《Leave Me Alone, Mr Shaffer》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Isabe Symons frowned as she awoke from a restless dream and turned over ufortably. As she moved, she suddenly realized there was someone else beside her. She clenched her teeth and reached for the bedsidemp, which, when turned on, caused the man next to her to exhale in frustration. The dim light revealed the man¡¯s naked back, casting intriguing shadows on his well¨Cdefined Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. profile. She got out of bed and tiptoed to the closer to change clothes before returning to the bed. She touched the man¡¯s back and said, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, it¡¯s Chapter 1 Mistress for Five Years 6.06AM. You have a meeting at 7.30AM.¡± The man let out an exasperated sigh and brushed off her hand. In a raspy voice, he ordered, ¡°Go away!¡± Isabe was ustomed to such treatment, so she calmly got up and quietly headed downstairs to prepare breakfast. She ate her meal stoically and then hailed a cab to thepany. All of that was done without disturbing Seth Shaffer. Once the lights were switched off in the room, she transformed into Seth¡¯s personal ything. However, once outside the room, she was the executive secretary for the Shaffer Group¡¯s president. Chapter 1 Mistress for Five Years After arriving at thepany, she efficiently organized everything and stood outside the conference room with a cold expression, waiting. Everyone who walked past her would respectfully greet her. At 7.28AM, the president¡¯s private elevator chimed, and Isabe felt relieved. She then left the conference room and stood in anticipation. Seth was nearly six feet tall and appeared imposing from a distance. With his thin lips and fair the impression of a naturally cold personality. Even though she stood at just 168cm, she appeared frail when facing him. 142 Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 1 Mistress for Five Years. Without ncing at her, he acted as though they hadn¡¯t been in bed togetherst night. Since it would be a long meeting, she returned to the secretarial office to order breakfast for him. While perusing the menu, another secretary, Fiona Knox, approached her and inquired, ¡°Isabe, have you seen Mr. Shaffer¡¯s schedule for this afternoon?¡± Isabe shook her head. ¡°Is there something wrong with it?¡± After smacking her lips, Fiona whispered, ¡°Mr. Shaffer has a business dinner tonight with Louis Kessler, the Shine Corp.¡¯s regional executive director.¡± Chapter 1 Mistress for Five Years Isabe racked her memory for information on that name and instantly recalled it. Louis was notorious for using his status to harass female employees. There was even once when he drugged the head secretary of a partnerpany. ording to rumors, he had audaciously pursued Seth¡¯s aunt, Lara Shaffer. If Seth was meeting Louis, he would surely bring a secretary with him. Given the circumstances, it was apparent that the other secretaries were likely hesitant to apany Seth. This was the reason Fiona hade to discuss it with Isabe. Isabe pursed her lips and calmly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mr. Shaffer may not choose any of us.¡± However, once she finished speaking, the door to 11:42 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter 1 Mistress for Five Years the secretarial office was pushed open, and the newbie, Norah Monroe, peeked out before cautiously ncing at Isabe. ¡°Isabe, Mr. Shaffer is looking for you.¡± After quickly cing her food order, Isabe left the secretarial office impassively. It had been five years since her rtionship with Seth started. She had just joined thepany not long ago and was already tricked into sleeping with him inside his lounge. Though he had encountered several demanding customers, he had never made her do anything despicable. Inside his office, Seth calmly signed a document without lifting his gaze. ¡°Get ready. There¡¯s a business dinner tonight.¡± for Fix Chapter 1 Mistress for Five Years Her steps faltered momentarily. Not hearing her response, he frowned and raised his head to look at her. ¡°Isabe?¡± She quickly returned to her senses, but she remained unfazed. ¡°Yes, Mr. Shaffer.¡± He threw the document at her with a cold expression. ¡°How long have you been with me?¡± Not understanding what he meant, she replied calmly, ¡°Five years.¡± ¡°Then, act like it and do your job properly.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Shaffer.¡± Without showing any change of expression, Isabe¡¯s hands felt cold as she Chapter 2 Chapter 2 When Seth left his office that night, Isabe rose from her seat. At that moment, the secretaries around her exchanged sympathetic nces, well aware of her situation. Once inside the car, he closed his eyes to rest but then spoke up unexpectedly. ¡°Human Resources mentioned that you requested your employment contract two days ago.¡± Her heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm and replied, ¡°I couldn¡¯t recall the exact date I started working and wanted to check when I¡¯ll be eligible to change my permanent residence.¡± Chapter 21he¡¯s He opened his eyes and looked at her side profile with a slight smile. ¡°I thought you disliked Shaffer Group and were nning to leave.¡± ¡°You¡¯re ttering me. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be your secretary.¡± Isabe ttered Seth calmly, but her mind was racing. Although he didn¡¯t say anything, her heart continued to race. She had contemted resigning because he had be increasingly demanding, and leaving Shaffer Group would bring her closer to her desired life. Five years ago, she had dreamt of marrying him, but she had long since awakened from that dream. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, we¡¯re here.¡± 11:43 Wed 20 Dec Wed 20 Dec GGO Isabe¡¯s thoughts were still in turmoil as they pulled up at the Basilicus Hotel. At that moment, the hotel staff, led by the manager, awaited Seth¡¯s arrival with utmost respect. Sheposed her thoughts and followed behind Seth. When they reached the top floor, they were Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! greeted by a breathtaking view of a river at night through a massive floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. Once the elevator doors opened, a strong scent of perfume filled the air. A blonde man in his forties approached Seth and wanted to hug him. However, Seth was unafraid to displease anyone and tactfully moved aside, causing Louis to bump into Isabe. 11:43 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter 2 He¡¯s Giving Her to Someone Else The man¡¯s eyes lit up as he grabbed Isabe¡¯s hand. ¡°Shaffer, this woman you brought with you looks divine.