde up with. After Jeffrey, Mnie Jones was the calmest person in the exhibition hall. After all, she knew that she had secured Morgan Group''s trump. card even beforeing here. Adjusting her dress, she confidently stepped down from the stage and added with a hint of sarcasm. ¡°Mr. Hans, your judgment in people iscking. Your business acumen must be subpar, too. I¡¯ve heard that you are seeking investment from Morgan Group. President Morgan, | suggest that you consider it carefully.¡± With that, she flipped her hair and made her exit. As she walked out, she noticed that Mr. Hans was trailing after Jeffrey Morgan with a dejected look on his face, likely trying to find a way to save his reputation. Once outside, Mnie was surprised to find that all the attention was still focused on Lena. ¡°Lena, did you see those online rumors this morning? They''re trying to smear your reputation.¡± ¡°Come on, we''re all in the same industry. These baseless rumors will die down as quickly as they surfaced. Who would believe them?¡± She adjusted her dress impatiently. ¡°Right, Lena is about to be the belle of society. Her poprity will skyrocket once she returns from the g. Why would she bother with these rumors?¡± The tteringments began pouring in. ¡°| heard that the head of Morgan Group will be attending and that the one to be selected today will be hispanion. | wonder, will Lena be escorted by Stephen, or will it be Jeffrey Morgan?¡± Despite being brushed aside by Stephen earlier, Lena knew how to bounce back. She imed that it was her connection with Jeffrey Morgan that led to a coboration with Stephen, so she had yet to meet Stephen in person. She also hinted that Jeffrey was the one backing her, which instantly sparked a ton of ttery. ¡°Oh, please, don¡¯t exaggerate. I¡¯ve only met President Morgan once... | might not even be selected.¡± Lena blushed, ying the modest card. ¡°It''s President Morgan We Lena?¡± talking about! Few people in the country have had the privilege of meeting him. Why are you being so humble, +15 BONUS Compliments and congrattions poured in from all sides. Lena nodded modestly, but her concealed pride was unmistakable. She did not make things up, not entirely. There was a time when she was on a flight, and she overheard that the CEO of Morgan Group was in the first-ss cabin. She rushed over to catch a glimpse, only to be stopped by the cabin crew. Nevertheless, she managed to catch a side profile of Jeffrey Morgan. It was just a glimpse, but Lena was captivated by his handsomeness. With his wealth and good looks, he must have impable taste. When Lena looked at the crowd around her, full of overdone makeup and vulgarity, she could not imagine why Jeffrey Morgan would be interested in them. The chosen beauty had to be her, especially with Bryan pulling the strings behind the scenes. ¡°Oh, my! Look, Lena. Your cousin¡¯spleted her audition!¡± Someone noticed Mnie standing in the background, eavesdropping on the gossip. Unable to mess with Lena, they vented their frustration on Mnie and eximed, ¡°Look at that pale face! She must be feeling so humiliated!¡± Laughter erupted, and someone said, ¡°How could a cripple represent the entire Harbor City in the debutante ball!¡± Amid the noisy crowd, Lena put away her smug expression and walked over to Mnie. ¡°Mel, the result doesn¡¯t matter. Just rx and takeContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. it easy.¡± ¡°You''re right. I¡¯m feeling very rxed right now,¡± Mnie replied with a smile. At that moment, the event organizer came out and announced, ¡°That concludes today¡¯s audition. We''ve selected the debutante for the International Socialites G!¡± The crowd turned silent. They were baffled. How could the judges have made a selection when they had only auditioned one person? Someone with quick thinking asked, ¡°Wait, does that mean Mnie Jones has been chosen as the debutante?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°How is that even possible!¡± *This is rushed and unfair to the other candidates!¡± Lena¡¯s assistant led the protest. The event organizer maintained order and proimed, ¡°This decision was personally endorsed by Mr. Jeffrey Morgan. Anyone have a problem with it?¡± ¡°Jeffrey Morgan?¡± ¡°Lena, you said you know President Morgan, right? Go talk to him. We¡¯ve prepared so much, and we haven''t even had a chance to audition yet...¡± The other aspiring candidates, discontent and desperate, began pushing Lena. Lena¡¯s face reddened. She had no connection with Jeffrey Morgan, so he certainly would not recognize her. + Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Abortion The crowd fell silent as realization hit. No one dared challenge the person who had just secured the prestigious spot. They also kept their eyes off the event organizer, but more importantly, they avoided crossing paths with Mnie, who had just secured a significant victory. Instead, they turned their disdainful gazes toward Lena and vent their frustration through sarcastic remarks. However, some quick-thinking, opportunistic folks swiftly changed their allegiance to Mnie. They rushed over to tter her with congrattory words, but Mnie had no interest in these fickle admirers. She simply walked away with her cane in hand to the elevator. As she reached the end of the corridor, someone caught up with her from behind and said, ¡°Miss Mnie, we will send you the invitation to the International Socialites G as soon as possible. In addition, we will need you to provide a medical report.¡± The employee from Morgan Group continued, emphasizing further, ¡°You understand, we want to ensure that you are in good health. Please follow the specified health check requirements.¡± Mnie epted the medical forms from the employee and nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Morgan Group¡¯s concerns extended beyond Mnie¡¯s physical well-being. They also wanted to ensure she did not have any detrimental habits. After all, she would be representing Harbor City at an event of important significance, and Mnie understood that. Leaving Harbor Mall, Mnie hailed a cab and retrieved the business card given to her by Jeffrey Morgan from her bag. The cardcked the doctor¡¯s name but disyed an address for a traditional Chinese medicine clinic. Mnie contemted for a moment before instructing the driver to take her there. The clinic was situated within a high-end private hospital, essible by walking through the hospital''s outpatient building. Mnie introduced herself and waited for a while inside. Soon, an elderly doctor arrived to examine her injury and perform the acupuncture. Half an hourter, Mnie stood up. She was amazed to find that her left foot, which she had not dared to exert for the past two years, could now bear her weight. ¡°| assume you''ve been taking care of your injured foot. Here are some herbal patches I¡¯ve prepared for you. Apply them every night before bed. In less than three days, you''ll regain full mobility,¡± the elderly doctor advised. Mnie¡¯s initial skepticism had melted away as she looked at him again, expressing her sincere gratitude. ¡°You''re a respected guest rmended by Mr. Morgan. No need for thanks,¡± the elderly doctor replied. With that, the doctor and his assistant, who carried a medicinal box, left. Mnie kept the patches and made her way out. As she exited the clinic, she realized it was conveniently close to the outpatient building. Since she had to undergo a medical examination as per Morgan Group¡¯s request, she decided to get it over with and underwent various tests. As shepleted her medical examination, Mnie caught a glimpse of a tall woman in sunsses and a hat, hurriedly entering an adjacent room designated for surgical appointments. Mnie¡¯s eyebrow arched ever so slightly. This figure seemed strangely familiar. If she made her guess based on the disguised silhouette, she might not be entirely sure. However, the woman held a limited¡ª edition handbag-the only one in all of Harbor City- which allowed Mnie to swiftly identify her. Lena Jones. Lena had put in more effort to acquire that limited¡ªedition bag than practicing her scripts. Mnie assumed that it was Bryan West who had footed the bill. Mnie blinked, observing the sign nearby that read ¡°Gynecology*. She had not heard any recent news about Lena¡¯s health concerns. Lena¡¯s secretive appointment at the gynecology clinic, without anC¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org assistant and in such a discreet disguise, left Mnie wondering. Could it be...? Mnie had been wondering how to make full use of West Corp¡¯s celebration tomorrow to deal with Bryan and Lena. Unexpectedly, Lena 1/2 +15 BONUS Mnie smirked. She retrieved her sunsses from her bag and put them on. She then walked over to the counter and deliberately lowered her voice before speaking. ¡°Excuse me, my friend had an appointment for a procedure, but | haven''t settled the payment for her yet...¡± The nurse scrutinized her from top to bottom and inquired. ¡°Your friend is...?¡± ¡°Lena Jones.¡± Mnie replied, further lowering her voice. The on-duty nurse immediately grasped the situation. In this upscale private hospital, celebrity visits were amon urrence, and the staff had grown ustomed to it. The nurse lowered her voice and replied, ¡°While the procedure might be minor, it¡¯s important to ensure the patient''s overall health. We¡¯re conducting a preliminary examination to assess her suitability for an abortion.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you,¡± Mnie responded. Aglint of sharpness appeared in Mnie¡¯s eyes. She could not believe that Lena Jones was pregnant! + Chapter 18 Chapter 18 She Wants to Meet You Things were going awry with the cheating pair. Arising star¡¯s secret rendezvous with her cousin¡¯s fianc¨¦ and getting pregnant before marriage. What a juicy piece of news! After leaving the nurse¡¯s station, Mnie took out her phone and saw a message from Annie Snow. (By the way, the Wests have been iming that your engagement to Bryan remains intact and that it''ll be held again in a week. What now?) Mnie replied: [Don¡¯t worry.] She quickly typed a message, [Tomorrow, I''ll have the entire world know that if | marry Bryan West, I''ll be the dumbest person on Earth!] Annie asked with anticipation. [Does this mean we¡¯re in for a show tomorrow?] [Exactly! But I''ll need your help.] Mnie replied: (Where are you? Let¡¯s meet.] The two found a spot at a nearby coffee shop and spent half an hour coordinating their ns. In the end, Mnie handed Annie the ess card to Bryan¡¯s office, a card he had given her in the past. Annie clutched the ess card tightly, her anticipation clear as she eximed. ¡°Tomorrow morning. Bryan and Lena will be the biggest joke Harbor City has ever seen!¡± Right after seeing Annie off, Mnie¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from her mother¡¯s assistant, Mr. Lincoln. ¡°Miss Mnie, your mother has presented your proposal for the new perfume lineup. The board members are dissatisfied with it. Would you like toe over in person?¡± ¡°Understood, I''ll be there immediately.¡± Mr. Lincoln had been her father¡¯s most trusted assistant during his lifetime and had continued to assist her mother in managing the company after her father¡¯s passing. He would not have called unless the situation was urgent. Just as Mnie was about to hail a cab. ¡°Click.¡± Aluxury MPV suddenly pulled up beside her. The window rolled down halfway, revealing Stephen Morgan with his hat shielding his face. Thinking about what Jeffrey Morgan had said about marrying Stephen Morgan if her foot was healed in three days, Mnie¡¯s gaze darkened. She got into the car and asked, ¡°Do you need something from me?¡± ¡°Can''t | see you if | don¡¯t need anything from you?¡± Stephen replied yfully. ¡°If you don¡¯t need anything, don¡¯t waste my time. I¡¯m busy,¡± she said, ready to leave. Stephen hurriedly changed his tone. ¡°Alright, alright. The olddy''sing home from overseas; and she insists on meeting you. You have toe to my ce this Sunday.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°Because you''re to be her granddaughter¡ªinw! When she heard that she would be getting a granddaughter¡ªinw, she decided to rush back home. Just view it as something you''re doing tofort her. It won¡¯t take much of your time.¡± Stephen exined cautiously, fearingFrom N?velDrama.Org. Mnie¡¯s refusal. However, Mnie had no intention of agreeing. ¡°I agreed to a secret marriage in exchange for a condition with President Morgan, but meeting the elders...that¡¯s apletely different matter.¡± With that, she turned and got out of the car. Stephen hurriedly caught up from behind, saying, ¡°We can negotiate on that. Just mention whatever you want.¡± Mnie paused, a sudden idea crossing her mind. She asked, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Stephen replied earnestly, nodding. 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°Alright then. As long as you be the brand ambassador for Jones Enterprise¡¯s pertume lineup, I''ll agree, Mnie said assuredly. Considering Stephen¡¯s carefree and extravagant nature, the prospect of him having a wife must indeed be exciting for the elders in the family. Yet, that was precisely why Mnie dared agree to the secret marriage with him. The man would lose interest quickly, and that would give her the freedom to leave at any time. ¡°Jones Enterprise produces perfume for women. Am | suitable for that?¡± Stephen asked with hesitation. ¡°We''re about tounch a line of men¡¯s perfume as well. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll send you the proposal. You can discuss it with your agent. If it looks good to you,e to Jones Enterprise in half an hour. We''ll discuss further.¡± Mnie assured him. Seeing Mnie brimming with confidence, Stephen could not help but chuckle to himself. It was Stephen who had initiated this meeting today. Seeing how she had a proposal prepared, it was beginning to feel like he had walked into a trap. However, even if Mnie¡¯s proposal was oundish, Stephen did not have the authority to refuse. If his uncle found out he had messed up this matter, he would be in deep trouble. After receiving Stephen¡¯s assurance, Mnie instructed the driver to take her to Jones Enterprise. As soon as she arrived at the building, Mnie noticed a group of reporters surrounding Lena, interviewing her. Mnie¡¯s expression darkened. Lena sure changed her outfit quickly. She rushed to Jones Enterprise for an interview with the press right after her appointment at the hospital. Mnie had a feeling it had something to do with her proposal today. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Reelecting the Chairman It was good that Lena was here. It saved Mnie the trouble of looking for her. Mnie walked past the reporters and overheard their questions. ¡°Lena, Mnie Jones is your manager and your cousin. Why is shepeting with you for a spot at the International Socialites G? Are you not getting along?¡± ¡°How was she selected by the judges? Is there some foul y involved?¡± Lena, with an innocent expression, eximed, ¡°No way! It must be a misunderstanding. Mnie isn¡¯t like that. She¡¯s a capable person with great ideas. Over the past two years, she¡¯s the one who¡¯s sealed all of my business deals. She even manages things in Jones Enterprise. She¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°Are you saying Mnie Jones has the support of Jones Enterprise and knows how to get things done behind the scenes?¡± The reporters interpreted Lena¡¯s implications perfectly. Lena covered her mouth with her hand, pretending to have made a slip of the tongue. Her assistant stepped in to protect her, saying.¡± Please stop asking. Lena is very naive when ites to business matters.¡± Mnie continued walking past the crowd, a hint of mockery on her lips. What a show Lena was putting on! She did not have time to bother with Lena¡¯s insinuations. Let Lena dance happily a little longer. Mnie was eager to see how Lena would continue her innocent act when her misdeeds were exposed to the entire Harbor City. Mnie took the elevator directly to the meeting room on the top floor. As she turned the corner, she heard her uncle, Daniel Jones, shouting discontentedly, ¡°We can¡¯t even handle women¡¯s perfume property. and now we want to dive into men¡¯s perfume? It¡¯s absurd! Whose ridiculous proposal is this?¡± ¡°That would be me.¡± Mnie pushed the door open, the crisp sound of her cane against the floor announcing her arrival. Mr. Lincoln hurried over to wee her and pulled out a chair for her. Mnie nodded to her mother.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Seeing Mnie''s involvement, Daniel was visibly frustrated. ¡°Do you have any idea where thepany stands right now? Must you destroy the legacy left by your father? | propose we reelect the chairman!¡± In response, several factions loyal to Daniel echoed his sentiments. ¡°Why?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°Your mother has been upying the chairman¡¯s position without bringing about proper results. This is the voice of the board!¡± Daniel Jones continued to set the tone. Mnie sneered. ¡°And are you any more capable, Uncle Daniel? Why don¡¯t you share your aplishments?¡± oo Daniel Jones was momentarily speechless. However, he had a hidden agenda for this meeting. Fearing Mnie would disrupt things, he chose to take a more aggressive stance.¡± Anyway, all the directors are here today! Let''s vote right now. Those in favor of reelecting the chairman, raise your hands!¡± Daniel was the first to raise his hand. As the chairman, Eliza Jones held no voting power. Daniel Jones smugly looked across the table. Many of his loyal supporters raised their hands, collectively owning more than half of the shares. He adjusted his tie, his mind began daydreaming about his reign as chairman. ¡°See, this is the voice of the majority!¡± ¡°| disagree.¡± Mnie calmly raised her gaze. ¡°Without my agreement, your shares don¡¯t add up to a majority.¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS Daniel''s expression shifted from one of triumph to anger. ¡°Are you a shareholder? What right do you have to disagree? It¡¯s impossible not to have a majority!¡± He grinned at the group¡¯s corporatewyer, instructing. ¡°Tell her, Mr. Reynolds! Have her ept reality!¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 An Astronomical Fee ¡°It''s indeed not enough.¡± Mr. Reynolds¡¯ objective tone shifted the intense atmosphere in the boardroom. ¡°The chairman transferred half of her shares to Miss Mnie, and the share transfer was effective as of yesterday. So, this vote doesn¡¯t have a majority.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be!¡± Daniel, filled with anger and embarrassment, stood up without regard for his image and shouted at Eliza, ¡°My older brother said Mnie shouldn¡¯t enter thepany! This is the Joneses¡¯ legacy! We can¡¯t have everything belong to just you and your daughter!¡± *Jones Enterprise was built from the ground up by my father. Allowing you into thepany was a gesture of brotherly love. After his passing, inheritancews state that Jones Enterprise belongs to my mother and I. It does not belong to the family. You mustn¡¯t mix them up, Uncle Daniel¡± Mnie replied. Mnie stood tall, maintaining herposure, and turned to address the group. She said. ¡°The agenda of today¡¯s meeting is to discuss how to reverse the losses suffered by the perfume division. Let us not get sidetracked.¡± Those in the room who supported Eliza chimed in, steering the discussion back on course. Daniel and his allies exchanged a few words. Once they were certain that Mnie had genuinely joined the board, they loosened their ties reluctantly and took their seats. ¡°I''ve been preparing this proposal for a while. The project''s feasibility has been assessed by professionals. It¡¯s precisely because the women¡¯s perfume market is oversaturated that we need to take a different path. We need to break out of ourfort zone and try our hands at men¡¯s perfume,¡± Mnie stated confidently. ¡°Do you even know if that is our way out or a dead end?¡± Daniel sneered, firmly opposing her. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about anything else; just consider the issue of the brand ambassador for advertising. If we were developing a new women¡¯s perfume, | could persuade Lena to endorse it, but who do you intend to hire for men¡¯s perfume?¡± ¡°No. We don¡¯t need her as the ambassador.¡± Mnie interrupted. Lena was about to have her public image crumble. The projects she endorsed would suffer terribly. Avoiding her would be the wiser choice. ¡°Exactly.¡± At that moment, the boardroom door swung open, and Lena Jones removed her sunsses as she entered. ¡°My current endorsement fee is definitely beyond what Jones Enterprise can afford.¡± Daniel and his daughter exchanged a look. Daniel quickly chimed in, trying to sound helpful. ¡°Lena, even though the status of Jones Enterprise no longer matches your celebrity status, considering our familial ties, can¡¯t you offer a discounted rate?¡± ¡°| was just joking with everyone earlier.¡± Lena confidently took a seat, unapologetically stating. ¡°We¡¯re all family here. Of course, I¡¯m open to negotiation.¡± Daniel, feeling gleeful, raised his head and said. ¡°That¡¯s my daughter! She knows what''s right. Mnie, Lena is willing to endorse the women¡¯s perfume at a good price. Why bother with men¡¯s perfume line? Who can you possibly get to endorse it?¡± Mnie watched the father¡ªdaughter duo¡¯s act, a sarcastic smile on her lips. ¡°I can surely secure a male celebrity with a bigger following than Lena. Don¡¯t worry about that, Uncle.¡± ¡°Boasting should have its limits, Mnie. With our current budget, can you hire anyone of note? Lena might consider a discount, but would the others consider that? Don¡¯t boast to the extent that you end up hiring a third-rate celebrity!¡± Daniel Jones remarked, his face growing uglier by the minute. ¡®Is Stephen Morgan considered third-rate, then?¡± Mnie¡¯s expression remained unchanged. The board members present erupted in a mor. Stephen Morgan was a top-tier celebrity, and his endorsement fee was astronomical. Amid the tense atmosphere, Daniel Jones ruffled his balding head and issued a stern warning. ¡°Mnie, stop boasting. It¡¯s getting out ofExclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. hand!¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS Mnie paid no need to nis protests. She nced at ner phone. With a satisfied smile, she turned to say, ¡°Mr. Lincoln, could you please head outside and meet someone for me? Also, bring two copies of the endorsement contract | drafted. Thank you.¡± Daniel clenched his teeth, his resentment palpable. ¡°What''s with all the secrecy? I''d like to see if you can get Stephen Morgan to agree to this. Who knows what kind of person you can hire!¡± Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Heaven-Sent ¡°What am | then?¡± At that moment, someone entered the room. To everyone¡¯s astonishment, it was indeed Stephen Morgan! All the board members stood up in awe, their faces full of respect. In their eyes, Stephen was not just a popr young actor; he was also the second young master of the Morgan Group. No one could have anticipated that Mnie had managed to bring him here. ¡°Mr. Morgan, please don¡¯t misunderstand. | wasn¡¯t referring to you.¡± Daniel hurriedly apologized, forcing a smile. Lena quickly fixed her appearance to greet Stephen. However, Stephen paid no attention to them and simply turned to Mnie. He said, ¡°I think your proposal is good. I''ll sign it.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Mnie¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile. However, Stephen deliberately wrinkled his nose in disdain and looked at Daniel. ¡°But this room is too stuffy. Let''s change to somece else.¡± Mnie extended her hand and said, ¡°In that case, let¡¯s move next door to discuss the details and sign the contract.¡± Daniel stopped them as they were about to leave. ¡°Mnie! What are you doing? Are you aware of how influential Mr. Morgan is? His endorsement fee is among the highest in the country. Are you sure you can handle this?¡± Daniel gave several meaningful nces, and his trusted aides joined in, echoing his concerns. ¡°That¡¯s right, Miss Mnie. Mr. Morgan is not someone you can afford to offend. If there¡¯s any trouble, it will be Jones Enterprise that bears the consequences!¡± Mnie turned her head calmly and looked at Stephen Morgan. ¡°Since Mr. Morgan appreciates my proposal, how about a discount on the endorsement fee? I''ll determine the amount. What do you say?¡± Stephen immediately nodded with an agreeable expression. ¡°Of course, that¡¯s fine by me.¡± As they watched Mnie and Stephen leave, Daniel was left dumbfounded. He could not shake the feeling that Mnie had cast some kind of spell on Stephen. ¡°How did that girl possibly know someone from the Morgan Group?¡± Daniel furrowed his brows, puzzled. Lena was equally curious. After some thought, she leaned in close to her father and whispered, ¡°She¡¯s not that capable. It¡¯s only because Bryan recently requested her to help with the coboration with Stephen that she had the opportunity.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Daniel nodded. That made sense. Otherwise, how could he have failed at establishing a connection with the Morgans even after decades ofworking while a young girl like Mnie seeded?Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°No worries.¡± Daniel reassured Lena. ¡°Once Bryan establishes himself in the West Corp, you won''t have to worry about anything. ¡°I''ve heard that the man Mnie offended, Mr. Hans¡ªhis wife has a close rtionship with the chairperson of the International Socialites G. With their interference, Mnie might not even be able to attend the g!¡± Lena¡¯s eyes sparkled with delight. ¡°That¡¯s excellent news! Dad, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Daniel Jones patted Lena¡¯s shoulder. ¡°When the timees, everything Mnie has will be yours!¡± In the meeting room next door. Mnie secured Stephen Morgan¡¯s endorsement, but an additional use was added to the contract stating that the quality and innovation of the men¡¯s perfume must meet the Morgan Group¡¯s standards. Otherwise, the contract would be terminated. She knew that the Morgans would not give in that easily, but that also served as motivation for her to seed, and she had confidence in herself. 1/2 +15 BONUS Soon, a secretary from Jones Enterprise knocked on the door. Iney informed Mnie that Bryan and Lena were outside and waiting to meet with her. Mnie raised an eyebrow and nodded. The timing could not be better with both of them arriving together as if it were heaven¡ª sent. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Revenge Begins As Bryan and Lena entered, Mnie immediately caught a familiar scent of perfume. It was the same one she used. She could not help but smirk. Mnie recalled how after she had questioned Bryan twice about the scent of a woman¡¯s perfume on him, Lena tried to deceive her by asking her about her perfume, iming that she liked it too. Since then, Lena had been using the same perfume as Mnie, making it convenient for Lena to engage in an affair with Bryan. Lena, unaware of Mnie¡¯s thoughts, approached her with a conciliatory tone. ¡°Mel, I¡¯ve invited Bryan today to set things straight. Let''s not hold any grudges.¡± Mnie responded sarcastically, ¡°I obtained the invite for the International Socialites G. Is that not something you''ll hold a grudge over? Lena waved her hands and feigned a smile. ¡°Of course not, I¡¯m genuinely happy for you.¡± At that moment, Bryan approached and embraced Mnie in an overbearing manner, eximing, ¡°Mel, being intoxicated was the cause of these misunderstandings. | promise | won''t ever drink that much again. Please believe me, Mel. | love only you. Ina few days, we''ll have our engagement ceremony again.¡± It was amazing how love could reduce one¡¯s intelligence to none. Mnie could not believe she had fallen for Bryan¡¯s act in the past.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. She took a deep breath to control her frustration. Bryan continued to talk, thinking she fell for his act. ¡°Tomorrow is the anniversary of the West Corp, Mel. My father will officially announce my entry into the board in front of the media. I¡¯ll be able to give you a better life starting then!¡± Anticipating the benefits, Bryan eagerly continued, ¡°So, can you apany me tomorrow morning, Mel? It will help dispel the media''s suspicions...¡± Mnie reluctantly nodded, gritting her teeth. Bryan was thrilled by her response and kissed her on the cheeks in excitement. ¡°Great! Don¡¯t worry, Mel. In a few days, I''ll have an even bigger surprise for you at the engagement ceremony!¡± ¡°Great,¡± Mnie responded, blinking with a glint of cold determination in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m going to prepare a big surprise for you too!¡± While Bryan was hugging Mnie, Lena yed along with the act and said, ¡°I¡¯m d you made up! I¡¯m so happy for the both of you!¡± Mnie concealed her intentions beneath her icy smile. Just then, Bryan''s assistant entered the room in a panic. ¡°Sir, we have a problem! The male lead in Miss Lena¡¯s recent film debunked the rumors and said that he never had any intimate scenes with her. The haters are using this as an opportunity to stir up controversy! They dug up all the scripts Miss Lena had received and imed that there was no such scene. The Inte is in an uproar! Reporters are gathering downstairs, and the crowd is growing!¡± Lena grabbed the assistant¡¯s phone and quickly skimmed through the online news. She was worried out of her mind. Her falsies fluttered as she asked, ¡°What should we do, Mel?¡± They would only think of Mnie when there was trouble. Mnie bit her lower lip and said, ¡°I''ll take you to a safe ce first. As for the media, I''ll think of something.¡± Bryanforted Lena. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mnie will take care of it.¡± Mnie did not waste any time and took Lena out the back door and drove away. Once they were in the car, Mnie immediately messaged Annie: [It¡¯s time.] Annie replied within seconds, (Got it! It¡¯s time to show what I¡¯ve got!] After driving for a while, Mnie looked in the rearview mirror with suspicion and asked the driver, ¡°Is someone following us?¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS The driver slowed down and observed for a moment. He replied, ¡°It seems so. | nose two cars have been following us since we left the Office.¡± Lena panicked and kept looking behind. She asked in a panic, ¡°What should we do? It must be the paparazzi!¡± Mnie, gazing out of the window, thought for a moment. ¡°The West Corp''s office is just ahead. They have a security team so you can hide there for a while. I''ll continue driving and divert the paparazzi.¡± Lena did not have any better ideas, so she agreed to Mnie¡¯s n. Mnie dropped her off at the West Corp''s office. Though it was after work hours, the security at the West Corp recognized Lena and knew of her rtionship with Bryan, so no one tried to stop her. Using Bryan¡¯s ess card, Lena slipped into his office. + Chapter 23 Chapter 23 The Wests¡® Grand Celebration In Bryan West''s office, hidden cameras were already in ce. All the footage streamed to Mnie¡¯s smartphone in a grid pattern. She instructed the driver to send her home. Not long after, Annie¡¯s people disguised as paparazzi arrived and positioned themselves outside the West Corp¡¯s building, just as Lena Jones peered out from Bryan¡¯s office window. Lena panicked and dialed Bryan¡¯s number on her phone. On the other end, Mnie picked up the phone and answered the call. ¡°Babe, I¡¯m trapped at the West Corp. You have toe and...¡± Before Lena could finish her sentence, Mnie pressed the y button on herputer, ying a pre-recorded conversation Annie had prepared for Lena to hear. ¡°Whose call is that, Bryan?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. You''re the one I¡¯m focused on.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°You know, | see you hanging around Lena often. | thought you liked her type.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. She¡¯s a celebrity. And she¡¯s friendly with many men. You, on the other hand, are elegant and capable. I¡¯m not a fool | can tell who¡¯s better. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m just using her to benefit thepany.¡± The synthesized voices of Mnie and Bryan were very convincing, and it left Lena trembling and she copsed to the ground. No wonder Bryan had warned her earlier that he would be busy with preparations for the West Corp¡¯s anniversary celebration. He explicitly told her not to contact him and to lie low. That was what he was busy with tonight! Lena dug her nails into her palm as she listened. The sound that came next was of Bryan, panting. It was a sound Lena knew too well confirming her suspicions that he was indeed lying to her. Bryan had imed he would never be with Mnie, but it seemed he had been enjoying himself. He had been deceiving her all along! Lena was torn between anger and frustration. She wanted to storm out and confront Bryan, but the growing crowd of paparazzi and fans outside made it impossible for her to escape. Overwhelmed and desperate, she paced back and forth in Bryan¡¯s office. However, as time passed, she began to feel physically and mentally drained. Her vision blurred, and a profound weariness overcame her, making her long for nothing more than to curl up and sleep. Early the next morning, a chauffeur from the West Corp arrived at Mnie¡¯s residence to escort her to the anniversary celebration at the West Corp headquarters. Mnie had taken the effort to prepare herself meticulously, wearing an elegant and tasteful outfit that perfectly suited the asion. She stood confidently alongside the Wests and several board members, greeting the prominent figures of Harbor City¡¯s business world and representatives from well-known media. Bryan, observing the surroundings, noticed therge presence of journalists. He remarked warily. ¡°There seem to be many reporters here today, not just the ones covering business topics.¡± Mnie replied calmly, ¡°Yes, | know how important today is to you. That¡¯s why | made sure to invite entertainment media who would interview me for the International Socialites G.¡± ¡°Thank you, my dear, for your support,¡± Bryan said insincerely, leaning close as he feigned intimacy in front of the cameras. ¡°After today. I''ll 1/2 +15 BONUS Mnie wore a practiced smile on her face, concealing her inner contempt as she silently wished for his downfall. Bryan paused, unable to suppress his concern as he asked, ¡°By the way, Mel, where did Lena headst night?¡± ¡°She probably went home.¡± Mnie responded casually, her tone nonchnt, ¡°Last night, she asked me to help her distract the paparazzi, and we lost each other.¡± Bryan nodded, though his gaze betrayed his unease. He refrained from mentioning that he had been unable to contact Lena throughout the night. His phone had gone missing too. Even now, his subordinates had not managed to reach Lena.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Although he found the situation suspicious, he dared not let it distract him in front of so many cameras. He would address it once the interviews were over. ¡°What''s wrong? Worried about Lena?¡± Mnie teased knowingly. Bryan quickly shook his head and replied, ¡°Not at all. It¡¯s just that with all these entertainment reporters, it feels as though you¡¯ve organized a press conference for Lena.¡± Mnie smiled, her lips sealed in secrecy. You wouldn¡¯t know but this proce conference isn¡¯t for long! Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Sensational News Mnie stood by Bryan¡¯s side, holding the extravagant bouquet of roses he had given her. It was impossible to overlook. ¡°Mr. West, we''ve heard that Miss Jones just secured an invite for the International Socialites G. Is that true?¡± As expected, despite the reporters¡¯ initial inquiries, the spotlight quickly shifted to the topic of engagement between the two families. ¡°That''s right!¡± Bryan replied, quickly gripping Mnie¡¯s hand, pride evident in his eyes as he pulled her closer. ¡°May | ask if Mr. West and Miss Jones n to reschedule the engagement ceremony?¡± ¡°Of course we do!¡± Bryan responded with unwavering determination. ¡°Mr. West, would you be willing to let your future wife continue her pursuits after marriage?¡± another reporter inquired. ¡°We''re living in modern times.¡± Bryan replied with an insincere smile, his tone filled with tenderness. ¡°Women should also pursue their own passions. If she¡¯s happy, I¡¯m happy.¡± The atmosphere became lively, and the rumors about infidelity and the rift between the Wests and Joneses seemed to evaporate. ¡°Mr. West is truly an exemry boyfriend!¡± ¡°He¡¯s not just an exemry boyfriend, he¡¯s an exemry heir!¡± The media eagerly continued, ¡°Over the years, among the heirs of Harbor City¡¯s prestigious families, Mr. West has always been a rare gem.¡± *Indeed! Mr. West has always been modest and he¡¯s never allowed his personal conduct to tarnish the reputation of the West Corp!* Bryan¡¯s parents nodded with satisfaction at thesements. ¡°Indeed, our son has been diligent and dedicated from a young age. Bryan embodies the values of the West Corp-integrity and honesty.¡± ¡°From a young age, | groomed Bryan to be the heir of the West Corp. His character reflects the values of our family¡ªupright and virtuous!¡± Mnie, surrounded by the adoring media, could not help but let a smile y at her lips, devoid of any real emotion. However, her eyes gleamed with cold determination. ¡°You''ll find out just how ¡®upright and virtuous¡¯ Bryan West truly is! thought Mnie. ¡°Please follow me, everyone. In ten minutes, we will be ying the promotional video for the West Corp¡¯s 30th anniversary celebration on the tallest building across the river in Harbor City.¡± One of the West Corp¡¯s assistants guided the media and guests to the square. As Bryan followed along, someone suddenly tugged at his arm from behind. He turned around and was astonished. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Lena, wearing a hat and a mask, disregarded the chaos and pulled Bryan to a secluded corner. ¡°Bryan, you must give me an exnation today!¡± ¡°Don''t be ridiculous!¡± Bryan pushed her away in frustration. With so many media, cameras, and virtually all of Harbor City¡¯s business elite present, Mnie¡¯s reckless actions left him baffled. Was she out of her mind? (2 However, as Bryan rejected her with a firm demeanor, Lena began believing in what she had heard with her own ears yesterday. ¡°Bryan, are you lying to me? Tell me, who do you really love? Is it me or Mnie?¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind? Do you know the significance of today and how important it is for me? Why are you bringing up such matters now?¡± Bryan was both embarrassed and angry, but he could not afford to make a scene with so many people around. ¡°Hah!¡± Lenaughed coldly, herughter bordering on tears. ¡°I don¡¯t care. | want you to prove that you love me and that it has always been me!¡± 1/2 #15 BONUS As she spoke, Lena began to undress herself... At that moment, the square outside the West Corp¡¯s gates was bustling with people. The reporters, holding cameras and live-streaming equipment, pointed their lenses across the river to the tallest building into a The promotional video started to y. ¡°Whoa, the production''s high-end! The West Corp sure has elegant taste!¡± The journalists praised. Mr. West, with a proud smile, said, ¡°My son was in charge of the promotional video.¡± ¡°Indeed, Mr. Bryan West sure is exceptional. The West Corp is in good hands. How fortunate! The guests around them aso jored in withpliments. Lena¡¯s parents stood at the back of the crowd. Lily looked at the bustling scene and said, ¡°When Bryan joins the board he will have even more resources to offer to Lena!¡± ¡°Just resources? His heart is wholly dedicated to Lena. That means everything from the West Corp belongs to Lena Camiel ander nacply Suddenly, the video signal flickered. The sophisticated music abruptly changed into the voices of a man and a woman entangled in a heated argument. The dramatic shift in the content immediately captured everyone¡¯s attention. Not only the guests and media at the West Corps celebration but also passersby on the busymercial street and online viewers. Everyone was stunned by the image depicted on the tall building! Every frame of the magnified inage showed Lena nearly undressed, clinging to Bryan. ¡°You can¡¯t be so selfish! You can¡¯t abandon me after starting this with me. I¡¯m carrying your child!¡± ¡°Aren''t you selfish too? You were secretly looking to have an abortion! Did you think | wouldn¡¯t find out? Aren¡¯t you doing it to protect your career?¡± Bryan responded. The explicit images and dialogue had Harbor City¡¯s entirework boiling with excitement! Reporters rushed forward, the sound of camera shutters was relentless, and the bright live broadcast cameraspeted for the sensational news. + Chapter 25 Chapter 25 A Shocking Revtion The sound of shattering ss echoed as Felix West¡¯s wine ss fell from his grasp, leaving shattered remnants on the floor. ¡°Idiots!¡± Felix couldn¡¯t care less about maintaining hisposure. He yelled at his subordinates, ¡°Get this mess sorted out! Now!¡± His subordinates hurriedly tried to figure out what was happening, but the control system for the live feed had been compromised. No one knew the exact location of Bryan West and Lena Jones. The entire city was in an uproar due to the live broadcast of the city¡¯s tycoon and the famous actress. People on the streets stopped in their tracks, pointing and gossiping. The guests at the West Corp¡¯s celebration were in disarray, and even the online live¡ªstreaming tforms were overwhelmed, briefly crashing. However, amid the city¡¯s frenzy, the couple continued their intimate encounter on screen, unaware of the chaos going on. ¡°You were with Mniest night, and now you''re lying to me!¡± Lena used. ¡°| didn¡¯t! You¡¯re insane!¡± Bryan retorted. He managed to free himself from Lena¡¯s grasp, but she swiftly pounced on him, biting his shoulder and passionately kissing him. ¡°You said it yourself! You love the way | make you feel. No one else can rece me!¡± Lena eximed. Bryan quickly sumbed to her seduction, and the ensuing scenes were too explicit for the media to handle. The reporters were in an uproar. *Lena Jones marketed herself as pure and innocent, but she was secretly seducing her cousin''s boyfriend. What a shocking revtion!¡± *Lena Jones is unmarried and pregnant, yet she ns to keep it a secret from the public!¡± *Bryan West, who publicly imed to be a doting boyfriend, has been revealed as a fraud! Lena Jones as the ¡®other woman¡® shamelessly demands that he can¡¯t be with his girlfriend. This is outrageous!¡± It took ten minutes for the West Corp¡¯s team to finally cut off the live feed from the skyscraper. However, the explicit images and content were already stored on everyone¡¯s phone in Harbor City, making asting impression. Amid the chaos, Felix and his wife, along with the shareholders of the West Corp, retreated hastily. They locked themselves inside the headquarters, their voices raised in protest. ¡°Mr. West, we strongly oppose Bryan¡¯s inclusion in the board of directors!¡± *If you insist on pushing Bryan into the board of directors, then the West Corp would be heading toward bankruptcy!¡± Felix had no immediate response, but his anger was evident in his gaze. ¡°Find that troublemaker and bring him to me!¡± Outside the office, the event''s guests and media began to disperse. Some of the elite business figures who had conversed with the Joneses just moments ago could not resist making snide remarks as they left. ¡®Mr. Jones''s daughter is quite a master at what she does!¡± ¡°No doubt about it. Watching Lena Jones, one would think she¡¯s a seasoned professional. An innocent songbird? What a joke!¡± Daniel and Lily Jones were utterly embarrassed and wished there was a hole to hide in. A few journalists managed to corner Mnie, the only person around who was closest to the Wests. ¡°Miss Jones, given your close rtionship with Bryan West and Lena Jones, were you aware of their affair?¡± ¡°|... [had no idea...¡± Mnie responded, feigning surprise and helplessness in her voice. ¡°Who do you think orchestrated this? Could it be Lena Jones?¡± The journalist relentlessly questioned Mnie. Surrounded, Mnie stood her ground and put on a pitiable expression. ¡°If | knew, the engagement banquet wouldn¡¯t have been abruptly canceled two days ago...¡± 1/2 The reporters seemed to agree with what Mnie said. +15 BONUS Just then, Annie Snow, nked by a team of security guards, pushed through the crowd. She stood by Mnie¡¯s side and said, ¡°Mnie hasn¡¯t married Bryan West yet. She¡¯s not part of the Wests. She¡¯s just a victim of these circumstances. If you have any questions, why not ask the individuals involved? Besides, isn¡¯t an independent woman pursuing a career just as appealing as being a good wife and mother?¡± Annie¡¯s words left the reporters momentarily stunned. Seizing the opportunity, Annie escorted Mnie away from the press, and they quickly got into a waiting car and drove off. ¡°Not bad.¡± Mnie teased as they settled into the car. ¡°You delivered that ¡®independent woman¡¯ speech quite smoothly!¡± ¡°| sure did!¡± Annie replied, feeling a huge sense of satisfaction.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Mnie leaned back in her seat. She closed her eyes and savored the chaos that had unfolded outside the West Corp building moments ago. Since discovering the betrayal, she felt a heavy weight on her chest. Now, it finally felt like she could breathe. The car had barely traveled when it abruptly screeched to a halt. Annie eximed, ¡°Are they out of their mind?¡± Mnie opened her eyes and saw another vehicle up ahead, obstructing their car. + Chapter 26 +15 BONUS Chapter 26 Uncle Jeffrey A person got down from the car and stood respectfully in front of their vehicle. Mnie immediately recognized him. It was the assistant who stood behind Jeffrey Morgan¡¯s wheelchair during the g selections. Recalling her agreement with Stephen the previous day, she exchanged a few words with Annie and got out to join the assistant. ¡°Miss Mnie, I¡¯m here to take you to the Morgans¡® residence to meet the old madam,¡± the assistant said, handing her several pages of documents. ¡°Wasn''t it supposed to be this weekend?¡± she asked. *The old madam returned from abroad ahead of schedule and wishes to meet you immediately,¡± the assistant exined. ¡°Very well.¡± Observing her borate attire, Mnie hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Please drop me off at home first so | can change into more suitable attire.¡± The assistant, not wanting to make decisions on his own, picked up the phone and dialed Jeffrey Morgan¡¯s number. He then handed the phone to Mnie. ¡°Miss Mnie, the president would like to speak with you.¡± Mnie answered the call. On the other end, Jeffrey¡¯s cold voice came across. ¡°There are some documents in the car for you to familiarize with. You might face some questionster. Make sure you don¡¯t get it wrong.¡± Mnie furrowed her brow. Stephen sure seemed unreliable. He needed her to join him as his pretend wife and yet he involved his uncle in the preparations. As she nced over the documents, they contained information about birthdays, preferences, and habits. When she saw that his preferences included reading and meditation, Mnie could not help but chuckle. ¡°What''s so funny?¡± Jeffrey asked. Sheposed herself and replied, ¡°Rest assured, President Morgan, I''ll make sure to memorize everything.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org In the eyes of the old madam, did Stephen enjoy meditation and reading? It seemed that Stephen¡¯s act in front of his family was quite different from his usual self. The car arrived at the Morgans¡® family residence. It had a vast courtyard. Upon entering. Mnie spotted Jeffrey sitting in a wheelchair. Every time she saw him, memories from that night came rushing back. She knew it was not him, but her heart could not stop racing. The resemnce between Stephen and him sure was striking. Moreover, the aura surrounding Jeffrey exuding authority and decisiveness was something Stephen could not hope to match. ¡°You''ve arrived.¡± Unexpectedly, Jeffrey initiated the conversation, interrupting her thoughts. It took Mnie a moment to remember how Stephen addressed Jeffrey and then she smiled warmly. ¡°Hello, Uncle Jeffrey.¡± ¡®Uncle?* Seated at the center of the sofa, the elderly Madam Morgan raised an eyebrow and tapped the housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson. Mrs. Hudson considered it for a moment and leaned in to exin, ¡°Madam, perhaps...it''s the way they tease each other as a young couple...¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Madam Morgan pushed her gold¡ªrimmed reading sses up and rxed her posture, finding the term endearing. She then weed Mnie and talked about various topics including Stephen and his interests. Mnie was well-prepared and provided suitable answers. +15 BONUS Madam Morgan also inquired about Mnie''s leg. ¡°Jettrey, why haven''t you had Ur. Noan take a look at Mnie¡¯s injury? Seeing Jeffrey''s silent demeanor, Mnie responded with a reassuring smile, ¡°Uncle Jeffrey has already made arrangements for me. ¡°Very well.¡± Madam Morgan nodded. ¡°With Dr. Noah around, you won''t need crutches. | remember watching you dance back in the day. You were magnificent.¡± ¡°You''ve seen me dance?¡± Mnie said, surprised. Mrs. Hudson exined, ¡°The madam spent many years overseas, organizing international events. She saw you perform the Swan Lake years ago and wanted to invite you to the International Socialites G. However, you were young at the time, and your education took precedence.¡± ¡°Granny, are you the chairwoman of the International Socialites G?¡± Mnie was amazed. She had heard about the prestigious chairwoman in the international fashion scene, often referred to as ¡°Madame*. A mere nod from her could influence numerous connections in upper society. It was astonishing to discover that she was the matriarch of the Morgans. ¡°It¡¯s just a fancy title.¡± The elderlydy chuckled warmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dear. With Dr. Noah¡¯s help, you''ll soon be back to your old self.¡± Mnie¡¯s heart warmed, and she grasped the elderlydy¡¯s hand. Madam Morgan also showed concern about Stephen¡¯s treatment of Mnie. ¡°Has my boy been treating you well?¡± ¡°He has.¡± ¡°Isn''t he a little old for you?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Mnie took a moment to react and then chuckled. ¡°Not really. We''re quite close in age.¡± Madam Morgan nodded in agreement. In today¡¯s world, a ten or eight-year age gap was considered reasonable. ¡°What about his personality? He¡¯s not making things difficult for you, is he?¡± Madam Morgan inquired, casting a nce at the silent and reserved Jeffrey. Mnie could not help but think that it was quite frustrating to meet the family before the wedding when Stephen was not even present She kept a reassuring smile and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Madam. When he¡¯s with me, he¡¯s quite reasonable, unlike his usual self.¡± ¡°PERL¡± One of the household servants could not contain theirughter. Jeffrey felt a tightening in his throat. It appeared his carefully constructed image was about to unravel. Madam Morgan raised her eyebrows. After a brief pause, she asked, ¡°What do you mean unlike his usual self?¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 She Wanted to Marry Stephen After all, Stephen was still a young man who liked meditation in front of Madam Morgan... Mnie carefully chose her words and replied, ¡°I meant, he¡¯s a carefree and spirited person.* Madam Morgan waspletely surprised and turned to look at Mrs. Hudson. Mrs. Hudson racked her brain for a moment before whispering to Madam Morgan, ¡°Perhaps, Second Master Jeffrey is different in front of Miss Mniepared to us...¡± Madam Morgan nodded. If it were not for that incident eight years ago, Jeffrey would never be this cold¡ªhearted. Maybe in front of the person he truly liked, he could open up his heart. ¡°Very well.¡± Madam Morgan nodded repeatedly. ¡°You''re a gooddy. It¡¯s a shame we need you to keep this marriage a secret. That¡¯s quite unfair for you.¡±Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. ¡°Not at all, | understand it''s for the greater good,¡± she said, eager to keep their rtionship discreet. Madam Morgan was genuinely pleased with Mnie. The Joneses had raised their daughter to be considerate. She was also kind and lovable. She thought her grandson¡¯s heart had withered after that incident eight years ago, but it seemed his good fortune was still ahead. With that in mind, Madam Morgan¡¯s smile brightened even more. ¡°I¡¯ve bought a house for both of you in Marina Heights as your future residence.¡± Mnie initially thought of declining but realized that it would not be appropriate to live in her own home after getting married, so she nodded in agreement. She also secretly checked Stephen''s schedule and found that he had no opportunity to return home, which put her at ease. Before long, a servant from the Morgan family entered to announce the arrival of guests. Madam Morgan¡¯s expression soured. Mnie nced outside and saw that the number of people visiting the courtyard almost equaled a small-scale banquet. It seemed that Madam Morgan had just returned to the country and wanted some peace at home, but numerous individuals seeking favors had denied her that opportunity. It was no wonder Madam Morgan looked so impatient. Madam Morgan began dealing with the guests. Jeffrey Morgan, not one to waste time, wheeled his chair around and gestured back at Mnie. She reacted swiftly, pushing his wheelchair and guiding him out the door. ¡°Is Stephen noting back today?¡± Mnie initiated conversation. ¡°Why would hee back?¡± Stephen replied with indifference. Mnie pursed her lips. It seemed that Stephen¡¯s unconventional behavior was enabled by the rest of the family. ¡°Pack your things. You''ll move to Marina Heights tomorrow,¡± Stephen instructed emotionlessly. ¡°So soon?¡± Mnie said, surprised. ¡°Since its establishment, the Morgan Group has been under the old madam¡¯s control. She¡¯s known for her efficiency. If you don¡¯t want to be rushed, you should act quickly.¡± Stephen''s voice remainedposed, yet it carried amanding tone. ¡°Right, got it.¡± Mnie nodded. ¡°And one more thing. To appease the olddy, your name''s already in the marriage registration system.¡± His cold voice was enough to make one feel disheartened. Mnie remained calm for a moment before asking. ¡°Wasn''t it supposed to be in three days?¡± ¡°Dr. Noah mentioned your foot would recover quickly-likely not even taking three days. What do you think?¡± Jeffrey finally turned, his eyes casting a sideways nce at her injured left foot. 112 +15 BONUS That piercing gaze left Mnie teeung strangely uneasy. Everything was under Jeffrey Morgan¡¯s control, and she had no way to argue. ¡°So... I¡¯m married now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You are part of the Morgans now, so you need to consider every action carefully,¡± Jeffrey added. Mnie¡¯s eyes darkened. She replied, ¡°I''ll be considerate and try to fulfill my duties as his wife.¡± ¡°Him?¡± Jeffrey''s tone grew heavy, hinting at his displeasure. ¡°Stephen,¡± Mnie replied. Hm. Jeffrey''s gaze darkened. He wheeled away, realizing that she still did not know that she had married him. No wonder she had been addressing him as uncle since earlier on. Furthermore, those remarks about being free-spirited while talking with the old madam... So, the man she wanted to marry was Stephen? What a disappointment! After a pause, Jeffrey raised his hand and instructed his subordinate, ¡°Send Mnie the marriage certificate when it¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Understood, sir.¡± The man who was going to marry her was him! He had no inclination to deceive her on this matter. Mnie was left behind in the courtyard, feeling bewildered. The rumors about Jeffrey¡¯s entric temperament and his capricious nature were not baseless. He changed his stance as quickly as turning the pages of a book. After a while, a household staff of the Morgans approached Mnie with tea and informed her that she could take a stroll in the courtyard. Later, Madam Morgan would be hosting guests over dinner and she was invited. Mnie nodded. She noticed two cherry blossom trees in full bloom in the courtyard. If it were not for Jeffrey Morgan¡¯s reminder earlier, she would not have noticed. Her crutches were almost just a decoration now. Her foot was healing rapidly. It felt nice to stand on both feet again. Her mood lifted as she stood under the cherry blossoms while she leisurely admired the flowers. That was why she did not notice the two women behind her. ¡°Mom, look. That¡¯s Mnie. What''s she doing here?¡± Olivia Hans, daughter of the man who had offended Mnie during the g selections, was astonished to see Mnie here. ¡°Is she also trying to gain favor with Madam Morgan?¡± Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Madame Mrs. Hans cast a condescending nce and remarked, ¡°She¡¯s just a crippled woman. Even if she¡¯s here to gain the madam¡¯s favor, why are you afraid of her?¡± Olivia instantly felt reassured, clutching her mother¡¯s arm tighter. ¡°You''re right, Mom. Few people in the country can im to know Madam Morgan, but you''re one of them!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve heard that President Morgan listens to her. Just be on your best behavior. As long as the madam says the word, your father¡¯spany will continue to operate. And of course, you''ll be the natural choice for the International Socialites G!¡± Mrs. Hans adjusted the shawl on her shoulders. With renewed confidence, Olivia and her mother walked ahead, their heads held high. Olivia and her mother waited outside for quite some time. No one came to invite them in. Olivia grew impatient and decided to approach Mnie, who was standing beneath the cherry blossom tree. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Mnie Jones! You came to the Morgans¡¯ residence dressed so casually. Has Jones Enterprise fallen on hard times?¡± Mnie turned her head to see a woman decked in finery, her eyes gleaming with arrogance. Olivia Hans? Mnie had not expected her here. Mnie did not want to engage in arguments with outsiders at the Morgans¡¯, but Olivia would not let it go. ¡°You seemed completely unaffected by Lena and Bryan¡¯s betrayal. Your ambitions must be quite grand if you''re in a rush to curry favor with Madam Morgan. ¡°| mean, Mom. How great could she be if she was close with those two?¡± Mnie¡¯s gaze turned cold, but she calmly said, ¡°If | understand you correctly, does that mean you''re distancing yourself from your dear friend, Lena Jones? She¡¯s quite skilled at manipting people. So how great can you be?¡± ¡°How dare you insult me?!¡± Olivia snapped. Mnie lowered her gaze. A bored expression was on her face. ¡°d to know you have some self-awareness.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be smug, Mnie. Do you think you can represent Harbor City at the International Socialites G with your appearance? Not to mention, a cripple? Stop dreaming!¡± ¡°Then who do you think is suitable? You?¡± Mnie retorted with a cold smile.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Why are youughing?¡± Olivia said, agitated, ¡°My mom is a friend of Madam Morgan! When the madam finds out that Harbor City¡¯s chosen socialite¡¯s a cripple, she¡¯ll withdraw your qualification on the spot!¡± ¡°Very well, I''ll be waiting.¡± Mnie smiled and tapped her cane on the ground with impatience. Olivia narrowed her eyes and was about to continue her threats when a servant arrived to escort them. Olivia, clutching her valuable gown, looked triumphantly at Mnie. ¡°You¡¯ve been waiting here for quite a while, haven¡¯t you? Hah! When will it be your turn to meet the madam? I''ll be going now.¡± Mnie shook her head, her expression filled with disdain. Olivia observed as she walked and felt that her attire was the most elegant and stylish among the guests today. She was sure to catch Madam Morgan¡¯s attention. The servant led the mother and daughter inside. Madam Morgan was engaged in conversation with severaldies. She wore light makeup and casual clothing, and her gold¡ª rimmed reading sses emphasized her homely appearance. When the two elegantly dressed women entered the room, all eyes turned to them. There was a hint of surprise in everyone''s gaze. ¡°Madam Morgan, you look remarkably well. I¡¯m Alicia Hans. I¡¯d previously represented two brands under your designerbel. Do you 1/2 +15 BONUS Madam Morgan smiled and nodded. ¡°Madam Morgan, this is a gift my mother and | prepared for you. We hope you like it,¡± Olivia said, eager to show off. She handed the gift directly to Madam Morgan, but the olddy did not take it. Instead, a servant behind her epted it. That left Olivia feeling flustered. ¡°This is my daughter, Olivia.¡± Olivia¡¯s mother stepped forward, speaking politely, ¡°She¡¯s a bit impulsive, please forgive her.¡± ¡°My sincerest apologies, madam!¡± Olivia said and bowed, feeling overwhelmed by the olddy¡¯s presence. ¡°Being a little impulsive is rather endearing for a young woman,¡± Madam Morgan replied calmly. Olivia felt ted upon hearing the praise from the old madam. ¡°I heard that you are the chairperson and one of the founders of the International Socialites G, is that right?¡± ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°| also heard that while you often reside abroad, you care deeply for Harbor City and hope to see the city prosper, is that also true?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct as well,¡± Madam Morgan said, looking at Olivia. Olivia could not contain her excitement and continued, ¡°For the representative attending the International Socialites G, she must match the city¡¯s charm and elegance. If an unworthy person is sent and she doesn¡¯t epass the city¡¯s beauty, that would be an embarrassment, wouldn''t it?¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Madam Morgan furrowed her brow, slightly displeased. ¡°You may not be aware, but the socialite selected for thepetition is a cripple!¡± Olivia pointed her finger outside. ¡°You see her? That¡¯s the cripple, Mnie! She¡¯s supposed to represent Harbor City. What a joke! You must make a decision for the socialites of Harbor City. Madam Morgan!¡± Chapter 29 Fortunately, no one else was in the restroom with Sheena, but she could not be sure no one woulde inter. She tried to go around Elijah to open the door, but he grabbed her by the wrist. Elijah teased, ¡°What are you afraid of? | told you | wanted to talk, and | won''t let you escape this time.¡± What was there to talk about? The situation between them was crystal clear. Sheena shrugged off his hand and rubbed her wrist. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of anything. | just find it unbelievable that the renowned Mr. Freeman woulde to the women¡¯s restroom to confront someone. This is quite a surprise.¡± Elijah stared at her as he casually lit a cigarette, its tobo scent filling the air, much to Sheena¡¯s displeasure. The swirling smoke added to his enigmatic aura, and he remained expressionless as he finally began to question her. ¡°Who was that man you were having dinner with?¡± Sheena was puzzled and rolled her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± Ignoring her response, Elijah continued, ¡°It seemed like he was interested in pursuing you. What about you? Do you like him too?¡± ¡®What?¡® She thought. Sheena gave him a strange look and asked, ¡°So, you came here to confront me because you''re jealous?¡± Elijah was left speechless by her remark. Unable to contain herself, Sheena burst into a fit ofughter. His face instantly turned darker, and he struggled to refute her words. Seeing him back down, Sheena felt a sense of satisfaction and decided to tease him further. ¡± Does your little fiancee know that you came to confront your ex-wife in the women¡¯s restroom? | bet her reaction would be quite entertaining. I¡¯d love to see that!¡± With that, she took out her phone, but before she could do anything, Elijah pressed down on her wrist. His other hand gripped her shoulder and pinned her to the wall, leaving her with no room to escape. Sheena struggled, but he held her hands up over her head firmly against the wall. Elijah¡¯s intense gaze bore into her, his even breaths brushed against her face, causing her cheeks to turn red. The dim and warm lighting of Dous¡® restroom enveloped them, and the atmosphere became inexplicably sensual. It was almost identical to the situation in the car parkst night, except this time, the car was reced by a wall. Sheena was furious. ¡°You¡¯re a persistent jerk! Are you out of your mind?¡± He hardly cared about her in the past, but ever since their divorce, he had been bothering her nonstop.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org What the hell was wrong with him?! Elijah looked at her long, fluttering eyshes and suddenly remembered her triumphant smile fromst night. His gaze shifted to her soft lips, and he had a sudden impulse to take a bite. Although he had no idea how it would taste, it would undoubtedly make her jump with anger. Sensing something amiss, Sheena followed his gaze and felt a sense of dread, her heart beating wildly. 11 Her re at him carried along an intense disgust, and through clenched teeth, she said, Elijah, one day, I''ll make you kneel before me and pay the price for everything you did then and now.¡± Sheena¡¯s words were indeed full of arrogance. ¡°I''ll be waiting.¡± Elijah chuckled, clearly not taking her words seriously. He did not believe she could challenge him. ¡°But for now, you must pay the price for provoking me!¡± As his thin lips got closer, Sheena discreetly ground her teeth, preparing to bite him hard and spill his blood all over! Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 29 BOOK 2 However, just as the tension between them reached its peak, they heard the sound of someone turning the doorknob from outside. Someone was about toe in! At that moment, Sheena hatched a n and red at Elijah maliciously. She was about to shout for help, but before she could make a sound, Elijah firmly covered her mouth.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. The person outside tried to open the door but failed, so they knocked and asked, ¡°Excuse me, is anyone in there? Can you please open the door?¡± A familiar and delicate female voice could be heard. Both Sheena and Elijah were stunned. Jennifer? What a coincidence! Sheena noticed Elijah¡¯s change in expression, and she thought he must be extremely nervous. To be caught red-handed with his ex-wife in the women¡¯s restroom by his fiancee? What an exciting twist that would be! Sheena had almost forgotten that she was the one with him and smirked as she struggled, making muffled sounds. ¡°Shut up! Are you crazy?¡± Elijah hissed at her, increasing the pressure of his hand. On the other side of the door, Jennifer leaned in closer to listen. It sounded like a man¡¯s voice was inside, and it resembled Elijah¡¯s. How could that be? It could not possibly be Elijah! She quickly looked up at the restroom sign, confirming that it was indeed the women¡¯s restroom. Why would Elijah be in there? Though she found it hard to believe, Jennifer decided to be cautious and picked up her phone to call Elijah. Two seconds passed, and his ringtone could be heard from inside the restroom. Realizing that something was off, Jennifer¡¯s mind conjured an image of the two of them in an intimate position. Jennifer instantly became agitated and pounded on the door with even more force. ¡°Sheena, are you in there? Open the door! Come out!¡± Jennifer shouted. She did not want to ruin Elijah¡¯s reputation, so she only screamed Sheena¡¯s name. The phone call was still connected, and the ringing continued. However, the inside of the restroom remained silent. Jennifer¡¯s rationality was almost overwhelmed by her anger. The quieter it was inside, the more she believed that some scandalous and secretive affair was going on in there. ¡°Sheena,e out right now! Why won''t you speak? Are you afraid everyone will know that you¡¯re seducing my fiance? Did you think | didn¡¯t know that it was you?¡± Jennifer kept yelling. Sheena, who initially thought she could watch the drama unfold, was surprised that Jennifer had only been shouting her name from the beginning. At this rate, the whole restaurant would soon know about her and Elijah being alone in the women¡¯s restroom. As she thought about that, Sheena nced at Elijah¡¯s unbelievablyposed expression. It was as if the entire thing had nothing to do with him. Why did he get to remain calm while she had to be anxious because of Jennifer¡¯s words? It was unfair! As if she realized something, Sheena red at him and smirked, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be the one getting nervous. | can¡¯t wait to see if you can still calmly exin yourself to Jennifer!¡± Then, she forcefully shook off Elijah¡¯s grasp, and he did not stop her as she went straight to open the door. you don¡¯t open the door, Jennifer was seething with rage outside the door and continued, ¡°If I''ll have someonee and break it down! I''ll expose your shameless act of seducing my fiance in front of everyone!¡± Just then, the lock suddenly made a turning sound. The door opened slightly, and Sheena shed a sly smile. ¡°Just as | thought, it''s you!¡± Jennifer''s eyes burned with hatred. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you open the door just now? Who was talking to you inside? Was it Eli?¡° Chapter 30 As Jennifer continued speaking, her confidence lowered, and her eyes started to look more and more resentful. However, she seemed hesitant to muster the courage to open the door and confirm her suspicions. ¡°Come in and see for yourself.¡± Sheena shrugged dismissively, forcefully swinging the door wide open and pointing to the spot where Elijah had been standing just moments ago. ¡°He was right there!¡± Jennifer¡¯s heart tightened as she followed Sheena¡¯s finger, only to find nothing but the empty wall. ¡°Are you ying games with me?¡± Jennifer snarled, ring at Sheena. Sheena also appeared puzzled as Elijah was definitely standing there just now. Did he possess some kind of supernatural ability?Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Observing Sheena¡¯s expression, Jennifer felt that something was amiss. Angrily, she pushed Sheena aside and began checking each stall, looking closely at every corner. Sheena stood behind her, also trying to figure out where Elijah might have disappeared to. After searching through all the stalls, their eyes coincidentally fell on thest stall with its door ajar. Jennifer took a deep breath before forcefully pushing the door open! Yet, it was empty. Meanwhile, Sheena noticed the open window on the right side of the stall and immediately understood what had happened. She could not believe that the influential figure of the Freeman Group would resort to jumping out of a window to escape. The thought made her want to burst intoughter. Seeing her amused expression, Jennifer felt baffled and became suspicious once again. ¡°If you were alone inside the restroom, whose phone was ringing just now?¡± Sheena waved her hand without answering, implying that Jennifer should figure it out herself. Frustrated by Sheena¡¯s response, Jennifer red at her and threatened through gritted teeth, Sheena, you and Eli are divorced, so stay away from him! | won''t let you off if | catch you trying to seduce him again!¡± Sheenaughed dismissively, retorting, ¡°I never go back to my exes, but if you provoke me, | won''t hesitate to take everything away from you, including him.¡± Jennifer was at a loss for words, intimidated by the coldness in Sheena¡¯s eyes. As she was leaving, Sheena warned Jennifer, ¡°By the way, keep an eye on your man and make sure he never approaches me again. Both of you disgust me.¡± ¡°Bitch!¡± Jennifer was furious, but she had no way to retaliate against Sheena. She was furious that those men she hiredst night had failed. Fuming with anger, she stomped her foot, washed her hands, and left the restroom. ¡°Jenny.¡± A familiar voice called out to her just as she stepped out. She turned to see Elijah,posed and calm, as he stepped out of the men¡¯s restroom. Instantly, her heart was at ease. Perhaps she had been too nervous earlier. Maybe the ringing wasing from the men¡¯s restroom? ¡°Eli, did you hear what | said in the restroom corridor just now?¡± Elijah nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Embarrassment washed over Jennifer. She did not want to leave a bad impression on Elijah because of her prior shouting. ¡°I''m sorry. It was my fault. | thought you were inside the women¡¯s restroom, and that¡¯s why | lost control over my emotions. | promise | won''t doubt you or raise my voice like that again.¡± Elijah remained silent, staring at her. As he noticed a faint dark circle under her he suddenly recalled herte-night visit yesterday and how she stood outside the mansion for almost half the night, which reminded him of events from years ago. eyes, Though it felt like a threat, he had agreed to her engagement request out of a sense ofmitment as a man. However, Jennifer seemed like a stranger to Elijahtely. At times, he even questioned if she was the same bright and cheerful girl from years ago. ¡°Jenny, after being abroad for several years, you seem to have changed a lot,¡± Elijah said emotionlessly before passing by Jennifer and heading back to the restaurant. Eliapter 32 Chapter 31 Jennifer was stunned. Why did Ell look at her like that? Did he find out something? Back at her table, Sheena noticed Skye was about to look for her and was relieved that she finally came out. ¡°Sheena, what took you so long?¡± ¡°What''s the matter? Did something happen?¡± Sheena asked, noticing the concern in his expression. ¡°Howard sent someone to find you. He said there¡¯s progress on the investigation you asked him to look into. He wants you to go back when you have time.¡± ¡°Alright, I''ll go now.¡± ¡°Hey! At least finish your meal before leaving!¡± Skyeined yfully, but Sheena had already driven off. After finishing their meal, Elijah escorted Jennifer back to her hotel room. As she looked at the cold and empty room, Jennifer hesitated and held Elijah¡¯s hand, pouting, Eli, since we''re engaged, can¡¯t I stay with you at the mansion?¡± Elijah frowned. He had told her before that the mansion was not an option, so why did she bring it up again? Though displeased, he still tried tofort her, ¡°Just wait a little longer. I¡¯ll arrange a suitable ce for you as soon as possible.¡± Jennifer keenly sensed his displeasure, which made her feel even more aggrieved. ¡®T Why was Sheena allowed to live in the mansion for three years while she could not even enter? However, she dared not ask that question, knowing Elijah did not like jealous and whiny girls. ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay here with me at the hotel? Just for one night.¡± Her voice became sweet and pitiful, giving her an endearing demeanor that could melt anyone¡¯s heart. Yet, Elijah did not even spare her a nce, still appearing indifferent. ¡°| have work to attend to. Rest early.¡± With that, he let go of her hand and left. As the door shut behind him, Jennifer slumped onto the carpet and her eyes welled up tears. Why did everything change after she returned to the country?From N?velDrama.Org. Elijah no longer treated her with the indulgence and care he once did. Did he really find out? Panic spread across Jennifer¡¯s face. with As she was lost in her thoughts, the door opened again, and a man¡¯s ck shoes appeared. ¡°Ell! | knew you...¡± Jennifer eximed, filled with joy. However, her delight turned to disappointment as she looked up and realized it was not Elijah, but Leon instead. His face showed concern as he spoke, ¡°Ms. Moore, I¡¯m sorry to bother you, but | need to rify something urgently.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Seeing her trying to put on a brave smile, Leon felt even more sympathetic and asked gently,¡± Last night, Ms. Sheena was attacked by a group of thugs while driving home. It was very dangerous. Do you know anything about it?¡± ¡°What? Is Sheena okay?¡± ¡°She''s fine. Mr. Freeman happened to be there and dealt with the thugs. However, he asked me to find the mastermind behind the attack.¡± He observed Jennifer''s reaction as he spoke. Jennifer seemed relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± However, she quickly grasped Leon¡¯s implication and looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Are you asking if | sent someone to harm Sheena?¡± Chapter 32 Wait She¡¯s a Billionaire ( Sheena Lawson ) Chapter 33 Wait She''s a Billionaire (Sheena Lawson ) Chapter 33 Posted by Kadmin, 936 Views, Released on January 24, 2024 OptionsC¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org WhatsApp Leon did not say anything, but his meaning was clear. Under normal circumstances, he would not have suspected Jennifer. However, he had just told her about Elijah looking for Sheena in the Angle Group¡¯s car park, and Sheena was attacked on her way home right after that. It was too much of a coincidence, and it was hard to believe that Jennifer had nothing to do with it. Jennifer appeared hurt and sorrowful, saying, ¡°Leon, I¡¯ve always regarded you as my best friend. | can¡¯t believe you would doubt me. How could | send someone to harm Sheena? | don¡¯t even know which route she takes.¡± Leon¡¯s heart softened instantly. ¡°I believe you''re a good person, and I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t do this. But did you tell anyone else about it?¡± Jennifer hesitated. Since Leon already suspected her, he might check her recent calls if she did not provide useful information. Then, her carefully built image would be ruined. At this point, she had no choice but to sacrifice someone else. Jennifer pretended to be contemting before saying, ¡°I was very upset that day, and Erin called because she was worried, so | just mentioned it casually to her.¡± She paused and quickly added, ¡°No! Erin wouldn¡¯t do such a thing. | trust her.¡± Leon sighed with relief. ¡°Ms. Moore, you''re a good person, but not everyone is as innocent and kind as you.¡¯ After that, Leon left the hotel and dispatched his men to conduct a thorough investigation of the Freeman mansion while discreetly severing any connections between Jennifer and the incident. Once he left, Jennifer stomped her foot in frustration. She was initially confused about why no one had reported back to her about the situation from the previous night, but it turned out Elijah had rescued Sheena! Now, she could only implicate Erin to protect herself. Once Elijah found out, security at the Freeman mansion would be tightened, and she might be able to use Erin as a pawn for a while. All her efforts to befriend Erin, a woman with lofty ambitions but limited abilities, seemed to be in vain. However, she could not let that despicable Sheena off so easily. Jennifer could not bear it! Her nails dug into her palms, and her eyes shed with unabashed ferocity and malice. Back at Howard¡¯s mansion, Sheena received detailed information from him. The thugs were hired by Faye at Erin¡¯s instigation. After reviewing the evidence, Sheena remainedposed. She had already suspected that the matter was rted to them, but she could not help but wonder and ask, ¡°Is Jennifer really not involved in this incident?¡± Howard pondered momentarily and replied, ¡°I''ll send someone to investigate Jennifer¡¯s side thoroughly.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Howard asked further, ¡°Since you already know who the culprit is, what do you n to do now?¡± Sheena smiled, alreadying up with a cunning idea. ¡°Howard, can you lend me a few strong bodyguards?¡± Howard was charmed by her mischievous smile and lovingly teased her by tapping her nose, My little princess can have as many as she wants. How many do you need?¡± Sheena smiled sweetly as she cooed with a soft and gentle voice, ¡°You''re the best, Howard.¡¯ In the evening, at the Freeman mansion. Faye was leisurely lounging on a chair in the garden while a beautician pampered her with at facial spa. Suddenly, a loud bang resounded from the main gate, startling Faye, who sat up straight. Chapter 33 She turned around to see what caused themotion and saw a limited¡ªedition Rolls-Royce crashing into her gate. Then, the car charged toward the garden without slowing down. The servants and Faye were all taken aback by this unexpected event. The Rolls-Royce relentlessly trampled over the best-maintained rose garden in the garden, leaving the once vibrant flowers in ruins. Finally, the car pulled off a stylish drift, spun around expertly, and parked gracefully beside the damaged gate. The beautiful roses were crushed beyond recognition under the car¡¯s tires in seconds. Faye was left bewildered, nearly fainting at the sight before her. Those roses were her absolute favorites! No matter who was in the car, Faye was determined to make them pay dearly for the damages! Faye marched angrily toward the Rolls-Royce, but as the car door opened, a pair of high heels stepped out first, followed by the appearance of a woman whose beauty rivaled that of a magazine cover model. Her elegant demeanor was simply breathtaking. Faye was stunned in her tracks, feeling a sense of familiarity but could not quite ce where she had seen her before. Erin heard themotion and rushed over, fuming with anger. ¡°Sheena, you bitch! How dare you show your face here! I''ll kill you!¡± Faye held her daughter back, her jaw nearly dropping in disbelief as she looked at theposed and elegant Sheena. In just a few days, it seemed that this woman had undergone aplete transformation! How did she not notice how stunning Sheena was before? Sheena stared at Faye in amusement and sneered. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Don¡¯t you recognize me anymore?¡± Now aware that Sheena was responsible for the damaged rose garden, Faye became furious and arrogantly folded her arms. ¡°Did you think you could trample over me just because you look different now and found yourself a wealthy man? You destroyed my garden, and | demand a thousandfold worth ofpensation!¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Sheena nonchntly asked, ¡°And then what?¡± Faye nced at Erin behind her and coldly snorted, ¡°Last time, you hurt Erin. This time, you¡¯re here of your own ord. | want you to kneel and apologize to Erin, repaying everything you owe her!¡± Saying this, she gestured to the servants on both sides. Understanding her intent, the servants approached Sheena menacingly. Leaning against the car door, Sheena casually toyed with her nails and calmly replied, Alright, I''ll remember that. I''ll make sure each of you gets a taste of it. After all, I¡¯m here for revenge.¡± Revenge? What was she talking about? Confused, Faye saw Sheena p her hands, and ten well-trained bodyguards suddenly appeared, standing behind her. The sight of this intimidating group frightened the servants who had just attempted to approach, causing them to retreat in a hurry. Faye¡¯s heart raced as she asked, ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± ¡°Just like I¡¯ve told you, I¡¯m here for revenge,¡± Sheena said with a growing coldness in her eyes. Then, she ordered the bodyguards, ¡°Apart from Old Man Freeman¡¯s room, the study on the third floor, and the altar room on the first floor, everything else of value in this mansion is to be destroyed. Leave nothing intact.¡± ¡°Sheena!¡± Erin and Faye eximed simultaneously. Faye was consumed with hatred, her eyes red with fury. She threatened, ¡°Trespassing into a private residence is a crime! I''ll call the police if you dare to destroy even a single item! I''ll make sure you''re locked up!¡± Sheena smirked as she calmly took a copy of the evidence from her bag. ¡°Sure! Let¡¯s see who they''d arrest between you and me. Chapter 34 This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !From N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Only the faint whimpering of the two women was left in the courtyard as the once noisy cries finally stopped. Sheena¡¯s torment was about to begin. ¡°Do you remember when you falsely used me of stealing jewelry and took away my shares in the Freeman family? Since I¡¯ve already smashed the courtyard, let¡¯s consider that debt settled. But what about the punishment you gave me, making me kneel in the pouring rain?¡°, Then, Sheena gestured with her eyes, and the bodyguard swiftly kicked the back of Erin¡¯s knee, causing her to copse. The small cobblestones beneath her caused her immense pain, and Erin''s head swung downward due to the impact. Though restrained by the bodyguards, her head did not touch the ground, but it came close enough to make a bow toward Sheena. Erin felt a mixture of pain and humiliation. Her face contorted in agony. Tears welled up in Faye¡¯s eyes, and she was still mumbling as if muttering some curse like * You f*cking bitch!¡® or ¡®I hope you die!* ¡°Does it hurt to see your own daughter suffer? Have you ever considered what my mom would feel when you treated me that way?¡± Sheena¡¯s voice turned icy, and she unconsciously clenched her hand tightly, causing it to ache slightly. Unpleasant memories flooded back. After a while, she suppressed her surging emotions and looked at the horizon where the sun was setting. ¡°What a pity that it¡¯s not raining heavily today, but I¡¯m not done yet,¡± Sheena murmured, frowning in contemtion. Suddenly, an idea struck her, and her eyes brightened. ¡°Go fetch a few buckets of water from the pond.¡± The bodyguards immediately carried out her order. The subdued servants huddled in a corner of the garden, shivering when they heard Sheena¡¯s tormenting methods. However, none dared to intervene as they had witnessed the injustice she endured before and knew about Faye¡¯s harsh treatment of her. Besides, Erin used to bully Sheena frequently, and being punished for her mother¡¯s actions seemed quite just. Soon, the bodyguards returned with five buckets of water, unintentionally bringing some small shrimps and aquatic nts from the pond. Erin¡¯s eyes widened in panic as she begged Sheena for mercy, crying uncontrobly. There was no trace of her former arrogance and domineering attitude. ¡°Pour it over her.¡± Sheena¡¯s order left the mother¡ªdaughter duo helpless. Ssh! Without any hesitation, a whole bucket of water was poured down over Erin¡¯s head, emptying everything from the bucket. Her face turned pale as she shivered from the cold. There were aquatic nts sticking to her face and tiny shrimps wriggling above her head. The scene was pitiful. Erin lifted her head, witnessing Faye crying helplessly, unable to save her. She saw Sheena, whom she detested the most, mocking her. Even the servants, whom she had often scolded, were now sneaking nces at her, witnessing her humiliation. Her pride and self-esteem shattered, and she was filled with humiliation and despair.From N?velDrama.Org. Erin broke downpletely, wailing in agony. Before the bodyguards could pour the second bucket of water, she passed out. Seeing that Erin had truly passed out, Sheena allowed the bodyguards to release them. With no one holding them back, Faye rushed to check on her daughter¡¯s condition, forgetting to curse Sheena in her worry. ¡°This is just a lesson. If there¡¯s a next time, | won''t let you off so easily,¡± Sheena warned, satisfied with the revenge. Then, she called her bodyguards back to her side and prepared to head home. As she turned around, she was met with a pair of dark eyes. Elijah was staring right at her. Chapter 36 As Sheena observed his expression, she figured he must have also discovered the mastermind behind this incident. So, was he bare specifically to hold her ountable? Elijah remained silent as he continued to stare at Sheena. Instead, Leon stepped forward and said, ¡°Ms. Sheena, you''re too harsh!¡± Despite the divorce, they were once her mother-inw and sister-inw. Even if they did something wrong, Sheena should not have tormented them like this! Leon found Jennifer much more favorable due to her kind image. Sheena nced at him but did not argue. Instead, she looked at Elijah and asked, ¡°Is that what you think too?¡± Elijah frowned. Just as he was about to reply, Faye heard themotion at the entrance and rushed over. She clung to him while using Sheena angrily.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. ¡°Eli, look at what this vicious woman did to Erin! She even ruined our house! You must send her to prison! | want her to be locked up and repent for a lifetime!¡± Elijah became increasingly annoyed. Everyone''s eyes were on him, seemingly waiting for his decision. Sheena also stared at him, calm andposed, ready for Elijah to protect Faye. Faye grew more triumphant, convinced that Elijah would side with her! She eagerly anticipated Sheena¡¯s downfall! Amidst the varied gazes of the onlookers, Elijah took two steps closer to Sheena. The bodyguards immediately stood before Sheena, but she waved them back as she wanted to see what he would do. Elijah stopped in his tracks, leaving about half a meter of distance between him and Sheena. He sighed and slightly lowered his head toward her. ¡°They were the ones who attempted to harm you first, and your revenge against the Freeman family was justifiable. | apologize for their immaturity on their behalf.¡± His words stunned everyone present! Even Sheena fell silent. She had anticipated his anger and protectiveness, but she never expected him to not only support her revenge but also apologize on their behalf. It was the first time she saw him being rational, responsible, and acting like a true man. Faye could not stand it anymore and grabbed Elijah, throwing a tantrum without caring about her surroundings. ¡°You''re my son! How can you not help me and support this bitch instead? Can you bear to see her ruin Erin and me like this? How can you be so heartless? | don¡¯t care! You must do something about this. Otherwise, | won¡¯t acknowledge you as my son! You''re simply ungrateful!¡± Elijah stood still, letting her vent her anger. Fayeter realized that Elijah was unmoved by her antics. She grew even more frustrated and tried to change at Sheena. It was then that Elijah shot a sharp look at the servants who were watching the scene unfold. ¡°Madam Freeman is not in the right state of mind. Take her back to her room and call the family doctor to check on her.¡± Leon received the order and quickly arranged for the servants to take the grumbling Faye back into the mansion. At the same time, they carried Erin, who was lying unconscious on the ground in the garden, back into the house. The other servants scattered to clean up the mess. Only Elijah and Sheena remained outside the mansion, along with the ten bodyguards she had brought. Sheena felt ufortable under his gaze, not knowing what he was thinking. Hence, she looked away. ¡°I''ll let you off for what you did before and punish them lightly. Otherwise, | would have handed the evidence over to the authorities, and they would be in trouble.¡± Then, she took out the neatly arranged evidence. She took a look at it and said, ¡°However, I''ll keep the evidence in case they try to provoke me again. | won''t hesitate to use it then.¡± Seeing her cunning smirk, Elijah could not help but smile. She was like a clever little fox, deceitful and ruthless. Sheena noticed he was also smiling and wondered what he was thinking. However, her expression instantly turned cold, and she warned, ¡°You better keep an eye on them and make sure they behave. If they dare to provoke me again, I''ll also hold you ountable.¡± With that, she left with her bodyguards. After Sheena left, Elijah walked through the mess to check on Erin. The family doctor had arrived and was examining Erin¡¯s injuries. Faye had calmed down a bit and sat beside Erin¡¯s bed, sobbing softly. When she saw Elijah enter, she grabbed the hem of his clothes and pointed to Erin¡¯s bruised and swollen knees with sadness in her eyes. ¡°Look at her! Don¡¯t you feel sorry for her? Erin is the apple of my eye, forever cherished and pampered, but that bitch hurt her! How can Erin bear such humiliation? If you don¡¯t help her, she''ll definitely be depressed! Do you really have the heart to watch your sister suffer?¡± Faye kept rambling and crying. As a mother, she knew her son could not stand to see her suffering. Sheena had been too audacious this time, and Faye felt the need to teach that girl a lesson! She could not let this go! Elijah remained silent, staring at Erin¡¯s gruesome knee, seemingly lost in thought. Beforeing here, he had asked the servants about the incident with the stolen jewelry, where Faye had intentionally framed Sheena. Elijah felt a pang of pain in his heart. So, did Sheena ask for a divorce because she had been unhappy in the Freeman family? Suddenly, the image of her kneeling in the rain with her petite but stubborn figure shed in his mind. Erin¡¯s knee swelled like this after just a short time of kneeling. How swollen were Sheena¡¯s knees that night? Even so, she neverined to him about any of these things. ¡°Eli! Are you even listening to what I¡¯m saying?¡± Faye shook his arm, interrupting his thoughts. ¡°Don''t forget that your dad entrusted your sister and me to you. Now that he¡¯s gone, you can¡¯t just ignore our well-being because you''ve gained control of the Freeman family!¡± Faye tried to y the victim, resorting to appealing to Elijah¡¯s sense of responsibility and promises, refusing to believe he would still defend Sheena. Elijah turned to look at her but responded with a different question, ¡°How did you all treat Sheena in the past? Give me a few examples.¡± Faye was taken aback, not expecting him to be concerned about that. ¡°All that happened years ago. You and Sheena are already divorced, so what''s the point of bringing them up? Besides, as a mother-inw, what¡¯s wrong with me teaching her a lesson? Did shein to you? She¡¯s truly a shameless bitch!¡± As she finished speaking, she noticed Elijah¡¯s face darkeningpletely, so she quickly changed the subject to divert his attention. ¡°My dear Eli, look at the bruises on my arm and the fact that your delicate sister was treated this way. Can you bear to see us being tormented like this?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Elijah smiled, but his gaze was cold. ¡°I know what to do now.¡± Faye felt relieved and tightened her grip on his arm, asking, ¡°Really?* Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Sheena felt ufortable under his gaze, not knowing what he was thinking. Hence, she looked away. ¡°I''ll let you off for what you did before and punish them lightly. Otherwise, | would have handed the evidence over to the authorities, and they would be in trouble.¡± Then, she took out the neatly arranged evidence. She took a look at it and said, ¡°However, I''ll keep the evidence in case they try to provoke me again. | won''t hesitate to use it then.¡± Seeing her cunning smirk, Elijah could not help but smile. She was like a clever little fox, deceitful and ruthless. Sheena noticed he was also smiling and wondered what he was thinking. However, her expression instantly turned cold, and she warned, ¡°You better keep an eye on them and make sure they behave. If they dare to provoke me again, I''ll also hold you ountable.¡± With that, she left with her bodyguards. After Sheena left, Elijah walked through the mess to check on Erin. The family doctor had arrived and was examining Erin¡¯s injuries. Faye had calmed down a bit and sat beside Erin¡¯s bed, sobbing softly. When she saw Elijah enter, she grabbed the hem of his clothes and pointed to Erin¡¯s bruised and swollen knees with sadness in her eyes. ¡°Look at her! Don¡¯t you feel sorry for her? Erin is the apple of my eye, forever cherished and pampered, but that bitch hurt her! How can Erin bear such humiliation? If you don¡¯t help her, she''ll definitely be depressed! Do you really have the heart to watch your sister suffer?¡± Faye kept rambling and crying. As a mother, she knew her son could not stand to see her suffering. Sheena had been too audacious this time, and Faye felt the need to teach that girl a lesson! She could not let this go! Elijah remained silent, staring at Erin¡¯s gruesome knee, seemingly lost in thought. Beforeing here, he had asked the servants about the incident with the stolen jewelry, where Faye had intentionally framed Sheena. Elijah felt a pang of pain in his heart. So, did Sheena ask for a divorce because she had been unhappy in the Freeman family? Suddenly, the image of her kneeling in the rain with her petite but stubborn figure shed in his mind. Erin¡¯s knee swelled like this after just a short time of kneeling. How swollen were Sheena¡¯s knees that night? Even so, she neverined to him about any of these things. ¡°Eli! Are you even listening to what I¡¯m saying?¡± Faye shook his arm, interrupting his thoughts. ¡°Don''t forget that your dad entrusted your sister and me to you. Now that he¡¯s gone, you can¡¯t just ignore our well-being because you''ve gained control of the Freeman family!¡± Faye tried to y the victim, resorting to appealing to Elijah¡¯s sense of responsibility and promises, refusing to believe he would still defend Sheena. Elijah turned to look at her but responded with a different question, ¡°How did you all treat Sheena in the past? Give me a few examples.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Faye was taken aback, not expecting him to be concerned about that. ¡°All that happened years ago. You and Sheena are already divorced, so what''s the point of bringing them up? Besides, as a mother-inw, what¡¯s wrong with me teaching her a lesson? Did shein to you? She¡¯s truly a shameless bitch!¡± As she finished speaking, she noticed Elijah¡¯s face darkeningpletely, so she quickly changed the subject to divert his attention. ¡°My dear Eli, look at the bruises on my arm and the fact that your delicate sister was treated this way. Can you bear to see us being tormented like this?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Elijah smiled, but his gaze was cold. ¡°I know what to do now.¡± Faye felt relieved and tightened her grip on his arm, asking, ¡°Really?¡± Chapter 38 Elijah called the butler over and gave the order, ¡°Starting today, Madam Freeman and Ms. Freeman are grounded. No one is allowed to let them out without my permission. If anyone dares to disobey my order, they''ll face the harshest punishment in the mansion.¡± ¡°What?¡± Faye exploded, pointing at Elijah, and unleashing a torrent of curses, calling him ungrateful, heartless, disrespectful, and so on. Elijah allowed her to ramble on and left the room without saying a word. Then, he called Leon over. ¡°Get the broken things reced as soon as possible. Also, have someone keep a close eye on the mansion. Monitor every call and report back to me promptly.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Freeman.¡± Leon hesitated, looking at him with a concerned look before adding, Isn¡¯t this a bit too harsh on Madam Freeman and Ms. Freeman? Sheena seems to have no mercy at all.¡± Leon could not help but feel sympathy for Faye and Erin when he saw the miserable state they were in as he arrived. He could not understand why Elijah was so protective of Sheena. How could he tolerate her turning the mansion into such a mess? Out of the norm, Elijah did not shout at him to leave. Instead, he asked in a calm tone, ¡°If someone tried to harm you constantly and made you suffer all the time, would you forgive them?¡± Leon replied firmly, ¡°Of course not! | would find an opportunity to get back at them.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he froze on the spot. 1 Elijah did not say another word and left without looking back. After settling everything, Sheena felt refreshed. Corey¡¯s and Noah¡¯s gifts had also arrived, and she could not wait to open them! However, Sheena was taken aback when she discovered that Corey had given her a homemade model airne! Did Corey forget that she was no longer a 15-year-old kid? She was so excited to open the gift, only to be left disappointed! Howardughed, but when he saw her face turning red with anger, he coaxed, ¡°Nana, this is a limited¡ªedition airne personally made by Corey. It¡¯s invaluable and unique. He put a lot of thought into it!¡± Sheena rolled her eyes. Thankfully, Noah¡¯s gift was better,pensating for her anger toward Corey. It was a beautiful emerald ring with a hidden mechanism that could shoot out a silver needle, which would function as a weapon when needed. Sheena put on the ring but left the small airne in a corner of her room. After that, she took a shower and went to sleep. The next day, Sheena arrived at the office on time. As soon as she pushed open the office door, she saw a slim and unfamiliar figure standing in front of her desk. The woman turned around when she heard the door open and locked eyes with Sheena.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org The woman had a small oval face and beautiful eyes filled with arrogance. The initial disdain in the woman¡¯s gaze turned into jealousy and hostility upon seeing Sheena. It seemed this woman had a deep grudge against her. Before Sheena could say anything, the woman said, ¡°The receptionist, Julie, told me about you and | didn¡¯t believe her. However, now that I see you in person, you really do look like a seductress.¡± Sheena was baffled by the woman¡¯s sudden hostility. Nheless, she went to her desk and dismissed the woman, ¡°Miss, | need to work. Please leave.¡± Ignoring Sheena, the woman warned, ¡°You can continue working at Angle, but you must stay away from Howard. If | find you seducing him or have any impure intentions, I''ll make you suffer.¡± Sheena became interested and asked, ¡°Howard? Do you like him?¡± The woman arrogantly crossed her arms and snorted. ¡°I¡¯m his fiancee.¡± Fiancee? Sheena realized this was the woman who got engaged to Howard two years ago, the second daughter of the Upton family, Katie Upton. Chapter 39 Upton family, Katie Upton. Sheena wondered why Howard never mentioned Katie before. It seemed that Howard was not interested in Katie at all.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Well, that was just fine with her because she did not like the idea of having someone arrogant like Katie as her future sister¡ªin¡ª law. With a smile, Sheena replied, ¡°Until the marriage certificate is signed, nothing is certain yet. Ms. Upton, are you iming him as yours already? I¡¯m sorry, but my office is small, and | don¡¯t entertain uninvited guests.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Katie fumed, but before she could retort, Sheena quickly immersed herself in her work,pletely ignoring her presence. No matter what Katie said, it fell on deaf ears. With no outlet to vent her frustration, Katie had no choice but to leave feeling annoyed. Once out of Sheena¡¯s office, Katie nced at Sue. Knowing her intentions, Sue followed closely, and they walked together to a secluded corridor with no surveince cameras. ¡°How¡¯s your new talent manager?¡± Sue nced at her surroundings to ensure that no one was around and whispered, ¡°You won''t believe this, but she was personally brought into thepany by Mr. Lawson himself. He even asked us to take care of her. | suspect she had an affair with Mr. Lawson before joining thepany. On top of that, she doesn¡¯t respect anyone here, not even the top artists in the company. She¡¯s arrogant and extremely bold.¡± ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Katie seethed. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then she must be dealt with immediately.¡± Katie gestured for Sue toe closer and whispered a n. After hearing it, Sue seemed a little hesitant. ¡°Is this really okay? Wouldn''t that be too much?¡± Katie gently patted her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Just do it. Once this is over, I''ll speak highly of you to Mr. Lawson and make sure you take her position.¡± Although Sue¡¯s conscience was burdened with guilt, the prospect of a promotion and a raise enticed her. Even though Sue hesitated initially, she chose thetter. In the afternoon, Sheena was still in her office, organizing the uing events for the artists. Sue entered with a smile, behaving in an unprecedentedly friendly manner. ¡°Ms. Sheena, have you heard about Vision Group¡¯s n to invest a huge sum of money in a drama?¡± Sue asked with a friendly smile, presenting a document to Sheena while she focused on the spreadsheets. Sheena did not look up and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Sue continued to act overly friendly, giggling as she respectfully ced the document on Sheena¡¯s desk. ¡°I! managed to secure an opportunity for our artists to negotiate with the Vision Group, but they insisted on having only you attend the meeting with their executives.¡± Finally, Sheena looked up, shooting Sue a cold nce that seemed capable of seeing through her. Sue was taken aback by the icy gaze. Sheena sneered. ¡°This is a great chance to get a highermission. Whoever secured the negotiation should go.¡± Sue hurriedly appeased her, ¡°I would love to go, but the Vision Group thinks my position is too low. They only want someone of a higher level to negotiate. It¡¯s not just about themission. It¡¯s an excellent opportunity to promote our artists. We all work for thepany¡¯s best interests, so it¡¯s a win for anyone who secures this deal.¡± Sheena had been observing Sue¡¯s expressions and said, ¡°Ms. Klein, this is the first time you''ve been so respectful.¡± Sue hesitated for a moment before offering a brighter smile. ¡°After witnessing your capability, | dare not be so reckless anymore. However, this meeting with the Vision Group¡¯s executives is truly a fantastic opportunity. Are you sure you won¡¯t reconsider?¡± ¡°Sure, I''ll go,¡± Sheena replied, smiling. How would she know what tricks Sue was trying to pull to if she did not? In the evening, as soon as it was time to leave the office, Sue linked arms with Sheena in a friendly manner, bringing her to the dinner meeting with the Vision Group. Once they arrived at the luxurious private room, three chubby middle-aged men politely stood up, their eyes lit up when they saw Sheena. Sue smiled and introduced, ¡°This is Angle¡¯s beautiful talent manager, Ms. Sheena.¡± ¡°Ms. Sheena, these three gentlemen are Mr. Williams, Mr. Landon, and Mr. rke, the directors of the Vision Group.¡± ¡°They''re all directors?¡± Sheena blinked innocently. ¡°Why aren¡¯t the executives in charge here for the meeting?¡± Chapter 40 Sue was stunned, but quickly recovered herposure and shed a bright smile. Then, she pulled Sheena aside and whispered, ¡°They''re really influential in the Vision Group. Whether ourpany¡¯s artists can get a chance in their projects depends on them. Please be mindful of your words, Ms. Sheena.¡± Sheena nodded. After that, they politely faced the three directors, who were giving Sheena lewd stares. Sheena was truly disgusted by them. ¡°Ms. Sheena, you definitely live up to your reputation. Not only are you beautiful, but have a stunning figure,¡± said James Williams, breaking the silence. you also ¡°Oh, you tter me. You three are the impressive ones,¡± Sheena replied with a polite smile. Sue warmly invited everyone to take their seats. Raising her ss, she was the first to offer a toast to Sheena, saying, ¡°This is the first time you¡¯re handling a business matter personally since you''ve be a talent manager. Let¡¯s toast to a sessful discussion.¡± Sheena was handed a ss of red wine. She gracefully swirled it in the ss and took a whiff of its aroma beforementing, ¡°1982 Lafite. This is an excellent choice.¡± She smiled, gently clinking her ss with Sue¡¯s, then raised her head to take a big gulp. Tony Landon ttered, ¡°Ms. Sheena, | didn¡¯t expect you to be so knowledgeable about wine, and you''re a bold drinker too. You''re truly charming! Please ept my toast.¡± Sheena asked, ¡°Aren''t we here today to discuss the Vision Group¡¯s casting for the drama? Why aren''t we discussing that matter yet?¡± The directors remainedposed, replying, ¡°We''ll definitely get to that, but drinking before discussing business matters is customary. Ms. Sheena, you know that, right?¡± With smiles on their faces, the three directors approached and offered her sses of wine. Sheena did not refuse and drank one ss after another. In The Freeman Group¡¯s CEO office. Leon knocked and entered, respectfully handing over the file on Sheena¡¯s background as he said, ¡°Mr. Freeman, our team has thoroughly investigated three times. This is the finalption of the information. Please have a look.¡± Elijah took the file and read through it several times, frowning all the while. On the surface, Sheena¡¯s life seemed ordinary. However, there was only one word written regarding her life before age fifteen: Orphanage. There were no other specific details. Even the circumstances of how she ended up in the orphanage remained a mystery. Elijah could not believe that there was actually someone that even his elite hackers could not fully investigate. Leon noticed his suspicion and asked, ¡°Should we continue digging deeper?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Elijah replied, closing the file and cing it on the stack of documents. ¡°She intentionally made sure we couldn''t find anything. Further investigation would be a waste of effort, but her background must be more than what meets the eye.¡± Walking to the window, Elijah lit a cigarette and let himself be lost in thought. Leon opened the schedule on his iPad and continued, ¡°Mr. Freeman, you have a dinner tonight that was arranged a week ago. Are you going?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± At the Vision Group¡¯s dinner, the four took turns toasting to Sheena, going back and forth for three rounds, and Sheena epted every ss with a smile. They went through six bottles of red wine during the dinner. However, Sheena¡¯s cheeks only had a slight blush, making her even more enchanting under the soft lights. Her eyes, on the other hand, remained remarkably clear and bright. Sue was already dazed and was feeling a bit frustrated. She could not believe how well Sheena could handle her liquor. While the rest were already tipsy, Sheena seemedpletely unaffected. They could barely drink anymore. Suddenly, without being prompted, Sheena filled her own ss and downed it in one go. Then, those sharp and clear eyes fixed on each of them. Sheena¡¯s smile was both enchanting and seemingly tinged with mockery. They were everpletely amazed by her alcohol tolerance! bo you sopped drinking? If we¡¯re done with the drinks, should we start the Sheena took the initiative, turning the tables on them and raising her ss to toast them. the three directors quickly shot stern nces at Sue, urging her to resolve the situation. They could not drink anymore, or they would be the ones passing out. Ste gritted her teeth, knowing that this could not go on any longer. Fortunately, Katie had gorn ber something colorless and tasteless to ensure nothing would go wrong. She and Isaac rke exchanged a knowing nce, and Isaac smiled as he spoke, ¡°Ms. Sheena, have you reviewed the character nning for our new drama? Here''s thetest version, and perhaps you could take a look and share your thoughts on the casting.¡± Sheena stood up to receive the file. She had identally knocked over Sheena¡¯s wine ss. ¡°Tim so sorry, Ms. Sheena! | didn¡¯t mean it. I¡¯m just a little tipsy. Let me get you a new ss.¡± Sheena nced at Sue but did not stop her.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. After a moment, Sue brought out a new ss, filled it with red wine, and obediently handed it to Sheena. Issac and Sue exchanged nces again, eager to raise their sses and toast her once more. There¡¯s no need to rush. Let¡¯s consider this ss as the final one for tonight,¡± Sheena declined gracefully. Isaac did not quite understand her intention and agreed, ¡°Sure! Whatever you say.¡± Carefully, Sheena moved her wine ss slightly while standing up, holding the documents. Then, she leaned over and showed them to Isaac. The three executives could not keep their eyes off her alluring figure. As there was no document holder, Sheena leaned the documents against two wine sses, pointing out the issue. The executives were not interested in the documents at all. They just wanted to finish the meeting quickly. They responded eagerly to whatever suggestions Sheena gave. Isaac raised his ss again. ¡°Ms. Sheena, now that our work is settled, let¡¯s all raise our sses and celebrate the uing coboration.¡± Sheena did not refuse, raising her ss and lightly clinking it with the others. However, she did not rush to drink. The four of them quickly finished their sses, staring at Sheena excitedly Chapter 41 They werepletely amazed by her alcohol tolerance! ¡°Why have you stopped drinking? If we¡¯re done with the drinks, should we start the discussion?¡± Sheena took the initiative, turning the tables on them and raising her ss to toast them. The three directors quickly shot stern nces at Sue, urging her to resolve the situation. They could not drink anymore, or they would be the ones passing out. Sue gritted her teeth, knowing that this could not go on any longer. Fortunately, Katie had given her something colorless and tasteless to ensure nothing would go wrong. Sue and Isaac rke exchanged a knowing nce, and Isaac smiled as he spoke, ¡°Ms. Sheena, have you reviewed the character nning for our new drama? Here''s thetest version, and perhaps you could take a look and share your thoughts on the casting.¡± Sheena stood up to receive the file. Crash! Sue had identally knocked over Sheena¡¯s wine ss. ¡°I''m so sorry, Ms. Sheena! | didn¡¯t mean it. I¡¯m just a little tipsy. Let me get you a new ss.¡± Sheena nced at Sue but did not stop her. After a moment, Sue brought out a new ss, filled it with red wine, and obediently handed it to Sheena. Isaac and Sue exchanged nces again, eager to raise their sses and toast her once more. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush. Let¡¯s consider this ss as the final one for tonight,¡± Sheena declined gracefully. Isaac did not quite understand her intention and agreed, ¡°Sure! Whatever you say.¡± Carefully, Sheena moved her wine ss slightly while standing up, holding the documents. Then, she leaned over and showed them to Isaac. The three executives could not keep their eyes off her alluring figure. As there was no document holder, Sheena leaned the documents against two wine sses, pointing out the issue. The executives were not interested in the documents at all. They just wanted to finish the meeting quickly. They responded eagerly to whatever suggestions Sheena gave.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Isaac raised his ss again. ¡°Ms. Sheena, now that our work is settled, let¡¯s all raise our sses and celebrate the uing coboration.¡± Sheena did not refuse, raising her ss and lightly clinking it with the others. However, she did not rush to drink. The four of them quickly finished their sses, staring at Sheena excitedly. The deep red wine gave off an intoxicating aroma. Bringing the ss to her lips, Sheena hesitated before finally downing the wine. In just a few seconds, her vision grew hazy, her head swayed dizzily, and she eventually slumped onto the table, unable to resist any longer. The four of them grinned triumphantly as they looked at the empty wine ss. Midway through the dinner, Elijah stepped out of the private room and headed to the restroom. On his way back, he unexpectedly saw a familiar woman while passing through an emergency corridor. The woman was talking to a portly man in a corner. Elijah took a closer look and recognized her as the woman who had unted her BMW to Sheena in the car park earlier. As he had no interest in eavesdropping, he turned to leave. However, his keen ears caught some parts of their conversation. ¡°Mr. rke, remember to have them record a video of Sheena after everything is done. In the future, make sure to prioritize my interests when dealing with Mr. Williams and Mr. Landon¡¯s business.¡± ¡°Don''t worry. You''ll definitely benefit from this, ¡°Isaac replied. He rubbed his hands together, eager to return to the private room and enjoy thepany of the beautiful woman. However, someone forcefully grabbed him by the cor of his clothes just as he was about to turn away. Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Isaac¡¯s eyes widened in fear when he saw the man and stammered, ¡°M-¡ªMr. Freeman! What are you doing here?¡± Elijah was obviously angry as he tightened his grip on Isaac¡¯s cor and demanded, ¡°Where is she? Which private room? What were you nning to do to her?¡± Isaac was terrified by Elijah¡¯s intense gaze, and he told Elijah everything. Sue¡¯s face turned pale, and she quietly took the opportunity to slip away. Hearing themotion, Leon came in and managed to restrain them. Elijah handed both of them over to Leon. ¡°Tie them up and lock them in a room. I¡¯ll deal with themter.¡± After that, Elijah rushed toward the private room, sensing that something bad was about to happen. That idiotic Issac just confessed that Sheena was drugged, and 15 minutes have passed since then. Could she already be in trouble? Rage gradually clouded Elijah¡¯s eyes as he shoved the private room door open. The first thing he saw was the blood-stained mess on the floor, a trail of blood leading all the way to the restroom within the room. Sounds of men¡¯s moaning could be heard. Elijah strode angrily toward the restroom, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a carefree figure nearby. It was Sheena! She had light makeup on and was sitting down elegantly as she rhythmically tapped the broken leg of a stool beside her. The stool¡¯s legs revealed several screw tips, with droplets of blood falling to the floor asionally, indicating that it was recently used in a fight. Elijah carefully examined her and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Sheena tilted her head, smirking. ¡°What''s the matter? Are you secretly wishing for something to happen to me?¡± Of course not. He was about to retort when Sheena continued, ¡°But you seem to be quite well-informed. Did you rush over here for the drama?¡± ¡°What?¡± Elijah was baffled. The restroom door suddenly swung open, and two figures crawled toward them. Elijah realized they were two battered and bruised men. Chapterds One was bright red in the face as he clutched at his groin, with blood seeping through his fingers. Not only that, but he also appeared to be in extreme pain. The other man was covering his blood¡ªsoaked back, and his face twisted in agony. Elijah was surprised but let out a sigh of relief. He had already noticed Sheena¡¯s impressive skills thest time they met. As expected, she would always find ways to outsmart others. James and Tony crawled miserably to a spot about two meters away from Sheena and knelt, suddenly bursting into loud wails. ¡°Your Majesty! It was Mr. rke and Sue¡¯s idea! They forced us into this!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! We''re sorry. Please spare us. We won''t do it again!¡± Sheena sneered and took out her phone, pulling up information about the two men for everyone to see. ¡°The Vision Group executive, James Williams, is greedy and perverted. He has particr fetishes as he enjoys tormenting women. Be it female celebrities or female staff in the industry, many have suffered his abuse, and he¡¯s responsible for five deaths. Wow, look at this! Tony Landon, another Vision Group executive, takes advantage of both female celebrities and male neers. Responsible for eleven deaths. Now, tell me. Do you think think you deserve an easy way out?¡± The two men cried harder upon hearing her words, trembling in fear.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. ¡°Your Majesty, please spare us! We''ve learned our lesson, and we promise we won¡¯t do this anymore!¡± Sheena elegantly poured a ss of red wine and held it in her hand, swaying it gently. Chapter 43 ¡°Sure. Since you admit your wrongdoings, upload the video we recorded in the restroom to Twitter. Publicly acknowledge your crimes, offer sincere apologies to the victims, and make sure the public knows full well just how disgusting you are!¡± The two men instantly turned pale. Tony immediately shook his head. ¡°N¡ªNo way! If this gets out, the board will expel me, and I''ll be hated by the public! The police won''t let me off either. I''ll still be doomed!¡± James chimed in, ¡°Your Majesty, please show us mercy. Apart from this, we can agree to anything else you ask!¡± If their crimes were confirmed, they would also endure beatings and humiliation from fellow inmates before facing the death penalty. Just the thought of it sent shivers down their spines! Elijah listened quietly at the side, amused at how swift and ruthless Sheena was. Not only that, but her methods were rather creative too. Actually, it was quite simr to his way of doing things. Without waiting for Sheena to speak, Elijah nced at the two men and ordered, ¡°Do as she says. 11 The two men looked up at Elijah, but before they could even start begging for mercy, he continued, ¡°Or do you want me to take you away and experience firsthand what it¡¯s like to be tortured by me?¡± Sheena was puzzled. The threatened men trembled all over. They had heard stories about Elijah¡¯s ruthless ways, such as electrocution, muttion, and so on. Out of fear, the men finally said, ¡°We''ll do it! We''ll post it right now!¡± Under Sheena¡¯s icy gaze, the two posted their confessions on Twitter with trembling hands. Seeing that things were settled, Sheena rubbed her sore wrists from the fight and walked out of the private room without even sparing a nce at Elijah. After making a phone call to Leon, Elijah followed suit. Only James and Tony remained inside the room, huddled together in despair, wailing loudly. In less than five minutes, the news was trending online. Leon quickly informed the police, and the two were soon hauled away in police cars before they could read thements online. Sheena left in a hurry. Elijah tried to catch up but failed. He searched the restaurant and finally spotted Sheena¡¯s figure at the entrance. It was already dark outside, but the restaurant entrance was brightly lit. Elijah saw Sheena looking at Howard happily, who was crouched by her feet, gently massaging her sore legs. As Howard massaged her legs, he looked up dotingly at her. ¡°Your legs must be hurting from all the kicking. If you want to hit someone, let me know. There¡¯s no need for you to lift a finger.¡± Sheena chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve gotten into a fight, and I¡¯m a bit out of practice. It feels great!¡± Elijah froze, hurt by the scene. After Howard massaged her calves, he removed his suit jacket and wrapped Sheena¡¯s petite figure with it. Then, he escorted her to the car, protecting her head as she got in. As he closed the car door, Howard red at Elijah. Soon after, the Rolls-Royce drove away. Elijah stared in the direction they left, unable to describe his feelings as the scene of Howard massaging Sheena¡¯s calves reyed in his mind. Leon appeared from the restaurant and found Elijah, seemingly lost in thought. ¡°Mr. Freeman, is everything okay?¡± Elijah snapped out of the trance, asking coldly, ¡°What is it?¡±From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°James and Tony are taken away. As for the two upstairs, how would you like to handle them?¡± He pondered for a moment, and the recent scene shed before his eyes again. Then, he said, ¡± Just let them go.¡± ¡°What? Just like that?¡± Leon was stunned. After all, he had gone through so much trouble to restrain and detain those individuals in the room. Chapter 44 Elijah left the restaurant without saying a word. Leon had no choice but to call and instruct his subordinates to release Sue and Isaac. Sue and Isaac were trembling in fear in a pitch¡ª-ck room where they were bound. Sue could not believe that Sheena actually knew someone as influential as Elijah, and her jealousy of Sheena deepened. How could someone raised in an orphanage, who was also divorced, attract the attention of so many outstanding men? However, at that moment, she was more terrified than jealous. She was scared of how Elijah would handle their situation. Click! The lights came on, nearly blinding them. Trembling, they did not even have a chance to plead before Leon¡¯s men untied them. Then, without a single word, the group left them behind, not even sparing them a nce. Isaac immediately called James to inquire about the situation while Sue anxiously listened. However, all his calls went to voicemail. They were left puzzled, wondering why they were released so easily. Nheless, they decided to leave the restaurant, fearing Elijah might change his mind. Once they returned, Sue contacted Katie and learned about James and Tony¡¯s arrest. Katie questioned, ¡°What on earth happened?¡± ¡°Mr. Freeman, the CEO of Freeman Group, overheard my conversation with Mr. rke. He ended up tying us up. As for Mr. Williams and Mr. Landon, | suspect Mr. Freeman had a hand in sending them to prison,¡± Sue spected, still puzzled. Then, she continued, ¡°But | can¡¯t figure out why he let me and Mr. rke 1. go. Katie fell silent. Finally, she said, ¡°I''ll have my people investigate this matter thoroughly. You just keep an eye on that woman.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After ending the call, Sue turned to embrace the man beside her. The balding man in his forties yfully pulled Sue into his arms and teased, ¡°Ms. Sheena seems quite impressive. Why do you dislike her so badly?¡± Sue pushed him away irritably. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! You promised to help me with my promotion, but that woman stole my chance. If she weren''t attractive, would you care about this?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Remembering something, Sue continued, ¡°And you actually gave me a used BMW. Do you think so little of me?¡± The man stumbled for words and tried to coax Sue. ¡°You''re the most beautiful woman in my heart. It¡¯s just that I''ve been facing some financial difficulties recently. As soon as things improve, I''ll personally take you to a high-end dealership to pick a better one.¡± Sue pouted, expressing her displeasure. ¡°Since you''re so eager for the position, I¡¯ll make it hard for her at tomorrow¡¯s meeting. When the timees, you can back me up. Since she¡¯s new, she¡¯ll surely make a fool of herself in public. Then, the position will be yours soon enough, right?¡± Sue¡¯s mood instantly brightened up. ¡°Deal!¡± The man nodded and looked at Sue lustfully. ¡°Sweetheart, after everything I¡¯ve done to help you, shouldn¡¯t you be rewarding me?¡± Sue blushed and scolded him yfully, ¡°You¡¯re so shameless!¡± Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Early next morning, Sue drove to thepany feeling great. Before the meeting, Sheena happened to share an elevator with Sue as they went upstairs. Sheena teased, ¡°Wow, Ms. Klein! It seems like you had a good night''s sleep.¡± Sue gave Sheena a disdainful nce and retorted, ¡°Why, yes. | definitely slept better than you, Ms. Sheena. Were you up all night? 1 Recallingst night''s events, Sue believed James and Tony must have seeded in their n as Sheena was drugged, and they were only unlucky because Elijah caught them in the act, so the police took them away. That was probably why they did not have a chance to send her or Isaac the video. Letting her imagination run wild, Sue nced at Sheena disdainfully, wondering how a soiled woman by others could still act so high and mighty. With those thoughts in mind, Sue arrogantly mocked Sheena, ¡°Ms. Sheena, if we could be friends, | might have actually liked you. Unfortunately, you¡¯re about to tumble down from this position soon, and | doubt we''ll be working together.¡± Sheena chuckled as if she were looking at a fool, giving her a dismissive nce. ¡°Is that so?¡± Ding! The elevator arrived at the intended floor, and Sheena got out first.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Sue watched her prideful figure and seethed with frustration. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see you cry!¡± Thepany held a meeting every month to outline the overall work ns for various project teams. Employees with manager - level positions or higher sat at the front tables, while Sue and others like her were in the back, about five seats away from Sheena. Directors and leaders from each department gradually arrived, and the meeting officially began when Howard entered. The department heads took turns speaking, and Sue grew increasingly impatient, eagerly waiting for Sheena¡¯s turn, which was getting closer. Sue clenched her fists as excitement built in her eyes. However, when she looked toward the executive seats, she was surprised to find a familiar figure missing. Even more shocking, there was no seat reserved for him this time. His spot waspletely upied. What was going on?! He was perfectly finest night, and they had left for work together this morning. Sue could not make sense of it, and just then, she happened to lock eyes with Sheena. Sheena shed a knowing smile before looking away. Her smile appeared alluring, but to Sue, it felt like a taunt. A gut feeling told Sue that Sheena had something to do with it. Finally, Sue could not resist and whispered to the person beside her, ¡°Do you know why Mr. Wald isn¡¯t here?¡± The person¡¯s expression instantly changed and waved dismissively. ¡°I don¡¯t know who that person is. Don¡¯t ask me.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sue was baffled. Something was definitely off. However, Sue was not ready to give up and looked to the left, only to find the other employee¡¯s head shaking in a simr fashion. ¡°| don¡¯t know anything either.¡± Sue was confused. It was Sheena¡¯s turn to speak. ¡°The Vision Group has agreed to have ourpany¡¯s artists, Skye Zimmer and Abel Graham, y the male lead and second male lead respectively in their new drama, The Legendary Prince.¡± ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Sue suddenly raised her hand to interrupt, questioning, ¡°When did this happen? Why wasn¡¯t | informed at all? Last night, we were discussing it with...¡® Sheena picked up where she left off, ¡°What did we discuss? Who did we discuss it with?¡± ¡°With...¡± Sue froze. If she revealed what happ Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Sue felt that Sheena was setting a trap for her, so she ignored the question. However, she continued questioning, ¡°Ms. Sheena, when did you finalize the deal with Vision Group about the artists¡¯ roles? Why wasn''t | informed about this matter at all?¡± ¡°Ms. Klein, do you expect me to inform you before | make any decisions?¡± Sheena sneered, giving Sue a piercing gaze. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Sue was taken aback, not expecting Sheena to challenge her in front of the entirepany. All eyes were now fixed on her, waiting for her to stumble. Instead, Sue bit her lip, softening her demeanor and putting on an act as she said pitifully, I¡¯m sorry. | didn¡¯t mean to disrespect you. | just thought that you would discuss such matters with your subordinates.¡± Sue appeared fragile and subdued as she faced Sheena¡¯s arrogance, and it truly looked like a situation where the superior was bullying the weak. Sue was secretly gloating, thinking that Sheena was someone naive enough to go against her! Howard lightly tapped on the table, appearing displeased. ¡°The talent manager certainly has the right to make independent decisions, and there¡¯s no need to blow this out of proportion.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Lawson,¡± Sue replied, her face flushed with embarrassment as she reluctantly sat back down. However, Sheena stared at Sue and said, ¡°Ms. Klein, since you asked, | confirmed the participating artists with Vision Group¡¯s representatives yesterday morning.¡± What?! Sue was shocked as she had only approached Sheena about the matter yesterday afternoon, but Sheena had apparently finalized it in the morning. If Sheena had already settled everything, then why did she agree to the dinner? Sue stared at Sheena in disbelief, wondering if Sheena did it on purpose.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Did Sheena also put James and Tony in jail? Achill ran down her spine as Sue looked at Sheena¡¯s unbelievably gorgeous face. Nheless, she quickly dismissed the thought. How could an inexperienced young woman possibly be so resourceful? ¡®It must be a coincidence. It¡¯s just a coincidence!* Sue thought. She dug into her palms with her long nails, slowly regaining herposure. The meeting went on as Sue did not ask further questions. Then, Sheena discussed the uing work ns, ¡°In terms of overall nning, we''ll keep things as they are. We have already negotiated specific endorsement advertisements and variety shows for various popr artists.¡± 1 As there were no objections from the audience, Sheena continued, ¡°Finally, there¡¯s the batch of trainees ourpany has been nurturing. Most of these young talents are inexperienced. | propose that thepany invest in a talent show and invite other companies to participate. We can form seven-member groups from a pool of a hundred contestants, allowing these young talents to gain experience.¡± ¡°Wait a minute! | disagree!¡± Sue raised her hand and stood up once again. ¡°Ms. Sheena, organizing a talent show is not easy, and this proposal seems to exceed your job scope. Besides, talent shows don¡¯t have a strong market in our country. If thepany were to incur losses because of this...¡± As she spoke, she noticed Sheena frowning and slowly pping her hands. ¡°Ms. Klein, were you a theater kid in school?¡± Sue looked puzzled and said, ¡°No.¡± Sheena chuckled. ¡°Oh? Then why do you seem to enjoy being the center of attention? That''s fine, but you do know that we¡¯re in a meeting right now, right.¡± Asoft burst ofughter erupted among the employees, and even those sitting next to Sue quietly moved away from her. Chapter 47 Sue blushed, realizing that Sheena was humiliating her. However, she did not back down and retorted loudly, ¡°Ms. Sheena, it seems that you have some personal motives behind this proposal. Otherwise, why would you be so defensive? You''ve only been in thepany for a few days, and you''re already pushing for such a costly proposal. It¡¯s quite suspicious. Mr. Lawson, | suggest conducting a thorough investigation into her!¡± Howard mmed his coffee cup on the table with a loud thud. ¡°I agree with this proposal.¡± A buzz of murmurs filled the room, and everyone was looking at Sheena in a different light. However, only Sue was ted, seemingly oblivious to who Howard was referring to. ¡°Really? Mr. Lawson, do you actually agree with me to investigate Ms. Sheena?¡± Astifled chuckle slipped out from someone. Everyone knew who Howard''s words were directed at, except for Sue, who seemed oblivious. Howard scowled, ¡°If you say one more word, you can leave immediately, and don¡¯t bothering in tomorrow.¡± Sue¡¯s face turned pale, the stark contrast between her expectations and reality leaving her stunned. It was only after a gentle reminder from someone nearby that she reluctantly sat back down. The meeting continued, focusing on the detailed boration of Sheena¡¯s proposal. Sue listened quietly, but she wanted to find a ce to hide from the humiliation. At that moment, she was filled with jealousy toward Sheena, and it felt almost suffocating. Why was Howard not interested in her? If she had an affair with Howard, she would be the one enjoying his protection and affection! Suddenly, the balding Henry appeared in Sue¡¯s mind. Just the idea of having to secretly put up with someone as disgusting as Henry made her feel even more resentful. Yes! Henry!Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Sue believed that given Howard''s attitude toward Sheena, something fishy must be going on with Henry''s mysterious disappearance, which definitely had something to do with Sheena! Sue brooded over that for a while. Thetter half of the meeting proceeded smoothly without Sue¡¯s interruption. After Howard announced the adjournment, he and Yuri were the first to leave. The others followed suit, gradually emptying the conference room. As Sheena packed up to leave, her document folder was suddenly held down by a hand with bright red nails. Sue smiled and said, ¡°I have something I''d like to discuss with you, Ms. Sheena. Please stay for a while.¡± Sheena did not say anything, but she did not refuse either. Both of them remained in the meeting room until most of the people had left. Sue whispered, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Henry attend the meeting? Where did he go? Did you have something to do with this?¡± ¡°Henry? Well, he¡¯s never returning to thepany again,¡± Sheena said casually. ¡°What?¡± Sue widened her eyes in disbelief, gripping Sheena¡¯s arm tightly and shaking her. ¡°He was fired by the board? Did you do this? Why would you do such a thing?¡± It was unbelievable! They just had a discussionst night about how to deal with this scheming woman, and now he was suddenly dismissed without any warning. Sheena frowned and pushed Sue¡¯s hand away disdainfully, saying, ¡°He¡¯s suspected of embezzlement and engaging in inappropriate arrangements with female employees. Thepany kicked him out, and he¡¯ll probably spend a decade or more behind bars.¡± As she spoke, Sheena took a wet wipe, calmly cleaning her wrist where Sue had touched her, and then wiped her document folder. Then, she smirked. ¡°This is confidential, and no one in thepany except me would dare tell you. However, since we¡¯ve worked together for a few days...¡± Sue backed off in disbelief, feeling her scalp tingle. ¡°So, aboutst night... Did you know everything? Were you setting me up?¡± Sheena did not answer but simply walked over and sat at the main seat, crossing her legs and unting her exquisite figure. Despite being slightly shorter than Sue while seated, Sheena exuded a powerful presence, easily surpassing Sue in every way. Shena teased, ¡°Sue, since you miss Henry so much, why don¡¯t you keep himpany?¡± Chapter 48 Chapter 49 ¡°You wouldn''t dare!¡± Sue noticed Sheena sitting at the main seat in the meeting room and finally realized what Sheena meant. She stammered, ¡°W¡ª What do you mean?¡± Sheena smirked confidently. She merely stared at Sue, refusing to give her an answer. Sheena¡¯s smile made Sue uneasy, and the aura she emanated sent shivers down her spine. ¡°Lunatic! You''re nothing but a lunatic!¡± Sue ridiculed, taking a couple of steps backward. However, four officers entered the meeting room just as she was about to turn and leave. They politely knocked on the door and asked, ¡°Is there a Sue Klein here?¡± Sue froze. ¡°That''s me. What''s the matter?¡± Hearing her answer, the officers approached her with a stern look. Sue¡¯s face was instantly ashen as she stuttered, ¡°A-Are you mistaken? I¡¯m aw-abiding citizen!¡± ¡°We''ll determine whether you¡¯re innocent or not. Pleasee with us.¡± ¡°No! | won''t go with you!¡± James and Tony were jailed, and she could not hide what she had done. Initially, she had hoped that Henry could protect her, but he was already long gone.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Sue did not want to be imprisoned. If she ended up behind bars, her job and her future would be ruined! A thought suddenly came to her, and she hurried over to Sheena¡¯s side. Sue squatted at Sheena¡¯s feet and held onto her hand as she pleaded, ¡°It was you who called the police, right? M¡ªMs. Sheena, | surrender. I¡¯m sorry! | was just jealous. That''s why | plotted against you. Please forgive me! Please!¡± Sheena lifted Sue¡¯s chin gently with her fingertip, locking eyes with her, and smiled. Then, she said, ¡°You''re only apologizing because you''re scared and desperate. You know how much of this is actually sincere.¡± ¡°No! | truly mean it. | was wrong, Ms. Sheena. I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°Sue, if you were just being childish and tried to provoke me or climb up the corporatedder using Henry, | would¡¯ve just fired you. However, you surprised me, and | underestimated you. Sending you to jail is the only option.¡± Sue lowered her head as she cried, furious at how arrogant Sheena sounded. She vowed to destroy Sheena once she got out of this situation. Nheless, Sue hid her evil thoughts and sobbed, appearing remorseful. Just as she was about to speak, she remembered a crucial phrase from Sheena¡¯s words. ¡°You said you were going to fire me?¡± How could a mere talent manager fire anyone? Did she think that she owned thepany just because she was involved with Howard? Chapter 40 Sheena leaned slightly forward, sneering as she whispered into Sue¡¯s ear, ¡°I never told you, but this ce you''re at right now belongs to me, Sheena Lawson.¡± Sheena enunciated each word clearly when she mentioned her name, her eyes glinting dangerously. The main seat of the meeting room was like a throne, yet Sheena¡¯s petite figure perched there, seamlessly fitting in and radiating an aura of regal elegance. Thud! Sue slumped to the ground when she heard Sheena saying that this was herpany. Her surname was also Lawson! Sue covered her mouth,pletely at a loss for words, unable to pull herself together even when the officers came forward to escort her away. Having dealt with the two terrible employees, Sheena finally found some peace for the next couple of days. It was almost noon, and Sheena was busy at her desk. Yuri knocked on the door and entered, saying indifferently, ¡°Ms. Sheena, Mr. Lawson has an urgent matter to discuss with you. He¡¯d like you toe over as soon as you''re avable.¡± An urgent matter? Judging by Yuri¡¯s expression, it did not seem like good news. Without dy, Sheena tidied up in minutes and swiftly made her way to the top¡ªfloor office. As soon as she opened the door, Sheena found Howard sitting in his office chair with his back to her, with his head tilted upward as if examining a painting on the wall. Chapter 49 ¡°Howard?¡± With only the two of them in the office, Sheena did not bother with formalities. Howard abruptly turned around, eximing, ¡°Surprise!¡± Then, he swiftly opened the lunchbox in his hand, which gave off a tantalizing aroma.. ¡°Auntie Gloria said I¡¯m mistreating you by letting you eat cafeteria food often. So, she made you your favorite pot roast. Are you surprised?¡± Sheena chuckled at his sudden childishness and teased, ¡°So, this is the ¡®urgent matter¡¯ you mentioned?¡± Howard set down the lunchbox and approached Sheena, dotingly saying, ¡°My little princess needs her meal, and that¡¯s my top priority.¡± Sheena did not say anything, but her bright smile betrayed her feelings. Howard guided her to the sofa, where an array of dishes and soup wasid on the coffee table. Then, he brought over the pot roast from his desk. Sheena took a whiff and was impressed with Auntie Gloria¡¯s exceptional culinary skills. The food here easily surpassed the cafeteria¡¯s offerings. ¡°It''s delicious, no doubt, but let¡¯s not make this a regr thing for lunch. People might get suspicious if | keep showing up here to share meals with you,¡± Sheenamented while eating. Howard chuckled, ¡°Ever since you arrived, Auntie Gloria stopped listening to me. You''ll have to talk to her yourself when you go home tonight.¡± Sheena nodded, lowering her head to continue her meal. She was genuinely hungry and truly loved Auntie Gloria¡¯s cooking. Observing Sheena devour her food, Howard could not help but yfully touch her nose. Sheena responded with a smile and kept on eating.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. As they chatted and ate, the atmosphere in the office became lively and rxed. Yuri suddenly knocked and stood at the doorway, whispering, ¡°Mr. Lawson, Ms. Upton is here. Sheena instinctively nced at Howard, only to notice his expression turned sour almost instantly. Yuri¡¯s expression was also quite strange as he added, ¡°She''s been waiting outside for a while now. Should | let her in?¡± Without much thought, Howard replied, ¡°No. I¡¯m busy.¡± With that, Yuri left. Once the door closed, the spacious office returned to itsfortable ambiance. Howard picked a piece of beef and added it to Sheena¡¯s bowl. ¡°Eat more. You''re too thin.¡± Sheena absentmindedly agreed and asked, ¡°Howard, don¡¯t you like your fiancee?¡± Howard¡¯s face instantly turned cold, and he said in disgust, ¡°Fiancee? She doesn¡¯t deserve that title. She¡¯s nothing more than a shameless opportunist.¡± Judging from his expression, there seemed to be quite a story behind their engagement. However, Sheena refrained from prying since he appeared unwilling to say more. Even so, Sheena could not help but be curious about how shameless Katie was. After all, Howard was a gentle person, and Katie must have done something extreme for Howard to hate her. Noticing the mischievous glint in her eyes, Howard interrupted her train of thought, ¡°What are you thinking about? Eat your meal.¡± Sheena nodded obediently. In about ten minutes, Sheena finished her meal. When she left Howard''s office, she immediately spotted Katie, who was still pestering Yuri nearby. Katie seemed to have run out of patience, and she was starting to threaten Yuri. Sheena looked away and went straight toward the elevator. ¡°Stop right there!¡± A high-pitched voice called out from behind. Suddenly, Sheena¡¯s wrist was grabbed, and Katie appeared before her. ¡°It''s you! Why did youe out from Howard''s office?¡± Sheena smiled and replied, ¡°Mr. Lawson invited me for lunch. Naturally, | didn¡¯t refuse his kind offer.¡± Before she could finish, Katie was already fuming with rage. Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Katie was beyond furious and shouted, ¡°Stop seducing my man, you bitch!¡± She thought Sheena was shamelessly trying to seduce Howard, even though he was already engaged! Katie hade all the way from Svelton to Farlem for Howard, putting so much effort into their engagement, and she believed her love for him was something few women could match! However, Howard refused to meet her, and he always had Yuri making excuses. This time, he imed to be busy, but he was actually having lunch with this bitch! Katie grew angrier, ring fiercely at Sheena and swinging her hand to give Sheena a powerful p. Sheena did not even flinch. She stood still and waited. However, the p did note. Yuri held Katie¡¯s wrist tightly and warned sternly, ¡°Ms. Upton, you¡¯re in Angle Group, and it¡¯s inappropriate to hit others. Please control yourself.¡± Enraged, Katie shouted, ¡°Let go of me! | want to hit this shameless bitch. If you keep stopping me, I''ll take you down too!¡± Yuri¡¯s expression grew darker, and he continued to hold Katie¡¯s wrist firmly, warning her, Ms. Upton, Mr. Lawson is inside. Do you want to make a scene and force him to witness you acting like a crazy woman?¡± Acrazy woman? Katie Upton, the second daughter of the prestigious Upton family of Svelton, was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. How could she possibly tarnish her own image in front of Howard? Seeing her gradually return to her senses and calm down, Yuri finally released her hand. Sheena observed how Katie managed to restrain herself despite her rage and could not help but chuckle. ¡°Ms. Upton, I¡¯ve heard rumors about your fiery, domineering nature that stops at nothing. However, it would seem that you''re actually quite timid.¡± ¡°You!¡± Katie was fuming, struggling to suppress the urge to rush forward and p Sheena. In the end, she could only watch as Sheena, cool andposed, entered the elevator and left. Nheless, Katie would not let this matter go. After all, Sheena provoked her, and she would make sure Sheena got what she deserved! Somehow, she gradually calmed down as the name of a certain person popped into her mind. For the first time, Katie entered the detention center and specifically requested to see that woman. After a moment, a disheveled woman in a blue jumpsuit with bloodshot eyes was escorted by police to the visitation area. Even through the ss, Katie was surprised by what she saw. She instinctively covered her nose and asked with disdain, ¡°Sue, what happened to you? It has only been a few days.¡± Sue licked her chapped lips and stared back at Katie with intense hatred. ¡°Would | have ended up like this if it weren¡¯t for you trying to distance yourself from me?¡± Just two days ago, Sue had pleaded with the police to ask Katie for help to get her out. However, Katie refused to see her and pinned all the me on her, and she even bribed someone to expedite her sentence!Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Sue was scheduled to be transferred to prison the next day. She was unsure if she would ever get released. She had thought that Sheena was her enemy, but in reality, Katie was the demon who pushed her into this hellish situation. Katie frowned, still covering her nose and speaking to Sue through the inte, ¡°I really had no choice in this matter. My family found out and won''t let me tarnish my reputation. So, my only option was to sacrifice you. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure to help you out as much as | can. I''ll ensure your life bes a bit better. However, as a condition, you must tell me everything you know about Sheena. Give me all her details.¡± Katie smiled as if she was determined to help and asked, ¡°What do you think? It¡¯s a good deal, right?¡± Unexpectedly, Sue suddenly threw her head back andughed maniacally. She even pounded on the table. Katie was puzzled. ¡°Is it that funny?¡± Chapter 51 Of course, Sue thought it was absurd that Katie was scheming to harm her future sister-inw in every way possible. However, Sue did not voice this thought. After all, as much as she despised Sheena, she also resented Katie. How could she stand to watch the two of them live harmoniously in the future? ¡°Do you hate her that much?¡± Her exaggerated smile, coupled with her messy, dry hair and bloodshot eyes, made her look like an eerie woman who had escaped from a mental asylum. Katie steadied herself before saying, ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t you want to get back at her too?¡± ¡°Alright then. I''ll tell you.¡± Sue chuckled and leaned closer to the inte. In a hushed voice, she continued, ¡°She¡¯s actually backed by powerful support. If ites to a real confrontation, you might not win. However, | do know that she¡¯s divorced. Perhaps you can start from there.* Katie¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Great! Don¡¯t worry. I''ll help you settle the score with Sheena!¡± After saying that, she got up and left without looking back. Sue watched as Katie left, and her smile grew more and more manic. It was a pity she could not witness their showdown! As soon as she was out, Katie immediately made a phone call. ¡°Find out who Sheena¡¯s ex- husband is and get me all the details. Quickly!¡± After waiting patiently for half an hour, a file was sent to her phone. Katie opened it, and as she read, her initially furrowed brow gradually rxed, staring at a name as she smirked. ¡°Jennifer Moore?¡± The Freeman Group¡¯s CEO office. Elijah rubbed his temples with his eyes slightly closed. Leon stood respectfully before him, reporting, ¡°A couple of days ago, Ms. Freeman caused a scene. The security guards didn¡¯t dare to let her out, and she¡¯s been unusually quiet and obedient these days. However, she did make a few calls to Ms. Moore, but Ms. Moore didn¡¯t answer.¡± Elijah opened his eyes. Thest few words caught his attention. ¡°Why didn¡¯t Jenny answer?¡± Erin and Jennifer were very close, often exchanging calls. However, ever since Sheena caused a scene at the Freeman mansion, Jennifer has stopped mentioning Erin in front of him. Elijah frowned, confused by the situation. Leon exined, ¡°Perhaps she¡¯s just busy and missed Ms. Freeman¡¯s calls.¡± Missing a call asionally was normal, but multiple times in a row? Was she deliberately avoiding something? Something felt off about this situation. Elijah stood up and said, ¡°I haven''t seen Jenny in a few days. Let''s go to the apartment.¡± Leon replied, ¡°Ms. Moore isn¡¯t at the apartment. She¡¯s out.¡± Did she go out? Maybe he was just overthinking things. Elijah returned to his seat. Leon noticed the faint dark circles around Elijah¡¯s eyes, and he could not help but ask, ¡°Mr. Freeman, have you not been resting welltely? You don¡¯t look too good.¡± Elijah rubbed his temple, feeling a bit irritable. Lately, he had been staying at the mansion. Each time he returned, no matter how late it was, Sheena would appear in his mind. There she was, wearing an apron while cleaning the floor. Upon seeing him, she would smile at him. Then, there was the memory of her bending over to sweep leaves in the garden, as well as the image of her in bed that night...Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. It was all messing with his sleep. Yet, when he woke up and reached for a ss of water, he would think of the scene at the restaurant entrance, with Howard gently massaging her legs. Seeing that he was getting gloomier, Leon asked worriedly, ¡°Mr. Freeman?¡± Chapter 52 Elijahposed himself and ordered, ¡°The transfer of ownership for the mansion needs to be prepared by today. Contact the lawyer and have Sheenae over to sign it.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Freeman. I''ll go remind them immediately.¡± Angle Group. Since Sue was jailed, Sheena was short of an assistant. With the focus now on nning the reality show, she decided to select a recement from among the talent agents and assistants. In her small office, six female employees stood in two rows. The first row consisted mostly of good-looking women who did not stand properly, fidgeting and posing deliberately. Sheena nced at them briefly, not impressed by the behavior. Then, she surveyed everyone in the room and was drawn to the girl standing far back on the second tost row. ¡°You,e to the front.¡± The girl was surprised and nervously took a couple of steps forward. ¡°Hello, Ms. Sheena. I¡¯m Wendy Stevens.¡± Sheena found her corresponding information: A neer from a rural and humble background. Wendy was exactly what she was looking for. ¡°Alright, you''ll be working as my assistant.¡± Wendy was taken aback, but other employees seemed a bit displeased. ¡°Ms. Sheena, she¡¯s only been here for a month and is still on probation. Isn¡¯t this against the rules?¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Sheena nced at them calmly and said, ¡°I am the rule.¡± Her words left everyone speechless, and those who were not chosen could only leave in annoyance. Wendy was excited and kept bowing to express her gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Sheena, for giving me this opportunity. I¡¯ll do my best to excel in every task you assign me. | promise.¡± ¡®Alright, | get it, but prove it to me with your actions instead.¡± Sheena gave Wendy an affirming look and handed over a stack of documents. ¡°Familiarize yourself with these as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena.¡± Wendy left with the documents. As soon as she was gone, Sheena spun her office chair to face the window, looking at the scenery outside. She rubbed her shoulders, feeling weary. Angle Group was not exactly a hugely famous entertainmentpany in Farlem, and its previous sess was mostly thanks to the benefits of Howard''s association. However, Sheena aimed to achieve a five percent profit this year, meaning she needed to innovate and make bold moves. It was risky, but running away from a challenge was not in her character. Just as she was lost in thought, Wendy knocked on the door again. ¡°Ms. Sheena, you had a call earlier. It was from Mr. Walker, thewyer. He said he needed you to go and sign the property transfer document for a house.¡± Sheena was puzzled. ¡°What house?¡± ¡°They said it¡¯s a small mansion called Ocean Avenue, in Costa Kelna¡¯s bay area.¡± Was that the house she and Elijah had initially chosen for their marriage? They have been divorced for some time now, so why would he suddenly want to transfer that property to her? Was itpensation or guilt? She found it amusing. ¡°Alright, I''ll head over after work.¡± Sheena did not refuse. Even though she was wealthy, it would not make sense to turn down an offer that came to her doorstep. Besides, keeping the house mighte in handy in the future. Ata cafe, Jennifer was wearing sunsses and walked to a table where two roses were ced, as per the arrangement. Seeing the elegant woman seated across from her, she removed her sunsses and forced a smile. ¡°How may | help you, Ms. Upton?¡± Katie observed Jennifer carefully. Chapter 53 ¡°So, you''re the illegitimate daughter of the Moore family, Jennifer Moore. You''re quite pretty, but your demeanor does seem a bit distant from that of a proper heiress.¡± Jennifer frowned. She was annoyed and believed that Katie was trying to assert dominance by immediately highlighting their status difference. Nheless, she still smiled and said, ¡°Ms. Upton, if you brought me here just to humiliate me, then I¡¯ll be taking my leave.¡± Jennifer truly wanted to leave, but Katie held onto her hand. ¡°Calm down. Let''s get to the point. You don¡¯t like your fiance¡¯s ex-wife, right?¡± Jennifer was surprised when Sheena was mentioned. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Well, | don¡¯t like that bitch either, and | can help you get rid of her.¡± Jennifer hesitated. After all, the Upton family was really influential, and she was indeed intrigued. However, Katie¡¯s demeanor was too overbearing, and she did not appreciate that. If she could not get substantial help from Katie, she would just be manipted by her. After careful consideration, Jennifer sighed. ¡°I''m sorry, Ms. Upton. I¡¯m just an insignificant illegitimate daughter of the Moore family, powerless and without influence. She has almost defeated me a few times before, and I¡¯m afraid | can¡¯tpete with her. So, | can¡¯t help you.¡±Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. She rolled her eyes at Katie, ready to leave. ¡°So what if you''re an illegitimate daughter? As long as you''re willing to cooperate with me, | can help you secure your rightful position and make you the sole heir of the Moore family.¡± Jennifer¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Deal.¡± 4 After work, Sheena casually drove her Santana to Ocean Avenue. She numbly looked at the unchanged scenery outside the gates, sensing a faint ache deep in her heart. The security personnel knew she wasing and did not stop her. She walked straight through the garden and pushed open the door. There was nowyer, only Elijah in a tailored ck suit, sitting elegantly with his legs crossed on the couch sipping ck coffee. Sheena was not surprised to see him at the mansion. Even so, Sheena confidently strode forward. However, as she got closer, she realized Elijah was not looking too good, especially with the faint dark circles under his eyes. She could not help but chuckle. Although Elijah still appeared handsome, that was the first time she had seen him in sucha state. 54 212 ¡°Mr. Freeman, it looks like your nights are rather busy these days.¡± Elijah became gloomier, and he raised his gaze to meet hers. ¡°Ms. Sheena, you¡¯re getting ruder by the day.¡± Sheena crossed her arms, a cold glint shed in her eyes as she replied, ¡°Well, being nice depends on thepany, doesn¡¯t it? You aren''t worthy of my kindness.¡± Elijah frowned and got up directly, walking over to Sheena. Sheena was prepared and struck out at Elijah, but he dodged it in time. Then, he reached out, aiming to grab her shoulder, but Sheena took a step back. Acold glint shed in her eyes as she aimed a fierce kick between his legs. Elijah sensed the danger and stepped back, precisely catching her slender ankle. In the garden, Leon, who had been keeping watch, heard amotion from inside the mansion and discreetly peeked in, and he saw the two-of them fighting. What was going on? Sheena was there to sign the document. If she did not like the ce, she could simply refuse. Why were they fighting? He looked bewildered as he watched Sheena¡¯s fierce gaze, noticing that almost every one of her strikes targeted critical areas on Elijah¡¯s body, and Elijah was only defending but not attacking. The situation was dire! Leon was shocked. What a fierce woman! He was genuinely worried that he would witness a scene of Elijah covered in blood the next moment. Even so, Leon restrained the urge to intervene and tried to block out the noise by covering his ears, keeping his distance. Enjoy Ad-Free Reading>> Chapter 54 x Chapter 55 The two in the living room had fought for two rounds. Sheena missed her first strike, and she could not match Elijah¡¯s physical strength in the subsequent endurance battle. Additionally, her high heels were inconveniencing her. Before she knew it, she was pushed back against the wall. Elijah smirked as he grabbed firmly onto her left wrist, attempting to press her against the wall. It was the same tactic he had used in their previous encounters. But this time, Sheena had learned her lesson and knew he wanted to pin her hands to the wall, leaving her vulnerable. As he focused on her left hand, she discreetly released the hidden sp on her emerald ring, revealing a small silver needle. Elijah was caught off guard as the silver needle from her ring pressed against his throat. Thankfully, Sheena always wore the ring that Noah had given her for self-defense, and while the silver needle was small, it was exceptionally sturdy. The two were so close that they could clearly hear each other''s breathing. Elijah¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly, and a drop of blood slid down his neck, staining his white shirt cor with a patch that resembled a small blooming poppy flower. He frowned and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a little extreme?¡± Sheena sneered. ¡°This is what¡¯s needed to deal with a persistent and irritating man like you.¡± Elijah grinned as he leaned in slightly, seemingly unconvinced that she would harm him. ¡°If youe even a millimeter closer, | won''t hesitate to slit your throat. You can give it a try if you don¡¯t believe me. Her tone was casual, but Elijah could see the determination in her eyes. He chuckled softly, then released her hand and took two steps back. With her newfound freedom, Sheena rubbed her left wrist, then walked around him to retrieve the transfer documents from the coffee table. She quickly flipped through them, confirming that everything was fine before signing both documents. Then, she took one copy and left without looking back. Elijah watched as she left, touching the blood on his throat with an unreadable expression. Sheena walked out of the mansion. When Leon saw her, he cowered instinctively. He only ran toward the mansion to check on Elijah¡¯s condition after she walked past him. Sheena ignored Leon and dialed Wendy''s number. ¡°Help me arrange for someone to get rid of all the furniture and decor in Ocean Avenue. Rece them with new ones and rent the flowers in the garden.¡± Wendy obediently agreed and asked, ¡°Understood, Ms. Sheena. When do you n to move in? I¡¯ll arrange the schedule as soon as possible.¡± Sheena chuckled. ¡°Who said I¡¯m moving in?¡± ¡°Huh? Ms. Sheena, if you¡¯re not moving in...¡± Before Wendy could finish her sentence, Sheena ended the call. She walked straight to her Santana parked at the front gate, but she heard the sound of a car approaching from behind just as she opened the car door.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. The car stopped nearby. Jennifer got out of the back seat. There seemed to be someone else beside her, but her face was covered. From the way the figure moved, it seemed like a woman, but Sheena could not see who it was. Nheless, she could not care less and only took a quick nce before looking away, preparing to get into her car and leave. Jennifer jogged over, blocking the car door and sounding surprised as she asked, ¡°What are you doing here? Are you still trying to cling to Eli? You''re already divorced from him!¡± Chapter 55 Sheena chuckled, amused. ¡°You should ask him that. He¡¯s the one who called me here.¡± Jennifer was shocked. ¡°Why would Eli call you?! If it weren¡¯t for you pestering him, he wouldn¡¯t have spared you another nce!¡± Even though Jennifer said that, she was still doubtful. Sheena took the transfer document from her bag and waved it in front of Jennifer. ¡°Take a good look! Your dear Eli transferred this property to my name. With that, she pushed Jennifer aside. Jennifer staggered back several steps before regaining her bnce, and her eyes were wide with shock when she realized that Elijah had transferred the mansion to Sheena. Jennifer could not understand why he generously handed over the mansion to Sheena but would not let he would not let Jennifer get anywhere near it! Why? Jennifer was fuming, but she quickly thought of something and red at Sheena. ¡°Is this Eli''s way ofpensating you for the divorce? He¡¯s doing this to set a clear boundary with you!¡± Sheena smirked coldly, unfazed by the usation. Then, she said, ¡°This property belongs to me now, Ms. Moore. You should stay away. Otherwise, | won¡¯t hesitate to throw you out.¡± ¡°You!¡± Jennifer was enraged. As she watched Sheena get into the driver¡¯s seat and start the car, she continued smugly, ¡°You had Howard backing you up, so | couldn¡¯tpete with you in the past. Starting tomorrow, I''ll trample all over you!¡± Sheena nced at her, not taking her harsh words seriously. Then, she swiftly drove her Santana away, leaving Jennifer in a cloud of exhaust. Choked by the fumes, Jennifer coughed and red at the shiny green Santana with a malicious glint in her eyes. She was determined to see just how long Sheena could remain so arrogant! Sheena drove back to Howard¡¯s mansion. As she passed arge screen in themercial district, the news was broadcasting about a car ident involving Hannah Moore of the Moore family. Hannah was in critical condition, and while she was currently stable, she might remain in a vegetative state.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Hannah¡¯s parents were shown crying inconsbly. Sheena only spared the news a passing nce before moving on. It was not until three dayster that Sheena found herself surrounded by unusually nosy colleagues during lunchtime at the cafeteria. Their animated expressions hinted at heated discussions. Though Sheena was curious about themotion, she was not much of an inte user and was not into gossip. ¡°Ms. Sheena, did you hear the big news this morning?¡± Wendy approached with a tray of food, apanied by two other friends, and they all sat next to Sheena. ¡°What news?¡± Sheena asked. Seeing that she was clueless, Wendy became excited and said, ¡°Do you know about the car ident involving the heir to the Moore family, Hannah Moore? Well, just a few dayster, the Moore family publicly announced that they''re bringing their youngest daughter, who has been abroad due to illness, back home.¡± Sheena focused on her food as she asked, ¡°Why is that so surprising?¡± ¡°Do you know who the second daughter of the Moore family is? It¡¯s Jennifer Moore, who¡¯s set to be engaged to the CEO of the Freeman Group!¡± Sheena was stunned. Seeing that Sheena finally reacted, Wendy continued, ¡°Everyone isughing at how bold the Moore family is. While Hannah is in a vegetative state, they''re nning a grand banquet to wee Jennifer back.¡± The two other colleagues at the table quickly joined the conversation, sharing simr sentiments of disapproval toward the Moore family¡¯s actions. Some even ventured bold spections that Jennifer''s identity was definitely moreplicated than it appeared. The discussion became a flurry of opinions and guesses about the situation, but Sheena listened quietly without participating. Suddenly, she recalled the words Jennifer had uttered at the gates of Ocean Avenue a few days ago. With the events unfolding, it seemed that there was more to Hannah''s drunk driving incident. Sheena could not help but wonder what Jennifer would do now that she had transitioned from being an illegitimate daughter to a legitimate heir. im Bonus For Free Every Day>> Chapter 56 After finishing lunch in the cafeteria, Sheena returned to her office and switched to work mode. The situation with the Moore family was only spection, and she was unbothered by It since there was no substantial evidence. However, she might not hold back if Jennifer chose to provoke her. In the afternoon, Skye called, asking yfully, ¡°Sheena, are you free tonight?¡± Sheena continued typing on her keyboard as she replied tly, ¡°No.¡± Skye pouted, then continued pleading, ¡°There¡¯s a banquet at the Moore family tonight, and | have to attend. I¡¯ve been working non-stop for a week. Can¡¯t you give me a break?¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Skye had not expected Sheena to agree so readily, so he probed further, ¡°So, am | lucky enough to have you as my date tonight?¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Sheena pressed her lips together, deep in thought. After a moment, she replied, ¡°Sure.¡± After that, she immediately ended the call. On the other end, Skye sighed at how ruthless Sheena was! Sheena had not nned to go, but since Skye had asked, she decided to join the fun. Half an hourter, Wendy knocked on the door and ced a beautiful gift box on Sheena¡¯s desk. ¡°Ms. Sheena, this was just delivered for you.¡± ¡°Alright. Thank you.¡± Once Wendy left, Sheena opened the gift box, and inside was an evening gown that matched her taste quite well. She thought Skye was quite proactive, as he had already picked out a gown for her. Sheena chuckled and shook her head, cing the gown back into the box. Then, she went back to her work. As most employees began to pack up and prepare to leave, Sheena also asked those who enjoyed overtime to go home earlier. Once most employees had left thepany, she finally took the elevator downstairs. Skye waited in a newly purchased silver¡ª-gray Maybach at the entrance of Angle Group. As Sheena appeared, he instinctively stole a nce and was instantly stunned. She was breathing in her snow-white evening gown, outshining many of the current popr starlets. Unfortunately, Sheena had no interest in being a celebrity. Skye marveled at her beauty, jogging over and extending his arm. ¡°Your Majesty, it''s my honor to attend the banquet with you.¡± Sheena chuckled and tapped his head yfully. ¡°Stop fooling around.¡± Skye held his head, acting pitiful. ¡°I was only speaking the truth.¡± As Sheena headed toward the car, Skye hurried to open the door for her while admiring her exquisite beauty. ¡°Sheena, you have great taste. This gown gives off such an ethereal vibe.¡± Sheena froze. ¡°Didn¡¯t you get me this gown?¡± Skye looked confused and a little embarrassed as he said, ¡°I actually wanted to select a gown for you personally, but i was busy on set the entire afternoon, and |pletely forgot.¡± Sheena recalled that the gift delivered by Wendy in the afternoon did not have a sender¡¯s name, and she assumed it was from Skye due to their phone call. It seemed that things were about to get interesting! Thinking she might be upset with him, Skye asked, ¡°Sheena, is something wrong?¡± Chapter 57 2/7 As Sheena headed toward the car, Skye hurried to open the door for her while admiring her exquisite beauty. ¡°Sheena, you have great taste. This gown gives off such an ethereal vibe.¡± Sheena froze. ¡°Didn¡¯t you get me this gown?¡± Skye looked confused and a little embarrassed as he said, ¡°I actually wanted to select a gown for you personally, but | was busy on set the entire afternoon, and |pletely forgot,¡± Sheena recalled that the gift delivered by Wendy in the afternoon did not have a sender¡¯s name, and she assumed it was from Skye due to their phone call. It seemed that things were about to get interesting! Thinking she might be upset with him, Skye asked, ¡°Sheena, is something wrong?¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Sheena did not exin anything and just smirked. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We might miss the action if we''rete.¡± At the Moore mansion, Jennifer was still getting ready in a dressing room on the second floor. She had been preparing since noon, determined to outshine everyone and be the center of attention that night. Erin sat next to her, chatting away. ¡°If it weren''t for your invitation to this banquet, Eli would probably have kept me grounded for who knows how long. You don¡¯t know how strict those people are at the Freeman mansion. It¡¯s unbearable!¡± Jenniferforted her with a smile, ¡°Well, you¡¯re out now, and | doubt Eli will lock you up again.¡± ¡°That¡¯s hard to say. Eli is stubborn, and he sticks to his principles.¡± Erin pouted, then continued, ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯ve been up totely, as you haven¡¯t even been answering my calls. I¡¯m close to thinking that you¡¯ve sold me out.¡± Jennifer was stunned, but she quickly held Erin¡¯s hand affectionately. ¡°How could | ever do something like that? You''ve always been my best friend. It hurts me that you¡¯d think of me like that.¡± Erin believed her. ¡°I was just kidding! Anyway, congrattions! Now that you¡¯ve secured your position as the Moore family¡¯s heiress, you''ll be even more suitable for Eli!¡± Jennifer¡¯s gaze turned cold briefly, but when Erin looked back at her, she shed a warm smile. Erin did not notice the change and continued talking, ¡°Speaking of which, now that you''re the Moore family¡¯s heiress and the future inheritor of the Moore Group, your status is extraordinary. That bitch Sheena can¡¯t do anything to you anymore!¡± Jennifer felt immensely proud hearing that. She was about to reply when amotion erupted from outside the door as if something had fallen. The two exchanged a nce and got up to open the door. Aservant was delivering Jennifer''s gown when she identally collided with a passing housekeeper¡¯s cart, causing the items to scatter on the ground. Erin wrinkled her nose in distaste. ¡°Oh my, how did it get so messy? It¡¯s so dirty!¡± The housekeeper approached nervously, apologizing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Moore. We''ll clean it up quickly.¡± Jennifer frowned in annoyance, but with Erin present, she could not scold them directly. Instead, she politely smiled and said, ¡°It''s alright. We have many guests today, so please tidy up quickly.¡± She then turned her attention to the servant who was helping to clean up the mess. ¡°Please bring in the altered gown quickly. Let''s not waste any time.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Moore.¡± The servant promptly picked up the gown box from the floor and followed Jennifer into the dressing room. Jennifer opened the box, revealing a stunning, white haute couture gown. Erin was amazed. ¡°Wow! That¡¯s such a beautiful gown! Is this from the renowned designer from abroad, Ms. Zoe? Jenny, you truly deserve to be the star of tonight¡¯s banquet. Your parents really dote on you. I¡¯m so envious.¡± Jennifer felt ttered by the praise and modestly replied, ¡°Oh,e on! It¡¯s nothing. Erin, you''re the little princess pampered by the Freeman family, after all.¡± Theyplimented each other back and forth. Erin even took a few snapshots to showcase their friendship on Twitter, apanied by the caption, [My best friend¡¯s homing banquet! She¡¯s gorgeous.] This quickly drew a flood ofments from Erin¡¯s fans, showering them with praise, which Erin enjoyed as she had been locked up for a long time. Jennifer smiled along, trying to get her to leave. ¡°Erin, could you please check how many guests have arrived outside? Isn¡¯t it almost time to start?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Once Erin left, Jennifer promptly made a call. ¡°How¡¯s that bitch? Will there be any issues tonight?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Katie replied confidently, ¡°No worries, my people are keeping a close eye on her. Just enjoy the show.¡± With Katie¡¯s assurance, Jennifer finally let go of her worries. Thinking about the uing show, she could not help but feel the excitement bubbling within her. Tonight, she was determined to outshine that bitch and be Farlem¡¯s top socialite! Enjoy Ad-Free Reading>> Chapter 58 Chapter 59 At 8 p.m., the Moore mansion was bustling with guests, including their rtives and prominent figures from upper-ss society. Hannah''s mother, Vanessa Moore, stood quietly by her husband, Kennedy Moore, asionally exchanging pleasantries with the guests. However, Vanessa was secretly unhappy. After all, her beloved Hannah was still unconscious, yet Kennedy was eager to bring his illegitimate daughter back, telling everyone Jennifer was her daughter too. It was infuriating. Nheless, Vanessa was well aware that the Moore family had no male heir. With her only daughter in the current state, she had no choice but to follow Kennedy¡¯s wishes to ensure the family¡¯s continuation. Hence, no matter how distasteful it was, she had to put on a facade of affection for Jennifer. ¡°Look over there! It''s Ms. Moore!¡± Asudden shout echoed through the crowd, and all eyes in the hall immediately turned toward the spotlight, focusing on the second floor. Jennifer smiled, and her elegant demeanorplemented the ethereal gown she wore. As she walked down the staircase gracefully, she held the crowd¡¯s attention. Cheers and excited voices surrounded her.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. One socialite pulled Vanessa¡¯s hand and praised, ¡°Madam Moore, you''re truly blessed! Jennifer is so beautiful, and her fiance is the CEO of the Ereeman Group. How envious!¡± Another socialite chimed in, ¡°Absolutely! Mr. Freeman is handsome, young, and powerful. The two make a perfect match. Madam Moore, you''re indeed lucky!¡± Vanessa clenched her hand, smiling as she modestly replied, ¡°Oh, you tter me. You¡¯re much luckier than me.¡± On the other hand, Elijah sat quietly, not showing much expression. Despite his silence, his aura of nobility made it impossible to ignore his presence. Jennifer basked in the crowd¡¯s admiration, enjoying the vanity of being the center of attention as the heiress. Among the attendees were many wealthy young gentlemen, who had their eyes glued to Jennifer since she made her appearance, unable to look away. She noticed this and deliberately took her time descending the stairs. However, just as she was halfway down the stairs, the crowd suddenly stirred again. Someone shouted, ¡°Mr. Zimmer has arrived!¡± All eyes turned toward the entrance once again. The young and handsome Skye, apanied by his femalepanion, gracefully walked down the red carpet from the far end. His status as both a major celebrity and the son of the Zimmer family stirred even more excitement among the guests. As people gazed, their focus was drawn to the person beside him, Sheena Lawson. Sheena wore a pristine flowing gown that entuated her fair skin. Her makeup, light and elegant, unexpectedlyplemented the gown. As she approached, her presence exuded grace and nobility, and her beauty was simply breathtaking. Gasps and exmations echoed throughout the crowd, and all attention shifted away from Jennifer. Jennifer stood mid-way on the staircase,pletely caught off guard by Sheena¡¯s entrance, who seemingly overshadowed Jennifer. She found herself trapped in ce, unnoticed and ignored. It was a frustrating feeling that was almost suffocating. What astonished her further was that Sheena managed to look so stunning in the knockoff gown. How could a knockoff gown create such an astonishing effect? Jennifer had spent the entire afternoon meticulously applying her makeup, only to find that her delicate look paledpared to Sheena¡¯s seemingly natural appearance. Why? How could Sheena outshine her like this? Frustration gnawed at Jennifer, and she elegantly covered her mouth, lightly coughing in an attempt to regain herposure. Anearby guest noticed something amiss and shouted, ¡°Look! Mr. Zimmer¡¯spanion is wearing the same designer gown as Ms. Moore.¡± ¡°You''re right! But who wears it better?¡± ¡°Mr. Zimmer¡¯spanion is just too stunning. |pletely forgot what Ms. Moore is wearing. FA The guests¡¯ gaze shifted between the two women. Sheena¡¯s poised and ethereal presence contrasted starkly with Jennifer¡¯sckluster aura, effectively overshadowing her. Chapter 59 Jennifer was seething with anger. That was not the effect she had anticipated! Soon enough, someone else noticed something amiss. ¡°Isn¡¯t that gown known as First Snow, a creation by the renowned foreign designer, Ms. Zoe?¡± ¡°Oh, my! It¡¯s really Ms. Zoe¡¯s First Snow!¡± ¡°But Ms. Zoe¡¯s design is always one of a kind without replicates. It¡¯s almost impossible to acquire even with wealth. How is it possible for two sets of First Snow gowns to appear tonight?¡± ¡°Who''s wearing the knockoff?!¡± The crowd erupted into a buzz. The sight of two identical gowns signaled a clear message. There must be a knockoff among them. Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief as the situation seemed to get back on track. However, Kennedy and Vanessa were taken aback as they never anticipated such a scandal erupting at what was supposed to be a ssy event. The guests were now abuzz, sharing varied opinions, igniting a palpable tension in the banquet hall. Among the distinguished attendees were members of elite families who despised counterfeit goods. Fearing the situation might spiral out of control, Vanessa walked up to the central podium with the microphone. ¡°| deeply apologize for this unexpected turn of events. | was equally surprised. However, I''d like to exin to everyone that my daughter¡¯s gown was personally purchased by me from Ms. Zoe at the cost of four million dors and was air¡ªfreighted overnight. It is unquestionably genuine.¡°1 Amurmur swept through the crowd. Four million dors for a single evening gown! It would appear that the Moores truly cherished Jennifer! Once again, envious nces were cast at Jennifer. With Vanessa¡¯s exnation, most guests epted the story and pretty much concluded that Sheena¡¯s gown was the knockoff. Skye stepped forward, shielding Sheena from the malicious stares. Then, he looked at Vanessa on the podium and sneered, ¡°Madam Moore, are you implying that mypanion is wearing a knockoff?¡± Vanessa was caught off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. Kennedy was even more flustered. What should they do? If they acknowledged that Skye¡¯spanion was wearing a knockoff, it would be a huge blow to the Zimmer family¡¯s reputation and potentially strain future coborations with the Moores. Yet, iming Jennifer''s gown was a fake would tarnish the Moore family¡¯s name and make it difficult to navigate high society circles. In either case, the Moore family was in a risky position. Kennedy was torn. He had never expected the elegant evening to devolve into this chaotic scenario.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. As confusion and whispers spread among the guests, Erin suddenly stood up. ¡°Mr. Zimmer, did you personally purchase the gown she¡¯s wearing?¡± Skye replied honestly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°That settles it. Mr. Zimmer was likely deceived by her.¡± Erin smirked. She faced all the attendees and continued, ¡°I¡¯m sure most of you don¡¯t know this woman. She¡¯s Sheena, an orphan my grandpa adopted from an orphanage. When she lived with us, she had a penchant for stealing. If it weren¡¯t for my mom¡¯s kindness, she would¡¯ve been kicked out long ago. Someone shameless like her could never afford a gown by Ms. Zoe. Her gown must be a knockoffl¡± Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Erin¡¯s words shocked everyone and their gazes toward Sheena turned sour instantly. Skye was well aware of Sheena¡¯s background, and he immediately became furious. ¡°Who do you think you are? How dare you spew nonsense about mypanion!¡± Seeing that Skye was still defending Sheena despite what she had said, Erin felt angry and jealous. Nheless, she dared not provoke Skye as he was known for his bad temper. Hence, Erin could only clench her fists in frustration and said, ¡°Mr. Zimmer, Sheena has obviously deceived you! She¡¯s really good at seducing men, and she even had my grandpa wrapped around her finger!¡± ¡°Enough with your nonsense! Sheena is actually...¡± Skye felt someone pinching his arm, silencing him abruptly. Then, he nced at Sheena, who merely shook her head. Elijah, who had been silently observing the scene, frowned when he caught these subtle interactions. Following Sheena¡¯s signal, Skye remained silent. Sheena stepped forward, smiling at Erin as she mocked, ¡°It seems the lesson fromst time. wasn¡¯t enough for you. You can¡¯t seem to control your mouth.¡± Erin felt a cold shiver run down her spine under Sheena¡¯s intense gaze. However, she believed that Sheena would not dare to take any extreme actions, considering they were in a public setting and had some distance between them. Thus, Erin continued her usations boldly, How could you shamelessly bring that up? You barged into my home, wrecked my things, and even...¡± ¡°Erin Freeman,¡± Elijah warned from afar. Erin shuddered. If Elijah called her by her full name, it meant that he was genuinely angry. Though unwilling, Erin had to ignore the previous incident and return to the topic at hand. ¡°Hmph! No matter what, the fact remains that your gown is a knockoff. Instead of making a fool out of yourselfter, why not admit it now?¡± Sheena remained silent. 11 On the stage, Jennifer took the microphone and said, ¡°Sheena, if you really like Ms. Zoe¡¯s First Snow this much, | can give it to you after the banquet. Today is a special day for me, and | want everyone to enjoy themselves. Why don¡¯t you go with my servants and change into a new gown?¡± Jennifer¡¯s generous and kind words earned her the crowd''s favor and sealed the argument about Sheena¡¯s gown being a knockoff. Seeing that, Kennedy signaled to Vanessa. Vanessa promptly motioned to their servants and ordered, ¡°Take our guest to a room and help her change into another gown.¡± Two servants immediately moved forward, ready to escort Sheena off the red carpet. At this point, every guest in the room assumed that her gown was a knockoff, and no one stepped forward to defend her as they all looked at her disdainfully.From N?velDrama.Org. The contrast was stark. One was the heiress of the Moore family, while the other was an orphan. The difference in their backgrounds was evident to all. Just as the servants approached, Sheena finally said, ¡°Hold on.¡± Then, she smiled gently and looked at Jennifer, ¡°Ms. Zoe''s designs are not just beautiful, but the craftsmanship and unique details in each piece are unparalleled. The best imitation can mimic the appearance but not capture the essence of the craftsmanship.¡± Jennifer was puzzled, asking, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Sheena replied proudly, ¡°Ms. Moore, if you insist that your gown is authentic, would to have a dance-off with me with Lover?¡± you dare The Lover was a particrly challenging tango dance, showcasing various sides of a woman, from gentle, wild, to yful. The difficultyy in its intricate steps and rhythmic changes. A momentary distraction could lead to losing synchronization with the music. The whole room was in shock! Was the woman out of her mind? Who gave her the audacity to suggest such a battle? Did she think she had not embarrassed herself enough? Dancing an intricate and high-intensity tango would undoubtedly expose the ws in the knockoff gown¡¯s craftsmanship, and one could easily embarrass themselves by performing such a dance in front of so many people. However, since someone was willing to make a fool of themselves, the guests were more than happy to watch the show. Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Jennifer met Sheena¡¯s eyes, confused at Sheena¡¯s confidence in iming her gown was genuine. Moreover, when did Sheena learn to tango? Even Jennifer had only recently learned the sophisticated dance that was popr among the higher echelons. The Lover was exceptionally challenging, and she could barely remember all the steps.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org What if Sheena really knew the dance and performed better than her? Jennifer felt uneasy. Seeing that Jennifer remained quiet, Sheena smirked. ¡°Are you afraid, Ms. Moore?¡± Her words were a tant provocation. If Jennifer did not ept, it would undoubtedly reflect poorly on her, possibly even making her appear guilty. Erin immediately stepped up to boost Jennifer¡¯s confidence, saying, ¡°Jenny, don¡¯t be afraid. If she¡¯s suggesting it, let her go first. Let her have her wish to embarrass herself in public!¡± Exactly! Jennifer¡¯s eyes lit up. She had almost forgotten that Sheena¡¯s gown was a knockoff, and even if she danced well, the seams would likely give way, leading to embarrassment. With that in mind, Jennifer said, ¡°Since you insist, let¡¯s consider these two dances today as a form of entertainment for our esteemed guests.¡± Then, she lightly lifted the hem of her gown, smiling as she bowed to the audience. Her gesture was very well received by the crowd, earning a lot of approving nces from them. When it came to the choice of who would dance first, Jennifer decided to take the lead as she was confident that Sheena would embarrass herself with her dance moves. Moreover, she wanted to draw attention and create anticipation for Sheena¡¯s performance. Since the Lover was a partnered dance, Jennifer instinctively looked in Elijah¡¯s direction. However, he was nowhere to be seen. In a situation like this, Jennifer could not simply run out to find him. Instead, she chose one of the more handsome guests among the many who had invited her to dance. As the music began, the two moved to the rhythm of the melody. Jennifer¡¯s dance was not the most stunning, but she remembered the first half¡¯s steps and performed them fairly well. Nheless, the banquet was held for her homing, so the crowd apuded her efforts. Jennifer was delighted, thinking her performance had impressed everyone, and she danced enthusiastically. However, as she danced along with the music and executed an upward arm movement, she suddenly heard a faint tearing sound from inside her arm. The sound was barely audible, drowned out by the music, but as the person experiencing it, Jennifer felt it distinctly. Did her gown¡¯s seam tear at that moment? Jennifer panicked, wondering how that was possible when her gown was undoubtedly genuine, Was it because her movements were too big? Feeling frustrated and anxious, Jennifer restrained her movements. However, she missed a beat because she was distracted, and her right foot identally stepped on her dance partner. An abrupt silence fell over the scene. Blushing with embarrassment, Jennifer quickly pulled her foot back, ending the dance. ¡°I''m sorry about that. I¡¯ve only recently returned from overseas, and | began learning Lover just two days ago. So, my performance wasn¡¯t up to par.¡± Erin was extremely gracious, saying, ¡°Jenny, it¡¯s really impressive for you to dance like this after learning it for just two days!¡± Many of the guests joined in withpliments for the sake of the Moore family¡¯s reputation. Kennedy and Vanessa smiled in response. Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief, now even more convinced that her earlier mishap was due to her overzealous movements. She refused to believe that her gown was a knockoff! Although not performed wlessly, the dance had at least ended without any major issues with the gown. Everyone turned to look at Sheena. Erin was ready for Sheena to embarrass herself, and she smugly said, ¡°It¡¯s your turn!¡± Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Sheena remained calm and answered, ¡°Sure.¡± She turned her head to look at Skye, only to find him pale-faced, looking extremely embarrassed as he murmured, ¡°S¡ªSheena, | don¡¯t know how to dance Lover. Am | embarrassing you?¡± Sheena did not say anything, nor did she show any sign of wanting to me him. Erin quickly picked up the conversation, smiling smugly as she mocked, ¡°It seems Mr. Zimmer can¡¯t help you. What are you going to do now? What if there¡¯s no one willing to dance with you? You''re making such a big fool out of yourself!¡± Sheena still remained silent, her gaze scanning the men in the room. A few young gentlemen were captivated by Sheena¡¯s beauty and briefly considered standing up to invite her for a dance. However, they hesitated as they believed her gown was a knockoff, afraid that joining her on stage would lead to public embarrassment. Hence, they gave up on the idea. After waiting for two minutes, no one in the room was willing to dance with Sheena. Erin was overjoyed. Just as she was about to continue taunting Sheena, a deep andmanding voice came from the back of the crowd. ¡°Ms. Sheena, would you be willing to dance with me?¡± All eyes turned to the source of the voice, and there stood Elijah. He had quietly reentered the hall, and his gaze fixed on Sheena. In truth, Elijah had not left, and he had simply retreated to a quiet corner, not wanting to get involved in the petty squabble between women. However, since Jennifer had finished her dance, Elijah thought there might indeed be an issue with Sheena¡¯s gown.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. If he danced with her, he could discreetly hold onto her waistline and prevent any potential mishaps, saving her from public humiliation. Elijah believed he acted out of goodwill, but not everyone saw it that way. teh...¡± ¡°Eli¡± Both Jennifer and Erin eximed almost simultaneously. Erin was visibly agitated. ¡°Eli, how could you help her? You''re Jenny''s fiance. If you don¡¯t help Jenny and help this woman instead, what will others think of Jenny? You need to think about Jenny!¡± Jennifer¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She did notin but looked at him pitifully. However, she was secretly seething with resentment. If Sheena epted his offer, Jennifer, being the so-called fiancee, would be humiliated! Moreover, Elijah had taken the initiative to invite Sheena to dance even though it could lead to embarrassment. Yet, he had not extended the same invitation to Jennifer. It was simply unfair! In that instant, Jennifer¡¯s intense feelings of resentment peaked. Ignoring theints from the two women, Elijah once again turned his gaze toward Sheena, hinting at her to ept his offer. Sheena merely nced at him indifferently, looked away, and walked straight toward the stage. Her tone was icy as she spoke, ¡°I appreciate Mr. Freeman''s kind offer, but it¡¯s unnecessary. | believe | can handle this dance on my own.¡± ¡°What?! Is she crazy?¡± ¡°She wants to dance such a difficult piece by herself? And did you see the expression on her face earlier? She¡¯s totally disregarding Mr. Freeman!¡± ¡°She really doesn¡¯t know her ce. | can¡¯t wait to see her embarrass herself!¡± The guests were buzzing with discussions and were all focused on Sheena. Meanwhile, Jennifer secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Erin grinned. ¡°Good!¡± Rejected, Elijah¡¯s expression soured, but he did not say anything else and returned to his seat. Since Sheena was unappreciative of his well-intentioned gesture, he decided to mind his own business. On the stage, Sheena seemed oblivious to the skeptical voices below. As the music began, she quickly immersed herself in the performance. Her entire demeanor changed. The guests hushed as they watched her get ready to dance, eagerly awaiting the spectacle. However, with each second, time slowly passed by. Chapter 64 So, which one of them was wearing the authentic First Snow gown? Chapter 65 The crowd began to whisper again, with some even discreetly searching online for First Snow, hoping to uncover clues about the dress. Meanwhile, Jennifer, standing in the corner of the stage, waspletely puzzled by how Sheena finished the dance without any issues when her dress was obviously a knockoff. Why? Where did things go wrong? Jennifer felt overwhelmed by Sheena¡¯s performance and frustrated that the limelight was stolen. Jennifer was unable to ept it. She rushed over to Sheena, determined to figure out the secret behind that gown. However, before she could reach Sheena or lay a finger on her, the waistline of her gown, where the fabric was stretched to its limit, suddenly made a tearing sound! Since the music had stopped at this point, the tearing sound was loud and jarring, instantly drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Before Jennifer could react, she instinctively tried to cover herself, but it was toote! Along seam tore open along the side of her gown, exposing her pink bra under the spotlight, making it ringly obvious to onlookers. Jennifer¡¯s face turned pale. In a panic, she instinctively crouched down, attempting to shield herself, but ironically, her action made the tear worse. Her pink underwear was now clearly visible to the audience. ¡®Wow! She was actually wearing a matching set!¡® The audience thought. The crowd immediately erupted withughter as mocking and teasing gazes fell upon Jennifer. ¡°Hahaha! The Moore family really pulled off a great show!¡± ¡°I''m truly shocked! The prestigious Ms. Moore actually wore a knockoff gown to the banquet! Not only that, but she¡¯s also wearing it so confidently! She might be the first one to do so!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! She even used Mr. Zimmer''spanion. Who does she think she is?¡± ¡°This is hrious! Not only did she dance terribly, but she was also wearing a knockoff! Did the Moore family think we¡¯re all blind?¡± The criticism and ridicule were sharp and relentless. Earlier, in order to tter the Moore family, those same people showered Jennifer withpliments. However, at this moment, they were just as eager to bring her down. Listening to the endless attacks against her, Jennifer could no longer contain her despair and screamed. Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt utterly disheartened. She was a mess, yet no one showed her any sympathy. ¡°No! That¡¯s not true! How could | possibly be wearing a knockoff?! How?¡± Jennifer shook her head in disbelief. Suddenly, she noticed a light shing from above. She instinctively turned toward the source and saw Sheena, who was also on the stage, capturing her embarrassing Chapter 65 moment on her phone. Jennifer could not believe that Sheena was boldly taking a photo of her humiliation in front of everyone. Sheena stood less than a meter away. Her pristine white, flowy gown shimmered under the spotlight, exuding an air of elegance and pride as she smiled coldly at Jennifer. Jennifer could not believe Sheena¡¯s arrogance and could feel her sanity crumbling. Without a second thought, she charged toward Sheena to confront her,N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Was it you? Did you do this to me? Why would you do something like this? You¡¯re so wicked!¡± Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Kennedy quickly intervened, urging Vanessa, who was still in disbelief that she had paid four million dors for a knockoff. Vanessa finally snapped out of her daze and hurriedly brought two servants to assist Jennifer. However, the situation had already escted beyond control by the time they reached the scene. Watching from below, Elijah swiftly stepped in, cing himself firmly between the two Chapter 65 women. Chapter 66 Jennifer felt a rush of relief upon seeing him, and she clung to him, sobbing uncontrobly while pointing at Sheena. ¡°Eli, you have to believe me! It was her who did this to me! It must be her! My family paid four million dors for the First Snow! There¡¯s no way this can be a fake! She must''ve switched the gowns when | wasn¡¯t looking!¡± Elijah listened quietly, looking at Sheena with an unreadable gaze. Kennedy grabbed the microphone, attempting to salvage the situation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this, everyone. Jennifer is feeling quite emotional tonight, and I''ll have Vanessa take her back to her room to calm down before she returns. As for the knockoff First Snow, we are just as puzzled as all of you. The four million dors were indeed transferred to Ms. Zoe¡¯s ount, which is verifiable. However, | assure you I''ll thoroughly investigate this matter and provide an exnation for this incident!¡± He nced at the audience and bowed apologetically before giving a stern look to Vanessa, signaling her to remove Jennifer from the scene. Vanessa nodded and quickly ushered Jennifer away with the help of the servants. As Jennifer¡¯s crying voice faded, the atmosphere in the hall remained charged with controversy. Kennedy scanned the crowd, and his dissatisfaction with Jennifer grew stronger. He had thought that bringing this illegitimate daughter back to the family would save the Moore family, but it seemed he had brought back a disaster instead.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. This banquet escted into a massive embarrassment right from the start! He was truly regretting his decision. With the spotlight no longer focused on the stage and the crowd engrossed in discussing Jennifer¡¯s situation, the attention on Sheena lessened. Sheena turned around and got ready to leave the stage, but she caught someone¡¯s unwavering gaze fixed on her. Elijah¡¯s lips were tightly pursed, and it was hard to tell if he was angry or lost in thought. Feeling annoyed by his intense stare, Sheena raised an eyebrow and looked back at him. With a teasing smile, she asked, ¡°What''s wrong? Are you bothered that your fiancee was embarrassed by me?¡± Elijah¡¯s unwavering gaze still bore into her, assessing her from head to toe. Sheena could not decipher the meaning behind his gaze, nor was she interested in doing so. She was about to leave when he spoke again, his deep voice carrying a hint of concern. ¡°How are you holding up?¡± She thought his words felt oddly out of character. ¡°I''m perfectly fine. | just witnessed someone making a big fool out of herself,¡± she replied. Then, she went to find Skye. However, Sheena could sense a lingering gaze fixed on her from behind, causing her to pick up her pace. With Jennifer no longer causing a scene, Kennedy resumed his role as the attentive host, and gradually, the guests¡¯ discussions started to die down. After all, they were still on someone else¡¯s turf, and it was inappropriate to be too rude. In about an hour, the banquet¡¯s atmosphere returned to its harmonious state. As a result of the recent events, Skye had be Sheena¡¯s enthusiastic fan, staring at her in awe. ¡°Your Majesty, do you need a loyal sidekick? I¡¯m sweet, obedient, and quite a catch. Will you reconsider my offer?¡± Elijah was mingling close by, discreetly observing the situation. Upon hearing Skye¡¯s words, his expression darkened instantly. Sheena, on the other hand, used her fingertip to nudge Skye¡¯s head away yfully. ¡°Go away. I¡¯m not interested in immature kids who are too young to get married.¡± Elijah¡¯s demeanor returned to normal, and he continued to engage in pleasant conversation with other CEOS. However, Skye¡¯s enthusiasm quickly faded as he muttered in frustration, ¡°I don¡¯t care! I''ll be old enough to marry in a few years! If you''re still not married by then, I''ll definitely marry you, Sheena!¡± Seeing his determination, Sheena could only shake her head with a bemused smile. Now that the situation had finally calmed down, Kennedy took the opportunity to address the audience. He took the stage and began his formal speech, ¡°I¡¯m delighted to have you all here to wee my youngest daughter, Jennifer, home. However, aside from inviting you to enjoy the banquet, there¡¯s another significant matter concerning the Moore family that we need to announce tonight!¡± Enjoy Ad-Free Reading>> Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Kennedy paused, and the crowd fell silent instantly, eagerly awaiting his next words. His expression suddenly turned somber as he continued, ¡°I believe you''re aware of the recent events involving the Moore family. I''m deeply saddened by this, but for the sake of the continued prosperity of the Moore Group, | have decided to announce, in the presence of all of you tonight, the new sessor of the Moore Group, Jennifer.¡± As he concluded, he turned his head and gestured for everyone to look upstairs. Now adorned in a new pale-yellow gown, Jennifer had her voluminous curls elegantly falling over her right shoulder. Even her makeup seemed refined, adding a touch of grace. Her gentle and poised smile appeared perfectlyposed as though the events over an hour ago had not urred. The guests also offered a courteous round of apuse as they saw her. Having learned from her previous experience, Jennifer controlled her temper and descended the stairs at a steady pace. Then, he approached Kennedy and shared a heartfelt embrace, exemplifying their father-daughter bond. Afterward, Kennedy stepped off the stage, leaving it for Jennifer. Under the spotlight, Jennifer clutched the microphone. Her eyes were still red, and she felt somewhat excited. ¡°| want to thank my parents for entrusting me with the responsibility of serving the Moore Group. I''ll dedicate myself to learning every aspect of thepany¡¯s operations and strive to contribute to its continued sess. | also want to thank all of you for joining me in tonight''s celebration. | hope everyone has a wonderful time.¡± Believing her speech had concluded, the guests erupted into another round of apuse. However, Jennifer hesitated briefly before continuing, and she even blushed, ¡°Perhaps many of you here already know, but I''d still like to extend an invitation to all of you publicly. One month from now, I''ll be holding an engagement ceremony with Mr. Elijah Freeman, the CEO of the Freeman Group, at the Eastern Hotel. | sincerely hope that you will all be there to witness our love.¡± Jennifer radiated with happiness as she spoke, and she gazed sweetly at Elijah while stealing secret nces at Sheena. Skye listened intently, then looked at Sheena beside him, who appeared unbothered as she casually sipped her ss of red wine. Skye still felt a bit concerned and tried to console her, ¡°Sheena, you divorced that jerk not too long ago, and now he¡¯s getting engaged again. He¡¯s not a good man. Fortunately, you¡¯re not with him anymore. Also, Ms. Moore is clearly trying to assert her dominance by deliberately announcing it in such a grand manner. She¡¯s quite cunning.¡± Sheena was amused by his words and chuckled. ¡°Ilpletely agree with you.¡± Jennifer saw the two chatting happily, and she could not help but wonder if Sheena was pretending to be unbothered because she underestimated her. Thinking about that, Jennifer¡¯s eyes shed with a glint of resentment. After a slight bow to the audience below, she stepped down from the stage and began to offer toasts one by one. She was guided by Vanessa, who disyed impable etiquette, with the waitstaff holding wine sses following closely behind. Soon, Jennifer made her way over to where Sheena was standing. Afterpleting her toasts with others, Jennifer held her ss and looked at Sheena. ¡°Sheena, | believe you¡¯re a forgiving person and won''t hold a grudge over what happened earlier,¡± Jennifer spoke in aposed tone.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Sheena also lifted the ss of red wine in her hand and met Jennifer¡¯s gaze, smiling. ¡°It would seem that you don¡¯t know me well enough, Ms. Moore. | happen to be someone who holds grudges, and I¡¯m always ready to retaliate.¡± Jennifer was surprised by Sheena¡¯s reply but quickly shed a brighter smile and leaned in closer to Sheena¡¯s ear. From the onlookers¡¯ perspective, the two seemed to be getting along well. ¡°Hearing about my love with Eli must have stung, didn¡¯t it? You''ve endured three years of hardship in the Freeman family, only to be forced to leave him. What a pity,¡± Jennifer mocked andughed. Sheena scoffed.¡°I¡¯m sorry, but | didn¡¯t witness much affection between you and Mr. Freeman. It would seem that you have bad eyesight since you can¡¯t even distinguish between authentic and knockoff. You''re probably not the best judge of character either.¡± Jennifer¡¯s smile froze as the memory of her public embarrassment resurfaced. She clenched the wine ss tightly and whispered in a spiteful tone, ¡°Don¡¯t be so smug. This is not the end yet, and | won¡¯t let you off the hook!¡± Chapter 67 Sheena teased, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to that. But before that, | have something to share with you.¡± Jennifer took a couple of steps back, maintaining a cautious distance and sounding slightly skeptical. ¡°What is it?¡± To outsiders, it seemed like the two were exchanging whispered secrets. Then, Sheena unlocked her phone and presented a photo to Jennifer, grinning as she asked, Isn¡¯t this rather interesting?¡± ¡°You!¡± Jennifer nced at the photo and could not hold back her boiling anger. She could not believe Sheena actually dared to taunt her with a picture of her recent humiliation! Driven by frustration, Jennifer reached out to snatch the phone. Sheena was one step ahead, swiftly reiming her phone. ¡°You''ve gone too far!¡± Jennifer eximed, missing her target. With her frustration boiling over, she hurled the wine in her hand toward Sheena. Skye, seated nearby, saw everything clearly and was about to intervene. Ssh! The wine smudged Jennifer¡¯s delicate makeup and stained her pale-yellow dress. Jennifer wiped the wine off her face,pletely stunned. In that split second, Sheena held her hand and wasted no time in flinging her own ss of wine directly at Jennifer''s face. Sheena was simply too fast! Jennifer was absolutely outraged.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Themotion drew the attention of nearby guests, and Jennifer¡¯s furious re turned into a pitiful expression. ¡°Sheena... | just hoped you would let Eli and me be. Why did you have to do this?¡± Jennifer''s voice quivered as she began to sob. Onlookers gathered around, eager for more drama. Seeing the scene unfold, many assumed that Sheena was the aggressor. After all, Skye was known as a troublemaker himself. It would not be surprising if his femalepanion were equally problematic. Agroup of people started criticizing Sheena. Sheena simply cast a cold nce as she could not be bothered to refute her ims. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of using the same trick?¡± An empathetic guest handed Jennifer a handkerchief. As Jennifer wiped the wine off her face, she continued to whimper, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean, Sheena. | just want you to let Eli go. | truly love him, and our engagement ceremony is approaching. Can''t you just wish us well?¡± It sounded as if there was more to this story, and the crowd was engrossed in the unfolding drama. Upon hearing themotion, Vanessa rushed over and was shocked to find Jennifer soaked in wine. ¡°What''s happening?¡± Jennifer was about to exin, but Skye spoke up first, his tone icy and his gaze burning with rage. ¡°The Moore family is rather audacious! First, you tried to smear mypanion¡¯s name by using her of wearing a knockoff gown, and you''re now ying the victim. Are you trying to provoke my family, the Zimmers? | won''t forget this!¡± He snorted disdainfully, dragging Sheena away without even looking back. The other guests did not dare challenge the little tyrant, quickly making way for them. Vanessa had just arrived, and she looked utterly bewildered when she heard Skye¡¯s response. What was going on? Could it be that Jennifer was not the one being bullied? Chapter 68 Vanessa was about to question Jennifer when Kennedy and Elijah walked over. Seeing the reassuring figure, Jennifer rushed toward him in tears. ¡°Eli...¡± Elijah nced at her without saying anything. No one could read his expression under the dim lighting. Kennedy noticed Jennifer¡¯s disheveled appearance and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± The gathered guests joined in exining. Although their words were somewhat biased toward Jennifer, they refrained from saying anything too harsh, given Skye¡¯s reputation and Sheena¡¯s stunning performance. After getting a rough idea, Kennedy understood the situation. He smiled and reassured the guests to continue enjoying the night. After brieflyforting Jennifer, he then returned to the hall with the other guests. Jennifer sobbed as she reached for Elijah¡¯s hand, gently leaning on him and looking pitiful.¡± Eli, please don¡¯t me Sheena. She¡¯s probably upset about our engagement.¡± Elijah looked at Jennifer and asked coldly, ¡°What did you say to her?¡± Caught off guard by his question, Jennifer noticed that he was displeased, so she quickly exined, ¡°We''re about to get engaged. | just wanted her to give us her blessing. | didn¡¯t expect her to be angry and ssh me with wine.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Elijah frowned, and his expression turned darker. Jennifer clung to a glimmer of hope and nodded, tightening her grip on his arm. Elijah withdrew his arm almost instantly and said, ¡°Jenny, I¡¯m finding it harder and harder to understand you.¡± Jennifer was taken aback. That was the first time he had sounded so indifferent. Could he have seen through her? Jennifer realized it was pointless to keep up the act. If Elijah had indeed caught onto something, hiding the truth would only make him hate her more.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Eli, Sheena made fun of me with an embarrassing photo of me from the incident. | got angry and thought of throwing the wine at her. | haven''t changed, Eli. I¡¯m still the same person.¡± Elijah remained silent, letting Jennifer continue her rambling. However, that only made Jennifer grow even more anxious, and she cried harder, ¡°Eli, please say something. You promised you''d marry me for what I¡¯ve done for you. Please believe me. | didn¡¯t mean to do this.¡± Elijah frowned when Jennifer mentioned the past, growing even more disdainful toward her. Since returning to the country, she frequently used the incident from years ago as emotional Chapter 69 leverage against him. It was as if Jennifer was no longer the innocent girl she once was, and Elijah could not help but wonder if those three years abroad had truly changed her. Vanessa, being a woman herself, listened to Jennifer and felt disgusted, rolling her eyes before turning to leave. However, Elijah stopped her. ¡°Madam Moore, Jenny¡¯s not in the best state tonight. Please take her back and let her rest.¡± Vanessa could not refuse and smiled lovingly, gently guiding Jennifer away. Only after Elijah had left did Vanessa¡¯s smile fade, and she discreetly pinched Jennifer''s arm as she muttered, Just as expected of the daughter of a mistress. You sure know how to put on a show! He¡¯s long gone, so you can drop the act. I¡¯m getting a headache just from watching.¡± Jennifer red at her. ¡°Did you really think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± Vanessa retorted, releasing Jennifer''s arm and heading back to the hall. Exiting the Moore mansion, Sheena and Skye went their separate ways. After returning to Howard¡¯s mansion, Sheena took a shower, then applied a rejuvenating face mask, and snacked on fresh fruits, feeling content. Suddenly, her phone rang. Sheena did not hesitate to answer when she saw the caller ID. ¡°Thank you for tonight. If it weren¡¯t for you, | might have embarrassed myself.¡± Chapter 69 Chapter 70 Ms. Zoeughed heartily. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re more than wee! You''re the perfect person for my First Snow, and it was practically tailored for you. | would¡¯ve been devastated if Jennifer was the one wearing it. Sheena just smiled. Thankfully, she noticed the issue with the dress from Skye just before leaving. Then, she called Ms. Zoe to confirm if it was a knockoff. Since Jennifer was slightly chubbier than her, the dress did not fit her perfectly, allowing Sheena to swap it with the real First Snow. ¡°Even so, | have to thank you for this. When you¡¯re back in town, I''ll treat you to a meal.¡± Ms. Zoe, currently watching a video of Sheena dancing to Lover that Skye had recorded, grinned mischievously. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Just agree to model for me and I''ll be over the moon.¡± ¡°My hourly rate is rather high. Let me know when you can afford me,¡± Sheena replied. Ms. Zoe groaned yfully while praising Sheena¡¯s dance moves from the previous night. The two friends, who had not been in touch for years, chatted into the wee hours of the night. The next day, Sheena woke up on time, feeling quite good as she headed to work. However, as she arrived at the office, she noticed the employees giving her strange looks. Nheless, Sheena remained unbothered and went straight into her office. The employees from the same floor gathered and exchanged hushed whispers as they nced at her. Aplump employee remarked, ¡°Hey, is what they''re saying online true? But Ms. Sheena seemed pretty cool and didn¡¯t seem like that type of person!¡± Another female employee with heavy makeup seemed irritated. ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. I''ve sensed something off about her for a while. As expected, she¡¯s not a good person! Fatty, | bet you wouldn''t be defending her if she weren''t good-looking!¡± ¡°Who are you calling a fatty?¡± ¡°I''m talking about you, of course!¡± ¡°Ahem, ahem...¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. The crowd was on the verge of quarreling when they heard someone coughing, and within a second, they all returned to their workstations. Sheena stepped out of her office to get some water. Wendy noticed that she was about to make her own coffee, so she hurried over to assist. ¡°Ms. Sheena, I¡¯m sorry. | was just about to bring your coffee over.¡± ¡°It''s fine.¡± Back at their workstations, everyone watched with unease, sneaking nces toward the break room and wondering if Sheena had heard anything. Later, Sheena returned to her office, holding her coffee and appearing indifferent. As she settled into her seat, Wendy followed her in. Concerned, Wendy asked, ¡°Ms. Sheena, did you hear what they were saying just now?¡± Sheena nodded. ¡°Do you... know about the trending topic online?¡± Trending topic? Seeing Sheena¡¯s confused reaction, Wendy quickly exined, ¡°Last night, someone posted a video online of you sshing red wine on Ms. Moore at the banquet. Then, someone revealed that you were allegedly the third party involved with Ms. Moore and Mr. Freeman''s rtionship this morning. The inte is buzzing with all of this now.¡¯ Sheena froze. Wendy handed her phone over for Sheena to see. ¡®T Sheena quickly scrolled through, finding an edited video of her sshing Jennifer with wine. It did look quite audacious, and the comments below were full of harsh words, disturbingly offensive. However, to think that Jennifer would im that Sheena was the third party in her rtionship with Elijah. Was Jennifer trying to dig her own grave? Chapter 70 However, Sheena could not help but wonder if Elijah was involved in all of this, and if so, to what extent: As her expression grew colder, Wendy cautiously asked, ¡°Ms. Sheena, what do you n to do about this situation?¡± Handing the phone back to Wendy, Sheena continued to work and said indifferently, ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet. You can go now. The deadline for the presentation on the all-girls talent show is approaching, and | need to focus on finishing my work first.¡± Wendy was taken aback. ¡°Huh? Ms. Sheena, things might worsen if you brush it off just like that.¡® Sheena did not respond as she was already immersed in her work. Wendy could not understand what was going on in her mind and left the office helplessly. The online frenzy escted rapidly in just a few hours, quickly soaring to the top three trending topics. Sheena had yet to respond in any way, and someone behind the scenes was fanning the mes, sensationalizing the issue. They leaked scandalous information and manipted public opinion against her. Even Sheena¡¯s background, her time in an orphanage, and her position at Angle Group were exposed. A swarm of media outlets gathered outside thepany building, eager for a chance to interview her. At the same time, the Angle Group¡¯s stocks plummeted by a staggering two percent within the hour, with a downward trend continuing. Not only that but the online narrative also heavily favored Jennifer. Ms. Moore is so pitiful. She and Mr. Freeman are deeply in love, yet this bitch had to meddle!] [Why isn¡¯t she dead yet? How could she shamelessly ssh wine on Ms. Moore? She should be charged with aggravated assault!] Exactly! What a despicable woman! As expected of someone with a lowly background!] (As a loyal fan, thepany should immediately fire this disgraceful employee! Her behavior could seriously damage my idol¡¯s reputation!] (Agreed.] | strongly support the above sentiment!] Meanwhile, Jennifer sat on a lounge chair in her room, smiling triumphantly as she believed she had won against Sheena. If things continued like this, Angle Group might want to avoid trouble and promptly fire Sheena. By then, Howard would likely kick her out without a second thought after having seen her true colors! With that thought in mind, Jennifer burst intoughter, appearing slightly sinister due to her exaggerated outburst. It seemed like she had been holding it in for a long time, and it had been some time since she felt this ecstatic! Without her job and Howard¡¯s support, Sheena would not be able to act so audaciously anymore! Nheless, Jennifer had to admit that Katie''s n was amazing, and cooperating with her had proven efficient and effortless. Jennifer¡¯s mood was exceptionally delightful as she savored a sip of tea elegantly. Wendy was also glued to her phone, watching the situation spiraling out of control! Wendy was worried that Sheena would lose her job if this went on unchecked. If that were the case, would she also be terminated? Even though Wendy was anxious, she could only sit at her desk helplessly. However, there was no point for her to feel uneasy since the person at the center of it all did not seem to be bothered in any way. In her office, Sheena remained engrossed in her work, diligently brainstorming various ns for the talent show. She did not bother to check what was happening online. Suddenly, Sheena¡¯s phone rang. She was initially reluctant to answer as it was an unknown number, but the person called her three times in a row. Sheena grew annoyed and decided to check who it was. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Chapter 71 Upon picking up, a familiar deep, husky voice could be heard. There was also a hint of urgency and some otherplex emotions in his tone. ¡°How can you still be in the mood to work with what''s happening online? Should | call you ambitious or foolish?¡± It was Elijah? Sheena was initially taken aback, not expecting a call from him at all, especially since she had changed her phone number after their divorce. How did he manage to find her contact information? From his tone, it seemed like he was unaware of the situation. Even so, this matter was definitely connected to his beloved Jennifer. Noticing that Sheena remained silent, Elijah questioned, ¡°Cat got your tongue?¡± Sheena chuckled. How could she be scared by something petty like this? ¡°Mr. Freeman, since you have such a great imagination, | suggest you try writing novels. You might earn more than you do in real estate." 11.11. ¡°I''m here to discuss serious matters, and you¡¯re making light of this?¡± Elijah¡¯s tone grew heavier as he suddenly realized that they ended up arguing every time they met.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°I''m also being serious. Instead of wasting time meddling in my affairs, why don¡¯t you focus on keeping your fiancee in check? She might not be able to handle the consequences if she provokes me further.¡± As Sheena continued, her voice grew colder. ¡°By the way, please keep your distance from me. I''ll say it again, my life is none of your damn business.¡± Before Elijah could retort, Sheena had already ended the call. Did she wake up on the wrong side of the bed in the morning? Why was she so angry? Just after ending the call, Sheena¡¯s phone rang again. This time, it was Skye. ¡°Sheena, have you thought about how to handle this? If needed, | can help rify things. Angle Group is great in public rtions, and we can likely suppress the situation quickly.¡± Skye was genuinely concerned, and it was reflected in his voice. Sheena was grateful for Skye¡¯s concern, but she declined his offer, saying, ¡°No need. You''re a popr celebrity. If you speak for me, it might backfire, and your overly devoted fans mighte to thepany to attack me. Besides, what | want goes beyond just suppressing the situation.¡± Skye replied, ¡°So, you already have something in mind? If there¡¯s anything | can help with, just let me know!¡± After the call ended, Sheena returned to her work. Wendy hade to her office several times, attempting to say something but ultimately leaving. By noon, the situation had escted further. The tweet featuring Erin and Jennifer¡¯s pre¡ªparty selfie also made it to the trending list, and many marketing ounts began shaping Jennifer as a virtuous and innocent beauty. Upon learning that, Jennifer created an ount and deliberately followed only Elijah. She posted about her love story with Elijah, quickly gaining fifty thousand followers. That was not all. She also thanked her fans for their support, garnering the inte''s liking. Jennifer was overjoyed as she did not expect things to turn out so well for her. Riding on Sheena¡¯s attempt to tarnish her reputation had boosted her image, which was truly exhrating! As Jennifer was deep in thought, she received a notification and eagerly took out her phone to check, seemingly reveling in the feeling of being praised. However, she found an unexpected message. [So, you''re the scheming bitch after all, huh? Didn¡¯t see thating, did you? You little homewrecker. She has already posted the truth!] What on earth? Why was this person cursing her? Who made that post? As Jennifer grew puzzled, more messages arrived, all filled with insults. How could this be happening? Could it be Sheena¡¯s doing? Chapter 72 Chapter 73 Just as Jennifer was reveling in her triumph, a Twitter ount, seemingly belonging to Sheena herself, made a post. It was a video of the wine-sshing incident from a different angle at the banquet, which clearly showed Sheena handing her phone to Jennifer. It looked like Sheena was showing Jennifer something, and Jennifer¡¯s expression turned furious upon seeing it. After that, Jennifer raised her wine ss as if trying to pour it at Sheena. However, Sheena stopped her and countered by sshing her wine at Jennifer''s face in the next instant. Although this video was clearer and moreplete, it still showed Sheena as the one who threw the wine. Before theizens could gather in thement section, the same Twitter ount posted again, [Already divorced. Nothing to do with each other anymore.]N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Everyone was confused. What was the post implying? Was she saying that she was not the homewrecker, but the wife instead? While these two Twitter posts were concise, theycked solid evidence, making them less convincing. Soon, the replies were quickly filled with spiteful remarks from inte trolls. Some even stood up for Jennifer, stating they would not believe any information unless it was backed up by evidence. However, the tables were turned in less than two minutes as another person in the know shared evidence on Twitter, proving that Jennifer had recently drugged Elijah. Every piece of evidence was rock-solid. The inte was in a frenzy. What woman would intentionally use such a despicable method on her future husband? Unless she was the homewrecker. Suddenly, Sheena¡¯s tweet about her divorce seemed a lot more persuasive, yet some questioned the wine-sshing video, iming that Sheena was too audacious. Fortunately, someizens were thinking clearly at that point. [If Sheena was indeed Mr. Freeman¡¯s secret ex-wife, then wouldn''t that mean that Jennifer was the mistress?] [It''s clear from the unedited video that Jennifer was about to throw wine first. Wasn''t Sheena¡¯s response reasonable?] [I was at that banquet as a waitstaff for the Moore family. Ms. Moore and Sheena were wearing the same gown, and Ms. Moore used Sheena of wearing a knockoff. Ultimately, it was revealed that Ms. Moore¡¯s gown was the knockoff. Maybe she held a grudge over this and wanted revenge during the toast, but who knew Sheena would react this way?] After one of the Twitter ounts replied as though they were there during the event, everyone was eagerly joining in the conversation. That ount also patiently exined the incident and soon posted two more videos, one of Jennifer dancing to Lover at the banquet, and another of Jennifer¡¯s gown falling apart in embarrassment due to a wardrobe malfunction. The readers were all engrossed in the drama. Jennifer grew suspicious as she looked at thements under her Twitter post. When she returned to the homepage and checked the trending topics, she realized that the heated discussions about Sheena had subsided and became harder to find. However, what caught her attention were the new trending phrases as they all somehow seemed to be rted to her! [Ms. Moore Dancing], [Jennifer''s Humiliation], [The Moore family¡¯s Knockoff Gown]. These phrases struck a nerve with her. With trembling hands, she clicked on them and found videos of her embarrassing moments from the banquet. How could this happen? Kennedy had clearly told the guests to keep things quiet before the end of the banquet, and the Moore family¡¯s servants would not dig their own graves by doing this! Jennifer could not take it and switched to a secondary ount, attempting to salvage her image. [I''ve met Ms. Moore, and she¡¯s actually quite nice. The knockoff incident could be a set-up, maybe even nned by Sheena herselfl] Quickly, a response came, [But her blunder was so hrious! That pink underwear she was wearing was eye-catching! Haha!] Jennifer turned livid upon reading this, immediately engaging in a heated exchange. Chapter 73 The argument escted quickly. Nheless, Jennifer was no match for the seasonedizens, and she was soon overwhelmed. Not only that, but her aggressive responses also hinted at her true identity. [Why are you defending her so fiercely? Are you Jennifer? Are you using an alternate ount?] Someone quicklypared the two ounts and found that the login IP addresses were the same. Jennifer¡¯s image waspletely shattered, and the innocent image she had just established vanished just like that. She had drugged her fiance, worn knockoffs, and used an alternate ount to defend herself while defaming Sheena. Meanwhile, Sheena had only shared an unedited video clip and a short statement. Jennifer¡¯s attempt to manipte online opinions had ironically exposed everything, and the inte condemned her. Seeing that things were settling down, Sheena instructed Skye, who had been posing as the waitstaff from the Moore family, to step back from the situation. Sheena chuckled at Jennifer''s attempt to stain her reputation, only to end up shooting herself in her foot. It seemed that Jennifer had forgotten that Sheena¡¯s expertise at the entertainmentpany was handling public rtions and countering negative narratives. Then, Sheena set aside her phone and returned to her work. Little did she know, her name entered the trending topics once again. Avideo of her dancing the tango at the party had been posted online. With subtle makeup and a gown as white as snow, her graceful and sensual dance embodied both innocence and ethereal allure. In stark contrast to Jennifer¡¯s dance video, this performance leftizens in awe, and the video quickly soared to the top of the trending list. [Amazing! This is by far the best tango I¡¯ve seen recently!] [Is this really the notorious Lover, known to be the most difficult to master? She executed it perfectly!] [Jennifer''s dance was simply painful to watchpared to this. I¡¯m with Team Sheena now!] [Sheena is so gorgeous! Please debut!]N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Many online users were mesmerized by Sheena¡¯s dance, instantly bing fans and flooding Sheena¡¯s Twitter with calls for her debut. Some even called out those who had previously mocked her toe forward and face the music. As Sheena focused on herputer screen, Wendy burst into the room, holding her phone excitedly, ¡°Ms. Sheena, you''re incredible! From now on, consider me your devoted fan!¡± Confused, Sheena watched as Wendy handed her the phone, revealing her unexpected online Chapter 24 poprity. She wondered if Howard had a hand in this, but he knew she preferred keeping a low profile, so that seemed rather unlikely. Who else could it be? Sheena did not dwell on it for long and simply smiled at the enthusiastic and chatty Wendy. Meanwhile, the atmosphere was much more tense at the Moore family¡¯s residence. Vanessa Sat casually on the couch, snacking on fruits as if it had nothing to do with her. Jennifer stood obediently in the center of the mansion¡¯s hall while Kennedy paced back and forth with a gloomy expression. Seemingly fueled by his increasing anger, Kennedy''s face contorted with rage, and he pped Jennifer. ¡°You fool!¡± 4 Chapter 74 Chapter 75 The p hit Jennifer hard, catching her off guard and sending her tumbling to the ground. ¡°You''re such a jinx, bringing disgrace to our family! How did | end up with such a foolish child like you?¡± Kennedy shouted angrily as he pointed at her. Jennifer wiped the blood from her lip, enduring the pain as she tried to get up. After trying twice but failing, she settled on sitting down. ¡°Dad, what do you mean?¡± ¡°Are you still trying to y dumb?¡± Kennedy was enraged. ¡°Did you think | can¡¯t figure out the truth? You bought the knockoff gown and sent it to Sheena, and you were also the one who nned the online assault! What¡¯s your problem with Sheena? Why do you want to frame her so badly?¡± Jennifer sat weakly on the floor, staying silent. Seeing her stay quiet, Kennedy grew angrier. ¡°I''d let it slide if your little scheme seeded, but now you''re exposed and in turn tarnished the reputation of our family. You¡¯re such a bumbling buffoon!¡± Vanessa watched the scene with amusement, chiming in every now and then. ¡°Oh dear, calm down. It¡¯s not worth getting yourself worked up and letting this affect your health. After all, Jennifer is your illegitimate daughter, so she only knows how to use those lowly schemes. You can¡¯tpare her to our clever Hannah.¡± Kennedy¡¯s disdain for Jennifer deepened upon hearing Vanessa¡¯s words. ¡°I should have never let you live!¡± As Jennifer listened to their verbal abuse, a bitter irony filled her heart. Kennedy was her biological father, yet he seemed to wish for her immediate demise. Jennifer struggled to stand. Despite her swollen left cheek, she lifted her chin proudly and her eyes shed with a sinister glint. ¡°What a shame. Even though you hate me, you still need me to help the Moore family. Does the thought of that infuriate you even more?¡± ¡°Jennifer!¡± Kennedy''s eyes widened in fury, raising his hand to p Jennifer again. Instead of flinching, Jennifer leaned forward and mocked, ¡°Go ahead and hit me! It would be best if you killed me. That way, the Moore family can eagerly await its fall from grace among the elite. Remember this! The downfall of the Moore family rests squarely on your shoulders. | can only imagine how you would feel!¡± Kennedy was caught off guard by her piercing words. His face flushed in anger, and he found himself unable to utter a single word. The impending p lingered, suspended in midair. Jennifer smirked coldly, shifting her gaze toward Vanessa, who was still leisurely enjoying her fruits. ¡°It seems that the person you dislike the most will inherit the Moore family. What about your precious daughter? Well, she might never wake up! You despise me and my mom, yet you have 2/2 to put on a facade of a caring mother in public. That must be exhausting,¡± Jennifer said with a sneer. Bang! Vanessa mmed her hand on the table and eximed, ¡°You! You wicked little bitch! How dare you curse Hannah! The Moore family is only temporarily in your hands! Once my beloved Hannah wakes up, you''ll have to give it back! Don¡¯t be so smug!¡± Jennifer was unfazed and retorted, ¡°You should pray harder for the gods to hear your prayers then! Instead of standing here arguing with me, you might as well hurry up and deal with my online scandal. If | have to suffer, the Moore family will be suffering with me!¡± She finished and stormed upstairs, deliberately mming the door loudly behind her. Vanessa was seething. ¡°Jennifer! You finally revealed your true colors, and now you''re even threatening me!¡± She turned to Kennedy and cried, ¡°Look at her! What did | do to deserve this?¡± Upstairs, Jennifer locked the door, effectively shutting out the noisymotion below. She walked over to her vanity and swept the valuable cosmetics aside, creating a loud tter. However, she could not fully vent her anger. Hence, she proceeded to make a call.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! The call was quickly answered, and Jennifer said rudely, ¡°You said this would tarnish her reputation, but not only did it fail, it brought her more attention online instead!¡± Katie was in the midst of her skincare routine and did not seem to be bothered by Jennifer¡¯s words. ¡°Calm down. It¡¯s no big deal. Just wait quietly for a while, and your problem will blow over. I¡¯m here to help you. What''s there to worry about?¡± Jennifer felt a bit more reassured, but she still felt indignant. ¡°What about Sheena? We can¡¯t just let her off the hook like this, can we? She''ll only be more arrogant!!! Katie remainedposed and confident. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If the public approach doesn¡¯t work, we''ll resort to uwful methods.¡± Chapter 75 Jennifer agreed to Katie¡¯s n. She looked at her reflection in the mirror with a sinister glint in her eyes and a smug smile. ¡°Excellent. | can¡¯t wait to see that bitch suffer!¡± In the CEO¡¯s office of the Freeman Group, Elijah was engrossed in watching Sheena¡¯s dance video on his phone. ¡°Mr. Freeman.¡± Leon suddenly knocked on the door and entered. Elijah put down his phone and calmly picked up his coffee, taking a sip. ¡°What is it?¡± Leon stood before him and hesitated momentarily before reporting, ¡°The Moore family indeed purchased the knockoff gown, but they also transferred four million dors to Ms. Zoe to purchase the authentic gown. Somehow, the real gown ended up in Sheena¡¯s possession instead. Maybe... there¡¯s some misunderstanding in between.¡± Elijah listened without saying a word. Leon nced at Elijah, unable to read his mind. Then, he continued, ¡°Perhaps Ms. Moore might not be involved in this matter. She¡¯s too innocent, and she must have been deceived. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have suffered like this.¡± ¡°Innocent?¡± Leon quickly responded, ¡°Of course. Ms. Moore is truly a kind-hearted girl. Mr. Freeman, you¡¯ve known her for so many years. and used to think the same, didn¡¯t you?¡± Elijah nced at Leon coldly, causing him to lower his head hastily. The office fell into an eerie silence, and the atmosphere became oddly tense. Elijah stood up and walked to the window. It was drizzling outside. He lit a cigarette and took a drag. ¡°Mr. Freeman?¡± Leon finally spoke up. Elijah snapped out of his daze. He extinguished the cigarette, then sat on the couch with his long legs crossed, ordering, ¡°I need you to investigate something in the past, and it must be discreet. You shouldn''t inform anyone.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Freeman,¡± Leon responded. The Moore family put in considerable effort and quickly controlled the online narrative. As the buzz subsided, there was little attention left. After all, they were not celebrities, andizens treated it as a passing joke. Sheena¡¯s life seemed unusually peaceful. Chapter76 2/2Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Jennifer appeared to have backed down, and Katie reportedly returned to Svelton. With those two absent, Sheena¡¯s talent show nning progressed rapidly, moving onto the phase where she was looking for a venue. After work, Sheena drove to the training base she had prepared for the contestants. After roughly setting up the next steps for improvements, she entered the car park and was ready to head home. However, she heard a strange, muffled noise as she passed a corner without surveince. ¡°Mmph... Mmph... H-Help me... It was a girl''s voice. Chapter 76 It was a girl''s voice. Aman with rough scars on his face held a knife menacingly against the girl¡¯s cheek and threatened, ¡°Shut up, or I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Another man was stepping on her chest,ughing. The girl was terrified and could only nod inpliance. Seeing her submission, the two men became even more brazen. ¡°Sweetie, it''s been a while since my friend and | had some fun. As long as you serve us well, we''ll let you go when we''re done.¡± The girl started crying, her sobs barely audible. With sinister grins, the two men started to touch her inappropriately. Just as they had unbuttoned two buttons of her shirt, they heard a sudden heavy thud from behind. One of the men clutched his bleeding head and let out a scream before copsing. The scar¡ªfaced man was taken aback by the sudden turn of events. He turned around to find a woman standing there. Sheena was holding her high heels. She was dressed in a sharp white pantsuit and exuded a powerful presence. The scar-faced man¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw her. ¡°Wow! What a fierce beauty. | like that.¡± Sheena toyed with the high heels in her hand and snorted, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re worthy of me? The man cursed at Sheena and charged toward her with a small knife. Sheena easily suppressed him in a matter of seconds, leaving him incapacitated on the floor. The terrified girl curled up, trembling in fear. Her eyes were filled with horror. Her cheeks seemed a bit flushed as if she had been drinking. Watching her cower, Sheena suddenly felt a pang in her heart, and a fleeting image shed in her mind. She shook her head, dispelling the strange feelingpletely. Perhaps it was just a hallucination because she was too tired. Sheena did not dwell on it and focused on the girl, who appeared to be around 18, huddled in the corner. ¡°You''re safe now. Go home,¡± Sheena said. With that, she turned to leave, but the girl suddenly grabbed her wrist. The girl pleased, ¡°I was out drinking with friends, and | got separated from them just now. Those two thugs smashed my phone. Can you please take me home?¡± Seeing Sheena hesitate, the girl continued, ¡°My name is Aster Jaymes. Please, I¡¯m begging you. Please help me.*/ Chauzer 77 Sheena nced at her phone and found that it was already 9.30 p.m. It was quitete, and the training base was remote, which could be unsafe. ¡°Let''s go. Where do you live?¡± She asked. ¡°Number 308, Fairville.¡± Aster followed Sheena, holding onto her hand tightly as if she was trying hard to find a sense of security. Once in the car, Aster quickly dozed off. Sheena asionally nced at her through the rearview mirror, adjusting her driving to be smoother once she saw Aster asleep. About twenty minutester, Aster was still sleeping soundly in the back seat. With her phone almost out of battery, Sheena called Aster a couple of times, wanting to ask for more specific directions. Seeing that she was asleep, Sheena decided not to disturb her further and followed her memory to choose a route. The car windows remained shut, and the atmosphere inside was serene. Suddenly, Sheena realized that something was amiss! Aster imed that she had been out drinking with friends. Although her cheeks were flushed, Sheena did not smell any alcohol on her.From N?velDrama.Org. In other words, she had not been drinking at all! Moreover, the training base was situated in a remote area with no pubs or busy areas around. When Sheena realized she had been tricked, she suddenly felt a rush of wind by her ear. Almost instinctively, she reached back and grabbed the hand swinging toward her aggressively. Her quick reflexes stopped a syringe about two millimeters away from her neck. Chapter 77 ¡°When did you figure me out?¡± Aster asked, no longer putting on an act as she used both hands to push the needle toward Sheena¡¯s neck forcefully.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Sheena knew she could not hold back with just one hand for long, so she acted swiftly. The car was moving steadily on the road in the suburbs, and she suddenly pulled the handbrake. The tires screeched, and the car lost bnce and flipped over. The car crashed through the guardrail and rolled into the grass on the roadside. Sheena only had a minor scratch on her forehead because of the safety airbag, and she quickly got out of the car. Surveying the badly damaged Santana, Sheena clicked her tongue in disappointment. She thought to herself how short-lived her time with this car had been. Seeing that Aster had note out yet, Sheena opened the door and pulled the fainted girl out. Sheena performed CPR on her, and her consciousness slowly returned. Surprised that Sheena had saved her, Aster asked, ¡°Why did you save me? You should''ve killed me for hurting you.¡± Sheena nced at her coldly, not answering that question directly. Instead, she asked, ¡°Who ordered you to do this?¡± Aster instantly fell silent, turning her face away without saying a word. Sheena smirked. ¡°Let me guess. Was it Jennifer, or maybe Katie? Or perhaps... both of them?¡± Sheena knew well what Jennifer was capable of, and she could not have arranged such a meticulously nned scheme or hired a highly skilled female assassin with such excellent hiding abilities. Moreover, considering how she suddenly became the Moore family¡¯s heiress, Sheena was convinced those two were likely working together. Aster, however, seemed indifferent. ¡°I¡¯ve clearly failed at my task. Go ahead and kill me.¡± Sheena teased, ¡°Kill you? That wouldn¡¯t be much fun.¡± Aster looked at her, confused. The suburban night was dimly lit, with only a few streetlights. Yet, Sheena¡¯s eyes seemed to shimmer like the stars, radiating a brilliant glow. ¡°Did you put some kind of drug in that syringe? They wanted you to drug me and take me to some location, subjecting me to all sorts of tortures, right?¡± Aster was surprised. She stared at Sheena in disbelief as she wondered how Sheena figured it all out. The woman was a beauty with a brain! Aster remained silent, her gaze fixed on Sheena. Sheena shed an innocent smile and added, ¡°Since they instructed you to do so, then just go ahead and do it.¡± Chapter ¡°W-What?¡± Five minutester, Aster texted someone. [Mission aplished. Currently on the way to the abandoned cabin in the suburbs.] Jennifer, who received the message, was thrilled. Finally, that bitch had fallen into her hands, and she could finally pay back the humiliation she suffered! Jennifer¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement as she immediately texted a certain number. [The person will arrive soon. Bring ten strong men and give her a good beating before following the n and leaving.] The reply came swiftly, [All is good as long as we''re properly paid.] Jennifer clenched her teeth and transferred another 75,000 dors. Nheless, as long as Sheena was tortured, that much money was nothing! ¡ª Hardly two minutes after setting down her phone, Jennifer received another message from Aster. [I think the drug is too strong. She¡¯s not holding up well. Pleasee over quickly to take a look.] Not holding up well? That was uneptable! Jennifer wanted that bitch to endure humiliation while remaining conscious! She wanted her to suffer! Chapter 78 Jennifer became anxious and quickly changed into a set of dark clothing. She then donned a mask and hailed a taxi to head straight to the designated location. Elijah emerged from the shower, but the image of Sheena¡¯s dance performance remained stuck in his mind. He felt a bit annoyed. If he had known he would end up so tired, he would not have helped her in the first ce. While lying in his bed, all he could think about was Sheena¡¯s face, especially her clear and determined eyes. It was almost like he had seen them before. As if struck by a thought, Elijah wrestled with his feelings before calling Sheena. There were a few things he wanted to rify. However, Sheena did not answer the first call, and the second call indicated that her phone was out of the service area. Was she avoiding him? Feeling inexplicably irritated, Eliiah tossed his phone aside and went to sleep. Jennifer arrived at the abandoned cabin and saw Aster waiting at the door. Jennifer was shocked to find the injuries on Aster¡¯s face and body. She asked, ¡°What happened? Why are you hurt so badly?¡± Aster lowered her head, hiding her expression. ¡°On the way here, that woman fought back desperately. We had a minor car ident, and | lost control for a moment. Perhaps | injected too much of the drug, she...¡± ¡°Let me take a look.¡± Aster stopped her. ¡°Are you alone? Does Ms. Upton know?¡± Jennifer¡¯s face darkened instantly, showing extreme displeasure. Normally, Katie took advantage of her higher status and acted arrogantly. Hence, Jennifer was annoyed that Katie¡¯s subordinates were questioning her authority despite Katie having gone back to Svelton. Her rtionship with Katie was one of cooperation, not boss and subordinate. Why should she have to report everything to Katie? The more Jennifer thought about it, the angrier she became. Then, she red at Aster and said, ¡°Katie brought you here for this task. Since she¡¯s not in Farlem, you only need to follow my orders. Do you understand?¡± Aster lowered her head even further. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°You can leave now that your task is done.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Moore,¡± Aster responded promptly but remained standing in ce outside the abandoned cabin. The flickering kerosenemp outside barely illuminated her bloodied face, making it hard to discern her expression. Jennifer grew impatient seeing Aster standing there like a statue. Annoyed, she mocked, ¡°Are you stupid? Didn¡¯t you hear what | just said?¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Before she left, Aster passed a phone to Jennifer and said, ¡°This is the woman¡¯s phone. Someone called her just now. | was afraid that it would affect your n, so | put it on airne mode.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After Aster left, Jennifer opened Sheena¡¯s phone and nced at the iing call¡¯s number. She fumed with rage after seeing it. Even though it was an unknown caller, Jennifer knew exactly whose number it was. Why was Elijah calling Sheena at this hour? Jennifer had to initiate contact with him ever since she had returned to the country, and Elijah had never been so considerate toward her. Why? She was the fiancee, and Sheena was the homewrecker intruding into their rtionship! The more she thought about it, the angrier Jennifer became, and she could not hide her resentment. Jennifer raised Sheena¡¯s phone in anger, wanting to smash it to pieces. However, she stopped midway as a brilliant idea shed through her mind. Then, she sent a message to Elijah using Sheena¡¯s phone. After that, she mmed the phone on the ground forcefully. Seemingly unsatisfied, she brutally stomped on it with her high heels until the screen shatteredpletely. Chapter 79 Chapter 80 Jennifer looked at the abandoned cabin. She was determined to destroy Sheena tonight! With that thought in mind, she pushed open the cabin¡¯s door, only to find the interior pitch ck. Confused, she wondered why Aster had not left amp inside after tying Sheena up. Taking a few hesitant steps forward, the thick dust made her cough. It was so dark that she could not see anything. Suddenly, Jennifer felt a surge of panic. She was about to turn and leave to fetch amp from Aster when the door mmed shut heavily. Realizing that something was wrong, she rushed to the door and pounded on it heavily. ¡± Who¡¯s there? Who¡¯s outside? Aster? Is that you? Open the door right now!¡± However, no one answered her, and the eerie silence sent shivers down her spine. Taking a deep breath, Jennifer tried to calm herself down. Then, she called out, ¡°Sheena? Sheena, are you in there?¡± No matter how much she called out, it was just her own voice and the silence. Understanding that she might be alone in the cabin, Jennifer began to worry. Was Sheena ying tricks on her? Then again, Aster was Katie¡¯s subordinate, so how could she possibly help Sheena? Was Katie working together with Sheena?! ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible.¡± Jennifer¡¯s mind was a mess. She crouched on the ground, clutching her head, and trembled in fear. The boundless darkness brought her a sense of despair. Suddenly, a series of footsteps echoed from outside, and Jennifer¡¯s hope ignited instantly. Then, she stood up and pounded on the door. ¡°Who''s out there? Let me out! Open the door!¡± The door swung open. One after another, the men Jennifer had called to deal with Sheena entered. Jennifer tried to dash toward the well-lit exit, but the group leader, a burly man, grabbed her arm firmly. ¡°You''ve got it all wrong! It¡¯s not me! I¡¯m not Sheena! Ah!¡± Her cries were met with a heavy p.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. She could not withstand the force and crashed to the ground. Half of her face swelled rapidly, and two of her teeth became loose. The pain was unbearable! Jennifer spat out a mouthful of blood, still trying to exin, ¡°It¡¯s not me! I¡¯m not the target! | called you here! How could you treat me like this... Anhhh!¡± Before she could finish speaking, a man grabbed her hair from behind, pulling it so forcefully that her scalp felt like it was about toe off. Tears welled up in her eyes from the pain as she screamed, ¡°No! I¡¯m not her!¡± The man pped her across the face twice more,ughing out loud. ¡°I''ve never seen someone so good at acting like you. Anyway, enjoy the brutal torture!¡± The door was shut and locked, leaving Jennifer surrounded by dozens of men. Soon, the cabin was filled with the sounds of brutal beatings and Jennifer''s agonizing screams. The torment was beyond her imagination. Meanwhile, Sheena leaned against a tree in the distance while Aster stood silently beside her. Sheena gazed up at the starry sky. The night sky was stunning, but the ear¡ªpiercing screams shattered the tranquility. Having had her fill of the show, Sheena prepared to leave, letting Jennifer savor the torture she had meticulously prepared. ¡°Mr. Freeman, it¡¯s right there!¡± Leon¡¯s voice rang out suddenly. It was then followed by the sound of people running. As the sound drew nearer, Sheena quickly hid herself. She peeked out from behind arge tree and saw that it was Elijah running toward the cabin. Chapter 80 The agonizing screams of the woman gradually faded and was reced by the arrogantughter of the group of men. ¡°Sheena!¡± Elijah immediately flew into a fit of rage, radiating a fierce aura around him. Then, he kicked open the cabin door. The men inside were about to carry out their next move when Elijah¡¯s interruption spoiled their ns, and they swiftly engaged him in a fierce brawl. These men were ruthless gangsters, bruising Elijah and Leon on their faces. However, they struggled against Elijah¡¯s intense rage as his strikes were even more merciless. In a matter of minutes, the men were lying on the ground and squirming in pain, unable to fight back The cabin was still dark, and they could clearly hear the sound of a woman coughing up blood. ¡°Sheena?¡± Following the source of the sound, Elijah found the barely conscious woman and carried her out. Having taken a few more hits than Elijah in the fight, Leon limped alongside him as they left the cabin. Elijah gentlyid the woman on the ground outside and examined her injuries. Her face was swollen and bruised beyond recognition. Her clothes were torn, and her body was covered in blood. It was a horrifying sight. Fortunately, Elijah and his team arrived just in time. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable. Elijah¡¯s eyes burned with anger as he looked at the battered woman, feeling an intense pain in his heart that was almost suffocating. ¡°Sheena! Wake up!¡± The woman had lost consciousness, but her breathing remained weak and steady, which meant she was not in immediate danger. Leon nced at the pitiful woman sympathetically and hesitated before asking, ¡°Mr. Freeman, what should we do with the people inside?¡± Elijah¡¯s gaze turned cold, and he immediately ordered, ¡°Kill them all!¡± Leon quickly called for assistance. Fliiah¡¯s emotions TITOYA TT- Meanwhile, Sheena was hiding behind arge tree and had a perfect view of the scene unfolding before her. She stared fixedly at Elijah in disbelief. She could not help but wonder if he would be this distressed if she were the one lying on the ground. Did he still have feelings for her? Sheena was in a dilemma upon witnessing the scene and could not quite exin her feelings. Nheless, she dismissed her thoughts. After all, she believed she had seen enough over the past three years of whether Elijah loved her. Besides, he would probably be even more heartbroken and distressed if he knew that the person lying on the ground, battered and bruised, was his beloved Jennifer.