ã€ŠMarried in a Flash Embarking on the Journey to Wealthã€‹


 Chapter 1

    Married in a sh: Embarking on the Journey to Wealth

    Webfic

    The time was 4:27 pm. As was her usual routine, Aurelia was tidying her desk before her work hours ended.

    She ignored her constantly buzzing phone beside her. The calls were probably from her boyfriend, Seth, about his failed

    proposal yesterday.

    At 5:00 pm, Aurelia reached for her phone to clock out and one of the texts caught her attention. ¡°Ms. Aurelia ¡ª you are indebted

    to the hospital for a total of 157,321.61 dors. Please proceed to our finance counter to make your payment as soon as

    possible. For any inquiries, please call 87*****!!

    Aurelia felt a sense of helplessness as she stared at her phone.

    Depleted by the hospitalization expenses and faced with her mother¡¯s incurable illness, Aurelia had no choice but to wait for the

    inevitable as her funds were exhausted.

    It was her adoptive parents who had given her a new life when she was abandoned as a newborn infant. Herte father¡¯s wish

    was for her to care for her mother.

    How could she stand idly by in the face of her mother¡¯s death?

    With no other option avable, Aurelia had tried to ask Seth for a loan. However, he declined her request, saying that he did not

    have that kind of money.

    She didn¡¯t want to force the matter. After all, he had only proposed to her. They weren''t officially married.

    Yet, yesterday, he took to his social media to boast about his newly purchased car, which was worth over three hundred

    thousand dors.

    Aurelia had stared at the post in her social media feed,pletely frozen for over a minute.

    When she finally returned to reality, she immediately called him.

    Without exining, Seth began to talk nonstop.

    ¡°Aurelia, | bought the car intending to marry you. Consider the three hundred thousand dors as my investment in our future. |

    paid one hundred thousand dors in full, and the remaining two hundred and twenty thousand dors are on loan. We''ll pay it

    off together after we get married.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, once we''re married, let''s sell your parents¡¯ small house and buy arger one. My

    parents have lived in the code for too long. It¡¯s time for them to enjoy city life. They''ve

    raised me, and it hasn''t been easy. As a daughter-inw, | hope you can understand.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and the property prices in Seacester are so high. We can use my sry to cover the mortgage, and your sry will be for

    our family¡¯s living expenses. How does that sound? I¡¯m being considerate of you. After all, you won''t have any rtives in the

    future. Marrying me means you be a part of the Martinez family. As a woman, you should be understanding and not dwell

    too much on things.

    375

    Aurelia was so furious that her entire body trembled.

    It was within Seth¡¯s rights to turn down her request for a loan. But then, he had the gall to target her adoptive parents¡¯ fortune

    while her mother¡¯s life was hanging by a thread!

    Even his ns for her family home wereid out so transparently that his intentions were clear as day.

    It took Aurelia a full three minutes to collect herself, and with firm resolve, she turned down Seth¡¯s seemingly charitable marriage

    proposal.

    ¡°Seth, let''s break up.¡±

    It would be a lie for Aurelia to say that it didn¡¯t hurt to break up with Seth who had been her boyfriend of three years but she was

    far from naive about his intentions now.

    Parting amicably seemed to be the most sensible choice for her.

    She was preupied with her mother¡¯s medical expenses and had no time to argue with him.

    Coming back from her reverie, Aurelia shook her head, attempting to dispel the unpleasant

    emotions.

    She noticed her colleagues giving her peculiar looks as she exited the building.

    She didn¡¯t have a clue why until she heard Seth¡¯s voice from across the street.

    ¡°Aurelia, over here.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s colleagues looked at her enviously as she turned to see Seth, looking sharp in a suit, holding a bouquet of roses, and

    leaning against his new car.

    However, she found the new car too shy, almost as if it were mocking her. All her emotional investment into their three-year

    rtionship couldn¡¯t evenpare to the value of a brand-

    new car.

    Seth approached with a smile, presenting the flowers to Aurelia in front of everyone, prompting catcalls from the onlookers.

    ¡°Seth, you''re quite the romantic. How can us single folks endure something like this?¡± A colleague eximed.

    Achorus of gasps echoed around them.

    ¡°Oh my goodness, Aurelia. You''re so lucky. Seth bought you a car. | hope my future boyfriend treats me this well.¡±

    ¡°It''s only natural. After all, | love Aurelia so much.¡±

    While Seth appeared deeply affectionate, his gaze signaled for Aurelia to quickly ept the flowers and not embarrass him in

    public.

    Aurelia remained silent.

    Besides feeling angry, she was speechless.

    When Seth, an outsider who hade to the city in search of opportunity, had proposed to Aurelia, her mother hadn¡¯t requested

    any dowry. All she asked was for Seth to treat Aurelia

    well.

    Yet, fully aware of her mother¡¯s illness, Seth hadn¡¯t inquired about her health throughout the time she was hospitalized.

    Her mother was already dead to him and he was aiming for her inheritance.

    Now, he even pretended to be a romantic and lied that he had spent 30,000 dors on a car for her, leading others to believe she

    was fortunate.

    If people learned about their breakup, they would criticize her for not appreciating his supposed kindness.

    Ignoring themotion, Aurelia sidestepped Seth.

    His smile faltered and he forcefully grabbed Aurelia¡¯s wrist.

    ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t y petty games. | came here to apologize in person today. Don¡¯t push your luck. There are so many people

    watching. Do you want to embarrass yourself?¡±

    His words carried the expectation that Aurelia should unconditionally embrace his apology, especially considering the effort he

    took to personally deliver flowers.

    Gazing at Seth, Aurelia felt an unusual sense of unfamiliarity.

    He was the one who had insisted on marrying her even after her mother fell ill. Initially, she thought she was fortunate to have a

    good man like him. Now, she regretted not seeing through his intentions sooner.

    ncing at the flowers before her, Aurelia countered, ¡°Seth, is the car really for me?¡±

    Seth assumed she was softening up and chuckled, ¡°Of course. I¡¯m your exclusive driver from. now on, no matter what happens.¡±

    As the onlookers, especially the younger girls, were enchanted by the romantic scene, Aurelia poured cold water on the situation.

    ¡°Alright, prove it! Show everyone whose name is on the car documents.¡±

    Silence fell.

    Seth pursed his lips and remained silent.

    People sensed something amiss and urged, ¡°Seth, didn¡¯t you buy the car for Aurelia? Show it to us. Let''s see whose name is on

    the documents.¡±

    Seth¡¯s face turned ashen instantly.

    Aurelia calmly said, ¡°Clearly, the car was bought for himself, but he insists on saying it¡¯s for me. Well then, let''s transfer the

    ownership tomorrow, shall we?¡±

    With her words, everyone understood Seth¡¯s intentions, and their gazes toward him changed. Not wanting to embarrass himself,

    Seth awkwardlyughed, ¡°She¡¯s just kidding. We had a minor disagreement. She¡¯s just throwing a tantrum.¡±

    After saying that, he scowled at Aurelia.

    In a hushed tone, he warned, ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t go too far. Besides me, who else would dare to marry someone like you who is

    dragging along a burden?¡±

    Aurelia clenched her teeth, her almond¡ª-shaped eyes veiled with coldness.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, | won¡¯t marry you or anyone like you. Since you don¡¯t want a peaceful

    ion, don¡¯t c me to spare your feelings.¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    Before Seth could respond, Aurelia turned to her colleagues.

    ¡°Everyone, Seth and I have broken up.¡±

    With that, Aurelia walked away towards the intersection without looking back.

    With simmering anger, Seth angrily caught up with Aurelia, pulling her into the nearby parking lot.

    ¡°Aurelia! Are you ready to call it quits just because | won''t lend you a hundred grand? What about the three years we''ve spent

    together?¡±

    What about it? She could only chalk it up to bad luck!

    ¡°Yes! It''s precisely that hundred thousand dors! | won¡¯t marry you if you don¡¯t have the money!¡±

    In a hurry to visit her mother in the hospital, Aurelia didn¡¯t want to argue with him and decided to go along with his words.

    As Seth was about to retort, the horn of a car sounded beside them.

    The driver rolled down the window.

    ¡°Sorry, we need to go. Can you move?¡±

    We?

    Through the tinted windows, Aurelia noticed a tall figure in the back seat, but the specially tinted ss made it impossible for her

    to see the person¡¯s face clearly.

    The driver honked again, and she quickly stepped aside.

    As the car drove away, the logo and license te became visible.

    ¡°Maybach, 11111.¡±

    Who could afford such an expensive car?

    As Seth was captivated by the luxurious vehicle, Aurelia took advantage of his inattention to

    leave.

    She needed to catch the subway that was scheduled in less than ten minutes.

    However, Seth caught up. He firmly gripped Aurelia¡¯s hand and tried to persuade her.

    ¡°Aurelia, | know it was wrong not to inform you about the car purchase in time, but you can still use it in the future.¡±

    Aurelia found his wordsughable and forcefully pulled her hand

    away.

    ¡°Use it? Didn''t you say it was bought for me? How quickly you changed your mind! Do you think | broke up with you just for the

    money? It¡¯s because you were scheming against me! If you don¡¯t want to lend me money, fine, that¡¯s your money. But you don¡¯t

    need to pin the car purchase on me! Don¡¯t try to have it both ways!¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s words exposed the truth, leaving Seth with an even more unpleasant expression.

    ¡°It seems my mom was right. You only want the money for your mom! Aurelia, can¡¯t you be more realistic? Your mom¡¯s illness is

    a burden that will only drag you down. It¡¯s better to let her die now. In the future, my parents will be your parents. If you take good

    care of them, they will treat you like their own daughter.¡±

    Aurelia clenched her fists, suppressing her surging nausea, as she red at Seth upon hearing his words.

    ¡°Shut up! If anyone¡¯s going to die, it¡¯s you! Not my mom! Seth, | never forced you to marry me. You took the initiative to propose.

    If you think my mom is a burden, you can break up with me, and I''ll respect you for being honest. But you don¡¯t need to be

    duplicitous, saying one thing behind my back and another in front of people.¡±

    ¡°My mom has treated you well, providing you with good food and hospitality. | never asked for a penny in the marriage

    discussions. Yet, you¡¯re guarding against me while having designs on my mom¡¯s house! Trying to get me to abandon my mom?

    Your family¡¯s intentions are truly disgusting!¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s wordspletely infuriated Seth, who couldn¡¯t help but expose his true nature.

    ¡°Aurelia, your mom is only good to me because | am a capable man! If she doesn¡¯t curry favor with me, where will she find a

    good husband for you?¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Tha

    none of your concern.¡±

    Aurelia couldn''t be bothered to look at him.

    ¡°Fine, | know you''re angry. I''ll give you time to cool off first and you cane find me when you''re ready to apologize and ept

    my proposal. You won¡¯t find a better man if you miss out on me!¡±

    Arrogantly, Seth forcefully shoved the flowers into Aurelia¡¯s hands, turned, and left in his new

    car.

    A gust of cold wind woke Aurelia who had been stunned on the spot.

    She tossed the flowers into the trash and hurried towards the subway station.

    On the way to the hospital, she struggled to maintain herposure, contemting how to handle her mother¡¯s medical

    expenses.

    Just when she felt utterly helpless, her phone rang.

    It was her friend, Linda.

    They met on the subway when Aurelia helped her clear her name when an elderlydy had tried to take advantage of a

    confusing situation to extort money from Linda.

    Their friendship unexpectedly blossomed, which led to them frequently getting together for meals and shopping.

    Answering the call, Aurelia was met with an urgent plea from Linda.

    ¡°Aurelia,e help me quickly.¡±

 Chapter 2

    Aurelia didn¡¯t have time for many questions.

    She hurriedly exited the subway and hailed a taxi to the address Linda had sent her.

    It was an upscale restaurant.

    It had a romantic setting with crystal chandeliers, a wall adorned with fresh flowers, and the gentle hum of instrumental music

    radiating an air of sophistication.

    Asign stood tall outside the entrance, reading ¡°Social Golf Club.¡±

    Was this a subtle matchmaking event?

    Aurelia¡¯s mind was filled with question marks.

    Linda had mentioned being divorced for a long time. Could this be an attempt at...te-life romance?

    Linda aged gracefully, looking more like someone in her early forties than her fifties. She was always elegant in her attire, so

    finding apanion wouldn¡¯t be challenging.

    But why did she invite her?

    As Aurelia pondered, a hand reached out to pull her behind a cluster of greenery.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''ve finally arrived.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Linda? Why are you out here? Are you here for a blind date?¡± Aurelia inquired.

    Linda chuckled as she removed her sunsses.

    ¡°At my age, I¡¯m not interested in dealing with the hassle of a man. It¡¯s my son who¡¯s on at blind date today. Unbelievably, he¡¯s

    stuck with a shameless woman. He¡¯s ignoring her, and she¡¯s already badmouthing him. | convinced my son to attend this blind

    date, and | don¡¯t want this woman ruining it for him. Can you go in and help me handle the situation?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Linda, don¡¯t worry. Which one is your son?¡± Aurelia reassured, supporting Linda, who was visibly upset.

    ¡°By the window, second table. He¡¯s wearing a ck shirt. His name is Leslie, thirty years old, 189 cm tall, with an average

    personality but good looks. And he¡¯s...¡±

    ¡°Stop, | see him. You don¡¯t need to tell me all the details,¡± Aurelia interrupted.

    After all, it wasn¡¯t her blind date.

    Aurelia brushed aside the foliage before her. She spotted the man seated near the window, his back facing her.

    Though his face was concealed, his tall, imposing figure exuded a chilly presence.

    His slender hand gracefully held the ss, and the champagne inside entuated the ivory- like whiteness of his fingers as it

    swayed gently.

    The ss reflected his profile, showcasing a sense of depth and tranquility.

    On the other hand, the woman sitting across from him in an off-the-shoulder gown didn¡¯t

    look pleased.

    Despite her attractive appearance, her eyes were filled with disdain, and she frequently raised an eyebrow, appearing somewhat

    sharp.

    Observing this, Linda nudged Aurelia. ¡°Aurelia, I¡¯m counting on you.¡±

    ¡°Well, but...¡± Aurelia gestured towards the people in the hall and said, ¡°Can | enter such an upscale social event?¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. I¡¯ve got it covered for you. If anyone stops you, just show them this card. They''ll surely let you in.¡±

    Linda handed her a card adorned with an orchid.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed.

    Holding the card, she entered the hall, where a polite waiter intercepted her. ¡°Miss, may | please see your invitation card?¡±

    Aurelia presented the orchid card. The waiter¡¯s expression momentarily froze before he lowered his arm and respectfully

    nodded. ¡°Miss, pleasee in.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Aurelia looked at the card in her hand, wondering what kind of card was this powerful.

    Could Linda have joined as a member for her son¡¯s blind date? A parent¡¯s love knew no bounds.

    Careful not to lose the card, Aurelia ced it in her bag and walked straight to the window. Even before she could speak, she

    heard the acerbic voice of the woman.

    ¡°Who do you think you are? Everyone in this ce is worth a fortune. You, a programmer pulling in a measly twenty grand,

    cruising around in a run¡ªdown Volkswagen. If it weren¡¯t for your half-decent looks, do you really think I''d pay you any attention?

    ¡°| was just showing you a bit of courtesy and letting you treat me to a drink. If you don¡¯t apologize, I¡¯ll ensure no one here bothers

    to talk to you. You would have squandered quite a sum on those membership fees.¡±

    The

    woman finished with a disdainful snort, but her gaze greedily fixated on the man¡¯s face. Her fingertips coquettishly twirled strands

    of hair around her chest.

    Aurelia found her aggressive tone unbearable and quickly approached, standing before the table. ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°I''ll talk to him then. If this youngdy isn¡¯t interested, please don¡¯t waste our... time.¡± As Aurelia spoke, she turned her face

    toward Leslie.

    But her words suddenly caught in her throat when she tried to speak.

    The strikingly handsome face made a powerful impression on Aurelia.

    His dark, expressive eyes, illuminated by scattered starlight, held a captivating blend of emotion and detachment, stirring the

    hearts of onlookers.

    He was genuinely handsome but not a bit effeminate. His features were cool and reserved, and a slight furrow added a

    compelling presence that seemed overwhelming.

    Chapter 2

    Leslie casually nced at Aurelia, his gaze slightly intense.

    He was bemused at the coincidence of meeting the hundred¡ªthousand¡ªdordy from the car park and wondered if she had

    come for a blind date after breaking up with her boyfriend.

    Aurelia felt uneasy under his gaze.

    She didn¡¯t recognize him so it puzzled her why he was looking at her that way.

    The woman across noticed Leslie staring at Aurelia and stood up

    in anger.

    ¡°Look at her, dressed in such poor attire. She¡¯s just pretending to be rich here. What¡¯s good about her?¡±

    ¡°At least her face is real. | don¡¯t like the artificial look of technology,¡± Leslie replied calmly.

    Leaning back, he lit a cigarette, letting the smoke veil his face, giving off a casually dangerous vibe.

    The woman turned pale, quickly stood up, and sneered, ¡°Just a poor loser who doesn¡¯t appreciate good things.¡±

    She deliberately bumped into Aurelia while leaving the table, giving her a fierce re.

    Aurelia felt a sharp pain in her shoulder, but she swiftly responded by extending her foot.

    ¡°Ah!¡± The woman stumbled and fell to the ground.

    Aurelia pretended to be nervous and said, ¡°Miss, it looks like your nose is a bit crooked.¡±

    The woman covered her nose and stumbled out.

    Conscious of Leslie¡¯s gaze, Aurelia suppressed a smile and promptly regained aposed demeanor.

    A familiar voice came from behind as she was about to exin why she was here to Leslie.

    ¡°Aurelia? What are you doing here? Are you betraying me?¡±

    It turned out to be Seth.

    Wait, wasn¡¯t this a matchmaking event?

    One moment, he talked about marrying her. The next moment, he appeared at an event like

    this.

    What right did he have to say anything about her?Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Aurelia turned around, looking at Seth coldly.

    ¡°Why do you get to be here and | can¡¯t? Besides, there¡¯s no betrayal between us. We''ve already broken up.¡±

    Seth¡¯s eyes red with anger. Hemanded, ¡°Go home. This isn¡¯t a ce for you.¡±

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t be bothered with him and sat directly across from Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, pay no attention to him. Let¡¯s continue.¡±

    Leslie remained silent, smoking indifferently,pletely ignoring Seth.

    Seth, feeling slighted by another man, found it intolerable. He nced at the identification

    card on Leslie''s table and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.

    ¡°Aurelia, this is your next partner? A mere programmer? Can he satisfy your conditions?¡±

    ¡°Seth! It¡¯s none of your business!¡± Aurelia warned, looking at Seth.

    But Seth, finally grasping an opportunity to salvage his pride, wasn¡¯t willing to let it slip away.

    Leaning on the table, he approached Leslie and looked down at him condescendingly.

    ¡°Buddy, | don¡¯t mean to cause any trouble, but I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve been deceived. She was with me over an hour ago and is now

    meeting you. She¡¯s trying to pass the buck to you. Don¡¯t you know how greedy she is?¡±

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia¡¯s hand beneath the table tightened.

    In their three years of rtionship, she always thought they would maintain some dignity. even if they broke i

    She never expected to be viewed so poorly by him.

    She took a deep breath and picked up the ss before Leslie, sshing it on Seth¡¯s face.

    ¡°Wake up! Do you want to check the identity card on your cor? Department Director? When did you rise to that position? An

    annual sry of a million? tform Credits? What rights do you have to talk about others?

    ¡°Aurelia!¡±

    Seth stared in astonishment at Aurelia. He had never imagined that the obedient and sensible girl would resist.

    Due to Aurelia¡¯s words, people around pointed fingers at him, fueling his embarrassment and

    anger.

    Without a second thought, he swung his hand toward Aurelia.

    However, Leslie intercepted him, gripping his wrist and pressing it onto the table, causing him to grimace in pain.

    While Seth grimaced, Leslie remained calm and indifferent.

    He even took a moment to pinch the cigarette between his fingers, letting the faint tobo. scent linger in the air.

    His expression remained impassive as he spoke, ¡°Fake watch, fake ne, fake belt, fake identity. Membership fees here are

    not cheap. If you don¡¯t want to be exposed and thrown out, | suggest you get out of my sight immediately.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Seth''s eyes widened.

    He bought meticulously crafted replicas. How could a programmer possibly see through them? ¡°Three, two...¡± Leslie began a

    countdown, his voice low and steady.

    ¡°Fine, I''ll leave.¡±

    Seth pulled his hand free, adjusted his coat with dissatisfaction, and shot a disapproving look at Aurelia, pointing at his identity

    card.

    ¡°Aurelia, before long, this will be my status. | know you love me deeply. I''ll give you the

    chance to regret losing me.¡±

    ¡°Just go away.¡±

    Aurelia found even a single word from him grating.

    As Seth departed, Aurelia looked at Leslie with gratitude.

    Before she could express her thanks, another figure sat down beside her.

    ¡°Aurelia, congrattions on breaking up with that son of a bitch. He started attending these matchmaking events a month ago to

    lure women.¡±

    It was Linda speaking.

    Aurelia realized that Linda had purposely brought her here to expose Seth¡¯s true nature. A month ago, her mother fell seriously

    ill.

    It turned out that Seth¡¯s so-called unwavering love was all an act.

    He had considered her a fallback option while actively seeking a better way out.

    ¡°Ms. Linda, thank you,¡± Aurelia said, feeling relieved.-

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. To get back on track, how about you marry my son?¡± Linda suggested. Aurelia was left speechless.

 Chapter 3

    Aurelia momentarily thought she was hearing things, cautiously ncing at Leslie, only to

    find himpletely unsurprised.

    So... Leslie''s blind date was her?

    Linda continued, ¡°Aurelia, my son, as you can see, is a good-looking workaholic. At least your children will be beautiful in the

    future.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Children? Aurelia was even more bewildered, having no idea how to respond.

    Leslie raised an eyebrow, ¡°Mom, that¡¯s enough. | need to get back to the office.¡±

    Linda rolled her eyes and said, ¡°Office, office all the time. Why not just marry thepany?¡±

    Leslie shrugged. ¡°If that¡¯s an option.¡±

    Linda, frustrated, turned to Aurelia and chuckled, ¡°Aurelia, | won¡¯t hide it from you. I¡¯ve wanted you to be my daughter-inw for

    a long time. Unfortunately, you had a boyfriend, so all | could do was silently wish you well. Who knew your boyfriend wouldn¡¯t

    appreciate you? If he doesn¡¯t want you, | do.¡±

    With that, Linda held Aurelia¡¯s hand, the warmth and softness of her grip reminiscent of Aurelia¡¯s mother.

    Thinking of her mom, Aurelia felt a sense of pain in her chest.

    Perhaps, if she agreed to marry Leslie, Linda could help her mother.

    But she didn¡¯t dare to agree hastily. After all, marriage was a decision involving two people. She carefully looked at Leslie.

    Leslie''s tone was indifferent, ¡°Mom, do you really want me to get married?¡±

    Linda was persistent. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Leslie''s eyes nced over Aurelia.

    ¡°Fine, then let''s get married.¡±

    She was just a gold digger. Someone easily appeased with money.

    Aurelia was slightly taken aback. She hadn''t expected Leslie to agree so easily.

    Linda turned to her, asking softly, ¡°Aurelia, do you want this?¡±

    Feeling lost, Aurelia thought it necessary to exin her family situation, ¡°Ms. Linda, my family is going through some difficulties,

    and | might...¡±

    Her voice choked in her throat.

    Perhaps Linda¡¯s overwhelming concern had stirred unexpected emotions in her.

    Not wanting to delve into Aurelia¡¯s sorrowful matters, Linda promptly interrupted, ¡°Alright, alright. | believe in your character. As

    long as you nod, we won''t mistreat you. So, do you agree?¡±

    Aurelia gratefully looked at Linda and nodded with determination, ¡°Yes.¡±

    She felt she had no choice with a stack of overdue bills in her drawer.

    While selling the house was an option, the lengthy process with real estate agents might not provide a timely solution.

    Her mom couldn¡¯t wait any longer, even though medical expenses were covered for now.

    Despite Leslie¡¯s quick agreement, he had yet to give Aurelia a proper look.

    If they parted ways in the future, there would be no hard feelings.

    Linda pped her hands with joy, ¡°Great! Tomorrow is an auspicious day. You two should get the marriage license. You

    youngsters can decide the wedding arrangements. Now, take the time to get to know each other.¡±

    Aurelia politely extended her hand to Leslie and greeted, ¡°Mr. Synder, nice to meet you. I¡¯m Aurelia. | look forward to getting to

    know you better.¡±

    Without looking at her, Leslie raised his hand, not for a handshake but to hand her his ID card, saying briefly, ¡°Information about

    me is here.¡±

    Aurelia epted the ID card, noticing Leslie wasn¡¯t in the mood for conversation.

    She stood, ¡°Mr. Synder, Ms. Linda, | must go now. Take your time.¡±

    ¡°Wait, Aurelia, exchange numbers with Leslie. If you need anything, you can look for him on WhatsApp,¡± Linda said, pushing

    Leslie''s number towards Aurelia.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Aurelia added Leslie¡¯s number. His WhatsApp contact showed a nk profile picture.

    With that, she left the restaurant.

    Linda watched Aurelia leave and turned to Leslie, ¡°ID card? Since when did you be a programmer?¡±

    ¡°Just now. | hope you won''t expose it,¡± Leslie replied casually.

    ¡°Why? Aurelia is a good person. You don¡¯t need to be this guarded against her.¡±

    ¡°You''ll never know,¡± Leslie responded nonchntly.

    Hearing this, Linda frowned.

    ¡°Leslie, is it because of my divorce from your dad?¡±

    ¡°Mom, you''re overthinking. I¡¯ve promised to marry the woman you approve of. | hope you won''t interfere in my affairs again.¡±

    Leslie¡¯s stern words sent a shiver down Linda¡¯s spine, even as a mother.

    Whenever Leslie''s despicable father was mentioned, his demeanor would turn cold.

    Linda pressed her lips together and remarked, ¡°Leslie, one day, you will find that Aurelia is different from the women you¡¯ve

    encountered.¡±

    Leslie remained unruffled, ¡°Is that so?I¡¯m afraid you''ll be disappointed. | don¡¯t make mistakes in judging people.

    Aurelia wasn''t much different from Seth. She would do anything for money.

    She broke up with her boyfriend for a hundred thousand dors, then immediately met at stranger for marriage. Every move and

    decision revolved around money, without a mention of love.

    Leslie agreed with the marriage, reassuring his mother and providing a convenient way to spend money post-divorce in the

    future.

    ¡°I''m heading back to the office.¡±

    Leslie stood up, his tall figure breezing through like the wind.

    Despite the absence of sound, his imposing presence attracted everyone¡¯s attention.

    Linda whispered, ¡°Watch out for a p in the face.¡±

    When Aurelia exited the restaurant, darkness had already fallen.

    Aurelia was afraid of missing the visiting hours at the hospital, so she had to take a taxi straight there.

    She hurried into the intensive care unit.

    Her mother, Ava Watson,y unconscious. There were tubes and wires connected to her body.

    Each time she pushed open the door, Aurelia hoped to see Ava smiling and calling her name as before.

    But every time, her hope was in vain.

    The family member of the patient on the neighboring bed nodded slightly, ¡°Aurelia¡¯s here. Why are you sote today?¡±

    ¡°| had something to attend to.¡±

    Aurelia exined as she walked to her mother¡¯s bedside, cing her bag down.

    She gently touched her mother¡¯s face, seeking sce in the warmth, desperately holding on to the feeling that her mother hadn''t

    left her.

    ¡°Aurelia, the doctor came looking for you again today,¡± the family member from the neighboring bed informed her.

    ¡°Alright, | understand. Thanks.¡± Aurelia sighed.

    It was probably about the overdue bills, pushing for payment.

    At that moment, the caregiver, Sophia Elliot, entered the room carrying a kettle.

    Seeing Aurelia, she put down the kettle and approached her. ¡°Ms. Simmons, can we talk outside?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Aurelia followed Sophia out of the hospital room.

    Once outside, Sophia got straight to the point.

    ¡°Hey, Aurelia, this guy in the next room is willing to pay me five hundred a day. Your mom¡¯s not doing great, hardly moving, and

    I''ve got to look after her three times a day. It¡¯s taking a

    toll, you know? You''re only chipping in two-fifty, and | get that you¡¯re the only person doing everything, but you can¡¯t just walk

    away. So, what''s your take on this?¡±

    Sophia pinched her fingers together, indicating a request for a raise.

    Aurelia experienced a sharp pang in her chest.

    When shecked support, some seemed bold enough to exploit the situation.

    She needed to earn money to cover her mother¡¯s medical expenses, but it was impossible to stay at the hospital all day.

    Besides, she had already sold all the valuable jewelry at home.

    Due to caring for her mother this month, she missed several days at work.

    Thepany had expressed dissatisfaction, so she couldn''t afford to take more leave.

    She also couldn''t risk leaving her unconscious mother alone in the hospital.

    Unexpectedly, this situation had turned into a reason for Sophia to demand a higher fee.

    Aurelia pressed her lips together and tried to remain calm. ¡°Auntie, didn¡¯t we agree on the price before?¡±

    Sophia expressed dissatisfaction, ¡°Ms. Simmons, it¡¯s not easy to find someone with my skills nowadays. If you don¡¯t increase the

    pay, | will stop working for you.¡±

    She had a point. Aurelia had indeed searched extensively before finding Sophia.

    Sophia, seeing Aurelia¡¯s silence, furrowed her brow.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, your mother has been unconscious for so long, and she can¡¯t be left alone for a moment. You need to think

    carefully. If | leave, what if something happens to your mother...¡±

    Aurelia frowned as her eyes turned cold.

    ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±

    ¡°I''m just looking out for you. You wouldn¡¯t want to be an orphan, would you?¡±

    Sophia tilted her head back, adopting a posture that suggested Aurelia had no choice.

    Aurelia red at Sophia, promptly taking out her phone and transferring the wages for the past few days.

    ¡°Ms. Elliot, since you''re so eager for the ¡®big client¡¯ next door, | won¡¯t stop you.¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    Sophia appeared a bit flustered upon noticing the money in her ount.

    Waving her hand, she remarked, ¡°You''re a stubborn one. But okay, three hundred and fifty at day, and I''ll stick around to help

    out.¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± Aurelia replied.

    She knew the talk about a big client next door was just an excuse. Compromising now would only invite more trouble.

    Angered by the rejection and from losing her job, Sophia pointed at Aurelia¡¯s face, scolding,¡± never seen a daughter as

    ungrateful as you. What¡¯s wrong with spending money on your mother? You can¡¯t even afford to hire a caregiver. Are you going

    crazy from being broke or what?¡±

    ¡°Get lost. Otherwise, I''ll tell everyone in the surrounding wards what you said. Let¡¯s see who''s going to hire you afterward.¡±

    ¡°Y¡ª-you... You are bad news!¡±

    Sophia muttered a curse and hurriedly left, clearly feeling uneasy.

    Aurelia, gazing at the empty hallway, took a deep breath. Her nose tingled.

    She couldn''t afford to back down now. She had to save her mother.

    She forced a smile as she turned back to the room.

    Aurelia believed her mother could sense her emotions, and she didn¡¯t want to worry her.

    With Sophia gone, Aurelia wasted no time. She prepared a basin of water and gently wiped down her mother¡¯s body.

    Exhausted, she held her mother¡¯s hand and leaned by the bedside, drifting off to sleep.

    At 6:30 a

    am, the rm jolted Aurelia awake.

    She wiped her mother¡¯s face after a quick shower in the hospital bathroom.

    Since she had a client meeting today, she needed to rush home to change.

    Before leaving, she asked the neighbor to watch her mother. Then, at the nurse¡¯s station, she picked up a small card from a

    caregiver agency, noting the contact information.

    Aurelia went down to the first floor to pay the fee with the bit of money she had.

    It was meager, but it was better than being kicked out of the hospital.

    Back home, she changed into clean clothes.

    She checked her phone bnce as she headed downstairs to grab a quick breakfast.

    Turning around, she entered the neighboring bakery instead.

    Before 10:30 am, they offered discounted overnight bread. It had three items for ten dors.

    It was a budget-friendly option for the entire daypared to instant noodles.

    Aurelia arrived early and selected three of thergest bread items before heading to the subway station.

    While she was on her way, Leslie¡¯s nk WhatsApp profile picture popped up.

    ¡°8:00 am. Civil Affairs Bureau. Don''t bete.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    He was indeed a workaholic. He could even make getting a marriage license sound like a negotiation.

 Chapter 4

    Aurelia arrived early at the Civil Affairs Bureau, finishing her bread just as Linda unexpectedly showed up.

    ¡°Ms. Linda, what brings you here?¡± Aurelia inquired.

    Linda smiled as she spoke, ¡°I couldn¡¯t bear to miss such a significant

    With that, she reached into her bag and handed Aurelia a carefully wrapped gift, emphasizing the importance of the asion.

    ¡°Aurelia, going forward, Leslie will lean on you quite a bit. Consider this a small gesture of a mother-inw¡¯s affection,¡± Linda

    conveyed, her eyes radiating warmth.

    Perplexed, Aurelia opened the gift to find a five hundred-thousand¡ªdor cheque.

    She looked at Linda with disbelief, saying, ¡°This is too much. That¡¯s not necessary.¡±

    Linda stopped Aurelia from returning the check. She smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s not too much. You deserve it.¡±

    ¡°Me... Deserving?¡±

    Aurelia widened her eyes. Lately, she had been bombarded with words like, ¡°You''re about to be an orphan, who would want you?

    Who would still like you? Who would protect you?¡±

    Her boyfriend of three years betrayed her, and even the caregiver bullied her.

    She had thought she was about to be abandoned by the world, but at this moment, she felt a longlost warmth.

    Aurelia, who had been holding back for a long time, teared up.

    There were too many words in her mind, but she didn¡¯t know where to start.

    ¡°Ms. Linda, thank you.¡±

    ¡°Silly child, | know you''re going through a tough time. | understand you may be reluctant to ask me for help. Soon, we''ll be a

    family, and you don¡¯t have to pretend to be tough in front of me. ept it with peace of mind,¡± Linda said, gently patting Aurelia¡¯s

    head.

    Aurelia felt a warm sensation in her chest.

    No matter how much they gave, those who truly loved you never seemed enough, while those who didn¡¯t love you felt like they

    took too much.

    Such an example was the Martinez family.

    Unwilling to give and wanting even more from her.

    As Linda spoke, she suddenly leaned closer to Aurelia¡¯s face.

    ¡°You''re getting married today, and you¡¯re not wearing makeup?¡± she asked.

    Aurelia shook her head and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t makeup not allowed for ID photos?¡±

    Linda chuckled heartily, ¡°Why are you such an honest child? Something as important as a lifetimemitment can¡¯t be taken so

    casually. Luckily, | brought some makeup. I''ll give you

    a makeup look that enhances your natural beauty.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia couldn¡¯t suppress a wry smile. Linda was familiar with the concept of pseudo-natural makeup

    Before Aurelia could refuse, Linda¡¯s foundation had already been applied to her face. She had no choice but to let Linda do her

    makeup.

    A few minutester, Linda looked at Aurelia with satisfaction.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''re naturally beautiful. Why don¡¯t you dress up more often?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Linda, you don¡¯t have tofort me.¡±

    Aurelia thought of Linda¡¯s words as mere constion.

    She wasn¡¯t considered particrly beautiful, at least not in her own eyes.

    During her college days, some people hadplimented her on her looks, but things changed after getting together with Seth.

    He oftenmented on herck of skill in applying makeup. As her workload increased, she gradually abandoned the practice,

    at most opting for a touch of lipstick for a hint of color.

    ¡°Really, you...¡± Linda was about to speak when a ck Volkswagen pulled up, interrupting her.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Aurelia was captivated by the figure stepping out of the car.

    It was Leslie.

    He exuded a casual,id¡ªback vibe, dressed in a ck shirt and trousers with a couple of buttons undone at the cor.

    As he ascended the steps, a gentle breeze tousled his smooth hair, and his deep, handsome features gleamed in the morning

    sunlight.

    Perhaps she had been staring for too long as Leslie turned his head and caught her gaze, causing Aurelia to freeze momentarily.

    Feeling somewhat self-conscious, she quickly lowered her head and nervously tugged at her messy hair.

    Leslie''s gaze lingered on Aurelia¡¯s face, showing no sign of withdrawal.

    Was she the same woman from yesterday?

    Aurelia¡¯splexion was unusually fair, with only a few freckles as imperfections.

    With some makeup on, Aurelia¡¯s face lit up with a gentle, rosy glow in the sunlight, presenting a delicate allure that starkly

    contrasted with her pale and weary appearance from the previous

    day.

    As Leslie approached, his eyes caught the sight of the fifty-thousand check in Aurelia¡¯s hand, and his expression turned abruptly

    cold.

    So, she was asking for money so soon?

    Aurelia was nudged by Linda and approached to greet him. ¡°Hi, Leslie...¡±

    ¡°I need to get back to f

    straight into the hall.

    office for a meeting. Hurry up,¡± Leslie interrupted and walked.

    It seemed Leslie truly harbored no favorable feelings toward her. Even his casual acknowledgment felt dismissive.

    However, Aurelia refrained from saying anything for Linda¡¯s sake and followed Leslie into the building.

    The

    number of couples getting married that day was sparse.

    Filling out forms and taking photos, the entire process took around twenty minutes.

    Aurelia received the marriage certificate and looked at the photo on it.

    For a few seconds, her mind went nk before she could believe she had indeed gotten married.

    It must be acknowledged that Leslie appeared exceptionally photogenic.

    Surprisingly, she didn¡¯t look bad either. She hadn¡¯t expected the civil affairs bureau¡¯s camera to capture her in such a ttering

    light.

    Linda happily approached to admire the couple¡¯s marriage certificate.

    ¡°Such a beautiful couple. My judgment is indeed impable.¡±

    After a round ofpliments, Linda took a key from her bag and handed it to Aurelia in front of Leslie.

    ¡°Aurelia, this is the key to Leslie¡¯s apartment. Move in today, cultivate your rtionship, and let me have my grandchildren soon.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Linda!¡± Aurelia hesitated, feeling too embarrassed to look at Leslie.

    ¡°Still calling me ¡®Miss¡®? Call me Mom,¡± Linda chuckled.

    Mom, don¡¯t tease me like this.¡±

    Aurelia felt awkward.

    ¡°Alright, | was just joking. I¡¯m not the kind of mother-inw who pressures her daughter-in-w to have two kids in three years.

    But since you''re already married, are you nning to live separately? What do you think, Aurelia?¡±

    Linda looked at Aurelia earnestly, almost pleading for her to agree to cohabitation.

    Thinking about Linda¡¯s kindness to her, Aurelia couldn¡¯t bear to refuse.

    Moreover, they had the marriage certificate now, and legally married couples living separately wouldn¡¯t make sense.

    She also couldn''t just take the money without fulfilling her responsibilities.

    Aurelia was thinking about taking things one step at a time.

    ¡°Okay, I''ll move in today.¡±

    As she said this, she felt a cold and piercing gaze and turned to look at Leslie.

    She looked back.

    What''s he looking at?

    Was he having second thoughts about Aurelia moving in and nning to discuss it with Linda?

    Leslie raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

    Few dared to scrutinize him so boldly. She indeed had quite the audacity. Was she so eager to move into his home?

    ¡°Thinking about moving in so eagerly?¡± Leslie squinted.

    He then withdrew his gaze and said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m heading back to the office.¡±

    Linda, displeased, caught hold of him.

    ¡°Will thepany copse without you?¡±

    Leslie nodded indifferently. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Linda fumed. This family was bound to fall apart sooner orter.

    She extended her hand and, in one swift motion, pushed Aurelia into Leslie¡¯s embrace.

    Aurelia bumped against Leslie¡¯s chest. The scent of tobo mixed with a sudden chill enveloped her.

    Taken aback, she tried to retreat, but her well-worn three-year-old heels failed her on the slick surface.

    She began to fall backward, and Leslie extended his long arm just in time, catching her around

    the waist.

    They found themselves involuntarily pressed together.

    ¡°Click, click.¡±

    The camera in Linda¡¯s hands captured the moment, her face beaming with a mischievous joy.

    ¡°What a pity, a kiss would have made it even better. How about...¡±

    ¡°Mom?¡±

    Leslie''s deep voice intervened, stopping Linda from further inappropriate remarks.

    After steadying Aurelia, he curled his fingers, still carrying the lingering warmth.

    He wondered if a woman¡¯s waist was really this slender.

    Embarrassed, Aurelia took a step back, expressing gratitude to Leslie.

    Even though he disliked her, he didn¡¯t just watch as she fell awkwardly.

    Amidst the bustling crowd, just the thought of such a spectacle made her feel utterly embarrassed.

    Linda watched the two of them. She covered her mouth with a smile and gestured towards Leslie.

    ¡°As a husband, shouldn¡¯t you quickly send your wife to work?¡±

    Husband? Wife?

    Leslie and Aurelia paused, exchanging puzzled nces.

    It was an unexpected situation.

    Aurelia promptly declined, ¡°No need. My office is quite close. | can manage on my own.¡±

    She hurried away.

    Leslie watched her retreating figure without much expression, feeling confused.

    Leslie believed Aurelia had chosen the wrong target for her feigned surrender tactic.

    No longer concerned with Aurelia, Leslie turned to Linda.

    ¡°Mom, I''ll have the driver pick you up.¡±

    ¡°No need. I¡¯m going to do some shopping. You go back to the office. But | warn you, don¡¯t bully Aurelia,¡± Linda said with a

    warning tone.

    After her caution, she put on her sunsses and happily went shopping.

    Leslie got into his car and drove away.

 Chapter 5

    Aurelia discreetly entered the office.

    Just as she settled in, her colleague and good friend, Millie, approached.

    ¡°Aurelia, you put on makeup today. Have you reconciled with Seth?¡± Millie teased.

    ¡°| kept saying, Seth¡¯s like a good catch. Dumping him is such a waste. You know how guys are. They care a lot about their pride.

    Could¡¯vepromised a bit, you know? Don¡¯t lose out over something minor,¡± Millie said, shaking her head.

    She looked innocent, but gossiping was her usual game.

    Aurelia, unwilling to exin the reasons behind her breakup with Seth, shook her head and said, ¡°Millie, it¡¯s really over. Let¡¯s not

    talk about him anymore.¡±

    Sensing Aurelia¡¯s irritation, Millie quickly changed the subject, ¡°Alright, alright, | won¡¯t bring it up again. By the way, | heard from

    my secret sources that ourpany might have some. personnel changes.¡±

    Aurelia was about to inquire about the changes when a work message appeared on herputer.

    ¡°9:00 am. Meeting in the conference room.¡±

    Aurelia and Millie nced at the time. There were only three minutes left until nine.

    They quickly grabbed their notebooks and headed to the meeting room without wasting time. on words.

    Aurelia worked as a nner in a renowned advertising agency in Seacester.

    Besides advertising design, they undertook various event nning, from business activities to celebrity entertainment, achieving

    considerable sess.

    In the meeting room, Aurelia had just taken her seat. Zachary entered with a heavy expression.

    ¡°We have two announcements today.¡±

    Everyone promptly opened their notebooks, afraid of missing any work-rted details.

    ¡°Firstly, the boss has assigned a crucial task. It involves nning the opening ceremony for a newpany. The boss is said to

    have a strong background as a returnee elite with substantial financial resources. However, the requirements are challenging,

    and so far, he has rejected proposals from five otherpanies.¡±

    ¡°Secondly, the boss will select, a deputy director between either Aurelia or Kimberly from the nning Department. Whoever

    secures this coboration will be the deputy director.¡± Deputy director?

    Aurelia¡¯s eyes

    got promoted.

    lit

    1. up.

    She wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her mother¡¯s medical expenses if she

    She immediately raised her hand, ¡°Mr. Zeller, what¡¯s thatpany¡¯s name? | want to try to contact them.¡±

    ¡°Hold on!¡±

    The one speaking was Aurelia¡¯spetitor and nemesis in thepany, Kimberly.

    Kimberly was a returnee. She was not only young and beautiful but also had an influential uncle who owned apany.

    The day she was parachuted into the nning Department, she caught the attention of the entire building.

    However, an ordinary employee like Aurelia had no idea what she had done to offend Kimberly.

    Every time, Kimberly would be sarcastic and insinuating to her.

    Zachary looked at Kimberly in confusion and asked, ¡°Kimberly, do you have any questions?¡±

    Smirking, Kimberly rested her chin delicately on her hand, a mischievous smile ying on her refined face.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, | don¡¯t have any questions, but Aurelia might. | heard her mother is seriously ill, and she has taken several days off

    this month. I¡¯m afraid she won''t be able to handle both. The boss values us so much. It wouldn''t be unfair if something happened

    to her due to personal issues, even if | win. Not to mention, it wouldn¡¯t be good for thepany¡¯s image.¡±

    She spoke as if she had already won.

    Aurelia halted, her pen momentarily suspended over the notebook. She lifted her eyes to Kimberly, seated opposite her at the

    table.

    In the past, she couldn¡¯t be bothered with the office politics yed by Kimberly, her rival. However, this promotion opportunity

    was not something she could afford to lose.

    She assured Zachary, ¡°Mr. Zeller, | promise my personal matters will not affect my work.¡± Kimberly''s lips curled slightly, a sly glint

    in her eyes.

    ¡°Aurelia, | do believe in your capabilities. However, | heard your boyfriend caused a scene at thepany¡¯s entrance after work

    yesterday. Doesn''t that count as an impact? Thepany is not a marketce. It made us look bad.¡±

    Hearing this, Zachary furrowed his brow and turned his attention to Aurelia.

    Aurelia sighed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. There won''t be a next time.¡±

    Kimberly seemed eager to say more, but Zachary interrupted by tapping on the table.

    ¡°Alright, we¡¯re discussing work here, not personal matters. You two, present your proposals in a week.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Aurelia nodded understandingly.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Kimberly muttered under her breath, displeased that she couldn''t change Zachary¡¯s decision.

    Zachary briefly summarized everyone''s performance from the previous week and concluded the meeting.

    As he rose, he pointed at Aurelia and Kimberly.

    ¡°Both of you,e to my office to get the information on thepany.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Aurelia and Kimberly nodded and followed Zachary into his office.

    As Aurelia skimmed through the documents, she recognized the name One Technology. It was a familiar name.

    She assumed the new richpany would have demanding requirements without delving further.

    Surprisingly, there were only a few words: ¡°Align with thepany philosophy.¡±

    Anyone with nning experience knew that more straightforward requirements often meant. more challenging tasks.

    Zachary settled into his seat and smiled.

    ¡°What do you think? How confident are you?¡±

    Kimberly''s eyes sparkled with confidence as they swept over the five words of One Technology.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, you can rest assured. | won''t let you down.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Zachary nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Aurelia.

    ¡°And you?¡±

    ¡°| haven''t figured it out yet,¡± Aurelia replied, pursing her lips.

    She couldn''t boast about her chances without understanding One Tech''s requirements.

    Zachary furrowed his brow but didn¡¯t me her.

    He continued, ¡°This is a rare opportunity. If you miss it, who knows when the next one will

    come.¡±

    The implication was clear, missing this chance meant uncertain prospects for the next promotion.

    The atmosphere in the office tensed, and Aurelia even received a discreet re from Kimberly. ¡°Alright, get to it,¡± Zachary said

    with a wave of his hand.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Aurelia and Kimberly exited the office.

    Aurelia¡¯s path was blocked by Kimberly, who sensually tossed her hair.

    ¡°Dear Aurelia, | won¡¯t give in to you this time. | know your mom is unwell, so you don¡¯t have. topete with me. Once | be

    the vice director, I''ll take good care of you.¡±

    Aurelia was ustomed to Kimberly¡¯s snide remarks.

    These words didn¡¯t faze her at all.

    She politely smiled and replied, ¡°Thanks, considering what you just said, you¡¯ve let me off plenty of times before. This time,

    there¡¯s no need to hold back. Since it¡¯s apetition, may the best person win.¡±

    Kimberly''s hand stiffened.

    Her exquisite eyeshadow couldn''t conceal the sharp gaze directed at Aurelia.

    How dare Aurelia mock her for usually losing to her!

    This was precisely why she disliked Aurelia.

    Despite her superior education, appearance, and family background, Aurelia won clients¡¯ favor.

    Aurelia¡¯s sess resulted in people privately mocking or ridiculing Kimberly.

    ete with an

    People mocked her by saying that a well-educated overseas student couldn''tpete ordinary university graduate like Aurelia.

    This time, Kimberly was determined to defeat Aurelia.

    She pulled her lips into a smile and said, ¡°Give it your best shot, soter, no one can use me of bullying you.¡±

    With that, Kimberly sashayed away.

    Aurelia, puzzled, watched Kimberly¡¯s retreating figure.

    Why did her words sound like she already had the victory in the bag?

    Could it be that Kimberly had already figured out a way?

    Not wanting to be influenced by Kimberly, Aurelia returned to her desk to review the documents.

    One Technology...

    Suddenly, something clicked in her mind.

    She opened her bag and pulled out an ID card.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Leslie, thirty years old, programmer, One Technology.¡±

    No wonder it seemed so familiar. Leslie was an employee at One Technology. Didn¡¯t that mean she could ask Leslie about their

    company¡¯s requirements?

 Chapter 6

    This proposal was crucial for Aurelia, concerning her promotion and sry increase, and influencing her and her mother¡¯s future.

    Despite being married to Leslie, judging by his attitude, she had to n for her future.

    Hesitation aside, Aurelia didn¡¯t care whether she was familiar with Leslie.

    After all, clients went from being unfamiliar to familiar, right?

    She opened Leslie¡¯s WhatsApp.

    ¡°Mr. Leslie, are you busy?¡±

    The message seemed to vanish into a ck hole with no response in sight. Leslie might be upied.

    Half an hourter, Aurelia sent another message.

    ¡°Mr. Leslie, are you at One Technology?¡±

    The message was apanied by a picture of Leslie¡¯s employee ID.

    Aminuteter, Leslie¡¯s reply appeared on the screen, still concise.

    ¡°What''s the matter?¡±

    ¡°Do you know your boss''s preferences? Like, what he likes and dislikes.¡±

    Aurelia was straightforward to avoid wasting Leslie¡¯s time.

    ¡°Are you interested in our boss?¡± Leslie¡¯s reply came after another long minute.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Who wouldn''t be interested in the boss?

    After waiting another lengthy minute, Leslie replied, ¡°He doesn¡¯t like someone like you.¡±

    Huh? Aurelia stared at the chat, momentarily confused.

    What did he mean by ¡°someone like her¡°? Just as she was contemting, she caught her reflection on the ss window.

    Suddenly, she understood Leslie¡¯s implication. Her most prominent feature was probably... being a woman.

    ¡°I got it.¡±

    ¡°Leslie replied with ellipses.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. | won''t casually!

    Leslie might not believe her.

    your boss¡¯s dislike for women,¡± Aurelia added, fearing

    ¡°Nowadays, things are quite open in the country. There¡¯s no need to pay too much attention to such matters,¡± Aurelia¡¯continued.

    Leslie remained silent.¡±

    Aurelia rolled her eyes. This man was truly indifferent. If he chose not to respond, he wouldn''t.

    At his office in One Technology, Leslie put down his phone with a gloomy expression.

    He couldn''t help wondering what on earth was on Aurelia¡¯s mind and how she ended up thinking he liked men.

    Daniel asked softly, ¡°Mr. Synder? Will the meeting still proceed?¡±

    Leslie¡¯s thoughts returned.

    He had wasted three minutes on Aurelia, of all people.

    ¡°Continue,¡± he said expressionlessly.

    On his left, Jason said, ¡°Mr. Synder, Young Advertising would like to coborate with us. They said they would send over the

    proposal for the opening ceremony next week.¡±

    ¡°Young Advertising?¡± Leslie furrowed his brow, recalling his mother¡¯s constant praise for Aurelia¡¯s abilities,beling her as Young

    Advertising¡¯s ace nner, and so on.

    He suddenly understood Aurelia¡¯s subtle intention in approaching him.

    She aimed to leverage his status as a One Technology employee to shortcut securing coboration between Young Advertising

    and One Technology.

    The gold¡ªdigging woman sure had her tricks. However, he was curious to see what kind of proposal someone like her could

    come up with.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, any issues?¡± Jason cautiously asked.

    ¡°None, continue reporting,¡± Leslie repliedposedly, setting a serious atmosphere in the office.

    An hourter, the meeting concluded, and Leslie waved his hand, prompting everyone to rise. As his gaze swept over the room,

    he noticed everyone in the group was men. For some reason, he recalled Aurelia¡¯s misunderstanding about him liking men.

    His slender fingers tapped his forehead twice as he nced at Jason.

    ¡°Jason,e here.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, what do you need?¡± Jason inquired.

    ¡°Hire a few female employees.¡±

    Jason was taken aback. ¡°Didn''t we specify in recruitment that we don¡¯t want women?¡±

    ¡°| said hire,¡± Leslie said nonchntly.

    As others in the meeting room heard this, they all stopped, seemingly frozen.

    It was as if the grumpy boss who hated women had suddenly seen the light.

    They all spoke in unison, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Synder!¡±

    Aurelia stared at the screen with no new messages and sighed, putting down her phone.

    Indeed, relying on others was less effective than relying on herself.

    She began researching, but this was her first time delving into a tech-oriented proposal, and

    Chapters

    many specialized terms left her baffled.

    The entire day passed, and she hadn¡¯t written anything except for the two words, One Technology.

    Not until Millie reminded her did she realize it was almost 5:00 pm.

    Millie leaned on her desk, staring at Aurelia¡¯sputer in astonishment. ¡°Aurelia, have your note up with a proposal yet?¡±

    Aurelia sighed, ¡°No.¡±

    Millie immediately panicked. ¡°Aurelia, you can¡¯t lose to Kimberly! She has always been a bitch to you. If she bes the vice

    director, she¡¯ll make your life miserable.¡±

    ¡°Why the rush?¡± Aurelia stood up to pack her things.

    ¡°| heard from Kimberly¡¯s follower that she has already obtained firsthand information about One Technology!¡±

    ¡°That quickly?¡± Aurelia eximed.

    ¡°Word is her uncle knows someone at One Technology. It¡¯s just a matter of pulling some strings. Now, they¡¯re all waiting in a

    restaurant to celebrate Kimberly¡¯s promotion,¡± Millie whispered.

    Hearing this, Aurelia frowned but worrying wouldn''t help. She wouldn¡¯t admit defeat until the end.

    ¡°Don''t overthink it. We can worry about her after we submit the proposal.¡±

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡±

    Nonchntly, Millie and Aurelia began talking about other things.

    Just as Aurelia exited the elevator, her phone rang.

    It was a call from Seth, waiting for her to regret her decision to break up.

    Without answering, she swiftly blocked his number.

    She was already married, and getting entangled with an ex-boyfriend was not something Linda would approve of.

    After reaching the intersection, Aurelia bid farewell to Millie.

    To save time, Aurelia opted for a taxi ride to the hospital, where she settled the outstanding fees, resulting in a remaining bnce

    of three hundred thousand dors. This amount proved to be sufficient for covering her mother¡¯s surgery and the subsequent

    treatment.

    This allowed her to catch her breath finally.

    Later, in the hospital room, Aurelia met the caregiver she had arranged to interview. The caregiver was Karen Jones,

    approximately fifty years old. She spoke with a slight ent but greeted her with a warm smile and disyed efficiency in her

    mannerisms.

    Aurelia negotiated the terms with her and decided to hire her, then proceeded to the doctor¡¯s

    Office.

    Aurelia¡¯s mother had experienced an unexpected cerebral hemorrhage, causing her to beatose. The examination

    revealed a tumor in a precarious position of her brain.

    The only solution was a craniotomy, but the surgery was very risky, with only a thirty percent chance of sess.

    Yet, if they didn¡¯t perform the surgery, her mother was certain to die.

    Her mother was now her only family, and Aurelia was determined to try even with a ten percent chance.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, the surgery carries significant risks, and we can¡¯t predict when your mother will wake up after. Are you sure you

    want to proceed?¡± The doctor confirmed again.

    ¡°Yes, we must proceed.¡± Aurelia nodded with determination.

    ¡°Alright, I''ll arrange the surgery for you immediately.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    In the end, the surgery was scheduled for a weekter.

    This gave Aurelia a glimmer of hope.

    Perhaps due to the rxed mood, she could hear her stomach growling.

    She had only eaten a piece of bread the entire day.

    She took the remaining bread from her bag and took a bite, but she wrinkled her face and spat

    it out.

    ¡°It''s gone bad!N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    She med herself for keeping the bread in her bag all day in this hot weather.

    Aurelia sighed, throwing the bread into the trash bin.

    Just as she was about to go to a nearby convenience store for food, her phone rang.

    It was Linda.

    ¡°Miss.... Mom, what is it?¡±

 Chapter 7

    ¡°Aurelia, have you moved in with Leslie? | called because | was afraid Leslie might have scared you away,¡± Linda half¡ªjokingly

    remarked.

    ¡°Mom, | promised you, and | won''t go back on my word. Don¡¯t worry. I''ll go back and pack up right away.¡±

    Aurelia could sense Linda¡¯s keen interest in her marriage to Leslie.

    She didn¡¯t want to disappoint the person who had saved her life. However, she wasn¡¯t sure what Leslie thought about their

    marriage.

    ¡°Okay, be careful on the way. If anything happens, just look for Leslie,¡± Linda said as she finally smiled.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    After hanging up the phone, Aurelia dismissed the idea of buying something to eat and decided to take a taxi home.

    The evening hadn''t set in, and she had to act swiftly.

    Upon reaching home, she started packing her bags.

    Besides daily necessities, she had only a few sets of work clothes and casual wear. After packing arge and a small suitcase,

    she looked around her home.

    A family photo from several years ago still hung on the wall. She was held in her parents¡® arms, and they all smiled with squinted

    eyes.

    Unfortunately, those carefree days were gone.

    She walked to the table and touched her father¡¯s memorial tablet.

    ¡°Dad, rest assured, | will save Mom and take care of our home.¡±

    ¡°Oh, by the way, Dad, I¡¯m married now. Not to Seth. So, you don¡¯t need to give him your blessings anymore. It¡¯s not worth it. My

    husband is a... handsome programmer. Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s not bald. He¡¯s quite decent.¡±

    As she finished speaking, her phone rang again. It was an unfamiliar number.

    After a moment of hesitation, she answered, only to hear Seth¡¯s reproachful voice.

    ¡°Aurelia, you actually blocked me? Are you feeling guilty?¡±

    Hearing this, Aurelia rolled her eyes.

    ¡°Seth, | made myself clear yesterday. We no longer have any connection.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia,e on, isn¡¯t it just about the hundred thousand dors? | have my own challenges, too. I¡¯m the only child in my family

    and bear the weight of everything. If | hand over the money to you, what about my parents?¡± Seth exined.

    ¡°That¡¯s why | don¡¯t want it anymore. I¡¯m hanging up. Don¡¯t call me again.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, what happened at the social event was just a misunderstanding. What | said was out of anger. | do have feelings for

    you. You know that, right?¡± Seth softly coaxed.

    Aurelia tightened her grip on the phone, irritated by his voice, wanting to get rid of him quickly.

    ¡°Seth, | don¡¯t know that. How about you transfer the car ownership to me, and I''ll believe you.

    ¡°Aurelia! Are you deliberately doing this? Do you think | can¡¯t find someone else without you? Just wait and see!¡±

    When Seth had to make a significant sacrifice, he reacted explosively, disying heightened sensitivity to the situation.

    Previously, she thought love shouldn¡¯t be about gains and losses, but now she realized she was the only one adhering to this

    principle.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to hear him babble, so she hung up and blocked the number.

    At the same time, footsteps approached behind her. Turning around, she saw Leslie push open. the half¡ªclosed door.

    ¡°Why are you here?¡± She asked in surprise.

    ¡°My mom told me to pick you up.¡°

    Leslie''s voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

    ¡°Wait a moment, I''ll go check the windows and gas,¡± Aurelia said.

    After saying that, she entered the kitchen. She had imed it was to check things, but in reality, she wanted topose herself.

    She didn¡¯t want others to witness her in a chaotic state.

    In the room, Leslie¡¯s gaze coldly scanned the house.

    The decor was a bit dated, but this house was small yet valuable as it was in a good school. district.

    Despite living in such a ce, Aurelia still seemed unsatisfied, her mind preupied with thoughts of money.

    Had Leslie not overheard Aurelia asking her ex-boyfriend for a car, he wouldn¡¯t have believed that a woman could be sucha

    gold digger¡ªasking for money and a car.

    He couldn''t help but admire how well she yed her role before him and his mother.

    At that moment, Aurelia emerged from the kitchen, reaching out to grab her two suitcases.

    ¡°Alright, let''s go,¡± she said.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Leslie responded coolly. Turning, he saw her struggling with the suitcases and extended his hand to take them.

    Even though he disliked her, as a grown man, he saw no need to make things difficult for a woman deliberately.

    Aurelia watched as he took the suitcases and expressed her gratitude, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Leslie ignored her and walked directly to the elevator. Wanting to avoid any trouble, Aurelia silently followed him into it.

    3-4

    The fluctuating emotions throughout the day and not eating anything made Aurelia¡¯s body ufortable.

    Nevertheless, she persevered until they reached Leslie''s car.

    Seeing Leslie help her with the suitcases, she immediately stepped forward.

    ¡°| can do it myself...¡±

    Asudden dizziness overwhelmed her before she could finish her sentence, and her body fell heavily into warm arms.

    Aurelia wasn¡¯t sure how much time had passed when she regained consciousness.

    The intense light above her head made it difficult to open her eyes.

    After adjusting, she rubbed her eyes and saw her surroundings. She was in the hospital.

    ¡°You''re awake.¡±

    Leslie sat beside her, editing something on his phone, not bothering to look at her.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Hypoglycemia,¡± Leslie replied, ncing at his phone with a slight frown.

    Aurelia unintentionally nced at the screen. It was filled with work data she couldn''tprehend.

    It was evident that Leslie was genuinely busy, making her wonder why he was still here.

    Initially, she thought about asking Leslie to help fetch her a ss of water, but she dispelled the idea and tried to do it herself.

    However, her body hadn¡¯t fully recovered. Weak in the limbs, she copsed before making it past the edge of the bed.

    Fortunately, Leslie¡¯s quick reaction prevented her fall.

    Aurelia, detecting Leslie¡¯s tobo scent, promptly adjusted her position.

    Leslie''s gaze turned cold. Was he a virus?

    ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked indifferently.

    ¡°Water.¡±

    Aurelia bit her lip, her voice softer than usual.

    Leslie was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, as if someone had blown a breath in his ear, causing a tingling sensation.

    Aurelia¡¯s usual sweet voice took on a weakened tone, resembling a cherry that had been bitten -sweet and sentimental.

    Leslie ced his phone on the bedside table before heading to the water dispenser to pour her a ss.

    Aurelia epted the water, bowing her head to take a sip. The thick ckshes cast shadows. on her pallid face, intensifying

    her appearance of vulnerability.

    After drinking the water, just as Aurelia was about to sigh in relief, her stomach inopportunely grumbled.

    Both of them stared at each other.

    Aurelia lowered her head, thinking, why did awkward things always happen in front of Leslie?

    In the eyes of her colleagues, she usually appeared verypetent.

    ¡°Wait here,¡± Leslie said briefly before exiting the ward.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    Leaning against the bedside, Aurelia sighed as she observed the remaining half-filled IV bag.

    Nearby, an elementary school student, multitasking between putting up with the IV drip and doing homework, suddenly looked up

    and smiled at her.

    ¡°Miss, my mom says your boyfriend is really handsome.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, surprised at the directness of a young child these days.

    The woman beside the child quickly covered the youngster¡¯s mouth, offering an apologetic smile to Aurelia.

    ¡°Apologies, children are often expressive. | hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Aurelia replied with a smile.

    ¡°l envy you so much. Your boyfriend pushed aside several work calls just to stay with you. He even went to ask the doctor about

    your condition. It¡¯s rare to find someone so handsome and considerate.

    ¡°Unlike me, after getting married and having a child, it''s like my husband disappeared. | work during the day, care for the child at

    night, and when the child is sick, | stay up all night...¡±

    The woman continued to share her struggles, but Aurelia was stuck on the first part of her

    statement.

    Did Leslie do all that?

 Chapter 8

    Leslie always emitted an air of aloofness, cold and detached, perpetually enveloped in a mist that obscured any clear perception

    of him.

    Surprisingly, he turned out to be quite considerate. At least he didn¡¯t leave her alone in the hospital.

    Recalling the past, there was a night when she stayed upte working on a proposal until her stomach ached.

    Afraid to let her parents know, she had called Seth to take her to the hospital.

    However, upon arriving, he mentioned having to meet a client and left her alone in the

    hospital withoutpleting the check-up.

    Later, she learned that the so-called client was just Seth¡¯s friend, and they spent the afternoon ying board games.

    Seth exined that friends could help him introduce clients.

    She empathized with Seth¡¯s ambition to climb the corporatedder and didn¡¯t argue much.

    After all, men needed to have career ambitions.

    Looking back now, perhaps Seth never even took her seriously back then.

    Fortunately, she saw through it.

    Ding! The ringing of the call bell above her head brought Aurelia back to the present.

    Anurse removed the needle from the little student across the room, and the mother¡ªson duo waved at her before leaving.

    Aurelia returned the wave and looked outside, wondering where Leslie had gone.

    Her phone on the bedside table rang as she was thinking about it.

    Seeing an unfamiliar number and worried it might be a new client, she answered immediately, ¡°Hello, may | ask who''s calling?¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Came a hesitant voice from the other end.

    ¡°Aren''t you looking for me? I¡¯m...¡±

    Before Aurelia could finish her sentence, the phone was forcefully taken away and abruptly hung up.

    Holding the phone, Leslie pressed hard enough that his fingertips turned white, indicating his

    anger.

    ¡°Aurelia, please get your identity straight. Marrying you was just to make my mom happy. Don¡¯t attempt to meddle in my affairs.¡±

    His voice was cold. Each word sent a chill through Aurelia.

    ¡°No, I...¡±

    ¡°Here are the car keys. The car is in the parking lot downstairs. Go back on your own. I¡¯m

    heading back to the office.¡±

    With a snap, the car keys and a bowl of porridge were ced on the table.

    Aurelia¡¯s heart trembled, and she began searching for her bag when she regained her senses.

    She continued to exin as she reached for it on the adjacent chair.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you misunderstood. | truly didn¡¯t know that was your phone. Our phones are

    identical. | thought it was my client. If you don¡¯t believe me, look.¡±

    Struggling to find her phone, she discovered that Leslie had already left.

    She sighed, realizing the phones were indeed identical.

    Whose fault was it for leaving their phone lying around without anybels?

    But who was that woman?

    Why was she so angry upon hearing Aurelia¡¯s voice?

    Aurelia didn¡¯t dwell on it, though.

    The aroma of the porridge caught her attention, and she was famished.

    Starving, she decided to eat first before worrying about Leslie''s mood.

    Leslie hailed a cab back to the office. Daniel swiftly approached as he arrived.

    ¡°Boss, the work permit you requested is ready,¡± Daniel said, handing over the programmer''s work permit.

    ¡°Good, tell the people below not to reveal my identity. Also, go find a few individuals to stop

    by my ce,¡± Leslie instructed.

    ¡°The mansion?¡± Daniel inquired.

    ¡°No, the temporary apartment I¡¯m staying in. Get someone to make sure it bes. uninhabitable,¡± Leslie rified.

    Daniel hesitated for a moment, curious, ¡°Boss, why?¡±

    Leslie replied, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Just do as | say.¡±

    Daniel nodded, ¡°Alright, I''ll go now.¡±

    Leslie turned and entered the office, leaning against the window as he lit a cigarette.

    The white smoke enveloped him, entuating his dark eyes.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    As Leslie pondered Aurelia¡¯s unexpected intrusion, anger sparked in his gaze.

    He wouldn¡¯t allow such a woman to stay with him. He hoped Aurelia would be sensible enough

    to retreat.

    Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of his phone.

    ¡°| called earlier because | wanted to ask you a few technical questions just now but a woman answered the phone. Did she pick

    up your lost phone?¡±

    The inquiry was tentative, each word carefully chosen, intimate, and cautious.

    ¡°What questions did you have?¡± Leslie responded in a formal tone.

    ¡°I''ve already resolved it,¡± came the reply.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Leslie hung up the call, ending the conversation.

    The other person¡¯s status on the screen could be seen as typing, but no message was sent in the end.

    Aurelia finished her porridge, waited for another half-hour, and finallypleted the IV drip.

    Pressing a cotton ball against her arm, she descended the stairs.

    The early summer night carried a chill, making her shiver as she headed towards the parking lot, searching for her car key.

    Following the navigation, she arrived at Leslie¡¯s residential area. She was slightly surprised by the upscale neighborhood before

    her.

    Do programmers earn this much?

    Although not in the prime location of Seacester, the convenient transportation, andprehensive facilities made it a peaceful

    area.

    Moreover, Leslie¡¯s residence was a rtively high-end,rge t.

    Aurelia wondered how much this would have cost him.

    Before Aurelia could calcte the price, the security guard approached, inquired about the situation, and then raised the barrier

    after understanding.

    She followed the driveway into the underground parking lot, found the parking space for Building Eight ording to the signs,

    and parked her car.

    After securing her vehicle, she retrieved her luggage and entered the elevator.

    She swiped her card and pressed the button for the 12th floor. As the elevator ascended, her heart raced.

    Was she married? Was she really going to live with a man?

    Aurelia became increasingly nervous at the thought, unconsciously gripping the suitcase handle tightly.

    ¡°Ding!¡± The elevator doors opened.

    Aurelia was anxious as she found Leslie''s apartment door.

    Carefully taking out the key, she opened the door, unsure of what such a high¡ªend residence would look like.

    Upon pushing the door open, she was utterly dumbfounded.

    ¡°Can people actually live here?¡±

    Leslie seemed to have a penchant for cleanliness. She wondered why his living space resembled a dog¡¯s kennel.

    No, even calling it a kennel would be too kind.

    This was clearly a dump.

    There were shoes scattered at the entrance, socks on the floor, and coats appearing as a permanent fixture.

    The bin overflowed with trash, the sofacked a clear sitting space, and was piled with misceneous items and clothes. Aurelia

    even suspected the presence of... underwear.

    Aurelia looked around in disbelief, utterly unable to connect this filthy and chaotic environment with the aloof and stern Leslie.

    Aurelia wondered how could she live like this.

    Maybe she should find a reason to return home, considering Leslie didn¡¯t seem to fancy her

    anyway.

    an

    But exining to Linda would be tricky. She spent half a million getting her son a wife and ended up with a separated couple. It

    wouldn''t sit well.

    Aurelia heaved a sigh.

    The elevator doors opened, and Leslie arrived at his front door, checking his watch.

    Three hours had passed since he parted ways with Aurelia. She¡¯d most likely see his ce in such disarray and sensibly decide

    to leave.

    Daniel had ensured the ce was in utter chaos,pletely uninhabitable.

    She married him for money. Enduring difort was out of the question for a worldly woman like Aurelia.

    He simply sought a woman to appease his mother and fulfill mutual needs.

    Once the novelty wore off for his mother, he¡¯d provide Aurelia with a clean break and a decent separation fee.

    Anything beyond that was not an option.

    Leslie opened the door. He couldn¡¯t help but be stunned for a moment.

 Chapter 9

    Leslie expected to find his house in a mess the way Daniel had left it, but a subtle scent of lemon greeted him.

    In the entrance, men¡¯s and women¡¯s shoes were neatly arranged.

    The rest of the house was immactely clean as if all the chaos had never urred.

    If he hadn¡¯t seen the photos Daniel took, he would have wondered if this was his house. Aurelia had managed to clean up

    everything.

    At that moment, the door to the master bedroom opened.

    Aurelia, wrapped in a towel, walked out.

    Her slender figure caught Leslie¡¯s eye.

    With semi-dried strands of hair sticking to her blushing face, she exuded an indescribable sense of endearment, much more

    beautiful than her usual well-behaved appearance.

    Water droplets fell from her hair. Her skin glistened, revealing straight legs, snow-white and slightly pink from the warm bath.

    The effect was particrly alluring.

    Leslie¡¯s breath hitched as he narrowed his eyes.

    Aurelia, tilting her head while drying her hair, only noticed the unfamiliar gaze when she raised her head..

    The two locked eyes. She hastily tightened the towel around her.

    Didn¡¯t Linda say Leslie wouldn¡¯te back if he workedte?

    She was justzy and didn¡¯t bother to grab her pajamas.

    This was just unfortunate timing.

    ¡°You, you''re back?¡±

    ¡°| thought you left. Didn¡¯t expect you to be so patient.¡±

    Leslie withdrew his gaze, turned around, and poured a ss of water. His voice was still as cold as ever, even carrying a hint of

    disdain.

    ncing at the master bedroom behind Aurelia, he made it clear that it was his room.

    Aurelia, following his gaze toward the master bedroom, immediately understood the misunderstanding.

    ¡°Mr. Synder...¡±

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, we should understand that this marriage is a mutual arrangement, so don¡¯t overstep any boundaries.¡±

    Leslie emphasized thest five words.

    Already feeling somewhat embarrassed, Aurelia became even more ashamed when Leslie misunderstood her intentions.

    Chapte

    She took a deep breath, looked at Leslie, and was about to speak when the sound of Leslie setting down the ss interrupted

    her.

    ¡°Get dressed,¡± Leslie warned before walking towards the study.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Aurelia called out to Leslie, calmly. ¡°Mr. Synder is right. Since we have a mutual arrangement, you could have refused Ms.

    Linda if you didn¡¯t want me to move in. There¡¯s no need for these unnecessary actions.¡±

    Leslie halted, looking at Aurelia with confusion.

    Aurelia gestured to the entrance, ¡°Mr. Synder, you look perfectly fine. | never expected such at significant difference in your left

    and right foot sizes. They were three sizes apart. This is a first for me. Do you want me to apany you to the hospital?¡±

    Leslie was momentarily stunned, cursing Daniel in his mind.

    He appeared to be losing hispetence. Daniel made such a fundamental mistake.

    ¡°Firstly, | thought you woulde back earlier. Secondly, the shower in the guest bathroom was broken. | had spent three hours

    cleaning up this ce so | smelled like crap. | had no choice but to use your bathroom to shower. Any issues? If there are, |

    apologize. If you find it eptable, please give me three minutes.¡±

    ¡°Three minutes?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Wait a moment.¡±

    Aurelia turned and rushed into the guest bedroom, donning underwear and a nightgown within a minute. She then grabbed a

    prepared file from the bedside.

    When she discovered Leslie intentionally made a mess of the house during cleaning, she had other ns.

    The file was initially intended for Leslie¡¯s review tomorrow, but resolving it sooner seemed better since things had reached this

    point.

    Returning to the living room, she handed the file to Leslie.

    Leslie looked at her attire, puzzled for a few seconds before focusing on

    the file.

    As he read the contents, Leslie¡¯s typically stoic expression revealed an unusual flicker of emotions.

    ¡°A cohabitation agreement?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Synder. | can tell you''re not satisfied with me. You married me just to appease Ms. Linda, and | appreciate her fondness

    for me. So, since Ms. Linda insists we live together, let¡¯s: peacefully coexist.

    ¡°When the timees for us to separate, | will leave with no strings attached. I¡¯ve detailed everything about our future life in the

    agreement. Take a look, and feel free to add anything

    necessary.¡±

    Aurelia handed him a pen.

    Leslie didn¡¯t take the pen but questioningly perused the agreement..

    As Aurelia had stated, most of the content was about coordinating their post-marital life, with

    almost nothing about finances, except for one surprising use.

    ¡°Voluntarily waiving property division upon

    divorce

    Was a gold digger voluntarily refusing money?

    Leslie coldly remarked, ¡°What kind of game are you ying

    Do you think I''ll believe this?¡±

    Aurelia frowned, earnestly responding, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, we can go to a notary. Sign it.

    n

    Leslie couldn¡¯t help but give her a couple of extra nces.

    So far, she was the first woman eager to establish clear boundaries with him.

    Well, that was good for avoiding future trouble.

    Leslie took the pen and signed his name.

    Seeing him sign, Aurelia didn¡¯t hesitate to sign her name. After signing, she even picked it up to check for any omissions.

    Perhaps looking too carefully, she didn¡¯t notice the wet coat with a tobo scenting towards her until it was on her.

    Somewhat bewildered, she looked down at the coat only to realize the chest area of her nightgown was already soaked.

    The silk nightgown,fortable as it was, clung to her body when wet, revealing not only her figure but also the color of her skin

    and underwear.

    Aurelia nervously wrapped herself in the coat, her cheeks so red they seemed ready to bleed.

    She carefully nced at Leslie and noticed that he had been standing with his back turned for quite some time.

    She breathed a sigh of relief as she gazed at his typically impassive demeanor.

    Aman like Leslie probably nevercked women. He simply couldn¡¯t be bothered with someone as ordinary as her.

    Yet, being a gentleman, he tactfully turned her down without subjecting her to the embarrassment of being ¡°soaked.¡± He

    graciously avoided anyments on her appearance.

    It shouldn''t be too torturous to live with someone like that.

    Contrastingly, when she was with Seth in the past, he would oftenment on her figure, making her feel slightly insecure.

    So, she dressed in loose attire in her work or daily life.

    Later, when Seth attempted to get close to her on several asions, she rejected him, fearing he would scrutinize her figur¨¦.

    Fortunately, she didn¡¯t engage in anything with him. Otherwise, she''d be feeling even more repulsed now.

    Upon wearing the coat, Aurelia found herself instantly wrapped in Leslie¡¯s cool presence, prompting each inch of her skin in

    contact with the fabric to begin heating up.

    Tugging at her clothes, she caught a faint scent of tobo around the cor, inducing a slight

    confusion in her mind as if a thin mist had obscured the man before her.

    Realizing that her thoughts were in disarray, she immediately lowered her head.

    ¡°Thanks, I''ll head back to my room now. By the way, I''ll be in the guest room. Goodnight.¡±

    Aurelia blurted out incoherently, pressing the wide coat hem against her body as she swiftly passed Leslie.

    ¡°Aurelia. Wrong way,¡± Leslie coldly reminded.

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not too familiar. Goodnight.¡± Her face grew even redder.

    Leslie remained motionless for a while, only regaining his senses when Aurelia¡¯s long hair brushed his arm, sending a tingling

    sensation through him as if he had been electrified.

    Turning back around, Aurelia had already retreated to her room, leaving only a subtle trace of shampoo fragrance lingering in the

    air.

    Aurelia always appeared in a somewhat old-fashioned attire, giving off an unremarkable and unattractive impression, but

    surprisingly, her figure turned out to be quite impressive.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    The sleepwear, bncing between concealing and revealing, had a more noticeable allure than the straightforward towel¡ªd

    figure.

    Aurelia¡¯s fair skin glowed in the steam under themplight, the long nightgown hiding most but hinting at enticing contours in

    damp areas.

    Though it was a fleeting moment, Leslie couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disoriented.

    He didn¡¯t want to focus on Aurelia. But her every appearance brought along puzzling situations thatpelled his attention.

    Could she be doing it on purpose? Yet, her earlier genuine panic didn¡¯t seem like an act.

    In his hesitation, Aurelia¡¯s room door opened again.

    Leslie''s eyes turned cold.

    See? She was feigning innocence, ultimately falling into the same tactics as those women who approached him, ying hard to

    get.

    Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

 Chapter 10

    Aurelia opened the door slightly, extending a hand to push out a copy of the agreement without stepping out from her room.

    ¡°Sorry about your coat. My wet hair got on it. I''ll wash and return it tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°And the clothes you left on the sofa should be done in the washing machine. Dry them yourself.¡±

    ¡°Oh, if you have any secrets you find hard to share, I¡¯ve organized events for hospitals before so | know many doctors. | can

    introduce you.

    Leslie hesitated. A hidden secret? Did he seem like the kind of person involved in such matters?

    Just as he was about to inquire, Aurelia¡¯s bedroom door had already closed.

    Well, should he bother exining to her what a hidden secret meant?

    Leslie turned towards theundry room on the balcony, opened the washing machine, and found it filled with clothes Daniel had

    bought to create chaos.

    Displeased, Leslie took out the clothes, preparing to throw them away, and a pair of underwear fell out.

    Leslie finally understood what Aurelia meant by a hidden secret.

    It seemed Daniel was asking to be fired.

    Leslie angrily threw all the clothes into the trash bin.

    On his way back to the room, he passed the guest bathroom.

    Earlier, Aurelia mentioned the shower in the guest bathroom was broken, and he always felt she was just making excuses.

    Leslie, almost involuntarily, entered the guest bathroom, turned on the shower, and found not drop of watering from the

    overhead.

    After inspection, he realized there was a problem with the water pipe. Such an issue couldn''t be intentional, so Aurelia didn¡¯t lie

    to him.

    Which of her statements were true, and which were false?

    At 6:00 am, Aurelia reflexively woke up to her rm. She stretched and quietly headed to the kitchen after a quick wash-up.

    Aurelia habitually opened the fridge to minimize her presence and avoid encounters with Leslie.

    However, she was puzzled by its sparse contents¡ªjust a few eggs and half a bag of toast.

    Leslie seemed unlike an ordinary person. He was sustaining himself on such a meager fare, which was a testament to that.

    Unable to prepare a proper meal, she settled for a simple egg sandwich.

    While taking a bite, Aurelia found Leslie¡¯s ethereal face unexpectedly crossing her mind.

    Without much thought, she prepared breakfast for him, acknowledging the struggles of a working person who had taken Linda¡¯s

    money.

    Ready to leave by 7:30 am, Aurelia briskly made her way to the subway with her bag.

    Half an hourter, Leslie P

    him to pause.

    out of the room. The lingering scent of food in the air caused

    He then realized there was an additional presence in the house, but seeing the vanished shoes at the doorway, he knew Aurelia

    had already left.

    Well, he appreciated women who knew when to leave.

    Putting on his shoes, Leslie left the house without a backward nce.

    As Aurelia entered the office, thepany was still rtively empty.

    Thinking about the stagnant strategic n for One Technology, she quickly sat down and opened herputer to gather her

    thoughts.

    After pondering for a while with a head full of only those few words from the materials, she decided to check whichpanies

    had their proposals rejectedst night.

    Surprisingly, they were some of the top advertising agencies in Seacester, with over a decade of nning experience and a

    history of managing various events.

    They had all been turned down by the owner of One Technology.

    What kind of opening banquet did the owner want?

    While flipping through the documents, Aurelia noticed that the liaison for this coboration was Jason, the manager from One

    Technology.

    She immediately went online to look up Jason¡¯s information.

    Since Leslie didn¡¯t want to provide details, but he didn¡¯t stop her from seeking information from someone else, Aurelia, noting the

    time was 8:30 am, a suitable time to start the workday, decided to call Jason.

    However, no matter how many times she called, it went unanswered.

    At this moment, colleagues started trickling into the office,ughing and chatting, with Kimberly being the happiest.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''re up so early? There¡¯s no need to push yourself so hard. You make me feel like I¡¯mzy!¡±

    ¡°Oh, Kimberly, you¡¯ve outdone me. You swiftly secured Mr. Lynch, the manager in charge of this coboration. | heard he¡¯s

    leading this project, and you managed to clinch it with just one dinner, making it look effortless.¡±

    ¡°Just like you said. Mr. Lynch and | both studied abroad, so we had a lot to discuss. You guys wouldn¡¯t understand. We chatted

    until midnight, still feeling like there was more to discuss. It seems conversations flow easily with people on the same

    wavelength.¡±

    Kimberly, leaning on Aurelia¡¯s desk,ughed flirtatiously.

    Her pristine cleavage drew attention.

    Aurelia smiled back and, using the excuse of wiping the desk, gently pushed Kimberly''s soft body away.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch¡¯s already taken, | heard. Stayingte chatting with him-his wife must be pretty chill?¡±

    Her words suggested that Kimberly might have crossed a line.

    Colleagues nearby shared amused nces with a hint of mischief.

    Kimberly, known for her love of unting, had fans and critics. Some of them adored her, while others enjoyed watching the

    drama unfold.

    Kimberly cast a disdainful nce at Aurelia. ¡°Aurelia, | know you feel uneasy, but that¡¯s how the world works. Connections are

    resources. So, | think you better not waste your time. Spare some time to apany your mom, okay?¡±

    Aurelia lifted her cup and replied, ¡°Whether it''s a waste of time or not, the final moment will reveal it all.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me!¡± She said, pushing past Kimberly. Heading to the water dispenser, she poured herself a cup of coffee and stood at

    the pantry, gazing into the distance.

    It would be deceiving to say that it wasn¡¯t urgent toe up with a proposal.

    Kimberly had her influential uncle backing her up, doing everything a step faster than Aurelia.

    With nothingparable, Aurelia must put in extra effort to secure this coboration.

    With that in mind, she took a sip of her coffee, energizing herself, ready to meet this manager, Jason, in person.

    But Aurelia didn¡¯t anticipate that she was still a step behind Kimberly.

    At noon, she continued calling Jason, the manager at One Technology, but no one answered, as if he intentionally avoided her.

    Meanwhile, Kimberly joyfully answered a call, ncing deliberately at Aurelia before raising her voice.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch? Well, I¡¯m not a fan of Japanese food. It has too much carbs. I¡¯ve been on a diettely.¡±

    ¡°French cuisine? Okay, see youter.¡±

    After hanging up, Kimberly retrieved her makeup from her bag to touch up her face.

    Curious colleagues gathered around.

    ¡°Kimberly, is the manager from One Technology treating you to lunch?¡±

    ¡°Yes, at the newly opened French restaurant,¡± Kimberly replied casually, reapplying her lipstick.

    ¡°Wow, Kimberly, you¡¯re amazing. I¡¯ve never heard of clients inviting someone to dinner, and he even changed the restaurant for

    you.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, | don¡¯t even want to eat. It¡¯s just for the coboration. Today is a diet in vain.¡±

    After speaking, Kimberly stood up to fix her neckline.

    Colleagues looked on with envy and jealousy.

    However, instead of heading towards the office door, Kimberly walked over to Aurelia¡¯s desk.

    ¡°Aurelia, | saw you making calls all morning. Who were you calling?¡± She asked with a triumphant smile.

    ¡°No one important.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good. | thought you were also looking for Mr. Lynch. He really dislikes people who

    actively pester him. Be careful not to make him think ourpany is too eager. It would be embarrassing for me.¡± Kimberly

    taunted.

    ¡°Rest assured, | won''t actively pursue a married man.¡±

    Kimberly was left speechless.

    Her lips curled, and she left awkwardly.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Once she departed, Millie slid over.

    ¡°Aurelia, you still haven¡¯t reached Mr. Lynch?¡±

 Chapter 11

    Aurelia, though a bit restless, patiently shook her head at Millie.

    Millie, on the other hand, faced the situation like encountering a formidable opponent.

    ¡°Could it be true that Mr. Lynch is really involved with Kimberly?¡±

    Aurelia covered Millie¡¯s mouth with her hand, ncing around to ensure nobody was paying attention to them since everyone

    had gone for lunch.

    ¡°Don¡¯t spread baseless rumors. The office despises gossip,¡± Aurelia advised.

    Millie, however, lowered her voice, filled with resentment.

    ¡°Why not? The moment she arrived, we became nothing more than decorations. She already has everything. Why does she

    need topete with us? Just because she has money doesn¡¯t mean she can win a man¡¯s heart! All she does is show off her

    cleavage, doesn¡¯t she?¡±

    Aurelia tilted her head, finding Millie¡¯s reaction somewhat extreme.

    ¡°Millie! Don¡¯t speak without evidence! Life is inherently unfair. Having money as an advantage in winning people¡¯s favor. It¡¯s her

    prerogative. We don¡¯t need topare ourselves. to such people.¡±

    ¡°| just can¡¯t stand her smug look. What''s so impressive about her? She''d be nothing if it weren¡¯t for a wealthy uncle!¡± Millie

    comined.

    Aurelia watched Millie bite her lip, sensing beneath the verbal criticism, there lingered an undeniable envy towards Kimberly.

    Indeed, whether it was luxury brands, men, or work, Kimberly had it all at her fingertips.

    Even when it came to their jobs, Kimberly could effortlessly close deals with a lunch and a few sweet words, while they needed

    extensive negotiations to sign contracts.

    Yet, Aurelia believed that work required a process of experience to be skillful.

    Even if Kimberly could charm her way through now, what about the future?

    Aureliaforted Millie, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on it. Let''s focus on working diligently.¡±

    Reluctantly, Millie nodded, staring at the high heels under Kimberly¡¯s desk, lost in thought.

    Aurelia paid no mind, pulling her up from her seat. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go for lunch.¡±

    Millie snapped back to reality, surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t you bring your own lunch?¡±

    Aurelia sighed, ¡°These days have been a bit hectic. | might skip bringing lunch.¡±

    Millie thought Aurelia was preupied with her mother¡¯s illness, so she didn¡¯t inquire further. She followed Aurelia into the

    elevator.

    In reality, Aurelia was contemting finding an appropriate time to talk with her husband, Leslie, about their future life.

    Perhaps the empty refrigerator had startled her early in the morning.

    Considering their inability to pursue a quick divorce, it was essential for them to grasp a

    mutual understanding for a peaceful life together.

    Exiting the elevator, Aurelia and Millie coincidentally witnessed Kimberly getting into a Ferrari.

    The onlookers¡¯ eyes disyed a spectrum of emotions¡ªenvy, admiration, disdain...

    ¡°This month alone, it¡¯s already the tenth different luxury car. Truly jealous of Kimberly, remarked one bystander.

    ¡°You have no idea. She posts about her favorite designer brands in the morning, and a courier delivers them by noon. She

    ims they''re all gifts from admirers. | can¡¯t fathom when I''ll experience such treatment,¡± another voice chimed in.

    ¡°Jealous? Well then, why don¡¯t you try it? Remember to reveal half of your chest,¡± a mocking voice teased.

    Upon hearing this, Millie clenched her fists, and turned to Aurelia in frustration.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Aurelia, look at her! She¡¯s already hitching rides with someone else. Can you stomach this? What if she seals the deal? She''ll

    be the assistant director,¡± Millie voiced her concerns.

    ¡°Am | supposed to not eat lunch because of her? Besides, he rejected offers from the top five advertisingpanies in

    Seacester, | don¡¯t think the boss is that trivial,¡± Aurelia affirmed.

    ¡°Shouldn''t we do something instead of just waiting?¡± Millie said through gritted teeth.

    ¡°Don''t worry; | have a n. Besides, even if | follow her now, it would only annoy her. Our effort wouldn''t pay off,¡± Aurelia

    exined as she led Millie away.

    She was starving, having only eaten a sandwich early in the morning.

    Millie, wearing a frustrated expression, followed Aurelia to lunch.

    After they finished their meal and returned to the office, once everyone was back, they drew the curtains in preparation for an

    afternoon nap.

    Aurelia had just settled down when the unmistakable sound of high heels, apanied by Kimberly''s sweet voice, echoed from

    outside the door.

    ¡°I''ve arrived. Thank you for the ride. We''ll chat again next time.¡±

    At the sound of Kimberly''s voice, the drowsiness of the office staff vanished, each craning their necks to catch a glimpse at the

    doorway.

    Kimberly entered carrying a massive Louis Vuitton paper bag, wearing a self-satisfied expression.

    Despite making quite a loud entrance, she pretended to be apologetic, saying, ¡°Sorry, did | disturb you? How about | treat

    everyone to afternoon tea today?¡±

    No one paid much attention to the offer of afternoon tea. All eyes were fixed on the Louis Vuitton bag.

    ¡°Kimberly, what''s this?¡± someone inquired.

    ¡°It''s a wee gift from Mr. Lynch. | declined, but he insisted. After all, he¡¯s our client, and | couldn¡¯t refuse. But | already have

    so many bags,¡± Kimberly exined, her hands swiftly unwrapping the box, revealing the bag amid the envious gazes of

    onlookers.

    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s the Louis Vuitton Onthego! That''s easily 24,000 dors! Did Mr. Lynch really give this to you?¡± A discerning colleague

    eximed.

    ¡°It''s not that expensive,¡± Kimberly casually remarked, slinging the handbag over her arm and turning around.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t fathom how Kimberly managed to turn in her direction. ¡°Aurelia, is it nice?¡± She asked.

    ¡°It''s beautiful.¡± Aurelia smiled, offering a friendly reminder, ¡°Kimberly, as a potential business partner, thepany prohibits

    epting gifts. Plus, Mr. Lynch is married.¡±

    A few colleagues in the office, particrly the ones who disliked Kimberly, chuckled at Aurelia¡¯sment.

    Especially those who were already married, they rolled their eyes directly.

    Imagine one¡¯s husband taking another woman out for lunch and presenting her with an expensive bag.

    Who could tolerate such a situation?

    Kimberly gritted her teeth. ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I¡¯ve already said that Mr. Lynch. and | clicked instantly. This is a

    personal gift he gave me as a friend.¡±

    ¡°Oh, a personal gift,¡± Aurelia repeated.

    The looks exchanged among the colleagues became even more profound.

    Yesterday, they were strangers. Today, they were suddenly good friends with a gift of a high- end bag.

    Who would believe that nothing happened between them?

    However, Kimberly¡¯s entourage immediately jumped to her defense.

    ¡°Some people turn bitter when they miss out on things, you know? Kimberly here has dealt. with all kinds of people. When

    someone gives a gift, they''re just trying to build good connections. It¡¯s calledworking, and some people don¡¯t have it yet.¡±

    ¡°You''re right. In this day and age, it¡¯s all about sharing resources. Without connections, you end up buried in proposal writing,

    unlike Kimberly, effortlessly securing coborations for thepany,¡± remarked one colleague.

    Kimberly waved off thement, smiling. ¡°It¡¯s not that exaggerated. Aurelia works so hard. It¡¯s not easy. Don¡¯t talk about her like

    that. We''re all working for the good of thepany. It¡¯s just a pity she¡¯s wasting her efforts. From now on, I''ll make sure to treat

    everyone well.¡±

    At first, her words seemed harmless. But upon closer scrutiny, Kimberly had already ced herself in a superior position.

    Unfazed, Aurelia responded, ¡°So.... when did Mr. Lynch say he would sign the contract with you?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Kimberly''s smile faltered.

    ¡°Weren''t you worried about me wasting my efforts? You must have already sealed the deal,

    right?¡± Aurelia pressed on.

    ¡°Well... Mr. Lynch said he needs to report back to thepany first, considering it¡¯s such an important coboration.¡±

    Kimberly hesitated.

    ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s not confirmed that he''ll sign with you?¡± Aurelia rified.

    Kimberly was at a loss for words.

    At that moment, Kimberly''s phone rang. She nced at it, relieved, and immediately smiled. Then, she teasingly shook her

    phone in front of Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, looks like you¡¯re out of the running this time. My uncle says Mr. Lynch values me a lot. He even mentioned introducing

    me directly to the boss of One Technology.¡±

    Before Aurelia could respond, colleagues surrounded them, each chiming in with their thoughts.

    ¡°One Technology¡¯s boss? The hottest topic in Seacester right now?¡±

    ¡°Who is this guy? So mysterious. | heard many bigshots are queuing up to meet him.¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, you¡¯re about to be famous again. Not only will you get a promotion and a raise, but you also won''t have to wait in

    line to meet such an influential figure.¡±

    After a round of ttery, Kimberly¡¯s disdainful gaze towards Aurelia became even more profound.

    Aurelia¡¯s heart sank a little.

    Kimberly hadn¡¯t even presented a proposal yet and had seemingly secured the deal with One Technology.

 Chapter 12

    Aurelia pursed her lips. Although she felt a sense of unfairness, she had no intention of giving up halfway

    Unperturbed by themotion on Kimberly''s end, she continued organizing the documents. rted to One Technology on her

    desk

    At 4:00 pm, she left thepany ahead of schedule, citing a customer visit.

    Following the address, she arrived at the One Technology building.

    Despite hearing about One Technology''s reputation, when she saw the building in front of her, she understood why so many

    people wanted to know thepany¡¯s boss.

    This area was Seacester¡¯s thriving business hub, where every inch ofnd was worth its weight in gold

    The white-cor workers passing by her were on apletely different level.

    Without exaggeration, even the receptionists here dressed more luxuriously than she did.

    Nevertheless, for the sake of career advancement, she steeled herself to face whatever challengesy ahead.

    Adjusting her dress, she walked towards the imposing building, only to be stopped by a security guard

    ¡°Whom are you looking for? Do you have an appointment?¡±

    ¡°I''m here to see Mr. Lynch from One Technology, but | don¡¯t have an appointment. Can you please make an exception?¡± Aurelia

    politely inquired.

    ¡°Sorry, without an appointment, you can¡¯t enter.¡±

    The guard blocked Aurelia¡¯s way.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t force her way in, so she stepped back with a smile. ¡°Sir, since that¡¯s the case, | won''t give you too much trouble.

    Can you at least inform them for me?¡±

    The guard nced at her, then at the scorching sun above.

    If she copsed from heatstroke here, it would be his negligence.

    Making a phone call to inform someone wasn¡¯t too much trouble for the guard.

    ¡°Wait a moment,¡± he said, turning to make a call to the front desk upstairs.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Just as Aurelia was about to heave a sigh of relief, she noticed her disheveled appearance reflected in the ss.

    Her face was flushed, and her hair was in disarray.

    She hurriedly retrieved some makeup from her bag.

    Since she didn¡¯t usually wear makeup, most of it was sample¡ªsized products Millie had given her, making it convenient to carry.

    Chapter 12

    She used a wet wipe to freshen up her face and then started applying makeup in front of a small mirror.

    Aurelia was so engrossed in her task that she didn¡¯t notice the elevator doors opening in the lobby.

    In the elevator, Leslie frowned slightly at Aurelia¡¯s sudden appearance.

    Beside him, Daniel sensed something amiss and nced over, exining, ¡°The front desk said she¡¯s here to see Mr. Lynch.

    Apparently, Mr. Lynch has been pursued by a woman from Young Advertising since yesterday. Who would have thought she¡¯d

    even chase him to thepany?¡±

    Hearing this, Leslie¡¯s gaze turned colder.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t take a shortcut through him, so she entangled with Mr. Lynch instead.

    Was this how she worked at Young Advertising? By usingplicated strategies?

    Did she really put on makeup just to meet Jason?

    ¡°Mr. Synder, should | ask her to leave?¡± Daniel inquired.

    Leslie closed the elevator doors and said coldly, ¡°Tell Mr. Lynch toe see me.¡±

    The temperature inside the elevator dropped rapidly, and Daniel shrank his neck.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    What was happening? Why did he feel like Leslie was angry? Shortly after Leslie entered the office, Jason followed.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, did you need me for something?¡±

    ¡°Is someone from Young Advertising looking for you?¡± Leslie stated coldly..

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Jason could clearly sense Leslie¡¯s anger and nervously swallowed.

    ¡°She¡¯s downstairs. Go deal with it. You should understand my stance. | don¡¯t want anyone taking shortcuts.¡±

    Leslie¡¯s tone remained calm, but his strong presence directly left Jason breathless.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    He nodded vigorously, ¡°Yes, yes. | had no idea she woulde here. I¡¯ll make her leave immediately.¡±

    Leslie waved his hand, then called Jason back. ¡°Don¡¯t reveal my identity.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    Jason, drenched in sweat, walked out of the office.

    At the lobby, Aurelia quickly applied some foundation and lipstick.

    As she finished, she saw the elevator doors open, and Jason walked out.

    Jason looked younger than his online photos.

    He was in his early thirties, with a handsome and capable appearance.

    She politely approached him, ¡°Hello, Mr. Lynch.

    Jason furrowed his brows, ¡°You... Who are you? You aren¡¯t Kimberly?¡±

    He thought it was Kimberly who came.

    Aurelia hesitated momentarily, then naturally handed him her business card, ¡°I am also from Young Advertising. My name is

    Aurelia, and Kimberly is my colleague. We are both here for this coboration.¡±

    ¡°You too?¡±

    Jason raised an eyebrow as he observed Aurelia.

    ¡°Yes. | hope you can give me a chance.¡±

    Aurelia sincerely requested.

    Jason looked at her rosy face and touched his chin.

    ¡°Alright, I''ll give you a chance. It¡¯s almost time to get off work. Let¡¯s go to a nearby restaurant to eat and talk.¡±

    Anearby restaurant? That must be expensive.

    Aurelia shivered when she thought about her wallet. But for the sake of this coboration, she could only grit her teeth. ¡°Sure, Mr.

    Jason. Lead the way.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡± Jason smiled at Aurelia and headed towards the exit.

    As Aurelia and Jason sat down at the restaurant, the waiter promptly handed them the menu. While Jason perused the menu,

    Aurelia took out her phone and sent a message to Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, something came up today. | won¡¯t be going home for dinner,¡± she messaged him. She and Leslie were legally

    married and lived together, so informing him in advance seemed appropriate.

    However, Leslie didn¡¯t reply. It was typical of him, always distant and aloof.

    Seeing Aurelia messaging, Jason smirked, ¡°Ms. Simmons, you''re not very focused.¡±

    Aurelia immediately put down her phone and truthfully exined, ¡°I won¡¯t be going home for dinner, and | need to inform my

    husband.¡±

    Jason visibly hesitated, ¡°Husband? You''re married?¡±

    Aurelia nodded, ¡°Yes, my husband... He¡¯s quite busy.¡±

    After a moment of thought, Aurelia decided not to disclose her rtionship with Leslie, fearing that Jason might think she was

    here on Leslie¡¯s instructions.

    Wouldn''t that harm Leslie?

    Jasonmented, ¡°I thought you''d keep it a secret, like everyone else.¡±

    ¡°Everyone else? Who?¡± Aurelia inquired.

    ¡°It''s nothing. I''ve made my choice; now it¡¯s your turn,¡± Jason closed the menu.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Aurelia said, opening the menu.

    But a nce at the prices shocked her. It was expensive.

    Ajuice cost 20 dors, and the dishes were even more absurd.

    Grimacing at the cost, she ordered, ¡°Just a fruit juice for me; I¡¯m not very hungry.¡±

    Jason remained silent, handing the menu to the waiter.

    As they waited for the food, Aurelia broke the silence with a sip or

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, this time, | reached out to understand the precise requirements of your esteemedpany.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, the food hasn''t yet arrived, and you''re already talking about work. Seems you''re a bit impatient,¡± Jason

    remarked.

    His hand identally brushed against Aurelia¡¯s as he reached for his cup.

    She was taken aback but quickly withdrew her hand, thinking she might have overthought it.

    However, Jason¡¯s repeated precise contact raised her alertness.

    When Jason reached for the cup again, Aurelia intentionally raised her hand to adjust her hair.

    She clearly saw Jason¡¯s hand hesitate.

    Aurelia furrowed her brow but pretended not to notice.

    It wasn¡¯t her first time dealing with a challenging client. She had faced more extreme situations in the past.

    She could handle it as long as Jason didn¡¯t cross any lines.

    After all, they were in a public ce, and Jason shouldn''t dare to behave inappropriately.

    Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

 Chapter 13

    Aurelia skillfully avoided Jason¡¯s touch with a smile.

    Luckily, once the dishes arrived, a natural distance was created between them.

    Aurelia attempted to find an entry point, ¡°Mr. Lynch, I...¡±

    Jason ate his food and interrupted her, ¡°This dish is excellent, Ms. Simmons. Give it a try.¡±

    ¡°This one is good too.¡±

    Jason continued eating, paying no attention to Aurelia.

    Aurelia immediately grasped Jason¡¯s intention.

    He had no intention of discussing work and was deliberately making things difficult.

    Her expression tightened for a moment, but she quickly adjusted herself.

    Taking a sip of juice, she said, ¡°Mr. Lynch, if you like it, and if it''s not enough, | can ask the waiter to bring more for you.¡±

    Jason hesitated, casting a brief look at Aurelia after her words.

    Aurelia refrained from further words and instead smiled as she picked up a dish for Jason, exining each course as if her sole

    purpose was to have dinner with him.

    Leslie, sitting at a nearby table, caught her cheerful demeanor.

    Leslie didn¡¯t pay much attention when he received a message from Aurelia.

    However, as he prepared to leave, curiosity got the better of him about how Aurelia would handle Jason, given Jason¡¯s infamous

    tactics.

    Despite Leslie¡¯s internal fluctuation of emotions, he wondered if she had forgotten about their marriage.

    She went to such lengths to ingratiate herself with a stranger, all to take a shortcut. It seemed. crude.

    Leslie, gripping the porcin cup, emitted a soft creaking sound.

    His assistant, Daniel, nced at him and whispered, ¡°This woman is quite bold. She can be so enthusiastic with a stranger. It

    seems Jason is in for a treat tonight.¡±

    Leslie''s teacupnded on the table with a thud, startling Daniel.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, is there something wrong with the tea?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s terrible. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Leslie stood up. His loweredshes hid his unreadable emotions.

    Daniel found the situation inexplicable. Did he say something wrong?

    Jason, at the other table, had finished his dinner with Aurelia.

    Thinking that Jason would have no reason to interrupt her, Aurelia said, ¡°Mr. Lynch, can we now discuss the details of our

    coboration?¡±

    Jason stared at Aurelia¡¯s natural face. It was without heavy makeup, and it exuded a delicate charm.

    However, her tone was anything but charming. It was direct and firm. Unlike Kimberly, she remainedposed.

    Narrowing his eyes, he let out a light chuckle.

    ¡°Take it easy. I¡¯ve got a pot of tea on the way to freshen up our taste buds. We can rx, sip at our own pace, and chat at

    leisure.¡±

    Aurelia maintained her smile, nodding calmly yet resignedly.

    When the tea arrived, Aurelia politely stood up to pour, but to her surprise, Jason reached for the teapot¡¯s handle at the same

    time.

    His hand covered hers.

    Aurelia instinctively tried to retract her hand, but Jason tightened his grip, even smiling at her.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, your hands are so cold. Is the air conditioning too cold here? Let¡¯s sit a bit closer. That way, we can discuss work

    more clearly, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Having spoken, Jason moved his entire body closer to Aurelia.

    Aurelia understood Jason¡¯s implications. He was hinting that she needed to make a sacrifice if she wanted to discuss work.

    ¡°You''ve got it wrong. Please let go.¡±

    Aurelia clenched her teeth to resist the urge to strike him.

    Jason didn¡¯t let go. Instead, he even brushed his fingers against Aurelia¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Drop the act. You know why you came alone. You and Kimberly are the same, but | like you.

    more.¡±

    ¡°Let go!¡± Aurelia warned, angered.

    ¡°Well, you''ve got a bit of a spark. | like that.¡±

    Jason leaned in closer to Aurelia.

    Feeling her breath hitch, Aurelia quickly grabbed the hot teapot and scalded Jason¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Ah!¡± Jason eximed, shaking off the unwanted touch.

    The surrounding people nced over. He was unable to retaliate. He could only grit his teeth and re at Aurelia.

    Aurelia held onto the teapot, asserting, ¡°Jason, please show some restraint. | do hope to coborate with yourpany, but it

    doesn¡¯t mean I''ll sell myself. If you persist, I''ll call the police. No workce tolerates harassment, no matter how big the

    company.¡±

    Jason stared at her momentarily, then erupted, ¡°Are you threatening me? You?¡±

    ¡°| wouldn¡¯t dare. But when people are pushed to the limit, they would do anything.¡±

    Aurelia met his gaze firmly.

    Jason squinted. He chuckled and said, ¡°I see. You''re afraid your husband will find out, huh?

    This matter will stay between us. Your husband won''t know. This way, our cooperation can proceed smoothly. Otherwise, I''ll have

    to bid you farewell. Don¡¯t use me of mistreating a womanter.¡±

    Aurelia tightened her grip on the teapot and immediately stood up.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, | apologize, but | won¡¯t betray my husband. It seems you''ll be savoring this tea on your own.¡±

    With that, she intentionally pressed the teapot forcefully onto his hand and walked out without looking back.

    Behind her, Jason wailed in pain, still muttering curses.

    Disregarding him, Aurelia briskly left the restaurant. She despised such dirty tactics and was determined to prove she could

    surpass Kimberly without stooping to such levels.

    Aurelia headed towards the subway station. But as she lifted her foot, someone forcefully bumped into her from behind.

    In a moment of stumbling, she managed to steady herself by gripping a pir.

    She turned around to scold the person and was shocked to see that it was Jason.

    The demeanor of Jason now waspletely different from the sleazy one before. He was sweating profusely, and his face was

    filled with urgency.

    ¡°What? Wasn¡¯t the expected delivery date supposed to be next month? How was it suddenly brought forward?¡±

    ¡°She fell? Excessive bleeding?¡±

    ¡°Doctor, save my wife! You save her first! Don¡¯t mind the child!¡±

    ¡°I''ming! I¡¯ming...¡±

    The more Jason spoke, the more his body shook. His phone slipped from his trembling hand, crashing onto the ground.

    Hearing this, Aurelia quickly stepped forward to support Jason.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°L... [need you to take me to the maternity hospital. My legs are weak, and | can¡¯t drive,¡± Jason said weakly.

    Aurelia was momentarily stunned.

    If it weren¡¯t for recognizing Jason''s face, she would have doubted her sanity after his earlier

    behavior.

    It was evident that Jason deeply cared for his wife, who was experiencing prematurebor.

    However, Aurelia couldn¡¯t fathom his previous actions towards her.

    Without dwelling on it, Aurelia heard Jason mention severe bleeding from the expectant mother, indicating a critical situation.,

    She offered support, asking, ¡°Where are the car keys?¡±

    Leaning on Aurelia, Jason, with trembling hands, pointed towards his pocket.

    Aurelia retrieved the keys, pressed a button around, and saw the car lights sh.

    Urgently, she assisted Jason to the vehicle.

    As they approached, a Maybach pulled away from the scene.

    Inside, Daniel eximed, ¡°Jason! Is this woman incredible, or what? She¡¯s already embracing Jason and riding in the same car!

    Wasn''t Jason strictly monitored by his wife? What kind of magic did she use on him?¡±

    Daniel felt a chilling shiver down his spine as the words left his mouth.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ncing through the rearview mirror, he noticed Leslie''s cold gaze on the duo outside the car.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, should | go remind Jason?¡±

    ¡°Never mind.¡±

    Leslie¡¯s voice was cold and stern as he withdrew his gaze. His expression was unreadable.

    Daniel didn¡¯t dare to meet Leslie¡¯s eyes momentarily, hastily stepping on the gas to leave.

    Aurelia apanied Jason to the maternity hospital.

    When they got out of the car, Jason¡¯s face was pale. His footsteps were unsteady.

    Concerned, Aurelia followed him.

    Jason, listening to the doctor''s exnation outside the operating room, couldn¡¯t stand straight.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, your wife is experiencing severe bleeding. She is still in surgery, but we''ve run out of blood bags. Earlier this evening,

    there was a bus ident on the outskirts, and the blood from the blood bank was sent to them. We''re arranging for more blood;

    please be patient.¡±

    The doctor frowned. The situation didn¡¯t look optimistic.

    Jason''s face became paler. He was about to copse.

    ¡°Take my blood! Take my blood! You must save my wife!¡±

    ¡°Are you blood type B?¡± the doctor asked.

    ¡°I-l''m not.¡±

    Aurelia, witnessing Jason¡¯s distress, couldn¡¯t bear it and said, ¡°I am. | can donate blood.¡±

    Jason was too overwhelmed to speak.

    Aurelia reassured him, ¡°Mr. Lynch, focus on saving your wife.¡±

    After saying that, she followed the nurse to donate blood.

    Standing up after the donation, she felt lightheaded, but the nurse supported her outside the operating room.

    Jason rushed over when he saw her.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, are you okay?

    ¡°I''m fine. | just need a moment to rest.¡±

    Aurelia sat down, rubbing her dizzy head.

    After a while, the operating room lights dimmed, and the doctor came out.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, congrattions. Both mother and daughter are safe. Luckily, the blood arrived in time.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡±

 Chapter 14

    After the doctor left, Jason¡¯s wife was wheeled out, and he immediately grabbed her hand.

    Aurelia apanied them to the ward. She found the wards to be empty. It was clear they had rushed here without any

    preparations.

    She turned and went downstairs to the supermarket.

    Fortunately, the maternity hospital¡¯s store had everything.

    After preparing a simple maternity bag, she bought a set of pure cotton women¡¯s pajamas.

    Returning to the ward, Mrs. Lynch was awake and seemed surprised to see Aurelia.

    Jason hurriedly exined, ¡°This is Ms. Simmons, from thepany we''re currently negotiating with. She helped with the blood

    transfusion. Without her, | dare not think of the consequences.¡±

    Aurelia smiled and nodded.

    ¡°Hello, Mrs. Lynch. Congrattions on the birth of your daughter.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.

    Mrs. Lynch weakly spoke and then turned to look at Jason.

    ¡°Darling, | want some water.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I''ll go buy it for you.*.

    Jason was a doting husband.

    Upon hearing that Jason intended to buy water, Aurelia quickly reminded him, ¡°Mr. Lynch, a new mother, should avoid cold

    drinks. | bought a maternity bag, and there¡¯s a cup inside. Just rinse it and get some warm water.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, your consideration is thoughtful. Thank you so much,¡± Jason expressed his gratitude, epting the bag and

    rushing out with the cup.

    On the hospital bed, Florence Lynch silently observed Aurelia.

    ¡°Come clean, what¡¯s your rtionship with my husband?¡±

    Florence inquired after hearing Aurelia¡¯s name, leaving Aurelia momentarily stunned and unsure how to exin the events at the

    restaurant.

    Florence had just returned from the brink of danger and certainly couldn¡¯t handle anything shocking.

    ¡°Mrs. Lynch, please don¡¯t misunderstand. We are genuinely discussing a business partnership. Mr. Lynch cares deeply for you,

    and knowing about your situation shook him to the core,¡± Aurelia earnestly exined.

    But Florence chuckled, perhaps feeling difort from her injuries, she furrowed her brow.

    However, there was no sign of anger.

    ¡°Look at you, so frightened. You must have been scared by my husband''s theatrical performance, right?¡°/

    ¡°Well...¡± Aurelia didn¡¯t know how to respond.

    ¡°He did it on purpose, men. He always makes my husband take the lead. When he tries to avoid it, he resorts to tricks,

    scaring people away. My husband decided to y along and scare them off, too.¡±

    Florence seemed unfazed.

    Aurelia awkwardly smiled.

    It turned out that Jason¡¯s actions in the restaurant were intentional.

    No wonder he didn¡¯t do anything inappropriate, even when she posed as a challenge.

    However, a strange name caught Aurelia¡¯s attention.

    n?¡±

    ¡°The boss of One Technology, don¡¯t you know? He¡¯s a mysterious person. You''re unlucky to cooperate with him because he

    dislikes women,¡± Florence chuckled.

    It seemed Leslie was right. The boss of One Technology indeed preferred men.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t dare to voice that observation, offering only a faint smile.

    ¡°Mrs. Lynch, forgive my ignorance. We haven''t even rified their requirements, so we can¡¯t speak of coboration.¡±

    ¡°Oh, | see.¡±

    Florence seemed to ponder, understanding Aurelia¡¯s implication. Jason came in with a ss of water when she was about to

    speak.

    ¡°Darling, let me help you drink.¡±

    ¡°Wait, I¡¯m not wearing clothes. Did you bring clothes for me? My clothes are all covered in blood and definitely can¡¯t be worn,¡±

    Florence said hesitantly.

    ¡°| was in a hurry. | didn¡¯t know...¡±

    Jason was embarrassed.

    Hearing this, Aurelia took a new set of pajamas from the bag.

    ¡°| heard you can¡¯t wear clothes after a cesarean section, so | bought a new set downstairs. The fabric is soft, and you''ll be more

    comfortable wearing this.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, you''re truly considerate. Otherwise, | would really be in a dilemma,¡± Florence said as she adjusted the bedsheet

    across her chest.

    ¡°Well then, | won¡¯t disturb Mrs. Lynch¡¯s rest any longer. I¡¯ll take my leave now,¡± Aurelia said, turning to leave without using the

    favor to coerce Jason into helping.

    Oddly enough, this piqued the curiosity of the Lynch couple, and Florence quickly called out, Wait.¡±

    Florence tugged at Jason¡¯s sleeve, saying, ¡°When someone saves your life, gratitude knows no bounds. You deliberately made

    things difficult for Ms. Simmons before. Shouldn''t you say something now?¡±

    Understanding Florence¡¯s meaning, Jason stood up and walked to Aurelia.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, | sincerely apologize. Like your colleague Kimberly, | thought you aimed to

    Chapter 14

    secure cooperation through hical means. That¡¯s why | intentionally made things difficult for you at the restaurant.

    Unexpectedly, you straightforwardly shut me down. It¡¯s evident that you and your husband share a strong bond.¡±

    ¡°Heh, it¡¯s okay. We get along fine.¡±

    It was nice living with a roommate. However...

    ¡°Mr/ Lynch, aren¡¯t you acquainted with Kimberly?¡± Aurelia asked with confusion.

    ¡°Not at all. Ourpany previously discussed coboration with her uncle. He invited us to dinner, but when we arrived, it was

    her. Right from the start... | won¡¯t say more. | truly didn¡¯t expect women nowadays to be so open,¡± Jason hesitated, feeling

    awkward about the topic.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    ¡°Then, you didn¡¯t give her a gift?¡±

    ¡°A gift? I¡¯m baffled,¡± Jason responded.

    ¡°Never mind.¡±

    Aurelia immediately understood that this was all orchestrated by Kimberly herself. She almost let it disrupt herposure.

    Jason continued, ¡°Regarding our boss¡¯s requirements, it¡¯s not asplicated as you might think. He¡¯s very particr about

    professionalism. You must understand our industry if you want to design an opening banquet that he''ll like. By the way, he

    strongly dislikes clich¨¦d extravagance.

    ¡°Somepanies, thinking our boss just returned to the country and has money to spare, treated us like easy targets. That''s

    why we rejected the coboration. Remember, professionalism! | can¡¯t say more on the other aspects.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aurelia said with gratitude.

    Many would opt for a luxurious theme for thepany¡¯s new opening banquet to gain

    attention.

    Fortunately, Jason¡¯s advice allowed her to eliminate many styles. However, professionalism was a challenging factor.

    While Aurelia was contemting, Jason said, ¡°By the way, | have a ticket for tomorrow¡¯s technology expo. It showcases thetest

    technology developments in Seacester. | hope it helps. Our boss will be there, and if you meet him, you might find inspiration.¡±

    Aside from anything else, his boss had an extraordinary face that just oozes inspiration.

    my leave now! Aurelia joyfully epted the expo ticket, saying, ¡°Alright, thank you. I''ll take Florence added, ¡°Wait. It¡¯s already

    late at night, and it¡¯s quite dangerous for a youngdy to go home alone. Darling, please escort Ms. Simmons. After all, she

    saved both the baby and me.

    Jason nodded repeatedly, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s only right. Ms. Simmons, this

    way.¡±

    ncing at the time, Aurelia didn¡¯t expect it to be past midnight.

    Subways and buses had long stopped running, so she didn¡¯t decline the kind offer from Jason and his wife.

    ¡°That would be great.¡±

    Jason escorted Aurelia to the entrance of the residentialplex.

    After she descended, she waved towards the car window, watching as Jason turned and left.

    Thinking about her attendance at the technology expo the next day, she couldn¡¯t help but

    smile.

    At least she was one step closer to sess.

    Aurelia¡¯s cheerful demeanor caught the attention of a pair of cold eyes from upstairs.

    Leslie couldn¡¯t discern her expression, but her light footsteps hinted at genuine happiness- exceedingly so.

    It seemed she had thoroughly enjoyed her time with another man.

    Leslie exhaled a plume of smoke, extinguishing the cigarette butt as he exited the study. Coincidentally, Aurelia entered quietly,

    but with a sudden click, the lights illuminated, freezing her in ce.

    ncing at Leslie standing in the hallway, his cold, shallow gaze sent shivers down her spine.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you''re not asleep yet?¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡±

    Without a nce at her, Leslie walked past her.

    Aurelia observed Leslie¡¯s tall and straight back, feeling an inexplicable chill

    However, she caught a hint of alcohol from his imposing presence.

    Did he drink?

    She followed his gaze and observed Leslie standing at the liquor cab, pouring a ss.

    The red liquid swirled, sshing onto his fair, slender fingertips, casting a dangerously alluring scene.

    But seeing only a tiny bit left in the bottle of red wine, she immediately regained herposure, approaching him and grabbing

    his arm.

    ¡°It''ste in the night. Why are you drinking so much? Did something go wrong at work?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t about meddling. Aurelia had promised Linda to take good care of Leslie. Drinking would harm the body irreversibly.

    Startled, Leslie realized he had unconsciously consumed a lot of alcohol.

    He wasn¡¯t a drinker. He only indulged in a bit when feeling upset.

    Coming home today, he thought about Aurelia and Jason leaving together, prompting ant impulse to have a drink.

    Now, he only felt Aurelia¡¯s acting was exceptional.

    Just back from another man, she still showed genuine concern for him without a change in

 Chapter 15

    expression.

    Truly hypocritical.

    Leslie''s gaze cooled. He gave a perfunctory ¡°Mm,¡± attempting to bypass Aurelia.

    Unexpectedly, as he turned, Aurelia ced her bag on the table, poured a ss of water, and handed it to him.

    Simultaneously, she took away the red wine.

    ¡°It¡¯s normal to encounter problems at work. You¡¯re a capable person. There¡¯s no need to pressure yourself so much. Drinking

    harms your body. Drink some water and go to bed early,¡± she advised.

    Leslie stared at the water in his hand, ncing at Aurelia.

    For the first time, someone spoke to him like this.

    Everyone around him took his excellence for granted.

    Feeling uneasy under Leslie¡¯s gaze, Aurelia considered ending the conversation and going to bed.

    Perhaps she had spoken too much?

    Or should she change the topic and bid him good night?

    She cleared her throat, ¡°Goodnight.¡±

    She immediately turned around.

    alt dizzy

    However, whether it was a sudden turn or due to excessive blood loss, she and stumbled directly into Leslie¡¯s arms.

    The cup of water in Leslie¡¯s hand sshed, moistening his shirt.

    The damp fabric stuck tightly to his body, outlining his well-defined abdominal muscles. through the material.

    Aurelia instinctively reached out and braced herself against his chest.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I...¡±

    Just as she was about to exin, her forehead was gently pushed away by his long fingertips.

    ¡°Quit ying games.¡±

    She was left speechless.

    As her dizziness subsided, Leslie had already returned to the room.

    She sneered. This man was truly devoid ofmon courtesy.

    Back in the room, Aurelia copsed onto the bed, her arm throbbing faintly.

    She turned her head and noticed bruises where the blood had been drawn.

    However, thinking of Florence and her daughter being safe, she believed it was all worthwhile.

    She drifted off to sleep unknowingly.

    The next morning, Aurelia overslept due to exhaustion.

    Chapter 15.

    Upon leaving her room in haste, Aurelia noticed Leslie had already left.

    She hurriedly entered the guest bathroom for a quick wash, only to find that the showerhead was still broken.

    With no other option, she used a basin to store warm water for a brief bath.

    On her way out, she called Zachary, exining her intention to seek inspiration at the

    technology expo.

    Zachary readily agreed.

    However, upon reaching the expo, she found that the opening ceremony had concluded, and it seemed she wouldn¡¯t encounter

    lan, the boss of One Technology.

    Since she was already there, Aurelia decided to explore the expo thoroughly, hoping to find inspiration.

    Following Jason''s advice about their boss''s preference for professionalism, this expo was undoubtedly the most professional

    ce in the entire city.

    Aurelia strolled through the exhibition booths, approaching novel technologies to inquire about their potential application in her

    nning.

    After a while, feeling the need to use the restroom, she realized the expo hall was vast, and she walked for five minutes without

    finding the restroom.

    Instead, she spotted mobile service robots moving about the exhibition.

    ¡°Hello, may | help you with anything?¡± the robot inquired.

    ¡°Where is the women¡¯s restroom?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Sure, let me n the fastest route for you. Walk one hundred meters straight ahead, turn left fifty meters, and then proceed

    down the corridor on the left side.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aurelia instinctively responded.

    ¡°You''re wee.¡±

    Left in contemtion, she thought she might delve into the robot''s workings if she weren''t in such a hurry.

    Following the robot''s directions, Aurelia exited the exhibition hall through a side door and, turning left, pushed open the metal

    door to the restroom.

    ¡°AnII!¡±

    Witnessing the scene inside, Aurelia was so startled that she froze in ce.

    There was a row of men with their backs to her. The crucial point was that the person in front was none other than... Leslie!

    Leslie was washing his hands, and his face turned dark upon seeing Aurelia suddenly enter.

    ¡°What are you still looking at?¡± He spoke in a low tone.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    He covered Aurelia¡¯s eyes with his slightly cold and damp hand, pulling her outside.

    Though Leslie¡¯s hand was chilly and moist, Aurelia¡¯s face was flushed.

    It was only when they were outside that Leslie let her go.

    ¡°M-Mr. Synder, what a coincidence,¡± she stammered as she blushed.

    ¡°| don¡¯t think so,¡± Leslie coldly scanned Aurelia.

    He couldn''t believe such a coincidental event could ur in this world.

    Aurelia must have followed him, deliberately creating this encounter.

    He hadn''t expected her to be so cunning.

    Through his gaze, Aurelia understood his suspicion and quickly exined, ¡°You

    misunderstood. I¡¯m here for work! | didn¡¯t intentionally go in. The robot gave me the wrong directions! | didn¡¯t know you were

    inside. No, | mean, | wouldn¡¯t have entered even if | knew who was inside.¡±

    As she spoke, her face turned even redder, as she really needed to use the restroom.

    ¡°Mr. Synder... Wait for me!¡±

    Finishing her words, Aurelia handed her notebook to Leslie and entered the women¡¯s

    restroom.

    Leslie hesitated, looking down at the notebook

    It indeed contained Aurelia¡¯s records about the technology expo.

    There were even some parts where she had made mistakes and marked them with question marks.

    ording to her recorded timeline, there was no time for her to follow him. Could it be a misunderstanding?

    Leslie skimmed through a few pages and picked up a pen from the holder.

    After Aurelia finished in the restroom, feeling relieved, she couldn¡¯t help blushing at the inadvertent image of entering the men¡¯s

    restroom.

    Luckily, Leslie was washing his hands.

    Imagining otherwise...

    She shook off such thoughts and quickly washed her face with cold water, trying not to overthink.

    Exiting the restroom, Aurelia awkwardly approached Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, about that...¡±

    ¡°Let''s go,

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°Leslie returned the notebook to Aurelia and turned towards the exhibition hall.

    ¡°lm here for work, too.¡±

    Leslie actually wanted to see if today was a coincidence or deliberate.

    She had already connected with Jason¡®. And now, she came to find him. What exactly did she want to do?

    The exhibition hall brimmed with highly specialized products, making it challenging for

    Aurelia, whocked professional expertise, to linger.

    Naturally, her lie would be exposed

    Aurelia didn¡¯t think much. It was better to have a professional around, right?

    So, she immediately followed Leslie¡¯s footsteps.

    Unexpectedly, shortly after she and Leslie entered, they encountered a service robot.

    More surprisingly, it was the same robot that had given her directions earlier.

    ¡°Miss, hello, we meet again.¡±

    ¡°Oh no,¡± Aurelia pursed her lips.

    ¡°Not good?¡± The robot blinked its cardamom-likerge eyes, and a few lines appeared on the

    screen

    It even read them aloud, ¡°Miss, I¡¯ve searched for several methods to solve constipation for you. | hope it helps. You can.

    Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out

 Chapter 16

    Aurelia¡¯s face blushed further as she stepped forward, covering the robot''s mouth. But it was

    of no use.

    It had already begun reading aloud the proper restroom posture, causing quite an awkward situation.

    Watching Aurelia¡¯s flustered state, Leslie couldn¡¯t help but find it oddly amusing.

    ¡°The yer is at the back of its head. You covered the wrong ce,¡± Leslie remarked.

    Feeling utterly embarrassed, Aurelia contemted covering her face with so many people watching.

    Unexpectedly, Leslie promptly pulled her behind him.

    With a few taps on the robot¡¯s screen, Leslie transformed it from disying embarrassing information into a series of characters.

    His slender fingers gracefully tapped on the screen, and the robot blinked its eyes, now functioning properly.

    ¡°Hello, how may | assist you?¡± the robot asked.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡± Aurelia shook her head decisively, not daring to ask for assistance again.

    Leslie waved his hand, and the robot turned and left.

    He calmly stated, ¡°There was a program error, causing it to give you the wrong directions. It¡¯s not your fault.¡±

    Aurelia was taken aback and lowered her head slightly.

    ¡°Thank you.

    She promptly closed her mouth, realizing that this embarrassing incident was just another awkward moment in front of Leslie.

    Surprisingly, he didn¡¯t seem to derive any pleasure from her misfortune.

    This contrasted with her memories of Seth, who always reveled in her mishaps during their three years together.

    ¡°Haha, look at you. Isn¡¯t this too embarrassing? Who else can tolerate you except for me?¡±

    Aurelia felt a sense of injustice as she recalled those moments.

    She used to be so blind.

    Feeling a bit dissatisfied, she was distracted by the lively booths ahead.

    Aurelia hurried over and stood beside Leslie, listening to the host''s definition and vision for technology.

    At that moment, Aurelia¡¯s heart started pounding.

    Eagerly opening her notebook, she was surprised to find that the mistakes had been corrected, and the confusing parts now had

    complete answers.

    She only gave her notebook to... Leslie.

    Turning to look at Leslie beside her, she said, ¡°Mr. Synder, thank you.¡±

    Because of the noise from the crowd, Leslie couldn¡¯t hear clearly, bending slightly.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°said... Um...¡±

    thank you,

    Aurelia raised her notebook to express her gratitude, but before she could say forceful push from the crowd caused her lips to

    identally brush Leslie¡¯s face... through the notebook

    Leslie furrowed his eyebrows, clearly not expecting such an incident.

    Aurelia blinked, and beneath the scent of ink and paper, she detected Leslie¡¯s cold tobo fragrance, making her heart race

    uncontrobly.

    It wasn¡¯t until the thunderous apuse reached her ears that she regained herposure, quickly turning away.

    ¡°Thank you, no, sorry.¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡±

    Leslie clenched his fist, suppressing a hint of something peculiar.

    Aurelia tightly gripped her notebook, stealing a nce at Leslie.

    He remained as cold and indifferent as ever, seemingly unfazed.

    Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, Leslie¡¯s chilly voice sounded beside her.

    ¡°Your notebook has many mistakes. You''re too unfamiliar with a ce like this. Why did youe? You don¡¯t need to go to such

    lengths.¡±

    After all, she had already aligned herself with Jason.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Hearing this, Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but lift her head to look at him.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, did you already understand so much from the beginning?¡± She inquired.

    ¡°More or less,¡± Leslie replied nonchntly.

    Clearly, intelligent people like him don¡¯t belong in the same world as us,¡± she mused. She pursed her lips and said, ¡°Mr. Synder,

    there aren¡¯t that many clever people in the world. We ordinary folks have to rely on hard work to move forward. Do you really

    think so many people willingly run around outside on such a hot day? Isn''t it all due to life¡¯s constraints? So, no matter what

    difficulties | encounter at work, | have no way out. | can only grit my teeth and understand it because | don¡¯t want to give up.¡±

    After finishing, Aurelia smiled at Leslie.

    Her smile entered Leslie¡¯s subtly cold eyes. He remained silent.

    Not wanting to bore him, Aurelia lowered her head to continue taking notes, searching for the so-called professional

    breakthrough.

    ¡°You wrote it wrong,¡± Leslie reminded in a deep voice.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Aurelia responded, lowering her head to correct it.

    She suddenly felt that it was pretty harmonious interacting with Leslie like this.

    Later, the two of them visited several exhibition halls. Whenever Aurelia was puzzled, Leslie would casually offer a few useful

    words.

    Based on the professional knowledge she heard, Aurelia scribbled and drew in her notebook, even forming a rough outline of an

    opening ceremony process.

    This trip was worthwhile, at least for providing her with a clear direction.

    At this moment, Leslie received a phone call.

    ¡°Yeah, I''ll be right there.¡±

    Judging by his serious expression, it should be about work.

    Aurelia tactfully said, ¡°Mr. Synder, if you have something to attend to, go ahead. | should return to mypany, too.¡±

    Leslie nodded and turned to leave.

    Aurelia was ustomed to his cold demeanor and walked towards the exit without concern.

    Just as she stepped out, two men in suits bumped her, and her notebook fell.

    She quickly picked up the notebook, but the two men didn¡¯t apologize and continued walking inside.

    n¡¯s here?¡±

    ¡°Yes, heard he already inspected the ce.¡±

    ¡°Quick, quick, | must meet this big shot today.¡±

    lan?!

    The boss of One Technology!

    Aurelia didn¡¯t care about theck of an apology; she turned around and followed the two men.

    Sure enough, a group was chasing someone toward the side door.

    She quickened her pace and, amidst the hustle, saw a somewhat familiar face.

    Wasn''t it Leslie?

    Aurelia quickened her pace. Just as she was about to get a clear view of the face of the crow, pair of pointed high heels blocked

    her way.

    ¡®Aurelia, what a coincidence.¡±

    twas Kimberly.

    Aurelia wondered what she was doing here.

    timberly tossed her hair and said triumphantly, ¡°I¡¯m here to meet the boss of One ¡®echnology.¡±

    urelia was taken aback, ¡°You already met him?¡±

    imberly smiled, shaking her phone, ¡°Not only did | meet him, but we also exchanged.

    numbers. He was highly impressed with me and even said he wanted to treat me to dinner next time. How about you? Are you

    here to see him, too?¡±

    Aurelia frowned, pressing her lips together.

    Kimberly patted her shoulder and continued, ¡°Aurelia, | told you not to waste your efforts. This time, I¡¯m a shoo-in for the

    coboration and assistant manager position.¡±

    ¡°Oh, by the way, the boss of One Technology has already left for the airport. You probably won¡¯t catch up with him.¡±

    With that, Kimberly walked away in high heels, leaving Aurelia with furrowed brows.

    ncing towards the side door, she saw the people who had chased aftern returning with disappointment.

    Aurelia, determined, clutched her phone.

    She noticed Kimberly had posted a new post: ¡°Meeting the boss of One Technology was a delight. Grateful for the appreciation.¡±

    The apanying picture showed a man¡¯s back. It seemed Kimberly had indeed met the

    elusiven.

    Feeling frustrated, Aurelia returned to the office. As soon as she entered, she saw Zachary walking excitedly towards Kimberly.

    ¡°Kimberly, well done! You managed to win over the boss of One Technology so quickly.¡±

    Colleagues apuded, casting envious nces at Kimberly. She responded, ¡°Thank you, everyone. Rest assured, I''ll be even

    more dedicated to thepany in the future.¡±

    The scene looked like her performance review meeting.

    Uninterested, Aurelia attempted to return to her workstation but was spotted by Kimberly.

    ¡°Aurelia, did you manage to reach the car of the One Technology''s boss??¡± Kimberly eximed loudly.

    With thatment, everyone¡¯s gaze turned towards Aurelia. The looks in their eyes shifted to disdain and mockery.

    umbers. He was highly impressed with me and even said he wanted to treat me to dinner ext time. How about you? Are you here

    to see him, too?¡±

    urelia frowned, pressing her lips together.

    imberly patted her shoulder and continued, ¡°Aurelia, | told you not to waste your efforts. his time, I¡¯m a shoo-in for the

    coboration and assistant manager position.¡±

    Oh, by the way, the boss of One Technology has already left for the airport. You probably on¡¯t catch up with him.¡±

    With that, Kimberly walked away in high heels, leaving Aurelia with furrowed brows.

    lancing towards the side door, she saw the people who had chased aftern returning with isappointment.

    urelia, determined, clutched her phone.

    he noticed Kimberly had posted a new post: ¡°Meeting the boss of One Technology was a elight. Grateful for the appreciation.¡±

    he apanying picture showed a man¡¯s back. It seemed Kimberly had indeed met the

    lusiven.

    eeling frustrated, Aurelia returned to the office. As soon as she entered, she saw Zachary ralking excitedly towards Kimberly.

    Kimberly, well done! You managed to win over the boss of One Technology so quickly.¡±

    olleagues apuded, casting envious nces at Kimberly. She responded, ¡°Thank you, veryone. Rest assured, I''ll be even more

    dedicated to thepany in the future.¡±

    he scene looked like her performance review meeting.

    ninterested, Aurelia attempted to return to her workstation but was spotted by Kimberly. Aurelia, did you manage to reach the car

    of the One Technology¡¯s boss??¡± Kimberly ximed loudly.

    With thatment, everyone¡¯s gaze turned towards Aurelia. The looks in their eyes shifted to isdain and mockery.

    Chapter 17

    14

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17

    The murmurs ofughter embarrassed Aurelia, yet she didn¡¯t back down.

    She red at Kimberly and honestly replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t catch up.¡±

    Kimberlyughed and nced at Zachary, teasingly saying, ¡°Didn¡¯t catch up? Then why did you go to the technology exhibition

    so early? Aurelia, are you not using work hours for something else? | know your mother is seriously ill, and breaking up with your

    boyfriend is tough, but the boss and Zachary entrusted us with this important task because they value us. You can¡¯t afford to be

    lost.¡±

    Kimberly hinted that Aurelia neglected her duties, and Zachary¡¯s brow furrowed deeply.

    ¡°Aurelia, where did you go?¡±

    ¡°To the technology exhibition.¡± Aurelia took out her phone directly to prove her innocence.¡± These are the pictures | took. I...¡±

    She was about to say that she was with Leslie, but upon careful consideration, Leslie and she were married.

    No one would believe they coincidentally met while working together.

    Instead, it might implicate Leslie, arousing suspicions of nepotism.

    Given that One Technology was currently one of the most influentialpanies in Seacester, entering ich apany wasn¡¯t

    easy for Leslie either.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t let Kimberly casually jeopardize him.

    Kimberly nced at the two photos. She said disdainfully, ¡°What''s this? You could take a few hundred pictures like this without

    spending much time.¡±

    Before Aurelia could exin, Zachary¡¯s expression had already darkened.

    ¡°Aurelia, thepany attaches great importance to this coboration, and you should too. Otherwise, you''ll face embarrassment

    and witness how efficient someone like Kimberly is at work.¡±

    Kimberly looked at Aurelia with raised eyebrows.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, this is my responsibility.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to offer useless exnations, especially now that Zachary seemed more inclined towards Kimberly, who had

    connections.

    Putting down her phone, Aurelia questioned, ¡°Mr. Zeller, if | recall correctly, our proposals determine our sess or failure,

    right?¡±

    Zachary was perplexed as he replied, ¡°Yes, what¡¯s the matter?¡±

    Aurelia continued, ¡°Where''s Kimberly''s proposal?¡±

    Zachary was left speechless. Even Kimberly''s smile twitched at the corner of her lips.

    Aurelia turned to Kimberly with a smile. ¡°Kimberly, what we¡¯re doing is nning, not matchmaking. What do you think?¡±

    Chapter 17

    Kimberly''s cheeks puffed up with anger.

    Ignoring her provocation, Aurelia faced Zachary. ¡°Mr. Zeller. | only went to the technology exhibition today. | gained some

    valuable insights. Please rest assured, | will work diligently.¡±

    Zachary, wanting to say something more, could only nod awkwardly.

    ¡°Fine, get back to work.¡±

    He quickly returned to his office.

    Aurelia ignored Kimberly''s taunts, returning to her desk to resume work

    Kimberly red at Aurelia before settling down to work as well.

    An hourter, Aurelia stretchedzily as she visited the restroom.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    As Aurelia was about to emerge from her cubicle, she heard the sound of flowing water and the murmur of conversations

    outside.

    ¡°Who do you think will be the new deputy director this time?¡±

    ¡°Why guess? It must be Kimberly. She has connections and even knows the boss of One Technology and Mr. Lynch. Even Mr.

    Zeller praised her. It¡¯s obvious she¡¯s the chosen one.¡±

    ¡°So enviable! It feels like Kimberly''s using cheat codes in her life-she gets whatever she wants. Poor Aurelia, who was getting

    stepped on by her.¡±

    ¡°Why do you pity her? What kind of person do you think she is? | heard she dumped him just because her boyfriend didn¡¯t give

    her a hundred thousand bucks.¡±

    ¡°What? She usually looks so serious. Who would have thought she¡¯s like that?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t judge a book by its cover. Aurelia should look at herself in the mirror. She looks like an olddy, yet she¡¯s so picky.¡±

    ¡°Exactly, if someone marries her, that¡¯s good enough. She thinks she¡¯s some kind of strong woman, but in the end, Kimberly still

    suppresses her.¡±

    ¡°Kimberly invited us to dinner. Are you going?¡±

    ¡°Certainly, we should try to make a good impression on the uing deputy director as soon as possible.¡±

    The two chatted and left.

    Aurelia stepped out of her cubicle. She stood before the mirror, looked at herself, and deeply breathed. She adjusted her clothes

    and then walked towards the office.

    Upon entering, she noticed arge bouquet of roses on Kimberly¡¯s desk.

    ¡°Kimberly, who¡¯s the suitor today?¡± A colleague inquired.

    Kimberly touched up her lipstick in front of the mirror, smiling as she said, ¡°No one, just the boss of One Technology.¡±

    Colleagues caught a whiff of gossip and rushed over.

 Chapter 18

    ¡°Kimberly, you''re really amazing. You just met the boss of One Technology this morning. He¡¯s already sending you flowers? He

    must be into

    you.

    ¡°Come on, not like that. Gentlemen like to give women flowers. Haven''t you ever received any?

    ¡°My husband would rather have a nice meal out than waste money on flowers.¡±

    ¡°My boyfriend has bought me flowers before, but they were just the cheap ones from the flower shop. They cost just one dor

    for each stem. They¡¯re nothingpared to your big bouquet.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia stared at the roses and frowned slightly.

    She thought, ¡°Leslie saidn doesn¡¯t like women. Mrs. Lynch also said thatn is a misogynist. Neither of them would lie to her.

    One is simply toozy, and the other has no reason to do so. So, how couldn possibly send roses to a woman he¡¯s only met

    once? Isn¡¯t his sexual preference a bit too fickle?¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t believe it. So, the flowers in front of her were probably just one of Kimberly¡¯s tricks to mess with her.

    She asked skeptically, ¡°Nice flowers. Is itn who bought them for you?¡±

    Kimberly chuckled, ¡°Whatn? Didn¡¯t you hear it right? It was the boss of One Technology who bought them for me. Have you

    ever received any?¡±

    Just as suspected. If she was that close to the boss of One Technology, how could she not know his name wasn?

    Aurelia rxed her brow and shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯ve never received any.¡±

    Kimberly''s lips curved in a teasing smile. She didn¡¯t really care about whon was. She just assumed Aurelia had mistaken him

    for one of her many admirers. After all, there were so many men interested in her. She couldn¡¯t even remember all their names.

    She would be happy as long as she could unsettle Aurelia. It was better to let Aurelia know about her close rtionship with the

    boss of One Technology, so that she would back off.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Kimberly generously offered the roses and suggested, ¡°Then, I''ll give them to you. I''ll have plenty more in the future.¡±

    Aurelia raised her hand to refuse, saying, ¡°No, thanks. | can¡¯t ept something | haven''t earned. It wouldn¡¯t feel right.¡±

    Her words made Kimberly feel embarrassed. Indeed, she was mocking her.

    A few colleagues sitting at their desks were watching the scene. They lowered their heads andughed.

    Kimberly put down the roses unhappily and said, ¡°Aurelia, | was just being nice. You¡¯re being too mean to me. What man could

    put up with that?¡±

    Aurelia walked past her back to her desk and said indifferently, ¡°Oh, so what? Is there anything else? | still have work to do.¡±

    Kimberly became furious and clenched the roses tightly. Her colleagues, who were trying to curry favor with her, quickly

    approached tofort her.

    ¡°Kimberly, don¡¯t take her words to heart. It''s not worth it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, jealousy can really make a person look ugly.¡±

    Hearing this, Kimberly felt pleased. She sat down while holding the bouquet of roses and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    But as she watched Aurelia, who was focused on her work, her eyes were filled with malicious intent.

    ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t you darepete with me! You just wait!¡± Kimberly thought.

    At 5:00 pm, as usual, Aurelia listened to Millie''s gossip before clocking out.

    ¡°Aurelia, why don¡¯t you seem worried at all? Kimberly has pulled some strings and gotten close to the boss of One Technology.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he...¡± Aurelia paused. She couldn¡¯t talk aboutn¡¯s sexual preference behind his back.

    ¡°What''s wrong with him?¡±

    ¡°No, | mean, no matter how many people Kimberly knows, if she can¡¯te up with a proposal, who would dare to coborate

    with her? The boss isn¡¯t a fool.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. | can¡¯t stand Kimberly''s behavior anyway. It¡¯s just 99 roses. What''s so special about it? When | find a boyfriend, I''ll

    ask him to give me 999 roses!¡± Millie said. Her eyes filled with longing.

    ¡°Are you crazy? You can¡¯t eat them. Why spend so much money on flowers?¡± Aurelia eximed.

    ¡°| must outdo her!¡± Millie dered confidently.

    ¡°Alright, the car¡¯s here, let''s go.¡± Aurelia was toozy to indulge in daydreams with her.

    Aurelia went to the hospital and consulted with the doctor to confirm her mother¡¯s surgical n. After exchanging a few words

    with the caregiver, she then returned home. Upon arriving home, she saw Leslie¡¯s shoes at the door. Had hee back early

    today?

 Chapter 19

    urelia walked into the living room. She didn¡¯t see Leslie, so she went straight to the kitchen. he put the pasta and porridge she

    bought from the mini supermarket at the entrance of the esidential area into the fridge.

    he really didn¡¯t want to eat toast anymore. This was her breakfast for tomorrow.

    eeing the empty fridge, she thought it was time to discuss with Leslie about their living ituation.

    ut as she neared the study, she heard Leslie talking on the phone. She realized that it wasn¡¯t he right time, so she went back to

    her room.

    fter turning on herputer, she started working on a project. She didn¡¯t realize how much me had passed until she felt hungry.

    he nced at the time on herputer. It was already ten o¡¯clock

    he remembered the pasta she bought in the evening and quickly walked out of the room. It ras pitch dark outside, except for a

    sliver of lighting from the study.

    he wondered if Leslie was still busy.

    s, we''re all just hardworking people trying to get by,¡± she sighed.

    urelia didn¡¯t want to disturb Leslie. As she walked by the study, she suddenly heard coughing ounds.

    Hmm... cough cough... It¡¯s okay, keep talking.¡±

    lis voice was so hoarse but still saying it was okay?

    urelia remembered Linda¡¯s advice and couldn''t help but knock on the door.

    Mr. Synder, are you alright?¡±

    I''m fine.¡±

    Do

    you have any medicine at home?¡±

    No, it¡¯s not needed, thank you. Cough cough...¡±

    eslie¡¯s voice was very hoarse but still emotionless, though at least he was polite.

    urelia heard how quickly he refused and didn¡¯t ask again. They were adults, after all. Could he

    ally let himself get seriously ill

    he pursed her lips and went into the kitchen to cook pasta. But then she heard Leslie

    ughing again. The coughs sounded like they were getting more severe.

    urelia watched the pot boiling and let out a sigh. She then turned off the stove and left the

    buse.

    ¡®alking out of the residential area, she used her phone to look up nearby pharmacies. ortunately, the nearest pharmacy was still

    open.

    Iter buying tablets and cough syrup, Aurelia hurried back home. Once she entered the house, ie went straight to the study and

    knocked on the door three times.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I¡¯ve bought some medicine for you. Pleasee out and take it,¡± she said, out of breath.

    Leslie was momentarily stunned. He almost thought he had heard wrong. It was already past ten. Did she really go out to buy

    medicine for him?

    ¡°Mr. Synder?¡± Aurelia knocked on the door again.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Leslie responded and got up to walk out of the study.

    He saw the medicines on the dining table. He then picked it up and was ready to take it. But suddenly a hand stopped him.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, have you eaten anything?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Leslie replied casually.

    You can¡¯t take medicine on an empty stomach. It¡¯s too harsh for your stomach. Sit down and wait for me.¡±

    Aurelia took the medicine from his hand and ced it back on the table. Then, she turned and went into the kitchen.

    Leslie stood there, feelingpletely dumbfounded. Thest woman who worried about him taking medicine on an empty

    stomach was his mother.

    Did Aurelia think that just because they chatted a bit at the technology exhibition, she could meddle in his life?

    After a while, Aurelia came out of the kitchen with two tes of pasta. Leslie indifferently. nced at the pasta and frowned

    slightly.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t bother to look at his expression. She directly ced the te and a fork in front of him. ¡°Eat. It¡¯s better than taking

    medicine on an empty stomach.¡±

    Leslie looked at her with a cold gaze, as if trying to see through her.

    Aurelia tensed up. She hadn''t done anything to upset him, right? Was it because of her tone?

    ¡°Um... Eat quickly, or the pasta will stick together.¡±

    Leslie pondered for a moment, then lowered his gaze and picked up the fork. Before eating, he said in a deep voice, ¡°Thank

    you.¡±

    His voice had always been charismatic, but now it had a husky and mature tone. Even though it was just a polite thank you,

    Aurelia still felt a warmth in her ears.

    She was afraid that her inner thoughts would be exposed. So, she lowered her head and

    replied, ¡°You''re wee.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    Leslie lost his appetite due to a sudden cold. He didn¡¯t have high expectations for the pasta. After all, he never ate them.

 Chapter 20

    After tasting the pasta, Leslie surprisingly felt his stomach rumble with hunger.

    He thought that Aurelia, being a materialistic woman, wouldn''t be good at cooking. But actually, her cooking was quite good.

    After finishing the pasta, Aurelia took the dishes back to the kitchen and then poured a ss of water for Leslie.

    ¡°Take the pill first, then have a sip of cough syrup before bed. Don¡¯t drink water for half an hour after the syrup, or it won¡¯t work.

    That should help you sleep morefortably tonight.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Leslie paused as he looked at the pill and warm water handed to him. He seemed lost in thought.

    While drinking water, he took a moment to nce at Aurelia. She was smiling softly, making her look really amiable.

    She then said. ¡°Mr. Synder, go to bed early after taking the medicine. Work is important, but not as important as your health¡±

    After saying this, she realized she might have spoken too much. She quickly changed the subject and said. ¡°I¡¯m going to wash

    the dishes¡±

    She then headed into the kitchen.

    After taking the medicine. Leslie walked to the kitchen doorway. He looked at her busy figu thoughtfully and then turned around.

    When Aurelia finished washing the dishes and came out with a cloth to wipe the table, she found that Leslie had already cleaned

    it. The napkins she had scattered around while eating. were now neatly ced at theer of the table.

    Right then, she found herself thinking more highly of Leslie.

    Although he was cold and somewhat distant towards her, his manners and upbringing were impable. This made her feel less

    tense around him. She even chatted a bit more freely.

    She remembered when Seth came to her house for a meal. He left the napkins he used to wipe his mouth on the table,

    expecting someone else to pick them up. Even though it was such a simple task to do by himself.

    Thinking of Seth, Aurelia immediately shook her head. She thought, ¡°What bad luck!¡±

    She went to her room to grab clothes for a shower. But when she entered the bathroom, she pped her forehead. She had

    forgotten to remind Leslie about fixing the shower.

    ¡°I''ll definitely have to tell him tomorrow,¡± she thought.

    For now, Aurelia had no choice but to shower with cold water.

    The next morning, Aurelia got up to make breakfast. Thinking of Leslie being sick, she decided to cook all the porridge she had

    bought. Of course, she couldn''t let Linda find out that Leslie

    had gotten sick under her ¡°care.¡±

    Now the fridge was empty again.

    ¡°No, | have to go grocery shopping after work today. | want to eat! | want meat!¡± she thought.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Aurelia happily walked out of the kitchen carrying a big bowl of porridge. Maybe she was too happy. She didn¡¯t notice someone

    was standing opposite her. Leslie caught every one of her joyful expressions.

    As soon as Aurelia noticed Leslie watching her, she was frozen on the spot. She felt a bit awkward, but her heart skipped a beat

    upon seeing this handsome man¡¯s gaze on her.

    This was the first time she saw Leslie dressed so formally. His pure ck suit made him look tall and lean. The morning sun was

    soft and hazy, and he stood against the light, looking dreamy and aloof.

    Apart from admiring Leslie¡¯s good looks, she couldn¡¯t help but be impressed by his quick recovery. Just yesterday, he was sick.

    But today, he looked rejuvenated.

    ¡°M-Mr. Synder, you''re up early.¡± Sheposed herself and smiled awkwardly.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Leslie nced at the steaming bowl of porridge in her hands.

    Aurelia smiled and put down the bowl. ¡°Mr. Synder, since you''re just recovering, eating light is better. I''ve made some for you too.

    | wasn¡¯t sure when you''d wake up, so | haven¡¯t served it yet. Just give me a moment.¡±

    Her smile was so genuine that Leslie found himself stopped in his tracks. A few secondster, he realized that he had actually

    been distracted by a woman.

    Soon, Aurelia brought out a bowl of porridge.

    ¡°It''s just off the stove. Be careful, it¡¯s hot,¡± she said.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Leslie tasted the porridge and felt much better. His thoughts began to stir.

    He found it incredible that he could be living with a woman he barely knew and still have such a peaceful breakfast.

    During this time, Aurelia looked at Leslie, hesitating to speak.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, um... we''re out of food in the fridge. We''re also running low on seasonings, and we¡¯ve only got one pot. Maybe we

    should get some groceries?¡±

    After all, this was Leslie¡¯s home. So, she felt she should inform him.

    Only then did Leslie remember that he had moved in just a week ago and wasn¡¯t aware of what the house wascking.

    Thinking about this, he took out a rarely used card from his wallet and handed it to her. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Aurelia asked.

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21

    ¡°There¡¯s 3,000 dors in the card. It¡¯s for our household expenses this month.¡±

    Although Leslie had signed a cohabitation agreement, he didn¡¯t want to take advantage of a woman. He could still afford the

    household expenses.

    ¡°3,000? For household expenses?¡± Aurelia was surprised and looked at Leslie.

    ¡°Which ordinary family spends 3,000 a month just on living expenses? Nowadays, some ordinary people don¡¯t even earn 3,000 a

    month,¡± she thought.

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Leslie frowned. He thought Aurelia found the amount too little.

    Aurelia thought for a moment. She felt that since Leslie had brought it up, she needed to make some things clear for their future

    life together.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, our cohabitation agreement states that we live together as a married couple until our marriage ends. So, | think |

    need to know how much my husband earns each month.¡±

    ¡°Around 3,000,¡± Leslie casually said, quoting the sry of an averagepany employee.

    ¡°Is this house fully paid or on a mortgage?¡± Aurelia looked around.

    Leslie''s expression darkened. He felt she was pushing her luck. ¡°Mortgage. The monthly payment is around 1,300 dors.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s almost half your sry! Is this your sry card?¡± Aurelia hesitated but still asked.

    There were many people who lived paycheck to paycheck. Most young people in theirpany were in the same boat. They

    were making a couple of hundred bucks, and when the next paycheck rolled in, they barely had 20 or 30 dors left. Forget

    about savings, just making it to the end of the month without eating instant noodles was already good.

    She didn¡¯t expect Leslie to be a big spender. No wonder Linda was so worried about him.

    Leslie thought for a moment and nodded slightly. ¡°It¡¯s my sry card. Any problems?¡±

    Upon hearing his response, Aurelia got a bit mad. But it wasn¡¯t her money, so she couldn''t really tell him off. So, she could only

    say, ¡®It¡¯s better to spend money wisely. Ms. Linda is getting older, and you¡¯re her only son. What if... | mean, what if she gets sick

    in the future and needs a lot of money? Would you be able to provide it?¡±

    Aurelia understood the feeling of helplessness too well. That was why she seemed a bit anxious.

    Leslie was speechless. He looked at her and felt puzzled. ¡°Is she asking about his sry because of his mother?¡± he thought.

    Aurelia pointed at the card and said, ¡°Considering the current cost of living in Seacester, 500 dors is enough for both of us.

    And we should keep an extra 150 dors for emergencies. |¡¯ll contribute half of this amount. After deducting your mortgage and

    setting aside some for social and personal expenses, I''ll save the rest of your sry on this card. You can check it whenever you

    like.¡±

    With that, Aurelia continued eating the porridge. But Leslie kept staring at her. She asked, ¡°Do you want more porridge?¡±

    Chapter 21

    Leslie snapped back to reality and calmly picked up his bowl. Then, he replied, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Aurelia continued to eat the porridge.

    After breakfast, Aurelia realized she was runningte. She quickly got up and grabbed her bag. Then, she walked towards the

    door.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, remember to wash the dishes.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Leslie paused while eating his porridge.

    She asked him to wash the dishes?

    Aurelia stopped and turned to look at Leslie. She said, ¡°Mr. Synder, ording to the cohabitation agreement''s fifth use, we

    share household chores equally. | made breakfast, so is it a problem if you do the dishes? You were sick yesterday, so it¡¯s fine

    that | helped out. Or you don¡¯t know how to do it?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°| know.¡± Leslie¡¯s handsome face crinkled. He felt embarrassed when a woman asked him if he didn¡¯t know how to wash dishes.

    After Aurelia left, Leslie finished his breakfast and took the dishes to the kitchen.

    Soon, a call from Daniel came. ¡°Boss, where are you? Didn¡¯t you ask me toe early? There¡¯s

    a video conference with the international headquarters today. They have many things to consult with you.

    ¡°I''m busy,¡± Leslie replied coldly.

    ¡°What are you busy with?¡±

    ¡°Washing dishes.¡±

    Daniel was speechless.

    The sound of running water followed. ...

    Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

    im

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22

    Aurelia arrived at thepany and something seemed off. The way everyone was looking at her was strange.

    She felt confused and went back to her desk. Then, she saw Millie standing by the pantry door, gesturing with her eyes. So, she

    immediately picked up her cup and went into the pantry.

    ¡°Millie, what¡¯s going on?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Millie was too agitated to speak. She just kept tapping her phone¡¯s screen!

    ¡°Aurelia! Have you been involved in a scandal?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Aurelia waspletely baffled.

    ¡°This morning, we all received an email from someone iming to be Mrs. Lynch. She¡¯s using you of having an affair with her

    husband for a job! There are pictures of you and Mr. Lynch looking intimate in the restaurant. Didn¡¯t you receive it?¡± Millie

    showed Aurelia the email on her phone.

    Aurelia looked at the phone and saw nine photos of herself with Jason Lynch at a restaurant. In the photos, Jason was touching

    her hand and holding it. Two of the pictures were taken at angles that made it look like they were kissing.

    Alia was stunned. After regaining herposure, she checked her own phone and realized that everyone in thepany had

    received the email, except for her. Clearly, this was done to prevent her from responding in time.

    ¡°Millie, are you sure it was sent by Mrs. Lynch?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Who else would be so bold to im it?¡± Millie pointed at the name in the email.

    Aurelia frowned. Florence Lynch knew about her rtionship with Jason. Moreover, Florence just gave birth to a child. How

    would she have time to do such things?

    ¡°Millie, |...¡± Before Aurelia could exin, the angry voice of Zachary came from outside the pantry.

    ¡°Aurelia! Where are you?¡±

    Hearing the voice, Aurelia felt like the entire pantry was trembling. She had never seen. Zachary so angry before.

    She quickly turned and walked out of the pantry. To her surprise, many people who were not involved were sitting nearby. They

    were watching the scene unfold.

    Kimberly stood at the front and tried tofort Zachary. ¡°Mr. Zeller, don¡¯t be angry. There must be some misunderstanding!¡±

    Then she turned to Aurelia, ¡°Aurelia! Tell us it¡¯s not you in the photos! | can¡¯t believe you. would do such a thing!¡±

    ¡®Do such a thing?¡± Aurelia thought.

    She frowned and said, ¡°Mr. Zeller, it is me in the photos, but...¡±

    ¡°But what! You admit it! Aurelia! You have no shame, but thepany does! This kind of

    scandal could ruin thepany¡¯s reputation!¡± Kimberly didn¡¯t give her a chance to exin and insisted that Aurelia had seduced

    Jason for her job. But they knew who was really pestering Jason.

    Aurelia ignored Kimberly''s nder and walked up to Zachary, ¡°Mr. Zeller, | will clear misunderstanding!¡±

    up

    this

    ¡°Clear it up? How? Mrs. Lynch is so upset she sent the email to One Technology''s mailbox. Now bothpanies know what

    you''ve done! How can you say this is a misunderstanding?¡± Zachary questioned.

    Aurelia was taken aback. She didn¡¯t expect the situation to escte this much. She immediately said, ¡°Mr. Zeller, | have a way to

    prove that Jason and | were not involved in any scandal. Please wait a moment.¡±

    Just then, the receptionist rushed in, looking panicked. She eximed, ¡°Mr. Zeller! There¡¯s a woman outside... She ims to be

    Mrs. Lynch.¡±

    Kimberly smirked and pretended to be worried. She said, ¡°It must be Mrs. Lynching to confront you! Aurelia, you¡¯re finished!¡±

    The truth was that Kimberly sent the photos using Mrs. Lynch¡¯s name. She knew that the day Aurelia left thepany early,

    Aurelia would definitely go to One Technology. So, she secretly took the photos.

    If Aurelia chose to back off after finding out about her rtionship with the boss of One Technology, she wouldn¡¯t have wanted to

    make a scene. But Aurelia managed to get tickets to the technology exhibition and seemed very confident about it. So, she

    decided to act first.

    This time, she wanted to see how Aurelia would get out of this situation!

    The wives of rich families were often tough on mistresses. They would p them, tear their clothes, and pull their hair... It could

    be really humiliating.

    Kimberly couldn''t wait to see Aurelia getting beaten and rolling on the ground.

    Hearing themotion, everyone turned to look at the office entrance. Some even took out their phones to record the scene.

    Aurelia became nervous too.

    What exactly was going on?

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23

    Once Leslie entered One Technology, he saw everyone in a panic.

    He nced at Daniel. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    Daniel said cautiously, ¡°All the employees received an email this morning. It contained intimate photos of Mr. Lynch and Young

    Advertising¡¯s nner. Everybody said Mr. Lynch betrayed thepany for a woman.¡±

    Leslie frowned and stretched out his hand coldly. ¡°Email.¡±

    Daniel handed over the tablet without dy.

    Leslie recognized the woman in the photos as Aurelia at a nce.

    Aurelia was still concerned about his illness in the morning. Leslie couldn¡¯t believe she kissed another man behind his back.

    He had underestimated her!

    With a snapping sound, the tablet screen cracked.

    Daniel freaked out, saying, ¡°Mr. Synder, | will delete it immediately.¡±

    Leslie said coldly, ¡°Can you delete the memory of the people who have seen it?¡±

    Daniel shook his head.

    ¡°Get Mr. Lynch!¡±

    ¡°H-he is on leave today. His wife went into prematurebor.¡±

    ¡°Summon him back!¡±

    Leslie tightened his grip. The tablet in his hand waspletely destroyed.

    Leslie¡¯s impression of Aurelia had only begun turning slightly positive.

    He hadn''t expected her to sell herself out for a contract.

    Daniel watched as Leslie emitted a chilling aura. Seemingly in the eye of a storm, he felt suffocated.

    With a nod, he quickly turned to leave.

    Soon, Jason rushed to thepany. He panted and shouted upon entering the office, iming innocence.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I¡¯ve been wronged!¡±

    ¡°Is there nothing between you and Aurelia?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°No, | swear!¡± Jason raised his hand to pledge.

    ¡°What did you do that day?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Jason scratched his head. ¡°Which day?¡±

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Leslie¡¯s fingers tapped on the desk impatiently.

    Jason thought for a moment. He immediately understood what Leslie meant.

    ¡°Ah, | got it. That day in the restaurant, | tried to intimidate Ms. Simmons. But she didn¡¯t take the bait and rejected me directly.

    ¡°She even burned my hand. Look, | still have ointment on it. She was merciless.¡±

    Jason raised his hand. On the back was ayer of yellowish ointment.

    Seeing that, Leslie frowned and straightened out his thoughts.

    ¡°Didn''t you say that she has been pestering you for a while?¡±

    ¡°It''s a misunderstanding! I¡¯m not talking about her. It¡¯s another woman in herpany named Kimberly!

    ¡°She came to mete at night in a skimpy dress. | couldn''t shrug her off. She imed to have no boyfriend, but | saw with my

    own eyes she got out of a man¡¯s Ferrari.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons is different from her,¡± Jason said righteously.

    ¡°Is she different?¡± Leslie¡¯s voice was cold as if he had heard a joke.

    ¡°Yes. Ms. Simmons told me she was married once she sat down. She even sent a message to notify her husband on the spot.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons thought | wanted to take advantage of her. She immediately made it clear that she would never betray her

    husband. She said they have a good rtionship,¡± Jason confirmed.

    A good rtionship?

    Leslie''s frown rxed when he heard that.

    Then, he frowned again. What was he relieved for?

    ¡°Why did you go homete that day?¡±

    ¡°It was because my wife fell and went into prematurebor. | was so scared that my legs turned to jelly. So | asked Ms. Simmons

    to take me to the hospital.

    ¡°She even transfused blood for my wife. My wife can testify for me,¡± Jason exined.

    Next, he was puzzled. ¡°But it can¡¯t be, Mr. Synder. How did you know | sent Ms. Simmons. homete?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Leslie raised his eyebrows. His tone was much softer than before.

    Jason immediately changed the subject. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s what happened. I¡¯ve been busy with my wife these two days. | haven''t

    even thanked Ms. Simmons properly.

    ¡°By the way, | saw the email. The photos were snapped from misleading angles. It¡¯s obviously targeting Ms. Simmons.¡±

    People were not fools. The photos captured Aurelia clearly. It was obviously intentional.

    Leslie''s eyes turned cold when he heard that.

    At that time, Jason¡¯s phone rang. He turned around to answer the call.

    ¡°Darling, what¡¯s up?¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 Chapter 24

    ¡°What? Why are you meddling in the matter? You are still in postpartum recovery! Hello? Hello?¡±

    Jason hung up the phone helplessly.

    Leslie asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Jason sighed. ¡°My wife went to Young Advertising.¡±

    As his words fell, Leslie disappeared before him.

    At Young Advertising, Aurelia heard footsteps outside the office. Just as she turned to look at the door, she was pushed hard

    from the back

    There, Kimberly stood with her arms folded across her chest. She had a smug smile stered when Aurelia turned and saw her.

    ¡°Aurelia, | heard that Mr. Lynch¡¯s wife is the daughter of a foreign real estate tycoon. Plea make sure not to implicate us and the

    company if you¡¯ve provoked such a big figure.¡±

    Kimberly fanned the mes.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, we are only your colleagues¡ªordinary employees making a living. You should take responsibility for all the disgrace

    you caused alone!¡±

    The others immediately drew a line with Aurelia indifferently.

    At the same time, Florence was pushed into the office in a wheelchair.

    It was inconvenient for her to walk now, but even in a wheelchair, the noble air she exuded couldn¡¯t be concealed.

    She wore a long ck silk dress with a designer shawl draped over her shoulders. Her makeup was exquisite as well.

    Rather than a postpartum mother, Florence resembled a sessful businessw

    Zachary was worried that things would get serious. Thus, he quickly stepped forward with an apologetic smile.

    ¡°Wee, Mrs. Lynch. Shall we talk in my office?¡±

    ¡°It''s unnecessary.¡± Florence raised her head proudly. ¡°Some things are meant to be rified openly for the better.¡±

    Zachary¡¯s face contorted, and he shot Aurelia a dirty look.

    Following his gaze, Florence raised her hand to point at Aurelia.

    ¡°Why are you still standing over there? Come here!¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Lynch, I...¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

    As Aurelia was about to speak, Kimberly interrupted her and bumped into her from behind. ¡°Aurelia, do you still want to excuse

    yourself? Why don¡¯t you apologize to Mrs. Lynch? You''re

    a disgrace to women.¡±

    After saying that, Kimberly sashayed toward Florence.

    She put on a distressed look and said, ¡°Mrs. Lynch, please have mercy on Aurelia. I¡¯m able to understand why she chose to do

    these things through the back door. She only wanted to

    outperform me, so | apologize on behalf of her.¡±

    Adisgrace to women? Using the back door?

    Aurelia nced at her.

    Kimberly had imed to have received a designer bag from Jason. But now, in front of Florence, she used others of going

    through the back door.

    It was absurd.

    Standing further behind, all the married colleagues were rolling their eyes in annoyance. However, no one dared to expose her

    lies.

    Kimberly not only had a certain background. She was also a popr candidate running for the position of deputy director.

    Upon hearing her words, Florence scanned Kimberly from head to toe.

    She asked, ¡°Who are you? Why do you apologize for her?¡±

    Thinking that she had attracted Florence¡¯s attention, Kimberly was delighted.

    Right now, it didn¡¯t matter if Jason was indifferent to her anymore. If she could just win Florence''s favor, her status would be

    raised imminently. It wouldn¡¯t be hard given Florence¡¯s family background.

    ¡°Mrs. Lynch, my name is Kimberly Watson. | am one of the nnerspeting for the project with One Technology.¡±

    ¡°| see.¡± Staring at Kimberly, Florence narrowed her eyes and nodded.

    ¡°Mrs. Lynch, you¡¯re a magnanimous person, so please have mercy on Aurelia. Don¡¯t worry, Young Advertising won''t condone her

    misconduct. We will provide you a proper exnation.¡±

    Acting as if she were considering the big picture, Kimberly gave Zachary a knowing look.

    Zachary went along with her, saying, ¡°That''s right, Mrs. Lynch. We will handle the matter well.

    ¡°Really?¡± Florence asked as she nced lightly at Zachary.

    ¡°Definitely.¡± Zachary nodded solemnly.

    Hearing that, Kimberly couldn¡¯t help smiling. She presumed that Aurelia wouldn''t be able topete with her for the position of

    deputy director anymore.

 Chapter 25

    Unexpectedly, Florence smiled at Aure.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, did you hear that? Mr. Zeller said that he would handle the matter, so your name can finally be cleared.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aurelia was not stupid. She understood the underlying meaning and went along to thank Zachary,

    Zachary was dumbfounded and stared at Florence in disbelief. Most of their colleagues did as well.

    In bewilderment, Kimberly screamed hysterically, ¡°Mrs. Lynch, what are you talking about?¡±

    Florence red at Kimberly and rubbed her ears. ¡°It¡¯s too noisy. So your voice was this loud. | thought you only knew how to say

    ¡®dear¡¯ in a coquettish tone.¡±

    Kimberly''s face turned pale. She knew exactly what Florence was talking about.

    But, how did Florence know that she called Jason ¡°dear? Which man would tell his wife about his ambiguous affair with another

    woman?N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Florence looked past everyone¡¯s gaze and smiled while waving to Aurelia.

    Aurelia strode over and immediately adjusted Florence''s shawl for her. It had fallen off her shoulders earlier on.

    ¡°Mrs. Lynch, it¡¯s not suitable for you to go out now. You must take care of yourself.¡±

    Florence felt warm because of her care and reached out to grab Aurelia¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, you saved my daughter and 1, but | haven¡¯t thanked you properly. When | heard that you were ndered, |

    couldn¡¯t care less about my body. | just wanted to see which blind person is spouting nonsense!

    ¡°Jason and | were childhood sweethearts, and we have been married for more than ten years. He¡¯d even share with me what he

    had eaten in a day. So, how could he have looked for other women?

    ¡°It''s just that he can¡¯t handle vixens. They''re all attracted to married men and cry out ¡®dear¡¯ non-stop in the middle of the night¡ª

    just like those cats in a heat cycle.¡±

    Aurelia bit her lip to suppress herughter. But, the colleagues behind her couldn¡¯t help snickering.

    They all knew that Kimberly was the one visiting Jason in the middle of the night.

    After kicking up all the fuss, the culprit turned out to be none other than herself.

    Kimberly''s face flushed red and paled.

    Sheined, ¡°Mrs. Lynch, the photos are real, aren''t they? Such intimate gestures didn¡¯t seem like business talk¡±

    Florence snorted coldly, ¡°The photos were obviously snapped from misleading angles.¡±

    Kimberly retorted, ¡°Mrs. Lynch, | know you want to protect Mr. Lynch. After all, it''s shameful

    to reveal the indecent proposal.¡±

    Seeing Florence defending Aurelia, Kimberly decided to nder her altogether. Florence clenched her fists in anger.

    At that moment, Florence¡¯s phone beeped.

    After ncing at it, Florence was surprised. She murmured, ¡°Why is it him?¡±

    Then Florence smiled again. ¡°Kimberly, you want evidence? Then I''ll give it to you. This is the restaurant¡¯s surveince footage.

    ¡°Impossible! The restaurant¡¯s surveince footage will be overwritten in 48 hours. How can there be any footage remaining?¡±

    Kimberly blurted out.

    Aurelia caught the slip of her tongue and asked, ¡°How did you know that the restaurant¡¯s. surveince footage will be overwritten

    in 48 hours?¡±

    Kimberly lowered her eyes and raised her voice to say, ¡°It¡¯s amon thing for restaurants. | simply guessed it.¡±

    Seeing her guilty look, Aurelia immediately understood that the email had something to do with Kimberly.

    After all, thepany would definitely fire Aurelia once the indecent proposal was confirmed. By then, Kimberly would naturally

    be the deputy director.

    Florence waved her phone and said, ¡°Have you forgotten whatpany my husband works for? Restoring data is a piece of

    cake for One Technology.¡±

    After saying that, Florence yed the surveince footage.

    Although Jason did make some small gestures, they appeared more like unintentional touches due to the distance.

    From beginning till the end, there was no such scene as Aurelia and Jason kissing.

 Chapter 26

    Florence said, ¡°After my husband and Ms. Simmons left the restaurant, they went to the hospital to take care of me. Ms. Watson,

    do you need me to show you the surveince footage of my delivery in the hospital?¡±

    Florence¡¯s anger was evident.

    Zachary immediately stepped forward. He swallowed his pride andforted, ¡°Mrs. Lynch, calm down. It¡¯s all a

    misunderstanding!¡±

    Florence raised her eyebrows and said, ¡°Misunderstanding? | don¡¯t think so. If it was just a misunderstanding, how could

    anybody post such photos in my name?

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, it¡¯s not just yourpany involved now that Jason has also been ndered. If | don¡¯t stand up and investigate

    thoroughly, wouldn''t it turn into a mess?¡±

    Zachary frowned deeper and nodded repeatedly. ¡°Yes, yes, we will definitely investigate thoroughly.¡±

    Florence stopped pressing Zachary and simply reminded him, ¡°I have toe here to rify for my husband just after giving

    birth to my child.¡±

    ¡°| wonder how my father will deal with the culprit if he finds out about it. One should always weigh the pros and cons in life.¡±

    Zachary couldn¡¯t refute and broke out in a cold sweat.

    Seeing that, Aurelia thought for a while and walked up to Florence.

    ¡°Mrs. Lynch, please don¡¯t worry. Ourpany and colleagues trust me. They haven¡¯t caused me any trouble. On the contrary,

    I''m sorry to Mr. Lynch, so | will apologize to him in person another day.¡±

    Florence shot Kimberly a contemptuous nce.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Look here, this is the so-called ¡®considering the overall situation.¡¯ It¡¯s unlike kicking someone when they''re down.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Zachary and other colleagues immediately looked at Aurelia gratefully.

    Only Kimberly seethed with jealousy.

    Florence snorted softly and turned to look at Aurelia.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, | specially ordered someone to make pumpkin soup for you, so please have a taste. You are my savior, and even

    my father said he wanted to meet you. Don¡¯t let the uncultured swine affect your mood.¡±

    Kimberly''s gloomy figure froze on the spot while her colleagues mocked her in silence. This was the biggest humiliation she¡¯d

    ever faced since having joined thepany!

    Aurelia ignored Kimberly and took over the thermos jar. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Florence urged, ¡°Quick, try it.¡±

    Aurelia took a nce at Zachary.

    Not daring to offend Florence now, Zachary nodded vigorously at her.

    Then, Aurelia pointed to her seat. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my ce.¡±

    Florence hummed in response and had someone push her wheelchair to Aurelia¡¯s workstation.

    Aurelia unfolded the quillow into a nket and covered Florence with it.

    ¡°Mrs. Lynch, don¡¯t catch a cold.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Florence smiled.

    Then, Florence whispered a little apologetically, ¡°Ms. Simmons, I¡¯m sorry that | can¡¯t pinpoint Kimberly in public. Above all else, |

    have to consider the reputation of the twopanies. Secondly, if | expose her, I¡¯m worried that she will pick on you even more.

    ¡°l understand.¡±

    ¡°Then you...¡± Florence suddenly said mysteriously, ¡°How do you known? You are the first womann has ever helped.¡±

    n?¡±

    Aurelia paused with the spoon in her hand. She looked at Florence in confusion.

    ¡°I came here in a hurry, so | didn¡¯t have time to prepare the surveince footage. He restored the data and sent it to me. He can¡¯t

    be going out of his way for a woman. That¡¯s why I¡¯m curious about how you two met.¡±

    ¡°| really don¡¯t known,¡± Aurelia responded quickly lest Florence misunderstood that she had ingratiated herself withn.

    Florence frowned. ¡°Do you not know him? Then why did he help you?¡±

    Aurelia was also curious.

    Ahandsome figure inexplicably emerged in her mind. It was Leslie.

    Did he help her?

    Aurelia was lost in thought.

    Suddenly, Florence leaned in closer to her and changed the subject.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry aboutn. He is unfathomable anyway. By the way, | heard from Jason that you were married. You rejected him for

    your husband. So, I¡¯m curious about what your husband looks like. Can you show me?¡±

    Aurelia was somewhat hesitant. But seeing that Florence had no bad intentions, she nodded.

    It just happened that she had a wedding photo on her phone.

    ¡°| have a picture. Actually, he is...¡±

 Chapter 27

    Just as Aurelia tapped on the photo, Florence¡¯s phone rang.

    ¡°Darling?¡± Florence said.

    The next second, Jason¡¯s voice sounded through the office door.

    ¡°Darling, are you okay?¡±

    Aurelia quietly put down her phone.

    At the same time, Kimberly''s drama had ceased. Seemingly seeing a savior, she hurried toward Jason.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, you are finally here.

    Jason openly avoided Kimberly as if she were a gue and went straight to Florence. He let out

    a sigh of relief after having checked on Florence from head to toe.

    ¡°You freaked me out! Please don¡¯t do anything reckless again.¡±

    Then he turned to Aurelia.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, sorry to trouble you again. Regarding the email, ourpany has issued a statement to clear our names.¡±

    Aurelia was relieved to hear that.

    ¡°It''s no trouble. | should thank you this time. Mr. Lynch, you''d better take Mrs. Lynch back to

    rest now.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Jason nodded gratefully.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Florence waved to Aurelia. ¡°Then I''ll go first. Let''s meet again next time.¡±

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±

    After waving goodbye, Jason pushed Florence in her wheelchair toward the door.

    With the farceing to a wrap, everyone became relieved. Unfortunately, Kimberly insisted on acting out another scene.

    While staring at Jason with tinging red eyes, she called out in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Lynch...¡±

    Jason flinched at her cries. He quickened his pace right after, for fear that Florence would be angry.

    However, Florence raised her hand to stop the wheelchair.

    She nced at the designer bag on Kimberly''s seat. Then she deliberately said out loud, ¡°The bag looks good.¡±

    Jason frowned. ¡°When did your taste decline so badly? Even | find that bag hideous. Let me take you to Herm¨¦s to have a look

    tomorrow.¡±

    Holding back herughter, Aurelia stepped forward to see Jason and Florence off.

    As she was doing so, she pushed Kimberly away. ¡°Sorry, you''re in the way.¡±

    Kimberly''s face contorted in anger.

    After seeing off Jason and Florence, Zachary nced at Aurelia.

    He made no mention of the thorough investigation of the emails. Instead, he closed the case hastily in a perfunctory manner.

    ¡°This matter ends here. If | find anyone else gossiping about this, don¡¯t me me for reporting it to the HR department.¡±

    Aurelia remained silent and seemingly unsurprised. She had expected such results to

    ? ur.

    After all, she had neither power nor status. There wouldn''t be any usible reason for Zachary to offend Kimberly because of

    her.

    After Zachary left, the colleagues gathered around Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, we''re sorry for what happened earlier. We didn¡¯t mean it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, | knew it! How could Aurelia be someone who stepped out of bounds? Everyone knows that she is the most righteous

    person in the office.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, you are Mrs. Lynch¡¯s savior. Don¡¯t forget about us if Mrs. Lynch promotes you in the future.¡±

    Although they had drawn a line with her earlier, Aurelia¡¯s colleagues began to apologize one after another.

    She smiled and stayed silent. There wasn¡¯t much she needed to say anyway.

    Workce rtionships were always like that. Everybody would fawn over whoever was in a more favorable position. She had

    long since been dismissive of that attitude.

    Kimberly went over bitterly when she saw everyone ttering Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t be smug. Mr. Zeller obviously didn¡¯t believe what Mrs. Lynch said earlier. But, it makes sense.

    ¡°This particr incident must have a pretty substantial impact on Mr. Lynch. Why else would Mrs. Lynche to prove Mr.

    Lynch¡¯s innocence during her postpartum period? Since there weren¡¯t any other solutions for her, she could only take your side

    and help you out.¡±

    Just when their hearts wavered with doubt, Kimberly took the chance to twist the truth again.

    Aurelia ignored Kimberly''s ridicule. She looked her up and down.

    Kimberly''s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What? What are you looking at?¡±

    Aurelia smiled and said, ¡°Who are you going to seduce by dressing like this?¡±

    Kimberly''s expression froze. Then, she said in disbelief, ¡°Aurelia! Don¡¯t go too far! We have the freedom to dress however we

    want!¡±

    Aurelia returned to her workstation.

    Pointing at Kimberly¡¯s suspender dress, Aurelia said, ¡°As an employee, you wear a low-cut dress to work. What else would you

    be doing if not seducing our clients?¡±

    Kimberly covered her cleavage and reprimanded, ¡°Aurelia, every spection requires evidence! What evidence do you have to

    prove that | seduced our clients?¡±

    Aurelia pped her hands and said with a smile, ¡°Wow, Kimberly! You actually know that every spection requires evidence?

    Then, how can you ignore Mrs. Lynch¡¯s surveince footage? ording to your actions, it¡¯s not wrong for me to say that you

    seduce clients dressed like this, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    Kimberly wanted to speak out more. But, this time, Aurelia didn¡¯t let her have her

    her off directly.

    By!

    way. She cu

    way, Mr. Lynch doesn¡¯t seem to be close with you. Why do you think he gave you a bag that he disdained? Was he trying to hint

    at something?¡±

    Ahint, for example, that he disdained Kimberly.

    Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

 Chapter 28

    Some of the colleagues who couldn''t stand Kimberly began to snicker.

    Seeing that she didn¡¯t have the upper hand, Kimberly said bitterly, ¡°Aurelia, this isn¡¯t the end. Don¡¯t be toocent.¡±

    ¡°Likewise.¡±

    After giving her a response, Aurelia ignored Kimberly and looked down at her phone. What came into her view was the wedding

    photo she had taken with Leslie.

    As his handsome face lingered in her mind, she considered calling to ask if Leslie had helped her. Even if he hadn¡¯t, she should

    be exining such a huge matter to him as his wife.

    Thinking about it, Aurelia stood up and walked out of the office with her phone.

    Right after she had dialed Leslie¡¯s number, a ringtone rang behind her. She immediately turned around, only to find Leslie

    standing behind her.

    ¡°Les...¡±

    Just as she was about to speak, Leslie covered her mouth and pulled her into the corner.

    Meanwhile, Kimberly and her colleague exited the office.

    go:

    ¡°That¡¯s strange. | saw a man following Aurelia earlier when she came out. Where did he

    ¡°Were you mistaken?¡± Kimberly turned and prepared to leave.

    ¡°Impossible! She couldn¡¯t have started a new rtionship just after breaking up, could she? Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t it mean that she

    is thriving both in love and work?¡±

    Just as her colleague finished speaking, Kimberly¡¯s grim expression. Her colleague noticed it and immediately shut up.

    Kimberly bit her lip and seethed with hatred.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Why had all the favorable matters urred only to Aurelia? There¡¯s no way Kimberly would let Aurelia be smug about it!

    As they were hiding in the corner, Aurelia heard the footsteps fading away. She then let out a sigh of relief.

    She couldn¡¯t let Kimberly find out that she was married to an employee of One Technology. After all, she would be sure to

    comin of the unfairpetition.

    Besides that, Aurelia really wanted to hold onto this opportunity.

    When she came to her senses, Aurelia felt the warm breath over her head. She raised her eyes slightly. Only then did she realize

    that she had been surrounded by Leslie in the corner.

    Her face heated up. ¡°Mr. Synder, they''re gone.¡±

    Lowering his eyes, Leslie,met a pair of watery eyes. It felt as if a feather was tickling his heart lightly.

    He then cleared his throat slightly and took a step back. He said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m here to check on Mr. Lynch.¡±

    Aurelia nodded. There were no signs of surprise on her face because she knew he wasn¡¯t here in worry of her.

    Leslie narrowed his eyes. What was her expression supposed to be? Did she not want him toe after all?

    His tone turned cold immediately. ¡°The matter has been resolved. I''ll go back to thepany.

    With that, he turned around with indifference as Aurelia watched.

    Thinking for a few moments, she chased after him.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, thank you.¡±

    ¡°What for?¡±

    ¡°Thank you for helping me. If you need my help in any way, be sure to tell me.¡± Aurelia smiled.

    Her smile was faint-it was insignificant yet unforgettable.

    Sensing Leslie¡¯s stare, Aurelia pursed her lips and lowered her eyes a little.

    She somewhat regretted having blurted out those words. Leslie was really smart. So, when would he ever need her help?

    Aurelia was about to exin when Leslie leaned in with his figure towering over her. The hand he had ced on the wall moved

    from above her head to beside her ear.

    He leaned in further to look her in the eye and said, ¡°I don¡¯t like pasta.¡±

    Aurelia said, ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°See you.¡±

    Aurelia was left speechless.

    When she nced over, Leslie had already entered the elevator.

    She raised her hand to feel the heat on her cheeks. What was she shy o

    of?

    Aurelia calmed down for a while before returning to the office to continue working.

    An hourter, her phone vibrated. Surfacing her phone screen was an unfamiliar number, so she thought it was a client. Thus,

    she picked up the call.

    ¡°Hello.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, it¡¯s me, Seth. Why haven''t you unblocked my number yet? Are you still angry?¡± It actually turned out to be Seth. They

    hadn''t contacted each other for several days.

 Chapter 29

    hapter 29

    ith sounded like a totally different person. There was no trace of haughtiness in his tone, but iis had nothing to do with her

    anymore.

    is there anything | can help you with? If not, I¡¯ll need to get back to my work,¡± Aurelia iswered perfunctorily.

    Aurelia, | missed you so much. Has it not been long enough that you''ve thrown your intrum? But you don¡¯t have to worry about it.

    | don¡¯t care about that. You are still the onsiderate and obedient girlfriend in my heart. Let¡¯s have a meal together when you¡¯re

    free.¡± eth said smilingly.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    is tone was too casual. It was as if he implied that having a meal with him would be a gift om heaven to Aurelia.

    urelia used to think that it wasn¡¯t wrong for men to be a little arrogant. But, now she felt inoyed even just by hearing Seth¡¯s voice.

    ¡®hy did he suddenly act like this? What did he want?

    ¡®hile Aurelia was wondering about Seth¡¯s behavior, Linda¡¯s message popped out on her omputer screen.

    Aurelia, | have good news for you. Your ex-boyfriend has gotten kicked out of the Golf ating Club. | heard that he was caught to

    have falsely reported his ie and gave out a fake atch as a gift. The female member was so angry that she exposed him on

    the spot. nmediately after, the club kicked him out to show their stance.¡±

    The point here is, it was written on the membership agreement that if members were found > have false information, they will not

    refund their membership fees. He had wasted his 30 jousand dors. | almostughed my head off!¡±

    Well deserved,¡± Aurelia replied.

    o wonder Seth woulde back to ask her to get back together. It was because his dream of nding a rich girlfriend had been

    broken.

    urelia thought that he deserved it. Did Seth think that she was a garbage recycling station? ne didn¡¯t care about him anymore.

    Aurelia. Aurelia? Are you still listening?¡± Seth¡¯s eager voice sounded through the phone.

    urelia sent Linda a ¡°talk to youter¡± GIF before picking up the phone. ¡°Seth, I¡¯m not rowing a tantrum. I¡¯ve told you clearly that

    we''ve broken up! So please don¡¯t call me again. | block every number that you use to call me.¡±

    th had be uneasy on the other end. He hurriedly stopped Aurelia from hanging up the lone. ¡°Aurelia, | know you said this

    because you''re still angry. You love me. Who will ept u wholeheartedly besides me? Let¡¯s meet and talk this through, okay?¡±

    seth, a good ex-boyfriend should be just like a dead man. | can live very well without you,¡± Irelia emphasized.

    th was stunned. He thought Aurelia would be thankful if he gave her a leeway. He didn¡¯t pect her to be so stubborn and made

    him embarrassed.

    He raised his voice in anger. ¡°Aurelia! When did you start bing so thoughtless? How can you live well without me? You want

    me to go and look for you, right? Sure! I''ll find you now!

    H

    ¡°Seth''s narcissism left Aurelia speechless. It made her toes curl thinking that Seth wasting to herpany to act like a

    sweet male lead from a TV drama.

    She could only dere, ¡°Seth, I¡¯m married. You cane over anytime if you''re not afraid of being embarrassed.¡±

    Seth gasped and eximed impatiently, ¡°That¡¯s enough, Aurelia! I''ve begged you humbly, so what else do you want me to do?

    How can you make things up to piss me off? Is it because of the 100 thousand dors? When have you be so materialistic

    and unscrupulous? I¡¯m telling you...¡±

    Aurelia frowned. She didn¡¯t want to waste her time with him, so she interrupted, ¡°Someone is looking for me. | have to go.¡±

    She quickly hung up the phone and blocked the number.

    She knew Seth would never confront her in public, because he would feel very embarrassed about it.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t care much more about Seth. She concentrated on doing the proposals instead. After all, getting a promotion and a

    pay raise was more important than thinking about men.

    On the other hand, Seth was trying to call Aurelia again. But his calls couldn¡¯t be connected.

    He pursed his lips in disbelief. Then, he looked at his mother on the couch, Rosa Martinez, with aining look

    ¡°Mom, it¡¯s all your fault! Everything would¡¯ve been fine you had just lent Aurelia 1001

    w if thousand dors at that time. If Aurelia¡¯s colleague hadn¡¯t told me that she already had another man, | would still be waiting

    stupidly!

    ¡°Now, she even told me that she¡¯s married! It looks like she is determined to break up

    up with me! It¡¯s not easy for me to get her to be my girlfriend. | could get a Seacester¡¯s household registration if | married

    her. Do you how hard it is to settle down in Seacester?¡±

    ¡°One of my colleagues married a nonlocal. Both of them worked really hard. But, they were only qualified to get a household

    registration when their child was almost in elementary school! Do you want me to be called an ¡®outsider¡¯ here all the time?¡±

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30

    The more Seth talked, the angrier he became. He mmed his phone on the couch.

    Rosa quickly stood up from the couch and patted Seth on his back. There was a confident smile spreading across her face.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get angry. Do we have to believe that Aurelia¡¯s married if she says so? Her mother is still inaatose state. Who would

    dare to marry her?

    ¡°I''ve asked someone to pry about it. Her mother¡¯s illness is not a trivial one, and the surgical risk is high. If anything happened

    during the surgery, she could lose both her mother and all the money spent.¡±

    ¡°Even if her mother wakes up from thea, they still need a lot of money for rehabilitation. Now, she¡¯s asking you for money to

    give to her parents. What if she takes all our money in the future? If we don¡¯t crack the whip on her now, she won¡¯t be obedient

    after she is married into our family.¡±

    As Seth listened, he thought Rosa¡¯s statement actually made sense.

    He asked, ¡°But what if Aurelia insisted that she was married? | have an opportunity to get a promotion now. But, my manager

    said it''s easier to get promoted if | have a local household registration. | promised him that | would get my household registration

    soon.¡±

    ¡°What if Aurelia doesn¡¯t want to marry me? Who else could get me a household registration? This is all the gold digger from the

    dating club¡¯s fault. If she hadn¡¯t used me, | wouldn¡¯t have to go back to beg Aurelia.¡±

    ¡°I''ll blow Aurelia off for the next month and see how she handles her temper. What¡¯s wrong with women nowadays? All they know

    is money. Don¡¯t they know how to be thrifty?¡±

    He was even more pissed to speak of the dating club. Not only was his 30 thousand dors. poured down the drain, but they

    even kicked him out in public! He was so humiliated.

    Wasn''t it just a watch? The original watch cost 98 thousand dors. The fake one was only 980 dors. Didn¡¯t the fake one tell

    the same time as the original one?

    Was it really important whether it was genuine or fake?

    All women were vain for sure!

    No one could be better than Aurelia about this. They had been together for three years and Aurelia never asked for any

    expensive gifts. She would be very happy to just have a good meal. during the holidays.

    Seth thought that it would be better for him to marry Aurelia. Not only was Aurelia a local with a household registration, but she

    was also a working woman with a sry.

    Rosa knew that Seth was annoyed, but sheughed lightly. There was canniness and calction in her squinted eyes. ¡°Seth,

    don¡¯t worry. | have a way to let Aurelia marry you happily. There¡¯s no way she would regret it as well.¡±

    ¡°Mom, I''ll count on you for this. When Aurelia marries me, you should teach her how to be a good wife and a devoted mother.

    She can¡¯t always be thinking about work. Every married woman¡¯s job is to have children and take care of their parents¡ªin¡ªw.

    She''s too fussy,¡± Seth

    grumbled.

    ¡°Okay. When she marries into our family, | will never let her disobey you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Mom. | know you always have lots of ways.¡± Seth smiled. Then he sat back on the couch to eat the peeled fruit that his

    mother had prepared.

    Aurelia was halfway done with her proposal before getting off work.

    She stretched herself and packed her things, then prepared to punch out with Millie.

    They met Kimberly and other colleagues at the elevator. But, Aurelia stepped aside to ignore them.

    She thought that with everything that had happened today with Mrs. Lynch, Kimberly wouldn¡¯t want to talk to her anymore. But,

    she didn¡¯t expect Kimberly to act so courteously in front of other colleagues.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    ¡°Aurelia, I¡¯m so sorry about what happened today. | shouldn¡¯t have denounced you without rifying the truth. As | said, you''ve

    been in a rtionship with Seth for three years. How would you just find another man? You didn¡¯t even care about a high-quality

    man like Mr. Lynch. So, you must''ve still been waiting for Seth toe back, right?¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, stop talking nonsense! Aurelia had already broken up with Seth!¡± Millie retorted. ¡°Well, they only broke up. It¡¯s not like

    they''re bidding farewell. They can still get back together if they want to,¡± Kimberly said.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t hurry to respond to Kimberly. She hadn''t figured out the reason for Kimberly''s sudden change of attitude.

    However, she noticed that there was a meaningful smile in the corner of Kimberly¡¯s eye. It soon made her understand that it

    wouldn''t be simple for Kimberly to bring up Seth.

    When the elevator¡¯s door opened, the receptionist from downstairs walked out. ¡°Aurelia. Quick! Come downstairs and take a

    look. Awoman who ims to be your mother-inw hase looking for you.

    ¡°My mother-inw?¡±

    Could it be Linda?

    But it was very unlikely to be Linda. She had known Linda for a long time. Linda was always afraid of disturbing her work and

    would nevere to herpany just to look for her.

    So, she wouldn¡¯te to herpany and im to be her mother¡ªinw either.

    Could it be...

    Aurelia received a foreboding sense.

 Chapter 31

    Aurelia went downstairs with her colleagues. Before meeting with the so-called mother-¡ªin-w, she heard a familiar voice from

    the crowd.

    ¡°What can you say

    1 you say about this? Yes, we didn¡¯t lend her money, but she turned around and threatened my son with marriage.¡±

    ¡°All my son thinks about now is her. He can¡¯t even focus on his work. He tried to ask to get back together with her several times,

    but she even blocked his number!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why | came here to beg her shamelessly. | only hope she can forgive the fact that we¡¯re only a normal family. We can¡¯t

    afford her high expenses, but | hope that she can live a good life with my son in the future. Everyone in our family likes a smart

    and capable daughter¡ªin-w like her.¡±

    Aurelia followed the voice and nudged her way through the crowd. Then, she saw Rosa with reddened eyes.

    Rosa was wearing a ck, cotton midi dress. She was holding a small and exquisite bag in her arms. With an embarrassed look,

    everyone would think of her as an honestdy with a decent

    manner.

    In a bustling city like Seacaster, a decent olddy was much more favorable to the young people than an olddy in a T-shirt.

    When Aurelia showed up, Rosa quickly went up and grabbed her wrist before she realized the situation.

    ¡°Aurelia, finally you''re willing to see me. | want to apologize for Seth. He is a straightforward person and | know you were upset.

    Can''t you forgive him for my sake?¡± Rosa sounded very sincere. It made her look like a normal mother who was always worried

    about her children.

    But Aurelia knew that Rosa wasn¡¯t just a normal mother.

    After Seth had proposed to her, he told her that he wanted to introduce her to his mother. She thought Seth was taking her

    seriously, so she prepared some fruit and a cashmere scarf as gifts for Rosa.

    But when Rosa saw her gifts, she threw the scarf on the couch with a cold smile on her face. Her voice was dripping

    With sarcasm as she said, ¡°There was a boy in our town who married a girl from the big city. The girl gave her mother-inw a

    gold bracelet. And a few dayster, she gave her another gold ne. Everyone was so envious of her.¡±

    When Rosa finished, she even rubbed her empty wrist.

    Aurelia was too smart not to understand the implications. Rosa thought what she had given her was too cheap.

    Unfortunately, she was still silly enough to think that Rosa might not know much about branded products. So she tried to exin,

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, the scarf is...¡±

    ¡°It''s a thoughtful gift. | know that. But a cashmere scarf is not very useful to me. | prefer silk scarves more. Look at the floral print,

    isn¡¯t it beautiful?¡± Rosa said as she pointed to the floral silk scarf on the chair.

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez.¡± Aurelia was about to exin that the cashmere scarf she bought was a branded product. It was light but warm at

    the same time, and it was more expensive than her polyester scarf.

    But Seth chimed in, ¡°Mom, I''ll ask Aurelia to return this if you don¡¯t like it. She¡¯ll buy you a gold bracelet tomorrow. We''ll definitely

    pick one that suits you best in the jewelry shop.¡±

    He tried to give a hint to Aurelia by shooting her a nce.

    Aurelia was upset, but she didn¡¯t want to sour her rtionship with Rosa on their first meeting. So she smiled but didn¡¯t explicitly

    agree with Seth.

    Yet, Rosa seemed very pleased. So, she invited Aurelia to sit down and eat.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Aurelia assumed to only have a meal with them peacefully and leave a good impression on

    each other.

    But, the food Rosa prepared was all spicy. Seth knew that she couldn''t eat anything spicy. But when Aurelia looked at Seth, he

    was eating more happily than anyone else.

    ¡°Mom, the food you made is so delicious.¡±

    ¡°You can have more if you think it¡¯s delicious. Come on, Aurelia. Taste this.¡± Rosa lifted at spoonful of spicy soup to Aurelia¡¯s lips.

    Aurelia knitted her brows and refused. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Martinez. | can¡¯t eat spicy food.¡±

    Rosa clicked her tongue andined, ¡°Seth loves spicy food the most. How are you going to cook for him if you don¡¯t like it?

    You''re just not used to eating spicy food. You''ll be good if you get used to it. Come on, I''ll feed you.¡±

    Aurelia was stunned when Rosa suddenly stuffed the spoonful of spicy soup into her mouth. She even pulled Seth¡¯s arm and

    laughed, ¡°See? | knew that she could eat spicy food. The city girls are all so pretentious. Whether it¡¯s spicy or not, they¡¯re all the

    same once you get used to it.¡±

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32

    ¡°Aurelia, it seems to me that you''re good at eating spicy food,¡± Seth giggled.

    The soup was so spicy that it gave Aurelia a sore throat. She couldn¡¯t even speak.

    She couldn''t care more about deference and stood up. After grabbing the cashmere scarf from the couch, she took the fruit and

    left the Martinez house.

    Since Rosa didn¡¯t like it, she took it back to give it to her mother.

    She only forgave Seth when he caught up with her and apologized over and over again. She made him promise to live

    separately with his parents after they got married.

    Seth agreed and promised her at that time. Butter on, he started scheming for her house behind her back and wanted her to

    live together with his parents.

    His family had never respected her.

    Now, Aurelia was amused by the humble Rosa standing in front of her. She had to say that Seth got his acting skills from his

    mother.

    She shook off Rosa¡¯s hand and replied coldly, ¡°Mrs. Martinez, Seth and | had broken up. He¡¯s well aware of the reason for the

    breakup. | think there¡¯s no need to bring that up here.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to go too far and be too straightforward. She gave Rosa a leeway and hoped that she could understand it.

    But Rosa began to sob more profusely. She took a bank card out of her bag and gave it to

    Aurelia.