¡± Once those words fell, his hand moved up her arm. She gritted her teeth and tried to suppress her disgust but didn¡¯t retreat. Behind her, Seth frowned slightly, then continued walking inside as though he didn¡¯t see her there. In no time, Louis became bolder and directly embraced her. Despite her smile, she searched for an opportunity to escape but found none. She even nced at Seth multiple times, but he remained impassive, asionally indulging in the ttery of an apanying executive. Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 2 He¡¯s Giving Her to Someone Else When everyone had taken their seats, Louis, still holding Isabe, turned to Seth and tentatively inquired, ¡°Shaffer, how much would it take for you to part with this secretary of yours?¡± An ufortable silence fell over the room as the executives all nced warily at Seth, afraid he would get angry. At the same time, she held onto the chair¡¯s armrest, and her back unconsciously tensed up. ¡°Her?¡± Seth raised a brow as he gave Isabe an intriguing nce. Then, he casually mentioned, ¡°She¡¯s been with me for five years, so she probably wouldn¡¯t agree to a small amount.¡± 11:44 Wed, 20 Dec GO Chapter 2 He¡¯s Giving Her to Someone Else Once those words were spoken, everyone understood what he meant. They knew no powerful man could maintain a five¨Cyear rtionship with. the same woman, so Seth must have grown weary of her. Listening to the repulsiveughter and wanton ttery, Isabe took a deep breath. She met Seth¡¯s calm eyes while enduring Louis¡® approach to kiss her ear. She moved aside, dodging Louis¡® kiss. However, Seth, seated across from her, raised an eyebrow. ¡°Mr. Keller, a toast.¡± She smiled and ced the red wine ss beside Louis¡® lips. ¡°Thank you for liking me.¡± 11:44 Wed, 20 Dec G 00. Chapter 2 He¡¯s Giving Her to Someone Else The others were in an uproar, and Louis was overjoyed. Finishing the wine with help from the beautiful woman, he said, ¡°Babe, you¡¯re such a sweetheart.¡± Sensing the burning gazeing from opposite her, Isabe smiled even brighter. She refilled Louis¡® ss and ced it beside Louis¡® lips. ¡°Have another ss.¡± Along with the encouragement from the men, around him, Louis was influenced by his desire and agreed. Then, with a tilt of her hand, she identally spilled half the ss of wine onto his chest. ¡°Oh, no! I¡¯m so sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± She ZU CC Chapter 2 He¡¯s Giving Her to Someone Else frantically apologized, her panicked demeanor resembling that of a trapped animal. However, Louis wasn¡¯t angry and grabbed her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, babe. It¡¯s just a shirt. We can just get changed inside the lounge.¡± Initially, Isabe¡¯s n was to give him something to do. She didn¡¯t expect the scum would n to head straight into the lounge. She knew apanying him to the lounge implied an intimate encounter, so she was slightly flustered and subconsciously looked across the table. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you still need to ask your boss for permission?¡± Louis grabbed Isabe¡¯s chin and nced mischievously at Seth. wed, zu Dec GGO Chapter 3 He Gave Me Away Meanwhile, Seth arrogantly leaned against the chair and didn¡¯t even spare her a nce. Instead, he picked up his wine ss and took a sip. ¡°Since you stained his clothes, you should clean it up.¡± His tone was monotonous and unwavering, causing Isabe to clench her teeth in frustration. Before she could gauge Seth¡¯s expression, Louis held her by the waist and pulled her up from the seat. Surrounded by men, they all looked at her mockingly, and none intended to speak up for her. Feeling devastated, she could not stop Louis from leading her away. 11:44 Wed, 20 Dec GOO. ÈÕ:83%Ãæ Chapter 3 He Gave Me Away Chapter 3 Chapter 3 ¡°Babe, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ve always been gentle to pretty women like you.¡± Sensing Isabe¡¯s reluctance, Louis tightened his grip on her waist and led her away. The lounge area was a private space, and as they approached, the attendant promptly closed the door and left them alone. Once the door was pushed open, she felt Louis shove her toward the door, and she could sense him getting closer, his breath unsettlingly warm against her skin. She instinctively turned her face, and his kissnded on her cheek, slowly trailing down. Chapter 3 He Gave Me Away The man was too strong and was well¨Cexperienced in such acts, so he easily trapped Isabe¡¯s hands and reached under her clothes. ¡°Babe, I¡¯ve been anticipating this the whole night.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. She struggled to grit her teeth but couldn¡¯t stop the man from groping her. ¡°Stop¡­ We¡¯re in the lounge¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No one wille to bother us.¡± He chuckled. His words were a mix of warning and mockery as his disgusting tongue traced her neck. She lifted her head to avoid his kiss, and tears streamed down her face. She couldn¡¯t help but think, Seth Shaffer, how could you give me up to this man? Suddenly, there was a snap, and Isabe¡¯s eyes widened as Louis¡® cold hands skillfully undid her bra. ¡°Be a good girl and let me love you¡­¡± In her mind, she was resolute, thinking, No way, not a chance! With an unexpected surge of courage, she screamed and sank her teeth into his shoulder. He couldn¡¯t believe it and quickly released her. Then, he cursed in his nativenguage, ¡°Are you f*cking looking for death?¡± As Louis processed the unfolding situation, he instinctively cradled his throbbing shoulder. Frustration welled inside him, and he wanted to kick Isabe. However, she remained seated on the ground, strangely unperturbed by the impending kick. Instead, she suddenly looked up at him and uttered, ¡°Lana Shaffer.¡± He stopped his actions, squinted at her, and slowly squatted down. He grabbed her by the neck and pulled her toward him. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°You have feelings for Lana Shaffer, don¡¯t you, Mr. Keller?¡± She gulped and used her fingers tremulously to tidy her frazzled hair. With her cheek toward the vile man, she smiled at him. He ran his tongue across his teeth and chuckled. He tightened his grip on her neck. ¡°So, what if I do? She¡¯s as insensible as you andcks proper training.¡± 11 45 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter My With a strained smile, Isabe met Louis¡® gaze with teary eyes. ¡°Only those who n to be together or get married require affection. Satisfying one¡¯s sexual desires doesn¡¯t require affection, right?¡± His eyes lit up as he followed her implication. ¡°Can you help me with that?¡± With trembling lips, she promised, ¡°Miss Shaffer is returning to Imperia soon and will surely visit the Shaffer Group. I can arrange to be in charge of weing her.¡± ¡°Why should I trust you?