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Jennifer slowly regained consciousness. Even though she could not fully open her swollen eyes, she recognized the man before her. Feeling overwhelmed, she burst into tears. ¡°Eli! | thought I''d never see you again...¡± As her mouth was also swollen, Jennifer could only murmur. However, Elijah could clearly hear her calling him ¡®Eli¡¯, and he finally realized that this was not Sheena as she had never addressed him this way. Elijah looked at the woman on the ground. Leon eximed frantically, ¡°Mr. Freeman, this isn¡¯t Ms. Sheena! It¡¯s Ms. Moore!¡± Chapter 81 Learning that it was Jennifer, Leon was obviously even more anxious than before. ¡°Ms. Moore, how did you end up here? Who. hurt you?¡± Jennifer cried even harder, her bloodied hand gripping Elijah¡¯s sleeve. ¡°I-It was Sheena. She called me here... Eli, it hurts so much...¡± Jennifer became more emotional as she spoke and finally lost consciousness due to exhaustion. Knowing that the injured person was Jennifer and not Sheena, Elijah¡¯s previously gnawing pain seemed to lessen slightly, a relief that he did not even realize himself. However, Leon was clearly agitated. ¡°Those bastards! How dare they harm Ms. Moore. They deserve to die!¡± Leon clenched his teeth in anger and turned to Elijah. ¡°Mr. Freeman, you received a text from Ms. Sheena earlier. Fearing for her safety, we rushed over in haste. But it turns out Ms. Moore is the one who is hurt. There must be a connection to Sheena in this matter. She might even be the mastermind behind it!¡± Elijah frowned, but he appeared much calmer as he ordered, ¡°Let¡¯s get Jenny to the hospital first. We''ll investigate this matter later.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Freeman.¡± Leon took Jennifer from Elijah¡¯s arms and sprinted toward the car parked on the side of the road. Once Leon was gone, Elijah slowly stood and nced back at the cabin, recalling the message Sheena had sent him half an hour ago. [Sheena: I¡¯ve invited ten men for some fun tonight. Care to join?] Elijah was furious when he saw the message. He had tried calling her, only to find that her phone had been turned off. Then, he immediately ordered Leon to trace her location and rushed over. He had not expected Jennifer to be the one tortured and nearly subjected to further humiliation. Could Sheena actually be the one behind this? Elijah felt a sudden frustration welling up within him. Yuri drove Sheena and Aster back to the city. Before parting ways, Sheena handed a ck box to Aster, which Yuri had obtained using her ck card. ¡°There is 750,000 dors inside. You should move to a discreet countryside location. Once Katie realizes, she''ll search the whole country for you. Remember to hide well.¡± Aster had a mix of emotions as she epted the box. Reluctantly, she confirmed again, ¡°You promised to rescue my mom from Katie and bring her safely to me. If you dare deceive me, I''ll ...¡± Sheena chuckled, interrupting her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. After all, lm Sheena Lawson, and | always keep my word.¡± Aster was drawn in by the determination in Sheena¡¯s eyes. ¡°Alright, | trust you.¡± Once Aster hadpletely disappeared from sight, Yuri approached Sheena and asked in a hushed tone, ¡°Ms. Lawson, why didn¡¯t you kill her and even give her money?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t mean to harm me. Katie was holding her mom hostage, and she had no choice but to work for her. Aster is also pitiful. By exploiting her weaknesses and showing her kindness, she''ll be grateful to me and help me without seeking revenge.¡± Noticing Yuri¡¯s silence, Sheena added, ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯m no saint. | won''t let go of those who genuinely harm me. Then again,N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. death is too easy, and torturing them is the best revenge.¡± Yuri caught her wicked smile and chuckled along. ¡°Mr. Lawson''s guess was indeed right. You''re quite the scheming little troublemaker.¡± Sheena shot him a re. ¡°Are you two talking behind my back? Have you forgotten that I¡¯m the actual boss of Angle Group? Do you want to be fired?¡± Yuri immediately regretted what he said and stammered, ¡°D-Don''¡¯t! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Sheena did not tease him further and just massaged her shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s go back. | need a good sleep and some rest. This matter isn¡¯t over yet, and tomorrow will probably be another tough battle.¡± As she finished speaking, she turned to look at the quiet street and found arge, branded store owned by the Moore Group already out of business. Chapter 82 Chapter 83 In the early hours of the morning, Jennifer was taken to the hospital for treatment. The initial diagnosis from the doctor indicated two fractured ribs, mild concussion, and other minor and major injuries. Luckily, there was nothing life-threatening. Elijah sat alone on a bench outside the operating room, lost in thought. After the incident, he asked Leon to inform the Moore family, but Kennedy and Vanessa only rushed to the hospital when the sun had risen. ¡°Oh, my beloved Jenny! How could something like this happen!¡± Vanessa¡¯s wailing voice echoed down the corridor, but oddly, her eyes remained dry. Not only that, but it seemed as if she was secretly happy about what had happened. In contrast, Kennedy approached Elijah with a sorrowful expression. Seeing Elijah¡¯s solemn gaze, he offered someforting words. Elijah politely replied, ¡°Please, have a seat, Uncle and Auntie.¡± Kennedy, unwilling to be dismissed, asked, ¡°Mr. Freeman, what exactly happened? How did Jenny end up like this? Who did this to her?¡± Hannah had recently been in a car ident and was still in a vegetative state, and now Jennifer was also in a simr condition. Was someone deliberately targeting the Moore family, or was it just a run of bad luck? Elijah hesitated before answering, ¡°Leon is already investigating.¡± Seeing Elijah¡¯s indifference, Kennedy refrained from pressing the matter and sat on a nearby bench to wait. Hardly two minutes after sitting down, the operating room lights turned off. The doctor informed them that Jennifer''s surgery had been sessful, and she only needed to take it easy for a while. Then, Jennifer was moved to a regr VIP ward. Following that, they went to visit Jennifer in her ward. Jennifer was wrapped in thick bandages, and she had just regained consciousness. Her swollen eyes struggled to open, and as soon as she saw Elijah enter, tears started streaming down her face. ¡°Eli, | might have died if it weren¡¯t for you. Luckily, you came in time, so | wasn¡¯t humiliated by those thugs. Eli, | can¡¯t be without you. Will you stay here with me?¡± Jennifer weakly held his hand,pletely surprised that the n had backfired on her. Originally, when she had sent that text to Elijah with the intention to provoke him and make him realize Sheena was just a cheap woman who could be used by anyone and redirect his attention back to her. She never expected to be the one suffering instead, and the message had saved her own life. Elijah sat by her side and replied with a simple grunt. Jennifer felt a bit disheartened by Elijah¡¯s coldness. ¡°Eli, can¡¯t you say something tofort me? Do you not love me anymore because | look terrible?¡± Before Elijah could reply, Kennedy chimed in, ¡°Jenny, don¡¯t be ridiculous. Of course he still loves you. Tell us who did this to you. I''ll make sure justice is served.¡± ¡°|...¡± Jennifer began. Then, she acted as if she was recalling the painful memories and started to sob. ¡°| only remember Sheena saying she needed to see me. | took a taxi from home, and someone knocked me out on the way there. When | woke up, | was in that dark cabin. They hit me, kicked me, and said Sheena ordered them to torture me... | was so scared, really scared,¡± Jennifer whimpered, curling up in a ball, visibly distraught. Kennedy was furious and turned to Elijah. ¡°Mr. Freeman, you¡¯re Jenny¡¯s fiance. You can¡¯t just ignore this, can you? No matter what, Sheena is involved in this. Isn¡¯t this an insult to you and the Freeman family too? You have to stand up for Jenny!¡±From N?velDrama.Org. Kennedy was a seasoned yer in the business world. He was aware that Sheena was under Skye¡¯s protection. Since the Moore family had limited influence and could not take action, he shifted the responsibility onto Elijah instead. Chapter 84 Elijah replied, ¡°If Jenny has truly been wronged, I''ll help her, but she needs to tell me exactly what happened.¡± Jennifer froze. After all, she had fabricated the entire story and was likely to expose herself if she said too much. Moreover, Elijah was smart, and even the slightest inconsistency could raise suspicions, Hence, Jennifer had to y along for now and discuss a strategy with Katieter. With that in mind, she clutched her head, looking distressed. ¡°My head hurts so much! | can¡¯t remember anything...¡± Seeing this, Kennedy said, ¡°Jenny, you''ve just woken up. Thinking about all this won¡¯t help your recovery. Elijah, why don¡¯t we step outside and let her rest?¡± Elijah nodded in agreement. As the group turned to leave, the door suddenly swung open, and two handsome, muscr men entered first. Kennedy and Vanessa were baffled by the unexpected intrusion. The two men positioned themselves on either side of the door. Then, Sheena walked in with high heels and striking red lips. Upon seeing her, even Vanessa, who had been silent all this time, was stunned. After all, they were just discussing how to deal with her. It was too audacious of her to barge in just like that! Vanessa was far from pleased with Sheena¡¯s attitude, adding fuel to the fire by whispering to Kennedy, ¡°Honey, can you believe her audacity? Is she here to check if Jennifer is dead?¡± Kennedy¡¯s expression darkened.¡°You came just in time. We have scores to settle regarding the harm you caused to Jennifer.¡± Elijah stood silently nearby. Even so, his imposing height alone caught everyone¡¯s attention. Sheena nced in Elijah¡¯s direction, only to find him staring at her since she entered. However, she could not read his gaze and quickly looked away, refocusing on Kennedy. With a smile, Sheena said, ¡°Mr. Moore, you''re not entirely wrong. There is indeed a matter to address between Jennifer and me, but it''s not what you''re thinking.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kennedy¡¯s suspicion grew. Seeing Sheena audaciously barging into the hospital room, Jennifer¡¯s heart raced, and she instinctively shrank behind Kennedy, who was nearest. After all, she had suffered at Sheena¡¯s hands twice before. ¡°Dad, help me! She¡¯s trying to hurt me! She must be! I¡¯m scared... | don¡¯t want to see her...¡± Jennifer cried. Chapter 83 All things considered, Jennifer was still his daughter, and seeing her in such a state of distress Chapter 84 weighed heavily on Kennedy¡¯s heart. ¡°This is a private ward, and Jenny¡¯s emotions are unstable right now. Please leave.¡± ¡°Mr. Moore, there¡¯s no need to rush. I¡¯m here to deliver a gift,¡± Sheena replied, her smile even more radiant as she lightly pped her hands. AgroupN?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. of people streamed in, hanging arge banner on the wall opposite Jennifer¡¯s bed. Sheena said, ¡°These are all my words of encouragement for Ms. Moore. | wish her a speedy recovery. As for her ims of being hurt by me, she¡¯s wee to present evidence and confront me. I¡¯m ready anytime.¡± Then, Sheena wasted no time and turned around, leaving with her two bodyguards. Elijah followed behind. Jennifer, Kennedy, and Vanessa were engrossed with the words on the banner,pletely oblivious to Elijah¡¯s departure. As she read the contents on the banner, Jennifer fumed with rage! Chapter 84 Elijah¡¯s departure. As she read the contents on the banner, Jennifer fumed with rage! Therge banner disyed only a few lines of text. The first line read, ¡°Dumb Bitch,¡± and he second line said, ¡°Shooting Yourself in the Foot.¡± It was clear that Sheena meant Jennifer was a fool and had brought trouble upon herself. Jennifer was furious, and her eyes were brimming with intense hatred. Kennedy¡¯s expression turned grave after reading the banner, and only Vanessa burst intoughter, finding it particrly satisfying. However, herughter drew the immediate attention of the others, and Jennifer¡¯s face turned purple with rage. Vanessa¡¯s smile froze, and she quickly changed her tone. ¡°Ahem... Sheena is unbelievable! She clearly doesn¡¯t respect the Moore family. Honey, if you don¡¯t teach her a lesson, who knows what other outrageous things she might do!¡± As she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door, and a man in a uniform gently pushed open the door, asking, ¡°Is this Ms. Jennifer Moore¡¯s room?¡± The people in the ward exchanged nces, and Vanessa asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Ms. Sheena has ordered beautiful bouquets specifically for Ms. Moore.¡± With that, the man gestured behind him, and a group of staff members immediately entered, carryingrge floral bouquets. Soon, the entire VIP ward was filled with 32 colorful bouquets of white flowers, all neatly arranged in front of Jennifer. ¡°Uh... This...¡± Vanessa was about toment, but Kennedy red at her, and she reluctantly remained quiet. The flower delivery staffpleted their task and courteously bowed. ¡°Please enjoy the flowers at your leisure, and feel free to ce an order for the next time.¡± Next time? Sheena ordered her funeral bouquets! How could there be a next time? Sheena was obviously taunting her! Jennifer was fuming with rage, shouting, ¡°Get the hell out of my room! Cough, cough...¡± She wished she could hurl those bouquets at the staff, but given her recent surgery, she could not move, leaving her to boil with frustration.From N?velDrama.Org. That bitch was too brazen! First it was a banner mocking her, and now bouquets of funeral flowers! She was going too far! ¡°Fucking bitch! Throw them out! All of them... Cough, cough...¡± Jennifer had not even caught her breath when she noticed the photo at the center of one of the bouquets. It was the embarrassing photo Sheena had taken during the banquet! Jennifer immediately recalled the humiliating incident and the online disaster. ¡°Ah! Sheene! I''ll kill you!¡± Jennifer was so angry that she passed out. Sheena left the hospital, not using the main entrance but through the emergency corridor. However, someone grabbed her wrist from behind. It was Elijah. The two bodyguards wanted to intervene, but Sheena stopped them. ¡°Stand down. Take a break, but don¡¯t go far.¡± Once the bodyguards left, Sheena shook off Elijah¡¯s hand and casually rubbed her wrist. ¡°Go ahead. Ask.¡± Surprisingly, Elijah¡¯s first question was not about Jennifer. ¡°Who are those men? Are they your bodyguards? Are they working for Howard or Skye?¡± Sheena was confused by Elijah¡¯s question, but she yed along and teased, ¡°They¡¯re mine.¡± Chapter 85 Hers? Were they her lovers? Why were there two of them? Elijah was livid. ¡°Do you even realize what you''re doing? Don¡¯t you have self-respect?!¡± In Elijah¡¯s opinion, Sheena was being shameless. Sheena chuckled at his words. ¡°Mr. Freeman, did you forget that we''re divorced? My affairs have nothing to do with you! Why the jealousy?¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°Who said I¡¯m jealous?¡± Elijah stumbled over his words. Indeed, he had no right to interfere in this matter. Unable to retort, Elijah changed the topic and asked, ¡°What was the text about? Tl ¡°What text?¡± Elijah stared intensely into her eyes as if trying to uncover any lies. ¡°Did you have something to do with Jenny getting beaten up and almost humiliated?¡± Sheena chuckled softly, locking eyes with him. Suddenly, she grinned and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± After saying that, Sheena turned around and walked away proudly. Then, she added, ¡°You better focus on your fiancee. Her emotional state seems rather fragile right now.¡± Elijah wanted to approach her, but Sheena¡¯s bodyguards stood in his way. ¡°Mr. Freeman.¡± Leon appeared, looking somber. Elijah did not pursue Sheena any further and headed to the fifth floor, finding an empty smoking room. ¡°This situation is quite strange. Our team started investigating, but the other side was prepared and destroyed all the evidence. We came up empty-handed, with no leads so far...¡± Leon paused, looking around as if contemting whether to continue. Elijah nced at him, prompting him to proceed. Leon bit the bullet and continued, ¡°Mr. Lawson of the Angle Group and Mr. Skye Zimmer seem to have the ability to eliminate evidence quickly, and these two are quite close to Ms. Sheena...¡± Leon was obviously suspecting Sheena. Elijah narrowed his eyes slightly. When he asked Sheena about the text message, she genuinely seemed unaware. However, she appeared to know something when he inquired if she was involved in Jennifer¡¯s injuries. Elijah stubbed out his cigarette and said, ¡°This matter isn¡¯t that simple.¡± Chapter ¡°But...¡± Leon protested, ¡°Perhaps it is. Maybe you¡¯re just biased, Mr. Freeman:¡± Elijah nced at Leon with a chilling gaze. ¡°If this happened to Sheena instead of Jenny, whose side would you take?¡± Leon did not hesitate and replied, ¡°Of course, it would be Ms. Moore. She¡¯s kind and innocent. It¡¯s hard to believe she¡¯s capable of something so sinister. On the other hand, Sheena has been quite ruthless on several asions.¡± Elijah was surprised, frowning as he looked at Leon, ¡°You and Jenny...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Freeman. My regard for Ms. Moore is purely out of respect for her status as your fiancee, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m supporting her,¡± Leon quickly exined. After that, he lowered his head again. Elijah remained indifferent, staring at Leon as if he could see through him. Leon felt uneasy, lowering his head even further. ¡°Find out who Jennifer has been in contact with over the past few days via calls or text messages. Also, continue investigating that other matter | asked you to look into. | want results within three days.¡± Leon clenched his palms, feeling disheartened. Jennifer was the victim, yet Elijah was investigating her. Despite his displeasure, he kept up an obedient front. ¡°Yes, Mr. Freeman.¡± Once Leon left, Elijah dialed another number. ¡°Jonah, | need you to look into a few things.¡± Chapter Chapter 86 Chapter 87 Just as Leon exited the smoking room, he overheard several nursesining as they hurried by. ¡°What''s up with Ms. Moore? Isn¡¯t she supposed to rest? Why is she so emotional and throwing tantrums? It won¡¯t be easy for us the next few days.¡± Leon stopped one of the nurses and asked, ¡°Who were you talking about? Was it Ms. Jennifer Moore?¡± ¡°Who else could it be?¡± The nurse brushed off his hand and ran off. Leon felt a bit uneasy.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Elijah joined the Freeman Group about eight years ago, and Leon worked for him since then. He had no family or friends, and Elijah had provided him with a job. As for Jennifer, she was the first person to smile at him and call him a friend. To Leon, Elijah was like family, while Jennifer was more than family, someone that he wanted to protect. He had feelings for Jennifer, but he could only keep them hidden and wish her well. However, Leon could not help but feel resentful when he saw Jennifer miserable and even witnessed Elijah chasing after Sheena when Jennifer was critically injured. Leon clenched his fists as he made up his mind. After leaving the hospital, Sheena received a phone call. The news that Jennifer had been rushed to the emergency room again brought her great satisfaction. Then, she went to the training base. Since she had dealt with the maniptive bitch, it was time to move forward with her work. As she had wrecked her car the night before and had no time to purchase a new one, Sheena had to take a taxi. The staff members at the base showed her great respect, and the person in charge, Ben, briefed her on the ongoing improvements in facilities and processes. Later, Sheena toured the entire base and found no major issue, believing that the reality show¡¯s rehearsal should bepleted and be ready for live broadcasting soon. Ayoung female staff member''s eyes lit up when she saw Sheena, and she approached her eagerly to request an autograph. ¡°Ms. Sheena, | watched your dance video. You''re really beautiful. Have you considered joining the talent show this time? You¡¯re my top choice!¡± Sheena smiled awkwardly, surprised to have a fan even at her training base. Nheless, she politely declined, pushing the notebook away and saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not a celebrity, and | won¡¯t be one. Signing autographs isn¡¯t my thing.¡± Afterward, she walked past the enthusiastic girl and continued her conversation with Ben. After Sheena walked away, the girl continued to stare at her back, with the starstruck expression on her face gradually fading. Then, she lowered her head and looked at the notebook with Sheena¡¯s fingerprints on it. Skipping this little incident, Sheena inspected the trainees¡® dormitory and cafeteria. She also requested the roster of 100 potential trainees. Casually flipping through the pages, she unexpectedly came across a familiar name and face. Phoebe Chambein. She had been Sheena¡¯s only friend at the orphanage, and Sheena had even borrowed money from Faye because Phoebe was seriously ill. As she could not raise the required medical fees, Phoebe was expelled from the orphanage, and they have lost contact ever since. Nheless, Sheena never expected to find Phoebe¡¯s name on the list of audition trainees after several years without contact. It seemed like she had been doing quite well over the past few years. Seeing Sheena linger on this page, Ben appeared somewhat excited. Quick to please, he asked, Ms. Sheena, is she your close friend? Would you like us to give her special attention?¡± Sheena declined, ¡°No need. Showing favoritism wouldn''t be fair to the other trainees, and | believe she wouldn''t appreciate it either.¡± Sheena currently had no ns to meet with Phoebe. After all, her current identity was still that of an orphan with no background, which was why Jennifer and the others were struggling to find an actual way to hurt her. Phoebe was her friend, and Sheena did not want her to get involved or harmed due to their connection. Then, Sheena closed the roster. Chapter 87 Jennifer returned from the emergency room to a regr ward. Despite the doctors¡® urgent treatment, her condition did not show any significant improvement. Finally regaining consciousness, Jennifer opened her slightly swollen eyes and faintly saw a tall figure in a suit before her. Thinking it was Elijah, she grabbed the person¡¯s hand and cried. ¡°Eli, sob... I¡¯m so d you''re here with me. | don¡¯t know what to do without you.¡± The person she held onto stiffened. ¡°Ms. Moore, I¡¯m not Mr. Freeman. I¡¯m Leon.¡± Only then did Jennifer clearly see the man in front of her, and she cried harder due to the disappointment. Seeing her in this state, Leon felt a pang of pity and spoke with determination, ¡°Sheena has truly gone too far this time. She even had the audacity to send you funeral bouquets! Ms. Moore, please rest assured. I''ll do everything | can to help you.¡± However, Jennifer was not moved by his words. Her eyes remained dim and lifeless. ¡°What''s the point? Eli doesn¡¯t believe me and won''t evene to keep mepany. What have | done wrong?¡± ¡°You haven''t done anything wrong. It¡¯s Mr. Freeman. He''s the one who doubted you, even going so far as to reinvestigate the events from thirteen years ago.¡± Jennifer could not bear to listen to the rest of what Leon was saying. She was shocked that Elijah was investigating the events from 13 years ago. She could not help but wonder if he had already figured out something. Jennifer panicked, and her hands began to tremble uncontrobly.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Unaware of her distress, Leon reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No matter what happens, | believe in you, and I''ll support you unconditionally. Just know that I¡¯ll always support you. ¡°Thank you, Leon,¡± Jennifer said, gripping his hand tightly. ¡°You''re like family to me.¡± Leon was overjoyed. ¡°I¡¯m honored, Ms. Moore!¡± Jennifer motioned for him to lean in closer and whispered something to him. Without hesitation, Leon immediately agreed. After leaving the training base, Sheena went straight to the car dealership, nning to pick out a new car for herself. However, she bumped into an old acquaintance at the entrance. It was Daria Bell from her days in the orphanage. Daria was arm in arm with a well-dressed man in his fifties, who was also browsing for cars. ¡°Well, well, well. If it isn¡¯t Sheena, who¡¯s been making the headlinestely. Long time no see. | never thought you¡¯d still be doing so poorly.¡± Seeing Sheena enter, Daria sneered and walked over with the man Back in the orphanage, Sheena and Daria never got along, and the reason was that both of them were outstanding beauties in the orphanage. Daria was depressed when she learned that Old Man Freeman had taken Sheena away to be Elijah¡¯s wife. Nevertheless, she was ecstatic when she found out about Sheena¡¯s divorce from the recent headlines. After all, Daria believed that Sheena used topete with her in everything, but she would now have the upper hand since Sheena was a divorcee. Thinking of this, she raised her chin even higher, deliberately showing off her designer jewelry in front of Sheena. Sheena nced at both of them and noticed the gold chain around the man¡¯s neck. His eyes gleamed brightly when he looked at her, and a golden tooth could be seen when he smiled. Sheena was utterly disgusted, and with a forced smile, she replied, ¡°It¡¯s been many years indeed. It seems like you''re doing very well.¡± Chapter 88 ¡°Oh, it was not too bad,¡± Daria humbly replied, but her face glowed with pride. ¡°Let me introduce you to my boyfriend, Tim Reid. He¡¯s the deputy general manager of the New Wave Group¡¯s business department. He makes a hundred and twenty thousand dors a year.¡± Daria emphasized heavily on thest two sentences, and Tim proudly shed his big golden tooth. Daria was waiting to see Sheena¡¯s reaction, hoping to satisfy her own vanity. However, Sheena¡¯s face remained indifferent, which irritated Daria. She had always disliked Sheena for her pretentious attitude, and Daria was determined to unmask Sheena. ¡°| heard that you got divorced,¡± Daria continued, giving Sheena a once-over. Noticing her professional attire, Daria sneered, ¡°Are you working as a salesperson in this car dealership? Which brand are you representing? It¡¯s only been a few years, yet you¡¯ve ended up like this?¡± Sheena looked at Daria as if she was a clown and replied with a faint smile, ¡°I¡¯m here to buy a car.¡± With that, Sheena redirected her attention, turned around, and followed the car salesman¡¯s guidance to explore the cars inside. She had no intention of wasting time on such an insignificant person. Seeing Sheena¡¯s disinterest and cool demeanor, Daria grew even more annoyed. Acouple of days ago, she visited the orphanage and heard that Sheena got divorced and was left with nothing. Why was she here to buy a car? ¡°I''d love to see what kind of car you can afford,¡± Daria muttered, fixating on Sheena. Then, she turned to Tim and said coyly, ¡°Honey, let''s take a look inside. This is a gift from you, after all. | want to select the most outstanding and suitable car for me.¡± Tim was stillpletely captivated by Sheena¡¯s graceful figure and lost in his fantasies, so he quickly agreed to Daria¡¯s suggestion. In the showroom, Sheena ultimately ended up in the section with budget-friendly Volkswagen cars. She had no particr passion or desire for material possessions. Practicality and simplicity were her main criteria. After selecting a car, Sheena was ready to finalize the purchase and leave when she heard Daria¡¯s disdainful voice from behind.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°| never thought you¡¯d be eyeing a budget car like the Volkswagen Passat. It looks like life hasn¡¯t been treating you well after the divorce.¡± Daria stood there, looking disdainful. However, Sheena paid her no mind andpletely ignored her. Being ignored did not bother Daria much, and she continued, ¡°Considering our past friendship, | can have my boyfriend introduce you to some exceptional male colleagues at hispany. He¡¯s the deputy general manager, after all, and he carries quite a bit of influence among the employees.¡± Tim had been staring at Sheena the entire time. When Daria mentioned him, he immediately grinned and suggested, ¡°Since you''re Daria¡¯s friend, you''re a friend of mine too. Let''s exchange mambers so that we can keep in touch Daria red at Tim. She had been with him for two and a half years and was well aware of his flirtatious and promiscuous nature. ¡°Did | ask you to exchange numbers with her? Are you nning to have some intimate conversation | shouldn¡¯t know about?¡± Daria said with a smile, but her gaze sent chills down Tim¡¯s spine. Tim¡¯s expression changed, and he hastily wrapped his arm around her waist. ¡°Oh,e on! You''re my precious one. Anything | do for her is out of love for you, to make you happy.¡± Sheena was starting to get annoyed at their public disy of affection. ¡°It''s fine. You should keep such an outstanding man for yourself,¡± Sheena interjected. ¡°Hold on!¡± Seeing Sheena about to leave, Daria hurried after her, clearly irked by Tim¡¯s evident interest in her. Daria had always disliked Sheena for alwayspeting with her, and now she wanted to fight for her man too! The more Daria thought about it, the more annoyed she became. Then, she added sarcastically, ¡°I was trying to help you out of goodwill, yet you''re acting all high and mighty. Are you financing the car with a loan? Wouldn''t it be better to have a boyfriend help you buy it?¡± Sheena frowned, ring at Daria. Sheena decided not to engage in Daria¡¯s provocation since Tim was there. Moreover, Sheena and Daria had also been through a lot at the orphanage. Instead, she nned to just buy the car and leave. After all, they were unlikely to cross paths again anytime soon. Chapter 91 Noticing Sheena¡¯s silence, Daria¡¯s arrogance only grew. As Sheena walked away toplete her purchase, Daria could not resist muttering, ¡°Even the Freeman family doesn¡¯t want a loose woman like you, so what''s with the attitude? Do you really think you''re better than me? Her voice was low, but Sheena heard everything. ¡°What did you say?¡± Sheena stopped in her tracks, her cold gaze locking onto Daria as she turned around. Daria was momentarily taken aback by the coldness in Sheena¡¯s eyes but quickly regained her confrontational stance. ¡°You heard what | said.¡± Sheena¡¯s expression grew colder, her aura turning icy. ¡°| had considered letting you go, but you brought this upon yourself.¡± Daria was initially intimidated by Sheena¡¯s demeanor, fearing her potential retaliation. However, Sheena did not even spare her a second nce, walking straight out of the showroom and disappearing quickly. ¡°You''re all bark and no bite! Tim is the New Wave Group''s deputy general manager. Who do you think you are to threaten me? | won''t let you off the hook!¡± Daria shouted in the direction Sheena had left, trying to get in thest word. Daria did not take Sheena¡¯s words seriously and linked her arm with Tim¡¯s, cooing, ¡°Honey, | want a small BMW, a sports car. | know you''re the best. Can we take a look together?¡± Tim was in a dilemma. His annual sry was only 120,000 dors, and a BMW sports car would cost him the same. However, Daria¡¯spliments had inted his ego, and it would be embarrassing to admit he could not afford it with all the salespeople¡¯s eyes on him. Hence, he reluctantly agreed. The two of them strolled arm in arm, behaving intimately. Unfortunately, the significant age difference between them made them look like father and daughter,pletelycking any chemistry. In fact, it was a disgusting sight that sent shivers down the spines of those who saw them. Amidst the bewildered stares of the onlookers, the two continued to walk toward the exit. Ssh! ¡°Ah!¡± Daria was soaked in the dirty water that had been stored nearby for several days. As soon as Tim noticed, he quickly sidestepped about two meters away, but he still ended up getting sshed a bit.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! In a matter of seconds, Daria transformed from a morous young woman in a red dress into a wet, foul-smelling mess. She screamed in anger, ring at the person who had drenched her. It was a young female employee in staff uniform. She appeared timid but showed no fear in her eyes. Daria was furious. How could this mere employee dare to humiliate her like this? ¡°Are you blind? Do you know how much these clothes, shoes, and bags cost? More than you''d earn in ten years of working here!¡± The young employee remained silent, letting Daria scream and curse. ¡°This isn¡¯t over. Apart from apologizing, you''llpensate me for my emotional distress and losses. I''ll make sure you¡¯re fired and never hired here ever again!¡± The young employee held onto the bucket, still not saying a word. Daria grew angrier. ¡°Not only are you blind, but you¡¯re mute too?¡± Tim hurriedly stepped in to back up Daria. ¡°I want to speak to your manager! Tell him the New Wave Group¡¯s deputy manager wants to see him! He needs to handle this!¡± Tim was the deputy general manager of the business department, yet he directly simplified it to New Wave Group¡¯s deputy manager, boosting his ego. Aclear andposed voice suddenly sounded, ¡°I¡¯m the boss of this ce, and I¡¯m the one who ordered her to throw that bucket of water.¡± Turning their heads, they saw Sheena leaning casually against a luxury car, smiling elegantly. Chapter 92 Daria stared at Sheena, shouting in disbelief, ¡°This can¡¯t be true! Is this all an act? You¡¯ve gone to such lengths just to deceive me!¡± Then, Daria pointed at the manager, roaring, ¡°And you! How much did she pay you to y along in this act? I¡¯ll double it!¡± The manager frowned at her words, obviously displeased. ¡°Ma''am, please show some respect to our boss. Also, kindly mind your behavior in public ces.¡± Stepping back, he looked disdainfully at the drenched Daria and quickly walked away, holding his nose. Tim, having met the manager before, knew his position was legitimate. Hence, he discreetly. reminded Daria of this fact, Daria took a couple of steps back, unable to ept the truth. ¡°Are you sure? It¡¯s impossible! How could this bitch...¡± Seeing that Daria was still foolishly eager to confront Sheena, Tim swiftly distanced himself from the situation. Then, he calmed himself down and buttered up to Sheena, ¡°Ms. Sheena, I¡¯m sorry for being ignorant and speaking out of turn despite being just a mere deputy general manager of the New Wave Group¡¯s business department. If you ever require my assistance, please don¡¯t hesitate to ask. I¡¯m willing to go above and beyond for you!¡± ¡°Tim! What are you doing? You know how much | despise her, and yet you''re buttering her up like apdog!¡± Realizing that Tim had changed sides, Daria was furious and ready to p him. Tim swiftly caught her wrist, looking at her disdainfully, and he forcefully pushed her away. ¡°You smell horrible! Don¡¯te near me!¡± ¡°Oh, right. | must have been blind even to consider someone like you in the first ce!¡± Daria was so angry that she was trembling and yelled at Tim, ¡°Take a look at your beer belly and yellow teeth before judging me!¡± Before Tim could react, she stepped forward while he was distracted, and with a quick motion, she pped him across the face twice. Tim was dazed from the ps, holding his face in disbelief, and he cursed, ¡°You little bitch! How dare you hit me! If it weren¡¯t for your looks, would | have even wasted tens of thousands on you? You seem to have forgotten your ce, you piece of shit!¡± The two of them erupted into a heated argument. ¡°What a sight,¡± Sheena remarked, leaning against the Porsche and apuding sarcastically. It¡¯s a pity that they¡¯re a bit noisy.¡± Security!¡± Sheena called out, ¡°Get rid of these two noisy troublemakers. They¡¯re making a scene in front of the store, damaging the shop¡¯s image.¡± ¡°Bitch! How dare you! I¡¯ll make you pay for this!¡± Daria screamed. Several security guards promptly approached them, grabbing their arms without hesitation and tossing them onto the street like trash. Daria fell to the ground, and she continued her unrestrained rant, ¡°You bitch! Don¡¯t act so proud just because you have someone powerful behind you! Once a bitch, always a bitch!¡± Daria stood outside the door and cursed, drawing the attention of passersby. Initially, Sheena had only intended a small punishment, given their history at the orphanage. However, Daria hade looking for trouble, so Sheena had no choice but to give her a taste of her own medicine. Sheena walked out calmly, her petite frame exuding a powerful aura. The arrogance and coldness in her gaze caused Daria to shiver.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°Are you done?¡± Sheena asked. Daria straightened her neck, trying to regain herposure. ¡°You bitch! I¡¯m not done! You...¡® ¡°It''s my turn,¡± Sheena interrupted coldly. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Daria was taken aback by Sheena¡¯s cold and disdainful gaze. Before she could react, Sheena pulled out her phone and read slowly, ¡°Da Bell, an ordinary employee at New Wave Group for the past five years. While dating Tim Reid, the deputy general manager of the business department, you¡¯ve had multiple affairs with other superiors. You even managed to hook up with several clients during business trips. Tsk, tsk... Quite impressive, | must say.¡± ¡°You!¡± Daria¡¯s confidence wavered. ¡°Your words mean nothing. This is nder, and I''ll sue you for defamation!¡± ¡°Hold on, I¡¯m not done yet,¡± Sheena continued with an intrigued smile, reading from the information she had on her phone. ¡°You''ve also embezzled over three thousand dors ofpany funds. It seems the shady habits you had while in the orphanage are still going strong. While three thousand dors might notnd you in jail...¡± Sheena stopped mid-sentence, smiling brightly. The sudden pause caused Daria to panic. ¡°But getting fired by thepany seems inevitable. And who knows, once otherpanies in the industry find out, they might just cklist you altogether,¡± Sheena continued. Then, she kept her phone away, calmly enjoying Daria¡¯s shifting expressions.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Daria stubbornly retorted, ¡°Where¡¯s the evidence? Your little story is quite impressive, and | almost believed it. But it all means nothing without evidence!¡± Daria rolled her eyes dramatically at Sheena, but herment was cut short by her phone ringing. Sheena signaled with her eyes, teasing, ¡°Why don¡¯t you answer your call and find out?¡± With resentment burning in her gaze, Daria answered the call with trembling hands. Before she could even offer a courteous greeting, her superior¡¯s furious tirade erupted on the other end. ¡°Daria, | never expected you to be so audacious! | know what you did, and | can¡¯t believe New Wave Group has hired a disgrace like you. You''re finished!¡± ¡°It''s not like that! Please let me exin!¡± Daria¡¯s voice trembled with desperation, tears welled as she tried to exin, ¡°Someone is deliberately framing me. You have to believe me!¡± ¡°Framing you? Do you really think I¡¯m dumb?¡± The leaderughed, exasperated by Daria¡¯s remark. ¡°Get to the office now. I¡¯ll make sure you understand the consequences!¡± Daria tried to exin further, but her superior had already hung up in annoyance. She put down her phone helplessly and looked at Sheena pitifully. Her previous contempt waspletely gone. In just half an hour, Sheena had be the owner of the entire automobile market and had uncovered all of Daria¡¯s secrets during her argument with Tim. This woman was terrifying! ¡°Who are you?¡± Daria asked, her eyes wide with disbelief. In contrast, Sheena smiled, her gaze cold and proud. Even though she was just standing there, her aura felt powerful. Daria finally realized that Sheena¡¯s identity must be far more significant than she had thought, and she was not the divorced and ordinary orphaned girl she had remembered. ¡°Sheena, | was wrong! Please spare me! | can¡¯t afford to lose this job. | truly made a mistake. I¡¯m begging you... Please forgive me!¡± Daria pleaded. Sheena remained silent, as if waiting for Daria to continue. ¡°It was my fault. | shouldn¡¯t have humiliated you. Please forgive me, considering the years we spent together at the orphanage. Please, spare me. | can¡¯t afford to lose this job or get cklisted in the industry!¡± Daria kept bowing and apologizing, her demeanor extremely humble, which was a stark contrast to her previous arrogant behavior. Chapter 94 As Sheena stayed silent, Daria grew more anxious. She even dropped to her knees, bowing so low that her head touched the ground. ¡°Sheena, I¡¯m really sorry. Please, forgive me! I¡¯ve apologized so sincerely. | know you¡¯re a reasonable person. Just give me a second chance!¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Are you done talking?¡± Sheena stepped closer, grasping Daria¡¯s chin and forcing her to meet her gaze, adding, ¡°You''re mistaken. | don¡¯t let things slide easily, and | always held grudges. Besides, I¡¯ve given you a chance already, and you failed to cherish it.¡± She released Daria and pulled a tissue elegantly from her bag, wiping her hands gracefully. Sheena sneered. ¡°Escort them out. From now on, they¡¯re never allowed to step foot in our car dealership again.¡± Quickly reading the situation, the manager approached and ordered the security guards loudly, ¡°Are you all deaf? Didn¡¯t you hear what Miss Sheena said? Get them out of here!¡± A few guards wielding dirty mops rushed over, waving them around and shooing Tim and Daria away. Tim and Daria were chased away, stumbling out. Sheena watched them being chased out with satisfaction before returning to the Volkswagen store. The manager followed her, bombarding her with questions. ¡°Ms. Sheena, would you like me to familiarize you with other brands in the car dealership? Since you''ve just acquired this ce and might not be very familiar with the industry...¡± ¡°No need. | have my own arrangements.¡± Sheena nced at him sideways, warning him not to speak further. ¡°Yes, of course. | shouldn¡¯t have interfered so much.¡± The manager was all smiles, trying to tter Sheena. He patted his mouth several times, afraid of saying something wrong and getting demoted. Sheena stopped in front of a Passat, eyeing the vibrant red car. Then, she opened the door and sat inside, warning the manager, ¡°| want the acquisition of this car dealership to remain confidential. No one must know about it.¡± Sheena¡¯s voice was stern as she continued, ¡°If | find out this has been exposed, you...¡± She suddenly shed a captivating smile, yet it had an underlying coldness that sent a chill down the manager¡¯s spine. The manager¡¯s heart raced, and he immediately tapped his chest, pledging, ¡°Rest assured! I''ll follow your orders!¡± ¡°Continue running the car dealership as before. You''re in charge of everything and report to me monthly. Don¡¯t bother me the rest of the time.¡± After saying that, Sheena stomped on the gas pedal and left. Despite being an ordinary budget ay swath wach force that it seemed like a superc manages stared in dibest as the car kelt, unable to help hot marvel, ¡°What a damirerering woman. The new one is truly extraordinary Especially other witnessing how she handed Tim and Daria, he was even more convinced that e should met mess with her. not On the road. Sheena turned on the audio and craised along. The recent incident was hardly wrth wellling on, and she bummed a rune happily, preparing to return to Angle Group. A famr ringtone chimed, and Sheena nced at her phone. Seeing it was Wendy calling, she bestuned bedrce connecting to her Bluetooth headset. * GELING MO back to thepany. Give it to me straight,¡± Sheena got to the point. 1. ts. Sheena, you''re ending again!¡± car, she drove it with such force that it seemed like a supercar. The manager stared in disbelief as the car left, unable to help but marvel, ¡°What a domineering woman. The new owner is truly extraordinary.¡± Especially after witnessing how she handled Tim and Daria, he was even more convinced that he should not mess with her. On the road, Sheena turned on the audio and cruised along. The recent incident was hardly worth dwelling on, and she hummed a tune happily, preparing to return to Angle Group. A familiar ringtone chimed, and Sheena nced at her phone. Seeing it was Wendy calling, she hesitated before connecting to her Bluetooth headset. ¡°I''m on my way back to thepany. Give it to me straight,¡± Sheena got to the point. ¡°Ms. Sheena, you''re trending again!¡± Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Wendy panicked, eximing, ¡°Ms. Sheena, open Twitter and check the news!¡°¡°¡± ¡°I''m still driving. Don¡¯t you know checking your phone while driving is dangerous?¡± Sheena sighed, a bit frustrated. ¡°If it¡¯s not urgent, I''ll hang up for now, and we can discuss it when 1 get back to the office.¡± Flustered, Wendy stopped her, ¡°No, no, no! Don¡¯t hang up yet! This trending topic is ruining your image. You should...¡± As Wendy rambled on, Sheena¡¯s attention was drawn to the giant screen in the city, where it was broadcasting Vanessa being interviewed outside a ward. She was crying and using Sheena of horrible actions. Sheena¡¯s interest was piqued. ncing at the time, she found a parking spot and stopped the car. Since she had the time, she decided to see what tricks the Moore family was up to. ¡°Mr. Freeman''s ex-wife, Sheena, even had the audacity to send my beloved Jennifer a banner full of mockery, and she even sent funeral flowers, cursing her to die sooner! How can this woman be so wicked?¡± Vanessa was an amazing actress, wiping away her crocodile tears as she continued, ¡°My poor Jennifer... Not only did she suffer a beating, but she also passed out again from Sheena¡¯s insults. She hasn''t even recovered from her injuries... Jennifer did nothing wrong, and it was a misunderstanding at the party. Who knew Sheena would be so petty to seek revenge? | have to expose her wicked and arrogant behavior to the public! | must let everyone see her true colors... a Sheena lost interest and scoffed, driving back to Angle Group. Sensing her prolonged silence, Wendy hung up the phone. Upon arriving at thepany, Sheena skillfully drifted into the car park and walked into the office building nonchntly. A few people were whispering in the lobby on the first floor. One of them noticed Sheena entering and quickly said something, causing the group to disperse. Nheless, Sheena ignored them and headed straight to her office. Wendy had been waiting in her office. When she saw Sheena, she rushed over anxiously and said, ¡°Ms. Sheena, you¡¯re finally back. Did you get a chance to see the news? This situation is getting worse!¡± As she spoke, Wendy handed Sheena the iPad with an open webpage. Vanessa¡¯s usations had caused a stir, and the inte was buzzing as manyizens were discussing the issue. Fortunately, most were rational, and opinions were divided on the matter.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Many people were also speaking up for Sheena, but a wave of criticism quickly drowned out their voices. Without a doubt, Jennifer had already hired a group of inte trolls in advance. She has learned from her previous experience and smartly made use of public sympathy to put Sheena at a disadvantage. Sheena set aside her iPad and continued preparing for the all¡ªgirls talent show, paying little attention to these matters. Ms. Sheena, are you really not nning to address this?¡± Wendy asked cautiously. ¡°Just ignore it and focus on your tasks,¡± Sheena replied without lifting her head. This minor annoyance was not worth her attention, and she was more curious to see how Jennifer would escte the situation. Observing Sheena¡¯s indifference, Wendy sighed and quietly left the room. It was better to focus on her own tasks rather than worry about other things. Meanwhile, at the hospital... Vanessa had finished the interview, and her tearful demeanor immediately transformed into a malicious grin as soon as the reporters left, secretly happy about what had happened to Jennifer. After all, she had always despised Jennifer, the daughter of Kennedy¡¯s mistress. After Jennifer had entered the Moore family, her hatred for Jennifer only intensified. Jennifer had been beaten quite severely this time, and Vanessa could not help but relish this oue. However, Hannah was still lying unconscious in the hospital. With Jennifer as the sole heir, Vanessa had no choice but to put on the pretense of a loving mother to protect the Moore Group from external threats until Hannah woke up. This irked Vanessa even more and seeing Jennifer lying in a sickly state on the hospital bed only added to her satisfaction. As Vanessa turned to reach for her phone, she was surprised to see Elijah standing by the door. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 96 This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Chapter 97 ¡°Good job,¡± Elijah praised, but his true emotion was still unreadable. He flipped through the investigation materials while Leon exined the details to him. ¡°You asked me to look into the events from back then, and | found that Ms. Moore¡¯s schedule at the time aligns perfectly with your car ident¡¯s timeline. In other words, there is undeniable evidence that Ms. Moore was your savior from thirteen years ago,¡± Leon stated confidently. Elijah sifted through the materials, frowning slightly. ¡°There''s another matter...¡± Leon hesitated. ¡°Out with it.¡± Elijah nced at him, signaling him to continue. ¡°We made new progress in Ms. Moore¡¯s assault. The investigation results are attached at the back of the file,¡± Leon exined. Following his words, Elijah turned a few pages and came across several photographs. He studied them closely, his previously rxed brows knitting again. The shining green Santana in the photos was unmistakable. The thought ignited the anger within him, and he continued to scroll through the pages, growing increasingly agitated. The rest of the photos were simr, except for thest one. In that picture, a few figures were faintly visible in the night. Elijah tried hard to identify them but could only recognize Sheena among them. ¡°ording to these photos and the investigation into Ms. Sheena¡¯s activities that day, she was indeed present at the scene when Ms. Moore was assaulted. And there¡¯s this.¡± Leon pointed at a specific photo, saying, ¡°It appears Sheena was involved in some kind of transaction with someone.¡± Then, Leon continued, ¡°The man standing behind her appeared to be Howard''s assistant, Yuri Flores. It¡¯s highly likely that Sheena had Howard carry out this act. Regardless of the oue, Sheena¡¯s involvement is undeniable.¡± Elijah¡¯s face remained devoid of emotions as he continued to scrutinize the images. ¡°To think that someone as gentle and kind as Ms. Moore would be treated this way... | can¡¯t believe Sheena could be this malicious!¡± Leon clenched his fists, urging further, ¡°Mr. Freeman, you must stand up for Ms. Moore and teach Sheena a proper lesson! You have to seek justice for Ms. Moore!¡± Elijah looked at Leon, who bore an earnest expression and nodded. ¡°Okay. We''ll discuss this further when we return.¡± His face returned to its usual calm demeanor, still unreadable to others. The next morning, the hospital was bustling. Jennifer had prepared herself early, leaning against the bedside, ready to face the interview. ¡°| know that epting an interview now might lead some to specte about my intentions or even put me in the spotlight,¡± Jennifer pretended to be strong, continuing, ¡°But | want to rify that Mr. Freeman and | were childhood sweethearts, and circumstances forced us apartter on. | may not know what happened during my absence, but | can firmly dere that I¡¯m not a homewrecker, nor did | destroy his marriage with Sheena!¡± Her eyes glistened with tears, yet she bit her lip resolutely to hold them back. The sound of camera shutters clicked incessantly, and the shing lights were blinding, nearly causing her to lose her composure. However, she could not afford to falter as she had to use this opportunity to gain sympathy from the public.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°Ms. Moore, we have a few questions. Would you be willing to answer them?¡± A reporter extended a microphone toward her Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Jennifer nodded, graciously epting their interview, ¡°Go ahead. | have nothing to hide.¡± ¡°You''ve mentioned that you and Mr. Freeman were in love. If that was the case, why didn¡¯t you two get married? What caused the change? Where were you when Sheena married Mr. Freeman? Why didn¡¯t you intervene?¡± ¡°Additionally, could you shed some light on the circumstances of your injuries? Were you targeted because you were a homewrecker? Would you be willing to disclose some details?¡± ¡°And-¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Jennifer interrupted, appearing displeased. Those reporters were unyielding and continued asking her harsh questions, showing no regard for her as an injured party. Jennifer was infuriated! However, she realized she lost her cool and cleared her throat, saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not feeling well. Let¡¯s end the interview here for today.¡± With that, she closed her eyes, dismissing the reporters from disturbing her further. ¡°Jennifer has spoken enough today and she needs to rest. If you have any questions, direct them to me,¡± Vanessa said, leading the reporters out of the ward. In the corridor, she continued to face the piercing questions. ¡°The questions you asked just now concern our family¡¯s private matters and the privacy between Jennifer and Mr. Freeman. We refuse to answer them. Please understand,¡± Vanessa replied, maintaining a distant tone. ¡°What about the incident with Ms. Moore¡¯s injuries?¡± ¡°We have evidence strongly indicating Sheena¡¯s involvement in this matter.¡® Then, Vanessa took the microphone, adding resolutely, ¡°We''ll make sure she pays the price for hurting our precious daughter!¡± ¡°Could you reveal some of the evidence?¡± Vanessa frowned, bluntly refusing, ¡°We have handed everything over to the police. The truth will be revealed soon enough.¡± The reporters sensed her reluctance to discuss further and wrapped up the interview hastily. Sheena drove her new Passat, speeding on her way to work. She managed to catch the entire live news broadcast and could not help but scoff. The feigned affection of the mother-daughter duo was sickening. Nevertheless, if it was a war they wanted, Sheena was more than willing to give it to them. Just after turning the corner, Sheena spotted Wendy standing under a road sign, looking anxious and scanning the road. Sheena pulled over right next to her, rolled down the window, and asked, ¡°Need a ride?¡± ¡°No, no, Ms. Sheena, | was intentionally waiting for you along your route to work,¡± Wendy¡¯s face was filled with concern as she replied, ¡°You''re still trending online, and people are discussing you endlessly. Some reporters and overly agitated crowds have blocked thepany entrance, demanding an exnation from you.¡± Then, she suggested, ¡°This situation is much more intense thanst time. Maybe you shouldn''t go to the office. It might be better toy low at home until it¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m not the type to hide andy low,¡± Sheena retorted. Sheena ignited the engine again, and Wendy became anxious. ¡°Ms. Sheena, where are you going?¡± Wendy pounded on the car window, attempting to stop her. ¡°To give them the exnation they want.¡± Sheena stomped on the gas pedal and drove away, leaving Wendy coughing and her eyes teary from the smoke and dust. By the time Wendy regained her senses, Sheena¡¯s car had disappeared from view.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh no, this is bad! Ms. Sheena¡¯s all alone. What should | do?¡± Wendy was in despair, unsure of what to do Chapter 99 The Angle Group was buzzing with people, packed with not only reporters and ¡°concerned¡± citizens, but also many onlookers eager to witness themotion. Sheena locked her car and strode confidently toward thepany entrance. Even though she was alone, she had a powerful presence. The reporters had been waiting for this moment, rushing forward and jostling to get closer when they saw Sheena. They extended the microphones toward her, and the sound of rapid camera shutters filled the air. The scene was even more impressive than the one in Jennifer¡¯s ward. ¡°Ms. Sheena, did you watch this morning''s live news? What do you have to say about Ms. Moore¡¯s statements?¡± ¡°Is what Ms. Moore said true? She ims she¡¯s not a homewrecker. Can you exin the reasons behind your divorce from Mr. Freeman? Rumors say you left with nothing, implying an affair. Is that true?¡± ¡°And are you behind Ms. Moore¡¯s assault?¡± The reporters seized the opportunity to dig up juicy information, firing off a barrage of questions at Sheena. However, Sheena marched toward the entrance, undaunted by the crowd. Herrge sunsses covered most of her face, but her imposing aura could not be masked. ¡°Ms. Sheena, can you please answer? The whole nation is waiting for your response!¡± A reporter shouted desperately. The crowd erupted again, and bystanders engaged in spirited conversations, specting on the reasons behind this series of events.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Sheena snatched a microphone from a reporter¡¯s hand, saying sternly, ¡°If you want answers, you need to quiet down and let me speak.¡± The reporters were stunned but quickly resumed their questioning. ¡°Can you rify your rtionship with Mr. Freeman?¡± A reporter seized the opportunity to get a question in, positioning the microphone beside her to ensure he would not be ignored. ¡°| already addressed this on Twitter. Once again, we¡¯re already divorced, and we have nothing to do with each other anymore,¡± Sheena retorted, pushing away the microphone that was being shoved in her face. Even with her sunsses shielding her eyes, the others felt the intensity of Sheena¡¯s gaze, prompting them to take a few steps back. ¡°Rumors online suggest that Ms. Moore ruined your marriage to Mr. Freeman. But after your divorce, you were left with nothing. Is this true?¡± ¡°| have noment,¡± Sheena replied and shrugged, ¡°Any other questions? If not, I¡¯m heading inside. Don¡¯t waste my precious time.¡± ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Several reporters squeezed forward again, shouting ¡°Online rumors suggest that you only secured your current job position because of your affair with Angle¡¯s Mr. Lawson. Is this true?¡± My position wasn¡¯t obtained through any improper means. As for my abilities, time and achievements will reveal the truth,¡± Sheena responded firmly. Her words resonated loudly within the crowd, yet they failed to quell the reporter¡¯s agitation. ¡°Why did you insult Ms. Moore a couple of days ago? Was it because she humiliated you at the banquet?¡± ¡°Didn''t you watch her live broadcast?¡± Sheena retorted, ¡°Let the evidence speak for itself. | have important matters to attend to and won''t entertain this any longer.¡± Seeing her dismiss the crowd, the reporters grew anxious and desperately tried to hold her back. ¡°You can¡¯t end this without exining the matter! Are you hiding something?¡± The onlookers joined in, raising their voices and effectively blocking thepany entrance. Some even seemed ready to attack Sheena. Before Sheena could react, a familiar deep voice sounded behind her. ¡°Spreading rumors and hurling baseless insults without consequences? If you don¡¯t have professional ethics, it might be time to find a new job.¡± Elijah¡¯s voice was calm yet filled with disdain as he approached, his gaze coldly scanning the crowd. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Someone recognized Elijah and shouted, ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Freeman! Mr. Freeman is here to support her!¡± Elijah¡¯s appearance ignited another uproar as his sudden presence shocked everyone, and spections buzzed through the crowd about his purpose for being there. Elijah took the microphone from Sheena and said, ¡°As for Ms. Moore¡¯s situation, I¡¯m also doing my own investigations. | will provide the public with an exnation in five days.¡± The reporters who had been asking questions were too frightened to speak, yet the chaos within the crowd showed no sign of settling. Elijah turned around to Leon with a cold look and asked, ¡°What are you standing around for?¡± Leon quickly signaled the bodyguards, and they immediately began dispersing the crowd. Most of the onlookers were merely there for the spectacle. They did not want to stir up trouble, and they certainly did not want to provoke Elijah. Hence, they left immediately. ¡°Thanks,¡± Sheena muttered a half-hearted gratitude to him and walked toward thepany. ¡°Ms. Sheena, your gratitude seems rather insincere,¡± Elijahmented, grabbing her wrist firmly. Then, he asked, ¡°Can we have a private conversation?¡± Sheena initially considered refusing his invitation, but she noticed his serious expression and said, ¡°Alright, but let''s keep it brief.¡± Elijah chose a restaurant near Angle Group and reserved a private room for their meal. ¡°Go ahead and order,¡± he said,ying out the menu and pushing it toward her. ¡°I''ve had breakfast already,¡± Sheena replied. However, she frowned as if recalling something, then added, ¡°Mr. Freeman, didn¡¯t you prefer a lighter meal early in the morning? What''s this? Have you changed your habits after reuniting with Ms. Moore? Anyway, cut the crap and get to the point. Don¡¯t waste my time.¡± Elijah¡¯s expression turned sour. Observing Sheena¡¯s impatience, he asked, ¡°Do you treat Howard or Skye the same way when you have meals together?¡± Even Elijah did not realize that his tone was dripping with jealousy.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Sheena red at him, warning, ¡°Mr. Freeman, please remember you¡¯re my ex-husband, and we have nothing between us anymore. Do | need to report to you about my attitude while having dinner with other men? Besides, you''re hardly in any position topare yourself to them.¡± She paused, then continued sarcastically, ¡°Don¡¯t forget that your fiancee is still warded, and you should be at her side instead of getting hung up on my attitude here.¡± ¡°You''ve changed a lot,¡± Elijahmented, locking his gaze onto her eyes as if attempting to uncover all the unfamiliar aspects about her. Sheena picked up her bag and got up from her seat. ¡°If you¡¯re only here to discuss these Chapte 100- unimportant matters, I''ll be going now.¡± ¡°Sit down. There¡¯s no need to rush.¡± Elijah walked over and locked the door. Sheena frowned and watched him closely. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He let out a barely audible sigh, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not here to harm you. I¡¯m here to rify one thing.¡± Chapter 101 Chapter 101 ¡°What''s this about?¡± Sheena asked. ¡°Where were you on March 14th, thirteen years ago? Did you visit Pine Street in Farlem?¡± Elijah inquired patiently. ¡°| don¡¯t remember,¡± Sheena replied, still maintaining a distant manner. Moreover, it had been such a long time. How could she possibly recall? Elijah remainedposed. ¡°Alright, let me phrase it differently. Do you remember a car ident that happened on March 14th, thirteen years ago? Three people died at the scene, and only a young boy in the back seat survived, rescued by a girl.¡± Sheena was shocked, wondering why he was asking about this. Could that young boy be him? Sheena met his probing gaze and recalled fragments of her memories in a haze. She did save a person out of sheer coincidence that year. However, she had not given it much thought at the time. Besides, Sheena was in Farlem that year for a crucial matter involving the Lawson family¡¯s privacy, and she had no intention of sharing that with Elijah, nor did she want him to continue investigating. After all, that matter was too dangerous, and she did not want anyone else getting involved. Sheena replied coldly, ¡°No, | don¡¯t know. If you don¡¯t have any other questions, I''ll be leaving.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. 11 Elijah reached out to stop her, but her icy gaze stopped him, and he withdrew his hand. ¡°Mr. Freeman, don¡¯t forget you''re Jennifer¡¯s fiance. Pay more attention to her as she¡¯s still recovering in the hospital,¡± Sheena taunted him, unlocking the door and leaving. In that fleeting moment when she turned around, Sheena glimpsed a subtle flicker of disappointment in Elijah¡¯s eyes. Although it was not obvious, she still managed to catch it. She wondered why he was disappointed, but she did not dwell on it. At the moment, Elijah was insignificant to her. He was merely a minor figure in life, and she would not let him hinder her progress. Sheenaposed herself and elegantly fixed her hair behind her ears. Elijah did not stop her, letting her leave the private room. As Sheena stepped out, she locked eyes with Leon, who gave her a hostile re. ¡°Mr. Freeman has gathered all the evidence. Your involvement in assaulting Ms. Moore will be exposed soon! When that happens, Mr. Freeman won''t spare you!¡± Leon¡¯s voice dripped with resentment. ¡°Are you done?¡± Sheena nced at him, smiling mockingly. ¡°Bring it on then. I¡¯m waiting.¡± Her petite frame exuded an unexpectedlymanding presence, and Leon instinctively took a few steps back when he met her gaze. In her high heels, Sheena briskly walked away with her footsteps echoing through the spacious restaurant. ¡°That was strange,¡¯ Leon thought, perplexed by his own fear of her. Two days had passed since Elijah mentioned the five-day deadline, and various media outlets were closely following the matter, specting. Sheena paid no attention to the negativements against her, focusing solely on preparations for the all-girls talent show. ¡°Ms. Sheena, these are the relevant files on the set. Please do a final review.¡± Wendy ced a file folder on her desk. ¡°Got it. You can leave first. I''ll call you when I¡¯m done.¡± Chapter 102 Sheena¡¯s gaze remained fixed on theputer screen as she typed quickly on the keyboard. Wendy hesitated but eventually interrupted her, asking, ¡°Ms. Sheena, have you really not seen the onlinements about you?¡± ¡°I''ve seen some.¡± Sheena nced at Wendy and continued her work. ¡°Then why are you so... calm?¡± Wendy was even more puzzled. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t | be? Mr. Freeman said in front of all those reporters that he¡¯d provide an exnation regarding this to the public. | want to see what he wille up with. Besides, even though thosements are causing a stir, they haven¡¯t had any substantial impact on me, have they?¡± ¡°But...¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Enough buts. Let¡¯s get back to work. The talent show is about to start recording, and you''ll only get busier than before.¡± Wendy recognized Sheena¡¯s exceptional nature and held her tongue, getting back to her tasks. Sheena was fully immersed in her work. Meanwhile, at a hospital miles away from Angle Group, Jennifery on her bed, idly scrolling through her phone. Her injuries had improved significantly, and over the past couple of days, she had been closely monitoring the media¡¯s malicious spections about Sheena on various social tforms. asionally, she would also engage a few inte trolls to amplify the negativity. As Jennifer scrolled through Twitter, enjoying the wave of praise for her and condemnation for Sheena, her satisfaction only grew. However, her smile froze instantly when she saw a message pop up. [Leon: Ms. Moore, Mr. Freeman hasn¡¯t made any big moves in the past two days. He hasn¡¯t tasked me with anything either, and | don¡¯t know what he¡¯s nning.] Ever since agreeing to help Jennifer, Leon had been diligently watching Elijah¡¯s every move, reporting back to her at the slightest hint of activity. However, Elijah¡¯sck of action had raised suspicions in her. ¡°Got it. Thanks, Leon,¡± Jennifer replied with a sweet tone in a voice message. Hearing her voice, Leon felt even more ttered and determined to assist her in bringing Sheena to justice. Jennifer irritably put her phone aside and leaned back on her bed. After pondering for a moment, she picked up her phone again and dialed a number. ¡°Hey there, how¡¯s it going?¡± Katie¡¯s voice camezily from the other end. ¡°Thanks to you, I¡¯m still lying in the hospital,¡± Jennifer replied coldly. ¡°What¡¯s the n now?¡± Katie admired her newly done nails before casually speaking, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve found her weakness. | can take care of her tonight.¡± NEA Lister ¡°Are you sure?¡± Jennifer asked with uncertainty. ¡°I''ve already fallen into her trap twice. Based on my past experience, you better be careful.¡± ¡°Was it not your own stupidity that got you in trouble?¡± Katie raised her voice. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your mistake, would you have ended up getting beaten?¡± Jennifer felt infuriated but refrained from responding. Instead, she hung up, silently cing the me on Sheena. ¡°Watch out, Sheena, I¡¯ming for you,¡± Jennifer muttered as she tossed her phone onto the bed with a fierce expression. The progress of the all¡ªgirls talent show was nearing its end. After settling the final arrangements in the afternoon, Sheena oversaw the first day of recording remotely through a video link. All the tasks were progressing smoothly, and Sheena nodded in satisfaction as she closed the connection. She had also arranged personnel to supervise the recording on-site, ensuring that she would be alerted promptly if any issues arose. Just then, her phone rang. It was a call from Ben. ¡°Ms. Sheena, there¡¯s a problem! One of the participants, Phoebe Chambein, is missing!¡± Chapter Ing Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Sheena was shocked. ¡°Phoebe is missing?¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena. This isn¡¯t a simple case of withdrawing from the show. There¡¯s something fishy going on. Phoebe was in great spirits before the recording, getting along well with the other contestants. It¡¯s unlikely she would suddenly disappear without a word.¡± Sheena calmly instructed, ¡°| understand. Proceed with the show as nned and keep it discreet. Contact me immediately if anythinges up. I''ll start investigating this matter. Make sure things remain stable at the set.¡± Then, Sheena hung up the phone, frowning deeply. After some thoughts, she finally dialed the number at the bottom of her contact list. ¡°M-Ms. Lawson?¡± The person on the other end sounded astonished, stammering, ¡®Is it really you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Sheena replied. The person on the other end grew excited instantly. Even through the screen, their shock and joy were obvious. ¡°Ms. Lawson, it¡¯s been at least six years since youst contacted us. Is there something urgent this time? We at Dark Bell will get it done for you!¡± Dark Bell was a secretive organization under Sheena¡¯smand, with operatives scattered worldwide, infiltrating various fields and industries. Whenever she gave the order, there was no information they could not obtain.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Investigate Phoebe Chambein¡¯s whereabouts for me, and | want the results within ten minutes. As for why | haven¡¯t contacted you all this time, it¡¯s a long story. I''ll fill you in when | have the chance.¡± Sheena set down her phone. While she trusted Dark Bell''s efficiency, she could not help but feel anxious as Phoebe¡¯s safety became increasingly uncertain with every passing second. The phone rang once again, and Sheena nced at the time. It had only been eight minutes. ¡°Ms. Lawson, we''ve found her. Around noon, Phoebe received a call asking her to leave the set. The caller imed they needed to discuss an important matter. After she left, she was immediately drugged and forced into the trunk of a car with a fake license te. Then, the car headed toward Gravel Hill outside Farlem and disappeared from surveince after passing through a tunnel.¡± The person cautiously added, ¡®I suspect they¡¯re near Gravel Hill, and it seems like a kidnapping. What do you think?¡± ¡°Alright, | got it. Thank you.¡± Sheena remainedposed and clear¡ªheaded. Later, she studied the map the person sent her, preparing to drive over. Her phone chimed twice more. It was a text from an unknown number. ¡°Phoebe is in my hands. Come within an hour. If you¡¯rete, you''ll bear the consequences, Remember toe alone. If you dare involve the police or bring others, we''ll kill her immediately.¡± Then, the unknown number texted Sheena an MMS of a picture of Phoebe bound and beaten. Leaning against her fiery red Passat, Sheena fell into deep thought. The kidnapper was using Phoebe as leverage against her, but they were not asking for money, just stressing that she had to go alone. Could it be that person from the Lawson family? Sheena thought it would be unlikely as that person seemed to know her too well. Moreover, the method they used to erase her memory was seamless. Hence, they would not have left this many clues for Dark Bell to uncover. After some contemtion, she had a rough idea of who was behind this abduction. Then, Sheena turned off the navigation to Gravel Hill and returned to Howard''s mansion. Sheena changed out of her professional attire and into an all-ck sportswear. The well- fitted design entuated her graceful figure, and her-skin was smooth and fair. With her long hair tied up high, she appeared even more fearless. Hearing her footstepsing down the stairs, Auntie Gloria nagged, ¡°You just got back, and you¡¯re leaving again? Ms. Lawson, you''ve been tirelessly working at thepany. You need to rest properly. Your health is important.¡± Chapter 104 Auntie Gloria continued chattering, but upon seeing Sheena in sports attire, her mouth hung wide in surprise. ¡°Ms. Lawson, you look amazing in this outfit! It''s such a refreshing look from your usual office attire!¡± Auntie Gloria¡¯s eyes gleamed with approval as she added, ¡°Are you going to exercise?¡± ¡°Fighting.¡± Sheena gestured dismissively. ¡°What? Fighting?¡± Auntie Gloria gasped, thinking she must have misheard. She asked, concerned, ¡°Alone? Are you sure about this?¡± ncing at Sheena¡¯s slender frame, worry slowly reced Auntie Gloria¡¯s surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Sheena slung her bag over her shoulder, striding out confidently. Then, she hopped into her Passat and sped off, following the navigation toward Gravel Hill. Auntie Gloria marveled once more at Sheena¡¯s striking appearance as she left. However, she quickly snapped back to reality and hurriedly called Howard, fearing Sheena might get into trouble. ¡°Ms. Lawson said she¡¯s going to a fight. Maybe you should put aside your work!¡± Auntie Gloria urged with seriousness. ¡°What if something happens to her?!¡± ¡°Alright, | got it.¡± Howard sighed helplessly. ¡°How¡¯s the n going? Have you caught that woman?¡± Jennifer anxiously inquired over the phone. Katiezily replied, ¡°Of course. | arranged this personally after all. There shouldn''t be any issues.¡± Jennifer¡¯s mood brightened upon hearing Katie¡¯s confident reply. Even the endless chirping of sparrows outside seemed less annoying. 4 ¡°Have you messaged that bitch yet? Everything will go as nned, right?¡± Jennifer inquired, her sense of triumph mingling with her cautious nature. ¡°What if she calls the police or tells Howard? Howard isn¡¯t one to be messed with.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve looked into it and found that Sheena was close to this woman, Phoebe Chambein, in the orphanage. She wouldn''t dare be rash.¡± Katie shrugged. Then, she added, I¡¯ve already warned her through our contacts toe alone. Otherwise, they¡¯ll kill Phoebe. | doubt she has the guts.* Outside the ward, a sudden shuffle of footsteps caught Jennifer¡¯s attention. Assuming it was a nurse or doctor in the hallway, she paid it no mind.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°If this n seeds, she''ll be gone for good,¡± Jennifer eximed excitedly. The thought of Sheena disappearing from her life was exhrating, almost worth celebrating. Katie was equally delighted, knowing that with Sheena out of the way, nothing would hinder her pursuit of love. ¡°You have my thanks this time. Once I¡¯m out of here...¡± Jennifer was about to continue enthusiastically when the door creaked open. Elijah stood at the doorway with a grim expression. ¡°Eli, you¡¯re here?!¡± Jennifer panicked for a moment and quickly ended her phone call. ¡°| was just casually chatting with a friend and didn¡¯t notice...¡± She had deliberately stationed bodyguards outside the door so that she could chat freely with Katie. Did Elijah hear anything? Chapter 105 This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Chapter 106 She quickened her pace and forcefully pushed open the cabin door.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Wow! You got here pretty quickly.¡± The leader of the kidnappers wore a thick ck mask, hiding his expression. Phoebey unconscious at his feet, covered in bruises. Sheena nced at Phoebe¡¯s injuries, and her gaze turned cold. ¡°Release her first, and we can talk.¡± Sheena surveyed the interior of the cabin, casually taking a seat on a chair, and looked at him with an indifferent expression. The kidnapper was infuriated by her behavior and yanked the unconscious Phoebe, pressing a knife against her neck. ¡°Are you seriously trying to negotiate with me? Do you want me to kill her right now?¡± ¡°You won''t,¡± Sheena said, fearlessly locking eyes with him and causing panic to rise within him. Despite her petite appearance, she exuded an air ofposure, as if she had the support of a hundred people behind her. The leader of the kidnappers looked bewildered. At the same time, Katie and her personal bodyguard, Angus Brown, were hiding in the woods outside the cabin, observing the inside through binocrs. Katie had also attached a listening device to the hat of one of the kidnappers, allowing her to listen in to their conversations clearly. ¡°She thinks we''re going to hand over Phoebe just like that? Dream on!¡± Katie rolled her eyes disdainfully. Through her mini Bluetooth headset, she ordered, ¡°Don¡¯t agree to her request! Who knows what tricks she might pull? Keep stalling her, and don¡¯t let Phoebe circumstances.¡± go under any The instructed kidnapper chuckled and looked at Sheena. ¡®I truly hate to disappoint you, but I¡¯m sorry, | can¡¯t let her go.¡± The kidnapper¡¯s gaze turned increasingly sinister as he continued, ¡°Unless you coax me and put me in a good mood, then maybe I''ll consider it.¡± His eyes roamed all over Sheena¡¯s figure unabashedly. Her athletic attire entuated her alluring curves. Sheena, noticing his lustful gaze, knew wasting more time with him was futile. Hence, she swiftly kicked the man. ¡°Let''s see if you¡¯ve got what it takes to take me down.¡± The kidnapper quickly raised his right arm to block her kick, only for Sheena¡¯s fist to follow up ande at him. Enraged, he bellowed, ¡°How dare you hit me! Come out and get her!* with hismand, the already dpidated door was violently pushed open, and four burly men with ck masks barged in, eager for a fight. ¡°Nice! It''s been a while since |st exercised!¡± sheena¡¯s agility allowed her to swiftly charge forward, executing a series of swift kicks in midah. In less than five minutes, all five burly meny defeated on the ground. Katie, who had been smugly observing through the binocrs, was left jaw¡ªdropped witnessing the brutal oue. ¡°H-How is this possible? How could one woman take down five men like that? Did the men you hire go easy on her?¡± ¡°Ms. Upton, Sheena is far from ordinary,¡± Angus spoke seriously. ¡°Herbat style resembles the techniques created by the world-renowned martial artist Jean Norris. However, it seems she has adapted and innovated upon them to form her own distinct fighting method.¡± He paused briefly before continuing, ¡°Jean Norris is known to be entric and only had one disciple, rumored to be male. But given Sheena¡¯s skill, she might likely be that disciple, and the rumors could be false.¡± Katie persisted, asking, ¡°If you were to face her personally, could you defeat her?¡± Chapter 107 Angus let out a disdainful snort and patted his chest, saying, ¡°She''s just Jean¡¯s disciple, not Jean herself. | could take her down in three moves!¡± Angus had once held the national kickboxing championship title, which was why the Upton family hired him as a bodyguard. With his assurance, Katie finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she raised the binocrs again to continue observing the situation inside. Several men struggled on the ground, defeated by Sheena. Akidnapper picked up a knife and attempted a sneak attack, only for Sheena to swiftly catch his wrist and perform a shoulder throw that brought him down. Next, she held his hands in a reverse lock behind his back, kicking his knee. ¡°Did you think you me.¡± could get a sneak attack? You''ll never be able to achieve that level against Sheena applied more force, causing the kidnapper to writhe in pain and begged for mercy. Katie watched from a distance, gritting her teeth. ¡°These idiots are no match for her at all! Angus, go in! If you can¡¯t handle her today, consider yourself fired!¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Upton.¡± Angus rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge into the cabin, but his phone vibrated twice. He quickly nced at the screen and nervously said, ¡°Ms. Upton, our informants say two groups have arrived at the foot of the mountain. Angle Group¡¯s Mr. Lawson and Freeman Group¡¯s Mr. Freeman. We should leave now!¡± ¡°No way! Won''t our efforts be in vain if we leave now? | have to see that bitch begging at my feet!¡± Katie was indignant and refused. Angus wished he could just carry Katie away, but his position forced him to reason with her, ¡± Think about it... Both of them aren¡¯t to be trifled with! If they show up and find us, no amount of talking will save us. Ms. Upton, it''ll be toote if we don¡¯t leave now!¡± The thought of Howard doting on Sheena only fueled her anger, making her wish she could tear Sheena apart to vent her frustration. Yet, the circumstances did not allow for hesitation. With resentment burning in her heart, Katie reluctantly red at the cabin before descending the mountain through an alternate route. Inside the cabin, Sheena continued to engage in a fierce battle with the five kidnappers. She intentionally avoided knocking all of them out at once. Instead, she let them attack her. After two rounds, the burly men were rolling on the ground and howling in pain. Sheena dusted off her hands and leaned against the door, looking coldly at the kidnappers, saying, ¡°Release her, or your fate will be a hundred times worse than it is now. Think carefully before you act.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. The leader of the kidnappers panted heavily. If he released her, he would have no way out either. If that was the case, he might as well fight back! Gritting his teeth, he met Sheena¡¯s sharp gaze, then picked up the fallen knife and pressed it against the unconscious Phoebe¡¯s throat. ¡°You better think carefully too! Her life is in my hands. Believe me when | say I¡¯ll kill her!¡± ¡°If you dare, I''ll let you taste the worst possible tortures,¡± Sheena retorted, her eyes gleaming coldly. Her aura was fierce and formidable. The kidnapper knew well of her skills, so he did not dare make a reckless move. Instead, he shrank back in fear, but the knife against Phoebe¡¯s throat did not waver. After all, that was hisst lifeline. If he let go now, it would be like voluntarily giving up his chance at escaping. Phoebe remained unconscious, but she was obviously in pain. Sheena worried the kidnapper might react violently and harm Phoebe, so she remained cautious. The kidnapper forced himself to appear calm, maintaining his standoff with her. Chapter 108 Just as the tension between them peaked, a series of voices suddenly sounded from outside the door. Soon, the mor grew louder, as if people were arguing. Sheena frowned, casting a cold nce at the kidnapper before stepping out to investigate. Themotion was getting closer, and Sheena looked toward the source of the noise, only to find two familiar figures. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Howard''s face was icy as he red at Elijah, clearly displeased and annoyed. Elijah was not in the mood to talk with him. Impatiently, he retorted, ¡°Do | need to report my whereabouts to you whenever | go somewhere? Or do you have a peculiar liking for tracking other people?¡± Seeing the tension between the two escte as if they were about toe to blows any second, Sheena could not help but feel exasperated. Then, she stepped in between them to intervene. ¡°Why did you bothe?¡± ¡°Nana, you''re always making us worry,¡± Howard grumbled, flicking her nose. ¡°Auntie Gloria told me you were going out to fight, so | followed. What happened? Do you need help?¡± ¡°It''s already over. It was just five guys. They¡¯re hardly a match for me,¡± Sheena replied with a faint smile. Even though Elijah knew Sheena was a skilled martial artist, he was still surprised to hear that. After all, facing five opponents alone was not something just any woman could do. His curiosity about her intensified, and he grew even more intrigued by her background. Elijah was increasingly convinced that her origins were far moreplex than that of an ordinary orphan adopted from the orphanage, and he looked at her with a hint of scrutiny. On the other hand, Howard remained unfazed, as if he had expected this oue all along. With Sheena leading the way, Howard and Elijah followed her into the cabin with their respective bodyguards. The kidnappers¡¯ leader barely recovered and sat on the ground, catching his breath. However, his reliefsted only moments before this intimidating entrance shattered hisposure once again. Howard red at the kidnapper and said, ¡°Do you know who | am? I¡¯m Howard Lawson, and you¡¯ve got some nerve to mess with someone | care about. Today, you''ll learn the hard way what it means to provoke me,¡± Elijah was irritated by Howard¡¯s ¡°someone | care about¡± remark. Then, he gestured with his hand, and several bodyguards immediately restrained the struggling men on the ground. ¡°And I¡¯m Elijah Freeman. How dare you hurt my ex-wife,¡± Elijah said.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Chapter o Upon hearing their names, the kidnappers¡® leader trembled and kneeled on the ground, repeatedly begging for mercy. ¡°Please! | was just following orders for money. | don¡¯t have anything personal against this beautifuldy. | made a mistake. Please spare my life! I''m innocent! | swear!¡± He had not imagined that Sheena was backed by Howard and Elijah! With his long experience in this line of work, he had heard countless tales of how ruthless they could be, and he regretted it deeply. The three of them continued to look at him coldly, staying silent. Sheena approached him, emanating an intense aura of dominance. ¡°Who instructed you to kidnap her?¡± ¡°I-It was a woman who hired me! She wanted me to kidnap Phoebe and text you, asking you toe here. S¡ªShe promised me 150,000 dors if | seeded. | thought the money was good, and you¡¯re just a young girl, so | took the job. Please, believe me! | never intended to harm you!¡± He would not have dared to do this if he had known that so many influential men were backing her! ¡°And who is that woman?¡± Sheena continued to press. ¡°| truly don¡¯t know her identity! In our line of work, we just do the job for the money, and we don¡¯t concern ourselves with the rest!¡± Terror gripped the kidnapper¡¯s heart, as he begged even harder and blood stains appeared on his forehead. Sheena crouched slightly, her aura terrifying as she asked, ¡°Which hand and foot did you use ¡°Which hand and foot did you use to beat her up?¡± Chapter 109 Chapter 109 ¡°What?¡± The kidnapper was caught off guard by her sudden shift in topic, struggling toprehend her question. ¡°I''m asking, which hand and foot did you use to beat her up?¡± Sheena spoke slowly, smiling. Despite the woman in front of him smiling so charmingly, the kidnappers¡¯ leader could sense an underlying threat in her demeanor. Then, he continued to beg for mercy, even going so far as to p himself. ¡°| was wrong! | deserve to die. P-Please...Spare me!¡± ¡°Onest chance.¡± Sheena¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, appearing displeased. ¡°R-Right hand. | used both feet to kick her...¡± The trembling kidnapper answered. Sheena rose, finding a thorny stick in the corner of the cabin. Howard sensed her anger and refrained from intervening. ¡°Ah!¡± Soon, the kidnapper¡¯s scream echoed within the cabin. Elijah silently watched the entire process as Sheena personally tortured the man. He had seen how brutally she had dealt with Vision Group¡¯s directors at a hotel before, but witnessing her fierceness firsthand still shocked him. In a matter of minutes, the kidnappers¡® leader was wailing in agony. Every part of his body that hade into contact with Phoebe had been subjected to brutal blows, leaving behind visible injuries. Seeing that it was almost enough, Sheena tossed the stick aside and pped her hands. ¡°This is the consequence of messing with the people who are dear to me.¡± ¡°Do you want us to beat him a couple more times?¡± Howard asked eagerly, afraid that Sheena was still dissatisfied. ¡°No need. His right hand and knees are shattered, and he''ll be a cripple for the rest of his life.¡± Sheena nced coldly at the four masked men being restrained by the bodyguards. ¡°Those who hurt the ones dear to me will experience horrible consequences.¡± Elijah stared at her in astonishment, surprised by her unexpected protective instinct. ¡°What about you? Did you get hurt from the fight?¡± Howard¡¯s eyes showed concern. ¡°| did! | did!¡± Sheena pouted, extending her hand toward him. ¡°After all that fighting, my hands are all red.¡± Howard immediately took her small hand, gently cradling it in his palm and blowing on it softly. ¡°How is it now? Does it still hurt?¡± Howard held her hand, gently rubbing it a few times, his eyes brimming with love for his sister. ¡°Just rub it a little longer, and it won''t hurt anymore.¡± Sheena enjoyed his massage and continued to act coquettish.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Elijah was annoyed at how the two acted intimately as if no one were around them, and he suppressed his anger. Noticing Elijah¡¯s unusual gaze, Sheena turned to meet his eyes. ¡°Mr. Freeman, with so much free time, why not focus on your own fiancee? I''ll make sure she pays for hurting the one close to me, and If you protect her, | won¡¯t spare you either.¡± Sheena returned to her fierce self and did not give Elijah a chance to respond. Instead, she just scoffed at him and walked out of the cabin, unwilling to spend another moment with him. Howard ordered the bodyguard to carry Phoebe and followed suit. Phoebe was severely injured and had been injected with a sedative by the kidnappers, and her life could be at risk if she were not taken to the hospital immediately. Sheena ced Phoebe in the passenger seat of her Volkswagen Passat, adjusting the seat to afortable angle. Then, she sped back to the city. Howard drove behind her, his heart racing as he watched her speed increase. Coincidentally, the nearest hospital happened to be the one Jennifer was admitted to. While Sheena did not want to enter there, she did not want to waste time either. Hence, shepleted the hospital procedures and brought in an experienced doctor to treat Phoebe. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 After several hours of emergency treatment, Phoebe¡¯s condition stabilized. Though she had multiple injuries, none were life-threatening. She had not woken up due to the excess sedative, but with a few days of rest in the hospital, she would be able to recover and leave, Sheena sat by Phoebe¡¯s bedside, watching her pale face with concern. Howard stood by her side, asking, ¡°What¡¯s your n? No matter what, revenge requires a n. ¡°| didn¡¯t want to get involved, but they kept pushing my boundaries and actually harmed my best friend, using her as leverage. | want them to know that messing with mees with a price!¡± Seeing her genuinely angry, Howard did not intend to dissuade her. ¡°To win against her, I''ll hit where it hurts the most. Since the Moore family granted her status and gave her the confidence to act recklessly, I¡¯ll start with them.¡± ¡°The Moore family?¡± Howard stroked his chin. ¡°Makes sense, but it won¡¯t be that easy.¡± ¡°I''m starting with the Moore family, but | won¡¯t involve innocent people,¡± Sheena said, shing an alluring yet dangerous smile. Howard was puzzled. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°If ¡¯m not mistaken, aside from Jennifer, who is injured and recovering here, her sister Hannah, also seems to be in this hospital. Hannah is still in a vegetative state after the car ident. ¡± Sheena took a sip of water, not directly answering him, but her words carried a hidden meaning. Howard looked at her radiant smile and seemed to understand her implied intention. Half an hourter, Sheena reached the fourth floor and stood before Hannah¡¯s ward, apanied by a few bodyguards. Several bodyguards from the Moore family blocked their way, resulting in a brief scuffle. Thismotion quickly alerted Vanessa in the waiting room, and she angrily grabbed Sheena, who was about to enter the room. ¡°What are you nning to do?! Hannah is already in such a state. Do you intend to harm her?¡± ¡°Madam Moore, there¡¯s no need to be so agitated. | won''t do anything to Hannah. I¡¯m here to take her away.¡± Vanessa had not expected Sheena to say that, and she shouted, ¡°I won¡¯t let you take her! No 972. 972. way! If you want to take her, you''ll have to step over my dead body!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to find out who harmed Hannah?¡± Sheena raised her eyebrow slightly. ¡°I not only have a way to uncover the culprit behind this but also awaken Hannah.¡± ¡°What?! Are you saying Hannah...¡± Vanessa froze. She had always thought Hannah¡¯s drunk driving ident was just an ident, never considering that someone might have harmed her. Hearing Sheena¡¯s words, Vanessa began to realize the weight of the suspicions surrounding the incident. While that may be the case, she still did not fully believe her.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°No. Who knows what you might do if you take her away? | have no reason to trust you, so don¡¯t even think aboutying a finger on Hannah.¡± ¡°You''re overthinking it.¡± Sheena casually sat down on a bench in the hallway, crossing her long and slender legs. Then, she looked at Vanessa with a smirk. ¡°I''ll say it onest time: I''ll make her wake up and help you find out who harmed her.¡± ¡°Why would you help me?¡± Vanessa nced at the strong bodyguards around Sheena. Sheena had effortlessly subdued the guards she stationed at the door, leaving them powerless to resist. Even if she refused to agree, opposing the people Sheena had brought with her seemed challenging. Vanessa was deep in thought. Sheena seemed to have read her mind and smiled. ¡°As you can see, you have no choice but to trust me.¡± Chapter 111 The two locked eyes, and Vanessa was forced to relent, gritting her teeth in frustration. ¡°Fine! I''ll trust you just this once, but if anything happens to Hannah, I''ll make sure you pay for it!¡± With Vanessa out of the way, Sheena entered the ward unhindered and had her bodyguards take Hannah away. Hannah was taken away under Vanessa¡¯s reluctant and worried gaze.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. When Sheena returned to Howard''s mansion, it was alreadyte evening. The sunset¡¯s glow painted the sky in gentle shades of orange, casting a soft halo over the entire city of Farlem. Howard picked a guest room and temporarily settled Hannah in there. Then, he and Sheena sat on the couch, discussing their next n. Hannah had a calm expression, and her eyes closed as if she were peacefully asleep. ¡°She seems stable, and all vital signs are normal,¡± Howard remarked as he received the medical report from the private doctor and stroked his chin. Sheena took the report, nced at Hannah in the bed, and frowned. Howard lightly tapped the coffee table, twisting the ashtray around as he added, ¡°Getting someone in a vegetative state to wake up is nearly impossible. The Moore family has spared no expense, bringing in renowned doctors within and outside our country, yet they¡¯re at a loss. If we want to start with Hannah, we must bring out our trump card.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Sheena was puzzled. ¡°Nana, don¡¯t you remember?¡± Howard lightly tapped her head in exasperation. ¡°Did you forget you have a medical prodigy for a brother, Noah? His medical expertise and authority are undeniable.¡± Sheena finally understood what Howard meant. As she had lost contact with the Lawson family for quite some time, she had almost forgotten how exceptional Noah was. ¡°But... Noah is usually reserved, with an introverted and entric personality. He¡¯s always busy with work, and he¡¯s also in Luivine. He might not necessarily be willing to help with this.¡± Sheena was not blinded by joy. After thoughtful consideration, she cautiously continued, ¡°Just to be safe, I''ll be visiting Luivine personally to find him. I''ll make sure hees to Farlem even if | have to drag him.¡± Hannah was the key right now, and Sheena needed to ensure that every step of the n was foolproof. Elijah had given the media and the public a five-day deadline for his promise. Now that two days had already passed, Sheena nned to deliver a shocking turnaround in the oue in three days, so she needed to rush things along. ¡°Howard, time is ticking. I''m heading to Luivine tonight to bring Noah,¡± Sheena said as she slung her bag over her shoulder. ¡°Now? | don¡¯t usually use the private jet, so | can¡¯t arrange a flight for you,¡± Howard expressed his concern. ¡°No need for that. There aremercial flights to Luivine tonight. I''ll just take a regr ne,¡± Sheena replied confidently, packing her things. ¡°You must ensure everything is taken care of! Arrange for enhanced security at the vi!¡± Howard watched her disappear into the night and let out a sigh. ¡°Got it! Sigh... she¡¯s always so impulsive.¡± Katiey in a bathtub filled with foam and rose petals, trying to soak away her exhaustion. asionally, she nced at her phone, checking for new messages. Ever since Angus had forcibly taken her away from Gravel Hill earlier today, she had been seething with anger. She knew that with Howard and Elijah arriving, her hired men would likely fail, but she could not shake off her frustration and continued to investigate Sheena¡¯s whereabouts in secret. Cheapher tra Vas, (3 we have an upstate Sheena is heading to a reputable hospital in Lulvine with a very bunsod whoshil She¡¯s about to board tonight¡¯s flight bestol The page night Katie¡¯s attention, raising her suspicion. Although Phoebe was beaten, her as not he threatening, and the experienced doctors in Parlem were more than capable of treating her that were the case, why was Sheena rushing to a hospital in Laivine in the middle of the Katie umetiately trist to call Jennifer but could not get through. ¡°an at?¡± Katie matters in frustration, tossing her phone aside. Then, she swiftly changed her clothes and shove towarst the hospital in the dead of night. The VIP was was usually quiet, and it was even more serene in the night. After exining her stay to the guards outside the door, Katte entered quietly. ¡°Who was your phone off when | called you?¡± Katte scolded Jennifer, her tone was less than plssst. ¡± hattoe all the way here in the middle of the night because of you.¡± Chapter 112 .sinsy bli overheart our call, his people have tapped my phone. | had no choice,¡± Jennifer exmed, then askast with a hint of dissatisfaction, ¡°Is our n proceeding smoothly? No nested glitches, right?¡± * mention it. That bitch knows martial arts. Those useless men were no match for her.¡± Katie tumed, her anger ring up at the memory of their failed operation. ¡°I had my people track her movements, and she¡¯s heading to a hospital in Laivine tonight. Who knows. what she¡¯s up to.¡± Jennifer was equally puzzled upon hearing this. ¡°A hospital in Lulvine? Are you sure your people got it right?¡± ¡°What do you mean? The Upton family selects our people carefully, and the report is certainly urate,¡± Katic replied, clearly displeased. ¡°Then why did she go to a hospital in Laivine? Wait, hospital... Laivine¡¯s hospital!¡± Realization hit her like a bolt of lightning, and Jennifer anxiously added, ¡°Quick, have omeone go to the first VIP ward on the fourth floor and check if Hammal is still there! Hurry!¡± ¡°Calm down. I''ll arrange for someone to go,¡± Katie retorted, giving her a disdainful look. She then instructed Angus to follow Jennifer¡¯s orders and head to the fourth floor.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Amomentter, Angus returned to Jennifer¡¯s room with a grave look on him. ¡°Ms. Upton, Ms. Hannah is not in her ward.¡± ¡°Just as | suspected!¡± Jennifer grew frantic, clutching the bed sheet tightly. ¡°What do we do now? That bitch Sheena must have taken her away! If our involvement in the previous incident is revealed, we.... However, Katie was far from worried and dismissed her. ¡°Seriously, chill out. We just need to act fast and find Hannah. Whether it''s Sheena or anyone else, | won''t let them get away with this¡± Still anxious, Jennifer said, ¡°You make it sound easy. What if she¡¯s already boarded the ne? We''re out of options! If she truly has a way to cure Hannah, then. Jennifer felt a chill running down her spine, and she could not bear to think further. Seeing Jennifer¡¯s distressed state, Katie rolled her eyes and retorted, ¡°I¡¯ve already looked into it. She¡¯s about an hour and a half away from boarding, and | have enough time to send someone over. | know she knows martial arts. This time, I''ll hire even more skilled men to take care of her in the cabin discreetly. Who else could ruin our ns then?¡± As Katie spoke, a smug expression crossed her face, and she immediately pulled out her phone, ready to make arrangements. ¡°Wait!¡± Jennifer quickly stopped her, and as she met Katie¡¯s puzzled gaze, shing a sinister smile. ¡°I have a more suitable candidate.¡± Chapter 113 In the deep hours of the night, Sheena sat in the first-ss cabin, sipping her coffee, still very much alert. She gazed out the window, but the darkness of the night made it difficult to distinguish even the outlines of clouds. Sheena¡¯s interest waned, and she was about to look away when the reflection in the small window caught her attention. There was a familiar figure wearing sunsses. After locking eyes briefly, the person turned away, avoiding her gaze. Sheena became more cautious, surveying her surroundings and suddenly realizing that the few bodyguards she had brought with her were now fast asleep. The rest of the passengers were also in deep slumber. It felt oddly dangerous. Standing up, Sheena considered moving to another section of the ne to investigate. However, she spotted a man ina suit as she turned, apanied by several equally burly individuals, heading her way. The man in the suit was the same person who had exchanged nces with her earlier, and it seemed their intentions were clear¡ªthey were targeting her. Sheena opted to stand her ground. Since evading them was impossible, she thought facing them head-on was best. ¡°Ms. Sheena, long time no see,¡± the man greeted, removing his sunsses and smiling at her. ¡°I bet you didn¡¯t expect us to meet again so soon.¡± ¡°It''s you?¡± Sheena frowned. Leon raised his arm and signaled the men behind him. Soon, the men in ck followed his lead, swiftly surrounding Sheena. ¡°Ms. Sheena, I¡¯ve heard you''re skillful in martial arts, but I¡¯d advise you to cooperate. | have full control over this ne. If you resist, | don¡¯t mind crashing this ne. | don¡¯t think your want these passengers to die because of you, do you?¡± He wiped the smile off his face and took a seat, looking at her coldly. ¡°I''m really sorry, but this is Mr. Freeman¡¯s order.¡± ¡°Elijah?¡± Sheena frowned, and her expression grew colder. ¡°He would actually send you to do this?¡± ¡°What you did to Ms. Moore was uneptable. She¡¯s Mr. Freeman¡¯s fiancee, and he won''t let it go. So, this is the price,¡± Leon said, pulling out a military knife. ¡°The lives of all passengers are in my hands now, so don¡¯t bother resisting unless you truly want these innocent people to die with you.¡± choana emd coldluN?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. disavanthr autanding harn to Patria narachute nack from under her Leon had not noticed her subtle movement. However, he frowned when he saw her calm expression and warned, ¡°Don¡¯t try anything funny. If you do, everyone on this ne dies with you.¡± His other burlypanions quickly moved to hold other passengers. Sheena¡¯s lips curled into a mocking smile as she grabbed the scalding cup of coffee from her seat and hurled it at Leon. ¡°Don''t tell me what to do.¡± Seizing the moment while they were distracted, Sheena kicked open the cabin door, swiftly strapped on the parachute, and leaped into the night below without hesitation. ¡°Quick! Stop her! Don¡¯t let her jump!¡± Leon yelled, but it was toote. He rushed to the cabin door, peering outside. However, he could not locate Sheena in the dark, only seeing the stars illuminating the night. Chapter 114 At the same time, Sheena continued her descent in the darkness as the howling wind filled her Holding her breath, she relied on her instincts to open the parachute. Leon and the other men kept watch by the cabin door, struggling to gauge the height in the dark ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s as good as dead for jumping from this height without a parachute, and we won''t even be able to retrieve her body as it''ll be destroyed from the impact,¡± one of the men assured. Leon let out a sigh of relief. No matter what, he had fulfilled Jennifer¡¯s task for him. ¡°Ms. Moore, are you asleep?¡± He tapped his ear lightly, speaking into a mini Bluetooth headset. Before this, he had secretly removed the phone that was monitoring Jennifer in Elijah¡¯s name, allowing her tomunicate freely. ¡°How could | sleep before hearing from you? How¡¯s the task I assigned you going?¡± Jennifer was impatient as she waited in the ward. ¡°Don''t worry. Consider it done,¡± Leon hesitated before replying. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®consider it done¡®?¡± Jennifer increased her voice. ¡°Did you mess up? Is she still alive?¡± ¡°She jumped off the ne without any safety measures. From this height, she¡¯s undoubtedly dead.¡± Jennifer¡¯s tense heart finally eased, and she said with satisfaction, ¡°Well done, Leon. Thank you.¡± After hanging up the phone, she could not help but smile triumphantly, thinking that no matter how capable Sheena might be, she still ended up dying in her hands! She was the ultimate winner! However, even though ridding herself of Sheena was exhrating, Jennifer had not forgotten about Hannah. She knew Howard cared deeply for Sheena and dreaded him finding out about Sheena¡¯s death, potentially using Hannah to avenge Sheena. At the thought of this, Jennifer¡¯s face darkened once again. Then, she made another call. ¡°How did it go? Is it done?¡± Katie asked eagerly. ¡°That bitch was forced to jump off the ne. Just wait for news of her death,¡± Jennifer gloated. She inquired further, ¡°How about you? Have you found Hannah?¡± ¡°No. My people have been searching for a while, but there¡¯s still no sign of her,¡± Katie replied. She had scoured all of Farlem but found no leads on Hannah. It was as if she had vanished into thin att enniler ended the call with unease, her previous excitement evaporating. Though killing Sheena was a relief, having Hannah around would also be a threat. Then again, if Sheena was indeed the one who took Hannah, where could she have hidden her? Was there any ce in Farlem that even Katie could not locate? Ever since Sheena¡¯s divorce, she had grown close to Howard. Was it possible...Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Jennifer¡¯s eyes lit up as the idea struck her, and she called Katie again. Could you please get to the point?¡± Katie¡¯s attempt to sleep was disrupted, and she restrained her frustration from cursing at Jennifer. ¡°Spill it. What''s the matter this time?¡± ¡°As Howard''s fiancee, you should know where he stays in Farlem, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Take some people with you and quietly visit Howard¡¯s mansion tomorrow morning. | suspect Hannah might be there!¡± Chapter us At Howd¡¯s mansion? Katie toystantly sat up to be, while awake from the shos k. ¡°What are shock. vou saying? How out Hannah have any thing to do with b Dad you forget? Ever since Sheena and Ell¡¯s divorce, she¡¯s been quite close to Howard. Despite Eh transferring Ocean Avenue to her, she never moved in, and we''ve never found out where she lives.¡± ¡°What are you implying? Katie frowned. fermifer rolled her eyes and exined, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? She¡¯s likely living with Howard! We''ve searched all of Earlem and found no trace of Hannah. Sheena probably hid her in Howard¡¯s mansion!¡± Katie found Jennifer''s exnation reasonable and immediately arranged for people to westigate. After ending the call, Jennifer tossed her phone aside in annoyance and leaned against the bed, waiting for updates. Hannah had not died. The fact that she had only ended up in a vegetative state gued Jennifer¡¯s mind like a thorn. No matter how confident she appeared in public, Hannah¡¯s existence reminded her of her status as an illegitimate daughter. Ever since bing the heir of the Moore family, she had been seeking an opportunity to deal with Hannah. Yet, Vanessa had been constantly vignt, practically guarding Hannah''s ward day and night. Hence, Jennifer could not find the right moment to strike. As long as Hannah lived, Jennifer¡¯s position as the heir of the Moore family would remain unstable, and she would inevitably be compared to Hannah. Nheless, Hannah''s disappearance presented a golden opportunity, and Jennifer knew she had to eliminate the two most troublesome individuals this time around! The sun gradually rose, bathing every corner of the city in its warm glow. Jennifer stared at the increasingly bright sky outside, growing more anxious by the moment. The phone rang, and she quickly answered, ¡°How¡¯s it going? Any updates?¡± ¡°While we can¡¯t confirm that Hannah is at Howard¡¯s mansion, the number of guards has almost doubled, and security has been heightened significantly. It¡¯s very suspicious,¡± Katie replied. ¡°What do we do now? Even if the Moore family and the Upton family are powerful, we can¡¯t possibly provoke Howard, especially on his turf.¡± Jennifer was exasperated, not knowing what to do next. ¡°| have a n. Just stay in yourne,¡± Katie interrupted before Jennifer could reply and promptly hung up the phone, tossing it aside with force. Howard had always been distant toward Katle, but he pampered and doted on Sheena, who spare so suddenly, leaving her feeling annoyed Moreover, the thought that both Sheena and Hannah might be in his house made her jealous. Katie grew angrier the more she thought about it, and she decided to take matters into her hands-She would personally visit Howard''s mansion while he was out. ¡°Waker Get up right now!¡± Katie¡¯s phone call woke up Angus from his slumber. ¡°I''m going to Howard¡¯s mansion. Make all the arrangements immediately. If anything goes wrong, you''ll be held responsible,¡± Katle demanded. Rubbing his drowsy eyes, Angus wanted to argue that he was just a bodyguard and that an assistant should handle such tasks. However, he reluctantly replied, ¡°Yes, Ms. Upton.¡± Leonpleted the task Jennifer had assigned him and Immediately took an early morning flight back to Farlem from Luivine. To avoid Elijah¡¯s suspicion, he returned to his apartment first, nning to shower before. heading to the office. Chapter 115 eliminate the two most troublesome individuals this time around! The sun gradually rose, bathing every corner of the city in its warm glow. Jennifer stared at the increasingly bright sky outside, growing more anxious by the moment. The phone rang, and she quickly answered, ¡°How¡¯s it going? Any updates?¡± ¡°While we can¡¯t confirm that Hannah is at Howard¡¯s mansion, the number of guards has almost doubled, and security has been heightened significantly. It''s very suspicious,¡± Katie replied. ¡°What do we do now? Even if the Moore family and the Upton family are powerful, we can¡¯t possibly provoke Howard, especially on his turf.¡± Jennifer was exasperated, not knowing what to do next. ¡°| have a n. Just stay in yourne,¡± Katie interrupted before Jennifer could reply and promptly hung up the phone, tossing it aside with force. Howard had always been distant toward Katle, but he pampered and doted on Sheena, who spare so suddenly, leaving her feeling annoyed Moreover, the thought that both Sheena and Hannah might be in his house made her jealous. Katie grew angrier the more she thought about it, and she decided to take matters into her hands-She would personally visit Howard''s mansion while he was out. ¡°Waker Get up right now!¡± Katie¡¯s phone call woke up Angus from his slumber. ¡°I''m going to Howard¡¯s mansion. Make all the arrangements immediately. If anything goes wrong, you''ll be held responsible,¡± Katle demanded. Rubbing his drowsy eyes, Angus wanted to argue that he was just a bodyguard and that an assistant should handle such tasks. However, he reluctantly replied, ¡°Yes, Ms. Upton.¡± Leonpleted the task Jennifer had assigned him and Immediately took an early morning flight back to Farlem from Luivine. To avoid Elijah¡¯s suspicion, he returned to his apartment first, nning to shower before. heading to the office. He parked his car in the car park and quietly opened the door. Before he could close it properly, he spotted a figure smoking on the couch. Turning his head, he found it was Elijah, looking grim amidst the smoke. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Chapter 116 Their eyes met, and a wave of panic rushed through Leon. He tried his best to keep his face neutral, showing no signs of unease. As Elijah¡¯s assistant, Leon¡¯s living arrangements had been personally arranged by him, and he was well aware of the door code.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°Mr. Freeman, is there something you need from me?¡± Leon tried to maintain hisposure as he put down his bag. ¡°You could have just informed me over the phone. It¡¯s still early. Have you had breakfast? Would you like me to prepare something for you?¡± ¡°Where were you?¡± Elijah ignored the string of questions and extinguished the cigarette, looking at Leon with a piercing cold gaze. Trying to sound nonchnt, Leon replied, ¡°I thought it wouldn¡¯t be healthy to stay cooped up in the office all the time, and | wanted to exercise a bit... But | usually don¡¯t have the time, so | went for a run in the morning. ¡°Is that so?¡± Elijah¡¯s piercing gaze remained on him. Then, he crossed his legs, and his fingers lightly tapped thecquered wooden decoration on the back of the couch. Just this simple action exerted intense pressure on Leon, and he bit the bullet, saying, ¡°That¡¯s right, Mr. Freeman. | was just doing some morning exercise. Please don¡¯t read too much into it. A hint of weariness shed across Elijah¡¯s face. ¡°Leon, you disappoint me. Did you really think I¡¯m oblivious to everything?¡± Leon shook his head, replying, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°You used my name to lift Jennifer''s phone monitoring. Why did you leave Farlemst night? What were you up to?¡± Elijah stopped beating around the bush. Leon was stunned to hear Elijah¡¯s words and stuttered, ¡°D¡ªDid you already suspect me?!¡± Thump! Then, he knelt before Elijah, adding, ¡°Mr. Freeman, it¡¯s my fault. | shouldn¡¯t have crossed the line. Please, punish me!¡± ¡°You left Farlemst night. Where did you go? What did you do? Answer truthfully.¡± Elijah suppressed his boiling anger as he approached Leon, looking down on him andmanded in a warning tone, ¡°This is yourst chance. You know the consequences of defying me.¡± Leon fell into silence. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and mustered the courage to meet Elijah¡¯s gaze, saying, ¡± Mr. Freeman, don¡¯t you think you''re being unreasonable? Ms. Moore is your fiancee, yet you show no concern for her. You''vevished attention on Sheena, transferred Ocean Avenue to her, and made Ms. Moore stay in a separate apartment. Is this how a responsible fiance behaves? Ms. Moore was framed by Sheena, and she was severely injured. Yet, you didn¡¯t even seek justice for her.¡± Leon continued staring at Elijah¡¯s stern face. Elijah frowned at Leon¡¯s sudden usation. However, he just touched his wristwatch as his words did not mean much to him. ¡°Are you done? I''ll ask you onest time. Why did you leave Farlem? Was it rted to Sheena?¡± Having worked by Elijah¡¯s side for years, Leon was well aware of his habitual actions, and he knew Elijah was reigning in his anger. Even if he remained tight-lipped, Elijah would eventually uncover the truth. In that case, Leon decided to take full responsibility. ¡°Sheena is dead! Last night, | hijacked the ne she was on with several men, and she jumped out mid¡ªflight. You might be able to forgive her for hurting Ms. Moore, but | couldn¡¯t!¡± Chapter 117 ¡°You bastard!¡± Elijah¡¯s veins tulged as he grabbed Leon by the cor and delivered a fierce punch to his face Leon was left dizzy from the blow, and he wiped the blood from his lip, just smiling without Then, Elijah kicked Leon¡¯s stomach, and he tumbled to the ground, struggling to rise as he clutched his belly. ¡°I''m sorry, Mr. Freeman. Even if you were to kill me here today, | wouldn¡¯t tell you where Sheena is hiding.¡± ¡°When | find her, I¡¯lle back for you. With those words, Elijah strode out of Leon¡¯s apartment, instructing his men to lock him in the bedroom and assigning bodyguards to watch over him. As he left the apartment, Elijah immediately made a call. ¡°Jonah, quickly check Sheena¡¯s flight fromst night and where she would havended. Hurry. Later, he settled into his car, his impatience growing as he lit a cigarette. By the time he reached his eighth cigarette, the phone finally rang. Without hesitation, he answered. ¡°| got the details. Her flightst night passed through arge mountain range between Farlem and Luivine, and she likely jumped there. How¡¯s that? I¡¯m quite fast this time, right?¡± Then, Jonah added helplessly, ¡°Tsk, tsk... | didn¡¯t expect Leon to be so audacious. But that mountain range is vast, and if she did jump from the ne, it would be practically impossible for her to survive. Elijah, are you sure you want to search for her?¡± Elijah was stunned, worry filling him as he replied, ¡°Dead or alive, we must find her.¡± He hung up and sped toward the mountain range. Katie had intended to visit Howard''s mansion early in the morning. However, Howard remained at home, forcing her to wait until the afternoon for her chance. Once she confirmed that Howard had left for Angle, she immediately gathered a few bodyguards and headed to the mansion. ¡°Whether it''s Sheena or Hannah, you¡¯re getting out of the mansion today!¡± Katie fumed, sitting in the backseat of a Bentley. The Bentley Bentayga pulled up at the entrance.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! However, Katie was blocked by a group of hidden patrolling bodyguards outside the mansion just as she stepped out of the car. ¡°Miss, this is Mr. Lawson¡¯s private residence. He has already left. Please wait until he¡¯s home. before visiting. one of the guards in a suit and sunsses politely exined. Displeased, Katie disdainfully sized him up, attempting to push past him. ¡°Do you know who | am? How dare you stop me?¡± The guard blocked her path, saying, ¡°Please leave. Without Mr. Lawson¡¯s permission, we can¡¯t allow anyone inside.¡± Enraged by his attitude, Katie raised her hand and delivered a resounding p across his face The sharp sound echoed through the quiet residential area. ¡°Are you blind? | am Howard''s fiancee! The Upton family¡¯s heiress! Who are you to stop me?¡± Katie asserted her identity arrogantly- ¡°Even if you''re his fiancee, you can¡¯t enter without Mr. Lawson¡¯s consent. We hope you understand this,¡± the guard replied, his patience waning- Chapter 118 Katie''s patience had worn thin. ¡°You''re just his bodyguard, so don¡¯t act all high and mighty with me. As Howard¡¯s fiancee, | suspect there are other women in his mansion. What''s wrong with meing to take a look? It¡¯s reasonable from both a moral and logical standpoint. If you''re sensible, you''ll let me in.¡± The guards exchanged hesitant nces, their initial determination faltering. After all, they knew Katie¡¯s noble status well and did not want to provoke her. If a fight broke out, they would not be able to handle the consequences. Reluctantly, they loosened their stance, thinking that she could enter the front gate, but she would not be allowed to the third floor. ¡°Hmph!¡± Katie scoffed arrogantly, flipping her hair as she led her bodyguards inside. ¡°Quick, go notify Mr. Lawson that someone has broken in and we couldn''t stop her,¡± one of the bodyguards instructed with a grave expression as Katie entered. Auntie Gloria, who was cleaning the mansion, was surprised to see the group of people and shouted, ¡°Who are you? How dare you barge into someone¡¯s home! Leave now, or I''ll call the police!¡± ¡°Do | need to report to anyone that I¡¯m entering my fiance¡¯s house?¡± Katie frowned and shot a disdainful nce at Auntie Gloria. ¡°Don¡¯t mind her. Search the ce thoroughly until you find Hannah!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey! What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Auntie Gloria put down her cleaning cloth and rushed to confront the bodyguards. ¡°How can you invade a private residence and search through someone else¡¯s home without permission!¡± ¡°lll search as | see fit,¡± Katie sneered, rolling her eyes at Auntie Gloria before turning to the bodyguards behind her. ¡°Why are you all just standing there? Are you waiting for me to conduct the search personally?¡± The hesitant bodyguards quickly dispersed as Katie confidently strode over and sat on the sofa. ¡°Hey! Do you really think you have a say here? So what if you''re the Upton family¡¯s heiress? You can¡¯tpare yourself to Ms. Sheena!¡± Auntie Gloria fumed, pointing at Katie. Katie¡¯s temper red up at Auntie Gloria¡¯s words, and she kicked over a trash bin. The freshly cleaned floor was instantly littered with trash. Auntie Gloria trembled with anger.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. With her arms crossed, Katie looked smugly at her. ¡°See? How else can | live up to the vile image you have of me if | don¡¯t stir up some trouble?¡± Angus came down from upstairs and whispered to Katie, ¡°Miss, we¡¯ve searched and found nothing on the first and second floors. However, we''ve noticed many bodyguards on the third floor, which seems suspicious.¡± ¡°Then search the third floor!¡± Katie stood up and personally led the group of bodyguards toward the third floor. several bodyguards in suits blocked her path on the staircase to the third floor, their voices cold as the ushered het away. ¡± Upton, you¡¯re not allowed to enter. Mr. Lawson has specifically instructed that no one is allowed on the third floor except for himself. We kindly ask you to leave.¡± ¡± be thedy of the house soon. How dare you stop me!¡± Katie red at him, attempting to bypass im and continue forward. However, the bodyguard extended his hand to stop her. ¡°Apologies, Ms. Upton. Mr. Lawson has made it clear that no one is allowed ess without his orders. That includes you. Please cooperate with our work.¡± ¡°This is ridiculous! | must enter the third floor today. I¡¯d like to see who dares to stop me!¡± Katie waved her hand, and the bodyguards behind her swiftly charged forward, engaging in a fierce brawl with the Lawson family¡¯s bodyguards. However, the bodyguards stationed on the third floor were exceptionally agile, and the skilled fighters Katie brought with her were quickly subdued, resulting in a tense standoff. ¡°What happened? Didn¡¯t you say they''re skillful fighters? How can they not even handle a group of bodyguards?¡± Katie shot an irritated nce at Angus. ¡°Miss, | swear on my life, these people are indeed skilled fighters. But Mr. Lawson also hired capable individuals who''re all seasoned fighters. ¡°What now? We can¡¯t just retreat like this!¡± Katie was unwilling to give up, biting her lip. Suddenly, Katie caught sight of a dagger strapped to Angus¡¯ waist.. Chapter 119 Kate swiftly drew out the dagger, shouting as she pressed it against her wrist. ¡°Stop? If you don¡¯t let me in, l¡¯est toy wrist right now! The cornrise on among the brawling bodyguards hatted as they turned the attention to her. Anges was rmed by her action, beads of sweet forming on his forehead, and he persuaded, 1. ss. please don¡¯t do this. You can¡¯t harm yourself over this matter. It¡¯s not worth it Think about and Madam Upton. As you all are aware, I¡¯m the beloved daughter of Svelton¡¯s Upton family. If | get hurt, guess so the Upton family will me? Are you willing to pay the dire consequences Katie was certain her identity would intimidate the bodyguards. Then, she signaled to Ang and coldly added, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to face the consequences, step aside.¡± ¡°Ms. Upton, is this necessary?¡± The head bodyguard hesitated and suggested, ¡°How about wepromise? You leave with your people, and I''ll pretend you never came. How does that sound?¡± ¡°| don¡¯t think so! My mind is set,¡± Katie replied, casually tossing the dagger aside. As the bodyguards on the third floor were fixated on Katie, Angus and his team swiftly subdued them. What had been a bnced standoff swiftly turned into Katie¡¯s men gaining an absolute upper hand. ¡°Ms. Upton, | sincerely wanted to reason with you, yet you resort to such petty tactics!¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®petty¡¯? | call this being strategic!¡± Katie smirked. With a wave of her hand, she motioned for her guards to step aside. Suddenly, a man¡¯s angry voice sounded. ¡°Well, well, well. What a clever strategy.¡± Howard walked up the stairs and snorted. When he looked at Katie, his eyes were filled with apparent disgust. Then, he added, ¡°Ms. Upton, please leave my mansion immediately. There¡¯s no room here for your antics.¡± Katie suddenly turned around, feeling guilty. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, Howard. Let me exin.. ¡°What''s there to exin? Why did you lead a group of people to break into my house? And you even bullied my staff?¡± Howard cast a disgusted nce at her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see irrelevant people in my house. If you don¡¯t leave, I''ll have you escorted out.¡± ¡°Howard! Are you actually saying that I¡¯m irrelevant?¡± Katie stamped her foot in frustration, shouting, ¡°I¡¯m your future wife! Why are you treating me like this? | followed you from Svelton to Farlem, and you''re not moved in the slightest?¡± She continued, ¡°You know you''re engaged to me, and you know I''d get jealous, yet you treat that bitch Sheena so well! You completely ignore me! You refuse to see me, even going as far as having lunch with her in the office! What do | have to do for you to ept me? Do | need to rip my heart out for you?! Even now, you''re still keeping other women in this mansion! Howard, do you even care about me?¡± Tears welled up in Katie¡¯s eyes, and she lunged forward. Howard swiftly evaded her, warning, ¡°Please, show some self-restraint.¡¯ ¡°Self¡ªrestraint? Have you forgotten that | am yourwful fiancee? It''s perfectly reasonable for me to be in your house! What''s wrong with wanting to embrace my fiance?!¡± Katie was uming, emphasizing her status repeatedly.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Howard¡¯s face visibly darkened, and he said, ¡°It seems you''ve forgotten how we got engaged the first ce. If you insist on dwelling on these matters, | don¡¯t mind reminding you.¡± Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Katie was at a loss for words, obviously embarrassed. ¡°What''s wrong? Do you remember it now?¡± Howard nced at his watch and reminded. ¡°I have other matters to attend to. Please escort Me Upton back immediately. Yes. Alt. Lawson¡± Initially, Katie shrunk back in guilt. However, seeing him insist on making her leave, she stubbornly argued, ¡°If you want me to leave, fine. But | must take the other women in your ansion with me!¡± Howard¡¯s expression turned frosty, and his patience wore thin. ¡°There are no other people, let alone women, in my mansion.¡± Katie scoffed. ¡°What about Hannah, Jennifer''s sister, the heiress of the Moore family? Is she here? | must take her today! ¡°Who''s Hannah? I¡¯ve never seen her before. Show your proof before using me.¡± Howard¡¯s tone dripped with cynicism as he motioned for more guards to enter, ¡°Escort them away.¡± ¡°| have every right to take away other women from my future husband¡¯s house! Open the door now!¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Katie, my patience has its limits,¡± Howard warned. ¡°No matter what you say today, I¡¯m taking Hannah with me! There''s no negotiating on this matter!¡± Katie raised her head defiantly, showing a strong stance for the first time. Howard sneered, ¡°Whether there¡¯s any negotiation isn¡¯t up to you. If you don¡¯t leave, | don¡¯t mind calling off the engagement.¡± Katie stepped back in shock. Livid, she started yelling hysterically, ¡°What?! You''re willing to break off the engagement because of that woman in the room?! Don¡¯t even dream about it! Even without the Lawson family, the Upton family has status and influence in Svelton, and you can¡¯t end the engagement just because you want to!¡± ¡°Let''s see about that,¡± Howard said and called Yuri. ¡°What have | done wrong for you to be so heartless?¡± Tears welled up in Katie¡¯s eyes, and she cried, ¡®Is it all for Sheena? She¡¯s divorced, has no background, and has no power. What good can she bring you? Are you really so infatuated with her?¡± ¡°You''re iparable to her. Don¡¯t humiliate yourself.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, | have some bad news for you.¡± Katie¡¯s hatred was palpable, and a gleam of satisfaction shed in her eyes as she pretended toment. ¡°That bitch had a fatal ident on her flightst night. Isn¡¯t it surprising?¡± Katie burst intoughter, relishing Howard¡¯s gradually shocked expression. Her heart filled with delight before adding, ¡°What a shame. The Sheena you treasured is already dead!¡± Howard could not believe it, and his face turned pale. ¡°Impossible.¡± ¡°Whether you believe it or not, the facts are right in front of you.¡± Seeing the pain in his expression, Katie felt a strange mix of heartache and jealousy. Why did that bitch get all of his affection? Even though Sheena was dead, she still could not make Howard love her. ¡°Even if you want to break off the engagement today, I¡¯m still taking Hannah with me!¡± Suddenly, the sound of high heels tapping the floor echoed through the room, and a nonchnt yet powerful female voice resounded from downstairs. ¡°| heard someone spreading rumors about my death. Now that I know it¡¯s Ms. Upton, I¡¯m not surprised at all to hear all the screaming whileing in.¡± Chapter 121 Hearing the familiar voice, Katie swiftly turned toward the staircase and saw Sheena, elegantly dressed in a velvet gown, apanied by a stern¡ªlooking man behind her. However, Katie could not see the man¡¯s features clearly as he was wearing a face mask. ¡°You! How is this possible? Weren''t you dead?!¡± Katie¡¯s smile froze, obviously shocked as she questioned, ¡°How can this be? You clearly jumped from the ne! How could you possibly be alive and back!¡± ¡°I''m sorry for getting your hopes up for nothing, Ms. Upton.¡± Sheena smiled, still looking as beautiful as ever. ¡°You bitch! It¡¯s all because of you that Howard wanted to break off our engagement. I''ll kill you!¡± Katie seethed with anger, lunging at Sheena. Sheena avoided her, and Katie lost her bnce, nearly falling t on her face. ¡°| knew you''d be fine.¡± Howard gently rubbed Sheena¡¯s cheek, visibly relieved. ¡°Go and check on Hannah''s condition first. I''ll handle things here.¡± ¡°Alright. I''ll leave her to you,¡± Sheena readily agreed and entered Hannah''s room with Noah, who was fully armed, trailing behind her. Howard watched Sheena¡¯s figure disappear down the corridor. Then, he turned to Katie, who was sprawled on the ground and said in disgust, ¡°I¡¯ve already informed the Upton family that our engagement is off. Please behave yourself and leave before | lose my patience.¡± ¡°How could you treat me like this? Howard, | was the one who loved you the most, and this is how you respond to my love. Are you really this heartless? You''re lying to me, right? You won''t really break off the engagement!¡± Katie sobbed uncontrobly. Howard remained indifferent, looking down upon her pitiful state. ¡°Miss! Someone from the Upton family has confirmed Mr. Lawson¡¯s statement!¡± Angus helped her from the ground, adding, ¡°Mr. and Madam Upton ordered me to take you back immediately.¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m not going back. No one can make me go back!¡± Katie tried to free herself from Angus¡¯s grip but to no avail. ¡°Miss, Mr. Lawson is quite furious now. Just bear with it. Mr. and Madam Upton will help you in regard to the engagement!¡± Angus pulled her downstairs against her will and said to his own subordinates, ¡°What are you all standing around for? Let''s leave!¡± The group left dejectedly, devoid of the momentum they had when they arrived. Meanwhile, in Hannah¡¯s room, Noah took out his medical kit and equipment, conducting basic examinations on Hannah.. Sheena sat on a small sofa nearby, observing Noah¡¯s Hannah, who slept peacefully on the bed. movements movements while keeping an eye onExclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Although Hannah and Jennifer were half¡ªsisters with the same father, they did not look alike. Jennifer seemed delicate, exuding a fragile and innocent demeanor that gave off a sense of pretentiousness. On the other hand, Hannah seemed like an honest and reliable person. Even though Sheena did not know Hannah well enough to make judgments about her character, Hannah must be a capable, career¡ªdriven woman rather than just superficial charm considering how she had managed the Moore Group efficiently over the years, ¡°Noah, what¡¯s the result?¡± Seeing Noah tidy up his equipment, Sheena immediately walked over to assist. ¡°Her condition seems promising. There are signs of her brain function recovering, which indicates overall improvement in her bodily functions,¡± Noah said, handing her thepiled examination report. Sheena quickly skimmed the report and asked, ¡°Is there any way to help her wake up sooner?¡± Noah gave it a thought and replied, ¡°It''s not impossible. If we perform surgery, she might regain consciousness within a week.¡± Chapter 122 Aweek?¡± Sheena frowned in contemtion and rejected. ¡°No, that¡¯s too long. Is there a method to have her wake up within two days?¡± ¡°Two days?¡± Noah was taken aback by his sister''s request and said, ¡°The method | mentioned would be the safest, but if you want it within two days...¡± He pondered momentarily before adding, ¡°Then there¡¯s only thest and riskiest procedure.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Sheena¡¯s doe¡ªlike eyes lit up eagerly, and she asked, ¡°Noah, how confident are you?¡± ¡°It''s called the Deep Brain Stimtion. It¡¯s an elective surgical procedure in which electrodes are imnted into certain brain areas, and the surgical risk is quite high. Even for me, | can only guarantee a forty percent sess rate. Are you sure you want to take this risk?¡± Even Noah, an elite in the medical field, only had a 40% sess rate for the surgery. If it failed... Sheena hesitated briefly before looking at Noah with determination. ¡°Let''s try it! No matter what, | trust you, Noah. Prepare yourself. We''ll start soon.¡± Howard knocked on the door and poked his head in, asking, ¡°Is there anything | can help with? ¡°You came just in time.¡± Noah cleared his throat, then added, ¡°Do you have a room in mansion suitable for a makeshift operating room?¡± your ¡°The room my private physician stayed in before is suitable. I''ll have the servants prepare it,¡± Howard replied, well aware of his intention. Noah nodded, arranging the equipment he brought over, and followed Howard out. ¡°Noah, I''ll be your assistant,¡± Sheena said and followed them out, walking alongside them into the room that belonged to the private physician. Noah surveyed the room and appeared to be satisfied. ¡°Great. The equipment is all here. We''ll bring in the patient after the servants disinfect the room.¡± Auntie Gloria and several servants entered, quickly tidying up the entire room. After their helpers gently ced Hannah on the operating table, Noah steadily aimed his tools at her head, preparing for the first step. ¡°Sheena, check the power source.¡± He double¡ª-checked the instruments onest time, ensuring everything was in order. ¡°Everything¡¯s ready.¡± Sheena stood silently behind Noah, watching him immerse himself in the procedure. Almost five hours passed, yet Noah¡¯s hand holding the surgical knife remained steady, with a thinyer of sweat forming on his forehead. Sheena carefully held a handkerchief, standing beside him, asionally wiping the sweat from his brow. ¡°Forceps,¡± Noah said, extending his hand. Sheena did not waste time and promptly handed him the forceps.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. The intensity of the surgery was immense, yet Noah seemed tireless, manipting the surgical instruments with great precision. Watching his focused demeanor, Sheena marveled at Noah¡¯s genius. ¡°Sheena, disinfect the instruments again. We''re about to perform a thoracotomy, and even the slightest mistake could lead to infection in the patient,¡± Noah¡¯s expression turned serious as he cautioned her. ¡°Got it!¡± Sheena replied. Howard stood outside the room door, repeatedly checking his watch. The surgery had been ongoing for nearly ten hours, and the two had not yet emerged from the room. His anxiety grew, but he did not dare to rush in, afraid of disrupting them. ¡°Mr. Lawson, there¡¯s news from the Upton family,¡± the butler whispered. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 ¡°What did they say?¡± Howard frowned and eagerly awaited the answer. ¡°Mr. Upton has put Ms. Upton under house arrest, and she can¡¯t leave without his permission, ¡°the butler answered. Howard snorted. ¡°That¡¯s great. At least this way, she won''t be able toe to Farlem and cause trouble, and I¡¯ll finally have some peace.¡± Then, he waved his hand, signaling the butler to leave while he continued to gaze at the closed doors. Svelton, the Upton mansion. Katie was raging in her room, shouting, ¡°Dad is being so unreasonable! How could he lock me in this room and not even let me out of this door?¡± Atimid servant approached and tried to console her softly, ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t be too upset. You''re just grounded and have to stay at home for a while. It''ll pass.¡± ¡°What do you know? Get out of here!¡± Katie screamed at the servant, taking all the flowers from the vase and throwing them at the servant. ¡°Go away! Stop bothering me!¡± Seemingly unsatisfied, she picked up the vase and smashed it on the ground. ¡°Miss, please stop! Madam brought this crystal vase back from Floire, and it¡¯s priceless. You can¡¯t just break it!¡± The servant felt heartbroken as she saw the chipped corner of the vase. Even so, she dared not stop Katie. ¡°All these things are my family¡¯s, and | can smash them however | want! You''re just a servant, yet you dare to order me around? If you dare to speak out of turn again, I''ll rip your tongue out!¡± Katie pushed all the cosmetics off the table, causing a piercing tter as they hit the ground. The servant knew that trying to reason with Katie would only lead to more trouble, so she wisely remained silent and left the room, closing the door. Ron and Nicole naturally heard Katie¡¯s furious outburst from upstairs, and Ron¡¯s face grew gloomier as he tossed his cigarette into the ashtray. ¡°Look at the daughter you raised!¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± Nicole retorted discontentedly, ¡°Isn¡¯t Katie your daughter too? Are you trying to put the full me on me?¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t spoiled her all this time, would she have turned out like this? Howard wants to break off the engagement, and even if | have to swallow my pride, he won¡¯t change his mind. If we let her continue being willful and reckless like this, the Upton family might really be ruined in her hands!¡± Ron was furious. ¡°Ron!¡± Nicole was about to retort, but Colin Upton came down from upstairs. He had sensed the tense atmosphere and quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. ¡°Dad, Mom, it¡¯s normal for Katie to be in a bad mood from being grounded. It¡¯s fine to let her vent!¡± ¡°But not like this! Just listen to the noise! If she keeps smashing things like this, all those valuables in the house will be gone in no time!¡± Ron gestured upstairs, repeatedly sighing in frustration. The sounds of objects being shattered could still be faintly heard. Colin thought for a moment and decided to go upstairs himself tofort her. Upstairs, Katie held an antique decorative te, ready to smash it on the ground. ¡°Who angered our beloved Katie?¡± Colin took the te from her hands, pulling her to sit on the sofa. ¡°Getting so angry isn¡¯t good for your health. You can break some things to get it out your system, and then you should calm down.¡± of ¡°Colin!¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Katie pouted and pulled her brother¡¯s arm, her voice full of grievances. ¡°Howard wants to break off the engagement with me because of a divorced woman!¡± Colin pinched her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s probably not that simple, is it? I''m well aware of your little tricks.¡± ¡°Since that woman got divorced, Howard has let her stay in the mansion and has been so gentle and attentive to her. How can | stomach that? Colin, you¡¯ve always loved me the most. Can you help me get rid of Sheena? Please?¡± Katie yfully shook his arm and asked, ¡°Can you stand by and watch as another woman takes your little sister¡¯s favorite man?¡± Colin was shocked, and he ced his hands on Katie¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Katie, say that again... What''s that woman¡¯s name?¡± Katie was somewhat puzzled and repeated, ¡°Sheena, an orphan from a Farlem¡¯s orphanage. What right does she have to compete with me? Colin, do you know her?¡± Colin was deep in thought, thinking that the name was too familiar. Chapter 124 Could it be her? Then again, how could she possibly be an orphan? Colin let go of Katie, bing more doubtful. Katie noticed his unusual behavior and asked with confusion, ¡°Colin, what''s wrong?¡± ¡°Do you have a photo of her?¡± ¡°She was trending online not long ago, and there should be photos of her online. Don¡¯t you know?¡± Colin shook his head, as he was not one to pay attention to online gossip. However, the fact that Katie mentioned something completely unheard of in Svelton could only mean the news was suppressed due to an order from an influential family. Could it be the Lawson family? If yes, why would the Lawson family suppress news about this woman in Svelton? His doubts and spections deepened. Katie sat on the sofa, pulled out her phone angrily, and scrolled through the photos of Sheena that had been taken secretly. Then, she handed the phone to Colin. ¡°Colin, you have to help me. Once this bitch is gone, no one willpete with me for Howard...N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Katie kept on talking, but Colin was captivated by the photos on her phone and his emotions were running high. ¡°Colin? Are you listening?¡± Katie¡¯s angry shout snapped him out of his trance. ¡°So, you just want her dead?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Katie was determined. Colin knocked her on the head, his face full of frustration. ¡°I really don¡¯t know what to do with you! Anyway, the more you target her, the more you¡¯re pushing Howard away with your own hands!¡± ¡°Colin, what do you mean?¡± Katie dodged his hand, clearly annoyed. Colin chuckled. ¡°The one you''re trying to kill is his only younger sister. Do you think he won''t distance himself from you or start to dislike you?¡± ¡°What? His sister?¡± Katie was utterly shocked. Sheena was actually Howard''s sister?! How could that be possible? ¡°Wasn''t the Lawson family¡¯s heiress announced dead six years ago? Although | haven''t seen her, I¡¯ve checked Sheena¡¯s background. She was clearly an orphan!¡± Colin sighed, exining, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how powerful the Lawson family is? How could you possibly find out if they don¡¯t want anyone to find out? As for why the Lawson family did this, maybe it was to protect her.¡± In just a few minutes, Colin roughly pieced everything together. Katie froze. She was so shocked that it made her speechless. After a while. Colin looked at the room she had turned into a mess and advised her, ¡°If you still want to maintain this engagement with Howard, stop thinking about killing her. During this time, stay at home and think about how to apologize to her.¡± Then, he patted Katie¡¯s shoulder and left her room. Six years ago, Sheena had disappeared, and when the Lawson family announced her death, he had been devastated. Although his parents had arranged numerous upper-ss socialites for him, he could not forget her. Now that he knew she was still alive and was in Farlem, he wished he could grow wings and fly to her side immediately. After Colin left, Katie remained stunned, finally understanding all of her doubts from before. Why Sheena and Howard had dinner together in his office, why Howard treated Sheena so gently, why Sheena had quickly risen to the position of a manager in Angle Group, and so on. If that were the case, she would have almost hurt her future sister-inw! Chapter 125 Upon the realization, Katie was immensely relieved that Sheena had not actually died this time. Otherwise, her chances with Howard would have beenpletely ruined.. She sat there weakly, contemting how to salvage her previous actions. After some thought, Katte picked up her phone and dialed Howard¡¯s number. The phone kept ringing with a busy tone, making the waiting time feel unusually long. ¡°What is it?¡± Howard''s impatient voice came through as he asked, ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything important, I¡¯m hanging up,¡± ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t hang up yet! Howard, | really need to talk to you!¡± Katie gripped her phone tightly, afraid he would hang up at any moment, ¡°If you''re trying to persuade me to lift your punishment, forget it. However, I¡¯m still considering the engagement.¡± ¡°No. 1 want to talk to Sheena. | don¡¯t have her contact information. Can you please pass the phone to her?¡± Katie¡¯s voice grew softer as she continued. ¡°You want to talk to her? Ms. Upton, please stop having any more thoughts involving Sheena. | won''t let you harm her,¡± Howard warned. Katie bit her lip. ¡°That''s not it. | want to apologize to her. Please pass the phone to her, Howard. Consider it a plea from me.¡± ¡°Apologize?¡± Howard was even more surprised. Nheless, since Katie was far away in Svelton and confined to her home, she could not possibly do anything bad. Reluctantly, he agreed to Katie¡¯s request. Howard lightly knocked on the door of the makeshift operating room and opened it slightly, waving Sheena over. Sheena nced at the still-focused Noah, who was performing the surgery, and quietly stepped out. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Howard handed his phone to her, saying, ¡°Katie¡¯s looking for you.¡± ¡°Looking for me?¡± Sheena took his phone with suspicion, then nced at the screen. ¡°What now? Are you trying to cause me trouble even though you''re back at home?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m here to apologize to you,¡± Katie said, her voicecking its previous arrogance, but years of living as a wealthy heiress prevented her frompletely lowering her head. Then, Katie added, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what | did before. | was wrong. As long as you don¡¯t obstruct Howard and me from being together in the future, I¡¯m willing to get along with you.¡± Sheena remained silent, believing that Katie had figured out her true identity. Sensing the silence on the other end, Katie felt a bit uneasy and continued, ¡°To show my sincerity, | consider Hannah¡¯s matter a gift to you.¡± ¡°A gift for me?¡± Sheena chuckled. ¡°Alright then, I''ll look forward to it.¡± Even though Sheena hung up the call, she did not get mad and dialed another number. Almost instantly, Jennifer answered the call.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°How is it? Did you find Hannah?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to look for her anymore. She¡¯s already dead,¡± Katie said coldly. ¡°Really?¡± Jennifer¡¯s voice was filled with joy. ¡°Are you sure? Did it happen at Howard¡¯s mansion? Was it your people who killed her? Hannah...¡± Katie interrupted Jennifer''s questions, ¡°That''s enough. You don¡¯t need to know so much. Just know that she¡¯s dead. I¡¯m calling to inform you that our cooperation is over.¡± Jennifer had not anticipated the sudden decision, and her eyes widened in shock. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 ¡°Why? Just because Sheena and Hannah are both dead?¡± Katie raised her voice, ¡°That¡¯s right. Because of this, Howard wants to call off our engagement, and my parents already know. I¡¯m in a tough position now, so | won''t be able to cooperate with you. Anyway, the two women who posed the greatest threat to you are already dead, and the path to being the Moore Group¡¯s heir seems pretty smooth for you.¡± ¡°But...¡± ¡°No buts. That''s it.¡± Impatiently, Katie cut her off and hung up the phone right away. Jennifer wanted to say more, but all she heard was the dial tone. She stared at the call log on her phone, a mixture of happiness and confusion swirling within her. While solving the problem of the two people she despised brought her joy, Katie¡¯s unusual behavior today left her with doubts, and Jennifer could not pinpoint exactly what felt amiss. Since she could not figure it out, she decided not to dwell on it for now. Jennifer tossed her phone aside andy down on the bed, trying to dispel those concerns from her mind. However, Katie¡¯s words haunted her mind, refusing to go away. Jennifer grew increasingly agitated as she thought about it, eventually sitting up and gazing at the ceiling. Something was strange about Katie tonight, making Jennifer question her former partner even more. Both of them had originally teamed up due to their own interests, and the level of trust between them was something perhaps only they themselves truly knew.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Vanessa walked in with her servants. When she saw Jennifer sitting on the bed, she said disdainfully, ¡°Wow! Looks like you''re recovering quite nicely! Hurry up and eat. Don¡¯t just stare at the ceiling like you''re lost in thought.¡± Jennifer never could get used to the hospital food they provided. Even with the VIP package, she would take a few bites and then toss it aside in distaste. Hence, she kept asking the Moore family to bring her food. Due to this, Vanessa always made fun of her. Jennifer took the food from the servant. When she saw Vanessa, she was instantly reminded of the deceased Hannah, which oddly lifted her spirits. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m recovering quickly, It''s good news for the Moore family since I¡¯m the heir of the Moore family. If something were to happen to me, what would be of the Moore family?¡± She stirred her sd, casting a sidelong nce at Vanessa. Vanessa rolled her eyes and scornfully remarked, ¡°As expected of a mistress¡® daughter. You¡¯re truly despicable, and you''ll always be known as the illegitimate daughter. So what if you''ve risen to a higher position now? If it¡¯s not yours, it will never be yours.¡± With that, Vanessa turned her head away, refusing to even look at Jennifer, not wanting to give herself any more trouble. Seeing Vanessa¡¯s calm expression, Jennifer began to wonder why she was not anxious about Hannah¡¯s disappearance Something about this situation felt off. Thinking this, she nced coldly at Vanessa, mocking, ¡°I¡¯m just injured, and I''ll be out of here soon. But your beloved Hannah is the unfortunate one. After all, she¡¯s no longer with us.¡± Jennifer smirked, taking satisfaction in watching Vanessa¡¯s calm expression shift gradually into a panic. ¡°What did you say?¡± Vanessa lunged at her, grabbing onto her hospital gown. ¡°Exin yourself clearly. What happened to her?¡± ¡°Are you deaf?¡± Jennifer pped her hand away in disgust. ¡°Your beloved daughter is no longer with us. She¡¯s dead!¡± ¡°Impossible! You''re lying! Hannah was perfectly fine, so how could she be dead? You''re lying! You''re jealous of her, and that¡¯s why you''re cursing her!¡± Vanessa trembled in anger, Chapter 127 ¡°Hannah¡¯s in a vegetative state. What''s there to be jealous of?¡± Jennifer retorted sarcastically, ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Ask the people who took her away. Hannah''s death has nothing to do withN?velDrama.Org content rights. me.¡± Vanessa covered her ears and screamed, running out of the room. Watching her leave, Jennifer finally burst into a fit of unrestrainedughter. Initially skeptical of Katie¡¯s words, Vanessa¡¯s reaction now confirmed Jennifer¡¯s suspicions. Something had definitely happened to Hannah, and no one could contend with her for the position of the Moore family¡¯s heir. She had finally turned the tables! With Sheena and Hannah both dead, there was no one left topete for Elijah¡¯s love or obstruct her path to greater fame and status. Jennifer was in an especially good mood and forked some sd into her mouth, smiling triumphantly. After a few bites, she ced the sd on the bedside table and then tossed the covers aside. Seeing this, a puzzled servant rushed over and helped her. ¡°Miss, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Leaving the hospital,¡± Jennifer said in a resolute tone. With the servant''s assistance, she sat in a wheelchair and exited the ward. Having left the hospital, Vanessa ordered the Moore family¡¯s driver to rush to Howard¡¯s mansion. Night had fallen, and the sky was adorned with countless stars, adding a touch of romance to the tranquil night. Vanessa angrily stormed into the yard, waking the already sleeping butler and other servants. ¡°It¡¯ste at night. If you have something to discuss, pleasee back to see Mr. Lawson tomorrow,¡± the butler greeted her, his eyes heavy with sleep, attempting to be polite. ¡°| don¡¯t care! | want to see my daughter today!¡± Vanessa pushed the butler aside forcefully. ¡± Tell me, where¡¯s my Hannah?!¡± ¡°Please calm down. You''re disturbing others¡® rest. Please leave,¡± the butler tried to reason with Vanessa, motioning the servants to intervene. ¡°What are all of you here for? Aren¡¯t you supposed to help me?¡± Vanessa turned around, yelling angrily at the Moore family¡¯s bodyguards. Taking advantage of the distraction caused by the fight between the Moore family¡¯s guards and the butler and servants, Vanessa slipped into the mansion. She looked up at the third floor and noticed the lights were still on, then quickly ascended the stairs. Standing on the staircase, Howard had just noticed Vanessa and was about to say something when she grabbed his sleeve. ¡°Where''s Hannah? | want to see her now!¡± Howard frowned, pulling his sleeve out of her grasp, adjusting his cuff in a dignified manner as he said, ¡°Calm down. She¡¯s receiving treatment in a room on the third floor. You can rest assured.¡± ¡°No! | want to see her now!¡± Vanessa could not possibly be at ease without seeing Hannah alive with her own eyes. Sheena heard themotion outside and immediately witnessed the scene. Then, she walked over. ¡°Madam Moore, when | took Hannah away, | assured you of her safety, and you agreed at the time. But now, you¡¯vee to the mansionte at night, disturbing the peace. Why?¡± Sheena questioned Vanessa. Seeing her, Vanessa immediately grabbed onto her. ¡°I don¡¯t care about all that now. | want to end our coboration! Let me see Hannah immediately. | want to take her with me!¡± Sheena frowned and pushed her hand away with displeasure. ¡°| understand your concern for Hannah. But please remember, Madam Moore, you represent the entire Moore family. Does the Moore family go back on their own words in the business world too? | won''t agree to you taking her away.¡± Vanessa was left speechless, unsure how to refute her. In the end, she decided to abandon her etiquette and throw a tantrum. ¡°Since you won¡¯t let me see Hannah today, | won''t leave!¡± Sheena was about to call for the guest to be escorted out when Hannah¡¯s servant, who had been with her all along, emerged from the room in distress. ¡°Miss, something¡¯s wrong! Ms. Hannah''s condition is critical!¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 ¡°What?¡± Vanessa clearly heard the servant and pushed Sheena aside to rush into the room. ¡°How¡¯s Hannah? Let me go in and see her!¡± Sheena quickly caught Vanessa¡¯s arm to stop her from barging into the operating room. ¡°Entering now would disrupt any ongoing treatment. That would truly harm her! Do you really want to lose your daughter forever?¡± Vanessa was taken aback by Sheena¡¯s sharp tone and gaze. However, she quickly snapped back to her senses and struggled to break free.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Sheena¡¯s training in martial arts gave her the upper hand, and Vanessa could only say indignantly, ¡°Don¡¯t intimidate me! You took my beloved Hannah away and won¡¯t even let me see her. If anything happens to her, | won''t let you off the hook! | must see her today!¡± Vanessa strained to pry Sheena¡¯s fingers off her, using all her strength, but still could not escape. ¡°Let go of me! Let me in!¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead and enter! If you disrupt the surgery inside and anything happens to Hannah, it will be your fault.¡± Sheena abruptly let go of Vanessa¡¯s hand, crossing her arms over her chest as she stared coldly. Vanessa staggered back a few steps before regaining her bnce, staring at Sheena in disbelief. ¡°You actually... performed surgery on Hannah without permission?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, but the surgeon inside is Noah Lawson. He¡¯s a medical prodigy with numerous international awards and is considered the leading authority in surgery. Every surgery he¡¯s performed has been a sess. You''ve heard of his name, I¡¯m sure. If you barge in now and interrupt Noah¡¯s surgery, that will truly harm her.¡± Vanessa, who had reached the door and was about to grab the handle, hesitated. Previously, she and Kennedy had considered reaching out to Noah for Hannah¡¯s treatment. Still, his reputation was too immense, and his demeanor too aloof, definitely not someone their modest Farlem family could easily approach or afford. How did Sheena manage to persuade Noah toe to Farlem? Should she trust this woman? Vanessa stood at the door. All she had to do was gently open it, and she would finally see her precious daughter inside the room. However, she was stuck in a dilemma.. In the end, Vanessa withdrew her hand, saying, ¡°Sheena, I''ll trust you this time, but I''ll say it again. If something happens to Hannah, you''ll definitely pay for it!¡± After that, she turned away, leaving the mansion. Sheena and Howard exchanged a nce, both breathing a sigh of relief before reentering the operating room. The sky was gradually getting brighter. Vanessa sat in the car and wearily closed her eyes. The driver asked, ¡°Madam, what should we do now?¡± ¡°Return to the Moore mansion.¡± She opened her eyes, a hint of fierceness shing across her face. The ck BMW slowly pulled into the car park. Vanessa adjusted her expression and hurried inside. Kennedy was seated in the living room, watching the morning news, while Jennifer sat nearby. It was a harmonious scene between the father and daughter. ¡°Honey!¡± The sudden shout from Vanessa as she entered shattered that damned harmony. Both figures on the couch turned around, only to see Vanessa rushing toward Kennedy with overwhelming grief, crying out, ¡°Honey! Hannah is gone!¡± Chapter 129 Chapter 129 ¡°What happened to Hannah?¡± Kennedy turned off the TV and asked. ¡°Howard took Hannah. He said he found a doctor to perform surgery on her, but the surgery went wrong, and Hannah... She...¡± Vanessa cried uncontrobly, her face filled with grief. Then, she continued, ¡°I went to Howard¡¯s to demand answers, but he refused to give her back to me, and he even kicked me out!¡± Vanessa clutched her chest, sobbing. Kennedy quickly poured her a ss of water, guided her to the sofa, and gently patted her back to calm her. ¡°What can we do now? Howard is not someone we can mess with,¡± Kennedy said. Hearing the tragic news about his beloved daughter, his eyes welled up with tears. However, he could not do anything about this as the other party was Howard. On the one hand, it was his beloved daughter¡¯s corpse. On the other hand, there was Howard, who had great influence in the entertainment industry. Not only that, but Howard also had the support of Svelton¡¯s wealthiest family, the Lawsons. Even though he deeply mourned Hannah¡¯s passing and wanted to make Howard pay, he did not dare provoke him easily. He was caught in the middle, torn between two sides. Jennifer sat on the side, not bothering to hide her joy. As Vanessa slowlyposed her emotions, she saw Jennifer smirking, further infuriating her. She pointed at Jennifer and cursed, ¡°You bitch! You''re the reason | lost my daughter! If not for your jinxed presence, Hannah wouldn''t have had that ident in the first ce!¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Jennifer snorted, chuckling, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who made her drunk and crashed her car, and it wasn¡¯t me who handed her over to Howard to undergo surgery. What does her death have to do with me? Don¡¯t spew your usations at me. You''re throwing dirt on me for no reason.¡± Jennifer rolled her eyes disdainfully, cing the crystal ss heavily on the coffee table. ¡°It''s all because of you! Otherwise, how would you have known Hannah was dead before anyone else? Don¡¯t even try to deny it! I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Vanessa was furious, grabbing the TV remote from the coffee table and throwing it at Jennifer. ¡°Stop this madness! What¡¯s gotten into you both!¡± Kennedy yelled, stopping their argument. Jennifer moved slightly away from the sofa, maintaining distance from Vanessa, and spoke calmly, ¡°Tomorrow is the day Eli said he would give the public an exnation. We can use this opportunity to announce Hannah''s death.¡± ¡°What do you mean? Hannah has already left this world, and you want to exploit her?¡± Vanessa grew agitated again. Kennedy hurriedly held her back, signaling Jennifer to continue. ¡°We''ll hold a press conference tomorrow. Alongside announcing Hannah''s death, we''ll shift all the me onto Sheena. This way, we won''t offend Howard and can gain the upper hand in public opinion,¡± Jennifer proposed, having meticulously nned tomorrow''s event. Even if Sheena was gone, Jennifer was determined to tarnish her reputation and make her the subject of public disdain. Kennedy pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement. ¡°Let¡¯s go along with your nt. Make sure to arrange it well.¡± Kennedy¡¯s face still bore traces of sadness despite agreeing to Jennifer¡¯s suggestion. Then, he went upstairs with Vanessa. On the inte, as the day of exnation approached, the media continued to focus on the matter, and curious onlookers awaited the unveiling of the truth, This night might have been a sleepless one for many as they tossed and turned, unable to rest. Sheena, of course, had not forgotten either, eagerly awaiting the unfolding of tomorrow''s grand event. Deep into the night, she remained unusually awake, devoid of sleepiness. After tossing and turning in bed for a while, she got up and walked over to a cab, standing on her tiptoes to retrieve a small wooden box from the top shelf. Carefully opening it, Sheena pulled out a photograph from the bottom. It was a picture of her and Elijah on their wedding day, the only one they had together. Chapter 130 If not for Sebastian insisting that they take a wedding photo back then, this marriage in name only for three whole years might not even have a single photo to show for it. Sheena clenched the photograph tightly in her hand, appearing deep in thought. Her fingertips turned slightly white due to the pressure, yet her face remained emotionless. Moreover, she was so engrossed that she did not hear Howard knocking on the door a few times. Howard stood by the door, observing her silently, wondering why Sheena had yet to let go despite Elijah¡¯s indifference toward her. He was about to step inside to console her when Sheena¡¯s next action stunned him. Sheena picked up a pair of scissors and aimed them at the center of the photograph, decisively cutting it in half. Then, she shredded Elijah¡¯s half into fragments without hesitation. Relieved, Howard patted her shoulder and asked, ¡°Nana, what are you doing? | thought you couldn¡¯t let go and were thinking about him again...¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Sheena smiled coldly with a fierce look. ¡°It¡¯s time for him to pay what he owes me during the three years of marriage.¡± The long night continued. Jennifer was among those who were unable to sleep peacefully that night, tossing and turning in bed. Throughout the entire day, Elijah had not contacted her. Nheless, she was also busy preparing for the press conference the next day and had not had a chance to call him. Tomorrow was the day he promised to give the public an exnation, and she felt uneasy not talking to him. Leaning against the headboard, Jennifer reached for her phone on the bedside table. Then, she opened her contacts and dialed his number. However, she only heard the busy dial tone, and the call went unanswered, with only the familiar female voice stating, ¡°The number you dialed is currently unavable.¡± Usually, Elijah might put his phone on silent mode due to work, but he never turned it offpletely. Jennifer started to worry, and just as she was about to call Elijah again, her phone rang. Seeing the name on the screen, she answered the call anxiously, ¡°Where''s Eli? Where is he?¡± ¡°Ms. Moore, I¡¯m at the back door of the Moore mansion. Could youe down in person?¡± A weak voice came through the phone. Jennifer was taken aback and quickly changed into casual clothes, sneaking out the door. Leon waited by the back door, constantly ncing around until he finally spotted her rushing toward him. ¡°Why are you here? Isn¡¯t Eli with you? Why isn¡¯t he answering my calls?¡± Jennifer was confused and nervous.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Then, Jennifer nced at Leon, who was looking down in silence in the dim light, she noticed his disheveled hair, torn clothes, several cuts, and bruises on his face. On top of that, there was also a faint scent of blood around him. ¡°What happened to you? Who did this to you?¡± Jennifer¡¯s emotions shifted from confusion to shock, and her anxiety grew. ¡°Mr. Freeman learned that Sheena had jumped from the ne and went there to find her. He hasn¡¯t returned yet. The signal towers are too far apart there, so he probably hasn''t received your call. And... he might not be able toe back for a while,¡± Leon exined. ¡°What? He went to find Sheena?¡± Jennifer¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked, ¡°Does this mean my n is exposed?¡± Chapter 131 Both journalists and onlookers were taken aback by Jennifer¡¯s speech, and the ce was abuzz with discussions. A journalist questioned Jennifer skeptically, ¡°Ms. Moore, your statements should be backed by evider.ce. Could you please show us the proof? Without evidence, it¡¯s hard to believe your ims fully. ¡°Of course. Evidence speaks louder than words, and that goes for anyone.¡± Jennifer was prepared for this and projected the pre-fabricated evidence onto arge screen behind her. Turning to face the audience, she pointed to the images on the screen. ¡°Here are records and screenshots of Sheena¡¯s transactions to hire thugs and intentionally harm me. This is the hospital surveince footage of her taking Hannah away...¡± Just as a few images were disyed, some outraged journalists stood up. ¡°This is a society governed by the rule ofw. She¡¯s way too audacious! Let''s demand answers at Angle Group!¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°Absolutely! We have strength in numbers, so they can¡¯t intimidate us!¡± The journalists in the room all rose from their seats, and the crowd outside was also affected by their emotions, equally angered. Jennifer stood on the stage, watching the scenario she had orchestrated unfold, slowly smiling in satisfaction. ¡°Ms. Moore, you might be getting ahead of yourself. The so-called evidence you''re presenting ispletely opposite to reality.¡± Aclear, feminine voice pierced through, apanied by the rhythmic sound of high heels tapping on the floor. Though not loud, it carried significant pressure. The mor from the crowd abruptly stopped. Jennifer turned around, and her once gentle smile frozepletely. Sheena walked in, wearing a burgundy fitted mermaid dress, moving gracefully and alluringly, exuding both danger and charm. There was a faint smile on her face as she fearlessly locked eyes with Jennifer. ¡°Y¡ªYou''re not dead?¡± Jennifer eximed in shock ¡°Ms. Moore, how did you learn about my death? There hasn''t been any news about me these past few days. Did you send someone to kill me?¡± Sheena seized on Jennifer¡¯s vulnerability, immediately turning the tables. Reporters and the crowd turned their attention to Jennifer, awaiting her response. The vast hall fell silent, with only Sheena standing outside the crowd, maintaining eye contact with Jennifer. Terrafer queddy realized that the media was present, so she regained herposure and responded smoothly, ¡°I just heard rumors. There¡¯s nothing to dwell on. But since you''re here. there are a few things I''d like to address directly with you.¡± termiter pressed on relentlessly, adamant about holding onto the incident involving Hannah¡¯s death. Why did you Lake Hannah away from the hospital, and why did you perform surgery on her without the consent of anyone from the Moore family, resulting in her ident? If your actions are all meant to target me, then please direct them to me. Hannah is innocent!¡± Jennifer disyed a pitiable expression, pretending to put a strong front as she looked up with teary eyes. The crowd regained their fury upon hearing her words, now loudly moring an eye for an eye, demanding justice for Hannah! Amidst the uproar, Sheena remained unaffected. Instead, she crossed her arms in front of her chest and scoffed. ¡°Ms. Moore, your speech was indeed brilliant. Unfortunately, you¡¯re about to Chapter 132 mbarrass yourself.¡± Chapter 123 toute au wa trek down, apher, tong Baba, ¡°them, your''re will as aringant as ever. Tovating requires reddere. If you want to get regnare then show you wohlencars de the same? A soft were suddenly ered from holye uard pushed a short hair into the room. tende the samin Shortly aftes, a the person in the wheelchair appeared pale, showing mistakable signs of recent recovery from a serious illnesContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Sheena stepped aside at the right moment, allowing everyone present to see who had arrived clearly ¡°Hannah? Weren''t you supposed to be dead? W-What¡¯s going on?¡± Jennifer struggled to maintain herposure. Initially, she had been so delighted by the deaths of these two significant threats that she had not slept well for several nights. Yet not only were these two bitches still alive, but they also showed up to challenge her at the event! Jennifer was seething with rage! Chapter 133 trembling hand reached out and gently touched Hannah¡¯s face. Vanessa was overjoyed upon seeing Hannah smiling and blinking. She was alive! ¡°My beloved Hannah! | knew you were lucky and would be safe. Nothing would happen to you... ¡°Vanessa held Hannah tightly, resting her head on her daughter¡¯s shoulder, unable to hold back her tears. Kennedy''s eyes also turned red, deeply moved by Hannah¡¯s recovery. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re awake, Hannah. You¡¯ve been through so much!¡± Jennifer stared in shock from the stage at the heartwarming scene before her. It took her a moment to process Vanessa¡¯s words. It turned out Vanessa had known all along that Hannah was not dead! So, everything that had happened yesterday morning had been an act on her part? Even Katie was deceiving her? Jennifer could not ept this reality. Why? Why did everyone have to side with Sheena?Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Her eyes burned with hatred. Seizing the moment when everyone¡¯s attention was captured by the heartwarming reunion of the family of three, Jennifer cleared her throat, coughing lightly. ¡°Even if Hannah has returned unharmed, you still can¡¯t escape your me!¡± Jennifer¡¯s gaze toward Sheena was as sharp as a dagger. Sheena pulled up a nearby chair and sat down, propping her chin with one hand, sounding amused as she said, ¡°Well then, tell me, what crime do you think I¡¯vemed? ¡°you bribed ten thugs to lure the to a secluded ce where they brutally altered me. 4 over severely injured and then hospitalized. The evidence is clear. How do you exin tha Heads of sweat formed in Jennifer¡¯s clenched pain. Hiding behind the podium, the timed her fist even more, her knuckles white from the pressure, ¡°Ms Moure, it seems that your talent for twisting the truth has be even more refined,¡± Sheena remarked disdainfully, ¡°You want exnations and evidence? 1''ll give them to you right now.¡± Before Jennifer could digest Sheena¡¯s words, a group of police suddenly stormed into the venne, surrounding Jennifer, What are you doing?¡± Jennifer¡¯s face turned pale, holding onto the podium to steady herself. ¡°Ms. Jennifer Moore, we suspect you of causing the car ident involving Ms. Hannah Moore, kidnapping Phoebe Chambein, and plotting premeditated harm. We need you toe with us for questioning,¡± The lead police officer disyed his badge and signaled his tearn to restrain her. Chapter 134 ¡°It''s not we that? Listen to me and let me exin! You can¡¯t arrest me!¡± Jennifer screamed in desperation The police restrained her arms behind her back and promptly handcuffed her. ¡°We''ll find out oner you''re at the station.¡± All the reporters and onlookers were shocked by this sudden turn of events. With the words of the police, everyone knew who was lying. Soon, a barrage of camera shes targeted Jennifer¡¯s disheveled appearance, their shutters clicking ¡°She harmed Hannah! | knew she had ill intentions from the moment she returned!¡± Vanessa used her, and her excitement was evident as she did not miss the chance to kick Jennifer while she was down. Kennedy, too, was infuriated. He picked up the microphone from the podium and dered, As a member of the Moore family, I¡¯m ashamed that such a disgrace exists among us. | won''t tolerate this, and | solemnly announce to the public that, starting today, Jennifer¡¯s status as the heir of the Moore Group is revoked, and her ties with me and the Moore family are permanently severed. She¡¯s no longer one of us.¡± Even her sole blood rtive, her father, had chosen to abandon her. Jennifer¡¯s initial expression of despair gradually transformed into a burst of recklessughter filled with a chilling undertone. Amidst the gaze of the crowd, she was forcefully led into a police car. Inside the Moore mansion, Leon slowly opened his eyes. He squinted at the sunlight streaming in through the window, taking a while before he managed to sit up with effort. Leon was already seriously injured when he managed to escapest night. After Jennifer had arranged him in a secluded servant''s room, exhaustion and drowsiness overcame him, causing him to fall into a deep sleep. It was nearly noon now, and the other servants of the Moore family were bustling around, too upied to notice that a room that had been abandoned for so long still had an upant. Leon crossed his arms and sat on the sofa, lost in thought. Staying with the Moore family was not a long-term n. He needed to find a new ce to go, preferably far away from Farlem. He waspletely unaware of what had transpired outside, foolishly feeling reluctant to leave Jennifer. With a sigh, Leony back on the bed and stared nkly at the ceiling. The door creaked open. He raised his head, looking toward the doorway, only to see a doctor in a white coat and meeree** Dost walking in te vapuch permendused jeranthe mentioning that the wild winter but a finite to Yed fo die top te had not qued much attention to a. Naudades, he had not reparied jebauter sa pun ter dio *AH Aron fell dongly touched and sat up politely. ¡°You be the doctor the theure called over A1 @try ¡°Ves, 1 min ¡°The doctor adjusted his sane and lowered his head, his expression Indden ¡°Thank you for your help ¡± Lean let his guard down and nodded politelyN?velDrama.Org content rights. my duty. Since I¡¯ve received payment from Ms. Moore, | should naturally fulfill these taste for her After a brief examination, the doctor took out a syringe. ¡°What kind of medicine is this? Is there no need for any other medication?¡± Leon frowned slightly, but he still extended his arm. ¡°This is a medication to aid in your recovery. After this injection, I''ll handle whates next.¡± Then, the doctor picked up a piece of cotton with forceps, dabbed it in iodine, and wiped the injection area. Watching his unskilled actions, Leon¡¯s suspicions grew stronger. Though he was severely injured, his wounds were all external. Disinfecting and applying hemostatic treatment and some medication would suffice. Back when he was Elijah¡¯s assistant, he had treated severely injured people, and it did not require such aplex injection. Right as the needle of the syringe was about to pierce his skin, Leon quickly turned his wrist, gripping the doctor¡¯s hand in a backward motion. Next, he forcefully pushed the doctor away and angrily demanded, ¡°You''re not a doctor! Who are you?¡± Chapter 135 ¡°You sexually nalled it.¡± The man stopped in action. Then, he removed the stethoscope hanging around his neck and lunged at Leon. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no need to put ors an act anymore. Anyway, since someone wants you dead, you won''t leave here alive today!¡± Leon gatted his teeth against the pain, narrowly evading the man¡¯s attack, and rolled backward to create some distance. Who sent you?!¡± ¡°Didn''t you already know who | work for?¡± The man swiftly closed in, and they fought in the confined room. ¡°You''ve lost all your value, and you''ll only get in Ms. Moore¡¯s way if you''re alive. You''re better off dead!¡± The man locked Leon with his muscr right arm, his left hand raised high, aiming at Leon¡¯s throat. ¡°| don¡¯t believe you! This can¡¯t be true! Ms. Moore wouldn¡¯t harm me. Who sent you to frame her?¡± Leon struggled fiercely, bent his elbow, and struck him hard in the chest. The man could not evade the blow, and the syringe in his hand was knocked away. Leon seized the opportunity to crouch down, swiftly retrieving the syringe. ¡°Damn it! Just ept your fate and hand over the syringe! I''ll send you to the afterlife right now!¡± The doctor was infuriated. ¡°We''ll see if you''ve got what it takes.¡± Leon held the bleeding wound caused by his intense movements, charged forward, and collided with him head-on. In the split second they brushed against each other, Leon seized the opportunity and forcefully jammed the needle into the man¡¯s back, pushing the sedative inside with all his might. The man let out a muffled groan and slumped down.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. After that, Leon slumped to the ground, breathing heavily. Once he regained a bit of strength, he immediately pushed open the door. Regardless of whether the man¡¯s ims were true or not, he had to leave the Moore mansion first. Leon ran out as fast as he could, desperately wanting to find Jennifer and personally ask her whether what this man said was true! Following the path Jennifer had shown him the previous night, he reached the back door, stumbling as he walked out. Desperate to get answers from Jennifer, he paid no attention to the blood oozing from his injuries. Eventually, his strength gave out, and he copsed to the ground. Leon struggled to prop himself up, trying not to fall. His head felt heavy and dizzy. Dimly, he saw a woman in a red dress approaching him, the long fishtailce swaying gracefully. ¡°Did he pass out?¡± The woman stood before him, observing him, and her icy voice was devoid of any emotion. In a semi-conscious state, Leon felt a strange familiarity in her voice. He struggled to look up, wanting to see who it was. However, everything went dark, and be passed outpletely. When Leon woke up again, he found the woman standing before him... It was Sheena. ¡°Y¡ªYou''re not dead?¡± ¡°Sorry to disappoint you.¡± Sheena smiled faintly, with no intention of leaving. After handling Jennifer¡¯s affairs, she came specifically to find Leon, ¡°Perhaps you don¡¯t know this yet, but Ms. Moore has been sent to the police station formitting multiple crimes, and you''ll be joining her soon.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Leon was shocked and angry, screaming, ¡°It must be you! You framed her!¡± ¡°As for what happened, you can ask her in person.¡± Sheena could not be bothered to waste more time with him. Chapter 136 ¡°You''re truly shameless! You won''t be able to cover up your crimes! Even if Lend up in prison, I''ll find ways to make you pay for your evil deeds!¡± ¡°Sure, I''ll waiting.¡± Sheena scoffed, looking down at him. ¡°But for now, tell me, where¡¯s Elijah: Leon looked up at her towering over him, lying on the ground andughing uncontrobly. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Sheena frowned. ¡°I''mughing at how you haven''t changed at all, still clinging to Mr. Freeman just like before your divorce.¡± At death¡¯s door, Leon suppressed hisughter, his tone especially harsh as he added, ¡°I thought the near-death experience would change you and pull you back to reality. It seems I¡¯ve overestimated you.¡± Although Sheena looked puzzled, she did not bother exining, remaining silent. ¡°Do you think you can win back Mr. Freeman? That¡¯s impossible! Mr. Freeman won''t like a vicious woman.¡± Leon¡¯s eyes held a deep disgust as he gazed at her. However, uttering these words took a toll on his strength. Lying on the ground, he panted heavily, his features twisted in agony. Sheena stared at him indifferently. ¡°My patience is limited. I¡¯ll ask you onest time. Where¡¯s Elijah?¡± ¡°| won''t tell you! Not even in death! Give up on finding him!¡± Leon yelled hysterically, ¡°When Mr. Freeman returns, he''ll make sure you pay a hundredfold for what you''ve done. He won''t spare you!¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Sheena turned and left, adding, ¡°Let''s see if you''ll still be so stubborn in the police station.¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Then, she got into her car. Even if Leon did not speak, she would find a way to locate Elijah. She checked her watch and decided to drive to the Freeman mansion while there was still time. The thought of the annoying mother-daughter irked Sheena. As she drove ahead, she reached the familiar residential area and slowed down. Suddenly, her phone rang, forcing her to pull over by the side of the road. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± ¡°Ms. Sheena, something bad happened at the set!¡± Wendy sounded panicked. ¡°Calm down and take a deep breath. Tell me slowly. What¡¯s happening on the set?¡± Sheena leaned against the back of her seat, her expression growing serious. ¡°Two contestants suddenly got into an argument. One of themes from a powerful family background and wants to break the contract and withdraw from thepetition. They even threatened to sue Angle Group. Ms. Sheena, what should we do? Can youe over?¡± Wendy was already sobbing./ ¡°Got it. I''m heading back now. Wait for me at the office.¡± sheena hung up the phone ncing at the view of the residential area in her rearview mirtor, she let out a cold snort, stepped on the elerator, and sped in the opposite direction Wendy had already prepared the documents and was waiting downstairs at thepany. When she saw Sheena, she rushed over as if she had seen a savior. Anxious, Wendy handed her a folder and said, ¡°Ms. Sheena, take a look at this first. It¡¯s from Ben. The two contestants involved are a young actress who¡¯s been in the industry for three years and a wealthy heiress from Luivine. They''re both refusing to compromise, and it¡¯s affecting the filming process. What should we do?¡± Taking the documents, Sheena quickly skimmed through them, grasping the situation. Then, she closed the folder, ¡°Ms. Sheena?¡± Wendy nervously asked. She had recently joined thepany, and this was the first time she had encountered such a situation. She feared she might not handle it well, causing significant losses to Angle Group. ¡°When the going gets tough, the tough get going. We, the Angle Group, shouldn¡¯t be afraid of her!¡± Chapter 137 thema stone toward the Passat and opened the car door, gesturing the Wenly to get in tes then, she sped toward the set, and Wendy nervously settled info the passenger seat, fasting, a hit guilty. my, Ms. Sherna. | don¡¯t know how to drive, and I¡¯m maing you take me. If | could drive, I''d be your driver.¡± ¡°| thought you were going to say something serious. It¡¯s not a big deal, really. We can find time for you to learnter.¡± Sheena chuckled. Wendy''s words lightened her previously tense mood. Wendy was about to say something else but decided against it, looking at Sheena with admiration. Sheena hit the brakes abruptly outside the set and hurriedly walked inside. Wendy followed closely, her expression mirroring Sheena¡¯s seriousness. Ben was already informed about their arrival, and he waited for them at the door to greet them. ¡°Ms. Sheena, you''re finally here. These two are causing quite a scene, and we''re at a loss on how to handle it.¡± As they walked, Ben exined the situation, ¡°One is a rising star, Joleen Crane, while the other is ire Jackson, the wealthy heiress of Luivine. We can¡¯t afford to offend either of them, so we had to bring you in.¡± ¡°What happened? Who wants to withdraw from the show?¡± Sheena inquired. ¡°They got into an argument over a bunk bed, and both said they wanted to quit.¡± Sheena snorted. ¡°Since they''re making a fuss about leaving, we don¡¯t need to force them to stay. However, we still need to set an example and show them what the rules are.¡± They reached the hall while talking, and the two involved parties sat on opposite sides, ring at each other. ¡°Are you two the troublemakers?¡± Sheena¡¯s expression was stern as she looked at the two angrydies, saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to participate, you can leave right now and stop causing problems for everyone.¡± ¡°Who do you think you are? You''re just a mere talent manager, Ms. Sheena! How dare you give me that look?¡± Joleen gave her a disdainful re, mocking, ¡°You should be d that I¡¯m joining this talent show. If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Lawson¡¯s sake, who would join such an unpopr show?¡± ¡°Ms. Jackson, please wake up from your pipe dream. With your current fame and status, you¡¯re not worthy of saying such things.¡± Gracefully taking her seat, Sheena continued, ¡°Angle Group is reputable in the entertainment industry. It''s be a renownedpany that can offer you much more than you imagine. If you don¡¯t want to stay, you can pay the penalty fee for breaching the contract and leave immediately.¡± ¡°Hey! What''s with your attitude? It¡¯s an honor for Angle Group that | even agreed to participate. How dare you ask for compensation from me?¡± Joleen¡¯s face turned red with anger. Khwinn ced a Joltents de pod foseets Conses the taste fientat and pict koiehost also | have him personally core exerty honmotembatassing for you, ipho ¡°time! I¡¯m not done with you! Just wait and see!¡± Joleen retorted before storming off ¡°What about you?¡± sheena¡¯s gaze turned to ire, asking, ¡°Are you staying or leaving?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m leaving! Who wants to stay in a reality show like yours for months?¡± ire retorted, her face filled with frustration.N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°Joleen has no ss, not to mention the facilitators are equally unbearable! | will sue Angle Group, showing you that the Jackson family is not to be messed withal¡¯s ¡°Are you done talking?¡± Sheena put down the form in her hand. ¡°Pay the penalty for breaching the contract and leave. Our show doesn¡¯t need someone as foolish as you. As for suing the Angle Group, feel free to give it a try. I¡¯ll be waiting for your summons.¡± Ignoring ire''s expression behind her, Sheena instructed Ben, ¡°What are you standing around for? Escort them out!¡± With that, Sheena elegantly smoothed her hair and walked out, paying no attention to ire¡¯s displeased look. ¡°Ms. Sheena, are you done with the matter? We have new visitors at thepany, and they¡¯re waiting for you in the reception room,¡± Wendy greeted her as she came out, pointing to her phone. ¡°Who?¡± Sheena settled into the car and fastened her seatbelt. ¡°The Moore Group¡¯s chairman and his wife, Mr. and Madam Moore. However, I¡¯m not entirely sure why they¡¯re here.¡± Wendy scratched her head. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Shura nodded and sped back to Angle Group. Kennedy and Vanessa anxiously waited in the reception room, frequently ncing toward the ennance. When they finally saw the familiar figure, their eyes lit up. ¡°Ms. Sheena, you''ve finally returned. You really kept us waiting,¡± Kennedy said, extending his band to her. ¡°My wife and | are here to express our gratitude.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s thanks to you bringing Noah here that Hannah coulde out of her vegetative state and wake up again. You also exposed Jennifer¡¯s n. Otherwise, we might still be in the dark, thinking Hannah¡¯s car crash was just an ident,¡± Vanessa chimed in. Sheena smiled and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. In any case, we all benefited from this situation. Hannah¡¯s recovery also helped me. Kennedy did not expect her to speak so elegantly, not taking credit for herself. He could not help but regard her more highly. Sheena asked again, ¡°How is she now?¡± ¡°She just woke up. It will take time for her body to fully heal, but she¡¯s already much better than before,¡± Vanessa said excitedly, gripping Sheena¡¯s hand. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Don¡¯t worry. I''ll make sure Mr. Noah continues to oversee Hannah¡¯s treatment and develop the best n until she¡¯spletely recovered.¡± With Sheena¡¯s promise, Kennedy and Vanessa exchanged a nce. Even someone as experienced in business as Kennedy could not help but express his joy. ¡°Thank you so much, Ms. Sheena. You''re truly the savior of our Moore family. We''re incredibly grateful for this. Additionally, we¡¯re here today to discuss a potential coboration with you. Would you be interested?¡± Kennedy inquired. ¡°A coboration?¡± Sheena was slightly surprised by Kennedy¡¯s generous offer. ¡°Tell me more. 11 ¡°It''s quite simple. | want to provide stable investment for Angle Group. For every project you handle in the future, I''ll invest 50% of the funds. I¡¯m not in a rush for your answer. Take your time to consider it,¡± Kennedy exined. ¡°No need for that. We can sign the contract right now, ¡°Sheena swiftly decided and agreed to the proposal. In the realm of interests, there were no permanent allies or enemies. Since Kennedy proactively reached out to her, she had no reason to refuse. Kennedy was well-prepared, pulling a pre¡ªdrafted contract from his briefcase and handing it to her. ¡°If you find everything satisfactory after reading, you can sign directly.¡± Sheena examined the terms carefully and then signed the contract without hesitation. She extended her hand to him, saying, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Moore. Let¡¯s have a pleasant coboration.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°Likewise.¡± With the contract in hand, Kennedy left the room with Vanessa feeling content. However, the series of events disrupted Sheena¡¯s original ns, and she had intended to head to the Freeman mansion after dealing with thepany¡¯s daily affairs. Throughout the journey, she drove quickly to avoid any further interruptions. Faye held her phone inside the Freeman mansion, pacing anxiously around the room. ¡°What happened to Elijah? He never turns off his phone, but he¡¯s had it off for days. We can¡¯t even contact Leon. This is driving me crazy...¡± It The phone on the table rang, and she hurriedly answered it, asking urgently, ¡°How¡¯s it going? Any news?¡± ¡°I''m sorry, Madam. There¡¯s still no news about Mr. Freeman, and he hasn¡¯t returned to thepany for several days, so...¡± the voice on the other end reported. ¡°So what? The Freemans aren¡¯t providing you with a free ride! Hurry up and find him! If | don¡¯t hear news about Elijah, I''ll have you all fired!¡± Faye angrily hung up the phone and threw it into the yard. Thud! Sheena, who had entered the mansion and was strolling through the yard, heard the noise. Then, she picked up the phone that had fallen near her feet. Chapter 139 that she hattered kereta Pays had theory, shaking her havet & wine, tran *¡ªirls, but an teste hate¡¯s changed a bit. What a shame your Dery temper wasn¡¯t as far as yee te incapable Then he released her grip on the phone, cising a few more cracks fo form on the airway whattered screen. ¡°Why are you here again?¡± Faye emerged from the hallway. While she still remembered Sheena¡¯s previous lesson, she was still as arrogant as before due to her social status. You''re such bad luck! Even after the divorce, you''re still pestering Elijah. He¡¯s so unlucky es, Elijah is indeed unlucky, and his luck is about to be worse. So, tell me. Where is he? ¡°Sheena¡¯s smile faded as she asked with a stern expression. How would | know? Stop bothering Elijah! You keep saying you want to leave him, yet you still bother him. Are you trying to y hard to get, making him want you more by purposely pushing him away? What a bitch!¡± Faye did not hold back, rolling her eyes openly. Sheena could not help but chuckle. However, Erin walked downstairs just as she was about to retort, looking furious. ¡°Who are you to even know where Eli is? Eli is with Jenny now. How shameless can you get, still showing up here?¡± The humiliation Erin had suffered at Sheena¡¯s hands previously was still fresh in her memory. She did not dare to approach Sheena, standing on the staircase, ring at her with anger and resentment, continuing her verbal tirade. ¡°If it weren''t for Howard supporting you, would you be so audacious? You¡¯re nothing but a cheap bitch, and you''re no match for Jenny! Jenny will soon be part of the Freeman family, so you better stop embarrassing yourself and get out!¡± Sheena leaned against the wall, silently listening. Then, she replied, ¡°Instead of throwing your phone around, you should find time to update yourself and look at today¡¯s news carefully. Your beloved Jenny seems to be in a bit of trouble.¡± Neither Faye nor Erin had seen the news, so Sheena¡¯s words left them baffled. Sheena smoothed her hair, surveying the entirety of the Freeman mansion, and continued, While Elijah might not be here, it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m here to inform you that you¡¯ve been living afortable life here, and it¡¯s been bothering me.¡± ¡°W-What do you mean?¡± Erin was taken aback by the icy aura emanating from Sheena. After the previous humiliating encounters, she instinctively nced toward the entrance, checking for any bodyguards. Sheena smiled as she said calmly, ¡°The Freeman family is going bankrupt.¡± After that, she headed straight to her car, pressed the elerator, and left the Freeman mansion.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. 1 The enraged mother and daughter hurled curses at her. ¡°Mom, did you hear that?! That bitch is absolutely insane!¡± Erin trembled in anger. Faye was equally furious. Mom, Howard wouldn''t really help her ruin our family, would he?¡± Faye immediately shook her head. ¡°Impossible! Howard is powerful, but the Freeman family isn¡¯t weak either. Even if Howard likes her, he wouldn¡¯t go against the Freeman family for her. Nevertheless, Faye was fuming at how audacious Sheena was to provoke them at their own home, and she really wanted to teach Sheena a lesson to vent her anger! Sheena drove swiftly along the highway while plotting a n. Chapter 140 The best way to bankupt the Freeman family was to start with the Freeman Group. However, the Freeman Group was a well¡ª respectedpany in Farlem, and toppling it with her owN?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. umpth in a short amount of time would not be easy. Moreover, she still had the task her Tather he given her. Lost in thought, Sheena returned to the mansion. As she entered the garden, she saw Howard waiting for her at the entrance, looking mysterious. Seeing her approach, he greeted her. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Sheena was puzzled, preparing to go inside. ¡°Howard, | have things to take care of. If you have something to say, just say it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone you know waiting for you inside. Care to guess who?¡± Seeing him acting mysteriously, Sheena walked up the stairs with a puzzled expression. Atall, slim figure with a sophisticated aura stood in the hallway. Hearing Sheena¡¯s footsteps, he turned abruptly, his gaze meeting her clear eyes. ¡°C-Colin Upton?¡± Sheena blurted out in disbelief. ¡°Sheena! It¡¯s been six years, and you¡¯ve grown even more mature. | never thought I¡¯d see you again.¡± Colin was particrly excited. ¡°What happened six years ago? How did you end up in Farlem?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all in the past.¡± Sheena smiled, asking, ¡°How long have you been waiting? Why don¡¯t you have a seat?¡± Sheena invited Colin to sit on the main couch while she settled on a side sofa. With delicate fingertips, she picked up a teacup and poured a cup for Colin. Observing Sheena¡¯s elegant gestures and movements, Colin could not help but feel deeply impressed by how the young, innocent girl from six years ago had transformed into a mature, alluring, and captivating beauty. ¡°You''ve truly changed a lot.¡± ¡°Im no longer a child now, so of course, I¡¯ve changed.¡± Sheena chuckled, steering the conversation away. ¡°We haven''t seen each other in so long. How about having dinner here tonight and catching up?¡± Colin readily agreed, saying, ¡°Of course! How about getting a few drinks and reminiscing?¡± ¡°Colin, just don¡¯t pass out right away! Don¡¯t let Nana witness that!¡± Howard walked in from outside and yfully patted Colin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°| remember a few years ago, we had a drink together, and you were knocked out by just one ss. It scared me so much that | almost had to take you to the hospital.¡® ¡°Knock it off! I¡¯m not the same as a few years ago, and | can hold my liquor now. If you don¡¯t believe me, how about a little competition?¡± Sheena silently followed behind the two, watching their backs, feeling deeply moved. It had been a long time since she caught up with old friends. Those three years spent with Elijah almost made her forget her former confident, enthusiastic, and cheerful self. In celebration of their ramion after so many years, Howard opered a bottle of aged French What, you think | can¡¯t hold my alcohol? Are you trying to fool me with a bottle of wine Colin half jokingly punched Howard¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate this bottle of wine. | brought it back after visiting Chateau Latour in France, couple of years ago. It¡¯s pretty strong. | didn¡¯t even open it when Nana came back. You better give it a taste.¡± Howard brought out three crystal wine sses, pouring some wine into each and handing one to Colin. Colin took the ss, first taking a whiff before sipping it slowly. ¡°It really is a good wine!¡± The three clinked their sses and downed their wine in one gulp. As the toast continued, they went onte into the night. Colin¡¯s face was slightly flushed from the alcohol, and he stared at Sheena¡¯s slightly rosy cheeks, hesitating. ¡°Sheena, Howard told me a bit about your situation. How have you been over the years? That man... Chapter 141 Chapter 141 ¡°There¡¯s no need to dwell on the past,¡± Sheena said calmly, raising her wine ss and taking another sip. Colin realized he had asked an inappropriate question and quickly smiled, saying, ¡°You''re right, let¡¯s leave the past behind. | heard your dad has assigned you a task. How¡¯s that going? Do you have confidence inpleting it?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m determined to seed,¡± Sheena replied, her eyes sparkling. ¡°I¡¯ve recently nned an all-girls talent show. I¡¯m confident about it and believe it will bring more attention and poprity to the Angle Group.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, but there¡¯s one more thing I¡¯d like to ask you...¡± Colin locked his gaze onto hers, his slightly intoxicated face showing some hesitation. ¡°You...¡± Ultimately, he decided to keep his true thoughts hidden, simply continuing with a faint smile, ¡°I¡¯m interested in partnering with the Angle Group. What do you think?¡± ¡°Of course, who would refuse a coboration with a partner knocking on the door?¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! The Angle Group currently needed significant resources and talents, and Colin¡¯s proactive cooperation undoubtedly would bring her more benefits. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± Sheena gave a cunning smile, reaching out to clink sses. ¡°Alright!¡± Colinughed heartily, clinking his ss to hers. As the night deepened, the three ended the gathering and went to their respective rooms. Sheena was not tipsy; in fact, she felt even more clear¡ªheaded than usual. To bring down the Freeman family, she needed to umte strength within a short period. She pulled out a chair and sat at the table, ready to draft her initial n to bankrupt the Freeman family. The Freeman family was primarily involved in the real estate industry, so to ovee it, Sheena needed to establish a foothold in that sector. However, she did not know much about real estate. After contemting her options, she felt that seeking advice from Colin would be the most reliable choice. Hence, she quickly texted Colin. [Are you asleep? | have something to ask you.] [No, what''s up? I¡¯m in the hallway.] Sheena opened the door and found Colin standing at the end of the hallway by the window, letting the cold breeze blow over him as his gentle gaze was fixed on her. ¡°| want to enter the real estate industry, but | don¡¯t know much about it. | need your help. This matter is important to me, so please, could you assist?¡± Sheena leaned against the window, closing it slightly. Colin was surprised but did not pry into her intentions. ¡°I do have some knowledge about it. Let me look into it tomorrow and prepare a report for you.¡± Sheena expressed her gratitude and returned to her room, feeling content. With an industry insider¡¯s assistance, her n would be much easier to execute. Satisfied, she drifted into a deep sleep. However, at this moment, deep in the mountains at the border of Farlem and the neighboring city, someone was sleepless and troubled. Elijah sat in the car, smoking one cigarette after another as his tired gaze fixed on the window. He had been searching for Sheena for two days and nights, yet there was no sign of her. He refused to believe Sheena would die in this ce and was determined to find her and bring her back to Farlem. One of his subordinates yawned, groggily asking, ¡°Mr. Freeman, when can we go back?¡± Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Elijah red at him. ¡°We''ll return when we find her.¡± The man wisely stayed quiet while another brazenly asked, ¡°It¡¯s been several days since Ms. Sheena parachuted. This vast mountainous area is full of wild wolves and boars. What if she...¡± what ifs. Even if only her bones remain, I''ll bring her back. If anyone dares ask such questions again, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless.¡± Elijah spoke calmly, but his tone was cold and harsh. The others were frightened into silence and retreated to rest. As everyone gradually fell asleep, Elijah remained awake, looking out the window with an unreadable expression. In the Freeman mansion, the lights were still on. ¡°This is so infuriating!¡± nk! The loud sound echoed as Faye forcefully mmed her cup onto the ground, shattering the crystal teacup. ¡°Jennifer dared to hold a press conference in the name of Elijah¡¯s fiancee, tarnishing the reputation of the Freeman family! Even the Moore family has severed ties with her, so why are we keeping her around? Tomorrow, we¡¯ll announce that Elijah¡¯s engagement with her is canceled!¡± Faye said angrily, sitting on the sofa. She soon added, ¡°Not only that, but the Moore family is also shameless! Vanessa even had the nerve to suggest | switch the engagement to Hannah!¡± Seeing Faye¡¯s frustration, Erin hurried over tofort her and offer some suggestions. ¡°Jennifer is such a good actress! I''d never expected her to stoop so low! She was even being publicly humiliated in front of the media... How embarrassing! Canceling the engagement is definitely the right move! But... Is it really okay to do this behind Eli¡¯s back?¡±N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°What could go wrong?¡± Faye frowned, bing angrier than before. ¡°I¡¯m his mom! Besides, do you really think Eli would keep Jennifer around after what she had done?¡± ¡°But Eli isn¡¯t here. The Freeman family needs Eli to hold down the fort, right?¡± Erin sighed, taking a seat next to her. ¡°That¡¯s actually a problem...¡± Faye fell into contemtive silence. ¡°However, since Eli isn¡¯t here, it¡¯s the best time to teach that bitch a lesson!¡± Erin was eager to take action and show Sheena her ce. Suddenly, Erin¡¯s phone rang, and they exchanged nces before she answered the call. ¡°Hello, Erin, long time no see! How are you and Auntie and Auntie Faye doing?¡± The cheerful voice of a woman on the other end filled her ears. ¡°B-Beth?¡± Erin was shocked. ¡°You''re back in the country?¡± Erin immediately handed the phone to Faye and gave her a meaningful look, suggesting they should converse directly. The Carver family was a powerful extension of the Freeman family, and Bethany Carver was the heir to the Carver family. She had been studying abroad in France and was known for her business insight. Understanding Erin¡¯s intent, Faye engaged in small talk with Bethany. ¡°Beth, when did you return to the country? Are you nning toe back to Farlem?¡± ¡°Auntie Faye, I''ll arrive in Farlem this afternoon and definitelye visit soon. It¡¯s been so long, and I¡¯ve missed you a lot.¡± ¡°How about letting Erin and | pick you up? It''ll be a way to wee you back. Do you have any other ns? If not, you can stay at the Freeman mansion for a few days,¡± Faye suggested. ¡°Well... | don¡¯t have any ns for now, so I''ll do as you advise,¡± Bethany agreed readily. After hanging up the phone, Faye¡¯s previously troubled expression vanishedpletely. Erin, who had been listening attentively, also felt triumphant. ¡°Mom, this is great! Beth is back. If she¡¯s willing to help us, | don¡¯t believe Sheena can stand a chance against us! Howard can¡¯t keep protecting her every time!¡± Faye did not say anything further, but the expression on her face revealed her true feelings. Chapter 143 The mother daughter don dressed up and headed to the airport to pick up Bethany. Awoman in a white t-dant mnd a short skirt waved at them, swiftly making her way through the crowd After bogging Tape and Erin, Bethany got into the car with them. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s a reason why I¡¯m so eager to see you this time.¡± Faye said as she grabbed Bethany¡¯s hand, cutting to the chase. ¡°The Freeman family has been going through so much, and | feel so helpless. | really don¡¯t know what to do...¡±N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°Tell me everything. As long as | can do it, I''ll definitely help you.¡± Bethany calmly nodded. She had already anticipated that Faye would be seeking her assistance. The mother¡ªdaughter duo exchanged nces, secretly delighted. Erin exaggerated the recent events within the Freeman family and emphasized just how ruthless and shameless Sheena ¡°| never expected this woman would dare to bully our family like this!¡± Bethany took a sip of tea. ¡°I''ll have my people investigate her. We''ll find a way to expose her.¡± Faye held Bethany¡¯s hands and looked at her affectionately. ¡°We truly appreciate your help. With Eli away, we didn¡¯t know how to deal with that malicious person. Without you, we¡¯d be at her mercy.¡± ¡°It''s not a big deal, Auntie Faye.¡± Bethany smiled at her. As they conversed, the car had returned to the Freeman mansion. Bethany was the first to head upstairs, entering the room that Faye had arranged in advance and unpacking her luggage. During her years abroad, she learned a lot about navigating the business world and understood the unwritten rules of trade. The Freeman family¡¯s influence was evident to all, and helping Faye and Erin this time would note with any drawbacks. Bethany received a message on her phone. [Miss, Sheena currently works as a talent manager at Angle Group. She¡¯s in charge of the all- girls talent show thepany is promoting.] Bethany quickly devised a n and took a taxi to the talent show set. Along the way, she reviewed information about all the contestants and chose someone with moderate poprity. This individual was neither too famous nor unpopr, flying under the radar and less likely to attract attention or get eliminated easily. They were the perfect informant. Bethany arranged to meet with this person and sat down at a cafe across from the talent show set. Agirl wearing a simple workout outfit and a high ponytail approached Bethany. She got straight to the point, asking, ¡°Are you Bethany Carver? Why are you looking for me?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know the reason.¡± Bethany pushed the coffee toward the girl, saying, ¡°You just need to follow my instructions. Once this is sessful, I''ll invest in your talent agency; ensuring you have ample help to be highly sessful.¡± ¡°But what about the talent show?¡± The girl was intrigued by the conditions Bethany was offering, yet she still felt some reluctance. ¡°If | agree to work with you, it means | give up the chance to debut in a group.¡± ¡°Do you truly believe that you¡¯d secure a spot in the debut lineup with your current abilities?¡± Bethany shed an elegant smile. ¡°Based on my research, those who make it into debut lineups cither have strong financial backing or a fan base. Unfortunately, you don¡¯t have either edge. Staying here would only waste your time, and cooperating with me is your best choice.¡± The girl hesitated, fiddling with the corner of the tablecloth. Bethany was not in a rush to get her answer, leisurely savoring her iced Americano. ¡°| agree to your terms, but what do | need to do?¡± The girl made up her mind, slowly clenching her fists. ¡°It''s quite simple, and | believe you won''t disappoint me...¡± Having said that, Bethany ced the investment contract on the table and left the cafe. Chapter M*A Anste froup¡¯s headquarters. hovaly, theria had quite a bit of free time, which she utilized to study real estate, Lauder an assumed name, Colin had also joined Angle Group as the Creative Director to help ** have a new idea.¡± Colm entered her office and ced a document on her desk, adding, ¡°I thank you should consider investing in a small project to test the waters.¡± ¡°ll me more ¡°sheena took the document and started reading it carefully. ¡°If you want to familiarise yourself with an Industry quickly, the best approach is to immerse yourself in it and gain a deeper understanding through practical experience. Investing in a small project poses less risk and allows you to gain valuable experience. It¡¯s the best strategy for the short term¡± Colin sat down on the couch, waiting for her response. ¡°Based on the current situation, this does seem like a good idea.¡± Sheena nodded and closed the document. Colin was about to mention the project he had in mind, but her tone suddenly changed. ¡°However, pursuing small projects with a steady and cautious approach to avoid risks isn¡¯t my style. When | take action, it must be quick and urate,¡± Sheena¡¯s eyes twinked as she spoke, leaving Colin in awe. Chapter 144 ¡°There¡¯s arge-scale film studio being rebuilt in Farlem, and it''ll take about a month and a half toplete. This is a fantastic opportunity. Furthermore, the film studio¡¯s development aligns well with Angle Group¡¯s growth. Investing in this project would be a win-win situation.¡± Colin looked at her, filled with pleasant surprise. Her idea was not only mature but also showed guts and determination. It was apparent that her thought process was impressively clear. It seemed he had underestimated her. Colin spoke with approval, ¡°Whatever you want to do, go ahead and do it confidently.¡± Sheena efficiently signed the contract with the project team, speeding up the construction progress of the film studio. Then, she had her teampile a list of recent investment projects by the Freeman Group, studying their strengths and weaknesses. The Freeman Group practically monopolized a significant portion of the real estate market in Farlem. Hence, bringing it down in a short time would be no easy task. After work, Sheena locked herself in her room, delving into the gathered information. ¡°Nana, you shouldn''t be so hard on yourself.¡± Howard knocked on her door, urging, ¡°Come down for dinner. Auntie Gloria made a pot roast today.¡± Sheena leaned back in her chair, unable to hide her exhaustion. ¡°Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. | need to be prepared before the first battle begins.¡± ¡°You''re right, but amander can only win if they''re well-rested.¡± Howard opened the door and firmly grabbed her shoulder, leading her to the dining table. Later, he even added two more pieces of meat to her bowl. ¡°Your all¡ªgirls talent show''s first episode has aired and has good viewership. With proper nning for the follow-up episodes, the attention and excitement will surely remain high.¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Sheena slowed her chewing pace, thinking as she ate. ¡°Got it. I''ll go to the set tomorrow to discuss the details.¡± To enhance the show¡¯s appeal, Sheena had the team include a lot of outdoor filming. The second episode was set in akeside area along the outskirts of Farlem. To help the participants rx, we''re introducing a special summer segment. We''re taking you to thekeside area for a rowing competition. Please pack your belongings. We''ll be leaving this afternoon.¡± The facilitators gathered all the participants in the dormitory lobby, sharing this exciting news. The girls cheered and excitedly returned to their rooms to pack. In the midst of themotion, a petite figure slipped into a public restroom and sent a message to Bethany. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Bethany quickly responded to her and made arrangements. On the set, a group of people chattered as they boarded the bus. Theke¡¯s surface shimmered with gentle ripples, reflecting the sunlight, and the leaves on thekeside trees rustled softly, adding a touch of charm to the tranquil scene. The facilitators gathered all the participants and divided them into six teams for the rowingpetition. One participant, Isme Jenner, stepped onto the boat and eventually chose a seat behind a wealthy heiress, Yvonne Fisher. As the referee blew the whistle, the two boats raced forward. Since most participants had little rowing experience, the small boats wobbled and rocked, apanied by screams andughter. The show¡¯s effect was impressive, and the atmosphere was lively. The wind on theke gradually picked up, causing the already unstable boats to sway more violently. In an area not caught by the cameras, a sudden ssh echoed. ¡°Ah! Help!¡± Yvonne had fallen into the water! Panicked, she iled in the water, screaming, ¡°Someone help! I¡¯m going to drown!¡± The others on the boat were caught off guard by the unexpected fall and grew frantic, shouting for help. Fortunately, the lifeguards were not far from the shore. Upon hearing the cries for help, they immediately swam over and rescued the drenched Yvonne. By this time, filming had paused. Yvonne wiped her face and angrily vented, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your venue? What if something happened to me today? Can you afford the consequences?¡± The lead facilitator, Mira, hurriedly checked her condition, sighing in relief once she confirmed that Yvonne was fine. Yvonne then turned her anger toward Mira. ¡°Why would you hold such an outdoor event? Look at the embarrassment you¡¯ve caused me! Your film crew is also responsible for this!¡± Feeling at fault, Ben remained silent, allowing Yvonne to vent her frustration. Someone in the crowd watched the spectacle unfold and swiftly sent a message, reporting the task aspleted.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Due to the blind spot in the surveince area and the turbulent rocking of the boat, the following camera crew failed to capture the incident at the stern, and nobody noticed what happened, including Yvonne herself. ¡°You and your show are to me for this mishap in thekeside area! | won''t let this go easily! Get ready for the incident to be exposed!¡± Yvonne spat out these words with bitterness before orming in of the area Mha and Ten changed worried nces, insure of what to do. They both understood Yvoume¡¯s background well. Whether her ims were true or not, if they caught on and cruded, causing a wave of public bacdash, it would undoubtedly impact Angle Group and the show ¡°Whe, should we do now?¡± Mira was anxious. ¡°If she exposes this incident, our sry will surely be deducted!¡± *What else can we do? Let¡¯s find Ms. Sheena first!¡± Ben made a quick decision, taking out his phone and dialing Sheena¡¯s number. ¡°An ident?¡± After listening to Ben¡¯s report, Sheena frowned but quickly assured Ben, ¡°I reviewed the application thoroughly when you submitted it. The safety measures at the venue were well in ce. It¡¯s unlikely such an incident would happen easily. Don¡¯t worry. Continue the filming arrangements as usual, and I''ll handle this matter.¡± Ben breathed a sigh of relief, hushed the murmurs among the trainees, and brought them back to the set. The ident interrupted the outdoor shoot, so he had to swiftly n new content, recording the next episode before the following week¡¯s broadcast. Sheena put aside her current work to address this issue. She immediately summoned Wendy and tasked her with arranging for the staff to reinspect the safety facilities. ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena.¡± However, Wendy did not move immediately, standing there and seemingly hesitant to say something. Still immersed in her work, Sheena asked Wendy without looking up, ¡°Is there something else? ¡°Ms. Sheena, the participant who fell into the water has already posted about the ident. She¡¯s iming that ourpany¡¯s safety/measures were inadequate and is demandingpensation!¡± Finally lifting her head, Sheena smirked. ¡°Give me the phone.¡± Chapter 146 ncing over the message and the attention it received, Sheena finally understood the situation, saying ¡°I see Go ahead with the task i assigned you, and also have someone retrieve all the videos from that time for me.¡± Wendy had been working with Sheena for some time and understood her style of handling matters, but given that this was a staged ident, she still felt concerned and could not help but remind Sheena, ¡°Ms. Sheena, are you not going to address this?¡± With the momentum this incident was building, thepany¡¯s image was bound to take a hit! Sheena did not exin further. She had already decided on a n after learning that the ncident happened in a blind spot and was purposely aimed at exposing them. Moreover, so much had already happened despite only one episode being filmed. Three consecutive artists withdrawing from thepetition was truly a rough start. Nevertheless, Sheena decided to handle it personally this time. With a hundred girls together all day, who knew what might happen in the future if she did not establish her authority now? News of Sheena¡¯s arrival at the filming site quickly spread, and most people anticipated her visit. However, Isme, who knew the purpose, was not asposed. Shecked any significant backing, and seeing that Sheena seemed to be taking this seriously, Isme discreetly found a blind spot in the surveince and contacted Bethany.N?velDrama.Org content rights. When the call connected, she got straight to the point, saying, ¡°The Angle Group¡¯s talent manager is starting to suspect the incident. We won''t be able to cover this up, so let''s end our coboration here. After all, your objective has been achieved!¡± Bethany did not expect Isme to be so timid. Before she could even make any substantial impact on Sheena, Isme was already thinking of fleeing. Then, she asked, ¡°Are you sure you want to go against the path to future stardom?¡± Unexpectedly, Isme was rather rational, replying, ¡°I didn¡¯t know her before, and I only heard about her recently. She¡¯s so intelligent that she even managed to bring down the former heir of the Moore family. If this incident gets exposed, I''ll be ruined!¡± Seeing other trainees approaching in the distance, Isme hastily ended the call, deleting the conversation and blocking the number. On the other end, Bethany¡¯s eyes darkened, taken aback at how this little traitor dared to hang up on her! 4 With a fierce glint in her eyes, she immediately came up with another n. As it was already ratherte when she arrived at the set, Sheena stayed in a nearby hotel. However, trouble emerged the very next morning. Sheena was an early riser, arriving at the filming location as the facilitators roused the participants from sleep, but they realized someone was missing during the roll call. ¡°It''s Isme Jenner,¡± Mira cautiously reported the name of the missing contestant. Stawno appeared much younger than Mira, which made her wonder if sheet was fangning iness on pinely unaware of the gravity of the situation. Nheless, once men of a ibang coulestant spread, thepany¡¯s image would bepletely tarnished! * the information contained?¡± Sheena nced at the girl¡¯s photo and asked ¡°It''s contained, but some rumors still managed to surface online.¡± Mira had been wondering why, despite their thorough containment efforts, there were still rumors circting on the inte Sheena ignored thetter part of the sentence, handing the photo to Ben. ¡°Look into this carefully. Check if Isme was sitting next to Yvonne on the day she fell into the water.¡± ¡°Well...¡± To be honest, with so many participants that day, even the facilitators could not recall every detail clearly. ¡°Alright. Go and reassure the trainees. Leave the rest to me.¡± Once Ben and Mira left, Sheena quickly dialed a number. ¡°Ms. Lawson, how can we help?¡± ¡°Help me find Isme Jenner.¡± Chapter 147 Tark Bell''s informationwork andcking skills were of elite level, allowing them to quickly locate Ixine¡¯s position and send the coordinates to Sheena smme was in an abandoned amusement park, and it seemed like it was not just a simple case of disappearance. She had been kidnapped. ¡°infighting? That¡¯s quite interesting.¡± Sheena chuckled lightly while looking at the nformation on her phone. Having pinpointed the exact location, she did not waste any time and changed her clothes, swiftly heading over. The mastermind behind this seemed not to anticipate her arrival so soon and had only sent one person to guard. Inside a rundown cabin within the amusement park... Isme¡¯s eyes were covered, and she was tightly bound to a chair, feeling anxious and uneasy. She initially thought she was about to be silenced, but suddenly, she heard sounds of a fight from outside! Was someoneing to rescue her?! Isme¡¯s excitement caused her to tip over the chair, wriggling on the ground toward the door. As she was halfway there, the iron door suddenly swung open, and she heard faint footsteps approaching. However, she dared not move or make a sound, not knowing which side had won outside! It was not until Isme¡¯s blindfold was removed, revealing the face of the person before her, that her pupils widened in surprise. It was actually Sheena, and she hade alone! Did that mean Sheena knew about her actions? ¡°Who are you? Are you here to kill me too?¡± Sheena looked at the trembling girl on the ground. Despite being terrified, Isme pretended not to recognize Sheena. Little did she know, her subtle changes in expression could not escape Sheena¡¯s keen eyes. Sheena did not want to waste time on idle chatter and got straight to the point, ¡°Who ordered you to cause Yvonne''s fall into the water? Who has been contacting you in secret?¡± ¡°| don¡¯t understand what you''re talking about,¡± Isme replied, biting her lip and trying to act tough. Sheena did not have the patience for games. Instead, she took out her phone and said, ¡°Fine, then you''ll have to exin it to the police.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Isme knew having a criminal record would ruin her chances in the entertainment industry, so she gave in. ¡°Besides revealing who''s behind this, I¡¯m willing to exin everything else. |...¡± Before she could finish exining, Sheena lost patience. She stood up and looked down at Isme. ¡°Too bad, | only want to know who¡¯s behind you. If you won''t talk, get ready for her people to deal with you.¡±N?velDrama.Org content rights. With that, she turned around to leave. Isme was terrified and shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t leave! | know you''re skilled. You even took down the Moore family¡¯s heiress. | can tell you everything, but can you ensure my safety?¡± ¡°That depends on your sincerity and whether what you say is worth my protection.¡± Isme looked at Sheena, sensing the cold and powerful aura around her, which only strengthened her resolve to switch sides. Then, she revealed, ¡°It¡¯s Bethany Carver! She made me cause trouble on the show. Later, my guilt got to me, and | wanted to quit, but she kidnapped me.¡± Bethany Carver? While with the Freeman family, Sheena had heard Faye and Erin mention Bethany. She was the prospective heir of the Carver family, Elijah¡¯s cousin. Not only that, but she had also been studying abroad over the years. Had she returned to the country? Did Faye bring her in as support? Interesting... Isme saw Sheena smirking and was worried that she might doubt her sincerity. Hence, she quickly added, ¡°Every word | said is true! You have to believe me!¡± Chapter 148 said is true! You have to believe me!¡± Chapter 148 ¡°| do believe you¡± still smirking, Sheena leaned slightly closer and whispered to Isme, ¡°Go back and continue with the competition as if nothing happened. Tell Bethany you¡¯ve changed your mind Isme did notpletely grasp Sheena¡¯s intentions, but she agreed obediently. After Sheena left, her team faked the scene to make it look like Isme had escaped on her own. Upon learning that Isme had escaped, Bethany was furious and scolded her subordinates. She had intended to kill Isme and frame Sheena, yet she had escaped on her own! As Bethany was fuming, she received a text message from Isme, apologizing for hanging up and blocking her. Isme even promised to obey her orders in the future, sounding helpless and submissive. Bethany was pleased to read the message, thinking everything worked out fine and Isme was finally obedient after being put in her ce.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. After Isme returned, the online rumors quickly died down. Although Yvonne remained stubborn, Kennedy and Vanessa personally went to the Fisher family and resolved the matter without Sheena¡¯s intervention. Sheena did not like owing favors, so she agreed to the Moore family¡¯s request and let Noah stay in Farlem a bit longer to continue treating Hannah. The petty rumors quickly faded away, and Angle Group¡¯s talent show remained highly popr as the first of its kind in the country. With this minor incident behind her, Sheena did not continue dwelling on the matter with Bethany as she had more important things to attend to. She visited the plot ofnd she had purchased earlier to check on the construction progress of the film studio. For several consecutive days, she eagerly went to the film studio after work. Bethany soon caught wind of Sheena¡¯s actions and began to grow suspicious. ¡°The Angle Group is an entertainment talent agency, so why does their talent manager need to oversee the film studio?¡± Erin was equally perplexed, chiming in, ¡°She¡¯s so invested in this project, which is quite strange! Could she be nning something against us?¡± Bethany scoffed at the idea. ¡°If she loves the film studio so much, I''ll deal with her there!¡± The two of them whispered their dark intentions to each other. In the end, Erin¡¯s eyes gleamed with malice. ¡°This time, we can¡¯t let that bitch escape! I¡¯m going to make her pay for all the humiliation she caused us!¡± Sheena had chosen to wear a pair of athletic shoes for her visit to the construction site. In the rogerutiny area, she wore a safety helmet while listening to Fells, the dite natrager, give he A report. Felix gestured toward a dpidated wall, exining, ¡°After we clear out this section of walls andy the new foundation, progress will speed up considerably. I''ll take approximately twin weeks toplete once the new foundation is set.¡± Sheena no ied. ¡°Speed up the progress. If you need more funds or anything else, that¡¯s not a problem¡± Upon hearing her assertive words, Felix¡¯s face lit up with a smile. ¡°Certainly, Ms. Sheena. With your assurance, I¡¯m at ease. However, you''re a busy person. It¡¯s troublesome for you toe here every day, In the future, you can leave this ce in my hands. Don¡¯t worry, I''ll take care of everything for you!¡± Sheena smiled back and politely replied. ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Felix.¡± After briefly discussing a few other matters, someone called Felix over for another task. Felix seemed displeased. ¡°Are you blind? Ms. Sheena is still here...¡± Sheena frowned and interrupted, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Your work is important. I''ll just take a casual walk around.¡± Since she had said so, Felix did not continue ttering her and advised her to be cautious with the construction materials before leaving. Sheena continued to stroll around the construction site that was undergoing repairs, intending to leave soon. Suddenly, a tall and unfamiliar man approached her. His voice was raspy and not very pleasant as he greeted, ¡°Hello, Ms. Sheena. Felix is facing some trouble and would like you toe over and take a look.¡± Chapter 149 The man woir a safety helmet and kept his head slightly lowered. His dark skin and dusty clothes revealed him as aborer ustomed to physical work Even so, Shezna noticed the immacte condition of his shoes, and she immediately understood his intentions. ¡°Lead the way.¡± ¡°Please follow me.¡± The man extended his hand, revealing thick calluses on his knuckles. Sheena nced briefly at his hands before looking away and followed behind him. The man guided her down a secluded path. As they approached a dpidated building, Sheena stopped in her tracks, asking, ¡°Isn''t this the wrong way?¡± The man guiding her froze but quickly regained hisposure. ¡°Felix thought you might be hungry, so he arranged for dinner. This route is shorter.¡± Sheena pursed her lips, staying quiet as she stared at him with a piercing gaze. The man quickly lowered his head, avoiding her intense scrutiny. ¡°Alright. Let''s keep going.¡± Sheena initially wanted to test the waters, giving the man a chance to attack her directly, yet he had not taken it. It seemed that there was a bigger surprise awaiting her ahead. As expected, when they drew closer to the dpidated building, a figure suddenly darted out from behind a broken column, rapidly approaching Sheena. Nheless, she had anticipated this move and stepped back, narrowly avoiding a potentially lethal blow. However, as soon as Sheena regained her footing, she heard a noise from above. She nced upward just in time to see a solid stone b hurtling toward her head. Reacting quickly, she performed a series of agile flips,nding safely on the nearby grass. Boom! The stone b hit the ground, forming a thick cloud of dust in the air. As the dust settled, ten burly men emerged from the shadows, surrounding her. Before Sheena could catch her breath, the men charged at her one by one. Unlike the previous thugs who relied on brute force, this group exhibited a highly trained and coordinated approach, blending different martial arts styles. ¡°Heh. Seems like you have high regard for me.¡± Sheena smirked, elegantly rubbing her delicate fingertips together as a chill flickered in her eyes. Unfortunately, the mastermind behind this scheme still did not fully understand her. They had underestimated her. Sheena raised an eyebrow and taunted, ¡°Why don¡¯t you all attack me at once?¡± The prompeschanged nces and simultaneouslyunched an attack on shemu. Knowing the patterns of each move, Sheena saw no advantage in their coordinated assanit othes than their sheer numbers Ten minutester, Felix received news that an unfamiliar man had taken Sheena from the construction site Concerned, he hurriedly led a team of security arined with stom batons to assist Ms Sheena, are you okay?¡± By the time he arrived, Sheena had just executed a powerful leg sweep at thest opponent. The arriving group was stunned, unable to believe how incredible Sheena was! Looking at the men writhing on the ground in pain, Felix ordered the security team to deliver a final blow with the stun batons. ¡°How dare youy your hands on Ms. Sheena!¡±N?velDrama.Org content rights. Sheena brushed off the dust from her hands and smiled contentedly, ordering, ¡°Great! Tie them up and take them directly to the police station.¡± Then, she walked past Felix and the others who had arrived, leaving the film studio construction site without looking back. Watching her departing figure, Felix¡¯s respect for her grew even stronger. On the way back, Sheena instructed Dark Bell to investigate the matter and found that the people stalking her recently were from the Carver family. Chapter 150 apter Ch150 ¡°Bethany? The Freeman family?¡± She mused to herself, smiling mockingly at how they were in a mad rush to make foolish decisions, obviously overestimating themselves. As such, Sheena decided that she needed to expedite the process of bankrupting the Freeman family. Sheena was always swift in her actions. The next day, she strengthened the workforce at the film studio, almost doubling the number of workers. She had Felix create a detailed schedule to manage the workers efficiently, and the construction progress noticeably sped up. As Summer approached, the sun¡¯s rays grew intense. Even so, Sheena still inspected the film studio¡¯s progress as usual. ¡°Hey, Nana.¡± A familiar husky voice sounded from behind Sheena. She turned around and eximed in surprise, ¡°Why are you here?¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Howard smiled, replying, ¡°You haven¡¯t been around the office muchtely, so | figured you''d be here and stopped by to see you. How about grabbing a meal together?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Howard naturally reached out to help her remove the safety helmet, tenderly using a tissue to wipe the thinyer of sweat from her forehead before taking her hand and leading her away. Inside a high¡ªend restaurant, Howard skillfully ced their orders. ¡°| heard that Hannah recently invested in arge-scale shopping mall for the Moore Group. It helped theirpany recover a good portion of the stock market losses due to Jennifer''s incident.¡± Jennifer¡¯s verdict had been delivered. As Katie had managed to shift all the me onto her, she was sentenced to ten years in prison. This time, Elijah was nowhere to be seen to support her. With the Moore family cutting ties as well, she was left helpless. Hannah¡¯s physical condition had improved significantly, though her nerves were damaged from the car ident, leaving her legs without sensation. Hence, she had to use a wheelchair. However, she was now able to support Kennedy in business matters. Sheena had quite a good impression of Hannah, seeing her as a career¡ªdriven, strong woman. ¡°The Moore family values this large shopping mall a lot. The grand opening ceremony is tomorrow, and it¡¯s said to have invited all the prominent families and business elites from Farlem. Kennedy hopes you and | can also attend to support him. What do you think?¡± As Howard spoke, he handed a gold¡ªbordered invitation card to Sheena. Opening the card, Sheena found it was actually an invitation in Hannah¡¯s name. Since all the prestigious families were invited, the Freeman family would likely be there too. ¡°Let''s go. 11 At the grand opening ceremony, there was still a sizable crowd of guests. The Moore family suffered considerable losses because of Jennifer. Then again, no family within the elite circle was truly untarnished. As long as their power remained, business magnates and socialites from prestigious families would grace the event. Sheena did not particrly enjoy such asions, but she maintained her poise wlessly. This time, she attended as Howard¡¯s companion again. Upon spotting her, Vanessa warmly weed her. She genuinely liked Sheera. Sheena also politely greeted Vanessa. As they chatted, there was suddenly amotion at the entrance. The Freeman family¡¯s car had pulled up, and three elegantly dressed women of varying ages stepped out. Sheena stood at a distance, staring at the unfamiliar face beside Faye. ¡°That¡¯s the Carver family¡¯s heir, Bethany. | heard she recently returned from abroad,¡± Vanessa exined as she noticed Sheena¡¯s gaze. Sheena remained silent. At the entrance, Faye¡¯s appearance triggered whispers among the crowd. ¡°Mr. Freeman isn¡¯t here today? | heard something had happened to him. Is he... dead?¡± ¡°That¡¯s crazy! How long can these women from the Freeman family hold up without support?¡± Chapter 151 Brin, who was quick repered, trumental gt fret and argued, ¡°Wise nonsense are you op ali nga uring/ *1 perfectly fine. How dare you core him that? Where are your manners, ¡°Erth, calm down. There¡¯s no need to atque The Freemani family is prowerful and set exiablished. A fewn disparaging remarke won''t bring me down.¡± Faye held onto her, though shar equally annoyed Even in front of so many outsiders, she maintained the poised and graced demeanon of an affluent societydy. Due to the broken engagement, there had been some unpleasantness between the Freeman and Moore families. Furthermore, with Elijah¡¯s continued absence, there had beeri numerous spections. Hence, Faye deliberately attended the event, dressing up to the nines and letting everyone witness the unswerving strength of the Freeman family ¡°But, Mom, they...¡± Erin, who had been pampered since childhood, was unwilling to endure such humiliation. She wanted to argue further but was interrupted as Bethany, donning an elegant dress, gently grasped her wrist. Bethany leaned in and whispered something in Erin''s ear. Erin instinctively looked toward the second-floor crowd, where Sheena stood beside Vanessa. Sheena was also looking at her. Their eyes met, and Sheena chuckled softly before turning her head to engage with Howard. However, what seemed like a casual smile was a clear provocation in Erin¡¯s eyes, and she clenched her jaw, murmuring, ¡°That bitch!¡± Bethany patted her shoulder,forting, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Our time wille soon!¡± The three exchanged nces, smiling happily. The ceremony officiallymenced. The Moore family had put considerable effort into this event. Unlike previous asions, which were usually cocktail or dancing parties, they introduced a martial arts performance to emphasize the uniqueness of the theme. For many attendees, this was their first time experiencing such an unconventional ceremony, and the crowd was obviously excited. Two martial arts masters squared off on the stage, engaging in a fierce battle while the audience below watched intently, completely immersed. Kennedy and Vanessa were pleased with Hannah''s innovative idea. After a ten-minute martial arts contest, the master from the Southern team, Brandon, nverged in the warmer The crowd erupted into chur Amidst the cheers, an unfamiliar voice suddenly pierced through the excitement. ¡°Watching the masterspete is fun, but | have a more exciting suggestion. Mr. Moore, care to listen?¡± pethany stood up, addressing Kennedy, yet her peripheral vision wasced with ill Intent she nced in Sheena and Howard''s direction. Kennedy was taken aback but intrigued. ¡°Ms. Carver, what great idea do you have? Let''s hear it. Bethany¡¯s smile deepened, staring at Sheena not far away. ¡°I''ve heard that Mr. Lawson¡¯spanion has exceptional martial arts skills. She supposedly easily takes on five opponents at once. I¡¯m a bit skeptical, so how about we have Ms. Sheena spar with Brandon? A little exhibition to liven up the event?¡± Sheena was savoring a delicate dish Howard had served when she was unexpectedly called out. The venue fell quiet, all of them were having the same thought. No matter how skilled Sheena was, how could shepare to Brandon? Not to mention the vast difference in physical strength between a man and a woman. Sheena was slender and could not possibly win against the master. It was clearly an attempt to put her in a difficult position! Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Chapter 152 Hannah, who had been managing the entertainment backstage, beard themotion and had berself wheeled onto the stage in her wheelchair She smiled and said, ¡°Ms. Carver¡¯s proposal seems a bit unfair. Both you and Ms. Sheena are esteented guests of the Moore family, and any harm inflicted upon either of you would be a teflection of our inadequacy in hospitality. How about we continue watching the performances, and perhaps the next act will be more to your liking Vanessa also chimed in to mediate. Bethany remained standing, her gaze still fixed on Sheena. Sensing the shift in dynamics, Erin also stood up, provoking Sheena, ¡°Afraid, aren¡¯t you? Well, it¡¯s simple. Admit that you¡¯ve fooled all those who praised your skills, and you''re nothing more than a liar from an orphanage.¡± ¡°Ms. Freeman!¡± Hannah could not tolerate it any longer. Before Hannah could continue, Sheena set down her utensils, saying, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m afraid. | just don¡¯t see the point in winning. After all, | won¡¯t lose.¡± As soon as she spoke, the entire room buzzed. This woman... She was way too audacious! How could she shamelessly say something like that? Only Howard remained calmly sipping his wine, leaving the audience baffled about his stance on the matter. Sheena¡¯s reply was just what Erin wanted, and she felt triumphant as she turned her gaze toward the equally stunned Brandon. ¡°Master Brandon, she clearly doesn¡¯t regard you highly. If you can¡¯t even defeat her, how will you hold your ground in the martial artsmunity?¡± Erin said with a touch of smugness. Brandon grew somewhat irritated. ¡°Miss, if you¡¯re so confident, why not have a friendly match? Since you''re still a youngdy, it wouldn¡¯t be honorable for me to win against you. So, I''ll only defend and won''t attack. You''ll have ten moves, and if you manage to beat me within those ten moves, you win.¡± The statement was perfectly bnced¡ªshowing strength while maintaining a gentlemanly demeanor. Implicitly, it meant that they mustpete. If Sheena declined again, people wouldbel her as arrogant, inept, and foolish, tarnishing Howard''s reputation as well. All eyes in the room. in the room were fixed on Sheena, eager to witness the spectacle. Facing the gazes, Sheena gracefully rose from her seat and smiled. ¡°Since Master Brandon has spoken, ll grant you this favor. However, there''s no need for ten moves. | wouldn''t take pride in winning either.¡± Draped in a deep red satin gown, with her exquisitely beautiful and arrogant face, Sheena exuded an aura of both fierceness and elegance, making it nearly impossible for anyone to look away. Unfortunately, and was atkal te onthusiast who coulter Kotorate acipere susckorektnistat leg ham salty a woman, He taffed disdainfully, evidently provokest Kitsee you sakd that, I''ll take you pus Ter real- UBL hh his shema mairaalsed her cahn mite, leaving her seat and preparing to walk toward the stage.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. However, Hamah, concerned for her well-being, stepped forward to intervene ¡°if we¡¯re going have a match, Me Sheena¡¯s attire is inappropriate Perhaps everyone should enjoy that performances for now. We can wait for Ms Sheena to change into suitable clothing before proceeding¡± The guests voiced no objections, and Hannah quickly signaled the servants. Sheena did not decline, allowing the servants to lead her out of the banquet hall. Erin looked at her serene demeanor and started to worry. ¡°Beth, did you see the look on her face? She doesn¡¯t really think she can beat Brandon, does she? Plus, none of the professional fighters we sentst time came back. What if...¡± Bethany said confidently, ¡°No what ifs. Those fightersst time might have had decent skills, butpared to Brandon, they were far inferior. She¡¯s only in her twenties, and even if she has a martial arts background, she can¡¯t possibly surpass Brandon. Just wait and see.¡± ¡°But what if he goes easy on her?¡± ¡°Rest assured.¡± Bethany smirked, leaning close to Erin¡¯s ear, and continued, ¡°There¡¯s nothing in this world that money can¡¯t solve. I¡¯ve already arranged for someone to bribe Brandon. He''ll pretend to identally injure her. Since this event is hosted by the Moore family, there¡¯s no way it could reflect poorly on us, no matter what!¡± Chapter 153 After bearing those works, excitement gleamed in Erin¡¯s eyes. She could already semme the anticipated pleasure of revenge and could not wait to witness theena¡¯s miserable fate. Sheena was led by the servants to the backstage dressing room of the event. Hannah, seated in hg wheelchair, discreetly moved away from the guests and followed suit. One of the servants respectfully pointed at the five sets of clothesid out on the table, saying. Ms. Sheena, these casual outfits have all been selected ording to your measurements. Please choose one.¡± Sheena was about to pick one when Hannah suddenly entered the room. ¡°I''m here, so you all can leave.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± The servants quickly exited and closed the door, leaving only Sheena and Hannah in the dressing room. Hannah¡¯s expression turned serious as she wheeled her chair to the window and opened it wide. Then, she said, ¡°We''re on the second floor. You can climb down the water pipe, and you''ll find a small path on the right. Walk straight for about thirty meters ahead, and there¡¯s a small door. It¡¯s unlocked, and I¡¯ve asked someone to leave it slightly ajar. The security guards are all gone...¡± ¡°Are you... asking me to escape?¡± Sheena chuckled. ¡°What else?¡± Hannah appeared displeased and pulled Sheena toward the window. ¡°Do you really want to fight Brandon? He¡¯s been undefeated since bing famous. Besides, it¡¯s clear that the Freeman family is setting you up. If you really fight, you might end up either dead or disabled.¡± Seeing her earnest expression, Sheena felt a strange sensation. After all, they had known each other for less than half a month.. However, Sheena¡¯s silence and unreadable expression only worried Hannah further, and she hurriedly added, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much of this. I''m not doing this for you. If anything happens to you, it¡¯s my responsibility as part of the Moore family. So, leave quickly! I''ll exin everything to the guestster!¡± Sheena remained unmoved, smiling calmly as her eyes sparkled. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving. Besides, why are you so sure I''ll lose?¡± Her tone was undeniably bold. Yet, despite the arrogance in her words, Hannah found herself captivated by the rity in Sheena¡¯s eyes. For a fleeting moment, she found herself imagining Sheena actually defeating Brandon. As Hannah was lost in thought, Sheena casually picked up an outfit and entered the dressing room to change. In the hall, the crowd was absentmindedly watching the performance in the hall, eagerly anticipating the uing main ebeest Erin was growing impatient, constantly checking the time ¡°Why ten¡¯t that bitch out yet? Could she be chickening out at thest minute?¡± Erin muttered while scanning around, suddenly noticing something. ¡°And where¡¯s Hannah? She wouldn''t actually help that bitch escape, would she?¡± Faye¡¯s expression also turned serious, but she did not say anything Bethany remainedposed and said, ¡°What''s there to fear? She agreed to it herself, and it was the Moore family¡¯s idea for her to change clothes. If she runs, we''ll pin it on the Moore family. Let¡¯s see how they can stand among the upper ss after that.¡± ruel look shed in her eyes. ¡°Just wait and see. If the Moore family dares to let her leave and tries to make excuses, | have a way to humiliate the Moore family!¡± Three acts had already passed, and the audience was getting restless. Brandon was also growing impatient, looking gloomy. Erin saw this and stood up, address vanessa, ¡°Madam Moore, is she still not ready? She isn¡¯t just all talk and decided to escape, right?¡±N?velDrama.Org content rights. Vanessa froze, but she hurriedly forced a smile to ease the awkwardness. She nced toward the backstage area, seeing no sign of movement yet. Hence, she nned to stick to the exnation that Hannah had prepared. ¡°I''m really sorry, Ms. Sheena...¡± Chapter 154 ¡°I''m right here. What''s the rush?¡± Vanessa''s sentence was cut short by Sheena emerging from backstage, and her words were directed at Erin. Chapter 154 Krin let out a disdainful sport and rolled her eyes at Sheena, eager to see how much longer she could act so confident. Then, she urged, ¡°Sluce you''re ready, let¡¯s get started!¡± The crowd fell silent Many guests were waiting to see Sheena to eat her words for being so arrogant. Some well-off youngsters were captivated by Sheena¡¯s alluring figure but thought it was unfortunate that she was simply too outspoken, constantly offending others. Amid the varied thoughts of the guests, Brandon and Sheena took their ces on stage from opposite sides. ¡°Little girl, don¡¯t cry if you loseter, and don¡¯t say that | bullied you,¡± Brandon taunted her, causing the audience to erupt in laughter.N?velDrama.Org content rights. Many believed that Sheena was in over her head. Only Howard remained unbothered, sitting elegantly and sipping his red wine indifferently. Erin noticed his demeanor and felt a rush of joy, thinking that Howard must be disgusted with Sheena, not caring about her fate. Did that mean she had a chance? As she stared at Howard¡¯s handsome face, lost in her thoughts, Sheena responded to Brandon, ¡°Enough chatter. Let''s just start.¡± With that, she swiftly moved. Her actions were light but quick as lightning. Before the audience even had time to react, Brandon had been kicked in the chest, stumbling back half a step. The whole room fell into shock, and it was so quiet that they could hear a pin drop. Did it end just like that?! Those who did not know martial arts did not even catch the movements, only to find Brandon swiftly defeated! Brandon was stunned. Although he had seen Sheena¡¯s foot movement, he had not managed to react before being kicked. Nheless, admitting defeat in front of so many people and acknowledging that he could not even beat a seemingly delicate little girl would be a major embarrassment for him. How could he maintain his reputation in the martial arts world? With those thoughts in mind, Brandon brushed off the dust from his clothes and snorted. ¡± Miss, you do have some skill. However, since | gave you a free hit earlier, I''ll take this seriously now.¡± The audience took his words to heart, praising his gentlemanly behavior. After all, a woman so slender and fragile¡ªlooking could never possibly defeat Brandon, and it was clear that he had let her win the first round! Having learned from the first encounter, Brandon focused his attention andunched the first attack, with full force, putting all his strength into it. sheena did not move unrt he were almost upon her, then she sidestepped swiftly. Bransdon was astonished. Did she actually dodge his attack? in disbelief, he continued his assault, putting every ounce of his strength into each blow. The two of them exchanged moves in a fast-paced flurry, but their actions were so quick that aside from those who understood martial arts, others could barely make out their interactions. People who had not been optimistic about Sheena were taken aback by the evenly matched struggle. They started to view Sheena in a new light and even switched sides, hoping she would win. However, Howard¡¯s expression grew more serious. As Sheena¡¯s brother, he knew her strength quite well. If the match dragged on and turned into a test of endurance, she would undoubtedly lose. Sheena also realized that continuing in this manner would not work, yet she struggled to find a weakness in Brandon¡¯s defense. Meanwhile, Brandon, seeing that victory was eluding him, began to feel the support for Sheena from the audience. That made him panic even more, causing his attacks to be more aggressive. However, the more anxious he became, the more likely he was to reveal his weakness. Seizing the opportunity, Sheena swiftly evaded his attack and retaliated with full force. Brandon could not dodge in time and was directly kicked in the nose, emitting a muffled groan before falling to the ground. Sheena stood steadily on the stage, looking down at him with a smile. ¡°You''ve lost again.¡± He did not just lose once, but he lost again! Brandon felt a profound sense of humiliation. He tried to get up from the ground but suddenly felt a warm sensation flowing through his nose. Chapter 155 Brandon wiped his nose and realized there was load on his hand. same ondnokers cought this scene and could not help butugh, causing Brandon to seethe with anger This was the most humiliating and embarrassing way to lose in front of everyone! After all, he had been in the martial arts world for decades and had never been so thoroughly defeated. Hence, he simply could not ept this oune. ¡°Go to hell!¡± Just as Sheena was about to leave the stage, Brandon suddenlyunched a surprise attack from behind, moving at an incredible speed. Erin and the others had been furious at Brandon¡¯s loss, but seeing him attack again, they excitedly stood up. Almost in the blink of an eye, a swift figure dashed onto the stage and kicked Brandon away before anyone could process what was happening. He did not evene close to Sheena and was sent flying two meters away from the tform, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Howard stood protectively in front of Sheena, his ck trouserspletely unscathed. He stared at Brandon, his tone icy as he said, ¡°You should just admit your failure. Instead, you dare to sneak an attack on her. How shameless.