    ¡°There¡¯s 100 thousand dors in it. | know this money is the reason why you argued with Seth. | sold the house in my hometown

    to scratch together the 100 thousand dors. | only hope to see that you two can live well together. We will help as much as we

    can. Aurelia, please forgive Seth and agree to marry him.¡±

    Aurelia looked at the bank card she was holding. She was confused.

    Could it be that Rosa and Seth had changed their attitude?

    While she was still thinking, her colleagues around her were already stirred up. Most especially Kimberly.

    Kimberly walked up to Aurelia in her expensive high heels, and admonished bitchily, ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t you still think about Seth?

    Now, even his mom hase to apologize to you. Just forgive him and agree to marry him. After that, you can live a cozy life. All

    you have to do is take good care of your family.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t miss out on the mockery in Kimberly¡¯s eyes. So this was what Kimberly meant when she said Aurelia couldn¡¯t get

    over Seth in public.

    Aurelia assumed that Kimberly must have had something to do with Rosa¡¯s sudden a

    appearance.

    Aurelia opened her mouth and tried to exin. But, she was interrupted by all the persuasions

    around her.

    ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t be so fussy. It¡¯s not easy for this olddy either. She even sold her house for you and Seth. You''re going too far if

    you''re still angry.¡±

    ¡°Money is more important than love in this corrupt society. | feel really bad for Seth.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯re a grown-up now. You''re not in your early twenties, so you can¡¯t be that picky anymore. You have to be realistic

    and think about your own conditions as well.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Everybody shared their opinion. They sounded as if they were trying to persuade Aurelia to get back with Seth. But in fact, they

    were rubberneckers. If Aurelia refused to marry Seth, that would be the reality of materialism.

    When Rosa saw the scene, she raised her hand to wipe her tears. But, there was a smirk on the corner of her mouth.

    Ayoungdy without a strong psychological defense mechanism would be wavered by those words. She might even think that

    since the Martinez family had given her the money, it meant. that they had shown their stance and apologized. Everyone would

    think she was too fussy if she continued to get angry. In the end, she would agree to marry Seth muddle-headedly.

    However, Aurelia had seen through Seth and the Martinez family. She would never believe that Rosa, who used to turn her nose

    up at her, would sell her house to scratch together the money.

    She took a deep breath and looked at her colleagues. ¡°Since you all believe her so badly, you can all be her witnesses. Don¡¯t

    think that I¡¯m bullying an olddy.¡±

    As she finished, she handed the bank card to Millie who stood beside her. ¡°Millie, there¡¯s an ATM at the corner of the lobby. |

    think the password is Seth¡¯s birthday, which is 960522. Can you go and check the bnce of the card?¡±

 Chapter 33

    Millie didn¡¯t understand why Aurelia had asked her to do so. But, she did as she was told and walked to the ATM with the bank

    card.

    Rosa¡¯s face turned pale upon seeing this situation.

    She quickly stepped forward to grab the card, but Aurelia stopped her.

    ¡°Didn''t you say that you¡¯re giving me the money in the card, Mrs. Martinez? Of course, | have to check.¡±

    ¡°You... You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Rosa stammered.

    ¡°| believe you, but seeing is believing. I¡¯m sure that everyone wants to know how good you''re treating me, right?¡± Aurelia smiled

    and looked at the colleagues around her.

    Everyone nodded their heads. Rosa¡¯s face turned as white as a sheet. She didn¡¯t know what to

    retort.

    After a while, Millie screamed in surprise. She then ran back in rage. ¡°What did you mean by 100 thousand dors? There¡¯s only

    10 dors on this card. Do you know what you¡¯re doing is considered marital fraud? Thank goodness Aurelia didn¡¯t promise you

    anything.¡±

    ¡°|... | don¡¯t know anything¡± Rosa started to y dumb,

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, you didn¡¯t even know how much your house cost? Did you sell it for 100 thousand dors or 10 dors? | think |

    should report this to the police for you in case you''ve met a fraud.¡± Aurelie pretended to take her phone out nervously.

    Rosa was afraid that Aurelia would really call the police. She grabbed the bank card from Aurelia¡¯s hand and took a couple of

    steps back. She eximed cunningly, ¡°Aurelia, | came to see you because | care about you! But don¡¯t you overrate yourself!Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Everyone, take a look at this youngdy! Her mother was seriously ill and that¡¯s why she wanted to cheat us of our money. If we

    don¡¯t give her the money, she won''t agree to marry my son! My poor son has eyes full of her. All he wants is to get back together

    with her.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s colleagues knew about her mother¡¯s illness. But when they heard Rosa¡¯s statement, the look in their eyes had changed.

    They all stared at Aurelia differently.

    Kimberly added exaggeratedly, ¡°Aurelia, marriage symbolizes love. It¡¯s not a bargaining chip to exchange for money. It¡¯s pitiful

    that your mother is ill. But Seth¡¯s not obligated to pay for the treatment. How could you refuse to marry him because of this? Did

    you treat Seth fairly for his devotion over the past three years?¡±

    Everyone nodded in agreement.

    Rosa realized someone had taken her side. She lifted her chin as if trying to see what Aurelia would do.

    Aurelia suffered the stares in her colleagues¡® eyes. She hadn''t done anything wrong, but now she was dered guilty by people

    who were irrelevant to this matter.

    She would neverpromise to moral ckmailing!

    She clenched her fists and walked up to Rosa.

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, my mom is indeed very ill. And | indeed asked Seth to lend me some money. He told me he didn¡¯t have the

    money, but the very next thing he did was buy a car worth more than 300 thousand dors | can show you our chat history. Do

    you want me to show them as well?¡±

    ¡°Seth did propose to me as well, and | said ¡®Yes.* But when you heard about my mom¡¯s illness, you kept silent about the

    wedding. Nothing had been decided about the wedding. So, when did | ever refuse to marry Seth?¡±

    ¡°By the way, Seth once mentioned that when my mom is dead, he¡¯s going to sell the house. that I''ll inherit from my mom. He''ll

    use the money to buy you a bigger house to enjoy your life. Do you think | shouldn¡¯t have broken up with him?¡±

    Everyone on the scene was startled. They immediately looked at Rosa in disgust.

    Rosa couldn''t care about the embarrassment. She started to act like a rogue and snapped, You¡¯re one of the Martinez family

    once you married Seth. It¡¯s not your house anymore either. Aren''t we a family? You''re just making a fuss about it.¡±

    Millie retorted in grievance for Aurelia, ¡°Mrs. Martinez, Aurelia¡¯s mom is still alive. Are you really trying to take all the money and

    house from Aurelia once her mother dies? You''ve gone way too far to curse Aurelia¡¯s mother to death!¡±

    Rosa knew it was her mistake. But she was still arrogant. She pointed at Aurelia and scolded, Aurelia, don¡¯t you speak that

    nonsense to me! You''ve wasted three years of my son¡¯s life. He paid for everything that you ate and used. Do you really think

    you can break up with him if you just say so? No way! You have to marry my son!¡±

    Rosa thought that since she couldn¡¯t convince her, she couldpel her instead. Who would dare toy a finger on an olddy

    like her anyway?

    Aurelia was so irritated even her hands were shaking in anger. She had never met anyone so shameless.

    But she knew very well that both Seth and Rosa wouldn''t give up so easily. If the farce continued, her chance of getting a

    promotion and a pay raise would be ruined.

    Aurelia said directly, ¡°I¡¯m married.¡±

    Rosa snorted, ¡°Huh? Are you trying to fool us again? You have a seriously ill mother. Who would want to marry you besides my

    son?¡±

    that

    ¡°Here¡¯s my marriage certification.¡± Aurelia took the marriage certification out of her bag she forgot to keep at home. She warned

    Rosa word by word, ¡°Please, don¡¯t you and Seth evere and disturb me again.¡±

    ¡°You... Are you really married?¡± Rosa looked at the marriage certificate in surprise.

    ¡°It¡¯s illegal to forge a marriage certificate.¡± Aurelia reminded Rosa.

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34

    Rosa was so angry that she gritted her teeth. She then smiled again after a while.

    ¡°Aurelia, let me give you a piece of advice. Marriage is not a game. Don¡¯t marry someone easily just to piss Seth off. After all, not

    everyone is as excellent as Seth.¡±

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but think about Leslie when she looked at the over¡ªconfident Rosa.

    As aman, Leslie was calm and steady. But Seth was the kind of man who would make an announcement to the whole world

    once he had a little achievement. You would never know the differences between men before you make aparison.

    Aurelia smiled and exined, ¡°Mrs. Martinez, don¡¯t worry about that. My husband is more excellent than Seth. If you have time to

    worry about me, why don¡¯t you care more about your son?¡±

    ¡°Even if he can¡¯t afford a genuine watch, he shouldn¡¯t have deceived others either. It will only make a fool of himself. If youe

    to mypany and make a scene again, | can¡¯t promise you to keep any secrets.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Rosa¡¯s mouth twitched. She soon realized what Aurelia meant. She was afraid to let other people know that Seth had

    given out a fake watch at the dating club. She took her bag and was about to leave.

    Before she left, she pointed at Aurelia and eximed, ¡°You''ll regret missing my son.¡±

    ¡°I''ve already regretted it. | regret that | didn¡¯t see his true colors sooner,¡± Aurelia retorted and emphasized every single word.

    Rosa gnashed her teeth in anger and left in humiliation.

    Aurelia was about to heave a sigh when she heard the hasty footsteps of high heels.

    ¡°Aurelia, show me the picture of your husband. I¡¯m curious about what he looks like.¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    It was Kimberly. She was staring at the marriage certificate that Aurelia was holding and reached her hand out to grab it.

    Aurelia dodged and put the marriage certificate back in her bag. ¡°My husband is just an ordinary man. There¡¯s nothing special to

    see.

    ¡°Ordinary looking man? Doesn¡¯t that just mean ugly? Don¡¯t worry, | won¡¯tugh at you. You''re so petty. It¡¯s not like | will steal your

    husband, right?¡± Kimberly tossed her hair confidently as she spoke.

    ¡°Indeed. My husband doesn¡¯t meet your standard. After all, you like men like Mr. Lynch. | hope you can get what you want.¡±

    Men like Mr. Lynch that was married.

    When she finished, she pulled Millie out of the building and ignored Kimberly¡¯s livid face.

    Millie only came back to her senses when they had almost arrived at the subway station. She asked, ¡°Are you really married,

    Aurelia? Did you buy that marriage certificate on Amazon?

    Aurelia chuckled, ¡°Do | look like | have nothing else to do? I¡¯m truly married.¡±

    Chapter 34

    Millie continued asking, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you show Kimberly your marriage certificate? Is it because your husband really looks...

    No, that¡¯s not what | meant. I¡¯m just too curious.¡±

    Aurelia mulled it over before answering, ¡°He looks special.¡±

    Leslie was so good-looking that you would never forget what he looked like even after just a nce.

    But Millie misunderstood Aurelia. Normally, people would use ¡°handsome¡¯, ¡°average looking ¡°, or ¡°ugly¡± to describe a man. If

    someone used ¡°special¡± to describe a man¡¯s look, they were saying that he wasn¡¯t good-looking in a subtle way.

    Oh, no! Aurelia married an ugly man after getting disappointed in love! How heartbroken could she be to go so far as to marry an

    ugly man?

    Aurelia didn¡¯t notice Millie¡¯s expression. She waved her goodbye at the subway entrance.

    Kimberly stomped her feet in anger. She wanted to use Seth as a distraction to stop Aurelia from doing the proposal. She never

    expected that not only Aurelia didn¡¯t care about Seth anymore, but she even got married to someone else.

    One of their colleagues ran into Aurelia and a man this afternoon. Was the man Aurelia¡¯s husband?

    She didn¡¯t believe that Aurelia could find a decent man and get married in such a short time.

    Kimberly felt relieved upon that thought. She walked outside carrying her branded handbag. and met a staff member from

    another floor.

    ¡°Kimberley, what were you and your colleagues doing gathering at the lobby earlier?¡±

    ¡°It was nothing.¡± Kimberly shook her head. Then she smiled suddenly when she found another way to handle Aurelia.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a big matter. It¡¯s just that Aurelia broke up with her boyfriend because of 100 thousand dors. She didn¡¯t want to

    forgive him even when his mother hade to beg her. Who knows what she wanted to do with that 100 thousand dors?¡±

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35

    ¡°But | heard that they broke up.¡±

    ¡°Women don¡¯t like to say what they really want. Everyone in our office knows that she can¡¯t get over Seth. Just look at the high

    heels that she wore for three years, they were a gift from Seth. She keeps them until now,¡± Kimberly sighed.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t they just get back together if she can¡¯t get over him? What''s the point of this impasse?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, Aurelia mentioned that she married a random man to piss Seth off. She didn¡¯t want to bring up her husband. But,

    everyone can tell how much she hates her husband.¡±

    Kimberly smiled faintly. She wasn¡¯t lying. Everyone had heard it when she said Aurelia couldn¡¯t get over Seth. Aurelia hadn''t

    denied it either.

    She wanted to know what Aurelia¡¯s husband looked like, but Aurelie didn¡¯t want to show it to her. Didn¡¯t it mean that Aurelia hated

    her husband?

    Plus, it was Rosa who said that Aurelia married another man to piss Seth off. She had nothing to do with it.

    She was merely reporting what Rosa had said.

    ¡°Huh? | can¡¯t understand what she¡¯s thinking. | think it''s better to stay away from her in the future. She is so radical.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Kimberly seemed as if she was smiling resignedly. But she was actually excited inside. ¡°Let''s go out for dinner together.

    It''s on me.¡±

    They left the building with smiles on their faces. None of them noticed Leslie who stood behind a pir.

    Leslie looked sullen and his fists were clenched.

    After meeting Aurelia, he went to another floor to have a business discussion. He heard what Aurelia¡¯s colleagues were talking

    about once he came out of the elevator.

    Good job, Aurelia! No wonder she wanted him to sign the co¡ªliving agreement. He was just a tool to make her ex-boyfriend

    angry. He even thought that he misunderstood Aurelia earlier.

    Leslie turned around and walked out of the building. He then headed to the parking lot.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Daniel was aware of Leslie¡¯s unpleasantness when he got in the car.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, was the business discussion unsessful?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Then the reason that you¡¯re angry is...¡± Daniel tried to guess cautiously about what Leslie was thinking.

    ¡°I''m not angry,¡± Leslie emphasized somehow.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you almost have the words ¡®I¡¯m very angry¡¯ carved on your forehead,¡± Danielughed.

    27

    ¡°Do you have nothing else to do?¡± Leslie raised his eyebrows.

    Daniel''s grin faded. He got back to the point. ¡°We have leaked out information about the opening party to the otherpanies,

    including Synder Corporation. They''ve always shown their interest in ML¡¯s chip. But they haven''t taken any action due to the high

    price. | don¡¯t know why they didn¡¯t do anything when they''ve heard of the recement chip we have.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Leslie¡¯s face turned cold and his eyes were sullen.

    ¡°They''re waiting for us to reach out to them. Synder Corporation is monopolizing the market of the scientific and technological

    industry in Seacaster. What they want to do with a newpany like ours is merging it instead of coborating.¡±

    ¡°We''re not in a hurry. So, we''ll y a game with them. With Synder Corporation''s current situation, we''re not the ones on the hot

    bricks,¡±

    Leslie looked outside the car dangerously. He suddenly realized that the car was parked at the ce where he saw Aurelia for

    the first time.

    He heard every word clearly when she was fighting with her ex-boyfriend beside his car.

    Gold¡ªdigging. Heartless. And one more now, scheming.

    He was almost fooled by her too.

    ¡°Mr. Synder? Mr. Synder?¡± Daniel felt that the atmosphere in the car was gloomy. He had to be more prudent when he called

    Leslie.

    ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Leslie stopped looking at the view outside the car.

    ¡°Your phone buzzed.¡± Daniel pointed at the phone beside him.

    Leslie picked his phone up to take a look. It was a WhatsApp message from Aurelia.

    ¡°Are you still working overtime tonight?¡±

    So now she wasn¡¯t thinking of her ex¡ªboyfriend and remembered she had a husband?

    ¡°Yes.¡± Leslie didn¡¯t want to be her tool just to make her ex¡ªboyfriend angry.

    ¡°Okay, then you can grab something at yourpany. | have something to do as well,¡± Aurelia replied.

    Where was she going instead of going home after getting off work?

    He remembered what Aurelia¡¯s colleagues had said before. They said that she was still wearing the high heels that Seth had

    given her for three years.

    Was she going to look for her ex-boyfriend?

    Even though he didn¡¯t like Aurelia, they were a legally married couple. So if she continued to get involved with her ex-boyfriend,

    did it mean that she really treated him as a tool?

    Leslie replied to her message with a sulky face, ¡°I¡¯m busy with work. I''ll eatter when | go home.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

 Chapter 36

    Their topic ended there. Leslie put his phone back into his pocket impatiently. When he looked up, he found Daniel staring at him

    with uncertainty.

    ¡°Is anything the matter?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, it has happened several times already,¡± Daniel said in a serious tone.

    ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°You were absent-minded. | really wonder who could affect your emotions?¡±

    When they were still overseas before returning to Seacaster, Daniel had been working for Leslie for many years. Apart from a

    working rtionship, they were also friends.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Leslie nced over the car window and found himself scowling, looking displeased.

    But soon, he returned to his aloofness. He then looked at Danial and stated with tranquility,¡± There¡¯s no ¡®who.¡±

    Danielughed, ¡°That¡¯s not possible. You were even...¡±

    Leslie squinted his eyes. ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Daniel coughed and cleared his throat. ¡°There¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s go back to thepany first.

    Leslie agreed. He leaned back in the seat and tried to take a power nap, but he failed to calm his mind.

    On the other hand, Aurelia got on the subway to the hospital after Leslie replied to her.

    What was wrong with him again?

    Why were men¡¯s minds harder to guess than women''s?

    On her way to the hospital, Aurelia¡¯s phone had almost blown up with the iing calls from unknown numbers.

    She didn¡¯t have to guess to know that they were all from Seth. She didn¡¯t pick up any of the calls and directly blocked all the

    numbers.

    When she arrived at the hospital, the caregiver, Karen, meticulously told her about her mother¡¯s condition as of today. Then she

    took out Ava¡¯s analysis report and repeated what the doctor had said to Aurelia.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, don¡¯t worry. The doctor said that Ava¡¯s condition didn¡¯t get worse. She¡¯s eligible for surgery. She can get through

    the surgery if everything goes well.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aurelia heaved out a long sigh.

    Then she ordered two take¡ªouts to eat with Karen.

    As soon as Karen finished her dinner, she started to bathe Ava with a towel. She pointed at the night sky and told Aurelia, ¡°Ms.

    Simmons, why don¡¯t you go home first? It¡¯s not safe for your to go backte alone. | will take care of your mother and call you

    immediately if anything happens.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Thank you very much.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. This is my job.¡±

    Aurelia felt relieved upon hearing Karen¡¯s words. She was very d that she hired the right caregiver this time.

    It was already past 7:00 p.m. when she got out of the hospital. She hailed a cab by the roadside to go to the supermarket.

    Otherwise, they could only stand by the empty fridge and do nothing tomorrow.

    Leslie also mentioned that he was going to eat at home. She understood the misery of working overtime all too well. She would

    get extremely hungry after overworking her brain.

    Since Leslie had helped her today, there was nothing wrong if she cooked dinner for him.

    But when she pulled the car door open, another hand from behind her mmed the door closed.

    ¡°Aurelia, | know you must''vee to the hospital to see your mother.¡±

    ¡°Seth? What are you doing here?¡± Aurelia frowned at Seth, who was, like a ghost haunting her.

    ¡°Aurelia, | know | was wrong. Can¡¯t you give me another chance?¡±

    ¡°Seth, do you really think | will get back together with you? Your mother even went to mypany and morally ckmailed me.

    And what | told your mom was all true. I¡¯m married.¡± Aurelia stressed the point again resignedly.

    ¡°It''s okay. You can divorce him immediately. | won¡¯t me you.¡± Seth sounded so righteous. Aurelia was speechless all of a

    sudden. She was so angry that she couldn¡¯t find the right words to say.

    She took a deep breath and soothed the urge to scold him.

    ¡°Seth, | won''t get a divorce. And | won¡¯t get back together with you too. So, both you and your mother, please don¡¯te and

    find me again.¡±

    Aurelia nudged Seth aside impatiently and was about to get into the cab.

    But Seth suddenly hugged her from behind, asking her to stay loudly and soulfully, as if he was acting in a movie.

    ¡°Aurelia, | was wrong! | really know that | was wrong! Please don¡¯t go! Please don¡¯t leave me!¡±

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37

    Seth¡¯s acting skill was so good that even the cab driver was moved by him.

    The cab driver turned around and looked at both of them. He then persuaded Aurelia, ¡°Miss, you can¡¯t be too hardhearted. If a

    man is willing to beg a woman like this, that means he¡¯s really in love with the woman.¡±

    ¡°You can have his love if you want to,¡± Aurelia spoke at the end of her patience.

    The cab driver twitched his mouth, as if saying Aurelia was too hardhearted. He then hit the elerator and drove away.

    Looking at the leaving cab, Aurelia struggled to free herself from Seth in anger. But men were clearly stronger than women. She

    couldn¡¯t even force his hand off her with her whole strength.

    ¡°Let go of me!¡±

    ¡°| won''t let go of you, Aurelia! | am genuinely in love with you. If you don¡¯t agree to marry me, | will hug you for the whole night

    here on the street.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything wrong with you? If there is, you should get it treated!¡±

    ¡°My heart feels wrong without you,¡± Seth said loudly.

    His words made the people around them titter. There were even some of them who looked at Aurelia enviously.

    Aurelia calmed herself down. She knew that the more she resisted, the more enthusiastic he became. The passersby who didn¡¯t

    know anything would help him instead.

    She stopped struggling and seemed to haveplied with his embrace.

    ¡°Seth, | don¡¯t want to make a fool of myself in front of so many people. If you have something to say, can¡¯t you say it nicely? The

    way you hug me is ufortable.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, are you agreeing to talk with me?¡±

    ¡°Yes. But let go of me first,¡± Aurelia saidposedly.

    ¡°Sure.¡± Seth could feel Aurelia¡¯s body rx too. There was a smile on his lips. He knew that this method could make Aurelia

    compromise.

    With so many people looking at them, Aurelia would be too shy to refuse him.

    However, a pair of cold eyes in a car that happened to pass by captured the scene of Seth hugging Aurelia.

    In the car, Leslie smiled coldly, squeezing the document in his hand.

    As he expected, Aurelia came to see her ex-boyfriend.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, the document is almost broken.¡± Daniel reminded him discreetly.

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    ¡°Daniel was stunned in shock upon hearing that. He ducked his head in disbelief.

    Leslie was always calm and tranquil. Why would he suddenly lose his temper? It seemed as if someone had stolen his wife away

    from him.

    But that wasn¡¯t possible. Leslie was allergic to women.

    After Aurelia was freed, she could finally feel her arms again. She pointed at the bus station on the other side. ¡°There¡¯s too many

    people here. Let''s talk over there.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Aurelia, wouldn''t it be great if you had just been obedient earlier? I¡¯m your boyfriend. Everything | do is all for your own

    good. Just listen to me from now on. Don¡¯t you ever...¡±

    Seth walked in the front like he always did. He turned around to speak of the important points, but found that Aurelia had gotten

    into another cab. He ran after her hurriedly, but he was still a step behind.

    ¡°Aurelia! What do you mean? You have the nerve to trick me?¡±

    ¡°What a psycho,¡± Aurelia was tired of the mental exhaustion that Seth had caused her. She couldn¡¯t help but curse him and

    urged the driver to leave sooner. She told the cab driver that a pervert was stalking her.

    The cab driver immediately stepped on the gas when he heard Aurelia and left Seth far behind. Seth was unwilling to give up so

    easily. He used another phone number and bombarded Aurelia¡¯s p

    phone with messages. She blocked the number at once.

    But there was something that Aurelia found odd. From what she knew about Seth, there was no way he would eat the humble

    pie and admit that he was wrong so quickly.

    Did something happen?

    Aurelia contemted for a while before looking for a number that she wasn¡¯t so familiar with in her WhatsApp contacts. It was

    one of Seth¡¯s colleagues.

    They had dined together several times before. Once in a while, when Seth drank too much at some social events, this colleague

    would send her a message asking her to pick Seth up.

    ¡°How have you been recently?¡± Aurelia greeted the colleague politely first.

    ¡°Aurelia? Are you sending me the wedding invitation card of you and Seth? When is it? Where are you going to hold the wedding

    ceremony? Congrattions!¡±

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38

    Aurelia was taken aback by the messages. She wondered if Seth was telling others that they were getting married.

    ¡°You''ve misunderstood. Seth and | broke up. | felt something was off with him, so | wanted to rify with you,¡± she exined.

    ¡°No way! Just a few days back, he assured the manager that marriage with you was imminent. He even mentioned obtaining the

    household registration soon. The manager was already preparing his promotion application upon hearing that!¡±

    So, the reason why Seth had bowed to pressure was to marry her quickly and secure residency. It was quite the scheme..

    ¡°Aurelia, did you fight with Seth? Couples fight, you know. He even sacrificed meals and only ate instant noodles recently to save

    for the 98-thousand-dor watch he wanted to buy for

    you.

    ¡°It shows his sincerity. Have a good talk with him so you guys can work it out,¡± the colleague. advised.

    Haha, that watch? It must be the fake one Seth had given out at the Dating Club.

    He had med Aurelia for that and yed the victim in front of everyone. If word got out about their breakup, she would surely

    face the brunt of the me.

    Yet, Seth now appeared to be the lovesick fool.

    Aurelia rubbed her forehead and sighed. She wished that she could knock some sense into herself.

    Throughout their rtionship, she was consistently fooled by Seth¡¯s borate disys of affection. Now that they had split, she

    realized the depth of her naivety. His feeble attempts at maniption had clouded her judgment for three whole years!

    Indeed, falling in love did seem to diminish one¡¯s intelligence.

    After contemting for a moment, Aurelia decided to take a stand. She would not allow Seth to use public opinion to silence her

    anymore. Swiftly, she typed a response and hit send.

    ¡°The watch? | never received it. We broke up long ago, and I¡¯m now married.

    ¡°He strangely brought up reconciliation, which is why | reached out to you. As his friend, please advise him not to get carried

    away.¡±

    Aurelia tried to maintain herposure.

    ¡°Oh?I... Haha.¡± He seemed lost for words.

    Their conversation ended. As expected, tomorrow''s headlines would likely revolve around Seth¡¯s attempt to leverage his ex¡ª

    girlfriend for a promotion.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Didn¡¯t Seth and Rosa enjoy manipting public opinion? It was time they experienced being the subject of

    gossip.

    Seth¡¯s attempt to leverage her marriage for a promotion was futile!

    ¡°Miss, we''ve arrived,¡± the driver reminded Aurelia.

    ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±

    After paying via QR code, Aurelia stepped out of the car.

    It was already 8:30 pm. If it were not for Seth¡¯s interference, she would have finished shopping earlier.

    She sighed in frustration and pushed the cart into the supermarket. Fresh produce was scarce at this hour. Hence, she could

    only pick the best items avable.

    Just as she prepared to check out, Aurelia suddenly realized that she had forgotten to ask Leslie about his food preferences. She

    knew he disliked pasta, but she had no clue of the

    rest.

    After considering for a while, Aurelia reached for her phone to call Leslie. However, she hesitated as she did not want to disturb

    his work. Instead, she dialed Linda¡¯s number.

    ¡°Aurelia, it¡¯ste. What¡¯s up?¡± Linda answered the call.

    ¡°Mom, umm... Does Mr. Synder have any food preferences? He¡¯s working overtime tonight and said that he¡¯ll eat when he gets

    back. I¡¯m worried that | might cook something he dislikes, ¡°Aurelia exined.

    ¡°What? You''re newlyweds, and he¡¯s working overtime? | think he¡¯s itching for trouble!

    ¡°Just give him a bun or two; that''ll do.¡±

    Linda¡¯s thunderous reaction left Aurelia bemused.

    ¡°Mom, now that we¡¯re married, expenses will increase. It¡¯s good that he¡¯s working hard. Please don¡¯t be mad at him.¡±

    Aurelia was worried that Linda would get angry, thus she hastily defended Leslie. After all, she had promised in their cohabitation

    agreement to ease Linda¡¯s worries.

    Linda, having been through a tough divorce while raising Leslie, was naturally protective of

    him

    Linda burst intoughter upon hearing Aurelia¡¯s words.

    ¡°Leslie sure hit the jackpot for marrying such a great wife like you!¡±

 Chapter 39

    ¡°Mom.¡± Aurelia hesitantly interrupted Linda¡¯s praise and shifted the conversation. ¡°Apart from disliking pasta, does Mr. Snyder

    have any other food preferences?¡±

    The silence stretched for more than ten seconds after Linda heard her question. Aurelia assumed it was a signal issue.

    ¡°Mom? Mom? Can you hear me?¡±

    ¡°Leslie told you that he dislikes pasta? Did he... Personally mention it to you?¡± Linda sounded startled.

    ¡°Yes. Mom, is there something wrong?¡± Aurelia was puzzled.

    ¡°When Leslie was young, there was a school project where kids had to make carbonara for their parents. Coincidentally, it was

    his father¡¯s birthday.¡±

    ¡°Leslie tried his best to make carbonara for his father, but it ended with him being scolded and hearing hurtful words.

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t hate the taste of pasta. It¡¯s certain implications associated with it that he despises. Since then, he never eats pasta.¡±

    Linda¡¯s tone turned mncholic as she recounted the event.

    Aurelia stood amidst the vast array of shelves as her gaze lost its luster. She couldn¡¯t fathom the disappointment that Leslie had

    felt in his childhood.

    When she offered him pasta earlier, he had not shown any signs of disdain. Perhaps, it was to save her from embarrassment.

    ¡°Mom, | got it.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, | just remembered the past. Leslie likes the ravioli | make, but I¡¯m not skilled at it and they tend to fall apart. Yet, he still

    finishes them all each time and worries that it might upset me.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, please take good care of Leslie. He isn¡¯t as difficult as you might think. Don¡¯t dislike him just because of his aloofness,

    okay?¡±

    Linda seemed worried that Aurelia might consider leaving Leslie because of his distant demeanor.

    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry,¡± Aurelia said as she pushed the cart toward another food section.

    ¡°Alright, | won¡¯t disturb your shopping anymore.¡± With that, Linda concluded their conversation.

    ¡°Okay, bye.¡±

    Aurelia ended the call. After having purchased some ingredients for ravioli dough, she proceeded to checkout.

    When she returned to her apartment, the ce was pitch ck. Leslie had not returned yet.

    Aurelia organized the groceries in the refrigerator. She then set aside some meat and vegetables to start making the ravioli

    fillings.

    Considering her busy work schedule and Leslie¡¯s frequent overtime, Aurelia decided to make extra ravioli that could be stored for

    later consumption. They would only cook the frozen ravioli when required.

    Over an hour of work, Aurelia managed to wrap over 80 ravioli. She then used the remaining fillings to make around 20 smaller

    ones, to be ate-night snack for Leslie.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Aurelia ced the ravioli into a storage container in the fridge. Afterpleting everything, she stretched her body and checked

    the time.

    Unknowingly, it was almost 11:00 p.m.

    She hesitated for a moment, then she decided to send Leslie a message.

    ¡°When will you be back?¡±

    However, there was no response from him.

    Aurelia nced at the small ravioli on the kitchen counter. It was not the right time to cook them yet. Otherwise, they might clump

    together and turn into a mess before his return.

    Resigning to wait, she sat on the couch and opened herptop. The name n¡± Florence had mentioned suddenly came to mind.

    Out of curiosity, Aurelia began searching for him online.

    As she delved deeper, Aurelia found herself increasingly intrigued and interested in this name. There were a few articles about

    him overseas but not a single photograph.

    They mentioned his early fame. But described him as someone who kept a low profile with an incredibly mysterious background.

    He was so mysterious that it seemed impossible to investigate further.

    Aurelia stared at the articles and lost herself in deep thoughts. She wondered about the identity of this elusive figure.

    Right at that moment, the door opened. Leslie walked in and was surprised to see Aurelia still awake.

    ¡°You''re still up?¡±

    It was already 11:30 p.m.

    dn¡¯t you say you''d be back for dinner?¡± Aurelia closed herptop and quickly stood up. ¡±

    Hurry, wash your hands, and I''ll cook the ravioli for you.¡±

    ¡°Ravioli?¡± Leslie appeared uncertain.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯ste, and you''ve just recovered. Light food like ravioli might be better for digestion. Or else, you might get a stomach

    upset tomorrow.¡±

    ¡®By

    the way, you don¡¯t mind having ravioli, do you?¡±

 Chapter 40

    12

    ¡°No,¡± Leslie replied indifferently.

    ¡°Alright then.¡±

    Aurelia swiftly entered the kitchen and left Leslie in his daze.

    In this world, perhaps only his mother, Linda, was willing to wait for him at such ate hour. Leslie nced at thedy in the

    apron bustling around in the kitchen and felt a sense of puzzlement.

    Aurelia had just met her ex-boyfriend, Seth, and now she was back here trying to please him. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder what

    kind of person she was.

    Thinking about Seth made Leslie¡¯s mind sh back to the image of the two embracing carelessly on the busy street. His face

    darkened immediately, and he turned to enter the bedroom, mming the door shut.

    The loud bang of the closing door made Aurelia poke her head out of the kitchen.

    She pondered, ¡°What''s going on?¡±

    ¡°He hasn''t looked too well since he returned. But wasn¡¯t he fine in the morning? Could it be something rted to work?¡±

    While she immersed herself in her thoughts, the water on the stove had boiled. Aurelia hastily proceeded to prepare the ravioli.

    After salting the water, she dropped the ravioli inside and waited for them to be cooked.

    In the meantime, she grabbed a pot to prepare a broth using a chicken soup base. She then sprinkled in some chives and

    parsley. Soon, a hearty bowl of ravioli in broth was ready.

    Carefully carrying the bowl out of the kitchen, Aurelia encountered Leslie emerging from the bedroom. His unexpected

    appearance surprised her.

    Although she had been staying at Leslie¡¯s ce for almost a week, Aurelia had barely interacted with him in this house. This was

    her first time seeing Leslie in his casual home

    attire.

    The loose-fitting clothes subtly entuated his tall and muscr physique. Paired with his attractive face, he exuded a

    charminglyid¡ªback vibe.

    Leslie walked over with his hands in his pockets and nced at Aurelia. ¡°Isn''t it hot?¡±

    Aurelia regained her senses and felt a sudden scalding heat on her palm.

    ¡°Hiss... Hot, it¡¯s hot.¡± She quickly put the bowl down and pressed her fingers against her earlobe.

    Leslie walked toward the dining table and looked at the bowl of ravioli served in front of him. The clear broth and plump ravioli

    with a touch of chives and parsley made the dish look. appetizing.

    Did she make this?

    ¡°No way. How could she have the time to make these while being with her ex-boyfriend? It was probably just bought to please

    me,¡± thought Leslie.

    His expression remained indifferent. However, when he nced at Aurelia, he couldn¡¯t shake off the inner turmoil he felt.

    Under the warm light, Aurelia, with her hair tied into a ponytail, was holding her earlobes with a slightly wrinkled face. SheN?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    exhibited a subtle coyness. It was a stark contrast to the usually calm demeanor she had while discussing their cohabitation

    agreement.

    ¡°Fool,¡± Leslie bluntly stated, leaving Aurelia bewildered.

    ¡°Why is he insulting me?¡± she wondered. Her eyes widened as she prepared to respond. However, Leslie grabbed her wrist and

    pulled her into the kitchen.

    It wasn¡¯t until the cold water sshed onto her hand that she snapped back to reality. She then looked awkwardly at Leslie, who

    was fixated on the bowl containing the minced meat filling in the sink.

    ¡°You made the ravioli?¡± Leslie questioned.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Aurelia replied and nodded in confusion. ¡°I made quite a lot and stored them in the fridge. If you ever return from

    overtime feeling hungry, just take them out and cook it. You.... Can cook, right?¡±

    As Aurelia shifted her gaze to Leslie, their eyes met. At that moment, she felt the grip on her wrist tighten. The warmth of his

    hand seemingly shielded her from the cold water.

    She attempted to pull away slightly, but Leslie¡¯s grip only grew firmer.

 Chapter 41

    ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Leslie hesitated for a moment, then he continued, ¡°You''re quite busy, aren¡¯t you? Meeting someone and then

    returning to make ravioli.¡±

    ¡°Someone?¡± After a moment of contemtion, Aurelia questioned, ¡°Did you see me with Seth?¡±

    ¡°Are you worried that | saw you? Aurelia, have you forgotten? It¡¯s written in our cohabitation agreement that neither of us should

    stray away during our marriage.¡±

    ¡°| didn¡¯t stray! It was him...¡±

    ¡°If you remember our agreement, there¡¯s no need for an exnation. Let me make it clear. I¡¯m not ustomed to being cheated

    on,¡± Leslie coldly stated. He then released her wrist and walked out of the kitchen.

    After feeling that her hand was in less pain, Aurelia turned off the tap and followed.

    Leslie was eating ravioli with a cold demeanor that made him seem unapproachable. Aurelia hesitated, then sat across from him,

    contemting how she should exin it.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I...¡±

    ¡°I''m done eating, thank you,¡± Leslie politely interrupted and kept Aurelia at a loss for words. It was clear that he didn¡¯t want to

    continue the previous conversation.

    She could only ask, ¡°Does it taste okay?¡±

    ¡°It''s a bit salty,¡± replied Leslie truthfully.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ncing at the bowl, Aurelia had her doubts. ¡°Salty? You''ve even finished the broth.¡±

    ¡°| don¡¯t like wasting food,¡± he countered.

    ¡°Apliment won''t hurt even if it¡¯s good,¡± Aurelia muttered.

    Leslie squinted his eyes and asked, ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡±

    He did not probe further and pointed at the bowl. ¡°Leave it. I''ll wash it myself.¡±

    ¡°Good. At least, he¡¯s willing to do the dishes himself,¡± pondered Aurelia.

    Aurelia was about to nod when something came to mind. ¡°Hold on, Mr. Synder. Could you help me fix the guest bathroom¡¯s

    shower? I¡¯ve been cleaning myself using a basintely. If it¡¯s not repaired soon, | might start smelling musty.¡±

    Leslie frowned upon hearing it. He hadpletely forgotten about this issue. Household chores and repairs were usually

    handled solely by Daniel.

    Aurelia approached him and said, ¡°When | was cleaning earlier, | found a toolbox in the cab along with a new shower head.

    You just need to rece it. You... Can do that, can¡¯t you?

    Although Aurelia was an adopted child, her father, William, had always doted on her and Ava. They would share the household

    chores. Whenever something broke, William would take care

    of it. Hence, she instinctively believed that all men could handle such tasks.

    Noticing the doubt on Aurelia¡¯s face, Leslie asserted, ¡°I can.¡±

    ¡°Great! I''ll get the items. You can start dismantling it in the bathroom.¡± Leaving those words, she turned to retrieve the toolbox

    and the new shower head from the cab before heading to the bathroom.

    Meanwhile, inside the bathroom, Leslie stared at the showerhead with his brows furrowed. He tried to tug it following his instinct,

    but it did not work.

    ¡°Should we twist it?¡± Aurelia reminded softly.

    ¡°| know,¡± Leslie replied.

    In embarrassment, he twisted the connection of the water pipe and removed the shower head. Aurelia promptly handed over the

    new shower head and pipe to Leslie.

    While taking the items, Leslie noticed Aurelia observing him intently. For an inexplicable reason, he didn¡¯t want to let her down.

    Thus, he carefullypared and studied them before installing each part.

    After finishing everything, he breathed out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it was not too hard.

    ¡°Give it a try,¡± he instructed casually.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Aurelia replied. She could not help but marvel at how intelligent people seemed to know everything.

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42

    The moment Aurelia turned on the tap, water gushed out from the seam of the shower head like a fountain.

    She was caught off guard and could not react in time. Leslie instinctively raised his hand to shield her, but it was toote. In just

    a few seconds, they were both thoroughly drenched. Aurelia squinted her eyes and struggled to turn off the tap. She then turned

    to see water droplets on Leslie¡¯s hair.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    They meandered across his handsome face. Tracing down his alluring corbone, the water droplets then disappeared into his

    shirt. The damp clothes clung tightly to his body. It revealed his contour, even in that area... Everything wasid bare.

    Flustered, Aurelia¡¯s face flushed red, and she immediately averted her gaze. When she looked back, she found Leslie ring at

    the malfunctioning shower head. His expression resembled one where he was observing an adversary. Despite the seriousness

    on his face, Aurelia found it strangely amusing.

    Achuckle escaped her lips, and eventually, she couldn''t hold back herughter.

    ¡°What''s so funny?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, it seems that you can¡¯t fix it. My mistake, | took it for granted,¡± Aurelia said, trying to stifle her amusement.

    Leslie''s expression grew grimmer. Yet, his gaze couldn''t seem to shift away from Aurelia¡¯s face.

    Her damp, disheveled brown hair framed her fair face and her rosy lips parted slightly. Such a disarrayed look inadvertently

    evoked a sense of vulnerability. As the water trailed down, It soaked through her white shirt. The outline of her contour and her

    undergarments presented. beneath the loose clothing.

    Leslie restrained himself and looked away. He grumbled, ¡°Stopughing.¡±

    ¡°Fine.¡± Aurelia coughed lightly. She sensed that she might have gone a little overboard.

    It was obvious that Linda pampered Leslie, so it wasn¡¯t unusual for him not to know how to change the shower head. At least he

    did not refuse and tried his best to install it.

    It was a stark contrast to Seth, who was also raised lovingly by his mother, Rosa.

    Aurelia remembered seeing Seth help Rosa change a light bulb once. Back then, she had thought that he was a filial and decent

    man. However, when she asked for help with a simr task, Seth imed that he was unable to do it. He even mocked modern

    women for their ipetence in such basic tasks.

    It was trivial and Aurelia had not paid much attention to it. However, with theparison now, she realized that her emotions had

    shaded her view of Seth all along. With the filter removed now, Aurelia saw herself as naive and Seth as self-centered.

    A towel suddenlynded on her head and interrupted her thoughts.

    Leslie, drying his hair, nonchntly suggested, ¡°It¡¯s toote. We''ll handle it tomorrow. You can use my bathroom. I''ll be in the

    study.¡±

    Chapter

    2/2

    ¡°Okay,¡± she responded while she clutched onto the towel.

    She could tell that Leslie didn¡¯t have any work to do in the study. He simply didn¡¯t want her to feel awkward. She walked towards

    the door. Seemingly a little too absorbed in her thoughts, she identally stepped into a puddle.

    ¡°Anh!¡±

    Aurelia slid and bumped into Leslie, and both of them fell to the ground. Her lips hit the button on Leslie¡¯s chest, causing her to

    cry out in pain.

    Instinctively, Leslie wrapped his arms around her as they fell. The soft collision between them disrupted his breath and stirred an

    unexined restlessness in his otherwiseposed body.

    Aurelia, too, sensed Leslie¡¯s unusual reaction. Her face instantly turned red, and she quickly got up while covering her throbbing

    lips.

    ¡°I''ll go and take a shower. Goodbye, no... | mean, good night. Umm, that¡¯s it.¡±

    Her words were disjointed, as if she was trying to emphasize that she had realized something. Aurelia then made her escape into

    the master bedroom with a blushing face.

    Leslie lied on the floor with his hands clenched into fists. He took a moment to regainposure and sat up calmly. However,

    the warmth in his palms lingered and refused to dissipate.

    Had Aurelia felt shy earlier?

    Didn¡¯t she have an ex-boyfriend?

    ¡°Why did she appear so clueless?¡± Leslie questioned inwardly.

    Thinking about her ex¡ªboyfriend led Leslie to involuntarily consider their past intimacy. They might have performed even more

    excessive actions.

    Displeased by his thoughts, he clenched his fists again. His expression disyed obvious signs of discontent as he entered the

    study.

    Enjoy Ad-Free Reading

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43

    1/2

    As soon as Leslie entered the study, he took off his damp shirt and wrapped a towel around waist. His well-toned, slender

    silhouette cast a reflection on the ss window.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    He leaned casually against the desk and lit a cigarette. The wisps of smoke curling around him highlighted a hint of danger and

    nonchnce in his demeanor.

    After a while, he seemed to recall something. Leslie settled at theputer andunched a Google search. Daniel¡¯s call came in

    coincidentally.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, the headquarters hadpiled Synder Corporation¡¯s recent financial situation. As expected, it''s not looking good

    this year.¡±

    ¡°The new product''sunch has been dyed due to chip issues. If we can¡¯t find a recement chip soon, the new product might

    end up as a failure,¡± reported Daniel with concern.

    ¡°No rush. We''ll talk about it tomorrow,¡± Leslie replied, seemingly unfazed.

    ¡°Huh? Mr. Synder, are you upied right now?¡± Daniel was puzzled. He wondered if there could be anything more pressing than

    work for Leslie.

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m on Google,¡± replied Leslie, as he typed a query in the search bar while holding hist cigarette.

    ¡°Google? What are you searching for? Do you need my help?¡±

    ¡°How to install a shower head.¡±

    Daniel was at a loss for words. It was first about washing dishes, and now installing a shower head. He wondered if his boss,

    Leslie, was nning to switch his career and be a homely. good man.

    Aurelia finished her shower and walked to the study.

    With a gentle knock on the door, she said, ¡°Mr. Synder, I¡¯ve finished showering. I''ll head to bed now. Good night.¡±

    Leslie hummed in response-his voice devoid of emotion.

    After the previous incident, Aurelia refrained from asking further questions. She returned to her room to sleep.

    It was soon the next morning.

    Aurelia sluggishly stretched as the rm chimed, urging her to wake up.

    As she freshened up in the bathroom, she noticed that the shower head, which had been on the floor yesterday, was now neatly

    installed on the wall. It was obviously fixed.

    She curiously turned on the tap and found the shower head functioning perfectly.

    Even though it wastest night, Leslie had managed to fix it on his own.

    It seemed that Linda was right. Leslie might have a cold demeanor with little words to say, and his words might even cut you like

    ice. But, he was undoubtedly efficient.

    Aurelia continued to brush her teeth after cing the shower head back. Suddenly, a pain

    stung her lips and made her grimace. She looked in the mirror and noticed that her lip was chapped.

    Staring at the bright red injury, she remembered the scene where she fell down with Lesliest night. Her face flushed red

    instantly.

    ¡°Stop thinking about that. Stop thinking about that,¡± she thought.

    Aurelia spat out the toothpaste and sshed her face with cold water until she finally calmed down. Taking a deep breath, she

    smiled at herself in the mirror and went to the kitchen.

    While putting on her apron, Aurelia noticed that Leslie had washed and tidied all the dishes in the sink. Even though they were

    living together, Leslie didn¡¯t just go through the motions.

    His consistency in action made him much better than many other men. It made Aurelia believe that living like this wasn¡¯t so bad

    after all.

    Aurelia happily opened the refrigerator to prepare breakfast-pan-fried ravioli. It was Ava¡¯s favorite breakfast to make for Aurelia.

    Along with a specially made dipping sauce, it would set Aurelia up for a joyful day ahead.

    After setting the breakfast, she started preparing lunch for the day.

    Aurelia had always been in the habit of preparing packed meals. However, her current stay at Leslie''s ce wasn¡¯t the most

    convenient. Having already surpassed her monthly living expenses, she needed to cut it back a little bit.

    She saut¨¦ed an excess of broli, which was bought on sale at the supermarket yesterday. It had to be used and eaten by

    dinner. Aurelia also made an ample portion of beef stew. She identally thawed more beef than necessary and rendered it

    unsuitable for refreezing.

    Finally, she tossed up arge bowl of cucumber sd.

    It had been over a month since shest cooked.

    Staring at the pink lunch box on the table, Aurelia realized it wouldn¡¯t amodate so much food. But, she was hesitant to let

    the surplus go to waste.

    Her gaze

    fell on the blue lunch box beside it. It was an idental purchase since it came as part of the supermarket deal discount for

    buying two lunch boxes.

    ¡°Why not pack the extra food for him? After all, he wouldn¡¯t know it was leftovers,¡± she pondered.

 Chapter 44

    Leslie¡¯spany was located in the heart of the city. A casual meal there would easily cost around 30 to 40 dors. Dining out

    regrly would cost a significant amount of money in a month. To avoid wastage, Aurelia transferred the remaining dishes into

    the blue lunch box.

    She evenly distributed the food between the two lunch boxes. Even taking into consideration that Leslie was a man and might

    need a little bit more to eat.

    Since he didn¡¯t seem to favor oily dishes, Aurelia opted to keep arger portion of the beef stew for herself-given her fondness

    for it. The distribution was more on amodating his food preferences than her being stingy.

    ¡°Why does he have to be so picky about food?¡± she mused.

    As Aurelia was arranging the beef slices, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. She swiftly covered the lunch box and ced

    it in the bag.

    After preparing everything, she walked out of the kitchen with two bowls of corn soup.

    ¡°Good morning, Mr. Synder.¡±

    ¡°Morning,¡± Leslie replied as he took his seat.

    Though his expression remainedposed, his face was undeniably pleasant to behold. Aurelia couldn''t resist stealing a nce

    at him. Yet, fearing a repeat ofst night¡¯s scalding situation, she promptly averted her gaze and offered a bowl of corn soup to

    Leslie.

    ¡°Let''s eat. The pan-fried ravioli isn¡¯t too heavy, it¡¯s not very oily.¡±

    ¡°Okay, thanks.¡±

    Leaving aside everything else, Leslie¡¯s politeness made Aurelia feel at ease. It felt her efforts were acknowledged.

    Leslie leisurely tasted a spoonful of the corn soup. It was rich in vor and thick in consistency, which was soothing to his

    stomach.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    as though

    He then tried a piece of fried ravioli. The outeryer was crispy, and the meat filling inside was juicy. They were notably superior

    to the crumbly ravioli Linda used to prepare.

    Despite being a simple breakfast, especially for someone ustomed to coffee and bread, Leslie had to concede that Aurelia¡¯s

    culinary skills were beyond reproach.

    He couldn''t help but look at Aurelia. She maintained her old-fashioned attire, and her face naturally flushed without any makeup.

    The freckles on her nose added a yful charm to her

    appearance.

    ¡°Are you feeling hot?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Aurelia felt a twinge of guilt and quickly rified, ¡°The heat is from cooking in the kitchen.¡±

    ¡°Umm.¡± Leslie nced toward the kitchen. Since he never used the stove, he had no idea how hot it could get while cooking.

    Under his watchful gaze, Aurelia put down her spoon and dered, ¡°I¡¯m done eating. I¡¯m off

    to work.¡±

    Leslie nodded faintly. ¡°Okay, just leave it. I''ll wash itter.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia rose and headed into the kitchen, carrying two packed lunch boxes along with her.

    ¡°Meals around your workce must be pretty expensive, right? I¡¯ve made lunch for you. If

    you... Don¡¯t like them, you can just get something else to eat.¡± With that, she left the blue bag

    and turned to leave.

    Before slipping on her high heels, Aurelia meticulously wiped the shoe surface with a cloth. She seemed to cherish the pair of

    heels very much.

    Leslie was about to thank her when he observed her intense care for those old heels. He then abruptly recalled what her

    colleague had said. These heels were a gift from her ex¡ªboyfriend, and she had been wearing them for three years.

    Among thedies Leslie knew, none had worn a pair of shoes for that long. Especially shoes that were showing signs of wear

    and tear. It spoke volumes about Aurelia¡¯s love for Seth. Leslie wondered, ¡°If she loved him so much, why marry me? Was it for

    money?¡±

    After changing her heels, Aurelia politely said, ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Synder.

    Leslie''s expression darkened. He nodded but said nothing.

    This abrupt change left Aurelia in puzzlement. ¡°Weren''t things fine earlier? Well, perhaps it''s his personality¡ªcold, distant, and

    odd.¡±

    She didn¡¯t inquire further and hurried out for fear that she might have missed the subway.

    Leslie heard the door close and lost his appetite with his thoughts earlier. He then rolled his sleeves up and carried the dishes

    into the kitchen.

    The moment he stepped inside, he was engulfed in intense heat. Despite the opened window, the stifling atmosphere lingered.

    With his brow furrowed, he put the dishes into the sink and started washing them. As he prepared to wipe the counter, he noticed

    that Aurelia had already tidied up. She only left the dishes for him to wash.

    Listening to the running water, he found himself unable to fathom Aurelia¡¯s thoughts.

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45

    At that moment, Daniel''s call came in.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, the morning meeting is about to start. You might bete.¡± Daniel heard the sound of water and hesitated. ¡°You¡¯re not

    washing dishes again, are you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± came Leslie¡¯s casual response. ¡°Daniel, go get a fan for me.

    ¡°What do you need it for?¡± Daniel inquired curiously.

    ¡°It''s so hot doing the dishes,¡± replied Leslie.

    Daniel was speechless. He wondered why Leslie

    | gave off the vibes of a family man.

    Leslie soon finished cleaning up. After drying his hands and straightening his clothes, he noticed the packed lunch boxes on the

    table. Without much hesitation, he grabbed them and headed downstairs.

    As he got into the car, Daniel noticed the blue bag in Leslie¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you''re too kind. You even brought me breakfast,¡± Daniel remarked. He then reached out to take the bag, but Leslie

    stopped him with a tap on the hand.

    ¡®Buy your own if you want to eat. Give me the morning meeting files,¡± Leslie instructed.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Daniel refrained from any further jokes and promptly handed over the files.

    Flipping through the documents, Leslie''s expression turned serious andposed. He resembled a cold yet mesmerizing

    statue¡ªone that invited attention but discouraged proximity.

    Meanwhile, at Young Advertising, Aurelia reached thepany just right on time.

    After clocking in, she breathed out a sigh of relief. Aurelia settled into her seat and wiped away her sweat. It was then that Millie

    approached her with a mischievous grin on her face.

    Aurelia felt ufortable with Millie¡¯s intense gaze. ¡°What¡¯s up? Is there something on my face?¡±

    ¡°It''s not about your face, but your lips,¡± Millie replied with a teasing grin, followed by an air

    kiss.

    Aurelia hastily covered her mouth. Her face, which had just calmed down, flushed red again.

    Millie teased, ¡°Aurelia, are things that intense for newlyweds?¡±

    ¡°No, it was just a bump,¡± she tried to exin.

    Pointing to her lips, Millie joked, ¡°Ah, | get it. You ¡®bumped¡¯ into your husband''s lips.¡±

    Aurelia pushed Millie''s chair lightly and focused on her work. She said, ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for chitchat right now.¡±

    ¡®Seriously, Aurelia, | feel a bit sorry for you. You''re quite attractive and capable. Even if don¡¯t choose Seth, you could find

    someone better. Maybe someone more, well, appealing?¡±

    Millie avoided the term ¡°ugly¡± and used ¡°appealing¡± instead.

    you

    202

    Aurelia didn¡¯t quite understand Millie''s point and responded, ¡°He¡¯s actually a good person.¡±

    Millie sighed and relented. ¡°Alright, alright, as long as you¡¯re happy.¡±

    At that precise moment, the clear cks of high heels echoed from the door. Everyone instantly recognized the arrival without

    having to look it was Kimberly.

    The colleagues nced up as Kimberly entered with new branded attire. It was as if Florence¡¯s derision didn¡¯t concern her at all.

    ¡°Good morning, guys!¡± she greeted cheerfully, and waved her hand with an incredibly radiant

    smile.

    ¡°Kimberly, you look stunning today! Are these clothes and this bag brand new? They must be pricey, right?¡± someone

    commented.

    ¡°They''re gifts and didn¡¯t cost me a penny. | initially declined, but he insisted. He¡¯d be upset if | refused. For the sake of our

    company coboration, | had to ept it,¡± Kimberly boasted.

    ¡°Company¡¯s coboration? We prioritize our partnership with One Technology the most. Could it be their boss? He¡¯s truly

    nouveau riche to splurge sovishly,¡± a colleague admired.

    ¡°No, stop spreading rumors. I¡¯ve never admitted anything. Otherwise, people might use me of enticing clients.¡±

    As Kimberly stated, she cast a meaningful nce toward Aurelia. She was obviously implying that Aurelia used her of such

    actions.

    Aurelia stayed silent. She didn¡¯t want to be a part of Kimberly¡¯s unting wealth.

    Despite Kimberly''s verbal denial, her tone suggested that they had guessed correctly. Her attire was indeed a gift from One

    Technology¡¯s boss.

    Acolleague chimed in, ¡°Who dares to say that? She¡¯s clearly jealous of you.¡°

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46

    Kimberly chuckled, ¡°I doubt it. | mean, | haven''t exactly saved Mrs. Lynch¡¯s life or her daughter¡¯s. What''s there to envy?¡±

    Acolleague said, ¡°Mrs. Lynch isn¡¯t even part of One Technology. Even if Mr. Lynch had a say, he¡¯s still just a manager. You know

    how the boss of One Technology is. Ultimately, it¡¯s his call for all the coborations.¡±

    Kimberly smiled and stopped talking further, but everyone in the office had heard those words clearly.

    Those who had previously mocked Kimberly for her adeptness at charming wealthy men suddenly changed their tune, eagerly

    seeking to gain favor with the prospective deputy

    director.

    Kimberly grinned at Aurelia. However, Aurelia remained focused on her work, refusing to even acknowledge Kimberly''s

    presence.

    Kimberly was clueless aboutn. It seemed improbable for him to have gifted her such expensive clothing-

    Seeing that she had failed to impress Jason, Kimberly shifted her focus, fearing that her position in the office would be

    compromised.

    However, Aurelia was unfazed by it all.

    Noticing Aurelia¡¯s indifference, Kimberly felt a twinge of dissatisfaction. In her point of view, Aurelia should envy her, especially

    considering the outfit that she was currently dressed in. After all, with her monthly sry, Aurelia couldn¡¯t even afford the pair of

    shoes Kimberly was wearing.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    At the thought of shoes, Kimberly''s eyes honed in on Aurelia¡¯s weathered footwear. An arrogant smile spread across her face.

    She then elegantly took a seat, subtly showing off the expensive designer heels under her dress.

    ¡°Kimberly, are those Christian Louboutin heels?¡± someone asked.

    ¡°For usdies, owning a pair of Louboutin heels is a necessity. These are only six thousand dors. You should all get yourselves

    a pair too. Otherwise, you won''t be able to keep up with the trend,¡± she boasted.

    Kimberly lifted her feet, showing off her expensivembskin high-heeled shoes.

    ¡°Are you interested? I¡¯m quite familiar with the store¡¯s sales associate and can help reserve a pair for you. We can have

    afternoon tea and take photos together. It''ll look great,¡± Kimberly said enthusiastically.

    ¡°I''d like that!¡±

    ¡°Me too!¡±

    A few colleagues expressed their interest as they stood up excitedly, and even Millie raised her hand to join them.

    Aurelia was taken aback by the sight. Millie, who had previously disliked Kimberly''s showiness the most, was now actually

    nning to purchase a pair of heels that cost six thousand dors.

    Chapter 46

    1272

    It seemed like she would be stretching her budget thin this month.

    Aurelia discreetly signaled to Millie, hoping to convey her concern. However, either Millie didn¡¯t catch on to the signal, or she

    deliberately chose to ignore it.

    Aurelia was perplexed. Suddenly, Kimberly appeared before her.

    ¡°Aurelia, would you also like a pair? Look at your heels. They''re quite worn out.¡±

    ¡°No, thank you. My shoes are just fine.¡±

    Aurelia nced at her own high heels. It was a ssic pair of ck heels. The pointed style entuated her feet gracefully.

    However, the pointed tips were a little scuffed, making them appear a bit worn.

    However, she didn¡¯t feel ashamed because they were a gift from her parents after she hadpleted her internship. It had cost

    them almost a thousand dors for the shoes. Although it wasn¡¯t from a luxury brand like Kimberly¡¯s, it was still a pair of heels

    from a mid-luxury brand.

    William and Ava had only ever worn unbranded shoes, which cost less than 100 dors for a pair. Their decision to buy Aurelia

    an expensive pair of high heels was a clear disy of their affection for her.

    To Aurelia, it wasn¡¯t just a pair of shoes. They symbolized her parents¡¯ love for her. While the shoes would get old and worn, the

    love behind them remained timeless. Hence, Aurelia didn¡¯t see the need to purchase a new pair of exorbitantly priced shoes.

    If they had the means, splurging on luxury items wouldn''t be an issue. However, most of her colleagues came from average

    families. It seemed unreasonable to her for them to buy shoes or bags worth more than their monthly sry, solely for the sake

    of taking good photos.

    Although Aurelia couldn¡¯tprehend it, she refrained from meddling in other people¡¯s lives. She simply smiled in response to

    avoid dampening anyone''s spirits.

    However, Kimberly wasn¡¯t about to let Aurelia off so easily and seized the opportunity to make a pointedment.

    ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯ve been wearing those heels for three years. We get it,¡± Kimberly stated. Her tone carried many implications,

    attracting the attention of their colleagues.

    They recalled Aurelia¡¯s three-year rtionship with Seth. Those high heels must have been a gift from Seth.

    Despite being married, it seemed that she still couldn''t bear to part with the items from her past rtionship. After all, Aurelia

    wasn¡¯t an exception to sentimentality.

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47

    Aurelia sensed her colleagues¡® nces and exined, ¡°These shoes were a gift from my mom...

    Kimberly cut in, ¡°Aurelia, | forgot that your mom is still in intensive care, and you also just got married. Your husband doesn¡¯t

    seem to have much money either, so it¡¯s no wonder that you can¡¯t afford a pair of new heels. It¡¯s fine to wear your old shoes.

    How about we e organize a donation for your mom? It could be our way of showing concern.¡±

    Aurelia frowned, surprised that Kimberly would bring up her mother.

    If Kimberly thought that she could humiliate Aurelia with money, she was utterly mistaken.

    Right now, what Aurelia needed the most was money. She pretended to be grateful and said, ¡± Sure. Thank you, Kimberly.¡±

    Kimberly''s smile froze. She didn¡¯t expect Aurelia to actually ept her offer.

    Did Aurelia have no shame? Only a pauper would need a donation.

    Who would want to be considered a poor wretch among urban office workers?

    Millie caught on and offered, ¡°I''ll donate five hundred dors. Kimberly, how much will you contribute? I''ll note it down. A richdy

    like you will surely contribute more than me. When Mrs. Simmons wakes up, I¡¯m sure she''ll b

    grateful.¡±

    Kimberly raised her eyebrows and casually donated five thousand dors. ¡°Just a small gesture.

    ¡°Thank you.

    n

    Aurelia epted the money nonchntly, but the others were displeased with Kimberly¡¯s ostentation.

    Why did Kimberly have to also involve them when she had just wanted to unt her wealth? Now they couldn¡¯t even afford the

    basic necessities for the month.

    Aurelia happily epted the money, but she was fully aware that she couldn''t actually take it.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    She didn¡¯t want to risk everyone hating her for taking their money. She just wanted to embarrass Kimberly.

    In a few days, she nned to tell the others that she had received financial aid and return their money to them.

    After all, colleagues should keep their rtionships professional and not burdened with personal favors.

    After receiving the money, Aurelia deliberately took out two adhesive bandages and handed them to Kimberly.

    ¡°Kimberly, the back of your heels are swollen. Don¡¯t let them get too inmed.¡±

    Didn¡¯t Kimberly like to show off? Let¡¯s see how she''d show off now!

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just a little red. It doesn¡¯t hurt at all. How could such high-end shoes hurt my feet?¡± Kimberlyughed awkwardly.

    Chapter

    212

    She casually took a few steps and then nced at her colleagues.

    ¡°Which of you wanted to buy the heels earlier? I''ll help you ce an order.¡±

    ¡°Forget it. Your feet are almost bleeding. | have to be on-site often, so | don¡¯t dare to wear them.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, | just donated money, so | can¡¯t afford it now.¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, take care of your wounds soon. Don¡¯t let them get infected.¡±

    Kimberly was infuriated. She sneered at her colleagues. They really didn¡¯t know how to appreciate her.

    At that moment, a colleague noticed Aurelia¡¯s high heels.

    ¡°Aurelia, have you really been wearing those high heels for three years? Are they really thatfortable?¡±

    ¡°They aren¡¯t bad. Sometimes, even after a whole day, my feet don¡¯t feel too tired,¡± Aurelia replied casually.

    ¡°Where did you buy them?¡±

    ¡°It''s from a small brand and can be found in any mall.¡±

    ¡°Then, I''ll go shopping after work today. Last week, | wore ts to meet a client, and Zachary scolded me for not paying attention

    to my image.¡±

    ¡°You''re going shopping? Count me in. My son went to his grandma¡¯s house, so I¡¯m finally free.

    ¡°Take me with you. | want to buy some summer clothes. It¡¯s getting hottertely.¡±

    With that, the conversation shifted, and Kimberly waspletely ignored.

    Kimberly enjoyed only ten minutes of attention with her designer outfit. Her colleagues evenined about her for causing

    them to have to donate money.

    Fuming, she forced a smile and returned to her seat.

    ncing up, Aurelia saw Kimberly forcefully kicking off her high heels under the table, nearly knocking down herputer

    monitor in the process.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t be bothered to pay any more attention to Kimberly, so she averted her eyes and continued with her work.

    A familiar client arrived in the morning, and after a brief chat, they signed a contract. The performance bonus for that month was

    now guaranteed.

 Chapter 48

    By the time Aurelia was done with her work, it was lunchtime. Millie slid over to where she was sitting. She felt apologetic and

    said embarrassedly, ¡°Aurelia, | wasn¡¯t ignoring you this morning. | just...¡±

    Aurelia shook her head. She had no intention of interfering with Millie''s thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Aurelia, | just can¡¯t stand Kimberly showing off. I¡¯m no worse than her, and | bet I''ll look better than her in those heels,¡± Millie

    said as she stretched out her legs.

    Aurelia had a good rtionship with Millie, so she couldn''t help but offer a word of caution. Millie, Kimberlyes from a wealthy

    family, and you''re from an ordinary one. There¡¯s really no need for you topare yourself to her. It¡¯s better to save your money

    and do what you like instead of imitating her.¡±

    ¡°Imitating her? So, she can buy it, but | can¡¯t?¡± Millie sneered.

    ¡°No, | just...¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay, | get it. It¡¯s just a pair of shoes anyway. Anyone can afford them. What should we eat today?¡±

    Millie clearly didn¡¯t want to discuss this topic further.

    Aurelia sighed and took out her lunchbox.

    ¡°| brought my own lunch. You should go ahead and order something for yourself.¡±

    ¡°How frugal.

    Knowing that Aurelia was now paying for her mother¡¯s medical expenses, Millie didn¡¯t press further and said, ¡°Then, Ill order

    takeout and eat with you.¡±

    ¡°Okay. It just so happens that | brought more food today.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ve been craving your cooking for a while now.¡±

    Millie took out her phone to order some takeouts for herself.

    Aurelia smiled and took out her lunchbox. The next second, her smile froze.

    Was this what they meant when they said that extreme joy would always be followed by sorrow?

    Where was her beef stew?!

    At One Technology, with the opening approaching, no one in the office dared to waste time. All of them chose to get takeouts for

    lunch.

    During the meal, their usually serious boss, Leslie, took out a pink lunchbox.

    A male colleaguemented, ¡°Manly pink? | want it.¡±

    The new female receptionist muttered, ¡°Damn, no wonder they didn¡¯t hire female employees here before. It seems that they

    prefer to hire people they already know. | finally see a handsome programmer here, but it turns out that he likes such girly

    things.¡±

    Leslie stared at the pink lunchbox in front of him and frowned.

    Did Aurelia do this on purpose?

    Daniel whispered, ¡°Mr. Synder, why didn¡¯t | notice this side of yours before?¡±

    Leslie nced at him and slowly opened the lid, revealing a generous portion of beef stew. The fragrance wafted out as soon as

    the lid was opened.

    Daniel eximed, ¡°Isn''t this portion a bit too much? Where did you buy it?¡±

    Leslie felt inexplicably relieved and said casually, ¡°Someone made it for me.¡±

    Daniel was stunned.

    Attering sound was heard as the others put their cutlery down in envy.

    ¡°Comparing oneself to others will only make one angry.¡±

    Leslie found that phrase unexpectedly pleasing to his ears.

    He lowered his head to eat. Aurelia¡¯s culinary skills were excellent as always. However, he didn¡¯t understand why she had

    packed so much meat for him.

    After finishing the meal, Leslie couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity any longer and sent Aurelia a message. Out of politeness, he also

    expressed his thanks for the meal.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s phone vibrated. As she picked it up to look at the messages and photos from Leslie, she couldn¡¯t help but bite hard on

    the fork between her lips.

    ¡°| thought you didn¡¯t like greasy food, but you ate it all,¡± she texted back. That was her beef stew!

    ¡°| didn¡¯t want it to go to waste,¡± Leslie replied.

    He could have said anything else! ¡°Oh, as long as you liked it,¡± Aurelia responded.

    ¡°But | didn¡¯t like the pink lunchbox,¡± Leslie returned.

    Aurelia was at a loss for what to say, but she was unable to admit her mistake.

    Revealing that the lunchbox full of meat was actually meant for her would be quite awkward.

    ¡°I''ll change it next time,¡± she typed.

    ¡°Then, I''ll be looking forward to it tomorrow,¡± Leslie replied.

    Wait a minute. Something seemed off about his response.

 Chapter 49

    Tomorrow?

    The day wasn¡¯t even over yet, but he was already talking about the next day¡¯s lunch.

    Well, it was just a lunchbox. She needed to make one for herself anyway. She could just increase the portion.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    The conversation ended there.

    Millie frowned and looked at Aurelia. ¡°Aurelia, you''ve been biting on that fork this whole time. Who is it that¡¯s making you so

    annoyed?¡±

    Aurelia sighed, ¡°Beef stew.¡±

    Millie swallowed her mouthful of food before saying, ¡°Is it your husband? You''re actually likening him to beef stew? That¡¯s very...¡±

    That was very unbing, wasn¡¯t it?

    But Millie didn¡¯t dare to say it out loud. She pursed her lips and continued to eat her food. Then, she unintentionally saw Aurelia¡¯s

    lunchbox.

    ¡°Aurelia, didn¡¯t his family give you any meat? Your meal is just full of greens. Eating all that might even make you turn green!¡±

    Aurelia remained silent.

    At that moment, Aurelia was thankful.

    Fortunately, she had picked up the wrong lunchbox. Otherwise, if Leslie saw the lunchbox full of greens, his face would have

    turned green too.

    Seeing Aurelia¡¯s silence, Millie thought that she had tacitly agreed and couldn''t help but sympathize with her.

    She quickly gave Aurelia a couple of beef slices.

    ¡°Aurelia, have some meat.¡±

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Aurelia smiled.

    Their conversation happened to be overheard by Kimberly, who was making coffee in the pantry.

    Kimberly raised her coffee cup, and her lips curved up into a sly smile.

    So, that was the case.

    Aurelia always embarrassed her. She wanted to make Aurelia experience that embarrassment too!

    After Aurelia finished eating, she checked up on her mother via video call with Karen. Then, sheid her head down on the table

    and took a nap.

    Hearing her phone vibrate, she stretchedzily before heading to the restroom.

    22

    While seated on the toilet, her mind was still addled with sleep, and she continued to daydream with her eyes half closed.

    At that moment, the door to the restroom opened, and two voices engaged in conversation reached her ears.

    ¡®Really? Isn¡¯t that too pitiful? Good thing I¡¯ve decided not to get married in this life.¡±

    ¡°| really don¡¯t understand what she¡¯s thinking. She left her good-looking ex-boyfriend and married an ugly guy, only to be

    mistreated by her inws.¡±

    ¡°| heard that she married the ugly guy but still misses her ex-boyfriend. She couldn¡¯t bear to throw away the high heels that he

    had given her and even wore them for three years!¡±

    ¡°No way! She¡¯s usually dressed so conservatively, so | thought that she was an honest and responsible person. Who would''ve

    thought that she¡¯d be such aplicated person?

    ¡°Haha, okay, let¡¯s stop talking about it.¡±

    The voices of the two individuals gradually became more distant.

    Aurelia breathed a sigh of relief. She made sure that the restroom waspletely empty before she dared to get up and flush.

    The women¡¯s restroom was like the intelligence bureau of the entire building. Although no names would be mentioned, everyone

    would know who was being talked about.

    But, who were they talking about this time? Who was so unlucky to be abused by her inws? Someone who wore the same

    pair of heels for three years? That seemed inexplicably familiar.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t dwell on it too much. She washed her hands, neatly redid her hair, and then straightened her slightly wrinkled

    dress.

    After making sure that she looked presentable, Aurelia walked out of the restroom, only to find that everyone who walked by her

    would give her an extra nce.

    She wondered if she had missed something that needed tidying up.

    ¡°Aurelia!¡± Millic rushed over, panting.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Aurelia reached out to support the breathless Millic.

    ¡°Look at this! | saw it in themunity chat.¡±

    Themunity chat was a group chat created by acquaintances in the building. There were employees from variouspanies

    in it. In short, it was just a gossip group.

    Aurelia used to be in that group chat, but there were too many internal conflicts.

    Thete-night discussions about trivial matters and the group members¡® tendency to always tag everyone annoyed her.

    Eventually, she grew tired of it and left the group.

    She never thought that she¡¯d be the subject of discussion in that group one day.

    ¡°Who''s the one from Young Advertising that¡¯s being mistreated after getting married?¡± the ountant from the foreign trade

    company upstairs inquired.

    ¡°No, | heard that it¡¯s her inws who treat her horribly. Not only does she have to take care of her seriously ill mother, but she

    also has to bear the actions of her nasty mother-inw. The worst part is that her husband looks like a bull, ugly but strong, so

    she doesn¡¯t dare to resist. ¡°Today, she only ate vegetables for lunch, with a few pieces of shredded meat. After eating. she was

    so tired that she fell asleep. Poor thing,¡± The receptionist from the consultingpany downstairs sent, adding a sad emoji after

    the text.

    money,

    ¡°What''s so pitiful about it? | heard that she broke up with her boyfriend because of and then she married someone else in a fit of

    anger. Isn¡¯t she just reaping what she sowed?¡± the designer from the adjacent renovationpany criticized.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Now she¡¯s stuck with a man who''s worse than her ex-boyfriend for the rest of her life.¡±

    The discussion about how her husband wasn¡¯t as good as the ex-boyfriend continued for more

    than 99 messages.

    Although Aurelia¡¯s name was never mentioned from the beginning to the end, who else in Young Advertising had recently gotten

    married and had a mother who was seriously ill?

    Aurelia held the phone and looked at Millie hesitantly.

    ¡°How did they find out?¡±

    Millie was visibly startled, and she shook her head vigorously,

    ¡°Aurelia, it¡¯s not me! It¡¯s really not me! At first, it was just a few people in thepany upstairs discussing the rtionship

    between a mother-inw and a daughter-inw. | didn¡¯t

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    pay attention, but after a few minutes, it turned into everyone secretly talking about you. | really don¡¯t know how it turned out like

    this!¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, | believe you. Can you find the first person who mentioned me in the group chat?¡± Aureliaforted Millie.

    Millie was two years younger than Aurelia. They¡¯ve known each other for over a year now, since her internship.

    Aurelia knew very well what kind of person Millie was. She was sure that Millie wasn¡¯t someone who would stab her in the back.

    Millie scrolled through the group''s messages anxiously.

    However, with 476 members in the group chat, the messages were overwhelming.

    It took her five minutes to find the source of the message.

    It was someone with an avatar of a white rose. The profile of that ount was obviously fake.

    Millie said helplessly, ¡°This should be someone''s side ount. It¡¯s impossible to trace who''s. behind this since anyone can join

    this group. Except for a few familiar names from here, the rest of them are strangers.¡±

    Aurelia stared at the profile picture and sighed lightly. It was obvious that the person had deliberately hidden their identity.

    Everyone in t

    the group was a veteran at gossiping. They never mentioned any names in the discussions. Even if she were to question them

    one by one, they would just deny that they had been talking about her.

    In the workce, private discussions like these weremon. The best way to approach it was to feign ignorance. After all,

    everyone had their own rumors.

    ¡°Forget it. | can¡¯t control what other people say. A fewments won''t affect my sry anyway.¡± Aurelia said, waving her hand.

    ¡°Aurelia,tly, you shouldn¡¯t have married someone else out of spite,¡± Millie said empathetically.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t

    ¡°Is that ¡°im out of spite. I''m genuinely dong rai ve

    now.¡±

    you call doing well? Alright, I¡¯ve said my piece. You won''t listen anyway. It¡¯s fine. as long as you''re happy,¡± Millie sighed.

    ¡°Let''s go. The lunch break is over. Let¡¯s get back to work.¡± Aurelia immediately changed the subject.

    She really didn¡¯t want to be the subject of someone else¡¯s gossip.

    Some people in the group spoke as if they were life mentors, but in reality, their own lives

    were a mess.

    Rather than feeling sorry for her, they seemed to take pleasure in her misfortune. The more they argued with others, the more

    energetic they became.

    Millie pursed her lips and followed Aurelia to the office.

    Before she reached the door, she pointed at her phone with wide eyes.

    Chapter 50

    ¡°Aurelia, Seth just spoke.¡±

    ¡°Seth? Why is he in ourmunity chat?¡± Aurelia eximed.

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51

    chat. He

    ¡°Aurelia, you didn¡¯t know? | remember that it was you who added him to the group had even used your name, insisting on

    treating the sales team upstairs to discuss a coboration. At that time, you didn¡¯t say anything, so everyone thought that you

    had also agreed to it.

    You know that we usually have coborations with the team upstairs, so they had no choice but to agree to cooperate with Seth.

    Later, when you left the group, theyined. | noticed that you didn¡¯t say anything either when there was talk about you and

    Seth getting married, Millie recalled.

    ¡°| didn¡¯t...¡± Aurelia paused.

    When she first joined the group, she hadined to Seth about it being too noisy. But everyone in the office was in the group,

    so she didn¡¯t want to leave it immediately.

    Back then, Seth had said that he wanted to take a look, so she had given him her phone. It must have been then that he had

    added himself to the group. Later, she couldn''t bear it and left the group, unaware that he was still in it.

    Besides, he had actually used her name to discuss business with others? It was fine if the negotiations went well, but if it didn¡¯t,

    wouldn''t it all be her fault?

    Aurelia gritted her teeth. ¡°What did Seth say in the group?¡±

    Millie scrolled on her phone and read Seth¡¯s reply word for word.

    ¡°He said, ¡°I know you''re talking about Aurelia. Don¡¯t me her. | really love her. It¡¯s my fault for not being able to give her

    happiness. Everyone, please help me persuade her. It breaks my heart to see her living like that. As long as she¡¯s willing to be

    with me, I¡¯m still willing to ept her.¡±

    ¡°Damn! If | hadn¡¯t seen his mother¡¯s true colors with my own eyes

    | might have believed him. He¡¯s acting like he¡¯s Mother Teresa and pretending to be all phnthropic,¡± Millie remarked with

    disdain.

    Aurelia took the phone and nced over Seth¡¯s words. Just then, Kimberly''s response quickly followed.

    ¡°Seth, actually, I¡¯m sure Aurelia hasn''t forgotten you. Otherwise, she wouldn''t still be using the things you''d given her even after

    three years. But you¡¯re being too humble. Is it worth it?¡±

    Seth replied, ¡°If Aureliaes back to me, I¡¯m willing to give her as many gifts as she wants.¡±

    Three years? Gifts? Aurelia felt likeughing

    Seth would never give her a gift unless he had to. Even if he did, it wouldpletelyck sincerity.

    She used to believe that just the thought was enough, but now she had seen through Seth¡¯s tricks. Wasn''t he just trying to y

    the pitiful victim in front of everyone?

    Sure enough, everyone started praising Seth and speaking up for him.

    ¡°Seth, you''re not so bad yourself. There¡¯s really no need for you to be so amodating.¡±

    someonemented.

    ¡°If she divorces, it''ll be her second marriage. Don¡¯t joke about your own happiness,¡± another added.

    ¡°| don¡¯t think Aurelia deserves someone like you. She broke up with you because of money and married someone else out of

    anger. She should suffer the consequences.¡±

    Seeing everyone belittling herself on Seth¡¯s behalf, Aurelia¡¯s face burned, as if she had been pped multiple times.

    She wasn¡¯t acquainted with these people. How could they criticize her?

    She had pretended not to know earlier, but now that it hade to this, she feltpelled to say something.

    She asked, ¡°Millie, can | say a few words?¡±

    Millie nodded, ¡°Go ahead. | can¡¯t stand seeing them speak up for Seth. You¡¯ve been through so much because of him. There¡¯s no

    reason for others to nder you!¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Aurelia took a deep breath as she held the phone. Then, she pressed the voice message button.

    ¡°Since everyone seems so interested in the matter between me and Seth, | might as well rify it here. We''repletely over,

    and we''ll never get back together.

    ¡°Seth, stop pretending to be sentimental. Before you proposed to me, you had already paid at membership fee of 30 thousand

    dors for the Golf Dating Club. What does that make me?

    ¡°Forcing me to get divorced and reconcile now is nothing more than the fact that you had been exposed for giving a female

    member a fake watch and subsequently gotten kicked out of the club. You just can¡¯t find another woman who''s easier to deceive

    than me.¡±

    Aminute after Aurelia¡¯s message was sent, Seth was seething with anger.

    ¡°Aurelia, what nonsense are you spouting?¡±

    ¡°Nonsense? Well, let me provide you with the evidence.¡±

    Aurelia sent screenshots of her conversations with Seth¡¯s colleagues to Millie¡¯s phone, and then shared them to the group chat

    using Millie¡¯s ount.

    Of course, she had already blurred out the names and profile pictures of Seth¡¯s colleagues.

    With such irrefutable evidence, Seth remained silent for a long while.

    Aurelia continued, ¡°Let me rify further. My married life is good, and | don¡¯t need anyone¡¯s concern. Thank you.¡±

    Seth couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and retorted sharply, ¡°Good? Aurelia, | know you very You¡¯re the best at putting up a strong

    front. There¡¯s no shame in admitting that things aren¡¯t going well. There¡¯s no need to lie. Could everyone possibly have

    misunderstood?¡±

 Chapter 52

    hapter 52

    it that moment, the troublemaker Kimberly once again made an appearance.

    You two, stop arguing. Aurelia, we genuinely feel sorry for you. We didn¡¯t mean to make you pset. If you want Seth to give up,

    why not ask your husband to send you to thepany omorrow?¡±

    aurelia paused. There was a fleeting moment where it seemed like she might say something, ut ultimately, she refrained. She

    turned around and returned the phone to Millie.

    Millie said, ¡°Aurelia, why didn¡¯t you agree? Otherwise, everyone will think that you were really ast putting up a strong front and

    lying, and then Seth will be insufferable.¡±

    urelia frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not necessary. | don¡¯t live for them.¡±

    ¡®he crucial point was that Leslie would disagree with it.

    Aurelia walked into the office. Everyone looked up at her, presumably because they were aware if the conversation between her

    and Seth.

    ¡®ity, sympathy, disdain, and gazes filled various other emotions fell upon her.

    imberly stood up and said with a troubled expression, ¡°Aurelia, Seth said that he¡¯lle ver early tomorrow morning. | tried to

    advise him against it and mentioned that it was a rucial moment for you to get a promotion, but he wouldn''t listen. He even said

    that he wouldn¡¯t leave unless he saw your husband. Well... | guess you''ll just have to agree to it. :veryone¡¯s worried about you.¡±

    Aurelia looked at Kimberly and frowned.

    ure enough, the mother¡ªson duo from the Martinez family continued to entangle her and imberly, making thingsplicated.

    ince Seth¡¯s promotion had been blocked, he wouldn¡¯t let Aurelia get promoted so smoothly ither.

    What an annoying person!

    urelia was on the verge of rejecting Kimberly¡¯s unsolicited suggestion when Zachary walked ut of his office.

    le frowned and looked at Aurelia. ¡°Aurelia, let''s have a talk in my office.¡±

    Alright.¡±

    1 the end, Aurelia wasn¡¯t able to voice her rejection. She quickly walked into Zachary¡¯s office.

    achary stood with hands on hips, a hint of impatience in his furrowed brows.

    Are you married?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Yes.¡±

    urelia was somewhat surprised. She hadn¡¯t expected such a trivial matter to bother Zachary,

    achary¡¯s brow furrowed even further, and his tone became a little more impatient.

    Since you''re married, just behave yourself! This is apany, not a ce for you to handle

    Chapter 52

    your personal affairs.

    ¡°Why did your ex¡ªboyfriend¡¯s mother cause a scene at thepany? If the security hadn¡¯t stopped her, she would have gone

    upstairs. How would the otherpanies view us then?

    ¡°It''s the same today. You caused such a fuss in the office early in the morning. Everyone in the whole building knows about your

    affairs now.¡±

    Hearing this, Aurelia turned pale, but she steadied her emotions to exin, ¡°Zachary, this morning was because of Kimberly...¡±

    ¡°What''s wrong with Kimberly? She has connections, but you don¡¯t. She knows the boss of One Technology, but you don''t. Isn¡¯t

    that right?

    ¡°You have nothing, so you have to learn to be perceptive! Thepany only wants results. No one cares who is right or wrong,¡±

    Zachary interrupted, displeased.

    ¡°|... Lunderstand.¡±

    Aurelia pursed her lips, knowing that Zachary wouldn''t listen, no matter what she said.

    However, Zachary was right about one thing.

    She had nothing. She was just an ordinary employee.

    Zachary pointed at Aurelia, gritted his teeth and said, ¡°If you let your personal affairs affect work again, don¡¯t say | didn¡¯t warn

    you!¡±

    Aurelia could only nod. ¡°I understand.¡±

    Zachary didn¡¯t say anything else and waved his hand, wordlessly telling her to leave.

    Aurelia turned around and left the office.

    Soon after that, Zachary also called Kimberly into his office.

    However, when she came out, she had a smile on her face, and she exuded an air of confidence. Obviously, Zachary favored

    her more.

    Aurelia and Kimberly locked eyes for a moment and then immediately lowered their heads to resume their work.

    Aurelia couldn''t afford any more distractions. She had to get the promotion and sry increase.

    At the end of the workday, Millie, who was usually the most punctual when it came to leaving work on time, remained seated,

    engrossed in her phone.

    Aurelia tidied up her desk while reminding her, ¡°What are you looking at? You''re so absorbed in it. It¡¯s time to get off work.¡±

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53

    Millie shot up from her seat and rushed to where Aurelia was.

    ¡°Aurelia, look at this! Seth is really too much! He actually said that you were mentally unstable due to the stress and worry about

    your mom¡¯s illness and that you were just talking nonsense earlier. | think it¡¯s him who¡¯s actually mentally unstable and talking

    nonsense.¡±

    Seth¡¯s colleagues must have spread the news about him pestering her throughout the

    company.

    He cared too much about his reputation and couldn¡¯t stand being gossiped about by his colleagues, so it had caused him to

    exaggerate the situation.

    But Aurelia hadn''t anticipated Seth¡¯s words in the group chat, so the situation had be even moreplicated.

    Zachary already had a word with her. If she couldn¡¯t resolve this quickly, her promotion would undoubtedly be affected.

    ¡°Aurelia, aren¡¯t you angry too? You should just ask your husband to send you to work

    tomorrow. Even if he¡¯s not handsome, doing that can at least shut Seth up and prevent him from going crazy in the group chat.¡±

    Millie¡¯s words woke Aurelia up. If Leslie¡¯s appearance could dispel Seth¡¯s harassment, it might not be a bad idea.

    ¡°Pil think about it.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Ugh, | can¡¯t stand him. I''d rather marry a cow than ever marry Seth,¡± Millie said angrily.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    Aurelia pulled Millie downstairs. Everyone around them stared as they walked by.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t care. Her mind was focused on how to secure the major deal with One Technology.

    Aurelia and Millie parted ways after entering the subway, but they coincidentally ended up taking the same train.

    ¡°Aurelia, why are you going this way? You''re not going to the hospital today?¡±

    ¡°I need to make some adjustments to One Technology¡¯s proposal. I¡¯ve already told the caregiver that | won¡¯t be going there

    today. My mother is going to have an operation soon, so | need to finish the work at hand quickly.¡±

    Millie nodded and pointed at the sign above their heads. ¡°Then, where will you be getting off?

    Aurelia pointed at the middle section. ¡°Crystal Creek Avenue.¡±

    Hearing this, Millie looked at her in surprise.

    ¡°Crystal Creek Avenue? Does your husband live there? The houses there are very expensive. Even the lowest priced ones cost

    at least four million dors!¡±

    ¡°We took onst a loan, and we''re still paying it off.¡± Aurelia mined

    ¡°Oh, | see Then, you must be under a het of premere

    ¡°31¡¯s mutageable.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Life should be a little nacier inca dhe gati promoted

    Not wedy could she hadj vajon (her mortgage, Ina die condid den hafy Las in taking care of

    head

    Mithe chudu Yong the rides admod and instantly at Aurelia

 Chapter 54

    It was more reassuring for Aurelia to earn her own money.

    Ten minutester, Millie waved and got off the train, joining the crowd of people who were also getting off work for the day.

    She lived in an old residential area surrounded by factories, so the station was always crowded after work.

    Millie hadined numerous times about almost getting squeezed onto the train again right after just getting off.

    Aurelia had the foresight to stand in a corner to avoid being crushed by the people entering

    the door.

    However, there were too many people, and collisions were inevitable.

    No matter how careful she was, she was still scratched by a woman''s bag. She stepped back to avoid it and identally

    stepped on the foot of the man next to her.

    ¡°Sorry, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I''m fine.¡± The man smiled and said nothing more, ncing down at his shoes.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t inquire further and continued to huddle in the corner.

    When she was about to take out her phone to listen to some music, she noticed the man¡¯s foot inching closer to hers again.

    How strange. After being stepped on, shouldn''t he retract his foot?

    Aurelia wondered if the man just had a peculiar way of standing.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    In order to prevent herself from identally stepping on his foot again, Aurelia moved to increase the space between them.

    However, whenever she moved, the man would also follow suit.

    Even the seemingly naive Aurelia realized that there was a problem.

    When she lowered her head to check, the man immediately retracted his feet.

    At that moment, a thought shed through her mind-upskirt photography.

    Stories online often mentioned that some sleazy men would hide cameras in their shoes to take photos up a person¡¯s skirt.

    Aurelia was wearing a white dress that day. Due to the crowded train, she had sweated a little. The damp dress stuck tightly to

    her body, outlining her figure, and it had apparently attracted the attention of a perverted man.

    Those kinds of cameras could supposedly be detected with a sh.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to alert the man just yet. It was crucial to gather evidence first in order to silence him.

    With that in mind, she took out her phone. She activated the camera¡¯s sh and pointed it at

    his shoes.

    ¡°Click!¡±

    Aurelia was startled by the sound of the camera shutter. She was so nervous that she had forgotten to turn off the sound, but she

    noticed the red dot in the photo.

    The man really had a camera hidden in his shoe!

    2/2

    Just when she was about to call someone for help, the man covered her mouth with one hand and tried to grab her phone with

    the other hand.

    She fis

    She fiercely protected her phone and struggled to get away.

    However, her location in the corner made it challenging. Most of the people around her were wearing headphones and were

    immersed in their phones, so they didn¡¯t notice her struggle at all.

    Aurelia red at the man and bit him hard when he least expected it.

    The man suppressed his urge to shout but was thoroughly infuriated.

    He raised his hand to strike Aurelia, but the next moment, someone grabbed his wrist tightly from behind.

    ¡°What do you think you''re doing?¡±

    Aurelia looked up in astonishment to see Leslie, who stood out from the crowd.

    Why was he here?

    Before Aurelia could speak, the subway doors suddenly opened.

    ¡°We have arrived at Crystal Creek Avenue. Please exit the train in an orderly manner.¡±

    The man and Aurelia were standing close to the doors. Taking advantage of the crowd entering and exiting the train, he forcefully

    pushed Leslie aside and ran out.

    Aurelia chased after him, not bothering to stop and exin.

    ¡°Stop! Catch him! He¡¯s a pervert! Stop him!¡± Aurelia shouted.

    The people around heard themotion, but with the crowded tform, they didn¡¯t know. who she was talking about.

    Seeing that the man was about to run up the stairs, Aurelia quickly took off her high heels and chased after him.

    ¡°Stop him!¡±

 Chapter 55

    At that moment, a figure swiftly ran past Aurelia, effortlessly jumping over the railing with one hand, and then kicking the man to

    the ground.

    Everything happened so fast that she couldn¡¯t even react in time.

    It wasn¡¯t until she reached them that she realized the agile person was actually Leslie. Even after all that, he was calm and

    composed, whereas Aurelia was gasping for breath.

    She nced at his legs. They were long and sturdy, and they captivated her gaze.

    The man on the ground coughed violently. Realizing that he couldn¡¯t escape, he quickly begged for mercy,

    ¡°| was wrong. This is my first time doing this. | won¡¯t do it again, so please let me go! I''ll give you money! Whatever you want!

    Just let me go.¡±

    With that, the man took out his wallet and phone.

    Aurelia considered for a moment before reaching for them.

    Leslie, who was standing next to her, wore a cold expression. He found it unbelievable that a woman who had just been secretly

    photographed was now epting money from the perpetrator. Just how short of money was she?

    He thought that she had a sense of justice when he saw her urgency earlier.

    Aurelia weighed the phone in her hand. ¡°What''s the password? I''ll transfer the money myself to avoid any deception.¡±

    Thinking that Aurelia had agreed to settle the matter with money, the man promptly disclosed the password to her.

    ¡°001998.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia unlocked his phone and held it up, signaling to the approaching security personnel.

    ¡°The evidence is all here. He¡¯s been caught red-handed. Please arrest him.¡±

    The auxiliary police quickly apprehended the man.

    The man erupted into a string of curses and yelled, ¡°How dare you deceive me!¡±

    Aurelia handed the phone to the officer and said coldly, ¡°You''re a nasty person. It¡¯s only fair that | have some tricks up my

    sleeves too!¡±

    The man was left speechless.

    Aurelia then handed the wallet to the officer and told him, ¡°His ID is inside.¡±

    The officer smiled and said, ¡°Miss, you¡¯ve truly been a great help, but dealing with such people is dangerous. You shouldn''t act

    so impulsively in the future. Fortunately, this

    gentleman was here to help you today.¡±

    Aurelia nodded, ¡°Alright, but... can you delete my photos? It¡¯s embarrassing.¡±

    23

    The officer exined, ¡°After collecting the evidence, we¡¯ll delete them. They won''t be circted.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aurelia sighed in relief.

    After the officer handed the man over to his colleagues, he turned to Aurelia and Leslie to get their statements.

    ¡°What''s the rtionship between the two of you?¡±

    ¡°We''re...¡±

    Husband and wife?

    Aurelia hesitated, unsure if she should reveal it. Just when she was about to ask Leslie, a clear voice sounded from beside her.

    ¡°We''re husband and wife,¡± Leslie dered.

    The officer nced at them and said with a smile, ¡°No wonder the gentleman was so anxious just now. He even jumped over two.

    turnstiles.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Leslie neither confirmed nor denied hisment.

    Aurelia was momentarily stunned. She looked at Leslie in surprise.

    Was he worried about her?

    Before she could figure it out, the officer began questioning her. Aurelia recounted the details of the incident carefully.

    After signing some documents, she watched as the officer escorted the man away.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, thank you for your help. You...¡± Aurelia turned around and found Leslie looking at her with an odd expression.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Did you trick him into handing over his phone and wallet?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Yes, | saw the auxiliary police running over and was worried that the two of us wouldn''t be able to handle him, so | tried to hold

    him back. He seemed very familiar with this ce. He specifically picked such a crowded station to carry out his immoral acts.

    ¡°He even threw away his shoes when he got off the train. What if he denied everything when he got caught?¡± Aurelia exined.

    Leslie frowned slightly, realizing that he had been so focused on catching the man that he hadn¡¯t noticed that the man¡¯s shoes

    were gone.

    Aurelia continued, ¡°You need to gather all the evidence first with someone like that. Otherwise, he¡¯ll argue and give all kinds of

    excuses when the timees.¡±

    Leslie''s eyes flickered as he looked at her sweaty face.

    He blurted out, ¡°Weren¡¯t you afraid that he would hurt you?¡±

    ¡°Of course | was afraid.¡± Aurelia pursed her lips and continued, ¡°But if | didn¡¯t stop him, he¡¯d be even more unscrupulous in

    the future. When | checked his phone earlier, | saw so

    many other photos, even those of little girls. If we hadn¡¯t turned him in, he¡¯d only continue causing more harm.¡±

    Chagner S

    Leslie fell silent and looked at Aurelia. He only shifted his gaze when he realized that he¡¯d been staring at her for too long

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56

    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    ¡°Okay... ouch!¡±

    Aurelia lowered her head to inspect her foot and was surprised to find a scrape on her ankle. Fortunately, the wound wasn¡¯t

    deep.

    She gritted her teeth, put on her shoes, and limped alongside Leslie.

    As she stood on the esctor, someone bumped into her. When she exerted force on her foot

    to regain her bnce, a sharp pain shot through her ankle, making her sway for a moment.

    Leslie helped to steady her.

    ¡°Stand closer,¡± Leslie said gruffly.

    ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±

    Aurelia took a small step closer to him, but it was so small that it seemed as if she hadn¡¯t moved at all.

    Leslie nced at her. Without hesitation, he pulled her into his embrace.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    She stiffened, and she quickly lowered her head.

    He couldn''t see her expression clearly, but he could clearly see the tips of her ears turning red.

    She was surprisingly shy.

    Aurelia always gave him a contradictory feeling. Which side of her was the real one?

    The atmosphere felt awkward, so Aurelia randomly brought up a topic.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, why did you take the train today?¡±

    ¡°A colleague borrowed my car. It''ll only be returned tomorrow morning.¡±

    Actually, it was one of his subordinates who had needed a car so that he could take his parents back to their hometown, but he

    didn¡¯t dare to use Leslie¡¯s luxury cars for fear of attracting

    attention.

    Aurelia nodded and did not pursue the topic further.

    After exiting the subway station, Aurelia slightly increased the distance between the two of

    them.

    To her surprise, she found that Leslie seemed to have no intention of doing the same. He even amodated her with smaller

    steps.

    She nced at Leslie cautiously. His face was as handsome as ever, but itcked its usual cold. demeanor.

    ¡°Watch your step.¡±

    Leslie suddenly lowered his head to meet her eyes.

    Surprised, Aurelia quickened her pace, forgetting about her injured foot.

    ¡°Ouch, ouch...¡± Aurelia hissed in pain.

    Leslie was inexplicably amused by the series of hissing sounds she made, but he didn¡¯t show it. Aurelia noticed her tone and

    immediately shut her mouth. She hoped Leslie would let go of her. Instead, he helped her sit on a bench outside a nearby store.

    ¡°Wait here.¡±

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    As soon as Aurelia finished speaking, Leslie entered the neighboring store.

    Confused, she looked up at the store¡¯s sign and immediately understood what Leslie wanted to do.

    It was a pharmacy.

    Aurelia felt an inexplicable warmth in her chest as she looked at the store.

    It had been a long time since someone else had taken care of her, not since her mother had been hospitalized.

    Ten minutester, Leslie returned with a bag in his hand.

    Aurelia immediately stretched out her hand and said, ¡°I can do it myself.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t a drama. No one would have a pair of wless and attractive feet at all times of the day.

    In reality, people who had spent an entire day in high heels would be aware that even if their feet didn¡¯t stink, they''d still be

    sweaty, and there would be red imprints from being stuffed into such shoes for so many hours. It could end up looking as ugly as

    it sounded.

    Aurelia, despite not being pretentious, still valued her dignity. She felt embarrassed to expose her feet that were undeniably in

    such a state to Leslie.

    However, Leslie didn¡¯t give her the bag. Instead, he pulled over a stic stool that was outside the store and sat down calmly.

    While unpacking the medicine, he said, ¡°Give me your foot.¡±

    Aurelia hesitated.

    Leslie paused and said, ¡°Do you need me to send you an invitation?¡±

    Aurelia quickly shook her head, curling her toes and lifting her foot.

    Leslie pointed to his knee. ¡°Put it here. How else will | be able to apply the ointment?¡± Aurelia was momentarily stunned. Did she

    really have to put her foot on his knee?

 Chapter 57

    Aurelia could tell that Leslie¡¯s suit was very expensive. What if a drop of blood stained it?

    ¡°Aurelia, how long do you n on keeping your foot raised like that?¡± Leslie urged.

    ¡°Hold on.¡±

    Aurelia quickly opened her bag and took out three tissues. She folded them together before cing them on Leslie¡¯s knee.

    Leslie was surprised by her actions and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a pair of pants.¡±

    Aurelia lowered her eyes and said casually, ¡°Mr. Synder, it¡¯d be such a waste if those pants were ruined. You look so good in

    them. | just... don¡¯t want to get them dirty.¡±

    After saying that, she lowered her head.

    What was she saying?

    After hearing that, Leslie¡¯s finger identally grazed Aurelia¡¯s ankle, causing the both of them to fall silent.

    An indescribable atmosphere surrounded them.

    Aurelia discreetly lifted her gaze and observed Leslie calmly tending to her wound.

    She felt relieved.

    Leslie looked at the wound. Although it wasn¡¯t deep, it was quite long, extending from the ankle to the calf. The fair skin looked

    alluring against the blood drops.

    But there was another matter... with that foot.

    Aurelia sensed Leslie¡¯s gaze and wiggled her toes, attempting to pull her foot back.

    ¡°Don''t look at my...¡±

    Foot..

    ¡°The wound is quite long. A regr adhesive bandage won¡¯t cover itpletely. I''ll wrap it with gauze to prevent an infection,¡±

    Leslie calmly interrupted, continuing to clean Aurelia¡¯s wound with iodine.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aurelia was not only grateful to Leslie for treating her wound, but also for interrupting her and preserving a bit of her

    dignity.

    Although she had always felt that her capabilities mattered more than her appearance, the fact was that she wasn¡¯t very

    confident in how she looked, especially after she had to listen to all of

    Seth¡¯sments.

    ¡°Your waist is too thick. My friend¡¯s girlfriend¡¯s waist is only as wide as one of his palms, but it¡¯s okay. | like you the way you are.¡±

    ¡°You have freckles on your face. It doesn¡¯t make you look good, but | don¡¯t mind. No matter how bad you look, you¡¯re still my

    precious darling.¡±

    ¡°It''d be better if your thighs were a little slimmer. You shouldn¡¯t wear pants anymore in the future since you don¡¯t look good in

    them. Just wear dresses so that your thighs can be covered.

    Chapter 57

    up.¡±

    Aurelia recalled Seth¡¯s words, feeling a little self-conscious.

    Seth¡¯sments had all been said carelessly, but they had affected her a lot back then.

    Since she struggled with doubts about her appearance, she tried to make up for it by improving her skills. But deep down, she

    still felt a little inferior because of his words.

    Seeing Leslie¡¯s reaction now, she realized that a true man wouldn¡¯t demonstrate his generosity by belittling someone.

    The more Aurelia thought about it, the more nauseous she felt.

    2/2

    Seth was her first love, so she had cherished that rtionship. However, she had unexpectedly fallen prey to Seth¡¯s

    maniption.

    Looking at Leslie, whose personality differed from his cold appearance, Aurelia¡¯s thoughts took an unexpected turn.

    What if she asked Leslie to apany her to thepany tomorrow? He would probably agree, right?

    She simply wanted to sever ties with Seth as soon as possible. She really didn¡¯t have the energy to deal with him now.

    Thinking about it, she opened her mouth but hesitated. In the end, she decided not to say anything.

    What if Seth went to make trouble for Leslie? Seth was undoubtedly capable of such actions if it benefited himself.

    One Technology was now one of the most famouspanies in the Seacester business district.

    If thepany deemed that Leslie¡¯s personal affairs were affecting its reputation and chose to terminate him, wouldn''t that be

    Aurelia¡¯s fault?

    She should just forget it. She should deal with her own problems herself.

    ¡°Does it hurt? What''s with that expression?¡± Leslie frowned..

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt. | was just... thinking about what would happen to that man earlier.¡±

    Aurelia told a little lie, not wanting to get Leslie involved.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Leslie''s brows furrowed as he said, ¡°You''re injured. How can you still think about others?¡±

    Aurelia pursed her lips and looked down at her injury, just in time to see the mixture of blood and iodine almost dripping onto her

    high heels.

    Bloodstains were difficult to clean. She didn¡¯t want any of that to get on the shoes her parents. had given her.

 Chapter 58

    The next second, disregarding the pain in her foot, she stepped directly onto the ground and reached out to cover the shoe¡¯s

    surface.

    Because of the exertion, the previously well-treated wound began to ooze blood again.

    She straightened up, intending to find a cotton swab to wipe it, but she noticed Leslie¡¯s cold expression as he stared at her

    shoes.

    ¡°Are those shoes so important to you?¡± He said expressionlessly.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s because...¡±

    Aurelia smiled at the thought of her parents.

    But in Leslie¡¯s eyes, it felt particrly ring.

    Was she really that attached to her ex-boyfriend?

    He interrupted, ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me. Let¡¯s take care of your wound first. It¡¯s getting dark.¡±

    He wasn''t interested in hearing about her love story with her ex-boyfriend.

    She nced at the sky and nodded. ¡°Yeal.¡±

    Leslie quickly bandaged her wound. When she got up to express her thanks, she found that he had already turned around and

    walked away silently.

    She hurried to catch up.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, it¡¯s a littlete today. Can we just have a simple meal tonight?¡±

    ¡°No, let¡¯s just buy something and eat it at home,¡± Leslie said solemnly.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t insist.

    She didn¡¯t know if she had stomped on the ground too hard earlier, but her heel and the wound on her ankle hurt.

    She was nning to work on refining the n for One Technology that night, so she also felt reluctant to cook.

    Leslie didn¡¯t seem like someone who could cook, so buying something was the best option.

    On the way back home, Leslie was silent as he carried their takeaway from the restaurant.

    When she arrived at the apartment, Aurelia took off her high heels and found that they were stained with dust. She quickly took

    out a cleaning cloth and wiped them clean.

    When she stood up again, she saw that Leslie had been watching her emotionlessly. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry yet. You should go ahead

    and eat first. I''ll be in the study,¡± he said.

    ¡°But it won¡¯t taste good when it¡¯s cold.¡±

    Leslie remained silent and just ced the food on the table before heading to the study.

    What was going on? Why was he always so unpredictable?

    Aurelia felt a little confused, but she didn¡¯t dwell on it.

    After all, this was Leslie¡¯s home. He could do as he pleased, and she had no right to interfere...

    She went to the kitchen to grab some tes and cutleries, only to find something new in the

    corner.

    Was that an electric fan?

    Did Leslie buy it?

    Why?This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Aurelia¡¯s mind was filled with questions, and she suddenly remembered something. She had. casually mentioned in the morning

    that the kitchen got too hot while she was cooking.

    So, did Leslie buy a fan because of that?

    Aurelia stood there in astonishment but quickly regained herposure.

    She wasn¡¯t the only one who used the kitchen. Maybe Leslie had bought it because it got too hot while he was washing the

    dishes.

    She wasn¡¯t self-centered enough to think that Leslie had bought the fan especially for her. However, she still smiled with

    satisfaction at the thought of being able to use the fan in the future.

    Walking back to the dining table, Aurelia first divided the food and ted them.

    Leslie was a very particr person and probably wouldn¡¯t want to eat leftovers.

    After preparing the food, Aurelia finally sat down to eat, multitasking between eating and working on the proposal. She didn¡¯t

    want to waste any more time.

    Zachary''s partiality toward Kimberly made her realize that she had to work even harder to win thispetition.

    After finishing her meal, she got up and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

    Leslie had bought the meal that day, so it was only right for her to do the dishes.

    She couldn''t just take advantage of the situation and do nothing.

    Returning to the dining table, she wiped her hands and continued working.

    As time passed, Aurelia yawned a few times. She was so tired that her eyes started to hurt as she stared at theputer

    screen.

    Rubbing her eyes, she rested her head on the table, nning to take a ten-minute alleviate the fatigue.

    However, she ended up falling asleep unintentionally.

 Chapter 59

    Chapter59

    Inthestudy,Lesliepinchedthecornersofhiseyes.

    HeclosedthtestresearchanddevelopmentreportfromtheSynderCorporation.Itwaspletemess.

    DespitetheoutwardbrillianceoftheSynderCorporation,itwasactuallyrottenontheinside.Therewasnohurry.Thegamehadjustbegun.

    Lesliesetasidethereport,pickedupthessofwater,andbroughtittohislips,onlytorealizethattherewasnomorewaterinit.

    Hegotupandwalkedoutofthestudy.Hesawthatthelightsinthediningroomwerestillon.Aureliawassleepingonthetable,surroundedbydocuments.

    Leslielightenedhisfootsteps.Hedidn¡¯twanttowakeherup.

    However,heunintentionallysawthputerscreen,andtwowordscaughthiseye¨COneTechnology.

    Aureliawasactuallystayingutetoworkonaproposalforhipany.

    ThispiquedLeslie¡¯scuriosity.

    DidAurelia,whohadsaidsomanyimpressivethingswhentheyhadmetatthetechexpo,reallymeanwhatshehadsaid?

    Withthatinmind,hencedattheprojectproposalonAurelia¡¯puter.

    Sinceitwouldbedeliveredtohiminacoupleofdaysanyway,itdidn¡¯tmatterifhelookedatit

    now.

    Hescrolledthroughthedocument,andhiseyeslitup.

    Finally,therewassomeonewhoactuallyunderstoodwhathewanted,

    Actingonimpulse,LeslielookedatAurelia.

    Strandsofhairwerescatteredaroundherface,swayingwithherbreath.

    Herface,imprintedwithmarksfromthetable, appearedlesssternandseemedmoreintriguingthanusual.

    Heunconsciouslyreachedouttobrushherhairaside.

    Justashishandwasabouttotouchher,anotificationsoundedonthputer,joltinghimbacktoreality.

    Hewithdrewhishandabruptly.

    Herubbedhisforehead.Hewasprobablytootired.Otherwise,hewouldn¡¯thavemadesuchaninappropriatemove.

    Asheturnedaway,Leslienoticedanameinthenotifications¨CSeth,Aurelia¡¯sex¨Cboyfriend.

    ¡°Aurelia,areyoustillbusy?Whyaren¡¯tyoureplyingtomymessages?¡±

    Aurelia,youmustbringyourhusbandheretomorrowandshowSeth!¡±

    Leslie¡¯sbrowsfurrowed.Thescreen¡¯sglowentuatedhis icyexpression.

    Afterafewseconds,heignoredit,pouredassofwater,andreturnedtothestudy.

    Notreceivinganyreplies,Milliecontinuedtosendmoremessages.

    Hearingthenoise,Aureliawokeup abruptly.ShetookafewsecondstoclearherheadandthenrepliedtoMilliewhilestretchinzily.

    ¡°Whyhaven¡¯tyousleptyet?¡±

    ¡°Aurelia,I¡¯vebeenwatchingthmunitychat.They¡¯restartingtocebets,sayingthatyoudefinitelywon¡¯tdaretobringyourhusbandtomorrowandthatyou¡¯llembarrassyourself.

    ¡°Ignorethem.They¡¯rejustbored.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia!I¡¯mgenuinelyworriedforyou!Whatifitcausestroublewiththebossandyouendupinatightspot?Won¡¯tyoubegivingKimberlyanadvantagethen?¡±

    Aureliarestedherheadonherhands,lookingtroubled.ShewastornbetweenhercareeradvancementandLeslie¡¯sjob.

    Withconflictingthoughts,hermindbecamemorechaotic.

    ¡°Let¡¯stalkaboutiter.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia,yourhusbandcan¡¯tevenprotectyou.Whydoyoubothertokeepsuchauselessmanaround?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Millie!¡±

    AureliawassurprisedatMillie¡¯ments.

    ¡°It¡¯sthetruth.WhyareallofKimberly¡¯spursuershandsomeandwealthy?Whydowealwaysendupwiththesewedchoices?Areyoureallywillingtoletherstepalloveryou?¡±

    ¡°Millie,myhusbandisnotuseless.AreyoureallysuggestingthatIbringhimalongtomorrowtohelpme,ordoyoujustwanttoenjoythegossipandundermineKimberly?¡±

    ¡°Aurelia,Idon¡¯tmeananythingelse.Ijustcan¡¯tstandherarrogantattitude.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯te.Youshouldgetsomerest.

    Aureliadidn¡¯twanttocontinuetheconversation.ShethoughtthatMilliewasjustbberingoutofanxiety.

    Afterturningoffheputer,shelookedatthestudyandsighed.Then,sheturned topickuptheuntouchedmealbeforeputtingit intherefrigerator.

    Shewouldjusteatthatforlunchtomorrow.Itwouldbeawastetothrowitaway.

    Aftertidyingup,shetookashowerandwenttobed,fallingasleepquickly.

    Thenextmorning,itwasalready8:00amwhensheopenedhereyes.

    Italmostcausedhertofalloutofbedinshock.

    Shequicklywashedup,andthensherushedtothedoor.

    ever.

 Chapter 60

    Chapter 60

    As Aurelia looked at him, a thought crossed her mind.

    Leslie had a car, and getting him to send her to work would be faster than using the subway. Not only would she not bete, but

    she could also use Leslie to shut Seth and the other people up.

    Was this a stroke of luck from the heavens?

    Standing in the foyer, Aurelia hesitated but eventually voiced her request.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, could you drop me off at the office? | can¡¯t afford to bete again this month.¡± Leslie, who was currently adjusting his

    tie, paused in his actions.

    His expression darkened.

    So, had Aurelia really decided to use him to provoke her ex-boyfriend?

    He looked at her and happened to see the pair of high heels next to her feet.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he said indifferently.

    He was curious to see how this drama would unfold.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aurelia thanked him and quickly put on her shoes.

    Leslie drove fast, and they were almost at her workce in what felt like the blink of an eye.

    However, Aurelia couldn¡¯t shake off the increasing nervousness as they got closer to thepany.

    Inadvertently, she clutched her bag tightly.

    Leslie was kindly giving her a ride to work, but there she was, taking advantage of him. What was the difference between her

    behavior and Seth¡¯s?

    Unable to bear the guilt, Aurelia eximed, ¡°Please pull over!¡±

    She didn¡¯t need to drag Leslie into her mess just to spite Seth. He was a piece of shit, and he didn¡¯t deserve anything!

    Leslie frowned and parked the car at the side of the road.

    ¡°What''s wrong? We''re almost at your office.¡±

    Wasn''t this what Aurelia had wanted?

    ¡°I''d like to buy you breakfast. There¡¯s a bakery nearby, and the croissants there are delicious. I''ll be back real quick.¡±

    Aurelia hurriedly left the car, bought two croissants and two cups of coffee, and returned to

    the car.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, since we¡¯re almost at the office, you don¡¯t need to drop me off there. | can manage it from here. I''ll leave your

    breakfast in the passenger seat, so make sure to take itter.¡±

    Leslie nced at the food, turned off the ignition, and leanedzily against the car door.

    The sunlight streaming in through the windows were reflected in his eyes, making them look like a pool of cold spring water.

    ¡°Aurelia, do you think | would believe that? Exin clearly.¡±

    Aurelia hesitated, sighed, and then got into the car.

    ¡°Actually... my ex-boyfriend is waiting for me up ahead. He doesn¡¯t believe that | could get married so quickly, and he insists on

    getting back together with me. He¡¯s been bothering me for days.

    ¡°Since | woke upte today, | originally thought that you could drop me off, and I¡¯d just go along with it and make him give up. But

    | know that there are a lot of people waiting to watch the drama that''ll unfold, and you won''t like that.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I¡¯m really sorry. | almost got you involved in this mess.¡±

    Hearing this, the coldness in Leslie¡¯s eyes softened slightly, reced by a more scrutinizing and questioning gaze.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to get back together with him?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Not at all?¡± Leslie¡¯s voice deepened, carrying an intimidating tone.

    ¡°Not at all.¡± Aurelia shook her head.

    ¡°Fasten your seatbelt,¡± Leslie said calmly as he started the car.

    Aurelia hesitated, ¡°Are you really going to send me there?¡±

    Leslie said lightly, ¡°If not? Should | let my wife continue to get harassed by her ex¡ªboyfriend?

    His wife?

    Aurelia blushed, feeling a little embarrassed. But her rationality prompted her to reach out and gently hold Leslie¡¯s hand.

    As soon as she touched his warm skin, she immediately withdrew her hand and shifted her body.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    Leslie''s voice was terrifyingly cold. Could it be that she enjoyed being pursued by her ex- boyfriend?

 Chapter 61

    ¡°Your appearance will definitely humiliate Seth in front of everyone, but he¡¯s so concerned about his image that he''ll definitely

    take revenge on you!

    ¡°| heard that although One Technology is a newpany, it¡¯s difficult to get into. It probably wasn¡¯t easy for you to get a job

    there. It¡¯s not worth it to have Seth bothering you.

    ¡°Also, the people persuading me to make youe here today aren''t genuinely trying to help me. They just want to watch the

    show. Even if you did show up, they¡¯ll find faults with you. There¡¯s no need for you topete with Seth.¡±

    Aurelia looked earnestly at Leslie, her bright eyes shining.

    Leslie''s hand on the steering wheel tightened slightly.

    Although he didn¡¯t say anything, his expression rxed.

    Thinking that Leslie was angry, and rightfully so, Aurelia tactfully got out of the car. As she stood outside the car, she waved and

    said, ¡°Mr. Synder, drive safely. Goodbye.¡±

    After saying that, she walked toward thepany.

    When Leslie came to his senses, Aurelia had already walked away, leaving only a slender silhouette of her back.

    After contemting for a moment, he stepped on the elerator.

    As soon as Aurelia entered the lobby of the building, the crowd gathered there immediately looked at her.

    Usually, everyone would be in a rush at this hour, but they were very rxed that day.

    She sighed inwardly and headed straight for the elevator. Just then, she noticed Millie gesturing at her for her to leave..

    For a moment, Aurelia didn¡¯t understand. Was Millie trying to tell her that she wasn¡¯t allowed to work if she didn¡¯t bring her

    husband?

    At this moment, Aurelia heard Kimberly¡¯s voice from behind her.

    ¡°Aurelia, good morning. You''re finally here. Seth has been waiting for you for a long time.¡±

    Aurelia groaned inwardly in frustration, not wanting to deal with them. She walked quickly toward the elevator.

    Seth shouted, ¡°Aurelia! Aurelia!¡¯

    Each word felt like a curse. If he continued shouting, the crowd would just growrger.

    Aurelia turned around angrily.

    ¡°Seth, have you had enough?¡±

    Seth walked over slowly. He looked respectable in his designer suit, but Aurelia couldn''t tell whether it was authentic.

    However, such an appearance gave the illusion of a sessful career. Two youngdies nearby couldn''t take their eyes off him.

    25

    ¡°Aurelia, | knew you were lying to me. The marriage certificate is fake, right? YourN?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    temperament hasn''t changed at all. When you marry me, don¡¯t embarrass me like that in the future. Don¡¯t let so many people

    laugh at us.¡±

    There was a smile on Seth¡¯s face, and his tone was indulgent. But the look he gave Aurelia was full of reprimand.

    Did he think that he was being very charming, acting like that?

    After seeing through Seth¡¯s selfishness and hypocrisy, Aurelia found his tactics ridiculous.

    She took a step back and kept her distance from him, momentarily causing Seth¡¯s smile to falter.

    ¡°Seth, why would | bother lying to someone like you?¡±

    Seth gritted his teeth. ¡°You...¡±

    ¡°Seth, let me say it again. I¡¯m married. | hope you''ll show some self-respect! It''s really shameful of you to cling to an ex-girlfriend

    like this! Also, don¡¯t use me to maintain your public image anymore!¡±

    Aurelia knew that Seth was sensitive about his reputation and couldn¡¯t bear public humiliation.

    As expected, Seth was livid, and his cheeks swelled with anger.

    However, instead of walking away, he approached Aurelia step by step.

    He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Aurelia, you had my colleagues spread rumors about me,

    making me unable to get promoted. Don¡¯t expect me to let you have it easy!¡±

    Aurelia sneered, ¡°Spread rumors? Isn¡¯t what | said the truth? Also, whether you get promoted

    or not is a matter of your capability. What does it have to do with me?¡±

    Upon hearing this, Seth¡¯s eyes sh in anger, and his hands clenched into fists.

    But he held back and even looked at the others with a smile..

    ¡°Everyone, sorry for this mess. Aurelia¡¯s been mentally unstable because | couldn''t afford to treat my mother-¡ªinw¡¯s illness.

    She often talks nonsense. | hope you can understand.¡±

    As he spoke, he didn¡¯t forget to raise his eyebrows provocatively at Aurelia.

    Aurelia felt an immediate sense of rm. He was trying to drag her down with him!

    ¡°Seth! I¡¯m perfectly normal! And we''re not married, so you have no right to call my mom your mother-inw!¡±

    ¡°Look, she¡¯s at it again,¡± Seth said and sighed affectionately.

    His expression was filled with emotion as he said, ¡°Who here doesn¡¯t know that we''ve been in love with each other for three

    years and are about to get married? Who here isn¡¯t aware that you''ve been holding on to the things | gave you for three years,

    refusing to even change them?

    The crowd scrutinized Aurelia, casting usatory nces her way.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''re being too ungrateful. Seth has tried to reconcile with you multiple times, yet you insist on spouting nonsense.¡±

    ¡°I''m concerned about her mental state. Why is herpany still willing to let her work? Aren¡¯t they afraid of serious issues

    arising?¡±

    ¡°Enough¡¯s enough, Aurelia. Just reconcile with Seth. We''re all tired of your constant drama. We''re only looking out for your well¡ª

    being. Where else can you find such a good husband like Seth? Instead of making such a fuss, why not just ept him? Apart

    from him, who else would want you?¡±

    Aurelia took a deep breath and raised her voice, ¡°Since you all think Seth is so great, why don¡¯t you just hurry up and grab him if

    you are unmarried? Even for those who are married, you can introduce him to your friends and family!¡±

    The crowd fell silent.

    In truth, everyone could tell that Seth''s words were only half-truths. They were feigning ignorance just to witness Aurelia¡¯s

    humiliation.

    Undeterred, Aurelia continued, ¡°Let me rify once again. | am married! My husband and | are happy, and we¡¯re not getting

    divorced!¡±

    im Bonus For Free Every Day**

 Chapter 62

    Chapter 62

    Seth¡¯s face was tense. He didn¡¯t expect Aurelia¡¯s attitude to be so resolute.

    Kimberly stepped forward and fueled the fire. ¡°Alright, stop arguing. Aurelia, since you¡¯re married, where¡¯s your husband? You

    should let Seth meet him.¡±

    Aurelia retorted, ¡°He has already left. He¡¯s my husband, not Seth¡¯s. Why should | make hime over just because Seth wants

    to see him? Is Seth some kind of big shot?¡±

    Seth rxed and smiled after hearing this.

    ¡°Aurelia, stop lying. If you really have a husband and he didn¡¯t even dare to meet me when he was already here, he¡¯s worthless!!

    Kimberly smiled slyly and pretended tofort Aurelia, ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t lose your temper. Seth genuinely loves you. Moving

    forward, we''ll all be rooting for you guys.¡±

    Seth and his mother didn¡¯t seem like good people. If Aurelia were to marry Seth, her future will definitely be far from joyful.

    Kimberly wanted tough just thinking about it. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. She just couldn¡¯t bear to see such a devoted

    man end up alone.

    She joined Seth in persuading Aurelia, and the others began to think that Aurelia was lying-

    Aurelia frowned. It was the first time she had encountered such a difficult conversation. And she had to deal with so many people

    too!

    Just when she was about to lose her temper, a serious voice came from the side, ¡°Who¡¯s Seth?¡±

    The ce fell silent, and everyone turned to look at the person who had spoken.

    It was a police officer!

    Even Seth was surprised.

    Aurelia pointed to Seth and said, ¡°That''s him.¡±

    No matter what Seth had done, it was better to just have him taken away now. He was a pain in the neck!

    Seth nced at Aurelia, then looked at the police officer with a smile on his face.

    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Seth. How can | help you?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder reported that you''ve been harassing his wife for an extended period. We need to take you in for questioning.

    Additionally...¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder? That¡¯s impossible! Aurelia must have made it up! She''s just trying to frame me!¡±

    When he realized that the situation was getting serious, Seth immediately started shifting the me.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Just a moment ago, he was passionately expressing his love for Aurelia. But now, as soon as he heard that he was about to be

    taken away, hepletely dropped his facade.

    Even Kimberly didn¡¯t know how to speak for him. She retreated into the crowd to avoid getting involved.

    2/3

    ¡°What do you mean? We have verified their marriage registration records in our system. It¡¯s clear that you¡¯re unwilling to let go of

    her and have been harassing her. Stop talking ande with us.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible,¡± Seth loudly protested.

    ¡°By the way, our system shows that there¡¯s another case rted to you. Did you ept branded clothing, pants, and shoes from

    someone but gave them a fake watch in return? The other party has already filed a report. You need to return the money

    promptly, or you''ll be charged with fraud due to the substantial amount involved.¡±

    Seth was dumbfounded.

    The onlookers were equally stunned, eyeing Seth¡¯s shy designer outfit with disdain.

    Aurelia had to think of sad things to refrain fromughing. She didn¡¯t know about this, but Seth showing up here dressed in

    someone else''s designer clothing waspletely embarrassing.

    Under the gaze of everyone, Seth¡¯s face turned paler. He turned around and ran toward the exit. However, he didn¡¯t see the

    ss doors and ran into them.

    The police officer rushed up and detained him. ¡°Why are you running? Are you feeling guilty?¡± Seth kept his head down and

    remained silent as he was taken away by the police officer.

    Aurelia was finally free from Seth. Millie walked over and patted her on the shoulder.

    ¡°Aurelia, your solution to this whole thing is quite impressive. No one would dare to question. the words of a police officer.¡±

    ¡°But | didn¡¯t call the police.¡±

    ¡°Could it have been your husband?¡±

    Aurelia was about to nod when her phone vibrated. It was a message from Leslie.

    ¡°I''m leaving.¡±

    Leaving?

    She immediately raised her head and looked outside the building. She saw Leslie leaning against the front of his car, flicking off

    cigarette ashes with his fingertips, giving off an air of nobility.

    He waved to her through the ss doors. Her heart skipped a beat, and she nodded back at him.

    ¡°Aurelia, what are you looking at?¡± Millie asked.

    Aurelia was about to answer, but she suddenly remembered Millie¡¯s knack for gossip and decided against it.

    ¡°Nothing, | was just...¡±

    Just as she was about to say something, the people nearby started talking excitedly.

    ¡°Look outside! He¡¯s so handsome! Who is he?¡±

    At that moment, Kimberly proudly raised her hand and waved.

    The others excitedly asked, ¡°Kimberly, do you know him?¡±

    Kimberly smiled. ¡°He¡¯s just a suitor.¡±

 Chapter 63

    A suitor?

    Aurelia looked at Kimberly, confused. When did her husband be Kimberly''s suitor?

    Coincidentally, just after Kimberly waved her hand, Leslie threw away his cigarette and left in

    his car.

    Kimberly nonchntly put her hand down. There was a wave of envy from the people around

    her.

    ¡°Kimberly, who is he? | mean,pared to your previous suitors, he¡¯s more handsome than any of them. He looks even better

    than any celebrity I¡¯ve everid eyes on! You¡¯re incredible! So, did you say yes to him?¡±

    Those wordspletely satisfied Kimberly¡¯s vanity.

    Despite the wealth of some of her previous suitors, they had all been twisted and unattractive. They couldn¡¯t match up to

    Kimberly''s beauty. The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became.

    But this man was aplete heartthrob.

    Tall, handsome, and wless. Even his side profile was impable.

    However, she didn¡¯t know him at all.

    She simply didn¡¯t want everyone¡¯s attention to be on Aurelia.

    But, she was the most beautiful person here. Who else could this man be waving to, if not her? Kimberly yed it off casually.

    ¡°Okay, okay, stop asking. It¡¯s a secret.¡±

    She didn¡¯t reveal anything and left the others to specte.

    Some people couldn''t stand it. ¡°What''s the secret? This guy only drives a Volkswagen. No matter how handsome he is, how can

    hepare to the CEO of One Technology? Kimberly wouldn''t be the least bit interested in him!¡±

    ¡°Absolutely. Besides, people working in the tech industry tend to lose their hair young. Just picturing Kimberly standing next to a

    bald guy is downright hrious.¡±

    Kimberly''s face darkened. She retorted, ¡°The CEO of One Technology isn¡¯t bald. I¡¯ve seen pictures of him online.¡±

    ¡°He might not be bald now, but he¡¯s bound to go bald in the future. Anyway, even if he does, he can always wear a wig. Kimberly,

    just watch out. If the two of you were to eat in public and his wig fell into the food, that would be pretty awkward.¡±

    ¡°Hal¡±

    Aurelia and Millie couldn¡¯t help butugh when they imagined that scene.

    Kimberly red at them and proudly stated, ¡°You''ve all got it wrong. My rtionship with the CEO of One Technology is strictly

    professional. As for the good-looking guy from earlier, he¡¯s actually...¡±

    At that crucial moment, she hesitated and didn¡¯t finish her sentence.

    ¡°What''s he to you? Kimberly, could he actually be the son of some CEO who has been sent out to experience regr life?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a good guess,¡± Kimberly said, pursing her lips, but she didn¡¯t rify further.

    A few people immediately looked dreamy¡ªeyed.

    ¡°Rich people sure know how to have fun. Kimberly, you''ve hit the jackpot this time.¡±

    ¡°Oh, not really. Let''s not talk about this anymore. Let¡¯s get back to work.¡±

    Kimberly changed the subject when she noticed that everyone was admiring her like usual.

    As she walked past Aurelia and Millie, she couldn''t help but make a sarcastic remark.

    ¡°Aurelia, you should be more discerning when choosing men. Oh, sorry, my mistake. You''re married now. There are no more

    chances for you.¡¯

    ¡°Kimberly!¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Millie approached her in anger but almost tripped over her heels. Fortunately, Aurelia was there to steady her.

    It was then that everyone noticed the brand new pair of Louboutin heels on Millie¡¯s feet. Kimberly covered her mouth and

    chuckled, ¡°Millie, you should stop wearing knockoffs. They can make your feet smell bad.¡±

    Feeling embarrassed and indignant, Millie said, ¡°These are real! | just bought them!¡±

    Kimberly pretended to apologize, ¡°Sorry, it seems that they are real. Maybe it¡¯s because you''re the one wearing them that they

    seem fake.¡±

    The onlookers sneered,

    ¡°You...¡± Millie¡¯s face turned red.

    Aurelia immediately stood up for Millie and retorted, ¡°Millie is free to spend her money on. anything she likes. There¡¯s nothing

    wrong with that.¡±

    Enjoy Ad Free Reading

 Chapter 64

    Go

    Chapter 64

    Kimberly waved her hand and said, ¡°Aurelia, please don¡¯t misunderstand. We didn¡¯t mean to pressure you. We were just

    concerned that Millie might have been deceived. Let¡¯s head upstairs

    now.

    ¡°Oh, it seems like the elevator can¡¯t fit all of us. You can take the next one.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    With that, Kimberly and her group entered the elevator and closed the doors. Millie stomped her foot and gritted her teeth, ¡°One

    day, I''ll surpass her!¡±

    Hearing this, Aurelia frowned and looked at Millie¡¯s swollen feet.

    Millie usually wore sneakers, so her feet hadn¡¯t been exposed to the sun in a long time and were very pale. However, her feet

    were quite wide, making them unsuitable for wearing such stiff high heels. With the five¡ªinch pointed heels practically forcing her

    to walk on tiptoes, her pale flesh became even more prominent.

    Her feet were now swollen, and it didn¡¯t look good at all. As she was wearing a floral skirt, it also looked quite mismatched.

    Aurelia sighed softly and took out some adhesive bandages and iodine swabs from her bag, handing them to Millie.

    ¡°Your feet are all chafed. You should take care of them immediately.¡±

    ¡°Ouch...¡± Millie tiptoed, leaning on Aurelia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Why are these heels so difficult to walk in? It felt like | was stepping on

    nails when | was in the subway.¡±

    ¡°Millie, the people who usually wear this brand of shoes don¡¯t need to walk or squeeze into subways. If something doesn¡¯t suit

    you, there¡¯s no need to force it,¡± Aurelia advised.

    ¡°Why not? I''m probably just not used to it. If Kimberly can walk in them, | can too. I''ll just put on some band-aids, and I''ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°Millie...¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay, | get it. We''ll bete if we don¡¯t hurry. Let''s go.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia knew that Millie wouldn''t listen, so it was useless to persuade her.

    When they arrived upstairs, Aurelia had just taken a seat and hadn¡¯t even had time to eat her breakfast when she saw Kimberly

    coming out of Zachary¡¯s office. Soon after, Zachary followed her out angrily and gave Aurelia a displeased re.

    ¡°Aurelia,e into my office.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    As soon as Aurelia walked into Zachary¡¯s office, she was taken aback by his sudden usations. ¡°Aurelia! Do you even take the

    company seriously? I¡¯ve already warned you not to bring personal matters into the office!

    ¡°With your continuous arrogance and disregard for others, how do you n topete for

    the position of deputy director? Your behavior will be a subject of ridicule!

    ¡°Look at Kimberly. She¡¯s highly educated and incredibly capable. She¡¯s never done anything like what you¡¯ve done.

    ¡°| think you''re unsuitable for the position of deputy director. It¡¯s better if you stepped down. Alright, that¡¯s all. You may leave now.¡±

    Zachary didn¡¯t even give Aurelia a chance to exin.

    Kimberly must have said something to him.

    ¡°Why are you still here? Do | need to escort you out?¡± Zachary said impatiently.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the reason, | won¡¯t ept it.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Zachary looked at Aurelia in surprise.

    ¡°It''s not my fault that my ex-boyfriend came here. In fact, if he hadn¡¯t been influenced by Kimberly¡¯s words, he wouldn¡¯t even

    have appeared here. If | have to withdraw from the deputy director elections because of this, then Kimberly, who had been

    inciting public opinion throughout the building, should also have to withdraw.¡±

    ¡°You... Do you have any evidence?¡± Zachary asked angrily.

    ¡°ldo.¡±

    Kimberly probably didn¡¯t expect Aurelia to have already taken screenshots of the

    conversations in the group chat. The group had already been disbanded, so she wasn¡¯t worried.

    Aurelia took her phone out and sent all the screenshots of the messages from the group chat to Zachary.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, is this evidence enough?¡±

    Zachary fell silent.

 Chapter 65

    Zachary looked at the contents of the messages. He frowned, unsure of what to say.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, if there¡¯s nothing else, I''ll take my leave now,¡± Aurelia said, not wanting to get into an argument with him.

    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Zachary called out coldly. ¡°How''s the progress on the proposal?¡±

    ¡°It''s almost done,¡± Aurelia replied truthfully. She didn¡¯t want to give Zachary any more leverage over her.

    For quite some time now, Zachary had shown that he obviously favored Kimberly more.

    When Kimberly struggled with major deals, he would personally give her guidance and support. Their professional rtionship

    was intertwined with personal connections, and he naturally hoped that she would be the deputy director.

    In the corporate world, whilepetency and capability was emphasized on the surface, personal connections yed a more

    significant role.

    After finding no more room for criticism, Zachary waved his hand at her and said, ¡°Get back to work.¡±

    Aurelia nodded politely and said, ¡°Alright.¡±

    After Aurelia exited the office, Kimberly looked toward Zachary¡¯s office but didn¡¯t see himing out to announce Aurelia¡¯s

    withdrawal from the elections. She clenched her teeth and gave Aurelia a resentful nce.

    Aurelia ignored Kimberly and returned to her desk to continue working on her proposal.

    Not long after, Millie turned around and looked at Aurelia with a displeased expression.

    ¡°What is it now?¡± Aurelia stared at theputer and asked casually.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°I''m so angry! Now everyone in the group chat is sharing pictures of Kimberly¡¯s suitor, praising him for being handsome and rich,

    a perfect Prince Charming. They''re even saying that Kimberly will be marrying into a rich family.¡±

    Millie frowned, her expression filled with anger.

    Aurelia nced at Millie''s phone. The handsome man in the photos was none other than Leslie.

    If Kimberly hadn''t hidden in the trunk of Leslie¡¯s car, Aurelia was certain that they wouldn¡¯t even have had the chance to know

    each other.

    She shrugged nonchntly and said nothing.

    It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to exin, but Kimberly enjoyed causing trouble for her. If she continued to intervene, Kimberly

    would likely target her even more. With thepetition for the deputy director position approaching, it was better to keep a low

    profile.

    Millie pointed at her phone and said, ¡°Look at how arrogant Kimberly is! Even when a good looking and rich guy is chasing after

    her, she¡¯s still so full of herself! | wonder who she¡¯s trying to impress!¡±

    Aurelia nced at the phone screen. It was filled with Kimberly¡¯s bragging.

    ¡°He¡¯s just a suitor. I¡¯m still considering it. He¡¯s not as great as everyone thinks.¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, when will you introduce him to us? Let us meet him. We''ll give you some advice.¡± ¡°No, we aren¡¯t at that stage yet.¡±

    ¡°When someone is pursuing you, shouldn''t they get our approval? Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t bite.

    Everyone in the group was chattering about wanting to meet Leslie, pressuring Kimberly until she went silent.

    Kimberly was probably in a difficult situation. After all, she didn¡¯t actually know Leslie. And even if she did know him, Leslie

    wouldn''t agree to show off like that.

    So, where could she find Leslie to introduce him to everyone?

    She had probably just wanted to show off her suitors like before, but she hadn¡¯t expected Leslie¡¯s stunning looks to create such a

    sensation that everyone insisted on seeing him. It served her right. She deserved to experience what it was like to be pressured

    by others. After a while, Kimberly''s messages appeared.

    ¡°| just asked him. He said he¡¯s going on a business trip abroad soon.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s just going on a business trip, not immigrating. Just arrange a time to meet him so that you won''t miss the opportunity.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, we''re really concerned that you might end up like someone else, being mistreated by the inws and not even getting to

    enjoy a decent meal.¡±

    Aurelia was momentarily stunned. Unsurprisingly, thements were most likely about her. Even after seeing Seth¡¯s true nature,

    these people were still finding ways to trouble her. Fortunately, Leslie hadn¡¯t entered. Otherwise, they might have criticized even

    his Volkswagen as a piece of junk.

    Among the manyments, Aurelia noticed one particrly strange message.

    ¡°This guy looks a little like the big shot who met privately with our bossst time. | heard he¡¯s very powerful, but unfortunately, |

    only saw his side profile back then. But it really looks like him.¡±

    Big shot? It probably wasn¡¯t Leslie.

    Since everyone was focused on the gossip between Kimberly and Leslie, thisment quickly sank into obscurity. Aurelia didn¡¯t

    pay much attention to it either.

    Kimberly wasn¡¯t stupid. How could she casually promise something without thinking it through?

    She sent an apologetic emoji and replied, ¡°He¡¯s in a meeting right now. After all, there are hundreds of people counting on him.

    I''ll let everyone know once he¡¯s free.¡±

    ¡°Hundreds of people? Isn¡¯t he really wealthy then?¡±

 Chapter 66

    Aseries of envious emojis began flooding the chat.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s it for now. Let¡¯s get back to work.¡±

    Her strategy was clever. She could make everyone envy her and, at the same ti

    them from prying further. After all, she had a powerful backer supporting her.

    time, discourage

    In this chat group, various topics came and went quickly. What people discussed eagerly in the morning might be forgotten by

    the afternoon. Kimberly was waiting for everyone to move on and forget about this topic.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    However, Millie was suspicious and said, ¡°It¡¯s strange. First, it was the CEO of One Technology, and now it¡¯s a handsome and

    wealthy man.

    ¡°If it were in the past, Kimberly would want everyone to pry into her affairs. Why is she now trying to avoid it? There must be

    something fishy, and | have to find out.¡±

    Aurelia looked at Millie. ¡°Millie, as a friend, | have to remind you that you¡¯re paying too much attention to others. With this time

    and energy, you could suggest a few more proposals yourself.¡±

    ¡°Aren''t you curious? What if | can find some dirt on Kimberly?¡±

    ¡°I''m not curious. Even if you find something, what can you do with it?¡±

    ¡°Well... seeing her in trouble would make me happy anyway.¡±

    Aurelia did not respond and continued to focus on herputer. At that moment, a shadow cast over her desk. Kimberly, who

    had imed she was heading to work earlier, stood beside her.

    ¡°Aurelia, is the proposal not finished yet?¡±

    Aurelia closed herptop and nodded. ¡°Mm.¡±

    ¡°Why did you close yourptop? I¡¯m not checking out your screen. | finished my work a while ago,¡± Kimberly said with a smirk. ¡°I

    have to thank the CEO of One Technology for his guidance; otherwise, | couldn¡¯t have done it so quickly.¡±

    Aurelia pursed her lips, looking at Kimberly, not quite understanding what she was trying to convey. Their colleagues in the

    surrounding area had already started gossiping.

    ¡°Kimberly, what did the CEO of One Technology say?¡±

    ¡°You''ll find out soon,¡± Kimberly replied with a confident smirk.

    Aurelia hesitated for a moment. Kimberly rarely discussed proposals in public, so what was she up to today?

    The next moment, Kimberly eximed, ¡°Aurelia, why do you have such heavy dark circles under your eyes? How many nights

    have you stayed up? You''re working way too hard.¡±

    Before Aurelia could respond, their colleagues chimed in.

    ¡°Aurelia doesn¡¯t have someone guiding her, so she has to work hard.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, aren¡¯t you married? You have a husband to support you. Why are you working so hard?¡± Kimberly asked.

    ¡°Kimberly, have you forgotten how Aurelia¡¯s inws treat her? Don¡¯t bring it up; it¡¯s quite sad.

    Kimberly immediately covered her mouth and apologized, ¡°Sorry, Aurelia. | didn¡¯t mean to bring up something painful.¡±

    Aurelia furrowed her brows, realizing that Kimberly had set a trap.

    ¡°It''s okay. My inws treat me well.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright, whatever you say. | can¡¯t imagine finding a bad set of inws in my lifetime,

    Kimberlymented.

    ¡°Usually, handsome and wealthy men have a high level of education. The inws are likely to be well-mannered as well.

    Kimberly, you''re lucky,¡± another jealous colleague said. Kimberly smiled but didn¡¯t respond. Aurelia couldn¡¯t be bothered to y

    along with her and pushed her away from leaning on the table.

    ¡°Kimberly, are you done talking? If you have, | need to get back to work.¡±

    Kimberly gave Aurelia a disdainful look and decided to return to her workstation.

    After all, now everyone knew she had a handsome and wealthy admirer, while Aurelia could only eat humble meals with her in¡ª

    laws. It couldn¡¯t be more satisfying for her.

    On the other side, his mother rang him as Leslie drove to the office. He reached out and tapped. the car screen.

    ¡°What''s up?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m calling to ask how you''re getting along with Aurelia.¡±

    ¡°Average.¡± Leslie then added, ¡°But | think she¡¯s not doing well at thepany.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Is someone picking on her?¡± Linda raised her voice.

    ¡°Probably just that she¡¯s not enjoying her time there,¡± Leslie said nonchntly.

    ¡°Heh, what do they know?¡± Linda retorted, feeling displeased.

    But she soon sensed something odd and eximed, ¡°Leslie, are you intentionally sharing this with me? Since when were you

    interested in gossip?

    ¡°lm not.¡±

    ¡°Since you''ve mentioned it, as a mother, how could | not empathize? Just wait!¡±

 Chapter 67

    Chapter 67

    At noon, because Millie had a sore foot, Aurelia apanied her to the office and ordered takeout for lunch.

    After lunch, as usual, she made a video call to Sophia.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, your mother is doing well, so you can rx. The doctor also mentioned that she¡¯s currently in stable condition

    and should improve after the surgery.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Ms. Elliot, please take good care of her. I¡¯ve been really busy with worktely,¡± Aurelia exined.

    ¡°That¡¯spletely understandable. You''re working hard to support your mother. | admire your devotion.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aurelia nced at Sophia¡¯s boxed meal, which was still unfinished, and urged, ¡± Ms. Elliot, please go ahead and

    eat. I''ll hang up for now. If there¡¯s anything, do let me know.¡± ¡°Sure.¡±

    After ending the video call, Millie approached Aurelia.

    ¡°Your mom is having surgery?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the day after tomorrow,¡± Aurelia replied worriedly.

    Millie patted her shoulder. ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t fret. Your mother has already conquered a life- threatening situation. She''ll recover just

    fine after the surgery.¡±

    Aurelia nodded. That''s all she could hope for.

    Seeing the dark circles under Aurelia¡¯s eyes, Millie urged, ¡°You should get some rest. You still have work in the afternoon.¡±

    Aurelia nodded and picked up a cushion from her chair, lying her head on the desk. She was about to close her eyes when

    someone knocked on the office door.

    ¡°Aurelia, someone is looking for you. She said she¡¯s your mother-inw. Should | let her in?¡±

    ¡°Mother¡ªinw?¡±

    Could it be Rosa again?

    This was really bad luck.

    Aurelia shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see her.¡±

    Kimberly immediately turned to her and spoke with a hint of condescension, ¡°Aurelia, your husband called the police and got

    someone''s son arrested. Maybe she¡¯s here to apologize?

    ¡°It''s a good idea to meet her so she doesn¡¯t start crying and making a scene. It wouldn''t look good at all.¡±

    While saying this, Kimberly was actually smiling. She wished for Rosa to cry and cause a scene, making everyone tired of

    Aurelia. Especially since Aurelia waspeting with her for the position of vice director.

    As long as Rosa caused a scene, Zachary could remove Aurelia from thepetition.

    Aurelia ignored Kimberly¡¯s remarks. As she was about to refuse, she heard a familiar voice from outside.

    ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t you want to see me?¡±

    Upon hearing the voice, Aurelia froze in her ce. Wasn''t this Linda?

    The next moment, Linda appeared at the office door. Although she was over fifty, she had taken good care of herself. Describing

    her as fair¡ªskinned and elegant would not be an exaggeration.

    She wore a silk embroidered dress that draped gracefully over her slender figure. With a slight curve of her red lips, she exuded

    an air of elegance and refinement.

    Except for the faintugh lines at the corners of her eyes, there was hardly a trace of the passage of time on her.

    ¡°Mom?¡±

    ¡°Mom?!¡± Kimberly repeated in shock.

    She looked at the middle¡ªaged woman Absolutely impossible!

    in front of her in disbelief. It couldn''t be true!

    Aurelia¡¯s mother-inw should be the kind of rural elderly woman with sharp features, nted eyes, wearing shabby clothes,

    and using foulnguage, right? How did she turn into such an elegantdy?

    Compared to the mass-produced designerbels, the mid¡ªaged woman''s orchid dress was obviously hand¡ªembroidered, with

    exquisite craftsmanship and a subtle sheen running through it.

    An outfit in thN?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    couldn¡¯t be affordable for an average civilian, not to mention she even had a matching purse; the price was even harder to

    estimate.

 Chapter 68

    Go

    hapter 68

    uld it be that Aurelia¡¯s inws have some influence?

    ¡®en if they weren''t from a wealthy family, they maintained themselves so well at this age. It ould definitely ce them in the upper

    middle ss.

    an instant, jealousy flickered in Kimberly¡¯s eyes. Why should Aurelia, after breaking up with th, be able to marry into a good

    family?

    e narrowed her eyes and greeted Linda with a smile.

    un...

    Don''t, don¡¯t call me that,¡± Linda interrupted Kimberly coldly, beating her to the punch. ¡°I n¡¯t handle it. How can |pete with

    someone so much older than me? In your thirties, ght? Are you married? Do you have a boyfriend?¡±

    Auntie! I¡¯m only 26! People who see me think I¡¯m in my early twenties,¡± Kimberly exploded

    on hearing someone say she was in her thirties.

    Who are these people? Are they nearsighted? I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m quite straightforward; many

    ung people praise me for being candid. You must feel the same way, right?¡± Linda retorted. arelia and a few colleagues

    suppressed theirughter. This was probably what beating meone at their own game looked like.

    ormally, Kimberly took advantage of her overseas education and imed that foreigners ere straightforward. Hence, she could

    be straightforward too. She didn¡¯t spare others her ircasm and taunts.

    ow, she was being retorted in the same manner by an elder; she was probably infuriated.

    imberly stood there dumbfounded, her face flushed red. It seemed like she had been pped vice.

    inda rolled her eyes, bypassed Kimberly, and walked up to Aurelia. She affectionately held. urelia¡¯s hand.

    Mom, why are you here?¡± Aurelia asked curiously.

    | was just shopping nearby and realized that it¡¯s currently your lunch break, so | came to see ou. | also brought some delicious

    treats for you.¡±

    fter speaking, Linda ced a beautifully packaged box on the table.

    lillie craned her neck to take a look and eximed, ¡°It¡¯s a gift box from EmeraldLeaf Bistro!¡±

    inda nced at her and smiled, ¡°You really know your stuff. | happened to pass by and rdered two boxes.¡±

    illie smiled and said, ¡°Ms. Linda, it¡¯s at least an hour away from here to EmeraldLeaf Bistro. ou must have bought it specifically

    for Aurelia, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Oh, you understood my intention. | noticed Aurelia has been working hard these days, so |

    dered them specifically.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Mon, it¡¯s so far. You''ve gone through so much trouble,¡± Aurelia felt a little guilty.

    ¡°It''s not trouble at all as long as you like it. Look at you. You''ve lost weight. Sit down and have

    some.¡±

    Linda opened the gift box and invited the people nearby, ¡°Would you like to try some too?¡±

    The gift box from EmeraldLeaf Bistro contained famous pastries in Seacester, and they were expensive, costing at least 500

    dors for such a small box.

    Even if people in the office were craving them, they would usually split the cost. No one was willing to spend so much money on

    snacks all at once.

    When they heard someone was treating the office, everyone came over to take some pastries, except for Kimberly, who stood

    there pretending to be proud.

    She watched Aurelia and Linda chatting andughing like friends, with no trace of abuse whatsoever.

    She had mocked Aurelia for being mistreated by her inws in the morning, but now she was being proven wrong right in front of

    their colleagues.

    How would others view her now?

    Thinking about it, Kimberly formted a n in her mind, her lips curved with cunning calction.

    ¡°Auntie, you are really thoughtful. Aurelia must be very happy to have a mother-inw like you. Unlike her ex-boyfriend''s

    mother, who came to ourpany causing a scene, saying that Aurelia broke up with her son for just a hundred thousand.¡±

    Suddenly, the entire office fell silent.

    Kimberly pretended to be surprised, covering her mouth. ¡°Aurelia, you didn¡¯t tell your mother. -inw, did you? She¡¯s been so

    good to you. How could you hide something like this from her?

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t even swallow or speak, caught off guard.

    ¡°Aurelia!¡± Linda¡¯s face darkened. Her brows furrowed deeply as she swiftly walked to Aurelia and raised her hand.

    ¡°Auntie, Aurelia definitely didn¡¯t do it on purpose! Please don''t...¡± Kimberly wore a gloating expression.

    But before she could finish her sentence, she was stunned by Linda¡¯s next move.

 Chapter 69

    ¡°Aurelia! You silly child! Why didn¡¯t you tell me such an important thing?¡±

    Linda didn¡¯t hit Aurelia. Instead, she embraced her tightly and whispered, ¡°How was that for acting?¡±

    Ata loss, Aurelia almost choked on the pastry in her mouth.

    ¡®Aurelia, you¡¯re not hurt, are you? If you feel ufortable, | will take you to the hospital for aprehensive check-up. Don¡¯t

    keep it to yourself.¡± Linda doted.

    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine,¡± Aureliaughed.

    Now, Kimberly couldn''t sit still any longer.

    ¡°Auntie, did you misunderstand? Aurelia lied to you!¡±

    ¡°| already knew.¡± Linda shrugged indifferently at Kimberly.

    ¡°I''m relieved that Aurelia stayed away from men from such families. She¡¯s so sensible to marry my son; it¡¯s our family¡¯s good

    fortune. I¡¯m more concerned about her than anything else. Why would | me her?¡±

    She continued, ¡°As for you, as Aurelia¡¯s colleague, you don¡¯t seem happy for her. Instead, you mentioned her ex-boyfriend in

    front of me, her mother-inw. What are you trying to imply?

    ¡°Oh, | see. Are you secretly in love with Aurelia¡¯s ex-boyfriend? Some people are a perfect match for each other.¡±

    Linda¡¯s counterattacks left Kimberly¡¯s eyes almost popping out of her head.

    Panicking, Kimberly said, ¡°Auntie, even if you knew about Aurelia¡¯s ex¡ªboyfriend, did you know that she deliberately eats

    vegetarian dishes in the office to make people think yo

    mistreat her?¡±

    Aurelia immediately retorted, ¡°I eat vegetarian dishes because | like them. When you''re dieting, don¡¯t you eat vegetable sds?

    Does that mean you''re being mistreated? Also, when did | ever say that my inws mistreated me?

    ¡°Kimberly, how you speak can sow discord, but | trust you wouldn¡¯t do that. So, who told you this? Point them out, and my mom

    and | will confront them!¡±

    Linda chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right, don¡¯t believe in rumors, and don¡¯t spread them. This kind of thing seriously affects the harmony of

    my family. Reporting it to the police wouldn¡¯t be too much. Miss, please quickly identify the source.¡±

    Left speechless, Kimberly''s expression shifted.

    She certainly didn¡¯t dare to use anyone unless she wanted to be drowned in a torrent of spit from others. Even those who

    usually adored her were now keeping their distance.

    People usually acted this way. When it doesn¡¯t concern them, they distance themselves.

    Kimberly could only change her tune and say, ¡°So it was a misunderstanding. Misunderstandings happen, and we''re all so happy

    it''s resolved.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Yeah. Let''s all eat. We don¡¯t have much time for lunch break left,¡± Aurelia intervened,

    exchanging a knowing look with Linda. They were close friends, and their understanding was evident.

    Linda nced at Kimberly and approached her with a te of pastries. ¡°Have a piece. Yourplexion doesn¡¯t look too good.¡±

    Kimberly''s mood worsened, but she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯m on a diet and am tired of their food anyway¡±

    Linda maintained a polite smile and gave Kimberly a once-over before nodding thoughtful | see. You should definitely lose some

    weight. Your stomach bulge is starting to show in your dress.¡±

    What happened next almost made Aurelia burst outughing, Kimberly suddenly sucked in her stomach. The sight was

    genuinely amusing In truth, Kimberly wasn¡¯t overweight, at most, she could be considered curvy

    Linda offered her the pastry to maintain appearances. But since Kimberly wanted to act superior, me Linda for her sharp

    tongue

    She shouldn''t

    Linda awkwardly said, ¡°Since this youngdy is on a diet, I''ll call the coffee shop and ask them to make one less coffee to avoid

    wasting ¡±

    Aurelia immediately interjected, ¡°Mom, no need to spend money. We have a coffee machine in our office.¡±

    Linda mused, ¡°I heard you young people like that coffee called what was it?¡±

    Millie swallowed her pastry and cautiously said, ¡°Auntie, could it be the Beanless Brews coffee shop where people wait in line for

    over three hours? The owner is a handsome blond guy, and The coffee is just like him, authentic.¡±

    Linda nodded at Millie, ¡°Oh, you really know your stuff. Yes, that¡¯s the one. | have a friend who knows the owner of that ce,

    and | had him make 20 cups of coffee for me. I''ll treat you all to afternoon tea today. But this youngdy on a diet has saved me

    some money.

    Hearing that it was the famous Beamless Brews coffee shop with the owner personally making the coffe other colleagues

    immediately chimed in.

    ¡°Auntie, I''ll have some. I¡¯m not on a diet, and I¡¯ve wanted to try it for a long time.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Auntie.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Aurelia, you''ve blessed us.¡±

    ¡°Hehe, you''re wee,¡± Aurelia replied with a shallow smile. These same people had been waiting to see her fail in the morning,

    but now, they had changed their tune.

    Indeed, the workce was ever-changing.

 Chapter 70

    Chapter70

    SeeingKimberly¡¯ssourexpression,Aureliafeltastrangesenseofsatisfaction.

    Justacoupleofdaysago,Kimberlyhadbeeiningthatevenwithmoney,shecouldn¡¯tbuycoffeefromtheBeanlessBrewscoffeeshop.Today,shehadunintentionallythwartedherself,whichdeprivedherofanopportunitytountitonsocialmedia.

    Whatwasevenmoreunexpectedwasthatthepersondelivering thecoffeewastheownerofBeanlessBrewscoffee shop.Withhisblondhairandtallstature,heimmediatelycaughteveryone¡¯sattentionuponentering.

    ¡°Ms.M-¡±thehandsomemanstartedtocalloutinafriendlymanner,buthequicklychangedhistoneafterLindashothimameaningfulnce.¡°Ms.Miller,yourcoffeehasarrived.¡±

    ¡°Okay,justleaveitthere,¡±Lindarepliedcasually.

    Everyoneeagerlyapproachedtotaketheircoffeeandtookphotoswiththehandsomecoffeeshopownertoshareontheirsocialmedia.

    Onthesidelines,Kimberlyconsideredgettingupafewtimes,butAureliawatchedherwithaknowingsmile.Shecouldonlysitbackdown,herregretevidentonherface.Itwasquitical.

    Aslunchtimeapproacheditsend,Lindaannouncedthatshewouldn¡¯tdisturbtheirworkanylongerandpreparedtoleave.Aureliaescortedherdownstairsandimmediatelytookoutherphone.

    ¡°Mom,howmuchdidyouspendtoday?I¡¯lltransferthemoneytoyourightaway.¡±

    ¡°Whyareyoutalkingnonsense?Itreatedyoutosomefood,andyouwanttogivememoney?Lindareplied,displeased.

    ¡°Butthereweresomanythings,whichmusthavebeenexpensive.¡±

    ¡°Isaidit¡¯sokay,don¡¯tmakeafuss.Doyoustillseemeasyourmother¨Cinwifyoukeeprefusing?¡±Lindaasked.

    ¡°Alright,then.I¡¯lltreatyoutosomethingdeliciousnexttime.¡±

    ¡°Sure,let¡¯sgotothatrestaurantweoftenvisit.I¡¯vebeencravingtheirsnacksthesepastfewdays.¡±

    ¡°Okay.But,Mom,thankyou.¡±

    LindaprobablyhadnoideahowmuchshehadhelpedAureliatoday.Shecouldfinallybreakfreefromthecenterofattention.

    Lindapursedherlipsandsmiled.¡°Whyare youthankingme?Thankyourhusband.He¡¯stheonewhoaskedmete.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯smindnkedforamoment,andshehesitated.¡°Mr.Synder?¡±

    Lindarolledhereyes.¡°Youkeepeverythingtoyourselfevenwhenyou¡¯refacingissues.IwouldhaveearlierifIknewthesepeopleweretreatingyoulikethis.I¡¯dmakethemenvyyoutodeath.¡±

    Aureliaquicklyintervened,fearingthatLindamightenduptreatingeveryoafternoonteaeveryotherday.¡°Mom,sinceyouknowwhatthey¡¯relike,it¡¯sbetterifyoudon¡¯einthefuture.It¡¯syourmoney,andthere¡¯snoneedtowasteitonothers.¡±

    Lindaburstintughter,coveringhermouth.¡°EverytimeI¡¯mwithyou,Ican¡¯thelpbuugh.You¡¯re right,I¡¯llbuyforyounexttime,notforthem.¡±

    Aurelianoddedinagreement.¡°Yes,thatsoundslikean.Pleasebecarefulonyourwayback.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Don¡¯tworry.¡±

    Withawaveofherhand,Lindaleftthebuilding.Aureliabreathedasighofreliefandquicklystartedtypingonherphone.

    ¡°Mr.Synder,thankyoufortoday.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯rewee.¡±

    It¡¯sstillconciseandverymuchlikeLeslie¡¯s.

    ¡°HowaboutImakeyouabentoboxtomorrow?¡±SherememberedthatshestillowedLesliea

    bento.

    ¡°Sure.Justgoeasyonthemeat;Ican¡¯teatthatmuch.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    IfLesliediscoveredthebeefstripswereamix¨Custtime,wouldhegetangry?

    Aureliacouldn¡¯thelpbutburstintughter.

    Shewassurprisedasshetouchedherface;ithad beenalongtimesinceshehadsucharxedexpression.

    SheneverexpectedthatshewouldenduplivingtogetherwiththecoldandruthlessLeslie.

    After puttingherphoneaway,Aureliawentupstairs.Assoonassheenteredtheoffice,shewasimmediatelysurroundedbyMillieandtheothercolleagues.

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    Chapter 71

    ¡°Come clean, is your husband one of those trust fund kids?¡± Millie asked.

    ¡°No, he¡¯s not,¡± Aurelia replied.

    ¡°No way! Your mother¡ªinw¡¯s status and appearance clearly scream rich and ssy!¡± Millie emphasized, gesturing with her

    hands.

    The colleagues around them nodded in agreement.

    Aurelia had initially thought of giving a simple exnation. But suddenly, Kimberly¡¯s sarcastic voice rang out.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''ve been hiding it well. No wonder you refused to get back together with Seth. If | had chosen a family like your

    mother-inw¡¯s, I¡¯d be set for life.¡±

    Kimberly was clearly insinuating that Aurelia had dumped Seth to pursue wealth. The hundred thousand dors was just an

    excuse.

    At that moment, Aurelia felt there was no need to exin herself anymore. It might y right into Kimberly¡¯s hands if she

    mentioned that Linda had been in business before.

    Besides, she didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with Seth anymore.

    She changed the subject, asking. ¡°You''d choose a family like my mother-inw¡¯s? Don¡¯t you want a handsome and wealthy

    man?

    Kimberly''s expression changed, and she replied, ¡°That¡¯s not what | meant.

    One colleague who couldn¡¯t stand Kimberly''s attitude chimed in loudly, ¡°Having a handsome and wealthy man is nice. But don¡¯t

    you know that rich mothers¡ªinw are usually quite picky? ¡°In my opinion, Aurelia¡¯s mother-inw is great. She is considerate,

    elegant, and willing to

    spend money on her, we such a mother-inw, she probably saves so much trouble at home.

    Millie, who disliked Kimberly, immediately stepped forward, saying, ¡°You guys aren''t aware of this. Aurelia¡¯s mother-inw

    bought her and her husband a house on Crystal Creek Avenue. That area is considered one of the most expensive in our

    district.¡±

    After hearing the first sentence, Aurelia wanted to stop Millie, but she was a step toote. The people began to surround her

    even closer.

    ¡°Im so envious! When my husband and | married, our whole family could only afford an old, rundown house on Skyflower Road.

    Whenever it rained, it was miserable.¡±

    ¡°Where can you find such a good mother-inw? I''ll have to learn from Aurelia when I look for a boyfriend in the future.¡±

    Aurelia felt increasingly embarrassed as she listened to thements and shook her head repeatedly.

    ¡°It''s not that extravagant. We bought the house with a loan,¡± Aurelia responded.

    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t buy a house with a loan these days? At least your husband coulde up with a down payment of over a million,

    which is pretty good.¡±

    Aurelia smiled but said nothing. She cast a reproachful look at Millie for bringing up the topic again.

    Millie pouted and gestured that she wouldn''t do it again.

    Aurelia thought the conversation might end there. But to her surprise, Kimberly suddenly smiled.

    ¡°Aurciia, you¡¯re saying your husband''s family¡¯s house is considered pre-marital property. So. it can¡¯t be counted as your property,

    right?¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t think much of it and was about to nod when Millie once again joined the

    conversation.

    ¡°At least Aurelia¡¯s mother-inw treats her well. As for your ¡®handsome and wealthy¡® boyfriend¡¯s mom, that¡¯s hard to say.

    Everyone knows that rich people are most sensitive about discussing property matters.

    ¡°When you get married and immediately have your inws buy you a million-dor house, it¡¯s not exactly honorable.¡±

    Kimberly''s expression turned sour.

    Worried the conversation would get out of hand, Aurelia quickly said, ¡°It¡¯s work hours. Let''s stop chatting and get back to our

    seats.¡±

    Everyone dispersed, and Aurelia continued refining the proposal for One Technology. Kimberly had already finished her work, so

    Aurelia needed to catch up.

    Suddenly, her phone notifications went off.

    ¡°Aurelia, everyone in the office chat group is talking about your mother-inw. They¡¯re so jealous,¡± Millie messaged with a

    smiley face.

    Aurelia frowned. ¡°How did they find out?¡±

    A minuteter, Millie replied, ¡°I noticed Kimberly kept bragging in the group about her handsome and wealthy admirer. | couldn¡¯t

    resist mentioning your mother¡ªin¡ªw¡¯s situation. Unexpectedly, everyone envied you. Kimberly was so furious she couldn''t even

    respond, hahaha.¡±

    ¡°Millie, please don¡¯t mention my private matters in the group in the future.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    In the chat group, there were still people like Seth. She did not want them to think she was intentionally showing off. Seth would

    be a nuisance again.

    ¡°Why not? It¡¯s not like it¡¯s a big secret, and it¡¯s fun to see Kimberly and Seth get angry!¡± Millie replied.

    ¡°| just don¡¯t like being gossiped about,¡± Aurelia responded helplessly.

 Chapter 72

    Chapter 72

    ¡°Got it,¡± Aurelia received a simple two-word message, which clearly conveyed Millie¡¯s displeasure.

    What was there for Millie to be unhappy about? She wasn¡¯t the one being gossiped about. Millie really needed to change her

    gossipy personality, which seemed to attract trouble wherever she went.

    Aurelia sighed and continued to work, but she couldn¡¯t help but feel a cold, piercing gaze on her. When she nced around,

    there was nothing there. Perhaps she was just feeling uneasy due to all the attention she had received.

    On the other side, just before Aurelia looked up, Kimberly withdrew her gaze. She then stared at her phone, where the screen

    reflected the envy and admiration directed at Aurelia.

    Did Aurelia even deserve to stand on her level? A woman with no money or looks trying topete with her for work and

    attention? Only in her wildest dreams!

    As Kimberly contemted ways to eliminate Aurelia from thepetition, Zachary walked out of his office.

    ¡°Aurelia, Kimberly. Casey is sick today, but she has a 2:30 PM briefing with some foreign guests. You two need to attend and

    handle it.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Aurelia nodded.

    Kimberly''s eyes lit up. Foreign guests? Wasn¡¯t this a perfect opportunity for her to shine?

    While Aurelia could speak Normish, she couldn¡¯t possibly match Kimberly¡¯s fluency. If she could expand herwork with some

    foreign clients during this event, the top position as Vice Director would be hers.

    ¡°No problem, Mr. Zeller.¡± Kimberly¡¯s voice sounded unusually cheerful as if something good had happened. Aurelia was

    somewhat curious but didn¡¯t dwell on it.

    On the way to theworking event, Kimberly was in a good mood. She hummed to herself while doing her makeup in a small

    mirror. There was no sign of the anger she had shown at lunch.

    As soon as they got out of the car, Kimberly adjusted her fitted skirt, even lowering the straps of her outfit by a notch. With a

    sway of her hips, she walked ahead.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips. It seemed like Kimberly was reverting to her old ways. But Aurelia had no intention of

    getting involved and entered the hotel alone.

    Held at the luxurious five-star Crystal Hotel in Seacester, the attendees of theworking event were considered high-end

    clientele.

    Upon entering, Kimberly made a beeline for the foreign guests outside the banquet hall,ughing and flirting.

    On the other hand, Aurelia turned and found a sales manager she knew.

    ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯re here. Why did you bring Kimberly, that attention-seeker? She¡¯s so annoying.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    As soon as she enters, she¡¯s all over everyone, as if we were abroad.¡±

    ¡°Maybe there are more foreign guests today,¡± Aurelia awkwardly exined.

    ¡°Alright, let''s not chat anymore. I¡¯m quite busy today. Same as before, I''ll give you an extra hour for the event. When you''re done,

    come find me to sign the contract and go to the finance department for a refund of the entrance fee.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. But what are you busy with today? | don¡¯t see many people in the lobby.¡±

    ¡°We have an important figureing to discuss an acquisition. Our entire sales department is here to apany them. This

    hotel is going to change hands in the future.¡±

    ¡°An acquisition? Such a big hotel, and they''re talking about an acquisition? Who''s behind all this?¡±

    ¡°The owner of One Technology, have you heard of him?¡±

    ¡°Him again?¡± Aurelia was slightly surprised.

    ¡°You know him too? I¡¯ve been saying, who in the business world doesn¡¯t know him? He¡¯s a rising star, incredibly influential!

    Originally, the powerful Synder Corporation from Seacester was discussing the acquisition with us. But suddenly, One

    Technology appeared out of nowhere.¡±

    Aurelia was even more shocked to hear this..

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    Chapter 73

    The Synder Corporation? The Synder Corporation was a legendary powerhouse in Seacester.

    Although she was just an ordinary businesswoman, Aurelia had seen plenty of news about the Synder Corporation online.

    Especially the family¡¯s extravagant wedding of three days. The corporation had booked the most expensive exhibition center in

    Seacester.

    It was said that the entire city of Seacester had been gridlocked, with fireworks filling the sky. Over a decade had passed, but the

    Synder family¡¯s love story was still legendary in Seacester. The fact that the owner of One Technology could snatch business

    away from the Synder Corporation was quite impressive.

    ¡°Aurelia, | can¡¯t talk anymore. Our supervisor is urging us to go to the meeting room on the second floor. You go ahead,¡± the

    manager said before hastily entering the elevator.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Aurelia nodded with a shrug.

    A powerhouse? An acquisition? What did it have to do with her? Even if the entire business changed hands, it wouldn¡¯t affect her

    meager sry.

    Aurelia walked to the banquet hall, where she saw Kimberly had already started mingling with the guests. She held a wine ss

    as she moved gracefully through the crowd. Naturally skilled at this, she was always the quickest to make herselffortable.

    On the other hand, Aurelia kept a lower profile. She politely greeted people and paid close attention to the event¡¯s proceedings.

    Amid the mingling crowd, Kimberly confidently approached one of the most important foreign guests, David. He was the vice

    president of a biotechpany in Seacester who just returned from an overseas vacation in his seaside vi.

    As she looked at the man, Kimberly could even imagine herself lying on a private beach in a bikini, sipping cocktails.

    She stopped in front of David and raised her ss slowly. Her every move exuded charm and enthusiasm. No man could resist

    her.

    ¡°Cheers, | hope you enjoy today¡¯s event.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, cheers.¡±

    He nced at Kimberly calmly and shifted his gaze elsewhere.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Kimberly''s smile froze as she followed his gaze, only to find Aurelia standing on the sidelines! It was Aurelia again!

    Did he prefer Aurelia, a dull and uninteresting woman, over a beauty like her?

    Kimberly tried to block David''s view and approached him with a bright smile. ¡°I¡¯ve also spent time abroad and often go

    sunbathing by the seaside. | love getting a tan. | hope to have the chance to sunbathe by the beach again.¡±

    David looked at Kimberly, immediately understanding her intention. As he chuckled, the smell of alcohol wafted toward Kimberly.

    Chapter 73

    He candidly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, even though you''re very beautiful, | don¡¯t like your type. | prefer gentle women with ck hair and

    fair skin.¡±

    Kimberly was infuriated. He might as well say he liked women like Aurelia.

    Fine, if that¡¯s how it was, she would y along and give them her blessings.

    Kimberly put on a gracious smile and said, ¡°You misunderstood me; | was just reminiscing.¡±

    Then, she turned and pointed at Aurelia. ¡°The person you described does sound a lot like my colleague. She¡¯s in a tough spot,

    facing financial difficulties due to family issues.

    ¡°She said she¡¯d do anything for anyone who would give her money. She even recently broke up with her muscr boyfriend.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± David¡¯s expression turnedplicated.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kimberly sighed and continued, ¡°Excuse me. I''ll need to check on other guests.¡±

    She tactfully made her exit, but from the corner of her eye, she saw David approaching Aurelia.

    Heh, Aurelia, you won''t be as lucky as Mr. Lynch this time.

    Aurelia remained standing on the side, feeling like someone was watching her. She turned her head to nce and saw Kimberly

    chatting with a tall foreign man.

    Was it just her imagination?

    Aurelia didn¡¯t dwell on it and shifted her gaze elsewhere. When she gazed back before her, the foreign man who chatted with

    Kimberly earlier stood there.

    ¡°Hello, Miss,¡± the man said, his speech slurred from drinking.

    ¡°Hello. Is there something you need?¡± Aurelia asked in fluent Normish.

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    Chapter 74

    ¡°Nothing, | noticed you as soon as you walked in. Care to drink with me?¡± the man said, handing her a ss of red wine.

    Aurelia nced at the wine ss and smiled politely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m working right now and can¡¯t drink.¡±

    People who frequently organized events like her often found themselves expected to drink, especially when clients came over

    with sses for a toast. They relied on their clients for their sry and usually wouldn''t refuse.

    Yet, they also had their experience and would avoid drinking any alcohol offered by others. Not out of suspicion but as a means

    of self-preservation.

    ¡°Then howe your colleagues can drink? Aren''t you disrespecting the guests?¡± In an arrogant tone, he pointed toward

    Kimberly, who resembled a delicate butterfly.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Aurelia pursed her lips, realizing she couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. It seemed like she would have to take this ss of wine, but

    she noticed a passing waiter out of the corner of her eye.

    She reached out and stopped the waiter, taking a ss of champagne with a smile. ¡°I appreciate your offer, but | don¡¯t really

    drink red wine. Cheers.¡±

    The man¡¯s expression stiffened, and he had no choice but to clink sses and drink. After finishing the drink, Aurelia put down

    her ss and said, ¡°Excuse me.¡±

    She turned and walked away, but the man¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t leave her.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t understand why he wasn¡¯t more interested in a beautiful woman like Kimberly. Why was he staring at her? She

    was wearing her work uniform today. Could it be that he was too drunk to see clearly?

    She didn¡¯t think too much about it and continued to patrol the venue, checking the

    microphones and making sure the gifts from the event organizers were properly arranged. In no time, she had forgotten about

    the foreign man.

    As the event neared toward the end, she felt the urge to use the restroom. She headed to the restroom on the first floor.

    Since it wasn¡¯t too crowded today, she did not need to wait in line. She quickly finished and walked out of the restroom, only to

    be blocked by a figur

    ¡°Little bunny.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Sir, you¡¯ve got the wrong person,¡±

    Aurelia felt a chill down her spine at the sight of the person blocking her path. He was the same foreigner who had invited her for

    a drink earlier. She immediately took a step back, trying to walk away.

    However, the foreign man grabbed her arm, speaking in a greasy tone, ¡°David, call me David.¡± Aurelia ga

    gave him an annoyed look.

    ¡°Please let go of me. You''re drunk.¡±

    Aurelia tried to defuse the situation and protect their mutual dignity. However, he didn¡¯t stop; instead, he continued to be

    presumptuous.

    ¡°Little bunny, no need to y games. | know you¡¯re after money, and | have plenty of it. I''ve got a thing for women like you, with

    that jet¡ª-ck hair and that fair skin.¡±

    ¡°| need money? Who told you that?¡± Aurelia had a bad feeling about this.

    ¡°That¡¯s not important. After finishing this drink, we can head upstairs and rx.

    Aurelia finally realized that the man was holding another ss of red wine in his other hand. It resembled blood and had clearly

    been tampered with.

    She started to struggle. ¡°Let go of me.

    Despite wearing a suit, the man was significantlyrger than her. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn¡¯t break free.

    Instead, she felt her wrist bones ache.

    Realizing that she couldn''t escape, she began shouting for help. ¡°Help... Ah!¡±

    The man forcefully pulled Aurelia closer and started trying to force-feed her the red wine. While intoxicated, he was incredibly

    strong and seemed to be driven by madness.

    ¡°| heard you''re into tough guys. Do | look tough enough for you?¡±

    ¡°Mmm¡ªmm-mmm!¡±

    Aurelia widened her eyes and tightly closed her lips, determined not to let him pour the wine into her mouth. She desperately

    wondered who this person could be.

 Chapter 75

    Just then, Aurelia saw a figure hiding behind the potted nts. The figure was none other than Kimberly. It seemed she had led

    this drunken man astray.

    Even if something happenedter, he can always me it on being too drunk. Only they knew what they had discussed, and the

    man would not be foolish enough to reveal it in public.

    However, the surveince cameras had captured the sight of Aurelia epting the man¡¯s invitation to drink. It will be hard for her

    to exinter.

    Aurelia¡¯s anger surged, and since she couldn¡¯t match his strength, she had to rely on her wits. She suddenly called out,

    ¡°Kimberly, you¡¯re here! Please save me!¡±

    This shout startled Kimberly, causing her to retract behind the potted nts. It also made the man pause for a moment.

    Taking advantage of the situation, Aurelia delivered a swift kick to the man¡¯s groin, the most vulnerable spot for men.

    The man winced in pain, dropping the ss of red wine he held, and grimaced at Aurelia. Seizing the opportunity, Aurelia quickly

    ran. But in her panic, she headed in the wrong direction, away from the banquet hall and into a less popted area.

    Fortunately, an elevator was nearby. Aurelia rushed inside, closing the door as the man tried to follow her.

    Her trembling hand pressed the elevator buttons frantically. The elevator reached the second floor, and Aurelia rushed out as

    soon as the doors opened.

    Her remaining sense of reason prevented her from screaming. There were two main reasons for this.

    Firstly, the foreign man dressed well in expensive clothes. She couldn''t afford to offend him. He could me his actions on being

    drunk, but she had just offended a VIP guest.

    Thepany would likely reprimand her for overreacting, causing difficulties with the client. For someone like her, who wanted

    to climb the corporatedder, she had to be cautious every step of the way.

    Thus, unless it was absolutely necessary, she didn¡¯t want to make this incident public and harm her career.

    The second reason was the discussion of the hotel¡¯s acquisition on the second floor. She shouldn¡¯t have been here in the first

    ce. Interfering with the acquisition would only lead to trouble with the hotel and One/Technology.

    She couldn''t afford the consequences of such actions, so she decided to hide for the time being. As Aurelia searched for a hiding

    ce, the elevator door behind her opened. To her surprise, the man had followed her.

    In her state of panic, she,pushed open one of the doors and hid inside. Taking a deep breath she realized she had entered a

    utility room filled with brooms, mops, and cleaning supplies. Aurelia had thought she was safe. But to her dismay, she noticed

    through a crack in the door that the man was methodically checking each door along the hallway. The utility room she was

    In aan¡¯t even have a window, so there was no way she could hide for long.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Aurelia bit her lip in frustration and decided to make a run for it. She darted out of the utility room and sprinted down the corridor.

    Still under the influence of alcohol, the man stumbled after her.

    From the expression on his face, he was actually enjoying this chase.

    Although briefly taken aback, Aurelia quickened her pace. As she turned her head, she caught a glimpse of a face passing by the

    partially open door of a meeting room.

    Was that Leslie?

    Lost in thought for a moment, Aurelia stumbled and fell onto the carpet. Although it didn¡¯t hurt, she feltpletely drained. Yet

    the man chasing her was getting closer with every step.

    Aurelia attempted to get up, but she was too exhausted.

    Frustrated, she could only shout, ¡°Mr. Synder!¡±

    There was no response from the meeting room. Instead, the man had already caught up to Aurelia.

    Aurelia¡¯s face turned pale. Had she made a mistake? Maybe that wasn¡¯t Leslie after all! ¡°Why aren¡¯t you running anymore? |

    thought you had more stamina than this,¡± the man taunted as he reached for Aurelia.

    On the other hand, the discussion continued in the meeting room.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we have exined everything that needs to be said about our hotel. While the past two years have been

    challenging, there has been a recent improvement in thest six months. Otherwise, even Synder Corporation wouldn''t be eager

    to acquire us. | don¡¯t know if you...

    The hotel¡¯s general manager gave a faint smile as he addressed the handsome and cold man at the head of the table, implying

    that the acquisition offer was too low.

    Leslie raised his gaze, his expression indifferent as he scanned the representatives from the hotel. His overwhelming presence

    was like an ominous cloud engulfing the meeting room, instantly silencing everyone.

    ¡°Can the Synder family provide you with this much money upfront?¡±

 Chapter 76

    Chapter 76

    The hotel¡¯s general manager turned pale.

    ¡°Full acquisition, the price stays the same. If you say no, I''ll find someone else. It doesn¡¯t really affect me, but can your son afford

    to wait?¡±

    The general manager¡¯s son had lost ten billion on a cruise ship. If he failed toe up

    ne up with the money to ransom him by the end of the month, his son would be fed to the fish in the open sea, his body never to

    be found again.

    Even for wealthy individuals, gathering ten billion in cash was impossible in such a short time. Hence, he had no choice but to

    sell the Crystal Hotel.

    The general manager was immediately drenched in cold sweat, realizing the man before him hade well-prepared.

    Leslie, however, remained calm and continued to y three. One, two...¡±

    ¡°Alright, deal,¡± the general manager relented.

    With the pen in his hand. ¡°I''ll count to

    Immediately, a contract for the acquisition was handed over to be signed by both parties after legal checks.

    When Leslie finished thest signature, a voice from outside the door called, ¡°Mr. Synder.¡± But, it quickly faded.

    In foreign countries, most people referred to him by his English name. Locally, there were many people with thest name

    Synder. Some didn¡¯t even know his full name. But there was only one person who addressed him as ¡°Mr. Synder¡®-Aurelia.

    As everyone was about to celebrate the sessfulpletion of the acquisition, Leslie suddenly stood up and rushed outside.

    With a loud bang as the door opened, Aurelia and the man in front of her were startled.

    In the next moment, Aurelia saw Leslie walking out of the meeting room, his gaze cold as he looked at her and the man.

    She immediately got up from the ground and ran to Leslie. She clung to his suit as if grasping a lifesaver.

    ¡°Mr. Synder,¡± her voice quivered. If Leslie hadn¡¯te out, she didn¡¯t dare to think further. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Leslie¡¯s voice was

    slightly cold. He nced at her reddened fingertips and stepped in front of her to shield herpletely.

    Aurelia¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she trembled as she spoke, ¡°He¡¯s a guest of my client. He pressured me to drink red wine,

    which | suspect was drugged. | tried to avoid him, but he chased after me.¡±

    Upon hearing that, Leslie¡¯s gaze towards the foreign man grew even colder. Unustomed to such a piercing stare, he pointed

    at Leslie and arrogantly questioned in Normish, ¡°Who are you? How dare you interfere in my affairs?¡±

    Leslie raised an eyebrow indifferently. ¡°So what?¡±

    Although the foreign man was muscr, Leslie was taller and exuded an even stronger presence.

    Feeling a blow to his pride, the foreign man twitched his face. He waved his massive hand, roughly the size of two of Aurelia¡¯s

    fistsbined, and swung it at Leslie. ¡°Fuck off, idiot!¡± ¡°Mr. Synder, be careful!¡± Aurelia couldn¡¯t exin where she found the

    courage. She squeezed out from behind Leslie and stepped in front of him. This was her problem, and if it ended up getting

    Leslie injured, she would feel utterly guilty.

    She closed her eyes, preparing for the impending blow. Instead, she felt her waist tighten as she was lifted, followed by the

    sound of a heavy object hitting the ground.

    ¡°You''re fine now.¡±

    Leslie¡¯s cold voice echoed softly in Aurelia¡¯s ears. Aurelia cautiously opened her eyes to find the foreign man lying on the ground,

    grimacing in pain. Meanwhile, Leslie casually patted his

    trousers.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    At the same time, upon hearing the noise, people poured out of the conference room. Shocked to see a woman in Leslie¡¯s arms.,

    their expressions ranged from astonishment to horror. Aurelia finally realized the situation and quickly freed herself from Leslie¡¯s

    embrace. She thanked him, ¡°Thank you for your help.¡±

    Leslie did not respond. He narrowed his eyes, wondering why she was pretending not to know him.

    Was he a virus or a gue? How many times had this happened?

    Aurelia lowered her head, silently hoping she wouldn¡¯t cause any trouble for Leslie, who was likely representing One Technology.

    But why would a programmer be involved in an acquisition? The people around her looked at her with expressions of disbelief.

    ¡°Boss...¡± a hesitant voice spoke.

    Boss?

    Who now?

 Chapter 77

    Chapter 77

    Aurelia lifted her head in confusion upon hearing the voice. Behind her, Leslie coldly scanned the crowd.

    Leslie¡¯s assistant, Daniel quickly responded, ¡°Mr. Synder... Mr. Synder, we should celebrate. After all, this acquisition went so

    smoothly.¡±

    Daniel breathed a sigh of relief internally, managing to salvage the situation.

    Who was this woman? And why was Leslie, who disliked women, protecting her like this?

    Feeling embarrassed under the gaze of the onlookers, Aurelia realized she had misunderstood the situation. But before she

    could apologize, the foreign man on the floor suddenly got up. Seething with anger, he charged at Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder!¡± Aurelia rushed toward them.

    ¡°I''m going to kill you! | won¡¯t get in trouble for it anyway!¡± The foreign man was extremely arrogant. Clenching his fist, he

    attempted to strike Leslie.

    Leslie nced at Aurelia, running toward him. How could there be such a foolish person? The next moment, he blocked the

    foreign man''s fist, using an elbow to pin the man¡¯s neck. ¡°Idiot? You want to kill me? Try it then.¡±

    ¡°Ahh! Ahh!¡± The foreign man appeared strong, but in reality, he was all talk. It was all one- sided from beginning to end.

    Eventually, two security guards came to hold him down.

    By now, his face was bruised and swollen, but his insolent insults did not stop. ¡°Hahaha, idiot, I''ll be just fine! This woman will not

    only apologize but will also personally beg me for forgiveness. The hotel will have topensate me! You people are all the

    same!¡± Upon hearing this, Aurelia¡¯s blood boiled. It was no longer just about her being insulted; she felt that everyone present

    had been insulted by this man.

    Without thinking, she stepped forward and punched the foreign man in the nose,nding a perfect hit that sent a stream of blood

    gushing out.

    After seeing blood, Aurelia realized her emotions had clouded her judgment, and she had used excessive force. But since she

    had already thrown the punch, there was no turning back.

    She retorted, ¡°Shut up! Do you really think being a foreigner makes you some kind of king here? There are security cameras

    above us, capturing your disgusting behavior.

    ¡°If your behavior from earlier were to be spread online, how do you think everyone would react? How would the domestic

    companies here treat you?¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    ¡°Don''t you dare!¡± The foreign man red menacingly at Aurelia.

    Leslie nced at Daniel, seizing the opportunity.

    Daniel stepped forward solemnly and said, ¡°Sir, this hotel now belongs to my boss. Your behavior is not excusable. We

    absolutely cannot allow this to escte. So, if necessary, we will release the surveince footage on both domestic and

    international websites.¡±

    The foreign man¡¯s voice weakened, ¡°You''re viting my privacy rights!¡±

    Daniel remainedposed, ¡°This is a public area.¡±

    ¡°You... you...¡± The foreign man was left speechless.

    Other hotel staff also approached indignantly.

    ¡°Are you a guest from the downstairs event? If you coerced thisdy into drinking, our hotel must report it as harassment to the

    authorities.¡±

    ¡°Just so you know, we''re all locals and eyewitnesses here. Whose testimony do you think people would trust more?¡±

    With everyone backing her up, Aurelia no longer had any reservations. She raised her fist toward the foreign man and said,

    ¡°We''re not pushovers, especially not women!¡±

    Faced with the encirclement of the crowd, the foreign man lost all confidence. He wiped his nosebleed in pain and said, ¡°Let''s

    go.¡±

    ¡°Not so fast,¡± Leslie stepped forward, showing a hint of disdain as he wiped his hands with a handkerchief. He said calmly, ¡°No

    apology? Or would you prefer to resolve it in another way?¡± The foreign man, fearing Leslie, shrank back and turned to look at

    Aurelia. ¡°I''m sorry, ma¡¯am.

    ¡°Yes. But your apology shouldn''t be just to me. You should also apologize to Mr. Synder. What gives you the right to be rude

    toward others? He also has dignity!¡± Aurelia pointed at Leslie. Leslie, who hadn¡¯t expected her to consider his feelings, looked at

    her in silence.

    The foreign man could only say, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir.¡±

    Leslie uttered coolly, ¡°Get lost.¡±

    The security personnel then escorted him away.

 Chapter 78

    As Aurelia patted her chest with lingering fear, she noticed everyone¡¯s gaze shifted between her and Leslie.

    Could they be getting suspicious?

    sorryContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Aurelia quickly distanced herself from Leslie and politely said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Synder, for saving me in our brief encounter. | also

    want to thank everyone. Additionally, I¡¯m for disturbing your work; this was entirely my fault. It has nothing to do with anyone

    else.¡± She and Leslie had only crossed paths a few times, right?

    That was right.

    Leslie''s expression grew even darker. She couldn¡¯t even acknowledge him in public?

    Daniel nearly burst intoughter, wondering where Leslie had met this woman. Faced with everyone¡¯s doubts, she not only

    avoided cozying up to Leslie, but she also distanced herself. from him.

    Everyone had questioning looks, but they dared not ask any further. Instead, they continued smiling.

    Leslie signaled to Daniel with his eyes, and Daniel walked up to Aurelia.

    ¡°Miss, we still have some business to discuss. But since you seem slightly shaken, would you like to take a break in a private

    room nearby?¡±

    Aurelia did feel a bit weak in the knees. She didn¡¯t know how to face the foreign man if she went downstairs right now. However,

    she didn¡¯t want to be rude by agreeing too quickly, especially after interrupting their meeting.

    So, she could only look at Leslie, silently asking if he wanted her to leave now.

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Aurelia nodded.

    With that confirmation, Leslie and his team returned to the meeting room, leaving Daniel and Aurelia in the hallway.

    ¡°Miss, please follow me,¡± Daniel said, pointing to the room beside them.

    Aurelia thanked Daniel and followed him.

    After walking a few steps, she inexplicably felt she had seen Daniel''s back somewhere before. Yet she couldn''t recall it at the

    moment. Perhaps she was just feeling affectionate toward anyone after surviving the ordeal.

    Kimberly had nned to follow David and Aurelia. She intended to take a picture of them being intimate and share it in their work

    group chat. She wanted to see how Aurelia would exin herself.

    However, when she had just exited the elevator, she saw David being escorted by security guards, his face bruised and swollen.

    ¡°David, what happened to you?¡±

    ¡°Hmph.¡±

    David coldly snorted and entered the elevator.

    Puzzled, Kimberly followed along the corridor, spotting Aurelia walking with a man.

    This man... was the CEO of One Technology!

    She couldn''t be mistaken! She had seen this man get off a Maybach and walk into the tech exhibition amidst the crowd¡¯s

    admiration.

    Although she was squeezed so tightly in the crowd that she could hardly catch her breath, she managed to take a picture with

    him. Worried that Aurelia might recognize him, she

    intentionally took a picture of their backs. It would give an implication that looked mysterious and intimate.

    Initially, she thought this photo would result in Aurelia¡¯s withdrawal frompeting for the vice director position. But she didn¡¯t

    expect Aurelia to recognize him as well!

    This meant that Aurelia might have known about her tricks from the beginning. She had even pretended in front of her! Kimberly

    was furious, and her chest was heaving with heavy breaths. She thought, Aurelia, are you ying games with me? Well, get

    ready to face the consequences of messing with me!

    With that in mind, Kimberly retreated to the elevator and took out another phone from her bag. She had so many admirers; how

    could she have only one phone?

    After unlocking the phone, she found an unfamiliar number, and a smile spread across her face.

 Chapter 79

    After a few rings, a woman¡¯s impatient voice came through the phone.

    ¡°Who is this!¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, I¡¯m a friend of Seth and Aurelia. | heard from Aurelia that Seth had been arrested. Is it true?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bring up her name to me. Every time | hear her name, it infuriates me. My son is so unlucky to have her as his girlfriend!¡±

    Rosa gritted her teeth.

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, please calm down. I¡¯ve tried to advise her to be lenient. Not only she doesn¡¯t care about Seth, but she also

    spreads negative rumors about him everywhere. How is Seth going to face the world in the future?¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Rosa suddenly cried out in despair. ¡°That bitch! | hope she dies a miserable death! If something happens to my son, I''ll

    make sure she pays for it.¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, getting angry won''t help. The most important thing now is to get Seth out as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°What can | do? Our family is all alone here. It¡¯s all Aurelia¡¯s fault! What kind of upbringing did she receive? She doesn¡¯t even

    listen to her man!

    ¡°She even dared to marry someone else. It¡¯s clear she¡¯s not a good woman. Back in the day, folks would''ve thrown her in jail for

    sure!¡±

    Rosa¡¯s voice contained rage and a desire to see Aurelia suffer.

    Kimberly listened with a sense of vindication.

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, there¡¯s actually a way to get Seth out immediately.¡±

    ¡°What way? Tell me, and I''ll thank you on behalf of Seth.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. We''re all friends. But please don¡¯t say it was me who told you. After all, Aurelia is currently in a favorable

    position, and | don¡¯t want to provoke her.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, | won''t say anything. Once Seth is out, I''ll make sure that bitch can¡¯t live in peace!¡±

    ¡°Here¡¯s a simple way. Have Aurelia go to the police station to sign a settlement agreement.¡±

    ¡°That bitch would never agree to a settlement. How is that possible?¡±

    ¡°She''ll have no choice but to agree if...¡±

    After finishing the call, Kimberly hung up and blocked Rosa¡¯s number. She was genuinely thankful Rosa had registered her name

    and phone number with the building¡¯s security guard when she came to see Aurelia that day.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Once Aurelia and Seth reconcile, how will her husband react when he finds out?

    Aurelia, what makes you think you have the right to show off in front of me?

    After instructing someone to bring tea for Aurelia, Daniel left the private room. Aurelia slowly

    walked in.

    Aurelia put down her cup, feeling somewhat apologetic. ¡°Mr. Synder, is your work going smoothly?¡±

    Leslie sat on the sofa. ¡°Yes.¡±

    She poured him a cup of tea and sincerely apologized, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for disturbing your work today. | didn¡¯t mean to.¡±

    ¡°Hm,¡± Leslie replied, taking a sip of tea, but his gaze remained fixed on Aurelia. He looked at her with a mix of trust and

    suspicion. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call for help downstairs?¡±

    The restroom was just around the corner at the end of the corridor from the banquet hall. If she had yelled, someone in the

    banquet hall would have heard. There was no need to run to the second floor, where there were fewer people unless it was

    intentional.

    Leslie wasn¡¯t deliberately specting about Aurelia¡¯s intentions.

    He had heard from the hotel sales team during the meeting that they had informed Aurelia about the hotel¡¯s negotiations with

    One Technology on the second floor. Given her reputation for materialism and her timely appearance, it was natural for people to

    have their doubts.

    Aurelia hesitated for a moment before letting out a sigh. ¡°I didn¡¯t dare to.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Leslie was somewhat surprised by her response.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, do you know how demanding the workce is for women? When a man misbehaves, it¡¯s called excessive drinking.

    But when a woman misbehaves, it¡¯s called sexual exploitation. I¡¯ve been in this industry for over three years, and I¡¯ve worked

    diligently to achieve what | have now.

    ¡°If | offend a client, do you think thepany will appease a client worth tens of millions or someone like me who earns just over

    ten thousand in sry?¡±

    Aurelia looked at Leslie earnestly.

 Chapter 80

    Leslie rarely interacted with female employees, so he didn¡¯t pay much attention to these matters. Moreover, in hispany,

    competence was the primary criterion, and gender was never a consideration. However, it might not be the same in other

    companies.

    Aurelia continued, ¡°I¡¯m just a regr employee trying to earn a living. In our field, news spreads quickly. If | upset a client, there¡¯s

    no shot atnding another job with a differentpany. This world doesn¡¯t stop for my problems, not even for a moment.¡±

    Leslie pondered this for a moment.

    It''s true.

    Aurelia sighed softly. She poured a little more tea for Leslie and smiled, ¡°Luckily, | distanced myself from you a while back. If

    anything were to happen to me, it wouldn¡¯t impact you.¡±

    Leslie raised an eyebrow, realizing that Aurelia¡¯s distant behavior in front of others was to avoid causing trouble for him.

    She checked her watch, realizing theworking event was about to end.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, | still have work to do. I''ll head downstairs now.¡±

    Watching her retreating figure, Leslie furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°Why did you stand in front of me just now?¡±

    ¡°Have you forgotten? We''re married now. You even fought that foreigner for my sake. | couldn¡¯t just let you get hurt. Good thing

    you''ve got some skills.

    ¡°Alright, | really need to go now.¡±

    Aurelia hurriedly opened the door and left.

    Leslie snapped back to reality, gazing at the steaming tea before him, lost in thought.

    Amomentter, Daniel knocked on the door and entered.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, the acquisition is settled.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± Leslie took a sip of tea and said coldly, ¡°About the foreigner from earlier...¡±

    ¡°I''ve found out his details. How should we handle it?¡±

    ¡°| don¡¯t want to see him again.¡± Leslie mmed his teacup down, shattering it into two pieces, with tea sshing everywhere.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After consoling herself, Aurelia entered theworking event hall. Unexpectedly, she crossed paths with Kimberly, who walked

    over with a smirk.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''re quite busy, huh? Theworking event has already wrapped up, and now you. decide to show up.¡±

    ¡°When ites to being busy, who can keep up with you? Not only do youe up with ns within thepany, but you also

    provide advice to others outside of it.¡± Aurelia retorted sarcastically.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Kimberly''s smile froze momentarily, and she countered, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Do you have any evidence to

    support your im that I¡¯ve caused you harm?¡±

    ¡°Did | mention that you harmed me? Are you so eager to confess?¡± Aurelia sneered.

    ¡°You...¡± Kimberly gritted her teeth. ¡°You have time to nitpick with me, but you better think. about how to exin things to the

    company. Mr. David had an unpleasant altercation with the organizers when he left. Do you think thepany will let it slide?

    He¡¯s a foreign guest!¡± ¡°Kimberly, do youck confidence in yourself so much that you seek to tear others down?¡± Aurelia retorted.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Kimberly said in frustration.

    ¡°Exactly what | said. If you continue your tricks, |

    won''t spare you either!¡±

    ¡°Heh, what can you do about it?¡± Kimberly raised her head arrogantly and chuckled. ¡°Whether you''ll still be with thepany

    tomorrow is still unknown!!

    ¡°Do you know the term ¡®mutual destruction*?¡± Aurelia retorted. ¡°Mrs. Lynch still has the flirtatious messages you sent to Mr.

    Lynch. If | forward these messages to everyone around. you, do you think you still have a chance to marry into a wealthy family?¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Kimberly''s eyes nearly popped out.

    ¡°I''m going to check out and sign the event summary. You''re so capable, so handle the rest yourself.¡±

    Without giving Kimberly a chance to respond, Aurelia picked up some documents and walked away.

    Kimberly seethed with anger, stomping her foot. ¡°Aurelia, you''ll see what happens when you return to thepany!¡±

 Chapter 81

    manager

    Aurelia went to the sales to sign who immediately pulled her

    e event: aside.

    mer askedContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Earlier... Do you know him?¡± The cautiously, as if afraid of triggering

    something.

    ¡°| don¡¯t know him; we met a few times. | out for help this time because the situation was urgent. I¡¯m

    for the inconvenien, Cached

    Aurelia was still concerned that this matt

    wasn''t close to him.

    it almost disrupted your event.¡± It almost disrupted your event.

    might

    implicate Laelio Hence, she insisted she

    ¡°Why are you being so secretive about it? Is there something you can¡¯t tell me?¡±

    ¡°| really don¡¯t know him,¡± Aurelia asserted firmly.

    The manager¡¯s expression showed clear disdain as if Aurelia deliberately refused to help her climb the socialdder.

    ¡°It''s signed. The hotel has an event tonight, so | can only give you half an hour to check out.¡±

    With that, the manager handed her the signed document and left.

    Aurelia found it baffling. If she had really climbed the socialdder, would she need to be so subservient?

    With the document in hand, Aurelia returned to the banquet hall, but Kimberly had already left. Left with no choice, she helped

    the decorators remove the arrangements.

    Back at the office, Aurelia noticed that her colleagues were less weing than they had been in the morning. Some even

    seemed to be avoiding her.

    Kimberly was leisurely sipping her coffee, a smile of triumph in her eyes that she couldn''t hide.

    Perplexed, Aurelia sat back at her desk, turned to look at Millie, and whispered, ¡°Millie, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    Millie pressed her lips together and shook her head. She said nothing, avoiding eye contact. with Aurelia.

    It was as if she and Aurelia weren''t close at all.

    Aurelia was puzzled when Zachary returned with aplex expression from the boss''s office.

    Kimberly couldn''t wait and stood up, saying, ¡°Mr. Zeller, is everything okay now? | really didn¡¯t expect Aurelia to offend a foreign

    guest. Now, the guest must be causing trouble for thepany, right?

    ¡°It''s all my fault! | couldn¡¯t stop her from getting close to the foreign guest. But she threatened me. She said if | didn¡¯t let her go,

    she¡¯d use me and Mr. Lynch of having an inappropriate rtionship.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, is thepany going to be all right? Will this have an impact on our entire nning department?¡±

    As soon as she spoke, all the colleagues looked at Aurelia with resentment.

    Then, Aurelia realized Kimberly had returned early to file aint against her.