¡± He seemed skeptical. ¡°Miss Shaffer is Mr. Shaffer¡¯s aunt and the Shaffers¡® eldest daughter, the gem of the Shaffer Family.¡± Isabe tugged her lips and pulled up her cor, 11:45 Wed, 20 Dec G 0. Chapter 3 He Gave Me Away coldly retorting, ¡°Isn¡¯t that worth the risk of believing me?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of what will happen to you if you help me scheme against Seth Shaffer¡¯s aunt?¡± Louis studied her expression. Her expression fell, and she said impassively, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be here if it weren¡¯t for Mr. Shaffer.¡± A sly smirk yed on his lips, and he burst into Isabe breathed a sigh of relief, but Louis abruptly pulled her back into his embrace. He whispered menacingly into her ear, ¡°If you dare to deceive me, I promise I¡¯ll make your life a living hell.¡± Chapter 3 He Gave Me Away Meanwhile, the driver nced at the rearview mirror in a ck MPV. Since Seth had drank some wine, he was resting with his eyes closed, but his eyebrows were deeply furrowed, and he was exuding an oppressive aura. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, Miss Symons- Seth opened his eyes, revealing his dark pupils filled with ruthlessness. He frowned and said, ¡°She won¡¯t being out tonight.¡± ¡°Then, what should we-¡± ¡°Drive,¡± Seth ordered, his tone now stern and cold. Not daring to defy his orders, the driver was about to start the car¡¯s engine when he suddenly spotted 11:45 Wed, 20 Dec GOO. Chapter 41 Quit, Mr Shaffer a frail figure emerging from the hotel. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, it¡¯s Miss Symons.¡± Seth¡¯s eyebrows rxed as his stern gaze shot outside the window and quickly fell onto a familiar figure under the streetlights. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 With her purse in hand, Isabe walked calmly toward the car and leaned in slightly to pull the door open. ¡°Mr. Shaffer.¡± Seth looked at her with aplicated gaze but didn¡¯t stop her from getting in. However, his gaze never left her side profile. While sitting in the car, Isabe sat with her back straight and said nothing, seemingly as though nothing had happened earlier. ¡°Pulling out so soon?¡± The man¡¯s chilling voice entered her ear. Isabe smiled and turned her body slightly toward 11:46 Wed 20 Dec G GO him, her eyes filled with mockery. ¡°Didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to do it, Mr. Shaffer?¡± With slightly narrowed eyes, Seth suddenly withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and scoffed, but no one could tell if he sounded pleased or not. ¡°You do have some potential.¡± The smile on Isabe¡¯s face instantly disappeared. She turned to look in another direction and subconsciously lowered her head, making her face seem somewhat blurred under the dim lights. ¡°Thank you for your guidance over the years, Mr. Shaffer. I¡¯ve learned quite a lot.¡± Seth lightly brushed his lips with his fingers as scrutiny and confusion gradually filled his eyes. 11:46 Wed, 20 Dec GO Chapter 41 Out Mr Shaffer Then, he looked into the mirror above him. From the mirror, he could clearly see Isabe. Despite having gone through a traumatic experience, she looked like nothing had happened and was still as perfect as a robot. No matter how Seth looked at her, he couldn¡¯t see the liveliness she used to have several years ago. Following a sh of light, he caught a glimpse of the hickey on the woman¡¯s neck, and the smile in his eyes instantly disappeared. Then, he turned to look at her with grim eyes. ¡°Stop the car.¡± The driver reacted quickly and stopped the car Transaction Fees BINANCE PZP Chapter 41 Ouit, Mr Shaffer beside the road before tactfully getting off. Unable to control her anger, Isabe wanted to take this chance to open the door, but just as her hand touched the door, a hand appeared on her waist, and she was forcefully pulled backward. Her figure fell into a broad embrace, and the familiar smell of sandalwood entered her nose. The man hugged her from behind and ced his chin on her shoulder. While gritting her teeth, Isabe huffed as she rejected him, saying, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, we¡¯re in public, for God¡¯s sake.¡± As soon as she spoke, she heard him click his tongue while moving her hair away from her neck BINANCE PZP Transaction Fees Chapter 41 Quit, Mr Shaffer to look at the bruise. ¡°You can follow that pig into a lounge but can¡¯t get in the same car with me, huh?¡± While slowly speaking, his icy hands arrived behind Isabe and habitually pulled down her zipper. The fear from half an hour ago suddenly surged inside Isabe as she bit her lips, chastising the man inside. B*stard! ¡°Keep your voice downter. The driver is still outside.¡± The man ced his thin lips against her earlobe, but his eyes were staring at her side profile, not wanting to miss any change in her expression. Isabe trembled with anger and reprimanded the man in her head, but since she was restrained, she ma BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees Chapter 41 Quit, Mr Shaffer couldn¡¯t move an inch. Seth could feel her body rx, so he instinctively loosened his grip around her. After lowering his head, he ced his lips against her neck. ¡°Mr. Shaffer?¡± Isabe took the time to call out to him. However, the man didn¡¯t stop, and the dense kisses kept raining down on her neck. She could feel his heavy breaths. Isabe turned her head to the side and gazed at the car¡¯s ceiling while asking, ¡°Don¡¯t you find it dirty?¡± With a slight frown, Seth stopped what he was doing, and Isabe uttered, ¡°I was alone with Louis Chapter 41 Out, Mr Shaffer for twenty minutes. That¡¯s enough to do everything.¡± Seth¡¯s pupils contracted, and his jaw tightened as a trace of disdain appeared in his eyes. Taking the chance, Isabe struggled free from the man¡¯s grasp and slowly tidied up her messy clothes. Even though the man behind her didn¡¯t move, she Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. could still feel his burning gaze on her. She took a deep breath and grabbed her purse, wanting to open the door. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, I hereby inform you that I quit.¡± As soon as she was done speaking, she ignored the man¡¯s expression and straightened her back, ready to exit the vehicle. When the driver heard themotion, he was a Transaction Fees little confused and ran over. ¡°Miss Symons?¡± At first, Isabe still wanted to say something to cover the situation, but the man¡¯s angered voice boomed from inside the car. ¡°Let her leave!¡± The driver seemed a little awkward, unsure if he should make peace between them. After shrugging her shoulders, Isabe smiled at the driver before walking toward the road in her high heels without turning back. 19 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Thete summer was transitioning into early autumn, so the cold night sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. 