¡± Daniel, the master who had performed martial arts alongside Brandon earlier, also stepped forward, angrily criticizing him, ¡°Brandon, you''ve seriously vited the spirit ofpetition. I¡¯ve already informed the National Martial Arts Association to have you expelled! Get lost!¡± ¡°No! You can¡¯t!¡± Brandon could not believe it. He had relied on funds from the Martial Arts Association to survive. If he were publicly expelled, no action would ever ept him, a his life would be over! Before Brandon could recover from the shock and devastation, Hannah, in her wheelchair, was pushed onto the stage by a servant. She picked up the microphone and dered, ¡°Our family is ashamed of Brandon''s deceitful behavior and has decided to cklist him, banning him from entering any of the Moore family¡¯s shopping malls!¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! She paused and signaled for ten security guards to approach. ¡°Escort him out now!¡± The security guards acted swiftly, escorting Brandon out. The audience enjoyed the spectacle, with many CEOS joining in and cklisting Brandon, which brought a sense of satisfaction. At that moment, the gazes directed toward Sheenapletely changed. Most of the attendees had witnessed Sheena¡¯s previous dance battle against Jennifer, and they were even more amazed and impressed by her. Not only was Sheena proficient in both martial arts and dance, but each of her talents was also a visual feast. She was truly a modern-day extraordinary woman! Free the warpet forward atteripting in shake hands with Stops Thi band blocked its way Yemethetes, he dut not seen enterrado Instead, her andrend umste and asked fed the unique martial art techniques in your moves. Could be that you are the dy discipled the rem master, Jean Norris?¡± the pansie padlece was th ass upon hearing Baniel¡¯s statement. ¡°Man puder ku didn¡¯t care about Brandon She¡¯s Master Norris¡¯s disciple!¡± and see the one and only disciple. She must have received the true teachings of the master. Braiden Andy deserved to lose!¡± what''s why she was so arrogant and confident earlier! She really had the right to be that way! The group of people criticizing Sheena as arrogant and foolish suddenly changed their tune, showering her with praise and adoration. you''re Daniel was even more eager to offer an olive branch to Sheena. ¡°Ms. Sheena, | wonder if Interested in joining our National Martial Arts Association as the vice president of the Farlem branch?¡± Hearing this, Erin and Faye fumed with frustration! Originally, they wanted to humiliate Sheena and leave her battered and broken. However, she not only won thepetition but also gained immense attention and even had Daniel bending over backward to please her! He was offering her the vice presidency right off the bat! Chapter 156 Originally, they wanted to humiliate Sheena and leave her battered and broken. However, she not only won thepetition but also gained immense attention and even had Daniel bending over backward to please her! He was offering her the vice presidency right off the bat! She was just an orphan from an orphanagel Born as a lowly nobody without parents! Why did she deserve this? As Erin¡¯s jealousy red, Sheena rejected Daniel indifferently, ¡°No, I¡¯m not interested.¡± The entire crowd buzzed with astonishment. Many martial artists coveted the National Martial Arts Association, and most could only long to join. And she, a young girl, was offered the vice presidency directly, a position that most people would not even dare to dream of. But she just turned it down like that? Disappointed, Daniel shook his head,menting that she was either arrogant or self-absorbed. Meanwhile, Bethany had been furlously typing on her phone ever since she learned that Sheena was Jean¡¯s disciple. Her expression was serious and focused, and nobody knew what she was up to. Erin nced at her, exasperated. ¡°Beth, look at the great idea you came up with! This woman will probably be even more arrogant and disregard us!¡± Bethany was focused on her phone screen and suddenly smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this isn¡¯t over yet!¡± Puzzled, Erin was about to ask, but Bethany stood up abruptly. Then, she walked onto the stage, snatching the microphone from Hannah¡¯s hand before. using Sheena with a righteous tone, ¡°Don''t let her fool you! There¡¯s no way she could be Jean¡¯s disciple!¡± The entire audience was left dumbfounded. Daniel was even more puzzled as he asked, ¡°What do you mean, Ms. Carver? I¡¯ve witnessed Ms. Sheena¡¯s skills, which resemble Jean¡¯s unique martial arts techniques!¡± Sheena stood silently on the right side of the stage, smirking at Bethany with no intention of exining. She had never imed to be Jean¡¯s disciple. It was those people who insisted on putting thatbel on her. ¡°Nana?¡± Howard stood beside her, softly calling her name, seemingly hinting at her. Sheena understood what he wanted to say and signaled that she did not need him to interfere. In fact, she wanted to see what Bethany was up to!Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Bethany, facing the doubts, calmly raised the microphone to exin, ¡°While studying in Roisne, | was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of Master Norris through a friend. The disciple with him at the time was clearly a boy.¡± Then, she continued, ¡°To confirm this, | recently contacted my friend abroad and found out that Master Norris''s disciple is rted to the master herself, which was why she epted him as her disciple. The woman on stage, in terms of gender and background, doesn¡¯t match that allti information at af What Bethany sail wat all Tachal, which left Daniel somewhat perplexed. ¡°not the techniques she disyed. They were clearly..¡± Bethany picked up where he left off, saying, ¡°Clearly stolen!¡± The crowd below suddenly became lively, discussing Bethany¡¯s ims. Stealing other master¡¯s techniques was highly frowned upon in the martial artsmunity, even more so than Brandon¡¯s sneak attack. If proven true, it would not only result in her being cklisted but also to be hunted down and beaten by the zealous members of the National Martial Arts Association, with the possibility of ending up crippled. Seeing the crowd discussing, Bethany added, ¡°Think about it... This woman came from an orphanage, and the gap between her and Master Norris¡¯s status is enormous. So, she must have stolen it! It''s not only shameless but also despicable!¡± Just as the atmosphere grew tense, a chuckle suddenly sounded from the side. Bethany turned her head toward Sheena, puzzled as she asked, ¡°What are youughing at?!¡± Sheena could not hold back her amused smile. Despite wearing casual sportswear, her demeanor was cold and proud, saying, ¡°Ms. Woods, you¡¯re so confident in your ims. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being proven wrong?¡± Chapter 157 Bethany could not believe that Sheena could stiti mock her with such calmness. Frustrated, she was determined to embarrass Sheena thoroughly ¡°Well then! Let¡¯s see who¡¯s going to be proven wrong and embarrassed! As she said that, Bethany took out her phone, contacted her friend, and eventually obtained Jean¡¯s number. Then, she dialed Jean¡¯s number in front of the audience, putting the call on speakerphone. The ringing sound of the phone made the atmosphere tense. With victory seemingly within her grasp, Bethany stared at Sheena triumphantly. ¡°If you admit right now that you''ve stolen these martial arts techniques and apologize to everyone here, acknowledging that you¡¯re nothing more than a petty thief and a fraud, | might consider letting you off the hook.¡± Pausing for effect, she smugly wiggled her phone before adding, ¡°You have only a few seconds to decide. I¡¯m sure you must be panicking inside, right?¡± Sheena smiled, still refusing to respond as she stared at Bethany as if she were watching a clown. Bethany despised that look from her, but with Howard present and the public setting, she refrained from saying anything too extreme. Even so, she secretly vowed that once the situation was set in stone and Sheena had no chance of turning the tables, she would gouge out her eyes and see if she could still arrogantly stare at her! As Bethany contemted this, the ringing abruptly stopped, reced by the voice of a woman who sounded in her fifties. ¡°Who is this?¡± Bethany¡¯s heart raced as this was her first time conversing with a martial arts figure as prominent as Jean. She suppressed her excitement, politely exining, ¡°Master Norris, | apologize for bothering you. It¡¯s because we''ve discovered someone impersonating your disciple. When | confronted her, she didn¡¯t admit it, so | had to call you to confirm.¡± as There was a two-second silence from the other end, followed by a slightly impatient tone, ¡°I have only one disciple, William Birch.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, | know. However, the techniques this woman disyed are almost identical to yours, so | suspect that she¡¯s stolen your martial arts... Jean sounded a little irritated. ¡°Who would dare to do such a thing? Impersonating my disciple and stealing my techniques? How shameless!¡± With those words, nearly everyone in the audience understood the truth behind the matter, and Jean herself confirmed it! Just moments ago, certain guests had praised Sheena, but now, they red at her in anger, their eyes practically shooting daggers at her.. Bethany was overjoyed, holding her chin high triumphantly. ¡°You heard it yourself. Master Norris personally admitted you''re not her disciple. Are you going to deny it now? You''ve angered her Let¡¯s see how you''re going to survive this!¡± Hewand frosted and was about to speak when Sheena grabbed his wrist. Tydding a step forward, Sheena smirked and asked, ¡°I never imed to be jean¡¯s disciple, so wh¡¯s there to deny¡± Bethany was caught off guard. Danie, tend awkward. It seemed like he had brought up the im, and Sheena had not admitted it, but she had not denied it either. That was all clearly an intentional attempt to create misunderstandings among everyone. However, Sheena¡¯s response did not satisfy the crowd. Instead, the voices of disdain grew stronger Bethany snorted, ¡°But you''ve stolen the master¡¯s techniques. How do you exin that?¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Sheena covered her mouth, her smile growing even brighter. ¡°Are you so sure that | stole from her and not the other way around? Maybe Jean learned from me?¡± As this statement hit the crowd, they erupted in disbelief, and the voices of condemnation intensified. ¡°Oh my god! How dare she! Who gave her the audacity to act so arrogantly?¡± ¡°She even directly referred to Master Norris by her first name. She trulycks manners! What a waste of such a beautiful face!¡± Daniel shook his head as he finished listening, sighing that Sheena was beyond help. Chapter 158 Bethany found Sheena¡¯s got reply amusing ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll make you understand the CORREGOS of being so arrogant ove Saying this she handed over the microphone and said something to lean on the other end. Speningly receiving loan¡¯s approval, she hung up the phone and called VanesNA OVER ¡°Madan Moore, could you please have the big screen turned on? I''ll be viden calling with Master Norris and projecting it onto the screen for everyone to see whether Master Norris recognizes this thief!¡± Vanessa hesitated for a moment, ncing back at Hannah. However, Hannah¡¯s gaze was fixed on Sheena. Sensing her attention, Sheena gave her a slight nod, her expression calm throughout. With a sigh, Hannah relented. There was nothing she could do if the person at the center of it all remained soposed. She could only agree to Bethany¡¯s request. Soon, therge screen in the center of the stage was turned on. Bethany confidently stood at the center of the stage, ensuring that the first person Jean saw was her when the call connected, attempting to leave a good impression. The video call was sessfully connected. Jean was seated in a chair, her years of practicing. martial arts making her look much younger despite being in her fifties. Bethany struck a graceful and respectful pose, bowing to Jean. ¡°Hello, Master Norris, I¡¯m Bethany Woods, the one who called you. | have a matter to discuss...¡± Jean''s expression soured before Bethany could finish her sentence, showing clear impatience,¡± | don¡¯t have time for pleasantries. Where is the person who dared to steal my techniques and impersonate my disciple?¡± Bethany¡¯s face stiffened. However, she quickly regained herposure and med this awkward situation on Sheena. ¡°Master, it¡¯s this woman! And she shamelessly imed that your techniques were learned from her!¡± As Bethany spoke, the camera shifted to focus on Sheena. Sheena smiled and met the camera¡¯s gaze. ¡°Jean, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Some in the audience began to waver. If she actually dared to call Jean by her first name in front of her, could they really know each other?Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Jean stared at Sheena¡¯s face, even putting on her sses to scrutinize the screen more closely. Observing her seeming uncertainty, Bethany also began to doubt herself. Jean noticed someone behind Sheena and suddenly stood up, bowing deeply toward Sheena as she said something that no one had anticipated. ¡°Master, | never expected it to be you. | was wrong and should not have been disrespectful.¡± Ty''s tws dropped What on earth was happening? Jean, who was in het fifties, was addressing twenty three year-old Sheena as her master?! Even TV shows would not dare to portray such a scene! To make it even more astonishing, Sheena smiled and epted Jean¡¯s apology. ¡°It was just a provocation by mischief. You''re not to me.¡± Bethany, the very ¡°mischief¡± being referred to, was shocked and stepped back. ¡°This can¡¯t be true! How is this even possible?¡± Before Bethany could even fully voice her thoughts, Erin lost her temper and pointed at Jean, questioning her in disbelief, ¡°You''re not Jean Norris, are you? She must have hired you to act! How could an orphan without parents be Master Norris¡¯s actual master? | don¡¯t believe it!¡± Chapter 159 Jean had not seen Sheena in years and was initially happy to connect, but Erin¡¯s words stantly angered her ¡°How dare you insult ny mentor and met The intensir; of fean¡¯s anger could be felt even through the screen, a testament to her martial How Erin immediately cowered. Jean continued, ¡°And you dare insult her as an orphan without parents?! Do you even know she¡¯s... ¡°Jean!¡± Sheena cut her off, ring. Jean was somewhat puzzled by the interruption, but she did not press further. Then, Sheena turned her gaze back to Bethany. Bethany was at a loss for words. She had hoped that by leveraging the Moore family¡¯s grand opening event, she could completely humiliate Sheena. Instead, Sheena not only defeated Brandon but also gained a significant reputation. Moreover, she was actually Jean¡¯s master! Who could have imagined this turn of events? Bethany was fuming with rage. With so many eyes on her now, she felt utterly exposed, wishing she could find a hole to disappear into. However, she had underestimated Sheena¡¯s retaliatory nature. After all, Sheena never let go of a grudge easily. ¡°Ms. Carver, who''s the one being humiliated? You or me?¡± Bethany was furious but restrained herself due to Jean¡¯s ongoing video call and Howard''s. presence. She managed a forced smile and said, ¡°I was impulsive this time. It was indeed my fault.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Sheena shook her head, chuckling softly. ¡°Your apology feels rather insincere. I¡¯m not quite satisfied with it, so...¡± She paused slightly, ncing at Howard. Understanding her intent, Howard nodded. Yuri left the venue and soon returned with two burly bodyguards in ck suits, approaching Bethany with an imposing aura. The bodyguards¡¯ presence scared Bethany, her face turning pale as she stepped back in fear.¡± What are you doing?!¡± The bodyguards wasted no time, immediately restraining her wrists from behind. Seeing the situation escte, Vanessa was concerned that Sheena might take it too far and ruin the Moore Group¡¯s grand opening event. She was about to intervene, but Hannah held her back. Hannah shook her head at Vanessa and whispered, ¡°She should know her limits.¡± VALA Cantly backed down. The atmosphere in the entire vene suddenly turned heavy, and none of the guests dared to shop the unfolding scene due to Howard¡¯s prominent status. Moreover, Bethany¡¯s usations hud almost pinned Sheena as a thief, which would have been a serious blow to her reputation if not for the video call with jean. Hence, was not wrong for Sheena to teach Bethany a lesson as she had brought this upon herself. As Sheena approached step by step, Bethany trembled in fear under the intimidating aura emanating from her. Trying to maintain herposure, Bethany quivered as she said, ¡°I''m the future heir of the Carver family! If you dare touch me, the Carver family won''t let Sheena shed a gentle smile, replying, ¡°Sure. I''ll be waiting.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. you off!¡± In the next moment, Sheena¡¯s smile vanished, reced by a fierce and ruthless re. Then, she delivered two resounding ps to Bethany¡¯s face. The crisp sound of the p echoed through the entire venue. Some people in the audience gasped, surprised that it actually happened. Hp) qara yaaa When a actess woman Bettany was felt teary eyed and unable to utter a wurd due to the pain. Her ones fate checke mer were red, with traces of blind at the corners of her mouth it was both pitiable and Sheena gripped Bethany¡¯s chin, forcing her head up. She admired her handiwork and clicked her tongue Chapter 160 ¡°How does it feel to be pped in your own face? You tried to frame me multiple times have you ever considered that there would be consequences?¡± Bethany felt a mixture of hunitiation and anger, but the pain from her swollen face made it impossible for her to say anything Finally, Faye and Brin Ignored the tense atmosphere and rushed onto the stage, freeing the disheveled Bethany from the guards¡® grip. Knowing it was best not to continue lingering at the venue, they escorted Bethany off, supporting her as she walked away in embarrassment. Before leaving, they refrained from making any more throats, just ring of sheena. Sheena was utterly dismissive of their hostile re. After all, only the weak rolle methods to intimidate others. With Erin and herpanions gone, the atmosphere at the veue remained touse. While guests were initially shocked upon learning that Sheena was Jean¡¯s master, witnessing her publicly reprimand Bethany transformed their shock into fear. It was only when Jean expressed warm wishes for the Moore Group¡¯s grand opening in the video call that the atmosphere gradually eased, bringing the event back on track. Despite the ups and downs, the Moore Group¡¯s grand opening was a sess, especially with Jean¡¯s well wishes at the end. Vanessa and Kennedy were prac beaming with joy, treating Sheena as if she were their savior. They warmly greeted the guests, malding the second half of the event incredibly harmonious. Sheena was not particrly fond of such social gatherings, so she found an excuse to slip away to a quieter corridor. Making sure no one was around, she took out her phone and made a call. The mature voice on the other end of the line sounded unusually excited. ¡°Ever since you left Roisne and disappeared, | lost all contact with you. Later, when the Lawson family announced your death, | had several sleepless nights. Thank goodness you¡¯re okay...¡± Sheena smiled. ¡°They say good things neverst, and bad things never die. How could ¡°bad news'' like me die so easily?¡± Jeanughed at Sheena¡¯s self¡ªdeprecation. Sheena quickly changed to a serious expression. ¡°Thank you for today.¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°What for? You''re practically half my master, anyway.¡± During her childhood, Sheera had been sent to learn martial arts from a reclusive master in Notene, where Jean was ber senior. Due to Sheena¡¯s exceptional talent, not only did she learn quickly, but she could also innovate and improve on her techniques Jean had even lost to her in a sparring match and begged to learn the improved version, prompting Sheena to tease her into calling her ¡°master ¡± This time, Jean sensed someone intentionally making things difficult for Sheena and swiftly cooperated to stage this performance. Both of them then reminisce about the past. Just as Sheena hesitated to inquire about the well-being of her other seniors, she heard the sound of wheels rolling closer. Then, she promptly ended the call and faced Hannah, who was slowly wheeling herself down the corridor. Hannah observed Sheena¡¯s gorgeous face and smiled. ¡°The moment | woke up and saw you, | knew you were different. Your calmness, your elegance, none of it resembles a poor child who grew up in an orphanage.¡± Sheena pursed her lips, maintaining eye contact without speaking. Hannah continued, ¡°As | spent time with Noah these days, | found that he¡¯s quite aloof. Yet, the only two times he¡¯s spoken to me were about you. | believe you hold a very special ce in his heart.¡± Sheena asked, ¡°What do you want to know?¡± ¡°How did you make both of the Lawson family¡¯s heirs willingly help you?¡± Hannah paused, growing skeptical, adding, ¡°Who are you, really?¡± Chapter 161 Sheena was taken aback by Hannah¡¯s question, wondering if she had guessed her identity. In the end, Sheena gave a coy smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a guess?¡± Hannah¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°If | could guess, | wouldn¡¯t havee here to find you.¡± Initially, Hannah had entertained the thought that Sheena might be affiliated with the Lawson family. However, after researching the Lawson family, she discovered that aside from Albert, who had a daughter, the rest of the family¡¯s branchesprised mostly boys. Furthermore, Albert''s daughter had supposedly passed away six years ago. On the other hand, Svelton¡¯s Graham family had recently disclosed information about an illegitimate daughter, but they had not revealed what she looked like. Could it be... ¡°Are you the illegitimate daughter recognized by the Graham family in Svelton?¡± Hearing Hannah¡¯s question, Sheena breathed a sigh of relief, but she did not answer. Instead, she changed the topic and asked, ¡°We haven''t known each other for very long. Why are you helping me this time?¡± Hannah replied, ¡°I¡¯ve said before, it¡¯s not solely about helping you. If you''re in trouble, the Moore family will also be affected. | want to protect you, but it¡¯s also about protecting the Moore family.¡± Hearing this response, Sheena felt much more at ease. At least she would not have to feel guilty about concealing her true intentions from a friend who genuinely wanted to help. ¡°Ms. Hannah, as Mr. Moore¡¯s personally groomed heir, you truly excel in assessing gains and losses. With you in charge of the Moore Group, | believe it will have a promising future.¡± Sheena finished speaking and turned to leave. Hannah called after her, ¡°What about you? You haven''t answered my earlier question.¡± Sheena¡¯s footsteps slowed slightly, but she did not turn around. m who | am, just Sheena.¡± Her voice was soft yet resolute. Hannah watched Sheena¡¯s departing figure with an unreadable expression, concealing her true thoughts. Exiting the secluded corridor, Sheena did not return to the event. Instead, she returned to her car and changed into a set of casual clothes she had brought. After notifying Howard via text, she drove back to Angle Group. Upon entering her office, Colin was already waiting there. Seeing Sheena walk in, he smiled and approached her, saying, ¡°I heard about the Moore Group¡¯s event. You really haven¡¯t changed a bit. Like before, you¡¯re still the mischievous troublemaker who never takes a loss.¡± This was already the third person recently to call her a ¡°troublemaker.¡± Sheena chuckled and shook her head, changing the subject. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Colut put aside his yful demeanor and handed her a stack of documents with a serious expression. ¡°This is the recent progress report for the entire film studio. Since you initiated the major changes, the construction speed has improved significantly. | believe that at this rate, it will bepleted in about two weeks.¡± Sheena took the documents and flipped through them, reading them carefully. ¡°Very good.¡± Seeing her genuine smile, Colin also felt pleased and continued, ¡°The representative of the film studio we''re partnering with mentioned their intention to sign a long-term contract with you. They hope you can respond soon.¡± ¡°A win-win coboration is a good thing. | agree.¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. With her approval, Colin handed her another set of documents. ¡°They''re also interested in adapting a recent bestselling online novel into a web series. They want to offer Angle Group¡¯s actors the opportunity for their first coboration. Here¡¯s the script.¡± Sheena studied the script carefully and nodded in agreement. ¡°This is indeed a great opportunity for monopoly rights. It¡¯s good that Angle Group¡¯s actors are involved.¡± Chapter 162 As she spoke, Sheena considered the actors¡® poprity and how well they suited the roles based on their acting skills and fit for the characters. ¡°As for the male actors, I¡¯m leaning towards Skye. Although he can be a bit naughty at times, he¡¯s quite serious during filming and has good acting skills. Additionally, Abel and Zion¡¯s appearances also match the two roles...¡± After the discussion, Colin agreed as well. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you and the studio¡¯s representative to be on the same page. Well, it''s gettingte. You must be tired after the Moore Group¡¯s event and match.¡± Sheena just smiled faintly. Her expression appeared rxed, but Colin caught a glimpse of tiredness in her eyes. He truly cared about her and added, ¡°Even when you''re busy, remember to take care of yourself. You don¡¯t have to handle everything personally. You should try to assign the tasks or... maybe rely on a man a bit.¡± Thest part of his statement seemed to hold a hidden meaning. He was about to reach out and pat her shoulder, but she walked toward the sofa, causing him to miss. Rely on aman? Had she not learned from her lesson in the past three years? In this world, besides her own strength, there was no one she could truly depend on. However, Sheena had no intention of sharing these thoughts with Colin. She simply said, ¡± Don¡¯t worry, | know my limits.¡± Colin withdrew his hand dejectedly, exchanged a few more words of concern, and then left the office. Once he was gone, Sheena sank back into the sofa. She was genuinely tired today; giving her all in the match against Brandon had drained her. Right now, she just wanted to rest quietly on her own. However, before she could even lie down for five minutes, Wendy knocked on the door again. ¡® Ms. Sheena, there¡¯s a problem on Mr. Zimmer''s end!¡± Feeling a bit weary, Sheena mustered her energy and got up from the plush sofa. While listening to Wendy¡¯s report, she drove to the film set. ording to Wendy, the director of this production had a significant reputation and was notorious for his bad temper. He found certain uses in the contract with Angle Group¡¯s actors to be unreasonable, and he insisted on keeping Skye on set to extend his shooting hours. Skye, of course, would notpromise, and the two of them had a heated argument onN?velDrama.Org content rights. set. As Sheena arrived at the set, she could already hear the sounds of their quarrel from a distance. ¡°Do you want me to work as unpaidbor? Aren¡¯t you afraid that I''ll expose your actions online? Do you want your reputation in the directing world to go down the drain?¡± The renowned director, David Torres, was no pushover. He responded with a fake smile, ¡°Mr. Zimmer, | know you¡¯re famous and have the Zimmer family backing you, but I¡¯m not afraid! Your contract was problematic from the beginning. What¡¯s wrong with me having you shoot a few extra hours? This set belongs to me, and if you don¡¯t cooperate, I''ll edit your behind¡ª-the- scenes footage unfavorably and tarnish your image!¡± Skye was infuriated by David¡¯s shameless behavior, but he surprisingly refrained from exploding and throwing things. David had the upper hand and seemed quite pleased. ¡°As a popr rising star, you should understand how crucial public opinion is. | can help you achieve even greater sess on this path, but | can just as easily ruin you. Want to give it a try?¡± ¡°You''re despicable!¡± Instead of getting angry, David seemed to revel in the situation even more, and he burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha! Who would¡¯ve thought that the infamous brat of the Zimmer family would eventually fall into my hands? Too bad for you. It¡¯s my turn this time, and no one can help you! Just as he said that, a clear voice rang out at the entrance of the set. ¡°Is that so? Well, Mr. Torres, I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you!¡± All eyes on the set turned toward the entrance to see Sheena, apanied by Wendy. She approached them with an icy aura, seemingly ready to confront them. Chapter 163 David was dumbfounded. Astaff member who recognized Sheena exined, ¡°That¡¯s Angle Group¡¯s talent manager.¡± ¡°Oh, so he¡¯s just a talent manager. | thought it was the owner of Angle Group.¡± David¡¯s group burst intoughter. Sheena showed no signs of fear. She walked over to Skye, ensuring he was not hurt. Fortunately, despite losing his momentum earlier, Skye did not end up taking any hits. Once she confirmed Skye was okay, Sheena directly walked to a nearby chair and sat down. She was truly exhausted and would not bother to stand up if she could negotiate while sitting down. However, David perceived her action as apleteck of respect for him. ¡°Your artist angered me, and your contract has issues. Is this the attitude youe to me with?¡± Sheena chuckled. ¡°Who said I¡¯m here to y nice?¡± David looked utterly puzzled.N?velDrama.Org content rights. Sheena shifted into a morefortable position in her seat. Skye, noticing her tiredness, stood behind her, massaging her shoulders. After enjoying a moment of Skye¡¯s thoughtful service, she continued, ¡°I¡¯m here forpensation.¡± ¡°What? Compensation?¡± Davidughed out loud. ¡°I could have demanded reimbursement for the set loss and wages due to Angle Group, yet | didn¡¯t. How dare you ask forpensation?¡± Clearing her throat, Sheena replied, ¡°You said there were issues with the contract signed with Angle Group, which is why you detained Skye and demanded extended hours, right?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°But the contract bears your representative¡¯s signature after he went through it multiple times. Furthermore, Angle Group did not coerce you into signing it. Since it was approved before signing, that implies the contract is without ws, yet you¡¯re now using the contract as an excuse to cause trouble. So, who¡¯s the one trying to exploit legal loopholes here?¡± ¡°You!¡± David had not anticipated her logical rity and sharp tone. Just as he was about to refute, Sheena regained control of the conversation. ¡°The shooting hours for artists are stipted in contracts. You deliberately kept him here against his will and even tried to make him work for free. When he refused, you threatened to ruin his reputation. You''re not only shameless, but you alsomitted crimes for threatening others and uwful detention. The Angle Group¡¯s legal department isn¡¯t one to trifle with, so try if you dare.¡± David tried several times to interrupt, but Sheena¡¯s words were simply too formidable. ¡°My Angle Group¡¯s artists aren¡¯t pushovers. Mr. Torres, you might have a substantial reputation in the film industry, but unfortunately, Angle Group couldn¡¯t care less about it. We won¡¯t be partaking in your production anymore!¡± *** That, these and began to leave with sle You better think this through! You''re the one proposing * breach of contract, and you | have to pay a hefty penalty!¡± sheena rammed back and gave him a sharp look, ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry, but | won''t give you a single cent. On the rentrary, you better get ready to pay up!¡± to What She was not only breaching the contract but also demanding money from him! That was simply insane! Aren''t you afraid I''ll bring this matter to the inte? Don¡¯t you care about your artists¡® reputation?¡± Sheena sneered. ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ve already notified the legal team to sue yourpany. You im the contract had issues first, and then you detained our artist. I''m proposing a reasonable breach of contract. You¡¯re wee to challenge it if you don¡¯t believe me!¡± Sheena had no intention of wasting more time. Then, she grabbed Skye and left. David and his group wanted to intervene, but Wendy stood in their way, ¡°Ms. Sheena is very busy and doesn¡¯t have time to continue arguing with you. Mr. Torres, just wait for the court summons and address any issues through the legal department!¡± The dejected¡ªlooking Skye sat in the passenger seat. With his face lowered, he resembled a guilty puppy, no longer having his usual arrogance and confidence. Sheena was puzzled. It had not been long since theyst saw each other, wondering what had happened to him. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 ¡°Did Old Man Zimmer punish you again? Did he go too hard on you? Let me see,¡± she said, attempting to pull at Skye¡¯s pants. Skye blushed, quickly pushing her hand away. ¡°No! I¡¯m a grown-up now. It¡¯s natural to care about ay image, right?¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Observing his expression, Sheena recalled that he was still normal when they walked to the car, not looking like someone who had taken a beating. Moreover, this little troublemaker had a busy shooting schedule, working earnestly and hardly any missteps. ¡°You''re known to be a brat, so why did youe out on the losing side against scum like David? What happened to you?¡± Sheena pressed, curious. Skye sighed, mumbling, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. | just felt that you don¡¯t like the way | am, so I¡¯ve been trying to change. Sheena, if you give me more time, | promise | can be the person you like.¡± Sheena listened intently, genuinely surprised. However, she disagreed with what Skye had said. ¡°Why would you change? Do you think it¡¯s worth it to do so just because of my preference?¡± Skye nodded, looking determined. ¡°As long as you''ll like it, it¡¯s worth it.¡± one sincere as she ¡°But | don¡¯t like it.¡± Sheena frowned, her continued, ¡°Everyone is a unique e continued, ¡°Everyone is a unique individual. There¡¯s no need to change oneself for someone else and diminish one¡¯s own worth. Only by sincerely being yourself can you truly showcase your personal charm.¡± Back then, Sheena fell in love with Elijah and naively believed that changing herself and giving everything would make Elijah love her in return. Yet, what did she ultimately gain? Nothing but humiliation and mockery, heartbreak and torment. However, she would soon reim all those painful memories from that man! Since she had lived through it herself, Sheena did not want her friends to be hurt by such things again. Skye remained silent, still looking gloomy. Sheena sighed, realizing he was still too young. No matter how much she reasoned, he might not fully grasp it. Hence, she suggested having dinner with him to help ease his mood. Sure enough, the child-like Skye instantly perked up, regaining the sparkle in his eyes. After disguising themselves, they both went to Ninth Street in Farlem, the liveliest area, to get some kebabs. After a full day''s work today, Sheena was exhausted, so when she returned to the mansion, she fell straight into bed. Howard felt sorry for his sister and instructed Auntie Gloria to turn off her bedside rm clock discreetly. Sheena slent into the afternoon Aftor funahan: She had only just settled in when Colin arrived. After a brief exchange of greetings, Colin got straight to the point. ¡°In the past few days, I¡¯ve researched the market situation in Farlem and found a small real estatepany that could serve as a starting point for you.¡± As he spoke, he handed Sheena thepany¡¯s information. It was apany on the brink of filing for bankruptcy. Due to its small scale, hardly anyone knew about it in the market, and the owner also had a clean background. It was indeed perfect for Sheena to acquire and quietly operate. ¡°Thank you, you''ve truly been a great help,¡± Sheena expressed her gratitude. Colin blushed slightly, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly what you¡¯re nning, but as long as | can assist you, that¡¯s what matters.¡± Sheena wasted no time. On the same day, she acquired thepany and became thergest shareholder and owner behind the scenes. When signing the agreement, the former owner was bewildered and asked, ¡°I don¡¯t know why you insisted on buying the company, and you¡¯re not even changing the registered name or allowing your identity as the behind-the-scenes owner to be public. What¡¯s the reason behind all this?¡± Chapter 165 shiana omiled, replyine. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know the reasons. Just follow what I¡¯ve told you The former owner did not say more, and both parties quicklypleted the signing of flus contract agverment. Sheena also arranged for Sarah Peterson from Dark Bell to take up a position in thispany, changing the overall strategy, employee ns, and management.N?velDrama.Org content rights. Afterpleting all of that, she sat back in the car, checking the recent news in the real estate industry on her phone, only to discover that Faye was temporarily managing the Freeman Group! She could not help but shake her head, amused. While Faye had graduated with honors from the finance department at Austine University, her years of luxurious lifestyle within the Freeman family had worn away any business understanding she might have had. Moreover, Sheena thought it was probably best if Faye temporarily managed the Freeman Group. With Elijah¡¯s extended absence, Faye and Erin could easily waste the Freeman family¡¯s assets with little effort. Nheless, Sheena did not mind adding a little spice and giving a subtle nudge. With that in mind, she had Dark Bell discreetly investigate the recent investment trends of the Freeman Group. She found that Faye seemed to be particrly interested in a new construction site in the western suburbs. So, she called Sarah and ordered, ¡°For the new construction site in the western suburbs, prepare a solid project n. | must have it.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lawson.¡± Meanwhile, Faye was enjoying the grandeur of the CEO''s office. She remembered Sebastian sitting here before, followed by her own husband and sonter on. Now that she was in the seat, she truly felt the satisfying sensation of holding power in her hands! Faye could not help but think it would be great if her son did not return so soon, letting her enjoy a few more days of being the CEO. However, her daydreaming was soon interrupted by Deanna Andrews from the nning department, who approached with a document. ¡°Madam Freeman, this is the project n for the new construction site in the western suburbs. There¡¯s also a list of other companiespeting for it. With this, we can take targeted measures to ensure we secure the site to the fullest extent possible.¡± Faye flipped through the document, noticing a bunch of unknown smallpanies. How could these mere underdogs possibly contend with the Freeman Group?! Faye disdainfully said, ¡°| don¡¯t want to hear about maximizing anything. | want to ensure we secure thisnd. If you can¡¯t even beat a bunch of losers, then get ready to pack your stuff and leave!¡± tareis was quite displeased with her attitude, Kaying, ¡°Mn Freemax, fin past a dobonly Handling the bid for thend, and | can¡¯t guarantee wee Ti secure it. Vons¡® it need to be personal present at the bidding eve After Dearma spike, size tuined and left the room without looking track. Caye was infidiated by Deanna¡¯s attitude. ¡°How dare you speak to me in that tone? | can fore you fired right now!¡± Deana stored out, Bethany happened to enter the room, and she had overheard their conversation. ¡°Good morning, Ms. Carver,¡± Deanna greeted Bethany and hurriedly left the office. Her eyes were obviously red. Seeing this, Bethany approached Faye with aforting smile, ¡°Auntie Faye, why bother getting all work up because of her? Even if you don¡¯t like her, you don¡¯t have to deal with her right now. Wait until the bidding event is over. You can always fire her later if necessary,¡± Speaking gently, Bethany reached out and massaged Faye¡¯s shoulders. After a few days of recovery, the injuries on Faye¡¯s face had healed, but the humiliation from the event still lingered. Unfortunately, her father was a businessman, prioritizing profit above all else. Though he knew she had been wronged, he hesitated to take risks and help her get rid of Sheena, especially since she had support from Howard and Jean. Given the circumstances, Bethany could only start with Faye and find an opportunity for revenge herself! Chapter 166 Seeing Bethany. Fave calmed down slightly and affectionately took her harut ¡°Beth, you''re a lilever Without you, I''d be driven mad by these idiots. You¡¯ve probably learned a lot about management while studying abroad. We''ll rely on your help a lot here in the future ¡± Bethany had been waiting for this moment! She smiled bashfully, saying, ¡°Not really, | just know a little bit. But Auntie Faye, rest assured that I''ll do my best to assist you.¡± Initially, Faye¡¯s arrangement for Bethany at thepany was just a courteous gesture, giving her a vacant managerial position. However, in just one afternoon, Bethany had managed to organize the previously disorganized departments, systemizing their structure and operations. Now, Faye hadplete trust in Bethany and assigned two more departments for her to manage. Three dayster, the bidding event for thend in the western suburbs was scheduled. Faye left Bethany at the Freeman Group to handle thepany affairs and attended the event with Erin. Standing at the entrance, they exchanged pleasantries with high-ranking executives from other biddingpanies. After briefly scanning through all the attendingpanies, Faye felt even more confident about winning the bid and was practically on cloud nine. They suddenly heard amotion behind them as they were about to enter. Turning around, they saw a sleek silver¡ªgray Maybach pulling up right in front of them. The passenger door swung open, revealing a woman dressed in a rose-colored tailored mini dress, exuding simplicity and elegance. Underneath her delicate makeup, her breathtaking beauty left Faye and Erin in awe. It was Sheena! That bitch! Erin red at Sheena and whispered to Faye, ¡°Mom, why would shee to an event like this? Faye shook her head. She could not quite figure it out either, but the incident from a few days ago at the Moore Group¡¯s event was still fresh in her memory. Erin seemed to share her thoughts and added, ¡°Could it be that this bitch knows we''re going to win the bid today and deliberately came to stir up trouble?¡± With that in mind, they approached Sheena as she closed her car door. When she turned around, Faye and Erin blocked her with warm smiles, seemingly friendly to onlookers. Once the attention from around them subsided, Erin could not hold back and hissed, ¡°Why can¡¯t you leave us alone? Are you letting the previous incidents get to your head?¡± Sheena covered her mouth, gracefully smiling. ¡°Oh? So, you can participate in the bid, but | can¡¯t?¡± Erin was amused, thinking that she had heard the funniest joke. ¡°You? Do you think you can bid for thend in the western suburbs? Am | hearing correctly?¡± Then, Erin nced at Faye, who was also entertained by Sheena¡¯s statement. ¡°Does Howard really have the power to manipte this bidding just for you? Do you even have the money to buy it?¡± Howard¡¯s influence in the entertainment industry was terrifying. That was a widely known fact. However, his involvement in the real estate business seemed non-existent.N?velDrama.Org content rights. Sheena maintained her smile, exuding an air of elegance andposure. Before she could exin, the driver¡¯s door of the Maybach opened. ¡°What a coincidence! I¡¯m also interested in this bidding event.¡± Adashing young man in a suit stepped out from the driver¡¯s side, walking around the front of the car to stand beside Sheena, The owner of the arrogant voice was... Skye! Faye was taken aback, wondering why Skye would be there too. Could it be that the Zimmer family was also interested in this piece ofnd in the western suburbs? $, fave trad not ween the Flumnes tamily¡¯s name on the participant fit beforehand. If Her dimnes faintly was truly interested in thisnd, this hidding might be challenging¡± Toca expr¡ªstdem turned dark, but Erin¡¯s focus was entirely different huna, som te pestering Eli and seem pretty cozy with Mr. Lawson. Yet, it looks like your rtionship with Mr. Zimmer isn¡¯t exactly that simple either!¡± Erin was consumed by jealousy at the thought of Skye bringing Sheena to the Moore family¡¯s banquet and to this bidding event. ¡°Dors Howard know about your three-timing behavior?¡± sheena had not even said anything when Skye raised an eyebrow and scoffed. ¡°You''re so ugly that | can¡¯t even stand to look at you, and your voice is equally unpleasant. Naturally, you wouldn¡¯t understand how appealing Sheena is.¡± ¡°You!¡± Skye was young and hot-headed, and he always had a sharp tongue for the people he disliked. Erin¡¯s face turned red with anger. She had always been confident with her looks, always being praised and admired wherever she went. Chapter 167 That was the first time someone had treated her with such disdain! The fact that this person was associated with the formidable Zimmer family and also a famous actor only made her angrier. Nevertheless, she was still wary of the Zimmer family¡¯s power, so she could only vent her frustration on Sheena.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°What kind of love potion did you brew for them? Why are they all siding with you?¡± Sheena just smiled and did not answer. However, the more nonchnt she appeared, the more Erin saw it as a deliberate pretense. ¡°Just wait! I¡¯ll make you pay for this!¡± Sheena shrugged. ¡°I''ll be waiting.¡± Seeing that her words did not faze Sheena in the slightest, Erin could only re back fiercely, attempting to overpower Sheena through the momentum. Skye walked in front of Sheena, nced at Faye and Erin in annoyance, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Their presence is making the air at the entrance feel dirty.¡± Sheena let him lead her into the venue. Erin was so infuriated she stomped her foot. If looks could kill, she would have killed Sheena a thousand times over. Faye, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought. Inside the venue, representatives from variouspanies formed small groups, engaging in impromptu discussions before the bidding officially began. Sheena surveyed the room, finally spotting Sarah in a rather low-profile group of people. It was as if they had a mutual understanding. When their gazes met, they exchanged nces, silently conveying something. Coming to an unspoken agreement, they looked away as if nothing had happened. Skye, who had been brought along reluctantly, remained oblivious. He was focused on the organizers¡¯ description of the details of thend in question. He turned to Sheena and asked, Sheena, do you like this piece ofnd? If you do, | can get it and give it to you.¡± Sheena chuckled. ¡°If you really dare to buy it, Old Man Zimmer might break your legs if he finds out.¡± ¡°He won''t punish me. In fact, he¡¯d be delighted because it¡¯s a gift for you,¡± Skye said, smiling warmly. When he gazed at her, his eyes sparkled like stars. ¡°And even if | do get into trouble when | return, it¡¯s worth it for you.¡± Sheena yfully tapped his forehead. ¡°Stop being cheesy.¡± Skye pouted yfully, eximing, ¡°Ouch!¡± He held his forehead in a mock plea forfort, and the bidding event officially began as the two were fooling around. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Representatives from various majorpanies entered the main hall. The seating arrangements had been predetermined, and Sheena went directly to her seat in the first row with her name on it. As the host¡¯s opening remarks filled the room, the bidding eventmenced. Then, servers politely approached each seat, collecting eachpany¡¯s bidding proposals and offers. When they reached Skye and Sheena, Skye waved them off, indicating they had nothing to submit. The servers were taken aback, and they awkwardly skipped the two to move on to the nextpany. Sitting in the first row on the right, Faye observed everything closely. Confirming that Skye had no intention of bidding, she was immediately at ease. If the Zimmer family was not interested inpeting for thend, then it would likely fall into the hands of her Freeman Group! With that in mind, Faye¡¯s tension was reced by a proud confidence. She stood up gracefully, capturing everyone¡¯s attention, and ced the Freeman Group¡¯s bidding proposal and project n elegantly into the wooden box held by a server. Seeing her confident demeanor, otherpanies began to murmur. ¡°Looks like Mr. Zimmer is just here to observe, and with the Freeman Group, a big yer in the lead, thatnd in the western suburbs is probably out of our reach.¡± ¡°Sigh... You''re right. It''s a shame to have made this trip for nothing. We can only offer our early congrattions to the Freeman Group.¡± The crowd sighed in disappointment. Faye heard everything and felt even more pleased. She stood up, smiling humbly at thepany representatives in front and behind her, appearing like the host of the event. ¡°| apologize for any inconvenience, but | must admit that the Freeman Group is determined to get this piece ofnd. This might disappoint everyone, but rest assured, | won¡¯t let your efforts go in vain. Everypany participating in today¡¯s bidding event will have the opportunity to coborate with the Freeman Group on the subsequent development of the western suburbs.¡± Faye¡¯s words sparked excitement among the attendees. Initially, their hopes for thend were low, but now they had the chance to work alongside the Freeman Group, and it felt like an unexpected stroke of luck! Everyone showered Faye with praise and ttery. ¡°Madam Freeman is truly generous. With you leading the Freeman Group, it¡¯s bound to prosper!¡± ¡°Yes, | agree. Our Sky Legion Construction is renowned in this area. Madam Freeman, please do consider us!¡± Amidst this wave ofpliments, Faye felt elevated. So, this is the kind of position that allN?velDrama.Org content rights. companies strive fot, the one with authority and power. How satisfying! Suppressing her excitement, Fayeposed herself and gestured for everyone to quiet down ¡°Rest assured, when the time comes, you only need to submit your project proposals. The Freeman Group will select three outstanding proposals from those and coborate for the collective benefit.¡± ¡°Fantastic! Madam Freeman, you''re so impressive and generous!¡± This round of praise solidified the Freeman Group¡¯s positive reputation. Erin, too, felt gratified by the ttery. Then, she turned her head and instinctively nced at Sheena¡¯s direction, only to find that Sheena was casually ying with her phone, seemingly unconcerned. Erin huffed and walked up to Sheena¡¯s seat, saying rudely, ¡°Sheena, when the hostes out, they''ll announce that thend belongs to the Freeman Group. Everyone in the audience is cheering for the Freeman Group. Why don¡¯t you say a few complimentary words too?¡± Sheena put down her phone, smirking. ¡°Don¡¯t be so eager just yet. What if the Freeman Group loses out in the bidding? Won''t you all be embarrassed?¡± Erin thought Sheena¡¯sment was nothing more than her overestimating herself. After all, how could it not belong to the Freeman Group? There was nopany present that couldpete with them! Erin stared at her mockingly as a malicious idea shed in her mind. ¡°How about a bet?¡± Chapter 169 Shea became intrigues! ¡°What''s the bet?¡± ¡°It the Freeman Group wins the bid, you have to strip naked publicly, admit to being a cheap gestuctress and then leave Parlem forever, never to appear again!¡± It was apparent that Krin wanted to humiliate Sheena by having so many demands despite it being only for one bet skye telt annoyed and was about to retaliate on Sheena¡¯s behalf, but Sheena held him back With a faint smile, Sheena replied, ¡°I''m not asking for much. If any otherpany wins, you just need to kneel and kowtow to me three times,¡± Erin was initially taken aback, but she felt confident she would not lose. Hence, she did not mind the bet. ¡°Sure! I''ll be waiting to see you strip down, losing all your dignity!¡± After her bold statement, Erin confidently returned to her seat. As she sat, the host walked out to announce the results. After some official statements, he produced the final list of winners and began reading, ¡°First to be announced is the Mount Raine District¡¯s plot ofnd. Congrattions to Secure Interlink Construction Company for winning...¡± The earlier announcements were about less significant pieces ofnd. As the host announced each winningpany, apuse followed from the audience.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Erin¡¯s heart raced as the announcement for the western suburbs drew closer, feeling a mixture of excitement and a hint of nervousness. She instinctively looked at Sheena for her reaction, only to find Sheena still lookingposed. Erin scoffed. She wanted to see how Sheena would react when the actual announcement was made. ¡°Lastly, wee to the most coveted piece ofnd in this event, the prime location in the western suburbs. Who will be the winner?¡± On stage, the host¡¯s expression turned mysterious, finally getting to the climax of the event. The atmosphere in the room grew lively. Faye, who had been a bit anxious, immediately felt reassured when she thought she saw the host ncing in her direction. ¡°Let''s congratte the winner of this prestigious spot...¡± As the host announced the winner, Faye stood up directly, even turning around and smiling as she waved toward the back row, disying an expression of triumph. ¡°The winner of the western suburbsnd plot is Serene Real Estate Limited. Congrattions!¡± Faye was about to step onto the stage to present her speech when she heard the unfamiliar name, causing her to freeze. Serene Real Estate Limited?! It was not the Freeman Group that won the bid... How could this be happening? When did this unmemorable smallpany emerge? the bat not even heard of them! At that moment, her gesture of standing up and waving looked like that of a clown. The words Serene Real Estate Limited¡± felt like a series of heavy ps, leaving her utterly embarrassed Whispers spread among the audience as they looked at Faye with sharp gazes. Erin stood up in disbelief and questioned, ¡°This can¡¯t be true! Who the hell is Serene Real Estate Limited? Whether it¡¯s experience, pricing, or reputation, how can theypare to the Freeman Group? Did you coborate in secret and manipte the situation against us?¡± The host¡¯s expression turned sour, warning Erin, ¡°Ms. Freeman, please mind yournguage. We decided based onparing the bid proposals and project ns submitted by eachpany. It waspletely fair and just.¡± ¡°| don¡¯t believe it! Unless you provide evidence, | won¡¯t ept it!¡± Erin persisted. The host was in a difficult situation. After all, bid proposals and project ns were highly confidential and could not be made public. For anypany, this was a strict rule. Hence, what evidence was she talking about? Then again, if they did not provide something, it would make them appear guilty.. Seeing him silent, Erin sneered triumphantly, ¡°As long as you can¡¯t produce evidence, this bid for the western suburbnd is invalid!¡± The host was visibly in a dilemma, mumbling, ¡°Well...¡± Seeing the host¡¯s hesitation, Sheena exchanged a nce with Sarah, who was seated in the back corner. Sarah understood and stood up, walking toward the stage. Chapter 170 ¡°Ms. Freeman doesn¡¯t have a say in the validity of this bid!¡± As the strong and resolute female voice echoed, the crowd turned to look, shocked. The head of Serene Real Estate Limited was sitting in the back row, showing just how small thepany was! How could a smallpany like that be able to win the bid? They might not be able topete with the Freeman Group, but were they really inferior to Serene Real Estate Limited? Majorpanies began to echo Erin¡¯s words, demanding the bid be invalidated. The crowd grew animated with voices expressing their opinions. Sarah, entrusted by Sheena, confidently walked up to the stage and took the microphone. Since everyone insists, let''s project our bid proposal for everyone to see! You''ll know that Serene Real Estate Limited won based on merit!¡± Many scoffed at her words, not believing a smallpany like that could produce anything impressive. The host promptly informed the organizers of the situation. Finally, the organizers agreed to Sarah¡¯s request. Two minutester, therge screen disyed Serene Real Estate Limited¡¯s bid proposal. At first nce, the bid proposal seemed ordinary. However, the more they read, the more they realized the person behind this proposal was incredibly capable. Whether analyzing the industry as a whole or themercial market for the western suburb land, every detail was incredibly urate. The audience was left speechless. Who would have thought that a smallpany like Serene Real Estate Limited would have such remarkable talents? Curiouspanies stood up and asked Sarah, ¡°Excuse me, did you write this bid proposal?¡± Sarah shook her head, ¡°No, our owner wrote it.¡± Little did they know that this was because both the members of Dark Bell and Serene Real Estate Limited employees struggled to produce anything satisfactory, and Sheena was far from pleased with their submissions. In the end, she had to take matters into her own hands and work through the night to produce this proposal.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. However, Sheena frowned and red at Sarah in response. After all, she wanted to be out of sight, just behind the scenes. Sarah realized she had overstepped and quickly lowered her head, avoiding eye contact. The crowd was too preupied to notice their subtle interaction. Everyone was now curious about Serene Real Estate Limited¡¯s owner! Though Serene Real Estate Limited appeared insignificant now, its owner seemed to possets great talent. If they continued to develop, they might be a formidablepetitor in the future! Many people discreetly started searching online, attempting to uncover the mysterious and low-profile owner of Serene Real Estate Limited. With the disy of the bid proposal¡¯s impressive strength, no one dared to question its validity anymore. Although Erin did not quite understand, judging from the reactions of the others and Faye¡¯s expression, she had a rough idea. She could only act like she did not care, trying to lower her presence. Seeing the majorpanies were now thoroughly convinced, Sarah began to speak. ¡°Lastly, on behalf of ourpany, | want to thank Madam Freeman from the Freeman Group. Serene Real Estate Limited might not have had this opportunity without her generosity.¡± This statement was undoubtedly a p in the face for Faye. Everyone present knew just how proud Faye had been before. Generosity? As if! Faye¡¯s face turned red. Just moments ago, she had been basking in praise, and now she wished she could vanish into thin air. Nheless, considering the Freeman Group¡¯s dominant position in the real estate industry, nopanies dared to express extreme opinions despite their dissatisfaction. The bidding event concluded sessfully, and the crowd began to disperse. Erin hunched over and tried to sneak away behind Faye, attempting to leave as quietly as possible. However, Skye cut her off, blocking her path. Sheena¡¯s mischievous voice came from behind, teasing, ¡°Ms. Freeman, are you nning to leave without even a word?¡± Chapter 171 Chapter 171 1/2 The incident at the Freeman mansion still haunted Erin. Initially, she did not expect to lose, which was why she confidently made the bet. Unfortunately for her, she had lost, and fear soon consumed her. Thest time, Erin had only embarrassed herself in front of the servants in the Freeman mansion, and they were all bound by the confidentiality agreements. Hence, she could still throw a fit there without any repercussions. After all, who would dare to criticize her in that situation? Nheless, the circumstances were different now. How would she ever maintain her status in upper¡ªss society if she were to kneel and kowtow to Sheena in front of so many outsiders? There was no way she would kneel! Erin hid behind Faye, unwillingly defending herself, ¡°I was just joking. Why are you taking it so seriously?¡± With hands in his pockets, Skye taunted, ¡°You lost the bet, and now you''re a sore loser. Who would have thought the Freeman family were a bunch of shameless creatures.¡± Faye was utterly confused by the scolding. After asking Erin, she learned about her bet with Sheena and tried to smooth things over, persuading Sheena, ¡°Sheena, we should live and let live. Erin is still young. How could a child¡¯s yful joke count? Besides, aren¡¯t you just humiliating her by doing this?¡± Sheena countered with a smile, saying, ¡°If the bet was in your favor, would you let go of the chance to humiliate me?¡± Of course not! Since their divorce, Faye thought Sheena did not respect her as her former mother-inw, and she dreamed of giving her a piece of her mind! However, she could not say that aloud. With a gentle smile, Faye was about to speak, but Erin interrupted, ¡°How can youpare the two? I¡¯m the heiress of the Freeman family! What are you? Of course, my reputation is more important than yours!¡± With that, Sheena¡¯s expression darkenedpletely. ¡°If you dare to bet, you must be willing to ept the consequences of losing. Madam Freeman, you keep saying that Ms. Freeman is still a child, but have you forgotten that she¡¯s already an adult? She¡¯s ountable for the words she says!¡± Sarah, who had stepped down from the stage, chimed in. She approached and continued the argument, ¡°If Ms. Freeman doesn¡¯t honor the bet and tries to back out, her reputation in the upper-ss society might suffer quite a blow.¡± ¡°This is none of your business!¡± Erin tugged at Faye¡¯s arm, ring at Sarah. Chapter 171 Faye nced at both Sheena and Sarah, feeling suspicious. ¡°Ms. Peterson, you¡¯re taking her side right off the bat. Do you know each other well?*. ¡°lm merely stating a fact,¡± replied Sarah. She did not look at Sheena, and both of them were like strangers. Faye briefly examined the two but did not dwell on it. Erin, however, flew into a rage, screaming, ¡°I don¡¯t care! The previous bet doesn¡¯t count! I''ll never bow down to you, bitch!¡± With that, she pushed past Skye, determined to leave the venue. Sheena¡¯s eyes flickered coldly, saying, ¡°You won''t have a say in this. Before Erin could react, a sudden pain struck the back of her knees. ¡°Al¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Erin lost her bnce and fell on all fours before Sheena. Skye and Sarah burst intoughter. Erin¡¯s posture was utterly embarrassing! If she had simply kneeled and kowtowed as she should, perhaps she would not be in such a sorry state. Sheena looked at Erin on the floor, smirking. ¡°Good girl, you¡¯re so obedient! Remember this next time, and don¡¯t take bets lightly.¡± Erin struggled to get up from the ground, but the pain in her knee left her unable to exert any force. Her hands slipped, causing her to kneel again. Skye was nearly doubled over inughter. Unfortunately, most attendees had left the scene, leaving only a few witnesses to Erin¡¯s embarrassing moment. Nevertheless, they were afraid to offend the Freeman family and only dared to stifle theirughter. Erin was both embarrassed and furious. ¡°How dare you ambush me?!¡± Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! Chapter 172 Faye was livid and hurried to help Erin up. However, she could not lift her, no matter how much she pulled. Instead, she slipped and fell herself. Seeing this, Sheena raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. ¡°Madam Freeman, you''re being too kind. There¡¯s no need for such gestures. Although | must say, | certainly enjoy this.¡± Once again, Skye burst intoughter, making Faye¡¯s anger re up. She red at Sheena, gnashing her teeth. ¡°You''re going too far! Show some restraint!¡± Sheena blinked innocently, her eyes sparkling. ¡°Am | going too far? Hmm... | think I¡¯m not quite there yet. After all, the sound of Ms. Freeman¡¯s head hitting the ground wasn¡¯t quite loud enough.¡± Erin felt a sense of dread. Yet, before she could react, a sharp pain shot through the back of her neck, causing her to lose her bnce and her head to crash heavily onto the ground. Someone in the crowd gasped when they heard the loud thud. It sounded really painful! When Erin lifted her head again, she found arge swollen lump on her forehead, and she looked ridiculous. ¡°Ahh!¡± Erin was furious and utterly mortified. She felt like burying herself under a nket and nevering out again.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Faye was a mix of anger and concern. However, considering Erin was at fault, scolding her directly in front of everyone was inappropriate. Eventually, Faye helped the limping Erin and left the venue. Once most people had departed, the two bodyguards who had thrown pebbles at Erin from the shadows stepped out. Sheena smiled approvingly andplimented them, ¡°Well done. You''ll be getting a raise for that.¡± Meanwhile, Elijah had been tirelessly searching for days in the mountain range connecting Farlem and Luivine, practically turning the entire mountain upside down. The sophisticated technological devices he brought were now useless as they were out of battery, and the search for Sheena had be increasingly daunting. Elijah¡¯s subordinates sighed in frustration yet were too afraid of his potential wrath to voice their concerns. He leaned against a tree, lighting up a cigarette. If something really had happened to Sheena, it would have been impossible that they had not found a single trace, even after days of meticulous searching. Asubordinate, the one leading the team, approached Elijah and asked hesitantly, ¡°Mr. Freeman, is it possible that the information was incorrect? Perhaps Ms. Sheena ended up somewhere else? The night was dark, and Leon might not have seen where she fell clearly. Moreover, what if she fell into a river? The signal is weak in the mountains, and we can¡¯t send more people to help Mahe Chapter Before he could finish his sentence, Elijah¡¯s expression turned gloomier. ¡°No, she¡¯s not dead.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± The subordinate was taken aback. Surviving a fall from such a height was nearly impossible! Elijah remained silent. The information from Jonah could not possibly be wrong, and Leon was not lying¡ªSheena did fall from the ne. Besides, the detection equipment he brought was foolproof; even if she had fallen into a river, there should still be some trace. Hence, only one possibility remained. Elijah frowned as a sudden realization hit him. ¡°Let''s head back to Farlem!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Freeman!¡± His subordinates quickly followed his orders, packing their belongings in haste, eager to return to Farlem as fast as possible. Just as they were about to leave, a group approached them, supporting each other as they walked toward them. Chapter 173 The man in the id shirt and sses at the front approached Elijah, asking, ¡°Sir, we''re all here for a holiday, but we got lost. We''ve been stuck here for days. Our luggage is gone, and we''re starving. Do you happen to know the way out of the mountains?¡± Elijah remained silent, only meeting the man¡¯s gaze. His obsidian eyes gave nothing away about his thoughts. The man nced at the subordinates behind Elijah and continued trying to be friendly. ¡°Sir, it seems like you¡¯re nning to leave the mountains too. How about we join forces? We could look out for each other on the way.¡± In contrast to the man¡¯s enthusiasm, Elijah appeared aloof. He studied the group of men behind the id-shirted man. With a military background, Elijah was naturally cautious about strangers suddenly appearing. These people imed they were on holiday, yet their clothes were not as dirty as they should be after days without washing. In fact, it appeared as if they deliberately dirtied their clothes. Despite their disheveled appearance, their eyes were bright, unlike those starving for days. Elijah frowned, sensing that something was not right about this group. One of his subordinates beside him quickly noticed his change in demeanor and became wary as well. Elijah smiled and replied, ¡°No need to join us. We''re not going the same way.¡± Then, he turned to leave. ¡°Well, where are you headed then? Since we''re all out here, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to make some friends,¡± the id¡ªshirted man persisted, attempting to pat Elijah¡¯s shoulder. Before the man could even touch his shoulder, Elijah grabbed the man¡¯s hand tightly. The atmosphere suddenly grew tense. Elijah held onto the man with one hand and reached toward the man¡¯s pocket. Sensing trouble, the man tried to stop him, but his new knife handle was exposed in his pocket. Elijah sneered, his gaze growing icy. ¡°What a new knife! | doubt you''re here just for a holiday. Who sent you?¡± Realizing he had been discovered, the man dropped the act, his expression turning sinister. ¡°Since you''re already here, don¡¯t expect to leave alive!¡± With those words, the man pulled out a small knife and lunged toward Elijah. Elijah swiftly dodged the attack, and they quickly engaged in a fight. The rest of the group took notice and drew their weapons. The two groups shed, and chaos ensued. After returning home and calming Erin down, Faye headed to thepany and called BethanyExclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. over. As Bethany approached the CEO¡¯s office, a coffee cup suddenly crashed beside her. She had heard about the Freeman Group¡¯s failed bid, so she smiled as she walked up behind Faye, offering to massage her temples. ¡°Being angry isn¡¯t worth harming your health, Auntie Faye.¡± With a throbbing headache, Faye closed her eyes, enjoying the massage while trying to calm her emotions. Bethany continued, ¡°I looked into that Serene Real Estate Limited. They were originally a struggling smallpany on the brink of bankruptcy. Somehow, they made a remarkable recovery recently and won the bid for thend in the western suburbs. There¡¯s more to it than meets the eye.¡± Faye opened her eyes and gently held Bethany¡¯s hand. ¡°Then, I''ll rely on you, Beth, to investigate this real estatepany¡¯s hidden owner. If we can offer her a better sry to join the Freeman Group, she might be willing to hand over thend in the western suburbs.¡± Bethany frowned and asked, ¡°But if she¡¯s already a sessful owner, why would she want to work for the Freeman Group?¡± Faye fell into a momentary silence. ¡°If the person can¡¯t be of use to the Freeman Group, then we''ll have to kick them and thepany out of Farlem.¡± ¡°Understood, Auntie Faye. But...¡± Bethany hesitated, appearing to be in a dilemma. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Chapter 174 ¡°My position within the Freeman Group is still too low. Many people don¡¯t take me seriously. At this rate, I''m afraid | won¡¯t be able to help you much, Auntie Faye.¡± Faye waved her hand. You can have any department you want.¡± Bethany was overjoyed. ¡°Thank you, Auntie Faye.¡± Bethany left the CEO¡¯s office and headed straight to the corresponding departments to oversee the transition. This time, Bethany took charge of the human resources and finance departments. She always struck the right bnce, asking for enough without raising Faye¡¯s suspicions. With control over the human resources department, she could ce her own people there, and the finance department was the lifeblood of the entirepany. With these two pieces in her hands, the Freeman Group would be her ything in no time. Once she had the Freeman Group, she would possess significant power. Bethany¡¯s first target was Sheena, the bitch who embarrassed her at the Moore Group¡¯s opening ceremony. The thought excited Bethany, but she did not let herself get too carried away. After all, she still had tasks assigned by Faye to complete. Hence, Bethany secretly arranged for someone to infiltrate the Serene Real Estate Limitedpany. Whether it was to gather information or create mischief, it was all in her favor. Sheena was sitting in the Angle Group office, dealing with various matters, when she received a call from Sarah.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Sarah sounded serious as she reported, ¡°There¡¯s some insider information from the Freeman Group.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Faye handed over five departments, including the human resources and finance departments, all to Bethany.¡± Sheena chuckled and shook her head. She could not believe Faye would entrust even the finance department to an outsider. How naive was Faye? It seemed that before long, the Freeman Group would be ruined by Faye, all ending up in Bethany¡¯s hands. Faye knew nothing about running a business, yet she was toying around with Sebastian¡¯s hard work. If Sebastian knew about this, he would probably crawl out of his grave and teach the fool a lesson! oler 174 232 Although Sheena was pleased to see the Freeman Group¡¯s downfall, she promised Sebastian that she would protect the company. Thus, she was determined to have the Freeman Group! After considering that, Sheena ordered Sarah, ¡°Have someone keep a close eye on Bethany. Let me know immediately if she makes a move. Also, if there¡¯s any discreet selling of shares by the Freeman Group, buy them all regardless of the price.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After receiving the order, Sarah quickly went to work. An hourter, Sheena received another call from Sarah. ¡°As you guessed, Bethany is already making moves. Among the candidates who applied to Serene Real Estate Limited, one person''s background seems very suspicious. | had our people follow the lead and found out he had a phone call with an unknown number today. Shortly after, one hundred and fifty thousand dors appeared in his ount. Sarah paused briefly before continuing, ¡°Should we threaten him a bit, maybe rough him up a little, and then send him to Bethany to establish our dominance?¡± Sheena gave it a thought, smirking as she replied, ¡°No, Let''s hire him.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sarah was puzzled. ¡°He¡¯s likely a corporate spy sent by Bethany. Won''t keeping him around risk leakingpany secrets?¡± ¡°It''s better to keep an eye on him up close. And besides, | want him to leak the secrets,¡± Sheea said calmly, and her eyes glistened as she spoke. ¡°It won¡¯t be long before Bethany bankrupts the Freeman Group, and we''ll be helping her this time!¡± Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! Chapter 175 After finishing the call with Sarah, Sheena tidied up her desk, preparing to head upstairs to find Howard. Since Noah had been in Farlem for quite a while, she nned to go with Howard to check on Hannah¡¯s condition, hoping to free Noah as soon as possible. Upon arriving at the CEO''s office on the top floor, Sheena found that Yuri was not waiting outside. However, she did not think much of it and found that the office door was not locked either. As she gently pushed the door open, she heard a husky voice from inside, seemingly on a phone call. ¡°Aren''t you being too aggressive? After all, it involves Nana. | think she might have her own ns...¡± Did it involve her? What could be so secretive that Howard was discussing it like this? Sheena was about to listen in a bit more when the door was suddenly pushed open from the inside. It seemed that Yuri keenly noticed her presence. Howard casually put away his phone, looking at her affectionately. ¡°When did you arrive? Why didn¡¯t youe in?¡± Sheena felt a bit embarrassed at being caught, awkwardly touching her ear. ¡°I just got here. | was waiting for you to have some free time to visit the Moore family together and check Hannah¡¯s condition.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ve finished my work now. Let¡¯s go.¡± Sheena obediently nodded. When their gazes met, she noticed hisposed and calm expression. Had she misheard it? [23 Nevertheless, Sheena did not dwell on it. Even if her brothers kept something from her, they would never harm her. Just as they were about to leave for the Moore family, they received a message from Noah informing them that Hannah¡¯s health had improved, and since he had been in Farlem for too long, he was now heading to a private airport to return to Luivine. Hence, they ended up heading to the private airport. In the backseat of the car, Sheena asionally turned her head to sneak nces at Howard, who was busy reading a newspaper. The sunlight shone through the car window, casting a warm halo on his hair, and he appeared exceptionally handsome. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Howard noticed her gaze and asked. Sheena hesitated for a few cogend you want to tell me?¡± Howard froze but quickly replied, ¡°No, | don¡¯t.¡± ¡®Alright, then, Sheena thought.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. 2/2 Sheena fell silent, looking back out the car window. If Howard did not want to say anything, she decided to let it 1. go. They soon arrived at the private airport, and Sheena gave Noah a big hug as soon as she got out of the car. ¡°Noah, thank you for your help.¡± Noah reached out to ruffle her hair. His cold expression finally softened a bit when he saw her, saying, ¡°Silly girl.¡± The three siblings chatted. As time was running out, Sheena and Howard watched Noah board the ne. ¡°Wait! Something has happened to the Moore family!¡± Noah had just stepped onto the boardingdder when Yuri rushed over. Stopping in his tracks, he turned around and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Someone from the Moore family informed me that Ms. Hannah suddenly fainted at home. Madam Moore isn¡¯t sure if it¡¯s due to some mistake from the previous surgery, which might have affected her cerebral nerve. She wants Mr. Noah toe over and check on her again.¡± Fainted? Sheena frowned. Noah had personally performed the surgery; how could there be a mistake? Was someone deliberately framing him? However, using this as a reason to suggest Noah was medically ipetent was the same as digging their own grave. Howard was equally puzzled while Noah''s face grew gloomier. ¡°Let''s go and see what¡¯s going on.¡± Spin to im Your Surprise Reward Chapter 176 This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 177 Hannah¡¯s knuckles turned white as she gripped onto the bed sheet too tightly. Despite being fearful of his response, a tiny sliver of hope lingered within her.N?velDrama.Org content rights. However, Noah said nothing, removing her hand coldly. He pushed the door open and left without looking back at her. Vanessa and Sheena, who had been chatting on the sofa outside the room, were both startled by Noah¡¯s chilling expression as he emerged. Vanessa was the first to ask, ¡°Mr. Noah! W-what''s wrong?¡± Noah ignored her, addressing Sheena directly, ¡°You knew she was pretending to be sick.¡± Was he actually angry? This was the first time Noah spoke to Sheena in such a tone, and she felt guilty, mumbling, ¡°I... Noah did not give her a chance to exin. Instead, he walked downstairs and left. Sheena was about to follow him, but Vanessa grabbed her and led her into the room to check Hannah''s condition. Hannah¡¯s eyes were red, as though she had just been crying, and she appeared to be in a bad mood. Vanessa hugged her, looking pained. ¡°Hannah, | already advised you not to do it! Noah¡¯s too aloof, and he won''t have feelings for you. But you just had to try, and now you¡¯re hurt!¡± Hannah bit her lip, remaining silent. Knowing that Hannah was stubborn and unyielding once she set her mind to something, Vanessa turned to Sheena for help. ¡°Sheena, for the sake of our good rtionship, please help Hannah. You managed to bring Mr. Noah¡¯to Farlem. I¡¯m sure you have a way to make him stay! Sheena shook her head; her expression serious as she replied, ¡°It¡¯s no use. He¡¯s a man of strong principles. If he doesn¡¯t like it, no amount of persuasion will work.¡± Though this bluntness might be a little harsh for Hannah, Sheena had no other choice but to be straightforward. After all, better a temporary pain than a long one, and Hannah had toe to terms with the reality on her own. Vanessa sighed in disappointment. Seeing this heartbreaking scene, Sheena realized she could not do much to help and decided to leave. ¡°Sheena!¡± Hannah called her, asking, ¡°Are you my enemy?¡± Vanessa trembled with fear. The fate of Jennifer was still fresh in her memory, and she froze. Sheena stood quietly, but without exining or looking back, she simply left the Moore mansion. Chapter 178 2/2 Sarah, on the other end of the call, was surprised. ¡°Ms. Lawson, if he tells Bethany and the n is leaked, they might obstruct our coboration with Sky Legion Construction.¡± Sheena pursed her lips and smiled. ¡°It depends on whether they¡¯re capable of doing that.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sarah could not quite grasp her intentions, so she just followed her instructions obediently. That evening... Bethany arrived at the Freeman mansion in a great mood, seeking recognition from Faye. ¡®Auntie Faye, | managed to get my hands on the cooperation n between Serene Real Estate Limited and Sky Legion Construction.¡± Faye was delighted. ¡°Really?¡± Then, she eagerly took the proposal from Bethany¡¯s hands and read through it carefully, saying, ¡°Fantastic! Having this proposal will make things much easier.¡± Bethany chimed in, ¡°Now that we know Serene Real Estate Limited¡¯s offer to Sky Legion Construction, we just need to multiply that price several times to outbid them and snatch this cooperation.¡± ¡°Serene Real Estate Limited is a smallpany to begin with, so they''re short on funds. Once they''ve paid the advance, we can disturb the coboration. Then, as they won''t have the money or the leverage to secure a better construction materialspany, they''ll be left helpless and have to give up thend.¡± Listening to her, Faye could not stopughing. ¡°Excellent. I¡¯ll leave this matter entirely to you. No matter the cost, the Freeman Group can afford it!¡± Bethany nodded. Faye patted her shoulder and looked at her earnestly. ¡°Beth, | trust you the most. Don¡¯t let me down!¡± Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Howard nodded, replying, ¡°Corey located him in the mountains between Farlem and Luivine¡± That was not surprising at all. After all, Corey had his ways in both legal and illegal circles, and his informationwork was indeed more extensive than Dark Bell''s. But... ¡°Why would he go there?¡± Howard remained silent, seemingly finding it difficult to speak. Sheena connected all the dots and significant events from that period. After careful consideration, she shook her head with a wry smile. ¡°Is he there to recover my body, thinking I¡¯m dead? Can''t he let me find peace even when I¡¯m dead?¡± Howard was caught off guard by herment and quickly changed the subject, ¡°He got stuck in the mountains, which dyed his return. But he¡¯ll probably be back in Farlem in no more than a week.¡± Sheena¡¯s expression stiffened. Aweek was too soon. If Bethany was not acting swiftly enough and Elijah could return in time to take control, it would be difficult to bankrupt the Freeman Group. Howard sensed her worry and asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s your next move?¡± Sheena locked eyes with him and smiled faintly. ¡°Alright, I''ll surprise him on the day he returns!¡± Howard met her intense gaze, but he looked away as he felt slightly guilty. Actually, there were two things he kept from her... Corey¡¯s people were the ones who trapped Elijah. Since he had never liked that troublemaker, Corey took the chance to teach him a lesson. Secondly, Elijah¡¯s search for her was not out of ill intention. He wanted to save her. If Sheena dug a little deeper, she would find that Leon¡¯s hijacking incident had nothing to do with Elijah. However, she was just reluctant to look into it, preferring to believe that Elijah was at fault. Howard wanted to exin, but ultimately said nothing, believing that even if Elijah was not at fault this time, he still owed her for the suffering she endured in the past three years! With an approximate timeline for Elijah¡¯s return in mind, Sheena was in high spirits. The next day, she had Sarah disguise herself as a prominent shareholder of Serene Real Estate Limited for a public event. The suburbannd in the western part of the city had been acquired, but the construction project details needed to be discussed with Sky Legion Construction for cooperation. ¡°Tonight, bring that mole from the Freeman Group to the Sky Legion Construction gathering. Make sure to allow him to get the ns privately.¡± Sarah, on the other end of the call, was surprised. ¡°Ms. Lawson, if he tells Bethany and the n is leaked, they might obstruct our coboration with Sky Legion Construction.¡± Sheena pursed her lips and smiled. ¡°It depends on whether they¡¯re capable of doing that.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sarah could not quite grasp her intentions, so she just followed her instructions obediently.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. That evening... Bethany arrived at the Freeman mansion in a great mood, seeking recognition from Faye. ¡°Auntie Faye, | managed to get my hands on the cooperation n between Serene Real Estate Limited and Sky Legion Construction.¡± Faye was delighted. ¡°Really?¡± Then, she eagerly took the proposal from Bethany¡¯s hands and read through it carefully, saying, ¡°Fantastic! Having this proposal will make things much easier.¡± Bethany chimed in, ¡°Now that we know Serene Real Estate Limited¡¯s offer to Sky Legion Construction, we just need to multiply that price several times to outbid them and snatch this cooperation.¡± ¡°Serene Real Estate Limited is a smallpany to begin with, so they''re short on funds. Once they''ve paid the advance, we can disturb the coboration. Then, as they won''t have the money or the leverage to secure a better construction materialspany, they''ll be left helpless and have to give up thend.¡± Listening to her, Faye could not stopughing. ¡°Excellent. I''ll leave this matter entirely to you. No matter the cost, the Freeman Group can afford it!¡± Bethany nodded. Faye patted her shoulder and looked at her earnestly. ¡°Beth, | trust you the most. Don¡¯t let me down!¡± 1/2 Chapter 179 apter 179 thany nodded and began the arrangements the next day. However, when she approached e representative at Sky Legion Construction to discuss the coboration, they regretfully formed her, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Carver, but Serene Real Estate Limited has already increased eir offer to 150 million dors from the original price. We can¡¯t provide you with these aterials unless... you also raise your bid?¡± r this batch of construction materials, Serene Real Estate Limited had actually managed to crease their bid to 150 million dors! ere they out of their minds? ell, it worked out for the best. The fact that they were willing to invest all that money into e construction of thend indicated their high interest in it. In other words, it had be a ake-or¡ªbreak project for their entirepany. the coboration fell through, they would incur massive losses, dere bankruptcy, and the nd would end up belonging to the Freeman Group. inking about this, Bethany mmed the table without hesitation. ¡°The Freeman Group can ise their offer to 200 million dors for this batch of materials.¡± ne person in charge at Sky Legion Construction clicked his tongue twice, somewhat sdainful. ¡°Well... doing business does involve reputation. You''ve only added 50 million >rs, and you want us to break the agreement with Serene Real Estate Limited. Isn''t that a t embarrassing? Besides, we can¡¯t just negotiate with them like that!¡± ethany¡¯s expression soured, but before she could retort, the Sky Legion Construction presentative¡¯s assistant entered the room and whispered in his ear, ¡°Serene Real Estate mited just added another 150 million dors.¡± hough whispered, Bethany heard it loud and clear, and her face darkened. As the future eiress of the Carver family, soon to take/over the Freeman Group, how could she possibly se to a smallpany like Serene Real Estate Limited?Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. riven by herpetitiveness, Bethany shot up from her seat, mming the empty coffee up on the table in front of the representative. ang! he man was startled, and Bethany lifted her chin with pride, saying, ¡°750 million dors! In ash!¡± ¡®he representative¡¯s eyes lit 1. up. ¡°Deal!¡± Meanwhile, at Sky Legion Construction, in the adjacent meeting room... heena sat at the head of the table with a set of exquisite tea utensils in front of her. She almly discarded the first pot of brewed tea, steeping the tea leaves once more, and started the 217 Sarah sat on her left, silently watching her rxed and skilled movements. She marveled at how Sheena, as the heiress of the Lawson family, had left Svelton for a full six years yet remembered every detail of the tea etiquette. The sound of the door opening shattered the silence of the meeting room. The representative''s assistant entered with a delighted expression, ¡°You guessed right! The Freeman Group has indeed followed suit. They offered 750 million dors in cash! As soon as the funds from the Freeman Groupe in, we''ll split them ording to the contract. You''ll get 80%, and Sky Legion Construction will get 20%.¡± Sheena remained silent, fully engrossed in tasting her tea. Sarah got up to shake hands with the assistant, saying, ¡°Great! We look forward to that.¡± Most top-tierpanies preferred using checks, leaving it to banks forter withdrawal as they did not keep much cash on hand. The fact that the Freeman Group could instantly produce so much cash showed their substantial strength. Unfortunately, once all that cash was invested, it would only leave them with greater vulnerabilities. Late that night, amidst thunder and lightning, heavy rain poured down. In the mountain region between Farlem and the Luivine, a group of people dashed desperately along a narrow mountain path. ¡°Mr. Freeman, there¡¯s a cave over there!¡± The group hurried toward the small, dark cave, quickly covering its entrance with some cut grass. It was a decent ce for temporary hiding. Chapter 180 Elijah¡¯s normally neat, short hair was soaked by rain, hanging over his forehead. His exceptionally handsome face appeared unnaturally pale, with not even a hint of color on his lips. Just as he had caught his breath, the intense pain in his waist made him suddenly feel dizzy, and he had to kneel and prop himself up with one knee, unable to hold on any longer. ¡°Mr. Freeman!¡± Despite running all this way with him in the rain, hispanions were oblivious to his injury. Elijah, although wounded, had not made a single sound. Only now did they notice the deep, long gash on his side, which was bing pale from the rain but still oozed blood. Moreover, Elijah¡¯s body was heating up as if he had a fever! If they could not stop the bleeding and reduce his fever in time, his life would be in danger! Fortunately, his subordinates were mostly individuals who had emerged from the military and knew first aid. Soon, they rushed around, utilizing their knowledge, but it took nearly an hour to bandage Elijah¡¯s wound properly due to limited resources. Elijah woke up from a hazy state, his parched and pale lips uttering, ¡°Back to Farlem... tomorrow!¡± His subordinate, Lionel, was frantic. Elijah was practically delirious from his fever, yet he was still fixated on returning to Farlem?! ¡°Mr. Freeman, your body is too weak. Those people outside are still looking for us. If you act rashly, you might reopen your wound. Are you really willing to risk your life?¡±N?velDrama.Org content rights. Elijah bit his lip. He had ovee even heavier injuries before, so what was this? As the pain subsided, he began to piece together the events. ¡°Did you notice that the people we fought with had a small tattoo on the inside of their arms that looks exactly the same?¡± Lionel thought for a moment, tore off a piece of cloth that was about to be used for bandaging Elijah¡¯s wound, mixed it with some mud from the ground, and sketched the tattoo based on his memory, handing it to Elijah. Agroup of people huddled around the torn cloth with the tattoo discussing it. ¡°This looks like a crest with some kind of animal.¡± ¡°Right! An animal. Do these sides look like two horns? A rhinoceros!¡± Just as Logan finished speaking, Lionel punched him in the head, ¡°Idiot! A rhinoceros has ears on both sides, only one horn!¡± While they chatted animatedly, Elijah¡¯s intensely focused gaze remained fixed on the cloth. After a brief moment of contemtion, he weakly spoke, ¡°It¡¯s a deer, and | clearly remember the writing at the bottom of the crest-LWSN.¡± Although his voice was soft, his subordinates heard it, and their expressions turned grave. Years ago, during a joint operation, they had cooperated with a team from Svelton¡¯s Lawson family, It seemed that the Lawson family¡¯s team members had a simr tattoo. Why was their former ally turning into their enemy? Along silence filled the cave, and Elijah was lost in thought. After a while, Lionel was the first to speak, attempting to exin, ¡°Mr. Freeman, it might be a misunderstanding. We¡¯ve gone underground for so many years after leaving the military, so not many people know about us. This could be a mix-up...¡± Elijah remained silent, his gaze chilling. After all, it was evident they were after them. To his knowledge, there was an experienced team with detection and concealment abilities in his possession, belonging to Corey, the eldest son of the Lawson family, which operated in both the legal and illegal domains. Howard and Corey were brothers. Moreover, during his confrontation with the leader, that person mentioned, ¡°Instead of asking me who | am, you should ask who you''ve let down!¡± Upon hearing that statement, Sheena unexpectedly shed through his mind, causing him to momentarily lose focus and allow that person to wound him. Could this matter be connected to Sheena? If it was, and if Howard and Corey were willing to go to such lengths for her, then who exactly was Sheena? Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Elijah¡¯s emotions were a mess. He contemted the situation and ordered decisively, ¡°We must return to Farlem tomorrow!¡± Lionel remained silent. After many dilemmas, he took advantage of Elijah¡¯s weakened state and swiftly struck the back of his head. With a muffled groan, Elijah fainted on the spot. The other subordinates were horrified when they saw what had just happened. ¡°Lionel, do you have a death wish? Once Mr. Freeman wakes up, he won¡¯t spare you!¡± Lionel appeared determined as he obediently knelt by Elijah¡¯s feet. ¡°If | didn¡¯t do that, he¡¯d surely crawl back even in this condition. You know how fearless he is! He¡¯s severely injured and has a fever. | can¡¯t let him risk his life. Even if he wants to kill meter, I''ll ept it!¡± Others sighed helplessly but said nothing. Two dayster, at the Freeman Group¡¯s CEO''s office, the sound of things being thrown could be heard even through the door. Bethany nced at the shattered coffee cup on the floor and gently consoled Faye, ¡°Auntie Faye, calm down. We were definitely yed by Serene Real Estate Limited. They prepaid such a high price for the goods reserved with Sky Legion Construction, so how could it be of poor quality?¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°To think we couldn¡¯t even handle a smallpany like them! How did you manage things?¡± Faye was furious! Even more infuriating was spending 750 million dors in cash for a pile of nearly unusable defective products. Moreover, the contract had been premeditated, with the goods¡® type obscurely filled in. Bethany checked it multiple times when signing yet failed to notice, leading to the impossibility of causing trouble for Sky Legion Construction with the contract now. As a result, the pile of defective products was now a worthless burden, and the 750 million dors went down the drain, posing a potential liquidity issue if any other problems arose in thepany¡¯s other projects. Though not skilled in management, Faye was quick¡ªwitted when it came to losing money. Bethany knew she was in the wrong, and she could only apologize, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Auntie Faye. | was careless. I''ll do my best to compensate for this loss. Please trust me one more time. | might''ve made a mistake this time, but I¡¯ve contributed a lot to the company before. Auntie Faye, please think about my merits.¡± Bethany was right. Prior to this incident, she had efficiently handled all matters within thepany. Faye gradually cooled down, finally in a better mood. 2/2 ¡°Forget it. | don¡¯t care what methods you use, just quickly recover this loss.¡± ¡°Alright, Auntie Faye, you can trust me,¡± Bethany replied calmly. Exiting the office, she suddenly turned serious. Any method would do? If that was the case, she had no choice but to do it this way! Sheena sat in her car at Serene Real Estate Limited¡¯s garage. She had recently reced the ss of her Passat at the dealership. It now not only provided privacy by blocking visibility in the car but also provided soundproofing to prevent eavesdropping. Sarah approached Sheena¡¯s car, ensuring there were no onlookers before getting in. ¡°Ms. Lawson, to cover the loss from the contract with Sky Legion Construction, Bethany took on many projects and received many prepayments.¡¯ IT Sheena was shocked to hear that Bethany was taking on so many projects. Where did she get such courage? Even though Bethany studied abroad, it seemed shecked practical experience as she flustered when faced with just a bit of trouble. By robbing Peter to pay Paul, the loopholes would only grow. Sheena pursed her lips, contemting before asking, ¡°During this period, | instructed you to acquire all the scattered shares of the Freeman Group at a high price. How¡¯s that going?¡± ¡°Ms. Lawson, take a look.¡± Sarah handed her the neatly organized documents. ¡°To avoid suspicion, we''ve been acquiring about three shares at a time. Over these days, a total of 15% of the shares are now under your name.* Sheena focused on examining the documents as Sarah continued, ¡°Currently, Elijah holds 40 % of the controlling shares in the Freeman Group, making him thergest shareholder and the CEO. The remaining 45% includes the 15% held by Elijah¡¯s uncle, Wilfred Freeman.¡± Sheena shook her head, frowning. ¡°No, we can¡¯t touch that 15%. Wilfred is cunning and very vignt. Try not to alert him.¡± ¡°That leaves Erin with 10%, and Faye has 20% of the shares. If we can acquire their shares, your total stake will be 5% more than Elijah¡¯s, making you thergest shareholder in the Freeman Group. However... Chapter 182 Sarah stopped mid-sentence, feeling a bit concerned. Then, she continued, ¡°However, getting shares from Erin and Faye is difficult as they won''t give them up easily. Ms. Lawson, do you have a n for the next steps?¡± Sheena lowered her head in thought, smiling as she said, ¡°There¡¯s no rush. Someone¡¯s more desperate than us right now.¡± Bethany was indeed desperate. She had just taken on many projects, received a heap of prepayments, and was pushing thepletion of old projects to scrape together funds from material costs. It was a struggle, but she managed to recover the losses from the contract with Sky Legion Construction. The next day, however, a construction site issue arose due to material quality problems, and the buildings scheduled for completion this month suddenly copsed, affecting adjacent structures. In other words, they would require demolition and reconstruction, needing even more significant funds than the loss from the Sky Legion Construction contract. During this time, Bethany discreetly pocketed money from small projects, but now, with holes everywhere in thepany, she did not have enough cash to cover such a massive shortfall. Moreover, Faye constantly inquired about updates, disying a completeck of trust in her. Bethany sat in her office, overwhelmed with anxiety. As she was deep in her thoughts, the office phone on her desk rang. It was a direct call from Faye¡¯s office. She had to force a smile and answered, ¡°Auntie Faye, how may | help you?¡± Faye sounded a bit displeased on the other end. ¡°Bethany, why didn¡¯t youe in to report today? Did something go wrong again?¡± Bethany was caught off guard, quickly answering in a ttering tone, ¡°No, Auntie Faye, | would havemunicated with you immediately if there were any issues. Due to the recent workload, | haven¡¯t had a chance to report to you yet. Give me a few more hours and I''lle in after | go through all the projects.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Faye immediately hung up. Bethany clenched her fists, feeling incredibly anxious, Faye imed to trust her the most. However, if that were the case, she would not be questioning her daily. She knew it was just a ploy to manipte her with incaningless words. Bethany had enough, and her gaze gradually turned cunning as she quickly arranged for people to modify the ident details in the project. Armed with the altoved dat As soon as Bethany pushed the door open, she hurriedly rushed to Faye¡¯s desk and eximed, ¡°Auntie Faye, something bad came up!¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Do you remember the old project in Delomora? Apparently, the buildings in the project copsed half a month ago, and it was rather serious. However, the project manager kept it hidden, afraid of taking responsibility. If | hadn¡¯t investigated thoroughly today, this matter might still be under wraps!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Faye eximed, quickly flipping through the documents. Bethany observed her reaction and continued, ¡°The cost of this remedial project is enormous. With other projects underway, we need substantial funding. If our funds can¡¯t keep up, all projects will be forced to halt, and thepany will be paralyzed!¡± Faye slumped into her chair. Oh no! She was doomed! The hard work of several generations of the Freeman family would not copse in her hands so soon, right? ¡°If my husband and father-inw were still alive, they would be furious enough to strangle me!¡± Trembling with fear, Faye instinctively reached for her phone and said, ¡°No! We need to find Elijah immediately to take charge!¡± Bethany forcefully grabbed her hand. ¡°Auntie Faye, aside from not knowing where Elijah is right now, it might be toote by the time we find him. If we don¡¯t fill this massive hole in time, the crisis for the Freeman Group will only get more severe.¡± ¡°So... what do we do?¡± Bethany slyly smirked and said, ¡°I know another way!¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 183 Chapter 183 ¡°What is it?¡± Bethany gently squeezed Faye¡¯s hand,forting her. Eventually, she took the phone from Faye¡¯s hand and ced it aside, saying, ¡°While the Freeman Group isn¡¯t fully in crisis yet, you should sell your shares at a high price!¡± ¡°No way!¡± Faye widened her eyes. ¡°Those shares are not to be sold! I¡¯m counting on them for my retirement. If | sell them, I''ll lose my influence at the Freeman Group! Absolutely not!¡± Bethany sighed, continuing to calm her. ¡°Auntie Faye, just think about it. If the Freeman Group can¡¯t weather this crisis, your shares will be worthless. Besides, there¡¯s no need to worry! You''re just temporarily selling off your shares.¡± Faye wavered a bit. ¡°Temporarily?¡± Bethany saw she was falling for it and continued, ¡°I''ll try to find reliable international buyers. Once we get the funds and finish our ongoing projects, we can earn the money back. By then, you can buy back the shares. Auntie Faye, consider it a temporary arrangement with the buyers. When the crisis passes and Elijah returns to see you¡¯ve managed thepany well, he¡¯ll surely be pleased.¡± Faye remained silent, sinking into deep contemtion. Bethany wanted to press on, ¡°Auntie Faye...¡± Faye raised her hand and stopped her, saying, ¡°Bethany, this isn¡¯t a trivial matter. Let me think about it.¡± Bethany was a bit displeased, but she knew it was not wise to push further. ¡°Alright, Auntie Faye. Just don¡¯t take too long. We can¡¯t afford any dys.¡± After saying that, she left the office. Faye sat alone in her office, and for the first time ever, she finally felt the immense pressure that came with this position. It was no exaggeration to say that half of her life was at stake... Faye did not want to give up thepany or her shares, but Bethany was right. To save thepany, selling her shares was the only option. If she chose to keep the shares, they would be meaningless if thepany went under. With reddened eyes, Faye sat in silence for half an hour before finally calling Bethany and informing her, ¡°Go ahead and sell them.¡± Bethany suppressed her excitement and said in a serious tone, ¡°Auntie Faye, rest assured, | won''t let any mistakes happen in this matter.¡± The next morning, Bethany found a buyer. She took Faye to the agreed location to sign the contract with a buyer named Walter Fole. Since thepany and the person were overseas they opted for an online electronic contract signing On the way there. Faye dawdled. A Chapter 183 2/2 Bethany noticed her hesitation and reassured her, ¡°Auntie Faye, trust me. Walter is an heir to a financial group, and he¡¯s worth billions! | arranged this through connections, and he¡¯s very reliable. He even promised not to resell the shares easily. If you buy them back when the funds are recovered, he¡¯s willing to let go.¡± Faye was skeptical. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too good of a deal? How can someone be so foolish? What¡¯s his motive for doing this?¡± Bethany chuckled and responded, ¡°He¡¯s extremely wealthy and just wants to return to the country. Buying shares paves the way for that. Rx, Auntie Faye. There won¡¯t be any issues.¡± Faye entered with a mix of belief and doubt. However, she burst into anger upon reading the contract, screaming, ¡°We agreed to only sell my 20% of shares! Why is he including Erin¡¯s 10 % and the Freeman mansion? | won''t sign the contract!¡± Bethany patted her back to calm her. ¡°Auntie Faye, considering the critical situation of the Freeman Group, your 20% shares alone won''t be enough to fill this massive loss. Besides, he mentioned that the mansion isn¡¯t for sale. It¡¯s just temporarily being used as coteral. You can still live in the mansion, and once the projects arepleted and the money is earned back, you can buy it all back, right?¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. While the logic made sense, Faye still had her reservations. ¡°But... the price is too low!¡± Chapter 184 Faye pointed at the contract. Her heart was aching as she continued, ¡°Based on the contract, these three are only worth 1.2 billion dors. In the past, my 20% of shares alone were worth more than this!¡± ¡°Oh, Auntie Faye! With Walter''s status, it''s natural that he¡¯d investigate the details of the Freeman Group. Given the current situation, this is the highest offer we could get. Don¡¯t hesitate anymore!¡± ¡°Auntie Faye...¡± ¡°Fine...¡± Bethany persuaded Faye tirelessly, and she finally signed the share transfer agreement. Then, Faye reluctantly handed over the property deed for the Freeman mansion and signed the mortgage contract. After everything was done, Faye appeared upset, saying, ¡°Now that the funding issue is resolved, you need to be more attentive. Recover the losses and keep a close eye on other projects. No more cutting corners andpromising quality. Hurry up and help me buy back the shares!¡± ¡°Yes, Auntie Faye! You can trust me. I''ll handle everything properly.¡± Bethany clung to her arm, unable to conceal her joy. Then, the twoughed as they got into the car and left. As soon as they left, Sheena, sitting in the Angle Group office, received a text message with only two words. [Mission aplished.] She sighed in relief. In no more than three days, the Freeman family would undergo a tremendous transformation! She could not be more excited for the day to finally arrive. Just as Sheena was deep in her thoughts, there was a knock on the door, and Colin walked in. Unlike his usual gentle demeanor, he was frowning and seemed upset. Before Sheena could ask, he walked straight to the chair opposite her, separated by the office desk. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Sheena was puzzled. ¡°| didn¡¯t expect your venture into real estate was for him.¡± Colin appeared gloomy, with a hint of mncholy in his eyes. Sheena was surprised at how quickly Colin found out about this. Then again, it made sense. Despite the Upton family not being as influential as the Lawson family, they were still prominent, and investigating anything was easy for him. Nevertheless, Sheena did not try to hide it from him. ¡°That''s correct.¡± 12/2 Seeing her calmly admitting it, Colin could not help but feel quite frustrated. ¡°Why? If you look back, you''ll realize that someone better is waiting for you. Can¡¯t you...¡± ¡°Are you referring to yourself?¡± Sheena interrupted him, her calm eyes meeting his. Colin blushed slightly. He gathered the courage to confess, but Sheena spoke first. ¡°But you should know, you and | would never be together. In fact, I¡¯d rather choose Skye over you.¡± Colin¡¯s heart sank, obviously hurt by her remark. ¡°Why? Is it because of Katie? Yes, she did something wrong before, but she¡¯s been groundedtely. She knows she was wrong and won''t target you again.¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Sheena shook her head,ughing. ¡°I know you like me. | realized it many years ago. But you only like me because you can¡¯t have me.¡± Colin remained silent, looking at her with his reddened eyes. Sheena continued, ¡°You''re gentle, humble, and friendly to anyone, but you have a w! You protected someone even though you knew they were in the wrong. You knew how ridiculous Katie was to me at the time, yet you haven¡¯t mentioned it once since we met.¡± ¡°|...¡± Colin choked, feeling unconvinced as he continued asking, ¡°What about Elijah? His sister and mom were also cruel to you. Isn''t he the same?¡± Chapter 185 Sheena did not immediately answer him. Then, she smiled and said, ¡°Everyone has debts to settle sooner orter, and Elijah is no exception.¡± Hearing this, Colin finally breathed a sigh of relief. Sheena would seek retribution from Elijah for past events, but she did not mention retaliating against him because of Katie. In other words, she still cared about him, right? Colin believed that Sheena was just upset with him because of Katie and that there was still a chance for him. Having figured it out, Colin stood up happily. ¡°Sheena, don¡¯t worry. I''ll change myself for the better. I¡¯m willing to wait for you. I''ll be here forever.¡± After saying that, he left. Sheena rubbed her forehead, feeling a bit exasperated. It seemed like he still did not fully understand her intentions. Nheless, she decided to put it aside and exin itter when the opportunity arose. In the following days, Bethany imed to be running to various construction sites and rarely showed up at thepany to report progress. If Faye called and asked, she simply said she was busy. Faye was very displeased with Bethany¡¯s attitude. If it were not for the urgent need for Bethany¡¯s help, she would have erupted with anger long ago. Just as she was thinking about it, her phone rang. It was Erin. ¡°Sweetie, what''s wrong?¡± Erin was extremely displeased as sheined, ¡°Why is my recent pocket money less than before? While shopping with the Xanthos family¡¯s heiresses, my card showed insufficient funds! How am | supposed to maintain my status in the circle like this!¡± Faye felt a bit guilty. Bethany had invested all the money on hand in various projects, so she had secretly reduced Erin¡¯s pocket money. ¡°Mom! You used to say that daughters should be spoiled. How can you treat me like this...¡ã Faye had no choice but tofort Erin with the words Bethany had told her before. ¡°Sweetie, thepany has been facing some financial difficulties recently, and | have no choice. Once things improve, I''ll double your pocket money and get you whatever you want!¡± ¡°Okay! | also want the entire set of limited-edition skincare products from LC¡¯s pre-sale!¡± ¡°Alright, alright! I''ll get them all!¡± Chapter 185 After hanging up the phone, Faye¡¯s mind was filled with thoughts about Bethany. She could not shake the feeling that her niece was hiding something from her, as it had been a few days since she reported progress at thepany or called. Unable to ease her concerns, Faye decided to give Bethany another call herself. Just as she scrolled through her contacts, the door was abruptly pushed open by her assistant, Lorna. Faye, already in a bad mood, red at Lorna. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to knock when you enter?¡± Lorna ignored Faye¡¯s irritation and urgently eximed, ¡°Madam Freeman, the construction team from Laxine is causing a scene. They''ve blocked the entrance to the building!¡± ¡°What!¡± Faye mmed the table and immediately got to her feet from the shock. ¡°Why are they so audacious? Also, is our security just for show?¡± ¡°There are too many of them! There are about a hundred people in the whole construction team, and they''ve all surrounded the building. They im that the payment for the agreed- upon work hasn¡¯t been deposited into their ounts, and Ms. Carver even dismissed the person in charge of alleged misconduct as a supervisor. Now they''re leaderless, wielding construction tools as weapons, demanding an exnation from you!¡± No payment deposited into their ounts?!C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Where did her money go? What was Bethany up to? Aterrible thought crossed Faye¡¯s mind, leaving her pale with fear. She could not believe Bethany would dare to do something like this to her. After all, she was her niece! To confirm her suspicion, Faye trembled as she dialed Bethany¡¯s number. As the call was connected, Faye heard the ringing grow louder and closer with each passing second. Chapter 186 Chapter 186 However, it seemed to being from outside the door! Lorna also noticed it. Since the door was notpletely closed, she was about to open it fully, but someone had opened it from the outside. Bethany, impably dressed in a shy mini dress, was apanied by a man who looked like awyer. Seeing herposed demeanor, it was evident she came prepared. Lorna sensed the tension and quietly left the office. Faye was stunned, staring at Bethany wide-eyed. Amused by Faye¡¯s expression, Bethany teased, ¡°Auntie Faye, do you miss me that much?¡± Gritting her teeth, Faye, still holding onto a sliver of hope, questioned, ¡°Bethany, why haven¡¯t you made the payment for the Laxine project? What have you been up to these past few days?¡± Smirking, Bethany replied, ¡°Auntie Faye, didn¡¯t you just guess it? | haven¡¯t spent a penny of the 1.2 billion dors. Instead, | quietly transferred them to my ount. By the way, more than half of thepany is now under my contro! ¡°Bethany, how dare you!¡± Faye could not believe Bethany had the guts to pocket such arge sum! Furious, she slumped into the chair and asked, ¡°Louie would never tolerate your shameless actions! Did you keep this from him?¡± Bethany chuckled. ¡°Auntie Faye, did you forget that my dad has no say in my family? However, he¡¯s quite supportive of this matter. Ever since marrying into the Freeman family, you¡¯ve been acting all high and mighty whenever you''re back at your parents¡® house. Did you think he actually likes you?¡± Faye¡¯s family background was not as affluent. She had entered the Freeman family as she dated her husband in college and her impressive academic achievements in finance. Her brother, Louie, however, was not as fortunate and had to marry into the Carver family due to financial constraints. Moreover, his children could not even have his family name, following his wife¡¯s instead. Faye was infuriated and clutched her chest, struggling to ease the suffocating sensation. ¡°How could you embezzle so much money from the Freeman Group? What exactly are you up to?¡± Faye demanded. Bethany smirked, gesturing for herwyer to step forward. Facing Faye¡¯s skeptical gaze, thewyer ced a contract on the desk. Then, Faye examined it and eximed, ¡°Bethany! You actually want to take over the Freeman Group!¡± ¡°Why use such harsh terms?¡± Bethany chuckled, exining, ¡°Auntie Faye, look closely I¡¯m willing to buy the operating rights of the Freeman Group for 1.4 billion dors, since you don¡¯t know how to manage it, | believe the Freeman Group will be better off in my hands. Chapter 186 1.4 billion dors?! Faye gritted her teeth, realizing that the Carver family indeed supported this. After all, they added 200 million dors on top of the initial 1.2 billion dors for Bethany. Nheless, Faye was in disbelief! These were her own family members-her brother and her niece! Faye was too furious to speak. After calming down, she finally said through clenched teeth, Dream on! The Freeman Group has a shareholding structure! Elijah is the majority shareholder! You should consult him if you want to buy the Freeman Group!¡± ¡°| sent people to find him, but he¡¯s been missing for so long that he¡¯s probably dead somewhere. | also got rid of the cunning Wilfred. So, you''re the only one left in the way of my n.¡± ¡°Bethany!¡± Faye was angered and disappointed. She finally understood Bethany¡¯s step-by-step n: first, lure her into selling shares and mortgaging her house to get a huge sum of money, then bring down the Freeman Group, and finally, transfer ownership to Bethany. Seeing Faye¡¯s silence, Bethany grew impatient. ¡°Auntie Faye, dragging this out won''t help. Why not just sign it? By merging the Freeman and Carver Group, its status will only be strengthened!¡± Faye felt utterly hopeless. Was the Freeman Group really going to be destroyed under her control? Biting her lip until it bled, her hand trembled as she reached for a pen.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Suddenly, a cold and arrogant voice echoed from outside the door. ¡°Ms. Carver, don¡¯t get too excited just yet. If you want to buy the Freeman Group, you should ask me first!¡± Hearing the familiar voice, both Faye and Bethany were stunned! Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Both turned toward the voice, only to find Sheena smiling in a ck velvet haute couture gown, looking incredibly beautiful. Two handsome and muscr bodyguards apanied her, exuding a strong presence. At the sight of Sheena, Bethany could not hide her intense hatred. She remembered clearly how Sheena publicly humiliated her in theirst meeting. ¡°This is the Freeman Group. What are you doing here?¡± Bethany spat out. Sheena approached Bethany as she said, ¡°With thepany facing such a significant crisis as a traitor is attempting to help the Carver Group swallow up the Freeman Group, | naturally had toe and take charge.¡± ¡°Take charge? Who do you think you are?¡± Bethany scoffed. ¡°You''ve divorced Elijah and are no longer part of the Freeman family. Besides, Auntie Faye snatched the shares Mr. Sebastian Freeman gave you. What say do you have here? Get the hell out of here!¡± Then, Bethany nced at the bodyguards behind Sheena. She could not do anything to this bitch right now, but once she took control of the Freeman Group, she vowed to make her suffer! Faye was equally displeased. Was Sheena here just to witness her embarrassment? ¡°Well, let''s see who has to leave, then,¡± Sheena responded with a smile,pletely unaffected by Bethany¡¯s words. She sat on the sofa and lightly pped her hands. A few secondster, Sarah entered from the corridor. Seeing Sarah, Faye pointed at the two women in disbelief, shouting, ¡°I knew it! You know each other! You must''ve caused trouble in the western suburbs!¡± Faye had suspected something was off with Sheena. After all, the Zimmer family had no interest in thatnd, so what was she doing there? It turned out that Skye was just a decoy, and the real goal was to help Serene Real Estate Limited win the bid for that piece of land!C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Bethany, not being present on that day, was unaware of the details. She stood at the side, ncing at the two parties. Sarah seemedpletely unaffected by Faye¡¯s words as she presented the documents to everyone. ¡°Take a good look. This is the share register of the Freeman Group. Mr. Freeman holds 40% of the shares, and my boss, Ms. Sheena, holds 45%. She¡¯s currently thergest shareholder in the Freeman Group. Now that Mr. Freeman is missing, Ms. Sheena, as thergest shareholder, should rightfully have control over the group. If Ms. Carver wants to buy thepany, she naturally needs to consult Ms. Sheena for approval.¡± Faye and Bethany took time to process the shocking information they had just heard. Sheena was Sarah¡¯s boss? Did that mean she was the mysterious figure behind Serene Real Estate Limited? Moreover, she also held 45% of the Freeman Group shares. How was that possible? Faye abruptly stood up and grabbed Bethany¡¯s arm as if she thought of something. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you sold mine and Erin¡¯s shares to a foreign buyer? How is she holding so many shares? Bethany, you ungrateful traitor! Exin this to me right now!¡± Confused, Bethany shook Faye off before turning to Sheena. ¡°This can¡¯t be... | specifically asked someone to find a foreign buyer, Walter Fole, a billionaire! How could he give you the shares...¡± Bethany stopped mid-sentence... Walter Fole? What a fool! That name was a y on calling her a fool! If that were the case, was the persona of the billionaire intentionally fabricated to gain her trust? Chapter 188 ¡°You deceived me! There was never any Walter Fole, was there? All of this was your calcte scheme, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Since Serene Real Estate Limited took over the western suburb¡¯snd from the Freeman Group, the cunning Sheena had already anticipated Bethany¡¯s every move, even preparing, countermeasures in advance! Bethany thought she had everything under control and did not expect Sheena to be waiting for the right moment to attack! Sheena leisurely poured herself a cup of tea, sniffing the aroma, but did not drink it. After cing the teacup back down, she smiled and said, ¡°You caught on quite quickly, It seems you¡¯re not entirely a fool.¡± Bethany stared at her face, scrutinizing her from head to toe for the first time. She noticed the elegance in every gesture and knew that such a demeanor could not be easily pretended. Moreover, Howard and Skye were protective of her, and she was even Jean¡¯s master. These prominent figures respected Sheena and treated her well, and she even effortlessly purchased the Freeman Group shares for 1.2 billion dors. Each piece of the puzzle hinted at a background far from that of an orphan from an orphanage! Bethany became fearful, asking, ¡°Who are you?¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Sheena met her gaze, smiling mockingly, ¡°I¡¯m someone you should never have messed with.¡± Bethany, overwhelmed by her presence, felt a chill run down her spine. Faye, listening to their conversation, was equally perplexed. Sheena continued, ¡°As the current major shareholder and leader of the Freeman Group, | can make it clear to you that your dream of acquiring the Freeman Group for 1.4 billion dors is unrealistic. As for the 1.2 billion dors, you might want to keep it. After all, I''ll make sure you pay back for what you¡¯ve done with interest!¡± Upon hearing that, Bethany understood that Sheena was targeting to deal with the Carver Group next! Bethany mustered her strength to retort, ¡°Sheena, no matter who you are, the Carver Group won''t be easily exploited by anyone!¡± After saying that, Bethany ran out of the office. She needed to investigate this matter thoroughly by understanding Sheena¡¯s background so she could gather the confidence to confront her head-on. With Bethany gone, thewyer picked up the transfer contract from the desk and followed suit. Left all alone, Faye slumped in her chair. She shook her head, crying and sighing after realizing that Sheena had a formidable background. ¡°| would¡¯ve expected it! Old Man Freeman probably had no idea what he picked up six years ago. After so many years of keeping your identity secret, you managed to snatch away the Freeman Group just like that! What a disaster!¡± Chapter 188 2/2 Then, Faye suddenly remembered Sheena¡¯s recent visit, where she threatened to bankrupt the Freeman family, Initially, she did not take it seriously, but knowing that foolish Bethany had sold the shares to Sheena, she realized the Freeman mansion would also fall into Sheena¡¯s hands! Without shares, money, and even the mansion, Faye had nothing left. The Freeman family was really on the verge of copse! Faye was heartbroken and furious. Sheena enjoyed watching Faye in despair, saying, ¡°In the three years I¡¯ve been married into the Freeman family, you¡¯ve always been high and mighty, unting your wealth. After living among the rich for so long, have you forgotten that you were once a child from an ordinary family?¡± Faye red at Sheena. ¡°Just because your background is impressive doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m afraid of you! It was you who deceived me in the first ce. You''re just an orphan from an orphanage who isn¡¯t worthy of my son! Who are you to make fun of me?¡± Sheena remained silent. She shook her head and scoffed, thinking Faye was beyond redemption. Undeterred, Faye continued, ¡°Old Man Freeman treated you so well back then! The Freeman Group was his lifelongbor! Have you no gratitude? Aren¡¯t you afraid of karma?¡± Chapter 189 Sheenaughed. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, the Freeman Group might have ended up bearing the Carver name. Instead of showing gratitude, you''re attempting to provoke me?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Faye was puzzled. Faye thought giving the Freeman Group to Sheena seemed like handing it over to an outsider. However, she quickly came toa realization and softened her tone, asking, ¡°Are you... thinking of remarrying Elijah?¡± If they remarried, Sheena would still be part of the Freeman family, and naturally, the Freeman Group would remain with the family. Sheena¡¯s gaze turned cold, replying confidently, ¡°That¡¯s impossible, not in this lifetime.¡± After all, Elijah was not worthy of her. ¡°Then what do you want?¡± Faye could not understand Sheena¡¯s motive. ¡°For Old Man Freeman''s sake, thepany¡¯s general policies won¡¯t change, and the group¡¯s name will remain the Freeman Group. If you have the capability, you can buy back the Freeman Group from me.¡± ¡°You''re...¡± Faye was dumbfounded. Moments ago, Faye was just cursing at Sheena. However, she never expected that just as Sheena acquired the Freeman Group, she would be willing to do this for Sebastian¡¯s sake. Ignoring Faye¡¯s shock, Sheena turned her attention to Sarah standing and ordered, ¡°Comfort the construction team causing trouble downstairs. Additionally, remove all of Bethany¡¯s spies in various departments within two days.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena,¡± Sarah responded and immediately went to handle the arrangements. Sheena scanned the entire office and instructed the bodyguards, ¡°Get rid of everything in this office and rece them, including the chairs and wall paintings.¡± The bodyguards quickly got to work while Faye watched them, dumbfounded. As the bodyguards started moving things, the first item to go was the chair Faye had been sitting on, leaving her no choice but to stand. Considering her imminent destitution, Faye reluctantly dropped her high-and¡ªmighty attitude and tried to appease Sheena. ¡°Sheena, we were once inws. Can¡¯t you consider returning the Freeman mansion to me for old-time sake? You surely can¡¯t bear to see Erin and me sleeping on the streets, right?¡± Sheena smiled politely and replied, ¡°If you want it, you can have it. Just make sure to bring the money.¡± Faye was exasperated, saying, ¡°You know Bethany swindled away all my money. | don¡¯t have any left...¡± ¡°| won''t give it back to you for free, but | can offer you a good ce,¡± Sheena chimed in. Faye was perplexed. Although she doubted Sheena¡¯s sincerity, she had no choice but to believe Chapter 189 her. Later, Sheena led Faye out of the Freeman Group and straight to the Freeman mansion. ¡°What''s this?¡± Faye was even more puzzled. Sheena chuckled. ¡°You''ll find out soon enough.¡± She gathered all the mansion¡¯s servants in the garden. ¡°| believe you already know about the changes in the Freeman Group,¡± Sheena began.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. The servants lowered their heads, exchanging nces. ¡°From now on, Faye and Erin are no longer the owners of this mansion but the lowest- ranking servants!¡± 2/2 Upon hearing this, the servants began to murmur among themselves. Faye turned livid, eximing, ¡°How could you do this?¡± Ignoring Faye, Sheena continued, ¡°Those who have been mistreated by them can now order them to do anything. If they fail to work ording to the rules, feel free to report to me anytime.¡± The discussion among the servants grew louder, and Faye¡¯s face turned pale. Having these low-ranking individuals order her around was a fate worse than death! ¡°Sheena, you''ve gone too far!¡± Sheena turned to face Faye¡¯s murderous look, mocking her, ¡°I can let you continue living in the Freeman mansion, but there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. You should know that better than anyone.¡± Faye was left speechless. For her, this was simply humiliating, and there was no way she would ept it! Sheena knew she would not easily back down. Chapter 190 Chapter 190 1/2 ¡°You were arrogant and offended your own family. This time, the Carver Group''s conspiracy failed, and you must be holding a grudge. If you go to your brother Louie, don¡¯t you think he¡¯ll turn against you, making your situation even more difficult than it is now?¡± Realizing Sheena was right, Faye stayed silent. ¡°I''m your only choice left,¡± Sheena continued with a smile. ¡°I can let you and Erin stay in the Freeman mansion as servants, taking care of your food and shelter. | can even offer you a decent sry. Once you''ve saved up enough money, you can approach me to buy back the mansion. Whether you want to live in a mansion or in the streets, that¡¯s your choice.¡± Faye clenched her fists so tightly that her entire arm trembled. Elijah was missing. Meanwhile, she and Erin were broke. Considering Erin¡¯s reaction, Faye thought choosing between living in a mansion with the risk of being dominated by the servants or living on the streets was an agonizing decision... Sheena remained patient, allowing Faye the time to contemte her decision. ¡°Fine, | agree,¡± Faye said, defeated. Upon receiving the response, Sheena smiled, her eyes twinkling. Then, she turned to Heidi, the highest-ranking servant, and ordered, ¡°From now onward, you''ll be in charge of this mansion. Remember, Faye and Erin are no longer the owners. You don¡¯t need to fear them like before.¡± Heidi was pleasantly surprised, replying, ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena. You''re the only owner of this ce! Satisfied, Sheena nodded. Just as she left, she received a message. Agleam appeared in her eyes as she read it. Once she was gone, the servants red at Faye with burning resentment. Intimidated by their hostility, Faye nervously exined, ¡°Don¡¯t believe everything she says. Thend beneath your feet will always belong to my Freeman family. It won¡¯t be long before | reim it!¡± Her words might have carried some weight in the past, but the servants had grown tired of her. Now, facing this opportunity to retaliate, they would not let it slip away. Heidi sneered, ¡°Let¡¯s talk again when you finally reim it. For now, you have to listen to us!¡± The group surrounded Faye, ready to drag her away. ¡°What are you doing? Are you rebelling?¡± Faye eximed in fear, struggling desperately. Heidi exined, ¡°Sorry, Madam. Only the owner is qualified to stay in the bedroom. Your current status is that of a lowly servant, only fit for sleeping in the basement.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. The basement was dirty, messy, and cold,cking air conditioning or heating, without even a bed to sleep on. Chapter 190 2/2 Faye resisted and shouted, ¡°No! Let me go!¡± Unfortunately, Faye was no match for the experienced old servants ustomed to physicalbor. She was forcibly dragged to the basement. Heidi even warned her that if she did not behave, they would lock her up and not provide any meals until she learned her lesson. The group of servants took pleasure in listening to Faye banging on the basement door, shouting continuously. Someone remembered Erin and eximed, ¡°Erin is still sleeping on the second floor. Let''s go wake her up! She used to enjoy scolding us. Now, it¡¯s time for her to have a taste of her own \\medicine!¡± ¡°Good! Let''s get Erin and teach her a lesson!¡± The group cheered, moving to their next target eagerly. In the afternoon, Elijah, nursing his still-unhealed injury, finally escaped the pursuit of those people and sessfully reached Farlem. Days of constant searching, hiding, rain¡ªsoaking, and injuries had left his face terribly pale. Upon returning to Farlem, the first thing he did was take a hot shower at his residence, change into a clean suit, and regain his peerless demeanor. As he had no signal in the mountains and wanted to conserve battery, Elijah had kept his phone turned off. When he powered it back on, he noticed that he had missed countless calls from Jonah. Elijah returned the call, and Jonah answered almost instantly, sounding extremely anxious. ¡°Elijah, you finally answered! If you hadn¡¯t returned to Farlem, | would''ve thought you were dead!¡± Elijah frowned, asking, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°You need to get to the Freeman Group quickly! Something big has happened!¡± Chapter 191 Ending the call, Elijah instructed Lionel and the rest to return and await further orders before hurriedly heading to the Freeman Group. It was already after working hours, and the office was nearly empty. Elijah was not stopped even once, reaching the CEO''s office on the top floor without interruption. Upon opening the door, he found that the entire room had undergone a drastic makeover. Unlike his usual preference for a ck-and-white theme, the sofas were now green, and even the small coffee tablecloth was green. Elijah despised the color, and he frowned in disgust. Aslender figure with her back facing him was at the office desk. ¡°Mr. Freeman, long time no see!¡± As if hearing him enter, the woman swiveled in her chair, smiling brightly at him. ¡°Are you surprised to see me sitting in your chair?¡± Elijah remained silent, just staring at the woman. After not seeing each other for almost half a month, she seemed to have be even more beautiful. Even though she was smiling, her gaze was cold. The person he had been searching for had miraculously appeared unharmed before him. He thought he would be delighted, but he discovered that he could not summon a smile. While Elijah observed Sheena, she was sizing him up as well. After such a long time, he seemed to have lost weight, and Sheena wondered what he had been through during this period. Nheless, upon noticing that Elijah was looking at her with a grim expression, Sheena sneered, ¡°You must be disappointed to find that | not only survived but also caused the downfall of the Freeman family, bing the owner of the Freeman Group, right?¡± Elijah remained silent, his eyes still fixed on her. Sheena felt ufortable under his intense scrutiny. Despite losing everything, he still managed to put on an air of coolness. She was determined to shatter that pride. ¡°In fact, there¡¯s more to it. | also sent your beloved Jennifer and Leon to jail. Now, even the Freeman mansion belongs to me.¡± Resting her chin on her hand, she locked eyes with the motionless man, smiling mockingly. Nheless, Elijah knew that beneath that innocent yet alluring expression was a heart as scheming as it could be. He had spent nearly half a month in the mountain range searching. Yet, how did she repay him? She had Howard enlist Corey¡¯s men to chase him and meticulously orchestrated the downfall of the Freeman family. It was simply ridiculous! ¡°Why?¡± he asked angrily. His voice sounded a bit husky as he was still recovering from the fever. 2/2 Sheena¡¯s face instantly turned cold. Just moments ago, when the topic of the Freeman family¡¯s downfall was brought up, he remained silent. Clearly, only his dearest Jennifer could provoke a different reaction from him. ¡°You know well what you¡¯ve done,¡± Sheena replied.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Elijah was puzzled, still burning with anger. Sheena ignored the anger in his gaze and recalled the surprise she had prepared for him, smiling once again. ¡°To celebrate your return, I¡¯ve specially prepared a surprise gift just for you besides the Freeman family¡¯s downfall!¡± She casually retrieved a document from a drawer and lightly pushed it toward Elijah. Elijah opened the document and carefully read through its contents. The content was utterly outrageous! Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Elijah chuckled and mocked, ¡°What makes you think I''ll sign this?¡± Sheena leisurely sipped her coffee, saying, ¡°I spent three years as your full-time housewife in the Freeman family. If you serve as my personal male servant for a year, I''ll return both the Freeman Group and the Freeman mansion to you. Isn¡¯t this an advantageous deal? Or do you think you''re incapable of handling it?¡± Elijah sneered, ¡°I don¡¯t need a year. | can take back the Freeman Group now.¡± Sheena apuded, ¡°Indeed. | believe you have the capability. But your mom and sister already signed the employment contracts. Don¡¯t you care about their well-being?¡± Elijah was taken aback and scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t you find it despicable to use them to threaten me?¡± Both of them exuded a strong aura, almost evenly matched. ¡°Why should | be fair when dealing with an unreasonable family like yours? It¡¯s you who don¡¯t know your ce. You thought you still had the qualifications to negotiate with me, but you have no other choice besides signing this agreement because this is the debt you¡¯ve umted over three years!¡± His debt? It was because of his past indifference, causing her years of torment by Faye and Erin, along with Jennifer¡¯s ordeal... Elijah fell silent. Initially, he believed Jennifer was the little girl that saved him years ago. When she wanted him as a protector, he obliged. When she wanted to be the rightful Mrs. Freeman, he granted her that. Truthfully, he did owe Sheena. He had wanted a divorce long ago, but because of Sebastian, he dragged it out, wasting her three years of youth. ¡°Fine, I''ll sign it.¡± Elijah took the pen from the office desk, signing his name in the lower right corner of the agreement. He thought it was over at this point, but Sheena unexpectedly pulled out an exquisitely wrapped gift box from the drawer, smiling. ¡°This is also for you. Open it and take a look.¡± Elijah took it with suspicion. He opened the gift only to find a syringe about the size of a pinky finger filled with an unknown transparent substance. It was clearly nothing good. Seeing his furrowed brow, Sheena exined, ¡°I know you''re skilled in martial arts, and | can¡¯t beat you. So, | need to be cautious.¡± Just as he had expected!N?velDrama.Org content rights. 22 Elijah stared at the tiny syringe, his expression grimmer by the second. Sheena seemed to grasp his thoughts and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not poison. It''ll only weaken your physical strength for two months, making you unable to defeat me. You can still handle normal household chores, but it¡¯s just that the injection might be a bit painful initially. You¡¯ll need to administer it to yourself every two months.¡± Sheena spoke as if it were something mundane, smiling as if they were only discussing what to have for dinner. Elijah taunted, ¡°Since you know you can¡¯t beat me, aren''t you afraid of provoking me? What if | decide to take action against you right now?¡± you make any Sheena nonchntly waved her hand. ¡°This ce is under my control now. If move, the building¡¯s security will rush in. | know you''re powerful, taking on ten easily, but what about twenty? Thirty, perhaps?¡± She paused mid-sentence, smirking slyly before adding, ¡°Do you want to give it a try?¡± Elijah remained silent. They locked eyes, sparks flying, neither yielding an inch. ¡°Once your strength falters and you''re knocked down, I''ll still have the syringe injected into you. Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯ve signed the agreement, and you''ll have to obey me. It¡¯s your choice. Do you want me to inject you by force, or do you want to maintain your dignity? The choice is yours.¡± Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Elijah smirked, knowing full well he had no choice at all. Due to prolonged standing, his wound on the waist had reopened, and blood oozed out, causing him moments of dizzying pain. The innermost white shirt got stained, sticking ufortably to the wound, but luckily, the ck suit jacket concealed it, and Sheena remained oblivious. Elijah bit his thin lips, trying hard to steady his breath and hide any signs of distress. ¡®Fine, it¡¯s just a year! | can do this,¡¯ Elijah thought as he took the syringe. Then, he rolled up the sleeves of his suit and shirt, targeting the spot on his arm. Almost as if venting his frustration, Elijah forcefully injected the substance. Sheena observed in silence, frowning when she saw him seemingly inflicting pain upon himself and thinking he was too prideful. Nheless, she had heard that this medication caused intense pain upon injection, and she was curious to see how long he could maintain his arrogance. In just a few seconds, the syringe was emptied and fell to the ground with a thud. Elijah had bitten his lower lip so hard that it started bleeding¡¯as a wave of intense pain surged through him. He began to sweat profusely. In fact, every part of him was hurting, especially with the injury at his waist. The agonizing painsted for two whole minutes before finally subsiding. However, he waspletely exhausted secondster. He felt powerless, unable to stand steadily. Like a fragile leaf in the wind, he copsed to the ground. As his eyes closed, a ringing echoed in his ears. When the ringing subsided, he heard a pleasant voice saying, ¡°The initial reaction to this medication is quite intense. Bear with it/ Elijah lowered his head and gently pursed his pale lips. As he closed his eyes, his longshes trembled. It was as if he was enduring immense pain. Just as he began to ease a bit, the sound of high heels approached, growing louder from the distance. Sheena nced at Elijah from above before crouching down and forcibly lifting his chin to scrutinize him carefully.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Unlike his usual domineering masculine appearance, he now appeared sickly pale, a sight that almost begged to be bullied. When he opened his eyes slightly, the once fierce gaze now carried an unnoticeable hint of vulnerability. What a rare sight! Admiring his fragile appearance, Sheena smiled in satisfaction. ¡°Good boy. Now, call me My Lady.¡± Elijah¡¯s face twisted with displeasure at her teasing words, a profound sense of humiliation welling inside him. He red at her and exerted all his strength to break free from her grip, stubbornly turning his face away. Chapter 193 2/2 Sheena decided not to push him further. After all, he had never faced such a humiliating situation before, and adjusting to this would take some time. She knew she would need to guide and teach him patiently. Sheena ignored the weakened Elijah on the floor, giving him time to adapt to the effects of the medication. Returning to her desk, she resumed dealing with work. Aside from handling matters rted to Angle Group, she now had to address the issues of the recently acquired Freeman Group. Bethany had nearly ruined the Freeman Group, requiring a significant recement of its core staff. Hence, Sheena estimated that she would be busy almost every day for the foreseeable future. The light outside the windows gradually dimmed, and Sheena did not realize it was already 8 p.m. The office was quiet, except for the sound of her fingers tapping on the keyboard. Sheena shut herptop, rubbing her tired neck. As she remembered that it had been over an hour, she wondered why there was no movement from Elijah. What was he up to now? Sheena went to check on Elijah, who was lying on the floor. His long legs were slightly bent, eyes tightly shut, and brows furrowed as if enduring immense pain even in his sleep. Sheena was skeptical and called out to him, ¡°Elijah, stop pretending. Get up.¡± His frown deepened, not responding to her at all. Chapter 194 Sheena thought something seemed off. Although the medication would cause an intense reaction upon injection, it should only have been painful for about half an hour.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Unless... Sheena reached to remove Elijah¡¯s suit jacket, identally brushing against his waist, and causing him to grunt in pain. Was there a wound on his waist? Sheena was about to continue removing his jacket when Elijah suddenly gripped her wrist. Elijah was finally awake. Despite the throbbing pain in his head, his hands almost instinctively reacted. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked. Sheena withdrew her hand. Instead of answering him, she asked indifferently, ¡°Are you injured?¡± ¡°It has already healed.¡± Both spoke with a cold tone. After that statement, a prolonged silence settled between them. She had casually inquired, showing concern for her own little manservant. If he did not appreciate it, so be it. ¡°Now that you''re fine and rested, get up and leave,¡± Sheena said as she picked up her bag and pushed open the door. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t catch up soon, you''ll have to walk home barefoot if you miss the ride.¡± Home? The word caught Elijah off guard. When he looked up, Sheena was already quite far ahead. After more than an hour of rest, his physical condition had improved, and he quickly got up from the floor, catching up with Sheena¡¯s footsteps. Sheena led him back to Ocean Avenue, a ce filled with three years of memories. Initially, she had epted this mansion out of a practical mindset, not wanting to pass up a good opportunity. Little did she know that she would return to this ce one day, but their roles and perspectives hadpletely reversed. Standing in front of the mansion, Sheena did not rush to enter. Instead, she looked at Elijah and spoke, ¡°From now on, you''re the sole manservant here. Prepare three meals a day before | return. Regardless of whether | eat or return, you must have the meals ready and served.¡± Then, she continued, ¡°When I¡¯m not at home, clean the entire house inside and out, making sure it¡¯s spotless. Every day when | return from work, you must stand at the doorstep to greet me, prepare my slippers, and say, ¡®Wee home! You must be tired from working all day.¡± Chapter 193 2/2 Sheena decided not to push him further. After all, he had never faced such a humiliating situation before, and adjusting to this would take some time. She knew she would need to guide and teach him patiently. Sheena ignored the weakened Elijah on the floor, giving him time to adapt to the effects of the medication. Returning to her desk, she resumed dealing with work. Aside from handling matters rted to Angle Group, she now had to address the issues of the recently acquired Freeman Group. Bethany had nearly ruined the Freeman Group, requiring a significant recement of its core staff. Hence, Sheena estimated that she would be busy almost every day for the foreseeable future. The light outside the windows gradually dimmed, and Sheena did not realize it was already 8 p.m. The office was quiet, except for the sound of her fingers tapping on the keyboard. Sheena shut herptop, rubbing her tired neck. As she remembered that it had been over an hour, she wondered why there was no movement from Elijah. What was he up to now? Sheena went to check on Elijah, who was lying on the floor. His long legs were slightly bent, eyes tightly shut, and brows furrowed as if enduring immense pain even in his sleep. Sheena was skeptical and called out to him, ¡°Elijah, stop pretending. Get up.¡± His frown deepened, not responding to her at all. 1/2 Chapter 195 Elijah was speechless, surprised that this was what she had to do in those three years. He could not help but wonder if Faye intentionally dismissed the servants back then, only to leave all the household chores to Sheena alone. During that time, Elijah would notice that the ce was tidy, and even the meals were steaming hot when he retired home from work. However, he had never paid attention to the details. Due to his resistance to Sebastian¡¯s insistence on him marrying Sheena, Elijah chose to ignore Sheena¡¯s presence. When he was in a bad mood, he would even make a few sarcastic remarks. Noticing his distraction, Sheena waved her hand in front of his eyes before adding, ¡°However, you''d better be prepared. With one year equating to three years, your responsibilities will naturally be increased ordingly.¡¯ Elijah shook his head, sneering at the thought of how Sheena really could not stand any losses. Walking ahead, Sheena did not notice his expression. Remembering something, she said, ¡°Oh, by the way, | forgot to buy a washing machine. You''ll have to hand wash and air dry everything from now on. Some fabrics are different, so you must separate them. Don¡¯t mix them up.¡± Elijah stared at her back, mercilessly exposing herme excuse. ¡°You¡¯re buying a washing machine? When | transferred the house to you, | recall a woman named Wendy working tirelessly to rece all the furniture and appliances in the entire house.¡± Exposed, Sheena turned around, coldly ncing at him, and showing no intention of concealing the truth. Indeed, she had intentionally given away the washing machine to the orphanage. After all, those kids needed it more than he did. The two entered the living room in silence. Sheena fumbled along the wall, almost instinctively turning on the lights. The living room was bright, and while the house maintained its original structure, the furniture and decor had changed from the previous ck-and-white theme. Then, she walked straight to the kitchen, with Elijah silently following. Then, she took a thick book from the cab and handed it to him. ¡°This is a cookbook. From now on, every meal must follow the recipes in this book. Each meal should consist of meat, vegetables, and soup dishes, and each day should have a different theme. No repeats allowed.¡± Elijah took it and casually flipped through a couple of pages. Seeing that he did not object, Sheena checked the time. It was already 8.30 p.m., yet she still had not had dinner, so she instructed, ¡°Cooking starts tonight. Let me know when it¡¯s ready. You can choose any of the bedrooms on the second floor to sleep in.¡± With that, Sheena headed upstairs to her study. There was still a pile of work to attend to, requiring her to put in some overtime. Watching her disappear up the stairs, Elijah finally breathed a sigh of relief. The pain forced him to arch his back, and he had to support himself on the table to regain his bnce. The bloodstains on the white shirt had long since dried, sticking to the wound. He moistened it with hot water and used a towel to separate the fabric from the blood and flesh. To avoid Sheena¡¯s notice, he quickly removed the shirt and washed away the bloodstains. If this were before, Elijah could wring his shirt dry easily. However, he could only partially dry it now, as the injection had weakened him greatly. Later, he put on the slightly damp shirt, covering it with the original dark suit jacket.N?velDrama.Org content rights. No one could notice anything unless they took a closer look. Havingpleted all this, Elijah felt as if all his strength had been drained, utterly exhausted. The special medication was indeed potent. More than half an hour had passed, but Elijah still had yet to start cooking. Hence, he had no choice but to reluctantly begin studying the cookbook. Opening the fridge, he found a variety of fresh vegetables and meats, all obviously carefully nned for today. His gaze darkened, but his thoughts remained unreadable. Upstairs, Sheena sat in front of herputer, fully engrossed. The all¡ªgirls talent show she initiated had reached its third season, garnering continuous online attention and discussions. Phoebe had also returned to recording after recovering, seemingly unaffected and quickly regaining her form. Moreover, her ranking remained steady in the top fifteen. If all went well, she should be able to secure a ce in the finals. It seemed like everything was progressing smoothly. Chapter 196 It seemed like everything was progressing smoothly. Chapter 196 After reviewing the talent show situation, Sheena called Heidi. ¡°I''ve arranged for them to clean the floors. Erin was quite arrogant, even cursing at you. So, | locked them back in the basement. Is that okay?¡± Heidi asked. ¡°No problem. Since they''re servants, treat them ording to the standards. If they don¡¯t listen, punish them as needed. But remember to keep an eye on those male servants at the Freeman mansion. They¡¯re not allowed to have ill intentions!¡± Sheena instructed firmly. ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena! You can rest assured that I¡¯ll handle it well...¡± While Heidi continued assuring her, Sheena suddenly smelled a burning odor. It seemed to being from downstairs!Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Sheena hurriedly hung up and rushed downstairs, finding the kitchen filled with smoke. Elijah was trying to fan away the smoke, coughing from the irritation. Sheena was speechless and eximed, ¡°I asked you to prepare dinner, not burn the house down!¡± Covering her nose and mouth, Sheena entered the kitchen, turned off the stove, and switched on the venttion fans. After a while, the choking smell finally dissipated. Sheena pointed to the pot, now burnt to a charcoal-like ck, and asked, ¡°What were you making?¡± Elijah replied, ¡°Braised beef.¡± Sheena nced at it again. It was simply an eyesore! ¡°What the hell happened? It¡¯s burnt beyond recognition! No recipe can save your cooking skills. How bad are you at this?¡± Elijah feigned innocence. ¡°I just followed the recipe. It said to simmer on low heat for an hour and a half. | thought it was too slow and turned up the heat to speed things up, but...¡± ¡°But you burnt it instead?¡± Elijah remained silent. Sheena was exasperated, sighed, and continued, ¡°Are you nning to serve me this for dinner? 11 ¡°| also prepared a side dish.¡± ¡°Where is it?¡± Elijah led her to the dining table. Although the side dish looked in, the color seemed normal, so it was probably edible. Sheena gave in and decided to make do with this meal. Seeing her willingness to try, Elijah pulled out a chair and fetched a te and utensils from the kitchen. 2/2 Sheena eyed his movements suspiciously. Just an hour ago, he felt humiliated and awkward about doing chores. Yet, he seemed to have adapted to it so quickly. Moreover, he even stood quietly on the side after doing all that, acting unusually obedient. Sheena found his attentiveness strange. As she took a piece of the vegetable, she caught a subtle glint in Elijah¡¯s eyes. Something was off, She frowned and brought the green vegetable to her mouth, preparing to eat. Elijah raised an eyebrow as if looking forward to her reaction, but he resumed his icy expression when she nced in his direction. Putting down the fork, Sheena smirked and said, ¡°You go first.¡± Elijah lowered his head. ¡°I dare not.¡± Though his head was bowed, his attitude was not submissive at all. Clearly, he was putting on an act! Sheena grinned, her gaze sharp as she spoke with authority, ¡°I¡¯m the master of this mansion, and you''re the servant, so this is an order. Come here now and sit down!¡± Chapter 197 Aware that refusing her any longer would only make it suspicious, Elijah went to the kitchen with a stern expression, returning with another set of tes and utensils. Under Sheena¡¯s deathly gaze, he confidently picked up a piece of vegetable and put it in his mouth without hesitation, chewed expressionlessly, and swallowed. The entire process seemed natural, and Elijah remarked, ¡°It tastes normal. Why don¡¯t you try? ¡°4 With her chin resting on her hand, Sheena pointed at the dish and said, ¡°Finish this entire te.¡± Elijah was caught off guard, but he still smiled and responded, ¡°You said you''re the master here, so this is made for you. How could | eat it?¡± Uninterested in continuing the pointless banter, Sheena stated, ¡°If you don¡¯t eat it, I''ll get the bodyguards to help you.¡± ¡°Sheena!¡± Elijah¡¯s eyes narrowed, locking gazes with her. ¡°Are you trying to use your position to threaten me?¡± Sheena did not deny it. ¡°Of course! Dealing with a disobedient, manservant requires a firm approach. Do you want to eat it yourself, or should | have theme in and feed you?¡± It was a multiple-choice question with no real choice.N?velDrama.Org content rights. Under her gaze, Elijah¡¯s face darkened. His pride and arrogance of many years had been worn down four times by this woman in just a few hours. It was simply annoying and despicable! Yet, his anger seemed petty as Sheena looked at him with a harmless smile, as if she was not using her position to pressure him. Unable to refuse, Elijah reached for the te of vegetables. He did not even notice that his hands were trembling slightly. Taking a deep breath, Elijah stabbed a piece of vegetable and forced it into his mouth, finding it difficult to swallow. In an attempt to retaliate against Sheena, he had added excessive unknown condiments. Little did he know that she, vignt as ever, did not take a single bite. Not only that, but she also seemed to have seen through his act right from the start. Even so, Elijah was not ready to give up, attempting to maintain a calm facade while tasting this culinary disaster. However, as it entered his system, waves of stomach acid surged, and he could not endure it any longer. Elijah rushed to the kitchen, vomiting uncontrobly. Sheena pped her hands in amusement, genuinely impressed by his endurance as he managed to take three bites before vomiting. Did he think such childish tricks could outwit her? Was this man really so naive? 2/2 ¡°Mr. Freeman, wasting food is uneptable. You''re not getting dinner tonight as your punishment.¡± Still recovering from the ordeal, Elijah heard Sheena¡¯s words but chose not to respond. After throwing up the contents of his stomach, which left a burning sensation in his throat, he decided to go without eating. Nheless, just because he was not eating did not mean Sheena would do the same. After all themotion, it was already past 9 p.m., and Sheena felt a bit hungry. Considering Elijah¡¯s culinary skills, dinner was not something she could expect tonight. Thus, she opted to take matters into her own hands and prepared a ssic spaghetti. The pot on the stove was already burnt, so Sheena had to retrieve another pot and pan from the cupboard. Then, she boiled water and added spaghetti, moving swiftly. Elijah stood silently by the door, watching her. He soon became absent-minded, wondering if time could rewind to the day they got married, would everything be different? If he had not agreed to divorce back then, living a in and simple life with her did not sound so bad. His train of thought was quickly interrupted, and he chuckled self¡ªdeprecatingly. If Sheena knew what he was thinking, she would probably say a despicable man like him did not deserve to remarry her. At the end of the day, he was just a manservant under contract, truly undeserving of her. While he contemted, Sheena finished preparing a delicious bowl of ssic spaghetti. Exactly enough for one bowl, with not even a drop of extra sauce left in the pan. Chapter 198 Elijah thought Sheena was indeed ruthless. Seeing her enjoying her meal, he nned to go upstairs and clean up a room for his stay. ¡°Hold on,¡± ¡°Sheena called after him. ¡°Come here, stand opposite from me, and watch me finish my meal.¡± Elijah, with a cold expression, followed her instructions. At first, he did not understand her intentions until he realized the spaghetti smelled delicious and saw Sheena eat with relish. Elijah gulped, yet he still maintained a stern expression. The fragrance was dangerously tempting. Moreover, he had just emptied his stomach. Watching someone else eat at this moment felt like torture, and Elijah finally grasped Sheena¡¯s sadistic amusement. After finishing the spaghetti, Sheena was satisfied and elegantly wiped her mouth with a tissue. Then, she looked at the gloomy man before her and instructed before going upstairs, ¡± Remember to clean the kitchen before sleeping. It should be as clean as it was before you entered. No cking off.¡± However, she caught sight of Elijah¡¯s shirt and thought something was off... Frowning, Sheena walked over and lightly tugged at his shirt cor, noticing a faint pink stain. Was it blood? Elijah noticed her gaze and exined, ¡°It¡¯s from the beef just now. It identally sttered on me while | was cooking.¡± Sheena did not believe him, twisting the shirt cor and finding damp water stains. She raised her gaze to scrutinize Elijah. He maintained a poker face and insisted, ¡°I cleaned it because it was dirty.¡± Sheena could not understand why Elijah would lie with a straight face. If he was injured, why keep it from her? Did he think she would not be sympathetic and might even rub salt in the wound? Then again, she could not guarantee she would not do just that if she got irritated. Since Elijah seemed unwilling to say more, Sheena had no intention of pressing him. She turned and headed upstairs. Passing by the storage cab in the living room partition, she paused, took out the first aid kit, and ced it somewhere Elijah would see it before heading back to her room without looking back. Elijah saw everything and was shocked. Did she guess he was injured, or did she already know? Did she have any connection to the people Corey sent to kill him? Chapter 198 Who exactly was she? How many secrets did she hold that he remained unaware of? Elijah nced upstairs, feeling suspicious. Upstairs, Sheena took a refreshing shower. Just as she finished, she heard a knock at the door. Given only two people were in the mansion, it was no rocket science to figure out who it was. Hence, Sheena swiftly changed into her pajamas. The knocking persisted, causing a disturbance. Sheena¡¯s expression soured as she opened the door. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Elijah appeared momentarily stunned, seemingly not expecting her to change so quickly. She wore a pink cartoon pajama set, her hair was damp, and her skin appeared even more amazing now that she was makeup¡ª free. However, her gaze was unkind as she stared at him. Surprisingly, Elijah thought she seemed somewhat cute. Lowering his gaze, Elijah dispelled these inexplicable thoughts and said, ¡°All my belongings are still at Awana Heights. | want to go get them.¡± Sheena frowned and nced at the time. It was already 11 p.m. Who would believe that he was going to retrieve belongings at thiste hour? Chapter 199 ¡°No, you can¡¯t go,¡± Sheena said and moved to close the door. ¡°Wait... Ouch...¡± Elijah instinctively reached to wedge the door, his features contorted in pain as cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Sheena was taken aback, ¡°Are you dumb? Why block it with your hand?¡± She knew the pain was intense. Elijah seemed a bit aggrieved, holding his reddened hand as he said, ¡°Since my hand is injured, can you let me finish speaking? Although we signed an agreement, | still have human rights. You can¡¯t take that away. Don¡¯t Don¡¯t you think...¡± Sheena cut him off, ¡°Just get straight to the point.¡± ¡°| want to return to Awana Heights,¡± Elijah replied without hesitation, frowning slightly. In the past, this expression carried an air of authority. However, due to the effects of the injection, hisplexion remained paler than usual, exuding a fragile beauty. Standing at a towering height of 1.88 meters in front of Sheena, hecked his past oppressive force and resembled a gentle giant instead. Sheena had a fleeting moment of sympathy seeing his injured hand, but upon hearing his words, she instantly caught on. Did this bastard n to y the sympathy card? Fine! She would deal with it tomorrow! ¡°No, you can¡¯t. Go to bed. I''ll have the bodyguards pack and deliver your things tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Eh...¡± Elijah wanted to say more, but his response was met with the door mming shut. His expression turned stern instantly as he muttered in frustration, ¡°Heartless and unreasonable... After that, he turned and headed downstairs, nning to check the situation at the main entrance. As he stepped out of the living room door, two bodyguards suddenly jumped out from the shadows before he could even set foot in the garden. ¡°You''re not allowed to go out at night, Mr. Freeman. Please go back inside.¡± Elijah¡¯s expression instantly darkened. He had no choice but to turn back to his room. The fact that the bodyguards could monitor his every move indicated that Sheena was wary of him. ncing at his phone, he noticed a missed call from Lionel. After deleting the call record, he decided to turn off his phone. Exhausted from days of searching through the mountains all night, getting injured, and then cooking and working today, he copsed onto the bed and quickly drifted into a deep slumber. At some point, he was abruptly awakened by the sound of birds outside the window. He shot up from the bed, eyes wide open in the darkness. The peculiar bird call served as a unique N?velDrama.Org content rights. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 poveza signal-it was Lionel. Swiftly getting up, Elijah approached the window, but the overheadmp flicked on with a click. Turning around, he found Sheena casually leaning against the door with a sly smile. Elijah stood frozen, turning to meet her gaze. Little did he know that the drug injection had dulled his awareness of his surroundings! He had not even realized when she had entered the room. Sheena just smiled, staring at him, and asking, ¡°Why are you still awake?¡± Elijah replied, ¡°Feeling a bit hungry and can¡¯t fall asleep, so | thought of heading to the kitchen.¡± ¡°If you''re going to the kitchen, why walk toward the window? Are you nning to jump out from the second floor to find food?¡± she teased. The bird call had alerted her that something was amiss. After all, the security she had set up for the property was impable, imprable even to a fly, let alone a bird.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Elijah stayed silent, seemingly unable toe up with a convincing, rebuttal. Chapter 200 Sheena could not be bothered to continue exposing him, simply saying, ¡°It¡¯s already one o¡¯clock in the morning, so it¡¯s better to get some sleep now as you have to wake up at six to make breakfast. Don¡¯t y tricks this time, or you won''t be eating all day.¡± After that, she turned around and headed back to the third floor. Due to the dy, there were no more sounds from Lionel¡¯s side, indicating that he had probably sensed something unusual. Elijah closed the curtains, intending to find another opportunity to contact Lionelter.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The next morning, Elijah got up on time per Sheena¡¯s instructions. As he walked down the stairs, he noticed the bodyguards bustling around, bringing in something from outside. Elijah was surprised to find out that it was all his luggage, delivered at such an early hour. The bodyguards pointed at the stack of boxes that reached a person¡¯s height, their tone slightly mocking as they said, ¡°Mr. Freeman, it would be appreciated if you could pack these up before Ms. Sheena wakes up. She doesn¡¯t like a messy environment and won''t be pleased if she sees it.¡± Elijah did not respond, well aware that this was a deliberate challenge. With his current strength, he estimated he would get tired halfway through the move. Hence, how could he manage all this, especially with the need to prepare breakfast before Sheena woke up? Seeing him hesitate, the bodyguard teased, ¡°Mr. Freeman, if you can¡¯t do it, you can ask us for help.¡± Acold glint shed in Elijah¡¯s eyes as he immediately started moving the luggage. When Sheena came out of her room, she saw him drenched in sweat and his white shirt clinging to his body, revealing faint glimpses of abs and obliques. She had always known he had a good physique but was currently uninterested in his body. She asked, ¡°Is breakfast ready?¡± ¡°Just one more box. Please wait a moment,¡± Elijah replied through gritted teeth. It was as if the fatigue would intensify if he got distracted. Sheena nodded, not in a hurry, and went downstairs to the living room. She noticed the first aid kit she took from the storage cabst night was missing, but she calmly looked away, sitting on the sofa to watch the morning show. After about ten minutes, Elijah took a refreshing shower and changed into clean clothes before heading downstairs. Passing by Sheena, he did not spare her a nce and went straight into the kitchen. Sheena guessed he probably had not yet started cooking and was about to approach when she saw Elijah carrying two tes of warm dishes, cing them on the dining table. Immediately after, he returned to the kitchen to fetch another te of food and utensils. Sheena stood in ce, observing his busy figure, mildly surprised. In just one night, this man had adapted to all the arrangements she had made. In the morning, he not only moved heavy 272 items but also managed to cook and organize his time efficiently, effortlessly dealing with the challenges she threw at him. This man was definitely more than he seemed to be, and Sheena could not shake the feeling that he was hiding something. While she contemted this, Elijah had already set the table and stood quietly on the side, waiting for her to sit. Sheena looked at his obedient appearance and thought he was acting like a good little boy. Was he just putting on an act, brewing up some big move? Despite her thoughts, Sheena sat down without revealing anything and began to taste the breakfast. The French toast was a bit soggy, and the eggs were overcooked, but it was ediblepared to the previous night. Sheena did not intentionally make it difficult for Elijah. After forcing down a couple of bites, she put down her utensils, and Elijah sensibly started clearing the table to wash the dishes. With time still on her hands, Sheena continued to sit on the sofa, watching TV and eating some fruit. asionally, she nced at Elijah squatting on the floor, pitifully scrubbing the floor. Sheena was satisfied and in a good mood. Previously, Faye had deliberately troubled her by disallowing mops in the mansion, insisting that cleaning the floor by hand was more effective. Little did she know that one day, her proud son would be crouching at the feet of the woman she despised, cleaning the floor inch by inch. It was karma at its finest. Sheena smirked,zily popping a cherry into her mouth when her phone suddenly rang. It was Sarah. ¡°Miss, Wilfred is causing a scene in your office. He''s insisting on seeing you! He won''t leave until youe!¡± Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Sheena fell silent for a few seconds before saying, ¡°Okay, | got it.¡± Sheena was surprised as Bethany had kicked the sly Wilfred out of Farlem, yet he was back so soon. As she contemted the situation, she nced at the man still cleaning the floor. The man had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and his white shirt paired with ck trousers unexpectedlyplemented each other. The once prestigious figure in Farlem was now her manservant, and Sheena thought he adapted too quickly, so quickly that she could not help but wonder if he had simr experiences before. Perhaps he went through some form of inhuman training? Despite doing a rather humbling task, he exuded an inherent nobility as if it were engraved in his bones. Also, Sheena noticed that he had to kneel with his legs curled while cleaning due to his tall stature. After just doing chores for a while, she saw that Elijah was sweating again, and his lower lip was also bloodstained. Was this position not only exhausting but also painful for him? His waist... Sheena approached Elijah and spoke casually, ¡°Stop for now and continueter. Come with me to thepany.¡± After saying that, she turned and walked away. In doing so, she caught a glimpse of Elijah, seemingly relieved and sighing as if released from some burden. Rising, he quietly supported his right lower back and rubbed his knees. Sheena said nothing and looked away. She led the way out while Elijah silently followed her to the car. As they approached the CEO¡¯s office at the Freeman Group, they noticed that the door was not fully closed, revealing a slight gap, and heard Wilfred¡¯s shout. ¡°Call her and find out where she is! Tell her to hurry over to meet me! The Freeman family hasn¡¯t gone extinct yet. When does a divorced woman get to boss us around...¡± Standing at the door, Sheena asked Elijah, ¡°Do you know what to do when we go in?¡± Elijah nodded and said, ¡°Tell the truth.¡± Satisfied with the response, Sheena pushed the door open and walked in, ncing at the person sitting on the sofa. ¡°Wilfred, it¡¯s been a while. Your fiery temper hasn''t changed a bit. No wonder Old Man Freeman couldn¡¯t trust the Freeman Group to you back then.¡± The words struck a nerve, stabbing right into Wilfred¡¯s heart. He had always been resentful because his dad had never held him in high regard, and he instantly went livid when Sheena brought it up. ¡°Is this how you speak to your elders?¡± Wilfred scolded. 272 Sheena calmly took a seat on the sofa opposite him, smirking. ¡°I respect gentle and courteous elders, but are you one?¡± ¡°Sheena!¡± Wilfred red at her. Despite both sitting down, Sheena¡¯s nonchnt demeanor seemed to dete Wilfred¡¯s imposing aura. Before Wilfred could continue schooling her, he caught sight of a familiar figure standing beside her. On closer inspection, he realized that it was Elijah, who had been missing for weeks. ¡°Elijah, when did you return? Why did you allow this woman to snatch away control of the Freeman Group?¡± Elijah stated indifferently, ¡°Uncle Wilfred, | returned only yesterday afternoon, and by then, everything had already been settled.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°Settled my foot!¡± Wilfred mmed the coffee table in frustration. ¡°With the 40% stake Dad left you and your years of leadership at the Freeman Group, you wield considerable authority among the shareholders. How could you let this woman gain control over thepany?¡± Elijah exined, ¡°Uncle Wilfred, aside from your 15%, she has acquired all other scatteredpany shares. With no other shareholders, she¡¯s now the majority shareholder of the Freeman Group.¡± ¡°What?¡± Wilfred was skeptical. This seemed to differ from Bethany¡¯s ount of the situation. Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Next to them, Sarah keenly ced thepany¡¯s share registry on the coffee table. Wilfred carefully examined it, and his face gradually turned dark. He was not at Farlem yesterday, and if Elijah had not returned, thepany would indeed fallen under Sheena¡¯s leadership. However, he had been harboring intentions for the position of the head of thepany for so many years, and he would not let this outsider take it away without a fight. Wilfred gave it a thought and looked at Elijah, saying, ¡°What are you standing there for? You''re still the secondrgest shareholder. Come over and sit.¡± Sheena also nced at Elijah. However, Elijah remained silent, resembling a once proud lion whose ws had been dulled. Sheena was satisfied with his obedient demeanor and turned her gaze back to Wilfred, smiling as she exined, ¡°I''ll speak for him. Anyway, he¡¯s now my servant. In conversations between masters, he¡¯s only worthy of standing by the side.¡± Wilfred widened his eyes in surprise, scrutinizing the dynamics between Sheena and Elijah. After a while, he finally erupted in fury and shouted, ¡°You bastard! Did you sign a contract with her, submitting yourself to her? You''ve brought shame,to the Freeman family¡¯s name!¡± Wilfred was a stubborn conservative, especially considering Elijah was a rtively powerful heir. Despite his initial displeasure at Elijah overtaking him for the position of head of thepany, once Elijah assumed the role, he elevated the Freeman Group to unprecedented heights, and Wilfred enjoyed substantial dividends over the years. Now, it was all in the hands of a woman! Wilfred¡¯s anger surged, and he charged forward, delivering a fierce p. ¡°I''ll teach you a lesson on behalf of your dad and grandpa!¡± Elijah did not dodge, not even showing any change in expression. p! Elijah grunted, and his left cheek visibly swelled with a bloodstain at the corner of his mouth. His current physical condition could not withstand the force of this p, and he tumbled uncontrobly to the ground. Sheena quickly caught him before he hit the floor. However, Wilfred was far from done, and he was ready for a second blow.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Sheena grabbed Wilfred¡¯s hand and forcefully pushed it away, warning him, ¡°This isn¡¯t your Freeman family¡¯spany or property. If you want to fight, go home and do it there. Don¡¯t stage a show in front of me.¡± The nearby bodyguards swiftly intervened, forcing Wilfred back onto the sofa. Elijah had regained his bnce, wiping away the blood from the corner of his mouth with a cold expression. Even as Wilfred approached him, he did not blink an eye. His deep, dark eyes seemed lost in contemtion. Sheena, irritated by Elijah¡¯s battered appearance, red fiercely at Wilfred, and mocked, ¡°By the way, the Freeman mansion no longer belongs to the Freeman family. Those rigid and stubborn old traditions should be abolished!¡± 2/2 Wilfred was stunned to find Sheena seizing the Freeman mansion too. He recalled Faye, the spendthrift woman, and looked at Elijah. Noticing Elijah¡¯s indifference, Wilfred pointed at him and scolded, ¡°Do you realize you''re helping the enemy? | left Farlem a couple of days ago because | found out the old man¡¯s death was likely linked to her!¡± With those words, Elijah finally looked at Wilfred. Grinding his teeth, Wilfred continued, ¡°This woman was responsible for his death in the first ce! Now, she¡¯s plotting to take over the Freeman family¡¯s legacy! She¡¯s simply too cunning, and we can¡¯t let a woman like her stay!¡± Then, he cast a meaningful nce at Elijah, adding, ¡°Elijah, make a decision now, or things will only get worse!¡± Chapter 203 After saying that, Wilfred sighed deeply, turned around with hands behind his back, and walked out of the CEO¡¯s office without even looking back However, he shed the troubled expression oncepletely out of the Freeman Group, recing it with a carefree and cheerful smile. Meanwhile, in the office, Sheena turned to face Elijah, noticing the slight swelling on his lips and the visible thumbprint on the left side of his face. A handsome face, now spoiled by Wilfred¡¯s assault. Sheena was determined to deal with that cunning old fox sooner orter. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± She held Elijah¡¯s chin, examining his injuries. Elijah remained expressionless, neither answering nor showing any sign of pain. Seeing his indifferent demeanor infuriated Sheena. She cruelly pinched the soft flesh on his left cheek, causing Elijah to frown and wince in pain as he tried to evade her grasp. Finally, a different expression emerged. Seething with frustration, Sheena scolded, ¡°Looks like you do feel pain. Why didn¡¯t you dodge when Wilfred attacked? Don¡¯t tell me you were too slow to react!¡± If she did not protect him, how many blows could he withstand, considering his current physical condition? Elijah licked the bloody corner of his mouth and countered, ¡°Where were you on the day Grandpa died?¡± Sheena met his gaze, unable to read his true thoughts. Did he believe Wilfred¡¯s words? Did he suspect her of causing Sebastian¡¯s death? Nheless, Sheena did not lie and answered, ¡°Right by his side. | was thest person he saw before he died.¡± ¡°What did he say to you?¡± Elijah asked. Sheena fell silent for a moment. In truth, Sebastian¡¯s dying words were about entrusting her to safeguard the Freeman Group and a plea for her to take care of Elijah. ¡°He¡¯s a good kid, ambitious but deeply loyal. If he discovers your virtues and falls in love with you, he''ll be willing to give up everything for you. Promise me, take good care of him, and never divorce him.¡± leveN?velDrama.Org content rights. Sheena had broken the first promise. Even after three years, she could not soften Elijah¡¯s icy heart, and she no longer yearned for his affection. Hence, safeguarding the Freeman Group became her finalmitment to Sebastian. Noticing Sheena¡¯s momentary distraction, Elijah repeated his question, ¡°What exactly did he say?¡± 2/2 Sheena resumed her seat on the sofa, appearing indifferent as she said, ¡°I can¡¯t disclose that.¡± Those words carried a hint of defiance, and a flicker of anger shed through Elijah¡¯s eyes. Sheena continued, taunting, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you also think | caused his death?¡± Elijah remained silent for a moment, his expression serious as he responded, ¡°No, you wouldn''t.¡± Seeing that he had not fallen for Wilfred¡¯s words, Sheena thought he was not too foolish after all. Her anger subsided somewhat, and she nced at the awkward figure standing there with his left cheek swollen, disrupting the charming appearance of the once-handsome face. Even though Elijah could be frustrating to deal with, Sheena admitted that he was handsome, and it would be a shame to ruin his good looks. She reached for a spare first aid kit from the drawer beneath the coffee table and pushed it toward him. ¡°You look terrible. There are ice packs in the mini¡ªfridge over there. Get some and apply it yourself.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Elijah did not refuse, fetching an ice pack and sitting on the sofa to skillfully tend to his wounds. Sheena walked to the desk, focusing on her work. The bodyguards and Sarah tactfully left, closing the door behind them. In the office, the only sounds were Sheena tapping on the keyboard and the asional noise of Elijah applying medication. The atmosphere was somewhat strange. This continued for almost an hour and a half until Sarah knocked on the door again, informing Sheena, ¡°Ms. Sheena, Mr. Upton is here.¡± Chapter 204 She was surprised, wondering why Colin came to the Freeman Group. After considering it, she said, ¡°Let him in.¡± Elijah, seated on the sofa, suddenly furrowed his brow. Mr. Upton? Which Mr. Upton was this? Was it another man she had recently acquainted herself with? As Colin entered through the door, Elijah stood up. Even though there was a considerable distance between them, both immediately noticed each other''s presence. The air seemed charged as the rivals locked gaze. With a smirk, Elijah spoke first, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the heir of Svelton¡¯s Upton family. It¡¯s nice to meet. you.¡± Colin felt a surge of anger when he saw Elijah. He hade to dissuade Sheena from signing a contract with Elijah, but he never expected that she would boldly bring him to thepany! This was the Freeman Group! Colin darkened his expression and approached Elijah, whispering, ¡°Sheena has divorced you. She made an agreement with you for a year just to help you clear your debts. Mr. Freeman, you shouldn¡¯t harbor any thoughts for her because of that. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± His face appeared calm, but his tone carried a subtle threat. Elijah was stunned when Colin mentioned the agreement, believing that his rtionship with Sheena was moreplicated than expected. ¡°Mr. Upton, out of curiosity, who are you to warn me?¡± Elijah inquired. Colin responded, ¡°She¡¯s single now, and I¡¯m pursuing her. | believe she''ll soon agree to be with me. So, I¡¯m telling you as her future boyfriend.¡± ¡°In other words, she hasn¡¯t agreed to be yours yet. Mr. Upton, aren¡¯t you too eager to assert dominance?¡± Elijah raised an eyebrow. Colin scowled. ¡°So what? At least | have a chance, while you''ll never have one!¡± Sheena sighed, massaging her temples. The two men before her were throwing insults at each other, sparks flying in their heated exchange. Her office had turned into a battleground, and Sheena could not help but wonder why people usually described women as dramatic when these two men were even more intense than most women. The tension continued as the two men squared off before the sofa. Elijah dered, ¡°Even if you refuse to admit it, you can¡¯t deny the fact that | am her ex- husband. At least | was closer to her than you ever will be!¡± Elijah purposely emphasized thest sentence, and his gaze carried a subtle implication, Chapter 204 Seething with anger, Colin retorted, ¡°How long have you known her? How well do you really know her? | grew up with her, and | know her better than you ever will!¡± Elijah was surprised, and his frown deepened. ¡°Enough,¡± Sheena intervened, unable to tolerate the argument any longer. The bickering gave her a headache. She needed to send these two off. She turned to Colin, asking, ¡°Why did youe here today?¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Colin had initially intended to persuade her to dissolve the agreement with Elijah, but certain things could not be said before him. Hence, he used work as a cover, saying, ¡°It¡¯s about the film studio construction. | initially went to Angle Group to find you, but | came over since you weren''t there and heard you were at the Freeman Group.¡± It was a legitimate reason. Sheena looked at Elijah and said, ¡°You haven''t visited your mother and sister since you returned, right? I¡¯ll have the bodyguard take you to the Freeman mansion to check on them. Calm them down and ask them to behave to prevent unnecessary troubles.¡± Intentionally sending him away? Was she choosing Colin over him? Elijah was not pleased. ¡°I¡¯m not going!¡± Sheena ignored his reluctance and called the bodyguards to escort him out. As Elijah passed by him, Colin smirked as if iming victory in this round. With a long face, Elijah exited the office, went down the elevator, and was forcefully ced into the car by the bodyguards. However, his face no longer disyed the jealousy he had shown with Colin earlier. Elijah lingered on thest words Colin spoke. It seemed like Howard had said something simr, attempting to provoke him. Back then, he had not thought much of it, considering it was just Howard trying to get under his skin. However, he realized something was off about the situation! Chapter 205 Sheena¡¯s record when she was 15 only mentioned the orphanage, yet both heirs of the influential Svelton families imed to have known her since childhood. Could she also be connected to the prominent Svelton families? If so, why did she end up in an orphanage in Farlem and coincidentally save Sebastian? Later, she married him, suddenly initiated a divorce, seized control of the Freeman Group and the Freeman Mansion, and even sent Corey''s men to silence him. Could it all have been premeditated? Were her ims about him repaying debts all an act? Was she leveraging guilt to erase suspicion and make him feel guilty? Elijah¡¯s doubts intensified as he contemted these thoughts. While he was lost in his thoughts, the car had arrived at the entrance of the Freeman mansion. He considered going in alone, turning to the two bodyguards and saying, ¡°Wait here at the entrance. I''ll go in, say a few words, ande out.¡± The bodyguards firmly declined him, ¡°No, Ms. Sheena ordered us to protect your safety without leaving your side. Please don¡¯t make it difficult for us, Mr. Freeman.¡± Not even a step away? Sheena was certainly thorough in her precautions. ¡°Fine, thene along. But when I¡¯m talking to my mom and Erin, can you guys stand a bit farther away? Don¡¯t eavesdrop on our conversation.¡± The two bodyguards exchanged nces and nodded in agreement. Faye, being older and having faced hardships in her youth, understood the virtue of perseverance, so the household staff, including Heidi, did not deliberately trouble her. Erin, however, was young and had been indulged from childhood, often resisting orders from Heidi and the others. Consequently, both of them were assigned separate tasks. Erin was assigned to clean the toilets, including scrubbing the dirty toilet bowls in the servants F quarters. Since she was the closest, Elijah decided to visit her first. The staff received the news and released Erin early, arranging for her to wait for Elijah in the hallway. Erin was dressed in servant attire. Her eyes were red, indicating she had been crying for quite some time. As soon as she saw Elijah, she rushed toward him as if he were a savior, seekingfort. ¡°Eli! You''ve finally returned! Are you here to rescue me? Please take me away. The Freeman mansion is like hell for me now, and | don¡¯t want to stay here a second longer.¡¯ Erin grabbed Elijah, ready to leave, but he remained unmoved.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Amidst her confusion, the nearby bodyguard stepped in to exin, ¡°He¡¯s currently Ms. Sheena¡¯s private manservant. He can¡¯t help you. He¡¯s just here to check on you.¡± ¡°What? A private manservant!¡± Erin was shocked and felt her hopes crumble, unable to ept reality. ¡°Eli, how could you submit to her? You''re my brother! The pir of the Freeman family! Why would you...¡± The bodyguard was about to speak but received a stern re from Elijah, wisely choosing to keep silent and stepping a few meters away to give them privacy. As soon as the bodyguard left, Elijah spoke softly, ¡°Erin, behave yourself for a while. I''ll find a \way.¡± In a state of despair, Erin cried, ¡°What can you do? You''re already her servant, with no difference in status from me and Mom...¡± As if realizing something, a sinister expression gradually appeared on Erin¡¯s face. ¡°I get it now, Eli! I¡¯m sure you have a lot of time alone with her now. You must find a chance to help me get rid of her. She¡¯s ruined my life, and we¡¯re sworn enemies!¡± Elijah sighed, recognizing that Erin¡¯s mind was clouded by vengeance and likely not receptive to further discussion. 4 Chapter 206 After advising Erin to behave for the time being, Elijah turned to check on Faye. Erin, still persistent, shouted after him, ¡°Eli! Remember, you must kill her! | want her dead!¡± The faces of the two bodyguards slightly changed. Elijah noticed their expressions but said nothing and went to look for Faye. Faye was in the backyard clearing weeds when she saw Elijah standing unharmed before her. Overwhelmed with joy, Faye hugged him and cried. ¡°Elijah, it¡¯s good that you''re back! You seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Are you not eating well? Why do you look so pale? Are you sick? | know it''s difficult for you with Sheena, but you must take care of yourself.¡± She caressed Elijah¡¯s face, noticing the subtle signs of swelling despite his efforts to hide it. ¡°What happened to your left cheek? Who hit you? Was it Sheena?¡± Elijah held her hand and said, ¡°No, it was Uncle Wilfred.¡± ¡°Wilfred actually hit you? Once we get through this ordeal, I''ll make sure he pays!¡± Faye eximed angrily. However, when she realized that Sheena had not physically harmed Elijah, Faye wondered if this meant Sheena still had feelings for him. ncing around to ensure the two bodyguards were engaged in conversation and not paying attention, she leaned in to whisper to Elijah. ¡°Elijah, Sheena¡¯s definitely not a simple person. From sending Jennifer to prison to the bankruptcy of the Freeman family, she has nned everything meticulously. Even Bethany suspected her identity before. Although she never revealed it, | believe her background is not ordinary,¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Elijah frowned, listening attentively. Faye continued, ¡°Elijah, you must find an opportunity to investigate her background. If she¡¯s really the heiress of a prominent family, you should treat her attentively and try to reconcile, or, if all else fails, find a way to make her pregnant!¡± Faye had used the same strategy to marry into the Freeman family. Despite Elijah being a man, she felt he was handsome and could use his charm without any issues. Elijah¡¯s face darkened, and he moved her hand away. ¡°What kind of man would | be if | were to take advantage of someone like that? Don¡¯t say such things again,¡± Elijah replied sternly. Faye shrugged it off, saying, ¡°What''s the big deal? If you remarry her, | won¡¯t trouble her anymore. If she truly is the daughter of a prominent family, I¡¯m willing to serve her!¡± ¡°You''re unreasonable!¡± / With that, Elijah turned and walked away. Faye watched his retreating figure and stomped her foot in anger. Why did his son not inherit her excellent traditions? Seeing that their conversation had concluded, the two bodyguards once again stuck close to Elijah. Elijah¡¯s expression was solemn as he moved slowly through the first-floor hall. He was aware that the mansion presented the best opportunity, and once back at Ocean Avenue, it would be challenging to establish contact with Lionel for some time. With this in mind, Elijah held his stomach, looking slightly ufortable. ¡°I need to use the bathroom. Wait here. I''ll be back soon.¡± The two bodyguards ignored him and continued to follow him closely. There was even a moment when they considered apanying him into the bathroom. Elijah stood at the bathroom door, blocking them just in time. ¡°This is a private residence. There¡¯s only one bathroom per floor and only one toilet. Do you really n to stand before me and watch while | use the toilet? Doesn''t that seem inappropriate to you?¡± Chapter 207 Upon hearing that, the bodyguards hesitated. After all, that scenario did seem a little off. However, if they did not keep an eye on him and he managed to escape, it would surely be difficult to exin it to Sheena. Elijah smirked and continued, ¡°All the windows in this mansion¡¯s bathrooms were sealed to prevent unforeseen incidents. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check.¡± As he spoke, he walked into the bathroom. In front of the bodyguards, he tested the window. The bodyguards tried to open the window themselves, confirming it was indeed sealed. They inspected the entire bathroom but found nothing suspicious except for a small venttion duct in the ceiling, but the duct was too small to amodate an adult male. Seeing that they were somewhat persuaded, Elijah added, ¡°My stomach is not feeling well, and | might take about fifteen minutes. Please wait for a moment.¡± The bodyguards agreed. ¡°You have fifteen minutes. If you don¡¯te out by then, we¡¯ll barge in no matter what you¡¯re doing.¡± Elijah nodded, and the bodyguards left, standing guard at the door. Then, he locked the door behind them, quickly climbed onto the sink, and opened the venttion duct on the ceiling. The venttion duct had actually been designed with an emergency escape route in mind. From the outside, it appeared small, but when opened, it revealed a hidden mechanism that was attached to the iron mesh, not easily noticeable. Inside were two paths, one leading to the mansion¡¯s rooftop and the other to the back door. Upon entering the Freeman mansion, Elijah heard the unusual bird calls from Lionel. Since the sound came from above, he chose the route to the rooftop. Although the duct could amodate him, it was a tight fit. With his height, he had to bend his knees and move forward, sweating profusely and feeling the strain on his injured waist. Nheless, Elijah only had fifteen minutes, so he endured the pain and sped up. Opening the rooftop venttion, Lionel, who was hiding in the shadows, rushed over to assist him. Lionel found it strange when he saw Elijah covered in cold sweat, trembling hands, and visibly exhausted after only a short climb. ¡°Mr. Freeman, you don¡¯t look so good. Even if your waist injury isn¡¯t fully healed, you shouldn''t be this exhausted, right?¡± ¡°| was injected with a modified version of the 023 serum.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lionel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Ms. Sheena administered it to you? She¡¯s so... ruthless. 11 Elijah remained silent, his eyes revealing aplicated expression. Though Sheena had not disclosed the name of the drug, Elijah had used a 023 serum before while dealing with prisoners of war. However, the one Sheena injected him with was a diluted version, reducing its potency.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Lionel was visibly agitated. ¡°Mr. Freeman, now that you¡¯re out, let''s go! Don¡¯t endure this nonsense under her anymore. The guys are all outside, just waiting for yourmand.¡± 2/2 Elijah appeared determined, saying, ¡°She has secrets, and they¡¯re possibly rted to the Freeman family. I''m staying by her side to gather clues. Time is running out, so let me get straight to the point.¡± Lionel nodded. Elijah continued, recounting his suspicions to Lionel. ¡°Contact Jonah. | suspect Sheena might have connections with the four major families in Svelton. Given Colin and Howard¡¯s attention to her, we can rule out the Lawson and Upton families. The Jenkins family is impossible. So, focus on investigating the Nicholls family. Report any girls who went missing or disappeared six years ago and share a timeline with Sheena.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Freeman.¡± Then, he recalled something and asked, ¡°What about Mr. Wilfred¡¯s im that Ms. Sheena killed Old Man Freeman? Do you believe it?¡± Elijah¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of danger flickered in his eyes. Chapter 208 ¡°| believe it, but | also don¡¯t. That cunning Wilfred just wants to provoke me into a bloody confrontation with Sheena, sitting back and reaping the benefits for himself. However, Sheena¡¯s identity is indeedplicated, so we must investigate.¡± ¡°But...¡± Lionel hesitated before continuing, ¡°I can¡¯t shake the feeling that if Ms. Sheena orchestrated all of this with a n, her chances of being an heiress from a big family are slim. Is it possible she¡¯s a spy sent by a family that discovered your whereabouts? Considering her abilities, she¡¯s likely an ex-military or a skilled spy.¡± If she were indeed a spy, her identity would be challenging to uncover. Elijah pondered for a moment and said, ¡°That''s why we need to be prepared for both scenarios. If she¡¯s an heiress, perhaps all of this is just a coincidence, and I''ve been overly suspicious. I''ll find an opportunity to test her tonight. Also, I¡¯ve arranged for you to visit two people in jail...¡± Lionel nodded respectfully. ¡°Yes, Mr. Freeman.¡± ¡°Alright, you can leave now.¡± Time was running out, and as Elijah turned to leave, Lionel stopped him with a hesitant expression. ¡°Mr. Freeman...¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you suspect Ms. Sheena was the girl who saved you years ago?¡± Elijah maintained his cold tone, replying, ¡°But she denied it. Perhaps she really isn¡¯t, and | made a mistake. Anyway, we must rify her identity and past before reaching a conclusion.¡± Since he noticed Leon¡¯s unusual attitude toward Jennifer, Elijah instructed Leon and Jonah to investigate the matter. He discovered that Jennifer did visit Pine Street on the day in question, but it was after the time when the girl had saved him. Jennifer had deceived him for over a decade, exploiting his sense of responsibility as a man. He had intended to settle the score, but now that Sheena had put her in jail, Elijah decided to let her rot in there. However, if the girl who had saved him years ago was indeed Sheena... His debt to her was more than just three years. Meanwhile, Ford and Sawyer were growing impatient at the first-floor bathroom entrance. Sawyer pressed his ear against the door and found it surprisingly quiet. He asked, ¡°Ford, it doesn¡¯t sound like anyone¡¯s inside. Could he have really made a run for it?¡± Ford checked the time and noticed that it had been exactly fifteen minutes. He knocked on the door first, calling, ¡°Mr. Freeman, your fifteen minutes are up. Are you done? You aren¡¯t constipated, are you?*, He knocked three times in a row, but there was still no response. Ford¡¯s face turned pale; he tried turning the doorknob only to find it was locked! ¡°Oh no! Sawyer, kick the door!¡± Ford ordered.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Sawyer obeyed, took two steps back, and then delivered a powerful kick to the lock, sacrificing the handle. The two barged in to find Elijah casually standing, adjusting his belt with poised and dignified movements. Seeing them forcibly enter, Elijah¡¯s expression turned cold and stern, showing some displeasure. ¡°It¡¯s your first time here, and you''ve already broken something. Not a good start, is it?¡± The two inspected the entire bathroom, keeping a vignt eye on him. ¡°This is Ms. Sheena¡¯s property now. If we damage anything, we''ll apologize to her. But you! You were clearly inside. Why didn¡¯t you respond when we knocked just now?¡± Chapter 210 Watching Sheena¡¯s figure gradually disappear into the staircase, Elijah suddenly emanated a strong sense of hostility. Thinking about his n to find out Sheena¡¯s identity tonight, he nced at the fruit knife on the coffee table. Around 3 a.m., the entire mansion seemed to have fallen asleep. After all, it was a time when people were in the midst of a deep sleep. Rays of silvery¡ªgray moonlight shone through the windows and onto the man asleep in bed. However, he suddenly opened his eyes, and his deep eyes were devoid of any sleepiness. The man sat up quietly and grabbed the fruit knife from the basket on the coffee table. Then, he ascended to the third floor. That night, Sheena slept restlessly. She could not shake the feeling that something was lurking in the shadows, watching her, and it persisted for a long time. This feeling... Why did it feel so simr to the night before the divorce?Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Realizing something, Sheena abruptly opened her eyes, and a gust of wind suddenly rushed to her ears. Almost instinctively, she tightly grasped the de of the knife. The de cut her palm, and crimson blood dripped onto the bed sheet. Ignoring the pain, she swiftly sat up. Her empty left hand estimated the distance to the man, delivering a swift and fierce p. ¡°Argh...¡± The pnded squarely on the man¡¯s face. He grunted and tumbled to the ground, his grip on the knife loosening. Without needing to guess, Sheena knew that no one else in the mansion dared to wield a knife against her besides this man. Then, she tossed the fruit knife aside and quickly turned on the bedsidemp. As expected, it was Elijah! Furious, she shouted, ¡°Do you have a death wish? With your current strength, do you really think you can kill me?¡± Elijah wiped off the blood from the corner of his mouth. When he looked up, he immediately noticed the bloodstained bed sheet and the fresh blood on Sheena¡¯s hand. Was this woman out of her mind? Why did she use her hand to grip the de? Suddenly, he felt a twinge of guilt and remained silent. Seeing his nk expression, Sheena red at him. ¡°What are you staring at? Go get the first aid kit!¡± ¡°Alright...¡± Elijah got up from the floor and went downstairs to fetch the first aid kit. As he stepped out of the room, he realized that a well-trained and exceptional spy would have noticed something when he entered the room. Although Sheena reacted promptly, it was not quick enough. Nevertheless, tonight was merely a test. If she had reacted fast enough, ready to retaliate, he would have immediately given a secret signal to alert Leon and the others waiting outside. If there had been no reaction, his knife would have halted before piercing her skin. However, that foolish woman... Elijah sighed. It seemed she was most likely not a spy, and her series of retaliations against the Freeman family appeared to be a coincidence. Elijah felt even more guilty. He put his hand to his lips and made a bird call signal for retreat, then quickened his pace upstairs. Sheena¡¯s gaze turned icy when she saw him return. When he reached her, she ordered, ¡°Kneel! 11 Elijah hesitated, his face showing resistance. Even though he felt guilty, that did not mean he would allow her to rub his dignity on the floor! ¡°Aman should stand tall no matter the circumstances, only kneeling before the Gods and my parents. | won''t kneel...¡± ¡°All right, you won''t kneel, huh? It seems you enjoy an audience. I''ll have the bodyguardse in and assist you.¡¯ Sheena was growing impatient and was about to trigger the rm at the bedside without waiting for him to finish. As she spoke, there was a muffled thud- It was the sound of knees hitting the floor. Elijah added, ¡°But | know when to submit and when to stand tall.¡± Chapter 211 Sheena was originally furious, but his quick response almost made herugh. Seeing his proud expression, as if saying even though he was kneeling, he was not afraid of her, she snorted and scolded, ¡°What are you staring at? Apply the medicine!¡± Elijah quickly opened the first aid kit and earnestly treated the wound on her palm. The cut was not deep, but it almost spanned the entire palm. As a result, her originally fair and delicate hand looked somewhat gruesome due to the wound. Elijah¡¯s heart suddenly ached, and his movements became even gentler and more cautious. With a cold gaze, Sheena watched the man kneeling obediently by her feet. She asked, ¡°You know well that you can¡¯t kill me, so why act foolishly? Elijah kept his head low, staying quiet. ¡°Is it to vent for Erin, or do you genuinely believe Wilfred¡¯s words, thinking | killed Old Man Freeman?¡± Elijah still remained silent, focused on applying the medicine. Sheena observed him, and for once, she logically analyzed the situation. ¡°It can¡¯t be because of Old Man Freeman. He was already suffering from cancer before his death, and | had no reason to waste effort on someone who was about to die. You know that. So, is it for Erin?¡± Even so, Elijah still did not answer her. Using her uninjured left hand, she lifted Elijah¡¯s chin, forcing him to look into her eyes. ¡°You should understand my personality. Erin might be pleased I¡¯m hurt, but you''ll pay the price. Is it worth it?¡± 12 Elijah¡¯s eyes somewhat reddened, and he finally uttered, ¡°It¡¯s not worth it. | regret it. Sheena lowered her head, locking eyes with him. She keenly noticed the reddened rims of his eyes. Was it genuine remorse for seeing her injured, or was he acting? She narrowed her eyes and noticed the swollen right side of his face. ¡°Not bad. Now you have symmetrical ps on both sides of your face.¡± After a while, Sheena continued, ¡°Do you remember not long ago when you cornered me in the women¡¯s restroom? | said that one day, | would make you kneel at my feet and pay the price. | never thought that day woulde so soon.¡± Elijah listened to her mocking tone and felt ufortable. He forcefully freed his chin from her grip, lowered his head, and continued applying the medicine. His movements were orderly, causing her no pain, and he skillfully wrapped the bandage. Observing his expertise, Sheena asked curiously, ¡°As the prestigious heir of the Freeman family, haven''t you been pampered since you were young? Faye must be heartbroken over the slightest scrape or bruise, so why are you so adept at dressing wounds?¡± Elijah was stunned but quickly recovered and exined calmly, ¡°Because | was a naughty child and always getting injured. | learned it over time.¡± Sheena knew he was not telling the truth but did not bother probing further The room fell silent fora moment, enveloped in an oddly quiet atmosphere, After finishing the bandaging, Elijah did not stand up, Sheena nced at him coldly and then looked at the bloodstains on the bed, ¡°Wash the entire set of bedding by hand tonight. Do it in the backyard, and don¡¯t sleep until it¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Elijah responded promptly. He kept his eyes lowered, appearing wavsually obedient. However, Sheena could not shake off her annoyance when she thought about his audacious act of sneaking into her room with a knife tonight. This man was too good at acting! Whenever he pretended to be well-behaved, it felt like he was concealing some mischief Sheena found it annoying and insisted on slowly wearing down all his dignity and arrogance.N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°My sleep ispletely ruined!¡± She remarked and headed toward the door. Elijah grabbed her wrist and asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± With an indifferent tone, she said, ¡°Spending a few nights at Mr. Lawson¡¯s ce.¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t!¡± Chapter 212 Elijah blurted that out almost instinctively. Noticing Sheena¡¯s angry gaze, he softened his tone and continued, ¡°What | mean is, it''s toote now, and you shouldn''t bother him at this hour. Besides, being alone with him wouldn''t be appropriate.¡± Elijah disliked Howard, and Howard reciprocated the feeling. Elijah knew he currently had no authority to intervene, but perhaps fueled by a man¡¯s possessiveness, he could not ept Sheena going to Howard. ¡°Let go of me.¡± Sheena was stubborn and took another step forward. Elijah followed suit, still kneeling and tightening his grip on her wrist. ¡°Don''t go! I''m sorry, | shouldn¡¯t have hurt you. | won''t do it again. Please don¡¯t go to Howard, Sheena curiously nced down at him. It was the first time she heard him apologize. Back when he knew Jennifer wrongly used her of drugging him, he did not apologize. When he acknowledged owing her three years of debt, he did not apologize. Even when he just wounded her with a knife, he expressed regret but still did not apologize.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Yet, he was apologizing now! Well, well! ¡°It''s toote to apologize now. I¡¯m not epting it. Get lost!¡± Sheena angrily shouted, shaking off his hand. Elijah¡¯s physique was not what it used to be, and he found himself on the ground after her forceful rejection. Sheena did not spare him another nce, leaving the mansion without looking back. Elijah did not chase after her. He sat silently on the ground, and no one could tell what he was thinking about. It was not until he heard the sound of the car engine that he stood and walked to the window. A few bodyguards got into the car after Sheena. Two minutester, with the roar of the engines, the two cars sped away in the moonlight. With Sheena¡¯s departure, an eerie quiet settled over the entire mansion. Elijali quickly snapped out of his jealousy, surveying Sheena¡¯s room with a nce, wondering if there would be any clues in her room that could verify her true identity. Moreover, she had left and taken all the bodyguards with her, and it was uncertain whether she might return soon. Hence, searching her room now was the best opportunity! Elijah kept a stern expression, observing the window for a while with aplex gaze At this moment, about 200 meters ahead on Ocean Avenue, two cars turned off their engines 2/2 at the intersection before a turn. Sheena sat in the car, waiting silently. The surroundings were exceptionally quiet, quiet enough to hear her own heartbeat. She stared nkly ahead, lost in thought, contemting who knows what. After roughly half an hour, she finally called the bodyguards secretly observing the mansion. ¡°Did he touch anything in my room after | left?¡± The bodyguard replied, ¡°He changed your bed sheets andforter to a new set. He took the dirty ones to the backyard for cleaning, but it seems he had trouble wringing them out after getting them wet due to the weight.¡± ¡°Besides changing the bedding, did he touch anything else in the room?¡± The bodyguard thought for a moment before saying, ¡°No, but he stood by the window for a while after you left.¡± Sheena pursed her lips, lost in thought. Her leaving was such a great opportunity, yet he did not take advantage of it. When he went to get the first aid kit, she distinctly heard the bird calls again. She could not figure out what he was up to, but his asional unusual behavior was hard not to arouse suspicion. Did he really sign the agreement so quickly just to repay the debt? Chapter 213 Sheena fell silent for a moment before giving further instructions, ¡°Keep an eye on him. Also Sawyer, stay behind to guard the mansion. For the next few days, he¡¯s not allowed to leave. Ensure the house is thoroughly cleaned, and that he takes care of his responsibilities.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena.¡± Sawyer opened the door, stepped out of the car, and watched as the two vehicles headed toward Howard¡¯s mansion. Howard only knew Sheena was at his ce when he saw her sitting in the dining room, eating the breakfast Auntie Gloria had prepared. Initially, he wanted to tease her, but he realized she was using her left hand to hold the spoon, and her right hand hanging by her side, wrapped in bandages. ¡°Nana, what happened to your hand?¡± Howard asked, concerned. Sheena casually ate the oatmeal, saying, ¡°Nothing much. A dog bit me. Howard sympathized, ¡°Which damn dog dared to bite you? I''ll take care of it for you!¡± ¡°Just a useless one. I''ll deal with this myself.¡± Howard wanted to inquire further, but Sheena had already put down her spoon, finishing her breakfast. ¡°Howard, I¡¯m heading to the Freeman Group now. In the afternoon, I''ll be at the Angle Group. Enjoy your breakfast!¡± ¡°Alright, take care.¡± Once she left, Howard summoned Ford and asked sternly, ¡°What happened to Sheena¡¯s hand?¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Ford lowered his head, trembling as he replied, ¡°Exactly as Ms. Sheena said, she got bitten by... a dog.¡± ¡°Ford, you know the consequences of lying to me. She doesn¡¯t have any dogs at Ocean Avenue? Is she referring to Elijah?¡± ¡°If you already know who it is, why ask?¡± Ford felt aggrieved as he was scolded for no reason. Howard, feeling infuriated, eximed, ¡°That bastard! It was a mistake asking Corey to spare his life! How dare he harm Nana! I''ll make him pay with his life!¡± He reached for his phone, ready to make a call, but Ford quickly stopped him. ¡°Mr. Lawson, calm down. Ms. Sheena has always been decisive. Keeping Mr. Freeman alive is part of her n. It¡¯s best not to disrupt her strategy,¡± Ford advised. Howard calmed down and gave it a thought before saying, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s spare his life for Nana to torment him slowly. But he must suffer for injuring her!¡± Then, he called Ford closer and whispered some instructions. ¡°Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Lawson!¡± Sheena was running between the Angle Group and the Freeman Group in the following days Chapter 213 532/2 On Thanksgiving, the filming of the talent show paused for a day, granting the girls a break. She nned to return to Howard¡¯s mansion early, enjoy a good meal with him, and was tidying up her desk when Wendy urgently knocked on the door. ¡°Ms. Sheena, something bad happened! Ben says Phoebe has disappeared again!¡± Sheena was taken aback. Who could it be this time? Bethany? Sheena swiftly drove with Wendy to the set and reviewed all the surveince footage. However, the situation was different this time as Phoebe had not left the set, implying she might still be on-site rather than kidnapped. The set¡¯s staff searched every corner, but Phoebe seemed to have vanished without a trace. The atmosphere became tense among the remaining staff and contestants. Sheena never believed in supernatural urrences, and it was apparent that someone was ying tricks! She gathered all the contestants who had not gone home for Thanksgiving and questioned them individually in her office. Chapter 214 Chapter 214 ¡°I don¡¯t know. | don¡¯t share the same dorm as her and have never seen her.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t usually talk to us much. It seems like she has a better rtionship with the other girls in her dorm. You should ask them. | don¡¯t know anything.¡± Even after questioning everyone, Sheena had no results as no one was telling the truth. She had no choice but to seek out Isme, who had recently been eliminated from the previous season. Isme responded, ¡°My votes were too low, so I¡¯ve already been eliminated. How would | know? But Bethany has never looked for me again, and this doesn¡¯t seem like something she would do. However, | know that Rosalie L¡¯Agnese had a bad rtionship with her. She used to bully Bethany when the cameras weren''t around. Maybe you can start there.¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Rosalie L-Agnese? Sheena narrowed her eyes and replied, ¡°Alright.¡± She immediately instructed Ben to investigate Rosalie¡¯s movements and found that she had left the set early in the morning. An hour after her departure, Phoebe went missing. Was this a bullying incident? Sheena promptly had Rosalie brought back to the set for questioning. Rosalie was forcibly taken to the meeting room. Sheena sat in the main seat, staring at Rosalie with a chilling aura, startling her. ¡°Who are you? Who do you think you are to restrict my freedom and bring me here?¡± Sheena smirked. ¡°I¡¯m the talent manager for Angle Group, the director of this show.¡± After hearing her introduction, Rosalie sneered, ¡°Do you know who | am? The wealthy heiress, Ellie Fisher, has my back! How dare you treat me this way? You''re just one call away from being kicked out of Angle Group!¡± ¡°Do you want to give it a try? Your call won''t get me fired from Angle Group, but one call from me can get you disqualified immediately.¡± Rosalie fell silent. She had barely survived from the first round until now, and with her current ranking, she had a chance to debut. Hence, she could not afford to be disqualified at this critical moment. Fearing the loss, she did not dare to gamble with Sheena. Sheena noticed Rosalie wavering and began questioning, ¡°Where is Phoebe?¡± ¡°|-| locked her in the small restroom on the east side,¡± When they found Phoebe, she was soaked through, curled up on the ground, shivering. Her voice had be hoarse from screaming for too long. Sheena was furious. She had the staff take Phoebe to the set¡¯s medical room for treatment, then made Rosalie apologize to Phoebe When Phoebe slowly regained consciousness, she saw Rosalie kneeling by her bedside ¡°I''m sorry! | shouldn¡¯t have yed tricks on you?¡± Ignoring Rosalie¡¯s anxious tone, Phoebe turned her face away, unwilling to acknowledge her. Sheena nced at Rosalie, smirking. ¡°It seems she¡¯s not forgiving you because your apology isn¡¯t sincere enough.¡± Rosalie panicked, immediately tearing up. ¡°Phoebe, I¡¯m sorry. | genuinely realize my mistake. | just wanted to taunt you, and | never intended to harm you. It wasn¡¯t deliberate Please forgive me. | finally made it through the preliminaries, and | don¡¯t want to be disqualified!¡± Hearing herst words, Phoebe sighed. ¡°Forget it. | forgive you just go away.¡± Rosalie was overjoyed and looked toward the cold and proud Sheena. ¡°You heard her. She said she¡¯s willing to forgive me!¡± Sheena nodded and turned to instruct Ben to process Rosalie¡¯s withdrawal Rosalie was bewildered. ¡°Why? You promised that if Lapologized to her, you''d let me off!¡± ¡°She forgave you, but you¡¯ve caused her to lose her voice. No one knows how that will impact next week¡¯spetition. | won''t forgive that.¡± ¡°Why!¡± Rosalie protested. ¡°Because not all apologies deserve forgiveness! And here, | make the rules!¡± Chapter 215 Sheena had been feeling troubled for the past few days, and Rosalie had just added fuel to the fire by getting herself into trouble. Not long after, Rosalie was dragged out of the set crying. As the room finally quieted, Sheena sat by Phoebe¡¯s sickbed, diligently peeling an apple for her. Watching her intently, Phoebe smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s been many years since west met, and you''ve changed a lot! You were so cool just now. I¡¯m really impressed.¡± ¡°You can be like this too.¡± Phoebe¡¯s gaze dimmed. ¡°No, I¡¯m different. I¡¯m not like all the other trainees here. They either have powerfulpanies or wealthy family backgrounds, but | only have myself.¡± Sheena put down the apple and held Phoebe¡¯s hand,forting her, ¡°You managed to stand out among a hundred trainees, step by step, reaching the finals. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re amazing?¡± ¡°But I¡¯m only in fifteenth ce. | can¡¯t debut. Rosalie told me majorpanies have already reserved the debut spots through bribery. | don¡¯t stand a chance.¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Sheena chuckled. This was herpany and her program. She had specifically informed her team not to ept bribes for reserved spots. Phoebe was also good-looking. Although not a typical stunning type at first nce, she had a charm that grew on you. She was a cute and innocent girl. With this appearance and talent, Phoebe could have a longsting career in the entertainment industry. Whether for personal orpany interests, Sheena was determined to support Phoebe. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No one can bribe their way to debut in my program. As long as you work hard, you''ll have a chance. And even if you don¡¯t debut this time, I''ll make sure you sign a contract with Angle Group and be an A-list artist.¡± Tears glistened in Phoebe¡¯s eyes. In disbelief, she bit her lip to stop the tears from falling. Sheena gently patted her head. ¡°This time, go all out toward your goal.¡± Phoebe was moved and embraced Sheena tightly. ¡°Thank you, Sheena. Even though you haven''t told me who you are, | know you''re an incredible girl.¡± ¡°If any trainees bully you again, stand up to them! The more you show weakness, the more. they''ll take advantage of it. Only when you stand up will they fear you. Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ve got your back from now on!¡± Holding her close, Phoebe was fueled with determination. When Sheena left, Phoebe was cornered in the restroom by Ellie and two of herckeys that same evening as she got out of the medical room. Ellie had returned to the set upon learning 2/2 about Rosalie¡¯s sudden disqualification. She intended to confront Phoebe and make sure she would not dare toin again. As it was Thanksgiving, no cameras were filming on the set, especially in ces like the restroom, where surveince was impossible. Phoebe was forced into a corner, shivering in fear. Suddenly, Sheena¡¯s words from earlier echoed in her mind. She gritted her teeth, grabbed a dirty mop from the corner, and taunted the three. ¡°Ellie, let me make it clear. | used to let you have your way, but from now on, don¡¯t you dare touch me again!¡± ¡°Sure! Let¡¯s y a game and see if you can handle three people alone!¡± The four girls quieldy engaged in a brawl, and screams echoed in the restroom as chaos unfolded. Sheena found out about the incident the next morning. Ellie, battered and bruised, threatened to sue Phoebe for assault. Wendy, standing nearby,mented, ¡°They had the numbers yet still lost against Phoebe alone. Not only that, but they¡¯re also the first to cry foul.¡± Sheena also thought it was ridiculous andughed. ¡°Handle this matter for me. Whether Ellie gets awyer or tries anything else, we''ll face it head-on, supporting Phoebe all the way.¡± ¡°No problem, Ms. Sheena!¡± While Sheena was busy with work for the past few days, someone else was not idle. Sheena had not returned to Ocean Avenue for three consecutive days. Elijah, for some reason, felt uneasy, with images of Sheena and Howard being alone together shing in his mind whenever he closed his eyes. Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Ford sensed the sarcasm in Elijah¡¯s words and chuckled. ¡°Mr. Freeman, enjoy!¡± Elijah lightly grunted and walked to the wall, facing it with his hands braced against it. As soon as he positioned himself, the cane whistled through the air, mercilessly striking his straightened back with a crisp sound. ¡°Ugh...¡± Elijah gritted his teeth, his hands almost instinctively clenched into fists. Before he could process the pain from the first strike, the second one followed, then the third,nding on his back without allowing him a moment to catch his breath. It was genuinely painful. Due to the effects of the special drug injected into him, Elijah was much weaker, and his skin became more delicate, intensifying the sensation of pain. The drug, known as 023, was originally designed to deal with captured criminals or enemies. whomitted serious crimes. Once injected, the individual became powerless to resist, and the pain during interrogation and torture would be heightened, tormenting both body and mind to the extreme. Never did Elijah imagine that one day, this modified version of the 023 serum would be used to torture him. How ironic! Asharp sound echoed as the cane struck his back, pulling him back to the torment at hand. After just over twentyshes, his white shirt was already stained with blood. Even so, Elijah endured it all, determined not to let out any humiliating cries. He bit his lower lip until it bled, sweat forming on his forehead, and veins bulging on his arms. By the time the punishment reached fortyshes, his arms trembled uncontrobly. At seventyshes, his back was nearing numbness. Due to his now more fragile skin, several ces on his back had been cut open, and blood spots stained his white shirt. Elijah started to feel unsteady, his legs losing control and shaking. Ford, observing from the side, could not help but marvel at Howard''s choice of punishment. The caning proved to be both painful and incapable of killing. Moreover, as Howard intended to discreetly deal with Elijah behind Sheena¡¯s back, the injuries were all concentrated on Elijah¡¯s back. This way, it would not affect his normal walking, ensuring that Sheena remained oblivious. As he contemted this, he suddenly heard a thud. Elijah had copsed onto the floor, the pain causing him to lose consciousness on the spot. The two ¡°assants¡± wore bewildered expressions, exchanging nces before reluctantly seeking Ford¡¯s guidance. ¡°Ford, what do we do now?¡± Chapter 217 Ford, observing the lifeless Elijah on the ground, asked, ¡°How manysties did you deliver?¡± ¡°Ny,¡± they replied. Ford clicked his tongue in admiration, finding a newfound respect for the unconscious man ite endured silently until nyshes before passing out. Quite the tough guy.¡± After a moment''s thought, he added, ¡°Did you guys go easy on him?¡± They hurriedly shook their heads, ¡°You know the strength we used, and besides, this was thr. Lawson''s orders. We wouldn''t dare go easy.¡± They hesitated before continuing, ¡°Ford, what should we do now? Should we administer the final tenshes, or is that enough? If we finish, we might need to wake him up with water and continue.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Ford remained silent, staring at Eljah and reevaluating the situation. Elijahy on the ground, his face drained of color, yet his lips bore vivid red bloodstains. Despite his distressing appearance, the striking handsomeness of his well-defined features gave him a sense of charming vulnerability, Ford could not help but sigh at God¡¯s unfairness. 1/2 Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Elijah was incredibly handsome! Ford finally understood why Sheena kept Elijah around. He was truly a treat for the eyes. ¡°Ford?¡± The two, still holding the canes, called out to him in confusion. Ford snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Elijah¡¯s gruesome back. ¡°Forget it. Given his condition, this is probably his limit. If we wake him up with water and continue, it''ll probably make him pass out again after just a fewshes. Mr. Lawson mentioned a swift resolution. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°But what do we tell Mr. Lawson...¡± mule go and tell him the truth,¡± Ford replied. As the group prepared to leave, Ford summoned Sawyer and Owen, who were lurking in the shadows. ¡°What did you two see just now?¡± Ford asked. Sawyer and Owen lowered their heads, saying, ¡°Mr. Freeman fainted in the living room due to exhaustion from housework. We didn¡¯t see anything else.¡± Satisfied, Ford nodded. ¡°If Ms. Sheena asks, stick to this story. If she doesn¡¯t, then pretend nothing happened. Got it?¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After that, the group departed. Sawyer and Owen, following their orders, returned to their posts without paying any attention to the man who had fainted in the living room. Sheena was the apple of her brothers¡® eyes and hurting her was just asking for trouble! Elijah curled up alone on the cold marble floor of the living room. His head remained groggy¡¯, caught in a cycle of being awakened by pain, then fainting, enduring torment repeatedly.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Lionel discreetly visited Jennifer in prison. When the police brought her out, he was left stunned. Jennifer had only been in prison for a short time, yet a third of her hair had turned white, and her skin looked unhealthy. She resembled a madwoman, and it was as if she had aged ten years. Clearly, her time inside had not treated her well. When she saw Lionel, she became excited and tearful. Jennifer cried, ¡°Is Eli back in Farlem? Did he send you to rescue me? | knew he wouldn''t forget me... Lionel chose not to reveal that Elijah already knew the truth about her lying. Instead, he said, ¡± Ms. Moore, | came to rify a few things. | hope you can tell me the truth without hiding anything.¡± Jennifer hesitated for a moment, then suddenly erupted in a frenzy. ¡°Aren¡¯t you here to rescue me? How could Eli be so heartless to me? Why is he going back on his words? Is it because I¡¯ve grown old and ugly, so he doesn¡¯t love me anymore?¡± Jennifer¡¯s crazed appearance startled Lionel. Regaining hisposure, he chose to deceive her for the time being. ¡°So, you need to tell me the truth without holding back. That way, Mr. Freeman might have a chance to help you.¡± Upon hearing this, Jennifer gradually calmed down and began to narrate seriously. ¡°I''m innocent! Sheena set me up! To ruin my reputation, she personally went to Luivine and hired a doctor. | don¡¯t know how, but she actually cured Hannah. Then, she and Hannah conspired against me at the press conference, and...¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Lionel heard a crucial point and quickly interrupted her. ¡°Which hospital in Luivine did Sheena go to? Do you know the name of the doctor?¡± Jennifer pondered and replied, ¡°I only know it was a specialist hospital. Considering how Hannah was paralyzed and still managed to wake up, it must be a very famous doctor!¡± After chatting for a while and realizing he could not extract any more information, Lionel said a few words and then visited Leon. Leon¡¯s ount of Sheena going to Luivine was essentially consistent with Jennifer¡¯s. After the prison visit, Lionel promptly had his people investigate all the doctors at the central hospitals in Luivine capable of performing major brain surgeries, especially those who were absent during that particr period. Chapter 219 Elijah was awakened by two crisp bird calls at 9 pm. Enduring the pain in his back, he forced himself to stand up from the floor. There was important business to attend to that night, and he had to stay alert. Holding onto the railing, Elijah returned to his room and headed straight for the bathroom, turning on the shower to its hottest setting as he needed to wash away the blood on his shirt. After spending six hours unconscious with the blood and shirt fabric sticking together, attempting to change clothes would be like peeling off ayer of skin. Only hot water could swiftly remove the shirt. However, the hot water pouring over the wounds on his back felt like a second round of torture, as if millions of needles were piercing, through. Elijah trembled in pain. Despite the intense physical difort, the scalding water gradually cleared his mind, After a few minutes of showering, he changed into a fresh set of clothes. Turning off the lights, Elijah utilized the limited visibility in the bodyguards¡® hidden spots, pretending toy on the bed as if sleeping. Silently, he stuffed the extra bedding, he had prepared into the bed, creating the illusion that he was asleep.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Then, Elijah quietly rolled to the other side of the bed, and shivers spread through his entire body when his back touched the ground, causing dizziness. After taking a two-minute break, he quietly exited through the slightly ajar door, going to the room on the other side that was in the bodyguards¡¯ blind spot. Later, he descended to the first floor through the pipes conveniently located next to the window. This position happened to be near the back door. Hearing the subtle movements, Lionel came out and reported in a hushed voice. ¡°Mr. Freeman, the Nicholls family had one missing heiress six years ago, but that girl was found three years ago, and we have her photo from online records. She definitely isn¡¯t Ms. Sheena. Apart from that, there¡¯s no one else with a timeline that fits Ms. Sheena¡¯s.¡± As Elijah listened to the report, the light in his eyes gradually dimmed. Lionel continued, ¡°But during my prison visit, | learned Ms. Sheena flew to Luivine to bring back a doctor to treat Hannah, | coborated with all my subordinates in the investigation and found that the doctor she sought was Noah Lawson.¡± Noah Lawson? Elijah was stunned. Noah held a prominent status in the medical field. Rumors portrayed him as a reclusive, arrogant, and quiet figure, a medical genius with no apparent rtionships with women. Yet, Sheena somehow managed to persuade such a person? All of Albert''s sons seemed to have inexplicable connections with Sheena, going to great lengths to assist her! The Zimmer family, seemingly distant rtives of the Lawson family, basked in the glow of their association, confidently disying their prowess in Farlem, 2/2 Sheena¡¯s ties with the Lawson family appearedplex. Could she also be affiliated with the Lawson family? Elijah¡¯s expression grew increasingly stern. ¡°Investigate the Lawson family! Whether they''re. direct descendants or distant rtives, anyone with a timeline matching Sheena¡¯s must be reported!¡± Lionel hesitated before continuing, ¡°Mr. Freeman, do you remember six years ago, when Albert¡¯s youngest daughter...¡± Beep, beep- Lionel¡¯s sentence was cut short as headlights suddenly shed. Sheena had returned! Why would shee back at this unexpected hour? ¡°Mr. Freeman, be careful on your way back. Take care! I''ll thoroughly investigate this!¡± Lionel expressed concern, ncing at Elijah before swiftly disappearing into the darkness. Elijah was amazed at how fast Lionel fled the scene. Then, he immediately turned around, intending to enter through the main door connecting the garden and the living room. However, Sheena had already exited the car, and with lights illuminating the garden, he would undoubtedly be exposed. Without other options, Elijah reluctantly eyed the pipe he had descended from earlier¡ªit was the only way. Ignoring the pain in his back, he immediately began climbing up. Meanwhile, Sheena walked into the mansion through the garden, questioning Sawyer. ¡°Has he been behaving these past few days?¡± Sawyer replied, ¡°Mr. Freeman wanted to go out twice but after we refused, he hasn''t asked again. He¡¯s already in bed asleep now. Sheena frowned as she looked at the time. It was only 9.30 p.m. Why was he in bed so early? ¡°| don''t believe it!¡± Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Sheena went upstairs as she spoke, with Sawyer and Owen trailing behind. Elijah¡¯s room door was ajar, which struck Sheena as odd, but she did not dwell on it. She pushed the door open and, aided by the corridor lights, saw Elijah lying on the bed with his back facing the entrance, seemingly fast asleep.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Was she overthinking things? Sheena closed the door, and Sawyer and Owen, seeing that Sheena had not noticed anything, breathed a silent sigh of relief. However, as Sheena took a couple of steps away, she abruptly stopped. When she had opened the door earlier, she seemed to notice the color of Elijah¡¯s shirt cor was a little darker... Was it wet? Was he sweating? Something was off! Sheena immediately went back, decisively turning on the lights this time. She inspected the man curled up on the bed. Walking to the bedside, she confirmed that the back of his shirt cor was indeed damp, and she smirked. ¡°Elijah, how did you even manage to work up a sweat while sleeping?¡± Elijah kept his eyes tightly shut, refusing to respond. Sheena grew annoyed. ¡°Quit pretending. | know you weren¡¯t sleeping. What were you up to just now?¡± Caught red-handed, Elijah remained silent but suddenly furrowed his brow intensely, muttering, ¡°It hurts...¡± ¡°It hurts? You were perfectly fine. What kind of trick are you trying to pull?¡± As Sheena spoke, she inadvertently pushed down on his back. ¡°Argh!¡± Elijah cried out and broke out in a sudden cold sweat, and his features contorted in pain. Standing behind Sheena, Sawyer, and Owen exchanged confused nces. They heard Elijah being ruthlessly whipped during the day. However, Elijah had endured it without uttering a sound! During the day, Elijah seemed quite bold, yet now he was crying out in pain and screaming. Was he intentionally ying the victim now? This acting was practically Oscar¡ªworthy! Even the best actors did not have his level of skill. Was he trying to cause Howard trouble? Sawyer and Owen were frustrated but could not show any sign of it in front of Sheena. 2/2 Sheena remained oblivious to their internal turmoil. She thought Elijah¡¯s condition did seem a bit off, less like an act. Then, she unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt and gently pulled it back. What met her eyes were crisscrossing purple welts, hardly a patch of unblemished skin. Several areas bore deep marks, bruises now turned dark purple, and there were even open wounds oozing blood. Seeing her expression turn colder and expecting her to erupt any second, Sawyer and Owen prepared themselves to kneel on the spot. However, Sheena asked calmly, ¡°Who did this?¡± Unable to discern whether she was angry or not, the two of them could only answer truthfully. ¡°It was Mr. Lawson.* ¡°What did he hit him with?¡± ¡°With... a cane. He received nyshes.¡± Sawyer hesitated, then quickly added, ¡°Miss, it¡¯s just that Mr. Lawson couldn¡¯t bear to see you hurt. He was upset and...¡± Sheena¡¯s expression remained indifferent. ¡°Understood. Since it was Mr. Lawson who did it, then he deserved it.¡± Upon hearing this, Elijah clenched his hands under the nket. Chapter 221 Just because it was Howard, he deserved it? Was Howard that important to her? Elijah was not pleased. Not pleased at all! He would wrap Howard in a sack and ship him off to Antarctica to feed the penguins if he could! Sensing the sudden surge of resentment from the figure with his back against her, Sheena smiled. Nheless, Elijah¡¯s back injuries did look a bit ring. ¡°Sawyer, apply medicine on his wounds,¡± Sheena said, directing an unexpected order at Sawyer. Sawyer was caught by surprise, blurting out, ¡°Huh? Me?¡± Sheena red at him and said, ¡°Unless you want me to do it personally?¡± ¡°I''m on it, Miss.¡± Sawyer appeared reluctant. He thought Elijah was simply shameless. He wondered if he could apply poison instead for trying to trouble Howard just now. on Elijah Despite his unwillingness, Sawyer fetched the first aid kit under Sheena¡¯s gaze. With things roughly settled, Sheena turned to leave. However, a pair of broad hands suddenly grabbed her wrist from behind. ¡°Sheena, chat with me for a while...¡± Elijah had shifted to lie in a different direction, not lifting his head. His voice sounded muffled from beneath the nket, and with his long, tremblingshes and paleplexion, he looked quite ¡®fragile¡¯. Sheena nced at Elijah and said, ¡°My time is precious. | don¡¯t have the time to chat with you. Let go.¡± She emphasized the word ¡®with you¡¯, reminding him of his current status. Elijah remained motionless and did not release his grip. ¡°Sheena, | was left alone for six hours this afternoon. It really hurts. The marble tiles in the living room are so cold... Considering that I''ve acknowledged my fault, can we talk for a while... His voice was soft, sounding like a wounded little creature seekingfort. Six hours alone on the living room floor? Sheena furrowed her brow, ncing at Owen standing nearby. Owen lowered his head in terror. ¡°I-] thought Mr. Freeman fainted while doing housework, so | didn''t...¡± Owen was afraid he would make things worse and med for what happened, so he quickly shut his mouth and exited, closing the door behind him. As the door closed, the room fellpletely silent. Sheena nced at Elijah and asked, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± Elijah held onto her wrist, unwilling to let go. ¡°You were at Howard''s these past two days. Was everything alright?¡± Sheena was confused. Was he ying the role of a helpless victim just to talk about these trivial matters? ¡°Without someone frustrating me and with Mr. Lawson being so tender and considerate, course everything was great.¡± of Knowing she was mocking him, Elijah put on a serious expression and probed, ¡°I heard the Lawson family has very high requirements for their descendants¡¯ partners. Do you think Howard would defy the entire family for you?¡± Howard marrying her? Well, that would be a huge joke.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Sheena said sarcastically, ¡°That''s my business, and you don¡¯t seem to have the qualification to meddle in my affairs.¡± Elijah observed her expression, smirking. ¡°It seems he doesn¡¯t intend to let the Lawson family know about your existence, so are you being kept by him?¡± Sheena chuckled at his guess. ¡°No man in this world can keep me, and I¡¯m probably the one who does the keeping and supporting.¡± This statement sounded arrogantly confident, buting from her, it surprisingly did not feel out of ce. Elijah squinted his eyes slightly, carefully contemting the deeper meaning behind her words. If she truly possessed such capability, it could mean she was affiliated with the Lawson family. Perhaps she and Howard had a blood rtionship, and they could not possibly be lovers. In other words, all their previous intimacy might have been just between family members! Although this was merely Elijah¡¯s spection and had not been confirmed, he secretly hoped it was true. Chapter 222 While Elijah was lost in thoughts, Sheena got tired of his meaningless, sarcastic remarks and turned to leave. However, Elijah, still holding onto her wrist, prevented her from leaving.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Annoyed, Sheena asked, ¡°Elijah, what exactly are you trying to do?¡± With a pale face, Elijah appeared pitiful as he looked at her. ¡°Sheena, my back hurts a lot. Can you kiss it better?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sheena was surprised by this request. How did she not notice Elijah¡¯s clinginess before? ¡°Did they hit your back or your head? Can''t you speak like a normal adult?¡± Elijah remained silent. He was genuinely in pain and exhausted, hoping for a bit offort from her. Seeing hisck of response, Sheena forcibly freed her wrist from his grip and tried to leave. However, Elijah suddenly said, ¡°During the days | was away, | went to the mountains near the border of the Luivine and Farlem. The reason for my dyed return was that | was being pursued, and those people were sent by Corey Lawson.¡± Sheena¡¯s steps came to an abrupt halt. Corey¡¯s men tried to kill him? Howard had only mentioned Elijah¡¯s whereabouts and temporary absence without telling her the real reason was because of Corey. Next, Sheena recalled Elijah¡¯s reaction when he returned after being injected with the special drug, wondering if Corey¡¯s men caused his waist injury. Sheena stood by the door for a moment, then smiled and responded, ¡°Why are you suddenly telling me this? Do you think I''d care about you?¡± With that, she opened the door and left. Sawyer was waiting outside and noticed her strange expression as she came out. ¡°Ms. Sheena?¡± She snapped out of her thoughts, nced at the first aid kit in Sawyer¡¯s hands, and said, ¡°Go in and help him with the medicine.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena.¡± Sawyer bowed slightly. After watching her leave the second floor, he entered Elijah¡¯s room. Elijah was lost in thought. Sheena seemed surprised by the mention of Corey as if it was not rted to her. Elijah sighed lightly, feeling somewhat relieved. ¡°Hey, Mr. Freeman?¡± Sawyer interrupted Elijah impatiently, ¡°Take off your shirt and lie down. I''ll apply the medicine.¡± Elijah took the first aid kit from him, saying, ¡°No need. | can handle it myself. You can leave.¡± ¡°Your injury is on your back. How can you do it yourself? If Ms, Sheena can touch you, why can¡¯t I?¡± Sawyer argued. Elijah remained expressionless. ¡°I¡¯m notfortable with men touching me.¡± What a peculiar habit. Regardless, Sawyer was fine with it. ¡°As long as you said so, Just don¡¯tin to Ms. Sheena about me later.¡± Although he said that, Sawyer still reported the matter to Sheena on the third floor before leaving out of concern. ¡°Since he enjoys pain like a masochist, let him be. You may go about your business.¡± The door was open, and Sheena was still standing by the window, speaking quite audibly. Elijah heard everything clearly downstairs, frowning. It seemed like this beating was not worth it at all. Not only did he fail to gain even the slightest sympathy from Sheena, but he also received a bunch of sarcastic remarks about deserving it and being a masochist. Later, Elijah applied some anti-inmmatory ointment to his back and went to sleep. The next morning, he woke upte. The beating and climbing the previous day had really drained his energy. By the time he woke up, Sheena was already gone from the mansion. Surprisingly, she did not purposely trouble him. Elijah found it a bit strange but started doing household chores as usual. Ever since he found out that Sheena and Howard might be rted, he felt happy. It was the opposite of his mood from a few days ago. Once Lionel was done with the investigation, many mysteries about Sheena might be unraveled! That afternoon, he prepared a meal and waited for Sheena to return from work. She dide back, but with two men he despised¡ªHoward and Colin. Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! Chapter 223 Chapter 223 What were they doing here? Elijah froze in ce, ring at the two men behind Sheena with hatred Colin¡¯s expression mirrored Elijah¡¯s, with obvious hostility in his eyes. Howard, too, red at hire menacingly. The three men¡¯s gazes seemed to sh in the air, creating an intense standoff Sheena noticed the thick tension and could not help but feel annoyed. Did these men really have to act so childish? If looks could kill, they would have killed each other hundreds of times by now. Sheena sighed, pondered for a moment, and then addressed Elijah, ¡°You don¡¯t need to cook today, and you won¡¯t be much help here either. The leaves have been falling like crazy in the gardentely. Go and rake them up.¡± Raking leaves? Was she asking him to leave her alone to have a meal and chat with these two men? Howard was tolerable, but why should Colin be included? With a gloomy expression, Elijah remained unresponsive. Sheena went to the wine cab and took out a fine bottle of red wine. When she turned around, she noticed Elijah still standing there. Urging him on, she said, ¡°Hurry up. If you can¡¯t move, I''ll have Owen drag you out. This was a clear indication that he had to leave. Elijah scowled. He seemed to intentionally vent his displeasure when closing the door, mming it hard. Howard pointed at Elijah andined, ¡°Look at his temper! He¡¯s acting as if he¡¯s the master of the house. He definitely needs a good beating.¡± Sheena smiled and assured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. Sooner orter, I''ll get him in line.¡± Howard had no significant reaction to that, but Colin looked displeased. ¡°Sheena, he¡¯s inherently proud. When injured, fierce beasts would show weakness, but once they find an opportunity, they will retaliate. Don¡¯t you see that his hurting you this time was premeditated? Don¡¯t get bitten when he turns the tables. Make sure you tame him properly. Otherwise, you''ll end up getting hurt again.¡± Howard nodded in agreement. Sheena, still smiling, opened the fridge to find the ingredients. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. | know what to do.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. In the garden, Elijah raked the leaves absentmindedly, curious about what Sheena¡¯s interactions with other men were like. He dragged his feet, moving to the wall near the window. Through the ss, he observed a harmonious scene at the dining table, where Sheenaughed genuinely. 212 He remembered the first year Sheena married him. She used to smile a lot, her eyes full of love for him. When did she start smiling less? The gaze she directed at him now was incredibly indifferent. Since their divorce, she had transformed into someone beautiful, aloof, and confident. Even in the face of difficulties, she remainedposed. Was this the real her? Adifort settled in Elijah¡¯s chest, hard to exin but undeniably unpleasant. As he contemted, Ford urgently entered the mansion, spoke to Sheena, and left. Elijah, disinterested, was about to resume leaf-raking when he noticed Ford heading in his direction. ¡°Mr. Freeman, Madam Freeman fell down the stairs. She wants to meet you. Pleasee with me.¡¯ Faye fell? It had only been a few days, so how did that happen? ¡°Alright.¡± Elijah turned around and nced through the window at the trio inside, engaged in conversation andughter. Then, he followed Ford to the Freeman mansion with mixed feelings. Chapter 224 Faye was brought to her previous private doctor for her care. Her foot was encased in a cast as shey on the bed, idly staring into space. Upon hearing the door open, she looked up and saw her long-awaited son. Tears Instantly welled up in Faye¡¯s eyes, and she cried out, ¡°Eli, | thought | might never see you again.¡± Elijah gently touched Faye¡¯s leg, and she immediately cried out in pain. Observing her exaggerated reaction, Elijah knew she was not that badly injured and took a seat on the chair beside her bed. ¡°What happened? How did you fall for no reason?¡± Faye, appearing aggrieved, was about to exin when she noticed Ford behind Elijah. ¡°Dear bodyguard, it¡¯s been so long since I''ve seen my son. I''d like to have a private chat with him. It won''t take long, is that alright?¡± Ford hesitated for a moment but did not move. Elijah turned back, assuring, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. | won''t do anything that''ll trouble you. We''ll just have a casual conversation.¡± Despite now being Sheena¡¯s servant, Ford admired Elijah¡¯s integrity, so he left, closing the door behind him. Once Ford left, Elijah asked, ¡°Alright, spill it. How did you get injured? I¡¯ve checked, and it didn¡¯t seem as bad as you made it sound.¡± Faye chuckled. ¡°I did slip on the stairs, just about six steps, nothing major. But if not for this incident, how could we meet?¡± Elijah frowned. ¡°How did you manage to make it seem worse than it was?¡± Faye smirked, leaning in to whisper, ¡°I have my ways, Eli. But that¡¯s not important. How about that matter | discussed with you last time? Any progress?¡± Elijah frowned. ¡°What matter?¡± Faye gently pushed his forehead, looking a little annoyed. Then, she nced outside the door and whispered, ¡°About getting her pregnant!¡± Elijah¡¯s face darkened, his gaze turning cold swiftly. ¡°That¡¯s absolutely impossible. | don¡¯t want to hear about it again, and you¡¯re not allowed to bring it up with anyone else.¡± Faye felt frustrated. Looking at the current situation, their family would be stuck as servants forever if Elijah did not win over Sheena. She had endured enough days of humiliation and needed to find a way to reim both the Freeman Group and the Freeman Mansion. As for her clueless son, she had to assist him! ¡°Alright, | won¡¯t bring it up,¡± Faye agreed, smiling. Then, she looked around, and as she pretended to sip water from the cup on the table, she intentionally spilled some on Elijah. Chapter 224 ¡°Oh dear! I¡¯m sorry. My hand slipped. Let me help you clean up,¡± Faye said while patting the water droplets off Elijah. Taking advantage of his distraction, she slipped two small items into his pocket. Elijah watched as she attempted to clean the white shirt, which only seemed to get dirtier. Worried she might discover his back injury, he excused himself to the bathroom for a quick cleanup. Suddenly, he heard a familiar bird call. It was Lionel! Elijah¡¯s expression turned serious as he contemted how to meet with Lionel. Sheena had only assigned Ford to watch him this time. Did it mean her guard was down, or was it because she was busy dining with Colin and Howard and did not have time to arrange additional surveince? Regardless of the situation, it was an excellent opportunity. When Elijah emerged from the bathroom, the door opened. The man entering wore a servant''s uniform, carefully closing the door behind him. When he turned around, Elijah realized that it was Lionel!Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh dear! I¡¯m sorry. My hand slipped. Let me help you clean up,¡± Faye said while patting the water droplets off Elijah. Taking advantage of his distraction, she slipped two small items into his pocket. Elijah watched as she attempted to clean the white shirt, which only seemed to get dirtier. Worried she might discover his back injury, he excused himself to the bathroom for a quick cleanup. Suddenly, he heard a familiar bird call. It was Lionel! Elijah¡¯s expression turned serious as he contemted how to meet with Lionel. Sheena had only assigned Ford to watch him this time. Did it mean her guard was down, or was it because she was busy dining with Colin and Howard and did not have time to arrange additional surveince? Regardless of the situation, it was an excellent opportunity. When Elijah emerged from the bathroom, the door opened. The man entering wore a servant''s uniform, carefully closing the door behind him. When he turned around, Elijah realized that it was Lionel! Chapter 225 ¡°Mr. Freeman, | managed to knock Ms. Sheena¡¯s bodyguard out when he was not paying attention. However, he¡¯s quite strong, and | suspect he¡¯ll wake up soon. Let''s cut to the chase! ¡°Lionel whispered cautiously. Faye, hearing themotion, sat up and looked in their direction. ¡°Eli, who''s at the door?¡± Elijah blocked her view, saying, ¡°Mom, | have to return to Ocean Avenue. Behave yourself well, and don¡¯t mention that thing again. Remember what I¡¯m saying.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Faye was somewhat impatient. However, she smiled and waved him off when she remembered her n. ¡°Hurry up and leave. It¡¯s gettingte. Go back quickly.¡± Ignoring her unusual behavior, Elijah left with Lionel and went to the rooftop of the Freeman mansion to talk. Lionel began, ¡°Mr. Freeman, | found out that the Lawson family has someone with a timeline simr to Ms. Sheena¡¯s. Albert''s only daughter, the youngest heiress of the Lawson family. However, she didn¡¯t go missing. She was dered dead by the Lawson family six years ago, and the cause of death remains unknown.¡± Elijah furrowed his brows tightly. The more the matter was concealed, the more problematic this situation would be. He asked, ¡°Can the database provide a photo of this heiress?¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s no photo, no name. It¡¯s even said that the Lawson family held a simple funeral for her, but there¡¯s no information about the location of the grave. Mr. Freeman, do you think this girl could really be dead?¡± Lionel inquired.