    She stood up and exined, ¡°The other party''s misbehavior happened first, and | addressed it appropriately. It did not disrupt the

    conference¡¯s progress.¡±

    Kimberly sneered, ¡°Aurelia, is your way of handling things beating up the guest until he¡¯s bruised and battered?¡±

    Aurelia furrowed her brows and emphasized, ¡°I acted in self-defense.¡±

    ¡°Did your self-defense involve not allowing the guest to even get up from the ground? He¡¯s the vice president of a biotech

    company, worth millions. You¡¯re alsopeting for the position of Vice President. Can¡¯t you handle a small matter?

    ¡°Customer is king! If other clients find out about this, who would still choose us? Are we all going to starve?¡±

    Kimberly seized the opportunity to attack Aurelia relentlessly.

    Under the intense scrutiny of her colleagues, Aurelia bit her lip before replying firmly, ¡°If prioritizing customers means taking a hit

    by drinking spiked red wine, then you should step up and drink it instead of hiding and cowering in fear.¡±

    Kimberly sneered, ¡°How dare you use others of spiking red wine? He¡¯s a foreigner, highly educated, and a Vice President of

    hispany. Why would he have a reason to target you? Seriously? It¡¯s not like he has poor eyesight.¡±

    Some colleagues joined in withughter, ridiculing Aurelia¡¯s arrogance. However, most of them wore expressions of indifference.

    Aurelia clenched her fists, saying, ¡°In that case, | wish you all the best in encountering foreign Vice Presidents worth millions in

    the future. I¡¯m sure you''ll be delighted to drink that ss of wine.!!

    Kimberly and those who hadughed awkwardly froze as Aurelia ruthlessly taunted them.

    Everyone knew who was in the wrong, but they just enjoyed seeing others in difficult situations.

    Kimberly red her nostrils and turned to look at Zachary. ¡°Mr. Zeller, what punishment did the boss decide for Aurelia? After all,

    we''re colleagues, and it¡¯s hard to bear the thought.¡±

    Mr. Zeller furrowed his brows even deeper. He spoke slowly amid Kimberly''s gloating smile, David... has been dismissed.¡±

 Chapter 82

    ¡°Aurelia has been dismissed! How...¡± Kimberly was about to rejoice but suddenly froze, ¡°Wait, Mr. Zeller, what did you say?

    David has been dismissed? Not Aurelia?¡±

    ¡°Yes, David was dismissed for his misconduct. He even sent an apology email to the boss. His situation has be widely

    known within the industry. Not only can he no longer work locally, but even foreignpanies have fired him,¡± Zachary

    exined,

    ¡°Impossible! He¡¯s so capable, and he¡¯s a foreigner! How could he be dismissed because of Aurelia?¡± Kimberly eximed.

    Hearing this, Zachary looked displeased. He cast her a condemning gaze for her thoughtless

    words.

    ¡°Do you grasp the situation here? David clearly upset someone, and they wanted to get rid of him. It¡¯s not solely about him being

    a foreigner. Do you genuinely believe it¡¯s still a foreigner¡¯s world these days?¡±

    Everyone was stunned; even Aurelia froze in her tracks. Who could have such power to dismiss a multinational Vice President

    with just a word?N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°|... That''s not what | meant,¡± Kimberly realized her words had been inappropriate and shot a resentful nce at Aurelia.

    Aurelia was puzzled. What did she have to do with this?

    There wouldn¡¯t have been such an embarrassing situation if it weren¡¯t for Kimberly''s unnecessaryint.

    Zachary didn¡¯t probe further and nced at Aurelia. ¡°Let''s move on from this incident. Just be more careful in the future.¡±

    Aurelia nodded, already ustomed to Zachary¡¯s favoritism.

    After Mr. Zeller left, Kimberly cast a resentful look at Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''re just a regr employee. You should be cautious in the future; you can¡¯t rely on luck every time.¡± Kimberly

    sneered.

    ¡°Kimberly, did you bend over backward to study abroad? Being overly infatuated with foreigners is a significant error. Why should

    | be cautious when others are making mistakes? Or is it that you find the wine¡ª-scented breath they exhale appealing?¡± Aurelia

    smiled at her and then sat down.

    ¡°You! What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Kimberly gritted her teeth.

    Millie stood up and said with a smile, ¡°When did Aurelia talk nonsense? He already wrote an apology letter. Could it be fake?

    ¡°It seems like you''re always licking up to foreigners. What benefits has he given you? Or do you have some undisclosed story

    with this Vice President? Do you need to defend him so vigorously?¡±

    ¡°Millie, | can¡¯t be bothered to argue with you,¡± Kimberly replied, pretending to be generous, and returned to her seat.

    Chapter 82

    Millie chuckled and sat back at her desk.

    Aurelia felt that she had gone a little too far with her rumor¡ªmongering and immediately sent her a message.

    ¡°Millie, that¡¯s enough.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, we finally had a chance to teach her a lesson. If it weren¡¯t for her returning to

    comin, we would have never misunderstood you.¡±

    ¡°Millie, do you also think | would offend a client for no reason?¡±

    Aurelia couldn''t forget Millie¡¯s attitude of ignoring her just now.

    Is it because Millie was actually afraid that it might implicate her too if Aurelia had genuinely offended the foreign guest?

    Everyone in the office was going through their own struggles. She understood that, so she didn¡¯t me Millie.

    After a while, Millie sent several apologetic emojis.

    ¡°Sorry, okay? I''ll treat you to coffee after work.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine now.¡±

    Aurelia smiled and raised the corners of her mouth at Millie. But there was still ayer of estrangement in her heart.

    Half an hourter, Zachary sent a message in the group chat, urging Aurelia and Kimberly to submit their proposals.

    Eager to impress, Kimberly was the first to send her proposal over.

    Aurelia checked her proposal once again before sending it.

    Alittle whileter, Kimberly walked into Zachary¡¯s office. After about ten minutes, she came out with a baffled look in her eyes as

    she nced at Aurelia.

    There was also unwillingnessbined with disbelief and a malicious plot in the mix. Aurelia had never seen Kimberly like this

    before.

    What could have happened?

 Chapter 83

    Chapter 83

    As Aurelia was still thinking about Kimberly¡¯s strange behavior, Millie nudged her.

    ¡°Aurelia, it¡¯s time to go home. What are you spacing out for?¡±

    Hearing her, Aurelia got up and started packing her things. When she turned around, she saw Millie in her signature red dress,

    touching up her makeup.

    ¡°Millie, what... what''s all this?¡±

    Millie smiled mysteriously. ¡°I have a blind date tonight. How do | look? Pretty good, right?¡±

    With that, she twirled in front of Aurelia. However, she stumbled in her high heels, nearly falling over. Fortunately, Aurelia reached

    out to steady her.

    ¡°A blind date? Aren¡¯t you the one who hates blind dates the most? You said blind dates are an insult to women.¡±

    ¡°Well... It''s different this time. The matchmaker said the guy is a returnee. He owns his ownpany and has a penthouse

    apartment in Emerald Valley worth at least ten million. All he¡¯s looking for in a girl is someone gentle and family¡ªoriented. That

    pretty much describes me!¡±

    Millie held a little purse, transforming herself into a gentle and timiddy.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    Aurelia found this all very suspicious and warned her, ¡°If he truly possesses that level of wealth, finding a wife should be easy for

    him. He wouldn¡¯t need to rely on blind dates.

    ¡°Frequently, individuals who mention just one requirement may have numerous concealed conditions. Be cautious not to be

    taken advantage of.¡±

    Hearing this, Millie pursed her lips, looking quite unhappy. ¡°Aurelia, can¡¯t you just wish me well? If | marry into a wealthy family,

    you''ll be the first person | think of. I''ll introduce your husband to work in my future husband¡¯spany, and your sry won¡¯t be

    low.

    ¡°But...¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay, | won¡¯t say more. I¡¯ve booked a ride-hail car, and it¡¯s arriving soon. | have to go.¡¯

    Without waiting for Aurelia to finish speaking, Millie hurriedly left.

    Aurelia sighed and organized her desk before preparing to leave. Just as she reached the office entrance, she heard Zachary¡¯s

    voice.

    ¡°Aurelia, could youe in for a moment?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Aurelia put down her bag and entered his office. Behind her, a figure emerged from the pantry. ¡ª it was Kimberly.

    Kimberly nced at the tightly closed door of Zachary¡¯s office and then in the direction where Millie had disappeared. She

    pursed her lips into a smile and quietly followed Millie¡¯s footsteps.

    Aurelia, you think you canpete with me,

    you canpete with me, huh? Well, I¡¯ll make sure youe out of this with absolutely nothing.

    Inside the office, Aurelia stood respectfully.

    Chapter #3

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, is there something you need?¡±

    ¡°It''s not a big deal, really. The boss has set up a presentation with One Technology for next Tuesday at 10:00 AM. We''ll all head

    over there together. If they sign the contract, you''ll be promoted to vice director.¡±

    ¡°Alright, thank you, Mr. Zeller.¡±

    Aurelia felt a rush of excitement. Next Tuesday was only two days away, and it wouldn¡¯t conflict with her mother¡¯s surgery

    scheduled for Monday.

    ¡°You can leave now. I¡¯ve taken up enough of your time.¡±

    The unexpected politeness from Zachary left Aurelia momentarily stunned, making her feel somewhat ufortable. However,

    she said nothing and smiled as she exited the office.

    After clocking out, she made her way to the hospital. Upon entering her mother¡¯s hospital room, she saw a nurse helping her

    mother with her personal care.

    Aurelia stepped forward to assist, buttoning up her mother¡¯s clothes and gently holding her hand. Her mother¡¯s hand, with its thin

    callouses, gave her a sense of security.

    Seeing this, the nurse quietly left the room, giving them some privacy.

    After a while, Aurelia opened the curtain and expressed her gratitude to the nurse. ¡°Thank you.

    ¡°You''re wee, Ms. Simmons. Don¡¯t worry; the doctor said this morning that your mother has met all the criteria for the surgery.

    Everything should go smoothly.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m going to check with the doctor about the surgery preparations. | might need to head back a bit early today. |

    appreciate your help here.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead, dear. I''ll take care of things here.¡±

    The nurse smiled warmly.

 Chapter 84

    Chapter 84

    Aurelia felt relieved and proceeded to the doctor¡¯s office.

    Although the doctor had mentioned that her mother¡¯s condition was rtively stable, the surgery still carried significant risks. The

    doctor emphasized the need for her to be mentally prepared.

    her

    While Aurelia couldn¡¯t hide her anxietypletely, she understood that if she didn¡¯t try, mother¡¯s only option was a grim one.

    After expressing her gratitude to the doctor, she left the hospital.

    On her way home, Aurelia¡¯s mind was in disarray. However, she found a moment to send a message to Millie.

    ¡°Millie, is everything going smoothly?¡±

    ¡°If anything seems off, please leave immediately.¡±

    She received a brief response from Millie.

    ¡°I got it, | got it.¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Aurelia rolled her eyes, thinking they were both adults capable of handling their own situations.

    When she arrived home, she was surprised to find Leslie¡¯s neatly arranged shoes on the rack. He sat on the brown sofa ina

    well-fitted suit, his long legs crossed. He exuded a sense of expensive luxury that filled the otherwise simple living room.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but stare in amazement.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Leslie put down his phone and nced at her.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Aurelia said, feeling a little embarrassed as she averted her gaze. She changed the subject, ¡°Did the incident at the

    hotel today affect you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Leslie replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Aurelia said, feeling relieved.

    ¡°How about yourpany? Did anyone give you a hard time?¡± Leslie furrowed his brows, wondering why he cared about her.

    ¡°No, but...¡± Aurelia smiled and shared, even though she knew Leslie might just be making polite conversation, ¡°Mr. Synder, did

    you know the foreigner was fired?¡±

    ¡°| didn¡¯t know,¡± Leslie replied/disinterestedly. After all, he was the one who had orchestrated David''s dismissal.

    He thought their conversation had ended, but to his surprise, she put down her bag and boldly sat beside him.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, | thought I was in big trouble too. After all, | hit the client''s VIP. | was bracing myself for a scolding when | returned.

    But who knew? He got fired! It¡¯s really surreal.¡±

    Aurelia was usually cautious at work. But once she got home, she usually couldn¡¯t wait to share what had happened with her

    parents.

    Chapter 84

    2/2

    Perhaps the week of living together had made her feel Leslie was reliable and a good listener, so she began to rx around him.

    Leslie was slightly taken aback. It was as if a crack had formed in the icy barrier around him, and waves of warmth were seeping

    through. He wasn¡¯t used to it, so he shifted slightly, and Aurelia unconsciously moved as well.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, did you hear about this? | heard David offended someone, and they used my incident as an excuse to have him

    deported from the country. This person must have quite a bit of influence to get rid of someone like him so effortlessly, don¡¯t you

    think?¡±

    This conversation seemed to bring a sense of ease to Leslie, even though he hadn''t really cared about dealing with someone

    like David.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± he replied calmly, but Aurelia seemed to be in a good mood and shifted closer to him once again.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, do you know who this formidable person is?¡± Aurelia continued her questions. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Leslie replied, moving

    away from her slightly.

    ¡°| get it,¡± Aurelia said, ¡°People like that are often quite distant from us regr folks.

    However, | must admit that yourpany is truly impressive. The entire industry seems to be abuzz about it.¡±

    Aurelia moved closer to Leslie again, who couldn''t help but feel both amused and irritated.

    ¡°Aurelia.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡±

    ¡°If you move closer again, |''ll fall off.¡±

 Chapter 85

    Aurelia suddenly realized that while chatting, she had pushed Leslie from the middle of the couch to the very edge.

    She blushed and immediately got up. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s about time. I... I''ll go cook.¡±

    Leslie also stood up. ¡®I''ll help you.*

    Aurelia was surprised. ¡°Huh?¡±

    Leslie took off his suit jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves. ¡°Any problem? | have some free time. | can help speed things up.¡±

    Aurelia nced at his fair and slender hands, knowing he probably had little experience with household chores. Yet, he offered to

    help her cook, which was just as shocking as Seth apologizing while kneeling.

    However, she didn¡¯t refuse. Living together meant they needed to make things work. Aman who wanted to help was better than

    one who only gave orders.

    She smiled and agreed, ¡°Sure, but wait a moment.¡±

    ¡°What for?¡±

    Leslie stood at the kitchen doorway, looking puzzled, as he watched Aurelia tiptoe to reach a high cab. During the initial

    renovation of the apartment, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the kitchen. Thus he hadn''t noticed the extremely impractical

    height of the upper cabs.

    ¡°Let me help you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Afterward, Aurelia wanted to make way for Leslie, but to her surprise, he stood directly behind her. His presence enveloped her

    like a cool, misty stream.

    She blushed as she felt a tingling sensation in her ear. She quickly pressed her body against the counter, afraid of identally

    brushing against Leslie and causing any misunderstandings.

    ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Leslie¡¯s voice sounded from above her.

    Aurelia raised her head, and her hair brushed against Leslie¡¯s chin. He seemed momentarily stunned, and the scent of her hair

    wafted under his nose. It was just the ordinary smell of shampoo, but he could always faintly detect a different fragrance for

    some reason.

    Aurelia pointed inside a white stic bag. ¡°In that bag, there¡¯s a new apron. Your shirt looks expensive, and | don¡¯t want it to get

    dirty.¡±

    ¡°You even prepared this?¡±

    Leslie furrowed his brows. But his expression became even more troubled when he took out the new apron.

    The offer was ¡°Buy one, get one free,¡± and he ended up with the free one.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Aurelia noticed his reaction and exined, ¡°Normally, this apron costs 30 dors. Now it¡¯s buy one, get one free, which means

    it''s half price. Leaving money on the table makes you a fool.¡±

    Chapter 85

    2/2

    Her parents often took her grocery shopping, advising her on which discounted items were worthwhile. It was a phrase they often

    used, and she had said it without thinking.

    She wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt like her words had unintentionally aggravated the situation, and Leslie¡¯s

    expression worsened.

    She immediately changed the subject, saying, ¡°I''ll put this on for you.¡±

    Upon seeing the apron, both of them were taken aback. Looking through the packaging, it appeared to be a simple blue and

    white checkered fabric. Little did they expect that it also hadce trim.

    Holding the apron, Aurelia asked hesitantly, ¡°Mr. Synder, do you still want to wear this?¡±

    Leslie narrowed his eyes, pointing to her apron with red checks that didn¡¯t havece trim.¡± Switch with me.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    They exchanged aprons. She had expected Leslie to look strange in an apron, but when she nced at him, she couldn¡¯t help

    but be surprised. She lowered her gaze to her own apron.

    Weren''t they wearing simr styles? Why did Leslie, a man, look better in it?

    He was wearing a ck shirt that contrasted sharply with the red apron. His muscr arms, taut chest, and slender waistline all

    entuated his restrained sensuality. The apron seemed to emphasize his pent-up desire.

    ing

    Leslie leaned against the counter, raising an eyebrow. ¡°What are you at?¡±

 Chapter 86

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Aurelia immediately turned around a hint of blush on her face.

    ¡°What can | help with?¡±

    ¡°Cook the spaghetti.¡±

    Aurelia handed two packages of spaghetti to Leslie.

    Leslie didn¡¯t say anything, turned around, and started cooking.

    Aurelia opened the refrigerator to prepare today¡¯s dishes: m chowder, shrimp scampi with asparagus, and smoked barbecue

    ribs.

    After getting the ingredients, she found that the refrigerator was almost empty. She couldn''t help muttering, ¡°I need to restock

    groceries again.¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    At that moment, the water behind her stopped. She immediately closed the refrigerator door, ready to take over Leslie¡¯s ce to

    wash the vegetables.

    However, just as she turned around, Leslie also happened to turn around, and the two of them collided directly in the small

    kitchen.

    ¡°Ouch!¡± Aurelia¡¯s forehead bumped heavily into Leslie¡¯s chest. The asparagus her hand fell to the ground.

    and shrimp in

    ¡°How do you manage to bump into things all the time?¡±

    Aurelia was speechless.

    She bit her lip. Only after meeting Leslie, she seemed to be constantly in trouble.

    But she didn¡¯t dare to say that. She just said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± and bent down to pick up the ingredients on the ground.

    Leslie reached out and stopped her, then handed her the spaghetti.

    ¡°Stand still.¡±

    Aurelia was about to ask what was going on when she saw the tall and upright Leslie crouching

    down.

    He picked up the shrimp one by one, discreetly dusting off the ice that had fallen out of the bag to the side.

    That¡¯s when she noticed quite a few ice cubes had scattered on the floor right by her feet. She might have ended up on her back

    if she had identally stepped on them earlier.

    Aurelia gratefully withdrew her gaze and saw the spaghetti in her hand.

    She could tell at a nce that Leslie had indeed cooked the spaghetti perfectly.

    Suddenly, she felt a mixture of emotions.

    She remembered a time before when Seth hade to her house for dinner. Afraid that her mother would be too tired, she had

    decided to cook herself. Seth leaned against the kitchen door, talking about their future married life.

    Chapter 86

    2/2

    At that time, she had really thought Seth wanted to marry her. Otherwise, who would incessantly discuss scenarios from their

    future? She casually handed the spaghetti to Seth with a smile, offering him a sneak peek of their future married life.

    At that moment, Seth¡¯s face shed with a hint of awkwardness. But he quickly smiled and said he was highly honored.

    She didn¡¯t think much of his awkwardness at the time, thinking it was only natural for a man to help with household chores.

    However, she didn¡¯t expect that when Seth handed her the spaghetti, it was barely cooked. Clearly, it was purely perfunctory.

    Seth even said he had never done it before and didn¡¯t know how.

    He said it as if it were a matter of course, forgetting that he had once said his family were in an average financial situation. As he

    had to do everything himself from a young age, he would never let her suffer in the future.

    At that time, she and Seth were in the honeymoon phase of their rtionship. So she instinctively found an excuse for him and

    didn¡¯t think too deeply about it.

    Well, she admitted she was quite naive. Looking back, that reason seemed ridiculous.

    In contrast, Leslie, who had faced tough times with Linda since young, always took her seriously.

    ¡°All done,¡± Leslie got up and ced the shrimp back into the dish.

    Aurelia snapped out of her thoughts. She gazed at the floor and was surprised to find that Leslie had actually wiped the floor

    clean while doing it.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s cook. What else do we need to prepare?¡± Leslie had a businesslike demeanor, a bit serious and a bit intriguing.

    ¡°Help me wash the shrimp and check for the digestive tract.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Leslie nodded and turned to handle the shrimp.

    Aurelia stood next to him, washing the asparagus and ribs.

    As the night fell, their two figures, one tall and one short, were reflected on the ss window in front of them.

    Perhaps sensing something, they both raised their gazes to the window almost

    simultaneously. At the same time, they saw each other¡¯s slightly surprised expressions on the ss.

    Aurelia turned around awkwardly. ¡°I, uh, I''ll heat the pan.

 Chapter 87

    Leslie looked at the reflection on the ss window at the busy and delicate figure before him and then at the shrimp in his hand.

    There was a strange feeling swirling in his chest.

    His parents¡® divorce had been an ugly affair. He was still young at the time and couldn¡¯t do anything but stare in disbelief as his

    usually stern father hurled the most vicious words at his mother. At that time, he had never believed that man was his own father.

    When he saw his father leave, he followed him outside, only to find a beautiful woman sitting in the car, holding a boy of roughly

    his own age in her arms. His father smiled as he picked up the boy and kissed the woman on the forehead.

    He realized that even his father, who rarely showed emotion, could smile. At that moment, he felt nauseous.

    Everything that happened afterward shattered his understanding of humanity. Since then, marriage was never a part of his n.

    But he hadn''t expected to get married eventually, and the feeling of being married was different from what he had imagined.

    As for what was different, he couldn¡¯t quite put it into words. It was as if nothing had changed, yet everything had changed.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, do you like spicy food? | don¡¯t eat spicy, so if you want, | can make it separately,¡± Aurelia¡¯s question interrupted

    Leslie¡¯s thoughts, and he turned to look at her.

    She wiped her sweat while stir¡ªfrying the vegetables in the pan. Everything she did seemed ordinary, but he inexplicably felt that

    the entire house hade alive.

    ¡°| don¡¯t eat spicy food,¡± Leslie replied in a deep voice.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia nodded and wiped her sweat again.

    Despite the open window, she hadn''t expected the kitchen to be so hot. It was strange for a high-end house; the kitchen window

    was so small. Did people living in high-end houses not cook? Her old house had bigger windows.

    Just as she was about to overheat, a cool breeze blew toward her. She immediately turned around and saw Leslie bending down

    to adjust the angle of the electric fan.

    ¡°Do you

    feel the wind?¡±

    ¡°| do, thank you.¡±

    She would have forgotten about the fan if he hadn¡¯t turned it on.

    Leslie nodded and continued washing the vegetables.

    Aurelia watched the m chowder in the pot bubbling away and decided to add salt to season it. Her hand touched something

    else as she reached out to grab the salt shaker. She turned her head to look and was stunned for a short while.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    She had identally touched Leslie¡¯s hand.

    212

    ¡°| was looking for the salt shaker,¡± she exined.

    ¡°It''s right there,¡± Leslie pointed.

    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Aurelia quickly pulled her hand back, but her body felt even hotter.

    ¡°I''m done washing. Is there anything else?¡±

    ¡°No, no, it''s too crowded in here. You should go out first.¡±

    Aurelia hurriedly escorted Leslie out. She was afraid she might get into more awkward situations if he stayed longer.

    As Leslie left the kitchen, the coolness of the living room washed over him, rxing his entire body. In contrast, even with an

    electric fan, the kitchen felt like a sauna.

    He watched the figure busy in the kitchen and became increasingly unable to understand Aurelia¡¯s thoughts. She was used of

    being materialistic, but aside from epting money from his mother, she hadn''t asked him for money again. They even split their

    living expenses evenly.

    While lost in thought, the phone in his pocket vibrated. He nced at the number, avoiding Aurelia, and went to the balcony to

    answer it.

    At that moment, he saw a family of three dining in the building across from him. Since as far back as he could remember, he had

    never seen a family sit together for a meal.

    As he watched the heartwarming scene, an image of Aurelia unexpectedly shed through his mind. After hesitating for a few

    seconds, he lit a cigarette and answered the phone.

    ¡°Speak.¡±

    ¡°Synder Corporation called to request a meeting with thepany¡¯s owner.¡±

    ¡°They can¡¯t wait any longer?¡± Leslie¡¯s face turned cold, and his breath formed a dangerous mist.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, do you want to meet them?¡± Daniel asked.

 Chapter 88

    ¡°Decline it. This is just their ploy to test my boundaries. Do you really think they''d send anyone important to meet me?¡± Leslie

    calmly analyzed the situation.

    ¡°Alright, I''ll reject it immediately and say you''re still overseas.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Leslie instructed.

    ¡°By the way, Mr. Synder, Young Advertising has scheduled to present their proposal the day after tomorrow,¡± Daniel said,

    changing the topic.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Leslie had seen some of Aurelia¡¯s proposals, which were indeed good. However, this opening banquet was crucial for him.

    Hence, he needed to review theplete proposal before he could make a decision.

    After Daniel acknowledged and was about to hang up, Leslie stopped him.

    ¡°Daniel, find an interior designer to see if we can install air conditioning in the kitchen.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Mr. Synder, what did you wash this time?¡± Daniel was no longer surprised by such requests.

    ¡°Washing vegetables.¡±

    Daniel was speechless.

    At that moment, footsteps approached behind Leslie, and he immediately ended the call.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, it¡¯s time to eat,¡± Aurelia stood in the living room, waving.

    ¡°Iming.¡±

    Leslie stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray and opened the ss door on the balcony. Upon entering, he smelled the aroma

    of the food, which reminded him of the family across the street again.

    A family of three?

    Perhaps he was going a bit crazy from the heat.

    After sitting down, they ate in silence as Aurelia asionally nced at Leslie.

    ¡°Is there something you want to talk about?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°I''ll be quite busy on Monday and Tuesday, so | might not be able to cook. You''ll have to eat out,¡± Aurelia exined.

    Her mother was having surgery on Monday, and she had a presentation at One Technology on Tuesday, so she would be

    swamped. She wouldn¡¯t have time to cook, so she thought it would be best to inform Leslie in advance.

    ¡°| see,¡± Leslie responded without much expression, nodding slightly.

    However, he felt a bit puzzled. Aurelia seemed quite confident about her schedule. She was going to present at hispany on

    Monday and already knew she would be busy on Tuesday.

    Chapter 88

    2/2This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    It was interesting because they didn¡¯tmunicate much. Yet neither had asked about each other¡¯s ns for the next few days.

    Clearly, there was a time gap that went unnoticed.

    Thinking about work reminded Aurelia of a question that had bothered her for a while.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, can | ask you something?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    Seeing that the meal was tasty, Leslie didn¡¯t seem as distant as he usually was.

    She asked, ¡°Today at the Crystal Hotel, they were discussing an acquisition deal. Why would a programmer like you be there?¡±

    When did a programmer''s job scope include such diverse activities?

    Leslie paused for a moment as he nced at Aurelia. He saw nothing on her face but curiosity. She seemed genuinely puzzled.

    ¡°| was helping my boss deliver some documents.*

    ¡°No wonder,¡± Aurelia chuckled. ¡°So... Which one was your boss?¡±

    The name n¡± referred to the One Technology CEO, was someone Aurelia heard almost every day. Aside from knowing his

    name, she had no idea what he looked like.

    She was really curious about what kind of person would be hailed as a genius.

    ¡°He left as soon as the meeting was over. He had us wrap things up,¡± Leslie replied calmly.

    ¡°Well, your boss must value you a lot,¡± Aurelia said as she took a bite of her food.

    What a pity. Aurelia had just scanned everyone she had seen in the meeting room earlier, trying to guess which one wasn.

    ¡°Why? Are you interested in him?¡± Leslie¡¯s tone turned colder, not very pleased with Aurelia¡¯s distraction.

    ¡°No, no, even if | were, your boss likes men, and | can¡¯t change my gender. On the contrary, you should be careful,¡± Aurelia

    started to go off-topic while chatting.

    ¡°Ahem, ahem.¡±

    Leslie almost choked on his food when he heard that.

 Chapter 89

    Chapter 89

    Aurelia quickly poured a ss of water for Leslie. ¡°Are you okay?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Taking a sip of water, he frowned. ¡°You''re usually soposed. What''s going on in that head of yours? Today, it¡¯s either a lot of

    talking or gossip.¡±

    Aurelia chuckled and mumbled, ¡°Well, don¡¯t me me for being curious. You have this look, and he¡¯s into men, yet he seems to

    value you so much, so | couldn''t help but wonder...¡±

    Leslie set down his ss, a mixture ofughter and exasperation on his face. ¡°Do you still want to eat?¡±

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Why wouldn¡¯t she eat the food she had prepared herself?

    She took a bite of smoked barbecue ribs but felt slightly choked. She wanted some m chowder but realized she had forgotten

    to bring a spoon.

    ¡°Oh dear, | forgot to bring a spoon. Wait a moment,¡± Aurelia said as she got up and hurried into the kitchen.

    Leslie watched her retreating figure, inexplicably curving his lips. The warm light above cast a beautiful glow on the dishes,

    making them look even more delicious.

    Amonth ago, he returned to his home country filled with hatred, never imagining he would experience such a scene.

    After a while, Aurelia returned with a expression.

    1. on. She handed it to Leslie, and he took it with a calm

    After finishing their meal, Aurelia ced the dishes and utensils in the sink before heading toward the bedroom.

    ¡°I''m going to my room first.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Leslie got up, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to do the dishes. His movements were bing increasingly skillful.

    Seeing this, Aurelia was momentarily surprised. She hadn''t expected a man doing the dishes to look so handsome.

    ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Leslie lowered his head as if he could see her.

    ¡°N-no,¡± Aurelia replied nervously and rushed back to her room.

    After finishing washing the dishes, Leslie came out of the kitchen and faintly heard sounds.ing from Aurelia¡¯s room,

    ¡°Hello, um... by the way, how should | address the CEO of One Technology? | don¡¯t even know hisst name.

    ¡°Never mind, we''ll find out when the timees. Hello, CEO, I¡¯m Aurelia, the presenter of this proposal. For our grand opening,

    we''ve chosen a futuristic theme...

    Chapter 89

    212

    ¡°No, | can¡¯t talk this much. A CEO this important probably wants to avoid hearing me bbering. Oh dear, I¡¯ve never been this

    nervous in all my years in this industry! May the heavens bless me and ensure that the proposal gets approved!¡±

    Aurelia began praying fervently.

    She was unaware the apartment¡¯s front door was the original one, which did not provide much sound instion. Leslie could

    hear every word she uttered in the hallway outside her room.

    Leslie couldn¡¯t help but feel amused. She was apetent person professionally, but she seemed quite lively in private.

    However, he also realized a crucial issue. Although he had been controlling the media coverage of his return, he hadn¡¯t expected

    to get married so soon after his return. Once Aurelia went to One Technology, she would quickly discover that the CEO shared

    his name.

    Their current rtionship was neither particrly close nor antagonistic. Hence, he did not want toplicate things

    unnecessarily.

    After some contemtion, Leslie turned and entered his bedroom, dialing Daniel¡¯s number.

    ¡°At the fastest speed, create a new identity for me and inform the people below. From now on, rece my name with a Normish

    one.

    The employees of One Technology were his trusted associates, so he wasn¡¯t worried about anyone blowing his cover. His return

    here and the establishment of One Technology were just smokescreens.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, may | ask why? You''ve gone from being Mr. Synder to a programmer, and now you want me to create a new Mr.

    Synder identity? Even if it¡¯s to dodge the hidden threats from the Synder Family, is this level of caution necessary?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Leslie replied.

    ¡°Could it be... that Ms. Simmons?¡± Daniel was surprised.

    ¡°Less talk, more action.¡±

    ¡°Understood. I''ll go get it done,¡± Daniel replied with a tone of shock. He had expected Mr. Synder to deny it.

    ¡°Have it done by Tuesday,¡± advised Leslie.

    Daniel was a clever person. Upon hearing ¡®Tuesday,¡¯ he realized it was rted to the coboration talks with Young Advertising,

    especially since Aurelia was handling their proposal.

    ¡°Is there any issue with Young Advertising, Mr. Synder? Should | look into it?¡±

 Chapter 90

    ¡°No...¡± Leslie paused in his speech. Then he changed his mind and said, ¡°Investigate everyone who came to thepany this

    time.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Daniel replied before hanging up.

    Leslie carefully considered the situation. Besides hearing his mother constantly mention this old friend, he knew nothing about

    Aurelia. Initially, when he learned about this woman, he cautioned his mother to be careful not to be deceived.

    Young people who scammed money often liked to befriend middle-aged and older individuals. They would even go as far as

    addressing them as ¡°aunt¡± or even ¡°mom.¡±

    Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover was Leslie''s initial impression of Aurelia. However, these days of interaction had been surprising

    to him. Aurelia consistently exhibited qualities that contradicted his initial impression. To determine the truth, he would need a

    more thorough investigation.

    After making the arrangements, Leslie put down his phone and entered the bathroom.

    Inside her room, Aurelia was feeling anxious. Whether it was about her mother¡¯s surgery on Monday or the presentation meeting

    on Tuesday, she couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy.

    The presentation, usually a breeze, had be a challenge today. She had practiced it twice but still stuttered at times.

    Frustrated with her struggles, she sighed andy on her bed, closing her eyes to rest.

    Aurelia, don¡¯t be nervous. You can do it.

    After a five-minute break, Aurelia sat up again, ready to rehearse. At the same time, her phone rang, disying the number of

    the home care nurse.

    Is something wrong with Mom?

    Aurelia was trembling with fear as she quickly answered the phone.

    ¡°Ms. Elliot, Is everything alright?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, you need toe quickly! A woman iming to be your mother¡ªinw is in the hospital room, causing a scene

    like a maniac. Security is here, but nobody dares to touch her, fearing something might happen.¡±

    Mother¡ªinw?

    Aurelia was sure that such a shameless person could only be Rosa. reckless actions, and Aurelia¡¯s heart raced with anxiety.

    She was known for her

    ¡°Ms. Elliot, tell her I''ming right away! Ask her not to cause any trouble!¡± Aurelia replied urgently.

    Another call came in as she was on the phone, but Aurelia was too frantic to check the caller ID. She identally hung up both

    calls in her haste.

    Subsequently, she rushed to the door of Leslie¡¯s room and knocked loudly. She was hoping

    Chapter 90

    Leslie could give her a ride to the hospital as she was afraid she wouldn¡¯t be able to find a taxi.

    But, after knocking several times, Leslie didn¡¯t respond to her. Aurelia was so worried that tears welled up in her eyes. She

    considered knocking again but eventually decided against it. After all, Leslie was only her nominal husband, and there was no

    need for him to be involved... in her family matters.

    With that in mind, Aurelia rushed out of the apartment alone.

    At this moment, Leslie was in the bathroom, having turned off the water and listening carefully to the sounds from outside. He

    thought he heard knocking on the door, but upon further listening, there was nothing. He must have been mistaken.

    He continued rinsing the foam off his body in the shower. Everything outside was quiet when he walked out of the bedroom. It

    seemed that Aurelia had already gone to rest.

    He didn¡¯t pay much attention to it and poured himself a ss of water before returning to his

    room.

    In the hospital, Aurelia ran into the ward breathlessly. After a few steps inside, she tripped over a basin near the door.

    Fortunately, a nurse nearby helped her up.

    The nurse looked at her and said urgently, ¡°You finally came. Your mother-inw is being unreasonable. This is the intensive

    care unit, and all the patients need rest. Please go home and resolve your conflicts.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Aurelia, trying to catch her breath, said in a rushed tone, ¡°No, she¡¯s not my mother-inw. I¡¯ll handle it. I¡¯m really sorry.¡±

    The nurse then signaled to the security guard to let Aurelia pass through.

    As Aurelia walked deeper into the ward, she spotted exactly who she had anticipated ¡ªRosa.

    x

    Enjoy Ad-Free Reading>>

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    Chapter 91

    1/2

    Rosa, no longer the friendly woman who visited herpany, was now dressed in ck. She propped up one leg on a chair

    beside the bed amid a pile of shattered objects at her feet.

    The people around her feared her, forming a circle two meters away.

    Rosa didn¡¯t care and pushed her sleeves to her shoulders. She ced her hands on her hips as if ready to confront anyone who

    dared to approach.

    It wasughable. Aurelia¡¯s mother had been in critical condition for nearly a month from the onset of her illness, and this was the

    first time Rosa hade to visit. She didn¡¯t expect it to be such a scene.

    Thinking of her mother, Aurelia anxiously nced at the hospital bed.

    Fortunately, Sophia was guarding her; her mother stilly peacefully on the hospital bed, and the vital signs on the machine were

    rtively stable.

    Once Aurelia rxed, her anger intensified. She quickly walked up to Rosa.

    ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Ohl! You finally decided toe,¡± Rosa yelled at the people around her. ¡°You folks can be the judges here. My son approached

    her for reconciliation in a friendly manner.

    ¡°Instead of agreeing, she not only declined but also reported him to the police. Now my son is behind bars, and she¡¯s sleeping

    peacefully at home!¡±

    The family members in the same ward looked at Aurelia with some surprise, as if they had never expected this from her.

    Aurelia took a deep breath and reminded herself that this was a hospital ward and, even more so, an intensive care unit. She

    couldn''t afford to argue here.

    She softened her voice and said, ¡°Mrs. Martinez, your son and | aren¡¯t married anymore. We''ve actually split up. | haven¡¯t even

    pressed charges against you for pretending to be my mother-inw.

    ¡°Furthermore, your son is in custody due to his harassment towards me and for using a counterfeit watch to deceive people.¡±

    The people around them gasped at Rosa¡¯s antics and looked at her with mockery.

    Seeing that no one was helping her, Rosa simply started causing a scene. She grabbed a chair and threatened Aurelia¡¯s mother,

    who was lying on the hospital bed.

    ¡°Aurelia! If you don¡¯t go to the police station to reconcile with Seth, I''ll take you and your mother down with me!¡±

    Seeing this, Aurelia was trembling with anger. Why couldn¡¯t they just let her end this rtionship gracefully? Why can¡¯t they just

    let her be?

    The people around them were rmed. Even the security guards began searching for a way to defuse the situation.

    However, the room was small, and all the patients were in critical condition. Any mishap could

    affect the entire hospital.

    One of the security guards looked at Aurelia and whispered, ¡°Miss, calm her down. Your mother might not survive that blow.¡±

    Aurelia clenched her fists, her teeth grinding audibly. She was filled with hatred, but she felt helpless at the same time. Her

    mother¡¯s surgery was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, and she couldn¡¯t afford to let anything happen to her.

    ¡°I''ll reconcile! Is that enough? Put the chair down, and we can talk outside.¡±

    With a loud crash, Rosa crudely smashed the chair against the bedside. She pped her hands as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°Thanks a lot! This method really worked.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Aurelia sensed that something was amiss. It seemed like someone was coaching Rosa.

    Rosa slyly shifted her gaze and started fiddling with her dress, changing the subject.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    ¡°Aurelia, why even bother? My son chose you, a woman with baggage, and you should consider yourself lucky. You''re fortunate,

    but you don¡¯t seem to appreciate it. You have to be stubborn and confrontational with us! Well, | have nothing to lose!

    ¡°If anything happens to my son, your mother won''t have an easy time either!¡±

    Rosa¡¯s words had stirred up the anger of the people around them. However, facing such a thug -like person, most could only

    resign themselves to their misfortune and avoid confronting her.

    Aurelia¡¯s face was cold as she asked, ¡°Are we going to talk?¡±

    Rosa finally stopped hermotion and walked out.

    Once Rosa left, Aurelia anxiously approached her mother¡¯s bed, and the nurse called for the on -duty doctor. Thanks to the

    protection Sophia provided, her mother was not harmed.

    However, she had a small cut on her rough hand.

    Aurelia quickly reached into her bag and handed two hundred to Sophia.

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, please let the nurse disinfect your

    puno

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m fine. You should go. I''ll stay here with your mother,¡± Sophia said as she epted the money.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Aurelia gratefully nced at her and then left the ward.

 Chapter 92

    Rosamanded gruffly, ¡°Let¡¯s go! Come with me to the police station right now and tell them to release my son. Otherwise,

    your mother won''t have a peaceful surgery!¡±

    Aurelia clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She knew Rosa would do anything for Seth¡¯s sake. She had no

    choice but to swallow the bitterness in her throat.

    ¡°| can go, but | want you to promise that you and your son will never disrupt me or my mother¡¯s life again.¡±

    Hearing this, Rosa nced at the ward door and then cast a casual look at her. Her tightly pursed lips revealed a few lines that

    made her seem particrly harsh.

    Rosa¡¯s gaze wasn¡¯t just focused on her; it was evaluating her. However, Rosa¡¯s acting skills were not as polished as Seth¡¯s. Thus

    Aurelia saw through her intentions.

    Rosa couldn''t immediately agree to her request because she feared Seth would never find another woman like her again.

    Alocal woman whose father had passed away, whose mother was critically ill, who had no siblings, and who didn¡¯t demand a

    dowry. Marrying her meant that everything left by her parents would belong to Seth. It was a huge advantage, and how could

    their family bear to give it up?

    Aurelia understood this but didn¡¯t show it. She calmly reminded Rosa, ¡°Mrs. Martinez, if | don¡¯t intervene and help resolve this,

    given Seth¡¯s actions, he¡¯s likely to be held in custody for at least two or three days.

    ¡°That means he won''t be able to return to work as nned on Monday. Imagine what his boss and colleagues will think when

    they find out about his arrest?¡±

    With this reminder, Rosa became fearful. The greatest pride of her life was giving birth to Seth, and there was no way she would

    let him jeopardize his career.

    ¡°Alright! | agree!¡± Rosa huffed.

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, it¡¯s better to be clear. What are you agreeing to?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°| agree if you go to the police station to reconcile and have Seth released, neither | nor Seth wille to bother you and your

    mother again!¡± Rosa reluctantly repeated, wearing a defiant expression on her face.

    In that situation, it was just the two of them, and who had been keeping tabs on what had been said or promised?

    Even if Rosa had decided to backtrackter on, what could Aurelia have done about it?

    When Rosa arrived at the hospital earlier, she had asked around. Not many people in this intensive care unit made it out alive.

    Moreover, the critical point was that Aurelia imed to be married, but her husband hadn''t even visited his mother-inw. No

    one on the other hospital beds had heard her mention being married.

    Wasn''t it evident that she was lying? What police station could verify her marriage? It was probably just a ploy to deceive Seth

    and break up with him.

    Chapter 92

    2/2

    No way!

    If Aurelia wanted to drag it out, then let her. She was already 25, and the longer she dragged it out, the less valuable she

    became. Once her mother passed away, Seth could go and console her, and everything would be fine again.

    Aurelia captured all of Seth¡¯s mother¡¯s smugness and insolence and raised her phone.

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, I¡¯ve recorded it.¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, if you evere to disturb me again, everyone in Seth''spany will have a copy of this recording.¡±

    ¡°You bitch! You deserve to be an orphan! What are you without Seth?¡±

    ¡°If you dare to talk nonsense again, | won''t go to the police station.¡±

    Rosa was about to say something, but she restrained herself and let out a cold snort.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to argue with her anymore to avoid affecting her mother¡¯s surgery at the hospital.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    After saying that, she walked towards the elevator, with mumblesing from Rosa, who followed her downstairs.

    On the way to the police station, Aurelia still felt uneasy. She absentmindedly took out her phone and discovered more than a

    dozen missed calls from Millie. Due to themotion in the hospital just now, she hadn''t heard a single one.

    All of them were from Millie. She wondered if something had happened during her blind date.

 Chapter 93

    Chapter 93

    Worried that something might be wrong with Millie, Aurelia quickly called her.

    However, there was no answer. She made several calls, all of which went unanswered. She had no choice but to send a few

    messages to Millie.

    ¡°Millie, are you okay? How did the blind date go? Something came up earlier, so | couldn¡¯t answer your calls.¡±

    ¡°Millie, why aren¡¯t you responding? If there¡¯s a problem, please call me.¡±

    ¡°Millie, let me know when you get home.¡±

    Each message seemed to vanish into thin air, and Aurelia couldn''t help but furrow her brows. Just as she was about to call Millie

    again, Seth¡¯s mother pushed her forcefully.

    ¡°Why are you still sitting in the car? You''re not thinking of backing out, are you?¡±

    ¡°I''ming.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t have the energy to argue with her and put her phone away before getting out of the car. When they entered the

    police station, they were greeted by a young man.

    After exining their purpose, he looked at Aurelia as if he couldn¡¯t quite believe it. ¡°Miss, it¡¯s said that he harassed you for

    several days. Are you sure you want to reconcile?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Aurelia nodded helplessly.

    They both knew that harassment like this often didn¡¯t stop after just one incident. If not resolved properly the first time, it could

    lead to even more troubleter. But Aurelia had to ensure her mother¡¯s safety, so she had no choice but to agree.

    The young man prepared the paperwork for them to sign, and after signing, someone led Seth into the room.

    At this moment, Seth had lost his former confidence and swagger. His hair resembled a bird¡¯s nest, with a noticeable bald spot at

    the back, as if someone had forcibly pulled a chunk out.

    His nose was red and swollen, and there were clear handprint marks on his face. Even with his designer clothes, he couldn¡¯t

    hide hisical disarray.

    When Seth saw Aurelia, he clearly felt embarrassed and actually hid behind his mother like a child. Seeing her son in this state,

    Seth¡¯s mother began to wail andin.

    ¡°Seth, how did you end up like this? Did the police use violence against you? Tell Mom, | will definitely seek justice for you!¡±

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, making false usations against others can lead to legal consequences. If you have any doubts, we can discuss it

    further in the interrogation room,¡± warned the police officer. Upon hearing this, Seth¡¯s face turned pale, and he hastily pulled his

    mother away.

    ¡°Let''s go, hurry up, don¡¯t embarrass yourself any further.¡±

    Apparently, he was aware that his actions were far frommendable. Seth¡¯s mother couldn''t resist giving Aurelia a spiteful look

    as they left.

    Chapter 93

    212

    ¡°Aurelia, just you wait!¡±

    After saying this, the two of them hastily fled. The young man who organized the documents chuckled and discussed the

    situation with his colleagues nearby.

    ¡°This guy bragged about himself so much at the men¡¯s social gathering. He imed he received 3,000 dors worth of designer

    items as birthday gifts from women. But he got caught red-handed when he wore a fake watch worth only 900 dors.

    ¡°He thought wealthy people wouldn''t care about that small amount of money. But even wealthy people can¡¯t let themselves be

    fooled like that.

    ¡°Two hours ago, that woman brought her five brothers over demanding money. This guy quickly caved and returned the money.

    As she was leaving, she asked for a hug, then forcefully pulled out a bunch of his hair.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°She even used the fake watch to hit his nose, resulting in a medical bill of 250 dors. He didn¡¯t dare to utter a word. We can¡¯t

    really say much about it.¡±

    Aurelia thought, 250 dors? It must be his whole bank ount. She couldn''t help but smile and felt like apuding this woman.

    Let''s see how Seth would act now!

    With the situation resolved, it was already 1:00 AM. Aurelia called Sophia to check on her mother¡¯s condition. After hearing

    everything was fine, she finally rxed and went back home.

    On her way home, she noticed Millie hadn¡¯t replied to her messages, and her phone was switched off. Aurelia assumed she must

    be asleep. If there was any issue, Millie would have already sent a long message filled with gossip.

    Back at her ce, Aurelia quietly entered her room,y on the bed, and fell asleep.

    In a hotel room, Millie was tightly wrapped in her nket, crying bitterly. There were visible bruises on her neck from being

    choked.

 Chapter 94

    ¡°Alright, stop crying. Have some water and calm down.¡±

    Acup of warm water was handed to Millie.

    The person speaking wasn¡¯t anyone else but Kimberly, who had followed Millie to the restaurant for her blind date.

    As soon as Kimberly saw Millie¡¯s date, she knew he was a yboy. This kind of guy wasn¡¯t here for a genuine blind date; he was

    just using it as an excuse to fool around with women. He relied on his money to deceive innocent girls.

    Most girls had some self-awareness and could tell from the first meeting that a guy with such excellent conditions wouldn¡¯t be

    looking for an ordinary girl as a wife. There must be ulterior motives.

    But there were always a few who clung to the fantasy they were Cindere. They wanted something for nothing, eagerly

    throwing themselves at such men.

    Millie was one of those girls.

    Did she really think she could match up to a rich and handsome man just by wearing a pair of high heels that cost 12 thousand

    dors?

    She should wash her brain before anything else.

    The man she was meeting was quite average¡ªlooking but had money and behaved like a gentleman. He could adapt to Millie¡¯s

    type very well.

    Millie was thrilled, thinking she had struck gold. Little did she know she was already being fooled.

    After dinner, the man took Millie to the nearest bar. A couple of 200-dor cocktails had her feeling on top of the world.

    Kimberly found it ridiculous. Some people really needed more awareness.

    After three drinks, Millie was feeling woozy, and the man started getting handsy. Millie wanted to resist, but did she have the

    strength?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Sitting in the private room, Kimberly watched and smiled because she knew her opportunity was here. Millie would definitely

    seek help from her good friend, Aurelia.

    That¡¯s why Kimberly used another phone to inform Seth¡¯s mother to create a scene at the hospital. It would catch Aurelia off

    guard and divert all her attention.

    Millie continued to struggle, repeatedly trying to contact Aurelia for help. Meanwhile, Kimberly drank and recorded videos,

    considering it a lesson for Millie. After all, Millie had often been confrontational with Kimberly in the past.

    Finally, inside the private room, with Millie¡¯s clothes torn to shreds, Kimberly put down her phone and called security to enter. She

    even arranged for a luxury room in the hotel for Millie to stay in.

    As her thoughts returned, Kimberly asked, ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡±

    Clutching the bedsheets, Millie¡¯s voice trembled as she said, ¡°I want to call the police! | want to sue him!¡±

    Hearing this, Kimberly burst intoughter. ¡°Why are youughing?¡± Millie gritted her teeth.

    ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯ve always found you cute because you seemed silly, but | never thought you were really this naive.

    ¡°Do you

    think someone who dared to do this wouldn''t have a way to protect themselves? You ate and drank what he provided, held

    hands with him, and whispered to each other. If he

    ims you were a couple on a blind date, do you think you can win?¡±

    ¡°|... It''s not like that. | didn¡¯t agree to any of this!¡± Millie choked out.

    ¡°He can say he thought you agreed by not objecting. At most, he¡¯llpensate you with some money, which won''t cost him

    much. But for you... The whole world will know you were almost raped,¡± Kimberly warned, trying to scare her.

    Terrified, Millie stood up from the couch and paced anxiously around the room. ¡°No! | can¡¯t allow anyone to know! How can | face

    the world like that?¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. As long as we keep quiet, no one will find out. I''ve paid for the room tonight. Rest well,¡± Kimberly reassured her

    before leaving the room slowly.

    At this moment, Millie finally calmed down. She stared at Kimberly with a puzzled expression. ¡°Why did you help me?¡±

    Kimberly adjusted her bag. She had been waiting for Millie to ask this question.

    She sighed and said, ¡°To be honest, you may not speak nicely at times, but we are colleagues. | couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch

    you get taken advantage of by a scumbag, could I? I¡¯m not such an unreasonable person.¡±

    Millie''s expression became slightly confused, and she didn¡¯t quite understand Kimberly''s intentions.

    Kimberly casually ran her fingers through her hair and smiled. ¡°Not even a ¡®thank you¡¯? | thought someone woulde to your

    rescue when you kept making calls, so | didn¡¯t want to interfere. But in the end, | had to step in.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Millie reluctantly said, looking at her damaged phone.

    Why didn¡¯t Aurelia answer her calls? Aurelia almost got her killed!

    From Millie¡¯s expression, Kimberly could tell her purpose had been achieved. She turned and left the room, thinking, Aurelia, I¡¯ve

    said it before. You can¡¯t beat me!

 Chapter 95

    Chapter 95

    As soon as Aurelia woke up, she sent messages and called Millie.

    Strangely, Millie didn¡¯t reply to her messages, and her phone was switched off. Well, she would ask her at the officeter.

    Aurelia stretchedzily, then headed to the bathroom for a shower before preparing breakfast. Seeing that it was almost time,

    she realized that even the seemingly serious and stern Leslie could sleep in.

    Could he have overslept?

    Unexpectedly, she found it a bit amusing and suppressed her smile. Worried that Leslie might bete and have his sry

    docked, she knocked on his door. ¡°Mr. Synder, are you up? You''ll bete if you don¡¯t get up.¡±

    She strained her ears for a moment and vaguely heard the sound of someone getting out of bed. Satisfied, she returned to the

    dining table and packed some breakfast to eat on the way.

    She had just finished putting on her shoes when she heard Leslie¡¯s footsteps.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°To work.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°Today is Sunday; yourpany doesn¡¯t have a day off?¡±

    ¡°Um... | forgot,¡± Aurelia stood there awkwardly.

    Leslie looked at her puzzled expression and realized that she had genuinely forgotten. It was the first time he had ever

    encountered someone so dedicated to work.

    She had been so busy all week that she was disoriented and still thought it was Saturday. She hadn¡¯t realized it was already

    Sunday.

    Mostpanies now have a five-day workweek with weekends off. But weekends are often the busiest for those involved in

    event nning like her. Sometimes, they even have to take time off on weekdays topensate for their work on weekends.

    That¡¯s why she hadpletely forgotten about her day off.

    ¡°You''re still standing? Aren¡¯t you going to eat breakfast?¡± Leslie walked slowly toward the dining table.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Aurelia felt a little embarrassed. She took off her high heels and returned to the table. She unpacked the breakfast she had

    prepared earlier and continued eating.

    After finishing the meal, Leslie wiped his mouth. ¡°Do you have anything else to doter?¡±

    ¡°No, why?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°The fridge is empty, so let¡¯s go grocery shopping together,¡± Leslie said calmly.

    ¡°You heard that?¡±

    Aurelia was surprised. She had casually mentioned it, not expecting Leslie to take it to heart.

    Chaplet 95

    30

    The fridge was indeed empty, and she had nned to buy groceries herself. However, she couldn¡¯t carry too much on her own.

    With Leslie¡¯s help, buying, groceries for a week wouldn''t be a problem. After all, Leslie¡¯s refrigerator was quite advanced, with

    automatic sensors on the doors and two vacuum chambers.

    Out of curiosity, Aurelia looked it up online and found that it was designed to keep food fresh for up to ten days. The fridge looked

    beautiful,

    But the price was even more impressive. It was nearly 50,000 dors for such a refrigerator!

    She couldn''t help but think about how, before she arrived, this expensive refrigerator used to store only eggs and toast. What a

    waste!

    Today, she was determined to fill that refrigerator to the brim!

    ¡°Why are you staring? If | don¡¯t go, you won''t be able to carry too much stuff alone,¡± Leslie said. He then got up and collected the

    dishes and cutlery. He did not seem reluctant.

    Aurelia, caught off guard by his offer, remained frozen in ce. She cautiously nced at Leslie¡¯s back in the kitchen,

    The difference between men could be so significant. Perhaps she had interacted with too few men before. That was why she had

    been easily deceived by Seth¡¯s so-called ¡°sincerity*.

    When she was with Seth, not only did he not want to apany her grocery shopping, but he also refused to go to the

    supermarket with her altogether.

    Seth imed supermarkets were where housewives went, so what could he do there? But Leslie voluntarily suggested going

    with her, solely because he considered she couldn''t carry too much alone.

    In reality, Seth should have understood these things as well. He had given so many excuses only because he was unwilling to

    make an effort.

    Going to the supermarket was just a tiny matter in life. If she were to confront Seth about this issue on her own, she wouldn''t

    have a strong argument. He didn¡¯t want to go, and she couldn''t force him, right?

    She was an adult, after all. Shouldn¡¯t she be able to handle a simple trip to the supermarket on her own?

    There were countless reasons for everything.

 Chapter 96

    But wasn''t life just a series of small things? Crushing someone''s feelings did not always require a catastrophic event.

    Sometimes, it was just the umtion of little straws.

    When Aurelia came to her senses, Leslie had already finished washing the dishes and walked

    out.

    ¡°Are you nning to go like this?¡± He wiped his hands and asked.

    Aurelia lowered her head to look at her work uniform and quickly stood up.

    ¡°Wait a moment, I¡¯ll go change.¡±

    She rushed back to her room and took out a ginger¡ªyellow dress from her closet. This dress had been a gift from her mother,

    and she treasured it, rarely wearing it. Today, she had no idea why she thought of it.

    When she thought about changing her clothes, the first thing that came to mind was this dress. Her mother had given it to her,

    saying it would look beautiful on her fair skin.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    In fact, it was true; she would draw a lot of attention wearing it.

    But why did she suddenly think of it? Was it because of Leslie?

    Soon, Aurelia shook her head to dismiss the thought that shouldn¡¯t have crossed her mind. It was probably because her mother

    was having surgery tomorrow that she thought of the dress.

    After changing into the dress, she tied her hair into a bun. It was hottely, and this hairstyle felt more refreshing.

    She walked out of her room and adjusted her dress.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I¡¯m ready.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Leslie, who was sitting on the couch, casually lifted his gaze. His eyes couldn¡¯t help but linger for a moment.

    This was the first time he saw Aurelia in anything other than her work uniform. It wasn¡¯t an exceptionally fancy outfit; it was a

    style many young girls liked to wear.

    It was only a round-neck long dress, but it somehow looked dazzling on her.

    Her already fair skin appeared even more radiant against the ginger¡ªyellow fabric. The round neckline emphasized her delicate

    corbones, while the dress¡¯s length revealed the slimmest part of her calves.

    She looked yful and cute, with a simple bun and a few stray strands of hair falling gracefully.

    How old was she, really?

    People would believe she was in her thirties when she wore her work uniform. But now, in this outfit, she looked like a college

    freshman.

    Sensing Leslie¡¯s gaze, Aurelia asked cautiously, ¡°What''s wrong? Is it not nice? | can change back if you''d like. | don¡¯t have many

    casual clothes...¡±

    Leslie interrupted, ¡°This is fine. There¡¯s no need to change.¡±

    22

    She should throw away those ugly, old-fashioned work uniforms that made her look older than she was.

    He didn¡¯t mention it out of consideration for her pride. He realized he was being overly meddlesome-when did he be so

    concerned about what other people wore?

    Leslie furrowed his brows and headed toward the entrance.

    Aurelia took her sneakers from the closet, ready to put them on, and Leslie¡¯s brow nearly creased into one.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have any other shoes?¡± A yellow dress paired with ck sneakers was abination that even he could not

    understand.

    ¡°Sneakers are convenient.¡± Aurelia clearly didn¡¯t catch his point.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Leslie pursed his lips and regretted being too nosy. Why did he care so much?

    Aurelia didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    And so,

    the two of them went to a supermarket close to the apartment. It was Aurelia¡¯s first time at this supermarket.

    Surprisingly, they had free samples near the entrance. The staff were generous, slicing a big piece of sausage for tasting.

    Unlike the supermarkets she had been to before, where the samples were just thin slices. They would also aggressively try to

    make you buy something, as if not buying was taking advantage.

    But here, it was different. There was no forceful sales pitch, and people queued up in an orderly fashion.

    Aurelia looked at the freshly grilled sausage, feeling tempted. However, Leslie was still standing next to her. Would he think she

    was being cheap if she just helped herself?

    But it really did look delicious. She couldn''t help but lick her lips and then nced at the man beside her.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, would you like some?¡±

    Leslie was speechless.

    Leslie nced at her, her gaze filled with anticipation, practically wearing an expression that screamed, ¡°I want some¡±. This

    demeanor was far from a white-cor worker''spetent and professional look.

 Chapter 97

    Leslie didn¡¯t like crowded ces and just wanted to buy their things and leave. So he pretended not to notice Aurelia¡¯s gaze and

    turned to walk away.

    A pair of eyes stared at him intently. He sighed lightly. What a hassle.

    ¡°Go queue up,¡± he said.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    When Aurelia smiled, her eyes sparkled like grapes soaked in water, rippling with waves. She joined the line and quickly came

    back with two paper trays.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, here you go.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Leslie took the paper tray.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t wait and put the sausage in her mouth. However, she underestimated the temperature, and it burned her tongue.

    She looked at Leslie, who was about to eat, and quickly grabbed his hand. She tilted her head slightly and tried to say

    something, ¡°Tongue burnt...¡±

    She struggled to say the words correctly and began panting continuously.

    Leslie frowned and took a step closer. ¡°Open your mouth.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Aurelia pursed her lips.

    ¡°Let me see if it''s a severe burn.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Aurelia nodded, opened and closed her mouth, and said, ¡°Ah*.

    She had arge cavity in one of her teeth, and she didn¡¯t want Leslie to see it.

    Leslie said nothing. He paid no attention and simply lifted her face closer to him. ¡°Open your mouth.¡±

    Aurelia stared wide-eyed at the man so close to her, feeling a little overwhelmed. She could only open her mouth.

    ¡°Ah...¡±

    Leslie nced for a moment. Her upper pte and tongue seemed a bit red. There shouldn¡¯t be anything serious. He just said,

    ¡°It''s not a big deal. Eat less sugar from now on.¡±

    Aurelia was dumbfounded.

    She immediately closed her mouth tightly. He had discovered herrge cavity!

    She just hadn¡¯t had the time to visit the dentist. But the thought of Leslie seeing it made her a bit embarrassed. She could feel his

    body heat quite distinctly, especially with Leslie so close to her now.

    Just thinking about it made her face even hotter.

    At this moment, Leslie¡¯s hand was still on Aurelia¡¯s cheek, and he could feel the temperature change on her face most directly.

    He couldn''t help but pause. Just as he let go of her, a familiar

    2/2

    voice came from behind.

    ¡°Leslie? Aurelia?¡±

    They turned to look, and Linda and her friend were approaching. Linda looked at the two of them and couldn''t stop smiling,

    quickly introducing them to her friend.

    ¡°My son, my daughter-inw.¡±

    Linda¡¯s friends looked at Leslie with surprise in their eyes and then nced at Aurelia. They forced a dry smile, but their smiles

    didn¡¯t quite reach their eyes.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    ¡°Oh my! Your son is so handsome! Why didn¡¯t you tell us earlier?¡±

    Why didn¡¯t Linda tell them earlier?

    Because she thought they might not be a suitable match for Leslie.

    ¡°They are so affectionate; it''s making me blush. But, youngdy, you should be moreposed. What''s with all the hugging and

    cuddling in public? People might get the wrong idea,¡± one of Linda¡¯s friendsmented, implying that Aurelia should be more

    modest. ¡°Dear, don¡¯t be offended by our frankness. We''re just looking out for you. If we acted like that back in our time, we''d be

    criticized left and right. We''re trying to teach you how to conduct yourself,¡± another friend added.

    Yes, they were nitpicking her in every way.

    Aurelia felt increasingly ufortable as she listened. She had a feeling that they were suggesting she was behaving

    improperly.

    However, she couldn''t easily avoid or refute them, especially since these people were Linda¡¯s friends. She didn¡¯t want to make

    things difficult for Linda.

    Just as the criticism continued, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking the critical gazes of the older women.

    ¡°Is there something you want?¡± Leslie asked coldly.

    Startled by Leslie''s imposing presence, the women fell silent, their noses twitching as they avoided further confrontation.

    Linda clicked her tongue disapprovingly and nced at her friends. ¡°What''s wrong with my daughter-inw hugging her

    husband? It¡¯s the modern era. | didn¡¯t expect your thinking to be so old¡ªfashioned. Don¡¯t invite me for outings anymore in the

    future. | won''t want to fall behind too.¡±

    Hearing this, the women¡¯s expressions turned sour, and they hurriedly chuckled to defuse the situation. ¡°We were just joking,

 Chapter 98

    Chapter 98

    Leslie cast a casual nce at Aurelia. ¡°Are you mute?¡±

    Aurelia was speechless.

    Aurelia was momentarily taken aback but found reassurance in the towering figure beside her. She smiled politely at the women

    who had been scrutinizing her moments ago.

    ¡°Aunties, have your retirement pensions exceeded ten thousand bucks? Has your son gotten married? Has your daughter

    married a wealthy man? Are your grandchildren studying at Harmony Elementary?¡±

    Harmony Elementary was the most prestigious elementary school in the entire Seacester, attended by students from affluent

    families.

    They had the time to criticize her but didn¡¯t take a look at themselves.

    ¡°You...¡± They were fuming.

    ¡°Aunties, I¡¯m sorry if I''m being straightforward, but | genuinely care about all of you.¡±

    The women were left speechless.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to make things difficult for them, so she asked Linda, ¡°Mom, do you want to shop together?¡±

    ¡°No, we won''t disturb you any longer. I¡¯m heading back,¡± Linda replied. She didn¡¯t want these people to ruin Leslie and Aurelia¡¯s

    romantic outing. If she had known what these people were like, she wouldn¡¯t have attended any senior citizen university

    activities.

    Who did they think they were, daring to criticize her daughter-inw? She''d withdraw all the financial support for the senior

    citizen university as soon as she got back!

    As Linda was leaving, she stopped in front of Leslie. ¡°Why are you such a ¡®hidden pervert¡¯? | urged you to find a girlfriend back

    then, and you acted like a dead man.

    ¡°Now, you''re so impatient that you''ve left a woman with swollen lips after kissing her at the supermarket. What''s the rush?¡±

    Leslie and Aurelia were speechless.

    Swollen lips? Aurelia immediately thought of something and took out a small mirror from her bag to check. It was true! Her lips

    were swollen from the burn!

    ¡°Mom, actually...¡±

    ¡°Alright, | understand. It¡¯s newlyweds being all lovey¡ªdovey. You can kiss, | mean, shop together.¡±

    Linda and her friends disappeared as quickly as a gust of wind, leaving Aurelia with no chance to say goodbye.

    A few secondster, Aurelia felt a scrutinizing gaze on her from above. She raised her head slightly and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?

    Did | say something too offensive just now?¡±

    ¡°Not really. After all, you¡¯re someone who can punch a man and make his nose bleed,¡± Leslie said with a half-smile.

    Chapter 98

    2/2

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but feelpletely embarrassed, unable to summon a smile. Why did Leslie have to remember the incident

    where she had punched someone?

    ¡°Are youing?¡± Leslie turned around.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Aurelia replied, following behind him.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    She soon realized how attention¡ªgrabbing Leslie was. Even while grocery shopping, he seemed to attract everyone¡¯s gaze.

    She felt hesitant to get too close to him. Inadvertently, she got pushed to the edge of the crowd.

    Feeling a bit helpless, she slowly pushed her cart forward. However, someone identally bumped into a shelf, causing a whole

    box of milk cartons to fall in her direction.

    She wanted to dodge, but the cart blocked her way. Yet the crowd pressed in from behind.

    To make matters worse, a woman was holding a child beside her. Her instinct was to raise her hand to block, hoping to mitigate

    the impact.

    At this moment, a slender arm reached over her head and effortlessly supported the almost toppling box of milk.

    ¡°You seem to have a lot of bad luck.¡± Leslie frowned.

    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± Aurelia said, feeling helpless.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    Leslie secured the milk carton and took Aurelia¡¯s shopping cart, protecting her from the crowd. Despite his aloof demeanor, he

    didn¡¯t show any disdain orints.

    Aurelia stole a nce at him, who still maintained his handsome yet cold appearance. She felt they were slightly closer now.

    Perhaps it had been too long since she had experienced the feeling of being protected by someone. Especially after her father¡¯s

    death, as the only daughter, she had to take the lead in front of her mother. She had long forgotten what it felt like to be shielded

    by someone.

    However, Aurelia didn¡¯t think too much about it. After all, she and Leslie were just roommates sharing an apartment.

    After a few steps, she felt a stinging pain in her mouth and a dry, wrinkled sensation on her lips. It was probably due to the burn.

    If only she could drink something cold right now.

    Just as she was thinking about it, the shopping cart next to her stopped, and a small cup of milk was handed to her.

    Chapte 99

 Chapter 99

    Aurelia stared nkly at Leslie.

    ¡°Don''t want it?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°ldo.¡±

    Aurelia took a sip of the milk and paused. It was cold, which helped relieve the burning sensation in her mouth.

    ¡°There¡¯s another cup here.¡± Leslie pointed to another paper cup in the shopping cart.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but grip the cup tightly to control her emotions. It was nothing much, just Leslie being a gentleman. But she

    still felt touched for a moment.

    Many of her female colleagues at thepany oftenined that men were thoughtless and didn¡¯t care about others. It

    seemed like these traits had be stereotypes of men.

    So, when Seth ignored her feelings in the past, she also thought that all men were like that. Now, she realized that people had

    been brainwashed. Men could be gentle and caring, even more so than women.

    ¡°What do you want to buy?¡±

    Leslie''s voice brought her back to reality. She quickly put down the cup and began to pick out vegetables.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, is there any specific dish you''d like to eat? We''ve been busytely, so I''ll buy more and keep it in the fridge.¡±

    Leslie looked at Aurelia, who was picking out vegetables and pursed his lips.

    ¡°| don¡¯t mind.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I''ll buy a bit of everything, and if you see something you don¡¯t like, just let me know.

    Aurelia naturally pulled over a nearby stic bag and started selecting vegetables.

    After weighing and checking the prices, she said, ¡°The prices here are slightly higher than outside, but the quality is good. It¡¯s

    convenient too.¡±

    After the back-and-forth conversation, Aurelia also rxed and became more talkative.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, let¡¯s go and take a look at the meat section up ahead. | saw beef there.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, what is that section over there for? You''re tall. Can you help me take a look?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, what are all those people doing over there?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder...¡±

    Leslie narrowed his eyes as he realized Aurelia was quite talkative in private.

    Once Aurelia noticed his expression, she immediately pursed her lips.

    ¡°I''m sorry; | used to apany my parents when shopping, and | tend to talk a lot.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Leslie nodded.

    Aurelia thought the conversation would end with her chattering. But she was surprised to hear Leslie¡¯s voice again.

    ¡°Too many people are buying beef right now; let''s check out something else to avoid the crowd.

    ¡°That section over there is where they sell desserts; they must have new items.

    ¡°lll buy a new dishwashing liquidter. The one you bought made my hands itch.¡±

    After speaking, Leslie continued pushing the cart forward.

    Aurelia stood in ce like she¡¯d been struck by lightning. She could tell that Leslie didn¡¯t particrly like excessive talking. But

    he always responded appropriately, even though his tone was cold.

    After returning to her senses, Aurelia followed Leslie. She couldn¡¯t understand why someone like him, with a good job, good

    looks, and an open-minded mother, couldn''t find a girlfriend.

    Could it really be because of his parents¡¯ divorce?

    Then he must be quite pitiful. When parents divorce, apart from the mutual harm between the parents, the first person to get hurt

    was usually the child.

    Although she didn¡¯t know the full story of Linda¡¯s divorce, the fact that Linda was unwilling to talk about her ex-husband indicated

    that the divorce was likely unpleasant.

    At that moment, Aurelia noticed Leslie staring at the steaks in the freezer. Could it be that he wanted to eat steak? She

    immediately picked up two steaks and ced them in the shopping

    cart.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, how about having steak for lunch? | haven''t had it in a long time.¡±

    Leslie''s eyes flickered, and he nodded slightly.

    ¡°In that case, I''ll also get some sd dressing to make a vegetable and fruit sd,¡± Aurelia smiled.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Leslie replied, his expression remaining unchanged as he continued to push the cart, his thoughts drifting far away.

    This brand of steak was the first thing he had on his birthday after leaving the Synder family with his mother. He had not seen

    this brand again since then, so it was surprising to find it here. Seeing the steaks brought back a lot of memories.

    Noticing that Leslie seemed lost in thought and possibly not in the best mood, Aurelia decided to stop talking and focus on

    selecting the groceries she needed.

    When they reached the checkout counter, Aurelia naturally took out her phone to pay but was surprised when Leslie paid for their

    groceries ahead of her. He then carried the tworge bags of items and walked away.

    Aurelia received the receipt from the cashier and quickly caught up with him, matching his

    pace.

 Chapter 100

    ¡°Mr. Synder, let me take one bag.¡±

    ¡°No need, it¡¯s not much trouble for me.¡± Leslie effortlessly carried the bag.

    ¡°Then let ine pay you back half.¡± Aurelia checked the amount on the receipt.

    ¡°| don¡¯t need to split expenses for some groceries with my wife.¡±

    When Leslie casually used the word ¡°wife*, both felt a little awkward.

    He turned around and cleared his throat, ¡°Can you unlock the car for me? | have my hands full with these bags.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded eagerly. ¡°Okay, where are the car keys?¡±

    ¡°In my pocket.¡±

    ¡°Okay, got it.¡±

    Aurelia reached into the pocket, but his phone was in the way, forcing her to fumble around inside.

    ¡°Aurelia, are you doing this on purpose?¡± Leslie pondered.

    Aurelia lowered her head and realized that her hand was pressed tightly against Leslie¡¯s waist and abdomen through the pocket,

    feeling his firmness.

    ¡°No! There¡¯s nothing worth touching in there,¡± She cleared her throat and exined.

    Leslie was shocked.

    ¡°Let''s go, let¡¯s go.¡±

    Aurelia hurriedly went to unlock the car door.

    Leslie raised an eyebrow. Well, she certainly had a way with words.

    After getting into the car, Aurelia felt that the silence inside the car was a bit excessive.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, can we y some music?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Leslie nodded and pressed the y button.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s have fun- Come on-¡±Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Instantly, a woman¡¯s seductive voice filled the car. It was the DJ remix version, giving people a feeling of not knowing whether to

    move or stay still.

    Aurelia cautiously looked at Leslie. She thought he might listen to some light music, but she didn¡¯t expect him to have this

    preference.

    It''s not a big deal. The woman singing sounded quite good.

    On the other hand, Leslie¡¯s face darkened.

    The car was not his, and he didn¡¯t usually listen to music. Who would have known what his subordinate was listening to?

    Chapter 100

    ¡°Cut it off,¡± he said coldly.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia suppressed a smile and skipped the song.

    ¡°Come on- Let¡¯s have fun-¡± This time, it was a funny male version.

    Before he could even sing the second line, Aurelia quickly skipped the song.

    ¡°Daddy,e on- Let¡¯s have fun~¡± It was a sluttier live broadcast version.

    Ah, really?

    Just different versions of the same song?

    Leslie

    gave up. ¡°Turn it off. You can use Bluetooth for your own music.¡±

    This guy can forget about his bonus for this month!

    Aurelia tilted her head and smirked. ¡°Well, it''s nothing, really. This song is indeed quite good, very uplifting.¡±

    Leslie nced at her during a red light. ¡°Very funny?¡±

    Aurelia suppressed augh, ¡°Sorry.¡±

    Then she lowered her head to connect to Bluetooth but froze again.

    Leslie inquired, ¡°Can¡¯t find it?¡±

    Aurelia raised her phone, ¡°No, it¡¯s easy to find. Come on, let''s have fun.¡±

    There was a brief silence.

    Before the song hadn''t even started ying, they had already arrived home.

    As soon as the car stopped, Aurelia quickly got out, took a light shopping bag, and rushed to press the elevator button.

    Leslie''s expression had been frightening earlier, as if he were about to devour someone.

    However, that song was indeed quite a contrast to Leslie.

    ¡°Let''s go,¡± Leslie said with a dark face as he entered the elevator.

    Aurelia followed him into the elevator, and they exchanged nces.

    Back in the house, Leslie put the groceries in the kitchen and walked solemnly to his study.

    ¡°| have some things to take care of; if you need anything, call me.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia did not dare to offend him again.

 Chapter 101

    Aurelia entered the kitchen and organized the raw food materials in the refrigerator by

    category.

    After putting on an apron, she prepared to pan-fry some steaks.

    However, something was still on her mind.

    She wondered how Millie¡¯s blind date was going.

    Aurelia tried calling her but she was unable to reach her.

    So, she sent Millie a few messages instead.

    ¡°Millie, why can¡¯t | reach you on your phone?¡±

    ¡°Millie, please call me back when you see this.¡±

    She knew that Millie had a habit of sleeping in during the holidays. So she assumed that Millie was nning to sleep in the whole

    day

    Setting her phone aside, Aurelia started cooking.

    She washed some vegetables and cherry tomatoes for some sd. She nned to have them chill in the fridge while she pan-

    fried the steaks.

    Sweating profusely, she went to switch on the electric standing fan. But it was gone.

    Instead, a cool breeze wafted in through the opened kitchen door.

    She was confused and perplexed.

    She walked over to the kitchen door and noticed the electric standing fan was running, blowing in cool air from the air

    conditioning toward the kitchen.

    The angle of the fan had to be positioned intentionally.

    The only person who could have done it was Leslie.

    The heat dissipated from Aurelia¡¯s body.

    She couldn''t help but nce at the study.

    Perhaps living with Leslie wouldn''t be as challenging as she thought.

    Maybe they could live more harmoniously together in the future?

    Future?

    Aurelia was startled by this thought and quickly shook her head.

    Leslie only married her for Linda¡¯s sake. There was no real future between them.

    She turned around and continued cooking.

    In the study, Leslie called up his subordinate who would be lending him their car.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have anything strange in your car, do you?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Nope,¡± the subordinate said.

    ¡°Take everything out of your car tomorrow. Especially clear out your music yer, remove all the songs,¡± Leslie said in a low

    voice.

    ¡°Hehe. Boss, the songs are good, right?¡± The subordinateughed sheepishly.

    The employees of One Technology were Leslie¡¯s confidants from overseas.

    Though they worked for him, they share a close rtionship.

    ¡°I''m taking two days¡¯ worth off your bonus,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°But, boss...¡± The subordinate was on the verge of tears.

    Satisfied, Leslie hung up the phone.

    Just then, a new email came in from hisputer.

    It should be Daniel''s investigation report on Young Advertising that he asked.

    As he was about to open it, he heard a scream from the kitchen.

    ¡°Ahr¡±

    Leslie immediately rushed into the kitchen.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    As Aurelia tried to put a piece of steak into a pan, the stove erupted apanied by a loud explosion.

    Oil sttered everywhere. She screamed while quickly covering the pan with a lid.

    However, the lid was thrown off, and mes shot out from the gaps.

    She couldn''t dodge in time.

    Fortunately, he was saved by Leslie, who pulled her from behind.

    away

    She fell heavily into Leslie''s arms, causing her to panic.

    Leslie used a spat to shut the lid back and it managed to extinguish the fire.

    ¡°It''s okay,¡± he said calmly.

    ¡°Sorry.¡± Aurelia quickly exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to. I¡¯ve never made steak before, so | probably forgot to dry the water on the

    surface. Maybe that¡¯s why it caught fire.

    ¡°If the pan was damaged, I''ll buy you a new one.¡± As someone who loved eating beef, she felt a bit embarrassed about making

    such a mistake.

    Both her parents didn¡¯t like steak, so she never cooked it at home. She only ever had it with Millie a few times at restaurants.

    She thought it would be simr to stir-fried beef, but she ended up making a fool of herself.

    ¡°It''s okay to not know this sort of thing. No one¡¯s ming you.¡± Leslie said, his voice not containing a hint of admonition.

    ¡°um?¡±

 Chapter 102

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Leslie nced at her calmly.

    ¡°|...l thought you would be mad at me,¡± she muttered.

    One time when Seth was sick, Aurelia went to his apartment to cook for him.

    However, she wasn¡¯t familiar with h

    to operate an electric stove and ended up breaking it.

    Seth reprimanded her for being inconsiderate and causing him trouble.

    He even argued that he was scolding her for her own good. Otherwise, she would end up being good for nothing.

    In the end, she even had topensate him a hundred dors.

    Thinking back, she felt like a fool for being that way.

    Leslie dragged her away from the pan and said, ¡°I can¡¯t cook, so who am | to say anything?¡±

    Aurelia fell into silence and lowered her head.

    After a while, all the noises from the pan ceased.

    She wanted to clean up the mess when she noticed that she was in Leslie¡¯s arms, his hand resting on her shoulder.

    Startled, she jolted away toward the fridge.

    Leslie narrowed his eyes. How many times has she done this? Did he smell bad or something?

    ¡°Did you get burnt?¡± he asked, feeling slightly annoyed.

    She shook her head. ¡°No.¡±

    Her face did feel like it was burning, though.

    ¡°If you''re that reluctant to be around me, why did you agree with my mom to marry me?¡±

    Aurelia paused and considered his question. ¡°That¡¯s because ...¡±

    Just as she was about to exin about the conflict between her mother and Seth, she smelt something burning.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, do you smell that?¡±

    ¡°The pan is burning.¡± He pointed at the pan, expressionless.

    ¡°My steak!¡±

    az?¡± at the par and bit he

    Aurelia stared at the ck object on the pan and bit her lip.

    Years of cooking experience yet she failed to even make a simple steak.

    Leslie nced at the pan in disgust. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s order some takeout.¡±

    Aurelia stared at the steak.

    She recalled the thoughtful look on Leslie¡¯s face when he looked at the steak inside the fridge.

    Leslie was so nice to her, yet she couldn¡¯t even make him some steak.

    She pushed him gently. ¡°Mr. Synder, go watch TV. I¡¯ll call you when the food is ready.¡±

    Before Leslie could react, he was pushed out of the kitchen.

    He almost had his nose bumped against the door when he turned around.

    Whose house was this, really?

    He wasn¡¯t annoyed though. Instead, he felt quite rxed.

    He walked straight to the balcony, casually closing the door to prevent the smell of smoke from entering the room.

    The balcony was his favorite spot in this house.

    It was muchrger than those in typical homes.

    With its semi-circr shape, it was equipped with a sunshade, tables, and chairs. It was a perfect ce for rxation.

    He leaned against the railing and lit a cigarette.

    He started obseving a family of three in the opposite building sitting down for a meal.

    The family was smiling.

    The child watched their parents while the father fed the mother a bite of food. They were allughing heartily.

    Leslie never paid attention to these sorts of things, but he was now feeling a sense of longing for something.

    The cigarette smoke started obscuring the image of the happy family before him.

    In an instance, it took him back to a different memory.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    A boy of the same age as him walked up to him, grinning maliciously.

    ¡°Leslie, you''re an illegitimate child, you know? Dad loves me! My mom said the one not loved is the homewrecker!¡±

    Leslie immediately punched him and sent him to the hospital.

    Later, he and his mother were kicked out.

    ¡°Mr. Synder? Mr. Synder? Are you okay?¡±

 Chapter 103

    Aurelia¡¯s voice gradually came to him as he snapped back to reality.

    Leslie turned and saw her standing behind him.

    The wind ruffled her hair and blew away the smoke before him, revealing a faint smile on her face.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, your cigarette is burning out.¡± She pointed at the cigarette between his fingers.

    He immediately put out the cigarette while puffing out thest mouthful of smoke.

    He couldn''t help but nce onest time across the building.

    Aurelia followed his gaze and her smile deepened.

    ¡°They sure look happy, right?¡±

    She was once that happy.

    Ahint of bitterness appeared on her smile as she said, ¡°You will be that happy one day as well, Mr. Synder.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡± He turned and shot her a confused look.

    Did she know what she was saying? She was his legal wife at this moment.

    Noticing his confusion, her eyes widened as she awkwardly said, ¡°I mean you will be happy. Not that I''ll make you happy.

    Haha...¡±

    She made it sound like she wanted to start a family with him.

    ¡°Did you need something from me?¡±

    Seeing how embarrassed she was, Leslie changed the subject.

    Relieved, Aurelia replied, ¡°Food¡¯s ready.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± He turned and stepped back into the apartment.

    Aurelia took onest nce at the family of three before returning inside as well.

    As he approached the dining table, he paused when he saw the steaks on the table.

    Not only did Aurelia cook some steaks, but she also took the time to te them beautifully.

    ¡°I''ve only been to steakhouses a few times. | think this is how they were served?¡± she said.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Leslie sat down slowly.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    ¡°It''s not a big deal. You carried a lot of things for me today. Dig in.¡±

    The two exchanged a few words of courtesy before starting to eat in silence.

    During that time, Aurelia would asionally check her WhatsApp for a message from Millie. Leslie casually asked, ¡°Is/something

    wrong?¡±

    Aurelia hesitated for a moment.

    She thought Leslie might have a different perspective on Millie¡¯s blind date as a man. So, she

    Chapter 103

    asked him a question.

    ¡°My friend went on a blind date. The guy has apany and a vi in the Emerald Valley. He has no specific requirements for

    the girl, just that she should be gentle. Are there really men like that?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Leslie said bluntly.

    ¡°The purpose of a blind date is not to explore each others¡¯ emotions. It¡¯s to assess the other person¡¯s condition. There won¡¯t be

    men whopromise unless they have ulterior motives.¡±

    Leslie''s words left Aurelia feeling uneasy.

    She set down her utensils and hurriedly called Millie.

    However, there still was no response.

    ¡°| can¡¯t reach her. What if something happened to her?¡± Aurelia frowned.

    Leslie wiped the corner of his mouth with a tissue.

    ¡°You''re not her parents. You can¡¯t intervene in her marital affairs. Besides, she¡¯s an adult. She should know that there¡¯s no such a

    thing as free lunches,¡± Leslie remarked.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Aurelia nodded, her gaze dimming slightly.

    She felt like Leslie was hinting at something.

    Did Leslie think she had taken too much dowry? Or did he feel she was taking advantage of him?

    ¡°We are an exception because we aren¡¯t truly married,¡± he blurted out and regretted immediately.

    Why did he bother exining?

    Aurelia breathed a sigh of relief, though she still felt slightly hurt.

    Still, he was just stating a fact, so there wasn¡¯t much for her to say.

    ¡°Let''s continue eating,¡± Leslie suggested.

    She lowered her head and continued to eat her steak.

    After finishing, Leslie stood up with the tes and entered the kitchen.

    Aurelia stood at the doorway and pointed to the dish soap on the windowsill.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, the dishwasher is new and it won¡¯t hurt your hands.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    Leslie stood by the sink, rolled up his sleeves, and then removed his watch.

    It was a simple action.

    But the muscr arm that was partially hidden under the watch was somewhat alluring.

 Chapter 104

    Aurelia noticed her indecent thoughts and quickly returned to her room.

    She sat on the bed and continued to work.

    Meanwhile, in the hotel.

    Millie didn¡¯t want her parents to worry so she used the hotelndline to call them.

    She informed them that she was staying at a friend¡¯s ce.

    The beds in high-ss hotels wererge, soft, and undeniablyfortable.

    Nothing like her single bed at home.

    If it weren¡¯t for the hotel calling to inform her that Kimberly had arranged lunch, she wouldn''t have wanted to leave at all.

    After getting up, she applied a bit of makeup to cover up the red marks on her cheeks and neck.

    Then, she went downstairs in the clothes Kimberly had given her for lunch.

    Steak, red wine, and dessert-each item was so delicious that she was in total awe.

    What bewildered her even more were the prices. Each item cost close to three digits. This was the first time Millie didn¡¯t hate

    Kimberly so much.

    ¡°Millie? You''re still here?¡±

    Speaking of the devil, Kimberly¡¯s voice came up from behind Millie.

    She turned around and saw Kimberly in a ck studded dress, holding a Chanel purse.

    She looked like a youngdy from a wealthy family.

    More importantly, there was a young man standing beside Kimberly.

    aa

    He was dressed in a navy blue suit, with a branded watch on his wrist and diamond earrings hanging on his earlobe.

    He looked handsome and wealthy.

    Kimberly changed her date again.

    Millie pressed her lips and recalled how she came close to getting vited by a man yesterday. Yet, Kimberly always managed

    to navigate herself through various high-quality men.

    Even Aurelia, who came from a simr upbringing as Millie, managed to snatch a great man.

    It was driving her mad with jealousy.

    Kimberly saw through Millie''s thoughts and smiled. ¡°Millie, you better not don¡¯t misunderstand. This is my friend. There¡¯s no way

    we''d ever be together.¡±

    With his hands in his pockets, the man shed a dashing smile. ¡°Pah. | don¡¯t like strong women like you anyways. | prefer gentle

    and cute girls, like her. She is much better.¡±

    As he spoke, he nced at Millie.

    Millie blushed and felt a little shy.

    Although she almost sufferedst night, hearing the man say he preferred her over Kimberly still pleased her.

    Kimberly shoved the man. ¡°You better control yourself. This is my colleague. She is a decent girl.¡±

    ¡°I''m a decent man, too.¡± The man pointed at the empty seat. ¡°Do you mind if | sit here, prettydy?

    ¡°Sure.¡± Millie nodded.

    Once the man sat down, he ced his car key on the table.

    She immediately recognized the logo. It was a Ferrari.

    Kimberly sat down and said to Millie, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. He¡¯s just like this. Why don¡¯t we eat together?

    ¡°Sure.¡± Millie stole a nce at the man, only to find him looking back.

    After finishing their food, Kimberly stood hastily.

    ¡°| have something else to take care of. Why don¡¯t you help send Millie home? | can¡¯t let a girl go home alone.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Go ahead.¡± The man waved his hand, then turned to Millie. ¡°My name is Jackson Morrison.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°lm Millie Parker.¡±

    ¡°Since we are friends now, why don¡¯t we exchange numbers?¡± Jackson took out his phone.

    ¡°|...broke my phone yesterday and didn¡¯t have time to get a new one.¡±

    ¡°Let''s go, then. I¡¯ll buy you a new one,¡± he offered.

    ¡°No, no. | can¡¯t ept that.¡±

    Despite what she said, she was secretly thrilled.

    ¡°| won''t let ady spend her own money when I¡¯m around,¡± he said and waved the waiter over. ¡°Pack another set of these

    desserts for thisdy here.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    Millie waved her hands. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I''m full now.¡±

    Jackson leaned back against the chair with a smile. ¡°You seem to like these, so | got you another set. You can have them at

    home. It¡¯s not expensive anyway.¡±

    Millie fidgeted with her fingers, impressed by how generous wealthy men were. Shortly after, she carried the bag of desserts and

    followed Jackson to his Ferrari.

    everyone around her stared at her, she straightened her back proudly.

    When

    She was oblivious to the fact that Kimberly was watching them inside the hotel.

    With a smirk, she sent a message.

    ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t leave any traces.¡±

    Areply immediately came back.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±

 Chapter 105

    After she was done with work, Aureliaid in bed, looking through her phone.

    Just as she was about to fall asleep, her phone vibrated.

    She thought Millie had finally replied to her messages and quickly unlocked her phone.

    It turned out to only be messages from thepany group chat.

    ¡°Millie, was it you | saw at the mour Shopping Center?¡±

    mour Shopping Center? Wasn''t that the mall that only sold luxury brands?

    Kimberly frequented that mall, but why would Millie be there?

    In the midst of Aurelia¡¯s confusion, Millie replied. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±

    Another person replied. ¡°Is the tall and handsome guy next to you your boyfriend?¡±

    ¡°Not really.¡± Millie answered vaguely.

    However, these vague responses were enough to invite spection.

    ¡°Are you

    sure? | saw him buying you all sorts of nice things. He¡¯s treating you so nicely.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s not too bad.¡± Millie replied.

    ¡°Apart from Kimberly, you¡¯re impressing me most now. You either want a great catch like this or nothing else.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of which, what happened to Kimberly¡¯s rich, handsome suitor? Didn¡¯t she say she¡¯d introduce him to us?¡±

    Kimberly didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°@KimberlyWatson.¡±

    A few colleagues tagged Kimberly, but she didn¡¯t respond.

    In the end, it was Millie that supposedly hated Kimberly the most who spoke up.

    ¡°Let''s stop. Maybe she¡¯s just busy.¡±

    Instantly, silence loomed over the group. Even Aurelia was stunned.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    Millie was actually standing up for Kimberly.

    Realizing that something was off, she immediately gave Millie a call.

    After a few beeps, Millie finally picked up.

    ¡°Millie, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I''m fine. Are you disappointed?¡± Millie said sarcastically.

    ¡°What...what do you mean?¡± Aurelia said, surprise.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer the phonest night? Do you know that | almost got vited by the

    blind date guy at the bar because of you?¡± Millie used.

    Hearing this, Aurelia froze for a moment and Millie continued to reproach her.

    ¡°Aurelia, was | not good enough to you? | stood up for you when the others targeted you. Yet, this is how you treat me. | trusted

    you so much and asked for your help, yet you just ignored. me.¡±

    ¡°No, | went outst night ...¡± Aurelia exined.

    ¡°Are you seriously going to make excuses now? Is it that difficult for you to admit your mistakes? It¡¯s no wonder people don¡¯t like

    you! Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s all your fault? It¡¯s so exhausting to be your friend,¡± Millie spoke bitterly.

    ¡°Is that really how you really think about me?¡± Aurelia¡¯s chest heaved and she felt as if she were choking.

    Millie paused for a moment, realizing that she had spoken too harshly.

    She immediately changed her tone and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. | was just really angry.¡±

    However, there was no way to take back what was already said.

    Aurelia wasn¡¯t a pushover. She took a deep breath and retorted, ¡°Millie, are you using me as a punching bag for your anger?¡±

    ¡°Did | force you to go on a blind date? Did | make you go to the bar in the middle of the night? | told you before your date that the

    guy was suspicious.

    ¡°| kept messaging you halfway through, and did you reply to me? Now that something happened, you¡¯re ming me?

    ¡°You''re an adult, Millie. Don¡¯t you understand that there¡¯s no such thing as free lunches?¡±

    As Aurelia spoke, she recalled Leslie¡¯s words.

    Millie understood it well. She just wanted to take shortcuts.

    Millie stayed silent.

    Aurelia pursed her lips and said, ¡°Stop throwing tantrums. Did you report this to the police?¡±

    Millie suddenly raised her voice. ¡°We''re not reporting this to anyone! Do you want to

    embarrass me even more?¡±

    ¡°Millie, what if this person goes on to harm others?¡±

    ¡°Why should | care? If you tell anyone this, I''ll be forced to die.¡±

    ¡°Millie...¡±

    Beep, beep, beep...

 Chapter 106

    Aurelia stared at her phone with resignation.

    Meanwhile, the group chat was in a heated discussion about Millie and the man.

    There were quite a fewments about his wealth, thoughtfulness, and, most importantly, his generosity toward her.

    These descriptions made Aurelia feel as if she were witnessing the creation of another Kimberly.

    However, Millie had explicitly expressed her dislike for braggadocious people like Kimberly.

    Although...Millie did mention that the man from the blind date had tried to take advantage of her. The man she was spotted with

    couldn¡¯t have been the same person.

    Who was he then?

    How could she have encountered a new man after just one night?

    Aurelia racked her brains but couldn¡¯t figure it out.

    In the end, she sighed and decided to ask Millie in person tomorrow.

    At the very least, they needed to clear up the misunderstanding between them.

    With that in mind, Aurelia set the group messages to ¡®Do Not Disturb¡¯ and continued with her work.

    Eventually, she fell asleep.

    When she woke up again, it was already dark outside.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    Feeling disoriented, she remembered she hadn''t prepared dinner yet.

    She quickly got up and left the room.

    As she passed by the dining table, she noticed a thermos with tableware beside it.

    She carefully opened it.

    It was beef stew inside, still oozing steam.

    It must have been prepared by Leslie.

    Aurelia felt touched and nced around the living room.

    There was no one in sight.

    She went to Leslie¡¯s favorite balcony, but he wasn¡¯t there either.

    Turning toward the study, she saw light leaking out from the door crack.

    She took a step forward, wanting to express her gratitude, but hesitated.

    Leslie was usually busy with work, so it was better not to disturb him.

    After she sat down at the dining table, she took out her phone and opened WhatsApp.

    ¡°Mr. Leslie, thank you.¡± She typed.

    4:):[: %

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°| didn¡¯t expect you could make beef stew.¡±

    ¡°It''s takeout.¡± Leslie replied without hesitation.

    Well, at least Leslie didn¡¯t lie to her.

    He didn¡¯t even wake her up to ask for dinner.

    Aurelia often heard her female colleaguesining about whenever they¡¯re not cooking, their husbands would rather go

    hungry than prepare food themselves.

    On weekends, they had to doundry, cook, and take care of the children. It seemed more exhausting than going to work.

    While enjoying the steaming stew, Aurelia pondered.

    Leslie would definitely make a good husband in the future.

    He was quiet but he would help out around the house.

    Wait, wasn¡¯t Leslie her husband?

    Although, it was just in name.

    Meanwhile, in the study.

    Leslie set his phone aside and continued reading. He had a rxed expression.

    Aurelia probably didn¡¯t know how horrible the soundproofing was in the apartment, so he heard every word she said to Millie.

    He was d that at least she wasn¡¯t a fool and knew how to fight back.

    After all, she was a woman who punched a man until he bled.

    For some reason, he felt the urge tough every time he thought back to what happened.

    Aurelia seemed like an ordinary woman, yet she always did unexpected things.

    Just then, he received a text on his phone.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, the police report you filed at 8:25 on 10/5/2023 has been resolved. Ms. Simmons and Mr. Martinez had both

    reached an agreementst night. Please call us if you have any questions.¡±

    Leslie''s eyes darkened.

    An agreement?

    Last night?

    Did that mean that Aurelia went out and settled the case with Seth after he fell asleep?

    Despite saying that she wanted nothing to do with her ex-boyfriend, it seemed as though she couldn¡¯t stand watching him suffer.

    She was such a great actress that even he was fooled.

    He even thought that he misunderstood her for a moment.

    Clenching his fists, his expression darkened even further.

    He called Daniel. ¡°I need you to look into someone else for me.¡±

    ¡°Who is it?¡±

    ¡°Seth Martinez. i want all the avable details on him.¡±

    Leslie swore to show Aurelia what it meant to fool him.

 Chapter 107

    Aurelia, unaware of anything, woke up at six in the morning.

    It was Monday, the day of her mother¡¯s surgery

    She felt nervous.

    Because of it, she got distracted when making breakfast, and her shaking hands almost burnt the eggs.

    It was only half past six after she ate.

    She didn¡¯t want to bother Leslie and headed to the hospital alone.

    soon as she entered the ward, the caretaker saw how pale she was and hurried over to help her.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, you must''ve not slept wellst night?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m a little nervous,¡± Aurelia answered honestly.

    ¡°It''s okay. I''ll be right here with you.¡± The caretaker tapped her on the back gently.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aurelia said after taking a moment to breathe.

    Like that, Aurelia and the caretaker watched as her mother was wheeled into the operating

    room.

    Shortly after, a nurse came out holding a form.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, | need to inform you about the risks concerning the surgery. Watch closely where | point and make sure you sign

    after you take in all the information.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Aurelia nodded.

    ¡°Your mom¡¯s condition is quite unique and, considering her poor health, this surgery could potentially lead to paralysis or

    death...¡±

    The nurse was carried on, but Aurelia wasn¡¯t listening.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    As soon as she heard the word ¡®death¡¯, her mind went nk.

    She recalled how much her parents cared about her

    What her father said to her in hisst breath.

    She thought back to how Seth told her to give up.

    Even Leslie''s face shed before her.

    She knew that she was too afraid.

    ¡°Do you understand?¡± the nurse asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Aurelia nodded dazedly.

    ¡°Then sign, please.¡± The nurse ced the pen on the paper.

    With trembling hands, it took Aurelia two tries to pick up

    the

    pen.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, are you alright? Do you have any other family members around? It¡¯s best to have someone else be here with

    you,¡± the nurse said worriedly.

    It was a high-risk operation. There was no guarantee as to what may happen.

    If something went wrong, Aurelia may not be able to handle it on her own.

    There were countless people in the hospital losing control when they heard of their loved ones ¡®passing. Some even attempted to

    take their own lives.

    Aurelia shook her head with determination. ¡°I can do this myself.¡±

    She didn¡¯t tell Linda and Leslie that her mother was undergoing surgery that day.

    It was bad enough that she needed to deal with this fear, so why bother dragging others into this?

    The caretaker came and supported her gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I''ll stay with her.¡±

    Aurelia nced at the caretaker gratefully and finally gathered the strength to sign the form.

    Once the nurse confirmed everything, she entered the operation room and the sign above the door lit up.

    Aurelia¡¯s heart fell.

    She stood in ce for a while.

    After a while, the caretaker gave Aurelia a gentle nudge.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, your phone keeps vibrating. Is someone looking for you?¡±

    ¡°Til check¡±

    Aurelia snapped out of it.

    She tried to move but even slight movements made her body go numb.

    The caretaker had to help her sit down to help soothe the numbing pain.

    She finally took out her phone.

    The constant buzzings were from thepany group chat.

    She initially didn¡¯t want to look.

    But, she worried it might be work-rted so she clicked onto the messages.

    When she unlocked her phone, she saw photos of Millie looking like apletely different

    person.

 Chapter 108

    Chapter 108

    In the photo, Millie wore a blue dress with a slender branded belt. A ck GUCCI mini bag rested on her shoulder.

    With her exquisite makeup, she looked exceptionally charming.

    Colleagues in the group chat estimated that her outfit alone would cost at least seven thousand dors, nearly seven to eight

    months¡¯ worth of Millie¡¯s sry.

    Milliemented. ¡°It¡¯s not too bad. | actually had my eye on a five thousand dor bag. It was out of stock and | didn¡¯t want to

    wait. But he did say he would take me to see it when it¡¯s avable.¡±

    If she didn¡¯t look at the profile picture, Aurelia would¡¯ve genuinely thought it was Kimberly speaking.

    How had Millie changed so much in just two short days?

    Millie continued. ¡°By the way, he said he would take me to fine dining in a few days, the one Kimberly couldn''t get a reservation

    forst time. He just made a call, and now | can go there whenever | want.¡±

    Millie''s pride was present in every word, and she didn¡¯t forget to overshadow Kimberly. Aurelia could see through this obvious

    intention, and so could their colleagues.

    Kimberly had connections, and nobody dared to offend her.

    Millie''s background waspletely different.

    She was the only university graduate among three generations and her whole family was eagerly awaiting her to seed.

    She was overly straightforward and incredibly talkative. She would¡¯ve offended everyone long ago if it weren¡¯t for Aurelia helping

    her navigate through office politics.

    If there was anything everyone hated most, it would be how arrogant she was acting.

    Their words became increasingly sarcastic as a result.

    ¡°@AIl staff,e and take a look at the future Marie Antote. Even those who aren''t married can bask in her glory. Who

    knows? Maybe one day we can all be rich as well.¡±

    ¡®@AIl staff, Look at the new rising star in our department. Teach us quickly how to make a man spend several thousand in one

    night!¡±

    All the messages were apanied by sarcastic emojis at the end.

    Aurelia knew they were mocking Millie. Surprisingly, Millie didn¡¯t seem to mind.

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just lucky to encounter a handsome, wealthy man.¡¯

    Those words left Aurelia speechless. She quickly exited the group chat and sent a private message to Millie.

    ¡°Millie, don¡¯t talk about your rtionship in the group. They are implying that something to get those branded items.¡±

    you did

    ¡°| know, they¡¯re just jealous. Jealousy distorts people¡¯s faces.¡± Millie replied. Aurelia felt a headacheing on and didn¡¯t know

    how to respond to her.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

    She thought of another way to approach the topic. ¡°Millie, who is this man?¡± ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯re already married. Is it appropriate to

    ask about other men?¡±

    ¡°| don¡¯t mean anything else. | just find it strange that you encountered trouble during a blind date, and then suddenly met another

    wealthy and handsome man. Don¡¯t you find it odd? My friend said men won''tpromise for less unless they have other

    motives.¡±

    Aurelia recalled Leslie¡¯s words. She found them very profound and decided to share them with Millie.

    She didn¡¯t have many friends, and Millie was the closest person to her. She genuinely didn¡¯t want her to get hurt by a man.

    Millie took a while before responding to the message.

    ¡°| told you not to mention that again! Are you doing this on purpose? What do you mean by ¡®promise for less¡¯? Are you

    saying that I¡¯m not worth it? You are saying that I¡¯m not worthy of a good man, right?

    ¡°Your background is even worse than mine, yet you can find yourself a husband who stays in a million dor house. Why can¡¯t I?

    What exactly are you trying to say?¡±

    These words left Aurelia feeling disappointed.

    She didn¡¯t reply, nor did she know what else to say. Perhaps nothing she said mattered to Millie anymore.

    As she set her phone down, thepany group chat stirred once again.

    She wanted to silence her phone, but identally opened it and found a photo of Kimberly and Zachary Zeller.

    ¡°They are both dressed professionally. | heard they are going to One Technology.¡±

    ¡°If Mr. Zeller is taking Kimberly instead of Aurelia, | guess the vice director seat is confirmed!¡±

    Aurelia froze.

    What''s happening? Weren''t they supposed to go to One Technology next Tuesday?

 Chapter 109

    Aurelia was quick to snap out of her shock.

    She immediately called Zachary, but there was no answer.

    She tried calling Kimberly''s number next, with the same result.

    It dawned on Aurelia that she might have been blocked. But why?

    Her mind went nk. Her gaze fell onto the photo of Zachary and Kimberly.

    Zachary was wearing an unfamiliar suit, while Kimberly''s outfit was unlike her usual bold and enthusiastic style.

    She wore a ck suit with her long hair tied up in a refined and professional manner.

    In a moment of realization, Aurelia understood that she had been fooled.

    It had to be nned all along. Kimberly couldn¡¯t have changed outfit and makeup while in the office.

    It was nned from the beginning to have the meeting with One Technology on Monday, but Zachary lied to Aurelia and said it

    was on Tuesday.

    The goal was to make her intentionally miss the meeting and bear all the consequences.

    What could she do anyways, now that she knew? Would she have skipped her mother¡¯s surgery for a promotion and raise?

    atte

    At this moment, Aurelia realized that there was no point no matter how hard she worked.

    She had no background. She was never the best candidate in Zachary¡¯s mind.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    They never intended to leave her any room for a raise.

    Aurelia took a deep breath to calm her indignation and anger.

    However, when she saw the ¡°operation room¡± sign on the wall, she bit her lip bitterly.

    Aperson like her should only ept her reality. What else could she do?

    She tried harder to calm herself and mumbled to herself, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Not getting promoted is okay. | still have my mom...¡±

    But before she could finish the sentence, the resentment in her heart erupted.

    Tears streamed down her face.

    She wanted to fight this helplessness she¡¯s feeling, but couldn¡¯t summon the strength to do so. Aurelia lowered her head as the

    light went out of her eyes. She felt like the entire world had abandoned her.

    She had done her best, but it simply wasn¡¯t enough for her.

    Meanwhile, in One Technology.

    Leslie woke up and could not find Aurelia anywhere, so he concluded that she intended to keep

    the case with Seth a secret.

    Feeling like he was fooled, he arrived at the office with a dark expression.

    Everyone trembled in fear when facing him.

    But as his assistant, Daniel had to report to Leslie regardless.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I¡¯ve emailed you the proposal from Young Advertising. Please take a look. They will be here soon.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Leslie opened his mailbox and found an unread email from Daniel the day before.

    It was a report for the investigation conducted about the employees in Young Advertising. Leslie spotted Aurelia¡¯s name right

    away.

    After pondering for a moment, he clicked on her name.

    He wanted to know what a hypocritical woman like her was actually like when he¡¯s not looking.

    To his surprise, he found a rather simple description.

    Apart from her glorious achievement at work, the rest was about her tragic family background.

    Her father died after using up all the money for medical fees. Then, her mother fainted due to critical illness. All her rtives

    avoided her and she was left alone to support her family.

 Chapter 110

    Chapter 110

    Aurelia¡¯s only experience with love was with a scumbag like Seth.

    It was no wonder that she was just a fool in love despite her outstanding performance at work. As Leslie stared intently at

    Aurelia¡¯s report, Daniel realized that it was no coincidence that Leslie had helped Aurelia at the hotel. Even instructing him to

    investigate Seth.

    Once Daniel looked into it, Seth turned out to be Aurelia¡¯s ex-boyfriend.

    Although this was the first time Leslie showed interest in a woman, he had an obligation to warn Leslie as his exclusive assistant.

    Aurelia¡¯s situation was a bitplicated and she was not a suitable match for him.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, although Ms. Simmons is quite pitiful, her situation is ratherplicated. Not only does she have a seriously ill

    mother, but she also has a horrible ex-boyfriend, Seth Martinez. You told me to look into him.

    ¡°ording to my investigation, she wanted to borrow money from Seth because she struggles to pay the medical bills. Seth

    imed to have no money but bought a new car to show off at herpany.

    ¡°The most disgusting part is that he even intended to wait for Ms. Simmons¡¯ mother to die and then seize the inheritance. After

    breaking up, he couldn¡¯t rise in his career, so he kept harassing Ms. Simmons, making her theughing stock of her firm.¡±

    ¡°The key thing is... Ms. Simmons is already married. However, the investigator couldn¡¯t find out who her husband was. But, who

    her husband is doesn¡¯t matter. Even if the husband

    doesn¡¯t know everything, he¡¯s probably a useless man if he allows his wife to suffer this much.

    11

    Leslie narrowed his eyes on Daniel. He was the ¡®useless man¡¯ Daniel spoke of.

    Daniel felt a chill down his spine. ¡°Mr. Synder, what''s wrong?¡±

    Leslie coldly said, ¡°It seems that the investigator you found is notpetent. Seth¡¯s actions against Aurelia don¡¯t constitute

    harassment. It¡¯s clear this woman is enjoying it.¡±

    Daniel noticed a strange tone in Leslie¡¯s voice and continued, ¡°That''s impossible. | think Ms. Simmons must deeply hate Seth.

    Because of the harassment, Seth was reported to the police by Ms. Simmons¡¯ husband. He was arrested.¡±

    ¡°Seth¡¯s mother barged into Ms. Simmons¡¯ mother¡¯s hospital room, causing trouble and forcing Ms. Simmons to reconcile with

    him. Otherwise, Seth would still be detained as we speak.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Leslie¡¯s expression changed.

    ¡°It was written in thest line of the investigation report. Today is the day of Ms. Simmons¡¯ mother¡¯s surgery. Ms. Simmons would

    surely have a hard time if Seth¡¯s mother got her mother killed, so she had to reconcile.¡±

    Daniel tapped on the screen and read thest line of the text.

    The time when Seth¡¯s mother caused trouble in the hospital room coincided with the time he

    2/2

    received the text message from the police.

    Leslie fell into deep thought, but Daniel continued to speak.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, there¡¯s something rather strange. Ms. Simmons is an aplished employee of Young Advertising, but she¡¯s not on

    the list for this presentation. If she doesn¡¯t

    will

    present the proposal?¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    ¡°She¡¯s not on the list?¡± Leslie snapped back to reality.

    come, who

    He had seen Aurelia¡¯s proposal. Anyone with some level of intelligence could tell that her proposal was the most suitable for One

    Technology.

    Who else was going to present the idea, then?

    Daniel tapped on his iPad and said, ¡°The marketing director and...Kimberly Watson areing instead. Isn¡¯t this the woman

    who clung to Mr. Lynch? He said that Kimberly¡¯s uncle has been wanting to work with us.¡±

    Leslie recalled something and silently opened the proposal sent by Young Advertising.

    It was indeed Aurelia¡¯s proposal, yet the signature below was changed to Kimberly''s.

    Instantly, he realized what had happened and stood abruptly.

    ¡°Go stall the people from Young Advertising. Wait until | get back.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, where are you going?¡± Daniel asked.

    ¡°To handle some family affairs.¡±

    Daniel was confused. Since when did his boss have family affairs to take care of?

    Leslie strode toward the door and turned. ¡°Daniel, find someone to give Seth''spany some trouble.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Synder.¡± Daniel was shocked. How did Seth angered his boss?

    Leslie had just personally issued an order, to destroy Seth.

 Chapter 111

    In the hospital, Aurelia sat dazed outside the operating room.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Suddenly, a gentle voice reached her.

    ¡°Aurelia.elia¡¯s

    ¡°Mom...¡± Aurelia¡¯s voice hoarsely called out as she felt like a beam of light had shone upon her.

    Linda held her tight and scolded her, but Aurelia felt a sense of relief.

    It turned out that there were still people who cared about her.

    ¡°Aurelia, what is this? You are too sensible sometimes. We are family. Why didn¡¯t you tell me your mom is having surgery?¡±

    ¡°1...¡± Aurelia choked on her words.

    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t say anything. Leslie said you should hurry to hispany now.¡± Linda pulled Aurelia up to leave.

    ¡°Mr. Synder?¡± Aurelia blinked dazedly.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s Leslie who asked me toe. He knows he¡¯s not good with words, so he sent me tofort you. Hurry up! You''re a

    smart youngdy, so you won¡¯t let the bad guys seed. Don¡¯t worry, Leslie will help you.¡±

    Hearing this, Aurelia felt warmth in her heart and Leslie¡¯s face shed before her eyes.

    Still, it was all toote.

    ¡°Mom, it¡¯s toote. Mr. Zeller and Kimberly have already gone to One Technology early in the morning. It¡¯s all toote now.¡±

    Al

    ¡°Aurelia, it¡¯s fine. With Leslie there, those viins won¡¯t seed,¡± Linda reassured.

    ¡°No, Mom. Mr. Synder is just an employee. Intervening in upper-level decisions could cost him his job!¡± Aurelia objected.

    ¡°Rest assured, Leslie has his ways. Besides, are you willing to let someone steal your hard work? Leslie is preventing the

    company from cooperating with hypocritical thieves. That¡¯s a significant achievement. If you don¡¯t go, his efforts will be in vain.¡±

    Linda winked at Aurelia.

    Aurelia wavered, but sat back down when she saw the light above the operation room.

    ¡°My mom is still in operation.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m right here. | will inform you right away if something happens,¡±

    Linda said.

    ¡°Yeah, Ms. Simmons. I¡¯m here, too. Go to work. You worked so hard to have your work taken by someone else,¡± the caretaker

    said.

    Aurelia nced at them, a feeling of warmth washed over her.

    Though there were plenty of awful people around, there were an equal amount of kind people.

    She stood and adjusted her hair and dress.

    ¡°I''ll leave it to you two, then. I¡¯m going to leave first.¡±

    ¡°Quick, go,¡± Linda and the caretaker said in unison.

    Aurelia took onest nce at the operation room.

    Her parents had always told her that she would face discrimination because she was adopted, so she couldn''t give up so easily.

    She came close to giving up, but thankfully...

    She ran into the elevator and texted Leslie while calming herself. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Synder.¡±

    ¡°No worries,¡± he replied.

    It was a simple message, and she could already picture the expressionless look on his face.

    Still, it made her feel safe.

    She caught a taxi and rushed to One Technology.

    Along the way, she quietly revised all the information on her proposal. In her heart, she kept reminding herself she needed to

    deal with this calmly.

    This was a coboration between One Technology and Young Advertising and now also an issue between her and Zachary.

    Once she starts a fight, she would be at a disadvantage.

    After all, only someone who was guilty would cause a scene and Zachary knew this better than she did.

    When she arrived at One Technology, she strode into the building.

    Just as she was about to enter the elevator, she heard Kimberly''s sharp voice.

 Chapter 112

    ¡°Aurelia!? What are you doing here?¡±

    Hearing her voice, Aurelia turned and saw Kimberly getting up from the couch with a shocked expression.

    Aurelia was also slightly surprised and couldn''t help but lower her head to check the time.

    It was already ten o''clock.

    It had been more than two hours since Kimberly and Zachary left thepany.

    Considering the travel time, they should have presented the proposal long ago.

    Why was Kimberly still sitting in the lobby?

    Lost in thought, Aurelia wondered.

    Could Leslie really be risking everything to help her dy the time?

    In that case, where was Zachary?

    Just as Aurelia was scanning for Zachary, Kimberly walked over with a cold sneer and a coffee in hand.

    cup of

    ¡°Don''t bother looking. Mr. Zeller was invited upstairs by One Technology ten minutes ago. think they are currently preparing for

    the presentation, and | am the presenter for today.¡±

    I

    As she spoke, Kimberly unted her carefully chosen outfit of brand¡ªnamed products.

    Regardless of the content of the presentation, the overall cost of her ensemble alone already scored her extra points.

    But since when did the workce allow anyone to recklessly snatch opportunities from others just because they had money?

    Aurelia clenched her fists and asked, ¡°You knew about this all along?¡±

    Kimberly feigned innocence. ¡°Knew what? Don''t just start pointing fingers. | only knew that your skills couldn¡¯t match up, so Mr.

    Zeller ultimately chose my proposal. Aurelia, | advise you not to mess things up. Consider your future. Our industry is well

    connected. Once you create a scene, would anyone want to hire you in the future?¡±

    Kimberly smiled and continued, ¡°I know your mom is still in surgery. Be a good girl and hurry back to the hospital. This isn¡¯t the

    ce for you, understand?¡±

    Aurelia red at her. She was so infuriated that she wanted to march up and p Kimberly.

    Still, she knew she couldn¡¯t do that, or she''d fall into Kimberly''s trap.

    Suppressing her anger, she said, ¡°Kimberly, you can¡¯t get used to something that¡¯s not yours. Just like the shoes you''re wearing.

    You''d rather wear shoes smaller than your feet. You will just end up suffering.¡±

    With that, Aurelia turned around and headed for the elevator.

    Kimberly didn¡¯t manage to enrage Aurelia and ended up getting mocked. Her face flushed with anger.

    Finding no one around, she briskly approached Aurelia and tripped her.

    The heels Aurelia had been wearing for years couldn''t withstand the sudden twist and snapped, causing her to stumble and fall

    to the ground.

    Seizing the opportunity, Kimberly poured her coffee on Aurelia.

    ¡°Oh my, I¡¯m sorry, Aurelia. Why are you so careless? Are you really going to go up looking like this? You would give a bad

    impression. This is a disrespect to our client. No one would trust you. If One Technology doesn¡¯t agree to the coboration, the

    boss will fire you. You need to consider your mom. Your husband''s sry can hardly support you all.

    ¡°As your colleague, | have to remind you that you can¡¯t just survive on talent alone in this society.¡±

    Following a ¡°ding,¡± the elevator door opened.

    Kimberly walked past Aurelia and tossed the remaining half of coffee into the trash can and stepped into the elevator door.

    She then closed the door with a smile. ¡°It''s almost time, so I''ll go up now.¡±

    Aurelia struggled to get up and took out some tissue paper from her purse to wipe the coffee stain.

    However, her white shirt was already soaked so she couldn¡¯t clean it.

    ncing at her reflection on the elevator door, she momentarily felt drained.

    However, that was no excuse to give up.

    She could lose, but not to a thief.

    She nced at the coffee in the trash can and dipped her finger into it, before painting a pattern on her shirt.

    It was Summer. Her clothes should dry faster than usual.

    She just needed to head to the bathroom to blow dry it for a moment for the pattern to set in ce.

    She couldn''t bring herself to throw away the heels, so she took them off and ced them into her bag.

    After that, she faced her reflection once more tob her hair, before pressing on the button.

    ¡°Are you going to go up looking like this?¡°

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

 Chapter 113

    Acalming voice echoed behind Aurelia, and she turned around to find Leslie standing there.

    ¡°Mr. Synder? What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Waiting for you.¡± Leslie studied at her pale face and felt a tightness in his chest.

    He deliberately avoided Zachary and Kimberly as they descended the stairs, timing his appearance to coincide with Aurelia¡¯s

    arrival. However, he was a step toote.

    He couldn''t stop Kimberly from pouring coffee on Aurelia.

    Leslie had thought Aurelia would give up. To his surprise, she swiftlyposed herself and walked towards the elevator.

    Even Leslie was momentarily stunned. The woman before him was delicate yet resilient, forever unyielding.

    After hearing Leslie¡¯s words, Aurelia wondered if she had misheard him.

    Leslie was waiting for her?

    ¡°What are you looking at? Don¡¯t you know how to fight back when someone bullies you?¡±

    Aurelia could sense a hint of concern in Leslie¡¯s voice. She didn¡¯t dare think too much of it and simply pursed her lips.

    Leslie continued with annoyance, ¡°Where is that fierce spirit of yours when you threw those punches at people?¡±

    Aurelia retorted impulsively, ¡°We can¡¯t brawl outside yourpany, can we? What if someone finds out about our rtionship?

    They might think your wife is a terrifying woman, and then you ...¡±

    She quickly covered her mouth.

    What was she saying? Why did she bring this up?

    Aurelia bowed her head and felt Leslie¡¯s gaze on her.

    His eyes were not as cold as usual. In fact, it¡¯s quite hard to read.

    Leslie cleared his throat. ¡°Ourpany knows that Ms. Simmons from Young Advertising can throw a punch that makes a man¡¯s

    nose bleed.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s face turned red, and her ears buzzed.

    How embarrassing!

    The tension caused by Kimberly earlier now transformed into a somewhat ambiguous romantic atmosphere between her and

    Leslie.

    Leslie nced at the blush on her face and smiled, before changing the subject. ¡°Did you go to reconcile with Seth with the

    police?¡±

    Aurelia hesitated before responding, ¡°Oh, sorry, I¡¯ve been busy with the proposal presentationtely. | forgot to tell you.¡±

    Chapter 113This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Leslie''s furrowed brow rxed. Aure hadn¡¯t taken Seth¡¯s matter seriously from the beginning.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that his mother was causing a scene in your mother¡¯s hospital room?¡±

    ¡°You knew about that too?¡± Aurelia was surprised and impressed.

    She continued, ¡°I tried to reach

    out to you that day, but you didn¡¯t respond. | thought you

    were asleep, so | went to the hospital on my own.¡±

    Leslie recalled that night and realized he must have misunderstood the situation.

    Instantly, he felt a little guilty.

    He wasn¡¯t someone driven by ego. He was wrong to misunderstand Aurelia, there was no need for excuses.

    ¡°Sorry, | didn¡¯t hear you.¡±

    ¡°It''s okay.¡±

    Aurelia was somewhat shocked by Leslie¡¯s apology. But at the same time, it''s not too surprising.

    Beneath his cold exterior, Leslie was never a self-centered person.

    On the contrary, he was mature, reserved, and responsible.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡± He pointed at the door. ¡°Let''s get you changed.¡±

    ¡°But the presentation is about to start, right?¡± Aurelia nced at the time worriedly.

    ¡°It won''t. The boss is busy and it will take a while.¡±

    ¡°Mom told me that you have been stalling for me. Thank you, but won''t you get into trouble for leaving your workstation?¡± she

    asked.

    ¡°| won''t.¡±

    Well, more like no one would dare to say anything about him.

    Before she could react, Leslie dragged her out of the building.

    One Technology was located in the center of Seacester, an area where the rent alone would surpass Young Advertising¡¯s by

    several folds.

    It was no wonder that so many businessmen were eager to work with the founder of One Technology.

    Anyone who could afford to establish a firm in the area was anything but ordinary.

    Even normal srymen who walked around this area were dressed in at least one or two brand -named products.

    At this moment, Aurelia was wondering why everyone was staring at her and Leslie. She followed their gazes and lowered her

    head to find herself holding Leslie''s hand.

    When the women on the street saw Leslie, they all looked smitten.

 Chapter 114

    When women walked past them, they all looked at Aurelia with a hint of disdain, as if she was not worthy of standing beside

    Leslie.

    Indeed, she was wearing a coffee-stained outfit, barefoot, and looked rather disheveled.

    In fact her disheveledness made Leslie look even more distinguished.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    They looked rather peculiar together.

    Aurelia lowered her head and quickly pulled her hand away. ¡°I can walk by myself.¡±

    Leslie silently looked at her bare feet. ¡°Am | walking too fast?¡±

    ¡°No, I... Ah!¡± Aurelia eximed as Leslie suddenly lifted her up.

    She had no time to refuse and hurriedly reached to secure her dress, fearing it might reveal too much.

    Surprisingly, her hand came into contact with Leslie¡¯s arm instead.

    He was using his arm to support her legs and simultaneously press down her skirt without directly touching her body.

    Leslie said, ¡°Don¡¯t mind others. You''re not living for them.¡±

    Aurelia was shocked that he saw through her thoughts.

    Why was he still carrying her, then? Didn¡¯t he find it embarrassing?

    Aurelia snuck a nce at Leslie.

    There wasn¡¯t a single w on his face, and even the sunlight appeared less dazzling inparison.

    Suddenly, she felt her body burning, and her breathing was all over the ce.

    ¡°We''re here. Stop looking around.¡± Leslie''s deep voice slowly made its way to Aurelia¡¯s ears.

    Aurelia raised her head abruptly and found people staring at them.

    There were various gazes, a mix of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

    Embarrassed, she grabbed Leslie¡¯s cor and covered herself.

    ¡°Quick, put me down.¡±

    Leslie lowered his gaze.

    Compared to her usual domineering appearance, she looked rather interesting when she was shy.

    Still, he didn¡¯t intend to tease her for it. He turned around and ced Aurelia on a bench near the mall entrance.

    ¡°Wait for me.¡±

    Before Aurelia could speak, Leslie turned and walked into the mall.

    ¡°What is he nning to do?¡± she wondered.

    After a while, Leslie pushed a wheelchair towards her.

    ¡°| borrowed it from the service desk. If you feel embarrassed, just use this.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aurelia breathed a sigh of relief.

    It was romantic to be the damsel in distress in fairy tales. But it was mortifying in real life.

    She was just an ordinary person and had no desire to be the focus of everyone¡¯s attention. Once she sat in the wheelchair,

    Leslie pushed her into the elevator, heading straight to the women¡¯s section upstairs.

    This mall was more luxurious than the mour Shopping Center where Millie and Kimberly had gone.

    You could always find something with a higher price tag.

    As soon as they entered the store, Aurelia immediately went for the basic loose dresses, thinking they might be more affordable.

    However, when Leslie saw the dark bundle of clothes in her hand, he rubbed his temples.

    Aurelia was only twenty-five. Why is she dressing like a thirty-five year old woman?

    He walked over to a shelf and grabbed a beige dress, before shoving it into her hands.

    ¡°Wear this.¡±

    ¡°The waistline is too tight for me. | won''t fit into it,¡± she said.

    The staff scanned Aurelia and said, ¡°This gentleman has great eyes. | wanted to rmend this to you earlier. You look slim, so

    why would you think that?¡±

    ¡°You just don¡¯t think I¡¯m fat because | am wearing something loose. | have thick legs and waist,¡± Aurelia exined.

    The staff stared at her in shock, wondering who told Aurelia that.

    Leslie frowned as well.

    Aurelia returned the dress to the staff and continued to search for her size among dark- colored dresses, intending to just buy a

    random dress.

    ¡°You can fit into it. | just know,¡± Leslie blurted out.

    Aurelia froze and blushed.

    What did he mean he knew?

    Did he see something when her pajamas got wet thest time?

 Chapter 115

    Leslie handed the beige dress back to Aurelia and cleared his throat. ¡°Go try it on.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia could already sense the curious stares from the staff members.

    She felt incredibly embarrassed.

    She took the dress and tiptoed into a fitting room.

    Just then, a staff member approached and knocked on the door.

    ¡°Miss, we have disposable slippers here. Do you want a pair?¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡±

    ¡°You''re wee. It was the gentleman¡¯s thoughtful idea. We''ll return the wheelchair to the service desk.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    How could he be so considerate?

    Aurelia hesitated for a moment before opening the door and epting the disposable slippers from the staff member.

    ¡°Miss, here¡¯s a clean towel. | noticed you were sweating, so | bought it for you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Aurelia took the towel. She knew the staff had probably noticed the coffee stains on her clothes and wanted to prevent her from

    dirtying the white dress in the store.

    However, their tactfulness and thoughtfulness didn¡¯t make Aurelia feel repulsed.

    Clearly, they were professionally trained attendants.

    Aurelia wiped herself down, then put on the dress.

    She expected the zipper not to budge, but it zipped up instantly.

    What was going on? When she tried on clothes before, this size never fit.

    She remembered it clearly.

    On her birthdayst year, she invited Seth to dinner, but he hadpletely forgotten her birthday.

    She wasn¡¯t particrly bothered, but Seth insisted on taking her to a mall to shop aspensation.

    At that time, she needed to meet a client who was very particr about appearance, so she agreed to Seth¡¯s suggestion to buy a

    better outfit.

    She saw a beige long dress that cost eighty after discount. The fabric and style were both excellent. When she said she wanted

    to try it on, Seth said he would get her a fitting size.

    However, she couldn¡¯t zip it up, and she didn¡¯t want to use too much force in fear of breaking

    In the end, she had to take it off.

    At the time, sheined to Seth, ¡°I¡¯m not fat. Why can¡¯t | fit into a size M?¡±

    Sethughed. ¡°You''re not fat? What girl wears a size M? The girls I''ve seen all wear S or XS. But it¡¯s okay | like you just the way

    you are.¡±

    He then handed her a ck dress.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°This ck one looks slimming and it suits you well. It conveniently covers your little belly and thick legs.¡±

    Maybe it was because Seth repeatedly called her fat, she subconsciously thought she might have gained weight.

    She bought that ck dress that day. It was twenty-six dors after discount.

    Now, looking at herself in the mirror, Aurelia couldn''t quite believe it.

    The long dress entuated her waist beautifully. It was feminine without appearing too

    mature.

    The V-neck design didn¡¯t reveal too much. Instead, it delicately showcased her corbone, making her look exceptionally

    elegant.

    Aurelia twirled in ce like a young girl wearing a dress for the first time.

    She then thought about the time Seth bought her clothes. She couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes.

    The dress she tried on at the time was quite simr in style as the one she was wearing.

    They were also the same size, but she remembered that the dress that she tried on with Seth felt at least two sizes smaller.

    ¡°That cunning jerk!¡± she thought.

    In order to buy her a cheaper dress, he swiped the dress for a smaller size while she wasn¡¯t looking.

    Recalling all the memories she shared with Seth, there was nothing but misery and unsavory schemes.

    Seth was the one who pursued her. If he didn¡¯t love her, why did he do that?

    They met at an event when she was still an intern.

    She didn¡¯t know a thing and Seth was the one who helped her out.

    Afterward, Seth found her through her colleagues and started pursuing her.

    Everyone told her that she got lucky because not many men would go after women so boldly. After all, it would be embarrassing

    if they failed.

    Seth was understanding and caring when he was pursuing Aurelia. Otherwise, her parents would¡¯ve never agreed to them

    dating.

    Once they started dating, Seth was clearly not as passionate anymore.

    However, Aurelia put value on rtionships and trusted him.

 Chapter 116

    Whenever anything was off, she would try to tolerate andpromise.

    She never thought she would be taken advantage of because of it.

    Well, perhaps she was just too foolish, or she wouldn¡¯t have been deceived for so long.

    If her mother hadn''t fallen ill, she might have been fooled into marrying Set without realizing

    1. it.

    Fortunately, she cut her losses in time. Otherwise, no one would sympathize with her.

    She even felt somewhat fortunate to have married Leslie.

    Despite his cold nature, he would respond to anything.

    Thinking about Leslie, Aurelia involuntarily let down her hair and tidied it up. She then took out a sample of makeup from her bag

    and touched up.

    She wondered how Leslie would evaluate her appearance. Would he be as critical as Seth?

    Aurelia was momentarily puzzled.

    Why should she care about what Leslie thinks?

    With a sense of unease, she pushed open the door and stepped out of the dressing room.

    As she lifted her head, she met Leslie¡¯splicated gaze.

    She felt a bit disappointed.

    ¡°Do | not look good? I''ll change then.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, just wear this. It looks fine.¡±

    After speaking, Leslie immediately lowered his head to choose something else.

    He tried acting casual, but his gaze remained fixed on Aurelia.

    The long dress entuated Aurelia¡¯s fair skin, and as her hair fell gently when she bowed, it added a touch of charm.

    He can¡¯t help but regret making her wear something so beautiful.

    He was startled by his own thoughts.

    Heforted himself by thinking that he simply couldn¡¯t stand Aurelia¡¯s usual style. It was too unsightly.

    Soon, Leslie regained hisposure and picked a few more items, handing them to the staff.¡± Pack these up for her.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia hurriedly stepped forward to stop him.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, | don¡¯t need these many clothes. | already have my own.¡± Aurelia looked at him and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s very expensive

    here. One dress is enough.¡±

    ¡°They are on sale,¡± Leslie said indifferently.

    ¡°Even if that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s still very expensive here.¡± Aurelia shook her head.

    Leslie nced at the staff.

    The staff immediately approached. ¡°There¡¯s a ten percent off for one item, 50 percent off for two items, 70 percent off for three

    items. It¡¯s more cost-effective to buy more than one.¡±

    Aurelia thought it made sense and trusted Leslie¡¯s judgment.

    ¡°Well, how inuch is it in total?¡± she asked.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    ¡°Three dresses in total. The total is 15 thousand...¡± the staff said but paused when she saw the look in Leslie¡¯s eyes.

    What is she saying? She couldn''t afford to cross her boss.

    ¡°What?¡± Aurelia asked in surprise.

    ¡°There¡¯s a ny percent off and after all the discount, it¡¯s five hundred,¡± Leslie said thoughifully.

    It wouldn¡¯t be convincing to say that a dress in this area cost under a hundred.

    Aurelia wasn''t someone who didn¡¯t know the value of things, so five hundred was the lowest price Leslie could think of within the

    reasonable range.

    Aurelia was surprised.

    Considering the designs, material, and ornaments of the dresses, any piece would cost hundreds. Purchasing a dress would

    cost half her monthly sry.

    Yet Leslie said each dress only cost a little over a hundred.

    Leslie could tell that she didn¡¯t believe him, so his cold gaze swept the staff.

    The staff hurried over and started lying, ¡°Miss, you should thank this gentleman. He got lucky in the lucky draw and drew a ny

    percent off deal. Otherwise, each dress would have cost around five hundred each. It¡¯s the anniversary of our shop and the only

    top price has been drawn by this gentleman.¡±

    The staff maintained a professional smile, silently hoping that she could get a bonus for being such a great actress.

    Working was hard, indeed.

 Chapter 117

    Aurelia nodded upon hearing the staff''s exnation.

    She found it quite reasonable that Leslie won the first prize in a lucky draw.

    For some reason, she saw him as an exceptionally talented and chosen individual.

    ¡°Scan my code.¡± Aurelia took out her phone to pay.

    ¡°I''ve already paid,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°No, | can¡¯t let you pay so much,¡± Aurelia hurriedly tried to transfer the money back to him.

    Leslie blocked her phone with his hand. ¡°I can afford this.¡±

    ¡°Then, thank you.¡±This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Aurelia hadn¡¯t received her sry this month yet, and the money in her ount was all spent on her mother¡¯s surgery.

    The remaining funds were just enough to cover for her living expenses, and buying clothes would leave her with nothing for the

    next month.

    Perhaps she could add some extra money to their budget for theing month. She couldn¡¯t just take advantage of Leslie.

    While Aurelia was lost in thought, the staff took the opportunity to discreetly cut off all the price tags. The actual price was

    strategically covered.

    The dress Aurelia wore was the store¡¯s gship product, featuring a skirt adorned with shimmering white petals that took a month

    for their embroiderer to craft. The flower buds were embellished with pearls of the same color, creating a radiant effect as you

    walked.

    Others wouldn''t be able to purchase it, and it was even impossible to steal it.

    The boss actually sold it off at such a low price and paid for it himself.

    The staff handed the bag to Aurelia enviously.

    ¡°Miss, Sir, wee to visit again.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Aurelia took the bag, noticing a blue orchid printed on the ckce bag.

    She felt like she had seen this orchid somewhere before.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, about this orchid ...¡± Aurelia pointed to the bag.

    ¡°It''s almost time. We still need to buy shoes.¡± Leslie nced at the orchid and smoothly changed the topic.

    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t ask further questions and followed Leslie wearing the disposable slippers.

    However, after Leslie had walked a few steps, he turned around and took the bag from her hands.

    Chapter 117

    Aurelia was momentarily stunned and realized he was a much better person than she had imagined.

    At the shoe counter, she chose a pair of ck high heels because they were resistant to dirt.

    Leslie directly handed her a pair of nude-colored high heels.

    Seeing the ck high heels, he thought of the high heels Seth had given Aurelia, which were now hidden in her bag.

    Although Seth was a scum, he was Aurelia¡¯s first love, and they had been together for more than three years. Those feelings

    wouldn''t just suddenly disappear.

    Leslie didn¡¯t know why he felt ufortable.

    ¡°This pair.¡±

    ¡°But...¡± Aurelia tried to argue, and Leslie¡¯s intense gazended on her.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia put on the high heels, which werefortable and matched her outfit. Even the staff praised her repeatedly.

    ¡°Miss, you have fair skin, so the nude color looks great on you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. How much are these shoes?¡± Aurelia couldn''t let Leslie spend more money.

    ¡°It''s not expensive. Just eighty ...¡± Sensing Leslie''s gaze, the staff immediately changed the price to eighty from eight hundred.

    Aurelia was surprised. ¡°Is it your shop¡¯s anniversary, too?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the staff said while they chuckled.

    The boss makes the decisions after alll.

    ¡°Please give me the receipt, then.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Please wait,¡± the staff said.

    Aurelia hurried to Leslie and smiled. ¡°Mr. Synder, you are such a lucky star. When you''re here, it¡¯s either a big discount or a

    shop¡¯s anniversary. With just a touch of your luck, | hope everything will go well for meter.¡±

    ¡°It''s just a discount. What¡¯s there to be so happy about?¡± Leslie asked in confusion.

    ¡°You don''t get it. I''ve nevere across such good things. | just have to live like that. Besides, the world moves on. | can¡¯t just

    go through life in tears all the time. You and your mom helped enough. No matter what happens next, I''ll be fine.¡± She smiled.

    He frowned. He had never met a woman like Aurelia.

    She puts her emotions aside and tries her best to not worry others.

    He had seen women who demanded the world¡¯s attention just because they were upset.

    Some even thought it was only right that men should spoil them.

    Aurelia, on the other hand, gave him a different feeling.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, what¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked, wondering why he was staring at her.

    ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡± Leslie turned around, resuming his usual indifferent expression.

    Aurelia nodded and followed him back to the office.

    As they entered the building, he paused.

 Chapter 118

    ¡°| have something to attend to. You should head up yourself,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°Alright, I''m sorry for dying you,¡± Aurelia apologized.

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± She walked towards the elevator, then turned back and said, ¡°Mr. Synder, can you manage dinner by yourself tonight?

    My mom is...¡±

    ¡°| understand,¡± he said in a deep voice.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t say much since he agreed and entered the elevator.

    Coincidentally, she met Jason in the elevator.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, what a coincidence.¡±

    Jason looked at Aurelia, surprised. He was almost unable to recognize her.

    He hadn''t expected Aurelia to be so beautiful since she always dressed dully.

    He didn¡¯t express his surprise, though. After all, it wasn¡¯t a coincidence that he ran into Aurelia.

    Leslie had sent him down to pick her up.

    Leslie, a man who usually kept his distance from women, had be surprisingly considerate and protective.

    Jason thought that if Leslie liked Aurelia, then everything should be alright.

    Jason looked at Aurelia with a big smile.

    But the next second, he froze.

    Aurelia was married!

    Leslie had no chance!

    Aurelia smiled awkwardly and wondered, ¡°What''s wrong with him? Why is he looking at me this way?¡±

    Downstairs, Leslie hadn''t left.

    Instead, he found a discreet spot and sat down.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    He dialed Daniel''s number. ¡°You can start now.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Synder.¡±

    Exiting the elevator, Aurelia followed Jason forward.

    Along the way,

    she scanned the surrounding curiously, assuming this to be Leslie¡¯s workce.

    The office was luxurious. The overall color scheme was silver¡ªgray.

    No matter the office area or the rest areas, it gave off a futuristic sense.

    There were even robots delivering documents.

    At the sight of the robot, Aure remembered the scene of meeting Leslie by mistake in the restroom at the technology

    exhibition.

    She quickly stepped aside to avoid the robot.

    To her surprise, the robot followed her.

    ¡°Beautifuldy, what''s your number? Do you have a boyfriend?¡±

    Aurelia stood still in amazement. She had never dreamed that one day she would be asked for her number by a robot.

    Jason noticed her embarrassment and gave a stern look around. ¡°Who tampered with the robot program again?¡±

    ¡°It''s me.¡± A man wearing a checkered shirt and sses raised his hand apologetically.

    Laughter erupted from the surrounding colleagues.

    ¡°Arthur, are your parents urging you to get married again? Your eagerness is rubbing off on the robot.¡±

    ¡°Shush.¡± Arthur walked over Jason. ¡°Mr. Lynch, | was testing the robot¡¯s emotional changes. | think it only said that because this

    lady here is too pretty.¡±

    Pretty?

    I the

    Aurelia couldn''t believe he was talking about her.

    When she snapped out of it, Arthur had already extended his hand toward her. ¡°Hello, | am-¡±

    Before Arthur could introduce himself, Jason pulled him aside. ¡°You can¡¯t flirt with her. You will be digging your grave.¡±

    ¡°Why not? She¡¯s so pretty and is clearly really gentle-hearted. It¡¯s not like she can be any scarier than Ms. Simmons from Young

    Advertising who defeated a foreign guy with one punch, ¡°Arthur said with a smile.

    The one who defeated a foreign guy with one punch?

    Aurelia felt a chill down her spine. Leslie was right that everyone already knew what she did.

    Jason nced at her and tugged the corner of his mouth awkwardly.

    She smiled.

    Instead of getting upset, she was impressed by how light-hearted the atmosphere was here.

    Feeling yful, she pointed at the tag around her neck and showed it to Arthur. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Aurelia Simmons from Young

    Advertising.¡±

    ¡°Si-Simmons?

    Everyone was stunned, not expecting the woman who defeated a grown man to be such a beautifuldy.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, ignore them. Let¡¯s just go,¡± Jason said.

    Aurelia nodded and waved goodbye at the others, before leaving.

    Suddenly, themotion at the lounge caught everyone¡¯s attention.

 Chapter 119

    Upon hearing themotion, Aurelia turned her head. She noticed that there were several people gathered around the door to

    the lounge, peeking inside.

    Two of them, judging by their attire, seemed to be receptionists. They were the only two women among this group of men.

    They were eavesdropping on something with great interest and werepletely unaware of Jason¡¯s approach.

    Jason cleared his throat with a stern expression. ¡°What''s going on here? Don¡¯t you have work to do?¡±

    Startled, one of the receptionists patted her chest and immediately took two steps back when she saw Jason.

    Pointing to the lounge, she said, ¡°Mr. Lynch, Mr. Xenos seems to have gotten lucky in the romance department.¡±

    Jason frowned. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡±

    The receptionist said seriously, ¡°I¡¯m not messing with you. | just went in to deliver some coffee.

    ¡°When the female nner from Young Advertising saw Mr. Xenos, her eyes lit up. Then, she turned to the side and unbuttoned

    the top two buttons of her shirt...¡±

    The receptionist nced down at her own chest, feeling a little embarrassed articting the details.

    Aurelia immediately knew that they were talking about Kimberly.

    However, although Kimberly liked to show off, she wouldn¡¯t behave so recklessly during such an important asion.

    Moreover, Zachary was with her. He would have stopped her if she did something inappropriate.

    While Aurelia was thinking about it, the other receptionist snickered and said, ¡°Mr. Lynch, why are the people from Young

    Advertising so strange? That director is also fawning over Mr. Xenos.¡±

    Jason nced at the lounge and then looked at Aurelia awkwardly, realizing that something wasn¡¯t right.

    Aurelia looked into the lounge curiously. After seeing what was happening, she froze in shock.

    The usually serious Zachary was actually grinning and offering tea to Daniel.

    Kimberly was sitting on Daniel''s left while Zachary was on his right.

    Daniel had a resigned look on his face as he dodged their advances.

    It was truly an amusing sight.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Aurelia observed Daniel, feeling like she had seen him somewhere before.

    Suddenly, a figure shed across Aurelia¡¯s mind. She finally understood why Daniel seemed familiar.

    Wasn''t he the supposed founder of One Technology that Kimberly kept unting on her social media page?

    Had Kimberly been mistaken about his identity all along?

    Aurelia was amused. Kimberly kept bringing all these situations upon herself.

    Just then, the voices of the three people drifted over from the lounge.

    ¡°You must have worked hard today. Why don¡¯t you have a cup of coffee to refresh yourself?¡± Kimberly asked sweetly.

    She handed Daniel a cup of coffee, her chest pressing against his arm.

    She knew that the employees of One Technology were watching, but she didn¡¯t mind.

    It was better if everyone in thepany knew that she was connected to their boss. That way, no one would dare to disrespect

    her during the meetingter.

    She then shot Zachary a triumphant look.

    There was no way that Zachary would regret bringing her along now. After all, if it wasn¡¯t for her, he would''ve never known that

    this man was the mysterious founder of One Technology.

    Zachary gave her a reassuring look, his eyes silently telling her that the vice director position was hers as long as she secured

    this deal.

    In Kimberly¡¯s mind, Aurelia was no match for her.

 Chapter 120

    Chapter 120

    Zachary observed the two, silently approving of Kimberly''s actions.

    He smiled. ¡°Since you and Kimberly are so close, why don¡¯t we just sign the contract now? There¡¯s no need to waste time in a

    meeting, right? | believe you must be familiar with Kimberly¡¯s abilities.¡±

    Without waiting for Daniel to refuse, Kimberly linked her arm with his.

    ¡°Rest assured, my proposal will definitely satisfy you. Let¡¯s sign the contract now, since we''re already here. I''d also like to invite

    you for a drink in advance to celebrate our coboration.

    As she spoke, her fingers yfully caressed Daniel¡¯s arm.

    Daniel jumped away from the two, horrified.

    ¡°Please respect yourselves. You''re here to discuss a coboration, not to invite me for a drink. Also, | don¡¯t have the authority to

    sign a contract with you without proper approval.¡±

    Kimberly thought Daniel was embarrassed in front of his employees. After all, there weren¡¯t many men who could resist her

    charm.

    Sheughed. ¡°You''re really funny. Everyone in Seacester wants to get to know you. The entire One Technology is under your

    control.

    ¡°Who would dare to go against you? Rest assured, we sincerely want to cooperate with you.¡± Men always enjoyed ttery. With

    just a few praises, they would agree to anything.

    If the woman who gave thepliment was beautiful, the result would be even more guaranteed.

    Confidently, Kimberly tossed her long hair over her shoulder and sashayed toward Daniel. Every move showcased her charming

    and seductive demeanor.

    Today, she hade for the position of vice director and to charm the wealthy bachelor who owned One Technology.

    Thinking that this strategy would surely win over Daniel, Kimberly was surprised when she saw his

    eyes filled with disdain. He even avoided her as if she were a venomous snake. Kimberly''s face stiffened. Just as she was about

    to keep trying,ughter echoed from outside the door.

    Then, the door was unexpectedly pushed open, and several employees stumbled in while suppressing theirughter.

    The way they looked at her made her feel even more embarrassed and indignant.

    M

    Fuming, she red at them as if she owned the ce. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any manners? We''re discussing work with your boss

    here. Will you be taking responsibility if something goes wrong?¡±

    ¡°Boss? Where?¡± one of the employees chuckled.

    Kimberly snorted and quickly approached Daniel.

    ¡°| won''t get upset for your sake, but why do your employees have such poor manners? Do they have no regard for you?

    ¡°I''m saying this for your own good. If you don¡¯t establish your authority now, it''ll be difficult. to manage them in the future,¡±

    Zachary chimed in, ¡°Kimberly is right in many aspects. Ultimately, she has your best interests. in mind, so you canpletely

    trust in her proposal. After all, she¡¯ll be the vice director of our nning department in the future.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Kimberly immediately lifted her chin arrogantly, and the way she looked at the others. changed.

    A few employees failed to contain theirughter.

    One of them pointed at Daniel and said, ¡°Mr. Xenos, when did you be the boss? Are you pretending to be the boss to get a

    date?¡±

    ¡°Why would I? I¡¯ve never said that | was the boss. You are all witnesses!¡± Daniel eximed, shaking his head in resignation.

    Another employee chuckled. ¡°Miss, if you like Mr. Xenos, you can just say it. There¡¯s no need to beat around the bush like this.¡±

    ¡°So, who on earth is he?¡± Kimberly¡¯s face turned pale, and her voice was sharp.

    ¡°Ms. Watson, your question is a little rude. What do you mean by that?¡± Daniel said with displeasure.

    ¡°A-Aren''t you the boss of One Technology?¡± she asked in horror.

    ¡°Of course not. When did I say | was the boss?¡± Daniel replied with a frown.

    She should be thankful that he wasn¡¯t actually the boss. Otherwise, she would have been kicked out long ago without even

    getting the chance to speak.

    ¡°Then, who are you?¡± Kimberly asked.

 Chapter 121

    ¡°I''m the boss¡¯s assistant. | came to inform you that the meeting is about to start,¡± Daniel said, resuming his professional

    mannerisms,

    The employee who had been scolded by Kimberly just now scoffed, ¡°You don¡¯t know who our boss is, so you¡¯re throwing yourself

    at every man?¡±

    They were trying to be subtle, but everyone was clearly mocking Kimberly for being cheap, since she didn¡¯t even know who she

    was seducing,

    Kimberly was livid. Her face turned pale with anger.

    Zachary was also embarrassed. He turned his head away, not daring to say a single word. He didn¡¯t want to be associated with

    Kimberly.

    She had imed to know the founder of One Technology, but it turned out that she had the wrong person all along. It was so

    embarrassing!

    Kimberly gritted her teeth and suddenly remembered the proposal. Her dark expression rxed a little.

    Her proposal was guaranteed to be a sess, so she had nothing to fear.

    ¡°It''s a misunderstanding. | just thought that Mr. Xenos looked familiar and wanted to chat with him. Of course, we came

    prepared to discuss the coboration. The meeting is about to start, right? Mr. Zeller, let''s go.¡±

    Hearing that, Zachary seemed to recall something. He exchanged a look with Kimberly and nodded.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Kimberly is one of our best nners. She knows what she¡¯s doing. She will surely impress everyone.¡±

    The others were taken aback. How could someone who resorted to ttery and seduction actually be capable at work?

    If she was truly capable, the embarrassing incident earlier wouldn¡¯t have taken ce.

    Daniel was experienced enough to sense that something was amiss. He looked at the two and asked, ¡°Doesn''t Young

    Advertising have another top nner? Why hasn¡¯t she arrived yet?¡±

    Thinking of Aurelia, Zachary pursed his lips with a somewhat unnatural expression.

    Kimberly, on the other hand, wore a cold smile. After pouring her coffee on Aurelia earlier, Aurelia wouldn¡¯t dare to show up.

    again.

    She said unscrupulously, ¡°Her? We''ve been looking for her all morning, but she¡¯s nowhere to be found. She probably went to

    reconcile with her ex-boyfriend after their recent breakup.

    ¡°But work is work. Her attitude is simply disrespectful. She obviously doesn¡¯t take this coboration seriously. Mr. Zeller is just too

    kind to tell the truth.¡±

    Zachary sighed. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s not mention it.¡±

    With that statement, everyone''s impression of Aurelia changed to that of someone who would neglect work for the sake of love.

    Aurelia, who was standing outside the crowd, frowned.

    Jason asked solemnly, ¡°Ms. Simmons, do

    you need my help?¡±

    Aurelia shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re from One Technology. If you stand up for me, it might make everyone misunderstand me more.

    Don¡¯t worry. | can handle it.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Jason looked at Aurelia with admiration, feeling that she and Leslie were quitepatible.

    Aurelia pushed through the crowd and walked in.

    At this moment, Kimberly was saying, ¡°Mr. Xenos, Aurelia isn¡¯ting. Let''s start the meeting.

    ¡°Who said | wasn¡¯ting?¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    Aurelia walked past everyone and stood in front of Kimberly.

    Kimberly was shocked when she saw the beautiful woman before her.

    Aurelia was so fair and beautiful that it was impossible for others to take their eyes off her.

    Aurelia was wearing a long beige dress, looking gentle and elegant. At a nce, Kimberly could tell that the dress was quite

    expensive.

    ¡°You... Why are you dressed like this?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Aurelia thought Kimberly would ask why she was there, so her question left her momentarily stunned.

    Zachary¡¯s voice brought her back to her senses. ¡°Aurelia, why are you here?¡±

    Aurelia turned to look at Zachary and calmly asked, ¡°Shouldn''t | be here, Mr. Zeller? Didn¡¯t you inform me that the meeting would

    be on Monday morning? Also, didn¡¯t you just say that you¡¯d been looking for me all morning? Did | get the time wrong, or did you

    tell me the wrong time on purpose?¡±

    Spin to im Your Surprise Reward!

 Chapter 122

    Zachary¡¯s face turned red as he was rendered speechless. In the end, he couldn''t say anything. He simply red at Aurelia with

    anger in his eyes.

    Sensing the tension, Daniel interrupted, ¡°Alright, everyone. Since we''re all here, let¡¯s move to the conference room. The boss is

    waiting for you.¡±

    At the mention of the boss of One Technology, Kimberly¡¯s joy was rekindled.

    Before Aurelia could say anything, Kimberly stood in front of her and said, ¡°Mr. Xenos, please lead the way.¡±

    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    Daniel walked toward the door.

    As soon as Aurelia turned around to follow, she was blocked by Kimberly and Zachary. The two of them looked at her with

    strange expressions.

    When they entered the conference room, they saw that it was already filled with One Technology''s senior executives.

    Upon entering, both Kimberly and Zachary immediately began searching for the boss of One Technology.

    Aurelia did the same.

    She was genuinely curious about whatn looked like.

    After all, he was someone who had caused a huge stir in the entire business district of

    Seacester.

    To her disappointment, there was only a small robot standing on the table at the head, its camera facing arge screen.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t expect that the meeting would be so advanced, where a robot would actually be used instead of a human

    representative.

    Once seated, the robot''s voice echoed through the microphone.

    ¡°Let''s begin.¡±

    There wasn¡¯t any small talk. The robot''s tone was mechanical yet profound.

    Even though they were facing a small robot that was only about 15 inches tall, the atmosphere it exuded was oppressively

    commanding.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but straighten her back upon hearing its voice. Its tone was strangely familiar to her, but she had no time to

    dwell on it.

    She felt rather nervous to be in a meeting with so many people.

    It was no wonder that the founder of One Technology had such high requirements for professionalism. Looking at the people in

    front of her, she noticed that they were all experts in their fields.

    Just then, the mechanical voice sounded again. ¡°Which one of you will start first?¡±

    Taking a deep breath, Aurelia prepared to stand up.

    However, Kimberly, who was seated beside her, maliciously tugged at her dress. She did so with such force that it seemed as if

    she was trying to rip the dress off her.

    As a result, Aurelia was slightly slower than Kimberly.

    Kimberly stood up and said, ¡°I will.¡±

    With that, she confidently stepped onto the stage and smiled at the small robot.

    ¡°Hello, I''ll be representing Young Advertising to present to you our carefully prepared n. | hope you like it.¡±

    Aurelia frowned and nced at Zachary.

    He lowered his voice and warned, ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t act recklessly, or you''ll suffer.¡±

    She stared at him. ¡°Mr. Zeller, do you really think Kimberly can handle this?¡±

    He chuckled. ¡°Aurelia, | understand that you¡¯re upset, but you should know your ce. You don¡¯t have a good background or

    backing like Kimberly does.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    ¡°No matter how good your proposal may be, someone else will always take the credit for it. Just rx and follow our lead. I''ll

    make sure that you arepensated well.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, do you expect me to do Kimberly¡¯s work for the rest of my life? | won¡¯t do it.¡±

    Aurelia found his words ridiculous.

    ¡°You won''t do it? Aurelia, you still don¡¯t see the situation clearly. The boss of One Technology isn¡¯t here right now. What can a

    stupid robot see? You''ve already lost to Kimberly.¡±

    Aurelia stared at him in shock, surprised by how short-sighted he was. Not wanting to argue, she nodded.

    ¡°Fine. Let''s see what this robot is capable of. | hope you won''t regret your choice, Mr. Zeller.¡± How could they seed with her

    proposal when they didn¡¯t even have faith in the client¡¯s product?

    She wasn¡¯t a fool, nor was the founder of One Technology.

    They would just have to wait and see.

    Spin to im Your Surprise Reward!

 Chapter 123

    Aurelia quietly watched as Kimberly read the presentation slides. She wasn¡¯t even familiar with the script and needed to nce

    at it every now and then.

    ¡°Stop.¡± The robot spoke up. ¡°Did you write this?¡±

    ¡°Yes, | did,¡± Kimberly said firmly.

    ¡°Alright. Then, don¡¯t read from the slides anymore. Otherwise, why would we need

    It''s not like we can¡¯t read.¡±

    you here?

    ¡°W-What?¡± Kimberly was obviously panicked.

    Although she had seen Aurelia¡¯s proposal, she hated Aurelia too much to actually read it. After all, she could just read from the

    script when the time came.

    Without looking at the slides, she couldn¡¯t even remember what she was supposed to say next. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there a

    problem?¡± The robot turned its head and stared at Kimberly.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    She froze.

    It was just a small robot, but she felt as if there were a pair of cold eyes staring at her through it.

    She pursed her lips. ¡°No. Next is... is...¡±

    She lost herposure under the robot''s gaze. Her mind went nk, so she turned to Zachary for help.

    Zachary was livid. Frustration filled his eyes.

    The perfect answer was already in Kimberly¡¯s hands, but she still couldn''t do it!

    If her uncle wasn¡¯t so influential, he would have gone up and dragged her back to her seat himself.

    Zachary could only gesture with his mouth silently, but he was soon discovered.

    The robot said, ¡°Mr. Zeller, isn¡¯t this her proposal? Why are you giving her hints?¡±

    Zachary immediately smiled and tried to smooth things over.

    ¡°Kimberly values this coboration very highly, so she¡¯s very nervous. | hope you can forgive her. Maybe we should let her

    continue with the presentation ording to the slides.¡±

    The robot remained silent, and the others looked serious.

    At this moment, Jason stood up and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Ms. Watson¡¯s proposal is quite interesting. We don¡¯t mind waiting for her to

    remember her lines. But don¡¯t take too long, or we might start doubting whether she really wrote the proposal.¡±

    ¡°| wrote it! It¡¯s definitely written by me!¡± Kimberly said angrily. She red at Jason and continued, ¡°Mr. Lynch, what exactly are

    you suggesting?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Watson, | wouldn''t dare to question you. Since you insist that you wrote it, you should be able to recall it in no time, right?¡±

    Jason looked at Kimberly with a sly smile.

    Le Chanter

    Only then did Kimberly realize that Jason had set her up. She clenched her fists in anger.

    Jason had to be trying to help Aurelia!

    The angrier she got, the harder it was for her to remember her lines. Her head became emptier under everyone¡¯s gaze.

    Some people even started whispering.

    ¡°Isn''t this her proposal? Why can¡¯t she remember even after thinking for so long?¡±

    ¡°A proposal is something you must repeatedly check. If she was the one who wrote it, she couldn''t possibly forget.¡±

    ¡°The presentation slides contain the essential information. Afterpleting it, she should have an impression of the whole

    process. But she doesn¡¯t seem familiar with it at all.¡±

    Hearing this, Zachary¡¯s face tensed. The boss had emphasized how important this coboration was.

    If Kimberly messed up, he would be affected too.

    Thinking about it, Zachary could only turn to Aurelia beside him, hoping that she would stand up and salvage the situation.

    ¡°Aurelia, Aurelia...¡± Zachary whispered.

    Aurelia pretended not to hear him and turned her head to look at Kimberly. She simply waited quietly for Kimberly to continue

    speaking.

    However, Kimberly merely stood there like a lifeless puppet, a dazed look on her face.

    The robot said coldly, ¡°It¡¯s been three minutes. Someone who can¡¯t even remember their own proposal doesn¡¯t seem to value our

    company much. Why should | agree to a coboration with you?¡±

 Chapter 124

    ¡°Daniel, see the guests out,¡± the robot said.

    Kimberly and Zachary couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. They exchanged nces filled with resentment toward each other.

    At this moment, Aurelia finally stood up. ¡°Please wait. How about | continue?¡±

    ¡°Why should | believe you?¡± the robot asked.

    Aurelia looked directly at the robot and said slowly, ¡°Because you''re interested in the proposal. Why else would you waste three

    minutes letting Kimberlye up with something to say? Since we want to coborate and you''re interested, why not listen to

    the whole thing before making your decision?¡±

    m indeed very interested. Even so, that¡¯s just a n. | won¡¯t entrust such an important n to an ipetent person.¡±

    ¡°Then, you can entrust it to me,¡± Aurelia boldly volunteered. ¡°I''ll definitely meet your expectations.¡±

    ¡°You?¡± the robot questioned.

    ¡°Yes, just give me two minutes. That''s all | need. If you¡¯re not satisfied with my presentation, we won''t bother One Technology

    again,¡± Aurelia said firmly.

    The conference room fell silent.

    After a moment, the robot slowly spoke. ¡°Set up a timer.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Aurelia smiled and immediately stepped past Kimberly to stand in front of everyone.

    ¡°The proposal emphasizes professionalism. The banquet shouldn¡¯t be extravagant but innovative and filled with elements of

    technology. Those present can...¡±

    Ten, nine, eight... three, two, one.

    With the final seconds of the countdown, Aurelia finished exining about the opening banquet that would be rich in futuristic

    elements concisely.

    She had covered the key points, the process, and the arrangements for it. She had even exined each professional term in

    detail.

    Everyone present could tell that Aurelia had conducted thorough research for the proposal.

    As for Kimberly, she had barely even scratched the surface.

    Everyone in the conference room were intelligent people.

    Combined with Kimberly and Zachary¡¯s act in the lounge earlier, it became clear who had really made the proposal.

    But Kimberly was still just an employee. Hence, Zachary had to have yed a part in helping her steal someone else¡¯s work.

    Zachary felt the contempt of the crowd, and his confidence faded.

    Chapter 12%

    Kimberly stood to the side with her face flushed.

    Although they were only looking at her, she felt exposed.

    Aurelia! It was all Aurelia¡¯s fault!

    Aurelia ignored Kimberly¡¯s gaze and looked at the robot calmly. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    The robot remained silent, but it turned its head. It was just a small movement, but Aurelia¡¯s heart was in her throat.

    She had bet everything on this. If she failed, she would definitely be fired from thepany.

    ¡°Very good. | look forward to working with you.¡±

    ¡°Likewise!¡± Aurelia breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

    Daniel walked over and handed Aurelia some documents. ¡°Ms. Simmons, please sign the contract.¡±

    She nodded and was about to pick up the pen when Zachary snatched the documents away and handed it to Kimberly.

    With a smile, he said, ¡°You must be mistaken, Mr. Xenos. Kimberly wrote this proposal, so she should be the one signing the

    contract.¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    ¡°Yeah, Aurelia isn¡¯t qualified to sign the contract at all. I¡¯m the one who wrote the proposal,¡± Kimberly said, grabbing the pen from

    Aurelia¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± The robot''s voice sounded again, its tone even colder than before. ¡°Do you need me to remind you of the

    consequences of fooling your client?¡±

    Both Zachary and Kimberly froze.

    Chapter 126

 Chapter 125

    Inside the conference room, the tension continued to rise.

    Daniel repeated, ¡°Ms. Simmons, please sign the contract.¡±

    ¡°Alright¡±

    Aurelia walked up to Kimberly and reached for the documents and the pen in her hands. However, Kimberly refused to let go and

    held onto them tightly.

    She red at Aurelia the whole time, looking as if she wished to swallow her whole.

    Ignoring her, Aurelia forcefully took the documents and the pen, then signed her name under Kimberly''s hostile gaze.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Daniel collected the documents and stated solemnly, ¡°Ourpany¡¯s opening banquet is on the first day of next month. The

    remaining matters will be entrusted to you.¡±

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Certainly, we won¡¯t let you down. Mr. Xenos, please thank your boss for trusting us.¡±

    ¡°Sure, I''ll convey your gratitude,¡± Daniel replied.

    During the conversation, Aurelia involuntarily nced at the small robot on the table. She felt as if its mechanical eyes had been

    fixed on her the whole time.

    As she was lost in thought, the overhead speakers suddenly yed the original voice of the small robot.

    ¡°Currently opening thest webpage for you. Searching for content: How to cook without getting hot? How to install a household

    shower, instation video, instation diagram...¡±

    With a click, the sound was cut off.

    It seemed like the boss of One Technology had identally connected to the robot¡¯s external speaker while opening a webpage.

    Instantly, everyone in the conference room looked as if they had discovered something incredible.

    Aurelia paused, feeling that these search terms sounded strangely familiar. However, before she could contemte further, a

    cold mechanical voice echoed through the microphone.

    ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡±

    Immediately, the small robot fell silent again.

    To protect the boss¡¯s reputation, Daniel quickly stepped forward and changed the subject.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, Ms. Watson, Ms. Simmons, let me escort you out.¡±

    ¡°No, thanks. We''ll see ourselves out,¡± Zachary said with an unpleasant expression. He turned and walked out.

    Kimberly, who had embarrassed herself today, quickly followed Zachary out of the conference

    room.

    Aurelia felt a little awkward, but she couldn¡¯tin publicly in anotherpany. She

    certainly couldn¡¯t allow the client to think that there was internal discord within her team.

    So, she remained polite and exchanged pleasantries with the others.

    Outside the conference room, Kimberly couldn¡¯t catch up to Zachary and could only watch as he took the elevator and left.

    She stamped her foot in frustration.

    Coincidentally, several employees of One Technology were waiting for the elevator. The undisguised disdain in their eyes when

    they saw Kimberly made her wish she could disappear into the ground.

    Running out of options, she hid in the restroom.

    She thought she could escape from everyone by doing so, but she heard two men talking outside the door.

    Initially, there were no female employees in the office, so the smoking area was located in the corridor outside the restroom.

    When the two receptionists were hired, the other men started minimizing their smoking sessions so that they wouldn¡¯t scare

    them away.

    Still, they would forget about thedies sometimes, especially when they were busy. So, they would asionally stand outside

    the restroom to smoke and chat.

    ¡°That woman from Young Advertising today is quite pretty. | think her name is...¡±

    Men always liked to talk about women, especially those who were beautiful.

    Kimberly felt slightly better after hearing this, assuming that they were talking about her.

    ¡°Kimberly?¡±

    ¡°What? Are you crazy? | don¡¯t like women like her who throw herself at guys. I¡¯m talking about the other one.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Aurelia Simmons!¡±

    ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s fair and beautiful. A goddess, really.¡±

    Kimberly''s face twisted with anger.

    It was Aurelia again!

    What was so good about her?

    The conversation outside the door continued.

 Chapter 126

    ¡°Keep dreaming. She might break your nose with a single punch.¡±

    ¡°| don¡¯t mind. She¡¯s pretty and capable. Even the boss approves of her. Who wouldn''t like a woman like her?¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention it,n was acting a little strange today. He hates beingte to

    meetings, but he actually dyed today¡¯s meeting. | heard from Mr. Xenos that he did it for a woman.¡® 11

    ¡°Are you messing with me?n doing something for a woman? We''ve been working for him since we were abroad. We''ve seen

    all sorts of women. Who on earth has that kind of charm?¡±

    ¡°Could it be Ms. Simmons?¡±

    ¡°Who knows?¡±

    The two finished their cigarettes and left.

    Just then, Kimberly stepped outside, feeling both envious and stunned.

    lan was a familiar name. After searching her memories, she realized that she had once heard his name from Aurelia.

    At the time, Kimberly had been showing off to others that she knew the founder of One Technology and didn¡¯t think much of it.

    It seemed that Aurelia had known that Kimberly got the wrong person all along, but she hadn¡¯t bothered to say anything. Aurelia

    had simply watched as she embarrassed herself.

    Kimberly wouldn''t forget this. She would make Aurelia pay.

    She hurried off to find Zachary.

    He was the only one who could help her now.

    When Aurelia stepped out of the conference room, Kimberly and Zachary were long gone. They clearly had no intention of

    waiting for her. She didn¡¯t mind and turned to look at Daniel and Jason.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°Mr. Xenos, Mr. Lynch, thank you for today.¡±

    11

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank us. It¡¯s what we should do. Our boss is a nice person,¡± Daniel said, chuckling.

    ¡°Yes, our boss has always emphasized fairness and justice. Today¡¯s oue is what you deserve,¡± Jason replied, also smiling.

    For some reason, Aurelia found their smiles peculiar. Why were they constantly praising their boss in front of her? It had nothing

    to do with her.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t dwell on it and was eager to share the good news with Leslie. If it weren¡¯t for his help, she wouldn¡¯t have made it to

    the meeting.

    Aurelia waved goodbye and said, ¡°I''ll be taking my leave now. If you have any questions, feel

    (Fards A

    T

    free to contact me.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± Daniel and Jason said, nodding.

    After leaving the conference room, Aurelia turned and walked to the front desk instead of immediately heading downstairs.

    ¡°Um... Excuse me.¡± She hesitated.

    She nced around the office, but she couldn¡¯t find Leslie.

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Simmons. Is there anything we can help you with?¡±

    The receptionist was adorable and her lively smile reminded Aurelia of Millie.

    Unfortunately, she could barely recognize Millie these days.

    Regaining her focus, Aurelia cautiously asked, ¡°Excuse me, has Leslie from yourpany returned?¡±

    ¡°Him? Are you also attracted to his face? | advise you not to waste your time. He¡¯s immune to women. All the girls in the entire

    building have been lining up to ask him out for meals, but he doesn¡¯t even care.¡±

    The receptionist sighed, frustrated that Daniel had imed that theirpany was full of handsome guys. In truth, the only

    good-looking one wasn¡¯t even interested in women at all. Hearing this, Aurelia suppressed augh. That did indeed sound like

    Leslie.

    ¡°You''ve misunderstood. | have something to discuss with him.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t explicitly state her rtionship with Leslie, as he hadn¡¯t acknowledged it either. However, she still needed to thank

    him in person.

    ¡°He hasn''t returned since he went out. Would you like to wait for him?¡± the receptionist asked. Aurelia checked the time. Since

    Kimberly and Zachary weren''t waiting for her, it wouldn¡¯t hurt for her to stay a little longer.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    With that, she sat on the couch opposite the front desk and waited for Leslie.

    Spin to im Your Surprise Reward!

    y

    Charteri

 Chapter 127

    In the lobby downstairs, Leslie terminated the remote control of the robot. He then closed theptop and stood up slowly.

    For a techpany, having such equipment was nothing extraordinary.

    He walked to the elevator. Just as the doors opened, a figure rushed out in frustration.

    It was Kimberly.

    To avoid unnecessary trouble, Leslie turned to sidestep her. Unexpectedly, Kimberly suddenly turned around and reached out to

    stop him.

    ¡°It''s you?¡± Kimberly¡¯s angry expression transformed into one of pleasant surprise. Wasn''t he the handsome guy who had be

    the talk of the entire building?

    Observing him up close, he looked charming at every angle. With his exceptionally handsome face and profound eyes, he was

    captivating from every perspective.

    To divert attention from Aurelia, Kimberly had fabricated stories about Leslie pursuing her, painting him as a wealthy and

    handsome man trying to gain experiences.

    She thought people in the building would gradually forget about the stories over time. To her bewilderment, the gossip had only

    intensified, and everyone had started asking when she

    would introduce her boyfriend to them.

    Kimberly was taken aback to see him here.

    Looking at his refined suit and sophisticated demeanor,bined with his free ess throughout the building, it was clear that

    he wasn¡¯t an ordinary person.

    It seemed that she had hit the jackpot.

    Kimberly''s mouth curved into a delighted smile as she grabbed Leslie¡¯s wrist. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, handsome. It seems like I¡¯ve twisted

    my foot. Could you please take me to the couch to rest?¡± She tilted her head and gazed up at Leslie at a calcted angle. This

    perspective made ady¡¯s neck and cheeks appear unusually delicate, inviting men to want to protect her.

    She had used this technique repeatedly, and it had never failed.

    She refused to believe that her charm wouldn¡¯t conquer him.

    Once Leslie escorted her to the sofa, she nned to use the opportunity to inquire about his identity. She would then pretend to

    be grateful and invite him to dinner. In the end, they would grow closer.

    Men valued their ego, and it was impossible for them to refuse a woman¡¯s invitation.

    When the time was right, she would invite him to have a meal with the people in the office, securing her position as the subject of

    envy.

    Kimberly slowly raised her hand and signaled Leslie to assist her.

    To her surprise, Leslie pulled his arm away with a cold expression. ¡°What does it have to do with me?¡±

    per 127

    Kimberly''s hand stilled in midair, and she froze in embarrassment.

    Leslie walked past her and got into the elevator, leaving her behind.

    Kimberly watched as the elevator stopped at a certain floor. This man was crucial to her pride. She refused to give up.

    The elevator stopped on the 31st floor, a floor above One Technology.

    She nced at the directory to search for the office.

    Sunlit Legal Agency.

    He was actually awyer.

    Thrilled, she did an online search and was pleasantly surprised by what she found.

    It was a famous legal firm filled withwyers who make hundreds of thousands each year.

    She smiled and turned to call Jackson.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°Why are you calling me so frequently these days?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Jackson, can you help me search for a young, handsomewyer in Sunlit Legal Agency?¡±

    Jackson was from a wealthy background with no actual talent. He was also a womanizer with very specific tastes.

    He didn¡¯t like nobledies and preferred frail women. He would toss them aside once he was done with them and wouldn¡¯t care if

    they lived or died.

    Kimberly had gotten to know him from a certain gathering and had aimed for him at first. However, she gave up after seeing what

    he did to the women around him.

    In the end, she decided to change her strategy.

 Chapter 128

    5,

    Married in a sh Embarking on the Journey to Wealth Chapter 128

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    Chapter 128

    She asionally tried to set Jackson up with girls, so he regarded her as a friend.

    Jackson clicked his tongue and said, ¡°Can¡¯t you give me a name? This description isn¡¯t enough.

    Kimberlyughed and said, ¡°Why would | need your help if | knew his name? | think he must be the most handsome man in the

    entirew firm.¡±

    Jackson paused for a moment, then suddenly gasped.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Kimberly was startled.

    ¡°| suddenly remembered my dad mentioning thisw firm. The boss¡¯s son had just returned from abroad and joined the firm. To

    avoid special treatment, he had taken on an internship.

    ¡°He even drives a shabby car every day to pretend to be poor. My dad even used him as an example to criticize me, constantly

    praising how handsome and capable he was.¡± ¡°Really?¡± She realized that Jackson had to be talking about the man she had

    encountered.

    The embarrassment on Kimberly¡¯s face vanished. She started imagining the day she would appear in front of everyone with such

    an extraordinary man and receive their envious stares.

    ¡°| know just that much,¡± Jackson said impatiently, ¡°By the way, can you ask Millie not to message me every minute? It¡¯s so

    annoying! | thought it would be fun to y with her, but now it¡¯s not fun at all.¡±

    Hearing this, Kimberly''s smile faded and was reced by resentment.

    When she thought of Millie, she thought of Aurelia.

    Today, Aurelia had signed a contract with One Technology, so the boss would definitely take notice of her.

    The giarism incident wouldn''t stay hidden.

    Kimberly considered for a moment and immediately stopped Jackson, who was about to hang up. ¡°Jackson, you didn¡¯t say

    anything to Millie, right?¡±

    ¡°l ignored her. You know | can¡¯t stand women who don¡¯t know their ce,¡± he said.

    Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Jackson, Millie is an innocent girl who has never been in a rtionship before.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Really?¡± he said. Innocent women were his weakness. Moreover, Millie was exactly his type¡ª-simple, delicate, and easy to

    control.

    ¡°Of course. Why else would | introduce her to you?¡± she said.

    After some thought, Jackson said impatiently, ¡°But she¡¯s really annoying. We haven''t even done anything, but she already thinks

    she¡¯s my girlfriend. She sent me eighty messages this morning, and | don¡¯t even feel like replying.¡±

    Kimberly smiled and said, ¡°I''ll talk to her about this. Just ignore her for now until | tell you otherwise. | guarantee she''ll listen to

    youter. How about that?¡±

    Jackson didn¡¯t have a date at the moment, so he couldn''t possibly turn down such a good deal. ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°| need to take care of something. Bye for now.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    After hanging up, a n started to form in her mind and she smirked viciously.

    After getting into the car, she stepped on the elerator to find Zachary,

    Leslie was no fool. He knew that Kimberly would check which floor he would go to, so he had gone to the floor above.

    When he returned to One Technology, he found Aurelia still waiting at the reception.

    ¡°Why are you still here?¡± he asked.

    ¡°| wanted to thank you. The presentation went well,¡± Aurelia said with a smile.

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±

    ¡°| won''t keep you from your work then.¡±

    ¡°You waited this long just to thank me?¡± he asked.

    ¡°What else can there be?¡± Aurelia gave him a confused look.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± He frowned, then turned to head into the office.

    Just then, Aurelia caught up to him.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, please wait. Can I... treat you to a meal at a proper restaurant? But it¡¯s fine if you¡¯re not free.¡±

    She looked at him nervously, not knowing why she was so nervous about a simple meal.

    Would he say yes?

    Married in a sh Embarking on the Journey to Wealth

    Score 9.9

    Status: Ongoing Type: Author: Artist: Released: January 13, 2024 Native Language: English

    Read Novel Married in a sh Embarking on the Journey to Wealth

    Married in a sh Embarking on the Journey to Wealth ¡ª Aurelia Simmons wants to borrow money from her boyfriend to pay for

    her ailing mother¡¯s hospital bills. To her dismay, she finds out that her boyfriend¡¯s waiting for her mother to die so that he can take

    advantage of her when she¡¯s all alone. She breaks up with him without hesitation and instead marries a friend¡¯s Sen.Aurelia

    initially thinks her husband is a workaholic programmer with a cold personality and a steady job. She expects them to keep their

    distance from each other after marriage.

    Who would¡¯ve expected him to be increasingly clingy the more time they spend with each other? In every important

    meeting, Aurelia sees her husband there. Didputer programmers have such wide job scopes nowadays? It¡¯s only when an

    incredibly important president of apany goes on stage to give a speech at Seacester¡¯s most prestigious business

    conference that Aurelia realizes the president looks exactly like her husband. When faced with another woman¡¯s tant

    seduction, the president shows off his wedding ring in front of all the cameras focused on him. ¡°I¡¯m married, so leave me

    alone.¡±Aurelia red at his ring. Wasn¡¯t that the one she¡¯d given to him?It looked like she¡¯d have to teach him a lesson for lying

    to her! Conclusion Well, that¡¯s the review and how to read the novel Married in a sh Embarking on the Journey to Wealth Full

    Episode. This novel is a novel that is suitable to read for those of you who like Romance genre novels. What do you think about

    this novel? Is it fun to read? Pleasement in thements column below.

    Comment

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 Chapter 129

    Chapter 129

    ¡°Sure.¡± Leslie¡¯s response came so fast that the receptionist was stunned.

    When they had asked him out for a meal on the first day at work, he had ignored them and left. But now that a beautiful woman

    was asking him out for a meal, he had agreed almost immediately.

    Sensing the receptionist¡¯s gaze, Leslie cleared his throat. ¡°I''ll get back to work now.¡±

    Aurelia waved her hand. ¡°Alright. Bye.¡±

    She turned and headed into the elevator and waved goodbye to the receptionist.

    Once she was gone, he shot the receptionist a look. ¡°Martha, don¡¯t run your mouth.¡±

    ¡°My name is Maria.¡±

    ¡°Sure, Mary,¡± he said and left without looking back.

    ¡°I''m going to quit next month. Who would want to work here?¡± Maria thought.

    After leaving One Technology, Aurelia dialed Linda¡¯s number on her way back.

    ¡°Aurelia, you and your mom must be connected. You called just as she came out of the operation room,¡± Linda said with a smile.

    ¡°My mother, how...¡± Aurelia was so nervous that she couldn''t finish her sentence.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The doctor said that the surgery was a sess. The caretaker and | will stick around, so just take care of your own

    affairs.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aurelia could finally rx.

    ¡°Alright, go ahead with your things. Your mom is still under the effect of the anesthetic, so there¡¯s no point for you toe here

    now. Just focus on your own work,¡± Linda said.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    After hanging up the phone, Aurelia rxedpletely.

    Without any worries now, she had to think about what to do next.

    She first needed to consider what she wanted to do with the giarism issue.

    Having secured the contract, she couldn¡¯t possibly swallow her pride and let this slide.

    Fortunately, she had aplete set of ns and notes on herputer. Even if Zachary and

    Kimberly joined forces, it would be futile.

    With that thought, Aurelia finally felt at ease.

    212

    In thepany¡¯s parking lot, Kimberly intercepted Zachary, who looked infuriated.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, wait.¡±

    ¡°Why should I? Kimberly, | trusted you and arranged everything for you. Is this how you repay me? If Aureliaes back with the

    contract andins to the boss, we¡¯re both done for.¡±

    Zachary looked at Kimberly with disappointment. If Kimberly hadn¡¯t imed to have everything under control and if she hadn''t

    promised that her uncle would speak up for him to the boss after the sess, their jobs wouldn''t be at risk now.

    Kimberly immediately grabbed Zachary¡¯s hand and said earnestly, ¡°Mr. Zeller, trust me one more time. | have a way to resolve

    the crisis before us.¡°,

    Zachary didn¡¯t want to hear another word from her.

    He needed to figure out how to exin this situation to the boss.

    Seeing him unmoved, Kimberly decisively pulled him to a hidden corner.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, we''re on the same boat now. Even if you exin things to the boss, do you think he''ll still trust you as much as he did

    before? Once Aurelia bes the vice director, who do you think he''ll

    trust more¡ªyou or Aurelia?¡±

    Zachary fell silent, frowning.

    What Kimberly said made sense. Even if he apologized or shifted all the me to Kimberly, the boss wouldn¡¯t trust him as much

    as he did before.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

 Chapter 130

    Once Aurelia became vice director, the boss would surely train her to take his ce.

    He was middle¡ªaged now, so getting fired would be extremely terrible.

    He sighed. ¡°Go ahead and tell me what you''re nning.¡±

    Kimberly leaned closer to him. ¡°I just need you to stall for time until | get off work...¡±

    Zachary nodded. ¡°Alright. Make sure you make no mistakes this time.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, Mr. Zeller. | have a secret weapon.¡± Kimberly smirked slyly.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡± He nodded and led her upstairs.

    As soon as Aurelia stepped into the office, she found everyone staring at her like she was a stranger.

    ¡°Aurelia... Is that you?¡± the receptionist asked.

    ¡°Yes. What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked in confusion.

    ¡°It''s nothing.¡± The receptionist shook her head.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t pay much mind to it. She assumed that they were just surprised because she rarely dressed like this.

    ¡°Is the boss in his office?¡± she asked.

    ¡°He¡¯s meeting with an important client, so he has said that no one should disturb him,¡± the receptionist said, her gaze fixed on

    Aurelia.

    Aurelia frowned, realizing that she had to wait a while longer.

    She turned and walked toward the office, overhearing the hushed conversation behind her.

    ¡°Did you see Aurelia? She¡¯s actually really pretty. Why did she dress herself so poorly before?¡±

    ¡°Oh my goodness, | almost thought | was seeing things just now! With her looks and figure, she¡¯s even more attractive than

    Kimberly. But she usually dresses like she¡¯s 35!¡±N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Aurelia paused, feeling like they were being overly dramatic.

    What she used to wear were just normal work clothes, right?

    Nevertheless, hearing othersplimenting her was rather pleasing.

    When she entered the office, she saw that there were people from other departments inside.

    They surrounded Millie, praising her beauty. Millie had a radiant smile on her face.

    She had mentioned in the group chat that morning that the clothes and bag she had on were gifts from a pursuer. Within half a

    day, said pursuer had be her boyfriend.

    Watching her revel in her self¡ªsatisfaction, Aurelia felt at a loss,

    Initially, she didn¡¯t want to get involved in these matters. However, Kimberly suddenly stood up and pped her hands.

    ¡°Oh, Aurelia is back.¡±

    At the sound of Kimberly''s voice, the people who were originally focused on Millie turned around and looked at Aurelia in shock.

    This was the first time that Aurelia was the focus of so many people, and she got goosebumps.

    One of them said, ¡°A¡ªAurelia?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Aurelia smiled awkwardly.

    She had just changed her clothes, so why did it seem like she had changed her whole identity?

    ¡°Aurelia, you look... so beautiful. You seem like apletely different person now,¡± someone eximed.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aurelia replied politely.

    ¡°Yeah, why didn¡¯t | notice that you have such a great figure before?¡±

    ¡°| really don¡¯t,¡± Aurelia denied ufortably.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''re so fair. How do you maintain such a niceplexion? Your skin practically looks like vani ice-cream.¡±

    ¡°No, the dress justpliments my skin. Anyone would look fair in it,¡± Aurelia said modestly.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''ve always had your hair up in a bun. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you with your hair down. What shampoo do you

    use? Your hair is so silky. Where did you get it permed? It looks so naturally fluffy.¡±

    ¡°My hair has always been naturally curly, ever since | was a child.¡± Aurelia helplessly moved her hair

    behind her back.

    Unexpectedly, a few of them moved from Millie¡¯s side to hers. They casually touched her skin and hair without giving her a

    chance to escape.

    One sharp-eyed colleague nced at Aurelia¡¯s dress and eximed, ¡°Wow! Aurelia, did you hit the jackpot or something? You''re

    actually wearing Mn¡¯s embroidered dress!¡±

    Aurelia instantly fell silent.

 Chapter 131

    Chapter 131

    172

    ¡°Mn?¡± Aurelia was puzzled, but someone stepped forward to enlighten her.

    ¡°The Mn Group is a business empire that has emerged abroad in recent years. Its luxury brand, Mn, has been dominating

    other major fashion brands during Fashion Week. | heard that the owner behind it is extremely mysterious. Some people say that

    the owner is a woman,

    that it''s a man.¡±

    but others say

    ¡°Mn¡¯s haute couture fashion is highly sought after. Unfortunately, it operates on a membership system, but only those who

    have umted expenses exceeding 150 thousand dors are eligible for it. The requirements for the eligibility to buy their

    haute couture clothings are even higher.

    ¡°Mn has only recently set up stores in the country. The waiting period to get something from them is said to be about a year,

    but there are still many people queuing up to buy their clothes.

    ¡°One of my clients was supposed to organize thepany¡¯s annual celebration. But he forcibly postponed it to wait for Mn¡¯s

    clothes. That¡¯s why | know so much.

    ¡°The dress Aurelia is wearing is definitely Mn¡¯s new design! It¡¯s priced around ten thousand dors on the official website, with

    a minimum wait period of at least one month.¡±

    As the words fell, everyone in the office was stunned. Even Kimberly stood frozen in ce as she took

    in the facts.

    The dress had to be fake!

    She couldn''t even buy thetest designs from Mn, so how could Aurelia afford it?

    Before Aurelia could say anything, someone else couldn¡¯t sit still any longer and walked directly to

    her.

    ¡°Aurelia, you... How could you wear a counterfeit dress?¡±

    It was Millie.

    She stared at Aurelia. The adorable girl that she once was had vanished without a trace. Instead, her eyes were now filled with

    resentment and jealousy, as if she wanted to burn holes in Aurelia¡¯s dress with her eyes.

    Aurelia frowned. She never expected that her good friend would be the one to embarrass her one day.

    She sighed inwardly.

    In truth, Millie had changed long before, but Aurelia had simply refused to admit it.

    ¡°My husband bought it from the store.¡±

    After saying that, Aurelia didn¡¯t offer any further exnations.

    She had said that to tell the others that she wasn¡¯t afraid if they were to inspect her dress. After all,

    Chapter 131

    the truth would be revealed at a nce.

    Acolleague who was sick of listening to Millie¡¯s boasting all morning immediately stood up.

    212N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°Aurelia, we believe you. After all, this dress is from thetest season, and it¡¯s highly recognizable. You look perfect in it, unlike

    some others who wear high-end brands but look like they¡¯ve just borrowed them.¡±

    ¡°By the way, Millie, why don¡¯t you get your boyfriend to buy you a Mn dress as well? That''s what real nobledies are

    supposed to wear. Who would actually wear those brands that one can find everywhere on the street?¡± someone else said,

    ncing at Millie mockingly.

    ¡°I''m afraid that¡¯s not possible. Millie has been sending messages to her boyfriend the entire morning, but he didn¡¯t reply to any of

    them. Who knows what''s going on? Maybe he¡¯s too busy,¡± another colleague said with a mocking smile.

    They were all slightly displeased by how smug Millie had been acting and how she had treated them as if she was above

    everyone else.

    Millie paled and turned to look at Aurelia with resentment, as though Aurelia was the one who had embarrassed her.

    Kimberly stepped forward. She seemed like she was changing the subject, but she was actually fanning the fire. ¡°Aurelia, your

    husband has great taste.¡±

    Everyone focused on Aurelia once again, their eyes filled with envy.

    ¡°Aurelia has found herself a good match. Her mother-inw treats her well, and so does her husband.¡±

    Everyone in the building knew that Aurelia¡¯s mother was critically ill. Anyone who married her would be in for a lot of trouble.

    Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

    x

    im

    4

 Chapter 132

    Chapter132

    No one had expected her to get a good husband with a caring mother¨Cinw. Most importantly, she now looked more beautiful than ever, so it was hard for the others to not envy her.

    Aurelia wanted to end the conversation, but Kimberly¡¯s words led others to keep throwing questionsat her.

    Millie waspletely ignored.

    For the entire morning, she had bathed in attention. After being just an ordinary girl for 20 years, she finally had a taste of what it was like to be in the spotlight.

    Yet, Aurelia¡¯s appearance had put her back in her ce.

    She bit her lip in resentment and darted out of the office. Standing by the window at the end of the corridor, she took her phone out and texted Jackson once again.

    None of her texts had been replied to.

    Did Jackson not like her? But if that was the case, why would he buy her so many things?

    Millie was so focused on her phone that she didn¡¯t notice Kimberly approaching.

    ¡°Millie, are you alright?¡±

    Millie feigned a casual attitude and turned to smile at Kimberly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Why won¡¯t I be?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good. They were just joking. Don¡¯t take it personally. Aurelia probably doesn¡¯t know that you¡¯ll be dressing up so beautifully today. Maybe that¡¯s why she dressed up today too. Everyone likes looking pretty, after all.¡±

    Kimberly had always been great with her words and she could see through the likes of Millie.

    Millie was short¨Csighted and the calmer she appeared, the more hysterical she actually was deep down.

    At a moment like this, she simply needed a little push to get suspicious.

    Indeed, Kimberly was right.

    Millie gritted her teeth. ¡°How could she not know? She even asked who bought these for me this morning.¡±

    Kimberly became nervous. ¡°Did you tell her?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. She¡¯s already married. What¡¯s the point of asking about someone else¡¯s boyfriend?¡± Millie said impatiently.

    Kimberly rxed a bit. In their current situation, Millie was even less likely to spill the beans.

    ¡°So, she knew, huh? Then, why did shee to thepany dressed like this? Wasn¡¯t she supposed

    CAUCAM 357

    22

    to take the day off to apany her mom during the surgery?

    ¡°She rushed to One Technologythismorning, and I was scared. She wanted to take the credit formywork. And since thepany arranged it,I couldn¡¯t do anything about it.¡±

    ¡°She went to One Technology?¡± Millie asked in surprise.

    ¡°Yeah, she snatched the contract tosignher name on it. She even said I copied her n. It sounds absurd. If I really copied her idea,whywould the boss agree to send me to One Technology? With Ber making a scene, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll be our supervisor in the future.¡± Kimberly sighed.

    Millie was stunned for amoment.Although she was not very savvy in the workce, she could understand some of what Kimberly said.

    Thistime, Zachary and Kimberlymusthave had some connectionwithAurelia regarding the proposal they brought to One Technology.

    The question of who copied who was not that important.Whatmattered was who the boss sided with

    The proposal would belong to whoever the boss sided with, and they would be the future vice director.

    Milliesimply couldn¡¯t stand the idea of Aurelia having everything she could ever want while embarrassing her. She was so angry that she couldn¡¯t think clearly, and she snorted

    ¡°She keeps saying how worried she is about her mom, but as soon as she thinks she¡¯ll lose credit, she runs over to stir up trouble. She even told me not to be too eager for sess. She¡¯s just saying one thing and doing another. Why should she get to be the vice director?¡±

    ¡°The contract has already been signed. There¡¯s nothing we can do now, unless ¡­Forget it, you¡¯re her good friend. Why am I telling you all this? Don¡¯t use me of sowing discordter. I¡¯m going back to work.¡±

    Kimberly was not in a hurry. She turned and left, took a few steps, then stopped and looked back at Millie.

    ¡°Millie, don¡¯t send messages to Jackson anymore,¡± she added on purpose.

    As soon as she heard Jackson¡¯s name, Millie¡¯s expression changed. She stepped forward and grabbed Kimberly¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Why are you telling me not to message him? Did he say something to you? Tell me.¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

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    Chapter 133

    1/2

    ¡°Millie, Jackson is my friend, and | can¡¯t betray him. But | also can¡¯t bear to see you waiting for him like this. That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling

    you this. Don¡¯t ask any more questions. | won''t answer them,¡± Kimberly said as she pushed Millie away.

    Having experienced the glory Jackson brought into her life, Millie couldn¡¯t bear to give up on him.

    She rushed to Kimberly once again and whispered, ¡°Kimberly, | understand what you meant just now. If you want to be the

    vice director, | can help you. Aurelia¡¯sputer has a password, but | know it. | can help you delete all her records. Then, all you

    have to do is use her of giarism and stealing credit.¡±

    Aspark of excitement lit up in Kimberly¡¯s heart. She knew Millie couldn¡¯t resist making a move.

    However, Millie¡¯s thoughts were too simplistic.

    Deleting records alone wouldn''t prove anything. To turn the situation around, they needed to make Aurelia indisputably guilty of

    giarism.

    ¡°Millie, don¡¯t act recklessly. | was just chatting casually,¡± Kimberly said calmly.

    ¡°I''m not acting recklessly! She deliberately embarrassed me today. Why should | let her be the vice director?¡± Millie gritted

    her teeth. ¡°Kimberly, | really like Jackson. I''ll help you. Can¡¯t you help me out too? Once we''re together officially, I''ll surely

    remember what you did for me.¡±

    Kimberly pretended to hesitate. ¡°Well, | can see that you genuinely like Jackson. Let¡¯s help each other.

    11

    After saying this, she took out a USB from her pocket and handed it to Millie.

    Confused, Millie asked, ¡°What''s this?¡±

    Kimberly leaned in and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t ask too much. You only need to...¡±

    Millie stared at the USB and nodded without hesitation. ¡°Fine. Now, can you tell me why | shouldn''t look for Jackson?¡±

    Love-struck women were utterly brainless.

    Kimberly couldn''t help but mock Millie inwardly. Still, on the surface, she maintained a smile.

    ¡°Jacksones from a wealthy family. His father is expecting him to inherit the family business soon, so there are many tests for

    him. If his father finds out he¡¯s in a rtionship, he''ll think you''re a hindrance to him and mighte after you.

    ¡°That¡¯s why he¡¯s ignoring you. In fact, he¡¯s doing it for your own good. If you really care about him, just wait for him toe to

    you.¡±

    Listening to this, a touch of gratitude appeared on Millie¡¯s face and she appearedpletely smitten.

    Chapter 133

    2/2

    ¡°Oh, he cares about me so much. Why didn¡¯t he tell me? | won¡¯t bother him in the future,¡± Millie said with newfound

    understanding.

    ¡°Till talk to him and convince him to treat you well,¡± Kimberly added.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Jackson is my friend and | want him to do well, too. Come on, it¡¯s time to get some work done. Do this, and Jackson

    wille back to you.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Millie grabbed the USB and stepped into the office after Kimberly.

    At the moment, Aurelia was still being surrounded by people.

    Millie took the opportunity to get to Aurelia¡¯sptop andpleted everything swiftly.

    Once Millie sat down, Jackson¡¯s message came shortly after.

    Jackson exined his difficulties and mentioned that he missed her. He even invited her for dinner.

    Overjoyed, Milliepletely forgot about what she had done earlier.

    Kimberly sat at her desk with her lips curled, waiting for drama to erupt.

    In the afternoon, Aurelia nced at the time and realized that his meeting should be over by now.

    She was in a hurry to report what happened earlier.

    Though the contract was signed, she didn¡¯t want any idents.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Just as she got up, she heard amotion outside the office.

    The boss had brought managers from all departments over and Zachary was standing right next to

    him.

    Tension rose in the office.

    172

 Chapter 134

    Her boss was a man in his fifties. He wasn¡¯t tall, but had an authoritative air about him with his sharp

    gaze.

    ¡°Aurelia,¡± he called out.

    Everyone instantly turned to look at her.

    ¡°I''m here.¡± She stood and said, ¡°I was just about to go to you...

    The boss raised a hand and interrupted her.

    ¡°It''s fine. | already know what happened. You have better performance than Kimberly, but that¡¯s not an excuse for you to bully

    your colleague or to satisfy your ambition. You represent this firm, not yourself.¡±

    ¡°Sir...¡± Aurelia was startled by his tone.

    ¡°How dare you run over to One Technology to im someone''s credit? So what if you signed the contract? You¡¯ve embarrassed

    thispany. Throughout my career, it¡¯s the first time I''ve seen someone so reckless!¡± The boss threw the file in his hand at

    Aurelia in rage.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not ...¡± Aurelia tried to defend herself, but was interrupted by Kimberly.

    As the words fell, Kimberly stumbled into the arms of her colleagues.

    Instantly, spection ran rife among the crowd about what Aurelia might have done.

    After all, Kimberly had connections with the boss at One Technology, and securing the position of

    vice director seemed inevitable for her.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

    How could Aurelia effortlessly sign a contract instead?

    At this moment, Zachary stepped forward. He pointed at Aurelia with anger and said, ¡°Aurelia! What''s this attitude? Did you really

    think you''ve achieved something just because Kimberly overlooked your giarism?¡±

    ¡°giarism?¡± Aurelia looked shocked as she nced between Zachary and Kimberly.

    She hadn¡¯t expected them to turn the tables on her.

    People around gasped at the usation.

    giarism was the most abhorred offense in their profession, especially whenmitted among colleagues.

    Zachary remained unfazed and said, ¡°Your proposal is an exact copy of Kimberly¡¯s. Out of consideration for your mother¡¯s

    illness, we didn¡¯t expose you publicly. We even approved your leave to take care of your mother. But what did you do? You went

    to One Technology to steal the credit! You''ve embarrassed us and the entirepany.¡±

    Chapter 134

    2/2

    Aurelia was unwilling to be wrongly used and immediately retorted, ¡°Mr. Zeller, it was you who informed me that the

    presentation at One Technology would take ce on Tuesday and asked me to prepare for it. Yet, you went there today without

    me. What''s the meaning of this? Were you deliberately avoiding me?¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! Do you have any evidence that | deliberately misled you about the timing? Both of you are my subordinates. Having

    either of you be vice director is a good thing for me. Why would | do this? Clearly, you misheard the timing, and we couldn''t

    reach you,¡± Zachary said sternly.

    Aurelia pursed her lips.

    The timing was verballymunicated, so how could she provide evidence? It seemed Zachary had intentionally told her the

    wrong time and avoided leaving any proof in the process.

    Aurelia was not ready to concede defeat.

    She took a deep breath and said, ¡°Even if | misheard, what''s wrong with me arriving at One Technology before the meeting? As

    for giarism, our proposals were kept confidential. How could | have copied Kimberly¡¯s idea without your help?¡±

    Aurelia raised a valid question, the force of her voice echoing through the room.

    Chapter 135

    1/2

 Chapter 135

    Chapter 135

    Hearing this, Zachary¡¯s expression changed, and he nced sideways at Kimberly.

    Kimberly then spoke pitifully, ¡°Myputer never has a password. We''ve known each other for years, and | trust everyone.

    Sometimes we forget to lock ourputers when we go out for meals, and nothing has ever happened. Why did it happen this

    time?¡±

    Everyone nodded. In the busy workce, who would remember to lock theirputers?

    Nothing had happened until now. Why did trouble arise when Kimberly and Aureliapeted for the position of vice director?

    It was likely someone deliberately took advantage of this situation.

    The scales in everyone¡¯s minds began to tip, and they started casting disdainful nces at Aurelia.

    Poisonous gazes pierced Aurelia¡¯s body and she could feel her blood freezing.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    However, she dared not reveal any hint of misery on her face. She clenched her teeth and met the boss¡¯s gaze.

    The boss asked, ¡°Aurelia, do you have any exnations for this? You should know thepany detests maliciouspetition

    among colleagues.¡±

    ¡°| can prove | didn¡¯t giarize. We all knowpleting a proposal isn¡¯t as simple as a few PowerPoint slides. The process is

    bound to leave traces. | haveplete documents and records, and they are all on myptop.¡± Aurelia pointed to herptop.

    The boss nodded and agreed with Aurelia¡¯s statement. ¡°Go and open yourptop.¡±

    Aurelia turned and opened herptop, then clicked on the encrypted folder and opened the document about One Technology''s

    opening ceremony.

    The next moment, she stared at her screen in disbelief.

    ¡°How ...How can this be?¡±

    Looking at the magnificent visual effects and the borate wording, she instantly knew that this wasn¡¯t her proposal.

    The boss frowned. ¡°This isn¡¯t the proposal signed with One Technology. Where is your proposal? Where are your records?¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s mind went nk, as she had no idea how to answer the boss¡¯s questions.

    Kimberly leaned and gasped dramatically. ¡°Aurelia! | waspletely wrong about you! So, you¡¯ve been wanting to giarize my

    proposal all along!¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, what do you mean? Exin yourself,¡± the boss said.

    ¡°Boss, actually, | was worried about being giarized before, so | intentionally made up a proposal

    Chapter 135

    22

    with this style. At the time, | jokingly said Aurelia definitely wouldn¡¯t copy mine. | didn¡¯t expect that she would actually create a

    proposal with this style in secret. The whole office can testify to this

    matter.¡±

    Kimberly became increasingly hysterical as she spoke, almost as though she had been put through horrible hardship.

    The colleagues around her nodded.

    ¡°We can stand witness to it. Kimberly did say that. Aurelia was in the office at the time.

    It was at this moment that Aurelia remembered that indeed happened.