18 Better Not Anger Mr Shaffer Isabe walked all the way home, and her legs were full of blisters. After opening the door, she found herself in an empty space. She quietly undressed and took a shower. The scalding water hit her, almost peeling off a shower. Then, she vigorously scrubbed her body with a bath sponge, determined to erase all the filth on her. She went through all of this with a nk expression, not once shedding a tear from start to finish. When she looked in the mirror and spotted the bruise on her neck, she stared at her reflection with bloodshot eves for a long time before the tears O Transaction Fees BINANCE P2P Chapter 5 You¡¯d Better Not Anger Mr Shaffer suddenly came pouring down uncontrobly. How did she end up like this? You¡¯re pathetic. The figure in the mirror raised her hand and delivered a hard p across her cheek. It seemed like once wasn¡¯t enough, so she did it again and again. As soon as she felt pain, her mind became clear. After wiping away her tears, she left the bathroom and dried her hair. Eventually, she calmed down. Louis was a ticking time bomb, so she couldn¡¯t cross paths with him again, or she wouldn¡¯t be as lucky as she had been today. Also, she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to actually plot against L. No Transaction Fees Chapter 5 You¡¯d Better Not Anger Mr Shaffer matter how annoying the other party was, it didn¡¯t warrant tarnishing her innocence. It seemed like resignation was the best way out. Leaving Imperia with her mother for a smaller city sounded like a good n. Seth was a generous benefactor. Over the years, she had acquired two properties and had a few million in savings. With those ns in mind, she wasn¡¯t as stressed out. Without hesitating, she threw away her towel and promptly submitted her resignation letter to the human resources department. Once that was done, she felt like a rock had been lifted from her chest, but it was just a moment of relief. The terrifying feeling of emptiness rushed in like a tidal BINANCE PZP Transaction Fees Chapter 5 You¡¯d Better Not Anger Mr Shaffer wave, and she felt as if her heart had been hollowed out. Leaning against the chair, she covered her eyes with her hands, letting the near¨Coverflowing emotions disappear through the gaps between her fingers. She didn¡¯t know how long had passed, but exhaustion washed over her. Finally, she got up and copsed onto the couch, falling into a deep slumber. Since she was resigning anyway, she simply turned off the rm when it rang. She slept until mid¨Cmorning, only to be awakened by a continuous barrage of phone calls. After fumbling for her phone, she answered it groggily. ¡°Hello?¡± BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees 11:47 Wed, 20 Dec GO0. or Mr Shaffer Chapter 5 You¡¯d Better Not Anger Mr ¡°Miss Symons, this is Ollie Wace.¡± Isabe opened her eyes in frustration and sat up. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Mr. Shaffer is at the hospital. Pleasee over.¡± ¡°The hospital?¡± Isabe frowned but didn¡¯t move. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Puzzled, Ollie Wace paused for a moment and added, ¡°Miss Symons, you understand Mr. Shaffer¡¯s temper. There¡¯s no need to make such a big fuss. Otherwise, I¡¯m sure you can think of the consequences.¡± Isabe didn¡¯t say a word, and Ollie¡¯s voice sounded again. This time, his tone sounded gentler. 11:47 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter 5 You¡¯d Better Not Anger Mr Shaffer ¡°Miss Symons, I must remind you that the two properties are considered gifts, and Mr. Shaffer has the right to reim them.¡± Those words made Isabe tighten her grip on her phone as she clenched her jaw. Ollie continued, ¡°I heard your mother is still in a nursing home. Those expenses must be quite high, I presume?¡± After taking a deep breath, Isabe calmed down. ¡°Send me the exact location.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Ollie respectfully replied before hanging up. Feeling irritated, Isabe changed into a new set of clothes and headed out. However, she wasn¡¯t in a 11:47 Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 5 You¡¯d Better Not Anger Mr Shaffer B/9 hurry. Instead, she took a cab and slowly made her way there, even cursing Seth along the way. It would be best if it isn¡¯t just a minor problem. Perhaps a painful stomach ulcer or something simr, just to make him suffer. When Isabe arrived at the hospital, Ollie sent her a message, telling her to head up to the third floor and enter the second room on the left. Upon stepping out of the elevator, she nced around and found herself in the gynecology department. She paused for a moment, her mind momentarily nk. Then, she knocked on the door of the examination room hesitantly. ¡°Hello¡­¡± Inside the examination room was a single female Chapter & Ten Million Penalty for Breach of Contra doctor who nced up at her coldly. ¡°Are you Miss Symons?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Lay down while I get prepared.¡± Isabe was confused, and her feet felt like they Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! were nailed to the ground. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Isabe felt as if she had been delivered a hard p, making her ears ring. Seeing her hesitation, the doctor assumed she was scared and said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s just a simple physical examination. Lie down and take off your BINANCE PIP Transaction Fees 11:47 Wed, 20 Dec GOO. Chapter 6 Ten Million Penalty for Breach of Contra pants. I only need to take a sample.¡± Isabe gripped the sides of her pants with both hands, forcing herself to stay calm and mentally Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! prepare herself. Just think of it as a free check¨Cup. It¡¯s no big deal. Then, shey down expressionlessly, already guessing Seth¡¯s intentions. The cotton swab lightly grazed her, and it was a very quick process. Isabe got up in a daze, but she realized her legs had gone numb within a minute and were shaking. It wasn¡¯t out of fear, though¨Cit was out of anger. ¡°You can go now. I¡¯ll give the results to Mr. Wace.¡± Without giving any response, Isabe adjusted her 29 Wed Chapter 6 Ten Million Penalty for Breach of Contra clothes and tried to walk out as calmly as possible. Then, she sat in the corridor for a while, sorting out her thoughts. Seth thought she had slept with Louis and wanted her to get checked for any diseases. Taking a deep breath, she wanted to throw a tantrum when her phone rang. It was from Seth. After wiping her face, she controlled her trembling voice and spoke. ¡°Mr. Shaffer.