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Elijah pursed his lips, contemting. After a moment, he shook his head and said, ¡°The actions of the Lawson family might seem like they don¡¯t care much about this heiress, not valuing her enough. In reality, it¡¯s quite the opposite. These actions prove that the Lawson family cares deeply about her, going to great lengths to ensure her safety.¡± Lionel thought it made sense. ¡°So, could this heiress be Ms. Sheena?¡± ¡°Though it can¡¯t bepletely confirmed, | believe it¡¯s her,¡± Elijah said, his deep ck eyes gleaming with intense joy. Howard¡¯s massaging of Sheena¡¯s calves, warming her hands, and Sheena yfully resisted and acted coquettishly with him... Each action, each gesture, all screamed of a brother¡ªsister rtionship! Elijah could not believe he once suspected her of infidelity while they were married. Looking back, he felt truly remorseful! However, his expression became serious again. If Sheena was indeed the Lawson family heiress, why did she end up in the orphanage in Farlem all those years ago? What twists of fate urred during that time? Perhaps it was also the reason the Lawson family wanted to protect her. ¡°If Ms. Sheena is truly the Lawson family heiress, then...¡± Lionel suddenly realized something, lit He hurriedly pulled out his phone, confirmed the information, and his eyes up. ¡°Mr. Freeman,st time Jonah found records of the heiress flying on a private jet to Farlem thirteen years ago! Itnded at Jonah¡¯s family airport, so he casually stumbled upon this record. However, after learning she was already dered dead, he let it go. ¡°If Ms. Sheena is indeed the Lawson family heiress, then she is very likely the girl you¡¯ve been searching for!¡± Lionel handed him the phone with the relevant information as he spoke. Elijah carefully went through the information. ¡°I''ll find the opportunity to confirm this piece of information.¡± The amount of information tonight was overwhelming, leaving him somewhat bewildered. If Sheena was indeed the little girl who saved him thirteen years ago, then all the things he did... He had mistaken Jennifer for her, hurting her and turning her affection into indifference and revenge. Elijah¡¯s heart ached. Could he salvage the situation? After exchanging information with Lionel, Elijah, with mixed emotions, went to the first floor. Chapter 226 Lionel ced Ford, who was still unconscious, on the sofa in the hall. Elijah quietly walked over and sat beside him. Just as he settled, Ford slowly regained consciousness. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Elijah¡¯s emotionless face. Elijah remarked, ¡°I never thought you¡¯d fall asleep.¡± Ford was perplexed. ¡°That''s impossible!¡± With a serious tone, Elijah said, ¡°I came out after talking to my mom, and here you are, asleep. You''re the only one here. | waited a full five minutes before you woke up. Imagine if Sheena finds out about this. What would happen? But don¡¯t worry, | won''t tell her. Still groggy, Ford scratched his head. Elijah did not give him the chance to respond. Instead, he got up and headed outside. ¡°Let''s go. We wasted an extra five minutes because you fell asleep.¡± Ford distinctly remembered a male servanting to talk to him, but he did not pay him any attention... Elijah interrupted again, ¡°Hurry up! Sheena won''t be pleased if we''rete!¡± Ford reluctantly followed him to the car. By the time they returned to Ocean Avenue, the sky had turned dark. Elijah stood by the window on the ground floor, looking in. Howard had left at some point, leaving only Colin and Sheena at the dining table, still drinking. In the living room, Colin was downing one drink after another, looking intoxicated and somewhat gloomy. ¡°Sheena, they say alcohol helps forget troubles, but why do | feel even worse after drinking so much?¡± Sheena, with a good tolerance for alcohol, never got drunk. She simply smiled and said, ¡°You can¡¯t trust those sayings. Colin, you''ve had enough. I''ll have Sawyer and Owen send you back. Colin shook his head, reaching out to touch her hand. ¡°No! Sheena, I¡¯m not drunk! There¡¯s something | want to tell you...¡± Sheena calmly withdrew her hand, her expression unchanged as she said, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in whatever you want to say. It¡¯s late. Go home.¡± Colin was upset by the rejection. Suddenly, he stood up, swaying as he approached her. Then, he knelt on one knee before her, his expression as serious as ever. ¡°Sheena, | know you harbor resentment toward me because of Katie. When I return to Svelton, I''ll make sure to teach her a lesson. But | genuinely like you. Elijah has hurt you in the past, but | never will. I''ll only cherish and care for you. Can you give me a chance to love you?¡± Sheena¡¯s face remained indifferent, and she poured herself a ss of red wine, finishing it in one go. As the deep red liquid slid down the edge of her red lips, she casually wiped it away with her hand, maintaining an elegantposure. Colin was mesmerized by the scene, and he continued, ¡°Sheena, if you''re not entirely sure about your feelings, we can get engaged first, or we can start with dating.¡± Elijah, who had just cracked the door open, heard every word. His face turned ashen, and his fists clenched tightly. Did the bastard intentionally send Howard away to create an opportunity for a private confession?Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. As Sheena prepared to respond, Elijah bent over, clutching his stomach. He pinched his thighs hard, his face suddenly pale, and cold sweat appeared. Then, looking vulnerable, he leaned against the door. ¡°Nana, my stomach hurts...¡± Chapter 227 Nana? Sheena was shocked by the form of address. Was Elijah also drunk? Sheena remained silent. However, Colin felt a surge of anger after hearing Elijah interrupt his confession. Fueled by alcohol, he got up from the floor and rushed over, grabbing Elijah¡¯s cor spitefully. His other hand clenched into a fist, ready to strike Elijah¡¯s face. ¡°You hurt her a few days ago. What right do you have to linger around her?¡± Elijah remained still and quiet, fearlessly meeting Colin¡¯s gaze. Colin, furious, was about tond his punch. Sheena shouted, ¡°Sawyer, Owen!¡± Sawyer and Owen immediately jumped in through the open window, separating the two men. Frustrated that he could not punch Elijah, Colinined, ¡°Sheena, why won¡¯t you let me teach him a lesson?¡± Sheena signaled to Sawyer and Owen, saying, ¡°Mr. Upton is drunk. Send him home.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena.¡± ¡°I''m not drunk, really... Sheena, I¡¯m not drunk...¡± Colin muttered as the two bodyguards supported his unsteady body, his voice fading away. Finally, it was quiet once more. Elijah also stopped pretending to have a stomachache, his face returning to its usual calmness. Sheena looked at him and mocked, ¡°Why not continue the act?¡± Elijah stayed silent and stood in front of her. He knelt on both knees. This time, it was his choice to kneel. Colin knelt on one knee to express his love, while Elijah knelt on both knees as an act of atonement. Sheena could not understand his actions and asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Elijah raised his head, locking eyes with her. His gaze was unwavering as he revealed, ¡°There¡¯s something that has troubled me for many years. Can you tell me the truth?¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°On March 14th, 13 years ago, did you go to Pine Street? Did you save a little boy?¡± Sheena was about to deny Elijah¡¯s question when he continued, ¡°If you continue to brush me off like before, I''ll keep investigating. | won''t stop until | get the final answer.¡± Sheena had never considered that incident significant and asked, ¡°Is my honest answer important? Does getting this result matter?¡± ¡°It''s important.¡± Locking eyes, Sheena saw anticipation, earnestness, and a desire for her to speak the truth in his gaze. ¡°If | give you my answer, will you stop the investigation?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The man¡¯s tone was resolute. Sheena gave in, thinking the incident was purely coincidental, a trivial matter for her. Hence, it was okay to tell him.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Yes, | went there. It seems | saved a boy from a car ident that day. | don¡¯t remember the details.¡± Elijah¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, and his deep voice trembled as he said, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Over these years, he had truly been mistaken! Terribly mistaken! The girl he loved and the one he owed gratitude to turned out to be the same person! Moreover, he had the chance to be with her, yet he did not cherish it. Elijah¡¯s heart ached sharply. Taking a step toward Sheena on his knees, he called out with teary eyes, ¡°Nana, I...¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Sheena was unnerved by the form of address. Every time he softened his tone, it felt like he had ulterior motives. Why could he not just speak normally? Also, Nana? Who did he think he was to call her that? Sheena sternly warned him, ¡°You have two choices: call me My Lady or Sheena.¡± Elijah¡¯s face paled. After many dilemmas, he replied, ¡°Sheena it is.¡± Chapter 228 Elijah¡¯s face paled. After many dilemmas, he replied, ¡°Sheena it is.¡± Chapter Chapter 228 After much contemtion, Elijah continued with a trembling voice, ¡°These days, | finally understand my true feelings, realizing how absurdly wrong | was before. Sheena, the person I''ve liked, loved, and was grateful for, was you all along! | was foolish. In the beginning...¡± Before he could finish, Sheena lifted his chin with her fingertips. Seeing his remorseful expression and genuine regret in his eyes, she could not help but think he was really feeling this way. ¡°Let me guess, you''ve had an epiphany and want to impregnate me so that we remarry?¡± Sheena smiled mockingly. Apart from sarcasm and coldness, her eyes had no other emotion. Elijah¡¯s heart ached. He was unsurprised that the bodyguards overheard Faye¡¯s words that day and conveyed them to Sheena. Even so, he would never stoop to such despicable actions. ¡°I''ll never stoop to such behavior. From now on, | won''t deceive you or put on an act around you. Whether you believe it or not, I''ll prove that I¡¯m willing to make amends for what | owe you, be itpensation or a price to pay. Just give me another chance.¡± ¡°Another chance?¡± Sheena chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t know what''s wrong with you, but there¡¯s one thing I''ll make clear to you. I''ll never marry you again. It¡¯s impossible! Not in this lifetime, unless you die!¡± Unless he dies? Elijah bitterly smiled. He understood her character, yet he could not let go. He had to try, even if it meant letting his heart ache a little more. ¡°| hurt you too deeply and don¡¯t deserve your forgiveness. If that¡¯s the case, let me stay by your side forever as a servant to redeem myself.¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Forever? Sheena raised an eyebrow slightly and teased, ¡°So, if | marry someone else in the future, you¡¯d be fine watching us show off our love every day?¡± Elijah froze, and his face turned pale. Witnessing his reaction, Sheena sneered, released her grip on his chin, and headed upstairs. ¡°Elijah, forever is too long. Who knows what might happen? Let''s see if you can get through this year before saying anything.¡± Kneeling on the ground, Elijah could not shake off Sheena¡¯s earlier words from his mind. Could he really endure watching her in love with someone else every day? The answer was obvious¡ªHe could not do it! After spending a long time in the living room, Elijah gradually figured it out. Since Sheena did not believe his remorse, he would show it through his actions! Elijah diligently cleaned up the remaining dishes and tes on the table before returning to his room for a shower Upon entering the bathroom and removing his trousers, two packets fell to the floor with a light thud. Bending to pick them up, he discovered three packets of coffee sugar. He did not pay much attention and thought they were ced in his pocket when he brewed coffee during the day. Then, he put them on the bedside table before continuing with his shower. After the shower, Elijah came out dressed in a robe. Just as he finished blow¡ªdrying his hair, Sheena¡¯s voice echoed upstairs. ¡°Elijah,e to the study.¡± Elijah immediately changed into suitable clothes and went upstairs. Opening the study door, he found Sheena still working at the computer. Due to the wine, her cheeks were tinted with a remained clear. gaze subtle blush, making her exceptionally alluring. Even so, Sheena sternly instructed, ¡°Make me a cup of coffee.¡± Coffee at this hour? her Elijah tried to dissuade her, ¡°You had wine tonight, and you should get some rest. Drinking coffee and staying upte is not good for your health.¡± Sheena frowned and shot him a cold look. ¡°Just do it.¡± The talent show woulde to an end in two days, and Sheena nned to turn the final round into a live broadcast. Therefore, these two days were crucial for finalizing the project n. She hesitated to delegate the task to others as she preferred to oversee it personally. Elijah, recognizing the determination in her eyes, knew that once Sheena made a decision, she rarely wavered. ¡°How long do you n to stay up? I''ll stay with you as long as you need,¡± Elijah assured her before heading downstairs to the kitchen. After brewing a in cup of coffee, Elijah noticed the sugar packets were empty. Remembering the ones in his room, he returned to pick a random packet and added it to the coffee tray. Sheena remained deeply engrossed in her work. Elijah ced the coffee near her, closed the door, and leaned against it to apany her through the night. About half an hour later, strange gasping sounds suddenly came from the study. Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! Chapter 229 Realizing something was wrong, Elijah opened the door and found no one at theputer desk. ¡°Sheena?¡± Elijah entered the room and investigated. The gasping sounds wereing from under the desk! He swiftly lifted the tablecloth, revealing Sheena curled up in the confined space, her face unusually flushed and sweaty. He crouched down, gently touched her neck, and realized she was burning up. Sheena was... The coffee on the desk was only halfway consumed, and the sugar packets in the tray had been torn open. Elijah immediately recalled Faye¡¯s unusual behavior when he visited the Freeman mansion hours ago, putting the pieces together. ¡°Damn it!¡± He carefully pulled Sheena out from under the desk.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Sheena thought the cold body close to her feltforting, and under the influence of the drugs, she had an indescribable urge. She tightly embraced the man¡¯s neck, driven by the scent of male hormones, her thoughts momentarily clouded. Elijah carried her back to the bedroom, feeling her restless movements. Afraid of causing her pain, he loosened his grip. ¡°Sheena, hold on a bit longer. You''ll be fine soon.¡± Upon hearing the familiar voice, Sheena struggled to stay conscious and raised her eyes. As she recognized Elijah, a surge of anger overwhelmed her. Suppressing the burning desire, she raised her hand and pped him across the face. Having been drugged, the p was not forceful, but Elijah, who was heading toward the bathroom, was caught off guard. Sheena struggled, slipping from his grasp, but her hand still firmly held onto his shirt. Suddenly, both of them lost bnce and tumbled to the floor. Seeing Sheena¡¯s head about to hit the bed corner, Elijah acted quickly. Disregarding his own safety, he embraced her neck and pulled her into his arms, using his back to cushion the impact. ¡°Ouch!¡± His back forcefully crashed into the bed corner, worsening the swelling from the previous injury. The pain was so intense that he broke into a cold sweat, almost fainting on the spot. Before he could process the pain in his back, Sheena pped him again. She had broken free from his embrace, ttened his upper body on the floor, and pressed her knee firmly against his chest, gripping his cor. Sheena red at Elijah with overwhelming hatred, shouting, ¡°Elijah! You¡¯re despicable and Chapter 220 shameless! Those sweet words tonight were just an act! Did you think drugging me would make me lose control, giving in to your filthy desires? Dream on!¡± ¡°Sheena, calm down. This situation¡ª¡± 2/2 Another p struck his face. This time, Sheena used every ounce of her remaining strength. The raging mix of heartbreak and anger was consuming her sanity. The pain from the impact left Elijah momentarily stunned, his head throbbing and ears ringing. Moreover, the sharp pain in his back from hitting the bed corner had not subsided. In agony, he tried to catch his breath, but Sheena¡¯s hand on his cor was shaking, and a murderous glint gleamed in her eyes. ¡°Elijah, you asked for this!¡± Sheena released him, determined to reach for the rm at the bedside. However, the rekindled lust overwhelmed her, and she found herself uncontrobly shivering on the floor. Asinister voice urged her to vent her frustration on Elijah, but she resisted. She pressed her skin against the cold floor, attempting to regain control of her consciousness. Enduring the pain, Elijah struggled to sit up, witnessing Sheena¡¯s attempt to calm herself down. Chapter 230 If she did not release the pent-up frustration caused by the drug, she would feel extremely ufortable! Even in this state, she was reluctant to throw herself at him. Had her disgust for him reached such a deep level? Elijah approached her, attempting to lift her again. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me or I''ll kill you!¡± Elijah¡¯s hand hesitated for a moment but eventually decided to lift her. ¡°Fine. You can do whatever you want when the effects wear off.¡± Sheenacked the strength to resist, her mind groggy. She could only let him carry her to the bathroom. Elijah turned on the shower and filled the bathtub with cold water. Concerned about the abrupt temperature difference, he gently and slowly lowered her into the tub, ever so careful not to let his trembling hands drop her. Once the water level reached her corbone, he withdrew his sore arms. As Sheenay in the tub, feeling the gradual embrace of coolness, the fiery desire in her heart subsided a bit. Her furrowed brows slowly rxed, and her body went limp, drifting into a deep sleep. Elijah sat by the edge of the bathtub, keeping watch. He remembered the night before their divorce when he falsely used her of drugging him and coldly mocked her the next day. Now, karma had swiftly caught up with him. With her personality, Sheena would not easily let this incident pass when she regained consciousness. It was the payback he deserved. Elijah pushed aside his thoughts and quietly observed Sheena¡¯s peaceful sleeping face. Her cheeks were still flushed, and her entire being looked as if she were intoxicated, submerged in the water¡ªa fatal temptation. Nheless, he was not the type of man to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable state. He averted his gaze, fully focused on monitoring Sheena¡¯s condition, and found her skin remained abnormally red and hot. Cold water alone was not providing relief quickly enough, and this approach was not sustainable. Elijah got up and left the bathroom, searching the medicine cab for medication. After turning the entire house upside down, he found no sedatives or glucose solution. Then, he headed to the garden and shouted, ¡°Ford, Sawyer, and Owen! Come out!¡± Aminuteter, Ford emerged from somewhere, rubbing his sleepy eyes. Cample250 ¡°Why are you still awake at this hour and shouting like this?¡± ¡°Why are you alone?¡± ¡°Sawyer and Owen took Mr. Upton back. | don¡¯t know what happened, but they have yet to return. Paul is with Mr. Lawson, and Ms. Sheena assigned John a task. So, it¡¯s just me tonight.¡± Since Sheena was skilled in self-defense, they usually would not stand guardte at night. If there were an emergency, Sheena would activate the rm. Elijah got straight to the point. ¡°There are no sedatives and glucose solutions at home. | need you to go buy them.¡± ¡°Where do you expect me to find medicine at thiste hour?¡± ¡°| don¡¯t care how you do it, just make sure to get these two as soon as possible! This is crucial! Elijah¡¯s brow furrowed, his expression very serious. Seeing Elijah¡¯s earnest and anxious demeanor, Ford chose to believe him. About half an hourter, Ford returned, handing over the two medications. ¡°What kind of medicine is this? Clinics and small hospitals didn¡¯t have them. | had to go to a major hospital. Hey...¡± Elijah took the medicine from Ford and sprinted upstairs. After administering the medication to Sheena, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, leaning against the bathtub as he watched over her. After a night of frenzy, his energy was nearly depleted, and he unintentionally fell asleep. When Sheena groggily woke up, the sun was just beginning to rise. The burning heat that had enveloped her body had disappeared entirely. Opening her eyes, she realized she was lying in the bathtub, and Elijah was slouched beside it, fast asleep. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Exhausted from the night, Elijah was sound asleep. Sheena stared at him and noticed the faint palm print mark on his slightly swelling left cheek and dried blood at the corner of his mouth. He looked just as miserable as she felt. Although she had drained her strengthst night and could not remember what happened afterward, judging by the current situation, Elijah probably had not done anything to her. Sheena pursed her lips and tasted a hint of sweetness. Was it glucose? Sheena scoffed at how Elijah was acting like a nice person when he was the one drugging her coffee. She could not help but wonder if he was staging this whole act. Well, she would y along! Quietly slipping out of the bathtub, Sheena left the bathroom without waking him up. Elijah was awakened by the intense pain in his back. The position he had slept in by the bathtub had left his arm sprained. As he was busy helping Sheena lower her feverst night, he forgot to tend to his own injuries and also identally bumped into the sharp edge of the bed. His back was probably even more swollen now. Elijah sighed and sat up straight, only to find the person in the bathtub was gone! When did Sheena wake up? Why did he not notice it? It seemed that the modified 023 serum had significantly dulled his senses. He got up, walked to the sink, cleaned the traces of blood from the corner of his mouth in the mirror, and went downstairs to find Sheena. In the living room, the atmosphere was extremely tense. Sheena sat on the sofa with her hands folded across her chest, exuding a chilly aura. Ford, John, Sawyer, and Owen stood behind the sofa, their expressions dark and menacing. When Elijah walked downstairs and saw the scene, he knew that the inevitable had arrived. He walked over with heavy steps, stopping on the opposite side of the coffee table, facing Sheena. Sheena locked eyes with him but remained silent. Behind her, Sawyer pointed at the two packets of coffee sugar on the table and said, ¡°Mr. Freeman, Ms. Sheena asked you to make coffeest night. You did make the coffee, but you added something inappropriate. Isn¡¯t that crossing the line? We found another coffee sugar packet containing M-¡ªdrug in your room. How do you exin that?¡± 3. pte 231 2/2 Elijah fixed his gaze on Sheena and exined, ¡°Yes, | ced the coffee sugar packet in the tray and served it to you. | don¡¯t deny that fact, but | had no idea that it was the M¡ªdrug.¡± Sheena smirked, a mocking glint in her eyes. These casually spoken wordscked conviction. Elijah knew she would not believe him and still wanted to try, adding, ¡°Last night, | said | wouldn¡¯t deceive you anymore, and I¡¯ve kept my word. Can you... trust me this time?¡± Sheena chuckled and responded, ¡°When Jennifer drugged you, you sneaked into my roomte at night. The next day, you suspected me. Did you give me a chance to exin? Would you have believed me if | hadn¡¯t thrown the evidence in your face?¡± Elijah knew there was no way to turn things around, and he stayed silent, unable to find the right words. Sheena continued, ¡°Last night, you promised not to deceive me, only to drug me again. You brewed the coffee and were the first to rush in after | identally consumed it. Can you honestly say you have nothing to do with it? If the one-year agreement is too unbearable for you, | can give you a fair chance topete. Perhaps you can snatch the Freeman Group and Freeman mansion from me.¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Then, Sheena paused, her expression suddenly cold and stern before adding, ¡°But you prefer to use such despicable means. Well, I¡¯m sorry, but | can¡¯t stand lies!¡± Elijah anticipated this response, a bitter smile ying on his lips. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°It''s very simple.¡± Sheena smiled, gently raising her hand. Sawyer immediately brought a ss of warm water from the kitchen, cing it on the coffee table. Enjoy Ad-Free Reading>> x Chapter 232 Sheena said, ¡°I know Faye gave you the packet when you visited Freeman Mansion. The two coffee sugar packets on the table were taken from your room. After testing, one contains M¡ªdrug, and the other is genuine sugar. Between you and her, you get to decide who orchestrated this.¡± Elijah frowned, looking down at the sugar packets on the coffee table without saying a word. Sheena continued, ¡°If you can pick the real sugar from this fifty¡ªfifty chance, then I''ll believe you were just an aplice or manipted by Faye. I''ll let you go.¡¯ ¡°Make your choice, Mr. Freeman.¡± Her words were dripping with irony.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Elijah stood still, staring at her, attempting to discern any other emotions in her eyes. Unfortunately, there were none. Well, it was his fault for losing her trust. Elijah chuckled at himself, walked to the coffee table, and examined the two sugar packets in his hands. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, he tore both packets open, poured the contents into the cup of warm water, and drank it all in one go. Ford, who was more inclined to believe Elijah, went pale when he saw Elijah drink both packets and eximed, ¡°Mr. Freeman!¡± Sheena had felt unbearable difort from just half a cup of coffeest night, and this was the potent M¡ªdrug from the ck market. Why the hell did he drink the entire packet?! Sheena had only asked him to choose, and there was still a fifty percent chance of selecting correctly! He was too foolish! ¡°Very well, | respect Mr. Freeman''s choice,¡± Sheena said. Then, her expression turned even darker as she ordered, ¡°Sawyer, Owen, take Mr. Freeman to the basement.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena¡± Sawyer and Owen were about to get Elijah by the shoulder when he refused, saying, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go by myself.¡± Afterward, he headed to the basement, and Sheena and the rest followed him to the basement entrance. His silhouette appeared somewhat miserable as he entered the basement alone. The bodyguards brought a chair for Sheena, and she sat down on the steps leading to the basement, waiting for the effects of the drug to take hold. Chapte 232 The basement was spacious, with few belongings as Sheena had only recently moved in. The bodyguards closed the door without leaving a light on for Elijah. He found himself alone in the darkness and gradually felt his body heating up in just five minutes, the effectsing on remarkably fast. This time, the drug¡¯s impact was much more intense than that fateful night before the divorce. In the beginning, Elijah could still stand, but as time passed, the burning sensation rising from his chest became stronger. He finally understood why Sheena had curled up under the desk when he found herst night. This drug was genuinely unbearable, and if the burning desire was not eased, it felt like the fire could devour him whole. Struggling for half an hour, Elijah was already drenched in sweat. His body was scorching hot, and the unnamed fire was gradually ruining his sanity. Outside the door, Sheena sat quietly, clenching her hands while her face remained expressionless. The bodyguards stood behind her, listening to the silence from the basement, gradually reced by someone''s heavy breathing. A beast-like growl echoed from inside nearly an hourter, startling everyone outside. That was an entire packet of M¡ªdrug! If he did not get relief, that kind of pain could be fatal! Ford could not bear it any longer and blurted out, ¡°Ms. Sheena, it¡¯s been an hour! | believe Mr. Freeman has learned his lesson. If you let him endure this on his own any longer, he might die!¡± 3ste 233 4 Chapter 233 Listening to the muffled growls inside, Sheena clenched her hands tighter. However, when she looked at Ford, her expression remained cold without a hint of warmth. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ve gone too far?¡± Ford immediately knelt and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that, Ms. Sheena. It''s definitely appropriate for you to return the pain today after being druggedst night, but | know you don¡¯t really want to kill Mr. Freeman.¡± Sheena felt much better after listening to Ford. After contemting, she turned to Sawyer and instructed, ¡°Go to the Freeman Mansion, bring Faye here, and do it quickly.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena.¡± Sawyer departed swiftly. The remaining people stood at the basement door, listening to the increasingly intense growls and struggles, nearing despair. Even the muscr bodyguards found it hard to endure, knowing it was a cruel torture. Ten minutester, Sheena finally ordered, ¡°Open the door. Bring a bucket of ice water from the fridge to help him cool down.¡± The bodyguards were stunned but quickly followed Sheena¡¯s instructions, fetching some ice and a bucket of water. The basement door creaked open, and a bit of light streamed in. Elijah was seen lying on the floor, curled up in a fetal position. The floor beneath him was soaked with sweat, and his hair was also wet, sticking to his forehead. He appeared like an injured and helpless hound.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. In the past hour, Elijah had struggled to the point of exhaustion. His body was trembling violently, and his face was rmingly red. Sensing the ring light, he struggled to open his eyes. In the blurred vision, he saw a slender and familiar figure. With trembling hands, Elijah reached out desperately toward that figure, murmuring hoarsely, ¡± Sheena... I-I feel... so ufortable...¡± Last night, he had caused her so much distress with the drugged coffee, and he felt genuinely sorry for it. Elijah could not help but wonder if she would feel better if he went through this pain too. Could it offset even a fraction of her hatred for him? Elijah¡¯s hands shook violently, stubbornly reaching out to touch that silhouette. It seemed so close as if she was within her reach. Yet, it also felt distant, like an unconquerable barrier between them. Facing the backlight, Elijah could not see Sheena¡¯s expression, but he could feel the chill emanating + ¡®ib Ch. pte. 233 2/79 from her. The intense coldness made his heart ache even more than the drug''s effects. Sheena silently and distantly observed him, motionless. She noticed that he had never averted his gaze since he opened his eyes. Even so, she said nothing. However, Elijah continued to wait, anticipating even a single word with a hint ofpassion from her. Yet, what came was Owen pouring a bucket of iced water directly over his head. His body, already heated from the drug, could not withstand the sudden temperature drop. The water soaked him thoroughly, intensifying his shivering. His teeth chattered, and uncontroble drowsiness began to set in. ¡°Owen, who told you to pour it directly on his head?¡± Sheena tightened her grip on the chair¡¯s armrest. 3. ote 234 Chapter 234 1/219 ¡°Huh? Ms. Sheena, isn¡¯t that your order?!¡± Confused by her anger, Owen trembled, identally pouring the remaining water on Elijah all at once. The massive shock caused Elijah to cough violently, the sound echoing in the basement as if his lungs were about to be expelled. Sheena, infuriated by Owen¡¯s clumsy actions, was about to check on Elijah when a woman¡¯s scream suddenly rang out behind her. ¡°Ah! Elijah! My dear Elijah!¡± Hearing that voice, Sheena¡¯s tightly clenched hand rxed. Sheposed herself, resuming her usual cold and proud demeanor. Faye was still in the Freeman mansion¡¯s private ward with her leg cast. When Sawyer came knocking, looking grim, she immediately sensed trouble and tried to avoid going. In the end, Sawyer insisted and dragged her over. Seeing her son tortured to the brink of death in the basement, Faye forgot about her feigned limp and rushed in. She copsed beside Elijah, feeling his body devoid of warmth, shaking uncontrobly. Panicking, Faye cried out, ¡°Where¡¯s the doctor? Quickly, find a doctor! Elijah is dying! He can¡¯t die, he mustn''t die!¡± Faye had maintained her pride for most of her life, but for the first time, she was openly crying and disregarding her image in front of Sheena. ¡°Sheena, | beg you! Save him! He hasn¡¯t done anything wrong. Why are you treating him like this? You were once husband and wife! Why must you treat him so ruthlessly?¡± Sheena sneered. ¡°As you said, Elijah and | were once husband and wife, but not anymore. In all these years in the Freeman family, I''ve never felt like a part of the family. Have you forgotten how you''ve treated me? You even said I¡¯m worse than your pet dog. Now, seeing your most beloved son tormented by the woman you despise the most, how does that make you feel?¡± Faye was stunned, but she quickly burst into tears. ¡°Sheena, please! My heart is suffocating with guilt. It¡¯s my fault. | was mean to you, but Elijah is innocent. Please, Sheena, save him!¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Sheena sighed, expressing her helplessness, ¡°I can¡¯t save him. Only you can save him.¡± Faye stopped crying, bewildered. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Elijah is in this situation because he used something you gave him and put it in my coffee. And you...¡± Before she could finish, Faye panicked and shouted, ¡°No, that¡¯s not true! It has nothing to do with him! When | proposed it to him, he rejected me. | secretly gave it to him when he wasn¡¯t paying attention! He really doesn¡¯t know!¡± Ch. pte: 234 2/219 ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Sheena said as she stood up. Then, she approached Faye, looked down at her, and asked, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, who gave you the medicine? Who helped youe up with the n to fake your injury?¡± Faye froze, unable to answer. Sheena chuckled, ¡°With your intelligence, the best you could think of is for Elijah to impregnate me. The one who prompted you to create all this chaos is probably sitting back and enjoying the show. You''ve been manipted without even realizing it. How foolish.¡± It was the first time Faye was criticized this way, but she could not deny that Sheena was right. ¡°Yes, | was really used! It¡¯s that cunning Wilfred. He said if he could get Elijah and you back together, the Freeman family could return to what it used to be. | shouldn¡¯t have believed his nonsense!¡± Wilfred? Just as she had expected of that cunning old man. Nheless, Sheena could not believe how Wilfred would resort to such despicable methods even at his age. Faye hugged Elijah and continued crying, ¡°Oh, Sheena, he¡¯s getting colder and colder. Please, save him! He¡¯s my everything!¡± Chapter 235 Chapter 235 1/2 Sheena did not spare a nce at Elijah. Instead, she warned Faye coldly, ¡°Faye, this is yourst chance! Make sure Erin behaves too! If you two don¡¯t act right, I''ll hold your beloved Elijah responsible for everything! You can try and see how long Elijah can withstand your nonsense in his current condition!¡± ¡°No! It won¡¯t happen again! Absolutely not!¡± Faye, with a pale face, shook her head. Seeing that Faye had indeed been subdued, Sheena instructed Sawyer to escort her back to the Freeman mansion. Once Faye left, Ford hurriedly checked on Elijah. ¡°Ms. Sheena, Mr. Freeman has passed out! His breathing is getting weaker!¡± Sheena was shocked to hear that and quickly shouted, ¡°Quick! John, go get a doctor!¡± ¡°Alright! I¡¯m on my way!¡± Upon hearing themand, John immediately sprinted out the door. Then, Sheena instructed Ford and Owen to carry Elijah back to his room and prepare hot water bags to warm him up. Recalling the whole bucket of icy water and ncing at the bewildered Owen, Sheena was furious. Owen, you''re suspended for a year with half a year¡¯s sry deduction. Get the hell out of here!¡± Owen was at a loss and about to plead, but Ford signaled him not to add fuel to the fire. 11 Ignoring him, Sheena focused on observing Elijah¡¯s condition. Despite using hot water bags, his body remained cold, and his face was unnaturally pale. It was as if life were slowly draining from him. ¡°Why isn¡¯t John back yet?¡± Sheena checked Elijah¡¯s breathing, which was extremely weak. If they waited any longer, Elijah might have already gone cold by the time John returned! Sheena removed the nket, helping Ford lift Elijah. ¡°Owen,e carry him downstairs. Ford, bring the car around. We''re heading to the hospital!¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Sheena!¡± Owen instantly perked up and lifted Elijah onto his back, with Sheena supporting him from behind to prevent him from falling. After cing Elijah in the back seat, Ford quickly started the car, speeding away. Owen sat in the passenger seat, and Sheena upied the back, with Elijah¡¯s head resting on herp. Elijahy peacefully, his expression serene as Sheena gently stroked his face, which was nearly void of warmth. If she did not know he was still breathing weakly, she might have thought him lifeless. ¡°Elijah, you''re not allowed to die! As long as your debt isn¡¯t fully paid, you''ll owe me forever! If you dare to die, I''ll make the entire Freeman family die with you!¡± Sheena practically shouted these words. Chapter 235 2/2 Ford and Owen in the front were startled by her outburst. They knew that she was capable of such ruthless actions if she were truly angered. In Elijah¡¯s seemingly unconscious state, he appeared to have heard her words. Suddenly, he coughed violently, a hacking sound that tore through the air, but he remained unconscious. Sheena helped him by patting his back to ease the coughing. She was relieved that he showed some reaction as it meant he would not die just yet. ¡°Ford, speed up,¡± Sheena urged. Ford elerated, running numerous red lights along the way, and finally reaching the hospital. (Note: This behavior is not rmended in real life and is only for the sake of the plot.) After Elijah was wheeled into the emergency room, Sheena sat in the waiting area with mixed emotions. Just moments ago, she had almost lost control of her emotions in the car. When she discovered she had been druggedst night, she truly wanted to kill him. However, she panicked when she saw him on the brink of being tortured to death. Then again, why should she feel that way? For Jennifer''s sake, Elijah allowed Leon to hijack the ne to kill her.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. After their divorce, she had intended to part ways and be strangers for the rest of their lives... Chapter 236 After their divorce, she had intended to part ways and be strangers for the rest of their lives... Chapter 236 However, Erin, Faye, and Jennifer repeatedly harmed her, and Elijah came to provoke her, even attempting to kill her for Jennifer. None of these people wanted to let her live a peaceful wife. Sheena was not the type to turn the other cheek or remain silent when attacked, so was wrong for her to make them pay the deserved price? As she pondered, Ford finished a call and reported to her, ¡°Ms. Lawson, Wendy, the resistant from the Angle Group, says there¡¯s an urgent work matter for you.¡± Sheena nced at the stillHlit emergency room lights, hesitating Beside her, Owen suddenly knelt and said, ¡°Ms. Lawson, it was my fault. My foolish mistake almost harmed Mr. Freeman. I¡¯m willing to stay at the hospital to take care of Mr. Freeman. Once the recovers, I''ll ept the suspension punishment and return home.¡± Sheena gave it a thought and replied, ¡°Fine, you stay here. Let me know if there¡¯s any news about him. Ford, let¡¯s go.¡± With that, Sheena hastily left the hospital with Ford and headed straight to Angle Group. The troublesome incident caused by Faye had dyed her talent show¡¯s final n for two days. Once returned to her office, she immediately immersed herself in work, focusing all her attention on the tasks. By 8 p.m., all the employees had left, but her office lights were still on. Howard, learning she was workingte, came down from the top floor to check on her. ¡°Mana, it¡¯ste. We can finalize the n for the talent show tomorrow. There are still several days before the live broadcast.¡± Sheena grunted a soft response, but her fingers were still tapping away at the keyboard.. Howard knew he could not persuade her. He sighed and was about to leave when he noticed thatcherplexion was not quite right. *Nana, did you fall sick? Why do you look so pale?¡± Sheena was caught off guard by the question, and she stopped typing. She remembered the col water bath she had taken the previous night. That was probably the reason for her slightly paleplexion. ¡°I''m fine. You go about your business. I''ll finish up here and head home.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Howard¡¯s expression turned serious. He could read his sister like the back of his hand and knear the was more to the situation than met the eye. When Ford was summoned by Howard for a private conversation, Ford immediately kneeled Chapter 236 212 Lawson, please spare me! | truly didn¡¯t know. Perhaps it''s because Ms. Sheena has been... busy these past few days, often workingte nights.¡± Ford was sandwiched in the middle, feeling quite torn. Perhaps Howard noticed his distressed expression, so he did not press further. ¡°Alright, you continue to ensure Ms. Sheena¡¯s safety. Keep a close eye on that Elijah guy. If he dares to harm Nana again, regardless of whether she agrees or not, I''ll make sure he¡¯s done for. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Lawson.¡± That night, Sheena did not return to Ocean Avenue, nning to pull an all¡ªnighter in the office. Ford knocked on the door. ¡°Ms. Sheena, Mr. Freeman was moved out of the emergency room an hour ago and into a regr ward. He¡¯s awake now. Would you like to visit him?¡± Sheena hesitated and said, ¡°No need. If he¡¯s awake, let Owen take care of him. When he¡¯s physically recovered, send him back to Ocean Avenue.¡± ¡°But...¡± Ford did not leave, wearing a troubled expression. ¡°What''s wrong? Did | not make myself clear enough?¡± Sheena asked. ¡°No, it¡¯s just that Mr. Freeman keeps refusing the nurses to administer an IV after waking up. No matter how they try to persuade him, it¡¯s not working.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Sheena sighed. ¡°He''s just a patient now. Can¡¯t you handle a physically weakened man? He refuses, and you just let him? Can''t you restrain him if needed?¡± Ford remained silent, unsure how to respond to that. Was Sheena always this straightforward and forceful in her actions? Chapter 237 Ford could note up with an answer, and Sheena did not press further. ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s see what he¡¯s up to.¡± After casually tidying up her desk, they drove to the hospital. In the ward, someone had wrapped themselves up like a Swiss roll, burying their head deep into the nket. The nurse sighed, ¡°Mr. Freeman, you still have a fever. You''ll have trouble breathing wrapped up like that, and... can | please administer the IV for you!¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Despite the efforts of the medical staff and Owen¡¯s persuasion, the ¡°Swiss roll¡± on the hospital bed remained utterly unresponsive. As Sheena walked in, she could not help but mock, ¡°Oh, it seems tomorrow¡¯s headline will be: Former CEO of the Freeman Group Commits Suicide by Suffocation as He Refused an IV Treatment.¡± Owen noticed her arrival and respectfully greeted her, ¡°Ms. Lawson.¡± Sheena nodded slightly in response and approached Elijah¡¯s bedside. Before she could say anything, the ¡°Swiss roll¡± suddenly grabbed her wrist. Elijah emerged from the nket, his head poking out. Due to the fever, his normally domineering and cold gaze now appeared vulnerable. He stared at Sheena¡¯s face, ensuring he had not mistaken her for someone else. From now on, he would never make that mistake again. ¡°Sheena, you finally came. | woke up and didn¡¯t see you, and | missed you...¡± Due to the fever, Elijah¡¯s voice had a slight nasal quality, sounding somewhat childish and even a bit coquettish. The medical staff and Owen in the room exchanged confused nces. Was this the same man who exuded hostility just ten minutes ago and looked ready to devour anyone who crossed his path? How did he change his demeanor so quickly? Sheena, on the other hand, was creeped out by his words. ¡°Did you fry your brain from the fever? Should we just toss your brain out now?¡± Elijah was at a loss for words. Any emotions he had instantly evaporated, ¡°Sheena, I''d like to have a private conversation with you.¡± After a moment of consideration, Sheena did not refuse. She looked at the nurse and directed her words to Elijah, ¡°Start the IV first. Otherwise, we won''t discuss anything.¡± Chacher 237 212 With his deep, nasal-toned voice, Elijah responded, ¡°Alright.¡± The nurse approached, but Elijah still tightly held Sheena¡¯s wrist, making it impossible for her to administer the IV. Sheena noticed this and frowned. ¡°Let go of me. How are we supposed to start the IV if you keep holding on like this?TM Without saying a word, Elijah decisively brought his other hand out from under the nket, keeping a tight grip on Sheena¡¯s wrist with his right hand. Back in the basement, his mind was hazy from the torment of the drug. When the basement door opened, allowing light to stream in, his sole thought was to grasp the figure he had once lost. However, no matter how hard he tried, the seemingly close distance felt forever out of reach. That experience was more despairing than the torture of the M¡ªdrug. Now that he was awake and had managed to reim her, Elijah had no intention of letting go! As he contemted this, he felt a force pushing his hand away. It was Sheena. Chapter 238 Chapter 238 1/2 Once the nurse had finished administering the IV, Sheena asked everyone to leave. Seeing Elijah¡¯s hand gripping her wrist so hard that the skin turned purple, she frowned and said, ¡°You''re hurting me. | won''t leave until we finish our conversation, but if you keep holding on, I''ll leave immediately.¡± Elijah hesitated, but under her cold gaze, he relented and finally let go of her hand.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Sheena sat on the chair by the bedside, getting straight to the point calmly, ¡°Elijah, you were once proud. | don¡¯t understand why you readily agreed to sign the agreement back then. Was it really just to repay debts? Is it worth making yourself so miserable and humiliated?¡± Elijah met her gaze. ¡°Once upon a time, you loved me so much, giving everything for me wholeheartedly. But | didn¡¯t cherish it. Having walked the path you took back then, | finally understand how much pain you felt. Elijah stopped mid-sentence, his eyes filled with sincerity as he continued, ¡°Sheena, | know I¡¯ve said hurtful things before. From now on, you can scold me every day to vent, and | won¡¯t argue back. I''ll repay you everything that | owe you, even if it¡¯s just a sentence. Will you give me onest chance?¡± Scold him every day to vent her anger? Was he dumb? With a cold expression, Sheena spoke her mind for the first time, ¡°Initially, | thought of us bing strangers after the divorce. However, Faye, Erin, and Jennifer wouldn¡¯t leave me alone. You even sent Leon to kill me for Jennifer. Why should | give you a chance? Why should | give the Freeman family a chance?¡± Elijah widened his eyes, shocked. ¡°Wait. What are you talking about?¡± Sending Leon to kill her? When did that happen? Ignoring his questions, Sheena added, ¡°Now, you''re just my servant in my eyes. After this one-year agreement is over, I''ll permanently let you go, and we¡¯ll owe each other nothing. From then on, we''ll go our separate ways.¡± Owe each other nothing? Elijah¡¯s eyes lit up, and he said, ¡°So, if | repay this year¡¯s debt, our past can be forgiven, and I''ll have a chance to start anew with you?¡± Sheena chuckled coldly. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand why you like to pretend you¡¯re deeply in love with me now. Anyway, your chances were already used up on the morning we went to get our divorce certificate. Don¡¯t you find it ridiculous acting all affectionate in front of me now?¡± After saying that, she stood up and was about to leave. ¡°Don''t go!¡± 2/2 Elijah anxiously reached out, but due to his weak body and inertia, he fell to the ground when he tried to grab her wrist again. His knees hit the floor with a painful thud, and the sound alone made it clear how much it hurt. Elijah winced, his features contorted in pain. It took him a few seconds topose himself before looking up again. ¡°| was blind back then. You spent three years in the Freeman family and another three years married to me, yet | still didn¡¯t recognize you as the girl who saved me on Pine Street. That was my mistake, and | regret it! If you don¡¯t forgive me, I''ll ept it. But what you said about me sending Leon to kill you, | swear | absolutely did not!¡± Sheena chuckled coldly. Lately, Elijah had been putting on an act in front of her, and this time, it was the most endearing yet also the most fake. ¡°Helping you back then was just a small gesture, and | didn¡¯t care about it at all. Moreover, if | knew the boy in that car would grow up to be you, | might have added another stab. So, this false sense of gratitude ispletely unnecessary.¡± With that, she freed Elijah¡¯s hand. As she left, she left him with a final threat, ¡°Behave and rest in the hospital. If you pull any more stunts refusing IVs and medication, you''ll face the consequences!¡± As Sheena exited, a man dressed as a physician entered the room. Seeing Elijah sitting on the floor with the newly inserted IV falling off, the man rushed to assist him. ¡°Mr. Freeman, it¡¯s me!¡± Removing his mask, the man revealed himself as Lionel. When Elijah saw him, his expression turned incredibly cold, with a deep-seated hostility that cut to the bone. Chapter 239 Compared to Leon¡¯s matter, Lionel was more concerned about Elijah. He knew about Elijah being drugged and tortured in the basement by Sheena. ¡°Mr. Freeman, it¡¯s only been a few days since |st saw you, but you¡¯ve been through quite a lot. Let¡¯s go back and stop suffering this kind of treatment in Farlem.¡± Lionel helped Elijah back onto the bed, and the signs of recent abuse gradually faded from his pale face. Elijah responded, ¡°Sure. You can stay in Farlem and help me win back my wife. I''ll go back.¡± Lionel stayed silent. After all, he was well aware that Sheena was a woman not easily messed with, with a fiery temper and a ruthless streak. Lionel simply could not handle that! Awhileter, Lionel chuckled and said, ¡°Well, Mr. Freeman, take your time pursuing her. Whenever you feel tired, we can talk. No rush, no rush.¡± Elijah nodded. His usual cold and stern expression returned as he continued, ¡°As for Leon, | don¡¯t care what methods you use, make him spill everything. Deal with that backstabbing scum ordingly! ¡°Yes, Mr. Freeman. You can trust me.¡± After finishing their conversation, Lionel pressed the call button at the bedside, summoning the nurse to administer a new IV for Elijah. This time, Elijah did not refuse. His earlier reluctance was just an excuse since he did not see Shena when he woke up. However, now that Shena had spoken, he had to follow her instructions and take care of his recovery. Leon, due to his good looks and muscr physique, was quite favored by the leader among the male inmates. Compared to Jennifer''s situation, he had a rtivelyfortable time, enduring some hardship only during showers and at night. At least, he was not starving, sleeping in the restroom, or facing beatings all the time. Unbeknownst to him, his calm andfortable days were about to end... The Butterflies, an all-girl talent show created by Angle Group, was finally reaching its climax. For thest filming session, Sheena opted for a more innovative approach. Besides inviting a thousand lucky audience members for an immersive experience in the venue, holding two votes each to support the girls, she also decided to livestream the final selection nationwide, allowing the entire country to witness the event and participate in supporting the contestants. With just ten minutes left before the final selection program began, Sheena felt a bit nervous backstage. It was her first time independently organizing such a talent show, and if sessful, it could boost Angle Group¡¯s stock market value by at least three percent. Chapter 239 2/2 As the program officially started, the host delivered the opening statement. Then, the twenty finalists entered one by one, greeted by continuous cheers from the audience. Following that, the host announced the evening¡¯s important guest, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s wee our superstar, Skye Zimmer!¡± The fans at the venue erupted with excitement, and the trainees on stage could not contain their enthusiasm either. Skye made a grand entrance, capturing the audience¡¯s attention with his sunny and handsome appearance. However, the crowd noticed he did not take the highest seat at the specially invited mentor¡¯s bench.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Was there someone even more influential than Skye? Amid the audience¡¯s surprise, the host revealed the next guest-Howard. The man had dominated half of the entertainment industry. Even though he was not a celebrity, he held a mysterious and powerful presence in showbiz. With Howard''s entrance, more than half of the live audience stood up, expressing their excitement through cheers and apuse, even more enthusiastically than for Skye. However, even Howard did not sit in the centermost position of the mentor¡¯s bench. Chapter 240 240 entertainment industry. Even though he was not a celebrity, he held a mysterious and powerful presence in showbiz. With Howard''s entrance, more than half of the live audience stood up, expressing their excitement through cheers and apuse, even more enthusiastically than for Skye. However, even Howard did not sit in the centermost position of the mentor¡¯s bench. Chapter 240 1/2 Many people in the audience began to specte about who the most prestigious center position was reserved for. Sheena, intensely focused, watched the scene on the backstage screen and nced at the online viewer count. The entrance of these two guests had created a tremendous buzz, causing a significant surge in viewership. Sheena smiled with satisfaction. Indeed, having such eye-catching men around was worth making the most out of; otherwise, it would be a waste. As it was the final selection, each of the twenty girls had a chance to showcase their talents before the official performances. Soon, it was Phoebe¡¯s turn. Due to the recent bullying incident affecting her vocal cords, she chose to dance. As the music yed, Phoebe quickly got into the rhythm, presenting a fusion of modern and ssical dance, earning cheers from the audience. Howard also unexpectedly noticed this girl. Although she did not have the type of stunning features at first nce, she exuded a genuine and cute vibe, giving the impression of realness. Her skills weremendable, and Howard thought she had a bright future in the entertainment industry. Howard flipped through the file on this girl at his disposal and found that Sheena had already signed her into Angle Group. He smiled contentedly, said nothing, and continued watching thepetition. After an hour of intensepetition, it was time to announce the final results based on the support votes. With over 900 votes, Phoebe staged aeback, moving from fifteenth ce to secure a debut position at sixth ce. Later, the host returned to the stage for the final address in the program¡¯s closing moments. ¡°Now, let¡¯s wee the person behind the scenes of Angle Group to the stage for the closing speech!¡± Everyone turned their gaze toward Howard, expecting him to step forward. However, Howard remained motionless, showing no intention of going onstage. Was he not the current president and owner of Angle Group? Just as the audience looked perplexed, the host smiled and announced, ¡°Let''s give a round of apuse for Ms. Sheena!¡± Spotlights focused on the end of the red carpet, and Sheena emerged from backstage. She wore a deep red evening gown that complemented her snow-like skin, exuding elegance and grace like a queen. As she walked toward the stage, bathed in the spotlight, the audience looked on in shock, some, recognizing her in disbelief. ¡°|-Isn¡¯t that the woman who confronted Ms. Jennifer Moore at the press conferencest time?¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. 2/2 ¡°Wow, she¡¯s gorgeous and confident. No wonder she dared to confront the Moore family. So she¡¯s a wealthy woman herself!¡± ¡°There were rumors before that she was nothing because her rich ex-husband divorced her. It seems those rumors were false. Why would a wealthy woman be afraid of divorce? The next husband will be even better than herst!¡± ¡°What? | only know her from how amazing she danced the Lover. She has to debut!¡± ¡°She''s too incredible! Not only does she dance well, but she¡¯s also the boss of Angle Group!¡± The crowd buzzed with excitement. Even Howard willingly yed a supporting role, leaving the main seat in the mentor¡¯s area for her. This girl must be extraordinary. Most girls who had already secured debut positions were unfamiliar with Sheena. However, Phoebe appeared to be the most shocked among all the girls. Sheena was the boss of Angle Group? Goodness, she was just like the domineering female CEO that only appeared in novels! Under everyone''s gaze, Sheena confidently walked onto the stage, took the microphone handed by the host, and smiled. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Sheena, the person behind the scenes of Angle Group.¡± Chapter 241 Chapter 241 At the same time, Elijahy on the hospital bed, engrossed in watching the live broadcast on the television, smiling. After such a long time, she finally decided to reveal one of her hidden identities. Moreover, her act was meant to tell everyone that even Howard and Skye were willingly ying supporting roles for her. Regardless of whether it was Bethany or Wilfred, they were probably feeling anxious, desperately digging into her true identity. Elijah¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile as he watched the stunning beauty speaking on television. Even if she never considered remarrying him, these calm and peaceful days were quite enjoyable. Owen sat in a chair beside Elijah, supporting his head with his hands, elbows resting on his knees, also engrossed in admiring Sheena¡¯s unparalleled beauty. Hemented, ¡°Ms. Sheena looks so gorgeous when she¡¯s serious!¡± However, thinking about being forced to suspend his job, Owen became sad again. ¡°But Ms. Sheena is really scary when she gets angry! It''d be great if she could always be this gentle.¡± Originally enjoying the broadcast, Elijah felt annoyed by Owen''s chatter. He grabbed the remote control from the bedside table and decisively turned off the TV. Owen, who was just daydreaming a second ago, suddenly found the screen cked out and asked, Mr. Freeman, what are you doing?¡± Elijah remained silent, ignoring him. His expression was somewhat cold, enhanced by the illness and the effects of the modified drug, giving his skin a slightly unhealthy paleness and an overall eerie aura. Observing Elijah¡¯s demeanor, Owen could not help but wonder, ¡°Mr. Freeman, are you... jealous because | praised Ms. Sheena?¡± Elijah responded coldly, ¡°It¡¯s boring, so | don¡¯t want to watch.¡± Owen realized he was making excuses and kindly advised, ¡°Mr. Freeman, since you divorced Ms. Sheena and are now working as her servant, you both can never ever get back together again. Just give up.¡± Elijah¡¯s expression instantly darkened. Owen densely pushed his luck, continuing, ¡°Besides, Ms. Sheena and Mr. Upton have known each other since they were young. In terms of personality, family background, age, and appearance, they¡¯re a perfect match. So, why not obediently get through this one-year agreement and focus on being your own person in the future?¡± ¡°Colin?¡± Elijah gritted his teeth as he uttered the name. He had met Colin only twice, and despite their banter, Elijah sensed that Colin was apassionate Chapter 241 212 and loving man, generous in giving his love. With Sheena¡¯s personality to always get back at those who hurt her, Elijah feared that Colin might find himself in deep trouble and inadvertently hurt Sheena¡¯s feelings. How could he entrust Sheena to such a man? ¡°Mr. Freeman?¡± Owen called out as Elijah seemed lost in thought. Elijah immediately threw off the nket, swung his legs out of bed, and unplugged the needle from the IV bag. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Owen asked, standing up. Without looking back, Elijah put on his shoes and headed for the door, decisively dering, ¡°Leaving the hospital.¡± ¡°What? You''ve only been here for a few days! Leaving the hospital requires the doctor¡¯s examination for a discharge approval!¡± Owen hurriedly followed, but Elijah suddenly stopped at the doorway.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. As Owen approached, Elijah extended his hand and said, ¡°Give me your phone.¡± The talent show was a tremendous sess, with Sheena¡¯s revtion of her status causing Angle Group¡¯s stock to soar and garnering a wave of positive reviews. While discussing post-show ns with Phoebe backstage in the evening, Sheena¡¯s phone suddenly rang. She nced down and saw it was Owen calling. What kind of stunt had Elijah pulled this time? Her great mood was ruined in an instant. Chapter 242 1/2 Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Sheena answered the call calmly, and before she could speak, a deep voice on the other end said, Sheena, it¡¯s me.¡± Though puzzled, Sheena could not be bothered. ¡°What''s up?¡± ¡°I''ve been discharged. To celebrate the sess of your first show, I¡¯m going to prepare a feast at home. How about joining me when you''re back?¡± Elijah spoke cautiously, his tone carrying a hint of fear of rejection and a subtle touch of anticipation. Sheena sensed it and fell silent for two minutes. Elijah waited anxiously, his heart pounding rapidly. He refrained from speaking, giving her the time she needed to think. ¡°| can¡¯t tonight as | have a celebratory dinner. Maybe another day,¡± Sheena replied, ready to end the call. An anxious tone came from the other end, ¡°Don¡¯t hang up! Are you... going to dinner with Skye and Howard?¡± Sheena admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then...¡± Elijah hesitated before asking, ¡°Will Colin be there?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sheena responded calmly and indifferently. With the simple reply, Elijah was instantly fueled with jealousy. He bit his pale lips and, using a coquettish yet appeasing tone, pleaded, ¡°Can you not go? | know my cooking wasn¡¯t great before, but | promise to improve. Can youe back to Ocean Avenue tonight... Sheena could not stand his tone and interrupted, ¡°No. It¡¯s non-negotiable.¡± Elijah blurted out, ¡°If you don¡¯te back, I''ll hold a press conference tomorrow and tell the whole nation that I¡¯m your man!¡± Sheena scoffed upon hearing Elijah¡¯s words, finding it amusing that he was acting so foolishly. She reminded him, ¡°You''re just my servant!¡± ¡°A servant is still yours! You can¡¯t deny that!¡± Elijah retorted. ¡°Elijah!¡± Sheena, genuinely angered, shouted, startling even Phoebe sitting nearby. Feeling her genuine anger, Elijah quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. | just wanted you toe back to Ocean Avenue for a meal. Even if you think | don¡¯t deserve to eat with you, | can stand and watch you eat...¡± Sheena sighed. What has gotten into himtely? 2/2 His audacity had reached shameless levels. Uninterested in continuing the argument, she casually agreed, ¡°I''lle back to Ocean Avenue, but it''ll be after the celebratory dinner, and it might be very late.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s okay. | can wait no matter howte it is,¡± Elijah replied eagerly. Although he could not prevent her from attending the celebratory dinner, at least there would be others present, and Colin probably would not be able to do anything. After ending the call, Elijah happily went toplete his discharge procedures. As Owen was supposed to take care of Elijah until his recovery, he had no reason to apany him back to Ocean Avenue now that he was discharged. So, Owen called John and Sawyer to pick Elijah up while he returned home to face the consequences of his suspension. Back at Ocean Avenue, Elijah immediately rushed to the kitchen to brainstorm recipes. Since fresh produce was delivered daily, he had no worries about the avability of ingredients. After nearly three hours, he prepared avish feast, tasting each dish in advance to ensure the perfect bnce of vors. Not knowing when Sheena would return, he ted each dish to keep them from getting too cold. With everything ready, Elijah sat on the couch and waited. After two hours, the dishes began to cool, so he reheated them ina pot and continued waiting with the tes covered. Chapter 243 This continued several times. When Elijah looked at the clock again, he realized it was already 4 a.m. It was already sote, yet Sheena had not returned yet. Was the celebratory dinner taking that long? Elijah sat on the couch, and suddenly, scenes from Sheena¡¯s dinner shed in his mind, an uproar where everyone encouraged Sheena and Colin to share a toast. Elijah stood up abruptly and thought, ¡®No, that can¡¯t happen!* He headed for the door, but John and Sawyer intercepted him before he could reach the garden. ¡°Mr. Freeman, it¡¯ste. You can¡¯t go out at this hour.¡± ¡°I''m going to find Sheena,¡± Elijah insisted. John and Sawyer remained unfazed. ¡°Ms. Sheena will return after she finishes her business, and Ford is there to protect her. Please be patient and wait.¡± Elijah frowned, his expression icy. It might be easier to negotiate if it were Ford tonight, but John and Sawyer had never been fond of him. They did not bother saying more and simply blocked his way. Reluctantly, Elijah had to retreat and continue waiting. The time spent waiting was often the longest and most agonizing. During this period, Elijah pondered many things. He vaguely recalled the past three years when Sheena often called, hoping he woulde home for dinner. Sometimes, he would make excuses, and at other times, he would hang up without a word, not returning home for a few days. The taste of waiting all night turned out to be so unbearable. He nced at the clock on the wall, following the movement of the minute hand. Unconsciously, he drifted off to sleep on the couch. After some time, Elijah was awakened by the sound of the door opening. Seeing that the personing in was indeed Sheena, Elijah¡¯s face lit up, He stood up to greet her, You¡¯re back! The food has gotten cold, but I¡¯ll heat it up for you now.¡± Sheena declined indifferently, ¡°No need. I¡¯ve already had breakfast.¡± ¡°Breakfast?¡± 11 Elijah nced at the clock on the wall and realized it was already 7 a.m., which meant Sheena had note back all night, and he had sat on the couch waiting the entire night. Elijah found it strange and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe backst night? Were you drunk? Where did you sleep? Did you spend the whole night with Colin? Did he make any advances on you?¡± Sheena remained silent. What did Colin have to do with anything? And with so many questions, which one should she answer 2/2 first? She changed into slippers, saying, ¡°Phoebe got drunkst night, so | took her back to her ce. She was dizzy and vomiting all night, so | took care of her.¡± Elijah was dumbfounded. Phoebe? The trainee who made it to the finals?Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Damn! So, he had to watch out for the women around her too? Sheena rubbed her sore shoulders and was about to go upstairs when Elijah grabbed her wrist. ¡± Sheena, | spent nearly three hours preparing those dishes. Do you want to give it a try?¡± Before he could ask if she wanted to try a little, Sheena red at him and interrupted, ¡°So what? I¡¯ve already eaten. If you haven''t had breakfast, go ahead and help yourself.¡± Enjoy Ad-Free Reading>> Go Chapter 244 Chapter 244 1/2 Elijah¡¯s heart suddenly ached, and those words pressed down on him so hard that he could hardly catch his breath. He remained stunned for a while, unable to utter a word. Seeing that he seemed fine, Sheena forcibly released his hand and went upstairs to her room. Elijah watched her figure leave and, turning around, saw the carefully prepared table of food fromst night, still neatly arranged and untouched. The presentation was still exquisite, but the dishes had gone cold, much like his heart. Soon, a sense of indescribable loss and guilt surged within him. Sheena changed into a new outfit and came downstairs. She noticed him standing there, lost in thought, in the stairwell. She lightly cleared her throat, pulling him back to reality. ¡°Quickly finish your meal and change into clean clothes. After that, we''ll head out for a bit.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± Elijah asked. Sheena smirked as she said, ¡°The Freeman residence.¡± Aloud bang echoed. The owners of the Freeman residence who were still asleep were startled awake by this unexpected noise. Wilfred hurriedly brought his wife, Annie Freeman, downstairs to check on the situation. His daughter, Coco Freeman, was also frightened. Running downstairs, she asked, ¡°Mom, Dad! Was that an earthquake? Did we just experience an earthquake?¡± The three wore bewildered expressions and only realized themotion in the living room when they reached the ground floor. Sheena sat on the main sofa, pouring tea, and appearing to be the mistress of the house. Four handsome and tall bodyguards stood disciplined behind her sofa, and Elijah stood at the side. The group was intimidating, looking as if they were there for debt collection.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Wilfred and his family stared at each other, all looking utterly confused. As they approached, Sheena smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Wilfred, it seems your family hasn¡¯t been doing welltely, evenying off your servants. In such a grand Freeman residence, there isn¡¯t even someone to make me tea. | had to trouble my bodyguards.¡± Wilfred knew she was deliberately pointing out their shorings but had no way to refute them. The Freeman residence had relied on monthly dividends from the Freeman Group shares to get by. With the Freeman Group in the state it was after Bethany and Faye¡¯s poor management. Having it return to its former glory would take who knew how long, and there was not much in dividends for them. 2/2 So, during this period, they all lived a more frugal lifestyle. Wilfred appeared grim and spoke in an unpleasant tone, ¡°Is this how you enter someone else¡¯s home? Don¡¯t you know how to knock? What was that loud noise just now? What did you do?¡± Annie quickly realized the situation and rushed to inspect, wincing at the sight. ¡°Oh dear! Look at my door! You¡¯re too much!¡± Sheena tilted her head, giving a small, helpless smile. ¡°Mr. Wilfred¡¯s door has worn out with age. When my bodyguard John knocked, he used just a tiny bit of force, and it fell apart on its own. Oh well, I¡¯m just helping Mr. Wilfred clean up the mess.¡ã Wilfred was furious. 1 How could a thick iron door fall apart from a simple knock?! It was clearly kicked open! However, having watched the talent showst night with Coco, he knew that Sheena was not only the mastermind behind Angle but also the current CEO andrgest shareholder of the Freeman Group. Moreover, Howard and Skye were also supporting her. Confronting her head-on would be a losing battle. Thus, Wilfred shifted his attention to Elijah, wearing a troubled expression. ¡°Elijah, look at her. Even though she¡¯s your ex-wife, she used to listen to you the most. Now, you''re letting her bully the Freeman family. Is this how it¡¯s going to be?¡± The mention of used to listen to you the most sent a shiver through Elijah¡¯s heart. So, everyone knew she used to love hima lot-something he remained oblivious to, even choosing to ignore all her sacrifices. Suppressing the surge of emotions within, Elijah stared at Wilfred with a cold gaze. He spoke sternly, ¡°Uncle Wilfred, you secretly gave my mom some bad advice and handed her two packets of dubious substances, almost causing a major disaster. How do you exin that?¡± Chapter 245 hapter 245 Did they figure it out? Or did Faye betray him? Wilfred staggered back a couple of steps. After steadying himself, he grinned, feigning ignorance.¡± Elijah, what do you mean? | don¡¯t understand.¡± Elijah¡¯s expression remained cold. He was not falling for Wilfred¡¯s acts. Seeing Elijah¡¯s silence, Wilfred sneakily nced at Sheena¡¯s imposing bodyguards behind her. They all looked fierce, as if ready to fight someone.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Worried about his family¡¯s safety, Wilfred signaled to Annie with his eyes. ¡°Coco hasn''t freshened up yet, right? Take her upstairs quickly. We can¡¯t afford to lose our manners in front of guests.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Annie understood, turning to guide her precious daughter. ¡°Coco, let¡¯s go. Before they could go the stairs, Sheena¡¯s four bodyguards swiftly blocked their way. Ford and Paul guarded the staircase while John and Sawyer stood firm at the entrance. ¡°W-What are you doing? You''re being too ridiculous! This is my home!¡± Wilfred fumed, his face turning red. Coco, feeling a bit scared, sought refuge in Annie¡¯s embrace. ¡°No one¡¯s leaving if | don¡¯t get a clear exnation regarding this matter today,¡± Sheena dered with a smile, delicately sipping her tea. Her demeanor remained calm and aloof, leaving Wilfred¡¯s family bewildered Wilfred sighed, his expression slightlyplex. He began, ¡°The truth is, things didn¡¯t happen like Elijah said. When | learned that Faye and Erin were working as servants at the Freeman Mansion, | visited them. | had no idea where Faye got those two packets of drugs. She told me about her n and asked for my help, but | disagreed. | even tried to advise her against it.¡± He suddenly paused mid-sentence as if realizing something, asking, ¡°Judging by the situation, did she really seed?¡± ¡°Did anything happen? Are you alright? | heard that medicine is quite potent. It¡¯s all my fault. | should¡¯ve talked to her again,¡± Wilfred sighed, expressing regret. With these words, he not only cleared himself of any involvement in the matter but also presented himself as a concerned elder. Sheena frowned slightly. ¡°In the future, please address me as Ms. Sheena ording to thepany hierarchy.¡± After stating this, she nced at Elijah standing beside her and mocked, ¡°He ims Faye nned this, while Faye says he instigated it. Whom do you think | should believe?¡± Elijah stared sternly at Wilfred, a cold smirk on his face. ¡°Uncle Wilfred, ming everything on a 212 woman when things go wrong is not very manly,¡± This statement was a certainty. Wilfred¡¯s face immediately flushed from embarrassment. ¡°You''re just Ms. Sheena¡¯s servant now. As a servant, you have no right to interrupt when the master is talking. Step aside.¡± The speed of this change in attitude was truly slick. Sheena despised sly folks who spoke differently depending on the situation. Uninterested in hearing more nonsense, she raised her hand, and Ford ced an exquisitely crafted ck and gold square box on the coffee table. ¡°What''s this?¡± Wilfred looked confused. Sheena smiled and said, ¡°This is a small gift | brought for the Freeman residence today, Mr. Wilfred, why don¡¯t you open it and take a look?¡± Though Wilfred did not respond, he sensed a hint of mischief in her smile. Annie, however, greeted her warmly. ¡°Ms. Sheena, it¡¯s wonderful that you¡¯vee and brought a gift too. How courteous of you.¡± Approaching the table, she noticed the beautifully crafted ck and gold box. With curiosity in her heart, she opened it, only to find herself puzzled. Inside were thirty small bottles, each about half the size of a fist, neatly arranged. Choosing one at random and uncapping it, she discovered it contained clear liquid with a strange odor. Chapter 246 Chapter 246 ¡°W-What is this stuff?¡± Ford replied, ¡°Ms. Sheena carefully prepared this for the Freeman residence. You three are supposed to drink one bottle every day. Wilfred could notprehend what game Sheena was ying and approached to sniff the bottle, and his face changed drastically as he hastily put the bottle Annie held back into the box. ¡°Are these all M¡ªdrugs?¡± Sheena rested her chin on her hand, smiling brightly. ¡°Not all of them. Aside from poison, there arexatives, itching drugs, and so on. Five out of the thirty bottles are sugar syrup. The chances of getting syrup are much higher than winning the lottery, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Y¡ª-You...¡± The couple was shocked by her words, unable to find the words to respond to her. Coco, understanding the situation, panicked. ¡°Dad, | don¡¯t want to drink any of them! | don¡¯t want to drink this kind of thing!¡± The family huddled together, trembling. ¡°You''ve gone too far! Even if you don¡¯t consider our past rtions, this has nothing to do with me. I.... ¡°4 Sheena raised her trand to cut Wilfred off. ¡°You know the truth, and so do I. Besides, this is not solely because of this incident.¡± Wilfred was puzzled. ¡°How have | offended you before?¡± ¡°In the past, you helped Faye plot against me in front of Old Man Freeman. | haven¡¯t forgotten, and I¡¯m sure you haven''t either. Add to that the p you gave Elijah before and this M¡ªdrug incident. That''s three offenses in total.¡± Elijah, standing nearby, keenly caught that middle sentence and suddenly felt moved. Since she remembered Wilfred hitting him and wanting to seek justice for him, did it mean she still cared for him? Wilfred also noticed that middle usation. ¡°Elijah is a part of my Freeman family. As an elder, what''s wrong with pping him? Including this in the charges is too much!¡± Sheena retorted, ¡°He¡¯s my servant, and only my people can deal with him. The Freeman family has no say in it!¡± Elijah¡¯s happiness faded instantly when Sheena mentioned ¡®only my people¡¯, not just her. After all, it would mean that Howard also fell into that category. 1/2Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. 12 272 Wilfred was speechless. However, being made to pick and drink a bottle of drugs every day felt like a fate worse than death. ¡°Anyway, | have no intention of admitting a single word of what you said, and | definitely won''t drink it!¡± Wilfred dered. Sheena chuckled. ¡°I didn¡¯te here today to negotiate with you.¡± She finished speaking and nced at Ford. Ford immediately ced a stack of copies before the three, saying, ¡°Take a good look. Here is Madam Freeman''s confession, evidence of your involvement in purchasing M¡ªdrugs from the ck market, and a timeline of the entire incident. Do you want to take a trip to the police, get convicted, or ept Ms. Sheena¡¯s gift?¡± The faces of the three changed drastically. Wilfred was so shocked that he could not even speak. He was in disbelief at how Sheena uncovered the truth in such a short time. Moreover, he had paid hush money to the ck market! Annie said urgently, ¡°Honey, you can¡¯t go to jail! You''re the backbone of our family. If you fall, what will Coco and | do?¡± Coco echoed, ¡°You can¡¯t go to jail! Dad, if you have a criminal record, how can | face my high-society friends? No heir toa wealthy family would want to marry me. | won''t be able to get married!¡± Wilfred was torn on both sides, looking at his wife and daughter with reddened eyes. ¡°But seeing you endure that torturous stuff every day is also unbearable for me!¡± Annie and Coco exchanged nces. ¡°Why should we drink it? You caused this mess. Can¡¯t you just pick three bottles at once?¡± Wilfred was taken aback. 4 Chapter 247 This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 248 This time, Sheena did not intend for Elijah to go directly home. Instead, they headed together to the Freeman Group¡¯s construction site. In the car, Sheena exined, ¡°The Freeman Group was previously involved in the Delomora project. Due to Faye¡¯s mismanagement and Bethany¡¯s shoddy work, the construction copsed unexpectedly. It even affected the newly built structure nearby. Bethany has been withholding payments, causing dissatisfaction among the construction team. If you were in charge, what would you do?¡± Elijah pondered momentarily and replied, ¡°Compensate and reassure the workers.¡± Sheena had hoped for some groundbreaking solution, but Elijah¡¯s answer fell short. ¡°It¡¯s futile. Sarah initially did that, but the workers still don¡¯t trust thepany. Thepany¡¯s performance has been stale. However, recing all the workers might upset the entire Delomora project team.¡± The car soon arrived at the construction site. Elijah looked up at the building outside the window and earnestly met Sheena¡¯s gaze, saying, ¡°If you''re willing to trust me this once, you can hand over this project to me. | can handle it.¡± Sheena pondered for a moment but did not give her consent. Suddenly, Wendy called again, telling her about an urgent matter on the Angle Group¡¯s side requiring her attention. Bncing between Angle and the Freeman Group had strained Sheena¡¯s energy. Especially with the Freeman Group facing a downturn, it would take a long time to restore it to its former glory. Moreover, she needed to reim the 1.2 billion dors from Bethany. Just as Sheena was contemting, Elijah suddenly stood up, kneeling on one knee in the car.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. His intense gaze fixed on her as he pleaded, ¡°Sheena, please trust me. The Freeman Group was entrusted to me by Grandpa a long time ago. It¡¯s the foundation of the entire Freeman family. I¡¯ve been in control of the Freeman Group for a long time and still command respect from many employees. | won¡¯t harm the Freeman Group or take advantage of the situation to seize your power.¡± Sheena lifted his chin with her delicate fingertips, her tone icy. ¡°Based on your recent actions, why should | trust you?¡± Elijah found himself momentarily speechless. The incident where he had injured her to test her identity was something nobody would readily believe. ¡°| admit that | initially agreed to sign the contract because | wanted to test you,¡± Elijah began. ¡°But as I spent time with you, | realized | genuinely like you. It''s only been you since the start! So, | genuinely want to be by your side. Sheena, I...¡± Sheena ced her index finger on her red lips, gesturing for him to hush. She had no interest in hearing any more of these cheesy words. Elijah wisely fell silent. 2/2 Sheena asked, ¡°If | let you handle the Delomora project, what do you need from me?¡± ¡°Authorization,¡± he replied. At this, Sheena chuckled, ¡°You imed you had no ulterior motives. Elijah, you¡¯re quite the actor. It''s a shame you didn¡¯t sign up with Angle Group as an artist. Your acting skills are wasted.¡± Looking at Elijah coldly, she opened the car door, ready to step out. Elijah hurriedly grabbed her wrist, sinking to one knee and straightening his back, kneeling at her feet. He exined, ¡°I want authority not to reim the Freeman Group but to make those people believe in me. If you¡¯re still wary, you can assign John and Sawyer to watch me. | won''t y any tricks. 11 His ck eyes held an unusual sincerity, even a subtle hint of vulnerability. ncing at her phone, Sheena noticed Wendy¡¯s continuous messages. After a brief contemtion, she said, ¡°Alright, I''ll trust you this once. You have one month to handle the entire Delomora project, from appeasing the construction team topleting the building. If you fail or dare to pull any tricks...¡± Elijah nodded. ¡°If | fail, my life is at your disposal.¡± Was this a life-or¡ª-death wager? ¡°That¡¯s your word. But there¡¯s one more thing. You can¡¯t let your work on the project interfere with the chores in the mansion. It should remain immacte when | return each day, and dinner should be steaming hot. Can you handle that?¡± With only twenty-four hours in a day, and considering the time spent eating and sleeping, there was barely half the day left. Bncing both responsibilities would be challenging. However, Elijah almost did not consider the difficulty. He stared into her eyes, smiling affectionately, ¡°Sure! A real man never says he can''t do it!¡± Chapter 249 Sheena lightly furrowed her brows, sensing a hint of teasing in his words. She coldly huffed, sarcastically saying, ¡°I don¡¯t remember if you were up to it before, but now...¡± Elijah¡¯s face instantly paled, understanding her implication. Thanks to the injected modified drug, his stamina was not what it used to be. However, surrendering in that department was out of the question as a man. Without much thought, he replied, ¡°Should we try now? See if I¡¯m still good enough?¡± ¡°Elijah!¡± Sheena was infuriated and red at him. She harshly pinched his left cheek, giving it a firm twist. Elijah¡¯s face contorted in pain. Unable to dodge, he could only whine cutely, ¡°Eek, ouch...¡± Sheena released her grip. His left cheek turned red. Despite clearly being in pain, he dared not rub it while in her presence, looking pitiful and submissive. Although Sheena knew he was intentionally putting on a show, his miserable appearance eased her anger. ¡°Get out of the car. It¡¯s the first day of your life-or¡ªdeath trial. I''m heading back to Angle Group.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Elijah first brushed off the thin dust on his knee, straightened his cor, and then opened the car door with a cold expression before stepping out. Observing his smooth transition of expressions, Sheena could not help but think what a waste it was that he was not an actor. She made a call to arrange for John and Owen in the car to follow Elijah before heading to Angle Group herself. When deeply engrossed in work, time always flew by. Approaching the end of the workday, Sheena was about to call Sarah to inquire about the progress of the Delomora project. However, she received an iing call from Sarah just as she was about to make the call.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Sarah sounded quite excited, saying, ¡°Miss, | don¡¯t know what Mr. Freeman did, but the project is back to its normal order! And it''s only his very first day! The atmosphere at the construction site is harmonious. It¡¯s like magic!¡± Sheena frowned slightly, ¡°You¡¯ve only known him for a day, but you speak so highly of him. Are you on his side now?¡± ¡°Oh? No, no, no! I¡¯m forever yours, Miss. My heart is yours, my life is yours, and even when | die, I¡¯m yours...¡± Sheena interrupted, ¡°Enough. | don¡¯t need a pretty ghost.¡± Sarah chuckled twice. Sheena regained herposure and instructed, ¡°Continue to work with him. Review all his decisions personally. Entrust him publicly, but behind the scenes, you take charge. Also, learn from his approach to handling problematic projects.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± After ending the call, Sheena proceeded to organize Phoebe¡¯s schedule. Taking advantage of the current momentum, Sheena helped Phoebe secure some brand endorsements in addition to the scheduled performances for the group. Because this was Phoebe¡¯s first endorsement shoot, Sheena was concerned about her stage fright. Hence, she nned to monitor the situation tonight. However, she also intended to leave work half an hour early tonight to check Elijah¡¯s housekeeping skills. Wendy was being assigned other tasks by Sheena, which led her to think it might be a good idea for Howard to oversee the situation. When Howard received her call, he was quite surprised. ¡°Nana, you''re letting me oversee a new artist''s endorsement shoot? Am | not important to you anymore?¡± ¡°Howard, you¡¯ve misunderstood. Phoebe is currently a priority for me to develop as an artist. Having you there will showcase the company¡¯s high regard for her. From a different perspective, it¡¯s a sign of my utmost regard for you.¡± Howard knew she was just being sweet, but hearing his beloved sister say she regarded him the most still warmed his heart. ¡°Slick talker, help you out this time.¡± ¡°Thanks, Howard.¡± After sorting out everything, Sheena drove back to Ocean Avenue. im Bonus For Free Every Day>> Chapter 250 172 Upon entering the garden, she called out to Sawyer and Owen and asked, ¡°When did Elijahe back? ¡°Mr. Freeman arrived about an hour ago, and he¡¯s been busy since he got home,¡± replied Sawyer. ¡°What about during the day?¡± ¡°He behaved normally. We were with him the entire time,¡± Owen exined. Sheena was not entirely convinced. However, it was only the first day, and if he wanted to gain her trust, he would likely keep a low profile for a few days. Pondering this, she pushed the door open. Upon hearing the noise, Elijah emerged from the kitchen, surprised to find it was Sheena. ¡°You''re home so early today.¡± Sheena raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is that not allowed?¡± ¡°Of course it is,¡± Elijah responded. He approached, took out slippers from the shoe cab, and handed them to her. ¡°Wee home! You must be tired from working all day.¡± Sheena noticed a slight panting in his voice, and his white shirt cor was damp with sweat, indicating that he had been busy the hour before she arrived. ¡°Is dinner ready?¡± she asked. ¡°Not yet... Can you give me another twenty minutes?¡± Elijah requested.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Seeing that he had been genuinely upied today, Sheena did not intend to make things difficult for him intentionally. She simply nodded and headed upstairs. In the evening, at Farlem men¡¯s prison. After dinner, the inmates were granted half an hour of free time. That night, the most respected guy in the prison was due for a visit, and Leon nned to take advantage of his absence to sneak into the bathroom for a quick shower. At this time, not many people were using the bathroom. As Leon took off his shirt, someone covered his mouth with a white cloth from behind and forcibly dragged him into a corner. While skilled in hand¡ªto¡ªhandbat, Leon could not withstand an ambush from eightrge guys. They pinned him down, and by the time he realized the cloth was drugged, he had already lost consciousness. Leon woke up to apletely different environment. It was a run¡ªdown and dimly lit small house, and it was clear he had been transported out of the prison. He struggled against the restraints on his wrists and found both hands tightly bound with ropes, suspended upside down from the beam in the shabby room. His toes barely managed to stabilize his weight on the ground. 212 This position was exhausting, as Leon¡¯s hands were suspended in reverse, causing his entire body to lose strength soon. The door of the small house creaked open, and he was shocked to see the people entering. ¡°Lionel, Logan...¡± Lionel ignored him while Logan walked up and delivered a punch. ¡°You two-faced traitor! Do you know who Jennifer truly is? You actually helped her falsely use Mr. Freeman in front of Ms. Sheena! Leon, are you a fool?¡± Mentioning Jennifer, Leon¡¯s emotions became somewhat agitated. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare speak ill of her! She hasn¡¯t done anything wrong! It¡¯s clearly Sheena¡¯s fault, and you all, along with Mr. Freeman, have been deceived by that bitch!¡± Logan was angered by his remarks. It was often said that girls were prone to bing foolish in love, but why did Leon¡¯s intelligence take a nosedive? ¡°Are you out of your mind? You''ve followed Mr. Freeman for so many years. Saying you''re as dumb as a pig is an insult to pigs!¡± Logan was infuriated, but Leon was stubborn, unwilling to hear anything negative about Jennifer. Lionel sighed. ¡°He won''t listen to anything we have to say right now. No matter what you say, he believes Jennifer is great! Show him the evidence!¡± Leon, initially defiant, finally yielded when Logan presented the evidence against Jennifer. Chapter 251 Chapter 251 ¡°H-How is this possible?¡± Leon stuttered when he saw the evidence in Logan¡¯s hands. It included the incident at the Moore mansion, where he encountered the killer disguised as a doctor. It turned out that Jennifer was truly behind it! She pretended to shelter him while secretly nning to eliminate him. Leon burst into tears, knowing that the evidence meticulouslypiled by Lionel and Logan could not be fake. Realizing this, he was crushed and felt suffocated. Jennifer had deceived him for so long, and it hurt him deeply. ¡°I''m sorry. | let down Mr. Freeman and betrayed his trust. Whatever punishment he decides, I''ll ept it.¡± Witnessing his heartbreaking tears, Lionel sighed. ¡°Recount everything you did for Jennifer, and don¡¯t miss a single detail.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As he spoke, Lionel listened, and Logan recorded every word on theptop. ¡°That¡¯s all. Since the hijacking incident, Sheena had me arrested.¡± Logan handed theptop to Lionel, who carefully reviewed the information. After closing it, Lionel gazed at Leon with a slightly complex expression. ¡°As formerrades, this is ourst meeting. Is there anything else you want to say?¡± Leon closed his eyes, feelingpletely hopeless. ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s my own foolishness. Do what you need to do.¡± Lionel chuckled. ¡°Do you think Mr. Freeman wants to kill you? He prefers you to live and repent.¡± ncing at the time, Lionel instructed Logan, ¡°Find two people to give him a hundredshes and send him back. Inform the leaders of the two factions in prison that anyone who treats him well in the future is at odds with Mr. Freeman.¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Yes, Lionel.¡± Lionel grabbed theptop and left the small house without looking back. Soon, the sound of whipping mixed with the painful cries of a man echoed in the small house. The next day, Sheena finished breakfast and went to work. Elijah, having cleaned the dishes, left the house shortly after her. Despite no longer holding the position of the Freeman Group¡¯s leader, he stillmanded respect from his years of authority. Moreover, coupled with the 40% ownership stake, he maintained significant influence in the Freeman Group. Chapter 251WTN 2/2 However, Elijah¡¯s office was moved from the 28th floor to the 23rd floor, but he did not mind as these were mere titles for him. Nheless, if Sheena wanted it, he would spare no effort to help her. Elijah¡¯s indifference did not mean others felt the same. At lunchtime, Nelson Lincoln and Eric Sandler knocked on his door, greeting him with a big smile, ¡± Good afternoon, Mr. Freeman.¡± Elijah nced at them, asking coldly, ¡°What do you want?¡± Nelson and Eric exchanged a look before saying, ¡°We''re here today to discuss something with you, Mr. Freeman.¡± Without lifting his head, Elijah replied, ¡°For major matters, talk to Ms. Sheena. For minor matters, find Ms. Peterson.¡± The two men stiffened, exchanging nces again. Eric hurriedly spoke, ¡°Since the change in ownership of the Freeman Group, Ms. Peterson has been suppressing those of us who have followed you for many years. Moreover, Ms. Sheena is unavable, and we have no way to reason with her. Now that you''re back, what do you think about reiming the Freeman Group?¡± Elijah stopped typing but remained silent. Nelson seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire, ¡°Also, Ms. Sheena seems to have little understanding of the real estate industry. Ms. Peterson is also clueless. Thepany can¡¯t keep going on like this, right?¡± His hands rested on the desk, lightly tapping rhythmically, and he appeared to be contemting. ¡°What do you want? Spit it out,¡± said Elijah. ¡°If you intend to reim the Freeman Group, we''ll support you all the way! Not just us, but many senior employees are willing to follow your lead. Ms. Sheena has only 5% more shares than you, but you have been in control of the Freeman Group for a long time. If you confront her directly, your chances of winning are not low!¡± Elijah remained silent for a while before stating, ¡°Give me a list of all the supporters.¡± Nelson and Eric were delighted. ¡°So, you agree?¡± Elijah stayed silent. Chapter 252 1/2 Knowing his cold temperament, they assumed Elijah had ns in mind and eagerly handed over the list. They thought once Elijah regained control of the Freeman Group, this group of employees might even receive some shares. Nelson and Eric were delighted, saying, ¡°Mr. Freeman, take your time. If there¡¯s anything we can do, just let us know.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± After that, they sensibly closed the door and left. Elijah was still looking at the list when a graceful figure in high heels suddenly opened the door quietly. He noticed her presence from the corner of his eye and looked up.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Sheena, wearing a white figure-hugging skirt, stood with her hands crossed against the door frame. She was smiling, but her eyes were icy. From Elijah¡¯s point of view, her well¡ªproportioned figure was on full disy. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Sheena¡¯s tone was indifferent. ¡°This whole building is mine now. Can¡¯t |e? Or is it that | came at the wrong time and happened to overhear something | shouldn¡¯t have?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what | meant.¡± Elijah stood up, ushering her to the sofa and pouring her tea. Afterpleting these actions, he handed her the list that had just been given to him by Nelson and Eric. ¡± Take a look at this.¡± She nced at it, looking somewhat surprised. ¡°These people can give you the confidence to take back the Freeman Group. Did you just sell them out? Ul Elijah pursed his lips, kneeling on one knee, looking up at her seriously. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Sheena was puzzled. ¡°| won''t let you lift your head to talk to me in the future because I¡¯m the one who should look up to you,¡± Elijah spoke earnestly. His handsome face was like a work of art, and due to the effects of the modified drug, he appeared a bit pale, adding a touch of vulnerability. Sheena was stunned, not expecting such words toe from Elijah¡¯s mouth. Soon, shemented, You¡¯re really going all out to gain my trust, eh?¡± ¡°| know you don¡¯t believe me now, but with time, you''ll understand that | haven¡¯t deceived you.* Sheena sneered, gripping Elijah¡¯s chin harshly. ¡°Elijah, | hate lies the most. When you used to have a Chapter 252 2/2 sharp tongue and disliked me, at least it was genuine. If | catch you lying and find evidence against you, you''ll face the consequences ordingly!¡± Elijah was at a loss for words. Clearly, what he was saying now was the most genuine! Sheena released his chin, shifting her gaze back to the list. ¡°How should | deal with this group of employees who are loyal to you?¡± she asked. Elijah sighed. ¡°They''ve been with the Freeman Group for many years, so we can¡¯t dismiss them all. Besides, humans are inherently greedy. If you provide the senior employees with good benefits for being loyal, they''ll support you just the same over time.¡± Sheena asked, ¡°So, you want me to turn a blind eye and pretend | didn¡¯t see anything?¡± ¡°Yes. With this list, you can identify potential threats. You can reward them for their work and, at the same time, be watchful for any signs of disloyalty.¡± Sheena pondered for a while, somewhat skeptical, as she asked, ¡°So, you had Nelson and Eric write this list for me on purpose?¡± ¡°Yes, if you hadn¡¯te today, | would have personally handed the list to you when you returned to Ocean Avenue. But you happened toe and almost misunderstood me.¡± As he spoke, the corner of his mouth gently drooped, looking aggrieved. Ignoring his expression, Sheena asked, ¡°Giving me this list probably isn¡¯t for free, right? What do you want?¡± Elijah met her gaze and admitted openly, ¡°I want to request having an assistant.¡± Sheena was surprised at the simple request. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Lionel O''Connor.¡± Chapter 253 1/2 Lionel O''Connor? The name sounded familiar. ¡°What''s his rtionship with Leon?¡± Sheena asked. Elijah had no intention of hiding it and said, ¡°Both of them work under me.¡± Sheena propped her chin on her hand, elbow resting on her knee, and tilted her head, observing him up close, appearing particrly charming. Elijah¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Did she have any idea how captivating she looked with that expression? Just as he was lost in his thoughts, Sheena spoke, ¡°I can¡¯t believe that even in your current situation, you still have people willing to follow you. You probably have personal assets too, right?¡± Personal assets were one thing. He had many secrets he could not reveal to her right now.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Elijah felt a bit pleased. ¡°Are you interested in managing my personal assets? | don¡¯t care about money. If you want it, | can hand it all over.¡± Sheena rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your money. I¡¯m just curious. You could have used the money to redeem the Freeman mansion, at least ensuring your mom and sister have afortable life.¡± He lowered his head. ¡°My mom is harsh, and Erin is a spoiled brat. They both mistreat you, so this is my way of punishing them.¡± Sheena was somewhat surprised. ¡°I¡¯m just your ex-wife, and they''re your family. Are you really this ruthless toward them?¡± Elijah had always been principled. ¡°Right is right. | won¡¯t show favoritism. This is an opportunity to temper their characters.¡± While the reasoning seemed sound, Sheena could not shake the feeling that something was off. ¡°Erin, maybe, but Faye is your birth mother. Aren¡¯t you afraid she''ll scold you for being unfilial?¡± Elijah lowered his head even more, his expression hidden from Sheena. After a moment of silence, he said, ¡°She can endure it. If she can¡¯t handle it, I''ll take care of it for her.¡± Sheena found herself appreciating his approach in this matter. ¡°I''m going back to Angle Group. Go about with your things,¡± she said. ¡°Okay.¡± Sheena headed toward the door, but she noticed he was still squatting out of the corner of her eye. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you getting up?¡± 2/2 Elijah¡¯s face turned even paler. ¡°My legs... are numb.¡± Sheena chuckled and left the room without paying any more attention to him. Before leaving, she informed Sarah about his request for an assistant. Sarah was efficient, and Lionel eagerly reported to Elijah¡¯s office that same afternoon. ¡°Mr. Freeman, you really have a way. Now, we don¡¯t need to sneak around for our meetings anymore. You haven''t even raised Ms. Sheena¡¯s suspicions. Impressive!¡± Lionel said, grinning. Elijah originally engrossed in his work on theputer, was suddenly drawn to Lionel¡¯sment. He looked at him and scolded. ¡°What do you mean by sneaking around for our meetings? I¡¯m dealing with legitimate business here!¡± Without hesitation, Elijah grabbed a pen from his desk and threw it at Lionel. Lionel did not dodge, and the pen hit him square on the forehead. He winced, rubbing his head. ¡°Mr. Freeman, you''re ruthless. | might have a concussion. You owe mepensation for a workce injury.¡± Elijah, his gaze icy, picked up another pen. ¡°Still fooling around?¡± Lionel immediately said, ¡°Sorry! | won''t say that again!¡± After the yful exchange, they got down to business. Lionel first checked the entire office to ensure there were no listening or monitoring devices. Satisfied, he handed Elijah the information he had pried from Leon. Elijah meticulously reviewed the evidence, including Leon¡¯s testimony and the timeline of events. ¡°Mr. Freeman, with this evidence from Leon, you can prove your innocence to Ms. Sheena.* ll Elijah remained silent. After contemting, he tore the documents right down the middle until they werepletely shredded. Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Lionel was stunned, eximing, ¡°Mr. Freeman! What are you doing? This is evidence that proves you didn¡¯t harm Ms. Sheena!¡± Elijah remained indifferent. ¡°If | show her this evidence, the tiny bit of trust I''ve managed to build with her will bepletely gone.¡± Lionel did not understand and watched the shredded papers with a pang of heartache. He had worked hard to gather this information. Elijah did not even nce at the pile of paper. ¡°When you handed me this evidence just now, | realized that with Sheena and her brothers¡® power, there¡¯s no way they couldn¡¯t find out the truth. It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t investigate. She had already convinced herself that | was the culprit.¡± Elijah sighed, realizing that Sheena truly did not trust him at all. Rebuilding her trust, bit by bit, was no easy task. ¡°Moreover, if | had given her this evidence, she would have known about everything I¡¯ve been doing behind her back¡ª investigating and meeting with Leon. She would be even more suspicious of me in the future.¡± Lionel understood now, feeling sympathy for him. ¡°So, you''ll have to take the me for this alone... Leon deserves more than a hundredshes. He should¡¯ve gotten two hundred!¡± Half a monthter. The Freeman Group gradually recovered from a period of decline, and various projects started to pick up. When Sarah handed over the data to Sheena, she was pleased. ¡°Considering the current situation, the Freeman Group¡¯s financial status has stabilized. We can start nning to approach the Carver Group for the outstanding payment.¡± Sarah nodded. ¡°Miss, what¡¯s your n?¡± Sheena smirked. ¡°From now on, snatch any business within our capacity that the Carver Group is eyeing!¡± Suddenly, the assistant knocked and said, ¡°Ms. Sheena, Mr. Upton is here.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Sarah left the office, exchanging polite nods with Colin, who had just entered. Once Sarah waspletely out, Colin sat opposite Sheena¡¯s workspace. Sheena did not even look at Colin. ¡°What brings you here today, Colin?¡± Colin smiled, blushing slightly. ¡°Sheena, did you forget? My birthday is in three days.¡± Chapter 254 2/2 Indeed, Sheena hadpletely forgotten. ¡°So, you want me to wish you a happy birthday in advance? | remember your parents used to host a party for your birthday. How long are you nning to stay in Svelton this time?¡± Colin¡¯s blush deepened. ¡°Those were things from when | was a kid. My parents said unless | bring someone back, there¡¯s no need for me to return.¡± Sheena instantly understood his motive foring today. ¡°You''re the beloved heir of the Upton family. How could Uncle and Auntie not want you home? Don¡¯t use these tricks to fool me.*Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Being exposed did not discourage Colin. Instead, he said, ¡°| know you won¡¯t return to Svelton for now, but how abouting out for dinner with me in three days? Consider it your birthday gift to me. Shouldn''t be a problem, right?¡± As a friend, his request was not unreasonable, and Sheena had no reason to refuse, so she agreed. Meanwhile, Lionel entered Elijah¡¯s office on the 23rd floor, reporting, ¡°Mr. Freeman, | heard Mr. Upton is here again, having a private conversation with Ms. Sheena on the top floor.¡± ¡°Private conversation?¡± Elijah frowned. Whenever Colin showed up, trouble was sure to follow. Elijah quickly stood up, pushed open the office door, and took the elevator to the top floor. Colin had just left Sheena¡¯s office and was waiting for the elevator to go down. As the doors opened, they came face to face. Colin smiled and spoke first, ¡°Mr. Freeman, what a coincidence.¡± Elijah¡¯s face remained cold, and his tone indifferent. ¡°It¡¯s no coincidence. | came here to find you.¡± Chapter 255 Chapter 255 1/2 The two of them finally headed to the quiet and secure escape corridor inside the building. Lionel and Colin¡¯s assistant took their positions on either side of the escape corridor. Colin casually leaned on the railing of the escape corridor, asking, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± Elijah stared at him intensely, his expression ice-cold. ¡°If Katie and Sheena can¡¯t get along in the future, who would you choose?¡± Colin pondered momentarily and replied, ¡°It won¡¯t happen because Katie already knows Sheena¡¯s identity. As long as Katie cares about Howard, she won''t pick a fight with Sheena again.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Elijah sneered. ¡°From what | know, Howard and Katie¡¯s engagement has been on hold for two years. They still haven''t married because Howard hasn''t given the green light. Recently, Howard wanted to break off the engagement, and your dad persuaded him not to.¡± ¡°And what does that have to do with anything?¡± Colin was confused. ¡°You know Sheena well. Katie has harmed her, and she did not hold back, using ruthless means to hurt Sheena. Sheena will never get along with Katie in this lifetime, and Katie is not someone who can tolerate losses. So, between your sister and Sheena, you can only choose one.¡± Colin felt a bit annoyed. ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Can¡¯t | have both? I''ll talk to them and resolve their issues.¡± Elijah chuckled. ¡°You don''t really like Sheena that much, and you''re just fooling yourself. Katie will eventually get married, but your hesitation in this situation meant you¡¯re not worthy of Sheena.¡± ¡°Oh, please. You¡¯re the one who can¡¯t match up to her. Since you signed that agreement with her, your chances of remarriage have been non-existent.¡± Elijah shrugged indifferently. ¡°If we don¡¯t remarry, so be it. At least | can protect her in a different way. Before shepletely rejects me, | must choose a man who truly loves and cares for her, but you¡¯re definitely not that man.¡¯ 1 Colin¡¯s expression softened at those words. ¡°That man you''re talking about is me! We are well-suited in every aspect, and I¡¯ve been secretly in love with her for many years. | wouldn¡¯t mind that she¡¯s divorced, so how am | unworthy of her? How many men canpare to me?¡± Elijah frowned, giving him several scrutinizing looks. The fact that he brought up the term ¡°divorced ¡°showed that he did care about it deep down. He was deceiving himself into loving Sheena, convincing himself he must win her over. Seeing Elijah¡¯s silence, Colin sincerely shared his joy. ¡°You probably don¡¯t know yet, but she has. already agreed to have dinner with me alone in three days. | n to surprise her that day, and she¡¯ll ept my proposal. As for you, you''ll never have a chance!¡± Colin looked at Elijah, obviously provoking him. Chapter 255 2/2 Elijah¡¯s anger surged, and he grabbed Colin¡¯s cor, warning him with a low voice, ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of pretending? | suspect you had ulterior motives from the beginning of your friendship with her. Stay away from her!¡± Colin shrugged off Elijah¡¯s hand dismissively. ¡°Do you really think you can stop me?¡± Indeed, the engagement between Howard and Katie was uncertain. However, the alliance between the Upton and Lawson families was an inevitable trend. Moreover, Colin genuinely liked Sheena, so marrying her would be a win-win situation. Even so, Colin would not disclose these thoughts to Elijah. The two men exchanged warning nces, the tension escting in the air. After several back and forths, their respective assistants intervened, pulling them away. Once Colin left, Elijah, apanied by Lionel, returned to his office. The thought of Colin¡¯s n three dayster filled him with uncontroble anger, and he mmed his fist on the table with a loud bang, startling Lionel. ¡°Mr. Freeman, regarding Mr. Upton... What do you n to do?¡± Lionel asked cautiously. Elijah¡¯s anger red upProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. at the mention of Colin¡¯s name. ¡°Within three days, find a way to get him out of Farlem. The farther, the better. Don¡¯t let him bother me here.¡± ¡°Ah? About this...¡± Lionel hesitated. ¡°He has the support of the Svelton¡¯s Upton family. Mr. Freeman, | Chapter 256 Elijah snorted, giving Lionel a disdainful look. ¡°The Upton family is the weakest among the four major families in Svelton. Besides, he clearly didn¡¯t bring many bodyguards this time, obviouslying without anyone knowing. Can¡¯t you handle that?¡± Lionel pursed his lips, feeling like Elijah was throwing unreasonable challenges his way. ¡°Hm?¡± Elijah continued, ring at him. Lionel instantly cowered, chuckling nervously. ¡°I can handle it! I''ll discuss it with Logan and the others. However, you might need to cooperate when the timees.¡± Elijah¡¯s expression returned to normal. ¡°Good.¡± Sheena had shown a bit more trust in him in the past half-month, not making John and Sawyer watch him daily, which pleased him. Three dayster, Sheena nned to leave work an hour early because she had dinner ns with Colin. Just as she finished organizing her desk and was ready to head out, she received a call from Ford at Ocean Avenue. ¡°Ms. Lawson, Mr. Freeman identally got injured and is bleeding from his waist. You need toe back and check on him!¡± Sheena found it strange and asked, ¡°If he¡¯s injured, why not call a doctor? Why do | need toe back?¡± ¡°Mr. Freeman said it¡¯s an old injury from when he was looking for you in the mountains in Luivine. Today, he identally worsened it while doing household chores. Besides, his health is not what it used to be, and I¡¯m helping him stop the bleeding. Won''t youe back to see him?¡± It was from the old injury on his waist caused by Corey¡¯s men. ¡°Okay, | got it.¡± After hanging up on Ford, she tried calling Colin''s phone, but the voicemail indicated he was out of the service area. Sheena did not dwell on it, assuming he was busy with work. With an hour to spare before the scheduled dinner, Sheena decided to drive back to Ocean Avenue. Upon reaching the second floor, she found Ford wrapping Elijah¡¯s waist withyers of bandages, still showing faint traces of blood. Sheena took a seat nearby and asked, ¡°What happened? Wasn''t the wound healed a long time ago? How did it reopen?¡± Upon seeing her return, Elijah smiled happily. ¡°Because today is a special day, | wanted to cook a few more dishes. Unfortunately, | identally hurt my waist in the kitchen.¡± Aspecial day? 2/2 Was it not Colin''s birthday? What special day could it be for her? Noticing her furrowed brows, Elijah exined, ¡°Did you forget? Six years ago today, Grandpa adopted you from the orphanage and brought you to the Freeman mansion. It was also the first... No, the second time we met.¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Sheena was stunned, not expecting Elijah to remember the matter as she had long forgotten it. Elijah seemed to sense her thoughts and continued, ¡°Ever since | realized | truly liked and cared about you, I¡¯ve kept everything about your past in my heart.¡± Sheena remained silent, her expression unchanged. Elijah finished bandaging and approached d her, looking at her with hopeful eyes. ¡°Sheena, when you first entered the Freeman mansion six years ago, | wasn¡¯t there for you. Let me make it up to you this time. I¡¯ve prepared a lot of dishes. Will you have dinner with me?¡± Sheena¡¯s frown deepened, and her expression gradually turned serious. ¡°No.¡± Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Elijah was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting her to reject him so decisively. Sheena spoke firmly, ¡°My life was ruined from the day Old Man Freeman brought me into the Freeman mansion. Old Man Freeman showed me kindness but didn¡¯t trust me either. Faye falsely used me of stealing jewelry, and Wilfred sided with her. Old Man Freeman didn¡¯t say a word. Although | don¡¯t harbor resentment toward him for that incident, asking me to celebrate the day | entered the Freeman mansion is absolutely impossible!¡± Her gaze was icy to the core. It had been long since Elijah had seen her look at him with such eyes. Panicking, he apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, | didn¡¯t know it was like this...¡± Sheena did not direct her anger toward him. ¡°You were probably busy with work at the Freeman Group then. Not knowing is understandable, but there¡¯s no need for this dinner.¡± As she spoke, Sheena checked the time; it was alreadyte. After instructing Ford to take care of Elijah, she turned to leave. Elijah quickly grabbed her hand, asking, ¡°Sheena, do you know that Colin is going to propose to you tonight?¡± Sheena was unsurprised but still questioned, ¡°How do you know?¡± Elijah exined, ¡°He told me thest time he came to the Freeman Group looking for you. | think he¡¯s too soft-hearted. He might be a good friend but not a good husband, and being with him will make you sad!¡± Sheena shared Elijah¡¯s opinion on this matter. Colin¡¯s gentle nature extended not only to one person but everyone. However, hearing this reminder from Elijah felt ironic. ¡°Whether he is a good husband remains uncertain, but you certainly aren¡¯t one. So, what right do you have to say these things?¡± Elijah¡¯s face turned pale. After a long pause, he looked back at her and said, ¡°As your ex-husband, | failed in my duties and hurt you. I¡¯m sorry.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Sheena released his tightly gripped hand. ¡°No need to apologize. Once this one-year agreement is fulfilled, there will be no mutual obligations between us. We''ll be like two parallel lines that never cross.¡± Elijah¡¯s face grew increasingly paler. He watched helplessly as she freed herself and left the mansion, wondering if Sheena actually had feelings for Colin. Colin reserved an entire floor for the rooftop restaurant in Farlem¡¯s well-known D¡¯Ave Hotel. He adorned the entire space with 9,999 red roses and secretly hid the ring box within the birthday cake, 1/2 12 Chapter 257 2/2 Along table disyed exquisite gifts, each representingpensation for every birthday and holiday he had missed during the six years apart from Sheena. Colin meticulously checked every little surprise, ensuring there were no issues. He straightened his tie, intending to practice how to express himself. This marked his third confession to Sheena sinceing to Farlem for her. The previous two attempts were either too hasty or sabotaged by some meddlesome individuals. This time, he was determined to seed! Lost in his thoughts, Colin suddenly noticed a bodyguard in a suit approaching. ¡°Hello, Mr. Upton. | am Ms. Sheena¡¯s bodyguard.¡± ¡°Why haven''t | seen you before?¡± Logan smiled and said, ¡°I''m John. Ms. Sheena sent me out on a mission before. When you came to Ocean Avenuest time, Sawyer and Owen escorted you back.¡± ¡°Ah, | see.¡± Colin returned the smile. Seeing the young man¡¯s friendly appearance, Colin did not doubt him. Given Sheena¡¯s preference for good looks, he figured even her bodyguards would be handsome. Logan continued, ¡°Yes, Mr. Upton. Ms. Sheena said she has prepared a surprise birthday gift for you and would like you to go to the rooftop to see it.¡± Hearing that Sheena had prepared a gift for him, Colin was delighted. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s so thoughtful of her.¡± Colin followed Logan, and the two bodyguards apanying him tried to follow. Logan noticed and questioned, ¡°Ms. Sheena is waiting alone on the rooftop for you, Mr. Upton. Do you really need to bring bodyguards to dampen her surprise?¡± Chapter 258 Colin gave it a thought and realized it would not be appropriate to have two extra guests during such a romantic moment. ¡°You two wait here. It¡¯s just the rooftop. There shouldn''t be any problems.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Upton.¡± The elevator at D¡¯Ave Hotel could not directly reach the rooftop, so they had to use the escape corridor to ess the top floor. Logan opened the rooftop door and gestured with a bow. Colin returned the gesture with a polite smile and confidently walked in. To his surprise, the rooftop was empty, devoid of anything. ¡°Where''s Sheena? You tricked me!¡± He turned around to leave, and suddenly, a man dressed in a hotel staff uniform lunged at him, covering his mouth with a white cloth. Colin struggled briefly before being overpowered and brought down. The man in the hotel staff uniform removed his mask, revealing Lionel¡¯s face. Logan asked, ¡°Where should we take him?¡± Lionel thought for a moment, replying, ¡°Have the guys take the staff passage to the jetty and load him onto a cargo ship, preferably one heading out to sea. Mr. Freeman did say as far as possible.¡± Logan expressed concern, ¡°Is it safe to dump him on a cargo ship with nothing? After all, he¡¯s the heir of the Upton family.¡± Lionel gave him a light p, ¡°You worry for him? Do you think a healthy man like him can¡¯t find his way? And how long do you think we can hide it from the Upton family? He had the gall to call Ms. Sheena a divorcee. Tossing him on a cargo ship is letting him off easy.¡± ¡°What about the two Upton family bodyguards downstairs?¡± ¡°Til handle them.¡± With their roles assigned, the two men went their separate ways, initiating their respective actions. Sheena was on her way to the D¡¯Ave Hotel when her phone suddenly disyed a message from Colin. [Colin: Sheena, the Upton family has an urgent matter requiring my return. We''ll have to reschedule our dinner. I¡¯m sorry!] She found it strange for the Upton family to have such an urgent matter at thiste hour. Moreover, Colin was not the type to breakmitments. Thus, Sheena pulled over to the side of the road to call Colin. 212 However, the call went straight to voicemail with an automated message about the phone being switched off. Was he already on a ne? Without dwelling on it too much, Sheena turned the car around and headed back to Ocean Avenue. Elijah¡¯s joy at her return was evident when he saw her. Sheena found his attentiveness odd but did not pay it much attention. She casually ate a few bites for dinner and went upstairs to rest. The next day, they both headed to the office as usual. In the CEO¡¯s office at the Freeman Group, Sheena, Elijah, and Sarah were working on the detailed ns for the pre¡ªselection project against the Carver Group. John urgently knocked on the office door, shouting, ¡°Miss!¡± When he noticed Elijah and Sarah, he abruptly fell silent. Sheena sensed the concern in his eyes and, though puzzled, made up a quick excuse to have Elijah and Sarah step out. Once everyone was gone, Sheena asked, ¡°What''s going on?¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. John approached her and whispered, ¡°There¡¯s an urgent message from Farlem Women¡¯s Prison. Jennifer has gone missing!¡± Chapter 259 1/2 Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Jennifer has gone missing? Sheena frowned and asked, ¡°How could she just disappear from prison?¡± John shook his head. ¡°She vanished during the half-hour recreational time after dinner yesterday as if she vanished into thin air. No traces left.¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No traces?¡± Sheena chuckled. ¡°A person can¡¯t just vanish into thin air. How is it possible not to find any leads? We need a thorough investigation! Check everyone who recently visited her, how long they stayed, and leave no detail unexamined!¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lawson!¡± ¡°Wait.¡± As John was about to leave, Sheena stopped him, her expression grave as she added, ¡°Also, check all recent visitation records for Lionel.¡± ¡°Are you suspecting...¡± John did not finish his sentence. Sheena¡¯s gaze grew colder. Hopefully, she was just overthinking. That afternoon, heavy rain poured down. As the day neared sunset, the rain intensified rather than subsided, sttering on the window. The weather was dreadfully gloomy as if silently conveying something. Sheena stood by the full-length window, watching the rain with an unreadable expression. John spent the entire day investigating and returned to report to Sheena in thete evening. ¡°Ms. Lawson, I¡¯ve thoroughly checked all records. In the past half month, only one person visited both Jennifer and Leon.¡± Sheena¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Lionel O¡¯Connor.¡± John handed her the documents respectfully. ¡°Moreover, not long ago, Leon also disappeared from the prison for an hour. Heter imed to have mistakenly entered the freezer and was locked inside when the staff left, but...¡± ¡°But what?¡± ¡°But when he was found, he was covered in blood, with injuries resembling those from whips orshes. Both Leon and Lionel seem to be Mr. Freeman''s subordinates.¡± Sheena questioned, ¡°Why are you only reporting this now?¡± ¡°Because at that time, we thought it was really just an idental locking in the freezer due to a feud with one of the gang leaders in the prison. Since Leon wasn¡¯t missing, everyone thought there was no major problem.¡± The presence of a weapon capable of causing harm, like a whip, in the prison was suspicious. Clearly, someone orchestrated this, having Leon taken out and brought back. 2/2 Sheena suddenly recalled Elijah¡¯s unusual behavior yesterday afternoon when she returned to him. Was he intentionally dying her to keep her from discovering Jennifer¡¯s disappearance? She checked the investigation report and found that Jennifer mysteriously vanished during that time. Could it be just a coincidence? When she returned to Elijah, he seemed overjoyed. Was he celebrating Jennifer''s sessful escape from prison? Sheena scoffed. She thought Elijah had genuinely repented in recent times. Unfortunately, it was all a ploy to divert her attention and facilitate Jennifer''s escape. Were those words about facing the consequences just nonsense? Was he exempting Jennifer from any wrongdoing? Unbelievable! The more Sheena thought about it, the angrier she became, and she furiously overturned a stack of files on the table. With a loud crash, the room was a mess. ¡°Ms. Lawson...¡± John, witnessing her furious outburst for the first time, took two steps back in fear. Sheen ordered, ¡°We''re going back to the mansion!¡± John took on the driver¡¯s role willingly to prevent her from speeding due to her anger. The rain poured heavily on the car window, creating a loud and annoying noise. The rain did not extinguish the anger in Sheena¡¯s heart; instead, it burned even more intensely. Arriving at the mansion, John was about to take an umbre and help her open the car door when he saw her leaving the car and walking directly into the garden in the rain. John was frightened and hurriedly caught up, shouting, ¡°Ms. Lawson! Use an umbre! Don¡¯t catch a cold!¡± In the mansion, Elijah was cooking in the kitchen. He was taken by surprise when he heard John¡¯s shout. Checking the time, he realized that Sheena was twenty minutes earlier today. He was delighted, cleaned his hands after chopping vegetables, and came out to greet her. Chapter 260 Chapter 260 1/2 As Elijah walked out, he noticed her walking inpletely soaked. Then, he quickly went to the bathroom, grabbed a clean towel, and began to help her dry off. ¡°Did you forget to bring an umbre? How did you end uping back in the rain? The weather has been getting coldertely. Don¡¯t catch a cold. I¡¯ll make you some soupter, okay?¡± Sheena remained silent, observing him closely. She watched him express concern with no signs of embarrassment or hesitation. Moreover, the affection and love in his eyes were unmistakable. Using affection as a guise to lower her guard, all to save Jennifer.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. What a cunning strategy! What a convincing act! Elijah noticed that the atmosphere around her was bing increasingly tense, and he asked, ¡® Sheena, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Sheena smiled, her gaze, however, exuded a coldness. ¡°The fallen leaves in the garden are too many. Go clean them up.¡± Elijah looked outside. ¡°But it¡¯s raining heavily...¡± ¡°Clean them up, and thene inside.¡± Sheena ignored his words and went upstairs. Elijah felt that her mood tonight was off. Was something bothering her, and she wanted to take it out on him? 11 Helpless, he chuckled and went to the backyard to grab a broom, starting to sweep away the fallen leaves. Within five minutes of rushing into the rain, he waspletely drenched. With winter approaching, the leaves fell aggressively, especially in heavy rain, making it impossible to clean them all. Sheena stood on the third¡ªfloor balcony, watching numbly. If Elijah truly loved Jennifer, he could have rescued her from prison from the beginning. They could have been direct enemies, shing openly, and she could have epted his indifference or even hatred toward her. However, he should not deceive her under the guise of repaying a debt while iming to love her. It was utterly shameless! Sheena clenched her fists tightly, a burning anger roaring within her. She called Ford into the room, and they stood together on the balcony, watching Elijah sweep the fallen leaves in the garden, Without waiting for Sheena to speak, Ford expressed concern, ¡°Ms. Lawson, Mr. Freeman injured his back yesterday, and this rain is too cold. His body might not endure it for long.¡± 2/2 Sheena stared intensely at Elijah and sneered. ¡°Does he look like someone with a back injury?¡± ¡°Miss, what do you mean?¡± Sheena did not answer, continuing to ask, ¡°When he got injured yesterday, did you see his wound?¡± Ford thought for a moment and admitted, ¡°No, Mr. Freeman called me into the room. When | entered, his wound was already halfway bandaged. It was bleeding, but it shouldn''t... be fake, right?¡± Could it be fake? ¡°Let him stand in the rain for another hour. If he still can¡¯t clean everything up, let hime in.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± The rain was heavy, blurring one¡¯s vision. Although Elijah kept his head down, he could sense a constant gaze on him, whichsted a while. It must be Sheena. However, she was colder than ever before. Could it be that she found out about him arranging Colin¡¯s disappearance? Lost in thought, Elijah unknowingly continued to sweep the fallen leaves outside for a full hour. It was not until Ford came out, telling him to go to Sheena¡¯s room, that he snapped back to reality and returned the broom to the backyard. Before entering the house, he hesitated. Elijah¡¯s clothes were too wet, and he was dripping water everywhere. He did not want to dirty the floor that had just been cleaned, especially Sheena¡¯s room. So, he chose to stand at the doorway, wringing out the water from his clothes and pants before entering. He also used the same towel that had just wiped Sheena¡¯s clothes to dry his hair hastily. Elijah appeared as if he had just taken a shower, his short hair neat and clean, the white shirt clinging to his body, revealing well- defined abdominal muscles. However, due to the rain, his lips were slightly pale, making him look sickly and fragile. Ford stood silently on the side, observing Elijah as he meticulously arranged every detail of his appearance. Ford could not help but sigh quietly. Elijah had no idea what awaited him shortly. Chapter 261 Elijah noticed Ford sighing and asked, ¡°Ford, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I''m fine.¡± Ford hesitated before adding, ¡°Mr. Freeman, | won¡¯t join you upstairs.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Elijah did not dy and went straight upstairs. Upon opening the door, Elijah quickly sensed the tense atmosphere and was met with a pair of cold, murderous eyes. ¡°Sheena, it¡¯s already 8 p.m. Are you hungry? Has the recent pressure from bothpanies taken a toll on you? What¡¯s bothering you?¡± Elijah¡¯s tone was gentle, with a hint of hope. Sheena, with a forced smile, waved him over. ¡°Come here, get closer.¡± Elijah obediently walked over, standing in front of her. Before he could squat down, Sheena grabbed his white shirt and forcefully opened it, exposing the bandages wrapped around his waist. Elijah was startled. ¡°Sheena, you...¡± Sheena did not listen to him but continued to cruelly pull apart the thick bandages he had wrapped around himself. Apart from a long scar on his waist, there were no new wounds. She mocked, ¡°Weren''t you injured yesterday? Why was the wound scabbed today? | didn¡¯t know you had a natural healing ability!¡± This statement hit Elijah hard. He had already warned Lionel that they would not be able to hide this matter from Sheena for long! Sheena, who detested deception, caught him red-handed this time. Almost instantly, Elijah dropped to his knees at Sheena¡¯s feet and pleaded, ¡°Sheena, | was wrong. | didn¡¯t mean to deceive you.¡± When Elijah used this tone in the past, Sheena knew he was putting on an act but did not bother exposing him. Today, seeing him still resorting to such behavior, she felt nothing but disgust, and her anger was close to consuming her rationality. Sheposed her emotions and asked, ¡°Were you nning to get rid of that person by faking your injury?¡± She was too disgusted to even mention Jennifer''s name.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Elijah was taken aback, thinking Sheena had found out about Colin. That was quick... ¡°You already found out everything.¡± Since he was caught, Elijah had no intention of hiding anything. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. | just felt that person was unworthy of you.¡± Chapter 261 2/2 Sheena was stunned that he openly admitted it, acknowledging that he had deceived her during this time. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®that person was unworthy of me¡®?¡± Sheena clenched her fists, suppressing her anger. She sneered, ¡°Elijah, you''re really amusing. Are you trying to say that person is not worthy of my attention? So, you want to send that person away, far away, to a ce where I''ll never see them again?¡± Elijah felt her statement was strange, but he could not pinpoint exactly what was odd because, in essence, he did have such intentions. Seeing him remain silent, Sheena, holding back her fury, asked, ¡°Where is that person?¡± Elijah still did not speak. Lionel had casually sent Colin on an export cargo ship, and who knew which country he ended up in. Thus, Elijah shook his head. Even though he was telling the truth, Sheena did not see it that way. Silence was a form of resistance! For thest time, Sheena patiently looked down at the man kneeling at her feet. ¡°Elijah, you know me. Regardless of how much you''ve hidden or whether you can manipte things outside like a puppet master, you¡¯re my servant as long as you''re in this house. You should obey me. Even disobedient pets receive punishment, let alone you. What do you say?¡± Her icy gaze looked at him like an unruly pet. ¡°I''ll ask you one more time. Where is that person?¡± Elijah raised his head to meet her gaze. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 262 Noticing her icy stare, Elijah suddenly felt extremely ufortable. Did it mean she would punish him for Colin¡¯s sake? So, did she genuinely like Colin? Elijah¡¯s heart throbbed painfully. ¡°| don¡¯t know!¡± Elijah said, his eyes reddening, looking at her with utmost seriousness. ¡°Is it because you like that person so much that you want to punish me for what | did to that person? | only sent that person away!¡± Sheena burst intoughter. It was the first time she had seen someone shamelessly continue to lie like this. ¡°Elijah, it¡¯s clear that you like that person! How could you bear to bring that person harm? Aren''t you disgusted by your own act?¡± Elijah was utterly confused. How could he possibly like Colin?Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°| only like women! Moreover, | only like you! Everything | did during this time was sincere. Can¡¯t you see that?¡± Even though Elijah was on his knees, looking up at Sheena when he shouted, his momentum was fierce, showing no signs of surrender. Sheena was somewhat impressed by his skill in ying dumb, but she did not have the patience to listen to Elijah further, so she stood up and walked to the window. The rain outside was still pouring heavily, creating a loud sound as it hit the eaves and the stone bs, as noisy as the voice of a certain man in the room. She narrowed her eyes, unable to suppress her anger any longer. ¡°The rain tonight is magnificent. Since you insist on not speaking, kneel in the garden and enjoy the rain. Rise only when you''re ready to tell the truth.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elijah was dumbfounded. If he knelt in the garden, all the bodyguards would see him! Was she trampling on his dignity, for Colin''s sake? Sheena numbly watched the raindrops creating lines on the window. ¡°Do you remember when Faye wrongly used me of stealing jewelry? Although Erin repaid the debt, she knelt for less than half an hour. The duration is too short, so kneel and compensate for that time.¡± Elijah had always felt remorse about this matter. ¡°Fine,¡± he said, supporting his knees and standing up. ¡°But | kneel because | owe you, the Freeman Chapter 262 2/2 family owes you. | do it for you, not because | think | did something wrong. Even if it happens again, | will still send that person away.¡± This statement ignited Sheena¡¯s anger to the extreme. She exploded, ¡°Get out and kneel!¡± Elijah straightened his back and walked out. Sheena stood by the window, watching. As Elijah reached the spot in the garden beneath her window, he knelt on the stone bs without hesitation. Despite the rain and the cold wind, he showed no signs of submission. The heavy rain, apanied by a chill, soaked him entirely. Each raindrop felt like a painfulsh whenever it hit his shoulders and head. He struggled to lift his head, looking toward the third¡ªfloor window. His longshes were coated with droplets, turning his vision slightly blurry. Sheena¡¯s room was lit, and she stood by the window. Due to the backlighting, Elijah could not see her face, but he keenly felt her gaze on him. However, her gaze was as cold as the impending winter rain With the punishment epted, could they turn the page on this matter? Could they return to the harmonious days beforest night? Elijah knelt there, bored, his mind wandering. The pain in his knees became piercing, and his legs started feeling numb. Soon, he started to slouch slightly, unable to straighten his back as before. The uneven stone bs felt like thousands of needles stabbing into his knees. Suddenly, he remembered that Sheena had knelt like this in the Freeman family. Did she feel the same sense of helplessness and injustice back then? Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Thinking about those things, Elijah¡¯s difort lessened. Those were the paths Sheena had once walked in the Freeman family, and now he was just retracing them. However, he still could not help but wonder if everything could return to the beginning once everything was repaid. With this thought, Elijah clenched his fists, forced himself to hold on, and adjusted his kneeling posture to be more standard. In thiste-night downpour, he had been kneeling in the garden for two hours while Sheena stood by the window, watching for the same duration. Since the incident when Sheena was drugged, the bodyguards had a rule of taking turns to watch during thete hours. It was Ford¡¯s duty tonight, and he hid in the shadows, observing the man in the garden. Despite Elijah¡¯s weakened condition due to the effects of the modified serum, he remained unwavering from the beginning. Even though he was swaying now and then, his posture remained straight. Ford could not help but admire Elijah. Despite kneeling, Elijah still exuded a sense of dignity that prevented anyone from looking down on him. Ford could not bear to witness the breaking of such pride. After many dilemmas, he quietly entered the mansion and knocked on Sheena¡¯s door. ¡°Come in.¡± Ford walked in and stood not far behind Sheena. Sheena did not turn around, her gaze fixed on the man kneeling in the garden, her expression indifferent. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ford nervously responded, ¡°Ms. Lawson, with Mr. Freeman¡¯s current physical condition, he might get sick.¡± Sheena sneered, ¡°So what? | didn¡¯t force him to kneel this time. He enjoys deceiving me under the disguise of repaying me, so let him y his part.¡± ¡°Ms. Lawson...¡± ¡°Leave.¡± Sheena shut the curtains and headed straight to the bathroom to prepare for sleep. Ford sighed and had no choice but to exit, returning to his post. 212 The rain continued throughout the night, only gradually easing up toward dawn. Elijah had lost track of how long he had been kneeling. All he knew was that his knees down to his shins were numb, and his entire body felt cold and devoid of sensation. Even though the rain had stopped, the wind against his face still stung like a knife. When Ford emerged, he was surprised to find Elijah still persisting. ¡°Mr. Freeman, it¡¯s time to get up. Was it enough? Elijah¡¯s pale lips involuntarily twitched. If Ford was telling him to get up, did that mean the ordeal was over? Would he finally be free of his debts? Attempting to rise, Elijah felt the sudden release of the tension he had been holding. His head began to grow heavier, and his vision gradually faded. ¡°Mr. Freeman? Mr. Freeman!¡± Ford felt Elijah¡¯s forehead, which was rmingly hot. Even though he had passed out, Elijah¡¯s body continued to shiver uncontrobly. After a night in the rain, he was running a high fever! Ford promptly took him back to his room and went upstairs to consult Sheena. Sheena had just woken up and wasbing her hair at the dressing table. Upon learning that Elijah had passed out while kneeling, Sheena paused for a moment. However, she quickly continuedbing, saying indifferently, ¡°Got it. Get a doctor to check on him.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lawson.¡± After the doctor arrived, Elijah was prescribed antipyretics and given an injection to bring down his temperature. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 264 An hourter, Sheena estimated that Elijah was about to wake up and entered his room. She had a chair brought in by the bodyguards and sat beside his bed, waiting with an unreadable expression. Elijah woke up in a haze, his vision still blurry. However, as he turned his head, he caught sight of the familiar figure by the bedside and instinctively grabbed her wrist. ¡°Sheena, have you forgiven me?¡± His fever had notpletely subsided, and his touch was radiating warmth. Sheena frowned but did not pull away from his grip. However, her eyes carried a strong sense of disgust. ¡°I''ll ask you onest time. Where did you send that person?¡± Upon hearing this, Elijah¡¯s grip slowly loosened. Seemingly angered, he turned over, facing away from her, closed his eyes, and pretended to be asleep as if intentionally ignoring her words. Sheena¡¯s patience had beenpletely depleted. ¡°Since you¡¯re so stubborn and won¡¯t speak, | won¡¯t waste any more time. You sent that person away, and I¡¯ll make you pay. Why don¡¯t you endure the punishment for their sins?¡± After saying this, she called out, ¡°Ford, John,e in!¡± The two men entered the room obediently. Sheena smirked and ordered, ¡°Take him to the prison, and make sure to pay him extra attention!¡± Ford immediately stepped forward, pleading, ¡°Ms. Lawson, you shouldn¡¯t do this! With Mr. Freeman¡¯s current health condition, he won¡¯t survive more than three days there!¡± Sheena red at him. ¡°Fine, then you go in his ce. I''ll give you extra attention too.¡± Ford hesitated, and suddenly, his sympathy was suppressed. Reluctantly, he followed John to pull Elijah out of bed. Elijah¡¯s body was still burning with fever. When he was half¡ªasleep with his back to Sheena, he vaguely heard her mention prison. As Ford and John approached, he broke free from their grasp, adamantly refusing to get out of bed. He looked at Sheena with a bewildered expression. ¡°I just sent Colin out of the country. | didn¡¯t send him to prison. Whose punishment am | supposed to bear?¡± Sheena chuckled coldly. ¡°What does Colin have to do with this? Do you think you can divert the issue by bringing up unrted matters? Take him away!¡± Elijah was stunned, quickly realizing he might have misunderstood something from the previous night. Just as Ford and John received the order and forcibly pulled him off the bed, he strategically leaned in Sheena¡¯s direction, ending up sprawling at her feet. Sheena instinctively moved her feet backward. Chapter 264 212 Elijah missed his mark, looked up, and spoke earnestly, ¡°Although I¡¯m not sure which incident you''re referring to, besides the Colin matter, | haven¡¯t done anything else!¡± Sheena gritted her teeth, pinching his cheek and reminding him word by word, ¡°Last night, you admitted to taking Jennifer away. Now, you deny it. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s toote?¡± ¡°Jennifer?¡± Elijah was confused. ¡°Isn''t she in prison?¡± Sheena pursed her lips, choosing not to respond, her gaze still ice-cold, as if waiting to see how long he could keep up the act. Elijah knew she did not believe him, so he continued, ¡°Sheena, | didn¡¯t do this. The reason | wanted a divorce before was because | mistakenly thought the girl who saved me thirteen years ago was Jennifer. Later, | found out it wasn¡¯t her. | even asked you once, don¡¯t you remember?¡± Sheena thought for a moment. It seemed to be rted to the incident when Jennifer was severely injured and hospitalized. He defended her in front of the media and asked about that old matter.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Elijah stared at her with teary eyes and replied, ¡°Since then, | knew Jennifer had deceived me. Recently, | found out that you were the girl who saved me. So, Sheena, believe me, everything I¡¯ve done during this time has been sincere.¡± He coughed twice, adding, ¡°I just didn¡¯t like that Colin was going to propose to youst night, so | quietly took him away. | genuinely did not know about the Jennifer incident!¡± Sheena, observing his earnestness and recalling the peculiarities of the previous night with Colin, began to consider whether the two incidents were just a coincidence. 2/2 Elijah missed his mark, looked up, and spoke earnestly, ¡°Although I¡¯m not sure which incident you''re referring to, besides the Colin matter, | haven¡¯t done anything else!¡± Sheena gritted her teeth, pinching his cheek and reminding him word by word, ¡°Last night, you admitted to taking Jennifer away. Now, you deny it. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s toote?¡± ¡°Jennifer?¡± Elijah was confused. ¡°Isn¡¯t she in prison?¡± Sheena pursed her lips, choosing not to respond, her gaze still ice-cold, as if waiting to see how long he could keep up the act. Elijah knew she did not believe him, so he continued, ¡°Sheena, | didn¡¯t do this. The reason | wanted a divorce before was because | mistakenly thought the girl who saved me thirteen years ago was Jennifer. Later, | found out it wasn¡¯t her. | even asked you once, don¡¯t you remember?¡± Sheena thought for a moment. It seemed to be rted to the incident when Jennifer was severely injured and hospitalized. He defended her in front of the media and asked about that old matter. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Elijah stared at her with teary eyes and replied, ¡°Since then, | knew Jennifer had deceived me. Recently, | found out that you were the girl who saved me. So, Sheena, believe me, everything I¡¯ve done during this time has been sincere.¡± He coughed twice, adding, ¡°I just didn¡¯t like that Colin was going to propose to youst night, so | quietly took him away. | genuinely did not know about the Jennifer incident!¡± Sheena, observing his earnestness and recalling the peculiarities of the previous night with Colin, began to consider whether the two incidents were just a coincidence. Chapter 265 Chapter 265 If it really was not Elijah, then this matter was not as simple as it seemed. Sheena started to contemte the incident, and even though there was a hint of suspicion when she looked at Elijah, she squeezed his cheek forcefully. ¡°I''ll believe you this time. If | catch you lying to me again, I''ll throw you into prison immediately. Let¡¯s see how long you can endure in there and how soon your subordinates can get you out,¡± Sheena warned, retracting her hand. Elijah slumped to the floor,pletely drained. He wanted to speak, but suddenly, a sweet, metallic taste surged up his throat, choking him. It felt like his lungs were about to be coughed up. He was not afraid of going to jail. Even if Sheena threw him in, there were not many inside who dared to cross him. However, he did not want Sheena to continue misunderstanding him. ¡°If | lie... Pll suffer horribly,¡± Elijah managed to say between coughs. Sheena nced at him disdainfully. Elijah¡¯s face had turned pale from coughing, and he still had a fever. In moments of difort, he looked particrly agonized. Whether it was due to the modified serum or not, Elijah appeared like someone who had been chronically ill and never fully recovered. Seeing him in this miserable state, even Ford and John felt a twinge of sympathy. Sheena, however, remained expressionless. When she stared at Elijah, it was unclear what thoughts crossed her mind. After a while, she turned to Ford and John, saying, ¡°Which one of you is going to prepare some chicken soup for him and bring it over?¡± Ford and John exchanged helpless nces. ¡°Miss, we can fight, but we never learned how to cook,¡± Ford confessed. John echoed, ¡°I don¡¯t know how either, really!¡± Sheena was speechless. Maybe she should hire a few bodyguards with some cooking skills next time? She nced back at the person on the floor, contemting whether to tell him to handle it himself. The person seemed to notice her gaze and suddenly coughed even more forcefully, sounding pitiable. ¡°Alright, you guys help him back to bed. I''ll go cook,¡± Sheena instructed. ¡°Yes, Ms. Lawson.¡± After giving orders, Sheena headed downstairs and found the ingredients in the fridge. She immediately started to prepare the chicken soup. Once John helped Elijah back to bed, he joined her in the kitchen. 22 ¡°Ms. Lawson, do you believe Mr. Freeman''s words?¡± John asked. ¡°Not entirely. | only trust the final evidence. If it''s really not him, there will always be clues,¡± Sheena replied, ¡°Since he imed to have sent away Colin, investigate this matter further and see if it aligns with his story.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± John nodded and continued, ¡°Actually, | trust Mr. Freeman. From his ability to get Leon out of prison and back without anyone noticing, he must have formidable power behind him. Taking Jennifer away would have been easy for him. If he truly wanted to take her away, he would have done it long ago.¡± ¡°And then taking Jennifer to a small country by sea would make her almost impossible to find. So, he had no reason to stay in the mansion after finishing that task, risking being discovered by you,¡± JohnOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org. reasoned. Sheena remained silent. Yesterday, she was fueled by anger, and Elijah misinterpreted her words, readily admitting fault without delving deeper into the details. Now, upon careful consideration, there were indeed many loopholes in the story. If it was not him, then who could it be? Asudden thought crossed Sheena¡¯s mind. Could it be the person from the Lawson family who harmed her? If so, when did they discover she was alive, and how did they know she was in Farlem? Why would they release Jennifer from prison, and what was their next move? Chapter 266 Sheena was deep in thought while sauteing the vegetables in butter to soften them when John suddenly looked horrified. ¡°Ms. Lawson! The vegetables! The vegetables!¡± John eximed. Sheena was puzzled. ¡°They''re burnt! The vegetables are burnt!¡± Sheena quickly caught a whiff of the smell, and she finally realized what had happened, immediately turning off the heat. Fortunately, they were only slightly burnt, and after adding chicken stock and other ingredients, the soup should still be drinkable. She instructed John to investigate the matter as per her previous orders and then took a small bow! from the cupboard. As she went upstairs with the chicken soup, she noticed that Elijah¡¯s door was notpletely closed, leaving a gap. She was about to push the door open but glimpsed Elijah rolling up his pant leg, applying medicine to his knees through the crack. His skin had be fragile, and after kneelingst night, his entire knees to the calves were injured and discolored, covered in bruises. Sheena frowned. Though he had knelt for a simr duration as she had initially, his knee injuries seemed much more severe. Since signing the agreement with her, she could not remember how many times he had voluntarily or involuntarily knelt, and the injuries on his body never seemed to heal. Was the once fierce and proud lion truly tamed by her?Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Yet, why did she not feel pleased about it? Shaking off her thoughts, Sheena pushed the door open. Elijah saw her, lowered his pant leg, covered himself with the nket, and leaned against the bedhead, waiting for her. She sat on the chair beside his bed, holding the bowl of chicken soup, gracefully stirring it with a spoon, and blowing gently to cool it down. Elijah¡¯s gaze was intense, and his heart fluttered. He licked his pale lips, eyes filled with anticipation, obediently waiting for her to feed him. Sheena noticed his gaze but continued to blow on the soup indifferently. Sensing that the soup had cooled, she handed him the bowl and spoon. Elijah hesitated, not reaching out to take them. ¡°| won''t feed you.¡± Sheena¡¯s tone was icy. Chapter 266 2/2 Apang of pain struck Elijah¡¯s heart, suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of disappointment and frustration. He did not take the bowl, and his eyes slightly reddened as he looked at her. ¡°It hurts, and | can¡¯t eat on my own.¡± Sheena mercilessly exposed his melodrama, ¡°You injured your knees, not your hands. Why can¡¯t you eat?¡± Elijah was indignant. ¡°But | have a fever, and I¡¯m dizzy.¡± Sheena¡¯s expression remained cold. ¡°You''re speaking so clearly, so you''re not that sick. Keep whining and I''ll take the soup away.¡± She moved to get up, intending to take the chicken soup with her. Elijah quickly snatched the bowl from her hands. Even though he could not get fed by her, she still prepared the chicken soup, and not drinking it would be a loss. However, when he took a sip of the chicken soup, he nearly spat it out on the spot. ¡°Why does it taste burnt?¡± Sheena felt a bit embarrassed. Could she admit she had forgotten about the cooking as she was pondering Jennifer¡¯s situation? ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, don¡¯t drink it. You can cook for yourselfter.¡± Sheena reached for the bowl. Elijah dodged to the side, not letting her take it away, protective of his food. Under Sheena¡¯s gaze, he gulped down the entire bowl of chicken soup. The taste was unpleasant due to the burnt vor, but Elijah endured the urge to gag as he proudly showed her the empty bowl. Knowing it was not delicious, Sheena frowned slightly and shifted her attention to the next step. She pulled out a paper already printed by Ford and handed it to him with a neutral expression. ¡°Take a look and sign it.¡± Elijah took the paper. After reading the content, he was furious. ¡°Are you trying to terminate our employment agreement?¡± Chapter 267 Chapter 267 ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct,¡± Sheena replied calmly. Seeing Elijah¡¯s strong reaction, she continued, ¡°I roughly calcted it, and it seems your debts are almost settled. Shouldn¡¯t you be happy to terminate the agreement? You can continue being the young master of the Freeman family,¡± Although she phrased it this way, she believed clearing his debt to her had always been his goal. However... ¡°Before, you said that once the debt was repaid, we would go our separate ways, like strangers. Is that true?¡± Sheena replied seriously, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then | won''t sign. You also mentioned one year counting as three, and it¡¯s only been a little over two weeks. | haven''t fully repaid the debt yet!¡± Frowning, Elijah returned the termination agreement to her, but Sheena did not take it. Her expression turned cold again as she scolded, ¡°Elijah, don¡¯t be unreasonable. Sign it!¡± Feeling bothered by her stern tone, Elijah moved toward her, holding her delicate wrist, and spoke with uncertainty. ¡°Are you still angry at me for getting rid of Colin and pretending to be injured to deceive you? Sheena, | promise | won''t lie to you again. Besides, you already punished mest night, and I¡¯ve been wrongly used in Jennifer¡¯s matter. Our faults should cancel each other out. Please don¡¯t be mad...¡± 1 Sheena freed her hand from his grip. ¡°I¡¯m not angry. It¡¯s because I¡¯m rational that | believe it¡¯s time to let go. We should lead peaceful lives separately. It¡¯s better for both of us.¡± Since she was not angry, did it mean he could no longer evoke any emotions from her? Did this indicate that she no longer cared about him anymore, devoid of resentment and disgust? Elijah felt quite frustrated. ¡°You should still be angry because | won¡¯t let you go. | won¡¯t sign this termination agreement.¡± ¡°Elijah!¡± Sheena frowned, ring at him. ¡°I¡¯m informing you, not asking for your opinion. Whether you want to or not, you''ll sign.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Elijah tore the paper into pieces right in front of her, scattering the shredded paper into the air like a flurry of white snow. Agreeing to sign the divorce papers had been the biggest regret of his life. This time, he would not let himself regret it again!Original content from N?velDrama.Org. He stubbornly locked eyes with her, purposely provoking her. ¡°I tore it up. Are you mad? If you have the guts, let John and Sawyere in and beat me up. Even if they beat me half to death, as long as | have a breath left, | won''t sign!¡± Chapter 267 2/2 Some bits of shredded paper fell onto Sheena¡¯s head, triggering an inexplicable rage that shot straight to her forehead. ¡°Fine! Alright! Do you enjoy punishment?¡± Sheena ground her teeth, took a deep breath, and suppressed the urge to w him directly. ¡°You better pray your illness heals slowly while my temper cools quickly. Otherwise, | can¡¯t guarantee what John and the others might do to you!¡± After saying this, she stood up, nced at him disdainfully, and left the room. Seeing that Sheena was genuinely angry, Elijah felt a bit uneasy. Getting beaten up would hurt, and he was not a masochist. However, signing the paper was absolutely out of the question! At the Carver mansion, Bethany sat in the study, reviewing reports. A servant brought her coffee, and in her moment of anger, she flipped everything off the desk with a swift motion. Startled by her sudden outburst, the servant¡¯s hands trembled, and the coffee identally spilled on the floor, shattering the cup. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Carver! | didn¡¯t mean to!¡± Bethany red at the servant for aggravating her already foul mood. ¡°You can¡¯t even carry coffee properly. What use are you to me? Pack your stuff and disappear from my sight forever!¡± The servant turned pale, pleading through tears. ¡°Miss, I¡¯m sorry! It was an honest mistake! Please don¡¯t dismiss me. | need this job! I¡¯m begging you!¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Themotion alerted the butler outside, and he hurried in, dragging the tearful servant out. With the room finally quiet, Bethany took out her phone and dialed a number. The Freeman Group had rebounded too quickly, and Sheena had moved against her swiftly. During this time, all of Carver Group''s ongoing businesses faced suppression, and the pre¡ªcollected projects were snatched by either the Freeman Group or Serene Real Estate Limited. This resulted in a significant drop in the Carver Group''s revenue. Bethany was infuriated. She had spent a fortune investigating Sheena¡¯s background, yet there had been no response. Just as she was contemting, the call connected. ¡°Ms. Carver, we¡¯ve checked three times. She is indeed an orphan from the Farlem Orphanage, without parents or any other rtives.¡± Bethany could not believe it. ¡°What about before she was sent to the orphanage? What happened before that? How could she be Jean¡¯s mentor if she never left the orphanage? How the hell are you handling this investigation?¡± ¡°I''m sorry, Ms. Carver. We''ve done our best, and this is the result.¡± Bethany angrily hung up the phone, grabbed a cup from the table, and threw it against the wall. Who the hell was this bitch? She had sent out so many people and still could not find out about her identity! Bethany slumped in her chair, filled with anger and frustration. If she could not uncover Sheena¡¯s identity, she would not know her secrets and could not continue the fight. However, she could not just watch Sheena destroy the Carver Group! Bethany was at a loss when the butler suddenly knocked on the door. ¡°Miss, there¡¯s someone outside looking for you. He ims to be from Svelton¡¯s Lawson family.¡± She massaged her temples, feeling dizzy from the frustration. ¡°The Lawson family? | don¡¯t know them. | don¡¯t want to see anyone.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The butler bowed, about to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± Bethany called him back. Why would someone from the Lawson familye to her? After some consideration, Bethany decided to meet with that person. ¡°This room is too messy, and we can¡¯t leave a bad impression on the distinguished guest. Take him to Chapter 268 2/2 the most secluded small meeting room,¡± she instructed. After giving the orders, Bethany returned to her room, changed into an elegant outfit, and applied makeup before heading to the meeting room. She pushed open the door, and the man was already waiting inside. He was a tall and sturdy man, appearing to be around 190 centimeters. He was rather handsome and was dressed in a ck suit. Noticing her entrance, the man smiled slightly and greeted her, ¡°Hello, Ms. Carver.¡± Bethany nodded in courtesy and curiously asked, ¡°I wonder which member of the Lawson family you are?¡± The man smiled and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know my identity. You just need to know that I¡¯m here to help you.¡± ¡°Help me?¡± Bethany was puzzled. ¡°Although my Carver family is far inferior to the Lawson family, we still have some standing in the Farlem elite circle. | don¡¯t have much to worry about. What would | need help with?¡± The man directly revealed, ¡°Ms. Carver, there¡¯s no need to pretend. My master knows you''ve been struggling with the Freeman Group and someone elsetely. That¡¯s why he specifically sent me to help you.¡± Bethany found it hard to believe. Howard was so nice to Sheena. Did someone from the Lawson family really want to make things difficult for her? ¡°Your master?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the man nodded and continued, ¡°To show my sincerity, | brought you a gift, and I¡¯m sure you''ll like it.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. He pped his hands, and someone immediately brought in arge sack. Bethany approached it suspiciously, opened it, and was instantly frightened, turning pale as she stumbled backward. Chapter 269 ¡°Ah! This is...¡± It was an unconscious woman with disheveled hair covering her face, emitting a sour smell. Her arms. and legs were covered in bruises, indicating previous abuse. Bethany looked up at the man with a bewildered expression. The man remained silent, only smiling, but that smile held a deeper meaning. Bethany covered her nose and mouth, suppressing the urge to vomit, and lifted the woman¡¯s tangled hair. ¡°I-Isn¡¯t this... Jennifer Moore?¡± Was she not sent to prison by Sheena? Rumor had it she was sentenced to ten years, so how could she be out so soon?Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Her marriage arrangement with the Freeman family was canceled, and the Moore family severed ties with her. Now, she¡¯s nothing but a useless person. What use could she have?¡± The man continued to smile mysteriously. ¡°You''ll find out soon.¡± In the following days, Elijah focused on recovering, and Sheena was busy with work at thepany. Although they lived in the same mansion, they rarely saw each other. The next day, after getting ready, Sheena smelled the delicious aroma of food as she walked down the stairs. Later, she found that breakfast was neatly arranged in the dining room, still steaming. Sheena smirked. Someone''s cooking skills had improved rapidly. Approaching the kitchen, she found it empty, with no sign of anyone. She called for Ford and asked, ¡°Where''s Elijah?¡± ¡°Ms. Lawson, Mr. Freeman got up early this morning, prepared breakfast for you, and then went to work at the Freeman Group.¡± Sheena chuckled. Was he avoiding her because he knew he was almost fully healed, and she might confront him? Shaking her head with a smile, she ate a few bites of breakfast and headed to Angle Group. Just as she settled into her office chair, John knocked on the door, ready to report the investigation results. ¡°Ms. Lawson, Mr. Freeman wasn¡¯t lying. Mr. Upton was indeed taken away from D¡¯Ave Hotel and casually thrown onto a cargo ship at the pier. As for his current whereabouts, that¡¯s a bit challenging to trace.¡± He paused, then continued, ¡°Although the surveince at D¡¯Ave Hotel within that time frame was Chapter 269 2/2 compromised, | stumbled upon a familiar face that was identally left undeleted.¡± He handed Sheena a photo cropped from the surveince footage. ¡°Despite the person wearing a mask, don¡¯t you think the features resemble Lionel?¡± Sheena took the photo and examined it carefully. Since Lionel had been working as Elijah¡¯s assistant for the past few weeks, they had worked together asionally. Sheena had seen him a few times and had a vague impression. If it were indeed Lionel, it would likely rule out Elijah¡¯s involvement in Jennifer¡¯s abduction. Feeling relieved, Sheena put down the photo and instructed, ¡°Continue investigating Jennifer''s whereabouts until we find her. Also, check for any recent movements from the Lawson family.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lawson.¡± Sheena nodded, signaling him to continue with his tasks. As she watched John leave, she fell into contemtion. If John could not trace anything with the help of Dark Bell, it was highly likely that the Lawson family was behind Jennifer¡¯s disappearance. However, what could their purpose be in using Jennifer? Chapter 270 For some reason, Jennifer''s disappearance left Sheena with a deep sense of unease. She could not shake the feeling that something huge was about to happen. While pondering anxiously, her hands were not idle, checking thetest schedules and shooting progress of all the artists. Sheena unexpectedly discovered that Skye¡¯s shooting progress had mysteriously halted since yesterday afternoon, and he was absent from the set this morning. Sheena immediately called Skye¡¯s agent. ¡°Ms. Sheena, | swear, Skye was shooting just fine yesterday. Somehow, there was a dispute with Eugene Perez, the heir of the Perez family from the adjacent set. Eugene is not someone to mess with. The two got into a fight, and Eugene ended up in the hospital. Quite a few bystanders from the Farlem World Studios set witnessed the incident. We''re currently negotiating a resolution with both sets.¡± The more Sheena heard, the tighter her brow furrowed. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t this reported yesterday? Where is Skye?¡± ¡°I''m sorry, Ms. Sheena. Given Skye¡¯s past experiences, | thought we could settle it directly with the production team. However, Eugene was seriously injured. The Zimmer family took Skye to the hotel early this morning. We haven''t been able to reach him since.¡± Sheena fell into a moment of silence. She knew about Skye¡¯s grandfather, Francis Zimmer, well. With Francis¡¯s temper, Skye, the troublemaker, would undoubtedly face severe consequences when he returned. ¡°Alright, | understand.¡± Sheena massaged her temples, deciding to visit the Zimmer family. She did not want Francis to be too harsh on the young troublemaker and potentially disrupt the uing shoots. She drove to the Zimmer family estate. After exining her identity to the bodyguards, they immediately let her through. Francis had previously stated that anytime Sheena wished to enter, regardless of the circumstances, she could do so without notification. Guided by the butler, Sheena walked smoothly through the estate. Even before reaching the entrance of the hall, she could hear the sound of beating and scolding, apanied by Skye¡¯s painful groans. The intensity of the sounds alone was enough to make one¡¯s heart skip a beat. Sheena quickened her pace. In the hall, Skye knelt on the floor, gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, his expression full of defiance. Infuriated, though somewhat sympathetic, Francis could not fathom why this troublemaker would not mend his ways. Waving his hand, Francis halted the reprimands. Chapter 270 2/2 ¡°I''m asking you once again. Do you admit your mistake?¡± Skye steadied his breathing, his rebellious eyes still full of defiance. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. He deserved it. Next time, I''ll beat him again. Every time | see him, I''ll beat him.¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Just as Sheena reached the hall entrance, she heard Skye¡¯s words loud and clear. What a foolish kid! Even if he truly felt wronged, could he not show a bit of humility? As expected, the sounds of punishment resumed inside, even more intense than before. ¡°Hit him! Do it until he admits his mistake!¡± The butler hurried inside and whispered to Francis about Sheena¡¯s arrival. ¡°Grandpa Francis, it''s been a while. You haven''t aged a bit. You still look so youthful,¡± Sheena said, entering with a smile. Then, she took the cane from the servant and added, ¡°Grandpa Francis, this thing must hurt a lot. Skye is still young. Please go easy on him.¡± Seeing her enter, Francis smiled broadly with a face full of affection. ¡°Oh, my Sheena, you''ve grown so much! Come here. Let me have a good look at you.* Sheena obediently sat beside him. ¡°Don¡¯t feel sorry for this brat. I''ve been spanking him since he was little. He¡¯s tough as nails. But my Sheena, the treasure of both the Lawson and the Zimmer families, deserves all the pampering!¡± Hearing this, Skye hissed, quietly breathing, and discreetly straightened his back to massage the injuries. He criticized his grandfather for favoring someone else¡¯s granddaughter over his own grandson. Was Francis out of his mind? Chapter 271 Francis seemed to sense Skye¡¯s resentful gaze and red at him. ¡°What are you looking at? Kneel properly, you ingrate! Don¡¯t think this is over!¡± It sounded like Francis was not nning to let Skye off the hook so easily. Sheena thought for a moment, then smiled, offering her support. ¡°Grandpa Francis, | came mainly to take Skye back to the set today. His filming is nearingpletion, and it wouldn''t be good if he slips up now. I¡¯ll make sure he apologizes to Eugene and give him a good talking to.¡± ncing between Sheena and Skye, Francis nodded approvingly. ¡°Alright then, | trust you''ll handle him well.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Francis. If so, I''ll take Starfire with me now,¡± Sheena said, signaling Skye with a nce. Skye, nursing his swollen back, struggled to get up from the floor. The butler, looking concerned, suggested, ¡°Sir, why not apply some ointment on him before he leaves? It¡¯s tough for him to endure the pain and continue filming. ¡°What for! Why should my beloved Sheena wait for him? He should bear the pain as a lesson. Not only does he need to continue filming, but he must also not miss the charity g tonight. Got it?¡± ¡°Understood,¡± said the butler. Skye pouted, his face showing reluctance. Sheena suppressed her chuckle and turned to Francis. ¡°Well then, Grandpa Francis, I''ll take him with me now. I''lle to visit you when | have the time.¡± After saying that, she approached and supported Skye as he limped out of the hall. Once they were far from the hall, Skye could not help but ask, ¡°Sheena, you¡¯re not really going to make me apologize to that scumbag at the hospital, right? Please don¡¯t!¡± Sheena was puzzled and questioned, ¡°Then tell me, why did you get into a fight?¡± Skye sullenly lowered his head. Due to the beating on his buttocks and thighs, he walked awkwardly and broke into a cold sweat. After hesitating momentarily, he admitted, ¡°Because | heard him bad¡ªmouthing you behind your back, saying really nasty things. So, every time | see him, I''ll beat him up. Ouch- Getting worked up, he identally agitated his injuries, causing him to grimace in pain. Sheena chuckled, finding him suddenly silly and a bit adorable. ¡°Since that¡¯s the reason, why didn¡¯t you just tell Grandpa Francis?¡± Skye replied, ¡°If Grandpa finds out, he might not beat me as harshly. But if he and the butler knew about Eugene¡¯s nasty comments about you, it wouldn¡¯t take long for the entire Zimmer family staff to know. | didn¡¯t want to tarnish your reputation.¡± Hearing his exnation, Sheena became more curious. What exactly did Eugene say about her? ¡°Is there a recording? Let me hear it.¡± Skye hopped into Sheena¡¯s car and yed Eugene¡¯s remarks for her. ¡°| heard that the entertainmentpany Skye¡¯s in is run by a divorcee, and she¡¯s even an orphan! It¡¯s bizarre. | don¡¯t know how she managed to gain control of Angle Group, but | bet she must''ve slept with Howard! However, I¡¯ve seen herst appearance in the final round of the talent show. She¡¯s quite pretty. It¡¯s too bad that she¡¯s a slut!¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. After listening, Sheena¡¯s expression turned dark. Skyemented, ¡°Listening to this again makes me want to punch him!¡± Sheena stopped him. ¡°Behave and go back to the set. Don¡¯t worry about this. Skye protested, ¡°Sheena, are you just going to let him off the hook?¡± Smiling slyly, Sheena replied, ¡°Who said I¡¯m letting him off the hook?¡± The most uncontroble thing in the world would be other people¡¯s mouths. It was one thing if she did not hear about it, but now that she heard it, she would make sure Eugene paid the price. While contemting in the car, Sheena drove to Farlem World Studios and called Skye¡¯s agent to pick him up. Skye reluctantly held onto the car door, refusing to get out. ¡°Sheena, must I go filming? There¡¯s supposed to be an action scene today, and | just got beaten up. | can¡¯t do it.¡± Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Sheena reached into the car¡¯s glovepartment and handed him a tube of anti- inmmatory cream, saying, ¡°I bought this for you on the way. Put some on in the break room at the set and rest up. I''ll give you a day off today, but you must catch up on the shooting schedule afterward.¡± Skye, touched by her concern, eximed, ¡°Sheena, you''re always the one who cares the most about me! I''ll forever be loyal to you!¡± ¡°Quit being cheesy and go,¡± Sheena replied. Skye grinned, about to open the car door, then turned back and said, ¡°If | manage to shoot today and try not to dy the schedule, can you apany me to the charity g tonight?¡± At this point, it was clear he wanted her to go. Sheena nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Once Skye happily walked away, she called Ford. ¡°Arrange for someone to keep an eye on Eugene Perez at the hospital. When he¡¯s ready to leave, make sure to put a sack over his head and give him another beating. | think he quite likes staying in the hospital. Remember not to leave any marks or evidence.¡± ¡°Alright, Miss.¡± After that, Sheena drove back to Angle Group. progress. Elijah was also investigating Jennifer¡¯s disappearance. Like Sheena, he found little Nheless, despite feeling frustrated, he was determined to get to the bottom of this. h just like ¡°It''s impossible for her to that. Something must be up! | don¡¯t know if this is an attack against Sheena or someoneing after me. So, we must investigate thoroughly and clear things up!¡± Lionel sighed, ¡°But she seems to have disappeared without a trace. Mr. Freeman, is it possible she never left the prison at all?¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Elijah fell into thought and replied, ¡°No. She definitely isn¡¯t in the prison, but there¡¯s a chance she¡¯s still in Farlem, hidden by someone.¡± Who could this ¡®someone be? As he pondered, Elijah¡¯s phone rang. Checking the caller ID, he noticed it was someone he had not interacted with since saving the number¡ªBethany. Elijah answered the call, and Bethany¡¯sughter sounded. ¡°Elijah, it¡¯s been so many years. | wonder if you still remember me?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Elijah got straight to the point, his tone icy. Bethany continued tough. ¡°Oh, Elijah, you''re still as aloof as ever, but | do have an actual matter to discuss with you. There¡¯s a charity g tonight, and | sincerely invite you to be my plus¡ªone.¡± Elijah¡¯s brow twitched, an unmistakable expression of disdain. He was about to decisively decline when Bethany, as if anticipating his response, quickly spoke up. ¡°Elijah, don¡¯t be too hasty to refuse. From what I¡¯ve heard, Sheena will attend the charity g with Mr. Zimmer, and he treats her quite attentively.¡± With those words, Elijah fell into silence. Bethany continued, ¡°One owns Angle Group, and the other represents Angle Group. If there¡¯s any intimate behavior at the banquet, wouldn¡¯t rumors of their rtionship be viral online because of their age gap? Elijah, are you sure you don¡¯t want to reconsider?¡± Considering Skye¡¯s longstanding interest in Sheena, Elijah¡¯s dark eyes glistened as he said, ¡± Fine, I''ll go with you.¡± Chapter 273 Chapter 273 The charity g took ce at the Garden Hotel, Farlem¡¯s most morous venue. The hotel was decorated magnificently, hosting Farlem¡¯s business magnates and elites from prestigious families. Since the reality show, everyone knew Sheena was the owner of Angle Group. When they looked at her, there was less judgment and more admiration. Sheena chose a ck and gold embroidered evening dress, her hair elegantly swept to one side, exuding a mature and alluring charm. Despite her usual low profile, she could not help but captivate the attention of the crowd as soon as she entered. With Skye by her side, they instantly became the focal point of discussions. Skye¡¯s poprity in the entertainment industry, combined with Sheena¡¯s elegance, dominated the evening¡¯s conversation. Initially preferring to be low-profile, Sheena found herself unable to remain unnoticeable. Skye noticed her slight displeasure and chuckled, saying, ¡°Well, you¡¯re just too beautiful. Moreover, your dress fits your figure perfectly. Sure enough, bringing you to any event never disappoints! Everyone''s talking about us!¡± Sheena looked at him and whispered, ¡°You''re already making jokes so soon. It seems the daytime beating didn¡¯t hurt much.¡± Skye¡¯s expression changed instantly, and he held her arm with a pout. ¡°No, it hurts, it hurts... We even filmed an action scene in the afternoon, and it¡¯s been hurting like crazy!¡± Sheena could not help butugh and lightly flicked his forehead. Elijah observed their interaction from a distance. His gaze was cold, and the scene made him feel suffocated as if his heart was being tightly clenched. He knew he had no right to be jealous but could not shake the feeling off. He was displeased. Very displeased! Standing next to him, Bethany keenly sensed his tense aura, especially when she noticed the veins bulging in his clenched fists. ¡°Elijah, let¡¯s go and greet Ms. Sheena and Mr. Zimmer,¡± Bethany suggested.. Elijah remained silent, neither agreeing nor refusing. Bethany took matters into her own hands and proceeded toward Sheena¡¯s direction. Sheena and Skye were engrossed in their conversation when an unpleasant voice interrupted them. ¡°Long time no see, Ms. Sheena. You''re getting more beautiful. Even this heavy makeup can¡¯t hide that foxiness of yours Skye was furious upon hearing this and countered, ¡°Of course, Sheena is beautiful. Even without makeup, she can outshine you by a mile. And if you call her makeup heavy today, what do you call your face, like a smeared wall? And besides, not everyone can be a fox. Someone like you can only be a wild boar.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Bethany was offended. Was she being called a wild boar? She was not that fat or ugly! Nheless, the retort came from Skye, and Bethany did not want to offend the Zimmer family in Farlem. Hence, she had to swallow this humiliation. Sheena ignored their banter. Instead, she noticed Elijah emerging from behind Bethany. In an instant, her aura changed, turning icy with anger, like the calm before a storm. Did he not know what Bethany had done to her before? Moreover, she could not stand Bethany, and he actually left his duties at home to join Bethany at the charity g! Standing on the opposite side, Elijah almost instantly sensed the anger radiating from Sheena, and he gulped nervously. This was bad! He could not afford to be upset about Sheena¡¯s interaction with Skye just moments ago because Sheena was now angry, and he knew he would not have it easy once he returned hometer...Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Bethany sensed the exchanged nces between the two and exined with a smile, ¡°Elijah just missed you and wanted to see you. But since you''re here with Mr. Zimmer, he had to apany me. Ms. Sheena, don¡¯t be jealous.¡± Chapter 274 Sheena scoffed and said, ¡°Ms. Carver, aren¡¯t you a funny one? He''s irrelevant to me, and there¡¯s absolutely no reason for jealousy.¡± The words ¡®irrelevant to me¡® stung Elijah¡¯s heart. His face instantly turned deathly pale. Taking a moment to ease the tightness in his chest, he boldly stepped forward, gently grabbing Sheena¡¯s wrist. yours. I''ve ¡°Sheena, our employment contract hasn¡¯t been terminated yet, and I¡¯m still behaved well today, but when we return, you can handle me however you want. You can punish me as harshly as you like, and I¡¯ll take it all.¡± Elijah pleaded with her, flipping her wrist open, and his knuckles traced gentle circles on her palm. This seamless sequence of movements left Skye in shock, muttering, ¡°Holy crap.¡± Bethany was equally astonished. This man, who was now acting all cute, used to be the dominating figure of the Freeman Group, known for his cold and ruthless demeanor. Was he under some kind of spell? Nevertheless, Elijah continued to draw circles on Sheena¡¯s palm, seemingly oblivious to the reactions around him. Sheena remained expressionless; after all, it wasn¡¯t her who would end up embarrassed for saying such embarrassing things. However, as Elijah continued his drawing circles, Sheena felt a strange itch in her palm. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, she realized that his movements were not just circles. Was he writing something? Sheena focused intently, but unfortunately, she could not decipher the words he was writing or understand his intentions. Skye coughed awkwardly, interrupting them, ¡°Sheena, I¡¯m about to suffocate from the air here. Let''s go over there and have a ss of wine.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Sheena withdrew her hand without a nce at Elijah, and without missing a beat, she walked away with Skye. Elijah hung his head, a bit disheartened. She did not seem to grasp his message, and he was certain there would be consequences when they returned.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Bethany stood silently by Elijah¡¯s side, observing him for a while. ¡°You¡¯ve changed a lot from before! | remember she used to pursue you every day. Now that you''re divorced, you willingly be her devoted follower. | heard you were tortured and abused by herst time, ending up in the hospital. How can you endure this humiliation?¡± Elijah¡¯s regretful expression instantly turned cold as soon as she spoke, his deep, icy eyes filled with hostility. ¡°This is my private matter.¡± Bethany chuckled. ¡°Right, right, | shouldn¡¯t pry into your personal affairs, but I¡¯m just curious. You used to really like Jennifer. Didn''t you feel anything when Sheena sent her to prison?¡± As she spoke, her fingers lightly traced up his arm. ¡°If you want, I¡¯m willing to help you break. free from Sheena¡¯s clutches, and you... Before she could finish her sentence, Elijah tightly grabbed her wrist. The man¡¯s sharp gaze met hers, a warning evident in his eyes. ¡°I''m a cold-blooded person who doesn¡¯t value family ties. If you dare to cause any trouble, not only Sheena but even | won¡¯t spare you.¡± Bethany wrestled her wrist free from his grip, smiling mischievously. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see if she''ll still get jealous?¡± Elijah frowned, sensing trouble. Before he could say anything, screams erupted from the banquet hall. ¡°Who is this? Why is she lying here covered in injuries?¡± ¡°Is she a human or a ghost? She looks terrifying! Startled by the screams and discussions, the woman slowly regained consciousness. Under the messy and dull mass of hair, a pair of eyes, bloodshot and sinister, peeked out. She pushed aside the hair covering her forehead, exposing a face marred with wounds to the public eye. Some sharp-¡ªeyed individuals recognized her. ¡°Isn''t that... Ms. Moore?¡± Chapter 275 Some people refuted, ¡°The Moore family has long publicly severed ties with her. She¡¯s no longer part of that family!¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t she get sentenced to prison? What is she doing here?¡± ¡°Why does she look so ugly now? Her skin is all wrinkled, and it looks like she has aged ten years!¡± Jennifer felt the gazes of the crowd and trembled helplessly. She scanned everyone, trying to find that most familiar figure. ¡°Eli! | want Eli! My Eli...¡± Bethany looked curious in that direction. ¡°Elijah, it seems lively over there. Let¡¯s go take a look¡± Without waiting for Elijah¡¯s approval, she walked over, parted the crowd, and kindly reserved a spot for Elijah. ¡°Oh, Elijah, isn¡¯t that Jennifer?¡± Hearing that name, Elijah frowned as an icy aura emanated from him. Jennifer saw him and was instantly overwhelmed with emotion, crying, ¡°Eli, it¡¯s you! You have no idea how much I¡¯ve suffered these days. | endure torment every day just to see you. Her voice was hoarse, filled with sorrow. Yet, her face, covered in bruises and swollen, made her appear pitiful yet monstrous. While sobbing, she crawled excitedly toward Elijah¡¯s feet, reaching out to grab his leg. Elijah¡¯s expression changed slightly, almost instinctively taking a step back. Skye, enjoying wine in the main banquet hall, vaguely heard themotion and pulled Sheena over to check out the scene. Upon arrival, they witnessed Jennifer persistently crawling toward Elijah¡¯s feet.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Elijah appeared disgusted and kept retreating, coincidentally backing into Sheena, who was walking over. Sheena quickly supported his lower back, and a sly smile formed on her lips. ¡°Are you setting things up for an ident?¡± Elijah was not embarrassed. Instead, his face turned a bit pale as he bent down to rub his leg, saying, ¡°Sheena, my knee hurts. | want to go back to the mansion.¡± His brows were tightly knit, and when he looked back at her, the previously intense hostility in his eyes quickly transformed into the face of a wronged, submissive man. Sheena could not be bothered to expose him, casually ncing at Jennifer, who was stunned by his words. Then, she sneered and said, ¡°Well, that won¡¯t do. This is your private matter. Handle it yourself. After saying this, the hand supporting Elijah¡¯s lower back exerted force, pushing him toward Jennifer. She then stood by, casually watching the drama unfold, her eyes revealing a nonchnt coldness. After searching for this person for a long time, she unexpectedly appeared at the Garden Hotel¡¯s charity g. Hence, Sheena was more than willing to watch this y if someone was willing to perform it. On the floor, Jennifer reached out to Elijah with a pitiful expression. ¡°Eli...¡± Elijah steadied himself in time, and as he looked down at her, his ck eyes showed only indifference and a chilling coldness. He whispered sternly, ¡°Stay right there. Don¡¯te any closer.¡± Jennifer, pierced by his cold gaze, began to sob without caring about her image. ¡°Eli, don¡¯t you recognize me? I¡¯m your Jenny, your fiancee! Do you know how much I¡¯ve suffered for you? That bitch Sheena framed me and threw me into prison! 1 endured so much hardship for you!¡± Chapter 276 Elijah¡¯s gaze grew colder. ¡°My mom canceled our engagement when | left Farlem, and we no longer have anything to do with each other.¡± If it were not for the public setting, Elijah would have loved to expose Jennifer¡¯s lie, skin her alive, and drain her of every drop of blood! After all, not only did Jennifer falsely im to be his savior when Sheena was the actual one, but she also tried to bring harm to Sheena multiple times. And now, she was suddenly brought out again, likely to worsen his rtionship with Sheena. That was simply infuriating! Skye, standing nearby, clicked his tongue and whispered into Sheena¡¯s ear, ¡°Sheena, did you hear that? What a scumbag! He loves intensely when he does, but he¡¯s more heartless than anyone when he doesn''t. Luckily, you divorced him in time!¡± Sheena pursed her lips, choosing not to respond as she stared intensely at Elijah not far away. ¡°Eli! How can you treat me like this? | love you so much...¡± Initially filled with hope upon being released from prison, Jennifer¡¯s despair and resentment peaked as she faced Elijah¡¯s icy and heartless expression.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Elijah¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Ignoring the whispers of the onlookers, he spoke. decisively, ¡°Jennifer, let me make it clear onest time. The one I¡¯ve loved and will always love is Sheena. Whether in the past, right now, or in the future. Since you''ve been sentenced, you should stay in prison and atone for your sins!¡± As he spoke, he took out his phone and contacted Lionel. Unbeknownst to him, his wordspletely unleashed Jennifer¡¯s emotions. She clutched her head and screamed frantically, her voice sharp and piercing, full of despair and terror. ¡°l only loved you! What sins have |mitted? It¡¯s all because of this bitch! She stole you from me! If it weren¡¯t for her, we would have been together long ago, and none of this would have happened! She caused me to be thrown into prison, and | won''t let her get away with it. I¡¯ll kill her!¡± Jennifer red at Sheena with a murderous gaze. From her sleeve, she retrieved a knife she had prepared in advance and swiftly charged toward Sheena. ¡°TIL kill you, bitch! Go to hell!¡± Sheena, calm andposed, watched the approaching frenzied woman. Skye and Elijah were the first to stand before Sheena, swiftly followed by Ford, Paul, John, and Sawyer, who entered the banquet hall. Jennifer did not even get close to Sheena before several bodyguards restrained her. Despite being held back, she snarled and threatened from a distance, ¡°Bitch, just you wait! Even in death, | won''t let you off! Do you think I¡¯m the only one who hates you? There are plenty out there eager to take you down! Even if | can¡¯t kill you, someone else will! I¡¯ll be waiting for that day!¡± Hearing her words, Sheena immediately realized that Jennifer seemed to know something. Ford turned to Sheena, asking, ¡°Miss, how should we handle this?¡± ¡°Evacuate the crowd, let the g continue, and take Jennifer away!¡± Hearing she was to be taken away, Jennifer struggled violently. ¡°Ah! You bitch! You ruined my life, and now you want to take me back to torment me further? | won''t go! I¡¯d rather die!¡± Seeing that Sheena¡¯s bodyguards were formidable, Bethany quickly chimed in, ¡°Sheena, she¡¯s a fugitive. She should be handed over to the police. You can¡¯t take her away, let alone punish her as you please!¡± Some people chimed in, ¡°Exactly! It''s a civilized society now. Your people aren¡¯t from the police. Why should you take her away?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! You can¡¯t take her away. Someone hurry up and notify the police and let them handle this justly!¡± The crowd became chaotic, with no intention of dispersing. Instead, they gathered more closely. Sheena surveyed the crowd, finally locking eyes with the arrogant Bethany. Was this a prearranged act to set the stage for today¡¯s drama? ¡®Interesting,¡¯ she thought. Spin to im Your Surprise Reward y Chapter 277 Ford and Paul found themselves immobilized by the crowd, hesitant to use force and risk injuring bystanders. Moreover, these were not ordinary people. They were well-known figures from the upper ss. Seizing the opportunity, Bethany exchanged a meaningful nce with Jennifer. Understanding Bethany¡¯s signal, Jennifer quickly wriggled free from the bodyguards¡¯ restraint while the crowd diverted their attention, swiftly darting away. The bodyguards, rmed, were about to give chase when the enraged crowd blocked their path. Sawyer fumed, ¡°Are you blind? Even if you disagree with Ms. Sheena taking someone away, you shouldn''t let an escaped convict like her go!¡± Bethany smirked and said, ¡°No need for you to chase after her. I¡¯ve already informed the police. She won''t get far, and the police will handle her. So, there¡¯s no need for Ms. Sheena¡¯s watchdogs to get involved.¡± Watchdogs? Sawyer and the others seethed with anger. However, they held their tongues since Sheena remained silent. Sheena appeared grim. Elijah, noticing her expression, called out softly, ¡°Sheena.¡± She red at him coldly and said, ¡°She¡¯s yours, so...¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Before she could finish, Elijah interrupted her, ¡°She¡¯s not mine!¡± Unfazed, Sheena continued, ¡°Regardless, you''ll handle this matter. Once it¡¯s resolved, we''ll return to the mansion.¡± Elijah knew she was still upset. He hoped to reach out and plead with her, but he was interrupted by Lionel¡¯s sudden arrival. ¡°Mr. Freeman, I¡¯m sorry for beingte.¡± Elijah¡¯s face darkened swiftly. Suppressing the urge to turn around and hit Lionel, he calmly instructed, ¡°Jennifer ran toward the secluded path out back. She¡¯s injured and won''t get far. Go after her.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Freeman.¡± Lionel sprinted off in the direction Elijah indicated. Elijah took a moment topose himself, intending to reach for Sheena¡¯s wrist again, only to find her calmly evading him., Sheena directed her gaze toward Ford and Paul and ordered, ¡°Disperse the crowd and let the g continue.¡± With the main actors gone, there was little entertainment left. The crowd quickly dispersed, and Sheena approached Bethany. Her beautiful eyes radiated. coldness as she locked eyes with Bethany. Then, Sheena smirked and said, ¡°Ms. Carver, considering our past resentments, | merely nned to let the Carver family suffer a financial setback. If you behave yourself, | might spare your life. However, if | find out that you conspired with someone to cause trouble, the consequences might be more than you can bear.¡± Intimidated by the warning look in Sheena¡¯s eyes, Bethany hesitated for a moment. After a few seconds, sheposed herself and responded with a smile, ¡°Ms. Sheena, don¡¯t be rash. The oue is still uncertain!¡± Sheena chuckled. ¡°I''ll be waiting.¡± With that, Sheena, apanied by Ford, a few bodyguards, and Skye, left the charity g without looking back. Left alone, Elijah attempted to catch up, but Bethany blocked his path. ¡°Elijah, the g isn¡¯t over yet. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Spend a little more time with me!¡± Elijah shot her an angry re. ¡°Get lost.¡± After delivering the cold remark, he immediately headed outside the hotel. Sheena had just gotten into the car, ready to close the door. Elijah swiftly caught the door, shouting, ¡°Sheena, wait!¡± ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Elijah nced into the car. Ford was driving, and Paul was in the passenger seat. Meanwhile, John and Sawyer were gone, most likely escorting Skye back. Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Leo York The entire area was in an uproar. The police didn¡¯t find any trace of silicon! But Mnie had been so sure that almost everyone was deceived by her! Was she trying to buy time? Or maybe she had another partner in crime? Or did she have some other goal? ¡°That¡¯s impossible! | didn¡¯t get it wrong!¡± Mnie was riled up. She couldn¡¯t believe that this was how things were going to end. She was very confident with her sense of smell. Unless her body was injured, her sense of smell had never failed her. ¡°Stop arguing, Miss Mnie! From now on, you have the right to remain silent. Everything you say can and will be used against you at court!¡± The high-ranking officer continued, ¡°ording to our analysis, there¡¯s no silicon on the taser gun at all. And the grip of the taser is also not made of silicon. If you maintain your argument, the court will believe that you are trying to avoid taking responsibility for your crime!¡± ¡°If the material isn¡¯t made of silicon, then there¡¯s no mistake about it!¡± Mnie narrowed her eyes and said with full confidence. ¡°There¡¯s definitely silicon residue on it!¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Take her away!¡± The high-ranking officer couldn¡¯t be bothered anymore. The officer behind him immediately held Mnie and was about to take her away. Jeffrey stopped them, but before he could speak, the high-ranking officer intimidated him. ¡°Mr. Jeffrey, and everyone here, please calm down. Miss Mnie is this case¡¯s primary suspect, and we have the right to take her away for interrogation. You''re all her friends, but if any of you try to step in and stop us from doing our job, all of this will be used against her!¡± The high-ranking officer cut off whatever Jeffrey wanted to say. Cyrus moved a little, but in the end, he didn¡¯t try to stop them. Even if they knew that Mnie wasn¡¯t wrong, they didn¡¯t know what went wrong. If it really affected Mnie¡¯s interrogationter, she would be taking the brunt of it. Those who cared about her didn¡¯t dare to make any sudden movements. Very quickly, the cars arrived near the dock. Mnie furrowed her brows. She knew that things were getting veryplicated. From the beginning, when the serial number proved that the taser belonged to the Gibsons, to her fingerprints found on it. And now, she failed to save herself. Who was trying to kill her? Once she was at the station, it would be even harder to get her out. 142 +15 BONUS If the man pulling the strings wanted her to be a suspect that couldn¡¯t speak, then there would be someone in the station waiting to kill her. It would be difficult for both Jeffrey and Cyrus to save her... Mnie felt chills down her spine, not knowing what she was going to face next. At this time, the police vehicle suddenly screeched to a halt. There was amotion outside. The officers that were holding her all got down from the car with their hands on their weapons. ¡°You can¡¯t take Miss Mnie off the ind!¡± Mnie heard someone speak in the officialnguage of her country fluently. However, she had never heard that man¡¯s voice. Very quickly, someone went over to negotiate. The man said, ¡°This is the real report of the test result! The one you have is a fake!¡± The high-ranking officer walked over, and the man said, ¡°He is one of you. Let him personally tell you what happened exactly! Cough... If | was even one momentte, he would have died already!¡± Mnie sensed that there was a chance to turn things around and she quickly got out of the car. She didn¡¯t know when it started raining outside. She had been so anxious that she didn¡¯t notice. But the moment she got out of the car, the rain suddenly stopped. She raised her head in shock, and saw a handsome, lean man holding an umbre, shielding her from the rain.. ¡°You''ll be alright now. There are traces of silicon on that taser gun. You didn¡¯t get it wrong.¡± The man spoke in a soft voice, but his words were warm. After he finished, he started coughing again. Mnie didn¡¯t have the time to figure out the man¡¯s identity, because she noticed an officer who was all bloodied on a stretcher. He was the officer that took the evidence off the ind to be analyzed earlier. The officer said in pain, ¡°Sir! This is the real result! I¡¯d just gotten into the car with this when someone hit me. They were trying to stop me from reporting back to the ind. If Mr. York didn¡¯t save me, they would have silenced me already...¡± Mr. York...? Mnie raised her head to look at the man holding the umbre. Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Flirtatious The man had a bony face with very prominent cheeks. He had handsome features and his lips curved downward. His hair, brows, and sideburns were neatly trimmed, and even his cors were properly ironed. Mnie instinctively felt that he was probably the cleanest man she had ever seen in the past twenty¡ªodd years. He was one of the Yorks¡® heirs? Beforeing to Medonia, she had read up on the Yorks. Because the Yorks had a hereditary heart condition, the family had always had few members. The patriarch, Joseph York, had one son and one daughter, but they both passed away when they were still young. They had left behind two young grandchildren for Joseph. One was said to be very violent, and the other quite hardhearted. She wondered which of these two he was... The high-ranking officer read the bloody report and called the police station¡¯sboratory, asking them to do the same test on the same sample. ¡°Bring me the person that brought us the report with no silicon traces!¡± The high-ranking officer yelled harshly. Very quickly, his subordinate came over to report to him. ¡°Since we got to the ind, we didn¡¯t see the person who reported that there was no silicon residue... No one knows where he went... He must be the culprit¡¯s mole!¡± ¡°Idiots!¡± The high-ranking officer roared angrily. But when he remembered that he had been deceived as well, all he could do was suppress his anger, and he said, ¡°Take him to the hospital for treatment!¡± He then turned around and said to the man, ¡°Looks like the culprit is quite bold, modifying our evidence like that! Thank you for safeguarding the truth for us, Mr. York!¡± Cough! The man coughed a few more times and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. My grandfather bas asked our men to keep an eye on the result of the analysis. I¡¯m worried that they¡¯re not thorough enough so | went over to monitor things myself. | didn¡¯t expect something like this to have happened.¡± ¡°Mr. Joseph must be very pleased that you are so attentive!¡± The officer quickly praised him. rge group of officers had formed a human barrier at the dock and both Jeffrey and Cyrus couldn''t cross over. When the alert was called off, Jeffrey quickly rushed over without waiting a second longer and immediately pulled Mnie into his arms. William held an umbre over them. Mnie turned around and looked at the man in shock before thanking him. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You''re wee.¡± He approached her and Jeffrey and said, ¡°I¡¯m Leo York. You have a great sense of smell. | admit that you''re 142 +15 BONUS Jeffrey gritted his teeth, turning away and leaving with Mnie under his protection. He couldn¡¯t take it when Leo flirted with his woman in front of him, treating him as air! When Cyrus heard the good news from the officer, he cried, ¡°Since we have the truth now, what are you doing? Why don¡¯t you free my disciple?!¡± ¡°Miss Mnie is only free for now, but she can¡¯t leave the ind. That''s because we still haven¡¯t found the real murderer. As such, she¡¯s still our prime suspect,¡± the officer said. ¡°This is ridiculous!¡± Cyrus was so angry that he raised his crutch, but his assistant quickly stopped him. How could he be so violent against the police officers... ¡°Isn¡¯t this enough evidence to clear her of any suspicion? If you can¡¯t catch the murderer forever, does that mean she has to stay on this ind forever?¡± ¡°Elder Gibson, please don¡¯t make things difficult for us. These are the rules. Miss Mnie really isn¡¯t allowed to leave the ind,¡± the officer said stubbornly. Cyrus still wanted to argue but Jeffrey managed to calm him down. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem if she can¡¯t leave the ind. It¡¯s only a matter of time before they catch the culprit. You¡¯re being too pessimistic.¡± ¡°You fool!¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Since Cyrus couldn''t vent his anger on the police, he directed it toward Jeffrey instead. ¡°You kept on flirting with my disciple earlier... Is that all a sham? This is not Harbor City and not my territory! Why do you want to keep her here?!¡± Today''s Bonus Offer x GET IT NOW +15 BONUS Chapter 280 The Culprit Chapter 280 Chapter 280 The Culprit ¡°| know that this isn¡¯t Harbor City nor your territory, but I¡¯ll apany her.¡± Jeffrey consoled him with a whisper when he saw Cyrus getting agitated. ¡°Apany her?¡± Cyrus gave a cold smile. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re the aegis of Mnie or something?¡± There were some murmurs from the people around them who were watching, as well as Leo¡¯s coughing every now and then. Mnie gave Jeffrey a look. When she saw the certainty in his eyes, she knew that he had made arrangements. She calmed down a little and walked over to hold Cyrus¡¯s hand and said... ¡°It''s alright, Master. Let¡¯s go home... There¡¯s no use throwing temper tantrums, right?¡± ¡°What temper tantrums?! You''re the one that¡¯s being forced to stay here, not me!¡± Cyrus pretended to be frustrated and pushed her hand away before he got back into his car with his crutch. When the convoy finally reached the banquet hall on the ind, they saw Joseph waiting for them with a group of people behind him. When he saw Mnie get out of the car, he couldn¡¯t help saying... ¡°Congrattions, Miss Mnie! You''re finally cleared of suspicion!¡± Mnie looked confused, and the people around her didn¡¯t seem to understand either. Then, a small group of officers ran over and reported to the high-ranking officer. ¡°Report, sir! The murderer has surrendered himself! We''ve interrogated him about how hemitted the crime, and there¡¯s no discrepancy with the evidence we¡¯ve gathered.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± The high-ranking officer asked. ¡°The culprit is an ex¡ªstaff from Shadow Group. He murdered Charles because of a personal vendetta. He was hiding right behind the stage when the ceremony was taking ce. That was a blind spot for the security cameras. That was why the camera missed him. ¡°The only reason he fired at Elder Gibson was to shift suspicion so that he could have enough time to hide the taser gun and escape,¡± the officer reported. ¡°Then why did he surrender himself?¡± the officer asked. ¡°Perhaps he had a change of heart.¡± Joseph let out augh. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you want to ask, just ask away. But can you free Miss Mnie now?¡± The officer didn¡¯t dare to speak much since Joseph was personally helping Mnie, and so he nodded and led the other officers to the interrogation room that was prepared on the ind. +15 BONUS Mnie looked at the officers with a slight frown. ¡°The real murderer had confessed...?¡± ¡°Feeling something amiss?¡± Joseph asked. With Joseph taking the lead, the others followed him inside. Those who weren''t important didn¡¯t follow them once they knew the results. When Joseph saw that there was no one else behind him, he raised his head and looked at Mnie. ¡°Do you think that there¡¯s something fishy about the culprit who surrendered himself?¡± Mnie didn¡¯t immediately respond. It was simply too much of a coincidence for this culprit to surrender using his personal vendetta as the reason hemitted the crime. It immediately cleared everyone that was on the stage of any suspicion. Joseph saw through her thoughts and asked, ¡°There are no outsiders here. Why don¡¯t you tell me what you think?¡± Mnie raised her eyes and nced at Jeffrey and Cyrus. They were all looking at her, as if there was something they couldn''t say. With a smile, she said, ¡°Since the real culprit had already turned himself in, as the ex-primary suspect, | better shut my mouth up. I¡¯m not brave enough to make any more analysis.¡± ¡°Haha!¡± Josephughed loudly. ¡°Even then, you are of a quick mind. You know that things aren''t as they seem.¡± ¡°| won''t even attempt to show off my intellect andpare it to yours, Mr. Joseph. This is the Yorks¡® territory. Everyone here is your family¡¯s guest. You are the most knowledgeable about all their preferences and animosities toward each other. | wouldn¡¯t dare make any presumptions.¡± ¡°Good!¡± ¡°A good answer!¡± Joseph smiled as he was satisfied with her answer. ¡°Your praises have instead made me unable to question anything else!¡± ¡°Let''s go!¡± Joseph tapped the armrest on his wheelchair and asked Mnie and the people behind him to catch up. When | heard that you''ve regained your freedom, | asked the servants to prepare a feast for you. Let¡¯s go in!¡± Mnie blinked and followed behind him without a change in her expression. Just like she had said, this is the Yorks¡® territory. It was a ce where the highest-ranking member of the local police force had to restrain himself because of Joseph. Would they really be so nonchnt about the identity of the real culprit who had killed Charles? From the moment that Charles was killed, Joseph had been mostly indifferent to everything. So, she guessed that he had already epted the assassination! No matter if the culprit was from the Yorks, or if the Yorks wereplicit in the murder, they were not nning 213 +15 BONUS undone, they were all beneficial to the Yorks. ¡°Let me push your wheelchair, Grandfather.¡± At this time, the soft and clean Leo walked from behind, taking over the wheelchair from the butler¡¯s hands. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Joseph turned around and asked.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°It''s all thanks to him for being here today. He helped me a lot,¡± Mnie said in a gentle tone. Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Matchmaking ¡°Leo¡¯s the one that protected the key evidence with his men, which proved my theory right. Otherwise, the test result for the silicon would have been changed. | believe that | owe him thanks for that,¡± Mnie exined. ¡°Oh?¡± Joseph turned around and gave Leo a nce. ¡°You''re being attentive for once!¡± He paused a little before turning around and said, ¡°But It¡¯s all useless. The culprit surrendered himself while you were on your way to the station. Even without the test results, Mnie is innocent!¡± ¡°You''re right. Cough.¡± Leo nodded gently, pushing the wheelchair from behind.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Joseph turned around and looked at Mnie before saying, ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank him. You youths have your own rules, so you can talk about it on your own. For now, let us eat.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Mnie nodded while Leo gave her a faint smile. She suddenly realized that the atmosphere was a little awkward. She turned around and saw Jeffrey frowning very deeply. She wanted to slow down and wait for him, sensing his jealousy. Then, she saw Williaming from behind and catching up with Jeffrey. ¡°Boss, we''ve already released the wrong results at theb. Which means that the Yorks must have already received news,¡± William said. ¡°Around what time?¡± Jeffrey asked. William estimated it and told Jeffrey about it. His eyes narrowed. ¡°That means that Joseph already knows that Mnie isn¡¯t a York?¡± He frowned even deeper. So, why was the York family still supporting Mnie and standing firmly by her side? William sensed his boss¡® worry. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because Joseph and Elder Gibson are friends? Or perhaps, it''s because the madam has helped the Yorks a lot, and he wants to repay her? Or maybe, he simply appreciates her intelligence?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how Joseph does things. There¡¯s a motive to everything he does.¡± Jeffrey''s expression darkened. As he thought about it, he suddenly took notice of the man and woman who were on Joseph¡¯s side. Looking at them, they looked like they were a match... He felt anger burning inside of him as he abandoned William who could only look at him, stunned. He walked over and took over Elder Gibson''s wheelchair from his personal assistant, and pushed him slowly. Once the coast was clear, Jeffrey suddenly bent over and whispered, ¡°My men changed the results of the +15 BONUS would never let go of the person that he wants easily!¡± Jeffrey said as he analyzed. ¡°You''re saying...¡± Cyrus was being suspicious. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that Leo¡¯s appearance today is too much of a coincidence?¡± Jeffrey asked. ¡°Joseph wants Mnie to be his granddaughter¡ªinw?¡± Cyrus mumbled to himself. ¡°That¡¯s why | need your help.¡± Jeffrey lowered his head and mumbled something into Cyrus¡¯s ears. After listening, Cyrus raised his head and nced at Jeffrey. ¡°| gave it a thought just now, and that Leo isn¡¯t that bad...¡± Jeffrey was speechless. ¡°| should let Leo clear all those random men from my disciple¡¯s heart, and when she finally falls in love with somebody, things will be much easier!¡± Cyrus intentionally taunted him. Jeffrey sighed and said, ¡°Am | really that bad?¡± ¡°You''re Cece¡¯s grandson, so you¡¯re not that bad. But don¡¯t think | don¡¯t know that you used to torture my disciple.¡± Cyrus turned around and red at Jeffrey. ¡°When you''re torturing my disciple, you''re also torturing yourself! What¡¯s the point in that?¡± When he saw Jeffrey in deep thought, he asked, ¡°Speaking of which... You said your men destroyed the test results, but did you see the actual results?¡± Jeffrey shook his head. ¡°The Yorks are very careful. Destroying it is difficult.¡± Cyrus narrowed his eyes and mumbled, ¡°Which means that we still don¡¯t know the results...¡± After he said that, he pped away Jeffrey''s hand and rolled his wheelchair himself, before saying, ¡°I promise to help you this time, but if you harass my disciple again, I''ll show you no mercy!¡± Today''s Bonus Offer Chapter 282 Chapter 282 The Man in the Room The ending of a banquet was the start of another with a different reason. Mnie was getting tired of it, and for some reason Cyrus and Jeffrey weren¡¯t with her. Joseph told his men to take her to a room for some rest and prepared several sets of outfit for her to change into, but she wasn¡¯t that happy and simply went downstairs after fixing her makeup. The York¡¯s old butler bent over while he was pushing Joseph¡¯s wheelchair and said, ¡°Sir, everything''s ready. Later, Miss Mnie will personally thank Leo. Leo will then take her to the next building. The atmosphere will be just nice.¡± Joseph¡¯s lips formed a wry smile as he ordered, ¡°Keep an eye on Jeffrey.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not here. Something seemed to have happened and he left the ind to deal with it,¡± the butler said. Joseph nodded. ¡°Then keep an eye on that dock and don¡¯t let him return!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Mnie went downstairs and chatted for a while, and looked around. She then asked one of the servants,¡± Where¡¯s your young master? Why don¡¯t | see him?¡± She wanted to say her farewells early and thank Leo in person. ¡°You must mean Master Leo? He¡¯s next door.¡± the servant pointed her the way. Mnie wanted to walk to the other side by lifting her skirt a little. Suddenly, a servant ran in from outside. Mnie realized almost instantly that he was one of Cyrus¡¯s servants that came here with them. ¡°Miss Mnie!¡± The servant called out to Mnie and said. ¡°Master Cyrus isn¡¯t doing well. Do you want toe and take a look?¡± ¡°What''s happening? Is it serious? Where is he right now?¡± Mnie asked nervously. ¡°The doctor is taking a look right now,¡± the servant answered anxiously. Mnie didn¡¯t think too much and quickly bid the Yorks¡® butler farewell. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but can you please inform Mr. Joseph and Mr. Leo about this? | need to go back and take care of my master!¡± With that, she followed that servant and got on the boat to leave the ind, before heading straight to the Gibsons¡® household. When she reached there, night had already descended. The servant immediately took her up to the third floor and pointed at the door, saying, ¡°Master Cyrus is in there.¡± Mnie didn¡¯t hesitate and walked in. She walked around the cab that was in front of her, only to see a tall man with sharp features already lying in bed... +15 BONUS ¡°Where¡¯s my master?¡± Mnie nced at Jeffrey, who was lying there leisurely. ¡°Your master¡¯s fine. He¡¯s resting in his own room downstairs,¡± Jeffrey sat up and answered. ¡°I''ll go take a look,¡± Mnie turned around, wanting to leave as she was still worried about him. Jeffrey got out of the bed and held her wrist saying, ¡°I told you he¡¯s fine... Elder Gibson and | are the ones that asked the servant to bring you back here.¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Mnie turned around and looked at him before hurling his hand away. ¡°You think this is funny?¡± ¡°Of course not, but there was no other way. Otherwise, the Yorks would never have let you leave.¡± Jeffrey held her hand again and guided her to sit by the bed. ¡°Can¡¯t you see that the Yorks want you to stay?¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°Because you''re smart, beautiful, and talented.¡± Mnie suddenly felt that he was being funny when he said those praises in such a serious tone. But she did feel that the banquet the Yorks held were a bit boring and rushed. No wonder Cyrus and Jeffrey didn¡¯t join. Apparently, they had already nned this... ¡°You must be tired after the entire day. Sleep, now.¡± Jeffrey extended his arm, lifted her, and made her sleep on the bed on her side as he held her from behind. Mnie instinctively closed her eyes, enjoying the rare moment of peace. While the room was very quiet, the fact that this ce was inside the Gibsons¡® territory, and that Jeffrey was behind her, made her feel extremely safe. Her heart was slowly calming down, but she couldn''t sleep. After a while, she moved slightly and said, ¡°About Charles¡¯s death... The killer was definitely on the stage. ¡°ording to the duration of the electrocution that the coroner determined, there¡¯s a huge possibility that there are two culprits. If there really are two culprits, then there are three possibilities.¡± Mnie bent her arm and shoved it at the man behind her. ¡°I know you''re not asleep.¡± ¡°Which three?¡± Jeffrey asked weakly without opening his eyes. ¡°Mr. Joseph and Mr. Luis. Mr. Luis and Mr. Kiefer. Mr. Joseph and Mr. Kiefer,¡± Mnie said in a determined tone. ¡°And which of them do you think is the most possible?¡± Jeffrey asked, his eyes open. ¡°The first duo.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because | believe that, if Mr. Joseph really wanted to find out who the real murderer is, he didn¡¯t need to 2/3 -S 18 BONUS ANY HAS di doves to catch the men and find the a weapon. He wouldn¡¯t have allowed them to have ench time to hide the taser gun. That''s why A. Joseph definitely knew about murder enough *Not even be an aOiCA,¡± Mane started to a Chartes¡¯s death his butter was very agitated and keet on using everyone or the starter M. Koter and M. Luis M. Keter has shown how stupid he is, arguing that he¡¯s not the Killer Someone Mike that is not sunade to wox with the Yoks. And so, Mr. Luis, who didn¡¯t say a word Bohat the ente this is much more suspicia¡® *... You te reo good. Get some steen, Jeffrey said with a dry smile. Mnie turned around and looked at him. ¡°There¡¯s one thing that | don¡¯t understand. Who made a fake¡® murderer and made him tom himself in? Don¡¯t tell me that the Yorks felt guilty for dracing me into this? Can they really be that kind?¡± Jeffrey closed his eyes again, as if everything she said wouldn¡¯t make him bude ¡°Don''t tell me it''s you? Mnie looked at the man¡¯s expression suspicioush ¡°Hm?¡± Jeffrey opened his eyes. ¡°That''s true. You''d never be that kind.¡± Mnie gave him a bright smile and turned around, with her back facing him, epting the answer that was already in her heart. +15 BONUS Chapter 283 Hug the thigh Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Hug the thigh Cyrus asked for a doctor¡¯s visit and a checkup, and then released the news that he was sick. No one suspected anything because he was electrocuted back at the festival. The elder decided to stay indoors for the next seven days, and told all the servants to be quiet about it. Seven dayster. Jeffrey sent Mnie and Cyrus to the airport to fly back to their home country. He had some other arrangements in Medonia, so he needed to stay for two more days. After checking in, Mnie and Cyrus waited in the VIP lounge for their flight. She didn¡¯t expect to see Olivia and her family there. When Olivia saw Mnie, she quickly took out her makeup kit to fix her makeup. Once she was sure she was beautiful, she pretended to walk over and notice them before greeting them. ¡°Ah, isn¡¯t this Mnie? You''re taking this flight back home too?¡± Cyrus pursed his lips and said, ¡°We''re not blind, you know. We saw you powdering your face in front of a mirror just now.¡± Olivia was speechless. Mnie and Cyrus¡¯s assistant tried their best not tough and said nothing. Olivia¡¯s mother walked over from behind and pulled her daughter¡¯s hand. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go sit in front. We''re all civilized here, so let¡¯s not start a fight.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not here to fight. I¡¯m here to introduce to her a business opportunity. | wonder if she¡¯s gracious enough to ept this opportunity to work with me.¡± Olivia said as she nced at Mnie. ¡°What kind of good business opportunity can youe up with? You and your petty schemes!¡± Cyrus smiled coldly and shielded Mnie. After getting provoked, Olivia wanted to prove that she really was here to talk about business. ¡°My family is now the partner for Romero International Medical Group! At the beginning of next month, the Romeros are going to hold a Cross-country Cycling Competition in Harbor City, and Mr. Luis Romero himself gave us full authority to be the organizer! We will invite all therge corporations in Harbor City to be official sponsors! As the biggest medicine producer in Harbor City, won''t Jones Enterprise want to share some of this glory as well?¡± Mnie looked at Nelson who was sitting there calmly, and his wife who was wearing a lot of sparkling jewelry, and thought that they seemed much more confidentpared to thest time after they failed to befriend Cyrus... Which meant that they didn¡¯t waste time in the past two weeks or so and had sessfully partnered up with the Romeros... ¡°This is a good thing.¡± +15 BONUSProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Mnie¡¯s expression was still as calm, which meant that she wasn¡¯t affected at all. ¡°But I¡¯m not responsible for the medical department. If there¡¯s really a need for a partnership, my colleague will contact you.¡± She intentionally gave Olvia a professional smile, and that angered Olivia so much. At this time, the announcement for boarding came. Mnie stood up and helped Cyrus, saying. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Master.¡± With that, she ignored the mother and daughter as they left. Olivia looked at Mnie¡¯s prideful figure and couldn¡¯t help mumbling as she walked back... ¡°Dad, look how smug that Mnie is! As if we¡¯re begging Jones Enterprise to sponsor us! Since Mr. Luis has given you full authority to organize thepetition, you might as well just not contact Jones Enterprise! When all thergepanies in Harbor City join in and not Jones Enterprise, people will absolutely talk behind their backs. We''ll show them!¡± ¡°What do you know?! Stop parading your ignorance!¡± Nelson red at her impatiently. ¡°While I¡¯m the organizer, the one who paid for it are the Romeros. | need to estimate what Mr. Luis wants, and he''ll be the standard for everything! Since he had mentioned Jones Enterprise, that means they must appear in the list of our sponsors, understand?¡± Mnie had returned to Harbor City discreetly. After the danger that she had gone through, Eliza and Nancy covered the table with her favorite dishes to wee her home. ¡°How did the man that said he would protect you perform?¡± Eliza asked. Mnie smiled helplessly. ¡°Mom, when ites to something this important, we probably shouldn¡¯t ask for someone else¡¯s help...¡± ¡°He¡¯s not that dependable?¡± Eliza was shocked before sighing. ¡°But with Elder Gibson by your side, | suppose | can rx.¡± ¡°Yeah. My master has been protecting me from the Yorks all this while.¡± Mnie, nodded. Eliza was so shocked that her hand holding the fork froze mid-air. ¡°How did you know that you need to be wary of the Yorks?¡± Today''s Bonus Offer x GET IT NOW Chapter 284 Implying What Happened That Day Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Implying What Happened That Day ¡°How can | not know when you¡¯ve hired people to protect me?¡± +15 BONUSOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org. Mnie raised her eyes before saying, ¡°Not to mention that my master told me that | have a sense of smell no weaker than those from the Yorks. If they can¡¯t have me, then we might end up as enemies. Naturally, | have to be prepared.¡± ¡°I see...¡± Elize let out a sigh of relief, worried that the intelligent daughter of hers would notice something. ¡°But visiting the Yorks isn¡¯t a waste of time. | can see that the Jones Enterprise¡¯s perfume department has recently signed tworge contracts and they''re both overseas businesses that I¡¯ve known from the Yorks¡¯ festival. It¡¯s worth it,¡± Mnie said, trying to calm things down. ¡°Two contracts aren¡¯t worth your safety,¡± Elize said with a sigh. ¡°All | want is for you to stay safe. I¡¯m not afraid of living a hard life.¡± Mnie smiled, hiding the sorrow in her eyes. ¡°Oh, by the way, the Hans are back in town. Did you know that?¡± Mnie asked. Eliza nodded. ¡°The Romeros want toe back to have a piece of the pie. This time, they started a Mountain Bike Cross-country Race and attracted plenty of sponsors. They approached us a few days ago. What do you think?¡± Eliza knew that Mnie and Olivia weren¡¯t on the best of terms, and so she asked her for her opinion. Mnie gave it a thought and said, ¡°I''ll respect your opinion. | know that you want to take part in it. The Romerosmand great respect overseas, but now that they¡¯re suddenly back for the local market... It''s good for us if we see what they¡¯re up to. Don¡¯t worry about me. ¡°However, while this kind of cross¡ªcountry cyclingpetition isn¡¯t that rare, our country¡¯s infrastructure is still not mature enough. If anything happens, it''ll be bad, so we should still be careful.¡± ¡°Alright. Ah, how is my daughter so mature?¡± Eliza pulled the strands of hair that were on Mnie¡¯s forehead to the back of her ear. ¡°Then I''ll tell the marketing department to respond to them. Not only are we sponsoring them, we''ll also be participating in the competition. We''ll be handling the first aid together with the Romero International Medical Group. I¡¯ve already asked Quincy to handle the medical stations.¡± ¡°He¡¯s back?¡± Mnie asked. Ever since Mnie invited Quincy to do his research in the newly formed perfume department, his ability had allowed him to be some sort of a founding member in the team. When the perfume department''s business department was formed, he was then asked by Eliza to go overseas to take over the newly formed medical department. Now that he was back with all those aplishments, even the elders who didn¡¯t like him in Jones Enterprise couldn¡¯t use the leak against him anymore. 1/3 +15 BONUS Elize nodded. ¡°He came back with me this time. He had also interacted with those from Romeros when he was overseas, so it''ll make things smoother when we work together,¡± ¡°Quincy is dependable,¡± Mnie nodded, WE Several dayster. The Mountain Bike Cross-country Race had reached its final preparations. Mnie suddenly received a call from Quincy. ¡°Miss Mnie, are you free today? | invited the other two persons¡ªin¡ªcharge from the other twopanies to wee Mr. Luis and he asked about you. From the sounds of it, he wants you toe as well,¡± Luis Romero was personallying over? Mnie was somewhat shocked. She gave it a thought and said, ¡°Sure. I''ll free up my evening and go with you,¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! I''ll pick you up tonight.¡± Quincy hung up the call happily. In the evening during the dinner, Luis praised Mnie. ¡°We met at the Angle family¡¯s Centennial Celebration. And | must say that your intelligence and determination left me withsting impressions!¡± Luis was a slightly plump and short man, but he had quite the powerful personal maism. His subordinates and bodyguards behind him demonstrated that he was a true leader. ¡°You''ve overpraise me, Mr. Luis. No matter what had happened, your expression didn¡¯t even change a little during the festival. I''m also quite impressed with you,¡± Mnie said with a polite smile. There was a sh of interest in Luis¡¯s eyes as he narrowed his eyes and raised his wine ss. ¡°Enough talk. Let us drink this wine!¡± ¡°ll drink on my boss¡¯s behalf, Mr. Luis.¡± Quincy stood up at the right time and continued, ¡°This is a dinner organized by the medical department, so we can¡¯t let her drink too much. Otherwise, we wouldn''t be able to exin this to our chairman.¡± With that, Quincy downed the ss. ¡°Haha! Jones Enterprise really is full of talent. Not only can Mr. Quicksilver handle the research, he can drink on your behalf as well.¡± Luis¡¯s smile was like that of a gentle buddha, but for some reason it sent chills down their spine... After the dinner was over, Luis¡¯s personal assistant saw Mnie and Quincy off. Then, he reported back to Luis. ¡°Boss, it seems that Miss Mnie¡¯s words implied something. She must be suspicious of Charles¡¯s death... Why are you still being so friendly with her?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand...¡± Luis¡¯s hands were ced on his belly as he shook his head. ¡°The Yorks had investigated her, and they did it more than once. Not to mention that Joseph seems to want Leo to court her, and even arranged for him to 2/3 +15 BONUS The truth is he wants Leo to get closer to her. The Yorks wouldn''t be interested in someone for no reason. That is why we must keep an eye on her as well.¡± *41 understand. Then about her suspecting you... What should we do?¡± his subordinate asked. ¡°Any spection without any solid evidence is simply that, a spection. She¡¯s a smart woman, so she must understand this,¡± Luis said with great confidence. +15 BONUS Chapter 285 | Can Deal With Her Mnie drove Quincy¡¯s car and sent him home. Chapter 285 Chapter 285 | Can Deal With Her Mnie drove Quincy¡¯s car and sent him home. In the car, she couldn''t help praising him. ¡°It has only been so long, but you''ve really impressed me!¡± Quincy waved his hand. ¡°When | formed the medical department overseas, not only did | handle research and development, | also managed the business side of things. | learned these things eventually. Right, how did you and Mr. Luis get to know each other? From what | heard, it seemed like a lot of things had happened during the Angle Family¡¯s Centennial Celebration.¡± ¡°Stop being so curious.¡± Mnie didn¡¯t answer his question directly. ¡°I can bet that you don¡¯t want to know about it.¡± After pausing for a moment, she asked, ¡°What about the cyclingpetition? How¡¯s the preparation?¡± Quincy straightened up and said, * Jones Enterprise will only be providing basic first aid and will only be deployed during an emergency. Of course, the preparation went smoothly. From what | see, the Hans aren''t really that professional and the Romeros aren''t really focusing on the race. The staff at the stations are all amateurish.¡± Mnie raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°From what | can tell, the weather is going to be bad for the next few days. The roads where the cycling takes ce are in the mountains. Can the amateurs really deal with anything with their sloppy equipment?¡± Quincy sighed. ¡°I already gave my feedback to the organizer, but they said that extreme sports is all about adrenaline and told me to shut up.¡± Mnie nodded. That was how Nelson had acted all this while, pretending to be an expert when he knew nothing and cared little about everyone else. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. We''ll do everything we''re supposed to. As for the weather, maybe it''ll be better in a few days?¡± Quincy consoled her and she nodded. After Charles''s death, the four other patriarchs had restarted their nning. During the,chaos, all four families wanted to make a move and enter the local market. The Hans used this chance to side with the Romeros. Nelson was very confident with the Mountain Bike Cross¡ªcountry Race. He spent a lot of effort to get all the sponsors, and the advertisements were also very far-reaching. That was because he knew that not only was the race meant to show his abilities to the Romeros, but the other families were also watching. Nelson was an ambitious man. He wanted more than the Romeros, who were at the bottom of the four families. Plus, he heard that the Yorks were also returning to observe Harbor City¡¯s market, but they hadn¡¯t found a localpany to work with yet. 1/2 +15 BONUS That would be a great chance for the Hans! The size of the York family was something that the Romero family couldn¡¯t even hope topare. If he managed to use this chance to get on the Yorks¡¯s good side, he would then have the chance to expand both in Harbor City and Medonia! After a lot of effort, Nelson finally managed to gather some information on them. The representative that the York sent to Harbor City would be attending the chemical industry''s year¡ªend ball Saturday evening. And that representative was one of the Yorks¡® heirs, Leo York! He was one of the heirs with the highest possibility to inherit the business conglomerate! Nelson had prepared a lot of rare items as gifts that he would present to Leo during the ball. He could then mention his business and get the ball rolling from there. However, his wife came over and looked around, and was very unhappy with everything that he had prepared. ¡°Leo grew up with avish lifestyle. How can any of this impress him? If you ask me, you might as well sell all of this and invest in Olivia. They¡¯re young, so it¡¯s easier for them tomunicate with each other!¡± Nelson narrowed his eyes. ¡°You said that he¡¯s very hard to impress. He doesn¡¯t have any women as partners. How can our daughter impress him?¡± ¡°If our daughter can¡¯t, you think your trash has a better chance?¡± she said unhappily. ¡°You''re right. What if Olivia does manage to charm him? Then that means I¡¯m no longer just a business partner with the Yorks!¡± Nelson narrowed his eyes and picked up a few items, preparing to sell them so he could buy some jewelry for Olivia. After the first few failures, the Hans were much more prudent before going to the ball. Olivia¡¯s mother even bought the list of female attendees, to see who they needed to be worried about. They didn¡¯t expect to see Mnie in the list of names. ¡°Perfumes are technically within the chemical field, and Mnie is handling thepany¡¯s perfume department. How did | forget about her?!¡± she said as she narrowed her eyes. The moment she thought of Mnie, she could already feel the misfortune befalling them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, mom. Mnie is the easiest to deal with!¡± Olivia consoled her and spoke with confidence. ¡°You heard about Charles Miller¡¯s death, right? | heard that Mnie was at the scene, and she was even a prime suspect! Do you think anyone from the upper ss can ept that kind of news? All | need to do is collect the evidence beforehand and mention it on the spot, and | can guarantee that Mnie would flee in a hurry!¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Today''s Bonus Offer Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Settling Scores Mrs. Hans smiled happily when she heard what Olivia said. ¡°My daughter has matured.¡± ¡°Of course | have, especially after going through so much,¡± Olivia said smugly as she twirled a lock of hair around her finger. ¡°I even found out that Mr. York has been a germaphobe since he was a child, and is a clean freak! A woman like Mnie, with a lawsuit on her hands, is definitely someone so filthy to him that he wouldn¡¯t even nce her way! He''ll find her dirty!¡± Mrs. Hans¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°In that case, | need to pay a little more to cover up your records.¡± The mention of her being jailed overseas made Olivia grit her teeth in anger and shame. ¡°It''s all Mnie¡¯s fault! She¡¯s always the reason why | get humiliated! Mom, don¡¯t you worry. This time. I¡¯m fully prepared to settle all scores with her once and for all!¡± ¡°We''ll wait for your good news, then,¡± Mrs. Hans said, feeling assured with her daughter at the helm of things. On Saturday night, Mnie told the driver to send her to the banquet. When she got out of the car, she immediately spotted Mr. Smith despite his bucket hat that covered half his face. ¡°Mr. Smith?¡± Mr. Smith heard her voice and turned back, the sharp look in his eyes turning gentle upon noticing her. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°I''m here to attend the banquet. What about you?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°I''m staying upstairs,¡± Mr. Smith said as he pointed to the guest room upstairs in the hotel. ¡°| heard the results of that photographypetition you participated in will be out soon?¡± Mnie asked with concern. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m very confident about the photos | took of Mr. Lindsey and you,¡± Mr. Smith said with a smile. ¡°I''ll treat you to a meal when | receive the good news.¡± He looked around, his eyes shing. ¡°| have something to attend to and need to run, I''ll call you.¡± He turned to go, looking as if he had something urgent to do. Mnie didn¡¯t think much of it. She smoothed out her gown and walked up the stairs. The moment she entered the banquet, she spotted Olivia. This time round, Olivia¡¯s gown was clearly the work of a famous designer. It looked elegant yet not over the top, which was rare of Olivia. Her essories and hairstyle were clearly done by a professional stylist. She had clearlye prepared. The strange thing was, she was standing all by herself in a corner. She had ignored all the outstanding male +15 BONUS Mnie found it suspicious, and made a mental note of it. She continued keeping an eye on Olivia even as she engaged in small talk with other industry yers. True to her expectations, she saw Olivia secretly talking to a service crew at the banquet, who handed something small to Olivia. They even looked up at the stage at the same time. When Olivia left the banquet hall to go to the washroom, Mnie deliberately walked to where Olivia was standing and looked up at the stage. That was when she saw an LED screen hidden overhead. An idea hit her as she walked backstage. She saw some crew members scuttling around, and asked, ¡°Is everything going well?¡± One of the crew members thought that this well-dressed woman talking to him was in the same team, and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve checked the big screen. Nothing will go wrong with the news you''ll be presentingter.¡± ¡°Don''t worry, miss. Your subordinate came by earlier to test-run the news report. Theputer is working well, too,¡± another crew member chimed in. News?Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Mnie blinked, but thanked them with a smile before leaving. She walked slowly so that she could eavesdrop on the conversation between the crew members. ¡°All the higher¡ªups really are multilingual elites. That news clip was in a foreignnguage. | didn¡¯t understand a single second of it.¡± ¡°| could only understand the picture in it. It¡¯s that woman who was nabbed by the foreign police, right?¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes widened with rm. She immediately pulled out her phone to call Annie to tell her that she saw Olivia at the banquet. Annie immediately became wary. ¡°Is she trying to cause you trouble again?¡± Annie said. ¡°I''m afraid you''ve got it right.¡± Mnie went on decisively, ¡°Help me check out foreign websites on news regarding the Angles¡® centennial celebration and the death of Charles Miller. See if you can find anything wrong in them.¡± Annie¡¯s private investigator was swift, and Annie had an answer for Mnie in no time. ¡°All the news reports stopped at stating you as the number one suspect. All subsequent news reports seem to have disappeared.¡± ¡°Well, | know what she¡¯s nning now.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Is it difficult to dig up all the vanished reports?¡± ¡°Nothing¡® too difficult for your sake,¡± Annie assured. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll ask my team to dig up the reports.¡± ¡°No rush. Wait for my cue before doing so.¡± Mnie took a deep breath, and went on, ¡°I need your help to dig up more aged foreign news. It¡¯s best if you can put them together in a coge disyed on a single page.¡± ¡°What news are you referring to?¡± 212 +15 BONUS Mnie found it suspicious, and made a mental note of it. She continued keeping an eye on Olivia even as she engaged in small talk with other industry yers. True to her expectations, she saw Olivia secretly talking to a service crew at the banquet, who handed something small to Olivia. They even looked up at the stage at the same time. When Olivia left the banquet hall to go to the washroom, Mnie deliberately walked to where Olivia was standing and looked up at the stage. That was when she saw an LED screen hidden overhead. An idea hit her as she walked backstage. She saw some crew members scuttling around, and asked, ¡°Is everything going well?¡± One of the crew members thought that this well-dressed woman talking to him was in the same team, and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve checked the big screen. Nothing will go wrong with the news you''ll be presentingter.¡± ¡°Don''t worry, miss. Your subordinate came by earlier to test-run the news report. Theputer is working well too,¡± another crew member chimed in. News? Mnie blinked, but thanked them with a smile before leaving. She walked slowly so that she could eavesdrop on the conversation between the crew members. ¡°All the higher¡ªups really are multilingual elites. That news clip was in a foreignnguage. | didn¡¯t understand a single second of it.¡± ¡°| could only understand the picture in it. It¡¯s that woman who was nabbed by the foreign police, right?¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes widened with rm. She immediately pulled out her phone to call Annie to tell her that she saw Olivia at the banquet. Annie immediately became wary. ¡°Is she trying to cause you trouble again?¡± Annie said. ¡°I''m afraid you''ve got it right.¡± Mnie went on decisively. ¡°Help me check out foreign websites on news regarding the Angles¡® centennial celebration and the death of Charles Miller. See if you can find anything wrong in them.¡± Annie¡¯s private investigator was swift, and Annie had an answer for Mnie in no time. ¡°All the news reports stopped at stating you as the number one suspect. All subsequent news reports seem to have disappeared.¡± ¡°Well, | know what she¡¯s nning now.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Is it difficult to dig up all the vanished reports?¡± ¡°Nothing¡® too difficult for your sake,¡± Annie assured. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll ask my team to dig up the reports.¡± ¡°No rush. Wait for my cue before doing so.¡± Mnie took a deep breath, and went on, ¡°I need your help to dig up more aged foreign news. It¡¯s best if you can put them together in a coge disyed on a single page.¡± ¡°What news are you referring to?¡± Chapter 287 She¡¯s Filthy Chapter 287 Chapter 287 She¡¯s Filthy +15 BONUS After hearing Mnie out, Annie chuckled over the phone. ¡°Someone¡¯s getting in hot soup this time!¡± ¡°This is the price for provoking me the moment she returned to Harbor City. Consider it a generous gift from me,¡± Mnie said indifferently. ¡°Mnie¡¯s unique gift of a harsh lesson. It''ll be a kicker!¡± Annie hung up with a chuckle. Mnie kept her phone and went to the washroom to freshen her makeup before emerging once more looking fabulous. Things were warming up in the banquet. Even Olivia, who had been trying to keep a low profile since the banquet, started to unt around like a peacock, exuding irrepressible charm. That was because a big shot had just arrived at the banquet hall. Mnie turned to see the impably clean and neat-looking man. She didn¡¯t expect to see Leo York here. Leo looked even fairer andnkier from afar. He asionally coughed into a napkin, looking like he was unwell. Many grandchildren of the Yorks died early, while those who managed to survive till adulthood suffered from physical ailments. Mnie had long heard about the family¡¯s condition, but these weaknesses weren''t considered so in the eyes of outsiders. It was the Yorks they were talking about, after all. The family had endless funds and connections that could help them extend their lives. Realization dawned upon Mnie how prepared Olivia was this time. She had ignored all other men because she was preparing herself for Mr. York. Yet, after hovering around Leo and trying many times amidst the romantic melody in the air, Olivia failed to get Leo to even nce at her. Instead, Leo noticed Mnie at a corner. He exchanged nces with Mnie, and walked over to her with a smile on his face. ¡°Ms. Jones, may | have this dance?¡± Leo reached out to her, gantly extending his harm to her. ¡°But of course.¡± Mnie reached out to put her hand in his. Gasps resounded in the hall. Did Mr. York used to know Mnie Jones? Why did he ask her for a dance? Their hands were about to touch in the air, drawing attention from the surrounding crowd. Suddenly, a disharmonious female voice broke the dreamy atmosphere in the air. ¡°Mr. York! You really shouldn''t be asking her for a dance!¡± Olivia strutted over on her limited edition heels as she nced at Mnie in disdain. +15 BONUS ¡°Who are you?¡± Leo was displeased. ¡°Who are you to dictate who | dance with?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who | am. You''ll understand why once | exin my reasons to you,¡± Olivia said with a wave of her hand. Someone behind her stepped forward, and handed her a small remote control. Olivia posed mboyantly as she pressed a button on the remote control. A news report shed onto the big screen, drawing everyone¡¯s attention to the photos featured on it. In the photo, Mnie was surrounded by Medonia policemen. People who were envious and jealous of her just seconds ago started whispering under their breaths. ¡°Awhile back, the president of Shadow Group, Mr. Charles Miller, died from an electric shock attack due to a taser. I¡¯m sure everyone has heard about that? Mnie Jones wasn''t far from Charles Miller when the attackOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org. urred. She''s the key suspect of this case! She was nabbed by the police, and she even got locked up!¡± Olivia narrated the news report as it yed on the big screen while the guests at the banquet watched on. It was a news report before the culprit confessed to his crime. Mnie was indeed reported to be the number one suspect of the case, and it corroborated with Olivia¡¯s ims. However, Olivia exaggerated the details. Everyone started to look at Mnie with increasing doubt. Leo¡¯s pale face darkened, as he sneered in frustration. ¡°Were you at the scene? Neither did you witness it with your own eyes, nor do you know what happened thereafter. You''re trying to frame Ms. Jones.¡± ¡°Mr. York, | know that you''re a germaphobe and cleanliness is of top priority for you. Do you think a woman like Mnie Jones, who¡¯s always involved in scandals and criminals, can be clean?¡± Olivia said. She refused to let things go, and continued to poke at Leo¡¯s heart with the words she had prepared since long ago. Leo wanted to say something further, but Mnie stepped forward and whispered into his ear, ¡°Mr. York, do you want to help me?¡± ¡°Of course, | do.¡± ¡°Please ask your subordinate to lend me aptop, then,¡± Mnie asked, calm and collected. Leo didn¡¯t understand what Mnie was doing, but he didn¡¯t question her. Instead, he instructed his subordinate to do as Mnie asked. Very soon, his subordinate came back with aptop in hand. Mnie swiftly sent a message to Annie. ¡°The time hase.¡± She lifted the hem of her skirt and bent over as her fingers flew across the keyboard. She navigated to the front page of a foreign news website... Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Need To Please her Olivia¡¯s arms were crossed, doubtful that Mnie could ruin her n. She had long paid people to suppress subsequent news of Mnie being cleared of suspicion and the true culorit confessing to his crime from various websites. It was impossible for anyone to find anything. Others had no idea what Mnie was doing, either. Leo signaled for his subordinate to step forward as he issued him an order, ¡°Prepare an exnation for Mnie Jones so she doesn¡¯t embarrass herself before the business circle in Harbor City.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± the subordinate immediately responded. ¡°This trip was absolutely necessary. But sir, have you thought of how you want to deal with her?¡± Leo¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Since Grandpa wants me to please her, I''ll do just that. | don¡¯t need to overthink. What¡¯s more. Grandpa doesn¡¯t seem to have a concrete idea on how to deal with her. He had the butler check on her background multiple times in secret. I¡¯m not sure what they''re plotting, but get your men to keep a close watch on things.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the subordinate responded in a low voice. ¡°Backstage crew, please help me out. | have a news report that I¡¯d like to show everyone, too,¡± Mnie said. Mnie and Annie worked quickly together to pull out the news report Mnie wanted. Mnie adjusted the disy, and went on, ¡°Or is the big screen here only for Ms. Hans¡¯s exclusive use? Do you have under¡ª the-table dealings with her? Shouldn¡¯t you treat all guests equally?¡± The moment she said that, the backstage crew showed no hesitation and quickly connected Mnie¡¯sptop to the screen. The page on herptop was projected on the big screen. Mnie clocked on the first foreign news report, which stated that she had been cleared of suspicion and that the true culprit had confessed to his crime. ¡°It''s true that the misfortune of Charles Miller¡¯s death happened at my family¡¯s centennial celebration. | was there at the scene, and can testify that Ms. Jones was only temporarily named as a suspect. She was never under detention by the police. The true culpritmitted the crime for revenge, and confessed afterward. This case has nothing to do with Ms. Jones!¡± Right at that moment, Leo stepped forward and spoke up for Mnie. All the guests who were whispering under their breaths gasped in surprise. Had it been a misunderstanding all along? The skeptical looks on the guests¡¯ faces made Mnie close the webpage and return to the main list of news reports. Just then, someone noticed a news report listed below. ¡°What''s that? Ms. Jones, did you represent the country at thepetition during the Angle family¡¯s centennial +15 BONUS Mnie clicked on the news report that the guest pointed out with feigned casualness. The article reported that she had represented the country inpeting against the olfactory talent sent by Charles in a scent¡ªdistinction match, and emerged victorious twice. In the photo featured in the news report all guests from the country who were present at the event were cheering and pping and showing thunderous support. ¡°Ms. Jones is so impressive, even with the Angles!¡± The looks that the banquet guests gave Mnie changed once more as their doubts over the news report that Mnie presented earlier dissipated. ¡°| was just stepping in to help. There were many other scent-¡ªdistinction experts present at that time.¡± Mnie smiled humbly as she closed the news webpage. Everyone tagged on what she said, and started ttering Leo. ¡°Of course, Mr. York was present at that time, and he has outstanding olfactory talent too! He¡¯s probably just too good to go head-to-head with Charles Miller, who was just itching for a challenge.¡± After all the ttery, someone noticed another article right at the bottom with the headlines: Olivia Hans, who nted spikes during an international socialite dinner and brought disorder to the event, will be held under detention and punished ording tow. ¡°What''s that article right at the bottom about?¡± One of the guests noticed the headline of the article, and pointed at it. When Olivia saw what was on the big screen, her vision blurred and her knees went weak. That was the article about her being jailed! It had been almost a year, during which her family had paid so many people to suppress the news. She thought all news of it had vanished, so how...? Olivia had earlier been frustrated about theck of professionalism the people she engaged with, who failed topletely suppress all news about the actual culprit behind Charles Miller¡¯s death. Now that she thought about it, Mnie had been the one behind all these. But how did Mnie guess what she had been nning? What on earth?! ¡°Olivia Hans did time in prison!¡± ¡°No wonder her family went abroad. They were worried about their prospects in Harbor City!¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°How dare she nder Ms. Jones! She¡¯s shameless!¡± Everyone started muttering under their breaths about Olivia. As she averted everyone¡¯s gazes, her attention fell on Leo. He rubbed his nose with a napkin in disdain. That look of disgust he shot Olivia made her want to dig a hole 2/3 +15 BONUS Chapter 289 ying With Their Lives Chapter 289 Chapter 289 ying With Their Lives Olivia no longer had the nerve to stay on. She lifted the hem of her dress and fled the scene, her limited edition crystal heels instantly bing a huge burden in her attempt to escape. It was raining outside the banquet hall. Olivia was afraid the crew might catch up to her with cameras in hand, and rushed into the rain in hopes of hailing a cab without bothering to shield herself from the rain. When she finally reached home, her haute couture gown had bepletely drenched. Her limited edition heels were completely ruined by the rain and mud. She lookedpletely disheveled and dreadful, Mrs. Hansforted her daughter while keeping an eye on the storm brewing online. Olivia¡¯s father, Nelson Hans, had been on the line with his brows furrowed, desperate to suppress all news about what happened to Olivia today. Tomorrow was the first day of the mountain bike cross-country race. Many domestic and international bigwigs would have their eyes on the Hans family. If they were to get upstaged by such embarrassing news at such a critical moment, all the effort the Hans family had put in during this period would go down the drain! ¡°Stay at home and don¡¯t go anywhere else during this period! Do you hear me?! If you dare do anything to ruin the cross-country race, | won''t spare you!¡± Nelson yelled angrily at Olivia, who started sobbing uncontrobly, unable to say a word. The next morning, Mnie was awakened by the howling wind. The official g¡ªoff for the mountain bike cross¡ªcountry race was at eight in the morning. She had been worried the entire night about the weather forecast, which predicted bad weather today. She didn¡¯t expect this morning¡¯s weather to be even worse than what the forecast predicted.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Her mind was on the situation at Mount Coloss, and she was slightly taken aback when she received a call from Quincy. ¡°Miss Jones, your help is probably needed at the mountain site.