    At the time, Kimberly was showing off that she knew the boss of One Technology and mentioned he liked something extravagant.

    She even warmed Aurelia not to copy her idea.

    Aurelia instantly grasped the situation. Combined with the description of the proposal, it was written in Kimberly''s style, making it

    Kimberly¡¯s proposal.

    Such a proposal couldn¡¯t win One Technology over. Hence, Zachary discreetly switched their proposals.

    Still, Kimberly should know the password to herptop.

    She changed her password frequently and most of the passwords she used were rted to her mother.

 Chapter 136

    However, these numbers were something that Kimberly couldn¡¯t possiblye up with.

    Suddenly, Aurelia thought of someone and turned her head to look.

    Millie kept her head down and dared not meet Aurelia¡¯s gaze.

    It was Millie, of all people.

    Millie was Aurelia¡¯s good friend. When she faced problems, she woulde to Aurelia¡¯sputer to find reference cases.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t mind, so she would directly tell Millie the password, allowing her to explore cases and gain experience to stand on

    her own sooner.

    She never expected that Millie would stab her in the back.

    Pointing at the screen, Kimberly said, ¡°Aurelia, do you have anything to say?¡±

    Aurelia retorted, ¡°I didn¡¯t giarize. You couldn¡¯t even present without a script during the meeting. How can you prove it¡¯s your

    proposal? One Technology boss isn¡¯t stupid. He can judge.¡±

    ¡°| was just too nervous. Moreover, do you really think that robot can make any judgment? One Technology¡¯s boss must have

    judged incorrectly because of it,¡± Kimberly spoke firmly, sharing a simr disdain for technology with Zachary.

    To them, the robot was just a lifeless matter.

    Aurelia paused, realizing that arguing further was pointless.

    She insisted, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, then let''s confront One Technology.¡±

    Kimberly and Zachary stiffened for a moment but quickly rxed.

    Kimberly turned to the boss and said, ¡°Sir, | also want to confront them, but today¡¯s meeting

    has already left them somewhat dissatisfied with us. If we need the other party to solve

    internal issues, what would our clients think about you?¡±

    Zachary considered the bigger picture and added, ¡°Boss, it''s my failure to control Aurelia. However, today¡¯s matter can¡¯t be blown

    out of proportion. I¡¯m worried it will be seized upon bypetitors if we make a big deal out of it.¡±

    The boss instantly became stern and his gaze swept over Aurelia with displeasure. ¡°This matter is not to be brought up again.

    Aren''t we embarrassed enough? Aurelia signed the contract and I''ll consider it a way to make amends, but let it be a one-time

    exception.¡±

    Aurelia was stunned. On first hearing, it seemed the boss wasn¡¯t going to pursue it further. But in reality, he had tacitly epted

    the notion that Aurelia had giarized.

    ¡°No! | didn''t...¡±N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°Aurelia, correct your attitude and know your ce. If you want to continue at Young Advertising, reflect on yourself. If you want

    to leave, | won''t stop you,¡± the boss sternly warned.

    Aurelia paled.

    27

    She understood that the boss was threatening her. If the situation escted any further, she would be fired.

    She was just an ordinary person and if she was fired for giarism, no otherpany would ever hire her.

    She asked the boss, ¡°Sir, do you really think that Kimberly wrote this proposal?¡±

    The boss frowned in silence and left with the others.

    Her heart sank.

    The boss was a wise and perspective person. After reading countless proposals submitted by her and Kimberly in the past, there

    was no way that he didn¡¯t know how limited Kimberly''s abilities were.

    However, Kimberly had a powerful background and her uncle had a business coboration with the boss.

    He knew what was more important.

    He merely punished Aurelia to shut her up and prevent her from mentioning this incident.

    She stood frozen in ce, surrounded by eyes of disdain and mockery.

    Kimberly, who was ying the victim just a moment ago, leaned on the desk and smirked at her.

    It was almost as though she was saying, ¡°Aurelia, | told you not to waste your time. You can¡¯t beat me.¡±

 Chapter 137

    Chapter 137

    An hour after the boss left, the workgroup issued two notifications.

    The first notification roughly stated that Aurelia had vited employee unity, damaged thepany¡¯s reputation, and would be

    penalized 1,000 points. She had to submit a self- reflection of a thousand words and read it aloud at the Friday staff meeting.

    The second notification announced the promotion of Kimberly to the vice director of the Marketing Department.

    There was one punishment and one reward, leaving Aurelia¡¯s efforts in vain.

    Immediately, congrattions for Kimberly filled the air.

    ¡°| knew Kimberly would be the vice director.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Kimberly has a widework and abundant resources. The boss isn¡¯t stupid. He knows who is important.¡°.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°No matter how hard others try, they can¡¯t have Kimberly¡¯s good fortune. They¡¯re just born without the luck to make a fortune.¡±

    Kimberly stood up with a smile. ¡°Alright, everyone, that¡¯s too much. The boss chose me because he valued my abilities. People

    without abilities naturally won''t catch the boss¡¯s eye.¡±

    Hearing this, colleagues unconsciously turned to look at Aurelia with disdain.

    Aurelia sat at her desk in silence.

    Kimberly nced at Aurelia and continued, ¡°I''ll treat everyone to celebrate my promotion and pay raise.¡±

    ¡°Yay!¡±

    The cheerful voices of the crowd echoed, piercing Aurelia¡¯s ears.

    She clenched her fist to maintain herposure, but Kimberly had no intention of letting her off.

    Kimberly approached Aurelia gracefully. ¡°Aurelia, I''m not even angry with you. Why are you sulking? Tonight, I¡¯ll treat you to

    something good...¡±

    She paused, then slowly leaned on Aurelia¡¯s desk. ¡°Oh, | forgot. You still have to write that self -reflection. | won¡¯t waste your time

    then.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Aurelia nodded, her expression emotionless as she looked at Kimberly.

    Seeing that Aurelia remained unfazed, Kimberly snorted.

    ¡°Just acting tough,¡± she muttered under her breath and left.

    In less than half an hour, the entire building knew about Kimberly¡¯s appointment as the vice director of the Marketing Department

    and about Aurelia¡¯s giarism and penalty.

    After work, others followed Kimberly enthusiastically to celebrate.

    Aurelia calmly tidied her desk when her phone rang. It was a call from an unknown number.

    Without much thought, she answered. On the other end, Seth¡¯s triumphantughter echoed

    ¡°Aurelia, how did you end up this way? Where¡¯s your husband, the one who only knows how to hide? Why hasn¡¯t hee out to

    help you make things right?¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, no one else would treat you right aside from me. Wake up!¡±

    ¡°Now, if you divorce and beg me to marry you, | promise not to hold grudges. I''ll treat you well...¡±

    Frowning, she didn¡¯t wait for him to finish to finish his sentence and hung up.

    Seth was in the building¡¯s chat group as well, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that he knew what happened.

    However, what made him think that she would get back together with him when he came to mock her for her failure?

    Who did he think he was?

    She set her phone down and prepared to get off work.

    Just then, someone stood by her seat.

    ncing at the blue dress before her, Aurelia felt nothing but disgust.

    ¡°Aurelia, | ...

    Aurelia didn¡¯t give Millie a chance to speak and walked straight past her.

    Millie was momentarily taken aback and caught up to her. ¡°Aurelia, why are you doing this to me? Haven¡¯t you embarrassed me

    enough today?¡±

    Aurelia stopped and red at her, wondering where she got the nerves to me her.

    ¡°Millie, you need to get it through your head that | didn¡¯t embarrass you. You embarrassed yourself.¡±

    ¡°Why you!¡± Millie¡¯s expression darkened and she said with displeasure, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. | was being too blunt. But you knew | was

    dressing up today, so why would you steal my thunder?¡±

    ¡°Is that your excuse for scheming against me? Do you really think that I¡¯m supposed to forgive you just because you said you are

    sorry?¡±

    ¡°What else do you want me to do? Do you have proof that | did something?¡± Millie asked nervously.

 Chapter 138

    Chapter 138

    Looking at Millie, Aurelia sneered.

    ¡°Millie, ask yourself what¡¯s the difference between you and Kimberly now? Do you really dislike her? You''re only a step away

    from envying and admiring her to the point of imitating her. You should know better than others what it means to copy others.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! Why would | envy or admire her? If someone is copying others, it¡¯s you. | wear designer brands, and so do you.

    We''ve been friends for so long, and you can¡¯t stand me being better than you?¡± Millie retorted with a displeased expression, but

    couldn''t hide her guilt in her eyes.

    Aurelia sneered. ¡°So, you still remember that we¡¯re friends. | thought Kimberly is your friend.¡±

    Millie stood there, dumbfounded.

    Aurelia ignored her and walked straight into the elevator.

    On the subway to the hospital, Aurelia¡¯s workgroup chat kept popping up with photos of colleagues and Kimberly sitting in an

    upscale restaurant.

    Millie was amongst them as well.

    Aurelia¡¯s gaze flickered. It would be a lie to say that she wasn¡¯t upset, but what could she do?

    She had no evidence to prove that Millie tampered with herputer, and she couldn¡¯t change Millie¡¯s choice.

    Let it be. They would just be colleagues from now on and nothing more.

    Arriving at the hospital, Aurelia entered the ward and the caretaker immediately stood up to greet her.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, you''re here. Your mother-inw went to the doctor''s office. The doctor said the surgery was very sessful,

    and now we''re just waiting for your mother to get through the critical period.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Aurelia nodded and studied her mother¡¯s pale face.

    The grievances of the day swelled in her chest, and she restrained herself. ¡°Auntie, can | be alone with my mom for a while?¡±

    The caretaker sensed that she was upset and agreed, ¡®I''ll go get some water.¡±

    After she left, Aurelia sat by the bed and held her mother¡¯s hand against her face.

    In the past, her mother would gently touch her face like this, telling her not to be disheartened whenever she suffered hardship.

    Her mother often said, ¡°Life is not easy. Don¡¯t torment yourself with others¡® words. Look forward and don¡¯t dwell on the past.¡±

    Still...

    ¡°Mom, can you wake up? | feel so horrible, and I¡¯m on the verge of copse. How can people''s hearts change so quickly?

    Why...This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Aurelia poured out her suppressed emotions, and by the end, her eyes were filled with tears. However, she wiped them away

    just before they fell.

    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry, | won''t cry, I¡¯ll move forward.¡±

    Suppressing her choked sob was even more painful than letting the tears flow.

    Outside the door, Linda tugged at Leslie¡¯s sleeve.

    ¡°Aren''t you going in?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Leslie took a step back, gently closing the door. ¡°Going in won''t help.¡± ¡°Leslie, she¡¯s your wife. Shouldn¡¯t youfort her

    when she¡¯s suffering?¡±

    ¡°Words, asforting as they may be, are pointless,¡± Leslie said indifferently.

    ¡°Even so ...You can¡¯t just watch as others bully her, right?¡± Linda became increasingly angry.

    If it weren¡¯t for Leslie¡¯s intervention, she would have gone to Young Advertising to cause a

    scene.

    How dare they bully her daughter-inw?

    ¡°This is what she gets for trusting others so easily,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°She doesn¡¯t learn from her mistakes. Are others

    supposed to juste around and realize that they were wrong?

    Linda sighed. She wanted to argue but was rendered speechless.

    Aurelia was still too young and inexperienced. One could have many friends at work, but it was dangerous to entrust a particr

    person because they were bound to be used against her.

    It wasn¡¯t selfishness but self-preservation.

    Frowning, she said, ¡°So are we just going to let this slide? Aurelia loves her job and working for someone like that would kill her.¡±

    Leslie studied Aurelia¡¯s slim frame through the ss window and said, ¡°Only those who are worthy could keep their positions.¡±

    Realization dawned on Linda and she approached him with a smirk. ¡°Leslie, you think Aurelia is nice as well, don¡¯t you?¡±

 Chapter 139

    Leslie looked away without saying a word.

    Linda poked at his chest. ¡°Oh, my. So there is a time when your words fail you.¡±

    ¡°Mom, if you are going to mess around, | will leave,¡± he said with resignation.

    ¡°Don''t leave. Aurelia is really fragile right now. | can¡¯t rest unless you are with her. Get in there.¡± She shoved at him and he

    bumped into the door.

    Inside the room, Aurelia sniffed and wiped her tears, before getting up.

    When she opened the door, she was surprised by the person who came in. ¡°Mr. Synder, why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Given what is happening with your mother, should hee as her son-inw?¡± Linda said and gave Leslie a nudge toward the

    bed. ¡°Why are you just standing there? Address your mother-inw.¡±

    Both Leslie and Aurelia fell into silence.

    Despite the earlier sorrow she felt, Aurelia felt slightly amused, especially when she saw the hint of shock on Leslie¡¯s face.

    She didn¡¯t expect Leslie to let his emotions show.

    Leslie raised an eyebrow and Aurelia immediately pursed her lips. ¡°Mom, my mother hasn''t woken up yet, so she won''t hear Mr.

    Synder. Let¡¯s wait until she¡¯s awake.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Linda checked the time and urged, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Both of you should go home. I¡¯ve arranged for a single room for

    Aurelia¡¯s mom, so she can rest well.¡±

    ¡°Mom, it¡¯s not necessary. Single rooms are expensive, and | ...¡± Aurelia felt slightly embarrassed.

    She couldn''t bring herself to mention that she was running out of money this month after the deduction of points for performance.

    Linda nced at Leslie. Leslie reluctantly yed along. ¡°My mom has a connection, so we''ll get a discount. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Linda¡¯s mouth twitched. Her son was indeed something. After all, when did hospitals start offering discounts?

    Aurelia didn¡¯t think much of it and assumed the hospital offered a cheaper rate.

    ¡°Mom, thank you.¡±

    ¡°It''s no trouble at all. The nurse wille to change the roomter. There¡¯s still a caretaker here to take care of your mother. You

    can rest assured. You''ve been running around all day. It¡¯s better to go back and rest,¡± Linda said with concern.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Aurelia nodded and started packing her mother¡¯s belongings.

    When the caretaker and nurses helped move the bed, Aurelia struggled to pick up seven or eight stic bags and two basins

    from the floor, causing her arms to ache instantly.

    12

    She gritted her teeth and walked out of the ward. At this moment, a figure appeared by her side.

    Leslie silently took the things from her hands and then cornered her against the wall.

    Aurelia was taken aback and realized that someone was holding arge basin of hot water from behind.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    If it weren¡¯t for Leslie, she would have collided with someone else while carrying so many bags and it would be disastrous for hot

    water to spill everywhere.

    Slightly terrified, she said, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Leslie responded with a nonchnt hum and added, ¡°Focus.¡±

    His warm breath caressed on Aurelia¡¯s head. She couldn''t hear clearly what he said, but she felt an itching sensation and a slight

    warmth in every ce his breath touched.

    Linda cleared her throat.

    ¡°How long are you two nning to stay like this? We still need to move the bed.¡±

    The nurses and caretaker couldn''t help butugh.

    Aurelia blushed and slipped out of Leslie¡¯s embrace. ¡°I''ll help.¡±

    She bowed her head to support the bed, not daring to look at Leslie.

    Leslie was left speechless and his mother immediately joined in for some fun. ¡°Oh? There¡¯s finally someone avoiding my

    handsome son, huh?¡± Linda teased. He remained silent.

 Chapter 140

    Leslie nced at how red Aurelia¡¯s ears were and remained silent.

    After settling her mother down, Aurelia left the hospital.

    Linda said that she needed to go home for her beauty sleep and left in a taxi.

    Aurelia followed Leslie into the car and the two didn¡¯t speak throughout the journey.

    Her phone kept vibrating and that was the only noise in the car.

    She took out her phone and saw photos of Kimberly partying with her colleagues. The others had nothing but praises for

    Kimberyl.

    ¡°Thank you, Kimberly, for taking us out.¡±

    ¡°Anyone will benefit from following Kimberly''s lead.¡±

    ¡°Here¡¯s to our department. Let''s hope we will get even better in the future.¡±

    There were photos of them drinking in a high-end restaurant.

    There were eighteen people in the department and seventeen of them were present with the exception of Aurelia.

    She exited the group chat and saw Millie¡¯stest post on her social media ount.

    It was a photo of her and Kimberly with a caption of ¡°My best friend.¡±

    Seeing those three words left Aurelia¡¯s hands trembling. She took a deep breath and locked her phone, before turning to stare

    outside the car window.

    Leslie saw everything but did notment much and focused on driving.

    Once they were home, Aurelia set her purse aside and turned to walk into the kitchen.

    ¡°Let''s just eat something casual,¡± she said in a weak voice.

    Without waiting for Leslie to answer, Aurelia darted into the kitchen.

    Fifteen minutester, she came out with two servings of mushroom soup.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Leslie took the bowl, intending to chat with Aurelia after they finished eating. However, when he took the first sip,

    the overly salty taste nearly made him spit it out.

    He frowned and wondered if Aurelia pour half a bottle of salt into this.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Aurelia looked at him with lifeless eyes.

    ¡°Aurelia, can we talk?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. | have to thank you for today, even though the result ...isn¡¯t great.¡± Aurelia forced a smile and lowered her head.

    She knew she must look awful when she smiled at this moment.

    Leslie stood, then took two sses and a bottle of wine from the liquor cab. ¡°Want some?¡±

    Aurelia looked at the red liquid and bit her lip.

    prt scrThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    insert

    delete

    She didn¡¯t usually drink, but at this moment, she felt an overwhelming urge to grab the bottle and chug it down. Maybe that would

    ease the pain in her heart.

    She nodded. ¡°Sure.¡±

    Leslie poured two sses of wine. He pushed one towards Aurelia and then raised his own ss to take a sip.

    Under the warm light, Leslie tilted his head slightly, and even his eyshes seemed to glow. The bright red liquid slowly slid over

    his lips, disappearing as it rolled down his throat. He looked both graceful and restrained.

    His every movement was deeply etched into Aurelia¡¯s mind, and she couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard.

    Leslie noticed her gaze and lowered his eyes slightly:

    Startled, she picked up her ss and took a gulp.

    This wine was quite good.

    Aurelia poured herself another ss, thinking Leslie might stop her. To her surprise, he just sat there and quietly sipped his own

    drink.

    4

    This made Aurelia gradually rx, and she slowly opened up.

    By the fifth ss, Aurelia was already quite tipsy and started speaking freely.

    The next moment, Aurelia mmed the table with a loud bang and red fiercely at Leslie.

    Leslie was surprised and almost dropped his wine ss.

    Before he could react, Aurelia¡¯s finger poked sharply at his cheek. ¡°You! What gives you the right? Why do you treat me like

    this?¡±

 Chapter 141

    Leslie thought Aurelia could handle her liquor well, given her frequent client meetings.

    However, after five drinks, she revealed her true nature.

    Considering her bad mood today, he didn¡¯t want to make a big deal out of it. Leslie reached out and knocked away her finger.

    To his surprise, Aurelia took it a step further. Not satisfied with just poking, she directly grabbed his cheeks.

    ¡°Aurelia,¡± Leslie warned with a dark tone.

    ¡°We''ve been together for three years! I¡¯ve never asked anything of you! Why are you treating me like this?¡± Furious, Aurelia

    pinched Leslie¡¯s cheeks.

    Leslie''s expression grew darker.

    Aurelia mistook him for Seth.

    Did she still harbor feelings for Seth?

    ¡°Look carefully and see who | am!¡± Leslie warned.

    Confused, she narrowed her eyes and leaned even closer.

    The distance between them was so close that they could almost kiss with a slight movement of their mouths.

    Leslie was stunned, and his breathing became erratic.

    Aurelia smiled. ¡°Do you think | wouldn¡¯t recognize you just because you had your face done? You jerk! Despite knowing how

    miserable | am, you still kick me when I¡¯m down. I''ll beat up!¡±

    With that, she swung her fist at Leslie.

    you

    Leslie was quick to react and grabbed her wrist, gently guiding her into his arms.

    Normally, Aurelia would dodge away but was too drunk to do so today.

    Surprisingly, she reached out and hugged him, burying her face against his chest.

    Leslie¡¯s gaze flickered, and his body tensed. This unfamiliar feeling made him ufortable,

    wanted to push Aurelia away.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    and he inte

    Forget it.

    moved around in his arms.

    ¡°Don''t

    | move,¡± he warned in

    Aurelia looko

    face

    Even Leslie couldn''t help but admit that she was beautiful. It was the kind of beauty that made people feel protective over her.

    But the next moment

    ¡°Dad! Why are you so mean to me? Don¡¯t you love me anymore?¡± Aurelia choked out.

    ¡°...What did you just call me?¡±

    The hint of romantic atmosphere in the air shattered instantly.

    ¡°You are so mean to me, Dad!¡±

    Leslie was instantly rendered speechless.

    Just then, she noticed the steaming hot soup on the table and immediately picked it up to feed Leslie.

    ¡°Dad, | made this. Try it. See who makes this better, me or Mom?¡±

    Leslie refused to take it because it was far too salty for his liking.

    ¡°Dad, are you mad at me?¡± She lowered her gaze.

    ¡°Fine, I''ll have it,¡± Leslie said and instantly regretted his choice as soon as those words left his lips.

    Still, the spoon was already pressed against his lips. Seeing the look of anticipation on her face, he could only open his mouth

    and swallow it.

    It was really salty.

    After taking half a bowl, Aurelia stopped force¡ª-feeding him.

    Just as he was about to rx, Aurelia leaned closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. Dad, thank you. I¡¯m sorry that |

    couldn¡¯t protect Mom.¡±

    The look of displeasure on Leslie¡¯s face eased and he allowed her to hold him without a word.

    Her words sounded rather familiar.

    Back when he and Linda were chased out of their home, that was what he said to her as well.

    ¡°Dad, can¡¯t youe back to life? You said that I¡¯m your princess and that you¡¯d protect me for life, right? They are bullying me. |

    tried my best to fight back, but ...

 Chapter 142

    ¡°I''m sorry. Do you think I¡¯m useless? | wanted to make you and Mom proud, but why do they have to hurt me? They betray and

    nder me. Why? Am I not good enough? What did | do wrong?¡±

    Unable to hold back any longer, Aurelia burst into tears and buried her face in Leslie¡¯s shoulder.

    She went from silent sobs to loud cries within three seconds.

    She wasn¡¯t the capable and intelligent employee of Young Advertising anymore. At this moment, she was just her father¡¯s little

    girl.

    She was free to cry and make a scene if she wanted. Although crying felt liberating, Aurelia still sensed something missing.

    Holding Leslie tightly, she clung to him as if he were her father. She feared that if she let go, he would turn back into a

    photograph.

    After a moment, a hand gentlynded on her head.

    Yes, this was what was missing.

    The warmth of the hand stroked her hair and back soothed her troubled heart. Eventually, she cried until her eyes and throat

    hurt. Her head was spinning, and she fell asleep in Leslie¡¯s arms.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Leslie nced at her, then picked her up to carry her into the bedroom. After cing her on the bed, he turned to leave.

    But before exiting, he wiped away the tears that had streamed down her face.

    As Leslie left the room, he realized he had crossed a line.

    Fortunately, Aurelia was sound asleep and blissfully unaware of what had happened.

    He took out his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Daniel, help me with something...

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    Aurelia woke up the next morning and sat on the bed, feelingpletely bewildered.

    It felt like her time had jumped from having dinner yesterday to this morning.

    What had happened during the gap? Her mind was a nk te.

    She rubbed her throbbing forehead, and fragmented scenes shed through her mind.

    Yesterday, Leslie must have noticed her bad mood during dinner, so he had her drink a ss of wine to vent.

    Then, she seemed to have drunk too much. She remembered saying a bunch of nonsensical things to Leslie, but she couldn''t

    recall the specifics.

    She vaguely remembered doing something to Leslie.

    Just then, the rm clock rang, reminding her to get up.

    Having no time to dwell on the past, she got up and changed into the clothes Leslie had bought for her yesterday.

    It was a goose-yellow outfit made of silk. The top was in the style of a European corset, with a jade button as a finishing touch,

    and the sleeves had delicate green embroidery.

    The bottom was a midi skirt, adorned only with side buttons with no other embellishments.

    Aurelia looked delicate and gentle in the dress and she couldn''t resist admiring herself in the mirror for a moment.

    She didn¡¯t take too long to admire herself because she wanted to leave the house before Leslie woke up.

    Thinking back to how she got drunk the night before, she didn¡¯t know how to face Leslie.

    She quietly opened her door and tip-toed toward the main door.

    ¡°Finally awake? Come over for breakfast.¡± Leslie¡¯s voice sounded behind her.

    Taken aback, she froze and turned around to find Leslie sipping on coffee leisurely at the dining table.

    There was a te of toast and a ss of milk next to him. They were clearly for her.

    With no other option, she could only sit down and eat with her head down.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, aboutst night ...I¡¯m sorry. Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°I''m fine. | just somehow ended up as someone¡¯s dad.¡±

    Aurelia fell into silence and wondered, ¡°Dad?¡±

    She took a sip of milk and suddenly widened her eyes when memories started shing back to her.

 Chapter 143

    By the time realization dawned on her, Leslie had already set his coffee down and gotten up.

    He adjusted his tie and said, ¡°Remember to wash the dishes, Aurelia.¡±

    She nodded dazedly. ¡°Okay.¡±

    He observed the dazed look on her face and smiled, before turning to leave.

    In the next moment, Aurelia held her head as she recalled what happened the night before.

    She poked at Leslie¡¯s face, forced him to drink soup, and called him ¡®Dad.¡¯

    She mmed her head hard against the table, wishing she could just knock herself out.

    After a few minutes, she sighed and picked up the dishes. She walked into the kitchen and saw that there was some leftover of the soup she made in the fridge.

    Leslie was mistaken about her appetite and she actually wasn¡¯t full from just eating two pieces

    of toast.

    Not wanting to waste food, she heated the soup and gulped down on it.

    ¡°Ugh!¡± Her face twisted with misery from how salty it was.

    She then recalled how Leslie was forced to finish half the bowl and wondered how he managed to keep something this salty down.

    Leslie¡¯s face showed no signs of displeasure and he even prepared breakfast for her.

    Upon reflection, Leslie wasn¡¯t as cold as Aurelia had imagined.

    Suddenly, Aurelia¡¯s mind shifted to scenes of herself feeding Leslie soup, and her face flushed. She quickly patted her cheeks to calm herself.

    After washing the dishes, Aurelia took the trash downstairs.

    On the subway, the thought of facing the challenges at thepany caused her to sigh inwardly. However, after venting her emotions yesterday, she felt less devastated.

    She had invested all her efforts into Young Advertising, and abandoning it wasn¡¯t an option for her, Especially with the project at One Technologying, she had to ensure its smoothpletion. On top of that, she needed to repay Leslie for his help.

    As for other matters, she needed to take time to reconsider everything.

    Arriving at thepany, Aurelia saw many people gossiping around a red Ferrari outside the main gate.

    ¡°I saw her boyfriend escorting her in just now. Impressive.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s there to envy? Public disys of affection lead to a quick demise! How could a rich second-generation guy marry her? What does she have to offer? Her looks are average, intelligence is average, family background is average. Does she really think of herself as Cindere? Even Cindere was an earl¡¯s daughter, to begin with. The Ugly Duckling turns into a swan because it was originally a swan. Be realistic.¡±

    Aurelia overheard these words as she passed by, but they didn¡¯t stir much emotion in her.

    In this building with hundreds of women, who chose to be their boyfriends was no concern of hers.

    Although the words were harsh, they were also quite truthful. As Leslie had mentioned, people whopromised for less than those below usually had ulterior motives.

    Instead of seeking others¡¯ approval, it was better to keep marching forward.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Aurelia was lost in thought and didn¡¯t notice a coffee spill on the floor. She identally stepped on it and slipped. Fortunately, someone reached out and caught her.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she quickly expressed her gratitude.

    ¡°No problem. It¡¯s an honor to assist such a beautiful woman like you.¡±

    She frowned at the man¡¯s flirtatious tone. When she raised her eyes, she met a pair of intense, scrutinizing eyes that scanned her from top to bottom.

    Feeling ufortable, she tried to pull her hand away, but the man held on.

    ¡°Please let go,¡± she said with restrain.

    ¡°Hello, my name is Jackson Morrison. What¡¯s

    your name?¡±

    Jackson tightened his grip, seemingly unwilling to release Aurelia unless she revealed her

    name.

 Chapter 144

    Aurelia widened her eyes, never expecting to encounter such an improper person right outside herpany.

    She struggled and said, ¡°Let go...¡±

    Before Aurelia could finish speaking, a sharp voice cut through the air. ¡°Aurelia! What are you doing?¡±

    This was followed by a tremendous force. Even Jackson, a towering figure at six feet, was pushed back several steps.

    Aurelia, who was wearing high heels, stumbled further backward. Fortunately, the ss door blocked her and prevented her from

    falling.

    Rubbing her numb shoulder, she red angrily at the neer. ¡°Millie, what are you doing?

    ¡°What am | doing? Aurelia, can¡¯t you stand seeing me happy? Are you actually flirting with my boyfriend in public?¡±

    Millie watched Aurelia, who had transformed from her usual lifeless appearance into someone so dazzling and beautiful.

    Her emotions fluctuated in her eyes and they all boiled down to resentment. Then, she walked to Jackson¡¯s side and linked arms

    with him to assert her sovereignty.

    However, Jackson remained silent, his gaze still fixed on Aurelia.

    Suppressing her disgust, Aurelia looked at Millie and said firmly, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. | just slipped!¡±

    Millie didn¡¯t believe her and turned to Jackson. ¡°Jackson, did she intentionally try to get close to you?¡±

    Aurelia looked at Jackson, expecting him to clear her name if he truly was Millie¡¯s boyfriend.

    Unexpectedly, Jackson just shrugged, seemingly enjoying the attention from the two women vying for him.

    Jackson''s behavior fueled Millie¡¯s anger.

    The people who gathered around the Ferrari heard themotion and turned their attention over. Millie publicly rushed to

    Aurelia and used, ¡°Aurelia! Have you no shame? You''re already married! Yet, you still seduced a friend¡¯s boyfriend!¡±

    The crowd murmured, and their gazes toward Aurelia became more disdainful.

    ¡°You failed to copy your colleague¡¯s work, so you changed your strategy? Why bother getting married if you are that thirsty for

    attention? Seeing that your friend has found a wealthy boyfriend, you can¡¯t stand it, huh? Some people just can¡¯t stand seeing

    others doing better than them.¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    Aurelia paled, but Millie found it pleasing. It almost felt as if demeaning Aurelia elevated her

    status.

    Aurelia clenched her fists. Since Millie insisted on causing a scene, she would y along. Looking at Millie, she said, ¡°Millie, you

    im | seduced your boyfriend. Where¡¯s the evidence?

    Millie hesitated for a moment, then sneered. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes. What other evidence do | need? Are you saying that we

    are framing you? Aurelia, | know you are upset about the giarism incident, but you don¡¯t need to vent your frustration on me,

    right?¡±

    ¡°Despite all your talk, you are basically saying that you have no evidence, right?¡± Aurelia countered.

    ¡°You...¡± Millie''s expression became awkward.

    Ignoring her, Aurelia walked directly to Jackson. ¡°Sir, do you also think | seduced you?¡±

    Jackson''s gaze flickered, but he still refused to give a direct answer. However, he kept his expression ambiguous and

    misleading.

    He clearly didn¡¯t intend to exin the situation.

    Aurelia had dealt with plenty of clients and wealthy men like Jackson were predictable.

    They were only egocentric. They enjoyed being fawned over and maintaining control over the situation.

    Millie needed him, so she was willing to fawn over him and allow him to manipte her.

    However, Aurelia was different.

    She smiled. ¡°Mr. Morrison, you sure were talkative when you introduced yourself just now. Why are you keeping quiet now?

    Don¡¯t deny it, or | wouldn¡¯t be able to know your name since this is the first time we met. Jackson Morrison, right?¡±

    The crowd fell into silence.

    Millie¡¯s expression darkened and her

    eyes

    widened.

    ¡°What? Are you upset that your boyfriend is asking another woman for her name?¡± Aurelia thought. ¡°You were just desperate to

    get others to condemn me, weren¡¯t you?¡±

 Chapter 145

    Chapter 145

    1/2

    Here, Jackson¡¯s gaze turned cold.

    This was the first time that a woman challenged him. Initially, he thought of letting Aurelia face public condemnation and then

    graciously resolving the situation to make her aware of his

    power.

    However, Aurelia directly tore off his facade.

    Amere junior employee dared to go against him.

    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? You were the one who leaned toward me all of a sudden,¡± Jackson retorted.

    Millie nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, Jackson is my boyfriend. How could he be interested in other women?¡±

    ¡°So you can exin yourself, after all. When Millie confronted me just now, why didn¡¯t you speak up? She¡¯s your girlfriend. Don¡¯t

    you think you¡¯d hurt her feelings if you didn¡¯t exin yourself?¡±

    Sometimes, words alone were enough to cause changes.

    The expressions of everyone present made it clear that they understood what was truly happening.

    This man was merely ying with Millie, so he didn¡¯t care if she misunderstood.

    Millie stood there dumbfounded, her designer clothes that once made her feel proud suddenly feeling horrendous.

    Jackson appeared indifferent and ignored her with hands in his pockets. ¡°But you did seduce me. Otherwise, how did you end up

    falling on me?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Hearing this, Millie red resentfully at Aurelia.

    Aurelia bypassed the two of them and waved to the janitor at the corridor.

    ¡°Auntie, did you forget to put up a sign here?¡±

    The janitor had no idea what had happened and apologized repeatedly, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, someone spilled coffee over there this

    morning. | rushed to clean it up. | did remember to get the warning sign, but when | turned around to throw away the trash, |

    forgot. I¡¯m sorry, did anyone get hurt?¡±

    The janitor was extremely nervous. This area had marble floor tiles. If someone fell and hit their head, she couldn''t afford the

    compensation.

    Aureliaforted her, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Someone caught me before | could fall.¡±

    Mr.

    ¡°I''ll go get the sign.¡± The janitor sighed in relief and turned around to find the ¡®wet floor¡¯ sign. Aurelia looked at Jackson and said

    coldly, ¡°Firstly, thank you for lending me a hand, Morrison. Secondly, | apologize for any misunderstanding caused. Lastly, I¡¯m

    married, so it''s not convenient for me to disclose my name.¡±

    People around chuckled and dispersed. They all came to admire Ferrari and Millie, only to end

    up witnessing a ridiculous drama.

    Millie and Jackson stood still.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to argue further and avoided Millie. She turned around to leave but was surprised by Kimberly¡¯s voice behind

    her.

    Kimberly had just gained power and she was determined to use Aurelia to exert her authority. ¡°Aurelia! Falling into the same old

    habits, are we? These guys may be forgiving, but you can¡¯t just keep provoking them, right? Your husband empties his wallet to

    buy you designer brands, and this is what you do? One should be faithful. Can¡¯t you leave what others have alone? Do you have

    to snatch whatever others have?¡± Kimberly approached, her dark gaze fixed on Aurelia¡¯s ink-blue outfit.

    Because of Kimberly''s words, Aurelia¡¯s earlier exnations became futile.

    Kimberly made it sound like she was an unstable, fickle woman who couldn''t be satisfied with just one man.

    |...¡± Aurelia tried to speak.

    Kimberly waved her hand and interrupted her. ¡°Alright, | don¡¯t care what you think. This is our workce, so please correct your

    attitude. Are you nning to argue with me here?¡±

    With that, she went to console Millie.

    Millie wanted to maintain the impression that she was deeply in love with Jackson, so she threw herself into his arms and turned

    to shoot a smug look at Aurelia.

    Jackson tapped her on the back casually, but his gaze remained fixated on Aurelia.

    Unable to stand his gaze, Aurelia figured that there was no point in arguing further and hurried into the elevator.

    Inside the elevator, everyone kept their distance from her like she was a virus,

    Meanwhile, Jackson gave Millie a few words offort before urging her to go upstairs impatiently.

    ¡°Millie, you are going to bete. You are my friend, but I¡¯ve just been promoted so | can¡¯t let things slide,¡± Kimberly chimed in.

    Millie agreed and tip-toed to kiss Jackson on the cheek shyly, before running into the elevator. Jackson wiped his cheek and

    looked at Kimberly with a smile. ¡°Is that Aurelia your colleague?¡±

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Kimberly asked.

 Chapter 146

    Chapter 146

    ¡°Introduce us.¡±

    Kimberly paused. ¡°She¡¯s strong-willed. Not your type.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. Preference changes. | had a close look at her. Her skin was so fair and she¡¯s pretty. My heart is still racing,¡± Jackson

    said with his hand on his chest.

    ¡°She just embarrassed you. Have you forgotten about it already?¡±

    ¡°I''m forgiving,¡± he said.

    ¡°She¡¯s married,¡± she emphasized.

    ¡°There¡¯s a price to every woman. | want her right now. It doesn¡¯t matter if she¡¯s married. If her husband is capable, she wouldn¡¯t

    be working now.¡±

    Kimberly was slightly displeased.

    Though she was friends with Jackson, she once tried to pursue him as well. However, he rejected her right away, saying that she

    wasn''t his type.

    Yet, he was immediately interested in Aurelia after meeting her once.

    This was an indirect insult to her.

    Still, she didn¡¯t refuse right away and said to Jackson, ¡°Alright, but I¡¯ve just been promoted. Just wait for a while. You still have

    Millie for now, right?¡±

    Upon hearing Millie¡¯s name, Jackson''s brows furrowed.

    ¡°This woman is so annoying. | would have kicked her out long ago if she wasn¡¯t so obedient.¡±

    ¡°Don''t. Don¡¯t kick her for now. Perhaps, she could still be useful in pursuing Aurelia,¡± Kimberly said hastily.

    If Jackson abandoned Millie at this moment, how could she leverage Millie for her own benefit?

    ¡°Alright, I''ll leave now. Keep an eye on this matter for me. If | seed, I''ll buy you anything you want.¡±

    ¡°Thank you in advance, Jackson.¡± Kimberly smiled happily.

    Jackson was devious, but if he were genuinely interested in Aurelia, it might be a good thing for her.

    She also wanted to see Aurelia end up in disgrace.

    In the office, Aurelia had just sat down when Millie and Kimberly entered together, both appearing in good spirits.

    Kimberly packed up the items on her desk, preparing to move to the small office next to Zachary¡¯s office. This was the privilege

    of the vice director.

    Millie and others immediately gathered around.

    212

    ¡°Kimberly, let me help you pack,¡± Millie offered.

    ¡°You shouldn''t be calling her Kimberly anymore. It should be Ms. Watson,¡± one of the colleagues chimed in.

    Kimberly sat in her chair and enjoyed the service of others.

    Suddenly, she turned her chair to look at Aurelia, who was working.

    Taking on themanding tone of a superior, she said, ¡°Aurelia, is the self-reflection letter ready?¡±

    Instantly, everyone in the office stopped working.

    The only sound in the entire office was the tapping of Aurelia¡¯s keyboard.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    She replied indifferently, ¡°No.¡±

    Kimberly''s smile stiffened. ¡°Did you forget about it? Today is Tuesday. You are supposed to read the letter aloud on Friday.¡±

    Aurelia continued typing on the keyboard without stopping. ¡°Why the rush?¡±

    Kimberly fell silent and bit her lip resentfully.

    She got up and had someone move her belongings into the small office. Then, she went into Zachary¡¯s office.

    About fifteen minutester, Zachary came out with Kimberly.

    ¡°Today is Kimberly''s first day in office as the vice director. To congratte her, |, as the director, will treat everyone to lunch.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Zeller.¡±

    Apuse erupted.

    Suddenly, Zachary¡¯s tone took on a more serious tone. ¡°Kimberly is a person approved by the boss. Although she is young, she

    has reached this position based on her capabilities. | hope everyone won''t feel unfair about this arrangement and will cooperate

    more with the work of the vice director.¡±

    The focus of the conversation shifted abruptly, and everyone stole nces at Aurelia.

    Zachary then pointed directly at Aurelia. ¡°Aurelia, is the self-reflection letter written?¡±

 Chapter 147

    Chapter 147

    ¡°No,¡± Aurelia said.

    Zachary frowned. ¡°Complete it by tomorrow and show it to me. This is to prevent you from making a fool of yourself in the

    meeting. It¡¯s settled. Everyone, get back to work.¡±

    With that, he left.

    Aurelia fell into silence.

    Was it really to prevent her from making a fool of herself? He was clearly standing up for Kimberly.

    Kimberly smirked smugly and pointed at Aurelia, ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t forget about it this time.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t respond, but clenched her fists until her skin turned red.

    She considered quitting the day before, but dismissed that thought soon after.

    Once she quitted, she would never be able to shake thebel of giarism. The entire industry would iste her and years of

    hard work would be in vain.

    She had an ill mother to look after and she needed a lot of money.

    She couldn''t simply trouble Linda and Leslie all the time. As an ordinary employee, she couldn¡¯t fight back against absolute

    power.

    She could only put up with it.

    Some may think that she had iting, but she had no other option and could only march

    forward.

    Aurelia had a busy morning, and she went to the restroom as lunchtime approached. When she returned, the entire office was

    empty.

    After checking her phone, she found messages in the group.

    They had all gone out for avish meal with Zachary.

    Aurelia knew they deliberately left her behind.

    She used to think workce bullying

    was something distant from her, but she had now found herself entangled in it. Sitting alone in the empty office, her mind went

    nk. For a moment, she was unsure of what she was thinking.

    She didn¡¯t want to confront them about why they didn¡¯t invite her as it would not lead to anything good.

    Instead, she decided to contemte how to resolve the issue at hand.

    With Jackson causing a scene earlier, Millie was unlikely to tell her the truth.

    However, the records on herptop had all been deleted.

    As she pondered, Aurelia felt like she grasped something important and immediately put herptop into her bag, before leaving

    the office.

    She took a taxi to the building of One Technology and dialed Leslie¡¯s number. After several

    rings, he finally answered.

    ¡°Go on.¡± Leslie¡¯s cold voice care through.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, have you had lunch?¡± Aurelia asked hesitantly.

    ¡°Is that why you called me?¡± Leslie sounded like he was about to hang up.

    ¡°Wait, I''d like to treat you to lunch. By the way, could you help me with something? Myptop is broken,¡± she said.

    ¡°Where are you?¡±

    ¡°I''m already downstairs at yourpany. If you''re busy right now, | can wait,¡± Aurelia said, reluctant to press further.

    ¡°I''ming shortly.¡± With that, Leslie hung up.

    Upstairs in the conference room, a gloomy atmosphere had lingered all morning until Leslie answered a call.

    ¡°Meeting adjourned,¡± he said.

    ¡°What?¡± Daniel was puzzled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say we wouldn¡¯t eat until the issue was resolved?¡±

    ¡°I''m hungry now.¡± Leslie nced at the window. The temperature outside was estimated to be around thirty-eight degrees

    Celsius.

    Aurelia would likely get a heatstroke if she stood outside for too long.

    With that in mind, he stood up and left.

    The entire conference room was left in a daze when they realized their workaholic of a boss decided to abandon work.

    Downstairs, Aurelia stood under a tree and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

    She thought she would have to wait for a long time, but Leslie appeared with an umbre a few minutester to her surprise.

    Leslie took one look at the faint sunburn on her cheeks and handed the umbre he borrowed from the receptionist to her.

 Chapter 148

    Chapter 148

    ¡°Take it.¡±

    ¡°But | ...¡± She was holding her purse in her left hand and herptop bag on the right, so she couldn¡¯t spare a hand to hold the

    umbre.

    Leslie didn¡¯t say a word and simply took the bags from her, before shoving the umbre into her hand.

    Despite his cold exterior, he was very considerate.

    Smiling, Aurelia said, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    However, when they opened the umbre, the two of them froze under the sun.

    On the outside, it looked like an ordinary ck umbre. However, there was a picture of a muscr man on the inside of the

    umbre.

    Leslie narrowed his eyes and started wondering where Daniel hired all these strange people from.

    ¡°| borrowed it from someone.¡± He cleared his throat and urged, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Aurelia suppressed herughter and nced at the muscr man on the inside of the umbre.

    When both Leslie and she got drenched in the bathroom, she noticed that he had a muscr build as well, though not as

    exaggerated as the picture on the umbre.

    Recalling how the wet shirt outlined his abs, she felt her blood rushing to her head.

    ¡°Aurelia.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Yeah?¡± She snapped out of it.

    ¡°You are about to bump into the tree,¡± Leslie said with resignation. ¡°What are you thinking?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡± She shook her head and nced at the umbre guiltily.

    He nced at it as well and realization dawned on her. ¡°How naughty.¡±

    ¡°Naughty? What does he mean?¡± Aurelia thought. Not daring to ask him about it, she picked up her

    pace.

    They found a simple restaurant near the building and ordered two-set meals. Aurelia discreetly nced at the prices and they

    were reasonable.

    She finally understood why Leslie had chosen this somewhat distant restaurant despite passing by many others under such hot

    weather.

    He knew she probably didn¡¯t have much money.

    Before the food arrived, Leslie casually rolled up his shirt sleeves, a move that seemed effortless yet exuded a casual sense of

    beauty. This instantly caught the attention of the surrounding office workers.

    ¡°What''s wrong with theputer?¡± he asked.

    Chapter 148

    2/2This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    ¡°It''s just...the files are gone.¡± Aurelia hesitated. Not wanting to trouble Leslie, she refrained from mentioning that she had been

    schemed against.

    Little did she know that Leslie had overheard it all outside her hospital room yesterday.

    He took a sip of water. ¡°Were they deleted by someone?¡±

    Aurelia looked surprised. ¡°How did you know? Can you recover them? They are quite important.¡±

    ¡°It won''t be hard.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aurelia breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡°But even if you bring back the restored files, what''s the point?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Well...¡± Aurelia hadn¡¯t thought that far because she just wanted to prove her innocence.

    ¡°They can still im forgery. Unless you have a foolproof solution, it will be a never-ending problem. Sometimes avoiding trouble

    doesn¡¯t mean trouble won¡¯t find you. Instead of dodging trouble, it¡¯s better to resolve it. The same thing applies to troublesome

    people.¡±

    Leslie''s voice was calm, but each word weighed heavily on Aurelia¡¯s heart. It felt like the fog before her was gradually lifting, and

    many things became clear.

    Her problem wasn¡¯t giarism. It was Kimberly.

    Besides resolving the giarism issue, she should also address Kimberly.

    She considered herself a person who didn¡¯t seek trouble, so she would draw the line when faced with provocation.

    She didn¡¯t want to make things too ugly since they were colleagues. However, not everyone appreciated this approach. Seth and

    Millie were perfect examples of someone who took advantage of her restraint.

    Kimberly was also one of those people who thought Aurelia wouldn''t resist due to her humble background, so she behaved

    recklessly.

    Had Aurelia drawn the line with Kimberly right from the start, Kimberly would never have dared to plot against her so ruthlessly.

    Since things hade to this point, talking wouldn¡¯t change anything.

    Aurelia frowned, feeling down. ¡°You''re right. Whatever | do now is useless. It¡¯s my own fault.¡±

    Leslie looked at her and said in a deep voice, ¡°Is it going to kill you to ask for my help?¡±

    Aurelia fell into silence and thought, ¡°Huh?*

 Chapter 149

    Aurelia was momentarily stunned before she grasped the situation.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I¡¯ve already sought your help. The current situation is a result of my mishandling of the matter.¡±

    ¡°You know what I¡¯m referring to,¡± Leslie said.

    Aurelia knew he belonged to One Technology, and asking him to seek intervention from the higher-ups wouldn¡¯t be difficult.

    However, she had been trying to handle things on her own from the beginning. This made Leslie curious about the kind of person

    she truly was, although he had never been particrly inquisitive.

    Aurelia pursed her lips. Leslie was indeed perspective. He saw through everything.

    She chuckled helplessly. ¡°You don¡¯t owe me anything. What if my issues end up affecting your job? We''re just employees. You

    have a mortgage to pay, and you need to take care of your mother. | can¡¯t be so selfish. I''ll figure out a way to handle it.¡±

    ¡°What kind of way?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Just...¡± Aurelia struggled toe up with an answer.

    ¡°Are you going to handle it like you didst night?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder!¡± Aurelia covered her forehead, widening her eyes as she interrupted. ¡°Can we not mentionst night? It¡¯s too

    embarrassing.¡±

    Leslie raised an eyebrow. ¡°It seems you remember everything now.¡±

    Aurelia immediately covered her mouth and realized she had let it slip.

    She had initially nned to pretend that she didn¡¯t remember a thing. Conveniently, the dishes arrived at this moment, and she

    quickly pointed at the food in front of them.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    ¡°Let''s eat first,¡± she said, blushing.

    She took arge mouthful of pasta, hoping to alleviate her embarrassment.

    Leslie could tell that she was embarrassed and said calmly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be embarrassed about. There¡¯s no rule that says

    people can¡¯t cry, nor is there a rule that says strong people aren¡¯t supposed to seek help. Stop listening to others. Only fools

    would hold it all in.¡±

    ¡°... Oh,¡± Aurelia mumbled. Though she had already swallowed the food in her mouth, she still felt a lump in her throat.

    She remembered the day of her father¡¯s funeral. Her neighbors, rtives, and friends all told her, ¡°Aurelia, you can¡¯t cry. You

    have to stay strong. You are the only one your mother has

    now.¡±

    Even Seth told her that modern women were supposed to be independent and couldn''t go crying to their boyfriends.

    Hence, she took on everything and never let others worry about her.

    272

    Leslie was the only one who told her that it was not shameful to cry despite what she had done the night before.

    Thinking back to the previous night, she blushed again and tried her best to focus on the

    present.

    ording to what Leslie said, it would be unrealistic to retrieve her proposal. After all, everyone had already seen that

    extravagant n on herptop.

    Even if she presented another n, they could simply say that she added it to herptop afterward.

    What if she found her n in front of everyone? No one could say that she was sneaking around anymore.

    However, she wasn¡¯t a professional in technology and the only person who couldplete such a thing with ease was Leslie.

    She looked up at him and considered her words.

    He seemed to have anticipated what she wanted to say. ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°You already know about the situation. | don¡¯t know how to handle it, so can you help me out? ¡± she said. Once spoken, she

    realized it wasn¡¯t so hard to seek help after all.

    When facing Leslie, she somehow felt a sense of security.

    Leslie set his fork down. ¡°And what do | get in return? Even siblings should keep things clear, and so should married couples.¡±

    Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

 Chapter 150

    Aurelia was taken aback and showed five fingers at Leslie. ¡°How about five hundred?¡±

    He narrowed his eyes and felt speechless.

    She was once in a rtionship, yet she knew nothing about being in one.

    How could married couples discuss money?

    He reached out and poked her on the forehead gently. ¡°Is money all you can think of?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± She froze. Where Leslie touched felt like it was on fire and her heart raced.

    Leslie paused as well when he realized that his action was slightly out of line.

    He withdrew his hand and took a sip of his water. Clearing his throat, he said, ¡°Buy me a meal.

    11

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what I¡¯m doing now?¡± Aurelia nced at the dishes on the table.

    ¡°Aurelia, do you know how much you owe me? How many days has it been since youst made me lunchboxes? Are you

    seriously going to even things out just with a meal after that presentation?¡±

    ¡°How about | give you five hundred and you can have whatever you want with it ...¡± Before she could finish her sentence, his

    sharp gaze silenced her. Changing her mind, she said, ¡°Sure, Mr. Synder. I''ll treat you to a grand meal.¡±

    ¡°He is so scary,¡± she thought. ¡°He was calm just now and got upset the next moment.¡±

    Leslie''s furrowed brow rxed. ¡°I''ll choose the ce.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Aurelia returned to the main topic. ¡°So, is there any way to salvage my situation?¡±

    ¡°For now, thepany wants you to write a self-reflection and read it aloud in public.¡±

    ¡°How did you know that? How are you even aware of ourpany¡¯s internal matters?¡± Aurelia stared at Leslie in disbelief.

    Leslie was supposed to be a programmer, so how could he be so well-informed?

    Theirpany wasn¡¯t particrlyrge, and the recent growth didn¡¯t warrant news spreading everywhere.

    Leslie remained unwavering. ¡°Mr. Lynch mentioned it. He is connected with Kimberly¡¯s social media ount.¡±

    Aurelia nodded. Kimberly was the type to broadcast every detail in her friend circle, after all.

    ¡°No wonder. Now, Mr. Zeller doesn¡¯t want me to cause any trouble, so he wants me to submit the self-reflection in advance. If |

    refuse, it¡¯s insubordination. If | write it, I''ll be confessing to a crime | didn¡¯tmit. That''s why | came to you,

    ¡°The director is supporting Kimberly because she has a wealthy uncle. If you want to control Kimberly, you need to start from this

    angle.¡± Leslie provided a brief analysis.

    You even know that Kimberly has a rich uncle?¡± Aurelia looked at Leslie in amazement, then shook her head in denial. ¡°Her uncle

    treats her like a daughter. He even covered the expensesN?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    for her study abroad. How can | control her with that?¡±

    ¡°However close the uncle is with her, he¡¯s not her father. He won''t tolerate the damage to thepany¡¯s reputation caused by

    Kimberly unconditionally. For a business, impact on

    reputation is fatal.¡±

    ¡°Impact on reputation?¡± Aurelia pondered his words, and suddenly it clicked. ¡°Are you suggesting that | ...¡ã

    ¡°Yes. When the timees, do you think her uncle will protect thepany or his niece?¡± Leslie asked casually.

    In both morality and reason, Kimberly¡¯s uncle had done everything for Kimberly. If Kimberly damaged thepany¡¯s reputation,

    he wouldn''t support her unconditionally.

    Even if he used her as a shield to ovee the crisis, others wouldn¡¯t condemn him for it.

    Without her uncle¡¯s protection, Kimberly¡¯s position in thepany would be entirely different. Aurelia guessed that at that time,

    Kimberly wouldn¡¯t have the leisure to scheme against her.

    Aurelia gazed at Leslie with a steady look and whispered, ¡°Mr. Synder, are you really just a programmer?¡±

 Chapter 151

    Leslie''s gaze sharpened. He wondered if his mother had told Aurelia about his true identity.

    ¡°What else could | be?¡± he asked coldly.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t sense anything odd. After all, Leslie had always been cold and distant.

    ¡°Maybe a businessman. You''re just as cunning as one,¡± Aurelia replied with an awkwardugh. ¡°A cunning businessman, huh?¡±

    Leslie put down his cup and wiped his hands.

    Aurelia chuckled but eventually quieted down, realizing that it had been a bad joke. ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°If ¡¯m a cunning businessman, what does that make you? A cunning businessman¡¯s wife?¡± he asked.

    Silence fell over them instantly. They were both rendered speechless as their conversation suddenly shifted to the topic of ¡°wife¡±.

    Aurelia was unsure of how to react to this.

    Leslie wiped his mouth and changed the subject. ¡°I¡¯m done eating. It¡¯s settled then. You don¡¯t have to worry about anything. Just

    be yourself on Friday.¡±

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Thank you. Sorry for troubling you.¡±

    Leslie hummed nonchntly and stood up. Aurelia followed suit and went to pay the bill.

    When they left the restaurant, the sun was shining brightly.

    Aurelia raised the umbre and angled it slightly toward Leslie. However, he was too tall, and she had to stand on tiptoes even

    though she was wearing high heels.

    Leslie took a couple of steps before his head bumped into the top of the umbre. He sighed and stopped, then took the

    umbre from Aurelia¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Pil hold it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aurelia said, looking up at him with a smile.

    When he saw her smile, Leslie¡¯s grip around the umbre¡¯s handle tightened.

    After her makeover, Aurelia seemed to radiate a soft glow. Her lustrous ck hair, fair skin, and gentle smile all blended together

    into a captivating sight.

    Leslie suddenly realized that he was staring at Aurelia.

    Heposed himself and kept walking.

    Although there was still quite some distance between them, when Aurelia looked at their shadows on the ground, she noticed

    that the umbre was consistently tilted toward her side.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    She was touched by this detail. Then, she was reminded of the three years she had spent with Seth.

    When it had rained, Seth would offer to pick her up. But by the time they reached the subway, her shoulder would bepletely

    wet.

    2/2

    Yet, he wouldin incessantly about getting a few raindrops on him.

    ¡°Aurelia, | wouldn¡¯t have gotten wet if | hadn¡¯te to pick you up. I¡¯m doing this because | love you so much. You should treat

    me better in the future.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± she had replied.

    When falling in love for the first time, a person would tend to magnify the other person¡¯s virtues and overlook the negative details.

    Aurelia had thought that Sething to pick her up in the heavy rain was an act of love. But she had ignored the fact that the

    umbre had never once tilted her way.

    The delicious scent of pastries wafted over as she was lost in her thoughts.

    Aurelia sniffed and looked in the direction the smell wasing from, just to see people queuing up to buy the pastries.

    It had been a while since she had eaten any.

    When she looked back, Leslie had changed his course and was headed straight for the bakery.

    He calmly said to the staff, ¡°One box, please.¡±

    By the time Aurelia came to her senses, there was already a box of pastries in her hand.

    ¡°You''re drooling onto your clothes,¡± Leslie said.

    Aurelia immediately wiped her mouth. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±

    Seeing this public disy of affection, the shop assistant behind the counter pursed their lips.

    Feeling slightly embarrassed, Aurelia turned around and walked away.

    As she held the warm pastries in her hand, her heart felt just as warm.

    It turned out that such small details could indeed bring joy.

    She nced at Leslie, who had a cold and silent demeanor as usual.

    When they arrived at the entrance of One Technology¡¯s building, Aurelia immediately took herptop and bag from Leslie.

 Chapter 152

    ¡°Then, I''ll head back to mypany now.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Leslie nodded and turned to enter the building.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, hold on.¡± Aurelia stepped forward and handed him half the box of pastries. ¡± These are for you. I''ll be going now.¡±

    With that, she waved her hand and got into the taxi.

    Leslie was taken aback for a moment. Then, he lowered his gaze and looked at the pastries in his hands.

    He didn¡¯t enjoy eating them, but he still took them upstairs.

    When Daniel saw the pastries, his eyes lit up. ¡°Mr. Synder, are those for me?¡±

    He reached out to take them, only to have his hand pped away.

    He hissed in pain and rubbed the back of his hand. ¡°Mr. Synder, | thought you didn¡¯t like sweets.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch them,¡± Leslie said.

    Daniel fell silent and nced at the sky outside, wondering if it would start snowing soon. Leslie had been acting strange ever

    since he had ended the meeting abruptly.

    Sensing his gaze, Leslie looked up and said,

    and said, ¡°Have you done what I¡¯ve asked?¡±

    Daniel''s expression immediately became more serious. He said, ¡°Yes. By the way, Seth''spany has informed us that there¡¯s

    no way he would get a promotion. On top of that, he¡¯s basically isted in thepany now, after he was detained for

    scamming someone else¡¯s

    money.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡°Also, Synder Corporation called again. They asked when our Mr. Synder will be back. | sent them an invitation and informed

    them that there will be an opening banquet next month,¡± Daniel continued cautiously.

    ¡°They seem to be in quite a rush,¡± Leslie said coldly.

    ¡°| heard that Synder Corporation will be sending their eldest son to attend the banquet.¡±

    ¡°Eldest son?¡± Leslie repeated. His eyes darkened.

    Daniel realized that he had said something wrong and immediately lowered his head.

    ¡°Mr. Synder...¡±

    ¡°Get back to work. You can start taking action on the matters assigned to you for Friday.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia returned to thepany and found that everyone else had already returned to the

    Chapter 152

    office. However, as soon as she entered, the previously chattering crowd immediately fell

    silent.

    Aurelia was in a good mood and paid no mind. She held the box of pastries and returned to her seat. As soon as she opened the

    box, the delicious aroma wafted out and attracted the attention of her colleagues.

    ¡°That box is from the bakery in the business district. That¡¯s a prime location. What was she doing there?¡±

    ¡°Her husband can afford dresses worth thousands, so maybe he¡¯s working there. Any white- cor worker there earns an annual

    sry of at least hundreds of thousands of dors.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no wonder that she couldn''t care less despite being bullied at work. It turns out that she has her husband''s backing.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so jealous. It¡¯s impressive that she can still eat after what happened.¡±

    Aurelia heard thesements, but she remained indifferent.

    She had no intention of trying to prove anything. After all, no matter what she did, there would always be dissenting voices.

    However, these words sounded harsh to Millie.

    She thought that she would shine as brightly as Kimberly with a boyfriend like Jackson. But her radiance was always so short-

    lived.

    On the contrary, Aurelia never did anything or said anything, but she always managed to attract all the attention.

    Recalling how Jackson had asked Aurelia for her name earlier that morning, Millie became increasingly upset.

    She wasn¡¯t a fool. There was only one reason for a man to ask a female stranger for her name.

    However, she firmly believed that Aurelia had done something to deliberately seduce Jackson.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Millie stood up and walked to Aurelia¡¯s desk. With a sweep of her hand, the pastries fell to the ground.

    ¡°Sorry, | wasn¡¯t paying attention. But Aurelia, it¡¯s office hours now. Isn¡¯t it inappropriate to eat?¡±

    Aurelia looked at the mess on the ground and stood up with displeasure. She red coldly at Millie and then pointed to the clock

    on the wall.

    ¡°Go see a doctor if you have bad eyesight. Don¡¯t me others for your own problems.¡±

 Chapter 153

    Everyone looked in the direction Aurelia was pointing at and saw the clock. It was 1:20 pm. There were still ten minutes left

    before their lunch break was over.

    Millie''s expression darkened. Instead of apologizing, she intended to just brush things aside. ¡°I told you that it was an ident.

    What else do you want? Aurelia, you can¡¯t just vent your anger on me just because work isn¡¯t going well for you.¡±

    In the past, Aurelia would have felt that it was unnecessary for any conflicts and would have just smoothed things over.

    She also didn¡¯t want others to think that she was simply venting her anger on others.

    However, Leslie¡¯s words earlier had inspired her. Even if she avoided trouble, it didn¡¯t mean that trouble wouldn''t find her.

    Instead of trying to resolve a troublesome situation, her efforts would be better spent getting rid of the people causing trouble.

    She was also tired of Millie''s unprovoked behavior.

    ¡°What else? Compensate me. You''re dressed in brand-named products, so I¡¯m sure you can afford topensate me, right? Or

    have you gotten so used to spending other people¡¯s money that you can¡¯t bring yourself to spend your own?¡±

    ¡°What are you trying to say? Jackson and | truly love each other. Why are you bringing money into this? Anyway, it¡¯s just two

    pastries. I''ll pay for them! You must be desperate for money!¡±

    Millie took out her phone and sent the money to Aurelia.

    Aurelia epted it and nced at her from head to toe.

    ¡°Truly love each other? Then, what have you given him? Why don¡¯t you show it to us?

    ¡°For someone as wealthy as Jackson, you''d probably be too embarrassed to give him any gift below ten thousand dors, right?

    I''m sure you aren¡¯t one of those gold diggers they talk about online.¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    Millie¡¯s eyes widened, and she froze on the spot. Their colleagues around them nodded and bombarded her with questions.

    ¡°Yeah, Millie, what did you give to Mr. Morrison? Show us.

    ¡°If you want to be with someone with his background, there must be a mutual exchange of gifts. Otherwise, the rtionship won''t

    last long.¡±

    Millie¡¯s mouth twitched, and she muttered, ¡°I''ll show it to you next time.¡±

    Aurelia smiled. ¡°Then, we''ll be waiting.¡±

    Based on Millie¡¯s financial status, it was impossible for her to spend ten thousand dors on a gift.

    However, she would undoubtedly pay the price for showing off today.

    Let''s see if she would dare to talk nonsense again!

    ¡°What are you doing? It¡¯s already office hours! Aurelia, can you stop causing trouble? Have you finished the self-reflection essay

    you were supposed to write? It needs to be submitted to

    the director tomorrow,¡±

    Kimberly stood at the office door and exerted her authority.

    Aurelia looked at her. ¡°I understand, vice director.¡±

    Hearing this, Kimberly looked pleased with herself. She didn¡¯t expect Aurelia to give up so quickly.

    ¡°Well, hurry up and get to work.¡±

    Aurelia silently cleaned the pastries off the floor and then obediently sat down to work.

    No one bothered her again for the rest of the afternoon.

    After work, Aurelia received a message from Leslie.

    ¡°I''ll be working overtime, so | won''t being back for dinner.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± she replied.

    Leslie¡¯spany was about to hold its opening banquet, so there had to be a lot of work that still needed to be done.

    It was normal to work overtime.

    However, a strange feeling overwhelmed Aurelia as she looked at their chat records.

    It seemed like an ordinary conversation between a married couple.

    Amarried couple?

    Aurelia was shocked. She had unconsciously ced Leslie, her roommate, in the role of her husband.

    She quickly dispelled her inappropriate thoughts and took a taxi to the hospital.

    Her mother still hadn¡¯t woken up yet, but she was gradually recovering.

    After having dinner with the caretaker, she went home.

    After arriving home, she saw that Leslie still hadn¡¯t returned yet. She sat on the couch and waited, nning to make supper for

    him when he returned.

    However, she identally fell asleep, When she woke up, she found herself lying on her own bed.

    She rubbed her head.

    Hadn''t she been sleeping on the couch? Did Leslie carry her to the room?

    She remained dazed for a few seconds, then tiptoed out of the room. She saw Leslie¡¯s coat draped over the couch.

    He rarely left his belongings lying around so casually. It seemed that he was exhaustedst night.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t disturb him and made breakfast. At the same time, she tossed the clothes he had

    changed out of into the washing machine.

 Chapter 154

    By the time breakfast and the lunchboxes were ready, the clothes were done being washed.

    She hurried to the balcony to hang the clothes. Halfway through, she inevitably came across Leslie¡¯s boxers.

    It was no big deal. After all, she had washed her father¡¯s boxers when he was sick.

    She trembled and nced at the boxers,paring them with the ones she had seen when Leslie had deliberately caused a

    mess at home. They were indeed...

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± A deep voice with a hint of weariness sounded from behind her.

    Aurelia paused, still holding the boxers in her hands, then turned around abruptly.

    Leslie was leaning against the ss door in a ck sleeping robe. It was loosely tied, revealing his solid muscles underneath.

    His ruffled hair fell casually over his eyes.

    He had clearly just woken up, and he looked extremely alluring.

    Leslie raised his chin and gestured to Aurelia¡¯s hand.

    Blushing, she lowered her head and shoved the boxers into his hands.

    ¡°You can hang this up yourself. I¡¯m leaving for work now.¡±

    With that said, she ran off with her breakfast and lunchbox.

    On the way, she received a text from Leslie.

    ¡°Thanks for the lunchbox.¡±

    ¡°You''re wee,¡± she replied.

    She had prepared some pasta and paired it with some fruits for a nutritious meal. She had even taken the time to arrange the

    contents of the lunchbox into cute shapes.

    Leslie took a photo of the lunchbox and sent it along with a message, ¡°This dog looks cute.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, that¡¯s supposed to be a bear,¡± she replied.

    Leslie responded with a few question marks.

    Aurelia had to suppress herughter when she realized that Leslie had probably been rendered speechless.

    As soon as Aurelia entered her office, she noticed that everyone was looking at her. Kimberly walked out of her office almost

    immediately after.

    ¡°Aurelia, where¡¯s your self-reflection essay? You didn¡¯t forget it again, did you?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve written it,¡± Aurelia responded.

    She opened herptop and sent the email to Zachary.

    She had written itst night while waiting for Leslie, utilizing all hernguage skills acquired since childhood. Every word

    expressed remorse and self-me, but she had cleverly avoided mentioning anything about giarism.

    She had written the essay to pacify Kimberly and prevent any further conflicts. However, she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to write a

    confession.

    Zachary and Kimberly were satisfied with her essay. They both thought that she had epted her fate.

    Over the next few days, Kimberly finally stopped messing with her, and even Millie remained quiet.

    It wasn¡¯t until Thursday that Aurelia found out the reason why Millie had been staying so

    silent.

    In order to make everyone think that she and Jackson were a perfect match, Millie had spent ten thousand dors to buy a giant

    teddy bear ornament for him.

    It was something that was purely meant to be a decoration, to be ced on a porch, and it didn¡¯t have any practical uses

    whatsoever.

    That was ten thousand dors for an ornament!

    As someone who came from an ordinary family, Aurelia couldn¡¯tprehend this.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    But it was no longer her concern.

    On Friday, thepany¡¯s monthly all-staff meeting was held. In therge conference room, people from every department filled

    the seats.

    When the boss entered, everyone quieted down.

    ¡°Alright, let''s begin the meeting. Before we get down to business, let¡¯s address some internal issues first.

    ¡°Aurelia,e up and read your self-reflection essay to everyone. Everyone must take it as a lesson. We''re one big family, and

    we need to help each other instead ofpeting against each other.¡±

    All eyes turned to Aurelia.

    When Aurelia stood up and went to the stage, Kimberly and Millie looked smug.

    Aurelia began slowly, ¡°First of all, let me take a few minutes of everyone¡¯s time here...¡± ¡°Hold on.¡±

 Chapter 155

    Chapter 155

    The abrupt interruption drew everyone¡¯s curious gaze toward the conference room door.

    It was Daniel.

    He stood there with two tall young men on either side of him. They were dressed in white shirts and ck trousers, and they

    were all carryingptop bags.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Despite their simple attire, they exuded confidence and charisma. At a nce, it was evident that they weren''t ordinary people.

    The boss nced at Daniel and immediately walked over to him with a smile on his face.

    ¡°Oh, why has the boss of One Technologye here in person? If One Technology requires anything, just ask Kimberly directly.

    The two of you are old acquaintances, right?¡±

    As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room began to whisper.

    ¡°He¡¯s the boss of One Technology? He¡¯s so young. Kimberly is so awesome. She actually knows such an influential person.¡±

    ¡°It must be him. His figure is identical to the one Kimberly posted on her social media ount before.¡±

    ¡°Hey, why isn¡¯t Kimberly getting up to greet her old acquaintance? Didn¡¯t she say that the boss of One Technology was

    impressed by her proposal?¡±

    As everyone whispered, they turned their attention to Kimberly.

    Beside her, Millie was nudging her excitedly.

    Aurelia had to suppress herughter upon witnessing this scene.

    She couldn''t help but admire Leslie for even sending over the executive assistant of One Technology¡¯s boss.

    With Daniel¡¯s arrival, her ns could be considered half sessful.

    Daniel had intentionally worn the same outfit that he had worn in the photo Kimberly unted on her social media page, so it was

    no wonder that everyone recognized him at a nce.

    Now, Kimberly and Zachary stared at Daniel as they both paled.

    The marketing department interacted directly with clients, and the boss rarely intervened in such matters.

    After all, apart from event nning, Young Advertising¡¯s major ie came from advertising design.

    That was why Kimberly and Zachary could conceal everything that happened at One Technology. They knew that their boss

    wouldn''t go out of his way to contact One Technology.

    However, they never expected Daniel toe over in person.

    This was all Kimberly''s fault. When she was boasting on social media, she didn¡¯t think to block

    her boss.

    So, when the boss saw Daniel, he immediately recognized him as the person from the photo in Kimberly¡¯s post, mistaking him to

    be the founder of One Technology.

    Aurelia wondered what expression her boss would make if he realized that he had been deceived by Kimberly and made a fool

    of himself in public.

    Of course, she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to be the first to speak up.

    She would just stand by and wait for the right moment to strike.

    The next moment, one of the young men beside Daniel turned to look at him.

    ¡°Mr. Xenos, when did you be the boss of One Technology?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Xenos, | thought Ms. Simmons was the only person you know from Young Advertising,¡± the other man said.

    Instantly, silence fell over the room.

    The boss¡¯ expression contorted, and his lips twitched. He then turned to look at Kimberly, who was stiff and pale.

    Kimberly''s mind went nk, and she couldn¡¯t say a single word.

    Everyone immediately revealed contemptuous looks.

    ¡°What? She was bragging about One Technology''s boss buying her gifts. Was it all fake?¡±

    ¡°Before, she said that she was close to Mr. Lynch of One Technology, but Mrs. Lynch mocked her for that. Mrs. Lynch didn¡¯t say

    who it was, but everyone knew that she was talking about Kimberly.¡±

    ¡°It seems that she became vice director not because she¡¯s good at her job, but because she¡¯s good at deceiving people.¡±

    ¡°| told you that she''ll suffer the consequences eventually.¡±

    Daniel cleared his throat and said solemnly, ¡°I¡¯mn¡¯s assistant. He heard that the proposal submitted to ourpany might

    have been a result of giarism. He¡¯s furious and has sent me here to inquire about it.¡±

    ¡°What... Who told you that?¡± the boss asked awkwardly.

    ¡°Is it false? The entire building here is talking about it. Even yourpetitor hase to ourpany to tell us about it.

    ¡°Were you nning to keep this a secret from us? If you deliberately hide any issues with the proposal, ourpany reserves

    the right to terminate the contract.¡±

    Daniel''s voice was loud and clear. His intention was clearly conveyed in just a few words.

 Chapter 156

    If the giarism usation wasn¡¯t rified, it would lead to the termination of the coboration.

    Not only that, deliberately concealing information from the client could also result in a termination of the coboration.

    Daniel''s words struck what the boss cared most about.

    If news of this incident spread, Young Advertising¡¯s reputation would plummet.

    Daniel had even cunningly included the detail that the entire building knew about this, along with Young Advertising¡¯s

    competitors. It was evident that this incident would leave a great impact, so everyone involved in leaking thepany¡¯s

    information would face severe consequences.

    As expected of someone in his position, Daniel¡¯s words were calcted and well thought out.

    This also showed how intelligent One Technology¡¯s boss was. It was no wonder that the entire business district was searching for

    this mysterious tycoon.

    When he heard Daniel¡¯s words, the boss felt suffocated and could only turn around and look at the crowd angrily.

    ¡°Who''s the one spreading rumors? Come forward! Don¡¯t think | can¡¯t find out who you are!¡±

    Everyone trembled in fear and shrank back in their seats. Seeing no one confessing, the boss shot an angry look at his

    assistant.

    The assistant took out his phone and quickly found the person who had mentioned the giarism incident half an hour ago.

    It was Larry, the financial ountant.

    ¡°Were you the one spreading false information?¡± The boss red at Larry with fury.

    The junior ountant, Larry, pointed directly at Arthur from the marketing department in fear.

    ¡°H-He told me about it!¡±

    In response, Arthur shifted the me to the receptionist. ¡°She was the one who mentioned it in the group chat. How else would

    we know about it?¡±

    The receptionist''s face turned pale. She stood up and raised her phone.

    ¡°Boss, it wasn¡¯t me! Kimberly said it herself in the office¡¯s group chat. Otherwise, how could we even know the internal details of

    the giarism issue? Look at the messages she sent if you don¡¯t believe me.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. The people in the marketing department are the most active in the group chat. They''ve been constantly

    mocking Aurelia, especially Millie, who ims to have seen Aurelia giarizing Kimberly with her own eyes!¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    The others began to chime in as well.

    It was turning into a colossal joke for thepany.

    The entire marketing department, except for Aurelia, remained silent and didn¡¯t dare to make a sound.

    Even Zachary was holding his breath.

    When it came to protecting one¡¯s own interests, who would care about anyone else?

    The boss was so infuriated that his face turned red.

    He had never seen so many people willing to take the initiative to air their dirtyundry in public.

    However, the boss had still seen enough in his life. He quickly regained hisposure.

    Fortunately, Aurelia had already been proven to have giarized Kimberly''s work. Otherwise, even Kimberly''s influential uncle

    wouldn''t be able to save her.

    The boss turned to Daniel apologetically and exined, ¡°Mr. Xenos, | apologize for this mess. We have indeed confirmed that

    there¡¯s been an internal giarism incident. However, you can rest assured that it will not affect our coboration.

    ¡°Kimberly is an undoubtedly capable nner. She''ll ensure that yourpany¡¯s project will bepleted with high quality.¡±

    Daniel frowned. ¡°Are you saying that Ms. Simmons giarized Ms. Watson¡¯s work?¡±

    The boss nodded confidently. ¡°Indeed. We''ve looked into this matter and found evidence of this. We didn¡¯t mean to hide this

    incident. We just wanted to handle this discreetly out of consideration for Aurelia¡¯s family situation.¡±

    Daniel said with a serious expression, ¡°Our boss values this coboration highly. Since there¡¯s evidence, please exin further

    so that | can report it to my boss. If things remain unclear, we won''t be able to proceed with the coboration.¡±

    The boss nodded. ¡°Of course.¡±

    He then turned to look at the employees of the marketing department.

    ¡°You''re all witnesses, right? Go on, exin everything.¡±

    After seeing someone being used of leaking internal information just now, who would dare to side with Kimberly?

    ey

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    Chapter 157

    ¡°Sir, | only heard a few words. | can¡¯t remember it clearly anymore.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. My seat is in the corner, so | didn¡¯t hear much.¡±

    ¡°Ask Millie. She sits closest to Aurelia. Besides, she sounded really sure of herself in the group chat that she knew the situation

    best.¡±

    Everyone started to turn against one another.

    Millie had been far too arroganttely. Last night, she had posted about the gift worth ten thousand dors that she had bought

    for her boyfriend, giving everyone the impression that she wasn¡¯t short of money and that she didn¡¯t care about how she spent it.

    The others were annoyed by her unting, so they were all quick to point their fingers at her first.

    After Kimberly entered the department, Aurelia realized that her colleagues were more or less just following the crowd. It was

    human nature. After all, who wouldn¡¯t want to befriend someone powerful?

    However, there were drawbacks to this, so she had kept reminding Millie to keep a low profile.

    Unfortunately, not only did Millie not listen, but she even followed in Kimberly¡¯s footsteps.

    Millie was both frustrated and furious. She had always been short-tempered, and this time was no exception.

    Without a second thought, she stood up and pointed at Aurelia. ¡°She giarized Kimberly! Kimberly came up with an

    extravagant proposal before this. Didn¡¯t Aurelia secretly make one with the exact same concept herself after that?¡±

    After hearing Millie¡¯s defense, Kimberly¡¯s expression improved slightly. She raised her head with tears in her eyes and said,

    ¡°Thank you, Millie.¡±

    Millie nodded at her and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Kimberly. | support you.¡±

    Aurelia looked at Millie with a frown. Millie really hadn¡¯t listened to a single word of her advice. She wasn¡¯t aware that she was

    ying with fire.

    Kimberly had neither admitted nor denied the giarism usation herself, but Millie had jumped out to defend her.

    Once it was proven that Kimberly had lied, Millie would be considered an aplice.

    Did she really think Kimberly would appreciate her help then?

    If Kimberly had a conscience, she would stand with Millie. But if she didn¡¯t have one, Kimberly could even im that Millie had

    misled her and made her believe that Aurelia had giarized her proposal.

    After all, Aurelia only had the draft of the extravagant n on herptop.

    How would Millie prove her innocence then?

    Millie shot Aurelia a smug look. She had already deleted everything from Aurelia¡¯sptop, so Aurelia wouldn''t be able to prove

    anything.

    Aurelia met Millie¡¯s gaze before looking away. Millie was no longer her friend.

    After listening to Millie¡¯s testimony, the boss immediately said, ¡°Mr. Xenos, you heard that, This matter is indeed Aurelia¡¯s fault.¡±N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    When he finished speaking, Zachary gave Aurelia a warning look and took the opportunity to say, ¡°Aurelia, hurry up and exin

    to Mr. Xenos!¡±

    He then pushed Aurelia forward, and she walked toward Daniel.

    ¡°Mr. Xenos, about this matter...¡±

    Everyone held their breath as they waited for Aurelia, the scapegoat, to admit her wrongdoings and end everything.

    ¡°Mr. Xenos, | did not giarize. | suspect that someone had tampered with myptop,¡± Aurelia said loudly.

    ¡°Aurelia!¡± Zachary scowled. ¡°Are you really going to argue about this when we have solid evidence? Do you want this

    coboration to be ruined?

    ¡°Don''t forget that you''ve already written a self-reflection essay too. That¡¯s equivalent to you admitting that you had indeed

    giarized.¡±

    Aurelia held

    up

    the essay. ¡°Where in this essay did | admit to giarizing anything?¡±

    Zachary thought about it fora moment and suddenly froze.

    Kimberly also paused. Then, she rushed to Aurelia¡¯s side and grabbed the essay from her.

    She began reading aloud, ¡°A few days ago, I, Aurelia Simmons, waste for the One Technology presentation meeting...¡±

    She read Aurelia¡¯s self-reflection essay from beginning to end, her hands trembling more with each word.

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    Chapter 158

    There wasn¡¯t a word about giarism in the whole essay.

    When Kimberly and Zachary had taken a look at the essay previously, they had focused on the sincerity of Aurelia¡¯s written

    words and assumed that she had given up and epted her fate.

    In the end, Aurelia hadn¡¯t given up at all.

    Daniel said, ¡°Ms. Simmons¡® words seem sincere. She clearly recognizes her mistake for interrupting during the meeting. Isn¡¯t that

    right? Where did she admit to giarizing someone else¡¯s work? | didn¡¯t hear it at all.¡±

    Kimberly and Zachary exchanged nces, and Kimberly immediately said, ¡°There was no proposal in herptop. There was only

    a draft of a proposal based on a fake idea | gave previously.

    ¡°We all have passwords on ourptops, so other people can¡¯t ess them. This is enough proof that she had giarized my

    work.¡±

    Aurelia retorted, ¡°Millie knows my password. She has gotten particrly close to Kimberly recently. The two of them started

    saying that they were each other¡¯s best friends only yesterday.

    ¡°But Millie used to follow me around. | believe that this was all a trap.¡±

    After speaking, Aurelia pretended to be deep in thought.

    Millie was taken aback. She exined, ¡°No, | don¡¯t know her password. She''s lying. I¡¯ve always been close to Kimberly. Just ask

    the others.¡±

    The others? It seemed that Millie was still clueless about her current situation.

    Did she truly think that everyone would fawn over her simply because she had a wealthy boyfriend?

    Millie pointed at the others, but no one tried to help her.

    ¡°Millie and | are just colleagues. | don¡¯t know much about who she¡¯s friends with.¡±

    ¡°Millie has always been friendly with everyone in the office.¡±

    Millie stood in ce with a pale face.

    Aurelia then presented her chat records with Millie and said, ¡°Millie once asked me for the password to myptop under the

    pretext of reviewing some case ns. Here¡¯s the evidence.¡±

    Millie was speechless.

    With this turning point, most people expected Aurelia to take the opportunity to argue further.

    To their surprise, Aurelia¡¯s eyes turned red, and she lowered her head.

    ¡°Boss, I¡¯m sorry. | shouldn¡¯t have spoken up, but I¡¯ve been with thepany since | graduated. I¡¯m attached to this ce, and

    I''m also attached to the proposal | had written.

    ¡°| had initially wanted to let things go, but this giarism incident is causing a significant impact on me. The whole building has

    been condemning me, so | had no choice but to stand

    up for myself. I¡¯m really sorry.¡±

    She kept apologizing, then raised her hand to wipe the corners of her eyes, as if there were tears there.

    Indeed, there were no tears.

    She couldn''t be overly assertive at this moment, or the boss would resent her too.

    She had to y the victim and make people think that she really couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and was forced to speak up.

    If anyone were to me, it was Kimberly¡¯s fault for not being discreet and insisting on making the giarism incident widely

    known to everyone.

    Upon hearing Aurelia¡¯s reluctant confession, the boss had no choice but to me Kimberly for being so arrogant.

    If it weren¡¯t for Kimberly, the other departments in the building wouldn¡¯t have known about the incident. Young Advertising¡¯s

    competitors wouldn''t have learned about it either, let alone One Technology.

    As expected, the boss turned to look at Kimberly reproachfully.

    Kimberly''s arrogance vanished, and she wished she could sink into the ground.

    At this moment, Daniel stepped forward.

    ¡°It seems that there¡¯s more to this giarism incident than meets the eye. In order to ensure sincere cooperation between the

    twopanies, | think it''s necessary to investigate further.¡±

    ¡°Investigate further? How?¡± The boss was momentarily puzzled.

    ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve forgotten what ourpany does,¡± Daniel said, pointing to the two young men beside him.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

    The two men stepped forward and put down theirptop bags before saying in unison, ¡°Give us Ms. Simmons¡¯ and Ms. Watson¡¯s

    laptops. We can retrieve the records of the proposal.¡±

    ¡°Myptop is right here,¡± Aurelia said, taking out herptop immediately.

    Kimberly remained silent as she trembled.

 Chapter 159

    Anyone could tell that Kimberly looked guilty, but no one came to help her.

    They were all victims of Kimberly''s lies, so who would dare to help her?

    ¡°I-L... Myptop is broken,¡± Kimberly said.

    Just then, the receptionist walked in with aptop.

    ¡°Kimberly, I¡¯ve brought you yourptop.¡±

    A dazed look appeared in Kimberly¡¯s eyes, and she started trembling.

    The receptionist looked at everyone in confusion. ¡°What''s wrong? Someone called me just now and asked me to bring

    Kimberly''sptop to the conference room. | thought you needed it for work.¡±

    Aurelia was taken aback.

    Although this meeting was for all employees, someone still needed to be stationed at the reception desk.

    So, this receptionist didn¡¯t know anything. But she had shown up at just the right time.

    Someone had to be helping Aurelia.

    A figure appeared in Aurelia¡¯s mind, and a strange feeling overwhelmed her.

    But the voices of the others brought her back to reality. She looked in front of her.

    Kimberly tried to grab herptop, but the young man Daniel had brought along was one step ahead of her.

    ¡°That¡¯s great timing. Hand it to me. Ms. Watson, what are you doing? Are you trying to snatch theptop?¡±

    ¡°N-No.¡± Kimberly immediately shook her head, not daring to protest further.

    The two young men sat side by side and opened both Aurelia¡¯s and Kimberly¡¯sptops. They then transferred the data onto the

    screens.

    ¡°We won''t touch your personal data. We''ll only focus on recovering the data rted to ourpany¡¯s proposal, so the two of you

    don¡¯t have to worry about privacy leaks.¡±

    Aurelia nodded. Thisptop was provided by thepany, so no one would dare to store any private information on it to begin

    with.

    After a few minutes, the data recovery waspleted.

    Right before everyone''s eyes, the documents that had been deleted from Aurelia¡¯sptop were gradually restored. Even the

    timestamps of when the documents had been edited were shown.

    Over the past week, Aurelia had been constantly adjusting the documents on herptop.

    On the other side, some unexpected data had also been recovered from Kimberly''sptop.

    At some point, the fil¨¦s that had originally appeared on Aurelia¡¯sptop had suddenly shown up on Kimberly¡¯sptop.

    Over the past week, the only thing Kimberly had done was to copy the luxurious opening banquet proposal from Aurelia¡¯sptop.

    It became clear who had copied whom.

    could be

    Before the revtion could be concluded, Kimberly rushed forward angrily and forcefully shut down herptop.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! Someone framed me! The proposal is mine!¡±

    She couldn''t even be bothered toe up with an exnation now. She just started acting hysterically.

    ¡°Ms. Watson, didn¡¯t you say that your password was private and that no one else knows it? Who else knows your password?¡±

    Daniel asked.

    The others immediately shook their heads, indicating that they didn¡¯t know Kimberly''s password.

    Kimberly had dug her own grave, but she continued to deny giarizing anything.

    Daniel asked, ¡°Then, what''s ourpany¡¯s SIN program used for?¡±

    Kimberly hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s... It¡¯s...

    Daniel continued, ¡°Ms. Watson, this was what you had written in the proposal, so why don¡¯t you know it? Honestly, my question

    isn¡¯t difficult at all. Anyone familiar with ourpany would be able to answer it.¡±

    Kimberly took a deep breath but still couldn¡¯t answer.

    In fact, if she had fully read Aurelia¡¯s n, the question wouldn''t be difficult to answer.

    However, she had been too confident of herself. After being promoted to vice director, she thought that everything was set in

    stone, and she didn¡¯t even bother to look at Aurelia¡¯s n.

    Just then, Aurelia stepped forward.

    ¡°The SIN program is a program written byn. It¡¯s designed for work-type robots with extremely high intelligence. This type of

    robot also incorporates a unique chip developed jointly with yourpany. It''s currently one of One Technology¡¯s most powerful

    technologies.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Daniel walked up to Aurelia and looked at her seriously. He nodded and said, ¡® Ms. Simmons, it¡¯s no wonder that

    our boss appreciates you so much. | believe we''ll have a pleasant time working together.¡±

    Aurelia looked at Daniel¡¯s hand and then looked at her boss.

    Her boss nodded helplessly. Only then did she reach out to shake Daniel''s hand.

    ¡°I look forward to it.¡±

    Daniel turned to Aurelia¡¯s boss and said, ¡°Now that the matter has been resolved, we won¡¯t disturb your meeting any further. If

    you encounter any technical issues in the future, feel free to contact us.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Although Daniel''s tone was calm, the pressure of his words weighed down on Aurelia¡¯s boss.

 Chapter 160

    As foolish as the boss could be, he could tell that One Technology''s founder took a liking in Aurelia.

    He smiled. ¡°Thank you. This won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    Daniel smiled in silence and turned to leave.

    The two young men packed up theirptops and walked over to Aurelia.

    ¡°Are you the womann spoke of? You are indeed a beauty.¡±

    ¡°Tell us how you got to known.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, he-¡±

    Daniel returned, cleared his throat, and stared at the two. ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± The two young men waved their hands at Aurelia. ¡°See you next time, prettydy.¡±

    Aurelia was stunned and thought, n? | don¡¯t know him.¡±

    Just as she tried to ask them about what they said, the two left with Daniel.

    Silence returned to the meeting room and Aurelia nced at the boss, before pointing at her reflection letter. ¡°Should | keep

    reading?¡±

    The boss tensed and waved his hand. ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡±

    With that, his gaze swept past Zachary and he left, with Zachary following closely behind.

    People in the meeting room gradually left, but not without ncing at Aurelia on their way

    out.

    Someone whispered, ¡°I was just wondering when Aurelia became so beautiful?¡±

    ¡°| was thinking the same. Her figure rivaled that of Kimberly''s.¡±

    As the voices faded away, Aurelia, who was packing up herputer, and Kimberly, and Millie were the only ones left in the

    meeting room.

    Aurelia ignored the murderous res from the two and packed herptop, before preparing to leave.

    ¡°Aurelia, do you think you¡¯ve won? Are you proud that someone praised you?¡± Kimberly asked coldly.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t stop and continued walking.

    Kimberly angrily shouted to stop her. ¡°Aurelia! Do you think this will change anything? It won''t! I¡¯m still the vice director! You must

    obey my orders!¡±

    Aurelia halted and turned around to look at Kimberly. ¡°Do you really think you can stay in a position that you stole from others?¡±

    Kimberly faltered and was instantly rendered speechless.

    Millie ran over and warned, ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t forget that Kimberly has her uncle¡¯s support. What do you have?¡±

    Aurelia chuckled. ¡°She has an uncle supporting her, but what about you? A boyfriend?¡±

    Millie stared at Aurelia in disbelief as she didn¡¯t expect Aurelia to mock her.

    Aurelia walked past the two and left. However, she didn¡¯t return to her office.

    She didn¡¯t want to be surrounded by people right now. She just wanted to know who had called the front desk to have Kimberly''s

    laptop delivered to the meeting room.

    She rushed to the front desk and asked the receptionist, ¡°Who called you just now to deliver ¡®theptop?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    The receptionist frowned. ¡°It was a man, but | don¡¯t know who it was. He mentioned Kimberly''s name and knew that the people

    having the meeting today were from ourpany. Now that | think about it, this man¡¯s voice was quite pleasant. | don¡¯t think I¡¯ve

    heard it before.

    Apleasant voice?

    Aurelia was almost certain it was Leslie.

    Although Leslie knew about the meeting today, how could he predict when they would need Kimberly¡¯sptop? The only possible

    exnation was that Leslie was around.

    Aurelia ran into the elevator without hesitation. However, Leslie was nowhere to be seen when she reached the ground floor.

    At this moment, she had an impulse to see Leslie.

    She took out her phone and dialed his number.

    ¡°Looking for me?¡± Leslie¡¯sposed voice sounded.

    Aurelia was momentarily stunned. She turned around and saw Leslie leaning against his car door. His demeanor was cold, yet

    more blinding than the sunlight.

 Chapter 161

    Leslie possessed a refined sense of beauty. Even the most ordinary act of holding a cigarette held a sense of restrained elegance.

    As he ended the call, he put out the cigarette in the bin.

    His handsfortably slipped into his pockets. The billowing smoke mist twirled the wind as he approached Aurelia, carrying a subtle scent of tobo.

    She stood dazedly and the faint aroma of tobo in the air brought her back to reality.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, was it you who called the front desk?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Leslie did not deny it.

    ¡°Thank you so much for today. Kimberly is in a difficult situation, and she probably won¡¯t trouble me again,¡± Aure said.

    ¡°Will you still thank me if Kimberly doesn¡¯t get demoted?¡± Leslie asked in a deep voice.

    ¡°No?¡± Aurelia hesitated.

    How could she not get demoted with the situation escting to this point?

    ¡°You¡¯re still too young. Promotions and demotions require consensus between many people. Do you think those people don¡¯t know that she¡¯s actually ipetent? If she¡¯s immediately demoted after today¡¯s mess, they would be proving themselves wrong. How many people would be willing to do that?

    ¡°Though you were careful not to take the lead just now, they aren¡¯t idiots. They can¡¯t possibly fail to connect Daniel¡¯s appearance with you. It¡¯s wishful thinking to think that they would immediately demote Kimberly and promote you,¡± Leslie exined.

    Leslie¡¯s words were direct and shattered fantasies in Aurelia¡¯s heart. Yet, she appreciated Leslie¡¯s directness as that brought her back to reality.

    While capabilities were undoubtedly important, human hearts were unpredictable when it came to their own gains.

    ¡°I actually thought about it, but I still want to thank you. At least you cleared my name. You must have advised Mr. Xenos to provoke conflicts between Kimberly and others, right? Even if Kimberly doesn¡¯t resign, the fact that she giarized will spread. She won¡¯t be able to gain the support of the majority as the vice director.¡± Aurelia nodded.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Leslie lowered his eyes at her and a hint of appreciation shed in his

    Fortunately, Aurelia was not a narrow-minded person.

    eyes.

    ¡°As long as you understand what¡¯s going on. If news of Kimberly¡¯s giarism spreads, her uncle will be the first person to act. She likes to show off, and everyone knows that she got into Young Advertising through her uncle. Her uncle is currently bidding on projects, and this matter may not end well.¡±

    ¡°I suppose.¡± Aurelia nodded again, then looked at Leslie cautiously. ¡°Um¡­ Do you have time this weekend? I¡¯d like to treat you to a meal.¡±

    Aurelia felt that she owed Leslie a¡¯meal.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°Have you been standing here for a long time? Are you thirsty? There¡¯s a nice coffee shop next door. Can I buy you a cup of coffee?¡± Aurelia pointed to the adjacent caf¨¦.

    Leslie raised his hand and checked his watch. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°This way.¡± Aurelia led the way as Leslie walked beside her. Just a few steps out, she stumbled. She usually wore sneakers or the high heels her parents had given her to work. After getting used to them, wearing different high heels always felt a bit ufortable.

    She lost bnce and fell into Leslie¡¯s arms and she felt her cheeks heating up as the sunlight cast down on her.

    Embarrassed, she said, ¡°Will you believe me if I say that this was an ident?¡±

    He held her waist and lifted an eyebrow pointedly.

    Just then, a few people walked past them giggling and Aurelia pulled away shyly.

    However, she ended up bumping into Leslie¡¯s nose with a loud ¡®baam.¡¯

    ¡°Mr. Synder, are you alright?¡±

    ¡°I knew this would happen to my nose at one point.¡± He frowned and covered his nose, yet his tone was light-hearted.

    ¡°Why?¡± she asked in confusion.

    ¡°After all, one punch from you can-¡±

    Before he could finish his sentence, Aurelia took out her phone and mumbled, ¡°I¡¯ll just send you money to buy your coffee. I wouldn¡¯t want your nose to break.¡±

    She seemed annoyed when he didn¡¯t even say much.

 Chapter 162

    Chapter 162

    ¡°Let''s go.¡± Leslie rubbed his nose.

    Aurelia nodded and set her phone down. Suddenly, she recalled something and asked, ¡°Mr. Synder, was it really okay for you to

    get Mr. Xenos involved? Won''t your boss be mad?¡±

    ¡°He won''t. | told him about what happened. The opening ceremony is important for him. If we knew about the giarism and

    ignored it, ourpetitors may use it against us. There¡¯s no way he wouldn¡¯t understand that.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good. Tell your boss to rest assured. | will make sure the opening ceremony is perfect. ¡°Aurelia sighed a breath of relief.

    Sensing the shift in her emotion, Leslie said, ¡°You seem to care quite a lot about our boss.¡±

    ¡°Who cares about him? It¡¯s you | care about-¡± she blurted out.

    Her eyes widened at this moment and she immediately looked away to turn to the cashier.¡± One icette, please. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°3 dors.¡± The cashier studied her flushed cheeks with an odd look in his eyes.

    Aurelia kept her head down and dared not to speak, while Leslie stood behind her, smiling.

    Once the coffee was made, Aurelia handed it to Leslie and wasted no time to escape. ¡®I''ll go back to the office now.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Leslie nodded.

    With that, she ran back to her office.

    Leslie stepped out of the caf¨¦ and approached a car by the road. The car window rolled down. and he found Daniel and two

    other young men grinning.

    ¡°Bro, does the coffee the prettydy bought smell good? You called us over early in the morning and didn¡¯t even offer us a cup of

    coffee. Boohoo,¡± a young man said.

    ¡°Shush,¡± Leslie said coldly.

    ¡°Why did you have to get the two of us here? You could have picked any employee from the office. Why us?¡± another young man

    asked.

    ¡°Considering her personality, she¡¯ll surely go out of her way to thank the person who helped her the next time she goes to One

    Technology. I¡¯m afraid someone might identally tell her the truth. The two of you, on the other hand, she won''t be able to find,¡±

    Leslie exined.

    ¡°Huh? You''re actually going to such lengths for a woman? When are you going to formally introduce her to us? After all, we¡¯re

    your cousins, right?¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t need to know the two of you,¡± Leslie said in displeasure.

    ¡°No? Bro, are you trying to prevent her from thanking the men who helped her at yourpany out of jealousy? My goodness,

    are you still our cousin who dislikes women?¡±

    Leslie remained silent

    ¡°Bro, is your nose all red because she hit you? She is truly a heroine if she dares to hit you.¡±

    Leaning against the car door, Leslie said calmly, ¡°If you two have so much free time, I¡¯m ending your vacation and pulling you

    back into the office to work.¡±

    ¡°No, no, we haven''t even graduated yet. We won''t allow you to enve us. Be careful or we''ll goin to your mom! We''re

    going back to school now.¡±

    As soon as they heard the vacation was canceled, the two hastily closed the car windows.

    Leslie turned and got into the car.

    Little did they notice someone sneakily taking photos of Leslie.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Aurelia had just entered the elevator when an employee from anotherpany on the upper floors rushed in.

    ¡°Aurelia, | just saw you hugging a man at the entrance. He seemed quite handsome from the back. Who is he?¡± She smirked like

    she had discovered some big secret.

 Chapter 163

    Aurelia wanted to say it was nobody, but recalled that this person was also a gossiping. member of the building¡¯s chat group.

    If she started spreading rumors, Aurelia would have to exin herself again.

    She really didn¡¯t want to be the focus of discussion, especially with that building group including Seth.

    ¡°That¡¯s my husband. He happened to pass by to see me,¡± Aurelia said.

    The girl¡¯s eyes widened with surprise. ¡°Your... Your husband?¡±

    Aurelia nodded.

    The woman whispered, ¡°It¡¯s no wonder you dumped Seth. That guy looks stunning even from the back.¡±

    Ignoring thatment, Aurelia said, ¡°I¡¯ve reached my floor.¡± With that, she walked out of the elevator.

    Returning to the office, it was eerily quiet inside.

    Everyone kept their heads down, and Millie was burying her head on her desk, sniffling.

    Apparently, Zachary had already given her a stern talking-to.

    Aurelia tiptoed back to her seat and turned on herptop.

    The screen lit up with a notification from the workgroup.

    ¡°Millie from the Marketing Department was found spreading false information among colleagues and fabricating rumors. 150

    dors will be deducted from hermission and she will be required to write a reflection letter of one thousand words.¡±

    ¡°Kimberly from the same department giarized a proposal and leaked internalpany information. 300 dors will be

    deducted from hermission and she will be required to write a reflection letter of one thousand words. She will be on

    probation for three months in her current position.¡±

    Aurelia remained unfazed as she read this, her admiration for Leslie growing.

    It was nearly identical to what Leslie had predicted.

    Although it seemed both Millie and Kimberly received punishment and the giarism by Kimberly had been acknowledged, the

    boss had left a way out for Kimberly.

    The deduction inmission/meant nothing significant to Kimberly. She simply needed to avoid trouble for three months and

    she would still be the vice director.

    On the other hand, Millie ended up being fined and humiliated as the scapegoat for Kimberly.

    That exined why she was sobbing miserably.

    Still, Aurelia didn¡¯t feel any pity for Millie. She closed the notification and continued working.

    Just then, Kimberly walked out of her office.

    ¡°I''m treating everyone to afternoon tea. Just order whatever you want.¡±

    The office fell into silence as no one dared to take her up on her offer.

    Kimberly''s lips twitched, and she looked at Aurelia with resentment as she strode towards her.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°Aurelia, you should learn to be more generous. Your proposal belongs to thepany and | merely took it to One Technology

    for you.¡±

    Kimberly was still desperately trying to evade responsibility and attempted to mislead everyone. However, after what happened

    earlier, no one dared to side with her.

    Seeing this, Kimberly red at her usually supportive colleagues.

    Aurelia looked up at her and said, ¡°Ms. Watson, while it¡¯s true that my nning was done for thepany, it wasn¡¯t for you.

    Since you''re so generous, you wouldn¡¯t me everyone for not taking you up on your offer, right?¡±

    Kimberlyughed angrily when she heard the way Aurelia addressed her.

    ¡°Aurelia, so you do know that I¡¯m still the vice director, after all. What¡¯s the point in all that you did, then?¡±

    ¡°Well, the coboration with One Technology has introduced me to plenty of big shots and my bonus will double. That¡¯s not so

    bad. You, our dear vice director, may not be able to manage your staff if you can¡¯t even hit the sales target, right?¡± Aurelia said

    thoughtfully.

    ¡°Why you¡ªWhy won¡¯t | hit the sales target?¡± Kimberly gritted out.

    ¡°Let''s wait and see, then.¡± Aurelia smiled.

    ¡°Just wait, Kimberly. You will reap what you sow,¡± she thought. ¡°Who would work with her after knowing that she became vice

    director through copying others¡¯ work?¡±

    Kimberly would certainly end up with nothing to show despite being given the title of vice director.

    This would make her time in this position extremely miserable.

    Livid, Kimberly stormed back into her office.

    Aurelia lowered her head and noticed someone watching her. She turned around and met Millie¡¯s eyes.

    Without saying a word, she looked away. Millie was taken aback and felt hurt by this.

 Chapter 164

    Chapter 164

    Aurelia simply continued to ignore her and decided that she didn¡¯t need a friend like Millie.

    Silence loomed over the office for the rest of the afternoon and everyone was busy with their own work, only stopping to

    exchange nces from time to time.

    Just before office hours were about to end, Aurelia realized that everyone was looking at her. ¡°Aurelia, did your husbande to

    see you?¡± someone asked.

    She immediately realized what the colleague she ran into earlier that morning said on the group chat.

    Not intending to lie, she said, ¡°Yeah.¡±N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask him toe up for a coffee? He¡¯s so good-looking,¡± her colleague asked curiously.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Aurelia stared at them in confusion, wondering how they knew that Leslie was good- looking.

    Her colleague pulled out her phone. ¡°Someone took a photo of you and your husband. It only captures his back, but judging from

    the smitten look on your face, he has to be really good- looking.¡±

    Aurelia refused to believe that she looked smitten, but was embarrassed when she finally saw the photo.

    When she gazed up at Leslie, she did indeed look smitten and she hoped that he didn¡¯t notice it.

    While she was deep in her thoughts, the others swarmed her.

    ¡°Aurelia, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask this, but what does your husband do?¡±

    ¡°Is he in the financial district? | saw youing back with the pastries sold around that area before. Your husband is dressed so

    formally that he must be an elite in the financial district.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, you really keep things under wraps. When your mother-inw came, | instinctively knew that you married into an

    extraordinary family.¡±

    With everyone throwingments her way, Aurelia had no idea who she should respond to.

    However, these words didn¡¯t cloud her judgment.

    They were suddenly friendly because Daniel represented One Technology and praised her her today.

    They feared that their previousments might have offended her.

    After thinking for a moment, Aurelia smiled. ¡°No, he¡¯s just an ordinary sryman. He happened to be around today.¡±

    Her colleagues were surprised by Aurelia¡¯s response.

    If it were Kimberly or Millie, this discussion could have gone on for at least an hour.

    Seeing that Aurelia didn¡¯t want to borate, everyone could only leave in disappointment.

    Aurelia thought the topic had ended there, but received a message on her phone a few minutester. She opened it and found

    that someone had added her to the building¡¯s chat group.

    She was about to leave the group when she hesitated. Previously, Millie used to share messages from the building group with

    her.

    Now, Millie probably wouldn¡¯t be willing to share with her. Aurelia didn¡¯t know what these people were saying behind her back,

    and she couldn''t just wait for things to unfold without her knowledge.

    With that thought in mind, Aurelia put her phone down and casually checked the messages in the group.

    They were all talking about her and Leslie.

    The only relief was that they only took pictures of Leslie¡¯s back, so it wouldn¡¯t have any impact on Leslie.

    ¡°Aurelia wins in life. She has a good mother-inw and a handsome husband. Even the big boss of One Technology appreciates

    her. She¡¯s destined for sess in the future.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, finding a good inw can never go wrong. Look how beautiful Aurelia has be recently. | heard people from her

    company say that the clothes she has been wearingtely cost thousands per piece. They were all bought by her husband.¡±

    These people probably didn¡¯t recognize Aurelia¡¯s WhatsApp name, so they continued speaking without much consideration.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t see their interaction. They were all lovey-dovey when they hugged each other on the main road. It was so sweet. It¡¯s

    a shame that the boss was beside me at that time, or | would have caught up to see what her husband looked like.¡±

    ¡°With my experience in appreciating handsome guys, he¡¯s definitely the type that looks slim in clothes but has some flesh when

    undressed. Judging from the shape of his head, he¡¯s probably quite good-looking, too.¡±

    ¡°Haha. Are they really praising the shape of his head now? He does have a really good physique, though,¡± Aurelia thought.

    ¡°In conclusion, one should keep their eyes peeled when finding a man. Being wealthy alone means nothing. Finding someone

    who treats you well is the main point. People don¡¯t just transform because they date someone better. No wonder some people¡¯s

    boyfriends go to introduce themselves to other people''s wives.¡±

 Chapter 165

    Chapter 165

    Though they didn¡¯t mention names, Aurelia instantly knew that they were talking about Millie and Jackson.

    Millie was friends with Aure and everyone knew about it. Hence, when Millie confirmed that Aurelia giarized in the group

    chat, a lot of people were convinced.

    As a result, all these people had been summoned for a meeting with the management after what happened.

    On top of that, Young Advertising clearly stated that Millie was the one specting false information, so everyone came to resent

    her.

    Kimberly, on the other hand, didn¡¯t receive as much hatred.

    Millie couldn¡¯t control her temper and jumped into the conversation. ¡°You are all praising him before you even see his face. Aren''t

    you worried that you may be wrong? My boyfriend is nice to me, too.¡±

    ¡°No one is talking about you, so why are you arguing with us?¡± Someone replied and did not mince their words.

    Millie red at her phone and continued typing.

    Soon, text messages from her started popping up in the group chat.

    ¡°| don¡¯t think you should keep talking about Aurelia. After all, Seth is in this group as well.¡±

    ¡°Besides, Aurelia only married her current husband after breaking up with Seth. If you are all praising her husband, Seth would

    be devastated. @Seth¡±

    She even went as far as to tag him in the message.

    Aurelia truly wished she could stand up and give Millie a piece of her mind.

    Did they really have to tear each other down just because they couldn¡¯t be friends?

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but sweat nervously, fearing that Seth might emerge and y the victim.

    Strangely, Seth didn¡¯t respond for some reason, almost as if he had vanished.

    Before Aurelia could think much of it, Kimberly spoke up in the group.

    ¡°| apologize for the misunderstanding caused by certain circumstances. | have rified the situation with the boss. However, due

    to the confidential nature of the internal information, | can¡¯t disclose the specifics. I¡¯ve retained my position, and | apologize for

    the impact this has caused on Aurelia,¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    It was internal news that Aurelia was being med for giarism, and Kimberly had promptly informed everyone in the building¡¯s

    group. Now, she imed that she wasn¡¯t disclosing news about her because it concerned internal affairs.

    It was stated that her position was retained, which implied she was innocent.

    Was this really an apology? It seemed more like a subtle self-defense.

    Following this, Kimberly continued with her passive¡ªaggressive remarks.

    eljin

    ¡°| think Aurelia is very fortunate as well. Her husband is so generous. | wonder how many years of savings those dresses would

    consume. Looking at their interaction in the photos, I¡¯d think they''ve been a couple for years. You can¡¯t tell they just got married.¡±

    The only thought in Aurelia¡¯s mind as she read this was that Kimberly was truly vicious.

    Since she couldn''t temper with the project any longer, Kimberly had resorted to hinting that Aurelia may have started seeing

    Leslie while she was still with Seth.

    Aurelia angrily typed a reply. ¡°Why do you care?¡±

    However, before sending it, she held back.

    Leslie''s words echoed in her mind.

    What was the point of arguing with Kimberly? The real trouble she needed to address was Kimberly herself.

    Now that Kimberly had no power over her work, she resorted to spreading rumors about her personal life.

    To shut Kimberly up for good, Aurelia realized the best approach was to expose Kimberly¡¯s private affairs in return.

    After a moment of consideration, she deleted the few words she had just typed and quickly wrote a sentence praising Kimberly.

    ¡°Kimberly, my husband and | are just ordinary people. Of course, we can¡¯tpare to your high-profile pursuer with hundreds of

    employees in his firm. By the way, why hasn¡¯t he visited you recently? Is he on a business trip and hasn¡¯t returned yet? Didn¡¯t he

    invite you for dinner?¡±

    The high-profile pursuer Kimberly spoke of was actually Leslie.

    This was the topic Kimberly least wanted to be reminded of, and this instantly diverted everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Who said he hasn''t visited Kimberly? | just saw him downstairs a moment ago.¡±

    This message was apanied by a photo. It showed Leslie standing next to a car, only revealing his head. Despite the limited

    view, his impressive looks were evident.

    The group chat exploded with excitement.

    ¡°He¡¯s so handsome! He¡¯s even more handsome than before!¡±

 Chapter 166

    Chapter 166

    ¡°Is that all? All you got is his head.¡±

    ¡°Oh,e on. Doesn¡¯t he look handsome? If | get closer, people might think I¡¯m a peeping Tom.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯ve forgotten a lot of thingstely. Kimberly, didn¡¯t you ask your tall, rich, and handsome guy to treat us to a

    meal?¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, Kimberly...¡±

    Everyone called for Kimberly in the group chat.

    Aurelia heard someone mention Leslie and felt a bit nervous. However, she was relieved when she saw the photos and

    considered this candid shot as a stroke of luck.

    She nced at the small office and imagined Kimberly going crazy inside.

    Just when everything had calmed down for more than a week, the subject of her so-called boyfriend had to be brought up again.

    Where was she going to find someone now?

    It was quite amusing to Aurelia.

    If everyone knew that Kimberly was also lying about her personal matters, she would be theughingstock of the entire building.

    Being in a good mood, Aurelia put down her phone, checked the time, and realized it was almost time to leave work.

    She packed up her things. As she stood up, she nearly collided with Millie, who was standing nearby.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°Why are you in the group chat?¡± Millie asked.

    ¡°Someone added me.

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you stop me from saying those things? You weren¡¯t like this before.¡± Millie frowned.

    ¡°Why should I? You''re in your twenties. Don¡¯t you know what to say and what not to say? They mocked you because you were

    really out of line, not because of me,¡± Aurelia said.

    ¡°| get it. You''re still upset that | didn¡¯t let Jackson get close to you, right? I¡¯m telling you, you won¡¯t-¡± Millie began.

    ¡°Shut up, Millie. Keep your own boyfriend in check. We''re just colleagues from now on, understand?¡± Aurelia dropped the words

    and left.

    Millie bit her lip and people around her giggled.

    Why did it turn out like this? Why were theyughing at her when she had Jackson?

    Millie took a deep breath, slung her designer bag over her shoulder, and left.

    ¡°What a fool. She is just carrying a basic brand¡¯s bag but acts like it''s Herm¨¦s. She''ll regret it in the future,¡± someone said.

    ¡°Let''s just ignore her. All she can think of is men. You can¡¯t reason with her,¡± another colleaguemented as they left together.

    Inside the small office, Kimberly was on the phone.

    ¡°Mr. Warner, why don¡¯t we go out for a meal? Let''s just sign the contract while we are at it...¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, our firm has found a better proposal. Let¡¯s work together in the future when we have the chance. I¡¯m going to hang up

    now.

    The beeping sound that signaled a disconnected call was heard.

    Kimberly froze. Mr. Warner used to fawn over her, but now he had hung up on her.

    Soon, she received a few messages from various clients on herptop.

    ¡°Ms. Watson, we have no intention to sign a contract with you for the moment.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Watson, our supervisor has settled on a different partner. Sorry.¡±

    They were all messages denying coborations.

    She set her phone aside in rage and cursed, ¡°These people have no appreciation for what''s good.¡±

    The phone hit the table and started ringing.

    Kimberly nced at it and immediately straightened her back.

    ¡°Uncle.¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, what''s going on in your office? Why is there an incident of giarism? | got you into Young Advertising through

    connections. What you did embarrassed me and affected my business.¡±

    ¡°I''m sorry, Uncle. | didn¡¯t mean to. It¡¯s all Aurelia¡¯s fault...¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright. | don¡¯t want to hear your excuses. You better behave now.¡± Her uncle was irritated and added, ¡°By the way, why

    are you running your credit cards over the limittely? Don¡¯t waste money, or I''ll freeze your cards.¡±

 Chapter 167

    Chapter 167

    ¡°A-Alright.¡± Kimberly dared not to argue.

    After hanging up, her phone continued to vibrate from the messages of others, urging her to invite her wealthy, handsome

    pursuer to dinner with everyone.

    The others had mostly forgotten about this. However, Aurelia happened to mention it again and coincidentally, Leslie¡¯s photo

    ended up in the group chat.

    This was unfortunate for Kimberly.

    Holding her forehead, she became increasingly angry when she recalled how others praised Aurelia, saying that she looked

    prettier and how she managed to secure a handsome husband. Who was Aurelia topete with her?N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Kimberly made a call to Jackson and said, ¡°I told you to look into the son of the founder of thatw firm. Have you found

    anything?¡±

    ¡°| did, but | don¡¯t think he¡¯s your type,¡± Jackson said casually.

    ¡°It''s fine. Just ask him out for me. I''ll buy him dinner.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Seriously? Are you not even going to pick who you date anymore?¡± Jackson shocked.

    ¡°He obviously can¡¯tpare to you, but | can help ask Aurelia out for you if you help me with this.¡± Kimberly was frustrated and

    didn¡¯t consider Jackson¡¯s words carefully. After ttering him, she immediately offered an exchange.

    Jackson immediately agreed when he heard Aurelia¡¯s name. ¡°Don¡¯t you break your promise.¡±

    ¡°No problem. Make it this weekend, then. I''ll make the reservation.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    After settling what was most important, she regained her confidence and thought, ¡°Aurelia, let¡¯s see how smug you can be this

    time!¡±

    Although the events of the Friday meeting were widely known, the office building nevercked new topics.

    Anew subject emerged on Saturday morning: Kimberly''s handsome and wealthy boyfriend promised to treat her friends to a

    meal over the weekend.

    When Aurelia saw the message, she was taken aback.

    Kimberly''s supposed boyfriend was none other than Leslie, so when did Leslie agree to this?

    It couldn¡¯t be true because Leslie reminded Aurelia to clear her schedule for tomorrow and join him for dinner earlier that

    morning. The reservation for the restaurant had already been made.

    Aurelia nced at Kimberly¡¯s office skeptically.

    Just then, Millie¡¯s voice came with a teasing tone. ¡°Don¡¯t bother looking. Kimberly¡¯s boyfriend is a genuinely handsome and

    wealthy man, but he¡¯s not interested in married women.¡±

    Aurelia turned to look at Millie. ¡°Your boyfriend has quite unusual preferences.¡±

    ¡°Why you... Aurelia, | know you''re jealous of Kimberly and me, but everyone has their own destiny. There¡¯s no point in feeling

    jealous.

    ¡°But don¡¯t worry. ¡®Kimberly has also invited me to dinner tomorrow. I''ll take more photos for you to see. | heard we''ll be going to a

    Michelin-star restaurant.

    ¡°The average cost there is three hundred dors per person. A single meal for us will cost at least two months of your sry.¡±

    That would mean that a meal there would require a spending of over two thousand dors. This was indeed very expensive.

    Aurelia was about to say something when other colleagues chimed in. ¡°It¡¯s that expensive? What kind of restaurant is that?¡±

    ¡°A French restaurant. You guys won''t understand even if | tell you,¡± Millie said arrogantly.

    Acolleague scoffed. ¡°You talk as if you understand. Now that you¡¯ve stopped bragging about your own boyfriend, you start

    bragging about someone else¡¯s boyfriend?¡±

    Millie blushed at thement and retorted, ¡°Then, get Kimberly to take you there.¡±

    The two of them ended their conversation with a bit of disagreement.

    Aurelia awkwardly withdrew her gaze and decided not to participate in any further discussions.

    She was curious about which handsome and wealthy man Kimberly would bring to dinner

    tomorrow.

    In the midst of her thoughts, her phone rang. It was the owner of the printing factory.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, the preliminary versions of the stand-up sign you''ve requested are ready. I¡¯ve asked a local delivery service to

    send it over. The system shows that it has been signed for. Please take a look and let us know which one you prefer, so we can

    expedite the production.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I''ll check at the front desk and call you backter.¡±

    After hanging up, Aurelia hurriedly ran to the front desk. The stand-up sign was for providing on-site guidance to One

    Technology.

    Since she had some doubts about the color, the boss had sent three versions for her to choose

    from.

    However, when she arrived at the front desk, she couldn¡¯t find the package.

    She asked the receptionist, ¡°Where¡¯s the local express package that has been signed for?¡±

    The receptionist looked around and suddenly remembered something. ¡°There was indeed a local express delivery this morning.

    When | received it, the vice director happened to pass by. She said that since it was for you, she would take it with her.¡±

 Chapter 168

    ¡°Alright.¡± Aurelia frowned at the mention of Kimberly. She turned and walked to Kimberly''s office, knocking on the door.

    ¡°Come in,¡± Kimberly¡¯s arrogant voice sounded.

    Aurelia pushed the door open and found three stand-up signs standing in the middle of the office, two of them already trampled.

    ¡°Why did you

    touch

    y things?¡± Aurelia asked.

    air.

    Kimberly furrowed her brows and stood up from her chair. ¡°Aurelia, mind your tone. Is this the way you speak to a superior?¡± she

    said sternly.

    ¡°Ms. Watson, these are samples sent to me. Why were they trampled?¡± Aurelia retorted.

    Kimberly clicked her tongue. ¡°It says ¡®Received by the marketing department, Ms. Simmons.¡¯ It doesn¡¯t mention your full name.

    These belong to the Marketing Department. Is there a problem with the vice director overseeing it?¡±

    ¡°The stand-up signs you designed are so ugly. | haven¡¯t even gotten the chance to question you about it. You can¡¯t just go

    through the motions simply because the contract has been signed. Do you want One Technology to be a city-wide joke?¡±

    After speaking, Kimberly intentionally stepped on the broken stand-up signs and then pointed to the only intact one.

    ¡°| chose this for you. The color is nice. Let¡¯s go with this.¡±

    Aurelia nced at it. It was obviously the least appealing of the three stand-up signs when disyed publicly.

    Kimberly was sabotaging the project on purpose.

    Aurelia wanted to argue but remembered Leslie¡¯s words.

    Only a fool would resist stubbornly. Now that Kimberly was the vice director, she indeed had the authority to modify employees¡¯

    proposals.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Even if Aurelia resisted, Kimberly would that she was defiant of the boss¡¯s decisions and the nature of the situation would shift

    immediately.

    The boss was embarrassed after yesterday''s meeting. If even an employee thought his decisions were wed, he would dislike

    Aurelia even more.

    With that considered, Aurelia immediately picked up the stand-up sign from the floor and nodded at Kimberly.

    ¡°All right, Ms. Watson. Let''s use this one.¡±

    Kimberly was momentarily stunned, as she didn¡¯t expect Aurelia topromise so quickly.

    Soon, she recovered and quickly raised her chin arrogantly. ¡°As long as you understand my intentions.¡±

    Aurelia nodded, turned, and left the office.

    Back at her desk, she took out her phone, took a few pictures of the stand-up sign, and sent them to Kimberly.

    ¡°Ms. Watson, | feel that this signboard¡¯s color is a bit too dazzling in the sunlight, making the words on it unclear. Should |

    redesign it?¡± She wrote.

    ¡°Aurelia! | say what goes! Do you understand the rules? You''re not the vice director; | am! | said we are using this one!¡± Kimberly

    replied.

    ¡°Fine.¡±

    Aurelia exited the conversation window but couldn¡¯t help smiling.

    ¡°Kimberly, there are plenty of ways to deal with you,¡± she thought.

    Ten minutester, Kimberly walked out of her office in a good mood as she continued her efforts to regain the favor she lost

    yesterday.

    ¡°There¡¯s still an avable seat at the restaurant tomorrow. Who wants to go?¡±

    The once quiet office instantly became lively, with many hands raised.

    ¡°ldo.¡±

    ¡°ldo.¡±

    Kimberly''s gaze swept around the room, finally stopping at Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, | apologize for what happened before. Do you have time tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°No, my husband and I have ns for dinner,¡± Aurelia replied truthfully.

    Kimberly sneered. ¡°You must really like your husband. One would think you two have been in love for many years.¡±

    Aurelia looked up. ¡°Why would we get married if we aren¡¯t getting along? Would you marry someone you don¡¯t like? What are

    you looking for then? Someone tall, rich and handsome?¡± Kimberly stiffened. ¡°Forget it. | wanted to take you to a Michelin-star

    restaurant. It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to go.¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, Aurelia hasn¡¯t been to such high-ss restaurants before. How embarrassing it would be if she didn¡¯t know which fork

    to use. It¡¯s best that she go and have a home-cooked meal with her husband,¡± Millie agreed along.

    Kimberly nodded with a smile and invited another colleague who was known to gossip.

    With Millie and this colleague spreading the news, the entire building would learn that she was dating the son of someone who

    owned aw firm and she wouldn''t even need to say a single word.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t respond and simply stared at herptop quietly. Soon, a message popped up

    she smiled.

    She took a screenshot and sent it to the group chat without hesitation.

    Soon, everyone¡¯s phone was ringing.

    They all checked the group chat and froze. Kimberly, who was just smirking earlier, now tensed with a dark expression.

    and

    Aurelia sent the screenshots of her conversation with Jason.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, what do you think about this stand-up sign? If you confirm on this, | will get the factory to mass produce this.¡±

    There was no issue with what Aurelia typed. The main issue was with Jason¡¯s response.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, | thought that Young Advertising is amongst the top ten marketing firms in Seacester. Don¡¯t you think your

    judgment of beauty is a little strange?¡±

 Chapter 169

    Chapter 169

    ¡°This has been selected by our vice director. | designed a total of three and she thought this looks the best. | can show it to you.¡±

    Then, Aurelia attached the screenshots of her conversation with Kimberly.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, our boss signed a contract with you, not your vice director. | personally think those two that were destroyed

    looked way better. I''ll go ask our boss and director about this. Please wait.¡±

    Aurelia maintained the attitude of an employee who was walking on eggshells, so it was not wrong of her to post the

    conversation in the work group chat.

    Kimberly''s words were indeed repulsive and Jason clearly appreciated Aurelia¡¯s artistic senses. The boss practically exploded

    with anger and wrote. ¡°The one who signed the contract will be responsible for the project! If you don¡¯t know how to do things

    around here, just quit!¡±

    He was referring to Aurelia and Kimberly.

    The boss rarely lost his temper in the group chat and one could easily tell that he was fuming.

    Aurelia immediately replied. ¡°Noted.¡±

    After a while, Kimberly followed suit and replied. ¡°Noted.¡±

    Aurelia looked up and found Kimberly''s expression darkening.

    She had been far too gentle with Kimberly in the best and let too many things slide. Because of that, Kimberly mistakenly thought

    that she was easy to bully.

    Starting from this moment onward, she would have everyone know what Kimberly was doing every time she tried to bully her.

    Although the workgroup seldom engaged in casual chats, everyone had their own small groups in private.

    With each person sharing tidbits of information, the events of today were sure to spread.

    Aurelia was curious to see who would end up being theughingstock.

    Just then, Kimberly''s phone rang.

    She nced at her phone, then red at Aurelia before walking into her office.

    As she closed the door, her voice was still audible to everyone. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s not like that. | just ...¡±

    ¡°Take your time to exin, Kimberly,¡± Aurelia thought.

    At least Kimberly wouldn¡¯t dare to intervene in the nning from now on.

    Aurelia sent a message to Jason. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°No problem. The boss gave us an order to cooperate with anything you ask for, Ms. Simmons.

    Jason replied.

    ¡°Huh? | don¡¯t think | know your boss, right?¡±

    ¡°You will get to know each other.¡±

    Aurelia stared at the message in confusion, but she didn¡¯t want to press further.

    Ending the conversation, she continued working until the end of the day when her phone vibrated.

    It was a call from Linda.

    ¡°Mom, what''s up?¡±

    ¡°Nothing much. | happened to be near yourpany. Didn¡¯t we agree to have a nice meal together?¡±

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ming down right away,¡± Aurelia said.

    After hanging up, Aurelia grabbed her bag and clocked out.

    Downstairs, Linda was seen dressed in an elegant ck dress that exuded grace and charm.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Aurelia quickly went to greet her. ¡°Mom, think about where you want to eat. I''ll send a message to Mr. Synder.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I''ve already contacted him. How else would | know you and him are going on a date tomorrow?¡± Linda chuckled.

    ¡°It''s not a date, just dinner,¡± Aurelia hurriedly exined.

    ¡°Same thing. Let¡¯s go, we have many ces to visit today.¡±

    Aurelia was bewildered but followed her mother out of the office.

    After a simple dinner, they headed to the mall.

    As soon as they entered the luxury shopping mall, Aurelia immediately wanted to turn back and tried to pull Linda with her.

    ¡°Mom, | just bought some new clothes. We really don¡¯t need go shopping.¡±

 Chapter 170

    ¡°This is the first time that brat is dating a woman, so we need to make sure that she¡¯s impressed,¡± Linda said.

    ¡°T-The first time?¡± Aurelia was shocked.

    Considering Leslie¡¯s looks, girls would be lining up to date him, so how could he have not gone on a date before?

    ¡°He used to have his mind full with studying and now, it¡¯s work. He keeps a straight face whenever women approach him, so who.

    would want to date him?¡± Linda shook her head with a bitter expression.

    ¡°| know that my divorce with his father hurt him. We only separated because there was a third woman, so that caused Leslie¡¯s

    resentment toward women in general. I¡¯m getting old now and I¡¯m worried that he will stay alone forever if | leave one day.

    Aurelia, don¡¯t me me for being selfish or for asking you to marry him. I¡¯m just pleased that you two are getting along now.¡±

    Linda tapped her on the back of her hand as she spoke.

    yout

    out. Let''s go

    and shop,¡±

    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m the one who should be thanking you. You''ve helped me out. Aurelia said gently.

    She didn¡¯t have the heart to turn Linda down, so she linked arms with Linda and the two strolled into the mall.

    Like any daughter-inw would, Aurelia bought two dresses for Linda, Though they were all discounted products, Linda was

    grinning from ear to ear because of this.

    She kept praising Aurelia for her great taste and telling others how caring she was.

    ¡°Look, we agreed on buying you a dress, but now you¡¯re buying one for me. No more reckless spending, alright?¡±

    ¡°Sure, Mom.¡± Aurelia nodded with a smile.

    Subsequently, Linda led her to the Mn counter.

    Asuited man hurried over upon seeing Linda. ¡°Hello, M-¡±

    Linda gave him a casual nce, and he immediately smiled and said, ¡°Hello, Ms. Miller, the clothes you ordered earlier are ready

    for you.¡±

    ¡°Good, bring them for this youngdy to see.¡± Linda pointed at Aurelia.

    The suited man looked at Aurelia and his smile widened. ¡°Sure, sure. Please wait a moment. I''ll have them delivered right away.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ag at the

    ar, realizing that

    Aurelia looked at the suited man and happened to see his name tag a he was the manager.

    She was slightly taken aback. Linda was impressive to make even a manager so humble.

    She often heard colleagues say that people working in luxury stores liked to look down on others. It seemed that Linda¡¯s aura

    was toomanding.

    The manager wore white gloves and gestured to a rustic lounge area nearby. ¡°Please have a seat and take a rest. I''ll have some

    tea and snacks brought to you.¡±

    Linda sat down slowly, motioning for Aurelia to join her. ¡°Aurelia,e sit down and rest. You must be tired from shopping just

    now.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Once seated, Aurelia leaned in and whispered in Linda¡¯s ear, ¡°Mom, the clothes here are expensive. Let¡¯s leave.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, | know people. | got the insider¡¯s price,¡± Linda said mysteriously.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡°Oh, | see.¡± Aurelia felt relieved.

    Suddenly, amotion erupted nearby. Aurelia peeked out and was surprised to see an argument.

    It was Kimberly, Millie, and two other colleagues.

    ¡°What do you mean? Are you afraid that we can¡¯t afford it? Why won''t you let us try these on? ¡°Millieined.

    ¡°Miss, is this your first timeing to Mn? Our clothes are hand¡ªembroidered and made from precious fabrics. Generally, we

    don¡¯t allow customers to try them on. We are trained professionals, and we can tell at a nce whether a piece suits you or not.

    This particr dress doesn¡¯t suit you.¡±

    The staff''s tone was polite, but she nced at Millie¡¯s mini handbag as she spoke.

    Feeling like she was being looked down on, Millie retorted, ¡°Impossible! If Aurelia can wear it, why can¡¯t I? | want this piece! Who

    do you think you are? How dare you stop a customer? You''re just a lowly saleswoman!¡±

 Chapter 171

    ¡°Alright, Millie. Stop causing a scene.¡± Kimberly stopped Millie, frowning.

    ¡°Kimberly, she¡¯s looking down on us. How can you stand that?¡± Millie said with displeasure.

    Kimberly stared at Millie impatiently, embarrassed by how short-tempered she

    was.

    She knew just how to fix the situation.

    She turned and looked at the staff in contempt. ¡°I¡¯m the VIP of this mall. Do you know what would happen to you if | made a

    phone call? You should act like a proper saleswoman. Don¡¯t think too highly of yourself just because you are selling stuff here!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, know your ce,¡± Millie added.

    Tears welled in the staff''s eyes.

    Themotion was too loud and it caught Linda¡¯s attention as well. She turned and looked over.

    Surprised, she said, ¡°Aurelia, aren¡¯t those people from your office? Millie was defending you not long ago. Why has she changed

    so much?¡±

    Aurelia sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Linda had seen her fair share of drama and immediately sensed what happened from all the brand¡ªnamed products Millie was

    wearing.

    ¡°Money corrupts people. You can¡¯t help her,¡± she said.

    Aurelia nodded with resignation.

    Linda didn¡¯t want those people to affect Aurelia¡¯s mood and shot a look at the manager.

    The manager nodded and walked over.

    ¡°Ladies, | apologize. If you are eager to try on the dresses, | can arrange for the staff to assist you. However, the fabrics are

    delicate, so | hope you''ll handle them with care. Any damages will bepensated ording to the full price,¡± the manager said.

    Upon realizing the person speaking was the manager, Kimberlyughed at the staff in disdain. ¡°How considerate of the manager

    to wee valued guests.¡± After herment, Kimberly, Millie, and the other colleagues exchanged

    knowing nces.

    vat

    The staff looked pitifully at the manager, who merely nodded. ¡°They can try on whatever they like. Before that, please inspect the

    dresses carefully. We wouldn¡¯t want any damage to Mn¡¯s reputation.¡±

    The staff quickly understood the situation and promptly responded, ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±

    Soon, Kimberly led Millie and the others to pick out clothes. They didn¡¯t choose the inexpensive ones and they insisted on the

    expensive ones instead. Several of which wererge, hand¡ªembroidered gowns costing tens of thousands.

    They tried on one, then another.

    During the process, the manager and staff stood nearby, eager to serve.

    After trying on enough outfits, Kimberly and Millie carelessly bundled the clothes together and handed them to the staff.

    Pointing at a red dress, Kimberly said, ¡°I''ll take this one.¡±

    Looking at Kimberly with envy, one of the colleagues said, ¡°Kimberly, this dress costs over eight thousand. Are you really going to

    buy it?¡±

    ¡°It''s just a bit over eight thousand. This

    is obviously handmade and custom

    -tailored. There are even hand embroidery and diamonds. It¡¯s not expensive.¡±

    Satisfied with the red dress, KimberlN?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    imagined herself bing the center of attention when wearing it. She was sure she would look much better than Aurelia.

    However, the staff informed her, ¡°Miss, this dress is not in stock. It will take our embroiderer a month to finish it. If you like it, you

    can pay a deposit now.¡±

    ¡°A month? I''ll take the one you have now.¡± Kimberly frowned.

    ¡°That particr one has already Kimberly f

    ¡°the staff exined.

    ¡°Who reserved it?¡±

    n

    reserved. We currently have no other stock, reserved. We currently have no other stock,

    ¡°I''m sorry, but we cannot disclose our clients¡® information.

    Staring at the dress, Kimberly felt reluctant to give up. When she recalled Aurelia unting her Mn dress, she simply couldn''t it

    pass.

    ¡°Are there any dresses that don¡¯t require waiting?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± The staff brought a more expensive gown for Kimberly.

    ¡°lll take this one.¡±

    ¡°That will be 17,829 dors, thank you.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Kimberly was shocked.

    ¡°Miss, this dress is from our haute couture section. Usually, only members can purchase it. | see that you have an outstanding

    temperament and would be a perfect fit for this dress. So, | got the manager¡¯s approval to sell it to you. If you find it too

    expensive, we can look at other options.¡±

    The staff looked sincerely at Kimberly.

    Kimberly pursed her lips. Not wanting to embarrass herself in front of her colleagues, she forced a smile. ¡°I''ll pay by credit card.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I''ll pack it for you.¡±

    The staff took the dress to wrap it. Millie felt jealous and grumbled while adjusting her belt, ¡°One day, I''ll have Jackson take me

    shopping too.¡±

    Kimberly chuckled inwardly.

    Jackson would at most buy her some trinkets. It seemed like Millie had really overestimated herself.

    After paying, Kimberly and her group prepared to leave, but the manager stepped forward to stop them.

    pause

    int

    co

    hor

 Chapter 172

    ¡°Wait, there are a few items that haven¡¯t been paid for.¡±

    ¡°I''m only taking this one,¡± Kimberly said in confusion.

    ¡°These items were damaged after you tried them on.¡± With that, the manager presented three dresses in front of everyone.

    One had pearls ripped off, and the others started falling as well. However, someone intentionally hid the damage by bundling the

    dress together.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Another dress had a torn waist, an evident result of force.

    Thest one was missing a diamond, with no way to find it now.

    With the evidenceid out, the manager spoke sternly, ¡°I warned you earlier. Our fabrics and jewelry are precious, but you

    insisted on trying them on. Moreover, you promised topensate for any damages at the full price. After calcting, it''s a total

    of 23,512 dors. We will round it down to twenty-three thousand for you.¡±

    Hearing the amount, Kimberly and herpanions were dumbfounded.

    Their colleagues were so frightened that their voices trembled.

    ¡°It... It wasn¡¯t us trying them on. We knew this ce was expensive, so we deliberately chose dresses without any embroidery or

    jewelry.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes. These two were the ones who tried them on.¡± The colleagues pointed at Kimberly and Millie.

    Millie turned pale and was unable to utter a word.

    Not wanting to be embarrassed in public, Kimberly nced at her colleagues and pointed to the dress missing a diamond. ¡°I tried

    this one. Maybe | wasn¡¯t careful enough. It¡¯s just a dress, so | can afford it.¡±

    ¡°Alright, please swipe your card again for six thousand dors. We''ll have our staff check the fitting room for the missing

    diamond. If it can be repaired, ourpany will do so free of charge.¡± The manager maintained a polite smile.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Kimberly nodded and reluctantly handed over her credit card. She had thought that such a small diamond missing

    wouldn''t be noticed, but the staff was thorough.

    However, Millie wasn¡¯t as fortunate.

    Even with Kimberly''s dress taken off the bill, she still owed over ten thousand.

    She had only used her credit card to buy seven¡ªthousand-dor decorations for Jackson.

    She couldn''t possibly have that much money.

    She gritted her teeth. ¡°These dresses are just too fragile. What does it have to do with me?¡±

    ¡°Miss, our staff already warned you that the fabric is delicate and that you shouldn''t try it on. Yet you insisted on trying them on,

    which leads us to this situation. We''ve always been transparent about our pricing, and no one has everined about the

    quality of our clothes.¡±

    Regardless of the prices of the dress, everyone knew that you shouldn''t forcefully try them on. However, when Millie tried on

    these two dresses, she did so with force.

    It was her insistence that led to this situation.

    ¡°Just wait for my boyfriend to deal with you.¡± She picked up her phone to call Jackson, but he didn¡¯t answer.

    Finally starting to panic, she looked at Kimberly. ¡°Kimberly, can you lend me some money? I''ll have Jackson pay you back.¡±

    At this moment, a staff member interrupted, ¡°Ms. Watson, I¡¯m sorry, but card has been declined.¡±

    Kimberly paled. ¡°That''s impossible! |...¡±

    Then, she remembered her uncle¡¯s warning. If she spent recklessly again, he would stop her card.

    The manager looked at them. ¡°Who is going to pay, then?¡±

    Millie nced at the other two colleagues with resignation. ¡°Can you two...¡±

    ¡°Millie, you know how much we make. We don¡¯t have the money.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, my mom just called and told me to go home, so I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±

    With that, the two found excuses to leave.

    Millie stood still, drenched in sweat.

    Aurelia watched the scene, feeling conflicted.

    your

    ¡°Aurelia, the clothes are here. Let''s go.¡± Linda¡¯s voice brought her back to reality.

    Aurelia looked away and nodded. ¡°Sure.¡±

    With that, she left through the side door linking arms with Linda.

    Millie was an adult and she needed to be responsible for her own actions.

    At night, Aurelia found out how the matter was settled by other colleagues. Kimberly and Millie were not allowed to leave until

    they paid.

    No one knew where they got the money.

    Someone in the group chat had a rtive working for Kimberly''s uncle, and they mentioned that his business was already under

    the impact of what Kimberly did. Hence, her uncle would say that he was not close with Kimberly whenever her name was

    brought up.

    Just as everyone started to doubt if Kimberly was truly a wealthy youngdy as she imed, Kimberly spoke up.

    ¡°Those who areing to join our meal, remember toe. Just tell the waiter my boyfriend¡¯s name when you arrive.¡±

    ¡°Oh, by the way, this is my boyfriend¡¯s business card.¡±

    The card belonged to Howard Carn from Sunlit Legal Agency.

    Aurelia was instantly confused.

 Chapter 173

    Howard Carn?

    Did Leslie have another name?

    Aurelia nced in shock at Leslie, who was staring at his iPad.

    He took a sip of his water without lifting his gaze. ¡°What are you looking at?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, do you have another name?¡± Aurelia asked gingerly.

    He frowned. ¡°Do you need me to show you my passport?¡±

    ¡°No need. Are you really going to eat with me tomorrow?¡± she asked.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to go?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± She shook her head and suddenly recalled something. ¡°Your mom said that you¡¯ve never been on a date with a

    woman before. Is that true?¡±

    Compared to the man Kimberly was talking about, this was more interesting to Aurelia.

    Leslie paused midway from drinking and almost spilled his ss of water.

    He set the ss aside and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything better to do?¡±

    She stared at his expression in shock. ¡°So it¡¯s true?¡±

    Leslie stood up with his iPad. ¡°This is stupid. I''m going to bed.¡±

    She covered her mouth to hide her smile, only to freeze in the next moment.

    This was the most rxed she had felt since her mother fell ill.

    She couldn''t help but be at ease whenever she was around Leslie.

    Though Leslie appeared cold and distant, he was able to give Aurelia a strong sense of security that she had never felt with

    Seth.

    Her cheeks flushed at the thought.

    If what Linda said was true, she would be the first woman Leslie ever went on a date with.

    As she was thinking, a notification from her phone interrupted Aurelia¡¯s thoughts.

    She opened WhatsApp and found a message from Millie.

    ¡°Aurelia, can you lend me some money?¡±

    Aurelia paused for a moment.

    Though she was momentarily taken aback, she wasn¡¯t surprised.

    Millie had just spent seven thousand on her boyfriend¡¯s decorations and over fourteen thousand on clothes.

    The sum was worth two years of her sry.

    She also lived paycheck to paycheck and sometimes had to rely on her parents for living expenses.

    She couldn''t possibly have that much money.

    Aurelia hesitated for a while.

    Initially, she didn¡¯t want to get involved.

    However, as she put down her phone, she thought about the time she had spent with Millie.

    Memories of them eating together, sharing interesting stories, and going shopping.

    Aurelia had no other friends, so Millie¡¯s liveliness had brought her a lot offort.

    Thinking about their past, Aurelia decided to transfer a hundred dors from her remaining living expense of the month to Millie.

    ¡°Millie, don¡¯t force yourself if you can¡¯t fit into that circle.¡± She attached aProperty belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    message.

    The screen showed that Millie had received the payment, but she didn¡¯t respond to Aurelia¡¯s text.

    Sighing, Aurelia assumed that Millie was simply too proud to reply.

    She put down her phone and went to take a shower.

    After returning to the room, Aurelia picked up her phone as sheid down on her bed.

    She noticed Millie had just updated her social media status.

    ¡°Treating my boyfriend to his favorite midnight snack.¡±

    The caption was apanied by a photo of arge box of macarons.

    Aureliapletely lost hope in Millie when she read ament from a colleague

    Chapter 173

    under the post.

    ¡°That probably cost close to a hundred. You''re so rich.¡±

    ¡°It''s nothing, really.¡± Millie wrote.

    Aurelia stared at Millie¡¯s reply for a whole minute.

    She felt aplicated mix of emotions.

    313

    She couldn''t understand how the girl she recently shared takeout with managed to change so much.

    Aurelia reluctantly put her phone down and walked out of the room to get a ss of water.

    Absent¡ªmindedly, she dropped the ss on the floor.

    Hearing a loud sound, Leslie walked out of the room. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, | was careless. I''ll clean it up right away.¡±

    Aurelia turned to find a mop.

    ¡°Stay there,¡± Leslie said in a cold tone.

    Spin to im Your Surprise Reward!

 Chapter 174

    Aurelia thought he was mad and stood still.

    She didn¡¯t expect Leslie to walk over with a vacuum cleaner.

    He started vacuuming the ss shards around her.

    ¡°Come here,¡± Lesliemanded.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia tiptoed to try to avoid the water stains on the floor. However, her feet were still moist from taking a shower and she

    slipped.

    Her body fell forward and she yelled, ¡°Ah!¡±

    She instinctively reached out to grab something and identally pulled Leslie¡¯s robe open.

    Her fingers slid down Leslie''s chest, leaving three red marks from his chest to the waist.

    Aurelia was frightened, and her hands trembled.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, are you okay? Let me wipe it for you.¡±

    She reached out to check if there were any visible injuries and her fingers trailed down Leslie¡¯s chest.

    When her fingertips passed Leslie¡¯s abdomen, she felt Leslie¡¯s breath hitch and the muscles in his abdomen tighten.

    It was then she finally realized what she was doing

    Before she could react, Leslie grabbed her wrist and pulled her up.

    ¡°Stop touching!¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡°No, no, | was just...checking the wound.¡±

    Aurelia exined nervously and realized how guilty she sounded,

    She lowered her eyes and sneakily nced at Leslie¡¯s figure.

    ¡°Do you want to take a closer look?¡± Leslie said in a deep voice.

    ¡°Huh? No, I''ve seen enough. | mean...¡± Aurelia stammered.

    She decided to shut her mouth.

    Leslie calmly tied his loosened robe and poured Aurelia a ss of water.

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Aurelia lowered her head, not wanting to bother Leslie with her own affairs.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Leslie''s voice wasmanding.

    Aurelia looked at Leslie and felt an odd sense of security. She decided to tell him about Millie.

    Leslie sat across from her and said calmly, ¡°You can be really stupid sometimes.¡±

    Aurelia was speechless.

    How does one even respond to that?

    ¡°Do you really think she cares about your money?¡± he continued

    Bewildered, she asked, ¡°Why did she ask me for money if it¡¯s not money she wants?¡±

    ¡°She''s testing you to see if you still care about her. If you¡¯re willing to lend her money, she¡¯d think that you''re still as easily

    manipted as you were before. Perhaps that means you still have value to her.¡±

    Value?

    Aurelia¡¯s face paled.

    She took a sip of water to conceal the bitterness she felt.

    She and Millie hit it off right away. They used to talk about everything, yet their friendship had boiled down to nothing but values

    and gains.

    Leslie frowned at the depressed look on her face.

    Taking a moment to think, he said, ¡°Do you owe her anything?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Aurelia shook her head in confusion, not knowing why he was asking such a question.

    ¡°Then why are you upset? She is having a st with her boyfriend now, right? Do you regret lending her money?¡±

    ¡°What kind of logic is that?¡± she wondered. ¡°Wait.¡±

    She thought about what he said for a bit and realized something.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, were you perhaps trying tofort me?¡± she asked gingerly.

    He nodded seriously. ¡°What else do you think I¡¯m doing?¡±

    She looked at him in shock.

    Once she confirmed that he was serious, all her negative feelings faded and she let out someughter.

    Leslie''s expression darkened. ¡°Why are youughing? Did | say something wrong?¡±

 Chapter 175

    Chapter 175

    Aurelia nodded in agreement with Leslie.

    ¡°Yeah, you are right. She doesn¡¯t care about me, so why should | care about her? The hundred dors was my living allowance

    for next month though. So that¡¯s a shame,¡± she said.

    He nced at her and impatiently took out his phone. He tapped on it and stood.

    ¡°If you have time to think about her, you might as well spend it thinking about what you want to eat tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right. Where are we going tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°The Blue Train. You can search it up online. I''m going to bed.¡± Leslie returned to his room expressionlessly.

    ¡°The Blue Train?¡± Aurelia repeated. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of it before. Let me look it up.¡±

    She tried finding her phone only to remember that she left her phone on the bed.

    She quickly drank her water and washed the ss.

    She returned to her room in a good mood.

    Just as she was about to pick up her phone, she noticed that there was a notification from Leslie a few minutes

    ago.

    They were supposed to be chatting at the time, so why didn¡¯t he say anything if he had something to say?

    She unlocked her phone and saw that she received a transaction of 1400 dors.

    Her eyes widened.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, have you sent your money to the wrong ount?¡± She sent a

    message.

    ¡°No. Keep it. | don¡¯t want you starving to death,¡± he replied.

    Aurelia realized that this was Leslie¡¯s way ofpensating the hundred dors

    she lost to Millie.

    ¡°I''m going to sleep now.¡± Leslie sent another message.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Synder.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    The conversation ended there.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t y coy and epted the transaction.

    However, she had no intention of iming the entire 1400 dors for herself.

    She transferred one thousand to Leslie¡¯s savings ount, considering it as savings for the month.

    With four hundred remaining, they could enjoy several wonderful meals with steaks until the next payday.

    Perhaps even indulging in a few other treats.

    Havingpleted the transaction, Aurelia turned off her phone and closed her eyes in contentment.

    However, the thought of going out for dinner alone with Leslie the next day caused her to open her eyes and she struggled to fall

    asleep.

    It was Leslie¡¯s first time dining out with a woman.

    In truth, it wasn¡¯t much different for her.

    When she went out for meals with Seth, they always opted for fast food, or something convenient.

    They often finished their meal within fifteen minutes while wearing office attire.

    Suddenly, she was tasked with having a proper meal with a man, and she had no idea how to prepare for it.

    ¡°Oh right, | need to put on makeup,¡± she thought.

    Aurelia sat up abruptly and grabbed her makeup bag.

    Combining all the samples she had, she could barely put together a full makeup look.

    She picked up the only lipstick she had and frowned. ¡°Does this even match my outfit?¡±

    She forgot to check the clothes after Linda brought them for her.

    Aurelia turned around and took out the box from the wardrobe.

    She opened it and tore off the seal with an orchid sticker.

    Ared long dress was revealed.

    Wasn''t this the one Kimberly had set her eyes

    on?

    The dress had a cut that suited her body perfectly, with a cinched waist creating a

    Chapter 175

    good proportion.

    The umbre skirt was embroidered with clusters of orchids that sparkled under the light.

    Upon closer inspection, one would discover that the flower petals were covered in tiny diamonds, each with a different shape that

    glowed in a vivid halo.

    It was no wonder Kimberly smitten at first sight.

    Any woman would fall in love with such a modest yet stunning dress.

    Aurelia put it on excitedly and looked at herself in the mirror.

    For some reason, the thought of going out with Leslie while dressed like this made her cheeks even warmer.

    ¡°Calm down, calm down. It¡¯s just a meal.¡±

    Aurelia took off the dress and went to sleep, content.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    In another bedroom, Leslie had just closed his eyes when his phone vibrated.

    ¡°Your card number 2977 received a deposit of 1,000 dors on June 4th at 22:10 ...

    Leslie was taken aback.

    Aurelia had actually deposited most of the money into his savings ount.

    She wasn¡¯t joking when she said she wanted to help him save money.

    He put down his phone and touched his forehead.

    The area from his chest to his lower abdomen where Aurelia had scratched felt

    warm somehow.

 Chapter 176

    Leslie tried to close his eyes.

    After a few seconds, he furrowed his brows and lifted his nket.

    He then got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.

    Soon, the sound of water running echoed from the bathroom,

    The next morning, Aurelia opened her eyes and picked up her phone.

    She noticed a message from Leslie. ¡°Something came up at thepany. See you at the restaurant at noon.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± she replied.

    She didn¡¯t need to prepare breakfast or lunch, so Aurelia stayed in bed until ten.

    After getting up, she started to dress herself.

    She didn¡¯t know how to put on makeup, so she just applied a bit of foundation and lipstick.

    But when she looked at herself in the mirror, she was shocked.

    A fair-skinned, striking beauty stared back at her through the reflection.

    Colleagues used to describe her as mature and reliable, which also meant she was rather old-fashioned.

    Now, she realized that she wouldn''t lose to anyone else.

    She smiled at herself in the mirror, then turned and left the room.

    Aurelia took a taxi to the restaurant called the Blue Train.

    Taking in the exterior decorations, she was taken aback.

    It was a luxurious European style restaurant.

    She wondered to herself if she could afford to eat here.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Regardless, she had promised Leslie to treat him, so she could only bite the bullet and went in.

    ¡°Miss, do you have a reservation?¡±

    ¡°It''s under Mr. Synder,¡± Aurelia said.

    The waiter tapped on a screen, looked at Aurelia, then looked at the name on the

    Meanwhile, Aurelia cautiously took her seat.

    Well-dressed gentlemen around her greeted her with polite smiles, and she responded graciously.

    She took out her phone to ask Leslie where he was. However, before she could finish typing, someone approached her.

    ¡°Aurelia? Is it really you?¡±

    Millie only believed it was Aurelia when she saw her face up close.

    Wasn''t she supposed to be out with her husband for a casual meal?

    Aurelia was slightly surprised to see Millie.

    Her surprise lessened when she turned and saw Kimberly along with some colleagues.

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Yes, what a coincidence.¡±

    Millie nced at the people in the VIP section.

    Each one of them were sessful figures in high society.

    What made her even more ufortable was how Aurelia fitted in perfectly.

    Just half a month ago, they were sharing the same takeout meal.

    She raised her voice and said, ¡°Aurelia, it¡¯s your first time here so you might not know this is the VIP section. The minimum

    spending in this area is different. You should leave quickly, or you might not have enough money to pay the billter.¡±

    The crowd turned their gazes to them.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t care for a friendly conversation. She no longer considered Millie her friend.

    ¡°The waiter brought me in. He has the information concerning all appointments. Do you really think he would bring me to the

    wrong seat? You of all people should know better who can¡¯t afford to dine here.¡±

    ¡°Why you...Aurelia, I¡¯m just saying this for your own good. Know your ce. Don¡¯t make us donate money to you. This isn¡¯t the

    first time,¡± Millie said.

    Millie was talking about the time when Kimberly initiated a donation to Aurelia.

    However, Aurelia found an excuse to return all the money soon after that.

    She had forgotten about it and didn¡¯t expect Millie to use this against her.

    ¡°What''s wrong? Did you not receive the refund | made? | can call the bank and

    ask about it right now.¡±

    Millie''s expression darkened and she gritted out, ¡°Alright, then. Sit here if that¡¯s what you want. Let''s hope you don¡¯t get kicked

    out.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Do remember to return that hundred dors you borrowed,

    though. After all, l¡¯m someone who needs donations.¡±

    Millie tensed and left in defeat as the crowd watched her.

    Aurelia had never felt better. Confronting people not worthy of her kindness didn¡¯t seem so bad after all.

    She finally stopped ming herself and started ignoring what others thought.

    It was liberating.

    She lowered her head and continued to text Leslie. ¡°Have you arrived?¡±

    ¡°I''m parking the car,¡± he replied.

 Chapter 177

    It was Aurelia!

    Kimberly watched as the attention of the entire restaurant shifted,

    The ss in her hand crashed onto the table, leavingrge stains on her dress.

    But Kimberly didn¡¯t even notice. She kept staring at Aurelia.

    Aurelia was wearing a dress that she had set her eyes on.

    Ared spaghetti strap gown that clung to the body.

    Aurelia¡¯s hair was tied into a bun with a few strands of hair casually hanging down, giving her a delicate and charming look.

    With each step, the hem of her dress shimmered.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t walk towards themon area where Kimberly was.

    She was being escorted by a waiter into the VIP section, right next to where the band was ying.

    That area was reserved for those with power and influence. No ordinary person could enter.

    ¡°Is that...Is that Aurelia?¡± A colleague stuttered in amazement.

    ¡°No way! It must be a look-a-like,¡± Millie retorted enviously, her eyes fixed on Aurelia.

    All her colleagues paid her no attention and continued to look admiringly at Aurelia.

    ¡°| never thought Aurelia would be so stunning in private. Her temperament and looks make her look like a nobledy.¡±

    Hearing this, Kimberly clenched her teeth. Her freshly done nails dug into her palms.

    She tried to maintainposure as she looked at Millie.

    ¡°Millie, you''re closest to Aurelia. Go remind her that she can¡¯t just sit anywhere in this sort of establishment. She wouldn¡¯t want to

    embarrass herself when the billes.¡±

    The colleagues nodded in agreement.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Millie immediately stood up and walked towards the VIP section.

    Meanwhile, Aurelia cautiously took her seat.

    Well-dressed gentlemen around her greeted her with polite smiles, and she responded graciously.

    She took out her phone to ask Leslie where he was. However, before she could finish typing, someone approached her.

    ¡°Aurelia? Is it really you?¡±

    Millie only believed it was Aurelia when she saw her face up close.

    Wasn''t she supposed to be out with her husband for a casual meal?

    Aurelia was slightly surprised to see Millic.

    Her surprise lessened when she turned and saw Kimberly along with some colleagues.

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Yes, what a coincidence.¡±

    Millie nced at the people in the VIP section.

    Each one of them were sessful figures in high society.

    What made her even more ufortable was how Aurelia fitted in perfectly.

    Just half a month ago, they were sharing the same takeout meal.

    She raised her voice and said, ¡°Aurelia, it¡¯s your first time here so you might not know this is the VIP section. The minimum

    spending in this area is different. You should leave quickly, or you might not have enough money to pay the billter.¡±

    The crowd turned their gazes to them.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t care for a friendly conversation. She no longer considered Millie her friend.

    ¡°The waiter brought me in. He has the information concerning all appointments. Do you really think he would bring me to the

    wrong seat? You of all people should know better who can¡¯t afford to dine

    here.¡±

    ¡°Why you...Aurelia, I¡¯m just saying this for your own good. Know your ce. Don¡¯t make us donate money to you. This isn¡¯t the

    first time,¡± Millie said.

    Millie was talking about the time when Kimberly initiated a donation to Aurelia.

    However, Aurelia found an excuse to return all the money soon after that.

    She had forgotten about it and didn¡¯t expect Millie to use this against her..

    ¡°What''s wrong? Did you not receive the refund | made? | can call the bank and ask about it right now.¡±

    Millie''s expression darkened and she gritted out, ¡°Alright, then. Sit here if that¡¯s what you want. Let''s hope you don¡¯t get kicked

    out.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Do remember to return that hundred dors you borrowed, though. After all, I¡¯m someone who needs donations.¡±

    Millie tensed and left in defeat as the crowd watched her.

    Aurelia had never felt better. Confronting people not worthy of her kindness didn¡¯t seem so bad after

    all.

    She finally stopped ming herself and started ignoring what others thought.

    It was liberating.

    She lowered her head and continued to text Leslie. ¡°Have you arrived?¡±

    ¡°I''m parking the car,¡± he replied.

    Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

 Chapter 178

    ¡°Alright,¡± Aurelia replied back.

    Millie¡¯s expression darkened as she mumbled, ¡°Let''s ignore her and wait for her to make a fool of herself.¡±

    Kimberly could tell from Millie¡¯s expression that Aurelia was not at the wrong seat.

    Who gave her the right to sit there? Was it her husband?

    That couldn''t be.

    Her husband was supposed to be an ordinary sryman who was still paying his mortgage.

    Kimberly assumed it was her husband''s foolish effort to appear rich.

    There were plenty of men like that and Aurelia would suffer in the end.

    ¡°Aurelia¡¯s dress is so pretty though. | think it¡¯s from Mn as well,¡± a colleague murmured.

    ¡°It''s a fake. That dress has a wait-time of one month. She couldn¡¯t possibly get her hands on it.¡±

    The colleague sighed. ¡°Why has she be this way? Wearing a fake dress to a high-end restaurant to act rich.¡±

    Millie sneered. ¡°Out of jealousy, I¡¯m guessing.¡±

    They all nodded and changed the subject.

    ¡°Kimberly, | skipped breakfast for this meal. Why hasn¡¯t your boyfriend arrived yet?¡±

    Kimberly nced at her watch.

    She told Jackson to book a table at noon, which was a few minutes away.

    ¡°Soon. Lawyers are punctual. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s stuck parking his car.¡±

    ¡°You should all remember not to embarrass Kimberly. Don¡¯t act like you¡¯ve never been to ces like this,¡± Millie reminded

    everyone.

    ¡°You talk as though you''ve been to this sort of ce.¡± One of the colleagues nced at her mockingly.

    Just then, another colleague that was watching the entrance of the restaurant eagerly pinched the arm of the person next to her.

    ¡°He¡¯s here! He¡¯s here! He looks a hundred thousand times more handsome than in the pictures.¡±

    The waiter opened the door, and Leslie walked in wearing a ck suit.

    With a tall figure and dazzling features, his nobility and demeanor stood out.

    Even someone like Kimberly, who had seen her fair share of handsome men and beautiful women, was momentarily stunned.

    Millie and the other colleagues turned to Kimberly with smiles on their faces.

    ¡°Kimberly, your boyfriend is here. Hurry up.¡±

    Kimberly curled her lips and slowly stood up, preparing to leave a good impression on him.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°Mr-¡°Before she could finish her sentence, Kimberly paled.

    Without even ncing at their table, Leslie walked straight to where Aurelia was sitting.

    Aurelia heard his voice, looked up, and gave him a smile.

    Kimberly''s mind went nk as she stared nkly at the table where Aurelia sat.

    It wasn¡¯t until whispers from her colleagues reached her ears that she snapped out of it.

    ¡°What''s going on? Isn¡¯t he Kimberly¡¯s boyfriend? Why is he so close to Aurelia?¡±

    ¡°I''m confused now. Whose boyfriend is this guy?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Aurelia supposed to dine with her husband today? Could that be...her husband?¡±

    Just as everyone hesitated, a deep voice spoke.

    ¡°Kimberly, sorry to keep you waiting.¡±

    Everyone was shocked. The man in front of them was around 1.75 meters tall, and he definitely weighed around two hundred

    pounds.

    He smiled amiably.

    Kimberly was stunned, ¡°Who, who are you?¡±

    The man frowned.

    ¡°I''m Howard Carn. Didn¡¯t you ask Jackson to arrange a meeting between us? You said you wanted to get to know me. Looking at

    you now, | wouldn¡¯t mind that.¡±

    Everyone was silent.

    Chapter 179

    53

 Chapter 179

    Kimberly stared at the man before her and instantly lost all herposure.

    As the man tried to approach her, she recoiled with disgust.

    ¡°Get away! Just get lost!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? You invite me and then tell me to leave? Who do you think you are? Do you think you deserve respect

    because of your uncle?¡±

    The man¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was audible enough to instantly attract the attention of those

    around them.

    Even Leslie and Aurelia heard themotion.

    The two observed the scene from a distance.

    Puzzled, Aurelia asked, ¡°Huh? Who is this man?¡±

    Leslie nced at the man and said, ¡°He¡¯s the son of the owner of thew firm upstairs of ourpany. He just returned to the

    country not long ago.¡±

    After hearing this, Aurelia realized what had happened and couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter.

    It turned out Kimberly made a mistake.

    She was wondering why Kimberly would invite her colleagues out for a meal when she couldn''t locate her so-called boyfriend.

    Herughter was noticed by Kimberly.

    Kimberly''s face changed color in anger.

    As she kept moving back, she bumped into the table next to her.

    She fell to the ground and arge bottle of red wine spilled on her.

    Her dress that was worth a few tens of thousand instantly turned into useless garbage.

    Howard attempted to be a gentleman and extended his hand to help, but Kimberly shouted, ¡°Go away! You ugly freak!¡±

    Then, she crawled up pitifully from the ground and ran away, leaving Millie and the other colleagues behind to stand awkwardly.

    They wanted to leave as well, but the appetizers had already been served. So they would have to foot

    the bill.

    In a restaurant with an average cost of three hundred per person, even the appetizers were shockingly expensive to them.

    With no choice, they could only turn to Howard helplessly.

    Howard¡¯s expression darkened.

    After adjusting his clothes slightly, he told the waiter, ¡°I don¡¯t know them.¡±

    With that, Howard left.

    Millie and her colleagues stiffened and immediately turned their gaze to Aurelia.

    Aurelia pretended not to know them and turned her head, before moving to sip on her water in one smooth motion.

    Across the table, Leslie asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to exin to me?¡±

    Aurelia smiled. ¡°Do you remember when we reported Seth to the police a while back?¡±

    Leslie recalled for a moment and nodded.

    ¡°Photos of you were taken, and Kimberly said you were her suitor. She has many suitors so usually it would''ve just been a

    normal topic of conversation.

    ¡°However, you looked so exceptional that you became the talk of the entire group until now. So, everyone urged Kimberly to

    have you treat them to dinner. Kimberly agreed for the sake of her pride.

    ¡°| don¡¯t know how she mistook you for Howard, though. | simply thought she had changed her target. Who would''ve thought that

    we all happened to dine in the same restaurant today?¡±

    Aurelia exined the whole story.

    Leslie furrowed his brows.

    Since the reservation was booked by him, it was unlikely that Aurelia was using this opportunity to provoke her colleagues.

    Hence, it seemed to be just a coincidence.

    However...

    Leslie''s tone dropped, and his expression gradually darkened.

    ¡°You saw the photos they sent of me, why didn¡¯t you say that I¡¯m your husband? Instead, you

    continued to let them fool around? Are you that embarrassed of me? Do you not want others to know?

    11

    Aurelia wasn¡¯t offended at what Leslie said.

    She had heard from Linda why Leslie disliked women. Hence, his skepticism was expected.

    ¡°No. | told everyone that | was married, but they never believed me. You didn¡¯t look like you wanted others to find out either, so |

    didn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°| didn¡¯t know things would escte to this point. | was just added into the building group and by then, Kimberly had already said

    her piece.¡±

    Leslie¡¯s furrowed brows eased and he raised an eyebrow, ¡°You''re quite talkative now,¡±

    Aurelia felt like she was being mocked, but she wasn¡¯t sure.

    Just then, the waiter handed them the menu and Leslie passed it to Aurelia first.

    ¡°Take a look and see what you want.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    As soon as Aurelia opened the menu, she sensed a malicious gazending on her.

    She turned around and met Millie¡¯s eyes.

    The group whined while they paid, before being escorted out.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t bother with them and returned her attention back to the menu,N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    However, she couldn''t help kicking at Leslie when she saw the price of the dishes.

    Leslie initially thought that it was an ident and paid no mind to it.

    But she kicked again and her leg brushed against his calf. Taken aback, he moved his leg away, but her kicks followed.

    Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

 Chapter 180

    Chapter 180

    ¡°Aurelia, what are you up to?¡± he warned in a low voice.

    Aurelia stopped kicking, then held up the menu and leaned in toward Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, Millie mentioned that this is the VIP section earlier, and the expenses are quite high. | didn¡¯t expect it to be this

    expensive, though. | don¡¯t think | can afford it.¡±

    ¡°My boss reserved this spot for me, and he even provided a discount coupon. It¡¯s about the same price

    as normal restaurants,¡± Leslie calmly stated.

    ¡°Oh, | see. Good,¡± Aurelia nodded.

    ¡°Also, put your feet away,¡± Leslie reminded her.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    ¡°My feet?¡± Aurelia lowered her head and noticed that the tip of her shoe was unintentionally brushing against Leslie¡¯s leg.

    Startled, she hastily pulled her feet back and sat properly.

    Realizing that the waiter was observing them, Aurelia ordered a few dishes. Leslie added a few more

    orders and returned the menu to the waiter.

    After a while, the dishes arrived, and Aurelia nced at them.

    ¡°Is this what they call elegance in simplicity?¡± she thought.

    The dishes came one after another, and each te wasrger than the previous one.

    However, the food on therge tes were just enough for a couple of bites.

    She wondered if she would have to make pasta once they got home.

    When they reached the desserts, the band on stage switched to a dance tune.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t quite help the urge to tap her foot a couple of times.

    People had already started dancing on the dance floor next to the band, resembling the scene of a high

    -ss banquet.

    Aurelia looked around and pped involuntarily.

    At that moment, a foreign man approached.

    ¡°Hello, may | have the honor of inviting you for a dance?¡±

    Aurelia was stunned for a moment and didn¡¯t know how to refuse.

    Were people nowadays this enthusiastic and bold?

    Her husband was sitting across from her, and someone just came up to invite her to dance.

    Although, thinking about it, this was probably just a normal ballroom dance and not an intimate gesture for foreigners.

    Aurelia was just pondering how to respond when Leslie¡¯s expression darkened.

    Acold gleam appeared in his eyes as he spoke up, ¡°No.¡±

    Before the foreign man could say anything else, Leslie stood up and pulled Aurelia along with him.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    ¡°Where to?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Weren''t you thinking of dancing?¡±

    Leslie led Aurelia to the dance floor.

    Aurelia was dazed for a moment, only returning to her senses when Leslie¡¯s hand encircled her waist, and she quickly caught up

    with the dance steps.

    ¡°You know how to dance?¡± Leslie was slightly shocked.

    Aurelia smiled.

    ¡°| once organized an event for a dancing crew and they taught me a few things. | only know this much though.¡±

    He studied the smile on her face and said, ¡°It looks like what happened earlier didn¡¯t affect you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. | think you are right. | don¡¯t want to waste my time and energy on people that aren¡¯t important to me.¡±

    ¡°Who is important to you, then?¡± he asked.

    ¡°My mom, Aunt Linda, and...¡±

    She nced at him and pursed her lips.

    Worried of saying the wrong thing, she lowered her gaze.

    She could hear her heart pounding.

    It was a strange feeling.

    Leslie knew that his question was slightly out of line, but he desperately wanted to know what Aurelia was about to say.

    In the end, he suppress the urge to ask.

    The two listened to the music quietly and an unknown feeling blossomed between them.

 Chapter 181

    The song ended and everyone returned to their seats.

    Aurelia hastily pulled away from Leslie and returned to her seat.

    Leslie nced at his now empty hand and curled his fingers, before returning to the table.

    After the meal, Aurelia called the waiter over for the bill and Leslie took out a ck card to ce on

    the bill.

    He shot a steady look at the waiter. ¡°It¡¯s a coupon.¡±

    The waiter came close to losing control of his expression. No one ever told him that being a waiter required acting skills as well.

    ¡°Sure, please wait.¡±

    The waiter returned to the counter and whispered to the manager for a long while.

    They spent quite some time operating on theputer before finally returning to Aurelia with the bill with a resigned expression.

    Aurelia took the bill and was surprised. The meal was supposed to cost five hundred but had now been reduced to around

    seventy with the discount.

    Aurelia handed her card over and stood. ¡°I didn¡¯t think that coupon would reduce the amount to this

    extent.¡±

    Leslie nodded.

    ¡°Pleasee aga...Please be careful on your way out,¡± the waiter said.

    He silently wished that this couple would nevere again or theputer may actually break down.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t think much of his words and left with Leslie.

    After getting into the car, Leslie said, ¡°Where are we going now?¡±

    Aurelia nced at the time and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the supermarket. You gave me quite a lot of money so we can get some of the

    things we need at home.¡±

    Leslie shot her a confused look. ¡°That money is for you. You can just buy whatever you want.¡±

    Aurelia considered it and said, ¡°But | don¡¯t need anything. You and your mom bought me so many things that | don¡¯t really have

    anything else | want. Let¡¯s just get the things we need at home.¡±

    Leslie was hesitant, but nodded in the end.

    On the way to the supermarket, Aurelia switched on her phone and stumbled upon a lively conversation in thepany group

    chat.

    Her colleagues at the restaurant just now had taken a photo of her and Leslie dancing.

    ¡°What''s going on? Wasn''t this Kimberly¡¯s handsome and wealthy boyfriend?¡± One of them wrote.

    ¡°Today has been an eye-opener for me. If | hadn¡¯t been there in person, | would¡¯ve never believed that this is true. This isn¡¯t

    Kimberly''s boyfriend. This is Aurelia¡¯s husband!¡±

    ¡°What? Aurelia¡¯s husband? But Kimberly clearly said he was her suitor.¡±

    Kimberly chimed in. ¡°It was an honest mistake. The photo is so blurry. It¡¯s normal to make a mistake.

    11

    ¡°Kimberly! Do you take us for fools? Blurry? How did you recognize this person so quickly, then? Can''t you distinguish between

    1.75 meters and 1.90 meters, or a 200-pound fat guy and a perfect figure of 160 pounds? Are you blind, or are we?¡±

    ¡°You tricked us intoing to the restaurant, then ran away. They charged us a hundred for a ss of wine and a piece of

    dessert. Are you out of your mind? It¡¯s outrageous!¡±

    Kimberly replied. ¡°I''ll pay you back! | made a mistake, It was just a mistake! If he¡¯s Aurelia¡¯s husband, why didn¡¯t she say so

    before? She clearly did this on purpose!¡±

    What a move to shift the topic.

    Aurelia quickly typed. ¡°The photo is so blurry that | didn¡¯t recognize him right away. Besides, | wasn¡¯t in the group when Kimberly

    identified him. How would | know? Theter photos only showed the back of his head. How could | recognize him? If | had seen

    his figure, | wouldn¡¯t have possibly mistaken him for someone else.¡±

    She used Kimberly¡¯s excuse to shut her up and then turned off group notifications to let them argue.

    ¡°We''re here.¡± Leslie parked the car and asked, ¡°What are you smiling about?¡±

    ¡°Take a look.¡± Aurelia handed her phone to Leslie.

    Looking at Aurelia¡¯s response, Leslie furrowed his brows. ¡°You seem to know a lot about my physique.

    11

    Aurelia¡¯s smile stiffened. ¡°Mr. Synder, let me exin.¡±

    ¡°Let''s go.¡± Leslie turned around, curled his lips, and walked away.

    Aurelia put her phone away and followed.

    When they entered the supermarket, Leslie quickly took a shopping cart.

    Her hand could only rest on the handle as she followed Leslie into the supermarket.

    She felt more at case than dining in a fancy restaurant.

    After buying groceries for the next week, Leslie made a sudden turn into the pharmacy section of the supermarket.

    An employee immediately approached. ¡°Hello, may | help you with anything?¡±

    Leslie nced at Aurelia and said, ¡°External injuries. | have some swelling.¡±

    Aurelia tilted her head, confused as to why he looked at her.

    She definitely didn¡¯t cause him any injury.

    Puzzled, the employee asked, ¡°External injuries? Where? Can you show me? This way,

    rmend something suitable. It¡¯s been hottely, and sweating can lead to infections..It''s essential to handle injuries with

    care.¡±

    Leslie furrowed his brow and nodded. ¡°Alright.

    With that, he unbuttoned the top four buttons of his cor.

    #N

    Both Aurelia and the employee were stunned.

    =N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    14-

 Chapter 182

    While the employee was stunned by Leslie¡¯s physique, Aurelia only just remembered she had scratched him.

    ¡°Ah!¡± she screamed and swiftly covered Leslie¡¯s chest. ¡°T... There¡¯s no need to expose so much. Just a little.. just a little will do.¡±

    As she spoke, she pulled on Leslie¡¯s cor, revealing the three scratch marks.

    The employee''s gaze shifted between Aurelia and Leslie, finally settling on Aurelia¡¯s fingers.

    ¡°Haha, | understand. It¡¯s not severe. The redness was likely caused because you didn¡¯t treat it in time and exposed it to water.

    Just use some anti-inmmatory ointment,¡± the employee exined, handing a rtivelyrge tube of ointment to Leslie.

    Just as Leslie was about to take it, Aurelia raised her hand to intercept. ¡°Isn''t this tube too big? It¡¯s just a small wound.¡±

    ¡°Miss, it¡¯s better to be prepared,¡± the employee said.

    Aurelia was momentarily stunned and instantly realized that the employee had misunderstood.

    In her embarrassment, Leslie took the ointment.

    ¡°Makes sense. This one, then,¡± Leslie said and paid.

    Aurelia¡¯s face turned red.

    What was Leslie implying?

    Watching her hurried departure, Leslie reminded her, ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯re going the wrong way.¡¯

    Aurelia hurriedly ran in the opposite direction.

    Unable to hold back, Leslieughed.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Aurelia passed Leslie and muttered curses to herself.

    She looked around and found a corner with a window for shoe and clothes repair.

    11

    Aurelia stood at the counter and pointed at a picture of high heels with a broken heel on her phone.

    ¡°Sir, can you fix something like this?¡±

    ¡°Let me have a look.¡± The old shopkeeper adjusted his reading sses and examined them for a while before nodding. ¡°It can be

    done, but these shoes have been worn for a while, right? The soles are almost t and it¡¯s easy to slip down if you wear them.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been three years. These shoes are important to me, so they must be fixed.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, it¡¯s not a problem. I''ll attach a new sole for you, and it will be as good as new.¡±

    Chapter 182

    212

    ¡°Great, thank you.

    She was relieved. She had been meaning to take her heels for repair but hadn¡¯t found a suitable ce

    for it

    When she saw the shoe repair shop just now, she decided to give it a try but didn¡¯t expect it to work

    out

    Seeing the contentment on her face, the old man nced at something behind her.

    She turned around and found that Leslie was behind her. ¡°Mr. Synder, I...¡±

    ¡°Let''s go,¡± he said and turned to leave.

    His sudden change of attitude left Aure feeling slightly lost.

    She didn¡¯t know what happened and wondered if he was mad because she injured him.

    She hurried after him and got into the car.

    On the way home, she tried to speak a few times but was interrupted by the music Leslie was ying.

    She understood that Leslie didn¡¯t want to speak to her.

    Once home, Leslie ced all the things they bought on the table.

    Aurelia, on the other hand, opened the shoe cab and took out her broken pair of heels.

    She ced it in a bag carefully and prepared to take them to be repaired the next day.

    Once it was all done, she stood and found that Leslie was staring at her heels from a distance.

    ¡°Are these important?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± She nodded.

    Leslie didn¡¯t question further and thought, ¡°A gift from the ex-boyfriend is so important that she doesn¡¯t even bother lying to her

    husband.

    ¡°Aurelia, I''ve underestimated you. You are living with me now, yet your mind is still on your ex- boyfriend.¡±

    Did she really think that he wouldn¡¯t find out where those heels came from if she didn¡¯t say anything?

 Chapter 183

    Aurelia felt that something was off.

    When she looked at Leslie, she was startled by his cold and distant gaze.

    ¡°Mr. Synder...¡±

    ¡°| have something to do. Don¡¯t wait for me.¡¯

    Leslie left immediately after that.

    Aurelia stood still for a moment.

    For an instant, she felt like she could reach Leslie, but an invisible force pushed her far away from

    him.

    Leslie had once again be a man who kept others at a distance, just like when they first met.

    She didn¡¯t even know what had happened.

    In the evening, she prepared dinner for the two of them as usual, but Leslie wasn¡¯t home even when it

    turned nine.

    To be precise, Leslie did note back that night.

    Aurelia woke up feeling a bit groggy the next day.

    She hastily ate something and went to work.

    Halfway there, she remembered she had forgotten to take her high-heels for repair.

    ¡°Oh well, maybe tomorrow,¡± she thought.

    When Aurelia arrived at thepany, everyone¡¯s expression toward her had changed.

    As soon as she sat down, she was surrounded by people.

    ¡°Aurelia, was the man who danced with you really your husband?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Aurelia nodded.

    ¡°You''re really good at hiding things. Howe you never brought such a handsome husband to meet us? We should have a

    meal together so can wish you both happiness,¡± a colleague teased.

    ¡°He¡¯s quite busy, and he¡¯s always working overtime. | don¡¯t think he has the time,¡± Aurelia declined.

    She doesn¡¯t that these people were genuinely happy for her.

    ¡°Aurelia, it¡¯s just a meal and your husband won''t even entertain us. He seems so arrogant, Are you sure you can control him?¡±

    another colleague chimed in.

    ¡°Aurelia, | noticed yesterday that you and your husband weren''t really that intimate. He was evente

    Chapter 183

    to dinner with you.¡±

    Sharp voices could be heard from the entrance. It was Kimbely and Millie.

    Seeing the duo, everyone looked at them and there was an awkward silence in the air.

    On her way to thepany in the morning, Aurelia roughly read through the contents of the group

    chat.

    Kimberly insisted that she mistook the person in the photo and returned the money to everyone who

    went to the restaurant.

    Only then did those who were present at the restaurant corrected their statements and stood with

    Kimberly again.

    Later, Kimbely deliberately posted a photo of hertest suitor, a mixed-race model.

    However, no one was willing to indulge Kimbely¡¯s arrogance anymore as they were afraid that they would end up embarrassing

    themselves again.

    Seeing no one paid any attention to her, Kimberly did not speak in the group chat for the entire morning.

    Aurelia thought that Kimbely and Millie would''ve minded their own business.

    She didn¡¯t expect these two to be more audacious instead.

    Aurelia looked at the two. She didn¡¯t fall for their provocation.

    ¡°Whether we''re close is something that should matter only to me. | don¡¯t think | have the

    responsibility to share that with you, right?¡±

    Kimberly smiled. ¡°Aurelia, Millie and | meant well. We just think that men should be more outgoing. Why couldn¡¯t you introduce

    us? We''re your colleagues, after all. Right, everyone?¡±

    In the past, everyone would¡¯ve agreed with whatever Kimberly said.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    However, now, only silence could be heard.

    Kimberly¡¯s lips twitched as she nced at Millie.

    Millie stepped forward.

    ¡°Aurelia, why are you so reluctant to introduce your husband? Are you worried that we might discover something?

    ¡°| was baffled as to why you would marry another guy when you were about to get engaged to Seth.

    You didn¡¯t even tell me about this.

    ¡°Why is that? Had you been cheating all along? Were you just using the fact that Seth didn¡¯t pay you as an excuse?¡±

    Aurelia was taken aback and sensed the gazes on her were changing.

    She frowned and stared at Millie.

    It was truly ridiculous that Millie was so eager to fight other people''s battle for them.

    What would Millie gain from ndering her?

    Kimberly didn¡¯t wait for Aurelia to respond and nudged Millie.

 Chapter 184

    ¡°Millie, don¡¯t talk nonsense. That man¡¯s far more handsome than Seth. He can also buy beautiful dresses for Aurelia and take her

    to high-end restaurants. It¡¯s normal for Aurelia to choose him,¡± Kimberly said.

    ¡°Can a man who behaves sneakily be any good? He looks like a yer at first nce. If he¡¯s really faithful, he should be more

    like my Jackson and escort his wife to and from work. It¡¯s only normal for him to want the whole world to know about their

    rtionship.¡± Millie chuckled.

    Everyone remained silent and watched Aurelia.

    Aurelia knew it would turn out this way.

    These people didn¡¯t care about whether she was doing well or not.

    They were just eager to find ws in her.

    Aurelia smiled indifferently.

    ¡°We''re officially married and legally bound. How about you and Jackson? When are you getting married? Has he never

    mentioned it? Isn¡¯t that ying hard to get? Or maybe you''re not qualified to marry him.¡±

    Jackson was clearly a second-generation rich kid just ying around. It would be impossible for him to consider marrying Millie.

    Millie looked genuinely worried, probably fearing Aurelia¡¯s right.

    Aurelia then turned to Kimberly.

    ¡°Ms. Watson, Mr. Carn looked pretty decent from what | saw yesterday. | thought you finally wanted

    to settle down. | didn¡¯t expect you to move on to a model with a fantastic physique so quickly. How would Mr. Carn feel about

    this? One might think that you were deliberately toying with him.¡±

    Yesterday, she heard from Leslie that Howard is the son of the owner of Sunlit Legal Agency.

    The people they dealt with were usually CEOs of listedpanies.

    If Howard was humiliated in public, his father would not tolerate it.

    Otherwise, how else would they face those distinguished CEOs in the future?

    As she spoke, Kimbely¡¯s expression shifted and revealed a hint of panic.

    Aurelia stopped talking and returned to her own desk.

    Just then, everyone¡¯s phones pinged with notifications.

    Aurelia opened the notification.

    It was a message from the office group chat tagging everyone.

    12

    ¡°Breaking News! Sunlit Legal Agency just issued a statement saying they will sue someone for emotional deception and

    defamation.¡±

    ¡°My goodness, they might as well attach Kimberly¡¯s name in the statement.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s done for! She just crossed the most powerfulw firm in Seacester.¡±

    Aurelia raised an eyebrow.

    She was surprised at how quickly karma had caught up to Kimberly.

    A few minutester, a screenshot was posted on the group chat.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Surprisingly, it was a post from Kimbely¡¯s uncle¡¯spany.

    ¡°The romantic dispute between Kimbely and Mr. Carn is Kimbely¡¯s personal affair. It has nothing to do with ourpany.¡±

    Just like Leslie had predicted, Kimberly¡¯s uncle would be the first person to abandon her if something happened.

    Kimberly stood in the middle of the office, frozen in ce like a statue.

    Everyone kept their distance from her, not wanting anything to do with her.

    Shortly after, Kimberly received a call and she ran outside.

    Aurelia screenshot the group chat and send it to Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you are practically a prophet.¡±

    There was no response and her joy instantly depleted.

    She stared at her screen in a long daze, wondering if Leslie was busy.

    An hourter, Kimberly was removed from her position as vice director.

    She became the most short-lived vice director in thepany.

    Under everyone''s mocking gazes, Kimberly gathered her belongings and returned to her previous

    workstation.

    She tightened her grip on her phone and red daggers at Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, this won''t end here! Just wait!¡± she thought.

    She took out another phone from her purse and made a call to a certain number with a vicious sneer.

 Chapter 185

    Kimberly sneaked out of the office when nobody was paying attention.

    She found a hidden corner and dialed a number.

    It wasn¡¯t until the third attempt that someone on the other end impatiently answered the call.

    ¡°Who is it? Stop bothering me!¡±

    ¡°Seth, how have you beentely?¡± Kimberly asked softly.

    ¡°Kimberly? Why are you calling me? Why do you care how I¡¯ve been doing?¡±

    It was evident that Seth hadn¡¯t been having a pleasant time recently. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be so irritable.

    It was no wonder that he hadn¡¯t been active in the group chattely.

    Kimberly raised an eyebrow.

    She was secretly hoping that Seth was going through a rough patch. After all, she wanted Aurelia to suffer a worse

    embarrassment than she did. Pretending to be concerned, she said, ¡°Seth, you haven¡¯t been activetely, | thought you were

    upset by Aurelia. So, | called to check on you. I''ll hang up now if you''re doing alright.¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute, Aurelia? What happened to her?¡± Seth stopped Kimberly from hanging up.

    Recently, he had been constantly troubled by his superior at work.

    Worse yet, things weren''t going smoothly for him at all.

    Failing to get a promotion was one thing, but now, even his job was in jeopardy.

    He was so stressed that he was losing hair.

    What energy does he have to care about what was happening in the group chat? Besides, he had at least twenty WhatsApp

    groups.

    It was impossible to keep track of everything in every group.

    However, something big must have happened if Kimbely mentioned Aurelia.

    Could it be that she and her so-called cheap husband were separating, and now she wanted to reconcile with him?

    Chapter 195

    Heughed inwardly.

    As he had said before, the only man who could ept her family¡¯s situation was him.

    If Aurelia approached him, he would insist that she transfer the house¡¯s ownership to him first to prevent her from relying on her

    family for support. ¡°I get it now. Aurelia wants to get back together with me, but is too embarrassed to ask me herself. Is that why

    she asked you to talk to me instead?¡± Seth said. ¡°Seth, why don¡¯t you have a look at the group chat?¡± Kimberly said hesitantly.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you just say your piece? Who has time to go through the chat history? ¡°Seth said impatiently.

    ¡°Seth, we''re friends. So | called you to let you know you were cheated on. Don¡¯t tell anyone that | said anything. By the way, I

    heard that you were almost about to get a promotion, so congrattions.¡±

    After being arrested and taken to the police station, there was no way that Seth would get a promotion.

    Kimberly knew that.

    She was rubbing salt on his wound on purpose.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    After saying what she needed to say, Kimberly hung up and thought, ¡°Aurelia, just you wait. If you make me suffer, you will suffer

    too.

    How could a selfish man like Seth ept that he was cheated on?

    If Aurelia truly cheated and abandoned her boyfriend to marry another lover, he might just consider skinning Aurelia alive.

    Kimberly was eager to see who would still envy Aurelia when that happened.

    On the other end, Seth froze when he heard that he had been cheated on.

    Then, Kimberly mentioned his promotion and this merely made him even more

    angry.

    If it wasn¡¯t for Aurelia, he would have gotten a promotion long ago.

    He wouldn¡¯t end up getting reprimanded by his boss all the time and mocked by his colleagues.

    Clenching his fists in rage, he opened the office group chat.

    After reading thousands of messages, he stared at a photo of Aurelia dancing

    with a man while looking stunningly beautiful.

    His eyes turned red from jealousy.

    He had always known that Aurelia was beautiful.

    Otherwise, he would have never fallen in love with her at first sight.

    However, that was just one of the many reasons why he chose to pursue her.

    Another reason was that he needed to stabilize his footing in a big city. Marriage was a shortcut to his goal.

    Enjoy Ad-Free Reading>>

 Chapter 186

    Marrying a woman from the big city was too costly for Seth.

    His parents were already struggling to support him, so how could he burden them further?

    That was why Aurelia became his prime choice.

    She had a simple family background and parents who were both working.

    She was born and raised locally. She had a coveted school district residence.

    Most importantly, she had never been in a romantic rtionship before.

    To someone as experienced as him, she seemed like an easy catch.

    However, Aurelia¡¯s qualities were also appealing to the others, leaving him without any advantage.

    Hence, he took an unconventional approach and intentionally made his pursuit widely known.

    He professed his deep affection for her to make everyone speak favorably of him.

    Then, he got close to her by learning her preferences and orchestrated numerous coincidental encounters.

    Women were emotional beings, and Aurelia was no exception.

    After a few attempts, she agreed to be his girlfriend.

    Even though they were officially in a rtionship, some men were still eyeing Aurelia.

    Worried aboutplications before marriage, he relentlessly belittled Aurelia and criticized her.

    He imed that her make up was bad, she was too fat, and insisted that she wore suits that made her look dull and unattractive.

    Surprisingly, his tolerance for her dullness earned him praises from others.

    Despite Aurelia¡¯s prowess in her career, she was remarkably innocent in matters of love.

    Just a little kindness from him made her reciprocate generously, which fueled his vanity.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    He was proud of the girlfriend he trained.

    To ensure that Aurelia would be more obedient after marriage, Seth followed his mother¡¯s advice and constantly whined about

    how poor his family was.

    Surprisingly, because of that, Aurelia¡¯s family didn¡¯t demand a dowry or a house.

    He only had to contribute very little after her father¡¯s death to make Aurelia genuinely moved.

    He was pleased when her mother fell seriously ill, knowing that Aurelia would have no choice but to rely on him in the future.

    He couldn''t be bothered to keep up the act anymore.

    However, when he decided to buy a car, Aurelia turned around and married someone else.

    It wasn¡¯t until Kimberly¡¯s call that Seth finally understood why Aurelia had found a new partner so quickly.

    She had already been unfaithful to him all along.

    That wretched woman.

    He lived paycheck-to¡ªpaycheck,boring every day.

    How dare she wear expensive clothes and dine in high-end restaurants.

    ¡°I''ll teach her a lesson for this!¡± he thought.

    Meanwhile, in One Technology.

    Leslie closed a file and rubbed his eyes.

    Just then, Daniel entered with breakfast and coffee.

    However, he was taken aback when he saw the look on Leslie¡¯s face.

    Leslie had been in a rather good mood for the past two weeks.

    Daniel wondered how he reverted back to the cold, distant man he used to be overnight.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, did you go through all the documents for the rest of the week overnight? Did...Did something happen to you?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. The opening ceremony is approaching and the Synder Corporation is on the move. I¡¯m just ying it safe.¡± Leslie took

    a sip of coffee expressionlessly.

    Sensing that something was wrong, Daniel asked gingerly, ¡°You''ve never worried about Synder Corporation, so what exactly

    happened?¡±

    Chapter 196

    3/3

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Leslie said coldly and changed the subject. ¡°What¡¯s the schedule for today?¡±

    ¡°One of our clients responded and agreed to the coboration in the technology section. We can sign the contract today. The

    client is located one floor above Ms. Simmons¡¯ office. Do | need to...¡±

    Before he could finish, Leslie raised his hand to interrupt him.

    ¡°No need. What does this have to do with her?¡±

    ¡°Alright, Mr. Synder. You''ve finallye to your senses. Ms. Simmons may be talented, but it¡¯s not okay to pursue a married

    woman, not to mention she¡¯s still somewhat involved with her ex-boyfriend.¡±

    Daniel thought his words would touch Leslie.

    To his surprise, Leslie¡¯s expression darkened...

    ¡°Daniel, do you have a lot of time in your hand? Go prepare the contract,¡± he said coldly.

    ¡°Sure, of course.¡± Daniel felt a chill down his spine.

 Chapter 187

    Chapter187

    In the afternoon, Leslie arrived at Aurelia¡¯spany building.

    He was about to get out of the car when Daniel pointed at something in surprise.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Seth?¡±

    Leslie raised his gaze to look outside the car.

    It was indeed Seth.

    He was wearing a smart¨Clooking suit holding arge bouquet of roses.

    Daniel chuckled.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons is already married. Why is her ex¨Cboyfriend still so infatuated? In this scenario, no woman can remain unmoved. Ms. Simmons¡® husband is really unlucky.¡±

    Just then, Daniel heard the sound of something cracking behind him. Turning around, he saw the screen of Leslie¡¯s work iPad had shattered.

    ¡°Boss, this is the second one this month.¡±

    ¡°You can head up first.¡± Leslie¡¯s voicecked warmth, and his expression hardened.

    Daniel felt a chill down his spine and nodded. ¡°Of course.¡±

    After Daniel left, Leslie stared coldly at Seth and thought, ¡°Aurelia better note down!

    In the office, Aurelia was in the middle of selecting a venue for One Technology¡¯s opening ceremony.

    She suddenly felt the people around her staring at her.

    As she looked up, she was surprised to find that she was right.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, haven¡¯t you checked the group chat messages? Seth is here,¡± a colleague said.

    Hearing Seth¡¯s name,/Aurelia felt a headacheing on.

    After not hearing from him for days, she thought that she and Seth had nothingto do with each other anymore.

    What washeherefor?

    Aurelia openedherphone in confusion and saw photos ofSethfrom different angles in thegroup.

    In the photos, Seth was wearing the same suit he had worn when he confessedtoher three years ago.

    He held arge bouquet of roses that looked like the one three years ago.

    However, Aurelia had long lost the excitement she felt three years ago.

    In her heart, Seth had simply be a stranger to her.

    ¡°Aurelia,why don¡¯t you go down there? Just look at how devoted Seth is. I know that you are struggling to let him go. After all, he was your first love. How can your husbandpare to him, right?¡±

    Millie smirked smugly and urged Aurelia as she leaned back on her chair.

    Aurelia¡¯s expression darkened.

    She didn¡¯t care about what others thought, but Millie knew about what happened between her and Seth.

    Yet, she tried to mislead others into thinking that Aurelia cheated on him.

    She stared at Millie and asked, ¡°I didn¡¯t know that first love matters that much to you. I should probably remind Mr. Morrison to not treat you so well, then. After all, you only have eyes for your first love.¡±

    Millie choked.

    ¡°Why you¡­I¡¯m just saying this for your own good. You were the one who wronged Seth. He can¡¯t let you go, so don¡¯t you think you¡¯re at fault here?¡±

    ¡°First of all, I¡¯ve never wronged him. If you truly have my best interest in mind, why would you ask a married woman to meet with her ex¨Cboyfriend? What exactly is your intention? Besides, I¡¯m doing great with my husband, so I will never meet with Seth no matter what.¡®

    Aurelia pointed out that Millie was just meddling and Millie was left gritting her teeth in silence.

    Just then, Kimberly gasped and raised her phone at Aurelia.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aurelia. I identally sent an audio to the group chat. I¡¯ll delete it right now.¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Aurelia was livid and picked up her phone to check the group chat.

    Though Kimberly deleted the audio, some people still heard what she said.

 Chapter 188

    ¡°Aurelia is so cruel for not showing up even in such a situation.¡±

    ¡°Seth wouldn''t actually die, right?¡±

    ¡°With all he has done, | will only believe that he loves Aurelia if he dies.¡±

    ¡°Oh, she can drop the act. | don¡¯t believe in spontaneous marriages. Everything is premeditated. Seth was probably cheated on,

    right?¡±

    Everyone didn¡¯t shy away from stirring up trouble and began to add fuel to the fire.

    Aurelia looked at Kimberly, who had her arms crossed, looking like she was enjoying the show.

    Suddenly, a new video appeared in the group.

    In the video, Seth had arge megaphone and was shouting at the building.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°Aurelia! | was wrong! | truly love you! You never loved him. | know all about it. You married him just for his house!¡±

    ¡°Aurelia! Let¡¯s get back together! | don¡¯t mind if you divorce! | will definitely work hard to make money for you to have a good life

    in the future!

    ¡°Aurelia, why won¡¯t you admit that you still love me? | still have the messages you sent mete at night after you got married. I''ll

    read them out to everyone now!¡±

    ¡°Seth, | love you. You are my first love, and | belong to you for the rest of my life!¡±

    ¡°| married him just to find someone to help me pay for my mom¡¯s medical expenses.¡±

    ¡°After | divorce, | can take away his money and house and I''ll give it all to you. Then, we can live happily together.¡±

    Seth¡¯s words caused amotion in the office and everyone''s gaze was fixed on

    Aurelia.

    Aurelia expression paled,

    She never expected Seth to be so shameless.

    She had never encountered such a situation before and didn¡¯t know how to refute

    1. it.

    Kimberly sneered.

    ¡°Aurelia, your husband is so good to you. He bought you clothes and took you to fancy restaurants, yet you¡¯re secretly plotting

    behind his back. What kind of person are you?¡±

    Millie immediately stood up and said with a smile, ¡°Aurelia, even if you envy Kimberly and me for finding good men, you don¡¯t

    have to degrade yourself and your husband like this, right?¡±

    Aurelia took a deep breath.

    While she was trying to figure out what to do, Zachary walked out of his office.

    ¡°Aurelia! What is going on? I¡¯ve reminded you to handle your personal matters properly. Do you still want to work here?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Zeller.¡± Aurelia pursed her lips.

    ¡°Hurry and get him out of here, or you''ll be in trouble,¡± Zachary said displeased.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Aurelia escaped the stares of everyone and went downstairs.

    Fortunately, it was working hours so not many people were watching.

    There were only a few onlookers and some cars parked nearby.

    As soon as Aurelia walked out of the building, Seth pounced on her.

    Fortunately, she reacted quickly and dodged him.

    ¡°Seth! What do you want? You and your mother promised me you wouldn''te looking for me again!¡±

    ¡°My mom was the one who agreed to that, not me.¡± Seth smirked with a dark look in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Embarrassed?

    You asked for this, Aurelia!¡±

    Aurelia was horrified as she realized that Seth was doing all this on purpose.

    ¡°Aurelia, you cost me the chance to get a promotion. My superior has been giving me a hard timetely. Do you know how

    they¡¯ve been mocking me behind my back?¡±

    ¡°They say that I¡¯m a man who attempted to climb the socialdder with a woman¡¯s help, only to end up getting yed! You, on

    the other hand, have the audacity to cheat on me!

    ¡°You have been having the best time of your life with that man and unting your rtionship in front of everyone! You are trying

    to humiliate me on purpose.

    1

    ¡°Aurelia, if I¡¯m suffering, I''ll make sure that you suffer as well. Now that everyone thinks you are still in love with me despite being

    married, your husband

    will surely think that you are cheating on him. Let¡¯s see how he¡¯s going to treat you from now on!¡±

    Aurelia stared at Seth in disbelief as rage and despair overwhelmed her.

    Feigningposure, she argued, ¡°He isn¡¯t like you.¡±

    Seth chuckled.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''re being naive. No man likes being the topic of gossip. Once rumors start to spread, he will eventually start taking it

    seriously.¡±

 Chapter 189

    ¡°He won''t!¡± Aurelia said firmly.

    Seeing how she was defending another man with such determination, Seth became infuriated.

    His face contorted in rage.

    Those eyes were only meant for him.

    Why should another man get to rece him?

    Seth forcefully grabbed Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, if you don¡¯t agree to divorce today, | wille here every day to bother you. | will let the whole world know that you

    cheated on me before your marriage and had an affair during the marriage. | wonder if your mother will still acknowledge you as

    her daughter after this,¡± he threatened.

    He violently shook Aurelia¡¯s body.

    She trembled with anger, but her strength was no match for Seth¡¯s.

    She felt like her arms were almost being broken off by Seth.

    She took a deep breath to control her anger and realized that dragging this on would not bring good results.

    Seth had gone mad.

    He used to be so proud of his job in a bigpany with a promising future.

    With a promotioning up, he had shared many dreams with Aurelia and revealed his ambitions for the future.

    He lost the opportunity and suffered at work.

    His colleagues were all backstabbing him, so he must have been miserable.

    But what did it have to do with her?

    It was Seth who lied and spread rumors about her in the group chat.

    When her colleagues mocked and ridiculed her, she never came looking for trouble with him.

    What gave him the right to threaten her now?

    ¡°Aurelia, tell everyone now! The person you love is me! You have to divorce and be with me!¡± Seth sneered and whispered.

    ¡°No, | won''t say it,¡± she refused.

    Seth granned Aurelia¡¯s arm even harder, causing her to sweat from the pain. Then, he brought his face closer to hers and

    sneered even more.

    ¡°Aurelia, it seems like you won''t appreciate what we had before unless | give you a hard time. If you don¡¯t get back together with

    me in public, I''ll go straight to your mother! | heard she barely survived the surgery. | wonder if she can withstand my meddling.¡±

    ¡°I''ll count to three. If you don¡¯t say it, I''ll go to your mother right now!¡±N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    He knew Aurelia¡¯s weakness well, so he wasn¡¯t worried about getting her topromise.

    Today, he was prepared to make the whole building know that Aurelia was a fickle woman.

    He had to restore his reputation.

    As soon as he mentioned her mother, Aurelia looked at Seth in shock and fear. ¡°Seth, you...Don¡¯t mess around!¡±

    ¡°No more nonsense, speak up, or I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    Seth opened the megaphone he was holding and slowly brought it to Aurelia¡¯s lips while giving her a stern look.

    Aurelia bit her lip and said, ¡°I...1 will do it.¡±

    With that, Seth smirked and let her go, before shouting at the building through the megaphone.

    ¡°Thank you, everyone. Aurelia agreed to get back together with me.¡±

    Aurelia held her arm in pain and didn¡¯t notice that a car silently left the parking lot.