¡± ¡°Are you done with your examination?¡± The man¡¯s voice sounded cold and monotonous. Isabe stared at her reflection on the wall opposite her and coldly retorted, ¡°I¡¯ve already tendered my resignation, so you don¡¯t have to be so considerate by giving me a free check¨Cup, you Chapter 6 Ten Million Penalty for Breach of Contra know.¡± A snort came from her phone, followed by Seth¡¯s usual tone as he questioned her, ¡°Haven¡¯t you checked your email?¡± While furrowing her brows, Isabe had a bad feeling. ¡°I-¡± The man cut her off and simply said, ¡°Come over at 8.00PM. I will be returning hometer.¡± Within seconds, she could only hear the beep of the disconnected call. Isabe couldn¡¯t wait until she returned home, so she immediately checked her email on her phone. The reply from the human resources department BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees 11:47 Wed, 20 Dec GGO. Chapter 6 Ten Million Penalty for Breach of Contra contained only a screenshot of a contract use. ¡®Termination within the five¨Cyear term of. employment will result in a ten million penalty for breach of contract.¡® Isabe¡¯s pupils dted, and she felt as if she had been plunged into an ice cer, shivering from the cold. When she first joined thepany, she was still a rookie and didn¡¯t understand the specifics of the contract. Nheless, she was certain that this use hadn¡¯t been in there. Hold on! She had signed numerous contracts over the past few years under Seth¡¯s instructions. There was no guarantee that he hadn¡¯t deliberately slipped in a few extra uses. As such, she might have unwittingly sold herself out. BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees Chapter 6 Ten Million Penalty for Breach of Contra There were less than three months away from her five¨Cyear employment term. Isabe closed her eyes, propping herself up on the chair. Her mind quickly settled on the n with the least amount of loss. She had to endure these three months, or her future would be extremely difficult without the ten million she had saved. She prepared herself mentally, trying to digest the overwhelming sense of shame enveloping her. However, the feeling was like the smell of disinfectant from the hospital; it stuck to her stubbornly. After returning home to take a bath, she had to scrub her body clean for the humiliation to gradually disappear with the smell of disinfectant, 11:48 Wed, 20 Dec GO Chapter 6 Ten Million Penalty for Breach of Contra hiding it away deep in her heart. She scrolled through her phone numbly until it was dark outside, and she took a cab to Seth¡¯s residence. When she arrived at the door, she tried to unlock the door with her fingerprint. ¡°Sorry, your fingerprint is invalid.¡± The cold and mercilessputerized voice made Isabe let out a soft sigh. She wrapped her coat tightly around herself and sat down on the steps. Though she could leave or wait at a nearby cafe, doing so would only anger Seth even more. Since she couldn¡¯t bear the former¡¯s anger, she could only choose to take on the chilly night wind. BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees 11:48 Wed, 20 Dec GO Chapter 6 Ten Million Penalty for Breach of Contra As the sky grew darker, it was eventually 9.00PM. Isabe¡¯s mind felt dizzy before a dazzling ray of light shone on her, instantly waking her up. Seth descended the car and saw the woman curled up on the steps through the intense light. She resembled a stray, looking vaguely like how she did a few years ago. His mood changed slightly as he slowly approached and stood before her. ¡°How long have you been here?¡± ¡°Since 7.40PM.¡± Isabe¡¯s tone sounded calm without a trace of anger. Her calm tone instantly smoothed out the surge of emotion inside Seth¡¯s heart, and he discreetly withdrew his gaze before moving past her and 11:48 Wed, 20 Dec G. Chapter 7 She¡¯s Like a Robot heading up the stairs. ×ÔµÚ83% Isabe looked up with a calm expression and followed him up the stairs. Once inside the living room, Seth removed his coat and casually threw it on the couch. Then, he lowered his head and began unbuttoning his cuffs leisurely. Without paying any attention to Isabe, he went straight upstairs. Listening to the obedient footsteps behind him not too far away, he went straight to his bedroom door beforeing to a halt. He smiled mockingly, then removed his clothes before entering the bathroom in his birthday suit. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Upon hearing the sound of water running, Isabe entered the room. Out of habit, she grabbed Seth¡¯s bathrobe, hairdryer, and pajamas beforeying them out on the couch. Then, she sat there, unmoving. When Seth emerged from the bathroom, his body covered in water droplets, he saw the statue¨Clike figure on the couch. She was nothing like five years ago. Back then, she was a bit silly and somewhat cute at times. Now, she was like a robot, unresponsive no matter what happened. It was boring and irritating. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He casually tossed the towel in his hand, urately hittina Isabe. Chapter 7 She¡¯s Like a Robot She snapped out of her daze and immediately took the bathrobe before walking over to him with a calm expression. It was as if the attractive and alluring man before her didn¡¯t exist. Seth¡¯s gaze was gloomy as he grasped every detail of the woman¡¯s expression. Unfortunately, she really was like a robot. ¡°Doesn¡¯t anything faze you? Your expression doesn¡¯t even change?¡± he suddenly asked. Lowering her head to help the man tie the rope around his waist, Isabe calmly replied, ¡°I¡¯m your secretary, so I have to always look presentable lest I embarrass you.¡± Seth tilted his head andughed mockingly while a trace of irritation shed across his eyes. Suddenly. 48 Wed, 20 Dec Chapter 7 She¡¯s Like a Robot he pped her hands away. ¡°M¨CMr. Shaffer!¡± While Isabe was still confused, the man picked her up in his arms and strode toward the bed. Her body was then mercilessly thrown on the bed. Her head was spinning, and her mind turned to mush in an instant. ¡°Mr. Shaffer!¡± She tried to get up, but the man pushed her back down. Seth casually pulled off his freshly worn bathrobe, then pressed one knee on the bed¡¯s edge, emitting an imposing aura. His icy lips pressed against her neck, and he expertly opened her cor. Suppressing her anger, Isabe closed her eyes. ¡°I remember you didn¡¯t like second¨Chand items.¡± BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees ¦§ 11:48 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter: Like a Robot The man didn¡¯t stop, and the humiliating words came out easily from his lips. ¡°The report shows that you¡¯re very healthy.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m lucky that Louis doesn¡¯t have any contagious disease.