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Mnie asked anxiously, sensing the urgency in Quincy¡¯s voice. ¡°It''s getting very windy here, and the weather station warned that winds have reached level seven and are showing signs of getting stronger. There are even signs of rain here on the mountain, but the main organizer ispletely disregarding the warnings. ¡°The rescue workers that Johnson Corporation was supposed to assign to the various refreshment stations are all not in position, and | heard that they are apparently still resting at the base camp at the foot of the mountain. ¡°We don¡¯t have enough manpower here. | need your help to dispatch some people from the medical team here to help out.¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Sure. I¡¯m reaching the office soon. Tell me more about the situation on the mountain. I''ll prepare more supplies and bring them over as well.¡± After hanging up, Mnie rushed to the office. Aside from the medical team, she activated all strong, fit, and young people from other departments as well. It was thanks to the physical training that Jones Enterprise subjected its employees to annually, which also included wilderness survival training. That was why the administrative department had sufficient wilderness survival equipment such as tents, raincoats and warm clothes stored up. The employees swiftly gathered the supplies, and followed Mnie on the hugepany bus to Mount Coloss. When they arrived at the base camp at the foot of the mountain, they saw how lively things were there. The employees Johnson Corporation dispatched back to the country were gathered around the table with new recruits of the Hans family, ying card games. There was even a barbecue grill set up right next to them. with fragrant meat being grilled on the rack. Empty beer bottles strewn all over the floor served as proof of the merry they had been making. ¡°Mr. Hans!¡± Mnie charged angrily at Nelson, her eyes widened with rage. ¡°There has been a sudden change in the weather, and the bikers are suffering under the biting wind! That is a huge contrast from the warm and exuberant atmosphere I¡¯m seeing in this base camp right now!¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what the bikers want! They want something extreme and heart-stopping! | say, Mnie Jones. You''re an amateur who knows nothing. Please, just shut up!¡± Nelson was in a bad mood from what transpired yesterday, and was hoping for the opportunity to vent his anger at Mnie. Now that he had the chance, heshed out mercilessly at her. ¡°They''re thrill-seekers, but extreme sports and putting their lives at stake are twopletely different things!¡± Mnie tried to argue her case. ¡°Didn''t you see the weather forecast? There is an 80% chance of rain over the next two hours! We can close one eye if it''s just windy, but the moment it starts raining on the mountain, roads will be muddy and slippery and that will increase the likelihood of the bikes skidding and idents happening along the mountain roads. ¡°Not just that, but the body temperatures of the bikers might dip with the rain and the number of refreshment stations you¡¯ve set up ispletely insufficient. A tragedy like hypothermia, perhaps even resulting in death. might ur!¡± ¡°What? Hypothermia?¡± Nelson had never heard of that term in his life. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with a bit of rain? I''ve watched videos of mountain races abroad that were held in worse conditions than this. In fact, the poorer the conditions, the more fun it is!¡± ¡°Those races have much better and moreprehensive rescue supplies and resources avable. Did you look into that thoroughly? The premise of having fun in such extreme conditions is the trust that their lives are in good hands!¡± Mnie insisted. 415 BONUS Nelson didn¡¯t seem to fully understand where Mnie wasing from. He simply shook his head, determined to pit himself against her all the way. Mnie took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She didn¡¯te all the way here to fight with Nelson. The lives of the bikers on Mount Coloss were key. She had to think of another solution. Today''s Bonus Offer x GET IT NOW +15 BONUS Chapter 290 iming Credit Chapter 290 Chapter 290 iming Credit Nelson was the main organizer, yet he didn¡¯t understand the basic requirements of a mountain race. With this in mind, Mnie had to summarize the key points that she felt he would be able to understand or at least care about. ¡°Have you considered the fact that the bikers will be racing on mountain roads, and that if it were to start raining in the next two hours, a mudslide might ur that might put the bikers¡¯ lives in danger? If anything were to happen, would you and your men be able to drive in from the base camp to rescue the bikers in time?¡± Reason finally returned to Mr. Hans as he pondered over Mnie¡¯s words. The risk she described did exist on Mount Coloss. This was the first mission Johnson Corporation tasked him with. He had to do a good job and im credit for it. He couldn''t allow anything to go wrong under his watch. Nelson''s eyes narrowed as he waved his assistant over. ¡°Announce to everyone that there might be rain in two hours¡® time. Shorten the race by two hours! Make them start and end as fast as possible!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hans!¡± His subordinate was just about to leave to inform everyone about his instructions, when Mnie yelled at him. ¡°What nonsense!¡± Mnie grabbed hold of the assistant, and said furiously to Nelson. ¡°The race has already started, and the weather just took a sharp turn for the worse! How dare you cut short the race just like this? That¡¯s a fatal mistake!¡± ¡°Are you saying that you know better than | do?¡± Nelson hated people insinuating that he was an ignorant country bumpkin. He waved his assistant away, and instructed, ¡°Hurry up and announce the change! If this woman dares to breathe another word, chase her away!¡± Five minutester, Mnie and the team she brought were chased out of the base camp.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mnie? Were you chased out by them as well?¡± Aman¡¯s surprised voice sounded from behind. Mnie was shocked when she turned around and saw who it was. ¡°Mr. Smith? What what brings you here?¡± ¡°I''m here to take photos of Mount Coloss.¡± Mr. Smith was wearing a professional¡ªlooking outdoor sports attire and a tight-fitting hat. Mnie almost didn¡¯t recognize him amongst a crowd. Mr. Smith couldn¡¯t help butin to Mnie, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be able to catch a mountain race, | thought 143 +15 BONUS do they have to stop people with cameras from going up the mountain? They clearly engaged some reporters. They have cameras, too!¡± Mnie blinked as she nced toward the base camp. Those reporters were probably bribed by Nelson to report whatever he wanted, and ignore whatever he wanted to hide. She pulled out her phone, and refreshed the weather forecast. Looking up at the dark clouds rolling across the sky, an ominous feeling crept up her chest. ¡°Miss Mnie, what should we do now?¡± some people she brought along with her asked with concern. ¡°Do any of you know about such extreme mountain races?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°Is there a high likelihood of a fatal ident happening in such circumstances?¡± A middle-aged man approached her. ¡°| was involved in these sports when | was young. | don¡¯t dabble in this anymore, but | do pay attention to relevant news. I¡¯ve heard about idents urring during extremepetitions held abroad recently, mainly due to bad weather and insufficient safety measures put in ce by the organizers. The weather today doesn¡¯t look good.¡± ¡°Alright. I''ll send the map of today¡¯s mountain race to you. Since you have experience, assign our people to the various refreshment stations on the mountain, just in case something happens,¡± Mnie said decisively. The employee looked thoroughly at the race map that Quincy sent, and began assigning manpower and supplies to the various refreshment stations ording to the difficulty and risk level of each section of the racecourse. After he was done, Mnie said to everyone, ¡°Time is of the essence. Let¡¯s head off to the mountain with him as the lead!¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Mnie!¡± the employees of Jones Enterprise said with gusto. Mr. Smith tugged at Mnie¡¯s sleeve from behind. ¡°Hey! Take me with you!¡± ¡°The weather is terrible today, and the mountain roads are winding. What''s more, we might face critical situations where we have to rescue injured bikers. Are you sure you want toe along?¡± Mnie asked. Mr. Smith nodded without hesitation. ¡°My lenses don¡¯t just favor peaceful and serene scenes!¡± Mnie¡¯sshes trembled. She paused for a moment before nodding at Mr. Smith. ¡°So be it. Perhaps such wickedness has to be captured through the lenses and exposed to everyone. Otherwise, these organizers and sponsors profiteering against their conscience will never know the error of their ways. ¡°Keep your camera hidden. It''ll be best if you bring along portable filming equipment instead and follow right behind us. After entering the mountain, the roads might getplicated. | might not have the capacity to watch out for you. You''ll have to be careful,¡± Mnie reminded him. ¡°Don''t worry. | can¡¯t possibly be physically weaker than you are,¡± Mr. Smith dered confidently. 2/3 +15 BONUS With that, everyone boarded the bus and headed steadily up the mountain. In the base camp, Nelson¡¯s assistant hurriedly reported to him, ¡°President, Mnie Jones is arrogantly marching up the mountain, bringing a huge bunch of people to the refreshment stations! She¡¯s just trying to im credit for your work! Should we follow her and keep an eye on her?¡± ¡°It''ll be cold and harsh up there. Are you sure you want to go up the mountain?¡± Nelson nced coldly at him.¡± Have you taken care of the on-site media partners?¡± ¡°| did. They''ll send the content of their article to us.to review it before they publish it.¡± Nelson nodded, satisfied. ¡°Then just let them go up the mountain! There are no media partners up there, and it''s useless no matter how much of a front she puts up! A brat like her can do nothing to im Chapter 291 hapter 291 Extreme Weather The mountain roads were difficult to drive on. It began raining two hours after Jones Enterprise¡¯s vehicles entered the mountain, and the rain was escting into a storm. The leading vehicle stopped on the road and informed the vehicles behind him, ¡°Things are looking bad! We can¡¯t drive on the roads ahead and can only walk.*. ¡°Miss Mnie, are you okay with that? Why don¡¯t you return to the base camp and wait for our updates?¡± the leader asked. Mnie looked up the mountain, and said, ¡°We need all the help we can get. Don¡¯t worry, | have experience walking on mountain roads.¡± The leader nodded, and led everyone into the mountain with supplies on their backs. There were a total of six refreshment stations set up for this mountain race, and Quincy was assigned to the third one. The roads between the third and fourth refreshment points were the most rugged, with many steep rocky cliffs that were impossible for vehicles to pass. Rocks and sand covered the roads with no canopy overhead whatsoever, providing no shelter for the bikers from the storm that was only getting heavier by the minute. Mnie pulled out her phone, and hurriedly called Quincy before all signal was lost. ¡°I''ve brought everyone into the mountain. We''ll do our best to send resources and rescue workers to the third and fourth stations. We''re about to reach you soon!¡± ¡°Great! Pleasee quick, Miss Mnie. | won''t be waiting for you here, though.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°ording to my calctions, the bikers in front are now stuck on the roads in between these two refreshment stations. They¡¯re stranded right there, and we have to go look for them right now. Any dy might result in a fatal ident!¡± Quincy eximed anxiously. ¡°Okay,¡± Mnie agreed with his course of action. ¡°We''ve rescued some bikers at the back along our journey here. They are currently safe and sound in our buses. Please watch out for safety! We''re rushing over right now and should be ready to receive you and the bikers with supplies by the time you return.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Quincy hung up. Mnie looked up at the cold, pouring rain, which seemed to show signs of turning into hail. The temperature was gradually dipping, too. 1/2 ¡°Why is it so cold?¡± she asked. +15 BONUSBelongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The leader asked, ¡°Do you feel cold, Miss Mnie? Do you want to put on another set of thermal wear?¡± Mnie shook her head. ¡°I can take this. I¡¯m just curious why the temperature dropped so much. The drop seems more drastic than what¡¯s expected at high altitudes...¡± The leader pulled out his outdoor thermometer, and was shocked when he saw the temperature registered on it. ¡°Miss Mnie, you''re right. I''m afraid we''re encountering a rare case of extreme weather and a drastic drop in temperatures.....¡± Mnie was wrapped up tight in her raincoat as she looked ahead of her. ¡°Let¡¯s pick up the pace, then. It''s getting too tough on the bikers.¡± With that, she walked faster and tried not to slow down the men in the team. After walking a distance, she and her team saw a small ridge right in front of them, with a blue fabric pping wildly in the wind and rain. ¡°Go over and see if there¡¯s anyone there.¡± Mnie instructed. A few men walked over and surveyed the area before turning back to wave at them. ¡°There are people here!¡± Everyone ran over and worked together to pull out the people stuck in the ridge, which totaled to a shocking six people. ¡°The refreshment station is up ahead. Why are you guys hiding in here?¡± Mnie asked, puzzled. ¡°We heard that the organizer didn¡¯t provide any supplies and heating facilities at the refreshment stations, so it''s pointless to go there. We''d rather reserve energy and hide out the storm here,¡± a biker said through shivers. ¡°Quick, take this raincoat and have some food,¡± Mnie said as she started distributing raincoats and choctes to the six of them. ¡°We brought manpower and supplies with us. The refreshment station isn¡¯t going to be empty. Come with me.¡± ¡°Are you the organizers?¡± one of the bikers asked with tears brimming in his eyes as he ate. ¡°No. We are from Jones Enterprise, one of the sponsors. Come on.¡± Mnie didn¡¯t say anything further, and instead had her colleagues help the six bikers.who were nearly frozen trudge ahead. Mr. Smith stood poised behind them with his camera...... ¡°Do you know how many people are ahead of you? My colleague estimated that there might still be some people near the next refreshment station,¡± Mnie asked as they walked on. One of the bikers said in a hoarse and trembling voice, ¡°We''re considered rather ahead in the race, but as for the experts right in front... | think there might be over 20 of them... We ourselves are almost frozen... | can¡¯t imagine the state they''re in right now, having exerted more strength than we did and without any ridges ahead where they can hide from the storm... Would they already be...?¡± +15 BONUS Chapter 292 Stay Here, I''ll Go Chapter 292 hapter 291 Extreme Weather The mountain roads were difficult to drive on. It began raining two hours after Jones Enterprise¡¯s vehicles entered the mountain, and the rain was escting into a storm. The leading vehicle stopped on the road and informed the vehicles behind him, ¡°Things are looking bad! We can¡¯t drive on the roads ahead and can only walk.*. ¡°Miss Mnie, are you okay with that? Why don¡¯t you return to the base camp and wait for our updates?¡± the leader asked. Mnie looked up the mountain, and said, ¡°We need all the help we can get. Don¡¯t worry, | have experience walking on mountain roads.¡± The leader nodded, and led everyone into the mountain with supplies on their backs. There were a total of six refreshment stations set up for this mountain race, and Quincy was assigned to the third one. The roads between the third and fourth refreshment points were the most rugged, with many steep rocky cliffs that were impossible for vehicles to pass. Rocks and sand covered the roads with no canopy overhead whatsoever, providing no shelter for the bikers from the storm that was only getting heavier by the minute. Mnie pulled out her phone, and hurriedly called Quincy before all signal was lost. ¡°I''ve brought everyone into the mountain. We''ll do our best to send resources and rescue workers to the third and fourth stations. We''re about to reach you soon!¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°Great! Pleasee quick, Miss Mnie. | won''t be waiting for you here, though.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°ording to my calctions, the bikers in front are now stuck on the roads in between these two refreshment stations. They¡¯re stranded right there, and we have to go look for them right now. Any dy might result in a fatal ident!¡± Quincy eximed anxiously. ¡°Okay,¡± Mnie agreed with his course of action. ¡°We''ve rescued some bikers at the back along our journey here. They are currently safe and sound in our buses. Please watch out for safety! We''re rushing over right now and should be ready to receive you and the bikers with supplies by the time you return.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Quincy hung up. Mnie looked up at the cold, pouring rain, which seemed to show signs of turning into hail. The temperature was gradually dipping, too. 1/2 ¡°Why is it so cold?¡± she asked. +15 BONUS The leader asked, ¡°Do you feel cold, Miss Mnie? Do you want to put on another set of thermal wear?¡± Mnie shook her head. ¡°I can take this. I¡¯m just curious why the temperature dropped so much. The drop seems more drastic than what¡¯s expected at high altitudes...¡± The leader pulled out his outdoor thermometer, and was shocked when he saw the temperature registered on it. ¡°Miss Mnie, you''re right. I''m afraid we''re encountering a rare case of extreme weather and a drastic drop in temperatures.....¡± Mnie was wrapped up tight in her raincoat as she looked ahead of her. ¡°Let¡¯s pick up the pace, then. It''s getting too tough on the bikers.¡± With that, she walked faster and tried not to slow down the men in the team. After walking a distance, she and her team saw a small ridge right in front of them, with a blue fabric pping wildly in the wind and rain. ¡°Go over and see if there¡¯s anyone there.¡± Mnie instructed. A few men walked over and surveyed the area before turning back to wave at them. ¡°There are people here!¡± Everyone ran over and worked together to pull out the people stuck in the ridge, which totaled to a shocking six people. ¡°The refreshment station is up ahead. Why are you guys hiding in here?¡± Mnie asked, puzzled. ¡°We heard that the organizer didn¡¯t provide any supplies and heating facilities at the refreshment stations, so it''s pointless to go there. We''d rather reserve energy and hide out the storm here,¡± a biker said through shivers. ¡°Quick, take this raincoat and have some food,¡± Mnie said as she started distributing raincoats and choctes to the six of them. ¡°We brought manpower and supplies with us. The refreshment station isn¡¯t going to be empty. Come with me.¡± ¡°Are you the organizers?¡± one of the bikers asked with tears brimming in his eyes as he ate. ¡°No. We are from Jones Enterprise, one of the sponsors. Come on.¡± Mnie didn¡¯t say anything further, and instead had her colleagues help the six bikers.who were nearly frozen trudge ahead. Mr. Smith stood poised behind them with his camera...... ¡°Do you know how many people are ahead of you? My colleague estimated that there might still be some people near the next refreshment station,¡± Mnie asked as they walked on. One of the bikers said in a hoarse and trembling voice, ¡°We''re considered rather ahead in the race, but as for the experts right in front... | think there might be over 20 of them... We ourselves are almost frozen... | can¡¯t imagine the state they''re in right now, having exerted more strength than we did and without any ridges ahead where they can hide from the storm... Would they already be...?¡± +15 BONUS Chapter 292 Stay Here, I''ll Go Chapter 293 hapter 291 Extreme Weather The mountain roads were difficult to drive on. It began raining two hours after Jones Enterprise¡¯s vehicles entered the mountain, and the rain was escting into a storm. The leading vehicle stopped on the road and informed the vehicles behind him, ¡°Things are looking bad! We can¡¯t drive on the roads ahead and can only walk.*. ¡°Miss Mnie, are you okay with that? Why don¡¯t you return to the base camp and wait for our updates?¡± the leader asked. Mnie looked up the mountain, and said, ¡°We need all the help we can get. Don¡¯t worry, | have experience walking on mountain roads.¡± The leader nodded, and led everyone into the mountain with supplies on their backs. There were a total of six refreshment stations set up for this mountain race, and Quincy was assigned to the third one.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. The roads between the third and fourth refreshment points were the most rugged, with many steep rocky cliffs that were impossible for vehicles to pass. Rocks and sand covered the roads with no canopy overhead whatsoever, providing no shelter for the bikers from the storm that was only getting heavier by the minute. Mnie pulled out her phone, and hurriedly called Quincy before all signal was lost. ¡°I''ve brought everyone into the mountain. We''ll do our best to send resources and rescue workers to the third and fourth stations. We''re about to reach you soon!¡± ¡°Great! Pleasee quick, Miss Mnie. | won''t be waiting for you here, though.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°ording to my calctions, the bikers in front are now stuck on the roads in between these two refreshment stations. They¡¯re stranded right there, and we have to go look for them right now. Any dy might result in a fatal ident!¡± Quincy eximed anxiously. ¡°Okay,¡± Mnie agreed with his course of action. ¡°We''ve rescued some bikers at the back along our journey here. They are currently safe and sound in our buses. Please watch out for safety! We''re rushing over right now and should be ready to receive you and the bikers with supplies by the time you return.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Quincy hung up. Mnie looked up at the cold, pouring rain, which seemed to show signs of turning into hail. The temperature was gradually dipping, too. 1/2 ¡°Why is it so cold?¡± she asked. +15 BONUS The leader asked, ¡°Do you feel cold, Miss Mnie? Do you want to put on another set of thermal wear?¡± Mnie shook her head. ¡°I can take this. I¡¯m just curious why the temperature dropped so much. The drop seems more drastic than what¡¯s expected at high altitudes...¡± The leader pulled out his outdoor thermometer, and was shocked when he saw the temperature registered on it. ¡°Miss Mnie, you''re right. I''m afraid we''re encountering a rare case of extreme weather and a drastic drop in temperatures.....¡± Mnie was wrapped up tight in her raincoat as she looked ahead of her. ¡°Let¡¯s pick up the pace, then. It''s getting too tough on the bikers.¡± With that, she walked faster and tried not to slow down the men in the team. After walking a distance, she and her team saw a small ridge right in front of them, with a blue fabric pping wildly in the wind and rain. ¡°Go over and see if there¡¯s anyone there.¡± Mnie instructed. A few men walked over and surveyed the area before turning back to wave at them. ¡°There are people here!¡± Everyone ran over and worked together to pull out the people stuck in the ridge, which totaled to a shocking six people. ¡°The refreshment station is up ahead. Why are you guys hiding in here?¡± Mnie asked, puzzled. ¡°We heard that the organizer didn¡¯t provide any supplies and heating facilities at the refreshment stations, so it''s pointless to go there. We''d rather reserve energy and hide out the storm here,¡± a biker said through shivers. ¡°Quick, take this raincoat and have some food,¡± Mnie said as she started distributing raincoats and choctes to the six of them. ¡°We brought manpower and supplies with us. The refreshment station isn¡¯t going to be empty. Come with me.¡± ¡°Are you the organizers?¡± one of the bikers asked with tears brimming in his eyes as he ate. ¡°No. We are from Jones Enterprise, one of the sponsors. Come on.¡± Mnie didn¡¯t say anything further, and instead had her colleagues help the six bikers.who were nearly frozen trudge ahead. Mr. Smith stood poised behind them with his camera...... ¡°Do you know how many people are ahead of you? My colleague estimated that there might still be some people near the next refreshment station,¡± Mnie asked as they walked on. One of the bikers said in a hoarse and trembling voice, ¡°We''re considered rather ahead in the race, but as for the experts right in front... | think there might be over 20 of them... We ourselves are almost frozen... | can¡¯t imagine the state they''re in right now, having exerted more strength than we did and without any ridges ahead where they can hide from the storm... Would they already be...?¡± +15 BONUS Chapter 292 Stay Here, I''ll Go Chapter 294 hapter 291 Extreme Weather The mountain roads were difficult to drive on. It began raining two hours after Jones Enterprise¡¯s vehicles entered the mountain, and the rain was escting into a storm. The leading vehicle stopped on the road and informed the vehicles behind him, ¡°Things are looking bad! We can¡¯t drive on the roads ahead and can only walk.*. ¡°Miss Mnie, are you okay with that? Why don¡¯t you return to the base camp and wait for our updates?¡± the leader asked. Mnie looked up the mountain, and said, ¡°We need all the help we can get. Don¡¯t worry, | have experience walking on mountain roads.¡± The leader nodded, and led everyone into the mountain with supplies on their backs. There were a total of six refreshment stations set up for this mountain race, and Quincy was assigned to the third one. The roads between the third and fourth refreshment points were the most rugged, with many steep rocky cliffs that were impossible for vehicles to pass. Rocks and sand covered the roads with no canopy overhead whatsoever, providing no shelter for the bikers from the storm that was only getting heavier by the minute. Mnie pulled out her phone, and hurriedly called Quincy before all signal was lost. ¡°I''ve brought everyone into the mountain. We''ll do our best to send resources and rescue workers to the third and fourth stations. We''re about to reach you soon!¡± ¡°Great! Pleasee quick, Miss Mnie. | won''t be waiting for you here, though.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°ording to my calctions, the bikers in front are now stuck on the roads in between these two refreshment stations. They¡¯re stranded right there, and we have to go look for them right now. Any dy might result in a fatal ident!¡± Quincy eximed anxiously. ¡°Okay,¡± Mnie agreed with his course of action. ¡°We''ve rescued some bikers at the back along our journey here. They are currently safe and sound in our buses. Please watch out for safety! We''re rushing over right now and should be ready to receive you and the bikers with supplies by the time you return.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Got it!¡± Quincy hung up. Mnie looked up at the cold, pouring rain, which seemed to show signs of turning into hail. The temperature was gradually dipping, too. 1/2 ¡°Why is it so cold?¡± she asked. +15 BONUS The leader asked, ¡°Do you feel cold, Miss Mnie? Do you want to put on another set of thermal wear?¡± Mnie shook her head. ¡°I can take this. I¡¯m just curious why the temperature dropped so much. The drop seems more drastic than what¡¯s expected at high altitudes...¡± The leader pulled out his outdoor thermometer, and was shocked when he saw the temperature registered on it. ¡°Miss Mnie, you''re right. I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re encountering a rare case of extreme weather and a drastic drop in temperatures.....¡± Mnie was wrapped up tight in her raincoat as she looked ahead of her. ¡°Let¡¯s pick up the pace, then. It''s getting too tough on the bikers.¡± With that, she walked faster and tried not to slow down the men in the team. After walking a distance, she and her team saw a small ridge right in front of them, with a blue fabric pping wildly in the wind and rain. ¡°Go over and see if there¡¯s anyone there.¡± Mnie instructed. A few men walked over and surveyed the area before turning back to wave at them. ¡°There are people here!¡± Everyone ran over and worked together to pull out the people stuck in the ridge, which totaled to a shocking six people. ¡°The refreshment station is up ahead. Why are you guys hiding in here?¡± Mnie asked, puzzled. ¡°We heard that the organizer didn¡¯t provide any supplies and heating facilities at the refreshment stations, so it''s pointless to go there. We''d rather reserve energy and hide out the storm here,¡± a biker said through shivers. ¡°Quick, take this raincoat and have some food,¡± Mnie said as she started distributing raincoats and choctes to the six of them. ¡°We brought manpower and supplies with us. The refreshment station isn¡¯t going to be empty. Come with me.¡± ¡°Are you the organizers?¡± one of the bikers asked with tears brimming in his eyes as he ate. ¡°No. We are from Jones Enterprise, one of the sponsors. Come on.¡± Mnie didn¡¯t say anything further, and instead had her colleagues help the six bikers.who were nearly frozen trudge ahead. Mr. Smith stood poised behind them with his camera...... ¡°Do you know how many people are ahead of you? My colleague estimated that there might still be some people near the next refreshment station,¡± Mnie asked as they walked on. One of the bikers said in a hoarse and trembling voice, ¡°We''re considered rather ahead in the race, but as for the experts right in front... | think there might be over 20 of them... We ourselves are almost frozen... | can¡¯t imagine the state they''re in right now, having exerted more strength than we did and without any ridges ahead where they can hide from the storm... Would they already be...?¡± +15 BONUS Chapter 292 Stay Here, I''ll Go Chapter 295 hapter 291 Extreme Weather The mountain roads were difficult to drive on. It began raining two hours after Jones Enterprise¡¯s vehicles entered the mountain, and the rain was escting into a storm. The leading vehicle stopped on the road and informed the vehicles behind him, ¡°Things are looking bad! We can¡¯t drive on the roads ahead and can only walk.*. ¡°Miss Mnie, are you okay with that? Why don¡¯t you return to the base camp and wait for our updates?¡± the leader asked. Mnie looked up the mountain, and said, ¡°We need all the help we can get. Don¡¯t worry, | have experience walking on mountain roads.¡± The leader nodded, and led everyone into the mountain with supplies on their backs. There were a total of six refreshment stations set up for this mountain race, and Quincy was assigned to the third one. The roads between the third and fourth refreshment points were the most rugged, with many steep rocky cliffs that were impossible for vehicles to pass. Rocks and sand covered the roads with no canopy overhead whatsoever, providing no shelter for the bikers from the storm that was only getting heavier by the minute. Mnie pulled out her phone, and hurriedly called Quincy before all signal was lost. ¡°I''ve brought everyone into the mountain. We''ll do our best to send resources and rescue workers to the third and fourth stations. We''re about to reach you soon!¡± ¡°Great! Pleasee quick, Miss Mnie. | won''t be waiting for you here, though.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°ording to my calctions, the bikers in front are now stuck on the roads in between these two refreshment stations. They¡¯re stranded right there, and we have to go look for them right now. Any dy might result in a fatal ident!¡± Quincy eximed anxiously. ¡°Okay,¡± Mnie agreed with his course of action. ¡°We''ve rescued some bikers at the back along our journey here. They are currently safe and sound in our buses. Please watch out for safety! We''re rushing over right now and should be ready to receive you and the bikers with supplies by the time you return.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Quincy hung up. Mnie looked up at the cold, pouring rain, which seemed to show signs of turning into hail. The temperature was gradually dipping, too. 1/2 ¡°Why is it so cold?¡± she asked. +15 BONUS The leader asked, ¡°Do you feel cold, Miss Mnie? Do you want to put on another set of thermal wear?¡± Mnie shook her head. ¡°I can take this. I¡¯m just curious why the temperature dropped so much. The drop seems more drastic than what¡¯s expected at high altitudes...¡± The leader pulled out his outdoor thermometer, and was shocked when he saw the temperature registered on it. ¡°Miss Mnie, you''re right. I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re encountering a rare case of extreme weather and a drastic drop in temperatures.....¡± Mnie was wrapped up tight in her raincoat as she looked ahead of her. ¡°Let¡¯s pick up the pace, then. It¡¯s getting too tough on the bikers.¡± With that, she walked faster and tried not to slow down the men in the team. After walking a distance, she and her team saw a small ridge right in front of them, with a blue fabric pping wildly in the wind and rain. ¡°Go over and see if there¡¯s anyone there.¡± Mnie instructed. A few men walked over and surveyed the area before turning back to wave at them. ¡°There are people here!¡± Everyone ran over and worked together to pull out the people stuck in the ridge, which totaled to a shocking six people. ¡°The refreshment station is up ahead. Why are you guys hiding in here?¡± Mnie asked, puzzled. ¡°We heard that the organizer didn¡¯t provide any supplies and heating facilities at the refreshment stations, so it''s pointless to go there. We''d rather reserve energy and hide out the storm here,¡± a biker said through shivers. ¡°Quick, take this raincoat and have some food,¡± Mnie said as she started distributing raincoats and choctes to the six of them. ¡°We brought manpower and supplies with us. The refreshment station isn¡¯t going to be empty. Come with me.¡± ¡°Are you the organizers?¡± one of the bikers asked with tears brimming in his eyes as he ate.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No. We are from Jones Enterprise, one of the sponsors. Come on.¡± Mnie didn¡¯t say anything further, and instead had her colleagues help the six bikers.who were nearly frozen trudge ahead. Mr. Smith stood poised behind them with his camera...... ¡°Do you know how many people are ahead of you? My colleague estimated that there might still be some people near the next refreshment station,¡± Mnie asked as they walked on. One of the bikers said in a hoarse and trembling voice, ¡°We''re considered rather ahead in the race, but as for the experts right in front... | think there might be over 20 of them... We ourselves are almost frozen... | can¡¯t imagine the state they''re in right now, having exerted more strength than we did and without any ridges ahead where they can hide from the storm... Would they already be...?¡± +15 BONUS Chapter 292 Stay Here, I''ll Go Chapter 296 hapter 291 Extreme Weather The mountain roads were difficult to drive on. It began raining two hours after Jones Enterprise¡¯s vehicles entered the mountain, and the rain was escting into a storm. The leading vehicle stopped on the road and informed the vehicles behind him, ¡°Things are looking bad! We can¡¯t drive on the roads ahead and can only walk.*. ¡°Miss Mnie, are you okay with that? Why don¡¯t you return to the base camp and wait for our updates?¡± the leader asked. Mnie looked up the mountain, and said, ¡°We need all the help we can get. Don¡¯t worry, | have experience walking on mountain roads.¡± The leader nodded, and led everyone into the mountain with supplies on their backs. There were a total of six refreshment stations set up for this mountain race, and Quincy was assigned to the third one. The roads between the third and fourth refreshment points were the most rugged, with many steep rocky cliffs that were impossible for vehicles to pass. Rocks and sand covered the roads with no canopy overhead whatsoever, providing no shelter for the bikers from the storm that was only getting heavier by the minute. Mnie pulled out her phone, and hurriedly called Quincy before all signal was lost. ¡°I''ve brought everyone into the mountain. We''ll do our best to send resources and rescue workers to the third and fourth stations. We''re about to reach you soon!¡± ¡°Great! Pleasee quick, Miss Mnie. | won''t be waiting for you here, though.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°ording to my calctions, the bikers in front are now stuck on the roads in between these two refreshment stations. They¡¯re stranded right there, and we have to go look for them right now. Any dy might result in a fatal ident!¡± Quincy eximed anxiously. ¡°Okay,¡± Mnie agreed with his course of action.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°We''ve rescued some bikers at the back along our journey here. They are currently safe and sound in our buses. Please watch out for safety! We''re rushing over right now and should be ready to receive you and the bikers with supplies by the time you return.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Quincy hung up. Mnie looked up at the cold, pouring rain, which seemed to show signs of turning into hail. The temperature was gradually dipping, too. 1/2 ¡°Why is it so cold?¡± she asked. +15 BONUS The leader asked, ¡°Do you feel cold, Miss Mnie? Do you want to put on another set of thermal wear?¡± Mnie shook her head. ¡°I can take this. I¡¯m just curious why the temperature dropped so much. The drop seems more drastic than what¡¯s expected at high altitudes...¡± The leader pulled out his outdoor thermometer, and was shocked when he saw the temperature registered on it. ¡°Miss Mnie, you''re right. I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re encountering a rare case of extreme weather and a drastic drop in temperatures.....¡± Mnie was wrapped up tight in her raincoat as she looked ahead of her. ¡°Let¡¯s pick up the pace, then. It¡¯s getting too tough on the bikers.¡± With that, she walked faster and tried not to slow down the men in the team. After walking a distance, she and her team saw a small ridge right in front of them, with a blue fabric pping wildly in the wind and rain. ¡°Go over and see if there¡¯s anyone there.¡± Mnie instructed. A few men walked over and surveyed the area before turning back to wave at them. ¡°There are people here!¡± Everyone ran over and worked together to pull out the people stuck in the ridge, which totaled to a shocking six people. ¡°The refreshment station is up ahead. Why are you guys hiding in here?¡± Mnie asked, puzzled. ¡°We heard that the organizer didn¡¯t provide any supplies and heating facilities at the refreshment stations, so it''s pointless to go there. We''d rather reserve energy and hide out the storm here,¡± a biker said through shivers. ¡°Quick, take this raincoat and have some food,¡± Mnie said as she started distributing raincoats and choctes to the six of them. ¡°We brought manpower and supplies with us. The refreshment station isn¡¯t going to be empty. Come with me.¡± ¡°Are you the organizers?¡± one of the bikers asked with tears brimming in his eyes as he ate. ¡°No. We are from Jones Enterprise, one of the sponsors. Come on.¡± Mnie didn¡¯t say anything further, and instead had her colleagues help the six bikers.who were nearly frozen trudge ahead. Mr. Smith stood poised behind them with his camera...... ¡°Do you know how many people are ahead of you? My colleague estimated that there might still be some people near the next refreshment station,¡± Mnie asked as they walked on. One of the bikers said in a hoarse and trembling voice, ¡°We''re considered rather ahead in the race, but as for the experts right in front... | think there might be over 20 of them... We ourselves are almost frozen... | can¡¯t imagine the state they''re in right now, having exerted more strength than we did and without any ridges ahead where they can hide from the storm... Would they already be...?¡± +15 BONUS Chapter 292 Stay Here, I''ll Go Chapter 297 hapter 291 Extreme Weather The mountain roads were difficult to drive on. It began raining two hours after Jones Enterprise¡¯s vehicles entered the mountain, and the rain was escting into a storm. The leading vehicle stopped on the road and informed the vehicles behind him, ¡°Things are looking bad! We can¡¯t drive on the roads ahead and can only walk.*. ¡°Miss Mnie, are you okay with that? Why don¡¯t you return to the base camp and wait for our updates?¡± the leader asked. Mnie looked up the mountain, and said, ¡°We need all the help we can get. Don¡¯t worry, | have experience walking on mountain roads.¡± The leader nodded, and led everyone into the mountain with supplies on their backs. There were a total of six refreshment stations set up for this mountain race, and Quincy was assigned to the third one. The roads between the third and fourth refreshment points were the most rugged, with many steep rocky cliffs that were impossible for vehicles to pass. Rocks and sand covered the roads with no canopy overhead whatsoever, providing no shelter for the bikers from the storm that was only getting heavier by the minute. Mnie pulled out her phone, and hurriedly called Quincy before all signal was lost. ¡°I''ve brought everyone into the mountain. We''ll do our best to send resources and rescue workers to the third and fourth stations. We''re about to reach you soon!¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Great! Pleasee quick, Miss Mnie. | won''t be waiting for you here, though.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°ording to my calctions, the bikers in front are now stuck on the roads in between these two refreshment stations. They¡¯re stranded right there, and we have to go look for them right now. Any dy might result in a fatal ident!¡± Quincy eximed anxiously. ¡°Okay,¡± Mnie agreed with his course of action. ¡°We''ve rescued some bikers at the back along our journey here. They are currently safe and sound in our buses. Please watch out for safety! We''re rushing over right now and should be ready to receive you and the bikers with supplies by the time you return.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Quincy hung up. Mnie looked up at the cold, pouring rain, which seemed to show signs of turning into hail. The temperature was gradually dipping, too. 1/2 ¡°Why is it so cold?¡± she asked. +15 BONUS The leader asked, ¡°Do you feel cold, Miss Mnie? Do you want to put on another set of thermal wear?¡± Mnie shook her head. ¡°I can take this. I¡¯m just curious why the temperature dropped so much. The drop seems more drastic than what¡¯s expected at high altitudes...¡± The leader pulled out his outdoor thermometer, and was shocked when he saw the temperature registered on it. ¡°Miss Mnie, you''re right. I¡¯m afraid we''re encountering a rare case of extreme weather and a drastic drop in temperatures.....¡± Mnie was wrapped up tight in her raincoat as she looked ahead of her. ¡°Let¡¯s pick up the pace, then. It¡¯s getting too tough on the bikers.¡± With that, she walked faster and tried not to slow down the men in the team. After walking a distance, she and her team saw a small ridge right in front of them, with a blue fabric pping wildly in the wind and rain. ¡°Go over and see if there¡¯s anyone there.¡± Mnie instructed. A few men walked over and surveyed the area before turning back to wave at them. ¡°There are people here!¡± Everyone ran over and worked together to pull out the people stuck in the ridge, which totaled to a shocking six people. ¡°The refreshment station is up ahead. Why are you guys hiding in here?¡± Mnie asked, puzzled. ¡°We heard that the organizer didn¡¯t provide any supplies and heating facilities at the refreshment stations, so it''s pointless to go there. We''d rather reserve energy and hide out the storm here,¡± a biker said through shivers. ¡°Quick, take this raincoat and have some food,¡± Mnie said as she started distributing raincoats and choctes to the six of them. ¡°We brought manpower and supplies with us. The refreshment station isn¡¯t going to be empty. Come with me.¡± ¡°Are you the organizers?¡± one of the bikers asked with tears brimming in his eyes as he ate. ¡°No. We are from Jones Enterprise, one of the sponsors. Come on.¡± Mnie didn¡¯t say anything further, and instead had her colleagues help the six bikers.who were nearly frozen trudge ahead. Mr. Smith stood poised behind them with his camera...... ¡°Do you know how many people are ahead of you? My colleague estimated that there might still be some people near the next refreshment station,¡± Mnie asked as they walked on. One of the bikers said in a hoarse and trembling voice, ¡°We''re considered rather ahead in the race, but as for the experts right in front... | think there might be over 20 of them... We ourselves are almost frozen... | can¡¯t imagine the state they''re in right now, having exerted more strength than we did and without any ridges ahead where they can hide from the storm... Would they already be...?¡± +15 BONUS Chapter 292 Stay Here, I''ll Go Chapter 298 Chapter 298 The One To me +15 BONUS With that, Jeffrey looked away from the cameras to the entrance of the base camp. There, he saw Mnie drying her hair with a towel. He pushed the crowd away and walked over, leaning in to her to ask, ¡°These reporters are lying through their teeth. What do you n on doing? Do you need me to step in?¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Mnie looked up into Jeffrey¡¯s solemn eyes, and said. ¡°I have a n in mind.¡± It was as Jeffrey had expected, yet he felt helpless about it. ¡°We''ll be apanying the bikers with minor injuries to the hospitalter. Go off if you have something else to attend to,¡± Mnie said after looking around them. There were many reporters and cameras around. She didn¡¯t want the media finding out about their rtionship. Jeffrey nodded in agreement. He had long gotten used to Mnie¡¯s heartlessness in casting him aside once she was done using him. After the ident on the mountain, various media outlets in Harbor City rushed to Mount Coloss to report on the situation and interview relevant people upon getting wind of what happened. All the injured bikers were receiving treatment at Mount Coloss Hospital Mnie and the other rescue workers were at the hospital as well, receiving treatment for their surficial wounds. Nelson rushed to the hospital with his organizing team to put up an act of being worried and attracting the attention of hordes of reporters who scrambled to interview him. ¡°Mr. Hans, why do the statements of the hospital and the base camp of the race not match?¡± ¡°The hospital states that two bikers were injured for so long that their legs have to be amputated! Yet, the reporters stationed at the base camp said they didn¡¯t capture any footage of any high-risk situation. If there weren¡¯t any high-risk situations, how did they sustain such grievous injuries?¡± ¡°Bikers were severely injured and treatment was dyed to the point of requiring amputation. Was it because the rescue workers at the refreshment stations did not rescue them in time?¡± Nelson, whose chest was puffed up with confidence, saidd, ¡°Well, everyone knows that doctors tend to describe the worst-case scenarios. The bikers aren''t actually that badly injured. ¡°The base camp announced changes in the racecourse, and even dispatched its rescue teams the moment it received severe weather warnings. It was unfortunate that we encounteredndslides during the rescue and our vehicle was unable to go up the mountain. That was why we were dyed in rescuing the bikers...¡± ¡°But Mr. Hans, based on our understanding, when the ident happened, Jones Enterprise¡¯s medical team was in the mountain. They were the ones who saved many bikers. Jones Enterprise is just a sponsor for the event, but why did they manage to go up the mountain and carry out rescue efforts while the organizer remained stuck far away at the base camp?¡± the reporter asked. 1/2 +15 BONUS Nelson inhaled sharply as his eyes narrowed. ¡®Mnie Jones! How dare she im credit from me! Since she insists on interfering, don¡¯t me me for being nasty.¡¯ Nelson sighed, and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to say this, since we''re allpanies based in Harbor City and harmony amongst us is key. But since you asked. To be honest, the organizer¡¯s rescue team was dyed from going up the mountain to support the bikers precisely because Jones Enterprise¡¯s vehicle was in the way. ¡°A bunch of youngsters from Jones Enterprise have a penchant for extreme sports. They disregarded our advice, and insisted on checking out the racecourse of this professional mountain bike race. If it weren¡¯t for them, rescue efforts wouldn¡¯t have been dyed for so long!¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what happened!¡± ¡°So Jones Enterprise is the one to me for this incident?¡± The reporters started chattering on, some of them ready to start writing their article and publishing it online to start a crusade. ¡°Since Mr. Hans has exined what happened, of course Jones Enterprise is the one to me!¡± Just then, the crowd parted to give way to John White, who was escorted by two bodyguards ahead of him. He strutted confidently to the cameras and dered, ¡°It¡¯s incorrigible how they treat the race like it¡¯s a game!¡± ¡°President White?¡± The reporters saw Jones Enterprise¡¯s long-time rival appear at the scene, and immediately surrounded John.¡± Why isn¡¯t White Group on the list of sponsors for this mountain bike race? Do you have the low¡ªdown on what happened?¡± ¡°| personally don¡¯t understand the technicalities of the mountain bike race itself. I¡¯m not as passionate as Miss Mnie in visiting the racecourse to take some photos and share it on social media. Since there are limited slots in the list of sponsors, | didn¡¯t bother fighting for it.¡± John smiled with feigned graciousness, but in reality, White Group never received an invitation from Nelson. White Group and Jones Enterprise were both from simr traditional industries. However, with White Group¡¯s reputation going down the drain due to Gabriel bailing them out and their scandal exposed, Nelson didn¡¯t even consider inviting White Group as their sponsor. John bore a grudge over this embarrassing incident and rushed over the moment he heard that something had happened during the mountain bike race. He wanted to seize the chance to add insult to Nelson¡¯s injury, but he didn¡¯t expect to see Nelson and Mnie bearing their fangs at each other. Upon weighing the pros and cons, he decided to stand on Nelson¡¯s side for the time being and crush Mnie with him. ¡°President White, can | sue you for defamation?¡± Just then, a clear and crisp female voice sounded from behind. Chapter 299 | Have Proof Chapter 299 Chapter 299 | Have Proof #15 BORED Everyone turned around, and saw Mnie approaching. She was wearing a jacket all covered in mud. Even the stray locks of hair hanging down the sides of ther face had mud on it, which strangely entuated her clean and bare face. She stood right in front of Nelson, and looked straight at him, saying. ¡°Mr. Hans, what you said just now ws outright nonsense. Does it not prick your conscience?¡± The reporters immediately surrounded, Mnie and bombarded her with questions. ¡°Miss Mnie, is Jones Enterprise the one to me this time? Why did you and your team drive up the mountain? Was it to see the racecourse for yourself and experience the thrill of extreme sports? ¡°Are you just going to believe his baseless ims?¡± Mnie asked calmly. ¡°So tell us, who is at fault?¡± The reporter urged. ¡°Of course it¡¯s the organizer! The organizer insisted on achieving the same level of difficulty as that of races abroad, yet neglected to achieve the same level ofprehensiveness and thoroughness of its rescue and emergency response system. What''s more, the organizer demonstrated a severeck of concern for safety and security and a poor understanding of mountain racing conditions,¡± Mnie exined calmly and cojecively. ¡°Do you mean to say that the organizer was negligent in the nning and technical aspects of the event? the reporters asked again. Mnie didn¡¯t fear having her face captured by the cameras, and looked straight at them. ¡°| think that safety parameters and technical knowledge, no matter how good they are, are no recement for the sense of responsibility on the organizer''s part when ites to actual operations and running of the event.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hoodwink the media and nder others!¡± Nelson spat out angrily, leaning closer to Mnie. ¡°Are you sure I¡¯m ndering others?¡± Mnie turned around, and red at Nelson. ¡°You didn¡¯t see for yourself how terrible things were on the racecourse. What right do you have to use me of lying to the media¡± Mnie¡¯s firmness made Nelson shut his mouth. Pain shed past Mnie''s eyes as she went on in front of the cameras. ¡°Unfortunately, | just received the weather report that yesterday. Mount Coloss was hit by a series of strong and cold winds, bringing extreme weather conditions and a huge dip in temperature that had never been seen over the past 30 years. Yet, we had the misfortune of encountering it yesterday. ¡°In the second half of the race, most of the road surface on the mountain along the racecourse was frozen. Over 1,000 bikers had no choice but to give up on the race and head back, shivering in the cold wind and rain. ¡°My colleagues drove up the mountain with thermal wear and jackets used for ourpany¡¯s annual wilderness training sessions. These supplies were key in us sessfully saving the bikers. +15 BONUS ¡°Because the organizer failed to announce the cancetion of the race in time, many bikers who werepetitive refused to give up on the race despite the worsening weather. We had to persuade them to give up on the glory of winning for the sake of their safety. ¡°In fact, the organizer even suddenly announced the shortening of the race duration by two hours. Finishing the race under such poor weather conditions was an impossible task!¡± ¡°You''re the one making baseless ims now! You have no proof, who do you think will believe you? Nelson yelled angrily upon seeing that Mnie seemed to have gained the upper hand. ¡°The reporters stationed at the base camp said that things weren¡¯t so serious! Don¡¯t you dare try to sensationalize things!¡± ¡°Who said that there¡¯s no proof? My camera is proof!¡± Just then, someone else appeared behind them. He removed his cap, revealing a head thick with brown curly and long hair. ¡°Didn''t | tell you to chase him away?¡± Nelson turned around to ask his assistant at the sight of Mr. Smi which made his brows knit with worry. ¡°What are you whispering to him about? Why don¡¯t you say it louder so that the reporters can hear you?¡± Mr. Smith taunted mockingly. Mr. Smith pressed the buttons on his camera. Nelson¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Mr. Smith? What brings you here?¡± The reporters aimed their cameras at him, as if finding a pleasant surprise. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s me. | wanted to takendscape shots of Mount Coloss yesterday. It was rare for the ce to encounter extreme weather conditions, which presented a golden opportunity for me to snap some rare pictures. ¡°| didn¡¯t expect to bump into a mountain bike race held right there. Yet, when | arrived at the base camp to find out more, they chased me away because they were afraid of my camera! The reporters stationed at the base camp had long been bribed by them. ¡°Subsequently, | followed Jones Enterprise¡¯s rescue team up the mountain. | captured all the footage of what happened that day with my camera!¡± Mr. Smith showed the reporter standing right in front of the photos he snapped with his camera, scrolling through them one by one.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Employees of the media outlets and the organizer were ying card games and drinking in the base camp. None of the rescue workers assigned to the refreshments stationed were in position. ¡°There was a huge storm in the mountain, and the bikers there were fighting for their lives. If it weren¡¯t for the Jones Enterprise¡¯s rescue team, who put their lives on the line and rushed there in time, | wonder what tragedy would have urred,¡± Mr. Smith said boldly, the photos in his camera making an even bolder im. The reporters took photos of the screen on his camera, snapping shocking scenes of what happened that day. Images of the pitiful bikers hugging each other for warmth amidst the cold, biting wind and the rescue workers cooperating with each other to save the bikers with all their might amidst the blood, sweat and tears shook + Chapter 300 Chapter 300 Sabyrean Butterflies ¡°Don''t worry, all of you. I''ll upload these photos online once I¡¯ve tidied them up.¡± Mr. Smith promised. ¡°You should upload them online,¡± Mnie encouraged. She looked at Nelson, who had gone all silent, and said, ¡°We''re not targeting anyone here, but this rare extreme weather that happens only once in 30 years is a reminder for us to wake up from our stupor. Safety issues in such extreme sports must be addressed thoroughly,¡± Just then most of the bikers with minor injuries walked out. They were on their way to anotherrger hospital for further recuperation and rest. The bikers who were more severely injured were also pushed out in preparation to be transferred to another hospital facility for more professional treatment. The terrible states that the bikers were in made everyone present fall silent. John saw that all hopes of smearing Jones Enterprise¡¯s reputation were lost, and seized the chance to flee in a hurry with his men, for fear that the reporters might recall what he said and bug him over it. The reporters aimed their cameras at the injured bikers. ¡°Do you have anything to say regarding the incident?¡± ¡°We will pursue this matter to the end! We won''t just forget about this incident!¡± some bikers said, agitated. ¡°Yes! Two legendary extreme bikers had their legs amputated. They have no hopes of being in the sport for the rest of their lives! Let''s not talk about losing the ability to pursue their passion for extreme sports!¡± *Please calm down, everyone. We have engaged ourwyers, who will contact you in time toe. We''ll provide you with adequate financialpensation!¡± Nelson''s assistant was still trying his best to salvage the company¡¯s image. Mnie stepped forward, and said clearly, ¡°Many bikers¡¯ livelihoods depend on the award money they win from professional races. Their entire family depends on the money they earn from their hard work. Financial compensation is minimal, and what the bikers deserve! ¡°As for the bikers themselves, financialpensation isn¡¯t the only thing they need. Be they legendary extreme bikers or ordinary biking hobbyists, they want the honor and recognition ¡± ¡°| suggest for the organizer to distribute medals ofpletion to all bikers who didn¡¯t have the chance toplete the race, which was suspended midway.¡± Mnie said, speaking up on behalf of the bikers. Enthusiastic apuse broke out amongst the surrounding bikers, some of them with tears welling up in their eyes. Thousands ofizens were tuning in to live¡ªstream reports of the ident that urred during the mountain bike race. The inte was filled withments berating Nelson for what he did. R eporters onsite surrounded him, bombarding him with so many questions he wished he could dig a hole and bury himself in it. Mnie left with Mr. Smith, both of them entering Jones Enterprise¡¯s vehicle. A male colleague handed them two cups of piping hot coffee, which Mr. Smith thanked him for. +15 BONUSProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Mnie. | forgot to tell you that the series of photos of the genie and knight of fragrance won top prize at the international competition. Thank you for the inspiration you gave me,¡± Mr. Smith said with a twinkle in his eye as he sed on the hot coffee. ¡°You did it based on your own merit.¡± Mnie said with a helpless smile. Mr. Smith gave her a half-smile, still immersed in the tragedy of the people he shot with his camera. He kept scrolling through the photos. ¡°Till stay up the entire night to tidy up the photos and upload them online.¡± ¡°in order to stop the media from taking things out of context, I¡¯ll arrange for a public rtionspany to contact you and make sure your photos are apanied by the most urate facts,¡± Mnie suggested. ¡°Alright, I''ll go with your suggestion.¡± Mr. Smith went on, with a furrow of his brows. ¡°What should | name this series of photos? | can¡¯t think of a good name, no matter how hard | try.¡± ¡°How about ¡°Sabyrean Butterflies? Mnie said. A suggestion sprung forth as she looked through the photos. ¡°Butterflies in Sabyre have to endure extreme weather conditions, yet they continue to soar through the harshest of winters and remain beautiful throughout. Wonderful! Simply amazing!¡± Mr. Smith was greatly pleased, his eyes lighting up. ¡°You''ve given me such brilliant inspiration once again! I''ll name it Sabyrean Butterflies! New life will dawn upon us after the pain is washed away!¡± Theer of Mnie¡¯s lips arched into a smile, as though she had something in mind. The bus dropped Mr. Smith off at his hotel before sending everyone else back to the office. Mnie arrived at her office. She made two calls, looking worried. The first call was to Elder Gibson. ¡°Master, could you do me a favor when you are avable?¡± ¡°Speak,¡± Elder Gibson said irritably. ¡°Have you read the news about the tragedy at Mount Coloss yesterday? | personally witnessed the worst ever weather condition over the past 30 years, and saw how helpless yet strong the bikers remained. The huge conflict and contrast gave me new inspiration, and | want to concoct a fragrance.¡± ¡°You really have nothing better to do!¡± Elder Gibson scolded her on the phone. ¡°The thing is, have you eaten yet? He had the remote control in hand as he watched an interview on the television, which took ce over an hour a30. The sight of Mnie all covered in mud made his heart ache, yet the first thing she had on her mind upon her return was to concoct a fragrance? She was truly worthy of being his disciple! Chapter 301 Chapter 301 Mountain Guardians ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡± Mnie raised her eyebrows and smiled, knowing that Cyrus was concerned about her. ¡°On the way back, | thought about it and nned to use some of the coldest spices to create this fragrance. I''ve already decided on the main ingredients. The top notes include amber and ckcurrant, the middle notes use ry sage and geranium. For the base notes, | originally wanted to use cedar and fir, but | felt that cedar was too heavy. | want the final fragrance to give a sense of oveing difficulties. Can you help me think of a substitute?¡± ¡°Heh.¡± A scoff came from the phone. ¡°Are you trying to challenge me? Cold spices are rare. I¡¯m old and my mind isn¡¯t as sharp, so | can¡¯te up with anything!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Master. You''re not old.¡± Mnie thought of a different way to provoke him. ¡°Do you know? This time, we went to the mountains to ask the mountain guardians for help. | identally discovered an olddy who makes dried flower sachets with wildflowers from the mountain to make a living. That olddy looks even older than you, but she didn¡¯t say her mind isn¡¯t sharp.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Cyrus scoffed again. ¡°What sachets? How can you make a pleasant fragrance with wildflowers without professional tools?¡± ¡°Don''t doubt it. | brought back some sachets from her house this time. When youe to Harbor City, I''ll give them to you to smell. You''ll know that I¡¯m not exaggerating,¡± Mnie said confidently. Cyrus coldly snorted a few times and hung up the phone. Mnie knew that he had agreed to help. After contacting Cyrus, Mnie called Annie. She had heard that Annie encountered danger in the mountain bike racing area, and she was worried sick. However, Mnie didn¡¯t talk about this. Instead, she asked Annie to contact Mr. Smith and help him with the PR campaign for the set of photos. Annie assured Mnie, and vowed not to let malicious.individuals distort the public opinion. After a pause, Annie suddenly thought of something. Her tone changed as she said, ¡°Mnie, | haven¡¯t asked you this before. Have you and your mother ever suspected the cause of your father¡¯s death?¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Mnie¡¯s face became tense. ¡°In the first few years after my dad¡¯s ident, my mom couldn¡¯t ept it. She hired many people to investigate the cause of the car ident at that time, butter, it was confirmed that it was due toa drunk driver... Did you receive any information?¡± ¡°A private detective told mest night that he suddenly discovered a force investigating the cause of your father¡¯s death. They were also looking into your father¡¯s past... So | wondered, could that ident be more than just an ident? Otherwise, why are they investigating?¡± Annie analyzed cautiously. ¡°Who are these people?¡± Mnie asked anxiously. 113 +15 BONUS ¡°| don¡¯t know. The private detective said that the opposing force is powerful, and he couldn''t find out the details.¡± Annie continued, ¡°But a prestigious family that can evade the investigation of the detectives | hire in Harbor City is very rare.¡± Mnie¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and inexplicably, the face of Jeffrey appeared in her mind first. Thinking of the questions he asked early this morning, she felt a chill run down her spine. ¡°Don''t think too much.¡± Feeling the change in the atmosphere, Annie guessed what Mnie was thinking and advised, ¡°In Harbor City, not only Jeffrey is a big shot.¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just a coincidence, but today he asked about my dad.¡± Mnie exined why she felt that way. ¡°Who knows? Maybe he¡¯s just curious about the father-inw he has never met?¡± Annie suggested. ¡°But don¡¯t you find it strange? At first, he proposed to marry me in secret. What was the purpose?¡± Mnie asked as she analyzed the situation. ¡°What else could it be?¡± Annie said decisively. ¡°Because you slept with him! After that, you left. President Morgan thought you were beautiful and fragrant. He couldn¡¯t forget you, and you stirred his soul.¡± ¡°Go to hell,¡± Mnie said yfully, but the depression she felt just now had dissipated a lot. The series of live-action photos taken by Mr. Smith were released, and it exploded like a bomb on the inte. The news surrounding the mountain bike cross-countrypetition continued to spread, attracting widespread attention from various circles. The organizer, Harper Group, was exposed byizens. They had closed down and liquidated half a year agc went abroad, and just returned to register a newpany in the country, all within the past two weeks. The were obviously inexperienced. Moreover, almost all major enterprises in Harbor City sponsored thispetition, indicating that the identitie of the backers were extraordinary. Meticulousizens began to dig deeper, and they found the multinationapany, Romero Corporation. To clear their responsibility, Romero Corporation came forward to provide substantialpensation to th participating drivers. They also imed to be deceived by Neal Harper, believing that he was a local in Harbo City and trusted him to organize the event, resulting in this tragedy. Romero Corporation''s top-notch public rtions covered all fronts, quickly and decisively drawing a clear lin with Harper Group. Neal became the scapegoat for this ident and applied for bankruptcy liquidation in secret, not daring to utter a word. Aweek after the incident, the heat finally subsided. Mnie also focused all her energy on blending the perfume. She and Mr. Smith agreed to name it ¡°Siberia On Saturday afternoon, Mnie received a call from an unknown number. +15 BONUS ¡°Hello, Miss Mnie. I¡¯m President Romero¡¯s assistant. President Romero is in Harbor City today and would like to invite you to dinner,¡± a polite male voice said. Chapter 302 Chapter 302 Blind Date ¡°Now?¡± Mnie asked with surprise. ¡°Yes. If you''re avable now, our car is already below Jones Enterprise. Besides you, we also invited Mr. Quicksilver.¡± Mnie agreed. She quickly tidied up and went out. She saw Quincying out of the temporary office. The two of them got into the car driven by Luis Romero¡¯s assistant together. Opening the door to a private room at the Imperial Restaurant, they saw Luis and a delicate girl by his side. The girl was adorned with jewels, and the heavy gold essories made her seem a bit old. In fact, she was only about twenty years old. Mnie and Quincy exchanged nces, unsure if this girl was Luis¡¯s daughter or his mistress... ¡°Miss Mnie, Mr. Quicksilver. Please have a seat.¡± Luis stood up, and Mnie and Quincy quickly asked him to sit as well. ¡°You don¡¯t have to stand on ceremony. We''re just having a meal today.¡± Luis sat down first. Mnie and the others followed suit. Mnie didn¡¯t want to y polite and asked, ¡± President Romero, you came to Harbor City so soon again. Is there something important?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Luis smiled, looking seemingly kind, making it hard to discern the sincerity in his smile. ¡°I won¡¯t beat around the bush with you, Miss Mnie. | want to personally thank you for the mountain bike race incident.¡± With that, Luis raised his ss, signaling them to do the same. Mnie gracefully lifted her ss, and blinked. ¡°President Romero, since you¡¯re straightforward, let me be direct too. | helped the participants of the mountain bike race. As an organizer, wouldn''t you see me as your enemy? Why are you thanking me?¡± Luis evaded the question. ¡°I propose a toast to both of you!¡± ¡°President Romero, if you don¡¯t make it clear, | wouldn¡¯t dare to ept your toast.¡± Mnie smiled. Luisughed heartily. ¡°Miss Mnie, you''re indeed formidable! You¡¯re helping me by helping the participants. Without your rescue, the severity of this ident would have escted. How could we handle the aftermath?¡± Luis spoke the truth, and it was rare for a boss of his level to admit his mistakes. Mnie smiled and finished the wine in her ss. ¡°Refreshing!¡± Luis also finished a ss of wine. ¡°We¡¯re just having a meal today. | like dealing with young people the most, and | sincerely consider you both as friends. Please don¡¯t feel restrained.¡± +15 BONUS Afraid that Mnie and Quincy wouldn''t believe him, Luis looked at the young girl next to him and said, ¡°This is my daughter. She just set her sights on a university in Harbor City and wants to study here. | will inevitably trouble you both in the future.¡± ¡°Congrattions,¡± Mnie replied. She didn¡¯tment on anything else.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°There is another guesting today. To be honest, | only have one daughter, and she¡¯s precious to me. Since she became an adult, I''ve been worried about her marriage. It¡¯s not easy to find someone she likes and someone | can entrust her to. She finally likes someone, and | invited him today as well,¡± Luis continued. Mnie and Quincy exchanged nces again. It seemed Luis had arranged this dinner to introduce a potential son-inw to his daughter. Wouldn¡¯t having two outsiders present be awkward? ¡°President Romero, this is your family matter. Are you sure that we won¡¯t trouble you by being here?¡± Mnie didn¡¯t understand Luis¡¯s arrangement. Luis waved his hand. ¡°You''re not outsiders, you''re family! Moreover, the person she likes is someone you know, not a stranger!¡± As he was speaking, the door of the private room opened, and a tall and imposing man walked in. Seeing his face, Mnie blinked. Her gaze suddenly turned cold. Chapter 303 organ.¡± Mnie had been avoiding looking at the three people opposite her, but now, she couldn''t help but lift her eyes to look. I was blushing. She raised her pinky as she picked up her ss, ensuring her movements were elegant anddylike. Then, she walked to Jeffrey''s side, saying. ¡°Thank you, President Morgan.¡± Her voice was excessively sweet. ¡°Here¡¯s to you.¡± ¡°| don¡¯t drink.¡± Jeffrey declined without hesitation. ¡°Haha! Are you worried that my daughter will drink too much alcohol, President Morgan?¡± Luis saved I from the awkwardness. ¡°I can¡¯t drink at all, but she said she must have a drink today since you are here.¡± Seeing that Jeffrey still remained unmoved, Luis tried to smooth things over. ¡°Since you don¡¯t drink, things are just right. You don¡¯t have to force yourself to drink, I.¡± I lowered her head awkwardly. ¡°How about this? President Morgan, can you rece the wine with water and have a drink with me?¡± I didn¡¯t give up and remained standing beside Jeffrey. Jeffrey''s gaze remained fixed on a certain spot across from him, and he could catch glimpses of the woman out of the corner of his eye. Mnie¡¯s clear eyes were calm, without a trace of ripples. The beautiful eyes flickered, as if watching an inconsequential y. Jeffrey''s throat trembled, and he quickly picked up the water ss and took a sip. I¡¯s eyes widened with excitement. She quickly grabbed a ss of water and drank it all, smiling brightly. Mnie¡¯s eyes shed with a hint of coldness. Just at this moment, Luis raised his ss again, suggesting,¡± Since President Morgan is here, let¡¯s raise our sses again and have a toast together.¡± Mnie decisively lifted her ss and emptied it in one go.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Sensing that there seemed to be two intense gazes locking onto her from across the table, she put down her ss. It might be that she drank the two sses of wine too quickly just now, but at this moment, her head was faintly throbbing. She leaned on the table and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, | need to excuse myself for a moment.¡± Then, she turned and walked out. Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Coordinated Performance Pushing open the door of the private room, a gust of cold wind blew in. Mnie felt herself sobering up. She suddenly thought of something.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Luis wouldn''t have invited her and Quincy as third wheelers for no reason. Could it be that he sensed something unusual between her and Jeffrey, so he was testing the waters? From the Angle family¡¯s centennial celebration to the vast mountain racecourse, wherever Luis paid attention, Jeffrey was there protecting her. Upon careful consideration, this was very likely Luis¡¯s intention. If he found out that there was more than met the eye between Jeffrey and her, Luis might have other ns. If he was determined to have his daughter marry into the Morgans, he might secretly deal with her. Having figured this out, Mnie¡¯s heart suddenly felt less heavy. Leaning against the door, she took a moment to collect herself before turning to go back. Just as she reached out to push the door, it opened from the inside. Mnie was startled. She unexpectedly ran into Jeffrey, who was also standing by the door. ¡°You...?¡± They both asked in unison. ¡°President Morgan, please-¡± Mnie quickly reacted and gave way to Jeffrey, maintaining a calm demeanor. Jeffrey pursed his lips. He had been sitting ufortably in the private room for a few minutes, intending toe out to exin things to her. Luis seemed to have some ulterior motives tonight, and he didn¡¯t want her to fall into Luis¡¯s trap. Unexpectedly, she returned so quickly, leaving him no choice but to go to the restroom to make it look natural... Just now, when Mnie went out, Jeffrey quickly found an excuse to leave. Due to this, Luis had some suspicions, but now Mnie suddenly came back. She couldn¡¯t have had time to meet Jeffrey outside. Luis was now puzzled. After some casual conversation, Jeffrey returned. He took less time than Mnie. ¡°President Morgan, how do you know Miss Mnie and Mr. Quicksilver? | noticed that you. and Miss Mnie seemed to be familiar with each other during the Angle family¡¯s centennial celebration,¡± Luis couldn¡¯t help but ask. Mnie blinked and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. A cold smile yed on her lips. It seemed that... her guess was correct. Before Jeffrey could speak, Mnie answered pre-emptively, ¡°Before | entered Jones Enterprise, | ran a small company myself and once bid for a project of Morgan Group. That''s how | had the pleasure of getting to know President Morgan. Otherwise, how could someone like President Morgan, a high-profile figure, be acquainted with us?¡± ¡°Cough!¡± Jeffrey was just about to take a sip of water, and identally choked. ¡°President Morgan has high standards for himself, and his management style is effective. He is a benchmark 113 +15 BONUS and said, ¡°I also propose a toast to President Morgan. | want to learn more from you!¡± Jeffrey was stunned for two seconds. Just as he was about to pick up the ss, the articte woman across from him spoke again. ¡°Oh. | forgot. President Morgan rarely epts toasts from others. I''ll drink the wine myself, then.¡± After that, she downed the ss of wine. Setting down the ss, Mnie¡¯s eyes shed as she deliberately looked at I on the opposite side. ¡°Miss Romero, you are lucky. President Morgan drank a sip, even if it¡¯s just water.¡± After that, she sat down. Jeffrey''s expression becameplicated as he looked at Mnie. ¡°Is that so?¡± When I, who was inexperienced, heard Mnie say this, she couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. ¡°I thought | was too young and childish, and President Morgan might not like it...¡± ¡°How could that be?¡± Mnie immediately continued, ¡°President Morgan, after being in the business world for so many years, has seen through human nature. What he likes the most is the innocence of those who don¡¯t understand the ways of the world. Someone like you, Miss Romero. Isn¡¯t that right, Mr. Quicksilver?¡± Quincy, who was suddenly cued, could only vaguely respond. ¡°Yes, yes...¡± I was overjoyed, her face blushing. She stared at Jeffrey, and Jeffrey pursed his lips. He decided to let this go for now. After a brief awkwardness, Jeffrey guessed that Mnie already had other ns. Since that was the case, he had to cooperate with the performance and not spoil her show. Finally, the awkward dinner ended. Everyone left the restaurant, all deep in their thoughts. There was a bit of rain outside, so it was cold and the road was slippery. Luis was on the phone all the time, and I had no one to rely on. She deliberately took the opportunity to walk beside Jeffrey. She was wearing high heels so had some difficulty with walking. She asionally pulled on Jeffrey¡¯s sleeve, appearing cute, lovely, and ambiguous. Mnie nced coldly at the scene. She knew this was all part of her n, but Jeffrey seemed to be cooperating too much. Mnie thought she wouldn''t care, but she couldn¡¯t help but watch their interaction. It didn¡¯t take long for I to identally step into a puddle of water, and she fell into Jeffrey¡¯s arms. She made a few flirtatious sounds, seeming to have sprained her foot, and thanked him tearfully. Jeffrey didn¡¯t say anything, his deep eyes slowly looking at Mnie. He saw a sh of coldness in her eyes. She seemed furious. He quickly signaled William to take I to the car. When he turned back around, he saw that Mnie had already gotten into the car. He could only wait for William toe back. In the car, Quincy asked in confusion, ¡°Miss Mnie, at the dinner today... Did you really want to help Miss 23 ¡°Do you think they''re a good match?¡± Mnie questioned him instead. +15 BONUS ¡°It''s quite a match, especially in terms of background. However, | wouldn¡¯t dare specte what his preferences are.¡± The phrase ¡°quite a match¡± caused a slight ripple in Mnie¡¯s calm heart for a moment. At this moment, the car suddenly shook violently. The driver said anxiously, ¡°What does the car behind want to do?¡± Mnie looked out the window. A car behind them on the right was rapidly approaching them with a menacing momentum! Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Little Rabbit and Hedgehog The roar of engines came from outside the car window. Quincy and Mnie both looked out, wondering who they had offended. The driver, alert, swiftly turned the steering wheel and floored the elerator, seizing the opportunity to turn the car onto another road. He drove at a lightning speed. However, the car that had temporarily fallen behind refused to be outdone. It quickly caught up, not giving up on chasing them and was close to overtaking them. Mnie gripped the handle above her head. With a focused gaze, finally saw that it was Jeffrey''s car. She quickly told the driver, ¡°Stop the car. | know them.¡± The driver sighed in relief and slowed down. The car behind, as expected, overtook them smoothly and blocked their way. The car door opened quickly. Jeffrey got out and headed toward their car. To avoid revealing their rtionship in front of Quincy and the driver, Mnie quickly got out of the car to meet him. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± she demanded in a low voice. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer the phone, so | had to intercept you.¡± He sounded proud and helpless. She had turned on silent mode on her phone during dinner, and she had no idea that he had called. After calming down, she turned and walked to the side of the car. She told Quincy and the others to go first. Turning back, she followed Jeffrey to his car. The sudden drop in temperature caused the puddles on the road to start to freeze. Mnie was initially walking with her head held high in her high heels, but inadvertently stepped into a puddle of freezing water. She stumbled. Fortunately, she had good control over high heels. She quickly regained her bnce and stood firm. Almost simultaneously, Jeffrey had already taken a step forward, his long arms circling her body. Mnie let out a sigh of relief. She tried to push him away, but Jeffrey insisted on holding her arm. ¡°Do you have thorns all over your body? It¡¯s difficult to walk on this road. Why struggle?¡± ¡°Then, President Morgan, | advise you to help the little white rabbit who won¡¯t struggle! Don¡¯t let me, someone covered in thorns, hurt her!¡± Mnie retorted without mercy. Jeffrey looked at her sharp eyes, and asked in a soft voice, ¡°Are you bothered?¡± She pretended not to know. ¡°Bothered by what?¡± ¡°Morgan Group and Romero Corporation have just signed a cooperation agreement. Luis took the opportunity to send his daughter to Harbor City for schooling and even showed me her architectural designs. Other than this, we don¡¯t have any contact. I should have exined it beforehand.¡± Jeffrey was frank with her. ¡°Morgan Group and Romero Corporation have cooperated? So, Luis and Miss Romero are now patrons of 1/3 +15 BONUS ¡°How could that be? You can even afford to offend me.¡± Jeffrey¡¯s voice was deep, carrying a trace of joy. Mnie¡¯s eyes sparkled brightly at these words, and most of her previous frustration dissipated. Jeffrey watched her eyes clear up, and the corners of his mouth subconsciously lifted. As long as he was with her, even some utterly trivial topics became interesting. It was truly strange. Ever since Cyrus hinted that he shouldn¡¯t be held back by the past, he had figured out many things. The woman in front of him was so vibrant, and he wanted to follow his heart. As they walked to the car door together, Jeffrey suddenly thought of something and asked her. ¡°When did you realize that Luis had other intentions tonight?¡± ¡°I''m not that stupid.¡± Mnie smiled, and replied. ¡°But since you''ve asked me this question, does it mean you approve of my n tonight?¡± She tilted her head up, staring into his eyes. However, he said, ¡°Your n is basically correct, but there¡¯s one thing you got wrong.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± she hurriedly asked. ¡°Who told you that | like innocent girls who don¡¯t understand the world?¡± He suddenly took a big step toward her, his eyes locking onto her as they sparkled. ¡°What do you like, then?¡± She regretted it as soon as the question left her mouth, because a tremendous ripple appeared in the man¡¯s eyes.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°What do you think?¡± His voice was low and incredibly sexy. Feeling the powerful aura he emitted, Mnie subconsciously took a step back. She bumped into the car door. She softly moaned. Suddenly, a warmth enveloped her from behind. Hisrge hand gripped her waist, and with some force, he pulled her toward him. They were less than an inch apart. ¡°| have a suite on the top floor of Sandfront Hotel,¡± he suggested. Seeing that she didn¡¯t respond, he chuckled softly, knowing that she tacitly agreed. There was no need to get back in the car. Sandfront Hotel was just across the street. Jeffrey instantly took her hand, crossed the pedestrian crossing, entered the hotel elevator, and went straight to the top floor. Ding! The door of the presidential suite opened, and then closed. The two stood close together. Facing each other, they suddenly felt a bit awkward. Mnie, naturally, felt more ufortable. She took the opportunity to slip away. ¡°Uh, I''ll go take a shower...¡± Chapter 306 Chapter 306 Collision of Fire and Ice The time in the shower seemed to pass both quickly and slowly, seemingly unpredictable. Mnie¡¯s head was buzzing, repeatedly thinking about what she said just now. Truly, alcohol emboldened people... After an unknown amount of time, she finally put on a bathrobe. She smoothed her wet hair, and walked out of the bathroom. She saw Jeffrey in a dark checkered robe that revealed some of his chest. He was lounging on the sofa, waiting for her. Seeing her standing still, Jeffrey took the initiative to get up and walked to her. He helped her tuck her wet hair behind her ear, revealing the graceful curve of her side profile. His Adam''s apple bobbed. He couldn''t help but lean close to her tender ears. His breath brushed against the top of her head and ears, sending an electric current rushing from the depths of her heart to her entire body. She couldn¡¯t help but tremble. His eyes shed. He bent down to kiss her, but her phone rang. Mnie was about to step away, but Jeffrey firmly stopped her with his hand and softly said, ¡°Don¡¯t mind it.¡± She took a deep breath, following his advice. However, the phone rang again after it stopped. This happened several times. Mnie cleared her slightly hoarse throat and said, ¡°I''ll answer it, just in case it¡¯s something urgent.¡± Seeing her nervous appearance, as if they were doing something wrong, Jeffrey yfully released her. She quickly bent down to pick up her phone and found it was a call from Cyrus. ¡°Master?¡± She cleared her throat again. ¡°I''ve arrived in Harbor City. I¡¯ming to Jones Enterprise now. | know what to rece cedar with, so you better remember to bring the fragrance sachets you mentioned.¡± ¡°Now?¡± Mnie¡¯s blush reached her neck. ¡°Is it not okay?¡± Cyrus asked. ¡°Elder Gibson.¡± Jeffrey took advantage of her shyness to hold her hand, bringing his face close to the phone. ¡± Please wait a bit longer at Jones Enterprise. We have urgent matters to attend to.¡± After saying that, he decisively hung up the phone on her behalf. Mnie was embarrassed, ring at him with puckered lips. ¡°How could you be so...¡± The second half of the sentence was already contained in his forceful, deep kiss. 142 Early the next morning, in the Jones Enterprise¡¯s guest room, Mnie appeared in front of Cyrus, too embarrassed to lift her head. +15 BONUS Cyrus just smiled. He was once in her position. From the thermos he brought, he took out a spice and handed it to her. ¡°Try this and see if it can achieve the effect you want.¡± ¡°This is ck basil. Mnie was a little puzzled. ¡°I want to use the coldest spice to create Siberian butterflies ¡°But you also said you''ve tried many times, and the coldest spices couldn¡¯t create the feeling you wanted, right?¡± Cyrus continued, ¡°You mentioned that Siberian butterflies have experienced the most brutal suffering. They go through severe cold, after which they gain a new life. | think the scent you want should be the extreme collision of fire and ice.¡± ¡°Master, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes lit up, and the embarrassment from earlier was instantly thrown out of her mind. ¡°Yes, | want the collision of fire and ice, the sh of cruelty and passion. The ck basil, which thrives in the hottest tropical regions, is just right to counterbnce the richness in the fragrance.¡± The two discussed. They quickly changed into work uniforms and entered the fragrance blending room, starting a new round of experimentation. At dawn, Mnie, holding a light silver test tube, eximed with joy, ¡°I¡¯ve finally seeded! Thank you, Master!¡± ¡°Do you want to make it into perfume or fragrance?¡± Cyrus asked.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Mnie looked at the liquid in her hand, and said, ¡°Perfume is too expensive, and the public can¡¯t afford it. Let''s make it into a fragrance. That way, everyone has the chance to pursue excellence and to break through adversity.¡± Cyrus waved his hands casually. ¡°As you wish.¡± He then spread his hands, and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the fragrance sachet that you mentioned to trick me into helping you? Is there any truth to it, or is it just a lie?¡± ¡°How would | dare lie to you?¡± Mnie changed out of her work uniform and hurriedly took out the fragrance sachet made by the old woman guarding the mountain, and then handed it to Cyrus. Cyrus smelled it. His drooping eyelids suddenly lifted, and he looked excitedly at her. ¡°This fragrance...¡± Chapter 307 Chapter 307 Checking on President Morgan ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± ¡°Is this fragrance reallypletely handmade?¡± Cyrus couldn¡¯t help but bring it closer, sniffing it carefully. ¡°| told you; you''d be interested! | had the same reaction when | first saw the fragrance sachet.¡± Mnie exined. ¡°There are only four houses and a courtyard on the mountain. asionally, there are wild animals. The olddy doesn¡¯t have professional tools. She did it purely with her own skills.¡± ¡°Her skill in blending scents is probably no weaker than mine.¡± Cyrus sighed. ¡°Such a talented person living in seclusion in the mountains is truly a waste...¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Mnie disagreed with Cyrus¡¯s view. ¡°She uses her skills to provide for her two children, and the family lives happily. Having talent doesn¡¯t necessarily mean achieving fame and sess.¡± Cyrus nodded in agreement. ¡°When | left, | told her that I''d send her a set of professional tools to make it easier for her to create more and better fragrance sachets. If she has the talent for blending scents, maybe I''ll send her another set of blending tools, just for her to try and cultivate her artistic sentiment,¡± Mnie added. Cyrus nodded again. ¡°You''re right. | happen to have a new set of professional tools that someone else gave me. Since | have no use for them, I''ll just give them to her.¡± ¡°Okay. Then I''ll thank you on behalf of her.¡± Mnie smiled. Mnie shared the news of the sessful blending of ¡°Siberian Butterfly¡± in the perfume industry''s internalwork, intending to create some buzz. Unexpectedly, she got a lot of attention. Even some of Cyrus¡¯s prestigious friends were eager to inquire about the ingredients of this perfume. Cyrus only disclosed a few components and briefly exined Mnie¡¯s background and concept in scent blending. They became even more interested, requesting samples from Cyrus to experience it firsthand. Throughout the day, Mnie stayed with Cyrus at Jones Enterprise, taking advantage of the curiosity of her peers to promote the uing ¡°Siberian Butterfly.¡± In the evening, she apanied Cyrus for dinner and then hurriedly saw him off from Harbor City. It was only then that she checked her phone and found two missed calls from Jeffrey. She called back, and William answered. ¡°Is Jeffrey still busy?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Morgan. The president is in a meeting. He hasn''t rested all day. There are still two tricky project issues to be resolved in this meeting. He probably won''t get any sleep tonight...¡± Williamined on behalf of Jeffrey. 142 +15 BONUS ¡°Did he have dinner?¡± Mnie was genuinely concerned. ¡°When the president is busy, hepletely forgets about eating,¡± William said. ¡°Alright, you go back to work.¡± Mnie finished the call, and decided she couldn''t just go home and sleep. Thinking about her full stomach and the hungry man on the other side, she felt restless. So, she picked up her phone and dialed a number. Twenty minutester, Mnie appeared on the top floor of Morgan Group. Seeing her arrival, the staff from the assistant department greeted her while hurriedly summoning William. William, seeing Mnie, looked panicked. ¡°Mrs. Morgan, why are you here?¡± ¡°I came to find Jeffrey.¡± Mnie looked at the closed door of Jeffrey¡¯s office, her tone calm. She observed William''s expression, feeling that something was off. The expressions of all the assistants behind William didn¡¯t seem right, either. William concealed his emotions, showing a respectful attitude. ¡°Mrs. Morgan, President Morgan is still in a meeting inside. Please wait in the guest room over there.¡± Mnie smiled and nodded. She sat in the guest room, took out her phone, and looked at the menu of the restaurant that she had just ordered food from for Jeffrey. Meanwhile, she thought about the awkwardness that William couldn''t hide. It was her first time visiting the corporation to see Jeffrey, so the assistants¡¯ surprise could be understood. However, they were in a panic. That was fishy...Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. She pretended to be busy on her phone. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed William rushing into Jeffrey¡¯s office. In less than a minute, William came out and nced at the guest room. Mnie pretended not to notice his suspicious movements, and waited patiently.. After two more minutes, there was somemotion at the side door of Jeffrey''s office. Mnie, without making a sound, took out her makeup mirror from her bag and positioned it. She suddenly felt a chill. Awoman walked out of Jeffrey¡¯s office-I! Chapter 308 Chapter 308 Mrs. Morgan¡¯s Revenge The side door of Jeffrey''s office opened, and the staff from the assistant department hastily escorted I out. as if they were afraid of being discovered by Mnie. Two assistants even purposely followed I, shielding her from Mnie¡¯s sight... Mnie sneered inwardly. A meeting? And I was attending, too? She smirked when she nced at the menu again. All the dishes she ordered were his favorites. Mnie¡¯s lips curled with a touch of coldness. With a sh in her eyes, she decisively picked up her phone and dialed the restaurant¡¯s number. ¡°Hello, has my order been started?¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Madam, your order is ready for delivery. It will arrive in about ten minutes,¡± the waiter replied politely. ¡°Please include some extra condiment packets,¡± Mnie said nonchntly. ¡°Sure. May | ask what vor you prefer?¡± ¡°| love the spicy vor. The insanely spicy one,¡± Mnie pronounced each word decisively. ¡°Alright. I''ll add some extra chili oil for you,¡± the waiter responded, slightly puzzled. After all, the dishes thedy ordered were light. Why would she want it to be insanely spicy? ¡°Thank you,¡± she said coldly, and then put the phone aside. Fifteen minutester, the food was delivered. The meeting in Jeffrey¡¯s office had also ended. Mnie looked at the packages of chili oil with satisfaction. Without hesitation, she opened them and poured all of it into the dishes in front of her. After two more minutes, the main door of Jeffrey¡¯s office opened. Several men walked out one by one. Thest one to emerge was Jeffrey. Jeffrey walked directly toward the guest room, his eyes focused on the woman waiting inside. ¡°You''re here?¡± He was pleasantly surprised. She had never taken the initiative toe to him before. They had shared a tender momentst night, and it seemed she treated him differently now... As soon as he heard she wasing, regardless of the fact that he was still dealing with some important matters, he lost his focus and just wanted toe out to see her. ¡°| brought you dinner.¡± Mnie extended her delicate hand. She adjusted the lunchbox, her face adorned with a cute smile. Jeffrey, hiding his joy, approached her with concern. ¡°It¡¯s sote. You should go home and rest.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t eat, how can | sleep?¡± +15 BONUS Mnie was still smiling, and she went to open the lunchbox one by one. Jeffrey sat down to eat, but his gaze remained fixed on her focused face. When William, who was standing behind Morgan, saw the food, his expression changed. The food looked spicy. The red color of the chili hadpletely covered the dishes... If he didn¡¯t know better, he might think that Mnie was trying to poison Jeffrey! Mnie remained calm, arranging the cutlery and gently saying, ¡°All the dishes are your favorites. Eat while. it''s hot.¡± Only after a moment did Jeffrey lower his head to see the festive colors on the table. His lips twitched. He understood why her was both charming and eerie just now... However, he pretended to be calm, smiled, and picked up the cutlery. Then, he had a bite of the dish. He swallowed it, his Adam''s apple moving. William trembled along with Jeffrey¡¯s actions, as if he was the one eating the spicy food. He couldn''t help but admire Jeffrey. The president was indeed a man of great fortitude, swallowing it just like that. ¡°How is it? Delicious, right?¡± Mnie¡¯s soft voice rang out beside him. ¡°I''ve eaten at this restaurant before. The food is delicious, so | specially bought them for you to taste.¡± She deliberately imitated I¡¯s signature sweet and charming tone. William was worried for Jeffrey. Mnie had probably seen I. He wondered how Jeffrey would handle this situation. Unexpectedly, Jeffrey nodded decisively and said, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s delicious!¡± After saying that, Jeffrey didn¡¯t speak again. Instead, he started to eat voraciously in front of Mnie. He not only finished all the dishes, but also drank two sips of the soup... William silently handed a bottle of water to Jeffrey from behind. Jeffrey nced at it; he then ced it by his side, and instructed William to step back. As William closed the door, he couldn¡¯t help but nce at Jeffrey with admiration. ¡°You''ve finished eating. My mission isplete, so I''ll leave now,¡± Mnie said, picking up her small bag and preparing to leave. Jeffrey looked up. He stood up and grabbed her wrist. Their eyes met. His lips were slightly red and swollen, and they looked shiny. He looked a bit funny, as if he was about to breathe fire when he spoke. ¡°Now that you''ve vented your anger, can we talk?¡± Jeffrey said. Chapter 309 Chapter 309 I¡¯m Not Jealous Mnie pursed her lips, refusing to respond. +15 BONUS Jeffrey went around the table, and approached her. ¡°I¡¯ve just started a major project with Romero Corporation. and you know how scheming Luis can be. So, | need to keep a close eye on it, which might make me a bit busier.¡± Mnie took a step back and maintained her distance, still not saying a word. ¡°Is there anything else you want to know?¡± Jeffrey''s eyes remained fixed on her face. ¡°No,¡± she stubbornly replied. Jeffrey didn¡¯t press further, and continued looking at her. He spoke slowly. ¡°Earlier, the project team from Romero Corporation sent a few professional architects here. I came along with them.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Mnie raised her eyebrows. Although they came together, they didn¡¯t leave together. ¡°You didn¡¯t see them?¡± Jeffrey asked. ¡°Why would | pay attention to them?¡± Mnie denied. Jeffrey''s lips curled up into a knowing smile. ¡°It seems like you haven¡¯t vented enough. Should | drink the rest of the soup?¡± ¡°You can drink it if you want. Don¡¯t involve me. Why would | be angry?¡± Mnie retorted. ¡°If you''re not angry, why have you been contradicting yourself?¡± Jeffrey took a step closer. Looking at how much she cared about him, he felt a ripple in his heart. Unable to resist exining further, he said, ¡°It was my oversight. | shouldn¡¯t have gotten I to leave through the side door. It made you misunderstand that there¡¯s something going on between us.¡± ¡°Oh, so you arranged for I to leave through the side door. Are you sure there¡¯s nothing going on?¡± Mnie raised her eyebrows sarcastically. Jeffrey smiled again, feeling joyful. ¡°Why are you smiling?¡± Mnie asked, annoyed. ¡°You care about me,¡± Jeffrey asserted confidently. Mnie chuckled, andposed her expression. ¡°President Morgan, you''re quite confident. | have no idea about I and side doors.¡± ¡°Alright, let''s talk about something else.¡± Jeffrey didn¡¯t expose her stubborn facade, and changed the subject to business. ¡°I heard you and Elder Gibson coborated to create a fragrance named ¡®Siberian Butterfly,¡¯ inspired by the mountain biking race, toplement Mr. Smith¡¯s photo series. Is that true?¡± +15 BONUS ¡°President Morgan, you are rather well-informed.¡± Mnie sarcastically remarked, ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Morgan Group wants to cooperate with Jones Enterprise, whether through sponsorship or partnership, tounch this fragrance together,¡± Jeffrey said sincerely. ¡°Exploiting social trends to release a product offers a high profit margin. President Morgan, you have a keen eye for money,¡± Mnie mocked coldly. Just then, her phone rang. It was the assistant from Jones Enterprise''s Business department. ¡°Miss Mnie, we just received two cooperation invitations. One from Romero Corporation, and the other from the Angle family...¡± The assistant continued, sounding incredulous, ¡°They are both interested in the ¡®Siberian Butterfly¡¯ fragrance you and Elder Gibson just created. They want to sponsor it.¡± ¡°Wow! Am | the one with a keen sense of smell, or is it these businessmen?¡± Mnie sighed, ncing casually at Jeffrey standing nearby. ¡°How should we respond?¡± the assistant asked. Mnie could hear her colleagues discussing on the other end. ¡°We''ve never coborated with these big shots before. Should we reject one of them? Rejecting any one of them will offend them...¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t respond for now. If they press, tell them | need some time to consider,¡± Mnie said before hanging up.. ¡°What''s going on?¡± Jeffrey asked with concern. Mnie raised her eyebrows, looking at him with a mocking smile. ¡°President Morgan, I¡¯m really sorry. Siberian Butterfly¡¯ is currently in high demand. Both the Yorks and Romero Corporation have extended cooperation invitations to me. Tell me, who should | work with?¡± Chapter 310 Chapter 310 President Morgan Comes. Jeffrey looked at the clever woman before him, his eyes twinkling. Clearly, it was a provocation. Why was he so willing to go along with it? ¡°| didn¡¯t mention it casually. Morgan Group¡¯s advertising department is already working overtime on the proposal. It will be ready by tomorrow, and you can check it then. If you are dissatisfied with the conditions, feel free to suggest changes,¡± Jeffrey said. Mnie smiled. ¡°Sure. Well then. President Morgan. Please bring the proposal to Jones Enterprise at ten tomorrow. We can discuss it together.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Jeffrey agreed. He and turned to instruct William to add this meeting to tomorrow''s schedule, emphasizing its importance. William, stunned, touched his own chin. In front of his wife, Jeffrey willingly yed the role of an intern delivering proposals. It was truly eye-opening. Having vented her anger, Mnie decided it was time to let Jeffrey focus on his work. She didn¡¯t say anything more, and asked the driver to take her home. She was eager to get a good night¡¯s sleep so that she would have energy to see the proposal the next morning. The next morning, at 10 AM. The door to Jones Enterprise¡¯s conference room opened again. The employees sitting inside looked surprised. ¡°Mr. Moore... P- President Morgan?¡± Initially shocked by the news that Morgan Group was presenting the proposal, they were already astounded to have another local tycoon joining after the Romero family and Angle family. Now, President Morgan himself had unexpectedlye! William entered, exining to everyone, ¡°President Morgan is here as he wants to show his sincerity.¡± Others nodded along, forcing smiles. Only Mnie remainedposed. She signaled her assistant to casually bring in a chair for Jeffrey. The young assistant trembled while cing down the chair, but Jeffrey didn¡¯t act arrogantly. He sat down after adjusting his suit. William opened the proposal on hisputer and connected theptop to the projector. He stepped onto the stage, then picked up the remote control to begin the presentation. At that moment, Mnie cleared her throat. ¡°| wonder how well you understand the proposal. Since you¡¯re so sincere about cooperating with us, President Morgan, how about you share your thoughts with us?¡± Everyone else in the room grew a bit tense. Wasn''t this request a bit too much? +15 BONUS William, too, held his breath. However, Jeffrey calmly rose from his seat and walked toward him, reaching out for the remote control. ¡°Pll handle it.¡± Jeffrey actually agreed! The members of Jones Enterprise¡¯s perfume department exchanged nces. They had heard rumors about the rtionship between Mnie and Jeffrey, and while they were initially skeptical, thinking Mnie wouldn''t willingly seek the support of a wealthy man, it now seemed that there was indeed something unusual between the two. Was Jeffrey actively pursuing Mnie? Jeffrey took the stage, opening the proposal and starting to exin in detail Morgan Group¡¯s positioning for the promotion of the ¡°Siberian Butterfly¡± fragrance. Mnie initially focused on listening, but as Jeffrey delved into the presentation, there was a charismatic charm to his guidance, like a leader leading the country with authority. Subconsciously, she found herself lost in his words. In the meeting room, Jeffrey presented himself with grandeur, his impable facial features highlighting his rugged charisma. He resembled a rare gem, exhibiting both warmth and firmness. He spoke eloquently, hisN?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. thoughts clear, and his logic wless. ¡°Do any of you have questions? Please feel free to ask.¡± Concluding his presentation sinctly, Jeffrey put down the remote control and scanned the room. Everyone was captivated by his charm, eagerly taking notes. No one had any questions. Jeffrey then fixed his gaze on Mnie¡¯s face and asked, ¡°If there are no questions, then what do you think, Miss Mnie?¡± ¡°Who said there are no questions?¡± Mnie spoke up sharply. ¡°The Yorks, a giant in the perfume industry, and Romero Corporation, a big yer in the pharmaceutical industry. Both have businesses rted to Jones Enterprise. However, Morgan Group has never cooperated with Jones Enterprise before. For our first coboration, we need to be cautious-very, very cautious.¡± Setting the tone for the cooperation, Mnie continued, ¡°Moreover, if we cooperate with the Yorks, they can bring many perfume enthusiasts along. It¡¯s essentially free potential customers.¡± Her words weren''t polite; she was clearly stating that Jeffrey wouldn¡¯t even be able to get as many potential customers as the York family could. The team members asionally lowered their heads, fingers flying across their phones. In the group chat, there was a flurry of discussions. ¡°Whoa, Miss Mnie is so cool! She has the guts to retort against President Morgan, and so confidently too!¡± Jeffrey''s eyes darkened slightly, and he offered a perfectly logical response. +15 BONUS ¡°As you said, Morgan Group and Jones Enterprise have never coborated before. Our first coboration will attract attention and will also be free, won''t it?¡± Chapter 311 Chapter 311 The Duke Commands Respect Mnie pursed her lips. Jeffrey was indeed eloquent and sharp-minded. ¡°Every coin has two sides,¡± Mnie sinctly countered. She then turned to her colleagues in the meeting room and said, ¡°Starting today, let¡¯s all focus our energy. I¡¯m nning a perfume exhibition soon, capitalizing on the poprity of ¡®Siberian Butterfly.¡¯ The location is yet to be decided. During the exhibition, all the perfumes we''re currently promoting will be showcased. | need everyone to contribute ideas for the exhibition n.¡± In just one day, ¡°Siberian Butterfly¡± had already stirred up a wave of anticipation online. Industry experts, having smelled the samples in Cyrus¡¯s hands, didn¡¯t hesitate to praise it. Even the general consumers were eagerly anticipating it. Capitalizing on this momenturn, Mnie intended to position it as the gship perfume of Jones Enterprise. She would have to ramp up her promotional efforts. ¡°Yes,¡± the members of the Perfume Department responded in unison. Mnie turned to Jeffrey again, adopting a courteous and friendly tone. ¡°Now, please wait for the news. | will carefully consider Morgan Group¡¯s proposal.¡± ¡°Sure. If there are any issues, we can make adjustments.¡± Jeffrey looked at Mnie sincerely, and somewhat ambiguously. He knew she hadn¡¯t vented all her frustration fromst night, so he let her release it as much as she wanted. In the chat group, there was a sudden uproar. [What did President Morgan just say? Am | mistaken? He said he can make adjustments?] [He¡¯s like a loyal dog! The way he looked at Miss Mnie when he said that was so indulgent!] Mnie lowered her eyes, indifferent to the reactions of others. She closed herptop with a snap and turned off the lights in the meeting room, signaling the end of the meeting. ¡°Thank you, President Morgan, and the Morgan Group team, for the wonderful presentation. That''s it for today. The meeting is adjourned!¡± She efficiently opened the door to usher them out. After seeing off the Morgan Group team, the assistant from the perfume department knocked on the door and handed Mnie an invitation. ¡°Miss Mnie, Duke Wilhelm is hosting a birthday banquet at Twilight Mansion tonight. He has invited you to attend it.¡± Duke Wilhelm? Mnie¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Why would he invite me?¡± She took the invitation, and her curious assistant beside her asked, ¡°Will you be attending?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Mnie replied. +15 BONUS After a moment of contemtion, Mnie said, ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with his daughter Grace quite a bit before, but I''ve never met the duke in person. Since he has invited me, I''ll go.¡± Today was his birthday, and yet the duke only sent her the invitation now. Mnie wondered what Duke Wilhelm was nning, and was curious to see for herself.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. In the evening, Mnie, dressed in an elegant yet understated gown, arrived at Twilight Mansion with a gift. Theyout of Twilight Mansion featured the Moon Hall in the front and the Star Hall in the back. Just as Mnie approached the Moon Hall, she encountered Grace. It wasn¡¯t surprising for Mnie to see Grace at Twilight Mansion, since she was attending the duke¡¯s birthday banquet. However, Grace was caught off guard. ¡°You''re here at Twilight Mansion too?¡± Grace red at Mnie without hiding her displeasure. Since the incident where Mnie used a photo of Jeffrey''s ex-girlfriend to provoke her, and subsequently received a scolding from Jeffrey himself, Grace had refrained from approaching Jeffrey. She had heard that Mnie continued to have contact with Jeffrey after that, which was inconceivable to her. She didn¡¯t know this version of Mnie who willingly lived under another woman¡¯s shadow. ¡°Who''s hosting the banquet in Moon Hall, huh? Who invited you?¡± Grace mocked. Mnie remained calm, and replied, ¡°I¡¯m going to Star Hall, just like you.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Grace had never heard from the butler that Mnie was invited by her father to the banquet at Twilight Mansion. ¡°Believe it or not, we''ll know when we get there.¡± Mnie continued to walk toward Star Hall. Inside Star Hall, the guests were all either rich or noble. At the entrance, Mnie registered the gift she brought and entered the venue withposure. ¡°You...really have an invitation?¡± Grace followed behind angrily. ¡°Don''t believe it? Why don¡¯t you go ask your father yourself?¡± Mnie taunted deliberately. Grace and Duke Wilhelm had a delicate rtionship, and she didn¡¯t dare ask her father about it. She only red at Mnie, asking maliciously, ¡°Why would my father invite you?¡± ¡°Curious? Keep an eye out, and you''ll understand why.¡± Mnie ditched Grace and walked into the venue. Upstairs, Mnie entered a private room that had its door slightly ajar. Seeing Mnie, Leo York smiled satisfactorily. ¡°The duke reallymands respect... Cough...cough... Although she was invited at thest minute, she really came.¡± Duke Wilhelm, smiling, was very respectful to Leo. In the face of powerful families like the Yorks, the Wilhelm family needed someone to rely on. 213 +15 BONUS ¡°Mr. York, you''re too kind. Since she¡¯s here, I''ll arrange the rest of the events ordingly. You just need to prepare your n,¡± Duke Wilhelm said. ¡°| will do so now.¡± Leo nodded slightly. He wiped his lips with a handkerchief, and left the room. Chapter 312 Chapter 312 Periodical Cicada On the stairs, Leo¡¯s subordinate cautiously asked, ¡°Mr. York, are you nning to make Mnie happy tonight with this event? Are you hoping she''ll agree after you talk about the sponsorship of her perfume?¡± Leo neither confirmed nor denied this. The subordinate was puzzled. ¡°But don¡¯t you just want to have more opportunities to get close to her and make her happy by sponsoring the perfume she created? Isn''t that too indirect?¡± Leo nced sharply at him. ¡°How many times have | said that Grandfather¡¯s instructions need careful consideration? If he arranges for me to get close to Mnie in such an indirect way, how can | aggressively pursue her? If | mess up, I''ll be handing over the Yorks¡¯ business to Harlow on a silver tter!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. York. It''s my mistake.¡± The subordinate bowed his head. ¡°In the future, speak less nonsense and use your brain more!¡± Leo descended the stairs and looked toward Mnie, who was chatting with others. ¡°Being a bit indirect has its benefits. Even if the result is not satisfactory, it won¡¯t be too embarrassing. There¡¯s still a way out.¡± After saying that, he picked up a ss of wine and walked toward Mnie. ¡°Miss Mnie, we meet again.¡± ¡°Mr. York.¡± Mnie smiled in response, and the two exchanged pleasantries for a few moments. At this moment, the lights suddenly brightened. Duke Wilhelm took the stage amidst the pleasant music.¡± Thank you all for attending my birthday banquet tonight. I¡¯ve prepared a small gift here to add some excitement to the event for everyone¡¯s enjoyment. ¡°Next month marks the seventeenth year since William Group entered Harbor City. I¡¯d like to ask everyone here to help mee up with a celebration theme. The target audience is young people and trendsetters. The person whose theme is chosen will receive this gift.¡± Duke Wilhelm raised his hand, and a servant promptly brought a tray onto the stage. On the tray was a dark- colored brocade box with its lid open, revealing an ancient crown nestled inside. The people below began to discuss in hushed tones. Duke Wilhelm¡¯s generosity was apparent. Even a small entertainment prize was worth so much... Mnie¡¯s long eyshes fluttered. What surprised her wasn¡¯t Duke Wilhelm¡¯s generosity, but the appearance of this crown. The medieval crown Jeffrey had bought at the auction and given to his mother was the one the prince had given to the princess in the ancient times. Their unwavering love story had be a well-known legend. The crown on the stage now belonged to the prince, making it a matching pair with the one given to the princess. ¡°For those interested, please feel free to share your ideas!¡± Duke Wilhelm appealed from the stage while staff members shuttled through the audience, distributing cards 143 +15 BONUS Leo and Mnie also received cards. Leo scrutinized Mnie¡¯s expression, pretending to ask casually, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡± ¡°There''s no need.¡± Mnie blinked, feeling that everything tonight was a bit coincidental. From the moment she arrived until now, she hadn¡¯t met Duke Wilhelm. She was curious about Duke Wilhelm¡¯s sudden invitation. Moreover, this crown that appeared as a surprise prize also seemed too coincidental. If someone paid attention to investigate her preferences, they would find that she had gone to great lengths at the auction to bid for the crown of the princess. Therefore, she was worried that it might be a trap and didn¡¯t want to attract attention in public. ¡°Worried that with so many talented people, you won''t be selected?¡± Leo continued. ¡°lm not sure about that.¡± Mnie looked at him without confirming or denying it. ¡°| have confidence in your talent. How about the photo series Mr. Smith shot? The one titled Siberian Butterfly- who else can match such creativity?¡± Leo patiently persuaded, ¡°Moreover, | have a strong premonition that tonight that this crown will go to you.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Mnie¡¯s thoughts flickered. Why was Leo so eager? This made her shift her doubts from Jeffrey to Leo. Things had suddenly be moreplicated. ¡°Give it a try. If you really win the prize, | happen to have something I''d like to ask for your help,¡± Leo continued. ¡°What is it?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°We can write the cards first, and when the results are revealed, we can discuss it then. It won¡¯t hurt.¡± Leo pretended to be mysterious, and went to write his card. Mnie pondered everything that had just happened. Her brows furrowed. When she had just arrived, she encountered Grace. Now that she thought about it, Grace¡¯s sinister gaze was still vivid. With Grace, the vengeful youngdy, she might not need to worry too much. Thinking of this, Mnie became more certain. Contemting Duke Wilhelm¡¯s request, she wrote a few words on the card. ¡°Periodical Cicada.¡± Then, she handed the card to the staff along with Leo. The staff ced it in the collection box backstage. Backstage, Grace¡¯s butler hurriedly approached her and whispered, ¡°Miss, | just inquired. It seems that the Duke intends to give that prize to Mnie.¡± 213 +15 BONUSProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°What did you say?¡± Grace jumped up from her chair in a hurry. The butler gestured for her to be discreet, and added, ¡°Just now, the staff folded her card three times before putting it in the collection box. Duke Wilhelm will draw from the boxter. So...¡± Grace¡¯s face was full of sinister suspicion. ¡°Why would father do this? What benefits does he gain from befriending Mnie?¡± Chapter 313 Chapter 313 Destruction Marks +15 BONUS ¡°Before the banquet, the duke and the young master of the Yorks had a long conversation on the second floor. Could this be rted to Mr. York?¡± The astute personal butler analyzed the situation for Grace. ¡°I''ve heard that during the centennial celebration at the Yorks¡¯ residence, he helped Mnie. Maybe he¡¯s interested in her? And it seems that Old Master York tacitly approves...¡± ¡°Are you suggesting that Leo wants to pursue Mnie? And that he specifically asked Father to create opportunities for him? This is outrageous!¡± Grace said angrily, suppressing her voice. ¡°The duke is currently working hard to gain the support of the Yorks. It¡¯s not impossible that he is catering to Leo¡¯s demands at the moment,¡± the butler continued. Grace clenched her fists and ground her teeth. ¡°I absolutely cannot let Mnie be with Leo!¡± ¡°If Mnie leaves Jeffrey because of Mr. York, wouldn¡¯t that be a good thing for you?¡± the butler asked in confusion. Wouldn''t Grace be able to take advantage of this situation then? ¡°Il can¡¯t let her marry into the York family! That would be too easy for her!¡± Grace was resolute. ¡°Quick, go and destroy the marks on her card! Make sure Father chooses someone else!¡± Half an hourter, Duke Wilhelm took the stage again. A servant brought up a table with a collection box, and some scattered cards. ¡°| truly admire everyone¡¯s creativity.¡± Duke Wilhelm smiled with joy. ¡°Several themes have deeply touched my heart. However, the concept on this card is grand and majestic. It¡¯s called ¡®Forge Ahead¡¯. May | ask who wrote this?¡± Duke Wilhelm spoke while involuntarily ncing toward Mnie. Leo also intentionally looked at her, waiting for her reaction. The backstage music and lighting were all ready and everything was prepared, but Mnie remained indifferent. ¡°Me.¡± At this moment, a young aristocrat, who was far from the stage, stood up and raised his hand. ¡°Duke Wilhelm, do you think my proposal is the best? I¡¯d be honored if that¡¯s the case!¡± Duke Wilhelm¡¯s gaze changed slightly. He quickly looked at Leo below the stage.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Leo raised his hand, covering his mouth with a handkerchief, coughing lightly a few times. His downcast eyes revealed no joy or anger: ¡°Ah...¡± Duke Wilhelm felt awkward on stage. How did this happen? With so many people watching, he couldn¡¯t retract his words. He could only adjust his expression and say, ¡± That¡¯s right. Your proposal is the best one. This crown belongs to you!¡± Amidst apuse, the music was yed. A servant took the crown from the stage and handed it to the young aristocrat. The spotlight was on him, and everyone''s attention was focused on him as well. +15 BONUS Only Duke Wilhelm looked awkwardly at Leo, who continued to ignore him. Mnie casually nced elsewhere. In the dark corner, Grace was proudly holding a ss, drinking alone. It really was her... Mnie smiled. Unexpectedly, she had Grace, her opponent, to thank today. When Duke Wilhelm saw Leo ignoring him, he felt anxious. He came down from the stage with his entourage. While everyone¡¯s attention was on the crown, he walked directly to Leo and Mnie. ¡°Miss Mnie, may | know what you write?¡± Duke Wilhelm asked. ¡°| wrote, Periodical Cicada.¡± Mnie calmly replied. Duke Wilhelm¡¯s brow furrowed... Who had sabotaged his n behind the scenes?! When he checked the cards in the collection box one by one just now, he found three cards with folded marks. One of them was the card with ¡®Periodical Cicada¡¯ written on it. He himself thought the theme of ¡®Periodical Cicada¡¯ was quite novel, especially appealing to the younger generation. However, the card with ¡®Forge Ahead¡¯ was folded most neatly, while the other two were open. To be cautious, Duke Wilhelm had no choice but to choose ¡®Forge Ahead.¡¯ It seemed someone intentionally reached into the collection box, destroyed the original marks, and made new marks on other cards... Duke Wilhelm suppressed his anger and could only wear a smiling face in front of Leo. He continued to ask Mnie, ¡°What does that symbolize?¡± At this moment, many people had noticed that the duke and Mnie were talking, and turned their attention to them. Under the curious gazes of the crowd, Mnie exined loudly, ¡°The ¡®Periodical Cicada¡¯ is a type of cicada that lives underground for seventeen years before emerging. Since the duke¡¯spany is significantly involved in the fossil industry, | thought we could use the symbolism of the periodical cicada¡¯s delicate wings, round eyes, and the meaning of emerging after seventeen years of dormancy. Since the audience is young people, they should appreciate something innovative.¡± ¡°Periodical cicada! Wonderful!¡± Duke Wilhelm praised. ¡°Miss Mnie''s proposal is also excellent. Just now, | was hesitating between these two cards. ¡®Forge Ahead¡¯ is steady and majestic, but the long and secretive life cycle of the ¡®Periodical Cicada¡¯ also symbolizes the achievements of my family¡¯s business. It can indeed be used as the theme for the seventeenth-anniversary celebration!¡± ¡°This is just a preliminary idea. For detailed nning, you still need to consult with professionals, Duke Wilhelm,¡± Mnie humbly said. ¡°Of course!¡± Duke Wilhelm smiled. He stole a nce at Leo on the side, hoping that hispliments could make up for the previous mistake. As long as Mnie was in a good mood, she shouldn¡¯t refuse Leo¡¯s uing invitation, right? Chapter 314 Chapter 314 Seizing Opportunities Surrounded by a mix of genuine and insincerepliments. Duke Wilhelm casually dealt with them while carefully observing Leo¡¯s expression. After a while, as the ttering individuals dispersed, Mnie seized the opportunity to express her doubts. ¡°Duke Wilhelm, | feel both honored and perplexed to receive your invitation to tonight¡¯s birthday banquet. Could you rify something for me?¡± Duke Wilhelm chuckled. At a time like this, he would say whatever pleased Mnie. ¡°My daughter Grace offended you before. Since I¡¯m hosting friends from Harbor City tonight, it¡¯s only natural to invite you as well. Consider it my way of apologizing on her behalf.¡± ¡°You''re too kind.¡± A sharp glint shed in Mnie¡¯s eyes, and she thought of a n. ¡°I just saw Miss Grace at the banquet, and she seemed quite interested in the card | wrote. Perhaps she spoke well of me in front of you, making you appreciate my creativity?¡± Duke Wilhelm squinted his eyes, and subtly clenched his fist. Mnie¡¯s implication was clear. He couldn''t help but sigh. Mnie was indeed clever! She knew that the so-called petition¡± earlier was just a setup for her. Without revealing her cards, she effortlessly used his daughter¡¯s jealousy to dismantle the plot. No wonder Leo was putting so much effort into winning her favor. With her assistance, dealing with Harlow in the future would be even easier. However, Duke Wilhelm didn¡¯t have time to think about other matters right now. He was embarrassed and infuriated at the same time. Suppressing his anger, he politely excused himself from Leo and Mnie and went backstage straightaway. The butler had informed him that Grace was there. Duke Wilhelm hurried backstage and found Grace. There, she was looking carefree and smug. He was infuriated by the sight. He gestured to his subordinates to clear the backstage area. His subordinates quickly left and went to guard the entrances, leaving the space for the pair of father and daughter. Grace felt the change in atmosphere. She turned around, and saw Duke Wilhelm staring at her. She was so scared that she couldn¡¯t hold the wine ss steadily. ¡°Was it you?¡± Duke Wilhelm angrily questioned. ¡°Dad, what...what are you talking about?¡± Grace tried to act innocent. ¡°If you dare utter another lie, I''ll cut off your tongue!¡± Duke Wilhelm threatened sternly. Grace knelt down in fright. She dropped the wine ss and it shattered, cutting her hand. Blood dripped onto the ground. She didn¡¯t care about the pain, only pleading repeatedly, ¡°Dad, | just couldn¡¯t stand Mnie. | just didn¡¯t want her to get the prize...¡± ¡°Idiot!¡± Duke Wilhelm couldn¡¯t contain his anger. ¡°You just couldn¡¯t stand her, huh? Do you know you ruined my n?!¡± 142 +15 BONUS Duke Wilhelm shouted angrily. He knew that the most urgent matter now was not to punish Grace, but to calm Leo¡¯s anger. If Leo¡¯s n failed, he wouldn¡¯t gain anything from the Yorks. He tried hard to suppress his anger, and after he did, he said, ¡°Quickly go out and apologize to Mnie!¡± ¡°But |...¡± Grace was afraid and unwilling. She sobbed in grievance. ¡°Shut up!¡± Duke Wilhelm didn¡¯t want to look at her any longer. ¡°Whether you please her or apologize, as long as you can make Mnie and Mr. York happy, | will let you stay in this family. If not, you¡¯ll be kicked out immediately!¡± In the banquet hall. The excitement of thepetition gradually faded. The crowd dispersed, engaging in various conversations. Mnie noticed that Leo was still standing by her side without leaving. She couldn¡¯t help but smile and ask, Mr. York, you mentioned earlier that there¡¯s something you''d like my help with. What is it exactly?¡± Leo looked embarrassed. He had boasted earlier that the crown was Mnie''s, but now... He was utterly humiliated because he had been so confident when he said those words. He could only swallow his embarrassment, and say straightforwardly, ¡°Regarding your ¡®Siberian Butterfly¡¯ perfume, I¡¯m considering promoting it. What are your thoughts?¡± Unexpectedly, it was about this... Mnie¡¯s eyes flickered. The Yorks had already contacted Jones Enterprise¡¯s perfume department yesterday, but Leo still talked about it in person. It seemed he wanted to force her into a situation where she couldn¡¯t refuse due to their past rtionship. Fortunately, she had prepared for this...Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. She was about to respond, when a calm male voice next to her spoke on her behalf. ¡°Mr. York, you might be a step toote. My people have already negotiated with Jones Enterprise¡¯s perfume department, and we''ve reviewed the proposal.¡± Chapter 315 Chapter 315 Know Very Well ¡°President Morgan?¡± Leo turned around, and saw the extraordinary figure of Jeffrey standing directly next to Mnie. He couldn¡¯t help but cough a few times involuntarily. ¡°So, Jones Enterprise has already decided to cooperate with Morgan Group?¡± Leo asked Mnie again. Mnie nodded, smiling. ¡°Although the cooperation hasn''t been finalized, Morgan Group¡¯s proposal is indeed impressive.¡± ¡°President Morgan, you¡¯re indeed ahead of the curve. No wonder Morgan Group stands out in the vast business world,¡± Leo said. Leo¡¯s words carried mockery, but Jeffrey didn¡¯t mind. He picked up his wine ss and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. York, you''re too kind. | just understand better than the average person when and with whom to seize opportunities.¡± ¡°Cough...cough...¡± Jeffrey spoke provokingly, but Leo didn¡¯t back down. He smiled with a touch of malice. ¡°President Morgan, who do you want to seize? Oh! By the way, | heard that President Romero came from the Medonia to Harbor City a few days ago just to let his precious daughter meet you. | met President Romero. yesterday. He said that you and Miss Romero are getting along quite well, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jeffrey instinctively turned his head to look at Mnie. He hadn¡¯t finished dealing with Mnie''s jealousy of Ist night, and now, Leo deliberately chose to talk about this. It was truly adding insult to injury! ¡°Mr. York, you''ve only taken over your family business. | thought you''d be very busy, but unexpectedly, you also indulge in baseless rumors,¡± Mnie interjected. Leo coughed lightly twice, and said, ¡°A little rxation amidst all the busy times.¡± At this moment, Mnie¡¯s phone in her handbag vibrated. Seizing the opportunity, she said, ¡°Excuse me, | need to take a call.¡± She went to the balcony. ¡°Annie, what is it?¡± ¡°Is it convenient for you to talk now?¡± Annie asked on the other end. Mnie nced around. There was only her on the balcony. ¡°Yes. Did you find any new leads?¡± ¡°Following ourst deduction, | had private investigators check several majorpanies in Harbor City one by one. In the end...¡± Mnie had a bad premonition. ¡°In the end, what?¡± Annie hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Morgan Group is the prime suspect, but this doesn¡¯t necessarily 1/3 +15 BONUS Afraid that Mnie might misunderstand, Annie hurriedly defended Jeffrey. Mnie paused, then said, ¡°I understand. | won''t jump to conclusions. You can rest assured.¡± With a pensive expression, she hung up the phone and was about to go back. She was startled to see a pair of men¡¯s feet next to her. ¡°What are you thinking? You seem to be in a daze.¡± Jeffrey said. He had been standing next to her for a few minutes, and she hadn''t noticed at all.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Mnie lowered her gaze, and remained silent. Jeffrey thought she was concerned again, so he said sincerely, ¡°Just now, Leo deliberately mentioned I. You should understand that he¡¯s trying to provoke you and sow discord between us.¡± ¡°Aren''t you both provoking each other?¡± Mnie retorted. Jeffrey was stunned for two seconds. ¡°That''s different.¡± ¡°How is it different?¡± ¡°My rtionship with you and your rtionship with him are not the same.¡± He suddenly took a step forward, bending down to gaze into her clear eyes. Mnie couldn''t stop her heart from pounding. To stop the atmosphere from heating up, she voiced out her doubts. ¡°There¡¯s something | want to ask you.¡± She spoke very formally, and Jeffrey also responded seriously. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Are you investigating my father?¡± She didn¡¯t add a single extra word. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Jeffrey''s gaze was equally firm. In a direct confrontation, he dared to face her scrutiny without any panic. This wasn''t the reaction of someone guilty. Mnie breathed a sigh of relief. For now, she believed him. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Jeffrey asked. ¡°Nothing. Just that someone has been investigating my father recently, and | don¡¯t want my mom to know about it.¡± Mnie sighed softly. ¡°She finally epted that it was an ident. Going back to the past would be too cruel for her.¡± Jeffrey''s narrowed eyes shed. Someone was investigating her father again recently? ¡°It''s cold outside. Let''s go back.¡± He changed the topic and suggested. Mnie nodded. The two of them walked back to the banquet hall, together but encountered someone at the edge of the balcony. Said someone looked surprised to see them. However, he only greeted Mnie. 213 +15 BONUS ¡°Miss Mnie, now that you¡¯re back in Harbor City, you should be safe.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you for saving me and my master abroad, Mr. Quinn.¡± Mnie looked at Nathan, and added,¡± Have you been abroad all this time? It¡¯s been a long time since west met.¡± Nathan''s eyes narrowed, and he said tensely, ¡°I returned to the country early, but I¡¯ve been in Willowfort. As for what I¡¯ve been busy with, a certain someone should know very welll¡± Chapter 316 Chapter 316 A Good-looking Couple Nathan''s tone suddenly changed. He looked as though he was replying to Mnie, but Mnie knew that he was targeting Jeffrey. She turned around, and put her wine ss down before leaving. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but please excuse me.¡± With that, she returned to the banquet hall, leaving the two men to face off on the balcony. ¡°Thankfully, my adoptive mother is fine. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t be standing here talking to each other today!¡± Nathan''s bloodshot eyes were filled with threatening rage. ¡°Jeffrey Morgan, | didn¡¯t expect you to go against me for the sake of that woman!¡± ¡°She''s fine because | engaged the best doctor for her,¡± Jeffrey said unflinchingly. ¡°So should | be thanking you instead?¡± ¡°No need for that.¡± Jeffrey went on with a look of disdain, ¡°I engaged a doctor for her simply because | don¡¯t want to implicate the innocent. It doesn¡¯t mean I''m trying to keep a backdoor open for myself and keep our alliance alive.¡± Nathan was angered by Jeffrey¡¯s unyielding stance. ¡°Very well! | never expected you to be someone | have to deal with!¡± ¡°Have you been dealing with many people in secret?¡± Jeffrey suddenly looked keenly at Nathan. ¡°Did you send someone to Harbor City to investigate Mnie''s father?¡± ¡°Ha, ha, ha!¡± Nathan paused for a moment before breaking out into cold, wildughter. ¡°Jeffrey Morgah, you''re quite a joke! Who was the one who swore to make anyone who hurt Emma suffer ten times the pain? Has the one who hurt her now be such a treasure to you that I can¡¯t even investigate?¡± ¡°I''m just warning you not to be foolish no matter what you do, lest you alert the enemy and foil my n!¡± Jeffrey narrowed his eyes as he warned Nathan coldly. ¡°Hmph.¡± Nathan scoffed. ¡°You sound so genuine. Is that n of yours still in effect?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that,¡± Jeffrey spat coldly, shooting Nathan a look of disdain. Mnie walked around the bend and looked back. The night wind blew against the curtains and the shadows of both men intertwined. She went on walking back to the banquet hall in search of a quiet corner to settle down in. Yet, she unwittingly locked gazes with Leo. It would seem too pretentious to dodge his gaze. She had no choice but to walk over and smile politely at him. ¡°Mr. York, pardon me for not being able to work with you this time.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°All''s fair in love and business. It was my fault for beingte, so you don¡¯t need to feel bad,¡± Leo said with a wave of his hand. ¡°You, on the other hand, demonstrated the sincerity of Jones Enterprise. I''ll definitely keep an eye out for opportunities to work with you in the future.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Mnie replied courteously. She changed the subject as subtly as she could. ¡°Mr. York, you must have a packed schedule during your visit here at Harbor City?¡± Leo was about to answer Mnie when a womans voice cut in, breaking the harmonious atmosphere. ¡°No matter how busy, Mr. York shoulde out for some fresh air and rx, just like today.¡± ¡°One has to be in a rxed mood to meet a perfect partner to do enjoyable things together,¡± Grace said as she walked over, smiling pretentiously at Leo. The air chilled in an instant. No one seemed to want to answer Grace. Yet, Grace¡¯s mind was upied by Duke Wilhelm¡¯s threat. She couldn¡¯t be bothered by the awkward situation she found herself in. She went on, ¡°I was chatting with a fewdies upstairs, and saw Mr. York and Ms. Jones standing together. We were all talking about what a good-looking couple you two make!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Leo coughed as he nced at Grace. At that moment, he understood why something went wrong with Duke Wilhelm¡¯s card. This troublesome brat must have been behind it! Grace caused him to lose a deal and a chance to get close to Mnie. Was she trying to make things better? He would never spare her so easily! Chapter 317 Chapter 317 The President¡¯s n Leo signaled his subordinate to step forward to issue some orders for the team. Grace didn¡¯t notice the vicious and dark look in Leo¡¯s eyes, and mistakenly thought that he was interested in what she had to say. ¡°Yes! You''re young and handsome, while Ms. Jones is elegant and beautiful. You two are a match made in heaven.¡± ¡°Did | hear you wrongly? Were you actually praising me?¡± Mnie looked incisively at Grace. ¡°We did have some conflicts in the past, but I¡¯m just stating a fact now,¡± Grace said, not daring to look Mnie in the eye. She quickly changed the subject, and gushed, ¡°Mr. York is the most handsome and suave gentleman in this entire banquet hall. I¡¯m sure you won''t disagree with that, will you?¡± Mnie pressed her lips together, remaining nonmittal. All of a sudden, Grace felt a cold gaze from the side, looking through her fake smile. She turned around, and immediately spotted Jeffrey. s! Although she wanted to salvage her image in Jeffrey''s mind, her life was more important. She didn¡¯t dare to tter Jeffrey too much. All she could do was hide behind Leo and Mnie, and continue adting them. Seeing the three of them remain unmoving, Jeffrey flung his arm and stormed off, leaving the banquet before it was over. He instructed William in the car, ¡°Head to Willowfort and make the necessary arrangements.¡± ¡°The name ¡®Siberian Butterflies¡¯ implies freezing cold. What Mnie and Elder Gibson want is to create a contrasting image between fire and ice. Therefore, Mnie will definitely choose a cold ce to hold her exhibition. Willowfort is located on the hignds. It¡¯s very hot in the day, but icy cold after sunset. It¡¯ll be the most ideal location for her. What¡¯s more, she¡¯s been there before. Elder Gibson himself resides there. There¡¯s no reason for her not to choose that ce,¡± Jeffrey analyzed methodically. ¡°Yes, President Morgan. I''ll send someone to do what is necessary. Should we rmend Mrs. Morgan two exhibition organizers based in Willowfort?¡± William asked. ¡°No need, Mnie probably already has one in mind. Just keep your eye on Thousand Acre Exhibitions.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± William¡¯s eyes lit up. Thousand Acre Exhibitions was thepany that belonged to Mnie¡¯s second uncle. He had been doing a good job running thepany well, and she was sure to choose to work with him... William was about to leave, but for the very first time, he saw his president flip open the mirror above his head and check his reflection in it. It was his first time seeing Jeffrey care so much about his appearance. William also noticed that Jeffrey seemed to have something to say, which was what made him hesitate to leave. As he expected, Jeffrey looked away from the mirror and asked with feigned casualness, ¡°Do you find Leo York handsome?¡± 1/2: William almost choked on his saliva. What kind of question was that? +15 BONUS Over the years, Leo had never been spotted with a female partner. Rumors spread in the business circle that he preferred men. But... Jeffrey''s sexual orientation was that of a normal man. Did he get traumatized when he was at the banquet just now? After all, Leo and Mrs. Morgan had been hanging out more recently... That must be the case. William picked his words carefully, and said, ¡°Mr. York isn¡¯t exactly considered handsome.¡± Jeffrey was clearly dissatisfied with William¡¯s perfunctory answer. ¡°Are you blind?¡± William started breaking out in a cold sweat, and tried to exin himself. ¡°Mr. York is indeed not that good- looking. He¡¯s just very clean and aesthetic in a sense. He¡¯s also managed to preserve the youthfulness that¡¯s rare in men who are 30 years of age...¡± ¡°Hah.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Jeffrey scoffed, and waved for William to get out of the car. Youthfulness? He was also 30 years old. Was William trying to say that he wasn¡¯t youthful? The thought of Mnie saying multiple times that everyone liked young men made his eyes narrow....... Back at the banquet hall, Duke Wilhelm¡¯s birthday banquet was about toe to a close. The duke¡¯s children, who were based in the country, pushed a huge birthday cake onto the stage. Amidst cheerful songs and blessings, the duke blew out the candles and cut the cake before inviting his guests toe on stage for a slice of the cake. When the festivities gradually died down, Leo took the card that his subordinate handed to him and strode up the stage. ¡°Duke Wilhelm, pardon me. Please allow me to take this chance to announce something,¡± he said politely yet firmly. ¡°Mr. York, please go ahead,¡± Duke Wilhelm said respectfully. Chapter 318 Chapter 318 He Didn''t Do It For Me ¡°I came to Harbor City on behalf of the Yorks, and have been so busy with work that I¡¯ve had no chance to invite everyone to my house for a gathering. I''d like to take this chance to invite everyone here at Duke Wilhelm¡¯s birthday celebration.¡± Leo walked toward Duke Wilhelm and his children, and went o, ¡°I will send my men to personally deliver your invitation cards to you. As for the duke¡¯s family, | will take this chance to hand them their invitation cards in person.¡± He took out the invitation cards and handed one to Duke Wilhelm first before giving out the rest of the cards to the Duke¡¯s children. Grace wasst in line of four children, and she waited expectantly for her turn. Her shameless ttery just now must have moved Leo! Leo was full of smiles as he gave out invitation cards in front of everyone, inviting their family to the Yorks¡¯ residence for a gathering. That clearly meant that he was very pleased with her. That way, her father wouldn''t keep harping on her mistakes... She had just felt relieved for a brief moment, when she saw Leo walk to her sister standing next to her and hand her an invitation card. He then nced at Grace and immediately put away thest invitation card, handing it instead to his subordinate behind him. Grace was stunned. So was everyone below the stage. What did Mr. York mean by that? By right, he should treat all of the duke¡¯s children equally! Yet, he chose to pick on Ms. Grace in front of everyone. Did Grace offend Mr. York at some point? Everyone below the stage exchanged nces as they made a mental note to not be seen with Ms. Grace. It wouldn''t be worth it if they end up incurring the wrath of Mr. York! The fire in Duke Wilhelm, that had been momentarily appeased, burned brightly once again. He red at Grace and yelled, ¡°Leave!¡± Tears welled up in Grace¡¯s eyes. She turned around and fled the scene, not daring to utter a single word. The tail of her gown was too long, but she had no capacity to care about it as she fled. When she ran down the stairs, she identally stepped on the hem of her gown and crashed onto the floor. Bam! Grace copsed on the floor in an unsightly heap, but she didn¡¯t even dare to groan. Dignity and pride were of utmost importance to her father. She was worried that if she embarrassed Duke Wilhelm even further, he might really kill her. Grace wanted to hold herself up and stand up quickly before anyone noticed her, but she suddenly noticed a +15 BONUS She looked up the pair of fair and svelte legs, and saw... Mnie Jones! Grace bit her lips, turning them white under the bright red lipstick she was wearing. Was Mnie mocking her?Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Grace stood up and red at Mnie with hostility. Mnie saw Grace¡¯s hair in a mess, blood staining the bandage wrapped around her palm. Mnie smiled coldly, ¡°Ms. Grace, what are you staring at me like that for? Should | interpret that as you being upset with me? Didn¡¯t you just praise me for being elegant and beautiful just a few seconds ago?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Grace felt indignant, but could do nothing about it. Mnie was her father¡¯s guest, and she wouldn''t dare to say anything nasty to her. All she could do was to lift the hem of her dress and run backstage. Mnie looked up and saw Leo looking at her from the stage with a half-smile. She smiled politely back at him. As the celebration came to an end, Mnie bid goodbye to Leo and Duke Wilhelm before taking her leave. She had wanted to head outside to wait for her driver to drive the car over, but ended up seeing Jeffrey¡¯s car instead. There were many people milling around. She quickly opened the door and hopped into the car, wanting to keep a low profile. She settled down on the back seat, right next to him. The engine of the car started up and drove off from the entrance of the banquet hall. Jeffrey looked casually at her and asked, ¡°I heard that Grace embarrassed herself in front of you just now? Did Leo do that on purpose?¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± she asked as she turned to look at him. Jeffrey tried to hide the emotions rolling in the depths of his eyes as he asked teasingly, ¡°Did you thank him?¡± ¡°Leo deliberately embarrassed Grace, but he didn¡¯t do it for me. There were many dubious incidents at today¡¯s celebration, and Grace might have secretly plotted against me. But it seems like Leo is angrier about it than | am... Also, | didn¡¯t want that crown anyway,¡± Mnie said warily. She was quick-witted indeed. The corner of Jeffrey¡¯s lips lifted as he sneered. ¡°Oh yes, President Morgan. We have approved Morgan Group¡¯s proposal after much deliberation. Next up, we want to hold a perfume exhibition at Willowfort. Is Morgan Group interested in being part of it?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°Of course.¡± Jeffrey went on, ¡°Since it¡¯s a coboration between ourpanies, we want to be involved in all promotional efforts for ¡®Siberian Butterflies¡¯.¡± 213 +15 BONUS ¡°In that case, President Morgan, please put together a project team that | can work with,¡± Mnie requested.¡± I¡¯ve already chosen an exhibition organizer and will send the details to Williamter.¡± ¡°No problem, Mrs. Morgan,¡± William responded swiftly from the front passenger seat. Five minutester, William received an email from Jones Enterprise¡¯s perfume department. When he opened the document attached to it, he saw the name written on the ¡®Exhibition Organizer¡¯ field: Thousand Acre Exhibitions. 44 Chapter 319 Chapter 319 Deliberate Neglect of Duty William subconsciously straightened himself, a sense of awe for his president seated silently behind him overwhelmed him. His president managed to guess every single detail urately. After Mnie reached home and took a shower, she found herself still restless. A thought suddenly came to mind. She called the custodian of the fragrance blending room from herpany¡¯s perfume department. ¡°Mr. Shaw, pardon me for bothering you at this hour. You¡¯ve been keeping an eye on the perfume blending room over the past few days. Did you find anything suspicious?¡± she asked Mr. Shaw, who was on night duty. ¡°I think | did...¡± Mr. Shaw went on after pondering for a moment. ¡°| had wanted to report it to you today. Every night, one or two suspicious-looking strangers woulde to the level where the perfume blending room is located. Although they have their ess passes, | find them unfamiliar. Miss, should | tell security to step up on entrance checks at night?¡± ¡°No need for that, Mr. Shaw. In fact, | want you to have some drinks and nap a while during your shift tonight,¡± Mnie said firmly. ¡°Huh?¡± Mr. Shaw was shocked at Mnie¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Don''t worry, | have a n in mind,¡± she said. That was when Mr. Shaw understood what was going on.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. After hanging up, Mnie informed the security department to work overtime at thest minute tounch a surveince system that was previously dmissioned, and to run it alongside the current system. ¡°I''ll have to trouble everyone to pay attention to the surveince footage of both systems. If anything suspicious emerges, don¡¯t act rashly to alert the other party and just inform me immediately,¡± she instructed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss,¡± members of the security department assured her. ¡®Siberian Butterflies¡¯ had suddenly be viral. She knew that many people were up all night, jealous of the sess of the series. Now that she was preparing for a perfume exhibition, she¡¯d rather be safe than sorry and guard against foul y before the big event. After settling Jones Enterprise¡¯s affairs, she texted Mr. Smith to invite him to Mount Coloss to take another series of photos as the backdrop for the perfume exhibition. Mr. Smith agreed readily, promising to cancel all his appointments tomorrow so he could go to Mount Coloss with her. By the time she was done making all these arrangements, it was already 1.30 am. Mnie headed to the bedroom to retire for the night, but found Jeffrey lying on the bed. +15 BONUS Since thest time they were intimate, Jeffrey started ignoring all boundaries between them. Mnie pressed her lips together, but tip-toed over so that she wouldn''t wake Jeffrey up from his deep slumber. She pulled a nket over from a corner, andid on the other side of the bed. Just as she curled up and settled herself down to sleep, his arms reached her. She felt a sudden warmth against her back. Jeffrey had wrapped himself around her from behind. ¡°Aren''t you supposed to be asleep?¡± she said, slightly taken aback. ¡°Who said so?¡± Jeffrey''s eyes were still closed, but his arm tightened around her as the other hand started getting touchy. Mnie immediately pressed his restless hand down in rejection. ¡°I¡¯m going to Mount Coloss tomorrow, and | need the rest tonight.¡± ¡°Why are you going to Mount Coloss tomorrow?¡± His eyes popped open as he asked, clearly bothered. Mnie told him about Mr. Smith and her n. Jeffrey paused for a moment before saying, ¡°Siberian Butterflies¡¯ has been in the limelight since it wasunched. Now that Morgan Group is involved in it, all the more you must be careful. People who draw the most attention always end up getting into much trouble.¡± ¡°You''re so concerned about it. Aren¡¯t you busy enough with Morgan Group¡¯s affairs? | have my own ns,¡± Mnie retorted teasingly. ¡°That¡¯s reassuring to hear.¡± Jeffrey smirked. He shook his hand free from her hold, and started caressing her once more. ¡°Hey, | said... | need to wake up early tomorrow...¡± ¡°You''ll rest better with some exercise.¡± Jeffrey pressed his body against hers, not giving her any chance to escape. ¡°What¡¯s more, | don¡¯t need you to move much... Chapter 320 Chapter 320 A Huge Shock The next day, Mnie packed a light luggage and met up with Mr. Smith. The weather was excellent, and they went up Mount Coloss together. Mr. Smith''s assistant drove the car, which was filled with various professional filming equipment. When they arrived at their destination, Mr. Smith took a few scenic shots of the wilderness in Mount Coloss. ¡°Didn''t you say you were partially inspired by the potpourri made by the family on the mountain in concocting the fragrance? Shouldn''t we go to their house and snap some photos? That''d be so much more meaningful. than just scenic shots of Mount Coloss,¡± he said. ¡°I think so, too.¡± Mnie smiled. ¡°That¡¯s why | wanted to invite you to stay at the family¡¯s house for the night. | even brought two sets of perfume blending tools for the olddy. We have to get her permission first before we can take any photos, though.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. | have my ethics, too.¡± Mr. Smith instructed his driver to turn back in the direction that Mnie said, eager to visit the family living in the mountain. The olddy and the two youngsters were pleasantly surprised to see Mnie once more. The entire family was happily busying themselves around the house, preparing food and drinks for their surprise guests. It came to Mnie¡¯s mind to ask them for their names. The young girl and her brother called each other Shane and Pam. The olddy didn¡¯t remember her own name, and no one had asked her about it. Her identity was simply the mother of these two children. Mnie presented the perfume blending tools she brought to them, to which the olddy was filled with gratitude. She then brought up the fact that she had brought a friend over to take some photos for a perfume exhibition. The olddy¡¯s interest was immediately piqued as she listened heartily to,Mnie talk about the series of perfumes she concocted. ¡°My photographer friend is very interested in Mount Coloss. Aside from taking scenic shots of the mountain, he also wants to take some shots of your house. We will eventually use these photos in my perfume exhibition. Are you okay with that?¡± Mnie seized the chance to ask. The olddy nodded without any hesitation. She wrote on a piece of paper, ¡°My family has nothing to hide. Let him take photos as he pleases.¡± ¡°Thank you so much! We will let you take a look at all the photos he takes, and you can delete anything you find inappropriate,¡± Mnie promised. Mnie, Mr. Smith and his assistant stayed the night in the family¡¯s house. The next morning, Mr. Smith woke 142 +15 BONUS The olddy looked through the photos, and readily agreed for them to use everything and that nothing needed to be deleted. Before they left. Mr. Smith said regretfully, ¡°Madam, I''d really love to take photos of you. | saw you making the potpourri by hand yesterday and found such a moving scene...¡± The olddy waved her hands profusely, saying shyly that she didn¡¯t want her face to be shown in the photos. Mr. Smith tried to push his luck. ¡°How about just taking a shot of your hands? I''ll take a photo of your hands as you make potpourri.¡± The olddy finally agreed to his request. Mr. Smith then held his camera in his hand and focused his lenses on the olddy¡¯s hands, finally bidding her goodbye after taking his fill of photos. The olddy saw them out of the house with her children in tow. Mnie slowed down her pace, and asked, ¡± Madam, do you and your children want to attend my perfume exhibition? The photos that we took at your house will be exhibited together with the perfumes.¡± Pam¡¯s eyes lit up when she heard Mnie¡¯s invitation. She clearly wanted to go, but Shane shook his head atProperty ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. her, reminding her that they should listen to their mother in this regard. The olddy thought about it before finally shaking her head. Shane exined, ¡°My mother rarely leaves Mount Coloss, and that is so for my sister as well. I¡¯m usually the one who leaves the mountain to buy necessities. They might not be used to the world outside.¡± ¡°l understand.¡± Mnie pulled out three exquisitely designed invitation cards, and handed them to the olddy. ¡°The date, time and venue of the perfume exhibition is written on the card. If you decide toe anyway, contact me. I''ll send a car here to pick you up.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Pam and Shane replied unanimously. After leaving Mount Coloss, Mnie didn¡¯t return to Harbor City. She headed straight for Willowfort with Mr. Smith to prepare for the perfume exhibition. Mount Coloss was nearer to Willowfort, and traveling there straight would save her some time. They reached Willowfort after a few hours¡¯ drive. Mr. Smith said that he knew of an excellent restaurant, and insisted on treating her to a good meal after the tiring journey. Mnie agreed to it, and brought some employees of Jones Enterprise to the restaurant with her. When they walked into at the restaurant that Mr. Smith mentioned and went through a corridor, they saw a waiter with a tray of food entering one of the private rooms. Mnie saw the two women seated inside. One was Olivia, who had just fled Harbor City. The other was someone who came as an unexpected shock to Mnie. Chapter 321 Chapter 321 Soft Hearted The waiter served the dishes on the table, and left with the tray. The two women sat in the private room. Olivia served Lena some food and said with feigned casualness. ¡°Did you hear? Mnie wants to hold a perfume exhibition in Willowfort.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Lena¡¯s hair stood on end at the mention of Mnie. Seeing the pure hatred in Lena¡¯s eyes, Olivia feel reassured. She said with deliberate mncholy, ¡°Yes, she is. She embarrassed my father¡¯spany and imed his credit, and came up with a perfume with the same name. Now, she even wants to hold a perfume exhibition. She really doesn¡¯t know when to stop! She¡¯s bent on making my dad''s life a living hell...¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Olivia was on the verge of tears as she spoke, which made Lena frown. She reached out to hold Olivia¡¯s hand, and said, ¡°Mnie''s evil. She¡¯s been that way since she was young. | know that best.¡± The thought of how Mnie plotted against them and humiliated them during that dinner with all the bigwigs of the industry made Lena grit her teeth in anger. ¡°She refuses to let up! My family has been in Willowfort for less than a month, and here she is too¡ª¡± Olivia tried to steer Lena¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I heard your second uncle has an exhibition organizingpany. Will Mnie work with him this time?¡± ¡°My second uncle is obsessed with maintaining harmony within the family, so that might be possible.¡± Lena¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Our family now lives with our second uncle. I¡¯m working in hispany, too. My second uncle treats me very well. Olivia, don¡¯t you worry. If Mnie is really intending to work with him, | promise to put her in her ce and show her who''s boss!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! | knew you''d have a way to deal with her,¡± Olivia said with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Mr. Smith saw Mnie looking distracted. Mnie looked away, and continued walking forward. ¡°Nothing. | just saw two people | know.¡± ¡°Do you want to go over and say hi?¡± ¡°No need. They''ll probably lose their appetite if they see me.¡± Mnie smiled as she followed Mr. Smith into the innermost private room. She didn¡¯t expect to see Olivia and Lena still remain in contact with each other. After what Olivia had done to Lena at that banquet, Mnie thought Lena would have seen through Olivia¡¯s true colors and broke off all contact with the former. The reality was, Lena was wicked at heart and also blind. +15 BONUS Mnie herself was surprised to see Lena in Willowfort. If Lena was around, then her father Daniel would be around, too. Mnie was starting to get worried over her second uncle Damon''s soft-hearted nature. However, another thought came to mind. The perfume exhibition was based on ¡®Siberian Butterflies¡¯, which was a follow-up from the mountain bike race. The Hans family¡¯s reputation suffered a hit from the incident. They were probably paying close attention to her exhibition. She should be worried about herself right now, and not over her second uncle. After pondering for a moment, Mnie pulled out her phone and texted Damon anyway. ¡°Damon, I¡¯m in Willowfort right now. When are you free for us to meet up?¡± Damon replied to her message when they were almost finishing up their meal. ¡°I¡¯m free anytime. Juste to my house. Lena and her family are here, too.¡± It was exactly as Mnie had expected. Her eyes grew cold. Damon had always been sensitive and soft-hearted, and certainly unable to withstand Lena and her family¡¯s emotional ckmail to the point of allowing them to live in his house. Damon sent her another text. ¡°Mnie, although there¡¯s been a conflict between you and Lena, you two are still sisters. Even if you two can¡¯t be close to each other, at least don¡¯t be enemies. It''s better to seek reconciliation than to keep a grudge alive. Come to my house tomorrow, and I''ll help mediate things between you two, all right?¡± Mnie sighed. Lena and her family wanted her dead. She could do without family like that. She quickly typed a reply. ¡°Damon, I''ll go to your office and find you tomorrow afternoon.¡± She had to first persuade Damon in order to ensure that things go smoothly for the perfume exhibition. Chapter 322 Chapter 322 You''re Not The Boss. Mnie felt uneasy. That night, she called her mother. Eliza was pretty close to Damon¡¯s wife, Cynthia, and she knew some people in Damon¡¯spany quite well. After updating her mother about the situation, Mnie requested Eliza¡¯s help to secretly find out about Lena and her family¡¯s situation in Willowfort. The next morning. Mnie received news from her mother just moments after she woke up. Her mother found out that Lena pleased Damon very much. His soft-hearted nature made him pity her plight right now. He allowed her to work in hispany, going so far as to assign her the position of a department head. She also heard that Lena would be working at the office today. Mnie had a feeling that her meeting with Damon today would be fraught with challenges. Mnie prepared her materials, and hailed a taxi to Thousand Acre Exhibitions office building. On her way there, she gave Damon a call. ¡°Damon, are you at your office right now? I¡¯ming over. | want to discuss an exhibition coboration with you. ¡°| have something to attend to, and I¡¯m not in the office right now. Look for the department head. She¡¯s in charge of liaising with you,¡± Damon said matter-of-factly. Mnie blinked. She asked frankly, ¡°If I''m guessing correctly, the department head you''re referring to is Lena, right?¡± The silence on the other end affirmed her guess. Mnie sighed. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯d tell me that harmony in the family is of utmost importance, no matter what | say. | have no idea what Lena and her family told you and what you believe, but you¡¯ve worked hard your entire life for thispany. You''ve been running it well. ¡°You''ve never asked for a share of the pie of Jones Enterprise, despite its growth. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to see her compromising Thousand Acre¡¯s interests, do you? ¡°To be honest, | need your help with a perfume exhibition this time. But if you let Lena liaise with me, believe it or not, she will reject me on your behalf and go back home with a truckload of excuses to exin why she did that.¡± ¡°Lena¡¯s been performing well at work recently, and has been very obedient. Will she really do as you said?¡± Damon said ¡®doubtfully. ¡°Damon, why don¡¯t youe back to the office and listen to it for yourself? If you¡¯re right and Lena has really turned over a new leaf, | won''t make things difficult for her from now on,¡± Mnie said firmly. T LL: L.ildina and calmly told the front dock the reason for +15 BONUS Mnie wasn¡¯t surprised by that at all. She had expected this all along. Given Lena¡¯s petty mind, she certainly wouldn¡¯t be early in meeting her in a bid to show her who¡¯s boss. Mnie calmly took out herptop. She started working while texting Mr. Smith over the phone, choosing photos for the exhibition backdrop. Lena finally came one hourter. She had thick makeup on, her hair was styled in an Updo. She was d in branded office wear. ¡°Oh, if it isn¡¯t my dear sister! Had | known it was you, | would¡¯ve pushed away my earlier appointments ande to meet you first.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes grew cold, and she said unceremoniously, ¡°Did you just buy this pair of shoes yesterday? Are they biting your feet? You look silly walking in them.¡± ¡°You''re as observant as always,¡± Lena said with a wave of her hand, hiding the frustration growing inside. Mnie had no intention of sparing her, ¡°Are these new clothes you''re wearing for the first time? They¡¯re not your style at all.¡± ¡°You still remember my style, Mnie? Oh, yes! | used to be a starlet under your wing in the past. That naturally cannot be compared with the professional manager that | am right now,¡± Lena retorted. ¡°Nothing much seems to have changed. Whether a starlet or a manager, you''re ultimately still working for Damon,¡± Mnie said proudly as she made her intentions clear. ¡°Quit putting on a show in front of me, it¡¯s exhausting. | have something serious to discuss today.¡± Lena looked around her and tumed around to shutter the windows. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°| want to work with Thousand Acre Exhibitions on a perfume exhibition.¡± ¡°When is it?¡± Lena asked without even looking up. ¡°Next week.¡± ¡°We''re not avable next week.¡± Lena looked up, a firm look of rejection in her eyes.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Why is thepany not avable?¡± Mnie asked, fully expecting Lena¡¯s rejection. She added with feigned persistence, ¡°The perfume exhibition is a highly anticipated event, and the perfumes I''ve concocted have drawn much public attention. | want to work with Damon firstly because | think highly of Thousand Acre Exhibitions as a stable and reliablepany. Secondly, | want to achieve a win-win situation with Damon.¡± ¡°Wow, this is my first time hearing someone speak in such a self-righteous tone when asking for a partnership. You make it sound as if we¡¯re begging for a chance to work with you instead!¡± Lena smiled wickedly. ¡°Well, pardon me. We''re in the peak season for exhibitions right now, and the schedules of all of our departments are packed. There¡¯s no slot whatsoever for any new exhibitions. Find anotherpany.¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Lena, | hope you understand that we''re talking business right here. It¡¯s best that you don¡¯t bring in our personal grudges.¡± Mnie nced out the windows, and said steadily, ¡°Damon might not know the terrible things you did in the past, but I do. Since he¡¯s willing to give you a second chance to turn over a new leaf, you should treasure it and prioritize thepany¡¯s interests in all things.¡± Lena raised her voice, ¡°Save your lecture for your employees in Jones Enterprise! Quit acting like you''re the boss of this ce!¡± Chapter 323 Chapter 323 Impartial ¡°Fine.¡± Mnie kept herptop, and stood up. Since Lena insisted on behaving this way, there was no point for her to continue with this. Before she left, she said coldly, ¡°I''ll say this onest time. Even if you don¡¯t believe the poprity of the perfumes | concocted, you should at least trust Morgan Group, right? Morgan Group is a full sponsor for this exhibition. If Damon¡¯spany can be in charge of the exhibition, they¡¯ll be able to add Morgan Group as one of its partners in its future promotional and marketing materials. That would make Thousand Acre Exhibitions¡¯ value self-evident, wouldn''t it?¡± ¡°Nothing and no one can persuade me!¡± Lena snarled. Lena had long heard about this from Olivia, but she was bent on rejecting Mnie. Even Morgan Group was not enough to entice her! ¡°In that case, | have nothing more to say.¡± Mnie smiled as she grabbed her bag. She walked past Lena and out the door. The sight of Mnie leaving defeated made Lena gleeful. She immediately pulled out her phone, and texted Olivia. ¡°Olivia, I''ve taken revenge for you! Mnie really came looking for Damon for a coboration, but | rejected her no matter what she threw at me. She just left looking all crushed and defeated. | feel so good!¡± Olivia gave her a call immediately, and the both of them talked gleefully over the phone for a while. Just then, a secretary pushed the door to the meeting room open. ¡°Miss Jones, Mr. Chairman is back. He wants to see you in his office.¡± Back so fast? Lena hurriedly hung up on Olivia, and headed straight to Damon''s office. Along the way, she kept mentally reciting her excuses to exin herself lest Mnie told on her to Damon. ¡°Did Mniee by just now?¡± Damon asked expressionlessly the moment Lena entered his office. Lena nodded, and started brewing a cup of tea for Damon in an expression of servile obedience. ¡°She just left. You must be thirsty after your appointments outside. You love drinking my tea.¡± ¡°She wants to coborate with us on an exhibition, didn¡¯t she?¡± Damon asked. Lena nodded. ¡°Yes, but | rejected her.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You should have seen her face for yourself! She acted as if she couldepletely unprepared in hopes that Thousand Acre Exhibitions was guaranteed to work with her just because you''re her second uncle.¡± +15 BONUS Lena continued lying through her teeth. ¡°She came with a mere three to five page proposal that clearly looked like it was thrown together at thest minute. If we epted a proposal like that, it would tarnish our reputation! | have to reject her for the sake of thepany, even if she¡¯s my sister.¡± ¡°That¡¯s thoughtful of you.¡± Damon stood up with his hands behind his back. ¡°Since you joined mypany, you''ve rejected quite a few customers who sought out exhibition coborations with us. | heard those customers used to work with your dad¡¯spany. Did you also reject them so impartially?¡± ¡°Yes...¡± Lena¡¯s voice became smaller as guilt shed past her heart. Those customers she rejected werepanies her family had conflict with when they worked together previously. She was using the opportunity to take revenge on them. ¡°Very good.¡± Damon sighed. ¡°Seems like I¡¯m getting old, and my eyesight is getting poorer.¡± Lena didn¡¯t know what Damon meant by that, but she continued serving him tea. ¡°Damon, you''re not old at all. What¡¯s more, I¡¯m helping you out at work. Let me do things you don¡¯t want to. I''ll do my best and share your burden.¡± ¡°| spent my entire lifetime building up Thousand Acre. If | were to hand things over to you, you might try to get a share of the pie instead of sharing my burden.¡± Suddenly, a bright female voice sounded in the office. It sent shivers down Lena¡¯s spine. She looked inside the office in disbelief. ¡°What.what are you doing here?¡± ¡°Feeling scared now?¡± Mnie walked out, and stood right beside Damon. Lena immediately stood up straight. ¡°Mnie, you''re being too petty! | rejected you, and here you are,ining to Damon. You were insincere and ill-prepared to begin with. I¡¯m not scared of you, even with Damon around.¡± ¡°You can do nothing but lie!¡± Mnie spat. She stepped forward and typed something on Damon¡¯sputer. Turning the monitor screen around to face Lena, she said, ¡°Is this the proposal you were talking about? You didn¡¯t even look at it, so how do you know that it¡¯s insincere?¡± ¡°Um...¡± Lena waspletely taken aback. She didn¡¯t even think about reading through Mnie¡¯s proposal, not to 23N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. +15 BONUS out of panic. ¡°Damon, don''t listen to her nonsense! She must have forced someone in Jones Enterprise rush this proposal out at thest minute. It may look like it has many pages, but it¡¯s definitely notprehensive.¡± ¡°| took thest hour reading through the entire proposal. No details were spared, and it''s impable.¡± Damon''s voice turned dark. He ignored Lena, and turned to look at Mnie instead. ¡°What a daughter my brother has brought up. Be it your brains or your attitude, you bear such a striking resemnce to him back when he was running his own business. Even if Morgan Group were not sponsoring this event, | would take it up in a heartbeat!¡± Chapter 324 Chapter 324 Emm ¡°Damon, you have to think this through!¡± Lena refused to give up, and even went over to hold Damon¡¯s arm pleadingly. He shook her off irritably. ¡°| should think things through, indeed. | was hesitant about that project your father proposed for me to jointly invest in. I''ve thought it through now. Tell him on my behalf that | definitely won¡¯t throw my hard-earned money down the drain like that!¡± ¡°Damon...¡± Lena continued putting up an act amidst her fear, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Damon, Mnie has Jones Enterprise backing her up! My father and I have no one else to turn to. She might sound more believable than | do, but you can¡¯t just trust her entirely and not trust me at all...¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk.¡± Damon looked at Lena in disbelief, finally seeing for himself the extent of Lena¡¯s pretense. ¡°The Jones family has such a talented actress in its midst! If | hadn¡¯t heard for myself your conversation in the meeting room, | would have beenpletely fooled by your acting chops! Pack your things and leave the company. | won''t extend any more pity to you and your father from now on.¡± Lena continued crying and shrieking, clinging onto Damon and refusing to let go, leaving him with no choice but to call security. When Lena finally understood that Damon had made up his mind, she wiped her tears away and said fiercely, | can walk. Don¡¯t bother chasing me away!¡± She turned around and red at Mnie. ¡°Mnie Jones, how vicious of you toe chasing after me to the ends of the world. You refuse to let me go!¡± ¡°Don''t think so highly of yourself. | don¡¯t care at all where you are! You''re the one provoking me. I¡¯d be doing myself a disservice if | were to let you go.¡± Mnie shook her head, her eyes crystal clear. ¡°Speaking of being vicious, I¡¯m not vicious enough. Your best friend is probably even more vicious to you than | am.¡± Lena was dragged away by the security guard in her daze. Mnieposed herself, and asked Damon, ¡° Damon, since you find no issues with the proposal, | want to visit the exhibition venue today.¡± ¡°Sure, I''ll send you the address,¡± Damon said, feeling slightly embarrassed. ¡°Mnie, please excuse my indecisiveness before.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. We both saw for ourselves how impable Lena¡¯s acting was,¡± Mnie said helplessly. ¡°In fact, she¡¯s shown vast improvement since the time when she was under my wing...¡± 66 Mnie had lunch at Thousand Acre¡¯s office building with Damon. Afterward, she hailed a cab to the +15 BONUS She familiarized herself with the surroundings, and took some photos which she sent to Mr. Smith. They started discussing the layout of the various perfumes and backdrops over the phone as she walked out. She stopped at a red light on a pedestrian crossing at a junction. A middle-ageddy of around 50 years old rushed past her with a dog in tow. Suddenly, the dog ran free of its leash and thedy started chasing after it. Before she could make a run for it, she tripped and fell.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Madam, are you all right?¡± She fell right by Mnie¡¯s side. When Mnie helped her up, Mnie realized that thedy was blind. ¡°Dog, my dog!¡± Thedy was still asking for her dog that had run away. Mnie asked slowly, trying tofort her, ¡°Madam, is that dog your guide dog? Is it newly trained?¡± The olddy only sighed. Mnie asked again, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± ¡°Are are you Emm?¡± Thedy perked her ears up, and suddenly became agitated. She tried hard to open her sagging eyelids and look in Mnie¡¯s direction, but failed to see anything. ¡°Are you Emm?¡± thedy asked anxiously, shaking Mnie¡¯s hand. ¡°Am | what?¡± Mnie couldn''t catch what thedy was saying, and thought that she was talking about her dog that had run away. ¡°Where do you live? I''ll send you home, okay?¡± ¡°You''re Emm! You''re Emm!¡± Thedy ignored her question and continued mumbling to herself. Mnie looked around helplessly. She remembered seeing a police station on her way here, which was not far from the exhibition venue. She started to cajole the blinddy while leading her to the police station. When Mnie entered the police station and exined what just happened to a policeman, he asked the blinddy, ¡°Do you have an identity card?¡± Thedy shook her head. ¡°Do you know where you live? Do you have a phone to contact someone you know?¡± the policeman asked another question. Thedy shook her head again. ¡°It''s a lost and blind old woman. Pay close attention to anyone reported lost and see if she fits the description. Hopefully, her children wille and fetch her home,¡± one policeman said to another. 243 +15 BONUS When the blinddy heard what the policeman said, she suddenly piped up, ¡°I know her! She¡¯s Emm! | don¡¯t need someone else to fetch me home, I''ll go with her!¡± The policemen immediately turned to look at Mnie. It wasmon nowadays for daughters to not acknowledge their own mothers. Mnieposed herself, and tried to exin things. ¡°I really don¡¯t know her. | found her by the roadside. I¡¯m not Emm. either.¡± ¡°She is Emm!¡± The blinddy started bing agitated. She grabbed the sleeve of one of the policemen. ¡°Does she haverge eyes, a high nose bridge, and look clean and fair-skinned?¡± The policemen surveyed Mnie from head to toe and nodded. ¡°She does.¡± ¡°Then she¡¯s Emm! Emm, I¡¯ve missed you so much. Don¡¯t leave me!¡± the blinddy started sobbing as she said. Mnie held thedy¡¯s arm, and said helplessly, ¡°Madam, your description is too vague. Can you give more details about how Emm looks?¡± ¡°She''s as pretty as a doll! Her hair is tied in two ponytails with red bowknots at the end. They¡¯re in the same color as the scarf she wears, too!¡± the blinddy said, her voice softening as she reminisced about the past. Chapter 325 Chapter 325 Convicted Mnie and the two policemen exchanged nces before smiling helplessly. Thisdy wasn¡¯t only blind, but also mentally disoriented. No wonder she got lost. Mnie handed her identity card to the policemen, who checked and verified her identity before allowing her to leave the police station. Before she left, the blinddy clung onto Mnie¡¯s arm, refusing to let go. The tears brimming in her eyes were genuine. Mnie almost couldn''t bear to leave. ¡°Madam,¡± Mnie tried tofort her, ¡°I need to leave right now. I''ll leave my phone number with you, and you can contact me anytime.¡± ¡°Give me your number, I''ll memorize it,¡± thedy said, finally calming down. Mnie recited her phone number to the olddy, whomitted it to memory before finally allowing Mnie to go. After the interlude, Mnie focused all her attention on the perfume exhibition. Mr. Smith was actively involved as well. They worked with employees of Morgan Group and Thousand Acre Exhibitions to design and furnish the exhibition hall in two starkly different styles. The exterior of the exhibition hall looked fiery and passionate, while the interior looked cold as ice. The zoomed-in photos that made up the backdrop were thought-provoking. Positioned at the most eye-catching position in the exhibition hall was the ¡®Siberian Butterflies¡¯ perfume that wasn¡¯t yet showcased to the world. On the first day of the exhibition, Elder Gibson came without any warning. It came as a pleasant surprise to Mnie. ¡°Don¡¯t bother apanying me. Go be with your partners. I''ll look around by myself,¡± Elder Gibson said, trying to make Mnie leave his side by looking as if he couldn¡¯t care less about being left alone. ¡°Partners aren¡¯t importantpared to my mentor,¡± Mnie said with a smile. ¡°How are they not important? You pay me dividends every quarter right now. I¡¯m a shareholder of Jones Enterprise too, okay?¡± Elder Gibson scolded her jokingly. Mnie nodded, looking as if realization just dawned upon her. ¡°So you do care about the measly dividends | pay you! In that case, | have to work harder.¡± She knew Cyrus didn¡¯t want to bother her, so she continued making small talk with guests who were interested in her fragrances. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Cyrus standing in front of ¡®Siberian Butterflies¡¯ for a long time. They concocted that perfume together, and he should be no stranger to it. +15 BONUSOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org. Mnie quietly walked over; she realized he wasn¡¯t staring at the perfume, but at the photo wall behind the perfume disy. ¡°The photos behind ¡®Siberian Butterflies¡¯ were specially selected by Mr. Smith. They feature the hands of the olddy in the mountains as she made potpourri by hand. Her hands are old and wrinkly, yet svelte and lithe, a paradoxical representation of someone seemingly of privilege worn down by the passage of time. There¡¯s a depth to this photo. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Mnie asked after standing with him for a while. He retracted his gaze, as he stuttered, ¡°This h-hand...¡± He trailed off with an uncontroble tremor in his voice. ¡°It belongs to that olddy who lives in Mount Coloss. She was making potpourri when Mr. Smith took photos of her hands. Is something wrong?¡± Mnie exined, He shook his head, and turned to leave. When he brushed past her, she seemed to notice tears shining in his eyes. Did the photo evoke memories of his loved one, who had passed away? He didn¡¯t seem to want her to pry further, so Mnie didn¡¯t follow him and instead allowed him the space to roam around and look at other exhibits. Shortly after he left, amotion broke out at the entrance of the exhibition hall. Jeffrey was here with his employees. His subordinates blocked off the paparazzi, who started swarming around him as he made a beeline for Mnie. ¡°John is here with a bunch of reporters and policemen. Seems like he¡¯s here for you,¡± Jeffrey whispered into her ear by way of reminder. ¡°I''ve been waiting for him for a while now,¡± Mnie said with a twinkle in her eyes. Jeffrey had expected this to happen, but he truly felt at ease when he heard her say that. ¡°Do you need me to do anything?¡± ¡°Go backstage. If you¡¯re around, you''ll be the center of everyone¡¯s attention. The effect that John and | both want won''t be achieved,¡± Mnie said unceremoniously while shoving him away. ¡°Leave, quick. Don¡¯t ruin things for me.¡± Ruin things for her? Jeffrey arched his brows, but did as he was told and walked through the crowd to the backstage of the exhibition. As Mnie had expected, shortly after the hype that Jeffrey''s arrival created died down, yet another commotion broke out at the entrance. Ajunior assistant of the perfume department hurried over. +15 BONUS ¡°Miss, hordes of people from White Group havee, on top of a bunch of reporters! John White even has the police with him, iming that they¡¯re here to catch you!¡± ¡°Is that something he has the right to decide?¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes grew cold as she patted the assistant¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head over and take a look.¡± ¡°Miss!¡± John made a beeline straight for Mnie the moment he arrived at the exhibition. ¡°President White, that¡¯s a very peculiar entourage you have there,¡± Mnie said as she nced at the reporters and policemen lined up behind him. There were already quite a number of reporters at the exhibition, who swiftly gathered over and aimed their cameras at Mnie and John. ¡°| brought along policemen dedicated to serving the citizens and reportersmitted to reporting truths. They¡¯re not here just for fun. They''re here to expose your crimes!¡± John deliberately said loudly before the cameras. He pointed a finger at Mnie/ ¡°She¡¯s suspected of using prohibited drugs! She should be convicted ording tow!¡± ¡°President White, is that a joke?¡± Mnie sneered as her eyes narrowed. ¡°You can¡¯t just make baseless usations and say that I''m involved in illegal activities. Do you have any proof?¡± ¡°Of course, | do!¡± John pointed in another direction at the perfume behind Mnie. ¡°Why did this ¡®Siberian Butterflies¡¯ perfume gain the approval of all the bigwigs in the perfume industry? How did it gain such poprity even before it wasunched to market? That¡¯s because Mnie Jones hid a secret ingredient inside, and that¡¯s tonka beans!¡± He then dered confidently. ¡°Tonka beans are very fragrant and can suppress one¡¯s central nervous system. The addition of tonka beans is bound to make a perfume even more alluring than ordinary perfumes. They''re a prohibited ingredient, yet Mnie Jones used them despite knowing it was against thew!? Chapter 326 Chapter 326 Resolve The Matter ¡°Is that so?¡± His words caused an uproar in the exhibition hall. ¡°| took a whiff of that ¡®Siberian Butterflies¡® just now, and it did smell very good. In fact, it was unexpectedly fragrant. Did she really add something that she wasn¡¯t supposed to?¡± The reporters waited in anticipation as they zoomed in to Mnie¡¯s face, not sparing any subtle changes in her expression. Mnie remainedposed as she retorted, ¡°I must ask. President White, how do you know the ingredients of my perfume?¡± ¡°You mentioned it in your industry association report!¡± John insisted. ¡°But | didn¡¯t mention tonka beans in my report. How can you be so sure that | hid the addition of a particr ingredient from the public, and that it was specifically tonka beans?¡± Mnie asked. Everyone else could sense the absurdity of the situation, and all looked toward John for his answer. Mnie continued asking calmly, ¡°President White and | are in the same industry. | probably won''t tell you something that¡¯s considered highly confidential, will I? Did you nt a spy by my side, or...send someone to add tonka beans in my perfume?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject! Just tell us the truth: are the tonka beans in your perfume or not?!¡± John realized he had fallen into Mnie¡¯s trap. To prove his innocence, he started yelling in panic. ¡°Of course not.¡± Mnie signaled her assistant to hand the official ingredients¡¯ verification certificate of ¡®Siberian Butterflies¡¯ to the policemen. ¡°This is the certificate issued by the certification center, which proves that the ingredients used in the perfume matches with the report that | submitted to the association. I¡¯m willing to undergo another verification and will cooperate fully without hesitation where necessary.¡± Mnie¡¯s words were confident enough for doubtful voices to die down. The tension in the atmosphere eased. She looked at John, and said, ¡°Since everyone is around, I¡¯d like to show everyone a video recording.¡± With a wave of her hand, the lights at the exhibition hall dimmed. The projector screen unfurled in the vast exhibition hall and everyone shifted their attention to the video recording ying on it. The recording was filmed in the fragrance blending room in Jones Enterprise¡¯s office building. It was filmed one week before the exhibition started, which was the day Mnie arrived at Willowfort for exhibition preparations. +15 BONUS ¡°This is the bottle of perfume into which some unknown liquid was injected.¡± Mnie said. She turned aroundProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. and pointed at the perfume bottle on the tray that her assistant was holding. ¡°We''ll now hand it over to the police as evidence.¡± ¡°This is the verification certificate of this bottle of perfume that had something maliciously added to it, which proves that tonka beans were aponent of this bottle of perfume.¡± The exhibition hall, which turned quiet just seconds ago, broke out into a frenzy once again. There really were tonka beans in the perfume! Mnie remained the most calm and collected in the scene. ¡°Now that things havee to this point, it begs the question: why does President White know about someone maliciously adding tonka beans to my perfume to frame me?-I had to find out through the surveince footage of the perfume blending room. President White, did you know about it even better than | do?¡± John didn¡¯t expect things to unfold this way. His subordinate clearly said that he had dealt with the surveince cameras in Jones Enterprise''s office building, and there was no way he could have been caught on camera. What was going on? ¡°| have no idea what the surveince cameras in Jones Enterprise¡¯s building caught. | simply inferred that there were tonka beans in your perfume by its scent!¡± John started to deny his involvement in the situation. Although Mnie had proof that someone was framing her, she couldn¡¯t prove that he was the one behind it. Thus, he decided to just deny everything. ¡°Oh, | see.¡± Mnie sneered. ¡°One of my colleagues followed the person who snuck into our perfume blending room, and saw him getting into a car after he left. My colleague followed him in his car, and saw him parking at the basement car park of White Group¡¯s office building. My colleague saw two peopleing out of the car. One of which is your assistant, President White. What do you have to say to that?¡± Mnie¡¯s words were backed by the photos that were projected on the screen. John started to panic as his eyes darted around, trying to think of an excuse to exonerate himself. Mnie raised her hand, and cut him off. ¡°President White. Are you going to say you''re blind to how vicious and ruthless your assistant is, just like how your previous assistants were regarding the nasty things they did, while you remain ignorant about his wrongdoing all this while?¡± Everyone else began chuckling at the turn of events. John felt awkward, but he gritted his teeth and tried hard to keep a straight face. ¡°That¡¯s precisely it!¡± Mnie sighed. She even started feeling embarrassed for John. 213- +15 BONUS However, she knew John and Jacob were very careful in doing such underhanded things and never got their own hands dirty. Time and time again, they made their subordinates take the me for their shenanigans. But this time, pushing out a subordinate as scapegoat was probably not enough for them to resolve the matter. ¡°If that is really the case, | would need to trouble the police to investigate things. From what channel did President White''s assistant and that culprit who broke into our perfume blending room get the tonka beans reagent? Isn¡¯t it a prohibited substance?¡± John¡¯s face turned white at Mnie¡¯s words, his hands fidgeting restlessly out of panic. ¡°We''ll get to the bottom of this,¡± one of the policemen assured her. She nodded, and expressed her gratitude to them before facing the cameras once more. ¡°Friends from the media, do keep an eye out on this case too. Everyone has a part to y in keeping our country crime¡ªfree!¡± *45 BONUS Chapter 327 Chapter 327 She Is Not Emme The policemen left with the two perfume bottles and the vertication caniates. Some reporters continued aiming their cameras at Mnie, while some others surrounded John and bombarded him with direct and Incisive questions. Mnie said. ¡°The focus of today¡¯s event is the perfumeunched by Jones Enterprise. | trust everyone is here for it. Now that we''re over and done with that little interlude, let¡¯s for our focus back on the exhibition itself.¡± She extricated herself from the circle of reporters, not forgetting to say to John before leaving. ¡°President White, if you want to increase your own public exposure, please pick another event to do so. | give you five minutes. If you don¡¯t leave, I¡¯ll have security send you out.¡± John turned red with embarrassment. Why would he not want to leave? He didn¡¯t want to stay either, but the reporters were all surrounding him. If he fled with his tail between his legs, his reputation would go down the drain for sure. Mnie headed backstage to answer all the questions that the reporters had for her. After she returned to the exhibition hall and walked around, she couldn¡¯t find Elder Gibson anywhere. She texted his assistant to ask if he had left. The assistant replied, ¡°Elder Gibson has been staring at the photo of the perfume that he concocted using emerald vine since he left the exhibition. What''s going on?¡± Mnie told the assistant about the man staring at the backdrop photo in a daze just now. The assistant sighed. ¡°Out of everyone | know, Elder Gibson is one of the most devoted lovers I¡¯ve ever seen. He''ll probably lock himself up in his perfume blending room once he goes back, neither eating nor drinking.¡± ¡°Tl find time to call him,¡± Mnie said. ¡°You''re probably the only one who can coax him,¡± the assistant said, relieved. At Garden Cress Vi in Willowfort, servants stood at the entrance looking troubled. ¡°Sir, Old Madam is kicking up a fuss, demanding to see Emma... We''re at our wits end, and have no choice but to call you...¡± Nathan strode into the room, and saw the mess on the ground. However, everything had rounded edges and was soft in texture. Even if someone were to fall on them, he wouldn¡¯t get hurt. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m back,¡± Nathan said as he held the olddy¡¯s hand, his heart breaking. ¡°Nat, youre finally back. They... They all don¡¯t believe that | saw Emm, but I¡¯m sure you believe me, right? Quick, go find Emm and bring her back! | miss her! | want to see her!¡± The olddy grabbed Nathan''s hand as if he were her sole lifeline. +15 BONUS ¡°Mom Emm..... ¡°I''ll give you her phone number. | have it memorized clearly. | won¡¯t make any mistakes. Call her and tell her toe home. I''ll bake her favorite cookies for her.¡± The old woman gave Nathan no chance to speak as she rattled off a series of numbers. Nathan was trying to make up an excuse to tell his mother that Emma wasn¡¯t at home. Suddenly, his brows furrowed at the number his mother was reciting. Why did that phone number sound so familiar?¡± ¡°Mom, recite the phone number once more.¡± Nathan pulled out his phone and keyed in the numbers that his mother recited. His records showed a matching number. It was under ¡°Mnie Jones.¡±Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Nathan subconsciously clenched his fists as his whole body tensed up. ¡°Mom, when did you see her?¡± ¡°Just a few days ago! | was at a traffic junction, and my dog ran away. | fell, and Emm brought me to the police station,¡± Nathan¡¯s adoptive mother said anxiously. ¡°She said she had to leave, but gave me her phone number. She said | could find her with this number!¡± Emotions roiled in Nathan¡¯s eyes. His adoptive mother had been crying and demanding to see Emma over the past few days, insisting on making a call. Everyone thought she was having another one of her episodes, yet it turned out to be true. ¡°Alright, Mom. Don¡¯t panic. I''ll call her and tell her toe home.¡± Nathanforted his mother, and signaled for the servants to bring up the food. ¡°But first, you must eat something. Otherwise, if Emma came back and saw that you¡¯ve lost weight, she¡¯ll worry.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, of course.¡± Nathan''s adoptive mother picked up her spoon, and started eating. Nathan seized the chance to leave the room. His subordinate was waiting cautiously for him as Nathan handed him his phone. ¡°Pull out surveince footage from the camera in front of the police station from a few days ago and take a good look at it. Was Mnie Jones the one who sent my mother to the police station?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°Also, how is the training of the person | tasked you to bring up to speed going?¡± Displeasure was clearly brewing in Nathan''s eyes. ¡°The disparity in the birth circumstances of that woman and that of Miss Emma is truly huge. | think...she needs a little more time,¡± the subordinate replied cautiously. ¡°Don¡¯t make me wait too long!¡± Nathan said darkly, his brows tightly-knit. Chapter 328 Chapter 328 Group Photo When the skies turned dark in the evening. Mnie looked around the exhibition and noticed that the number of guests who were here purely to visit the exhibition had dwindled. Only partners of Jones Enterprise or Morgan Group were left. She instructed her assistant to continue extending hospitality to them, while she headed backstage to look for Jeffrey. ¡°President Morgan?¡± She pushed the door of the lounge open, and asked, ¡°It¡¯s about time. Shall we take a group photo?¡± ¡°Don''t find me a nuisance now?¡± Jeffrey looked up, a tinge of pride mixed with displeasure in the depths of his eyes. Mnie gave him a toothy smile as she squeezed through the door opening. ¡°Well, well. Is President Morgan angry?¡± Jeffrey immediately stood up, and straightened the hem of his shirt. ¡°I wouldn''t dare. I¡¯mpletely at your beck and call.¡± Mnie burst outughing, unable to hold in her amusement. ¡°Are you sure? Come on, then. Ill escort you there, President Morgan. This way, please...¡± The two of them joked around as they walked out of the backstage. At the exit, the assistant from the perfume department ran over to inform Mnie, ¡°Miss, President Morgan, President Romero''s bouquet has been delivered. He¡¯s waiting outside right now.....¡± ¡°Oh, I''ll go take a look.¡± Mnie followed her assistant and signaled for Jeffrey to wait for her at the photo taking spot. When she arrived at the entrance of the exhibition, she saw that the one who came to deliver the bouquet wasn¡¯t Luis¡¯s assistant, but I. ¡°Congrattions, Ms. Jones. It¡¯s so lively here, I¡¯m sure your perfume exhibition has been a huge sess,¡± I said politely. ¡°Thank you.¡± After the singr pleasantry, I¡¯s eyes started drifting. ¡°Um... Where is President Morgan?¡± ¡°Looks like you have other things in mind aside from the exhibition,¡± Mnie said, her eyes growing cold. ¡± President Morgan is inside. I''ll bring you to him.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t tease me like that. I¡¯m here to congratte you, of course. It¡¯s just that | also bought something for President Morgan and want to hand it to him personally,¡± I said, her face red with embarrassment. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Some health supplements. | bought it for my father, and he finds them great. They¡¯re prepared specially for too +15 BONUS ¡°How kind of you to do that, Ms. Romero,¡± Mnie said tly. I¡¯s face flushed a deeper red as she followed Mnie into the exhibition hall, a small bag in hand. When Mnie saw Jeffrey, she said frankly, ¡°Ms. Romero is here specially to see you, President Morgan. I''ll leave her in your good hands. Please wee her warmly.¡± Jeffrey''s eyes froze momentarily as he stared at Mnie¡¯s retreating back, which seemed to be burning with mes. He wouldn¡¯t dare to treat any woman Mnie left in his hands warmly... ¡°President Morgan, these are some health supplements | bought for you.¡± I bowed her head, too shy to look directly at him, as she handed Jeffrey the small bag.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Jeffrey''s eyes narrowed. ¡°Health supplements? Do | look very old to you?¡± ¡°No, | don¡¯t mean that, it¡¯s just that...¡± Before I was done talking, Jeffrey lifted his hand and pushed her bag away. ¡°Take it back. | don¡¯t need it.¡± I wanted to say something more, but William stepped forward in a timely manner. ¡°President Morgan, it¡¯s time to take the group photo. Let¡¯s head over.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jeffrey strode off without saying anything further. I paused for a moment before following him. The crowd parted ways to let Jeffrey through. He made a beeline for Mnie, who was helping the staff position everyone properly, and stood right behind her like a bodyguard. Before he had a chance to speak, I came over and asked, ¡°Ms. Jones, can | join the group photo?¡± ¡°Of course, you can!¡± Mnie reached out and pulled I in. ¡°You¡¯re such a prettydy, you''ll make our photo look great.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t tease me. You''re the pretty one. | heard that Leo York fell in love with you at first sight, and pursued you all the way from Medonia to Harbor City. Before you came along, I¡¯ve never heard of any woman. capable of capturing his attention like that!¡± I said gleefully as she shared the gossip she heard. She didn¡¯t notice Jeffrey¡¯s eyes growing cold. She even stepped forward, speaking right into Mnie¡¯s ear, ¡°| even know that Mr. Quicksilver, who¡¯s in charge of liaising with my father¡¯spany, fancies you too!¡± I even pointed at Quincy, who was walking toward Mnie. ¡°Impossible.¡± Mnie waved her hands profusely, sensing the jealousy growing in the man standing right behind her. Just then, Quincy came to Mnie''s side. While trying to hide her embarrassment, Mnie said, ¡°Thank you for your bouquet. Find a spot and get ready for the group photo.¡± ¡°I''m not in a rush,¡± Quincy said with a warm smile. ¡°I''ll stand right next to you once you''re ready.¡± Chapter 329 Chapter 329 Lover Boy I started chuckling inwardly as she leaned over Mnie. ¡°Snit mying to deny it?¡± Quincy asked rather awkwardly. ¡°Did | say something wrong?¡± ¡°Do whatever you want,¡± Mnie said with a wave of her hand, hoping that would shut him up. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Jeffrey''s voice,ced with thinly-veiled frustration, sounded from behind. He cleared his throat, and said, ¡°Are we taking the group photo or not?¡± ¡°Of course, we are!¡± Mnie stood right in the middle, and Jeffrey stood on her right side. Everyone else around them automatically made space for him. Quincy seized the chance to stand to the left of Mnie. I saw what was happening, and swiftly took her spot on Jeffrey¡¯s right side. All four of them had something up their sleeves. Snap! The group photo was finally taken. With the first day of the exhibition drawing to a close, as the main organizers, Mnie and Jeffrey personally bade goodbye to all their guests. When thest guest finally stepped out of the exhibition hall, Jeffrey immediately grabbed Mnie¡¯s wrist and pulled her in his embrace. ¡°ll warn Leo York to keep his distance from you. As for that fool Quincy, tell him yourself,¡± Jeffrey said, clearly bothered by what he heard from I. ¡°Tell him what?¡± Mnie¡¯s brow arched as she questioned him back. ¡°What about Ms. Romero? Come to think of it, where did you put the health supplements she lovingly prepared for you?¡± ¡°| didn¡¯t ept it.¡± Jeffrey''s eyes twinkled as he indulged in Mnie¡¯s cheeky expression. ¡°Did you not ept it, or did you actually eat them all in secret?¡± Mnie felt his arms drawing her in tighter. ¡°Do you want to test it out and see if I¡¯ve be stronger from taking the supplements?¡± ¡°Cut it out.¡± Mnie pushed him away, realizing that the clean-up crew was still around. Jeffrey held himself back, but his eyes were still aze. ¡°I¡¯ve walked through the entire exhibition, but still +15 BONUS Mnie didn¡¯t expect Jeffrey to be looking for the perfume. She evaded his gaze, but Jeffrey saw through her right away. While trying to hold back hisughter, he said, ¡°It belongs exclusively to me, right? That¡¯s why you don¡¯t want to share it with others, right?¡± ¡°You''re really confident about yourself now, aren¡¯t you, President Morgan?¡± ¡°When can | use the perfume that belongs exclusively to me?¡± He ignored her stubborn insistence, and asked her when she was nning to officially present it to him. ¡°Why not tonight? We''ll go horne right now...¡± Their close proximity made Mnie blush. ¡°I have something to attend to tonight, and won¡¯t be going home. You go on ahead.¡± ¡°What else do you have to attend to after being busy for an entire day?¡± Jeffrey said in disbelief. ¡°I''m going to Elder Gibson¡¯s studio. It¡¯s too far for me to go home tonight,¡± Mnie said. She felt uneasy over his reaction, and wanted to look him up at his studio in Flora Ocean in Willowfort. ¡°Must you go?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes,¡± she said.Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Fine. I''ll have the driver send you there,¡± Jeffrey said helplessly as he walked her to the door. He opened the door for her, and reminded, ¡°Tomorrow night. I''ll wait for you.¡± The driver seated in front straightened his back. The president''s words were so suggestive, he didn¡¯t want to look as if he were reading too much into it. Mnie blushed, and hurriedly closed the door. ¡°Let''s go, sir.¡± Mnie arrived at Elder Gibson¡¯s studio in no time. Elder Gibson''s assistant had guessed it right. Elder Gibson did close himself up in his perfume blending room. When Mnie entered the room, he was staring at the perfume concocted with emerald vine in a daze. ¡°Heartless is the one who departs first, her mesmerizing figure vanishing without a trace. Heartbroken is the one who remains, chasing after a shadow that is long gone!¡± he mumbled to himself in anguish. ¡°Devoted lovers really do exist in this world.¡± Elder Gibson realized that Mnie was here when she spoke. He turned around, and walked over to her with his hands behind his back. ¡°What are you doing here at such ate hour?¡± ¡°Trying to get free amodation,¡± Mnie said teasingly. Elder Gibson red jokingly at her, and she added, ¡°People asked the heavens why regrets exist in life. The heavens reply: this world is full of regrets. People wouldn¡¯t know what happiness is without regrets.¡± ¡°Hmph,¡± Elder Gibson sneered as he mocked, ¡°You know very much for your tender age!¡± ¡°You''re right, Master. | might be young, but I¡¯ve had multiple near-death experiences. Each time | thought I¡¯d 23 #15 BONUS been through such traumatic experiences,¡± Mnie said with her chest puffed up. Elder Gibson''s eyes dimmed. That''s true, he thought. Yelena used to say the exact same thing. ¡°Are you very curious about Yelena?¡± Elder Gibson asked. Mnie nodded without any hesitation. In the past, everyone around Elder Gibson shunned the topic to protect him, not wanting him to dwell on the pain of the past. Mnie thought otherwise-perhaps they should help release him from the pain in another way. Deliberately avoiding the topic seemed to be making things worse. ¡°| know she¡¯s from the Yorks, and that she died young. Other than that, I¡¯ve never heard anything else about her.¡± Mnie said. Elder Gibson said with a wave of his hand, ¡°Forget it! It¡¯s all in the past, and | don¡¯t want to dwell on it. If you¡¯re curious, go ask Cece about it. They were good friends, and she knows everything about her.¡± ¡°Cece?¡± That name wasn¡¯t familiar to Mnie. ¡°Jeffrey''s grandmother!¡± Elder Gibson snapped irritably. Chapter 330 Chapter 330 My Younger Sister To think that Madam Morgan and Yelena were best friends! What a small world, Mnie thought. No wonder when someone pushed her into the water during her first time at Flora Ocean and Elder Gibson gave her a gown to change out into, Madam Morgan said she found the gown very familiar to the eye. So, it actually belonged to someone from her past... The mention of the past, albeit little, made Elder Gibson feel much better in an instant. ¡°The International Fragrance Blending Congress will be organizing apetition, and participants from various countries will be sending in their masterpieces. Do you want to participate in thepetition with me at Medonia? Gabriel, whom you seem to have much affinity with, will be participating too,¡± Elder Gibson asked Mnie. ¡°Is my masterpiece ¡®Siberian Butterflies"? Mnie started getting excited. ¡°It''s up to you to decide.¡± Elder Gibson was very proud of his disciple¡¯s ability. ¡°I think you have quite a few fragrances that are all qualified to be participating masterpieces.¡± ¡°That settles it, then. I''ll register for thepetition with you!¡± Mnie was excited about the prospect of joining thepetition, but an inexplicable mncholy grew in her heart. Attending an event like this from start to end would probably require her to stay overseas for two months. Since when did she start getting so used to seeing Jeffrey every day? Oh dear! This was bad...... I returned to her presidential suite in Cloud Nine Hotel in Willowfort in a sullen mood. Luis didn¡¯t feel good knowing her daughter was rejected, and the secretary who came in to report about the Group¡¯s headquarters received a thorough scolding. After I finally managed to make it out of the presidential suite, she heard that a guest hade to visit and had no choice but to enter the suite again. ¡°President, Mr. Quinn is here to see you.¡± ¡°What Mr. Quinn?¡± Luis looked up, his eyes narrowed irritably. ¡°Nathan Quinn,¡± the secretary replied. Why was Nathan here at such ate hour? Luis pondered for a moment, before instructing his secretary to let Nathan in. ¡°President Romero, you don''t look very pleased. Is something angering you?¡± Nathan asked him the momen he walked in and settled himself down. +15 BONUS Awide smile stretched across Luis¡¯s face as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t tease me now. Mr. Quinn.¡± ¡°| heard about your daughter looking for Jeffrey Morgan at the perfume exhibition today, but things seemed to turn awry.¡± Instead of knowing when to stop. Nathan had to touch on a sore subject. Luis¡¯s face turned dark as he mmed his teacup hard on the table. ¡°What are you trying to say? Are you deliberately trying to upset me in the middle of the night, or trying to embarrass me on Jeffrey Morgan¡¯s behalf?¡± ¡°| have no intention of making enemies with you, President Romero. To be honest, I¡¯m here with a peace offering.¡± Nathan said with a smile hinting at reconciliation. ¡°What peace offering?¡± ¡°Something that can help your daughter get close to Jeffrey Morgan.¡± ¡°Tell me more.¡± Luis was finally willing to look at Nathan. ¡°Jeffrey Morgan rejected your daughter so many times simply because Mnie Jones is by his side. The only way for him to potentially fancy another woman is for Mnie Jones to leave him,¡± Nathan said. ¡°I have someone on hand who can split them apart.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Luis was very curious. Nathan turned back to signal his assistant, who brought a woman into the room. ¡°President Romero, do you think she looks like the person in this photo?¡± Nathan pulled out a photo and handed it to Luis, who looked carefully at the photo through narrowed eyes. This...¡± ¡°This is a photo of Jeffrey Morgan and my sister Emma Quinn from ten years ago,¡± Nathan said coldly. ¡°Yes, she looks just like the girl in the photo.¡± Luis surveyed the woman standing before him from head to toe. Be it her looks or her figure, even her dressing and hairstyle, Mnie bore an 80% resemnce with the girl in the photo. ¡°I''m sure you must have heard about Jeffrey Morgan and his rtionship with my sister. If | were to silently nt thisdy close by Jeffrey, he would surely notice her,¡± Nathan concluded. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± Luis put the photo down, and pondered for a moment. ¡°Everyone knows that Mr. Quinn and President Morgan have known each other since their childhood and share an excellent rtionship. Nathan sneered. ¡°Things have changed drastically between Jeffrey Morgan and me since then! Every single thing he does right now is like a stab to my chest. To be honest, I¡¯m not just helping you by doing this, President Romero. | have my own selfish reasons. As for what they are, please pardon me for keeping it as a secret.¡± +15 BONUSN?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Luis stood up and paced the floor. ¡°I¡¯m not concerned about your secret. It¡¯s just that without Mnie and with this woman around, how is Jeffrey going to get together with my daughter?¡± ¡°Hah. Nathan chuckled, and said helplessly, ¡°I found this woman in a fishing vige nearby. She is illiterate and ill- bred, to say the least. Although I''ve assigned someone to train her up, the aura she was born with cannot be changed. It¡¯s fine when she keeps. silent, but loopholes abound the moment she opens her mouth. Jeffrey would certainly get tired of her with time.¡± As if worried that Luis wouldn''t believe him. Nathan told the woman, ¡°Come and greet President Romero!¡± Chapter 331 ¡°I''m sure you must have heard about Jeffrey Morgan and his rtionship with my sister. If | were to silently nt thisdy close by Jeffrey, he would surely notice her,¡± Nathan concluded. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± Luis put the photo down, and pondered for a moment. ¡°Everyone knows that Mr. Quinn and President Morgan have known each other since their childhood and share an excellent rtionship. Nathan sneered. ¡°Things have changed drastically between Jeffrey Morgan and me since then! Every single thing he does right now is like a stab to my chest. To be honest, I¡¯m not just helping you by doing this, President Romero. | have my own selfish reasons. As for what they are, please pardon me for keeping it as a secret.¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. +15 BONUS Luis stood up and paced the floor. ¡°I¡¯m not concerned about your secret. It¡¯s just that without Mnie and with this woman around, how is Jeffrey going to get together with my daughter?¡± ¡°Hah. Nathan chuckled, and said helplessly, ¡°I found this woman in a fishing vige nearby. She is illiterate and ill- bred, to say the least. Although I''ve assigned someone to train her up, the aura she was born with cannot be changed. It¡¯s fine when she keeps. silent, but loopholes abound the moment she opens her mouth. Jeffrey would certainly get tired of her with time.¡± As if worried that Luis wouldn''t believe him. Nathan told the woman, ¡°Come and greet President Romero!¡± Chapter 332 Chapter 332 He¡¯s Taken The Balt After Jeffrey got into the car, he gave Mnie a call. ¡°Finished work?¡± His tone was somewhat muffled. ¡°About that... I¡¯m so sorry. I''ll probably reach home prettyte tonight.¡± Mnie apologized from the other side of the line. ¡°What are you working on again?¡± Jeffrey wasn¡¯t in a good mood. ¡°| got a few more orders after the exhibition, and | need to deal with it overnight. | need to finish drafting the contract as soon as possible so that the sales department can follow up tomorrow.¡± ¡°Can''t you do it at home?¡± he asked again. For some reason, he wanted to see her; he felt suffocated in his loneliness. ¡°I''m working overtime with my colleagues. It¡¯s easier tomunicate with each other face to face.¡± ¡°l see. Mnie seemed to sense his mood and said with a smile, ¡°I promise that I''ll finish work on time tomorrow night!¡± ¡°Sure. | have some things | need to do at thepany as well,¡± he said, thinking of an excuse for her sake. In the Morgan Group''s building, Jane was about to punch out and leave work on time. She was going back to her rental apartment that Nathan had arranged for her, nning to use the public transportation route he had also nned out. Her phone was loaded up with lots of information regarding Jeffrey, and she couldn¡¯t help but look through his photos. What a perfect man! He was born into a family that had both wealth and influence like the Morgans, and he also had a huge business empire, not to mention a face that would make so many fall for him! And when she saw him in the flesh, he was even more captivating than in the photos! When she ran into his arms, she could feel the powerful muscles in his body, as well as the cool scent tha only men had. In that moment, she couldn''t help but feel her heart thumping uncontrobly. If it weren¡¯t because she remembered Nathan''s warning and arrangements, she would have been stunned just by seeing his face. Ring! Her phone rang. When Jane saw the numbers, she immediately picked up the call without dy. ¡°Mr. Quinn...¡± +15 BONUS ¡°What did Jeffrey say?¡± Nathan¡¯s voice from the other side struck fear into her heart. ¡°He... said nothing...¡± she stuttered. ¡°What did you say?!¡± Nathan yelled. ¡°It''s true... He didn¡¯t say anything. Not even a word...¡± Jane was so scared that she almost teared up. Nathan became silent for a few seconds before warning her. ¡°I¡¯m warning you. My men are all around you. All your actions are within my view. Don¡¯t think that you can escape me just because you have your finger wrapped around Jeffrey! You can lose your life with one wrong move, so you better think carefully!¡± Suddenly, there seemed to be someone talking in the background at Nathan''s side. After he finished, he immediately told her, ¡°From now on, you''ll proceed to n B! Get off the next station, and use the sixth exit. Then, walk toward Ginkgo Street. ¡°l understand.¡± ¡°Leave your umbre in your seat. Don¡¯t take it,¡± Nathan told her again. ¡°Alright...¡± Jane was scared. She had plenty of questions in her mind, but she didn¡¯t dare to ask why. ¡°Do you still remember what to say when you meet Jeffrey?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You better if you know what''s good for you!¡± After saying that, the call was hung up, leaving behind the beeping sound. Soon after, the train announced that her stop was here, and Jane got her umbre out of her purse and- intentionally left it on the seat. She then did as Nathan ordered her, and turned around to walk toward Ginkgo Street. ¡°Turn around. Return to thepany.¡± Jeffrey hung up the call and ordered his driver. To think that the madam would stand his boss up ata time like this... William couldn¡¯t help but be anxious for the both of them. At this time, William¡¯s phone rang, and he received all the information that his subordinates had managed to find out about Jane. After finishing, he then passed his phone to the back. ¡°Boss, all the information you want is here.¡± Jeffrey took the phone and read while William said, ¡°This is all the information about her from her elementary school years to her graduation from university. It doesn¡¯t look like there¡¯s anything wrong...¡± Jeffrey looked at it without saying a word. 213 +15 BONUS Suddenly, it started raining heavily, and the car slowed down. When he was almost at thepany, William suddenly shuddered as he looked outside the window. Jeffrey saw how out of character he was acting and looked out as well. Under the rain, a woman was running as she held her purse on her head. She was all wet. ¡°Boss...?¡± William turned around and looked at Jeffrey, feeling bad for the employee. ¡°It¡¯s Jane Kelley... Looks like she¡¯s going back to thepany.¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Jeffrey frowned deeply, looked at the information in his hand, then ordered thunderously, ¡°Stop the car!¡± Chapter 333 Chapter 333 He¡¯s Not Choosy +15 BONUS The car stopped by the roadside, causing a small pool of water to ssh. The water sshed on Jane¡¯s legs. She jumped away in shock, but then saw William open the door and get out of the car. ¡°Mr. Morgan is asking you to get into the car.¡± ¡°Mr. Morgan?¡± Jane was even more scared. ¡°Get in.¡± William urged her. However, she didn¡¯t dare to refuse him and got into the backseat. She sat next to Jeffrey with a shudder and said, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Morgan. I¡¯m all wet. I''ll just get your car dirty... | should get off since we¡¯re not far from thepany...¡± ¡°Why are you going back to thepany after working hours?¡± Jeffrey gave William a look, upon which William turned around and handed Jane a towel. ¡°| haven''t reached the sales target for this week and am feeling a little restless, so | was thinking ofing back to work overtime...¡± Jane nodded gratefully. She grabbed her towel and dried her hair, but wouldn¡¯t wipe her neck and chest areas, which were all wet... Jeffrey turned away, not looking at her. ¡°Have you eaten dinner?¡± ¡°Huh? I... No, not yet...¡± ¡°Take us to Cloud Nine,¡± Jeffrey ordered. ¡°Where... Where are you taking me, Mr. Morgan?¡± Jane asked, terrified. Jeffrey didn¡¯t reply, so William exined, ¡°It¡¯s a restaurant owned by the Morgan Group. It¡¯s opposite the company, so it¡¯s not too far.¡± ¡°| wouldn¡¯t dare ask you to take me to dinner, Mr. Morgan... You should let me go back to thepany... Not to mention that... If | don¡¯t hit my target, my manager will scold me tomorrow... | shouldn¡¯t waste time here...¡± Jane refused, mumbling. Jeffrey suddenly raised his head and looked at her with energetic eyes, and Jane was stunned speechless. William couldn''t help but turn around and say, ¡°How can you say that it¡¯s wasting time when the boss is taking you to dinner?¡± ¡°|... | shouldn¡¯t have said it that way...¡± Jane sobbed as she lowered her face.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Jeffrey let out a long sigh as he rxed his brows. However, he couldn¡¯t help but frown again. Mnie was still hard at work in thepany when her phone kept beeping. +15 BONUS She picked it up and saw Annie sending her many messages. She had just wanted to read them one by one when Annie called in and said, ¡°Did you read my messages, Mnie?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± she said. There was nothing she could do with how anxious Annie could be at times. ¡°Then start reading it! Someone managed to take photos of your Jeffrey peeking at a staff member¡¯s chest!¡± Annie quickly said. ¡°Hal¡± Mnie let out augh and took her time scrolling through the messages, trying to find the pictures Annie had sent. The picture was taken from the side and showed both Jeffrey and a female staff member. From this angle, Jeffrey did look like he was staring at her chest... ¡°Who leaked the photo?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°A staff member who had just left Morgan Group today. She secretly took it and then sent it out in thepany¡¯s group chat. It instantly spread all throughout thepany already.¡± So the staff had left thepany already. No wonder she had the bravery to do that. It was obvious that she wanted revenge. Annie sighed from the other side of the phone and said, ¡°How can you be so calm, babe?¡± ¡°What? Are you disappointed that I¡¯m not mad?¡± Mnie asked with a smile. ¡°| just wanted to see where your bottom line is.¡± Annie then said, ¡°From this photo, it¡¯s obvious that Jeffrey is scum. You don¡¯t care at all?¡± ¡°It''s obvious someone is trying to twist things around. If Jeffrey is so lustful that he needs to feast on a female staff''s chest, he could always secretly get together with another woman. There would be no chance for someone to take a picture of them, right?¡± Mnie instantly revealed the truth. ¡°Tsk,¡± Annie clicked her tongue. ¡°Well, you¡¯re right. Only you would know whether your Jeffrey wants something more...¡± ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m busy now, so I''ll call you backter.¡± Mnie shook her head and hung up. When she had just finished authorizing the newest version of the contract, her personal assistant came in through the door and said, ¡°Boss, Mr. Leo York is here. He¡¯s here looking for you.¡± Leo? Mnie put down the contract in her hand on the desk as her eyes nced sideways. ¡°Please tell him toe in.¡¯ Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Jeffrey¡¯s Date Very quickly, the office door opened, and Leo came in. He then nodded at the personal assistant who had opened the door for him, who walked out with a blushing face. A form-fitting ck coat and a white turtleneck sweater... Leo was the only man whom Mnie had ever seen who could wear abination of ck and white so well. The one and only. It looked so natural on him, making him look like a male lead from some drama series. It was no wonder the youngdy couldn''t handle him. ¡°Why are you here sote at night?¡± Mnie asked with a smile as she personally poured out a ss of tea for Leo. ¡°How do you know | like tea?¡± Leo asked. ¡°Just a guess,¡± Mnie said with a smile. Someone with such bad health probably wouldn¡¯t be in the habit of drinking coffee, so she guessed that Leo had a habit of drinking tea instead. ¡°Ahem... Thanks.¡± Leo covered his mouth with his handkerchief. ¡°But it¡¯s fine. I''ll be leaving in a bit. | was nning to take you out to dinner.¡± Mnie had just wanted to speak when Leo gave her a gentlemanly smile and cut her off gently. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked your colleagues on my way here. They said you¡¯ve been busy the whole evening and haven''t had time to eat dinner yet. Seeing that everything urgent is almost settled, you should delegate the tasks to them.¡± ¡°Haha...¡± Mnie shook her head with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s your first time here at Jones Enterprise, yet you¡¯ve already caught the heart of all my female colleagues here? Color me impressed.¡± ¡°Is that a yes?¡± Leo smiled at her. Mnie had no choice but to nod. After packing up, she put on her coat and got into Leo¡¯s car, leaving with him. Leo took her to a ssic restaurant that was built like a ss house by the shores. He was a VIP here, and so the waiter immediately took them to the best seat by the riverside. After asking her about her favored foods, he then ordered a few of their signature dishes. The night was dimly lit by the moon, and the riverside was lit up by the street lights and buildings by the side. It gave a mysterious feeling to the nightime scenery. Leo picked up his wine ss, and Mnie also followed suit, intending to toast him. She looked to the side and apparently saw something, and she almost hit the 123 +15 BONUS ¡°My apologies,¡± she said. ¡°What is it?¡± Leo wasn¡¯t sure what had happened. Mnie shook her head and took a drink. Her eyes couldn¡¯t help but drift in that direction. They were seated at the outermost corner of the restaurant''s top floor, and they could see the other restaurants on the first floor beside them. Where her eyes were looking, they could see the seats by the window of Cloud Nine Restaurant. And there, a man and woman were seated. The man didn¡¯t have much of an expression on his face. The woman was smiling shyly. Upon looking closer, she recognized that the man was Jeffrey, and the woman was the opposite of him... Wasn''t that... The woman whose chest Jeffrey was staring at earlier today? Mnie picked up her phone and quickly scrolled down to find the picture that Annie had sent her. She didn¡¯t care that much about it earlier so didn¡¯t pay it much attention. But now that she gave the woman¡¯s face another look, she felt that the woman looked familiar! She remembered seeing Jeffrey''s ex-girlfriend¡¯s photo from Grace, and this woman... She looked so much like... Mnie couldn''t help but gulp as she secretly frowned. Even though she felt she looked like her... What would Jeffrey think? The lively streets were instantly like another world to her. Though Leo was talking about something excitedly, her ears seemed to automatically ignore him. She simply nodded at whatever he said once in a while as she ate the food on her te, but couldn¡¯t control herself from looking in the direction of Cloud Nine Restaurant... ¡°You''re looking at Mr. Morgan?¡± Suddenly, Leo¡¯s voice forced her out of her daze. She looked and saw that Leo was also looking in the same direction. ¡°It¡¯s very rare to see any woman with him, and from this direction, that woman looks quite naive. That¡¯s strange, that isn¡¯t Mr. Romero¡¯s daughter.¡± Mnie worked hard to regain herposure and wiped her mouth with the napkin. Leo asked, ¡°Are you full?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Great. I''ll send you home then,¡± Leo said, getting up like a gentleman and then holding her chair for her. She thanked him and said, ¡°Send me back to Jones Enterprise then.¡± YAK} +15 BONUSMaterial ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You''re still going back to thepany for work?¡± Leo asked. Mnie nodded. ¡°Things have been getting quite busytely.¡± Even if she wasn¡¯t busy, she didn¡¯t want Leo to know that she lived with Jeffrey. The rain stopped. The two of them went downstairs. The moment that they had just got into the car and put on their safety belts they then saw Jeffrey and the female staff get out of the restaurant and get into his car. Mnie looked away, as if she didn¡¯t care. Meanwhile, Leo smiled curiously. ¡°I heard gossip regarding Mr. Morgan today. But to think that I¡¯m able to se him dating another woman with my own eyes... | wonder where they''re going sote at night?¡± Chapter 335 Chapter 335 Into the Woman¡¯s House Mnie secretly took a deep breath, trying to soothe the stuffiness in her chest. ¡°That''s his business.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Leo nodded and started his car.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Coincidentally, both cars were heading down the same route, with Jeffrey''s car right ahead of Leo''s. Only after she saw Jeffrey turn into a low-cost neighborhood did their cars finally separate. At this time, Leo suddenly received a call, and he stopped his car by the roadside and apologetically said, ¡°I¡¯m going to pick up the call. Please give me a second, sorry.¡± Mnie nodded. Leo then got out of the car and picked up a call while Mnie turned to look at the neighborhood. Leo was engaged with his call for a long time but didn¡¯t see Jeffrey drive out. Which meant, he went to the woman¡¯s home... Even if he were to send that woman home as a gesture of courtesy, there was no reason for him to stay for so long. Not to mention that Jeffrey would not show some mixed signals like this for the sake of courtesy. She couldn''t help but feel nervous. One hour ago, Jeffrey had told her he had something else to do back in thepany. In the end, he went out to dinner with that woman and sent her home instead! She would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t feeling upset. About twenty minutes had passed when Leo finally finished his call and got back into the car. He then put on his seatbelt and kept on apologizing. When Mnie finally calmed down, she realized there had been too many coincidences. She could see everything between Jeffrey and that woman with her own eyes. And on top of that, Leo had personally chosen which restaurant they went to, which table they sat at, and even where to stop to pick up a call... Could it be that he¡¯d intentionally taken her to see all of this? There was an iciness in her eyes. After Leo''s car drove off, Jeffrey¡¯s car also left the neighborhood in less than five minutes. Jane was standing on the balcony with a night light lighting up her ce dimly. She was reporting back to Nathan. ¡°What did he say to you?¡± Nathan asked. Jane recalled their conversation and repeated it. Nathan was very unhappy with it. ¡°That¡¯s all? He stayed in your ce for half an hour!¡± +15 BONUS ¡°That¡¯s all he said. | was worried that | would do something wrong, so | recorded everything.¡± Jane said quickly, guaranteeing the truth in her words. ¡°All he did was walk around my ce for a little before leaving...¡± ¡°Did you not do everything | told you to?¡± Nathan¡¯s voice became vicious. ¡°| did... My clothes were all wet. He asked me to change, and | didn¡¯t... When I got home | said | wanted a | | shower, but he didn¡¯t let me...¡± Jane was very upset and also found it hard to mention it. She had been trying to seduce him all along. Jeffrey knew it all, but he still refused. Nathan hung up in anger, the gaze in his eyes so vicious that they could terrify someone else. Looks like Jeffrey had changed a lot in the few months after he got back from overseas, to the point that Nathan almost couldn¡¯t recognize him. He stood there for a while before calling Luis and said, ¡°Mr. Romero, Jeffrey has already seen the woman I¡¯ve arranged today.¡± ¡°| know. Mr. Leo personally led Mnie to witness everything!¡± Luis let out a hearty smile from the other side of the line. He managed to profit from working with Nathan this time around. Even if he didn¡¯t include the future marriage between his family and the Morgans, he had still managed to use this to please Leo! It was killing two birds with one stone! ¡°You''re so smart, Mr. Luis. No wonder you¡¯re the leader of the Romero family!¡± Nathan then sneered at him without being too obvious, ¡°You better not forget what you promised me, Mr. Luis.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Are you worried what you want can¡¯t be done when Leo and | work so closely together?¡± Luis smiled wickedly. Mnie returned to Jones Enterprise, but she couldn''t even read a single word from the document she was holding. And then, she immediately called Jeffrey, but William picked it up. ¡°Madam, the boss is having an important international video call. Is it urgent?¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes went cold. ¡°He¡¯s back at thepany?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± William answered straightaway. Mnie hung up, but she was still somewhat confused. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Jeffrey was in Morgan Group or at that woman''s home. She didn¡¯t want to make herself be a suspicious woman, so after making the decision, she immediately got downstairs and called for a cab before heading straight toward Morgan Group. No matter what, she would personally discover the truth! Chapter 336 Chapter 336 | Missed You In the car, Mnie could feel that she was getting closer and closer to the truth. A me burned inside her, and the twenty minutes felt longer than they actually were. Finally, she reached Morgan Group and immediately took the elevator to the top floor, William was once again shocked to see her there. ¡°Why are you here, madam?¡± ¡°Is Jeffrey inside?¡± She looked at the meeting room, whose doors were shut fight. ¡°Yes.¡± Mnie was observing William''s facial expression. While he was genuinely shocked, he didn¡¯t look like he was lying.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Fine. I''ll wait for him.¡± She didn¡¯t say much and walked over to the meeting room opposite the one Jeffrey was in, then sat on the sofa, waiting. William didn¡¯t dare to ignore her and quickly got her some drinks before quietly walking into the meeting room. Five minutester, the door into the meeting room swung open, and Jeffrey walked out, heading straight for her. The moment that he appeared, Mnie felt all her worries disappear... As long as he was in Morgan Group, the worst-case scenario she had been preparing for wouldn¡¯t have happened. ¡°You...¡± She had just wanted to stand up and he took her hand, and then dragged her to the end of the corridor and into his office. When he was in the meeting room and heard of his arrival, he knew why she was here. Since William had already reported to him about the picture in the staff''s chat groups... ¡°Why are you here looking for me? Aren¡¯t you busy?¡± Jeffrey closed the office door and turned around, holding her against the door as he breathed down on her neck. ¡°How would | know where you are if | didn¡¯te find you?¡± She raised her head and looked into his eyes stubbornly. It was as he thought. Things were much more serious than he''d first believed. Jeffrey put down his arms before looking at her seriously. ¡°The photo from this evening... | was looking at her staff tag,¡± he exined to her. ¡°And?¡± She refused to let it go. +15 BONUS ¡°Only the staff tag!¡± He said with a confident tone. ¡°We''re both smart people here, so let¡¯s be direct. You never left the building this entire night?¡± Mnie asked. Jeffrey''s eyes dimmed. ¡°No, | just came back. Less than an hour ago.¡± He held her hand again and took her to the sofa, exining everything. ¡°This evening. | thought | saw someone familiar. It was that woman in the photo. | saw her again when | was on my way back, then | took her out for dinner before sending her home, and only then did |e back to thepany.¡± ¡°| didn¡¯t realize that someone as busy as you has that kind of leisure time.¡± Mnie said with a sneer. Jeffrey smiled bitterly. ¡°Since we¡¯re both smart people, you know who she looked like.¡± ¡°Then you know what | care about.¡± Mnie directly told him her thoughts. ¡°I told you, | don¡¯t mind your past, but | can¡¯t ept that I¡¯m just someone else''s recement.¡± ¡°| remember.¡± Jeffrey nodded. He could still remember how determined she was when she said that. ¡°Even if you''re interested, you didn¡¯t have to send her home and take her out to dinner, right? A male boss and a female employee should maintain some distance at night, don¡¯t you think? And you sent her all the way home?¡± Mnie asked again. ¡°The reason | took her out to dinner and sent her home is that her showing up was too much of a coincidence,¡± Jeffrey said calmly and sincerely, ¡°She kept on appearing in front of me in the span of two hours. Everything she said and did seemed like she was trying to appeal to me. | wanted to know why she¡¯s here.¡± There was sincerity in his eyes, and Mnie couldn¡¯t sense him trying to lie to her. She rxed a little. ¡°Then, what did you find out?¡± Seeing that she had rxed, Jeffrey could feel his heartbeat elerate. He couldn¡¯t help but want to get closer to embrace her. The woman in front of her was so lively! Her pride, her care, her principles... All of them touched him in his heart. ¡°Let''s not talk about that now...¡± ¡°Hey!¡± She was shocked that the man would suddenly want to kiss her halfway through exining himself. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°| missed you.¡± Jeffrey said before holding the back of her head, kissing her even more deeply. Chapter 337 Chapter 337 Heart to Heart Even when Mnie still had loads of questions in her mind, she had no chance to ask him any of them. That was because he could sense the man¡¯s passion and sincerity, and she easily drowned in his overwhelming love... Late at night, the tired man and woman embraced each other in Jeffrey¡¯s office, covered by a thin nket. It was starting to rain again outside, and the office returned to rtive quietness. It was very suitable for a heart to heart. Mnie, still remembering her nervousness from before this, decided to start first. ¡°Ahem,¡± she cleared her throat. Jeffrey pulled her hair back to her ears and said, ¡°Should | raise the temperature?¡± ¡°| have something that I want to ask you. Get serious.¡± Mnie made herself look more imposing and the man behind her nodded, rubbing his chin on her head. ¡°Everyone in the meeting room is still waiting for you, right? Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re still waiting?¡± She asked. ¡°That¡¯s what you want to ask?¡± Jeffrey tried not tough. ¡°They¡¯re no fools. William will take care of them.¡± ¡°If | don¡¯te look for you, will you tell me about it?¡± She started her interrogation. ¡°| won''t.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because | don¡¯t have the whole picture as well. If | tell you right now, you''ll just start making things up in your mind. I''ll tell you after a few days.¡± He was being honest, at least. ¡°Me? Make things up?¡± she asked. ¡°Look at yourself right now. This is what happens when you make things up in your head.¡± ¡°If you know that I''ll start to make things up, why didn¡¯t you maintain your distance with her?¡± Mnie used this opportunity to take her point across. Jeffrey nodded again sincerely. ¡°You''re right. I¡¯m getting ahead of myself. There won¡¯t be a next time.¡± ¡°There¡¯s going to be a next time?¡± ¡°There won''t be.¡± ¡°If there really is a next time, please tell me directly,¡± Mnie said, also being serious. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, someone with ulterior motives will. Just like this time.¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Huh?¡± Jeffrey raised his thick brow suspiciously. ¡°Earlier, from the moment you took her to dinner to the moment you sent that employee home, Leo took me to see all of it.¡± Mnie said directly. Jeffrey was speechless. He narrowed his eyes. He had thought of a few suspicious people in his mind, but he didn¡¯t expect that Leo would be involved as well. He frowned even deeper. ¡°Did you find out anything tonight?¡± Mnie asked curiously. ¡°| already have her information in hand, but there¡¯s nothing wrong with it. That''s the reason | decided to take her into my car and send her home. Her background is too perfect, too clean. It¡¯s like someone has already prepared everything for her and erased every dark spot in her background, and is not afraid of me investigating her...¡± ¡°Show it to me.¡± Mnie wanted to see the information, but the man held her from behind and said, ¡°Don¡¯t leave. It¡¯s cold.¡± She lowered her head and saw her naked body outside of the nket, then got back into his arms while blushing. ¡°I''ll read it tomorrow morning, then.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Mnie pouted and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Then, what if she still appears frequently in front of you? What if she makes herself look even more suspicious? Are you still going to treat her to dinner and take her home?¡± Every time he felt that the woman cared about him, Jeffrey would feel the itchiness in his heart. He ced his palm on her head and ruffled her hair. ¡°No. If she does make it even more intentional, I''ll let you ask her out for dinner. How does that sound?¡± Jeffrey wanted Mnie to calm down about it. Mnieughed. ¡°I won''t. I¡¯m not a rich idiot. Why would | take someone who | don¡¯t know out for dinner?¡± Jeffrey was speechless. He then raised his eye at her as he realized that she had just teased him. That woman¡¯s mouth... The next morning, Mnie got out of bed. Jeffrey was ordering William to prepare breakfast and get them some clothes to change into. Half an hourter, they were having breakfast while sitting face to face. Mnie put down the milk in her hand and took the documents that William handed her. ¡°Jane Kelley.¡± 212 +15 BONUS She muttered to herself as she read through the woman¡¯s biography before putting it aside. ¡°Her background is simple and she seems ordinary. She is someone naive and passive. That makes her perfect for you, as if someone has tailored her for your needs and wants.¡± Jeffrey couldn''t help but raise his brows. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what | like the most?¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Mnie cleared her throat as she looked at William with her face red.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The mood was getting a little awkward when William broke the silence and said, ¡°Right, boss. Leo asked you to attend the party at his ce tonight. How should | respond to the butler?¡± Jeffrey looked at Mnie again and asked, ¡°Are you going?¡± ¡°Lam.¡± There was a hint of slyness in her eyes. ¡°Perhaps Leo can take me to see some wonderful movies. Of course, I''ll be going.¡± Jeffrey sulked, as he couldn¡¯t do anything with the woman¡¯s expressiveness. After pausing a little, he said to William, ¡°Don¡¯t respond for now. There¡¯s something that you need to do first.¡± ¡°Since Leo is a part of everything, then he¡¯s definitely going after something tonight during the party,¡± Jeffrey turned around and nced at Mnie. ¡°We can take over control instead.¡± Mnie instantly understood what he meant. ¡°He would be curious about what happened between us yesterday. And we need to find out who''s behind him, so we need to make some preparations.¡± Jeffrey nodded without saying anything and teased her, ¡°How can we tell him what happened between uss night?¡± Mnie¡¯s face turned red again. Chapter 338 Chapter 338 Cooperation After breakfast, Mnie insisted on wearing the same outfit fromst night and even intentionally put on makeup that made it look like it was half-ruined. Only then could her n be more believable. After preparing herself, she put on a mask and ran out of the elevator when most of the staff from Morgan Group hadn''t gone to work yet. She took a cab and went back to Jones Enterprise. Jeffrey was standing at the top of the building as he looked at the woman running to the za next to the road. Even when there was such a wide distance between them, he could tell how upset and pitiful she was just from her figure. He couldn¡¯t help but smile. With that kind of acting skills, why did she support Lena in the first ce? If she did it herself, she might be famous already. Suddenly, his phone rang. Jeffrey picked it up. ¡°You''re right, boss. The moment the madam got into the cab, a car quickly followed them. I''ve checked the security camera footage. The car has been parked at the parking lot outside of thepany sincest night,¡± William reported. ¡°Don¡¯t alert them even if you have to lose them,¡± Jeffrey ordered him. ¡°Don''t worry, boss. I¡¯ve arranged for three different groups of people to follow them from three different roads. Other than this car, | noticed there are another two suspicious cars as well. The person behind this operation is quite cautious... Maybe they''re worried that the madam will drive her cab personally and park in the basement level, so they arranged for them to wait there.¡± ¡°Good. Keep an eye on all of them,¡± Jeffrey finished and hung up, confident. Later that night at eight. Mnie went to Leo¡¯s ce in Harbor City by car. It was a mansion at the foot of the mountain. The party in the courtyard was pleasantly prepared-there was an exquisite buffet, fine wine, and even a vibrant dance floor by the swimming pool. She took out her invitation and gave it to the staff registering the guests by the entrance. After giving a look, he politely asked her, ¡°Are you here on your own, Ms. Mnie?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°My apologies then. Master Leo has set up a small rule tonight. All guests muste in as a pair. Why don¡¯t you wait for another male guest that you might know and go in together?¡± The servant said. Mnie raised her eyebrow. She had heard of rules like this for banquets overseas, but there were few that would do something like this in the country. Seemed like Leo had something else in mind when he did this. She didn¡¯t have much choice, so she simply nodded and decided to wait for someone. At this time, Stephen¡¯s 1/3 +15 BONUS ¡°Ah... Miss?¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°You probably don¡¯t remember my name, Mr. Stephen. I¡¯m Mnie Jones.¡± Mnie followed his line of questioning. Stephen let out augh and said, ¡°Oh, right. Ms. Mnie. If | had known that you¡¯re going to be here alone, | wouldn¡¯t have brought a partner with me.¡± He looked at the beautiful young woman next to him with a smile. The young woman was Dabhlia, a celebrity that the Morgan Group was heavily promoting. Mnie had seen many of her interviews in the newspapers. ¡°It''s impolite to joke like that in front of your partner.¡± Mnie said with a smile. At this time, another servant came in from inside the courtyard and immediately bowed apologetically at Mnie. ¡°You''re Ms. Mnie Jones, right? Pleasee in!¡± ¡°I''m here alone.¡± She emphasized. ¡°I''m so sorry about that. Master Leo has said that Ms. Mnie doesn¡¯t need to follow this rule,¡± The servant bowed even lower. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because my master is also alone tonight,¡± the servant exined. No wonder... Mnie smiled politely and walked in through the courtyard. She was even suspecting that the two servants were intentionally telling her that one by one. Stephen came in with her, intentionally leaving his partner behind before whispering in her ears. ¡°Leo is one the York family¡¯s surviving children... Does he have a death wish? To think that he¡¯ll openly court you like this... | heard my uncle will be here too... ¡°We''ve made our arrangements,¡± Mnie answered without much expression. Stephen raised his eyebrow and nodded. Their rtionship was indestructible. ¡°Do you need my help with anything?¡± ¡°What you need to do is to get away from us and not mess up our ns. Mnie said with a smile at Stephen, but the way she looked made sent a chill up his spine, so Stephen quickly nodded. ¡°Understood...¡± They went their separate ways. Mnie intentionally went to a small path and walked around behind the crowd. She didn¡¯t want to get too much attention, which would fit with how she was acting sad today. It would also allow her to execute her ns with Jeffrey. She was paying some attention at the entrance. After about half an hour when all the guests had mostly arrived, Jeffrey also finally arrived. 2/3 +15 BONUS His car stopped on the hill, and William opened his door to let him down. At this time, anotherpany owner greeted him, and they chatted for a little while. Mnie felt that they seemed to have encountered the same problem. Jeffrey was very angry and turned around and yelled at William, while all William could do was to bow down and apologize. Was this part of the n? Or was Jeffrey improvising? Just as she was still thinking about it, she heard someone call her name. Chapter 339 Chapter 339 She Didn''t Die ¡°Mnie? Why are you alone here?¡± The voice was of someone who was graceful and lived a pampered life. Mnie turned around and was unsurprised to see I walking over. ¡°You''re here alone, too?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°My dad took me here.¡± I replied. Mnie blinked. Looks like Luis and Leo both were very close as well. ¡°Did you just cry? Are your eyes swollen?¡± I asked her carefully. ¡°| didn¡¯t sleep wellst night.¡± Mnie answered. Looks like she¡¯d disguised herself pretty well. ¡°Is my makeup ruined? I¡¯m sorry, I''ll go to the washroom.¡± ¡°Let me go with you,¡± I said and followed her. The Mr. Price that Jeffrey had just met outside the York¡¯s entrance was someone that had just signed a business deal with Morgan Group. They had agreed toe together to the Yorks tonight so that they could take a look at the first draft of the contract. However, William didn¡¯t bring the contract with him at all. That was why Jeffrey yelled at him in fury in front of everyone just now. William was feeling quite pitiful. He didn¡¯t receive any notice from the sales department at all, so he didn¡¯t know he even needed to take the contract with him. However, there was nothing to be said, so all he could do was to make a call and ask someone from the department to deliver the contract as soon as possible. Twenty minutester, a car belonging to someone from the sales department also parked at the foot of the mountain. The door opened, and a female employee wearing a professional uniform quickly arrived. She quickly put the contract in William¡¯s hands. William looked at her and said, ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± ¡°Mr... William, the manager asked me toe over... I¡¯m notte, am I? I¡¯m so sorry...¡± Jane¡¯s head hung low. She had never personally seen such a grand party, and she couldn''t help but be timid. William took the contract and gave it a look before handing it to Jeffrey. Jeffrey then said to Mr. Price sincerely and said, ¡°The contract¡¯s here. You can give it a read and we can talk about any problemster.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Mr. Morgan.¡± Mr. Price left together with his secretary after taking the contract. Jeffrey turned around as well and walked toward the York¡¯s courtyard, but the servant that was responsible for the registration stopped him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you''ll need a female partner before you cane in.¡± +15 BONUS ¡°This is Mr. Jeffrey Morgan!¡± William warned him unhappily. ¡°Master Leo asked for this, saying that it¡¯s a small rule for the party. Please don¡¯t make it difficult for us,¡± the servant exined with a bow. William still wanted to ask something when Jeffrey cut him off. All he needed to do was to find a fernale partner, right? He looked around and narrowed his eyes at Jane who hade with the contract. He could see her eyes that were filled with timidness and anticipation. ¡°You. Come over here.¡± Jeffrey waved his hand. Jane didn¡¯t dare to dy and jogged to his side.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Jeffrey bent his arm. When he saw that Jane was still standing there like a statue, he frowned. Hold my arm.¡± ¡°Mr... Morgan?¡± Jane was scared. ¡°Help me here. | need a female partner before | can enter,¡± Jeffrey exined in a peaceful tone. ¡°But Mr. Morgan, | still have work to do... My manager...¡± Jane said in hesitation. William looked at the hesitant woman before saying, ¡°Even if you dyed your work, it¡¯s because you''re acting as the female partner for the boss. Do you think your manager¡¯s going to punish you for that?¡± ¡°Of course...¡± Only then did Jane carefully put her hand around Jeffrey¡¯s arm. The servant at the entrance then invited them to enter, and everyone looked at them in shock. There were two kinds of shock. One of them was that Jeffrey had brought a partner along, and she looked so in, and was wearing a professional outfit... The other kind of shock was from the veterans of the business world. They had all more or less heard about Jeffrey''s romantic history, and all of those that had some recollection of how the daughter of the Quinn family looked all had their eyes fixed on Jane¡¯s face. Some of them even whispered in a volume as low as possible and in shock, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me... That she didn¡¯t die?¡± Chapter 340 Chapter 340 | Have a Dance Partner ¡°Impossible.¡± +15 BONUS Someone immediately denied that possibility. ¡°Even if she didn¡¯t die, she shouldn''t look so simr to the way she did back then. She and Jeffrey are around the same age, so she should be in her thirties as well...¡± ¡°That¡¯s right...¡± Everyone mumbled among themselves. ¡°But that woman... She looks so much like her...¡± ¡°Jeffrey is so obsessed with her!¡± Jeffrey put down his arm as they were surrounded by chatter, and Jahe¡¯s hand dropped. ¡°Mr. Morgan, where are you going?¡± Jeffrey didn¡¯t answer and immediately chatted with the person that came to greet him. Jane was very awkward as she secretly tightened her first. Then she remembered what Nathan had told her: as soon as she appeared in front of Leo¡¯s home, Jeffrey would ask her to be his partner. That was why she had been asked by her manager to deliver the contract. Her managed, knowing that someone would definitely end up getting harshly scolded, had sent her out to take the heat, but she didn¡¯t expect to really be Jeffrey''s partner! Nathan had also told her that as soon as she was at the party, she needed to take the opportunity to dance, drink and chat. She needed to use whatever chances that she had to make Jeffrey know more about her and remember her. Nathan also told him that Jeffrey''s current girlfriend would also be at that party. Jane was very scared at the time, but Nathan simply scolded her, ¡°While Mnie spent the night at Morgan Group, she left this morning in tears. What are you afraid of? That meant they already fought! This is a good chance!¡± Good chance... Good chance... Jane quietly cheered for her. She wasn¡¯t in any mood to eat anything as she tried to remember all the dance steps she was learning earlier, worried that she would get anxious when she was invited to dance with Jeffrey later. After a while, seeing that Jeffrey still wasn¡¯t looking to find her, Jane gritted her teeth and got two sses of wine. She then walked over to Jeffrey and said, ¡°Mr. Morgan? Do you want to get some wine?¡± Jeffrey took the wine without much expression and the man he was chatting with asked, ¡°Mr. Morgan, this is...¡± ¡°An employee from mypany. Since Mr. York wants us to bring a partner in, | had no choice but to get one.¡± Jane felt that she hadpletely lost any dignity when listening to something so honest, and she shyly lowered her head. When Mnie and I got out of the toilet, they saw the moment that Jeffrey took the wine from Jane¡¯s hand. She was the one that personally did all the nning, but why did she still care so much? +15 BONUS ¡°| heard that Mr. Leo set the rule saying that all the guests here must bring a partner along, but he was only willing to break the rules for you. He¡¯s giving you so much special treatment,¡± I said from next to her. Mnie smiled without saying anything. ¡°What kind of feelings do you have for him Mr. Leo? Can you tell me a little about it?¡± I asked, not wanting to give up. ¡°Mr. Leo is a good man. He saved me,¡± Mnie answered shortly. ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± I was obviously not happy with the answer and asked, ¡°Then, do you have any kind of special feelings for him? What kind of men do you like?¡± ¡°This is such aplex question. As my age and experience increases, the kind of men | like also changes.¡± Mnie gave her a typical answer. She¡¯de up with such answers when she was helping thepany support Lena in the past, so it wasn¡¯t difficult for her.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°However, all rules will be broken when one has an encounter with true love,¡± Mnie continued. ¡°Is that it...¡± I had nothing else to ask, and her eyes seemed to be darting everywhere. Then, she suddenly saw Jeffray and Jane. Mnie carefully watched I¡¯s expression and noticed that she wasn¡¯t surprised at all! I was Jeffrey''s biggest fan. When she saw Jeffrey with a partner that she wasn¡¯t familiar with, why was she not curious or angry? What did that mean? It meant that I knew about it! Which also meant that the Romeros had a role to y in Jane¡¯s appearance, Mnie thought to herself with a new understanding of the situation. I turned back and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go over. The dance will be starting soon. Mnie, who are you going to dance withter? Mr. Leo?