    As the car drove past a crossroad, it crossed paths with a police car in the oppositene.

    Inside the car, Daniel felt like he was suffocating despite having witnessed a great drama between Aurelia and Seth.

    ¡°Mr. Synder...¡±

    ¡°Shut up.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    ¡°Go to my apartment and pack some clothes for me. I''ll be staying in the office for the next few days.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    With that, Leslie stared outside the window, his expression darkening further as he thought, ¡°Aurelia, you came downstairs in the

    end.¡±

    After what Aurelia said, there were cheersing from the windows upstairs.

    Just then, she spotted her savior at the corner of her eyes.

    Enjoy Ad-Free Reading>>

 Chapter 190

    While Seth wasn¡¯t paying attention, she snatched the megaphone out of his hand.

    ¡°| said | will do it! | will send you to prison! You don¡¯t need to thank me for it!¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Seth was confused.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    The people from upstairs shouted, ¡°The police are here!¡±

    Seth instinctively tried to run, but ended up getting restrained and pinned against the floor by the officers.

    Aurelia continued to shout into the megaphone, ¡°Seth, you ckmailed me. | have the right to call the police. I¡¯m going to make

    things clear in front of everyone today. | will never get back together with you. | didn¡¯t cheat on you or fall in love with other men

    at the same time!¡±

    Seth struggled. ¡°Aurelia, you have nothing to prove what you said.¡±

    Aurelia smiled.

    ¡°|

    ¡°Of course, | do. | recorded every single word you said earlier. Let us all hear the devoted love-sick hero¡¯s confession!¡±

    She took out her phone and yed the recording of Seth threatening her through the megaphone.

    As she wasing down, she knew that she couldn¡¯t have a civil conversation

    with Seth.

    At that moment, she recalled what Leslie had said.

    Instead of trying to resolve the situation, it would be better to deal with the person who caused trouble.

    Instead of trying to prove herself to others, she might as well use Seth to prove her innocence.

    Hence, she called the police and stalled while talking to Seth.

    She let him think that he had control over everything and lured him into a trap.

    It was bad enough that Seth was threatening her, but the fact that he ckmailed her with her mother was a direct threat to

    someone''s life.

    There was no way that Seth could talk his way out of this.

    As soon as the recording was yed, everyone in the office was shocked.

    ¡°Jerk!¡±

    ¡°You scum!¡±

    ¡°Die!¡±

    The curses grew louder, and Seth¡¯s face turned paler.

    Worried about a potential fight, the police officer pulled him away.

    Seth stumbled in front of Aurelia.

    ¡°Why did you change all of a sudden? You used to love me so much! You always listened to me! Is it because of that man?¡± he

    questioned.

    ¡°Maybe, but he did teach me one thing,¡± Aurelia replied.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°This!¡± Aurelia clenched her fist, raised it, and delivered a punch to Seth¡¯s nose. No more talking!¡±

    Seth was taken away by the police officer with blood streaming down his nose.

    Upstairs, apuse erupted.

    ¡°Aurelia! You were great!¡±

    ¡°You''re so cool!¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t say anything and followed the police officer to the police station.

    Seth¡¯s threats to her safety and the disruption of public order were already established, and writing a reconciliation letter would

    not get him off the hook this time.

    He would surely be detained for a few days.

    Aurelia took the opportunity to bring out the recording of Seth¡¯s mother and applied for a restraining order at the police station.

    The application process was troublesome and required waiting for the court¡¯s decision.

    But the thought that Seth and his mother being kept away from her and her mother in the future made her feel immensely

    relieved.

    Upon hearing the consequences he would have to face, Seth got scared and ignored the police officer¡¯s blockade.

    He rushed towards Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, Aurelia, | was wrong. | really was! | was just confused for a moment! | heard that you cheated on me and got angry!¡±

    Chapter 190

    ¡°I came to yourpany today just to embarrass you and to make your husband suffer the same humiliation of being cheated

    on. | really didn¡¯t mean to hurt you! Can you let me go?¡± Seth pleaded and bowed his head.

    you that?¡± Aurelia grasped the key point.

    ¡°Who told you

    ¡°Kimberly! It was her who called and told me!¡± Seth immediately pointed the me at Kimberly.

    ¡°Don''t worry. | won''t let her off the hook either!¡±

 Chapter 191

    Chapter 191

    With Seth¡¯s testimony, the police officer headed to Aurelia¡¯spany.

    While at the police station, Aurelia learned from the group chat that Kimberly was taken away while she was still discussing

    Aurelia¡¯s alleged misconduct in the office.

    ¡°If Aurelia hadn¡¯t given Seth hints, why would hee here? Men who can¡¯t get what they want go crazy,¡± Kimberly said.

    Strangely, Kimberly was portraying Seth as a devoted man and Aurelia as a woman who toyed with his emotions.

    Once the police officer came and exined their presence, Kimbely¡¯s face turned pale.

    She imed to be innocent and fell t on her face in front of everyone out of panic.

    Pictures of her disheveled state were promptly posted in the group chat.

    Aurelia looked at the photos and couldn''t help but smile.

    Soon, Kimberly was brought to the police station as well.

    Upon meeting, she and Seth immediately started ming each other.

    ¡°Officer, she provoked me into looking for Aurelia. It¡¯s all her fault. This has nothing to do with me.¡±

    ¡°Seth, speak with evidence. Why would | provoke you?¡±

    Kimberly leisurely took out a mirror to touch up her makeup, showing no signs of panic in contrast to her behavior in the office.

    Seth took out his phone and dialed back a certain number.

    ¡°Kimberly, just you wait. I¡¯ll expose you right away!¡±

    ¡°Haha, expose me? Be careful or I''ll sue you for defamation.¡± Kimberly sneered.

    He dialed the number three times, but there was no answer.

    There was no ringtone or vibration from Kimberly''s side.

    Seth widened his eyes,

    ¡°Impossible! She was the one who called me.¡±

    The police officer nced at Seth, then at Kimberly.

    In the end, he decided to investigate the phone number.

    Sitting nearby, Aurelia could tell that there was more to the story.

    As expected, the investigation revealed that the number belonged to a middle aged woman.

    However, she had never registered this number and didn¡¯t know Seth or Kimberly, so she waspletely unaware of what had

    happened.

    Kimberly slowly put down the powder in her hand with a triumphant look.

    She wasn''t foolish.

    She wouldn¡¯t possibly use her own personal number to stir up trouble.

    She had someone buy this number for her online, making it convenient for various purposes without any connection to her real

    identity.

    She learned this trick from Jackson.

    Kimberly feigned surprise and said, ¡°Seth, could you have encountered a scam call by any chance? Scammers nowadays are

    very cunning. They can be really well -versed in your personal matters.¡±

    ¡°Impossible! It was you!¡± Seth pointed at Kimberly.

    Kimberly nced at Aurelia and clicked her tongue.

    ¡°Aurelia, look at your ex¡ªboyfriend. How can he me others? It¡¯s no wonder you don''t like him.¡±

    Aurelia paused.

    Not only was Kimberly mocking her and Seth, but she was also instigating Seth

    even more.

    Seth was an egocentric man and he couldn¡¯t tolerate being questioned by a

    woman.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    He jumped from his seat in rage.

    The police officer acted swiftly and pushed him back to his seat.

    ¡°Behave. Don¡¯t move around!¡±

    Seth was startled and didn¡¯t dare to move.

    Seeing that he couldn''t shift the me to Kimberly, he turned to look at Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, | was wrong. | just did that because | love you too much. You can¡¯t do this to me.¡±

    Chacher

    3/3

    Kimberly continued to tease, ¡°Wow, Aurelia. Just look at how devoted Seth is to you. Why would you do this against a man who

    loves you so much?¡±

    The mockery on her expression was so evident that it became clear she desperately wanted words about this drama to get to

    Aurelia¡¯s husband.

    If she couldn''t obtain that man, neither could Aurelia.

 Chapter 192

    When Kimberly looked back at Aurelia, she didn¡¯t see the panic she expected.

    Instead, Aurelia remained exceptionally calm.

    Aurelia unlocked her phone and retrieved the chat record of the office group chat.

    ¡°Officer, even if Kimberly wasn¡¯t the one who manipted Seth, she spread rumors and ndered me. She even influenced over

    four hundred people into defaming me. I¡¯m pretty sure | can sue her for defamation, right?¡±

    ¡°If | remember correctly, this could lead to three years in prison.¡±

    The smug look on Kimberly¡¯s face instantly vanished and her eyes widened.

    ¡°Aurelia, have you gone mad? What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Did you not say these things? You hinted that | cheated and that my husband has been cheated on. Don''t say that this isn¡¯t your

    number. | will make a call right

    now.¡±

    With that, Aurelia dialed the number in front of everyone.

    Kimberly reached out to grab her phone, but was one step toote.

    Her phone rang and her expression darkened.

    The officer took out Kimberly¡¯s phone and checked the record on it, before giving her a stern look.

    ¡°Looks like you''re going to stay here.¡±

    ¡°|...¡± Kimberly was rendered speechless.

    She was livid.

    Aurelia raised an eyebrow at her.

    In reality, she knew that Kimberly¡¯s subtle defamation wouldn''t result in criminal charges.

    She would only be reprimanded at most.

    However, if the situation escted any further, Kimberly would find it difficult to escape unscathed.

    In addition to Howard''s case, she would faceplete social istion.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Just as Aurelia thought everything had settled, cries of despair echoed from outside the door.

    Chapter 192

    Everyone stood up and a figure darted in almost as soon as they saw who it was. ¡°My son! My poor son! Who dared to treat you

    like this?¡±

    It was Seth''s mother.

    Cupping Seth¡¯s face, she disyed a mix of heartache and sorrow.

    Then, she turned her head to re at Aurelia with resentment.

    ¡°It''s you again! Aurelia! My poor Seth must have had the worst luck to be in love with a woman like you.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Mrs. Martinez, we broke up a long time ago. Seth was the one bothering me persistently. He even came to mypany

    and pressured me to divorce and get back together with him.¡±

    ¡°| have evidence, and I¡¯ve handed it over to the police. If you keep spreading baseless usations, you''ll be staying here with

    your precious son.¡±

    Unable to bear it any longer, Aurelia took a firm and assertive stance.

    She scared Rosa into tears, and she didn¡¯t dare to say another word.

    Seeing how Aurelia remained unaffected, Rosa sat on the ground and rolled around in tears.

    ¡°Release my son! Otherwise, | won''t leave this ce! If anyone dares touch me, I''ll die right here. Release my son now!¡±

    After her dramatic deration, Rosa rolled on the ground until her skirt started rolling up to her thigh.

    The surrounding officers didn¡¯t dare to not look or intervene.

    Seth frowned and seemed surprisingly disgusted.

    Aurelia, who initially didn¡¯t want to be involved with someone like Rosa, changed her mind when she saw Kimberly hiding in the

    distance.

    It''s time to let Kimberly have a taste of her own medicine.

    ¡°Mrs. Martinez, | am also a victim in this matter. If Seth hadn¡¯t believed Kimberly¡¯s words, he wouldn¡¯t havee to ourpany

    to cause such amotion.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± Seth¡¯s mother didn¡¯t know Kimberly, so she asked loudly.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t say anything but nced pointedly at Kimberly, who was hiding

 Chapter 193

    behind a chair.

    Chapter 193

    ¡°You bitch! Look at what you are wearing. You sure don¡¯t look like a decent. woman. How dare you get my son in trouble? I¡¯m

    going to teach you a lesson.¡± Rosa crawled up and darted toward Kimberly.

    ¡°Ah! Get away from me!¡± Kimberly screamed.

    However, she couldn''t get far with those high heels.

    Rosa grabbed her hair and dragged her backward.

    When Rosa heard her voice, she was taken aback.

    ¡°It''s you! You were the one who called me and told me to harass Aurelia¡¯s mother!

    Aurelia red at Kimberly and clenched her fists.

    So it was Kimberly¡¯s idea to send Rosa to harass her mother all along.

    Kimberly recoiled in fear and had no time to defend herself. ¡°Let go of me! Help!¡±

    Chaos erupted and two officers hurried over to pull Rosa away.

    Still, Rosa managed to tear a huge chuck of extension out of Kimberly¡¯s hair.

    ¡°Lunatics! You are all a bunch of lunatics!¡± Kimberly shouted.

    Aurelia quietly moved toward the entrance and prepared to sign the documents before leaving.

    Kimberly wanted to use a lunatic to pressure her, so it was Kimberly''s turn now to experience their madness.

    Spit flew as Kimberly and Rosa continued to throw usations at one another.

    Aurelia silently walked out of the police station.

    The thought that Kimberly could have caused her mother¡¯s death filled Aurelia with anger.

    Currently, there was no substantial evidence proving that Kimberly incited the chaos caused by Seth¡¯s family.

    Even if her reputation suffered a bit, she was wealthy and had a powerful uncle.

    This matter would soon be forgotten.

    With that in mind, Aurelia immediately took out her phone, opened a web page, and searched for the contact of the Sunlit Legal

    Agency.

    Chapter 193

    213

    From thepany¡¯s official website, she found Howard¡¯s business card and the consultation phone number.

    Aurelia felt a pang of hesitation when she saw that there was a consultation fee of seventy dors per hour, but still dialed the

    number regardless.

    ¡°Hello, this is the direct line of Howard Carn of Sunlit Legal Agency. Please state. your question.¡±

    Howard¡¯s voice was pleasant and approachable.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Although he was angry with Kimberly¡¯s actions in the restaurant, he didn¡¯t explode on the spot or insult her.

    He even tried to help when Kimberly fell.

    Aurelia said, ¡°Mr. Carn, I¡¯m currently facing some trouble. My colleagues in the group are mocking and insinuating that I¡¯m

    cheating and having affairs. Now, my ex-boyfriend is causing trouble and causes me significant distress. Can | sue her?¡±

    ¡°Do you have evidence? It can¡¯t be ndestine photos. You need substantial, direct evidence,¡± Howard said.

    ¡°Can group messages be used? My ex-boyfriend said she contacted him, but the phone number isn¡¯t hers. | don¡¯t know what to

    do.¡±

    ¡°This is indeed a bit challenging. It seems she was well-prepared. Can you reveal who she is?¡±

    ¡°Kimberly Watson. She''s a nner from Young Advertising.¡±

    ¡°Kimberly Watson?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve reported it to the police, and now they are shifting the me at the police station. | had no other choice but to consult a

    lawyer.¡±

    ¡°This matter is indeed quite challenging. It would be best if you could ask your colleagues around to gather some evidence and

    prove that she said those things herself,¡± Howard continued.

    ¡°Okay, | understand. Thank you.¡±

    After hanging up the phone, Aurelia felt reassured.

    Howard was more formidable than Kimberly and her family.

    With a whole team ofwyers behind him, he would undoubtedly retaliate using his expertise after how Kimberly humiliated him.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t need to worry about the remaining issues.

    wi

    Returning to thepany, everyone stared at her, but no one dared to approach her with questions.

    She appreciated the peace and quiet.

    At Leslie''s request, Daniel came to the apartment to pack up clothes.

    It wasn¡¯t his first time in the apartment. However, he was stunned when he opened the door.

    Although the furnishings were the same as before, something seemed to have changed and he couldn¡¯t quite describe it.

    Even the atmosphere in the apartment took on a warmer tone.

 Chapter 194

    When Daniel was about to change out of his shoes, he identally kicked a pair of small slippers.

    ¡°This is...a woman¡¯s slippers, right? Is that for Ms. Miller?¡±

    Daniel didn¡¯t think much of it and went to the master bedroom to gather a few clothes for Leslie.

    Once everything was packed, he walked past the kitchen and recalled Leslie saying about installing an air conditioner in the

    kitchen.

    He went into the kitchen, intending to find out why.

    As soon as he went in, he noticed that there were far more things inside than he remembered.

    There were all sorts of tes, seasoning, and even two matching aprons.

    ¡°No, wait! A woman?¡± Daniel felt stricken and froze. ¡°Mr. Synder has a woman living here.¡±

    He finally realized why the apartment looked different. A woman had been living here.

    He walked outside in excitement and identally stepped on a ck stic bag on his way out.

    ¡°It''s so challenging for Mr. Synder to get a woman, yet he doesn¡¯t even help to take out the trash. Isn¡¯t he worried that he may

    scare her off?¡±

    Out of kindness, he picked up the stic bag and stepped outside.

    Then, he tossed it into the garbage disposal bin next to the lobby.

    With that done, he returned to the office.

    Aurelia dragged her body back home wearily.

    She copsed onto the couch immediately.

    Then, she remembered that she hadn''t sent her heels for repair yet.

    Thinking of putting the shoes in her bag to avoid forgetting them the next day, she headed to the hallway.

    However, when she reached the entrance, the bag containing her heels was nowhere to be found.

    Chapter 194

    Assuming she might have ced it inside the cab, she opened the shoe cab.

    After searching for it, her high-heeled shoes were still missing.

    Frustrated and sweating, she hurriedly rushed into the bedroom.

    Perhaps she had forgotten to bring them back to the room yesterday.

    Aurelia turned the room upside down and even swept under the bed twice.

    Still, she couldn¡¯t find her heels.

    It was at that moment that she thought of Leslie.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    This was Leslie''s home.

    The only person besides Aurelia who had ess was Leslie.

    She hastily dialed Leslie''s phone, but Leslie didn¡¯t answer.

    She persistently kept calling until Leslie reluctantly answered on the fifth attempt.

    ¡°What''s the matter?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, have you seen my heels? The ones | left by the door. They were wrapped in a ck stic bag.¡±

    Aurelia tried to remain calm and continued, ¡°Maybe you saw them and picked them up. Please, you must tell me. They are

    important to me.¡±

    ¡°Important?¡± Leslie¡¯s mocking tone carried a hint of coldness. ¡°Very important, indeed.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, what do you mean? Do you know about it? It...¡±

    ¡°| threw them away,¡± he said indifferently.

    ¡°Mr. Synder! Why did you throw away my things?¡±

    Hearing that her shoes had been thrown away, Aurelia questioned Leslie angrily. Leslie paused and remained emotionless. ¡°My

    home isn¡¯t a ce for garbage.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my belongings!¡±

    ¡°My mother bought you with money. | have the right to decide what appears in my home. Don¡¯t treat everyone else like fools.

    Aren''t you aware of your own position?¡±

    ¡°You...Is this how you think of me?¡±

    2/3

    ¡°Am | wrong?¡± Leslie retorted.

    Aurelia stayed silent.

    Enjoy Ad-Free Reading>>

 Chapter 195

    Aurelia didn¡¯t have any courage to keep listening to Leslie.

    She forcefully hung up the phone and slumped onto the floor.

    When she broke up with Seth, she was devastated as well but managed to recover shortly after.

    However, Leslie¡¯s words made her feel suffocated.

    It turned out that in Leslie¡¯s eyes, she was just an item bought by Linda.

    That was why he would exchange a few words with her when he was happy and disappear when he was not.

    Aurelia took a deep breath and ran outside.

    If Leslie threw the heels away today, she might still be able to retrieve it.

    When she reached downstairs, thunder rumbled in the sky. As soon as she approached the trash bin, a heavy rain poured.

    Meanwhile, in One Technology.

    Outside the window, the rain drummed against the windows.

    There was a dead silence inside the meeting room and everyone wore an expression of despair.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Leslie seemed to have gone mad again. If the problem at hand wasn¡¯t solved today, no one would be allowed to leave the

    meeting room.

    Just a few days ago, everything seemed fine with Leslie.

    What pissed him off after answering a phone call?

    Daniel looked at Leslie and recalled the belongings of a woman in his house.

    After some contemtion, he felt something was wrong and decided to seek help.

    An hourter, Linda entered the meeting room with food, and everyone stood up in respect.

    ¡°Ms. Miller.¡±

    ¡°Alright, take a 30-minute break in the lounge. Have some food, and then we''ll continue.¡± Linda waved her hand.

    No one dared to speak and they all turned to look at Leslie.

    Leslie wore a dark expression and waved his hand in dismissal.

    Everyone stood up to take the food and leave.

    Holding the food, Linda walked up to Leslie and said softly, ¡°I heard you stayed at thepanyst night?¡±

    Leslie frowned upon hearing this and shot a re at Daniel, who shrunk his neck and exited the meeting room.

    ¡°Don¡¯t me Daniel. He¡¯s just worried about you. Is something wrong?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Leslie replied, expressionless.

    ¡°You''re my son. Don¡¯t you think | can tell when something is bothering you? Is it rted to Aurelia? Didn¡¯t you two go on a date a

    few days ago?¡± Linda asked, puzzled.

    ¡°It wasn''t a date.¡±

    ¡°Leslie, you''re not nning to abandon her, are you? You rogue!¡± As Linda spoke, she raised her hand and pped him on the

    shoulder.

    Leslie frowned.

    Linda pointed at him. ¡°Aurelia may have dated before, but her ex¡ªboyfriend never treated her well...¡±

    Leslie felt frustrated just from the mention of ¡°ex-boyfriend¡± and interrupted her.

    ¡°| don¡¯t want to hear it. You delivered your things. It¡¯s raining out there, so you should go.¡±

    ¡°Why you...Leslie, why exactly are you upset? | know you. You are a reasonable person. Just look at you now. You look like an

    angry little boy.¡±

    Leslie stiffened at her words, but he soon regained hisposure.

    ¡°You''re overthinking it.¡±

    Linda fell into silence.

    She was enraged by his attitude, but could not bring herself to argue with him.

    Leslie had always been independent and never let others meddle with his affair.

    It was already quite fortunate that she managed to get him married.

    At the moment, she hadn¡¯t a clue as to how she could get him to open up.

    Outside, the employees were all having their meals while whining about working

    overtime.

    Daniel took a sip of coffee and was mentally prepared to stay up all night alongside Leslie.

 Chapter 196

    Suddenly, an employee eximed, remembering something.

    Daniel was startled and almost spat out his coffee.

    ¡°What''s going on?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Xenos, did you saw Ms. Simmons¡¯ drama when you apanied the boss to sign the contract today?¡± the employee

    asked.

    ¡°What''s so interesting about it?¡±

    Daniel recalled the scenes of Aurelia¡¯splicated rtionship with her ex- boyfriend and felt sympathetic for her current

    husband.

    He then shook his head.

    Holding up a phone, the employee continued, ¡°Ms. Simmons is indeed amazing. First, she dealt with a foreign pervert with brute

    force, and now she beats up her ex-boyfriend. She¡¯s a role model for us.¡±

    Hearing this, Daniel froze holding his coffee cup.

    ¡°What did you say? She beat up her ex-boyfriend?¡±

    Daniel thought they were getting back together.

    ¡°Yeah, onlookers said that her ex-boyfriend threatened her with mother¡¯s life to get her to reconcile with him. She pretended to

    agree, and when the police arrived, she punched him in the face.¡±

    ¡°She even used a megaphone to repeatedly y recordings of her ex¡ªboyfriend¡¯s threats. Didn''t you see it, Mr. Xenos? You

    really missed a billion¡ªdor show.¡± ¡°It was incredible! It¡¯s all over the local news. Even the police station issued a notice, stating

    that Ms. Simmons¡® ex-boyfriend was dissatisfied with her marriage and had caused trouble.¡±

    Another person burst intoughter while looking at his phone.

    ¡°It''s not just her ex-boyfriend who was arrested. One of her colleagues was arrested as well. ording to a girl in the office, it¡¯s

    because this woman spread rumors that Ms. Simmons cheated on her current husband before marriage and continues to have

    an affair with her ex¡ªboyfriend after marriage.¡±

    ¡°Wait! How do you know a girl in Ms. Simmons¡®pany building?¡±

    ¡°Hehe, it was when the boss went for a business meeting. | added her as a friend.¡±

    ¡°How dare you keep pretty girls to yourself? Take this!¡±

    Several people surrounded him, and the man quickly raised his phone as a shield.

    ¡°Wait! The girl said Ms. Simmons¡® husband is unbelievably handsome and even posted a photo. Do you want to see it?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t want to see it. Mr. Synder is dazzling enough. Why would we want to see someone else¡¯s husband? He¡¯s got a wife.

    It''s a wonder that you have the stomach to look at another handsome guy,¡± another employee jokingly said.

    ¡°I''m just curious. | want to see if there¡¯s a man who can be more stunning than our boss ... Oh my God! Mr. Synder!¡±

    The colleague erged the photo and nearly dropped his phone.

    Others were frightened and sat upright.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Synder? Where is he?¡±

    ¡°The picture! Mr. Synder is Ms. Simmons¡® husband!¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    The room exploded into chaos, and everyone was shaken to the core.

    Daniel spat his coffee out and snatched the employee''s phone.

    He zoomed in on the photo and stared at it for a whole minute before finally believing that it was Leslie in the photo.

    It was over. His life waspletely over.

    He said in front of Leslie that Aurelia¡¯s husband was a weak man.

    Leslie witnessed how Seth begged Aurelia to get back together with him and Daniel pitied Aurelia¡¯s husband for a moment.

    Trembling, he set the coffee aside before walking over to the meeting room.

    ¡°Mr. Xenos, your legs are trembling.¡±

    He didn¡¯t respond and merely thought, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m trembling! If you knew what | said, you wouldn''t even be able to walk.¡®

    He instantly realized that Leslie misunderstood what happened between Aurelia and Seth today.

    Out of consideration for his boss''s lifelong happiness, he knocked on the door and walked straight in.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!¡±

    4

 Chapter 197

    Leslie and Linda were both startled when Daniel stormed in.

    Confused, Linda asked, ¡°Mr. Xenos, what are you talking about?¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Panting heavily, Daniel recounted the incident involving Aurelia and Seth.

    Worried that Leslie and Linda might not believe him, he had to show them the local news to prove it.

    ¡°This matter has be widely known. The scene of Seth being beaten has even been turned into memes. There¡¯s no way that

    this isn¡¯t true.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, | genuinely didn¡¯t know that Ms. Simmons is your wife. Please don¡¯t take my words to heart. The facts prove that

    Mrs. Simmons never intended to reconcile with her ex-boyfriend. She was just coerced by that scoundrel.¡±

    Linda was infuriated.

    ¡°Seth is truly despicable! He has always plotted against Aurelia. | was hesitant to expose him before, but now he dares to use

    her mother¡¯s life to threaten her. He deserves to be arrested. That female colleague of Aurelia, too. | knew she wasn¡¯t a good

    person since thest time we met!¡±

    Leslie took out his phone to check.

    To his surprise, even Howard posted on social media to confirm that Kimberly had spread rumors about her colleague cheating

    and having an affair.

    Being awyer, Howard wouldn¡¯t make baseless statements, so Leslie immediately understood the whole situation.

    Kimberly must have said something to Seth, prompting him to rush to Aurelia¡¯spany and force her to get back together with

    him in public.

    This ordinary love dispute had be so sensational, with Howard and hisw firm fueling the fire.

    Just then, a loud thunder sounded outside.

    Recalling what he said to Aurelia on the phone, Leslie¡¯s expression darkened.

    He turned to Daniel and asked, ¡°When you went to the room to get things today, did you throw something away?¡±

    Daniel thought for a moment.

    ¡°Just a garbage bag by the door. It¡¯s been hottely, and | was afraid it would start smelling.¡±

    Chapter 19)

    Leslie''s gaze hardened, and his face tensed.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, did | throw something | wasn¡¯t supposed to? What was inside?¡± Daniel asked gingerly,

    ¡°Aurelia¡¯s high heels. They were a gift from her ex-boyfriend,¡± Leslie replied with displeasure.

    Next to them, Linda let out a bitterugh.

    ¡°What a joke. How could he possibly buy heels for Aurelia? I¡¯ve known Aurelia for so long that | know Seth would only take her to

    eat the cheapest set of meals. Even the flowers he buys are discounted. Buying her heels? Ha!¡±

    With a sarcasticugh, Linda suddenly paused and looked worriedly at Leslie.¡± What kind of heels were they?¡±

    ¡°ck, a bit worn. Her colleague said she¡¯s been wearing them for three years. She and Seth were together for three years. |

    heard that she cherishes them a lot and never even allows a speck of dust to get on them...¡±

    Leslie was immediately interrupted.

    ¡°It''s over! Daniel, what have you done?¡± Linda pointed at Daniel.

    ¡°Mom, what''s going on?¡± Leslie frowned.

    ¡°Who told you that those heels were from Seth?¡±

    ¡°Her colleague, Kimberly...¡±

    Leslie clenched his fists and realized that he had made a stupid mistake.

    Linda stared at him and sighed. ¡°Those shoes were a gift from her parents when she passed probation. It was thest gift she

    received from her dad.¡±

    ¡°Her dad fell ill and passed away quite suddenly. Her mom then also fell ill and those heels were the only things she had to

    remember her parents from.¡±

    ¡°| wanted to buy her a new pair after | got to know her, but she turned me down. It¡¯s more than just a pair of heels. It represents

    her parents¡¯ expectations and love. Throwing them away would kill her.¡±

    By the time she finished talking, Leslie was already nowhere to be seen.

    Daniel''s figure wavered

    ¡°Ms. Miller, do you think | could be saved? | really didn¡¯t know that bag belonged to Ms. Simmons. | didn¡¯t see any woman¡¯s

    belongings in Mr. Synder¡¯s room so | thought that was just garbage...¡±

    Linda¡¯s expression darkened and she looked at Daniel in surprise.

    ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°Uh, what sentence are you referring to?¡±

    ¡°Are you saying that they don¡¯t sleep in the same room?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I think so.¡±

 Chapter 198

    There wasn¡¯t a single piece of women¡¯s clothing in Leslie''s wardrobe, after all.

    Linda clicked her tongue disapprovingly and turned towards the door.

    ¡°It seems | have to step in.¡±

    Daniel opened his mouth to say something, but Linda was gone before he could do so.

    ¡°Oh no, it seems like I¡¯ve misspoken again,¡± he thought.

    The rain was getting heavier, but Aurelia didn¡¯t care.

    Like a madwoman, she frantically searched through the trash cans.

    This was already the third trash can she had searched, but she had found nothing apart from various kinds of foul-smelling

    household garbage.

    Just then, she saw a trash bag at the bottom of the bin that looked exactly the same as the one in Leslie¡¯s house.

    Without thinking, Aurelia reached for the trash bag.

    However, as soon as her hand came into contact with it, a sharp object inside pierced her palm.

    ¡°Ah!¡± she screamed.

    When she raised her hand, her palm was already cut with blood dripping down.

    Her blood mixed with the rain before dripping onto the ground, diluting almost within an instant.

    Holding her injured hand, she nced inside the bag.

    It was a shattered ss ornament.

    These weren''t her high heels.

    The pain was making her feel numb.

    She looked at the seemingly endless downpour of rain and felt helpless.

    She didn¡¯t know what to do or what she should do.

    Sitting on the ground surrounded by a foul smell, her face was pale and she suddenly recalled Leslie¡¯s words.

    He said he didn¡¯t need trash at his home.

    What was the difference between her and trash now?

    Why did the whole world seem to reject her when she had done nothing wrong?

    Lost in thought, Aurelia lowered her head, allowing the rain to fall along her hair.

    After a while, the rain seemed to have stopped.

    Stunned, she looked up and saw a lean and muscr man holding an umbre above her.

    ¡°Get up.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t sure if she was hallucinating but it sounded like Leslie¡¯s voice.

    With her sight blurred by the rain, she squinted at the person who was slowly crouching down.

    It really was Leslie.

    Leslie nced at her with a faint frown and then handed the umbre to her uninjured hand.

    He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped the wound on her palm.

    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± Leslie whispered.

    His tone was no longer cold and appeared rather ginger.

    Aurelia stared dazedly at him.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    He swiftly treated her wounds and helped her to the side, before wrapping her up with his jacket.

    Wiping his hand, he stood back into the rain. ¡°I''ll look for them.¡±

    She snapped out of it and tried to grab him but failed.

    He rolled up his sleeves and started going through the trash, checking each bag inside.

    Once he confirmed Aurelia¡¯s heels were not inside, he ced the bags back inside without showing a hint of disgust.

    Just then, two security guards came over in a car and walked over to them angrily.

    ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡±

 Chapter 199

    Aurelia looked up at the tall and burly security guards in fear.

    She was afraid but she decided to bravely confront them.

    However, Leslie shielded her behind him before she could even lift her foot.

    ¡°It''s my fault. | identally threw away my wife¡¯s belongings, so | came to help her find them.¡±

    Aurelia paused, not expecting Leslie to shoulder all the me himself.

    In the past, Seth would have found it embarrassing and left her to face the situation alone.

    Noticing that Leslie looked rather formidable, the security guard softened his tone.

    ¡°Are you one of the homeowners here?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Leslie nodded. ¡°When is the garbage usually collected here? And where does it go?¡±

    Aurelia looked at Leslie in surprise, finally believing that he was genuinely helping her solve the problem.

    The security guard pondered the question for a moment.

    ¡°It''s collected at four in the afternoon. It¡¯s past six now. However, the garbage in this area will be taken to the nearby garbage

    disposal station for sorting. But it''s been too long. You won¡¯t be able to

    retrieve it.¡±

    The other security guard advised, ¡°It¡¯s dark now, and the rain is still heavy. If the items aren¡¯t valuable, maybe it¡¯s better to let it

    go.¡±

    Aurelia clenched the handle of her umbre and looked at Leslie, who was soaked from head to toe.

    She reached out to tug at his clothes. ¡°Forget it, there¡¯s no need to look anymore.¡±

    With that, she turned and walked away.

    Back home, Aurelia went straight to the bathroom and locked the door behind her.

    The disgusting stench, mixed with the smell of blood, made her look disheveled and pitiful.

    She turned on the tap and rinsed her wounds with water, trying to numb herself.

    But as she looked at herself in the mirror, tears rolled down her cheeks.

    The only memory her parents left her had also disappeared, and she felt orphaned.

    She bit her lip to suppress any cries, but she couldn''t hold back and covered her mouth, sobbing quietly.

    Though her sobs were very soft, Leslie, who had just entered the door, heard it.

    Leslie paused in the midst of removing his shoes, his face tense.

    He then bent down, picked up the umbre on the floor, and left the apartment.

    Aurelia cried in the bathroom for a long time.

    She only stopped crying when she ran out of tears.

    Eventually, she had to ept reality.

    After taking a shower, she emerged to find the living roompletely dark.

    She was taken aback and checked the clock on the wall.

    It was already past eight.

    Where was Leslie?

    Didn¡¯t hee home?

    Feeling uneasy, Aurelia quickly found her phone in her bag and dialed Leslie¡¯s number.

    Just as she did, the door behind her opened.

    A foul-smelling odor filled the entire house.

    However, Aurelia wasn¡¯t repulsed but stunned.

    Turning around, she looked at the man entering.

    Just this morning, he was impably dressed in a suit, standing tall and straight.

    But now, his damp hair was disheveled, with wilted leaves of rotten vegetables sticking to it.

    Even on his ck shirt, there were visible stains and scratches.

    The once crisply ironed dress pants now clung wrinkled to his legs, with droplets of water falling.

    The water that dripped down was tainted in ck.

    Aurelia¡¯s eyes widened.

    She simply couldn¡¯t imagine what Leslie had went through.

    He lifted a ck stic bag, tired.

    ¡°I found them.¡±

    He set the heels onto the ground and frowned at the dirty water puddle on the floor.

    ¡°I''m sorry about that. I''ll clean it upter.¡±

    Aurelia stood frozen in ce, unable to regain her senses.

    Did he actually find her heels?

    The guards already said that the trash had been taken away and her heels should have been gone good.

    Did Leslie really go to the garbage disposal and search for over two hours?

    ¡°Mr. Synder!¡± She grabbed the towel on the couch and ran over.

    He raised his hand to stop her.

    ¡°I''m filthy. Just check up on the heels.¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    With that, he turned and headed into the bathroom.

 Chapter 200

    Aurelia watched Leslie''s retreating figure and noticed that his hands were trembling slightly.

    There was even blood dripping from the tips of his fingers.

    She immediately said, ¡°Mr. Synder, thank you.¡±

    Leslie nodded and entered the room.

    Aurelia walked to the entrance and opened the stic bag.

    Though they were slightly soaked, her heels weren''t damaged.

    At the same time, she also saw Leslie¡¯s shoes.

    They were inexplicably cut withrge shes on the surface and sole.

    Aurelia felt struck.

    Leslie always gave her the impression of an aloof deity.

    She couldn¡¯t imagine him bending over and seeking over garbage.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t dwell on the thought.

    She turned around and found a cloth to wipe Leslie¡¯s shoes.

    Then, she ced them together with her own, ready to take them for repair.

    She cleaned the entrance and corridor thoroughly and opened the windows for venttion.

    Soon the air was filled with a faint lemon fragrance.

    Having finished cleaning up, she entered the kitchen to prepare some food.

    When she finished cooking, she tried to te the food.

    However, her hands were still aching andcked strength.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    In the end, she had to put it down.

    At this moment, a hand reached out from behind to take the te from her.

    ¡°Til do it. You can stand here.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Aurelia nodded and stood aside.

    Leslie reached out and ted the food from a pot.

    On his exposed forearm, there were numerous small cuts.

    Although they weren''t bleeding, they still looked painful.

    ¡°Let''s eat,¡± he said and turned to exit the kitchen.

    Aurelia took the utensils and followed suit.

    Throughout the meal, the two of them remained silent.

    Aurelia wanted to speak several times, but Leslie¡¯s previous words would echo in her mind each time

    she tried.

    She was just a purchased item and had no right to express her opinions here.

    Thinking of this, she lowered her head.

    After a moment, Leslie put down his fork and stood up slowly.

    Aurelia found it difficult to swallow the food in her mouth.

    Although Leslie helped her find the heels, his attitude remained indifferent.

    Just as she was preparing to tidy up the dishes, a medicine box appeared in front of her.

    ¡°Give me your hand,¡± Leslie said in a deep voice.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Aurelia was stunned.

    Leslie took her hand and spread her palm.

    There was a shallow cut on her palm, but it wasn¡¯t too severe.

    He frowned as he looked at the wound and took out the wound ointment he had bought at the pharmacy.

    Applying a little on a cotton swab, he wiped her wound.

    ¡°It might sting a bit.¡±

    ¡°You...Ah!¡± Aurelia barely spoke when the cotton swab touched her cut, causing her to gasp sharply.

    She couldn''t say anything due to the pain.

    After a while, she felt a cool sensation in her palm.

    She saw Leslie lowering his head and blowing gently on her wound and was instantly taken aback.

    After that, she felt a warmth spreading throughout her entire body.

    She tried to pull away, but he pulled her hand back toward him.

    ¡°Quit moving around. Don¡¯t you want your wounds treated?¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± She stared at him as he treated her wounds.

    Astrange feeling overwhelmed her.

    She didn¡¯t know the meaning behind his action and didn¡¯t dare to think too much of it.

    All she knew was that Leslie hated her and that hatred would only deepen if this rtionship.

    apter

    continued.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, | might as well...¡± she thought.

    She slowly opened her mouth and Leslie spoke up almost at the same time.

    ¡°Let''s get a divorce.¡±

    ¡°I''m sorry about today.¡±

 Chapter 201

    Both Leslie and Aurelia froze.

    Aurelia stared at him in surprise when she realized that he was apologizing.

    Before she could think much of it, Leslie tugged the bandage and she jolted in pain.

    He grabbed her wrist and said, ¡°You want a divorce?¡±

    Afraid to look at him, she said helplessly, ¡°Yeah...Ow...¡±

    Despite the tense situation, she felt like aedian as she stuttered while looking at her hand.

    Leslie tightened his grip expressionlessly. ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    She looked at him.

    His eyes seemed to be threatening to break her wrist if she

    gave

    the

    wrong answer.

    She titled and shook her head.

    ¡°No. No.¡±

    Aurelia was afraid to anger him.

    Leslie stared at her flushing ears and felt taken aback by his own actions.

    ¡°What am | doing? Haven''t | wanted her to leave all along? Why am | getting upset when she proposes a divorce?¡± he wondered.

    Realizing that he was slightly out of line, he cleared his throat and exined, ¡°My mom won''t agree to this.¡±

    Aurelia stiffened and nodded.

    Leslie was a good son, so he would never upset Linda.

    What was she expecting?

    Spotting the sorrowful look on her face, he continued his apology.

    ¡°| mistook the heels for garbage and identally threw it away. I¡¯m sorry...! didn¡¯t know they were a gift from your parents. |

    thought they were from Seth and let my frustration get the best of me on the phone.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t quite know how to respond.

    ¡°Say whatever you want to say,¡± he said.

    She pondered for a bit and asked, ¡°Why does it frustrate you when you thought they were from Seth?¡±

    Chapter 201

    ¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡±

    Leslie immediately shifted the topic.

    He didn¡¯t know why but he found himself growing irritated at the mere mention of Seth''s name.

    ¡°What is the point, then?¡± Aurelia was puzzled.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°The point is...what do you need from me aspensation?¡±

    Leslie frowned as he stumbled on his words.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need forpensation. You''ve already apologized and also helped me find my heels.¡±

    ¡°Then consider it a debt. Let me know when you figure out what you want.¡±

    Leslie was well aware that he had spoken out of line.

    Even if he did make it up to her, it still wouldn¡¯t hide the fact that he had spoken hurtful words.

    Aurelia hesitated, not expecting Leslie to be so insistent.

    Most men would just apologize and get it over.

    When women brought it up again, they would be used of holding grudges.

    Even Seth, who had been with her for three years, was like that.

    Hence, she expected the same from the usually aloof Leslie.

    Unexpectedly, Leslie was direct in his apology and even offered to make amends.

    Aurelia could see that Leslie was sincerely apologetic, so she wasn¡¯t really angry.

    She looked up and said, ¡°Mr. Synder, may I say something?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Leslie asked.

    Aurelia pointed to the wrist he was gripping tightly.

    ¡°Can you release my wrist? It hurts a bit.¡±

    Leslie paused and immediately released Aurelia¡¯s hand.

    He then stood up and feigned nonchnce.

    ¡°I''m going back to my room. Don¡¯t wash the dishes today to avoid getting the wounds wet.¡±

    Hearing the mention of wounds, Aurelia looked at Leslie¡¯s wound.

    It seemed he hadn''t applied any medicine yet.

    She quickly stood up and reached out to stop Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you ...¡±

    This caused Leslie, who had injured his leg while searching, to lose his bnce.

    He identally pulled Aurelia along, who instinctively moved backward.

    But she bumped into the table and had nowhere else to back up.

    Fortunately, Leslie quickly supported her in time.

    Unavoidably, they collided.

    It was such a heavy collision that the sound of their teeth shing could be heard, resonating painfully in their mouths and

    foreheads.

    Registering the warm touch on their lips, they looked at each other in surprise.

    They remained silent for a full ten seconds before Aurelia pushed herself away from Leslie.

    There was an unknown romantic tension between them despite the distance.

 Chapter 202

    She put down the ointment she was holding in panic.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, remember to apply the ointment.¡±

    With that, she ran back to her room and mmed her door shut.

    Leslie snapped out of it and touched his lips.

    It felt slightly numb and painful, but there was also a strange feeling.

    Why do couples enjoy kissing?

    Couple?

    Since when did he start considering the two of them as a couple?

    Speaking of couples, Aurelia and Seth used to be a couple as well.

    Did they kiss?

    Leslie was even more appalled by Seth.

    Leslie turned and returned to his room, his ears turning red.

    That night, neither of them managed to sleep as they reyed the kiss in their minds repeatedly.

    They both thought they could sleep in since it was the weekend.

    However, their doorbell rang early in the morning.

    Aurelia and Leslie stepped out of their rooms at the same time.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, do you have guests?¡± Aurelia rubbed her eyes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Leslie walked over to the surveince system and instantly looked rmed when he saw who it was.

    He turned around and said, ¡°It''s my mom.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t think much of it and yawned.

    ¡°Then open the door. I''ll make breakfast.¡±

    He grabbed her and poked her on the head.

    ¡°Aurelia, wake up. It''s my mom. What are we now?¡±

    ¡°Roommates...,¡± she mumbled, before snapping out of it.

    Linda didn¡¯t know that they were interacting like roommates.

    Linda was so excited saying that she would have grandchildren soon.

    How could that ever happen if Aurelia and Leslie weren''t even sleeping in the same room?

    If Linda found out...

    ¡°Go to the guest room and bring your things to my room,¡± he said.

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±

    She hurried into the guest room, took all her clothes from the cab, and turned towards Leslie¡¯s

    room.

    His scent filled the air, making her feel a bit embarrassed.

    However, she didn¡¯t have time to hesitate.

    She opened his wardrobe and stuffed her clothes inside.

    She could tidy it upter.

    Aurelia even intentionally messed up Leslie¡¯s bed to make it look like two people had slept there.

    Fortunately, she didn¡¯t have too many things.

    Otherwise, it would¡¯ve been a challenge to move all her stuff quickly.

    When everything was done, Leslie opened the door.

    ¡°Mom, why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s Aurelia? What''s going on between

    you

    two?¡±

    Linda entered and looked around.

    Aurelia rubbed her head and came out of the master bedroom.

    ¡°Mom, good morning. Have you had breakfast?¡±

    Linda looked at the room where Aurelia came out and smiled.

    She then stood beside her and nced at the bed in the room.

    It was quite messy.

    She nodded in satisfaction.

    ¡°| bought breakfast and came to eat with you two. Go freshen up.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia nced at Leslie and nodded, then they went back to the bedroom together.

    After closing the door, Aurelia felt loss and didn¡¯t know what to do.

    Leslie noticed her unease.

    ¡°Change your clothes first.¡±

    Aurelia became even more nervous after hearing that.

    ¡°C...change clothes?¡±

    Even though the room wasn¡¯t small, it wasn¡¯t big either.

    If they were to change in the same room, they would be able to see each other clearly.

    Leslie turned around and walked to the wardrobe.

    ¡°I''ll go to the bathroom to change first. You can lock the doorter.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia looked at Leslie gratefully.

    Without context, it might sound less gentlemanly for Leslie to change first.

    However, if she went to the bathroom first, the thought of Leslie waiting outside would make her

    even more nervous.

    Leslie opened the wardrobe.

    With a tter, the clothes Aurelia had just stuffed inside fell on him.

    Including...

 Chapter 203

    What fell on top of Leslie¡­included her underwear!

    One of Aurelia¡¯s pink bras hangs on Leslie¡¯s shoulder and is almost falling onto his arms.

    The thought of that happening made Aurelia incredibly embarrassed.

    Just as the bra fell, she reached out to grab it, only for her hands tond on Leslie¡¯s chest.

    The bra slipped away, and her wrist was caught firmly by Leslie.

    ¡°You ¡­¡± Leslie¡¯s restrained voice sounded low and deep, and the corners of his eyes were slightly reddened.

    ¡°Where are you touching me?¡±

    ¡°N¡­nothing.¡±

    Aurelia blushed and withdrew her hand, ncing at the fallen underwear on the floor.

    She nudged it with her foot and moved it into the pile of clothes.

    Witnessing this, Leslie couldn¡¯t help but curve his lips.

    He pretended like he saw nothing as he turned away. ¡°I¡¯ll go change. You can tidy up first.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Aurelia nodded with her head down, afraid to look at Leslie.

    She waited until Leslie went into the bathroom before she hurriedly picked up the scattered clothes on the floor, neatly folding them, and putting them away.

    However, she couldn¡¯t stop blushing, especially when she was folding the pink bra.

    She quickly balled it up and stuffed it into the pile of clothes.

    When she was about to put the clothes into the wardrobe, she realized that Leslie¡¯s wardrobe was quite empty.

    Apart from a few sets of current-season clothes, there were hardly any winter clothes.

    Could it be that¡­men were more resistant to the cold?

    It was not entirely unreasonable for Aurelia to think this way.

    Many men in herpany building wore suits throughout the year.

    The office had air conditioning so it maintained a constant temperature in the office.

    However, during the wintermute, most people would wear a thick coat.

    Why didn¡¯t Leslie have one?

    Just as she was pondering, Leslie came out of the bathroom.

    Since it was the weekend, Leslie only wore a ck casual outfit.

    Leslie noticed Aurelia standing in front of his wardrobe and immediately guessed what she was thinking

    ¡°I haven¡¯t been here for long. Most of my clothes are still at my mom¡¯s ce. I¡¯ll bring them over another day,¡± he exined.

    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Aurelia felt she had overthought things and nodded.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go out first. Go ahead and get changed.¡±

    With that, Leslie left the room.

    Aurelia sighed a breath of relief, took her clothes, and entered the bathroom.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    After changing into fresh clothes, she walked out and saw Linda pouring milk in the kitchen.

    ¡°Aurelia,e over. I bought donuts. They won¡¯t taste as good once they stay out for a while.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    As Aurelia sat down, Linda started to observe her and Leslie.

    Feeling nervous, Aurelia nced at Leslie.

    Leslie took the initiative and spoke.

    ¡°Mom, why are you here?¡±

    Linda set her cup aside and smiled.

    ¡°I¡¯m worried about you two since you¡¯re living alone. So, I came over to see if there¡¯s anything else you needed.¡±

    ¡°Mom, we have everything we need here. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Aurelia smiled.

    ¡°Is that so? Why did I find Aurelia¡¯s toothbrush in the guest bathroom just now, then? Do you not have enough space in the master bathroom?¡± Linda asked casually.

    Aurelia panicked.

    She was too focused on clearing her wardrobe that she forgot about the bathroom.

    ¡°We go to work around the same time so it wasn¡¯t convenient for us to wash up in the same bathroom. The guest bathroom is bigger so she uses it,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°Yeah. That way, we won¡¯t fight over a bathroom,¡± Aurelia agreed.

    Linda hummed in response and did not question further.

    Just when Aurelia thought she was safe, arger obstacle came at them.

    ¡°What do you two n on doing today?¡± Linda asked.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Both Aurelia and Leslie exchanged confused looks.

    Linda set her fork down forcefully and frowned.

    ¡°You two are young and newlywed. Why aren¡¯t you going out on dates during the weekend?¡±

    ¡°Dates?¡± the two of them shouted.

 Chapter 204

    Chapter 204

    Linda opened her purse and took out two movie tickets.

    ¡°It''s a good thing that | came prepared. I¡¯ve already reserved a restaurant for you and a movie in the afternoon. I''ll cook for you

    two tonight.¡±

    Aurelia was silent and Leslie rubbed the bridge of his nose.

    ¡°Hang on. What do you mean you''ll cook for us tonight?¡±

    Linda stood abruptly, feeling like the best mother-inw in the world.

    Startled, both Aurelia and Leslie backed away.

    ¡°I''m just cooking dinner. What''s wrong with that?¡±

    Leslie''s expression instantly darkened.

    Linda turned to Aurelia and grabbed her hand.

    ¡°Aurelia, do you not trust me? I¡¯m just trying to be a good mother-inw.¡±

    ¡°Well...Mom, | just don¡¯t want you to overexert yourself,¡± Aurelia said.

    ¡°| won''t. Just leave it all to me,¡± Linda said confidently.

    ¡°Oh...alright, then.¡± Aurelia nodded.

    Next to her, Leslie raised an eyebrow while looking at her.

    ¡°Just don¡¯t regret what you said.¡±

    Aurelia wondered what was the big deal when all Linda wanted was to cook dinner.

    As soon as Aurelia agreed, Linda snatched the cups from her and Leslie¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Alright, you are done with breakfast now. It¡¯s time for your date. I''ll just go tidy up the guest room.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Leslie asked.

    She smiled and went to pull her luggage over from the doorstep. ¡°As you can see, I''ll be living here for

    a while.¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you stay at your own home?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°There¡¯s a leakage.¡±

    Leslie was rendered speechless.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    There were plenty of rooms in the vi, so it was unlikely that there was a leakage in every single room unless there was a big

    flood.

    Linda gently pushed Aurelia and Leslie.

    Chapter 204

    2/3

    ¡°Quick, go for your date. The house feels empty. Both of you can buy some decorations before watching the movie. Aurelia, don¡¯t

    try to save money for Leslie. He¡¯s a married man now.¡±

    With those words, Aurelia and Leslie were pushed out of the house.

    They were left standing in a state of disarray outside the door.

    Aurelia hesitated.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, what do we do now?¡±

    Leslie furrowed his brow and ced his hands in his pockets as he walked into the elevator.

    ¡°Let''s just go. Otherwise, my mom won''t leave.¡±

    Aurelia nodded hesitantly.

    Initially, she nned to visit her mom at the hospital in the morning.

    She''ll just have to put that on hold.

    She followed Leslie into the car.

    While on the road, she realized the scenery outside seemed familiar.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, this isn¡¯t the way to the furniture store...¡±

    ¡°Let''s go to the hospital and see your mom first.¡± Leslie interrupted her.

    Aurelia was taken aback.

    She only then realized they were heading to the hospital.

    Leslie never mentioned her mother, so she didn¡¯t want to bother him.

    She never expected him to take the initiative to bring her here instead.

    When her mother fell seriously ill, Seth had always used the excuse of being busy with work before his promotion and didn¡¯t want

    to go to the hospital.

    At that time, Aurelia was understanding.

    But thinking back to it now, she realized that he was probably afraid she would ask for money.

    Aurelia smiled. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Leslie replied with a hum.

    At the hospital, Leslie instructed Aurelia to go to the ward first.

    Thinking he had something else to attend to, she went ahead.

    She took a few steps ahead and turned to find Leslie entering the doctor¡¯s office.

    Suddenly, it felt as if burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

    Upon entering the ward, the caretaker greeted her with a beaming smile.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, you look happy today. Did something happen?¡±

    Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

 Chapter 205

    Chapter 205

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Aurelia touched her face and wondered if her expression was that obvious.

    The caretaker continued.

    ¡°Yeah. You used to look exhausted all the time, buttely... you¡¯ve been looking much better. | can barely recognize you. It

    seems like Mr. Synder really treats you well.¡±

    Aurelia thought about it and nodded.

    Though there had been conflicts between them, Leslie wasn¡¯t afraid to admit to his own mistakes and apologize sincerely.

    This already made him better than any man she knew.

    Any married couple would have arguments, especially those who got married without actually dating

    one another.

    Compromising was the most important thing in a marriage.

    ¡°Mr. Synder is so handsome and nice. You must really love him, right?¡±

    ¡°Love? I...¡± Aurelia was taken aback.

    ¡°Love what?¡± Leslie¡¯s voice came from behind her.

    Startled, she stood abruptly from her chair.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Aurelia replied as she shook her head.

    ¡°Hm?¡± He stared at her intently.

    Changing the subject, she said, ¡°Mr. Synder, where did you go just now?¡±

    ¡°| went to ask the doctors about your mom. They said that she¡¯s recovering well and can be transferred to the normal ward soon.

    However, when your mom wakes up is entirely up to herself.¡±

    Aurelia was thrilled for a moment when she heard that her mother could be transferred to the normal

    ward.

    But when she realized there was no telling when her mother would wake up, her face paled.

    ¡°| know a few foreign doctors and | sent them your mom''s medical report just now via email. Once they take a look at it, they will

    tell us what our next step should be,¡± Leslie continued.

    Aurelia was stunned for a moment.

    ¡°You just went to...¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Leslie nodded.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said.

    Gazing at Leslie, her heart skipped a beat.

    Leslie responded with a hum and turned to the caretaker.

    ¡°Hi. If you''re avable, I¡¯d like to discuss long-term employment with you. You can discuss the sry you want with your family

    and let me know. If everything checks out, we can sign an employment contract,¡± Leslie said.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°Sir, you...¡±

    ¡°Aurelia thinks you¡¯ve taken good care of her mother. For now, her mother¡¯s condition is reliant on personal care, and we don¡¯t

    n to rece anyone.

    ¡°Therefore, we hope for long-term employment. You don¡¯t have to worry about losing your job all of a sudden that way,¡± he

    exined.

    Aurelia stared at Leslie with her eyes widened, feeling a bit guilty since she hadn¡¯t thought about this herself.

    Thinking about it, Leslie was a considerate man.

    Finding a good caregiver nowadays is difficult.

    Aurelia felt reassured with the current caretaker.

    She had considered offering a raise but hadn¡¯t thought about employing her long-term.

    The caretaker also seemed stunned.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, well...¡±

    ¡°Aurelia¡¯s mother will need long-term supervision even after being discharged. We can provide you room and board, as well as

    holiday bonuses and double pay on special asions. | believe these are things you cannot obtain as a frencer,¡± Leslie

    continued, his voice clear andmanding.

    The caretaker seemed visibly convinced.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you ...¡±

    ¡°You can discuss this with your family,¡± Leslie continued.

    ¡°Yes, I''ll feel very reassured if you can stay. But, you don¡¯t have to feel pressured to stay,¡± Aurelia

    added.

    The caregiver smiled.

    ¡°Alright, alright. I''ll discuss this with my family.¡±

    Aurelia nodded.

    Now that her mother¡¯s surgery was over, she no longer felt burdened.

    Although she didn¡¯t get the promotion to vice director, she could still cover the expenses for the

    Chapter 205

    caregiver.

    She just needed to put a little extra effort on her part in formting ns, and the bonusbined with her sry would be

    enough.

    This way, she could work without worrying about her mother.

    She nced at Leslie beside her gratefully, taking in his profound profile.

    She felt a tingling sensation passing through her heart.

    For some reason, she recalled something her mother used to always say to her.

 Chapter 206

    Chapter 206

    ¡°Aurelia, when you''re looking for a husband in the future, be sure to find someone like your dad.¡±

    ¡°You need a man who can make decisions in important matters. You seem quite capable, but all you do is brute force your way

    through hardships.¡±

    She seemed to understand what her mom was saying now.

    Leslie lowered his gaze.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡±

    Aurelia immediately shifted her gaze.

    ¡°Nothing. I''ll check on my mom and then we can leave.¡±

    She walked over to her mother, but Leslie¡¯s gaze lingered behind her.

    After checking on her mom, Aurelia and Leslie went to thergest furniture store in Seacester.

    This was Aurelia¡¯s first time here, and she felt a bit disoriented.

    The two stood in front of the map and studied it.

    The map was so big that Aurelia had a hard timeprehending it.

    Aurelia felt dizzy just looking at it, so she started walking based on her instincts.

    ¡°Aurelia,¡± Leslie called her from behind.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Looks to me like you have a really bad sense of direction. We are supposed to go here. You''re going to the mattress section. Do

    you need one?¡±

    ¡°...Mattress?¡±

    Aurelia looked at Leslie, thinking about something, and walked away with her

    head down.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Leslie was used to this and caught up with Aurelia¡¯s pace.

    They both went upstairs together.

    Aurelia wanted to buy some decorations to add some more warmth to their home.

    Their home?

    Aurelia paused.

    She was surprised by her own thoughts.

    She had unintentionally started thinking of Leslie¡¯s home as her own.

    Perhaps she had gotten used to saying it and it became a habit.

    When choosing decorations, Aurelia would pick them up and ask for Leslie¡¯s opinion.

    Although Leslie didn¡¯t seem to care much, he always gave sensible advice so it wasn¡¯t boring to shop with him.

    Just as she was selecting decorations for the cab, someone walked past her with a big pot of artificial flowers.

    She stood and came close to getting scratched on the cheek when Leslie pulled her over at thest moment.

    She stumbled into his arms and the two stared into each other¡¯s eyes, recalling the kiss from the night before.

    ¡°Um...Are you two still buying this? You aren¡¯t supposed to squeeze that so hard. It''ll scatter.

    Astaff member appeared out of nowhere and chuckled.

    Aurelia nced at the flower basket that was on the brink of scattering, feeling embarrassed.

    ¡°We''ll pay.¡±

    Leslie wore a half smile and proceeded to pay.

    Aurelia held the flower basket and fought the urge to run away.

    He nced at her and said, ¡°Looking good.¡±

    Her cheeks reddened further.

    She wondered why he was saying that while looking at her.

    Not wanting to ask, she was prepared to leave when someone called out her name from behind her.

    ¡°Aurelia? Aurelia!¡±

    Hearing someone calling out to her, she turned around to find that it was one of her colleagues.

    This was someone who stuck around Kimberly most of the time.

    If Millie was the gossip queen of the office, this person would be the second-in-mand.

    The colleague looked at Aurelia in surprise.

    ¡°So it really is you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Are you here shopping as well?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. | want to buy a vase. | love flowers and arranging them at home really rxes me.¡±

    The colleague smiled and nced at Leslie.

 Chapter 207

    Since everyone already found out Leslie was her husband, Aurelia felt that there was no point in hiding it.

    ¡°We''re just walking around,¡± she said.

    The colleague nodded, her eyes still fixated on Leslie.

    Leslie looked handsome even in the blurry photo from the office group chat.

    He looked even more dazzling in person.

    Throughout her years of worshiping different celebrities, she could confidently say that no celebrity

    could rival Leslie.

    He had the perfect figure, looks, and demeanor.

    Having such a man by one¡¯s side would truly be ttering.

    It was no wonder that Kimberly would rather lie and say that this man was her boyfriend.

    She would''ve done the same as well.

    Leslie sensed the colleague¡¯s stare on him and his expression darkened.

    Worried he may get upset, Aurelia immediately blocked the colleague''s gaze.

    ¡°We won''t disturb you anymore. We''ll be going now.¡¯

    ¡°Don''t go. Since we ran into one another, we might as well shop together.¡±

    The colleague squeezed into the gap between Aurelia and Leslie, before looking up at Leslie with a

    smile.

    ¡°Hey, handsome. You wouldn¡¯t mind, right? | know this area well.¡±

    Aurelia frowned at how awkward the situation was.

    She was about to stop her colleague when Leslie looked down coldly.

    ¡°| mind.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    ¡°W... What?¡± the colleague asked in shock.

    ¡°| said | mind,¡± he repeated.

    The colleague froze in ce and Leslie pulled Aurelia away.

    Aurelia had no option but to turn and shout, ¡°We will get going now.¡±

    The colleague red at Aurelia and scoffed.

    She then took out her phone and snapped a photo of Aurelia with the flower basket, before sending it

    to the group chat.

    23

    ¡°| ran into Aurelia and her husband. Her husband is super handsome in person. She¡¯s such a lucky woman. He even got her

    flowers.¡± She wrote.

    She had followed Kimberly for a while and learned a lot from her.

    With just one sentence, it instantly awakened the resting crowd on the weekend.

    Aurelia took out her phone as it kept vibrating.

    She looked at the photos and message and furrowed her brow.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Take a look.¡± Aurelia raised her phone.

    ¡°The photo isn¡¯t so bad.¡± Leslie nodded.

    The photo showed Leslie from behind and Aurelia in a white long dress.

    She was holding an exquisite and petite flower basket that amplified her charm.

    Indeed, it was well taken.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I¡¯m talking about her text, not the photo,¡± Aurelia said with resignation.

    Only then did Leslie notice the message below.

    But, before he could finish reading, other messages came in and flooded the group chat.

    ¡°The flower basket looks pretty good, but... a grown man giving fake flowers probably doesn¡¯t take his wife seriously, right?¡±

    ¡°Being handsome doesn¡¯t cut it either. If my husband gave me fake flowers, I¡¯ll make him suffer.¡±

    ¡°When Seth and Aurelia were together, he at least gave her real flowers. Now, she¡¯s getting fake flowers after getting married.

    Are they really that poor?¡±

    At this point, Millie joined in.

    ¡°Actually, fake flowers are not bad. After all, Aurelia¡¯s husband still has to repay the mortgage, and his sry is just average.¡±

    ¡°Buying fake flowers means he never has to buy them for a lifetime. It¡¯s pretty cost-effective. My boyfriend only knows how to

    waste money.¡±

    Apanying the text was a picture of Jackson giving Millie ny-nine roses.

    ¡°When Aurelia and Seth were together, Seth even treated us to supper. After getting married, her husband doesn¡¯t do it. Doesn''t

    that say something?¡± Millie typed.

    ¡°@Autrelia, Did you two not have a wedding banquet?¡±

    ¡°@Autelia, let¡¯s go out for a meal together. We can help you keep an eye on him.¡±

    Chapter 207

    Aurelia didn¡¯t expect them to apply the same set ofments used on Kimberly to her.

    She quickly retrieved her phone and awkwardly looked at Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, don¡¯t take it to heart. They¡¯re just joking.¡±

    ¡°Mm.

 Chapter 208

    Leslie''s tone was monotonous and his expression was unreadable.

    Did this mean Aurelia introduced Seth to her colleagues but refrained from introducing him as her

    husband?

    Leslie felt quite ufortable at this thought.

    Aurelia realized Leslie may be upset.

    In truth, she also found these people''sments quite inappropriate.

    It wasn¡¯t the first time she had been requested to bring her boyfriend along to treat her colleagues to a

    meal.

    Back when she was still an intern and in her first rtionship, she readily agreed when her seniors suggested it.

    As a result, that supper cost her hundreds because she footed the bill.

    When Seth found out it would cost that much, he used her of caring more about her reputation

    than him.

    He said she was being inconsiderate to someone who hadn''t been working for long.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Aurelia thought Seth was right.

    Making ends meet wasn¡¯t easy for everyone, and she had promised to treat everyone.

    She had no right to demand that Seth cover the expense.

    Hence, she paid for that meal with half a month¡¯s sry.

    Later, she learned that these seniors often used this excuse to pressure other people¡¯s boyfriends into treating them.

    Kimberly was no exception, but she had the money so she alwaysplied.

    Seeing her colleagues mentioning her repeatedly, Aurelia responded directly.

    ¡°We do have a mortgage to pay, and my mom is still in the hospital, so | can¡¯tpete with Millie¡¯s boyfriend. Speaking of which,

    it seems Millie¡¯s boyfriend hasn''t treated everyone to a meal either.¡±

    Aurelia threw the question to Millie.

    Those seniors never showed mercy to rich men, and Millie would have a hard time.

    ¡°Yeah, Millie. Your boyfriend is so rich, so why hasn¡¯t he treated us to a meal? At least Aurelia¡¯s mother treated us to afternoon

    tea.

    Others chimed in.

    Millie remained silent for a long time.

    Aurelia stopped reading at this point.

    Now Millie should know what it feels like to be targeted.

    As she was about to put down her phone, Millie replied.

    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s have a department dinner next week. My boyfriend will treat us.¡±

    ¡°Millie''s boyfriend is so generous. He¡¯s actually treating us to a meal.¡±

    ¡°This amount of money is nothing to Jackson,¡± Millie replied.

    ¡°Then we need to think about what to eat. We can¡¯t embarrass Mr. Morrison.¡±

    ¡°Definitely not barbecue again. I¡¯m sick of it.¡±

    ¡°If Mr. Morrison is treating, we must go for something expensive.¡±

    Several people happily discussed the department dinner.

    Aurelia finished reading all the messages and sighed.

    Hopefully, Jackson would foot the bill or Millie would go bankrupt.

    Just as she was about to exit the group chat, Millie tagged everyone in another message.

    ¡°Everyone, bring your families. Otherwise, it''ll be disrespectful to me and Jackson.¡±

    ¡°@Autelia, you will y along, right? Don¡¯t be afraid of beingpared.¡±

    ¡°Jackson is really nice and if there¡¯s a chance, we may be able to introduce your husband to a better job. Otherwise, one of you

    is paying the mortgage and the other has a sick mother. When will you ever have money?¡±

    Aurelia stared at the message and could already picture what would happen if she didn¡¯t take Leslie to the gathering.

    Everyone would likely mock her for not knowing her ce and for not respecting Jackson..

    This would be something that Millie could use to attack her for a long time after that.

    To avoid something like this, Aurelia summoned all her courage and looked at Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, uhm...¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Do you want to... have a feast?¡± she asked indirectly.

    He lifted an eyebrow at her.

    ¡°There¡¯s a gathering for our department and we are supposed to take our family members along. Would you like to go?¡± She cut

    to the chase.

    He looked at her hesitantly.

    Aurelia bowed her head, realizing that Leslie would never attend something so silly.

    ¡°Alright, | understand. I''ll turn them down for you.*

    11

    ¡°Sure, I''ll go,¡± Leslie said casually.

 Chapter 209

    Leslie woulde?

    Aurelia looked at him in surprise and wondered if she had misheard him.

    Leslie nced at her and ced his hands in his pockets.

    ¡°Any problems?¡±

    Aurelia shook her head.

    ¡°No, no. It¡¯s just that my colleagues are mostly women, and their way of talking can be a bit... sarcastic.¡±

    While having Leslie attend the department gathering could save Aurelia a lot of trouble, it was still important to make things clear

    to avoid any difort on his part.

    ¡°| know.¡± Leslie nodded indifferently.

    Just then, he received a message on his phone.

    After reading it, he frowned.

    ¡°Is there anything else you want to buy? My mom told us to head to the restaurant.

    Aurelia pursed her lips and realized Leslie may not enjoy being told what to do.

    After all, he didn¡¯t seem like someone who enjoyed being manipted.

    ¡°Leslie, if you have something to do, you can go ahead. | won¡¯t tell Mom.¡±

    Leslie looked displeased.

    ¡°Aurelia, am | a virus?¡±

    Aurelia looked at him in puzzlement.

    ¡°Are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?¡±

    ¡°Get rid of you? No, I¡¯m just worried you might not like feeling pressured,¡± she exined.

    ¡°Pressured? I''ll let you know if | feel that way. Let¡¯s go and have lunch.¡±

    Leslie walked forward without waiting for Aurelia¡¯s response.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia followed Leslie to the restaurant.

    The restaurant manager came forward to greet Leslie.

    ¡°Mr... Sir.¡±

    Before the manager could finish, he sensed Leslie''s gaze and immediately corrected himself.

    ¡°Wee, both of you. This way, please.¡±

    Walking beside Leslie, Aurelia whispered, ¡°The manager seems to know you.¡±

    Leslie said in a deep voice, ¡°He must''ve mistaken me for someone else.¡±

    After sitting down, a waiter quickly approached with the dishes.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the Romantic Parisian Couple Set for the two of you.¡±

    Romantic? Parisian?

    Acouple set?

    The two of them exchanged a look.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Two sets of heart-shaped steaks were ced before them.

    The server took out a lighter and lit up two heart-shaped candles, saying, ¡°Hearts of burning passion!

    11

    Aurelia dropped her utensils on the table and wondered if she really had to go through with this meal.

    Leslie''s expression was even darker as he stared at the burning heart in front of him.

    It was a rather amusing scene.

    Once the me went out, he cleared his throat.

    ¡°Let''s eat.¡±

    Aurelia pursed her lips to suppress herughter before nodding.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°Is this funny?¡±

    She tried to recall everything that made her sad and shook her head seriously.

    ¡°No. Not funny.¡±

    She lowered her head to cut into the steak and mumbled, ¡°Wouldn''t the heart be broken once we cut into it? What kind of couple

    set is this?¡±

    ¡°Madam, please wait. It¡¯s not over yet,¡± the server said.

    He took out a set of new utensils and cut each heart in half, before exchanging both halves.

    ¡°This is the unique way of dining created by our boss¡¯s mother. It¡¯s called the continuation of love.¡± Aurelia stared at the heart-

    shaped steak in front of her dazedly, while Leslie held his head in

    resignation.

    The server continued to smile.

    ¡°Please enjoy and call me if you need anything.¡±

    But Aurelia and Leslie just stayed frozen where they were.

    Where do they even start with this steak?

    Spin to im Your Surprise Reward!

 Chapter 210

    ¡°Let''s just eat.¡¯

    Leslie gave up and started eating.

    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s not waste the food,¡± Aurelia said.

    In the end, the two silently finished their steak.

    Though it was delicious, the awkwardness was undeniably real.

    Sharing a heart-shaped steak was such a clich¨¦, and it left them both feeling utterly embarrassed.

    After the meal, Aurelia and Leslie left the restaurant while the manager looked pointedly at them.

    If they lingered for one more second, Aurelia felt like her face would burn up.

    There was already a scorching sensation on her cheeks.

    Leslie checked his phone for the time.

    ¡°The movie starts in an hour. Do you want to go somewhere?¡±

    Aurelia shook her head. ¡°No.¡±

    Leslie hesitated and studied Aurelia.

    Wasn''t she the one who had been in a rtionship before?

    Why did she seem unfamiliar with such matters?

    In reality, Aurelia was not very experienced when it came to rtionships.

    Although she had been in a rtionship for three years, she and Seth started as interns.

    During the initial stages of their rtionship, they earned a minimum wage while doing the work of several people.

    They couldn¡¯t afford to take a break for romance.

    Later, when their jobs stabilized, Seth''s enthusiasm for her dwindled.

    The most they did together was stroll through night markets after work.

    Thinking back on her three years with Seth, Aurelia realized that the majority of their time was spent amidst the hustle and bustle

    of night markets.

    The markets were filled with the smoke of barbecue stands, and the various cries of vendors.

    Although lively, the two of them never seemed to have had a proper date.

    Seth always said that she became less cute after bing an official employee of her firm, that she spoke too properly and was

    boring.

    He even said that chatting with her was not as interesting as it was to chat with his friends.

    It seemed like a joke, but Aurelia remembered it clearly.

    Lost in her thoughts, a woman wearing an apron intercepted Aurelia and Leslie.

    ¡°Sir, the flower shop is opening today, and you can buy a bouquet for only ten dors.¡±

    The woman handed over a packaged bouquet.

    Three medium-sized flowers were arranged together and supplemented by green leaves, making it look vibrant and lovely.

    Aurelia was about to ept it when she remembered she was with Leslie.

    She waved her hand.

    ¡°No, thank yo...¡¯

    ¡°I''ll get that one,¡± Leslie said.

    By the time she turned around, a bouquet of sunflowers had already been handed to her.

    ¡°Is this for me?¡± she asked hesitantly.

    ¡°It''s just a bouquet of flowers.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Aurelia smiled as she took the flowers, feeling her palms warming up.

    Leslie maintained a nonchnt look and walked ahead.

    The shop assistant approached Aurelia with a smile.

    ¡°The gentleman seems to like you a lot. He even picked out the only sunflower. This means that you are the only one in his eyes,

    just like the sunflower¡¯s hidden meaning.¡±

    Aurelia looked at Leslie¡¯s upright figure and felt a bit dazed.

    She didn¡¯t want to expect too much, though.

    After all, how could Leslie have feelings for her?

    Holding the flowers, she caught up with him and they walked in silence to the movie theater.

    Leslie''s expression darkened when he saw the title of the movie and Aurelia leaned closer to have a

    look.

    It was a horror film.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    Linda had truly gone all out to ensure they developed feelings for one another.

    There was a romanticedy ying in the next hall, yet Linda sent them to watch a horror movie.

    Chapter 210

    Leslie stared at the tickets.

    ¡°Did my mom purchase the tickets because of the title of the movie?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Aurelia leaned closer and read the title aloud.

    ¡°Bound Forever?¡±

    Why would a horror film be named in such a manner?

    She felt an itchy sensation on top of her head and looked up to realize that her head was practically leaning against Leslie¡¯s

    chest.

    She immediately pulled away and changed the subject.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, are you afraid of horror movies?

    He narrowed his eyes. ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Oh. | don¡¯t think it¡¯s that scary judging from the name,¡± she said.

    However...

 Chapter 211

    Aurelia felt like her wrist was breaking because Leslie held onto it so tightly.

    She shot a slightly annoyed but amused nce at the seeminglyposed man next to her.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, this is all fake.¡±

    ¡°| know.¡±

    ¡°Then...¡±

    ¡°She is too ugly,¡± he said with a deadpan expression.

    ¡°Well, she is kind of ugly.¡±

    Aurelia felt dumbfounded.

    Throughout the movie, she felt like she was watching aedy with her wrist constantly hurting.

    By the time the movie ended, her wrist felt numb and red.

    Leslie nced at her and bought her a bottle of cold water.

    ¡°I''m fine. Who would have known it could be that scary with such a romantic title?¡±

    Aurelia tried to ease the tension.

    ¡°You sure had a great time giggling, though,¡± he said.

    ¡°Well...¡±

    Aurelia thought that Leslie would be upset that his ego was challenged.

    To her surprise, he even mocked himself and didn¡¯t care at all that Aurelia found out about his fear of

    horror movies.

    ¡°Let''s go home,¡± he said.

    ¡°Sure.¡± She smiled and followed him.

    On their way home, she looked outside the window and felt somewhat excited.

    Aurelia rarely posted on social media, but decided to take a few photos of the sunflower in her hand, before posting it.

    A minuteter, she remembered that she didn¡¯t block her colleagues on social media.

    By the time she unlocked her phone, everyone had alreadymented on the post.

    ¡°Beautiful flowers. They look so delicate. But it¡¯s just a bit too small.¡±

    ¡°It''s nice for photos and won''t take up too much space.

    ¡°You should have told your husband to buy a few more or else you wouldn''t even be able to fill a vase.¡±

    ncing through all the sarcasticments, Aurelia ignored them and figured that nothing mattered more than her own

    happiness.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    11

    Arriving at the doorstep, Aurelia grabbed Leslie''s arm and pointed to the smoke seeping out from the crack in the door.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, look at that!¡±

    Leslie forcefully pushed open the door and found the apartment filled with smoke.

    Linda emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron, coughing.

    ¡°Why is this meal so difficult to prepare!¡±

    ¡°Mom, are you okay?¡±

    Aurelia waved her hand and quickly rushed over to support Linda.

    Meanwhile, Leslie opened the balcony door and windows to disperse the smoke in the room.

    Aurelia noticed the flour on Linda¡¯s face and suppressed augh.

    ¡°Mom, how did you end up like this?¡±

    Linda wiped her face.

    ¡°| just wanted to make a wedding cake for you two. Who knew the oven would be so hard to use? Smoke starteding out of it

    before | knew it.¡±

    Leslie sighed.

    ¡°Is it possible that you''re just bad at cooking?¡±

    ¡°You heartless boy, I¡¯m doing this for your dense head!¡± Linda retorted angrily.

    Aurelia hurriedly intervened.

    ¡°Mom, Mon, it¡¯s okay. I''ll help you clean upter.¡±

    Linda happily replied, ¡°My daughter-inw is indeed the best. | don¡¯t think we can cook in the kitchen tonight though...¡±

    Leslie looked at her.

    ¡°Let''s order takeout.¡±

    In the end, the three of them had to settle for pizza.

    After finishing their meal, Aurelia rolled up her sleeves and started cleaning up the kitchen.

    Soon, Leslie joined in. Rolling up his own sleeve as well.

    At the door, Linda watched the two cooperate seamlessly and chuckled.

    The two of them were truly well-matched.

    Once Aurelia and Leslie finished tidying up, they felt exhausted.

    After all, they had spent the whole day out and about.

    Aurelia just wanted to lie down and rx.

    However, as they walked out of the kitchen, they discovered Linda watching TV in her pajamas.

    Both Aurelia and Leslie were stunned.

    ¡°Mom, it¡¯ste. Aren¡¯t you going back?¡± Leslie asked.

    Linda picked up her teacup.

    ¡°Didn''t | say I''ll be staying here for a while? Have you forgotten your mother after getting married?¡±

    Leslie didn¡¯t know how to respond.

 Chapter 212

    10

    Linda pointed to the clock on the wall.

    ¡°It''ste. You two should get some sleep. You have work tomorrow. I''ll watch a couple more episodes.

    1

    Aurelia had no choice but to follow Leslie back to the room.

    She stood in the room and looked at the bed helplessly.

    Leslie seemed to sense her awkwardness and spoke in a deep voice, ¡°I still have some emails to send. You can go ahead and

    sleep.¡±

    She nodded.

    After he left, she took her pajamas and went to the bathroom to shower.

    After finishing, she looked at the bed, and then nced around the room.

    It seemed like there was no other ce for her to sleep.

    She decided to lie down for a while and figure out where to sleep when Leslie returned to the room.

    She was exhausted and had likely walked over ten thousand steps, which was more than themute

    to work.

    After lying down, Aurelia caught a whiff of Leslie¡¯s scent.

    Her heart started to race, and her body warmed up.

    She didn¡¯t want to think too much about it and tried to shift her attention by taking out her phone.

    In the end, she identally fell asleep.

    Leslie spent some time in the study, but Linda went and switched off the lights.

    He opened the door and looked at the person outside.

    ¡°Mom, having fun?¡±

    ¡°I''m just worried for your health. Go to bed,¡± Linda whispered.

    Leslie wanted to say something but was pushed into the bedroom.

    When he turned around to try to exin to Aurelia, he was surprised to find her sleeping face.

    Beneath her white nightgown, a slender portion of her leg was exposed.

    Her hands were sped under her cheek, and her rosy face was a refreshing sight.

    Her nostrils gently red with each breath and she resembled an exquisite doll.

    His gaze slid down, and he noticed that one button of her nightgown was undone, revealing the skin

    Chapter 212

    underneath.

    He quickly turned away and reached out to push Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, wake up.¡±

    ¡°Mm? Mm...¡±

    After making a few noises, Aurelia shifted to another position and continued sleeping.

    Leslie could only give her another push.

    ¡°Aurelia, you...¡±

    Before he could finish, Aurelia took advantage of his distraction and grabbed his hand, before pulling him onto the bed.

    Leslie fell onto the bed, and Aurelia¡¯s legs hung over him.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Instantly, his breathing became disarrayed as her scent surrounded him.

    ¡°Aurelia,¡± he called out with restraint.

    She did not respond and merely adjusted into a morefortable position.

    Seeing as she was not waking up, Leslie ignored her and closed his eyes.

    Yet, he couldn''t fall asleep.

    Not because her presence bothered him, but because Aurelia kept moving around when she was asleep.

    Eventually, she ended up kicking him off the bed.

    ¡°Very well,¡± he thought and rubbed his shoulder.

    As he looked up, he saw Aurelia leaning on the side of the bed, her cheeks flushing in the most endearing manner.

    ¡°Aurelia?¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡± There was an unusual drawl in her voice.

    Unlike her usual tone, her voice was sweet and it tugged on his heartstrings.

    The look in his eyes darkened and he slowly clenched his fists, before getting up and heading into the bathroom.

    After a shower, he grabbed a set of bedding andid it out on the ground to sleep next to the bed.

    Aurelia was still hanging on the edge of the bed, so she woke up the next morning dazedly to find Leslie¡¯s alluring features right

    before her.

    Startled, she jolted and fell off the bed.

    Shended on him and Leslie opened his eyes.

    ¡°Aurelia Simmons.¡±

    Aurelia tried to get up and blushed.

    ¡°I''m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry. Are you hurt?¡±

    Leslie stared at her and said in annoyance, ¡°Get off first.¡±

    Spin to im Your Surprise Reward!

 Chapter 213

    Get off?

    Only then did Aurelia realize she was sitting on Leslie¡¯s back.

    She yelled in shock and crawled onto the bed without hesitation, diving under the covers.

    Leslie got up and said in a husky voice, ¡°I''ll freshen up first.¡±

    Aurelia vigorously nodded from underneath the covers.

    It wasn¡¯t until she heard the door closing that she peeked her head out and buried her face back into the sheets.

    How embarrassing.

    Before she could dwell on her regrets, her phone on the nightstand rang.

    She grabbed it and answered.

    ¡°Hello.¡±

    Heavy breathing sounded from the other end, followed by a hesitant female voice.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    The voice sounded familiar to Aurelia, and after a brief mental search, she remembered having answered this phone during her

    low blood sugar incident.

    Realizing she had picked up the wrong phone again, Aurelia immediately responded, ¡°Um... just hold on a moment.¡±

    Setting the phone aside, she stood up and walked to the bathroom door to knock.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you have a call. | identally took the wrong phone. Our phones look the same. It¡¯s really not...¡±

    ¡°I''m taking a shower. Get them to call backter.¡±

    Leslie''s voice was quite loud, likely because he was worried she wouldn¡¯t hear him otherwise.

    Aurelia immediately envisioned his eight-pack abs.

    She covered her face to suppress thoughts she shouldn''t have, then turned around to pick up phone.

    However, the call had already been disconnected.

    Without much thought, Aurelia ced the phone back.

    She stretchedzily and yawned.

    the

    As she yawned, Leslie walked out of the bathroom, wearing only pajama bottoms.

    His upper body was exposed, revealing his tight abdominal muscles.

    Beads of water slid down his skin, leaving Aurelia breathless.

    She stood up anxiously.

    ¡°I''ll freshen up too.¡±

    She took two pieces of clothing from the wardrobe, intending to use the guest bathroom.

    However, she mistakenly grabbed Leslie¡¯s clothes and awkwardly handed them to him.

    ¡°Be careful not to catch a cold, Mr. Synder.¡±

    Embarrassed by her own excuse, she ran out with her head down.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Leslie looked at the clothes in his hand and curved his lips.

    After regaining herposure in the bathroom, Aurelia stepped outside and ran into Leslie.

    He was fully dressed now, but she still felt like she could see his body through his clothes.

    Her mind was running wild again.

    She didn¡¯t know where all these thoughts came from.

    Not daring to look up, she turned and entered the kitchen.

    Recalling something, she stood at the kitchen door and observed Leslie. .

    ¡°Mr. Synder, it was a woman calling just now.¡±

    She was thinking about it in the bathroom.

    It was early in the morning and a woman called Leslie.

    The woman sure sounded confrontational when she asked Aurelia who she was.

    Could this be Leslie¡¯s confidante?

    Realizing that there was something off with her tone, she looked away.

    ¡°I''m just making casual conversation. You don¡¯t have to say anything.¡±

    ¡°Mypany has branches overseas as well. It¡¯s a colleague.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia smiled and sighed a breath of relief.

    But why was she relieved?

    She absentmindedly made breakfast and lunch, before saving Linda a portion.

    2/3

    Once they finished breakfast, Aurelia noticed it was gettingte and got up to catch the train.

    Leslie stood.

    ¡°Till give you a lift.¡±

 Chapter 214

    Aurelia was taken aback.

    She then nodded and said, ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±

    As they reached thepany building, Millie and Jackson arrived.

    Jackson arrogantly parked his Porsche directly in front of Leslie¡¯s car, leaving him with no room to get out.

    After Millie and Jackson got out of their car, Aurelia walked over.

    ¡°Millie, your car is blocking the way.¡±

    Millie arrogantly nced at Leslie''s car and smiled.

    ¡°Aurelia, ask your husband to wait a bit. Jackson will drop me off upstairs, and he''lle down right

    away.

    ¡°Mr. Synder needs to get to work. Could you please move your cars?¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to start a fight and certainly didn¡¯t want to talk to someone as vulgar as Jackson.

    Hence, she resorted to a more polite tone.

    ¡°Aurelia, it¡¯s not us blocking the way. Clearly, your husband can¡¯t park properly. With such a bad car and poor driving skills, you

    should advise your husband to wait patiently. Tell him to be careful and not to scratch my boyfriend''s car. it''s worth hundreds of

    thousands.¡±

    Millie emphasized ¡°hundreds of thousands¡¯ with force as she looked at Aurelia in contempt.

    Just then, Jackson took off his sunsses and greedily looked at Aurelia.

    After just a few days, Aurelia had be even more beautiful.

    It was the kind of beauty that radiated from within, unlike Millie, who used to be cute but couldn¡¯t hide her tackiness even when

    wearing designer brands.

    If Millie weren¡¯t exceptionally obedient, he wouldn¡¯t even bother to drop her off.

    It was worth the effort since he got to see Aurelia and got a glimpse of her mysterious husband.

    He seemed to be just a good-looking but poor loser.

    Such a man was not his match.

    He would show Aurelia what a real man was.

    He smiled at Aurelia and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care about a few hundred thousand. I''ll give my woman whatever she wants.¡±

    Chapter 214

    Millie''s eyes lit up in excitement, ¡°Jackson, | like...¡±

    To her surprise, Jackson released her hand and walked straight to Aurelia.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, | never expected your husband to be such a useless man. | feel sorry for you. A woman like you should be sitting

    in a luxury car. How can you possibly ride in this kind of car?¡±

    Jackson''s words were full of insinuations, and behind him, Millie was ring daggers at Aurelia.

    ¡°| like my husband''s car. It¡¯s just a means to travel. Even the most luxurious cars have to stop at red lights, right? Please move

    your car,¡± Aurelia said with a cold face as she took a step backward.

    Jackson''s smile froze for a moment.

    He didn¡¯t expect Aurelia to be so difficult.

    He snorted, then reached out to pull Millie into his arms.

    ¡°Millie, it seems like your colleague knows nothing about cars. How about we invite her for a ride?¡±

    ¡°Jackson...¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    Millie was obviously displeased but didn¡¯t want to oppose Jackson since he''ll get angry.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    She could only force a smile and nod, before ring at Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, we''ll give you a taste of a different life. It¡¯s a rare opportunity so you better take it.¡±

    She was hinting that Aurelia shouldn¡¯t refuse.

    Jackson moved to grab Aurelia, when Aurelia was dragged into Leslie¡¯s embrace.

    Leaning against his chest, she felt extremely safe.

    However, considering Jackson¡¯s status, she felt nervous on Leslie¡¯s behalf and tugged on his sleeve.

    Leslie blocked Jackson''s gaze on Aurelia and said, ¡°Move your car.¡±

    Jackson smirked.

    ¡°Not happening. You can run my car over if you want, but you better think twice. Can you afford it?¡±

    Leslie raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Aurelia.

    ¡°Go up. I''ll leave now.¡±

    Aurelia was silent and thought, ¡°Huh? That''s it?¡±

    In the next moment, Leslie went back into the car and bumped Jackson¡¯s car out of the way before leaving.

    Silence loomed over the crowd and even Jackson struggled toprehend what just happened.

    Chapter 214

    After a while, he roared, ¡°My car!¡±

    At the same time, Aurelia received a message from Leslie.

    ¡°T''ll handle it. Ignore them.¡±

 Chapter 215

    Aurelia set her phone down and spotted the gloating gazes from people around her.

    Millie charged up to her and grabbed her.

    ¡°Aurelia, your husband broke our car. You have topensate.¡±

    Millie spoke as though that car belonged to her.

    ¡°Aurelia, get your husband toe back here and apologize, or I''ll make sure he doesn¡¯t have a penny to his name from now

    on,¡± Jackson said furiously.

    Aurelia tightened her grip around her phone and chose to believe in Leslie.

    ¡°Just contact your insurance provider first,¡± she said calmly,

    ¡°What? Insurance provider?¡± Millie sneered.

    ¡°Aurelia, do you know how much this will cost? You better know your ce and maybe | can ask Jackson to ask for a smaller

    compensation.¡±

    ¡°Regardless, we should handle this ording to normal procedures.¡± Aurelia pursed her lips. Millie noticed people gathering

    around her and put on an arrogant look.

    ¡°Aurelia, | wanted to help you, but it doesn¡¯t seem like you want it. Why don¡¯t you contact a real estate agent now to see if selling

    your house is enough?¡±

    Jackson pointed at Aurelia angrily.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

    ¡°You just won¡¯t bend, will you? Fine. When you finallye begging for mercy, | won''t just leave things as is.¡±

    He then rubbed his chin and stared lustfully at Aurelia.

    He was clearly hinting that he wanted Aurelia.

    Millie gritted her teeth in rage and stood before Jackson.

    Just as she was about to p Aurelia, a ck car darted over and stopped in front of everyone.

    Two men in ck suits stepped out of the car.

    They don''t look like ordinary men.

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Simmons. Leave the rest to us.¡±

    ¡°Oh, sure.¡± Aurelia stepped back.

    The two men presented their business cards.

    ¡°I''m Mr. Synder¡¯swyer.¡±

    ¡°I''m Mr. Synder¡¯s insurance agent.¡±

    Jackson was stunned at the names on the business cards.

    They were both the best of the best in their respective industries.

    Jackson nced at Millie.

    Wasn''t she the one who said that Aurelia¡¯s husband was just a loser struggling to pay his mortgage?

    He sneered while pinching the business card.

    ¡°Where did Leslie find these actors? Who are you trying to intimidate? Do you know who | am?¡±

    Thewyer said, ¡°Mr. Morrison, your father made a fortune by selling potatoes, right?¡±

    Jackson''s expression darkened when the secret of his father¡¯s wealth was revealed.

    The Morrison family used to be small vegetable vendors andter became wealthy by selling potatoes.

    However, in a ce like Seacester where everyone values noble backgrounds, selling potatoes was not considered prestigious.

    Therefore, the Morrison family imed to have be wealthy through nting.

    The scrutinizing gazes enraged Jackson and he pointed at thewyer, all the while cursing loudly.

    ¡°Nonsense! What are you talking about? | will make you pay for those words!¡±

    ¡°I''m awyer and I¡¯m just stating the facts,¡± thewyer replied solemnly.

    ¡°Okay, tell Leslie that I''ll destroy everything and everyone he knows!¡± Jackson pointed fiercely at thewyer¡¯s chest as if trying to

    jab straight through it.

    ¡°Sure. | will convey your threats against Mr. Synder. This will also be included in ourwsuit.¡±

    ¡°Lawsuit? What are you talking about?¡±

    Jackson was taken aback.

    ¡°| have the recording of you and your girlfriend refusing to move the car. The surveince footage here has been reported and

    obtained through the relevant authorities.

    ¡°In other words, you deliberately refused to move the car and intentionally caused losses to others. We will pursue this legally.¡±

    Jackson was dumbfounded as he had never expected to be sued for blocking someone¡¯s car.

    Even Aurelia looked shocked.

    After thewyer finished speaking, the insurance agent took photos of Jackson¡¯s car for evidence and sighed.

    ¡°Mr. Morrison, this is entirely your fault.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? How dare you spout nonsense in front of me?¡±

    Jackson was furious.

    ¡°Mr. Morrison, you really need to learn aboutw. This is a designated parking area for fire trucks. Parking your car here is

    already a vition.

    ¡°If Mr. Synder didn¡¯t leave promptly, he would also vite thew. Of course, from a humanitarian perspective, Mr. Synder is

    willing to take some risks andpensate.

    ¡°Still, you''ll likely need to file a report at the police station to exin why you blocked the fire exit. If this building catches fire and

    the fire trucks can¡¯t get in, you will be held responsible.¡±

 Chapter 216

    The insurance agent exined calmly and pointed to the wording on the ground.

    ¡°Fire trucks only. No parking.¡±

    Aurelia nced at the pale look on Jackson¡¯s face and tried to suppress herughter.

    Jackson started stuttering, ¡°H... How much?¡±

    The insurance agent took out his calctor and pressed a few buttons.

    ¡°A thousand and four hundred at most.¡±

    Jackson''s eyes widened and he grabbed the agent¡¯s cor.

    ¡°How dare Leslie send you here to mess with me? I''ll teach you all a lesson!¡±

    He waved his fist and was about tond a blow when his phone rang.

    He answered the phone angrily.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Jackson blurted out furiousProperty belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡°Dad? | was about to call you. Someone... What? Forget it?¡±

    He soon frowned and a strange look appeared on his face.

    He even stole a nce at Aurelia in the end, his chest heaving with anger.

    ¡°Alright,¡± he said gingerly.

    After hanging up, he looked at his favorite car in devastation and gritted his teeth while he red at

    Aurelia.

    ¡°Just you wait.¡±

    Jackson kicked the tire of the crumpled car and drove off.

    ¡°Jackson! Jackson!¡±

    Millie red at Aurelia and hurried after him.

    Thewyer walked over to Aurelia and handed her his business card.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Simmons. Mr. Synder has left this matter to us. If Jacksones looking for trouble, please call me.¡±

    ¡°Sure, thank you.¡±

    Aurelia checked her business card and nced at the name of thew firm.

    It was an even more powerful firm than Sunlit Legal Agency.

    212

    How did Leslie know such influential people?

    After resolving the matter, thewyer and insurance agent left in their car.

    Aurelia checked the time and realized she had only five minutes left before beingte.

    She hurriedly rushed into the building.

    To her surprise, her colleagues followed her into the elevator and scanned her from head to toe.

    She could only smile and endure their stares.

    After swiping her card, Aurelia sighed with relief as she was just one minute away from beingte.

    Once seated, she thought of something and decided to make a call to Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, are you okay?¡±

    Although they only had a minor collision earlier, Leslie was still in the car and she wasn¡¯t sure if he had been hurt.

    ¡°I''m fine.¡± Leslie''s tone was rxed and casual.

    ¡°How do you know such influential people?¡±

    ¡°My boss helped.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be... inappropriate?¡± Aurelia whispered.

    ¡°You were curious about my boss before. Why do you feel it¡¯s inappropriate now?¡± Leslie was curious.

    ¡°| was curious because | thought he was impressive. But you are the one | married. You sought his

    help for me before, and now you did it again. What would happen to you if he gets upset?¡±

    Aurelia spoke her mind, and there was a moment of silence on the other end of the call.

    ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± Leslie asked.

    Uh... the director is here. I''ll hang up now. Thank you.¡±

    Aurelia quickly ended the call, feeling a bit embarrassed.

    Just then, Millie entered the officete.

    Her right cheek was visibly swollen and she had clearly been struck

 Chapter 217

    Aurelia felt resigned but didn¡¯t rush to inquire about Millie¡¯s situation as she had done in the past.

    The distance between them had grown, and there was no turning back.

    Seeing that Aurelia ignored her, Millie returned to her seat and burst into tears.

    The other colleagues heard her crying and approached.

    ¡°Millie, what happened to your face?¡±

    Aurelia thought Millie had put an end to her rtionship with Jackson, but was proven wrong once again.

    ¡°I fell on my own. Jackson didn¡¯t care about a car worth hundreds of thousands. He even wanted to take me to the hospital, but I refused. These minor injuries aren¡¯t worth that much money.¡±

    She meant to say that she was worth hundreds of thousands in Jackson¡¯s eyes.

    While others knew exactly what happened, Millie was still living in her own fantasy.

    The others exchanged knowing smiles with clear disdain in their eyes.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Still, Millie chose to ignore it and continued.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to choose the ce for Wednesday¡¯s dinner. Jackson asked me to tell everyone to go all out.¡±

    ¡°Sure, sure. Mr. Morrison is so generous. Don¡¯t worry, Millie. We¡¯ll definitely avoid ces with potatoes. You¡¯re probably sick of those by now.¡±

    Millie¡¯s expression darkened, but she didn¡¯t dare to retort.

    Being hit by Jackson and then having to show off in front of colleagues, she couldn¡¯t face the consequence of her bubble shattering.

    They didn¡¯t continue this topic and shifted, ¡°By the way, why hasn¡¯t Kimberlye today?¡±

    ¡°Check her social media. She said she was sick and getting an IV drip in the hospital. But she¡¯ll definitely attend the Wednesday gathering. Looks like she has a new target again.¡± A colleague winked.

    Aurelia opened Kimberly¡¯s social media ount curiously.

    While she was on the phone with Leslie, Kimberly posted an update.

    A needle was inserted into her hand, but arge hand was clearly visible in the photo.

    It was a man¡¯s hand.

    Both of them had couple rings on their fingers, so this was practically an official announcement of a rtionship.

    Kimberly was indeed skillful.

    The colleagues continued.

    ¡°I heard from people in other industries that after the incident with the authorities, Kimberly¡¯s uncle¡¯s bids failed. He got so angry that he asked her to quit work and get married.¡±

    ¡°Is this man her fianc¨¦?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t know. We¡¯ll find out on Wednesday.¡±

    Everyone looked forward to Wednesday, and suddenly the topic shifted back to Millie.

    ¡°Millie, Kimberly is getting married soon. When will you and Mr. Morrison get married?¡±

    Another colleague chimed in, ¡°Stop messing around. Millie and Mr. Morrison are hardly reaching the stage where they would consider marriage.¡±

    Millie froze.

    Worried that others would think that Jackson didn¡¯t want to marry her, she forced a smile.

    ¡°We are aiming for marriage.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡±

    The others smiled and went back to work, while Millie touched up on her makeup.

    Aurelia frowned and got back to work.

    Next Monday was One Technologies¡¯ opening ceremony.

    All the equipment and products would be taken to the venue for checking today to ensure that nothing could go wrong.

    One Technologies¡¯ founder was indeed generous and provided sufficient funds to book the entire venue ahead of time.

    This allowed Aurelia more time and space.

    Just as she was about to contact the technicians, she saw a new post on her social media feed.

    Seth¡¯s colleague, who usually only posted about hispany¡¯s products, posted a photo of Seth.

    Seth looked defeated as he carried a box filled with his personal items.

    It seemed like he had been fired.

    None of that mattered to her any longer.

    Exiting the application, she was about to make the phone call when the technician beat her to it.

 Chapter 218

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, why are the people here saying that the venue has been booked? They said we¡¯re not allowed inside.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I¡¯ve paid the deposit, and this ce is ours for the next week.¡±

    ¡°Well... Why don¡¯t youe and take a look?¡± The technician sounded hesitant.

    ¡°Alright, I''ll be there in a bit.¡±

    Aurelia hung up the phone, sought permission from the director to leave, and then took a taxi to the

    venue.

    This was a rtively open event hall located in the hotel¡¯s backyard.

    The venue wasn¡¯t luxurious, but its exceptional environment was rxing.

    When Aurelia was nning for One Technology, she immediately thought of this ce.

    Standing here again, she still felt she had made the right choice.

    However, upon entering the banquet hall, tensions had already risen between two parties.

    ¡°You''ve taken the deposit, so why are you stopping us from entering? It''s such a hot day. Are you really just going to make us

    stand under the sun?¡± the technician questioned.

    The manager replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already told you that the deposit is only for reserving the venue for the day of the event, not for the

    entire week. We haven''t reached the settlement stage, and we have the right to decide how to use the hall this week.¡±

    The technician was sweating profusely and found it difficult to argue with the manager¡¯s choice of

    words.

    Aurelia quickly approached and ced a bag of cold bottles of water in the technician¡¯s hands.

    ¡°It''s hot out here. Step aside with everyone and have a drink. I''ll handle the discussion with them.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright. They¡¯re simply unreasonable!¡± The technician took the bag and led the team to the

    corridor.

    Aurelia stepped forward and said, ¡°Sir, we had already agreed before that we have the right to use the venue for the entire week,

    and we''ve paid the money ordingly.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, we did agree on that, but we''ve only received the deposit. We haven¡¯t received the full venue fee, so the right to

    decide is still in our hands.¡±

    The manager smiled but wore a smug look as though he was certain that Aurelia could not do anything to him.

    Chapter 218

    Aurelia pursed her lips and said, ¡°Let''s go to the finance department to settle the payment then.¡±

    The manager shook his head.

    ¡°I''m sorry, but our business is exceptionally good this week. Apart from you, we have reservations almost every day. Therefore,

    I''m afraid we can¡¯t allow you to enter in advance.¡±

    ¡°But we discussed this during the contract negotiation.¡±

    ¡°But you haven''t paid yet,¡± the manager pointed out.

    Aurelia frowned.

    ¡°Most events require a deposit first, followed by thirty percent upon entry, and the final payment after the event. Are you

    suggesting we have to pay the entire amount upfront?¡±

    The manager shrugged, not wanting to exin.

    ¡°But there has never been an event that wanted to enter a week in advance. Since you haven''t paid, we rented out the venue.

    There¡¯s nothing unreasonable about it.¡±

    She immediately realized that the hotel manager was breaking the previous agreement.

    There weren''t many people who came to this hotel for events in the first ce.

    It was Aurelia who introduced a few clients to this ce.

    After some decorations, the event went well and Aurelia went on to continue to coborate with this hotel.

    They immediately reached an agreement concerning One Technologies¡¯ opening ceremony and Aurelia conveyed the demands

    she received from the founder of One Technologies.

    Considering that One Technologies¡¯ products required testing, preparation had to be done ahead of time.

    Experts woulde in to test the products.

    This could showcase the products while attracting customers in the most straightforward manner.

    The manager agreed to all demands and even suggested that they could just pay all the fees once the event ended.

    Yet, he went back on his words and kept saying that it was Aurelia who failed to pay.

    This was entirely against the unspoken rules in the industry.

    Aurelia felt a headacheing.

    There was another week before the event was supposed to start and she could not afford to mess it up.

    Trying her best to maintain herposure, she said, ¡°Who booked the venue for the week, then? I¡¯ll talk with them directly.¡±

    Chapter 218

    The manager hesitated.

    ¡°I''m afraid that won''t be possible. His fianc¨¦ is ill and he is with her in the hospital right now. It may

    be rude to intrude.¡±

    ¡°Give me his number, then. I''ll call him right now,¡± Aurelia said sternly.

    The manager was still hesitant.

    Just then, a voice sounded behind Aurelia. ¡°Who wants to see me?¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Spin to im Your Surprise Reward!

 Chapter 219

    Aurelia immediately turned to look.

    Aman in a pinstripe suit was walking slowly down the corridor.

    He looked to be in histe thirties, with an ordinary appearance.

    His demeanor was a blend of maturity and a hint of masculinity.

    Although he seemed mature, he seemed self-assured and braggadocious.

    The man smirked.

    ¡°Hello, heard you were looking for me?¡±

    He extended his hand towards Aurelia.

    Out of courtesy, she shook his hand, inadvertently brushing against the ring on his finger.

    She nced down and immediately revealed a surprised expression.

    However, she quickly regained herposure and smiled.

    ¡°Hello, sir. | wonder if you have any uing events. Are you free for us to discuss a change of date?¡±

    ¡°Events? Not really. | just think the scenery here is nice, and my fianc¨¦e likes it too. | thought of bringing her here for a visit when

    we have time. Any problem with that?¡±

    The man spread his hands like he was domineering big shots one would see on television.

    Aurelia was unfamiliar with the world of the wealthy and didn¡¯t understand why someone would

    reserve such arge banquet hall just to please a fianc¨¦e.

    However, she had a hunch about the true motives behind this series of events.

    agree to

    The man chuckled, ¡°If you really want it, you can plead with me. If I¡¯m in a good mood, I''ll help you out. | noticed you have a lot of

    things for the event. If the setup isn¡¯tpleted on time, I¡¯m afraid next week¡¯s ceremony will be ruined.¡±

    Aurelia looked up at him.

    ¡°Sir, you seem to know what I¡¯m trying to do quite well. You sure seem prepared, so | don¡¯t think

    there¡¯s a need for further discussion.¡±

    The man¡¯s smile froze for a moment.

    Ignoring his attempts to charm her, Aurelia turned to the manager.

    ¡°We had an agreement. Even if the full payment hadn¡¯t been made, we were following the normal procedures. Yet, your event

    hall changed its stance.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, | don¡¯t see the point in coborating. Please refund the deposit, and I''ll ensure our.

    Chapter 219

    finance department acknowledges the transaction.¡±

    The manager was taken aback.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°You''re not holding the event here? You only have a week to find another venue.¡±

    Aurelia stared at him, and he averted his gaze guiltily.

    Indeed, the manager knew that Aurelia wouldn¡¯t be able to change the venue in time and was trying to force her to continue the

    event here.

    Aurelia continued, ¡°You needn¡¯t worry about it. If this gentleman and his fianc¨¦e like it here so much, they can have it.¡±

    If the venue was not used for a particr event, the hotel would only be paid a basic rental fee.

    Even if the ce was reserved for a week, it would notpare with what Aurelia offered to pay the hotel.

    The manager paled and said awkwardly, ¡°Ms. Simmons, we have cooperated many times before. There¡¯s no need to make

    things so awkward.¡±

    Aurelia looked at him.

    ¡°Dragging this on further might make it awkward indeed. Fortunately, | had reserved enough time if something like this happens,

    so it¡¯s alright.¡±

    The manager¡¯s eyes widened and he was at a loss for words.

    The man was displeased and frowned.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, you don¡¯t have to be so stubborn. I¡¯m not an unreasonable person. If you beg me, | can consider helping you

    out.¡±

    Aurelia smiled.

    ¡°No, thank you. How can | possibly interfere with you and your fianc¨¦¡¯s hobby? It¡¯s rare to find a man who spends so willingly for

    their partners. Your fianc¨¦ must be really touched, isn¡¯t she?¡±

    The man was instantly rendered speechless.

    He was a rather smart man and immediately knew that Aurelia was mocking him, saying that his fianc¨¦ only loved him for his

    money.

    She left politely and told the others to leave before her.

    She would take care of the rest.

    As she left the venue, the manager kept calling Aurelia, but she didn¡¯t pick up.

    She would never work with this hotel again.

    Negotiating with the man would be impossible as well because he was merely stalling.

    In truth, that man was Kimberly¡¯s fianc¨¦.

    Thanks to Kimberly¡¯s habit of sharing everything about her life on social media, she captured the man¡¯s ring in her post.

    Though it was hard to identify someone with just a ring, the hotel manager mentioned that the man¡¯s fianc¨¦ was currently in the

    hospital, which matched perfectly with Kimberly¡¯s current state.

 Chapter 220

    Previously, her colleagues mentioned that Kimberly was being pressured by her uncle to get married.

    Regardless, her uncle cherished her and wouldn¡¯t marry her off to just anyone.

    The man from earlier was indeed wealthy despite his arrogant, shy personality.

    Aurelia immediately understood that all of this was Kimberly¡¯s revenge against her.

    Trying to resolve this conflict would be meaningless.

    She stood on the road and contemted her next steps.

    To her surprise, she received a call from Zachary.

    ¡°Aurelia, Millie said you changed the venue without authorization. Do you know how tight the schedule is now? Have you

    calcted the amount of the penalty if we can¡¯t finish on time?¡±

    ¡°Millie said that?¡± Aurelia was taken aback.

    She had just terminated the contract with the manager, and Millie already knew.

    This meant that Kimberly had approached Millie.

    What was Kimberly trying to achieve?

    Not giving her time to think, Zachary continued, ¡°Aurelia, go back and negotiate with that gentleman. Just ensure the event

    continues.¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s it,¡± Aurelia thought.

    Kimberly wanted her to go back and plead with that man, or rather, plead with Kimberly herself.

    Aurelia took a deep breath.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, our contract with One Technology is to provide them with a satisfactory venue, without specifying a particr location.

    Since we cannot meet our requirements here, we can just find another ce.¡±

    ¡°Why you... Fine. If you can¡¯t find a venue by today, don¡¯t expect to stay in thepany any longer!¡±

    With that, Zachary hung up in rage.

    Aurelia stared at her phone helplessly.

    However, she didn¡¯t want topromise to someone like Kimberly.

    Fortunately, she had previously made a few selections of venues, so she could still ask around to see if there was any

    recement.

    She immediately went to the other venues, but they were all reserved.

    One of the sales managers who was close with her even discreetly asked if she had crossed someone.

    She instantly realized that Kimberly was the one who booked the other venues as well.

    As she stepped out of thest hotel, she could clearly sense the fatigue within her body and felt dizzy as the scorching sunlight

    shone on her.

    As soon as she stepped over to the road, everything went ck before her eyes.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    By the time she regained consciousness, she was already in the hospital and she saw someone by her

    bed.

    ¡°Are you awake? Still feeling sick?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder? Why are you here?¡± She rubbed her forehead, clearly still ina daze.

    Leslie got up and poured her a ss of water.

    ¡°You had a heatstroke and fainted in front of a hotel. The others found you and could only call whoever wasbeled as ¡®Husband¡¯

    on your phone.¡±

    Instantly, her headache was lifted and she sobered.

    ¡°Husband? His number was saved under ¡®Husband¡¯? Since when? Why don¡¯t | know about this? No way!¡± she thought.

    She took out her phone to check.

 Chapter 221

    Aurelia stared at the unfamiliar contact name on her phone, bewildered.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Oh right, Ms. Linda said she wanted to use my phone to watch a drama, and that¡¯s probably when it got changed,¡± she recalled.

    The person who helped her in front of the hotel couldn¡¯t unlock her phone.

    So, they likely started going through her emergency contacts.

    Normally, you would start with one¡¯s parents.

    But, her father passed away, and her mother was unconscious, so calling them was definitely futile.

    That left only her boyfriend or her husband.

    Looking at the word ¡°Husband¡± on the screen, Aurelia¡¯s face turned crimson.

    Seeing her blush, Leslie said casually, ¡°Am | not your husband?¡±

    Aurelia was startled and nodded as she muttered, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Leslie felt a strange sense of relief and carefully handed her a ss of water.

    ¡°Have some water.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Did | not dy your work?¡± Aurelia asked cautiously.

    ¡°We had overtime and plenty of holidays before. It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± he said.

    He adjusted his trousers before sitting down.

    His movements were so effortless and graceful, and he appeared incredibly elegant.

    She immediately lowered her head to sip on the water and finally regained herposure.

    Seeing herplexion improve, Leslie asked, ¡°Why did you faint in front of that hotel?¡±

    Aurelia hesitated whether to tell him.

    She didn¡¯t want Leslie to think that she had managed to secure One Technology¡¯s proposal, only to

    end up in this situation.

    However, she remembered Leslie¡¯s advice not to be overly stubborn.

    Otherwise, not only would things go wrong, but she would also be in a worse situation.

    After a moment of hesitation, she said, ¡°The venue was taken. Kimberly did something. She¡¯s iming to be sick at home so |

    can¡¯t prove her involvement in this. Her fianc¨¦ seems to be quite wealthy and he booked all my backup venues.¡±

    As she spoke, Aurelia felt a bit aggrieved.

    212

    She was just an ordinary person, working hard, and couldn¡¯t understand why these things always happened to her.

    Did having money really give them the right to do whatever they wanted?

    They casually waved their hands and rendered a month of someone else¡¯s efforts in vain.

    Doing all of this just to see her beg for mercy.

    Why should sheply?

    Aurelia looked up at Leslie, tears welling in her eyes.

    Leslie stared at those teary eyes and was once again overwhelmed by a feeling he couldn''t describe.

    He frowned and shoved a piece of tissue paper into her hand.

    ¡°Why are you crying? You look weird.¡±

    She pouted.

    ¡°You sure have an innovative way offorting people.¡±

    Leslie¡¯s frown deepened because he had never been good atforting others.

    The only person he had ever tried tofort was his mother.

    His mom used to chuckle at whatever he said, but started covering his mouthter on in his life, saying, ¡°Leslie, when you meet a

    girl you like, just shut your mouth.¡±

    He finally started to understand why she said that.

    Seeing as he fell into silence, Aurelia said, ¡°Thank you. | feel much better now, but | still have to look for a venue. I''ll let you get

    back to work now.¡±

    Leslie paused, wondering if he was being chased away again.

    Aurelia was the only woman who repeatedly pushed him away.

    Though it shouldn''t be a big deal, he felt weird about it.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Leslie asked.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t intend to lie and showed her phone to him, with a few searches for hotels.

    ¡°What do you think of these? Would your boss like it? They aren¡¯t big venues, but the event halls look

    luxurious.¡±

    ¡°Most people are adamant that ceremonies should be held in grand hotels to make it look extravagant. But just think about it.

    Which theme-based shows are actually held in a hotel?¡± Leslie

    said.

    Aurelia paused.

 Chapter 222

    For some reason, she felt a little nervous but happy.

    ¡°Have | lost my mind because of the heatstroke?¡± she wondered.

    She had been with Seth for three years and they often held hands.

    However, apart from when they were just starting out, there had been no ripples of extreme emotions in her rtionship with

    Seth.

    She always thought it was normal.

    No matter how passionate the love was, it would eventually return to calmness.

    Astable and ordinary life was what truly mattered.

    But now, she felt like a young girl experiencing her first crush and her palms started to sweat.

    Finally reaching the car, she waspletely stunned.

    A Maybach?

    The car looked familiar, but she just couldn¡¯t recall where she had seen it.

    ¡°Get in.¡± Leslie opened the door.

    ¡°This car must be very expensive,¡± she said.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a big deal for Leslie, but for Aurelia, it was indeed an astronomical figure.

    Standing at the car door, she looked at the ck leather seats and the luxurious shining center console inside, feeling hesitant to

    get in.

    After a moment, she took out a tissue from her bag and spread it on the seat before sitting down.

    Leslie didn¡¯t understand her actions.

    ¡°It''s just a car.¡¯

    ¡°| fainted in the flowerbed just now, and | must have dirtied my clothes with grass and mud. It¡¯s tough to wash off smashed grass,

    so I''d rather not soil someone else''s car. It''ll be difficult for you as

    wellter.¡±

    Leslie looked at her without saying anything else.

    After the car started, Aurelia observed everything inside.

    ¡°Do you like it?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Who wouldn''t? This is my first time in a luxury car, and it does look pretty,¡± she replied truthfully.

    ¡°Do you want one?¡± Leslie asked again.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s unnecessary. Some things aren¡¯t meant for us so appreciating its beauty is enough. It¡¯s not

    worth going bankrupt just to buy a car. Actually, your car is nice. It¡¯s convenient and durable. You don¡¯t need to care about what

    some people say.¡±

    Aurelia assumed that Leslie was asking this question because he was embarrassed by Jackson¡¯s insult

    with the Porsche incident.

    Leslie was left stunned by her words.

    Aurelia was down-to-earth. Even though she liked something, she didn¡¯t insist on having it.

    Most people in the world were simple and ordinary that way.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Those who chase after vanity at the expense of everything else often lose themselves.

    Spin to im Your Surprise Reward!

 Chapter 223

    hapter 223

    173

    Leslie continued driving, and Aurelia¡¯s topic shifted from the luxury car to their destination.

    Forty minutester, they arrived at a small exhibition hall housed in an old factory building.

    Inside, it showcased the development history of Seacester over the years.

    Aurelia recognized the ce because the previous owner, who used to run a factory, had approached them for a promotional

    event.

    However, due to the low budget, no one in thepany wanted to take it on.

    Aurelia was just an intern at the time and reluctantly epted the challenge.

    Unexpectedly, the event turned out to be highly sessful.

    The products were of high quality and reasonably priced, which resulted in a sharp increase in sales.

    Eventually, the factory manager moved to a new location. To express his gratitude, he gave Aurelia a generous bonus and

    promised to help her whenever she was in need.

    That was why Aurelia brought Leslie here.

    The surroundings exuded a robust atmosphere, giving off a mechanical vibe, enhanced by the preservation of the old machinery.

    It was a perfect mix of the past and present.

    Aurelia wanted to ask for Leslie¡¯s opinion. But as she turned, she saw Leslie standing under an

    imposing giant crane.

    With the sunset casting a fiery halo behind him, he looked breathtakingly beautiful.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Leslie strode over.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± she said.

    Snapping out of it, she calmed her racing heart.

    Fortunately, the factory manager arrived.

    After Aurelia exined the purpose of their visit, the factory manager immediately agreed and exchanged business cards with

    Leslie.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    With the venue secured, Aurelia sighed a breath of relief and immediately called Zachary to report the

    situation.

    ¡°You found it? Where?¡± Zachary asked in disbelief.

    ¡°It''s at...¡±

    Before Aurelia could disclose the address, Leslie took her phone.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, I¡¯m from One Technology. We have apanied Ms. Simmons in selecting a new venue. We are satisfied with the

    one chosen this time. If yourpany allows others to disrupt the n again, we will pursue breach of contract penalties.¡±

    Leslie remained emotionless, and his tone was extremely harsh, but there was an unmistakable authority in his words.

    Zachary was taken aback and hastily said, ¡°Sir, you misunderstood. It was Aurelia who ...¡±

    Leslie interrupted him.

    ¡°Do you really believe our boss would let the matter slide if the venue is taken from us without any investigation?¡±

    Zachary immediately fell silent.

    Leslie warned, ¡°Mr. Zeller, one should be more careful with securing their positions when they are already in their fifties. Don¡¯t

    lose sight of your responsibility over certain people.¡±

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but break into a sweat for Leslie.

    Would Zachary be provoked into filing aint with One Technology?

    She didn¡¯t know what Zachary said in the end, but judging from Leslie¡¯s expression, the matter was

    resolved.

    Kimberly would definitely not dare toe and snatch the venue again.

    ¡°Your boss looked into it?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No. | was just bluffing. People who are guilty can¡¯t stand being questioned,¡± Leslie said.

    Aurelia looked at him in surprise.

    It seemed like any issue could be easily resolved when Leslie handled them.

    ¡°What are you looking at? Let¡¯s head back.¡± He nced at his watch.

    ¡°Sure.¡± She turned around happily but was soon held in ce by her cor

    She looked up and saw Leslie staring down at her with resignation.

    ¡°Aurelia, you really have no sense of direction.¡±

    ¡°Did... did | go the wrong way again? That¡¯s the exit, right?¡±

    ¡°Turn left.¡± He pointed at another exit.

    ¡°They look the same. It¡¯s not my fault.¡± Aurelia found an excuse stubbornly.

    ¡°Makes sense,¡± he said casually, but there seemed to be a smile on his face.

    Aureliabed her hair and hurried in the other direction.

    By the time they were home, Linda had already cooked a full-course meal.

    ¡°Wee home. Come sit down. I¡¯ve been ving away for the entire afternoon. This is definitely perfect,¡± Linda said.

    Aurelia nced at the table and the impressive-looking dishes.

    It was hard to imagine that Linda almost burned the kitchen down the day before.

    ¡°Mom, you''re amazing,¡± she said.

    ¡°Of course. Come try it.¡± Linda pulled them over to sit down.

    Aurelia was about to start eating when Leslie gave her a pointed look.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Do you really have faith in her cooking skills?¡± he asked.

    ¡°It''s fine even if it''s not that tasty. This is Mom¡¯s way of taking care of us. As long as it''s edible, it should be fine.¡±

 Chapter 224

    Aurelia spoke as she stuffed a piece of meat into her mouth.

    Her eyes instantly widening.

    Why was the meat so sweet?

    She looked to Leslie for help, while he ate in pasta with a smirk.

    Linda across from them asked, ¡°Is it delicious? | measured the meat with a ruler to achieve the 3-

    millimeter thickness as shown in the tutorial.¡±

    ¡°Haha... It¡¯s delicious. Very delicious,¡± Aurelia replied.

    How could she say it wasn¡¯t delicious when Linda went as far as to measure the meat with a ruler?

    Leslie''s smile widened, and Aurelia red at him, but he pretended not to notice.

    She took a deep breath and loaded arge spoonful onto Leslie¡¯s te.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you''ve worked hard today. Eat more.¡±

    Leslie was momentarily stunned.

    Seeing Aurelia¡¯s intention, he picked up a spoonful of minced meat sauce for Aurelia.

    ¡°You too.¡±

    They exchanged a nce and summoned the courage to take a bite, instantly wrinkling their faces.

    One was too sweet and the other was too salty.

    Finally, the two of them managed to finish their meal with in pasta, while Linda lookedpletely

    satisfied.

    Why wasn¡¯t she eating?

    Linda imed she was too tired from cooking and had no appetite.

    Had she taken just a single bite, she wouldn¡¯t say such things.

    After the meal, Aurelia and Leslie carried the dishes into the kitchen.

    Leslie downed arge ss of water to recover but hisplexion became increasingly unpleasant.

    He approached Aurelia and said, ¡°Do you want my mom to leave?¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t understand what he was trying to say and stared at him dazedly.

    She couldn''t say she didn¡¯t want Linda to be here, could she?

    This was Linda¡¯s son¡¯s home, and she could visit whenever she wanted.

    Leslie noticed her confusion and exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything else. | just feel it¡¯s not very convenient to have her around.¡±

    Aurelia nodded.

    Indeed, it was inconvenient especially when they needed to go to sleep.

    ¡°Follow my leadter at night, okay?¡±

    Leslie lowered his voice and leaned slightly closer to make sure Aure could hear him clearly.

    His breath brushed against her hair and there was a moment of romantic tension in the kitchen.

    Aurelia gripped the te in her hand tightly and nodded.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    At night, Aurelia finally understood what Leslie meant.

    He wanted her to make some noises.

    The sort of noises you''d only hear in a bedroom.

    ¡°Can you do it?¡± he asked bluntly.

    Since Aurelia and Seth were already close to getting married before they broke up, it was normal that they had already been

    intimate.

    Leslie didn¡¯t mind.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    After all, Aurelia met the wrong man and she was the victim of that rtionship.

    Aurelia¡¯s entire body flushed as she shook her head.

    She couldn''t do it because she had never been intimate with Seth.

    ¡°You...¡± Leslie looked at her in shock.

    So she and Seth had never been intimate?

    He noticed that he felt somewhat relieved and a mixture of emotions filled his heart.

    Aurelia noticed that he was staring at her.

    She stood abruptly to run away, only to bump into Leslie, who was approaching.

    With a loud noise, the two fell onto the bed.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    ¡°Ow!¡±

    There was subtle noiseing from the door, but the person outside quietly left without saying

    Chapter 224

    anything.

    It was Linda.

    Aurelia sighed a breath of relief and looked up to find herself staring into Leslie¡¯s eyes.

 Chapter 225

    After a few moments, a burning sensation seemed to have built up between them.

    Aurelia held her breath.

    She could sense that Leslie¡¯s breath was quickening and he even started leaning in.

    She didn¡¯t dodge but gripped the sheets nervously.

    What was he going to do?

    ¡°Your hair is hanging off yourshes,¡± he said in a hoarse voice.

    ¡°Hm? Oh.¡± She got up andbed through her hair to cover her blushing cheeks.

    Leslie got up as well and turned toward the door.

    ¡°I''ll go to my study. You can go ahead and shower first.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Once the door shut, Aurelia covered her face.

    Why would she think that Leslie wanted to kiss her?

    It was a ridiculous thought.

    Regaining herposure, she grabbed her clothes and went to shower.

    In the study, Leslie stood by the window and lit a cigarette.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    Aurelia¡¯s scent still lingered on his fingers.

    Something must have been wrong with him, because he had the urge to kiss Aurelia just now.

    He exhaled a puff of smoke and tried to calm himself down.

    However, when he closed his eyes, all he could see was Aurelia¡¯s blushing face.

    His body tensed at the thought.

    He immediately took a few more drags, and soon the cigarette was finished.

    While rolling another one, his phone on the table rang.

    ncing at the number, he immediately calmed down and his voice took on its usualposure.

    ¡°It''s me.¡±

    ¡°| tried reaching you today,¡± the woman¡¯s voice was cautious and gentle.

    ¡°I know,¡± he said.

    There was silence on the other end of the phone, as if the caller was waiting for Leslie to continue.

    Perhaps she was waiting for him to exin who the woman on the phone was, or why he was in the shower.

    But none of that came as Leslie remained the same cold and indifferent person he had always been.

    The woman couldn¡¯t contain herself and said, ¡°Thepany is opening, and | n to return to the country.¡±

    Leslie responded with little emotion, ¡°Alright¡±

    The next second, the woman couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Who was that woman?¡±

    Leslie frowned.

    ¡°| don¡¯t discuss private matters with employees.¡±

    The woman choked for a moment before regaining herposure. ¡°Private matters?¡±

    Her tone was filled with shock.

    Leslie usually paid no attention to women and no one expected that there would be one day when he considered a woman his

    private matter.

    She had only been abroad for a month, and it seemed like everything had changed.

    At that moment, there was a knock on the study door.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I¡¯m done. You can go take a shower.¡±

    Hearing this, the woman was shocked and immediately said, ¡°Leslie...¡±

    Leslie interrupted her.

    ¡°If it¡¯s a work issue, send me an email. I¡¯m busy right now.¡±

    He then hung up.

    On the other end of the phone, the woman stood by the massive French window and lifted her wine ss to take a sip.

    There was a hint of drunkenness in her voice when she uttered the name, ¡°Leslie.¡±

    When Leslie returned to the room, Aurelia was nowhere to be found and he assumed she was hiding

    from him.

    That was fine as this would prevent strange situations from happening again.

    After bathing, Leslie changed into his pajamas and walked out of the bathroom.

    Just then, Aurelia came in with two bowls of mushroom soup.

    She ced the tray down, and raised her finger to her lips.

    There was a faint blush on her face. ¡°Hush, it seems Mom has fallen asleep. Did you eat enough just

    now?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°| prepared a little something for you. Don¡¯t tell Mom.¡±

    Aurelia smiled and handed a spoon to Leslie.

    The two sat at the foot of the bed and started eating.

    Leslie stared at the soup in his hand and somehow felt as though everything in his life livened up.

    Spin to im Your Surprise Reward!

 Chapter 226

    He was working every day like a normal person.

    He had a lunch box packed by his wife at noon and came home to have dinner his wife made.

    After that, they would wash the dishes and go grocery shopping.

    He felt truly alive.

    Even asionally forget that he returned to the country for revenge.

    ncing at the woman next to him, he smiled.

    After finishing their food, he went to the kitchen and washed the dishes.

    When he returned, Aurelia was already asleep on the bed.

    Sighing, Leslieid a mattress on the ground.

    The next day, Aurelia requested to work out of the office, so she didn¡¯t know what happened until she saw the messages in the

    group chat after she got off work.

    ¡°We are having Japanese food tomorrow. Each person would spend at least a hundred. Mr. Morrison is so generous.¡±

    ¡°This is all thanks to Millie. Thank you, Millie.¡¯

    11

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s not a big deal. Jackson doesn¡¯t even care about a car worth hundreds of thousands, so why would he

    care about a few thousand? He even took me to view new cars and

    reserved another onest night.¡± Millie typed.

    ¡°Rich people buy cars like they are grocery shopping. Millie, you are so lucky.¡±

    ¡°Is that car for you? Mr. Jackson said he likes giving luxury cars as gifts, right?¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Millie replied right away.

    Aurelia¡¯s mouth twitched.

    She didn¡¯t bother to ask any questions and merely nced at the address for tomorrow¡¯s gathering.

    Just then, Kimberly¡¯s message popped up. ¡°I''ll be there with my fianc¨¦ tomorrow. | hope | can have everyone¡¯s blessings.¡±

    She then sent a photo of her with her fianc¨¦.

    Aurelia pitied the man who was engaged to Kimberly.

    Anyone could tell that Kimberly was boasting as she wanted Aurelia to see how capable her man was.

    Chapter 226

    Aurelia set her phone down to check the progress done today when Kimberly tagged her in the group

    chat.

    ¡°@Aurelia, why aren''t you replying? Where are you now?¡±

    ¡°Haha, am | supposed to tell her where | am so she can sabotage my project again?¡± Aurelia thought.

    She ignored Kimberly¡¯s message, but Kimberly kept texting her and refused to give up until Aurelia replied.

    In fact, Aurelia understood Kimberly¡¯s intentions.

    She wanted to confront her in front of their colleagues.

    While confrontations could be embarrassing for some, Kimberly had always been different.

    For Kimberly, only those without capabilities would question her.

    Aurelia simply ignored her, eventually blocking the group.

    After all, it was already off working hours, and the group was unlikely to discuss work-rted

    matters.

    Kimberly was infuriated.

    She thought that Aurelia would be furious after seeing the photo of her and her fianc¨¦ and she would have the chance to belittle

    Aurelia.

    To her surprise, Aurelia paid no attention to it.

    Kimberly mmed her phone onto the couch when her fianc¨¦ entered.

    ¡°Wee back. | was just about to look for you,¡± she said, leaning over with a smile.

    ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Her fianc¨¦ hugged her and sat down.

    ¡°It¡¯s still about my troublesome colleague. | don¡¯t like her. If you love me, help me find out where she¡¯s holding her event. Even

    the supervisor is siding with her now.¡± Kimberly pouted with displeasure.

    The man furrowed his brow and recalled Aurelia¡¯s mocking words.

    Kimberly didn¡¯t love him and she was with him for money and fame.

    Why else would she involve him in such a humiliating matter?

    As Kimberly was shaking his arm, the man said sternly, ¡°Kimberly, your uncle told me you were sensible and said your previous

    issues were caused by your colleagues who made things difficult for you. That''s why | stood up for you, but there should be a

    limit to everything we do.

    ¡°What would others think of me if they found out that I¡¯m bullying a woman? Have you ever thought about that? How can you be

    my wife when you are this inconsiderate?¡±

    Hearing this, Kimberly panicked and quickly changed her tune.

    ¡°| was just joking. Don¡¯t take it seriously. | won''t look for her anymore.¡±

    Kimberly''s reputation had already been tarnished, and ordinary wealthy people looked down on her.

    That¡¯s why her uncle introduced her to an older but wealthy man.

    She didn¡¯t want to offend him and had to try her best to please him.

    ¡°| have something to do, so I''ll leave first.¡±

    The man immediately got up and left without hesitation.

    Kimberly felt he had be colder toward her.

    The fact that her fianc¨¦ changed after just meeting Aurelia once made her even more furious.

    To her surprise, Jackson arrived shortly after.

    Jackson''s face was swollen, and he looked extremely menacing.

    ¡°Jackson, what... happened to you?¡± she eximed.

 Chatper 227

    Jackson stormed into the apartment furiously.

    ¡°What''s wrong? | got beaten by my dad because of you!¡±

    ¡°How is that possible? Your dad dotes on you. He would nevery a finger on you. Why would he hit you?¡±

    Kimberly looked at Jackson in surprise and quickly took an ice pack from the fridge to apply to his

    face.

    After the pain on his face subsided, Jackson impatiently furrowed his brows.

    ¡°My dad said | crossed someone | shouldn''t have.¡±

    ¡°Haha.¡± Kimberly chuckled softly. ¡°Jackson, you are the person who others should never cross, right?

    Rubbing his cheek with the ice pack, Jackson winced in pain, feeling both annoyed and troubled.

    ¡°I''m confused too. All | did was make things difficult for a loser and my dad actually told me to let it go. The repair cost for my car

    alone was close to thirty thousand, and he actually wants me to let it go. Why is he afraid of a poor loser?¡±

    Kimberly had heard about the car ident from her colleagues.

    She initially thought it would be amusing to hear a joke about Aurelia and her husband being taught a lesson by Jackson.

    To her surprise, her colleagues all said that Aurelia¡¯s husband brought along two formidable

    individuals that forced Jackson into retreating in frustration.

    Kimberly found it baffling, and even more so when she learned that Jackson was beaten by his father

    because of this incident.

    He shoved at her.

    ¡°Spill! Who is Aurelia¡¯s husband?¡±

    Kimberly came to her senses and rubbed where Jackson shoved her.

    ¡°Who else could he be? If he had money, why would he drive a beat-up car from seven or eight years ago? In my opinion, your

    dad might be hitting you because you''ve been fooling around too much outside, and he¡¯s worried you''ll get into trouble,¡± she said

    patiently.

    She fabricated a reason as she feared that Jackson wouldn¡¯t help her if she told the truth.

    Growing up privileged, aside from how to deal with women, Jackson was virtually ignorant in all

    matters.

    Hence, he didn¡¯t think much about it and even agreed with Kimberly''s words.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡°Now what? My dad said he¡¯d freeze my card if | caused trouble outside again. It¡¯s all because of that woman you introduced to

    me who forced me to send her to work. It¡¯s so annoying. | wouldn''t bother with Millie if you didn¡¯t say that | could use her as an

    excuse to get closer to Aurelia.

    ¡°Last night, she dragged me to the 4S store and asked me to buy her a car. All | did was buy her a few thousand¡ªdor brand¡ª

    name items, and she thinks she¡¯s a proper mistress.

    ¡°Tomorrow, she wants to go eat some Japanese food and insists that | pay. | don¡¯t care about the money, but it¡¯s annoying when

    she treats me like a fool.¡±

    Kimberly felt resigned.

    It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to help Millie, but Millie seemed to have gotten addicted to the luxurious lifestyle.

    Though Kimberly wanted to use Jackson to sow discord between Millie and Aurelia, she wouldn''t be able to get Jackson to help

    if Millie was starting to annoy him.

    Kimberly smiled.

    ¡°Millie is just a little girl. She''ll behave if you just buy her things. You seem to have a good time with her. Where else would you

    find such an obedient girl?¡±

    Jackson would usually listen to her, but he refused to listen at the moment and pinched his nose

    thoughtfully.

    Thinking that he had calmed down, she said, ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t get upset. I''ll pour you a ss of wine.¡±

    He looked up abruptly.

    ¡°| don¡¯t want Millie anymore. | want Aurelia. You promised to make her mine and that¡¯s why |

    approached Millie. Since those two stopped being friends, | don¡¯t have time for Millie. I''ve already

    slept with her anyway. It¡¯s not interesting anymore.¡±

    Kimberly paused and gritted her teeth.

    ¡°What''s so good about Aurelia? She isn¡¯t as obedient as Millie.¡±

    ¡°| just like her. Her husband embarrassed me, so I¡¯m taking his wife. | want Aurelia begging for me to

    be with her. Let''s see how arrogant her husband can be then. Kimberly, you better help me or I''ll tell everything that you told me

    to get closer to Millie,¡± he threatened.

    He had never failed in dealing with women.

    Kimberly could no longer maintain the smile on her face and clenched her fists.

    Why was it that all men changed after meeting Aurelia?

    Jackson, who once only liked obedient women, took an interest in Aurelia despite being humiliated by

    her.

    Meanwhile, Kimberly had to marry an old man just because of a small mistake.

    She was appalled by her fiance¡¯s face but had no options other than fawning over him.

    Aurelia¡¯s husband, on the other hand, looked as handsome as famous actors.

    On top of that, he even had the ability to stand up against someone as wealthy as Jackson.

    ¡°Why?¡± Kimberly thought.

    She grew angrier but soon calmed down.

    Since Aurelia got her into this sorry state, she wouldn''t allow her to be happy.

    Jackson wanted Aurelia, so she would help make that happen.

    She wondered if Aurelia¡¯s husband would still take her back then.

 Chatper 228

    Kimberly¡¯s lips curled into a smile as those thoughts passed through her mind.

    ¡°Alright, I''ll help you. But you must attend the gathering tomorrow and be extra nice to Millie. Understand?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Jackson frowned.

    ¡°It''s not like I¡¯m going to set you up. You wouldn¡¯t want to be the third party in ruining someone else¡¯s marriage, would you?

    Let Aurelia take the me.¡± Kimberly winked.

    In an instant, Jackson understood what she was trying to say,¡±

    He smiled, took the wine bottle to pour himself a ss, and leisurely sipped.

    Wednesday came.

    To avoid Kimberly and her group, Aurelia continued to request fieldwork outside of the office from

    Zachary.

    After a day of hard work, she was covered in sweat.

    She was contemting washing her face before heading to a Japanese restaurant when suddenly a man outside the factory

    shouted.

    ¡°Aurelia Simmons?!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Aurelia leaned out, raising her hand.

    ¡°Same-city Express Delivery. Please sign for your parcel.¡± The delivery guy handed her arge bag.

    Aurelia was familiar with this bag.

    It was ck with an orchid imprint.

    ¡°Who sent it?¡± Aurelia took the bag.

    The delivery guy checked the list.

    ¡°Leslie Synder.¡±

    Aurelia paused in surprise as she realized Leslie had sent her clothes and shoes.

    After signing for the delivery, she took the bag to the restroom.

    Upon opening it, she found something unexpected.

    There were towels and skincare products.

    An immense warmth filled her.

    Besides her parents, she had never been treated so thoughifully by anyone.

    She took out her phone to call Leslie but hesitated.

    Worried that it might disrupt his work, she sent a message instead.

    ¡°I''ve received the items. Thank you. Aren¡¯t these clothes quite expensive?¡±

    ¡°| have coupons.¡±

    ¡°Alright, see youter,¡± she replied.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°See youter.¡±

    Aurelia stared at the screen and felt an eager anticipation to meet him.

    She quickly washed her face, used the towel to wipe her body, and changed into fresh clothes.

    Leslie chose a white silk dress for her that shone splendidly under the lights.

    There were no other patterns on the dress.

    It was simple, yet elegant.

    He even prepared a matching ne with emeralds.

    ¡°These are probably fake. Otherwise, this ne would cost a fortune,¡± she thought.

    She put on the ne but realized her hair was covering the ne. Hence, she went online for tutorials to do her hair.

    The subtle glow of her neplimented her gentle demeanor and she found herself staring dazedly at her own reflection.

    Just then, her phone rang. Her colleagues were already gathering around.

    She immediately changed into her heels and left.

    In the Japanese restaurant, Kimberly and the others arrived when they heard the sound of a car engine rumbling behind them.

    Ack race car stopped outside the door and attracted the attention of everyone present.

    Kimberly curled her lips as she knew that she was in for a good show.

 Chatper 229

    Jackson stepped out of the car in a full suit. He dressed casually most of the time but looked rather handsome now that he was

    dressed smartly.

    Millie''s looks were what surprised the others most. Shecked manners and the necessary demeanor,

    so designer brands often looked out of ce on her.

    At the moment, she was dressed in a ck dress that actually made her look like a nobledy.

    Sensing the eyes on her, Millie lifted her chin and looked even prouder than Kimberly.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Her colleagues and their family members swarmed them.

    ¡°Millie, you look so pretty. We almost didn¡¯t recognize you!¡±

    ¡°| just changed into a different outfit. I¡¯m still me.¡± Millie smiled.

    She wanted to tell everyone that she was pretty no matter what she wore.

    Since Jackson was the one treating, the others could only agree.

    If they hadn¡¯t spotted the thickyer of makeup on Millie''s face up close, they might have believed in

    what she said.

    Millie didn¡¯t notice the way others feigned smiles and held Jackson¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it¡¯s so hard

    to find parking here. | drove a whole circle before | found one. | didn¡¯t want to park my new car by the road, or I¡¯d cry my heart

    out if someone scratched it.¡±

    This was the center of Seacester and even the most luxurious car needed to line up for a parking spot.

    What was most shocking was that this car was sold for at least 150 thousand, and Jackson had bought

    it for Millie.

    She had indeed climbed her way up the socialdder.

    ¡°Millie, is that your car?¡±

    ¡°Whatever belongs to Jackson is mine,¡± Millie said proudly.

    One of the colleagues asked, ¡°Are you two getting married soon?¡±

    They all turned to Jackson, and he simply yed along with a smile.

    Seeing that Jackson didn¡¯t deny, Millie revealed a delighted yet shy expression.

    She neither confirmed nor denied her colleague''s theory. ¡°Stop talking about it. It¡¯s embarrassing.¡±

    Colleagues exchanged knowing nces and were all convinced that Millie¡¯s good fortune was

    imminent.

    Perhaps the ttery from everyone left Millie slightly disoriented. When she saw Kimberly, who was being praised by everyone,

    she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disdainful.

    Chapter 229

    2/3

    She nced at Kimberly and teased, ¡°Kimberly, didn¡¯t you say you were bringing your fianc¨¦? Where is he? You wouldn¡¯t

    disrespect Jackson, right? At an old age, your fianc¨¦ should know some manners.¡±

    Millie spoke as if she were already Jackson''s wife and showedplete disregard for Kimberly.

    Kimberly tightened her grip on her bag and said with a smile, ¡°He''ll be here in a moment.¡±

    As soon as she said that, a man in a striped suit walked over. ¡°Darling, did you wait long?¡±

    The man who spoke with a cringy tone was Kimberly¡¯s fianc¨¦.

    Kimberly immediately went up to him and gave him a kiss. ¡°Waiting for you is worth it.¡±

    The man tapped her on the nose. ¡°You''re so sweet.¡±

    Everyone frowned upon hearing their exchange.

    Age aside, why was he so corny? What did Kimberly see in him?

    Confident in his charm, the man exined with a smirk, ¡°Sorry, there was apany meeting today. As the boss, | couldn¡¯t

    leave.¡±

    Hearing that he was the boss of a firm, everyone immediately put on their smiles. ¡°No worries, we''re not in a hurry.¡±

    Kimberly smiled and nced at Millie.

    Millie dared to challenge her, so she looked forward to seeing how Millie would sufferter on.

    Feeling embarrassed, Millie bit her lip and clung to Jackson to make her presence felt. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go in for dinner.¡±

    At that moment, a colleague said, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Aurelia arrived yet? Could she be scared toe? After all, her husband

    damaged Mr. Morrison¡¯s car before.¡±

    Jackson sneered at the mention of Leslie. ¡°I didn¡¯t even do anything to them, and he¡¯s already scared out of his wits? How

    useless.¡¯

    Kimberly''s fianc¨¦ughed. ¡°It¡¯s a wonder that a man like that can find a wife. Seems like Aurelia doesn¡¯t have good taste.¡±

    Laughter echoed among the crowd. However, their attention was soon drawn to the slowly approaching Maybach.

    Acar worth over 1.5 million dors was extremely rare in Seacester, not to mention when it was

    paired with the license te with all 1¡¯s.

    The Maybach drove past the crowd.

    Even though there were no parking spaces in front of the restaurant, the restaurant manager eagerly approached and directed

    the car to stop right outside the entrance.

    Asecurity guard was called to watch over it.

    Chapter 229

    What kind of person deserved such VIP treatment?

 Chatper 230

    Chapter 230

    The manager stepped forward to open the door.

    A pair of legs gracefully emerged, and a proud figure stepped outside. His imposing demeanor instantly captured the attention of

    the crowd.

    After settling in, he adjusted his suit elegantly.

    Coupled with his profound handsome features, he was practically the stereotypical prince charming of any romantic story.

    Turning to the car, Leslie extended his hand.

    Amid admiring gazes, Aurelia took his hand and stepped out of the car.

    d in a white dress, her well-proportioned figure and charming features captivated all the men.

    Kimberly''s fianc¨¦ and Jackson were no exceptions.

    Thebination of handsome men and beautiful women was a sight to behold.

    What set them apart was their understated elegance, which was the true mark of wealthy individuals. They didn¡¯t unt

    themselves like Kimberly and Millie, who were eager to showcase everything to others.

    Yet, personal choices varied, and no one could say much.

    Currently, everyone prefers to appreciate Leslie and Aurelia. No one spared a glimpse at Millie and Kimberly.

    Millie tugged at Jackson, only to discover that he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Aurelia. Frustrated, she rushed to the manager and

    questioned, ¡°Why do we have to wait for a parking space but they can park in front of the restaurant?¡±

    The manager nced at her and exined, ¡°Madam, patrons with cars worth over one million dors will receive this service

    when theye to this establishment. You can too.¡±

    ¡°Are you looking down on me?¡± Millie felt humiliated.

    ¡°Madam, you¡¯ve misunderstood. It must be your first time here. This has always been our rule,¡± the manager exined again.

    The phrase ¡°first time here¡± tore Millie¡¯s morous facade apart.

    Fuming with anger, she turned to Aurelia and used, ¡°Aurelia, you have no money to pay for the repairs but plenty of money to

    rent such a good car. Where did you rent it?¡±

    She deliberately emphasized the word ¡°rent*, wanting everyone to hear it and embarrass Aurelia.

    Aurelia, however, remained indifferent, stating, ¡°My husband¡¯s car is broken. This is his colleague''s car. By the way, don¡¯t you

    want to know exactly how your boyfriend¡¯s car got damaged? Would you

    like for me to rify things here?¡±

    ¡°Why you...¡± Millie was rendered speechless.

    ¡°Isn''t this a department gathering? Let¡¯s go and eat,¡± Aurelia casually remarked.

    Kimberly quickly stepped forward. ¡°Of course, let''s eat. Our department hasn¡¯t gathered in a long time. Let¡¯s not ruin the

    atmosphere over trivial matters.¡±

    She nced at Jackson.

    Jackson pulled Millie aside and greeted everyone. ¡°Please don¡¯t embarrass me. Don¡¯t bring up the past. I¡¯ve reserved a table.

    Let''s go in.¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    Everyone ignored this brief exchange and went inside.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to ruin the mood of the gathering either, but she sensed that something was off with Kimberly and Jackson.

    Why were the two of them being so understanding today?

    The others obediently pulled their husbands or boyfriends aside to make way for Kimberly''s fianc¨¦.

    However, he remained frozen in ce and gaped at Leslie.

    Feeling slightly embarrassed, Kimberly tugged at his sleeve. ¡°What''s wrong?¡±

    The man nced at Leslie and then at Aurelia. ¡°You... You''re his wife?¡± he asked in a trembling voice.

    Aurelia nodded, confused. ¡°Yeah. What¡¯s wrong? Do you know each other?¡±

    The man widened his eyes in shock and stuttered, ¡°I-I...¡±

    It wasn, the eldest son of the Mn Group.

    Leslie shot him a cold, threatening look.

    ¡°No, | don¡¯t know him. He just looks familiar,¡± the man said.

    ¡°| have amon face,¡± Leslie said.

    Aurelia suppressed augh, feeling like Leslie was bing increasingly humorous.

    Leslie lowered his gaze at her. ¡°Is this funny?¡±

    She pursed her lips. ¡°No. You are mistaken.¡¯

    He didn¡¯t say anything else and held her hand. ¡°Watch your step.¡±

    She nodded and allowed him to pull her into the restaurant.

    Behind her, her colleagues all looked at her enviously.

 Chatper 231

    Chapter 231

    ¡°Aurelia is so lucky. Her husband may not be rich, but he is considerate and handsome.¡±

    ¡°Having a good husband is indeed the best transformation a woman can get. Look at Aurelia. She lookspletely different.

    She''s practically glowing.

    ¡°| finally know why people say that beautiful women will look good in anything. That¡¯s what Aurelia is.¡±

    The others chatted as they entered the restaurant and ignored the four people in dark expressions behind them.

    ¡°Jackson, let¡¯s go in,¡± Millie said gingerly, worried that Jackson would leave.

    ¡°Millie, you better keep your mouth shutter,¡± Jackson warned. He would have left Millie if he didn¡¯t need her for the next step of

    his n.

    ¡°Alright. | know. Let¡¯s not keep the guests waiting.¡±

    Millie dragged Jackson into the restaurant and Kimberly followed suit, only to notice that her fiance wasn¡¯t moving.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me who Aurelia¡¯s husband is?¡± the man questioned.

    ¡°Her husband is just a normal sryman. How can hepare to you?¡±

    ¡°Sryman? Very well. | can¡¯t afford to be with you. | need to leave.¡± With that, the man left without

    hesitation.

    Crossing the young master of the Mn Group for Kimberly''s sake was simply not worth it.

    Kimberly was livid. She turned to re at Aurelia.

    It was Aurelia again! She would make her suffer today!

    Once everyone took their seats, Kimberly entered.

    ¡°Sorry, but my fianc¨¦ has something to take care of in the office. Forget about him. Let''s eat.¡±

    Despite what she said, everyone could see the dark look on her face and knew that her fianc¨¦ didn¡¯t

    leave due to urgent business.

    Still, they kept their mouths shut and waited for the dishes to be served.

    Soon, fresh seafood dishes were brought to the table.

    Although the portions were notrge, they were delicious and everyone enjoyed their meal.

    13

    Suppressing her resentment, Kimberly cast a pointed look at

    He immediately stood up to pour drinks for everyone. ¡°Raw seafood pairs well with alcohol and it can kill bacteria,¡± he remarked.

    Nodding in agreement, everyone took a sip whether they were ustomed to drinking or not.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to be an exception and also took a sip.

    However, after that gulp, she sensed that there was something off with the drink.

    Was the alcohol in the Japanese restaurant usually this strong?

    Jackson exined, ¡°Today, Millie asked me to treat everyone well, so | specially brought my dad''s best liquor.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Morrison is really good to Millie.¡±

    ¡°Thanks to Millie, we are able to taste such good liquor.¡±

    ¡°This liquor is really good. It¡¯s smooth down the throat.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Millie blushed at the praise. In her happiness, she called the waiter to bring the menu. ¡°Order whatever you like. This amount of

    money doesn¡¯t mean much.¡±

    Jackson didn¡¯t object and yed along with Millie¡¯s generosity.

    Their group consisted of around thirty family members, and the Japanese restaurant had to open up two private rooms to

    amodate them..

    Hearing Millie¡¯s generosity, they passed the menu around to add more dishes.

    When the menu reached Aurelia, she looked at the three-digit prices on some of the dishes. After some thought, she closed the

    menus and handed them to Leslie beside her.

    Opening the menu, Leslie said calmly, ¡°You don¡¯t like seafood?¡±

    Aurelia was momentarily surprised as she hadn¡¯t expected Leslie to notice.

    Pointing to thest page with the main dishes, he said, ¡°I''ll order a bowl of in noodles for you.¡±

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±

    This conversation reached Millie¡¯s ears.

    In anormal voice, she sarcastically said, ¡°A bumpkin can¡¯t appreciate delicate food.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s face turned pale, but she chose not to argue.

    After all, colleagues and their family members were all present.

    To her surprise, Leslie casually put down his teacup, attracting the attention of the people around him.

    Chapter 231

    ncing at Millie, he said coldly, ¡°Ms. Parker, there''s dirt on your face.¡±

    Aurelia tugged at Leslie¡¯s sleeve. ¡°It¡¯s not dirt. It''s blush.¡±

 Chatper 232

    Chapter 232

    ¡°Oh, it looks like dirt,¡± Leslie said sarcastically.

    Embarrassed, Millie immediately wiped her face. However, she forgot that she had a lot of makeup on and instantly smudged

    everything.

    Everyone suppressed theirughter, and even Jackson frowned in disgust.

    Millie bit her lip and stormed out.

    ¡°Ignore her. Let''s keep drinking,¡± Jackson said.

    He then got up to fill others¡® sses. As he walked over to Aurelia, the look in his eyes was extremely.

    strange.

    Aurelia stared at the ss in front of her and felt increasingly baffled.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Jackson acted like he cared for Millie, but he had ignored her at such a moment.

    However, everyone was already raising their cups, so Aurelia could only y along.

    Just as she was about to take a sip, Leslie snatched the cup from her and downed it in one gulp.

    Displeased, Jackson said, ¡°I poured that for Aurelia. Why are you drinking it?¡±

    ¡°She can¡¯t drink,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°You are so funny. We all know how good Aurelia is at drinking. Most men can¡¯t even beat her,¡± Kimberly chimed in.

    Instantly, the colleagues¡® family members started giving Aurelia pointed looks.

    A virtuous woman would never drink with other men outside.

    Kimberly thought Leslie would be upset, but he simply looked at her casually. ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± She was taken aback.

    ¡°Do you not drink?¡±

    oo

    ¡°Are all your clients women?¡± Leslie questioned.

    Kimberly was instantly rendered speechless.

    Leslie continued to pour and drink tea, casually handing the bowl of noodles brought by the waiter to

    Aurelia.

    ¡°Eat it while it¡¯s hot.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia gratefully epted the noodles, realizing that she would not suffer as long as Leslie was around. If this were in the past,

    Seth would definitely have sided with others for the sake of his own pride.

    Thinking about it, Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    Her smile stung Kimberly. She gritted her teeth and turned her head to nce at Jackson.

    The two of them tacitly stood up to propose toasts. After three rounds of drinks, several people at the table, including colleagues

    and their family members, were already lying down.

    Aurelia heard a thud near her and turned her head.

    She discovered that Leslie had also copsed on the table. The drinks that Jackson had poured earlier were all consumed by

    Leslie, so he must be drunk.

    She nudged Leslie. ¡°Mr. Synder, are you okay?¡±

    Leslie didn¡¯t respond.

    Across the table, Kimberly handed over a towel. ¡°Go to the restroom and get some water to wipe his face.¡±

    Aurelia noticed that others were also holding towels, so she didn¡¯t think much about it.

    She stood up and walked out of the private room and headed to the restroom.

    After wetting the towel, she stepped out of the restroom and someone blocked her way.

    It was Jackson.

    Before Aurelia had the chance to raise any question, Jackson covered her mouth with the towel in his hand and led her into the

    adjacent private room.

    Aurelia was thrown onto the ground by him and her entire body felt sore and stiff.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she eximed in a mix of fear and an attempt to remain calm.

    Jackson sneered. ¡°What am | doing? You disrespected me, so | can only make you obey.¡±

    ¡°You''re insane! The others are all here,¡± Aurelia warned.

    ¡°They''re either drunk or half¡ªdrunk. Who cares about you? Even your husband is drunk. Do you think he can help you?¡±

    Jackson slowly squatted down with a malicious look.

    Aurelia backed away step by step and was eventually forced into a corner.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''ve finally fallen into my hands!¡±

    With that, Jackson pounced at Aurelia.

 Chatper 233

    Chapter 233

    1/3

    Aurelia had experienced being harassed by foreigners before, so when she saw Jackson lunging toward her, she didn¡¯t hesitate

    to raise her foot and deliver a swift kick to Jackson¡¯s groin.

    The kicknded squarely on Jackson¡¯s private area, causing him immense pain.

    It alsopletely provoked him further.

    Jackson gritted his teeth with veins bulging on his neck.

    He seized Aurelia¡¯s ankle and yanked her out from the corner against the wall.

    Aurelia shouted, ¡°Let go of me!¡±

    The soundproofing in the Japanese restaurant was poor, and her shout should have been heard by someone. However, no one

    came to her rescue.

    Looking down at Aurelia, Jackson sneered. ¡°I booked all the private rooms around here a day in advance. | even thoughtfully

    ced your colleagues in the farthest corner from the restroom.¡±

    Aurelia was stunned with fear.

    As an ordinary person, she couldn''t fathom someone spending so much money to orchestrate such a

    plot.

    She couldn¡¯tprehend Jackson¡¯s intentions.

    Did he go through all that trouble to simply tame her?

    However, she didn¡¯t have much time to think about that.

    She struggled with her foot and attempted to escape from Jackson.

    ¡°Don''t bother. Even if you run away, so what? Who would believe you? Who do you think you are? Think about my status.

    Everyone saw just how great | am with Millie, so why would | betray Millie and target you? They will just think that you¡¯re jealous

    of Millie and try to seduce me.¡±

    ¡°You... Was it all intentional? Were you just acting nice to Millie in front of everyone?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Yes. In any case, I''ve already slept with her and even bought her brand-name items. It¡¯s consensual.

    ¡°If you had listened to me earlier, it wouldn¡¯t havee to this. | wonder if your husband will be infuriated if he sees this scene,¡±

    Jackson said, thenughed loudly.

    ¡°Why not ask me directly?¡±

    With a click, the wooden door was pulled open and Leslie appeared at the doorway.

    Besides him, there were a few colleagues who hadn''t drunk too much, including Millie.

    Millie looked ashamed and angry with tears welled up in her eyes.

    Despite the fact that she should resent Jackson, she red fiercely at Aurelia instead.

    Seeing as he was exposed, Jackson paled.

    He clenched his fists in frustration and swung at Leslie.

    Leslie didn¡¯t bother to dodge. He raised his hand to block Jackson¡¯s fist, then grabbed Jackson''s arm

    and effortlessly tossed him away with a sidestep.

    With a loud crash, the door to the room fell as Jackson copsed.

    Leslie then lifted Aurelia from the floor and wiped her hands thoroughly with a small towel he took

    from a table.

    ¡°Where did he touch you?¡± he asked in displeasure.

    ¡°|... | just kicked him,¡± Aurelia said.

    ¡°Where did you kick?¡±

    ¡°Uh...¡± She frowned and then looked at Jackson¡¯s groin.

    Perhaps the scene was too unsightly, so everyone had to stifle theirughter.

    Millie ran to Jackson and shielded him.

    ¡°What are you doing? Surely it¡¯s Aurelia who seduced Jackson. He¡¯s not that kind of person at all. He

    loves me!¡± she eximed.

    Aurelia felt a throbbing pain in her temples.

    Suddenly, she understood why people often said it was hard to wake someone pretending to be asleep.

    Millie waspletely dependent on Jackson at this point, so she refused toe out of her bubble even when everyone could

    see the truth.

    She wanted Jackson. More precisely, she wanted what she could get from him.

    A few colleagues tried to talk some sense into her.

    ¡°Millie, don¡¯t be foolish. We heard it all. Mr. Morrison plotted this. You are still young. You''ll find someone better.¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡°Millie, you''re being out of line here. Aurelia has always been nice to you. She didn¡¯t even say much despite how you had

    constantly belittled her recently. How can you me her for what happened this

    time?¡±

    ¡°Millie, we all saw what happened. Wake up. This man is lying to you.¡±

    Although these colleagues enjoyed watching all the drama unfold, they were all on the same side when it came to horrible men

    toying with women¡¯s feelings.

    Jackson''s expression darkened when he heard all these usations. Humiliated, he shoved Millie to

    Chapter 233

    the ground, scoffed and left.

    Someone tried to help Millie up, but Millie vented her frustration on them.

    She turned to Leslie and Aurelia and cursed, ¡°This is all your fault! You losers! Just because you have no money, you resent

    those who are rich! You framed Jackson!¡±

    The others gasped at how unreasonable Millie was being.

    ¡°Well... You three should settle this yourselves. My husband is drunk, so I¡¯ll be heading home now.¡±

    Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

    im

    x

    the ground, scoffed and left.

    Someone tried to help Millie up, but Millie vented her frustration on them.

    She turned to Leslie and Aurelia and cursed, ¡°This is all your fault! You losers! Just because you have no money, you resent

    those who are rich! You framed Jackson!¡±

    The others gasped at how unreasonable Millie was being.

    ¡°Well... You three should settle this yourselves. My husband is drunk, so I''ll be heading home now.

 Chatper 234

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s alreadyte. We should leave. Our children are waiting at home.¡±

    After saying this, the others left one after another.

    Aurelia stepped forward and asked, ¡°Millie, is this really what you want?¡±

    Millie turned her face away with disdain. She refused to look at Aurelia, making her intentions clear.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t press further and nced at Leslie beside her. ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Leslie and Aurelia left the Jeshelian restaurant. Since Leslie was drunk, they had to stand by the roadside and wait for the driver.

    Aurelia was puzzled. ¡°Mr. Synder, | remember that you were passed out drunk. How did you suddenly appear there?¡±

    ¡°| knew that something was off after the first sip. Since your department is full of mostly women, he clearly had ulterior motives in

    bringing such strong alcohol.

    ¡°Earlier, he and Kimberly kept urging everyone to drink, so | pretended to be drunk to see what they were up to.¡±

    ¡°Then, why did my colleaguese with you?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°| pretended to act crazy due to the alcohol. They were afraid that | would cause trouble, so they followed me out. They just

    happened to be your witnesses,¡± Leslie exined in a serious tone.

    ¡°You... had even thought of that? So... you believe that | wouldn¡¯t seduce Jackson, right?¡± Aurelia¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she

    looked at Leslie.

    Leslie felt slightly embarrassed under her gaze and cleared his throat. ¡°Yes.¡±

    His voice was low, but it was one of the most pleasant voices Aurelia had ever heard.

    Just then, the driver arrived. Leslie informed the driver of their destination before getting into the car with Aurelia.

    In the silence that followed, Aurelia remained a little shaken as she looked out of the car window.

    ¡°What''s wrong? Are you worried about Millie?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°No. I¡¯ve given her my advice. if she doesn¡¯t want to listen to it, it''s not my

    concern anymore.¡±

    Aurelia frowned at him and continued awkwardly, ¡°I kicked Jackson in the groin, and you threw him at the door. He wouldn¡¯t hunt

    us down, right?¡±

    Leslie raised an eyebrow. ¡°Watch fewer TV dramas. The Morrison family isn¡¯t worth much. They don¡¯t even touch the edges of

    high society.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡±

    She recalled how Jackson had spent a fortune just to target her. She couldn¡¯t imagine how the true elites of society would

    behave.

    That world felt as distant as a different.

    ¡°People can be good or bad, regardless of their status. If Jackson¡¯s father was smart, he would tie Jackson up at home now to

    prevent him from affecting the family¡¯s business. But the Morrison family won''tst long anyway.¡±

    Leslie¡¯s tone was cold as he spoke.

    Aurelia looked at him. She tilted her head, feeling slightly hesitant.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Why does it sound like you know these people really well?¡± she asked.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ¡°| heard about them from others.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± She didn¡¯t question further and turned to stare outside the window.

    Her silence made Leslie curious.

    He could tell that she had been terrified earlier, and her fingers had turned red from her clenching her fists. Yet, she maintained a

    calm expression and tone so that the others wouldn¡¯t worry.

    Awoman like that made him want to protect her.

    Soon, he was shocked by his own thoughts.

    They didn¡¯t talk throughout the ride, until Aurelia realized that they weren¡¯t heading home.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, where are we going?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing special about Jeshelian cuisine. Let''s eat somewhere else.¡±

    Just then, the car stopped. They entered a restaurant and ordered several filling dishes.

    Aurelia was enjoying her meal when she noticed that Leslie was staring at her. She immediately wiped her mouth, feeling a little

    embarrassed.

    ¡°| didn¡¯t eat much just now,¡± she exined.

    He nodded. ¡°Do you still want another te of pasta?¡±

    Aurelia blushed.

    She had already eaten a bowl of noodles at the Jeshelian restaurant. And now she had eaten another te of noodles.

    If she ate any more, Leslie would think that she was a glutton.

 Chatper 235

    Chapter 235

    ¡°I''m full,¡± Aurelia said, quickly putting down her fork.

    Leslie looked at her expression and felt the urge tough. Although she had said that she was full, her gaze was still fixed on the

    food.

    ¡°This ravioli dish would go to waste if not eaten. It would be a pity to throw them away.¡±

    ¡°Then, I''ll eat it. We shouldn¡¯t waste food,¡± she said and immediately ate arge mouthful of the dish.

    When she looked up, she caught a hint of a smile on Leslie¡¯s lips.

    ¡°Why are you smiling?¡± She covered her mouth when she almost choked on her mouthful of food.

    ¡°Finish your food first.¡± Leslie frowned. However, instead of looking annoyed, he looked rather rxed.

    Aurelia was eating quietly when she suddenly heard a familiar voiceing from behind her.

    ¡°Lily, | love you. Meeting you has made me realize what a perfect partner is.¡±

    Huh?

    The voice and those words sounded so familiar to Aurelia.

    Aurelia wiped her mouth, then turned around and looked through the hollow partition in the wall.

    Indeed, it was an acquaintance.

    It was Seth.

    Seth was wearing a suit with a somewhat conspicuous logo on the cor, and it even had diamonds on it.

    He was sitting next to a youngdy in her twenties, who had her hair tied up in a high ponytail. She was wearing a simple denim

    skirt, and from her innocent demeanor, she was obviously a recent college graduate.

    Seth had one hand propped up on the table and the other on the back of the chair, exactly like the domineering CEOs one would

    see in TV shows.

    He didn¡¯t forget to move his waist a little to reveal his Louis Vuitton belt.

    Lily seemed a little at a loss as she blushed and gave him a nudge.

    ¡°Seth, what are you doing? There are so many people here. Sit down.¡±

    ¡°Lily, | want to be with you. Thank you foring out to have dinner with me. | don¡¯t have anything special to give you, but I''ve

    bought a bouquet of flowers for you on the way here.¡±

    ¡°Flowers?¡± Lily¡¯s eyes lit up.

    After all, she was a young girl. She couldn''t help but fall for a man who bought her flowers.

    Besides, Seth was already good-looking, but he looked even more like a white- cor elite after dressing up.

    For a youngdy who had just entered society, it was natural to feel happy when such a man showed interest in her.

    But when Seth took out the so-called bouquet of flowers from behind him, Lily was momentarily stunned.

    There was only one flower.

    When Aurelia saw this, she couldn¡¯t hold back herughter. Seth almost spotted her, but fortunately, she ducked in time.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Seth asked, looking around in confusion.

    ¡°| didn¡¯t hear anything.¡± Lily epted the flower and frowned. ¡°It¡¯s dying.¡±

    ¡°Maybe | had identally squeezed it on my way here. | was in a hurry to meet you after all,¡± he exined.

    Hearing this, Aurelia felt amused. She had heard the exact same exnation before. It wasn¡¯t until muchter that she found out

    that Seth was buying flowers that nobody wanted.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Other people would buy at least a bouquet to make it look slightly more decent, but Seth only bought one flower.

    It was the same process, the same excuses, and the same words.

    Just as Aurelia was snickering quietly, Leslie sat down next to her.

    He nced at Seth and said coldly, ¡°Everything he¡¯s wearing is fake.¡±

    Shocked, she asked, ¡°Everything?¡±

    Leslie took a sip of his tea. ¡°That brand doesn¡¯t put diamonds on their logos. Even if they did, why would the craftsmanship be so

    careless? Besides, that belt of his isn¡¯t even the right color anymore.¡±

    kosar Indeed, Betts¡¯s fit

    Srts had been irred and he had used up all his savings too bary a se

    be workin¡® have the money to buy any designer goods.

    y was he dressed like this to approach the youngdy? Was he trying to

 Chatper 236

    Chapter 236

    With that thought in mind, Aurelia continued to peek through the hollow space. Seth sat beside Lily and held her hand.

    ¡°Lily, | know that your dad isn¡¯t in good health, but it doesn¡¯t matter. | don¡¯t mind. I''ll continue to work hard to give you a better

    life.¡±

    ¡°You... Seth, you really don¡¯t care about that? My dad needs lifelong medication, and a marriage won''t help me much.¡± Lily

    looked at Seth with hope.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Seth pinched Lily¡¯s cheek.

    ¡°Your problems are mine as well. I''ll be honored if your dad is willing to marry his only daughter to me. It¡¯s just... I¡¯ve recently

    bought a car, so | don¡¯t have much savings now. Otherwise, I¡¯d definitely buy a big house for you.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. Although my family doesn¡¯t have much money, my grandparents each left us a house. My dad lives in one, and we live

    in the other. It¡¯s more than enough.¡±

    Deceived by Seth¡¯s affection, Lily blurted out everything about her family.

    Seth¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he squeezed Lily''s hand even tighter.

    ¡°Where¡¯s that house? Don¡¯t get me wrong. | just want to makemuting easier for you in the future.¡±

    Lily nodded and continued without hesitation, ¡°It¡¯s on Maple Road. Although it¡¯s in the suburbs, the environment is pretty good.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that so? Isn¡¯t that far from where | work? I''ll have to spend at least three hours on the road every day.¡± Seth frowned.

    ¡°Well, the houses in Seacester are too expensive. We''re still young, so we can¡¯t afford them.¡±

    ¡°Lily.¡± Seth lifted Lily''s hand affectionately and kissed it. ¡°What¡¯s mine is yours. I¡¯m willing to sell the car, and you can sell the

    house. Then, we can buy a house of our own together.¡±

    Aurelia felt as if there were ants crawling all over her body as she watched this

    scene.

    Feeling Leslie''s eyes on her, she turned her head and saw that Leslie was frowning. His face was tense.

    He narrowed his eyes at her as if he was asking why she had such bad taste in the

    past.

    Aurelia covered her forehead in embarrassment.

    She narrowed her eyes at him and gave a silent message: Mind your own business.

    Surprisingly, Leslie smiled in amusement.

    His restrained smile was pleasant, and his features were rxed, which made him even more good-looking.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but stare, but her thoughts were soon brought back to reality by Seth¡¯s words.

    ¡°Lily, you don¡¯t have to worry about the mortgage. I''ll take care of it. It¡¯s just that my mom has always been worried that | might

    get scammed because I¡¯m not a local. So, you might need topromise a little there.

    ¡°Put my name on the property certificate first. After we get married, we can add your name.¡±

    With such a sentence, he could directly turn someone else¡¯s house into his own. And if he seeded, this would be considered

    prenuptial property.

    Seth was bing more and more cunning.

    Aurelia thought that Lily would reject him, but she actually started considering it. Lily frowned. ¡°Seth, I...¡±

    Seth suddenly took out a ring box from his pocket. It had the Harry Winston logo printed on it.

    As he opened the box, a dazzling diamond ring came into sight.

    Could Seth afford that?

    Aurelia nced at Leslie in surprise, and he shook his head in response.

    It was another fake item.

    Aurelia was impressed by Seth at this point. Everything about him was fake, and there wasn¡¯t a single real item on him.

    ¡°Lily, ¡¯ve wanted to marry you since the first time | saw you,¡± Seth said.

    ¡°Seth...¡± Tears welled up in Lily¡¯s eyes.

    Seth put the ring on her finger and kissed her forehead, looking like the perfect lover.

    Everyone around them couldn''t help but cheer when they saw them.

    In the heat of the moment, Lily wanted to agree to his proposal. ¡°Seth, let¡¯s

    Just then, the waiter who was walking by Aurelia and Leslie¡¯s table tripped over something, and the lemon tea in his hand spilled

    all over Seth¡¯s table.

    Seth stood angrily. ¡°What are you doing? Do you know how expensive these dishes are?*|

 Chatper 237

    Chapter 237

    In an instant, Seth¡¯s anger startled Lily.

    She hesitated and swallowed back her words.

    The waiter promptly apologized and offered to bring a new set of dishes, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. We''ll serve the dishes again immediately.

    You were having the 13¡ªdor set meal, right?¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Seth''s arrogance deted, and he felt somewhat embarrassed.

    Lily looked at Seth, puzzled.

    The waiter asked somewhat deliberately, ¡°This is the 13-dor set meal, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Seth nodded.

    The waiter nced at him, then looked at the ring on Lily¡¯s finger with a pointed look.

    Apparently, the waiter didn¡¯t believe that a man eating such a cheap set meal could afford a Harry Winston ring.

    Lily touched the ring and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that this ce is very expensive? Why did you order the 13-dor set meal?¡±

    Seth immediately exined, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what¡¯s expensive or not. | just thought that 13 is a rather lucky number.¡±

    Lily pursed her lips without saying anything, then used a tissue to wipe the stains on her skirt.

    ¡°I''m going to the restroom.¡±

    ¡°Lily, what did you want to say just now?¡± Seth seemed a little anxious.

    ¡°My hands are a little sticky. | want to wash them,¡± she added.

    ¡°Go ahead. Take my handkerchief with you.¡±

    With that, Seth took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Lily. The handkerchief belonged to yet another luxury

    brand.

    Aurelia nced at Leslie''s expression and instantly knew that it was another fake.

    Was there something seriously wrong with Seth? Why would he get a fake designer handkerchief as well? Was it necessary?

    But Lily¡¯s reaction told her that it was indeed necessary.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    There were tea stains on Lily¡¯s skirt, and they were difficult to clean.

    Seth was willing to give Lily his expensive handkerchief to wipe it, which conveyed that she was the most important person to

    him.

    Lily smiled as she fell into his trap. She blushed and took the handkerchief with her to the restroom.

    Seeing this, Aurelia felt uneasy, especially when she saw Seth¡¯s triumphant smile.

    That girl clearly had a simr background to hers. She came from a single-parent family and had a house to her name.

    Although the house on Maple Road was indeed in the suburbs, a small two- bedroom property there would still cost over a

    million dors.

    This girl seemed to have grown up under the care of her family and was utterly unaware of the sinister nature of people¡¯s hearts.-

    Even if she came from a single-parent household, her living standard didn¡¯t seem too bad.

    That house was likely worth more than one million dors.

    Seth was cheating her out of a house worth more than one million dors with an unwanted flower, a fake ring, and a set meal

    costing just 13 dors.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t stand it and stood up to go after the girl.

    Leslie, who was sitting beside her, stopped her and asked, ¡°Are you really going to help her? Aren¡¯t you afraid that she''ll think

    you are just jealous of her like Millie did?¡±

    ¡°| can¡¯t generalize everyone. It¡¯s normal for girls to support girls. | can say my piece, and it¡¯s up to her whether to listen. | can¡¯t

    just watch as she gets scammed, ¡± she exined.

    ¡°You''re strange.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you''re the one who''s strange. You were the one who tripped the waiter just now, right? You actually care, but you

    just don¡¯t let it show.

    ¡°Keep an eye on Seth for me. I''ll go talk to that girl.¡±

    Aurelia smiled at Leslie, then walked away from the other side.

    Leslie watched as she left. He had a conflicted look on his face.

    Meanwhile, in the washroom...

 Chatper 238

    In the end, Lily didn¡¯t use the expensive handkerchief to wipe her skirt. Instead, she moistened a tissue with water to clean the

    stain.

    Observing her, Aurelia thought of a saying that a girl who loved a scoundrel would be unlucky for a lifetime.

    She approached to wash her hand and said, ¡°That¡¯s a fake.¡±

    Lily''s hand paused and she lifted her gaze to meet Aurelia¡¯s eyes. She revealed a disdainful expression. ¡°Is it you?¡±

    ¡°Huh? You know me?¡± Aurelia was surprised.

    ¡°You''re Seth''s ex-girlfriend. Your mother¡¯s severe illness took away his savings. To avoid repaying the money, you smeared his

    name in hispany and even reported him to the police.

    ¡°Although you''re in a difficult position because of your mother, have you considered the harm you''ve caused him? You can¡¯t sit

    still now that Seth is proposing to me, right?¡± Lily questioned Aurelia, her tone using.

    Aurelia paused for three seconds, then responded, ¡°Seth told you all this?¡±

    ¡°No, he would never speak ill of his ex-girlfriend in front of me. It was his mother who told me. She¡¯s currently heartbroken for

    Seth. Don¡¯t you feel guilty? You can¡¯t bear the thought of Seth proposing to me, right?¡± Lily said angrily.

    Aurelia contemted how to exin but felt that Lily had been brainwashed and wouldn¡¯t listen to any of her exnations.

    Hence, she asked, ¡°Anything else? Just spill it all out. Maybe I''ll return the money to Seth once you are done.¡±

    Indeed, Lily was a naive girl. As soon as she heard that she could help Seth recover the owed money, she immediately spilled

    everything.

    Seth¡¯s mother had said many bad things about Aurelia behind her back.

    Allegations like having secret liaisons with clients for job promotion, cheating on Seth and even giving an old scarf to Seth¡¯s

    mother as a gift to embarrass her.

    After Lily finished speaking, she looked at Aurelia with a frown. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you upset?¡±

    ¡°| guess you''re not that foolish after all. Let me ask you a question. Do you know when Seth and | broke up?¡±

    chauter Fa

    ¡°Recently, you caused him to miss a promotion opportunity. Those videos on the inte were deliberately edited by someone

    you hired, all to make him suffer socially,¡± Lily said.

    ¡°Let me show you the original videos and the audio recordings, then.¡± Aurelia directly presented the original audio recordings,

    making it clear whether they were edited or not.

    Hearing the threats from Seth and his mother, Lily''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    Aurelia continued, ¡°Seth and | broke up a long time ago. He just wanted to me his inability to get promoted on me and created

    this breakup story.

    ¡°I''m just like you. I¡¯m from a single-parent family, and a householder. Seth must have told you that he will earn money to support

    the family, and you''ll stay home to take care of the inws while enjoying life, right?

    ¡°Did he also take you to the night market, saying that¡¯s where the real festive atmosphere is? Every time he gave you flowers, it

    was always a single one.

    ¡°He would berate your figure and appearance, then say it doesn¡¯t matter how you look because he likes you the way you are.

    ¡°He promises to give you gifts but always ends up forgetting or losing them. Even if he immediately took you to buy something,

    he would find ways to make you choose the cheapest option.

    ¡°His mother is the most important yer here. Did she suggest that you eat more spicy food when she first visited? Did she

    subtly hint at you to buy a gold bracelet for her?¡±

    With each sentence, Lily¡¯splexion grew paler.

    Finally, Aurelia revealed the records of her buying a branded scarf for Rosa back

    then.

    ¡°This is the scarf Seth¡¯s mother talked about. If | don¡¯t value them, why would | buy something this expensive?¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Lily touched the ring on her finger and shook her head. ¡°But he...¡±

    Aurelia pointed at the ring. ¡°That''s fake as well. The reflection of light isn¡¯t right. Even the waiter could tell.

    ¡°l once did an event for a jewelry merchant. Real diamonds would reflect lights in the color of blue, purple and orange. It

    definitely shouldn''t reflect lights of all colors.¡±

    Lily lowered her head and noticed that the diamond of her ring was indeed

    reflecting lights of different colors under the washroom light.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, I''m sure there are plenty of articles online that will teach you how to identify fake diamonds,¡± Aurelia

    said.

    She had said her piece and the rest was left in Lily¡¯s hands.

    Aurelia wiped her hands dry and returned to her seat.

    473

    At the moment, Seth was on the phone talking to his mother.

    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s just a fresh graduate. | just need to use a few tricks and she''ll fall for me.¡±

 Chatper 239

    ¡°She epted the ring and was about to say yes, When the timees, we''ll sell the house, transfer the property, and then get

    married. This way, the house will have nothing to do with her. Her father¡¯s health is deteriorating. Once he¡¯s gone, the other

    house will be yours and your father¡¯s to live in.¡±

    ¡°As long as | coax her into marriage, I''ll be a local. Finding a job won¡¯t be difficult, right? Mom, | have to go. She¡¯s back.¡±

    Seth hastily hung up the phone as Aurelia watched Lily approaching.

    Lily nced at her once, then walked straight to Seth without looking back.

    Aurelia¡¯s heart sank.

    It seemed that Lily had chosen to believe Seth and who knew what awaited her in the future.

    Aurelia hadn¡¯t finished her thoughts when a ssh of water from the next table caught everyone¡¯s attention in the restaurant.

    It was followed by Lily''s voice as she said, ¡°I''ll treat you to this tea! You hypocrite!

    11

    ¡°You! What did you say?¡± Seth was clearly bewildered.

    Lily tossed the ring to Seth, saying, ¡°How dare you use a ring that cost 20 dors to propose to me?¡±

    ¡°No, this is...¡±

    ¡°Do you dare to swear that it¡¯s real?¡± Lily interrupted.

    Instead of exining, Seth med Lily for not being understanding. ¡°Don¡¯t you think my heart is what matters most? When did

    you be so materialistic?¡±

    Lily was utterly bewildered. ¡°I¡¯m materialistic? You bought a flower that cost maybe a dor, a set meal of thirteen dors, and

    used a ring that costs around twenty to trick me into marriage? Who is the materialistic one here? And this?¡±

    She threw the fake designer handkerchief in her hand to Seth, then looked at him from head to toe. ¡°All those are counterfeits.

    Do you really think I¡¯m that easy to fool? Are

    you proud of yourself for using this little money to cheat me into giving you a house?¡±

    Seth was stunned and paled. ¡°How did you...¡±

    ¡°How did | find out? | consulted an expert just now to identify your cheap

    handkerchief. This isn¡¯t even considered a high-quality counterfeit. And all the clothes you have on are fake.

    ¡°Who are you to talk about sincerity? | think you and your mother are just

    disgusting. By the way, ask your mother to return the gold bracelet | bought her, or you''ll find yourself in the police station again.¡±

    Having said that, Lily turned and left. Seth was left alone to face the scornful looks from others.

    In the end, he fled the scene with his head down.

    Anew cup of lemon tea appeared on Aurelia¡¯s table. She called the waiter and said, ¡°We didn¡¯t order lemon tea.¡±

    The waiter smiled. ¡°It was ordered by the girl who ran out just now.¡±

    Aurelia lifted the lemon tea and held it in front of Leslie.

    ¡°See? Although there are people like Millie who are confused, most girls are still sensible.¡±

    ¡°Are you that naive?¡± Leslie asked expressionlessly.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, the world is indeed not perfect, but it¡¯s not as bad as you think. Don¡¯t you feel that the worse you think, the worse

    everything around you

    bes? Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself.¡±

    Aurelia smiled and brought a clean cup. She then poured half of her lemon tea into it and handed it to Leslie.

    ¡°Cheers to a beautiful world.¡±

    Leslie fell into silence.

    Leslie looked at the smile on her face and clicked sses with him. He never quite liked lemon tea, but it tasted nice at this

    moment.

    Aurelia had always been optimistic.

    After eating, they returned home to find that Linda had left.

    She also left a note on the table that said, ¡°I won¡¯t disturb the newlyweds anymore.¡±

    Aurelia handed the note to Leslie and sighed a breath of relief.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I''ll go to your room to gather my things.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    He didn¡¯t stop her and sat on the couch to give her some space.

    She entered the master bedroom. Without much to pack, she gathered her things swiftly and moved them back to the guest

    bedroom.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    Exhausted, she stretched her neck and froze when her hand touched her neck.

    Her emerald ne was gone.

    She checked a few times then went to check on a mirror, before confirming that she dropped it.

    It must have fallen off when Jackson grabbed her. She was so nervous at the time that she didn¡¯t notice it.

    Then, the encounter with Seth took ce and her attention was taken off her neck.

    What should she do?

    After some contemtion, she decided to retrieve it.

 Chatper 240

    She checked the time and noticed it was almost ten. She could only hope that the restaurant was still open.

    She hurried to the door and Leslie looked up when he heard the noises she made. ¡± Are you going out?¡±

    ¡°| lost the ne you got me. Don¡¯t worry, I''ll go find it,¡± she assured.

    ¡°The restaurant closes at nine, so there¡¯s no point in going now,¡± he said.

    ¡°That ne might be fake, but | can¡¯t just lose it,¡± she said and went to change her shoes.

    Leslie paused.

    Fake? Why would he need to buy a fake ne?

    He snapped out of it and felt curious when he saw the panicked state Aurelia was in.

    ¡°Since it¡¯s fake, just forget about it. Why are you panicking?*.

    ¡°That¡¯s a gift from you! |...¡± Aurelia froze and quieted down when she noticed Leslie¡¯s intent gaze on her.

    ¡°You liked that ne?¡± he asked in a hoarse voice.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t look up and simply nodded. After a few moments, she muttered, ¡± It looked like a real one.¡±

    Leslie felt both amused and resigned.

    It was a ne that cost six figures, yet she said it looked like a real one.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    He wondered what she would say once she saw what was in his safe in the future.

    He paused. Why was he thinking about the future?

    Aurelia put on her shoes and apologized, ¡°I should still go and check. What if they''ve kept it for me?¡±

    Leslie took out his phone and said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I''ll call the owner and he''ll keep it safe for you.¡±

    ¡°You know the owner?¡± she eximed.

    ¡°The boss does.¡¯

    Leslie made the call and spoke briefly. The response from the other end was

    immediately respectful and it almost sounded like Leslie was the boss in One Technology.

    After hanging up, Leslie said, ¡°I¡¯ve left yourpany¡¯s address. Someone will deliver it tomorrow.¡±

    Aurelia was taken aback. ¡°Deliver? Isn¡¯t that inappropriate?¡±

    Leslie thought for a moment and said, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s to highlight their service. After all, their store caters to white-cor workers like

    you.¡±

    Aurelia considered it and found it reasonable. ¡°Alright. | wonder if they¡¯ll be furious when they find out it¡¯s fake.¡±

    ¡°Youll find out tomorrow.¡±

    Leslie looked at her side profile, which was fair and delicate. Her long eyshes cast shadows that made her especially

    charming.

    Realizing that he was staring at her, Leslie immediately snapped out of it.

    He felt as if there was something wrong with him, as he had been involuntarily paying attention to Aureliately.

    ¡°It''s gettingte. I''m going to bed. You should too.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Aurelia nodded and turned toward her room.

    ¡°Aurelia, are you still sleeping in the master bedroom tonight?¡± he asked.

    Aurelia held the master bedroom doorknob and did a full spin on the spot before entering the guest room, scratching her head.

    ¡°Good night,¡± she said.

    Leslie chuckled, feeling that life didn¡¯t seem so dull anymore.

    As he was about to enter the room, his phone received a message with flight information.

    ¡°Can you pick me up?¡±

    ¡°I''m busy. I''ll arrange for someone else to pick you up.¡± Leslie replied.

    After sending the message, he acted as if nothing had happened and went straight into the room to rest.

 Chatper 241

    The next day, Aurelia arrived at the office to find the atmosphere strange.

    If she didn¡¯t need Zachary¡¯s sign for certain procedures, she wouldn¡¯t even want to drop by the office,

    After all that had happened the night before, everyone hadbeled Millie as a foolish gold digger.

    Millie, on the other hand, acted like nothing happened. She dressed in brand¡ªnamed clothing and even said that it was bought

    by Jackson aspensation.

    Everyone felt struck.

    Compensation? How shameless did she have to be to say such things?

    Aurelia went to Zachary¡¯s office for his signature. He nced at her with a pointed look but didn¡¯t say anything.

    He swiftly signed and sent her on her way.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Aurelia returned to her seat and opened herptop to handle other work, intending to go to the event

    venue in the afternoon.

    She was quite close with the workers and they could often work efficiently whenever it was an event

    hosted by her. Hence, she wasn¡¯t worried at all.

    As she walked past Kimberly¡¯s seat, she could sense a pair of malicious eyes on her.

    Speaking of which, Kimberly wasn¡¯t present when Jackson was beaten up.

    She sure was great at evading responsibility.

    Apart from Jackson, Kimberly was the most enthusiastic in getting others to drink, so she definitely

    had a role to y in Jackson¡¯s scheme.

    Clearly, she knew something was about to happen when Leslie ran outside, so she didn¡¯t bother showing up at all.

    Ignoring Kimberly, Aurelia went straight back to her seat and opened herptop:

    While everyone was focused on their work, the quiet space was interrupted by the sound of someone rubbing their hands,

    followed by the noise of something falling.

    Out of curiosity, everyone turned their heads simultaneously and noticed Millie applying hand cream.

    Suddenly, she stood up and started searching for something.

    ¡°Oh, my diamond ring! Help me find it.¡±

    Everyone exchanged nces.

    In the past, they would all start asking questions, but today, no one moved.

    Millie paused when she realized no one was helping. She then picked up the diamond ring from the floor and put it back on her

    finger.

    She gestured toward her colleagues. ¡°Doesn''t it look nice? It was a gift from Jackson. He¡¯s proposing to me.¡±

    Her colleagues nodded with a disdainful expression.

    How could Jackson still propose to Millie after what he had done to Aurelia? Was the Morrison family incapable of finding a

    suitable match?

    Seeing that her colleagues weren''t cooperating, the smile on Millie¡¯s face stiffened.

    On the other hand, Kimberly stood up and walked over to lift Millie¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Harry Winston. This must be around twenty-eight thousand, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Millie nodded, pleased that someone joined the conversation. ¡°Jackson said he had a bit too much to drink yesterday.

    ¡°Actually, he only has me in his heart, so he bought this diamond ring to propose to me. It was a bit hasty, so he could only get

    one this small.¡±

    ¡°That''s still considered small? Look at Aurelia. She got married without even having a ring. You''ve got a whole carat right away. |

    envy you.

    Kimberly smoothly shifted the topic to Aurelia.

    Aurelia stopped typing and looked at Kimberly in confusion.

    ¡°My husband is an ordinary person, so he can¡¯t afford such an expensive diamond ring. That''s normal. Your fianc¨¦ is the

    company¡¯s CEO, right? Why are you wearing such a in ring?¡±

    As everyone¡¯s gaze turned to Kimberly''s hand, they were all surprised to notice that she wasn¡¯t even wearing an engagement

    ring.

    It couldn¡¯t help but make people wonder if there were any problems with her uing marriage.

    Kimberly quickly hid her hands behind her back.

 Chatper 242

    Chapter 242

    ¡°My fianc¨¦ has bought me enough things, so | wanted a simpler ring to symbolize the pure love between us.¡±

    Aurelia turned to point at Millie and said righteously, ¡°Millie, can you really put up with this? Kimberly is hinting that the love you

    have with Jackson isn¡¯t pure.¡±

    Millie red at Kimberly.

    Frustrated, Kimberly said, ¡°Aurelia, what are you talking about? We were talking about how your husband didn¡¯t buy you

    anything. We are all women so we know that you were just fooled by his good looks.¡±

    ¡°Well, someone did get fooled by his looks. You, right?¡± Aurelia retorted.

    ¡°Why you-¡± Kimberly pursed her lips and then asked, ¡°What did your husband get you then? Just a few outfits?¡±

    ¡°He bought me the ne | worest night,¡± Aurelia said.

    ¡°Ha! Aurelia, listen to yourself. | mean something real. That ne of yours was definitely fake. Get your husband to buy

    something more ordinary. Do you have any idea how much an actual emerald ne would cost?¡±

    ¡°Are you being discriminatory? Does your fianc¨¦ know that about you? When did we ever mention that it was real? You were the

    one who said it, right?¡± Aurelia said.

    Millie sneered and rubbed her diamond ring. ¡°Aurelia, fake is fake. Wearing something fake is just cheap.¡±

    ¡°Is everything you wear real, then? You''re just trying to look expensive by adding diamonds here and there? Are you human or

    an item?¡± Aurelia retorted.

    Millie froze.

    The others nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, Aurelia didn¡¯t im it was real or very expensive. She just mentioned her husband gave it as

    a gift. Besides, the ne looked really nice with the dress she

    wore yesterday.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. We''re all ordinary people. Looking good is enough. You and Millie act like wealthydies and throw around tens of

    thousands. What are you aiming for, to show off in front of us?¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, Millie, since the two of you are so rich, why bother working at all? Are you trying to provoke us?¡±

    ¡°Aurelia hasn''t said a word since she came in, and you''re already using her. Is it fair? Do we have to wear jewelry with an

    appraisal certificate from now on?¡±

    Kimberly and Millie were left speechless by these remarks.

    Chapter 242

    212

    Aurelia understood that while her colleagues were supporting her, they were also expressing their displeasure with Kimberly and

    Millie''s recent behaviors.

    Their constant boasting had be increasingly unbearable.

    No one liked having someone constantly remind them of their shorings. An outbreak was inevitable.

    Just then, a knock on the ss door caught their attention.

    ¡°Aurelia, someone is looking for you. They said they¡¯vee to deliver something for you.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Deliver something?¡± Aurelia thought for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, where are they?¡±

    ¡°| brought them up for you.¡±

    The receptionist stepped aside, and four men walked in. One of them was the manager from the Japanese restaurant yesterday.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, hello.¡±

    ¡°Hello,¡± Aurelia greeted politely.

    ¡°We found your emerald ne. Today, we had security apany us to deliver it to you.¡± the manager said, pointing to a

    leather box in the security guard''s hands.

    Aurelia was stunned. Did they think it was a real emerald ne?

    This was bad.

    Aurelia felt awkward and didn¡¯t know how to react.

    Kimberly noticed her difort and chuckled. ¡°Aurelia, it seems that you didn¡¯t make it clear. They''ve gone through all this

    trouble to deliver something to you. How embarrassing for you.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, are you trying to deceive people into thinking your ne is real? Did you go through all this trouble just to show off?

    ¡°| think you''ve truly lost it. You failed to seduce my boyfriendst night, so now you are making things up, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Millie wished she couldy all the frustration she felt from yesterday and today on Aurelia.

    Hearing this, everyone looked at Aurelia in confusion.

 Chatper 243

    Chapter 242

    ¡°My fianc¨¦ has bought me enough things, so | wanted a simpler ring to symbolize the pure love between us.¡±

    Aurelia turned to point at Millie and said righteously, ¡°Millie, can you really put up with this? Kimberly is hinting that the love you

    have with Jackson isn¡¯t pure.¡±

    Millie red at Kimberly.

    Frustrated, Kimberly said, ¡°Aurelia, what are you talking about? We were talking about how your husband didn¡¯t buy you

    anything. We are all women so we know that you were just fooled by his good looks.¡±

    ¡°Well, someone did get fooled by his looks. You, right?¡± Aurelia retorted.

    ¡°Why you-¡± Kimberly pursed her lips and then asked, ¡°What did your husband get you then? Just a few outfits?¡±

    ¡°He bought me the ne | worest night,¡± Aurelia said.

    ¡°Ha! Aurelia, listen to yourself. | mean something real. That ne of yours was definitely fake. Get your husband to buy

    something more ordinary. Do you have any idea how much an actual emerald ne would cost?¡±

    ¡°Are you being discriminatory? Does your fianc¨¦ know that about you? When did we ever mention that it was real? You were the

    one who said it, right?¡± Aurelia said.

    Millie sneered and rubbed her diamond ring. ¡°Aurelia, fake is fake. Wearing something fake is just cheap.¡±

    ¡°Is everything you wear real, then? You''re just trying to look expensive by adding diamonds here and there? Are you human or

    an item?¡± Aurelia retorted.

    Millie froze.

    The others nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, Aurelia didn¡¯t im it was real or very expensive. She just mentioned her husband gave it as

    a gift. Besides, the ne looked really nice with the dress she

    wore yesterday.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. We''re all ordinary people. Looking good is enough. You and Millie act like wealthydies and throw around tens of

    thousands. What are you aiming for, to show off in front of us?¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, Millie, since the two of you are so rich, why bother working at all? Are you trying to provoke us?¡±

    ¡°Aurelia hasn''t said a word since she came in, and you''re already using her. Is it fair? Do we have to wear jewelry with an

    appraisal certificate from now on?¡±

    Kimberly and Millie were left speechless by these remarks.

    Chapter 242

    212Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Aurelia understood that while her colleagues were supporting her, they were also expressing their displeasure with Kimberly and

    Millie''s recent behaviors.

    Their constant boasting had be increasingly unbearable.

    No one liked having someone constantly remind them of their shorings. An outbreak was inevitable.

    Just then, a knock on the ss door caught their attention.

    ¡°Aurelia, someone is looking for you. They said they¡¯vee to deliver something for you.¡±

    ¡°Deliver something?¡± Aurelia thought for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, where are they?¡±

    ¡°| brought them up for you.¡±

    The receptionist stepped aside, and four men walked in. One of them was the manager from the Japanese restaurant yesterday.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, hello.¡±

    ¡°Hello,¡± Aurelia greeted politely.

    ¡°We found your emerald ne. Today, we had security apany us to deliver it to you.¡± the manager said, pointing to a

    leather box in the security guard''s hands.

    Aurelia was stunned. Did they think it was a real emerald ne?

    This was bad.

    Aurelia felt awkward and didn¡¯t know how to react.

    Kimberly noticed her difort and chuckled. ¡°Aurelia, it seems that you didn¡¯t make it clear. They''ve gone through all this

    trouble to deliver something to you. How embarrassing for you.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, are you trying to deceive people into thinking your ne is real? Did you go through all this trouble just to show off?

    ¡°| think you''ve truly lost it. You failed to seduce my boyfriendst night, so now you are making things up, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Millie wished she couldy all the frustration she felt from yesterday and today on Aurelia.

    Hearing this, everyone looked at Aurelia in confusion.

 Chatper 244

    Chapter 244

    300 hundred thou¡± Aurelia felt as if she had been hit on the head and could not find her words.

    ¡°My mom should have told you that she used to be in business and has a good head for it. She made some investments, and

    this ne is one of them. It was meant to be a gift for her future daughter- inw.¡±

    ¡°No, this is too expensive. I''ll return it to you when | get back from work,¡± Aurelia insisted.

    She merely considered Leslie a roommate. She couldn¡¯t possibly ept such an extravagant gift from him.

    ¡°Why?¡± Leslie hesitated.

    Since he had learned about Aurelia¡¯s financial struggles and understood her need for money, it seemed logical for her to desire it.

    Hence, he couldn¡¯t understand why she would turn down an expensive gift.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, this is what mom bought for her future daughter-inw,¡± Aurelia said solemnly.

    ¡°Aren''t you her daughter-inw?¡± Leslie replied, his breath catching unexpectedly.

    Words slipped out without him realizing.

    Aurelia¡¯s cheeks heated up. Amidst the silence, she heard Leslie¡¯s slightly uneven breathing.

    Did he know what he was saying?

    Aurelia pursed her lips and said softly, ¡°Where should | put it? | don¡¯t have a safe.¡±

    Leslie couldn¡¯t help but suppress augh. ¡°You didn¡¯t deny it.¡±

    Flustered, she said, ¡°I¡¯m busy. I''ll hang up.¡±

    Leslie stopped her, ¡°There¡¯s a safe in the study.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Aurelia hung up abruptly, Touching her warm cheeks, she took a few moments to regain herposure before returning to her

    Office.

    Her colleagues gathered around.

    ¡°Aurelia, is your husband that wealthy?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s my mother-inw who made money from her past investments. She lent it for me to wear.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want rumors to spread that Leslie was a wealthy second-generation, so it was better to rify things early.

    Linda had visited the office before, and her demeanor was far from ordinary.

    ¡°300 hundred thou-¡°Aurelia felt as if she had been hit on the head and could not find her words.

    ¡°My mom should have told you that she used to be in business and has a good head for it. She made some investments, and

    this ne is one of them. It was meant to be a gift for her future daughter-

    inw.¡±

    ¡°No, this is too expensive. I''ll return it to you when | get back from work,¡± Aurelia insisted.

    She merely considered Leslie a roommate. She couldn¡¯t possibly ept such an extravagant gift from

    him.

    ¡°Why?¡± Leslie hesitated.

    Since he had learned about Aurelia¡¯s financial struggles and understood her need for money, it seemed logical for her to desire it.

    Hence, he couldn¡¯t understand why she would turn down an expensive gift.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, this is what mom bought for her future daughter-inw,¡± Aurelia said solemnly.

    ¡°Aren''t you her daughter-inw?¡± Leslie replied, his breath catching unexpectedly.

    Words slipped out without him realizing.

    Aurelia¡¯s cheeks heated up. Amidst the silence, she heard Leslie¡¯s slightly uneven breathing.

    Did he know what he was saying?

    Aurelia pursed her lips and said softly, ¡°Where should | put it? | don¡¯t have a safe.¡±

    Leslie couldn¡¯t help but suppress augh. ¡°You didn¡¯t deny it.¡±

    Flustered, she said, ¡°I¡¯m busy. I''ll hang up.¡±

    Leslie stopped her, ¡°There¡¯s a safe in the study.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Aurelia hung up abruptly. Touching her warm cheeks, she took a few moments to regain herposure before returning to her

    Office.

    Her colleagues gathered around.

    ¡°Aurelia, is your husband that wealthy?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s my mother-inw who made money from her past investments. She lent it for me to wear.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want rumors to spread that Leslie was a wealthy second-generation, so it was better to rify things early.

    Linda had visited the office before, and her demeanor was far from ordinary.

    Her previous business ventures and a collection justified such a purchase.

    Everyone knew their roles between a mother-inw and a daughter-inw.

    Upon hearing that Aurelia was just borrowing it, the curiosity of the colleagues diminished.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. I¡¯ve never worn anything so expensive in my life.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, can you show it to us?¡±

    Aurelia intended to refuse, but had to nod as they wouldn¡¯t give up otherwise. ¡°Okay.¡±

    Fortunately, everyone understood the value of the ne and didn¡¯t dare to touch it. After a brief look, they dispersed.

    Aurelia quickly ced the box into her purse.

    Millie still hadn¡¯t returned for the rest of the day and no one knew where she went.

    Kimberly, on the other hand, received a phone call and left during lunch break.

    Aurelia took out her lunch box and went to nap after finishing her food. However, upon remembering that she had something

    valuable in her purse, she held her purse as she fell asleep.

    Suddenly, her phone vibrated. She was shocked when she saw the caller ID.