¡± Isabe remained expressionless while feeling her clothes being pulled away. Seth let out a low chuckle, his emotions a mix of amusement and unknown feelings. Theughter carried a chilling threat, making the hairs on Isabe¡¯s body stand on end. ¡°You are indeed lucky,¡± he murmured. ¡°Otherwise, I would never touch you again, even if you knelt before me and begged me.¡± 11:48 Wed, 20 Dec G 0. DKS83%•þ Chapter 7 She¡¯s Like a Robot Isabe closed her eyes, not bothering to listen to the oppressive masculine voice by her ear. It was in the middle of the night. The bedsidemp was on, and the man¡¯s upper body was bare, revealing arge expanse of tanned skin, which made him look strong and sensual. Seth leaned against the headboard while holding a cigarette between his fingertips. He squinted slightly as he exhaled, the smoke veiling his stern face in an obscure haze. By the bedside, the woman was wrapped in a thin nket, trembling. ¡°Did I hurt you?¡± he asked casually. Chapter 7 She¡¯s Like Robot Isabe gulped and felt like there were thorns inside her throat, causing a burning and painful sensation. She spoke up in her raspy voice. ¡°I have something to discuss with you.¡± Putting out his cigarette in the crystal ashtray, Set nced at the woman close to him and rebuked, ¡°You¡¯re quite intelligent. You know that now is an easier time to negotiate with me.¡± Ignoring the sarcasm in his tone, Isabe continued, ¡°I want to transfer to a subsidiary The man was momentarily stunned, then his gaze locked onto the woman¡¯s face, examining her. Suddenly, he sneered and mocked, ¡°You want to BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees Chapter 7 She¡¯s Like a Robot leave? There¡¯s only three months left. Do you think I will keep you from leaving?¡± He was getting a little tired of her, but he had to be the one to dismiss her; it wasn¡¯t her ce to leave on her own ord. Besides, he hadn¡¯t seen her emotionless face change yet. ¡°I appreciate your training over the past few years. However, whether I leave now orter, I still have to leave. If I¡¯m transferred to a subsidiarypany now, I can still bask in the glory of being your secretary.¡± Isabe¡¯s wor were insincere like she was trying to tter the man. But Seth saw through her thoughts in one nce and scoffed with sarcasm. ¡°Training? Is it the 11:49 Wed, 20 Dec G 0 Chapter 7 She¡¯s Like a Robot training you did in bed? You haven¡¯t made much progress after five years.¡± Isabe¡¯s expression fell as she muttered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have disappointed you.¡± ¡°If you want to be transferred, then fine.¡± The man Isabe breathed a sigh of relief and stood up after wrapping her body in the nket. She picked up her clothes from the floor before walking out quietly. ¡°Isabe, this is the path you choose for yourself.¡± The man suddenly spoke behind her. When she opened the door, her gaze was BINANCE PJP Transaction Fees 11:49 Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 8 The Days of Exile Begin 8K 83% determined. ¡°Rest assured that no matter what happens in the future, I won¡¯t cause you any trouble.¡± Seth let out a snort. ¡°Be gone.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Isabe walked back alone, enduring the harsh wind that blew all night. By morning, she had developed a high fever. But before she had the time to rest, she received a call from the human resources department, telling her she had been transferred to a car retail DINANCE P2P Transaction Fees 17 Chapter 8 The Days of Exile Begn taking up the position as frontline sales. It was a genuine form of exile. Seth was truly ruthless for putting her in such a position. From executive secretary to sales, it was the same as transforming from a king¡¯s beloved into a soldier by the border. Despite her high fever, Isabe forced herself to report for duty. Upon arrival, she realized what frontline sales meant. The ce was small. She nced around, noticing the entire office was cluttered with various items and had a strange smell in the air. The supervisor who weed her was named Jonas Stokes, a middle¨Caged man with a stout build. His attitude was excessively enthusiastic. BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees 11:49 Wed, 20 Dec GO Chapter & The Days of Exile Begin. ÅÌ83%Ãæ From the moment she entered, his eyes were glued to her as he overtly and covertly inquired about the reason for her exile. Seeing that she wasn¡¯t going to talk, he waved his hand in frustration and asked her to find her desk on her own. Ignoring the strange looks from those around her, Isabe ced her few belongings on the desk and familiarized herself with her work. She didn¡¯t care about the job and just wanted to get through the three months as quickly as possible. Therefore, she didn¡¯t bother with introductions. Once she was familiar with her work, she grabbed her bag before heading to stand by in the lobby. Since her fellow colleagues had their own work to BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees Chapter & The Days of Exide Begin 83 do, they were unwilling to pay her any mind. Her head was spinning, so she chose to lean against a corner to ck off. ¡°Miss, can I test drive this car?¡± In her daze, she heard someone calling out to her. Isabe focused her gaze and saw an elderly man in his fifties standing in front of her, wearing a shirt with small holes at the cor. He didn¡¯t appear to be particrly wealthy. Looking around, she noticed almost no one paid attention to this old man, probably thinking he couldn¡¯t afford to buy. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll go and grab the keys.¡± Isabe took a breath to calm down her spinning head. Then, she headed to the back to retrieve the keys. Chapter 8 The Days of Exile Begin The man wanted to test drive a Mercedes¨CBenz C¨Css, which cost around four hundred thousand. She retrieved the brochures and was thinking of how to introduce the car, but just as she was about to speak, the man got out of the car. ¡°I¡¯ll take this car. Prepare the paperwork.¡± Not only was Isabe stunned by that, but even those who looked down on the old man were also stunned. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask about the details?¡± ¡°Buying a car is very straightforward, and I¡¯ve already bought several of them, so there¡¯s no need This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. for an introduction.¡± The old man waved his hand. Once he said so, everyone in the office was stupefied and ground their teeth in frustration. Bigo Live INSTALL Chapter & The Days of Exile Begin Isabe was also pleasantly surprised and quickly led the old man toplete the paperwork. When she reached the reception desk, Jonas suddenly came over and pulled her aside. Annoyed by his inappropriate behavior, Isabe took a step back. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve gotten your first order on your first day, so you have to treat everyone to a drink. It¡¯ll help maintain harmony among colleagues,¡± he said with the demeanor of an understanding boss. Since Isabe couldn¡¯t refuse, she nodded calmly. ¡°Once I finish-¡± 50 Wed, 20 Dec GOO. Chapter & The Days of Exile Begin 7.7 Jonas, however, turned around and announced to everyone, ¡°Isabe has agreed to treat us to drinks. Everyone, please tell her what drinks you want.¡± ¡± Though Isabe wasn¡¯t entirelyfortable with this, everyone was already gathering around, casually and familiarly naming their preferences. In the end, she had to write it down in her notebook to remember all their orders, filling an entire page with writing. Her original n was to inform the front desk, but a woman named Abigail Thomas grabbed her arm and acted like they were very familiar with each other. ¡°Be, you can leave to buy the drinks. I¡¯ll help you settle the rest of the process.¡± 11:50 Wed, 20 Dec G CO. Chapter 9 A World of Difference Between Them Since someone was kind enough to extend a helping hand, Isabe still agreed despite being slightly hesitant. With her head currently spinning severely, she urgently needed some fresh air. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Isabe walked back alone, enduring the harsh wind that blew all night. By morning, she had developed a high fever. But before she had the time to rest, she received a call from the human resources department, telling her she had been transferred to a car retail DINANCE P2P Transaction Fees 17 Chapter 8 The Days of Exile Begn taking up the position as frontline sales. It was a genuine form of exile. Seth was truly ruthless for putting her in such a position. From executive secretary to sales, it was the same as transforming from a king¡¯s beloved into a soldier by the border. Despite her high fever, Isabe forced herself to report for duty. Upon arrival, she realized what frontline sales meant. The ce was small. She nced around, noticing the entire office was cluttered with various items and had a strange smell in the air. The supervisor who weed her was named Jonas Stokes, a middle¨Caged man with a stout build. His attitude was excessively enthusiastic. BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees 11:49 Wed, 20 Dec GO Chapter & The Days of Exile Begin. ÅÌ83%Ãæ From the moment she entered, his eyes were glued to her as he overtly and covertly inquired about the reason for her exile. Seeing that she wasn¡¯t going to talk, he waved his hand in frustration and asked her to find her desk on her own. Ignoring the strange looks from those around her, Isabe ced her few belongings on the desk and familiarized herself with her work. She didn¡¯t care about the job and just wanted to get through the three months as quickly as possible. Therefore, she didn¡¯t bother with introductions. Once she was familiar with her work, she grabbed her bag before heading to stand by in the lobby. Since her fellow colleagues had their own work to BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees Chapter & The Days of Exide Begin 83 do, they were unwilling to pay her any mind. Her head was spinning, so she chose to lean against a corner to ck off. ¡°Miss, can I test drive this car?¡± In her daze, she heard someone calling out to her. Isabe focused her gaze and saw an elderly man in his fifties standing in front of her, wearing a shirt with small holes at the cor. He didn¡¯t appear to be particrly wealthy. Looking around, she noticed almost no one paid attention to this old man, probably thinking he couldn¡¯t afford to buy. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll go and grab the keys.¡± Isabe took a breath to calm down her spinning head. Then, she headed to the back to retrieve the keys. Chapter 8 The Days of Exile Begin The man wanted to test drive a Mercedes¨CBenz C¨Css, which cost around four hundred thousand. She retrieved the brochures and was thinking of how to introduce the car, but just as she was about to speak, the man got out of the car. ¡°I¡¯ll take this car. Prepare the paperwork.¡± Not only was Isabe stunned by that, but even those who looked down on the old man were also stunned. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask about the details?¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°Buying a car is very straightforward, and I¡¯ve already bought several of them, so there¡¯s no need for an introduction.¡± The old man waved his hand. Once he said so, everyone in the office was stupefied and ground their teeth in frustration. Bigo Live INSTALL Chapter & The Days of Exile Begin Isabe was also pleasantly surprised and quickly led the old man toplete the paperwork. When she reached the reception desk, Jonas suddenly came over and pulled her aside. Annoyed by his inappropriate behavior, Isabe took a step back. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve gotten your first order on your first day, so you have to treat everyone to a drink. It¡¯ll help maintain harmony among colleagues,¡± he said with the demeanor of an understanding boss. Since Isabe couldn¡¯t refuse, she nodded calmly. ¡°Once I finish-¡± 50 Wed, 20 Dec GOO. Chapter & The Days of Exile Begin 7.7 Jonas, however, turned around and announced to everyone, ¡°Isabe has agreed to treat us to drinks. Everyone, please tell her what drinks you want.¡± ¡± Though Isabe wasn¡¯t entirelyfortable with this, everyone was already gathering around, casually and familiarly naming their preferences. In the end, she had to write it down in her notebook to remember all their orders, filling an entire page with writing. Her original n was to inform the front desk, but a woman named Abigail Thomas grabbed her arm and acted like they were very familiar with each other. ¡°Be, you can leave to buy the drinks. I¡¯ll help you settle the rest of the process.¡± 11:50 Wed, 20 Dec G CO. Chapter 9 A World of Difference Between Them Since someone was kind enough to extend a helping hand, Isabe still agreed despite being slightly hesitant. With her head currently spinning severely, she urgently needed some fresh air. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 The scent of disinfectant filled Isabe¡¯s nostrils, causing her to furrow her brows. When she opened her eyes, the initial blur gradually cleared to reveal a world of white. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± Isabe lifted her head and saw a nurse beside her, adjusting the IV drip. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You fainted. You¡¯ve been here for an hour,¡± the nurse said nonchntly. Isabe propped herself up, taking in her surroundings. It was a decent treatment room, and the ce didn¡¯t seem like an ordinary hospital. Bigo Live INSTALI The nurse nced at her and raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re lucky. You fainted in the mall, covered in coffee. A handsome guy brought you here.