¡± ¡°| already have a dance partner,¡± Mnie answered without giving a definite answer. I was shocked for a moment and asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°You''ll know soon enough,¡± Mnie answered with a smile. Chapter 341 Chapter 341 Revtion The party was quite huge. As the host of the party, Leo was busy entertaining his guests. Only when the melody started did the crowd start to move to the dance floor and he had some time to look for Mnie. ¡°I''m so sorry for leaving you on your own.¡± ¡°You''re being too polite, Mr. Leo.¡± Mnie gave him a courteous smile. ¡°We''re not strangers. Just call me Leo,¡± he said. ¡°| can¡¯t get used to it so suddenly, but I''ll try.¡± she said as she maintained some distance. ¡°Do you want to dance?¡± Leo looked at the dance floor that was slowly getting exciting. Mnie nodded and said, ¡°Sure, I''ll take my leave for now...¡± Leo was speechless. His invitation was stuck in his throat as he looked at Mnie walking to the dance floor alone... Luis told him that Mnie spent the night at Morgan Groupst night, but she went running out of there in the morning crying... Was she so upset that she was going to dance alone? On the other side, thepany owners that were chatting with Jeffrey said to him, ¡°There¡¯s the music for the dance. We shouldn¡¯t stop Mr. Jeffrey from dancing.¡± And then, they moved away. Jane was standing behind Jeffrey. When she heard the word ¡°dance¡±, her entire body stiffened. She bit her lips and walked up to Jeffrey, stopping in front of him, waiting for him to invite her. However, even after a while, Jeffrey still didn¡¯t budge. Nathan''s order echoed in her ears. She didn¡¯t chat or drink with him, so she had to at least dance with him, right? Jane made her decision and took the initiative to ask him, ¡°Do you need a dance partner, Mr. Morgan?¡± ¡°You can dance?¡± Jeffrey finally looked at her. Jane quickly nodded and said, ¡°I learned how to dance before. | won¡¯t embarrass you!¡± The edges of Jeffrey¡¯s lips were raised, but he didn¡¯t seem to be smiling. Instead, it looked like disdain from discovering something. ¡°I already have a dance partner. You should find someone else.¡± With that, Jeffrey turned around and walked away, heading to the other side of the dance floor. When he was halfway there, he saw Mnie walking toward him. She had intentionally put on makeup that made her look exhausted, but even then, he felt pitiful for her... He gave his hand to her and said, ¡°May | invite you to a dance, Miss Mnie?¡± ¡°Of course, Mr. Jeffrey.¡± She raised her hand and ced it gently on his. The two of them began to dance perfectly in sync with each other as the music changed. +15 BONUS This was not their first time dancing with each other. They didn¡¯t need to synchronize their movements or their actions. As they danced, he observed Leo¡¯s expression, while she observed I¡¯s. As expected, they were both in shock. But Jane was even more shocked than those two. She stood at the edge of the dance floor and looked at Mnie and Jeffrey who looked as if they were a match made in heaven. She felt like an unneeded clown looking at the handsome man dancing with the beautiful woman. Suddenly, her phone started to vibrate. She was instantly brought back to reality and she quickly answered the call after running to a corner. ¡°What happened?!¡± Nathan questioned her in anger.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°I''m not sure, Mr. Quinn. It didn¡¯t seem like it is over between Mnie and Mr. Morgan... He refused me, saying that he has a dance partner already...¡± Jane was still exining when Nathan shouted, ¡°How many times do | have to tell you?! When you answer my call, never say my name!¡± ¡°Of course... Mr...¡± Jane quickly stopped herself from saying what came after. ¡°You better act normally!¡± Nathan realized that this might be something that Jeffrey and Mnie came up with and immediately changed his n. ¡°I''ll tell you what to do next. Even if they¡¯re not fighting, | can make them fight immediately! ¡°Go to the entrance and get something for me!¡± Nathan said. Jane didn¡¯t dare to dilly-dally and quickly ran to the entrance. When someone that looked like a servant saw her, he secretly gave her a card. ¡°This is...?¡± ¡°A keycard for the guest room on the third floor!¡± Chapter 342 Chapter 342 It Feels So Bad ¡°A... Akeycard?¡± Jane was getting even more nervous. ¡°What''s there to be afraid of?¡± Nathan said on the other end of the line viciously, ¡°I told you on the first day you epted this job that you''ll have to be prepared to sleep with Jeffrey. And more than once! What? Feel that you''re too good to be sleeping with him?¡± ¡°No... It''s not...¡± Jane was starting to stutter. ¡°It¡¯s just that... His girlfriend is here... How can he... Come with me...?¡± ¡°All you need to do is remove your clothes and wait inside the room. I''ll make sure Jeffrey loses himself the moment he sees you! You don¡¯t have to worry about the rest! The room number is on the key card. Don¡¯t get it wrong!¡± Nathan gave his orders and hung up.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Jane calmed herself down. She turning back after cheering herself up. Asong had ended. Mnie felt somewhat lightheaded and instinctively held Jeffrey''s arm to calm herself down. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked. ¡°It''s nothing. I¡¯m just feeling a little dizzy.¡± She let go of his arm that reached out for her. ¡°Why are you feeling dizzy all of a sudden?¡± he asked, worried. ¡°Maybe because | didn¡¯t eat dinner. I''ll be fine after a bite,¡± she said. As they talked, they saw Leo approaching them with mixed feelings in his eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that you¡¯d be dancing with Mr. Morgan. Why didn¡¯t youe together?¡± Mnie raised her head and looked at Leo. From his tone, she could tell that he was getting angry. She politely pretended not to notice Leo¡¯s feelings. ¡°You must be joking, Leo. We simply spoke with each other back at the fragrance exhibition and said that we should dance if we had the chance to dance together. That¡¯s why | became his dance partner.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Leo didn¡¯t believe her, of course. But what else could she do? ¡°You two should chat. I''ll go get something to eat,¡± Mnie said before walking over to the buffet. She thought she was dizzy from hunger and because she used too much energy during the dance. However, she didn¡¯t have much of an appetite even when she was looking at such a delicious buffet... +15 BONUS Just then, I walked over and said, ¡°Sis Mnie, you must be sweating after that dance just now. Do you want to touch up your makeup?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Mnie followed her to the washroom. Originally, she thought that I was the kind of woman who didn¡¯t know much about the world. After interacting with her a few times, all her actions proved her thoughts true... She thought she had an eye for people, but the truth was that she could still get it wrong. Now, despite knowing her rtionship with Jeffrey, I was still able to address her as ¡°Sis¡± to get closer to her. She could certainly use her acting skills to make a profit. Jeffrey and Leo chatted for a bit before looking in the buffet¡¯s direction, but Mnie was no longer there. He wanted to look for her, but a few groups of people suddenly approached him with wine sses, wanting to have a drink with him. Jeffrey looked around after dealing with the crowd but still didn¡¯t see Mnie. He was getting somewhat worried. He was worried that she was feeling unwell. Just then, his phone rang. Jeffrey looked at his phone, and it was Mnie¡¯s message. ¡°I¡¯m in room number seven on the third floor. I¡¯m feeling unwell.¡± He frowned and quickly walked over with his phone in his hand. She had felt unwell just now... Why was she suddenly sick? He immediately went up the stairs, but when he reached the third floor, Jeffrey slowed down. When he read the message on his phone again, his eyes went cold. Third floor, room number seven. Jane had quickly taken a shower, but she didn¡¯t remove her makeup, touching it up somewhat instead. She also triple confirmed that the fragrance on her was something that Jeffrey loved. As time passed, she felt the nervousness slowly overtaking her. Suddenly, the door creaked. Jane froze. Jeffrey was here! Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Shut Her Mouth The footsteps at the entrance were very light. Jane felt her heart thumping, feeling terrified. In the end, she simply covered herself in the nket. ¡°Where is she?¡± Suddenly, there was a woman''s voice. Jane was somewhat suspicious while she stayed under the nket. In the end, she couldn¡¯t help popping her head out of the nket. The woman that came in was standing right at the bedside, staring at her without much expression on her face. ¡°Mnie Jones?!¡± Jane said in shock. ¡°You know me?¡± Mnie asked with her eyebrow raised. Jane realized that she had misspoke, quickly sitting up as she tidied her hair and said without being forced, ¡°I drank a little wine just now and wasn''t feeling well, so | came up here to rest.¡± ¡°| didn¡¯t ask why you''re here.¡± Mnie walked around calmly and looked at her judgingly with a smile. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I''m Jane Kelley.¡± ¡°Ah, | remember you. You''re that staff from Morgan Group that¡¯s in the gossip with Mr. Morgan, right?¡± Mnie confidently asked her. Jane was getting even more nervous. She could only nod and shake her head after getting caught by the actual girlfriend. ¡°To think that you can get drunk,e up here to rest, shower, and even change your clothes at the party organized by Mr. York. Looks like you''re not just a simple staff from Morgan Group,¡± Mnie said quickly as she walked closer, questioning her. ¡°No, no.. Jane didn¡¯t know how to answer her. On one hand, she feared Nathan. On the other hand, Mnie, who was standing in front of her, was simrly forceful. She didn¡¯t have the time to think of an answer at all. ¡°How do you know me? Through Jeffrey? ¡°And the scent on you is the Purple Lapis, isn¡¯t it? What a coincidence. | believe that it¡¯s thedy¡¯s fragrance that he said he liked in a past interview.¡± ¡°No... It''s a coincidence... Really just a coincidence...¡± Jane mumbled. Mnie smiled coldly. ¡°All the coincidences in this world are made up through someone¡¯s hands. | don¡¯t believe in coincidences. Now... Tell me, why are you getting close to Jeffrey?!¡± +15 BONUS ¡°It''s because... | think he¡¯s handsome... And rich...¡± At this time, Jane remembered one of the questions that she prepared with Nathan. If someone saw through her ploy, she needed to pin all the me on herself. She still remembered that.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you wanted to seduce Jeffrey, then you wouldn¡¯t have been hiding under the nket when | came in. You would have been sitting by the bed in a seductive pose.¡± Mnie instantly revealed her lies. Jane started to get anxious and cried. ¡°Who sent you here? Tell me. | won''t make it difficult for you. Trust me.¡± Mnie finally softened her voice for once since she stepped through the door. Jane looked at her, sobbing. When she saw the sincerity in Mnie¡¯s eyes, her sobs stopped. ¡°To be honest...¡± Jane had just wanted to say something when there was a beep at the door, and it opened again. Leo quickly ran in, and his voice filled with urgency. ¡°Mnie? Why are you here? I¡¯ve been looking for you everywhere.¡± ¡°Oh? Well, | was feeling a bit ufortable, so | came up here to look for a room to rest,¡± she said as she turned around, her eyes cold. ¡°This is...?¡± Leo looked at Jane, who was crying on her bed. ¡°| saw her here. She said that she¡¯s feeling ufortable and resting here. Maybe she¡¯s feeling very sick. Can you get her a doctor?¡± Mnie spoke without emotion. ¡°Sure.¡± Leo turned around and ordered his servant before asking, ¡°What about you? Do you need a doctor too?¡± ¡°I''m fine. I¡¯m just feeling a little nauseated. I¡¯m much better now.¡± Mnie gave him a dry smile and said, ¡°Since you personally came looking for me, let¡¯s go down.¡± Leo extended his hand toward her in a gentlemanly manner, letting her go first as he followed behind her. ¡°You should see a doctor too, even if it¡¯s just some nausea. It must be because you forgot to eat again. Remember not to bear everything yourself when you''re ufortable.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. When ites to nausea, it¡¯s sometimes not something biological, but psychological,¡± Mnie said icily. Chapter 344 Chapter 344 Last Value Mnie and Leo had just reached the staircase on the second floor when they saw Jeffreying up. The three of them nced at each other for a few seconds before Leo asked, ¡°You''reing up here to get some rest as well?¡± Jeffrey cared little for his tone and immediately replied, ¡°I heard that Miss Mnie isn¡¯t feeling well, so I''ming up to check on her. ¡°Looks like you care about Mnie a lot.¡± Leo¡¯s voice was very cold. Jeffrey didn¡¯t change his expression. His eyes stayed on Mnie¡¯s face as he said, ¡°Miss Mnie is my partner for the night. How can | not care about her?¡± Leo wanted to say something else, but a servant came up to him. It seemed like there was something urgent. He quickly said his goodbye before leaving, and only Mnie and Jeffrey were left on the staircase. ¡°How did things go?¡± Jeffrey asked as he took another step forward. The two of them were at the same height as they were separated by one step. ¡°We''re right.¡± Mnie nodded. Ten minutes ago. Amaid suddenly came looking for Mnie in the washroom, saying that Leo was looking for her. I wished that Leo and Mnie could get closer, so she pushed her to follow the maid. Mnie didn¡¯t think much of it, but she didn¡¯t expect the maid to take her to a dested corner, and she saw Jeffrey there. He showed her the message he received. Mnie was shocked. She took out her phone, but there was no such message in the chat history between the two of them. ¡°Someone used my phone to send that message to you and deleted it as soon as it was sent?¡± She analyzed and said, ¡°It might be I. She was with me in the washroom and our purses were on the sink.¡± Jeffrey nodded. ¡°So, room number seven is a trap.¡± ¡°I''ll go take a look,¡± Mnie said. ¡°No.¡± Jeffrey refused her suggestion. However, Mnie insisted. ¡°I saw Jane go upstairs just now. If I¡¯m right, she¡¯s the trap.¡± Jeffrey was still frowning and hesitating, and Mnie continued, ¡°Leo¡¯s partly why Jane appeared. I knew about it beforehand as well. Do you think they have other aplices?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jeffrey said confidently. William had been keeping an eye on Jane from the outside. He quickly made a call +15 BONUS someone and waiting for the next set of instructions. If the person that gave her orders were the Yorks or Romeros, then she had no need to leave since both Luis and Leo were at the party. Mnie nodded and agreed with his analysis. ¡°That¡¯s why | need to go take a look. If possible, | can use this chance to force her to reveal who the people behind this are.¡± Seeing that she had already decided, Jeffrey had no choice but to let her go. ¡°Ten minutes. I''ll go look for you after ten minutes.¡± He was still afraid of her getting into danger. ¡°Sure.¡± She nodded. She had just wanted to leave when he held her hand, his eyes full of worry. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± She smiled and said she was fine. Then, she went upstairs to meet Jane. That was why the scene in room number seven urred. Because she was sure that Jane would only expose who was behind her when she was afraid. ¡°But | didn¡¯t expect Leo to appear so soon. Just two more minutes and | could have asked who they are,¡± Mnie said in disappointment. ¡°Leave it to me. You don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± Jeffrey calmed her down. ¡°Nothing''s happening upstairs,¡± Mnie said as she looked up. ¡°Jane was obviously hesitating. She wanted to give up the people behind her and Leo saw what she was trying to do... Will he do something to her?¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°You''re worried about her?¡± ¡°I''ll go up and take a look,¡± she said. Jeffrey shook his head, but Mnie simply gave him a bright smile. ¡°Just five minutes, alright? Five minutes and you cane look for me. You can calm down now, can¡¯t you? Mr. Morgan?¡± ¡°Go.¡± Jeffrey shook his head helplessly as he let the woman quickly go back up to the third floor. Room number seven. Jane bit her lips tightly till it bled. She was nervous and terrified, but she still couldn¡¯t avoid Nathan¡¯s call. ¡°Mnie¡¯s suspecting you now?¡± Nathan asked immediately. When Jeffrey suddenly turned back and Mnie was the one that went up, he already knew that his n failed. ¡°Yes...¡± ¡°Repeat to me everything that she said to you!¡± Nathan said coldly. Jane shuddered and told him everything about the conversation that she could remember. Nathan paused before continuing with an even icier tone, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to not even make it for three +15 BONUS ¡°Mr. Quinn, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m not doing my best... But they''re... too...¡± Jane cried again. She didn¡¯t understand what she did wrong and how she ended up so far from Nathan¡¯s expected results. ¡°Looks like you only have yourst value left.¡± Chapter 345 Chapter 345 | Will Tell You the Truth Nathan¡¯s cruel voice came from the other end of the line. He said to Jane in a holier-than-thou tone, ¡°Do you remember what | taught youst?¡± ¡°..1do.¡± Jane replied with a trembling voice. ¡°You better memorize everything you need to say to Mnieter! This is yourst chance! If you mess it up again, your family¡¯s life will be ten times worse than now!¡± Nathan threatened her before hanging up. Jane held the phone, the nervousness in her heart suddenly mixed with anger. Was how her family was living not bad enough? Ten times worse? There was no difference than dying anymore! She hated this life where she needed to be threatened by someone when all she wanted was to be clothed and well-fed! All she needed to do was reveal the entire truth to Mnie, right? What was there to be afraid of? With those thoughts in her mind, Jane burst out of the door and ran barefooted, and she then saw Mnie at the staircase as she went up to the third floor. ¡°Miss Mnie!¡± She was somewhat shocked. Mnie paused. She didn¡¯t expect that Jane would run out barefooted with her facepletely red, as if she had just gone through something traumatic. ¡°Are you alright?¡± she asked. Before Jane could answer, Leo came up from the other staircase and quickly asked, ¡°Why are you here? I¡¯ve gotten a doctor. Miss, please go back to the room so that the doctor can take a look at you.¡± ¡°Mr. Leo, there¡¯s something that | want to say to Miss Mnie,¡± Jane said with determination in her eyes. Leo looked at her, sensing that she had changed a lot. He turned around and looked at Mnie, who simply nodded at him. ¡°Please take care of the guests downstairs, Mr. Leo. I''ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Alright. if there¡¯s anything, call me anytime.¡± Leo turned around before looking at Jane for a while, giving her a threatening death re.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Jane suddenly revealed a cold smile. Leo was threatening her? Looks like even the wealthy could get scared. ¡°There¡¯s only you and me now. Tell me if there¡¯s anything you want to say.¡± Mnie thought that Jane was going to tell her who was behind her. She didn¡¯t expect her to ask her a question instead. ¡°I heard that you and Mr. Morgan are already staying together?¡± While her voice was still somewhat weak, there was some cruelty in it. It gave her a very different feeling whenpared to how it was earlier. +15 BONUS Mnie narrowed her eyes. She really didn¡¯t expect Jane to say that. While she was taken by surprise, she quickly regained her composure, saying nothing, unmoved by her words. ¡°If you don¡¯t say anything, | assume that I¡¯m right.¡± Jane continued. ¡°You thought you two are doing it quite secretly, but it¡¯s no longer a mystery within the circle of the wealthy.¡± ¡°No matter what our rtionship is, this is between us. What does it have to do with you? What are you trying to say?¡± Mnie suppressed the uneasiness inside her and questioned her back. ¡°It has nothing to do with me. But suddenly, someone told me that | look like the girlfriend that Mr. Morgan loved a lot in the past. A lot. That''s where |e in.¡± Jane took a step closer as if to give herself strength and revealed everything that Nathan wanted her to say. Mnie¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°You think that just because you look like the woman he loved in the past you could get something from him? You should know that, after all your hard work in the past two days, that you''re too naive.¡± ¡°Even if | can¡¯t get anything from him, | don¡¯t think you can either!¡± Jane said cruelly. Their eyes met, but Jane didn¡¯t back down and said, ¡°Did no one ever tell you that you look like his ex- girlfriend as well? ¡°Despite that woman looking nothing like you, why do people say that you look alike? Is it your taste? Is it your temperament? Have you ever thought about it?¡± Mnie was unable to stay calm anymore, because everything Jane said had struck her heart. When Jane saw what was happening, she said, ¡°I¡¯m here to tell you the truth! ¡°Eight years ago, Mr. Morgan took his girlfriend camping, but the car fell off the cliff when they were on the freeway. He and his girlfriend were sent to the nearest hospital. There, his girlfriend was pronounced braindead. ¡°That hospital belongs to Jones Enterprise, and your father is the hospital¡¯s director. When his girlfriend was still alive, she had signed up for organ donation. Coincidentally, during the matching, her organs were a match with a high school student that couldn¡¯t find a match for thest ten years. That was how her heart was transferred to that high school student and she died, while that high school student survived...¡± Chapter 346 Chapter 346 A Stranger ¡°You''re smart. You must have already figured out who I¡¯m talking about, right? That¡¯s right! You''re that high school student, Miss Mnie!¡± When Jane finished everything she memorized from her script, even she got furious from it. ¡°You said you don¡¯t believe in coincidence, but the heart you have belonged to Mr. Morgan¡¯s ex-girlfriend. Isn¡¯t that a coincidence? Are you going to deny that coincidences exist in this world?¡± Jane let it all out as if she wanted to have her revenge. ¡°Maybe | can¡¯t get anything from him, but don¡¯t worry. because he has never truly loved you either! Because the only person he ever loved was the woman who¡¯s already dead! ¡°That¡¯s not exactly right. It¡¯s not right to say that he had never loved you, because he did love that heart of yours... That heart that never belonged to you in the first ce!¡± Mnie swallowed, stunned. Her reasoning skills and her courtesy helped her to stand in ce, but only she knew that her legs were shaking. ¡°You''re done?¡± she asked while trying to control her voice. ¡°lm done.¡± Jane turned around and returned to the room she was in just now. ¡®I¡¯ve finished my mission. As for how you make it, it¡¯s no longer my problem!¡± Mnie took two steps back and held herself up by holding onto the railing as she cked out for a few seconds. When Mnie opened her eyes again, she realized that Jeffrey was standing in front of her. His eyes were red, and she could see nervousness in his eyes as he stared at her. It was obvious that he heard their conversation. Mnie wanted to ask himter once she had calmed down, but his reaction had already given her the answer she needed... ¡°Is everything she said true?¡± she asked, her voice shaking. ¡°No,¡± Jeffrey answered decisively. ¡°Which part?¡± Mnie was very logical. ¡°The earlier part? Of thetter part?¡± Jeffrey was silent for a few seconds as he looked at her. ¡°I didn¡¯t treat you as anyone''s recement.¡± ¡°What about my heart?¡± Mnie couldn''t help but tear up as she raised her hand and wiped her tears away. ¡°You knew who | was from the very beginning? And you knew her heart was inside of me?¡± Jeffrey was quiet. ¡°Is that why you wanted to marry me in secret?¡± Jeffrey remained silent. +15 BONUS ¡°Since we¡¯re never on the same level from the very beginning, how am | supposed to trust that you never treated me as someone else''s recement?¡± She wiped the tears off her face clean before walking downstairs. Jeffrey wanted to go after her, but she simply said without even turning around, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± Her voice was so frigid, as if talking to a stranger. ¡°What did you say to Mnie?¡± Leo saw Mnieing downstairs and leaving the party hall. She didn¡¯t even say goodbye, so he went upstairs and asked Jane. Jane felt the weight off her shoulders. Even when facing Leo, she was no longer afraid. ¡°Mr. Quinn taught me everything | said. I¡¯ve done the mission he told me to. If you want to know what | said, you can ask him.¡± With that, Jane left the ce in her bathrobe, barefooted. ¡°That woman...!¡± Leo was upstairs and saw how Jane was attracting attention from his guests as she walked around in her unique outfit.¡± With disdain, he said, ¡°Is Nathan alright? Getting a madwoman like that to act for him.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Mr. Romero say that Nathan''s n will work?¡± His subordinate behind him calmed him down. ¡°Mnie got in her car and left after she went out, as if she was missing a part of her. Which meant that whatever the madwoman did worked! Why don¡¯t you chase after her? This is a good chance to get closer to her!¡± ¡°What do you know?!¡± Leo looked at him unhappily. ¡°If | were to find her right now, all I''ll be doing is making things.worse!¡± At this time, his subordinate received a call. After finishing it, he quickly called and reported back to Leo.¡± Master Leo, our men had finally found out that when Master Joseph asked for someone to investigate Mnie in secret, he also sent her sample for a paternity test!¡± ¡°A paternity test for our family?¡± Leo¡¯s eyes brightened up. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± his subordinate answered. ¡°Cough... Cough...¡± Leo coughed as he narrowed his eyes. Could it be that Mnie had something to do with the lost son that his grandfather had been searching for? But... 213 +15 BONUS After the paternity test, his grandfather asked him to continue pursuing Mnie. Which meant that the test came out negative. Did that mean that Mnie was unrted to the Yorks? To think that things were bing soplicated... When Jane left the York residence¡¯s gate barefooted, a car immediately stopped by her side and picked her up before leaving. Inside the car, the man in the passenger seat said, ¡°You did well this time. That can correct all your pastProperty ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. mistakes.¡± ¡°Then... Am | free now?¡± Jane was still scared of Nathan when he was physically present. ¡°You''ll continue to stay with Jeffrey. You''ll have your use,¡± Nathan said coldly. ¡°But... Didn¡¯t | already sessfully split him and Mnie up?¡± Jane said, not sure what his intention was. ¡°We''ve only just begun.¡± Nathan smiled coldly as he narrowed his eyes. Mnie had only found out that she had Emma¡¯s heart and was angry that Jeffrey¡¯s treating her as Emma¡¯s recement. But she didn¡¯t know... that Jeffrey didn¡¯t approach her in the first ce because he cared. He was there to seek his revenge on her! And her father¡¯s death... Love meant so little in the face of all the bloody grudges. Chapter 347 Chapter 347 Switching Heart Mnie had just entered the car and wanted to calm down, but her emotions made it difficult. She instinctively held the left side of her chest, feeling her irregr heartbeat with a cold smile on her face. Was she that bad at judging men? She thought that it was because she was too naive and didn¡¯t know love. That was why she met with the cheating Bryan West. Then, after getting her lesson, she identally married Jeffrey. From the beginning she was extremely wary of him, only seeing the wisdom, decisiveness and justice in him after experiencing so much together. She had finally seen the kindness that he had hidden, and the respect he had for her. She had only started to let her guard down, feeling that they could finally know each other better and love one another... She didn¡¯t expect that, not realizing it despite her sensitivity, that what he looked up to and respected wasn¡¯t her, but something inside of her that didn¡¯t belong to her in the first ce... She didn¡¯t want to cry anymore. She didn¡¯t want to tear up in front of Jeffrey just now either. If she made the wrong decision, then all she needed to do was to correct the mistake. There was nothing to cry about, sheN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. thought to herself. ¡°Miss Mnie? ¡°Miss Mnie? Should | send you back to thepany or back home?¡±. ¡°To Mount Aenea Hospital,¡± she said. ¡°Now?¡± The driver looked at her from the rearview mirror cautiously. ¡°Yes.¡± When the driver saw that Mnie was firm with her decision, he chose to turn around in the next junction and head straight to the countryside. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a while before we get to Mount Aenea Hospital. You can sleep for a bit. I¡¯ll wake you up when we''re there.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Mnie leaned against the seat and took out her phone, making a night booking with the heart specialist at Mount Aenea Hospital. That hospital belonged to Jones Enterprise, and it was also the same hospital where she had the heart transnt surgery all those years ago. Two hourster. Mnie arrived at the hospital and got a full diagnosis for her heart through the night. The doctor told her that her heart was very healthy, that she needed not worry. ¡°There¡¯s something | don¡¯t understand.¡± Mnie came here with questions. ¡°I studied about this in the past and knew that someone who had a heart transnt surgery like me would usually have some kind ofplications after the surgery, and my physical fitness would never return to normal. Why would | recover so quickly?¡± +15 BONUS ¡°It''s very rare for someone to recover like you have. It means that the donor¡¯s heart and you match up very well!¡± the old doctor exined to her. The better the match, the more ironic things were. ¡°What? Isn¡¯t this something to be happy about?¡± the doctor asked. Mnie could feel the emptiness inside of her and she wasn¡¯t showing any happiness. ¡°My dad told me that we need to protect all the information of the doner, right? | can¡¯t find anything about it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The information on the donor and recipient are both protected. We''re not sure about it. All we know is that we need to save the patient,¡± the doctor said. But... Those who wanted to know about it managed to find out anyway, right? Mnie¡¯s eyes turned frigid as she stood up and thanked him before leaving. Once she was back in the car, she gave Annie a call to say that she wanted to have a sleepover, but Annie said she was working overtime at her office tonight and asked her to look for her there instead. Mnie then got her driver to drive to Annie¡¯s PRpany. The party at the York¡¯s residence had already ended. Stephen saw how Mnie left in despair and how his uncle left in defeat. He knew something had happened and quickly asked William. He found out that someone had used the heart transnt to cause a rift between his uncle and aunt. He canceled everything tonight and got into Jeffrey''s car and said, ¡°Uncle, why don¡¯t you give chase? She won''te back if you just wait in here, right?¡± ¡°If chasing after her will do anything, she wouldn¡¯t have left just now.¡± Jeffrey didn¡¯t even bother looking at him. It was Stephen¡¯s first time hearing Jeffrey talk to him in such a normal way. Looks like his aunt really did get shaken this time. ¡°I''m experienced in this. When a woman runs away, it means she¡¯s waiting for you to catch up. If you don¡¯t chase after her, how is she supposed toe back?¡± ¡°Do you think those women around you are the same as Mnie?¡± H Jeffrey was getting impatient as he red at him, and his voice was turning to how cold it usually was.¡± Would any woman around you get mad knowing that you get close to them because of the heart they got from a transnt?¡± Stephen shook his head weakly. Not only would they not be angry. They might even want to transnt a heart from his ex-girlfriend... While Stephen was getting a little timid, he was still shocked. ¡°To be honest, | just found out that she was the one that got the heart transnt all those years ago... So... Uncle, is the reason you got close to her really +15 BONUS ¡°Scram!¡± Jeffrey didn¡¯t want to hear anything simr anymore! ¡°Then | won''t disturb your peace.¡± Stephen had just gotten out of the car before he ran into William who came urgently to report to Jeffrey. ¡°Boss, the madam had gone to Mount Aenea Hospital and booked an appointment with a heart specialist for tonight!¡± ¡°That was where she had the heart transnt all those years ago.¡± Jeffrey couldn¡¯t help but tighten his fist. his eyes cold. Stephen was so shocked that he quicklymented with wide eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that she¡¯s so haunted by this that she wants to dig her heart out and give it back to you?!¡± Chapter 348 Chapter 348 Worse Than a Scumbag ¡°Master Stephen, please don¡¯t use rubbish plotlines from dramas like that to scare my boss.¡± William couldn''t take it anymore and said to him as he stood up. The madam was simply shocked... She wouldn¡¯t be so surprised that she would kill herself! After a while, William reported back the information he received. ¡°Boss, the madam has finished checking on her heart and is now on her way back to the city.¡± ¡°Drive home.¡± Jeffrey said coldly and the car started to move, leaving Stephen behind in the night, weak and helpless. However, when Jeffrey reached their home at Marina Heights, Mnie was nowhere to be seen. Only after a while did he receive news that her car was headed for North Street. ¡°North Street isn¡¯t the direction heading to the Jones...¡± William mumbled when he heard Jeffrey order, ¡°Go and check where Annie Snow¡¯s residence andpany are located!¡± Three minutester, William quickly said, ¡°Found it, Boss! Annie¡¯spany is in the same direction as North Street and she¡¯s working overtime at the office tonight!¡± If she wanted to reach out to her friend, he would feel much better. ¡°Sir, should | still send you over to pick the madam up?¡± William asked. Jeffrey waved his hand. She needed some fresh air and to speak to someone. He couldn''t force her too much. ¡°Annie¡¯spany... Didn¡¯t she sign up to tender for thepany¡¯s PR and marketing contract next season?¡± Jeffrey suddenly remembered something and asked. ¡°That''s correct.¡± William¡¯s eyes shone with respect. Even when the boss was in emotional turmoil, he didn¡¯t lose his intelligence. ¡°The tendering is happening tomorrow. Ms. Annie might be working overtime tonight in preparation for the tender.¡± ¡°You know what to do tomorrow.¡± Jeffrey raised his head, narrowing his eyes, and William instantly knew what his boss meant and said, ¡°The Snow¡¯s PR agency has maintained a great reputation in Harbor City, and they are extremely professional. | will keep an eye on them tomorrow.¡± Jeffrey nodded and waved his hand, and William quickly left. Jeffrey closed his eyes and massaged his head. The sound of fabric brushing against each other was magnified in the empty room, making things look especially lonely. 113 +15 BONUS Once Mnie reached Annie¡¯spany, she gave her a call. It was starting to rain and Annie quickly came over to pick her up with an umbre, but she still got wet. ¡°Oh, my baby! Why are you so pale?¡± Annie said as she felt so sorry for her the moment she saw her. Feeling Annie¡¯s genuine care for her, Mnie hugged Annie tightly as she closed her eyes. ¡°Let''s get in. What happened?¡± Annie protected her and took her in, leading her to her office before getting some clothes for her to change into while pushing her to get a hot shower, and the two of them chatted with a ss door in between them. ¡°You fought with Jeffrey? ¡°Since you''re not saying anything, I¡¯m going to guess that I¡¯m right.¡± Annie then started mumbling after every few seconds. ¡°That darn Jeffrey Morgan. He doesn¡¯t look like a womanizer! What, don¡¯t tell me that he cheated, just like Bryan?¡± ¡°He¡¯s different. At least, Bryan was serious with me once.¡± Mnie¡¯s voice echoed in the bathroom after she finished taking a shower and the sound of water sshing stopped. ¡°What?!¡± Annie was shocked and she immediately sprang up from the sink she was sitting on. ¡°He¡¯s even worse than Bryan?! Don¡¯t tell me he loves men? He''s faking a marriage? What else could be worse than that? What did he do to you?!¡± Mnie opened the door and walked out wearing a bathrobe. ¡°Annie, | need your help.¡± ¡°Just say it.¡± ¡°| want information about the person that donated their heart to me all those years ago,¡± she said. ¡°It''s top secret. Why do you suddenly want to know?¡± Annie was confused. ¡°It is quite difficult to check directly from the hospital¡¯s system on organ donation. But... You can check using something else. Eight years ago, Jeffrey''s girlfriend died during a car ident...¡± Mnie said as her strength left her body. ¡°You''re saying...?¡± Annie was a smart woman as well. After shepared the time, she finally realized what happened. ¡°You''re saying... The heart you got...¡± Mnie nodded. ¡°You''re right. That¡¯s why | said that when Bryan was with me, at least there¡¯s a probability that he liked me. But Jeffrey didn¡¯t...¡± ¡°That darn bas...!¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Annie continuously cursed for a bit. After she had cursed enough, she gave her a guarantee and said. ¡°Don¡¯t ¡°He¡¯s Jeffrey Morgan. Don¡¯t challenge him.¡± Mnie shook her head. +15 BONUS ¡°So what if he¡¯s Jeffrey Morgan? Even the gods can¡¯t provoke my best friend!¡± Annie said angrily. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to take revenge on. We''re all adults, and | didn¡¯t lose anything from staying with him. At most, he stole my feelings. But it¡¯s my own fault for getting lied to despite already being an adult,¡± Mnie said with a cold, bitterugh. Chapter 349 Chapter 349 Cursing at the Scumbag ¡°I''m tired. I''ll borrow your bed to sleep for the night.¡± +15 BONUS Mnie didn¡¯t say anything else and simply jumped into the bed in Annie¡¯s office and got under her nket. Annie didn¡¯t want to see her being on her own and got up as well, hugging her. ¡°Let me apany you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Get back to work.¡± ¡°Forget about work. None of my ns are usable tomorrow!¡± Annie said angrily. The next day, Mnie was sneezing and had a fever. Annie was very nervous because she knew that Mnie caught a cold from the rainst night. But she couldn''t find any medicine despite searching high and low. ¡°Wait for me. I''ll get you some medicine.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. | want to sleep a little more. Go to work,¡± Mnie said sleepily. Looking at the time, Morgan Group¡¯s tendering had already started. But looking at Mnie¡¯s pale face, Annie decided she was going to show Jeffrey what she was made of using this chance! ¡°Alright. Wait for me. I''ll get some medicine for you when | get back.¡± With that, Annie went out and put on some very vibrant makeup. She wasn¡¯t going to take any of the people she was originally nning to take, and directly headed to Morgan Group¡¯s building with her purse. Morgan Group¡¯s tender for the marketing had already started a while ago and the seven otherpanies who participated in the tendering had already given their presentations, leaving only the Snows. The Snows were originally the third in line to present, but they hadn¡¯t arrived even when thestpany was done with their presentation. The staff had asked a few times if they should wait, but William¡¯s answer was the same. ¡°Wait!¡± Just as all the bidders were getting impatient, Annie finally arrived in her high heels. But she was alone and she didn¡¯t even have herptop with her. She simply walked into the meeting room and red angrily at Jeffrey, who was sitting in the middle. William looked at her and asked, ¡°Ms. Snow, do you need to connect yourputer to present your tender?¡± Annie let out a chillingughter and said, ¡°No need!¡± ¡°Fine. We won''t need slides for the proposal presentation if you choose to do so. Please,¡± William said respectfully. ¡°| don¡¯t have any proposals today. That¡¯s because the proposals from mypany are meant for humans and not for animals!¡± +15 BONUS The moment Annie said that, the entire crowd was shocked. All the bidders looked at her like she was a madwoman, but she was not afraid at all. She stared at Jeffrey with her eyes that had thick, ck eyeliner drawn on. ¡°To think that you can sit here and decide like a man without showing any signs... You¡¯re really the top yer when ites to people¡¯s emotions! You''re also the top scumbag for toying with others¡¯ feelings!¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Annie instinctively shouted loudly to the tenderers who were waiting for the results outside as well as the staff from Morgan Group who were watching. ¡°Be careful, all of you! With a scumbag like this as their leader, Morgan Group is simply something beautiful on the outside with nothing on the inside! ¡°No matter if it¡¯s working with them as a partner, or working for them as an employee, all of you should think things through! Maybe he''llmit a crime so bad that it¡¯ll ruin your moralpass! ¡°| hereby announce that the Snows are giving up on this tender! | must be blind for signing up earlier to tender for something like this!¡± With that, Annie immediately turned around and wanted to leave. William was so angry that he quickly walked over to stop her. ¡°You''ve overstepped your boundaries, Ms. Snow!¡± ¡°Ha! They say that the pet dog follows after its master. A scumbag won''t have a dog that¡¯s any better!¡± Annie waited for William to argue back as she continued, ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you. What? You want to stop me? Or do you want to get others to beat me up? I¡¯m here prepared! If I¡¯m not down in ten minutes, the Snows wille up here and fight to the end!¡± ¡°Let her go.¡± Jeffrey said without even turning around. William put down his arms as he gritted his teeth and Annie flipped her hair and intentionally let it hit his face before leaving. Everyone outside was staring at each other, wondering what the source of her ire was. Could there be something between Annie Snow and Jeffrey? No wonder he told everyone to wait for her... ¡°Boss, Annie is over the line!¡± William was furious when he came back. He suppressed his emotions when he spoke. But Jeffrey didn¡¯t raise his head and simply frowned very deeply. From how agitated Annie was and how hurtful her words were, it equated to just how hurt Mnie was when she looked for her last night. He was feeling so distressed over her that he didn¡¯t even care about other people¡¯s guesses and defamation. Jeffrey hadn¡¯t closed his eyes sincest night, as the same moment kept on reying in his mind. All he could see was how she turned around in determination... He had only realized after that night that she had already entered his heart sometime somewhere, and all he could think of was her... He didn¡¯t have the chance to exin to her that he didn¡¯t treat her as a recement. He had already given up 243 ¡°Boss... Should | tell everyone to stop the news from...?¡± +15 BONUS William hadn''t even said anything else when Jeffrey suddenly got up and cut him off. ¡°Prepare the contract. We''re going to Snow Group.¡± ¡°To... Snow Group?¡± William was stunned. Chapter 350 Chapter 350 Losing His Principles All Annie did was start some chaos and she didn¡¯t say anything about partnering up, and his boss was... going to sign a contract with the Snows directly? William looked at Jeffrey with wide eyes as he didn¡¯t understand. His boss had always been someone that was very impartial, even when it came to Master Stephen. Even when Madam Morgan asked for him to take care of her friends, he would still oversee the process strictly and showed little leniency... ¡°Do you not understand what | said?¡± Jeffrey asked unhappily, ¡°l understand.¡± William didn¡¯t dare to say anything else. He quickly ordered his people to prepare the contract and apanied his boss who personally went to Snow Group. After Annie got it all out of her system, she immediately headed back to herpany from Morgan Group. She didn¡¯t forget to get some cold medicine for Mnie from the pharmacy on her way back. When she got back, Mnie had just woken up. Annie gave her the medicine that she had just finished preparing and said, ¡°Drink it hot and try to get some sweat out today. You must pay attention to your health.¡± Mnie cracked a smile powerlessly as she sat up and took Annie¡¯s cup. She sipped and felt the bitterness spreading on her tongue and reaching her stomach. She got nauseated and she instantly threw up everything she atest night. ¡°I''m so sorry... For getting your office dirty...¡± Mnie said as she vomited. ¡°Stop apologizing. I''ll get someone to clean up. Why are you reacting so badly? | think | better take you to the hospital, okay?¡± Annie was so nervous that her eyebrows furrowed deeply. Mnie waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m feeling much better now. Touch here if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Annie caught her hand and ced it on her forehead. Her fever was receding, and her face had some color back as well. The sleep did help, it seemed. ¡°Fine, get more sleep. I''ll get someone to clean up the ce and get something that¡¯s easier to digest.¡± Annie was on the phone, putting her people to work, when her assistant knocked on her door urgently. She went over and opened the door. She saw that she was shaking and had two men behind her. ¡°Boss... Mr. Morgan... Mr. Morgan is here personally...¡± Jeffrey wanted to go in as he knew who was inside, but Annie extended her hand and stopped him. ¡°Why are you here, Mr. Morgan?¡± ¡°I''m here just to sign the contract with the Snows.¡± 112 +15 BONUS William said every word clearly, that he was here to sign the contract, but his tone clearly expressed his unhappiness in being called a dog. ¡°Hal¡± Annieughed. ¡°Didn''t | say that the Snows will be giving up the tendering? Since when is the partnership with Morgan Group so cheap? That you¡¯re begging for others to work with you?¡± ¡°Ms. Snow... You...¡± William hadn''t even finished when Jeffrey stopped him. ¡°It¡¯s just a partnership. No need to involve too much of our private rtionship in this.¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s right! Normal people like us can never do what animals do, and can separate private and business matters. Please spare me and find some other animals that are like you and work with them!¡± Annie continued to sneer at him. At this time, the person with breakfast arrived. When she saw Jeffrey and Annie in a confrontation outside, she was so scared that she didn¡¯t dare to get closer. Annie waved at her and made some space for her, telling her to take the food inside. Jeffrey looked at the woman who took some very in breakfast inside. Behind her were two cleaning people with a cleaning cart. Despite standing at the door, and no matter how he tried to look inside, he couldn¡¯t see what was happening inside the office behind the bookshelf. ¡°Send them out!¡± Annie didn¡¯t want to say anything else and simply told security to get rid of them. Seemed like Annie was going to refuse them at all costs, and they had to leave. Jeffrey frowned deeply when he heard some noises from inside the office and the women¡¯s worried voices. ¡°Are you alright, miss? You must be sick if you¡¯re throwing up like this...¡± Annie frowned as she turned around to run back in. Jeffrey wanted to follow her in, but he was blocked on the other side by the door that Annie almost mmed on his face. His fists cracked as his knuckles turned white. He could hear from the voices that she was feeling very unwell... Chapter 351 Chapter 351 He Likes You Jeffrey had never been kicked out before, especially not on his turf in Harbor City. Since bing Jeffrey''s assistant, William had never experienced anything like this before either. He was angry and embarrassed, but there was no other emotion on Jeffrey''s face except a hint of mncholy. ¡°President Morgan, the sales department just reported that Jane has returned to work...¡± William broke the silence in a timely manner, not wanting Jeffrey to sink into a low mood. ¡°Should we notify her to resign?¡± ¡°No.¡± Jeffrey raised his eyes, and there was finally a hint of sharpness in his gaze. ¡°Let her stay. She¡¯s just bait, and can be used positively or negatively.¡± ¡°| understand.¡± William nodded. ¡°What about Mrs. Morgan?¡± ¡°Assign someone to keep an eye on her and report everything to me. Be meticulous.¡± Jeffrey''s brow furrowed again. Half an hourter, just as Jeffrey¡¯s car arrived at Morgan Group''s parking lot, William received a call and his expression turned serious. ¡°President, the people we just sent have been exposed.¡± William said helplessly. ¡°The private detective from Snow Group went too far. They caught our men, iming it was improper surveince and sent them to the police station.¡± Jeffrey pursed his lips. The Snows in Harbor City were known for having skilled detectives and fighters. Although his people were embarrassed, he was reassured that the Snows were protecting Mnie. ¡°Ask those that are not exposed yet to be more vignt. Don¡¯t follow her too closely. | just need to know her movements.¡± Jeffrey stepped back. Jeffrey kept stepping back. *President Morgan¡¯s attitude toward wrongdoing is worth learning,¡± William thought. Mnie endured her difort and ate a little. However, Annie was still worried and wanted to take her to the hospital. Mnie shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve almost recovered from the cold. As for the vomiting, it''s due to my poor health and bad mood. Low spirits can cause excessive stomach acid, leading to nausea. | know my body. There¡¯s no need to go to the hospital¡± Annie looked helplessly at her. She knew Mnie had been weak ever since she was a child, so she had be adept in these matters. +15 BONUS ¡°Alright then, I''ll take you home. Home is morefortable than the office, after all.¡± ¡°Before that, apany me to Jeffrey''s house,¡± Mnie said as she sat up straight. Annie was afraid she was making a mistake. ¡°Why are you going back there?¡± ¡°Elder Gibson invited me to participate in the international perfume blendingpetition in Medonia. | n to go there tomorrow. | can rx by leaving here. | just want to pack my things and move out,¡± Mnie said. ¡°Alright, then I''ll apany you.¡± Now Annie felt relieved. She helped Mnie change her clothes and took her to Marina Heights. ¡°I''ll apany you to pack and to Medonia.¡± ¡°No need. I''ll be mostly working on fragrances there. | won¡¯t have time to apany you.¡± Mnie knew that Annie was worried about her. ¡°I''m a grown-up. | can entertain myself!¡± Annie insisted. ¡°If you don¡¯t let me apany you, how can | feel at ease?¡± ¡°Okay, then you can go there and y and shop as much as you want. I''ll reimburse you for everything.¡± Mnie smiled affectionately. Annie smiled back. ¡°You''re the best!¡± Annie drove Mnie back to Marina Heights. Two private detectives¡¯ cars followed behind them, luring Jeffrey''s men away. Only after Mnie left Marina Heights with her luggage did Jeffrey receive news that she had gone home. He rushed back to his car, and coincidentally saw her car leaving. They brushed past each other. The next day, Mnie and Annie flew to Medonia together. As they settled into their seats, someone lightly tapped Mnie¡¯s shoulder from behind. She turned her head, surprised. ¡°Gabriel?¡± ¡°| didn¡¯t expect you to be as eager as me, going to Medonia so early to prepare for the Perfume Blending Competition?¡± Gabriel smiled. Mnie pursed her lips, changing the subject. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you were in Harbor City.¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°| haven''t been here for long, just suddenly got inspired and came to Harbor City to find some local ingredients to take back.¡± Gabriel smiled, observing her. ¡°You don¡¯t look too good. Are you sick?¡± ¡°Just a slight cold,¡± she replied. Gabriel nodded, turning to both her and Annie. ¡°Then let¡¯s switch seats. It''s quieter on my side, and you can sleep better at night.¡± Without waiting for them to respond, Gabriel instructed his assistant to help the twodies move to the window seats on his side, while he moved to the middle aisle with his assistant. 213 +15 BONUS ¡°What about you?¡± Mnie asked. Gabriel tilted his head to the side, revealing the transparent hearing aid in his ear. ¡°As long as | take this off, nothing can disturb me.¡± Mnie smiled knowingly. He had made a self-deprecatingment, so she had no choice but to ept it. After settling into their new seats, Annie couldn¡¯t help but lean close to Mnie and whispered, ¡°This Gabriel isn¡¯t as difficult to get along with as the rumors say. Or is it because he likes you?¡± Chapter 352 Chapter 352 Critical Condition ¡°Ahem!¡± Mnie almost choked. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t have any intentions toward you, why is he so concerned about you?¡± said Annie, with a gossiping look in her eyes. ¡°Probably just repaying a favor.¡± Mnie replied. ¡°Got it.¡± Annie pursed her lips. ¡°It would have been better if you didn¡¯t mention repaying favors, but once you bring it up, it can only be repaid with marrying him. In my opinion, this Gabriel isn¡¯t bad. He¡¯s quite good-looking, and his strength in the fragrance world is not inferior to Jeffrey in the business world. Why not consider him? The best way to heal a broken heart is to get a rebound.¡± ¡°I''m going to sleep.¡± Mnie closed her eyes, ignoring the woman next to her who was suggesting dubious ideas. Out of the corner of her eye, Annie saw Mnie close her eyes. Across the aisle, Gabriel turned off the overhead night light and removed his hearing aid... Over ten hourster, the ne arrived in Medonia on time. Gabriel and his assistant had a lot of luggage. While they were waiting for their luggage, Mnie and Annie left first because they packed light. They were just about to hail a taxi when a car stopped in front of them. The car door opened. Unexpectedly, Leo came. ¡°Mnie? You''re in Medonia?¡± Leo took the initiative to ask. ¡°Mr. York, weren''t you still in Harbor City the day before yesterday?¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes shed with a sharp light. ¡°Yes, | came back yesterday. There were some matters at home.¡± ¡°Then... Why are you at the airport?¡± Mnie continued to ask. ¡°Oh, | came to send a friend, and | happened to see youe out. Where are you going? I''ll give you a ride.¡± Leo pretended it was a chance encounter. While Mnie was hesitating, a disdainful and cold voice came from behind. ¡°Waiting by the stump for the rabbit. There¡¯s still someone using such an outdated method to pick up girls in this day and age?¡±N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. The group of people turned to look, and Leo¡¯s expression suddenly turned cold. The neer was a man in his thirties with a pastyplexion. Even though he had a strong build, it was evident he had been affected by the excesses of alcohol. Mnie had some impression of this man. Before her first trip to Medonia, she had looked into the Yorks. If +15 BONUS Harlow, Leo¡¯s elder brother. Half of Joseph¡¯s children died young. Leo and Harlow¡¯s father was Joseph¡¯s youngest son, who was considered to have the best constitution among Joseph¡¯s children. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t live past fifty. This youngest son married a woman from a family known for strong longevity genes. Therefore, their two sons, Harlow and Leo, were the only two among Joseph''s grandchildren who lived past thirty. Consequently, the two of them were in the lead in terms of competing for the family inheritance. ¡°Harlow.¡± Leo lowered his head in front of Harlow, seemingly not daring to look Harlow in the eye. ¡°So, you still recognize me as your brother.¡± Harlow didn¡¯t care about Leo¡¯s pride at all. ¡°I thought after Grandpa met you a few times in private recently, you became arrogant, thinking you could amount to something! With your small build, be careful not to die before getting a woman.¡± Leo looked furious, but he didn¡¯t retort at all. It waspletely different from the graceful and beloved rich young master in front of others. Harlow was still dissatisfied. He turned his head to scrutinize Mnie, his gaze lecherous and contemptuous. ¡°You must be Mnie. | advise you to think twice. Although he¡¯s a young master of the York family, he won''t live for many more years. Although he can give you a lifetime of wealth and prosperity, he can¡¯t fulfill your sexual needs. You should refuse to ride with him from the start. It¡¯s better not to catch his disease. How about you ride in my car instead?¡± ¡°| dare not.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes were sharp, but her face showed no emotion. ¡°Mr. York, if | dare not ride in Leo¡¯s car, then | dare not ride in your car either.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Harlow was very dissatisfied, raising his eyes and ring at her. ¡°Because I¡¯m afraid of catching the disease,¡± Mnie said calmly. ¡°What did you say?¡± Harlow was furious. He took a step forward and stared down at Mnie, like ¡®a fierce beast with its bloodthirsty mouth wide open, ready to devour its prey. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Your illness is much more severe than Leo¡¯s.¡± Mnie wasn¡¯t afraid of him. He was just a man who hollowed out by alcohol and lust. Chapter 353 Chapter 353 Allergic to Men ¡°Do you know what you''re talking about?¡± Harlow snarled. He couldn''t tolerate it any longer. He valued his pride the most, and no one had ever dared to say that his health was bad. Besides, his health was undoubtedly the best among the entire Yorks. That was without a doubt! Because he was in good health, his grandfather always favored him to inherit the family business. This woman had a lot of guts to publicly im that he was sick! ¡°| know exactly what I¡¯m saying.¡± Facing the roaring beast, Mnie shielded Annie behind her, her expression calm. ¡°At the Angle family¡¯s centennial celebration, | demonstrated my ability to identify herbs by smell in public. That should ring a bell for you, Mr. York. I¡¯ve been studying traditional medicine ever since | was young, and | know the ways of observation, smelling, questioning, and pulse-taking. Your illness has already prated into your bones.¡± Seeing her speak with such conviction, Harlow''s subordinates behind him were frightened. One of them asked anxiously, ¡°Then how can it be treated?¡± ¡°Treated?¡± Mnie raised her eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s near impossible.¡± ¡°How dare you wish for my death?!¡± Harlow stepped forward, intending to strangle Mnie, but he was blocked by Leo. ¡°Harlow, Grandpa won''t allow you to do this.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t use Grandpa to pressure me!¡± Although Harlow was resentful, he still took a step back, indicating that he didn¡¯t dare to challenge Joseph¡¯s authority. After pausing for a moment, he insisted on questioning Mnie, for the sake of his pride. ¡°Today, I''ll listen to what you have to say. What disease do | have, and what diforts do | usually experience? If you get it wrong, | won''t spare you!¡± At the Angle family¡¯s centennial celebration, Harlow had personally witnessed Mnie¡¯s feat. With so many herbs present, she could identify them faster and more urately than a genius who was prepared. When she imed to be proficient in traditional medicine, she had actually impressed him. ¡°I''m not in the mood. | don¡¯t want to tell you. If you¡¯re worried about your condition, you might as well spend a lot of money to consult a master of traditional medicine.¡± Mnie said, and turned to leave. Leo reacted, and chased after her. ¡°Mnie, I¡¯m sorry. I''ll give you a ride now.¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°No need,¡± Mnie declined. ¡°I came to participate in the International Perfume Blending Competition, and the organizing committee will send a car to pick me up. I''ll go look for it ahead.¡± After that, she nodded and took her leave. Leaving the ce where the heirs of the York family gathered and stirred up trouble, Annie couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes and stick out her tongue. ¡°| was just thinking that Leo isn¡¯t bad. He¡¯s presentable and shy, and he looked reallypatible with you. But after | saw him in front of his brother just now, forget it. Gabriel is still better!¡± Mnie shook her head helplessly. ¡°I brought you out to rx. Don¡¯t pair me up with every man you see, okay? I¡¯m allergic to men now.¡± ¡°Okay, okay. | just wanted to cheer you up.¡± Annie smiled, and held her arm. ¡°Harlow is cruel and ruthless by nature, and his reputation as a heartless person is known even domestically. He¡¯s a few years older than Leo and has been controlling the Yorks¡¯ business resources for years, so he has much more connections than Leo. Leo being afraid of him is normal,¡± Mnie exined. ¡°You don¡¯t happen to have a good impression of Leo, do you?¡± Combining Mnie¡¯s daring act of standing up for Leo just now, Annie was quite worried. ¡°| just want to repay Leo a favor. He helped me before. At least, on the surface, he helped me, and now | don¡¯t owe him anything.¡±. Considering what Harlow said just now, it seemed Leo approaching her was Joseph''s idea. Joseph even forbade Harlow from harming her. What was the reason behind all this?Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Mnie couldn''t figure it out. The Yorks were vast and wealthy. What kind of daughter-inw couldn¡¯t they find? Why would they go to such lengths to please her? There seemed to be something suspicious about it. Chapter 354 Chapter 354 Puzzle In this International Perfume Blending Competition, there were two main themes: ¡®Mystery¡± and ¡°Solution.¡± Participants needed to create two different perfumes based on these themes. Thepetition wouldst for five to nine weeks. After five weeks, as long as the perfumes werepleted and aged, it could be submitted any time. However, before the final submission of the finished product, all participants must create their fragrances at a designated location. Participants could enter and exit their fragrance blending room at any time, but were subject to monitoring each time they were in the room. During the time not spent in the fragrance blending room, participants could choose to stay in the hotels arranged by the organizers, or go elsewhere. Annie apanied Mnie to the hotel arranged by the organizers. After checking in, she received an email from a private detective. When Mnie came out after taking a shower, she noticed Annie¡¯s unusually low spirits and asked, ¡°Did they find something?¡± ¡°| can¡¯t hide anything from you, huh?¡± Annie replied, handing Mnie theptop. The information inside was about the original owner of Mnie¡¯s heart, Emma Quinn. Mnie quickly scanned Emma¡¯s rtionships in the document. She was surprised when she saw Emma''s brother and foster mother. ¡°No wonder thatdy pulled me and called me ¡°Emm¡± back then,¡± Mnie murmured. ¡°I thought she was saying ¡°um,¡± but it turns out it was Emm...¡± Annie couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Mnie shook her head, her eyes bing colder. ¡°The fact that even her foster mother mistook me for her means our voices are simr.¡± Looking at the information about Emma¡¯s older brother, Nathan Quinn, Mnie¡¯s mind raced even faster. Annie was also surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Nathan to be her brother.¡± ¡°Now | understand why Nathan has been approaching me,¡± Mnie said. ¡°ording to the information, Nathan was very close to his sister. He knew his sister¡¯s heart had been transnted into you, so he approached you to protect you, thinking of you as his sister. Didn¡¯t you say Nathan saved you and your master in Medonia before?¡± Annie continued analyzing the situation. Mnie nodded slowly. ¡°But Nathan... He¡¯s a strange person.¡± Annie looked at the information, pondering. ¡°When you asked me to investigate him before, | found it strange. From adolescence to the present, he¡¯s never dated. There are no rumors of him with other women. It isn¡¯t normal.¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Is that so?¡± Mnie always thought that Nathan always gave off an air of politeness, but was hard to get close to. He didn¡¯t seem to have any close friends, let alone a lover. Annie¡¯s eyes suddenly shed slyly. ¡°Things that deviate from the norm must have a reason. Do you think he might have a sister complex?¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Your imagination is too wild.¡± Mnie shook her head helplessly, but after some thought, she added, ¡°But | feel that Nathan approaching me isn¡¯t just about liking and protecting me. It¡¯s not that simple. Besides, Nathan is Emma¡¯s brother. Their rtionship with him shouldn''t be so hostile...¡± ¡°Who?¡± Annie didn¡¯t understand. Mnie didn¡¯t want to mention Jeffrey, so she shook her head. ¡°Nothing. You go take a shower.¡± When Annie came out after showering, she saw Mnie holding the rules card of the Perfume Blending Competition in a daze. She couldn''t help asking, ¡°Goddess, do you have any ideas now?¡± Mnie put down the card. ¡°The intimate rtionship between people is an unsolved mystery. | want to create a fragrance that reflects my current mood of being lost, making everyone who smells it to feel confused and unable to find an exit.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Annie dropped the towel she was using to dry her hair, and looked at Mnie seriously. ¡°It¡¯s not that | don¡¯t believe you, but can you really create that?¡± ¡°Perfume is inherently a product of hazy dreams. In this respect, emotions are no different,¡± Mnie replied. Annie nodded. ¡°What about the second fragrance, ¡°Solution?¡± How do you n to create it?¡± ¡°The same rules apply, so | must find an outlet for my emotions within nine weeks, and then, based on my mood, create an antidote to the puzzle,¡± Mnie answered. Annie shook her head again. ¡°It¡¯s too deep for me. | feel like you can even achieve enlightenment...¡± Mnie smiled, and started changing her clothes. Annie asked curiously, ¡°Where are you going? Aren''t you going to take a rest?¡± ¡°I''m going to the fragrance blending room prepared by the organizingmittee to take a look and make some preparations.¡± Annie clicked her tongue, and also started changing clothes. Mnie said, ¡°The fragrance blending room is just across the street. You don¡¯t need to apany me. Even if you go, you won''t be able to enter without fingerprint verification.¡± ¡°Who said I¡¯m going to apany you to create fragrance? | haven¡¯t been to Medonia for a few years. While you''re busy, I¡¯ll go explore,¡± Annie said. The two went out together, one turning left and the other turning right. Following the assigned number, Mnie found her independent fragrance blending room and prepared the +15 BONUS who was also walking out. ¡°Seems like we think alike.¡± Gabriel smiled in tacit agreement. Mnie nodded in agreement. ¡°Since you are here to prepare, it means you already have an idea. Can you give me a hint?¡± Gabriel asked. Mnie smiled, and didn¡¯t answer directly. ¡°It¡¯s just a preliminary idea. There¡¯s no specific framework yet. You will know when | finish.¡± ¡°| think this theme is designed for you-mystery and solution. It fits your unique fragrance fromst time. Using your friend''s body scent, you captured your unique emotions toward him. Emotions are inherently mysterious, so it¡¯s on point,¡± Gabriel continued. Talking about that fragrance, Mnie suddenly felt a heaviness in her chest. She subconsciously reached ou to support herself against the wall. Gabriel was startled, quickly reaching out to support her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Suddenly feeling a sharp pain, Mnie furrowed her brows and hissed. Chapter 355 Chapter 355 You Have Me in Your Heart After pausing for a few seconds, the dizziness disappeared. Mnie stood upright. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± It was then that she noticed she had identally scratched her finger on a wooden splinter by the wall causing it to bleed. ¡°You expect me to believe that you''re fine? If you¡¯re not in good health, rest more. Why were you so anxious to come here?¡± Gabriel shook his head with concern. Above their heads, there happened to be a surveince camera. In the monitoring room stood a man with a strong and commanding presence. He zoomed in on the image, focusing on Gabriel¡¯s hand, which was holding Mnie¡¯s arm. His Adam''s apple bobbed frantically. The man standing behind her should have been him! Jeffrey furrowed his brows and gritted his teeth. William asked cautiously, ¡°President Morgan, they''re out of the fragrance blending room, so the surveince can¡¯t capture them anymore. Are you still going to watch?¡± Jeffrey''s eyes turned dark. ¡°Do you have band-aids?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± William hurriedly took out a band-aid from his pocket, which his wife always made him carry. Jeffrey grabbed it, and walked out of the monitoring room. Mnie and Gabriel returned to the hotel across the street, each heading to their respective rooms. The sky was dark, threatening to rain. Mnie was a bit worried about Annie. She knew her friend was careless, and probably didn¡¯t bring an umbre. Just as Mnie was about to call Annie, she heard someone knocking on her door. Thinking it was Gabriel, she opened the door. The anxious man standing at the door surprised her. ¡°Your hand...¡± Jeffrey looked at her injured finger, and saw that there was already a band-aid on it. Did Gabriel give it to her? He was a step too late... ¡°It''s just a small injury, President Morgan. As I¡¯ve said before, please don¡¯t follow me.¡± Mnie¡¯s tone was cold and harsh. Jeffrey frowned again. ¡°I was passing by.¡± ¡°If you were just passing by, please act like a passerby and don¡¯t knock on my door.¡± Mnie tried to close the door, but Jeffrey raised his hand to stop her. The two stood facing each other for a moment. Mnie¡¯s clear eyes showed some impatience. ¡°If you insist on staying, | will call the police.¡± ¡°| just want to exin.¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Then please say it quickly.¡± ¡°Perhaps our start wasn¡¯t pure.¡± Jeffrey lowered his head, speaking in a low voice, ¡°But now, | have no ulterior motives toward you. | just know one thing-to cherish the person in front of me.¡± His gaze deepened. Mnie instinctively took a step back, reminding herself to stay rational. ¡°If you''re done. please leave. | don¡¯t care about what you''ve said.¡± Her clear eyes, as if containing stars, made Jeffrey unconsciously take a step closer. He approached her and said, ¡°If you didn¡¯t care, you wouldn¡¯t have taken a step back to avoid me.¡± ¡°You''re too confident. You think the only reason | don¡¯t want to see you is because | care about you? DisgustContent ? N?velDrama.Org. is also a possibility.¡± Mnie lowered her gaze, avoiding his stare. However, Jeffrey didn¡¯t back off. In an instant, he invaded her space as he stepped into the room. Mnie couldn''t stop him in time. To avoid physical contact, she could only step back. He advanced, and she retreated. Soon, there was no more room for her to retreat. He reached out his arms and put it on either side of her, backing her up against the wall. Mnie dodged his gaze, her cheeks flushed. Something seemed to erupt and grow wildly within her, and Jeffrey controlled his breath that was getting rugged. Bending down, he lowered his head, and his tall nose almost touched her slightly cool one. Mnie blinked incessantly, gripping her phone tightly. With her eyes shut, she warned, ¡°If you don¡¯t leave now, I''ll call the police!¡± Jeffrey suddenly smiled. ¡°Your breathing is fast, indicating that you do care about me. I''ll give you time. I''ll wait until you ept my exnation.¡± After speaking, he retracted his arms, leaving behind a remark, ¡°Don¡¯t wet your wound.¡± Then, he left. Mnie realized she had been fooled. She quickly closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. Jeffrey looked back at the tightly closed door, his eyes flickering. Outside, heavy rain began to pour, washing the windows. Mnie''s thoughts returned. She realized that it waste, and Annie hadn''t returned yet. She picked up her phone to call Annie, but Annie¡¯s phone remained unreachable. Mnie became tense and quickly contacted the private detective from the Snow family, asking him to inform the Snow family members in Medonia and ask their help in finding Annie. She also quickly put on clothes and waterproof boots. Then, she grabbed an umbre and prepared to go out Chapter 356 The man surprised Mnie even more. +15 BONUS Chapter 356 Damsel in Distress ¡°Mrs. Morgan...¡± William supported Annie into the room, standing respectfully on the side. ¡°Mr. Moore, why are you here?¡± Mnie was puzzled. ¡°For the details, you can ask President Snow. | have other matters to attend to, so I''ll take my leave.¡± William nodded politely, exiting the room and closing the door behind them. ¡°Where are you hurt?¡± Mnie crouched down, looking at Annie, who was drenched in water. ¡°| sprained my ankle. I¡¯ve already been to the hospital. I¡¯m fine. Sorry for making you worry.¡± Annie spoke with a hand over her mouth, but then she suddenly remembered something and urgently added, ¡°By the way, William suddenly appeared for some reason. It means Jeffrey''s also in Medonia. Be careful not to be deceived by him!¡± ¡°He¡¯s already deceived me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Annie jumped up in surprise, but her injured foot ached, causing her to sit back down. ¡°Don¡¯t get overwhelmed. | know what to do.¡± Mnie held onto Annie¡¯s shoulder, trying to calm her. ¡°Tell me how you encountered William.¡± ¡°l was unlucky. | took the wrong route, and ran into a few ruffians. William appeared and saved me,¡± Annie recalled in a low voice. Suddenly, she raised her voice. ¡°Let me tell you, William must have been tracking me! Birds of a feather flock together, so be careful of Jeffrey!¡± ¡°He saved the damsel in distress?¡± Mnie could sense some gossip. Annie immediately rolled her eyes. ¡°I might be a damsel, but he doesn¡¯t qualify as a hero.¡± ¡°Not a hero? Didn¡¯t he drive away the ruffians by himself?¡± Mnie seized the key points in Annie¡¯s words. Annie felt defeated, and didn¡¯t argue further. Mnie helped her into the bathroom for a shower and said with concern, ¡°The Perfume Blending Competition officially starts tomorrow afternoon. | won''t have time to take care of you. I''ll get you a temporary maid to look after you for a couple of days. I''ll take you home over the weekend.¡± ¡°Go home?¡± Annie was surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted because of me. The doctor said my injury will heal in three to five days.¡± ¡°It''s not just because of you. Since the perfume only takes a day or two to prepare, the rest is aging time. If | don¡¯t have any new ideas, | don¡¯t have to stay here all the time,¡± Mnie exined. ¡°Now that | know about Emma¡¯s identity, | want to go back to visit her adoptive mother and Nathan.¡± 1/3 +15 BONUS Annie nodded, and then said, ¡°Today, | went to explore the local food around here. What do you want to eat? Let¡¯s go eat quickly. I''m hungry.¡± Talking about food made Mnie''s head ache. ¡®I still don¡¯t have much appetite. Are there any light food?¡± ¡°| do know of a ce. Let''s go there!¡± Annie said proudly. ¡°Alright.¡± Mnie smiled. She knew Annie hadn¡¯t been wandering aimlessly for the past half day; instead, she had been exploring the nearby area on her behalf. Aware that Mnie had no appetite, Annie specifically searched for light-tasting food, not wanting Mnie to notice that she was worried. The next day, the Perfume Blending Competition officially began. There wasn¡¯t a particrly grand opening ceremony for events in Medonia. Mnie, as one of the first batch of participants, had already entered the fragrance blending room with a few other participants who arrived early. The opening ceremony was kept simple. Annie rested alone in the hotel, while Jeffrey took charge of Morgan Group¡¯s branch in Medonia. On that day, Jeffrey received a call from Madam Morgan. ¡°What have you and Mnie been busy withtely? It''s been a long time since you visited me.¡± Jeffrey tried to evade the question. ¡°I''ll return home in a few days to see you.¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°And Mnie?¡± Madam Morgan inquired. ¡°Mnie¡¯s been very busytely...and her health is not very good... We''ll visit you once she¡¯s feeling better.¡± Jeffrey continued to come up with excuses. ¡°What''s wrong with her health?¡± Madam Morgan became concerned. Jeffrey took a deep breath. He shouldn¡¯t have mentioned that. He paused before exining, ¡°It¡¯s not severe. She''s just too busy and has gastric, and she has no appetite.¡± ¡°Oh, so she¡¯s pregnant this time, right?¡± Madam Morgan suddenly became excited. ¡°No...¡± Jeffrey was about to deny it when he suddenly thought of something. Thetter part of.the sentence got stuck in his throat. He remembered that her usual menstrual cycle started at the end of every month, but during thest few days ofst month, they slept together in the office... She had been vomiting and feeling dizzytely...she might really be pregnant. Jeffrey subconsciously clenched his fist, and a fire seemed to burn fiercely in his heart. If she was pregnant with his child...then... He couldn''t wait to know the answer. He couldn''t wait to take care of her! 243 ¡°Grandmother, | have other matters to attend to. I''ll talk to youter!¡± Chapter 357 Chapter 357 1 Admit That | Like Her After Jeffrey hung up the phone decisively, he instructed William to drive straight to the Perfume Blending Competition. While on the road. Jeffrey''s phone rang again. He quickly nced at it, and saw that it was Nathan¡¯s number. Why was Nathan calling at this time? Impatiently, he answered the call. On the other end, Nathan¡¯s voice sounded dark. ¡°Your people are investigating me. When are you going to stop?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know why I¡¯m investigating you?¡± Jeffrey countered. ¡°Or are you feeling guilty?¡± ¡°Investigate if you want, but don¡¯t disturb my life!¡± Nathan¡¯s voice turned colder. ¡°But | really didn¡¯t expect that you woulde to this. Throwing away your pride to chase after a woman, and even going abroad?¡± ¡°It seems you''re well aware of what happened.¡± Jeffrey¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°President Morgan, with your reputation in the upper circles, how could | not know?¡± Nathan sneered. ¡°I guess Mnie already knows that you approached her because of Emma¡¯s heart. Your n has been exposed, but you''re still relentlessly pursuing her. If you still deny that you like her, | wouldn''t believe you.¡± ¡°Who said I¡¯m denying it?¡± Jeffrey calmly refuted. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve realized my feelings, what''s wrong with admitting it?¡± ¡°What did you say? You admit...liking the daughter of the enemy who killed Emma?¡± Nathan was dumbfounded. ¡°You heard me right. | said | have feelings for her. Even if Mnie¡¯s father killed Emma, Mnie¡¯s innocent. She didn¡¯t know about it.¡± Jeffrey calmly expressed his thoughts. Nathan was on the verge of madness. ¡°That¡¯s why you have no qualms falling in love with the daughter of your enemy?¡± ¡°What happened back then is still not clear.¡± Jeffrey''s tone was heavy. ¡°Jeffrey, have you lost your mind?¡± Nathan roared. ¡°If anyone has lost their mind, it¡¯s you!¡± Jeffrey didn¡¯t back down. After saying that, he hung up the phone. When Emma tragically died, he was severely injured and sought treatment abroad. Overwhelmed with grief and physical exhaustion, he learned everything from Nathan himself...which made him hate the Jones family to the core. However, in the past year since he returned to the country and heard about Tyler¡¯s deeds, he felt that Tyler didn¡¯t seem like that kind of person. There was a shadow of Tyler in Mnie as well. He had a firm sense of justice and medical ethics. He probably wouldn¡¯t take a life, even for the sake of his own flesh and blood... 143 +15 BONUS The phone continued to ring in Nathan¡¯s ears. He angrily threw the phone at the door. Startled, his subordinates, who were just about to enter, dared not approach. After a pause, Nathan shouted angrily at the door. ¡°What are you hiding there for?¡± ¡°Mr. Quinn, our people have just found out that Mnie Jones is likely rted to the Yorks.¡± Only then did the subordinate step forward, handing the information they found to Nathan. Nathan looked at it. and his eyes sparkled with determination. No wonder Joseph paid special attention to Mnie during the Angle family¡¯s centennial celebration! Later when Mnie became a suspect in Charles¡¯ murder, the Yorks also stepped forward to help her. So, Mnie had a hidden background. ¡°The Yorks checked Mnie¡¯s DNA, but the results don¡¯t seem to be as expected. Also, they¡¯re still unaware of Mnie¡¯s heart surgery. Speaking of which, the Joneses are quite smart. They hid Mnie¡¯s congenital physical defect for so many years. The heart surgery was done so discreetly that even the Yorks didn¡¯t find out. ¡°Someone must have secretly helped the Joneses.¡± Nathan squinted his eyes, and added slyly, ¡°Although the Yorks don¡¯t know about these things, | do. Mnie¡¯s olfactory talent and heart defect are inherited from her father. | heard Joseph was in love with a woman back then. They had a son in their old age, but that son went missing for many years. If you calcte the time, he just happens to be around the same age as Mnie¡¯s father, Tyler.¡± ¡°Since the Yorks don¡¯t know these things, I''ll do them a favor and tell them. However, I''ll only tell one of them, Bring me my old phone at once. I''ll find the right time to call him.¡± Him? The subordinate reacted after a second, asking in surprise, ¡°Mr. Quinn, didn¡¯t you break ties with him already?¡± ¡°| have no more feelings toward him, but | have my interests,¡± Nathan sneered coldly. ¡°Now | can help him get what he wants, and he can help me deal with the Morgans and the Joneses. He¡¯s so clever, so how could he refuse?¡± Mnie entered the fragrance blending room, spent half a day selecting ingredients and testing fragrances, and then spent another half a day officially blending the fragrance. It wasn¡¯t until a whole dayter that she walked out of the fragrance blending room. Although she felt relieved, her body clearly couldn''t bear it. She felt dizzy and hungry.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. As she walked out, she pulled down the zipper of her work uniform, leaning against the wall to catch her breath. Suddenly, she was startled by a man¡¯s voice in front of her. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you careful with your own health? Normal people can¡¯t endure a whole day without eating, let alone you!¡± 213 The phone continued to ring in Nathan¡¯s ears. The angrily threw the phone at the door. Shartled, his subordinates, who were just about to enter, dared not approach. After a pause, Nathan shouted angrity at the door. ¡°What are you hiding there for? QORNA our people have just found out that Mnte Jones is usely rted to the Yorks.¡± Only then did the subordinate step forward, handing the information they found to Nathan, Nathan looked at it, and his eyes sparkled with determination. No wonder Joseph paid special attention to Mnie during the Angle family¡¯s centennial celebration! Later when Atnie became a suspect in Charles¡¯ murder, the Yorks also stepped forward to help her. So Atnie had a hidden background. The Yorks checked Mnie¡¯s DNA, but the results don¡¯t seem to be as expected. Also, they¡¯re still unaware of Mnie¡¯s heart surgery. Speaking of which, the Joneses are quite smart. They hid Mnie¡¯s congenital physical defect for so many years. The heart surgery was done so discreetly that even the Yorks didn¡¯t find out. ¡°Someone must have secretly helped the Joneses.¡± Nathan squinted his eyes, and added slyly, ¡°Although the Yorks don¡¯t know about these things, | do. Mnie¡¯s olfactory talent and heart defect are inherited from her father. | heard Joseph was in love with a woman back then. They had a son in their old age, but that son went missing for many years. If you calcte the time, he just happens to be around the same age as Mnie¡¯s father, Tyler.¡± ¡°Since the Yorks don¡¯t know these things, I''ll do them a favor and tell them. However, I''ll only tell one of them. Bring me my old phone at once. I''ll find the right time to call him.¡± Him? The subordinate reacted after a second, asking in surprise, ¡°Mr. Quinn, didn¡¯t you break ties with him. already?¡± ¡°| have no more feelings toward him, but | have my interests.¡± Nathan sneered coldly. ¡°Now | can help him get what he wants, and he can help me deal with the Morgans and the Joneses. He¡¯s so clever, so how could he refuse?¡± Mnie entered the fragrance blending room, spent half a day selecting ingredients and testing fragrances, and then spent another half a day officially blending the fragrance. It wasn¡¯t until a whole dayter that she walked out of the fragrance blending room. Although she felt relieved, her body clearly couldn''t bear it. She felt dizzy and hungry. As she walked out, she pulled down the zipper of her work uniform, leaning against the wall to catch her breath. Suddenly, she was startled by a man¡¯s voice in front of her. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you careful with your own health? Normal people can¡¯t endure a whole day without eating, let alone you!¡± 213 +15 BONUS Mnie took a moment to catch her breath, and straightened up. ¡°President Morgan, passing by again?¡± In a timely manner, Jeffrey handed over a supporting hand, but she evaded it. ¡°If you''re just passing by, please, President Morgan, stick to the role of a passerby. The fragrance blending room is private, and not just anyone can enter,¡± she said unceremoniously. ¡°| sponsored thispetition,¡± Jeffrey stated concisely. ¡°Being wealthy is truly remarkable,¡± Mnie sneered, and walked ahead. ¡°Take it slow.¡± Jeffrey followed behind her, not caring about her sarcasm, afraid that she might faint from low blood sugar. ¡®ll take you to eat something. Your health is important.¡± Chapter 358 Chapter 358 Her Child Mnie walked directly into the women¡¯s changing room, leaving behind a stern remark at the door. ¡°| won''t have an appetite with you around!¡± With a m, the door closed, and Jeffrey sighed. He turned around and gave some instructions to William. William quickly acknowledged them, and went downstairs to handle matters. Soon, the limping Annie received the message and went to the hotel entrance to meet Mnie and bring her back to the room. They ordered room service, and had a simple meal in the room. Mnie began to feel a bit better after eating. During the meal, Annie¡¯s phone rang. She picked it up, nced at it, and saw a message from an unknown number. Initially, she didn¡¯t pay much attention, but then she caught the first line of the message, ¡°Concerns Mnie¡¯s life. Stay silent and quickly return the call!¡± Suddenly, her eyes widened. She tightly gripped the phone. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Mnie asked subconsciously. ¡°N-Nothing. | need to make a call.¡± 4 Annie hurriedly walked away with her phone. In a quiet ce, she cautiously looked at the message again. Her heart pounded, and without much thought, she dialed the number that sent the message. The call connected quickly, and Jeffrey''s voice came through. ¡°I¡¯m Jeffrey. Is Mnie with you now? Find a ce where she can¡¯t hear to talk. | need your help with something.¡± Annie was furious. ¡°President Morgan, are you ying tricks on me?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Good! Mnie doesn¡¯t want to hear about you, and | have no reason to contact you. Don¡¯t look for me in the future!¡± Annie was about to hang up the phone when Jeffrey''s voice came again from the other side. ¡°Mnie might be pregnant!¡± ¡°What?¡± Annie immediately pressed the phone tightly to her ear. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Mnie hasn''t been feeling welltely, and she has no appetite either. Has this been going on for many days? | need you to come up with an excuse to take her to the hospital for a check-up.¡± Jeffrey listed the evidence. Annie frowned. When she thought about it, Mnie didn¡¯t have an appetitetely, and even experienced +15 BONUS ¡°As you know, Mnie¡¯s body is special. If she¡¯s pregnant, it''ll be more difficult for herpared to an ordinary pregnant woman. | want to be prepared in advance.¡± ¡°| know.¡± Annie was obliged to help when it came to Mnie¡¯s health. After agreeing, she suddenly thought of something, and asked, ¡°What do you n to do if she¡¯s really pregnant?¡± After a short pause. Jeffrey said firmly, ¡°I will take responsibility for her.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t need your responsibility. She can raise the child herself, and | can help her too!¡± Annie snarled. She was resolute, not giving Jeffrey a chance to exin. ¡°She will never marry someone insincere just for the sake of a child. Even if she¡¯s pregnant, she won''t! Are you asking me to check if she¡¯s pregnant because you can arrange for a doctor to abort her child?¡± Annie¡¯s suspicion left Jeffrey momentarily speechless. In the eyes of Mnie''s friends, he was such a bastard... After a pause, he answered, ¡°If | wanted to abort the child, | wouldn¡¯t have needed to trouble you.¡± Annie thought about it, and felt that there was some truth to his words. With Jeffrey''s power, it would be effortless to abort an unwanted child... ¡°So please help.¡± Jeffrey tried to be as humble as possible. ¡°After the examination, what do you n to do?¡± Annie asked again. ¡°| will know the results of the examination immediately. As for whether she¡¯s willing to tell me or not, | won''t force her. You can help me keep it a secret from her. Everything will be up to her. | just want her to be taken care of.¡± Jeffrey''s sincerity temporarily convinced Annie. She pursed her lips, and said, ¡°Alright, but don¡¯t provoke Mnie. If you dare to make her sad again, I''ll be the first one to kill you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After Annie hung up the phone and returned, Mnie pretended to scrutinize her, making her feel guilty. ¡°Why are you looking at me like this?¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Who did you call?¡± ¡°N-No one...¡± Annie sat down shakily. Mnie stared at her sternly. ¡°Who''s no one?¡± Annie felt defeated. Just as she had made up her mind to keep it a secret, the protagonist suspected her. At this moment, she could only go all out and say something else to divert Mnie¡¯s attention. ¡°In fact... | had a romantic encounter...¡± Annie said through gritted teeth. ¡°You''ve only been here for a few days, right?¡± Mnie raised her eyebrows. ¡°Could it be...?¡± Chapter 359 Chapter 359 Big Misunderstanding ¡°No, no, no... Don¡¯t overthink it... That man isn¡¯t...¡± Annie¡¯s heart pounded like a drum, wanting to interrupt Mnie¡¯s spection. Unexpectedly, Mnie¡¯s eyes suddenly shed, and she pointed at Annie. ¡°Could it be William?¡± Suppressing the urge tough, Annie pretended to chuckle nervously. ¡°Is it really him?¡± This time, Mnie¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say he¡¯s not a hero? What do you see in him?¡± ¡°He... is good at fighting.¡± Annie could only bravely continue to fabricate her lie. ¡°Fighting... Have you two already...?¡± Mnie raised an eyebrow. ¡°Fighting, just fighting...literally...¡± Annie was extremely embarrassed. ¡°He drove away a few ruffians. He¡¯s fantastic at it.¡± ¡°Alright, you''ve just started seeing him, so | won''t press you too hard. When your rtionship with him is stable, you all can treat me to a meal,¡± Mnie said while looking at Annie, her eyes full of mischief. Annie willingly let Mnie misunderstand, but she was feeling nervous inside. She could only divert the topic by lowering her head and eating. She then seized the opportunity to change the subject. ¡°Oh, Mel, my foot still hurts. How about you apany me for another check-up?¡± ¡°It''s still hurting?¡± Mnie frowned, ming herself for being so busy with perfume blending that she forgot that Annie was still injured.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°We can go after we finish eating.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. You need to make appointments in advance at the hospitals here.¡± Reminded by Annie, Mnie realized this and picked up her phone to help her make an appointment. However, Annie quickly stopped her. ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve been busy all day. Go rest for a while. I''ll take care of it myself.¡± ¡°Okay, but remember to make the appointment.¡± Mnie stood up, feeling a bit tired. ¡°I''ll rest for a while. It''s strange...maybe I¡¯m getting old because | can¡¯t stay upte anymore...*. Listening to her murmuring to herself, Annie wiped the sweat off her forehead, feeling like she was protecting an endangered species. She dared not let Mnie tire herself out. Mnie slept until evening, and she only woke up when she felt the light disappear. The first thing she said was, ¡°Did I oversleep? What time is your appointment?¡± 142. 142. +15 BONUS ¡°No. don¡¯t worry. | didn¡¯t get to make an appointment for today. We''ll go to the doctor tomorrow. Are you hungry? Let¡¯s have dinner first.¡± Annie said. She didn¡¯t want Mnie to tire herself too much, and wanted to give Jeffrey time. Mnie didn¡¯t think too much about it. Having rested and regained some energy, she went to the bathroom to freshen up. When she came out, she heard someone knocking on the door. Opening it, she was surprised to see William standing outside with two people pushing a food cart behind him. Seeing her open the door, William suddenly became anxious. ¡°Mrs. Morgan... I''ve corne to deliver your... dinner...¡± William had already begun to think about what to do if Mnie rejected his dishes. Should he cry pitifully, saying that if Mnie didn¡¯t eat, then the president would ask him to pack up and leave? However, Mnie smiled. ¡°Just say it¡¯s for Annie. Why bring me into this? | have nothing to do with your president now.¡± After saying that, she generously stepped aside from the doorway. William was baffled. For whom? Did he hear it wrong? However, none of that mattered. What mattered was that Mnie agreed readily. Afraid that Mnie might change her mind, William waved to the staff and asked them to push the food cart into the room. To diffuse the awkwardness, he said politely, ¡°These are all light and nutritious dishes. | hope they¡¯re suited to your taste.¡± ¡°Uh, I¡¯m not picky.¡± Hearing William¡¯s voice, Annie rushed out from inside. Forgetting she was ame person, she stumbled and fell into William''s arms. Mnie cleared her throat, and maintained an upright posture. ¡°Well, I''ll go eat now. You two can do as you please.¡± ¡°M-Mrs. Morgan...¡± William had intended to say something, but Annie, seizing the opportunity, grabbed William by the cor and pulled him into the bathroom that was by the door. Chapter 360 Chapter 360 Annoying Couple ¡°What are you doing?¡± For the first time in his life, William was dragged into the bathroom by a woman. He felt inexplicably flustered. The fact that this woman had publicly called him a dog made him even angrier. ¡°Hush!¡± Annie, who was listening to themotion outside by pressing her ear against the door, wasn¡¯t aware of William¡¯s embarrassment and irritation. ¡°Good thing she didn¡¯t notice...¡± ¡°What''s fortunate, President Snow?¡± William pulled away Annie¡¯s hand from his clothes, and straightened out the wrinkles. Annie looked up and saw William¡¯s displeasure, and smiled apologetically. ¡°Well, | need to talk to you, so | had to resort to this. We might as well pretend to be a couple in front of Mnie...¡± ¡°What?¡± William''s face contorted. ¡°Not exactly a couple, but a dating couple...¡± Annie sped her hands together in a pleading gesture. ¡°President Snow! Are you willing to date a dog?¡± William refused to relent. ¡°Hey!¡± Annie, unwilling to give in, retorted, ¡°It''s because your president asked me to do something. | had no choice but to do this! Do you think | want to ship myself with you? If you don¡¯t agree, I''ll go tell Jeffrey that I''m done working for him!¡± S ¡°Don''t!¡± William resisted for only three seconds, and had to give in. ¡°I''ll cooperate.¡± That was about right. Seeing William obediently cooperating, Annie smiled in satisfaction. However, William wasn¡¯t pleased. He turned to leave, but was pulled back by the woman behind him. Feeling his cor being grabbed again by Annie like how his fate was, William didn¡¯t want to experience it for the third time. His lips twitched, and he asked, ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re pretending to be dating, we need to follow each other on Instagram.¡± William, helpless, pursed his lips, took out his phone, and showed her his handle. He waited patiently for her to read it. Annie, feeling triumphant, took out her phone and swiftly searched for his name. Ding! ¡°Til go first.¡± Without wasting a second, Annie turned around and opened the door, leaving William shaking his head inside. He had no idea if he would get a bonus after aplishing the task of helping the president chase after his wife... +15 BONUS Outside. Mnie was already sitting at the table, eating and teasing Annie. ¡°Why did it take so long?¡± ¡°| touched up my makeup.¡± ¡°Awoman¡¯s charm is for her own enjoyment. | understand.¡± Mnie teased with a smile. Annie, with a forced smile, changed the subject. ¡°How¡¯s the food? Is it delicious?¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°It''s quite to my liking because it¡¯s light. However, you like heavy food. Mr. Moore miscalcted.¡± Mnie smiled. ¡°I''ve recently developed a liking for lighter vors,¡± Annie said, picking up her cutlery and eating heartily. ¡°Tsk, tsk.¡± Mnie shook her head. ¡°Love is a magical thing. After more than twenty years, one¡¯s taste suddenly changes when in love.¡± After finishing the meal, Mnie received a call from the International Perfume Blending Competition Committee. There was a wee banquet in the evening, hosted by themittee, inviting the first batch of contestants and judges to gather. It was a tradition for internationalpetitions and akin to an opening ceremony in domestic events. ¡°Do | have to go?¡± Mnie asked. The staff on the other end of the phone said, ¡°Mr. Joseph, the president of themittee, specifically mentioned you. If you don¡¯t have urgent matters, it¡¯s better to attend.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Mnie agreed. Joseph seemed to be taking extra care of her... She hade to Medonia twice, and each time it seemed inevitable to avoid the Yorks. However, she hadn''t had the chance to get close to Joseph. She also wanted to find an opportunity to find out why Joseph was so considerate of her. In the evening, Mnie arrived at the banquet venue on time. Because it was an industry banquet, she only wore a neat and stylish suit instead of an evening gown. As soon as she entered the banquet hall, she saw Jeffrey standing right in front of her. He was wearing a navy suit, finely tailored and fitting. The night sky blue tie was adorned with a diamond. Unexpectedly, he had taken the effort to dress up. It seemed like he was waiting for her. He was purposefully standing in the most conspicuous ce, completely different from his usual style. Upon seeing her, he shifted his gaze to her and didn¡¯t move it away after that. Mnie didn¡¯t intend to pay him any attention, but Jeffrey walked toward her and asked, ¡°You''re not feeling well, so you should be resting at the hotel.¡± ¡°Mr. Joseph asked me toe. President Morgan, please show some restraint.¡± After saying that, she brushed past Jeffrey and coincidentally saw Gabriel not far away, waving to her. So, she went straight over to find Gabriel. 2131 +15 BONUS Jeffrey turned around to look at her. She wasn¡¯t wearing a formal gown, and her high heels weren''t particrly high. Could it be that she already knew she was pregnant? At this thought, he caught up with her, hovering within a radius of two and a half meters from her... Although he was worried about her, he knew Joseph would pay extra attention to her tonight, so he could only maintain his distance. The atmosphere at the banquet was lively. The first half was a typical banquet, where people exchanged greetings and conversations. In the second half, the chief judge, Robert Locke, finally arrived. Upon his arrival, he suggested seeing the extraordinary skills of the participants of the Perfume Blending Competition, which caused the crowd to buzz. Robert, who was specially invited by the organizingmittee to be a chief judge, was highly esteemed in the international fragrance industry. Contestants wanted to perform well in front of him to gain his attention, which would be beneficial for both thepetition results and their future development. Several perfumers from different countries showcased their talents one after another. After the performance, other judges curiously asked Robert, ¡°Mr. Locke, are you satisfied with the contestants this year? They are truly outstanding, aren¡¯t they?¡± Chapter 361 Chapter 361 Pose a Challenge for Her ¡°Very good.¡± Robert nodded, giving them a backhandedpliment. ¡°The contestant from Medonia just now left a deep impression on me. He was able to use the limited base scents here to create different fragrances, evoking the taste of local dishes in Medonia. It¡¯s interesting. How talented!¡± His implication was that the other performances were mediocre. After Robert finished speaking, he intentionally looked at Joseph, who had remained silent all along, and asked, ¡°Joseph, what do you think?¡± Joseph didn¡¯t speak, and just nodded slightly. ¡°The Yorks¡¯ position in the fragrance industry is unquestionable. People say that the perfume industry in Medonia is dominated by the Ustalians, but | haven¡¯t seen any Ustalian contestants showcasing their talents. Are they all too low-key?¡± Robert continued to provoke them, unwilling to ept defeat. Joseph finally turned his head to look at him, his old eyes exuding dignity. ¡°We hold this banquet and organize thispetition with the aim of unity. Friendshipes first, whilepetitiones second. Regardless of who, or which race, someone is, we are bonded by our love for perfumery.¡± ¡°You''re right.¡± Robert grinned. ¡°I¡¯m just speaking based on my feelings. Since the Ustalians dominate the fragrance world, there should be outstanding talents among them. Ustalians like to keep a low profile, but since it¡¯s an industrial gathering, showcasing and sharing are also virtues. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± Unyielding, Robert insisted on getting an Ustalian contestant to show their talents. Joseph squinted slightly, and the venue fell silent. His eyes shed, and with a raise of his finger, the old butler understood his intention and left. At this moment, Mnie was standing with Gabriel. The performances of the contestants varied in quality, but unexpectedly, Robert turned the showcase into a source ofparison between races. ¡°Joseph is the president of the organizingmittee, while Robert is the chief judge. It can be said that Joseph is the host and Robert is his guest. In my eyes, Joseph respects Robert.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Gabriel was exining to Mnie, when suddenly, the voice of the Yorks¡¯ old butler came from behind. ¡°Miss Jones, Mr. York asked me to convey a message. Can you take a moment to talk?¡± Mnie nodded, and followed the old butler out of the crowd. ¡°Mr. York wants you toe forward and demonstrate,¡± the old butler said straightforwardly. ¡°Me?¡± Mnie blinked. ¡°I¡¯m not prepared.¡± The old butler nodded, and conveyed Joseph¡¯s words. ¡°It¡¯s still possible to prepare now. Mr. York said he believes in your abilities.¡± 1/3 +15 BONUS Mnie was a bit speechless. How was she supposed to prepare on such short notice? At this moment, the silent Joseph finally spoke and broke the awkward silence. ¡°We have an ancient saying.¡¯ Silence is golden. Being low-key and down-to-earth are the principles of Ustalians. But since it''s an industrial gathering. Mr. Locke is curious about the strength of the younger generation of Ustal. Let''s have a junior do a demonstration.¡± Joseph continued. ¡°Do you all remember the Siberian Butterfly perfume | mentioned earlier? The young perfumer who created that fragrance is here at thispetition. Let her represent Ustal and give us a demonstration.¡± Mnie was even more speechless. Walking on the path gradually opened up by the crowd, all eyes and lights followed her. She stood on the central stage, smiling awkwardly but politely. ¡°I''m honored that Mr. York personally asked me to do a demonstration, but... | really haven¡¯t prepared... Representing so many Ustalian contestants in a performance is also a heavy pressure.¡± ¡°Last time in the fragrancepetition, your perfume left a deep impression on me. You said at that time that you used a bit of your friend¡¯s body scent to create a one-of-a-kind scent. The mostmonment from other perfumers about your perfume was that, through the fragrance, one could sense your emotions toward that person.¡± Sitting on the main seat below the stage, Joseph spoke while looking at Mnie on the stage. ¡°You''re good at capturing the emotions between people and expressing them vividly through fragrance. How about selecting a few people you know from the audience, and using these bases and essences to create fragrances for them? So that people not only associate the fragrance with the person, but also feel the rtionship between you and them?¡± Joseph''s proposal stunned all the onlooking guests. Perfume blending was indeed an art, but Joseph¡¯s question was too difficult. She could easily mess up such an ethereal concept! Mnie naturally found it difficult. The topic set by Joseph was very narrow, and it was hard for Mnie to find the bnce while perfume blending. ¡°Joseph, you''ve really made it difficult for me.¡± She said straightforwardly, ¡°The theme of thispetition is ¡®Mystery and Solution,¡¯ and it has already posed a challenge for many experienced perfumers. The question you''ve set is even more difficult than the main theme of the competition.¡± The guests in the audience burst intoughter, agreeing with Mnie''s words. Indeed, the question set by Joseph was challenging even for experienced perfumers. At this time, Robert smiled. ¡°Miss Jones is indeed the representative chosen by Joseph, embodying the true essence of Ustalian modesty!¡± 243 +15 BONUS Beside Robert, someone in the crowd deliberately raised their voice and shouted, ¡°Is it true modesty, or is ita lack of ability?¡± Chapter 362 Chapter 362 She¡¯s a Pawn The atmosphere became tense again. No one spoke at the venue. On the silent stage, Mnie stood alone, ring coldly at Robert sitting beside Joseph. It seemed that if she didn¡¯t perform today, she would bring shame to the Ustalians. Joseph had intentionally arranged for her to participate in this ¡°extra round¡±... Regardless, the provocative words from earlier had indeed affected her. Even if they were deliberately provoking her, she was willing to admit she had fallen for it! Mnie took a step forward, approached the microphone, and said, ¡°The fellow perfurners who showcased their talent earlier were all prepared, but | have to improvise on the spot. Can | have some time to seek inspiration?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Robert said with a sinister smile. As long as she agreed, everything was good. Could she evene up with a high-quality creation without preparation? On the side, Robert¡¯s assistant couldn''t help adding, ¡°Miss Jones, the banquet ends in one hour. Please be mindful of the time.¡± Every sentence was a provocation. Mnie smirked. ¡°Creating fragrances isn¡¯t like cooking, and inspiration isn¡¯t something you can memorize. It doesn¡¯t take that long.¡± After finishing speaking, in the awkwardness of Robert''s assistant, she calmly walked to the nearby storage shelf, specifically picked up the perfumes of the Medonian perfumer praised by Robert just now, and smelled each of the four bottles one by one. Then she closed her eyes, pondering for a while. At this moment, Robert''s assistant spoke again. ¡°Miss Jones, are you not afraid of being influenced if you smell other perfumers¡¯ scents? Or do you want to imitate them?¡± Mnie suddenly opened her eyes, and a clear light shed in them. ¡°Perfume blending is an art. By knowing one¡¯s style and mastering the form structure, one can vividly express the message one wants to convey. Even if it¡¯s the same fragrance base and the same ratio is used, when different people blend it, the final scent will be different. ¡°It''s impossible for others to easily imitate. This is why perfumes are mysterious and interesting. It seems Mr. Locke¡¯s assistant isn¡¯t an expert.¡± Mnie¡¯s retort annoyed Robert, and he turned around to angrily reprimand his assistant, ¡°Amateurs shouldn''t speak too much!¡± She went back to the station prepared for her, and put on her work uniform. 1,2 +15 BONUS ¡°Since you''re evaluating it now, | will focus on the top notes and middle notes. As for the base notes, the tester will naturally smell them after a day. ¡°Even for on-site demonstrations, | will treat each fragrance | create with the utmost seriousness. Unlike some perfumes, which are simply made and basically have no middle and base notes.¡± This statement was directed at the Medonian perfumer who received praise from Robert. There was a moment of indignation among the Medonian contestants in the audience. Mnie was quite bold! Could she even create a nice perfume? Joseph''s question was already difficult, but she might end up creating a mess. The crowd was just waiting to mock her. ¡°Joseph, since it¡¯s a question you''ve posed, can | ask you to specify the person for whom I¡¯m going to create the fragrance?¡± Mnie said, looking at Joseph after preparing her workstation. Unsurprisingly, Joseph called, ¡°Leo!¡± Then he thought for a moment and added, ¡°Gabriel?¡± Following that, Joseph squinted and said, ¡°I heard that you and President Morgan have also coborated several times. So, I¡¯m inviting President Morgan toe on stage as well.¡± Jeffrey, who was cued unexpectedly, felt his eyes flicker. It seemed that today, not only was Mnie part of Joseph¡¯s n, but even he was. However, he remained calm. Almost without hesitation, he walked onto the stage. Mnie understood everything. It seemed Joseph indeed knew everything... The three of them came on stage, and Mnie tried her best to calm down. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Since the contestant just now created four scents, you need one more person,¡± Joseph said. Mnie thought about it. She was only familiar with a few people here, and she probably couldn''t find a fourth person. Just then, Joseph turned his wheelchair and left his seat, loudly saying, ¡°Count me in!¡± Mnie took a deep breath. She began to doubt whether today¡¯s so-called demonstration was orchestrated by Robert. Was Joseph the real mastermind behind the scenes? Everything seemed to be in his n, and she was just a pawn in his hands. Even if she felt unwilling, she had to move around on the chessboard. ¡°Let''s begin.¡± Joseph took the stage, and the wrinkles on his face spread as he smiled at her. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 363 Chapter 363 Perfume Blending Mnie didn¡¯t really know Joseph, but the question posed was already challenging enough, so a little more challenge didn¡¯t hurt. She nced at the four ¡°models¡± sitting in a row, gathered her focus, and walked to the fragrance blending station. ¡°Miss Jones, which person¡¯s fragrance will you start with?¡± Robert asked from the audience. ¡°Since it¡¯s an impromptu performance, I''ll decide as | go. Maybe I''ll blend them all together?¡± Mnie swept her gaze across the stage with a nonchnt tone. ¡°Please stay quiet. | don¡¯t like being disturbed.¡± Although Robert was dissatisfied, he kept silent. She had one hour to create four different fragrances. While Joseph presented it as a single challenge, it was essentially four separate tasks. However, Mnie was confident in herself. Since childhood, she had been interested in perfume blending. Even though her father forbade her from entering this field, she never gave up on secretly studying it. Over the years, she had studied thousands of aromapounds from all around the world. She knew nearly a hundred base notes and dozens of sessful perfume formtions-all of this knowledge was stored in her mind. Once inspiration hit her, she didn¡¯t need to waste time choosing aromapounds. Robert''s provocation and Joseph¡¯s difficult questions had ignited Mnie¡¯s fighting spirit. She skillfully manipted the test tubes and bottles, racing against time. Forty-five minutester, she added the final drop of aldehyde, elegantly put away the test tube, closed the bottle cap, and removed her gloves. ¡°It''s done,¡± she said coolly. Everyone on stage and in the audience was astonished-she had created four fragrances in just forty-five minutes!Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Robert narrowed his eyes, and the people around him started toment disdainfully, ¡°Something concocted in forty-five minutes must be shoddy!¡± ¡°Miss Mnie, we are all curious about the fragrances you blended. Can the staff bring them down for testing? ¡°Robert also spoke up. Mnie extended her hand, signaling that it was okay. The staff hurriedly brought a cart up and opened the caps of the four fragrances for people to sample. The atmosphere, which was filled with indiscreet remarks, suddenly became quiet again. On the stage, William, following Jeffrey¡¯s instructions, brought a chair for Mnie. Without lifting her head, she expressed her thanks. She was indeed a bit tired, with beads of sweat forming on her forehead. After a while, once everyone in the audience had smelled the fragrances, the cart was pushed up again, +15 BONUS At this point, Robert began to question, ¡°Miss dones, don¡¯t you want to exin these fragrances?¡± ¡°I''m a bit thirsty.¡± She deliberately avoided answering, smiling at the audience below. The staff quickly brought her a ss of orange juice. All eyes were on her. Mnie leisurely sipped the orange juice, deliberately taking her time. Only after finishing half a ss did she say. ¡°These four fragrances correspond to the four people on stage. The top notes represent the public¡¯s impression of them, while the middle and base notes represent my impressions. | believe that once you smell the top notes, it won''t be difficult for you to distinguish which bottle corresponds to whom.¡± Her words were arrogant, and not the tiniest bit modest. If she had said this before the perfume blending, the audience would have burst intoughter, but now, after smelling the four fragrances, the crowd remained silent. Nobody spoke because everyone who had smelled them knew she was telling the truth. At this moment, the four models on stage also smelled their respective perfumes. Joseph, looking at Robert¡¯s dumbfounded expression,ughed and said, ¡°Mnie, why don¡¯t you give an exnation? There are still someymen here. They might not be able to detect the subtleties in your fragrances.¡± Joseph''s words were full of mockery, and Robert¡¯s face became even more unsightly. ¡°Alright.¡± Mnie put down the ss, stood up, and walked to the perfume cart. She started with the first bottle of the perfume. ¡°This fragrance belongs to the woody fragrance type. The top notes areposed of honey tangerine, lotus, and bergamot- elegant, clean, and magnificent, like an outstanding cellist performing a beautiful movement. ¡°For the middle notes, | used tonka beans, aquatic notes, and pink pepper, and the base note is vetiver. The owner of this perfume is elegant, exquisitely refined, and pure, like a poet in a white suit. A delicate and polite friend.¡± Mnie raised her head and looked at Leo, saying, ¡°This perfume is crafted for Mr. Leo.¡± The audience nodded in agreement. When they smelled the top note just now, they already knew that this fragrance was created for Leo. Thebination of bergamot and honey tangerine couldn''t be cleaner and more tranquil. It truly perfectly replicated the first impression he gave people. ¡°Now, for the second fragrance. Who does it belong to?¡± Mnie picked up the second bottle of perfume, and looked at the four people on stage. Chapter 364 Chapter 364 Interpreting Fragrances After a few seconds of silence, Gabriel smirked and stood up. ¡°You''ve blended it so uniquely. If it''s not me. who else could it be?¡± ¡°You''re ttering me, Mr. Lindsey.¡± Mnie smiled brightly, and began to exin, ¡°Indeed, this fragrance was crafted for Mr. Lindsey. When Mr. Lindsey mentioned ¡®unique,¡¯ he was likely referring to thebination of lychee and rose in the top notes, which, though strange, is outstanding. For the middle notes, | used pink pepper and Bulgarian rose, and the base notes consist of musk and amber. ¡°| want to express that he has always stood out ever since he was a child, but has achieved extraordinary results because he confronts his own shorings without feeling inferior. Instead, he maximizes his strengths and talents. How wise is that? ¡°On the one hand, he doesn¡¯t want to adhere to so-called boundaries and step on all constraints. On the other hand, deep within, he has his own set of principles-being himself and sincere.¡± ¡°You''re exaggerating. Thank you.¡± Gabriel took the perfume bottle from Mnie¡¯s hand, visibly moved. He then returned to his seat. ¡°The third fragrance was created for Joseph. We weren''t familiar with each other before, so | based it on my initial impression,¡± Mnie continued. ¡°For the top notes, | used citrus and linen, creating an atmosphere of respect and seriousness. In the middle notes, |bined sandalwood and ng-ng for a strong and mellow blend, creating an enveloping sensation. The base notes consist of white musk, myrrh, and vetiver, giving off an aura of wisdom, sophistication, and decisiveness.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! The scent was the most unique just now. As soon as it was released, it overpowered all the other fragrances. It¡¯s indeed being crafted for Joseph,¡± someone in the audience eximed. Joseph, with a half-smile, stared at Mnie. ¡°I sensed it earlier. Does the meaning behind this fragrance suggest...that you fear me?¡± Mnie had anticipated that Joseph might take advantage of this opportunity to challenge her, so she wasn¡¯t surprised. Standing confidently, she smiled, ¡°Who wouldn''t be afraid of you?¡± Joseph found the girl in front of him quite amusing. After a heartyugh, he pped in approval. The people below immediately joined in, apuding enthusiastically until Joseph stopped pping. The apuse gradually subsided. Mnie smiled subtly, and said, ¡°You see, everyone is indeed afraid of you.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Joseph praised, casting a bright-eyed nce at thest bottle of perfume, undoubtedly the one she crafted for Jeffrey. Before Mnie could exin, Joseph had already turned his wheelchair, picked up that bottle of perfume, and +15 BONUS ¡°For the top notes, you used nutmeg and aldehyde. The middle notes are shy grass and lc, and as for the base notes, they are still covered by the middle notes, so | can¡¯t tell yet...¡± Mnie added, ¡°The base notes areposed of musk, amber, dry wood, and almond.¡± Joseph nodded thoughifully. ¡°This fragrance is daringly bold. Chaotic yet ordered, exuding a curiosity that makes me think of the coldness of metal, the unyielding desire, and even death.¡± After Joseph finished speaking, he turned to look at Mnie. ¡°In your heart, is President Morgan like the king of hell?¡± Laughter echoed in the hall. Mnie remainedposed. ¡°I wonder if you¡¯ve heard that in Harbor City, Jeffrey Morgan has a title-King of Hell.¡± ¡°This nickname sounds terrifying.¡± Joseph said yfully. ¡°It''s the title the people of Harbor City respectfully gave to Jeffrey.¡± Mnie smiled, seemingly amused. Others suppressed theirughter, but Jeffrey''s expression was exceptionally unsightly. He didn¡¯t understand fragrances, but when he smelled the other three bottles, he could associate them with the corresponding individuals. It was obvious that she was a great perfumer. However, when it came to his own fragrance, apart from detecting its intense and almost brutal aroma, he couldn''t identify anything else. After hearing Joseph¡¯s interpretation, he finally understood-she had crafted it based on the impression of the King of Hell. ¡°Excellent! These four perfumes truly amazed me!¡± After Joseph finished speaking, he had someone pick up the bottle that belonged to him and pushed his wheelchair off the stage. He specifically went to Robert, and asked, ¡°Mr. Locke, are you satisfied with the performance of the person | rmended?¡± Locke forced augh, and replied, ¡°When have you ever been wrong in your judgment? Miss Mnie¡¯s performance is truly eye- opening!¡± ¡°That¡¯s good!¡± Joseph didn¡¯t bother to look at Robert again, and just fiddled with the perfume in his hands.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The models had already left the stage, and Mnie also walked down. Her role as a pawn hade to an end, leaving the yers to continue ying chess. She wasn¡¯t interested in that. She headed directly to the restroom. As she walked down the corridor to the restroom, an arm suddenly reached out from the men¡¯s restroom on the other side, pulling her in. The door was closed and locked. Chapter 365 Chapter 365 You¡¯re a Vampire Mnie was startled and instinctively thought of screaming for help. When she looked up, she saw that it was Jeffrey. He leaned in, questioning. ¡°Why did you create a fragrance for me that represents the King of Hell?¡± ¡°A vampire is more fitting.¡± Mnie moved away from him, standing as far away as possible. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you resemble a vampire? You gain eternal life by sucking human blood.¡± ¡°Am | that frightening?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you hate me that much?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± He asked the questions, while she responded by tilting her neck up without reservation. Her resolute answers deted his momentum. Jeffrey calmed down, but refused to admit defeat. ¡°I had someone analyze the fragrance you created for mest time. He said it belongs to the floral category, symbolizing a youthful and tender love, full of warmth and happiness.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes turned cold, and she refused to lift her head. ¡°Who did you consult? Is he a professional?¡± ¡°You used hyacinth, grapefruit, and melon for the top notes. Everyone who smelled it said it made them recall the days spent with their first love. It gave them a feeling of hormones raging and a heart-pounding sensation.¡± He remembered every word of the interpretation of that fragrance. ¡°Why did it be so rich this time? Did you intentionally make it strong to prevent the Yorks from discovering our rtionship? In fact, they¡¯ve known about us for a long time. It¡¯s useless to hide it.¡± Jeffrey now wished he could pull her outside and publicly announce to those with ulterior motives that she was his woman, so that he could keep all the sinister creatures away from her! However, she was no longer willing... ¡°President Morgan, don¡¯t you understand that people change over time? Although the change might be small, what remains unchanged is that everything keeps changing.¡± Her voice was cold, and she refused to look at him. Just then, there was a voice outside, and someone approached. The person began to turn the door handle, expressing confusion, ¡°Who locked it from the inside? Go, get someone to open the door!¡± Mnie¡¯s back stiffened. She didn¡¯t want to be caught in the men¡¯s restroom by someone else. Moreover, she was alone with Jeffrey... +15 BONUS ¡°Scared?¡± Jeffrey asked with a somewhat yful look, observing the subtle change in her expression. ¡°Why are you scared? Even if they find out, we can openly dere our rtionship. We are legal!¡± He deliberately touched on a sore spot. Mnie exhaled heavily. If he announced their rtionship now, it would cause her trouble. She turned to look out the window, but they were on the third floor...N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Jeffrey pulled her back. This woman was out of her mind! She was thinking of jumping out of the window! Even if she wasn¡¯t pregnant, there was a risk that she might get hurt. ¡°Come in!¡± He turned and walked into thest cubicle, intending to pull her in as well. She instinctively took two steps back. She had never been inside a men¡¯s sitting toilet in her life... At that moment, a hesitant voice sounded outside. ¡°Mr. York, sorry for the inconvenience. I''ll open the door for you right away.¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± It was Harlow¡¯s voice. The key was inserted into the lock, and Mnie swallowed hard. She had no other choice. Gritting her teeth, she pushed open the cubicle door in front of her, slipped inside, and locked the door. ¡°Didn''t you refuse toe in?¡± Jeffrey¡¯s thin lips curled up with a hint of a smile. ¡°Hush!¡± Mnie stepped up, reaching out to put her finger on his lips. Harlow entered the restroom with his assistant. The sounds of water running echoed outside. The assistant locked the door and began reporting, ¡°Mr. York, everything is ready as per your instructions.¡± ¡°Watch that guy named Gabriel too.¡± Harlow¡¯s voice was sinister. ¡°Yes, but... Are you sure they will all go to the fragrance blending room? Should we review the n?¡± the subordinate asked cautiously. ¡°Those fools only understand fragrances! After thepetition just now, they will undoubtedly be inspired, and they''ll definitely go to the fragrance blending room. Changing the n now will onlyplicate things!¡± Harlow barked disapprovingly. After that, he added with a threatening tone, ¡°Those who don¡¯t obey me will always have a bad ending!¡± ¡°Mr. York, someone¡¯s in here!¡± At this moment, Harlow¡¯s subordinate suddenly saw shadows under thest door, and he reminded Harlow. Harlow instantly fell silent. The atmosphere became tense. 213 Mnie heard the sound of footsteps on the wooden floor getting closer and closer. +15 BONUS She felt nervous. Once the person outside crouched down and looked up through the gap under the door, he would see their feet. At this moment, Jeffrey carried her in his arms, stood on the toilet, and crouched down. She pursed her lip and held her breath, not daring to make any noise. Chapter 366 Chapter 366 Outwitted by That Woman Harlow¡¯s subordinate came over, and looked through the gap below the door. He found no one, and began pushing against the door. However, he was unable to push it open after trying a few times. ¡°Mr. York this...¡± His subordinate turned back to ask if he should continue. Harlow said with a wave of his hand, ¡°Forget it. We won¡¯t bother each other, Let¡¯s leaver With that, the opening and closing of another door sounded. Their footsteps vanished in the distance. ¡°Don¡¯t think about other men while in my arms.¡± Jeffrey''s low voice broke the silence in the washroom. Mnie snapped back to attention, only to find her arms wrapped around his neck as she leaned against his chest and clung into his torso. She leaped off from his embrace so quickly that Jeffrey tightened his arms around her out of fright. ¡°Slow down!¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Shh!¡± Mnie looked at the door cautiously, worried that the sound of the door opening and closing from outside was a ruse and that Harlow was still outside. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They¡¯ve left for sure.¡± Jeffrey stood up from the toilet bowl. ¡°Everyone whoes here is either rich or powerful. It¡¯s not good if he were to hear our secrets. Anyway, he didn¡¯t reveal anything critical just now, and there¡¯s no need to silence him.¡± Jeffrey couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. Although this washroom was considered spacious, it was just a washroom after all. They were standing in close proximity to avoid the toilet. Mnie was wearing a smart business suit today. Her A-line skirt wrapped tightly around her perfect figure and entuated her svelte waist, which served to distract Jeffrey. He was mesmerized by her when she was on stage, focusing on perfume blending. He knew she was beautiful when she was concentrating on something, but he was blown away by her onstage. They had been fighting a cold war for days, and he had no chance to be alone with her, not to mention be intimate with her. His heart was itching so badly for her! No longer wanting to hold his desires back, his eyes narrowed as he pulled her into his embrace. ¡°Hey!¡± +15 BONUS Mnie was shocked and instinctively struggled against his hold, but she didn¡¯t want to kick up too big a fuss. She had a slender waist, and Jeffrey could almost wrap around it with one arm. The familiar feeling of her in his arms once more made his heart beat faster. He couldn¡¯t bear to let her go... Mnie, however, couldn''t let this go on any further! She made up her mind and held her stomach with her hand, groaning painfully. Jeffrey immediately straightened up and let her go. Panicked, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you have a stomachache?¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes shed. She grabbed his shoulder, and bit it hard. ¡°Ugh!¡± She seized the moment while he was in a daze to shove him aside and rush out of the washroom. Hah... Jeffrey chuckled helplessly as he watched her flee in a haste. He was just entertaining wicked thoughts one moment, and then fooled by her the next. He was adept at dealing with the most scrupulous businessman, yet was unable to handle one woman. Seriously... Jeffrey straightened out his clothes and walked out of the washroom, still feeling the pain Mnie left on his shoulder. He looked sideways, and called the bodyguards of Morgan Group who were guarding right outside the washroom. ¡°Take care of those two around the corner of the washroom. Don¡¯t give them a chance to shoot their mouths off.¡± ¡°Yes, President Morgan!¡± Mnie returned to the banquet hall, and didn¡¯t expect to see the event still ongoing because of her four perfumes. Everyone was busy discussing the perfumes she blended. Gabriel and Leo were surrounded by hordes of people fighting to have a whiff of the perfumes in their hands. She even heard many people discussing amongst themselves. ¡°In the perfume she blended for Mr. Lindsey, white, red and Biljaria roses. That¡¯s a clear expression of love!¡± ¡°| could sense the sh between control and impulse in the perfume. Although she didn¡¯t make it clear in her exnation, I¡¯m sure they share a special rtionship!¡± ¡°| even heard there¡¯s something going on between her and President Morgan, but | didn¡¯t feel any romance in the perfume she blended for hin¡ª *45 BONUS Mnie pursed her lips. She didn¡¯t want to listen to these meaningless 904sin and baseless guesses. She left after hanging around for a short round. She was sure Joseph York arranged for her to be here for what happened Just now. Now that she had served her purpose, it was time for her to leave. She hadn''t yet recovered from yesterday, and had to apany Annie to check on her leg tomorrow, The next morning, Mnie apanied Annie to the hospital after her breakfast. They didn¡¯t expect to see the orthopedic department of the hospital bursting at the seams with people queuing up to see the doctor. Even the seats at the waiting area were all taken. ¡°Are hospitals in Medonia so popr?¡± Mnie was shocked by the scene before her, a familiar feeling that reminded her of her native countrying back to her. ¡°Perhaps things haven¡¯t been going smoothly for many people this year, and many of them ended up injured?¡± Annie tried to hide the guilt gnawing in her heart as she looked down at her phone. She pressed her lips together, and said, ¡°Seems like we might have to wait for over an hour... Coincidentally, the internal medicine department is right opposite. You should get your gastric issues checked out.¡± Mnie shook her head, but Annie stubbornly shoved her forward. ¡°Go on, we''re already here. Since we have to wait anyway and there¡¯s no one over there, take it as you''re helping me pass time and let me apany you to see the doctor.¡± Mnie hesitated. Although her gastric issues seemed to have eased over the past two days, she asionally had acid reflux. She pondered for a moment before agreeing to Annie¡¯s suggestion. There were no queues at the internal medicine department. Mnie filled out a form with her personal information and handed it over to the doctor, who asked her, ¡°What symptoms are you experiencing?¡± ¡°Poor appetite and acid reflux,¡± Mnie said. ¡°She¡¯s also been vomiting. Just a few days ago, she puked everything she ate,¡± Annie added. The doctor looked up at Mnie and asked, ¡°Are you in your gestation period?¡± ¡°No,¡± Mnie replied with certainty. ¡°When did you have yourst period?¡± The doctor asked another question. Mnie thought back on herst period and her eyes widened in shock. It had been more than a month since herst period... Chapter 367 Chapter 367 He Wants To Be A Father ¡°In that case, you might be pregnant the doctor calza Mnie¡¯s heart dropped. She quickly calmed herself down, and said, ¡± been recently and even went overseas. My mood and physical circumstances can affect my malevel, can¡¯t they? ¡°That¡¯s right, but everyone¡¯s bodies are bullt differently. You Better do a Blood and urine test to confirm whether you¡¯re pregnant or not before we proceed with other seyre the doctor salid with caution ¡°Mnie, do the tests for peace of mind.¡± Annile prodded. Mnie nodded, and took the prescription from the doctor. On her way to do the urine test, she couldn¡¯t help but find this entire fiasco fishy. She bumped into a nurse in the washroom, and approached her to ask, ¡°Hello, can | still get a number for the orthopedic clinic? ¡°Not at the moment,¡± the nurse said with a shake of her head. ¡°Is your orthopedic clinic very famous? Why are there so many people queuing up to see a doctor there? Mnie asked. The nurse shook her head in bewilderment she couldn''t hide. ¡°It¡¯s very strange today. The orthopedic clinic is usually the quietest in this entire hospital...¡± That was exactly what Mnie suspected. She stood before the sink and freshened herself up before leaving the washroom. Annie said worriedly, ¡°Well, not able to get a sample? Do you need to drink more water?¡± Mnie took the bottle of water from Annie. Her eyes glinted. ¡°Did you really call William today during our meal?¡± ¡°Uh...¡± Annie stuttered.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Coincidentally, | have something to ask him. Please help me call him,¡± Mnie asked calmly. ¡°What do you want to ask him?¡± Annie said as she started to panic. ¡°I need his help to get something from Jeffrey. Since you''re getting closer to him, | don¡¯t need to see Jeffrey and you won''t need to feel worried about me, right?¡± Mnie stared at Annie,her eyes shing. It made Annie¡¯s heart beat faster. ¡°...¡± Annie avoided Mnie¡¯s gaze. ¡°Do you not have his number?¡± Mnie said, seeing through her at once. ¡°Ah! We only just got to know each other. We connected through social media, and we''ve been sending voic messages to each other.¡± +15 BONUS Annie immediately clicked on William¡¯s contact on her phone. Mnie saw the system notification instead. which stated that William had just received her friend request and that they could start chatting with each other. ¡°You added William as a friend half an hour ago. So, was he really the one you called just now?¡± Annie could no longer put up an act. She smacked her forehead and said through gritted teeth, ¡°I don¡¯t want to hide it from you anymore, it¡¯s so suffocating! | actually called Jeffrey today!¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes dimmed upon confirming that her guess had been right. ¡°Why did he call you?¡± ¡°Now that things havee to this point, | might as welle clean,¡± Annie said as she conveyed to Mnie what Jeffrey asked her for help for. ¡°He thinks that I¡¯m pregnant¡ª?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hah,¡± Mnie sneered. Good on Jeffrey Morgan, wanting to be a father after taking advantage of her. ¡°Will you still go for a pregnancy test now that my cover is blown?¡± Annie asked with indignation. ¡°Yes, | will.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Annie was confused. ¡°Jeffrey was the one who arranged for the doctor whom | made an appointment with. He¡¯ll receive the results of your test almost immediately.¡± ¡°Since he has oversight of my whereabouts and knows that I¡¯m currently at the hospital, his suspicions might be raised if we suddenly leave.¡± ¡°What should we do, then?¡± ¡°We should go with the flow instead. The only way to dash his hopes is for the doctor to tell him that I¡¯m not pregnant.¡± Mnie said as she winked. ¡°Let your private investigator make the necessary arrangements.¡± Annie nodded, and immediately texted her private investigator. Three minutester, Annie received his reply. ¡°They said they can intercept that doctor who received you and your test reports. Just go for the test with peace of mind.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I¡¯m d that you don¡¯t me me for hiding the truth from you,¡± Annie said as she shook Mnie¡¯s arm. ¡°But do you feel that you¡¯re pregnant?¡± Mnie paused for a moment before shaking her head. ¡°I have no idea, either.¡± She followed the doctor¡¯s instructions and went through two tests. Half an hourter, she looked at the blood test report that Annie retrieved for her. Her mind went nk. Chapter 368 Chapter 368 Divorce She was really pregnant! For five weeks, to be exact! Mnie thought back to more than a month ago. She and Jeffrey had been intimate when she wasn¡¯t ovting, so how did she get pregnant? No wonder she had been feeling weak, dizzy, nauseous and suffered a loss of appetite... ¡°Mnie...¡± Annie had tried to mentally prepare herself, but she was in a daze as well. ¡°Did you not have any suspicion at all?¡± ¡°I''ve been so busy, thispletely slipped my mind...¡± Mnie shook her head. She felt upset, even a little indignant. ¡°What are your thoughts, then?¡± Annie grabbed Mnie¡¯s hand, afraid that she might be too upset. ¡°| don¡¯t know yet,¡± Mnie said softly. She had made up her mind to leave Jeffrey, yet found out that she was carrying his child... ¡°Do you not want the baby?¡± Annie asked. Mnie didn¡¯t know how to answer Annie¡¯s question. From the corner of her eye, she spotted a pregnantdy seated down. Said lady was rather advanced in her pregnancy. Her hands would asionally caress her swollen belly as a gentle, warm smile hung on her lips. The scene made Mnie¡¯s heart itch. ¡°| don¡¯t know,¡± she eventually replied. When Annie was done with her checkup, they collected their prescription and took a cab back to the hotel. Annie kept reminding the driver to drive carefully with a pregnantdy in the car. The driver kept looking back at them from the rearview mirror out of curiosity, wondering which one of them was pregnant. Neither looked pregnant... ¡°Have things been settled with the private investigator?¡± Mnie asked worriedly. Annie made a call before updating Mnie, ¡°The private investigator said he¡¯s taken care of the doctor and the test report. Jeffrey will only be seeing a report stating that you¡¯re not pregnant.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Annie grabbed her hand, and asked, ¡°Are we still going back tomorrow? Are you feeling fit enough to do so?¡± Mnie nodded. ¡°I''m not that weak. | do have some things to attend to back home.¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. +15 BONUS ¡°What are they?¡± Annie asked with concern at the sight of how solemn Mnie looked. ¡°Although my marriage with Jeffrey is a secret, we have registered our marriage after all. Perhaps it¡¯s time to change that.¡± ¡°Are you going to divorce him? Have you thought it through?¡± Annie asked in shock. Acorner of Mnie¡¯s lips lifted. ¡°| haven''t actually thought it through, but now that I¡¯m no longer by myself... it¡¯s best to get some things settled quickly.¡± Annie sighed, feeling an inexplicable sense of pity for Jeffrey, who was in the dark. Agrand signing ceremony was being held in a conference room in Morgan Group¡¯s office building in Medonia. Media partners and guests who were invited to the event were buzzing with excitement. Jeffrey was seated on stage looking somber. His business partner seated next to him was still prattling on about the contract details, but he was clearly distracted. The business partner had no idea that Jeffrey was spacing out, and instead thought that he was displeased with the subsequent contract terms. The signing ceremony was still underway, and he couldn''t afford to have Jeffrey calling things off with them, so he could only proceed with utmost caution. Finally, the doors opened. William strode over and handed Jeffrey a folded¡ªup piece of paper as he reported to him in a low voice, ¡°Mrs. Morgan saw through our plot in the hospital, and secretly arranged for a private investigator to intercept her test report. Our men managed to act faster, and this is the real test report.¡± Jeffrey had long expected Annie to be sloppy in doing things while Mnie, on the other hand, was very astute and shrewd. He had arranged for someone to watch them in secret in case Mnie saw through his n. As he had expected... He took a deep breath and unfolded the paper. It was Mnie¡¯s test report. She was really pregnant! He was going to be a father! Although his face remained unchanged, his heart was beating fast. If he weren¡¯t in the limelight right now, he had no idea how he would express the joy bursting forth from his heart! After the joy settled, his eyes dimmed as the guilt he felt toward her multiplied inside him... William received yet another news, and hurriedly reported it to Jeffrey. Everyone could see Jeffrey''s face turning dark. He said something to Jeffrey, and quickly left. His business partner and the media partners downstage were bbergasted to see him leave a signing ceremony just like that. ¡°What''s with President Morgan?¡± ¡°Did Morgan Group get hit with a crisis?¡± ¡°That''s huge news!¡± Chapter 369 Chapter 369 SymbioticMaterial ? of N?velDrama.Org. All the media outlets feared they had missed out on breaking news, while Jeffrey was speeding all the way to the hotel that Mnie was staying in. In her hotel room. Mnie was looking at the invitation card in her hands as she said to Annie, ¡°Take a good break today. We''ll postpone our return to tomorrow.¡± ¡°Are you really going to visit the Yorks?¡± Annie asked with concern. ¡°Their butler came in person to say that | helped Joseph York at the banquet yesterday, so he invited me to his house. What''s more, the heads of all the major families will be there, with the sole exception of my master. In other words, he wants me to attend on behalf of my master. What reason do | have to not go?¡± Annie grabbed Mnie¡¯s hand with a worried look. ¡°What you said makes me feel even more worried. They''re clearly forcing you to go. You''re in no state right now to be entering the lion¡¯s den.¡± Mnie nodded. She knew the visit to the Yorks would be a tough trip, but the men of the Yorks were acting suspicious. She had to get closer to them to figure out what was going on. ¡°Don''t worry. I''ll protect myself,¡± Mnie promised. Annie sighed. ¡°I know | can¡¯t persuade you to change your mind. I''ll make the necessary arrangements and have my private investigator follow you.¡± With that, Annie went to her room to make a call. Just then, someone knocked on the door. Mnie opened the door a crack. A man towered over her right outside. It was Jeffrey Morgan! The sight of his face made Mnie panic. Did he manage to find out her true test results? ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked with feigned calmness. ¡°We''ll talk inside!¡± Jeffrey squeezed through the crack, grabbed her wrist and shut the door tight. She yanked her hand out of his hold and looked down as she rubbed her wrist. Jeffrey''s throat went dry as he asked, ¡°Did | hurt you?¡± Mnie ignored her question, and simply asked, ¡°What¡¯s up? Make it quick.¡± Jeffrey knew she didn¡¯t want him to know about her pregnancy, and could understand why she was trying so hard to pretend to be calm... He couldn''t help but nce at her t stomach. The child that belonged to them both was right inside! Blood was thicker than water. The child was bound to tie them together, and neither of them could even think about leaving each other... ¡°| heard the Yorks invited you to their dinner. Did you agree to go?¡± Jeffrey asked something else unrted, 143 FIS BONUS Mnie inwardly heaved a sigh of relief, and nodded. ¡°It''s a trap,¡± Jeffrey reminded. ¡°Do you still remember what Harlow said in the washroom yesterday? Do you think that you''re the other person, aside from Gabriel, that he wants to make a move on?¡± ¡°| probably am.¡± Mnie went on indifferently. ¡°Harlow was right. Afterst night, | have some new ideas for the theme of thispetition and am nning to go to the fragrance blending roomter.¡± The sight of the couldn¡¯t-care-less look on Mnie¡¯s face made Jeffrey''s brows knit together. ¡°You''re still going to the fragrance blending room despite knowing that Harlow has set up a trap there?¡± ¡°If | don¡¯t go now, he might dig another hole for me somewhere else. | might as well walk into this trap knowingly and see what exactly he¡¯s trying to do.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t Harbor City,¡± Jeffrey warned. ¡°| have the protection of the Snows,¡± Mnie said, unwilling topromise. ¡°There¡¯s no need to bother the Snows. My men are already stationed near the fragrance blending room.¡± Jeffrey said with furrowed brows. ¡°The Snows have also made their own arrangements. We have a foolproof n, so make sure your men are sharp and quick¡ª witted enough.¡± With that, Mnie suddenly shed Jeffrey a bright smile. ¡°Since you¡¯re all set, President Morgan, why are you still trying to stop me from going?¡± ¡°I''m just worried you might still be at risk, however low the chances are!¡± Jeffrey¡¯s brows were still tightly knit together as he spoke solemnly. Mnie didn¡¯t dare to look straight into his concerned eyes, and she looked down to avoid his gaze. ¡°It¡¯s worth it to take the risk in exchange for peace in the future.¡± ¡°The trap in the fragrance blending room and the invitation to the dinner at the Yorks are interlinked. After dodging the trap in the fragrance blending room, you''d better not go to the Yorks,¡± Jeffrey insisted on persuading Mnie. ¡°No. The moment | see through the ploy in the fragrance blending room, I''ll go to the Yorks and expose Harlow before Joseph. That way, he won''t dare to do anything to me in the future. That¡¯s why | must attend the banquet at the Yorks!¡± ¡°Harlow is a madman! Even exposing him can¡¯t guarantee that he''ll stop!¡± Jeffrey insisted, worried. ¡°What''s more, the Yorks invited you with the intention of giving Leo a chance to get closer to you. Stay away from him!¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes grew cold as she looked at Jeffrey. ¡°Is it appropriate for you to say something like that, given our rtionship right now?¡± Jeffrey''s voice softened helplessly. ¡°Trust me, | really care about you as a person.¡± ¡°This heart inside me is symbiotic with me. How are you sure that you care for me as a person and not this +15 BONUS The sight of Jeffrey silenced made Mnie arch her brows. She sneered. ¡°So, it''s not appropriate at all for you to remind me to stay away from another man.¡± Anger burned in Jeffrey¡¯s eyes. ¡°You''re still my wife!¡± ¡°Not so in time toe.¡± Mnie said coldly. Jeffrey''s brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°Since you''re here, | have something for you.¡± Mnie turned around and walked back to her room, and retrieved an agreement. She flung it to Jeffrey, who saw the piercing words, ¡°Divorce Settlement¡± on the papers. Jeffrey''s eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± ¡°Our marriage has always been in name only. In that case, we might as well invalidate that pointless marriage certificate.¡± ¡°In name only?¡± Jeffrey said in a trembling voice. Then, how did their baby in her wombe about?! Chapter 370 Chapter 370 Very Romantic Mnie looked down, avoiding his gaze. She said in a cold and business-like fashion, ¡°This was adapted from the most typical divorce settlement temte with no additional, special terms. I''ll leave without asking anything of you or Morgan Group, and | won''t make things difficult for you with the board of directors.¡± ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯re doing?¡± Jeffrey said hoarsely. ¡°Of course, | do,¡± Mnie said with her fingers intertwined. ¡°Is this really what you want?¡± Jeffrey said through gritted teeth as he raised the divorce papers up in the air. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m being rash about this?¡± Mnie looked up at him coldly, and it felt as though the air around them froze. Just then, someone knocked on the door. She took the chance to take a deep breath and walk past Jeffrey to the door. Opening the door, she saw a well- dressed man who asked courteously, ¡°Hello, are you Miss Mnie Jones?¡± ¡°Tam¡± The man outside smiled as he handed her an exquisitely wrapped box. ¡°This is from Mr. Leo York.¡± ¡°What is this?¡± Mnie asked in surprise. ¡°You''re attending the dinner tonight, and Mr. York knows that you''re too busy to choose your own gown, so he took the liberty of preparing one for you,¡± he exined as he walked in and ced the box on the coffee table.¡± Mr. York wants you to personally open the box and see if you like it before | head back.¡± Mnie could sense the cold, piercing stare from behind. She would have rejected Leo without any hesitation, but he came at such an opportune time... She took her time to open the box, in which she found a dark green gown with matching green mchite gemstone jewelry. It was clearly an extravagant outfit. ¡°It''s beautiful. | like it very much,¡± she praised, while pretending to admire it.. ¡°Mr. York said that it¡¯s worth it as long as you like it.¡± ¡°Please help me thank him,¡± Mnie went on. The man bowed respectfully. ¡°Mr. York said that if you wish to thank him, you can tell him so in person tonight.¡± With that, the man bid her goodbye and left. This was a very thoughtful and romantic move on Leo¡¯s part, Mnie thought as she calmed herself down before turning around to see a very displeased Jeffrey. ¡°Are you nning to ept Leo¡¯s pursuit of you?¡± Jeffrey couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°That¡¯s why | need your help to quickly sign the papers. That way, | can ept his pursuit fair and square, +15 BONUS Jeffrey started coughing, feeling an inexplicable stuffiness in his chest. He was almost getting a heart attack from the indifference he was sensing from Mnie. His eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed the divorce papers tightly in his fists, looking like an angered beast. ¡°What? Are you going to hit me now, President Morgan?¡± Mnie said with her chest puffed up, fearlessly looking into his eyes. Jeffrey swallowed past his constricted throat, unable to say a word. Hit her?Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. How would he ever bear to? He wished he could pull her into his arms and protect her from all harm and danger. ¡°I''m going tonight as well!¡± After a moment''s pause, Jeffrey said in a huff, ¡°I will never sign this!¡± His empathic announcement touched Mnie, but she said ruthlessly, ¡°Don¡¯t be too confident. You''lle round soon!¡± ¡°Who came by?¡± Annie asked. The moment Jeffrey left, she came out of her room. She had noticed amotion outside her room during her call. ¡°Jeffrey.¡± Mnie settled down on the couch as Annie looked curiously at the haute couture outfit on the coffee table. Mnie exined, ¡°This is from Leo.¡± ¡°And you epted it?¡± Annie said, surprised. ¡°| did it to force Jeffrey to sign the divorce papers,¡± Mnie said with furrowed brows. Now that she had calmed down, she felt like she had made a wrong decision. Although she sessfully angered Jeffrey, she had in turn dug a hole for herself on Leo¡¯s end Chapter 371 Chapter 371 Hugging Each Other +15 BONUS ¡°Will you wear that tonight?¡± Annie asked out of curiosity. ¡°| will,¡± Mnie said with a sigh. ¡°Jeffrey will be going to the dinner, too. If | don¡¯t wear it, it''ll be obvious that | agreed to go just to anger him. He''ll never sign the divorce papers that way.¡± Jeffrey was going to the dinner too? Annie nodded. She felt more assured with Jeffrey apanying Mnie to the dinner. Mnie put the box containing the gown and jewelry aside, and got changed into a casual set of shirt and long pants that was comfortable to move in. Very soon, she received a message from the Snow family¡¯s private investigator. ¡°Gabriel has entered the fragrance blending room.¡± ¡°I''m going there too,¡± Mnie said to Annie. ¡°Have you thought this through?¡± Annie asked, still concerned. ¡°It''s fine. | have to actively enter the lion¡¯s den instead of being a sitting duck,¡± Mnie said as she patted Annie¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Jeffrey''s men are also stationed nearby the fragrance blending room. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Annie nodded. Since when did Jeffrey be such a greatfort to her when it came to Mnie? Mnie walked leisurely out of the hotel, crossed the road, and entered the fragrance blending room after swiping her fingerprint on the lock. She knew that many pairs of eyes were glued on her as she made her way there. Yet, she remained calm despite the panic growing inside her. William soon received a phone call and reported the situation to Jeffrey, who was monitoring the live feed of the surveince cameras.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°President, our men said that aside from Harlow York¡¯s men, a bunch of people have their eyes on Mrs. Morgan too. They''re the Snow family¡¯s private investigators...¡± ¡°Get your men to step back to the periphery. Let the Snows¡¯ private investigators lead this,¡± Jeffrey instructed, feeling helpless about the situation. Since Mnie made ns, his job then was to cover any loopholes without disrupting them. Mnie walked into the fragrance blending room, which was segregated into many small rooms. One of the rooms was her personal fragrance blending room, and she had to walk past Gabriel''s fragrance blending room on the way to her own. As expected, she saw Gabriel''s room lit up. She rang on his doorbell. Gabriel looked back; upon seeing that Mnie was at the door, he put down the test tube in his hand, removed 143 +15 BONUS ¡°What brings you here?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°Were you struck by new inspiration too?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Mnie said as she walked in. After the door shut behind them, she suddenly leaned into Gabriel''s ear and said, ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°To where?¡± Gabriel looked confused, but before he could ask further, the lights along the corridor outside went out. ¡°How did that happen?¡± Gabriel eximed, his face tense. This fragrance blending room was specially designed by thepetitionmittee for the participants of the competition. It waspletely sealed and allowed no sunlight in, which was why the lights along the corridor were always lit. The door sensors of the fragrance blending room were also powered by electricity. If there was a power outage, no one could enter or leave the fragrance blending room! ¡°Who''s trying to lock us up here?¡± Gabriel asked as he began to figure out what was going on. ¡°Don''t bother asking who it is first. Whatever it is, | have a way to bring you out.¡± With that, Mnie grabbed Gabriel¡¯s hand and moved quickly, shining their way ahead with a torchlight she prepared beforehand. She swiftly arrived at the meeting ce she agreed with the Snows¡¯ private investigator. ¡°Mr. Lindsey, follow them and they will send you back to the hotel,¡± Mnie said. Gabriel was worried about her. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°Don''t worry. | still have something else to settle,¡± Mnie said with a smile as she hopped into the car of another private investigator and left. In the evening, a driver from the Yorks arrived at Mnie''s hotel to pick her up. However, he couldn''t find her. He ended up returning and reporting to Joseph and the butler, ¡°Ms. Jones¡¯spanion and the hotel staff members all have no idea where she went.¡± Someone from behind Joseph harbored a guess. ¡°Did she go shopping?¡± Joseph had specially invited members of his extended family as well as prestigious families in Medonia. He even dered he had organized this dinner to specially thank Mnie, who had performed outstandingly well as a representative of the country. He didn¡¯t hide his appreciation of her and her talent. Everyone was expecting her arrival, yet she had disappeared into thin air. ¡°Since she agreed to turn up, she wouldn¡¯t go back on her word so recklessly,¡± the old butler said. Just then, Harlow stepped forward and said to Joseph, ¡°That¡¯s right, she¡¯s here to participate in thepetition. Her mind is upied with fragrance blending. Why would she bother going shopping? For all you know, she¡¯s in the fragrance blending room.¡± 243 +15 BONUS ¡°Check the surveince cameras and see if she¡¯s there.¡± Joseph was the chairman of thepetitionmittee, and had exclusive rights and privileges. With hismand, his subordinates connected the big screen in the room to the surveince cameras in the fragrance blending room. The surveince camera at the entrance of the fragrance blending room showed that Mnie had indeed entered the room right after Gabriel did. Everyone looked at the footage of each individual fragrance blending room, and saw that Mnie¡¯s room was empty. Meanwhile, someone was in Gabriel''s room. To be exact, there were two people inside who looked like they were hugging each other... Shock was etched on everyone''s faces. Chapter 372 Chapter 372 Spicing Up Their Romance The dinner at the Yorks hadn¡¯t officially started yet. The family was in the living hall downstairs. Only the older members of the family were surrounding Joseph. talking in the ss room above the backyard. Everyone saw the scene in Gabriel''s fragrance blending room, and started talking among themselves. ¡°| heard yesterday, she concocted a fragrance for Gabriel in front of everyone using many types of roses as a base, saying that it results in a stark contrast between control and impulse. There''s definitely something between those two!¡± ¡°Is that.....how artists spice things up in their romance... in the fragrance blending room?¡± someone remarked with a chuckle. Joseph''s face turned dark with displeasure. He turned back and nced at his two grandsons, his eyes glinting. Harlow couldn''t contain his gleeful expression, while Leo stood there looking aloof, which came as a surprise to Joseph. ¡°Grandpa, this is their personal affair. It¡¯s not that appropriate for us to continue looking at them, is it?¡± Harlow deliberately said. ¡°Shut it off¡± Joseph instructed with a wave of his hand. The image on the big screen disappeared, and Joseph went on, ¡°I¡¯ve already invited her to our family dinner. Send someone to the fragrance blending room to call her over.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. York,¡± the butler said. ¡°Grandpa, what about Gabriel? Do we invite him, too?¡± Harlow deliberately tried to blow things up, wanting to see the world burn. ¡°We¡¯ve ruined things between them. Shouldn¡¯t wepensate him for it?¡± ¡°What did you ruin?¡± Suddenly, a clear voice sounded, shocking everyone into silence. Especially Harlow. What? How did someone who was caught on surveince camera in the fragrance blending room dozens of miles away suddenly appear here? What in the world?! ¡°Pardon me, Mr. York. Leo gave me a gown and some jewelry, and we agreed that I¡¯de here tonight and thank him in person. | asked Leo¡¯s men to bring me up here the moment | arrived. | hope | didn¡¯t interrupt anything?¡± Mnie said with a gracious smile as she entered the ss room above the backyard. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t,¡± Joseph said kindly. Harlow stared at Mnie in disbelief, wishing he could ask her what she was doing here. +15 BONUS Mnie smiled as she looked at Harlow. ¡°I heard you say that you ruined something between me and someone. What is it?¡± ¡°Uh... Harlow¡¯s mind drew a nk, not knowing what to say in response to her question. Leo smiled, and walked toward Mnie. ¡°Perhaps my brother had the wrong idea, and thought you were still in the fragrance blending room concocting a perfume.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± Mnie said, as if she suddenly thought of something. ¡°I did go to the fragrance blending room in the afternoon. After Mr. York gave me something to think aboutst night, it sparked some new inspiration for mypetition submission. But the moment | walked in, there was a power outage. Many people starteding into the room and ruined my mood to concoct perfume, so | left.¡± ¡°Mr. Lindsey¡¯s assistant told me just now that because the generator had to restart, he might have identally locked someone in the fragrance blending room and needed Mr. York to inform thepetitionmittee. If the person locked inside wasn¡¯t the participants and therefore didn¡¯t have the ess card, he¡¯d be stuck in there with no way out,¡± Mnie said,ying the groundwork for her counter-attack. ¡°Go and see who''s locked up in there,¡± Joseph said. He was very clear what Mnie was trying to do, and went with the flow. The Yorks acted swiftly. Very soon, news came from the fragrance blending room through a call that the family¡¯s butler picked up. After hanging up the phone, he began stuttering in his report. Joseph yelled with irritation. ¡°Speak! Who is it?¡± ¡°They are Mr. Harlow¡¯s men,¡± the butler finally said. Everyone gasped. No wonder Harlow kept insinuating things earlier. This was his ploy to begin with! ¡°Strange. How did Mr. Harlow¡¯s men appear in the fragrance blending room?¡± Mnie pushed forth, and said with feigned innocence, ¡°Only the participants and organizers of thepetition are allowed into the fragrance blending room. No one else has their fingerprints registered in the lock or the ess card. Did they seize the chance during the power outage to go in? But why go to Mr. Lindsey¡¯s fragrance blending room?¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Harlow was frustrated to see his n foiled and Mnie hitting back so quickly. Her incessant talking added fuel to the fire, and he was on the verge of exploding. However, he had to hold himself back in front of Joseph. ¡°Harlow, how do you exin this?¡± Joseph looked up at Harlow with displeasure. ¡°Misunderstanding! It¡¯s all a misunderstanding.¡± Harlow began denying things. ¡°I don¡¯t know why they¡¯re inside, either. Perhaps when there was a power outage in the fragrance blending room, my subordinate coincidentally walked past and thought someone was in trouble and he entered to try to help?¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Oh?¡± Mnie continued from where he left off, ¡°It seemed Mr. Harlow¡¯s subordinates are all like you, with a heart of gold eager to help others. In that case, why did you say something about ruining your ns earlier? How did you know | was in Mr. Lindsey¡¯s fragrance blending room? Did your subordinate tell you that?¡± Chapter 373 Chapter 373 Showing No Mercy ¡°You Shut up!¡± Harlow yelled in frustration, with no way of refuting Mnie. ¡°Why are you getting angry, Mr. Harlow? Did | say anything wrong?¡± Mnie¡¯s voice turned cold, refusing to spare him. Everyone else understood what was going on and that everything turned out to be Harlow¡¯s ploy. He wanted Mnie and Gabriel to be photographed together in the fragrance blending room, and deliberately created an opportunity to show the Yorks the footage so Mnie¡¯s reputation would be torn to shreds. The Yorks knew that Leo was pursuing Mnie. If Mnie¡¯s reputation was ruined, Leo would in turn be the butt of everyone''s jokes. The Yorks¡¯ heirs were brothers, but everyone knew how insignificant brotherly ties were in the face of inheritance issues. ¡°I''m sorry for ruining the mood. The dinner is about to start. Leo, bring Mnie here.¡± Joseph kept his gaze down, making it difficult to tell his mood right now. He finally urged Leo to bring Mnie to the dinner banquet after he had enough of listening to everyone¡¯s whispers about what just happened. Mnie nodded at Joseph¡¯s suggestion, and left with Leo. ¡°Everyone, please head over for dinner.¡± The butler knew what Joseph wanted to do, and echoed his sentiments to the family members standing behind them. As everyone started leaving the backyard, Harlow wanted to seize the chance to slink out. Just then, Joseph said in a low voice, ¡°Harlow! Stay right here!¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Harlow trembled with fear, and stayed back obediently. Leo was walking Mnie out of the ss room when his phone rang. His face changed when he nced at the number on his screen, and he momentarily forgot that he was leading the way for Mnie. After pausing for a moment, he looked up and said awkwardly to her, ¡°Pardon me, I''ll let one of the servants bring you to the hall. | need to make a call.¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead,¡± she said, nodding understandingly. The dinner banquet was held at a huge hall with three doors. A servant let her through two corridors before finally arriving at the hall. By the time they reached, she was panting and sweating at her brow from brisk- walking all the way. She wasn¡¯t as physically fit as she was before, she thought darkly. Just then, someone handed her a napkin from behind. She looked up, and saw that it was Jeffrey. Her hand froze midair, and she didn¡¯t take the napkin. +15 BONUS Just then, Leo rushed over from behind and scolded the servant who brought Mnie over. ¡°Miss Mnie is wearing heels. Why did you walk so fast?!¡± ¡°It''s not her fault, | didn¡¯t rest well these two days.¡± Mnie smiled politely. ¡°I''ll just freshen up in the washroom.¡± ¡°I''ll escort you,¡± Leo said, as hurriedly led the way. Some guests couldn''t help but gossip behind them. ¡°I heard she has be quite the star in the York family these days.¡± ¡°Yeah. That mchite jewelry set she¡¯s wearing was the set that Mr. Leo York bid for and purchased for a huge sum just a few days ago! It¡¯s worth 7.5 million dors...¡± ¡°Seriously... Things are getting serious between them.....¡± Jeffrey''s face turned dark. When they reached the washroom, Mnie told Leo to head back to the hall to receive guests while she headed in to freshen up her makeup. Leo nodded. ¡°I''lle back to look for you. | have something that | need your help with.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Mnie said with surprise. Leo smiled graciously. ¡°I wanted to sponsor the Siberian Butterflies you.concocted thest time, but | was toote. | don¡¯t want to miss out on sponsoring your entry for the internationalpetition this time.¡± Mnie smiled coyly. Since Leo had made his request clear, she said, ¡°Sure. We''ll talk about this in further detailter on.¡± Outside the washroom, Harlow immediately saw Leo and Mnie chatting so intimately with each other. He pulled out his napkin, and spat out a whole mouthful of blood! Grandpa didn¡¯t show him any mercy at all! Seeing Leo¡¯s smug expression made him ufortable. He just didn¡¯t understand. Grandpa clearly wanted him to inherit the family business. The man had never held his weak and sickly younger brother in high regard. Why did Grandpa suddenly find Leo such a great support in the form of a capable woman like Mnie Jones? Even the most neutral member of the family could tell that Grandpa was having second thoughts about the potential heir of the Yorks¡¯ business. Chapter 374 Chapter 374 Be With Me Instead +15 BONUS ¡°Mr. Harlow, where did you go just now? Why didn¡¯t you let mee with you?¡± Sylvia immediately clung onto Harlow upon his return. ¡°Scram!¡± Harlow red at her before leaving in frustration. Sylvia tried to hide her indignation andposed herself, straightening out her ne, before approaching a group ofdies and exchanging pleasantries with them. Coincidentally, thedies wereining about Mnie. When Sylvia joined them, they asked, ¡°Did Mr. Leo give Mnie Jones the gown and jewelry she¡¯s wearing?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes, he did.¡± Everyone knew Sylvia was Harlow¡¯s new girlfriend, and would certainly be aware of things going on in the York family. Her words could be trusted. ¡°How shameless! How dare she ept such an extravagant gift!¡± Some of thedies were outraged and raged at Mnie behind her back, while deliberately looking at another woman who was the focal point amidst the group ofdies¡ªKelly Murray, the heiress of the Murrays. She was the only one who remained silent in the group, but the jealousy burning in her eyes was frightening. Last year, the Murrays and the Yorks worked together in trade and transport. The Murrays seized the chance to pair Kelly and Leo, but Leo rejected them without any hesitation. His rejection embarrassed Kelly thoroughly in Medonia. She had recently been hearing rumors of Leo pursuing another woman, and was dying to know who it was. Now, she finally had the chance to see Mnie in the flesh. Sylvia could tell that Kelly hated Mnie to the core, and immediately chimed in, ¡°Exactly! | wonder why Leo even fancies Mnie Jones. Shees from such a lowly family, and is so money¡ªminded. How could she compare to a true heiress?¡± The moment she said that, Kelly crushed the wine ss in her hand. All thedies in the group exchanged nces as the expectation for a good show grew in their eyes. Mnie freshened up her makeup and took a breather before leaving the toilet. That was when she bumped into Harlow at the entrance of the gents. He smiled darkly as he waited for her to draw her, surveying her from head to toe. He said unceremoniously,¡± This is the gown that Leo gave you?¡± Mnie remained silent. ¡°Let me ask you a question: do you like Leo as a person, or do you like his money instead?¡± +15 BONUS Harlow put his hands behind his back as he sauntered over, smelling like alcohol. A wave of nausea overcame Mnie as she pinched her nose and looked away. Harlow scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, if you like him as a person, he doesn¡¯t have many years left to live. But if you like his money, | am loaded too! Why don¡¯t you be with me instead?¡± ¡°You probably have nock of women, Mr. Harlow.¡± Mnie took a step back for some fresh air. The smell of alcohol on Harlow was so strong, it was as though he had been soaking himself in a pub for 30 years without any fresh air! Information on Harlow York told her that he changed partners as frequently as the number of times he slept. Harlow and Leo were truly pr opposites. ¡°Those women are just ythings!¡± Harlow said in disdain. ¡°What about me?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°You''re not the same. You¡¯re someone Grandpa likes. What''s more, the little interlude just now made it clear to me how capable you are. You''ll be marrying into the York family just the same if you marry me. With us joining hands, | promise you''ll have much more than if you end up with Leo!¡± Harlow boasted as he beat his chest, as if everything was under his control. ¡°| didn¡¯t expect you to be so masochistic,¡± Mnie said by way of rejection. Harlow red at her, enraged. ¡°I haven''t settled scores with you for cursing me the previous time to be terminally ill! Don¡¯t be ungrateful!¡± Mnie looked back with a smile. ¡°Does that mean you really got yourself checked?¡± The look of embarrassment on Harlow¡¯s face deepened her smile. ¡°How are you sure that the doctor you consulted is good enough? If he¡¯s not as skilled as | am and failed to diagnose you properly, it could dy treatment and lower your chances of recovery.¡± ¡°Mnie Jones!¡± Harlow stepped forward, and raised his hands to p her. Mnie took a step back, subconsciously wrapping her arms protectively around her stomach. She couldn''t afford to be hit right now... Chapter 375 Chapter 375 Top Priority for Protection +15 BONUS Another hand grabbed Harlow¡¯s hand in midair. He struggled against the hold, and the realization that he was overpowered embarrassed him. ¡°President Morgan! Why are you interfering?!¡± Harlow yelled at Jeffrey, furious. ¡°Show some self-respect!¡± Jeffrey flung Harlow¡¯s arm, and he winced in pain. Harlow red at Mnie as he rubbed his arm. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand. Why does Grandpa like you so much, a social climber who¡¯s still entangled with Jeffrey Morgan?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask him yourself if you¡¯re so curious?¡± Mnie said coldly. ¡°Hmph!¡± Harlow left in a huff, mumbling under his breath, knowing that he had no chance of taking advantage of Mnie. Jeffrey looked at Mnie. When Harlow raised his hand, he saw Mnie subconsciously protecting their baby. That meant that she wanted to keep the baby, despite her saying that she wanted to leave him... That meant he still had a ce in her heart... Jeffrey was moved by that thought, and set his mind on being wherever she went from now on. He would do everything he could to protect Mnie and their baby! ¡°Are you alright?¡± Jeffrey asked. ¡°I''m not,¡± Mnie replied coldly to him. ¡°How are you not? Do you feel unwell?¡± Jeffrey said in a panic. Mnie took a step back, keeping a polite distance from him. ¡°Even Harlow knows that we haven''t cut ties. You¡¯re in the way of me getting married into the Yorks, so of course I¡¯m not alright.¡± Jeffrey was stunned to hear her reply, and pursed his lips. ¡°Please leave me alone, President Morgan,¡± Mnie said as she made a move to leave. Jeffrey hurriedly said, ¡°You exposed Harlow¡¯s ploy before everyone in the backyard. His reputation in the family is ruined, and you''ve achieved your goal, Leave as early as you can.¡± ¡°| just came, how could | leave so fast?¡± Jeffrey looked at the stubborn woman standing before him, and his brows furrowed. ¡°I know aside from hitting back at Harlow, you''re here to address the doubts in your heart. But this isn¡¯t Harbor City, and dangers lurk all around. You''d better...¡± ¡°Since you know that | have other ns, you should stay far away from me. Otherwise, | won''t be able to find out anything and all I¡¯m left with are the dangers you speak of,¡± Mnie interrupted. She then left immediately.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. 1/2 +15 BONUS Jeffrey saw a few women intercept Mnie on the dance floor with very hostile expressions. He wanted to shield her from all dangers, but she insisted on being alone. It made him anxious, but all he could do was to watch her from afar. ¡°Mnie Jones?¡± Kelly intercepted Mnie, looking down on her haughtily from her skyscraper heels. ¡°You are?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°She¡¯s the heiress of the Murray family, Kelly Murray.¡± Sylvia joined in, and made the introductions. ¡°Miss Jones is an important guest who came from afar. Are you used to the food here?¡± Kelly said with feigned kindness, a wicked look in her eyes. ¡°I''m not picky.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Kelly sneered, as she turned around to grab a te. She pointed to the buffet line near them, and said, ¡°Try this beef. This is superior wagyu sirloin, and its price matches that of the jewelry you''re wearing around your neck right now! But this is probably your first time eating such a rare piece of steak, | suppose?¡± Her tone and her eyes were filled with disdain and provocation. Mnie sighed inwardly-there was more to Medonia than what meets the eye. She didn¡¯t want to make more enemies for herself, but she had no intention of tolerating anyone. ¡°Superior wagyu sirloin does taste good, but I¡¯m afraid it''s not good for you to eat too much of it, Ms. Murray.¡± Kelly was helping herself to the beef when she heard what Mnie said. Kelly looked at Mnie, wondering what she meant. ¡°This superior wagyu sirloin is well-known for its texture as it melts in the mouth and explodes with vor in every bite. But aside from vor, every bitees with fats and cholesterol. The more marbled the beef is, the more expensive it is. See how marbled the beef is? You can just imagine how much fats are in it.¡± ¡°Are you calling me fat?¡± Kelly used furiously, so much that her eyshes were trembling. ¡°Not at all,¡± Mnie said with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°80% of young people in our midst are obese. I¡¯m talking about a general trend.¡± ¡°Can your words be trusted?¡± Kelly tried to throw shade on Mnie. ¡°I''m not the one who made this im. It¡¯s from thetest big data research results of the agricultural industry for thest quarter. Just read more and pay more attention to news, and you''ll definitely be aware of such things,¡± Mnie exined calmly. Chapter 376 Chapter 376 Over 15 Million Dors Kelly swallowed past her constricted throat. From the corner of her eye, she could see everyone sniggering at her. It made her feel even more awkward. Mnie Jones has a sharp tongue indeed! But she hadn¡¯t made her move yet. It wasn¡¯t yet clear who between them was the victor! Kelly put down the te, and sneered as she looked at Mnie from head to toe. ¡°Are you wearing the gown. Leo gave you?¡± Mnie looked back at Kelly and noticed that the disdainful look in her eyes resembled Harlow. Both of them showed no respect and regard for others. ¡°Do you know how much the gown and jewelry you¡¯re wearing costs? Don¡¯t you feel bad epting them?¡± Kelly raised her voice, using Mnie bitterly right in front of everyone. Mnie was speechless. Although she knew that such banquets were dull and boring, she should have expected even more dull and boring people toe along and broaden her horizons. ¡°The Murrays have invested in this country for years, and have been thriving. You probably don¡¯tck money, do you, Ms. Murray?¡± Mnie bit back. Kelly couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around Mnie¡¯s remark. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Mnie sneered. ¡°Or has business in Medonia getting harder? Both you and Mr. Murray are paying so much attention to my gown and jewelry. These are but worldly possessions. Are the Yorks incapable of affording them, or are the Murrays the ones who are unable to afford them?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare speak so arrogantly!¡± Kelly didn¡¯t expect Mnie¡¯s mind to shift so quickly. She had no chance whatsoever to take verbal advantage of her, and was ovee with frustration. ¡°Worldly possessions? The ne and gown you''re wearing cost 7.5 million dorsbined! Am | the one who¡¯s money¡ª minded, or are you the gold¡ªdigger?¡± ¡°| think you''re the one who¡¯s money-minded,¡± Mnie went on calmly. ¡°I don¡¯tck money, and | have the ability to create steady flows of ie for myself. Why would | bother being a gold¡ªdigger?¡± Leo heard themotion and came over with guests whom he was exchanging pleasantries with. He asked in confusion, ¡°What''s going on?¡± ¡°Nothing. Ms. Murray was praising my beautiful gown.¡± Mnie smiled graciously before everyone. Kelly was, after all, a well-known socialite in upper ss society. She smiled, and hid her anger when she saw crowds gathering around them. ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°Oh, yes. Mr. York, you mentioned that you were interested in the perfume | concocted, right?¡± Mnie said, deliberately bringing that up in front of everyone. +15 BONUS Leo¡¯s eyes darted around, guessing Mnie¡¯s intent. He went with the flow, and said, ¡°That''s right, two perfumes are to be submitted for this year¡¯spetition for which the theme is ¡®Unraveling Enigmas, | want to be the first to secure the spot of your perfume¡¯s sponsor in advance.¡± ¡°But the results of thepetition aren''t out yet. Isn¡¯t it too risky to make an investment decision right now?¡± Mnie smiled elegantly. ¡°No risk, no return. Thest time | wanted to sponsor your Siberian Butterflies, President Morgan beat me to it. | don¡¯t want to miss out again this time!¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Leo deliberately raised his voice. ¡°What''s more, | trust your abilities. Morgan Group has been doing great financially since they started sponsoring Siberian Butterflies! Everyone has been praising President Morgan for having good judgment.¡± ¡°Indeed. | heard my dad say that Siberian Butterflies has raked in profits over 15 million dors before hitting the one-month mark of itsunch. President Morgan really has a good eye for this.¡± Just then, I walked through the crowd and stopped next to Mnie, looking as though she was supporting her while looking for Jeffrey who stood out in the crowd. ¡°Over 15 million dors...¡± All thedies who had been waiting expectantly for a good show exchanged looks as they mumbled under their breaths. They didn¡¯t expect Mnie to be so capable. No wonder she imed to have the ability to create steady flows of ie for herself... Chapter 377 Chapter 377 Truffle Hunter Kelly''s face darkened with displeasure when she saw how the tables had turned. ¡°Mr. Leo, thank you for the gown and jewelry you gave me. Many guests praised me for them.¡± Mnie said, raising her voice deliberately. Leo smiled, and waved his hand. ¡°You''re the one who entuated their beauty. It¡¯s a mesmerizing scene to see stunning jewelry worn by a true beauty!¡± ¡°Jewelry pieces have collection value. I''ll return this set to you after tonight, Mr. York. Since you bid for and purchased it from an auction, I¡¯m sure you like it very much. You should be the one keeping it,¡± Mnie said. ¡°Huh? Why would | take back a gift that I¡¯ve given?¡± Leo said, waving his hands profusely. ¡°Alright, then,¡± Mnie went on with a smile. ¡°I won¡¯t put you on the spot then, Mr. York. Why don¡¯t we make a promise to cooperate on the two Unraveling Enigmas perfumes? If the results aren¡¯t ster, I¡¯ll dly return you this jewelry, okay?¡± ¡°You have a deal.¡± Leo¡¯s eyes shone as Mnie reached out her hand. Both of them shook hands as a sign of their agreement. Apuse and congrattory greetings surrounded them. Mnie shot them all a smile as she turned around, and said, ¡°I¡¯m a little hungry after all that. I''ll go grab some food.¡± The crowd started to disperse, but Kelly was still boiling with anger. She refused to leave the scene. Wouldn''t leaving with her tail between her legs be implicitly conceding defeat? Kelly decided to take that te she put down earlier, and deliberately stood by Mnie¡¯s side while taking some food. Mnie¡¯s brows furrowed out of surprise over the stubbornness and resilience of the Murray heiress. She put down her cutlery, and looked at Kelly¡¯s te. ¡°The texture of wagyu beef is great, but you shouldn¡¯t deny the nutritional value and.deliciousness of other cuts of beef just because of that. What''s more, the truffle on your te is termed as the ck diamond of the nt kingdom. Ms. Murray, | see you''ve taken quite a bit of that. Seems like you enjoy eating expensive things. Do you think that only high-end things are worthy of your attention?¡± ¡°What else? Should | degrade myself and think that | am worthy of only cheap things?¡± Kelly had no choice but to grit her teeth and rebut Mnie. ¡°| wonder if you consider sows high-end?¡± Mnie asked.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Of course not!¡± Kelly looked disgusted. ¡°Do you know how truffle hunters find truffles? They rely on little sows in rut who can urately locate where truffles are.¡± Mnie added confidently, ¡°What you consider cheap is actually something that can help you +15 BONUS ¡°Is what you said true?!¡± Kelly was utterly embarrassed, and decided to go all out in refuting Mnie¡¯s ims. ¡°Do you not believe me, Ms. Murray?¡± Mnie sneered, no longer bothering to hide her disdain. ¡°The reason why sows in rut are able to find truffles is because of the effects of androstenone. Go back and read up on the specifics. | don¡¯t want to waste my time exining it to you.¡± Kelly was utterly disgraced. Despite that, she refused to admit defeat and wanted to step forward and argue further with Mnie. Just then, someone pulled her back and whispered into her ear, ¡°What she said is true. Say more, and you''ll risk embarrassing yourself further.¡± That was when Kelly finally gave up and left. With everyst one of them gone, Mnie took her te and left. She was enjoying her food, when I walked over and said, ¡°Mnie, you looked brilliant saying what you said to Kelly!¡± ¡°She started it first,¡± Mnie said indifferently. ¡°She wanted to marry Leo and was rejectedst year. She¡¯s just trying to vent her anger on you,¡± I exined. ¡°I see.¡± Mnie nodded in acknowledgement. She was still wondering when she had offended the Murray heiress. While I stood on her side just now and was acting all naive and innocent right now, Mnie knew her true colors, and treated her courteously but without sincerity. ¡°How beautifull¡± I had no idea what was going through Mnie¡¯s mind, and continued prattling on while surveying Mnie¡¯s gown. ¡°Mr. York has such a good eye for clothes! Men, be they straight men or yboys, usually only dare to give clothes in ck, white or red colors. But he gave you a dark green gown! You, a fair¡ª-faced beauty!¡± ¡°But I¡¯m sure Mr. York must have secretly taken note of your measurements. The gown is very fitting!¡± I suddenly smiled cheekily amidst her praises. ¡°He really likes you!¡± ¡°Given the environment he grew up in, he has seen many women in his lifetime. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s easy for him to tell at a nce,¡± Mnie said, not wanting I to continue pairing them together. ¡°But Mr. York has never had a partner before,¡± I rebutted. Mnie blinked. That was true. Leo had remained single all his life. Chapter 378 Chapter 378 A Life For A Life After a while, the Yorks¡® butler stood on the second floor and officially announced the start of the dinner dance. He invited the two sons of the York family to the dance floor with theirpanions for an opening dance. Harlow called Sylvia and took her hand while walking to the dance floor. Leo walked toward Mnie while I kept winking at her, implicitly trying to hook the two of them. Mnie ced her hands on Leo¡¯s arm as both of them waltzed to the music on the dance floor. ¡°You must be tired today. Why don¡¯t we go slow?¡± Leo said thoughtfully. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Mnie said. They slowed down their pace, and it became easier for her to follow through the steps. ¡°Thank you for the gown, Mr. York,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, and I¡¯m here to express my appreciation and gratitude.¡± She deliberately made her purpose ining clear so that things wouldn¡¯t be vague between them. Leo smiled graciously. ¡°It¡¯s good that you like it. Please don¡¯t overthink things. My family appreciates your talent and abilities, while I¡¯m the one most familiar with you. I¡¯m extending such hospitality to you on behalf of my family so you''ll enjoy yourself here.¡± Mnie pondered over Leo¡¯s words, which werepletely different from what she had expected. She had wanted to seize the chance to ask Leo why he got close to her and treated her so well. If Leo took the chance to confess his feelings for her, she would reject him straight out. Conversely, if Leo wanted to continue making things ambiguous between them, she would make things clear that she didn¡¯t want that to save herself the trouble that mighte in the future. However, Leo¡¯s words were friendly and courteous, without any hint of romance. That confused her for a while. ¡°| bumped into Harlow just now. From what he said and what you¡¯re saying right now, it seems like...Mr. York really likes me?¡± Mnie asked, trying out a different approach this time. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I''m really ttered, but I¡¯m also curious as to why?¡± She expressed her doubts. ¡°My grandfather loves talented people.¡± Leo was sinct in his response. ¡°But the Yorkse in contact with many talented people who are much more impressive than | am. | don¡¯t deserve such treatment,¡± Mnie said fearfully, her doubts clearly still not addressed. Leo smiled, and said without skipping a beat, ¡°Affinity ys a huge role in this. Some people just feel a certain affinity with others, and that¡¯s the case for Grandpa toward you.¡± Mnie smiled. Leo¡¯s response was going nowhere, and gave her no chance at probing further. She decided +15 BONUS All the other guests crowded around the perimeter of the dance floor, making way for the two couples dancing. in the middle of the dance floor. Just then, a wine bottle smashed on the floor rang. The crowd ignored it at first, but right after that, someone flew straight onto the dance floor. Aman grabbed the broken bottle in his hand and yelled at Mnie while charging straight at her. ¡°Go to hell! A life for a life! That¡¯s only right!¡± He was running quickly, and before anyone could see what was going on, Leo started fighting him in an attempt to protect Mnie. However, it was clear that Leo was no match for that man. He quickly copsed on the floor, shed by the broken bottle.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Said man quickly turned and ran toward Mnie, the ss bottle pointing in her direction. Mnie was shocked. The Yorks and Snows¡¯ bodyguards, who were hidden around the hall, had no time to react. Very soon, the ss bottle with its sharp edges was right in front of Mnie''s face. Just then, a towering figure stood in Mnie¡¯s way, blocking her view and the weapon from hurting her. In the next second, a York bodyguard rushed over to restrain the attacker. The man standing before Mnie slowly sat down on the floor, his hands over his stomach. Jeffrey! Mnie sat on the floor with him, wrapping her arms around him in shock. Blood seeped through his shirt and jacket onto her hands, the bright red color forming a stark contrast with her fair skin. Mnie¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she yelled, ¡°Call for a doctor, quick!¡± She looked at the sweat forming on his brow and sideburns, his face slowly turning pale... Her heart started pounding hard in her chest. Jeffrey... Please don''t die! ¡°Hang in there! The Yorks have a family doctor, and he''ll be here soon!¡± She grabbed his hand and forced herself to calm down as sheforted him. ¡°I''m fine, don¡¯t panic. You should be careful and watch out,¡± he reminded her with a smile. Mnie could no longer hold her tears back. ¡°Didn''t | tell you to stay away from me? Why can¡¯t you do that?!¡± Jeffrey remained silent, the smile still on his face. Mnie had never seen such a silly smile on his face before. The butler began issuing instructions to the servants to disperse the crowd in an orderly fashion. The Yorks¡¯ 213 +15 BONUS Jeffrey lifted his hand and pulled out a bunch of papers from his jacket, and stuffed it in Mnie¡¯s hands before allowing himself to get lifted into a stretcher and brought away. With trembling fingers, Mnie opened the papers that were stained with blood. They were the divorce papers that she just served him... Chapter 379 Chapter 379 Divorce Mnie stood up, and followed the medical staff to the guest room on the first floor. The doctor had to treat Jeffrey''s wound, and outsiders weren''t allowed in. She stood outside anxiously. Very soon, all the bodyguards of Morgan Group were gathered outside, standing behind her and William while waiting for instructions. The butler was waiting outside, while the servants kept him constantly updated on the situation. Mnie could hear them saying that the attacker was a subordinate of Charles Miller, and that he hade to seek revenge on her... But she had no mental capacity to try to figure out what was going on: Her focus and attention were all turned to the door before her that was still tightly shut. Mnie finally heaved a sigh of relief when the doctor came out and informed them that Jeffrey wasn¡¯t severely injured, and that his main artery wasn¡¯t wounded. Jeffrey would be able to recover with some rest and recuperation. ¡°Mrs William blurted out, almost making a mistake in front of outsiders. He quickly corrected himself and said, ¡°Miss Jones, would you like to head in and see President Morgan?¡± Mnie nodded, and walked in with William. Jeffrey was lying quietly on the bed. ¡°President Morgan was administered some painkillers, and he¡¯s sleeping right now,¡± the doctor exined. ¡°Thank you so much, Doctor,¡± William said. Mnie stood there, unmoving. The scene of the man charging toward her with a broken bottle aimed at her kept reying in her mind. The moment Jeffrey blocked her from the attack, all she could see was his back. So strong, firm and resolute in blocking her from all harm. She was moved. But the same issue remained. She was not sure whether he risked his life to block the attack for her, or for the heart inside her. The issue sounded foolish, but it was real to her. Having thought through all these, she walked up to Jeffrey and ced the bloodstained divorce papers on the bedside table. She was about to turn and leave, when William stopped her in shock. He asked, ¡°Are you...not staying for a while longer?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Mnie turned around. ¡°When he wakes up, help me convey my thanks to him.¡± With that, she left the room without looking back. +15 BONUS With the knot in her heart still stubbornly there, her rtionship with Jeffrey would only risk getting exposed if she were to overstay her presence. Although their rtionship was probably no secret to the intelligent Yorks, she wanted to still try and keep things under wraps before it became public. Not long after Mnie left the room, Jeffrey woke up. He looked around and disappointment filled his eyes after confirming that William was the only other person in the room. ¡°President, we¡¯ve thoroughly cleaned the entire room,¡± William said. ¡°Where is she?¡± Jeffrey asked, when he immediately understood that William meant that there weren''t any surveince cameras in the room. ¡°Mrs. Morgan left upon seeing that you were alright. She even said thank you.¡± William looked down, not daring to see Jeffrey¡¯s forlorn eyes. ¡°Did she...not say anything else?¡± Jeffrey muttered in disbelief. ¡°Mrs. Morgan left that for you...¡± William pointed to the bedside table. Jeffrey looked at the bloodstained divorce papers, bbergasted. He gave her these papers with hisst ounce of strength before he passed out, with the intention of not giving her any way out. He didn¡¯t expect her to return this to him before he regained consciousness! Did she still want the divorce? Jeffrey felt a sudden pain in his wound, so strong that he started doubting the reality of life. Mnie walked for a distance before bumping into the Yorks¡® butler. He showed some perfunctory concern for Jeffrey¡¯s injury before mentioning that Leo was injured, too. At that time, Leo was the nearest to Mnie and was the first to fight against the attacker. Mnie seemed to recall that he had been shed by the ss bottle and copsed on the floor. ¡°Is he alright?¡± Mnie asked out of concern. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go see him yourself?¡± the butler suggested. Every York was helping Leo pursue Mnie, and they weren¡¯t giving up even though she and Jeffrey were still officially together. She was really curious as to why the Yorks fancied her so much. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chapter 380 Chapter 380 Ten-year¡ªold Boy Leo was injured because of her, and it was only right of her to go and see him. What''s more, the butler had made himself so clear that Mnie had no choice but to smile and say with a nod. ¡°Where is his room? I''ll go check on him.¡± ¡°I''ll have someone bring you there. | won¡¯t be going. Mr. Joseph York just returned from his room, and | have to be by his side.¡± The butler called some servants and instructed them to lead Mnie to Leo¡¯s room. He didn¡¯t stay in the same building as Joseph.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The servants asked for Mnie¡¯s permission, ¡°Miss Mnie, it¡¯s gettingte. Shall we bring you through the shortcut?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Mnie was of the opinion that the less she walked, the better. After a distance, as they were passing through the backyard between two blocks, a sharp, pungent smell made Mnie cover her mouth and nose with her hands. She suppressed the difort in her stomach. ¡°This ce is...¡± ¡°This is where Mr. Harlow stays. He stays here whenever hees back,¡± one of the servants exined. Mnie nodded. She wasn''t interested in where Harlow stayed, but the smell was too strong and pungent. She quickened her pace, wanting to leave this ce quickly. However, her stomach was churning so badly; unable to hold herself back any longer, she rushed to the roadside, bent her head forward, and vomited. The servants were frightened. ¡°Miss! Are you alright?¡± ¡°What is that smell?¡± Mnie asked, her brows tightly knitted. One of the servants paused before saying, ¡°I forgot that you have a keen sense of smell. The small house in the backyard is the servants¡® quarters, and that¡¯s the smell of waste fermenting.¡± Just then, a child¡¯s hoarse cries sounded from the house in the backyard. The servant shook her head as her brows furrowed, looking helpless and pained. Mnie felt all her strength sucked out of her after vomiting for a while. She leaned against the wall next to her, trying to find her bnce. Just then, the servant in the leadined, ¡°Some people are just born in a higher ss than others. It¡¯s completely unfair!¡± She then looked up at Mnie with a polite look on her face as she said, ¡°Miss, I''ll go pour you a cup of water. You''ll feel better after taking a sip. Please wait here for a while.¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Thank you.¡± With that, the servant turned around and walked back to the main building to get a ss of water. In the silence, the cries of the child became louder. It almost broke Mnie¡¯s heart. Although Harlow was close to the age of 40 and had been through many women in his lifetime, he had never been married and had no kids of his own. Given someone of his temperament, why would there be a child in his backyard? Mnie couldn''t hold back her curiosity, and inched forward. She saw many bags of rubbish wrapped up in stic bags and ced in front of the door of the smallest room. Bugs were flying everywhere. No wonder the smell was so strong and pungent! She walked around the bags of rubbish to the door, and saw a boy of around ten years old through the seam of the door. His thin and frail body made his head look big, and he was lying on the bed while hugging a balding soft toy cat; he looked weak and sickly. The boy was crying, and he suddenly looked up at the door. He saw Mnie through the crack on the door. Awoman who was sitting on the edge of his bed feeding him water walked over hurriedly. She opened the door, and was shocked to see Mnie there. ¡°You are?¡± ¡°lm a guest at tonight''s dinner banquet. | walked past this ce and heard him crying, so | came over to take. a look. Apologies for interrupting,¡± Mnie said, trying her best to keep her voice down. She could sense that this woman, seemingly around 40, was feeling very nervous. ¡°Ah...¡± The woman¡¯s eyes were swollen, and she tried to smile in vain. ¡°We should be the ones apologizing for ruining your mood.¡± ¡°Is he hurt?¡± Through the open door, Mnie could see that the boy¡¯s arms and legs were wrapped in bandages. Blood seeped through them; it was clear the bandages weren''t wrapped professionally, and looked at risk of an infection. ¡°He has a fever and is ill,¡± the woman said vaguely, not wanting to talk about the boy¡¯s injuries. Mnie¡¯s brows furrowed; she hesitated for a few seconds, thinking whether she should interfere in this, especially if it concerned Harlow. The boy kept looking at her, a kindly and clear look in his eyes. It formed a stark contrast with all the filth she saw along the way here. Mnie took a deep breath, and said solemnly to the woman, ¡°He¡¯s having a fever because of a wound infection. If you don¡¯t treat it as soon as possible and reduce the inmmation, he might have sepsis and die from it.¡± The woman started panicking, and grabbed Mnie¡¯s sleeves. She bowed, and was on the verge of kneeling as she cried, ¡°Miss, please save him! He¡¯s only ten years old! He didn¡¯t do anything wrong! But Mr. York 213 The woman started shedding tears, which appeared to have been suppressed for a long time. Chapter 381 Chapter 381 Faceless Drawing ¡°Let me see his injuries.¡± Mnie pulled the woman up and approached the boy. She carefully examined the boy¡¯s injuries. While they were all external injuries, they hadn¡¯t been disinfected, so by now all his wounds were already infected and swollen. When she was little and went foraging for herbs with her grandfather, she¡¯d also helped to bandage wounds for the hunters in the mountains. She could roughly remember how to deal with these wounds. Removing the bandages from the wounds was like reopening the wounds after the skin and flesh had regrown; it was extremely painful, but the boy simply endured it all as he clenched his fists. His tears wet his eyes, but he said nothing at all. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Mnie couldn''t help but ask. The boy shook his head. ¡°No.¡± Mnie felt even more pity for him and immediately asked the woman that was taking care of him, ¡°Why wouldn''t Harlow ask for a doctor to treat his injuries?¡± ¡°Ah, miss... Please... Don¡¯t say that...¡± The woman seemed to be extremely afraid of Harlow as she wiped her tears away. ¡°We''re of a lower status than him, so whatever he says, goes.¡± ¡°What kind of era are we living in right now? How can you be any lower than him?!¡± Mnie was furious as Harlow¡¯s arrogant face appeared in her mind. ¡°I''ll go find a doctor for him.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t, miss! Thank you for wanting to help, but you can¡¯t fetch a doctor... You can¡¯t...¡± The woman got to her knees immediately, begging her. If Mnie were to ask for a doctor, would Harlow use even more despicable methods to deal with them? ¡°Does Joseph know about this?¡± Mnie asked the most important question. The woman controlled her sobbing and said, ¡°Everyone in this courtyard is under Master Harlow¡¯s control. No one will interfere with his decision.¡± Mnie understood what was happening: it meant that no one in this courtyard would give a damn about what was happening with Harlow¡¯s private matters, even if they were a matter of life and death. Her eyes slightly narrowed. ¡°Wait for me. I''ll get some medicine for the inmmation.¡± With that, Mnie stood up and left. The woman paused for a little and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name, miss?¡± ¡°It''s not important.¡± Mnie smiled and looked at her, asking, ¡°Is he your son?¡± +15 BONUS She felt that this woman cared about the injured boy, but in her love for him, there was also a sense of distance toward him. It didn''t feel like a mother¡¯s love for her son. The woman''s eyes slightly lost focus, and she nodded as she stammered. Mnie pursed her lips and said nothing, immediately leaving the room. Then, she heard the woman say to the boy, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, we''ve finally met someone important to us! | told you, you have a great destiny in front of you. You will definitely be helped by people in this world.¡± ¡°Beautifuldy!¡± ¡°Beautiful! Lady!¡°the boy said with a nod. ¡°That¡¯s right. That beautifuldy just now wille and save youter, but this is our secret, alright? Don''t tell anyone,¡± the woman said again. ¡°Alright! Secret!¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Secret!¡± Mnie slightly frowned. The boy was almost ten, but that was how he spoke? She once again returned to the ce the servant had escorted her to and waited there. After a while, the servant came over with a ss of water and gave it to Mnie before leading her away again. It was only after passing Harlow¡¯s residence did she finally reach Leo¡¯s residence. Leo¡¯s room was lively. Several people whom Mnie didn¡¯t know were concerned about Leo, but she didn¡¯t expect Harlow to be here as well. When Leo saw Mnieing by, Leo quickly greeted her. ¡°You can stay for a while in my study. Please give me a little time.¡± ¡°Are your injuries alright?¡± she asked. As she said that, she nced at the tray on Leo¡¯s bedside table. There was equipment used for cleaning wounds there, such as cotton swabs, bandages, iodine, and even a few boxes of anti-inmmatory drugs. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just a small wound,¡± Leo smiled as he shook his head and moved his arm that had been bandaged earlier, signaling to her that he was fine. Seeing that they still hadn''t finished their conversation, Mnie then turned around and entered the study that was connected to the room. The study was very neat and organized, just like Leo himself. There were quite a few drawings that attracted Mnie¡¯s attention, and they were all of the same man; the man in the drawings had short hair, was slightly skinny, and had a strong and defined face. 213: +15 BONUS The person who had made the drawings was quite skilled. They used multiple colors to draw the man¡¯s figure and hair, and the lines were all quite spirited. But strangely, none of the men in the drawings had any facial features. Chapter 382 Chapter 382 | Want this Woman ¡°Look at this. How self-absorbed Leo is!¡± Mnie was paying a lot of attention to them when Harlow¡¯s sneering voice came from behind, followed by the strong smell of alcohol around him. ¡°He would draw himself at home all the time! A man like this loves himself more than anything and anyone. You better think carefully!¡± ¡°Mnie?¡± When Leo heard the conversation, he quickly called out to her from the bedroom.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Mnie used this chance to avoid Harlow and walk out of the study. The people that were around Leo were already gone. Harlow also left the study and immediately walked to Leo''s bedside. He bent over and looked at the injury on Leo''s arm. ¡°Tsk, does it hurt?¡± Leo shook his head. ¡°No?¡± Harlow didn¡¯t let this chance to humiliate Leo slide him by. As he said that, he extended his hand and grabbed Leo¡¯s arm right where his wound was bandaged. ¡°See? your face is so pale! You''re already sweating too. Isn¡¯t this quite painful? Ever since you were little, you''ve always been putting up an act. Can you never say what''s really inside your mind?¡± Mnie personally saw how Harlow was holding Leo¡¯s wound so tightly that blood began to seep through the bandage. Leo was in so much pain that he could only grit his teeth as he sweated, yet he didn¡¯t even let out a moan. ¡°| already warned you when we were little that you can forget about getting anything that | want. Have you forgotten?¡± Harlow only let go of Leo¡¯s hand after he had enough, then wiped the blood on his hand on Leo¡¯s nke, a look of disdain on his face. ¡°I didn''t.¡± Leo didn¡¯t even dare to move. ¡°That¡¯s for the best!¡± Harlow said haughtily. Then, he red at Mnie intentionally and said to him, ¡°Then, | want this woman!¡± ¡°Im simply admiring her. | have no other feelings for her,¡± Leo exined as he lowered his voice. ¡°Who are you trying to deceive?!¡± Harlow yelled at him indignantly. ¡°Don¡¯t think | didn¡¯t know what grandfather ordered you to do!¡± Mnie tried to stay out of it, but she couldn''t take it anymore and decided to help Leo. 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°Master Harlow, you know your grandfather arranged everything. Master Leo¡¯s objections won''t make a difference. If you have the time to do that now, why don¡¯t you speak with Master Joseph himself? Everything in the family requires Master Joseph¡¯s agreement, correct?¡± ¡°You''re just a toy that grandfather has taken an interest in. What right do you have to order me around?!¡± Harlow hated others by using Joseph to keep him under control. But no matter what he felt, he had to take it. ¡°I''m warning you, Mnie! If there¡¯s something that | want and | can¡¯t get it, I¡¯d rather have it destroyed than let someone else take it!¡± He cursed angrily before leaving with his hands behind his back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what Harlow said. In his eyes, the only rtionship between men and women is one of seduction and maniption. I¡¯m not someone like that,¡± Leo exined. Mnie gave him a gentle smile and said, ¡°When | saw him visiting you, | thought he cared about you, too.¡± ¡°It''s just for show.¡± Leo smiled in disdain. ¡°When there are outsiders, we brothers have to pretend that we love each other. You know that well.¡± Mnie understood it and nodded. ¡°And you can endure him so well.¡± Leo let out a bitter smile. ¡°He¡¯s a few years older than me, so everything''s already been decided. I¡¯m already used to it.¡± ¡°Your wounds are bleeding again. I¡¯ll ask the doctor to get it re-bandaged,¡± Mnie said thoughtfully. ¡°lll ask for the doctorter. If the doctores as soon as he leaves, the others at home will cause trouble and he will be out for blood,¡± Leo said with his head hung low. It was because of Harlow again that no one dared to call a doctor when they got hurt... When Mnie saw Leo not willing to talk about Harlow anymore, she then changed the subject and said, ¡°It must have hurt just now, right? There¡¯s sweat all over your face...¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Leo immediately kicked his nket away and got up. ¡°I¡¯m going to wash my face. Wait for me.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Leo loved cleanliness almost to the point of having mysophobia. She knew that she if she mentioned that there was sweat on his face, he would go wash it. When she saw Leo had closed the door into the washroom, Mnie quickly unzipped her purse and put some anti-inmmatory drugs and sterile cotton swabs into the purse. But Leo had already opened the door to the washroom and walked back out... Chapter 383 Chapter 383 Special Day Mnie moved very quickly. By the time that Leo managed to clean up, she had already taken what she needed and sat on the sofa waiting for him. ¡°| need to thank you for just now. If it wasn¡¯t for you, I¡¯m the one that would''ve be injured,¡± Mnie said. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. | didn¡¯t manage to help much. Jeffrey''s the one that got injured for you.¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. When talking about Jeffrey, Leo stared right into her eyes. Mnie was left feeling awkward after that. ¡°The butler said that the person who attempted the assassination is Charles''s underling, and that he¡¯s here to get revenge.¡± Leo said. ¡°But I¡¯m not the one that killed Charles,¡± Mnie said. ¡°After Charles was killed, you were the primary suspect. While the murderer has given up himself, Charles¡¯s family believes that the murderer is simply following orders,¡± Leon exined to her. ¡°So that¡¯s why they believe that I¡¯m the real culprit?¡± Mnie shook her head, speechless. ¡°I don¡¯t even know Charles. Why would | kill a stranger?¡± ¡°Charles had something against the Gibsons a long time ago. t¡¯s possible that his family believes that Elder Gibson is the one that ordered you to do it.¡± ¡°Then | should give him a reminder. He¡¯ll being to Medonia in a few days, so I''ll warn him that someone might want to exact their revenge,¡± Mnie immediately said. ¡°The rtionship between you two is quite deep.¡± However, Leo didn¡¯t want to talk more about the assassination, and Mnie also didn¡¯t want to mention it anymore, which was understandable. Before she left, she suddenly remembered something and asked, ¡°Those drawings in the study. You drew them?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± There was a glimmer of interest in Leo¡¯s eyes as he nodded. ¡°| didn¡¯t expect you to be a realist painter, I¡¯m impressed,¡± Mnie said with a smile. ¡°I won''t disturb your rest anymore. I''ll visit you next time.¡± Leo¡¯s reaction after she asked about the drawings was quite nervous and awkward. Mnie blinked, feeling that the men in the paintings weren''t Leo himself. Harlow had probably gotten it wrong. An assassination had stopped the party early. +15 BONUS After Mnie left Leo¡¯s room, she was also going to say her goodbye to the butler. But before she could even finish saying it, the butler said. ¡°Miss Mnie, Master Joseph has finally sent ourst guests away and has some time. He wishes to see you.¡± Mnie paused for a second and nodded. She wasn¡¯t surprised. When the butler invited her, Joseph had already said that he would like to invite her to visit him. The butler led her past the buildings and walked past an exquisite garden, and after that garden was a single building: Joseph¡¯s study. Joseph was sitting in a wheelchair as he enjoyed the wind from outside the window. To be honest, he didn¡¯t look too different from other old men who had reached his age. If there was a difference, then it would be that his tall nose and high cheekbones could still show the image of him holding onto great power. While he had already announced that he was retiring a few years ago, he had never truly retired from the business world. ¡°You''re here?¡± Joseph turned and looked at Mnie. The light in his eyes was what separated him from other men of his age. ¡°Hello, Master Joseph.¡± Mnie approached him. Joseph raised his hand and pointed at the sofa nearby. ¡°Have a seat.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Mnie walked over and sat down. ¡°| used the fragrance you blended for me a few days ago. The beginning and middle of the fragrance were just like what you said, but thest part of the fragrance wasn¡¯t as strong as the beginning and the middle. To you, am | not someone that has always been forceful?¡± Joseph asked. Mnie smiled and said, ¡°To be honest, | know little about you. But | do know that you are someone that loves your country, and that you''re also a businessman with a strong sense of duty.¡± ¡°Ha...¡± Joseph''s eyes looked away, and he suddenly smiled. ¡°Is there nothing else you can praise me for?¡± ¡°These are all outstanding qualities. I¡¯m just telling you what | really feel,¡± Mnie said. Joseph nodded and smiled before changing the topic. ¡°Do you know why I chose to set up this party in my home?¡± Mnie shook her head, waiting for him to continue. ¡°Today is the birthday of my youngest son.¡± Joseph suddenly raised his head and looked far beyond the horizon. 213 +15 BONUS Mnie said nothing. She¡¯d heard that Joseph¡¯s youngest son had been kidnapped after he was born and then went missing. She wouldn¡¯t be stupid enough to wish him a happy birthday. Joseph abruptly looked at her and asked, ¡°Is today a special day for you? Chapter 384 Chapter 384 Reason for Hiding ¡°Nothing special.¡± Mnie answered calmly. Joseph then stopped looking at her and looked down. ¡°I owe both mother and son a lot, so I¡¯ve been trying to find a way topensate them all this while. | wonder if the gods will give me this chance.¡± After pausing for a while, he then looked at Mnie. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you supposed to console me at a time like this?¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°| thought that someone like you wouldn¡¯t want to hear words that mean nothing.¡± Mnie answered. ¡°All | can say is that... It will be true if you believe in it.¡± ¡°Haha!¡± Joseph let out augh, his loneliness suddenly gone. ¡°You''re getting more and more interesting, girl!¡± Mnie used this chance to ask him, ¡°Is it because I¡¯m interesting that you¡¯ve been monitoring me?¡± Joseph obviously frowned and the atmosphere around them immediately cooled down. In the silence, Mnie refused to give up. She didn¡¯t change the subject, because she had been seeking the answer to that question. The butler couldn''t help but tightened his hands behind his back. After a while, Joseph¡¯s eyes moved. He didn¡¯t want the confrontation to continue and resumed the conversation. ¡°Why did you ask that?¡± ¡°You and Leo both treat me very well... So well that I¡¯m getting wary of it. | was curious about it, so | wanted to ask you directly. Why?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°While my two grandsons are proficient in blending fragrances, their potential is quite ordinary. They¡¯re not the cream of the crop. And also, because of their special identity, the Yorks will need you when we''re in simr circumstances after this. Just like how you helped that Ustalian yesterday,¡± Joseph exined. He then turned and nced at Mnie. ¡°As for why Leo is treating you that well you can go ask him yourself.¡± After he said that, Mnie couldn¡¯t ask him anything more. However, the doubt in her heart hadn¡¯t been dispelled. The attention that he was giving her was not something as simple as wanting to recruit her for his ns. They chatted for about half an hour. When Mnie saw Joseph was getting a little tired, she then left and said her farewells. The butler personally saw her out and kept on apologizing, saying that it was the Yorks¡® fault for not being able to stop the assassination from taking ce and ending up giving her a fright. He suggested sending her back to the hotel with their own car to prevent anyone else from attempting to harm her, but Mnie rejected his proposal, saying that her friend¡¯s car was waiting outside and that she wouldn¡¯t be in danger. (P. 1 +15 BONUS She had spent a lot of time with Joseph and didn¡¯t want to make the injured boy wait any longer. After seeing Mnie off, the butler immediately returned to the study and said, ¡°Master Joseph, I¡¯ve seen Ms. Mnie off.¡± ¡°Has shepleted her divorce with Jeffrey?¡± Joseph asked with a frown. ¡°Jeffrey hasn¡¯t signed it yet,¡± the butler said. ¡°Find a woman that looks like her to make their rtionship deteriorate further. This idea came from a certain ...Nathan Quinn?¡± Joseph asked again. ¡°I vaguely remember that name. Where have | heard it before?¡± ¡°Nathan is Emma¡¯s brother. The Quinns also had some businesses here many years ago, but they''re no longer in Medonia,¡± the butler exined. ¡°Nathan was Master Leo¡¯s peer in the business school. You must have heard his name back then.¡± ¡°Leo?¡± ¡°Yes, but Master Leo and Nathan are not acquainted with each other,¡± the butler exined. Joseph nodded and then asked, ¡°Why does Nathan want to ruin the rtionship between Mnie and Jeffrey?¡± ¡°All those years ago, Jeffrey and Emma were in love. His rtionship with Nathan was also quite cordial. After Emma¡¯s death, Nathan must have been affected as well. | believe that... He couldn¡¯t stand Jeffrey falling in love with another woman,¡± the butler said as he analyzed the situation. ¡°You believe?¡± Joseph suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of viciousness in them. The butler subconsciously bent over and quickly said, ¡°This is just my analysis... It¡¯s not necessarily the truth...¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even believe your own words! Ever since Nathan went back, everything he did was against them. Is there a deeper reason for all of this?¡± After pausing a while, Joseph immediately said, ¡°Investigate him! Leave no stones unturned!¡± ¡°Of course, Master Joseph!¡± the butler said. Chapter 385 Chapter 385 He Is His Son Mnie followed the Yorks¡¯s servant and headed outside. Halfway through, she asked, ¡°My car is parked near the estate¡¯s outermost gate. Is there some other closer route?¡± The servant hesitated for a few seconds and said, ¡°Then pleasee with me.¡± After walking for a while on the tiled path, she realized the servant was taking her in the direction toward Harlow¡¯s residence, just as she had predicted.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. She felt better afterward. While walking past Harlow¡¯s residence, Mnie then said to that servant. ¡°The gate is right in front. There¡¯s no need for you to see me off.¡± ¡°The butler ordered me to take you to your car safely,¡± the servant insisted. Mnie smiled and showed the servant her mobile. ¡°I need to make a call. | can do this alone.¡± The servant instantly understood why. All the guests here were all wealthy, and many of the contents of their calls were highly secretive, so they didn¡¯t like others to hear about it. She politely nodded and turned back. Mnie pretended to walk further, asionally turning around to peek behind her. Only when the servant was far away enough did she turn back by staying out of the dim lights from thempposts, then head straight to the little boy¡¯s room. Just as she reached the room and was about to push the door open, a woman''s voice cried out from the inside, and it sounded like she was screeching at the boy. ¡°And you said you didn¡¯t poison my dog?! You''re a liar even when you''re still a child! As expected of a motherless brat!¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t say that, Ms. Anderson...¡± ¡°Ha! A servant like you intends to control my speech?¡± Mnie frowned. She was wondering why the voice sounded familiar. It was Harlow¡¯s new girlfriend, Sylvia Anderson. ¡°The reason he likes to feed dogs is that he likes dogs. He wouldn''t poison the dog, Ms. Anderson...¡± the woman exined in a low voice. ¡°Not to mention that you¡¯ve already sent someone to hit him. He¡¯s sick now and has a fever. If it''s serious enough, he could die from it! | beg you, please tell Master Harlow to get him a doctor...¡± ¡°You''re begging me?¡± Sylvia refused to let it go and stomped her high heel. ¡°His life is worth less than my dog¡¯s! Now that my dog is dead because he poisoned it, | want him to pay with his life!¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t cross the line, Ms. Anderson! Even if he¡¯s a servant, he¡¯s still Master Harlow¡¯s son! While he allows you to bully him, he won''t allow you to take his life!¡± The woman suddenly became much more +15 BONUS ¡°You dare threaten me?! Just you wait!¡± While Sylvia was obviously unapologetic, the fear in her tone was unmistakable. And so she simply turned around and left. As she used the main door, she didn¡¯t see Mnie, who was hiding behind the door. Only after Sylvia was gone did Mnie push open the door and went in. When the woman holding the boy saw Mnie, she was shocked despite the tears on her face. ¡°| was dyed by something else just now. Don¡¯t tell me you thought | wouldn¡¯te?¡± Mnie walked over and took out the anti-inmmatory medicine from her bag, handing it to the woman. Give him some medicine and a ss of water. Let me clean his wounds.¡± The chair by the bed wasn¡¯t clean, so the woman started wiping it. Mnie shook her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Get him the medicine.¡± ¡°lm... Scared...¡± When the boy in the bed saw Mnie, he finally spoke. ¡°It''s okay. I¡¯m very gentle. It won¡¯t hurt after a while,¡± Mnie gently consoled him. ¡°I''m... Scared... Of her...¡± The boy pointed outside the door. Mnie realized what he meant and said, ¡°She¡¯s gone now. Don¡¯t be scared.¡± Only then did the boy nod in a daze. He was so mature that Mnie felt bad for him. She used the iodine to quickly disinfect his inmed wounds before bandaging them. The boy didn¡¯t say whether it hurt at all, as if worried he would make Mnie unhappy. ¡°This is iodine, which is used for cleaning wounds. You should know how to use this.¡± Mnie cleaned the wounds quickly and efficiently as she exined to the woman. ¡°You can use it thrice a day. Once the inmmation on his wounds has receded, use it once or twice a day only. Don¡¯t let the wounds get wet. And this is a bottle of Yellow Bark Tincture. It¡¯s an herbal remedy that¡¯s used for to reduce inmmation. You can use it a few extra times a day. It helps with the healing of the wounds.¡± ¡°| didn¡¯t dare to take too many anti-inmmatory medicines because | was worried that the others would find out. | only brought enough for three days. However, children recover very quickly. Take the medicine in intervals and the inmmation should mostly go away.¡± ¡°This is my number,¡± Mnie exined as she took out a name card. ¡°In three days, if his injuries aren¡¯t recovering, call me. Even if I¡¯m not around, I''ll think of a way for someone to get you the medicine.¡± The woman helped the boy to take his medicine and looked at how Mnie carefully treated his wounds. All she could do was cry as she listened to Mnie¡¯s words. Chapter 386 Chapter 386 Unworthy ¡°Alright.¡± The woman took the name card. ¡°Where did you get all these medicines from?¡± ¡°Your Master Leo got injured tonight, and this is the medicine that the doctor gave him. He also has an external injury, so the medicine should match this boy¡¯s needs,¡± Mnie said honestly. ¡°Master Leo is a very cautious man. He''ll find out about it...¡± the woman said, worried. Mnie blinked and said, ¡°I''ve only taken a little from all this medicine. However, even if he finds out, thanks to his rtionship with Harlow, he won''t mention anything.¡± The woman clutched the medicine tightly and sobbed. ¡°Thank you! Really, thank you!¡± ¡°Come on!¡± The woman walked over to the boy and patted him. ¡°Say thank you.¡± ¡°It''s fine.¡± Mnie extended her hand and patted the boy¡¯s head. His forehead was still a little hot. Feeling the warmth from Mnie, the boy smiled at him sincerely and rxed. Then, he mumbled, ¡°Sad doggy... Sad doggy...¡± ¡°What is he saying?¡± Mnie couldn¡¯t hear him clearly. The woman wiped her tears and said, ¡°My apologies. He¡¯s saying that the dog was pitifull... He was the one that found out those dogs had died. He was caught when he was burying them.¡± The woman exined to Mnie what had happened when she saw that Mnie was confused. The wealthy neighborhood nearby had a habit of keeping dogs, but several dogs had died one after another lately, including the dog that Sylvia owned. Someone had seen the boy burying the dog, then said that he was the one that poisoned it. Sylvia then sent her men to beat the boy up, which was how he ended up with all those wounds. ¡°You''re saying that he was simply burying those dogs. Did no one see him poison the dogs?¡± Mnie said as she blinked.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. The woman quickly nodded apologetically. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I''ve been busy with work and didn¡¯t look after him properly, so | don¡¯t know what he fed the dog...¡± Even the woman that took care of the boy believed he poisoned the dog... ¡°He probably isn¡¯t the one that poisoned those dogs.¡± Mnie said on behalf of the boy. ¡°While he looks like he is mentally challenged, it doesn¡¯t seem like he is mentally ill. It also doesn¡¯t mean that he has a tendency to harm animals or other people.¡± The woman was touched as she looked at Mnie. +15 BONUS Mnie turned around and looked at the boy, asking geritty, ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°L... | don¡¯t know...¡± The boy answered. The woman behind him then said, ¡°He... has no name.¡± Mnie heard from the woman earlier that he was Harlow¡¯s son. So that meant the boy was Harlow¡¯s flesh and blood, right? But because he was mentally challenged, was he unworthy of being a part of the York¡¯s family tree? Was he not even worthy enough to get a name? Mnie looked at the boy¡¯s pure, kind eyes, looked at how gently he looked at the stray cat in the room... She refused to believe that he was the one that poisoned the dog. But her arrival made the woman unsure of how to take care of the boy with her around. She decided not to stay any longer. She grabbed some cash from her purse and gave it to the woman before leaving, telling her to give some food to the boy. The woman couldn''t refuse and looked at Mnie with sincerity, saying, ¡°Master Harlow hadpletely ignored him. Now, everyone is obeying the words of Ms. Anderson. She refused to let anyone treat his wounds and even stopped me from leaving as she was worried that | would call for a doctor. | couldn''t even throw rubbish into the bin outside... Everyone in the household epts this... So... Miss, about the two of us and especially his identity... The less you know, the better...¡± ¡°His identity? Isn¡¯t he your son? What else is there for me to know?¡± Mnie gave her a smile before leaving. When she reached the door, she suddenly smelled the scent of some herbal medicine. She looked at the pot on the table and blinked. ¡°Is this his medicine?¡± ¡°Yes. | have been making it for him every day for two years now. The doctor said it helps with his brain development,¡± the woman exined. Mnie paused for a while before saying, ¡°Stop taking the medicine.¡± + ¡°Why?¡± ¡°For his own good, if you trust me.¡± With that, Mnie turned around and left. The herbal brew did have herbal medicine that would be great for improving mental development, but when it came to herbal medicine, they reacted to each other differently. Every herbal medicine had to be bnced by another one to achieve harmony. However, she could smell something unnecessary inside: Crimson Tear. Crimson Tear could be used as medicine when used in a suitable amount as it was also a medicine with sedative properties. However, not only was there no other herbal medicine to bnce it, the amount was also quiterge. The boy was only ten. Even if he took a little each day, it was useless for him to take any more medicine to No wonder he was so skinny, just like that stray cat he had. +15 BONUS When Mnie got back to the hotel, Annie then scanned her in worry. ¡°Are you hurt? Do you feel any pain?¡± Mnie shook her head. ¡°| heard everything. | knew that this party was a trap!¡± Annie said indignantly. ¡°Good thing that Jeffrey was around. At least he still has some use!¡± When she mentioned Jeffrey, Mnie could feel her chest feeling stuffy, so she immediately changed the subject. She then told Annie about the assassin¡¯s background information. Annie nodded. ¡°My private investigators also came up with the same results. It looks like that is what had happened. If it wasn¡¯t because of the evidence, I¡¯d have even suspected that the Yorks wanted to kill you.¡± ¡°The Yorks have no reason to want to kill me.¡± Mnie said. She suddenly frowned and said, ¡°That said, | don¡¯t understand why the Yorks are treating me so well...¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Leo courting you right now?¡± Annie asked. Chapter 387 Chapter 387 The Madam is Escaping ¡°But after our interactions today, | feel like I¡¯ve been overthinking it. Leo told me a few times that he¡¯s treating me well just because he was trying to be a good host and treated me as a friend,¡± Mnie said as she tried to organize her thoughts. ¡°Huh?¡± Annie was confused. ¡°But from how he made himself run into you earlier and how he wanted to send you to the hotel... It was obvious that he¡¯s courting you!¡± Mnie sighed. ¡°| believed that too, but the feelings that Leo gave me today were differentpared to thest few times. Today, he knew where the lines were and didn¡¯t cross them at all.¡± Mnie tried to remember everything that had happened earlier. ¡°Meanwhile, the others from the York family were still doing their best to make us into a couple. It felt like... Leo suddenly found out something and didn¡¯t want to pursue me anymore, but the others from the Yorks still didn¡¯t know about it. They weren¡¯t on the same page.¡± ¡°Ah, this is soplicated!¡± Annie pouted. ¡°Either way, that York family is like a ticking time bomb. Just stay away from them.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Mnie nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Let''s go back tomorrow.¡± ¡°But Jeffrey''s hurt though. Aren¡¯t you going to... apany him?¡± Annie probed her. ¡°| already thanked him, and there are other people from the Morgan Group taking care of him... They won''t miss me,¡± Mnie said as she changed out of her dress and got into the bathroom to take a shower. Looking at her best friend¡¯s lonesome figure, Annie couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for the star¡ªcrossed lovers. After Mnie came out from her shower, she suddenly remembered what happened earlier and asked Annie, ¡° Annie, there¡¯s something | need you to help me investigate.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°How familiar are your investigators with the area around the Yorks¡¯s estate?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°They have quite a number of people over here, and Medonia isn¡¯t that big, so they should be quite familiar with it. Why?¡± Mnie then told Annie about what happened to the ten-year-old boy. ¡°| believe the boy couldn¡¯t have done something like poisoning the dogs, not to mention that he¡¯s very compassionate. He¡¯s also mentally challenged¡ªhow can someone like that know what to poison the dogs with? That¡¯s why | want your investigators to keep an eye out and see if there are some other culprits.¡± ¡°It should be a straightforward case for them.¡± 142 +15 BONUS Annie nodded and epted the request, but still looked at her with worry. ¡°You''re saying that after Harlow schemed against you and Gabriel earlier, you were then faced with an assassination. And then, you found out about his illegitimate son... Can all of this be part of his schemes?¡± Mnie¡¯s mind recalled Harlow¡¯s vicious words- that he would rather destroy something before letting someone else have it. She blinked and said, ¡°I know little about him. Maybe he really is a madman that can kill without remorse. Or maybe he¡¯s just someone that likes to make a show. Doesn¡¯t matter. We''ll be leaving soon, anyway.¡± After resting in the Yorks¡¯s residence for a few hours, Jeffrey then left in a van and returned to the estate that the Morgans own in Medonia. He slept through the entire night and woke up naturally the next day, feeling much better. When William was bringing up lunch, Jeffrey noticed that he was acting a little nervously. He narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The madam...¡± ¡°What happened?!¡± Jeffrey was so anxious that his fork fell to the floor. ¡°Don''t be so anxious, boss. She¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just that... She suddenly went to the airport and is about to go back to the country,¡± William exined. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?!¡± Jeffrey said angrily. ¡°The madam booked the air ticket spontaneously. We''ve only just received the news...¡± Jeffrey pursed his lips. That woman... There was only one flight between Harbor City and Medonia. In order to avoid him, she only booked the flight two hours before departure just so she could go back without him! She was making him feel isted and worried. ¡°Book me a ticket!¡± He ordered. ¡°Boss, your injuries... The doctor said you need to rest for at least three days...¡± William said. ¡°Get the car ready!¡± Jeffrey struggled to get up. She was less than two months pregnant. How was he supposed to rest? He had to personally watch after her. Chapter 388 Chapter 388 Suffer Mnie and Annie boarded the ne and returned home on brief notice. But what they didn¡¯t know was that, in the first-ss cabin all the way up front, Jeffrey and William were sitting side by side with their curtains drawn. ¡°Boss, you''re already here. Don¡¯t you want me to greet them?¡± William asked, confused. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need to know,¡± Jeffrey said with a frown. ¡°Tell your men to surround and protect her at all times. Don¡¯t let anyone suspicious approach her!¡± He knew she wouldn¡¯t be happy if she knew he was tailing her, but all he wanted to do was to make sure that she was safe. Harbor City. Mnie had rested for a day. Eliza returned home from abroad that night, and the mother and daughter had a heart-to¡ªheart for the entire night. The next day, Mnie gave Annie a call. ¡°Annie, when | went over to your ce, | remember that the apartment below you was for sale. If you''re free, can you let me look at it? If the interior decor is alright, | want to buy it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Annie didn¡¯t understand. ¡°| keep vomitingtely, and my mom is in the country right now. I¡¯m worried that she''ll grow suspicious if | stay at home for a long time,¡± Mnie exined. ¡°You''re not telling her?¡± ¡°Not for now.¡± She didn¡¯t even tell her mother about her marriage to Jeffrey, and now that their marriage was on the verge of copsing... If she were to suddenly tell her mom she was pregnant... She herself wasn¡¯t quite ready for that, much less Eliza. She couldn''t find the strength to take care of her mom¡¯s feelings at the same time. ¡°Then you can just stay with me! You don¡¯t need a new apartment!¡± Annie said. ¡°Before the apartment is done, I¡¯ll stay with you. But | want to have my own home too, you know?¡± Mnie insisted. ¡°Fine, I''ll go take a look in the evening once I¡¯m home.¡± As Annie said that, her tone suddenly became darker. ¡°Also, | think there¡¯s something that | should tell you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The private investigator told me that the woman that looks like Jeffrey''s ex-girlfriend is still working in 1/3Content ? N?velDrama.Org. +15 BONUS even focused all his effort on, he almost touched me... But in the end, after you two ended up like this, he¡¯s still letting that darn woman stay! Looks like I¡¯m still too soft-hearted! To think | can be shaken so easily! All men are liars!¡± Mnie let out a bitterugh. ¡°Let him be. | just want to take good care of myself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Then, Annie turned and said respectfully, ¡°I struggled over this for half a day, but still told you this. I¡¯m worried that you''ll get soft¡ª hearted and lied to. But you''re not alone anymore! Other than the baby, you have me too! I''ll take good care of the baby together with you! You can be the mom, | can be the dad!¡± Mnie blurted out augh before saying, ¡°I think it¡¯s better for me to be the dad and you the mom.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! If it¡¯s a girl, I¡¯ll teach her how to act cute. If it''s a boy, let him learn how to strategize from you,¡± Annie said with a laugh. That night, after Mnie finished her dinner, she told Eliza that she wanted to stay with Annie. Since there are things she needed to work on with Annie¡¯s PRpany, it would be easier for them to discuss it if they were together. Eliza held Mnie¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Your appetite has been quite badtely. It must be because you¡¯re too tired. Remember to take care of yourself.¡± All these years, that was how Eliza raised Mnie. She didn¡¯t think it was weird for Mnie wanting to move out. Despite already agreeing with Mnie¡¯s request to move, Eliza then mumbled, ¡°Mnie... About that...¡± ¡°Mom, is there something you want to say?¡± When Mnie saw her mom couldn''t even eat in peace, she knew that something had happened. ¡°Mom, if something had happened, you can tell me. You''ll only make me feel bad if you keep it to yourself,¡± Mnie said as she looked her mother in the eyes. Eliza sighed and said, ¡°Is your bad mood the reason for your poor appetite?¡± ¡°Did you split up with your boyfriend?¡± Eliza¡¯s questions immediately rendered Mnie speechless. ¡°Mom... How did you know...¡± ¡°| saw everything today...¡± Eliza held her daughter¡¯s hands and said, ¡°When | went to see a business partner today, | saw him together with someone else. They were really close... Only then did | find out that my daughter has suffered so much...¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes began to tear up when she felt that someone cared. However, she still did her best to control her emotions. ¡°Really?¡± 213 +15 BONUS So Jeffrey had already flown back? He must have used his private jet to fly back to rest... She and Jeffrey had hidden their rtionship from so many people, she really didn¡¯t know when her mother had figured it out... And Annie had just told her that Jane was still working in Morgan Group. And not only was she working, she was apparently also taking care of Jeffrey¡¯s mental health. ¡°Mnie, don¡¯t lie to me. Are you really moving in with Annie when you move out?¡± Eliza asked again. ¡°Yeah,¡± Mnie nodded. Eliza shook her head in pity and said, ¡°How can you still say that? How can you still move in with Annie after she did that to you? If you want to stay alone, you can just stay in our mansion in the countryside. | just need you to tell me you''re safe.¡± ¡°Annie... What now?¡± Mnie waspletely confused. ¡°Today, she and William were moving around together. | saw that they almost had their arms around each other. Isn¡¯t she the one causing you two to split up?¡± Eliza asked. 64 Mnie was speechless. Chapter 389 Chapter 389 Out with the Old, In with the New She was... She was still stuck with William all this while... ¡°Mom... I''ve been trying to tell you that... William and |... We''re... Not... Anymore...¡± She wanted to exin that there had been nothing between her and William, But after giving it a thought, she said, ¡°There¡¯s been nothing between us for a long time.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Eliza was shocked. ¡°Then, your separation...?¡± ¡°| got to know another man after that, but it¡¯s in the past now, too... Mom, I''ll tell you all about it eventually, alright?¡± Mnie said. ¡°Huh? Sure, sure.¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Only then did Eliza agree to it while still baffled. After seeing Mnie leaving in her car, she shook her head and sighed. After her daughter had grown up, she also had a lot ofplications. Meanwhile, Mnie could only shake her head with a bitter smile when she was in the car. She felt like she was on a rollercoaster just now... She wouldn''t have known what her mom knew if she didn¡¯t test her, and she couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief when she found out that the so-called ¡°cheating¡± man was William and not Jeffrey. When she reached Annie¡¯s ce, she only knew that Annie had met William in the evening after work earlier today and dragged him to have a meal. She didn¡¯t expect Mnie to see her. ¡°Luckily she exined it, otherwise | would have caused a huge misunderstanding, and you¡¯d be unhappy again,¡± Annie said with a smile. ¡°I''m not worried about that. What I¡¯m curious about is that you had your arms around William''s shoulder and vice versa? Are you two very close now?¡± When Annie heard that, she quickly sat up straight and stopped giggling. ¡°She''s just making things sound more serious than they really are...¡± ¡°My mom is a stern woman. She won¡¯t exaggerate things.¡± Mnie refused to let go. ¡°Speaking of which, you kept in touch with William? And your rtionship improved quickly?¡± ¡°Not exactly... Just... two times...¡± Annie told her the truth. ¡°But William is a serious and sensible man, and he¡¯s the type your parents approve of,¡± Mnie said with a smile and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. Annie mumbled a few words and followed her. ¡°But if you and Jeffrey get a divorce, | will carefully consider my rtionship with William,¡± Annie assured her. +15 BONUS Mnie let out augh thanked to that. ¡°William is William, Jeffrey is Jeffrey. You don¡¯t have to worry about me if you''re together with William.¡± ¡°Aren''t you going to feel sad if | show up with him in front of you?¡± Annie really cared about her feelings. Mnie smiled and massaged her belly, saying, ¡°In this lifetime, I''ll always have someone that looks like him by my side. How can | be afraid of William?¡± Annie didn¡¯t want to see Mnie being sad. She suddenly remembered something and said, ¡°Gemma came over to Harbor City yesterday. She wants to have a meal with us.¡± ¡°Why is she in Harbor City?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°To get us some business opportunities,¡± Annie said with a smile. ¡°The Fowlers are introducing a new product, and they need a PRpany to help with their marketing, so she came to see me. If you¡¯re not too tired, why don¡¯t we goter tonight?¡± It was still early. She would only overthink things if she stayed at home, so Mnie nodded and agreed. After meeting up with Gemma, the three women immediately went to the restaurant for dinner. During dinner, Gemma and Annie would chat most of the time, while Mnie would nod in agreement and chime in asionally. Ever since she found out she was pregnant, Mnie had noticed that the she would spend more time being sad as well as more time in the washroom... It was truly physically and emotionally torturous at the same time. When she came out from the washroom again, she noticed that the small gathering of three women had somehow grownrger. All the other tables in the restaurant had been moved, and several tables had beenbined, forming into a longer table suitable for arger gathering. ¡°What''s... Going on?¡± Mnie asked. Annie pouted and exined with a smile, ¡°Well... Gemma was asking why you¡¯re so upset, so | told her you just had a breakup...¡± ¡°Breakup?¡± Mnie was surprised. ¡°While Annie didn¡¯t tell me who you were in a rtionship with, | can tell that you had a breakup. That¡¯s why | asked some of my friends in Harbor City toe over so that we could make things a bit livelier. Consider it as a party to celebrate your return to singlehood. Out with the old, in with the new!¡± ¡°| didn¡¯t know she would invite other people...¡± Annie was scared that Mnie would be upset, and she quickly exined, ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, we can leave now if you want.¡± 2/2 +15 BONUS Mnie shook her head. It was toote to do anything about it, so she might as well enjoy it. If there were more people, she could avoid these two orbiting around her the whole night. Gemma had booked the entire restaurant for the night, and the entire group was having fun. Mnie wasn¡¯t really that interested in such a group activity and wanted to sit in the corner for some quietness, but Gemma was obviously prepared. After everyone had a few rounds of drinks, Gemma stood on the stage and waved her hand. The entire restaurant quieted down. ¡°The person who | specially organized this party for today is my best friend and savior, the beautiful and kind Mnie Joines! We will celebrate her return to singlehood!¡± Gemma jumped down and then dragged Mnie up the stage so that she could stand under the limelight. ¡°Is my best friend beautiful!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone yelled out loud. ¡°And the best way to heal a broken heart is to let another person move in! Do any of you want to use this chance to confess your love to her? Do it now!¡± Chapter 390 Chapter 390 You Can Forget About It Gemma used this chance to rile up the atmosphere as her eyes moved to Grant, who was sitting in the corner. ¡°Stop it¡± Mnie smiled at Gemma and waved her hands, preparing to leave the stage. ¡°Wait!¡± Suddenly, Grant got up from the corner and yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t leave just yet! | haven''t confessed my love for you yet!¡± As he said that, Grant had already walked over to the stage and stood in front of her. ¡°Wow!¡± The people under the stage all cheered, not stopping even after a long time. ¡°Gemma is just messing around. Are you going to mess around too?¡± Mnie said helplessly. However, Grant stood there with a serious expression on his face, ¡°If she didn¡¯t mess around, | would never know when | would have the bravery to confess my love to you.¡± ¡°Together! Together!¡± The people off the stage cheered even louder. ¡°You never told me before this that you¡¯re in a rtionship,¡± Grant said sincerely. ¡°| don¡¯t care who you loved in the past. All | want is for you give me a chance...¡± Mnie pursed her lips. She didn¡¯t expect that someone would actually confess his love. It meant that Gemma had prepared everything beforehand... She hesitated to refuse him in front of everyone, thinking that she should just say yes and then refuse him in private. Suddenly, a towering figure suddenly jumped up the stage and immediately stood between them like a gigantic mountain. ¡°You''re confessing when she just broke up. This is not appropriate!¡± Jeffrey''s voice was low, but it instantly managed to intimidate the entire venue. The lively atmosphere instantly chilled. ¡°Mr. Morgan, just what kind of rtionship do you have with her? Why are you stopping me from confessing?¡± Grant looked at Jeffrey angrily. ¡°That¡¯s not for you to know!¡± Jeffrey didn¡¯t even give Grant a look as he simply locked his eyes with Mnie¡¯s. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then no one can stop me from confessing to Mnie!¡± Grant gave up his schrly demeanor and became much more stubborn. +15 BONUS Jeffrey red at him with sharp eyes. ¡°With me here, you can forget about saying even a word!¡± ¡°Enough. I¡¯m getting tired.¡± With that, Mnie got off stage alone. Let the two men confront each other. Annie quickly went through the crowd and escorted Mnie out of the restaurant. The Snow family¡¯s vehicle was waiting outside. Annie had gotten into the car and Mnie followed after her when suddenly, William came from behind and stopped her. ¡°Madam, the boss is in the car.¡± She turned around and saw Jeffrey¡¯s car quicklye over, stopping behind the car. She paused a little. She wanted to ignore him, but William insisted and said, ¡°Madam, the boss wants to say something to you. Even if he misses you this time, there¡¯s always a next time.¡± Mnie slightly frowned. William was right. In that case, she should rify everything this time. She told Annie about it before turning around and followed William to the car behind. She opened the door and asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Get in first!¡± Jeffrey reached out and pulled her in before closing the door. She observed his actions. Seeing that he could move just as easily, then the wound shouldn¡¯t be that bad... ¡°You''re here to give me the divorce papers, Mr. Morgan?¡± she asked. Jeffrey looked up as he narrowed his red eyes. ¡°Further in front is a hotel owned by the Morgan Group. We can have a talk there.¡± ¡°Why must we go to a hotel? No, | refuse,¡± Mnie said, upset.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Jeffrey also frowned, upset. What was she thinking? Was she already trying to avoid him as much as possible? ¡°| won''t sign the divorce papers. You belong to me! Even if | take you to the hotel, it¡¯s legal!¡± ¡°Jeffrey Morgan, do you even know what you¡¯re saying?!¡± Mnie looked back at him without fear. ¡°Let me make things clear for you: have you forgotten that | can ept someone else¡¯s courtship as well?¡± Jeffrey''s eyes instantly turned red as he began to remove his shirt! She was his! But she kept on wanting to leave him, to hide from him, to run away from him! He couldn¡¯t take it anymore! He first removed his coat and threw it on the ground before unbuttoning his shirt... ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Mnie could feel the stuffiness inside of herself and wanted to push open the door to escape, but the man behind her stopped her... She turned around and wanted to push him away, and then she saw his wound. 2/3 +15 BONUS ¡°You...¡± She could feel the pain inside of her as her eyes began to turn red. Her hand that was going to push him instantly became gentler, and she touched his wound before she realized what she was doing. There was blood on the bandage... ¡°Your wound hasn''t fully healed yet. Can you please take care of yourself better?¡± She scolded him as she tried to suppress the pain inside her heart. ¡°| just wanted to find a proper ce to exin things to you. Is the hotel too much?¡± Jeffrey asked. Mnie raised her head and looked at him. At a time like this, she was no longer upset. She thought that his injury wasn¡¯t that bad back then. ¡°Put your clothes on.¡± She was no longer looking at him at this point. Jeffrey put his clothes back on. Once he was done, he was about to open the door and tell William and the driver to get in and drive, but as soon as he moved, he couldn¡¯t help but moan. Mnie turned around only to see Jeffrey holding on to the car door handle. All the strength in his body seemed to be focused on that hand. His face was pale as his sweat continued to drip... ¡°Jeffrey! What¡¯s happening to you?!¡± She quickly helped him up and opened the car¡¯s window. ¡°Somebody, help!¡± she yelled. Chapter 391 Chapter 391 You''re Scaring Her When William and the driver, who were further away, heard Mnie screaming from inside the car, they immediately realized something was wrong and ran back to the car. ¡°Madam? What¡¯s wrong with the boss?¡± they instinctively asked. Mnie helped Jeffrey to sit on the seat asfortably as possible. She wasn¡¯t going to answer stupid questions. Instead, she looked around and asked, ¡°Where''s the nearest hospital?¡± Before William could answer, Jeffrey immediately said in a coarse voice, ¡°Go to a Morgan Group¡¯s hospital.¡± Mnie red at him. But seeing the seriousness in his eyes, she knew that his injury was a secret, and it needed to be kept a secret. Morgan Group was huge. As the leader of Morgan Group, he couldn''t let anything happen to him. If the outside world knew about his injury and spread the negative news, it would affect Morgan Group as a whole. Mnie knew about his worries, so she ordered the driver, ¡°Go to the nearest hospital owned by the company!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± T ¡°William, call the hospital and tell them to prepare for the greenne. Don¡¯t waste time!¡± She thought everything through and gave orders to William. ¡°Of course, Madam,¡± William replied smartly. The car engine started to roar and Mnie closed the door on Jeffrey''s side before helping him with his seat belt. ¡°Wear your own seat belt. Take care of yourself...¡± Jeffrey didn¡¯t forget to remind her, even when he was breathing heavily. Mnie nced at him and said, ¡°What''s there for me to take care of? Take care of yourself!¡± After saying that, she put her hand on his forehead. No wonder he looked so pale. He was burning up! The sweat on his face kept on flowing. Mnie heaved a long sigh to lighten up the worry in her heart. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine.¡± Jeffrey observed her expressions carefully as he consoled her. ¡°Don¡¯t speak.¡± She held his hand. ¡°We''re reaching the hospital soon. Everything will be fine.¡± ¡°With you here, there¡¯s nothing for me to worry about.¡± Jeffrey tried to smile with his parched lips. While Jeffrey waspletely powerless at this moment because of the fever, it was also the moment where he was most comfortable. There was nothing more reassuring than having her by his side. +15 BONUS The car arrived at the hospital and immediately used the VIPne. The hospital staff were already waiting. They immediately moved Jeffrey onto a gurney and pushed him in. Only now did Mnie realize that Jeffrey''s shirt was drenched from all his sweat... ¡°How is he doing? Why does he have a fever?¡± Mnie jogged together with the other medical staff and the doctor exined to her. ¡°There are signs of infection and inmmation on his wound.¡± ¡°Is it dangerous?¡± she asked. ¡°It can go either way. It depends on the area and how much surrounding tissue has already been infected. We''ll perform first aid on him immediately.¡± The door into the emergency room closed and Mnie could feel her heart pounding. This took her back to the Yorks¡® residence a few days ago. He was also moved in like that while she was forced to wait outside with no way of knowing what was happening inside. All she could do was worry about it and couldn¡¯t help but be pessimistic. She hoped that this time, he could safely survive too. William also waited outside the emergency room with Mnie. The corridor was terrifyingly quiet, with no one saying a word. She would ask William every once in a while for the time and then quietly calcte how much time had passed. ¡°Didn''t the doctor at the Yorks¡® residence say that his wound would start healing in three days? Why is it still bleeding?¡± Mnie realized something and asked William. ¡°The boss... didn¡¯t rest like he¡¯s supposed to...¡± Mnie turned around and red at William, not sure why he was mumbling like that. ¡°To tell you the truth, the boss came back on the same flight with you. That¡¯s why... His wound didn¡¯t heal...