    ¡°Mrs. Parker? What¡¯s wrong?¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Aurelia, I¡¯m at the lobby of your office building. | can¡¯t reach Millie. She¡¯s close with you, so can you help finding her?¡±

    It was Millie''s mother.

    Aurelia had gone to Millie¡¯s house to dine with them before. Mrs. Parker had been extremely kind to her and even called from

    time to time to check on her when her mother fell ill.

    Aurelia immediately got up and went downstairs. She immediately spotted Mrs. Parker standing helplessly in the lobby.

    ¡°Mrs. Parker.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, you''re finally here. Can you tell me what exactly is going on with Millietely? Why did she borrow so much money?¡±

    Mrs. Parker sobbed.

    ¡°She borrowed money?¡± Aurelia asked

 Chatper 245

    Aurelia was momentarily stunned. She quickly helped Mrs. Parker to a nearby couch and asked cautiously, ¡°Millie... How much

    money did she borrow?¡±

    Mrs. Parker¡¯s expression stiffened and she exined helplessly, ¡°About 140 thousand dors. | received a debt collection notice

    today and then learned that she had borrowed an online loan. If she doesn¡¯t pay them, they say they''ll go to her office to cause

    trouble.¡±

    Aurelia gasped.

    Online loans were no different from usurious loans. Every year, police officers visited thepany to educate employees about

    anti-fraud knowledge. They explicitly mentioned various online loan traps.

    Millie should be aware of this, so why would she resort to borrowing online?

    Without much time to think, Aurelia immediately dialed Millie¡¯s number. After a few beeps, the call connected.

    ¡°Why are you calling me?¡± Millie said resentfully.

    ¡°Millie, did you borrow money from an online loan?¡± Aurelia got straight to the point.

    Millie took a sharp breath on the other end and cursed, ¡°What''s it to you? It¡¯s all fake! Jackson will give me money. He is rich. I¡¯m

    his girlfriend, so why would | need an online loan? You''re smearing my name!¡±

    As Millie repeatedly emphasized Jackson¡¯s wealth, Aurelia lost patience. ¡°Millie! Your mom is here! She received calls from debt

    collectors. She couldn¡¯t find you and got scared, so she came to thepany looking for you.¡±

    ¡°You''re making things up!¡± Millie refused to believe her.

    Aurelia handed the phone to Mrs. Parker.

    Mrs. Parker immediately leaned in. ¡°Millie, where are you? Why did both your father and | receive debt collection calls? Why did

    you borrow so much money?¡±

    They assumed that Millie would show some restraint upon hearing her mother¡¯s voice, but were shocked that she cursed at her

    own mother as well.

    ¡°Mom! Have you lost your mind? Did you go to the office to embarrass me? I¡¯m already an adult. | know what I¡¯m doing. Do you

    understand the concept of early investment? I¡¯m doing this for the good of our entire family!¡±

    Mr. and Mrs. Parker were factory workers with an average ie. Their targets had been to let Millie study well, work hard, and

    earn a bit more money for a better life.

    They had never borrowed a substantial amount of money before, so the sudden revtion of a 140 thousand online loan

    bewildered them.

    Mrs. Parker frowned at the mention of ¡°early investment¡± and looked at Aurelia.

    Aurelia became increasingly angry as she observed Mrs. Parker¡¯s gray hair.

    Snatching the phone back, Aurelia scolded, ¡°Millie! Do you have anymon sense? If Jackson truly loves you, why would he

    let you take out an online loan? He¡¯s just toying with you. Wake up! Your parents aren''t getting any younger, and they can¡¯t

    withstand something like this.¡±

    Millie snorted. ¡°Aurelia, you just can¡¯t stand to see me doing well, can you? Since | got together with Jackson, you¡¯ve been

    unting your wealth. You must be really proud of yourself for wearing an expensive ne, right?

    ¡°You''re even saying that Jackson is toying with me. Would he behave that way if you didn¡¯t show up in front of him so often? Just

    give up. Jackson is mine!¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    Beep, beep, beep...

    Millie had hung up.

    Aurelia nced at Mrs. Parker resignedly and gave a random excuse. ¡°I think she¡¯s busy. The signal

    here is bad.¡±

    Mrs. Parker wiped her years helplessly. ¡°Aurelia, you are a great girl. Help me out, will you? Ever sinceMaterial ? N?velDrama.Org.

    she started dating, she is nowhere to be found and rarelyes home at night. She used to listen to you. Help me talk some

    sense into her.¡±

    Aurelia hesitated.

    If this was in the past, she would have agreed to help readily.

    However, Millie had developed a misunderstanding toward her, and every word she said ended up being misinterpreted.

    Hence, she didn¡¯t think she had the ability to help Millie.

 Chatper 246

    After a few thoughtful seconds, Aurelia held Mrs. Parker¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Mrs. Parker, | will keep an eye on her for you, but I

    don¡¯t think we should let anyone in the office know. It¡¯s better if you handle it at home. After all, you are Millie''s mother, and she

    will listen to you.¡±

    Mrs. Parker thought about it and realized that Aurelia was right.

    Millie''s current job had a decent sry and benefits. As long as she umted enough experience, she would earn more in

    the future. If things escted, it wouldn''t benefit her.

    Wiping away her tears, Mrs. Parker said, ¡°Aurelia, you are so considerate. | came to you today...¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Parker, don¡¯t worry. | won¡¯t say anything. You go back and talk to Millie. Find out how much money she borrowed, and then

    make a decision. If she has any unused money, ask her to return it quickly to avoid bigger losses,¡± Aurelia advised.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Okay, I''ll listen to you. I''ll go back now. Thank you so much.¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Parker, take care of yourself.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Feeling relieved, Mrs. Parker thanked Aurelia again and left.

    Aurelia watched as she left, feeling uneasy.

    She couldn''t shake the feeling that this matter was not over. Now, she could only hope that Millie

    would reflect on her choices and repay the money she borrowed promptly.

    However, Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but wonder.

    Recently, Millie had been unting the things Jackson bought for her. Why would she need to borrow so much money? Could the

    diamond ring be something she bought herself?

    Back at the Parker family¡¯s apartment, as Mrs. Parker climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, she heard the sound of the iron gate

    opening downstairs.

    ncing down, she saw Millie rushing in.

    ¡°Millie!¡±

    Hearing her mother¡¯s voice, Millie hesitated for a moment and then quickened her pace to the fourth

    floor.

    She forcefully pulled Mrs. Parker into the house.

    ¡°Why are you yelling? Mom, why did you go to Aurelia? Do you think | haven¡¯t been embarrassed enough?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s embarrassing? Aren¡¯t you good friends with Aurelia? You didn¡¯t answer the phone, and you didn¡¯te back yesterday.

    What exactly have you been doing?¡±

    ¡°|... |was with my boyfriend. | told you before that I¡¯m in a rtionship now. My boyfriend is a wealthy bachelor,¡± Millie exined.

    Hearing this, Mrs. Parker pursed her lips and tapped her on the head.

    ¡°Have you lost your mind? We never said that you couldn¡¯t be in a rtionship. We''re just asking you why you''re living outside.

    Don¡¯t you have any self-respect as a woman?¡±

    ¡°Mom! What era do you think we¡¯re living in now?¡± Millie dismissed it.

    Mrs. Parker was so angry that she could barely stand. She fell on the couch.

    Mr. Parker heard themotion and came outside. When he saw Millie, he took a deep breath and pped her on the face.

    ¡°You shameless girl. How could you say such things? Even if that¡¯s your boyfriend or some rich guy, you can¡¯t live with him

    unless your rtionship is official! You''re a girl, so if anything happens, you''ll be the one suffering in the end!¡±

    ¡°Dad!¡± Millie cried, covering her swollen cheek.

    ¡°Don''t call me that! You''re not my daughter!¡± He turned around with a dark expression.

    Mrs. Parker got up and helped him sit down.

    ¡°Don''t get upset. Let¡¯s just rify this matter. You wouldn¡¯t want to impact your health because of

    this.¡±

    Mr. Parker sat down quietly.

    Although Mrs. Parker cared for her daughter, having an enormous online loan was simply something that she couldn¡¯t let slide.

    ¡°Millie, tell me that the call about the online loan is a lie. It¡¯s some kind of scam, right? We keep receiving pamphlets telling us to

    be aware of scams. | get it. That¡¯s what this is, right?¡±

    Mrs. Parker still held hope within her.

 Chatper 247

    Upon hearing these words, Millie¡¯s face alternated between shades of pale and red.

    She bit her lip without saying a word.

    Mr. Parker seemed to realize something and mmed the coffee table in anger. ¡°Speak! Cat got your tongue?¡±

    Hearing her father¡¯s furious roar, Millie jolted and paled further. ¡°I... I...¡±

    ¡°Millie, tell us the truth. Is the online loan real or not?¡± Mrs. Parker still thought it was a scam.

    Unable to meet her parents¡® eyes, Millie could only nod.

    Mrs. Parker¡¯s body swayed and she copsed onto the couch, clutching her chest. ¡°It¡¯s over. It¡¯s over.¡±

    Furious, Mr. Parker grabbed the teacup from the table and hurled it at Millie. ¡°Have you gone mad? What do you need 140

    thousand dors for?¡±

    Millie''s knees were struck, and she fell on the floor in pain. She held onto the coffee table as she looked at her parents. ¡°This is

    an early investment. It¡¯s necessary!¡±

    ¡°What are you investing in?¡± Mr. Parker asked.

    ¡°Myself. Otherwise, how can | match up to Jackson''s family when |e from a background like this? | must have money. Only

    then will Jackson like me,¡± Millie said seriously.

    Her parents were stunned by her words.

    Mr. Parker pointed at her. ¡°You did all that for a man? If his family is wealthy and looks down on you, what makes you think you

    can marry him?

    ¡°Now you''re deeply in debt, and you still hope to marry into a wealthy family? He has to be blind to agree to that. Take a look at

    yourself first. I''ll disown you!¡±

    Seeing the situation, Mrs. Parker hurriedly stepped forward to hold him back. ¡°Don¡¯t hit her.¡±

    Millie chuckled coldly. ¡°You want to hit me? Isn¡¯t this what you wanted?

    You arranged for people to introduce me to wealthy suitors because my cousin married a small business owner, and you were

    envious. As a result, | almost got assaulted on that blind date!

    ¡°Now I¡¯ve found a wealthy second¡ªgeneration man on my own. He loves me, and | love him. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡±

    ¡°Millie! Stop talking,¡± Mrs. Parker cried. ¡°He loves you? If he loves you, why did he allow you to borrow money? Why didn¡¯t he

    come to our house to introduce himself officially? This man is just toying with you! Don¡¯t be so stubborn!¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Millie stood up from the floor and red at Mrs. Parker. ¡°Is it because of Aurelia and what she told you? She can¡¯t stand to

    see me happy now!

    ¡°If she hadn¡¯t seduced Jackson, | would¡¯ve been married to him long ago! It¡¯s all her fault that I''ve been embarrassed in front of

    my colleagues and Jackson!¡±

    ¡°Millie!¡±

    ¡°Just wait and see. | will definitely marry Jackson!¡± Millie vowed and stormed out without looking back.

    Mr. Parker couldn¡¯t catch his breath and clutched his chest as he copsed.

    ¡°Darling! Darling! Millie! Come back!¡± Mrs. Parker yelled.

    At that moment, Aurelia was making arrangements for the decorations of the venue when the staff from One Technology arrived

    for the testing of the products.

    They would be using their newest robot as the servers of the ceremony, so they needed to adjust the

    respective programs.

    To her surprise, it was Leslie who came.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    She felt slightly shy especially after admitting to being Leslie¡¯s wife on the phone earlier that

    morning.

    Leslie took on a professional mannerism and scanned the venue, before nodding his head at Aurelia and testing the robots.

    Watching how focused he was, Aurelia felt her heart racing. Not wanting others to see this, she ran to discuss with the others

    about where the decorations would go.

    When she turned around, she bumped into someone. Shocked, she asked, ¡°Mr. Xenos? Why are you

    here as well?¡±

    He was supposed to be the assistant of the founder, so why was he so free?

    ¡°The boss sent me here to check how everything is going. Um... Ms. Simmons, I¡¯m sorry!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Curious, she said, ¡°Mr. Xenos, why are you apologizing to me?¡±

    ¡°| was the one who threw your heels away by ident. | thought it was a bag of trash,¡± he exined.

    ¡°Oh, it''s fine.¡±

    Daniel had once helped her. Besides, since the heels had eventually been found, she didn¡¯t think

    much of it.

    However, on second thought, she realized that something was off.

 Chatper 248

    Aurelia tilted her head and stared at Daniel. ¡°You¡¯ve been to my house? No, to Mr. Synder¡¯s house?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, | went to get him some clothes, no, to get some documents.¡±

    ¡°Documents? Aren¡¯t you the boss¡¯ assistant? Why would you go to his house for documents?¡±

    ¡°Uh... 1... you...¡±

    The two of them stared at each other, both stunned by the ws in their respective exnations.

    ¡°Daniel, did youe here to hang out? Hurry up and get back to work,¡± Leslie shouted.

    Daniel seemed to see a lifeline and smiled at Aurelia. ¡°| happened to be nearby, and then | went to get some documents for him.

    I''m really sorry for causing trouble. It¡¯s truly not his fault. If you want to me someone, me me.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± Aurelia shook her head.

    Daniel ran over to Leslie, and the two chatted.

    Daniel''s expression looked helpless.

    Why did it seem like Daniel was afraid of Leslie?

    Regardless, both of them were exceptionally serious when they worked. Aurelia didn¡¯t dwell on it and quickly focused on her own

    tasks.

    Suddenly, Aurelia¡¯s phone rang.

    It was Mrs. Parker again.

    Worried that something had happened, Aurelia quickly answered the call. ¡°Mrs. Parker...¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, help us...¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Parker, please don¡¯t cry. What happened?¡± Aurelia grew anxious.

    ¡°Millie has gone crazy! She angered her father so much that he has been sent to the emergency room. When | went to pay the

    fees, | discovered that all the money in the bank card had been moved by her! What should | do?¡±

    Mrs. Parker burst into tears.

    ¡°Mrs. Parker, don¡¯t worry. I''ll be right there,¡± Aureliaforted.

    After hanging up, Leslie seemed to have overheard the phone call and stood in front of her.

    The frown on his face indicated that he had heard the content of the call.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I...¡±

    287

    ¡°Let''s go.

    I''ll take you. It¡¯s not easy to get a cab here,¡± Leslie said as he turned toward the ext

    Aurelia quickly followed him.

    On the way to the hospital, Aurelia tried calling Millie many times, but each call was rejected. Eventually, she was blocked.

    Aurelia sighed, unable to understand why things had turned out this way,

    ¡°Once she¡¯s gotten something without putting in much effort, it¡¯s hard to make her give up on it *

    Aurelia sighed. ¡°Her mom said that she has an online loan of about 140 thousand dors and that she has used all her family¡¯s

    savings as well.¡±

    Leslie took advantage of the red light to look at her. ¡°What do you n to do?¡±

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± she asked in confusion.

    ¡°She¡¯s from around here, right? They should have other rtives around, but her mother didn¡¯t reach out to any of them. Why is

    she reaching out to you now?¡± he pointed out.

    ¡°I-| don¡¯t know.¡±

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t understand why Mille¡¯s mother had sought her help instead of her rtives¡± help.

    Once they arrived at the hospital, Leslie got out of the car and said, ¡°Don¡¯t agree to help with anything too soon and observe

    first.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    She nodded and followed Leslie to the emergency room.

    The two spotted Millie¡¯s mother there. Her eyes were swollen from crying and her voice was hoarse.

    ¡°Aurelia, you''re finally here.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s Mr. Parker?¡± Aurelia asked worriedly.

 Chatper 249

    Mrs. Parker choked on her tears. ¡°It was a heart attack. The doctor managed to save him, and now they are urging us to pay the

    fees.¡±

    Afterward, Mrs. Parker looked at Aurelia with anticipation.

    Aurelia froze and realized what Mrs. Parker wanted.

    It seemed like Mrs. Parker was expecting Aurelia to take care of the expenses,

    She suddenly remembered Leslie¡¯s advice not to agree to anything hastily.

    ¡°Mrs. Parker, I¡¯m sorry, but | don¡¯t have much money on me. | only have a hundred dors for living expenses. I''ll ask the nurse if

    it''s possible to umte medical debts for treatment,¡± she said gingerly.

    Mrs. Parker was familiar with hospital procedures due to her husband¡¯s extended hospital stay, so she understood that hospitals

    wouldn''t neglect a patient in critical condition.

    ¡°But what aboutter? If there¡¯s no money in the card...¡± Mrs. Parker was at a loss.

    ¡°Let''s try to reach Millie first. She should be able to help.¡± Aurelia steered the conversation back to

    the focus.

    However, Mrs. Parker grabbed Aurelia¡¯s hand and pleaded tearfully, ¡°Aurelia, can you keep this matter private? If word got out, it

    would ruin Millie¡¯s reputation as a woman. Borrowing money online and getting involved with wealthy young men could ruin her.¡±

    Aurelia finally understood why Mrs. Parker had sought her help.

    It wasn¡¯t just about money but also about preserving Millie''s dignity.

    Mrs. Parker didn¡¯t want other rtives and friends to find out about the situation.

    Aurelia patted Mrs. Parker¡¯s hand reassuringly and said, ¡°Mrs. Parker, | won¡¯t say a word. But you must discipline Millie well in

    this matter, or it will lead to bigger problems¡±

    Mrs. Parker nodded apologetically. ¡°Aurelia, I¡¯m sorry. | just... | really don¡¯t have any money right

    now.¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Parker, | understand. I''ll go find a nurse. Let''s first take care of Mr. Parker''s situation. You can try to call Millie.¡±

    Seeing how helpless Mrs. Parker was, Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathetic.

    She nced at Leslie and the two left the room to find nurses and doctors.

    Afterpleting the necessary procedures, Aurelia tried calling Millie again. However, the call went to voicemail once more.

    She looked at Leslie and asked, ¡°Mr. Synder, when you collided with Jackson¡¯s car before, did you

    12

    manage to get Jackson¡¯s phone number? Millie is wearing a diamond ring worth over twenty-eight thousand today, iming it¡¯s a

    gift from Jackson. | think they might be together.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Jackson has been confined to his home by his father sincest night. His father is preparing his paperwork

    for going abroad. How could he have given a diamond ring to Millie?¡± he

    said.

    This information came directly from Jackson''s father when he personally came to apologize for the car incident, so it couldn¡¯t be

    false.

    Aurelia was taken aback. ¡°You know that much?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Mr. Xenos mentioned it,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°Then... Did Millie really buy that diamond ring herself? Why is she doing this?¡± Aurelia inquired.

    ¡°Because she¡¯s ashamed,¡± Leslie responded bluntly.

    ¡°Isn''t dignity something earned through one¡¯s own efforts? What''s the point in depending on loans and men?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°How many people are willing to work diligently after obtaining things without paying a price?¡± be replied.

    Leslie was right.

    Millie had had a taste of the glorious life she could obtain from Jackson, so how could she ever want to return to an ordinary life?

    Jackson was merely having fun, but she took it seriously and became increasingly blinded by it

    Now that Jackson was traveling overseas, she started borrowing money to continue a luxurious lifestyle.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Aurelia felt a headacheing on. ¡°What should we do now then? Are we supposed to just stand idly by?¡±

    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t go beyond our capabilities to help. If you mess up, this will all be your fault.

    ¡°You just mentioned that Millie bought a diamond ring that cost around 28 thousand dors. If it''s new and from a designer brand,

    it can still be sold. All her designer brand products can be sold as well.

    ¡°That should be enough to help her father,¡± Leslie said as he looked at her.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t own any designer brand products and didn¡¯t know they could be sold. She saw hope the moment Leslie gave his

    suggestion.

    ¡°Alright. | will tell Mrs. Parker now.¡± She hurried over to Mrs. Parker and told her that the luxury items could be sold.

    Mrs. Parker nodded. ¡°I saw a lot of purses and clothes in Millie¡¯s closet. Can those really be sold?¡±

 Chapter 250

    Chapter 250

    Aurelia nodded and nced at Leslie.

    Leslie spoke in aposed tone, ¡°In Seacester, there are several legitimate luxury item recycling centers. You can take these

    items for evaluation, and the transaction should bepleted on the spot. It¡¯s best not to dy. It¡¯s challenging to estimate the

    interest on online loans.¡±

    140 thousand was not a small sum for ordinary people, andpound interest was especially dreadful.

    Mrs. Parker pointed at Leslie and asked, ¡°Aurelia, who is this?¡±

    Aurelia realized she had forgotten to introduce Leslie. ¡°Mrs. Parker, this is my husband, Leslie.¡±

    After sizing Leslie up, Mrs. Parker turned to Aurelia and said, ¡°he looks much more reliable than the one before. You have good

    taste.¡±

    Aurelia felt a bit embarrassed and said, ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Parker.¡±

    Leslie felt strangely content after hearing thispliment. Though he rarely meddled in others¡¯ affairs, he took the initiative to

    speak.

    ¡°| have a colleague who knows a reliable recycling organization. I''ll ask him toe and take you home to pack your things and

    then go for an evaluation. If you think the price is right, sell it.¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay. Thank you, Leslie. But what about this ce?¡± Mrs. Parker worriedly looked at her

    husband on the hospital bed.

    ¡°Mrs. Parker, you go. Leslie and | will stay here. If anything happens, we''ll call you immediately.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, thank you so much for today. | don¡¯t know what to say.¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Parker, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Aurelia smiled at her.

    Mrs. Parker was relieved. After ten minutes, Daniel came to take Mrs. Parker away.

    Watching Daniel¡¯s back, Aurelia¡¯s doubts deepened.

    ¡°Leslie, Mr. Xenos seems to listen to you.¡±

    ¡°We''ve known each other for many years.¡±

    That was true. After all, Daniel was his first assistant, and they had been spending time together until

    now.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    Aurelia nodded in realization.

    Spotting no doubt on her face, Leslie felt something indescribable in his heart.

    ¡°You...¡±

    He was about to test Aurelia¡¯s opinion on his identity when Mr. Parker¡¯s machine started beeping

    Chante 250

    with an rm.

    The doctor rushed over. ¡°It''s a cardiac arrhythmia. Hurry! Prepare for resuscitation.¡±

    Aurelia was momentarily stunned, and Leslie pulled her away to wait outside the curtain.

    They listened to the sounds of the defibrition, and Aurelia held her breath.

    Fortunately, the doctor came out after a while, looking a little exhausted.

    ¡°He¡¯s alright now.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Are you his family? The patient¡¯s condition is quite severe, and we believe that there are other issues with his heart. We''ll need

    to perform a thorough body check, so please be prepared.¡±

    ¡°Please go ahead with the body check then.¡± Aurelia didn¡¯t hesitate. Nothing was more important than a person''s life.

    ¡°Alright. We''ll start the preparations.¡± The doctors and nurses left a few words of reminder before leaving.

    Aurelia turned around to find Leslie frowning. ¡°Mr. Synder, what''s wrong?¡±

    ¡°It''s nothing.¡±

    He didn¡¯t have the heart to tell her the truth when he saw the concerned look on her face.

    Millie was blinded by the glorious fantasy she had been living. If her father actually had a severe heart disease, would she do

    whatever it took to help her father like Aurelia did for her mother?

    They could only hope that Millie¡¯s father was merely suffering from a minor issue, or the situation

    would escte further.

 Chapter 251

    Aurelia and Leslie worked tirelessly toplete all the necessary examinations for Mr. Parker,

    Since it was an emergency room report, it came out faster than regr reports.

    The doctor received the report, narrowed his eyes, and shook his head solemnly.

    He spoke slowly, using many professional terms,

    He mentioned arterial narrowing, angina, and even stents and coronary artery bypass grafting

    Aurelia listened and frowned.

    She didn¡¯t really understand what the doctor was saying.

    ¡°The doctor means that Millie¡¯s father needs surgery. The choice between a stent and bypass surgery depends on the family¡¯s

    decision. One is cheaper, and the other is more expensive,¡± Leslie exined as he approached her.

    ¡°How much?¡± she asked.

    ¡°There are domestic and imported stents, but they usually only cost a few thousand. As for coronary artery bypass surgery, it

    should be in the tens of thousands.¡±

    The doctor nced at Leslie and nodded.

    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s correct. The patient''s blood vessels are rtively narrow. However, there are many blockages, which is very

    dangerous. | hope the family can make a decision as soon as possible.¡±

    Aurelia scratched her head in distress.

    She couldn''t bear to see Mr. Parker in this condition, especially considering her own experience with

    her mother¡¯s critical illness.

    Aurelia hesitated to speak. She was thinking of Millie¡¯s recent changes.

    ¡°Doctor, we¡¯re not the patient¡¯s direct rtives. We can¡¯t make such a big decision. Let¡¯s wait for his wife and daughter toe

    before deciding.¡±

    The doctor nced at the report, then at the patient with a frown.

    ¡°Contact his immediate family as soon as possible. The patient''s condition might get dangerous at any given moment.¡±

    Aurelia nodded and watched the doctor leave.

    As she turned around, Leslie was standing straight at the foot of the bed, looking at her..

    ¡°Mr. Synder, do you think I¡¯m heartless? It¡¯s a matter of life and death, and I¡¯m still hesitating.¡±

    Leslie slowly walked to her side, raised his hand, and petted her head.

    Thank 263

    212

    ¡°you''ve already done well. This isn¡¯t your duty or responsibility,¡±

    His movements were gentle, and his palm was warm.

    Its warmth spread all the way to Aure¡¯s heart.

    She felt a lump in her throat,

    Ever since her father passed away, Seth showed his true face.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    During that period of the rtionship, she frequently doubted herself.

    She didn¡¯t tell her mother as she didn¡¯t want her to worry.

    Hence, she always just kept it all to herself.

    Leslie was the only one who saw through her pretenses and helped her whenever she needed.

    Leslie was different, but she couldn''t quite exin how.

    Still, this wasn¡¯t the time for these thoughts.

    She nced at Leslie.

    ¡°Till try giving Millie another call.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Leslie felt that Mrs. Parker couldn¡¯t make the decision so Millie had to make the call.

    Millie couldn¡¯t be reached. So Aurelia had to call her colleague and asked them to pass on the message

    to Millie.

    The colleague she called knew the urgency of the situation and promised to call Millie right away.

    Even so, they ended up waiting for another hour before Millie finally showed up.

    Before she arrived, the machine connected to Mr. Parker started ringing again.

    Startled, Aurelia felt a little helpless. Luckily, she had Leslie by ber side.

 Chapter 252

    The doctor rushed into the room.

    He tried rescuing Mr. Parker but after a while, he spoke up.

    ¡°It''s toote, take him to the operation room.¡±

    Mr. Parker had just wheeled into the operation room when Millie arrived carrying arge LV shopping

    bag.

    Aurelia stood frozen in ce and red angrily at Millie.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Only after inquiring about the situation with a nurse, did Millie finally believe the severity of her

    father¡¯s condition.

    Upon hearing that her father was being rushed into the operating room, she rushed over with the shopping bag in hand.

    Just as she noticed Aurelia staring at her dumbfounded, Millie angrily approached and delivered a resounding p.

    Aurelia¡¯s head tilted, and the sound of the p echoed in the corridor.

    She was utterly stunned.

    Even those who were just passing by were shocked.

    No one expected Millie to resort to violence.

    ¡°Aurelia! Why didn¡¯t you send my dad into surgery? You made him critically ill! You just can¡¯t stand seeing me do well, can you?

    You wretched woman!¡±

    Millie raised her hand for another p.

    But this time, she wasn¡¯t as fortunate.

    Before her p couldnd, Leslie grabbed her wrist and twisted it.

    The shopping bag in Millie''s hand fell to the ground and a new purse rolled out.

    ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me! If my purse gets dirty, you''ll be in trouble!¡± Millie protested.

    ¡°Your dad is critically ill because you upset him. Yet you¡¯re going around buying purses. Who''s the one really harming your dad?¡±

    Leslie said coldly.

    Hearing that, the crowd around them began pointing and whispering insults at Millie.

    Unable to stand the scrutiny, Millie shouted loudly.

    ¡°Nonsense! The nurse said that my dad needed surgery right away, but she didn¡¯t agree to it. She lost her dad, so she wants me

    to lose mine as well! She¡¯s a vicious woman!¡±

    212

    ¡°She isn¡¯t your father¡¯s daughter. She has no responsibility nor right to decide if your father gets surgery,¡± Leslie said coldly.

    The people around nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Huh? | thought they were sisters. Turns out, she isn¡¯t even a part of her family? How on earth is she supposed to make such a

    call?¡±

    ¡°Thisdy was the one who rushed the patient to the hospital. | was right next to her. | think they said that the dad had a cardiac

    arrest because of a fight with his daughter. The dad was in critical condition while his daughter was out shopping. He sure raised

    an ungrateful daughter.¡±

    ¡°Youngdy, you can¡¯t talk to your friend like that. She and her husband have been working so hard to save your father. You¡¯re

    asking her to make the call for your father¡¯s surgery now. But what are you going to do if something happens to your father?¡±

    Seeing everyone was siding with Aurelia, Millie bit her lip and red at Aure with seething hatred.

    ¡°Don''t be fooled by her. She just doesn¡¯t want to spend the money. Why else would she deny the surgery after learning how

    much it cost? She ims to be my best friend, yet backstabs me at chance. Now, she¡¯s trying to harm my dad. I''ll teach you a

    lesson for that!¡±

    But Millie couldn¡¯t move with Leslie grabbing her arm, so she started throwing a tantrum.

    At this, the crowd couldn''t tell who was in the wrong.

    Aurelia¡¯s cheek hurt as she listened to Millie¡¯s tantrum.

    She stared at Millie coldly.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, let her go. We don¡¯t need to stoop down to her level.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t like the person who cried the loudest was the correct one.

    Leslie pushed Millie away and looked at Aurelia.

    Fo

    ¡°Till go

    wash my hands. She¡¯s filthy¡±

    Upon hearing that, Millie¡¯s face paled and stopped crying.

    She red at Aurelia from across the corridor.

    Once Leslie was gone, Aurelia didn¡¯t bother to speak to Millie.

    She watched as Millie picked up her purse and carefully checked on it, before trying it on.

    She could not understand why Millie was willing to put up this facade.

    Millie even seemed unfazed despite the fact that her father was still in operation.

    She wasn''t like this in the past.

 Chapter 253

    Chapter 253

    As things settled down, Millie sensed Aurelia¡¯s gaze and looked up with a smile.

    ¡°Aurelia, let¡¯s be honest. Despite everything you¡¯ve done, you''re just jealous of me, right? After all, your husband can¡¯tpare

    with Jackson at all,¡± Millie said smugly.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t bother responding

    However, Millie believed she had hit a nerve and continued.

    ¡°Jackson''s family owns apany, while your husband is just an ordinary worker. You¡¯re just trying to stop me from marrying

    Jackson, right? Well, sorry to break it to you but Jackson and | will always be together.¡±

    Aurelia found her tone peculiar, but couldn¡¯t quite decipher her intentions at the moment.

    Just then, Aurelia felt a chilling sensation on her swollen cheek.

    She flinched, only to realize there was something on her face.

    It was an ice pack.

    Seeing Leslie holding up an ice pack, Aurelia eximed, ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to the restroom?¡±

    ¡°| passed by the nurse¡¯s station and got this. Otherwise, your face might still be swollen tomorrow,¡¯ he said nonchntly.

    Blushing, Aurelia reached out to take the ice pack.

    ¡°| can do it myself.¡±

    ¡°Can you see where it''s swollen?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Alright, fine. You do it.¡±

    Aurelia could only stand in front of Leslie, allowing him to apply the ice.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    But, she stood too far away, so he reached out and pulled her closer.

    Th

    ¡°Do | have poison on me again?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by ¡°again¡°?¡± she retorted.

    ¡°With how far you''re standing away from me s

    u

    Leslie said with a straight face.

    She tilted her face upward. ¡°Is this okay?¡±

    might think that I¡¯m venomous or something,

    ¡°Yeah, at least | don¡¯t have to keep looking at the top of your head.¡±

    Aurelia raised an eyebrow and gave him a stare.

    Chase 253

    Across them, Millie tightly clenched her new purse.

    The vanity and joy she felt when buying the purse hadpletely vanished.

    She felt devastated watching how Leslie cared for Aurelia.

    Why had Jackson never treated her like this?

    She was the only one that considered herself his girlfriend.

    Jackson never refused or acknowledged anything

    Whenever he had urges, he would call her.

    They''d have a nice dinner together, spend the night, and the next day he¡¯d buy her a moderately expensive but not too pricey

    bag and clothes.

    Initially, she felt like she was living in a dream.

    But over time, she realized that she had unknowingly sold her body away.

    She was afraid to cross Jackson and had to meet his needs even when she was feeling unwell.

    She feared that he would abandon her and she would have to return to her ordinary life.

    As Jackson grew more impatient with her, she became increasingly anxious.

    In order to keep the spotlight on herself, she could only do so by directing attention toward her.

    She bought gifts for Jackson and bought designer¡ªbrand products for herself.

    At first, it only cost a little.

    Eventually, it kept snowballing, and it ended with her getting online loans.

    She knew that they were dangerous, but she didn¡¯t want to lose what she had.

    She thought she could get Jackson to fall for her, but now he wouldn¡¯t even meet her.

    This was all Aurelia¡¯s fault.

    If Aurelia didn¡¯tpete with her and drew Jackson¡¯s attention, she would never end up in such a

    state.

    Aurelia, on the other hand, got rid of her horrible ex-boyfriend andnded a handsome man who owned a house and a car.

    Not only was her husband caring, but even her mother-inw liked her to the point that she would lend expensive jewelry to

    Aurelia.

    This brought back memories of her meeting Jackson''s mother.

    That day, Jackson was ignoring her. So, she went to wait for him outside his office.

    To her surprise, she ran into his mother.

 Chapter 254

    She could never forget the contemptuous look on Mrs. Morrison''s face when she introduced herself as Jackson¡¯s girlfriend.

    ¡°Girlfriend? Which one? You seem a little dim-witted, youngdy,¡± Mrs. Morrison said before leaving with her bodyguards.

    Millie thought that she must''ve dressed too inly.

    So, she went to buy a set of designer brand clothing after that.

    Looking at Aurelia now, she was just wearing a simple dress.

    Why did she get the approval of her mother-inw?

    As Millie sank deep in thought, a doctor stepped out of the operation room.

    ¡°Are the patient¡¯s immediate family members here?¡±

    Millie immediately snapped out of her thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m his daughter.¡±

    ¡°He is out of the critical state now. This is the perfect timing for the surgery. You need to make a decision whether you want a

    stent and bypass surgery. We also need time to prepare.¡±

    ¡°H... How much will it cost?¡± Millie asked hesitantly.

    ¡°Just prepare around 14 thousand for now.¡± The doctor estimated a figure.

    Aconflicted look appeared on Millie¡¯s face.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    ncing at the expensive purse she was carrying, the doctor urged, ¡°Well?¡±

    Millie dug her nails into the purse and asked, ¡°Doctor, since my dad is safe for now, can we just opt for minimal treatment?¡±

    The doctor frowned.

    He reminded her, ¡°Your father has been in critical states twice since he was admitted. His

    allow him to handle much more. You better consider this carefully.¡±

    ¡°|... | think | will opt for the minimal treatment.¡± Millie bowed her head.

    Infuriated by what she heard, Aurelia rushed forward.

    However, someone beat her to it and gave Millie a heavy p across the face.

    Millie stared at the person before her and spoke in a trembling voice, ¡°Mom...¡±

    ¡°You''re not my daughter!¡±

    age won''t

    Mrs. Parker pushed her away and turned to the doctor. ¡°Doctor, we''ll pay right away. Please save my

    husband.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, a bitging surgery would be more appropriate for the current situation. Given the recent critical condition, inserting a

    stent may only provide a temporary solution.¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay. We''ll follow your advice, I''ll go pay now.¡± Mrs. Parker sald while sobbing.

    The doctor called a nurse for assistance and then entered the operation room.

    Mrs. Parker, who usually doted on Millie, turned and red at her daughter.

    ¡°Millie, do you know what you just said?¡±

    ¡°Mom, you''ve already pped me. If there¡¯s anything you want to say, we can talk about itter. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself in front

    of so many people.¡± Millie turned away.

    Just then, her mother noticed the bag in Millie¡¯s hand.

    Her eyes reddened in anger and she eximed, ¡°You bought another purse! Where did you get the money?¡±

    Millie pressed her lips together and remained silent.

    your

    ¡°These purses cost thousands each, and you bought a whole wardrobe of them. Yet, when dad needed surgery, you stood by

    and did nothing. Have you lost all sense of decency?¡± Mrs. Parker asked.

    Millie was taken aback.

    How did her mom know how much they cost?

    Normally, she would make up prices whenever her mom asked.

    She violently turned her head and looked at Aurelia.

    ¡°Was it you? It must be you who told my mom about this! Aurelia! Are you trying to kill me?¡±

    Aurelia frowned.

    But before she could say anything, Leslie stepped in front of her.

    He gave Millie a disdainful look.

    ¡°Aren''t you the person who¡¯s trying to kill yourself and your own father?¡±

    ¡°Who are you to lecture me? Do you even know who | am?¡± Millie shouted.

    ¡°| know. You''re the woman Jackson doesn¡¯t want,¡± he said calmly.

    ¡°Nonsense! Shut up!¡± Millie¡¯s eyes

    reddened.

    ¡°Do you know how much it cost to book the entire Japanese restaurant we dined in?¡± Leslie asked calmly.

    Millie was taken aback and looked at him in puzzlement.

    ¡°Based on the menu prices from yesterday, Jackson spent 17 thousand. Judging from the gifts he

    Chapter 254

    bought for you, none of them cost over seven thousand. Do you not get it? To him, you aren¡¯t even worth seven thousand.

    There¡¯s no way that he would spend 17 thousand to please you.¡±

 Chapter 255

    17 thousand?

    Aurelia looked at Leslie in disbelief.

    Judging from his expression, he wasn¡¯t lying.

    Jackson had actually spent 17 thousand to book the entire restaurant.

    Clearly, Millie hadn¡¯t anticipated this either.

    Her face turned pale, but she quickly regainedposure.

    Sheughed coldly and said, ¡°He didn¡¯t do it for Aurelia. Jackson booked the restaurant for me! Don¡¯t get ahead of yourselves!

    He loves me!¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡±

    Mrs. Parker couldn''t bear to watch Millie any longer.

    ¡°This has nothing to do with Aurelia. I¡¯ve sold the items in your closet. Had | not done so, | wouldn¡¯t have known you were hiding

    nearly over a hundred thousand at home. You took out loans just to buy these things, yet you won''t even spend money to save

    your dad¡¯s life!¡±

    ¡°Mom! What are you saying? You sold my things? Why? Those were gifts from Jackson! What right do you have ah!¡±

    Before Millie could finish her sentence, she received a p on the face.

    This time, it wasn¡¯t from her mom. It was from Aurelia.

    ¡°Did that wake you up?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Aurelia! Ah!¡±

    Aurelia delivered another p.

    ¡°The first one is a payback for the p you gave me. This one is from me personally!¡±

    ¡°Arev

    you insane?¡± Millie was at a loss for words.

    ¡°Wake up! You haven''t married Jackson yet, and you''re already burdening your entire family with an enormous debt! What do

    you have left? Will Jackson help you? He¡¯s leaving the country soon, you think he would help you then?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Who says he won''t help me? I''ll go with him in a few days.¡± Millie smiled.

    ¡®Are you insane? Your dad needs you by his side right now, and you want to go abroad with Jackson? Do you know how much

    money that requires?¡± she questioned.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Just because you''re broke doesn¡¯t mean | can¡¯t afford it.¡±

    Millie turned to her mom, holding out her hand.

    ¡°Mom, you said you sold my things. Where¡¯s the money?¡±

    Mrs. Parker looked at Millie with despair.

    ¡°You... What are you saying?¡±

    Millic frowned.

    ¡°Give me back my money. Don¡¯t worry, Mom. Our good days are still ahead.¡±

    Mrs. Parker stared at Millie, finally epting that her once cheerful and considerate daughter is gone.

    ¡°Thanks to Mr. Synder¡¯s help, | managed to sell them at a pretty good price. | used some of the money to pay off some of your

    loans, and the rest will be used for your dad¡¯s treatment.¡±

    ¡°You''re lying! | don¡¯t believe you!¡±

    Millie took out her phone and tried logging into her parents¡® bank ount to check the bnce.

    However, no matter how she tried, the login password was always wrong.

    ¡°I''ve already changed the password. Since you aren¡¯t reliable anymore, | have to start looking after my savings myself. Oh, | sold

    the ring you secretly kept in the drawer too.¡±

    Millie¡¯s eyes shed with anger and she stormed up to her mother.

    ¡°You sold my ring? That was my engagement ring!¡±

    ¡°Engagement? With whom? The receipt in the box showed you bought it yourself. Did you propose to yourself?¡± Mrs. Parker

    said.

    Millie cried. ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you understand me? | need to present myself in a certain way to gain recognition from Jackson¡¯s

    family!¡±

    Mrs. Parker was sick of reprimanding Millie and frowned in silence.

    Seeing as her mother wouldn''t help her, Millie walked up to Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, you were the one who told my mom to sell my things, right? Who do you think you are? Pay me back all my money!

    Hand it over!¡±

    ¡°What are you, a bandit? Do you really think I¡¯m a pushover? You im to be Jackson¡¯s soon-to-be wife, so all that money

    shouldn¡¯t mean much to you. Are the Morrisons actually really poor, or are they refusing to acknowledge you?¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t mince her words.

    Leslie raised an eyebrow and gave her an approving look.

    From the beginning, Millie¡¯s words were contradictory and unreasonable.

    The fact that she had to make a loan to look like she was living a luxurious life proved that her

    Chapter 255

    rtionship with Jackson wasing to an end.

    ¡°Aurelia, my mom is easily influenced. Your husband was the one who told her to sell my stuff. If the two of you don¡¯t pay me

    back that money right now, you aren''t stepping out of this hospital!¡± Millie

    shouted in frustration.

 Chapter 256

    Aurelia felt like she was dealing with a madwoman, someone impervious to reason or simply unwilling to listen.

    She nced at Mrs. Parker and said, ¡°Mrs. Parker, it¡¯s alreadyte. We''ll head back first.¡±

    Mrs. Parker was tired but hesitant to impose on others further. ¡°Aurelia, thank you so much today.

    You head back first.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia looked at Leslie, and they turned to leave.

    However, Millie immediately grabbed Aurelia.

    ¡°You can¡¯t leave! Give me back the money! You have an emerald ne worth over 200 thousand, that should be enough!¡±

    Caught off guard, Aurelia nearly stumbled.

    Leslie was prepared and had walked behind her.

    He swiftly pulled her into his embrace.

    Still shaken, Aurelia heard Leslie¡¯s stern voice.

    ¡°Let go! | never mentioned that | wouldn¡¯t hit a woman.¡±

    Without warning, there was a snapping sound.

    While Millie¡¯s arm wasn¡¯t broken, Leslie had clearly caused her considerable pain.

    Jealous and resentful, Millie released her grip.

    Simultaneously, Leslie let go of Millie.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Aurelia clenched her bag strap and red at Millie.

    ¡°Millie, after all you¡¯ve said, you¡¯ve been plotting to take my emerald ne all along. Let me make

    it clear¡ªI don¡¯t owe you anything!¡±

    With that, Aurelia pulled Leslie out of the hospital.

    Once outside, she sighed heavily.

    She took out and set her phone aside repeatedly, unsure of what to do.

    Walking beside her, Leslie asked, ¡°Are you thinking of sending the Parkers some money?¡±

    Startled, she mumbled, ¡°You really don¡¯t miss anything. Millie said she wants to follow Jackson abroad. In the past, I''d thought of

    it as a joke. But after what she did today, | feel she¡¯s capable of doing it. If she really left, what will happen to Mr. and Mrs.

    Parker? We used to be close and her

    parents treated me well.¡¯

    ¡°Then do it,¡± Leslie said calmly.

    212

    ¡°You won¡¯t mock me, will you? This money was the one sent by you before. I¡¯ve been tight on living expenses recently, so...

    ¡°Why would | mock you? They¡¯ve treated you well. There¡¯s no need to resent them because of Millie. Besides, the money | gave

    you is yours now.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia sighed a breath of relief and observed him in secret.

    She didn¡¯t want Leslie to think that she was a pushover and was wasting money.

    But, observing him,he didn¡¯t seem bothered.

    Confirming Leslie¡¯s opinion, Aurelia sent Mrs. Parker a few hundred bucks.

    It wasn¡¯t much, but it was enough to show that she cared.

    She suddenly realized that having someone mentally stable next to her makes everything so much. more simpler.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, are you hungry? I''ll treat you to a meal.¡±

    She ran some calctions in her head.

    ¡°We''ve exceeded our budget this month, so we can¡¯t go for anything expensive.¡±

    ¡°You choose.¡±

    Leslie wasn¡¯t at all annoyed at how she calcted each penny spent.

    She nodded and started looking around.

    time.

    Suddenly, a car darted out from the side and Leslie pulled her to his side in t

    He grabbed her hand and led her forward.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia followed behind him.

    Not far away, Millie clenched her fists maliciously.

    In her mind, Aurelia ruined her happiness.

    She doesn¡¯t have any right to be happy!

 Chapter 257

    Aure and Leslie had a simple meal at a small restaurant.

    By the time they reached home, it was already half past eleven.

    After a shower, Aueid in bed, exhausted.

    She soon drifted off to sleep and had an odd dream.

    In her dream, she was dressed in a white wedding dress.

    She took step after step on a long red carpet.

    Observing the groom ahead of her, she picked up

    The groom was a tall man.

    her pace.

    The only man she knew with that height would be Leslie.

    Was it him?

    She reached his side and looked up, only to be terrified by what she saw.

    The groom didn¡¯t have a face.

    The muscles on his face were moving as though he was trying to say something.

    ¡°Pay me back. Pay me back...¡±

    She jolted awake and sat on her bed, panting.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    Just then, someone knocked on her door.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Nothing. | just had a bad dream,¡± she said.

    Taking a deep breath, she got up and changed.

    When she stepped out of her room, she found Leslie waiting outside.

    Taken aback, she asked hesitantly, ¡°Mr. Synder, were you... waiting for me?¡±

    He observed the look on her face and turned around.

    ¡°You''re overthinking it. It¡¯s just a coincidence.¡±

    She scratched her head in embarrassment.

    ¡°Oh. I''ll go wash up and make us breakfast. Go have a seat first.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I''ve ordered us some food. It should arrive soon,¡± he said.

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia paused and turned to look at Leslie.

    Was he being considerate since she was still tired from yesterday?

    Leslie sensed her gaze and said, ¡°I was tired from yesterday too. | don¡¯t want to do the dishes today.¡±

    ¡°Oh, | see.¡±

    Aurelia nodded while studying Leslie.

    He was tall, well-built, and good-looking.

    She was quite surprised that he had such low stamina.

    On second thought, it seemed to make sense.

    He was a programmer who often stayed upte working.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Leslie felt her piercing gaze.

    ¡°Huh? Nothing. I''ll go wash up.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to tell Leslie what she thought, so she evaded the topic.

    After Aurelia was done washing up, Leslie had already prepared the breakfast that had been delivered

    ¡°Come and eat breakfast.¡±

    He took a sip of a cup of coffee.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia looked at the table and salivated at the sight of hot soup, fresh-made bread, and pastries.

    Leslie must have spent quite a bit on this.

    She took a sip of the soup and wondered when she would get paid.

    Should she try to help improve Leslie¡¯s stamina?

    ¡°Mr. Synder, are there any ingredients you don¡¯t like?¡± she asked gingerly.

    ¡°Such as?¡± Leslie casually asked.

    ¡°Such as... Codonopsis? Cordyceps? Pig liver? Red dates? Also, are there certain parts of beef you don¡¯t like?¡±

    Aurelia listed examples one by one.

    It was summer now, so she couldn''t cook with overly rich ingredients.

    Astew seemed perfect and all the ingredients she mentioned could be used to make stews.

    Herbs were a bit expensive.

    But since Leslie and Linda treated her well, she didn¡¯t mind spending money on them.

    Leslie raised an eyebrow when he heard about Cordyceps, and his face darkened at the mention of

    Chapter 257

    certain beef parts.

    He put down the coffee and asked seriously, ¡°Am | pregnant?¡±

    ¡°No, who would eat bull testicles when they¡¯re pregnant?¡± Aure blurted out without thinking.

    He raised an eyebrow at her and restrained augh.

    ¡°Bull testicles? It seems like you are trying to boost my stamina.¡±

    Aurelia shrunk under his gaze.

    ¡°You said you were too tired, right? Bull testicles are good for replenishing energy, especially for someone who stays upte

    frequently like you.¡±

    ¡°You seem to know quite a bit,¡± Leslie said in amusement.

    ¡°Well, are you going to eat them?¡± Aurelia looked at him seriously.

    ¡°What do you think? I¡¯m doing well, very well. | don¡¯t need them,¡± Leslie emphasized.

 Chapter 258

    ¡°Oh, then what about...¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, are you going to eat that?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s mine.¡±

    She lowered her head and continued to eat.

    It was fine if he didn¡¯t want it. She could save money that way.

    Still, she wondered if maybe he was just shy.

    With that thought in mind, she lifted her gaze to steal a nce at him.

    Leslie sighed and nced at her.

    ¡°Do you need me to prove myself to you?¡±

    Both of them were taken aback by his words.

    Leslie had always been cold and distant, so he would never say something like that.

    He was shocked himself.

    Aurelia bowed her head, flushing to the point that even her ears were red.

    ¡°It''s fine. You don¡¯t have to."

    How else could a man prove that he had good stamina?

    After a few moments of silence, Leslie sensed the weird atmosphere and changed the subject.

    ¡°What kind of nightmare did you have? Why were you so frightened?¡±

    ¡°Well... | dreamt of someone asking me to pay them back.¡±

    Aurelia paused before deciding to only tell him thetter half of the dreamt

    If she told him that they were in a wedding together, Leslie might not be able to finish his coffee.

    Confused, Leslie asked, ¡°Pay them back?¡±

    She pouted.

    ¡°I''ve never had this kind of dream before. | guess we talked about money so much yesterday that it got stuck in my mind.¡±

    She decided to not think much of it.

    Getting up, she said, ¡°I need to go now. | won¡¯t make lunchboxes today.¡±

    He nodded. ¡°Sure.¡±

    With that, she took her purse and left home.

    When Aurelia arrived at thepany, she received a call from Mrs. Parker.

    She stopped walking and answered her phone.

    ¡°Aurelia, have you reached your office? | wanted to meet you earlier, but | decided to wait until you. started your day considering

    how exhausted you were yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Parker, | just arrived at thepany. Is everything okay with Mr. Parker?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°The surgery was a sess. He seems to be out of the woods for now. I¡¯m truly grateful to you and Leslie for this.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank us. I¡¯m just d Mr. Parker is fine.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, you...

    Aurelia sensed her concern and prompted, ¡°Mrs. Parker, just tell me what y

    you need.¡±

    ¡°Now that you''re at thepany, can you check if Millie is there? She told me yesterday that she wants to go abroad. We had an

    argument and she left. | couldn¡¯t reach her on the phone this morning.

    Aurelia sighed softly as she heard Mrs. Parker sobbing and nced into the office.

    She spotted Millie fixing her makeup at her desk.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Parker. Millie is already at thepany.¡±

    Relieved, Mr. Parker said, ¡°Good. Thank you.

    ¡°No problem.¡± Aurelia talked with her a bit more before ending the call.

    She then went to her own desk.

    As soon as she sat down, she felt Millie''s gaze upon her.

    Aconcerned colleague went up to Millie and asked, ¡°Millie, is your father okay?"!

    ¡°He¡¯s fine. How could anything happen to my dad with Jackson around? I¡¯m just worried that some people might intentionally

    spread rumors and exaggerate things. They make a fuss about such trivial matters, almost as if everyone needs to know.¡±

    Millie spoke highly of Jackson but mocked Aurelia.

    Aurelia would have never contacted her colleague had Millie not blocked her number.

    Another colleague noticed that Millie¡¯s engagement ring was missing and asked, ¡°Millie, where¡¯s your ring?¡±

    Millie covered her hand and discreetly nced at Aurelia, afraid of what Aurelia might say.

    ¡°Jackson said it¡¯s too small, so he won''t let me wear it. He¡¯s nning to customize a new one for me when we''re abroad,¡± she

    said hastily.

 Chapter 259

    Chapter 259

    The colleague¡¯s expressions revealed a mix of emotions.

    They chuckled and walked back to their seat, no longer jealous of Millie.

    Seeing theck of cooperation from her colleagues, Millie continued, ¡°Why is everyone so silent? Don¡¯t you all have questions?

    What type of ring should | choose? How many carats?¡±

    Agossip¡ªloving colleague made a sly remark.

    ¡°Well, Kimberly lost her ring too. She¡¯s not talking about her fianc¨¦ anymore. What a coincidence, Did Jackson break up with you

    as well?¡±

    Laughter ensued.

    Everyone could tell from the incident at the Japanese restaurant that Jackson had no intentions of marrying Millie.

    They knew anything rted to marriage was just fabricated.

    Millie red at her colleagues, then turned her gaze to Kimberly.

    Kimberly''s expression darkened, and she feignedposure while rubbing her temples.

    ¡°My uncle said the guy was too old, so he¡¯s nning to find me a new fianc¨¦. Given my family¡¯s conditions, it''s not like | have to

    settle for anything less. Don¡¯t justpare anyone to me.*

    Millie''s expression paled.

    She hadn¡¯t expected Kimberly to betray her as well.

    Kimberly still remembered Millie mocking her at the Japanese restaurant, so she had no intention of

    helping Millie now.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She overlooked Millie¡¯s rudeness because she was trying to help Jackson win Aurelia over.

    Unexpectedly, the incident at the restaurant had rmed Jackson¡¯s father, and now Jackson was being pressured to go abroad.

    With that said, Millie was useless and Kimberly wasn¡¯t inclined to y along with her anymore.

    People heard what Kimberly said, stifled theirughter, and started ignoring Millie.

    Unable to bear it any longer, Millie ran out the office.

    Aurelia sighed, not wanting to get involved in the disputes between Millie and Kimberly.

    She lowered her head and continued working.

    Ever since she secured the project with One Technology, her work has been exceptionally smooth and manypanies sought

    her out.

    Chapter 259

    2/3

    Given the rapid development of her career, her sry would soon double and the Issues betweeri Kimberly and Millie seemed

    insignificant inparison.

    At noon, everyone went downstairs for lunch.

    Aurelia ordered takeout and went to the restroom after finishing.

    When she returned and sat down, she felt something was wrong with her chair.

    seemed to have been moved.

    Her desk was close to the wall.

    To avoid hitting the wall when standing up and making noise, she had developed a habit of getting up while holding the chair in

    ce.

    But now, the chair was almost touching the wall.

    She rubbed her temples, thinking she might be too sensitive due to recent events.

    Shortly after, her colleagues returned from lunch, and Aurelia didn¡¯t pay much attention to the chair

    incident.

    Two days passed uneventfully.

    Aurelia did a final check at the venue for One Technology¡¯s opening ceremony.

    Looking at the futuristic tech-themed decor built through her hard work, she felt a surge of

    excitement.

    She wanted to share it with someone.

    In the past, she would have taken photos for her social media or made a video to Millie to document

    her hard work.

    However, her current excitement was reserved for a certain someone.

    She picked up her phone and hesitated for a moment, ultimately dialing the number.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Leslie¡¯s calming voice came out.

    Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly snapped out of it.

    ¡°Well... The venue is ready. Would you like to check?¡±

    ¡°Is that all?¡± he asked.

    She pursed her lips.

    ¡°Am | bothering you? Forget it. I¡¯ll hang up now.¡±

    With that, she ended the call with a strange feeling within her.

    She felt somewhat disappointed and there was also another feeling that she couldn¡¯t describe.

    Shaking her head, she dismissed those emotions and went back to work.

    Meanwhile, in the meeting room in One Technology.

    Everyone looked at Leslie in shock.

    He was furious, yet his tone became extremely calm while talking on the phone.

    They couldn¡¯t help but wonder who called and how they managed to calm Leslie down so quickly.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Leslie said. ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Daniel was shocked. ¡°Adjourned? That¡¯s it?¡±

    Leslie got up and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to check on the event venue. You guys go on.¡±

    As soon as he heard the mention of the event venue, Daniel instantly knew who called.

    It had to be Aurelia.

    He smiled and said, ¡°Sure, of course.¡±

    Once Leslie left, everyone else turned to Daniel curiously.

 Chapter 260

    ¡°Who called the boss? Mr. Xenos?¡±

    Daniel tumed his head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°You know but you''re not telling us?¡± Everyone swarmed him.

    ¡°Wah!¡±

    Just as Aurelia was wiping her sweat, someone handed her a ss of cold water.

    She assumed it was from one of the staff.

    ¡°Thank you.

    ¡°This looks pretty good.¡±

    It was Leslie.

    She paused and turned around to look at him.

    He had unbuttoned three buttons on his shirt and rolled up his sleeves.

    The trousers he wore emphasized his slim, long legs.

    ¡°Mr. Sydner? | thought you weren¡¯ting.¡±

    ¡°Did you hear me say that?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Well...¡±

    ¡°You want me to check the ce, right? Aren¡¯t you going to give me a tour?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Aurelia smiled and led him to the center of the venue, before signaling at the staff who were resting.

    The staff gave her a thumbs-up and turned on the switch.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    Aurelia initially wanted Leslie to assess the overall effect, but the staff turned on the spotlight above them instead.

    The spotlights focused on them.

    Then came a wave of dazzling lights, resembling a scene from a romantic novel where a proposal takes ce.

    Aurelia looked at Leslie in bewilderment.

    Leslie observed the changing beams of light around them and said, ¡°Did you call me here for this, Aurelia? You''ve got quite the

    personal agenda.¡±

    Flustered, she identally stepped on the edge of the tform and began to fall backward.

    Leslie quickly reached out and pulled her back.

    In that instant, a bright spotlight shone down on them.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t see Leslie¡¯s expression due to the blinding lights.

    The surrounding crew members all apuded, but Aurelia was extremely embarrassed.

    Leslie wouldn''t think she brought him here just for this, would he?

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, you two look perfect together,¡± the staff said with a smile.

    Aurelia hastily straightened her back and pushed Leslie away.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, it¡¯s not like that. | just...¡±

    ¡°Just what?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Just...¡±

    Aurelia was about toe up with an excuse when she heard her phone ringing.

    She assumed that Zachary was calling to ask about the on-site situation and quickly answered.

    Unexpectedly, it was a colleague on the other end.

    ¡°Aurelia, hurry back to the office! Something big has happened. Your creditor hase to thepany and is causing a scene.¡±

    ¡°Creditor? What do you mean?¡± Aurelia eximed.

    ¡°Why did you borrow so much from online loans? Are you out of your mind? How is this any different from a usurious loan? If

    you''re in trouble, just say so. You didn¡¯t have to borrow money to buy a ne just topete with Millie.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Come back now! Ah! Don¡¯t break anything!¡±

    The phone call ended amid the shocked exmations of her colleague.

    Aurelia felt her blood running cold.

 Chapter 261

    By the time she snapped out of it, Leslie was already dragging her out of the venue.

    ¡°I''ll go with you,¡± he said.

    ¡°|... | didn¡¯t get a loan,¡± she exined.

    ¡°| know. You wouldn''t have to marry me otherwise.¡±

    He pushed her into the car.

    ¡°What''s going on?¡± Aurelia had heard of the word ¡°usurious loan¡± when she was young.

    Her neighbor at the time was addicted to gambling and borrowed money from the inte.

    At first, he managed to win and his family of three was happy for a time.

    However, he soon started losing.

    Reluctant to give up, he went for another loan.

    In the end, he lost his house and his wife left with their child.

    As for what became of the neighbor, sheter learned that he had his leg broken by one of his creditors and no one knew what

    happened afterward.

    From Aurelia¡¯s perspective, getting a usurious loan was the same as getting a death sentence.

    ata

    There was no way that she would ever get a loan.

    She really didn¡¯t know what was happening.

    Just as her expression paled and sank deep into her thoughts, someone handed her a bottle of water.

    ¡°I''m right here.¡±

    Leslie didn¡¯t raise his voice, yet it was powerful enough to calm her.

    She took a sip of water.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Synder.¡±

    Leslie didn¡¯t say much, but there was a hint of unreadable emotions in his eyes.

    At thepany, Aurelia noticed two vans parked downstairs.

    From the scary expression on the drivers¡® faces, she was sure they were the debt collectors.

    The driver nced at Aurelia and she stiffened.

    However, Leslie blocked the driver¡¯s line of sight and pulled her into the elevator.

    ¡°Are you okay? Do you need...¡± he asked.

    ¡°lcan handle it.¡±

    Aurelia clenched her fists and looked at Leslie.

    ¡°I''m not just acting tough. | genuinely can. | won''t let those people harm me.

    Leslie nodded.

    Watching Aurelia, he felt a strange tightness in his chest.

    It hurt a bit, but he chose to respect her.

    With him around, they couldn¡¯t cause much trouble here.

    When they reached the office door, Aurelia saw her colleagues huddled in a corner.

    Meanwhile, a group of burly men stood inside, acting aggressively.

    ¡°It''s only right to repay debts!¡±

    ¡°If the 200 thousand wasn¡¯t paid back today, none of you get to leave.¡±

    A tattooed man kicked over a paint bucket, and red paint flowed down the corridor toward the colleagues.

    Kimberly spotted Aurelia right away and pointed at her.

    ¡°Aurelia owes you money, not us! Go to her!¡±

    Millie trembled in fear and said, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s all her fault.¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    The tattooed man turned to look at Aurelia at the door and smirked.

    urend at

    ¡°The main character has finally arrived. Let''s calcte how much you owe. You borrowed 180 thousand from our website, and

    agreed to repay five thousand per day, and it¡¯s been overdue for three days. With interest, you now owe us 200 thousand.¡±

    The amount coincidentally matched the price of Aurelia¡¯s emerald ne.

    Was it just a coincidence?

    Aurelia found it strange, and surprisingly, Millie stepped forward.

    ¡°Aurelia, aren¡¯t you going too far? You borrowed money from such a shady website just topete. with me. These are loan

    sharks and you''re risking your life! Your mother is still in the hospital, and you are this greedy and vain?¡±

 Chapter 262

    Chapter 262

    Aurelia was utterly confused and her brain struggled to keep up with everything that is happening.

    Meanwhile, Leslie¡¯s gaze darkened as he stared at Millie.

    ¡°How do you know it¡¯s a shady website? These people don¡¯t have any proof of identity on them. It¡¯s obvious they''re debt

    collectors hired by the website. The paint they threw around was just a mixture of red dye and liquid, which can be cleaned

    without trace using alcohol.¡±

    Everyone, including the tattooed leader, was stunned.

    ¡°The vans downstairs belong to you, right? Next time you mix your paint, hide the dye better, and don¡¯t leave it on the

    windshield,¡± Leslie added.

    The tattooed leader and hisckeys were silent.

    Awkward.

    Leslie took the initiative to defuse the situation and Aurelia gradually regained herposure.

    She looked up at the leader.

    ¡°You said 1 borrowed money from you. What did | use to borrow money, and what procedures did you use to approve the loan?¡±

    ¡°Banks now all operate under real names. The bank transactions are clear at a nce. As aw- abiding citizen, the bank would

    inform me first if | received arge sum of money in my ount out of the blue. So where¡¯s the money?¡±

    The tattooed man was momentarily stunned as he didn¡¯t expect Aurelia to question him so calmly.

    They had harassed many people for payments, and most were scared witless.

    Regaining hisposure, the man quickly pulled out some documents and then smirked at Aurelia.

    ¡°See? This is a loan you applied for using your ID. All the information matches or we wouldn''t have found our way here. When

    we borrow someone this much money, we usually keep something to be our leverage. | believe you wouldn¡¯t want what we have

    leaking, right? So, you''d better pay up.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s heart sank.

    Leverage?

    She thought of the loans mentioned in the recent anti-fraud lecture, where some attractive girls took revealing photos for loans.

    She had always considered these things distant from her, only to find herself facing it at this moment.

    Before Aurelia could speak, Kimberly seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire.

    ¡°Aure, it¡¯s no wonder you''ve been getting new clothes and expensive jewelrytely. Your husband

    272

    was just an ordinary worker with a mortgage. Where did you get so much money? Looks like your wealthy mother-inw is also

    a sham.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia, you can¡¯t escape fate. In order topare yourself to others, you forced yourself into a situation like this. You¡¯ve

    frightened us all,¡± Millie chimed in with a mocking tone.

    The other colleagues exchanged nces, some revealing a hint of disdain In their eyes.

    ¡°Aurelia, we don¡¯t care if you got a loan, but your actions are affecting our safety. Go outside to talk

    this out.

    ¡°Yeah!¡±

    The tattooed man refused to oblige and sat down on a chair.

    ¡°No way. I''m not leaving here until Aurelia pays me back.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    He knew that office women cared most about how others saw them, so Aurelia would be forced into

    returning the money.

    Otherwise, she would be too embarrassed to stay in thispany once her naked photos were

    exposed.

    Instead of panicking, she opened her purse and poured everything out.

    Apart from a pen and notebook, there was a small makeup pouch and a rather old wallet.

    She opened the wallet and realized that her identification card was missing.

    Leslie nced at her and asked quietly, ¡°Have you always kept the card here?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said thoughtfully.

    ¡°| always have my purse with me. If | identally dropped it, | would¡¯ve dropped my wallet as well. The fact that only my ID is

    missing means that...¡±

    She didn¡¯t continue and nced at Leslie.

    ¡°Someone you know did this,¡± he said.

    Both Aurelia and Leslie came to the same conclusion as to who did it and turned to look in the same

    direction.

 Chapter 263

    Millie immediately hid behind her colleagues when she sensed their gaze on her.

    Aurelia walked up to the tattooed man, extending her hand.

    ¡°Let me see the loan agreement. How do | know if you forged the ID?¡±

    Loan sharks nowadays don¡¯t need an office.

    Transactions mostly urred through online loans and debt collection agencies would thene knocking.

    That¡¯s why IDs became especially crucial as it provided a pretext for high-interest lenders to im that the transaction was

    voluntary.

    The tattooed man handed over a copy, and Aurelia examined it.

    It indeed contained a scanned copy of her ID, making it difficult to argue as forgery.

    ¡°Let me see.¡±

    Leslie took the agreement.

    The tattooed man smirked.

    ¡°Do you get it now? It¡¯s in ck and white, with clear terms. There¡¯s even your signature.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not my signature. You don¡¯t even bother to verify the actual person¡¯s signature, so who are you to demand payment

    here? | have the right to sue you for forging signatures and fabricating debts, ¡°Aurelia retorted.

    ¡°Miss, don¡¯t y tricks with me. You youngdies think that denial can get you off the hook. We''re not fools. We also have those

    photos you took. Isn¡¯t this guy your husband? I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t want us to show those photos in public.¡±

    As he spoke, Millie stood up.

    ¡°Aurelia, you better repay the money quickly. If you can¡¯t, just sell your house. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself here.¡±

    Kimberly nced at Leslie, who had rejected her before and caused her great embarrassment.

    This was a perfect opportunity for payback.

    ¡°Leslie, you should be aware of this too, right? You wouldn¡¯t be able to afford dining in high-end restaurants otherwise with your

    sry.¡±

    ¡°You two are quite interesting. The wife borrows money by taking naked photos of herself, and the husband spends it

    shamelessly. | always said a pretty face couldn''t be trusted. It¡¯s a good thing that | didn¡¯t fall for you back then.¡± Kimberly

    sneered.

    Chanter 263

    23

    Leslie gave her a disdainful look.

    ¡°Of course, you fell for Mister Howard Carn Instead.¡±

    ¡°Why you...¡±

    Before Kimberly could figure out how to respond, Zachary and the boss arrived.

    Millie quickly stepped forward andined.

    ¡°Boss, Mister Zeller, | just advised Aurelia to either repay the money or quickly resolve the issue. Using us as human shields is

    too much, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Zachary frowned.

    ¡°Aurelia! Look at what you''ve done!¡±

    The boss was also furious.

    ¡°What exactly is going on here?¡±

    Millie immediately started ying the victim.

    ¡°I''m really sorry, boss. It¡¯s all my fault. Aurelia became jealous of me, so she borrowed money and acted like her husband was

    wealthy. The emerald ne she wore a few days ago was worth exactly 200 thousand ording to the experts. It matches

    the amount she borrowed. What a coincidence, right?¡±

    Kimberly chimed in, ¡°Boss, Aurelia has changed recently. She¡¯s be arrogant ever since she secured the contract from One

    Technology and today, she¡¯s caused an even bigger mess.¡±

    ¡°Alright. | don¡¯t care who changed. Aurelia now owes me and unless she pays, I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± the tattooed man said.

    The boss had never seen such a scene and was trembling all over.

    He pointed at Aurelia angrily.

    ¡°Get out! Get out right now!¡±

    Kimberly and Millie both smiled triumphantly behind the boss.

    Aurelia¡¯s expression darkened, but she didn¡¯t back down.

    ¡°| didn¡¯t borrow any money and that''s not my signature. | can prove my innocence by providing my bank records.¡±

    ¡°You can just take others¡® ounts as yours so that you can escape your responsibility,¡± Millie said.

    Aurelia looked coldly at her.

    ¡°You seem familiar with this. Have you done it before?¡±

    Millie pursed her lips and tensed, before gritting out, ¡°Don¡¯t shift the me to me and think that you

    Chapter 263

    can get away.¡±

    Aurelia could detect a hint of pleasure in Millie''s tone.

    Just then, Leslie set the agreement down and said, ¡°This agreement is not effective.¡±

    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 264

    ONE

    The tattooed man burst intoughter.

    ¡°Who do you think you are? Is it supposed to be ineffective just because you said so?¡±

    ¡°You illiterate fool, let me enlighten you. Your agreement has an interest rate several times higher than the national limit, which is

    against thew.¡±

    ¡°Furthermore, thepany seal is obviously fake. A fakepany with high-interest loans is

    evidence of usury. In addition to what you''re doing here with the paint, we have a perfect case for criminal activity here.¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    The tattooed man hadn''t expected someone to read through so many uses and found a loophole so quickly.

    Seeing the situation turning against them, Millie stepped forward.

    ¡°Leslie, stop trying to argue. The money was obviously used by Aurelia to buy the emerald ne.¡±

    Leslie looked at Millie, his gaze piercing.

    ¡°| wasn¡¯t going to bring the ne up. But now that you¡¯ve mentioned it, I¡¯ll prove who bought this specific ne.¡±

    With that, he opened his phone and waved to Aurelia¡¯s boss.

    ¡°Since the boss is so eager to know what happened, | think it¡¯s necessary for you to see it with your

    own eyes.

    The boss wanted to send Aurelia away at first.

    However, he felt an indescribable sense of pressure from Leslie and involuntarily walked up to him.

    ¡°These are records from my mother at the auction. For a man with your status, I¡¯m sure you can tell if this is forged.¡±

    The boss nced at the photos on the phone and gasped for breath.

    Then, he looked at Leslie and examined the auction house¡¯s signature.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Linda Miller.

    ¡°S..She¡¯s your mother?¡± the boss asked.

    ¡°Yes. If needed, | can have here and rify things.¡±

    ¡°N...no need to trouble her. | understand, | understand now.¡±

    The boss wiped the sweat from his forehead.

    Aurelia was confused.

    But Leslie put his phone down just as she tried to nce at it.

    ¡°Aurelia would never get a loan!¡± the boss dered.

    How could the youngdy of the Mn Group be in need of a loan? She must be insane to do so.

    ¡°Boss, don¡¯t you see what¡¯s happening? Aure used her ID to borrow a loan,¡± Millie said angrily.

    The boss shot her a look.

    ¡°Who are you to question what | saw? That emerald ne was definitely purchased by Aurelia¡¯s mother-inw. Didn¡¯t Aurelia

    mention that her ID went missing? The signature can be forged as

    well.¡±

    Kimberly looked at the boss in disbelief and said hastily, ¡°Boss, this matter will affect our reputation. You can get fooled.¡±

    ¡°| know if I''m being fooled. What do you know?¡± The boss snapped.

    Kimberly froze, while Millie started losing control over her choice of words.

    ¡°No way! Impossible! You''re all being fooled by her!¡±

    Even the tattooed man frowned in confusion at the sight.

    He waved his arm and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care what''s real here. | just want the money. Aurelia Simmons¡¯ name is on the contract, so

    that¡¯s who I¡¯m going to target.¡±

    Millie nodded.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Go to her! Target her! This has nothing to do with us!¡±

    Aurelia looked at Millie with a cold expression.

    Since Millie didn¡¯t care about their past friendship, she didn¡¯t need to hold back any longer.

 Chapter 265

    Chapter 265

    1/2

    Aurelia stared at the tattooed man.

    ¡°And what if | don¡¯t pay you anything? What can you do to me? All evidence now proves that | didn¡¯t sign the contract. You can

    call the police if you want. Let¡¯s have the contract and the signature checked!¡±

    The tattooed man didn¡¯t expect Aurelia to stand her ground and had his men bring out a pile of photos.

    ¡°Aurelia, since you won''t cave, don¡¯t me me for showing these photos to the entire office.¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Do whatever you want. Those aren¡¯t mine anyway.¡±

    Aurelia knew whose photos they were. They belonged to Millie.

    She must have agreed to do such a thing to obtain more money.

    Mille¡¯s face paled when she saw the photos.

    Grabbing Aurelia¡¯s hand, she said, ¡°Pay them back! You said your mother-inw is rich, right? Pay them back. Aren¡¯t you

    embarrassed?¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s wrist hurt, so she shook Millie off.

    ¡°Who exactly should be embarrassed here? Those are supposed to be photos of me naked, right? Why are you so scared?¡±

    Millie gritted her teeth.

    Aurelia ignored her and held out her hand at the tattooed man..

    ¡°You want to expose these photos, right? Come on, I''ll hand them out for you. Should | just give each person one copy?¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    The tattooed man was taken aback.

    Aurelia tried to take advantage of his dazed state and grabbed the photos.

    To her surprise, Millie frantically reached out to snatch the photos before she could.

    However, she was obviously no match for the tattooed man.

    The two engaged in a struggle, causing the photos to be thrown into the air.

    Dozens of photos floated down, capturing everyone¡¯s attention.

    The person in the photos waspletely naked, covering their chests with their arms and attaching

    their ID cards to their chests.

    The ID card indeed belonged to Aurelia, but only half of her face was visible.

    After a brief scan, everyone was stunned.

    When they looked up again, their gaze fell on Millie instead.

    Noticing everyone¡¯s attention on her, Millie crouched on the ground to gather the photos.

    ¡°Don''t look! Don¡¯t look! No one is allowed to look!¡±

    Everyone watched Millie pitifully grabbing her nude photos.

    It had all been orchestrated by her.

    Aurelia casually picked up a photo from the ground and then pointed to the person in it.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t me. It¡¯s her. | believe if you check the ount that received the payment, you can confirm who actually got the money.

    ¡°What? Are you two ying games with me?¡±

    The tattooed man angrily swung a fist toward Aurelia, but Leslie had him restrained from behind

    before he could seed.

    ¡°Illegal usury, nude loans, coupled with your ruthless methods of debt collection. | advise you not to mess around. If you need to

    collect money, go to the right person,¡± Leslie said.

    Leslie''s warning didn¡¯t lose an ounce of its imposing presence even in the face of a group of big men.

    The tattooed man¡¯s arm ached as if it would break the next second.

    He realized he was no match for Leslie and simply nodded.

    After releasing him, Leslie pushed him away from Aurelia.

    The tattooed man was embarrassed and vented his anger on Millie, who was on the ground.

    ¡°You slut, how dare to deceive us?¡±

    ¡°No, no, it was Aurelia! It really was her!¡±

    Millie realized the gravity of the situation and threw the photo in her hand onto the tattooed man¡¯s

    face.

    She then pushed aside the boss and Zachary before running away.

    The tattooed man nced at his men and ran after her.

    No one truly cared if they ended up catching up to Millie.

    Just then, the boss walked up to Aurelia with concern.

    ¡°Aurelia, are you okay? You''re done setting up the venue for One Technology¡¯s event, so you can rest until next Monday. Don¡¯t

    overexert yourself.¡±

 Chapter 266

    Aurelia was momentarily stunned.

    The sudden concern from her boss made her feel a bit overwhelmed.

    She quickly shook her head.

    ¡°No, no, I¡¯m fine.¡±

    ¡°| knew | didn¡¯t misjudge you. You¡¯re the most outstanding member of our marketing department. Go home early and rest today,¡±

    the boss said with a smile.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Alright.¡± Aurelia didn¡¯t refuse.

    After all, she had another matter to attend to.

    Aurelia nced at Leslie and they prepared to leave.

    However, Kimberly¡¯s indignant voice sounded behind them.

    ¡°Boss, this whole thing is entirely caused by Aurelia. Why should we be frightened while she gets to leave early?¡±

    The boss red angrily at Kimberly as his patience for her ran thin.

    ¡°This is clearly a plot by Millie. | announce that Millie is officially fired. We must not let any employee suffer unjustly. Kimberly, be

    mindful of your words. Otherwise, you won''t like what happens next.¡±

    Previously, he had turned a blind eye to her actions because of her uncle¡¯s influence.

    However, if she dared to cause trouble again, she would experience a simr fate to Millie.

    The boss''s words dered the end of Kimberly''s special treatment and privilege.

    The looks toward Kimberly changed.

    It now contains disdain and mockery. Gloating over her current situation.

    Kimberly felt utterly embarrassed.

    She red at Aurelia in disbelief.

    Ignoring her, Aurelia walked directly toward the exit.

    As Leslie passed by the boss, he cast a nce and conveyed a clear message to the boss.

    Once Aurelia and Leslie left, the boss wiped his sweat and left the office.

    Zachary followed him in confusion and asked, ¡°Boss, why did you spare Aurelia? She¡¯s been getting out of hand and having

    someone like her around will only...¡±

    ¡°Shut up! You are supposed to be in the marketing department, yet you can¡¯t even tell which

    Chapter Neo

    employee is actually valuable. You almost got me killed, do you know that?¡±

    Thinking back to the look in Leslie¡¯s eyes, the boss felt terrified.

    ¡°oss, what do you mean? Why would Aure be valuable?¡± Zachary mocked.

    ¡°Zachary, do not pick on Aurelia ever again or | will make you pay!¡±

    With that, the boss stormed off.

    Zachary was baffled.

    Kimberly, who was eavesdropping, dug her nails into the wall.

    How could Aurelia possibly measure up to her?

    212

    As Aurelia and Leslie went downstairs, they ran into a janitor.

    The janitor frowned.

    ¡°Aurelia, have you been having a hard time?¡±

    Confused, Aurelia asked, ¡°What''s wrong?¡±

    ¡°| ran into your friend, Millie, just now. She was hiding in one of the trash bins and when | asked her about it, she said that you

    got a loan and the creditors wereing after her as well,¡± the janitor said with resignation.

    Aurelia¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Did she really say that?¡±

    The janitor nodded.

    ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t be reckless. Shark loans are terrifying.¡±

    ¡°It''s just a misunderstanding. | didn¡¯t get a loan. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Aurelia exined.

    The janitor felt relieved and left, yet Aurelia remained frozen in ce.

    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, can you send me to the police station?¡± she said with determination.

    ¡°What are you going to do?¡±

    ¡°Millie still has my ID and | don¡¯t want her to do anything else with it.¡±

    ¡°Let''s go then,¡± he said.

 Chapter 267

    At the police station.

    Aurelia requested for her stolen identity card be terminated and then sought to freeze Millie¡¯s

    ount.

    Due to the substantial loan amount, the police were particrly efficient.

    Soon, they informed her that they had traced the whereabouts of the money.

    All the money was with Millie.

    In a preparation of going abroad, she had even submitted a deposit of 14, thousand to the traveling

    agency.

    In pursuit of a better life overseas, she had taken a risky path by borrowing high-interest loans using Aurelia¡¯s name.

    Thinking that no one could find her once she went abroad, she assumed that the debt would be Aurelia¡¯s problem.

    With her bank ount frozen, Millie would find it difficult to even have a meal.

    The police promptly informed Aurelia that Millie seemed desperate for money,

    Unable to use the money in her bank ount, she started logging into illegal websites.

    Fortunately, Aurelia¡¯s identity card was terminated, so she couldn¡¯t use it.

    After everything was settled, Aurelia and Leslie left the police station.

    As they got into the car, Aurelia received a text message confirming the case was officially epted by the police.

    She looked at the brief message that marked the end of a friendship and fell into deep thought.

    After a moment, she noticed Leslie¡¯s probing gaze.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Why did you leave a way out for Millie?¡± Leslie looked at her as if he was trying to see through her.

    Aurelia was different from all the women he encountered in the past.

    The women around him had clear and specific goals, and they''d do almost anything to achieve them, regardless of right or

    wrong.

    On the other hand, Aurelia appeared brave and decisive, but also hesitant at times.

    It makes it hard to understand what she really wanted to do.

    Feeling exposed, Aurelia shook her head.

    213

    ¡°No, | didn¡¯t leave a way out for her.¡±

    ¡°You reported the theft of your ID, but you didn¡¯t mention that Millie stole it. You said she borrowed high-interest loan, but you

    didn¡¯t mention that the creditor came to trouble you today.¡±

    ¡°You begged the police to contact the bank to freeze Millie¡¯s bank card, not because you''re afraid of taking on the debt yourself,

    but because you''re afraid Millie will spend all the money. If that happens, she would have nothing left to pay her debt. Am |

    right?¡±

    Aurelia wondered if Leslie had installed some kind of cavesdropping device on her.

    He truly saw through all her thoughts.

    ¡°Well... | wouldn''t mind punishing Millie, but there¡¯s no need to trouble Millie¡¯s parents. If Millie squanders all that money, her

    parents will still have to repay it.¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t have high sries, so how can theye up with 200 thousand? When my mother was sick, Millie¡¯s mother even

    brought me soup on a scorching day, saying | had lost too much weight and needed to take care of my health. | still remember

    that.¡±

    ¡°Just soup?.¡±

    Leslie, who grew up in a world of deceit, couldn¡¯tprehend someone being grateful for just a bowl of soup.

    Aurelia looked at him and saw the disbelief on his face.

    She thought for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, | understand your point of view. You probably think I¡¯m foolish for being so easily bought over.¡±

    ¡°But ordinary folks like us don¡¯t get involved in significant interests. Therefore, we value personal attachments. Personal

    attachments are about who has been kind to me. That''s why I¡¯m kind to them in return. That¡¯s essentially how human

    connections are formed, right?

    ¡°Of course! I¡¯m not stupid. I¡¯m just repaying Millie¡¯s mother¡¯s kindness, | won¡¯t show any mercy to Millie. Don¡¯t worry. Millie won''t

    get away with using my information for online loans. She''ll pay for it. dearly.¡±

    Aurelia smiled at him and Leslie couldn''t help but return the smile.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    She was slightly taken aback by his smile.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you should smile more often. You look nice when you do.¡±

    She raised her hand to touch the corner of his lips, only snapping out of it when she was about toe into contact with his skin.

    What was she doing?

    Why was she trying to touch Leslie?

    He frowned.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡±

    ¡°You have dirt on your face,¡± she said shyly.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± he replied.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s true.¡± She nodded.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    He leaned closer to her until their faces were inches away.

    ¡°What?¡±

    She felt her throat running dry.

    ¡°You are wiping dirt off my face, right?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    She held her breath and raised her hand to wipe the corner of his mouth.

    Watching him from up close, she couldn¡¯t find a single w on his face.

    Even the shadow cast by his eyshes looked perfect.

    Perhaps she was too focused as she stared at him, he suddenly grabbed her wrist.

 Chapter 268

    ¡°Where are you wiping?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Aurelia realized her fingers hadnded on Leslie''s lips as she wiped them and felt embarrassed.

    ¡°Let''s go back first.¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org.

    Fortunately, Leslie didn¡¯t press further and turned to start the car.

    Aurelia nodded, but her fingers felt burning hot.

    Back home, Aurelia had a video call with the caretaker.

    Her mother was still unconscious, but herplexion seemed good.

    The caretaker had discussed this with her family and signed a formal employment agreement with

    Aurelia.

    With her dedicated care for her mother, Aurelia wouldn¡¯t have to go through so much trouble.

    This was all thanks to Leslie.

    If he hadn¡¯t persuaded the caretaker, this matter wouldn¡¯t have been resolved so quickly.

    After the video call, Aurelia slumped onto the couch and stared nkly at the ceiling.

    ¡°So tired... When can | stop working?¡± she wondered.

    Leslie happened toe out of his study and saw her lying on the couch.

    He pursed his lips and wondered if it was truly necessary for her to be so upset over Mille.

    Pouring himself a ss of water, Leslie walked past Aurelia, who didn¡¯t react at all.

    He closed his study door with displeasure and sat gloomily at the desk.

    She was so upset over a friend who framed her that she failed to notice him.

    In the video call, Daniel spoke cautiously, ¡°Mr. Synder, what''s wrong with you now? Why do you look so jealous?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Leslie¡¯s gaze darkened.

    ¡°There¡¯s no use denying it,¡± Daniel said.

    Leslie stayed silent.

    ¡°Seriously? Mr. Synder, did | really hit the nail on the head this time? What happened to Mrs. Synder that upset you?¡± Daniel

    asked gingerly.

    ¡°Daniel, what do you do when a woman is unhappy?¡±

    Chapter 268

    ¡°Buy her bags?¡± Daniel suggested.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t care for that,¡± Leslie denied the Iden outright.

    She even thought that the emerald ne was fake, so she probably didn¡¯t have much need when it came to materialistic

    desires.

    Daniel pondered for a bit.

    ¡°Food? Young girls like nice food.¡±

    He then sent Leslie a few links and Leslie nodded, preparing to hang up.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, does your wife not know who you really are?¡± Daniel asked.

    ¡°Keep your mouth shut,¡± Leslie warned coldly.

    ¡°Sure, but you two are married. You can¡¯t keep this from her forever.¡±

    Leslie paused in response to Daniel¡¯s words.

    Shortly after, he said, ¡°We''ll see how it goes.

    After the call, he opened the links Daniel sent him and immediately ced an order.

    Aurelia, who had rested on the couch for half an hour, was thinking what she should do to thank Leslie when she heard the

    doorbell.

    Opening the door, she saw a delivery man who held out a beautiful cake and a cup of milk tea.

    ¡°Hello, your lovey¡ªdovey set has arrived.¡±

    ¡°| didn¡¯t order anything. Are you at the wrong address?¡± Aurelia asked in confusion.

    ¡°He didn¡¯t.¡± Leslie stood behind her and cleared his throat. ¡°I ordered it.¡±

    Aurelia fell silent and thought, ¡°Does he like this sort of thing? Lovey¡ªdovey set?¡±

 Chapter 269

    Leslie took the food from the deliveryman.

    He ced the items on the table.

    ¡°Dig in.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia was happy, realizing she didn¡¯t have to cook.

    She quickly sat down and opened the cake with the word ¡®happy¡® written on it.

    It was a simple design, but with whipped cream, it looked absolutely delicious.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    She handed the te and cutlery to Leslie.

    However, she soon noticed there was only one cup of milk tea.

    ¡°Did they forget to deliver the second one? Why is there only one cup of milk tea?¡± she asked.

    ¡°| don''t like it.¡±

    Leslie gestured for her to drink it.

    Aurelia nodded, said thank you, and started sipping.

    It was sweet and delightful.

    Meanwhile, Leslie cut a piece of cake for her.

    She took a big bite and enjoyed the fruity, tangy vor.

    As she took a satisfying second bite, she noticed that Leslie hadn¡¯t touched his portion.

    ¡°Aren''t you eating?¡±

    ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡±

    They both spoke simultaneously and looked at each other in surprise.

    Aurelia¡¯s eyes widened as she realized that Leslie bought these for her.

    She swallowed the cake and pursed her lips. ¡°Mr. Synder, did you buy these for me?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he said and took a bite of cake, before frowning in apparent difort.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t contain herughter and a bit of her milk tea sprayed out.

    Leslie clicked his tongue and wiped the table with a tissue.

    ¡°You''re so messy,¡± he said but there was no disdain in his tone.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Aurelia said. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Synder, but... | wasn¡¯t in a bad mood just now. | was just tired.¡±

    Chapter 260

    Leslie narrowed his eyes.

    Noticing Leslie¡¯s reaction, Aurelia quickly added, ¡°However, | do feel much better after having the cake and milk tea. Now | feel

    like I¡¯m floating in the clouds.¡±

    Leslie poured a ss of water for himself to cleanse the sweetness from his mouth.

    ¡°| didn¡¯t expect you to be such a talented actress.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m a little gifted,¡± she said.

    Leslie was silent, feeling unexpectedly rxed.

    Aurelia noticed the change in his expression and took another bite of cake, before standing up.

    ¡°If you''re not eating the cake, I''ll make you a simple dinner.¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    Leslie reached out, grabbing Aurelia and pulling her closer.

    He misjudged the force, and Aurelia ended up right in front of him.

    Their eyes met and they could feel each other''s breathing.

    It was a sweet and tender atmosphere.

    Leslie''s voice was deep and hoarse, ¡°You have cream on your face.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±

    Aurelia hastily wiped her face a couple of times, her heart pounding.

    She quickly retreated to her original position.

    ¡°I''ll go see what''s in the fridge.

    With that, she ran into the kitchen.

    Seeing that there were still leftovers in the fridge, she made two simple dishes and ced them on the

    table.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, food is ready.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± He took the te in her hand.

    One of them continued to eat cake, while the other had a proper meal.

    It was a weird scene, but it looked somewhat harmonious.

    So long as they had each other''s happiness in mind, it wouldn¡¯t matter even if they were doing somethingpletely different.

    Leslie was worried that Aurelia was upset because of Millie, so he ordered milk tea and cake for her despite not liking them.

    Chapter 269

    Aurelia knew that Leslie didn¡¯t enjoy cakes, so she made him dishes that he would like.

    The table was filled with food that didn¡¯t go together, but it symbolized their concern for one another.

    After the meal, Leslie cleaned up while Aurelia sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone.

    Leslie said that he needed to take care of something and headed into his study.

 Chapter 270

    Aurelia decided to pour Leslie a cup of tea.

    He just so happened to be on the phone when she opened the door.

    He shot her a look, silently asking what she needed.

    She pointed at the cup in her hand and mouthed the word ¡°tea.¡±

    He nodded and she set the cup down carefully.

    On her way out, she identally kicked the table.

    Her eyes widened in pain and tears welled in her eyes.

    After jumping in ce for a few moments, she stumbled outside.

    Leslie chuckled at the sight and the person he was talking to skipped a breath.

    ¡°Are youughing?¡± the woman asked in disbelief.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°How is the handover going over there?¡± Leslie didn¡¯t intend to answer her question.

    ¡°It¡¯s done. Was there someone next to you?¡± the woman summoned the courage to ask.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The woman fell silent and wanted to ask who it was when Leslie interrupted her impatiently, not giving her a chance to speak.

    ¡°Is there something else?¡±

    ¡°No, Mr. Synder.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡±

    With that, the call ended.

    Meanwhile, in the guest bedroom, Aurelia closed the door and jumped from the pain.

    She was trying to y the caring wife in front of Leslie, only to end up embarrassing herself again.

    Falling onto the bed helplessly, the scene of her being inches away from Leslie crossed her mind again and she covered her

    face with the nket.

    Just then, she received a text.

    She picked up her phone and realized it was from the owner of the shoe repair shop.

    ¡°Miss, your shoes have been repaired and are ready for collection. However, it''s challenging to restore men¡¯s leather shoes. At

    the moment, we can only repair them to this extent.¡±

    273

    The owner attached a photo below.

    Aurelia¡¯s shoes were ordinary and rtively easy to repair..

    However, she didn¡¯t expect Leslie¡¯s shoes to be so challenging.

    The traces of oil stains on the leather were still evident and there were also scratches. Upon closer inspection, some marks were

    still visible.

    The owner¡¯s craftsmanship was indeed excellent, but unfortunately, Leslie¡¯s shoes were too severely

    damaged.

    ¡°Sir, is there really no way to salvage them?¡± Aurelia texted back.

    ¡°This type of leather is very expensive. Once it¡¯s stained with dirt and oil, it¡¯s easy to discolor. Even with careful restoration, there

    will still be color differences. Handcrafted shoes of the exact same style are hard to find. You can consider customizing a new

    pair. We know a foreign-trained expert for this.

    After reading this, Aurelia was astonished.

    Leather? Handcrafted?

    Were they that precious?

    ¡°How much does customization cost?¡± she typed cautiously.

    ¡°If you want a pair of handmade leather shoes with a simr style, it will cost at least three thousand. We can also customize

    them based on your foot, ensuring afortable fit.¡±

    Three thousand?

    Aurelia knew men¡¯s leather shoes might be more expensive, but she didn¡¯t expect them to be this

    costly.

    She couldn''t possibly afford it and typed.

    ¡°Is there anything cheaper?¡±

    ¡°To be honest, we don¡¯t rmend ordinary people customizing such expensive shoes. These shoes are too precious. Some of

    them can¡¯t evene into contact with water.¡±

    ¡°However, there are many skilled craftsmen in the country who focus on soft,fortable, and durable leather. Getting a pair of

    shoes from them won''t cost much.¡±

    Aurelia thought the suggestion was reasonable and continued to inquire.

    ¡°How much for those?¡±

    ¡°Less than three hundred. | can introduce you to someone | know for a discount, and I¡¯ll earn a referral fee. But rest assured, the

    quality of the shoes are absolutely good.¡±

    ¡°Okay, but | might need some time before | can pay.¡±

    ¡°No problem. I''ll call you to pick up the shoes a week from now.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.

    Putting down her phone, Aurelia began to run the math in her head.

    Fortunately, the bonus from One Technology was substantial this time.

    After that, she started scrolling on her phone and fell asleep watching videos.

    The next morning, she went to thepany feeling refreshed.

    However, as soon as she entered the office, she was instantly overwhelmed by a suffocating atmosphere.

 Chapter 271

    The cause of the suffocating atmosphere? Millie.

    She had been fired by thepany and came by to gather her things.

    Everyone avoided her, while she ignored them.

    She continued to make noises on purpose as she packed and took out the makeup products in her

    drawer.

    ¡°| haven¡¯t used this. Why don¡¯t you take it?¡± Mille said with feigned generosity.

    Her colleague knew that she got all her money from a loan and shook their head, worried that they would get dragged into the

    mess as well.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. | don¡¯t wear makeup.¡±

    ¡°What''s that on your face, then? Drop the act. Take it!¡± It¡¯s not like you¡¯ve ever used anything nice!¡± Millie said arrogantly, as if

    she wasn¡¯t the one packing her things after getting fired.

    This angered her colleague and they pushed all the makeup products on her table into the trash bin.

    ¡°Oops, my bad. It¡¯s fine, though. | don¡¯t have a habit of going through the trash,¡± she said impatiently.

    Millie''s lips twitched.

    It seemed like everyone knew she hid in a trash can to get away from her creditors.

    Taking a deep breath, she turned to grab the box on her table, before heading for the door.

    Halfway there, she stopped and turned around to face everyone.

    Revealing a radiant smile, she said, ¡°Oh, | forgot to mention that it¡¯s been a while since | wanted to quit. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be leaving

    the country with Jackson. We n to settle abroad. Goodbye.¡±

    With that, she left grinning from ear to ear, expecting everyone to envy het.

    Little did she know, everyone smirked and chuckled in disgust as soon as she turned around.

    Aurelia shook her head.

    Not interested in Millie, she sat down.

    She was a bit curious and wondered if she could really leave the country with Jackson in her current

    situation.

    Aurelia carried her curiosity into the next morning, which happened to be a weekend.

    She indulged in a rarezy morning.

    Though married, and the cohabitation agreement explicitly stated that she would take care of the

    Chapter 221

    household, Leslie didn¡¯t require her to be a traditional housewife.

    When they were busy with work, he would suggest takeout and even order food in advance.

    On weekends, he insisted that Aurelia didn¡¯t need to wake up early or cook, iming that he could take care of himself.

    After all, for anyone who worked a full-time job, the weekend was reserved for doing nothing at all.

    Aurelia turned over in bed when her phone vibrated several times.

    Reaching for her phone, she opened the group chat with half-closed eyes.

    ¡°Quick, check this out!¡±

    Intrigued, Aurelia opened the shared video in the group and sat up abruptly as she watched it.

    Rubbing her eyes a few times, she finally believed that the woman causing a scene at the airport in the video was none other

    than Millie.

    The person filming exined with a smile as they walked, ¡°The world is full of wonders. Broke and without a ticket, this woman

    charged in. She imed that she was looking for her boyfriend and they were leaving for Ennd together.

    ¡°Someone asked her about it just now and apparently, her boyfriend''s flight to Ennd is today. She thought she could go too

    and even dragged her suitcase over.¡±

    ¡°Initially, the airport staff thought it was a mistake when they scanned her ID, but then they found out she is currently wanted by

    the police. The police have been looking for her for quite some time.¡±

    The video was already trending on short video tforms.

    ¡°Another lovesick woman. How pitiful.¡±

    ¡°She is wanted by the police. She shouldn''t be pitied.¡±

    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 272

    Chapter 272

    Thements on the video continued.

    ¡°| wonder who her boyfriend is.¡±

    ¡°She is my colleague. She stole someone else¡¯s ID to borrow an online loan. She¡¯s hundreds of thousands of dors in debt. Her

    creditors even came to the office to cause trouble, She used to be a rather cheerful girl, but all she thought of were designer

    brands ever since she met her boyfriend

    ¡°Wow! That¡¯s crazy! What kind of man would put her under such a spell?¡±

    ¡°The son of the Morrisons, Jackson Morrison.¡±

    Instantly, photos of Jackson taking Millie to shop surfaced on the inte.

    The Morrison family was hardly considered a wealthy family in Seacester and nothing he did would have drawn so much

    attention.

    However,

    Millie''s action at the international airport caused the Morrison family to be the center

    of attention.

    Everything about them had been exposed, including photos of them selling potatoes in a wet market decades ago.

    Theizens started calling Jackson ¡°potato¡± because his family got rich by selling potatoes.

    Jackson had gone overseas and wasn¡¯t affected.

    However, his parents were livid and had toe forward and rify on social media that Jackson and Millie were just friends.

    All Jackson had done was buy gifts for a friend and those gifts were not at all expensive.

    They even imed that they had never met Millie and didn¡¯t know her.

    It was Millie who had been plotting to marry into their family.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Within just an hour, the direction of discussion changed yet again.

    Everyone condemned Millie for being greedy and all personal information about her had been exposed online, including the fact

    that her father was in the hospital.

    Aurelia felt a bit concerned.

    She immediately got up from the bed and grabbed her bag to leave.

    At that moment, the study door opened.

    Leslie walked out while buttoning his cuff.

    He nced at her.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    Aurelia hesitated.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡±

    Leslie put on his shoes.

    ¡°You''re heading to the hospital, aren¡¯t you? | saw the video too. Millie¡¯s dad just had surgery, so he can¡¯t withstand any

    disturbances. Her mom isn¡¯t good at handling situations. If she gets tricked into saying the wrong thing. Millie''s name will be

    tainted forever.¡±

    Aurelia looked at Leslie gratefully.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Through their time together, she realized that Leslie wasn¡¯t as cold-hearted as his exterior suggested.

    He just grunted in response and didn¡¯t say much.

    When they arrived at the hospital, there were already many online influencers around.

    They came here to take advantage of the situation.

    Poor Mrs. Parker doesn¡¯t even use the inte, so she had no idea what was happening.

    Agroup of strange people pointed fingers at her and cursed.

    ¡°Your daughter is so cheap! How much did you sell her for?¡±

    ¡°Did you teach her to do such vulgar things?¡±

    Mrs. Parker felt at a loss because Millie indeed had done many wrong things.

    ¡°Madam, since you¡¯re not saying anything, it must mean you''re agreeing.¡±

    Eager for attention, a male influencer started creating controversy as soon as Mrs. Parker opened her

    mouth.

    This man had experience in stirring up trouble.

    Nowadays, people love taking things out of context on the inte.

    Through editing, they would steer the narrative to generate traffic.

    Many didn¡¯t mind spreading false information just for a crumb of attention.

    ¡°No, I...

    Mrs. Parker looked at the group of people in distress.

    ¡°Madam, all you need to do is nod,¡± the male influencer continued.

    Mrs. Parker waspletely at a loss.

    Just as she was about to nod, Aurelia swiftly stepped forward and pulled her behind her.

    ¡°What are you doing? How is this any different from forcing a confession?

    ¡°Who are you? Could you also be her daughter? Oh, look at what you are wearing. It seems like you¡¯re also into luxury brands.

    How many daughters did your mom raise?¡±

    Heughed and pointed his phone at Aurelia.

    Aurelia shielded Mrs. Parker, sneering.

    ¡°Go ahead and record all you want. As a publle figure, you attempted to manipte an elderly person to answer your questions.

    Have you no shame? Oh, | guess you don¡¯t. A grown man wearing such thick makeup must be doing it to cover his ws.¡±

 Chapter 273

    Chapter 273

    ¡°You!¡±

    The man was furious.

    ¡°What? You''re a grown man here to trouble an elderlydy. What kind of man are you? If you have the guts, go ask the police

    whether it¡¯s her family upbringing that caused her actions. Would you dare to

    face!¡± do that? Your gut is as useless as the foundation on your

    Aurelia had interacted with many clients.

    Although she wouldn¡¯t argue with them, she had acquired a diverse vocabry.

    Today, it came in handy to her surprise.

    The man was left speechless, unable to utter a word.

    After struggling for a while, he only managed to say one thing, ¡®I''ll expose you! You don¡¯t look like a good person anyway.¡±

    Saying this, several people took out their phones and started filming Aurelia.

    Aurelia pointed to the entrance.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, have you been recording?¡±

    Only then did these people realize that a tall man had been filming them with his phone.

    He then made an OK gesture.

    Startled, they rushed over to grab Leslie¡¯s phone.

    Still, they were no match for Leslie, beating them all with just one hand.

    They all ended up on the floor.

    Leslie closed the door.

    He looked down at the people on the ground, and said coldly, ¡°This person in bed just had heart. If surgery and hasn¡¯tpletely

    recovered. You disturbed the patient bying in a big group. anything happens to the patient, you''ll be held responsible. None

    of you will escape.¡±

    Hearing that, the group could no longer remain smug and all scrambled out of the ward.

    Mrs. Parker wiped away her tears and sat on the chair, looking numb.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°How did ite to this? How did ite to this?¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Parker, it¡¯s not your fault,¡± Aurelia consoled.

    Tears flowed down as Mrs. Parker grabbed Aurelia¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Aurelia, the police called. I¡¯m really sorry. | didn¡¯t know Millle would do such a thing.¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Parker...¡±

    Before Aurelia could finish her sentence, Mrs. Parker suddenly knelt down.

    Aurelia was startled and stood to the side to support Mrs. Parker.

    ¡°Aurelia! I¡¯m begging you! Can you please not report Millie? We''ll repay the money. We''ll definitely repay it. We won''t get you

    involved. If you report her, she would be doomed.

    Mrs. Parker even tried to bow her head.

    Aurelia squatted down and held her hands firmly.

    ¡°Mrs. Parker, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve warned Millie many times. She keeps challenging my boundaries. If she isn¡¯t punished, she''ll

    continue to make mistakes.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia...¡±

    Mrs. Parker tried to speak but remembered that Aurelia had just helped her get out of trouble.

    She couldn¡¯t say anything else and could only sob.

    Aurelia remained gentle with her and held her close.

    At this moment, a call came from the police station.

    Aurelia nced at the number and stepped out of the ward before answering it.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, we have Millie Parker here. Pleasee to the station and discuss how you want to proceed with the case.¡±

    ¡°Sure. I''ll be right over.¡±

    After hanging up, Aurelia realized that Leslie hade outside.

    ¡°| told her that we have something to do and we need to leave. She also needs time to think about what she wants to do.¡±

    Aurelia nodded.

    ¡°The police are asking me to head over to the station.¡±

    Sensing her hesitation, he asked, ¡°What would you like to do?¡±

    He assumed that Aurelia felt sorry and wanted to let Millie go.

    After all, Aurelia looked extremely sympathetic when she was consoling Mrs. Parker.

    Though Leslie was quite annoyed by this, he didn¡¯t interfere as empathy was a normal thing.

    Aurelia was still inexperienced in stuff like this, so it was normal for her to waver.

    Aurelia raised her fingers.

    ¡°Who''s going to pay her debt if she goes to jail? She only has 180 thousand in her frozen bank ount. and she spent

    everything else. Even though thew doesn¡¯t recognize shark loans, she still needs to

    back what she borrowed. What would happen if they can¡¯t find her ande to the two of us pay instead?¡±

 Chapter 274

    ¡°No way I''d let this happen. Millie has to pay off the debt herself. | don¡¯t want to be a scapegoat,¡± Aurelia said and looked at

    Leslie seriously.

    Leslie was genuinely amused and exasperated.

    He raised his finger and yfully poked her forehead.

    ¡°Is this what you truly feel?¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s how | see it. | don¡¯t want anyone bothering us,¡± she replied earnestly.

    ¡°Us?"1

    ¡°Us?¡± Leslie said with a smirk.

    Caught off guard, Aurelia quickened her pace.

    ¡°Hurry up. Let''s resolve this matter as soon as possible.¡±

    Leslie curved his lips.

    What she said wasn¡¯t that hard to swallow.

    After all, debt collectors only cared about money, not people.

    Even if thew confirmed that the debt was unrted to Aurelia, they woulde after her if they couldn''t collect the money.

    At the police station, Aurelia met with the officer handling her case and he briefed her on the

    situation.

    ¡°There¡¯s concrete evidence, but she refuses to admit it. She¡¯s causing a scene demanding to see you. We want you both to

    resolve this matter quickly, so we called you in for cooperation.¡±

    ¡°| don¡¯t mind seeing her,¡± Aurelia said.

    ¡°Her mental state isn¡¯t that stable right now. Be careful. She injured two other officers when we brought her in,¡± the officer

    warned.

    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± Aurelia nodded.

    ¡°I''ll go with you.¡± Leslie walked over.

    ¡°It''s fine.¡± Aurelia furrowed her brows. ¡°You''re also one of the factors that upset her. It¡¯s better if we handle this between the two

    of us.

    Since Leslie treated Aurelia well and asionally made people envious, Millie mistakenly believed Aurelia was constantly

    competing with her.

    Going in with Leslie might make Millie feel that they were here to mock her as a couple and thus provoke her further.

    Leslie didn¡¯t insist.

    After all, this was a police station and Millle wouldn¡¯t dare to cross any lines.

    With that, Aurelia entered the room.

    Millie sat in the corner in a designer dress that was now torn and stained.

    Her arms showed various degrees of abrasions, likely from the airportmotion.

    Hearing footsteps, she lifted her head, revealing a disheveled face.

    ¡°You''ve finallye. | knew you wouldn''t miss this great show. Are you happy now? Satisfied? I¡¯ve been abandoned!¡± Millie

    laughed bitterly.

    ¡°Jackson never cared for you. Your parents, on the other hand, raised you for over twenty years. Yet, over a man, you

    abandoned them before your dad''s surgery. Are you happy with yourself?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Don''t you try to guilt-trip me! Jackson would¡¯ve never left the country if it weren¡¯t for you. He

    would¡¯ve never left me and we would have gotten married. My parents would¡¯ve lived a luxurious life, ¡°Millie said.

    ¡°Did Jackson or the Morrison family promise you that?¡±

    Millie''s expression paled.

    ¡°They never promised anything. Do you know how many women Jackson has toyed with so far ording to the inte? If you

    don¡¯t ept the reality, I''ll show it to you.¡±

    Aurelia took out her phone and showed all the scandals about Jackson, with most of them being written by Jackson¡¯s ex¡ª

    girlfriends.

    ¡°Look at them!¡± Aurelia held the phone to Millie¡¯s face.

    ¡°No! It''s all fake! They¡¯re lying!¡±

    ¡°Then, will you believe what Jackson¡¯s parents have said?¡±

 Chapter 275

    Aurelia showest Millie the video statement that Jackson¡¯s parents made.

    They subtly implied that Millie had sold her body for the sake of money.

    She repeatedly yed it until Millie was trembling all over and covering her eare:

    ¡°Turn it off! Turn it off! | don¡¯t want to hear it! It¡¯s all falul¡±

    Aurelia pulled Millie¡¯s hand away.

    ¡°Jackson is a wealthy second-generation idler. If he truly loved you, why did he run away? Why didn¡¯t he stay to fight his parents

    to be with you?¡±

    While saying this, Aurelia received a WhatsApp message from Leslie,

    When she opened it, she was shocked.

    She held up her phone.

    ¡°This is Jackson''s overseas social media ount. He just announced he has a foreign girlfriend.¡±

    Millie snatched Aurelia¡¯s phone.

    Tears started streaming down as she looked at the kissing couple in the photo.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°How could this happen? Haven''t | been good to him? | gave him everything!¡±

    ¡°You''ve been epting his gifts. From an outsider¡¯s view, it looks like you¡¯re exchanging favors with him. Your rtionship was

    never pure from the beginning,¡± Aurelia said calmly.

    Millie cried while covering her face.

    Aurelia thought that venting her emotions would calm Millie down, but to her surprise, Milliet suddenly shoved her forcefully.

    ¡°Hypocrite! Who are you to lecture me in such a condescending tone? Is it because you have a handsome husband and a good

    mother-inw? You''re just as ordinary as | am.

    ¡°Why can you find happiness and | can¡¯t? | don¡¯t understand! | don¡¯t understand it! | had a chance. If you hadn¡¯t frozen my bank

    card, | would be in Ennd with him!¡±

    Seeing Millie¡¯s stubbornness, Aurelia didn¡¯t hold back.

    She pped her hard across the face, and blood immediately streamed down the corner of Millie¡¯s

    mouth.

    ¡°Let me tell you what happens if you go there! Jackson will still get with other women.Once the storm settles, his family will

    arrange for him to marry a suitable woman, then give him a cushy job to settle down.¡±

    ¡°You, on the other hand, will have to rely on loans to get by. Once the money runs out, what will you

    Chapter 275

    do? Work odd jobs or rely on your parents for support? Do you really think life is good abroad?¡±

    ¡°Have you thought about your parents? Given your father¡¯s current situation, finding work is nearly impossible. Your mother¡¯s

    sry is barely enough for the two of them to make ends meet. You want to live carefreely abroad, while they have no choice but

    to pay the debt you owe.¡±

    ¡°You talk about enjoying life, but you¡¯re just pushing your responsibilities onto them. You ignore those who love you and treasure

    those who mistreat you. You just can¡¯t let go of your vanity.¡±

    ¡°Millie, the one you''ve wronged the most is your kneeling mother.¡±

    Millie stared at Aurelia with reddened eye

    ¡°What did you say? Kneeling?¡±

    ¡°Your information has been exposed online and some people found out that you took naked photos to get a loan. Infleuncers

    went to harass your dad in the hospital.¡±

    ¡°If we didn¡¯t arrive in time, your mom would have walked right into their trap. When that happens, your entire family would be

    condemned. Your mom begged for me to spare you.¡±

    Aurelia sighed while looking at Millie.

    She had said everything there was to say.

    If Millie continued to delude herself, there was no point for her to continue.

    Millie stood frozen in ce.

    After a few seconds, she snapped and burst into tears.

    Aurelia felt slightly sad and turned to head toward the door.

    Sobbing, Millie said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aurelia. I¡¯m sorry...

    Aurelia paused and took in a breath.

    ¡°| don¡¯t ept verbal apology. | want you to issue a public apology and pay all your debt off. Also... take care of your parents.

    Don¡¯t wait until you lose everything to know the value of what you have.¡±

 Chapter 276

    ¡°I understand... I''ll do it.¡± Millle nodded,

    Aurelia left the room and found Leslie leaning against the door frame.

    He seemed to have been listening to their conversation all along

    ¡°Mr. Synder, have you been here the whole time?¡±

    ¡°| just happen to be here,¡± he said.

    She knew he was lying because she saw cigarette buds on top of the trash can nearby

    Feeling touched, she said, ¡°It¡¯s settled, Millie probably won¡¯t cause any more trouble.

    ¡°Mm.¡±

    He continued to appear calm, but the frown on his face cased slightly.

    ¡°I''ll go sign the police report first.¡±

    Feeling like a burden had been lifted from her, she went to see the police.

    Though she decided not pursue the case further, Millie did cause a scene at the airport and would be detained for a few days.

    Thankfully, she didn¡¯t damage anything at the airport or she would''ve had topensate for it.

    As for her debt, with the help of awyer, the interest rate was adjusted and she managed to use all the money in her ount to

    pay it back.

    Fortunately, she hid a few purses in the office and sold them all to return more of her debt.

    Despite all that, 28 thousand debt still remained and she needed to pay it back herself.

    Her father was ill and her mother worked a job that paid around a thousand each month.

    It looks like her days after this wouldn''t be easy.

    It would serve as a punishment for what she had done.

    After Aurelia sorted everything out, she rode back with Leslie.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Slumping into the passenger seat, she felt more exhausted than having worked a full day.

    Along the way, she received a notification on her phone.

    Opening it, she found an apology video posted by Millle online..

    ¡°First of all, | want to apologize to everyone, especially to Aurelia Simmons. I¡¯m truly sorry | was blinded and hurt her.¡±

    ¡°Secondly, | want to warn all girls. Never be deceived by the appearance of some men. You may think.

    2/2

    they cherish you when, in reality, they¡¯re just toying with you. Just like me and Jackson. We met when...¡±

    This was the first time Millie publicly recounted the process of her involvement with Jackson.

    Jackson gave the impression of a gentlemanly, generous wealthy second¡ªgeneration figure.

    ¡°| was gradually deceived by his facade. | gradually lost myself and started to enjoy the feeling of being noticed, 50, when

    Jackson drugged me and assaulted me, | didn¡¯t question him. Instead, | was sent off with a designer bag.¡±

    ¡°At that time, he told me he couldn''t control his urges because he loved me too much. Holding the bag In my hands, | thought |

    belonged to him and he loved me, so there shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±

    ¡°When | walked into the office carrying that bag, | received praises from everyone and |pletely lost myself. Thinking back to

    it now, he probably used the same tricks many times. He likes obedient girls because we didn¡¯t know how to resist. And because

    we received his gifts, we also felt like we didn¡¯t have the right to resist.

    ¡°Here, | hope all girls won''t be like me. Also, | want to expose someone by name, Kimberly Watson. It was her who introduced

    Jackson to me. All of this was probably her n. She made Jackson approach me to deal with Aurelia, all so that she could be

    appointed as vice director...¡±

    Millie not only apologized but alsoid bare everything involving Kimberly, including the giarism incident during the

    competition for the vice director position.

    Millie was well aware that she had already hit rock bottom, so she dragged Kimberly into the mud.

    Unexpectedly, this stirred up arger storm, and everything about Kimberly was dug up.

 Chapter 277

    Chapter 277

    Millie and Kimberly had finally gotten the attention they had been desperately looking for.

    Millie''s sincere apology and her story about her Involvement with Jackson gained a lot of attention, along with a lot of

    condemnation.

    On the other hand, Kimberly''s situation was different.

    From what Aurelia knew, Kimberly returned from studying overseas,

    It was a hot topic among the office.

    However, people online investigated and discovered that Kimberly¡¯s story waspletely different. from reality.

    She didn¡¯t graduate from an overseas college.

    Rather, she was kicked out for her wild behavior.

    She had been involved with at least twenty married men, and half of them were clients of Young Advertising.

    Now, Young Advertising was also dragged into the discussion as many questioned whether they got most of their business by

    having their female workers sell their bodies.

    rmed, Young Advertising immediately released a statement to distance themselves from Kimberly.

    ¡°What are you looking at? Why are you smiling so much?¡±

    After Leslie parked the car, he turned to ask

    Aurelia raised her phone and pointed to the post on it.

    ¡°Kimberly has been exposed. This is the first time I''ve seen someone around me trend on the inte.

    ¡°Is that all?¡± Leslie asked.

    Aurelia suppressed herughter.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m gloating?¡±

    ¡°| just didn¡¯t expect you to be this happy,¡± he said.

    ¡°What else can | do? | can¡¯tpete with Kimberly¡¯s uncle. | could only swallow my pride in front of her. It¡¯s satisfying to watch

    the drama unfold.¡±

    She couldn''t help butugh out loud.

    Leslie didn¡¯t interrupt her and simply got out of the car.

    As Aurelia got out as well, she received a work email on her phone.

    Surprisingly, it was an exquisitely designed e-Invitation.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Dear Ms. Aurelia, we cordially invite you to attend the grand opening banquet on Monday, hosted by One Technology.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder!¡± she excitedly called out.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Leslie looked at her with bafflement.

    ¡°Yourpany invited me to the opening banquet! Not as a staff member but as a guest!¡± Aurelia pointed to the invitation.

    ¡°Are you that happy about it?¡±

    ¡°Of course! | heard your boss will be there.¡± Aurelia blurted out.

    Leslie''s face darkened as he fell silent.

    Noticing Leslie¡¯s expression, Aurelia immediately exined, ¡°No, I¡¯m just curious about what such a formidable figure looks like.

    Of course, you''re also formidable.¡±

    Leslie entered the elevator, asking, ¡°What do you think he looks like?¡±

    Following him, Aurelia considered for a moment and said, ¡°I heard he made a name for himself quite early on, so he should be

    rtively young. Maybe around his thirties. He should look quite dignified, and... probably a little bald.¡±

    Leslie choked.

    ¡°Bald?¡±

    ¡°I''m sure he must have a lot on his mind to be so sessful at a young age. He also works in the tech industry, so it''s normal for

    him to go bald. Everyone else in your office except for you has a receding hairline.¡±

    Aurelia had seen all the employees in One Technology.

    Though they weren''t rely bald, their hair looked thin.

    Leslie was speechless.

    ¡°It''s no wonder that your boss likes you so much. You have the thickest set of hair. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s worried that you would go bald

    as well. Haha...¡±

    She stoppedughing when she sensed his eyes on her and swallowed hard.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Keep going,¡± he said.

    ¡°I''m done.¡± Aurelia pursed her lips and didn¡¯t look at him.

    The elevator door opened with a ¡°ding¡± and Leslle said, ¡°Everyone thinks our boss is a dull and cold person.¡±

    Aurelia shot him a surprised look as this was the first time Leslie gave such a straightforwardment about someone.

    ¡°| don¡¯t think so. The atmosphere in yourpany is nice, so your boss has to be quite approachable. Besides, he made so

    many interesting programs. How can he be dull? I¡¯m sure people just think that because they don¡¯t know him.¡±

    Leslie''s hand paused as he was about to open the door.

    He turned to give Aurelia a conflicted look.

    ¡°Ah, did | say something wrong again?¡± she asked.

 Chapter 278

    Leslie remained expressionless.

    ¡°Nothing. The way you think is quite creative.¡±

    She smiled.

    ¡°| did some research on yourpany before. Your boss even worked on a children¡¯s game in the past, which proves that he

    has an inner child as well. | did try to y it, but never won once. They¡¯re so difficult. | wonder if children really understand how to

    y it?¡±

    Leslie opened the door and changed out of his shoes, before ncing at her.

    ¡°Didn''t you look at the ranking? Those are games for gifted children. You never won at all?¡±

    ...Yeah.¡± Aurelia¡¯s smile froze.

    Leslie smiled.

    ¡°Are you mocking me for not being as smart as children?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he said and entered the apartment.

    Aurelia bit her lip and scoffed, deciding that she would give the game one star rating for being discriminative against adults.

    Aurelia made a few simple dishes for dinner and Leslie went to wash the dishes afterward.

    She sat on the couch to keep browsing on the inte when she saw a new topic pop up.

    ¡°The young master of Synder Corporation is back!¡±

    A towering figure was captured in a video as he strode forward.

    You could only see his back, but there were already girls on the inte fawning over him.

    Aurelia nced at the post without paying much attention.

    She scrolled down, only to find it was another post about him.

    ¡°The scion of the Synder family, the pride of the heavens, Leon Synder.¡±

    Leon revealed his undeniably handsome side profile, but his eyes betrayed a sense of disdain for all beings.

    ¡°He is so handsome. Doesn''t he look like the domineering CEO in novels?¡±

    ¡°As expected of the young master of a prestigious family. He looks extraordinary.¡±

    Aurelia rolled her eyes at thesements.

    Why do CEOs have such condescending gazes?

    Could they not look at people normally?

    She believed that talented individuals could be superior, but it was unreasonable for them to look down on others.

    With that in mind, Aurelia clicked on the video and selected ¡°Not Interested.¡±

    ¡°Not interested?¡±

    At some point, Leslie had finished washing the dishes and sat beside her,

    Aurelia nodded.

    ¡°Yeah, he doesn¡¯t look as good as you...¡±

    Leslie turned his head to look at her as though he was trying to decide if she was telling the truth.

    Aurelia felt embarrassed and stood up,

    ¡°I''ll go see what | should wear tomorrow. I''ll head back to my room first.¡±

    Leslie watched her leave in a hurry, then turned his gaze back to the news on his phone.

    Leon.

    Now that everyone has gathered, he can finally make his move.

    773

    After much consideration, Aurelia decided to wear the red dress she had worn to the restaurant with

    Leslie.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    It was her most expensive outfit and a gift from Linda.

    It looked elegant and fitting for the joyful asion of a grand opening.

    She prepared breakfast and a packed lunch when Leslie came out of his room.

    He wore a ck pinstripe suit.

    Aurelia was momentarily stunned, before quickly inviting him to sit down.

    ¡°| have to leave now. We have an early meeting today. It¡¯s probably about the afternoon banquet.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I''lle pick you up in the afternoon,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°Will it be too troublesome for you to do that?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Her dress was really expensive, so taking the subway was definitely not practical.

    As she spoke. Leslie¡¯s phone on the table shed and a message nonned up.

    ¡°Pit be waiting for you.¡±

    ¡°Who was waiting for him?¡± Aure wondered,

 Chapter 279

    When Aurelia tried to get a closer look at the name on the phone, Leslie put it away.

    She didn¡¯t dare to ask further, so she got up and left for thepany.

    The atmosphere in the office remained heavy, especially around Kimberly.

    But even so, Kimberly was still not fired.

    Aurelia even started thinking that Kimberly¡¯s uncle had saved the boss¡¯ life, which would be the only reasonable exnation as

    to why the boss was defending her.

    Nevertheless, even if Kimberly wasn¡¯t fired, judging from her mental state, she probably wouldn''t be able to endure staying for

    much longer.

    Although Kimberly still wore exquisite makeup and branded clothes from head to toe, she looked like someone who was going

    through severe mental trauma. She seemed on edge, as if the slightest disturbance would set her off.

    Once Aurelia took her seat, her colleagues turned toward her.

    ¡°We all saw Millie¡¯s apology video yesterday. | never expected Kimberly to be the one who introduced Jackson to Millie. Kimberly

    has really gone too far. She dragged Millie down with her and almost harmed you too.¡±

    ¡°Forget it. It''s all in the past,¡± Aurelia said calmly.

    ¡°| heard from someone in administration that the boss didn¡¯t fire Kimberly because the boss and Kimberly''s uncle still have some

    unfinished coboration. The boss ns to keep Kimberly this way until she resigns.¡±

    ¡°| see,¡± Aurelia said indifferently and nodded.

    Seeing herck of interest in Kimberly, her colleagues shifted the conversation to her dress.

    ¡°Aurelia, your dress is really beautiful. It must be expensive, right?¡±

    As soon as the words were spoken, everyone around them turned their heads and focused on Aurelia.

    ¡°Yeah, | was just thinking that. That dress looks amazing.¡±

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s stunning. That''s the new design from Mn. Even Kimberly couldn''t buy it before,¡± someone deliberately

    remarked, targeting Kimberly.

    Upon hearing this, Kimberly nced at Aurelia resentfully.

    Aurelia pursed her lips, not expecting Kimberly to be the target of ridicule one day. She felt like she would be the next

    Kimberly, pushed into the spotlight until she lost herself in the praises.

    She quickly regained herposure and said, ¡°It¡¯s a second-hand dress. | can¡¯t afford a new one.

    Her colleagues, who were about to praise her, paused at her words.

    One of them said awkwardly, ¡°Second-hand dresses aren''t bad.¡±

    Aurelia smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s cheap.¡±

    After hearing this, everyone lost interest in an instant.

    Aurelia knew that they weren''t really praising her sincerely and were merely using her to get to Kimberly.

    They didn¡¯t want to cross anyone, but neither did she. So, it was best to make them give up as soon as possible.

    Silence returned to the office.

    That morning, Aurelia received three clients who came looking for her. The negotiations went well, and all that was left was to

    sign the contracts.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, your reputation doesn¡¯t do you justice.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for thepliment,¡± Aurelia said, smiling.

    She had worked extremely hard and deserved suchpliments.

    Her colleagues all looked at her enviously when they saw her talking to clients all morning.

    See? It was possible to make others envious just with one¡¯s own ability.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    As lunch approached, her colleagues noticed that it was too hot outside and all ordered takeout. Meanwhile, Aurelia took out her

    lunchbox and prepared to eat.

    But before she could open it, a man stormed in.

    He was dressed in a suit and looked to be around 1.7 meters tall. He was wearingrge gold chains and a gold watch.

    He moved around the office rudely as he yelled, ¡°Kimberly,e home with me now!¡±

    What?

    Aurelia turned to look at Kimberly, who was cowering under her desk.

    The man looked around the office, and a colleague hinted to him where Kimberly was hiding.

 Chapter 280

    Chapter 280

    The man walked over and dragged Kimberly out.

    ¡°Do you think | can¡¯t find you if you hide? We''re married, and you are my wife. Where can you hide?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not. We haven''t

    gotten married yet,¡± Kimberly shouted.

    ¡°You epted my dowry of 150 thousand dors, and now you tell me that you¡¯re not my wife? Are you trying to trick me? | have

    the transaction records right here!¡±

    The man took out his phone, but Kimberly pped it away.

    Furious, he pped her across the cheek. ¡°How dare you go against me?¡±

    Kimberly''s cheek turned crimson, but she didn¡¯t dare to argue.

    The man grabbed her. ¡°Haven''t you been embarrassed enough? Who else would want you now?

    ¡°Come home with me. What¡¯s a woman doing working in an office? There are plenty of chores for you to do at home.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not going!¡± Kimberly screamed and reached out her hand to her colleagues, but everyone ignored her.

    Even Zachary closed the blinds on his window after giving her a nce.

    Everyone knew that Kimberly was useless now.

    Aurelia pursed her lips and continued to sit down with her colleagues.

    Seeing this, Kimberly fell into despair as she was dragged away by the man.

    Aurelia wasn''t affected by Kimberly and continued eating.

    Kimberly was the one who had epted the dowry by using marriage as bait, so the oue was no one else¡¯s business.

    After the lunch break, Aurelia overheard the others gossiping about Kimberly as she drank a ss of

    water.

    It turned out that Kimberly''s uncle had frozen her card. But because she was too ustomed to luxury, Kimberly couldn¡¯t get

    used to a frugal lifestyle.

    So, she had hooked up with a nouveau riche. Initially, she had thought that an uneducated nouveau- riche man would be easy to

    fool.

    Little did she know that he was quite shrewd. He had transferred the money to her, explicitlybeling it as the dowry for their

    marriage.

    Kimberly, however, only cared about receiving the money and didn¡¯t bother to check the payment notes at all. Now, she found

    herself in a predicament as she was forced to get married.

    212

    Rumor had it that even her uncle wouldn''t help her this time. It seemed that she had no choice but to get married.

    That was good. She deserved it.

    Her skills in seducing men had backfired, and now she found herself at the mercy of a man.

    At two in the afternoon, Aurelia went to the restroom to touch up her makeup, then went downstairs

    to wait for Leslie.

    Meanwhile, at the airport, Leslie stood at the exit and watched as a woman approached him.

    She wore an elegant white dress, her curls falling over her shoulders beautifully. Her every movement drew the attention of every

    man around her.

    However, her gaze was fixed on Leslie as she walked briskly and confidently toward him.

    ¡°Leslie, it¡¯s been a while.¡±

    ¡°Cynthia, long time no see.¡± Leslie nodded politely but frowned when he nced at his phone. You¡¯re half an hourte.¡±

    ¡°| went to the restroom to change my clothes for the eventter so that | won¡¯t embarrass thepany,¡± Cynthia said with a

    smile.

    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    Leslie''s eyes didn¡¯t linger on her. He simply turned around and walked out of the airport.

    Cynthia was slightly taken aback when she realized that Leslie had been subconsciously checking the time. He seemed to be in

    a hurry.

    This reminded her of the woman¡¯s voice on the phone the other day. She had heard the same voice twice now. It was definitely

    not a coincidence.

    She had worked by Leslie¡¯s side for many years and had been subtly revealing her own feelings for

    him.

    Although he maintained a clear boundary between work and personal life and never responded to her advances, everyone knew

    that she was special because she was the only woman who still remained working alongside Leslie.

    She refused to believe that anyone could rece her.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 281

    Cynthia wasn¡¯t a person who would waver, so she didn¡¯t show her doubts.

    Instead, she followed Leslie out of the airport and got into the car with the same polite mannerism.

    Once in the car, she didn¡¯t ask any questions.

    She took out her work files and systematically reported the situation back at the headquarters. Her professionalism and

    efficiency was what Leslie admired most about her.

    Cynthia was two years younger than Leslie.

    Leslie was the only dual-degree student who graduated with straight A¡¯s in his year.

    When he had taken the stage to speak as a representative, the entire venue had buzzed with

    excitement. However, everyone instantly calmed down and listened attentively when his deep voice resonated through the hall.

    This was the first time Cynthia saw Leslie.

    Although they had attended the same college, Leslie kept a low profile and was dedicated to his

    studies.

    After his junior year, he started his own business, making him a legend on campus.

    However, Cynthia had never seen him until that day.

    During the speech, she watched the god-like man on the stage.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    She felt as if something had hit her, and her heart raced. Every sound around her seemed to fade, leaving only his calm and

    captivating voice.

    From that day onward, she paid attention to Leslie¡¯s every move.

    But one day, he seemed to have disappeared. She thought that she would never see him again.

    Unexpectedly, during a job interview, he turned out to be the interviewer.

    At that time, he wore a well-tailored suit, and his contemtive gaze was enchanting.

    Only then did she learn about his sessful entrepreneurship and that he had be extremely wealthy.

    The moment they met again, she decided to stay close to him.

    With her excellent grades and skills, she confidently and smoothly secured a job offer from the

    company.

    On her first day at thepany, she became the center of attention because she was the only woman that Leslie had hired in

    thepany.

    Initially, she thought that Leslle had feelings for her, so she started showing subtle hints or

    Chapter 281

    unintentional signs of affection. But Leslie remained unmoved.

    23

    Not only was he unmoved, but whenever she approached him cautiously, he would immediately show displeasure and

    resistance.

    Once, while she was drunk, she told him about her feelings.

    He tly rejected her and made it clear that she wasn¡¯t suitable to be by his side anymore.

    The next day, she exined that she had drunk too much and had mistaken Leslie for her crush, so he excused her. But since

    then, Leslie had kept his distance from her.

    When to establish thepany, she had immediately applied to apany

    e returned to se him. He rejected her request, saying that there was still unfinished business in the foreignpany.

    She had been anxious the entire time that Leslie was gone, until she heard from her colleagues that he was as much a loner as

    before and that there were no women in thepany. This reassured her.

    However, this time was different. But she couldn''t tell exactly what was different.

    Leslie sat by the car window, slowly flipping through the files in his hand.

    Suddenly, his phone vibrated.

    He opened his WhatsApp and nced at it before replying swiftly.

    Coincidentally, the sunlight outside the window fell on the side of his face, and his once inscrutable expression now carried a hint

    of gentleness.

    At this moment, Cynthia was shocked to realize that Leslie had truly changed.

    She had spent years trying to impress him, but she had lost to someone who had known him for only

    two months.

    Her expression darkened, and a feeling of frustration rose within her.

    She took a deep breath and maintained her good manners as she asked, ¡°Do we still follow the same routine at the opening

    ceremonyter?¡±

    The so-called same routine referred to her acting as Leslie¡¯s date.

    Leslie¡¯s resistance to women was obvious to all. Because of that, in some foreign countries, many people thought that he had a

    different sexual orientation and started joking around about it.

    For example, he would sometimes return to his hotelte at night to find a handsome man waiting on

    the couch for him..

    In order to avoid further misunderstandings, Cynthia had offered to act as his date on different asions. But she also did it so

    that she could im Leslie as her own.

    Leslie didn¡¯t enjoy socializing, so he had agreed to it.

    Today was the opening ceremony of One Technology. Almost all the dignitaries in the city would be present. It was inevitable that

    people would throw themselves at Leslie.

    Chapter 281

    3/3

    Having a date by his side would save him a lot of trouble.

    Besides, Cynthia was beautiful, capable, and educated. Even If someone wanted to introduce Leslie to other women as a favor,

    they would have to introduce him to women who were better than her.

 Chapter 282

    Chapter 282

    Leslie shook his head, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, | don¡¯t n to reveal my identity today¡±

    Cynthia was taken aback. ¡°Why not? On such an important day, you''ll undoubtedly be the most valued neer in the

    entire Bencester if you reveal your identity. The rest of the ns can also proceed more quieldy.¡±

    ¡°| have my own considerations, | don¡¯t need toin everything to you,¡± he replied coldly,

    The idea to make a grandeback at the opening ceremony was initially Cynthia¡¯s idea, and it received unanimous approval.

    However, Leslie didn¡¯t agree with it.

    i

    He disliked showcasing his abilities amidst all the ttery, as few people spoke the truth in such situations,

    Cynthia pursed her lips and asked, ¡°Is it because of someone?¡±

    Leslie closed the file and said indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t talk about personal matters at work.¡±

    Cynthia¡¯s lips turned pale, and she nodded reluctantly. ¡°Alright.¡±

    Her hands trembled Involuntarily. She felt that Leslie was drifting further and further away from her.

    She looked out the car window and narrowed her eyes sharply.

    Ever since she was a child, she had always been the pride of others, and she had never once lost.

    She couldn''t believe that she would lose to a woman whose name she didn¡¯t even know.

    It was evident that Leslle had some agreement with the woman on the other end of the phone.

    Today, she would show this woman who Leslie would choose between them.

    Cynthia opened her bag calmly, revealing a small packet of snacks that had been provided by the business-ss crew on the

    ne.

    She was allergic to nuts, so she had put it into her bag without much thought. Now it came in handy.

    She pretended to look for her lipstick, then she discreetly tore open the packaging and stuffed a small nut into her mouth.

    Soon, the allergic reactions made it difficult for her to breathe. She waved her hand, and her bag fell to the ground..

    ¡°Leslie... It feels so ufortable.¡±

    Leslie immediately supported Cynthia and nced at the driver. ¡°Go to the hospital.¡±

    The driver was shocked when he saw Cynthia¡¯s condition through the rearview mirror. He stepped on the elerator and

    headed straight to the hospital.

    Chapter 28.

    212

    Aurelia stood in the lobby of herpany¡¯s bullding for 20 minutes, but there was still no sign of Leslie.

    During this time, she had made phone calls and sent messages to him. However, Leslie, who was just texting her, seemed to

    havepletely vanished.

    Did something happen at the venue?

    Aurelia called her colleague at the venue worriedly, but her colleague said that everything was going smoothly. She even

    thanked Aurelia for rmending her to oversee things there, as it had allowed her to get the business cards of many big shots.

    Aurelia wasn''t in the mood to listen to her colleague and hastily hung up the phone. Then, she called Leslie again, but he still

    didn¡¯t pick up.

    Growing increasingly worried, she intended to take a taxi to One Technology to have a look.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Just as she stopped a taxi, she received a text from Leslie,

    ¡°Go to the venue first. | can¡¯t pick you up.

    Aurelia stood frozen at the door of the car, feeling like she was suffocating.

    ¡°Miss, are you getting in or not?¡± the driver urged.

    Aurelia regained herposure and got into the car. ¡°Please go to the old factory¡¯s road.¡±

    With that, she turned her attention back to the message from Leslie.

    Leslie had always been a man of his word. This was the first time he had broken his promise.

 Chapter 283

    Chapter 283

    On the way to the venue, Aurelia thought of many excuses for Leslie, but none convinced her.

    After all, Leslie wasn¡¯t the kind of person who would make promises about something he was uncertain of. If he made a promise,

    It meant that he had already made preparations or adjustments

    for it.

    Was there some emergency situation?

    Aurelia¡¯s mind was in chaos, and her emotions were in turmoil. She didn¡¯t know why she had be

    like this.

    After patting herself on the face, she calmed down and chose to believe in Leslie.

    Upon arriving at the venue, Aurelia went to find her colleagues first. They exchanged greetings as Aurelia looked around the

    ce.

    Wasn''tn, the boss of One Technology, also supposed to be there?

    ¡°Where¡¯s the boss of One Technology?¡± she asked.

    ¡°He hasn''t arrived yet. Someone from One Technology just said that he¡¯ll bete due to some issues on the way.¡±

    Hearing this, Aurelia breathed a sigh of relief.

    The boss of One Technology was closely associated with Leslie, so maybe Leslie had to attend to that

    sudden matter.

    The boss¡® orders would be undoubtedly challenging to disobey.

    Just as she was thinking about it, her colleague said mysteriously, ¡°I heard that it has something to do

    with a woman.¡±

    Aurelia paused.

    Awoman? Wasn''tn interested in men?

    Her colleague whispered again, ¡°I heard that the woman is quite formidable. She¡¯s the only female employee in the overseas

    branch, and she has a special rtionship with theirpany¡¯s most handsome programmer.

    ¡°The boss had even specially asked him to pick her up. | don¡¯t know why they haven''t arrived yet. Maybe there¡¯s a passionate

    love affair going on...¡±

    The most handsome programmer?

    This clearly referred to Leslie.

    Passionate love affair?

    The thought of Leslie with another woman made Aurelia¡¯s chest tighten, and she even started to feel a little angry.

    But her reason reminded her that she and Leslie were only in a contractual marriage. However, the contract explicitly stated that

    no infidelity was allowed during the marriage.

    Why would Leslie do this?

    Before she could think more about it, Daniel approached her.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, wee. Everyone loves the event you''ve nned. I¡¯m here to entertain you on

    behalf of the boss.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aurelia suppressed her uneasiness and smiled politely.

    ¡°Come, let me introduce you to a few people.¡±

    ¡°Me? Is that appropriate?¡± Aurelia was stunned, not expectingn to be so courteous and willing to

    introduce clients to her.

    ¡°Of course. You''re a guest here today, so it¡¯s necessary for everyone to get to know each other.¡±

    With that said, Daniel made an inviting gesture.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Aurelia had no choice but to smile and follow him.

    But her concern about Leslie¡¯s situation made her distracted. After hesitating several times, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Mr.

    Xenos, do you know where Mr. Synder went?¡±

    ¡°He went to the airport to pick someone up because...¡± Daniel paused.

    ¡°Because?¡± Aurelia asked, frowning.

    ¡°Because that¡¯s what the boss wanted.¡±

    Daniel initially wanted to exin that Leslie waste because of Cynthia¡¯s allergic reaction. However, Cynthia was someone

    unique, and he didn¡¯t want to cause any misunderstandings.

    After all, Cynthia was the only female employee in thepany, and in everyone else¡¯s perspective, she was someone special

    to Leslie.

    It was easy for others to misunderstand their rtionship, but Daniel knew very well that Leslie simply saw Cynthia as an

    ordinary employee.

    It wasn¡¯t that Leslie was discriminative toward women and didn¡¯t want to hire other female. employees. It also wasn¡¯t because all

    the women fell for him.

    In the past, they had recruited many female employees who were all very capable. However, they all inevitably got married and

    had children.

    This was something to be celebrated, and thepany alsopensated them with sries and benefits in ordance with

    thew.

    Chapter 201

    3/3

    But some women took advantage of the benefits for pregnant women. They would leave for more than a year before returning,

    only to get pregnant again within three months.

 Chapter 284

    Moreover, just after giving birth to the first child, the second child would already be on the way. With that, their holiday benefits

    would continue.

    In their line of work, updates happened exceptionally quickly. At this rate, thepany would be dragged down, and they

    wouldn''t be able to keep up.

    Additionally, Leslie was frequently harassed by some female employees for various reasons. Some even boldly slipped flirtatious

    notes into the documents.

    Leslie eventually grew tired of this and decided to stop hiring female employees altogether.

    That was why Cynthia stood out.

    Cynthia and Leslie were both fellow alumni, and the projects they participated in were quite simr. It was as if Cynthia was a

    talent created just for thepany.

    Cynthia had also explicitly stated in her introduction that she wouldn''t get married or have children

    anytime soon, so Leslie made an exception in her recruitment.

    Cynthia did not disappoint. She consistentlypleted her projects, and her name was always

    associated with promotions and sry increases.

    She was intelligent, and everyone knew about her feelings for Leslie. However, she knew that Leslie didn¡¯t like to mix work with

    his personal life, so she had to approach him with caution.

    Even Daniel once thought that Cynthia was the most suitable candidate to be the boss¡¯ wife. She had a good family background,

    good capabilities, good looks, and didn¡¯tck anything.

    It wasn¡¯t until Daniel met Aurelia that he realized that Cynthia wasn¡¯t the right fit for Leslie.

    They were too simr, and the ideal partner shouldplement each other. Aurelia¡¯s calm and warm demeanor perfectly filled

    the void in Leslie''s life that even he couldn''t perceive.

    However, Daniel believed that it would be better for Leslie to tell Aurelia about the situation himself. So, he didn¡¯t exin much.

    Unfortunately, he was unaware that Aurelia already knew about Leslie going to the airport to pick up a woman. She had asked

    just to confirm the information.

    Now that it had been confirmed, Aurelia¡¯s heart sank.

    It turned out that Leslie indeed had feelings for another woman.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Meanwhile, in the hospital, Cynthia was taken to the emergency room, and Leslie informed the doctor about her allergic reaction.

    The doctor nced at him and went in to give Cynthia some anti¡ªallergy medication. Soon, Cynthia

    recovered and regained consciousness.

    The female doctor asked with concern, ¡°Why did you eat nuts if you''re allergic to them? Did your boyfriend identally give

    them to you?¡±

    ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Cynthia paused.

    ¡°The person who brought you here. Be sure to remind him to be more careful when buying food for you in the future. Your

    allergic reaction was quite severe. Fortunately, the quantity you had consumed. this time was very small,¡± the doctor said.

    Cynthia felt pleased that other people had mistaken her for Leslie''s girlfriend, which meant that they lookedpatible.

    ¡°Alright, doctor. | understand.¡±

    ¡°You have some red rashes on your face and arms. I''ll prescribe some antihistamines for you. Take care and get some rest.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Cynthia watched as the doctor left, then propped herself up to check the time.

    There were only ten minutes left before the event started. Leslie wouldn¡¯t be able to make it there in

    time.

    Since Leslie didn¡¯t want to reveal his identity that day, it didn¡¯t matter whether he showed up or not. He had most-likely prepared

    everything in advance anyway.

    However, things were different for that woman. Without Leslie, she would be nothing..

    In Cynthia¡¯s perspective, any woman who was interested in Leslie was either taken in by his looks or his wealth. They were all

    just superficial women.

    After today, that woman should know her ce.

    Just then, the door opened, and Leslie strode in.

    Cynthia stood up, pretending to be in a frail state, and said apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. | probably identally ate the nuts in the

    airne¡¯s meal. I¡¯m sorry that you won¡¯t be able to arrive at the venue

    in time.¡±

    Leslie nced at the rash on her face and sighed lightly.

    She covered her face and lowered her gaze. ¡°I can¡¯t attend the event looking like this. Can you send me back home first? It¡¯s

    been a while since | returned, so | don¡¯t know my way around.¡±

    He nced at his watch and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Cynthia was overjoyed. She knew that Leslie wouldn¡¯t abandon her for some woman that he had only

    known for two months.

 Chapter 285

    Chapter 285

    Cynthia took out a pair of sunsses from her bag. She put them on to cover the rash on her face and hide the joy in her eyes.

    However, her joy didn¡¯tst long.

    After she got into the car, she realized that she wasn¡¯t in the same car from earlier and that even the driver was a different

    person.

    Leslie didn¡¯t get into the car. She rolled down the window and asked, ¡°What''s wrong?¡±

    Leslie didn¡¯t answer for a moment. Then, he said coldly, ¡°Next time, don¡¯t acknowledge things that aren¡¯t true. Rest well.¡±

    Cynthia was taken aback and revealed a panicked expression.

    The doctor must have said something after exiting the ward earlier, and that had angered Leslie.

    ¡°No, I...¡±

    ¡°lm aman, and you''re a woman. Not only that, I¡¯m your superior, and you¡¯re my subordinate. So, it would be inappropriate for

    me to send you home.¡±

    With that, he nced at the driver and motioned for him to start driving.

    Then, Leslie got into his own car and drove off.

    Aurelia followed Daniel to the front row, where she was surrounded by powerful figures that one would rarely meet on a normal

    day.¡±

    Surprised, she tugged on Daniel¡¯s clothes and whispered, ¡°Mr. Xenos, | think that you must be

    mistaken.¡±

    ¡°No. Our boss is thankful for what you''ve done, so he has arranged this seat for

    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t your boss arrived yet?¡± Aurelia asked.

    you,

    ¡°Daniel said.

    Daniel looked around and smiled. ¡°Because there are still others who haven''t arrived yet.¡±

    Aurelia looked around, unsure of who Daniel was talking about.

    Suddenly, the surroundings quieted down. Everyone consciously took two steps back to make way.

    Daniel looked over and said, ¡°He¡¯s here.¡±

    Aurelia followed his line of sight and saw a young man entering withrge strides.

    To her surprise, it was none other than the heir to the Synder Corporation, Leon Synder.

    Why was he here?

    23

    Aurelia remembered that he wasn¡¯t on the invitation list that she had edited.

    Leon had a handsome face, with the arrogance and majesty of a rich young heir.

    However, his gaze was sharp, and his presencemanded everyone¡¯s attention as soon as he

    entered the venue.

    Everyone in Seacester knew that the Synder family was a true powerhouse that monopolized many industries in the city.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, long time no see.¡±

    When everyone saw Leon, regardless of their status, they all greeted and fawned over him..

    Leon only cast a fleeting nce at them and walked straight toward Daniel. After sizing Daniel up, a dark smile appeared on

    Leon''s face.

    ¡°Good move in forcing us to take the initiative. Now that I¡¯vee forward, shouldn¡¯t your boss show up too?¡± Leon asked.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, please calm down. Today is ourpany¡¯s opening ceremony. Let''s not discuss business matters here,¡± Daniel

    replied calmly.

    ¡°Mr. Xenos, do you know the consequences of messing with me?¡± Leon¡¯s smile became more sinister, and the coldness in his

    eyes intensified.

    ¡°You''re mistaken, Mr. Synder. It¡¯s a taboo to be too hasty in business. The boss has prepared gifts for everyone here today,¡±

    Daniel said politely with a smile.

    When everyone heard this, they focused their attention on the two.

    The veins on Leon¡¯s neck bulged with rage, but he could only suppress his anger.

    Aurelia felt a chill run down her spine as she watched the exchange.

    She realized that real fights in business were often silent, with every word and action carrying hidden meanings.

    Jan had probably anticipated Leon¡¯s ill intentions and had led him into a contest of patience.

    In this round, Leon had lost.

    Leon¡¯s actions confirmed that it was the Synder family who needed One Technology.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Everyone in the venue were all shrewd people. They could easily tell what was happening.

    Synder Corporation had monopolized the technology industry in Seacester for many years. The fact ¡ª that they were seeking

    help from a newly establishedpany showed that the Synder family might not be doing as well as they seemed.

    Therefore, everyone remained silent and quietly observed the situation.

    Aurelia was like a little lost rabbit that had strayed into a herd of wild beasts. She didn¡¯t dare to make

    Chapter 255

    30

    any movements.

    However, her intuition told her that staying there might not be appropriate. So, she slowly started to back away from the center of

    the storm.

    Unfortunately, she identally bumped into the wine table. The sound of clinking sses broke the stalemate.

 Chapter 286

    Leon looked at her. His cold gaze swept over hier.

    Aurelia pursed her lips anxiously and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Leon approached her, but Daniel stopped him and said, ¡°Mr. Synder, let me take you to your seat.¡±

    Leon looked away from Aurelia and stared at Daniel with contempt. ¡°Sure. | look forward to seeing those so-called gifts that

    you''ve prepared.¡±

    ¡°This way, please,¡± Daniel said.

    After Leon left with Daniel, Aurelia could still sense his gaze on her. Feeling ufortable, she turned around to chat with her

    colleagues.

    She checked her phone when she noticed that Leslie still hadn¡¯t arrived yet, even though the ceremony had already started.

    Was he noting?

    It seemed like that woman was really important to him.

    Suddenly, a slender arm reached out in front of Aurelia. She looked up in surprise. ¡°Mr. Synder, you-

    ¡°What''s wrong? You addressed me, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    The person in front of her was actually Leon.

    Aurelia was stunned for a moment, then she took a step back.

    The dark expression on Leon¡¯s face was now reced with an amiable smile. ¡°Miss, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s rude of you to run off

    right after you said you were sorry?¡±

    Aurelia pursed her lips, struggling toprehend what he meant.

    He handed her a ss of wine and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. You looked scared just now, so | came over to check on you. Let''s

    have a drink together and consider this our apology to each other.¡±

    Aurelia stared at the ss in his hand and didn¡¯t move.

    Her colleague nudged her from behind and whispered, ¡°Drink it. This is Mr. Synder. You can¡¯t afford to offend him.¡±

    If they upset Leon, Young Advertising could possibly just go bankrupt tomorrow.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to cause trouble at the event, so she reached out to take the ss.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    However, before her hand could touch the ss, someone else took it from her and downed it..

    ¡°Mr. Synder, is forcing ady to drink also part of the Synder family¡¯s upbringing?¡±

    Leon¡¯s eyes instantly turned icy. ¡°Who are you?¡±

    Who dared to challenge him?

    Leslie stood in front of Aurelia. His presence was so imposing that even Leon¡¯s bearing that exuded. danger became a little

    insignificant in front of him.

    ¡°I''m Leslie Synder, her husband.¡±

    ¡°Husband?¡± Leon looked at Aurelia. ¡°Are you married?¡±

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Leon¡¯s expression suddenly darkened, and he nced at Leslie, as if he was trying to determine if he was telling the truth.

    Leslie simply chose to ignore him and turned around to leave, taking Aurelia away with him.

    Leon¡¯s face was tense. Someone actually dared to ignore him!

    He turned to his assistant and asked, ¡°Who is he?¡±

    ¡°A programmer from One Technology.¡±

    ¡°What about that woman? | saw Daniel deliberately protecting her just now. | was nning to go for her, but this guy suddenly

    showed up halfway. What a pity...¡±

    AST

    As Leon spoke, his gaze lingered on Aurelia.

    She was such a beautiful doll. She was prettier and more interesting than any other doll in his

    collection.

    The assistant leaned in and said, ¡°She¡¯s the nner for this ceremony. Here''s her business card.¡±

    Leon took the card and looked at the name on it. ¡°Aurelia Simmons. I''ll remember that name.

    Leslie led Aurelia to the other side of the hall.

    ¡°Stay away from him in the future,¡± Leslie said.

    He felt an inexplicable displeasure, especially when he saw the way Leon was staring at Aurelia. He even had the urge to punch

    him.

    It wasn¡¯t the first time Leslie felt that way when facing Leon anyway.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Aurelia nodded, deliberately keeping a distance from Leslie. Leslie sensed that something was off and asked, ¡°What¡¯s

    wrong?¡±

 Chapter 287

    Aurelia looked at Leslie besitantly.

    It seemed that she didn¡¯t have the right to question his rtionship with other women.

    However, although they had signed a cohabitation agreement, the marriage certificate was real

    Maybe Leslie didn¡¯t care about this marriage, but she couldn¡¯t afford not to care. She didn¡¯t want to end up being treated like the

    other woman.

    She was a determined woman, and if she could let go of her three-year rtionship with Seth, she could part ways with Leslie

    just as easily.

    Despite what she thought, the thought of separating from Leslie made her throat feel inexplicably tight.

    Still, her reason reminded her not to indulge in hopeless dreams.

    Finally, she voiced her doubts. ¡°Mr. Synder, why were you sote?¡±

    Aurelia chose a more tactful question.

    If she directly asked about the woman, it would appear as if she had ulterior motives.

    If Leslie chose to deceive her, then no matter how many questions she asked, he would stille up with various reasons to

    deflect her question. And there would be no point in asking.

    She would find the right time to part ways with him, if that was the case.

    Leslie stared at her with a prating gaze for a long time without saying anything.

    Aurelia lowered her head silently.

    Leslie probably felt that she had overstepped the boundaries, and she felt conflicted. She had no idea.

    how to continue the conversation.

    Then, Leslie suddenly said, ¡°You want to ask about the rtionship between me and my female colleague, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Aurelia said, nodding in confusion. Her eyes suddenly widened. ¡°Huh? I just... | didn¡¯t mean anything by it. | just heard

    about her from the others, so I¡¯m just curious.¡±

    She hadn''t expected Leslie to be so blunt, so she had instinctively nodded earlier. Now she found herself struggling to exin

    herself.

    ¡°Why are you suddenly so concerned about her?¡± Leslie asked as he approached Aurelia. She became even more embarrassed.

    She stepped back and leaned against the edge of the table.. Her eyes darted around, and finally she focused her gaze on the

    hem of her dress.

    ¡°IH just think that you shouldn¡¯t disappoint a woman who''s Important to you. | can...¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Leslie asked, frowning in displeasure.

    It was rather unexpected that he had married a woman who was generous enough to let another woman have her husband.

    Aurelia looked up and was about to repeat herself. But when she met Leslie¡¯s eyes, she suddenly lost her courage.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Leslie¡¯s voice was low and dripping with displeasure.

    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just curious. Mr. Synder, do you like-¡±

    Before she could finish speaking, he red at her, and she didn¡¯t dare to continue.

    Leslie said, ¡°She¡¯s just a female colleague. She suffered from anaphctic shock after eating some nuts, and | had to rush her to

    the hospital.¡±

    Aurelia was taken aback

    ¡°Anaphctic shock? Is she okay now?¡±

    He nodded and said, ¡°Yeah. The driver sent her home.¡±

    Aurelia gave an awkward hum in reply and wondered who this woman was to Leslie.

    For Leslie to specifically pick her up from the airport, she had to be someone special, right?

    However, she couldn''t bring herself to ask any more questions.

    Leslie saw through her thoughts and exined, ¡°We''re just colleagues. A lot of our work oveps, so we are seen together a lot.

    That¡¯s why people tend to misunderstand.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Aurelia lowered her head and couldn''t help but smile.

    She didn¡¯t expect Leslie to exin things so clearly to her when he usually spoke no more than two

    sentences.

    This showed that the matter between him and that woman was truly a misunderstanding.

 Chapter 288

    ¡°Aurelia, you''re literally grinning from ear to ear.¡±

    As soon as he looked at Aure, he could see the huge smile on her face even though her head was

    lowered.

    In fact, he was also taken aback by his own exnation.

    Why was he exining himself?

    There were others who had misunderstood the rtionship between him and Cynthia in the past, but he felt that his rejection of

    her was already very clear. It wasn¡¯t his problem if others still misunderstood things, and he couldn''t be bothered to waste his

    time exining anything.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    However, when Aurelia had hesitated to ask him about it, he had exined everything almost immediately.

    He didn¡¯t want Aurelia to misunderstand.

    But why was she different from others?

    Leslie didn¡¯t understand, but he felt rxed after exining himself.

    At Leslie¡¯s words, Aurelia looked up and touched her lips. Then, she pursed her lips and red at him.

    How could someone joke around with such a stern face?

    ¡°Let''s go and get something to eat,¡± Leslie said.

    Aurelia rubbed her stomach and nodded before following him.

    soon

    However, there were many guests there today, and she was soon pushed to the back of the crowd.

    All the guests present were rich and powerful, so she didn¡¯t dare to get in their way and could only try

    to walk around them.

    At that moment, a hand reached out to hold her hand and pull her closer.

    When she looked up, she realized that it was Leslie.

    His tall and slender figure stood out among the crowd. This, coupled with hismanding presence, attracted many gazes, even

    though he was just an ordinarypany employee.

    By shielding Aurelia, Leslie unintentionally drew attention to her too. Some people even cast envious nces her way.

    She blushed, and she began to understand why Millie found it hard to resist the envious gazes of

    others.

    How should she put it? She felt genuinely happy.

    When they reached the table, Leslie poured a ss of sparkling water for Aurelia, while he poured

    himself a ss of champagne.

    Aurelia calmed down after drinking the sparkling water. She then picked up the pastry Leslie offered her. She paused for a

    moment when she noticed that there were almond slices on it.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, did your colleague suffer from anaphctic shock because you identally gave her something to eat?¡±

    ¡°No, she said the food provided by the flight crew had nuts added to it,¡± Leslie replied indifferently.

    ¡°That¡¯s strange.¡± Aurelia frowned.

    ¡°What''s wrong?¡±

    ¡°| used to have a colleague who also had severe allergies, but she didn¡¯t tell us because she was afraid that we would alienate

    her if she spoke up.

    ¡°One time, we all bought a fruit cake to celebrate a big contract, and she ate some of the cake base soaked in fruit juice. She

    immediately broke out in a rash and passed out.

    ¡°The doctor said that it was anaphctic shock, which urs within seconds or minutes of exposure to something one is allergic

    to. If your colleague¡¯s condition was that severe, shouldn¡¯t the reaction have happened on the ne?¡±

    Aurelia was merely expressing her doubts without thinking too much about it.

    Because she had witnessed the terrifying effects of severe allergies, she found the situation strange.

    It would have taken at least ten minutes or more from eating the crew meal to disembarking and waiting for the luggages. If the

    woman¡¯s allergies were really that severe, she wouldn¡¯t even have been able to meet Leslie.

    Leslie listened with a somewhat serious expression and tightened his grip on the ss in his hand.

    Aurelia paused for a moment, thinking that she had said something wrong. ¡°Did | say too much?¡±

    Leslie snapped back to reality and took a sip of the champagne. ¡°No, your question is valid.¡±

    ¡°In any case, your cr

    should avoid these allergens in the future. Otherwise, you might

    identally trigger a serious reaction.¡±

    ¡°I''ll make sure people are aware of that,¡± Leslie said thoughtfully.

    Before Aurelia could say anything else, someone bumped into her from behind.

 Chapter 289

    Aurelia thought that someone had bumped into her, but when she turned around, she saw no one

    there.

    Baffled, she turned back and continued eating. But something bumped into her again.

    She turned around immediately, but there was still no one.

    Suddenly, something tugged at the hem of her dress. She lowered her gaze and found a small robot by

    her feet.

    She recognized this robot.

    The founder of One Technology had used this robot as a medium during the meeting with Young Advertising.

    The robot looked up at Leslie, then at Aurelia. Its big mechanical eyes were filled with confusion.

    Aurelia felt even more confused than it was.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, why does it look like it knows me?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    Leslie stared speechlessly at the first robot he had ever made. He realized that it must have

    remembered Aurelia because he had mentioned her quite frequently recently.

    This robot couldn¡¯t do much, but it had a great memory. It could distinguish between people, objects, and events that were

    frequently mentioned, then categorize them ordingly.

    He had made it just to keep himselfpany. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, the robot knew about the rtionship between him and

    Aurelia.

    ¡°Mommy, Momm-

    Before the robot could continue, its power was cut off.

    Leslie tapped the back of its head and said to Aurelia, ¡°It has short-circuited.¡±

    Aurelia held her chin and asked, ¡°Why does it seem to recognize me? And why did it call me ¡®mommy?

    Why did she feel like a child had mistaken her for their mother?

    intelligent

    Leslie said calmly, ¡°It probably remembers you from the meeting. After all, it¡¯s an machine with memory functionality. Since it¡¯s a

    first-generation model, it tends to have glitches and mistakenly identify everyone as its parents.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Aurelia still had some doubts, but the surrounding lights suddenly changed.

    Then, the jazz band that she had specially hired for the night took the stage.

    The singer¡¯s deep voicebined with the futuristic setting created an indescribable collision.

    272

    The people around them put down their wine sses and danced on the various colored ss tiles, thoroughly enjoying the

    rhythm.

    Aurelia looked at the event that she had nned with satisfaction. It was truly beautiful

    The next moment, Leslie pulled her onto the dance floor

    ¡°Mr. Synder, what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Watching a show,¡± he replied, his gaze fixed on a particr spot.

    Aurelia followed his gare and saw Leon with an impatient expression on his face.

    Leon had lost the arrogance he had when he had entered the venue earlier. Now he resembled a bomb. on the verge of

    exploding.

    ¡°What''s wrong with him?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Do you know why he¡¯s bing more frustrated the more rxed everyone else is?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°| don¡¯t know. Why?¡± Aurelia looked at Leslie.

    ¡°Think about it. Why did Millie still continue to show off even when she wasn¡¯t with Jackson anymore?¡±

    ¡°Because she wanted to maintain her image in the eyes of others.¡±

    After saying that, realization dawned on Aurelia. She continued,

    on noticed that the others aren''t

    that eager to fawn over him, which shows that the Synder family¡¯s status isn¡¯t as great as he had thought. That''s why he¡¯s

    bing impatient.¡±

    Leslie said, ¡°He¡¯s not dumb. The Synder family has monopolies over many industries.

    ¡°In recent years, they''ve imed to support neers¡¯ technology but have used various methods. to suppress and acquire

    those neers¡¯ patents at low prices. They believe that they are at the top, not realizing that an unstable foundation can easily

    copse.

    ¡°Negotiating a coboration with ourpany is Leon¡¯s first business deal for the family. Everyone is waiting to see what he¡¯s

    capable of.

    ¡°He¡¯s anxious that he isn¡¯t getting his way, but the more impatient he bes, the less likely it

    would be for him to Seed.¡±

    Leslie¡¯s tone was cold, and his eyes darkened as he looked at Leon. It was as if he was looking at his

    nemesis.

    Sensing this, Leon turned and looked in their direction.

    Worried that Leon woulde over and cause trouble, Aurelia reached out and hugged Leslie tightly, turning her back toward

    Leon.

    Because of how tightly she was hugging him, she had to press her face against Leslie¡¯s chest. She could hear Leslie''s distinct

    and powerful heartbeat as well as feel his warmth through his shirt.

 Chapter 290

    Most importantly, she could feel that his muscles were really defined.

    What was Aurelia thinking?

    She felt like something was wrong with her. In the past, she had hugged Seth, heard his heartbeat, and felt his warmth before.

    But Seth had no muscles.

    No, she didn¡¯t care about muscles. It really wasn¡¯t that!

    She just didn¡¯t understand why hugging different men would feel so different.¡±

    ¡°Aren''t you hot?¡± Leslie''s voice sounded from above her head.

    ¡°I''m fine.¡± Aurelia stole a glimpse at Leon. When she saw that he was still staring at them, she kept hugging Leslie.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Leslie smiled and ced a hand on her back, as if he was holding her back.

    Aurelia was slightly taken aback. Although the air conditioning was cold enough, she still felt like she was burning.

    As she was trying her best to calm herself down, she felt someone staring at her. But it wasn¡¯t Leon since the gaze came from a

    different direction from where he was standing

    Who was it?

    She looked up and saw a woman with long hair. However, a few guests walked by, and the woman soon vanished from sight.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Aurelia shook her head and changed the subject. ¡°Mr. Xenos said that your boss has prepared gifts. Why didn¡¯t | know

    about this?¡±

    ¡°You''ll know soon,¡± Leslie said mysteriously.

    Aurelia thought that one Technology¡¯s employees weren''t allowed to say more, so she didn¡¯t ask any more questions.

    Cynthia couldn''t resisting to the venue out of curiosity.

    It was an old steel factory with unique decorations on the inside and on the outside, creating a distinctive atmosphere.

    She adjusted her sunsses and tried to avoid her colleagues. Finally, she stood in front of a giant potted nt and saw Aurelia.

    Chapter Pa

    She initially thought that Aure would be someone remarkable, only to find that she was rather ordinary besides her good looks.

    How could Leslie be attracted to such a seemingly ordinary woman?

    Just as Cynthia was pondering about it, she overheard the conversation between Aurelia and Leslie about her allergic reaction.

    Cynthia then realized that there was more to Aurelia than meets the eye. With just a simple remark from her, she had managed

    to make Leslie suspicious of Cynthia.

    It seemed that she wasn¡¯t as ordinary as she appeared.

    Even before they had formally met, Cynthia felt like Aurelia was already scheming against her.

    Luckily, Cynthia hade to the venue. Leslie would definitely investigate her allergies now.

    Leslie disliked deception, and he wouldn¡¯t spare her if he found out the truth.

    Cynthia red resentfully at Aurelia. When she saw Aurelia looking at her, Cynthia swiftly left the venue, as if she had never

    been there.

    Meanwhile, not far away, Leslie and Leon exchanged nces.

    Leon narrowed his eyes, a surge of anger welling up within him.

    How dare a mere programmer look at him like this? Was working at One Technology really that impressive?

    In this city, everyone was supposed to obey the Synder family.

    When he thought about the disy of power from One Technology today, Leon was unable to tolerate it any longer. He snapped

    and headed toward the dance floor.

    His assistant quickly grabbed hold of him.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, your father told you not to act recklessly today. We have to reach an agreement with One Technology today.¡±

    Leon said, ¡°We''re being generous by working with One Technology. They shouldn¡¯t think that they can trample on the Synder

    family because of this. | can¡¯t embarrass the boss of One Technology, but | can at least toy with a mere programmer.

    Sincen dared to ignore him, he would take his frustrations out on that programmer to show everyone who the real ruler of

    Seacester was.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 291

    With that in mind, Leon strode toward the dance floor.

    Upon seeing Leslie¡¯s expression, the others didn¡¯t dare to provoke him and hurriedly cleared the

    dance floot

    Only Aurelia and teste remaines).

    ¡°As Simmons, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?¡± Leon interrupted the two and extended a hand to Aurelia with a

    subtle sucer ying on his lips.

    Aurelia hesitated.

    Amidst the crowl¡¯s fearful gazes, Leon¡¯s smile took on a more profound meaning as hepletely disregarded Leslie.

    Although Leon knew that Aurelia was married to Leslie, he had still openly challenged Leslie in public. This was not just

    retaliation against Leslie but also an attempt to humiliate One Technology

    Amere programmer like Leslie could either openly disregard the heir of the Synder family at thepany¡¯s opening banquet or

    swallow his pride and yield his wife to another man.

    Either choice was fatal for Leslie.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Would he choose his career or his pride?

    Tension rose as the music continued ying in the background.

    Some well-intentioned individuals actually began talking to Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder probably just wants to be friends with Ms. Simmons. You''ve gained another friend, so you should be happy about it.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Simmons is an event nner, so she must have danced with many guests before. Mr. Synder rarely extends such

    invitations. You should be d.¡±

    ¡°Don''t just think about yourself. Consider thepany as well.¡±

    Aurelia paled, and her blood ran cold.

    The same group that had just been indifferent now seemed to have changed their tune, appearing eager to please Leon.

    Was it because she and Leslie were just ordinary people?

    She nced at Leslie¡¯s tense expression and held his hand tightly.

    Before Leslie could speak, she declined, ¡°Thank you for your offer, Mr. Synder, but I¡¯m not feeling

    well and would like to rest for a bit.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to cause trouble for One Technology and Leslie at this moment, so she could only

    Chapter 291

    excuse herself by iming to be unwell.

    Ahint of displeasure shed across Leslie¡¯s eyes. He hadn¡¯t expected Aurelia to refuse him.

    Did she really think that organizing such a grand ceremony for One Technology and having at husband who was just an

    employee there would gain her support from One Technology¡¯s boss?

    He refused to believe that One Technology''s boss would openly oppose him over a mere employee.

    The next moment, Leon directly grabbed Aurelia¡¯s wrist and forcefully pulled her in front of him.

    212

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, you must be a particrly considerate woman for you to be here for your husband despite feeling unwell. You

    must care a lot about him, right?¡±

    While it sounded like apliment, it was actually a threat to Aure.

    If she refused to dance with Leon, Leon would see to it that Leslie would be an outcast in

    Seacester.

    Aurelia paled, and her hand trembled. How could amoner like her face up to Leon?

    Leslie may be capable, but he was powerless whenpared to Leon.

    Leslie had a bright future ahead of him. She would never forgive herself if he lost his job because of her.

    Leon felt her trembling and smirked smugly as he stared at her dangerously.

    Aurelia tried her best to calm herself down. She told herself that she couldn¡¯tpromise or give into his demands. She couldn''t

    give him what he wanted.

    Others would view her as the woman who abandoned her own husband for vanity. No matter how hard she tried to exin

    afterward, they would only see what they preferred to see.

    Leon was killing three birds with one stone. He was attacking her and Leslie while humiliating One Technology.

    He was raised in a prestigious family, so the way he operated

    was surely moreplicated than a normal person.

 Chapter 292

    In addition to being well-informed, he knew how to manipte people.

    Under such circumstances, she knew that she couldn''t give in.

    As countless thoughts crossed her mind, she could sense the warmth from Leslie¡¯s palm.

    She turned to look at him, and he simply nodded as if he was telling her that he would always be

    around.

    She knew that he wasn¡¯t staying silent on purpose. He was giving her a chance to exin herself

    This was a matter of her own virtue, and she had to be the one to defend herself. Anyone else who tried to defend her would be

    viewed as protecting her.

    Leslie had her best interests in mind.

    Aurelia pursed her lips so that her lips regained its crimson color before smiling at Leon.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, thank you for yourpliment. Everyone knows that your father is the most charitable man in Seacester. He

    donates the most money each year, especially for the cause of providing education to women in rural areas.

    ¡°Since you were raised in a family with such respect for women, I¡¯m sure that you''ve inherited such generosity as well. How else

    would you know that I care a lot for my husband? Thank you.

    She enunciated each word, and Leslie added, ¡°Indeed, they do respect women.¡±

    He then forcefully withdrew Aurelia¡¯s hand from Leon¡¯s grip.

    ab

    This act was a tant challenge to Leon, and his expression darkened.

    Leon and Jackson were entirely different from each other.

    Jackson was born into wealth. He had been doted on since childhood, and he knew everything about enjoying life. So, he would

    throw a tantrum if things didn¡¯t go his way.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    In contrast, Leon was an heir raised with strict upbringing. His every word and action reflected his elite education, forbidding him

    from acting unrestrained in public.

    Hence, when Leon reached out to grab hold of Leslie¡¯s cor, it shocked everyone present.

    Even more surprising was Leslie¡¯s agile response. He dodged Leon¡¯s attempt, almost causing him to fall.

    Fortunately, Leon¡¯s assistant swiftly caught him.

    Furiously, Leon pointed at Leslie. ¡°I will show One Technology the consequences of offending me.¡±

    ¡°Just because my wife refused to dance with you?¡± Leslie asked casually.

    People looked at Leon in hesitation, seemingly surprised that the Synder family had raised such an

    Chapter 292

    heir.

    Leon straightened his suit angrily and said, ¡°Call your boss out. Don¡¯t y tricks with me.¡±

    ncing at his watch, Leslie said coldly, ¡°Mr. Synder, the timing is just right.¡±

    ¡°What timing?¡± Leon couldn¡¯tprehend the situation before him.

    212

    Suddenly, the screens went ck, and the service robots around all stopped at the tables. Theirrge eyes blinked before

    turning ck as well.

    Aurelia became nervous.

    Could it be a glitch in the program?

    Leslie gave her a reassuring look, indicating that this was part of the n.

    The ck screens and the robots¡¯ screens slowly lit up, revealing the silhouette of a man seated in the

    darkness.

    ¡°Wee to One Technology''s opening ceremony. | amn.¡±

    Amechanical voice echoed throughout the entire factory, exuding a futuristic and technological vibe in the spacious venue.

    At this moment, all of Aurelia¡¯s designs and arrangements took the event to an unprecedented peak.

    The guests were astonished as they looked around at everything, feeling like they had stepped into

    the future.

    No one knew what the future held, but this event allowed room for imagination.

    Aurelia¡¯s design of the future included seemingly cold high-tech elements, the vitality of nts, and the warmth of the

    combination of humans and technology.

    The exposed and rusted machinery from the old era also gave guests a realistic outlook of how the times had changed.

    People couldn''t help but give their praises in hushed tones.

    ¡°I''m getting goosebumps. This voicebined with the venue¡¯s setup is simply perfect.¡±

    ¡°This is the most unique design I¡¯ve seen in all the banquets I¡¯ve attended recently.¡±

    Meanwhile, Aurelia stared at the screen without blinking.

    Why did the silhouette of this man look so familiar?

 Chapter 293

    Aurelia was contemting why the figure on-screen gave her such a familiar feeling when Jan started talking again.

    ¡°Today, we''ve invited you all here to our opening ceremony to witness theunch of our new product.

    After he finished speaking, the screen changed again, revealing One Technology''s new product.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t quite understand all the special terms mentioned. However, judging by the expressions of the crowd and especially

    Leon¡¯s, the new product seemed remarkable.

    It had actually surprised the heir of the Synder family.

    When the presentation concluded, arge line of text appeared on the screen: ¡°Developer ¡ª Leslie Synder.¡±

    It was Leslie! Aurelia looked at Leslie in astonishment.

    She had always thought that Leslie was very intelligent, but she didn¡¯t expect him to be this aplished.

    Before she could congratte him, on the screen,n slowly approached the camera. The silhouette in the darkness made

    Aurelia¡¯s heart race.

    She finally understood whyn seemed familiar to her. It was because he resembled Leslie.

    However, Leslie was right beside her, so how could he appear on the screen simultaneously?

    lan¡¯s lips parted slightly, and he said slowly, ¡°The game has begun.¡±

    With those words, the screen lit up. Apuse filled the hall, and the atmosphere became lively. However, Leon turned his head

    with a fierce expression and red at Leslie.

    Unfazed, Leslie looked back at him and said coldly, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Synder. | was one step ahead of you. | hope you like this gift.

    ¡°Why you...¡± Leon wanted to say something but was eventually stopped by his assistant.

    He left with a dark expression.

    Aurelia withdrew her gaze from the screen and looked at Leon¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°Mr. Synder, why is he so angry?¡±

    ¡°The Synder family¡¯s new product development has been stagnant, and we justunched our new product ahead of them.

    ¡°Their monopoly now has a significant hole unless they can surpass uspletely. Why would he be happy?¡± Leslie exined.

    ¡°So, your boss intentionally invited him to attend the ceremony just to deliver this fatal blow in

    public

    ¡°Yes.¡± Leslie nodded.

    ¡°He¡¯s impressive. With so many people watching, Leon wouldn''t dare to act recklessly. It¡¯s also a great way to promote his

    company,¡± Aurelia said, admiring fan sincerely.

    Leshe frowned with a conflicted look on his face.

    Leslie didn¡¯t speak When Aurelia looked up, she found that he seemed a little displeased.

    What was wrong? It couldn¡¯t be because she had praised fan, right? He couldn¡¯t be that childish, right?Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, | think you¡¯re even more amazing. When your product was revealed, everyone¡¯s eyes lit

    I I''ll treat you to an extra meal tomorrow to celebrate the sessfulunch of your product,¡±

    added

    Leslie gave a hum and nodded contentedly.

    Aurelia couldn''t help but stifle augh. She hadn''t expected the usually stern and majestic Leslie to have such a childish side.

    Catching her in the act, Leslie asked, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±

    Aurelia stifled herughter and cleared her throat. ¡°It¡¯s just... | didn¡¯t expect you to be so funny at

    times.¡±

    Leslie instantly understood what Aurelia was referring to. With a serious look, he said,

    overthink it.¡±

    This only made her want tough even more.

    ¡°Don''t

    She really wanted to capture a video of this side of Leslie. From her current perspective, she noticed that Leslie looked a lot like

    lan.

    Was she mistaken by any chance?

    Her smile faded, and she asked gingerly, ¡°Mr. Synder, have you noticed that you look simr to your

    boss?¡±

    Leslie remained expressionless, but his

    gaze became probing. ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Alright. | guess | was just overthinking.¡± She shrugged.

    Their features looked simr, and they had simr builds as well, so she found some resemnce between the two.

    Leslie''s gaze appeared conflicted as he stared at her skeptically. ¡°You''ve always been curious about my boss, and you keep

    mentioning him in front of me. What are you trying to do?¡±

    Aurelia was taken aback when she sensed the tension in the air.

    ¡°You''re mistaken. | just think the two of you look alike. Well, | guess there¡¯s indeed something | want

    Chapter 243

    to do,¡± she exined.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Leslie asked tensely through gritted teeth.

    However, Aurelia was deep in thought and didn¡¯t notice the shift in his expression. Instead, she smiled mysteriously.

 Chapter 294

    ¡°Mr. Synder, after your sess in this event, you should be able to get a raise, right?¡±

    Leslie was taken aback. Looking at Aurelia¡¯s expression, he knew that she was actually speaking her

    mind.

    When he didn¡¯t respond, she pouted.

    ¡°| knew you wouldn''t say anything even if | asked you about it. We''ve been together for quite a while. now, but you''re still so wary

    of me.¡±

    Leslie froze, and a strange feeling rose within him.

    Ever since the incident with his family, he had developed a skeptical nature. He couldn¡¯t trust anyone or feel any real joy from

    life.

    He tried his best to fill his schedule with studies and work so that he wouldn¡¯t need anyone or anything.

    After seeing all the pretenses and hypocrisy in the business world, Aurelia¡¯s sincerity seemed out of ce.

    Despite all the drama in her life, she still tried her best to enjoy it. She never tried to act perfect, and she didn¡¯t mind if her ws

    were exposed.

    Meanwhile, Leslie had to think twice before revealing any emotion.

    He was indeed wary of Aurelia.

    Looking at her, he said, ¡°I did get quite a big raise.¡±

    Her eyes lit up, and she pped her hands. ¡°Congrattions. | thought | was doing great, but what I¡¯ve done seems like nothing

    compared to your aplishments. It seems that | still have to work

    hard.¡±

    ¡°You''re doing fine.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Mr. Synder, what did you just say?¡±

    Leslie''s voice was so soft that Aurelia didn¡¯t hear him clearly.

    When she asked him to repeat his words, Leslie turned away to drink his champagne.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t dare to ask further and focused on eating. During this time, she felt several eyes on her. Turning around, she

    noticed the employees of One Technology staring at her in shock.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, why are your colleagues looking at me like that?¡± she asked.

    Leslie nced in their direction, narrowing his eyes and frowning.

    The crowd turned around and dispersed so hastily that Aurelia couldn¡¯t even get a clear look of what

    Chapter 294

    they looked like.

    22

    ¡°If they know that we are married, will it be a problem for you?¡± Aure was worried that she would cause trouble for Leslie.

    ¡°Are you the one who¡¯s going to have a problem with it, or am |?¡± Leslie retorted.

    ¡°No, | thought that you.

    She thought that he didn¡¯t want others to know.

    ¡°If they know, they know,¡± Leslie said, calmly sipping his champagne.

    Aurelia was taken aback, and she blushed.

    Ashort distance away, several people approached Daniel and grabbed his arm. It caught him off guard, and they escorted him

    away.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Daniel withdrew his arm and straightened his suit.

    ¡°Mr. Xenos, be honest. How did Ms. Simmons be the boss¡¯ wife?¡± a colleague asked.

    ¡°Hush, don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡±

    ¡°Is it true?¡± The others were surprised.

    ¡°Don¡¯t me me for not warning you. Don¡¯t expose the boss¡¯ identity in front of Ms. Simmons and the others. Remember, the

    boss is now just a programmer. Keep it to yourself, or else...¡± Daniel paused, then raised his hand to draw a line across his neck.

    ¡°Is the boss into roleying?¡±

    ¡°Well... You can think of it that way.¡± Daniel nodded.

    He was roleying as a programmer after all.

    ¡°| didn¡¯t expect the boss to be into such things.¡± As soon as that person finished speaking, he was hit.

    on the head.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to live anymore?¡±

    ¡°I''m just kidding. So, is Ms. Simmons really our boss¡¯ wife?¡±

    ¡°Probably, but the two of them look so awkward together. Why are they standing so far apart while chatting?¡±

    ¡°Maybe Ms. Simmons is shy?¡±

    ¡°For the sake of our boss¡® happiness, we must do something.¡±

    Having said that, the group headed toward Aurelia.

    Daniel had no time to stop them. It was all over for them now.

 Chapter 295

    After eating, Aurelia felt a little thirsty, so she took a sip of water..

    Just as she took a sip, her name appeared on the screen.

    Shortly after, as the patterns on the screen changed, fireworks filled the entire screen.

    In ordance with the event¡¯s technology theme, Aurelia had installed mosaic screens in various sizes throughout the venue

    and had even suspendedrge screens on the ceiling

    As the fireworks unfolded, the trajectories of the falling fireworks extended along the surrounding screens before finally

    disappearing on the ground-level ss screens.

    This created the illusion of a real fireworks disy. Surprisingly, at the end, a signature read, ¡°Gift from Leslie.¡±

    Aurelia was so surprised that she almost choked on her water. She covered her mouth and swallowed

    hard, then turned to look at Leslie.

    Leslie rubbed his forehead. He wished he were dead... No, he wished he could kill someone.

    Aurelia smiled. ¡°Thank you. Did you know it¡¯s my birthday today?¡±

    Leslie was startled. ¡°What?¡±

    Aurelia took out her new ID card. ¡°You must have seen itst time, right? Thank you. | haven¡¯t celebrated my birthday for a long

    time. But wouldn¡¯t yourpany be upset with you?¡±

    Since her father¡¯s death, Aurelia had been afraid to celebrate her birthday. Her father used to buy her a cake every year, and her

    mother would prepare delicious food for her.

    After her father passed away, her birthday only served as a reminder of her iplete family.

    Gradually, she got used to it. Still, she didn¡¯t expect Leslie to give her such a big surprise.

    ¡°It''s not a big deal,¡± Leslie assured.

    He looked at the happy expression on Aurelia¡¯s face and didn¡¯t have the heart to burst her joy.

    It was just a fake firework show, but she was this happy?

    He found himself staring at her in a daze as tears formed in her sparkling eyes.

    However, she hid it well, quickly smiling and narrowing her eyes to stop the tears from falling.

    Leslie immediately turned away to give her some space.

    After a moment, Aurelia regained herposure, and Leslie turned back to look at her.

    She looked at him and said softly, ¡°Thank you.

    How could she not know that Leslie had turned away just now for her?

    20

    He nced at her, then reached out to hold her hand and walked toward the exit.

    ¡°The banquet isn¡¯t over yet. Where are we going?¡± she asked in surprise.

    ¡°It''s none of our concern anymore.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She fell silent.

    Aurelia could only follow him.

    Behind them, the employees of One Technology received a text message from Leslie notifying them of a sry increase.

    ¡°The boss has finallye to his senses!¡±

    ¡°See, | knew this would work. The boss couldn¡¯t even sit still!¡±

    AS SOOD

    After leaving the banquet, Aurelia followed Leslie to the city center. as she got out of the car, she saw a huge cake shop in front

    of her.

    She looked at Leslie in confusion.

    ¡°| saw it on the way. Since it¡¯s your birthday, let''s get one,¡± he exined.

    Aurelia pointed to the roads on both sides, none of which led to their home.

    ¡°This is hardly ¡®on the way.

    ¡°Do you want it or not?¡± Leslie asked, feeling slightly embarrassed that he had been exposed.

    ¡°| want it.¡±

    She turned around and entered the store. She knew that Leslie didn¡¯t like cakes much, so she chose at

    smaller six-inch cake.

    After the staff prepared it, he said, ¡°Sir, you can write a message on the cake yourself. Would you like

    to do it?¡±

    Aurelia felt that Leslie would never do such a thing. Just when she thought he would refuse, Leslie took the piping bag from the

    staff.

    He lowered his gaze and slowly wrote ¡°Happy Birthday, the golden one¡± on the cake.

    Aurelia looked at the words he had written and felt a lump in her throat

    It had been so long since someone knew the meaning of her name.

    She was abandoned as a child, so her adoptive parents had given her a name that meant ¡°the golden one¡°, hoping that she

    would live a good life.

    However, most people didn¡¯t think much about her name, and some even thought that it was just a

    random name. #

    She would exin the meaning of her name seriously whenever anyone asked, but the others would just dismiss it.

    Only she herself knew how grateful she was to have been taken in after being abandoned as a child. She loved her name and

    held the meaning of it dear.

    So, her heart raced when she saw what Leslie had written.

    She sneakily took a photo of Leslie with the piping bag and saved it in an album.

    When she looked up, Leslie was already standing in front of her. She lowered her head guiltily, hoping that he hadn¡¯t seen her

    taking the picture.

    To her surprise, Leslie only handed her a tissue.

 Chapter 296

    ¡°Why are you crying?¡±

    Only then did Aurelia notice that she was crying.

    She raised her hand to wipe her tears, but he stopped her and lifted her chin.

    He asked, ¡°Do you want to smudge your makeup?¡±

    ¡°|... forgot.¡± There were tears streaming down her cheeks, but her expression was conflicted.

    The next moment, Leslie carefully wiped her tears away with the tissue.

    She clenched her fists to steady her breath, but she couldn''t take her eyes off Leslie¡¯s face.

    ¡°Um... The cake has been packed,¡± the staff said awkwardly.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aurelia said, desperately wanting to hide herself. Not wanting Leslie to notice anything, she grabbed the cake and

    sat in the back seat of the car.

    Leslie got into the car and nced at her without saying anything.

    On the way home, Aurelia felt extremely awkward and toyed with the ribbon on the box. Suddenly, she stepped on something

    when she moved her feet.

    She lowered her gaze and saw an almond and a lipstick.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, this car...¡±

    ¡°It belongs to thepany.¡± Leslie assumed that Aurelia was asking about the car because it different model from his usual car.

    ¡°No, | mean to ask why there¡¯s lipstick and an almond in the car.¡±

    She stretched out her arm and showed him the items.

    Leslie tensed.

    He recognized the lipstick. He had seen Cynthia use it when she was touching up.her makeup.

    was a

    As for the nut, the driver cleaned the car daily ording to his instructions, and it was impossible to miss such a big nut.

    Moreover, he was the only one who used the car, and the driver wouldn¡¯t dare to lend it to anyone else. Apart from Aurelia, only

    Cynthia had been in the car today.

    No further exnation was needed for him to know what had happened.

    However, Leslie didn¡¯t tell Aurelia what was on his mind and simply said, ¡°Someone else must have dropped it. I''ll ask the driver

    about it when | return the car tomorrow.¡±

    Aurelia nodded and ced the lipstick on the front passenger seat.

    Upon reaching home, she noticed that it was almost time for dinner and got up to cook.

    To her surprise, Leslie stood up and said, ¡°I''ll do it. Let''s have pasta tonight.¡±

    slightly taken aback, she asked, ¡°Can you cook?¡±

    Leslie didn¡¯t say anything and walked directly into the kitchen, seeming a little upset.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t dwell on it andfortably sat on the couch.

    Just then, Linda sent her a message.

    ¡°Aurelia, happy birthday.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    The message was apanied by a transaction of 1500 dors.

    ¡°Mom, how did you know that it¡¯s my birthday? And why did you give me so much money?¡±

    ¡°Leslie reminded me just now. It¡¯s a good thing that he did, or | would''ve forgotten.

    ¡°He must have been worried that you''ll feel sad about not being able to celebrate your birthday with your mother since she¡¯s in a

    coma, so he contacted me. Take this money and buy something you like.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mom.¡±

    ¡°Then, | won''t disturb you two lovebirds.

    vou two lovebirds any more.¡±

    Aurelia turned to look at Leslie in the kitchen, realizing that being with a man like him could truly

    bring her happiness.

    Wait. Why was she thinking about the future again?

    She quickly patted her cheeks, dispelling these unrealistic thoughts.

    Just then, Leslie''s phone on the table rang.

    Aurelia walked over and nced at the screen. An unsaved phone number was disyed on the screen.

    Apparently, Leslie didn¡¯t like saving numbers.

    But she recognized the number. It was the woman who had called Leslie thest time.

    Aurelia quickly took the phone to the kitchen.

    Leslie was in the middle of washing vegetables.

    Aurelia smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Synder, there¡¯s a call for you."

    Leslie was busy preparing their dinner. He nced at the number and said nonchntly, ¡°Answer it ¡ª for me.¡±

    Aurelia considered for a moment, then answered the phone.

    She stood on her tiptoes so that she could put the phone closer to Leslie¡¯s ear. With their proximity, she could hear the woman¡¯s

    voice clearly.

    ¡°Il seem to havee down with a fever, I¡¯m not very familiar with the medical system here. Can you take me to the hospital?¡±

    The woman''s voice sounded weak, and it didn¡¯t sound like she was pretending

    But why would she seek help from Leslie when there were so many other people in One Technology?

    She was supposed to be a valued employee of One Technology, so wouldn''t it be better for her to call Daniel instead?

 Chapter 297

    Aurelia felt weird when she thought about her husband leaving to take care of another woman on her birthday.

    However, she was in no position to interfere with his decision. She sighed inwardly.

    She could just make her own meal and indulge in the cake aler.

    Just then, Leslie said, ¡°I¡¯m not a doctor. Just call an ambnce.¡±

    The woman''s breath hitched, and Aurelia fell silent.

    As expected of Leslie. He had no mercy even toward women.

    But somehow, Aurelia was somewhat pleased.

    So, it was that simple for a man to turn down a woman after all.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.

    In the past, Seth had a new female colleague who fawned over him. For a long time, Seth would keep bringing her up whenever

    he was with Aurelia, but she would only remind him not to cause misunderstandings at the time.

    However, Seth would just say that Aurelia was jealous. He imed that he wasn¡¯t helping his colleague just because she was a

    woman.

    In the end, this colleague stole a big client from Seth, and Seth stopped talking about her after that. Hence, Aurelia didn¡¯t think

    much of it.

    Thinking back on it, she assumed that it was Seth who had no sense of boundaries, which was why he ended up getting taken

    advantage of.

    If he acted like Leslie, how could his colleague take advantage of him?

    Just then, Aurelia noticed from the corner of her eyes that the pot was boiling and the water was almost overflowing.

    Panicking, she said, ¡°Mr. Synder, the water is boiling.¡±

    She reached out to take the lid of the pot, but Leslie pped her hand away. ¡°Do you want your hands to get burried?¡±

    ¡°Ouch... Be gentle. My hand isn¡¯t hurt from the heat, but it hurts now from your p.¡± Aurelia pulled her hand back and blew on

    it.

    ¡°Don''t exaggerate.¡± Leslie took off the lid of the pot. He held a te of vegetables in one hand and the.. pasta in the other. After a

    moment''s hesitation, he asked, ¡°Which one should | put in first?¡±

    Aurelia chuckled. ¡°How about | do it?¡±

    ¡°lcan do it.¡±

    ¡°Let''s put in the pasta first. We can saut¨¦ the vegetables and add the sauceter.¡±

    ¡°What sauce?¡± Leslie frowned.

    ¡°That''s...¡±

    Before Aurelia could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a cough on the other end of the phone.

    Aurelia realized that the call was still connected. She quickly raised the phone and brought it close to

    Leslie''s car.

    Leslie''s voice was calm as he said, ¡°Speak.¡±

    The woman weakly said, ¡°Am | disturbing you? Sorry-¡±

    Her words were interrupted by her coughing. It sounded like she was about to cough her lungs out.

    Aurelia squeezed the phone tightly and looked down at the bubbling pot.

    Most men couldn''t stand seeing a damsel in distress. Even if Leslie had a heart of stone, he should be moved by this woman

    who was in such a frail state.

    ¡°I''m a little busy. You should call an ambnce as soon as possible and get that treated,¡± he said.

    Aurelia stared at Leslie in shock.

    Was he really a stone¡ª-hearted monster? No, a stone-hearted monster wouldn¡¯t buy her a cake and

    cook for her.

    Leslie put the pasta into the boiling water. Then, with his free hand, he took the phone and hung up.

    the call.

    She worriedly asked, ¡°Will she be okay?¡±

    Leslie said, ¡°Have you watched too many TV dramas? When a woman is sick, why would she look for a man? When one is

    seriously ill, their first reaction would be to look for a doctor.

    ¡°What''s the use of her looking for me? So that I can find her a doctor? Or is she waiting for me to save her? Don¡¯t you think it''s

    faster for her to just call an ambnce?¡±

    ¡°Uh... That''s true.¡±

    But even so, that woman probably wanted to attract Leslie¡¯s attention, right?

    Yet, Leslie...

    ¡°lm married and have no obligation to take care of other women,¡± Leslie stated bluntly.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Aurelia nervously rubbed her neck.

    He had seen through her yet again.

    She quickly changed the topic and said, ¡°Hey, the pasta is bing too soft.¡±

    Chapter 297

    373

    Under Aurelia¡¯s guidance, Leslie finally managed to make pasta in a flurry of activity.

    Finally, Aurelia sat at the table and lit a candle which was in the same flower shape as the ones she had when she was a child.

    After making a wish, she and Leslie ate the pasta.

    Everything was great, except for the pasta, which was a bit lumpy and unptable.

    After finishing the food and cleaning up, Aurelia and Leslie sat on the couch to rest.

    When she turned on her phone, she saw that the inte was flooded with news about One

    Technology¡¯s opening ceremony and new productunch, gaining widespread acim.

    There had been many doubts about One Technology before, but public opinion about thepany had taken a positive turn

    since the new product wasunched.

    Thements section even had posts from people who weren''t particrly tech-savvy.

    ¡°Synder Corporation has talked aboutunching a new product for a while now, but they kept dying it time and again. Now,

    even a newpany can outshine them. These years have indeed. been wasted.¡±

    ¡°Synder Corporation hasn¡¯t been doing well in recent years. The new products are always the same old stuff. | have more

    confidence in One Technology.¡±

    ¡°| thought that Leon Synder¡¯s return would bring some new changes. | heard that his face turned green when he saw the new

    product at One Technology¡¯s opening ceremony.¡±

    Recalling Leon¡¯s expression during the ceremony, Aurelia felt the urge tough.

    Chapter 298

    She nced at Leslie, but her attention was instantly drawn away by a burst of music ying in the background.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, do you hear anything?¡±

    ¡°It''sing from the table,¡± he said.

    The two got up and walked over. They found the candle from earlier still ying the birthday song on

    repeat.

    Confused, Aurelia said, ¡°It¡¯s been going on for over an hour now.

    ¡°Turn it off,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°How?¡±

    He shot her a baffled look. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? The staff said that people your age would like this kind

    of candle.¡±

    ¡°| don¡¯t know. When | was a kid, my mom always took care of everything after | blew out the candle. They never went on ying

    the music for this long. But it¡¯s been over a decade. Maybe things have changed.¡±

    ¡°| see. Let''s get o

    ¡°Okay. Good night.¡±

    rest.

    Both of them assumed that the candle would run out of battery soon.

    Later that night, in her sleep, Aurelia felt a headacheing on as she kept hearing a constant noise in the background.

    She couldn''t bear it anymore and forcefully opened her eyes, only to find that the chanting noise hadn''t stopped.

    She took a deep breath and sat up from the bed. Then, she carefully opened her door..

    Suddenly a figure appeared in front of her, and she almost let out a scream.

    ¡°It''s me.¡±

    As soon as the corridor lights came on, Aurelia saw Leslie next to her.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, did you hear some strange noises too?¡± Aurelia spoke softly and subconsciously moved closer to Leslie.

    While she wasn¡¯t afraid of ghosts, she still felt a little jittery.

    Even with the corridor lights on, there was still a chilling atmosphere.

    Leslie looked at her with amusement.

 Chapter 298

    She nced at Leslie, but her attention was instantly drawn away by a burst of music ying in the background.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, do you hear anything?¡±

    ¡°It''sing from the table,¡± he said.

    The two got up and walked over. They found the candle from earlier still ying the birthday song on

    repeat.

    Confused, Aurelia said, ¡°It¡¯s been going on for over an hour now.

    ¡°Turn it off,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°How?¡±

    He shot her a baffled look. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? The staff said that people your age would like this kind

    of candle.¡±

    ¡°| don¡¯t know. When | was a kid, my mom always took care of everything after | blew out the candle. They never went on ying

    the music for this long. But it¡¯s been over a decade. Maybe things have changed.¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    ¡°| see. Let''s get o

    ¡°Okay. Good night.¡±

    rest.

    Both of them assumed that the candle would run out of battery soon.

    Later that night, in her sleep, Aurelia felt a headacheing on as she kept hearing a constant noise in the background.

    She couldn''t bear it anymore and forcefully opened her eyes, only to find that the chanting noise hadn''t stopped.

    She took a deep breath and sat up from the bed. Then, she carefully opened her door..

    Suddenly a figure appeared in front of her, and she almost let out a scream.

    ¡°It''s me.¡±

    As soon as the corridor lights came on, Aurelia saw Leslie next to her.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, did you hear some strange noises too?¡± Aurelia spoke softly and subconsciously moved closer to Leslie.

    While she wasn¡¯t afraid of ghosts, she still felt a little jittery.

    Even with the corridor lights on, there was still a chilling atmosphere.

    Leslie looked at her with amusement.

    Normally, people kept their distance when talking to him, but this was the first time someone had voluntarily moved closer to him.

    ¡°It''s the candle.¡± Leslie decided not to continue scaring her.

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    A few secondster, they stood next to the dining table and stared at the candle on the table.

    ¡°It¡¯s been so many hours now. Why¡¯s it still ying the song?¡±

    ¡°Let''s soak it in water.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Most machines would be damaged when soaked in water, but the candle was different. It continued to y the music even

    underwater.

    Leslie frowned. ¡°I''ll throw it away.

    ¡°I''lle with you,¡± Aurelia said.

    The two put on their coats and took out the trash with them too.

    The summer night wasn¡¯t as hot as the day, and the gentle breeze was quitefortable. The moon and stars in the sky

    appeared exceptionally bright.

    Aurelia looked up at the sky and couldn''t help butugh when she thought about the fact that they were outside to throw away a

    singing candle in the middle of the night.

    ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°It''s just... | always feel like you''re one of those high-ranking elites. You¡¯d just have to wave of your hand and people would do

    everything for you.

    ¡°But now, you¡¯re throwing away a candle with me in the middle of the night. It¡¯s quite amusing.¡±

    Aurelia thought that Leslie would feel embarrassed, but to her surprise, he smiled.

    ¡°It is indeed amusing.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you look really handsome when you smile. You should smile more in the future, and stop frowning so much. That''s

    what | wished for today, you know.¡±

    After speaking, Aurelia realized that she had said too much.

    She quickened her pace, but Leslie grabbed her wrist.

    ¡°Why?¡± He looked at her and waited for her answer.

    Aurelia lowered her head, unsure of how to respond.

    When she had made her birthday wishes, she had wished for her mother¡¯s speedy recovery, for Linda to live a long and healthy

    life, and the third wish was for Leslie, hoping that he could find happiness.

    As for herself, wishes were limited to three, wasn¡¯t It?

    Linda and Leslie had helped her through so many difficulties, so she felt indebted to them.

    ¡°Why?¡± Leslie asked again.

    ¡°Because... | feel like you¡¯re unhappy and that you¡¯re harboring a lot of sorrow in your heart.¡± Aurelia looked up at him as she

    slowly expressed her thoughts.

    Leshe remained silent and took a step closer to her. Their eyes met, and the atmosphere between

    them became somewhat romantic.

    Suddenly, curses came from behind them.

    ¡°Damn! Who is ying music in the trash bin in the middle of the night? That scared the hell out of

    me!¡±

    Hearing this, Aurelia grabbed Leslie¡¯s hand and whispered, ¡°Run.*

    With that, she pulled Leslie and ran toward the house.

    Behind them, someone walked out of the garden and watched them with a malicious expression.

 Chapter 299

    Back at the house, Aurelia let go of Leslie¡¯s hand and scratched her head in embarrassment.

    ¡°I''m going to sleep now.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    The two returned to their respective rooms.

    Aurelia sat on the bed and recalled how she and Leslie had looked into each other¡¯s eyes just now. She couldn''t help but bury

    her face into her pillow.

    Her thoughts were wandering again.

    Just then, her phone vibrated. She nced at it and saw that Leslie had transferred some money her ount at thest minute

    of her birthday.

    He had given her the same amount of money as Linda.

    Worried that she wouldn''t ept it, Leslie added another message. ¡°I got a bonus today.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aurelia replied.

    She fell asleep that night with a big smile on her face while holding her phone.

    Perhaps it was because of what had happened with the singing candlest night, but when Aurelia woke up in the morning, she

    had a feeling that something was about to happen.

    She habitually opened her work schedule.

    Today, she had a meeting with the director of a fashion magazine. They were nning to hold a charity banquet and needed to

    find a partner.

    Because of the beautiful event she had done for One Technology, they hoped to coborate with herpany this time.

    Aurelia wasn''t a superstitious person, but she kept getting a bad feeling, which made her a little

    worried.

    She quickly got up and prepared to go to thepany early to make more preparations to ensure that the negotiations would be

    sessful.

    After she was done preparing breakfast, Leslie came out of his room. Aurelia handed him a lunch box.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Leslie took the lunch box and sat down to eat his breakfast.

    Aurelia finished her breakfast quickly and stood up. ¡°I''ll be leaving now.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Aurelia took her bag and left, not noticing that someone was staring at her from a car parked nearby.