¡± William decided to tell her the truth. Mnie was speechless. She bit her lips. She knew that Jeffrey''s men were everywhere. That was why she intentionally went to the airport with Annie two hours before the flight. She wanted to ditch him when she went home, but she didn¡¯t expect him to follow her, anyway. Not to mention that it had only been around twelve hours since he sustained his injury. Did he have a death wish?! He had his own private jet that had medical personnel. They could take better care of him, but he still chose to 213 +15 BONUS ¡°Why didn¡¯t he tell me?¡± she asked. ¡°The boss said he didn¡¯t want to disturb you, worried that you''d get upset if you saw him.¡± William tried his best to reproduce the same words. ¡°Madam, to be honest, he really does care about you...¡± Mnie could feel her heart thumping and said nothing else. About half an hourter. The emergency room¡¯s door finally opened.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The medical staff pushed Jeffrey out in a hospital bed. His face was still pale as hey there with his back straight. He wore the familiar smile as he looked at her. ¡°Madam, Mr. Jeffrey¡¯s wound isn¡¯t heavily infected. But because of his busy schedule, it has already been infected twice. He can¡¯t ignore this anymore. A third time will be life threatening,¡± the doctor emphasized. Life threatening... Mnie¡¯s vision turned dark for a second. ¡°Don''t scare her!¡± Jeffrey''s voice was weak, but it was still quite intimidating. He extended his hand to hold hers. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°We wanted to give him some pain-relieving medicine through the IV drip so he could rest and recover as soon as possible, but he was worried about you and insisted on only using it once he consoled you...¡± the nurse added. ¡°The doctors have the most authority in the hospital. Can you please not act out of line here?¡± Mnie frowned and pushed his hand away. ¡°Give him the medicine and let him sleep.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± The doctor and nurse then pushed Jeffrey¡¯s bed away while Mnie followed them. Suddenly, her vision turned dark, and she instantly fell on her back... Chapter 392 Chapter 392 He Wanted Me to Have an Abortion ¡°Madam! Madam!¡± Mnie¡¯s vision turned dark. Luckily, the moment she fell, William managed to react quickly and ran over to hold her. ¡°Doctor!¡± William cried. Only then did the medical staff realize that Mnie had fainted and came to help her. ¡°Mnie!¡± Jeffrey''s eyes instantly turned red as he struggled to get up from the bed, but two doctors held him back. ¡°Sir! The madam merely fainted because of fatigue and worry. She''ll be fine. We''ll immediately arrange for her to get some rest in a nearby ward. But you can¡¯t have anything happen to you anymore.¡± ¡°She¡¯s pregnant!¡± Jeffrey screamed with his eyes scarlet red. ¡°She''s...¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry. We''ll guarantee her and the baby¡¯s safety!¡± All the doctors guaranteed it together. ¡°Sir, the only reason she fainted is because she was worried about you. If you care about her, then please take care of yourself first.¡± William agreed as he stood close by. Very quickly, the nurses pushed out another gurney. Under Jeffrey¡¯s order to be careful, they carefully moved Mnie to the gurney to move her. ¡°Where are you going to move her to?¡± Jeffrey''s frown was deep and terrifying. The doctor quickly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. We''re going to move her into the room next door...¡± ¡°No!¡± Jeffrey immediately stopped him. ¡°Get her into my room! | want to personally, keep an eye on her!¡± ¡°...Understood!¡± The doctor waved his hand and the others quickly went to make preparations. They had underestimated just how much their boss loved his wife. On their way there, Jeffrey never stopped frowning as he looked at the unconscious woman on the bed. He nervously scolded the medical personnel, ¡°Which of you said that my life is in danger?¡± ¡°Sir, it''s not that your life is in danger... But if you don¡¯t take better care of yourself, the infection would spread to the surrounding tissue, and it might...¡± Jeffrey frowned. He cut the doctor''s long-winded speech off and said, ¡°Do you know that she¡¯s pregnant? How many surprises can a woman take?! You scared her just now, you know?!¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°Of course, sir... It¡¯s my fault...¡± The doctor quickly apologized with the most appropriate attitude he could muster. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice the madam¡¯s resilience. I''ll pay more attention after this...¡± William was worried that Jeffrey would release his anger on them out of worry for Mnie, so he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, boss. The madam is fine...¡± ¡°It''s toote if anything else happens!¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. The more William helped, the angrier Jeffrey got. ¡°She¡¯s pregnant! Do you understand what pregnant means? She can¡¯t get too tired! Can¡¯t get too anxious!¡± ¡°Of course, of course.¡± Everyone around him agreed, worried. Meanwhile, the driver, who was following them around, thought to himself about how the madammanded him and William when the boss was in trouble just now. She didn¡¯t look like a weak, pregnant woman that couldn''t take care of herself... It seemed that in his eyes, the madam¡¯s image was a lot different from what they perceive... Jeffrey''s expression had been very dark from the moment he moved from the emergency room to the VIP ward, and all the medical staff were scared. When they finally reached the ward, the medical staff first moved the unconscious Mnie to the bed before moving Jeffrey to another bed that was only about a meter away. At this time, Jeffrey looked at them with cold eyes and said... ¡°I''ll sleep on that bed too!¡± All the medical staff were shocked and speechless. Only William had experience with this and immediately told the medical staff to move him next to the madam... Outside the door, the doctor asked William in a whisper... ¡°Isn¡¯t he going to feel cramped, Mr. William? He¡¯s injured, and the madam¡¯s pregnant...¡± ¡°Whether he feels cramped or not isn¡¯t something you should be considering for him, alright?¡± William pushed him away so that he would move faster. Mnie had been unconscious for about two hours. The first thing she noticed was that it was very hot. She moved a little and realized that she was properly tucked in under a nket. She got out of bed and changed into a clean outfit. She observed the ward for a while before leaving it to look for Jeffrey. She remembered that Jefrey was admitted to the hospital because of his wound infection, but she didn¡¯t remember why she fainted. +15 BONUS She saw no one outside, but there were bodyguards from Morgan Group guarding left and right in a staircase far away. She checked the wards one by one but didn¡¯t see Jeffrey in any of them. When she reached the doctor''s office at the end of the corridor, she saw Jeffrey''s figure from the outside. ¡°The baby¡¯s doing fine, but the mother¡¯s quite weak and needs more rest.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes moved. Seemed like a test had been done here and the Morgan Group hospital found out that she was pregnant... In the end, Jeffrey found out about it... ¡°How¡¯s her heart?¡± Jeffrey¡¯s low voice rang. Mnie instinctively ced her hand on her chest. She could feel the stuffiness. So stuffy that she was getting nervous. When he knew that she was pregnant, he wasn¡¯t happy. He wasn¡¯t shocked, but he was worried about her heart... So, he only cared about the only thing that person left behind, her heart? ¡°The heart¡¯s doing fine. Even if it''s another normal woman going through pregnancy, it wouldn¡¯t cause too much stress to the heart. However, the fatigue would. That''s why she should be resting more at this stage and be kept under observation. If she feels unwell at any time, she can be rushed over to the hospital for a checkup. She has to be careful throughout the entire pregnancy to prevent any emergencies from urring,¡± the doctor exined. ¡°Then, from a professional angle, do you think we should keep the child?¡± Jeffrey asked again. Mnie kept close to the door as her heart rate increased. He wanted to force her to have an abortion behind her back. Chapter 393 Chapter 393 Taking It Back ¡°If purely from a doctor¡¯s perspective, my rmendation is to not have any babies. Forever.¡± The doctor then said in a neutral tone, ¡°But she¡¯s already pregnant now. That''s all... up to you.¡± Mnie clenched her fists tightly, her heart thumping. She had already made all the necessary preparations. As soon as Jeffrey said he wanted her to abort the baby, she would escape! She would escape far away... Even if she had to change her whole identity, she would never let him find her! The office was very quiet, so quiet that the silence in the corridor made her own irregr heartbeat deafening. She finally heard Jeffrey''s voice a long whileter saying...Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s her child. Her opinion on this is the most important.¡± Mnie¡¯s grip instantly loosened. She didn¡¯t hear it wrongly, right? ¡°Mr. Jeffrey, our families have been acquainted for a very long time. Please allow me to be straight with you. | know that her heart once belonged to Emma, and she donated it to her. If she were in danger during the pregnancy, a normal pregnant mother would still have the chance of choosing to save the mother or the child. But in her case, she would most likely end up dead with the baby. And then, Emma would forever disappear from this world...¡± ¡°Emma¡¯s already long gone from this world.¡± Jeffrey''s voice was shaking slightly. ¡°That heart had already melded with Mnie a long time ago. It now has her memories, her thoughts. It no longer belongs to Emma, not for a long time...¡± ¡°You''re saying that...?¡± Even the doctor was shocked. ¡°| only realized it afterward, and that¡¯s why we have so many misunderstandings between us. If she¡¯s really in danger, but | don¡¯t care about her but only that heart, am | still human?¡± Jeffrey asked calmly. ¡°That means you''re not going to tell her that you know she¡¯s pregnant?¡± ¡°She can make the decision. All | need to do is to watch over her.¡± Jeffrey''s voice returned to how reassuring it was usually. ¡°I''ll ask the other doctors from the other hospitals to get prepared in secret so that they''ll tell her about the hidden risks when she goes over for her checkup. If she decides to keep the child after considering everything, then I''ll use everything | have to protect them.¡± ¡°It''s fine if you want to protect them, but you should protect yourself first. If you get another wound infection, even the gods can¡¯t save you...¡± the doctor warned him. Mnie could feel the sadness inside of her as her fingers holding the door trembled slightly. She slowly turned around and walked back into the ward, her vision blurred by her tears. The path forward had been shattered into countless fragments. +15 BONUS Minutester... When Jeffrey got back to the ward in a wheelchair, Mnie''s emotions had returned back to normal. ¡°You''re awake?¡± he asked in shock. William pushed him, and he looked at her warmly. ¡°Do you still feel any pain?¡± Mnie said nothing as she hugged the nket in her arms. Jeffrey stood up from the wheelchair and held his stomach as he sat on the bed. William left when the chance presented itself. ¡°What is it?¡± He looked at her almond-shaped eyes. ¡°Are you still worried about me? I¡¯m fine now. | was simply getting some fresh air just now. ¡°Why did | faint?¡± Mnie asked without raising her head.. ¡°You worked too much. It was from fatigue,¡± Jeffrey said. ¡°The doctor said to take more rest and work less.¡± He was really hiding it from her... Mnie didn¡¯t dare to raise her head, worried that he would see her tears. She didn¡¯t know if it was because of progesterone. But when she thought back about all the awkwardness and the misunderstandings between them, she felt especially upset and she couldn¡¯t stop her tears. She tried to suppress her sobs and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the divorce paper?¡± Jeffrey was speechless. He pursed his lips. In the end, she still wanted a divorce. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I told you. | won''t sign that thing!¡± ¡°Why are you being so aggressive?!¡± Mnie raised her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care if you want to sign it or not, but | signed it! Now, | want it back!¡± Jeffrey realized that she had tears on her face, and they were still flowing down her cheeks, one drop at a time... He instantly frowned deeply, as he wasn¡¯t sure what to do. He was so distressed that he said, ¡°Why are you crying? Come on, I''ll give it to you if you want it...¡± When he was about to wipe her tears away, he suddenly realized what she meant and was stunned before saying, ¡°Are you saying... you don¡¯t want a divorce?¡± Chapter 394 Chapter 394 Confession Mnie wiped her tears away and said, ¡°I have a few questions that | want to ask you.¡± ¡°Say it.¡± Jeffrey sternly looked at the woman that was being serious. As long as she wasn¡¯t asking for a divorce, he would do whatever she wanted. ¡°When did you find out I¡¯m pregnant?¡± she asked. Jeffrey stopped, frowning. So, she heard it....N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°After you received your report,¡± he answered honestly. ¡°But | thought the Snows¡¯ private investigators...¡± ¡°They secretly changed the result of your report and even dealt with the doctor. However, that was because | made them believe that they seeded,¡± Jeffrey said. Mnie rolled her eyes. He was truly quite tyrannical. That was why Jeffrey kept on shadowing her after she joined the York family¡¯s party, always within a certain distance. It was all to protect her. ¡°| see.¡± Mnie nodded and took the handkerchief that Jeffrey gave her, wiping her tears away. Then she said, ¡°I''ll give you a chance to confess everything. From the beginning, when you approached me, till now, what else are you hiding from me?¡± Jeffrey stood up, hand on the wound in his abdomen. He lifted the nket and sat on the bed close to her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°It''s a long story, so I¡¯m choosing a position that¡¯s morefortable.¡± Jeffrey lied down and even intentionally groaned as he held his wound. Mnie had no choice but to let him sit by her side, letting him put his arm around her shoulder, their backs against the bedhead. ¡°From the very beginning, | wanted to look for you in Harbor City. But you got drunk by the streets overseas and sat in my car by pure coincidence. You even teased me and owned me for an entire night.¡± ¡°Be serious.¡± Mnie turned around and red at him. Her clear, almond eyes were reflected in his ck eyes, and the glittering stars inside her eyes moved him as he felt his heart tremble and his throat itch. ¡°If I¡¯m going to be serious... | miss you.¡± As he said that, he tightened his hand behind her back, and he gently raised her face. Their eyes met. 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°What are you... Ngh...¡± Before she could even finish her words, she was immediately shut up by him getting close to her. ¡°Hey,¡± ¡°Be nice.¡± Jeffrey responded by swallowing her whole as his hand began to move behind her back. The sound of him being moved by his love took away whatever logic she still had in her mind as she responded to him. He wasn''t the only one missing her. She missed him a lot too! She was mad at him all this time, forcing herself to stay away from him... She had enough of that life! The two of them fell on the soft pillow as they kissed each other passionately. Only when she felt that he was getting more aggressive did Mnie recover some of her sensibleness and said, ¡°You can¡¯t do anything too rigorous with that wound of yours.¡± Jeffrey released her lips and had his forehead to hers, saying with a hoarse voice, ¡°You''re not in a state where you can do any rigorous activity as well... We''ll stop at a point...¡± And then he kissed her lips again. It had been a long time since they had had such a wonderful night. Mnie¡¯s heart was calm. The man sleeping next to her was the man she wanted, and they trusted each other now... ¡°If you''re injured, why didn¡¯t you rest until you recovered? Why are you running all around the ce?¡± She questioned him as she frowned. ¡°Let me ask you the same question. You''re pregnant. Why didn¡¯t you rest, and run around instead?¡± ¡°Don''t hide from the main point,¡± Mnie said as she raised her eyebrow. ¡°Fine, I''ll stick to the main point.¡± Jeffrey became serious again. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be too overworked, but if | don¡¯t tell you this, someone else with their own agenda will tell you about it. That¡¯s why | would rather confess now.¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°The reason that | first got close to you isn¡¯t because | know you¡¯re the one that epted Emma¡¯s heart.¡± Jeffrey looked at her sincerely. ¡°I won''t give up everything and start looking for a person just because she might have some of Emma¡¯s memories and approach her.¡± ¡°Then, why?¡± Chapter 395 Chapter 395 Let Her Do Whatever She Wants to You ¡°Because someone told me that Emma didn¡¯t die of natural causes back then. That she could still be saved when she reached the hospital. When your father realized she was a match with you, he pronounced her brain dead and, before her family could get there, used the reason that she had already signed up for organ donation while she was alive to transfer her heart to you without consent.¡± ¡°How¡¯s that possible?!¡± Mnie sat up, angered. ¡°My dad¡¯s not someone like that!¡± ¡°Everyone who was part of that surgery has either died or left. I''ve spent a long time investigating it and I¡¯ve found some clues, but not enough to reach a conclusion.¡± Jeffrey put his arm around her shoulders and consoled her, but he forgot he was injured, and he instinctively frowned when his action caused him to tug at his wound. Mnie then lied down together with him. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± ¡°| trusted the person who told me this too much all those years ago. But I¡¯m now restarting the investigation. It means that | trust you,¡± Jeffrey said with confidence. Mnie slowed a little, trying to digest all that information. ¡°Which means that the reason you looked for me at the beginning was for revenge?¡± Jeffrey gave her no reaction. ¡°Then what did you do to me? Exin.¡± Mnie raised her hand and looked at Jeffrey sharply, as if to say that that was the only chance she was giving. Mercy woulde with full disclosure. ¡°| did it to you. | can¡¯t help myself, nor can | stop myself.¡± He used his most serious face to say the most rubbish of pillow talks. Mnie couldn''t stop herself and laughed. Jeffrey patted her head with a smile. As for her background and her rtionship with the Yorks, he had no evidence proving that she was a descendant of the Yorks. Even if there were any, in order to protect her, her family had already hidden the proof for twenty¡ªodd years. He had no right to tell her. ¡°You''re not angry at me anymore, are you?¡± Jeffrey took the chance to ask. Mnie had just wanted to answer when William knocked on the door and asked, ¡°Boss, someone from the company is here to see you...¡± ¡°Not meeting them!¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Jeffrey said impatiently. William paused and said, ¡°It¡¯s Jane...¡± #16 BONUS ¡°Is Jane very special? Did you tell thepany and everyone else to give her special treatment?¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed. ¡°| just want to catch the person behind her and collect the evidence,¡± Jeffrey said helplessly. This Jane... She came at such a bad time! If she was even a few seconds slower, she would have verbally said she had forgiven him. ¡°Since it bothers you, I''ll tell her to go back,¡± Jeffrey said. He had just wanted to tell William that when Mnie covered his mouth. ¡°No, let her in! ¡°Not only will you let her in, you will work with her and let her do whatever she wants to you.¡± Mnie smiled teasingly. ¡°Only then can we find the evidence of the people giving her orders!¡± ¡°Are you being serious?¡± ¡°Lam.¡± ¡°Letting her do whatever she wants means...?¡± ¡°Like | said, whatever she wants.¡± As she said that, she stood up and cleaned up everything she owned and walked to the washroom. ¡°You don¡¯t have to make yourself look innocent, right? Earlier, you told William about it too, didn¡¯t you? Isn¡¯t this so Jane can do whatever she wants?¡± Jeffrey was speechless. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t win the argument, he did something on his phone and said to her, ¡°William will give you a monitor. You can see everything that¡¯s happening inside the room.¡± ¡°Don''t exin just yet. It¡¯s easy for you not to feel anything even when she¡¯s in your arms, right? | believe in you.¡± Mnie winked at him before locking herself in the washroom. Once Jane was inside the ward, William immediately covered for Mnie as she left the washroom. When she was out of the ward, he even gave her a monitor. Someone was most likely monitoring Jane, so in order to cooperate with Jeffrey in his act, Mnie sat in the car and left the hospital. Mnie said she believed him, but she still couldn¡¯t help putting on the earphone and using the monitor to watch what was happening in Jeffrey¡¯s ward. Chapter 396 Chapter 396 A Great Son-in-Law By the time Mnie reached Annie¡¯s apartment from the hospital, she was fully engrossed in everything that was happening in the ice-cold monitor, refusing to eat or drink. ¡°Hey, you''re pushing yourself too hard, aren¡¯t you?¡± Annie shook her head helplessly. ¡°What can he do when he knows that you''ll be watching his every move? Come on, drink this orange juice.¡± Mnie took the ss of orange juice and sipped it mechanically. She had seen Jane have dinner with Jeffrey in the ward. Night had descended. Jeffrey said he was getting tired. He lied on the bed while Jane handed him a wet towel to wipe his face. Jeffrey frowned but didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°He didn¡¯t refuse it!¡± Mnie gritted her teeth. ¡°Please. Didn¡¯t you personally tell me that you allowed that woman to do anything she wanted to Jeffrey?¡± Annie gave her a snicker. ¡°Is wiping his face that bad?¡± Mnie bit her lips. ¡°She¡¯s doing more than wiping his face.¡± ¡°What else was she wiping?¡± Annie instantly became interested and hopped over to have a look. ¡°Tsk. She¡¯s just wiping his hands. Just think of her as a nurse.¡± ¡°Is dinner ready?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°You''re a national treasure now. | wouldn¡¯t dare let you eat just whatever. I¡¯ve asked the nanny to prepare five different dishes for you to guarantee that you have all the nutrients you need. Come on, let¡¯s eat,¡± Annie said. Mnie decided to toss the monitor to the side when she smelled dinner. She got angrier the more she watched. Once she and Annie had finished dinner and she picked the monitor back up, she noticed that Jeffrey had already fallen asleep. But Jane hadn''t left? After a while, Jane started to test him. ¡°Mr. Morgan? Mr. Morgan?¡± Seeing that Jeffrey didn¡¯t respond after she said his name a few times. Jane unbuttoned his top and removed her own clothes. She lied down next to Jeffrey and started taking pictures with her phone... Mnie blinked as her lips formed an icy smile. The oldest trick in the book... +15 BONUS After the party at the Yorks¡® ended, Mnie and Jeffrey weren¡¯t the only ones that rushed back to Harbor City. Harlow and Luis did too. In a private vineyard. Luis led Nathan to meet Harlow. Luis was smiling like a gentle god as he looked left and right, saying, ¡°I¡¯m d to be given the opportunity to introduce both of you to each other. This is the first time both of you are meeting, and | hope we can all be friends after this. Harlow, this is Nathan Quinn. Nathan, this is Harlow York.¡± Nathan had a friendly smile on his face as well. However, Harlow still had the same icy demeanor he did during dinner. ¡°I heard that you¡¯ve been getting quite close to Leo, Luis! And you, Nathan. You''re Leo¡¯s peer in the past, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Leo and | have been peers for three years. Beforeing here, you must have already investigated the rtionship between Leo and I. If we¡¯re friends, you wouldn¡¯t havee to this dinner willingly, correct?¡± Nathan confronted him calmly. Harlow didn¡¯t respond. After pausing a little, Harlow turned to look at Luis with judging eyes. ¡°What about you, Luis? Is the reason you side with me now because the benefit that Leo gave you isn¡¯t big enough?¡± ¡°Stop teasing me, Harlow. The Romeros have always been your ally. You¡¯ve helped me remove quite a few obstacles... You know this, right?¡± Luis quickly guaranteed it. ¡°The only reason I¡¯ve epted Leo¡¯s invitationtely and worked together on two minor projects is for our strategy, Harlow. If Leo trusts me, I''ll be able to provide you with his movements on demand, won''t |?¡± ¡°You say that, but can you prove it?¡± Harlow sneered as he opened his eyes. ¡°l can.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Nathan waved his hand, and a subordinate behind him approached Harlow with a stack of documents. It was some information that they got after Jane had approached Jeffrey. ¡°Luis and | have set this up. Luis wants Jeffrey as his son-inw, so | found this woman and trained her. She has sessfully gotten in between Mnie and his rtionship. Haven''t you noticed Mnie''s treating Jeffreypletely differently this time in Medonia?¡± Harlow held the evidence in his hand and thought about it. No wonder Mnie avoided Jeffrey during the party a few days ago. Nathan found a woman that looked like her sister... ¡°However, if Luis manages to get him as his son-inw as he wishes, but Mnie bes Leo¡¯s wife, what should | do? My old man is very impressed with Mnie!¡± Harlow said with doubt as he put the document down. ¡°They won''t. It¡¯s impossible for Leo and Mnie to get together!¡± Nathan said with certainty. 213 +15 BONUS Harlow looked at Nathan and said, ¡°So you know about the rumor as well? That Leo has already fallen for someone else?¡± Nathan narrowed his eyes and said nothing. Some time ago, Leo had fallen for someone when he was studying at the university. For some reason, they broke up. After that, Leo refused to have anything to do with love. It could be seen that he still couldn''t forget about her after so many years. As for his courtship with Mnie... Harlow simply believed that he was obeying Joseph¡¯s orders. If he could get Joseph''s support by courting a woman, anyone would do it. If it was him, even if Joseph had his eyes on a mute, a blind, a deaf, or ame, he was willing to court her as long as Joseph gave him the green light. Harlow paused before asking, ¡°But Jeffrey blocked an attack for Mnie!¡± Awoman could be very soft¡ªhearted. If Jeffrey continued to move her, they could get back together with this chance. ¡°This woman is together with Jeffrey in his ward right now, taking care of him through the night...¡± Nathan said with an egotistical smile. ¡°Mnie will also find out very soon. So... There¡¯s no possibility of them getting together.¡± Chapter 397 Chapter 397 The Tempest ¡°Hmph.¡± Harlow looked at Nathan¡¯s strategies and tactics with contempt. It looked like what women would do. But he had to admit... If Jeffrey really did be the Romeros'' son-inw, his supporters would include Morgan Group. That would almost guarantee his victory. ¡°Is that your only worth to me? Helping Luis to get a son-inw?¡± Harlow questioned Nathan. Nathan had already prepared the answer. ¡°I wonder if you¡¯ve heard of this organization called ¡®Tempest''?¡± ¡°The intelligence agency?¡± Harlow¡¯s eyes lit up. The Tempest¡¯s reputation was well known internationally, and they had top assassins among their numbers. But they had been quite mysterious all these years. No one knew who they belonged to. ¡°My father left them for me. Otherwise, how could | know secrets that even Joseph doesn¡¯t know? If we partner up, ¡®Tempest'' will be yours tomand,¡± Nathan said with a smile. Harlow narrowed his eyes. He didn¡¯t expect the Quinns to be the leaders of Tempest! ¡°You''re so discreet, Nathan. | didn¡¯t expect you to keep such an ace up your sleeve!¡± ¡°You''re teasing me, now.¡± Nathan''s phone suddenly rang. He listened to the short audio message and gave his subordinate a few words before turning to Harlow and Luis. ¡°That woman I¡¯ve arranged has prepared everything in Jeffrey''s ward. She¡¯s now going to have a little chat with Mnie. After this, Jeffrey and Mnie would never be together again.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. After finishing dinner, Mnie went back to her bedroom. She continued looking at the monitor as she hid under the nket, and she looked at every frame without blinking. Four in the morning. Her mobile finally rang. It was a message from Jeffrey. ¡°My wound hurts.¡± When she read the message, Mnie immediately got out of bed and went downstairs. She didn¡¯t change her outfit, because she knew there was no avoiding this trip to the hospital. Annie was already asleep. Mnie put on outerwear and told the driver to send her to the hospital where Jeffrey was at. There were very few cars on the morning road, and they arrived at the hospital very quickly. She rode the elevator to the VIP wards at the top! She knocked on the door. 142 +15 BONUS After waiting for a while, the door was opened. The moment it opened, a dense perfume smell entered her nose. Mnie instantly felt ufortable in her stomach and looked at the person in front of her while covering her nose. Jane was walking casually without wearing any slippers, as if she had just gotten out of bed in a rush. Her hair was unkempt, and her makeup was ruined. Her lipstick seemed to have been smeared after doing something that everyone knew. She was wearing a loose bathrobe and her belt was casually tied, revealing her neck and a deep V-cut. Mnie could see that she was wearing nothing inside. Mnie paused and asked, ¡°You asked me toe here?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jane opened her mouth in an exaggerated manner and started mumbling while looking at her innocently, ¡°Just now, Mr. Morgan was in somewhat of a daze and forced himself on me...¡± Ha... Mnie smiled coldly. She didn¡¯t expose Jane¡¯s bad acting. When she saw Jane step backward rapidly, Mnie pretended not to know anything and followed her in. She was still waiting for the things that Jane nned after this so that Jeffrey and she could start acting on the specially prepared stage. Jane finally turned to a ce where she could see the inside of the room. At this time, Jeffrey¡¯s voice rang. There was a hint of fatigue in his raspy voice. ¡°Why are you still here? Didn¡¯t | tell you to leave?!¡± ¡°How can you do that, Mr. Morgan? If you didn¡¯t force me to stay, | wouldn¡¯t have... And now you''re ignoring me after you have your pants on?!¡± Jane turned around and wept. Back in bed, Jeffrey was wearing nothing and his hair was simrly unkempt... If she didn¡¯t know that this was a scheme, she would have easily believed what she had seen, Mnie thought to herself. ¡°What did you say?!¡± Jeffrey roared angrily! He threw the nket away and got out of bed, topless. He yelled as he held his wound, ¡°Leave! | don¡¯t want to see you again!¡± ¡°How can you do this to me, Mr. Morgan? Do you think I''m just some woman that you can sleep with whenever you want?¡± Jane cried even more. Mnie walked over and held the wall, pretending that she was losing her strength. When faced with such undeniable proof, she shouldn¡¯t be without any reaction. Just then, Jeffrey walked out of the bedroom and saw Mnie around the corner. He was instantly stunned. ¡± Why are you here?¡± Chapter 398 Chapter 398 This Mad Woman It was time to show off her acting skills!N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. When Jane saw how saddened Mnie was and how overwhelmed Jeffrey was, she thought that they had fallen for it and immediately tried to make things worse. ¡°Please listen to me, Miss Mnie! Mr. Morgan wasn¡¯t fully awake earlier. That''s why this happened between us. Don¡¯t worry. | won''t tell anyone about this...¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Jeffrey stared at Jane. The fury in his eyes was reaching a boiling point. Jane instantly wept. ¡°Jeffrey Morgan... | never thought that you¡¯re someone this irresponsible! I¡¯m trying to exin things to you, but you¡¯re trying to get rid of me. You''re afraid that she will see us, right? But she has already seen it! What''s the point of getting tid of me?!¡± Jeffrey''s anger exploded as he turned around and grabbed the mobile on the desk before dialing a number and giving orders to the person on the other end. ¡°Get someone in here and drag this madwoman out of my room!¡± When Jane saw that Jeffrey was doing this for real, she quickly ran in to grab her jacket and wallet, while putting on her heels. She didn¡¯t even change her outfit before saying... ¡°I''ll leave on my own. Mnie, | never thought that you¡¯re interested in a man like this! There¡¯s nothing for me to be envious of!¡± She left the ward without wearing her heels properly, because she knew how fast Jeffrey¡¯s men acted. Only Mnie and Jeffrey were left inside the ward. He paused, walking over, wanting to put his arms around her, but she instinctively avoided it. ¡°Listen to me.¡± Jeffrey walked over and said sincerely, ¡°Nothing happened between us. Don¡¯t think too much about it!¡± Mnie said nothing and simply turned her eyes to the clothes scattered on the bed. A ck miniskirt, a purple bra... They were really an eyesore! Jeffrey followed her eyes and saw all those things. With a frown, he closed the door into the bedroom and said, ¡°Don¡¯t look at those!¡± He then said with certainty, ¡°Look at my eyes. You know that | didn¡¯t lie to you. Nothing happened between us. They¡¯re all fake.¡± ¡°Just because you say it¡¯s fake?¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes were icy cold as she wore no expression on her face. ¡°You know it, right? There¡¯s something mysterious in this world that can never be solved. Whether or not something happened between a man and a woman when they''re alone?¡± With that, she turned around and left, calling for the elevator when she was outside. +15 BONUS Jeffrey quickly put a towel around himself and chased her to the first floor. ¡°I can¡¯t let you leave with that kind of misunderstanding,¡± he said urgently as he caught her shoulder, looking straight into her eyes. ¡°Misunderstanding?¡± Mnie was feeling somewhat helpless as she coldly pointed to his shoulder. ¡°What is this, then?¡± Jeffrey lowered his head and saw several clear lipstick stains on his shoulders. Mnie quickly turned around and left while he was still stunned. When she got out of the hospital, the driver immediately drove over to pick her up. Mnie got into the car and said, ¡°Don¡¯t go home for now.¡± The driver observed her expression from behind and asked, ¡°Where will you go then, Miss Mnie?¡± ¡°Anywhere would be fine. | want to get some fresh air.¡± Her voice shook slightly. The driver didn¡¯t ask anything else and simply drove around, letting her get some fresh air on the flyover. Two cars had been following them for a while. Only after about half an hour did they report back to Nathan.¡± Sir, Mnie¡¯s in a bad mood as expected. She¡¯s telling the driver to drive her around the flyover.¡± There were two more cars following behind the car that was tailing Mnie. The bodyguard from Morgan Group reported back to her and Jeffrey. ¡°Jane got in a car after she got out of the hospital. After a long time. the car is now heading straight to the west.¡± ¡°Good. Give me her route.¡± Mnie said. Five minutester, William carefully reported back to Jeffrey. ¡°Boss, the madam had already told her driver to look for Nathan.¡± ¡°Make sure they shadow her properly. Do not let anything happen to her!¡± Jeffrey said with a frown. He knew that he could never convince her, so he could only wait for her and oversee her fight. Jane saw that no one was following her and made sure of her safety. Only then did she drive into a private restaurant. Nathan¡¯s people led her into a private room. Jane saw that two other people were present there. It was Luis, who she had met before, and Harlow, who she had never met. ¡°Give me the pictures and the video.¡± Nathan extended his hand and Jane quietly gave him her mobile. 203 +15 BONUS After Nathan had finished viewing them, he passed it to Harlow and Luis. All three men let out an evil snicker. ¡°Tell me what happened. I¡¯m interested!¡± Harlow extended his hand and wiped his lips, ordering her in disdain. Chapter 399 Chapter 399 Her Reversal Jane saw that he looked extremely cruel, and was even scarier than Luis and Nathan. With a mumble, she said, ¡°I simply took a picture while posing with him. Jeffrey''s injured... So, | can¡¯t really...¡± ¡°And you cared about him?!¡± Harlow gave her a mocking stare. ¡°Is Jeffrey¡¯s wound quite bad?¡± Nathan asked, ¡°Morgan Group had hidden the news of him getting injured, and despite all my men in the Yorks, they didn¡¯t get any pictures of his injury.¡± ¡°If you ask me... It¡¯s quite severe...¡± Jane answered carefully. ¡°Did you get a picture of his injury?¡± Luis asked. Jane nodded. ¡°I did. | took it all.¡± ¡°Very good. You performed admirably well. You''ll be rewarded.¡± Nathan smiled. ¡°Not only will we be able to make Jeffrey leave Mnie, but we can also make the pictures of his injuries publicly avable. Jeffrey''s public image had always been a cripple in a wheelchair. Now that he¡¯s injured again, the Morgan Group¡¯s shares will be affected. Harlow, we need to take advantage of this and the Morgan Group¡¯s moment of weakness!¡± Luis cracked a smile, smiling like a bandit. ¡°Are you sure that Mnie hadpletely given up on Jeffrey?¡± Nathan started to probe into the details. Jane nodded. ¡°She was mad. Jeffrey tried to get to her twice, but she avoided him both times. | also left some lipstick marks on him, so even if he tried to exin it, Mnie would never believe him.¡± ¡°Alright. Leave.¡± Nathan waved his hand and told Jane to leave. The three of them chatted for a little while more. Harlow was the first one to leave the restaurant. And then Luis left, leaving Nathan alone in the private room to have a drink. Behind him, his subordinate said, ¡°Sir, this Harlow isn¡¯t a good person. He didn¡¯t have an ounce of respect when he spoke to you earlier. But the moment he heard that you¡¯re in control of ¡®Tempest¡¯, he instantly changed his tone. Such hypocrisy.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Nathan snickered coldly. ¡°How many of those that seeded in the business world aren¡¯t hypocrites themselves? It¡¯s just that Harlow is much more obvious than the others. He¡¯s just a simple-minded pawn. One day, we''ll have no use for this pawn. Let him have his fun for now!¡± ¡°Sir, after you¡¯ve reestablished connection with that person, he¡¯s still somewhat suspicious of Mnie¡¯s identity. He¡¯s still investigating it in the shadows. Will this threaten your cooperation with him?¡± his subordinate asked. 1/2 +15 BONUSMaterial ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°| heard that Joseph York had already tested Mnie¡¯s DNA twice, but they weren¡¯t a match both times. It¡¯s normal for him to be suspicious,¡± Nathan said with his eyes narrowed. ¡°So, is Mnie really from the York family?¡± His subordinate was confused. ¡°If she isn¡¯t a York, how can anyone exin her hereditary cardiovascr disease and her powerful sense of smell? Something must be behind this. Inform Tempest to press on with the investigation and see if there¡¯s someone secretly ruining the Yorks¡® analysis,¡± Nathan ordered. ¡°Understood!¡± His subordinate nodded. After drinking thest drop of tea, Nathan put down his teacup and was about to leave after straightening his outfit. Suddenly, his subordinate outside reported, ¡°Sir, Mnie is here. She says that she wants to see you. Will you see her?¡± ¡°Mnie?!¡± Nathan was shocked. How did she find this ce? Nathan''s mind started to spin quickly as he frowned. He thought that everything had been too smooth today and was somewhat suspicious. Looked like he was right all along. Mnie had used his schemes against him... All he could do right now was be flexible. With a wave of his hand, he told his subordinate to bring Mnie in. ¡°How did you manage to find me here?¡± Nathan said. ¡°| followed your people,¡± Mnie answered as she stood at the doorway. ¡°My people?¡± ¡°Jane.¡± Mnie immediately said, ¡°In order to avoid any awkwardness, you don¡¯t need to deny that you know her.¡± ¡°| do know her. She looks like my sister,¡± Nathan said. Mnie blinked and said without a change in her tone, ¡°She looks like your sister, so you used her to get close to Jeffrey and me?¡± ¡°Why are you saying that I¡¯m using her?¡± Nathan asked. ¡°| can¡¯t think of any reason why she wants to get close to me and Jeffrey.¡± ¡°Maybe because she heard she looks like Jeffrey¡¯s first sweetheart, and she started to have her own ns about it?¡± Nathan was still trying to muddle the waters. Chapter 400 Chapter 400 He Had His Revenge ¡°Tonight when she was alone with Jeffrey, all she did was simply pose and take pictures without doing anything. How confusing.¡± After Mnie said that, she didn¡¯t care what Nathan wanted to say, and she immediately told him why she was there. ¡°Nathan, bying here to see you, it proves that I¡¯m not here with any hostility. ¡°It''s unfortunate that your sister left this world in her youth after the car ident, and | can feel your pain because my father passed away during a car ident as well. We weren''t prepared at all before losing him.¡± Mnie then said with sincerity in her eyes, ¡°I''m also very grateful that your sister gave me her heart. Without it, | would have died a long time ago. If you¡¯re approaching me because of her heart, I¡¯m willing to be your friend. But if you have other ns that will affect my life, I¡¯m afraid | won¡¯t agree to that.¡± After finishing saying all that in one breath, there was a spark in Nathan¡¯s eyes as they slowly turned red. ¡°To be honest, you don''t look like Emma at all. ¡°She had always been well protected by our family. She was like a princess living in her castle. She had never suffered, never faced any betrayal, never felt any pain in this world. She wasn¡¯t as thorny as you are.¡± ¡°I''m sorry for not being able to remind you of your sister.¡± Mnie softened. Everything she said to Nathan came from her heart. If Nathan did all of this to stir her rtionship with Jeffrey up because he missed his sister too much, she didn¡¯t want to pay evil unto evil. ¡°| should be the one to apologize.¡± Nathan sighed and sat back down, saying with his head lowered, ¡°I¡¯m the one that can¡¯t outgrow the pain, and | refused to let anyone walk out of the shadows as well.¡± He had indirectly admitted that he was the one trying to ruin the rtionship between Jeffrey and her. ¡°You can¡¯t mend a broken heart. Only you yourself can heal it. | hope you can think this through soon and have a normal life.¡± With that, Mnie turned around to leave. Nathan called out to her from behind. ¡°Do you and Jeffrey love each other?¡± Mnie paused and turned around to look at Nathan. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Maybe you know that he didn¡¯t approach you with sincerity at the very beginning, that he only approached you for Emma¡¯s heart. But what you don¡¯t know is that he believed your father had dered Emma brain dead on his own so that he could transfer her heart to you. That Emma wouldn''t have died... That Emma could have been saved! ¡°Jeffrey had sworn many times in the past that he would make your family pay this blood debt! That he wanted all of you to feel the pain of losing a family member and make it ten times worse! ¡°That¡¯s why... The reason he approached you wasn¡¯t because of Emma¡¯s heart... It¡¯s because of revenge!¡± As Nathan continued, his voice got louder as he shook. +15 BONUS Mnie looked at him calmly. Nathan didn¡¯t want to give up on his ns. ¡°Jeffrey was also severely injured during that ident at the time. Why did he believe that my dad had done something so criminal to help me? Who told him about all of this?¡± Mnie¡¯s attitude cooled down.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°The surgeon that presided over the surgery. He personally told Jeffrey about it.¡± Nathan answered quickly without even blinking. ¡°What''s his name?¡± ¡°Clement Meyer. After hepleted the heart transnt surgery, he couldn¡¯t live with himself. He quickly resigned and moved overseas with his entire family in hiding. I''ve been looking for him all these years, but | can¡¯t find him, no matter how hard | try,¡± Nathan said. ¡°| understand. I''ll look for him as well and I''ll ask him this personally,¡± Mnie said as she was leaving. Nathan didn¡¯t give up and called out to her again. ¡°Can you really ept someone that gets close to you with an intent of having his revenge?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t exact his revenge, did he?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°He said that he''ll let you feel the pain of losing your family, that he¡¯ll make your family pay in blood. How do you know if he¡¯s had his revenge?¡± Nathan said with his eyes narrowed. In a cold tone, he said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that your father also died in a car ident...?¡± Chatper 401 Chapter 401 Whom Do | Trust ¡°My dad...¡± Mnie staggered, her vision darkening for a moment. ¡°Are you saying that my father¡¯s death was not idental, but a murder instead?¡± Nathan neither confirmed nor denied it. ¡°In Harbor City, who canpare to Jeffrey when ites to manipting the situation and covering up crimes?¡± After calming down, Mnie asked, ¡°Why are you telling me all this?¡± ¡°Perhaps | haven¡¯t mustered the courage to move on from the pain of losing Emma. That''s why | value you so much. | don¡¯t want you to be deceived by Jeffrey,¡± Nathan said solemnly. ¡°But | heard that you and Jeffrey were as close as brothers back then...¡± Mnie trailed off. Nathan¡¯s eyes flickered for a moment before he replied, ¡°In the past year, we¡¯ve had too many disagreements. Our goals and paths have diverged. Things are not as they used to be.¡± ¡°| suppose the disagreements between you two are because of me?¡± Mnie said calmly, poker-faced. ¡°The rtionship between the three of us is intricate and hard to unravel. Whether it¡¯s Jeffrey or you, | hope we can coexist peacefully in the future, and minimize conflicts as much as possible.¡± After saying this, she turned and left. If Nathan really didn¡¯t want her to be deceived by Jeffrey, why didn¡¯t he warn her in all the time they had known each other? Instead, he waited until she exposed his plot beforeing forward. The moment she got into the car, Jeffrey¡¯s call came in. ¡°Did Nathan give you a hard time?¡± he asked right away. ¡°You should be asking if | gave him a hard time,¡± Mnie said confidently. She didn¡¯t continue confronting Nathan to save his pride. If they had continued, Nathan wouldn¡¯t have been able to keep up the act for three minutes. Jeffrey sighed in relief. His men could only stay on the periphery, so he had no way of knowing what was happening inside the private room. Everything was fine as long as Mnie was safe. ¡°On my way here, | ran into two carsing out of the ce. One was Luis¡¯s. | recognized the license te. The other had an unfamiliar license te, but it should be with Luis because the two cars briefly stopped at the intersection and exchanged greetings before leaving.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Give me the license te,¡± Jeffrey said decisively. Mnie provided the license te number, and added, ¡°It was a ck Aston Martin.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°Okay, I''ll have someone check it right away.¡± Luis was Nathan¡¯s aplice in sowing discord between them. If they could find out the owner of the other car, they might catch another conspirator. ¡°| have another question. Last night, Jane arrived suddenly so | didn¡¯t have a chance to ask. Who told you that my father did a heart transnt surgery secretly back then?¡± ¡°Nathan,¡± Jeffrey answered. Mnie wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°| knew it. He just told me that. He said the surgeon who performed my surgery, Dr. Clement, informed you. He also said that after the surgery, Dr. Clement moved abroad with his family, and there has been no news since. Good thing you told me in advance. If you didn¡¯t, he could have used this against us.¡± ¡°How did you know it was him?¡± Jeffrey asked. ¡°With the depth of his understanding of the whole incident, he seemed more like a participant than an outsider. How could | not know?¡± Mnie said. She paused for a moment. During this sudden pause, Jeffrey sensed something and asked, ¡°Did he say anything else?¡± ¡°How much do you know about the car ident that happened to my father?¡± she asked. This time, Jeffrey fell silent. Separated by the almost imperceptible crackling of electricity, Mnie¡¯s heart tightened with each passing moment. She didn¡¯t know what kind of answer she was expecting. Yet, what she feared the most might be him saying that he knew nothing about it,pletely denying his involvement in this... ¡°Come over. We''ll talk in person.¡± Jeffrey finally spoke. Half an hourter, Mnie arrived at Jeffrey¡¯s ward. She didn¡¯t say anything. She just sat on the sofa and waited for his answer. ¡°Did Nathan tell you that | hired someone to cause your father¡¯s ident?¡± Jeffrey asked sincerely. Mnie raised her head, neither confirming nor denying it. A faint smile yed on the corners of his lips. ¡°Remember when you asked me on Mount Coloss if | sent someone to investigate your father? Since then, | knew someone was looking into the past, so | sent someone to investigate as well. | found that the culprits were elusive, and had contacted the Yorks in secret.¡± ¡°The Yorks?¡± Mnie frowned. She expected to hear Nathan¡¯s name, but how were the Yorks involved? She didn¡¯t remember her father cooperating with them when he was alive. 213 +15 BONOS ¡°It could also be that they''ve once worked for the Yorks, and don¡¯t actually belong to that family.¡± Jeffrey narrowed his eyes. ¡°But I''m sure it isn¡¯t Nathan''s people.¡± ¡°Not Nathan¡¯s people?¡± ¡°Nathan''s people aren''t investigating, but they might have done it. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Jeffrey emphasized. Mnie bit her lipy silent. ¡°You''re using him, and he¡¯s using you. How can | trust either of you?¡± Chatper 402 Chapter 402 Handsy ¡°At first, | did have the intention of seeking revenge. | nned to recover my health as quickly as possible abroad, and return to seek revenge once | was healed. However, before | returned, your father had an ident. ¡°| did send people to investigate at that time, but all evidence indicated that it was a genuine ident. The driver responsible for the ident was drunk, and is still in prison. | didn¡¯t pay much attention to that incident afterward, until you mentioned that the Snows found out and caused others to look into it.¡± Jeffrey began exining, trying to share everything he knew with Mnie. He trusted her sharp mind to make the right judgments. ¡°Regarding the surgeon who performed your surgery back then, Nathan lied to you about one thing,¡± Jeffrey continued. ¡°Afterpleting your surgery, Clement continued working in the hospital for more than a year. He disappeared suddenly only after your father¡¯s ident. Several other medical staff who knew about the surgery also disappeared. The cardiology department was dismantled and reorganized. Isn''t that too much of a coincidence?¡± ¡°My mom had investigated this as well.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°But when my father passed away, Jones Enterprise was in turmoil. The medical department became fragmented, several hospitals faced bankruptcy, and the surviving hospitals had mass resignations. The hospital where | had the surgery was also in turmoil. That exins the people leaving and the restructuring of the department. ¡°However, no matter how you look at it, all the evidence now proves that the car ident was not an ident. Someone killed my father...¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Jeffrey couldn¡¯t stand seeing her frowning and looking worried. His own brows furrowed deeper. ¡°Leave these matters to me to investigate. Right now, you need to quit your habit of worrying. As the doctor said, because of your physical condition, pregnancy is more challenging for you. Your heart is already under greater stress, and you can¡¯t overexert yourself.¡± Mnie raised an eyebrow, looking at him. ¡°I haven''t said | trust you yet.¡± Jeffrey wrapped an arm around her, ced his palm gently on her abdomen, and caressed her belly. ¡°You''re the mother of my child. | won''t betray you, even if | betray the whole world.¡± With that, he leaned in to kiss her. They were very close to each other. Mnie sneered, pushing his arm away. ¡°Stay away from me.¡± Jeffrey didn¡¯t give up. ¡°The show¡¯s already over...¡± However, she didn¡¯t allow him toe near her. ¡°I¡¯m a germaphobe. You just let another woman get handsy with you, and | find it repulsive.¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. She deliberately moved away from him. ¡°Get handsy?¡± Jeffrey pursed his thin lips, looking helpless. ¡°Do you have a misunderstanding about this term?¡± 1/3 +15 BONOS ¡°Did she touch here?¡± Mnie pointed at his face, not letting up. Jeffrey nodded. ¡°And here? Did she touch it or not?¡± Mnie pointed at his hand. Jeffrey nodded again. ¡°Isn''t that considered getting handsy?¡± Mnie insisted. Jeffrey''s eyes dted, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing. He reached out to grab her hand. ¡°It seems you really have a misunderstanding about this term. How about | personally demonstrate what getting handsy really means?¡± The two of them were bantering when Jeffrey''s phone rang. It was a call from the Morgan Residence, and the servant solemnly informed him that Madam Morgan had returned to the country for a few days and that couldn¡¯t sleep every night, making her look haggard. Madam Morgan also kept mentioning him and Mnie, wondering why they hadn¡¯te to see her. Mnie, upon hearing this, hurriedly said, ¡°If she continues like this, she''ll get sick. Let''s go see her quickly.¡± ¡°I''m too familiar with Grandma¡¯s tricks. If she has the servant call me, it means she¡¯s fine.¡± Jeffrey was calm.¡± But Grandma has been urging me to bring you to see her for a long time. Going there this time, there might be a trap waiting for us.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± she asked. ¡°Grandma is tricky, so | can¡¯t predict what she has in store for us. In any case, be mentally prepared,¡± Jeffrey helplessly said. On the way to the Morgan Residence, Mnie asionally reminded the driver to drive slower. Although Jeffrey had rested for a day and his wound had significantly improved, she was still afraid that he might have more problems. To prevent Madam Morgan from worrying. Jeffrey ordered both thepany and the hospital to keep his injury a secret. Madam Morgan still didn¡¯t know. When they were getting close to the Morgan Residence, Jeffrey''s phone rang. He answered it, listened for a few seconds, and hung up. Then, he said to Mnie, ¡°The car that came out with Luis has been identified. Harlow is also in Harbor City.¡± Harlow? Mnie blinked. ¡°Could this exin why the people investigating my father¡¯s ident are rted to the Yorks? Perhaps Harlow has been Nathan¡¯s aplice for a long time...¡± Jeffrey raised an eyebrow, but didn¡¯t say anything. From his understanding of this matter, those secretly investigating Tyler¡¯s ident and background were probably sent by the Yorks. Perhaps they had already be suspicious of Tyler''s identity. This matter had been kept a secret for decades, and would be dug out again one day, especially since the person searching for the truth was the powerful York family. 23. 23. +15 BONOS He deliberately revealed to her that the people investigating Tyler were rted to the Yorks because he wanted her to be mentally prepared in advance... The car arrived at the Morgan Residence. As soon as Madam Morgan saw them, she pulled Mnie aside, inquiring about her well-being and teasing, ¡°I thought you were busy perfume-blending abroad, ignoring me and my grandson.¡± ¡°Grandma, how could | bear to ignore you?¡± Mnieughed. Madam Morgan alsoughed. ¡°Well, it seems you are just ignoring my foolish grandson then...¡± She sighed. Madam Morgan nced at Jeffrey, suddenly looking surprised. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, child? You don¡¯t look so good. Is your kidney acting up?¡± Chatper 403 Chapter 403 Kidney Deficiency ¡°Pfft.¡± Stephen couldn¡¯t hold back augh that announced his presence. In the next second, he was coldly stared at by Jeffrey, causing him to quickly lean back into the sofa. ¡°No need to be embarrassed. Judging by your appearance, you''re deficient in vitality. No wonder it¡¯s so hard for me to hope for a great-grandson,¡± Madam Morgan dered, picking up her phone and sending a message to someone. ¡°Grandma, isn¡¯t your eldest great-grandson here?¡± Jeffrey asked helplessly. ¡°Him?¡± Madam Morgan nced at Stephen, who was holding a pillow and not sitting properly, and shook her head. ¡°This child is a waste! | want a great-grandson who | can teach properly. If it¡¯s a great-granddaughter, that¡¯s even better. If she¡¯s as beautiful and clever as Mnie, I''ll pass on my lifelong knowledge of fashion to her!¡± ¡°Granny, daughters usually look like their dad,¡± Jeffrey said, a smile ying on his lips. He really wanted a daughter. ¡°What do you know? As daughters grow older, they be more like their moms!¡± Madam Morgan turned back to re at Jeffrey. ¡°Why say so much? With your kidney deficiency, how can | have a great-grandson?¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Pfft!¡± This time, Mnie couldn''t hold back herughter. She threw her head back, andughed. ¡°Be careful.¡± Jeffrey, however, didn¡¯t me her for finding his situation amusing. He was busy taking care of her, afraid that she might strain herself. ¡°Be careful of what?¡± Madam Morgan was extremely sensitive, and started scrutinizing Mnie. ¡°My back has been bothering metely,¡± Mnie exined hastily. Seeing that she didn¡¯t intend to tell anyone, Jeffrey cooperated with her. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s too busy. Because she has to sit for a long time, it hurts her back.¡± ¡°You''re really making me worry. One of you has a back problem, while the other has a kidney problem,¡± Madam Morgan said, putting down her phone. ¡°I found an old friend who¡¯s a traditional medicine practitioner. | asked him toe and prescribe some supplements.¡± Jeffrey brought Mnie and Stephen back together, so Madam Morgan was delighted. The family enjoyed a reunion dinner. Not long after, a servant brought the old traditional medicine practitioner to them. After a brief wee, Madam Morgan urged Jeffrey to get up and move aside. ¡°This is my grandson. His kidneys aren¡¯t well. Check his pulse for me.¡± ¡°| don¡¯t need it!¡± Jeffrey red fiercely, conserving his dignity. The old man shook his head repeatedly. ¡°I''ve seen too many young people as stubborn as you. Although you''re young, kidney deficiency is not umon. What''s there to be embarrassed about? Come on, young man, give me your hand.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Mnie couldn¡¯t help butugh. 1/2 +15 BONOS This was the first time she heard someone refer to Jeffrey as a young man. No matter how she looked at him, she didn¡¯t think it was the right word to describe him. Stephen was alsoughing gleefully on the side. Jeffrey stared at him icily. Suppressing herughter, Mnie pushed Jeffrey forward gently. ¡°Let him check you.¡± After saying that, she even winked at him. She just wanted him to cover for her. That would prevent Madam Morgan from asking the traditional medicine practitioner to check her pulse. If that happened, her pregnancy would be exposed. After Mnie spoke, Jeffrey obediently extended his wrist. While checking his pulse, the old traditional medicine practitioner stroked his beard, talking incessantly. ¡°Giving birth is not a one-person affair. Your vigor is indeed deficient. | guess both of you have encountered some problems in normal times, right?¡± Jeffrey was annoyed, and frowned. ¡°What problems?¡± ¡°Intimacy must not be going smoothly, right?¡± the old man stated bluntly. ¡°Pfft...!¡± Mnie wished she could spurt blood. The old man was so direct. Jeffrey''s face darkened. Seeing him remain silent, Madam Morgan and the traditional medicine practitioner both turned their heads to look at Mnie, gesturing for her to speak. ¡°Well...¡± Mnie stammered. ¡°Alright, | understand.¡± Before Mnie could say anything further, the old man stroked his beard, nodded, and released Jeffrey''s wrist. ¡°The girl is embarrassed to speak up, but the expression suggests ack in marital rtions... For a young man to be in such a state, talking about the quality of marital rtions is pointless.¡± Not far away on the sofa, Stephan burst intoughter. Jeffrey''s face turned red. If it weren¡¯t for him being injured and losing blood repeatedly, how could he be deficient in vigor and have a kidney deficiency? He pursed his lips tightly. At this moment, he wished he could pick her up, point at her stomach, and show everyone that she was pregnant, setting the record straight for his reputation! Chatper 404 Chapter 404 The Culprit Among Culprits The traditional medicine practitioner prescribed a fifteen¡ªday course of traditional medicine tailored for Jeffrey. After bidding farewell to the doctor, Madam Morgan Immediately instructed the kitchen to prepare the medicine and insisted he start taking it today. Smelling the bitter aroma wafting from the kitchen, Stephen looked at his uncle¡¯s miserable face and asked, ¡± Grandma, why didn¡¯t you ask for a prescription for Aunt too? Giving birth is a joint effort, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°During conception, men y a more important role.¡± Madam Morgan nced at Stephen with dissatisfaction. ¡°And just by looking, it''s obvious the problem lies with your second uncle! With such kidney deficiency, | can¡¯t bear to watch! Your aunt has back problems, and the current priority is to care for her back. Otherwise, when she gets pregnant in the future, back pain will be a hardship.¡± ¡°Grandma, you''re truly wise,¡± Mnie genuinelyughed. An hourter, under the intense gaze of three pairs of eyes, Jeffrey had no choice but to drink arge bowl of traditional medicine, his face turning green. After he finished the medicine, Madam Morgan stood up without saying a word, urging them to go home and take care of official business. On the way back from the Morgan Residence, Jeffrey still wore a pained expression, while Mnie suppressed herughter and patted his hand, saying, ¡°Thank you for your hard work, President Morgan.¡± ¡°Are you pitying me?¡± Jeffrey raised his eyes that were filled with desire, and his hand, which was getting closer to her, began to misbehave. She stared at him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you understand the effects of that bowl of traditional medicine?¡± Jeffrey''s eyes were full of yearning as he leaned in close. ¡°I need to cool down.¡± ¡°Driver, please speed up.¡± Mnie cleared her throat, speaking crisply, ¡°Hurry and send President Morgan home. When you get home, President Morgan, use cold water to wipe yourself down and cool off.¡± From the front, the driver and William¡¯s suppressedughter could be heard. Mnie moved back to Marina Heights. Jeffrey arranged for someone to take care of her diet and after resting for a few days, she became stronger and rarely had serious morning sickness anymore. Jeffrey''s wounds had also mostly healed. Mnie collected a few more fragrance bases and nned to bring them to Medonia to create another perfume. When Jeffrey heard that she was flying again, he looked displeased and advised her to rest for a few more days before leaving. However, she insisted on leaving tomorrow. +15 BONOS As they were arguing, Jeffrey received a call. After listening to the report, he said to her, ¡°It seems God''s on your side.¡± ¡°What happened?¡±Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. At that time, Mnie¡¯s phone also rang. It was a call from Annie. ¡°After you asked me to investigate the boy who polsoned the dogsst time, | found out the truth.¡± Annie said. She paused for a moment, not knowing where to start as there was too much to say. ¡°The boy didn¡¯t poison the dog. The private detective found traces of the dog poisoner in the surveince footage of the area. After investigating for several days, they finally traced his true identity. Guess what?¡± ¡°What?¡± Mnie was eager to know. Annie quickly revealed the truth. ¡°The one who poisoned the dog is the same person who tried to assassinate you! He said he came to avenge Charles!¡± ¡°It''s him?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°| haven''t finished yet!¡± Annie continued, ¡°The private detective also found out that the assassin secretly met with Harlow a few days before entering the Yorks to assassinate you. | told you! Harlow wants to harm you!¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Mnie said. ¡°Wait, | haven¡¯t finished yet,¡± Annie added. ¡°The culprit is also a habitual offender. Not only did he try to assassinate you at the banquet, but he¡¯s also a fugitive. Recently, he¡¯d been hiding in the gardens of the wealthy district. When those dogs saw him, they barked wildly, so he poisoned the dogs.¡± Mnie pursed her lips. ¡°This isplicated. | need time to digest it.¡± ¡°To be honest, | also had to digest it before | could exin it to you,¡± Annie said. After finishing the call, she hung up. Mnie looked at Jeffrey, who was unsurprised. ¡°You already knew all this?¡± ¡°| just received a report from William on the phone.¡± She was surprised. ¡°How did you know that | saved a boy and investigated the dog poisoning incident?¡± Jeffrey said calmly, ¡°Originally, | didn¡¯t know, but my men discovered that the Snows¡¯ private detective has been active near the Yorkstely. So, | had my men keep a close eye on them.¡± ¡°Okay, President Morgan. You''re really skilled at making use of the situation.¡± Mnie rolled her eyes. ¡°So, it¡¯s settled. I¡¯ll go to Medonia tomorrow. Since Harlow wants to harm me, | can¡¯t let him go!¡° Chatper 405 Chapter 405 Snow Between the Brows The next day, Mnie took Jeffrey¡¯s private ne to Medonia. Throughout the journey, she enjoyed the full-service treatment from the entire staff on the ne. She had even better treatment than the injured Jeffrey. Cyrus also arrived at the venue for the fragrancepetition. Knowing that Mnie was back, he specifically asked her to take him to the fragrance blending room to smell the fragrance she had created. ¡°Is this fragrance a mystery, or a solution?¡± Cyrus asked. ¡°Mystery.¡± Mnie replied. ¡°The fragrance base is deep, mncholic, with middle notes of mimosa and musk. When you smell it, it inmediately umtes in your heart, bitter and lingering. What mystery are you creating?¡± ¡°Emotion,¡± Mnie said. ¡°Emotion?¡± ¡°Yes, the most unpredictable thing in the world is emotion. The word emotion is like flowers and dew, or clouds and moon. They appear to be intertwined, but are forever separated. What¡¯s love supposed to be? It makes one hold no fear in the face of death,¡± Mnie exined. Cyrus put down her fragrance and lowered his head, remaining silent for a moment before saying, ¡°Indeed, | could smell the feeling you describe in this fragrance. It makes me feel like I¡¯m carrying a heavy curse and fate. ¡°Does it have a name?¡± Cyrus asked again. ¡°This is an internationalpetition, and | want to highlight the characteristics of our domestic contestants. Coincidentally, the Yorks intend to invest, so | n to design the perfume packaging in an ancient Ustalian style, in coboration with the family¡¯s patriotic reputation. I¡¯ve thought about the name, and | intend to call it *. Snow Between the Brows. ¡°Deep feelings pile up like Snow Between the Brows, which looks like Snow Between the Brows...¡± Cyrus raised his eyebrows. ¡°This name has a unique charm.¡± ¡°Thank you for thepliment, sir.¡± ¡°So, do you have any ideas for the corresponding solution? Have you thought about it?¡± Cyrus asked. Mnie smiled. ¡°Originally, | had no idea, so | returned to Ustal to handle some matters first. | nned to return to Medonia when | had a clearer idea. Just these few days, I¡¯ve experienced some things, and ideas are slowly taking shape.¡± Cyrus couldn¡¯t help but be curious. ¡°Can you reveal a little in advance?¡± ¡°I''ll tell you when I¡¯ve finished it. | want to keep you in suspense,¡± Mnie said yfully. Cyrus pretended to be displeased, and crossed his arms. ¡°When do you n to make it? Tonight?¡± +15 BONOS ¡°Master, you¡¯re too impatient. | n to go to the Yorks today. I¡¯lle back in a few days to work on it,¡± Mnie said. Cyrus raised his eyebrows. ¡°You''re going to the Yorks? | just made an appointment with Joseph. Let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mnie agreed without hesitation. With Cyrus providing cover, it would be easier for her than going to the York family alone. The York estate. Harlow also returned from Harbor City. To show loyalty and filial piety, he didn¡¯t change his clothes and went straight to Joseph¡¯s study to report on the business development in Harbor City. Only when Joseph nodded did he breathe a sigh of relief and return to his own courtyard. In his room, Sylvia, wearing a strong fragrance and a sexy nightgown, was waiting for him. As soon as she saw him, she clung to him without letting go. ¡°Harlow, I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Harlow impatiently pushed her away. He had indulged her for a few days before, so this woman thought she was something. If he wasn¡¯t in a hurry to return to Ustal with Luis a few days ago, he would have sent her away long ago. He didn¡¯t expect her to still cling to him like this. Sylvia, seeing that Harlow was indeed disgusted with her, could only grit her teeth and change her strategy.¡¯ Harlow, did you instruct not to let anyone treat that bastard¡¯s injuries?¡± ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Harlow loosened his tie and leaned against the sofa, impatience evident on his face. ¡°His injuries have actually healed! It¡¯s only been a few days, but | already saw him starting to y football on the field yesterday. A few days ago, he was still running a fever and his wound was infected. If no one had bought medicine for him, how could he have recovered so quickly?¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chatper 406 Chapter 406 Bastard Sylvia knew Harlow¡¯s weaknesses, and targeted what he cared about. ¡°It¡¯s not important whether that bastard lives or dies. The important thing is, someone isn¡¯t taking your orders seriously! Someone¡¯s disobeying you behind your back. If we don¡¯t find out who it is and make an example out of this person, how can you maintain your authority here in the future?¡± Someone dared not to listen to him? This point indeed hit Harlow where it hurt the most, and his temper red. ¡°Investigate! Investigate right away!¡± he ordered his subordinates harshly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry. I¡¯ve already had someone investigate these past few days.¡± Sylvia flipped her hair, showing off her aplishments. ¡°None of the servants bought any anti-inmmatory medicine. In these few days, the only person who used simr medication in the York family is just one person. Can you guess who?¡± Harlow red at her impatiently, and Sylvia hurriedly continued, ¡°It¡¯s Leo! A few days ago, he got injured while blocking a knife for Mnie. His arm was injured, and only his room has anti-inmmatory medicine and disinfectant.¡± ¡°Leo!¡± Harlow clenched his teeth. ¡°He dares to go against me?¡± ¡°It''s not necessarily Leo going against you. | asked the servants who have been in and out of the courtyard these days. Apparently, on the night of the banquet, Mnie came here, and not just once...¡± Harlow squinted his eyes. Mnie had been to Leo¡¯s room, and it was indeed possible that she took the medicine from Leo. It was Mnie again! ¡°Go! Bring everyone who has seen Mnie go to Leo¡¯s room to me!¡± Harlow ordered. His subordinates quickly went to find them. Soon, two servants arrived in a rush. One of them testified that he had taken Mnie through a small path to Leo¡¯s room. However, when they passed by that courtyard, Mnie began to retch, so he went to get her a ss of water. As for whether Mnie entered the room during the time when he was gone, he didn¡¯t know. Meanwhile, the second servant said that Mnie came out of Joseph¡¯s study, deliberately using a phone call as an excuse to send her way. However, she was cautious and hid behind a pir. She saw Mnie go into the room, and even squatted outside the door for a while. ¡°Does Mnie know that idiot¡¯s identity?¡± Harlow asked. The servant, frightened, shook his head repeatedly. ¡°I stayed far away, and couldn''t hear what was said inside the room. | don¡¯t know if she knows or not...¡± ¡°Regardless of whether she knows or not, that child cannot be kept alive!¡± Harlow said ruthlessly. ¡°l agree. When he killed my dogst time, | already felt that this child is ruthless and can¡¯t be kept alive,¡± +15 BONOS Harlow narrowed his eyes, waved his hand, and ordered the person behind him, ¡°Go prepare, and make it clean! ¡°Mr. York... Aren¡¯t you afraid that his biological mother wille and look for him?¡± Although the subordinate was afraid, he still took the risk to remind Harlow. ¡°Do you think I''ll let a woman threaten me for a lifetime, huh?¡± Harlow stared at him with wide eyes, looking terrifying. ¡°But she¡¯s not an ordinary woman...¡± The subordinate still tried to persuade Harlow. ¡°I told you to get rid of him! Can¡¯t you understand?! Or do you want to die with him?¡± Harlow got angry, stood up, and pped him. The subordinate dared not say more and left to carry out the order. Sylvia smirked, feeling triumphant, but she said coyly, ¡°Harlow, you just arrived after a long journey. Let me help you take a bath. You¡¯ll surely feelfortable after that.¡± Harlow exhaled deeply, and didn¡¯t push her away this time. He allowed her to take him to the bathroom. Sylvia felt smug. This time, she could share Harlow¡¯s worries, which meant that she was different from those brainless vases. She had a brain, so she wasn¡¯t going to be kicked out of the door so quickly.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. In the evening, Mnie and Cyrus took a car to the York estate together. When Joseph heard she wasing, he specifically instructed the chefs at home to inquire about her taste preferences and prepare several dishes she loved. He was very friendly and kind to her. On the way, Mnie kept thinking that she had to take this opportunity to check on the child¡¯s injuries. Although she left a business cardst time, she never received a call from that woman. Now that she had found the real culprit behind the poisoned dogs, she could truly clear the child¡¯s name. Chatper 407 Chapter 407 Get Rid of Him Joseph only received Cyrus and Mnie this time.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Leo was also present, apanying them for the meal. In the York family, such a simple dinner only served to highlight the guests¡¯ nobility. After the meal, Mnie took the opportunity to ask Leo, ¡°How¡¯s your injury?¡± ¡°Just a minor injury. All healed now,¡± Leo smiled. ¡°The medications the doctor prescribed for me were very effective. In less than three days, the wound has already healed.¡± As he said thest sentence, Leo looked at Mnie meaningfully. There was a change in his tone, as if implying something. Mnie blinked. Leo was perceptive, probably noticing that she had taken medicine from his room without permission. Yet, since he didn¡¯t make it explicit, it indicated that he tacitly agreed to keep it a secret. Mnie smiled and nodded. ¡°That''s good, or | would feel even more guilty.¡± The two chatted for a while, and Leo left to answer a phone call. Cyrus''s assistant approached Mnie and said, ¡°Today is the first time I''ve apanied Elder Gibson to have a meal at the York family. | noticed that he treats Joseph with both respect and fear. What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Joseph is almost a hundred years old, and both in terms of age and experience, he is Elder Gibson¡¯s senior. Isn''t it normal?¡± Mnie exined. Cyrus''s assistant shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. In the fragrance industry, there are a few elders who belong to the same generation as Elder Gibson, but he has always been unrestrained in front of them...¡± Mnie thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Well, it''s not difficult to exin. Didn¡¯t you say that Elder Gibson likes Yelena? Yelena is Joseph''s eldest daughter. Back then, Joseph almost became Elder Gibson¡¯s father¡ªin-w. Naturally, one would treat his father¡ªinw with both respect and fear.¡± Cyrus''s assistant had a realization. ¡°That makes sense.¡± ¡°Speaking of Yelena, she could be considered the most skilled in fragrance blending among several generations of the York family. It was said that she and Elder Gibson met in apetition, and they got to know each other better after that. Unfortunately, she passed away at a young age...¡± Cyrus¡® assistant couldn¡¯t help but sigh as he brought up the topic. Mnie took the opportunity to ask, ¡°How about Harlow and Leo¡¯s father?¡± ¡°I''ve heard from Elder Gibson that their father had a good rtionship with Yelena. He was the healthiest among the siblings, although not good at fragrance blending. Still, his family had high expectations for him. Yelena also cared a lot for her younger brother. However, for some reason, when he reached middle age, he suddenly fell seriously ill and passed away quickly.¡± Mnie nodded, listening while also paying attention to the surroundings. +15 BONOS Joseph and Cyrus were having a conversation in the study with the door tightly closed, and others were busy with their own affairs. No one paid attention to her. She made an excuse to go to the bathroom and then slipped out of the main building, heading straight to Harlow¡¯s courtyard. The trash outside the small house in the backyard was gone, and the foul smell had disappeared. She walked to the door and knocked lightly. Soon, she heard running footsteps inside, and the boy opened the door for her. ¡°Prettydy!¡± The boy recognized Mnie at a nce, and he grinned joyfully. Mnie entered, closed the door, and then observed the boy from head to toe. ¡°Does your wound still hurt?¡± ¡°No.¡± The boy shook his head. The wounds on his legs and arms had healed, and he looked much more spirited. While answering her questions, he also jumped around the room, proving that children didn¡¯t hide illnesses. ¡°Are you the only one here?¡± Mnie didn¡¯t see the woman who took care of the boy. The boy nodded. ¡°She went to get me some food.¡± ¡°Now that you''re not in pain, | can rest assured.¡± Mnie crouched down, stroking the boy¡¯s wrist. ¡°I have something to tell you. | found the person who poisoned those dogs, so now we can prove that you didn¡¯t poison them.¡± ¡°H-He¡¯s a bad person!¡± The boy suddenly frowned, clenching his fists angrily. Mnie paused for a second before nodding. ¡°That''s right, the person who poisoned the dogs is a bad person.¡± The thing that the child cared most about was not being wronged, but standing up for those innocent dogs. ¡°I came to tell you the truth this time. Don¡¯t worry, the bad person will receive the punishment he deserves.¡± Mnie smiled and stood up, bidding farewell. ¡°However, | came secretly and can¡¯t stay for long. Until next time.¡± The boy suddenly pointed to the window and shouted. ¡°Smoke, smoke!¡± Mnie turned to look, and sure enough, thick smoke was rising outside. Soon, the smoke began to pour in, filling the room with a pungent smell, making her and the boy cough. ¡°Someone set a fire.¡± She rushed to open the door. However, as expected, the door was locked from the outside. She ran to the window, thinking that she could break the ss and escape from the window. When she reached the window, she saw several masked people holding wooden boards and hammers, nailing shut the only two windows in the room. Chatper 408 Chapter 408 Not Worthy of Living in This World ¡°Who are you?¡± Mnie shouted. However, she immediately breathed in more thick smoke, causing her to choke on the smoke and not be able to speak.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Instinctive calls to help were often the least effective, Mnie forced herself to calm down quickly and took out her phone, only to find that there was no signal at all. It seemed that those people outside were well-prepared; they had set up signal interference in the vicinity, leaving her with no way to call for help, She instinctively thought that the people outside must be here to deal with her, and she had inadvertently involved the child. She had saved Gabriel from a burning room before, so she had some experience this time. Mnie quickly surveyed the room. She remembered that the woman taking care of the boy had fetched water from the roomst time. Sure enough, she quickly found the wash basin. She wet two towels with soapy water, and tightly covered the boy¡¯s mouth and nose with one. ¡°I-I¡¯''m scared!¡± The boy trembled, almost on the verge of tears. ¡°Don''t be afraid. I¡¯m here, so you''ll be fine.¡± Mnie could onlyfort him while covering her own mouth with the wet towel. Yet, the smoke in the room was getting thicker, making them both cough. Although the windows and door were sealed shut, she needed to find another way out. She didn¡¯t know if they could survive if they continued to stay here. Just then, she heard a cat meowing outside. ¡°Kitty!¡± The boy, upon hearing the sound, threw away the wet towel and rushed toward a corner. ¡°You need the towel! Come back quickly!¡± Mnie picked up the towel and chased after him, only to see the boy moving aside some debris, revealing a hole in the wall. A cat had entered from outside. There was actually a hole! Although the hole was small, the surrounding brick walls were already crumbling. It just so happened that there was a shovel. Mnie immediately grabbed it, and started digging. Following the loose bricks, she exerted all her strength to erge the hole. Turning to the boy, she said, ¡°Come, you and the cat crawl out through here and seek help.¡± 1/3 $15 BONDS The boy said the same thing. ¡°I¡¯m scared, Y-You apany me.¡± Mnie tried to rx, coughing as she encouraged him, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. This hole is too small for me to craw out. Only you and the cat can. Remember, once you''re out, run toward crowded ces, scream fire, and call tox help. Bring them here.¡± In the midst of her incessant talking, the boy gradually rxed. He got the cat to crawl out first. ¡°Prettydy, what about you?¡± he asked, Mnie was so exhausted that she was leaning against the wall. She gathered her remaining strength to cover her mouth with the wet towel, but it wasn¡¯t of much help now. ¡°I''ll wait for you here. Find someone to help me. Go,¡± After saying that, she closed her eyes. She vaguely sensed the boy struggling to crawl out. She soon heard the noise outside, but it wasn¡¯t the boy calling for help from the crowd, but a group of people menacingly warning him, ¡°You still want to run?¡± ¡°You little bastard! You''re going to die!¡± Could it be that the person who set the fire intended to harm...that boy? She fell into unconsciousness right after that... When Mnie regained consciousness, she felt her whole body was very heavy and sore, including her eyelids. She could hear people talking around her. She wanted to open her eyes to see who it was, but she couldn''t. Mnie heard a man¡¯s voice. ¡°Miss, she¡¯s pregnant, so there aren¡¯t many options for medications, and her recovery will be slower.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a perfumer. Regardless of the medication you use, remember, | don¡¯t want to hear about her olfactory and gustatory senses being damaged,¡± a woman said. The woman''s instructions were decisive and sharp, her voice tinged with the certainty of someone experienced. She sounded as elegant and smooth as silk. ¡°Yes, miss. | will carefully consider which medication to prescribe to her,¡± the man said respectfully. After a pause, the man asked, ¡°Miss, what''s this behind her shoulder? It looks like...?¡± The atmosphere suddenly tensed. Then came a dead silence. It seemed that someone was touching her shoulder, but everything was a haze that Mnie couldn¡¯t be sure. After a while, the woman asked suspiciously, ¡°Do you suspect that she¡¯s hiding something?¡± ¡°Yes, this green birthmark on her is very strange. Although it''s a birthmark, it¡¯s remarkably simr to that 213- + 15 BONOS ¡°Go check and see what she¡¯s trying to hide.¡± The woman calmly ordered, ¡°My baby said she encouraged him to crawl out of the hole. She saved my son, so I''ll ensure the safety of her and her child. When the opportunity arises, hand her over to her friend. Handle it neatly, without leaving any traces.¡± The man then asked, ¡°Yes. What about those henchmen, miss?¡± ¡°Anyone who dares to call my son a bastard is not worthy of living in this world!¡± the woman sparted ruthlessly, her elegant voice sending chills down one¡¯s spine. ¡°Understood!¡± Chatper 409 Chapter 409 Biological Mother Mnie woke up from a nightmare. In the dream, she and the boy were trapped in thick smoke, unable to find a way out. She kept coughing until she coughed herself awake. ¡°It''s okay... I¡¯m hero..¡± The voice that entered her ears was, surprisingly enough, Jeffrey''s voice. Mnie was startled. She opened her eyes abruptly, and indeed saw that familiar face. Tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not dreaming, right? Is it really you?¡± She reached out to touch his face. ¡°It''s me... I''m here...¡± Jeffrey held her hand in return, looking at her tearful eyes. His eyes were crimson as he frowned in worry. ¡°What happened?¡± Seeing Jeffrey, Mnie instantly found a pir of support. She calmed down, and her first reaction was to reach for her belly. ¡°The baby?¡± ¡°The baby is fine.¡± Jeffrey gently covered her slightly cool fingertips, warming them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s very well.¡± ¡°But | inhaled a lot of smoke...¡± Mnie still had doubts. ¡°The doctor said he¡¯s developing well, and all the indicators are normal. Our child is strong.¡± Jeffrey said, and his face softened. ¡°You''re not even three months pregnant. The doctor said if there were any problems, the child wouldn¡¯t have survived. But since he¡¯s so strong, it means he¡¯s fine.¡± Mnie breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the child was fine. Otherwise, she would live in guilt. At this thought, tears flowed out of her eyes. Jeffrey''s brows furrowed deeper. ¡°Why are you crying again? Are you feeling ufortable?¡± She shook her head, wiping away tears. ¡°I¡¯m just scared. What if | didn¡¯t protect him well...¡± ¡°By protecting yourself, you protected him. You did well,¡± Jeffreyforted her softly. Mnie sniffed, trying to control her emotions that were on the verge of getting out of control. She started to analyze the mysterious events. ¡°How was | saved?¡± ¡°After hearing that the York estate caught fire, my people arrived a step toote. When they came, you were already saved by someone else. | found you in this hospital,¡± Jeffrey exined guiltily. ¡°Who saved me?¡± She was puzzled. 113: +15 BONOS Jeffrey shook his head. ¡°The surveince footage during the time you were brought to the hospital had been erased. The medical staff said the people who processed the procedures for you wore hats and masks, making it impossible to see their faces.¡± ¡°Was it a man or a woman?¡± Mnie asked again. ¡°The nurse said it was two men.¡± ¡°There was no woman?¡± Mnie frowned. ¡°I remember there was a woman, the one giving orders...¡± ¡°How do you remember?¡± Jeffrey held her hand, apanying her in recalling her memories. He was afraid she would exert herself too much. Mnie closed her eyes to recall, and then shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it was a dream or reality. Oh right! She suddenly remembered something, and asked eagerly. ¡°What about the boy? Was he captured?¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t found anywhere,¡± Jeffrey answered. ¡°Are you saying that the boy was in the room with you when the fire broke out?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Mnie nodded. She told Jeffrey theplete story of how she secretly went to see the boy, and how the room caught fire and was locked from the outside. After Jeffrey heard that, he shook his head. ¡°My people didn¡¯t see him, and there were no signs of struggle.¡± That was strange. Mnie furrowed her brows. Even if she assumed that the conversation between the man and the woman in her memory was a dream, her memory of being trapped in the room with the boy was absolutely real. The boy was really there. She also heard someone grabbing him and threatening him. How could it be...? ¡°What about the Yorks? Did they find him?¡± Mnie asked.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Jeffrey still answered in the negative, ¡°I''ve been with you all this while. | didn¡¯t pay attention to anything else.¡± At that moment, William entered quietly. Seeing Mnie awake, he sensibly lowered his head to stand aside. Jeffrey turned to ask him if there were any movements in the Yorks. William replied, ¡°Only Elder Gibson is causing a scene in the York family. There are no other movements.¡± ¡°Why is my master there?¡± Mnie asked in confusion. ¡°When he heard that a fire broke out and that you were trapped, Elder Gibson searched for you with me. He left only after confirming that you were safe. William said he drove back to the Yorks and is now demanding justice for you,¡± Jeffrey exined. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Morgan. Elder Gibson seized an opportunity. The Yorks started a fire without any reason, and it just happened to implicate you. Considering your previous encounter with assassination at the Yorks, Elder Gibson 213: +15 BONOS Mnie lowered her gaze, feeling warmth in her heart. Unexpectedly, her master was the obedient potential son-inw in front of Mr. York for one moment; the next, he would create chaos at the York family for her. He was truly a good master. ¡°This time, | won''t let the York family off, either.¡± Jeffrey gritted his teeth, determined. ¡°Are you going to make a scene there as well?¡± Mnie smiled. ¡°It¡¯s enough that my master seeks justice for me. | want to ask you, do you know who the boy¡¯s mother is?¡± ¡°There are too many women around Harlow, and his recent gossip isn¡¯t grabbing much attention anymore,¡± Jeffrey said. ¡°The boy is ten years old. Judging from this, Harlow and the boy¡¯s mother were probably together about ten years ago. At that time, Harlow wasn¡¯t even thirty years old. Can you investigate?¡± Mnie asked. She remembered that the elegant and sharp woman had said that the boy was her son. If that wasn¡¯t a dream, the boy must have been rescued by now, and was probably with his biological mother... Chatper 410 Chapter 410 Birthmark Jeffrey turned to look at William, who promptly replied, ¡°Madam, Mr. Harlow York has been mingling with women ever since he was a teenager. Although he wasn¡¯t yet thirty ten years ago, it would still be difficult to investigate...¡± Jeffrey shot him a look, and William hastily assured, ¡°But | will immediately send people to investigate, difficult or not!¡± ¡°Why investigate the biological mother of that child? What do you know?¡± Jeffrey asked Mnie. Mnie told him about the conversation she overheard between the man and woman while she was half- conscious. Jeffrey poured her a ss of warm water, watching her drink sip by sip. ¡°So, you think she saved you and doesn¡¯t want to reveal her identity?¡± Mnie nodded. ¡°Yes. And | have a feeling that the identity of the child¡¯s mother is crucial, and it hides a deep secret... Besides, since Harlow and | are already at odds, getting dirt on him would be advantageous and harmless to me.¡± Jeffrey nodded, agreeing with her. ¡°You mentioned that the woman knows you''re a perfumer. If she¡¯s not someone who has known you for a long time, then... Someone who can thoroughly investigate your background in Medonia in such a short time is none other than the four major families.¡± Jeffrey pondered, and muttered, ¡°Her subordinates called her ¡®Miss¡®...¡± ¡°She has a very elegant voice and a somewhat condescending tone, indicating she grew up in an affluent environment. Although the man called her ¡®Miss,¡ã she sounded like she had aged a bit.¡± ¡°How old is she?¡± Jeffrey squinted. ¡°Probably around forty, or even older.¡± ¡°She''s that much older than Harlow?¡± Mnie nodded again. ¡°Yes. So, when investigating Harlow¡¯s rumored girlfriends, you can focus on women more than ten years older than him. Perhaps it''ll be easier.¡± ¡°Although the Yorks have the greatest influence, their family members are rtively simple. It seems that there¡¯s no woman matching the age you mentioned. Among the other three major families, only a few family heads¡® wives are of that age, but they are controlled by their husbands and have little power. They aren''t as affluent and formidable as you described,¡± Jeffrey analyzed. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not someone from the four major families?¡± Mnie suggested. Jeffrey nodded. ¡°I''ll have someone investigate, to see if there are any other forces secretly operating in Medonia during this period.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± Mnie suddenly thought of something. She unbuttoned her cor, and said to Jeffrey, ¡°I seem to +15 BONOS Jeffrey looked at the spot behind her shoulder. Below her right shoulder, there was a small green birthmark, like a shining little sun. When he first slept with her, he thought it was a tattoo, but now, she said it was aN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. birthmark. ¡°The man said he suspected this was not a birthmark, saying it resembled some kind of technology...¡± Mnie recalled. ¡°Wasn''t this birthmark something you had from childhood?¡± Jeffrey asked. ¡°It''s natural,¡± Mnie exined. ¡°But | remember that when | was a child, the birthmark wasn¡¯t like this. It was just a small, ordinary birthmark. Later, a circle of dots appeared on it and grew outward. At that time, my mom took me to the hospital, worried that the sudden change in the birthmark might cause problems. But after the examination, the doctor said there was no problem. It''s been like this ever since.¡± Jeffrey lowered his head to think for a moment before asking. ¡°When did it change?¡± ¡°When | was in high school.¡± ¡°During the two years when you had the heart surgery?¡± Jeffrey asked again. Mnie nodded. She looked at his gradually deepening gaze, and asked in suspicion. ¡°What''s wrong? What did you think of?¡± *After a major surgery, there may be some changes in the human body, but since you heard them discussing this as some kind of technology... We can ask someone,¡± Jeffrey exined. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°After | got into a car ident, other than the traditional medicine practitioner who helped me recover my health and treat my leg injuries that you¡¯ve seen before, there was another medical genius. | can say that he saved my life. He¡¯s proficient in various advanced medical technologies. If we ask him, he should know.¡± Jeffrey exined to her. Chatper 411 Chapter 411 Medicine ¡°He¡¯s in the country?¡± Mnie was curious. ¡°He has no fixed residence. | can email him, but | don¡¯t know when we will receive a reply,¡± Jeffrey replied. Mnie smiled. She felt that whenever Jeffrey mentioned this medical genius, his tone became involuntarily respectful, completely different from his usual decisive and ruthless style. It showed the magnificence of a lifesaver¡¯s halo. After a pause, she said, ¡°When the fire started, | initially thought someone was trying to harm me. | thought it was probably Harlow. Later, after the child crawled out and was caught by the men outside, they threatened him, so | felt like they were targeting him. I¡¯m not sure if it was orchestrated by Harlow. Moreover, that child is his son... ¡°But now that my master has already caused a ruckus at the York family, this matter probably won¡¯t end well. | might as well take this opportunity to bring the evidence linking Harlow to the assassin at the banquet to Joseph York, and see how he handles it.¡± ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡± Jeffrey looked into her eyes. Mnie nodded. ¡°Anyway, Harlow and | arepletely at odds now. Even if | don¡¯t expose him this time, he won¡¯t show mercy tome.¡± ¡°Good. I''ll immediately have someone send the evidence to the Yorks,¡± Jeffrey said sternly. ¡°Not only you, but the assassination incident also involves me. I''ll also use this opportunity to pressure the Yorks. Even if Joseph wants to protect Harlow, he will have to pay a huge price.¡± Mnie spent three days in the hospital, having everything brought to her. Three dayster, the doctor conducted a routine examination, and Jeffrey finally heard satisfactory results. She could finally be discharged. Jeffrey thought of arranging for her to stay at his home in Medonia, but she disagreed. Even someone as prominent as Cyrus stayed in the hotel booked by thepetition organizers. She didn¡¯t want any special treatment. If she stayed far away, she would attract too much attention every time she went to the fragrance blending room. The Gibson family had their men protecting the hotel, and coupled with the Morgan family¡¯s bodyguards, Mnie was confident. ¡°| believe this hotel is safer than your home.¡± Jeffrey could only let her be.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Upon discharge, the doctor gave some instructions. After that, he suddenly remembered something, and said, By the way, | heard that you¡¯re investigating who brought you to the hospital. | have a lead, but don¡¯t know if it¡¯s useful.¡± 09 +15 BONOS ¡°Do tell,¡± Mnie said hastily. ¡°When we started the medication for you, we received a call detailing your condition. The caller also mentioned that they had already administered medication to you. When we started treating you, you were already much better. The medicine used is an international high-end drug. Our hospital doesn¡¯t have it, and I¡¯ve only seen its pharmacology in academic journals. It¡¯s very beneficial for human recovery, with minimal side effects.* ¡°What medicine is it?¡± Jeffrey asked. The doctor mentioned the name, and Jeffrey gestured for William to note it down. ¡°Was the caller a man or a woman?¡± Mnie asked anxiously. ¡°It was a mechanical voice, like a robot. | couldn¡¯t tell if it was a man or a woman,¡± the doctor replied. ¡®lll check the phone location.¡± William left hastily after saying this. After Jeffrey sent Mnie to the hotel and settled her in, William came over to report to him. ¡®President Morgan, Mrs. Morgan. | just investigated that anonymous call. The location traced from the call is garbled and encrypted by a master, so we couldn''t find any clues. ¡®As for the international high-end medicine, there is some information. This medicine is rare and expensive. Currently, aside from being used on military and political figures of several major countries, only a few top financial conglomerates possess it,¡± William continued. Chatper 412 Chapter 412 Top Financial Conglomerates Jeffrey pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°My family doesn¡¯t even have this medicine.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve instructed our men to follow this lead and investigate whether there are any women matching Mrs. Morgan¡¯s description among the relevant individuals, and whether they''ve had contact with Harlow. However, I¡¯m not sure if some major families have secretly purchased this medicine. I''ll keep an eye on it,¡± William said shrewdly. Jeffrey nodded. ¡°Focus on investigating families that have recently had someone injured, and need to recuperate.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± William acknowledged. The search for the biological mother of the boy hadn''t yielded any results yet. On the other hand, the Yorks had given an exnation. After themotion caused by Cyrus and the pressure exerted by Jeffrey and Leo, Joseph ordered the retrieval of most of Harlow¡¯s assets within thepany, suspended his position within thepany, and confined him to the home until the investigations into the fire and assassination incidents were cleared. ¡°It seems the Yorks still want to protect Harlow.¡± Mnie lowered her gaze. Although not entirely unexpected, she still felt displeased. Harlow was involved in both the murder and arson incidents. However, the final decision of the Yorks was to confine him at home, which meant that when the dust settled and Joseph¡¯s mood improved, his assets would return to his hands.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Recently, there have been changes in the international business world. With the joint pressure from me and Elder Gibson on the York family, even if they want to protect him, Harlow wouldn¡¯t dare to cause trouble during his house arrest. Once he does, Joseph won''t be able to justify it to the outside world,¡± Jeffrey reassured her. Mnie nodded. As long as Cyrus and Jeffrey continued to suppress him, Harlow¡¯s house arrest wouldn¡¯t be too short. This period would be enough for her to have some peace of mind. Knowing that Jeffrey was afraid she might find the result unsatisfactory, she added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. | know the status and position of the Yorks. With Harlow being one of the two heirs, we can¡¯t be too hasty in dealing with him.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s take our time.¡± Jeffrey smirked, revealing a cunning smile. ¡°Are you no longer pretending to be innocent in front of me, President Morgan?¡± Mnie smiled. This was the first time he had shown his scheming side in front of her. ¡°Do | still need to pretend in front of you?¡± Mnie chuckled, and teased, ¡°Weren''t you nning to take revenge at first? Don¡¯t think you can foot me. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve be stupid due to pregnancy.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°I''d say you''ve be more articte.¡± Jeffrey lightly pursed his lips, conceding defeat. One weekter, Mnie¡¯s second fragrance, ¡°Solution,¡± was sessfully formted. All the participants had submitted their fragrances, and the organizers convened all judges and participants for the awards ceremony. Only one participant would be awarded the first prize, while three would be awarded the second prize. Five people would be awarded the third prize. After several rounds of evaluations by over a dozen judges and with scores given separately, the first ce was secured by Cyrus as expected. Following closely were other popr candidates like Gabriel. Mnie¡¯s score, although iparable to Elder Gibson and Gabriel, secured her the fourth position and thest second prize. After announcing the list of winners, ording to the rules of thepetition, they needed to ask the participants if they had any objections. If there were no objections, the award ceremony would proceed directly. However, someone unexpectedly stood up to challenge them. ¡°I have a question!¡± ¡°May | ask what your question is?¡± The host managed his expression well, disguising his surprise. ¡°I''m doubtful of Mnie Jones¡¯s score. | request to see her scorecards!¡± Chatper 413 Chapter 413 Fifth ce The one questioning Mnie¡¯s score was none other than Aiden, the participant from Medonia who had created four fragrances with food vors. As soon as the audience saw him, they began to whisper among themselves. Cyrus¡¯s assistant muttered to Mnie, ¡°He¡¯s just a sore loser! Last time, you publicly defeated him and said his fragrance didn¡¯t have good middle and base notes. Now, he¡¯s just seeking revenge. Just ignore him!¡± Although Cyrus''s assistant said that, the organizers decided to disy the scorecards given to Mnie by the judges. After Aiden saw them, he squinted and boldly stepped forward. ¡°Look, everyone! The scores given to her show a clear prization. Some are very high, while others are very low. Therefore, | question her receiving the second prize!¡± Mnie looked at therge screen projecting the scorecards, and blinked. Aiden wasn¡¯t wrong. She didn¡¯t understand why someone would give her such low scores. Seeing her remain silent, Cyrus¡¯s assistant spoke up for her. ¡°What kind of question is that? It¡¯s just nitpicking! The scorecards are here. Based on the average score, Mnie is fourth, and she rightfully deserves the second prize. That¡¯s what fairness and justice mean!¡± ¡°I''m just expressing my doubts. Everyone can take a look at my scorecard. All the judges¡® scores fluctuate within a reasonable range. It¡¯s unlike Mnie¡¯s scores, which are all over the ce. Besides, we have freedom of speech. You should understand that,¡± Aiden said fearlessly, throwing a challenging stare at Cyrus¡¯s assistant. Internationalpetitions respected the freedom of speech of participants. Since someone raised a question, the organizers began to inquire about the opinions of all the judges and whether they were willing to stand by their previous scores. Cyrus''s assistant felt this was simply absurd. ¡°Aiden, is it because you are unsatisfied with getting fifth ce and received a third prize that you want to drag down the others ahead of you to secure a second prize? If that¡¯s the case, why didn¡¯t you question Elder Gibson and aim for a first prize?¡± ¡°Right! Perfume blending isn¡¯t an exam where one has a certain score to meet, where if you fall below it, you fail. Perfume blending is an art, and everyone¡¯s perception of art is different. How can the scores be the same?¡± At this moment, Gabriel also stood up to speak for Mnie. ¡°Even if it were an exam with a unified score line, it would allow for a certain number of talented individuals. You¡¯re simply making trouble for no reason!¡± he added. ¡°lm not making trouble!¡± Aiden protested. Agitated, he grabbed the microphone and shouted, ¡°Mnie¡¯s fragrance was beside me just now, and | smelled them. | was unconvinced by these two fragrances of hers, so I¡¯m raising my doubts. Some judges +15 BONOS Mnie understood¡ªAiden was just causing trouble. He was either seeking revenge or acting on instructions from the main judge, Robert. This probably involved the interests of the York family, and she was undoubtedly being used as a pawn. In the audience, Joseph and several other staff members of the organizingmittee immediately gathered with the judges for a discussion on how to handle the situation. After more than ten minutes of intense discussion, Joseph said to Mnie, ¡°Mnie, you might as well exin your fragrance concepts again. The exnations on the cards are limited, after all.¡± Each participant, when submitting their work, had to include a card detailing the aromatic ingredients used in the top, middle, and base notes. The card also had to contain the perfumer¡¯s concept for the fragrance, providing context for the evaluators. Mnie pursed her lips and walked to the microphone, her expression calm. ¡°| believe that if everyone can question the judges¡® scores, then the previous scoring would be a joke.¡± ¡°If the judges decide to re-score, who will take responsibility for the scores given after the repeated evaluations? If | am dissatisfied with the scores given again, do | also have the right to demand a reevaluation? If this continues in a loop, will thepetition ever end?¡± Her words were firm, but she stayed within the limits.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°| disagree with a reevaluation, but since Mr. York has made a request, | also respect everyone''s opinions. So, I''ll exin my thoughts again.¡± Chatper 414 Chapter 414 Miss Yancey ¡°The first fragrance is called, Snow Between the Brows.¡± Mnie stood under the spotlight. Holding the microphone, she began to exin her fragrance concepts. ¡°With this fragrance, | want to convey the emotions between people. ¡°Love is an eternal and unchanging topic. | used rose thorns, bitter orange flower, and night-blooming jasmine for the top notes. For the middle notes, | used grapefruit, juniper berry, and clove. For the base notes, | used labdanum, dragon¡¯s blood resin, frankincense, and rock rose. | aimed to create a feeling that brings extreme joy and despair. ¡°The initial impression is alluring floral fragrance, with blooming flowers so beautiful it suffocates. The subsequent whiffs are like medicine, sweet with a hint of bitterness, making people alternate between feeling happy and sad and feel that they are unable to grasp at something. The lingering fragrance at the end is intense and profound, like poison, growing stronger as emotions deepen.¡± Listening to her exnation, several judges couldn''t help but pick up her fragrance and smelled it again, followed by nods of approval. One person, familiar with Cyrus, couldn¡¯t resist saying to him, ¡°Your disciple does have extraordinary talent. She has indeed captured the feelings of difficult-to¡ªcontrol emotions.¡± Cyrus proudly stood with his hands behind his back. ¡°Why else would | take her as my disciple?¡± ¡°The second fragrance is called, You Are Like the Moon,¡± Mnie continued. ¡°For the top notes, | used pear, bergamot, ry sage, and gardenia. For the middle notes, | used geranium, lily of the valley, and benzoin. The base notes include Texas cedarwood, lovage, and dry amber. This is the antidote | formted for the previous Mystery, a remedy for that tormenting emotion. ¡°| want to express that love originally has no solution. Instead of struggling, reminiscing, and entangling yourself in the whirlpool of emotions, it¡¯s better to let go, enjoy happy moments with your loved one, and not ask whether it¡¯s fate or cmity.¡± Spontaneous apuse erupted from the audience. Someone said, ¡°Well said! When | smelled Snow Between the Brows, | felt like | was lost in the clouds. When | smelled You Are Like the Moon, | felt an instant sense of liberation!¡± The apuse continued for a while, so much that Robert grew impatient. He nced coldly to his left and right, and the apuse immediately dwindled. No one dared to praise Mnie anymore. ¡°Her fragrances are always ethereal, and not grounded at all. She uses ingredients from international fragrance giants, making her scents naturally clearer than others. Unfortunately, the prices are absurdly high! ¡°If the fragrance industry promotes itself based on high costs, what will ordinary people use? Perfumes should be essible to the general public. High-end individuals attending high-end asions usually use essences, ¡°Aiden said. Seeing Robert¡¯s signal, he immediately took the lead in questioning Mnie¡¯s perfumes. 1/2: +15 BONOS ¡°The purpose of thispetition is indeed to create fragrances for the mass consumer group,¡± Robert''s assistant chimed in as well. ¡°From the beginning, the organizingmittee emphasized strict adherence to thepetition rules, aligning with the event¡¯s purpose. Therefore, judges should consider this dimension when scoring.¡± The judges exchanged nces. Some judges hade been able to perceive Mnie¡¯s intended feelings in the fragrances earlier, resulting in lower scores. Fragrance perception varied among individuals, so differing scores weren''t surprising. After Mnie¡¯s exnation and after they smelled her fragrances again, two judges were already regretting giving her lower scores. However, Robert''s intention seemed to be to lower her scores further. Robert, who had let his assistant speak for him earlier, finally spoke up and continued to be assertive. Judges, think about whether you want to reevaluate the scores.¡± Joseph frowned, but he didn¡¯t look up. It brought forth a tense atmosphere. Cyrus''s assistant clenched his fists in anger, muttering through gritted teeth beside Mnie. ¡°That Robert! He really thinks he¡¯s invincible! He knew that when the organizingmittee repeatedly invited him to be the main judge, Mr. Joseph wouldn''t openly contradict him, so he intentionally targeted you!¡± Mnie also knew that the situation was unfavorable to her. She didn¡¯t care whether it was the second or third prize. The scores had already been announced, but they were dragging her out on the spot for questioning and demoting her. It was humiliating! The judges looked at each other. They knew they couldn¡¯t offend Joseph, but he didn¡¯t give any indication on his stance. At the same time, offending Robert was not advisable.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. What should they do? Should they change the scores or not? Just at this moment, a woman¡¯s voice came from the VIP seats behind the judges. ¡°| actually think that Miss Jones''s scores for Snow Between the Brows and You Are Like the Moon are too low. Her voice was pleasant, but it also carried unquestionable authority. Mnie looked in that direction, and saw a woman sitting in the middle of the VIP seats. She had gorgeous makeup and a graceful appearance. It was difficult to determine her specific age, but one thing was for sure- she was impably well-maintained from head to toe. As soon as she spoke, all the judges in the front row turned around, stood up, and greeted her with a mix of friendliness and respect. ¡°Miss Yancey! You''re here too?¡± Chatper 415 Chapter 415 Coboration Robert also stood up, taking the initiative to greet her. ¡°Miss Yancey, when did you arrive? | thought you might note...¡± After Robert agreed to be the main judge of thepetition, he personally sent an invitation to Miss Yancey, hoping that she would attend. With her presence, the attention on thepetition would undoubtedly double. Robert also wanted to take advantage of being the main judge to showcase himself in front of the international media. ¡°| arrivedte, so | snuck in. How could | disturb everyone?¡± Miss Yancey spoke self¡ªdeprecatingly, instantly silencing the entire venue. Mnie looked at the woman with a royal aura in the audience, her eyes full of suspicion. Cyrus''s assistant, thinking that Mnie didn¡¯t know who Miss Yancey was, whispered some information to her. ¡°That¡¯s Miss Yancey, the world¡¯s top luxury jewelry designer. No one dares to im the top spot after her. She is an undisputed figure in the fashion industry!¡± The assistant secretly gave Miss Yancey a thumbs-up. Mnie regained herposure, and nodded. She had heard of Miss Yancey¡¯s name, but this was the first time she saw thetter in person. Miss Yancey was known worldwide, yet interviews with her were scarce. All reports about her focused on how stunning her jewelry was and the awards she had won. The apanying images were always of her trophies and jewelry designs; she never revealed her face, maintaining a mysterious aura even more than Madam Morgan. ¡°However, Miss Yancey is still unmarried. With her outstanding talents, her taste must be impable. But then again, in this era, achieving the status she has is indeed rare...¡± Cyrus''s assistant sighed. ¡°She¡¯s a lucky one. Not only is she talented, but she alsoes from a massive mining family. Most of the rare gems unearthed are probably owned by her family, and other designers can¡¯tFrom N?velDrama.Org. compete for them.¡± ¡°Do you know about the businesses owned by the Yanceys?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°Luxury items, gemstones, diamonds-that¡¯s all | know. But a noble family like them has umted wealth for many generations, so they probably have their hands in various industries privately.¡± Mnie agreed with Cyrus¡¯s assistant, but she nned to have Annie help her investigate more thoroughly when she returned. Miss Yancey stood up, walked through the judges¡® seats, and went directly to the front of Mnie¡¯s two fragrances. She carefully smelled them. She brushed aside the curls on one side of her face, revealing a fair neck. Her graceful movements made 1/3: +15 BONOS ¡°| think Miss Jones exined it very well just now. Her choice of words was perfect. In her fragrances, | smelled the sweetness and bitterness of love. Joy in love is sweetness, and unrequited love is bitterness. | hope all lovers in the world can find happiness.¡± Miss Yancey lifted her head and smiled. After a few seconds of silence, the audience below responded with apuse. This included the judges on the judging panel. They finally didn¡¯t have to vacite between Joseph and Robert... ¡°If | was a judge, I¡¯d definitely give full marks!¡± Miss Yancey continued to raise the stakes, causing Robert¡¯s face to turn red with anger. ¡°What''s more, what did that contestant say just now? The aim of thepetition is to cater to the mass consumer group? Perhaps you underestimate the current living standards of the general public. They have high living standards! Moreover, whether the raw materials are expensive or not depends mainly on the intermediate processes.¡± Miss Yancey turned to look at Mnie, smiling kindly. ¡°I''m very interested in Miss Jones¡¯s two fragrances, and I¡¯m willing to invest in their production to bring them to the market. | can guarantee that if | manufacture these and push them to the market, we will skip all intermediate steps. The final selling price may be even more affordable than regr perfumes.¡± ¡°Miss Yancey, I¡¯m sorry, but Miss Jones has agreed to Mr. Leo investing in these two fragrances,¡± the old butler sitting next to Joseph said. ¡°See? Everyone wants the good things!¡± Miss Yancey smiled brightly. ¡°But what | say isn¡¯t retractable. Since Mr. York has invested first, I''ll talk to him. Let''s make this a joint effort and make a grand debut together.¡± She didn¡¯t care about Joseph¡¯s pride¡ªindeed, she had a powerful background. Everyone held their breath, shaken by her aura. Miss Yancey looked at Mnie again. ¡°You''re so young, but you''re already an excellent perfumer. In the future. can we consider a coboration? Perfumes and diamonds. How does that sound?¡± ¡°It sounds very exciting. Thank you, Miss Yancey, for your appreciation.¡± Mnie sincerely nodded in gratitude. Miss Yancey smiled; she turned around and walked back to her seat, facing the awkward situation on and off the stage with ease, ¡°Then...¡± The host hesitated and nced at all the big shots, only continuing his speech after observing their expressions. ¡°Aiden? Do you still have any doubts? Do you still insist on re-scoring?¡± Aiden was just a pawn, and he had no decision-making power. He turned to look at Robert for guidance. In full view of the public, Roger didn¡¯t want to bother with Aiden. The host, who didn¡¯t get a response, asked again, ¡°Aiden, do you still insist on having the judges re¡ªscore Mnie?¡± ¡°What scoring?¡± Roger, fearing the host¡¯s persistence, decided to take the me himself. ¡°The judges all approve of Mnie¡¯s perfume. Let¡¯s not waste everyone¡¯s time!¡± 2/3 +15 BONOS ¡°Alright, alright.¡± After the host finished speaking, he wiped away the sweat on his forehead before continuing the event. Guests and award winners went on stage one by one to receive awards and give speeches. After the awards ceremony, as the guests left, Mnie took a few quick steps and caught up with Miss Yancey from behind. ¡°Miss Yancey?¡± ¡°Miss Jones.¡± Linda Yancey turned around, smiling gracefully at Melody. ¡°Do you have something to discuss with me?¡± ¡°| just wanted to express my gratitude to you in person,¡± Mnie said sincerely. Linda was also friendly. ¡°Your talent is evident. We have a joint coboration agreed upon. I¡¯m not just ying around.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mnie nodded in agreement. Linda smiled, and turned to leave. Mnie caught up again, and asked, ¡°Miss Yancey, have we met before?¡± Chatper 416 Chapter 416 | Find Her Cute ¡°Oh?¡± Linda¡¯s smile remained on her face as she looked straight into Mnie¡¯s eyes. She asked, ¡°Did we used to know each other?¡± ¡°| feel a sense of familiarity with you,¡± Mnie said, as she observed the look in Mnie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Haha...¡± Lindaughed brightly. ¡°To think that | gave you that feeling. Do all beautiful women feel such affinity when they meet each other?¡± ¡°Perhaps, Ms. Yancey. Sorry for holding you back. Maybe I''ll see you again next time,¡± Mnie said, bidding. her goodbye with a nod. Linda raised her hand from the white jacket over her shoulders, and waved adorably at Mnie. ¡°Bye bye.....* Just then, Cyrus walked over from behind and saw Mnie spacing out. Confused, he asked, ¡°What''s the matter?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing.¡± Mnie said with a shake of her head. She followed Cyrus and the rest out. Back at the hotel, Mnie opened the door and saw cushions arranged neatly on the sofa opposite the door. She noticed that the teapot and cups on the coffee table were arranged neatly, too. She asked sarcastically, ¡°President Morgan? Are you trespassing private property again?¡± Jeffrey walked out from inside and asked with narrowed eyes, ¡°How did you know | was here?¡± ¡°This and that. They are all clean.¡± She pointed a finger at the spots she had noticed. ¡°Unlike me, you''re a clean freak. William diligently makes sure that wherever you go, your environment is spotless.¡± The corner of Jeffrey¡¯s lips lifted. His woman was simply intelligent... ¡°Why didn¡¯t you think that it was the hotel staff who cleaned the room?¡± he asked. ¡°Hotel staff have all received training, and they keep to strict rules in their housekeeping. They¡¯d alternate the designs of the cushions, one ck and one spotted, and so on. Clearly, that¡¯s not so in this case... What¡¯s more, I¡¯m very familiar with William''s style as a straight man. This is definitely his work,¡± Mnie said with certainty. William walked out and said awkwardly, ¡°Mrs. Morgan... You''re being too direct...¡± Jeffrey held back hisughter, and helped Mnie to her seat. William swiftly poured a cup of milk and took out a colorful basket of fruits from the kitchen that had been thoroughly washed. ¡°Have some.¡± Jeffrey picked out a kiwi, and cut it into half. He took a spoon, stuck it in one half of the kiwi and handed it to Mnie. Mnie took it and ate as Jeffrey watched on, as if he could vicariously taste the tangy fruit in his mouth. ¡°| heard about how Mr. Locke made things difficult for you at the scene,¡± Jeffrey said. +15 BONOSThis text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°I''ve settled things.¡± Mnie said without looking up, her hands still busy digging the flesh of the fruit with the spoon. This kiwi was so sweet, she didn¡¯t taste even a hint of sourness. ¡°Ms. Yancey helped me out.¡± ¡°Oh yes,¡± Mnie said, as she looked up at Jeffrey. ¡°| wanted Annie to help me check on Ms. Yancey, but since you''re knocking on my door, perhaps | should ask you first. Do you know about Linda Yancey and the Yanceys?¡± ¡°Can | trouble you to please consider me first when you encounter problems next time?¡± Jeffrey said with pursed lips, clearly concerned. ¡°I''ve known Annie since | was a kid. What about you?¡± Mnie said. Jeffrey''s tone softened and he conceded defeat. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± ¡°Didn''t you mention that you got someone to check out if there were other conglomerates with activities in Medonia? Linda¡¯s considered one. What''s more, she¡¯s ady who¡¯s elegant and sharp-witted...¡± ¡°Do you suspect that she¡¯s the biological mother of that boy?¡± Jeffrey asked. Mnie nodded, but then shook her head. ¡°Her voice is simr, but it sounds younger than the girl¡¯s voice | heard. How old is Linda Yancey? | heard she¡¯s still unmarried?¡± Jeffrey nodded and analyzed the situation for Mnie, ¡°She¡¯s unmarried, and is probably over the age of 40. Based on what | can remember, the Yanceys and the Yorks don¡¯t have much interaction. The Yorks cannotpare to the Yanceys in terms of power and status. Given Linda¡¯s status and personality, she couldn¡¯t possibly fancy someone like Harlow York.¡± ¡°What kind of personality does Linda have?¡± Mnie asked with curiosity. ¡°An absolute strong woman, mysterious and dangerous. She could have just lived afortable life as a rich heiress without a care in the world, but she single-handedly beat her brothers and is now the most highly- regarded sessor of the family. She relies not just on her abilities but also trickery, to a certain extent,¡± Jeffrey exined. Mnie nodded. ¡°She sounds domineering.¡± ¡°She was originally named Lindsey Yancey, but she changed her name of her own ord when she was younger. On her 14th birthday celebration, she announced her name change before hundreds of guests. iming that her original name sounded too weak,¡± Jeffrey added. Mnie arched her brows. That was gutsy for a 14-year-old girl. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t help you out for no rhyme or reason.¡± Right after saying so, Jeffrey instructed William to check out the rtionship between Linda and Harlow. He knew Linda forcefully invested in Mnie¡¯s two new fragrances, which worried him more so than Leo¡¯s investment. ¡°You have to keep your guard up against Linda,¡± Jeffrey reminded Mnie. +15 BONOS ¡°| find her quite cute.¡± Mnie smiled as she thought about how Linda looked when they bade each other goodbye. Somehow, she found Linda amusing. ¡°She said all beautiful women feel an affinity when they meet each other, and it really did feel that way.¡± Jeffrey''s brows knitted tightly. ¡°I heard that Linda likes women. You¡¯d better watch out!¡± ¡°Hah, that works out well!¡± Mnie said with a bright smile. ¡°Since the Yorks can¡¯tpare to the Yanceys in terms of power and status, I¡¯ve lucked out!¡± Chatper 417 Chapter 417 As Frightening As A Nightmare ¡°Shouldn''t you congratte me, President Morgan? It feels great finding a backer who''s even more powerful than you are,¡± Mnie said, grinning wickedly. She had a precious baby inside of her right now; Jeffrey couldn¡¯t bear to say a harsh word to her, even jokingly. He admitted defea and turned back to ask William, ¡°Is the orange juice ready?¡± ¡°Right away, sir!¡± William had instantly transformed into a kitchen assistant, and hurriedly served Mnie a ss of orange juice without dy. ¡°Mrs. Morgan, enjoy.¡°. ¡°Thank you.¡± Mnie sipped on the juice, and looked up at William. ¡°It''s been tough on you, William. Your job description probably doesn¡¯t include serving the president¡¯s pregnant wife, does it?¡± ¡°Cough, cough.¡± William choked on his saliva, and responded in between coughs, ¡°Please don¡¯t say that. This is what | am supposed to do.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to fear him that much. Annie and | are best friends. With me around, you don¡¯t need to be treading on thin ice with a despot breathing down your neck,¡± Mnie said, ready to stand up for William at the appropriate time. William chuckled awkwardly, and even thanked Mnie sincerely. Not only was he living under the rule of President Morgan, but he was also being threatened by Ms. Snow to take good care of Mnie¡ªor face her wrath if he failed! William took his leave to give them space to themselves, but Mnie suddenly stood up and pushed Jeffrey aside, making a move to leave. ¡°Quick, leave. I¡¯m very busy and don¡¯t have time to keep youpany.¡± ¡°What are you busy with?¡± ¡°I need to go to the fragrance blending room.¡± ¡°You''ve already won the award. What do you still need to do in the fragrance bleeding room?¡± Jeffrey asked with suspicion. ¡°The fragrance blending room will be torn down tomorrow. | want to hurry back to revisit the entire fragrance blending process throughout thispetition. | was angry during the award ceremony today, but now that I¡¯ve calmed down and thought about it, what Aiden said made some sense.¡± ¡°He was deliberately picking on you!¡± Jeffrey said. His blood boiled at the thought of that man who made things difficult for Mnie. ¡°Not entirely so,¡± Mnie insisted. ¡°Even if he was picking on me, the fact remained that he had something legitimate to say. I''ll be back soon. You should leave, too.¡± With that, she went to freshen herself up, get changed and crossed the road to the fragrance blending room. 1/3: +15 BONOS The sun set five hourster. Jeffrey nced at his watch for the umpteenth time. His brows were furrowed and he was antsy, but he couldn¡¯t rush Mnie to hurry back. The only thing he could do was to engage in roundabout tactics. He called Cyrus, who seized the chance to tease him. ¡°Wow, the sun is rising from the west! Are you calling me because you upset my disciple and are asking me for mercy?¡± ¡°| really am calling for Mnie and | do need a favor from you, but for a different purpose.¡± Jeffrey hurriedly exined, for fear that the talkative Elder Gibson might continue making things difficult for him. ¡°She¡¯s already been in the fragrance blending room for more than five hours. She hasn¡¯t been well recently.. I¡¯m worried that if this goes on, it might take a toll on her health.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Cyrus said, and hung up. Before ten minutes passed, Jeffrey saw Cyrus leave the hotel and swipe his ess card at the fragrance blending room opposite. ¡°What are you doing here? Are you meditating, or helping them tear this ce down?¡± Cyrus opened the door to Mnie¡¯s fragrance blending room, his hands behind his back and a puzzled look on his face. ¡°Master! What brings you here?¡± Mnie asked in shock. This ce was empty when she first arrived. ¡°| passed by and decided toe in to take a look. | didn¡¯t expect to see you here,¡± Cyrus said,ing up with an excuse.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Oh.¡± Cyrus surveyed her from head to toe. ¡°You''re not very talkative. Are you in a bad mood?¡± Mnie said nothing, but forced a smile on her face. ¡°I''m all ears,¡± Cyrus said. He pulled a chair over, signaling for Mnie to share her thoughts. Mnie sighed heavily. Her fragrance blending insights were things she couldn¡¯t even share with someone as close as Jeffrey, but it was different with her master. It was as if she finally found release and began offloading her thoughts to Cyrus. ¡°| thought about it for a long time just now. Aiden was right. My fragrances aren¡¯tmercially practical. | use more expensive ingredients, and it certainly appears as though | know little about business operations and didn¡¯t consider factors including cost, sales and marketing issues.¡± ¡°Do you want to hear my thoughts?¡± Cyrus said in a rare show of friendliness. Mnie nodded. +15 BONOS ¡°Some base notes are intense, some linger, some are refreshing, some are cloyingly sweet. All of them are different, which is what makes it possible to blend an intriguing variety of fragrances, right?¡± he said. ¡°| know what you mean. You''re trying to say that every perfumer has his own way of doing things, and that is part of his personal style. But | think it''ll definitely be beneficial if we can break out of ourfort zone at appropriate moments,¡± Mnie offered. ¡°Hmm...¡± Cyrus nodded. ¡°You''re right, but it¡¯s gettingte. Have a meal with me. You can¡¯t just rush things in trying to break out of yourfort zone.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Mnie did feel slightly hungry, so she followed him out of the fragrance blending room, into his car and to a nearby restaurant for some food. Jeffrey finally heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing their car drive off. Before going back home, Mnie wanted to go to Medonia¡¯s spice market to buy some specialty spices back home. Jeffrey was worried about her safety, and arranged for a driver to send Mnie there. He also had an entire vehicle of bodyguards to watch over and protect her. On her way back from the spice market, they drove past a newly-built luxury estate. Mnie nced casually at the estate, and was surprised to see someone she didn¡¯t expect to see. ¡°Stop the car!¡± she instinctively yelled. The driver stopped the car by the roadside. She looked at the pedestrian crossing right opposite them. Although it had been a few years, that man¡¯s face remained as frightening as a nightmare. Chatper 418 Chapter 418 Won''t Let This Rest Despite the huge changes that the man¡¯s face had undergone, Mnie was able to recognize him in an instant. His face had been seared in her memories.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. The man who took away her most beloved father...... Judas Chapman! That drunk driver! What was he doing here? His prison term wasn¡¯t yet over, shouldn''t he still be in jail?! Mnie was so agitated, she could almost feel her heart in her throat. By the time she calmed herself down enough and wanted to get out of the car for a clearer look, Judas had vanished without a trace. ¡°Drive back into that street!¡± Mnie instructed the driver to head in a different direction toward the opposite street where she saw Judas. They searched in vain for him, driving down four streets. ¡°Mrs. Morgan, who are you looking for? Shall we report this to President Morgan?¡± the driver asked cautiously. Mnie paused for a moment before sighing, ¡°Let¡¯s head back. I''ll tell him about this myself.¡± Although the driver didn¡¯t report the situation to Jeffrey, the vehicle of bodyguards following behind them realized something was wrong when their car kept driving up and down the streets. Thus, they reported it to Jeffrey. When Mnie returned to the hotel room, Jeffrey was already waiting for her. The moment he saw her, he asked worriedly, ¡°What happened today? Did you see someone?¡± ¡°The man who was drunk¡ªdriving and killed my dad...¡± Mnie choked back tears as she spoke. ¡°Isn¡¯t he supposed to still be in jail?¡± Jeffrey''s brows furrowed. He put his handsfortingly over Mnie¡¯s shoulders. ¡°That¡¯s what | thought too, but I¡¯m sure | made no mistake. It was him,¡± Mnie said with certainty. Jeffrey grabbed his phone, and instructed William to investigate the matter. ¡°Don''t worry. He couldn¡¯t have possibly broken out of jail in broad daylight. If he asked for early release using underhanded means, I''ll send him back immediately!¡± Mnie nodded, with no choice but to wait until William checked things out. Soon, the trip to Medonia officially came to an end. The next day, Mnie, Jeffrey and Cyrus returned to Harbor City together. Mnie was still feeling blue throughout the ne ride, immersed in her own thoughts. Cyrus thought she didn¡¯t take his advice to heart. After pondering for a moment, he said, ¡°My dear girl! | suddenly recalled that | wrote a book titled ¡°Super Simple Fragrance Blending¡°. Although those were insights | gleaned over a decade ago, they remain true even till today...¡± 1/2 +15 BONOS ¡°Super Simple Fragrance Blending?¡± Mnie perked up at once. ¡°Did you write that? It¡¯s out of print. I''ve been wanting to read it, but | can¡¯t find it no matter how hard | try!¡± Cyrus smiled smugly. He knew he had what it took to coax his disciple. ¡°I''ll get someone to send it from Willowfort. You''ll find it at your doorstep tomorrow when you reach home.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master!¡± When Mnie reached home, she held Elder Gibson¡¯s ¡°Super Simple Fragrance Blending¡± in her hands as if it were treasure. She wrapped herself in her sheets all day, pouring through the pages. She ate whatever the kitchen sent her without being picky, to which Jeffrey was very pleased. Three dayster, Mnie had read through the entire book and coincidentally received a call from Cyrus ¡°The book contains my insights from over a decade ago. It¡¯spletely different from my fragrance blending philosophy right now. ¡°But it seems to resolve the problem I¡¯m facing right now,¡± Mnie said. ¡°| used to believe in simplicity in the past, but now | realized thatplexities are equally interesting too,¡± Cyrus said. After a pause, Mnie asked, ¡°Master, are you trying tofort me?¡± ¡°You''ll have toe round it yourself. | can¡¯t help much.¡± ¡°You''ve already helped me a lot,¡± she said. ¡°I cane round it. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°What do | have to worry about? Hah!¡± Cyrus chuckled. ¡°Your second uncle, on the other hand, loves to hum and haw. Just ask me if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand. I''ll tell you everything | know!¡± He suddenly thought of something, and said, ¡°But | must remind you, Robert Locke will not let this rest. | heard his henchman Aiden Armstrong is in a rush to concoct a new fragrance. Watch out for him.¡± ¡°Why is he always targeting me?¡± Mnie was very puzzled. An insignificant fledgling like her had no chance at all to offend him. ¡°He isn¡¯t exactly targeting you. He¡¯s been dissatisfied with the progress of the fragrance industry in Medonia over the years. He¡¯s a local perfumer, yet he¡¯s barely surviving under the York family¡¯s influence. He¡¯s naturally upset about that. Whatever it is, just watch out,¡± Cyrus exined. Mnie nodded, her gaze unwittingly floating to theputer by her side. An assistant from herpany¡¯s perfume department sent her a weblink. ¡°Miss Jones, take a look at this. Something bad just happened...¡± Mnie clicked on the link, and read the news article. She said into the phone, ¡°Master, you''re such a prophet. Can you switch to the news channel right now? Aiden has begun making a move.¡± Chatper 419 Chapter 419 Call The Expert Out ¡°What''s going on?¡± Cyrus asked. He instructed his assistant to switch to the news channel. Mnie summarized the situation for him. ¡°Next month, Aiden and a few other perfumers from Medonia will be organizing a friendlypetition in Harbor City in the name of sparring with fellow industry yers from neighboring countries. They specifically mentioned my name, saying that they want to continue exchanging notes with me.¡± The issue had escted quickly, and the phone call was quickly bing a group chat. Cyrus''s assistant chimed in, ¡°The news channel emphasized that the purpose of the friendly match is to blend. fragrances in the simplest way possible. Participants shall bring their own ingredients, but they cannot bring more than ten of them and the total cost cannot exceed 150 dors. How is that simple? That''s just cheap!¡± Mnie pursed her lips. The friendly match had yet to begin, but its promotional efforts were thorough. It seemed Aiden was worried she would ignore him and therefore went all out in his efforts, forcing her to ept the challenge by way of public opinion. ¡°Elder Gibson, you''ll crush Aiden Armstrong if you participate in that match!¡± his assistant said indignantly over the phone. ¡°Did you not see thest few lines in the promotional brochure? The match is supposed to be between industry fledglings. How could a master bring himself to participate in something like that?¡± Mnie reminded the assistant. ¡°How twisted!¡± The assistant continuedshing out. ¡°Using rules to limit a perfumer¡¯s fragrance blending techniques is as disgusting as the exams we were subject to when we were kids. It¡¯s like the questions that only provided us with one part, and we had to figure out the remaining part. It¡¯s terrible!¡± ¡°He¡¯s deliberately posing a challenge to me in my home country. If | turn it down or if a perfumer from Medonia wins thepetition, people in Harbor City will hound us local perfumers to death,¡± Mnie analyzed the situation. ¡°If | don¡¯t participate, do you have the confidence to win?¡± Cyrus finally spoke. Mnie furrowed her brows. ¡°Idid gain some insight after reading your book, but | haven''t had the chance to think through them. I¡¯m not sure how much I''ll be able to digest and apply within two weeks. The restrictions he raised are too targeted, and | can¡¯t say that I¡¯m sure of victory.¡± ¡°Alright, then. I''ll think of a way,¡± Cyrus said confidently. 1/3 +15 BONOS ¡°Thank you for your help, Master.¡± Mnie thanked him sincerely. ¡°I''m not doing this entirely for you. Aiden is in fact challenging all the new industry yers in our country.¡± With that, Cyrus hung up and instructed his assistant, ¡°Give me information about all the new perfumers within the country over the past two years. This time, | must find a capable participant who can help Mnie take on this challenge.¡± The assistant looked at him. Puzzled, he asked, ¡°You mean...¡± ¡°If the ultimate champion turns out to be a participant from Medonia,izens won''t spare Mnie. That''s why they mentioned Mnie¡¯s name multiple times in the promotional brochure. They want to make her out to be the public enemy!¡± ¡°You think that... Miss Mnie is sure to lose?¡± ¡°Aiden is using his strength to attack her weakness. It¡¯s not even fair to begin with! Butizens are clueless about that, and will only insult her the moment she loses. I¡¯m worried she might not be able to take it. She started off too high the moment she entered the industry, only to be crushed so suddenly back at home and never to rise again,¡± Cyrus said as he shook his head, feeling helpless and worried. His assistant nodded in silence. His concerns were legitimate. Yet he deliberately said that he wasn¡¯t doing it entirely to help her, out of concern that it might be an emotional burden for her. His care and concern for her was truly enviable... After the assistant swiftly tidied up the information, Cyrus read through them. He shook his head upon seeing the information on a few young and outstanding perfumers within the country. ¡°Just this many?¡± The assistant nodded. ¡°You''re probably aware that these are the only few who are capable enough to ept the challenge.¡± Cyrus flung the documents on the couch, displeasure written all over his wrinkled face. ¡°These perfumers are not adept at simplistic styles, and they all have a mind of their own. They probably aren¡¯t as willing as Mnie to take on the challenge of blending a simple fragrance. I¡¯m not certain whether they''ll be willing to participate in thepetition.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. The assistant was starting to panic, but he felt equally helpless. Talents were hard toe by, and it wasn¡¯t something that could be found overnight. ¡°New industry yers may not necessarily be young.¡± Cyrus suddenly said, looking up. ¡°Are you referring to older folks?¡± The assistant was confused. Older perfumers were either famous for a long time, or not good enough... ¡°Head to Mount Coloss right away,¡± Cyrus said. ¡°For for what?¡± The assistant was doubtful. 2/3 ¡°To call an expert out of the mountain!¡± Cyrus said confidently. +15 BONOS With a challenge issued on home ground, Mnie quickly recovered from the panic and shut herself up in her room to dive into research. She was so immersed in her own world that she ignored everything that happened outside her room. Jeffrey wasn¡¯t worried about her condition. As long as she ignored what happened outside, no one would target her and she could spend time resting at home. He took care of all of her meals, and was very d to see the color returning to her face. He even asked for the wall between two guest rooms to be torn down, so he could build a high-end fragrance. blending room for Mnie. That way, she could immediately try out her perfumes the moment inspiration hit. A few days passed, and the date of the friendly match was inching closer. Mnie was still eating, drinking and studying in her room when she suddenly received a call from Cyrus¡¯s assistant. ¡°Miss Mnie, do you have time right now? Can youe to the police station?¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Mnie asked with suspicion in her voice. ¡°It''s Elder Gibson...¡± ¡°What happened to Master? Did he get attacked? Or did he attack someone else?¡± Mnie started to panic. ¡°Not that... It''splicated. Don¡¯t hang up just yet, I''ll exin things to you as youe here. Either way, | can¡¯t talk Elder Gibson round, but you might be able to persuade him when youe,¡± the assistant said in between sighs, sounding as if something major had happened. Mnie got changed in a hurry, grabbed her bag, and rushed downstairs. She got into a car and asked, ¡°What exactly happened? | don¡¯t understand a single word of what you just said.¡± The assistant found it hard to exin. After hemming and hawing a bit, he finally said, ¡°It¡¯s an old woman called the police who came to seize Elder Gibson...¡± ¡°What was the charge?¡± Mnie asked, utterly confused. ¡°Sexual harassment.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Mnie was bbergasted. Chatper 420 Chapter 420 Harassment Elder Gibson was almost eighty... Given his reputation and status, seeking a partner would have been as easy as pie. Why would he bother risking his reputation? Mnie was curious and shocked at the same time. ¡°How beautiful is this olddy who called the police?¡± ¡°I''m not too sure. | didn¡¯t see her myself. Whatever | know was told to me by the police. | even asked Elder Gibson, but he refused to tell me anything. He even insisted on finding her again the moment he gets released!¡± Cyrus''s assistant was at his wits end. Mnie felt the same way. ¡°Master is just so stubborn. Don¡¯t panic, I''ll head over and we''ll talk more.¡± By the time she arrived at the police station, Elder Gibson¡¯s assistant had bailed him out. Upon seeing how stubborn he remained, the police dared not release him until his next-of-kin arrived, for fear that he might harass the olddy again. Mnie exined that Elder Gibson had no children and his other rtives were all abroad, leaving her, his disciple, as his only kin in the country. The police then told Mnie what they just told the assistant. Mnie promised she would certainly talk Cyrus out of doing what he did again. After she reassured the police, Cyrus regained his freedom. Mnie and his assistant each held onto one of his arms as they led him out of the police station. He even turned back to re indignantly at the policemen. Mnie nced at the assistant to stop him from saying anything further at such a critical time. The two of them brought Cyrus back to his hotel room in Harbor City, where he finally calmed down after a pot of tea. Mnie asked, ¡°Master, what exactly is going on? Tell me, was what the olddy said when she called the police true or not?¡± ¡°Those policemen have too much time on their hands! | simply spotted an acquaintance, and wanted to chat further with her. How is that sexual harassment?¡± Cyrus sputtered, agitated. Mnie didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°Who''s that acquaintance?¡± ¡°An acquaintance that | haven¡¯t met for decades!¡± Elder Gibson roared before standing up to leave. Heid on his bed in a huff, closing his eyes and pretending to sleep. His assistant whispered into Mnie''s ears, ¡°From what the police and Elder Gibson just said... Did Elder Gibson bump into his first lover?¡± ¡°Isn''t Yelena York his first lover?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°Yelena died so many years ago...¡± The assistant shook his head. ¡°What''s more, Elder Gibson is so advanced in years. Yelena York might be his greatest love, but that doesn¡¯t mean she must be his first, does it?¡± 1/2 Mnie nodded in agreement after pondering for a moment. ¡°What you said might be possible.¡± ¡°What should we do now?¡± +15 BONOS The assistant nced inside the room. Cyrus¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t in a good condition, and getting overly agitated would probably be detrimental to his health. ¡°Let''s change tack.¡± Mnie crooked her finger at the assistant. ¡°Master is an anxious man, and we can¡¯t push him too hard. We''ve sort of figured out what happened. Basically, Master wanted to reminisce about the past with an olddy who wasn¡¯t so willing, and even thought he was harassing her. In that case, why don¡¯t we first help Master unravel the knot in his heart?¡±From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What knot? How do we unravel it?¡± the assistant asked, perplexed. ¡°Find a way to let him and that olddy sit down calmly and have a chat,¡± Mnie suggested. ¡°Master isn¡¯t a hooligan who''ll cling onto another woman and refuse to let go, after all. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s just a misunderstanding between them.¡± ¡°Alright, we''ll do as you say,¡± the assistant said with a nod. The next day, Mnie went looking for Cyrus with his book, Super Simple Fragrance Blending, in hand. The assistant opened the door for her, and whispered, ¡°Elder Gibson closed himself up in his bedroom the whole night, refusing to let anyone in.¡± Mnie nodded. She would enter, even if he refused to let her in. She pushed the bedroom door open and paused for a moment, finding it hard to take a further step in. The floor was covered in scrunched up balls of paper. She could even see scribbles in some of them. It looked just like a picture of an inventor who had run out of ideas... She picked up a few pieces, and realized that they were all letters of varying lengths. Some of them only had a few words written on them, while some were written halfway. The words in all of them looked like they were scribbled hastily... It seemed as though Elder Gibson really cared about the feelings of the recipient of the letter, which was why he was putting so much effort in choosing his words. In his letters, he brought up multiple memories and even expressed his regrets. Although he didn¡¯t specifically mention what happened, Mnie could feel his deep love for the recipient, who was probably the olddy who called the police. Chatper 421 Chapter 421 She Must See It As for Cyrus¡¯s handwriting. It was hard to say anything nice about it. Mnie was immersed in her thoughts, when an angry yell came from the bedroom. ¡°Who allowed you in here?!¡± *Master?¡± Mnie walked in fearlessly. ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± ¡°Are you allowed in here?!¡± Cyrus wasn¡¯t pleased to see his secret exposed. Mnie hurriedly exined herself before he exploded in anger. ¡°Didn''t you tell me to ask you if there¡¯s anything | don¡¯t understand, and that you''ll surely patiently exin things to me? The competition is just around the corner, you can¡¯t leave me alone.¡± Cyrus knew he couldn''t go back on his word and had no choice but to walk over, asking patiently, ¡± What do you not understand?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I''m hungry, Why don¡¯t you have some breakfast with me first?¡± Mnie smiled and led him out of the room while instructing the assistant to prepare two portions of breakfast. She ate with gusto, which sessfully whetted Elder Gibson¡¯s appetite. He started tucking into his breakfast. That was her cue to start asking questions. ¡°What is this part about?¡± ¡°How do | use this scent?¡± She kept bombarding him with questions. As she expected, he lost patience after a while. Trying his best to suppress his frustration, he demanded, ¡°How many more questions do you have?¡± ¡°Um... | have no idea...¡± Mnie made a show of flipping through her notebook. ¡°I don¡¯t understand many parts of the book...¡® ¡°So you have never-ending questions?¡± Cyrus stood up, and put his hands behind his back. ¡°I¡¯m in no mood to answer any more of your questions. Go back and try to figure things out yourself!¡± ¡°Are you not in the mood because of these letters?¡± Mnie pulled out the letters from her pocket. ¡°Who gave you permission to peek at them?¡± Cyrus arched his brows, utterly peeved. ¡°Leave! 415 WONOS Mnie wasn¡¯t in a rush to exin herself, and walked out leisurely, She mumbled under her breath as she walked out, ¡°It¡¯s said that a woman''s thoughts are impossible to fathom, and an onlooker sees more of the game. It¡¯s practically impossible for a yer himself to fathom his female opponent''s thoughts...¡± Before Mnie even reached the door, Elder Gibson shouted for her. ¡°Wait! What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°You said you two haven''t seen each other for decades, right? So why are you writing letters to her?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°We used to write letters to each other!¡± ¡°That was in the past. Who writes letters nowadays? What¡¯s more, even if you really wrote a letter, how can the recipient tell if its contents are good or not before opening the letter? This way of confession isn¡¯t direct at all.¡± Elder Gibson''s eyes dimmed. With frustration and slight embarrassment, he said, ¡°You''re right. She said she didn¡¯t read them at all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°How is any of this right? How can | make her read my letters? Help me think of a way!¡± He started pressing Mnie for a solution. ¡°What do you want to convey through your letters?¡± Mnie said, trying to probe for further. details. Cyrus red at her. ¡°| need to know the specifics before | can strategize for you,¡± Mnie rebutted calmly. ¡°| want her to think of me...¡± Cyrus''s face fell the moment he said that. Mnie¡¯s heart broke at his expression. To think Master loved another woman aside from Yelena York! He was one devoted lover indeed. Mnie pondered about it before asking, ¡°Is there something she likes?¡± Cyrus tried hard to recall before answering her, ¡°She likes cats, birds...¡± ¡°Animals are difficult gifts,¡± Mnie cut him off, feeling helpless. ¡°It''ll be best if you can give her something that she liked in the past, preferably in the identical condition.¡± Cyrus pondered for a while before saying, ¡°How about a wind chime?¡± ¡°Sounds good! Best if you can draw something on it.¡± Mnie nodded in approval. +15 BONOS Cyrus swiftly drafted a pattern on a piece of paper, and Mnie called a friend who was a craftsman. After confirming the colors and materials, Mnie''s friend agreed to make a wind chime in those exact details. up when his The next day, she went to Cyrus with the wind chime in hand. His eyes lit up when his gaze landed upon the wind chime. ¡°It looks exactly the same!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± With that, Mnie carefully stuck the paper on the wind chime, leaving a corner of the letter exposed. If that olddy wanted to take down the wind chime, she would first have to pull the letter out. The letter would then be unfolded, and the front part of the letter would be exposed to the olddy. ¡°Master, when you give her the letter, paste it like this..... If the front part of the letter isn¡¯t enough to attract her attention, the subsequent part of the letter would not be of much use anyway,¡± Mnie reminded. ¡°Therefore, the opening paragraph of your letter is of utmost importance.¡± Cyrus nodded obediently and made a mental note of what Mnie said, like an obedient student. Just then, Mnie¡¯s phone rang. She answered the call, and realized that it was Linda Yancey. Mnie spaced out for one second before instinctively turning the loudspeaker mode on. Chatper 422 Chapter 422 The Father Of The Child ¡°Miss Mnie, there will be a jewelry fashion show held in Medonia the day after tomorrow. | reserved a VIP ticket for you, do you want to attend it?¡± Linda extended an invitation to Mnie. Mnie turned to look at Cyrus. Cyrus knew what she was worried about. The friendlypetition was just around the corner, but she wasn¡¯t yet ready for it. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Linda could sense Mnie¡¯s hesitation and went on, ¡°I wasn¡¯t joking when | said that I''d invest in your perfumes. I¡¯m sincere about it. Mr. York will also be present at the jewelry show. With you around, the three of us can have a good chat.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Cyrus nodded at Mnie. Mnie pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll be there on time. Thank you for your invitation.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it!¡± Linda hung up, all smiles. ¡°Go with peace of mind. Don¡¯t worry about thepetition. It isn¡¯t something of major significance anyway, you¡¯d rather do something that you should be doing,¡± Cyrus persuaded Mnie. Mnie thought about it before nodding. What he said made sense. Being an excellent perfumer was a personal achievement of hers, but she was the head of the perfume department of Jones Enterprise. She had responsibilities to shoulder. She returned to Marina Heights that night. Jeffrey received multiple calls throughout dinner. When he finally had a chance to sit down, Mnie seized the chance to update him, ¡°I¡¯m going to Medonia tomorrow to meet Linda and Leo.¡± Jeffrey''s brows furrowed as he turned to look at Mnie. Before he could say no to her, she added hastily, ¡°I¡¯ve already booked the ne tickets.¡± ¡°Presenting me with a fait apli?¡± Jeffrey looked straight into Mnie¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t want her to meet Leo. Things in the Yorks were way tooplex. What''s worse was that Linda¡¯s ulterior motive was even more mysterious and uncontroble. Given Mnie¡¯s physical condition right now, he couldn¡¯t afford for anything to go wrong. 1/3 +15 BONOS He had been very busy recently, and her impending departure without prior warning gave him no time to make any preparations... ¡°Annie wille with me. The Snows¡¯ men will protect me in secret as well. You don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± Mnieforted him. Jeffrey felt more relieved, but he insisted, ¡°There is an opening ceremony tomorrow, for which | must stay in the country. I''ll head over to find you right after I¡¯m done.¡± Thest time Jeffrey got injured, news about his injury leaked despite Morgan Group''s efforts to lock down all information on it. The global economy had been unstable recently, and opponents seized the chance to target Morgan Group, spreading rumors all around that Jeffrey''s condition was incurable and that there would be a huge shake-up in Morgan Group''s management. Rumors were a fearful thing, and employees of Morgan Group began panicking. Even their business partners started feeling doubtful. Jeffrey could only keep attending important events and disprove the rumors in person, making his schedule packed to the brim. ¡°No need. If you keep appearing wherever | am, wouldn''t that make things very obvious?¡± Mnie rejected his suggestion. ¡°Take it as an attempt to mentally prepare them. We''ll eventually announce our rtionship to the public,¡± Jeffrey insisted. ¡°Our baby will be born in a few months¡¯ time. He¡¯s my child, and I''ll make sure he lives with his head held high. As his mother, do you really want to hide his existence from the world?¡± ¡°As if I¡¯m begging for a chance to be the mother of Jeffrey Morgan¡¯s child!¡± Mnie went on with an arched brow. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a possibility that someone might call you the father of Mnie Jones''s child instead?¡± ¡°Of course, there is,¡± Jeffrey said with narrowed eyes as he leaned over, ¡°but I¡¯d rather not have that.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± She didn¡¯t understand his sudden deration. ¡°Shh...¡± Jeffrey continued, leaning closer to her until his face rubbed gently against her belly. ¡°Let me hear him out, and see how he wants others to call us!¡± Mnie burst outughing. ¡°I¡¯m only three months pregnant.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°That¡¯s right. We finally hit the three-month mark.¡± Jeffrey finally looked up, his eyes burning hotly. Mnie understood what he meant in a split second, and said with pursed lips, ¡°Seems like you¡¯re not busy enough, President Morgan. Morgan Group isn¡¯t in enough of a crisis. Luxury leads to lust!¡± ¡°You''re absolutely right!¡± Jeffrey stretched his arms out and pulled her easily into his embrace. ¡°It¡¯s been so tough the past few months.* The next day, Mnie sat on a ne bound for Medonia. Annie was by her side when the nended smoothly. Annie went to retrieve their luggage while Mnie stayed at the lounge area waiting for her. She sat down by the door in the VIP lounge and flipped through a magazine she randomly picked up as people streamed past her. Suddenly, a pair of feet stopped right before her and a man¡¯s voice called out to her in shock, ¡°Are you...the Genie of Fragrance?¡± Chatper 423 Chapter 423 International Supermodel Mnie looked up, and adjusted her hat as she looked at the handsome face before her. ¡°You''re Mnie Jones!¡± When the man called out her name, Mnie suddenly realized who he was. He was Adam O¡¯Shea, a popr model and the darling of the fashion world. He was of mixed descent and stood at a towering height of 195 centimeters. His thick brows, bright eyes, and sharp features propelled him swiftly to stardom as an ambassador highly sought after by various international brands within the past two years. Some im that he was born for the runway and the camera lenses. Otherwise, a model as perfect as he would not have been possible. Mnie stood up and asked, ¡°Do you know me?¡± ¡°I''ve seen all of Mr. Smith¡¯s cover shoots. My favorites are those two series in which you''re featured! The Genie of Fragrance! You look even better than in the photos!¡± Adam¡¯s eyes lit up as he praised Mnie with a smile. ¡°Thank you,¡± Mnie thanked him politely. ¡°Do you always say so little?¡± Adam asked expectantly. Mnie smiled coyly. ¡°Mr. Smith¡¯s abilities are in for all to see, but he said that he¡¯s most proud about using his camera to highlight my beauty. He would be happy and sad at the same time to hear your praises.¡± Adamughed out loud at Mnie¡¯s remark. After his manager stepped forward to rush him, he said longingly, ¡°Ms. Yancey was the one who invited me to showcase her jewelry. | heard she invited you, too. Would you be willing to be my partner? We''ll take photos and catwalk down the stage together! If you''re willing, | can make ast -minute change to the finale of the show to feature a duo instead of a solo.¡± What a direct invitation he was extending! Mnie was very surprised. ¡°Thank you for the invitation, but I¡¯m just here to watch the show. I¡¯m not good at catwalks, and I''ll probably disappoint you,¡± Mnie rejected him as gently as she could. ¡°That¡¯s a pity...¡± Adam was still young, and wore his heart on his sleeves. Regret was written all over his face. ¡°I''m sure there''ll be chances for us to work together next time.¡± +15 BONOS Mnie¡¯sment swept the gloom away from Adam¡¯s face, and he bade her goodbye with a smile. Mnie and Annie checked into the hotel Linda Yancey booked for them. Linda was heavy-handed in blocking out the entire Sky Street in Medonia¡¯s city center to construct a runway. She also booked the entire five-star hotel along Sky Street to receive guests invited to watch the show. When night fell, they headed to the restaurant for dinner and bumped into Kelly Murray at the door. Kelly was apanied by two women who looked familiar, but Mnie was sure she didn¡¯t know them. She tried hard to recall, and surmised that they were women who attended the Yorks¡® banquet and mocked her together with Kelly. ¡°Oh, look! If this isn¡¯t Miss Mnie Jones!¡± Kelly started targeting Mnie the moment she saw Mnie. ¡°To think she¡¯s trying to get into Ms. Yancey¡¯s good books after sucking up to Morgan Group. | feel so touched seeing someone from the bottom trying so hard to climb up thedder!¡± Mnie smiled vaguely, and ignored her insult. ¡°Ms. Yancey is the highlight of this jewelry show, and everyone else is just second fiddle. ording to your logic, everyone else is here to get into Ms. Yancey¡¯s good books. In that case, you¡¯re no different from me. Don¡¯t bother insulting yourself, Ms. Murray.¡± ¡°What do you know?!¡± Kelly flipped her hair back and red at Mnie. ¡°I¡¯m not here to get into anyone¡¯s good books! My family is the main organizer of Ms. Yancey¡¯s jewelry show!¡± ¡°Exactly! Country bumpkins like her have no idea. Ms. Murray, don¡¯t stoop to her level.¡± The women behind Kelly seized the chance to boot lick. ¡°Only the Murrays have the capacity to take on such arge-scale fashion show. ¡°| heard that international supermodel Adam O¡¯Shea is the finale model Ms. Yancey invited, and Ms. Murray is going to partner with him on the runway! Ms. Murray will be on the headlines of every single fashion news outlet and magazine! She''ll be the envy of every woman in the world!¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothing. Adam simply took a look at my photo, and said that I¡¯m very suitable to be his partner. He specifically called for me,¡± Kelly said smugly as she showed off, her nose in the air. +15 BONOS ¡°Goodness!¡± ¡°Adam O''Shea is famous for being difficult to deal with, and has high standards for his partner. Ms. Murray is a born beauty indeed!¡± The two women behind her began praising her to the heavens once more.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. The sight of Kelly''s smug and disdainful look made Mnie ask indifferently, ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t hear him wrongly?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Kelly furrowed her brows. ¡°Are you sure Adam O¡¯Shea specifically asked for you to be his partner?¡± Mnie repeated her question. ¡°But of course!¡± Kelly imed confidently, ring at Mnie. Mnie blinked. If Kelly wasn¡¯t shooting her mouth off, then Adam O¡¯Shea was a flirtatious yboy who went around asking every woman he crossed paths with to be his partner... Yet, she heard that Adam O¡¯Shea had always been picky with his partner. It seemed more likely that Kelly was just boasting. ¡°If you say so.¡± Mnie turned around to leave, but Kelly continued chasing after her, refusing to let her go. ¡°Mnie Jones, | just can¡¯t stand that haughty and disdainful look in your eyes! Get off your high horse! Who do you think you are? Youe from such a lowly family, but you think you''re a princess!¡± Annie, who had been by Mnie¡¯s side all along, kept her silence as Mnie held her back from cutting in. At this point, Annie could no longer hold it in. She was about to turn around and rebut Kelly, when Mnie held her back again. ¡°She¡¯s making personal attacks on you! | can¡¯t condone her behavior!¡± Annie said indignantly. Mnie pulled Annie back, and coaxed her, ¡°See that? The first few dishes are all your favorites. Let''s eat.¡± Annie followed Mnie helplessly. Only after they walked well away from them did she ask, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me teach her a lesson?¡± ¡°This is Ms. Yancey¡¯s show. We shouldn''t be stealing the limelight,¡± Mnie said. ¡°We weren''t the ones who started things. Even if Ms. Yancey gets upset, she''ll find out that it was 3/4 ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She''ll shoot herself in the foot very soon Mnie said with a wink. Chatper 424 Chapter 424 Old Man ¡°What else do you know?¡± Annie¡¯s gossip radar started ringing. Mnie told Annie about her bumping into Adam at the airport. ¡°In that case, Adam O¡¯Shea probably doesn¡¯t know that he just got himself a new partner?¡± Annie. asked. Mnie nodded. ¡°Based on what he said at that time, the finale of the show is a solo segment.¡± Annie¡¯s face lit up. ¡°I''ll get someone to check things out on Adam¡¯s end right away.¡± Mnie fed Annie a piece of grilled meat, which Annie gobbled up before saying, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t yet know that he suddenly has a troublemaker for a partner, I¡¯ll have someone inform him about it! Ha ha ha!¡± ¡°Thank you very much for that. Don¡¯t choke,¡± Mnieughed out loud, too. Adistance away, Kelly was having her meal, surrounded by a few other women. Seeing Mnie and Annie chatting andughing away, looking unperturbed by her provocation just now, made Kelly stand up in frustration. She crooked her finger to signal her subordinate to follow her to a quiet corner, where she gave him some instructions. ¡°Confirm things with Mr. Wright once more. | feel slightly uneasy about it.¡± Her subordinate left and returned once more, saying, ¡°Mr. Wright said nothing will go wrong with him around. He even wanted me to tell you to have a meal with him one night whenever you''re free.¡± Kelly berated him in her frustration, ¡°That old lecher! | approached him only because he works for Ms. Yancey. How dare he lust after me!¡± ¡°Miss, won''t he do his best for you if you keep rejecting him?¡± her subordinate asked. ¡°Men are all the same, heh,¡± Kelly sneered. ¡°That old man wastes all his intellect on fooling around with women. The more | y hard to get with him, the more he''ll do my bidding like an obedient dog panting for a bone. | won''t give him anything before he satisfies me!¡± ¡°Oh yes, miss. When | came back from meeting Mr. Wright, | passed by two staff members working for Adam O¡¯Shea. | think | overheard them saying that Mnie also wants to partner with Adam on the runway...¡± her subordinate reported. ¡°What?!¡± 1/3 Kelly burst outughing after recovering from her shock. She turned around and looked straight at Mnie and Annie, before marching toward them without any hesitation. ¡°| thought you were all high and mighty, but you ended up begging for a chance to partner with Adam while pretending to be indifferent about it! Who do you think Adam is? Would he ever be willing to partner with you?¡± Mnie and Annie were enjoying their meal, and didn¡¯t expect to see someone provoking them in the middle of it. They looked up and saw that it was Ms. Murray once again. ¡°Do you have a screw loose or something?¡± Annie could no longer hold herself back. She mmed her spoon on the table and stood up, folding her arms across her chest and ring back at Kelly. Kelly was stunned by Annie''s words. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Just then, someone walked up to Annie and whispered something into her ear. Annie¡¯s eyes lit up as she winked at Mnie. } Mnie immediately caught on. ¡°I''ve been wanting to say this for the longest time!¡± Annie yelled out loud, feeling more confident from her subordinate¡¯s update, deliberately attracting the attention of everyone around them. ¡°You have issues! And severe ones at that! Instead of enjoying your meal, you ran up here to spout nonsense to our faces. Are you sure you don¡¯t need to check yourself into an asylum?¡± Annie was coarse in hernguage, but her logic was impable. Mnie sat by her side, wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin and feeling the rush of adrenaline in her veins. ¡°Mnie Jones, | think you and your friend right here are the nut jobs!¡± Kelly started being more careful with her words upon seeing the crowd gathering around them. ¡°Although | can understand your desire to be in the limelight, you must have some self- awareness. There are some things that just don¡¯t belong to you!¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough nonsense.¡± Mnie stood up, and grabbed Annie¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s see who it belongs to, then.¡± Mnie and Annie exchanged nces, barely able to contain their excitement. Kelly didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± 2/3 +15 BONOS ¡°You''ll know when you get there.¡± Mnie and Annie turned around and led the way. Kelly saw how confident they were and started to be fearful, but with so many people around, she had no choice but to follow them, still keepingThis text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. her head held high. ¡°Fine, I''ll go! As if I''m scared of you!¡± They took the elevator up to the 79th floor, where the superior executive suite was located. There was a crowd gathered outside Adam''s room, from which a frustrated voice could be heard. The two women behind Kelly didn¡¯t understand what was going on, and asked the staff members stuck outside the door about it. They exined, ¡°Adam heard that Ms. Yancey arranged a partner for him. He¡¯s so upset about it, he red up right there and then...¡± Chatper 425 Chapter 425 Suicide Adam was kept busy with preparations for tomorrow¡¯s show the moment he arrived at the hotel. Make-up trials, outfit tryouts, jewelry matching and stage rehearsals filled his schedule. It was only when he finally had time to eat that he heard about the organizers taking the liberty to find a new partner for him without his agreement¡ªand it was the rich heiress of an organization he had never heard of in his life! He was sought-after by many and born for the stage, but he was also equally fearful of the stage. That was why it was a pursuit of perfection for him each time he appeared on stage. He wouldmunicate in advance with the organizer of each and every event he made an appearance in, and he had to agree to the partner that the organizer had nned for him. This time round, they had agreed for the finale of the show to be his personal catwalk without a female partner. Thest minute change made his blood boil! He snapped harshly, ¡°I¡¯m done with organizers who don¡¯t know how to respect others!¡± Adam was well-known in the industry to keep to high standards and have a mind of his own. What¡¯s more, his poprity had risen sharply as ofte, and his schedule was packed to the brim with people fighting to work with him. If it weren¡¯t for Linda Yancey, it would have been impossible for him to make an appearance on this stage. Kelly figured out the reason behind Adam¡¯s fury, and crooked a finger to signal her subordinate toe over. She asked in a low voice, ¡°Were we the ones who angered Adam O¡¯Shea?¡± The subordinate thought about it before saying, ¡°Mr. Wright said earlier that he had settled things with Adam. | think Mnie was the one who privately contacted Adam¡¯s staff member to try to make herself his partner, that was what made Adam angry.¡± Kelly pondered for a moment, and thought that it makes sense. Just then, Mr. Wright arrived, surrounded by a bunch of people. Linda Yancey handed such affairs over to Mr. Wright to handle, and he was here to appease Adam and his anger. The moment Kelly saw Mr. Wright arrive, her fears dissipated in that instant. She was sure it was Mnie¡¯s ignorance that angered Adam. She would sit back and see how Mnie exin herself to Mr. Wright and Linda Yancey! Adam sat on a swivel chair with his back facing the door,pletely ignoring whoever entered +15 BONOS AJ¡¯S ANNOYr was trying to persuade Adam, but his efforts were all in vain. The moment he sa A. Wright arrive, he began to vent his frustrations on him. WE WON, it was originally because of your sincerity that we decided to reject a few other shows azanced and ept the invitation to Als. Yancey¡¯s jewelry show. This is our first coboration, and you''ve screwest things up. Are you trying to make this ourst time working together?¡± Trevone pezse calm down, | can settle this issue.¡± Mr. Wright said in a cating tone. Adam¡¯s ey couldn''t be bothered to beat around the bush, and deliberately said sarcasticald, ¡°Adam said we''ll go today. Your show is too high-ss for us to be a part of.¡± Mr. Whight started pankking. ¡°Please, don¡¯t We can talk things through...¡± Ats. Yancey specifically requested for Adam to model thetest jewelry series ¡°Sun and Moon¡± that she personally designed as part of the show¡¯s finale. If Adam were to leave right now, what would happen to tomorrow''s show? He had no way of exining things to Linda Yancey. ¡°Adam, please don¡¯t be angry, Everything you heard is just rumors. They¡¯re true. That person just thinks too highly of herself in wanting to be your partner. She¡¯s not your partner, | am!¡± Kelly tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, and walked past the crowd into Adam''s room with a coy smile. Mr. Wright saw hering out and creating trouble. He red hard at her, but Kelly simply thought that Mr. Wright was in agreement with what she said. She went on boldly, ¡°I specially hired a teacher to teach me how to catwalk at home. | even watched videos of your previous fashion shows, and know exactly how to catwalk with you. | won''t be as thick¡ªskinned as someone else!¡± Adam furrowed his brows, utterly confused. Where did this madwomane from, and why was she spouting all this nonsense? He didn¡¯t intend to turn around, but curiosity got the better of him. He turned around, wanting to see who this fool was. That made Kelly even more smug. She managed to sessfully coax Adam when everyone else failed! Adam stared at her and asked, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°| said that I¡¯m your partner. Did you not see the information that Mr. Wright gave you? I¡¯m Kelly +15 BONOS ¡°Who?¡± Adam was puzzled and frustrated at the same time. Kelly¡¯s mention of Mnie¡¯s name sent his mind into further chaos. Just then, the crowd parted. Mr. Wright and Kelly turned around, to see Linda Yancey walkingFrom N?velDrama.Org. toward them. They lowered their heads and stepped aside. Linda walked into the room, and said, ¡°Adam, | heard everything everyone said just now. | have an idea of the situation. Don¡¯t worry, I''ll deal with those on my side who made the mistake. We''ll have the solo segment as agreed previously and nothing will be changed. Please stay on my ount.¡± Adam¡¯s stance softened at the arrival of Linda. He paused for a moment, and spotted Mnie in the crowd. ¡°Ms. Yancey, | heard thisdy say that.....Mnie Jones wants to be my partner, too? Is that true? Is that the same Mnie Jones that | know?¡± With that, he lifted a finger gracefully and pointed at Mnie. ¡°If it¡¯s her, I''m willing to do the finale with a partner.¡± Chatper 426 Chapter 426 cklist +15 BONOS Ms. Yancey stood stunned for a moment before turning back to look at Mnie. Mnie stepped forward upon realizing that she had been implicated in the issue. ¡°Ms. Yancey,¡± she said, ¡°I''m afraid this is all a misunderstanding. | don¡¯t really understand it myself, but | heard Ms. Murray mention earlier about someone who thinks too highly of herself in wanting to be Adam¡¯s partner, which was what angered Adam. Was she referring to me?¡± ¡°This was a misunderstanding to begin with.¡± Ms, Yancey couldn¡¯t be bothered to spare a nce at Kelly. She looked at Mnie, before her gazended on Adam. ¡°| can promise you that no one is able to stuff a partner down your throat without getting your express permission. As such, you can catwalk at tomorrow¡¯s show with peace of mind.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! We simrly look forward to our first coboration with you, Ms. Yancey,¡± Adam¡¯s manager chimed in at just the right time. ¡°What I¡¯m most concerned about right now is whether Mnie Jones is willing to be my partner?¡± Adam turned everyone¡¯s attention to her. Everyone looked at Mnie, who in turn nced at a panic-stricken Kelly, who was seizing the chance to retreat into the crowd... Mnie would never let her have her way! ¡°| was seriously considering your invitation, but what Ms. Murray said earlier about me thinking too highly of myself affected me very much. | really need to think this through. I¡¯m not a professional in this area, and | might just ruin yours and Ms. Yancey¡¯s show,¡± Mnie said calmly. Her words clearly targeted Kelly. Adam, Mr. Wright and Linda all turned to re at Kelly. ¡°Mr. Wright,¡± Linda said, and Mr. Wright immediately hunched over in a servile manner. ¡°I don¡¯t even need to ask you to know what happened. Take a break after this show is over.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Linda¡¯s tone was gentle, but it still sent shivers down Mr. Wright¡¯s spine. ¡°Ms. Yancey... | was wrong. Please give me one more chance...¡± Ms. Yancey ignored him, and instead turned around to issue instructions to another subordinate of hers. +15 BONOS ¡°You! Take over his duties!¡± ¡°Thank you for giving me the chance, Ms. Yancey. | won¡¯t disappoint you!¡± her subordinate promised with gusto. ¡°Do you know what''s the first thing you¡¯re supposed to do after taking over his work?¡± Ms. Yancey asked with a smile. If it weren¡¯t for the fearful look in her subordinate¡¯s eyes, others might think that she was a friendly and approachable boss. ¡°ce the Murrays in the cklist,¡± the subordinate said, quick¡ªwitted. ¡°You''re a smart one!¡± She patted her subordinate¡¯s shoulder with a smile. Kelly was so frightened, she could hardly stand straight. ¡°Ms. Yancey, Adam must be in tip-top condition prior to the big show. Do you think...¡± Adam¡¯s. manager reminded Linda as he nced in Mnie¡¯s direction. Ms. Yancey knew Adam was sincere in inviting Mnie to be his partner. She turned to look at Mnie. ¡°You don¡¯t need to humble yourself like this. I''ve seen you on film, and you give me good vibes. You¡¯re certainly not a newbie in still shots!¡± Seeing no objections from Mnie, Ms. Yancey turned to Adam and went on, ¡°If Mnie is agreeable, she can be filmed alongside you in my jewelry feature video. However, perhaps we should forget about the catwalk. It¡¯s tomorrow, and it might be too stressful for her to start practicing for it right now.¡± Athought arose in Mnie¡¯s mind as she exchanged nces with Annie. Both of them nodded unanimously. She wasn¡¯t worried about being photographed. She was instead worried that Linda would want her to do tomorrow''s show with Adam. Given her condition right now, she was in no state to wear heels and strut on the runway. Since Linda gave her a perfect excuse to avoid doing the catwalk, there was no reason for her to reject the suggestion. Thus, she agreed to be in the jewelry feature video together with Adam. After dinner, Mnie followed the stylist to select some outfits for the photoshoot. Linda came along as well. The sight of a few slim-fit outfits made Mnie furrow her brows. She was already three months pregnant. Although her pregnancy wasn¡¯t obvious in everyday clothes, wearing slim-fit outfits would surely entuate her slightly swollen belly, which looked different from a bloated and full stomach. +15 BONOS She was about to reject the styles, when Linda walked toward her and put them away. ¡°I don¡¯t want these few pieces. They don¡¯t suit her style.¡± No one else dared to oppose Linda. The stylist had no choice but to part with her favorite outfits. She was looking forward to Mnie donning those slim-fit outfits, even one would be good enough. ¡°And those heels...they can be very mboyant in design, but there¡¯s no need for her to wear such high heels,¡± Linda said as she looked at the disy of shoes. ¡°But Ms. Yancey, Adam is 195 centimeters tall...¡± The stylist tried to persuade Linda otherwise, no longer able to hold herself back. ¡°Make him squat a little.¡± Linda refused to back down, and the stylist had no choice but to give in to her request. After finalizing the style, Linda brought Mnie out. They bumped into Leo, who was walking in their direction. Linda teased with a smile, ¡°Mr..York, you are efficient indeed! You¡¯re here already even though my show hasn''t started yet?¡± ¡°| heard Mnie''s already here. | know that the moment the show starts, all the subsequent interviews and promotional efforts will make you even busier, Ms. Yancey. If that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t you two busydies spare some time and discuss with me about how we can push out our fragrances as fast as possible? That''ll be ideal for everyone,¡± Leo said. ¡°Mr. York, are you here for the fragrance or for thedy?¡± Linda said, grinning, as she led the two of them to a meeting room. The three of them settled down on their seats. Linda¡¯s subordinate poured some coffee for her and Leo, and set a ss of fruit juice right before Mnie. The corner of Mnie''s lips twitched as Linda¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°Does Mnie not like coffee?¡± Leo noticed the difference in treatment. Unable to hold back his curiosity, he asked, ¡°I remember you didn¡¯t avoid coffee before?¡± ¡°Somedies are worried they might not sleep well after drinking coffee and that might affect their beauty sleep, especially after being on a long-distance flight,¡± Linda said naturally with a smile, as she picked up her cup and sipped on it. Mnie knew that the frequency of Linda helping her out was way too high. When she went to the washroom, Linda headed there too. She seized the chance while no one Chatper 427 Chapter 427 Theft ¡°This question again?¡± Linda looked at Mnie with a smile, her eyes twinkling. ¡°You really feel a strong affinity with me, don¡¯t you?¡± Mnie¡¯s face remained unchanged. She looked patiently at Linda, waiting for thetter''s answer. There seemed to be no reasonable exnation for the many coincidences between them. However, Mnie clearly remembered being rescued by a mysterious stranger from the fire at the York''s estate. When she was unconscious, the mother of that little boy once said that she knew that she was pregnant... Since Mnie saved that little boy, said woman would do all she could to protect the mother and child.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Wasn''t everything that Linda was doing to protect Mnie and her child?! ¡°| feel a strong affinity with you, too. It feels just marvelous!¡± Linda said. Mnie wasn¡¯t surprised. She didn¡¯t expect Linda to give her a genuine answer anyway. However, Linda¡¯s vague answers to her questions were enough for Mnie to pinpoint the problem. Mnie smiled, and didn¡¯t push further. She went back, and reported to Linda and Leo about the research and development and mass production progress of her two new fragrances named ¡°Falling Snow¡± and ¡°In The Moonlight*. The factory and research and development centers were both located in Harbor City. She even invited them there for a site visit when they had the time. Linda suggested co¡ªbranding her newly¡ªdesigned jewelry series, Sun and Moon, with Mnie¡¯s second fragrance named, In the Moonlight, to which Mnie readily agreed. Although the Yorks and the Yanceys were considered as higher¡ªlevel sources of capital, there were pros and cons in getting Jones Enterprise involved with them. But with such higher-level sources of capital throwing an olive branch at Mnie, she had no way of rejecting them. The next day, Linda was busy tying up loose ends of herrge-scale jewelry show. After taking a break in the afternoon, all the staff members gathered to go through a final rehearsal before the actual show. One of the staff members pushed in a remarkably huge safe. etual day as possible and all the models were 415 BONOS Some staff members and bodyguards surrounded the safe and distributed the jewelry to the models. Cries of astonishment and awe sounded from the backstage dressing room. Although the models were experienced in their own right, Linda¡¯s jewelry were clearly on another levelpared to major brands commonly seen in the market. Her pieces were exquisitely designed and exorbitantly priced. After all the pieces in the safe were distributed, Linda stood up and crooked a finger at Adam. ¡°It¡¯s finally your turn!¡± One of the staff members took the cue and lowered his head to open the lock on the safe. The Sun and Moon diamond series was worth a fortune, and it was protected by threeyers of security measures to prevent theft. Everyone held their breath in expectation to see them in its full glory. After unlocking the security mechanism, a deafening silence fell upon everyone backstage. ¡°It''s¡ªempty?¡± The exmation alerted Linfa, who turned back to look. She immediately looked at the bodyguard in charge of guarding the safe, and demanded, ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°Ms. Yancey, I''ll look into it right away!¡± The bodyguard instructed three teams to lock down the entire venue and check through surveince camera footage and sightings of suspicious people. Linda sat down expressionlessly, but everyone knew her blood was boiling. ¡°Call Mr. Wright and Ms. Murray over right now!¡± she instructed coldly after pondering for a moment. One of her subordinates quickly brought the two of them over. Their faces were filled with fear as they anxiously denied all involvement in the matter. ¡°Ms. Yancey, | had nothing to do with the theft of Sun and Moon!¡± ¡°Don''t panic. Take turns to exin yourself,¡± Linda said with a smile that sent chills down their spines. She first turned to Mr. Wright, who bent low and said humbly, ¡°Ms. Yancey, I¡¯ve worked for you for almost 20 years. You know the little tricks that | sometimes have up my sleeves, but you also know the kind of person I am. | don¡¯t have the guts to do something on such a massive scale...¡± Linda nodded, and turned to look at Kelly with an arched brow. ¡°What about you?¡± she demanded. ¡°Ms Yancey! | would never dare to do this, even if you threatened to beat me to death!¡± +15 BONOS Kelly was on the verge of panicked tears which she tried hard to hold back, lest she embarrassed herself in front of everyone. She exined herself through suppressed sobs, ¡°My dad¡¯spany suffered huge losses because | offended you, and he gave me a thorough scolding. He even stripped me of my allowance for the year because of it..... What in the world? Linda waved her hand in frustration, and her subordinate immediately signaled for Kelly to shut up. ¡°Everyone involved in preparing for this show is here. Out of everyone here, less than ten know the code to the safe. | don¡¯t want to check all of them one by one. There might be a chance of an idental leakage of the code, anyway. I¡¯m giving you one chance. As long as you hand over the Sun and Moon collection, | promise to be lenient in punishment!¡± Linda flipped her hair behind her shoulders, and waited for around one minute before she said in a darker tone, ¡°If you don¡¯t admit your mistake right now and | manage to find you, I¡¯ll make sure you wish you were dead!¡± Everyone exchanged nces, not daring to even breathe. Even after waiting for a while longer, no one stepped forward to confess. The three bodyguard teams returned and reported that they could not find any clues for the time being. ¡°Hah!¡± Linda scoffed. ¡°Did an invisible persone in and steal the collection?¡± There were only a few hours left until the start of the show. It wasn¡¯t just an issue of mary loss with the theft of the Sun and Moon series. What was more serious was the risk on their reputation in the global fashion industry. Even Linda began feeling panic. Silence fell upon the huge backstage, making the air blown from the air-conditioning unit deafening. No one dared to breathe a word for fear that it might anger Linda, who was furious at this point. In the midst of the tense silence, Mnie walked confidently, stood right, before the open safe, and started sniffing it. ¡°It''s not that there are no clues whatsoever,¡± she said calmly. Chatper 428 Chapter 428 A Smart Person The bodyguard standing behind Linda said, ¡°Ms. Yancey, we''ve called the police. They''re on their way here.¡± ¡°What use will they be?¡± Linda shrieked, clearly displeased. The police woulde, open the case, interrogate suspects and investigate the matter. Even if they manage to find the stolen diamonds, so what? Could her show wait till then? ¡°Mnie, what do you mean?¡± Linda was pinning all her hopes on Mnie. Mnie sniffed out the entire safe thoroughly, and turned around to say, ¡°I smell a lingering scent on the safe, which smells like a mix of perfume and tobo. If you can gather everyone here and line them up with a gap in between each person, I''ll be able to quickly pinpoint who touched that safe. That''ll make the matter easier to investigate.¡± Linda¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°How could | forget the talent that you are?¡± She chuckled, and instructed the bodyguard behind her, ¡°Make everyone line up and await checks!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The bodyguards split up to maintain an orderly queue. Mnie led Annie and Linda to an empty room, where all three of them sat down. Now that things were quieter, Linda turned to look at Mnie and asked, ¡°How confident are you about this? There are so many people here. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s not easy to identify the scent!¡± Linda¡¯s right-hand man suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t | call Mr. Wright and Ms. Murray who are the prime suspects here, and let you see if they are the ones?¡± ¡°Don''t,¡± Mnie said with a quick shake of her head. ¡°Why not?¡± Linda could sense that something was wrong. Mnie blinked, and said, ¡°To be honest, | didn¡¯t smell anything just now.¡± ¡°Miss Mnie, are you joking?¡± Linda¡¯s right-hand man yelled anxiously. Linda lifted her hand, signaling for him not to interrupt Mnie. +15 BONOS Mnie went on, ¡°I wanted to sniff out a scent, but | suppose the safe must¡¯ve been ced below the vent. All the scent would have been blown away, leaving nothing behind. | decided to change tact instead......... Her voice petered out, but Linda knew what she meant. The corner of her lips lifted as she instructed, ¡°Make sure they don¡¯t make things difficult for Mr. Wright and Kelly Murray. Let ther queue as long as they want.¡± ¡°Yes, miss!¡± Her right-hand man more or less figured out what was going on, and left to make the necessary arrangements. ¡°It''s just going to be tough on you, having to sniff out so many people even though you''re just putting up an act.¡± Linda¡¯s gaze softened as she smiled at Mnie. ¡°I''ll have someone prepare refreshments for you. You can stop anytime you feel tired.¡± ¡°It''s an honor to be able to help you, Ms. Yancey,¡± Mnie smiled, brightly and sincerely.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Very soon, the queue was ready. All the security guards and construction workers involved in preparing the show walked into the room one by one, and drew close to Mnie so that she could smell them. She waved everyone else away very quickly, until it reached Kelly¡¯s turn. The moment Kelly walked in, the strong smell of her perfume filled the entire room, so much so that Mnie and Ms. Yancey couldn¡¯t help but pinch their noses. ¡°Ms. Yancey, I''m afraid we might have to switch rooms after this,¡± Mnie said helplessly. Linda waved someone over, and instructed him to make the necessary arrangements. She looked up at Kelly and said, clearly displeased, ¡°Did you apply more perfume?¡± ¡°lyes no wait, Ms. Yancey, | really didn¡¯t go near that safe. | don¡¯t even have a clue what your jewelry pieces look like!¡± Kelly started sobbing out of panic. The thought of Linda¡¯s threat to make the thief wish he were dead made her almost faint out of fright. ¡°Are you worried | might take this chance to take revenge on you in Ms. Yancey¡¯s name?¡± Mnie asked. Kelly looked at Mnie with rage in her eyes, but she didn¡¯t dare to say anything¡ªwhich was akin to a tacit agreement. ¡°Leave the room, don¡¯t waste our precious time!¡± Mnie said with a wave of her hand, and the bodyguard dragged Kelly out of the room. +15 BONOS Mnie and Linda then shifted to another clean room. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not Kelly?¡± Linda asked Mnie. ¡°She looked even more guilty, having reapplied her perfume.¡± ¡°Include her in the list of suspects for now, but | think it¡¯s not likely that it¡¯s her. She has neither the guts nor the intellect to do so. Mnie exined. ¡°Even if she¡¯s trying to cover things up by reapplying perfume, there¡¯s no need to go overboard with it. As if she¡¯s worried that | can¡¯t sniff out the issue.¡± Linda nodded. ¡°The one who stole Sun and Moon must be a smart person.¡± Mnie nodded in agreement. After sniffing out a few more people, it was Mr. Wright''s turn to enter the room. He stood up straight to allow Mnie to sniff him, and even exined himself, ¡°This cologne of mine is from a long-established brand which I¡¯ve been using for decades. Ms. Yancey, you probably know about it too.¡± ¡°Yes, a man like you is surely a smart one. Smart men won''t do something so foolish. You may leave now,¡± Mnie said as she nced at Linda. Linda immediately caught on, and instructed her right-hand man after Mr. Wright left the room. Find his family members and restrain all of them!¡± ¡°Yes, miss!¡± Her right-hand man immediately set off to instruct his team. When he returned, he couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity and asked, ¡°Miss, | smelled it for myself just now. The cologne Mr. Wright was wearing is indeed the brand that he usually uses. Why do you suspect him?¡± ¡°Not a suspect. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s him,¡± Mnie corrected him calmly. Chatper 429 Chapter 429 Elimination ¡°What makes you so sure?¡± +15 BONOS Linda¡¯s right-hand man was puzzled. Mnie saw the curious look on Linda¡¯s face, and exined, ¡°When Adam lost his temperst night and you scolded Mr. Wright in front of everyone, he smelled only of tobo. Not this brand of cologne that he was wearing just now. ¡°| suppose it''s because he must have been very busy preparing for the show over the past few days, and didn¡¯t bother with his usual luxuries. ¡°When you called him and Kelly over to exin themselves, | paid close attention and noticed that he hadn¡¯t applied any cologne at that time. However, | also noticed a faint smell of cologne after he queued up. He¡¯s smarter than Kelly, and used only a little to create the impression that he had applied the cologne much earlier on. ¡°But no matter how faint the scent is, a professional will be able to pick up the top note mixed with a bit of the middle note instead of the base note, which should be present had he applied the cologne much earlier on.¡± ¡°Impressive!¡± Linda¡¯s right-hand man couldn''t hold back his praise. ¡°So when you deliberately dered that the smell lingering on the safe was not just that of perfume but also tobo, you already suspected him at that point?¡± Mnie nodded. Linda looked relieved. ¡°He¡¯s certainly a prime suspect. He always looks so timid working for me over the years, but now he decided to go all out in betraying me!¡± After a moment''s pause, Linda instructed her right-hand man, ¡°Make sure your men are alert enough! Follow Mr. Wright to find Sun and Moon. Don''t alert him to our movements!¡± ¡°Yes, Miss!¡± Linda¡¯s right-hand man took on the task and turned to look at Mnie with newfound respect in his eyes. ¡°Miss Mnie, do you need to sniff out the rest of the crowd?¡± ¡°We''ll continue,¡± Mnie said. ¡°Haven''t we already confirmed that it''s Mr. Wright?¡± the right-hand man said, confused. +15 BONOS ¡°Ms. Yancey said earlier that Mr. Wright worked for her for so many years. Although it looks like he betrayed her, I¡¯m sure he nted some spies in Ms. Yancey¡¯s team. It''ll be good for us to take this chance to identify all of them,¡± Mnie exined. Linda nodded with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s tough on you.¡± Mnie shook her head with a smile. After checking through over a hundred staff members, Mnie identified a few key suspects. All of them recently applied perfume, of which three of them used the same brand of fragrance and even applied simr amounts. It was likely that none of them had perfume with them, and they borrowed from the same person to help cover things up. ¡°Go and take a rest. | asked someone to prepare a room for you,¡± Linda said to Mnie. Mnie stood up, and suddenly felt a wave of nausea. She covered her mouth with her hand, and started to dry¡ªheave. Annie hurriedly walked over to her to hold her steady. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Linda sighed. ¡°Seems like you''re really exhausted. Bring her to the room. I''ll have someone stew some soup for her and will send it over to her soon.¡± Annie nodded, and helped Mnie to the room to lie down. Worried, sheined, ¡°I saw you pushing yourself just now. | knew that there was no use trying to talk you out of it, but there really was no need for you to sniff out so many people! What if something untoward happened to you?¡± ¡°The theft of a jewelry collection meant for the finale of this show is a huge blow to Ms. Yancey. | must help her. What''s more, she suddenly wanted to coborate with me. It is critical for partners to be evenly matched. | must seize this chance to prove my worth,¡± Mnie exined. She went on tofort Annie with a smile, ¡°I know my limits. | won''t bite off more than | can chew.¡±From N?velDrama.Org. Very soon, one of Linda¡¯s subordinates came in with two bowls of nutritious soup, apanied with a slip of paper indicating the list of ingredients used in the soup. Annie looked through it, and said to Mnie, ¡°They are all ingredients suitable for pregnantdies to consume...*. Mnie sipped on the refreshing and tasty soup, unsurprised. ¡°I could sense her taking care of me when we chatted yesterday.¡± She told Annie softly about her suspicions-that Linda was the mother of that little boy. Annie eximed in hushed tones, ¡°Ms. Yancey is such an amazing woman. How could she 2/3 +15 BONOS ¡°The possibility of Harlow forcing himself upon Ms. Yancey is as low as her fancying him,¡± Mnie corrected. ¡°Something unknown must have happened between them back then, thereby resulting in a child between them¡ªan intellectually challenged child, to boot...¡± One hourter. Linda¡¯s right-hand man came to Mnie¡¯s room and knocked softly on the door. ¡°Miss Mnie, Miss Snow. Ms. Yancey is asking if you¡¯ve rested enough. She wants you toe over.¡± ¡°We''ll head over soon,¡± Mnie said as she sat up on the bed. Chatper 430 Chapter 430 The Fearsome President Morgan Mnie and Annie followed Linda¡¯s right-hand man backstage. Adam had his makeup on, and had changed into his outfit for the runway. A yellow diamondrger than the size of a pigeon¡¯s eggs hung before his bare chest. The yellow diamond looked exquisitely cut and was surrounded by pave diamonds which looked like stars entuating the beauty of the moon, yet not stealing the limelight of the yellow diamond featured in the middle. The Sun and Moon collection was indeed dazzling and mesmerizing. ¡°| see that you''ve found it!¡± Mnie eximed. Linda smiled. ¡°I did, all thanks to you!¡± ¡°| had my men secretly follow Mr. Wright who, as we suspected, wanted to flee with the diamonds. He even had ne tickets booked. We restrained his wife and child andy in wait for him at his house. It was a breeze finding the Sun and Moon collection after that!¡± Linda¡¯s right-hand man looked admiringly at Mnie. ¡°Our men all praised Miss Mnie for her brilliant idea, which saved us from much blood and sweat!¡± ¡°Why not have Ms. Yancey hire me as the leader of the security team? That way, we can be colleagues!¡± Mnie joked. After the Sun and Moon series were restored, the atmosphere backstage lightened up. Lindaughed out loud, ¡°It¡¯s a waste of talent making you the leader of the security team! You were the one who found the Sun and Moon collection. | would¡¯ve been willing to give it to you if it weren¡¯t that significant to my family.¡± ¡°Please don''t. I''m afraid that owning that priceless collection would make me ck off and not find gainful employment for myself,¡± Mnie chuckled. ¡°lm a woman who prizes loyalty. | can¡¯t give the collection to you, but | will take none of the profits from the co¡ªbranding of my ¡°Moon¡± series and your perfume. I''ll give them all to you!¡± Linda insisted. ¡°Ms. Yancey, | helped you find the stolen jewelry collection so the Jones and the Yanceys can be true friends from this episode. Please don¡¯t be so formal.¡± +15 BONOS Mnie expressed her innermost thoughts, and Linda¡¯s eyes shone. ¡°| really, really like you a lot! ¡°| never care for the background of partners | choose to work with, only their trustworthiness, Jones Enterprise has long been a partner that I¡¯ve regarded highly. | see us as equals. ¡°What''s more, I¡¯ve waited for three years for the show tonight. It¡¯s very important to me. | owe you one, so if you ever need my help in the future, feel free toe to me.¡± Linda reached her hand out with a smile, and Mnie grabbed it. Around of apuse sounded amongst the audience. Two hourster, Linda¡¯s jewelry show started without any hups. Adam¡¯s appearance at the finale segment, and the mor of the Sun and Moon yellow diamond collection, brought Linda Yancey¡¯s reputation in the fashion world to a whole new awe-inspiring level. Subsequent media reports and promotional efforts were done very well, too. The next day, Linda engaged a well-known photographer to shoot Adam and Mnie. The photographer proposed two sets of photo series designs, and sought Mnie and Adam''s approval before the two of them walked on the pure white tform and started the photo shoot. Before they managed to get a third shot, amotion broke out below the stage and behind the studio lights. Linda¡¯s subordinate came over to report the situation. ¡°Ms. Yancey, President Morgan from Morgan Group is here.¡± Linda smiled, and nced back. Jeffrey had already walked near, and she looked at him without standing up, ¡°President Morgan, did you just barge in uninvited?¡± ¡°| heard Ms. Yancey¡¯s jewelry show was a huge sess, and came specially to congratte you,¡± Jeffrey said with a half-smile. ¡°Hah!¡± Lindaughed, and stretched out a hand to signal him to take a seat. ¡°President Morgan, do you have a habit of congratting others empty-handed?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Jeffrey shot back without missing a beat. ¡°I heard that this batch of jewelry series that you newly designed will be launched in Medonia very soon before entering the local market. AHO +15 BONOS your collection, Ms. Yancey.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Linda''s eyes lit up, and her entire face was bearing. ¡°By offer, do you mean that you won''t take a single cent of profit?¡± ¡°I''ll leave that entirely up to you. You are my senior, and | am willing to do as you please,¡± Jeffrey said charmingly. Linda turned around and surveyed Jeffrey from head to toe, her eyes shining. ¡°I''ve only ever seen you in media reports. Although | believe our families might be rted, 1 believe this is our first time meeting, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°You look rather friendly,¡± Linda said as the smile faded from her face. ¡°You¡¯re smart, too. No wonder Morgan Group has been unstoppable over the years. You¡¯re known to be fearsome.¡± ¡°Someone known to be fearsome wouldn''t look friendly,¡± Jeffrey said. ¡°Haha!¡± Linda chuckled. ¡°Although that¡¯s true, | still find you friendly. You do look like a member of the Yancey family!¡± Jeffrey''s eyes glinted, and he said with a smile, ¡°Ms. Yancey, | heard the outline of this photoshoot. Is this for your Sun and Moon collection?This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Yes, it is.¡± Mnie nodded coyly, looking open to share more. ¡°The Sun and Moon collection features a series of opposites. Since you have one male and one female model, why are you making them pose together? They should be separated and on opposing ends. That would better reflect how gloriously the sun and the moonplement each other while not interfering with each other,¡± Jeffrey exined gruffly. ¡°| didn¡¯t expect President Morgan to be so well-versed in artistic promotion!". Linda chuckled, and rested her chin on her hand. ¡°You''re a generous man, President Morgan. | love working with generous people. That settles it, then. We''ll work together for the better in entering the domestic market.¡± ¡°For the better, indeed.¡± Jeffrey echoed in agreement. His brows furrowed slightly, and after a moment''s pause, he asked, ¡± But what do you mean by me being generous?¡± ¡°You came here personally to congratte me, and even offered me such a valuable gift for the +15 BONOS Lindaughed again, and crooked a finger at her subordinate standing behind her. ¡°Tell the photographer to stop. We need a proper discussion to address President Morgan''s suggestion!¡± Chatper 431 Chapter 431 My Lineage No one knew if Linda truly agreed with Jeffrey or was being strong¡ªarmed into agreeing with him. That famous photographer was quickly located and dragged over, and they all began discussing Jeffrey''s proposal. With Linda and Jeffrey physically present, the photographer had no choice but to agree with it. While Mnie and Adam were still partnering up during the next photographing session, the two of them had almost zero physical interaction. During the interval, Mnie would asionally peek at that visitor who hade uninvited from her ce on the stage. She would intentionally narrow her eyes, hoping that he would see her death stare. A few hourster, the photographing session ended. Jeffrey''s car was waiting outside. Mnie immediately got in and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Annie?¡± ¡°| had someone send her back to the hotel first,¡± Jeffrey said. He had already arranged everything properly so that they could have some private time to talk. ¡°Isn''t it a bit too risky for you toe over to watch the photography session?¡± Mnie said as she furrowed her eyebrow, looking at the man whose hand was almost on her belly. Even if he wanted to see her, he should have gone to a more private ce. ¡°Don''t worry. Linda¡¯s probably figured out our rtionship,¡± Jeffrey said calmly. When she heard the first half of the sentence, Mnie was almost relieved. However, the second half of the sentence made her nervous again. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Jeffrey then told her about how Linda was teasing him earlier. ¡°With the Yanceys¡¯ influence, if she really wanted to find out about our private life, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible for her..¡± ¡°There is another possibility.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Mnie then added, ¡°I feel like Linda was the one that saved me when the small building was set on fire earlier. That little boy¡¯s birth mother... She seemed to know that I¡¯m pregnant and went out of her way to take care of me.¡± Linda wouldn''t let her wear any heels and kept on calling for rests during the photographing sessions. She even asked Mnie to eat and drink to keep her energy level high... 4 +15 BONOS ¡°All this while, Linda has been in Medonia. There are just too many coincidences. While you have found no evidence about the rtionship between her and Harlow, if you ask me, there¡¯s something going on between the two of them,¡± Mnie said with certainty. ¡°Alright. I''ll use your conclusion to help with our investigation. Tracing the leads in reverse will make things easier,¡± Jeffrey agreed. Mnie nodded. ¡°There¡¯s no rush, honestly. She¡¯s probably acknowledged this oue. | saved her son, so she¡¯s treating me well and won''t hurt me. That''s good enough. As for the private business between Harlow and her... It doesn¡¯t really matter whether or not we know about it.¡± ¡°But | want to find out more.¡± Jeffrey''s lips were tightly pursed as he pulled back his hand from her belly. ¡°Linda told me | looked like a Yancey... She¡¯s not someone that would easily say something like that.¡± Mnie took a step back and looked at his face. ¡°Now that you mention it, you do look a little like her. Especially the nose. It¡¯s quite unique.¡± Jeffrey extended his arm and wound it around her waist, as if supporting her body by holding her close. ¡°Unique?¡± ¡°I''m tired today, so you better behave yourself!¡± Mnie narrowed her eyes and scolded. Jeffrey pulled her closer and gently caressed her. ¡°Come sit on my ne when you''re going back tomorrow.¡± He couldn''t let her get tired, could he? She was already going back in less than two days to take part in apetition. He was really worried that she would get too tired. Not to mention that there was a greedy little imp in her belly right now, draining her of her nutrients... How could her body handle it? In that brief silence, Mnie remembered something and asked, ¡°You think Linda isn¡¯t joking when she¡¯s saying that you looked like a Yancey?¡± ¡°No.¡± Jeffrey recalled the expression on Linda¡¯s face when she said that. It didn¡¯t look like she was simply trying to strike up a conversation. ¡°How¡¯s that possible? You¡¯re doubting your lineage?¡± Mnie got out of his arms as she looked at him with a serious impression. ¡°ty lineage is full of doubts in the first ce,¡± Jeffrey said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Mnie looked confused. Chatper 432 Chapter 432 Master and Disciple ¡°It''s a long story.¡± Jeffrey had a mixed expression on his face as he paused and said, ¡°When you''re freeter, I''ll tell you the story between my parents.¡± ¡°lm free now,¡± Mnie sald. She wanted to listen to it. All she knew was that the Morgan Group had been under the control of Jeffrey¡¯s grandfather. Only after his passing did Jeffrey Inherit his authority. Jeffrey''s grandfather¡¯s only son had two sons, and the oldest son was Stephen''s father. It was said that he was sickly and had been staying overseas for a long time for the sake of his health. As a result, his presence in thepany was verycking. However, the only son of Jeffrey¡¯s grandfather, who was also Jeffrey¡¯s father, was almost invisible. It was said that Jeffrey¡¯s grandfather disliked him a lot, which was why he passed the power over the family straight to his grandson, Jeffrey. Jeffrey had never mentioned his parents to her, so Mnie was naturally very curious about it. She couldn¡¯t wait to hear more about them. However, Jeffrey simply smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s already gettingte.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± Mnie tried her best to fight for it. He couldn''t help but scratch her nose and said, ¡°Go to bed early. You have a long flight tonight.¡± Mnie knew she couldn''t get more from him tonight, and so she stopped asking and went back to bed. She quickly fell into a deep sleep with Jeffrey¡¯s warmth next to her. The next day, Mnie and Annie said their goodbyes to Linda. When Linda heard they were going back to take part in a perfume blendingpetition, she said. that she would visit if she had the time. Mnie quickly waved her hands and said, ¡°I¡¯m grateful, Linda. But thispetition is just a continuation of thest International Perfume Blending Competition started by Aiden. It¡¯s probably going to be a waste of your precious time.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Linda raised an eyebrow and nodded. ¡°I see. Then, | wish you luck!¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± +15 BONOS Once Mnie got back to Harbor City, she then quickly started preparations for thepetition. The next day, the perfume¡ªblending exhibition match officially started. The core t of the match was minimalistic, and so thepetition was also set to be very minimalistic; they would be graded on the spot, their score would be announced on the spot, and the prizes would be handed out in the evening. The entirepetition would be streamed by several TV stations from both countries. The reason they were doing this was to disallow the losers from trying to weasel their way out. Elder Gibson knew that Mnie had thought of that as well. He was worried that she would be. feeling too much pressure, and so he went backstage to cheer her up. ¡°I trust in you. We''ll win the competition today!¡± Mnie forced a smile. Elder Gibson put his hands behind his back and said unhappily, ¡°What, you think I¡¯m trying to lie to you?¡± ¡°You''re trying to cheer me up.¡± Mnie said. ¡°Even if | were to cheer you up, there¡¯s no need for me to lie!¡± Elder Gibson said as he rolled his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s make a bet. If the winner is not from our country, you can be my master instead!¡± Mnie didn¡¯t know where his faith came from. Judging from his words, he seemed to have asked others toe help her. But from what she understood about the industry, there weren''t really any rookies that were good. at blending fragrances in a minimalistic fashion... No matter what, she needed to confront her fears and put in all her effort. However, what had urred was different from what she had hoped. She felt that something was wrong even from the first step. Her style had been bound by the rules of thepetition, making her unable to reach her full potential. Every time a thought came into her mind, she needed to think if it would fit thepetition¡¯s +15 BONOS the end wasn¡¯t something that even she herself was happy with. Naturally, if she herself wasn¡¯t happy with her own creation, she wouldn''t be impressing the judges. On top of that, their scoring criteria had to refer to the rules of thepetition, which was why Mnie¡¯s score was only somewhere in the upper range. She wasn¡¯t even in the top three.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. The host asked Mnie. ¡°Contestant number ten, do you have any questions about your score?¡± Mnie shook her head. The host was just going to continue with the process and announce the nextpetitor''s scores, but Aiden couldn¡¯t help but barge in as he stood at the side. ¡°I¡¯m quite surprised with the score! Recently, your performance at the International Perfume Blending Competition was quite eye- catching! But why didn¡¯t you perform as well this time? Don¡¯t tell me youre getting nervous when you have the home advantage?¡± ¡°They''re announcing your scores next, yet you''re still worried about my mistake? Thanks,¡± Mnie said with a cold expression. Aiden then said with a confident smile, ¡°You¡¯re wee, because | have absolute confidence in myself!¡± With that, Aiden then extended his hand, signaling the host to announce his scores. The host announced the scores from all the judges. Aiden¡¯s smile became more and more wicked! His score was unusually high! Chatper 433 Chapter 433 Pam Fields The international judges all gave Alden high scores, and the Judges from the country didn¡¯t give him any lower scores either. On one hand, Aiden¡¯s perfume blending skills were top-notch. On the other hand, everything he did. was within the parameters of the rules. He was very well prepared, so his score couldn''t be that low. ¡°Contestant number eleven. Do you have any questions about your score?¡± ¡°No!¡± Aiden intentionally said out loud and looked at the surrounding contestants with a smile, ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect that there would be such difference between my score and Ms. Mnie¡¯s!¡± ¡°| thought that Ms. Mnie is the best among all the young perfumers here...¡± ¡°My apologies for making such a difference the first time in this exhibition match... | think this is what you call... Thanks for showing kindness?¡± Aiden then gave a sneer at the remaining contestants. While their scores weren''t revealed yet, they were not that famouspared to Mnie. He hadn''t even heard the names of two of them. How could their scores be higher than his? Aiden wasn¡¯t even trying to hide his arrogance anymore. The contestants from the country, the judges, and the viewers all could feel their blood boiling. No matter how angry they were, reality was quite cruel. The scores from the next contestants weren''t that great as well, and Aiden was bing more and more arrogant. He knew that the top spot would be his this time! He gave someone off the stage a wink, and a staff member from off the stage also gave him a wink and secretly gave him an OK sign. Only onest contestant¡¯s score hadn¡¯t been announced. In just a few more minutes, the host would then announce his victory on the spot!From N?velDrama.Org. The final draft for an article about how he scored a victory on Mnie and other contestants in Ustal would be instantly published on all international websites in a few minutes. Fragrances were the economic pir for Medonia. All the politicians and patriarchs of each family would watch thispetition. The Yorks would lose all their reputation! No matter how they praised Mnie, she still lost to a Medonian contestant, Aiden Armstrong! +15 BONOS He had prepared a lot to promote himself by using Mnie as a stepping stone. There were enough materials to change the netizens¡¯ perception of Mnie, making them believe she was just a talentless leech holding on to the Yorks! ¡°Thest contestant, contestant number sixteen, Pam Fields. Her scores are ten, nine, ten. eight... ten!¡± ¡°Total score, 97!¡± ¡°Congrattions contestant number sixteen Pam Fields! You''re currently the top scorer!¡± The host announced excitedly ¡°What?!¡± Aiden immediately questioned the host as he stood on the stage. The host turned around and showed the screen, and the screen immediately showed Pam¡¯s score card with scores that all eleven judges had written down. ¡°How is it possible that she scored that high?!¡± Aiden stood right next to the host and cried out despite him being on a livestream. ¡°Are you questioning the score again, contestant number two?¡± The host had already seen Aiden¡¯s recording during the International Fragrance Blending Competition and how he questioned Mnie¡¯s scores. And so, he teased him, saying... ¡°Then maybe we can ask contestant number sixteen to step forward and describe the theme of her work?¡± The host said. Then, a contestant from the edge of the stage slowly walked forward as everyone looked on. She wasn¡¯t tall and was quite skinny. She had white hair tied up in a bun. She walked quite slow, so obviously she was already quite aged. However, she was wearing overalls and a mask. No one could see her face. However, Mnie was astonished! She was too familiar with that figure! Chatper 434 Chapter 434 The Neer''s Victory ¡°Pam, you''ve written on your card that you only used seven ingredients, and you only used essences that you¡¯ve extracted from flowers and herbs that you nted. Is this correct?¡± a foreign judge asked without pulling his punches. ¡°Ah...¡± When Pam opened her mouth, it was still that familiar strange voice. Mnie¡¯s eyes moved. Her voice confirmed her suspicions! She was that warden from Mount Coloss! Could it be that she had recovered her memories? That she remembered her name? Just when Mnie was thinking about that, the entire scene was in an uproar. ¡°She''s a mute!¡± ¡°Is she deaf too?¡± The host immediately called for order. ¡°Please remain quiet, everyone! On her registration form. she wrote down that she can¡¯t speak, but she can still hear.¡± ¡°Are there any friends and family of hers here that can trante what she¡¯s trying to say?¡± the host asked again. Mnie turned around and looked backstage. At the edge of the stage, the siblings Shane and Pam were pushing each other as they were scared to get on stage and face all the shes and cameras. They had been living in the mountains all their lives. It would naturally be difficult for them to get used to being surrounded by all the cameras after having to leave their home ¡®so suddenly. After a while, the older brother Shane was the one that got on stage and stood next to her. tranting for Pam. ¡°My mom said you''re right! She has used two herbs and fivemon wildflowers to make the fragrance. That''s all the ingredients used in her perfume.¡± ¡°Can she exin a little more?¡± One of the judges couldn''t stop himself from being curious. Pam paused before trying to express herself. +15 BOOS Shane then said, ¡°My mom said that thepetition is too strict, that there are so many rules that she couldn''t do her best. With that amount of ingredients and low cost. it¡¯s ridiculous if you want to add your ideology to that! She¡¯s already quite sessful at being able to blend a fragrance that¡¯sfortable. She blended this perfume to remind people about the flowers blooming in the mountains, and how happy they''ll be once they sme i While Shane was a bitcking in vocabry and couldn''t really exin what Flora wanted to say. his simple approach was also quite convincing in its own way. Mnie also used this chance to get closer to Shane, and gave him a look before smelling the fragrance. ¡°This scent really does make me feel lighter and happy. | feel like | can see the scene of spring with hopes blooming. Even when I''m in this building. | feel like I¡¯m in the embrace of Mother Nature.¡± Mnie added. When Pam heard her words, she smiled happily. Pam¡¯s expression was very strong, almost piercing through the schemes of those who designed thispetition. The foreign judges off stage all had strange expressions on their faces, but the judges and contestants from the country all pped and cheered for her. ¡°Her registration form said that she¡¯s seventy years old?¡± One of the foreign judges began to question her. ¡°Ourpetition is a vehicle for neers into the perfumer profession tomunicate with each other, though... ¡°So what if she¡¯s seventy? My mom asked why can¡¯t she be a novice despite being seventy? Shane began to trante Pam¡¯s words again. But because Pam¡¯s tone was bing quite insistent, Shane was also getting angrier. ¡°My mom has been guarding the mountain for dozens of years, but she has always been using the flowers from the mountains to make fragrance sachets and sell them to make a living.¡± ¡°She suddenly started to be interested in blending fragrances and has only studied for a few months. She registered after learning about thepetition. Other than thispetition, my mom has never joined anypetitions. Compared to everyone else, she¡¯s the most inexperienced beginner here!¡± Pam said that she had only learned about fragrance blending for a few months, and that she used to be a watchman for the mountains, making Aiden and the other judge who questioned her unable to look her in the eye. +15 BONDSFrom N?velDrama.Org. Despite such strict rules and preparations, and sending their most capable perfumer to Harbor City for thepetition, in the end, they were no better than an old woman who was aplete novice! Chatper 435 Chapter 435 Old me ¡°If you''re in doubt about the ingredients she used, she can leave all the fragrances she personally made here. You can do whatever analysis you want. All seven Ingredients wouldn¡¯t cost more than 200 dors in total anyway-It wouldn''t even be enough to buy feed for our cattle!¡± Shane was feeling much more confident now. Not only did he trante what Pam wanted to say, he even added his own wrath into his tone. Pam once again exined that the cost of her fragrance was very low, and that was enough to shut up all the foreign doubters! ¡°The perfume made by contestant number sixteen is quite fresh and fragrant. Smelling it is enough to make me feel rxed. Its smell and the method used to make it are both simple, and on top of that, the cost is very low. All of this fits the criteria of this competition. It''s only natural for her to win the first ce!¡± The judges from within the country summarized in time. Aiden bit his lip. The staff member that had given him the hand signal was also very nervous since he couldn''t give him any clues. His inquisition had failed. Thepetition was over! Contestant number sixteen Pam had won first ce! She was still wearing her overalls and a mask, and she went to receive the prize as everyone looked on. Despite being a warden for a mountain for so long, Pam acted magnanimously. which could be seen from the way she moved and the way she looked at everyone. She wasn¡¯t as fearful as the siblings at all. All theizens were curious as to what this graceful olddy looked like. Aseventy-year¡ªold grandmother was able to beat a foreign contestant on behalf of their country... That was so encouraging! At that moment, the screen was filled with all kinds of messages about learning until one¡¯s old age. Backstage.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Mnie had quickly changed before heading to the lounge belonging to contestant number sixteen. ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± Someone quickly came and opened the door. Mnie looked at her, surprised. ¡°Pam!¡± +15 BONOS ¡°Mniel¡± The young woman in her early twenties yelled excitedly as she turned around and said, ¡°Mom! It¡¯s Mnie!¡± Pam had already changed as well and came to greet her. She was wearing an aqua-colored traditional dress. It managed to show just how pale her skin waspared to the time back on the mountains, where she had been wearing a leather robe. Despite her age, even the colors of her wrinkles looked harmonious. Her grace was beyond description! When Mnie saw her, she couldn¡¯t help but be happy. ¡°To think that you''d be joining the competition... | couldn¡¯t have expected this at alll¡± Pam tried to speak as she signed with her hands, upon which Pam said, ¡°Mom, | know what you''re trying to say. Let me exin: Mom didn¡¯t register for thepetition herself. Someone came to the mountain and asked for her help a few days ago!¡± ¡°Who?¡± Mnie asked curiously. ¡°This is the guy...¡± Pam searched for her purse and got a name card out. Mnie gave it a look. It was Elder Gibson¡¯s assistant! ¡°In the beginning, he told us that thispetition is a plot set up by a foreigner against the contestants from our country, and asked if my mom knew how to blend any fragrances. He even said that he knew you gave her a set of fragrance¡ªblending equipment earlier. My mom refused him, saying that she didn¡¯t want to join the contest.¡± ¡°However, that man said that if you lost to a foreigner, it''ll ruin your reputation and you''ll get scolded by everyone. After that, Mom agreed to it!¡± Pam was also very excited as she shook Mnie¡¯s arm with a smile. ¡°Mnie, you¡¯re so impressive! I¡¯ve asked my mom for many years, but she refused to even take a step out of the mountain!¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Mnie was touched. She had countless words inside her heart that she wanted to say, but all she could manage in the end was a thank you. Pam gently smiled and shook her head. ¡°Pam... Is that your real name? Or did you remember something?¡± Mnie asked. +15 BONOS Pam then replied on her mother¡¯s behalf, ¡°No. That man said that she needed a name to register for thepetition, but she didn¡¯t have one, so she gave herself one and even used my name as inspiration!¡± Mnie said with a smile and said, ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to call you. By age, | should call you grandmother. But... Pam calls you mom, and it makes things weird.¡± After that, both Shane, Pam and even Pam smiled. After pausing, Pam said something and Pam tranted it for her. ¡°My mom said that you can call her Pam.¡± ¡°Thank you, Pam,¡± Mnie thanked her sincerely again. Pam held her hand with a gentle smile and pointed at the trophy on the table, saying something. Shane then exined, ¡°My mom said that she did manage to bring a champion¡¯s trophy back home, so it¡¯s not a loss.¡± Mnie knew that Pam was worried that she would feel pressured, which was why she said. that. She had lived a life that cared little for reputation, so she wouldn¡¯t care whether or not she was acknowledged by the world. Mnie gave back the name card back to Pam. Suddenly, she remembered something, and her eyes opened wide. If the person that asked for Pam¡¯s help really was Elder Gibson''s assistant, then... The old me that Elder Gibson couldn¡¯t continue with any longer... Could she be... Pam? Chatper 436 Chapter 436 Alive +15 BONOS Mnie was getting suspicious. Suddenly, she saw something purple in the luggage that Pam had cleaned up. It was something that would make a clear sound when interacted with... Something that she couldn¡¯t be more familiar with too... That was the hand-made wind chime that she''dmissioned for Elder Gibson! The person that Elder Gibson couldn''t forget...! She really was Pam! ¡°What is it?¡± Pam asked when she saw Mnie staring in a general direction, a stunned look on her face. Pam was also looking at her. Mnie had a lot of questions inside of her, but she didn¡¯t know how to ask her. All she could do was smile and say, ¡°It¡¯s fine...¡± Elder Gibson had booked a hotel for Pam and her family. After seeing them off, Mnie couldn¡¯t help but call Elder Gibson and ask, ¡°I just saw that wind chime with Pam from Mount Coloss... You know who she is?¡± ¡°| knew that | couldn''t hide this from you...¡± Elder Gibson said after pausing a little. ¡°But why did you phrase your question in such a way?¡± ¡°She said she lost her memories and didn¡¯t even know who she was,¡± Mnie exined. Elder Gibson sighed. He then said in a rare, somber tone. ¡°This is somewhatplicated,.. We haven¡¯t met for decades. I¡¯m not even sure if | still know her...¡± Mnie thought it over and figured out the meaning behind it all. ¡°That¡¯s why you wrote letters and gave her gifts, hoping that she would remember you. Wanting to make sure if she¡¯s the person that you know?¡± ¡°You''re right,¡± Elder Gibson said. ¡°She has the wind chime with her despiteing over for thepetition, which means that she really likes it. Maybe she has really seen it in the past?¡± Mnie prompted. Elder Gibson sighed. ¡°I met up with herst night. She said that she had read the mail and said +15 BONOS remember the event written on the letter.¡± Elder Gibson''s voice was even lower. Just listening from his tone, Mnie could already empathize with the gloom that he was feeling. An old friend that Elder Gibson cared so much with and was so familiar with fragrance blending... Mnie gave it a thought and asked.. ¡°Master, are you suspecting that Yelena York didn¡¯t die after all?¡± There was a strange sob from the other side of the line before Elder Gibson said, ¡°Promise me. Don''t tell anyone about this for now.¡± ¡°| understand.¡± Mnie promised. Both fell into silence. After a while, Mnie remembered something and then asked, ¡°You haven''t seen her for decades. but... Would her physical appearance have changed so much that she didn¡¯t look like her younger self at all?¡± ¡°| know what you''re trying to say. She didn¡¯t look like Yelena, but the way she walked and the way she looked at people, as well as her temperament... They do feel very alike!¡± Elder Gibson couldn¡¯t help but be excited again. ¡°No, they''re not alike... They¡¯re one and the same! Then that would be strange. Mnie gave it a thought and asked, ¡°Maybe | can go look for her and ask her the questions that you couldn''t.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Please do.¡± With that, Elder Gibson hung up first. Mnie was also somewhat shaken. Now that she recalled it, Elder Gibson had been looking at the sachet of dried flowers that Pam gave her with a strange look when she came back from Mount Coloss... After that, when she was organizing a perfume exhibition at Willowfort, Elder Gibson was also looking at the zoomed-in photo of Pam¡¯s hands for a long time. Not to mention that ording to Pam, before Pam came for thepetition, she bought a few outfits that she liked, which all 415 BONOS Yelena loved wearing traditional dresses all those years ago, and her favorite traditional dress was still in Elder Gibson¡¯s home in Willowlort.... There were clues littered all over! But it was quite strange as well; Yelena had already passed away for decades. With the Yorks¡® abilities, would they miss any clues that their oldest daughter was missing?Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Not to mention that Yelena had died because of a hereditary heart disease. Mnie knew about the disease well. Someone wouldn''t suddenly die because of it; patients would be tortured by both the sickness and the treatment, and what happened couldn¡¯t deceive any of thern.... In this case. Pam¡¯s rebirth was even more curious. Mnie¡¯s first reaction was to ask Annie or Jeffrey to Investigate, but she¡¯d promised Elder Gibson that she wouldn¡¯t tell anyone about something like this. She had to keep it a secret. If this drew the attention of the major families, then it didn¡¯t matter if Pam was really Yelena York or not; it wouldn¡¯t be good for her at all. That was why she had to keep this a secret from everyone, including Jeffrey. The next day. Mnie bought some souvenirs from Harbor City to officially visit Pam. Shane and Pam were both absent. So Pam wrote on a piece of paper. ¡°They¡¯re having a fun time now that they¡¯re out of the mountains. They want to have some fun before going back.¡± Mnie nodded understandingly. Pam poured some tea for her. Mnie drank a cup and said, ¡°Pam, I¡¯m here because | want to thank you for joining the competition for my sake. Without you, those men¡¯s schemes would have worked.¡± Pam shook her head. ¡°Someone told me that the level of skill you have isn¡¯t remotely close to what you¡¯ve shown yesterday. You¡¯re a prodigious perfumer, so don¡¯t worry about the victory or failure of a competition,¡± she wrote. Mnie smiled. Pam could see that Mnie still cared about this and tried to console her. ¡°This is not a fairpetition and is a scheme that is targeting you. It¡¯s just that the way | blend my perfume +15 BONOS Pam could see through it all. Mnie gave her an understanding smile. ¡°I know.¡± After pausing a little, she then continued, ¡°I also came for something else...¡± Pam focused on Mnie¡¯s words, waiting for her to finish it. Mnie went straight to the point. ¡°You must have heard that I¡¯m Elder Gibson¡¯s disciple?¡± Pam nodded. ¡°My master said that you looked like a friend of his that he knew from his youth, which was why he wrote you letters and gave you a gift. He simply wants to know if you¡¯re that friend of his. He took such a sudden action because of his impatience.¡± When talking about Elder Gibson, Mnie still somewhat pitied him. She¡¯d heard his assistant say that he didn¡¯t sleep the whole night and had simply stared nkly at the Emerald Vine perfume that he had blended for Yelena... Pam nodded and wrote on the paper, ¡°He exined everything to me already. | know.¡± ¡°Then, | want to ask if you really have no memories of him? Or... Do you remember anything after seeing his gifts for you?¡± Mnie asked. Pam shook her head and paused briefly before writing. ¡°There are only two moments in all these years of having amnesia that I''ve had a vague feeling of familiarity.¡± ¡°When?¡± Mnie quickly asked. Chatper 437 Chapter 437 The Most Handsome Man +15 BONOS ¡°One is when | first saw you. The other one is when | saw the bracelet you''re wearing.¡± Pam wrote in graceful handwriting. Mnie furrowed her eyebrows. At this time. Pem continued writing on the paper. ¡°Who do your master think | look like? Who is that person?¡± Mnie pouted. When she stayed at Mount Coloss, the bracelet she had been wearing was from Madam Morgan. Elder Gibson had once told her that Madam Morgan and Yelena were best friends, so that would make sense. ¡°Does the name Yelena York ring a bell?¡± Mnie asked, and even picked up a pen and wrote the name on the paper. Pam looked at it for a while before shaking her head, her disappointment apparent. ¡°It''s just something my master suspects. Even he himself isn¡¯t that sure. Maybe it might not be the case,¡± Mnie reassured. After thinking over it a little, she asked again, ¡°But you said that you feel like you¡¯ve seen me before back when we first met?¡± Pam nodded earnestly. That...didn¡¯t make sense, though.... ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s just a misunderstanding. You don¡¯t have to think too much about it.¡± Mnie consoled. ¡°While you don¡¯t remember what happened in the past, you¡¯re happy with Shane and Pam right now, right?¡± The wrinkles around Pam¡¯s lips grew as she smiled and nodded. When it was almost afternoon, Mnie said goodbye to Pam. When she was at the hotel entrance, she then saw Shane and Pam, who had just entered the lobby as well. Pam was smiling in embarrassment while Shane was whispering something to her, after which Pam tried to chase after him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Mnie asked as she walked over. +15 BONOS ¡°She''s been star¡ªstruck!¡± Shane pouted, upset. ¡°She kept on talking about him after seeing some man! He¡¯s just another man, how handsome can he be?!¡± ¡°He is! He¡¯s more handsome than you by a million fold! He has to be this world¡¯s most handsome man!¡± Pam retorted quickly. She even turned around and said to Mnie. ¡°Mnie, you don¡¯t know just how handsome he is! He¡¯s also very gentlemanly! If you see him, you''ll be attracted to him too!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Mnie knew how a woman in her early twenties felt and didn¡¯t mind her exaggeration. Shane was still upset. ¡°She said that encountered a thief, and that man helped her get her purse back and even put a coat around her shoulders! A white knight to the rescue... What an ancient scheme. Only someone who has no social experience would fall for something like this!¡± ¡°Are you alright?¡± Mnie asked. Mnie didn¡¯t have the time to even care about that; she was stillpletely charmed. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m going back to my room first! | promised that I''ll wash his coat for him!¡± Mnie gave the coat that she was holding a good look. It had a brown checkered design... Why did it look so familiar? Pam ran toward the elevator while Mnie quickly called out to her. ¡°Pam!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Pam turned around and asked. ¡°What is that man called?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°He said hisst name is Quinn, and he said | could just call him that...¡± Pam said as her face turned red again. There was a pause. ¡°That girl, she¡¯s so helpless!¡± Shane shook her head and was about to leave too, but Mnie called out to him instinctively. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked.From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Pam can be quite naive, so you better pay more attention to who she¡¯s interacting with,¡± Mnie said after picking her words carefully. ¡°| know,¡± Shane said with an honest smile before leaving. +15 BONOS Mnie also turned around and left the hotel. Pam had said that the man¡¯sst name was Quinn, and coupled with that familiar coat Mnie concluded that the man that had charmed Pam must be Nathan Quinn. She instinctively wanted Pam to stay away from Nathan, but aller giving it more thought, she decided that while her rtionship with Nathan was quiteplicated, with Nathan harboring. some hostility towards her, he was not someone that would harass a young woman. That was why she couldn¡¯t say anything more and simply gave Shane a hint to watch out for Pam. Outside the hotel. A ck Bentley was parked under a sycamore tree around the corner. In the car, Nathan¡¯s subordinate respectfully said, ¡°Sir, from the looks of it, you¡¯vepletely. captured that youngdy¡¯s heart! But... You suspect that the deal and mute old woman that just won thepetition is Ms. Yelena York?¡± Today''s Bonus Offer Chatper 438 Chapter 438 Distance Yourself from The Morgans ¡°Mute, not deaf¡ªmute.¡± Nathan prompted his subordinate Irritably. ¡°O-Of course.¡± ¡°Two of our veterans from Tempest have personally met with Yelena. They said that other than her appearance, everything else points to her being Yelena,¡± Nathan said, eyes narrowed. ¡°But... Didn¡¯t they say that her appearance was different? Not to mention that Yelena has been dead for so many years... How could a dead woman be walking around?¡± His subordinate still doubted it. ¡°Who said that she¡¯s dead?¡± Nathan gave him a re. ¡°There are plenty of people that the Yorks said are dead but are still alive, correct?!¡± ¡°Of... Of course.¡± His subordinate didn¡¯t dare to retort anymore. Mnie had just left the hotel when she received her mother¡¯s call. ¡°Mnie, I¡¯m back! I''ve asked Nancy to prepare your favorite dishes! Will youe home for dinner tonight?¡± ¡°Sure, I''ll head back home right now,¡± Mnie responded immediately. During dinner. Mnie asked. ¡°Mom, there¡¯s nothing urgent back at thepany. Why are you back so suddenly?¡± ¡°An old friend is organizing a charity g, and | intend to give her my support,¡± Eliza said with a smile. Mnie blinked. Her excuse was a bit forced. She was so busy overseas... Why would shee back for a charity g? She knew though; her mother hade back because she lost thepetition and was worried that she would be upset. That was why she came back to visit her. Mnie pursed her lips as she felt her mother¡¯s silent love for her. +15 BONOS She and Jeffrey had already been married in secret for about a year and had kept it a secret. Seeing that she was with child, it was time to reveal everything to her mother... But... She didn¡¯t know where to start... ¡°Mom, why did our family never work with Morgan Group?¡± She tried to make it casual. Eliza¡¯s expression immediately became wary. After a short pause, she answered, ¡°Didn¡¯t Morgan Group just sponsor your perfume some time ago?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fragrance-¡ªrted. I¡¯m more curious about the medical-rted side of things.¡± When Mnie saw that her mother cared about that question, she became even more curious. Jones Enterprise has been in the medical industry for so long and is one of the leadingpanies in Harbor City. The Morgan Group is the toppany in Harbor City, and they have a hand in almost all industries... How is it possible that we¡¯ve never cooperated?¡± Eliza was hesitating. Mnie thought about it and asked, ¡°Is it because we¡¯re avoiding them intentionally?¡± ¡°Why are you asking this question so suddenly?¡± Eliza shot back. ¡°| just thought about it and...¡± Eliza observed her expression. She thought that Mnie and William were still in contact, so she didn¡¯t think too much about it and said, ¡°You can put it that way too... When your dad was still around, he refused to work with Morgan Group.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Mnie couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Anyway, you need to keep your own good,¡± Eliza distance with Morgan Group as well. It¡¯s for your said. ¡°Reasons that you can¡¯t tell me about again?¡± Mnie gave her mother a deep stare. Eliza nodded. ¡°When the timees, I''ll tell you why.¡± It was the same excuse... Earlier on in life, despite her interest in fragrances, her parents had refused to let her get involved in this industry without ever telling her a reason why, and they''d also refused to let her join thepany. And they¡¯d told her the same excuse... As soon as she asked about it, her parents¡¯ expressions would be mixed. +15 BONOS Mnie didn¡¯t want to make it difficult for her mom, but she had lost all her appetite. After a quick bite, she went upstairs first. It was not the correct time to tell Eliza about her rtionship with Jeffrey... Not only was she not maintaining any distance between herself and the Morgan Group, she even had the future leader of the Morgan Group in her womb... The moment she thought about that, she could feel herself getting a headache.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Looking at Mnie¡¯s lonely figure climbing up the stairs, all Eliza could do was sigh. The Morgan Group was a huge family with influence on an international level. They were also partners that the Yorks were doing their best to court. Their rtionship was very tight. She needed to find a way to prevent the Yorks from knowing about Mnie as much as possible. Mnie¡¯s grandma had also exined many years ago that, in order to secure Tyler and Mnie¡¯s safety, Madam Morgan could be of help, but they should also keep their distance. But she couldn¡¯t tell Mnie about any of this for now. Eliza thought that if she could hide this from her daughter as much as possible, then the time she could buy could make her stronger as time passed. Everything would be brought to light eventually, and she hoped Mnie would be strong enough to face it when the time came. Chatper 439 Chapter 439 The Surgeon The next night, Eliza took Mnie to the charity g. As Eliza was going to spend some time catching up with old friends, Mnie moved to the side after greeting them. She took a te and went over to the buffet table, wanting to take something to eat, then something interesting at the bullet area. Ayoung girl was eating quickly. The te she was holding was so full of food that the te¡¯s white color waspletely covered, but she was still eyeing the desserts and piling them onto her te. The amount of food on her te had formed into a small hill. Mnie walked over with her te when the girl suddenly tripped over her own shoes. Before she slipped, Mnie grabbed her by the arm and held her up. ¡°Mnie! You''re here!¡± Pam eximed in surprise. ¡°You''re not used to wearing high heels. Who gave you such a difficult outfit to wear?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°Shush!¡± Pam signaled to Mnie not to say that. ¡°It''s from Mr. Quinn. | like it a lot! See, | look so nice in this!¡± Mnie could only nod with a smile as she looked at Pam, who couldn¡¯t help but do a twirl in her dress in delight. At this time, Pam saw that a few women were sneering at her. She peeked at the two tes that were filled with food next to her and used her body to cover them in embarrassment. Mnie noticed that Pam wasn¡¯t used to this, so she nced at the women. She then added some food into her te and said, ¡°| saw that you took this as well. This is turkey drizzled in tuna sauce-it¡¯s quite delicious. Let''s have some together!¡± With that, Mnie started eating without batting an eye. It was only when Pam saw that Mnie was enjoying it so much without a care that she slowly moved away so that it wasn¡¯t blocking the tes anymore. Then, she started eating slowly. ¡°I took too much...¡± Pam said as she ate. ¡°Don''t worry. You''ll learn in time.¡± +15 BONOSText ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Mnie exined and consoled her. ¡°Next time, remember to take some appetizers and entrees first before taking desserts. Desserts are meant to be eatenst to finish up your meal.¡± Pam couldn''t help but nod. Mnie then said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with liking good food. It¡¯s part of human nature. Don¡¯t worry about how others perceive you.¡± ¡°Mr. Quinn brought me here. I¡¯m worried that I''ll embarrass him,¡± Pam said as she lowered her head. Mnie put down her fork and looked at her. ¡°Your Mr. Quinn hasseen so many women like that, but why did he set his eyes on you? It¡¯s because you''re special! That¡¯s why there¡¯s no need to change yourself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°| like how you''re being your most genuine self!¡± At this time, a man¡¯s voice rang close to them. Mnie raised her head, unsurprised to see Nathan walking over. ¡°Long time no see, Mnie.¡± Nathan greeted with a smile. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been that long, Nathan,¡± Mnie replied with a smile. Pam was shocked as she looked at them. ¡°You... Know each other?¡± ¡°| haven''t had the chance to tell you,¡± Nathan said to Pam with a gentle demeanor. He lowered his head before saying, ¡°I forgot to consider that you might not be used to wearing such a long dress. Go with my secretary and change into another outfit.¡± ¡°No, no!¡± Pam shook her hands. ¡®I... I''ll get used to it!¡± ¡°Go on. It¡¯s in my car, so it¡¯s quite convenient,¡± Nathan insisted. Behind him, a woman secretary was already standing behind him nearby. ¡°Go on, change into another dress. You''ll be able to move more freely.¡± Mnie encouraged. Only then did Pam nod and leave with that secretary. After they were away, Mnie put down the te and looked at Nathan. ¡°Is there something you wanted to say to me by intentionally getting Pam out of the way?¡± ¡°It''s so frustrating when you''re always so smart,¡± Nathan said with a smile. +15 BONOS There was no expression on Mnie¡¯s face. ¡°Pam is head over heels for you right now, so she''ll definitely change into her new outfit as soon as possible. Why don¡¯t you make this short?¡± ¡°Alright. I''ll get to the point.¡± Nathan straightened his cors and said, ¡°I have something important to tell you. Do you still remember the surgeon that did the surgery all those years ago? Clement Meyer? | finally found out where he is and met up with him.¡± ¡°| asked him if Emma really couldn¡¯t be saved by the time she reached the hospital. | didn¡¯t expect that he would tell me yes. He said that your father didn¡¯t give you Emma¡¯s heart from his own selfishness, even though she was already braindead at the time.¡± Mnie looked at Nathan curiously before saying, ¡°Are you trying to tell me that what you told me earlier was all fake?¡± ¡°Jeffrey''s the one that told me that your father decided on his own whims to exchange Emma''s life for yours. He said that Clement told him the truth because he couldn''t live with it. | only just met up with Clement, and he personally told me that this didn¡¯t happen!¡± Nathan said as he clenched his fists. Mnie narrowed her eyes and asked, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°I''m saying that Jeffrey lied to me. That he couldn''t bear the pain of losing Emma. That was why he shifted his hatred to you and your father. He lived so that he could get his revenge.¡± Nathan said. ¡°So, you''re trying to tell me that Jeffrey lied to me as well? That¡¯s the reason that he got close to me and is with me right now? Is it all fake?¡± Nathan nodded. ¡°Clement is still in Medonia right now. If you don¡¯t believe me, | can arrange for a video conference. You can ask him personally.¡± Chatper 440 Chapter 440 False Witness ¡°Sure.¡± Even if it was a trap, she could only get closer to the truth by facing it directly. Mnie agreed to it without any hesitation. Nethan immediately led her to a quieter balcony. After closing the door leading to the balcony, only then did he make a request for a conference call to Clement. The man on the screen looked somewhat familiar. His hair was all white, but Mnie could still remember his face. That was because a few months after the surgery, she¡¯d gone to visit Clement at the hospital frequently. He was the one that had organized her physical therapy. ¡°Uncle Cyrus...¡± Mnie was still using the name she¡¯d used to refer to him when she was little. ¡°Are you doing well now, Mnie? This is great!¡± Clement said with a smile. ¡°How are you and your family?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°We''re doing well,¡± Clement answered without hesitation. ¡°Uncle Cyrus, there¡¯s something | want to ask you...¡± Mnie immediately asked. was ¡°| know what you want to ask,¡± Clement said on his own initiative. ¡°Someone just asked me about the surgery some time ago... Your dad is a good doctor and director. He wouldn¡¯t have harmed another just because he wanted to save you. By the time Emma reached the hospital, she already brain dead. Your father made the decision to prepare the surgery at the final moment and asked me to perform the heart¡ªtransnt surgery on you.¡± Mnie wasn¡¯t surprised to hear that. She had never doubted her father¡¯s kindness. Mnie nodded and said, ¡°I want to ask you one more thing. Did someone from Morgan Group ever look for you and ask you about the surgery?¡± There was a glint in Clement''s eyes. He said, ¡°Yes. A few years ago, around the time when your dad was... well, someone from Morgan Group came to look for me. Wanted me to make a false testimony saying that Emma wasn¡¯t dead, and that your dad was the one that killed her... | refused, but | was also afraid to get into trouble, so | migrated with my whole family...¡± Mnie looked at Clement''s expression carefully and asked, ¡°Why did wtell you to do that?¡± +15 BONOS ¡°I''ve been thinking about that same question as well. | don¡¯t know why they asked me to be a false witness, but | can tell that they wanted to do something to your father!¡± Clement said. ¡°Uncle Clement, I''ll go over to Medonia in a few days. Can we meet up?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°Of course. There are things that can only be rified when we meet each other,¡± Clement nodded. They hung up. Mnie frowned while Nathan looked at her and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you. ¡°Uncle Clement''s current address... Can you give that to me?¡± She asked.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You and | have been looking for him, but so are the people from Morgan Group. The less people know about his address the better. Once you''re ready, I''ll take you there,¡± Nathan wasn¡¯t nning to tell her directly. ¡°Sure.¡± Mnie didn¡¯t force it. At this time, Pam came back and continued to bug Nathan, asking if she looked nice in her new dress. Mnie left at this time. She was feeling somewhat gloomy and didn¡¯t want to stay in the g anymore, and so she sent a message to her mother about leaving early. Mnie didn¡¯t go back to Marina Heights and instead went to Annie¡¯s apartment. She''d already bought the apartment one floor below Annie¡¯s. The original fixtures and fittings for the ce were already quite tasteful, so she didn¡¯t want to change anything. Since she couldn''t breathe in any methanal during her pregnancy, she moved in directly. Annie had helped her switch out some of the furniture that Mniemonly used. She was nning to stay with Mnie in her new home. The twodies didn¡¯t know much about cooking, so they ordered takeout. Just when they were going to celebrate Mnie moving in, the doorbell rang. Annie opened the door and then yelled, ¡°Ah! | thought he was here to deliver the food, but the delivery boy is just too forceful! I''m leaving now! You can do what you like!¡± Chatper 441 Chapter 441 The Driver What delivery boy? Mnie chased after Annie''s voice and saw that Annie had already left, leaving only Jeffrey standing at the door while looking at her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe home?¡± He asked and closed the door. ¡°| bought this home myself.¡± Mnie pointed behind her. ¡°Speaking of which, | really don¡¯t have any privacy when I¡¯m with you... | didn¡¯t go back to Marina Heights, didn¡¯t go back to my family home, and am not staying with Annie, but you still know that | have a new ce?¡± Jeffrey didn¡¯t exin. He simply approached her and asked, ¡°You met Nathan during the g tonight? Is it because he said something?¡± ¡°He did say something. Nervous?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°What''s there for me to feel nervous about? I¡¯m worried about you,¡± Jeffrey said honestly. Mnie then told Jeffrey about what Nathan had said. She even told him about her video conference with Clement, and that he personally admitted that someone from Morgan Group di look for him and force him tomit perjury. ¡°Do | look like someone so twisted that | can¡¯t let the past go and unleash my hatred on the innocent?¡± Jeffrey asked. ¡°Hard to say.¡± Mnie calmly answered. Jeffrey choked. ¡°You''re noting back tonight because of this?¡± ¡°Can''t it be because | just want to be with friends and enjoy a moment of freedom?¡± Mnie wasn¡¯t to talk to Jeffrey tonight about all this. She needed time to digest it all. But since he¡¯s here, she wasn¡¯t going to hide this from him. ¡°| believe in you. I¡¯m not thinking of hiding anything from you,¡± she answered him earnestly. Jeffrey nodded and, after a moment of consideration, said, ¡°Then | don¡¯t think | should hide this from you anymore.¡± ¡°What are you hiding from me?¡± Mnie suddenly felt nervous.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. +15 BONOS ¡°Don''t worry. It¡¯s about something else. It¡¯s Judas Chapman.¡± Jeffrey held her hand and led her to the sofa. ¡°I found some clues, but there¡¯s nothing conclusive yet. I¡¯m worried that you''ll get tired, so | didn¡¯t tell you about it. But you¡¯re right. We should be more honest with each other if we want to prevent others from provoking us.¡± Jeffrey then told Mnie about everything he found out. ¡°Originally, Judas had four more years left of his sentencing. However, In August this year, he used his severe diabetes as a reason to apply for parole. ¡°Back then, Judas was just a truck driver and was quite poor. But strangely, he bought a small homestead in Medonia this year for his ex-wife. Seems like after his parole was granted, he suddenly received a sum of money. I¡¯m still checking the source.¡± ¡°My mom managed to find out that Judas had a sickly daughter back then and she needed money for surgery. That was why Judas forced himself to work so much and refused to rest. He even drank a lot of alcohol because of his bad mood. All of this became evidence for the judge to sentence him... How¡¯s his daughter doing right now?¡± Mnie asked. ¡°His daughter died. She went through the surgery back then, but she passed away in less than two years.¡± Jeffrey said. Mnie looked down as she nodded. ¡°I''ll let you know as soon as | find out something new about Judas,¡± Jeffrey said. Mnie nodded. After giving it a thought, she said, ¡°I¡¯m going to Medonia in two days, so I''ll need to make some arrangements.¡± ¡°To see Clement?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. No matter what Nathan¡¯s nning to do, | might be able to get more clues if | ask him on the spot.¡± Jeffrey patted her head. ¡°To be honest, there¡¯s no need for you to do that. As long as you trust me, you can ignore everything that Nathan did. You don¡¯t have to get yourself into danger.¡± ¡°Who said | trust you?¡± Mnie pushed his hand away. ¡°Before | know the truth, I''ll only trust myself.¡± When she said that, Mnie¡¯s mobile rang. She answered it. It was Pam speaking with an anxious tone on the other end of the line. ¡°Mnie! Can you please save my mom?!¡± Chatper 442 Chapter 442 Dr. T ¡°What happened? Calm down and exin clearly,¡± Mnie told Pam. Pam was on the verge of crying as she said nervously and in fear, ¡°So many people are appearing at the hotel, and they don¡¯t look friendly! They said they want to take my mom away, saying that she needs to see someone... I¡¯m calling you while hiding in the bathroom...¡± ¡°Who are they? Who do they want her to see? Calm down and tell me everything you can,¡± Mnle sald as she signaled to Jeffrey that something was wrong. Jeffrey took her out and Into the car while Pam said, ¡°They said that she needs to do some kind of test, that there¡¯s something wrong with my mom¡¯s Identity...¡± ¡°Go back and stay with Pam. Walt for me, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Mnie consoled her then hung 1. up. ¡°The Yorks?¡± Mnie asked Jeffrey, who was driving. ¡°Possibly,¡± he answered. Mnie¡¯s brain began to race, and she quickly called Elder Gibson. ¡°Master...¡± Just as she started to speak, Elder Gibson said, ¡°I know. I¡¯m going there as well. It¡¯s the Yorks.ing to pick her up.¡± ¡°It really is the Yorks...¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Elder Gibson sighed. ¡°At first, | only wanted to ask for her help for thepetition. | didn¡¯t expect that... If | had seen her earlier, | wouldn''t have allowed her to appear in front of the screen at all!¡± It was Elder Gibson''s personal assistant that asked Pam to leave Mount Coloss. Elder Gibson had only met her after his personal assistant had arranged for their amodation and registration. ¡°| should have stopped her from registering if | had known!¡± Elder Gibson said regretfully. ¡°Stop ming yourself, Master. Even if you helped her cancel the registration, the organizers are from Medonia. The Yorks might have set their eyes there anyway and the registration system had captured Pam¡¯s information and photo. The Yorks would be here eventually.¡± ¡°We''ll talk more once we''re there.¡± +15 BONOS Elder Gibson hung up after letting out another sigh. Mnie and Jeffrey quickly arrived at the hotel that Pam was staying at. There were several ck cars waiting outside. Outside the cars were well-trained bodyguards in ck suits. The security was even tighter outside Pam¡¯s room.... They entered the room only to see someone unexpected. The old butler serving the Yorks! ¡°Mr. Morgan. Miss Mnie.¡± The old butler greeted them with a dry expression. ¡°| didn¡¯t expect you to personally be here.¡± Mnie said and walked over to stand next to Pam. Pam held Mnie¡¯s hand tightly and wanted her to sit by her side. Her palm was sweaty and cold. Mnie whispered into her ears. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Pam. | know him. He¡¯s the butler from the York family. Didn¡¯t | tell you two days ago that my master suspected that you''re his old friend?¡± Pam wrote on the paper. ¡°Yelena York?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Mnie nodded. ¡°The York family heard about you and wants you to do a paternity test. If you¡¯re really her, then you''ll find your real family. If you aren''t, they''ll let you go home.¡± When she spoke about the second half of her speech, Mnie raised her voice, so that the old butler could hear her.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. The butler was someone smart, and he immediately nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If you¡¯re not rted to our family, we won''t force you to do anything. You''ll be free.¡± Only then did Pam let go of Mnie¡¯s hand and wrote on the paper after giving it a thought. ¡°Can youe with me?¡± Mnie raised her eyes and nced at Jeffrey. She saw him staring at the paper that Pam wrote on. The frown he had was. terrifyingly deep. She knew that he didn¡¯t want her to go, but Pam said that there were only two times that she felt some familiarity, and both times had something to do with her. In other words, aside from Mount Coloss, Pam was scared of this world and could only feel safe with her. She couldn''t refuse her. Not to mention that she was also nning to go to Medonia. +15 BONOS At this time, Elder Gibson had also made his way here. He was afraid that she would refuse Pam, so he quickly said, ¡°Mnie, go with her. I''ll guarantee your safety!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mnie nodded and agreed to it before asking the butler, ¡°Is it okay if |e with Pam?¡± ¡°Of course! If you¡¯re there, Master Joseph will be very happy.¡± The butler finally showed a bright smile. The Yorks¡® bodyguards had guarded the hotel the entire night before taking Pam and Mnie to Medonia the next day. Originally, Pam wanted to go back to Mount Coloss to get some things, but the butler said that their situation might change. So, it was imperative for them to return as soon as possible and not let Joseph wait much longer. There was no reason for Jeffrey to go along however, so he had to fly over himself. William immediately drove him to the airport. Jeffrey''s mobile made a sound when a new email came in while he was on his way. [Sender: Dr. T] There was a glint in Jeffrey¡¯s eyes as he quickly opened the email. [From your photo, it doesn¡¯t look like a birthmark. More urately, it¡¯s not a in birthmark. It looks more like a shell of something rted to gic engineering that was buried inside.] Chatper 443 Chapter 443 The Woman Atade You Atal Jeffrey owed his eyes. He immeably made a call keying in a string of numbers that he ¡°You''re que seat, knowing how to s A cold and scornful voice came from the other end. ¡°Gic engineering. You sure they asked nervoush didn¡¯t confim.¡± The scorial voice continued, ¡°it you want to be sure, take her to see me, I¡¯ll know after some ¡°Where are you right now? Can youe over to Harbor City?¡± Jeffrey asked. Tm very busy and have no time to see your Dr. Treplied. Jeffrey didn¡¯t have much of a choice. After eving it a thought, he said. ¡°You¡¯ve been working on gene improvement technologies, but you never came to the country! It¡¯s impossible for you to have used it on her... Unless there¡¯s someone other than you who''s good with this tech?¡± ¡°| must emphasize that it only looks like it. | didn¡¯t confirm that it¡¯s the same thing! Dr. T refuted him and said. ¡°Even if it really is gic engineering, I¡¯m not the one that nted it on her. There are more than one prodigy in the medical field!¡± Before Jeffrey could say anything, Dr. Tsuddenly changed his tone and asked.... ¡°Speaking of which, you have a woman again?¡± ¡°Again?¡± ¡°thought you''d be loyal to Emma until the very end Several years ago, when Dr. T was treating Jeffrey, that was how he looked. Dr. T didn¡¯t give up and said, ¡°The arm on that photo you sent to me in your email is very talt. It¡¯s a woman¡¯s arm! Don¡¯t think you can lie to me!¡± ¡°Can''t a man have an arm just as fair? Jeffrey retorted. ¡°Of course he can!¡± Dr. T smiled. ¡°But from the angle of your photo, it''s obvious that you don¡¯t want to show me anything more! If she¡¯s your woman, why are you so protective of her? Speaking of which, now that you''re fully healed, you have no use for me anymore. Even your tone has charg Chapter 443 The Woman Made You Mutate Jeffrey narrowed his eyes. He immediately made a call, keying in a string of numbers that he memorized. ¡°You''re quite smart, knowing how to find me!¡± A cold and scornful voice came from the other end. ¡°Gic engineering... You sure?¡± Jeffrey asked nervously.From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°| didn¡¯t confirm it.¡± The scornful voice continued, ¡°If you want to be sure, take her to see me. I¡¯ll know after some testing.¡± ¡°Where are you right now? Can youe over to Harbor City?¡± Jeffrey asked. ¡°I''m very busy and have no time to see you!¡± Dr. T replied. Jeffrey didn¡¯t have much of a choice. After giving it a thought, he said, ¡°You''ve been working on gene improvement technologies, but you never came to the country! It''s impossible for you to have used it on her... Unless there¡¯s someone other than you who¡¯s good with this tech?¡± ¡°| must emphasize that it only looks like it. | didn¡¯t confirm that it¡¯s the same thing!¡± Dr. T refuted him and said, ¡°Even if it really is gic engineering, I¡¯m not the one that nted it on her. There are more than one prodigy in the medical field!¡± Before Jeffrey could say anything, Dr. T suddenly changed his tone and asked... ¡°Speaking of which, you have a woman again?¡± ¡°Again?¡± ¡°| thought you''d be loyal to Emma until the very end.¡± Several years ago, when Dr. T was treating Jeffrey, that was how he looked. Dr. T didn¡¯t give up and said. ¡°The arm on that photo you sent to me in your email is very fair. It¡¯s a woman¡¯s arm! Don¡¯t think you can lie to me!¡± ¡°Can''t a man have an arm just as fair?¡± Jeffrey retorted. ¡°Of course he can!¡± Dr. T smiled. ¡°But from the angle of your photo, it¡¯s obvious that you don¡¯t want to show me anything more! If she¡¯s your woman, why are you so protective of her? Speaking of which, now that you''re fully healed, you have no use for me anymore. Even your tone has changed!¡± +15 BONOS Jeffrey pursed his lips before smiling helplessly and said. ¡°Emma¡¯s heart was transnted to her.¡± To Jeffrey, Dr. T was his savior. He saved his life and his mind all those years ago. He didn¡¯t want to hide it from him when he was his best friend. ¡°The world works in such mysterious ways!¡± Dr. T couldn''t help but be amazed! ¡°Aren''t you worried that I¡¯m staying with her because of Emma? Aren¡¯t you the one that told me back then that we can¡¯t live in the past?¡± Jeffrey asked. ¡°No!¡± Dr. T gave a rxed smile. ¡°The feeling that you give me when you''re with her is different from the time when you¡¯re with Emma! Back then, Emma gave herself to you. Between you two, you¡¯re the one guiding the rtionship. But this woman is different. When you talk about her, you¡¯re very careful about it!¡± ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s such a waste that you''re not a psychologist,¡± Jeffrey said, praising and teasing him at the same time. ¡°Bring her to me as soon as possible. | really want to see just what kind of woman can get you to take a step back from being the leader,¡± Dr. T said, and heughed before hanging up. Jeffrey held his mobile before narrowing his eyes. If Mnie¡¯s birthmark really was the trace of some kind of gic tech secretly nted into her, would that be able to exin why the Yorks couldn¡¯t get anything out of her despite performing the paternity test on her twice? The ne had sessfully arrived in Medonia. Mnie moved into the Yorks¡® residence together with Pam and her family. The Yorks hadmanded everyone to seal their lips. Other than those who were close to them, all the others in the household didn¡¯t know about Pam¡¯s arrival. Joseph asked his men to perform the paternity test between him and Pam. Meanwhile, they were arranged to stay in the guest rooms. Unfortunately, Pam didn¡¯t feel any familiarity with Joseph and the others. In order to help Pam get used to her new surroundings, Mnie slowly exined to Pam her understanding of the York family. Sometimes, Pam would listen to her intently, as if +15 BONOS When Mnie asked her, she would shake her head and write. ¡°I seem to remember something, but if | think more about it, | get a migraine.¡± ¡°Don''t worry. If this really is your home, you''ll have more time to think about it.¡± Mnie consoled her. The next day, the result was almost out. Mnie asked the York¡¯s driver to take them out, trying to help Pam rx by using shopping as an excuse. When the car was heading back and they were at the traffic light, Mnie suddenly saw Judas when she looked out the window! ¡°See that man wearing the hat?¡± She said hurriedly as she stared at him. The driver nodded. ¡°Follow him!¡± Mnie quickly told him. The driver quickly drove ahead and turned right, following the same direction that Judas was heading. She then saw Judas walk into a building as if he owned the ce. ¡°I''ll go down and take a look.¡± Mnie had just wanted to get down when she turned around and saw the nervous Pam. She consoled her and said, ¡°Pam, that man is someone very important to me. However, he¡¯s very dangerous. Wait for me in the car. I''ll be back soon.¡± Chatper 444 Chapter 444 Weakness ¡°Ah...!¡± Pam understood what Mnie was saying but she still pointed at their bodyguard. The driver also said, ¡°Miss Mnie, since there¡¯s danger, we''ll go with you.¡± ¡°| want to ask him something. You don¡¯t have to follow me. Just wait for me outside his walls,¡± Mnie said. ¡°Understood.¡± The driver got out of the car and ordered the bodyguards to surround the building. Then, Mnie walked over and knocked on the door. The doorbell rang three times. A middle-aged woman came over and opened the door. Mnie scanned her before asking. ¡°Is Judas Chapman here?¡± ¡°Who... are you?¡± The woman had just asked that when Judas appeared behind her. Judas simply nced at the entrance and ran upstairs. Mnie called out to him and said... ¡°Stop running. My men have surrounded this ce!¡± Judas, who had darted upstairs, froze. He sighed before walking back down.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Mnie walked in and the woman recognized her. ¡°You''re... You''re the girl from all those years ago...?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m Mnie Jones. Judas killed my dad.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes narrowed as she stared at him icity. ¡°The reason I¡¯m here today without invitation is because | have something | want to ask him. You don¡¯t mind meing in for a chat, do you?¡± Mnie walked over and sat on the sofa, raising her head as she looked at Judas. Judas paused before walking over and whispering something into his ex¡ªwife¡¯s ears. She then left. ¡°What do you want to ask?¡± Judas stood opposite her, not wanting to sit. ¡°When you ran over and killed my dad all those years ago... Was it really because you were drunk? Or did someone order you to?¡± She got straight to the point. +15 BONOS Judas removed his hat and threw it on the sofa, smiling coldly. ¡°The judge asked the same question and I¡¯ve been sentenced, and | lost everything. What else do you want?¡± ¡°You killed my dad... Why don¡¯t you make a guess?!¡± Mnie couldn''t hold her burning rage anymore and stood up, roaring at Judas! Judas instinctively took a step back, looking away. Mnie controlled her emotions and let out a breath. With a frigid smile, she said, ¡°| remember very clearly. You were poor all those years ago to the point of using everything you had just to get more money for your daughter¡¯s surgery. But now? Your ex-wife is staying in a mansion overseas. Is this what you mean by losing everything?¡± ¡°We were already divorced back then. Her money isn¡¯t mine!¡± Judas said confidently. ¡°From what | know, your ex-wife didn¡¯t buy this mansion. You only bought it for her this year. Why were you granted parole? Where did you get this money? If you don¡¯t give me an answer that satisfies me, | can send you back to the prison at any time of my choosing!¡± Mnie faced him directly. Judas let out an anguishedugh and said, ¡°Send me back then. At least I¡¯m well fed. What¡¯s there to be afraid of?!¡± ¡°If the source of that money is illegal, | can send your ex-wife in there as well!¡± Mnie said again. Judas raised his eyes, shaken. As expected, his ex-wife and his dead daughter were his weakness. Judas would only be shaken if she were to speak about them. Mnie originally wanted to get something from him, but she didn¡¯t expect Judas to think of something. He kept on smiling coldly. His ex-wife came over and whispered something to him. Only then did Judas stop smiling and said to her, ¡°You got people to surround us? Ha... Are they from Morgan Group? ¡°Is everything that you said about me something that the Morgan Group told you?¡± Judas continued. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that this is laughable? You asked people from Morgan Group to investigate and tail me... This must be a joke!¡± Morgan Group... The way Judas talked about Morgan Group... He seemed to be very familiar with them. ¡°Are you saying that Morgan Group has something to do with you running my dad over?¡± Mnie +15 BONOS ¡°| won''t say anything more. I''ll die If | say too much. If you want to know more, go and ask the people from Morgan Group. They know better than I do.¡± Judas gave a scheming smile. Mnie¡¯s vision darkened for a second and there was pain In her belly suddenly. At this time, the bodyguard outside knocked on the door. She heard them say, ¡°Miss Jones. We have received news from back home and they¡¯re asking for our presence immediately.¡± There was still an arrogant and icy smile on Judas¡® face. She pursed her lips and said, ¡°I''ll see you again. As for whether your words are real or fake, |¡¯ll investigate It.¡± Judas extended his hand, asking her to leave. Mnie went out and got into the car, still angry. The driver said, ¡°Miss Mnie, the butler called to say that we have the results. He¡¯s asking us to return immediately.¡± Chatper 445 Chapter 445 The Lady Mnie held Pam¡¯s hand tightly, both of their hands cold. At the Yorks, there were a lot of people in the living room. The moment they went in, the butler came and greeted them. They all stood in rows and yelled at the same time. ¡°Mydy!¡± Pam became even more anxious, her palms getting even sweatier. ¡°Master Joseph is in the bedroom. He got too excited after knowing the results and we almost lost him.¡± The butler led Mnie and Pam further in. In his bedroom, Joseph was lying on the bed with an oxygen mask on his face, and an IV drip connected to his arm. His two grandsons and Elder Gibson were also there. Elder Gibson stubbornly held Pam¡¯s hands and said, ¡°You''re still alive, Yelena... Mnie looked at Elder Gibson. His eyes were also reddish. He was obviously trying hard not to cry. ¡°Pam really is...?¡± Mnie turned to the butler. The butler nodded and gave the report to her. ¡°Pam, look. This is the result of the paternity test.¡± Mnie looked and gave it to her. ¡°There¡¯s a 99% chance that you¡¯re Joseph¡¯s daughter. You¡¯re the daughter of the family. Yelena York.¡± Pam was also very excited, her hands shaking slightly. Pam ran in from the door and held Pam tightly, crying. ¡°Mom, now that you found your family. are you going to abandon me and my brother?¡± She was still trying hard not to cry, but her tears flowed as she kept on shaking her head and patted Pam¡¯s head. It took a while for them to calm down. The family sat down and Joseph introduced the two doctors behind him to Yelena. ¡°These two are doctors that I¡¯ve invited from overseas and they''re well-versed in all kinds of amnesia. They''ll beBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. your main doctors from now on until you''ve fully recovered. ¡°Then, you''ll remember all of us. You''ll also remember who hurt you all those years ago!¡± +15 BONOS Joseph''s voice was full of enmity, and his voice was somewhat terrifying as he spoke through the oxygen mask. He coughed, and the doctor behind him had to remind him to control his emotions. ¡°How did | ¡®die¡¯ all those years ago?¡± Yelena wrote on the paper. Once he was sure of Yelena¡¯s identity, the butler told her about the hereditary heart disease that all Yorks would have, and that she also had the same disease. However, she had health checks periodically and the family doctors were able to give her the correct treatment. That was why her heart disease didn¡¯t get any worse. That year, she was supposed to represent the Yorks in a perfume blendingpetition. However, her heart disease suddenly took a turn for the worse. The doctor announced that she was unable to be saved and she died. She was Joseph¡¯s eldest daughter, and the Yorks drowned in sorrow for some years. Thinking back, her death was very suspicious. But why would someone arrange for her death, but she was able to survive? She had to recover her memories before they could get any answers. ¡°From now on, what will you do with me?¡± Yelena wrote on the paper again. While she was in the center of the storm, Yelena was clear about everything. It was obvious that she was someone with a lot of worldly experience. ¡°We''ll be taking you home, of course. We''ll treat your sickness and help you recover your memories and regain your ability to speak... You¡¯re my daughter, and we''re all old now. | guarantee that you''ll live a good life,¡± Joseph said sincerely. He only felt like a real father when Yelena was around. ¡°| have a condition.¡± Yelena wrote. ¡°Say it.¡± Joseph didn¡¯t hesitate and nodded. ¡°My two children will stay with me. While they¡¯re not my real children, | treat them like my own flesh and blood,¡± Yelena wrote with heavy strokes. Both Harlow and Leo¡¯sces paled. Things were already chaotic enough with their aunting back. Now that there were two more non-blood rted siblings joining them, they had to continue lighting for their inheritance. Chatper 446 Chapter 446 Sincerity ¡°As you wish!¡± Joseph was a man of his word and immediately took Shane and Pam in as members of the family. Yelena, Shane, and Pam were overjoyed. Mnie knew that they were happy because they could remain together. However, everyone else¡¯s smile in the room froze. Mnie knew why. ¡°And Mnie. She¡¯s someone that | trust. You have to protect her.¡± Yelena wrote again. Joseph nodded without hesitation and agreed. ¡°This one is fine as well.¡±From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°But | heard that there was a fire herest time and she was in danger,¡± Yelena continued. Mnie was touched. She understood that Yelena wanted to force Joseph to personally guarantee her safety and warn the people inside the room that wanted to act against her to stop. ¡°Ill investigate this...¡± Joseph sighed. Between his daughter and his grandchildren, helping one would make him hurt the other. But from the current situation, he had already decided to side with the daughter that he had just imed back after losing her for so long. ¡°When you''re little, | told you that if you want to protect those around you, you''ll need to make yourself strong. The same rules still apply now. You need to recover soon. Then, no one will dare to threaten the people you care about.¡± Joseph spoke slowly. There was a glint in Yelena¡¯s eyes as she nodded and wrote... ¡°Alright.¡± After seeing the youngsters of the family. Joseph arranged for the doctors to perform a health checkup for Yelena. After arranging for Shane and Pam¡¯s room, the butler asked, ¡°Miss Mnie, do you wish to stay here?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Pam said as she grabbed Mnie''s hand, ¡°Where else will she stay?¡± +15 BONOS Mnie smiled and said, ¡°I can stay in the nearby hotels as well as my master¡¯s home.¡± Then, she raised her eyes and signaled at Elder Gibson. Pam had a bad Impression of Elder Gibson, so she still held Mnie¡¯s hand and insisted, ¡°My mom didn¡¯t have the chance to say it, but she definitely wants you to stay here.¡± ¡°Fine, I''ll stay here for now. We can talk more once she¡¯s more familiar with this ce,¡± Mnie said. The others had no more reason to stay. Elder Gibson said his farewell while Mnie saw him out. ¡°Master, is there something wrong with Pam¡¯s death all those years ago? ¡°Otherwise, why would she ¡°resurrect¡± like this?¡± Mnie asked curiously. ¡°She¡¯s born with a bad heart and has to live life while taking medicine. ¡°Thepetition that she participated in all those years ago was the International Perfume Blending Competition. People from other countries were there as information did not spread as easily as they do now. She managed to spread her reputation far and wide during that competition. But after she got back, she fell ill, and she didn¡¯t make it after she was admitted into the hospital. ¡°Everyone thought that she got burnt out during thatpetition, and that was why her heart had failed her... Who knew that something else had happened behind the scenes...¡± Elder Gibson frowned and shook his head. ¡°Which means that the participants or someone in thatpetition at the time might have something to do with Pam¡¯s ¡®death¡¯?¡± Mnie asked. Elder Gibson nodded and said, ¡°I''ve already sent my people to investigate. The Yorks are also investigating. If this was really someone''s plot, even if dozens of years had passed, we will find the culprit behind all of this!¡± ¡°Now that it has been proven that Pam is Yelena, are you happy?¡± Mnie knew that Elder Gibson had mixed feelings about this. He wouldn''t share this with anyone else due to his stubbornness. That was why she asked him instead. Elder Gibson slowed his footsteps and said, ¡°I am. After pausing a little, he held his hands behind his back and looked up into the sky. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much longer | have, but if | have the chance, | want to touch her heart with my sincerity once again. Just like all those years ago.¡± ¡°Everyone can attest to your sincerity!¡± ¡°Ha! You''re exaggerating things!¡± Elder Gibson waved his hand before getting into the car and left. +15 BONOS Mnie looked at the car slowly driving out of the estate and disappearing into the horizon beyond the three gates. Mnie wasn¡¯t sure what she was feeling, because what she said was no exaggeration. There wer There were few people in this world that could use their entire life to safeguard themselves for their first love in the name of love. Chatper 447 Chapter 447 The Wall Climber Mnie watched as Elder Gibson¡¯s car slowly disappeared into the horizon. She had just turned around when her mobile started to vibrate. ¡°Yelena¡¯s identity is confirmed?¡± Jeffrey asked immediately. ¡°You''re quite up to date,¡± she said as she walked. The voice from the other end hurriedly said, ¡°Don¡¯t leave. Turn around and look.¡± Mnie paused and turned around. She saw Jeffrey¡¯s car driving from afar before slowing down and stopping next to her. ¡°It''s gettingte. What are you doing here at the Yorks¡°?¡± ¡°| can¡¯t control the ne¡¯snding time. | know that it¡¯s not quite right for me toe to the Yorks ¡°at such a time, so | can only see you a little outside the gate.¡± Jeffrey held her arm gently and asked her to join him at the back seat. He couldn''t help but get closer to her. Mnie raised her arm to maintain some distance. ¡°I¡¯m tired. | want to go back early and rest.¡± She really was getting tired. She was also in no mood to tell Jeffrey that she had met Judas after she had just gone through an emotional rollercoaster. ¡°| bought an apartment nearby. If you want to see me, | cane see you at any time.¡± Jeffrey still held her in his arms and patted her back with his hand. ¡°You''re going to stay with the Yorks for quite some time now. Won''t you miss me?¡± Mnie could feel that he was controlling his emotions that were on the brink of copse, but she still pushed him away. ¡°I¡¯m really tired today, and my stomach isn¡¯t feeling well.¡± ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Jeffrey was shocked and he quickly let go of her, looking at her stomach carefully. ¡°I''m fine. Maybe I¡¯m getting tired. | should be better if | rest earlier this evening.¡± She ced her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, letting him hold and rub her hands, feeling somewhat sad. ¡°Alright, you take it slow when you go back.¡± +15 BONOS Jeffrey''s eyes locked on to her tightly. Even if he didn¡¯t want to, he had to let her go. He looked at her fragile figure walking through the Yorks¡® gate. The servants followed her and led her further away. Jeffrey pursed his lips before ordering William, ¡°Check who she met today.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± William, who was sitting in front, acknowledged the order. The doctor had prescribed medicine for Yelena and performed hypnotism as a treatment for her. In the middle of the night, Shane and Pam both went back to their rooms to rest. Mnie also returned to the guest room that the Yorks had arranged for her. After showering and drying her hair, she lied in bed. Despite yawning continuously, her mind was clear although she closed her eyes. She couldn¡¯t sleep. Judas had mentioned Morgan Group so naturally... So natural that even she was getting suspicious of Morgan Group. Did they have anything to do with how her dad died all those years ago? She wanted to ask Jeffrey about it, but she felt tired. At this time, a strange noise came from the direction of the bathroom. She suddenly opened her eyes, and a man hurriedly walked toward her! If it wasn¡¯t because of the moonlight clearly illuminating his face, she would have cried out for help! ¡°Mr. Morgan, this is the Yorks¡®!¡± She felt somewhat helpless. ¡°That¡¯s how amazing | am.¡± Jeffrey let out a smirk before walking over, pulling the nket, and lying down by her side. Mnie sighed helplessly but was still nheless pleasantly surprised. There were so many rooms in the Yorks¡® and the number of guest rooms was almost limitless. How could he have known which room she was in while avoiding all the bodyguards and servants and climbing in from her bathroom?! ¡°We just met. What are you doing here?¡± She intentionally moved to her side. He immediately got up and held her in his arms. ¡°I was worried that you couldn''t sleep so I¡¯m ¡°um?¡± +15 BONOS ¡°We can use the shortest time to finish everything you wanted to ask or say, so that we can go to bed, okay?¡± She was close to his warm chest as the feeling of safety soothed the anxiety inside of her. Looked like he knew everything. Mnie then started with how she met Judas today. But before she could ask anything, Jeffrey said, ¡°Judas is setting up a smokescreen. The one that taught him to say that must be the real culprit that employed him tomit the murder. I¡¯m already investigating this.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mnie nodded. ¡°Can we go to bed now?¡± He patted her soft hair and asked. Mnie stuck close in his arms. And soon, she naturally felt sleepy.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. She slept well through the entire night. She didn¡¯t know when daylight came. The servants outside the door woke her up by knocking on the door. ¡°Miss Mnie? Are you awake?¡± ¡°We''re here to deliver you some breakfast.¡± Mnie immediately opened her eyes. If the Yorks discovered that Jeffrey was in her bed, she would be in trouble! Chatper 448 Chapter 448 On Her Behalf Mnie instinctively looked to her side, but the bed was so neat that there wasn¡¯t even a crease on the bedsheet, as if no one had ever been there. She was still worried so she searched the bathroom, but there wasn¡¯t anyone there as well. Jeffrey had left when she was fast asleep. She walked over and opened the door, and the servants walked in with her breakfast. ¡°Miss Mnie, Lady Yelena¡¯s treatmentsted untiltest night and Master Joseph asked her to sleep a little longer today. You may move freely after breakfast.¡± The servant ryed the butler¡¯s words. Mnie nodded and finished her breakfast alone in her room. After that, she changed her outfit and looked for Pam, but heard from Shane that she was already meeting with Nathan. ¡°Nathan''s here too?¡± A thought formed in Mnie¡¯s mind. Did that mean she could go see the surgeon, Clement? ¡°| heard that he came over and looked for Pam as soon as he arrived. She was so happy that she didn¡¯t even have her breakfast!¡± Shane said angrily. ¡°She''s fallen in love. When you one day meet someone that you''re willing to sacrifice everything for, you''ll understand,¡± Mnie said with a smile. ¡°You''re teasing me too!¡± Shane said as he shook his head. ¡°It''s fine. Speaking of which, you can be more rxed around me. I¡¯m only two years older than you at most and we''re all around the same age,¡± Mnie said with a smile. After thinking about it a little, she asked, ¡°Do you know how Pam reacted to her treatmentst night?¡± Shane shook his head.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Then let''s ask the butler.¡± Mnie knew that Shane was worried about his mother. He felt restrained in the huge and luxurious estate and didn¡¯t dare to ask anyone. And so, she took Shane to the butler. Luckily, he was with Joseph at the time. The two of them didn¡¯t avoid discussing Yelena¡¯s treatment fromst night despite them being there. Joseph¡¯s expression darkened and the butler sighed continuously. ¡°Both doctors said that her illness is veryplicated and there''s no established treatment...¡± +15 BONOS ¡°Since modern medicine can¡¯t help, let¡¯s try traditional medicine!¡± Joseph was quite nervous. Mnie could feel not only his love for his daughter In his nervousness, but also his desire for revenge against the culprit who hurt his daughter long ago. That was why he was in a hurry to heal her sickness. So that he could make the culprit pay the price! ¡°Which doctor do you want to extend an invitation to?¡± the butler asked. ¡°Is that even a question? Of course | want the best!¡± Joseph gave him an upset look. The butler instinctively bent down and said, ¡°Sir, Mr. Turner was very unhappy when he left all those years ago. If we were to find him right now, I¡¯m afraid...¡± ¡°That¡¯s your problem!¡± Joseph looked down. ¡°Understood...¡± The old butler had no choice but to agree, but he still had to say, ¡°When ites to Lady Yelena¡¯s sickness, | wouldn¡¯t dare to suddenly appear in front of him. If | identally angered him, he would never agree to perform any therapy for her... Not to mention that Mr. Turner¡¯s whereabouts have been difficult to track during all these years. Finding him will not be an easy task...¡± ¡°Mr. Turner?¡± At this time, Mnie, who was standing at the side, spoke. Elder Gibson suddenly raised his eyes and looked at her. The butler very excitedly asked, ¡°You know Mr. Turner, Miss Mnie?¡± ¡°Are you talking about Mr. Turner, the expert in needle therapy, who started researching cutting edge technology in modern medicine?¡± Mnie asked. The butler¡¯s eyes had a glint. ¡°That¡¯s him, alright. Do you know him? ¡°Maybe | can find a way to find him,¡± Mnie said with certainty. The room was suddenly extremely silent. After a while, the butler asked, ¡°Miss Mnie, how do you know Mr. Turner? What kind of rtionship do you two have?¡± ¡°| met him when | was little. He knows my dad,¡± Mnie sald. Both Joseph and the butler¡¯s eyes narrowed. The butler turned to look at Joseph, not daring to say another word. Chatper 449 Chapter 449 Professor When Mnie was little, she was very ill. Her parents took her to see Mr. Turner once. After his treatment, her heart didn¡¯t have any problems for a very long time. But she didn¡¯t know that Mr. Turner was a doctor that even the Yorks had trouble inviting. Back then, her grandfather who was also an expert in traditional medicine was good friends with Mr. Turner. The two of them would discuss their medical expertise in the courtyard back in the countryside. However, Mr. Turner suddenly became interested in modern medicine and started working on it, and the two of them grew apart after that. Mnie thought that Mr. Turner and her grandfather were the same, that they were experienced doctors who didn¡¯t like the rules of the world. She didn¡¯t expect him to have a secret that was rted to the Yorks. And from how Joseph and the butler reacted, the secret seemed to be rted to her. What were they hiding? She wanted to know. ¡°Then please. Ask for his help on Yelena¡¯s behalf.¡± Joseph paused before breaking the silence. ¡°If this is done, then the Yorks would be in your debt.¡± ¡°Pam is my good friend. | want to help treat her illness as well.¡± Mnie nodded. After leaving Joseph¡¯s study, Mnie went back to her room and sent an email to an ancient email address. Mr. Turner¡¯s email address was something that her father left for her. After so many years, she wasn¡¯t sure if it had already been abandoned. She didn¡¯t expect to receive a prompt that a new email hade in not long after she sent the email. [You want me to treat Yelena? Are you at the Yorks¡® right now?] Mr. Turner replied urgently. Mnie also quickly replied. [That¡¯s right. I''m at the Yorks.] [I''ll look for you as soon as possible! Be careful!] There seemed to be more urgency on his part. Mnie felt that something was wrong and sent another email. (Mr. Turner, why should | be careful? Is there some kind of secret rted to the Yorks?] She waited for a while and thought that he wouldn''t respond. But she got a response soon enough... [So much time has passed and youre still calling me Mr. Turner? That''s so old-school! +15 BONOS Professor Tumer... Mnie quietly muttered. Mr. Turner didn¡¯t respond to her question directly but didn¡¯t say she was wrong either. Seemed like the Yorks did have secrets about her. Afternoon. Yelena had some time to rest in between her treatments. Shane and Mnie left after they visited her and saw Pam who had juste back from dating. She was hopping all the way, unable to hide the joy from her face. ¡°All you know is your rtionship and you just abandon our mom like that!¡± Shane couldn¡¯t be bothered with her and simply turned around to go back upstairs. Pam ran over to Mnie and said, ¡°Mnie, Nathan asked me to tell you that he can take you to the man you want to see at any time.¡± Mnie was stunned. ¡°Any time?¡± ¡°Yes, he said any time.¡± Pam paused for a while before asking curiously. ¡°Who is he taking you to?¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°A doctor,¡± Mnie answered. Pam quickly shook her hands and said, ¡°Then you better not tell me. Nathan told me not to ask you about your secrets.¡± ¡°And you''re sopliant to him.¡± Mnie smiled before asking. ¡°Did Nathan send you home?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He watched mee in!¡± Pam answered happily. That meant Nathan wouldn¡¯t be far. Mnie quickly took out her phone and dialed his number.¡± Hello? Pam sent me your message. | want to see him right now.¡± ¡°Great. I¡¯m not that far. Get changed and I''ll take you to him.¡± Nathan quickly agreed to it. After hanging up, Mnie went back to her room and changed into something that was easier to walk around in, and into a pair of shoes. Before leaving, Jeffrey''s call came and he heard her rushing footsteps. He asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To see Clement.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°Nathan looked for you?¡± Jeffrey sounded like he was on alert. ¡°That¡¯s right. His car is waiting right outside,¡± she said, not hiding it from him. ¡°Wait a little before leaving. I''ll be there soon,¡± Jeffrey said anxiously. Mnie slowed and sat down on a chair at the end of the bed. ¡°If you follow me, Nathan wouldn''t take me to see Dr. Clement.¡± ¡°Then I''ll track your mobile in real time and protect you from the shadows. He won''t find out.¡± Jeffrey already had a n. ¡°Fine.¡± Mnie intentionally dyed for about ten minutes in her room waiting for Jeffrey to get ready before leaving and getting into Nathan¡¯s car. ¡°Something with the Yorks? Why did it take you so long?¡± Nathan asked inside the car. ¡°The washroom. | have bad digestion,¡± Mnie answered inly. Nathan didn¡¯t pursue further and told his driver, ¡°Make a few rounds and lose our tail!¡± Mnie narrowed her eyes as they became colder. Chatper 450 Chapter 450 Bad Feeling While Nathan was the one that sent Pam back home and he managed to take Mnie to see Clement, Mnie couldn''t help but feel like she had fallen for Nathan¡¯s trap. Nathan was fully prepared. Not only was the car he was driving inconspicuous, but he also chose to use minor roads and secretly switched cars as well. They were driving on the small roads for a very long time before arriving at a mansion in the countryside. She was extremely impressed at how proficient they were at losing anyone tracking them. Mnie could only pray that Jeffrey wouldn¡¯t be deceived by Nathan¡¯s tricks and take the wrong road... ¡°We''re here. Let¡¯s go.¡± Nathan got out first and opened the door for Mnie. She stepped on the uneven gravel road, which seemed to symbolize her nervous heart. For some reason, she had a bad feeling about this. ¡°Come with me.¡± Nathan said as he took the lead and even turned around to tell his bodyguards behind them, ¡°Be on full alert!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The bodyguards answered together. ¡°Is Clement in a lot of danger? Mnie asked. ¡°There¡¯s someone that didn¡¯t want the truth back then to surface. He was already in danger the moment | found him. That¡¯s why | need to be careful,¡± Nathan answered. They walked for some distance before reaching the door. Nathan stopped and said to her, ¡°You can walk in yourself. Ask whatever question you want. I¡¯m going to stay out of this.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mnie turned around and looked. There were bodyguards everywhere along the path from the car to the door. She took a deep breath and walked in. There was an old man sleeping on a couch with a nket over his legs. It took Mnie a few seconds to realize that he was Clement! +15 BONOS Thest time she saw Clement was before her father passed away. At the time, Clement was only around fifty years old, and he was mentally fit. He was the most famous heart specialist in her father¡¯s hospital and was one of his partners that was already with him when he set up Jones Enterprise¡¯s medical team. But now.... Despite only being around sixty, Clement looked like he was eighty. She could tell that the years. hadn''t treated him kindly... Clement moved when he heard themotion and opened his eyes, staring right at Mnie. He became excited. ¡°Is that you, Mnie?¡± ¡°It''s me.¡± Mnie walked over and Clement sat up, his body shaking. She quickly walked over to help him up. ¡°Uncle Clement, you¡¯re not feeling well?¡± ¡°... Cough...¡± Clement had just spoken when he coughed. After he managed to suppress his coughing, he said, ¡°I¡¯m getting old. It¡¯s not that important whether I¡¯m doing well or not. Meanwhile, It looks like you¡¯ve recovered well all these years!¡± There were tears In Clement''s eyes. His reaction was much stronger than Mnie had expected. Mnie let him slow down a little before asking. ¡°Are you doing okay with Nathan¡¯s people guarding here?¡± ¡°There¡¯s just no freedom.¡± Clement sighed before starting to cough again. Mnie got a ss of water for him out of pity. Clement drank slowly and Mnie paused, looking Into his eyes in anticipation. ¡°Uncle Clement. the reason | came here to see you is because | want to ask you in person one more time. Did someone from Morgan Group reallye to you, wanting you to bear false witness and say that my dad killed Emma?¡± Clement¡¯s hands shook even more. He hesitated for two seconds before he asked, ¡°Who brought you here today? Nathan Quinn?¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. +15 BONOS ¡°That¡¯s right...¡± Before she could say anything else, she suddenly heard a loud noise. Bang! Clement''s skinny face suddenly froze, and that final expression would forever remain on his face... His entire body copsed to the back as red blood started to flow from his temple... Chatper 451 Chapter 451 Bullet Mnie¡¯s vision cked out for two seconds. After a brief moment of disorientation, she instinctively rushed forward and embraced Clement¡¯s emaciated body. ¡°Clement!¡± She and Clement were the only ones in the room. His eyes were wide open, and a bullet had pierced through his temple. He wasn¡¯t breathing anymore. ¡°Quick! Someone!¡± Nathan''s voice echoed from behind as he quickly rushed over and instructed.¡± Protect this ce!¡± Mnie felt somewhat detached. The voices in her ears seemed unreal, and there was a constant buzzing in her ears. She watched Nathan''s bodyguards rush forward and encircle them protectively. ¡°Mnie!¡± At that moment, sounds of struggle erupted outside. Jeffrey charged in soon after, running directly to her and embracing her. Nathan''s subordinates took the opportunity to start moving Clement¡¯s body... Mnie wanted to intervene, but she felt powerless. Every step she took seemed to make her vision darken. Thankfully, Jeffrey supported her from behind, preventing her from copsing... She made an effort to steady herself and walked towards Nathan. She demanded, ¡°What''s going on here? Do you even want me to know the truth?¡± ¡°You''re asking me?¡± Nathan looked at her coldly, then nced at Jeffrey. ¡°You told him Clement''s location, allowing him to take Clement''s life! Don¡¯t look at me with such resentment. If someone indeed killed Clement, it¡¯s because of you and Jeffrey!¡± Nathan finished angrily, then stormed off. The sound of the gunshot still echoed in Mnie¡¯s mind, and Clement''s frozen expression kept shing before her eyes. +15 BONOS She felt like she was trapped in a nightmare... When she finally regained some rity, she found herself seated in Jeffrey¡¯s car. ¡°How do you feel? I''ll take you to the hospital right away.¡± ¡°What about Clement?¡± she asked. ¡°Nathan''s people took him away. Don¡¯t worry. My men are also following. They¡¯ll take care of him. properly.¡± Jeffrey furrowed his brows slightly. Mnie leaned back In her seat and closed her eyes. She needed to stay calm! ¡°| haven''t told anyone else about meeting Clement except you,¡± She murmured to herself, sorting out her thoughts. ¡°If then there¡¯s only one possibility: Nathan staged it himself.¡± it wasn¡¯t you Before entering the building, she confirmed that Nathan¡¯s bodyguards were everywhere outside. It was difficult for anyone to shoot through walls and kill a person with a single shot. ¡°Don''t dwell on it...¡± Jeffrey''s voice carried concern for her. He couldn¡¯t help but reach out to gently stroke her head. trying to ease her tension. ¡°Where are we going?¡± she asked after a while. ¡°I''ll take you to the hospital,¡± he replied, realizing she hadn¡¯t heard what he said earlier. ¡°Take me back to your hotel,¡± Mnie insisted. She didn¡¯t need to go to the hospital for any check-ups right now. What she needed was a safe ce, preferably with a bed and a warm nket-she longed for that familiar sense of security. Her heart was still trembling... Jeffrey held her tightly. His Adam¡¯s apple trembled as he instructed the driver to change direction. Jeffrey stayed with Mnie in the hotel room for a few hours. Byte afternoon, Mnie had calmed down considerably. She got up from the bed and said, ¡°Pam hasn¡¯t seen me all day. | need to go back.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You don¡¯t have to force yourself. Just make a phone call and exin the situation,¡± Jeffrey said, reluctant to let her go. +15 BONOS Mnie shook her head. ¡°Pam needs me. It¡¯s the same whether I¡¯m at the York estate or lying in bed here.¡± Knowing he couldn¡¯t keep her, Jeffrey instructed the driver to take her back to the York estate. Yelena finished dinner and began another round of treatment. After dinner, Pam wanted to talk to her, but Mnie instinctively went upstairs to avoid her. She feared that if Pam asked about where she and Nathan had been, she might copse. Back in her room, Mnie locked the door. She wrapped herself in the nket and buried herself in bed, hugging her knees tightly. But the more she hugged, the colder she felt... It was the first time she had seen a living person die in front of her! Clement''s terrified face and wide eyes kept shing in her mind... She needed to relieve the pressure. More importantly, she needed to maintain herposure! In the early hours of the morning, a strange sound came from the direction of the bathroom again. Chatper 452 Chapter 452 Family Dinner When Jeffrey appeared soon after, Mnie rxed her tensed muscles a little.. ¡°If you keeping like this, won¡¯t the York Family notice?¡± ¡°That''s not the main issue.¡± Jeffrey went straight to the bed and pulled her into his arms. Then, he asked in concern. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°lm fine.¡± ¡°Don''t be afraid. Sleep. I¡¯m here.¡± His voice was unusually gentle, and she felt like he was practicing soothing a baby in advance. Seeing her calm down a bit, Jeffrey slowlyy down with her. He covered her with the nket and massaged her arms to help her relieve stress. ¡°| was thinking... If | hadn¡¯t kept pursuing this matter and insisted on seeing Clement, Nathan wouldn''t have had to stage this drama. Then, Clement might not have died,¡± Mnie confided in him. ¡°Nathan was right. It¡¯s because of me that he died.¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Jeffrey''s voice was firm. ¡°Don¡¯t think like that. Even if you didn¡¯t want to see him at first, Nathan would have forced you to see him repeatedly. This was his n¡ªa y he had to act out.¡± After saying that, he softened his voice again. ¡°Stop thinking about it. You need to rest well... What will happen to our baby if you can¡¯t endure things?¡± Mnie nodded obediently. His embrace wasfortable. The familiar warmth made her drowsy. In a half-dream state, she felt him wrap his arms around her waist from behind. It warmed her heart. She reached out and held his hand, their fingers intertwined... Suddenly, a storm broke out in the middle of the night. It was apanied by the sound of heavy rain outside the window, and they fell asleep in harmony. Mnie slept deeply. FIS BOHOS The next morning, it was the regr knocking of the maid that woke her up The ce beside her was already cool, indicating that Jeffrey had left while she was asleep. She got out of bed and opened the door. The maid outside looked at her with concern. ¡°Miss Mnie, I¡¯ve called you twice, but you didert respond. | was worried that something had happened to you... Did | disturb your rest?¡± ¡°What time is it now?¡± she asked. ¡°It''s eleven o''clock.¡± Mnie couldn''t believe Jeffrey¡¯s presencest night had allowed her to sleep so soundly for so long! ¡°The two young masters want to have a family dinner with Miss Mnie today. The old master asked me to invite you to join them,¡± the mald added. Mnie nodded. She freshened up, put on makeup, and headed downstairs... ¡°Sorry for keeping everyone walling.¡± She descended the stairs to the dining room and saw Harlow and Leo already seated. Pam was there with Pam and Shane. Even Joseph, whoseplexion had Improved, had arrived. Everyone was waiting for her. ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± Joseph personally greeted her.. ¡°Today is your family dinner. Is it appropriate for me to join?¡± Mnie politely smiled and chose a seat on the edge. ¡°Aunt considers you as family, so you are also family to us. Of course, It¡¯s appropriate.¡± Leo quickly added. Beside him, Harlow¡¯s features twisted with some displeasure. ¡°In that case, thank you,¡± Mnie replied and took her seat. The family dinner began. Harlow took the initiative to stand up and pour wine for everyone. It seemed that during this time at home, whether voluntarily or forcibly, he had rounded off his edges in front of everyone. ¡°Aunt has suffered outside the home for these years. This is a good wine I¡¯ve treasured for many +15 BONOS Mnie, ¡°Miss Mnie, have a drink too. Let¡¯s forget about the past.¡± ¡°Thank you, but my stomach has been feeling unwelltely, so | prefer not to drink,¡± Mnie politely declined.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Harlow¡¯s eyes turned sharp, and he tightened the wine bottle in his hand. ¡°Miss Mnie, is this your way of refusing to make amends to me?¡± ¡°You''re overthinking it. It¡¯s really due to health reasons,¡± Mnie replied casually. ¡°Fine!¡± Harlow put down the wine bottle and stepped back. ¡°Then I¡¯ll personally serve you a bowl. of soup. It¡¯s nourishing and also a gesture of apology from me.¡± With that, Harlow served Mnie a bowl of thick soup. Mnie didn¡¯t want to make the situation awkward in front of the York Family, but as soon as the soup touched her tongue, a strong fishy taste assaulted her taste buds... Suddenly, her stomach churned wildly. ¡°Ugh...!¡± She hurriedly covered her mouth and stammered, ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, | need to excuse myself...¡± Harlow narrowed his eyes. He watched Mnie rush to the bathroom with a dark glint swirling in his eyes! Chatper 453 Chapter 453 Reiming the Trophy Mnie rushed to the bathroom and was unable to stop vomiting for a while. Initially, her morning sickness had almost subsided after three months, but yesterday¡¯s events might have triggered it again. When she finally felt her stomach settle down, she washed her face and looked up to see Yelena entering from outside, gesturing to ask how she was feeling. ¡°I''m fine, just an upset stomach,¡± Mnie replied. After witnessing the death of someone with her own eyes yesterday, she had no intention of telling anyone in the York Family. Yelena began gesturing again, and after Mnie understood, she asked, ¡°You''re trying to tell me to trust you, right?¡± Yelena nodded with satisfaction. ¡°Alright, | understand. If | need your help, I''ll let you know,¡± Mnie said with a smile. Just then, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Miss Yelena, Miss Mnie, some guests have arrived.¡± ¡°Who are they?¡± Mnie asked casually. ¡°It''s the chief judge of the International Perfume Blending Competition and several perfumers,¡± the servant replied. Robert? Mnie frowned. Yelena also understood and pointed to Mnie, then to herself. ¡°Pam, Robert is here. It might be rted to you,¡± Mnie said. ¡°At the friendly match in Harbor City, his representative from Medonia lost. He might have been unable to ept it. He might be here because of that now that he knows your identity.¡± Yelena agreed and nodded. Just then, Mnie¡¯s phone rang. It was Linda. ¡°Mnie, | heard you¡¯re in Medonia again. When can we meet?¡± Linda also knew about her trip to Medonia? +15 BONOS Mnie blinked, quickly understanding Linda¡¯s meaning. She decided to be straightforward and said, ¡°Sorry, Miss Yancey, I¡¯m at the York estate. | was free, but some senior figures from the perfume industry suddenly came to visit, so | can¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t leave, I''lle to you!¡± Linda¡¯s tone was casual, and sheughed, ¡°I just love getting involved in your perfume world affairs! Hahal¡± After hanging up the call, Mnie said to Yelena, ¡°Miss Yancey wille overter.¡± Yelena was smart and understood Mnie¡¯s meaning without exnation. She smiled and nodded. Mnie and Yelena went out. In the living room, Robert was drinking tea with Alden and several other perfumers from Medonia. The atmosphere seemed calm on the surface, but there were ripples underneath it. Crash! Sure enough, when Aiden was serving tea, whether intentionally or not, he identally shattered the teacup. However, he only muttered an apology. As a servant stepped forward to clean up. Robert asked, ¡°Alden, what''s bothering you?¡± Then, he turned to Joseph and said, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. The person | brought broke your cup.¡± Joseph waved his hand while Leo sneered. ¡°It¡¯s just a cup. We''re not short of those at home!¡± ¡°Well that¡¯s true. But Alden has been agitatedtely and insisted oning with me. He said Mr. York is a senior in the perfume industry, and there are some things he needs to say in front of a senior.¡± Robert didn¡¯t give up and gestured for Alden to speak. Aiden was Robert''s vanguard. Although he felt a bit nervous about badmouthing the youngdy of the York Family in front of them, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Last time in Harbor City, | lost to apetitor named Pam. Yesterday, | learned that Pam is actually the youngdy of the York Family. ¡°How can | ept the results of thepetition? Pampeted as a neer, but she was definitely not a neer! | came here today to talk to her. That trophy shouldn¡¯t be hers!¡± After Aiden finished speaking, he looked around nervously. Yelena and Mnie sat nearby, with Joseph in the middle. No one responded to Aiden¡¯s words, 15 BONOS Mnie deliberately took a few steps to the side. She stood beside Leo and asked him in a low voice. ¡°Do you know Robert well?¡± ¡°What do you want to know?¡± Leo asked. ¡°| noticed he doesn¡¯t seem to tear Mr. York, but he showed great respect to Miss Yancey in the competitionst time?¡± Mnie left the question hanging. ¡°Robert''s father helped our family in the past, so my grandfather tolerates him. However, Robert has always tried to please the Yancey family. Miss Yancey Is someone he can¡¯t afford to offend.¡± Leo exined. Mnie nodded, feeling reassured. She stepped forward and spoke for Yelena, ¡°Should the trophy really belong to you?¡± ¡°| want to speak to Miss York,¡± Aiden retorted boldly. ¡°Miss York is currently undergoing treatment. When she can speak, she will definitely have a conversation with you!¡± Mnie retorted unapologetically. ¡°Fine, since you''re representing her, I''ll speak to you!¡± Alden saw Robert¡¯s continuous hints and had to be assertive. ¡°The trophy should rightfully pass on. | came in second ce, so it should belong to me too! ¡°You can go back and review the old recordings andpare Pam¡¯s and Yelena¡¯s perfume techniques and concepts from back then. If they¡¯re simr, the trophy will be yours for free!¡± Mnie asserted confidently.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Aiden hesitated momentarily, and Mnie continued, ¡°She has amnesia. She has forgotten everything, including her memory of perfume techniques. So when shepeted as Pam, it was perfectly fine.¡± ¡°This is absurd!¡± Aiden protested. Suddenly,ughter, tinged with mockery, echoed from the entrance, and someone started speaking. ¡°As | see it, arguing like this won''t solve anything. Mnie, why don¡¯t you organize a perfume competition here? The moreplicated the rules, the better. ¡°Simple perfume techniques are not allowed to be used! This way, you can also win a championship and gain some reputation!¡± Chatper 454 Chapter 454 Nine Hundred and Ny¡ªNine Roses The crowd turned around and saw Linda walking in gracefully. Except for Joseph, everyone else hurriedly stood up to greet her. Robert practically ran to her side and asked, ¡°Miss Yancey, why are you here?¡± ¡°I came to visit. Do | need to report what | do to you?¡± Linda frowned slightly, then went straight to greet Joseph. After exchanging pleasantries, she walked over to Mnie and asked with a smile, ¡°So, what do you think of my suggestion just now? Set the rules ording to how you usually make perfume. The more detailed, the better!¡± ¡°This method seems a bit risky,¡± Mnie replied with a smile. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Linda chimed in. ¡°With several perfumers present. I¡¯m afraid that if | actually implement it, they''ll all follow suit. It''ll be a vicious cycle if it happens again in the friendlypetition we''re hosting in Harbor City, right? ¡°Mnie exined. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Linda burst intoughter. Seizing the opportunity, Mnie continued, ¡°Besides, the Angle family is the top tier in the perfume industry, and we locals dominate almost all the perfume markets here. We shouldn''t back people into a corner, right?¡± ¡°You''re indeed wise, Mnie.¡± Linda remarked. Afterughing heartily, Linda sat next to Mnie, sitting with a sharp yet elegant posture. ¡°That so-called friendlypetition and its ridiculous rules! What a joke of apetition! wonder if they''ll continue with it. It¡¯s an embarrassment!¡± Linda¡¯s words left everyone present exchanging nces. Was Miss Yancey cursing the organizers? Today was truly an eye-opener! This also indicated Linda¡¯s firm support for Mnie and Yelena. Whoever dared to bring up this matter again would be at odds with Linda, and nobody dared to do so. Robert looked embarrassed and could only fake a smile and agree, ¡°You''re absolutely right, Miss Yancey!¡± +15 BONOS Staying longer would only invite further humiliation, so Robert quickly found an excuse and left with his entourage. Joseph maintained his usual calm demeanor. The York family¡¯s butler respectfully thanked Linda for her outspoken support. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. | owe Mnie a favor, and I¡¯m repaying it today!¡± Linda smiled at Mnie. ¡°I also want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to scold that Robert. I¡¯ve had my eye on him for a while!¡± Mnie chuckled. ¡°You''re too kind.¡±From N?velDrama.Org. Actually, Mnie couldn''t quite figure out Linda¡¯s background, including her personality. Sometimes, Linda seemed to wield immense power. She controlled everything with meticulous. precision, which could be intimidating. Other times, she came across as straightforward and simple, preferring directness over cunning. Perhaps that was what a true leader was like. The atmosphere gradually eased. The butler asked a few things, to which Joseph agreed. Then, the butler said, ¡°Since Miss Yancey is here today, the master has an announcement. The family ns to host a banquet to introduce Miss York to everyone formally. Miss Yancey, would you also honor us with your presence?¡± ¡°As long as Mnie is here, I''ll be here too.¡± Linda graciously extended her courtesy to Mnie. The butler smiled. ¡°Miss Mnie will definitely be present. Miss York can¡¯t do without her.¡± ¡°In that case, count me in!¡± Linda readily agreed. Meanwhile, Harlow cast a sharp nce at Leo, who was sitting beside Mnie. Harlow¡¯s eyes were filled with a sinister intent. Back in his room, Harlow¡¯s subordinate cautiously inquired. ¡°Mr. York, it seems the master wants Miss Mnie to take her rightful ce. What sort of gift are you nning to present at the party? I''ll start searching immediately so Leo won''t get ahead of us.¡± ¡°With my grandfather backing her, what else does she need?¡± Harlow shook his head, his gaze growing fiercer. ¡°Leo is getting closer to Mnie, and Mnie is Aunt¡¯s confidante! I¡¯m stuck in this house every day! He¡¯s already getting ahead of me!¡± Suddenly, Harlow¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡± you''ve given me an idea. This party is a perfect opportunity! If | seize it, | canpletely turn the tide!¡± ¡°What do you n to do, Mr. York?¡± his subordinate asked, puzzled. +15 BONOS ¡°Order the finest fresh roses for me! | want nine hundred and ny-nine of them!¡± Harlow¡¯s eyes narrowed as he chuckled darkly. Chatper 455 Chapter 455 Proposal A few dayster, the York family hosted a grand banquet. There were numerous guests filling the expansive hall to its limits. Yelena adorned herself in an elegant dress, stunning even Shane and Pam. They had heard about their mother¡¯s beauty, but they never imagined she could be this stunning! She looked like a figure straight out of a painting. When Joseph instructed Yelena to take the stage, the butler turned to Mnie. ¡°Miss Mnie, would you apany Miss Yelena on stage?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Was it appropriate for her to apany Yelena on such an asion? However, it was clearly Joseph¡¯s idea, and Mnie knew they had a n. But seeing how much Yelena wanted her by her side, she agreed. She simply stood beside Yelena on stage, who didn¡¯t speak. The butler spoke on her behalf. Mnie wondered if she was asked to apany Yelena on stage to subtly indicate to the audience that she was the vanguard of the York family. After the butler introduced the lostdy of the York family who had returned, apuse resounded throughout the hall. Yelena nodded to the audience. Then, the butler led her off the stage, with Mnie following behind. As they descended the steps, the spotlight remained on Mnie. Suddenly, a man rushed onto the stage, catching everyone off guard. With a thud, he knelt before her. ¡°Marry me, Mnie!¡± He shouted. He had meticulously groomed hair and wore a deep red suit. In his hand was a diamond ring, and its brilliance was blinding. Everyone could see it clearly. Everyone froze for a few seconds...! Even the quick¡ªwitted butler was stunned. +15 BONOS ¡°Mnie, | fell in love with you the moment |id eyes on you! I¡¯ve waited for so many years and finally found a woman who captured my heart at first sight. Please give me a chance!¡± The man came prepared. As he knelt and proposed, a band behind him began to y, and a cart filled with fresh, vibrant red roses was wheeled over. The roses had even been arranged into a heart. Seeing Mnie¡¯sposed demeanor, the man snapped his fingers. Suddenly, a team of ck¡ªd bodyguards emerged, performing a magic-like act as they each produced an exquisitely packaged jeweled box from behind. They opened them one by one, revealing sets of dazzling diamond jewelry. Among the onlookers, someone eximed: ¡°Those are all diamonds!¡± ¡°They''re all limited editions! And there are so many of them! How much must this have cost?!¡± Mnie furrowed her brows.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. It was impossible not to be affected. She was taken aback and was speechless for a few seconds. She was unprepared, especially considering that the man was no ordinary person... He was none other than one of the York family¡¯s sons, Harlow York! One of Leo¡¯s confidants hurried forward amid themotion and whispered into his ear, ¡°Sir, what should we do? Should we stop him? We can¡¯t let him marry Miss Mnie!¡± ¡°How could Mnie possibly agree?¡± Leo remained calm. ¡°But...¡± The confidant drew closer, lowering his voice. ¡°Sir, Master York has always wanted you to pursue Miss Mnie, and that¡¯s what the outside world also believes. ¡°Even if Miss Mnie refuses, with Harlow proposing so publicly, it will disrupt the ns of various factions...¡± ¡°So what?¡± Leo sneered. ¡°He¡¯s just desperate to gain Aunt¡¯s support. But you''ve forgotten, we already have the trust of the person Aunt cares about the most. Victory is still in my hands!¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The confidant rxed, reassured by Jeffrey¡¯s resolve. With a hint of satisfaction amidst his grim expression, Leo said through gritted his teeth. ¡°When Harlow learns the truth one day, he''ll realize he¡¯s aplete fool!¡± Hmph! +15 BONOS Leo sneered and watched the spectacle unfold at the edge of the stage. Mnie had quickly regained herposure. She narrowed her eyes and asked, puzzled, ¡°Mr. York, what are you doing?¡± If it weren¡¯t for the many people present, she would have expressed her feelings bluntly. Was there something wrong with his head? That was what she wanted to ask Harlow. ¡°I''m confessing my feelings to you and proposing marriage,¡± Harlow said, pretending to be sincere. Mnie¡¯s calm eyes held a hint of disgust. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not proposing to the wrong person?¡± ¡°I''m sure of the person I¡¯ve chosen.¡± Harlow shamelessly said with a smile. Mnie smirked. ¡°You should keep these things for the women you keep in your room. Don¡¯t they change all the time?¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t worthy!¡± Harlow¡¯s eyes shed with disdain. ¡°Only you are worthy of these things I''ve prepared.¡± Mnie scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that if | ept, you''ll regret it.¡± ¡°Will you ept?¡± ¡°| won''t!¡± Mnie said indifferently. ¡°Mr. York, | advise you to behave yourself.¡± ¡°I''m pursuing my true love. Pursuing love requires humility, doesn¡¯t it?¡± As Harlow spoke, he stood and approached Mnie. ¡°Give me a chance, and I''ll prove to you that lll truly treat you well.¡± As Harlow reached for her hand, another strong hand grabbed his wrist before Mnie could react. Then, the person and pushed Harlow back with a slight force. Jeffrey... Seeing Jeffrey swiftly step forward and use his body to shield her from the false and pretentious man, Mnie¡¯s pounding heart slowly steadied. As long as Jeffrey was there, there was nothing to fear. Chatper 456 Chapter 456 | Just Want to See Her ¡°President Morgan, what¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Harlow asked sharply. Jeffrey wrapped his arm around Mnie¡¯s shoulder before everyone. +15 BONOS ¡°Since you''ve stolen the spotlight from Miss Yelena, why don¡¯t | take this opportunity to announce something as well!¡± Jeffrey dered loudly. ¡°Mnie is my woman! If you¡¯re proposing to her, you should have asked for my permission first!¡± Jeffrey''s words were resolute and authoritative, instantly silencing the entire room. Unexpectedly. Jeffrey and Mnie¡¯s secret marriage was being revealed in public under these circumstances. As people said, ns could change in the blink of an eye. But Mnie remained calm. She knew Jeffrey''s move was inevitable, and there were no better options avable. If they didn¡¯t announce their rtionship, Harlow would never relent. It seemed that Harlow¡¯s attempt to curry favor with Yelena, who had just returned to the York family, had reached a fever pitch. He intended to marry Mnie to gain Yelena¡¯s support in dealing with Leo. Mnie nced around, unsurprised to see Yelena smiling knowingly. It seemed she had already guessed their rtionship. The members of the York family appeared unsurprised, but Yelena¡¯s expression looked particrly grim. The instigator of this sudden turn of events, Harlow, seemed more infuriated than surprised. Perhaps he believed that he could take advantage of the situation as long as Jeffrey and Mnie didn¡¯t admit their rtionship. What a despicable plot! After the silence settled in, a murmur rose from the audience. The guests were eating up the drama today. They never expected to witness Harlow proposing to a woman, only to be rejected! Nor did they expect the woman Harlow had his eye on to be Jeffrey''s woman! But when did Jeffrey get into a rtionship? Wasn''t it true that he hadn¡¯t had a femalepanion since his childhood sweetheart passed away? +15 BONOS Amidst everyone¡¯s astonishment, there was anothermotion outside the door. Everyone held their breath, wondering what else was going to happen. All eyes turned towards the door, where a servant rushed in. He went straight to Joseph and the butler. ¡°Master York, Professor Turner has arrived!¡±From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Invite him in quickly!¡± The butler could barely contain his excitement. After Professor Turner had fallen out with the York family and left, they had no further contact. They never expected him to set aside past grievances and respond so quickly after they reached out to him through various channels! The servant reporting the news looked uneasy. He hesitated before saying, ¡°Professor Turner said he¡¯s here to see Miss Mnie... but he won''te in...¡± The butler¡¯s excited expression froze, but Joseph remainedposed. It was as if he had anticipated Professor Turner wouldn¡¯t give up so easily. ¡°I''ll go talk to him.¡± Mnie interjected. She seized the opportunity to leave this embarrassing situation behind and take Jeffrey with her. ¡°Who''s Professor Turner?¡± Jeffrey asked as he stepped outside. Mnie exined that she had arranged for a highly skilled acupuncturist and traditional doctor toe for Yelena. This doctor had strong connections with the York family, but Mnie wasn¡¯t sure about the details yet. Jeffrey apanied her to the car parked outside. The car door opened. Before Mnie could say anything, Jeffrey expressed his surprise. ¡°Professor? Why are you here?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t | be here?¡± Professor Turner nced at Jeffrey, then turned to Mnie. ¡°It¡¯s been years since west met. You¡¯ve grown so much.¡± ¡°You''re still the same as you were back then, Professor Turner,¡± Mnie said with a smile. ¡°What hasn''t changed is your mouth. You¡¯ve always been good at telling lies!¡± Professor Turner chuckled, stroking his beard. ¡°So, how about it? Do you want to learn medicine from me? You had a talent for it when you were young. Your grandfather and | both wanted to teach you ourselves.¡± Mnie awkwardlyughed and quickly changed the subject. She asked Jeffrey, ¡°Do you also +15 BONOS It was rare for her to see Jeffrey so surprised, especially considering how openly he had shown it just now. After a pause, Jeffrey answered her, ¡°This is the person | mentioned, the genius doctor who saved me back then.¡± ¡°Such ttery!¡± Professor Turner chuckled. Suddenly, Jeffrey remembered something and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Professor, when | invited you. you said you were busy and didn¡¯t have time to see me...¡± ¡°What''s my rtionship with you? What''s my rtionship with her? Can youpare them?¡± Professor Turner replied bluntly. Jeffrey felt choked and ufortable. After a few moments of silence, he asked, ¡°Then... what''s. your rtionship with her?¡± Chatper 457 Chapter 457 Granddaughter ¡°Let me put it simply.¡± Professor Turner stepped out of the car. Despite his small stature, he looked up at Jeffrey with an unwavering demeanor. ¡°| saved your life once. But back then, it was Mnie¡¯s grandfather who saved mine. | inherited many of my medical insights from him. Mnie is closer to me than my own granddaughter. So, tell me, who should | see, her or you?¡± Jeffrey was once again taken aback. When he thought about it, there would be no Professor Turner without Mnie¡¯s grandfather. His fatal ident would have undoubtedly been the end of him. ¡°Professor Turner, today is the first time I¡¯ve learned that my grandfather also saved you!¡± Mnie eximed in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s ancient history.¡± Professor Turner waved his hand, reminiscing about his long¡ªdeparted oldpanion with a touch of sadness. ¡°Back then, | discovered a medical treatment in modern medicine that could tackleplex diseases. | insisted on delving into its research, but your grandfather didn¡¯t approve. ¡°From that day on, we went our separate ways. He never let me see him before he passed away.... It seems he still med me...¡± ¡°| think you¡¯ve misunderstood,¡± Mnie said. ¡°My grandfather fell ill suddenly and passed away quickly. None of us had the chance to see him onest time. But | remember he once said you were intelligent and had a remarkable understanding.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°He believed that even if you switched paths to study modern medicine halfway, you would surely achieve something. And look, he was right.¡± ¡°When did he say that? Did he really say that?¡± Professor Turner asked with interest. ¡°He really did. | wouldn¡¯t lie to you, Professor Turner. My grandfather used to say it while teaching me about herbs in the courtyard.¡± Professor Turner¡¯s eyes shimmered briefly, revealing his deep respect for Mnie¡¯s grandfather. After years of striving, the acknowledgment of Mnie¡¯s grandfather was still what he yearned for +15 BONOS Professor Turner lowered his head and waved his hand with a smile. He changed the subject and said, ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve told you that we''re in a different era now, right? Don¡¯t call me ¡®Professor Turner¡± anymore. | am now internationally renowned as Dr. TI¡± ¡°Okay, Dr. T.¡± Mnie couldn''t help but chuckle. She nced at the gates of the York family and said, ¡°Since you¡¯vee to treat Yelena, why hesitate at the doorstep? Is there a possibility for you to sit down and talk about what happened between you and the York family In the past?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Professor Turner refused without a second thought. ¡°| can treat Yelena for your sake, but only if you bring her to my turf. | swore | wouldn¡¯t set foot in the York estate again!¡± ¡°Alright, I''ll go in and exin the situation. Wait here for me, okay?¡± Seeing Professor Turner¡¯s determination, Mnie could only agree reluctantly. She turned to Jeffrey and said, ¡°It''s been a while since you''ve seen him. You two can catch up while waiting here for me. I''ll be back soon.¡± ¡°Take care of yourself,¡± Jeffrey nodded. As Mnie walked away, Professor Turner nudged Jeffrey with his elbow and asked in a low voice. ¡°The woman who caused you to change... Was it my granddaughter? Was it also her who underwent gic engineering?¡± Jeffrey nodded. ¡°Perfect. Later, we''ll go to my research base and conduct a test on her to verify the truth,¡± Professor Turner said confidently. ¡°She¡¯s pregnant. Will this type of examination harm her?¡± Jeffrey asked cautiously, showing his true concerns in front of Professor Tumer. ¡°She¡¯s pregnant?¡± Professor Turner raised his eyebrows, staring at Jeffrey. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Yours?¡± Professor Turner fixed his gaze on him. Jeffrey pursed his lips tightly. ¡°Who else¡¯s?¡± Professor Turner continued to stare at him, then he sneered. ¡°What''s wrong with you?¡± Jeffrey was puzzled. Chatper 458 Chapter 458 Research Base ¡°What do you think? My darling granddaughter has been taken from me! Should | congratte you?!¡± Professor Turner waved his hand discontentedly. ¡°Forget it! We''ll wait until she gives birth before we do the test!¡± ¡°You also know about her heart condition, right? I¡¯ve been worried about her pregnancy. Her body might not be able to handle it,¡± Jeffrey added. ¡°With me around, I''ll ensure the safety of both mother and child!¡± Professor Turner patted his chest reassuringly. Jeffrey''s brow twitched slightly, and he breathed a sigh of relief. After waiting for about half an hour, the gates of the York estate opened again. Mnie apanied Yelena as they walked out, followed by Shane, Pam, a few servants, and seven to eight bodyguards. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ll apany her for treatment,¡± Mnie said. Professor Turner waved his hand, gesturing for his assistant to help Yelena into the car, but he stopped the servants and bodyguards behind. ¡°One member of the York family is enough. Too many of you will only cause trouble! Hurry up and leave!¡± Shane and Pam wanted to stay with their mother, but Yelena was very sensible. Although Mnie hadn¡¯t had the chance to tell her anything yet, she had already noticed the irreconcble differences between Professor Turner and the York family. She got out of the car and walked over to Shane and Pam. After saying a few words, the two 92 obediently returned to the York estate. Mnie sighed inwardly as she watched Yelena¡¯s actions. She truly deserved to be the eldest daughter of the York family, having experienced so much with Joseph. Even though she had lost her memory, her intellect was still superior to most. After settling Shane and Pam, Mnie signaled to the York family¡¯s servants and instructed, ¡°Go back and tell Joseph that Morgan Group¡¯s bodyguards will protect Pam.¡± Now, the priority was Yelena¡¯s treatment, and the York family members dared not interfere further. As the car arrived at Professor Turner¡¯s research base, Mnie realized that her instructions had been somewhat unnecessary. Professor Turner¡¯s research base was located in the center of a botanical park. The vast park was heavily guarded, and the research building was heavily encrypted. It was nearly impossible for even a fly to enter without proper authorization. ¡°Now you see? Even if the York family follows us, they won''t cause a nuisance!¡± Professor Turner said proudly, disying his dominance. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s... truly secure,¡± Mnie agreed, following his lead. ¡°The research I¡¯m conducting is coveted by many people!¡± Professor Turner boasted, pointing casually at Jeffrey. ¡°Look at him. He¡¯s not even surprised. When I saved his life, he stayed here for two years!¡± Mnie nced at Jeffrey, who had been cautioning her about her steps all along, and her heart. skipped a beat. He instantly tightened his grip on her hand andforted her, ¡°We¡¯re almost there...¡± Professor Turner was fond of solving difficult medical cases, and he had heard about Yelena¡¯s condition. The York family had eagerly brought Yelena for examinations with several renowned doctors, but none could make headway. Jeffrey guided Mnie to a guest room with familiar ease. ¡°Youing here to apany Yelena¡¯s treatment is a good thing. It''s absolutely safe here with Professor Turner, and you can rest assured while nurturing the baby.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mnie nodded in agreement. ¡°You have the talent for perfumery and medicine. How many other talents do you have that | don¡¯t. know about?¡± Jeffrey caressed her smooth belly with hisrge hand. ¡°As | said, you have a good eye, President Morgan. How much of my excellence will your son inherit from me?¡± Mnie raised her eyebrows proudly. Jeffrey indulgently smiled and nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right. His mother has a talent for perfumery. bing an instant sensation internationally. If he chooses to study medicine, he''ll surely be the greatest doctor in the world.¡± ¡°No...¡± Mnie quickly shook her head. ¡°Please, don¡¯t mention studying medicine in front of him.¡±From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why not?¡± Jeffrey asked. Chatper 459 Chapter 459 Jeffrey Wants to Kill Me ¡°| doubt he''ll want to learn medicine from Professor Turner. | saw the medical notes he wrote when | was a child. Those words are simply impossible for a human to write...¡± Mnie said with a straight face. Jeffrey''s eyebrows shot up, amused by her seriousness, and he burst into satisfiedughter. At that moment, Mnie¡¯s phone rang. It was her mother calling. ¡°Mel, are you still at the York estate? | heard Mr. Turner went to see you?¡± Eliza asked as soon as she answered.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m at Professor Turner¡¯s research base now,¡± Mnie replied. Eliza breathed a sigh of relief. After a few seconds of hesitation, as if making a difficult decision, she said, ¡°I¡¯m at the airport now. I''m flying to Medonia tomorrow. There¡¯s something important | need to tell you.¡± ¡°Can''t you tell me over the phone?¡± Mnie¡¯s heart started to race. ¡°I''ve hesitated about this for a long time, but | still feel that | should tell you in person.¡± Eliza insisted. Then she added, ¡°I¡¯ve already met Madam Morgan. You also have something to tell me, don¡¯t you?¡± Mnie choked up for a moment. She hadn''t expected her mother to learn about her and Jeffrey''s rtionship from someone else first... She agreed and hung up the phone, feeling somewhat uneasy. However, Jeffrey probably knew what Eliza wanted to tell her. Now that Yelena was back and Professor Turner had appeared, perhaps Eliza felt it was time to reveal her true identity. He tried to reassure her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you''ll know everything when you see Mom tomorrow. Give me her flight number, and I''ll have William pick her up. Since she knows about our rtionship, | need to make a good impression.¡± Mnie smiled faintly and sent Jeffrey Eliza¡¯s flight information. Seeing that she still had something on her mind, Jeffrey suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t | tell you some important things to distract you?¡± ¡°What''s on your mind?¡± Mnie furrowed her brows, biting her lower lip, inexplicably nervous. ¡°| found out some things about Judas,¡± Jeffrey said. ¡°We agreed that | would tell you if | found any ¡°Tell me.¡± Mnie¡¯s attention shifted immediately, eager to know about past events. ¡°Back then, Judas¡¯s daughter needed a kidney transnt. But theycked money and also couldn¡¯t find a suitable donor. ¡°However, all of this was resolved around the time your father had his ident. His daughter found a suitable donor, and the surgery fees were immediately paid. This is the evidence William¡¯s people found. Take a look. Jeffrey took out the photos from his phone and showed them to Mnie. ¡°This person who found the kidney donor for Judas received arge sum through an alias ount. During that time, this person had close contact with Nathan. And if you look at this phone number...¡± Jeffrey flipped through a few photos of call records. ¡°This is the York family¡¯s extension number.¡± ¡°So, you mean the person who ordered the hit on my father might not only be rted to Nathan but also to the York family?¡± Mnie¡¯s heart tightened. Jeffrey nodded. ¡°Over the years, the York family¡¯s old mansion has been renovated several times. It will take some time to find out which room the extension number belonged to back then.¡± ¡°Nathan is now working together with Harlow, but did he have any connection with the York family back then?¡± Mnie thought for a moment and asked. ¡°| don¡¯t recall,¡± Jeffrey shook his head. ¡°Rest assured, William is still sending people to investigate. The truth wille to light soon.¡± Mnie nodded. As the details unraveled, the truth gradually surfaced, bringing her a sense of peace. However... The next morning, before Eliza¡¯s ne had evennded, Mnie¡¯s phone kept buzzing. She came out of the bathroom and answered a call from an unknown number. On the other end was Judas¡¯ frantic voice. ¡°Mnie! Help me! They want to kill me to silence me!¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she instinctively asked, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Jeffrey!¡± Judas answered, trembling. Chatper 460 Chapter 460 Two Lives What a joke! Mnie nced at Jeffrey, who was heating milk for her not far away in the kitchen. She took a deep breath and said, ¡°Jeffrey is right beside me. Who made you use him again?¡± ¡°He wants to kill me! Obviously, he¡¯s not going to do it himself!¡± Judas¡¯s voice on the phone was low but twisted with fear. ¡°After | got out of prison, we agreed to settle our debts. | just want to live peacefully with my wife. | don¡¯t want to kill anymore! He doesn''t believe I''ll keep his secret. He won''t let me live! His people are about to arrive. Pleasee and save me!¡± ¡°How can | save you?¡± Mnie asked, ying along.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°| know the York family values you a lot. Please ask them for help. I''m begging you. | don¡¯t want to die! | don¡¯t want to see my wife die either...¡± Judas¡¯s words continued, and then the call suddenly disconnected. Mnie blinked in confusion. When Jeffrey approached her with a ss of milk, she casually answered his unasked question, ¡°It was Judas.¡± ¡°What did h want?¡± Jeffrey instantly tensed as he looked at her with concern. ¡°He asked for help. He said you wanted to kill him to silence him,¡± Mnie ryed verbatim. Jeffrey raised an eyebrow, somewhat speechless. Then, he pushed a te of eggs, vegetables, and fruits in front of her and instructed. ¡°Eat while it¡¯s hot.¡± Mnie nodded and started eating. Jeffrey walked to the balcony and made a phone call to instruct his people to keep an eye on Judas¡¯s house, unsure of what might happen. Once he was done, he returned to Mnie¡¯s side to eat with her. But before they could finish eating, Jeffrey suddenly received a phone call. Mnie was eating slowly and didn¡¯t pay attention to the content of his call, but she suddenly felt Jeffrey''s tone turned cold. She sat up straight and turned to look at him. ¡°When did this happen?¡± His voice was tense and unnatural ¡°What''s the situation now?¡± He deliberately adjusted his tone, but his questions were still urgent. ¡°| understand. I''ll be there soon,¡± he said, then hung up the phone. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Mnie set down her fork and looked at Jeffrey. He turned to her, his eyes suddenly filled with profound plty and concern. Mnie was sensitive, and her intuition told her that the phone call he just received brought very bad news. It was even possibly rted to her. ¡°Mnie, about Mom¡¯s flight...¡± ¡°What about it?¡± Her first reaction was to think something was wrong with the ne. But Jeffrey walked over and ced his hands on her shoulders. ¡°The ne is fine. It arrived safely in Medonia. But William didn¡¯t manage to pick her up. On the way here, she got into a car ident... Mnie¡¯s eyes widened, and her temples throbbed with pain. ¡°How is my mom?¡± She asked, tears flowing uncontrobly. Jeffrey hugged her tenderly. ¡°William has taken her to the hospital. We''re going there now. You need to be prepared... I''ll have the professore along too.¡± Prepared? Mnie realized the seriousness of the situation. With Jeffrey''s demeanor, he wouldn''t give such a warning if the ident wasn¡¯t severe. She forced herself to stay calm and silently followed Jeffrey to change clothes. Then, they got into the car, and drove quietly to the hospital. She didn¡¯t say a word the entire journey. Jeffrey held her the whole time, but she still felt cold. When they arrived at the hospital, they saw Eliza lying calmly in the intensive care unit bed. Her face was pale against the white sheets. ¡°How is my mom?¡± Mnie¡¯s voice was unusually hoarse. The doctor briefly exined her mother¡¯s condition, but she was too overwhelmed to fully understand. Professor Turner added from the side, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your mother has temporarily passed the critical stage. | can ensure she¡¯s not in any immediate danger, but...¡± ¡°But what?¡± Mnie asked. 243 ¡°Her brain is severely damaged. She may not wake up for now... or it could be a long time before she wakes up,¡± Professor Turner added. ¡°She may never wake up?¡± Mnie asked. No one answered. Their silence was her answer. Mnie knelt beside her mother¡¯s bed and gently stroked her hair. Then, she tried calling out to her, ¡°Mom... Mom? Open your eyes and look at me. It¡¯s me, Mel. ¡°You said when you arrived, you had something to tell me, right? I¡¯m still waiting for you to tell me...¡± She called out repeatedly, but Eliza didn¡¯t open her eyes to respond. Through teary eyes, she seemed to see her childhood home and how the three of them used to be happy together. Now, why was she the only one kneeling beside her critically injured mother? Tears flowed incessantly, an unprecedented pain that even made her forget how to cry out loud. Behind her, Jeffrey and Professor Turner kept trying to console her. But there was a loud buzzing in her ears, and she was unable to hear what they were saying. She could only hear her own voice. After some time, two medical staff approached her. They injected her with a dose of medication. and then everything went ck before she passed out. Jeffrey''s brows furrowed with concern as he gently gathered her in his arms and walked out. Chatper 461 Chapter 461 Where Can He Go When Mnie woke up, she found herself in Professor Turner''s research base. Opening her eyes, she saw Jeffrey with dark circles under his eyes. ¡°Are you awake?¡± His voice was hoarse as he approached, and she could clearly see his bloodshot eyes and the stubble on his chin. ¡°My mom... Where is she?¡± she asked. ¡°Mom has been transferred here. She¡¯s in the Infirmary.¡± ¡°Take me to her,¡± she said. Jeffrey wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent. He carefully helped Mnie out of bed. They stood outside the infirmary and looked through the window where Eliza was breathing through an oxygen mask. Mnie¡¯s eyes were slightly moist, but she didn¡¯t let herself cry. ¡°How did the ident happen?¡± Her voice was very calm. Jeffrey gestured, and William immediately walked over from the corridor. He handed her a tablet with the ident investigation details on it. ¡°The driver of the car Mom was in had a sudden heart attack, and the car crashed into a pir. The driver died on the spot,¡± Jeffrey exined in a soft voice as he stood by. Mnie looked coldly at the various reports on the tablet, including the diagnosis of the driver¡¯s condition, the death report, and the vehicle inspection report. All the evidence formed a perfect closed loop. Everything was impable. She turned off the tablet and bit her lip. ¡°It wasn¡¯t an ident.¡± ¡°Mnie...¡± Jeffrey held her slender arm, wanting to say something, but he felt his words might hurt her. ¡°Are you suggesting that it¡¯s because I¡¯m too upset that | stubbornly believe it¡¯s not an ident?¡± Mnie turned to look at him, her gaze cold. ¡°Ever since my dad had an ident, my mom has been emphasizing that she had a hunch that it wasn¡¯t an ident but a nned murder. No one believed her then. But after so many years, hasn''t the oue proved that her hunch was right? +15 BONOS ¡°Now | also have a hunch that this ident was nned.¡± As Mnie spoke, her emotions finally stirred. ¡°My mom just called me yesterday, saying she had something important to tell me when we met, and today this happened. How could it be so coincidental?¡± ¡°All right, | won''t give up on investigating,¡± Jeffrey was on her side, unconditionally supporting her. William took the lead and went down to continue the investigation. ¡°The professor said you need to take care of yourself,¡± Jeffrey reminded her as he helped her back to the room. Unexpectedly. Annie was in the room. ¡°Mel!¡± As soon as Annie saw her, she came over and hugged her. ¡°I¡¯m here to stay with you. Don¡¯t worry. Your mother is blessed and will definitely wake up.¡± Mnie smiled bitterly. ¡°Don¡¯t say that for now. Some people probably don¡¯t want her to wake up... Let her rest peacefully for a few days. She¡¯s been too tired these years.¡± Listening to her speak with a despondent tone, Annie cried even harder than her. ¡°President Morgan contacted me yesterday, and | came over immediately. | was afraid that you would be too upset and something might happen. You have a baby to think about now.¡± Annie helped her sit down. Jeffrey knew they were confiding in each other as best friends, so he tactfully closed the door and went out. ¡°I''ve already sent my family¡¯s detectives to investigate. If there¡¯s anything else | can do, just tell me,¡± Annie said, rubbing Mnie¡¯s cold hands. Annie flew over from Harbor City and seemed to have slept for a whole day. Mnie nced at the IV drip hanging by the bedside and said after a moment, ¡°I need to call thepany.¡± Eliza had an ident abroad, and Mnie wasn¡¯t at thepany. Jones Enterprise couldn''t afford to have problems at this time. Mnie called Jones Enterprise, and the assistant immediately transferred her call to Quincy. Quincy said, ¡°We''ve heard about the chairman¡¯s situation. Don¡¯t worry. Mr. Lincoln arranged everything before he left. Several veteran executives in the domestic group are in charge now, and my father will keep an eye on things. I''ll take full responsibility for the overseas side. Everything Mnie breathed a sigh of relief. With Mr. Lincoln looking after things for so many years, she could rest assured. After a moment, she remembered something and asked, ¡°What do you mean by Mr. Lincoln arranged everything before he left? Where did he go?¡±From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°| don¡¯t know either,¡± Quincy said. ¡°He arranged things for thepany yesterday and then left. His secretary said he drove himself to the airport at night, but no one knows where he went.¡± ¡°Got it. Thank you for your hard work during this time,¡± Mnie said before hanging up. As soon as she put down the phone, it rang again. She thought it might be Quincy calling back about something he had forgotten, but it turned out to be Mr. Lincoln. ¡°Miss, where are you now? I¡¯m in Medonia, and there¡¯s something important | need to discuss with you.¡± Mr. Lincoln¡¯s voice was very heavy. Chatper 462 Chapter 462 Jolted Awake ¡°lm at. Mnie pondered for a moment. This was Professor Turner¡¯s research base, and it was a highly confidential location. She shouldn''t bring too many people in. So she said, ¡°Mr. Lincoln, just send me your location. I''lle to you.¡± Mnie Took Annie with her to the cafe where Mr. Lincoln had been waiting for a while. He looked exhausted, clearly having stayed up all night without sleep. ¡°How¡¯s Madam Jones doing?¡± Mr. Lincoln inquired, immediately showing concern for Eliza¡¯s condition. ¡°She¡¯s out of danger now, but her brain has suffered severe damage. She might not wake up for a while.¡± Mnie replied honestly. ¡°Which hospital is she in? Why can¡¯t | find her admission information?¡± Mr. Lincoln asked. ¡°She¡¯s been transferred from the hospital to Professor Turner¡¯s research base,¡± Mnie disclosed. ¡°With Professor Turner treating her, | feel more at ease.¡± ¡°Has Professor Turner mentioned when the Madam Jones might wake up?¡± Mr. Lincoln asked anxiously. Mnie shook her head, then asked, ¡°Is the board putting a lot of pressure on you?¡± ¡°I''m used to it.¡± Mr. Lincoln sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve been through this once before when your father passed away. Don¡¯t worry. This time, they won''t get to me, especially since Madam Jones is still alive.¡± After saying this, Mr. Lincoln looked Mnie in the eye and advised, hope it''ll be the same for you. Having gone through this once, you need to be stronger this time and take care of yourself.¡± Mnie couldn''t hold back the tears in her eyes and nodded firmly. ¡°Mr. Lincoln, you mentioned you had something to tell me?¡± she asked, trying to control her emotions. Mr. Lincoln pursed his lips and asked her, ¡°Miss Mnie, | have a question. Can you give me an honest answer?¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Mnie replied. ¡°What''s your rtionship with Jeffrey?¡± +15 BONOSText ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°| was nning to contess this to my mom, but | never found the right opportunity. The truth is, over a year ago, Jeffrey and | got secretly married... It¡¯s a long story, full of coincidences and twists of fate,¡± Mnie confessed openly. Mr. Lincoln¡¯s expression flickered, and he said, ¡°The reason doesn¡¯t matter now. | just want to know... is there genuine affection between you two?¡± Mnie was facing this question for the first time. Though there was nothing at the beginning, now... She paused for a moment and answered, ¡°Yes.¡± Mr. Lincoln picked up his coffee cup, his face showing a troubled expression. ¡°Mr. Lincoln, why are you asking this? Is what you want to tell me rted to my rtionship with Jeffrey?¡± Mnie furrowed her brow, the ominous premonition she had before her mother¡¯s ident creeping back into her mind. Mr. Lincoln hesitated momentarily before saying, ¡°l suppose you''ve already guessed half of it. Your won¡¯t feel any better if | don¡¯t say It.¡± With that, Mr. Lincoln nced at Annie sitting beside Mnie. Mnie decisively said, ¡°Mr. Lincoln, Annie is my best friend. She¡¯s like a sister to me. I''ll need her help with many investigations. You don¡¯t need to hide anything from her.¡± Mr. Lincoln nodded in agreement and continued, ¡°Madam Jones came to see you because she found out who was behind the scenes of the ident years ago... It was Morgan Group.¡± Mnie had indeed guessed it. She just didn¡¯t want to face it herself. But when Mr. Lincoln mentioned Morgan Group, she wasn¡¯t surprised at all. She realized that she had already anticipated this oue. ¡°This is the evidence Madam Jones found. Here, Miss. Take a look...¡± Mr. Lincoln opened hisptop and showed her. There were records of Judas having multiple phone calls with the Morgan family. There were also two recordings where Judas admitted that the person who paid for the hit was Morgan Group. He even confessed to meeting Madam Morgan in person. Mnie recognized Madam Morgan¡¯s voice. In the other recording, Madam Morgan assured expensive surgery fees... +15 BONOS The recordings weren''t long. Her fingers repeatedly clicked on the keyboard, ying them in a loop. No matter how unwilling she was to believe it, the conversations she heard were constantly testing her trust in Jeffrey. ¡°Mel...¡± Annie¡¯s eyes were red as she watched Mnie listen repeatedly, afraid that she might dwell on it too much. She gently shook Mnie¡¯s hand. Mnie gradually calmed down and asked, ¡°Why would Morgan Group do this?¡± If all of this was true, why would the Morgan family have to harm her father? Jones Enterprise and Morgan Group had never even worked together before! ¡°This may be because of Mr. Jones¡¯ background... I¡¯m not sure of the specifics, but back then, Madam Morgan had a close rtionship with the York family. ¡°Mr. Jones had been avoiding the York family and Morgan Group for so many years. He didn¡¯t even allow your perfumery talents or your heart surgery to be known to them. Think about it, isn¡¯t there a pattern to all of this?¡± Mr. Lincoln¡¯s words jolted Mnie awake. Chatper 463 Chapter 463 Bloodline Madam Morgan was indeed Yelena¡¯s close friend, and it was only natural that their families were close because of that. And all these years, Mnie¡¯s parents kept her in the dark. They didn¡¯t allow her to enter the world. of perfumery or tell anyone about her heart transnt surgery, all because of her connection to the York family... More precisely, it was her father¡¯s connection to the York family. Mnie remembered that Joseph had personally told her about his missing son and even probed her to see if she knew his son¡¯s birthday... And Yelena mentioned feeling a sense of familiarity when she saw her... And the York family¡¯s high regard for her. If it was because of blood ties, then everything made sense. ¡°These are just my deductions. | don¡¯t know why Madam Jones urgently came to find you. Apart from wanting to inform you of this evidence, she might also mention your lineage. ¡°But now, if you want to know about your lineage, you''ll probably need a kinship verification from the York family,¡± Mr. Lincoln said from across the table. Mnie bit her lip, the taste of blood filling her mouth. She didn¡¯t want to believe it, but she had to face it all. *My mom once said the York family¡¯s waters run deep, that they would sacrifice even kin for their own interests. They¡¯re extremely ruthless. ¡°Even if my mother wanted to tell me about my dad''s lineage, she probably wouldn¡¯t want me to return to the York family,¡± Mnie said as she clenched her fists tightly under the table. ¡°In that case, my mom¡¯s sudden ident is likely rted to these two matters. Someone didn¡¯t want her to tell me about the evidence of my father¡¯s murder, or perhaps, didn¡¯t want her to tell me about my lineage.¡± As she spoke, her voice grew colder. ¡°I''ll investigate from these two angles. Whether it¡¯s the person who wanted to harm my dad or the one who harmed my mom this time, I''ll uncover the truth!¡± ¡°Miss Mnie, your rtionship with Jeffrey...¡± Mr. Lincoln was concerned. +15 BONOS ¡°I''ll handle it,¡± Mnie replied. Mnie¡¯s eyes were clear. ¡°Whether it¡¯s sincere or false, the truth will alwayse to light.¡± ¡°Remember also to take care of your health,¡± Mr. Lincoln added. Mnie nodded. ¡°How long do you n to stay this time? Where will you stay?¡± ¡°| haven''t told anyone about my visit this time. | was afraid of idents. | still have a lot of matters to handle back in the country. Once we''re done here, I''ll leave in the afternoon,¡± Mr. Lincoln said. ¡°Then you should also be careful,¡± Mnie advised.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don''t worry, those who want to harm Madam Jones don¡¯t know that | also have this evidence in my hands. I¡¯m not in danger,¡± Mr. Lincoln reassured her, and the two looked at each other in silence. After finishing their coffee, Mr. Lincoln got into his car and headed straight to the airport. In the car, he took out his phone andposed a message. [lve met her.] Shortly after, he received a reply with just an ¡°OK¡± gesture. After watching Mr. Lincoln¡¯s car leave, Mnie turned around and hugged Annie as she closed her eyes. ¡°Mel, are you okay?¡± Annie was extremely nervous. Even she, an outsider, found it difficult to digest all this information at once. If she felt that way, what about Mnie, who was directly involved in this matter? ¡°Let me lean on you,¡± Mnie whispered. Annie felt her heart ache and held Mnie without moving a muscle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no matter what happens, I¡¯m by your side. Whether you''re facing Morgan Group, the York family, or any big viin, I¡¯ll be with you every step of the way!¡± ¡°Thank goodness | have you.¡± Mnie wanted to smile, but she found she couldn''t. She trusted Jeffrey so much. Did he know about all this? 115 BONOS Mnie drew warmth from Annie¡¯s embrace. During this time, Jeffrey called several times, but she didn¡¯t answer. After some time passed, Professor Turner also called. Annie pulled out Mnie¡¯s phone for her and asked, ¡°Do you want to answer it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Mnie brushed her hair away from her face and answered the call. ¡°Professor, I''ll be back soon.¡± ¡°| thought something happened to you. Come back quickly if you¡¯re okay!¡± After hanging up the phone, Mnie and Annie got into the car. Mnie squeezed Annie¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Annie, | need you to help me investigate those things Mr. Lincoln mentioned just now. Keep it under wraps.¡± ¡°| already knew without you saying It. I¡¯ll find the most trustworthy person to investigate,¡± Annie nodded, then asked after some thought, ¡°Do you really trust Mr. Lincoln?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the person my parents trusted the most,¡± Mnie summarized easily. Moreover, she had just witnessed the evidence with her own eyes. ¡°And what about Jeffrey?¡± Annie couldn¡¯t help but ask. Mnie lowered her gaze, thought for a moment, and remained silent. She wished he was the person she trusted the most. But now... Mnie suddenly thought of something and hurriedly said, ¡°Annie, can you have someone help me look into someone?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Judas.¡± Mnie suddenly connected all the dots. She felt like the entire thing might be a huge conspiracy. Before her mother¡¯s ident, Judas called her for help, saying that Jeffrey was sending someone to kill him. She wondered about his current situation. As they drove from the cafe towards the research base on the outskirts, Annie received a call from the private investigator. +15 BONOS With a solemn expression, she told Mnie, ¡°Judas died this morning. His ex-wife also died with him. The police have been to his house. They suspected it was murder, but they haven¡¯t found any suspects yet.¡± He was really dead... Mnie looked down at the news, and there was a shadow over her eyes. Chatper 464 Chapter 464 Leave The car arrived at the entrance of the research base. Before the door opened, Mnie saw Jeffrey standing at the base entrance, waiting for her. ¡°Annie, you go back to the room first. | have something to say to him.¡± Mnie said. ¡°Always remember, protect yourself first,¡± Annie couldn¡¯t help but advise before getting out of the car. Mnie smiled bitterly, ¡°Are you worried he''ll kill me?¡± Annie pursed her lips but didn¡¯t answer. Mnie opened the car door, got out, and walked towards Jeffrey. The sunlight pierced through the trees, casting shadows on his shoulders and enveloping his handsome face. She couldn¡¯t help but recall the first time she saw him when he was still ina wheelchair... No, the first time she saw him should have been on the bed in the Paris Hotel. He himself admitted that he came to find her back then for revenge. He wanted her and her family to pay the price. If all of this today was the result of his revenge, then he seeded... ¡°What''s wrong? Why do you look so pale?¡± Jeffrey saw her getting out of the car and walked over. He wrapped his arm around her growing waist. ¡°I saw some evidence just now,¡± she said tly. ¡°What evidence?¡± *Judas is dead. He said you wanted to kill him. And, the one who ordered him to kill my father was also from Morgan Group.¡± Her voice remained unchanged as she spoke. Her tone was mechanical, as if she were reciting lines. Jeffrey paused. ¡°Who told you that?¡± ¡°Was it you?¡± Mnie didn¡¯t answer his question, turning around to scrutinize his subtle reactions. +15 BONOS ¡°Don''t you trust me?¡± Jeffrey¡¯s brow furrowed, turbulent emotions swirling beneath his narrowed eyes. ¡°I''ll be staying with my mom here for a while. For her safety, remove the people from Morgan Group from the research base,¡± Mnie muttered. ¡°Okay,¡± Jeffrey clenched his teeth andplied with her request. ¡°And you should also move out,¡± she added. ¡°Don''t you trust me?¡± Jeffrey repeated, his tone even more serious this time. Mnie didn¡¯t look up. She didn¡¯t want to meet his eyes. ¡°You can interpret it however you want. Anyway, | don¡¯t want to take risks right now, and | dare not. So, you and your people need to move out.¡± She pressed the doorbell. Facial recognition was sessful. Soon, the gate of the research base swung open. She walked in and closed the door, locking. Jeffrey outside.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. In the ward. Eliza slept quietly. In the treatment room, Yelena was also asleep. The entire base was eerily quiet. Professor Turner arranged Yelena¡¯s medication and found Mnie outside the ward. ¡°Your mother won''t wake up so soon. You''re pregnant now. You shouldn¡¯t stand for too long.¡± Mnie nodded. *Find something you like to do to distract yourself.¡± Professor Turner genuinely cared about Mnie and was speaking more than usual. ¡°I heard on my way here that the neighboring city is hosting a perfume contest again. Why don¡¯t you try it out? It''s a two-hour round trip and won''t disrupt you from being with your mother.¡± ¡°| don¡¯t want to make perfume anymore.¡± Mnie¡¯s head was lowered, her long eyshes hiding the emotions in her eyes. Her parents kept her in the dark for over twenty years, preventing her from making perfume and from joining thepany. They had done all that to avoid the situation Mnie found herself in today. But she still pursued perfume¡ªmaking. Shepeted everywhere and gained recognition, only to +15 BONOS She really didn¡¯t want to make perfume anymore. Even if she did, the fragrance would probably be bitter. ¡°You don¡¯t want to make perfume anymore? Then, what do you want to do?¡± Professor Turner asked with concern. Mnie raised her head and responded, ¡°I can studypany management and learn medicine from you.¡± ¡°You want to study medicine?¡± Professor Turner looked at her in surprise. ¡°I still remember your astonishing talent for medicine when you were young. Back then, your grandfather wanted to teach you. But you said learning medicine meant carrying a basket up the mountain to gather herbs, and it wasn¡¯t fun at all¡± The light in Mnie¡¯s eyes dimmed slightly. *Studying medicine isn¡¯t just about gathering herbs on the mountain. It¡¯s about healing and saving lives. As you grow up, what matters more than whether it¡¯s fun is whether it''s useful.¡± God knows when she found out her mother might never wake up again, seeing Professor Turner by her side and knowing he had reliable medical skills gave her so much psychological support. If she could, she would also like to bring this sense of security to more people in need. ¡°Compassion is the ultimate ideal of studying medicine and the most ordinary belief.¡± Mnie said. Professor Turner nodded with a sigh. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. I''ll teach you everything I¡¯ve researched about integrating traditional and modern medicine. | never thought I¡¯d live to this age and still have someone to pass my knowledge on!¡± Chatper 465 Chapter 465 First House Call Two monthster, Yelena¡¯s treatment gradually showed results. She returned to the York family every half month. There were new developments each time she went back, especially since she could now speak simple words. The York family dared not question Professor Turner¡¯s arrangements anymore. Eliza still slept deeply. Her vital signs were normal, but she never woke up. Mnie¡¯s medical studies also progressed well. With a background in traditional medicine since childhood, Mnie found it effortless to learn from Professor Turner, who started with traditional medicine. However, she struggled a bit with deciphering his handwritten medical notes...From N?velDrama.Org. side every day. For the past two months, Annie had been by Mnie¡¯s side every Her belly slowly grewrger, and she needed someone to take care of her at all times. Professor Turner found a reliable nanny to take care of her daily necessities. On this day. Mnie was discussing medical cases with Professor Turner when Annie hurriedly pushed open the door. She apologized and said, ¡°Sorry, | didn¡¯t know the professor was here. You two carry on.¡± ¡°Did you find something?¡± Mnie asked without much thought. For the past two months, Annie had been helping her with the investigations. Annie nced at Professor Turner, who was sittingfortably on the sofa. He patted his pants and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m not one for gossip. I''ll leave you two to it.¡± With that, he opened the door and left. Annie then told Mnie what the private detective had found. ¡°We haven''t gotten much about the York family yet, but there might be a problem with the evidence Mr. Lincoln showed you.¡± Annie pointed to herputer. It was aparison of data the private detective had done. ¡°Mr. Lincoln gave you two recordings to listen to the other day, right? The one with Judas was authentic, but there are issues with recording his conversation with Madam Morgan. The private detective spent a lot of time analyzing it.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°Was it fabricated?¡± Mnie¡¯s heart raced. Annie nodded. ¡°It¡¯s highly sophisticated synthetic technology. The private detective almost got fooled. So, it''s crucial to find out where the forged evidence came from. Did someone intentionally deceive your mom and Mr. Lincoln, or did Mr. Lincoln intentionally mislead you?¡± Mnie¡¯s longshes fluttered. Since she was a child, Mr. Lincoln had been her father¡¯s business partner. He was her father¡¯s most trusted subordinate. In the years after her father¡¯s death, the group¡¯s sess was owed much to Mr. Lincoln¡¯s silent contributions. He had selflessly helped Eliza behind the scenes. Without him, Eliza wouldn¡¯t have been able to cope alone. She might even have been pushed off the stage by Mnie¡¯s ambitious third uncle. Daniel Jones. Mnie didn¡¯t want to doubt Mr. Lincoln. But she had to investigate. ¡°Annie, you¡¯re more rational in analyzing issues now than | am,¡± Mnie said with a sincere smile. ¡°I''m growing up too,¡± Annie blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed. ¡°I can¡¯t let you worry about everything. I¡¯m afraid you''ll get tired, and it pains me to see that.¡± ¡°Also, there¡¯s something suspicious about Judas¡¯s death. The private detective said Jeffrey has been sending people to investigate. | also think it wasn¡¯t Morgan Group''s doing. Annie continued her analysis, ¡°If Jeffrey can put on an act in front of you while exacting revenge. elsewhere, then he deserves an Oscar for his performance.¡± Mnie felt a pang of emptiness in her heart. It had been over two months since she hadst seen him. Mnie paused and said to Annie, ¡°Now that the suspicion on Morgan Group is decreasing, you might consider answering a call from Mr. Moore.¡± Although Annie didn¡¯t mention it, Mnie had noticed several times that William had called her, and Annie hesitated before hanging up. Since Mnie had driven Jeffrey out of the base, Annie hadn''t contacted William again. They had just started their rtionship, and it was the most passionate time. It was really hard for them... ¡°You''re still being considerate of me.¡± Annie shook her head with a pout. ¡°You drove President Morgan away, and he must be having a hard time these days.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°We haven''t rified Judas¡¯s death yet. Moreover, my mother specifically told me to stay away from Morgan Group, so there¡¯s still some suspicion on them.¡± Mnie became cautious. ¡°But regardless of whether Morgan Group is suspicious or not, William is innocent. He has only known Jeffrey for a few years and didn¡¯t know what happened back then.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Annie waved her hand, pretending to be indifferent. ¡°A frog with two legs is hard to find, but men with two legs are everywhere. If Morgan Group really did something wrong to you, | won''t spare them!¡± Just then, someone knocked on the door. Before Mnie could respond, Professor Turner pushed the door open and entered. ¡°Are you done talking?¡± he asked directly. ¡°Yes.¡± Mnie nodded. ¡°| don¡¯t need the details. | just want to know one thing. Has that boy been cleared of suspicion?¡± Professor Turner asked bluntly. Mnie lowered her head and remained silent. Annie spoke up for her. ¡°He¡¯s about seventy to eighty percent cleared.¡± ¡°Alright, | get the picture.¡± Professor Turner said, then turned and left with his hands behind his back. After lunch, Professor Turner packed up the medical kit and said to Mnie, ¡°You''ve been studying for over two months. It¡¯s time to put your skills to the test. Today, I¡¯m taking you on a house call!¡± ¡°Who are we going to see?¡± Mnie asked in surprise. ¡°A good doctor doesn¡¯t ask for the patient¡¯s name. You''ll find out when we get there,¡± Professor Turner replied, taking the medicine kit Mnie intended to carry and leading the way. Chatper 466 Chapter 466 A Condition of the Heart ¡°Professor, let me.¡± Mnie stepped forward and grabbed the first-aid kit, but Professor Turner insisted against it. ¡°You''re heavily pregnant now. Although I¡¯m made of old bones, I¡¯m still perfectly capable of carrying something like this.¡± Mnie smiled as she put on a white doctor¡¯s robe and followed him out of the door. ¡°What is that patient¡¯s condition? Is it severe?¡± Mnie asked worriedly when they were in the car. ¡°It''s not minor,¡± the professor replied without looking up. That made Mnie even more nervous. She intertwined her fingers. ¡°Professor, I¡¯ve never dealt with a real patient before. You''ll have to keep a close watch and make sure treatment is not dyed for the patient.¡± ¡°Why so little confidence in yourself?¡± Professor Turner looked at her with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. you''ll be able to treat this condition with ease!¡± Mnie heaved a sigh of relief, hoping that what Professor Turner said was true. After driving for less than 20 minutes, the car stopped in a hotel car park. Professor Turner led her into an elevator that brought them up to the top floor, where they entered the presidential suite. Mnie blinked as she brisk¡ªwalked to catch up with Professor Turner, who was ahead of her. Professor, we really can¡¯t afford to offend anyone who stays in a presidential suite. You''ll have to give me a hint when | diagnose himter.¡± Professor Turner turned around and looked at Mnie curiously. ¡°Youte worried about offending rich people?¡± At the bedroom door, the person who brought them in entered the bedroom to report on their arrival. ¡°President, Professor Turner is here to see you.¡± ¡°| said there¡¯s no need to!¡± Mnie froze mid-stride outside the door the moment she heard the voice from inside. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t need him? You better not regret it if | shoo him away!¡± Professor Turner ignored what the person inside said, and walked in haughtily with his hands behind his bag. He ced his medicine case on the table, looking displeased as he turned to say The atmosphere was tense *15 BOHOS Realization dawned upon Jeffrey as he looked at the door and saw a woman tying her hair up and buttoning her jacket. His heart, that had been lifeless for over two months, was suddenly injected with new energy. Professor Turner turned around and stared at Mnie. She knew he had this all nned out. Although she was caught off guard, she couldn¡¯t back out now. That wasn¡¯t how she did things. After confirming that her jacket was buttoned up properly, she walked over while keeping her gaze low. Jeffrey had already stood up and was waiting solemnly, like a knight on a parade. He looked at her walk into his room with her eyes looking down and her slightly swollen belly. He could see it clearly despite her deliberate attempt at covering her belly up with an oversized jacket. That was their child in her stomach. He missed her so terribly! But if not seeing him made her feel better and kept her in good spirits and health, he could hold himself back from disturbing her peace. Within that one nce in her direction, so many emotions rolled in his heart. ¡°What are you thinking about?!¡± Professor Turner looked displeased at Jeffrey, who was spacing out, and pointed at the chair next to him. ¡°Sit down and sit up straight!¡± Jeffrey nodded and did as he was told. He didn¡¯t utter a single word of opposition before the quiet woman in front of him and sat down. obediently, keeping his spine stiff. He looked on as Mnie sat down opposite him, her belly looking even rounder and more swollen when she sat. The sight made his heart Itch so badly! ¡°Where do you feel unwell?¡± Mnie kept her gaze low as she pulled out her stethoscope and ced the chest piece on Jeffrey''s chest. The moment he felt his hand draw near, he felt his throat constrict and his heart pound faster. +15 BONOS He swallowed the rest of his sentence, unable to say anything further. This was the first time he allowed a doctor to diagnose him, and she turned out to be the doctor! In fact, the moment his gazended on her, all his difort had vanished. ¡°Mrs. Morgan, President Morgan has been experiencing an irregr heartbeat, dizzy spells and great difort as ofte,¡± William replied on Jeffrey¡¯s behalf. Mnie stubbornly kept her gaze low, but she had already picked up on his irregr heartbeat through the stethoscope. ¡°Premature ventricr contractions aremonly seen. Mood swings, pressures faced, and unhealthy living habits are all factors that can contribute to this condition.¡± ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Jeffrey went on to ask, ¡°What medicine should | be taking?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t die just yet,¡± Mnie said coldly and curtly. ¡°If you don¡¯t feel assured, you can go to the hospital and get hooked up to a 24-hour Holter monitor.¡± over 4 ¡°The president is like this because he hasn''t been eating and sleeping much past few days,¡± William chimed in, wishing he could convey how much Jeffrey missed her using the least amount of words possible. Mnie sneered as she pulled her hand back. ¡°There''s no end to earning money, but you only have one life. Treasure it!¡± With that, she stood up. Jeffrey instinctively lifted his hand to grab her, but she dodged it agilely. picked up the medicine case, and turned around to leave.From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°ll send you out.¡± Jeffrey chased after her and grabbed the medicine case from her. The sight of her swollen belly made his hand itch to touch her! Chatper 467 Chapter 467 Huge Belly Mnie was carrying their child! +15 BONOS Jeffrey thought with clenched fists, and he suppressed the urge to caress Mnie¡¯s belly. Mnie seized the chance while he was spacing out to snatch her medicine case back. She put the strap on her shoulders before opening the door. Professor Turner was waiting outside the door. When he saw them, he asked in shock, ¡°Done so fast?¡± ¡°Yes. Why don¡¯t you prescribe me some medicine?¡± Jeffrey bowed his head to look at the woman before him, who was still looking downward, and fought for more time with her. ¡°| can¡¯t treat this condition of yours. You¡¯d better consult another doctor,¡± Mnie said. She left without even looking back. ¡°Is that so? | thought you¡¯re the only one who can cure him of this condition,¡± Professor Turner chimed in. Mnie red at him. He pursed his lips, no longer daring to speak up for Jeffrey. He put his hands behind his back, and walked out with Mnie. They left the hotel and got into the car. Mnie looked sullen in the car. Professor Turner remained silent. ¡°Sigh!¡± He ended up being the first to admit his mistake. ¡°That Jeffrey couldn''t eat and sleep, and kept asking me about you over the past few days. He¡¯s on the verge of being proven innocent, isn¡¯t he? That¡¯s why | arranged for this meeting, for fear he might die if this were to go on...¡± ¡°He¡¯s not yet proven innocent, is he?¡± Mnie counter¡ªquestioned. Professor Turner sighed again. ¡°He¡¯s young and fit. | won¡¯t feel the pinch if he goes hungry or falls sick, but don¡¯t you miss him too? Don¡¯t think that | can¡¯t tell just because you''re being stubborn. You deliberately spend all your time reading my notes because you''re afraid of receiving his calls and hearing any news about Morgan Group. I¡¯m worried about you!¡± Chapter 467 Huge Belly Mnie was carrying their child! Jeffrey thought with clenched fists, and he suppressed the urge to caress Mnie¡¯s Belly Mnie seized the chance while he was spacing out to snatch her medicine case back She sut the strap on her shoulders before opening the door. Professor Turner was waiting outside the door. When he saw them, he asked in shock, Done so fast?¡± ¡°Yes. Why don¡¯t you prescribe me some medicine?¡± Jeffrey bowed his head to look at the woman before him, who was still looking downward, and fought for more time with her. ¡°| can¡¯t treat this condition of yours. You¡¯d better consult another doctor,¡± Mnie said. She left without even looking back. ¡°Is that so? | thought you''re the only one who can cure him of this condition,¡± Professor Tumer chimed in. Mnie red at him. He pursed his lips, no longer daring to speak up for Jeffrey. He put his hands behind his back, and walked out with Mnie. They left the hotel and got into the car. Mnie looked sullen in the car. Professor Turner remained silent. ¡°Sigh!¡± He ended up being the first to admit his mistake. ¡°That Jeffrey couldn¡¯t eat and sleep, and kept asking me about you over the past few days. He¡¯s on the verge of being proven innocent, isn¡¯t he? That¡¯s why | arranged for this meeting, for fear be might die if this were to go on...¡± ¡°He¡¯s not yet proven innocent, is he?¡± Mnie counter¡ªquestioned. Professor Turner sighed again. ¡°He¡¯s young and fit. | won¡¯t feel the pinch if he goes hungry or falls sick, but don¡¯t you miss him too? Don¡¯t think that | can¡¯t tell just because you''re being stubborn. You deliberately spend all your time reading my notes because you''re afraid of receiving his calls and hearing any news about Morgan Group. I¡¯m worried about you!¡± +15 BONOS ¡°I''m fine.¡± Mnie shut her eyes, refusing to say more. ¡°Fine? You''re not gaining any weight except for your growing belly. You yourself can¡¯t sleep well when no one¡¯s around, either,¡± Professor Turner said, providing her with some evidence.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°| can¡¯t sleep because of hormonal changes, on top of being worried about my mom¡¯s condition,¡± Mnie said stubbornly. Professor Turner scoffed, leaving Mnie be. Before their car arrived at the base, Annie called Mnie and asked anxiously, ¡°Mnie, where are you?¡± ¡°Professor Turner and | are almost reaching the base. What happened?¡± The first thought that came to Mnie¡¯s mind was that something had happened to her mother, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious as well. ¡°Don¡¯te over just yet!¡± Annie swiftly updated Mnie, ¡°The Yorks came by just now, inviting Ms. York and you to the York estate. The thing is, they emphasized that you must go back too. This must be a trap!¡± Mnie looked down on herp. The Yorks requested for Yelena to go back home every now and then so that they could make sure that she was safe. Over the past two months, Yelena had been going home every half a month before returning to the base to continue with her treatment. Mnie apanied Yelena only on her first time back at the York estate. She did not do so the next two times as her stomach was showing, and she didn¡¯t want her pregnancy to be exposed. ¡°Just say that the Professor and | are out for consultations,¡± Mnie suggested. ¡°| said that, but they insisted on leaving only after you''re back.¡± ¡°Is this Joseph York¡¯s idea, or someone else¡¯s?¡± Mnie asked with furrowed brows. ¡°| think it¡¯s not his intent, otherwise the butler woulde in person. As for the man who¡¯s here.. | remember seeing him by Harlow¡¯s side,¡± Annie said. Harlow? Mnie pondered for a moment. ¡°We won''t go back for now. Try to hold them back. If they still refuse to leave after two hours, I''ll give the Yorks a call.¡± +15 BONOS After Annie agreed to it. Mnte hung up and Informed Professor Turner about the situation. The driver immediately made a U- turn at the junction right head and returned to Jeffrey''s hotel which was nearby, ording to the professor¡¯s instructions, ¡°Why are we going to his hotel?¡± Mnie sald with tightly knitted brows. ¡°Since the Yorks havee prepared, you should only have one house call duty,¡± Professor Turner sald with a half-smile. Left with no choice, Mnie had to knock on Jeffrey¡¯s door once more with her medicine case. ¡°The Yorks came knocking on her door, Insisting on seeing her. We have no choice but to hide at your ce!¡± Professor Turner sald unceremoniously. With that, he stretched out his stiff limbs, put his hands behind his back and looked around. ¡°I¡¯m tired. How many bedrooms does this sulte have? | need a nap!¡± ¡°Professor, this way please.¡± William responded while bringing away everyone else in the room. Jeffrey stood at the door in pleasant surprise, looking at Mnie like a gift he lost. A joyful glint shed past his eyes, so bright it sent shivers down Mnle¡¯s spine. Back at the research base, the Yorks had been waiting at the door for over an hour. Upon seeing no signs of Mnie and Professor Turner''s return, they were left with no choice but to call Harlow to report to him about the situation. ¡°Mr. York, Mnie Jones is not back yet. Ms. York is getting frustrated waiting for her. Should we send her back home first?¡± ¡°Continue waiting!¡± Harlow instructed stubbornly, ¡°I''ve sent someone over to fetch my aunt. None of you are allowed to leave that ce, and don¡¯te back until you get Mnie!¡± After Harlow hung up, his subordinate standing behind him asked, puzzled, ¡°Mr. York, why are you Insisting on seeing Mnie?¡± ¡°Just look at the photos you gave me yesterday. What is this?¡± Harlow pointed at a blurry photo of Mnie and Yelena, shot secretly outside the base by his subordinate. ¡°Would a normal woman have such a huge belly?¡± Harlow said darkly as his eyes narrowed. Chatper 468 Chapter 468 No Descendants Harlow¡¯s subordinate looked at where he was pointing at. In the photo, Mnie and Yelena had just stood up from the bench in the garden and were turning to walk back to the base. In the subsequent photos that were shot, Mnie¡¯s Jacket did little to cover up her swollen belly. Her belly was growing fast. ¡°Is it Jeffrey Morgan¡¯s child?¡± his subordinate asked in surprise. In his memory, Mnie always had a slender figure. That was why when he first got the photos, he didn¡¯t even consider the possibility of her being pregnant. He simply thought that her clothes were overly-sized, and it was an issue of the camera angle and the wind puffing her dress up. Now that he took a second look, it didn¡¯t look like an issue of the camera angle at all. ¡°Who cares whose child it is!¡± Harlow flung the stack of photos on the coffee table. ¡°If it really is Jeffrey Morgan¡¯s child, I''ll expose this secret and let Morgan Group continue being unstable! If it isn¡¯t Jeffrey Morgan¡¯s hmph! That''d be even more exciting! How dare she reject me in front of everyone. Now, everyone will know that she didn¡¯t really want to reject me, and that she¡¯s pregnant with a bastard¡¯s child! Why would she dare ept my proposal?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. York. That way, no one would dare gossip about you behind your back,¡± his subordinate chimed in eagerly. On the other end, one of Nathan¡¯s men received news and hurriedly updated him about it. ¡°Mr. Quinn, you''re simply brilliant! You knew Harlow would make a move the moment he saw those photos. He sent someone to force Mnie to make an appearance. Do you think she''ll go back to the York estate with Yelena?¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Harlow York is a fool only concerned with getting his revenge over the fact that Mnie rejected him and embarrassed him in front of everyone. But given how spiteful he is, he might just seed in forcing Mnie out to the surface. That would save us some time and effort.¡± Nathan sneered. ¡°Mnie revealed Clement¡¯s address to Jeffrey, and Clement ended up dying right there and then. Jeffrey subsequently got Eliza''s flight details, and she ended up half¡ªdead. As long as we put in ce another ident, Jeffrey would definitely look guilty to Mnie. He''d have no chance of +15 BONOS ¡°Sounds like a great n, Mr. Quinn!¡± his subordinate sald, Impressed. ¡°What does the one we''re working with think?¡± ¡°He¡¯s even more vicious than | am. He wants to see this through to the end.¡± Nathan took a deep breath. ¡°Things are chaotic enough in the York family. Yelena is back with two children out of nowhere in tow. At this time, no matter whose child It Is In Mnie¡¯s womb, It¡¯s ultimately still her child. Would he be able to take it if Mnie were to carry another child of the York family? He''d wish the Yorks would have no descendants whatsoever!¡± ¡°Did you agree to help him remove all potential problems?¡± his subordinate asked cautiously. ¡°I''m still thinking about it. But if he offers me a good price, | have no reason to reject him. After all, | have many mouths to feed in Tempest,¡± Nathan smiled wickedly, his eyes shing. In the presidential suite of the hotel near the research base... Jeffrey took Mnie''s medicine case from her. He wanted to hold her steady, but she moved her arm away and avoided his touch. Instead, she walked over to the couch and sat on it. She felt exhausted and slightly hungry from the journey back and forth, and couldn¡¯t help but caress her round belly. Every morning at around this time, the servants would prepare some snacks such as nuts and fruits before it was time for lunch. ¡°Does your stomach hurt?¡± Jeffrey noticed her caressing her stomach, and tensed up immediately. Mnie ignored his question. Looking around the living room of the suite, she noticed theptop that Jeffrey always used and a thick stack of documents on the table. ¡°Are you working here?¡± ¡°Yes, | am.¡± ¡°Then I''ll go to the bedroom to rest.¡± She held herself up with one arm, and stood up. Jeffrey finally managed to seize the chance to hold her, but received a disdainful look from her. ¡°lll leave the moment the Yorks leave the base,¡± she said. ¡°Slow down.¡± Jeffrey focused on holding her steady, wishing that she would never leave. He helped her onto the bed, and left only after covering her with the sheets and making sure she 15 BONOS Mnie took out her phone and scrolled through it, wanting to rx for a while, when her door opened again, Jettrey brought in a te of fruits and snacks, and ced it nimbly on the bedside. table by her feet. ¡°Eat some.¡± She was hungry, so she picked up a fork and began eating some fruits. He reminded her. ¡°I just took the yogurt out from the fridge, and it¡¯s still very cold. Have it a while.ter.¡± Mnie looked up, as if saying that she knew and that he could leave now. Jeffrey stood there unmoving, and said, ¡°I¡¯m tired too, and | need some rest. Didn¡¯t you say that there¡¯s no end to earning money and that | only have one life?¡± He deliberately used her words against her. She pursed her lips. ¡°I''m sure there are more than two bedrooms in this presidential suite. If you like this one, I''ll shift. to another bedroom.¡± The corner of Jeffrey¡¯s lips curled as he tried to hide his slyness. ¡°I didn¡¯t bother about the features of this presidential suite in favor of its proximity to the base. Unfortunately, it only has two bedrooms.¡± Mnie found herself silenced. She swallowed the piece of kiwi she was chewing, then pulled the sheets away. ¡°You can have the bed. I''ll sleep on the couch.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jeffrey stretched his arm out, wanting to stop her. Out of panic, he identally knocked the te of fruits over. The juices on the te sttered onto her belly. Both of them started hectically picking up the fruits on the floor. Amidst the chaos, he grabbed her arm with one hand and ced his other hand on her round belly Chatper 469 Chapter 469 Be Gentle To Ladies The moment Jeffrey¡¯s handnded on Mnie¡¯s belly, they felt a strong kick from the fetus, It was as if the fetus, that wasn¡¯t yet six months old in the stomach, knew the touch of his father and was jumping and dancing for joy in his mother¡¯s womb, Mnie and Jeffrey looked into each other¡¯s eyes. She noticed him swallowing hard and the tears glistening in his eyes.. ¡°He¡¯s kicking me.¡± Jeffrey said hoarsely. In a voice soaked with happiness. Mnie felt her heart going soft at that moment. She thought it was the sweetest thing she heard, filled with the love a father had for his child. She couldn''t bear to push his hand away, and allowed him to greedily caress her belly. The fetus in her womb continued kicking away happily as Jeffrey moved his hand to wherever the fetus was kicking, and the father¡ªchild pair continued interacting with each other. Suddenly, the baby kicked Mnie hard. Mnie couldn''t help but wince. ¡°Ouch!¡± Jeffrey immediately pulled his hand back. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Mnie nodded. ¡°Child, be gentle todies. Mommy¡¯s hurting. Let¡¯s not y so rough anymore.¡± Jeffrey reached out once again to caress the sharpest point on her belly. Astonishingly, the baby in Mnie¡¯s belly stopped kicking. ¡°It¡¯s been tough on you.¡± Jeffrey''s hand felt warm as he caressed Mnie¡¯s belly with one and her cheek with another. His words were genuine and filled with emotions; indignation swelled in her chest as tears welled up in her eyes. The sight of her glistening tears in her eyes made Jeffrey kiss her tender lips; he could no longer hold himself back. Her efforts to resist him were futile, and she let his passion warm her heart as she slowly started to respond tenderly to him. It had been two months. This was their longest period apart since they knew each other. +15 BONOS He would always find various reasons and opportunities to appear by her side, and she had long gotten used to it. If it weren¡¯t for those convoluted and almost iprehensible medical notes. she would have had no way of suppressing the urge to think of him. Every kiss and every gentle move he made told her that he missed her wildly, even more so than she did him. After the kiss ended, Mnie quietly leaned into his embrace. She was at peace inside amidst the silence. Jeffrey kept his hand on her belly, fully enjoying the moment as he caressed her belly gently. greedily. Suddenly, he looked down and took a good look, as if realizing something. ¡°The baby seems to have grown. Is It because he had his fill just now? Mnie burst outughing, then rolled her eyes at Jeffrey. ¡°He¡¯s absorbing nutrients from my body through the umbilical cord. President Morgan, being overly¡ªconfident is no different from being conceited.¡± ¡°| meant he had his fill from absorbing nutrients from your belly. What else did you think | meant?¡± Jeffrey smiled slyly. ¡°You grew quite a sharp¡ªtongue over the few days | haven''t seen you,¡± she chided jokingly. ¡°A few days?! It¡¯s been 67 days...¡± Jeffrey¡¯s voice mellowed as he said broodingly. His lips drew uncontrobly nearer to her, and his hand that was caressing her belly started moving down. She quickly pressed down on his roving hands, and warned, ¡°He¡¯s full enough. He''ll get indigestion if he eats more.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jeffrey swallowed hard and pursed his lips before setting his mind on stopping himself. ¡°Take a rest. I''ll go take a bath.¡± He needed to put out the fire inside him.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Mnie pursed her lips and held back herughter as she saw Jeffrey out of the room. Ten minutester, he came out of the washroom while drying his hair with a towel. He stood at the foot of her bed and looked at her while asking, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± +15 BONOS ¡°Did you already know about my birth?¡± she asked. Jeffrey put the towel aside, and sat down. ¡°The first time you came to Medonia to attend the Angle family¡¯s centennial celebration, Grandma hinted to me to protect you. | had a vague idea at that point.¡± ¡°Grandma knows about it too?¡± Mnie asked In shock. ¡°ording to what | know from Grandma, she used to know your grandmother, Mom sought her help so you could get close to the Yorks,¡± Jeffrey exined. ¡°Is Grandma Yelena York''s best friend, or my grandmother¡¯s best friend?¡± ¡°I''ve never asked her in detail. You can ask her yourself the next time you see her.¡± Jeffrey said. Mnie nodded before asking another question. ¡°What else do you know?¡± ¡°The first time you came, the Yorks sent someone to do a DNA test with you. | ruined the results. But the Yorks probably did this more than once. | couldn¡¯t help but wonder. If they''ve confirmed. your identity, they''d probably ask you toe home. All the more they wouldn''t allow Leo to get close to you. You''re siblings, after all.¡± Jeffrey said. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you know so much?¡± Mnie asked with her brows furrowed. ¡°| wanted to tell you more than once.¡± Jeffrey said with pursed lips. ¡°But Mom hid this from you for so many years, and even secretly told Grandma not to tell you about it. | thought | didn¡¯t have the right to reveal the secret of my own ord. It was another way of protecting you.¡± Mnie looked down, and nodded after thinking things through. After a while, she looked up and asked, ¡°Is my father a member of the Yorks? If so, why didn¡¯t the DNA test pick up on that?¡± Jeffrey reached out and lovingly smoothed out the creases on her shirt. ¡°What are you trying to do now?¡± Mnie asked in surprise. Chatper 470 Chapter 470 Troublesome Patient The sight of the woman before him looking like a deer caught in headlights made Jeffery smirk.¡± Am | that scary?¡± ¡°What do you think? Hooligan,¡± Mnie chided him, and quickly buttoned up her cor. ¡°| just want to tell you that your suspicions might have something to do with this birthmark,¡± Jeffrey gently poked the birthmark behind the shoulder through her shirt. ¡°You mean...¡± ¡°I''ve asked the professor. He said there might be some kind of advanced gene technology imnted in your birthmark, resulting in gene mutation. That is why the DNA test was unable to pick things up.¡± ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± ¡°The professor wanted to conduct some tests on you, but you became pregnant and have to avoid radiographic testing.¡± Jeffrey exined. Mnie nodded. ¡°I''ll do the tests in a few months.¡± ¡°This kid will be out in a few months¡® time.¡± Jeffrey said with a smile. He couldn''t help but reach out to caress her belly. Two hours passed, and Mnie gave Annie a call. Annie said that the Yorks brought Yelena back first, but Harlow¡¯s men were still at the base, looking ready to wait for her to their deaths. ¡°I''ll find a way out of this.¡± Mnie said before hanging up. She pondered for a moment before calling Leo. After exchanging pleasantries, she asked Leo, ¡°Is there something important happening today? Why must | go over to your ce? | have consultation duties outside, and will only return to the professor''s research base veryte.¡± ¡°It''s nothing important, really. My grandfather kept grumbling about you not visiting him for a long time,¡± Leo said. He paused for a moment before asking. ¡°What kind of patient are you seeing? Is his condition veryplicated?¡± ¡°His condition isn¡¯t exactlyplicated, but he¡¯s a man of a special status, which makes things more troublesome,¡± Mnie said in a deliberately vague manner. +15 BONOS Even if she didn¡¯t tell him the truth, the Yorks had the ability to find out that she went to see Jeffrey today. ¡°I''ll need to trouble you to pass the message to Mr. Joseph that I''ll find him another day. | really can¡¯t make it today,¡± Mnie added. ¡°Alright, then. It¡¯s my aunt''s birthday the day after tomorrow. My grandfather said it¡¯s been many years since we celebrated her birthday, and he wants to give her an amazing time. Please attend. It''ll be a chance for us to chat about promoting your fragrances,¡± Leo seized the chance toThis text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. suggest. Mnie pursed her lips. It would''ve been easier if it were other people, but she had no reason to reject attending Yelena¡¯s birthday banquet. If she rejected the invitation, it might raise suspicions. ¡°Sure,¡± she said, having no choice but to agree. ¡°In that case, Leo, please help take your men away and not make things difficult for the staff members at the research base.¡± ¡°Sure, I''ll inform them right away.¡± Leo agreed. After hanging up, Mnie pondered about it and said, ¡°Seems like it¡¯s inevitable for me to visit the Yorks.¡± ¡°| can arrange some made-up schedule over the next few days to avoid the Yorks¡® spies.¡± Jeffrey suggested. Mnie considered his suggestion before shaking her head. ¡°No. The Yorks already suspect me. | might be able to dodge this time, but there''ll be a next time. By then, my stomach will get even bigger and harder to conceal.¡± ¡°I''ll immediately get someone to find a gown that can help hide that,¡± Jeffrey said, pointing at her round stomach. Mnie nodded in agreement. Just then, Professor Turner¡¯s anxious voice sounded through the door. ¡°Jeffrey, is there food here?¡± Mnie and Jeffrey exchanged smiling nces as he helped her down the door. He opened the door, and said to Professor Turner, ¡°Wait for us in the living room. Dinner will be served in a jiffy.¡± Professor Turner nced in displeasure at the couple standing at the door, and grumbled, ¡°You two might not be hungry, but I¡¯m dying of hunger! You two have no respect for the elderly.¡± ¡°We''re hungry too.¡± Jeffrey said. ¡°Are you sure? Didn¡¯t you two just eat? There are food stains everywhere!¡± Professor Turner said, +15 BONOS His words made them look down and realize that theypletely neglected their appearances with the fruit stains still on their shirts red stains of watermelons, green stains of kiwi, yellow stains of oranges. Mnie blushed. Their white shirts were stained the colors of the rainbow. It left little to the imagination as to what happened in the room just now¡¯ ¡°I''ll go wash up.¡± Mnie said as she hurriedly turned to leave.. Jeffrey, who was behind her, caught up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s wash up together. Chatper 471 Chapter 471 Beautiful Handwriting William swiftly had dinner served in the living room. Professor Turner was already seated. He made no secret about it as he asked Jeffrey and Mnie, who had just entered the living room, ¡°Done washing up?¡± Mnie¡¯s face turned a bright red. Professor Turner¡¯s suggestive choice of words embarrassed her thoroughly. ¡°What are you doing just standing there? Come over for dinner, quick!¡± Professor Turner urged. Mnie looked down, not wanting to have dinner in such an awkward atmosphere. ¡°I¡¯m still not hungry. You two go ahead.¡± ¡°If it weren''t for your pregnancy, | wouldn¡¯t have needed to apany you for your regr meals. | wouldn¡¯t have gotten hungry so easily,¡± Professor Turner said, displeased. ¡°Just ask him: who would dare to rush me to eat when | was busy?¡± Jeffrey said with a smile, ¡°He¡¯s not exaggerating. Professor never called anyone to eat. He himself didn¡¯t have regr meals.¡± ¡°Quick, eat it while it¡¯s hot.¡± Professor Turner saw how embarrassed Mnie still was, and helped by changing the subject.¡± You''ve improved by leaps and bounds in just two short months. I¡¯m very d to see that!¡± Mnie walked over slowly to her seat and sat down, with Jeffrey''s help to steady her. Silence fell upon the three of them as they started eating. Professor Turner was the first to have his fill, and he slowed down his pace as he surveyed the couple seated before him.. He asked, ¡°Why are you two not talking?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about,¡± Mnie said. ¡°Fine, that¡¯s all right. It''s better than missing each other to death.¡± Professor Turner said wisely. ¡°Cough...¡± Jeffrey choked on his food as he turned his head sharply to the woman seated next to him. Did that mean she missed him very much during this period as well? Upon seeing Mnie look down and deliberately avoiding his gaze, Jeffrey spooned some food. +15 BONOS ¡°Eat more. It¡¯s very strenuous reading through those convoluted and nearly Iprehensible medical notes of Professor Turner''s.¡± ¡°How do you know they¡¯re convoluted and iprehensible?¡± Professor Turner asked. ¡°Mnie told me that your medical notes.¡± Jeffrey said slowly as he nced at Mnie. She once told him that she would learn medicine from Professor Turner over her dead body. His handwriting was too ugly, and certainly didn¡¯t look like It came from a person! Mnie immediately cut Jeffrey off before he blurted out her true thoughts, and said, ¡°I said your medical notes are mysterious and show how highly-skilled you are.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± Jeffrey smirked. He had never seen a woman as articte and eloquent as her! However, Professor Turner seemed to have picked up something from their conversation. He put down his spoon, and asked, ¡°How is my handwriting, then?¡± ¡°Brilliant!¡± Mnie was filled with praises for him. ¡°Professor Turner, your handwriting is sharp and strong, and you''re just like it...¡± Professor Turner couldn¡¯t stand her praises, and lifted his hand to cut her off. ¡°I am as unpredictable and capricious as my handwriting. | know.¡± Mnie held back herughter, and kept silent. Jeffrey couldn''t bring himself tough. He nced at Mnie and asked, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to really learn medicine.¡± ¡°Medical skills are used to save lives. Concocting fragrances is just the icing on top. What''s more, | can¡¯t concoct fragrances that can make people happy right now,¡± Mnie said as she tried to hide the darkness in her eyes. Jeffrey, however, noticed the subtle changes in her eyes. His heart ached badly for her. Over the past 67 days, he bugged the professor daily about Mnie and her mother¡¯s condition. He knew Mnie¡¯s mood would only improve when her mother¡¯s condition improved. It was gettingte by the time they were done with dinner, and Professor Turner was ready to return to his base. Mnie wanted to follow him, but Jeffrey couldn¡¯t bear to see her leave. ¡°I''m heading back to see my mom,¡± Mnie insisted. Jeffrey had no choice but to say, ¡°I''ll go see you tomorrow, then,¡± #15 BGNOS ¡°No need. I¡¯m busy studying every day and have no time to entertain you.¡± Mnie said, rejecting him. Jeffrey sighed as he turned to look at Professor Turner in hopes of finding support. ¡°I can go visit the professor.¡± ¡°Cough! I¡¯m very busy during this period. Don¡¯t bother visiting me if nothing is up.¡± Professor Turner said coldly.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Jeffrey''s face turned dark with displeasure. Chatper 472 Chapter 472 President Morgan¡¯s Aesthetics ¡°Come and check up on me a few more times,¡± Jeffrey said, still trying his luck. ¡°Is your condition that severe?¡± Mnie said as she nced at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you know best whether my condition is severe or not?¡± Jeffrey said in half-seriousness. Mnie rolled her eyes. The only thing she knew was that he was strong enough to have to curb his strength in order not to hurt her! ¡°Again, let¡¯s not see each other so often before my mom recovers,¡± Mnie reminded him ruthlessly. Jeffrey''s eyes dimmed. She still didn¡¯t trust him. However, the situation was tricky and precarious right now. He could understand why she was so jumpy and cautious. He finally agreed to it. ¡°I''ll see you at the Yorks¡® banquet, then.¡± Mnie acknowledged his statement in silence before turning to leave with Professor Turner. However, that night, William reported to Jeffrey, ¡°President, we didn¡¯t receive an invitation for the birthday banquet...¡± Jeffrey''s eyes shed. How could that be? The Yorks had always been eager to get into the Morgans¡® good books... ¡°| asked around. | found out that apparently Yelena York doesn¡¯t want a huge turnabout, which is why they only invited family members for the birthday banquet this year,¡± William exined.¡± President, our men can only guard the perimeter of the York estate¡¯s yard. Our spies stationed inside can only do so much. I¡¯m afraid they won¡¯t be able to ensure Mrs. Morgan¡¯s safety...¡± Jeffrey''s eyes narrowed as he instructed, ¡°Cancel all my appointments that night. I¡¯m going to the banquet, no matter what it takes.¡± ¡°Are you going to just crash the event?¡± William asked in surprise. Although the Yorks had been trying to push for an alliance with the Morgans, it was still inappropriate for Jeffrey to barge into their private banquet. Jeffrey didn¡¯t say anything further to that, and instead asked, ¡°Have you selected a gown?¡± ¡°Yes, | have. I¡¯m preparing to have it delivered to Mrs. Morgan. Do you want to see it for yourself?¡± +15 BOHOS Jeffrey nodded. How could he not see it first? Right now, he had to ask about every single detail concerning her! Very soon, William pushed in an entire rack of gowns. Jeffrey wasn¡¯t familiar with women¡¯s gowns, but he could tell that the gowns all had pooly hems that could hide Mnie''s pregnant belly, which was exactly what he had asked for. Bui¡ª He stared at the many high heels with heels narrower than his fingers¡¯ width, and his brows knitted tightly together. ¡°Who can guarantee these thin heels won''t break hallway?¡± ¡°Umm¡ª¡¯ William hurriedly exined himself, ¡°I¡¯ve already reached out to the brand manager and asked them to choose low heels instead. They said these high heels match Mrs. Morgan¡¯s gown best.¡± ¡°Is having a matching outfit more important than her safety?!¡± Jeffrey chided with furrowed. brows. ¡°Tell the brand manager to change them all!¡± Half an hourter, the brand manager himself pushed in an entire rack of high heels, with heels three centimeters in height. Jeffrey circled around the rack again and again, his brows still tightly- knit¡ª ¡°Are there no heels that are lower than what you have? She¡¯s already tall enough, why does she need to wear such high heels?!¡± ¡°President Morgan William reported in a low voice. ¡°I found out that pregnantdies aren¡¯t exactly restricted from wearing high heels, especially those with heels that measure around three centimeters in height. They are designed ergonomically, and pregnantdies won''t get tired so easily when wearing them.¡± ¡°They might not tire so easily when wearing them for a while, but try wearing them for three to four hours and see!¡± Jeffrey barked furiously. William immediately shut up. Although Jeffrey was still upset, he had no choice but to choose a pair of heels that looked theCopyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. most stable. ¡°This shall be it!¡± Two hourster, Mnie looked wide-eyed in shock at the gowns and the shoes delivered to the base. She went silent for three full seconds. +15 BONOS Annie was confused, too. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are these high heels from that major international brand? Did President Morgan make a mistake?¡± Mnie looked at the heels, which seemed veryfortable, and pursed her lips. ¡°Make no mistake, this is his idea. Forget it. I''ll wear my own shoes.¡± She decided to wear a pair of heels from her collection that she brought. Although the style didn¡¯t quite match the gown, at the very least it didn¡¯t stick out like a sore thumb- unlike shoes that are better worn to the wet market for grocery shopping. The next evening, Mnie donned on a pair of ck heels and a high¡ª-waisted flowing skirt. She got off the car right before the entrance of the York estate. To her surprise, Yelena¡¯s birthday banquet was in fact an outdoor party... With the sun shining down on them and the wind blowing past along with many other uncontroble factors, the task of hiding her pregnancy suddenly became much more challenging while outdoors- Chatper 473 Chapter 473 Is She Really Pregnant? Upon seeing Mnie arrive, Yelena approached her and said, ¡°They told me they had a surprise for me. | didn¡¯t know the party was going to be held outdoors.¡± Yelena knew Mnie was pregnant, as they stayed in the research base together. She was smart enough to guess that Mnie was hiding her pregnancy from the Yorks for a particr reason. Although Yelena was a member of the Yorks, she hadn''t yet regained her memories. She wasn¡¯t as close to the Yorks as she was to Mnie, and she therefore sided with Mnie whenever something happened. ¡°It''s fir fine. My skirt hem is thickened. See, this is made of leather. Even if the wind blows my way. it¡¯ll still remain poofy and conceal my stomach,¡± Mnie said. Yelena heaved a sigh of relief and nodded. ¡°I''ll have them bring out more air¡ªconditioning units. This dress looks too thick.¡± Very soon, Mnie saw Yelena instructing the servants on-site. ¡°I feel rather warm. Bring in a few more air¡ªconditioning units and cool down the ce.¡± ¡°Miss, the weather isn¡¯t that hot now, is it?¡± the servants eximed in surprise. ¡°| said that it¡¯s warm.¡± The servants were at the mercy of Yelena, the esteemed eldest daughter of the York family. Thus, they had no choice but to do her bidding. After a while, two air¡ªconditioning units were installed in the main banquet hall, closest to where Yelena was at. Mnie stood near her so that her legs under the thick dress wouldn''t feel so warm. She was just enjoying the respite when someone came by to provoke her. ¡°Miss Mnie! You look like you''ve gained weight!¡± Mnie turned around to see Sylvia Anderson, one of Harlow¡¯s previous female partners. ¡°| suppose | might have gained weight from staying with Ms. York at the base and enjoying a good life there, where | don¡¯t even need to see annoying people?¡± Mnie responded with ease.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Mnie¡¯s implicit dig at Sylvia made her eyes burn with anger. +15 BONOS She was Harlow¡¯s official partner! She had broken Harlow¡¯s record of changing a new girlfriend every week. Her greed made her want for more, and she had bragged to people within the industry that she would soon be the mistress of the York family.* To her utter surprise, Harlow proposed to Mnie in front of everyone at thest banquet they attended. That was a p to her face! It was also why she couldn¡¯t hold herself back from mocking Mnie the moment she saw her, in a bid to vent her anger. ¡°Did you gain weight or is it because of something else?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Mnie looked coldly at Sylvia. Sylvia drew near, and surveyed her from head to toe. ¡°You¡¯re wearing such an oversized dress. People who have no idea might think that you¡¯re bearing some bastard¡¯s child!¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Mnie sneered. ¡°You have quite the imagination, don¡¯t you, Ms. Anderson? Or perhaps it''s not your imagination, but insights gleaned from your rich personal experiences?¡± ¡°What did you just say?!¡± Sylvia realized she had no way of outwitting Mnie and stepped forward, wanting to pull her dress. Mnie instinctively stepped back, but identally stepped on something that felt soft. Someone behind her grunted in pain. She turned back in surprise, to see Harlow wincing in pain. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Harlow lunged forward and stood in front of Mnie, helping her to block Sylvia¡¯s attacks. ¡°Are you sick of being with me? Do you want to leave?¡± ¡°Harlow Sylvia immediately started crying tears of indignation. She thought Harlow would be nasty toward Mnie after she rejected him in front of everyone. Why was he standing up for her now? Sylvia wanted to say more, but Harlow didn¡¯t give her a chance and yelled, ¡°Scram!¡± Embarrassed, she covered her mouth with her hand and ran off crying. Just then, the host of the party announced that the dance floor was open to all guests. Harlow lifted his hand toward Mnie with a smile. ¡°May | have the honor of inviting the most +15 BONOS His smile was polite, but Mnie could still sense the hypocrisy in it. ¡°I''m sorry.¡± Mnie rejected Harlow without any hesitation. Harlow¡¯s face fell at once. Many people saw Harlow drawing closer to Mnie again and how he stood up for her just now, and were all keeping their eyes peeled for what would happen next. No one expected to see Mnie reject him so heartlessly, without any regard for his pride! ¡°Miss Mnie, you¡¯re the one my aunt trusts the most. There are no outsiders at our family banquet today. Are you that bent on embarrassing me in front of people I''ll see day in and day out?¡± Harlow¡¯s hand was still lifted in midair as he asked her. ¡°I''m a rather petty person, and I¡¯m not that anxious in seeking personal gain. | can¡¯t find it in myself to forget about what happened in the past so easily,¡± Mnie said unceremoniously. Fury rose in Harlow¡¯s chest. ¡°In that case, should | embarrass you too?¡± ¡°Do as you please,¡± Mnie said indifferently. ¡°Fine. I''ll make you dance with me today, whether you like it or not!¡± Harlow reached out to tug Mnie¡¯s arm. He came with an ulterior motive. As long as he danced with her, he would be able to gauge whether she was really pregnant or not! Chatper 474 Chapter 474 Give Her An Official Status Just then, another hand reached out to pull her aside. ¡°Harlow, today is Yelena¡¯s birthday banquet. There¡¯s no need to blow things out of proportion and make everyone upset, is there?¡± Leo stepped forward to Intervene. All the rtives of the York family quietened down as they focused their attention on the commotion. Leo never openly opposed Harlow in front of others. To think he stepped forward to challenge Harlow for Mnie Jones! What an exciting turn of events this was!Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°| was just inviting her to an opening dance. How am | making everyone upset?¡± Harlow said as he straightened out his suit. ¡°If Mnie is upset about it, others will naturally be upset. How about letting me dance the opening dance with her and you take a break, Harlow?¡± Leo said. Everyone was mumbling under their breaths. Mnie looked on with her brows furrowed. She thought Leo hade to save her from the situation. As it turned out, he was here to invite her to dance as well. That surprised her. Harlow sent his men to the base to force her back to the York estate the day before yesterday. because he suspected that she was pregnant. And now, Leo was insisting on dancing with her today... Did Leo also catch wind of rumors about her being pregnant? What¡¯s more, he seemed even more intent on dancing with her than Harlow was. Mnie had always been friendly with Leo, and couldn''t find a reason to reject him there and then. Leo retracted his gaze and lifted his hand confidently, as he said gentlemanly, ¡°Miss Mnie, may Ihave this dance?¡± ¡°With me around, she shall be no one else¡¯s dance partner!¡± Just then, another hand reached out and wrapped around Mnie¡¯s waist, pulling her into his embrace. ¡°President Morgan?¡± Leo was surprised to see Jeffrey. +15 BONOS Heposed himself before turning around to ask his subordinate, ¡°Did we invite President Morgan to tonight''s banquet?¡± ¡°Mr. York, tonight is supposed to be a family banquet and only rtives are invited,¡± the subordinate replied, obviously understanding the implicit meaning behind Leo¡¯s words. ¡°Grandpa is celebrating Aunt¡¯s birthday tonight and Invited only rtives. He didn¡¯t want to make it a huge affair. May | know how you got in here, President Morgan?¡± Leo said with a smile, but his tone was firm and unyielding. ¡°Rtives?¡± Jeffrey tightened his hold over Mnie as he went on calmly, ¡°Since Mnie is a rtive you have acknowledged, | am her legally-wedded husband. We have a marriage certificate to prove it. Does that make me enough of a rtive for you?¡± The veins on Leo¡¯s temple popped as he paused for a moment before saying sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯ve heard it said that the marriage certificate is only used when a couple is getting a divorce. But since you''re so worried about Mnie getting close to other men, I''ll let you have the chance to open the banquet with a dance.¡± Jeffrey smirked, and took Mnie¡¯s hand unceremoniously as he led her to the center of the dance floor. The fight between the sons of the Yorks for Mnie¡¯s attention had whetted their rtives¡± appetite for more excitement. Coupled with President Morgan¡¯s attention¡ªgrabbing entrance, everyone¡¯s attention was on Mnie and Jeffrey. Mnie¡¯s hand tightened over Jeffrey''s shoulder as she felt the pressure weighing on her. She couldn''t help but remind Jeffrey, ¡°Slow down...¡± ¡°If you know how to remind me to slow down, why don¡¯t you know to wear something with shorter heels?¡± Jeffrey asked. He had just dealt with the bodyguards at the door of the York estate when he saw the thin heels measuring around seven to eight centimeters high that she was wearing. The sight alone. frightened him to death! He came to rescue her from her plight without any hesitation. If she danced with any of the York. brothers in those heels, she certainly wouldn''t be able to manage.... ¡°These heels aren''t that high for a banquet. If | wore the ones you prepared for me, it''d be obvious even without them probing me,¡± Mnie exined helplessly as she moved along with him. +15 BONOS The pace of the opening song was moderate, neither too fast nor too slow, but somehow, the pace. of the song elerated after the climax. Jeffrey''s hand caressed the side of Mnie¡¯s waist tenderly as he tried his best to control the rhythm between them. Despite his efforts, he could still sense the strain in Mnie¡¯s stiff back. The change in the beat of the song signaled the Impending segment where the fernale partner was to do a twirl. She was carrying a child right now, and doing a twirl was near impossible for her Jeffrey''s eyes narrowed as he instinctively lowered his body to block hers... He shifted from his gentlemanly pose of putting his hand on Mnie¡¯s waist, and released one of her hands so that he could hold her waist with both hands while signaling her to put her arm around his neck. Mnie was smart, and immediately knew what he was making her do. Under everyone''s intruding gaze, Mnie hooked her arm around Jeffrey¡¯s neck and he wrapped his arm around her waist. It no longer looked like they were dancing, and were instead bing intimate with each other... ¡°Whoa...¡± Someone amongst the crowd suddenly started pping. In an instant, more and more people started joining in to p and cheer for them. The resounding apuse drowned out the awkwardness that Mnie was feeling. As the tune became more soulful, their intimate dance moves became infectious as more and more couples joined in on the dance floor... That was when Jeffrey and Mnie seized the chance to leave the dance floor. Mnie hobbled on her heels, not used to wearing them after she got pregnant. She headed to the couch for a rest. Jeffrey took off his suit and draped it over her shoulders. The oversized jacket covered almost her entire torso and no one was able to see her belly underneath despite her being seated. ¡°Do you feel any difort?¡± he asked with concern. Mnie shook her head. She felt sore at her back and ankles, but she was capable of bearing the difort, especially in public. As Innn ac cho curvived the ordeal tonight cho would ha sklo to hide from the Vorbe¡¯ attention +15 BONOS However, the Yorks clearly weren''t about to spare her so easily. Very soon, they heard an unfriendly voice from behind. ¡°Since you¡¯re so defensive over your wife, why don¡¯t you publicly announce her as your wife, President Morgan? Are you not intending to give her an official status?¡± Chatper 475 Chapter 475 A Test Jeffrey looked overzily and saw Leo walking toward them and sitting down unceremoniously with a ss of wine in hand. ¡°This is between the two of us. There¡¯s no need for you to fret over it, Mr. York,¡± Jeffrey said coldly. ¡°Mnie and | have known each other for a while. | admire her talent, appreciate her personality, and even see her as my sister. | do fret over some of her affairs,¡± Leo retorted. Mnie blinked in confusion. See her as a sister? Did Leo say that carelessly or deliberately? ¡°In that case, Mr. York, how did you know that | don¡¯t have all that prepared?¡± Jeffrey replied, unperturbed. ¡°Mnie has been staying overseas recently. I''ll give her everything she wants the moment she returns home.¡± ¡°| don¡¯t really care about status,¡± Mnie said. ¡°After all, | didn¡¯t give him an official status, too.¡± Mnie and Jeffrey exchanged smiles. Leo pushed his sses up his nose bridge to hide his awkwardness. He knew that there was no way to push his agenda with this topic. His tone mellowed as he looked at Mnie and said, ¡°I came to find you about promoting your perfumes.¡± With that, he handed her a stack of documents. Mnie opened the file and read through each page carefully. Her two perfumes. ¡°Falling Snow¡± and ¡°In The Moonlight¡± were both performing well in Medonia. That was especially so for ¡°In The Moonlight¡°, which was co-branded with Linda Yancey¡¯s jewelry. The perfume was always sold out the moment it was restocked and was considered highly¡ªsought after. ¡°| spoke to Miss Yancey a few days ago, and she agreed for me to expand our sales and promotion channels. What do you think?¡± Leo asked.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°I''m only adept at concocting perfumes. I¡¯m not as well-versed in sales and promotion. Do whatever you deem fit, and I¡¯ll just sit back and wait to collect dividends,¡± Mnie said with a smile. ¡°Alright, that settles it.¡± +15 BONOS Leo smiled, the awkwardness from before clean forgotten. ¡°This trip has been tough on you. Let me exin to you about the promotion proposal that Miss Yancey previously proposed, so you don¡¯t need to make another trip here.¡± Mnie nodded as she subconsciously nced at Jeffrey seated opposite her. He was looking at her, too. It felt suspicious that Leo wanted to chat with her about a proposal at a banquet, but she couldn¡¯t find a reason to reject him, especially since Leo had started eagerly sharing the details. After a while, Leo¡¯s subordinate came over to whisper into his ear, ¡°Mr. York, you haven''t eaten. anything the entire day. The kitchen prepared some of your favorite dishes. Your grandfather wants you to eat it while it¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Bring it over!¡± Leo said with a wave of his hand without even turning his head. His subordinate rushed over to prepare the food. After a while, a pungent odor came from afar and it became increasingly intense... When a kitchen ind was brought right before Mnie, she felt her stomach churning the moment her gazended on the food. There was a te of smoked fish, still steaming hot, topped with lots of red chillies- Leo came with an ulterior motive, indeed. ¡°| used to love eating this when | was young. Sometimes, when | don¡¯t have an appetite, I''ll just eat a smoked fish and be done with it. Do you want some, Mnie?¡± With that, Leo picked up the te of smoked fish and eagerly presented it right before Mnie! Mnie was caught off guard and started retching. She didn¡¯t hate such pungent yet delicious food, but ever since she got pregnant, she couldn''t stand the smell of such food... She couldn''t stand the fishy smell of seafood, not to mention smoked fish cooked in such strong vors! She really wanted to suppress the nausea, but the smoked fish was too much, releasing all its pungent odor from less than ten centimeters away from her. She could not hold it in any longer. She could only lower her head and shrink inside Jeffrey¡¯s oversized jacket to hide her retching. while trying to will herself into bringing her retching under control... Chatper 476 Chapter 476 The Couple Jeffrey reacted fast as he lunged over from opposite Mnie and handed her an orange. She developed a love for the smell of oranges when she previously suffered from severe morning sickness. As he had expected, the moment the refreshing citrusy smell of the orange hit Mnie¡¯s nose, her nausea faded. She lifted her head and said with a wave of her hand, ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡± Leo arched his brow as he put down the smoked fish, and surveyed her from head to toe. ¡°You don¡¯t look very good. Why are you retching? Are you ill?¡± Mnie held her breath as she tucked her hair behind her ear, and nodded as calmly as she could. ¡°I''ve been suffering from gastroenteritis recently,¡± she said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a rest? I''ll find youter and continue with the proposal?¡± Leo said with feigned concern. ¡°Sure. I''ll go and grab my medicine.¡± She stood up, and Jeffrey held her steady as she walked to the washroom. She knew that there were people keeping close attention to her along the way. She deliberately retrieved two kinds of pills from her bag and gulped it down with some water. They were in fact supplements for pregnantdies. ¡°Do you feel better?¡± Jeffrey asked, his heart aching for her. ¡°Yeah.¡± She shut her eyes topose herself, her nose still filled with the pungent smell of the smoked fish from earlier, although she was slowly getting used to it. ¡°Leo¡¯s putting you to the test as well,¡± Jeffrey said in a low voice. Mnie nodded grimly. ¡°He got what he wanted just now.¡± Although she made up the excuse of suffering from gastroenteritis, her retching and how she stood up had given Leo the answer he was looking for. What¡¯s more, Leo was a very careful and detailed man. ¡°You can no longer stay in the base,¡± Jeffrey went on coldly as his eyes narrowed. ¡°If the Yorks are bent on killing your child, they won''t spare you either.¡± +15 BONOS ¡°Let''s go back and discuss things with the professor.¡± Mnie held the orange in her hand and put it near her nose, slowly recovering from her churning stomach. ¡°I can¡¯t stop the treatment. from my mom and Pam. | can¡¯t be apart from them, and we have to leave together.¡± Jeffrey nodded. They had to carefully n their steps from here on. ¡°Let''s go back. Leo¡¯s probably done with his smoked fish, while I¡¯m not yet done going through the proposal,¡± Mnie said.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Jeffrey looked at her with his brows furrowed. If he could, he really wanted to shield Mnie from all dangers so that all she needed to think about was how to be his woman. ¡°You don¡¯t need to apany me. | can go over myself, that will lower Leo¡¯s guard. I''ll be able to sense it if he tries to test me again.¡± Mnie said to Jeffrey. ¡°We''ll see.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just be careful.¡± Jeffrey wrapped his jacket over her shoulders tighter as a sense of helplessness overwhelmed him. He knew for a long time that she would never be satisfied being a flower in a greenhouse. By the time Mnie walked over to Leo, he had finished up the smoked fish. He asked her with concern in his eyes. ¡°Do you feel better? I¡¯m so sorry about that. | didn¡¯t know you weren¡¯t used to the smell of the fish.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. | just took my medicine, and I''ll be fine in a couple of days,¡± Mnie said. ¡°Let¡¯s continue going through the proposal.¡± Leo nodded and continued from where he left off. However, for the next ten minutes, he didn¡¯t do anything to further test Mnie. When they parted, Mnie found herself puzzled over Leo. Was he certain that she was pregnant or... Was it just a coincidence earlier...? Mnie left the couch too. Since the Yorks now knew about her rtionship with Jeffrey, she decided to just wear his jacket so that she wouldn''t need to worry about exposing her pregnant belly. She circled around the area and came to a dead-end in a bid to avoid the crowded areas. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. +15 BONOS Right before her, about a few meters away, the back view of a couple made her instinctively retreat by a few steps and hide behind aer. Someone had set up a barbecue grill and guests who enjoyed eating barbecued meat were eating and chatting nearby. This couple was leaning against the pir along the corridor and about two meters apart from each other. However, Mnie could sense that they were talking to each other. In fact, it wasn¡¯t a pleasant discourse. It was Harlow and Linda. Mnie felt surprised, but also not so surprised at the same From a distance, she couldn¡¯t make out what they were saying to each other. She was about to turn and leave, when Linda suddenly turned around and called out her name. Linda¡¯s eyes were shining. ¡°Mnie? Is that you?¡± alk over. Mnie found no way to hide, and could only bite the bullet and walk Viciousness shed past the depths of Harlow¡¯s eyes when he saw her near, and he immediately turned around to leave. ¡°Miss Yancey, you''re here too! Leo and | were just chatting about promotional efforts for the perfume, and thought you weren''t around...¡± Mnie said. She pretended not to have noticed anything just now. Linda smiled, her exquisite makeup drawing Mnie¡¯s attention to her red, lush lips. ¡°The Yorks sent me an invitation, so | came. | was in the study all along and just came down here. Did you two agree on everything in the proposal?¡± ¡°The proposal you drew up is wless, Miss Yancey,¡± Mnie praised. Linda smiled brightly. ¡°My team is the one responsible. You praised the wrong person.¡± ¡°Your team members are all very professional. | just need to sit back and wait for profits to roll in when working with you,¡± Mnie added with a smile, not feeling any awkwardness at all. ¡°Miss York asked me to look for her just now, and | identally walked in here. I''ll be off, if there¡¯s nothing else.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Linda said with a nod as she watched Mnie walk off. The moment Mnie left, Harlow returned to Linda¡¯s side, still keeping to a two¡ªmeter distance between them. He asked darkly, ¡°She saw us just now!¡± +15 BONOS ¡°They saw us too.¡± Linda turned to look at the people enjoying the barbecue. ¡°They''re different. Mnie suspects something is going on between us!¡± Harlow said viciously. ¡°If you can¡¯t bear to do it. I''ll silence her!¡± Chatper 477 Chapter 477 As Perverted As Before ¡°Silence her?¡± Linda sneered. ¡°Harlow York, what else are you capable of aside from murdering women and children? Weren¡¯t you trying to propose to her just a second ago? Don''t think you can do anything you please just because I''m not making a move on you now! | remember every single wrong and foolish thing you¡¯ve done!¡± Linda then pointed at her heart before turning her head away in disgust and walking off. Yelena¡¯s birthday banquet ended in three hours after she imed to be tired. Right now, Joseph hung to her every word. However, Mnie knew Yelena was in fact worried that she would be too tired, which made the banquet end early. She sat in Jeffrey''s car, and left the York estate. In a secluded spot in the York estate, someone¡¯s phone rang.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°Mnie left. How did the testing go?¡± Nathan asked darkly through the phone. ¡°| can almost confirm that she¡¯s pregnant. Help me get rid of her as nned!¡± Nathan paused for a moment before saying, ¡°As long as you agree to my request and give me the price | asked for previously, I''ll make a move in three days.¡± ¡°If you insist on keeping her alive, you can¡¯t ask for so much!¡± The other person over the phone started to bargain for a better deal. ¡°| won''t let her deliver the child, but she¡¯s still useful if | keep her alive. | won''t allow her to inherit the York family¡¯s business, either. Keeping her alive poses no threat to you whatsoever,¡± Nathan insisted. ¡°That price is the lowest | can go. There are so many people in the base you want to get rid of. Do you think it¡¯s something so easily achieved?¡± ¡°Is it just because you want to preserve your sister¡¯s heart? Nathan Quinn, you''re still as sick as before!¡± The voice over the phone turned vicious. ¡°Do you want to see me turn against you?¡± Nathan said with fury. +15 BONOS The person over the phone mellowed down. ¡°I was just joking. On a serious note, after what | did today, Mnie and Jeffrey might be suspicious. They might even leave the research base and hide somewhere else.¡± Nathan chuckled over the phone. ¡°That would be best. My men have been keeping tabs on them. and | was getting worried that they wouldn¡¯t change their hiding spot. The more secluded their hideout is, the better. It''ll be easier to attack them!¡± After hanging up, Nathan instructed his subordinate. ¡°Reiterate the n to everyone in Tempest. Make sure they remember that on the surface, Mnie must be made to think that the buyer wants to protect her and her child. Confuse her from the fact that we''re going to cause her to miscarriage amidst the chaos!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°After we make our move, I¡¯m going to make her hate Jeffrey Morgan to the core!¡± Nathan chuckled wickedly. Mnie sat in Jeffrey¡¯s car and returned to Professor Turner¡¯s research base. Soon after, Yelena returned from the York estate as well. Shane and Pam were now living in the vi that the Yorks prepared for them, in which Yelena would sometimes stay the night. Conversely, she had never stayed the night in the York estate. She wasn¡¯t close to anyone in the York family, and the thought of staying the night in their house made her feel uneasy. After everyone arrived, Mnie and Jeffrey raise the topic of moving out. ¡°| originally didn¡¯t find it so urgent, but | identally bumped into Harlow and Miss Yancey, who were talking. Harlow¡¯s eyes when he saw me was frightening, which is why | agree with his Suggestion to quickly move out,¡± Mnie said as she looked in Jeffrey''s direction. She then turned to Yelena, and said, ¡°Pam, because you have to follow me, you have a say in this decision too.¡± ¡°I''ll listen to whatever you say and go wherever you go,¡± Yelena said inly. Yelena had no idea what was going on between Harlow and Linda, but she trusted Mnie. ¡°| have a few secret hideouts In Medonia. Professor, take a look and see which one is suitable as your research base and for them to recuperate,¡± Jeffrey said. He passed his phone to Professor Turner before turning back to ce Mnie''s calves on hisp +15 BONOS A pregnantdy often suffered from cramps, and Mnie wore heels for almost two hours today. It must have been tough on her. ¡°I''m not going to look at it.¡± Professor Turner put Jeffrey''s phone down as he stroked his beard.¡± I''m mostfortable using my own research base.¡± ¡°But Professor, this ce is no longer safe for us,¡± Jeffrey said anxiously. ¡°Be it Harlow or Leo, none of them can tolerate Mnie being pregnant. Her pregnancy was almost certainly exposed today. We can¡¯t let her continue staying here like sitting ducks, waiting for the Yorks toe knocking on the door!¡± Chatper 478 Chapter 478 Lose The Baby ¡°| can¡¯t bear to see her like a sitting duck, either.¡± Professor Turner smacked the couch, and stood up. ¡°I''m talking about another research base of mine, which is even more hidden and secluded than this one. Do you understand now?¡± ¡°Pardon me, | was too anxious.¡± Jeffrey''s knitted brows rxed as he apologized to the professor. It was rare of Jeffrey to apologize to someone else. Mnie looked at him, amazed that the savior effect was strong enough for Jeffrey to behave like this. ¡°Since things havee to this point, let¡¯s not dy things any further and move out tomorrow morning!¡± Professor Turner turned around, and pressed a button. Very soon, his research assistant appeared. The professor ryed his instructions to prepare for the move overnight while keeping everything a secret. The next morning, before the sun was up, everyone in the research base started moving their things out. They split themselves up into three groups, and the first two groups of people had sessfully moved over. There wasn¡¯t much equipment to move, as the other research base was sufficiently well-Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. equipped. That enabled them to move over without causing too much of amotion that might draw the attention of people keeping tabs on them. Mnie sent Annie off, too. It had been long since Annie returned home, and she seized the chance while they were moving out to fly back home for a few days. They agreed for Annie toe over to keep Mnie company after they settled down in the new base. The third group included Mnie¡¯s mother and Yelena, who were escorted by a few bodyguards. Mnie was in Jeffrey¡¯s car, which was right at the back. Everything was going smoothly so far. The new research base was located on an ind. It was surrounded by water and the location was indeed very hidden and secluded, as the professor imed. Some of Jeffrey''s men and the staff members of the research base worked together to quickly prepare the new base for operations. The professor was on high alert and made his men keep 4/4 415 BONOS After a day and a night passed, nothing abnormal was observed. They didn¡¯t notice anyone suspicious around. Jeffrey stayed with Mnie on the ind for one night. The next morning, she woke up in clearly better spirits. ¡°You''re heavily pregnant right now and need lots of rest.¡± Jeffrey reminded her as they enjoyed their breakfast together. ¡°I need to leave the ind to attend to something. I''ll rush back at night.¡± ¡°Go be busy and don¡¯t shuttle to and fro like this. If you identally lead a foe in here, all of us weak and vulnerable people won''t be able to stand up against him.¡± Mnie said with a roll of her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I''ll make sure to eliminate all suspicious people beforeing back here,¡± Jeffrey promised with a smile. Mnie kept Yelenapany as she went through her treatments throughout the day. After dinner, Mnie didn¡¯t receive any news from Jeffrey about his return. She went upstairs and prepared her bath. Just then, a gunshot sounded outside the window. She hurried to the window and lifted the curtains. The sea was aze with fire! She saw many boats docking on the shore, and people Jumping out of them. The torches they were holding lit up the ck cloths shielding their faces and the guns they were holding! Her eyes widened in shock as she instinctively ran out of the door toward her mother¡¯s ward. Before she made it downstairs, power in the base was cut off and everything went dark. Mnie quickly hugged the staircase rallings and waited till her eyes got used to the darkness before continuing downstairs. Suddenly, a bright beam of light shone Int her eyes, disorientating her. ¡°She¡¯s the one! Take her away!¡± a man behind the light source said firmly. ¡°Who are you guys?!¡± The moment Mnie said that, two masked men appeared from behind the light source and bound both her hands behind her back. +15 BONOS She struggled for a while until one of the masked men holding the torchlight warned, ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy, or you might end up hurting your baby!¡± The two men brought her downstairs and out of the base. Fire was burning outside, and she could see the three men around her. Their head and faces were covered, and it was impossible to identify their facial features. Very soon, someone ran over and reported the situation to the man who appeared to lead the pack. ¡°Chief, we found Yelena York and President Chairman Jones. That professor was with them. too.¡± ¡°Kill them,¡± the chief said without hesitation. Mnie¡¯s heart almost leaped out of her throat as she struggled against their hold and yelled,¡± You can¡¯t kill them! Who in the world are you people?!¡± ¡°Shut her up!¡± The chief furrowed his brows in annoyance as his men immediately stuffed a rolled¡ªup handkerchief into Mnie¡¯s open mouth. ¡°Mmmph!¡± Mnie protested through muffled groans as she struggled against their hold with all her might. They wanted to kill her mother, Yelena, and the professor! Who in the world are these people? She struggled so hard that her belly hit the ankle of one of the masked men. She immediately crouched over in pain that was so debilitating, she broke out in cold sweat. ¡°Mmphoot...¡± She exhaled out loud, the pain making it difficult to keep her eyes open.¡± ¡°Chief! Will she be all right?¡± One of the masked men noticed her condition, and immediately reported it to the chief. The chief masked man nced at her, and said anxiously, ¡°Quick, bring her onto the boat! Find a doctor! We''ve been instructed to kill everyone else but her. She must be brought back alive!¡± Mnie found herself hauled up and forcefully brought onto a boat. The handkerchief stuffed in her mouth fell out, but she couldn¡¯t speak because of the pain. Very soon, a man who looked like a doctor rushed over and checked her. ¡°She¡¯s not in a stable state, and she might lose the baby...¡± Chatper 479 Chapter 479 Save Them ¡°We have instructions to protect both her and the baby!¡± the chief yelled fiercely at the doctor.¡± ¡°Her heart isn¡¯t in a good condition. If we forcefully keep the baby, we might lose her instead... the doctor said, clearly in a difficult spot. The masked man next to him started to panic, and asked anxiously. ¡°Chief, what should we do?¡± ¡°We''ve b ¡°We''ve been told that the key is her heart. The priority is to protect the woman, then the baby!¡± the chief eventually said. The baby... Mnie¡¯s heart pounded hard in her chest before she went out cold. Jeffrey took a flight to attend an important finance meeting. After the meeting ended, he hopped on another flight back to Medonia almost immediately. He promised her that he would be back tonight. But when his nended, he received a call from a bodyguard from Morgan Group that the ind where the research base was located caught fire. A group of armed men had abducted them all amidst the chaos. Jeffrey''s breath caught in his chest as the image of a heavily pregnant Mnie running for her life shed past his mind. He asked in a panic, ¡°Where is Mnie?¡± ¡°Mrs. Morgan has been abducted too... The bodyguard himself was injured too, and he gritted his teeth in pain through his reply to Jeffrey, ¡°I¡¯ve informed the rest of the team to chase after them in a boat- Jeffrey ended the call, a vicious look in his eyes as he instructed William to speed up on the road. One hourter, they reached the ind dock. The sky was dark. When Jeffrey rushed to the ind, the fire had been put down, but all the vegetation around had been burnt to ashes. The ce looked just like doomsday had fallen. One of the bodyguards from Morgan Group rushed over to report about the situation. ¡°President, the masked men¡¯s weapons andbat ability were very sophisticated. They have +15 BONOS conceal all their signals. We couldn''t track them down yet.¡± ¡°The map!¡± Jeffrey stretched his arm out, and William immediately handed him the map. He unfolded it, and nced through it quickly. ¡°We found signs of the boat¡¯s departure at this exit. After making someparisons, we figured it¡¯s probably the abductors¡¯ boat and not the boat we always use.¡± Jeffrey¡¯s subordinate said, pointing at the west side of the ind and said. ¡°They set off in the west- Jeffrey analyzed the situation through narrowed eyes. ¡°They want to leave the country.¡± ¡°To Delfino?¡± William asked. Jeffrey didn¡¯t answer him, but instead said, ¡°Get in a boat and chase after them right away! Contact Delfino¡¯s sea customs. | know the director general. Ask them to stop all boats departingFrom N?velDrama.Org. their harbor!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± William immediately rushed off to make arrangements. Jeffrey sat in Morgan Group¡¯s boat and soon after, received a call from Nathan. ¡°Jeffrey Morgan, where are you right now?¡± Nathan chuckled darkly. ¡°Did you abduct her?¡± Jeffrey cut straight to the chase. ¡°Her?¡± Nathan feigned ignorance. Mnie was abducted, and Jeffrey couldn¡¯t remain as calm andposed as he usually was. He said with panic that he couldn¡¯t suppress, ¡°Don¡¯t think that I¡¯m clueless about an armed force you''ve been training in secret to do your every bidding! | know the base of the armed force is located right in Delfino!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± To Jeffrey''s surprise, Nathan admitted it. ¡°| know you have great influence in Delfino. Since you suspect me, you''ll surely stop me at the sea customs, right?¡± ¡°Good that you know. Release them right away!¡± Jeffrey bellowed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, | won¡¯t touch your woman. I''ll return her to you, but I¡¯m taking everyone else away!¡± Nathan started negotiating the terms. ¡°But | won''t return her to you for free. Allow Delfino¡¯s sea +15 BONOS ¡°Why should 17¡± ¡°Because your wile and baby¡¯s lives are in my hands!¡± Nathan sald viciously. ¡°If it weren''t for me. your baby would¡¯ve been dead a long time agol If you keep bargaining with me, | might just lose my patience and kill them!¡± The thought of Mnie being in bad shape made Jeffrey''s heart constrict. He clenched his fists. ¡°| can let the sea customs let you go, but | must first see Mnie and make sure she¡¯s fine. That is my bottom line!¡± Jeffrey said, tying his best to calm down and negotiate for as much as he could. ¡°I''ll wait for you for two hours. You¡¯d better hurry up! And remember, you muste alone. Bring one more person with you, and I''l kill one person here!¡± Nathan hung up after shrieking. Jeffrey''s brows knitted. ¡°Prepare the boat. I''ll go by myself.¡± ¡°President, you shouldn''t.¡± William tried to stop him. ¡°It''s too dangerous. The moment Nathan drives his boat and takes you away from the harbor, we won''t be able to act fast and make arrangements in Delfino to guarantee your safety. How am | going to exin things to Mrs. Morgan and everyone in Morgan Group If anything untoward happens to you?¡± William said anxiously. ¡°You have no need to exin anything. This is my decision.¡± Jeffrey''s eyes dimmed as he looked at William putting together a team of bodyguards who would. follow him to save those who were abducted. He said darkly, ¡°I can go alone. One more person might add to the chaos. Since Delfino is too big and difficult to make arrangements in, I''ll stay at the sea customs. | won''t let him take them away from there.¡± William understood what Jeffrey meant, and instructed his men to prepare guns and a micro bugging device to be attached to Jeffrey. ¡°The guns will be confiscated. And do you really think Nathan won''t notice these things?¡± Jeffrey refused to have the bugging device, and simply chose a tiny weapon among the collection William prepared. +15 BONOS As long as you make the necessary arrangements at the sea customs, |¡¯ll think of a way to update you. Just wait patiently.¡± With that. Jeffrey strode off and swiftly hopped onto the speedboat. Chatper 480 Chapter 480 Protect Her And The Baby When Mnie regained consciousness, her first Instinct was to touch her belly. That was when she realized that both her arms were culled to the sides of the bed. She was unable to move. She tried hard to lift her head; she saw the bulge in her stomach, and subconsciously heaved a sigh of relief. She decided not to struggle so vehemently again; firstly for the safety of her baby, and secondly, her struggle seemed to be in vain anyway. She felt subtle tugs of pain in her stomach, and forced herself to calm down to think. Mnie could hear waves crashing against the boat from inside the room. Before she fainted, she heard the masked men talking about taking her into a boat. She must be in one right now. The masked men seized the professor, her mother, and Yelena and even imed to want to kill them all except her. They even said that they received instructions to leave her and her baby alive. Who would care so much for her and her baby? It couldn¡¯t possibly be the Yorks, nor could it be Nathan. If it were Nathan, he would at most preserve her life due to Emma¡¯s heart. He wouldn¡¯t care for the baby at all. Who else could it be? Someone who not only cared for her and her baby¡¯s life, but even knew the location of the base. Mnie started breaking out in a cold sweat the more she thought about things. Just as she was beginning to be filled with doubts, the door opened. She instinctively shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep. Two men walked in, one of which said, ¡°Hey, she¡¯s still asleep.¡± Just then, she heard a phone ring. The other person instructed, ¡°Answer the call!¡± The first man who spoke answered the call in hands-free mode. ¡°What instructions do you have for us?¡± ¡°How is she doing?¡± +15 BONOS The voice of the man over the phone caught Mniepletely off guard; she shuddered in shock. It was William! A voice she couldn''t be more familiar with! The two men noticed her sudden movement, and the other man Immediately said, ¡°Switch the loudspeaker mode off!¡± They then left the room and shut the door, during which she could still hear the two men reporting to William about her situation... A few minutester, the door opened once more. One of the two men who entered just now yelled. ¡°I know you''re awake. Quit putting up an act!¡± Mnie opened her eyes, and saw a bald man in the room. He was masked, but she could still see a scar by his right eye-it made him look wicked and dangerous. ¡°We were kept busy all nightst night just to keep you and your baby alive!¡± ¡°What about my mother, Yelena York, and the rest?¡± Mnie asked, trying her best to stabilize her shaking voice. ¡°They''re dead,¡± the bald man answered her with no hesitation. ¡°What did you say?¡± Mnie felt faint despite having mentally prepared herself.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. She clenched her fists hard, letting her fingernails dig into the flesh of her palm to force herself to remain calm. ¡°Why did you kill them?¡± ¡°| did it purely for the money. As for why the buyer wants them to be killed, it must be because they knew too much. Everyone who wants to silence people do it for this reason,¡± the bald man rubbed his head and smiled wickedly as he answered Mnie. Her mother was already unconscious, yet whoever he was still wanted to silence her? : Mnie bit her lower lip so hard it started bleeding. She could taste the strong, metallic taste in her mouth. ¡°Who are you guys? Where are you bringing me?¡± she asked again. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your breath. Have you ever heard of a hitman revealing his own name and identity?¡± The bald man chuckled. ¡°As for yourtter question, we''ll find a quiet and secluded ce for you to deliver your baby.¡± ¡°Are you trying to keep me captive?¡± +15 BONOS ¡°You can say so.¡± The bald man surveyed Mnie from head to toe as his eyes shed. ¡°Don¡¯t you like it? It''ll be so quiet with no one disturbing you from your rest. If it weren''t for the instructions I¡¯ve received to not touch you, I¡¯m actually rather tempted to.¡± The bald man¡¯s gaze caressed her chest and waist. Although she was pregnant, her naturally fair and dewy skin and mesmerizing facial features stood out very much. Her good figure was half- hidden in the oversized hospital gown she was wearing, which made the temptation even stronger. Mnie subconsciously brought her knees together in a protective stance. The bald man walked over, and smiled wickedly, ¡°But | didn¡¯t receive any instructions about not having a quick taste of you. Perhaps it¡¯s a good idea to satisfy my curiosity!¡± The man reached out for her cor, itching to go further. Mnie shuddered all over as disgust rose up her chest. ¡°Stop!¡± Suddenly, the door of the room opened. Dim light shone on Jeffrey¡¯s figure. They looked at each other and Mnie¡¯s eyes suddenly welled up with tears, so much that she couldn''t really see him clearly... Chatper 481 Chapter 481 You Won''t Die With Me Here Jeffrey looked at the woman that was tied to the bed. Her limbs were thin, her face skeletal, her hair scattered, and even the sight of her being visibly pregnant even though she was lying there... All of this made his heart tremble uncontrobly. ¡°You came as expected, Mr. Morgan,¡± the bald man spoke. ¡°So this is how you''re taking good care of her?!¡± Jeffrey asked, his eyes showing his lust for blood. ¡°Don¡¯t be so angry, Mr. Morgan!¡± The bald man came closer and gave the people behind him a look. Hisckey, who had his face. covered, began to search Jeffrey''s body. ¡°He¡¯s clean, boss. Except for this.¡± Theckey extended his hand, showing a stick containing 12 pieces of bubble gum. The bald man frowned and took them all, before unwrapping one and started chewing it. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that you would like this!¡± And then, he carefully put the remaining gum into his pocket. Jeffrey ignored him as he walked over to Mnie, moving theckeys that wanted to stop him with his arm before reaching for her. He looked at her hands that were bound before turning and ring at the bald man, his voice hostile. ¡°Let her go and I''lle with you!¡± ¡°Let her go? That¡¯s impossible.¡± The bald man let out a cold smile as he chewed the gum, but his words were even more terrifying. ¡°If you still have that much energy, then you should go with her to Delfino to live the rest of your life! Take him back to his room!¡± The bald man¡¯s smile dropped, and he turned around, leaving the cabin behind as he ordered his lackeys. Theckey whose face was hidden freed Mnie¡¯s hands, after which Jeffrey picked her up like a princess, pain in his heart. He simply let the masked men lead them to another room. The room. had no window and it waspletely sealed. The door was closed.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Jeffrey carefully ced her on the bed as he moved cautiously. He then scanned her before saying. ¡°Are you hurt? How is your tummy? They said that your tummy hurt a lot?¡± All he could do There was a hint of undetectable tenderness in Mnie''s eyes, but she looked away after giving him a look. She didn¡¯t expect that he woulde. Their current situation had to be even moreplicated than she¡¯d initially estimated. With him here, she was even more nervous, and she didn¡¯t feel safe like how she used to. Jeffrey didn¡¯t know that her heart had just been taken on a roller coaster ride, and simply thought that he had scared her. He carefully caressed her in his arms and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. No matter what we have to face, I¡¯ll always be by your side. As long as I¡¯m alive, you''ll be safe.¡± Mnie pouted and asked, ¡°How¡¯s my mom, the professor and Yelena?¡± ¡°William''s working on it. They''re not on this ship.¡± ehind her back. ¡°If everything is what I¡¯m Jeffrey then let her go after a while, his arm still guessing it to be, then this was nned by both Nathan and the Yorks. Their base¡¯s address was leaked out, and they wanted to capture me, you, and Yelena all at the same time.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes were cold, and her expression remained calm. ¡°How did the base¡¯s address get leaked? The doctor said that there was no one suspicious around the ind in the past two days.¡± She finally spoke, but her tone was still cold. Jeffrey didn¡¯t think too much about it and thought that she was still shocked. ¡°We¡¯re working on it.¡± ¡°The easiest way for the York siblings not to share any of the inheritance with me and Pam is to kill us. Why are they keeping us alive?¡± she continued asking. ¡°| believe Nathan wants Emma¡¯s heart,¡± Jeffrey said. ¡°If that¡¯s the e case, what''s his reason for keeping my child?¡± she asked, words growing frantic. Jeffrey narrowed his eyes and looked at him and asked, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°You can stop investigating because you won''t be able to find the answer. Have you ever heard of the proverb ¡®the pot calling the kettle ck?¡°¡± Her tone was grim. ¡°You...¡± Jeffrey frowned, and finally realized what she meant by that. ¡°You think that | was the one that arranged the assassination?¡± ¡°Aren''t you?¡± She stared right into her eyes without backing up. Chatper 482 Chapter 482 Ending Up Here Anyway Mnie looked at the pair of eyes that used to make her believe him so easily. The sorrow slowly crept up on her, and her eyes felt somewhat wet. Was it not him? He who wanted to protect her, her heart, and her child? He who also wanted to kill her mom, destroying the truth that she had been trying to tell her? If he didn¡¯te, then he would simply be suspicious. She could never be sure. But if he were on this ship and became part of this drama where a prince saved the princess, it had to be because he wanted to gain her trust, take her to Delfino to give birth, and pin all the crimes on his enemies. They would still be in love, and she and her child could live the rest of their lives in peace with him... ¡°It isn¡¯t me,¡± Jeffrey said, his voice firm. ¡°Then what are you doing here? And alone, too,¡± she shot back. ¡°It''s because Nathan''s main base is in Delfino. I''ve already set up defenses with Delfino¡¯s customs. Without my orders, this ship can never pass customs,¡± Jeffrey exined as he gritted his teeth. ¡°Really?¡± Mnie looked at him coldly, as if admiring how easily the lie could be unraveled. Shouldn''t hee to save her after setting up strategies? For him toe alone... Not only would he be unable to save her, but he would also fall into their hands. The only exnation was that these people were under hismand, and that all of this was simply an act. That was why he didn¡¯t need to look for an exit. When the kidnapper unintentionally let her hear his voice through the phone, William¡¯s voice was so clear... And he still wanted to lie to her?From N?velDrama.Org. Looking at her wary eyes, Jeffrey could feel his heart froze. He closed his eyes as the pain washed over him. ¡°You still don¡¯t believe me...¡± She looked away, not wanting to speak again. ¡°| know...¡± Jeffrey calmed down and thought it over. ¡°All of this is part of Nathan''s ns. His aim is to make When Mnie heard that, she tried to force a smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t you trust me?¡± Jeffrey was both angry and anxious as he held her shoulders, looking into her shifty eyes. She''d personally heard William¡¯s voice. All the pieces fit; when she remembered all the evidence that Mr. Lincoln showed her, why should she trust him? ¡°Let me go!¡± She pushed her arms open and shoved his hands away. Her stubbornness challenged his domineering spirit. With a frown, he ced his hands on her arms again and held her weak body still. Her eyes were red as she opened her mouth and bit into his shoulder. His shoulder Instantly bled red, and she could taste blood in her mouth. ¡°Hiss!¡± The woman''s retaliation in despair and angry eyes were the final straw. Jeffrey bent over and kissed her lips. At this time, the door was pushed open in a bang. The bald, masked man was standing at the door as his eyes narrowed and let out a snicker. ¡°| didn¡¯t expect that you would be in the mood for that. But allow me to remind you that the baby she managed to save can¡¯t suffer anymore idents! Here''s the medicine the doctor prescribed for her.¡± And then, the bald man waved his hand. The doctor that had saved Mnie yesterday came in and gave her a few strips of pills. She still remembered the doctor¡¯s voice. Her stomach still wasn¡¯t feeling well. For her baby¡¯s safety, she swallowed the medicine obediently. ¡°The ship will go through customs tomorrow morning. I¡¯m afraid that you''ll have to speak on our behalf. This will be enough time for you to do whatever you want!¡± And then, the bald man left with a wicked smile while leaving two clean outfits for them. The door automatically closed. Jeffrey finally calmed down after that. 2/3 He knew that there had to be hidden cameras in there so that the people outside could spy on their movements. His hands were still on her shoulders, looking at her eyes. There were still tears clinging to her thick eyshes. He let her go as his heart ached. She grabbed the nket and curled into a ball. Looking at her pregnant womb and pale face, Jeffrey sighed. The only thing he could me was the fact that he¡¯d miscalcted. Nathan knew that he would make mistakes; even knowing that this was a trap, he wouldn¡¯t allow her to be on the ship alone. That was why he ended up here anyway. But now, everything that the masked men did has be an act that they had to finish in her eyes... How ironic. Chatper 483 Chapter 483 She Didn¡¯t Die But He... Jeffrey turned and looked at the tears in her eyes after all the suffering. He couldn¡¯t say anything anymore. He stood up and turned around, but didn¡¯t turn to look at her. He would exin everything to her once the ship was docked tomorrow and she was safe. The bald man left the room that imprisoned them. His subordinate couldn''t help but praise, ¡°Boss, the master really does have a lot of foresight! Mnie has fallen for his schemes! And here | was worried that Mnie would suspect Jeffrey seeing that he made it so vague!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the smart part of his ns!¡± The bald man exined in his hoarse voice. ¡°The master said that the key to sess of this n is the human mind! He knows Mnie well; she¡¯s smart and self-confident, that¡¯s why we can only reveal crumbs of clues for her. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve used William Moore¡¯s Al generated voice. She would only believe the conclusion when she herselfes up with it. If we gave her too many clues, she might be suspicious instead!¡± ¡°We''re docking tomorrow. Once we¡¯re docked, what should we do with Jeffrey?¡± He asked again. ¡°Leave it to the master.¡± The bald man then said, ¡°And the child in Mnie¡¯s womb... The master said that it cannot be left behind. Once we''re docked, find a way to deal with it!¡± ¡°Boss, Jeffrey does have good eyes. While that woman is pregnant, that look and that figure of her is so seductive! Since we¡¯re going to deal with her kid anyway, we can use some... other measures, right?¡± Theckey scratched the back of his head. ¡°We''ve been on the ocean for two months now and we''re all a bit ravenous...¡® ¡°What are you thinking about?!¡± The bald man smacked theckey¡¯s head and shouted, ¡°Even | wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to her, so you can forget about it! The master wants Mnie in one piece! What if she dies of a heart attack while you''re having your fun with her? How am | supposed to exin this to the master?¡± Theckey lowered his head and didn¡¯t dare say a thing. After Mnie took her medicine, she was getting sleepy. She fell asleep as she curled into a ball on the bed when sleepiness took hold of her. The next day. Daylight. She was woken up by the sound of the door opening. The masked man walked in and said, ¡°Come up! The ship is docking soon!¡± She opened her eyes and saw Jeffrey sitting on a chair opposite them. Seemed like he hadn''t slept for the whole night. ¡°Mr. Morgan, pleasee with us. To prevent you from pulling any tricks, we''ll be holding her.¡± The bald man issued his order and hisckeys came in. They took hold of Mnie and were going to take her away without saying another word. ¡°Be gentle! If she loses so much as a hair, I''ll make sure you all die with her!¡± Jeffrey said angrily. ¡°Sure, sure!¡± The bald man narrowed his eyes and ordered his men to take Mnie away first. Jeffrey immediately walked over. ¡°You can hold her, but she needs to remain within my sight! I¡¯m here for her. If | can¡¯t be sure of her safety, how am | supposed to help you?¡± The bald man gave it a thought and nodded. He then ordered hisckeys to hold Mnie tightly and ced the gun on the back of her waist, walking behind him and Jeffrey. Soon after, the ship slowed down. They were going through customs.From N?velDrama.Org. Jeffrey walked over and spoke a few words with the customs officer, who nodded. Secretly, he wiggled his finger. The other officers behind him, who were disguised Morgan Group bodyguards, received their secret orders. The ship started again and left. The bald man and the other masked men heaved a sigh of relief. At this time, Jeffrey suddenly spun around and straight away headed toward the bald man. He quickly extended his hand into this pocket and grabbed his chewing gum. Before the bald man could even react, Jeffrey had already ttened a chewing gum and ced it on a pir before turning around and jumping toward Mnie, who was being held. 214 +15 BONOS All Mnie could feel was that she fell back first onto the deck. It was painful, but Jeffrey¡¯s arm cushioned her head. Boom! Awhite smoke burst out about 2 meters ahead. Suddenly, their vision waspletely blurred, The masked men were thrown into chaos as the sounds of gunfire surrounded them. Jeffrey protected her and swung out his leg, sweeping off a masked man who he had been targeting off his feet. The gun fell on the deck, and he grabbed it while helping Mnie hide behind a pir. A gunfight had started beyond the pir. When the bald man knew that he had been outyed, he raised his gun and kept on firing at Jeffrey''s general direction with red eyes. Jeffrey fired back with calm eyes. He was not nervous at all. Meanwhile, he hid Mnie close to his chest. Mnie could hear his heartbeat, and it was very calm; he wasn¡¯t nervous even when he was fighting in a hail of bullets. Only then did she realize that she¡¯d misunderstood him... If this was just an act, there was no need for him to use real bullets... Very quickly, the people outside who were attempting the rescue were on the advantage. They began rushing onto the ship. The masked men were preparing to retreat. The bald man looked at Jeffrey with regret. Before escaping, he threw a grenade over! When she saw that object flying ever closer to her, Mnie could feel the reaper¡¯s scythe. Jeffrey''s eyes narrowed as he dove toward Mnie and shielded her under his body. Boom! The sound of an explosion rang in their ears as rocks and splinters flew everywhere, and they were choked by the smell of gunpowder. They held their breaths. After a long while, Mnie could finally hear the voices of people talking. It was then that she 3/4 But Jeffrey was kneeling, still shielding her. There was some distance between his frozen arms and her, as if he was worried that he would hurt her and her child. Blood was dripping from the hair on his forehead. When it dripped right on her face, she could feel the chill in her bones. His bloodied eyes locked with hers, and she could still see his nervousness for her and his calmness for the fight... But... His eyes were frozen... Chatper 484 Chapter 484 The Only Bond Between Him and the World ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Madam!¡± At this time, William¡¯s people arrived in time as well. Morgan Group¡¯s bodyguards picked up Jeffrey and theny him down on the deck before helping Mnie up. Her belly was in a lot of pain. However, she had no time for herself; the sight of Jeffrey filled her eyes as hey there on the ground. ¡°Get him to the hospital! The hospital, right now!¡± She used all her strength to scream. Why would William, who was always so quick to act, be so slow this time? Why didn¡¯t he send him to the hospital?! ¡°Madam...¡± William raised his head and looked at her. ¡°The boss... He has no pulse...¡± ¡°Impossible! No way..¡± ¡°He¡¯s not... He knows that he still has to protect our child! He can¡¯t die! Get him to the hospital! | order you, get him... To...¡± And as her emotions got the better of her, an intense pain stabbed into her stomach. Her vision turned dark as she copsed. It felt like a whole eternity. When Mnie woke up, she instinctively held her belly. It was still round. And it seemed to be bigger than she remembered... Mnie was shocked to see her room wasn¡¯t white when she opened her eyes. She was still thinking about what had happened when she saw Professor Turnere in from the door. He was happy when he saw her awake. ¡°Do you know how long you''ve slept, girl?¡± ¡°Professor... Aren''t you...dead?¡± She sat up in shock. ¡°If you''re alright, then what about my mom and Pam?¡± ¡°They''re fine. Jeffrey left some bodyguards around the base. When those people came to kidnap us and rob this ce, everyone from the Morgan Group sacrificed their lives to protect us. We never left the ind at all; they¡¯d found an underground tunnel for us to hide in. We were hiding then...¡± The professor then put a pillow behind her back. Only then did Mnie see that her belly had grown muchrger to the point that she was subconsciously sliding backward when she was sitting. ¡°Then what about Jeffrey?¡± she asked in realization. The professor lowered his head and sighed.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Is he at the hospital? What happened? Tell me!¡± Mnie got too anxious, and she could feel the pain in her belly again. ¡°My girl, I''ve used everything that I''ve learned in my life to save you for the past half a month. You can¡¯t get that nervous again.¡± The professor quickly calmed her down, but all he could see was her staring at him, tears filling her eyes, as if waiting for the final judgment to be passed. The professor couldn''t bear to see her suffer, and sighed before saying, ¡°Don¡¯t you already know what happened to him?¡± ¡°He was too close to the center of the explosion. The shrapnel from the explosion pierced through his brain, and he didn¡¯t make it even before he got to the hospital.¡± The professor knew that she was waiting for this result and had no choice but to tell her what had happened straightforwardly. In that moment, Mnie could feel the strength in her body instantly being sapped away, as if losing all strength to live. The most regretful part about all of it was, even in their final moments, she still suspected that he was behind everything... ¡°Quick! The fluid!¡± When the professor saw that she wasn¡¯t doing well, he immediately told the nurse to top up her medicine. Once again, she fell into a state where she was half¡ªawake and half¡ªdreaming. Jeffrey filled up her dreams of the both of them enjoying their sweetest moments. 2/3: +15 BONOS But as soon as she regained even the slightest bit of consciousness, she couldn¡¯t help herself from crying, and would once again go back to sleep to escape herself. She never wanted to face a reality where she had lost him. When she woke up again, it was three dayster. She saw Yelena sitting by her bedside. ¡°Mnie.¡± Yelena¡¯s speech was much smoother than before. ¡°We all know that you¡¯re sad, but you''re a mother and you are with child. You cannot give up just like that...¡± Yelena held Mnie¡¯s hand and ced it on her belly. She hadn''t touched her child for a very long time. As if the child could sense her calling, the child kicked back at her palm from inside. Instantly, her tears fell. For the past half a month, she had been in aa. Her life was maintained through the IV fluids. Despite her body having already be skinnier now, her unborn baby was quite stubborn; not only did the baby survive, the baby still took in more nutrients and grew bigger. ¡°The professor said that the child is very healthy, and your mother has signs of waking up as well. That''s why you have to stay strong,¡± Yelena consoled her with tears in her eyes. Mnie blinked, and then she heard her say, ¡°I know that you and Jeffrey were in love. That¡¯s why you must protect the child he left behind on this earth, right?¡± Mnie got herself up and sat up, her hands on her round belly. This was the only bond that was left between her and Jeffrey. That was right. She needed to fight. Only then could she better protect their child. ¡°Where''s Jeffrey? Can | still see him onest time...?¡± A hint of life returned to her tired eyes. Chatper 485 Chapter 485 Morgan Group In Danger Yelena shook her head. ¡°You''ve been unconscious for almost two months. Jeffrey''s... body had already been sent home by the Morgans. It¡¯s been so long, | can only imagine that they''ve already...¡± Yelena held her breath. If even an outsider like her couldn''t find the heart to continue, how much worse would it be for Mnie? ¡°Where did the Morgans bury her?¡± Mnie asked, trying to ignore the pain. ¡°That¡¯s the weird part. I¡¯ve checked, but | couldn¡¯t find where he¡¯s buried...¡± Yelena then held her hand and consoled her. ¡°When you''ve given birth and recovered, you can go back and find out where he¡¯s buried and visit him. It''ll be the same...¡± Mnie bit her lips, unwilling to let Yelena see just how much she was suffering. She didn¡¯t want to think about Jeffrey for even a second more, worried that she would faint. She could only turn her thoughts to something else and ask, ¡°Pam, where are we right now? Is it safe?¡± Yelena held her hand and said slowly, ¡°We''re... At the York residence.¡± ¡°The Yorks?!¡± Mnie became agitated. Yelena quickly raised her hand, telling her not to be nervous. ¡°In this situation, only the Yorks can protect us.¡± ¡°What do you mean? What situation?¡± Mnie instinctively asked. Yelena¡¯s frown became even deeper. After pausing for a while, she said, ¡°After what happened to Jeffrey, there was a huge commotion in the Morgan Group. Madam Morgan has fallen severely ill, and the entirepany is in disarray. The Yanceys are nning to use this chance to acquire the Morgan Group in its entirety...¡± ¡°The security forces at the professor''s base are either injured or dead. If that military group is coming for us again, we won''t have a chance to escape at all. We have no choice but to return to the Yorks. And for your sake, the professor made some concessions...¡± Looking at Yelena¡¯s helpless expression, Mnie¡¯s eyes were filled with pain. ¡°My mom¡¯s here, too?¡± she asked. +15 BONOSFrom N?velDrama.Org. Yelena nodded. ¡°She is, but she¡¯s fine. Her sickness has been alleviated by a lot. Once you¡¯re done with the IV drip, you can go visit her.¡± Mnie nodded. She suddenly remembered something and then said, ¡°But the York siblings...¡± ¡°The professor told me everything. Your dad might be my youngest brother, and | now understand why you''ve been hiding your pregnancy from the Yorks. You''re worried that they¡¯ll hurt your baby. But don¡¯t worry; it''ll be even more difficult for them to do anything to us when we''re here. Both Joseph and | are watching,¡± Yelena consoled her. She had no other information at all. Mnie thought it over and nodded in agreement. Only the Yorks had the power to protect her mother, her baby and her at this time. ¡°Pam, do you remember more about the past?¡± she asked again. Yelena¡¯s speech was a little slower, but she could already act like other normal people when it came to other things. Yelena shook her head as she rxed. ¡°After that shock back on the ind, my condition suddenly became somewhat better. | can speak fluently now, and | can even remember some parts of my past. They¡¯re all in fragments... But that¡¯s not important anymore. I¡¯m already very lucky to be able to speak andmunicate.¡± ¡°You said that Madam Morgan is severely ill? Where is she right now?¡± Mnie asked again. ¡°| heard that she¡¯s still in Harbor City, resting in a hospital owned by the York. | heard that she¡¯s already unconscious,¡± Yelena sighed. ¡°The professor told me that we were great friends, but | can¡¯t remember anything about it.¡± ¡°What about Morgan Group? Has it already been acquired by the Yancey? even if Jeffrey isn¡¯t around, isn¡¯t there anyone capable of controlling the situation?¡± She felt pained when she mentioned Jeffrey''s name, and she instantly frowned. ¡°Not yet, but soon.¡± Yelena then said, ¡°Madam Morgan is also quite skilled. With her around, everything should be fine. But with her being so sick, how can she control the splintered groups within thepany? | believe that the Yanceys have already nted spies within the Morgan Group, waiting for this day toe.¡± ¡°The Morgans¡¯ son has been staying overseas all this while and has never controlled apany in his life. Even if he were to come back, the people under him won''t obey him at all.¡± +15 BONOS When Mnie heard it, she closed her eyes. Jeffrey had said that if there ever was a chance, he would tell her about the story between his parents. He also said that his family had some connections with the Yanceys in the first ce. But after that, they''d never had the chance to have a chance to sit down quietly and chat. She didn¡¯t know much about her parents, and she didn¡¯t even know who they were, nor why they hadn¡¯t shown up even after so many years and never appeared in the huge business empire that was the Morgan Group. ¡°Are we simply going to watch Morgan Group get acquired?¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Yelena stopped her. ¡°The Yorks won''t interfere. | can feel that the Yanceys have already spoken with Joseph.¡± Since she couldn''t remember much about the past yet, she still called him Joseph. ¡°But | want to help Morgan Group.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I had a misunderstanding with Jeffrey. He died trying to save me. Morgan Group became like this because of me. | can¡¯t stand by and watch.¡± ¡°How are you supposed to help them?¡± Yelena looked at Mnie¡¯s huge belly and stopped her. ¡°If anything happens to you, what will happen to Jeffrey''s child? You should give birth to your child first, what do you say?¡± Chatper 486 Chapter 486 The Frost Family Mnie touched her belly with her lips shut before nodding after a while. She couldn¡¯t protect herself at this stage. If she were to go back to lead and fight for the Morgan Group, how could she guarantee her child¡¯s safety? Then she had to give birth to her child first. Even if the Yanceys had already acquired the Morgan Group, she could find ways to recover the group¡¯s losses. ¡°Pam, can you get all the recent information regarding the Morgan Group and the Yanceys to me?¡± She asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you won''t interfere?¡± Yelena frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. | know what is more at stake here, but | still need to make the necessary preparations right now so that | can know them like | know myself. Only then can | strike a criticalBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. victory over them after I¡¯ve given birth,¡± Mnie said in a gentle tone. Only then did Yelena nod and order the other servants to gather information for her. ¡°But there¡¯s something | need to remind you of.¡± Yelena remembered something and got closer, then whispered to her, ¡°This time, when | took you and your mom back here to rest, | didn¡¯t say anything to them, but everyone here is being very respectful of you. Joseph also cares a lot about you, almost at the same level as he did me.¡± ¡°You''re trying to say that they already realized my identity?¡± Mnie asked. Yelena nodded. Melena blinked and said, ¡°To be honest, after my first visitst year, they had already sent someone to investigate my familial rtionship. More than once, | think, but both results weren¡¯t that great.¡± ¡°How can that be?¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t understand why. ¡°After | give birth to my child, I''ll need to ask the professor for a thorough DNA test to find out what happened,¡± Mnie answered. Mnie was going to go intobor as the time passed. The butler personally arranged a maid for +15 BONOS When Joseph heard that she was awake, he personally came over to visit her together with the two York siblings. The servant helped her down from the bed. Because she had slept for too long, even with the IV drip, Mnie was still quite weak overall. She needed someone to help her walk, and she was quite slow as well. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about this. You apanied Yelena when she¡¯s sick. Now, you can stay here and give birth to your child in peace. This is the repayment my family will give you for taking care of her,¡± Joseph said. ¡°That¡¯s right. Stay here and don¡¯t worry about anything. I''ll take good care of you like you''re our little sister,¡± Leo said with a nod. Meanwhile, Harlow simply let out a snort and mumbled, ¡°Like a little sister? So when she has her child, are you going to give her your share of the inheritance?¡± While it was just a mumble, everyone could hear Harlow¡¯s words clearly. ¡°Harlow!¡± Joseph mmed his walking stick on the ground violently. ¡°Are you getting ahead of yourself again after you''re in charge of the family business again?¡± Earlier, after Harlow had again and again crossed Mnie and she decided to face him head on, Elder Gibson and Jeffrey worked together with her to force the Yorks to lock him up and give up his authority. Now that the Morgan Group had lost their influence and Mnie couldn''t even protect herself, as well as the fact that what had happened had passed for quite a while, the Yorks had once again slowly let Harlow out into the public and restored his powers. ¡°Grandpa...¡± Joseph was the only person that Harlow would lower his head for. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. | simply didn¡¯t like to see how fake a certain someone is.¡± After saying that, he then peeked at Leo and said, ¡°Earlier, you asked me to fight to cooperate with Delfino¡¯s Frost family. | spent a lot of effort, but the Frost family also put a lot of effort into protecting their secrets to the point where the walls erected around them were imprable! No one can speak to Mr. Frost if they¡¯re not someone that the family acknowledges! But even then, | was able to gather some information despite that wall of theirs!¡± ¡°What''s the one thing that can find holes through an imprable wall?¡± Leo sneered. 243 ¡°You''re cursing at me!¡± Only then did Harlow realize that Leo was saying that he was a rat, and he was instantly angered. ¡°You started it,¡± Leo said with a cold smile. Yelena and Mnie both sneered as well. Joseph shook his head and coughed. His two grandchildren... Harlow had never learned anything in school properly, and his talents in business were only so- so. However, he was not someone with grace, and he spoke whatever went through his mind. Leo was theplete opposite, but he would act high¡ª and-¡ªmighty everywhere he went... He was an arrogant man... The butler behind them said, ¡°Enough! Master Joseph had only recovered somewhat recently! Master Harlow, please continue. What did you find out about the Frost family? Delfino had always been something that thepany couldn¡¯t breach through. If you can reach an agreement with the Frost family, then we can spread our reputation in Delfino.¡± Harlow red at Leo. The kid had been directly opposing him again and again in public, as if he had already changed...It was like he had found someone that could support him! ¡°| heard that the scion the Frost family has hidden has been sick all these years. His illness is something that gnaws at Mr. Frost¡¯s heart all this while. If we can find a doctor to treat his illness, he wouldn''t reject us. That¡¯s our chance to get into the Frost family,¡± Harlow said with confidence. ¡°What illness?¡± the butler asked. ¡°| heard that he¡¯s deaf!¡± Harlow¡¯s eyes narrowed with contempt. Chatper 487 Chapter 487 Confession ¡°The young Master Frost isn¡¯t young anymore, why didn¡¯t the Frost family not treat his deafness? Even if we want to use this excuse to meet with Mr. Frost, we can¡¯t bring someone without enough skills. Otherwise, they will believe that we¡¯re simply toying with them.¡± the butler analyzed. ¡°Professor Turner is with us, right? If he¡¯s not a good doctor, who is?¡± Harlow said without shame. Yelena cleared her throat and then gracefully said. ¡°It¡¯s already thanks to Mnie that the professor agreed toe here to treat me. Now that he¡¯s cured my illness, he¡¯s our benefactor, not our servant.¡± ¡°Since he came to us because of Mnie, so it means that Mnie can help! Now that she¡¯s staying here for free and can even take advantage of our security, won¡¯t the professor help us once more for her sake?¡± Harlow cried out arrogantly. Mnie frowned, feeling a little pain in her belly. She bent over and moaned. Yelena quickly said, ¡°Go get the professor!¡± ¡°You! Leave now! If anything happens to Mnie, we''ll see how you clean up this mess!¡± Yelena screamed at Harlow. Harlow was shocked. He really did need the professor¡¯s help, so he quickly left. Professor Turner came and checked up on Mnie. She was simply being too emotional, but the baby inside was fine. When Yelena saw Mnie was upset, she then told everything that had happened just now to the professor. Mnie quickly said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything for me, professor! It¡¯s not a good feeling having to stay under another''s roof, but | can handle it.¡± The professor shook his head and sighed. ¡°Even if | wanted to help you, | can''t.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yelena asked. ¡°All those years ago, the Frost family dide looking for me. | checked his ears when he was still little. His illness couldn''t be treated. Otherwise, with the Frost family¡¯s influence in Delfino, he wouldn¡¯t have remained deaf for the past thirty odd years,¡± the professor exined. So that was why... +15 BONOS ¡°Then that¡¯s for the best. If Harlow asks for your help, you don¡¯t have to do it just for me,¡± Mnie said with a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s Harlow¡¯s responsibility. | heard from Joseph that thepany seems to intend to gain a foothold in the raw material industry, which is the Frost family¡¯s territory. He has to do it whether he¡¯s capable or not,¡± Yelena said. ¡°The Frost family is also involved in perfume blending, but they¡¯re not that well known. | believe that they¡¯re in a very niche market?¡± Mnie asked. Yelena nodded. ¡°The Frost family focuses mainly on incense and not perfume. However, they have a monopoly on the production of special¡ªgrade Agarwood. | heard from the staff reporting to Joseph that almost all the Agarwood from the nearby countries are not for export. Now that the Yorks need a breakthrough, they need Agarwood. That''s why they need to be partners with the Frost family.¡± Mnie nodded. So that was what happened...... Mnie had been staying with the York for free for about half a month. But thanks to Yelena and Joseph, even Harlow couldn''t do anything other than muttering a few words every now and then. Even then, she was still learning traditional medicine from Professor Turner and didn¡¯t dare let herself have any leisure time at all. When it was after lunch in the afternoon, a servant from the gate came and asked, ¡°Ms. Jones, there¡¯s a friend outside that wants to see you. He said hisst name is Lindsey.¡± ¡°Gabriel?¡± Mnie blinked. ¡°Please ask him toe in.¡± ¡°He has already met with Master Joseph in his room. He said he will be hereter,¡± the servant said. Mnie nodded. Gabriel was a prodigy in the perfume blending industry and also a youth that Joseph admired. If Gabriel was here, it was natural for him to pay a visit to Joseph first. After about half an hour, Mnie heard someone knock at the door, and Gabriel appeared outside her room escorted by a servant. She stood up to greet him as she supported her back with her hand. YAK}Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Gabriel gave her a rare, gentle smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to change so much after a while.¡± It simply exined why she had changed after her pregnancy, so it didn¡¯t make her feel so awkward. ¡°Have | grown fat?¡± she asked with a smile. Gabriel walked over and looked around the room. ¡°Compared to a normal pregnant woman? You''re too skinny.¡° Mnie smiled. ¡°Sit. You don¡¯t have to stand to greet me,¡± Gabriel said, feeling like he had changed when he was in front of her. He was much more attentive as well. ¡°Let''s have a walk in the garden. Pregnant women needed to walk everyday and | haven¡¯t reached today¡¯s quota yet.¡± She said. Gabriel didn¡¯t oppose it. He watched out for her as she climbed down the stairs, and the two of them bathed in the rays of sunlight as they slowly walked. ¡°| heard what happened to you.¡± Gabriel broke the silence first. ¡°Unfortunately, | was harvesting some wild fruits in the mountains when that happened. | wanted to make some unique fragrances, you see. | didn¡¯t know what happened, or | wouldn¡¯t have been sote...¡± ¡°To be honest... | dide here to look for you earlier. | even went to that party weing the return of Yelena York into the family. But, when | heard that Jeffrey had announced that you¡¯re married to him... | left without saying hello to you.¡± Mnie paused, her footsteps bing slower. Was he... Confessing his feelings? Chatper 488 Chapter 488 Where Is He Burled? ¡°You''ve changed a lot too. | remember you being very pushy in the past. You didn¡¯t have this kind of patience...¡± Mnie smiled and changed the subject, trying to stop the awkwardness. ¡°You changed me.¡±From N?velDrama.Org. Gabriel smiled. ¡°From the moment that | almost died for you in the mes and you saved me, I¡¯ve been starting to be more normal now.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Mnie didn¡¯t expect that he would steer the conversation back, and she lowered her head. She had just lost Jeffrey and was having a child, and even her dreams were filled with Jeffrey... Gabriel had really chosen a good time to express his feelings... ¡°I''m not someone that can read social nuances. You know that. I''ll say whatever | want to say,¡± Gabriel smiled. He then changed the subject after he finished his confession. ¡°When are you expecting?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Mnie couldn¡¯t quite grasp such a sharp change in topic. ¡°Three more months.¡± ¡°Can you still enter the fragrance blending room?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°To be honest, the main reason I¡¯m here is that | need your help.¡± Gabriel then told her the reason. He had been trying to blend a fragrance, but felt that he was missing something no matter what he tried¡ªhe couldn''t find the scent that he wanted. ¡°I thought about it, and only you can help me. | know that it¡¯s a bit sudden to suddenly say something like this at this time.¡± Mnie forced a smile and said, ¡°I''m... no longer blending any fragrances...¡± Gabriel frowned. He didn¡¯t ask why, because he knew. ¡°| won''t ask you to blend it personally, but can | pick your brain for a moment? Maybe all | need is a clue and | can create a fragrance that will be famous for generations.¡± Gabriel didn¡¯t give up. ¡°Alright. I''ll give it a try,¡± Mnie could only agree to it. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Gabriel said happily and instinctively adjusted the hearing-aid in his ear. ¡°I¡¯ve asked for Joseph''s permission to borrow a fragrance blending room. It¡¯s right in the backyard. +15 BONOS Mnieughed and nodded. He was truly a man obsessed with fragrances, Gabriel took the perfume that he¡¯d blended into the fragrance blending room. Mnie followed him in after changing Into work clothes. She needed to wear a men¡¯s extrarge sized overall so that she could zip it up to her chest. ¡°Give it a whift. Why do | feel like my middle note isn¡¯t that holistic? As if the scent is a bit extreme?¡± Gabriel handed the perfume to her, asking questions excitedly, She took the bottle closer and gave it a smell. The orange blossom scent of the top note was quite lively, but obviously, he¡¯d added a little something for the middle note... Agarwood? Mnie couldn''t help but raise her head and looked at Gabriel curiously. ¡°You added agarwood?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a new direction, right?¡± Gabriel said, waiting to be praised. Agarwood was mainly used in incense. Few fragrance blenders would use it in perfumes. ¡°This is perhaps why you can¡¯t find the bnce point for your middle note,¡± Mnie said urately. But she¡¯s also scared that she would demotivate Gabriel, and so she said, ¡°Well, the early adapters will always be the one that does the exploring. I''ve never used agarwood, but | believe that since you added magnolia, daffodil, andmon stock into it... You want to make a perfume that could make someone happy, don¡¯t you?¡± Gabriel nodded. He knew that Mnie was a beloved prodigy of the fragrance blending industry! She was able to discern a perfume¡¯s secrets from just one whiff.. ¡°But you''re not using normal agarwood. Normally, they¡¯ll only use Honeb Wood or Albuswood, but you used the best type of agarwood: Yarawood!¡± Mnie continued to analyze. Gabriel''s eyes lit up. ¡°You could tell all that!¡± ¡°| had a chance to smell agarwood once.¡± Mnie fell into deep thought as she held the fragrance in her hand. Normally, the people in the past used to grade agarwood depending on buoyancy. She had been and Yarawood. +15 BONOS Out of all of them, Yarawood was the most precious. On one hand, its formation was veryplicated: it could only be extracted by a farmer after a tree had been infected by a unique kind of fungus for hundreds to thousands of years. ¡°Yarawood is known for its powerful and unique smell. That¡¯s why these flowers, which will usually make people happy, can¡¯t bnce it.¡± Mnie said as she thought of possible ways to deal with it. ¡°Why don¡¯t you use rose, cananga, and white musk?¡± Gabriel frowned and gave it a thought before his eyes opened white. ¡°How can you get it right in one try? Why didn¡¯t | think of that? It¡¯s not like it¡¯s a uniquebination...¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t think of that? Or are you letting me think of that?¡± Mnie pouted and frowned, saying, ¡°Agarwood can help lessen stress, insomnia, and depression. I¡¯m feeling much better after smelling it.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Gabriel was surprised. ¡°You found out?¡± ¡°You''re a genius. How can you not think of that?¡± She waved her hand. ¡°To be honest, | did try to improve on it in that direction, but it wasn¡¯t as good as your rmendation. I¡¯m going back to give it a try right now!¡± Gabriel said with a smile. ¡°No matter what, | owe you one today. If you need my help, just let me know!¡± Mnie¡¯s expression suddenly changed, and she looked at him. ¡°Gabriel Lindsey... Is that your real name?¡± ¡°What?¡± Gabriel was confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He had hearing problems, and could easily use something like Yarawood in his form, and she remembered that Gabriel had told her that he was from Delfino... She couldn''t help but be suspicious... Just when she was going to ask him more about it, his mobile rang. It was Annie. She got up and picked the call up as she walked to the window. 3/4 +15 BONOS Annie¡¯s voice was getting a little anxious from the other side. ¡°Mnie, I''ve been investigating the Morgans for a while now. But... They didn¡¯t get a cemetery plot for Jeffrey... And | still haven¡¯t found out where he¡¯s buried...¡± Chatper 489 Chapter 489 Hatred One month ago. When Annie heard that Mnie and Jeffrey were in trouble overseas, Annie wanted to fly over to be with her. However, Professor Turner told her that Mnie was in the York residence, and it wouldn¡¯t be good to have too many people there. Once Mnie was awake, Annie still wanted toe over, but Mnie had wanted her help to find out where Jeffrey was buried as well as the condition the Morgan Group was in. She was asking Annie to be her eyes back in the country. Annie could only stay to investigate what Morgan Group did to Jeffrey''s body, but when she dug deeper, she realized she couldn¡¯t find where he was cremated or where his grave was. Jeffrey seemed to have suddenly disappeared Into thin air, as if he had never even existed. ¡°Could it be that he never died?¡± Mnie¡¯s voice trembled as she held the window Instinctively. Every time she dreamt of him in the middle of the night, she would wake up in a cold sweat. It seemed like there was a voice deep within her subconscious telling her that Jeffrey didn¡¯t die, that he was waiting for him somewhere. ¡°Mnie, | know you can¡¯t ept this truth, but everyone that came in to save you saw it. William saw it with his own eyes, too. Jeffrey...didn¡¯t make it... He was already on the spot...¡± Annie said pitifully. ¡°But... If he really did die, why didn¡¯t the Morgan Group bury him?¡± Mnie said, unconvinced. ¡°Maybe they hid it so that the Morgan Group wouldn''t fall into further.chaos?¡± Annie analyzed.¡± But no matter how tightly they keep it a secret, | will find out eventually. Once you¡¯re back, let''s go see him together with your kid. You have to take good care of yourself!¡± Mnie¡¯s face was already filled with tears. Her tears dripped onto her pregnant belly. She only realized it when she felt the slight coldness. Gabriel was still behind her, and she didn¡¯t want to lose herposure. She pretended to raise her hand and waved as she wiped her tears off. ¡°Sure. What about everyone else?¡± ¡°| did as you asked and told my men to keep a close watch on Nathan and Mr. Lincoln. Nathan¡¯s quiet, discreet and suspicious, but Mr. Lincoln seems to be fine. He gave his all while working for yourpany, and he would always be thest one to leave work every day.¡± Annie said. Mnie closed her eyes... She could never forget that night they were in that sealed room in that ship. Jeffrey had tried to exin that the man behind her mother getting into the ident, killing the driver, Judas, setting the ind on fire, kidnapping them... all of It was caused by Nathan. That he orchestrated all of it. But she was too angry at the time, and she didn¡¯t believe him. But now that she thought about it, why did Nathan hate them so much?Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. What had exactly happened all those years ago? Mr. Lincoln had personallye to Medonia so that he could show her the proof that the Morgan Group did harm her father. If Jeffrey was innocent, could Mr. Lincoln be innocent too? Her father¡¯s death, her mother¡¯s injury, Jeffrey''s death, Morgan Group''s copse... Nathan seemed to have a hand in all of this. What were the Yorks and Yanceys'' role in this? She instinctively touched her huge belly. She had to keep her head low for now, but it was fine. Once she had fully recovered, she would personally reveal the secrets behind all these mysteries! She gritted her teeth as the thought crossed her mind. She then told Annie that she was safe before hanging up. ¡°Looks like I''ll have to leave behind a bottle. You can give it a whiff whenever you''re unhappy.¡± Gabriel raised his eyebrow and exposed her. The edge of her lips twitched. She couldn¡¯t smile. Gabriel wasn¡¯t going to stay for dinner. He wanted to leave after seeing her. Mnie realized that she hadn''t finished her questioning yet. ¡°Did you sign any agreement with the Frost family in Delfino?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gabriel didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Looks like you didn¡¯t, yet you can still easily have ess to Yarawood. Doesn''t that mean you have a special rtionship with them?¡± she deduced. She looked at Gabriel¡¯s expression. He was wearing the face of someone whose secret had been exposed. She knew she¡¯d gotten it right. ¡°Are you the scion of the Frost family?¡± Chatper 490 Chapter 490 You Will Treat Me ¡°How did you guess?¡± Gabriel asked in surprise. ¡°I¡¯ve used my mom¡¯sst name since | was little.¡± ¡°The Yorks needed the Frosts¡¯ help in somethingtely, so I''ve learned more about them. You''ve hidden yourself so well,¡± Mnie said. Gabriel smirked and said, ¡°I¡¯ve left the family since | was very little and | go home very rarely nowadays. Even if they want to, they won''t be able to find out much about me.¡± Looks like he had some story too. Mnie didn¡¯t pursue it. She then led him out and was going to walk him out from the main entrance, but she didn¡¯t expect to see Harlow intimidating Professor Turner in the living room, forcing him to go treat young master Frost''s sickness. ¡°| told you. | tried it a long time ago. The treatment is ineffective,¡± the professor said impatiently. ¡°You''re an internationally renowned doctor, prodigious even. Just because you couldn''t do anything back then doesn¡¯t mean that you can¡¯t do anything right now!¡± Harlow was being very pushy, trying to force the professor to attempt it. ¡°It''s useless now as well. | still can¡¯t do anything about his sickness now,¡± the professor exined. ¡°Why are you being so serious, professor? No one will question your authority. All you need to say is that you''ve thought of something that could treat his ears, and the Frost family will let you try, right? When they ask you to try, you can then stay behind. A treatment''s effectiveness won''t show in just a few days or two, right? Then, | can use this chance to see Mr. Frost!¡± Harlow told him of his ns. ¡°| won''t use my skills to cheat!¡± the professor said in a serious tone. ¡°Don¡¯t you care about Mnie? You know how head-strong she is, right? Not only is she staying in my ce for free, she¡¯s even going to give birth here. She¡¯s going to pay us back one way or another, right?¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t force her to be our servant, right? So... Won¡¯t you do something on her behalf?¡± Harlow wasn¡¯t afraid of offending anyone at all. Instead, he had already decided to use the professor to lie. Mnie and Gabriel stood at the door, listening to how Harlow was forcing the professor to lie to the Frost family in exchange for some business opportunity... 1/3 +15 BONOS Mnie lowered her eyes before raising her head and looked at Gabriel. ¡°How do you feel right now? Listen to them trying to con you in person.¡± Gabriel let out an icy smile. ¡°I have no feelings for my family¡¯s businesses. When ites to businesses, using and lying to each other is the heart of it all. Only the fragrance that | blend can bring true happiness to everyone. If they wanted to con us, then it¡¯s a skill to be able to con us in the first ce.¡± Mnie pouted. Gabriel had always been quite unique with his approach to things. ¡°But you know, | hate owing people favors. And | identally owed you one just now. Maybe you can use this chance to pay me back,¡± Gabriel suggested as he looked at her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She asked. ¡°Why don¡¯t youe and treat me?¡± Gabriel¡¯s words were shocking. ¡°Use the method that they were discussing to con me just now and say that you might have a way to treat my ears. Then, you can stay in my ce and let the Yorks discuss cooperation with them.¡± He suggested without an indifferent attitude. ¡°But you know that I can¡¯t treat you,¡± Mnie said. ¡°What are you afraid of? I¡¯m not asking you to actually cure me anyway.¡± Gabriel let out a faint smile. ¡°You can stay at my ce for a while. Then, I¡¯ll tell my family that my ears can sometimes hear something. Then, you''ll instantly be my family¡¯s benefactor.¡± Seeing that Mnie still wanted to refuse, Gabriel waved his hand. ¡°Someone will con me eventually, so I''d rather give you this chance.¡± Mnie could feel her eyes bing red. Gabriel cared for her. When he heard how Harlow was being so offensive toward her, he also found out that he was staying as a guest in the Yorks¡¯ residence. He wanted her to be the Yorks¡¯ benefactor as well, all to shut Harlow up. ¡°You probably know what the reason is when |e over to see you this time. | didn¡¯t want anything more, and | didn¡¯t want you to burden yourself. However, I¡¯m happy to be able to do all this for you.¡± Gabriel said sincerely. Mnie gulped. She would be lying if she were to say she wasn¡¯t moved. But all of this would only make her miss Jeffrey even more. It pained her to feel the longing for STCopyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. 2/3 She didn¡¯t want to owe anyone anything as well, and so she raised her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not blending fragrances anymore and am learning about medicine now. Other than inheriting what Professor Turner had taught me, | also have my own understanding when ites to traditional medicine. Show me all the diagnoses and treatments you went through since you were little. Maybe... | really might be able toe up with something to treat your ears. Chatper 491 Chapter 491 | Didn¡¯t Want Your Inheritance ¡°There¡¯s nothing bad about my condition right now anyway.¡± Gabriel raised his hand, removing his hearing aid inside his ear, his clear eyes looking at Mnie. ¡°Look. The world is now at peace... And | enjoy it very much.¡± Mnie was astonished as she looked at him, frozen. He really was a special prodigy.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°However, in order to make you feel better, I¡¯ll give you all that old information, my beautiful doctor,¡± Gabriel said and put his hearing aid back on. Then, he nced at the living room with disdain. ¡°I''ll leave from the side door. I¡¯m not going in.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Mnie nodded and saw Gabriel leave. ¡°Master Harlow. By Master Joseph¡¯smand, you''re not allowed to make it difficult for Professor Turner.¡± At this time, the butler hurriedly entered the living room and stopped him. ¡°It''s not that I¡¯m trying to make it hard for them, but haven¡¯t you heard about the rumors in thepany? Now that Aunt Yelena came back with two kids, thepany is in a lot of chaos. | don¡¯t know why you suddenly want to take Mnie in and take such good care of her. Now that she¡¯s going to give birth to a child, how will the other shareholders think about it? Are all the kids that are staying in this house going to receive a share of it?!¡± Harlow said angrily. The butler looked at him as if he was stuck between a rock and a hard ce. It meant that Harlow wasn¡¯t lying. But from his words, it seemed like he didn¡¯t know that the Yorks were suspicious of her identity. Or was he simply trying to take his anger out on her? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my child won''t want your inheritance.¡± Mnie slowly walked into the living room, holding the back of her waist. Yelena came down from upstairs with an icy tone. ¡°And you can also tell Joseph that Shane and Pam are my children, and not the Yorks¡¯. They don¡¯t need any inheritance as well. | can take care of them myself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what | meant, Aunt Pam. I¡¯m simply letting everyone know the shareholders¡¯ worries,¡± Harlow said, not wanting to offend Yelena. ¡°However, this is not something anyone can prove. Even if you set up a press conference and announce it openly, no one will believe it,¡± Harlow said before giving Mnie a stare, intentionally provoking her. ¡°What do you say, Mnie?¡± ¡°Aren''t you tired after saying so much?¡± Mnie walked up to Harlow and stood up straight. ¡°In conclusion, there¡¯s only one thing that keeps bugging you. That I¡¯m staying here for free. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll prove my worth. The professor can¡¯t treat Young Master Frost¡¯s deafness, but | can.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Harlow was stunned for a second before he started cackling. ¡°Are you crazy? How long have you studied with the professor? And you''re able to treat patients already?¡± ¡°| thought that the result wasn¡¯t important at all? All you want from this is a chance to meet with Mr. Frost and whip up a business deal, right? Even if we''re found out, they¡¯ll turn their wrath on me. What are you afraid of?¡± Mnie spoke to him with her head raised high. ¡°Mnie...¡± Professor Turner stood up and shook his head at her. He knew about Young Master Frost''s illness. It was something that he was born with and extremely difficult to cure. With her skills, she wouldn''t be able to treat him at all. Mnie simply shook her head with a smile, signaling that she could deal with it. And at that moment, Harlow also understood that. He was going to let Mnie try. He would make her move into the Frost family residence. While she treated Young Master Frost''s illness, he would sign the cooperation between the twopanies and leave as soon as possible! Leaving Mnie alone there! With the young master¡¯s illness not being cured, he could then release news to the public to make the Frosts believe that Mnie didn¡¯t have any medical skill! That she was a criminal, trying to con them out of their money! The Frost family would never let a con woman like her escape! Then, both her and her child could forget about leaving that ce alive! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!