    After a while, Leslie also left for work. After getting into the car, he realized that the person driving was Cynthia.

    ¡°Aren''t you sick?¡±

    ¡°| called an ambncest night. | was fine after getting an IV drip. You know that I¡¯m not one to waste time, so | came over this

    morning.¡± Cynthia turned around and smiled at Lestie

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Leslie didn¡¯t say much as he wasn¡¯t interested in the private lives of his employees.

    Cynthia pursed her lips, remembering the conversation between Leslie and that woman over the phone yesterday.

    He had seemed so rxed and natural, as if they had been living together for a long time.

    After hanging up the phonest night, she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to believe that Leslie would treat another woman so well. So,

    she had driven there.

    She had been to thismunity before and had her name registered, so the security didn¡¯t stop her from entering.

    She stood downstairs and watched the lights upstairs go out. However, she didn¡¯t see Aurelia leave the building, and her heart

    sank.

    Leslie had actually allowed a woman to stay at his ce.

    She stood downstairs for a long time. When it was almost midnight, she saw Leslie and Aureliaing outside, so she had

    hidden nearby and observed secretly.

    She watched as the two spoke until Aurelia pulled Leslie and ran, with Leslie smiling the whole time.

    This was the first time Cynthia had seen Leslie smile so freely.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Cynthia felt threatened by Aurelia, but she would never allow anyone to take away what belonged to

    her.

    But first, she had to dispel Leslie¡¯s suspicions about her.

    Cynthia started the car and said, ¡°Yesterday''s ceremony was very sessful. It¡¯s a shame that | had an allergic reaction and

    couldn''t attend.

    ¡°In order to find out how it had happened, | called the airline. | thought that they had made a mistake with my meal. It turned out

    that the coffee | drank when I was leaving the airport was mixed with hazelnut powder.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, did | drop my lipstick in the car? There should also be some nuts scattered around, right? Did | dirty your car?¡±

    Leslie nced at her. ¡°No.¡±

    Cynthia breathed a sigh of relief.

    After returning home yesterday, she found that something had fallen out of her bag.

    She was certain that it had fallen in Leslie''s car. She didn¡¯t care about the lipstick, but she didn¡¯t want to risk having Leslie

    discover the pack of nuts.

 Chapter 300

    Chapter 300

    That was the reason why she had brought it up today,

    She continued, ¡°The stewardess gave me a pack of nuts when |nded, | couldn¡¯t refuse, so just threw it into my purse. It must

    have opened somehow and spilled Inside there, since my purse was filled with nuts.¡±

    Cynthia observed Leslie¡¯s expression through the rearview mirror.

    Leslie remained expressionless as he kept his eyes on his phone, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be this talkative after returning to

    the country,¡±

    Cynthia was taken aback but maintained her smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to cause you any trouble, so it¡¯s better to exin everything.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Cynthia was overjoyed. It seemed that Leslie wasn¡¯t influenced by Aurelia¡¯s words and still trusted her.

    ¡°This is your personal matter. It has nothing to do with work,¡± Leslie said nonchntly.

    Cynthia fell silent and tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

    Leslie didn¡¯t like people who talked too much, so it was already special for her to be able to stay by his side like a friend.

    Once they arrived at thepany, Cynthia followed Leslie into the meeting room and swiftly started working.

    When the meeting concluded, everyone gave Cynthia a round of apuse.

    ¡°Ms. Whitlock, you never disappoint. You resolved the issue as soon as you arrived.¡±

    ¡°You''re too kind. You guys did a perfect job in the preliminary work, wifich enabled me toe up with the perfect marketing

    strategy. It¡¯s all thanks to you,¡± Cynthia said and turned to look at Leslie. Leslie nodded slightly, indicating that her proposal this

    time was excellent.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Cynthia couldn''t help but feel delighted. She knew that she was still important to Leslie.

    She was mainly responsible for thepany¡¯s sales market. Over the years, she had secured 60% of the deals in Leslie¡¯s

    overseaspanies.

    Leslie was a businessman, and he couldn''t just abandon such an outstanding woman over a beautiful but ordinary woman.

    She would definitely reim Leslie¡¯s attention.

    23}

    Leaving the meeting room, Cynthia noticed that it was already past ten o''clock. She thought of inviting Leslie to a restaurant for a

    proper meal together.

    However, she was surprised to see Leslie entering a regr office and sitting with many employees. He even took a seat at an

    inconspicuous workstation.

    Surprised, she asked, ¡°Why are you sitting here? What about the office inside?¡±

    ¡°Daniel is using it,¡± Leslie said nonchntly.

    In truth, it didn¡¯t matter where he sat.

    He had no specific requirements in this regard.

    In fact, him sitting here had improved the work efficiency of the people around him by a lot. It wasn¡¯t that he enjoyed watching the

    others work, but when he encountered issues, he could just speak directly without all the unnecessary notifications and reports.

    Hearing this, Cynthia froze for a moment.

    She quickly came to her senses and asked, ¡°Then, where should | sit?¡±

    ¡°Wherever there¡¯s an avable seat,¡± Leslie said calmly.

    Cynthia consciously ced her files on the empty seat next to Leslie and then turned to face him.

    ¡°It''s been a long time since we had a meal together. I¡¯ll treat you today, so why don¡¯t we find a restaurant to have a nice chat?¡±

    Leslie flipped through the documents and said casually, ¡°It¡¯s fine. | brought lunch.¡±

    ¡°Lunch?¡±

    Cynthia momentarily didn¡¯t understand the meaning of his statement and stared at him in confusion.

    Aconsiderate colleague exined, ¡°Ms. Whitlock, you may not know this, but the boss has been getting lunch boxes made with

    love every day. They¡¯re different each day, and the portions are muchrger than meals outside.

    ¡°Haven''t you noticed that the boss has gained weight? He¡¯s radiant and flourishing.¡±

    After hearing this, Cynthia cautiously asked Leslie, ¡°Who is it? Who''s taking such care to make lunch for you?¡±

    The colleague became more excited as he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s that-Ah!¡±

    His words cut off with a scream as a pack of tissues hit his forehead.

    Daniel red at him and pped his hands. He said, ¡°Sorry, my hand slipped. It¡¯s the first day of business after the opening

    ceremony today, and the orders are endless. Hurry up and get back to work!¡±

    The colleague instantly sobered up. Leslie had warned them not to mention anything about the

    Chapter 300

    marriage, and he had almost let it slip...

    ¡°Boss, I''ll get back to work now.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Leslie said to him.

 Chapter 301

    Everyone thought that Leslie was mad as he had a solemn look on his face,

    Leslie stood up with a frown.

    ¡°Have I really gained weight?¡±

    Aurelia seemed to think that he had a great body, Leslie didn¡¯t know why he cared, but he couldn¡¯t help

    asking.

    Silence fell over the room. It was as though someone had pressed the pause button. Sometimeter,

    they snapped out of it.

    Someone tried to suppress theirughter.

    ¡°No. You are still as handsome as ever, boss.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m sure Ms. Simmons¡­¡± another colleague agreed but paused immediately when they realized

    they had said the wrong thing.

    Still, Cynthia overheard the mention of Aurelia when she asked Leslie that question. She didn¡¯t expect

    everyone in the office to know Aurelia, not to mention to have such a decent impression of her.

    Unable to maintain herposure, she tightened her grip on the document in her hands.

    Daniel immediately chimed in, ¡°Mr. Synder, it¡¯s almost lunchtime. Why don¡¯t we eat now, as we have a

    lot to do in the afternoon.¡±

    Leslie nodded, and everyone cheered before ordering takeout.

    Cynthia took a deep breath to calm down, not wanting to cast her manners aside because of Aurelia.

    She turned to look at Leslie with a smile.

    ¡°Things have changed so much here, and I¡¯m barely keeping up. Since we are having lunch now, why

    don¡¯t we-¡±

    She was about to suggest they go to a restaurant when Leslie interrupted her.

    He took out a blue lunchbox, and as soon as he opened it, a salivating fragrance filled the air.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    The people around him immediately gathered.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, what are you having today? Stew! Lamb! Pasta! Mushroom soup!¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, are you trying to show off?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, may we have a bite?¡°,

    They all reached out to have a taste, only to have their hands pped out of the way by Leslie.

    ¡°Buy your own lunch,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you¡¯re actually protective of your food.¡±

    Daniel chuckled.

    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t even let me have the leftovers if I asked.¡±

    The groupughed.

    Although Leslie didn¡¯t join in, anyone could see the ease on his face. He was usually a reserved and

    cautious man but was now getting along with his subordinates.

    Cynthia observed the harmonious atmosphere in the office, feeling like an outsider who couldn¡¯t fit

    1. in.

    ¡°You guys go ahead and eat. I¡¯ll head to the restroom for a bit,¡± she said.

    With that, she hurried out.

    Leslie nced at her and continued eating.

    Daniel stood beside him and whispered, ¡°Mr. Synder, was that intentional? You know, that Cynthia-

    ??

    ¡°I¡¯m married,¡± Leslie stated inly.

    ¡°But not everyone knows that. To be honest, there seems to be something missing between you and

    Ms. Simmons,¡± Daniel told him.

    Leslie paused and asked, ¡°What¡¯s missing?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s obvious¡ªyou¡¯re missing proof of your rtionship. Married couples usually wear rings, but the two

    of you are empty¨Chanded. That¡¯s why people at Aurelia¡¯spany think you¡­ don¡¯t have money.

    Rings are important to women,¡± Daniel said.

    ¡°How important?¡±

    Leslie put down his fork and listened attentively.

    ¡°Men wearing wedding rings signify fidelity, which stops other women from approaching them. Women

    wearing rings represent marriage and how much the man values her.¡±

    Daniel gestured as he spoke, illustrating the size of the diamond.

    Leslie frowned.

    ¡°That¡¯s soplicated.¡®

    With that, he picked up his phone to review the diamond trading records.

    Daniel nced over and immediately stopped him.

    ¡°Hold on, Mr. Synder. 13.3 carats? You can¡¯t buy one that big.¡±

    ¡°You said it should be bigger. This isn¡¯t even thergest one. Aurelia¡¯s hands aren¡¯t delicate. Anything

    bigger would be cumbersome,¡± Leslie said.

    Daniel rubbed his forehead, concerned about Leslie¡¯s married life.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you¡¯re supposed to be just an ordinary programmer now. Why would you be able to afford

    such an expensive diamond ring? Besides, you don¡¯t even know Ms. Simmons¡® preferences. What if

    she doesn¡¯t like it?¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

 Chapter 302

    Leslie set his phone down and assembled his lunchbox before standing up and walking out.

    Confused, Daniel asked, ¡°Mr. Synder, where are you going?¡±

    Leslie stopped and said, ¡°Pretend you don¡¯t know anything.¡±

    Daniel immediately knew that Leslie meant for him to withhold information from Cynthia.

    After Leslie left, Cynthia returned to the office. The perfect smile on her face froze when she noticed

    Leslie¡¯s empty desk.

    Daniel immediately exined, ¡°Mr. Synder has something to do and headed out. You can discuss the

    following tasks with me for the rest of the afternoon.¡±

    Cynthia smiled.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Deep down, Cynthia knew that Leslie went to see Aurelia.

    Meanwhile, in Young Advertising, Aurelia walked into the office in the morning to find someone

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    unexpected.

    It was Kimberly.

    Everyone thought Kimberley would quit ever since her fianc¨¦ dragged her away. To their surprise, she

    returned to work.

    ¡ü

    Manymented that her fianc¨¦ looked like a horrible person and that her marriage would be

    miserable.

    They all seemed pleased that someone as proud as Kimberly was being dragged into the mud.

    However, they were all wrong. Not only was Kimberly doing great, but she was also doing even better.

    She stood before everyone triumphantly, as proud as ever.

    When she saw Aurelia, she waved at her.

    ¡°There you are, Aurelia. Here¡¯s the invitation to my wedding. Be sure toe.¡®

    ¡°You¡¯re getting married?¡±

    Aurelia opened the wedding invitation in surprise. It listed the bride as Kimberly Wang and the groom

    as Jason Lynch.

    It wasn¡¯t the name of the man who had arrested Kimberlyst time. Aurelia wondered if it meant that

    Kimberley switched men again.

    Aurelia hesitated to ask and shot a confused look at her colleagues.

    From their expressions, she could tell that the groom had indeed changed.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but admire Kimberly. She thought Kimberly sure knew how to handle men if she

    managed to switch fianc¨¦s in such a short time. This was even faster than her frequent change of

    boyfriends.

    Kimberly didn¡¯t care about the looks she was receiving from the crowd. After handing out the wedding

    invitations, she also handed out candy boxes containing branded chocte candies.

    When Aurelia reached out to ept them, Kimberly pressed her hand to Aurelia¡¯s on top of the gift box

    and patted it.

    ¡°Yeah, this time it¡¯s real. My husband treats me very well,¡± Kimberly said.

    Aurelia¡¯s hand was prickled. Looking down, she finally understood Kimberly¡¯s intention in pressing her

    hand. How could a ring with a full circle of diamonds featuring a two¨Ccarat diamond not be prickly to the

    touch?

    Sensing Aurelia¡¯s stare, Kimberly raised her hand and showed off the diamond ring.

    ¡°Sorry, my husband bought it, especially for me. I told him not to be so ostentatious, but he insisted. I

    couldn¡¯t refuse. After all, it¡¯s custom¨Cmade. It¡¯s not like the one Millie had before, which any rich person

    could buy,¡± Kimberly exined.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s stunning,¡± Aurelia said.

    Aurelia knew that it must have been at Kimberly¡¯s request, judging by the design. What man would

    choose a ring with so many diamonds?

    Still, she didn¡¯t want to argue with Kimberly about it. After all that had happened, Kimberly¡¯s position in

    thepany was not as secure as before. Aurelia wasn¡¯t afraid of her causing trouble.

    As Aurelia was about to leave, Kimberly grabbed her hand.

    ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯ve been married for so long. Why doesn¡¯t your husband know how to buy you a diamond

    ring? Even if he¡¯s not doing well at work, he could still save sonte money and buy a smaller one,¡±

    Kimberly said.

    ¡°Kimberly, stop it,¡± a colleague intervened.

    This simply annoyed Kimberly more.

    When she mocked Aurelia in the past, no one dared to stand up for Aurelia.

    But now, not only was the boss protecting her, but even her colleagues were siding with her.

    What right did she have to take everything away?

    Kimberly smiled and covered her lips.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re afraid of hurting Aurelia¡¯s self¨Cesteem, but it¡¯s simply a fact. Don¡¯t I have the right to

    state a fact?¡±

    A colleague retorted, ¡°Kimberly, you really don¡¯t pay attention to the news except to ones about men,

    do you?¡±

 Chapter 303

    Kimberly was taken aback by her colleague¡¯sment.

    ¡°What news?¡±

    ¡°Yesterday, Aurelia nned the opening banquet for One Technology, which Seacester News reported.

    Aurelia¡¯s husband, Leslie, went viral as well. It turns out he¡¯s the developer of One Technology¡¯s new

    product.

    ¡°I heard that One Technology¡¯s new product is overshadowing Synder Corporation this time, and Leslie

    has a promising future. Buying a diamond ring is trivial to him. Aurelia, you¡¯re really good at. keeping

    secrets. Your husband not only looks handsome but is also smart and capable.¡±

    Hearing this, Aurelia immediately exined, ¡°We were coborating with One Technology, so we both

    didn¡¯t disclose our rtionship and had to avoid suspicion.¡±

    Fortunately, Jason was in charge of the coboration, avoiding unnecessary gossip.

    When the conversation returned to Aurelia, Kimberly was shocked and took out her phone. After

    checking the news, she realized that besides One Technology¡¯s trending new product, its developer,

    Leslie, had also gained poprity.

    Kimberly gripped her phone tightly in frustration,

    She wondered how Aurelia could find a husband better than hers. She thought she was evidently

    much better than Aurelia.

    Kimberly interrupted the conversation through gritted teeth.

    ¡°So, why didn¡¯t Leslie buy a diamond ring for his new wife if he¡¯s that talented? Aurelia, I heard you two

    had a whirlwind romance. Could it be that he simply doesn¡¯t like you?¡±

    Everyone fell silent, and Aurelia didn¡¯t know how to refute it.

    Kimberly was right. Leslie didn¡¯t like her. Apart from the marriage certificate, they had nothing else to

    prove they were husband and wife.

    ¡°Oh, right, there¡¯s also a cohabitation agreement,¡± Aurelia thought.

    Kimberly chuckled in response to Aurelia¡¯s silence.

    ¡°Oops, did I hit the nail on the head? Sorry, I didn¡¯t expect to be right.¡±

    Aurelia pursed her lips.

    ¡°Kimberly, I advise you against talking about others¡® marital affairs. If you change your fianc¨¦ once

    more, we would all have to readjust all over again.

    With that, Aurelia waved with the invitation in her hand.

    ¡°Why you¡­¡±

    22

    Kimberly was so angry her face turned red.

    Aurelia ignored her and sat back at her desk to work.

    Kimberly had no choice but to take her invitation and gift box to another department.

    Just then, a colleague in the front row turned around and leaned closer to Aurelia.

    ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t be upset. I think your husband is great to you. IT guys like them aren¡¯t that romantic.¡±

    Amused, Aurelia nodded.

    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t mind.¡±

    ¡°I know why Kimberly is trying to cross you. Her fianc¨¦, Jason, is a 50¨Cyear¨Cold man. He ims that

    his wife passed away in his previous city, so he came to look for a new wife. We all know what he¡¯s

    truly after. He wants a wife in his city and another in a different city.¡±

    ¡°Seriously?¡±

    Aurelia was shocked.

    ¡°My rtives serve rich men in that city, and they do this all the time. So long as you don¡¯t actually file

    the marriage papers, they can host as many weddings as they want.

    ¡°Well¡­ Does Kimberly know about this?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s no fool, so how can she not know if the paperwork was filed? She¡¯s at her wit¡¯s end. Her uncle

    introduced this man to her. This guy paid off her debt with that scum we sawst time and was willing

    to give her an allowance.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°On top of that, he was willing to give her a wedding. Apart from his age, there¡¯s not much else that she

    could be upset about. With her reputation, no other man would want her. Many married women are

    itching to fight her together right now.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±

    Aurelia nodded.

    The colleague looked at her intently.

    ¡°Aurelia, what exactly is happening between you and your husband?¡±

    Aurelia choked, realizing that her colleague was saying all that just to probe about her private life.

    Chuckling, she said, ¡°Nothing much. I just don¡¯t want to bring my personal life into my workce.¡± This

    stopped her colleague from saying anything else, and she smiled awkwardly before turning away.

    Half a minuteter, Aurelia spotted the same colleague gossiping with another person.

    She inwardly sighed a breath of relief, feeling d that she didn¡¯t reveal too much or she would have

    been the person others gossiped about.

 Chapter 304

    After her small talk with her colleague, Aurelia reviewed the documents for today¡¯s client meeting

    again.

    The receptionist reminded her that the client was waiting in the conference room. She quickly got up,

    straightened her dress, and took the documents to the conference room.

    Upon entering, she saw a woman with a model¨Clike figure, short hair, and a striking appearance.

    The diamond teardrop earrings added a touch of mor to her look.

    However, her gaze was sharp, and despite the smile on her lips, she exuded a formidable presence.

    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Eva Hanks, the fashion director of IN Magazine.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, hello. I¡¯m Aurelia.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get straight to the point. I want to hear your thoughts on our uing event,¡± Eva said

    casually.

    From Eva¡¯s attitude, Aurelia could distinctly feel herck of trust in her. She even detected a hint of

    disdain.

    However, Aurelia didn¡¯t back down and presented her professional opinion.

    ¡°Regarding this charity banquet, we can start by focusing on the beneficiaries because it¡¯s aimed at

    aiding women and children in impoverished areas. An event like this holds significant meaning. If we

    can select several beneficiaries-¡±

    Without letting Aurelia finish, Eva raised her hand to interrupt and said solemnly, ¡°Ms. Simmons, do

    4 you know who will be attending this event? The elites and celebrities of Seacester will be there. You

    want to invite a group of people from the mountains to participate? Such uncouth matters make me

    doubt your professionalism.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, this is a charity-¡±

    Eva interrupted Aurelia again.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, I don¡¯t need you to remind me of the nature of this event. However, the event¡¯s purpose

    is to raise funds, not to invite a group of uncultured people to cause trouble.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, why are you hosting this event if you question the beneficiaries? I believe everyone

    present would like to know where their donated goods will end up,¡± Aurelia said and frowned at Eva¡¯s

    disdainful expression.

    It seemed that a charity banquet was just a gimmick used by the magazine for events.

    Eva got up in displeasure.

    ¡°Is this the level of service of Young Advertising? How dare you question the client? How could

    someone who knows nothing dare to interrogate me here? How rude!¡±

    ¡°Ms. Hanks¡­¡®

    Eva ignored Aurelia and left the conference room with her assistant.

    Aurelia stood still,pletely unaware of how she had offended Eva.

    Every word she said was refuted.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    She returned to her workstation in defeat as everyone around her got up.

    ¡°Aurelia, it¡¯s lunchtime.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you guys go on ahead. I brought my own lunch.¡±

    Aurelia held her head, her anticipation for her lunch fading.

    After having two bites, her phone rang. It was a call from Leslie.

    ¡°What is it, Mr. Synder?¡±

    ¡°Are you free at noon?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m downstairs.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Why are you here?¡± she asked curiously.

    ¡°I was in the area. I¡¯m arriving soon. Let¡¯s have lunch together.¡±

    ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll wait for you in the lobby.¡±

    Aurelia packed her lunch and headed downstairs.

    Coincidentally, she ran into Eva, who was waiting for her car.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I helped teach her a lesson. She¡¯s just a foolish woman. She can¡¯t possiblypare to

    you,¡± Eva said and spotted Aurelia.

    Hanging up, she shot Aurelia a contemptuous look and left.

    Aurelia was baffled, feeling that Eva held a grudge toward her.

 Chapter 305

    As Eva¡¯s car drove away, Leslie¡¯s car stopped before her.

    After getting into the car, she asked in confusion, ¡°Mr. Synder, why did you invite me to lunch? Is there

    something wrong with the food I prepared today?¡±

    ¡°No. It tasted great. They all wanted a bite,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°They? Your colleagues, you mean?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll prepare a bigger portion tomorrow. You can share it with your colleagues.¡±

    She needed to cook anyway, so the portion didn¡¯t really matter.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he said.

    Leslie didn¡¯t care about the others. It was his lunch, after all.

    The kitchen would be sweltering every time she cooked. Since Aurelia was naturally thrifty, she

    wouldn¡¯t turn on the air conditioner in the living room whenever she was cooking.

    Leslie had Daniel ask around, but since the buildings in that residential area didn¡¯t leave space for air

    conditioners in the kitchen, they would have to tear everything down if they wanted to install one.

    Aurelia would never agree to that. She hated being a nuisance and would likely feel guilty for the rest of

    the month if he proceeded with the instation.

    After giving it some thought, Leslie ced a fan in the kitchen instead.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, the light turned red.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s voice interrupted Leslie¡¯s thoughts.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Leslie stepped on the brake and nced at the countdown timer, momentarily stunned.

    He had been thinking about Aurelia all this while and even imagined her cooking for someone else,

    which upset him.

    It was an emotion he had never experienced before. Taking a breath, he turned his focus back to

    driving.

    Aurelia continued, ¡°Mr. Synder. Since everyone at work already knows about our rtionship, why not

    invite your colleagues over for dinner this weekend?¡±

    Leslie paused and nced at her.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I know you¡¯re smart and capable, but is essential to maintain good rtionships with your

    colleagues. As a new product developer, you¡¯re bound to have both admirers and detractors. If

    you¡¯re unwilling to share even your lunch, others may think you¡¯re too proud and sabotage you.¡±

    Aurelia experienced something simr in her office as well.

    During her internship, her mom would wake up early to make her lunch.

    Considering the small portion, she couldn¡¯t bear to share it with anyone else.

    Hence, when her senior colleague wanted a bite, she refused.

    She thought it was her own lunch and had the right to refuse.

    By the end of the day, she was assigned a lot of extra work and had to stay until midnight.

    She suddenly realized something when she returned home, feeling hungry and exhausted.

    The following day, she prepared double the amount of lunch and sought out her senior colleague

    during lunchtime. She exined that she had already eaten yesterday¡¯s portion and felt that sharing

    what she had eaten with someone else was rude.

    She then exined she had made a fresh batch.

    They all sat together as if nothing had happened, and her senior colleague even praised her cooking

    skills.

    She understood her senior colleague¡¯s actions at that moment.

    For a whole week, she made double portions of lunch. Gradually, her workload returned to normal, and

    her senior colleague even offered her advice and assistance.

    She knew this was wrong but didn¡¯t know what else she could do.

    In the workce, one must be careful in both actions and interactions.

    This was why she worried Leslie¡¯s cold and direct nature might disadvantage him. If someone were to

    sabotage him, all his previous efforts would be in vain.

    After hearing her out, Leslie stopped the car and looked at her with mild surprise.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re inviting them to dinner for my sake?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Aurelia nodded, then added cautiously, ¡°Did I¡­ overstep? Or should we keep our rtionship low-

    key?¡±

    She chuckled awkwardly, feeling she might have been too meddlesome.

    ¡°No, let¡¯s do it this weekend. I¡¯ll apany you to buy groceries on Saturday,¡± Leslie said.

    He felt a bit mncholic as he watched her smile.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia hurriedly opened the door and stepped out of the car.

    As they headed to the restaurant, she thought about the dishes she should prepare.

    She was taken aback when Leslie led her into the restaurant, and they sat down.

    ¡°This¡­ Why is the restaurant like this?¡±

    The restaurant was connected to the adjacent jewelry store by a ss wall, and the dazzling array of

    jewelry on disy made the tes on their table sparkle.

    Aurelia wondered if people nowadays were ustomed to dining while staring at jewelry.

 Chapter 306

    The jewelry was indeed a beautiful sight.

    Aurelia ordered something random to eat and then started stealing nces at the jewelry across the

    ss wall.

    She hesitated to be too obvious in front of Leslie. After all, she didn¡¯t have the money to buy jewelry,

    and if she kept staring, Leslie might think that she was hinting at something.

    Still, no woman could remain unmoved when faced with such a sight.

    Aurelia could not do it, in any case. So she stole nces while she sipped on her water, in between

    bites, and when she wiped her mouth.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    The ne before her looked great. When she looked at the price, she noticed it cost 25 thousand.

    She thought it was essentially daylight robbery to charge that much for a ne.

    The bracelet next to it cost the same as well.

    ¡°This is absurd. A bracelet isn¡¯t even as long as a ne, so why do they cost the same?¡± she

    thought.

    Aurelia nced around. Eventually, a ring disyed on a seashell caught her eye.

    It was a simple rectangr cut diamond with a ribbon¨Clike pattern on the band. In the center of the

    ribbon, there was a ruby gem.

    There was no price tag on it.

    She assumed it was also absurdly expensive, so she did not let her gaze linger too long.

    However, she could not stop herself from ncing at it repeatedly.

    Perhaps she was looking at that ring because Kimberly showed off her ring earlier that day.

    Looking away, she noticed that Leslie was exceptionally quiet. He didn¡¯t even make¡¯a sound while he

    ate.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, what happened?¡±

    He wouldn¡¯t have invited her to a meal if nothing happened.

    ¡°Yesterday¡¯s presentation went well. Morepanies are approaching us for coborations, so I¡¯m

    happy,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°That¡¯s great. But¡­ did Leon Synder give you any trouble?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he said.

    Leon wouldn¡¯t dare to and the Synder family couldn¡¯t afford such humiliation.

    From now on, Leon¡¯s life would only be increasingly challenging.

    Aurelia felt relieved after hearing that.

    The photo of Leon¡¯s stunned expression was spreading everywhere, and she couldn¡¯t shake off the

    uneasy feeling.

    She couldn¡¯t forget the smiling yet sinister look in Leon¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t seem like someone who would

    easily give up.

    Just thinking about it caused her eyelids to twitch again, and she immediately rubbed her eyes.

    Leslie raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯ve been rubbing your eyes since earlier.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep wellst night. My eyes are tired, so my eyelids keep twitching.¡±

    ¡°Let me see.¡±

    Aurelia hesitated and wondered to herself, ¡°See what? How?¡±

    As she was pondering, his face approached her.

    Leslie¡¯s face was still wless from every angle except for the faint dark circles under his eyes from

    staying upte.

    Aurelia tensed up awkwardly as she recalled her freckles, e, and dark circles fromck of sleep.

    Before she could step back, Leslie¡¯s warm fingertips touched her eyelids to examine if there was a

    foreign particle in it.

    As she realized what was happening, Aurelia tried to move away but was too slow.

    Leslie had already lifted her eyelids.

    He remained true to his straightforward nature, showing no inclination to be gentle.

    ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong. There¡¯s nothing in there,¡± he said thoughtfully.

    Aurelia sighed and nodded.

    She had gotten used to embarrassing herself in front of Leslie.

    At the sight of her disheartened expression, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Aurelia pursed her lips.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ nothing.¡±

    She finally understood what her colleague meant when she said men working in the IT industry were

    not romantic.

    Aurelia continued eating when suddenly a shadow fell across the ss wall opposite her.

    An eerie gaze pierced through the wall.

 Chapter 307

    Aurelia suddenly looked up and saw Leon in the jewelry store behind the ss wall. Her heart dropped.

    A woman apanied him, and they were holding hands.

    However, Leon¡¯s gaze was coldly fixed on her.

    Her hands tremble involuntarily, causing her fork and knife to tter onto the te.

    Aurelia had seen plenty of intimidating people, but Leon was the first man she found genuinely

    terrifying.

    He appeared tall and handsome, wearing a rather gentlemanly smile. However, his eyes were filled

    with darkness.

    He almost looked venomous, and she felt like she would be killed with a single misstep.

    Aurelia felt breathless under his gaze. A hand suddenly extended before her, offering her a ss of

    water.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Have some water,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t know why this is happening,¡± Aurelia said uneasily.

    Being stared at by Leon made her feel like she was prey.

    ¡°I ordered dessert. Try some,¡± Leslie continued.

    Aurelia was puzzled.

    ¡°Are we still staying?¡±

    ¡ü

    She wondered if they should leave since they encountered Leon.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t done anything wrong, so what¡¯s there to be scared of? It¡¯s lunchtime, yet he¡¯s at the

    jewelry store instead of a restaurant. His intentions are clear to me.¡±

    He thought it was disgusting.

    Aurelia nodded.

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    A momentter, she saw Leon put on all the nes and bracelets she had just been eyeing onto

    the woman beside him.

    The woman was moved to tears, but Leon kept ncing at Aurelia. He even gestured toward her neck

    with his hand as if to say she would look good wearing those pieces.

    Aurelia felt a chill down her spine and quickly stuffed a bite of dessert into her mouth to calm herself.

    &

    22

    The only relief was that Leon hadn¡¯t taken the ring she had her eye on for the woman.

    Men were cautious when it came to giving rings, as they wouldn¡¯t want to trap themselves.

    Aure stopped paying attention to Leon next door and lowered her head to finish her dessert.

    ¡°I¡¯m done. Let¡¯s go,¡± she said.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    As they got up to leave, Leon¡¯s gaze became both angry and resentful¨Ceven a bit sinister.

    Even through the ss, his gaze felt like poisoned arrows piercing Aurelia¡¯s flesh.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t afford to offend Leon, and she didn¡¯t want to involve Leslie, so she could only quicken

    her pace while holding Leslie¡¯s hand.

    After leaving the restaurant, Leslie slowed down his pace and looked at Aurelia critically.

    Aurelia raised her head.

    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s obvious that Leon came for you this time. Don¡¯t you have any thoughts?¡±

    Leon was the young master of the Synder family, the richest family in Seacester. Plenty of women

    dreamed of marrying him.

    It would be normal for Aurelia to feel tempted, but Leslie felt upset regardless.

    He felt he shouldn¡¯t ask such a question but couldn¡¯t resist the urge to gain affirmation.

    He wouldn¡¯t have been so nosy before.

    Aurelia looked at him hesitantly and giggled.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I would think you are jealous if you asked questions like that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± he said immediately.

    ¡°I know. You couldn¡¯t possibly be.¡±

    He fell into silence, feeling even more displeased.

    Aurelia noticed he was not joking and took on a more serious tone.

    ¡°I¡¯m married. So I won¡¯t think about stuff like that. Handsome men are simply eye candy, but no one

    is as handsome as you are.

    The expression on his face eased. Yet, he still had a strange feeling.

    When she got into the car, she fastened her seatbelt and waited for him to start the vehicle, only to

    notice that he had not yet gotten in with her.

    ¡°I need to use the washroom. Wait here.¡±

    hapter 367

    ¡°Sure,¡± she said.

    While she waited, she unlocked her phone.

    There was quite a lot of good news in the office chat group. Apart from Kimberly, Seth, who had

    disappeared for a while, was also getting married.

    Seth was showing off his big house and new car, so the others asked him to share his wedding photos.

    Seth ultimately sent a photo of himself in a wedding tuxedo.

    ¡°No one asked to see you. Show us your wife,¡± someone typed.

    ¡°She¡¯s reserved,¡± Seth replied.

    There was something clearly amiss.

    Someone exposed Seth immediately, saying that Seth had married someone a decade older than him.

    He was spotted fawning over this woman.

    Rumors had it that the woman had a son who was almost of age, and her fortune was already divided

    ordingly before their marriage.

 Chapter 308

    Seth was practically a sugar baby.

    Seth was instantly offended.

    ¡°Defamation is a crime,¡± he typed in the office chat group.

    Someone immediately posted a video of Seth holding dozens of shopping bags. He was pped on

    the head simply because he couldn¡¯t help adjusting the woman¡¯s shirt.

    In the video, Seth smiled sheepishly without daring to stand up for himself.

    Seth left the group chat within three seconds of the video being posted. This amused Aurelia.

    The mere mention of Seth felt like referencing a stranger to her, leaving her remarkably calm.

    Seth was dead set on staying in the big city and managed to do so. Still, his marriage would indeed be

    miserable.

    Aurelia smiled. Just then, Leslie got into the car and handed her a bag.

    Taken aback, she picked up the bag.

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    He maintained a calm look.

    ¡°I happened to¡­¡±

    ¡°Happened to walk into the jewelry store?¡±

    She mimicked the way he squinted.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    She fell silent, realizing Leslie would never admit to doing anything nice.

    She extracted the box inside and realized it was the ring she had her eyes on earlier.

    She thought Leslie was focused on his food and didn¡¯t pay attention to what she was staring at. In the

    end, he noticed it.

    ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± she asked in confusion.

    ¡°Just treat me to a meal over the weekend. A ring would make us appear more like an ordinary couple,

    ¡± he said.

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± she said.

    Aurelia ced the box back into the bag, feeling a bit disappointed.

    It turned out that Leslie only wanted to keep their colleagues from noticing anything odd.

    When Leslie saw her stuffing the box into her bag, he asked suspiciously, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing it?

    ¡°I¡¯ll wear it over the weekend so that it¡¯ll have less wear and tear. Maybe we can return it in the future.

    Leslie¡¯s gaze darkened.

    Aurelia immediately took out the ring.

    ¡°I guess I can get used to it in advance.¡±

    After putting on the ring, she found it fit perfectly, surprising her.

    She wondered how Leslie knew her ring size.

    ¡°I ought to know after we¡¯ve held hands so many times,¡± he said.

    Aurelia fell into silence.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    Suddenly, she felt like the air was heating up.

    She panicked and tried to divert her attention to something else by handing the receipt to Leslie.

    ¡°Keep the receipt. We can exchange it for another modelter or resize it.¡®

    Their marriage was fake, and they would inevitably part ways when Linda¡¯s enthusiasm faded.

    The ring would be useless to him then. However, he couldn¡¯t simply waste his money. She thought

    exchanging it with the receipt would be a good option.

    Leslie was rendered speechless by Aurelia¡¯s considerate gesture.

    Still, wasn¡¯t this the oue he had anticipated long ago? Why was he so angry?

    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± he said.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    When they arrived at thepany, Aurelia exited the car, and Leslie left.

    ¡°Strange, why is he so angry? Am I not understanding enough?¡± she wondered.

    Aurelia shrugged and stared at the ring on her finger.

    Even though she would only own it temporarily, it looked perfect.

    However, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder why the ring was so shiny.

    She initially thought the ring shone brightly only because of the light in the shop that was cast on it.

    However, even under natural light, it was unnaturally bright.

    ¡°By the way, how much did this ring cost? I forgot to check when I handed over the receipt earlier. It

    shouldn¡¯t be too expensive, right?¡± she thought.

    After consoling herself, Aurelia headed upstairs.

    It was just after lunchtime, and everyone was stretching and getting up to grab some water.

    As she sat down, the office lights were turned on. The ring on her finger shimmered, catching the

    attention of those nearby.

    ¡°What¡¯s sparkling?¡±

 Chapter 309

    Aurelia was taken aback as she didn¡¯t expect her ring to shine so brightly.

    The colleague rubbed her eyes and spotted the ring on Aurelia¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Aurelia!¡±

    ¡°You scared me!¡± Aurelia was shocked by the shout.

    The colleague grabbed her hand to look at the ring.

    ¡°Is that a wedding band?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    It was something like that.

    ¡°When did you get it?¡±

    ¡°Haha, just now.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t intend to lie since everyone in the building was sensitive to gossip.

    Everyone would find out where she got the ring from and how much it cost by tomorrow.

    Hence, she decided to tell the truth.

    Just then, a voice chimed in, ¡°I just showed you my ring this morning, and you went to get one in the

    afternoon. Aurelia, is that really necessary?¡±

    The voice belonged to Kimberly.

    ¡ü

    Aurelia anticipated this and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not trying topete with you. After all, the diamond

    in mine is just an ordinary one. How can itpare to yours?¡±

    She then showed her ring to everyone.

    The diamond was moderate in size and indeed couldn¡¯tpare to the big diamond on Kimberly¡¯s

    ring.

    Still, Aurelia was unsure of why her ring shone so brightly.

    The colleague noticed something. She took Aurelia¡¯s and Kimberly¡¯s hands, cing their two rings side

    by side.

    ¡°Looking at the size, Kimberly¡¯s engagement ring wins hands down.¡±

    Kimberly smirked arrogantly and unted her finger, evidently wanting everyone to see her ring.

    ¡°But¡­¡± the colleague hesitated.

    ¡°But what? You won¡¯t say her ring is better than mine, right?¡± Kimberly sneered.

    ¡°Yours is certainly more expensive, but when I chose my own wedding band, I specifically consulted

    an expert.

    ¡°You can¡¯t just judge a ring by its size. You have to consider the quality, color, rity, and cut, all of

    which affect the quality of the diamond. Whenpared to Aurelia¡¯s, Kimberly¡¯s ring appears slightly

    yellowish andcks shine. Aurelia¡¯s ring is perfect. Although it¡¯s smaller in size, it¡¯s definitely more

    expensive,¡±

    Aurelia started to pick up on the differences as well.

    Having previously worked on jewelry exhibitions, she had some understanding of the subject.

    She knew about the quality of diamonds, so she found it strange that such a small diamond could be so

    shiny.

    However, she didn¡¯t know that diamond quality was categorized into so many grades, with each grade

    further subdivided.

    ¡°Kimberly, why does yourrge diamond have ck spots inside? Were you scammed?¡±

    ¡°Nonsense! Mine is a custom¨Cmade piece!¡±

    Kimberly quickly withdrew her hand and covered her ring.

    Everyone chuckled at the realization that Kimberly¡¯s fianc¨¦ simply wanted to spend the least amount of

    money to marry her.

    Other people thought Kimberly was superficial and riddled with deep ws.

    However, this time, Kimberly didn¡¯t behave as impulsively as before when she announced a new

    engagement in the morning and changed partners in the afternoon. Instead, she swallowed her pride

    because she knew her uncle would stop supporting her and she would never find a wealthier man

    otherwise.

    Hence, she could only endure it.

    Aurelia shrugged indifferently.

    ¡°Your ring is much more expensive than mine, so there¡¯s no need for anyparison. Let¡¯s get back

    to work.¡±

    With that, she returned to her workstation.

    Kimberly felt that Aurelia was mocking her. She had bought such an expensive ring, yet it still

    couldn¡¯t outshine Aurelia¡¯s smaller ring.

    She clenched her fists in anger.

    Just then, Zachary emerged with a displeased look on his face.

    ¡°Aurelia,e in for a moment.¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

 Chapter 310

    Aurelia immediately stood up and headed to the office. The surrounding colleagues began to gossip.

    ¡°It¡¯s definitely about IN Magazine. It seems Aurelia has offended their fashion director.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. She went in fine, but Ms. Hank stormed out after a while.¡±

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Is Aurelia growing too arrogant? How dare she offend people from IN? Even her programmer husband

    won¡¯t be able to handle these people.¡±

    ¡°A lot of our advertising department¡¯s coborations are with IN Magazine. If Aurelia offends them,

    won¡¯t it ruin the coborations for our department?¡±

    Kimberly furrowed her brows as she listened to the chatter.

    Coincidentally, she had a friend who worked at IN Magazine. After a moment of thought, Kimberly got

    up to make a phone call.

    Inside the office, Aurelia approached Zachary.

    His expression was grim.

    ¡°Aurelia, you did a good job with the work for One Technology this time. I¡¯m sorry you didn¡¯t get the

    position of vice director, but you can¡¯t take your frustration out on clients, can you?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do that,¡± Aurelia replied.

    ¡°Are you saying that Ms. Hank lied? She said you were very unprofessional and treated the charity g

    as a town celebration. You clearly wanted to embarrass them,¡± Zachary said.

    ¡°No, she asked for my opinion, and I conveyed some ideas. But she-¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t get to finish her sentence before Zachary interrupted her.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Why do you always have so many excuses? I don¡¯t want to hear them. Now, everyone

    is saying we¡¯re unprofessional. What do you suggest we do?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, just say what you have to say.¡±

    Aurelia could tell that Zachary was enraged with her. Ever since shepeted with Kimberly for the

    position of vice director and Kimberly was demoted, Zachary seemed to look at her unfavorably no

    matter what she did.

    Eva¡¯s usation was just an excuse for him to make things difficult for her. After all, Zachary was the

    one who helped Kimberly giarize in the first ce.

    Aurelia¡¯s existence would always be like a time bomb to Zachary.

    Zachery turned and sat in the chuir before swing to a more pleasant top

    our

    ¡°Aurelia, 196 Magazine hus been working with ow Aperiment for many years, if you and up

    jeopardizing the entirepany be of you actions, 1 wos¡¯t be able to protect you, Father confince

    Ma. Haris toperate on resign voluntarily to bear the consequences for everyone¡¯s sake.¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s what he¡¯s plotting,¡± Aurelia inwardly thought, pursing her lips

    She had already dealt with One Technology, which was a tough not to crack. It would be senseless for

    her to give up her job because of some basis austion.

    She refused to let Zachary get his way,

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, don¡¯t worry. I will resolve the misunderstanding with Ms. Hanks. I won¡¯t dy the project *

    Zachery¡¯s expression darkened, and he set his cup on the table.

    ¡°Aurelia, you should know when to quit.¡±

    ¡°I know, and I only wish to do my job.¡±

    She pretended like she didn¡¯t understand the hidden meaning of his words.

    Zachary fell silent

    ¡°If that¡¯s all, I will leave now,¡± she said before departing from his office.

    Zachary gritted his teeth in rage.

    He felt that Aurelia didn¡¯t respect him simply because she knew the founder of One Technology.

    Even the boss was on her side at the moment. If the rose to a higher position, she would surely seek

    revenge on him for the giarism incident caused by Kimberly.

    Zachary was not young anymore and if he lost his job, no otherpany in the industry would want

    him. Hence, he had to find a way to force Aurelia out.

 Chapter 311

    Once Aurelia left, Zachary rubbed the bridge of his nose and contemted ways he could chase

    Aurelia out of thepany.

    Just then, someonenocked on his door.

    He immediately straightened his back and said, ¡°Come in.¡±

    He looked up and was surprised to find Kimberly entering.

    It had been a while since the two had spoken, and their boss wanted everyone to ignore her.

    She would either be fired for a random reason once the coboration with her uncle ended, or they

    would make her quit alone.

    They all thought Kimberly would quit after being dragged away by a man, but she somehow managed

    to pull through.

    Through her uncle, she managed to find a rich man from a different city who could support her and

    her uncle.

    The rich man didn¡¯t care about the drama in the office and simply allowed Kimberly to continue

    working.

    Zachary was already troubled by this. Now, he also had to consider what to do with Aurelia.

    Frowning, he asked, ¡°What do you want?¡±

    Kimberly took a seat and smiled.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, I know what you are thinking.¡±

    He shot her a displeased look.

    ¡°Do you have too much time on your hands?¡±

    Kimberly leaned back on the chair.

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, shouldn¡¯t you know if I¡¯m free or not? I know something is troubling you, so I¡¯m here to

    help.¡±

    Zachary stared at her for a few seconds before saying, ¡°Help? I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s the right word.

    You¡¯re just an employee now, not a vice director.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Zeller, I¡¯m getting married soon. I don¡¯t need this job to support myself at all. You understand what

    I mean, right?¡± Kimberly hinted.

    Zachary hesitated for a moment before finally understanding Kimberly¡¯s implication.

    It made sense, after all. Kimberly had found herself a wealthy businessman as a husband, so why

    would she need to work?

    212

    Therefore, she must have returned to thepany with an ulterior motive.

    ¡°What are you trying to say, Kimberly?¡±

    ¡°I just want Aurelia cklisted from the industry. If I can¡¯t stay, then neither can she.¡±

    Kimberly gritted her teeth.

    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Zachary immediately retorted.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you caused enough trouble already? Do you think thispany is just a battlefield for your

    schemes?¡±

    Kimberly sneered at his reaction and leaned forward.

    ¡°Mr Zeller, don¡¯t you want to get rid of Aurelia? Remember that you framed her for giarism as well.

    Now that she¡¯s gaining recognition, even the boss is noticing her. If it weren¡¯t for my uncle¡¯s

    partnership, the boss would have already promoted her to vice director. Who knows if she¡¯ll rece

    someone else in the future?¡±

    With that, Kimberly nced pointedly at Zachary.

    Who wouldn¡¯t appreciate a capable and young subordinate?

    Zachary was the person Aurelia would most likely rece.

    Previously, Zachary had helped Kimberly secure the position of vice director because Kimberly posed

    no threat to him.

    Exposed, Zachary fell into silence.

    ¡°I¡¯vee to you for this matter, Mr. Zeller. Let¡¯s get rid of Aurelia together. I¡¯ll resign voluntarily, and

    then you can make things right with the boss, right?¡± she continued.

    Zachary felt tempted by her offer, but he kept hisposure. He hid his emotions and smiled at

    Kimberly.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°Kimberly, you¡¯re still too young. Do you think I¡¯d believe you? I¡¯ve been with thispany for over 20

    years. Do you think you and Aurelia can threaten me?¡±

    ¡°20 years, indeed. Everyone who joined thepany at the same time as you is now the CEO of their

    own subsidiary. Why are you still just a department head?¡±

    Kimberly¡¯s words hit a nerve, and Zachary¡¯s lips twitched in response.

    ¡°Why you¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. Words are just words. I¡¯ve prepared something special for you,¡± Kimberly said slyly.

 Chapter 312

    Kimberly handed him an envelope.

    Zachary opened it only to realize that it was her resignation letter.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡±

    ¡°This is how serious I am. So long as I work with you, I will have to leave thepany once you submit

    this, regardless of my will. You and the boss will have one less burden, right?¡±

    Kimberly was aware of her own situation.

    Zachary read the letter carefully to confirm that it was her notice of resignation. Once he approved and

    submitted it, it would be considered that Kimberly left at her own will.

    It was the boss¡® desired oue.

    He opened a drawer and ced the letter inside before smiling at her.

    ¡°You must already have an idea in mind if you are reaching out to me, right?¡±

    ¡°I called a friend at IN magazine. I heard that Ms. Hanks is furious. She told everyone at a business

    gathering that Young Advertising organizes events like we are hosting parties in rural viges. This

    would affect thepany in the long run, right?¡±

    ¡°You know someone from IN Magazine? Did you ask them how we can resolve this issue?¡± Zachary

    asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. The main reason that this is happening is because Aurelia crossed the wrong person.¡±

    ¡°Eva Hanks, you mean?¡±

    Zachary frowned. He remembered that Eva was promoted to fashion director only this year and had no

    prior interactions with Aurelia.

    Kimberly smiled.

    ¡°It¡¯s not her. It¡¯s the person behind Eva. She used to work for a foreign¨Cmagazine, which was

    completely unrted to us. Apparently, this person behind her is quite influential. Throughout Eva¡¯s

    journey, she has undoubtedly received help from this individual. That¡¯s why Eva is standing up for

    them.¡±

    ¡°Someone more formidable than Eva? Do you think Aurelia knows them?¡±

    Zachary found this information unreliable.

    Kimberly proceeded with even more explosive news.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    ¡°This person was in the same country as Ian, the boss of One Technology. Ian returned to the country

    to establish One Technology, and Aurelia had just finished the opening banquet for thepany. Right

    after that, Eva came knocking on her door to cause trouble. Isn¡¯t it too much of a coincidence?¡±

    272

    Zachary frowned.

    ¡°I remember Aurelia is married. Her husband is a developer for One Technology¡¯s new products. Given

    her circumstances, it¡¯s already quite rare for her to find such a husband.¡±

    Kimberly sneered.

    ¡°Do you really think she¡¯s that good a catch? Who wouldn¡¯t want something better? Otherwise, why

    would One Technology favor her so much? There must be something fishy going on.¡±

    ¡°If we can take advantage of this situation, it will indeed be difficult for Aurelia to remain in the

    company,¡± Zachary said.

    ¡°As long as we help Eva, our goal will be achieved regardless of who she wants to please,¡± Kimberly

    said,

    ¡°So, do you want me to introduce Eva to you? Do you want topete with Aurelia again?¡±

    Zachary understood Kimberly¡¯s intentions.

    ¡°I will definitely win against her. But this time, it¡¯s not apetition¨Cit¡¯s a coboration. I hope you can

    arrange for Aurelia and me to organize this charity ball together.¡±

    Kimberly smiled cunningly.

    Zachary understood precisely what she was nning. Essentially, Kimberly wanted to humiliate Aurelia

    before resigning.

    After some consideration, he nodded.

    ¡°Alright, but we must ensure that this partnership goes smoothly.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Zeller. I have a n.¡±

    ¡°Alright, you can leave now. I¡¯ll give instructions before the end of the day.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Zeller.¡±

    With that, Kimberly left feeling content.

    At this moment, Aurelia sat at her desk, pondering.

    Through her connections, she had gathered some information about Eva. However, she had one

    question in mind.

 Chapter 313

    Aurelia was confused because she didn¡¯t know Eva.

    Eva was a legendary woman. She started off as a rather famous model overseas. She then started

    working in the fashion industry and seeded in many media firms.

    IN Magazer hired her, and she became the fashion director when she returned to the country.

    She was far more sessful than Aurelia in every possible sense.

    Aurelia¡¯s life was ordinary and simr to that of the majority of the poption.

    She studied hard and got into a mediocre college. Then, she worked a normal office job, and that was

    1. it.

    She could understand why Eva looked down on her, as she had the right to look down on others.

    However, she didn¡¯t think Eva would look down on others without reason.

    Hence, Aurelia asked her friend to investigate.

    Her friend didn¡¯t reply even as she was getting off work.

    Just then, Zachary made an announcement to everyone.

    ¡°I announce that Aurelia and Kimberly will be responsible for the charity ball hosted by IN Magazine.¡±

    Aurelia was taken aback. IN Magazine specifically requested her to take the job, so she couldn¡¯t

    understand the reason for Kimberly¡¯s involvement.

    She was about to protest when Zachary shot her a re.

    ¡°Aurelia, be modest. You¡¯ve already crossed Ms. Hanks. Don¡¯t be too sure of yourself.¡±

    Aurelia thought if she protested further, she woulde across as arrogant.

    ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t mess around with thepany¡¯s future, okay?¡± Kimberly said.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t believe her, but there was nothing much she could say.

    The matter was settled just like that.

    Aurelia clocked out of work with a heavy heart.

    As she stepped out of the building, she received a call from her friend.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    ¡°Aurelia, I asked around. Did you somehow offend Ms. Hanks? She¡¯s telling everyone that you¡¯re

    unprofessional and even imed you charged a hefty fee for organizing the opening banquet for One

    Technology.¡±

    The phrase ¡°hefty fee¡± was lightly spoken by her friend but carried a clear message.

    If a woman excelled at work, people would assume that it was either because of her background or

    that she was splling her body.

    Her friend¡¯s words clearly indicated thetter

    Aurelia frowned

    ¡°It was my first time meeting her. I have no idea how I managed to offend her. Is she difficult to get

    along with?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s extremely strict. Working under her felt as though even breathing could pose a problem. You

    Think it¡¯s easy? Be careful. She¡¯s petty. If she dislikes you, she¡¯ll make your life a living hell,¡± her

    friend warned.

    ¡°Alright, Lunderstand.¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s any update, I¡¯ll contact you again.¡±

    After hanging up, Aurelia sighed softly. She contemted visiting IN Magazine¡¯s office tomorrow before

    making any decisions.

    Back home, Aurelia rested for a while before quickly preparing dinner. However, Leslie still hadn¡¯t

    returned by 7:00 pm.

    Leslie had excellent manners. Even when he had some misunderstandings with her at the beginning,

    he would always notify her in advance if he couldn¡¯t make it home to avoid wasting her time and food.

    Thus, she found the day¡¯s events strange.

    Aurelia picked up her phone and dialed Leslie¡¯s number.

    The call was quickly answered, but Leslie was not the one who picked up the call.

    Instead, it was a woman. It was also a voice that Aurelia was particrly familiar with.

    ¡°Hello, this is Leslie¡¯s phone. Just tell me what you need.¡±

    Aurelia paused. The words uttered weren¡¯t a big issue, but she wondered what the woman meant by

    just tell me what you need¡°.

    Shouldn¡¯t a normal response be ¡°Please hold on, I¡¯ll get him¡± or ¡°Let me take a message¡°? Why did it

    sound like she was speaking on Leslie¡¯s behalf?

 Chapter 314

    Aurelia steadied her breath.

    ¡°Please hand the phone to Leslie.¡±

    ¡°He is busy and doesn¡¯t take calls from strange numbers,¡± the woman said.

    Strange numbers?

    Aurelia recalled that Leslie didn¡¯t have a habit of saving his contacts. The only number he had ever

    saved seemed to belong to Linda.

    It turned out that he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to save the number of people who were insignificant to

    him.

    While Aurelia fell silent, the woman said, ¡°Please don¡¯t call to disturb him again. It¡¯s bothersome. Thank

    you.¡±

    The woman¡¯s tone was polite, but Aurelia felt stung.

    If Leslie cared about her, why would his colleague consider her a harasser?

    After the call was disconnected, she listened to the beeping tone on her phone and then set her phone

    down to eat.

    The food had turned cold, and she couldn¡¯t taste anything.

    The ring on her finger no longer looked as appealing as before.

    She took a few bites and shoved the tes into the fridge. Afterward, she returned to her room to work

    but couldn¡¯t think of anything besides what the woman said.

    Meanwhile, in One Technology, Cynthia set her phone down with a smile and chose not to delete the

    missed call from the phone log.

    She wouldn¡¯t make the same rookie mistake twice.

    Now that she had finally dispelled Leslie¡¯s suspicions about her allergic reaction, deleting Aurelia¡¯s call

    would only arouse suspicion if Leslie spoke to Aurelia.

    Keeping it was a different story. Aurelia was a woman, after all. She would definitely confront Leslie

    about Cynthia¡¯s identity and how she got his phone.

    Considering Aurelia¡¯s ordinary background andck of sophistication, Cynthia figured that Aurelia¡¯s

    thoughts likely revolved around nothing more than men and mundane matters.

    She couldn¡¯t possibly grasp intellectual thoughts.

    Leslie might initially find a dull woman like Aurelia interesting, but he could not possibly endure her

    every single day.

    The more Aurelia made a fuss, the more apparent it would be to Leslie that she couldn¡¯t fit into

    his world.

    Just then, Leslie returned to his workstation after speaking with other colleagues.

    He nced at his phone, which had been moved.

    ¡°Did you touch my phone?¡±

    Cynthia nodded and said casually, ¡°I was going to ignore it, but it was so noisy that I answered it. Isn¡¯t it

    strange how sales calls these days resort to swearing? Or maybe I¡¯ve been out of touch with the

    country too long?¡±

    She might not have deleted the call log, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t lie about the situation.

    Cynthia thought that a single sentence made the stark contrast between her and Aurelia¡¯s character

    evident.

    It presented Aurelia as someone who would curse upon hearing another woman¡¯s voice on a man¡¯s

    phone. In contrast, Cynthia was portrayed as a strong woman dedicated to her work and willing to take

    on responsibilities for a man.

    It was apparent who men would choose to believe.

    Once Leslie returned home and faced Aurelia¡¯s questioning, he would tire of her within a week.

    Cynthia wouldn¡¯t even have to lift a finger.

    She thought everything would unfold as she wished, but she didn¡¯t expect Leslie to pick up his phone

    immediately.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t answer my calls without my permission in the future,¡± he said coldly and shot a look at

    Cynthia before redialing Aurelia¡¯s number, giving her no chance to exin.

    People nearby turned to look.

    Cynthia could only smile and say, ¡°Sorry.¡±

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    She felt the urge to snap her pen in half but could only watch as Leslie dialed Aurelia¡¯s number without

    protest.

    However, she soon rxed. She was confident Leslie would grow impatient and hang up as soon as

    Aurelia started making a scene and questioning Leslie.

    The call connected, and Cynthia waited quietly for them to start fighting.

    Aurelia spoke first, ¡°I know you¡¯re busy and can¡¯t return home for dinner. Order takeout for yourself. I¡¯m

    going to bed.¡±

    Leslie fell into silence when he realized that Aurelia waspletely indifferent.

 Chapter 315

    Aurelia was quite impressive if she could say she wanted to go to bed as her husband worked

    overtime.

    Leslie started to doubt his own charm and cleared his throat.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡±

    ¡°Are you ill? Is your stomach hurting because you haven¡¯t eaten?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I haven¡¯t eaten,¡± he said.

    ¡°Um¡­ Are you okay with leftovers? I was going to have them for lunch tomorrow. If you don¡¯t mind, I

    can deliver them to you now.¡±

    ¡°Whatever,¡± he said.

    ¡°Wait for me, then.¡±

    He then heard small noises from the other end of the line.

    Thoughtfully, he added, ¡°Take a taxi. It¡¯s toote.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡®

    After hanging up, Leslie set his phone down and received a wave of resentful res.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you are tricking others to deliver food to you.¡®

    ||

    ¡°What do you know? Mr. Synder has finally learned how to be romantic.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a pity that we can only watch.¡±

    Leslie eyed them and said, ¡°I¡¯ll buy you all supper.¡±

    ¡°Yay!¡±

    Everyone was cheering except for Cynthia.

    Cynthia couldn¡¯t understand how Aurelia, of all people, could manage to remain calm and not make a

    fuss. She was even more bewildered that Aurelia went so far as not to care at all.

    Leslie nced at Cynthia.

    ¡°Your work is almost done. There¡¯s no need for you to stay here any longer. Go home.¡±

    ¡°I just-¡±

    Cynthia wanted to say she could stay longer, but Leslie cut her off.

    ¡°We value efficiency here. We don¡¯t necessarily value overtime. You¡¯ve just had a severe allergic

    reaction, so you should rest more.¡®

    273

    Although Leslie sounded caring, he was actually trying to make her leave.

    Cynthia naturally knew what he meant but refrained from asking further. She could only smile as she

    got up

    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll head home first. Thanks for your concern, Mr. Synder.¡±

    The others seemed to pick up on something andforted Cynthia.

    ¡°Ms. Whitlock, make sure you rest well while you¡¯re recovering. That way, your immune system will

    recover better.¡±

    ¡°If we had known you were sick, we wouldn¡¯t have kept you overtime today.¡±

    Cynthia tossed her hair slightly and shed a smile.

    ¡°Thanks for your concern, everyone. Keep up the good work.¡±

    Her gentle demeanor allowed her to maintain some dignity as she left the office under her colleagues¡®

    Meanwhile, Aurelia was bustling in the kitchen.

    She opened the fridge to warm up some dishes, but when she took out the tes and saw the wilted

    vegetables, she wondered if Leslie would even eat them.

    He was quite picky, after all,

    Still, he chose to stayte with a female colleague instead ofing home.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Aurelia simply put the dishes in the microwave. However, she hesitated as she closed the door.

    She wasn¡¯t concerned for Leslie but was somewhat worried that his colleagues would think she was

    mistreating him.

    With that in mind, Aurelia put on an apron and quickly washed, chopped, and cooked fresh vegetables.

    Soon, a fragrant meal was packed,

    When she arrived at Leslie¡¯spany, Aurelia was reminded of the earlier incident when the security

    quard refused to let her in.

    Just as she was about to call Leslie, she noticed a tall figure standing by the fountain outside the

    building

    Under the streetlight, his long shadow stretched behind him. Smoke twirled between his fingers as the

    water rippled softly behind him.

    He looked exceptionally handsome under the light.

    ¡°Mr. Synder,¡± Aurelia called out.

    ¡°Were you waiting for ine?¡±

    Leslie put out the cigarette and said coolly, ¡°No. I was justing down for a smoke,¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Aurelia pursed her lips awkwardly.

    Leslie reached for the thermos bag she was carrying

    ¡°Come on in.¡±

    Aurelia nodded and followed him inside.

    The security guard watched them approach with a grin on his face.

    ¡°So you were waiting for your girlfriend, huh? You¡¯ve smoked three cigarettes already,¡± the guard

    teased.

    Leslie furrowed his brow in silence.

    Aurelia stifled augh and pretended she didn¡¯t hear anything as she followed Leslie into the elevator.

 Chapter 316

    Everyone looked at her with a pointed smile when she entered the office.

    Aurelia greeted them, ¡°Hello, everyone.¡±

    A few nosy people got up, only to sit back down when Leslie red at them.

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Simmons.¡±

    ¡°I hope I¡¯m not interrupting anything,¡± she said.

    Daniel didn¡¯t want the others to reveal too much, so he immediately chimed in, ¡°No, of course not. The

    boss said we could take a break to eat, so we are ordering food now. You guys can go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Aurelia nodded and followed Leslie to his workstation. As she walked, she stepped on something and

    came close to stumbling.

    She lowered her gaze and found a lipstick. It was coincidentally the exact same brand as the one she

    had found in the car.

    To her knowledge, only two women were working at the reception in thispany. They wouldn¡¯t have

    entered the office space to put on lipstick.

    Hence, it was likely that this was the exact same lipstick she found in the car.

    Moreover, it was a lipstick from a luxury brand, so one couldn¡¯t possibly lose it.

    She wondered if someone had deliberately left it behind for her to see.

    Just then, Aurelia noticed a rose¨Cfragrant hand cream on Leslie¡¯s desk that evidently belonged to a

    woman.

    ¡°So the woman who picked up his phone sits beside him,¡± she thought.

    Aurelia contemted for a moment. Instead of making a fuss, she patted Leslie¡¯s arin, signaling him

    to look down.

    ¡°What-¡±

    Leslie was about to ask when he spotted the lipstick. He frowned with displeasure.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°I knew. I¡¯m just reminding you not to step on it. This lipstick is quite expensive. Where should I put it?¡±

    Aurelia picked up the lipstick.

    ¡°There.¡±

    Leslie pointed to the adjacent table.

    Aurelia set down the lipstick. She then pulled over a chair as if nothing had happened and opened the

    meal box for Leslie.

    Changing the subject, she said, ¡°I prepared a simple dinner. You should eat first.¡±

    Leslie couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit angry at her calmness.

    Aurelia had just seen a woman¡¯s belongings next to her husband¡¯s chair, yet she remained highly

    composed.

    ¡°How considerate of her,¡± he thought sarcastically.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Leslie picked up the fork moodily.

    Aurelia was puzzled.

    Why was he angry again? Was it because the food wasn¡¯t good? That seemed unlikely.

    Was he worried she¡¯d badmouth his female colleagues?

    She nced at the men discussing food ahead and leaned closer to Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t say anything out of line. You¡¯re a handsome man, so it¡¯s normal for someone to

    have a crush on you. I simply didn¡¯t inquire further because I feared your colleagues might get the

    wrong idea. Besides, what if it¡¯s just a misunderstanding?¡± Aurelia said seriously.

    Leslie suddenly lost his appetite. Aurelia¡¯s easy¨Cgoing nature somehow irritated him.

    ¡°You¡¯re quite understanding,¡± he said gruffly.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Leslie fell silent with a grim expression.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    Aurelia nced at the space between Leslie and the other woman. They were sitting close enough to

    touch.

    She felt uneasy but knew the woman who could casually take Leslie¡¯s phone wasn¡¯t ordinary.

    After all, Leslie was furious with her in the past for simply grabbing the wrong phone at the hospital by

    ident.

    Still¡­

    Aurelia tugged at Leslie¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Mr. Synder, could you-¡±

    ¡°Could I do what?¡± Leslie snapped coldly.

    Aurelia had better say something he liked to hear.

    ¡°Could you not be with anyone else?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    Leslie clenched his fist against his lips and felt slightly better.

    ¡°We¡¯re not divorced yet. Isn¡¯t it uneptable to have an affair?¡± Aurelia whispered as she leaned in

    close.

    Leslie was speechless. He turned to look at Aurelia, his voice heavy.

    ¡°Are you that eager for me to like someone else?¡±

    Aurelia was confused by his words.

    What did he mean by that?

 Chapter 317

    Aurelia and Leslie stared into each other¡¯s eyes in silence, both trying to read the other.

    Her heart raced in the face of his handsome features, and she felt a sudden urge.

    She couldn¡¯t hold back the words from spilling from her lips.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, who do you like if you don¡¯t like someone else?¡±

    She screamed inwardly and froze.

    ¡°Why did I ask that? What exactly am I trying to do?¡± Aurelia thought.

    Leslie seemed slightly moved. This was the first time she saw the twirl of emotions in his eyes in such

    proximity.

    Frowning, he moved his lips when he was interrupted by the person next to him.

    ¡°The delivery guy isn¡¯t sending the food up. I¡¯m in the middle of something, so can someone pick it up

    for me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m busy, too. Just get the delivery guy to drop the food off in the lobby.¡±

    ¡°My pasta is going to get soggy!¡±

    Aurelia immediately distanced herself from Leslie and stood up.

    ¡°I will pick the food up for you. You guys carry on working¡­¡±

    With that, she darted out.

    It wasn¡¯t until she was inside the elevator that she started panting heavily.

    Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she saw herself blushing.

    Rubbing her face, she could still feel Leslie¡¯s breath caressing her cheeks.

    ¡°I¡¯m going mad. Oh, what was he going to say just now? I should have asked him. Wait, should I? No, I

    don¡¯t dare to,¡± she said aloud.

    Aurelia felt like a fool for talking to herself in the elevator.

    As she stepped out, the doors closed behind her. She caught a glimpse of a woman in a ck dress

    walking past her but didn¡¯t see clearly.

    She didn¡¯t pay much attention and headed directly to the lobby, where she found everyone¡¯s takeout.

    She thought there wouldn¡¯t be much, but the men¡¯s appetite for food surprised her.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Each takeout box was as big as a pot.

    She wondered if they could consume all of that.

    Charly $17

    Upon further thought, she realized they must have overworked their brains and were tavenons.

    Aure struggled with five bags in each hand and three takeout boxes in her arms.

    She even had to use her foot to press the elevator door open. Once inside, she felt like her arms were

    about to be torn off.

    When the elevator doors finally opened, she hurried towards the office,

    Even before entering, she heard cheerful voices conversing from inside.

    ¡°Ms. Whitlock, thank you so much for bringing us coffee,¡±

    ¡°I happened to pass by a coffee shop and thought of you guys, so i bought some.¡±

    The woman¡¯s voice was gentle and soothing. Aurelia felt rxed just listening to it.

    Ignoring their conversation, Aurelia rushed in nervously with her hands full.

    ¡°The delivery¡¯s here.¡±

    A ten¨Cdor bill was handed to her when she set down the food.

    ¡°Thank you for going through the trouble of bringing this up. Consider this a tip. It¡¯s not easy for a

    youngdy like you to deliver meals sote.¡±

    Aurelia was taken aback. Looking up at the money, she saw a gorgeous woman standing before her.

    Brown curls adorned her head, and each inch of her hair shone perfectly. This was a testament to how

    well she cared for her hair.

    Her ck dress revealed just enough skin to exude femininity without going overboard, Confidence

    radiated from her bright and self¨Cassured eyes.

    This was a gentle yet formidable woman. That was Aurelia¡¯s first impression of Cynthia.

 Chapter 318

    Cynthia smiled as she took another ten¨Cdor bill from her wallet and jokingly said, ¡°Sorry, I just

    returned to the country. I¡¯m not very familiar with tipping customs here. I thought it would be simr to

    overseas, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be so high.¡±

    Her words made her seem superior. She had only spoken a few words, but they were enough to imply

    that Aurelia was poor.

    Suddenly, the atmosphere became awkward, and no one knew how to stop Cynthia.

    Undeterred, Cynthia continued, ¡°Is it still not enough?¡±

    Aurelia snapped out of it.

    After all these years of climbing the careerdder, she saw right through Cynthia¡¯s sarcasm.

    However, Cynthia was much smarter than those who openly targeted her.

    Her words and demeanor were that of a well¨Cmannereddy, courteous and kind.

    Whether Aurelia epted the money or not, Cynthia¡¯s purpose would be fulfilled.

    If she epted, she¡¯d be seen as greedy and materialistic. If she didn¡¯t and exined her identity,

    Cynthia could simply apologize, saying that she mistook her for a delivery person.

    Meanwhile, Aurelia¡¯s image at Leslie¡¯spany would be tarnished.

    At the sight of Leslie approaching, Aurelia nced at him, then reached for Cynthia¡¯s money.

    Cynthia smiled warmly with a glint of triumph in her eyes.

    Aurelia did some quick calctions as she counted the takeout.

    ¡°Miss, it¡¯s not enough.¡±

    Cynthia¡¯s smile froze.

    ¡°What do you mean? Do people demand specific amounts for tips in this country?¡±

    Aurelia mimicked Cynthia¡¯s exaggerated tone.

    ¡°Miss, don¡¯t you keep up with current events abroad? What have you been learning overseas? This is

    a techpany, isn¡¯t it? Are all employees like you?¡± she asked sarcastically.

    Cynthia pursed her lips.

    She couldn¡¯t turn around and ask Leslie about the type of woman he had found, as it would be like

    admitting she knew Aurelia¡¯s identity.

    Cynthia pulled out two more ten¨Cdor bills from her purse through gritted teeth.

    It wouldn¡¯t matter. As long as Aurelia epted the money, everyone would know she was a greedy

    212

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    woman.

    However, Aurelia didn¡¯t pocket the money. Instead, she walked up to the group.

    ¡°This youngdy is treating you. Check if you have any spare change. It should be 2.8 dors. Round it

    up to three dors for her.¡±

    Cynthia furrowed her brows in confusion, but everyone understood what Aurelia was doing and held

    back theirughter.

    Leslie cleared his throat, and his lips twitched into a half¨Csmile.

    Cynthia shot Aurelia an annoyed look when she finally realized what she was doing.

    Aurelia turned to self¨Cmockery as a response.

    ¡°Miss, you are so smart. I¡¯m indeed here to deliver food, but just for one person.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I lost my appetite!¡± someone shouted.

    ¡°This is too much! You are unting your romance!¡±

    ¡°The gods are unfair!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t eat, then.¡±

    Leslie curled his lips slightly, and everyone noticed it.

    The noises around them intensified, and someone even pushed Aurelia toward Leslie.

    Leslie casually held her waist. It was clear that it was a regr urrence. Otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have

    been able to catch her by the waist so urately.

    Everyone felt like they had witnessed yet another romantic scene.

    Sensing Aurelia¡¯s embarrassment, Leslie turned to the others.

    ¡°Are you all not hungry anymore?¡±

    The othersughed and went off to collect their food.

    Aurelia steadied herself and handed Cynthia the change.

    ¡°Miss, your change.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Cynthia gritted her teeth and shoved the change into her purse without looking at it.

    Just then, she noticed the lipstick on the desk and nced at Aurelia before turning to look at Leslie.

    ¡°Did I leave my lipstick with you again? I¡¯m just so forgetful wherever I am. It¡¯s a good thing I have you.¡±

 Chapter 319

    Cynthia made it seem like she had a close rtionship with Leslie, leaving Aurelia unable to interject.

    She nced at Aurelia again and said, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know, but I always seem to be losing things

    overseas. It¡¯s either in his car or his apartment. There were even times when I grabbed the wrong coat.

    The weather abroad is always dreary, so I¡¯d end up walking in his oversized coat on the streets. It¡¯s

    quite amusing.¡±

    Three strikes¨Ccar, apartment, grabbing the wrong coat.

    It was hard for one not to assume that there was something between Leslie and Cynthia.

    Still, it happened before their marriage, so Aurelia couldn¡¯t say much about it.

    She stood quietly beside Leslie as Cynthia recounted tales of her and Leslie¡¯s past.

    Although she hated to admit it, Cynthia and Leslie standing together were more pleasing to the eye

    than any handsome couple in a magazine.

    There was an inherent elegance about them that others couldn¡¯t imitate.

    Aurelia pursed her lips and lowered her head slowly, feeling defeated.

    Cynthia¡¯s smirk grew deeper as she continued, ¡°Where did you and Leslie meet? At university? At the

    gallery? Museum? Or was it during a beach vacation? Speaking of beach vacations, when we went

    surfing togetherst year, I almost got swept away by the waves. Fortunately, Leslie saved me.¡±

    Perhaps Cynthia hit the nail on the head because everyone put down their spoon and chimed in.

    ¡°Ms. Whitlock, you should be embarrassed! You saw how good Leslie was at surfing and insisted on

    learning.¡±

    ¡°The same thing happened when we went skiing in the mountains. You went on the most difficult trails

    without a word, but fortunately, Leslie managed to catch up to you.¡®

    ¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite impressive that you almost drowned in a hot spring, Ms. Whitlock.¡±

    As they recounted their overseas experiences, Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but tighten her grip on her skirt.

    She felt like she didn¡¯t belong there, like an outsider trying to force her into a clique where she didn¡¯t

    fit.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Everyone in the office was high¨Cpaying talent, so going on vacations abroad was as easy as going to

    the supermarket.

    Aurelia, on the other hand, had never traveled out of the country.

    They spoke of surfing by the beach, hot springs under volcanoes, and skiing down endless snowy

    mountains. These were all the things she had never seen.

    There was no way she could participate in this conversation.

    Chisplee 115

    212

    Cynthia stared at Aurelia, smiling.

    ¡°Why are you so quiet? Don¡¯t tell me that¡­ you¡¯ve never been abroad?¡±

    The office fell silent instantly. Those who were engaged in lively conversation just moments ago now

    stood frozen in ce.

    They were all curious as to why Leslie was with Aurelia instead of Cynthia, who was more favored

    before.

    Aurelia understood the looks they were giving her and knew that they were more curious than

    malicious.

    She took a deep breath before saying, ¡°I-¡±

    Before she could finish her sentence, she felt a weight on her shoulder and was pulled aside.

    When she looked up, she saw Leslie¡¯s tense expression. It was not directed at her but at Cynthia. ¡°If

    you could stop being so forgetful, you wouldn¡¯t have to send me documents after work hours in the

    rain. If you had only known your own limits during the annual trip, we wouldn¡¯t have to trouble ourselves

    to save you.¡±

    Cynthia froze and fell into silence.

    Leslie nced at the others.

    ¡°Anything else you¡¯re curious about? You can ask me.

    ¡°No, not at all.¡®

    Daniel immediately got up.

    ¡°You all should finish your food and get back to work. Don¡¯t you want to go home?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡±

    Everyone lowered their heads to eat, not daring to say anything else.

    Aurelia was quite confused as to why everyone seemed to fear Leslie. However, before she could ask

    him anything, Leslie turned to Cynthia.

    ¡°Is there anything else you need? If not, go home. I hope we can focus on discussing work rather than

    private matters.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Cynthia said while maintaining a smile, the veins on her neck protruding from rage.

 Chapter 320

    Cynthia heard Leslie¡¯s voice as she exited the office.

    ¡°Let¡¯s all have a gathering at my ce this weekend.¡±

    She paused and thought, ¡°Leslie, who hates socializing, is inviting others to his ce?¡±

    She stared into the office in disbelief and happened to observe each movement Aurelia and Leslie

    made.

    Aurelia looked up and tugged at his clothes before saying, ¡°Mr. Synder, you shouldn¡¯t use that tone

    when inviting others.¡±

    Leslie looked impatient, but his tone remained rxed.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a simple meal. You¡¯ve all been working hard, so let¡¯s celebrate the recentunch.¡±

    Everyone was taken aback by his tone. Some even pinched themselves in disbelief.

    They never thought that their boss would be approachable.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr.¨CLeslie!¡±

    Aurelia leaned closer to Leslie in confusion.

    ¡°Why do they always address you so respectfully? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re that old.¡±

    ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just jealous,¡± he deadpanned.

    Aureliaughed.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you have been making many jokestely.¡±

    It then dawned on Leslie that he was getting along with everyone, which was unimaginable in the past,

    even though these people were his trusted subordinates.

    Aurelia smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Synder, that¡¯s great. Keep up the good work.¡±

    Leslie looked at her smile and nodded, somehow feeling reassured.

    Outside the door, Cynthia watched the scene unfold and felt like Leslie had taken everything she had

    just done as a joke.

    She clenched her bag tightly and turned to walk into the elevator expressionlessly.

    As she stepped out of the elevator, she maintained her aloof demeanor.

    The steady clicking of her heels echoed confidently, and even the security guards in the building

    greeted her with respect as she passed by.

    Cynthia felt affirmed by their behavior. She thought people were divided into different sses. Aurelia

    would never reach her level, so she would never consider Aurelia her equal.

    Cynthia heard Leslie¡¯s voice as she exited the office.

    ¡°Let¡¯s all have a gathering at my ce this weekend.¡±

    She paused and thought, ¡°Leslie, who hates socializing, is inviting others to his ce?¡±

    She stared into the office in disbelief and happened to observe each movement Aurelia and Leslie

    made.

    Aurelia looked up and tugged at his clothes before saying, ¡°Mr. Synder, you shouldn¡¯t use that tone

    when inviting others.

    Leslie looked impatient, but his tone remained rxed.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a simple meal. You¡¯ve all been working hard, so let¡¯s celebrate the recentunch.¡±

    Everyone was taken aback by his tone. Some even pinched themselves in disbelief.

    They never thought that their boss would be approachable.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr.¨CLeslie!¡±

    Aurelia leaned closer to Leslie in confusion.

    ¡°Why do they always address you so respectfully? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re that old.¡±

    ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just jealous,¡± he deadpanned.

    Aureliaughed.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you have been making many jokestely.¡±

    It then dawned on Leslie that he was getting along with everyone, which was unimaginable in the past,

    even though these people were his trusted subordinates.

    Aurelia smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Synder, that¡¯s great. Keep up the good work.¡±

    Leslie looked at her smile and nodded, somehow feeling reassured.

    Outside the door, Cynthia watched the scene unfold and felt like Leslie had taken everything she had

    just done as a joke.

    She clenched her bag tightly and turned to walk into the elevator expressionlessly.

    As she stepped out of the elevator, she maintained her aloof demeanor.

    The steady clicking of her heels echoed confidently, and even the security guards in the building

    greeted her with respect as she passed by.

    Cynthia felt affirmed by their behavior. She thought people were divided into different sses. Aurelia

    would never reach her level, so she would never consider Aurelia her equal.

    Aurelia was simply not up to her standards.

    However, once she got into her car, she began to tremble uncontrobly.

    Even the steering wheel creaked under her tight grip.

    Cynthia couldn¡¯t help but pound on the steering wheel until she couldn¡¯t mask the resentment on her

    face any longer.

    Leslie had given her a warning for Aurelia¡¯s sake.

    ¡°How dare he?¡± she thought.

    She had worked tirelessly for Leslie for many years, yet Leslie always rejected her advances.

    Aurelia had only been with him for a few months, yet he was apletely different person.

    Cynthia wondered why Aurelia should reap the fruits of herbor. She refused to believe she would

    lose to such an ordinary woman.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    After venting her frustrations, Cynthia calmed down and called her friend, Eva.

    Indeed, Eva was her friend.

    They had been best friends since high school. Eva became a model during college, so they didn¡¯t see

    each other that often.

    However, their rtionship remained strong in private. Not many people knew about their

    connection.

    Eva contacted her when she learned Cynthia was back in the country.

    When Eva learned that there was another woman named Aurelia next to the man Cynthia secretly

    admired, she was excited to hear more.

    It was a mere coincidence that Aurelia¡¯s next big client happened to be IN Magazine, and Eva

    happened to be the director of the charity ball this time.

    To help Cynthia vent her frustrations, Eva went to Aurelia¡¯s office to embarrass her and even spread

    rumors about Aurelia¡¯sck of professionalism.

    They thought it would be enough to make Aurelia¡¯s life miserable, but to their surprise, Aurelia was still

    doing well in thepany.

    Eva found this strange and asked curiously, ¡°Cynthia, who exactly is this man you¡¯re secretly in love

    with? How does he manage to protect Aurelia so well? Even the boss of Young Advertising is

    constantly speaking up for her.¡±

    Cynthia hesitated momentarily.

    She had never told Eva that the man she secretly loved was Leslie, the brilliant young man who had

    made a name for himself abroad.

    She wanted Leslie all to herself.

    Whenever Eva asked, she would simply say he was a decent¨Clooking colleague.

    Eva was ustomed to seeing handsome men and beautiful women in the fashion industry, so she

    had be numb to them.

    She often advised Cynthia not to lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of one man.

    Cynthia never listened. Eva couldn¡¯t understand the benefit of bing Leslie¡¯s girlfriend or wife.

    Aside from Leslie himself, there was his vast business empire.

    Cynthia believed she was the only one worthy of him because they were in sync at work, shared the

    same ideas, and made decisions together.

    With such harmony, why couldn¡¯t they be together?

    Cynthia felt it was only a matter of time before they were.

    She refrained from revealing Leslie¡¯s true identity to Eva, fearing she wouldn¡¯t lend her a helping

    hand.

    ¡°He¡¯s a young and promising developer at One Technology. With One Technology thriving in Seacester,

    no one dares to offend him,¡± she said casually.

    This wasn¡¯t entirely a lie, as Leslie had asked everyone to keep his identity secret.

    he¡¯ll

    ¡°Ah, I see. Can¡¯t you aim a bit higher? Instead of going for all the wealthy and influential people abroad,

    you¡¯re fixated on an employee of a techpany. Even if he¡¯s good¨Clooking now, probably be just an

    average Joe with a receding hairline in the future.¡±

    Eva clucked her tongue disapprovingly.

    ¡°Eva, I just like him. I don¡¯t want anyone else but him. If it weren¡¯t for Aurelia, he would definitely have

    feelings for me,¡± Cynthia said firmly.

    ¡°Wait a minute¡­ You¡¯re not calling me just because of Aurelia again, right?¡±

    Eva immediately guessed the problem.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Cynthia briefly exined the recent events but didn¡¯t mention her role in making things difficult for

    Aurelia. Instead, she portrayed Aurelia as a very scheming woman.

 Chapter 321

    Cynthia hesitated momentarily.

    She had never told Eva that the man she secretly loved was Leslie, the brilliant young man who had

    made a name for himself abroad.

    She wanted Leslie all to herself.

    Whenever Eva asked, she would simply say he was a decent¨Clooking colleague.

    Eva was ustomed to seeing handsome men and beautiful women in the fashion industry, so she

    had be numb to them.

    She often advised Cynthia not to lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of one man.

    Cynthia never listened. Eva couldn¡¯t understand the benefit of bing Leslie¡¯s girlfriend or wife.

    Aside from Leslie himself, there was his vast business empire.

    Cynthia believed she was the only one worthy of him because they were in sync at work, shared the

    same ideas, and made decisions together.

    With such harmony, why couldn¡¯t they be together?

    Cynthia felt it was only a matter of time before they were.

    She refrained from revealing Leslie¡¯s true identity to Eva, fearing she wouldn¡¯t lend her a helping

    hand.

    ¡°He¡¯s a young and promising developer at One Technology. With One Technology thriving in Seacester,

    no one dares to offend him,¡± she said casually.

    This wasn¡¯t entirely a lie, as Leslie had asked everyone to keep his identity secret.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    he¡¯ll

    ¡°Ah, I see. Can¡¯t you aim a bit higher? Instead of going for all the wealthy and influential people abroad,

    you¡¯re fixated on an employee of a techpany. Even if he¡¯s good¨Clooking now, probably be just an

    average Joe with a receding hairline in the future.¡±

    Eva clucked her tongue disapprovingly.

    ¡°Eva, I just like him. I don¡¯t want anyone else but him. If it weren¡¯t for Aurelia, he would definitely have

    feelings for me,¡± Cynthia said firmly.

    ¡°Wait a minute¡­ You¡¯re not calling me just because of Aurelia again, right?¡±

    Eva immediately guessed the problem.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Cynthia briefly exined the recent events but didn¡¯t mention her role in making things difficult for

    Aurelia. Instead, she portrayed Aurelia as a very scheming woman.

    221

    Upon hearing this, Eva sympathized with Cynthia¡¯s frustration.

    ¡°Haha, ourpany is full of women like her. She must really think highly of herself if she dares to

    compare herself to you. Don¡¯t worry, Cynthia. I have a n.¡±

    Cynthia felt much better upon hearing that.

    Eva had always been the type to take matters into her own hands and rarely encountered opposition.

    Both of their parents were regional CEOs of majorpanies, and they had received elite education

    from a young age. They looked down upon women like Aurelia, who tried to climb the socialdder

    through men.

    Their pride wouldn¡¯t allow them to lose to someone as ordinary as Aurelia.

    ¡°Eva, what do you n to do?¡±

    Eva smiled and said, ¡°Tomorrow¡­¡±

    After hearing Eva¡¯s n, Cynthia couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    ¡°You¡¯re so ruthless.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve had any fun since graduating from university. If someonees

    knocking, why not y along?¡±

    Eva shrugged.

    ¡°Okay, have fun then. If it works out, I¡¯ll be sure to thank you properly,¡± Cynthia said.

    ¡°Just wait for good news tomorrow.¡±

    After hanging up the phone, Cynthia looked up at the building through the car window.

    The amusement in her eyes slowly faded and was reced by ruthless determination.

    After finishing their food, everyone fell into silence and started working again. Instantly, the only sounds

    in the office were the sound of them typing on their keyboards..

    Aurelia sat quietly beside Leslie to wait for him to get off work.

    This was her first time watching him work. His long fingers danced on the keyboard, filling the screen

    with symbols she didn¡¯t understand. Whenever he paused to think, he lookedposed and focused.

    It was no wonder that they said a man was most attractive when he was focused.

    At the moment, everything he did looked dazzling.

    At some point, she fell asleep.

    The sound of someone typing was hypnotizing, especially when a group of people was typing

    simultaneously.

    313

    Her head was about to hit the desk when a hand caught her and ced her head on the desk gently.

    She didn¡¯t feel any difort. On the contrary, she felt wonderful and nuzzled against the hand before

    continuing to sleep.

    It wasn¡¯t until the sound of typing stopped around her that she jolted awake. After two dazed moments,

    she realized she was sleeping on Leslie¡¯s hand, and he was typing with a single hand.

    She immediately straightened her back, and Leslie frowned. His hand felt numb, and he could barely

    move it.

    What horrified her most was that she saw something shiny on his hand.

    She touched the corners of her lips, and they were wet.

    She had been drooling.

    Just as Leslie was about to move his hand, Aurelia grabbed it and locked fingers with him.

    Leslie was taken aback.

    ¡°Ahem!

    ¡°Ahem!

    ¡°Ahem!¡±

 Chapter 322

    Just then, everyone started clearing their throats while staring at their joined hands.

    She flushed but couldn¡¯t bring herself to release Leslie¡¯s hand when she thought of her

    drool on it.

    Daniel smiled.

    ¡°Who would have thought that Leslie could type so quickly with just one hand? How impressive.¡±

    Everyoneughed.

    Leslie raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°That¡¯s just because none of you have had the chance to practice.¡±

    Daniel and the others immediately stoppedughing. They then shut off theirputers

    and left.

    Aurelia felt embarrassed but couldn¡¯t think of anything other than wiping her drool off Leslie¡¯s hand.

    With his hand being numb, she chuckled and took the opportunity to grab a piece of

    tissue paper.

    ¡°It¡¯s hot, and your palm is sweaty. I will wipe and massage it for you so it won¡¯t feel as numb.¡±

    Deep down, she praised herself for her quick thinking.

    She quickly wiped his palm and breathed a sigh of relief once the drool was cleaned up.

    Just then, Leslie teased, ¡°Wipe your mouth, too.¡±

    Aurelia fell into silence, feeling stricken.

    He chuckled and got up.

    ¡°Come on,

    let¡¯s go home.¡±

    She nodded.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    She gathered her things and was about to leave when she noticed Leslle looking for something.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know where I ced my phone.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just call

    you,

    ¡°she said and made a call to his phone.

    A ringtone sounded, and it turned out that Leslie¡¯s phone was hidden underneath a pile of documents.

    She pulled out the phone and said, ¡°It¡¯s here.¡±

    Suddenly, she froze when she saw his screen.

    She wondered if she was reading it correctly.

    He had actually saved her number as ¡°Aurelia¡°. She couldn¡¯t possibly mistake her own

    name.

    She contemted if she was different from Cynthia if he had saved her number and not Cynthia¡¯s.

    ¡°Aurelia, what are you thinking? It¡¯s just a contact profile,¡± she inwardly chided herself.

    Still, she couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    Just then, Leslie grabbed the phone.

    ¡°Why are you smiling?¡±

    She immediately stopped smiling.

    ¡°Nothing.¡±

    He nced at the contact name on her phone.

    ¡°Husband? You haven¡¯t changed it back?¡±

    Aurelia immediately covered her phone.

    She had forgotten to change it.

    ¡°I¡¯ll change itter. No, I¡¯ll do it now.¡±

    She immediately opened her contact list.

    Chunter 227

    He narrowed his eyes and thought, ¡°Is she really going to change it? Whatever. Why am I bothered by

    it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he said.

    ¡°Why?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Others will need to know who to call the next time you faint,¡± he said.

    ¡°That¡¯s true. You should make a note, too, or no one would know how to reach your wife if you pass

    out.¡±

    Aurelia instantly realized she had said the wrong thing, as others could always contact Linda.

    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the elevator arrived yet? Hurry up!¡± she thought. ¡°What should I change your contact to

    then?¡± Leslie asked.

    Aurelia felt annoyed at herself. It wasn¡¯t like she could ask Leslie to change her contact name to

    ¡°Wifey¡°.

    As she faced his stare, the elevator door opened.

    Feeling like she had been saved, she hurried inside and said, ¡°Just change it to whatever you want.¡±

    He stepped inside and said, ¡°Sure.¡±

    As the elevator descended, the two remained silent, and she noticed him tapping on his phone.

    Confused, she wondered if it took that long to change a contact profile.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    What exactly was he doing?

    Curiously, she approached him. As her gaze fell onto the screen, it went ck, and she only managed

    to catch sight of a symbol.

    Leslie¡¯s voice rose.

    ¡°Do you want to see it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Aurelia nodded without much thought and froze when she snapped out of it. She immediately shook

    her head.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to see it.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± he said and stepped out of the elevator.

    She pouted behind him and thought, ¡°Whatever.¡±

    After taking a few steps forward, Leslie stopped and turned to look at her.

    ¡°I hope it will never be needed.¡±

    Aurelia fell silent, unable to understand the type of information one would wish would never be

    necessary.

    She didn¡¯t inquire further, and Leslie headed straight to the parking lot.

 Chapter 323

    Aurelia felt annoyed at herself. It wasn¡¯t like she could ask Leslie to change her contact name to

    ¡°Wifey¡°.

    As she faced his stare, the elevator door opened.

    Feeling like she had been saved, she hurried inside and said, ¡°Just change it to whatever you want.¡±

    He stepped inside and said, ¡°Sure.¡±

    As the elevator descended, the two remained silent, and she noticed him tapping on his phone.

    Confused, she wondered if it took that long to change a contact profile.

    What exactly was he doing?

    Curiously, she approached him. As her gaze fell onto the screen, it went ck, and she only managed

    to catch sight of a symbol.

    Leslie¡¯s voice rose.

    ¡°Do you want to see it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Aurelia nodded without much thought and froze when she snapped out of it. She immediately shook

    her head.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to see it.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± he said and stepped out of the elevator.

    She pouted behind him and thought, ¡°Whatever.¡±

    After taking a few steps forward, Leslie stopped and turned to look at her.

    ¡°I hope it will never be needed.¡±

    Aurelia fell silent, unable to understand the type of information one would wish would never be

    necessary.

    She didn¡¯t inquire further, and Leslie headed straight to the parking lot.

    Back home, Leslie advised her to get some sleep while he went to the kitchen to wash the lunchboxes.

    Leslie was indeed impable, both as a husband and a room

    Aurelia returned to her room andy down.

    But even with her eyes closed, Leslie¡¯s words kept echoing in her mind.

    ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t sleep.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    She sighed and reached for her phone to pass the time and hopefully induce sleep.

    Just as she opened the video app, there was footage of an ident on an overpass.

    In the video, a woman crawled out of an overturned car, trembling as she clutched her phone.

    Bystanders rushed to her aid, dialing emergency services while urging her to remain

    conscious.

    The woman weakly waved the phone, the screen disying ¡°Emergency Contact¡°.

    Ultimately, the ambnce arrived, and bystanders said they had reached the woman¡¯s husband using

    the emergency contact on her phone.

    The oue was positive, and Aurelia breathed a sigh of relief as she scrolled to other

    videos.

    Suddenly, something urred to her. She rewound the video and paused it on the screen of the

    woman¡¯s phone.

    phone in

    There was a red asterisk symbol. She had seen this symbol before on Leslie¡¯s phone in

    the elevator.

    She pondered if it meant Leslie had added her as an emergency contact.

    It was no wonder Leslie had said he hoped it would never be needed.

    She sat up abruptly in bed and searched for how to add an emergency contact on her phone. Following

    the steps, she realized it required several taps, just like Leslie did.

    It was +

    She had be Leslie¡¯s emergency contact.

    Suddenly, she felt a bit more burdened with responsibility.

    At that moment, she heard the sound of the balcony door opening from outside her room.

    door.

    Aurelia hesitated. She wondered why he was still awake despite it being sote,

    After a moment¡¯s contemtion, she got out of bed and walked out of the room.

    In the living room, she saw Leslie leaning against the balcony railing. The evening breeze tousled his

    shirt and his hair.

    He remained motionless with his head slightly bowed like he was gazing downstairs or looking at the

    flickering cigarette in his hand.

    There was always a mysterious energy about him, which was both intriguing and irresistible.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t want to disturb Leslie¡¯s thoughts. However, as she turned to leave, she bumped into the

    couch, making enough noise to startle him.

    He turned to look at her, and through the ss door, she couldn¡¯t discern what was on his mind.

 Chapter 324

    Aurelia walked outside and met Leslie¡¯s gaze, her mind wandering off again to the emergency contact

    he set up.

    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you slept?¡± she asked.

    Leslie noticed her nose wrinkling at the smell of cigarettes and put the cigarette out.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep. What about you?¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ No reason. I just saw a piece of news that made me quite emotional.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask him about the emergency contact, fearing that she may be

    overthinking.

    ¡°What news?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s about the ident on the bridge. It¡¯s nothing big.¡±

    Not wanting to let it slip, Aurelia changed the subject.

    ¡°Are you worried about work?¡±

    ¡°I suppose so.¡±

    Leslie didn¡¯t tell the truth.

    Daniel had just called him to say that the big shot in the Synder family wanted to meet

    him. It had been over a decade since theyst met, and Leslie felt nervous.

    Aurelia met the dark look in his eyes, realizing that he seemed frustrated.

    She didn¡¯t know much about his work and couldn¡¯t be of much help.

    After a few thoughtful moments, her eyes lit up, and she said, ¡°Just wait. I have something great.¡±

    Leslie watched her in confusion, wondering why she always seemed so energetic.

    Sometimeter, she walked over with a tray. Apart from two sses, there were two odd- looking

    ornaments as well.

    She pointed at the ornaments.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, pick one.¡±

    ¡°What for?¡± he asked.

    ¡°To eat,¡± Aurelia said solemnly.

    He fell silent and wondered if she had lost her mind to the point of eating ornaments.

    ¡°You pick. It¡¯s a surprise,¡± she said.

    Leslie examined the ornaments before him. There was a bear and a rabbit.

    Not given much of an option, he randomly chose the bear.

    Aurelia picked up the bear and said mysteriously, ¡°Watch closely. I¡¯ll perform a magic trick for you.¡±

    There was a tinkling sound, and a bear¨Cshaped ice cube dropped into the cup, instantly coating the

    cup with ayer of mist.

    ¡°Ta¨Cda! Not bad for a five dor magic trick, right?¡±

    Aurelia chuckled.

    The wind tousled her long hair and revealed her delicate features as she smiled.

    Leslie was momentarily stunned, then realized he was rude for staring and shifted his gaze to the cup.

    It turned out the ornaments were actually ice cube molds.

    Aurelia ced the rabbit¨Cshaped ice cube into her own cup and poured some c into it.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    She said softly, ¡°I hid the c. I was afraid you wouldn¡¯t like having snacks at home.¡±

    Leslie nced at the c.

    ¡°There¡¯s just one bottle of c?¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s hand paused, and she chuckled.

    ¡°You noticed that too? Wait a moment.

    A minuteter, Aurelia retrieved the snacks she had bought from the cupboard, all of which only

    children would eat. There were even chips.

    ¡°Cheers.¡±

    Aurelia clinked her ss with Leslie¡¯s, then sipped the ice¨Ccold c, feeling refreshed and rxed.

    After setting down her ss, she noticed Leslie hadn¡¯t moved and was looking at her with surprise.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you like it?¡±

    Aurelia looked at Leslie cautiously.

    ¡°No,¡± Leslie replied.

    He raised his ss and took a sip of the c.

    He didn¡¯t know if it was because of Aurelia or the refreshing sip of c, but the suffocating feeling in his

    chest seemed to somewhat dissipate.

    Aurelia began rmending small snacks to him.

    The gentle night breeze felt encouraging, and she grew braver.

    She picked out a box of sour treats from among them and offered a piece to Leslie¡¯s lips.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, try it. It¡¯s delicious.¡±

 Chapter 325

    Chapter 325

    Chapter 324 Aurelia walked outside and met Leslie¡¯s gaze, her mind wandering off again to the emergency contact he set up.

    ¡°Why haven''t you slept?¡± she asked. Leslie noticed her nose wrinkling at the smell of cigarettes and put the cigarette out. ¡°I

    couldn¡¯t sleep. What about you?¡± ¡°Um... No reason. | just saw a piece of news that made me quite emotional.¡± She couldn¡¯t bring

    herself to ask him about the emergency contact, fearing that she may be overthinking. ¡°What news?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the ident on

    the bridge. It¡¯s nothing big.¡± Not wanting to let it slip, Aurelia changed the subject. ¡°Are you worried about work?¡± ¡°I suppose so.¡±

    Leslie didn¡¯t tell the truth. Daniel had just called him to say that the big shot in the Synder family wanted to meet him. It had been

    over a decade since theyst met, and Leslie felt nervous. Aurelia met the dark look in his eyes, realizing that he seemed

    frustrated. She didn¡¯t know much about his work and couldn''t be of much help. After a few thoughtful moments, her eyes lit up,

    and she said, ¡°Just wait. | have something great.¡± Leslie watched her in confusion, wondering why she always seemed so

    energetic. Sometimeter, she walked over with a tray. Apart from two sses, there were two odd- looking ornaments as well.

    She pointed at the ornaments. ¡°Mr. Synder, pick one.¡± ¡°What for?¡± he asked. ¡°To eat,¡± Aurelia said solemnly. He fell silent and

    wondered if she had lost her mind to the point of eating ornaments. ¡°You pick. It¡¯s a surprise,¡± she said. Leslie examined the

    ornaments before him. There was a bear and a rabbit. Not given much of an option, he randomly chose the bear. Aurelia picked

    up the bear and said mysteriously, ¡°Watch closely. I''ll perform a magic trick for you.¡± There was a tinkling sound, and a bear¡ª

    shaped ice cube dropped into the cup, instantly coating the cup with ayer of mist. ¡°Ta¡ªda! Not bad for a five dor magic trick,

    right?¡± Aurelia chuckled. The wind tousled her long hair and revealed her delicate features as she smiled. Leslie was

    momentarily stunned, then realized he was rude for staring and shifted his gaze to the cup. It turned out the ornaments were

    actually ice cube molds. Aurelia ced the rabbit-shaped ice cube into her own cup and poured some c into it. She said

    softly, ¡°I hid the c. | was afraid you wouldn''t like having snacks at home.¡± Leslie nced at the c. ¡°There¡¯s just one bottle of

    c?¡± Aurelia¡¯s hand paused, and she chuckled. ¡°You noticed that too? Wait a moment. A minuteter, Aurelia retrieved the

    snacks she had bought from the cupboard, all of which only children would eat. There were even chips. ¡°Cheers.¡± Aurelia clinked

    her ss with Leslie¡¯s, then sipped the ice-cold c, feeling refreshed and rxed. After setting down her ss, she noticed

    Leslie hadn¡¯t moved and was looking at her with surprise. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Aurelia looked at Leslie cautiously.

    ¡°No,¡± Leslie replied. He raised his ss and took a sip of the c. He didn¡¯t know if it was because of Aurelia or the refreshing

    sip of c, but the suffocating feeling in his chest seemed to somewhat dissipate. Aurelia began rmending small snacks to

    him. The gentle night breeze felt encouraging, and she grew braver. She picked out a box of sour treats from among them and

    offered a piece to Leslie¡¯s lips. ¡°Mr. Synder, try it. It''s delicious.¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

 Chapter 326

    ¡°Alright,¡± Aurelia sald to Leslie.

    She thought that he would put it on a ne. After all, they were simply in a marriage of

    convenience, and he didn¡¯t need to wear a ring.

    A momentter, she froze.

    Leslie ced the ring on his ring finger without hesitation, fitting perfectly.

    She used to think her father had beautiful hands. She couldn¡¯t help stealing nces at Leslie¡¯s hands

    after meeting him..

    She finally understood the reason for her behavior.

    Leslie was taken aback as well. He was merely trying it on for size but didn¡¯t expect it to fit so perfectly.

    ¡°I guess your dad is quite satisfied with me.¡±

    ¡°As what? His son¨Cinw?¡± she said and felt like pping herself in the face.

    Aurelia could practically feel Leslie¡¯s smile and knew that she had amused him.

    She had lost count of how often she lost control of her mouth.

    Aurelia stood up and yawned.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I have work tomorrow, so I¡¯ll head to bed now. You should tidy up.¡±

    With that, she ran back to her room.

    Leslie stayed on the balcony to finish his c.

    In the meantime, he also saw the news about the car ident and the mention of the emergency

    contact.

    Chuckling, he realized Aurelia found out that he¡¯d made her an emergency contact.

    Staring at the golden ring on his finger, he felt no difort and even felt that he would

    win tomorrow.

    He wondered about the type of woman Aurelia was.

    The next day, Aurelia woke upte.

    She was going to tell Leslie that she wouldn¡¯t be cooking. To her surprise, he had already prepared

    breakfast.

    She figured he must have bought it beforehand.

    Smiling, Aurelia grabbed the breakfast and hurried along, but her eyelids started

    twitching again.

    Thest time her eyelids twitched, she ran into Eva. Today, she and Kimberly were going to meet Eva

    again.

    She hoped that nothing would go wrong this time.

    With that thought, Aurelia rubbed her eyes and quickly finished her breakfast before heading to the

    office.

    She nned to review some documents with Kimberly before going to meet Eva. However, a colleague

    informed her that Kimberly had already left.

    ¡°I came early today because I¡¯m on duty. Kimberly came into the office early, took something, and left.

    She said she was going to the shooting location for IN Magazine. Didn¡¯t you know?¡±

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡±

    Aurelia sighed.

    ¡°You better hurry. Kimberly is probably there to steal the limelight. She talks big but doesn¡¯t have much

    talent. You¡¯ll get in trouble if she says the wrong thing.¡±

    Now that Kimberly¡¯s status wasn¡¯t what it used to be, everyone was no longer holding back their

    resentment toward her.

    Aurelia thought her colleague was right, so she quickly took a taxi to the magazine¡¯s shooting location.

    Meanwhile, on the hotel rooftop, Eva was drinking coffee with sunsses on as she listened to her

    assistant talk about the day¡¯s shooting affairs.

    She nodded along with her eyes closed but suddenly frowned at the sound of high heels cking.

    During the shoot, no one was allowed to wear high heels apart from herself and the models to avoid

    affecting her mood.

    Since the models hadn¡¯t arrived yet, it must be one of those staff members who didn¡¯t know the rules.

    Eva opened her eyes to see a woman smiling and extending her hand.

    ¡°Hello, Ms. Hanks. I¡¯m Kimberly from Young Advertising.¡±

 Chapter 327

    Eva was about to reprimand the intruder but didn¡¯t expect this person to introduce herself voluntarily.

    It was Kimberly.

    The name sounded familiar to her.

    When she had looked into Aurelia¡¯s background, Kimberly¡¯s name came up the most.

    She was Aurelia¡¯s professional rival.

    Kimberly indeed had skills, especially when it came to men. She was simply irresistible.

    Upon seeing her today, Eva decided that her reputation was well¨Cfounded. She was indeed bold and

    seductive.

    Most men were visual creatures, and Kimberly was the ultimate eye candy.

    Coupled with her skill in unting her advantages, most men couldn¡¯t resist her charm.

    However, Eva wasn¡¯t a man, and she had no interest in Kimberly¡¯s looks.

    What interested her was why Kimberly wanted to see her before Aurelia did.

    Eva waved her hand at her assistant and then removed her sunsses.

    ¡°Why

    hy are you alone? Didn¡¯t yourpany say there would be another person?¡±

    ¡°I was afraid you would be angry if you saw Aurelia again, so I came to see you in advance.

    Kimberly sat down and called the waiter to order an iced Americano.

    It didn¡¯t seem like she was here to discuss work. It appeared as though she showed up to

    negotiate.

    Eva raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to beat around the bush with me. Just say what you want. I don¡¯t have

    time to dance around with you.¡±

    She deliberately showed her impatience, and Kimberly instantly spilled everything.

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, you genuinely hate Aurelia, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Chanter 327

    ¡°Not at all.¡±

    Eva smiled.

    Kimberly pursed her lips, unable to contain her frustration.

    ¡°Even if it¡¯s not you, it¡¯s someone behind you, right? I¡¯m not here to cause trouble. I just want to make a

    deal with you.¡±

    Eva chuckled inwardly. As she had anticipated, a woman who relied on men for too long would not

    stand a chance against another woman.

    Still, Kimberly also disliked Aurelia.

    Having an extra helping hand wouldn¡¯t hurt, especially since Kimberly knew someone was behind Eva.

    When she was a model, Cynthia introduced many big shots from the financial industry to pave the way

    for herself. Naturally, Eva wouldn¡¯t betray Cynthia.

    She scanned Kimberly and decided to encourage her.

    ¡°Ms. Watson, you¡¯re quite impressive for knowing that. Not bad. Indeed, I¡¯m creating trouble for Aurelia

    because of the people behind me. So, what kind of deal do you want to discuss?¡±

    Kimberly immediately straightened her back, feeling like she had the upper hand.

    She was oblivious to the fact that women like her weren¡¯t even qualified to show up in

    Eva¡¯s circle.

    Eva was simply indulging her as she found the situation amusing.

    Since someone had presented themselves for her maniption, it seemed strange not to

    make use of it.

    Kimberly smiled.

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, I¡¯m getting married soon. My only wish is to cklist Aurelia from the entire industry.¡±

    As she spoke, she twirled the ring on her finger.

    Eva nced at it with amusement. Jewelry with such quality would only win the hearts of mediocre

    women like Kimberly.

    Not bothering to expose Kimberly, Eva said, ¡°We share the same thought¨Cthat¡¯s perfect. So long as you

    can help me, the partnership with mypany will be your wedding gift. What do you think?¡±

    Kimberly¡¯s eyes lit up, and she nodded.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°It¡¯s settled then. Since you asked both me and Aurelia here, you must already have a n, right?¡±

    ¡°Well, she¡¯s not here yet,¡± Eva said and ced a big briefcase on the table.

    She entered the passcode and opened it.

    The splendid sight inside instantly captured Kimberly.

    All women loved jewelry, especially ones that were custom¨Cmade by premium brands.

    Staring at the gems on it, Kimberly was initially shocked, then proceeded to cover her ring awkwardly.

    Eva closed the briefcase.

    ¡°We borrowed this piece from the Waldorf family. We need it for the shoot today. Do you know how

    much this costs?¡±

    ¡°How much?¡± Kimberly asked.

    Eva gestured a seven with her hand.

    ¡°Seven hundred thousand?¡± Kimberly asked in shock.

    ¡°Seven million. The sapphire in the middle was taken from an actual scepter. How much do you think

    it¡¯s worth?¡±

    Eva raised an eyebrow.

 Chapter 328

    Kimberly gasped. Even though she had seen a lot of money, it was her uncle who was rich. She simply

    benefitted from that.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    Even people as rich as Jackson would never spend millions of dors.

    Kimberly straightened her back as she didn¡¯t want to be looked down on. ¡°Ms. Hanks, why are you

    showing me this?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m reminding you to stay out of the way. If this is broken or lost, it¡¯s going to be a big deal,¡± said Eva.

    Kimberly immediately understood what she meant. ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Ms.

    Hanks.

    ¡°You are quite smart, Ms. Watson.¡± Eva put on her sunsses again to hide the contempt in her eyes.

    It was a good thing that she didn¡¯t have to get her hands dirty. With Kimberly¡¯s help, the matter would

    be settled.

    Aurelia arrived at the hotel and saw the manager of the hotel standing outside, waiting

    for someone.

    Two cars approached and stopped outside the entrance. The manager went up to open the door with a

    grin. ¡°Mr. Synder, Mr. Synder, wee,¡± he greeted.

    Aurelia froze in shock when she saw Leon.

    Leon was dressed in a dark blue suit. With a gentle smile on his face, he looked every bit the elegant

    young master from a prominent family.

    However, Aurelia had felt the piercing gaze from Leon before. She knew he was far moreplicated

    than he appeared to be.

    With that in mind, Aurelia¡¯s gaze shifted past Leon to the middle¨Caged man in front of

    him.

    He was the CEO of the Synder family, Jared Synder. He had a dignified presence, with sharp eyes and

    a shrewd demeanor.

    Even with Leon standing beside him, Jared seemed to overshadow him.

    For some reason, Aurelia felt a strange familiarity when she looked at Jared. On top of that, Leon and

    Jared did not look like father and son at all. Leon also didn¡¯t seem to

    inherit Leslie¡¯s charisma.

    Amid her thoughts, Aurelia felt a gaze on her. She followed the feeling and realized that Leon had

    spotted her. She ducked behind a nearby potted nt.

    Meanwhile, Jared noticed Leon¡¯s distraction and cleared his throat. ¡°What are you looking at?¡±

    Leon shook his head. ¡°Nothing.¡±

    ¡°Focus on the meeting today and don¡¯t embarrass our family again,¡± Jared said sternly.

    ¡°Okay, Dad,¡± Leon said respectfully and kept his head down. Jared strode into the hotel after saying

    that

    Leon nced in Aurelia¡¯s direction, only to find that she had quietly slipped away.

    Aurelia had ignored him again.

    Leon thought Aurelia was quite an interesting woman. Once they were done dealing with One

    Technology, he would spend some time getting to know her better.

    Meanwhile, Aurelia had already sneaked into the elevator, but she couldn¡¯t figure out why the twitching

    of her eyelid grew more intense. It seems she had to do a set of eye exercises to calm them down.

    Aurelia soon reached the top floor, but before she could even steady herself, Kimberly pulled her aside.

    ¡°Aurelia, what took you so long? Are you trying to make us wait for you?¡± Kimberly questioned.

    ¡°We agreed to meet here at nine, and it¡¯s only five minutes to nine now. I¡¯m notte,¡±

    Aurelia retorted.

    ¡°Forget it. Ms. Hanks said she wouldn¡¯t talk to us unless you apologize to her,¡± Kimberly said as she

    pointed to where Eva stood.

 Chapter 329

    When Aurelia looked at Eva, she noticed Eva raising her eyebrows. It seemed to indicate that Eva

    wasn¡¯t taking Aurelia seriously.

    Immediately, Eva turned her focus back to the screen and continued discussing the models¡®

    performances with the people around her.

    It was clear that Eva was waiting for Aurelia to approach her as apromise.

    Kimberly nudged Aurelia. ¡°Aurelia, we¡¯re representing thepany now. You can¡¯t ruin our cooperation

    just because you offended Ms. Hanks. Do you know how many celebrities from Seacester are

    attending the charity g? If we seize this opportunity, promotions and raises are within reach,¡± she

    advised.

    Aurelia felt helpless after hearing what Kimberly said. She didn¡¯t even know how she ended up

    angering Eva. However, she had no choice but to swallow her pride at this point.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Aurelia approached Eva and said politely, ¡°Ms. Hanks, may I¡­¡±

    Eva exploded in anger and red at her. ¡°Are you blind? Can¡¯t you see we¡¯re shooting here? Do you

    know that the cost of shooting is calcted by the second? A single blink from that model costs as

    much as your monthly sry. Can you afford to interrupt us?¡± she snapped.

    As Eva berated Aurelia, people around them chuckled and cast mocking nces at her. Aurelia pursed

    her lips as she knew that Eva was deliberately humiliating her in public.

    Although she didn¡¯t understand why Eva held such animosity towards her, she could still see the

    excitement in Eva¡¯s eyes as she humiliated her.

    But there was nothing she could do about it. She couldn¡¯tpete against someone with such power

    and influence in the industry.

    To avoid further trouble, Aurelia took a step back and apologized, ¡°Sorry.¡±

    Eva felt a surge of satisfaction when she saw Aurelia retreat. It reminded her of the time when she

    handled the ssmates who didn¡¯t like her back at school. It made her feel like she was reliving her

    youth.

    The next moment, Eva deliberately pushed Aurelia out from under the awning. ¡°Don¡¯t block the light!

    Stand outside and wait!¡± she barked.

    It was the peak of summer now and the temperature of the morning sun was already

    scorching.

    Aurelia was drenched in sweat within a minute after being pushed into the sunlight. She wiped her

    sweat and turned to head towards the shade.

    Suddenly, Eva called out from behind her, ¡°Hey, you! Whatever your name is, help us hold up the

    reflector.¡±

    Aurelia paused. Did Eva just call out to her with ¡°whatever your name is¡°?

    Although Aurelia knew Eva was calling for her, she didn¡¯t bother to react. She refused to acknowledge

    being addressed so disrespectfully.

    Eva didn¡¯t expect Aurelia to y dumb. Her previous satisfaction instantly turned into frustration.

    ¡°Aurelia! Didn¡¯t you hear me calling out to you? Is this how Young Advertising serves its customers?

    With disrespect?¡± she shouted.

    ¡°Is that right? Were you calling out to me? What do you need?¡± Aurelia asked mockingly and continued

    to y dumb.

    Eva was furious, but she couldn¡¯t say much. After all, she didn¡¯t name anyone and only meant to

    humiliate Aurelia.

    Instantly, everyone around them fell silent, leaving only the sound of cameras clicking. They all turned

    to Aurelia in disbelief, not expecting someone to be bold enough to ignore Eva.

    Everyone knew that Eva was ruthless and vengeful. With a powerful background, no one dared to

    anger her..

    Sensing everyone¡¯s gaze on her, Eva felt humiliated and pointed at the reflector proudly ¡°Aurelia, we

    are short¨Cstaffed today. Lift that reflector for us. The sooner we finish the shooting, the sooner I can

    start discussing the coboration with you, right? Or do you not want this coboration at all?¡±

    Since Eva had failed at humiliating Aurelia, she resorted to threatening her instead.

 Chapter 330

    Aurelia hesitated as she was unable toe up with a better solution.

    Now that Eva had spread rumors about herck of professionalism, it affected her and

    thepany.

    Despite having sessful coborations with otherpanies like One Technology, some people still

    used Aurelia of being too smug. There was no way she could continue working in this industry if this

    went on.

    Aurelia had no other choice and reluctantly nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±

    Eva instructed someone to hand Aurelia the oversized reflector. Then, she nced at the

    photographer.

    The photographer was Eva¡¯s friend, so he immediately understood what she meant. During the shoot,

    he kept grumbling, ¡°Raise the reflector higher! Even higher! Do you not have any strength at all?¡±

    Aurelia gritted her teeth and held the reflector higher.

    When the photographer finally mentioned a break to touch up makeup, Aurelia quickly lowered the

    reflector. Her arms had already be numb. She rubbed her arms and wiped the sweat dripping

    from her face.

    Just as she thought it was over, Eva nced at theputer screen. Eva started barking,¡± What are

    we shooting? The lighting is terrible. If we publish these photos line, our magazine will shut down

    tomorrow.

    ¡°Retake! Aurelia! Can¡¯t you cooperate? I want to finish this shoot quickly and discuss cooperation ns

    with you. How can I trust your abilities if this is how you behave?¡±

    Eva didn¡¯t stop criticizing Aurelia once throughout the shoot..

    Aurelia endured it once more and said, ¡°I understand.¡±

    Eva suddenly approached Aurelia with a smile and whispered, ¡°I like how you look right now. People

    like you should learn to be more submissive. Just because you have some skills, that doesn¡¯t mean

    you can snatch everything away.¡±

    Aurelia was puzzled by Eva¡¯s words. What exactly did she snatch?

    Before she could figure it out, the photographer started reshooting. This time, they

    Chaose: 3:59. |¡ª

    finally got the shots..

    Eva nced at Aurelia and smirked. ¡°Aurelia, go get the briefcase from my assistant and give it to the

    makeup artist.

    Aurelia looked at the assistant beside the couch and assumed that the briefcase contained something

    valuable. She wasn¡¯t part of IN Magazine, so it didn¡¯t seem appropriate for her to handle it.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Besides, why would Eva ask her to fetch something valuable for the magazine if sne disliked her so

    much?

    Aurelia tried to be cautious, but Eva was growing impatient.

    ¡°Aurelia, hurry up. Are we all supposed to wait for you? Do you know that every second you waste

    costs us money? Why would yourpany hire someone as dumb as you?¡± Eva demanded.

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, I think that¡± Aurelia was about to turn her down when Kimberly snatched the reflector in

    her hand.

    ¡°Aurelia, what are you doing? Go ahead. Ms. Hanks is probably asking you to help to test your ability.

    You have to perform well. If not, how would IN Magazine view ourpany? ¡°Kimberly spoke

    righteously.

    Instantly, everyone turned to look at Aurelia as though she would be rude if she refused

    to help.

    Unfortunately, this concerned the coboration between two firms, and Aurelia didn¡¯t have much of a

    choice.

    Aurelia relented and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go grab it.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead. The shoot will be over soon. We can finalize the proposal then and go back.¡± Kimberly

    waved Aurelia off and turned to exchange nces with Eva..

    Eva chuckled as she thought of how Aurelia would soon be suffering from her schemes.

 Chapter 331

    Aurelia was pressured to grab the briefcase on the couch. However, as soon as she picked the

    briefcase up, a bad feeling overwhelmed her,

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Although she didn¡¯t know what was in the briefcase, she still held it gingerly. Unfortunately, her caution

    could prevent idents, but not against schemes.

    In the next moment, the electric wire by Aurelia¡¯s feet moved and tripped her. As much as she tried to

    protect the briefcase in her hand, it still slipped out and mmed hard onto the ground.

    The contents on the inside were tossed out and revealed an expensive looking ne. The ne

    snapped in half as soon as it hit the ground.

    While Aurelia steadied herself, everyone around her screamed.

    ¡°Ah!¡± someone shouted.

    The photographer wailed, ¡°It¡¯s over!¡±

    ¡°We borrowed that piece of jewelry that¡¯s worth 50 million. We could sell everything we owned and it

    still wouldn¡¯t amount to that much!¡± another staff cried out.

    As Aurelia listened to the staff, she stared at the ne and paled. That ne was worth 50

    million? That amount of money was unimaginable to Aurelia.

    Eva darted over to grab the ne and held each half in her hand. She turned around and red at

    Aurelia.

    ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done! Are you trying to get us into trouble?¡± Eva snapped.

    ¡°No¡­ I¡± Aurelia stammered, only to be interrupted.

    ¡°No? This ne was borrowed from an anonymous collector on behalf of the magazine for the

    shoot. You¡¯ve just broken it. How are you nning topensate for this?¡± Eva demanded.

    Aurelia looked at the ne, feeling a bit lost. Her mind went nk and she couldn¡¯t recall how it all

    happened. She had been careful as she was afraid of being used of being careless. How could

    there have been a wire by her feet?

    Aurelia felt the need to exin. Sheposed herself and said, ¡°Ms. Hanks, there was a wire on the

    ground just now that caused me to trip.¡±

    30

    Eva scoffed and retorted, ¡°A wire? Where is the wire? Exin yourself.¡± She indicated to the spot

    Aurelia had just passed.

    Aurelia nced over and was stunned. It felt like she had just woken up from a dream. There was

    nothing on the ground and there was no wire in sight.

    Where had the wire gone? She had clearly seen a ck wire on the ground just moments.

    ago.

    Eva frowned. ¡°Aurelia, even if you wanted to shift the me, can¡¯t youe up with at better excuse?

    Are you trying to use the wires we used of tripping you? Our shoot wires are all specially marked

    and aren¡¯t randomly ced. You must be mistaken.¡±

    Upon hearing the mention of wires, the others hurried to distance themselves. They were afraid of

    being used of breaking the 50 million dor ne.

    ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t make baseless usations. We always organize the wires before the shoot,¡± one

    staff insisted.

    Another person nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Ms. Hanks hates seeing a mess on set, so we¡¯re not allowed to

    ce things randomly. How could there be a wire lying around to trip you?

    ¦§

    Everyone chimed in, all eager to pin all the me on Aurelia.

    Aurelia stood still. She realized she was surrounded by Eva¡¯s supporters as IN Magazine

    had booked the entire venue.

 Chapter 332

    Aurelia¡¯s only hope was that Kimberly would say something out of respect for Young Advertising. She

    turned to look at Kimberly.

    Kimberly¡¯s expression was solemn as she said, ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯ve gone too far this time. Even if you want

    to retaliate against Ms. Hank for bossing you around, you shouldn¡¯t mess with other people¡¯s things! I

    can¡¯t help you this time.¡±

    Aurelia wasn¡¯t surprised at all by Kimberly¡¯s words. Kimberly had always been critical of her and would

    never lend her a hand. Aurelia tensed up and was unable to respond to her words.

    Eva pressed on aggressively, ¡°Aurelia, there are witnesses and evidence. How do you n to justify

    yourself? Or do you want to discuss how you¡¯re going topensate for 50 million?¡±

    Aurelia bit her lip nervously as Eva continued berating her.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you afford it? It¡¯s your fault for being careless. I really don¡¯t understand why Young Advertising

    would employ someone like you. It¡¯s just their luck. If you don¡¯t pay

    I¡¯ll call the police right now,¡± Eva threatened.

    up,

    Kimberly hurried forward to me Aurelia, saying, ¡°Ms. Hanks, this is entirely Aurelia¡¯s doing. It doesn¡¯t

    represent thepany. Ourpany has always approached yourpany with a friendly and

    serious attitude toward cooperation. We would never resort to retaliatory behavior.¡±

    ¡°Kimberly, do you take me for a fool? Given the circumstances, how can I believe this

    isn¡¯t something yourpany instructed Aurelia to do? I can¡¯t possibly work with you. people,¡± Eva

    sneered.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    Kimberly immediately took out her phone. ¡°Ourpany has always been fair and impartial. I¡¯ll call Mr.

    Zeller right away to dismiss Aurelia. It won¡¯t affect the cooperation between ourpanies,¡± she said

    quickly.

    Eva¡¯s silence indicated her approval of Kimberly¡¯s proposal.

    It was at this moment that Aurelia snapped out of her daze and stepped forward to stop Kimberly.

    ¡°Wait a minute, the matter hasn¡¯t been investigated thoroughly yet. Why should I be med for

    damaging the ne?¡± Aurelia demanded.

    Evaughed. ¡°Listen to what she¡¯s saying. We all saw it. Is she still asking this kind of question?¡±

    Aure took a deep breath and said calmly, ¡°Ms. Hanks, I did see a wire here. If you think I¡¯m making

    excuses, then the scene should be thoroughly examined before any usation is made toward me.

    you

    ¡°Also, you were the one who insisted that I fetch the briefcase. This indicates that knew in advance

    there were valuable items in it. However, you didn¡¯t inform me about it. And why would the briefcase

    open so easily? Isn¡¯t that strange?¡±

    The briefcase had abination lock, and there were soft pads inside to secure the ne. Even if

    the ne fell from a certain height, the briefcase shouldn¡¯t have opened so easily.

    Yet, all it took was for Aurelia to stumble and the briefcase flew open, causing the ne to fall out.

    The situation was too coincidental.

    ¡°What are you implying, Aurelia? Do I have to tell everyone we were carrying a 50 million dor

    ne? Are you suggesting that we are trying to frame you?¡± Eva retorted.

    .???

    ¡°Since you asked me to get it, don¡¯t I have the right to know what¡¯s inside?¡± Aurelia shot

    back.

    Eva sneered, ¡°Why you¡­ Is that the tone you¡¯re going to use when facing a client? You¡¯ll either be fired

    or taken to the police station today.¡®

    ¡°Either way, you¡¯llpensate for the 50 million, with or without your cooperation. I have plenty of

    witnesses,¡± Eva said indifferently with a smile, confident that Aurelia was powerless.

    Aurelia nced around as everyone stared at her, each condemning her with their eyes.

    It was almost as though they were saying, ¡°Why would you provoke Ms. Hanks? You got

    us into this mess.

    ¡°It¡¯s so annoying. Someone just came along and ruined our work,¡± a staffined.

    Someone else shook their head in disappointment. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s just my luck. We are all getting

    scolded when we get back.¡±

    Though they didn¡¯t say it out loud, the messages in their eyes seemed to pierce through Aurelia all the

    same.

    She clenched her fists to maintain herposure.

    ¡°You have three minutes to think, or I¡¯m calling the police. The destruction of others¡® property worth 50

    million would be quite a big crime,¡± Eva urged as she curled her lips. with a sharp glint in her eyes.

    This action indicated to Aurelia that there was more to the story. However, no one dared to oppose

    Eva. The wire that tripped her was also somehow gone. What else could she do?

 Chapter 333

    While Aurelia was getting framed by Eva, another serious meeting was taking ce in a private room

    located on the top floor.

    The top floor was a private and grand space, so it was separated into two areas. One was made into a

    romantic restaurant while the other was further divided into business

    meeting lounges.

    Anyone who came here to discuss business would stare down at all the people below, which only made

    them feel superior.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    At that moment, Jared and Leslie were sitting on opposite ends of a long meeting table. The

    atmosphere in the room was suffocating as Jared observed Leslie quietly.

    Leslie had exceptionally beautiful features and looked familiar somehow. He was calm and

    expressionless, which meant he was clearly not someone who could be messed with.

    Even a man like Jared, someone who had been in the business world for years, couldn¡¯t see through

    Leslie¡¯s thoughts.

    After a long silence, Leon asked with displeasure, ¡°Where¡¯s your boss? Why did he just send an

    employee over?¡±

    Daniel approached and exined, ¡°Mr. Synder, our boss is currently overseas. He authorized the

    developer, Mr. Leslie, to oversee the coboration.¡±

    Jared was taken aback and his gaze fell on Leslie once again. He was surprised that someone so

    young developed so many products.

    Leon frowned. ¡°Mr. Xenos, is this how One Technology does things? This is Scacester, not some other

    country. Don¡¯t you know the rules around here?¡±

    Leon was reminding Leslie¡¯s group that this was the Synder family¡¯s territory and they shouldn¡¯t try any

    tricks.

    Jared didn¡¯t interrupt Leon but instead watched Leslie with interest.

    One Technology was the firstpany that dared to set up a branch in Seacester without any regard

    for the Synder family. On top of that, they even got ahead of Synder Corporation tounch new

    products and refused to hand the new technology over.

    Over the past decade, the Synder family¡¯s techpanies had almost dominated the city by absorbing

    and monopolizing the research and development of young people.

    If it weren¡¯t for the sudden rise in the price of MI. chips, their new productunch wouldn¡¯t have taken

    so long.

    It was precisely during this period that One Technology emerged from the pack.

    Initially, Jared didn¡¯t even take thesepanies established by the younger generation. seriously. After

    all, he could always exert pressure on them and find a reason to acquire the technology along with the

    company.

    However, One Technology continued to drag the negotiation along for over two months. It was almost

    like they knew that Synder Corporation would not seed in obtaining the

    ML chips.

    Jared considered this meeting his way of offering grace to the founder of One Technology. That way,

    both parties could reach a consensus.

    Jared thought that One Technology¡¯s new product this time had great prospects and had a deep

    understanding of the young people¡¯s market.

    He had high hopes for thispany, but that only meant he would offer a good price when acquiring

    One Technology.

    The conference table fell into silence again because of Leon¡¯s words.

    Daniel solemnly said, ¡°Gentlemen, rules are rules, but people can be flexible. Since it¡¯s a cooperation

    between both sides, both parties are required to show how eager they are to reach an agreement.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Do you want us to beg you?¡± Leon retorted.

    Daniel lowered his gaze to meet Leslie¡¯s.

    Leslie twirled the ring on his finger until Leon started to lose his patience.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it so? Our chips can save you 20% in costs. If that¡¯s not what you want, there¡¯s no need to

    continue discussing. The door is right there,¡± Leslie said.

    Leon clenched his fists and was about to get up when Jared stopped him.

    ¡°Young man, you shouldn¡¯t be too arrogant. It¡¯s easy to offend people if you behave this way,¡± Jared

    said sternly.

    Leslie coldly looked up with indifference at Jared, his fingers inteced under his chin.

    Perhaps Aurelia¡¯s father was indeed watching over him.

    Initially, Leslie expected to be filled with hatred when he finally met Jared again. Unexpectedly, seeing

    this man again after more than a decade wasn¡¯t a big deal after all.

    Leslie didn¡¯t feel a thing even when Jared failed to recognize him.

    When Leslie begged for this man to care for him and his mother, Jared ordered someone to kill them

    both.

    That way, he could take over the profits brought by his mother, get rid of legitimate heirs, and make

    way for his mistress and illegitimate child.

    It was trulyughable to watch Jared try and act dignified. Leon¡¯s humble and pretentious demeanor

    was even more ridiculous.

    Leslie twirled the ring on his finger and looked at Jared. ¡°Offend whom, exactly? You? It doesn¡¯t matter.

    After all, it¡¯s not me whose stock price has been continuously declining. Isn¡¯t that right, Mr. Synder?¡±

    At those words, even Jared couldn¡¯t sit still any longer.

    Leon stood up and looked at Jared. ¡°Dad, let¡¯s go. There¡¯s nothing to talk about with such a small

    company. Let¡¯s see who would dare to cooperate with them without our support,¡± he sneered.

    ¡°It is said that the Synder family promised to release a new product next month. I wonder if it will be

    another false announcement?¡± Leslie remarked indifferently.

    After Leslie said that, Leon red at him darkly.

 Chapter 334

    Jared cast a sharp nce at Leon. The more frustrated Leon seemed, the more fearless Leslie

    appeared.

    Leon was allowing the other party to see through their desperation. Jared shot Leon a sideways

    nce, signaling him to sit down.

    Leon reluctantly took his seat, grinding his teeth.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the point and talk about this coboration. I¡¯m willing to offer seven million to buy out

    the chip technology in your hands. You should know that no one in the whole of Seacester can offer a

    higher price than me,¡± Jared said.

    Seven million? Others had invested more in One Technology than that in the early stages. The Synder

    Corporation simply wanted to buy out the technology and meticulously calcted costs, all without any

    regard for the time and effort invested.

    Jared was indeed skilled in business negotiations.

    With the current capabilities of Synder Corporation, the seven million he spent on the technology would

    turn into 70 million or even 700 million. They would earn an

    astronomical profit.

    This was exactly how they used to pressure young people into selling their technology at the lowest

    price possible.

    Research and development were arduous tasks that required money, time, and energy. Falling behind

    even a little could lead to the brink of copse.

    The Synder Corporation had no shortage of time and money. It¡¯s why they exerted their power over

    those who tried to start from scratch, manipting them in their moments.

    of crisis.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    However, Leslie wasn¡¯tcking in those resources. His goal in founding One Technology upon returning

    to the country was to bring down Synder Corporation.

    He ced his hand on the table and tapped his fingers lightly. Despite his calm demeanor, his tone

    made both Leon and Jared feel uneasy.

    Leon chuckled lightly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid a smallpany like yours doesn¡¯t even have that much registered

    capital, do you? You¡¯re just feeling smug about developing a recement for ML chips.

    ¡°Even if yourpany has connections overseas, foreigners can¡¯t meddle in our affairs. here. I advise

    you to take the money and transfer the ownership of the technology. Otherwise, it might just rot away in

    your hands.¡±

    Leon¡¯s words were a tant threat.

    Jared¡¯s expression softened as he began to y the good cop. ¡°Leon, don¡¯t speak so harshly.

    Seacester still wees fresh blood. I do hope this young man in front of us can grow further in the

    future.

    ¡°If we had someone like him working for us, I¡¯d treasure him. Still, if he doesn¡¯t understand the

    situation, he¡¯s destined to be eliminated.¡±

    Leslie understood immediately what Jared was implying. This was the first time he had seen a person

    try to poach someone at the negotiation table.

    Not only were they trying to poach staff, but they were also threatening Leslie. They were threatening

    to cklist him from the industry if he refused to join Synder Corporation.

    Even Daniel came close to snapping at their ridiculous attitude.

    If Synder Corporation was this audacious in front of them, one could only imagine how much harsher

    and dangerous their words would be in front of other newerpanies.

    At this moment, Leslie calmly opened the document. With a flick of his fingers, he slid it in front of Jared

    and Leon. ¡°The contract is here. If it works for you, sign it. If not, you¡¯re

    wee to leave.¡®

    Leon nced at the contract and widened his eyes. ¡°70 million? Do you really think your shabby firm is

    worth that much?¡±

    Jared tensed and the look in his eyes sharpened. ¡°Mr. Leslie, one shouldn¡¯t be so greedy.¡±

    Leslie leaned back on the chair, his presence formidable. ¡°70 million.¡±

    ¡°14 million! That¡¯s my finalpromise and I want ownership of the technology,¡± Jared demanded.

    ¡°70 million and it¡¯s just going to be a sales contract,¡± Leslie counterproposed.

    Jared narrowed his eyes and began panting heavily. ¡°14 million!¡±

    ¡°70 million,¡± Leslie said.

    Jared was instantly rendered speechless by Leslie¡¯s stubbornness.

    Leslie ignored his rage and pointed at the door. ¡°Goodbye. All the best to the Synder Corporation.¡±

    If Synder Corporation failed tounch new products again the next month, their stock would only drop

    further.

    Jared stared at Leslie. His imposing presence caused Jared to hesitate.

    As soon as Jared hesitated, he knew he had lost.

    He took out a pen from his pocket, but Leon stopped him. ¡°Dad, no way. This is too humiliating.¡±

    ¡°Do you have a better way? I told you to reach out to ML and you didn¡¯t even manage to meet with their

    founder. If we wait any longer, we will all be doomed,¡± Jared snapped.

    ¡°But¡­¡± Leon stammered.

    ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®but¡®¡­ Besides, we will get this money back soon,¡± Jared whispered, his glinting eyes

    reflecting the schemes he was nning.

    Leon realized that One Technology was doomed.

    After signing the contract, Leslie didn¡¯t get up and simply said, ¡°Have a good day, Mr. Synder.¡±

    Together with Leon, Jared left without looking back.

    Leslie lowered his gaze to the golden ring on his finger and thought of Aurelia. Her father¡¯s blessing

    was indeed quite effective.

    As he curled his lips, he heard a familiar voice from the neighboring room shout, ¡°Wait!¡±

    Leslie wondered if Aurelia was nearby.

 Chapter 335

    Leslie heard the sound and walked to the windows, where he saw a figure on the adjacent terrace. It

    was indeed Aurelia. She stood alone and faced everyone else, like prey

    surrounded by hunters.

    Leslie hesitated, then turned and headed outside.

    Daniel quickly followed, but just as they were about to step onto the terrace, Leslie held

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    him back.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, aren¡¯t we going in? Mrs. Synder seems to be in trouble,¡± Daniel said nervously.

    ¡°She may seem soft, but she¡¯s not one topromise easily. We don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. What

    good would rushing in do?¡± Leslie replied.

    Leslie understood Aurelia¡¯s character well. She disliked causing trouble for others. Unless it was

    absolutely necessary, Aurelia would feel burdened if she got help.

    This might have stemmed from her upbringing. Being an only child, her parents loved her but didn¡¯t

    spoil her. They had always taught her how to face problems on her own.

    On top of that, she was smart. She could usually figure things out with just a little guidance.

    Daniel nodded and stood outside next to Leslie to listen to the conversation inside.

    Before long, they understood the situation. A ne worth millions had been identally broken.

    Daniel was worried. ¡°Mr. Synder, considering Mrs. Synder¡¯s current situation, she might struggle to

    compensate a ne worth millions.¡±

    Leslie pondered for a few seconds, then whispered, ¡°Find out the origin of the ne and keep a

    copy of all the surveince footage here. Also, get a list of everyone present. A ne kept in a

    secured briefcase shouldn¡¯t break so easily. There¡¯s definitely something wrong.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Daniel replied before he turned to leave.

    Meanwhile, some time had passed on the terrace. Although Aurelia¡¯s expression remained determined,

    her hands paled from being clenched so tightly.

    Suddenly, Eva¡¯s triumphant expression changed as she stared at something behind Aurelia.

    Before Aurelia could react, warm and reassuring hands wrapped around her clenched fist, causing her

    to rx involuntarily.

    She paused and looked up at the person beside her.

    ¡°Mr. Synder? What are you doing here?¡± Aurelia asked softly.

    ¡°Business,¡± Leslie replied casually.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did I disturb you? I can handle this myself,¡± Aurelia said.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s done. We¡¯ve signed the contract,¡± Leslie assured her.

    ¡°Really? Well, congrattions then,¡± she said before withdrawing her hand hesitantly.

    Someone like Leslie was destined for sess. To Aurelia, the thought of the 50 million dor ne

    made her scalp tingle. Even if the responsibility was shared, thepensation would be substantial.

    She felt like she was holding Leslie back.

    Leslie looked at his now empty hand with confusion. He was about to speak when Eva lost patience.

    Eva stared at Leslie, clearly enticed by his looks. ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°Leslie Synder. Aurelia¡¯s husband,¡± he said.

    ¡°You are Leslie? The two of you are married?¡± Eva was shocked.

    Wasn¡¯t Leslie the man Cynthia had been pining for? Was he married?

    Leslie sensed something amiss. ¡°Do you know me?¡± he questioned.

    Eva regained herposure and steeled her resolve.

    At this point, there was no going back.

    It was even better for Leslie to find out what a mess his wife made. A mere programmer couldn¡¯t

    possibly pay 50 million inpensation.

    Couples were only meant to be loyal when nothing went wrong. Perhaps she could resolve a big issue

    for Cynthia.

    ¡®As you see, your wife broke a piece of jewelry that we borrowed. It costs 50 million. Which one of you

    is going to pay for it? If you refuse, I will call the police,¡± she

    threatened and raised her phone to dial the police¡¯s number.

    She sighed at Leslie. ¡°Mr. Synder, I feel sorry for you. You have a promising future, yet you¡¯ll have to

    bear such a big debt because of this woman. What will you do from now on?

    She refused to believe that Leslie would protect Aurelia despite her effort in sowing

    discord between them.

    However, Aurelia didn¡¯t give Leslie a chance to speak and stood before him to race Eva.

 Chapter 336

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, this has nothing to do with Mr. Synder. Call the police if you want to and settle it however

    you want,¡± Aurelia dered.

    Evaughed. ¡°Do you really think I won¡¯t dare call the police? Very well. Let¡¯s see if you can keep being

    so stubbornter.¡±

    Eva enjoyed watching people cave. To her, no one was untamable. She wanted to destroy Aurelia¡¯s

    pride and teach her a lesson.

    Eva immediately called the police and emphasized the value of the ne, hinting that Aurelia broke

    the ne on purpose to seek revenge.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    She thought that Aurelia would be down on her knees after hearing what she said. But when she

    turned around, she saw Leslie tilting Aurelia¡¯s head toward him.

    Hepletely ignored Eva and stared intently at Aurelia. ¡°Why did you stand in front of me?¡±

    ¡°What? Is this the time you want to discuss this?¡± Aurelia was taken aback by his question.

    Leslie was so close to her that she could feel his breath caressing her nose¡¯s tip.

    This was definitely not the asion to feel shy, but her heart raced when she saw his face. Was Leslie

    aware of what he was doing? Everyone was watching them now.

    Eva was furious that she was being ignored and yelled, ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    Leslie shot her an impatient look as though Eva had interrupted his n.

    Aurelia quickly grabbed Leslie¡¯s arm and whispered, ¡°Mr. Synder, this isn¡¯t your concern. Don¡¯t get

    involved. I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡±

    As she spoke, a group of police officers entered.

    ¡°Who called the police?¡± one of them asked.

    ¡°I did.¡± Eva raised her hand and pointed at Aurelia. ¡°She¡¯s the one who damaged our jewelry. She

    refuses to admit it, so please take her away.¡±

    The officer turned to Aurelia and asked sternly, ¡°Is what she¡¯s saying true?¡±

    Aurelia took a deep breath and said, ¡°I¡¯m willing to cooperate with the investigation.¡±

    Since Aurelia didn¡¯t resist, the officer didn¡¯t apprehend her and nodded in approval. ¡± Pleasee with

    us for questioning, then.¡±

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±

    She made to leave, but Leslie held her back. He looked at her and assured, ¡°It¡¯s going to be alright.¡±

    Aurelia felt the warmth in her palm and was momentarily speechless, so she simply mumbled in

    acknowledgment.

    Meanwhile, Eva, Kimberly, and their group were also taken in for questioning at the police station.

    Inside the police station, everyone present was on Eva¡¯s side, so their testimonies were mostly

    consistent. They all med Aurelia for breaking the jewelry out of resentment towards Eva.

    Aurelia was the only one who insisted that she tripped over a wire at the scene.

    The officer mmed down the witness statements and looked at Aurelia intently as if he was trying to

    break through her mental defenses.

    ¡°Aurelia, although the jewelry is valuable, honesty is what truly matters here. Lying before thew will

    only make things worse for you. Remember, honesty is the best response. If you lie, your punishment

    will be more severe,¡± the officer warned solemnly.

    ¡°I¡¯m not lying. I¡¯m very sure that I tripped over a wire, and the briefcase was clearly open before this,¡±

    Aurelia said.

    Since she refused to cave, the officer pursed his lips slightly and said, ¡°In that case, you better be

    prepared. If we find out that you¡¯re lying after our investigation, the consequences will be severe.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility for my choice,¡± Aurelia said confidently.

    With that, Aurelia signed her name on the statement.

    ¡°Your husband has bailed you out. Don¡¯t leave Seacester in the next few days. If the magazine will hold

    you ountable, you¡¯ll be a person of bad faith,¡± the officer

    reminded her.

    Aurelia nodded and left the interrogation room. As she exited, she saw Leslie waiting for

    her in the lobby.

    Meanwhile, Eva and her group stood on the other side.

    Eva smiled, lit a cigarette, and blew smoke towards Aurelia. ¡°Have you figured out how you¡¯re going to

    compensate? If you beg me for mercy, I might be able to give you a few

    more days to figure it out.¡±

 Chapter 337

    ¡°1¡® wait for the result of the investigation,¡± Aurelia said coldly.

    Know your ce,¡± Eva said angrily.

    She stubbed her cigarette and walked over to Leslie, before speaking at a volume that Aurelia could

    hear. ¡°Sir, 50 million is enough to destroy you. You better consider this carefully. You wouldn¡¯t want to

    get dragged into this just because you married a disaster of a woman. If you are willing, I can¡­¡±

    Eva¡¯s gaze lingered on him. It was no wonder Cynthia loved this man so much. She would feel the

    same as well. Leslie¡¯s looks, body and presence were simply irresistible.

    However, she was soon humiliated by Leslie.

    Leslie frowned in disgust and walked right past her.

    Eva widened her eyes in disbelief.

    ¡°Just wait. Let¡¯s see how lovey¨Cdovey you can be afterward.¡± She red at Aurelia viciously, before

    leaving with the others.

    Ignore her,¡± Leslie said.

    Aurelia pursed her lips. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Just as they were about to leave, Kimberly blocked their way.

    Pleased with herself, she said, ¡°Aurelia, I¡¯m sorry, but I told the office about what

    happened. The boss and Mr. Zeller want you to return to the office after you settle your personal

    issues.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°The truth.¡± Kimberly smiled.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need you to say anything. I will exin myself to the office on my own,¡± Aurelia

    said.

    ¡°Aurelia, don¡¯t y dumb. Do you really think anyone is interested in your exnation? They are trying

    to cut their losses. You better consider how you are going to pay that 50 million,¡± Kimberly said

    mockingly.

    Kimberly jabbed Aurelia¡¯s shoulder with her finger, feeling smug that she finally vented

    her frustration.

    As she walked away, she stopped in front of Leslie and raised an eyebrow. ¡°You really

    have no taste if this is the woman you choose. It¡¯s a pity that you won¡¯t even have time to regret it.¡±

    ¡°Regret what? Regret not choosing you? Sorry, I don¡¯t want to catch anything,¡± Leslie retorted coldly.

    ¡°You!¡± Kimberly¡¯s cheeks flushed red in anger. ¡°I¡¯ll wait to see how your rtionship ends up!¡± she

    shouted before leaving.

    Leslie turned to Aurelia. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head back.¡±

    Aurelia nodded silently and followed him.

    Neither of them said a word on their way back, and the atmosphere inside the car felt particrly

    heavy,

    Although Leslie didn¡¯t me her, Aurelia still felt like her heart was in turmoil.

    Eva had clearlye after her. What if she ended up dragging Leslie down with her?

    Leslie had a bright future ahead. If she caused trouble for him, it would be like biting the

    hand that fed her.

    Aurelia¡¯s heart sank. Even though the sun was shining brightly outside the car window, she felt a chill

    throughout her body.

    She shrunk into herself but then realized the air conditioning in the car had been turned off by Leslie.

    She nced at Leslie, who was driving. Sweat started to form on his forehead, but he didn¡¯t make a

    singleint.

    Leslie was truly a good person. It was her who had caused trouble for him.

    Upon arriving home, Aurelia went straight to her room. After a while, she dragged her suitcase and

    approached Leslie.

    She handed him something. ¡°Mr. Synder, I¡¯m sorry. This is the divorce agreement. I¡¯ve already signed

    it. When do you think we should go and get it done?¡±

    Leslie took the divorce agreement, his facial expression grim as he looked at the signature on it.

    He clenched his fists and asked sharply, ¡°You¡¯ve even prepared this?¡±

    ¡°I printed it when we printed the cohabitation agreement. I figured we would need it sooner orter,¡±

    Aurelia exined.

    ¡°You really are something. Should Ipliment you for being so considerate ?¡± Leslie asked

    sarcastically.

 Chapter 338

    Leslie, who had always stayed aloof, became extremely angry when he saw the signature

    on it.

    Aurelia was confused as she saw the darkening look on his face. Why was Leslie being so sarcastic?

    ¡°You don¡¯t need topliment me. It¡¯s what it is.¡± She lowered her gaze at the divorce agreement

    helplessly, feeling worse about it than about owing a debt worth 50 million.

    ¡°Aurelia Simmons!¡± he shouted.

    Feeling like her eardrums were busted, she twitched in fear. ¡°I can hear you.¡±

    ¡°Exin yourself,¡± he said darkly.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°Mr. Synder¡­ I can¡¯t drag you down with me.¡± She stared at him and exined, ¡°A divorce is the best

    solution. You are the brightest star in the IT industry right now with a promising future. I, on the other

    hand, angered Eva. She will never let me go and I¡¯m going to end up dragging you down with me.¡±

    ¡°So you are suggesting divorce for my sake?¡± Leslie retorted.

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Something felt off with how he phrased it, but Leslie¡¯s expression eased up and he cleared his throat.

    ¡°Do you really think I can¡¯t handle Eva Hanks?¡± he asked.

    Aurelia frowned. ¡°She¡¯s different. She works for the media and has a powerful

    background. How will you deal with her? It¡¯s 50 million, not 500 dors. Even your boss won¡¯t help.¡±

    ¡°What do you n to do, then?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get a divorce first. I will take on everything myself and fight her to the nail for this.

    I have nothing much to lose, anyway¡­¡± Aurelia dered meekly, bing increasingly unsure of

    herself as she spoke.

    How could she possibly match Eva? She was just gritting her teeth and holding her

    ground. However, she would never admit to a crime she didn¡¯tmit.

    Aurelia sighed and lowered her head, suddenly feeling dizzy.

    A handnded on her head.

    217

    ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯re really stupid. You haven¡¯t learned anything,¡± Leslie said in a low voice. ¡°I¡¯m being

    serious with you. Why are you insulting me?¡± Aurelia muttered.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I teach you not to handle everything on your own?¡± he asked.

    Aurelia mumbled, ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°No ¡®buts,¡® and definitely no divorce,¡± Leslie said firmly.

    With that, Leslie tore up the divorce agreement right in front of Aurelia.

    Aurelia was stunned. She looked incredulously at the pieces on the table and then back at Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, I thought you hated me. Why won¡¯t you agree to a divorce?¡± she asked.

    Leslie hesitated to answer. ¡°I¡­¡±

    Why wouldn¡¯t he agree to a divorce? Leslie couldn¡¯te up with an immediate answer.

    He casually came up with a reason and said, ¡°My mom wouldn¡¯t be happy about it.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Aurelia nodded and felt that she shouldn¡¯t have asked such a question at this moment. What was

    she hoping to hear?

    Seeing her shoulders slump, Leslie approached her slowly and lowered his gaze. are you

    disappointed?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Why

    Aurelia felt her heart race and tried to move away in a panic. However, she identally kicked a

    suitcase and she grabbed onto Leslie¡¯s arm to steady herself.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± she stuttered, but her hand involuntarily clenched around Leslie¡¯s arm.

    Leslie nced at her hand on his arm but didn¡¯t brush it away. ¡°How heartless,¡± he said.

    His breath brushed against Aurelia¡¯s nose, and her ears turned red.

    Leslie straightened Aurelia up, pulled out a chair, and sat down slowly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about

    Eva,¡± he assured.

    Aurelia sat down and said solemnly, ¡°Mr. Synder, I didn¡¯t break the ne

    intentionally. I¡¯m sure I tripped on a wire, but that wire disappeared afterward. I think finding that wire is

    key.¡±

 Chapter 339

    Aurelia wasn¡¯t sure if Leslie would believe her exnation.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    Leslie looked at her and asked, ¡°What wire?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the same as the one at the shoot. It should have been brought to the scene by Eva and her team,¡±

    Aure exined.

    ¡°Eva and her team all im that the wires at the scene were secured with tape and no extra wires were

    lying around,¡± Leslle said in a deep voice.

    Aurelia immediately became more anxious as that was the main issue. The wire disappeared, and no

    one could prove its existence for her. Everything was at a standstill.

    She held her head in her hands, feeling agitated.

    At that moment, both Aurelia¡¯s and Leslie¡¯s phones vibrated. They exchanged nces. and picked up

    their phones to check.

    What caught their eyes was Eva¡¯s Facebook post, which had be a hot topic.

    It read, ¡°Everyone, beware of some immoral schemes happening. A certain someone deliberately

    smashed a ne worth millions just because her proposal was rejected. She refused to admit what

    she did and continues to act arrogantly.¡±

    The post included two photos of the scene where the jewelry was broken.

    However, the focus wasn¡¯t on the jewelry.

    It was Aurelia in the photos.

    It was unclear what angle and photo editing software Eva used, but she managed to make Aurelia look

    like a rude and unreasonable woman.

    Eva was a well¨Cknown figure in the industry. Once the photos were posted, the celebrities and big

    shots she had worked with came forward to repost and support her.

    In an instant, Aurelia¡¯s supposed arrogant and overbearing behavior spread throughout the entire

    inte, and it even became a trending meme.

    At the same time, Aurelia¡¯s work ount, which had just over 300 followers, was exposed.

    Insults flooded in, and she couldn¡¯t even finish reading a private message before being

    overwhelmed by more iing messages.

    23

    ¡°This woman is so despicable! Don¡¯t you know this issue of the magazine features my idol¡¯s interview?

    You dyed it!¡± amenter said angrily.

    ¡°Some women just think they are princesses. Do they really think the whole world should cater to

    them?¡± an inte troll said.

    Someone else said, ¡°I know her. Aurelia, the nner from Young Advertising. She has a really messy

    private life.¡±

    ¡°So she¡¯s backed by men. It¡¯s no wonder she¡¯s so arrogant,¡± anothermented.

    Others agreed, ¡°With so many men backing her, she sure has a lot of resources.¡±

    A stranger offered, ¡°Want a high¨Cdefinition video of Aurelia? Let me show you a moving image first.¡±

    ¡°Oh my! It really is her!¡± the others eximed.

    Aurelia looked pale as she watched the moving image. Her hands trembled when she saw her face.

    She couldn¡¯t tell if it was fear or the vibration of her phone.

    She finally understood how scary the inte could be. It was no wonder that ruining a woman could

    easily be aplished by involving her in scandals.

    It didn¡¯t matter what actually happened once scandals started spreading. How it started and what

    happened didn¡¯t matter. All that mattered was whether the videos and pictures were clear enough.

    Within a matter of hours, photos and videos on the inte flooded Aurelia¡¯s phone.

    Just then, Leslie grabbed her phone and shut it off.

    With trembling lips, she said, ¡°Mr. Synder, that wasn¡¯t me! It really wasn¡¯t me! I don¡¯t know where these

    photos and videose from.¡±

    The look in his eyes darkened. ¡°I know,¡± he reassured her.

    Though Leslie believed in her, she felt dazed, as though there were eyes around her watching.

    Leslie observed the pale look on her face and clenched his fists. He stood up and said, ¡±

    Wait here.¡±

    With that, he entered the kitchen and closed the door.

    Charter 338

    He dialed Daniel¡¯s phone and whispered, ¡°Well?¡±

    ¡°I have everything here. What¡¯s on the inte is indeed rted to Eva Hanks. All the scandals were

    spread by her, but the photos weren¡¯t released by Eva. I think someone else is trying to hurt Mrs.

    Synder,¡± Daniel said nervously.

    ¡°Keep looking. Don¡¯t spare a single one of them,¡± Leslie sneered.

 Chapter 340

    After hanging up, Leslie took something out of the fridge and stepped out of the kitchen. Aure sat

    before the desk, unmoving like she was deep in thought.

    Assuming that she was terrified, he immediately handed the item to her. ¡°Drink it.¡±

    Aurelia started the lee c before her in shock, especially when she saw the rabbit- shaped ice floating

    on it. She paused for a moment and said, ¡°The ice¡­¡±

    ¡°I froze another onest night,¡± Leslie exined.

    Feeling touched, she downed the c and burped. Then, she chuckled.

    Leslie shot her an odd look.

    ¡°Did you think those people would scare me witless?¡± Aurelia asked.

    He hesitated and nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    She tapped on her chest. ¡°I was taken aback just now, but I won¡¯t back down. I¡¯m not the one who¡¯s in

    the wrong here, so I shouldn¡¯t be the one everyone condemns.¡±

    Leslie was shocked by her deration and looked at her in silence.

    She raised her phone with resignation. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Synder, but you will have toe with me to the

    police station again.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Defamation is a crime. I need to protect my reputation and rights,¡± she said seriously.

    Leslie paused. A momentter, he snapped out of his daze. He stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Leslie trusted Aurelia without hesitation and was willing to apany her. Aurelia felt slightly relieved

    from the fear that overwhelmed her earlier.

    They returned to the police station, where they submitted all the evidence fromst night¡¯s testimony to

    the police.

    The officer on duty was a woman. After examining the evidence Aurelia provided, her face wrinkled

    slightly. ¡°You¡¯re very brave,¡± she said.

    ¡°It¡¯s what I should do,¡± Aurelia said.

    Chopin, 340

    The female officer furrowed her brows and asked, ¡°Your name is Aurelia?¡±

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°You were involved in the case where the jewelry was damaged, right?¡± the officer rified.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Aurelia felt a little embarrassed by that question.

    272

    The female officer nced at her and then at the file. After a moment of thought, she said, ¡°We¡¯ve

    already investigated the jewelry case. You should try to remember if there¡¯s anything else you might

    have overlooked. That way, we can clear your name.¡±

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    The female officer was clearly trying to give her a hint.

    The sudden moment of rxation and the officer¡¯s goodwill triggered Aurelia¡¯s memory.

    Aurelia recalled something, but she didn¡¯t know how to articte it at that moment.

    Leslie, however, immediately read her expression and asked, ¡°What have you remembered?¡±

    Aurelia concentrated and tried to articte her thoughts. ¡°The positioning, it¡¯s wrong.¡±

    Leslie guided her to a nearby rest area and asked someone for a piece of paper. ¡°Take your time.

    There¡¯s no rush.¡±

    Aurelia held the pen, feeling the reassurance of someone by her side. She quickly sketched the scene

    on the paper. Such drawings were easy for her as a nner. She relied on her memory and marked

    down the positions of each person.

    ¡°I walked from the couch resting area to the shooting area, where I tripped and fell here. If someone

    wanted to remove the wire immediately, only one person could have done it, ¡°she exined.

    With that, Aurelia raised her sketch and pointed to a name written on it.

 Chapter 341

    It was Kimberly. The only people who could have taken the wire behind Aurelia without her noticing

    were Kimberly and Eva¡¯s assistant, Flora. However, Kimberly was closest to Aurelia and the wire.

    At the time, Kimberly had a backpack and a reflector in her hand as a cover, making it easy to take the

    wire from the ground.

    Aurelia stared at the sketch, lost in thought.

    Leslie immediately spotted the issue and pointed to Eva¡¯s assistant, Flora. ¡°If it was Kimberly who took

    the wire, the person behind you would¡¯ve definitely seen what happened. The assistant sitting on the

    couch would have seen everything,¡± he borated.

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°So Flora lied. She said she didn¡¯t see anything.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just a simple lie. You¡¯ve been yed by them,¡± he said.

    Aurelia paused for a moment and pointed to the sketch.

    ¡°You mean Kimberly and Eva conspired together? It¡¯s no wonder Kimberly rushed to see Eva before

    me early in the morning. It¡¯s hard enough for her to arrive on time before this,

    ¡°she remarked.

    Leslie nodded in agreement.

    ¡°But the police searched our belongings during the interrogation. Kimberly was wearing a tight skirt.

    This section of wire could only fit in her bag, but she had nothing in it,¡±

    Aurelia said.

    If they had found the wire, she wouldn¡¯t have been condemned on the inte, let alone subjected to

    false rumors.

    Leslie thought about it and suggested, ¡°She could have disposed of it. The main focus was on Eva¡¯s

    group, not her. So, she just needed to find an opportunity to get rid of the

    evidence.¡±

    Aurelia hummed. ¡°Even so, there are too many ces she could have disposed of it.¡±

    The entire hotel had 39 floors. Kimberly could have thrown it away on any floor without

    anyone noticing.

    ¡°There are cameras in the elevator. We just need to see which floor she stepped on,¡±

    Leslie said.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± With that, Aurelia put away the sketch..

    As she stood up, her phone rang. She was stunned for a few seconds after looking at the

    caller ID.

    It was from her boss.

    She had been with thepany for over four years and rarely received calls from the

    boss.

    ¡°Sir,¡± she greeted politely.

    ¡°Aurelia, I hope you won¡¯t me thepany. We had no choice, given therge amount involved and

    the significant impact your personal life has had on thepany. We¡¯ve decided to terminate your

    employment. Let¡¯s part ways in peace.¡± The boss sighed.

    Aurelia froze after hearing what he said.

    Although the boss sounded regretful, she sensed an underlying tone.

    The boss had already epted everything said online as true, even emphasizing that it was all her

    fault and had nothing to do with thepany.

    The phrase ¡°part ways in peace¡± carried a hint of threat. It seemed to hint that the

    Still, something else was bugging her. These matters could be handled by thepany¡¯s public

    rtions team, so why did the boss call her in person?

    It was as if they were afraid of a confrontation with her.

    What kind of storm could an ordinary employee like her stir up?

    Aurelia understood what her boss meant. Thepany didn¡¯t want her anymore. So long as she left in

    silence, they wouldn¡¯t do anything to her.

    Before she could say anything, the boss hung up in a hurry.

    She held the phone against her ear for a while longer until a sharp sound snapped her out

    of it.

    She clicked on the notification and saw a termination notice from herpany.

    Each word was meticulously written and all responsibilities were conveniently evaded. It was almost

    like the notice was drafted a long time ago, only to be sent to her after the

    call.

    Though the notice imed that she was fired due to personal reasons, theizens

    sniffed drama.

    Instantly, her phone started vibrating.

    She opened all the messages she was receiving, not expecting her phone number to be

    leaked within such a short time.

    Some asked, ¡°How much for a night with you? Don¡¯t be a prude. We know you¡¯ve been

    with many men.

    Others texted, ¡°You wear dresses to reveal your legs so you can seduce your clients, right? Well, it

    worked.¡±

    ¡°You whore¡­¡± wrote a stranger.

    Each message was nastier than thest. Before she could finish reading them, Leslie snatched her

    phone away and shoved it into her purse.

    ¡°There¡¯s no point in reading those,¡± he said.

 Chapter 342

    Aurelia nodded and whispered, ¡°Go home. I want to be alone for a while.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Shebed her hair and stared at his shoes. She dared not meet his eyes, as she was unsure

    of what he was thinking after seeing all the usations against her online.

    Leslie didn¡¯t say anything and turned to leave.

    Aurelia could sense the tension around her and felt chills all over.

    By the time she looked up, Leslie had already driven away.

    She felt somewhat conflicted. She had gotten used to taking care of issues alone. Still, she felt

    disappointed that Leslie left without hesitation.

    She felt like a psychopath for chasing him away and then feeling disappointed about it.

    Taking a deep breath, she went into the train station. To her surprise, someone

    recognized her and started taking photos of her with their phone.

    ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t you that nner from Young Advertising?¡± someone asked.

    A few men suddenly surrounded her.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Aurelia pushed them away.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t even care about breaking a piece of jewelry worth millions here taking the train? Did your

    sugar daddy abandon you?¡± they jeered

    They exchanged smiles and approached Aurelia.

    why are you

    Aurelia looked around helplessly, hoping to find someone to help. However, vasn peak hours and there

    were only a few people at the entire station.

    Others obviously didn¡¯t want to get involved. They just nced up and then buried their heads in their

    phones.

    As the man in front of her reached out to grab her, she tightened her grip on her bag and was ready to

    strike.

    ¡°I¡¯m recording, so strike if you dare. I¡¯d like to see what others have to say about you online,¡± he

    threatened.

    ¡°Do you think holding a phone justifies your actions?¡± Aurelia red at him.

    ¡°In any case, exposing you is justified. What justice can you talk about when you are just a woman who

    has relied on men all your life? Go ahead, hit me. The angrier you get, the more it proves what they¡¯re

    saying online is true. Otherwise, why would you get so worked up?¡± the man taunted.

    They seemed eager to shove their phones into Aurelia¡¯s face.

    Aurelia felt her blood boil as her hands trembled. She felt trapped in an endless cycle of

    trying to prove her innocence. Her anger was seen as guilt in others¡® eyes.

    She stepped back slowly. Just as a man tried to take advantage of her distraction, there was a crisp

    sound of bones cracking.

    ¡°Don¡¯t insult men. A normal man wouldn¡¯t take advantage of someone else¡¯s misfortune. ¡°Leslie¡¯s tone

    was cold as he twisted the man¡¯s arm, before pushing him aside.

    The man grimaced in pain and red at Leslie. ¡°You¡¯re not her boyfriend, are you?¡±

    Leslie couldn¡¯t be bothered with his nonsense and pointed to the overhead cameras. Shall we call the

    police?¡±

    The men were now afraid as they were indeed trying to take advantage of Aurelia earlier.

    ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s go. Just you wait.¡± The injured man red fiercely at Aurelia before leaving with his

    companions.

    Aurelia held her bag, still somewhat shaken up from the ordeal. To prevent Leslie from worrying, she

    forced herself to calm down. ¡°Why are you here?¡± she ask

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    ¡°Where else would I be?¡± Leslie pulled out a tissue to wipe his hands, hi and polite. Still, the sharpness

    in his eyes indicated he was very angry.

    ¡°I thought you had left,¡± she said gingerly.

    Leslie narrowed his eyes and stared at her intently. ¡°Are you done being alone now asked in a low

    voice. It sent shivers down her spine.

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m done.¡±

    Leslie motioned for her to follow him as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Where are we¡­¡± Aurelia raised her gaze and paused after being faced with Leslie¡¯s piercing gaze.

    ¡°he

    The next moment, Leslie dragged her into the train and headed towards the direction of the hotel.

 Chapter 343

    Once they arrived at the hotel, Aurelia snapped out of her daze and grabbed Leslie. ¡°Mr. Synder, how

    did you know I was heading here?¡±

    ¡°Where else would you go?¡± he asked expressionlessly.

    She pouted and mumbled, ¡°And yet, you left anyway.¡±

    ¡°You wanted to be alone, right? I can¡¯t just park my car at the police station forever,¡±

    Leslie teased.

    Realization dawned on Aurelia and she sobered up. Staring at Leslic intently, she asked, So, you went

    to park your car and followed me?¡±

    Leslie didn¡¯t bother to deny her question and replied, ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Aurelia parted her lips to speak, but she felt like her heart was leaping out of her throat. Something was

    weird with Leslie, but she could say the same about herself.

    Just then, the elevator doors opened and they arrived at the restaurant on the top floor.

    Eva and the others were still shooting. Once they spotted Aurelia, Eva immediately mocked, ¡°Are you

    here to apologize?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Leslie pulled Aurelia to a seat nearby and said, ¡°We are here to dine.

    Eva¡¯s expression darkened and she tried to ease her embarrassment. ¡°How stubborn. I guess you

    don¡¯t know fear.¡±

    ¡®Ms. Hanks, you are blocking the lights. We are trying to eat here.

    away coldly and handed the menu to Aurelia.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t know what Leslie was trying to do, but she trusted that he w

    her. Hence, she smiled and thanked him before focusing on the menu.

    LEval

    Others had always fawned over Eva, so she had never encountered anyone as difficult to

    deal with as Aurelia.

    Fuming, Eva let out a cold snort and returned to the couch in the rest area.

    Aurelia wanted to gauge Eva¡¯s reaction but was stopped by Leslie. ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to her. The

    person who loses patience first is the loser.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ I haven¡¯t had any conflict with her at all. I don¡¯t get why she¡¯s doing this to me,¡±

    Aurelia mumbled.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see who actually has a problem with you?¡± Leslie asked.

    Since they had been together for a long time, Aurelia immediately understood what he

    meant.

    In a game of wits, the one who couldn¡¯t sit still often ended up losing the most.

    After some thought, Aurelia waved to the waiter. ¡°I¡¯ll have a steak, please. Thank you.¡±

    Leslie closed the menu and ordered the same thing.

    Soon, their steaks were served.

    Aurelia leisurely ate her steak, evenmenting to Leslie about how expensive things were here.

    She paid no attention to Eva¡¯s murderous nces or the asional insults popping up on her phone.

    As Eva¡¯s expression grew darker, Aurelia decided to press her luck. When Eva nced at her, Aurelia

    deliberately looked at the surveince cameras.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Sure enough, Eva¡¯s expression changed slightly. Although she knew the filming location. was a blind

    spot for surveince, she would be afraid of any oversight.

    Eva quickly stood up and walked toward an empty corner.

    Aurelia was taken aback and whispered, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect there to actually be someone behind her.

    Could it be Kimberly?¡±

    Leslie raised his ss and remarked with a low voice, ¡°If Kimberly were

    why would she approach Eva, to begin with?¡±

    Aurelia thought about it before replying, ¡°True.¡±

    If it wasn¡¯t Kimberly, then who could it be?

    pable,

    After turning the corner, Eva lit a cigarette and dialed Cynthia¡¯s number in frustration. Cynthia, the man

    you like is a bit strange. He¡¯s too calm.¡±

    With a puff of smoke, she squinted and nced in the direction where Aurelia and Leslie were having

    their meal.

    Chacter 343

    ¡°He¡¯s always been that way. You¡¯ve gone too far this time. How could you have them. taken to the

    police station?¡± Cynthia asked.

    Despite what she said, it sounded like she was smiling.

 Chapter 344

    Eva borated, ¡°Aurelia was acting smug. If she had been willing to apologize humbly, I might have let

    her off the hook. Who knew she¡¯d make such a fuss? Don¡¯t worry, the inte is overwhelmingly

    against Aurelia now and she¡¯s been fired.

    ¡°Our magazine is contacting jewelry collectors as well. We¡¯re all in agreement, so Aurelia is definitely

    paying for this.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Well, she certainly wasn¡¯t very careful.¡± Cynthia chuckled.

    Leslie wouldn¡¯t step in to help Aurelia to pay thepensation. He couldn¡¯t risk exposing his identity,

    especially after his less¨Cthan¨Cpleasant negotiation with the Synder family. If the Synder family caught

    wind of anything now, all his previous efforts would be wasted.

    Given Leslie¡¯s character, he would resolve the trouble in the dark. At this moment, Aurelia herself was

    in trouble.

    Cynthia couldn¡¯t help but praise Eva. ¡°Eva, you did really well this time for spreading those scandals

    about Aurelia.¡±

    Eva smugly responded, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who spread the gossip. Those guys started gossiping

    nonsensically about Aurelia just because she looked good. I only helped them trend on social media.

    Since there¡¯s something useful, I might as well use it.¡±

    ¡°Besides, with so many photos, they can¡¯t all be fake, can they? I don¡¯t think Aurelia was

    p ever a good person to begin with,¡± Eva said indifferently and took a of her cigarette

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    There was a pause on Cynthia¡¯s end before she said, ¡°Eva, I think advantage.¡±

    Eva hesitated. ¡°You¡­ are you nning to go all out?¡±

    ¡°Some people won¡¯t be put to rest unless they¡¯re thoroughly dealt with. Ian stay by Leslie¡¯s side,¡±

    Cynthia said coldly.

    ¡°Fine. Actually, I know who spread the scandals,¡± Eva said.

    ¡°Who was it?¡± Cynthia asked.

    his

    NEW

    ¡°Kimberly. Who else could have so many photos of Aurelia? She¡¯s clearly aiming to destroy Aurelia,¡±

    Eva replied.

    ¡°Give her a little push, then. It¡¯s best to make sure Aurelia can¡¯t stay in Sexcester. I don¡¯t want to see

    her anymore,¡± Cynthia said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the owner of the ne and the vast majority ofizens won¡¯t spare her even if I¡¯m

    willing to let it go. I¡¯m confused, though. She¡¯s still having dinner calmly with Leslie as we speak,¡± Eva

    said and nced at Aurelia and Leslie,

    ¡°They¡¯re together?¡± Cynthia gritted her teeth.

    ¡°Yes. Why else would I be so upset?¡± Eva retorted.

    ¡°Wait a minute. It¡¯s not normal for them to show themselves before you right now.

    Leslie isn¡¯t a showy person. I think you¡¯ve been exposed. Be careful, and if necessary¡­¡±

    she trailed off.

    Cynthia was always shrewd and she knew Leslie very well, so she immediately sensed something was

    amiss.

    She quietly told Eva her n.

    Eva smiled. ¡°As expected of you. I would have done the same for Leslie, though. You have great taste.¡±

    ¡°Eva¡­¡± Cynthia said warningly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t take my friend¡¯s crush,¡± Eva assured her.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hang out soon,¡± Cynthia said.

    ¡°Sure,¡± agreed Eva.

    After hanging up, Eva stubbed her cigarette and touched up her lipsti appearance in the mirror and

    texted Kimberly.

    ¡°Nice photos. I like them,¡± Evaplimented.

    ¡°Thank you. More areing,¡± Kimberly replied.

    Eva smirked and returned to the shooting site.

    ck

    Her assistant, Flora, ran over and informed her, ¡°Ms. Hanks, everything is tidied up. We can leave

    now.¡±

    Eva nodded and ordered a bottle of wine, before walking over to Aurelia and Leslie with the wine.

    ¡°Here, my treat. You ought to drink some good wine before yourst moments.

    Aurelia was slightly taken aback, unable toprehend Eva¡¯s arrogance.

    Leslie epted the bottle expressionlessly and said, ¡°We will be sure to enjoy this.¡±

    Eva didn¡¯t get the response she wanted and turned to leave. Halfway through, she turned around. ¡°I¡¯m

    going to start discussingpensation once I get back. I advise that you hire awyer soon or you

    won¡¯t have enough time, Ms. Simmons.¡±

    With that, she left with the others,ughing.

    Aurelia frowned. ¡°Who exactly sent Eva to take me down?¡°.

 Chapter 345

    As Aurelia ate her steak, she considered all the possibilities of how she managed to anger Eva; but she

    couldn¡¯t figure it out.

    Leslie uncorked the wine, poured two sses, and took a sip from his ss. ¡°You will fall right into their

    trap if you panic.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just curious.¡± Aurelia nced in the direction Eva disappeared.

    ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± Leslie elegantly savored his wine as he used his phone.

    Aurelia wanted to look at her phone as well, but Leslie shot her a look and she could only set her

    phone down. She paused for a moment, wondering why she was afraid of Leslie.

    Leslie set his phone down and asked, ¡°Are you done eating?¡±

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the security room, then,¡± he said as he stood up.

    ¡°Wait, are we supposed to just walk right into the security room of a big hotel?¡± asked Aurelia.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t go through the surveince footage, then are you supposed to search floor by floor?¡±

    Leslie countered.

    ¡°Is that¡­ not what we were going to do?¡± Aurelia replied.

    She thought she was eating that much to prepare for the physicalbori

    allowed.

    Leslie stared at her like she was strange and turned to pay the bill.

    Aurelia could only follow him to the security room on the first floor.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    The security guards seemed to know that they wereing and immediately offer

    their seats.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, all the footage from today is here,¡± the guards informed them.

    Leslie nodded. ¡°Alright.¡±

    Tako

    your time. We will leave now,¡± the guards said.

    Aurelia quickly stopped them and took out two ten¨Cdor bills from her bag to give them. ¡°Thank you

    both for your help. This was my idea, and he had nothing to do with it. Take

    this money and buy yourselves some cigarettes. You¡¯ve really saved me a lot of trouble.¡±

    The security guards were startled and nced at Leslie.

    Leslie nodded and they epted the money before leaving.

    Aurelia turned back and sat down, sighing in relief. ¡°Mr. Synder, you should have told me about this

    earlier. I could have prepared more cash. What if they go around telling others?

    ¡°That¡¯s called bribery,¡± Leslie said seriously.

    ¡°This is not funny at all. It¡¯s just social etiquette. Do you think we¡¯re some high¨Cborn gentlemen and

    ladies? They didn¡¯t have to give up their seats for us. Although I hate to admit it, life is just that

    realistic,¡± Aurelia said, pursing her lips.

    Leslie hesitated, then decided against telling Aurelia his identity. He figured she¡¯d run away as soon as

    she found out.

    After all, the hotel was co¨Cowned by his mother and someone else, but he hadn¡¯t

    mentioned his mother¡¯s name to outsiders.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to it,¡± he said.

    Aurelia pulled a chair over and sat next to Leslie.

    Leslie adjusted the time to a little after eight in the morning, just in time to see Kimberly entering the

    hotel from outside.

    Besides that, Aurelia noticed something else that was strange.

    ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Aurelia paused the video and pointed at the frozen fras is that you?¡±

    1. r. Sym

    5t

    ¡°Yes.¡± Leslie frowned. He had forgotten to avoid the footage of himself enter the

    hotel.

    Would Aurelia notice anything strange?

    ¡°Why did Mr. Xenos open the door for you when you got out of the car? And isn¡¯t that the hotel

    manager standing at the entrance? Do you really need such a grand entrance for a business meeting?¡±

    she asked.

    Indeed, she had noticed something amiss.

    ¡°I was representing the boss,¡± Leslie said.

    Chapter 34%

    Aurelia looked at him before nodding. ¡°I see.¡±

    If he was representing the boss, it seemed natural that he had to maintain a certain level of authority,

    especially since he was dealing with the Synder family.

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep watching,¡± Aurelia said without a doubt for the truth of Leslie¡¯s exnation.

 Chapter 346

    Leslie felt like something was weighing on his chest when Aurelia stared at him. He switched between

    the footage and asked casually, ¡°Do you trust me that much?¡±

    ¡°Of course. You won¡¯t lie to me. Besides, why would you lie to me?¡± she replied seriously. After all,

    Leslie had nothing to gain from lying to her.

    He stopped typing for a moment and hummed in response, feeling increasingly uneasy.

    Suddenly, she tugged at his arm. ¡°There¡¯s Kimberly and Eva.¡±

    On the screen, Kimberly walked over to Eva. However, since there was a blind spot, one couldn¡¯t tell

    what they were doing. The only thing they could be certain was that Kimberly met Eva before Aurelia

    did.

    After that, Aurelia arrived at around the same time as Jared and Leon. The footage clearly showed that

    Leon spotted her and the screen froze.

    ¡°Aurelia, is there something you didn¡¯t tell me?¡± Leslie asked in a low voice.

    ¡°What?¡± she asked in confusion.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention that Leon saw you?¡± Leslie questioned.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, he just took a nce from a distance. It¡¯s not a big deal,¡± exined Aurelia.

    Leslie tensed and shook his head. ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± She tilted her head and stared at him.

    ¡°He¡¯s not a good person,¡± he said.

    Aurelia pursed her lips to prevent herself fromughing.

    Leslie raised an eyebrow. ¡°Am I wrong?¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s keep watching the footage.¡±

    Despite his cold exterior, Leslie could be quite amusing at times.

    Aurelia had never imagined that the word ¡°amusing¡± could be applied to a mature man.

    It was a bit of a contrast used to describe Leslie. But soon, her attention was drawn to the surveince

    footage.

    After Aurelia had gone upstairs, she entered the blind spot. Still, Aurelia made a new

    discovery. ¡°Mr. Synder, look here. It¡¯s Eva¡¯s assistant, Flora.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I see her,¡± Leslie said.

    Flora was tasked with watching the briefcase and had been sitting in the lounge area to

    protect it.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    Although the lounge area was in a blind spot for the cameras, it seemed that the couch had been

    moved slightly for filming. Hence, half of Flora¡¯s body and the briefcase were captured by the camera.

    Aurelia thought that with such a significant discovery, they would surely find something.

    However, it turned out Flora was exceptionally diligent and responsible. She never once left the

    briefcase unattended before handing it over to Aurelia.

    ¡°Could it really be because of my fall?¡± she asked in disappointment.

    The look in Leslie¡¯s eyes sharpened. ¡°Not necessarily.¡±

    With that, he started typing on the keyboard to quickly erge the footage. ¡°Look at her hands.¡±

    ¡°Her hands?¡± Aurelia focused on the screen.

    The image had been rtively small before, making it hard to see clearly, but now it was unmistakable.

    When Flora handed over the safe to Aurelia, her fingers were turning thebination

    lock.

    Leslie exined, ¡°This type of briefcase unlocks automatically after turned. It may seem ordinary, but in

    reality, the briefcase was already un you fell, the ne fell out of the box.¡±

    bination

    So Whe

    Realization dawned on Aurelia. ¡°That¡¯s right. I remember when I fell, the bric: case opened mid¨Cair. So

    the box was intentionally opened by someone.¡±

    ¡°This is an antique ne from the auction house, and the iying technique isn¡¯t as secure as

    modern ones. So if a little force is applied, it¡¯s easy for it to break due to gravity, ¡°Leslie continued.

    Aurelia understood the situation a little more now. ¡°Flora is just an assistant. She wouldn¡¯t dare to do

    such a thing. She must have been acting under Eva¡¯s order and Kimberly cooperated with them. I

    couldn¡¯t have prevented it no matter how careful I was.

    n in charge of this shoot, Eva couldn¡¯t have escaped all responsibility even he who dropped the

    ne. Isn¡¯t she afraid of something happening to

    1?¡±

    adinga3

    Go

    ¡°As the person in charge of this shoot, Eva couldn¡¯t have escaped all responsibility even if I was the

    one who dropped the ne. Isn¡¯t she afraid of something happening to herself as well?¡±

 Chapter 347

    Leslie shook his head and exined, ¡°She¡¯s not afraid of that. People are inherently selfish, especially

    when facing a 50 million dorpensation. Everyone present knows how to save themselves.

    ¡°Besides, she immediately went online about this incident and shifted all the me onto you. This way,

    the magazine will go along with this to avoid angering the jewelry owner and use it to increase your

    responsibility.¡±

    The more Aurelia listened, the more grim her expression became.

    She felt powerless whenpared to Eva. Perhaps she should learn to apologize and beg for mercy

    like others. At least she wouldn¡¯t have to bear such a heavy burden.

    Still, she couldn¡¯t do it. She was a person, not a pet to be tamed by Eva. On top of that, it wasn¡¯t even

    her fault.

    If shepromised today, Eva would just go on to harm more people in the future.

    This struggle might be difficult, but she hoped that others facing simr situations would stand up for

    themselves as well in the future. The more people stood up, the sooner individuals like Eva would be

    exposed.

    With these thoughts, Aurelia¡¯s expression eased somewhat.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe Eva can cover up everything. We¡¯ll keep investigating. As long as we find that piece of

    wire, we¡¯ll prove my innocence,¡± she said firmly.

    Leslie looked at her with surprise.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to adapt so quickly,¡± he said.

    Aurelia rested her chin on her hand helplessly. ¡°Not really. My palms are still not cool from being calm.

    You didn¡¯t see how fast a person can really adapt.

    ¡°There was a senior colleague in ourpany before. She caught her husband cheating in the

    morning, divorced him in the afternoon, and appeared at the meeting table an hourter to give a

    presentation.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    She continued, ¡°We all praised her for being so impressive, but she bitterly said there are no capable

    people, only those who have no options. She still has two children to support.

    ¡°My mom hasn¡¯t woken up yet, and the follow¨Cup treatment will cost a lot of money. Every month, most

    of my sry goes to the caregivers. I can¡¯t stop, and 1 shouldn¡¯t stop. If I can¡¯t prove my innocence, I

    won¡¯t even be able to find a job in Seacester.¡±

    She turned to Leslie and borated, ¡°Mr. Synder, do you know how hard it is to find a job. now? It¡¯s

    even harder for women. Your distant personality may be described as focused at work, but do you

    know what a cold woman is called in the workce? Arrogant with bad attitude.

    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that yourpany¡¯s key decision makers are all men except for the two receptionists and

    Ms. Whitlock, who just returned to the country. You don¡¯t seem to like female employees, do you?¡±

    Leslie furrowed his brows and realized that he had indeed been generalizing the

    employees in hispany.

    ¡°So, I can¡¯t afford to lose,¡± Aurelia concluded. With that, she returned her gaze to the screen to review

    the surveince footage.

    Leslie watched Aurelia for a long time without her noticing, until she tugged at his sleeve.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, look! It¡¯s Kimberly,¡± she pointed out.

    Leslie snapped out of his daze and stared at the screen. ¡°That¡¯s when you were heading to the station

    to have your testimony taken. Kimberly was at the back.

    ¡°She is going into the elevator.¡± Aurelia stared at the screen nervously and unconsciously grabbed his

    hand.

    Leslie was slightly taken aback and lowered his gaze to her hand.

    Aurelia was quite tall, but her hands were small. They were slightly chubby and henpared to

    women who maintained their looks well, her hands weren¡¯t that pretty

    Still, her palms were soft and cold because of stress. It was a stark contrast to the w of his hand. He

    couldn¡¯t decide how to feel. Instead of shaking her hand off, he he her hand gently.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t pay any attention to it and stared at the screen unblinkingly while holding

    his hand.

    The elevator stopped once in the footage. People went in and out, but Kimberly didn¡¯t get

    off.

    She remained there proudly and seemingly not guilty the entire time.

    Aurelia was in aplete daze. ¡°Am I wrong? Maybe Kimberly didn¡¯t take the wire.¡±

    ¡°Or maybe not.¡± Leslie rewound the footage and paused the screen.

    Aurelia leaned closer in confusion. ¡°There¡¯s no difference.¡±

    ¡°Look at the strap of her purse,¡± he said.

 Chapter 348

    Aurelia narrowed her eyes before getting a clearer look at the strap. ¡°How can your eyesight be so

    great when you stare atputer screens every day?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    He shot her a nce. ¡°You have such a weird view of things. Looks like Eva chose the wrong person to

    mess with.¡±

    She pursed her lips and focused on Kimberly¡¯s strap. ¡°Hang on. Both straps were on her shoulder ten

    seconds ago but one ended up under her arm ten secondster. That means she opened her purse.¡±

    Kimberly was wearing a ck dress that was the same color as the straps of her purse. Hence, when

    the strap slid down, one couldn¡¯t tell unless they paid close attention.

    ¡°Look at who¡¯s standing in front of her.¡± Leslie pointed at the screen.

    Aurelia stared at the hotel staff in uniform. ¡°That¡¯s a hotel staff.¡±

    Someone had likely ordered room service and the hotel staff was delivering orders.

    ¡°Hang on.¡± Aurelia thought about it and took a closer look.

    The hotel staff was ying with his phone and didn¡¯t notice Kimberly stepping closer to

    him.

    After taking this step, Kimberly looked visibly more rxed.

    ¡°The cart,¡± Aurelia said confidently. ¡°There¡¯s usually a trash can underneath the cart.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Leslie agreed.

    She sighed a breath of relief upon finding a way out.

    ¡°But what if that cart wasn¡¯t in the same elevator? Kimberly would have go: en caught right away,¡±

    Aurelia said.

    ¡°Who did you think ordered room service?¡± Leslie asked.

    Aurelia fell into silence. She had the answer in her mind.

    When Eva and her team came for the shoot, they would need to book rooms to amodate the

    models for changing and makeup. There was no way all those tools. could be crammed into the top

    floor restaurant.

    Kimberly could easily dispose of the wire as long as someone ordered room service at the

    right time. This would have gone unnoticed if they hadn¡¯t watched the surveince footage frame by

    frame.

    Aurelia bit her lip and immediately stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We need to find that wire.¡±

    22

    Leslie held her back. ¡°You can¡¯t go. You¡¯re a suspect now. If you tamper with evidence, it could easily

    lose its credibility. It¡¯s more convincing to leave the rest to the police.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia pped her forehead. She panicked to the point that she forgot about such

    an important matter. ¡°Then I¡¯ll find the police first.¡±

    With that said, she tried to free her hands to go through her bag. It was then that she realized Leslie

    had been holding her hand the whole time, and that there was a temperature difference between their

    hands.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Um¡­ could you let go of my hand first?¡± Aurelia asked.

    He loosened his grip casually. ¡°Sure.¡±

    Feeling a bit embarrassed, Aurelia quickly turned away to find her phone in her bag.

    Little did they know, there was another storm brewing online while they focused on the surveince

    footage.

    Aurelia considered herself ordinary and it took four years for her to gain a little over three hundred

    followers. Yet, Eva¡¯s actions brought her tens of thousands of followers in one fell swoop.

    By now,

    the online focus hadpletely shifted. It used to be about the 50 million dor ne, but now it

    was all about her personal scandals.

    It was getting more outrageous, with many men iming to have had dealings with he

    One of thetest posts, which was just posted not long ago, caught her attention.

    She clicked on it and was shocked to see a video of her being harassed at the train station. However,

    the video had been cleverly edited to make it seem like she was weing the advances. She was

    even seen negotiating prices and hitting someone with her purse.

 Chapter 349

    In the video, the men discussed Aurelia with disdain

    ¡°Guys, this woman demands a high price for her services! She¡¯s not impressive at all.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen her in person. She doesn¡¯t look as good as in the photos. She wore a lot of makeup.¡±

    ¡°In a society governed byw, she dares to behave so recklessly in public. We were just aslding her

    about the rumors online to see if they were true.¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t expect her to discuss prices with us right away. We¡¯re all decent young men, so of course

    we turned her down. But then she got angry and wanted to hit us with her purse.¡±

    ¡°I feel like her mental state might not be that stable. She seems a bit like someone on drugs.¡±

    Thements below started to go wild with spection.

    Aurelia was quickly bing known as the ¡°Venomous Woman of Seacester¡°.

    She stared at the video and forgot about calling the police.

    If she weren¡¯t the person involved, she wouldn¡¯t have noticed any ws in the video. Most importantly,

    the voice negotiating the price was really hers.

    ¡°This¡­¡± Her mind went nk.

    Leslie leaned over to nce at the video, then quickly essed it online us

    ¡°It¡¯s edited,¡± he said.

    ¡°But why is there no trace of editing?¡± Aurelia pursed her lips.

    ¡°Because it was actually your voice,¡± Leslie exined.

    Aurelia listened carefully to the audio.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    he

    It was indeed her voice, especially the mention of ¡°500 dors.¡± It was unmistakably her

    tone.

    She felt so overwhelmed that she couldn¡¯t calm down. So, she forcefully pinched her arm, letting the

    pain snap her out of her fear.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Leslie grabbed her hand and frowned at the bruise forming on it.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m just trying to snap out of it. Also, I know where this voice came from,¡± she

    said.

    Aurelia opened her own ount, which was now flooded with private messages. Regardless, her

    previous work videos were still on the homepage.

    One of them was her rmending a small themed hall for a client. ¡°The rental fee for this small hall

    is 500 dors. Listen to my voice,¡± she said.

    Aurelia clicked on the video, and the voice matched exactly with the one in the videos. posted by those

    men.

    This was enough evidence to prove that the audio had been edited.

    Leslie couldn¡¯t help but admire Aurelia¡¯sposure in the face of such a situation.

    But then, he thought about her earlierments regarding her former colleague and immediately

    noticed her trembling shoulders.

    She was only in her 20s. Her father passed away and her mother was critically ill. On top of that, she

    was being swarmed by false usations that targeted her as a woman. How could she not be afraid?

    She was just faking it. ording to what she once said, she had no choice.

    Leslie didn¡¯t console her and said, ¡°Call the police first. I will help with the rest.¡±

    She nodded and called the police.

    The police soon arrived at the hotel and found a wire in the kitchen disposal.

    search.

    eir

    The officer who took Aurelia¡¯s testimony walked over with a bag of evidence. Is this what tripped you?¡±

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the right color.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing the garbage bag was sealed, so the evidence was not contaminated. The fingerprints

    on it should remain. By the way, do you recognize this symbol?¡± The officer pointed at a symbol on the

    wire.

    Aurelia nodded again. ¡°It belongs to IN Magazine. All their wires have the same symbol. Ms. Hanks

    said so herself.¡±

    975

    ¡°Alright. We will send this to theb. Since arge sum of money is involved in this case, we will handle

    it with care,¡± the officer said.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Leslie called out. ¡°We were hoping that the evidence wouldn¡¯t get published in the meantime. IN

    Magazine hasn¡¯t revealed the owner of the ne and we don¡¯t want them shifting the me.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Please trust us. Until we have the truth, we won¡¯t leak any information. We will be taking

    the surveince footage and the wire away with us,¡± the officer said.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Leslie nodded and let them go.

 Chapter 350

    Aurelia felt relieved that the truth of the matter wasing to light.

    Suddenly, the police thought of something else and stopped to look at Aurelia. ¡°By the way, Ms.

    Simmons, you mentioned that you wanted to use more than one person of defaming you, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve gathered all the evidence. I will submit everything right away,¡± Aurelia said. seriously.

    ¡°Alright. I will need you toe over a few more times in the next two days. We will reach out to

    everyone involved one by one,¡± the officer informed her.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said.

    As everything was settled, Aurelia felt her heart settling down as well.

    Night fell as they stepped out of the hotel. Worried that the same incident from the train station would

    happen again, Aurelia suggested that they take the taxi to where Leslie¡¯s car was parked.

    Leslie agreed and they hailed a taxi.

    As they got in, Aurelia said in bafflement, ¡°Despite all that we¡¯ve done, the hotel didn¡¯t even try to stop

    us. It¡¯s so strange.¡±

    Leslie leaned against the window with his hand on his forehead.

    Of course, the hotel didn¡¯t interfere. He had everything arranged.

    ¡°The hotel doesn¡¯t want trouble, so they will definitely cooperate,¡± he lied.

    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Aurelia chose to believe him once again.

    Just as she was about to ask something else, her phone rang. It was a call from Eva.

    She showed Leslie her phone screen and hung up. ¡°I know that whoever loses patience first will lose.

    You taught me that, Mr. Synder.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± He nodded with approval.

    ¡°You won¡¯t get to say that I never learn now,¡± she mumbled.

    Leslie fell into silence, wondering if Aurelia thought he couldn¡¯t hear her.

    Leslie¡¯s gaze fell on Aurelia¡¯s face. Against the backdrop of the neon lights outside the window, she had

    a look of indescribable beauty.

    A few secondster, Leslie blinked and snapped out of his daze. He had started to pay too much

    attention to Aurelia without even realizing it.

    Just then, Aurelia¡¯s phone rang again. It was Eva calling once more.

    This time, Aurelia didn¡¯t let the phone ring for even three seconds before hanging up.

    Sure enough, this provoked Eva into posting on her Facebook with Aurelia tagged.

    ¡°Aurelia, I hope you found yourself a very goodwyer. We¡¯ll meet on Friday, rain or shine.¡± Eva wrote.

    She wanted to meet on Friday?

    Aurelia puzzledly showed Leslie the Facebook post. ¡°They¡¯ve asked to meet me on Friday. They¡¯ve

    already pinned all the me on me, so why would they still want to see me? Are they trying to force me

    to pay?¡±

    Leslie exined, ¡°It is just a form of coercion, but not to make you pay. They want you to confess. Right

    now, you¡¯re refusing to respond to the whole matter and actively cooperating with the police

    investigation.

    ¡°Eva is worried that yourck of fear might lead to unexpected consequences. If you refuse to confess,

    they can¡¯t exin themselves to the owner of the jewelry.

    ¡°Borrowing jewelry is amon practice in the fashion industry, but others aren¡¯t fools and wouldn¡¯t

    lend it out casually. Eva probably wants to take advantage ignorance of the rules, force you to confess,

    and thuspletely exclude

    from taking any responsibility.¡±

    ¡°How is it that you know everything?¡± Aurelia asked in surprise.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard the boss mention it,¡± he replied casually.

    nur

    selves

    ¡°Your boss is indeed very knowledgeable. If you hadn¡¯t told me, I wouldn¡¯t have known all this. Thanks,¡±

    Aurelia said innocently with a smile.

    Leslie nodded somewhat casually, but he felt conflicted on the inside.

    He suddenly realized that lying was bing easier and easier for him, even though he used to dislike

    lying.

    Aurelia didn¡¯t notice the change in Leslie¡¯s expression. She lowered her head and replied

    to Eva¡¯s post.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there. Rain or shine,¡± she said.

    Since she couldn¡¯t escape, she might as well stir up trouble.

    Sure enough, Aurelia¡¯s provocative response caused a stir.

    Eva rallied everyone she could to share her post, then waited for the trial on Friday.

 Chapter 351

    The taxi stopped at the parking lot near the police station. As Aurelia got out of the car, she noticed

    Leslie was staring at his phone.

    She then recalled that he was supposed to be at his office. After signing such a big contract, everyone

    at the office must be desperate to celebrate with him.

    Yet, he had been running around with her.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you haven¡¯t finished your work, have you? Why don¡¯t you get back to work? I can go home

    by myself,¡± Aurelia said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll send you home first,¡± insisted Leslie.

    Aurelia thought about it and relented. ¡°Alright.¡±

    She nced at her heels, feeling exhausted from walking around all day.

    Upon arriving home, Aurelia went straight for her room but Leslie stopped her. ¡°Aurelia.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I am going in the right direction,¡± she said.

    ¡°Your suitcase.¡± Leslie pointed at the suitcase in the dining room.

    i

    She blushed and nced at the torn divorce agreement, not daring to meet his eyes.

    As she grabbed the suitcase, Leslie walked over to stand in her path.

    ¡°So, are you not divorcing me?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Huh? If you want to, we can still¡­¡± She could sense his piercing re and instantly changed her mind.

    ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ not. I¡¯m confident that I can win. Besides, Ms. Linda would be sad if we get a divorce now.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Leslie said.

    Aurelia fell into silence as she wondered about what kind of tone Leslie was using with

    her. She looked at Leslie and could only smile.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to wait for me tonight,¡± he said.

    Aurelia nodded and watched Leslie leave.

    She dragged her suitcase into the bedroom. As she put her clothes back into the wardrobe, she

    paused.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Why did Leslie suddenly change his mind about divorce?

    She looked at her hand, where the warmth of Leslie¡¯s palm still lingered. Sensing her thoughts

    wandering, she quickly focused on organizing her clothes.

    All the while, her phone on the bed kept vibrating.

    Why were people so fond of meddling in others¡® affairs?

    Suddenly, her phone rang again.

    Was it another nuisance call?

    Looking at the number, she hesitated before answering.

    ¡°Hi, Aurelia,¡± a man said.

    ¡°You are¡­

    ¡°She hesitated as the voice sounded familiar.

    ¡°Leon Synder,¡± he informed.

    ¡°Do you need something from me?¡± Aurelia asked in confusion.

    ¡°I know about your situation. I believe in you,¡± Leon said.

    Aurelia was confused. Leon hadn¡¯t spoken to her with this tone before, so it baffled her as to why he

    had suddenly be so gentlemanly.

    ¡°Aurelia, I can help you,¡± Leon spoke again.

    ¡°You want to help me? How?¡± Aurelia asked curiously.

    ¡°I can pay thepensation for you.¡± Leon smiled.

    ¡°You want to pay 50 million for me?¡± Aurelia asked incredulously.

    ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t have to worry about anything. I just think a woman like you shouldn¡¯t suffer with a man

    like Leslie. You deserve better.¡± Leslie¡¯s words dripped with a sense of

    superiority.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°I think you¡¯re a smart woman. You should understand my proposal. Life is short. Why waste your youth

    with a programmer? He may be in the news today, but he could be worthless tomorrow. He provides no

    sense of security at all,¡± Leon said.

    ¡°So?¡± Aurelia didn¡¯t understand what Leon was trying to imply.

    373

    Leon offered, ¡°So¡­ I hope you¡¯ll be mine. I heard you¡¯ve been fired from thepany. So far, there¡¯s

    nopany in Seacester willing to hire you. Synder Corporation can take you in, though. Aurelia, I

    hope you¡¯ll consider it. After all, it¡¯s 50 million.¡±

 Chapter 352

    Leon¡¯s words were subtle and his tone made it sound like he was just discussing business. However,

    he was clearly putting a price tag on Aurelia¡¯s worth.

    Aurelia fell silent. She was stunned when she heard Leon mention 50 million, so shepletely failed

    to notice that the door behind her was pushed open halfway. Leslie was standing just outside.

    Remembering that Aurelia hadn¡¯t eaten dinner, Leslie had gone downstairs to buy some. He brought it

    back before returning to the office.

    He didn¡¯t expect Leon to contact Aurelia within such a short time when he was gone.

    He quietly watched her absent¨Cminded expression darkly, his face devoid of expression.

    Indeed, Leon had the power to effortlessly solve all of Aurelia¡¯s problems with a single

    It would have been natural for Aurelia to ept Leon¡¯s proposal, considering that an ordinary person

    couldn¡¯t earn 50 million in their lifetime.

    He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white as he restrained herself.

    Just then, Aurelia¡¯s response came from the room. ¡°Mr. Synder, I am married. I will not betray my

    husband. You say you believe in me, but you are tacitly hinting that I should pay 50 million.

    bumu

    ¡°What¡¯s the difference between you and those people online? You want to buy my life for 50 million, yet

    you have never truly understood me for even a second. Don¡¯tpare yourself to my husband. He¡¯s

    much better than you.¡±

    She continued to berate him, ¡°He never once doubted me from the very start. He respects me and

    helps me solve problems. He would never measure someone¡¯s worth with money.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how rich people think, and I¡¯m not interested in knowing. In any case, I don¡¯t need your

    help. I am innocent.¡±

    Leon chuckled menacingly. ¡°Aurelia, even if what you say is true, who would believe you?

    ¡°Some people do,¡± Aurelia said firmly.

    ¡°Leslie? So what if he believes you? Is he rich or powerful? He can¡¯t even stand up against

    Exa. What qualifications does he have in bepared to ine? You¡¯re truly naive. The rules of this world

    are never written by people like you. My offer of help is the greatest gift you

    ¡°Thank you for you in ¡®Why don¡¯t you see if there¡¯s anyone else in need of it? 1 don¡¯t need it. My

    husband and I are doing just fine,¡± she said calmly.

    ¡°Pine, Aurelia. I¡¯m curious to see how your lovely husband will save you on Friday,¡±

    ¡°Why does he have to save me? I¡¯ve been solving my own problems long before I got married. It¡¯s not

    like I¡¯m his child or anything,¡± Aurelia said bluntly.

    Leon hung up the phone in frustration.

    Leslie, who was outside the door, came close to chuckling. He closed the door and set the food on the

    table.

    Aurelia was truly something. She did not need to worry, because not a single person who bullied her

    would get away with it.

    As Leslie stepped out of the door, he felt as though he had a boost of energy and didn¡¯t feel tired at all.

    He stepped hard on the elerator and arrived at the office in no time.

    As soon as he arrived, Daniel approached him. ¡°Mr. Synder, what happened? You ran two red lights.¡±

    ¡°Did 1? I didn¡¯t realize,¡± Leslie said casually.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Daniel had never seen such a casual side of him and said, ¡°I summoned the people you wanted

    to see.¡±

    Leslie nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± He stepped into the office and noticed that his most skilled subordinates had

    gathered.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, it¡¯s quitete. Is there something urgent that you need?¡± his staff asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve sent videos and photos to your emails. I need you to recover them and trace the IP address,¡±

    Leslie said.

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± the staff asked with confusion.

    ¡°There are a lot of them,¡± Leslie said and opened the email.

    The others looked at the shocking videos and photos, stunned by the familiar face on

    Chanter 352

    them.

    Leslie narrowed his eyes in displeasure. ¡°Don¡¯t stare. They are all fake.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± The others desperately wished they could keep their eyes shut forever, fearing that Leslie

    would gouge their eyes out for looking.

    Daniel approached him and said, ¡°Mr. Synder, I found the owner of the ne. You wouldn¡¯t believe

    who it is.¡±

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    ¡°Who?¡± Leslie asked with curiosity.

 Chapter 353

    Dantel looked at Leslie and smiled, so Leslie knew it was someone he knew.

    Immediately, Daniel whispered something in his ear.

    ¡°Got it.¡± Leslie nodded and stood up. ¡°You keep an eye on things here. I¡¯ll be back in a bit.

    ¡°Alright, Mr. Synder,¡± Daniel said.

    An old Volkswagen slowly pulled into a vast estate. Two rows of trees wound their way up, and leaves

    curled up on the road, while antique shortmps served as

    non

    embellishments along the path.

    After the car stopped, the family¡¯s driver stepped forward to open the door and took the keys from

    Leslie.

    ¡°Just a quick wipe. I¡¯ll be leavingter,¡± Leslie informed.

    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the driver said.

    With that, Leslie strolled into the house.

    The mansion was in the style of the Synder family¡¯s forest garden, and through the waterside corridor

    was the reception room.

    Leslie turned into the adjacent room, where Linda sat in a grand armchair, brewing tea.

    She was not at all surprised to see him.

    ¡°You rarelye home, yet you came today without needing an invitation. Have a seat.¡± The tea

    brewed emitted a refreshing aroma, and Linda poured a cup for Leslie.

    Taking a leisurely sip, Leslie nced out the French window at the bamboo forest.

    Linda nced at him and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re rarely so absent¨Cminded. Is it the rumors about Aurelia

    online?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Leslie said ndly.

    Linda considered his word for a moment and immediately guessed what was on his mind. ¡°You will

    eventually get in trouble when you keep looking for one. Lies can be a burden if said too often.

    Lies are the worst things to exist in a marriage.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not time yet,¡± Leslie said.

    Linda asked, ¡°When will it be time then? When you¡¯ve avenged your grievances? You¡¯ve always had a

    goal, and every step has to be nned toward that goal

    ¡°You can¡¯t even be bothered to stop for a second. Life shouldn¡¯t be like that. Life has its ups and

    downs, surprises, and many exciting things. You can¡¯t ignore everything else just because of your

    goals.¡±

    Linda insisted on Leslie getting married precisely for this reason.

    Her son had turned into the robot he was studying at some point. He was devoid of expression,

    emotion, or life. She felt guilty that her stubbornness and failed marriage caused her young son to

    suffer great upheavals.

    Over the years, she had been trying to change Leslie, but all her efforts had failed.

    Until one day, she met Aurelia.

    At first nce, Aurelia seemed ordinary, but Linda saw much potential in her. She was vibrant and

    uplifting. This was exactly what Lesliecked.

    In fact, Linda had considered letting them get to know each other before discussing marriage. However,

    given Leslie¡¯s state, she was sure that this approach would nevEZ

    work.

    Leslie¡¯s world was sealed and if she didn¡¯t pry open a gap, he would have never met with

    Aurelia.

    Though she was the one who demanded this marriage, she could see how much Leshe had changed.

    Leslie wanted to argue, but ended up just sipping on his tea. ¡°Maybe another time.

    Linda was overjoyed. She knew what Aurelia was capable of, or she wouldn¡¯t have felt so connected to

    Aurelia the first time they met.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    They were destined to be a family.

    ¡°Those two brats are upstairs. Go ahead and talk to them. Do you need my help?¡± Linda

    asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. She can handle it herself,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯m d you¡¯ve learned to protect your wife.¡± Linda smiled.

    Leslie didn¡¯t acknowledge or deny what she said. Setting the cup down, he got up and

    strode out.

    Linda sipped on her tea happily and wondered when she would have grandchildren.

 Chapter 354

    The ¡°brats¡± Linda spoke of were actually Leslie¡¯s cousins, the twin sons of Leslie¡¯s uncle. They were

    the ones Leslie had sent to Aurelia¡¯spany to handle the giarism incident.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    At this moment, the two of them were also the owners of the 50 million dor ne.

    Leslie climbed the winding stairs. A few momentster, cries and pleas echoed from the

    room.

    ¡°Leslie, we were wrong. We really didn¡¯t know Eva borrowed the ne to frame Aurelia,¡± pleaded

    the older brother, Nathan.

    ¡°Since we¡¯ve helped Aurelia before, please forgive us,¡± chimed in Nick, the younger

    brother.

    Leaning against the window, Leslie lit a cigarette. His gaze was cold, and he was clearly not satisfied

    with their pleas.

    Though young, they were eventually going to inherit their dad¡¯spany. If they were so careless now,

    how would they handle things in the future?

    Nathan continued, ¡°This ne was bought at auction for our mother. But she didn¡¯t like it, so it¡¯s

    been sitting in the bank vault for two or three years. Eva must have seen it at the auction house and

    wanted to borrow it to increase her magazine¡¯s publicity, and we just¡­¡±

    ¡°Her parents are regional CEOs, and they¡¯ve had some dealings with our dad. We thought

    ould be mutual benefits and good rtions in the future. Who knew she had such

    evil intentions?¡± Nick added.

    Finishing their exnation, the brothers cautiously observed Leslie¡¯s expression.

    They weren¡¯t afraid of anyone in the family except Leslie. Because when he got angry, he

    could be merciless.

    Leslie exhaled a puff of smoke. ¡°Is that all?¡±

    The brothers exchanged nces, then opened a drawer and handed Leslie a document.

    ¡°Leslie, please ept this small token of respect, as our tribute to Aurelia,¡± Nathan

    offered.

    ¡°Yes, yes. Aure is the best!¡± Nick echoed.

    Leslle nced at it and nodded. ¡°Eva¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll cooperate fully and make sure she can¡¯t escape,¡± Nathan said.

    ¡°The inte,¡± Leslie said.

    Nick pulled out another document. ¡°The list is right here. We¡¯ve been itching to ease Aurelia¡¯s burden.¡±

    Leslie acknowledged them with a grunt. ¡°I¡¯m off.¡±

    ¡°Take care, Leslie. When will you bring Aurelia over?¡± Nick blurted out.

    Nathan kicked him. How could Leslie bring her home when she didn¡¯t even know Leslie¡¯s identity?

    Leslie paused for a moment, then replied, ¡°Soon.¡±

    With that, he left.

    Nick leaned closer to Nathan. ¡°It looks like things are working out for them. I quite like

    Aurelia.¡±

    Nathan stroked his chin. ¡°Indeed, Leslie seems different now. We wouldn¡¯t see the end of the lecturing

    if this happened in the past. He¡¯s be surprisingly considerate.¡±

    By the time Leslie arrived home, it was midnight. He thought Aurelia was already asleep, but she was

    actually lying on the couch.

    She jolted awake at the noises immediately.

    He frowned. ¡°Why are you napping here?¡±

    Aurelia was a little dazed and rubbed her eyes. ¡°I saw the food you ordered for me. I guess you

    wouldn¡¯t eat given how busy you are, so I decided to wait for you to make supper.¡±

    He paused. ¡°I told you not to wait for me.¡±

    She stretched and yawned. ¡°You can¡¯t cook, and going to sleep hungry isn¡¯t good for stomach. You¡¯ve

    been working hard and I¡¯m basically unemployed now. I don¡¯t have to wake up early tomorrow. Just

    wait. I¡¯ll make you some soup.¡±

    your

    Chanter 354

    He hummed in response and stared at her from behind, recalling what his mother said.

    There would be mundane things and surprises in life. Was Aure considered a surprise?

    Aurelia put on the apron and walked over to the kitchen. ¡°Mr. Synder, Leon Synder called me today.¡±

 Chapter 355

    Leslie looked at Aurelia with a hint of surprise on his face and asked, ¡°Why are you suddenly telling me

    this?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Aurelia was tying her apron when she paused. She immediately turned

    around and walked into the kitchen.

    Leslie was somewhat intrigued, so he got up and walked to the kitchen entrance. When he reached the

    entrance, he suddenly heard Aurelia mumbling inside.

    ¡°When we were checking the CCTV earlier, Leslie was obviously interested in me. But he still distanced

    himself from me. Now that I¡¯ve taken the initiative to talk to him, he¡¯s acting indifferent about it. Isn¡¯t he

    kind of weird? I suppose it¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have Ce said anything and just let it be,¡± she muttered.

    Aurelia muttered a fewints while she was busy boiling water in a pot.

    Leslie suddenly felt a strange sensation in his heart. He nced at Aurelia, who looked dejected, and

    then he walked back to the dining table.

    After a while, Aurelia sat down with a bowl of ravioli in hand.

    ¡°Dig in,¡± she said.

    Leslie hummed in assent and kept his head down as he ate. Then, he casually asked, What did Leon

    want from you?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Are you interested in knowing?¡± Aurelia was momentarily taken aback before muttering, ¡°I

    thought you didn¡¯t care about it.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, forget it,¡± Leslie said. He still wasn¡¯t used to meddling in other

    people¡¯s business. After asking Aurelia, he immediately dismissed his question. However, he was

    actually quite curious about it.

    It had been so long since hest chatted with someone casually that he couldn¡¯t even remember it. It

    was why he was increasingly opposed to normal social interactions.

    Aurelia leaned forward slightly and began to speak fervently, ¡°He actually offered to give me 50 million

    dors! I immediately turned him down though. He¡¯s so conceited! How can I put up with this? That¡¯s

    why¡­¡±

    As Aurelia spoke, she gestured around wildly. At some point, Leslie even refilled her ss with water.

    Aurelia drank half of it before she continued talking. Despite everything, she

    didn¡¯t mention Leon¡¯s mocking remarks about Leslie.

    Meanwhile, Leslie was aware that she was being considerate of his feelings. As a result, he found

    himself bing increasingly curious about Aurelia.

    In the past, he had wanted to distance himself from Aurelia as much as possible. Yet, at that moment,

    he was the one who couldn¡¯t help but get closer to her.

    After an hour of non¨Cstop chatter, dinner finally ended. Aurelia evenmented the fact that she wasn¡¯t

    able to punch Leon in the face.

    Leslie was curious. ¡°Why would you want to hit him?¡± he asked.

    Aurelia, who was more rxed after talking for so long, bluntly said, ¡°That¡¯s because he said you¡¯re-¡±

    She paused momentarily before continuing, ¡°H¨Che said I was useless.¡±

    Aurelia panicked and quickly changed what she was about to say.

    However, Leslie immediately understood the cause of her anger¨CAurelia was angry on

    behalf of him.

    Leslie refrained from probing further, fearing Aurelia would feel embarrassed and run off again. He

    simply remarked, ¡°He deserved to be hit.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s eyes flickered, and she let out a slight breath of relief. Finally, she looked at Leslie with a

    sense of unease.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, do you think I can win the trial this uing Friday?¡± she asked hesitantly.

    ¡°Yes. You¡¯ll definitely win it,¡± Leslie assured her.

    Aurelia¡¯s expression immediately broke into a wide smile, and she eximed, ¡°That¡¯s true! You¡¯re my

    lucky charm, after all. If you say I can win this, then I definitely can!¡±

    Leslie chuckled to himself as he noted down how easy it was to appease Aurelia. He then gestured

    toward the clock on the wall and said, ¡°It¡¯s time for you to go to sleep.¡±

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    Aurelia nodded and smiled as she went back to her room.

    Before going to bed, she made sure to turn off her phone to avoid being bothered by inte trolls

    again.

    She had read all of thosements. They were nothing more than attempts to put her down. But why

    should she feel ashamed for such a thing?

    After all, she was innocent. The ones who should feel ashamed are those who spread groundless

    rumors about her online. She wouldn¡¯t let any of those people off the hook.

    But before that, she had to take good care of herself before the trial.

    Meanwhile, Leslie returned to his study. After turning on theputer, he checked the ongoing online

    discussions, all of which were filled with obscenities.

    After quickly typing on the keyboard, he soon found everything rted to the incident. It appeared that

    there were a lot of online influencers involved, many of whom were

 Chapter 356

    As the fashion director of IN Magazine, Eva manipted influencers to cyberbully people. She even

    discreetly boosted trending topics on social media to increase the visibility of her misdeeds.

    Leslie couldn¡¯t help but wonder how she would react when she saw the evidence.

    After finishing his tasks, he leaned back in his chair to rest. Then, his phone suddenly

    rang.

    The employee informed him, ¡°Mr. Synder, we determined that all the photos were digitally altered.

    Interestingly, the ones where Ms. Simmons¡® face was altered were all candid shots of her.

    ¡°Whoever did this must be quite familiar with Ms. Simmons and has ess to a

    significant number of her candid photos. We suspected that it was an acquaintance, so we followed the

    clues and found an interesting person.¡±

    Leslie coldly uttered, ¡°Seth Martinez.¡±

    and was.

    ¡°You already knew this? It is indeed him.

    The person on the other However, it was probably Kimberly who got in touch with him. After that, both

    of them found someone to leak the photos.

    ¡°Seth and Ms. Simmons were together for three years, so he definitely has photos of her from all

    angles. These photos could be easily manipted using deepfake technology, making it difficult to

    detect any signs of tampering.¡±

    ¡°Got it. I¡¯ve also managed to find some photos. Get more people to post them online on Friday,¡±

    instructed Leslie.

    After saying that, Lesliepressed the file and sent it to Daniel.

    Daniel was stunned when he saw the file. After that, he randomly picked one of the files

    inside and opened it.

    ¡°Damn! Mr. Synder, isn¡¯t this a bit too i¨Cintense?¡± Daniel called Leslie and stuttered in

    shock.

    After he was done looking through the photos, Daniel suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment wash

    over him.

    ¡°Bye.¡± Leslie casually hung up the phone.

    Aurelia slept in until she stirred awake naturally. When she looked at the time, it was already 10:00 am.

    After getting out of bed, she noticed that Leslie had alreadyid out the breakfast he bought on the

    table. Although it was cold, it could still be eaten after reheating it.

    After microwaving it for a few minutes, she turned on her phone while eating brunch.

    There were still a bunch of spam messages. She didn¡¯t n to read them, so she went online to check

    the current situation instead.

    Perhaps the scious rumor about her had gotten out of hand. Therefore, to prevent some people from

    continuing to spread unfounded rumors, the police issued a statement confirming she had filed a report

    for it.

    They even released the list of individuals Aurelia had filedwsuits against, which included the four

    men from the train station.

    She had thought that this would stop the spread of the rumors, but she didn¡¯t expect the four men from

    the train station to retaliate.

    Instead of putting an end to the nder against Aurelia, they even went ahead and

    publicly disclosed the police statements they had made at the police station online. They had even

    sworn under oath.

    ¡°Did you think you¡¯re innocent just because you reported to the police? We know exactly what kind of

    person you are, Aurelia!¡± one of them said.

    ¡°We¡¯ll post the police statement here and let everyone be the judge of it! How could she act like that

    and still want to be seen as a victim?¡± another mocked.

    ¡°It¡¯s unbelievable how women nowadays have the guts to report such things to the police. If I was

    Aurelia, I would disappear from the eyes of the public instead! Why doesn¡¯t that woman have any

    sense of shame?¡± they remarked.

    Their statements pleased many male chauvinists, causing a crazy surge in followers.

    Furthermore, they were especially fearless after they showed the surveince footage from the train

    station.

    The surveince footage had the beginning and end edited out, making it seem as if Aurelia was

    enraged and used her handbag to hit someone.

    Chat 356

    Yet, the part where one of them made an inappropriate physical advance was edited out.

    Aurelia furrowed her brows as she watched the surveince footage, She was about to call the police

    when she received a call from thepany.

    ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯re required toe to thepany toplete your resignation procedures,¡± the staff

    informed her.

    Aurelia began to ask, ¡°Alright, what do I need to

    Before she could finish speaking, the other party quickly hung up the phone, as if not wanting to waste

    any more time talking to her.

    It was truly every man for himself.

    Aurelia sighed helplessly and called Dennis, the person in charge of her case.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. rk. Why were they allowed to release the surveince footage?¡± she asked.

    Dennis replied, ¡°Ms. Simmons, please rest assured. We¡¯ve already obtained the evidence. However,

    we must uphold the integrity of the chain of evidence.

    ¡°Therefore, we typically refrain from releasing our evidence until this integrity is guaranteed. This

    precautionary measure also helps prevent any potential tampering or destruction of evidence.¡±

    Aurelia nodded. ¡°I sec. What should we do

    ¡°Your husband has already provided evidence for those photo maniptions this morning,¡± informed

    Dennis.

    ¡°My husband? Do you mean Leslie Synder?¡± Aurelia asked.

    Dennis responded, ¡°That¡¯s right. Weren¡¯t you aware? Your husband arrived at the police station early

    this morning to submit evidence.

    ¡°He also requested that we avoid contacting you for the time being, saying that you were upset about

    the incident. It¡¯s evident that your husband cares a lot about you.¡±

    When she heard this, Aurelia felt somewhat touched.

    Dennis continued, ¡°Our technical operations unit has sessfully identified the

    perpetrator who disseminated the photos and videos. I believe you may be acquainted with this

    person.¡±

    Aurelia was intrigued. ¡°Who is it?¡±

 Chapter 357

    ¡°It¡¯s your ex,

    Seth Martinez. And one of your colleagues, Kimberly Watson,¡± Dennis informed her.

    Aurelia was rendered speechless. No wonder her expressions in those photos and videos looked so

    familiar.

    ¡°We¡¯re preparing to send someone to apprehend them both immediately. Pleasee over when you

    have some time,¡± Dennis said.

    ¡°Hold on,¡± Aurelia interrupted Dennis.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You¡¯re not considering letting them go, are you? Your incident has caused quite a

    commotion in Seacester, and we¡¯re also treating this case very seriously,¡± he said.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not saying I want to let them go. I¡¯m just wondering if it¡¯s possible to arrest them tomorrow

    instead,¡± Aurelia suggested.

    Dennis was confused. ¡°Why?¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    ¡°Tomorrow, I have to handle the matter concerning the 50 million dor ne, and Kimberly is one

    of the people involved. I¡¯m worried that her arrest might interfere with my negotiations with IN

    Magazine,¡± Aurelia exined.

    Dennis wasn¡¯t skilled in business negotiations, especially when there was a significant amount of

    money involved. However, he was still aware that they would prefer two parties involved present for the

    negotiation.

    Considering everything, it seemed that escting the situation wouldn¡¯t be beneficial for

    anyone.

    After deliberating on the pros and cons, Dennis epted Aurelia¡¯s request, and they agreed to carry

    out the arrests the following day.

    After sorting things out, Aurelia sent a message to Leslie.

    ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Synder,¡± she said.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Are youing home for dinner tonight?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he informed her.

    Aurelia wanted to tell him that she would be waiting for him. She had even typed out the message and

    was ready to send it. However, she felt that the message was somewhat inappropriate, so she deleted

    it and rewrote it.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have something delicious for dinner tonight,¡± she said.

    It took Leslie quite a while to respond as he was still typing. Yet, in the end, he only sent a one¨Cword

    response. ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia, ustomed to seeing one¨Cword responses, couldn¡¯t help but smile at that

    moment.

    Afterward, she changed her clothes and made her way to Young Advertising.

    When Aurelia¡¯s colleagues saw her, they avoided her like the gue.

    Since Aurelia had already resigned, she saw no reason to argue with them any further and silently

    began packing up her things.

    As she was preparing to leave with her box of things, Kimberly and some others blocked her way.

    ¡°Wait a second, we need to check what you¡¯re taking with you, just in case you¡¯re thinking of selling

    company secrets to pay off your debts,¡± Kimberly said.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you, but I¡¯ve already gone to the Human Resources and Administration

    Department and handed in all of thepany¡¯s property. They¡¯ve also signed off on it. These are my

    personal belongings, and I have the right not to let you see them,¡± Aurelia said bluntly.

    Aurelia¡¯s eyes burned with defiance as she met Kimberly¡¯s gaze.

    Kimberly¡¯s jaw tightened. She was puzzled. It was unfathomable to her how an ordinary person like her

    could remain calm after learning that they had to pay 50 million dors.

    Moreover, at that moment, Aurelia was considered an infamous inte sensation. After experiencing

    mental and financial distress, she should have appeared gaunt and dejected.

    Instead, Aurelia still had the guts to stand up to her.

    Kimberly nced at those around her and said, ¡°Go and look through the box. After all, I¡¯m acting in the

    best interests of thepany. I¡¯m curious to see who¡¯s still willing to help her now.¡±

    When they heard this, a few of her colleagues wore slightly enigmatic smiles on their faces.

    ¡°Aurelia, we hope you don¡¯t hold it against us. You brought this trouble upon yourself. We¡¯re simply

    acting in the best interests of thepany,¡± one of them insisted.

    ¡°Oh, please. You¡¯re just trying to kick me when I¡¯m down, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯ve never had the chance

    before, so you¡¯re not going to waste it now, right?¡± jeered Aurelia.

    Since Aurelia had already resigned, she found no reason to put on a front.

    Since they dared to approach her on the pretense of checking her belongings, weren¡¯t

    they

    just taking the opportunity to kick her while she was down?

    They were unaware that she had already caught wind of theirments in those posts. They were the

    ones who said she was pretentious, that she was showing off her rtionship, and that she was having

    an ambiguous rtionship with her ex¨Cboyfriend.

    What were they trying to achieve by pretending to be so morally upright?

    Aurelia¡¯s remarks left them mortified, and their faces flushed red with embarrassment.

    ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯ve crossed the line. We-¡± they uttered.

    Aurelia cut them off and retorted, ¡°Are all of you Kimberly¡¯sckeys? Do you just obey her every

    command? If thepany wants to check my belongings, there are plenty of qualified people who can

    do it. It¡¯s not her ce to tell you what to do.

    ¡°It¡¯s my understanding that there arews designed to safeguard people¡¯s privacy. If I decide to take

    legal action, will she be held ountable or you¡¯ll be the one to bear it all? Don¡¯t think that if you suck

    up to her now, you¡¯ll be able to ride her coattails to sess.¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± they shouted.

    Their faces turned ashen. They had always thought Aurelia was easy to talk to, but they had never

    expected her to be so sharp¨Ctongued.

    Aurelia, carrying the box in her hands, pushed past her colleagues and approached

    Kimberly.

    She taunted, ¡°Kimberly, you¡¯re ying a dangerous game. You¡¯d better make sure to start buttering up

    with that wealthy beau of yours. Otherwise, if he gets too carried away one day and dies, you¡¯ll be left

    with nothing.

    ¡°After all, a kept woman doesn¡¯t have the same rights to inheritance as a legally wedded

 Chapter 358

    Despite Kimberly¡¯s ims of her wealthy husband treating her well, Jason only gave her a low¨Cquality

    diamond ring. Even their wedding wasn¡¯t the luxurious outdoor wedding she had always dreamed of.

    It was obvious that Kimberly was just a novelty for Jason. Who knew how long his interest wouldst?

    With her facade shattered, Kimberly¡¯s features twisted into a hideous grimace as she raised her hand

    to strike Aurelia.

    Aurelia grabbed hold of her wrist and forcefully pushed her away.

    Kimberly, wearing four¨Cinch high heels, had no chance of fighting back. She lost her bnce and

    crashed into a table.

    ¡°Aurelia Simmons!¡± she shouted.

    ¡°Kimberly, I expect an apology from you the next time we see each other,¡± Aurelia said.

    ¡°In your dreams! What right do you and your husband have to do this to me? If it weren¡¯t two, would I

    have turned out like this? You truly got what you deserve!¡± Kimberly- said spitefully.

    for

    Aurelia pursed her lips. She didn¡¯t expect Kimberly to harbor so much resentment toward her and

    Leslie.

    However, at that moment, nothing mattered. After all, everything would be settled the following day.

    She nced at Kimberly and said, ¡°My husband and I have never done anything to you. We didn¡¯t

    pressure you into misconduct, nor did wepel you to marry a wealthy man

    as a kept woman.

    ¡°And we certainly didn¡¯t push you into giarism. Do you really think the world revolves. around you?

    You¡¯re the one who shot yourself in the foot!¡±

    Kimberly gnashed her teeth as she red angrily at Aurelia.

    ¡°Bye.¡± After saying that, Aurelia immediately turned around and walked toward the door.

    ¡°Aurelia! You¡¯re done for! You and your husband will never be able to repay the 50 million dors!

    There¡¯s no doubt he¡¯ll leave you as soon as he has the chance!¡± Kimberly

    continued shouting.

    Aure opened her mouth to speak, ¡°You¡¯re quite¨C¡±

    After Aure cast a look at her, she deliberately left her sentence unfinished and went straight into the

    elevator.

    Kimberly was someone unfazed by upfront ridicule, but she was most apprehensive

    about others¡® private opinions of her. Therefore, she always wanted to show her wless side to the

    public.

    So the more Aure left her sentences unfinished, the more annoyed she became.

    While the elevator was descending, Aurelia could still hear Kimberly¡¯s angry outbursts.

    ¡°Aure! Stop right there and exin yourself!¡± she screeched.

    Aurelia sneered, as if she would stop for someone like her.

    Kimberly would probably be restless for the rest of the night because of what happened.

    Aurelia walked out of thepany in a very good mood, only to be met with a couple of honks from a

    car across the street.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    She nced over and saw that it was Leslie¡¯s car. She walked over and then knocked on the car

    window.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, why are you here?¡± she asked.

    Leslie began, ¡°On my-

    ¡°On your way? I¡¯m quite familiar with that phrase,¡± Aurelia said, cutting him off.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way then,¡± Leslie said, as he awkwardly started the car.

    ¡°Wait a moment! Would you mind giving me a ride if you¡¯re going that way? I wore high heels today to

    appear more confident, but they¡¯re a bit too high, and ¡®my feet are killing me,¡± Aurelia said.

    After all, it was herst day, and she wasn¡¯t going to let anyone look down on her.

    To make Leslie believe her, Aurelia held onto the car door and bent down. She lifted her skirt slightly

    and raised her foot.

    Due to the pencil skirt she wore, whenever she raised her foot, the hem of her skirt would ride up.

    1. up. As a result, her fair, slender legs were exposed in front of Leslie.

    Aurelia had always worn loose¨Cfitting suits before, so her physique had been severely underrated. In

    truth, her physique was shapely and alluring. It was the type that could easily capture one¡¯s attention.

    At that moment, a man happened to be passing by. After he caught sight of the scene before him, he

    couldn¡¯t help but stare at Aurelia.

    Aurelia remained oblivious, while Leslie¡¯s expression turned grim.

    ¡°Get in!¡± he barked.

    ¡°Alright,¡± she said.

    As soon as she heard Leslie¡¯s deep, cold voice, Aurelia immediately picked up her belongings and got

    into the car. It was then she noticed three men behind her had already taken out their phones.

    She was immediately reminded of the four men at the train station. She was so scared that she

    immediately checked to see if there was anything wrong with her clothes.

    Leslie spoke gravely, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault if you¡¯re being secretly photographed. You shouldn¡¯t me

    yourself first. It is clearly a problem with their manners and upbringing.

    Aurelia nodded and said, ¡°Got it.¡±

    As the car exited the parking lot, Aurelia watched the buildings receding behind her, feeling somewhat

    complicated. When she first came here, she had made a firm decision to establish herself in this ce.

    She didn¡¯t expect things to turn out like this.

    Aftering to her senses, Aurelia looked ahead and pointed to the left.

    ¡°Turn left ahead,¡± she instructed.

    ¡°Where are we headed?¡± Leslie asked as he realized this wasn¡¯t the way back home.

 Chapter 359

    Aurelia refrained from responding to him. Instead, she grinned mysteriously.

    She had checked her text messages earlier that day. Among the many abusive messages

    she received, she noticed that she had received a normal message from someone.

    It could be considered a good thing for those who have been subjected to online harassment for the

    last couple of days.

    Aurelia pointed to the supermarket ahead and said, ¡°Let¡¯s park there.¡±

    Although Leslie didn¡¯t know what Aurelia was up to, he still parked the car in the parking

    space.

    Aurelia calmly stepped out of the car, as if it was no different than her usual outings.

    It was worth noting that the entire city was talking about her at that moment. If it had been someone

    else, they would have stayed home and refrained from going out.

    After all, no one knew if they would ever encounter another train station incident where a man would

    distort the truth.

    Yet, she was still going out and about as usual, as if it wasn¡¯t that big of a deal.

    After getting out of the car, Aurelia made her way in, with Leslie trailing after her. After walking for a

    while, he realized that Aurelia seemed to be deliberately keeping her distance from him.

    Leslie thought he was just overthinking it, so he deliberately quickened his pace. Unexpectedly, Aurelia

    was also doing the same thing.

    At that moment, he realized that Aurelia¡¯s actions were deliberate.

    Leslie quickly surveyed their surroundings. Although there weren¡¯t any confrontational individuals like

    the four men at the train station, the scrutiny in everyone¡¯s gaze was

    palpable.

    While Aurelia was preupied, he moved to her side and shielded her from those scrutinizing gazes.

    Aurelia¡¯s shoulders trembled as she raised her gaze to meet his. The once vibrant lipstick on her lips

    now sported a pale hue. She looked very exhausted from putting on a brave front.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    She murmured, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said.

    Aurelia nodded in agreement and weaved her way through the crowd to reach a shop at the furthest

    end.

    The elderly owner, Drew Lowe, didn¡¯t seem to pay much attention to the stuff happening online. He

    approached Aurelia and warmly weed her.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, it¡¯s good to see you. I¡¯ve finally fixed your shoes. Please have a look,¡± he

    said.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lowe,¡± Aurelia said as she took a shoebox from him.

    As Aurelia opened the shoebox, she saw that the shoes her parents had gifted her were as good as

    new. At that moment, all the depression she had felt on the way here dissipated. She deliberately took

    them out to show Leslie, asking, ¡°Don¡¯t they look as good as new?¡± Leslie took a quick look at the

    shoes. No matter how new they looked, they were just a very ordinary pair of shoes. Nheless,

    Aurelia looked quite happy about it.

    She was grinning from ear to ear, like a kid in a candy store.

    Leslie nodded and said, ¡°Yes, they do.¡±

    After saying that, he noticed that there were some people around who seemed to be discreetly inching

    closer. After that, some even took out their phones, getting ready to take pictures of Aurelia.

    Leslie immediately reached out and pulled Aurelia into his embrace, pressing her head gently against

    his chest.

    Aurelia was taken aback as her face was pressed against Leslie¡¯s chest. She struggled slightly and

    asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°We should go back first. There¡¯s too many people around,¡± said Leslie.

    Aurelia stuttered as she breathed in Leslie¡¯s scent, ¡°W¨Cwait a moment. There¡¯s something else.¡±

    Leslie lowered his head and asked, ¡°What else is there?¡±

    When he saw this, Drew immediately smiled and said, ¡°You two have such a lovely rtionship. It¡¯s no

    wonder Ms. Simmons wanted to have shoes custom¨Cmade for you.

    These are made entirely ording to your old pair of shoes. Try them on and see if they fit.¡±

    ¡°For me?¡± Leslie seemed momentarily surprised.

    Drew quipped, ¡°Of course it¡¯s for you! Does she have another husband in the picture?¡±

    Leslie responded without hesitation, ¡°There¡¯s only one husband, and that¡¯s me.¡±

    After hearing that, Aurelia¡¯s face flushed and she promptly pushed Leslie away.

    ¡°W¨Cwhy don¡¯t you try it on?¡± she asked.

    Leslie hummed in assent, took the shoe box, and suddenly nced at the people outside. the shop.

    Whoever dared to ruin his mood wasn¡¯t going to get away with it that easily.

    Everyone seemed to have picked up on his mood and immediately stashed their phones and left.

 Chapter 360

    After the pesky crowd had dispersed, Leslie sat down and slowly opened the box. In truth, his

    expectations weren¡¯t particrly high for a shoe shop that was hidden in the corner of the supermarket.

    Bespoke leather shoes were a true test of the craftsman¡¯s skill. So far, he hadn¡¯t

    encountered any craftsmen in the country that met his expectations.

    As a result, he had his feet measured and a record kept abroad. Now, he only needed to choose the

    style and color he desired, and someone would regrly deliver him the newly crafted shoes.

    Yet, after he opened the box, he realized he had misjudged Drew.

    Drew¡¯s craftsmanship wasparable to those of the so¨Ccalled master craftsmen abroad. Besides,

    Drew even made some adjustments based on his old shoes, making them even more tailored to his

    walking habits.

    When she noticed that he still hadn¡¯t tried them on, Aurelia felt somewhat embarrassed. ¡°My budget is

    tight right now. I¡¯ll get you a new pair in the future once I start working!¡±

    It was indeed a bit of a stretch for her to expect him to choose her 1000¨Cdor shoes over a pair of

    bespoke leather shoes that cost around 20 thousand dors.

    When he heard that, Leslie¡¯s cold gaze wavered slightly. As he put on the shoes, he quipped, ¡°In the

    future? I¡¯ll ept that.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. Why did his statement seem kind of odd?

    After changing into the shoes, Leslie took a few steps and said, ¡°They¡¯re veryfortable.¡±

    payment

    Aurelia breathed a sigh of relief, turned to Drew, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be making the pa

    now. Thank you.¡±

    Drew smiled warmly and said, ¡°They¡¯refortable because your wife really knows you well. When

    she brought over the shoes, she noticed your walking habits and asked us to make some adjustments

    based on that.

    ¡®Although these shoes aren¡¯t as expensive as your previous ones, I believe your wife¡¯s thoughtfulness

    is absolutely priceless.¡±

    Aurelia had the urge to cover Drew¡¯s mouth, but Leslie was already staring at her. All she

    could do wasugh awkwardly and duck her head, hoping that herugh could mask her

    embarrassment.

    Fortunately, Leslie hadn¡¯t said anything. However, she seemed to have sensed that he was smiling.

    When she raised her head, she only caught sight of Leslie¡¯s back. It must have been her imagination.

    After all, Leslie had never smiled in crowded settings.

    Leslie urged, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± she said.

    Aurelia quickly caught up. It was definitely in her imagination that Leslie smiled just now.

    After they arrived home, they cooked dinner together. Neither of them mentioned going to IN Magazine

    the following day.

    On Friday morning, Aurelia was up early. She hadn¡¯t slept well the night before; and her mind was a bit

    muddled when she woke up. She hadpletely forgotten all the defenses. she had thought of.

    Although she had evidence to prove her innocence, she was afraid that she would say the wrong thing

    and cause everything to fall apart. As worry crept in, her self¨Cassurance

    waned.

    After changing her clothes, she dragged open the door with a sense of dread. She involuntarily

    squinted as the sunlight from the nearby window fell upon her.

    As she opened her eyes, she noticed the figure in the living room. That figure was d in a white shirt

    and ck suit -a timeless ssic. In the sunlight, that figure was haloed with soft light, making him look

    ethereally stunning.

    Leslie nced down and calmly adjusted his cufflinks. ¡°What are you staring at? It¡¯s almost time, let¡¯s

    go.¡±

    Aurelia came back to her senses. ¡°Are you going toe along with me?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± he asked.

    Leslie¡¯s deep, husky voice was too much for her to handle in the morning.

    Although she wasn¡¯t listening to what he was saying attentively, Aurelia nodded vigorously. As she

    continued to listen, she felt like his voice was music to her ears.

    She had never quite understood such a saying before, but now it made sense to her:

    30

    She made an effort to divert her attention. When she lowered her head to put on her shoes, Leslie

    walked over and changed his shoes as well.

    He was actually wearing the leather shoes she had given him. Paired with his outfit, it made him look

    imposing and dignified¨Cgiving him amanding presence.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Leslie stood at the doorway and said, ¡°Aurelia, quit looking. We¡¯re seriously going to bete.¡±

    Aure was stunned. ¡°Huh? Oh, okay!¡±

    That was so embarrassing! She was unexpectedly captivated by that man¡¯s appearance at

    such a moment.

    What would Leslie think of her?

 Chapter 361

    Aurelia had expected the ride to IN Magazine to be awkward. However, as soon as they got in the car,

    Leslie unexpectedly handed her a file.

    ¡°Will you be able to go through it within half an hour?¡± Leslie asked.

    When she opened it, Aurelia discovered it was background information about Lucia

    Lawson, the vice president of IN Magazine.

    She was confident as she said, ¡°Absolutely.¡±

    Before each nning session, she would always familiarize herself with the clients, so remembering

    these things wasn¡¯t a problem for her.

    However, she was somewhat doubtful.

    ¡°Why do you need me to remember Lucia¡¯s information?¡± she asked.

    Leslie exined, ¡°Lucia is the person who resents Eva the most in IN Magazine. It¡¯s because Eva only

    got her position as the fashion director at IN Magazine through connections.

    ¡°Otherwise, given her history of frequent job changes, it would have been impossible for a domestic

    magazine to suddenly let her parachute directly into the position of a director.

    After Leslie¡¯s exnation, Aurelia instantly understood Leslie¡¯s intention.

    ¡°Are you suggesting that I should use Lucia to deal with Eva?¡± Aurelia asked.

    Leslie nodded. ¡°Someone like Eva must be eliminated once and for all. Although Lucia is the perfect

    candidate to do this, shecks the opportunity to do so.

    ¡°We¡¯ll provide her with the opportunity, and she¡¯ll exercise her authority as the vice president of IN

    Magazine. After all, we should work together to achieve our goals.¡±

    Aurelia felt touched by the gesture. ¡°I understand now. Thank you so much for your help, Mr. Synder.

    We usually spend a lot of time and money trying to find out about our client¡¯s preferences, but

    sometimes we can only get a superficial understanding.

    ¡°Suchprehensive information is probably only known by those close to Lucia. You must have

    asked a lot of people for help, right?¡±

    Leslie shrugged. ¡°I guess you could say that.¡±

    In fact, he had only asked his mother for help with it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m confident that I won¡¯t lose today,¡± assured Aurelia.

    Aurelia gripped the documents tightly in her hand. If Leslie was willing to spend so much. effort helping

    her, she couldn¡¯t afford to fail at thest moment.

    On the way to the office, Aurelia quickly jotted down all of Lucia¡¯s preferences.

    As they approached IN Magazine, she happened to notice a store on the side of the road and

    immediately asked Leslie to pull over.

    Leslie looked puzzled as she quickly got out of the car and rushed into the store. After buying what she

    needed, she happily returned to the car.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said.

    Leslie nced at the store name and said, ¡°It seems like you¡¯re already putting it into practice right

    away.¡±

    Aurelia was incredibly bright. She just needed a little push to figure things out on her

    OWIL

    She smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve learned a lot from you. I¡¯ll show you what I can doter.¡±

    After ten minutes, they pulled up in front of IN Magazine. As soon as Aurelia got out of the car, she

    noticed that quite a few people were staring at her. They were probably online influencers trying to

    piggyback on the buzz.

    Aurelia ignored them and walked through the entrance with Leslie. When they saw that it was only the

    two of them, the onlookers¡® gaze was filled with unconcealed contempt.

    However, when they noticed Leslie, their gazes became somewhatplicated. It was even to the

    extent that they openly coveted Leslie in front of Aurelia.

    Didn¡¯t they know that Leslie was a married man? It was disrespectful of them to ogle Leslie in front of

    Aurelia.

    Despite Aurelia¡¯s re, those people paid her no attention. They continued to stare at Leslie with

    undisguised desire.

    Aurelia pursed her lips, turned around, and stood in front of Leslie.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, there¡¯s some dust on your sleeve. I¡¯ll get it for you,¡± Aurelia said.

    After saying that, she lifted Leslie¡¯s hand. She discreetly unted Leslie¡¯s gold ring on his

    ring finger, making sure everyone saw it.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    Leslie realized what Aurelia was trying to do and whispered, ¡°Do you want me to hold up my hand?¡±

    Aurelia was taken aback. Her hand stopped patting his sleeve as she realized how foolish

    she had been.

    Yet when she released her hand, Leslie promptly took hold of it and led her into the meeting room.

    ¡°It¡¯s more obvious this way,¡± he said.

    Aurelia was taken aback once again. She felt her palm tingle with heat. Her heart was pounding so

    hard it felt like it would leap out of her chest.

 Chapter 362

    As soon as she entered the meeting room, she managed to calm her racing heart and quickly assumed

    her usual professional demeanor.

    Yet, when they stepped in, there was no one in the meeting room.

    Aurelia sighed and said, ¡°It seems they¡¯re trying to intimidate us.

    Leslie found a seat and sat down. ¡°Eva wants to break down your psychological defenses.

    Aurelia smirked and nced at the side cab nearby, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not going to give in so easily. I

    might as well do something else then.¡±

    As she spoke, she took out the items she had just bought from her bag and started to tinker with them

    on the side cab.

    As soon as she was done preparing, Eva and her entourage entered the room.

    When Eva saw Aurelia standing at the side cab making tea, she couldn¡¯t help but

    sneer.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, isn¡¯t it a bitte to try to curry favor now?¡± she mocked.

    Aurelia ignored her tone and said, ¡°Ms. Hanks, I¡¯m not one to sit around. How about we sit down and

    have a chat? I¡¯ve already made us some coffee.¡±

    Eva was slightly taken aback by Aurelia¡¯s calm tone. She didn¡¯t appear to be worried in

    the slightest.

    Aurelia had been subjected to a barrage of hateful insults from inte trolls. She didn¡¯t believe Aurelia

    could endure such relentless attacks.

    Aurelia felt Eva¡¯s gaze and scoffed inwardly. It seemed that even Eva understood that an ordinary

    person would crumble under the weight of so many baseless rumors.

    Yet Eva still allowed those people to spread rumors and defame her. This suggested that she was well

    aware of such tactics, rather than being clueless about them.

    Aurelia brought the brewed coffee to the meeting table across from her.

    ¡°Please have some, Ms. Hanks,¡± offered Aurelia.

    Eva sarcastically remarked, ¡°Ms. Simmons seems to have a knack for this kind of thing. It

    Chapter Sy

    seems like you¡¯re quite experienced.¡±

    Aurelia merely smiled at her remark.

    Eva awkwardly motioned toward the woman beside her and said, ¡°Allow me to introduce Lucia Lawson,

    Vice President of IN Magazine. Our president is currently overseas attending a major fashion show and

    is unable to attend to this trivial matter personally.

    She has entrusted Ms. Lawson to handle it.

    Eva¡¯s tone came across as mildly offensive toward Lucia, especially when she emphasized ¡°Vice

    President¡± and ¡°trivial matter¡°. It seemed as if shepletely disregarded Lucia

    Lucia was dressed in a white suit, entuated by a leather belt around her waist. She looked assertive

    and confident, just like her personality. Even with the delicate touch of her pearl earrings, she still

    seemed unusually serious.

    She brushed off Eva¡¯s sarcasm and nodded slightly toward Aurelia.

    Aurelia set the cup down before Lucia, saying, ¡°Please have some, Ms. Lawson.¡±

    Lucia was somewhat intrigued by Aurelia¡¯s cordial demeanor. She then raised her gaze to nce at

    her.

    Aurelia smiled and turned around to distribute the other coffees.

    She finally walked over to Leslie and briefly introduced him to the people in the room.

    ¡°Leslie Synder, my husband. Now, let¡¯s get things underway, shall we?¡± she began.

    As soon as she said that, Eva acted swiftly and tossed an agreement toward Aurelia and

    Leslie.

    ¡°Here¡¯s ourpany¡¯s liability waiver agreement. We hope that Ms. Simmons will take the initiative and

    assume full responsibility for her actions,¡± Eva said.

    Aurelia picked up the agreement. It was a thick stack of papers, and it would take at least an hour to

    read through it all. However, she had barely gotten through two lines when Eva¡¯s impatience kicked in.

    ¡°You should stop wasting your time reading it. Do you even understand it? Do you s think ourpany

    is trying to take advantage of people like you?¡± she mocked.

    Aurelia brushed off the remark and was about to resume reading, but Leslie stepped in

    and took the agreement.

    Leslie quickly skimmed through the agreement at an inhuman speed, even surprising

    those seated nearby.

    ¡°Is this yourpany¡¯s liability waiver, or an admission of guilt?¡± he questioned.

    ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Eva asked Leslie, frowning.

    ¡°So the agreement mandates my wife to assume full responsibility? And alsopensate for your

    company¡¯s expenses?¡± he continued.

    Eva sneered, ¡°Of course. She dyed our schedule and almost made us miss the deadline for the next

    issue¡¯s cover. I¡¯ve already kept it as low as possible. If you can¡¯t afford it, don¡¯t waste our time.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, as far as I know, you were the one who arranged the meeting with my wife at 9:00 am,¡±

    said Leslie.

    Eva tried to deny it. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± she asked.

 Chapter 363

    Aurelia took out her phone. ¡°Here¡¯s a message from Ms. Hanks¡® assistant, Flora Lincoln. She

    scheduled a meeting at the photoshoot location at 9:00 am. Do you think it¡¯s fake? Let¡¯s verify that.¡±

    After saying that, Aurelia didn¡¯t give anyone on the other side a chance to respond and directly dialed

    the number.

    Flora, standing behind Eva, panicked and tried to turn off her phone. However, she identally

    dropped it and the melodious ringtone rang through the meeting room.

    Lucia frowned and nced at Eva.

    vou aware

    Eva turned around and red at Flora. She snapped, ¡°Aren¡¯t that you should turn off your phone during

    meetings?¡±

    Flora nervously responded, ¡°I¨CI¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Eva immediately pointed to the door and said, ¡°Get out of here! Pack up your things and leave this

    instant.¡±

    Flora¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Eva.

    Eva disregarded Flora and said, ¡°You¡¯ve seen it too¨Cthis is Flora¡¯s way of doing things. I¡¯ve already let

    her go a long time ago. I only kept her around for the shoot out of pity.

    ¡°Although she messed up the scheduling, it doesn¡¯t mean it was ourpany¡¯s fault. At the end of the

    day, we¡¯re here to talk about the damaged jewelry, not the scheduling

    issue.¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Aurelia¡¯s fists clenched tightly. Despite everyone being present, Eva still had the gall to

    twist the facts.

    Eva smiled at Aurelia¡¯s silence and said, ¡°Ms. Simmons, it¡¯s no use fighting against us. We hope you¡¯ll

    sign the agreement soon to prevent this matter from escting. It won¡¯t be good for your reputation

    either.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Aurelia raised an eyebrow and asked.

    Aurelia turned her gaze to look at Flora, who was trembling at the side. ¡°Ms. Lincoln, since you were

    fired a long time ago, why are you still doing things for Ms. Hanks? And you even scheduled meetings

    for her. What¡¯s the meaning of this? Are you acting on your own?

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I can¡¯t sign the agreement. How can I be sure that someone didn¡¯t purposely have

    you invite me to the photoshoot location to cause an ident?¡±

    She continued, ¡°Since Ms. Hanks has denied all responsibilities, then it¡¯s all on you. What right do you

    have to personally schedule a meeting with us to discuss cooperation? In that case, even if you don¡¯t

    shoulder half the me, you should at least bear one¨Cfifth of it, right?¡±

    Aurelia deliberately exaggeratedly turned toward Leslie and asked, ¡°What¡¯s one¨Cfifth of 50 million

    dors? It seems like such an astronomical number that I can¡¯t even calcte

    it.¡±

    Leslie replied solemnly, ¡°Ten million dors.¡±

    When she heard that, Flora¡¯s face went ashen, and she dropped the phone she had just picked up from

    the floor.

    Besides losing her job, she suddenly had to carry the burden of paying back ten million dors! She felt

    indignant about the situation.

    Flora immediately came forward and testified against Eva.

    ¡°I¡¯m innocent! Ms. Hanks was the one who asked me to arrange a meeting with Aurelia

    at the hotel at 9:00 am. I still have the WhatsApp voice message she sent me!¡± Flora said.

    no out.

    She yed the voice message, and Eva¡¯s arrogant voice rang

    ¡°Flora, please schedule a meeting with Ms. Simmons for tomorrow at 9:00 am at the hotel of the

    photoshoot location,¡± said Eva.

    After hearing that, Eva couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She stood up, pointed at Flora, and yelled angrily,

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to get out? Get out!¡±

    Flora was so frightened that tears welled up in her eyes. After being yelled at like that, she telt

    mortified. She ran out while covering her mouth.

    Aurelia and Leslie nced at each other. It seemed like they had sessfully rift between Flora and

    Eva.

    Created a

    Although they had evidence that Kimberly had taken the wire, having Flora as a witness would leave

    Kimberlypletely defenseless.

    However, Floras was on Eva¡¯s side. If they wanted to get Flora to talk, they would have to make Flora

    see Eva¡¯s true colors.

    Who would have thought that their bond wasn¡¯t that strong after all? It was destroyed by a single

    WhatsApp message.

    Leslie chucked the agreement to Eva and said, ¡°It looks like we need to make some amendments. If

    that¡¯s truly what Ms. Hanks had said, then IN Magazine should be held ountable.¡±

    Eva was so enraged that her whole body was trembling. ¡°Are you trying to deny

    responsibility?¡±

    Leslie remained silent as he cast a nce at Aurelia.

 Chapter 364

    Aurelia was quite intuitive. Although Leslie hadn¡¯t said anything, she could still understand what he was

    trying to convey.

    At that moment, no one on the other side had spoken up except for Eva. Lucia, who was the most

    important person in the meeting room, had remained silent.

    Aurelia stood up with a smile and responded, ¡°Ms. Hanks, how could you use us of denying

    responsibility? We¡¯re obviously trying to have a proper discussion with you. Since we have differing

    opinions, let¡¯s enjoy a cup of coffee and calmly discuss this. We have plenty of time anyway.¡±

    Eva was genuinely enraged. She picked up the cup and drank half of the coffee, but then. put it down

    with a grimace of disgust.

    ¡°Did you actually serve us instant coffee?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Sorry, I only saw instant coffee on the table,¡± Aurelia exined as her gaze subtly shifted toward

    Lucia.

    Lucia took a sip as well since her cup was still in her hand. She nced around at the people around

    her, all of whom were drinking coffee.

    Unlike the others, she was holding a cup of tea instead.

    Aurelia actually went all out on that tea, which cost 700 dors per pound.

    Lucia also realized something was amiss. She set her cup down and looked at Aurelia.

    Aurelia smiled amiably. She was confident that Lucia understood her intention.

    Aurelia had learned about Lucia¡¯s preferences from the information Leslie showed her. When they

    happened to pass by a tea emporium on their way, she bought some ck tea that Lucia enjoyed.

    She tailored her approach ording to Lucia¡¯s preferences.

    If Lucia realized her drink was different from everyone else¡¯s, she¡¯d naturally be suspicious. After

    sipping the tea and realizing that it was her favorite kind, she should have realized that Aurelia was

    trying to get her attention.

    After a brief moment of eye contact, Lucia forcefully set down her cup of tea and red

    al Eva. A

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, we expect you to address the problem without stirring up further issues here. You should

    also be aware that the ne was borrowed in the name of IN Magazine. If you can¡¯t handle this

    well, everyone will be held ountable,¡± Lucia remarked.

    Lucia¡¯s remark immediately shifted all the responsibility onto Eva.

    Eva was initially a bit frustrated, but she soon regained herposure.

    ¡°Rest assured, Ms. Lawson. I¡¯ll definitely take care of it,¡± said Eva.

    ¡°Take care of it? In such a short time, the agreement you drafted has already be invalid. What

    else can you do to resolve this?¡± Lucia eximed angrily.

    Everyone present nodded in agreement, feeling that the situation had be moreplicated than

    before.

    Eva was furious. She remembered how Lucia had been against her ever since she joined thepany.

    After all, Lucia thought her frequent job changes meant she wasn¡¯t reliable, and promoting her to a

    director position right away felt like a huge risk.

    Although she was already the fashion director, Lucia would find fault in all of her decisions. As a result,

    she had long been displeased with Lucia.

    Was Lucia trying to shift all the me on her? Did she really think she would be frightened by that?

    Eva casually nced at Lucia and said with certainty, ¡°I can assure you that I¡¯ll be able to solve it.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, actions speak louder than words. What can you assure us of? Are you capable of ensuring

    IN Magazine¡¯s credibility in Carlino?¡± Lucia questioned.

    Eva sensed the disdain in Lucia¡¯s tone and stood up, stating, ¡°If I can¡¯t help thepany solve this

    issue, I¡¯m willing to step down as Fashion Director of IN Magazine.¡±

    Lucia arched a brow as she looked at her. ¡°Alright. Since so many people are here as witne s, I hope

    you¡¯ll handle this matter properly for thepany.¡±

    Eva responded with a grin, ¡°Rest assured, Ms. Lawson. We have witnesses who can prove that

    Aurelia¡¯s actions led to the damage of the ne.¡±

    Aurelia interjected, ¡°Ms. Hanks, everyone present here is from your own team, testimony shouldn¡¯t be

    valid, right?¡±

    * their

    ¡°Kimberly isn¡¯t considered part of ourpany, right? She¡¯s willing to testify that it was your retaliation

    that led to the ne being dropped,¡± she said.

    Eva gazed at the meeting room door with a triumphant look and shouted, ¡°Pleasee in, Ms.

    Watson!¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

 Chapter 365

    Aurelia and Leslie exchanged nces when they realized that Kimberly had arrived. They knew that

    the main event was about to unfold.

    In the next moment, Kimberly arrogantly strode into the meeting room.

    She briefly nced at Aurelia before approaching Lucia¡¯s side with a smile.

    Kimberly said, ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Lawson and Ms. Hanks. I¡¯m Kimberly Watson from Young

    Advertising, and I used to be Aurelia¡¯s colleague.

    ¡°We went to the hotel together that day to discuss a coboration with Ms. Hanks. In fact, Ms. Hanks

    actually thought highly of Aurelia, so she wanted to assess her by inviting her to participate in the

    photoshoot.¡±

    She continued, ¡°At times when we reach out to clients, we also try to assist them with whatever we can.

    If Ms. Hanks could think highly of me in the same manner, I¡¯d be overjoyed, and I wouldn¡¯t be as petty

    as Aurelia.

    ¡°Now that she has the support of a well¨Cknownpany like One Technology, she naturally feels

    invincible. It¡¯s not surprising that she¡¯s be conceited, but I never imagined that she would go so far

    as to destroy such a valuable ne to get back at

    Ms. Hanks.

    Kimberly sighed with a sense of regret as she spoke.

    Aurelia, however, understood very clearly that Kimberly had portrayed her as someone. who was not

    only petty but also quite arrogant.

    Before Aurelia could offer any rebuttal, Eva had already gotten up and delivered her

    verdict.

    ¡°Ms. Lawson, I hope you understand the situation now. This whole thing is nothing more than Aurelia

    seeking revenge on me. She intentionally broke the ne and she should be held ountable for

    it,¡± she stated.

    After hearing this, Lucia hesitated for a moment and silently gazed at Aurelia.

    Aurelia stood up and looked at Kimberly, asking, ¡°Are you certain that I deliberately

    broke the ne?¡±

    Kimberly looked at her in an extremely arrogant manner and said, ¡°Of course! I¡¯ve

    already given my statement to the police as well! Aurelia, you¡¯re not going to argue that

    Charter 345

    you were tripped by the wire, right?¡±

    Eva chuckled. ¡°We¡¯re not blind, Aurelia. If there was a wire, wouldn¡¯t we all notice them? Aurelia, lying

    won¡¯t help you get away with this.¡±

    Aurelia began, ¡°Actually-

    As soon as Aure began to speak, Eva raised her hand and interrupted her.

    ¡°Come on, Aurelial Stop wasting our time. While I¡¯ll let this slide considering we

    wrapped up the magazine cover shoot on schedule, you¡¯ll still have topensate for the ne,¡±

    demanded Eva.

    Aurelia tried again, saying, ¡°I wanted to say

    ¡°I told you to sign the agreement!¡± Eva interrupted her again.

    Kimberly crossed her arms and said with a sneer, ¡°Sign it already! People have better things to do with

    their time. Do you even think you¡¯re worthy of their time?¡±

    Aurelia had had enough. She raised her hand and forcefully mmed it on the table.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    A loud thud echoed as the agreement that was on the table shook for a moment. In the meeting room,

    Leslie was the only one who had the foresight to lift hisptop bag.

    Naturally, Aurelia wouldn¡¯t give in that easily!

    She shouted, ¡°Kimberly Watson! Stop being such a bootlicker! Do you really think that the deal will fall

    into your hands once you get rid of me?

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think before you act? If you sessfully framed me, do you think it¡¯s possible for IN

    Magazine and Young Advertising to coborate again in the future?

    ¡°Although you¡¯ve been with thepany for so long, what have you really developed aside from your

    talent for seducing men over the years?¡±

    Aurelia shot a nce at Kimberly¡¯s chest and said with a sneer, ¡°Oh, wait! I guess you¡¯ve developed in

    terms of your bust size.

    Kimberly¡¯s visibly erged chest heaved with anger as she took a deep breath.

    Despite her anger, she chose not to directly confront Aurelia. Instead, she directed her gaze toward the

    people from IN Magazine, particrly Lucia.

 Chapter 366

    Lucia remained silent, which seemed to indicate that she agreed with Aurelia.

    Although Young Advertising and Aurelia were no longer associated with each other, the junior

    employee of Young Advertising was still acting unprofessional in front of them. Who would actually

    want to work with them in the future?

    It would still be impossible for them to cooperate, even if a senior employee like Zachary

    hade over instead.

    Kimberly hesitated momentarily. In fact, she was about to hand in her resignation. She initially wanted

    to use IN Magazine¡¯s charity event to salvage her reputation before leaving.

    It appeared that all hope was lost. She turned to Eva, who had given her her word.

    Eva, however, showed no signs of concern, clearly indicating that her previous promises were all lies.

    Yet, Kimberly didn¡¯t dare to confront her.

    Aurelia seized the opportunity to turn to Eva and spoke loudly, ¡°What about you, Eva? Is this the

    behavior of apany director? You¡¯re constantly cutting off others and coercing others into signing

    something. I didn¡¯t know yourpany was so unprofessional. You¡¯re all colluding with outsiders.¡±

    Eva immediately snapped, ¡°Aurelia, who do you think you are to talk to me in such a manner?

    Someone like you will never reach my heights in this lifetime. You¡¯re in no position to argue with me!

    What I say goes.¡±

    Lucia reprimanded her. ¡°Eva! Behave yourself!¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap! Did I say something wrong? If she¡¯s so sure of herself, let her prove it. Otherwise, I¡¯ll

    make her regret ever crossing me!¡± Eva fiercely dered.

    Lucia frowned but didn¡¯t attempt to stop her. After all, the more Eva spoke, the easier it

    would be to find fault in her.

    After hearing what she needed to hear, Aurelia cast a nce at Leslie.

    Leslie promptly took out hisptop and opened the surveince footage. ¡°This is the surveince

    footage of Kimberly getting off the elevator. She threw something into the

    room service cart in front of her. She-¡±

    Kimberly was shocked by this revtion, and even Eva was surprised. However, the

    surveince footage didn¡¯t capture what was thrown.

    Eva scoffed. ¡°Do you think you can intimidate us by doing this? Does this footage show what was

    thrown? What does this actually prove, Leslie?¡±

    Leslie red at Eva, and his cold, intimidating gaze immediately silenced her.

    Aurelia took advantage of the situation to look at Lucia and said, ¡°Lucia, the level of professionalism in

    yourpany is really quite dismal.¡±

    Lucia had had enough and eximed, ¡°Eva! Stop this nonsense! You better shut up and sit your ass

    down now!

    Eva said through gritted teeth, ¡°Fine! I¡¯m interested to see how you¡¯ll talk your way out of this!¡±

    Aurelia picked up where Leslie left off and continued, ¡°Mr. rk from the police station has already

    located the wire through the surveince footage, and the logo on the wire confirms that it belongs to IN

    Magazine. However, Kimberly¡¯s fingerprints were found

    on the wire.

    ¡°Quite intriguing, isn¡¯t it? Ms. Hanks and Kimberly repeatedly assured us that there were no extra wires

    at the scene. So how did it end up downstairs, and how did Kimberly¡¯s fingerprints end up on it?¡±

    Kimberly blurted out in panic, ¡°That¡¯s impossible! I never even set foot in the hotel kitchen. How could I

    have possibly thrown the wire so far away?¡±

    ¡°Oh, how intriguing. Did I ever mention that the server was associated with the kitchen? How can you

    be so certain he would dispose of the trash there?¡± Aurelia pointed out her mistake and questioned her

    in return.

    Kimberly stuttered, ¡°I-¡±

    Aurelia cut her off and said, ¡°I can answer that for you. That server was delivering food to Room 2705.¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Aurelia nced at Eva and continued, ¡°Ms. Hanks, does this room number ring a bell?¡±

    Eva immediately fell silent.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you quite talkative just now?¡± Aurelia mocked.

    Lucia wasn¡¯t going to let this opportunity slip by, and she demanded, ¡°Eva, fess up! Remember, the

    company logs all equipment usage. A quick check will reveal what¡¯s missing.¡±

    Chanter 366

    Eva¡¯s face fell, and she cast a disbelieving look at Lucia.

    ¡°Ms. Lawson, y¨Cyou¡¯re actually siding with Aurelia?¡± she asked.

 Chapter 367

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you still want IN Magazine to cover up for you? Do you think you can do

    whatever you want here?¡± Lucia questioned.

    ¡°We¡¯re all on the same side! We should be supporting each other!¡± Eva insisted.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t side with you. After all, our priority is the truth!¡± Lucia quickly separated herself

    from Eva.

    Eva was rendered speechless.

    At that moment, Aurelia suddenly received a message.

    She nced at Eva and said, ¡°Ms. Hanks, it seems like our discussions are for nothing since the police

    have already proven that I¡¯m innocent.¡±

    ¡°Impossible!¡± shouted Eva.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Aurelia asked with a raised brow.

    Aurelia smiled and nced at the door of the meeting room.

    At that moment, Dennis pushed open the door and strode up to Eva and Kimberly.

    ¡°Excuse me,dies. We need you two toe with us,¡± he ordered.

    Eva¡¯s face turned pale, but she quickly regained herposure.

    She immediately backtracked, saying, ¡°My apologies for making youe all this way. We¡¯ve just

    reviewed the surveince footage, and it turns out that I was mistaken. I never expected Kimberly to do

    something like this to frame Aurelia.¡±

    Aurelia was taken aback. She gazed at Eva incredulously. How could she change her tune

    so quickly?

    Kimberly was also taken aback momentarily before responding, ¡°Eva, what are you talking about? It

    was clearly you-¡±

    Eva cut her off, saying, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. No wonder Kimberly turned up to the photoshoot as well when our

    company specifically requested Aurelia. It turns out that Kimberly had already devised a n to deal

    with Aurelia.¡±

    ¡°Eva, didn¡¯t you im that you didn¡¯t see the wire? Why are you backtracking now?¡±

    Dennis asked.

    ¡°I genuinely didn¡¯t see it because Kimberly was blocking my line of sight. If you don¡¯t believe me,

    ask the others who were present. None of us saw it,¡± she insisted.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Eva knowingly shifted the me. If she had seen the wire, it meant everyone on the scene would have

    seen the wire as well. As a result, those who had given their statement. to the police would be caught

    lying.

    Therefore, everyone could only bite the bullet and insist that they didn¡¯t see the wire.

    As for Flora, she could only lie as well. After all, she didn¡¯t dare to help Kimberly and get in trouble for

    it.

    Kimberly finally realized that she had been double¨Ccrossed. She shouted, ¡°Eva! Are you trying to shift

    the me now? You were clearly the one scheming against Aurelia for the sake of your backer! That¡¯s

    why you approached me in the first ce!¡±

    Eva denied it, asking, ¡°Who is this ¡®backer¡± you speak of? When did I ever approach you? As far as I

    remember, it was you who approached me on the day of the incident.

    ¡°It looked like you came to scope out the ce in advance. No wonder you were the first to step up and

    use Aurelia when it happened.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to pay for this!¡± shouted Kimberly.

    When Kimberly realized the severity of the situation, she immediately rushed up to attack Eva.

    However, Dennis quickly intervened and pulled her away.

    Dennis asked again, ¡°Why did you just happen to call for room service when Kimberly went

    downstairs? At that time, you were supposed toe with us to the police station. There was no need

    to call room service.¡±

    Eva exined, ¡°I called room service for the model. She hadn¡¯t eaten or drunk anything all morning,

    and the shoot was suspended. I couldn¡¯t just leave her waiting.¡±

    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, you still need to cooperate with the investigation,¡± said Dennis.

    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely cooperate with the investigation. After all, I was also exploited by such a malicious

    person,¡± Eva said while feigning innocence.

    After saying that, Eva nced at Aurelia with a smug expression. It was as if she was taunting Aurelia

    for herck of capability to bring her down.

    Aurelia¡¯s heart sank. She honestly didn¡¯t expect Eva to actually escape scot¨Cfree using such devious

    methods.

    Charts 36

    Kimberly snapped when she found out that everything had been ced squarely on her shoulders.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! I¡¯m not the one at fault here! It¡¯s Eva! It¡¯s that bitch!¡± she screeched.

    ¡°Now that the matter has been cleared up, we still need to proceed with our meeting. Mr. rk, is it

    possible to take Kimberly out first?¡± Aurelia asked.

    Dennis promptly gestured to those behind him and said, ¡°Take her away.¡±

    After that, he turned toward Eva and said, ¡°Now that it has been proven that Kimberly set up Aurelia,

    are you going to withdraw your report against Aurelia? After all, you were the one who reported the

    ne incident to the police.¡±

 Chapter 368

    Everyone assumed Eva would withdraw the report. However, she unexpectedly gave Aurelia a smug

    look and shook her head.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be withdrawing my report. After all, I¡¯ll still hold Aurelia ountable for dropping the ne. If

    it weren¡¯t for the conflict between her and Kimberly, how could the ne be broken? She still needs

    to bear responsibility for it,¡± she insisted.

    As long as she could make Aurelia pay for it¨Ceven if it was just one¨Cfifth of it¨Cit would still be enough to

    financially ruin Aurelia.

    As long as she could do that, she would be able to achieve her goal.

    Aurelia bit her lip, momentarily unsure how to counter Eva.

    Although the situation had taken an unexpected turn, no one expected that Eva seemed to have

    prepared a way out in advance.

    Therefore, Eva still had the right to hold Aurelia ountable.

    Although she wasn¡¯t directly responsible for the incident, she could still be held ountable for the

    damages.

    In short, it was Aurelia¡¯s fault for being associated with the supposed main culprit, Kimberly, and also

    being the one who personally dropped the ne.

    Besides, Aurelia was also the one who willingly epted Eva¡¯s request to retrieve the box of jewelry.

    Therefore, it would be difficult for her to extricate herself from the situation.

    While she was at her wit¡¯s end, Leslie slowly stood up and walked toward her.

    ¡°We intended to hold IN Magazine and Eva ountable as well,¡± he dered.

    Eva sneered, ¡°Are you out of your mind, Leslie? What right do you have to hold us

    ountable?¡±

    ¡°Although I don¡¯t have the right, Aurelia does. Please take a look at the documents I have before we

    proceed,¡± he said simply.

    After saying that, Leslie took out the documents and passed them to Lucia.

    When she looked through them, Lucia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and her expression

    quickly turned grave.

    ¡°Eva, you¡¯d better give us a good exnation for this!¡± she demanded.

    ¡°Huh? Why should I have to exin anything?¡± Eva asked, confused.

    Eva stepped forward, her eyes quickly scanning the documents before her expression turned

    incredulous. ¡°No! This can¡¯t be true!¡±

    Aurelia was puzzled. What could have caused such a reaction?

    Right as she was about to step forward, Eva snatched the documents from Lucia¡¯s hands.

    Eva frantically rifled through the documents. After going through them three times, she suddenly lifted

    her gaze and red fiercely at Aurelia.

    She shouted, ¡°There¡¯s no way this could be true! It must have been forged! I refuse to believe it! Go get

    thewyer right now! I¡¯ll definitely make her regret this!

    ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯ve just made your situation much worse by attempting to forge something like this. I¡¯ll

    make sure you end up behind bars!¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Eva confidently shook the documents in her hand.

    Before long, Eva¡¯swyer, Lewis Sandler, rushed into the room.

    Eva handed the documents to Lewis. ¡°Please examine these and prove to Ms. Simmons that I¡¯m not

    that easily fooled!¡±

    ¡°Got it, Ms. Hanks,¡± he said.

    Lewis meticulously read through the documents, leaving no detail unchecked. He even grabbed his

    phone for a quick search, his face growing more worried with each result.

    In the end, Lewis sneakily nced at Aurelia before approaching Eva and whispered, ¡± Ms. Hanks, I¡¯ve

    checked it-¡±

    ¡°Speak up, Mr. Sandler. We must make sure that Ms. Simmons understands the consequences of

    forging documents. We can¡¯t have her using us of mistreating herter on,¡± Eva said haughtily.

    Lewis tentatively responded, ¡°There¡¯s no problem with it.¡±

    Eva eximed in disbelief, ¡°What did you just say? That¡¯s impossible!¡±

    ¡°Although thou¡¯re just confes all the necessary documentation is present ¡°Lewis said.

    Eva uttered through gritted teeth, ¡°That¡¯s impossible-¡±

    At that moment, Leslie interjected, ¡°Since Ms. Hanks is still unconvinced about it, why don¡¯t we hear

    what ourwyer has to say?¡±

 Chapter 369

    Just as Leslie finished speaking, the meeting room door swung open. A serious¨Clooking man walked

    in.

    Aurelia instantly recognized the man. Wasn¡¯t he thewyer who showed up to sort things. out after

    Leslie bumped into Jackson¡¯s carst time?

    After that incident, Aurelia learned that this man, Allen Bart, was one of the topwyers in Seacester.

    With such an impressive track record, Allen was in high demand. His schedule was always full, leaving

    no room for those who sought his services.

    As Allen entered, even Eva¡¯swyer showed respect, looking quite afraid of him..

    Allen smiled faintly. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Ms. Simmons¡® legal representative. I can assure you the

    documents are legally sound.¡±

    Eva nced at Allen in surprise. She couldn¡¯t believe that Aurelia could afford such an expensive

    lawyer.

    Eva clenched her fists tightly. With anger in her eyes, she grabbed the documents from the table and

    ripped them apart. ¡°Ha! Do you think you can trick me? That¡¯s not happening!¡±

    ¡°Eva Hanks! You¡¯re crossing the line!¡± Lucia scolded, looking displeased.

    Eva snorted defiantly. ¡°Do you think you can kick me out with this, Ms. Lawson? Not a chance!

    ¡°Aurelia and Leslie probably emptied their pockets just to hire Mr. Bart, right? You¡¯re trying to scare me,

    huh? Well, I don¡¯t scare easily!¡±

    Eva couldn¡¯t believe Aurelia could get those documents. She convinced herself that it was impossible

    when she thought about the contents of the documents,

    Allen casually took out another document from his briefcase. ¡°Ms. Hanks, this is the original document.

    If you still don¡¯t believe it, I can have my friend from the notary office. provide another notarized original

    document¡±

    Eva remained silent. Her face turned pale as she noticed the bright red seal on the document held by

    Allen.

    It was only at the moment that Aurelia finally saw the contents of the document. It was a jewelry

    transfer agreement.

    As Aurelia continued reading, she could hardly believe what she was seeing. Her name was clearly

    written under the column of the ne¡¯s owner.

    Could this be what it feels like when money falls from the sky? Aurelia felt dizzy as she tried to count

    how many zeros were in 50 million.

    Luckily, Leslie steadied her in time.

    Aurelia gripped Leslie¡¯s arm tightly, looking up at him, questioning what was going on.

    Leslie just looked at her calmly, nodding slightly to reassure her that everything was fine.

    For some reason, Aurelia¡¯s unsettled emotions were instantly soothed by Leslie. She always believed

    that Leslie wouldn¡¯t deceive her.

    So when Aurelia nced at Eva again, she felt much moreposed.

    Meanwhile, Eva appeared shocked and worried.

    However, Leslie didn¡¯t give Eva a chance to speak. He pulled out another document. ¡°This is the

    agreement between Ms. Hanks and the ne¡¯s owner.

    ¡°In Articles 10, 12, and 15, Ms. Hanks, you were repeatedly reminded not to let the ne out of your

    sight, not to entrust it to others, and definitely not to let it pass through other hands.¡±

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    He continued, ¡°Ms. Hanks, it seems like you haven¡¯t taken any of those uses seriously. Don¡¯t use

    us of forging agreements again. Your signature is there, along with thepany¡¯s official seal.¡±

    ¡°Now that Aurelia owns the ne, she has the right to hold both you and the

    magazine publisher ountable,¡± Leslie said as he lightly tapped the agreement on the table three

    times.

 Chapter 370

    Every tap felt like a death sentence to Eva. Her face turned pale even before she grasped. the

    consequences.

    Eva licked her lips, her once stylishly tousled short hair now just looked like a mess. She gritted her

    teeth and stared at Aurelia. ¡°Aurelia, you can¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°I can. Just because I¡¯m the one who owns the ne now,¡± Aurelia said coldly. ¡°Ms. Hanks, don¡¯t

    forget, you and your colleagues confessed to Mr. rk that you wanted to test me, so you let me

    handle the ne. You¡¯ve already broken the agreement.¡±

    Upon hearing this, sweat began to form on Eva¡¯s forehead.

    But being familiar with the industry¡¯s challenges, Eva promptly came up with an excuse for herself.

    ¡°Even though I went against the agreement, how could I have known the ne would be so fragile?

    ¡°Ultimately, it¡¯s on you for being careless. You¡¯re the main one to me here. Since you. own the

    ne now, you should deal with the consequences yourself.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, you really surprised me. Is your magazine publisher all about twisting the truth?¡± Aurelia

    sneered.

    ¡°Did I get it wrong? You¡¯re the one who dropped the ne, right? I never event

    touched it.¡± Eva seemed to grasp the opportunity. Despite knowing she had broken the agreement, she

    still acted superior.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t touch it, but what about Flora? She just happened to run into Mr. rk outside, and I¡¯m sure

    she spilled everything by now,¡± Aurelia remarked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not scared. What could Flora possibly say?¡± Eva frowned.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    Aurelia pointed out, ¡°Ms. Hanks, can you please exin why I dropped the box, but it was. the

    ne that ended up on the ground?

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me the bank¡¯s safe deposit box isn¡¯t secure. If you do, they¡¯lle asking for answers

    tomorrow. With so many VIP clients, who would trust the bank if their safe deposit box wasn¡¯t secure?¡±

    With Eva¡¯s pressure bearing down on her, Aurelia spoke each word with conviction and Lorce, leaving

    Eva at a loss for words.

    Actually, Leslie had told her all of this.

    When they reviewed the CCTV and saw Flora opening the safe deposit box, Aurelia had a

    lot of questions.

    So Leslie exined the whole process of how the bank manages valuable items.

    Without Leslie¡¯s broad knowledge, Aurelia wouldn¡¯t have dared to imagine how wealthy people live,

    with their houses unable to amodate all their jewelry.

    But upon closer reflection, she realized her ignorance was unsurprising. Her whole family didn¡¯t even

    have a bank ount with more than six figures. She didn¡¯t even need to store items in a vault.

    was t

    Leslie also mentioned that whenever something from the vault, apart from the owner, there would

    always be professional security guards with the safe deposit. box itself.

    When needed, the safe deposit box could not only resist knives but also bullets. Aurelia managed to

    break such a sturdy box with just a fall.

    The securitypany must be cursing her out if that was the case.

    ¡°So, Ms. Hanks, are you brave enough to confront me at the bank?¡± asked Aurelia.

    ¡°You¡­¡± Eva stared nkly at Aurelia as if she were a stranger.

    Aurelia appeared to be an attractive but ordinary individual,cking any remarkable

    abilities.

    But she disyed no fear when confronted with scious rumors. Therefore, it was not surprising that

    she wouldn¡¯t easily give up.

    Eva realized she had underestimated Aurelia.

    Before Eva could gather her thoughts, Lucia noticed the timing was about right and

    promptly stood up to Simmons, first of all, I¡¯d like to

    put an end to themotion. ¡°Ms apologize on behalf of the magazine publisher.

    ¡°We¡¯ll definitely take full responsibility for any issues caused by our magazine publisher.

    ¡°However, Ms. Hanks is mainly responsible for the ne this time. As forpensation, I think

    you¡¯ll have to pursue a im from her directly.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Lawson!¡± Eva eximed, clearly frustrated as she nced at Lucia.

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, do you really think the president would let you bring down the magazine publisher?¡± Lucia

    warned Eva.

    Eva was left speechless.

    But Aurelia raised her hand. ¡°Wait a minute, Ms. Lawson, it doesn¡¯t seem right for the magazine

    publisher to just get out of responsibility like that, does it?¡±

    Lucia frowned, her face showing displeasure. Everything was going Aurelia¡¯s way. What more did she

    want?

 Chapter 371

    Lucia nced at Aurelia, puzzled. ¡°Ms. Simmons, what do you want then?¡±

    Aurelia pulled out her phone and tapped on Eva¡¯s Instagram ount. ¡°Ms. Hanks, using her IN

    Magazine Fashion Director certification, keeps posting personal attacks and nder against me. Yet

    yourpany hasn¡¯t intervened. Can I assume you¡¯re condoning her actions?¡±

    While she aimed to leverage Lucia to eliminate Eva, wasn¡¯t the magazine publisher¡¯s indifference to

    Eva¡¯s actions equally harmful to her?

    Trying to shake off Eva now wasn¡¯t as easy as she thought.

    Lucia nced at Aurelia with a hint of surprise. She had initially pegged her as someone with just a bit

    of cleverness. But, it seemed she was actually quite impressive, holding others ountable right after

    utilizing them. Her courage had nothing to do with her adorable face.

    Even so, Lucia couldn¡¯t help but admire Aurelia. With a bit of guidance, she was destined

    for sess.

    Lucia remainedposed. ¡°So?¡±

    Aurelia had prepared something of her own. She immediately took out a proposal from her bag. ¡°Ms.

    Lawson, please take a look.¡±

    When Lucia saw the proposal, both she and Leslie were stunned.

    Aurelia was undoubtedly the most passionate worker Leslie had ever encountered among women.

    Despite being fired, she hadn¡¯t abandoned her ns.

    Aurelia added, ¡°I¡¯m aware your magazine publisher has been organizing a charity event for women

    lately. But if allegations of ndering women, or even coercing confessions, were to surface now, I

    question whether this event should proceed.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Eva pointed angrily at Aurelia. ¡°Who do you think you are, trying to threaten us like

    that, Aurelia?¡±

    Aurelia nced at Eva and spoke calmly, ¡°Ms. Hanks, I could either be the mediator for this meeting or

    the one who¡¯s been wronged. It¡¯s up to you how you want to approach this.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Eva gritted her teeth and red at Aurelia. ¡°Aurelia, do you think you¡¯re all that?

    Just because-¡±

    ¡°Wait a moment,¡± Lucia interrupted Eva abruptly. Then she pointed to the proposal on the table. ¡°Ms.

    Simmons, did you actually write this?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s just a first draft.¡± Aurelia nodded.

    ¡°Share your thoughts.¡± Lucia gestured.

    ¡°Okay,¡± said Aurelia.

    After Aurelia finished speaking, Eva stepped forward to intercept Lucia. ¡°Ms. Lawson, are you out of

    your mind? She¡¯s here to make trouble, and you¡¯re actually backing her?¡±

    Lucia spoke firmly as she used Eva of reckless behavior, ¡°Ms. Hanks, let¡¯s face it. Most of the

    trouble seems to being from you, doesn¡¯t it?

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°The police have already issued an investigation notice. Do you really think those influencers you

    reached out to will still have your back at this point? They¡¯re probably too busy trying to protect

    themselves.

    ¡°And trust me, it won¡¯t be long before angryizense banging on the magazine publisher¡¯s door.

    Do you really want the president toe back and find his hometown under siege? Or do you have a

    better n?¡±

    Even with Eva¡¯s background, nobody dared to support her.

    With no response from anyone, Eva, feeling frustrated, resorted to a sneaky move.

    She tried threatening again, ¡°This is IN Magazine¡¯s turf. If we catch Aurelia trying anything fishy, what

    can she do to us? If she doesn¡¯t sign the liability waiver agreement today, we¡¯ll¡­¡±

 Chapter 372

    Lucia grabbed a cup of coffee from someone nearby and sshed it onto Eva¡¯s face. ¡°Are you feeling

    calmer now? If you keep talking nonsense, I won¡¯t hold back!¡±

    Eva¡¯s face was drenched in coffee. Despite her anger, Lucia¡¯s words left her stunned.

    Lucia turned to Aurelia and nodded. ¡°Ms. Simmons, my apologies for the interruption. Please go on.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t pay attention to Eva¡¯s fiery re. She remained calm as she said, ¡°It¡¯s easy to settle this

    peacefully. First, I need Ms. Hanks to apologize publicly, and I also require the magazine publisher to

    apologize to me.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, while Eva is with the magazine publisher, the people she hired online aren¡¯t connected

    to us. We didn¡¯t join in on her personal attacks against you,¡± Lucia

    countered.

    Aurelia stood her ground, facing Lucia and her team with determination. ¡°Ms. Lawson, isn¡¯t simply

    standing by a form of involvement? You¡¯re all in the media business. You were aware of your

    employee¡¯s mistakes but chose not to intervene. Isn¡¯t that the same as condoning it?

    ¡°A magazine that ims to support women¡¯s rights, yet allows its employees to bully an ordinary

    woman. Isn¡¯t that considered as taking part?¡±

    Aurelia continued, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, your charity event is supposed to help people

    understand how hard it is for women. But if you can¡¯t even stick up for women¡¯s rights when it happens

    near you, then why bother dreaming big?

    ¡°Women¡¯s struggles ain¡¯t fixed just by

    ving money. It¡¯s when they suffer quietly, are taken for granted, ignored, silenced, and pushed to

    compromise. The charity event isn¡¯t just about giving cash and love, but about pushing women to rise

    from the mess.¡±

    Aurelia calmly and confidently suggested, ¡°I propose to use myself as an example. Before the charity

    event, I¡¯ll agree to an interview with you and reveal everything that¡¯s happened recently.

    ¡°I¡¯ll encourage women like me, those who are ndered and face scious rumors, to speak up.

    Doesn¡¯t that sound better than spending millions on advertising campaigns?¡±

    When she finished speaking, the entire meeting room fell silent. That was until Lucia apuded,

    followed by those around her.

    Lucia approached Aurelia and reached out. ¡°I¡¯ve underestimated you. I thought you needed Mr. Synder

    here to negotiate with us directly. That was my mistake. Would you be interested in joining the charity

    event?¡±

    ¡°But¡­ I¡¯ve been fired,¡± Aurelia said hesitantly.

    ¡°Individuals matter here. We¡¯re just focused on what you can do, not the size of yourpany,¡± Lucia

    assured.

    ¡°Alright, but we need a contract. It has to specify that yourpany is hiring me directly and that the

    pay will match market rates,¡± Aurelia said.

    Lucia¡¯s serious expression softened with a smile. ¡°No problem. With Mr. Synder

    supporting you, we won¡¯t mess around with the contract. I¡¯ll arrange interviews and live broadcasts

    about this incident in the next few days. Be prepared.¡±

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    ¡°Sure thing.¡± Aurelia shook Lucia¡¯s hand, then winked at Leslie.

    Leslie nced at Aurelia with a hint of surprise in his eyes. He knew she wasn¡¯t one to just sit around

    and wait for things to happen.

    But Eva was unhappy with the oue. ¡°I won¡¯t ept it. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m apologizing to Aurelia!¡±

    sheined.

    ¡°Ms. Hanks, it seems you¡¯re not in control here,¡± Aurelia said. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to settle the ne

    issue amicably. But if it goes to court and I demand a public trial, you won¡¯t only be med in court.

    You¡¯ll also have to pay me. It¡¯s up to you.¡±

    ¡°You¡­¡± Eva¡¯s face turned pale as she stammered.

    Lucia ignored Eva and said, ¡°Ms. Simmons, don¡¯t mind her. I¡¯ll walk you out.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Ms. Lawson,¡± Aurelia responded.

    And with that, Aurelia and Lucia left Eva in the meeting room and went down the stairs

    together.

 Chapter 373

    Outside the building, the online influencers were puzzled when they saw Lucia walking Aurelia down

    the stairs.

    After saying goodbye to Lucia, Aurelia thanked Allen before getting into Leslie¡¯s car.

    Before the car even started moving, Aurelia anxiously said, ¡°Mr. Synder! What¡¯s going on? Howe

    I¡¯m the one who owns the ne?

    Leslie struggled to get the words out. He was about to exin when Aurelia interrupted him and said,

    ¡°Oh, I get it! Your boss is the one who secretly owns the ne, right? Is that why you went to beg

    him again?¡±

    After pondering for a moment, Leslie replied casually, ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Aurelia looked at him with urgency. ¡°If Eva doesn¡¯t want this to blow up, she¡¯ll have to pay up. I¡¯ll give

    you both sums once I get the money from the coboration with IN Magazine Publisher.¡±

    Leslie frowned and asked, ¡°Why?¡±

    Aurelia exined, ¡°You should hand it over to your boss. He must really trust you to bother getting it

    notarized and hiring such a toughwyer. Just these expenses alone are no small sum. If you owe him

    too much, you¡¯ll feel troubled.

    ¡°I know you don¡¯t like being controlled, so let¡¯s not dwell on it too much. I¡¯ll return the money from the

    ne, and we¡¯ll figure out the rest of the favors as we go.¡±

    Leslie stared at Aurelia in disbelief. Even at the lowest market price, she should¡¯ve known. that

    coborating with IN Magazine Publisher under her own name would still rake in at six¨Cfigure ie

    after this event.

    And yet, she was handing everything over to him just so he wouldn¡¯t owe his boss any

    favors.

    Sensing Leslie¡¯s gaze, Aurelia looked at him, puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is it too little? But

    I¡¯m broke.¡®

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, keep the money,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°No, we¡¯re married. We should¡­¡± Aurelia stopped herself mid¨Csentence, identally letting slip the

    word ¡°married¡°.

    ¡°What should we do?¡± Leslie was cager to hear her continue.

    ¡°Help each other,¡± Aurelia replied.

    ¡°Is that all?¡± Leslie didn¡¯t like the awkward atmosphere, but he knew he had been pushing Aurelia away

    all this time. So why did it feel like he was suddenly being friendly?

    Aurelia didn¡¯t understand what he meant. Even with close rtionships, financial rity still mattered.

    Shouldn¡¯t fake spouses be even more urate with their divisions?

    As she was about to answer Leslie¡¯s question, a reckless online influencer approached

    their car with a phone in hand.

    Aurelia quickly covered her face. ¡°Hurry, let¡¯s get out of here! These people will do anything for fame.¡±

    With a frown, Leslie nced at the person by the car window. Then, he hit the gas and sped away,

    leaving a trail of dust for those behind them.

    Leslie was about to ask his question again, but Aurelia¡¯s phone ringing interrupted him.

    Aurelia answered the call. ¡°Hey. Really? Okay, I¡¯ll be there right away.¡±

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    After ending the call, she breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Leslie. ¡°Mr. rk nabbed Seth at the

    airport and found tons of face¨Cswapped videos and photos of me on hisptop. That settles it, then. Mr.

    rk wants me to swing by,¡± she exined.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Leslie nodded and began heading toward the police station.

    As soon as Aurelia and Leslie stepped into the lobby, they heard Seth¡¯s voice echoing loudly

    throughout the space. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! Kimberly was the one who reached out to me! ¡± he said.

    ¡°Bullshit! Seth, if you didn¡¯t have that idea, would you have agreed so easily? And you even swapped

    faces with Aurelia overnight!¡± Kimberly snapped from the next room.

    Just then, Megan Grant, the cop handling the case, rushed over. ¡°Aurelia, you¡¯re here. You heard it all.

    There¡¯s no need for questioning. They revealed everything during the argument,¡± she exined.

    ¡°When can I publish the face¨Cswapped photos online?¡± Aurelia asked.

 Chapter 374

    ¡°Anytime. We¡¯ve got all the evidence gathered already, so feel free to provide whatever evidence you

    have. But we¡¯ll still need to make the written format notice though,¡± Megan exined.

    Then, Megan walked up to Aurelia and gave her a thumbs¨Cup. ¡°You¡¯re the coolest woman. I¡¯ve handled

    in cases like this.

    ¡°Way to go. Here¡¯s to hoping more girls take after you in the future.¡±

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    Aurelia quickly suggested, ¡°We¡¯ve got an interview about women¡¯s rights lined up, and I can see that

    you¡¯ve had your fair share of cases like this. So, how about teaming up for the interview and spreading

    some awareness among women on how to deal with these situations?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯ll need to check with our captain first. If he¡¯s okay with it, then I can get some info together

    here to help out,¡± Megan replied.

    that case, could you please get back to me as soon as you can? You should have my number,¡± Aurelia

    said.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Megan nodded. Then, she seemed to remember something and said, ¡°Oh, and about those

    four guys we caught at the subway station. They mentioned wanting to apologize and are willing to

    compensate.

    ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°No way I¡¯m letting them off the hook. I deservepensation for what they did. They

    need to face the music.

    ¡°Their ¡®four_subway_heroes¡® ount already has over 300 thousand followers, and they¡¯ve started

    making money off of it. Who knows who¡¯ll be their next victim?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that sounds good. I¡¯ll go get busy now. I¡¯ll catch youter to sign some paperwork.

    Megan smiled.

    ¡°Sure, thanks.¡±

    After Megan left, Aurelia and Leslie sat down at some chairs nearby.

    Then, Leslie took out hisptop and uploaded a recording.

    A few minutester, Aurelia¡¯s phone chimed. So, she checked it and saw that Leslie had

    sent her a recording.

    After ying the recording, she was surprised to find that it was actually a recording of the four men

    from the subway station.

    She looked at Leslie in surprise and asked, ¡°When did you record this?¡±

    Leslie typed on his keyboard as he nonchntly replied, ¡°Am I that useless?¡±

    Aure pursed her lips. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. What are you doing anyway?¡±

    Leslie then hit the ¡°Send¡± button, and Aurelia received an email from him.

    Upon opening It, she found a detailed presentation slide. It wasid out like a professional business

    pitch¨Cclearly organized with the background, causes, and consequences all outlined.

    Leslie had anticipated almost everything that Aurelia could have thought of, and even some things she

    hadn¡¯t. What¡¯s more, he¡¯d even provided a summary of it all.

    ¡°When did you make these presentation slides?¡± she asked.

    ¡°This morning. It took me about half an hour,¡± Leslie replied.

    At this, Aurelia frowned and remained silent.

    Perhaps some people were just naturally good at these things.

    After all, even with two hours, Aurelia wouldn¡¯t be able to finish such a detailed

    presentation slide even if it were details pertaining to herself.

    ¡°Don¡¯t stress about it. But this is all I can do for you. After all, if you can¡¯t calmly handle the media

    pressure, even the most detailed presentation slide won¡¯t do any good,¡± Leslie

    remarked.

    are you

    ¡°Wait a second, Mr. Synder, giving me apliment?¡± Aurelia asked, pleasantly surprised.

    ¡°Yes. You did great dealing with Ms. Lawson today. You fought for it yourself,¡± Leslie said in approval.

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia was warmed. Strangely, Leslie¡¯s words brought her more joy than any praise

    she¡¯d received from her previous bosses.

    Then, Leslie curiously asked, ¡°When did you draft the proposal?¡±

    Mure immediately regained her confidence and said, ¡°When ites to

    brainstorming, you¡¯re definitely better than me. But when ites to drafting

    proposals, I¡¯ve got the edge. I dreamed about itst night and spent 29 minutes on it when I woke up in

    the middle of the night.¡±

    ¡°Aurelia.¡± Leslie raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Okay. It took me an hour.¡±

    Couldn¡¯t she enjoy a moment of pride among the intelligent folks for just a minute?

    Leslie smiled and cleared his throat before speaking, ¡°The presentation slides and the written notice

    from the police can be posted now. The truth is finally out.¡±

    Aurelia nodded. Then, she opened her phone to edit the email from Leslie before posting it on all her

    social media tforms.

    The TikTok ounts reacted the fastest, instantly attracting numerousizens.

 Chapter 375

    ¡°We got tricked! Those Subway heroes? They¡¯re just robbers!¡±

    ¡°I heard they got busted, and their ount¡¯s been wiped clean too.¡±

    So, being emptied out like that probably meant that they had no more clout left.

    Initially, the Subway Heroes were aiming to make it big by riding the wave of their

    ount¡¯s clout.

    ¡°Just wiping the ount clean is all they¡¯re gonna do? They bettere out and apologize ! Can you

    believe they tried to make a fortune by falsely using a woman?¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t they confidently presenting their statements, iming there was no deception? Turns out that

    it was all lies!¡±

    ¡°Now that the rumor¨Cmongers have been caught, everyone¡¯s trying to act innocent. But back then, it

    wasn¡¯t just the Subway Heroes who wanted Aurelia to pay.¡±

    ¡°From this incident, we¡¯ve learned that ex¨Ccolleagues can be as scary as ex¨Cboyfriends¡­

    From now on,

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    let¡¯s not jump to conclusions online until we have all the facts.¡±

    ¡°Spreading rumors is easy. But when it¡¯s time to debunk them, they try to avoid it.

    Aurelia even had to use a presentation slide to defend herself, and that just shows us how

    despicable those rumor¨Cmongers are.

    ¡°But Aurelia has really impressed me. She stayed calm, negotiated with IN today, and even tackled the

    scious rumors. She¡¯s setting a great example.¡±

    o pay

    ¡°Does anyone know how her negotiation with IN went? Does she have to pay 50 million?¡±

    As the discussion peaked, Lucia had someone post a statement on social media. After all, being in the

    media industry herself, she knew just when to step in.

    First, Lucia apologized and rified that Aurelia wasn¡¯t responsible for the ne expenses. Then,

    she attributed everything to Eva¡¯s errors at work and indicated that Eva

    would cover the costs.

    Afterward, Lucia seized the opportunity to announce an interview with Aurelia about women¡¯s rights

    while also bringing up the charity event.

    this series of actionsbined with the promotion of the charity event proved Aurelia

    right¨Cit was indeed more effective than inviting celebrities.

    20

    In the age of the Inte, the public was already ustomed to celebrity scandals. But what interested

    them more were the things that directly affected themselves.

    Meanwhile, Eva¡¯s apology only came after Lucia¡¯s statement.

    However, her apology paled inparison to Lucia¡¯s heartfelt one.

    She only vaguely cited misunderstandings with Aurelia due to certain reasons before shifting most of

    the me to Kimberly. Then, she imed that it was all unintentional and expressed her willingness to

    own up to her mistake and apologize.

    Basically, she was okay with taking on some of thepensation, but she put the rest on Kimberly.

    Kimberly was really in a mess this time.

    If the ne could be fixed, it might not cost too much. But if it couldn¡¯t be fixed, aside from Eva¡¯s

    compensation, Kimberly might need to get her wealthy husband involved.

    But whether or not their marriage would proceed was still uncertain.

    In Eva¡¯s perspective, she¡¯d thought that she could trick theizens, but she didn¡¯t expect everyone to

    see through her scheme.

    ¡°When she used Aurelia, Eva regrly posted lengthy statements. But now that she knows she¡¯s

    wrong, her apology barely even amounted to two sentences, and most of it was just shifting me. Is

    that even considered an apology?¡±

    ¡°From this incident, it¡¯s clear that the upper management at INcks consistency. Just look at how

    Lucia handles things. Whenever there¡¯s a mistake, she owns up to it. She even arranged a special

    interview for Aurelia.¡±

    ¡°Is Eva fit to be the fashion director? Does IN not have any other better choices?¡±

    ¡°Boycott! Boycott!¡±

    When Eva noticed everyone boycotting her, she got angry and turned off thements.

    However, that only made everyone think that she was hiding something.

    As the focus shifted,izens then began uncovering details about Eva and revealing her

    past.

    Surprisingly, many individuals who were bullied by Eva during high school stood up to boycott her.

    ¡°Eva, don¡¯t think that moving to Carlino means that we¡¯ve forgotten about what you did overseas.

    Whenever she and her bestie saw a girl prettier than them, they¡¯d mess with her on purpose. She¡¯s

    been ying the me game for ages. I still have the old texts. from back then.¡±

    In the texts, there was a girl who was pressured by Eva to meet up. Then, when she refused, Eva

    brought some folks to harass her downstairs at her apartment.

    After that, the girl reluctantly went outside. However, she ended up being falsely used of theft by the

    folks and taken to the local police station.

    And because the girl was from an elite school, even a hint of wrongdoing was uneptable. Hence,

    the girl was promptly expelled.

    ¡°Eva¡¯s parents showed up at my ce to intimidate my parents into silence, and it was all to stop me

    from speaking up. I¡¯ve even got the video to prove it.¡±

    The girl¡¯s family was only considered middle¨Css overseas. So, she¡¯d worked hard to gain admission

    into the elite school. And since her parents dared not act recklessly, they could only be controlled by

    Eva¡¯s parents. Hence, after being threatened by them, they could only silently bow their heads to them.

    ¡°I¡¯ve also been bullied by Eva and her bestie too¨Cjust because I bought a bag they didn¡¯t have. That

    day, my bag was shed, and the CCTV just happened to be broken. But the truth was, someone saw

    them messing with my bag, yet nobody dared to speak up about it because of who they were.¡±

    ¡±

    ¡°The guy that Eva had a crush on confessed his feelings to me. So, she trapped me in the boys¡®

    restroom with¡­ well, a chubby dude. And ever since that day, rumors about the chubby guy and I have

    been spreading everywhere.¡±

 Chapter 376

    As more and more of Eva¡¯s past bullying incidents came to light, information about her parents was

    also uncovered, and this reportedly started affecting their careers too.

    Just then, someone noticed that Eva¡¯s verification as the IN fashion director had disappeared.

    It looked like she might¡¯ve lost her job.

    But who was Eva¡¯s bestie? And why wasn¡¯t anyone talking about her?

    Aurelia flipped through a couple of pages, but she shrugged it off when she didn¡¯t see anyone mention

    this.

    Although, she did feel a bit nostalgic about it all.

    ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that someone like Eva used to be a spoiled rich kid? No wonder her gaze felt

    so familiar. I¡¯ve been through this kind of stuff in high school,¡± Aurelia

    reflected out loud.

    ¡°What kind of stuff?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s when a girl gives you a hard time for no reason. For example, she picks on you. But forget it.

    You¡¯re good¨Clooking and smart¨Clike the school¡¯s popr kid¨Cso nobody should mess with you.¡±

    ¡°My ssmates were older than me, so they weren¡¯t really into messing with me,¡± Leslie said as he

    kept theptop.

    ¡°Why? Did you go to school at an early age or something? But even if you did, they¡¯d only be a year or

    two older than you, right?¡± Aurelia asked, surprised.

    During her schooling days, there were quite a few ssmates who were a year older than her, but none

    of them stood out to her as particrly mature.

    Then, Leslie stood up and looked down at Aurelia. ¡°I skipped grades.¡±

    Aurelia remained silent.

    She basically embarrassed herself!

    Leslie skipped grades at Seacester¡¯s youth ss! So basically, when his peers were in middle school,

    Leslie was probably already in college.

    Aurelia remembered her middle school days where she¡¯d pulled all¨Cnighters for three math exams.

    Meanwhile, Leslle might¡¯ve already been working on his papers.

    Leslie¡¯s cold stares finally made sense to Aure.

    Was that the look for someone he considered a fool?

    Awkwardly, Aurelia chuckled and quickly looked at her phone, ending the conversation.

    Fortunately, Megan approached them at that moment and asked Aurelia to sign somet documents.

    It gave her a chance to break free from Leslie¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°The next step will be to just follow the procedure. It might take two or three months, but just make sure

    you find a goodwyer,¡± Megan advised Aurelia.

    ¡°Okay, got it,¡± Aurelia replied.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    Then, after she signed the documents, the four subway guys happened to walk out as well. However,

    their faces turned pale at the sight of Aurelia.

    But Aure didn¡¯t want to bother with them. After all, the evidence was conclusive, so she would simply

    follow the procedure on what to do next.

    But just as she turned to leave, a woman wearing a hat and carrying a child in her arms rushed straight

    toward her.

    Her name was Ann Grayson.

    Aurelia felt nervous watching Ann wobble as she rushed over with the child. But fortunately, Leslie

    acted quickly and grabbed Ann¡¯s arm to prevent the child from falling.

    Aurelia then nced over to Ann and saw that the child in her arms was a newborn. What¡¯s more,

    Ann¡¯s appearance suggested that she hadn¡¯t fully recovered from childbirth.

    Then, without saying a word, Ann looked at Aurelia and prepared to kneel down.

    She said, ¡°Ms. Simmons, I¡¯m begging you, please let my husband go. Our baby was just born. If

    something happens to him, what will we do?¡±

    John Goode, one of the four men, rushed over and grabbed Ann¡¯s hand,pletely Ignoring her

    unrecovered body and their baby in her arms.

    ¡°Get up! What are you doing? If anyone outside catches wind and shares this online, I¡¯ll be the butt of

    the joke,¡± John scolded.

    Ann paled as she looked at John in disbelief. ¡°Did you even realize that you¡¯d gotten fired by the

    company because of this?¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± John seemed unaware of his mistake.

    Aurelia nced at John in disbelief.

    Despite having seen Ann on her knees pleading, he showed no sign of remorse or guilt. And instead,

    he was actually ming her.

    Then, upon closer inspection, she realized that John was the same guy from the subway station that

    tried to take advantage of her.

    So, he was definitely not a good guy.

    Ann staggered at John¡¯s words, her arms almost giving way, and the baby nearly slipping

    from them.

    Luckily, Aurelia reached out and caught the baby. She then angrily red at John. ¡°Let her go!¡®

 Chapter 377

    Perhaps because Aurelia¡¯s voice was too loud, John felt embarrassed. So, he raised his hand as if to

    p Ann.

    Since Aurelia was holding the baby, she couldn¡¯t intervene. But fortunately, Leslie reached out to assist

    Ann and helped her step aside.

    ¡°What are you guys doing? My dealings with Ann are none of your business! Even the cops can¡¯t

    meddle in my family affairs!¡± John snapped, his pride stung.

    Leslie gave him a cold stare. Then, instead of arguing back, he casually remarked, Seems like useless

    guys like you enjoy hitting women. Are all your buddies here to back you up too?¡±

    Mockerying from the same gender could sometimes cut the deepest.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    So, John¡¯s hand, initially raised, clenched into a fist before rxing.

    Then, Aurelia seized the moment to pull Ann aside and asked, ¡°Are you okay? Why are you out so

    soon after giving birth?¡±

    She thought that Ann might feel somewhatforted by these words. But to her surprise, Ann fiercely

    red at her and snatched the baby away. ¡°Why did I even bothering out? If you hadn¡¯t gone after

    John and gotten him fired, I¡¯d be lounging in bed and living the good life!¡±

    ¡°You¡­¡± Aurelia was rendered speechless at Ann¡¯s usation, and she didn¡¯t know how

    to respond.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever wondered if you were the issue? If you weren¡¯t so provocative, would those men

    have bothered you? Everyone knows men can¡¯t always control themselves. Yet, you deliberately

    dressed like that to seduce them.

    ¡°Of course, they couldn¡¯t resist!¡± Ann, who had just begged Aurelia to spare John, was now ming her

    instead.

    Upon hearing this, the four menughed, as if this was the right thing to do.

    At this, Aurelia seethed with rage and felt her chest tighten.

    But suddenly, Leslie stood in front of her and shielded her from their gazes.

    He then coldly looked at Ann and said, ¡°So, going by your logic, if John isn¡¯t being

    considerate toward his wife who¡¯d just given birth to his baby and ended up being impulsive with other

    women, then perhaps you¡¯re the issue too.

    ¡°Guess you can¡¯t handle your man, huh?¡±

    213

    Ann¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How dare you¡­ say that to me? I¡¯m still recovering from childbirth!

    Leslie retorted, ¡°Then why did you say those things about my wife? Being beautiful isn¡¯t a fault, and

    admitting that John is a jerk who still tried to touch other women while you were recovering from

    childbirth isn¡¯t either!¡±

    Ann then bit her lip, paling as she lost herposure. ¡°Can¡¯t I apologize on his behalf? Can¡¯t you just

    let him off? My baby and I still rely on him.¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Aurelia firmly asserted. ¡°Your apology doesn¡¯t do a thing for me. Besides, John hasn¡¯t shown

    any regret. And not only did he try to take advantage of me, but he also spread lies about me online.

    ¡°I bet you were aware of it. But instead of stopping him, you¡¯re here trashing my name. You and John

    really are birds of a feather.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Ann red at Aurelia.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to re at me. You¡¯re just worthless. Even if I spared John today, he¡¯ll still go after

    other women.

    ¡°Are you nning to pull the same stunt with your baby again in the future? How about instead of

    butting into my business, you focus on your own life instead?

    ¡°This type of man¡­ You better hold onto him tight and make sure he doesn¡¯t get back out there.¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t care about Ann¡¯s feelings anymore. If her words could help her realize the truth about

    John, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad of a thing anyway.

    Upon hearing what Aurelia had to say, Ann simply remained silent.

    But on the other hand, John couldn¡¯t contain his anger. He pointed at Aurelia and shouted, ¡°Hey, where

    are the cops? Isn¡¯t this considered verbal assault?¡±

    But the cops were busy, and there¡¯d been quite a few troublemakers causing a scene in the night

    market recently. So, who had the time to deal with him?

    However, Megan, who was nearby, had overheard everything. Yet, she didn¡¯t bother with John and

    simply picked up her phone¨Cthat wasn¡¯t even turned on¨Cand pretended to make a call. ¡°Hello? Yes, I¡¯ll

    be right there.

    Seeing as how no one paid him any attention, John felt the stark contrast between his recent online

    influence and his current situation.

    It made him feel disheartened.

    Enraged, John then tried to punch Leslie, but it was only to be knocked down by him.

    instead.

    After that, Leslie flicked his hands and said, ¡°The CCTV will prove that I didn¡¯ty a finger on him. He

    ran into me all on his own. Who knew he was so weak?¡±

    Meanwhile, John¡¯s other friends remained silent.

    As John groaned in pain, Megan walked over and said, ¡°You dare to cause trouble at the police

    station? Get up! You¡¯re not getting away today!¡± she asserted.

    ¡°L¡­ She insulted me first.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll record everything. Nobody¡¯s getting away,¡± Megan said.

    ¡°I¡­¡± John finally realized that he was in trouble. So, he looked at his friends and pleaded, ¡°Help me,

    guys.¡±

    However, the three other men didn¡¯t say a word. They clearly didn¡¯t want to get into trouble themselves.

 Chapter 378

    John finally realized that his friends had ditched him. So, he was eventually taken away while Aurelia

    and Leslie both made a record of what had happened. Then, they signed the necessary documents

    and left.

    As Aurelia walked through the lobby, she spotted Ann.

    ???? ?? ?? ? ?

    She was seated and holding her baby with a vacant expression in her eyes.

    Meanwhile, John¡¯s supposed buddies¨Cthe Subway Heroes¨Chad already disappeared.

    But Aurelia didn¡¯t approach Ann this time. Instead, she turned on her heels and exited the police

    station.

    Once she was in the car, Aurelia let out a deep sigh. ¡°I wonder how things will turn out

    for her in the future.¡±

    ¡°Sometimes you gotta be a little cold¨Chearted. Saves a lot of time. Besides, it¡¯s her choice. Adults

    should take responsibility for their decisions,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°I know, but that baby¡­ It¡¯s a pity.¡± Aurelia helplessly shook her head.

    Upon hearing this, Leslie didn¡¯t say anything. After all, he never had much interest in the people and

    things around him anyway. So, after starting the car, he immediately changed. the subject, saying, ¡°I

    need to stop by thepany first.¡±

    ¡°Alright. But do you mind if I tag along to the office?¡± Aurelia inquired.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just make some nice food for the weekend,¡± Leslie replied.

    ¡°Yeah, I almost forgot about that. I need to check out what to cook.¡± Aurelia remembered her promise

    to host dinner for Leslie¡¯s colleagues over the weekend.

    So, she quickly looked up the recipes that she¡¯d nned to cook. Then, she jotted down each

    ingredient on paper to ensure that she wouldn¡¯t miss anything when she went grocery shopping the

    next day.

    Soon, they arrived at Leslie¡¯spany.

    Upon entering the building, the receptionist warmly greeted them as usual, ¡°Hello, Ms. Simmons, you

    did a great job. We¡¯ve been supporting you all this while.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aurelia replied. But just as she raised her hand to wave, a voice cut through and instantly

    shifted the atmosphere.

    ¡°Do you think you¡¯re a mascot or something? Smiling at everyone? You should be more professional,¡±

    Cynthia remarked.

    She then gave the receptionist a stern look, prompting the receptionist to tighten her lips. and stop

    smiling.

    Aurelia nced over to Cynthia.

    Cynthia gave Aurelia a brief nod before shifting her gaze to Leslie.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°It¡¯s time for the meeting,¡± she said.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Leslie nodded. Then, he turned to Aurelia and said, ¡°Wait for me here.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Go ahead,¡± Aurelia replied with a smile.

    Leslie then turned to the receptionist. ¡°Please, serve Aurelia, Marie.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Maria!¡± the receptionist corrected him.

    Leslie just replied, ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Meanwhile, Maria was left speechless.

    Upon observing such an interaction, Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. But then, she noticed that

    Cynthia was giving her a strange look.

    ¡°It¡¯s almost time,¡± Cynthia urged.

    So, Leslie finally left.

    Then, as soon as Leslie and Cynthia were out of sight, Maria nced around before leaning in

    closer to Aurelia. ¡°Ms. Simmons, you better keep an eye on Leslie.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

 Chapter 379

    Aurelia caught a hint of gossip lingering in the air. And even though she wasn¡¯t a fan of gossip, the

    rxed atmosphere in the office piqued her curiosity for some reason.

    Unconsciously, she shifted her position on the couch and made space for Maria and Jessica, the other

    receptionist.

    Maria and Jessica didn¡¯t hesitate to take their seats either, one on each side of Aurelia.

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, don¡¯t you have a bit of crisis awareness? Right now, Leslie¡¯s the most popr

    programmer in the industry.

    ¡°He¡¯s handsome, and he¡¯s in charge of developing new products too. And do you know

    what¡¯s the most crucial?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ Not losing hair?¡± Aurelia seriously replied.

    Maria and Jessica were left speechless at her response.

    Aurelia¡¯s expression turned solemn. ¡°Is there someone who has a crush on Leslie?¡±

    Maria nodded. ¡°Of course! Don¡¯t you know how sought after he is? Girls from all over the building are

    lining up for him.¡±

    Jessica chimed in, ¡°Do you know which group of people added me on WhatsApp the most on my first

    day at work?¡±

    Aurelia shook her head.

    ¡°It was all girls asking if I could introduce them to Mr. Synder. We gained five pounds this month from

    all the snacks they¡¯d kept sending us. They wouldn¡¯t stop even when we refused. I don¡¯t know how to

    deal with them,¡± Jessica said.

    ¡°Yeah, we really can¡¯t afford to gain any more weight. How about finding a way to let everyone know

    that you two are married?¡± Maria suggested.

    ¡°So, you want me to intervene because you¡¯ve gained weight from all the snacks being sent?¡±

    Both Maria and Jessica nodded in distress.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, struggling to hold back herughter.

    Then, Maria gently nudged her and said, ¡°Why are youughing? Even though Mr.

    273

    Synder isn¡¯t into other women, Ms. Whitlock is an exception. She¡¯s the only woman by Mr. Synder¡¯s

    side, and she treats him with great care.¡±

    Jessica nodded. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s only been back for a week, but she¡¯s already glued to Mr. Synder.

    There¡¯s no way she doesn¡¯t have some sort of ulterior motive.¡±

    Aurelia slightly furrowed her brows and recalled the hostile re Cynthia had given her.

    It had indeed been full of animosity.

    Maria observed Aurelia¡¯s silence and assumed that she didn¡¯t believe her. So, she decided

    to be frank.

    She said, ¡°Ms. Simmons, we¡¯re really rooting for you and Mr. Synder. And don¡¯t underestimate Ms.

    Whitlock. She¡¯s attractive, well¨Ceducated, sessful in her career,

    and she¡¯s right by Mr. Synder¡¯s side.

    ¡°She could easily influence Mr. Synder¡¯s future. And if you don¡¯t act fast, Mr. Synder might fall under

    her sway.¡±

    ¡°Do you¡­ have faith in us?¡± Aurelia pointed to herself in disbelief, surprised that they

    had confidence in her and Leslie.

    Aurelia had thought that the high¨Clevel white¨Ccor workers in this building wouldn¡¯t pay attention to

    someone like her. After all, she was just a regr worker.

    ¡°Of course! You won¡¯t believe it, but when we first got here, Mr. Synder¡¯s face was as expressionless as

    a cartoon character. Although he looked good, he had no emotions. He was like a mannequin, and we

    had to be careful whenever we talked to him,¡± Maria exined.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°But ever since we found out about you, he¡¯s been changing every day. The office¡¯s atmosphere went

    from dull and lifeless to lively,¡± Maria remarked.

    ¡°We were ready to quit on our first day, but when we saw Mr. Synder defending the lunchbox you made

    him, we changed our minds,¡± Jessica chimed in.

    Aurelia listened to them, surprised. ¡°He defended the lunchbox I made?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that blue box. He takes it out every day when everyone¡¯s having takeout. It¡¯s really childish.¡±

    Maria chuckled. ¡°But it¡¯s also because of this that we think this ce is actually pretty good. It¡¯s

    easygoing. We sit for six hours a day, smile, and make ten grand a

    month.¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Aurelia suddenly interrupted loudly.

    ¡°Do you also think Mr. Synder is childish?¡± Mariaughed.

    ¡°No way. You guys get paid ten grand a month to just sit here?¡± Aurelia was stunned. Was this for real?

    ¡°Yeah. Isn¡¯t that normal?¡± Maria asked.

    Aurelia was left speechless.

    Was it even considered normal? Her base sry at Young was only four thousand, and the rest of her

    earnings came from her tireless efforts of hustling for performance. bonuses.

 Chapter 380

    Yet, Aurelia ended up with just a little over ten grand.

    She nced at Jessica and Maria. ¡°Are you guys still hiring?¡±

    Jessica asked, ¡°By the way, you got fired by Young, right? Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll check if otherpanies in

    this building are hiring.

    ¡°But first, tell us about your qualifications. Where did you graduate from? How manynguages do you

    speak? Normish, Jalish, and Fradish are prettymon here. Oh, there are lots of Germono clients

    upstairstely too.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m okay with Normish. Basicmunication isn¡¯t a big deal,¡± Aurelia replied.

    ¡°What certifications do you have?¡±

    ¡°Just a college English test level 4.¡±

    ¡°Heh, are you joking? Almost every college student can pass the college English test level 4. What kind

    of certification is that? It¡¯s the proficiency test certificates in foreign

    Aurelia pursed her lips at Maria¡¯s words.

    Then, upon realizing that Aurelia wasn¡¯t joking, Maria quickly apologized, ¡°Ms. Simmons, I¡¯m sorry. I

    didn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡±

    ¡°No worries, it¡¯s on me,¡± Aurelia awkwardly said. She was aware of herck of brilliance. And despite

    graduating from a decent university, she felt that it was just luck.

    After graduation, Aurelia joined Young and always believed that her skills could pave the way for

    sess. But little did she know, her abilities weren¡¯t even that of a stepping

    stone for others.

    Maria then tried tofort Aurelia. ¡°Ms. Simmons, I know it might not be what you want to hear, but it¡¯s

    the truth. With Young¡¯s current status, there isn¡¯t much room for advancement even if you¡¯re skilled. It

    would be a shame for someone as capable as you to stay here when there are bigger opportunities out

    there.¡±

    Jessica chimed in, ¡°In smallpanies, it¡¯s all about getting the job done, but in bigpanies, it¡¯s

    about building rtionships. You¡¯ve just faced so many issues at Young because thepany¡¯s

    internal workings are chaotic, and it doesn¡¯t make sense to stay when it¡¯s not a good fit anyway.¡±

    Aurelia observed the two receptionists.

    They truly embodied the essence of white¨Ccor workers in this building. Despite only. being

    receptionists, their understanding of corporate dynamics far surpassed hers because they¡¯d been

    exposed to the workings ofrgepanies.

    ¡°Thanks for the advice, I got it,¡± Aurelia said. She was surprisingly jolted into awareness by their words,

    and perhaps it indeed was time for her to rethink her career path.

    Initially, she had been considering finding another advertisingpany simr to Young, given her

    experience. But now, she realized that she¡¯d inadvertently boxed

    herself in.

    At just 25 years old, what couldn¡¯t she do? What couldn¡¯t she learn?

    As Aurelia pondered these questions, amotion erupted from inside the meeting room. So, she

    promptly stood up to see what was going on with Leslie.

    Then, just as she stood up, Aurelia saw Cynthia stepping out of the meeting room.

    She had a pad in hand and was walking alongside Leslie. They were both engrossed in the pad, as if

    they were on a video call. They were also effortlessly and openly chatting between themselves.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t understand a word, but Jessica and Maria beside her muttered, ¡°The Framano clients

    areing again. Looks like we¡¯ll have some busy days ahead.¡±

    The stark contrast left Aurelia speechless, and before she could even greet Leslie, Cynthia blocked her

    path. Then, Aurelia simply watched as Leslie walked past her.

    After a moment of hesitation, Aurelia turned to Jessica and Maria. ¡°Um¡­ Where did you guys learn

    your foreignnguages? Could you rmend a ce?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll rmend a ce where the teachers have authentic ents.¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    ¡°Thanks.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about being polite with us. Just go ahead and shut down those thoughts from the girls

    upstairs and downstairs,¡± Maria said in exasperation.

    ¡°Yeah, we can¡¯t keep eating those snacks. Otherwise, we¡¯ll need new uniforms soon. Besides, you

    could also put a stop to Ms. Whitlock¡¯s interest in Leslie, right?¡± Jessica

    winked at Aurelia.

    ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t have a clue.¡± Aurelia bit her lip.

 Chapter 381

    Jessica and Maria were really going all out to maintain their good figures. In fact, they wished that they

    could use all their knowledge and skills on Aurelia.

    Meanwhile, Aurelia listened, but she didn¡¯t fully grasp everything. Yet, she still agreed to lend them a

    hand.

    However, at that moment, she nced into the office and saw Cynthia and Leslie still discussing work.

    But since it was almost time to clock out, she didn¡¯t approach them.

    Just as Leslie hung up the client¡¯s call and started packing up to leave, Cynthia pointed at the

    computer. ¡°There¡¯s still an issue here. Can you take a look?¡±

    Leslie nced over. ¡°There¡¯re so many tech guys here. Ask them. I have something else

    to do.¡±

    Cynthia hesitated for a moment before nodding. ¡°Hmm. Yeah, we shouldn¡¯t have kept Ms. Simmons

    waiting for so long.¡±

    Then, she nced downward and unexpectedly noticed that something seemed off about Leslie¡¯s

    shoes.

    Cynthia frowned. ¡°Did anything happen to Andrea recently? Why did the craftsmanship of your shoes

    change?¡±

    Andrea Bach was the shoemaker Cynthia had introduced to Leslie, and all of Leslie¡¯s shoes were

    handcrafted by him.

    This was one of the things that Cynthia was proud of¨Cshe was the only woman who could get involved

    in Leslie¡¯s life. If any other woman were to take care of Leslie¡¯s daily necessities, he would never agree

    to it.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t him. It was someone else,¡± Leslie casually replied, a hint of a smile on his lips.

    Cynthia immediately put up her guard and said, ¡°But the quality of the leather on these shoes doesn¡¯t

    look top¨Cnotch either. Which craftsman would rmend such leather to you? You¡¯re the pickiest

    person, so don¡¯t wear them if they¡¯re ufortable.

    ¡°In the meantime, I¡¯ll have Andrea customize another pair for you. I¡¯ll also help you. choose the best

    leather and style.¡±

    After saying that, Cynthia gave Leslie a warm smile.

    ¡°No thanks. I¡¯ll take care of my own stuff. I know what¡¯sfortable for myself,¡± Leslie replied.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Cynthia¡¯s smile seemed stiff as she nced at the shoes, feeling a bit uneasy.

    After Leslie finished packing, he headed toward the door as Cynthia reluctantly trailed

    behind him.

    When they reached the reception desk, Aurelia stood up as soon as she saw Leslie.

    ¡°Getting off work now?¡± she asked.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go,¡± Leslie replied.

    Aurelia nodded and waved goodbye to Jessica and Maria.

    Then, Maria jokingly teased, ¡°Hey, not bad! Having a wife really changes things, huh? Even your style

    has changed. And these shoes¡­¡±

    Aurelia worriedly asked, ¡°Do they not look good? I didn¡¯t think much of it when I chose Aurelia worriedly

    asked, ¡°Do they not look good? I the style for him.¡±

    Maria chuckled. ¡°They really suit Mr. Synder. His old shoes, despite being pricey, justcked

    personality.¡±

    Aurelia felt relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good, I was worried he wouldn¡¯t like them.¡®

    Maria covered her mouth and chuckled. ¡°If he didn¡¯t like them, even if you forced him, he still wouldn¡¯t

    wear them.¡±

    At this, Aurelia and Leslie both remained silent.

    These two gossipers¡­ If thepany didn¡¯t need them, Leslie would¡¯ve already considered shutting

    them up.

    He nced at them and said, ¡°Since you two are so free, how abouting to work overtime this

    weekend?¡±

    ¡°No way! After finally getting to mooch off of your hospitality for dinner, you¡¯re asking us to work

    overtime? That¡¯s pushing it.¡± Maria scoffed.

    ¡°Alright, we¡¯re leaving now. See you this weekend,¡± Aurelia intervened and said.

    ¡°See you this weekend.¡± Maria

    this weekend.¡± Maria waved and winked at her.

    Then, Aurelia nodded and followed Leslie into the elevator.

 Chapter 382

    Upon hearing that Aurelia had bought the shoes, Cynthia, who was hiding nearby, couldn¡¯t help but

    clench her fists.

    The privilege that used to be hers had been taken by Aurelia. And what made it worse was the fact that

    even Jessica and Maria had been invited to Aurelia¡¯s house for dinner. Yet, she hadn¡¯t received an

    invitation.

    It seemed like Leslie did it all on purpose for Aurelia.

    Cynthia had never seen Leslie care so much about a woman before. And even though she held her

    current position, she had initially been scolded by Leslie when she¡¯d first arrived.

    Just as Cynthia was lost in her thoughts, her phone rang.

    As she nced at the caller ID, she stepped aside from the crowd to take the call.

    ¡°Eva, why are you calling me now? Aren¡¯t you worried about getting caught?¡± Cynthia

    asked.

    ¡°Cynthia, what¡¯s that supposed to mean? I¡¯m risking my job to help you, and now you¡¯re trying to act

    like we¡¯re not even friends?¡± Eva replied, annoyed.

    Upon hearing this, Cynthia quickly changed her tone andforted Eva, saying, ¡°Eva, that¡¯s not what I

    meant. I¡¯ve already reached out to a friend at the IN headquarter, and she said she¡¯ll advocate for you.

    It¡¯s just a temporary inconvenience.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Eva calmed down.

    ¡°Cynthia, who even is this guy? I just got a call from the president, and from the way he spoke, this guy

    is definitely not just a programmer.

    ¡°And about that ne I can¡¯t figure out who would give Aurelia a 50 million dor ne.

    Someone must be trying to mess with me, and I won¡¯t let them get away with it!

    Upon hearing this, Cynthia¡¯s expression turned serious.

    Given that things had reached this point, if she didn¡¯t rify Leslie¡¯s identity to her, Eva would definitely

    act recklessly.

    Cynthia couldn¡¯t let Eva ruin her ns. So, she said, ¡°Eva, I¡¯m really sorry for not being honest with you

    earlier. Thepany has strict rules about revealing Leslie¡¯s identity,

    and I was worried that if I did, Leslie might cause problems for you.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Does he really have another identity?¡±

    ¡°Do you know about the Mn Group?¡±

    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s the heir of the Mn Group, and One Technology is just a front for him,¡± Cynthia whispered.

    ¡°You¡­ said the Mn Group?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that make Aurelia the ¡®Mrs. Synder¡® to Mn Group? Why are you telling me this now?¡± Eva

    reproached.

    ¡°No! She isn¡¯t! She has no clue about Leslie¡¯s identity. Besides, if Leslie truly acknowledged her as

    ¡®Mrs. Synder¡®, wouldn¡¯t he have told her his true identity? I think it¡¯s just a game.¡±

    ¡°But they are a real couple, and you¡¯re just¡­¡± Nothing.

    Eva hesitated, but ultimately, she didn¡¯t finish her sentence out loud.

    ¡°Eva, as long as it stays private, Aurelia is insignificant. Their marriage means nothing.

    Just think about it, if you could help me marry Leslie, wouldn¡¯t that benefit you more?¡± Just think about

    it, if you could help me marry

    Cynthia persuaded Eva.

    Eva stayed quiet for a while before responding, ¡°Cynthia, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t believe you. After all,

    you¡¯ve been with Leslie for so many years. But do you really think it¡¯ll work out?

    Cynthia was taken aback by this question, but she remained calm as she said, ¡°I was careless this

    time, but someone with Leslie¡¯s status wouldn¡¯t actually marry someone as ordinary as Aurelia, right?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got a point. After all, you¡¯re the most capable woman by his side, and your understand him the

    most too,¡± Eva approvingly said.

    ¡°As long as you¡¯re clear of that then. But in the meantime, we¡¯ll keep Leslie¡¯s true identity between

    ourselves. And whatever you do, don¡¯t let Aurelia find out.

    ¡°If she discovers Lelsie¡¯s identity, she¡¯ll stick to him like glue. I¡¯ll figure out how to deal with her,¡± Cynthia

    said.

    ¡°You know, something just came to my mind. Ms. Lawson at our magazine publisher is really

    impressed with Aurelia. She¡¯d even put her in charge of nning the uing charity event. And if the

    ns go smoothly, Aurelia¡¯s reputation could really take off.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then let¡¯s make sure she

    fails,¡± Cynthia coldly said.

 Chapter 383

    When Aure and Leslie stepped into the elevator, there weren¡¯t many people inside. However, as they

    went down a floor, the elevator suddenly filled up with several people.

    Among the group of people, some women spotted Leslie and promptly positioned themselves next to

    him, causing Aurelia to squeeze herself into the corner.

    ¡°Hey, Mr. Synder. Leaving work early today? No overtime?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Leslie politely nodded and kept his distance.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, are you free for dinner? We¡¯re thinking of grabbing a bite together.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± Leslie replied. He was straightforward about it and didn¡¯t bothering up with an excuse.

    He had just said that he wasn¡¯t working overtime, yet he instantly switched up and said he was busy.

    Meanwhile, Aurelia silently stood in the corner.

    She felt that Jessica and Maria¡¯s concerns were totally unnecessary. After all, Leslie seemed immune

    to the charms of attractive women.

    But Aurelia had underestimated Leslie¡¯s charm.

    After the elevator descended two more floors, several more attractive officedies stepped in.

    Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of inferiority as she observed them.

    These white¨Ccor workers were unlike any she had encountered before. Their beauty wasn¡¯t just

    surface¨Clevel. Rather, it emanated from within and was coupled with

    confidence.

    They effortlessly talked about professional topics and could freelyugh. And even when they noticed a

    man that they liked, they¡¯d approach him with unwavering confidence and without any pretense or

    nervousness.

    ¡°Hey, Mr. Synder, it¡¯s rare to see you clocking out early. We have a gatheringter, wanna join?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve got something to do,¡± Leslie politely replied.

    ¡°Maybe next time then.¡± The woman smiled and turned to chat with her colleagues, asionally

    ncing at Leslie without making any overt moves.

    Yet, there would always be a few people who¡¯d push the boundaries.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    One such woman pretended to lose her bnce and ended up falling into Leslie¡¯s embrace. And

    despite her high heels, she barely reached Leslie¡¯s chest. So, this allowed him to easily peek down her

    plunging neckline.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, sorry for the inconvenience, it¡¯s too crowded,¡± the woman said as her hands continued to

    touch Leslie.

    Upon observing this, Aurelia finally grasped Jessica and Maria¡¯s frustration.

    With everyone bustling around, they couldn¡¯t afford to lose theirposure. And if even someone as

    indifferent as Leslie couldn¡¯t fend them off, how could Jessica and Maria handle it?

    Then, Aurelia¡¯s eyes widened when she saw the woman¡¯s fair¨Cskinned hand about to

    reach Leslie¡¯s shoulder.

    Immediately, she covered her mouth and loudly coughed, causing everyone to look at her as if she was

    contagious.

    After all, it was an elevator, and enclosed spaces were easily contaminated.

    But Amelia was quick to apologize and said, ¡°Sorry, I caught a viral cold recently.¡±

    Instantly, everyone quickly shifted away to the other side, pushing the woman in front of Leslie aside as

    well.

    Leslie then moved to Aurelia¡¯s side and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    Aurelia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    After regaining her bnce, the woman angrily straightened her clothes and shot Aurelia a hostile

    nce. ¡°Mr. Synder, who¡¯s this¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, I forgot to introduce myself.¡± Aurelia smiled and reached out her hand. ¡°I¡¯m Mr. Synder¡¯s wife,

    Aurelia. Miss, are you alright? You seem a bit wobbly in those high heels. It¡¯s an elevator, not a rocking

    bus.¡±

    ¡°You¡­¡± The woman was seething in anger, but she was speechless upon hearing what Aurelia had just

    said.

    Just then, the elevator doors opened, and a few more people stepped in.

    During peak hours, the elevator would stop at almost every floor, bing slow and crowded.

    In her attempt to avoid the iing crowd, Aurelia identally bumped into Leslie¡¯s embrace and was

    instantly embarrassed.

    Just a moment ago, she had mocked the woman for treating the elevator like a bus. But now, she was

    the one in Leslie¡¯s embrace!

    So, Aurelia kept her head down, afraid to make a move. She was worried that Leslie might misinterpret

    her intentions.

    Just then, the woman Aurelia had mocked earlier menacingly red at her, intensifying her

    embarrassment.

 Chapter 384

    But wait!

    Aurelia was Leslie¡¯s wife! She was different from the others!

    Then, Aurelia remembered Jessica and Maria¡¯s earnest advice to find a way everyone¡¯s admiration for

    Leslie.

    And wasn¡¯t now the perfect opportunity to do so?

    to shatter

    Plus, the foreignnguage institution that Maria rmended had offered her a discount, so she had

    to help them no matter what.

    With these thoughts in mind, Aurelia immediately stood on her tiptoes and nced up at Leslie. ¡°Why

    are you so careless? Your tie¡¯s crooked. Let me straighten it out for you. You should¡¯ve let me do it

    before you left this morning.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s tone had never been this soft. In fact, it wasn¡¯t even this soft during the honeymoon phase

    with Seth.

    Leslie frowned at first. But then, he smirked. ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aurelia¡¯s hands paused in surprise as she adjusted Leslie¡¯s tie.

    She hadn¡¯t anticipated his response. She¡¯d just thought of ying along with her little act.

    What should she say next?

    Then, she chuckled softly. ¡°Let¡¯s save the rest for when we¡¯re home.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Leslie responded in a low voice.

    Then, Aurelia stayed quiet, feeling like her words could easily be misunderstood.

    Then, when the elevator doors finally opened, Aurelia grabbed Leslie¡¯s arm and strode. out under

    everyone¡¯s gazes.

    As they walked out, she muttered to herself, ¡°I¡¯m nevering back here again.¡±

    Leslie smirked. Truly, wherever Aurelia was, something unexpected would happen.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    Once they were inside the car, Aurelia felt too awkward to strike up a conversation. So, she pretended

    to be engrossed in her phone, scrolling through thetest online trends.

    The Inte was indeed ever¨Cchanging. After Aurelia posted all the evidence against the

    Subway Heroes, everyone backed down and apologized one after another, hoping for Aurelia¡¯s

    forgiveness.

    But would she forgive them? Not a chance!

    As for the instigators, Kimberly and Seth, their crimes were serious¨Cdefamation and spreading obscene

    videos. Hence, they were bound for jail. And even though they were out on bail now, they were being

    treated like pariahs.

    Aurelia also caught wind of the recent happenings from her former colleagues.

    Apparently, Kimberly, who could have livedfortably with a wealthy businessman got dumped for a

    younger college student. Even her uncle ditched her and denied being rted to her in front of

    everyone.

    Meanwhile, Seth got himself in trouble because of this incident, and his stepson had used it against

    him. This then led to Seth getting divorced, and his wife and mother were both on his stepson¡¯s side.

    So, Seth¡¯s reputation also took a hit among his peers, and it made it impossible for him to stay in

    Seacester any longer.

    This just proved that those who seek shortcuts would never seed.

    Just then, Aurelia received a message from Eva.

    Surprisingly, it turned out to be an apology letter.

    The apology seemed heartfelt, and it stated Eva¡¯s willingness to engage her industry connections to fix

    the ne, with all the expenses being covered by her.

    This was a stark contrast to Eva¡¯s previous behavior.

    After getting out of the car, Aurelia handed her phone to Leslie, confused. ¡°Eva apologized to me.

    ¡°She changed her tune pretty quickly,¡± Leslie remarked, puzzled as well.

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a trick?¡± Aurelia asked, worried.

    ¡°Now that her school bullying issue has dragged her parents into the mix, and given that they¡¯re

    influential folks, she¡¯s got no option but to own up to it,¡± Leslie exined.

    ¡°What about those who got bullied by her?¡± Aurelia worried that by epting Eva¡¯s apology, the school

    bullying issue would simply be swept under the rug.

    ¡°So far, ten people have stepped forward, with seven or eight of them having solid

    evidence. So, Eva¡¯s left with two choices¡ªelther agree to significantpensation, or face reputation

    damage.¡± Leslie analyzed.

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Aurelia breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Why are you always worrying about others?¡±

 Chapter 385

    ¡°I just feel like others only stepped up against Eva because they saw me doing it. But if I messed up

    halfway through, wouldn¡¯t they feel abandoned?¡± Aurelia exined her perspective.

    However, Leslie held onto the belief that human nature was inherently bad. So, he said, ¡± I reckon

    you¡¯re not fully aware of the situation. Did you know that three out of ten of those folks have already

    inked deals withpanies while the heat¡¯s still on?¡±

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia stood frozen in ce with aplicated expression on her

    face.

    But at the next instant, she smiled and said, ¡°Well, wouldn¡¯t there still be seven people left? If even one

    of them can seek justice for themselves while the spotlight¡¯s on, then

    it¡¯s worth it.

    ¡°People have their good and bad sides, and being cautious is necessary. But you can¡¯t judge everyone

    the same way.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Leslie remained silent, and he felt an indescribable emotion as he gazed at Aurelia¡¯s

    smile.

    After returning home, they had a quick dinner.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    After that, Leslie headed to his study to handle some overseas work.

    Meanwhile, Aurelia sat at the dining table with herptop. She was researching the foreignnguage

    institution that Maria had rmended.

    Soon, the institution¡¯s teacher contacted her on Whatsapp and sent her a bunch of materials. Then,

    Aurelia clicked on a random file and saw that the enrollment fee was over 20 thousand dors.

    But the most important question was, whatnguage should she even learn?

    It¡¯d been more than four years since Aurelia left school, and her mind was all over the ce now.

    In the past, she solely focused on working hard and making money. But now, the idea of studying again

    felt unreal.

    Not to mention, she didn¡¯t have much cash on hand, and neither did she have a job. Yet now, she had

    to spend tens of thousands of dors to learn anguage that she didn¡¯t

    understand.

    What¡¯s more, if she couldn¡¯t grasp thenguage in one semester, she would have to

    continue studying it. And eventually, it would all add up to tens of thousands of dors more each time.

    When would she ever make that money back?

    Aurelia didn¡¯t consider herself smart. But when she thought of the confident girls in Leslie¡¯spany, it

    was impossible to not feel jealous.

    But no! She couldn¡¯t start backing down before she¡¯d even started!

    Maria and Jessica were right. She couldn¡¯t keep her perspective stuck at Young¡¯s level.

    But why were there so many options? How could she even decide?

    Aurelia flipped through the materials, feeling overwhelmed.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Leslie¡¯s cold voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

    Aurelia hesitated for a moment before quickly blocking theputer screen. ¡°Nothing.¡±

    ¡°You want to learn a foreignnguage?¡± Leslie asked while pouring himself some water.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Seeing as how Leslie had already seen it all, Aurelia stopped blocking the screen.

    Leslie then pointed at the Fradish text on the screen and asked, ¡°Do you have any background in

    Fradish?¡±

    Aurelia pursed her lips and shook her head.

    ¡°Do you have a suitablenguage¨Clearning environment?¡± Leslie asked again.

    Aurelia shook her head again.

    ¡°Why did you suddenly want to learn it then?¡±

    Aurelia didn¡¯t respond, but her heart skipped a beat.

    Yeah, why did she suddenly want to learn it? After all, the teacher had sent her materials for many

    differentnguages.

    But when Aurelia thought about it, a scene gradually became clear in her mind.

    It was the scene of Leslie and Cynthia standing side by side in a video call with a Framano client.

    So, among all the materials, she¡¯d clicked on Fradish at first sight.

 Chapter 386

    Aurelia didn¡¯t know how to exin this, so she silently observed Leslie as her hands tightly clenched

    into fists.

    Leslie seemed to grasp something from her expression. So, he paused and fixed an intent gaze on her.

    ¡°Aurelia, you¡­¡±

    ¡°Just randomly clicked on it,¡± Aurelia frantically exined. Then, she immediately closed the

    documents and pretended to look at something else.

    Upon seeing Aurelia¡¯s blushing ears, Leslie pulled a nearby chair over to himself and sat down.

    He said, ¡°You need to be immersed in a conducive environment to learn anguage. Without that,

    learning anything would be useless, and it would just be a waste of time and money. Instead, it¡¯s better

    to focus on improving what you¡¯re already good at.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia felt disheartened, and her shoulders dropped slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you,

    I¡¯m feeling a bit lost too. I¡¯m not sure if I should invest this money or just find a job and make an honest

    living. I¡¯m not like those fancy high¨Cend white¨Ccor workers. I¡¯m afraid¡­ of wasting money.¡±

    She was already short on cash and didn¡¯t want to make things worse. And unlike those high¨Cend

    white¨Ccor workers who often believed that money could solve everything, she was different.

    Leslie could sense Aurelia¡¯s concerns.

    Basically, she was reluctant to spend her money.

    In the past, he might¡¯ve thought that Aurelia was money¨Cminded andcked ambition. But after getting

    to know her better, he realized that she was under a lot of pressure and had many worries.

    Her life was much moreplicated than he had imagined.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Leslie could use money to solve everything. But as for Aurelia, the first thing she had to solve was the

    issue of money.

    After pondering for a moment, he slowly said, ¡°Investing in yourself is never a waste. Let me give you

    an example from someone around you.¡±

    ¡°Someone around me? Who?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Kimberly,¡± Leslie said calmly, dropping the name.

    Aurelia nced at Leslie, puzzled as to why he¡¯d use Kimberly as an example.

    Kimberly had never put much effort into her work and always mingled among men. But now that she¡¯d

    stumbled, what kind of example was that?

    However, Leslie continued, ¡°Her capabilities in business may not be top¨Cnotch, but her track record

    over the years has been just below yours. However, she didn¡¯t invest in her intellect. Rather, she

    invested in her appearance instead.

    ¡°That¡¯s one of the reasons why you all find her hard to deal with.

    ¡°She always manages to find opportunities among men, and she knows exactly how to exploit certain

    weaknesses. If she wasn¡¯t so greedy, even if she ended up being a rich man¡¯s mistress, she would still

    be living the best life out of all of you.

    ¡°But you got to give her credit, she¡¯s better than any of you in investing in herself. She makes herself

    look valuable and then fits into more valuable circles. And although she¡¯s only after men with money,

    but at least she¡¯s getting what she wants.

    ¡°Her goal is even clearer than any of you at Young, even if it¡¯s just about snagging a rich

    guy.

    ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to copy her in how she presents herself, but rather, I¡¯m asking you to find your own

    goals. Young should just be a ce where you grow, but it¡¯s not the final destination. Otherwise, you¡¯ll

    be stuck like this forever.¡±

    Aurelia thought long and hard at Leslie¡¯s words.

    She¡¯d always looked down on women like Kimberly, but Leslie¡¯s words did make sense. Kimberly was

    indeed willing to put effort into attracting men. From her physique to her hair, she took meticulous care

    of herself just to make a good impression on men

    whenever she tossed her hair.

    Wasn¡¯t it normal for men to chase after such women?

    Although the men pursuing her weren¡¯t anything special, Kimberly was just seeking better options

    among them. No one was superior to anyone else.

    Aurelia nced at the screen again and silentlymitted to keep pushing forward.

    But how would she choose?

    Nowadays, being fluent in a foreignnguage was a prerequisite for bigpanies. So,

    even if she wanted to start fresh, she needed to have at least some foundation.

    But the issue was, she couldn¡¯t even match to the receptionist at Leslie¡¯spany.

    ¡°Your Normish seems pretty good, and you can manage daily conversations. But your pronunciation is

    stiff. And when ites to more professional terms, you¡¯re lost.

    ¡°However, Normish is more widely used, especially inpanies that deal with foreign countries. And

    since you have a foundation in it, learning it won¡¯t be too difficult. This way, the tuition fee wouldn¡¯t be

    too high either,¡± Leslie gave Aurelia some advice.

    ¡°I¡¯ll check it out.¡± Aurelia suddenly felt a bit more confident and started looking for Normish course

    materials on herputer.

    But she was getting a little anxious because she couldn¡¯t find any.

 Chapter 387

    ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± Leslie got up and wrapped his arm around Aurelia¡¯s shoulder. Then, he leaned over her to

    click the mouse.

    Aurelia watched as Leslie¡¯s face drew closer, momentarily captivated.

    ¡°Why are you looking at me? Look at theputer,¡± Leslie casually said.

    Panicking, Aurelia involuntarily clicked a few times, resulting in the screen going ck. ¡± I¡­ shut it

    down,¡± she stammered.

    Leslie wore aplicated expression as he rubbed his forehead. ¡°12 thousand for 32 sses.¡±

    Impressed by his memory, Aurelia nced at him. ¡°Hmm. I¡¯ll inquire about the registration tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to stress about it too much. I¡¯ve got your back,¡± Leslie blurted out.

    But after saying that, he was taken aback by his own words, unsure why he had spoken so

    affectionately.

    Aurelia looked at Leslie in surprise as well, but she didn¡¯t ask further about it. Instead, she simply

    nodded cautiously and said, ¡°Okay.¡±

    Then, an uncertain atmosphere lingered between them as their gazes locked, and their breaths were

    audible to each other.

    Leslie gazed at Aurelia in front of him.

    She looked so pretty.

    Aurelia also sensed Leslie¡¯s intense gaze, and she nervously bit her lip.

    But just with this small gesture, Leslie unexpectedly leaned in closer to her.

    What was he trying to do? Was he going to kiss her?

    Aurelia nervously clenched her hand but didn¡¯t move away.

    But right before the atmosphere could heat up, Aurelia¡¯s phone rang and jolted her back to reality.

    Then, when she quickly stood up, she identally bumped into Leslie¡¯s forehead.

    Leslie grimaced, a hint of impatience appearing on his stern face as he straightened up

    and rubbed his head. ¡°Well done, Aure.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Synder. I need to take this call.¡±

    After answering the call, Aurelia was surprised to find out it was Lucia on the line. She had called her

    personally.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, we¡¯ve got an interview scheduled for this afternoon. Is that okay with you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll send you the interview script right away. If there are any sensitive topics, you can let us know in

    advance,¡± Lucia said.

    ¡°Alright. Thanks, Ms. Lawson.¡±

    ¡°No problem. Thanks to your exclusive interview, our magazine publisher has regained some

    reputation. And rest assured, thepany has also taken action against Eva, and she¡¯s been demoted

    to a regr employee.¡±

    ¡°Got it, thanks,¡± Aurelia calmly replied.

    ¡°See you tomorrow.¡±

    After ending the call, Aurelia nced at Leslie in embarrassment. ¡°Mr. Synder, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Leslie lowered his hand from his forehead to reveal a bump.

    Aurelia touched her own forehead and felt a bump too.

    Upon seeing this, she chuckled. ¡°Should I¡­ make some boiled eggs to soothe it?¡±

    ¡°Hurry up then. Do you n Leslie sarcastically

    to go on camera like this tomorrow? replied.

    Aurelia smiled as she entered the kitchen.

    15 minutester, she took out the boiled eggs. ¡°Here you go,¡± she said, peeling one and handing it to

    Leslie.

    ¡°I can¡¯t see the bump.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t see mine either. I¡¯ll have to go to the bathroom to look in the mirror,¡± Aurelia helplessly said.

    ¡°Come here.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ uh¡­¡± Leslie pulled Aurelia to sit down beside him and ced a warm boiled egg on her

    forehead.

    Surprisingly, it felt quiteforting.

    ¡°Feeling better?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Aurelia nodded. She held her breath and lowered her gaze, but she could still feel Leslie¡¯s eyes

    on her.

    Then, she couldn¡¯t help but recall the situation just now and unconsciously licked her lips.

    But suddenly, Leslie seemed to apply more force. And in the next moment, her forehead throbbed in

    pain and heat.

    Then, Leslie unexpectedly crushed the egg, and the yolk dropped into Aurelia¡¯s hand.

    Without thinking too much, Aurelia held the yolk and stuffed it into her mouth.

    Leslie¡¯s voice turned hoarse as he said, ¡°Isn¡¯t it dirty?¡±

    Aurelia looked up at him and answered, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I washed my face when I got back.¡±

    Leslie frowned as if he was trying to hold himself back. Then, he immediately stood up and said, ¡°Get

    some rest.¡±

    But before he left, Aurelia reached out and said, ¡°Mr. Synder, your egg.

    ¡°You have it¡±

    With that, Leslie went into his room without sparing Aurelia another nce.

 Chapter 388

    Aurelia stuffed the remaining egg whites into her mouth.

    What was going on? Everything was fine just now, but why did Leslie suddenly change his attitude?

    Meanwhile in the room, Leslie picked up the water cup from his bedside and drank half of

    1. it.

    He had to be crazy to treat Aurelia like that.

    Just thinking about her made Leslie¡¯s expression waver, and he had to go into the bathroom to settle

    himself.

    Meanwhile, Aurelia was going through the next day¡¯s interview script before bedtime.

    Lucia had a strong sense of crisis, so she greatly valued the interview.

    The next morning, Aurelia prepared breakfast and packed Leslie¡¯s lunchbox, nning to visit her

    mother in the hospital before the interview.

    Just as she wasying out the breakfast on the table, Leslie walked out from his room.

    He was dressed in a white shirt, ck pants, and a coat draped over his arm. He looked incredibly

    handsome, except for the bump on his forehead, which was a bit amusing.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a meeting this morning, so I¡¯ll grab breakfast on the go,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°Sure, let me pack it up for you.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be eating at home for lunch since I¡¯ll be at the hospital. And don¡¯t forget, we¡¯re going grocery

    shopping tonight for tomorrow¡¯s dinner,¡± Aurelia reminded Leslie as she packed the food.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Leslie nodded.

    Aurelia then passed the bag containing the breakfast and lunchbox to Leslie.

    However, Leslie didn¡¯t leave immediately.

    ¡°What¡¯s up? Aren¡¯t you supposed to hurry for the meeting?¡± Aurelia asked.

    Then, Leslie handed her a ck tie.

    Aurelia paused, remembering her boast in the elevator the day before.

    ¡°Should I tie it?

    ¡°So, were you lying to me?¡± Leslie said in a low voice.

    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t,¡± Aurelia hastily replied.

    Then, she immediately took the tie and stood on her tiptoes to put it around Leslie¡¯s neck before

    wrapping it around him. Then, with her memory as her guide, she tied it into a knot. ¡°Mr. Synder, this is

    all that I can do.¡±

    Leslie frowned at the knot on his chest. Then, he pulled it down and motioned Aurelia toe closer.

    ¡°Come here.¡±

    So, Aurelia approached Leslie.

    Then, Leslie turned her around and ced her back against his chest.

    After that, he lifted Aurelia¡¯s hands and guided them around the tie, his deep and maic voice

    saying, ¡°Like this.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Aurelia intently focused on learning, but her attention was on Leslie¡¯s hands as he guided hers.

    His grasp was warm and dry, and it was an indescribable feeling that Aurelia couldn¡¯t put into words.

    ¡°Done,¡± Leslie finally said.

    ¡°Yeah, let me put it on for you.¡± Aurelia forcefully pulled her thoughts back and turned around to help

    Leslie with his tie. Then, she adjusted it and smoothed out his cor as she

    did so.

    With each movement, her heart raced faster.

    ¡°I¡¯m heading out,¡± Leslie seriously said.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Aurelia nodded as she watched Leslie leave.

    Yet, her heart remained unsettled for a long while after.

    After a while, Aurelia returned to the table to have breakfast. Then, she brought some homemade

    cookies for Sophia to the hospital.

    When Aurelia reached the hospital, Sophia immediately came over to her and said, ¡°Ms.

    Chanter 388

    Simmons, are you okay? My daughter told me about what happened online. I¡¯ve been worried, but I

    didn¡¯t want to bother you.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Elliot, I¡¯m fine, thank you for caring about me. Here, I made these cookies for you. Give them a

    try.¡± Aurelia handed Sophia the box.

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Sophia turned and pointed to the bed. ¡°Your Mom¡¯s doing well, so you can rest assured.¡±

    ¡°Yep.¡± Aurelia sat down and held her mother¡¯s hand, feeling a sense of relief.

    Then, Sophia poured her a ss of water and smiled. ¡°I knew I was worried for nothing. With Mr.

    Synder around, you¡¯ll be just fine.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Aurelia epted the water, a bit puzzled.

    ¡°Yourplexion has improved a lot. Love is in the air, and even I, an old woman,

    see it.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Aurelia denied Sophia¡¯s words.

    ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. Your face is all flushed. Mr. Synder must be treating you really well.¡±

    Aurelia remained silent.

    Indeed, Leslie had been much nicer to hertely.

    can

    Meanwhile, in the One Technology, everyone burst intoughter when they saw the bump on Leslie¡¯s

    forehead as he entered the room.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, is the bed still in one piece?¡±

 Chapter 389

    Leslie looked at his colleagues in confusion. ¡°What bed?¡±

    ¡°The bruise is only showing up now, so it should be¡­¡± The colleague chuckled,

    It was a joke, but he couldn¡¯t explicitly say it because, after all, Leslie was his boss.

    Following his colleague¡¯s gaze, Leslie rubbed his forehead. ¡°It was Aure who bumped

    into me.¡±

    He thought his exnation was clear, but his colleague¡¯sughter became even more cryptic.

    ¡°Is Mrs. Snyder okay?¡±

    ¡°She went to the hospital,¡± Leslie said.

    Everyone spat their coffee out in surprise and looked at Leslie in shock.

    Was Leslie really that intense?

    Leslie looked at them, still puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    Daniel then put down his coffee and approached him, saying, ¡°Mr. Synder, this is something better

    discussed in private. Let¡¯s not talk about it anymore.¡±

    But Leslie sat down and said, ¡°Exin it to me.¡±

    Daniel sighed and whispered, ¡°You don¡¯t need to bring up your private affairs with Ms. Simmons, right?¡±

    ¡°Who said it was¡­¡± Leslie suddenly realized that his words had been misinterpreted.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, it¡¯s just human nature to go overboard sometimes. Besides, look at Ms. Simmons¡® face.

    She¡¯s so beautiful and lovely.

    ¡°Any man would feel protective, right? Well, except for me. And her figure, so perfectly shaped. Who

    wouldn¡¯t be tempted? Of course, except for me.¡±

    ¡°Except for you? Seems like you¡¯ve got it all figured out.¡± Leslie raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°No, Mr. Synder. What I meant was, it¡¯s normal for you to feel that way about Ms. Simmons,¡± Daniel

    hurriedly exined.

    ¡°I don¡¯t feel that way about anyone,¡± Leslie said meaningfully.

    ¡°Maybe¡­ your love runs deep.¡± Daniel analyzed.

    ¡°Get back to work.¡± Leslie dismissed the notion of love.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Daniel quickly left.

    After that, Leslie leaned back in his chair and took a moment to rx with his eyes closed.

    Just then, Cynthia¡¯s voice came from the office. ¡°Why¡¯s everyone in such a good mood today?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all because of Mr. Synder¡­ He showed up with a big bump on his forehead.¡± A

    perceptive colleague immediately redirected the conversation to Leslie again, pointing to the noticeable

    bump on his forehead.

    Upon noticing this, Cynthia immediately approached Leslie and reached out to touch his forehead.

    However, Leslie quickly dodged her and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get back to work.¡± He kept it brief to save Cynthia

    from embarrassment and put an end to the joking.

    Cynthia¡¯s hand hung in the air for a moment before she awkwardly withdrew it. Then, she sat down to

    work.

    Recently, Jason had taken his annual leave to apany his wife who had just given birth. So,

    Cynthia had volunteered to temporarily handle his responsibilities.

    After all, she didn¡¯t want Leslie to see her as someone who couldn¡¯t bnce professional and personal

    matters.

    Shortly after, Jessica from the reception knocked on the door and entered the room. ¡°Ms. Whitlock, I¡¯ve

    arranged the interviewees in the meeting room. Here are their resum¨¦s.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Cynthia took a look at the stack of resum¨¦s.

    Then, she frowned slightly and called out to Jessica, ¡°Jessica, how did you screen these applicants?

    Ourpany doesn¡¯t hire female employees.¡±

    ¡°But I checked the online job postings, and it didn¡¯t mention any gender restrictions,¡± Jessica replied,

    puzzled.

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Don¡¯t go thinking that you can change the information just because you got hired,¡±

    Cynthia said, displeased.

 Chapter 390

    Jessica pursed her lips.

    ¡°It was my idea,¡± Leslie suddenly said.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Cynthia looked at Leslie in disbelief. ¡°Are you saying that we¡¯re looking for female employees? But isn¡¯t

    it ourpany¡¯s rule¡­¡±

    Leslie then spoke in a serious tone, saying, ¡°Rules are meant to be flexible. Besides, Jessica and Maria

    at the front desk are doing a great job. They¡¯re professional,

    ¡°Not to mention, they also handle office affairs promptly. So, we can¡¯t generalize. And besides, you¡¯re a

    woman too.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Cynthia¡¯s feet hurt as if she were stepping on nails.

    After all, everyone was aware that her presence in thepany was out of ordinary too.

    Initially, when they hired Jessica and Maria for the front desk, she could still reassure herself that they

    were just nobodies. Besides, they weren¡¯t involved in internal matters so it wasn¡¯t anything serious.

    But now, Leslie had shattered her special presence and pride bit by bit.

    Cynthia knew that this all had to be rted to Aurelia, and as she thought of this, she clenched her fists

    and turned to smile at Leslie. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll go for the interviews

    then.¡±

    ¡°Daniel will join you for the interviews. Make sure to choose wisely,¡± Leslie calmly said.

    Cynthia¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but she still nodded in response. ¡°Okay:¡±

    With that, Cynthia went out to meet the candidates.

    However, she caught Jessica and Maria chatting as she left.

    Jessica was excited as she said, ¡°You won¡¯t believe it, but Mr. Synder just praised the two

    of us.¡±

    Maria clicked her tongue. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that. Mr. Synder changed his temper after getting married.

    We¡¯ve been here for so long, and he can¡¯t even remember my name correctly. Yet, he praised us. It

    seems like Ms. Simmons is indeed amazing.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, definitely. Did you notice the big bump on his forehead this morning? A cautious person like him

    wouldn¡¯t just bump into things so clumsily, right?¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention it, they really are a perfect match.¡±

    Jessica and Maria were chatting andughing, but they immediately stopped and looked up when they

    heard some deliberately loud footsteps behind them.

    ¡°Ms. Whitlock.¡±

    ¡°Thepany hired you to work, not to chat,¡± Cynthia scolded.

    ¡°We understand.¡± Jessica and Ma exchanged nces but didn¡¯t dare to say anything. Instead, they

    simply lowered their heads and started tidying up the things on the table. After that, Cynthia headed to

    the meeting room for the interviews with Daniel.

    As she observed each confident and beautiful woman, Cynthia¡¯s emotions became inexplicably

    complex. And despite her efforts to find ws in the female applicants, Daniel still selected three

    women in the end.

    Cynthia couldn¡¯t find any fault in their resum¨¦s either. So, she could only assess their performance

    during the trial period.

    Aurelia stayed at the hospital until the afternoon. Then, she headed to the IN Magazine Publisher.

    To her surprise, she was personally greeted by Lucia.

    ¡°Wee, Ms. Simmons.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Lawson, I¡¯m a little surprised by the attention. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯l take this interview very seriously,¡±

    Aurelia assured.

    ¡°I trust you. Come, I¡¯ll take you to the makeup room.¡± Lucia gestured, inviting Aurelia to follow her.

    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± So, Aurelia followed Lucia to the makeup room, and the makeup artist did her

    makeup while she discussed the process with Lucia.

    However, as the makeup artist lifted Aurelia¡¯s hair, she noticed the slightly red bump on Aurelia¡¯s

    forehead. ¡°Ms. Simmons, what happened to your forehead?¡±

    Aurelia raised her hand to touch her forehead. Then, she remembered about identally bumping

    heads with Leslie and blushed slightly.

    Lucia, being a woman, immediately grasped Aurelia¡¯s embarrassment and gave a faint

    smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s obvious that you and Mr. Synder are very affectionate, but I¡¯m curious about your rtionship

    dynamic. It doesn¡¯t seem like the traditional one of one partner being dominant over the other, nor does

    it seem like both of you hold equal control. The vibe between you two is quite subtle.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Aurelia was startled and puzzled by Lucia¡¯s description. ¡°Really? But we¡¯re just an ordinary

    couple.¡±

    Lucia enthusiastically waved her hand. ¡°Well, I work for a women¡¯s magazine. So, I¡¯ve seen all types of

    couples, from celebrity pairs to intellectuals. I have a knack for sensing the dynamics between them.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s our vibe then?¡± Aurelia curiously asked.

 Chapter 391

    Aurelia¡¯s confusion seemed to plque Lucia¡¯s interest, and seeing this usually serious woman now

    chatting livellly beside her was quite a change.

    Lucia exined, ¡°To be honest, I¡¯ve seen all sorts of couples. And in most cases, men like to unt

    their skills to some extent in publle while women tend to give their man some dignity and stand by.

    ¡°But you and Mr. Synder are a different story. He maye off as stern, but around you, he¡¯s quite

    reserved and is even willing to take a back seat.

    ¡°Not many men are willing to do that.

    ¡°And you surprised me as well. You¡¯re a very tolerant person, and you give off the sense of having

    some sort of hidden capability. Yet, you willingly give in to Mr. Synder¡¯s sharpness. You two¡­ are like

    the tea I brew bitter at first, then sweet with a lingering

    aftertaste.¡± Lucia smiled at Aurelia.

    Aurelia was taken aback. ¡°Willingly?¡±

    Who would willingly endure Leslie¡¯s sharpness? He could infuriate people with just a few words!

    Lucia chuckled. ¡°Isn¡¯t that how it is? Mr. Synder normally seems like he might be tough to handle, but

    the way you two look at each other is different.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that show that you¡¯re both okay with it?¡±

    Aurelia blinked, wanting to exin herself.

    But her actions only amused Lucia even more.

    She said, ¡°Ms. Simmons, I didn¡¯t expect you to have such a cute side, You young people are really

    interesting.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Lawson, stopughing, I¡¯m getting nervous,¡± Aurelia said, feeling embarrassed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about business then. Did Young fire you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Talking about Young instantly dampened Aurelia¡¯s mood.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s their loss then. You should aim for a bigger stage. Don¡¯t limit yourself,¡±

    Lucia said.

    Her words were sincere. After all, Aurelia¡¯s ability in handling herself during the online rumor crisis was

    commendable. What¡¯s more, she¡¯d even emerged victorious in the end.

    Aurelia¡¯s calmness under pressure was already rare, but what set her apart was her constant sense of

    tranquility andck of anxiety.

    After some thought, Aurelia asked, ¡°Ms. Lawson, do you happen to know of anypanies that are

    hiring?¡±

    Lucia pondered for a moment. ¡°Currently, there aren¡¯t any positions suitable for you. In the advertising

    industry, it¡¯s not just about being smart, connections matter too.

    ¡°Companies beyond Young prioritize qualifications and reputation. But those below struggle topete

    with bigpanies and end up with smaller projects instead. So, it wouldn¡¯t be worth your time to join

    them, especially considering that you were willing to settle for apany that was less than Young.¡±

    Aurelia instinctively shook her head. It seemed like job hunting was going to be trickier

    now.

    She let out a soft sigh.

    Then, Lucia seemed to have thought of something and said, ¡°Oh, by the way, isn¡¯t One Technology

    looking for marketing nners? One Technology is currently the hottestpany and seems to have a

    bright future ahead. It¡¯s much better to go there than to Young.¡±

    ¡°But is it true that One Technology¡¯s boss doesn¡¯t hire female employees? And isn¡¯t Ms. Whitlock the

    only woman among the core staff?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°Nah, I heard from my friend that there¡¯s no gender restriction, and quite a few people have already

    submitted their resum¨¦s.

    ¡°If you really want to try, you¡¯d better hurry. Thatpany won¡¯t be hiring for long,¡± Lucia reminded

    Aurelia.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Aurelia nodded.

    Then, she allowed the makeup artist toplete her work while Aurelia¡¯s own mind was buzzing with

    Lucia¡¯s words.

    Could she really join One Technology?

    As Aurelia was lost in her thoughts, the makeup artist put the finishing touches on her face and said,

    ¡°Ms. Simmons, you¡¯ve got a face fit for the stars. You¡¯re no less than those

    er 201

    beautiful celebrities.¡±

    Meanwhile, Lucia stood behind Aurelia. Then, she nced at her and nodded. ¡°Indeed, you¡¯re really

    beautiful. If things don¡¯t work out, I¡¯ll give you a referral.¡±

    ¡°No, thanks. That¡¯s not for me.¡± Aurelia brushed theirpliments off as mere politeness.

    After all, she had never been noticed, so how could she be a star?

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go for the interview,¡± Lucia said.

    ¡°Sure.¡± Aurelia got up and headed to the interview area. Then, she greeted the host and adjusted her

    microphone.

    After the live director¡¯s briefing, the interviewmenced.

 Chapter 392

    Aurelia knew the questions in advance, and they mainly revolved around women¡¯s rights. And this time,

    she¡¯d even invited Megan, who was handling the case.

    With both of them on board, the live interview suddenly gained poprity.

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Despite her nervousness, Aurelia took the host¡¯s advice to heart and tried to think of something happy

    to ease her tension before the broadcast began.

    However, she found herself thinking of Leslie for some reason.

    Later on, as the interview neared its conclusion, the host wanted to liven up the atmosphere on the

    spot. So, he said, ¡°Ms. Simmons, after facing such online bacsh, what¡¯s on your mind right now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking¡­¡± Aurelia nced at the time. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll have time to buy groceriester.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha, I see. So, it hasn¡¯t affected you.¡±

    ¡°I want my experience to positively inspire others, and not to instill fear and dread in them. I don¡¯t want

    to over exin my feelings because everyone reacts differently to situations. But I just hope that in the

    future, there¡¯ll be one less person going through

    what I did.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    After the interview wrapped up, the live broadcast received a great response, and Lucia was there

    pping along too.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been checking out thements, and many people are saying that you could be a broadcaster

    with your looks,¡± she said.

    ¡°Oh, really? It¡¯s probably just because you guys are great with makeup. I¡¯m actually pretty average,¡±

    Aurelia said, touching her face.

    Who was Aurelia trying to annoy? Calling herself ordinary?

    With such fair skin, delicate features, and a slight touch of makeup, she exuded a stunning charm that

    made people¡¯s hearts skip a beat.

    But Lucia didn¡¯t say anything else and simply discussed the details of the charity event

    with Aurelia.

    212-

    After that, Aure left the magazine publisher.

    However, as she walked down the stairs, she felt that her back was stiff from sitting for too long. And

    the thought of taking the subway back made her back ache even more.

    Just then, two honks sounded across the street.

    Aurelia turned to the source of the sound and saw Leslie leaning against the car door. His long arms

    were reaching into the window, honking the horn a few times.

    Leslie¡¯s tall and slender figure became somewhat surreal in the sunset, and he radiated an

    indescribable beauty that Aurelia couldn¡¯t help but admire.

    He was truly a handsome man.

    Aurelia rubbed her waist as she walked over to Leslie and noticed his peculiar gaze.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, why are you here? Don¡¯t tell me it was just a coincidence. Yourpany is miles away

    from here,¡± Aurelia remarked. She was almost used to his excuses, but she was never able to guess

    his thoughts.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to pick you up, okay?¡± Leslie stared at Aurelia. However, he forcibly averted his gaze when he

    caught the curious nces directed at Aurelia from around them.

    Then, with a heavy feeling in his chest, he reached out and pulled the absent¨Cminded. Aurelia closer to

    him.

    Aurelia¡¯s back was already sore, and being pulled by Leslie only made it worse. But she pushed aside

    the difort and focused instead on Leslie¡¯s words.

    Leslie had said that he¡¯de to pick her up? That didn¡¯t sound like something he would.

    1. do.

    But upon recalling what Lucia had said about her and Leslie¡¯s marriage, she couldn¡¯t help. but let her

    thoughts wander.

    ¡°Watch out for cars. What were you thinking?¡± Suddenly, Leslie wrapped his arm around Aurelia¡¯s waist

    from behind.

    ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Aurelia was in pain.

 Chapter 393

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Leslie asked.

    Aurelia grimaced and rubbed her lower back. ¡°Man, my back is killing me,¡± she groaned. ¡°I was trying to

    sit all upright and stuff for the camera today, but it was exhausting. I could totally use a wheelchair right

    now.¡±

    Leslie couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Aurelia¡¯sint, and a faint smile appeared on his

    face.

    However, Aurelia felt that Leslie was making fun of her, so she tried to defend herself, saying, ¡°Who

    wants to be all slouched over on TV, right? I even searched for the most. popr sitting poses online

    yesterday. They¡¯re supposed to make your legs look longer.

    ¡°And hey, there were even some people onlineplimenting my vibe today.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Leslie frowned.

    ¡°What? Why are you frowning?¡± Aurelia was embarrassed.

    ¡°I¡¯m just wondering if there are actually people who need to even learn how to sit properly?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ cold¨Chearted! Forget it, I don¡¯t need your help.¡± Aurelia pushed Leslie away and walked

    toward the passenger seat.

    But upon seeing her struggle, Leslie smiled and reached out to support her back. Then, he lifted her

    up.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Aurelia eximed in surprise.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you were in a hurry to buy groceries? You¡¯re moving so slowly that the supermarket

    will close soon,¡± Leslie said as he walked to the passenger seat.

    ¡°How did you know?¡± Aurelia paused. ¡°Did you watch the live broadcast?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Aurelia suddenly found herself at a loss for words. She gazed at Leslie holding her, and it stirred up a

    feeling inside her that was hard to put into words, But somehow, it felt warm and tingling.

    After cing Aurelia in the passenger seat, Leslie helped her fasten the seatbelt. And because of this,

    they were very close and could almost feel each other¡¯s breath.

    In such a tense moment, the both of them recalled the close call they¡¯d had the previous night.

    Meanwhile, the air conditioning blew inside the car, but the temperature didn¡¯t seem to drop until a

    police officer knocked on the driver¡¯s side window.

    ¡°You can¡¯t park here. Here¡¯s a fine of 50 dors. Remember to pay it,¡± the officer said.

    Aurelia and Leslie were left speechless.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Then, the police officer added, ¡°Make sure you two lovebirds behave!¡±

    Leslie¡¯s face darkened upon receiving the ticket, and after starting the car, his expression became even

    more unpleasant.

    Aurelia felt guilty and thought that she might¡¯ve made him unhappy by getting him fined. So, she said,

    ¡°Mr. Synder, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t worth the money,¡± Leslie muttered before pausing for a moment and continuing, ¡°I didn¡¯t even

    do anything.¡±

    Annoyed, Aurelia directed the air vent toward herself.

    What else did Leslie have in mind?

    Meanwhile, the inside of the car was silent, and the atmosphere was ambiguous.

    Then, Aurelia quickly connected her phone to the car¡¯s bluetooth, intending to y at song to ease the

    mood. ¡°Come on, be happy¡­¡±

    Leslie¡¯s face immediately darkened even more.

    After that, Aurelia quickly pressed the pause button and awkwardly chuckled. ¡°Sorry, I listened to it in

    your car before. I thought that it was nice, so I searched for it.¡±

    However, Leslie remained silent.

    So, Aurelia switched to another song, and Leslie¡¯splexion gradually improved.

    But unexpectedly, Linda called right then, and because the Bluetooth was still connected, the entire car

    was filled with Linda¡¯s heartyughter.

    ¡°Where are you, Aurelia?¡± Linda asked.

    ¡°In the car.¡± Aurelia hesitated and looked at Leslie.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s discuss which maternity center to choose.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Aurelia responded in disbelief. Was there something wrong with her ears? A maternity center?

    Linda chuckled. ¡°Of course. My daughter¨Cinw and grandson can¡¯t live in poor. conditions!¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute, Mom, what grandson?¡± Aurelia cautiously asked.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you pregnant? There¡¯s a picture of youing out of IN with Leslie holding your waist, and it

    just happened to be snapped and posted online,¡± Linda cheerfully replied.

    ¡°Pregnant?¡± Aurelia was taken aback.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Linda happily replied.

 Chapter 394

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia couldn¡¯t bear it and said, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s a misunderstanding. I¡¯m not pregnant. I

    just sat for too long, so my back was aching.¡±

    Suddenly, Linda¡¯sughter abruptly stopped, and she quickly shifted the conversation tofort

    Aurelia. ¡°Aurelia, I¡¯m not rushing you to have a baby. Don¡¯t let it bother you.¡±

    Aurelia felt embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom.¡±

    Then, Linda quickly reassured her and said, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s with the apology? You two are still young, and

    Leslie¡­¡±

    But halfway through her sentence, Linda suddenly fell silent.

    Meanwhile, Leslie, who was driving, suddenly had a bad feeling.

    Linda whispered, ¡°Aurelia, tell me, is it because Leslie isn¡¯t capable? He used to be so reserved, could

    it be that¡­¡±

    ¡°Mom! Mom!¡± Aurelia desperately interrupted Linda.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. What can¡¯t we talk about between ourselves? Even though he¡¯s my son, I can¡¯t let him get

    away with everything. If he¡¯s reallycking something, I¡¯ll ask the doctor to give him some

    supplements,¡± Linda said.

    At that moment, Aurelia felt her heart sinking, and her hands fumbled for her phone to turn off the

    Bluetooth.

    ¡°Aurelia, I¡¯ll go meet the doctor tomorrow. But don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t say anything,¡± Linda

    said.

    ¡°Mom,¡± Leslie spoke sternly.

    But immediately, Linda hung up the phone.

    With that, the call ended.

    the

    However, the Bluetooth continued ying the music, and to make matters worse, the lyrics weren¡¯t

    very appropriate either.

    ¡°What kind of man are you¡­¡± The song yed out.

    Aurelia trembled as she disconnected the Bluetooth. Then, she sneakily nced at Leslie.

    Leslie narrowed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine!¡±

    Charter

    Aurelia vigorously nodded. She didn¡¯t have a clue about what Linda said anyway. Nope,

    not at all.

    Then, Aurelia lowered her head and turned her attention to her phone.

    Just then, she came across the photo of her being supported by Leslie as they walked.

    It really did look like she was pregnant.

    No wonder people misunderstood.

    But fortunately, not many people were paying attention to her all the time, so there wasn¡¯t much gossip

    swirling around.

    But on the other hand, Leslie¡¯s back view in the photo garnered a shocking amount of clicks.

    ¡°I wish I could get Mr. Synder to carry me princess¨Cstyle too.¡±

    ¡°Keep dreaming. They¡¯re a real couple.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t this guy look like that hotshot from the tech industry a while back?¡±

    As Aurelia read thements that were gossiping about Leslie, she quickly turned to look at him.

    ¡°Do you want me to contact the person who took the photo and ask them to delete it?¡±

    she asked.

    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°Am I that embarrassing?¡± Leslie frowned.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­¡± Aurelia hesitated.

    ¡°We¡¯re here. Let¡¯s get off and buy groceries.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Aurelia nodded and got out of the car, feeling somewhat puzzled.

    Wasn¡¯t Leslie the one who didn¡¯t want their rtionship to be publicized?

    She was just being cautious, so why wasn¡¯t Leslie happy?

    After that, Aurelia followed Leslie into the supermarket.

    But out of consideration for Aurelia¡¯s back pain, Leslie quickly and efficiently bought everything they

    needed and left.

    30

    Meanwhile in the One Technology, Cynthia was looking at the online photo of the princess¨Cstyle carry

    and hurriedly made her way to Daniel¡¯s office.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Mr. Xenos? Don¡¯t you know a thing about crisis management? If Mr. Synder¡¯s identity

    gets exposed, his n against the Synder Corporation will be ruined.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Whitlock, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m neglecting public rtions, but¡­ Mr. Synder didn¡¯t allow me to take

    action,¡± Daniel hesitated as he said.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cynthia was taken aback.

    ¡°When the photo started getting attention, I immediately asked Mr. Synder if we should remove it. But

    he said it wasn¡¯t a big deal.¡±

    ¡°So, are you saying that he wants to make their rtionship public?¡± Cynthia frowned.

    ¡°They¡¯re married. So, it¡¯s only a matter of time before it¡¯s made public,¡± Daniel solemnly

    said.

    Cynthia was left speechless.

 Chapter 395

    Upon hearing Daniel¡¯s words, Cynthia sensed a looming crisis approaching. But she. didn¡¯t want to lose

    herposure in front of others, so she simply smiled and returned

    to her seat.

    Then, she stared at the figure on her phone, wishing that she could smash it into pieces.

    She couldn¡¯t just wait around anymore. The deeper Aurelia embedded herself into Leslie¡¯s life, the

    more difficult it would be to dislodge herter on.

    With that thought in mind, Cynthia messaged Eva on WhatsApp to check for updates.

    ¡°Eva, why isn¡¯t the buzz around Aurelia dying down?¡±

    As soon as Cynthia asked this, Eva¡¯s anger red up too.

    ¡°It¡¯s all because of Ms. Lawson. She¡¯s secretly boosting Aurelia as a trending topic and evenbeled

    her a strong woman. And with Leslie, her unconventional husband, it¡¯s no wonder she¡¯s gaining

    attention.¡±

    ¡°Help me think of a solution.¡±

    ¡°What can I do? Aurelia¡¯s really lucky. How did she end up with the Mn Group heir?

    You¡¯ve been with Leslie for years and haven¡¯t even gotten a title.¡±

    Although it was just a WhatsApp conversation, Cynthia could still imagine Eva¡¯s whiny expression as

    she read her messages.

    And even though they were best friends, hearing such words made Cynthia¡¯s face contort

    in anger.

    If Aurelia really became the ¡®Mrs. Synder¡® of the Mn Group, wouldn¡¯t she be theughingstock

    of the world?

    After thinking it through, Cynthia could onlye up with apromise on her own.

    ¡°Since you know so many people in the industry, do you have any scandalous news you Could use

    to push down Aurelia as a trending topic? She¡¯s just an ordinary person, after

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    all.

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for that fake scandal stirring up public anger, she wouldn¡¯t have so much. poprity. And

    while she doesn¡¯t have a fan following right now, we should find a celebrity to directly shut her down.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re smart, that¡¯s why you¡¯re killing it these days. I¡¯ve got some real juicy gossip for you. Remember

    that celebrity couple who graced our magazine a while back? Well, turns out they¡¯ve been pulling some

    shady stuff behind the scenes.

    ¡°They¡¯re ying their own games and even using their married status to pull off

    donation scams. We all know what¡¯s going on, but we¡¯ve been keeping quiet about it to preserve our

    dignity.¡±

    ¡°Did they offend you?¡± Seeing as how Eva was being so proactive, Cynthia guessed that these two

    must have provoked her.

    ¡°That woman actually said that I looked like a rib in private. It¡¯s ridiculous, she, with her full face of

    stic surgery, dared to say that to me? This time I want to see if she still has the money to fix her fake

    face in the future.¡®

    ¡°Okay, you better get on it then,¡± Cynthia urged.

    ¡°You too, make sure Aurelia doesn¡¯t get away with it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Then, after putting her phone down, Cynthia started contemting the situation.

    But coincidentally, she overheard her colleagues discussing ns to have dinner at Leslie¡¯s house the

    next day.

    It seemed that being too aggressive wouldn¡¯t work. Instead, it would only make Aurelia and Leslie¡¯s

    rtionship better.

    So, she had to retreat in order to advance.

    The next day, Aurelia was still sleeping when there was a knock on her door.

    She suddenly woke up, thinking that she¡¯d overslept and all of Leslie¡¯s colleagues had arrived. So, she

    scrambled out of bed and opened the door.

    But to her surprise, only a neatly¨Cdressed Leslie stood there.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Aurelia rubbed her eyes.

    ¡°Pack up your clothes and move them to my room,¡± Leslie said.

    ¡°Huh? Why?¡± Aurelia asked, suddenly immediately awake.

    ¡°Do you want everyone to know that we faked our marriage?¡± Leslie countered.

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia thought that Leslie had a point.

    It would indeed be strange to exin their fake marriage to any outsiders.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll pack up right away.¡± Aurelia nodded. ¡°Is your room ready?¡±

    ¡°Why would my room need to be cleaned?¡± Leslie seemed puzzled.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, if you really don¡¯t want others to suspect our fake marriage, then we have to be authentic,¡±

    Aurelia exined.

    ¡°Living together isn¡¯t authentic enough?¡± Leslie retorted.

    ¡°Do you think that being a real couple means putting clothes in the same closet? Go look at your room

    and close the closet door. Are there any traces of a woman¡¯s presence?¡±

    Leslie pondered for a moment before turning to open his bedroom door.

    Leslie¡¯s room was simply decorated.

    It had white walls, wooden flooring, a dark gray bed, a matching wardrobe, a stylish little sofa, and a

    small coffee table with a few books stacked together that he hadn¡¯t finished reading.

    At first nce, it didn¡¯t look like the room of a newlywed couple.

 Chapter 396

    Aurelia leaned against the doorframe and said, ¡°When Mom came, we¡¯d just moved in together, so it

    was normal that my stuff wasn¡¯t there.

    ¡°But now that it¡¯s been so long, there¡¯s still nothing. Now that¡¯s abnormal. And besides, we can¡¯t just

    hang my clothes outside, right?¡±

    So, what was the point of just moving clothes? After all, Leslie¡¯s colleagues couldn¡¯t juste in and

    rummage through the closet like Linda could.

    Leslie frowned and looked at Aurelia. ¡°How should we change it then?¡±

    Aurelia smiled gently. ¡°Don¡¯t get mad if I change it.¡±

    Upon seeing the mischief in Aurelia¡¯s eyes, Leslie nodded in agreement. ¡°Okay, change it.

    With Leslie¡¯s consent, Aurelia walked into the room and sat directly at the foot of the bed, patting the

    ck duvet. ¡°Firstly¡­ married men don¡¯t get to pick bedding, so we need to change all of this. I have a

    clean four¨Cpiece set in my closet, so let¡¯s use that.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Leslie curiously opened Aurelia¡¯s closet and found a set of bedding at

    the bottom.

    After a quick nce, he squinted and turned his gaze toward Aurelia standing at the door. ¡°No.

    Absolutely not.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Synder.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not¡­¡±

    Ten minutester, Leslie stared at the pale pink four¨Cpiece set on his bed with a tense

    expression.

    Meanwhile, Aurelia shook the corners of the bedding and smoothed them out.

    She¡¯d almost burst outughing when she saw Leslie¡¯s expression.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, you¡¯re acting just like my dad. When I was little, it was trendy to have floral bedding sets,

    so my mom followed suit and bought a green and red set.

    ¡°And when my dad saw the bed covered in flowers, he said his head was spinning. Hahaha¡­¡±

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Is it funny?¡± Leslie said sternly.

    ¡°Not at all.¡± Aurelia coughed and suppressed herughter.

    But as Leslie looked at Aurelia¡¯s flushed face, framed by the pink bedding too, he couldn¡¯t help but

    want to touch her cheek.

    Then, his hand started to instinctively rise.

    Aurelia noticed this, so she tilted her head as her eyes twinkled. ¡°Mr. Synder, what¡¯s up?¡±

    Suddenly, Leslie realized that he was almost going to touch Aurelia¡¯s face. So, he quickly withdrew his

    hand and patted the pillow. ¡°It¡¯s not smooth.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Aurelia thought that Leslie was so meticulous over just a few wrinkles.

    Then, Leslie regained hisposure and continued, ¡°Is everything all right now?¡±

    ¡°How could it be? Just wait a moment,¡± Aurelia replied.

    Then, she found a frame and ced her belongings inside before handing it to Leslie. ¡± All of these

    need to be arranged properly.¡±

    ¡°Where?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°Of course¡­ Mr. Synder, have you never been in a rtionship?¡± Aurelia teased.

    Wasn¡¯t it more liberal overseas? Someone like Leslie¨Ctall, handsome, and capable- should¡¯ve been

    very popr, right?

    Kimberly used to talk about how she¡¯d studied overseas, and she mentioned that it was normal for

    couples to live together after getting together. It wasn¡¯t as conservative there

    as it was in Carlino.

    So, Aurelia always assumed Leslie would be more experienced in rtionships than her. But now,

    upon seeing his clueless expression, she realized he might not know much

    about it after all.

    Under Aurelia¡¯s gaze, Leslie could only frown.

    ¡°Haha, really?¡± Aurelia couldn¡¯t hold back herughter.

    ¡°You may

    have more experience, but your taste is still so bad,¡± Leslie retorted.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Aurelia rolled her eyes. Leslie could be really petty sometimes. Then, Leslie changed the subject

    and asked, ¡°How should I arrange them?¡±

 Chapter 397

    Aurelia pointed to the bed. ¡°Which side do you prefer to sleep on?¡±

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    ¡°The left side,¡± Leslie replied.

    ¡°Then put my water cup, hairband, and charger on the nightstand on the right side,¡± Aure Instructed.

    ¡°Anything else?¡± Leslle asked.

    ¡°My pillow.¡± Aure ced her floral pillow on the bed before hopping onto it and rolling around twice.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Leslie stared at Aurelia bouncing around on the bed.

    ¡°I also love sleeping on the left side. And since there¡¯s no trace on the right side of the sheets, I have to

    press it down to make it look like someone has slept there.

    ¡°Whose sheets stay perfectly smooth anyway? Don¡¯t you want to lie down too?¡± As Aurelia said this,

    she rolled around again, totally clueless as to what she was implying.

    It wasn¡¯t until she suddenly froze in the middle of the bed that she realized that she had invited Leslie to

    share the bed.

    So, Aurelia quickly scrambled out of bed and hastily straightened her clothes. Then, she ran her fingers

    through her hair. ¡°I¡¯ll go tidy up the bathroom and freshen up.¡±

    With that, Aurelia dashed off.

    Once she was in the bathroom, Aurelia nced at herself in the mirror. Then, she lightly tapped her lips

    and caught sight of time on her phone.

    Instantly, she snapped back to reality.

    It was almost 9:00 am, and she had a lot of things to do.

    After freshening up, Aurelia stashed her toiletries away in the bathroom cab.

    But who would just snoop around someone else¡¯s bathroom anyway, right? Just the thought of it gave

    Aurelia the creeps.

    After tidying up, Aurelia¡¯s phone beeped twice, reminding her it was 9:00 am. So, she quickly left the

    bathroom to attend to her other errands.

    ¡°Mr. Synder, let¡¯s grab some toast for breakfast,¡± she said to Leslie.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    As Leslie followed Aurelia into the kitchen, he grabbed some milk and poured them two sses of it.

    Then, Aurelia fried a couple of eggs and a few slices of bacon to make a simple sandwich,

    As they sat at the table eating, Aurelia nced at the ckout curtains in the living room.

    It waspletely ck.

    Although the ckout effect was effective, Aurelia didn¡¯t like it in the spacious and bright living room.

    To be exact, from the moment she first stepped in, those two curtains never sat right with her. She

    would never use such curtains to block such good sunlight. Not to mention, It was blocking a beautiful

    balcony too,

    But Leslie seemed to like it very much. Even during the day, he would sometimes pull the heavy ck

    curtains and sit on the sofa, lost in thought.

    And since this was Leslie¡¯s home, Aurelia had no right toment.

    Upon sensing her gaze, Leslie took a sip of his milk before casually asking, ¡°What else needs to be

    changed?¡±

    Aurelia shook her head. ¡°Nothing.¡±

    ¡°The curtains?¡±

    ¡°Nope. After you¡¯re done eating, take your tes to the kitchen. I¡¯ll go prepare the ingredients.¡± Aurelia

    changed the subject.

    Then, she carried her empty te and headed into the kitchen.

    However, even after a while, Leslie still hadn¡¯t brought in his tes.

    Curious, Aurelia walked over to the kitchen door to check. And to her surprise, she found Leslie

    standing on a stool, taking down the curtains.

    Aurelia immediately walked over. Then, she looked up and asked, ¡°Mr. Synder, what are

    you doing?¡±

    Leslie continued removing the curtains as she replied, ¡°As long as they¡¯re not pink curtains, you can

    buy whatever you want.¡±

    Aurelia was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected Leslie to figure out what she¡¯d wanted.

    But she was puzzled too. ¡°Mr. Synder, why are you doing this?¡±

    ¡°You dislike them, right?¡± Leslie casually said.

    Aurelia gazed up at Leslie, her heart racing.

    But just as she was lost in thought, the curtain hook unexpectedly fell down.

    ¡°Be careful,¡± Leslie said. Then, he jumped down the chair and reached out to hold Aurelia¡¯s head,

    pulling her in front of him.

    But Aurelia was a bit dazed, and she was still looking up at Leslie.

    Just then, the heavy curtain fell onto Leslie¡¯s head, covering the both of them and enveloping them in

    darkness.

    The weight of the curtain pressed Leslie¡¯s head against Aurelia¡¯s, and their lips firmly

    met.

    Immediately, Aurelia froze with her hands tightly clenched.

    She¡¯d forgotten to push Leslie away, but she¡¯d also expected Leslie to push her away too.

    Yet, he didn¡¯t.

    Instead, his hand pressed against the back of her head, and it exerted a force that forced Aurelia to

    tiptoe to relieve the tension.

    This sudden kiss in the cramped darkness became fiery yet restrained.

 Chapter 398

    Yet, Leslie still didn¡¯t push Aurelia away. Instead, he just let the warmth linger on his lips.

    That is, until the doorbell rang.

    Suddenly, Aurelia¡¯s eyes widened.

    She intended to escape but found that she couldn¡¯t. So, she softly muttered against Leslie¡¯s lips,

    ¡°Someone¡¯s ringing the doorbell.¡±

    Given how physically close they were, Aurelia could even feel Leslie¡¯s breath in disarray.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Leslie¡¯s voice was hoarse, and his hand on her head loosened before he lifted the curtain over

    their heads.

    Then, Aurelia pursed her lips and turned around. ¡°I¡¯ll go answer the door.¡±

    However, Leslie reached out and stopped her. ¡°Go wash your face. Then, you cane back out. I¡¯ll

    get the door.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Aurelia was puzzled.

    ¡°Just go.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    So, Aurelia obediently went to the bathroom.

    Then, as soon as she saw the flush on her face, she understood why Leslie had said what

    he did.

    Soon, she heard Leslie¡¯s colleague at the door.

    ¡°I bought some seafood,¡± Daniel said.

    Leslie frowned. ¡°If you want to eat, cook it yourself and take it back.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia furrowed her brow.

    Who sends back seafood brought by their guests? Daniel was the assistant to the president of One

    Technology too. So, wouldn¡¯t it offend people?

    After that, Aurelia quickly washed her face and rushed out.

    ¡°Thanks Mr. Xenos. Give it to me. I¡¯ll cook for you guyster,¡± she said. Then, she shot

    Leslie a re.

    Couldn¡¯t he speak properly?

    In the face of Aure¡¯s re, Leslie remained silent.

    Meanwhile, Daniel and the rest of Leslie¡¯s colleagues couldn¡¯t believe that Leslie was actually afraid of

    Aurelia.

    Just then, Jessica and Maria walked in. ¡°We bought some top¨Cnotch champagne. You and Mr. Synder

    can enjoy a ss while watching movies or listening to music in the future. Isn¡¯t that nice?¡±

    ¡°Thanks. Come on in,¡± Aurelia said. Then, she took the champagne and handed out the disposable

    slippers she¡¯d prepared in advance.

    Leslie¡¯s house was quite spacious, and with ten people suddenlying in, it instantly became lively.

    Aurelia then pointed to the couch and chairs. ¡°Take a seat. We¡¯ll make you some tea.¡±

    Upon seeing this, Leslie nced at Daniel.

    Then, Daniel quickly said, ¡°Ms. Simmons, you don¡¯t have to trouble yourself. We can handle it. If you

    need any help, just let us know.¡±

    ¡°No need. I got this.¡± Aurelia smiled.

    But after making the tea, Aurelia noticed that Leslie was stiffly sitting on the sofa. So, shel pursed her

    lips and said, ¡°Mr. Synder! Go and grab some fruits from the fridge! Why are you just sitting there?¡±

    Still, Leslie remained silent.

    ¡°Hurry up,¡± Aurelia urged.

    How could the host sit there while letting the guests fend for themselves?

    ¡°Fine.¡± Reluctantly, Leslie got up and headed to the kitchen.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Then, Aurelia nced at everyone else and said, ¡°Actually, he¡¯s usually very hardworking and takes

    everything very seriously.¡±

    She was worried that Leslie might give his colleagues a bad impression. But to her

    surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, everyone looked at her with an incredulous expression.

    A few minutester, Leslie walked over with arge te of seasonal fruits and ced it on the coffee

    table.

    Aurelia smiled and said, ¡°Everyone, help yourselves.¡±

    Yet, no one dared to eat.

    Then, Leslie sternly said, ¡°Eat.¡±

    Everyone immediately nodded. ¡°Okay. Thank you. Sorry for the trouble.¡±

    Aurelia was puzzled.

    Why were they all so afraid of Leslie?

    It seemed like she needed to work on fostering better rtionships among him and his colleagues.

    ¡°You all take a seat. I¡¯ll get started on cooking.¡±

    But just as Aurelia headed toward the kitchen, the doorbell rang again.

    Another visitor? Wasn¡¯t everyone already here?

 Chapter 399

    Aurelia hesitated for a moment before heading to the door.

    To her surprise, it was Cynthia standing outside.

    Didn¡¯t Leslie say that Cynthia wouldn¡¯te?

    Cynthia smiled at Aurelia and said, ¡°Hey, Ms. Simmons, is Leslie around? I need to talk to him about

    something urgent.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Aurelia was taken aback and realized that Cynthia waspletely unaware of

    Leslie having invited his colleagues for dinner today.

    So, Aurelia awkwardly stood in ce, unsure of how to handle the situation.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Thankfully, Leslie came over to defuse the situation.

    Cynthia nced at Leslie. Then, when she saw the colleagues in the room, she looked a

    bit hurt.

    After taking a deep breath, she handed over a file. ¡°This is a document from Amoro. It seems like there

    was an issue that was found during the testing.

    ¡°I tried to contact Mr. Xenos, but he didn¡¯t respond, so I had toe find you instead. I¡¯m worried that

    dying it might cause some problems.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Daniel immediately took out his phone and found that Cynthia did indeed message

    him.

    Perhaps everyone was a bit noisy just now, so he didn¡¯t hear the notification

    Leslie then took the file from Cynthia and said, ¡°I see. I¡¯ll contact themter to inquire.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Then, I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Cynthia nodded.

    With that, Cynthia hobbled toward the elevator with her head bowed.

    Only then did Aurelia notice that Cynthia¡¯s knees had been scraped, and her stockings

    were stuck to the wound due to the bloodstains.

    Cynthia looked very disheveled indeed.

    ¡°Wait, Ms. Whitlock, what happened to you?¡± she asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It was my bad. I was in a hurry and forgot to watch my step, so I tripped,¡±

    manku 309.

    Cynthia said as she helplessly shrugged.

    ¡°Well¡­ Since you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t youe in and have dinner together? We happen to have some

    medicine and band¨Caids at home,¡± Aurelia suggested.

    ¡°That¡­ It¡¯s too much trouble for you all,¡± Cynthia replied, looking somewhat sad as she nced at

    Leslie.

    But Leslie also nced at Cynthia¡¯s wound and nodded slightly. ¡°Come in.¡±

    So, Cynthia murmured an agreement and limped her way into the house. But as she passed by Leslie,

    her feet gave way, and she¡¯d almost tripped again.

    Fortunately, Leslie reached out to support her. ¡°I¡¯ll get the medicine.¡±

    Cynthia then timidly nodded, obviouslycking her usual confidence from the office.

    Aurelia, who had extended her hand to assist Cynthia, retracted her hand in disappointment. Then, she

    simply watched as Leslie awkwardly supported Cynthia¡¯s

    hand instead.

    ¡°Ms. Whitlock, let me help you with that wound,¡± Aurelia said.

    ¡°No need, it¡¯s dirty. I can handle it myself. Thanks, Ms. Simmons.¡± Cynthia said, deflecting her offer.¡±

    Aurelia looked at Cynthia strangely.

    Cynthia had shown animosity toward her in the office before, but now, she was being

    polite.

    Just then, Leslie said,

    You go on and do your work.¡±

    Aurelia nodded, but as she turned around, she heard Cynthia speaking to Leslie in a hushed tone,

    ¡°Leslie, it hurts. Can you help me sit down?¡±

    Soon, Aurelia reached the kitchen door, but she couldn¡¯t help but nce back again.

    Then, she saw that Cynthia was leaning against Leslie, clearly in pain.

    No man would refuse to help such a beautiful and delicate woman, right?

    After that, Aurelia turned into the kitchen and donned an apron. Then, she grabbed a knife and started

    vigorously chopping some vegetables.

    While some people had beautifulpanions to apany them, others had continue with their

    mundane tasks.

    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Why was there such a big difference between people?

    But Aurelia also felt like she deserved it for allowing Cynthia in.

    Meanwhile outside the kitchen, the visitors were immediately silenced by the sound of Aurelia¡¯s

    chopping, and they gave Leslie a strange look.

    Was Leslie being so obedient because of Aurelia¡¯s fierce chopping skills?

    At that moment, a small smirk appeared on Leslie¡¯s lips.

    ¡°Leslie.¡± Cynthia gritted her teeth.

    Then, Leslie¡¯s smile instantly disappeared.

    A momentter, Aurelia had finished chopping the vegetables. However, it was only for her to be

    startled by Leslie standing behind her.

    ¡°What are you doing here? Weren¡¯t you¡­ with Cynthia?¡± she asked.

    ¡°If I don¡¯t show up, the neighbors willin about the noise,¡± Leslie remarked as he nced at the

    cutting board.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Aurelia apologized, feeling embarrassed.

 Chapter 400

    Leslie remained silent as he grabbed the red apron from the wall and draped it over his head. ¡°Come

    over here and help me tie it,¡± he beckoned.

    ¡°But¡­ aren¡¯t we supposed to entertain the guests outside?¡± Aurelia asked.

    ¡°They can fend for themselves,¡± Leslie replied before turning his back to Aurelia, allowing her to tie the

    apron.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Aurelia murmured as she tied the apron, slyly asking, ¡°Is Ms. Whitlock feeling better now?¡±

    ¡°I had Jessica and Maria help her with the wound. It¡¯s not appropriate for a guy to do it,¡± Leslie

    exined.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Aurelia nodded. Though she wasn¡¯t sure why she was feeling pleased about it.

    do?¡± Leslie asked.

    ¡°What should]

    ¡°Let¡¯s rinse the rice, and let¡¯s cook a bit extra. We have a lot of people today. They¡¯re mostly guys, and

    they eat a lot,¡± Aurelia instructed.

    While Aurelia gave instructions and continued cooking, Leslie simply helped her on the

    side.

    Meanwhile, Cynthia, who already had her wound tended to, was destely looking at the bandage.

    Then, during a water break, she slipped into the kitchen and peeked at Leslie amid the

    hustle and bustle.

    Leslie was wearing a red apron, and his slender fingers were weaving through the water as he rinsed

    the rice. Then, upon spotting Aurelia getting sshed with oil, he immediately shielded her with his

    hand. After that, Aurelia immediately looked at

    Leslie¡¯s hand first.

    It seemed like there was no room for anyone else outside of themselves.

    Unable to bear witnessing this, Cynthia turned away and walked to the balcony.

    Just then, the sound of the door opening caught her attention.

    ¡°You could¡¯ve just given me a call,¡± Daniel said from a few steps away.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think about it. It happened so suddenly,¡± Cynthia calmly replied.

    ¡°Ms. Whitlock, we¡¯re all part of Mr. Synder¡¯s team. We should have basic problem- solving skills,¡±

    Daniel said seriously.

    ¡°What do you mean, Mr. Xenos?¡± Cynthia frowned. ¡°Are you trying to suggest

    something? Why would I do it on purpose? I drove here for over an hour, and I ended up getting injured

    like this. Why would I do it for no reason?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Whitlock, I¡¯m just reminding you. But it might not be me next time. So, take care of yourself,¡±

    Daniel solemnly said.

    Cynthia lightly smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Xenos, are those your words, or Mr. Synder¡¯s? Or did Aurelia say

    something? I think there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. I had no idea about your dinner gathering today.¡±

    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

    Daniel nced at her but didn¡¯t say anything more. Then, he turned back to the room.

    Once Daniel left, Cynthia¡¯s smile instantly disappeared as she gazed at the distant sun.

    She was born to be superior, so why should shepare herself to an ordinary woman like Aurelia?

    She was inherently more noble than Aurelia, so how could she possibly lose to her?

    To Cynthia, this matter wasn¡¯t over yet.

    After a while, Aurelia opened the ss door and said, ¡°Ms. Whitlock, it¡¯s time to eat. Is your wound

    okay now?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Leslie said¡­ nothing,¡± Cynthia hesitated before limping closer to Aurelia.

    Meanwhile, Aurelia looked at Cynthia with some hesitation too and wondered what

    Leslie had told her.

    Then, Cynthia nced at Aurelia and continued, ¡°Ms. Simmons, let¡¯s eat first. Thank you for helping

    entertain us today.

    ¡°No problem.¡± Aurelia furrowed her brows, sensing something strange in Cynthia¡¯s words. However,

    she couldn¡¯t pinpoint what exactly was odd about them.

    Leslie and Aurelia had invited everyone for dinner, so it was natural to entertain their guests, right?

    What did Cynthia mean by ¡°helping entertain¡± them? It made Aurelia feel like an outsider.

    As Aurelia was still pondering about this,ughter came from the dining room, so she didn¡¯t dwell on it

    and followed along too.

    ¡°Just some simple food, folks, don¡¯t mind. Dig in,¡± Aurelia said,

    ¡°No, we¡¯ve been craving this for so long. Thanks a lot, Ms. Simmons.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Enjoy your meal. And if it¡¯s not enough, there¡¯s more in the fridge,¡±

    Aurelia said.

    Immediately, everyone started heartily digging in.

    After a while, Jessica stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the rest room.

    But after she left, Aurelia realized that she¡¯d forgotten to tell her where the restroom

    was.

    Then, Jessica walked inside and pushed open Leslie¡¯s room.

    Immediately, she burst intoughter.

    Meanwhile, the other colleagues looked puzzled and asked, ¡°What¡¯s so funny? What¡¯s made you so

    happ?¡±

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!