¡± Only now did Isabe feel ufortable. She lowered her head and learned that her outfit was still covered in dried coffee. ¡°Where is the person who brought me here?¡± The nurse clicked her tongue, and her cold gaze carried a hint of gossip. ¡°That handsome guy is really kind. He paid for your medical expenses and originally wanted to wait for you. But he received a call and had to leave in a hurry.¡± Isabe sighed and pursed her lips. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a Bigo Live Hi! Want to chat? INSTALL The nurse was thinking or teasing ner but then heard Isabe continue, ¡°Could you please speed up the drip? I still have work to do.¡± ¡°Being a white¨Ccor worker is something else. You have a high fever of 102.2F and are still thinking about returning to work.¡± Albeitining, the nurse increased the speed of the IV drip. Isabe closed her eyes wearily, her mind filled with snippets of Seth¡¯s icy gaze. A shiver ran down her spine, causing a cold sweat to form on her back. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. She nced out the window at the bustling activity outside, unconsciously clenching her fists. Suddenly, her phone rang¨Cit was an unfamiliar Bigo Live INSTALL Hil Want to chat? ¡°Isabe, what¡¯s going on? Why are you taking so long to buy some coffee?¡± Isabe frowned, realizing it was Jonas. She slowly let out a breath. ¡°Mr. Stokes, I fainted in the mall, and now I¡¯m at the hospital.¡± ¡°You¡¯re at the hospital?¡± Jones sounded surprised and oddly concerned. ¡°Then, take the day off. Abby has pretty much handled your tasks.¡± Isabe had a gut feeling that these people weren¡¯t as kind as they seemed. But she didn¡¯t have the energy to argue now, so she exchanged a few pleasantries and hung up. Bigo Live Hil Want to chat? INSTALL Chapter 10 Evicted From the House The IV drip continued until nearly 4.00PM. When Isabe left the hospital, the sun had already started to set, so going to thepany at this time would be pointless. She might as well go home. directly. After all, she didn¡¯t care much about the sry. With a pessimistic attitude, Isabe hailed a cab. However, as soon as she arrived at the elevator, she heard amotion. ¡°Get everything out. Hurry up!¡± Isabe¡¯s heart sank, and she quickly walked into the corridor. As she expected, there were indeed people moving her belongings out of her apartment. 11:52 Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 10 Evicted From the House ¡°What are you doing?¡± The movers exchanged nces but had no intention of acknowledging her. They continued with their work. Isabe quickly opened the door, only to run into the property manager, Joshua Fox. ¡°Miss Symons, it took you long enough!¡± Isabe was so angry that she felt suffocated. While pointing at the things outside, she demanded, ¡°What¡¯s going on?! Who gave you permission to enter my home?¡± Joshua spread his hands and looked a bit disdainful. ¡°You forgot to pay the rent. Thendlord told us to move your things out, saying a new Bigo Live Chapter 10 Evicted From the House tenant will be moving in soon.¡± ¡°Rent?¡± Isabe froze. This apartment was arranged by Ollie under Seth¡¯s instructions two years ago. It was for her convenience tomute to thepany. At that time, she was told that the rent was paid for three years. In the midst of her recent busyness, she hadn¡¯t even thought about the house. ¡°If you have a problem, call thendlord. It¡¯s almost the end of the workday, and it¡¯s not convenient for us either.¡± Rolling his eyes, Joshua turned around and continued instructing the workers to move Isabe¡¯s belongings. Standing at the doorway, Isabe watched them Chapter 10 Evicted From the House CH toss her things into the hallway like trash and heard Joshua grumble as he continued toin, ¡°All this stuff needs to be taken away as soon as possible, or we¡¯ll have the cleaning crew do it.¡± Isabe clenched the strap of her bag, her mind racing. Her first instinct was to call Ollie, but she stopped herself after taking a deep breath. She was the one who chose to leave Seth, so it was perfectly reasonable for him to retract everything. In the end, she only had herself to me for not handling the situation properly and leaving an opening for others to humiliate her. The corridor was filled with her belongings, leaving no room to make even a step. Holding her phone, she decided to seek help. ¡°Hello¡­¡± 8K 82% Chapter 10 Evicted From the House Half an hourter, Isabe stepped out of a cab. The surroundings were dimly lit but rtively clean. She found the house following the address provided by Natasha Mills. It was an old standalone vi, with the front gate covered in rust. Since Natasha had given her the passcode, she entered the yard directly and knocked on the main door. Then, she heard a response from inside. Click! The door opened. ¡°Come in.¡± Natasha had maroon wavy hair and wless features. Her appearance made her look like the most beautiful seductress. She had probably just finished showering and was busy blow¨Cdrying her hair as she weed Isabe in 11:52 Wed, 20 Dec GOO. Chapter 11 Struggling in Exile her silk pajamas. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 As soon as Isabe stepped into the house, she was greeted by a warm and inviting fragrance throughout the house. The feminine aura seemed to cling to every corner of the building. ¡°What¡¯s up? Your sc*mbag boss finally got bored of you?¡± Natasha poured Isabe a ss of water and casually sat beside her. With both slender legs crossed, she exuded a seductive allure. ustomed to Natasha¡¯s straightforwardness, Isabe lifted the cup and took a hearty sip. ¡°I decided to leave him.¡± 1:52 Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 11 Struggling in Exile In the middle of towel¨Cdrying her hair, Natasha paused her movements and let out a surprised gasp. ¡°You suddenly grew a backbone?¡± Isabe pulled her lips into a wry smile. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten enough from him.¡± Natasha frowned, not particrly fond of the way Isabe phrased it. She had a feeling that something had happened. Isabe didn¡¯t hide anything and briefly exined what had happened these two days. After drying her hair, Natasha tossed the towel aside and reached under the coffee table for a cigarette. She had even lit the lighter when she B2% Chapter 11 Striggling in Exile suddenly remembered Isabe was there and immediately discarded it. ¡°What are you nning to do next?¡± Shrugging, Isabe feigned nonchnce and said, ¡°I¡¯ll get through the next three months first. Once the contract is terminated, I¡¯ll establish a small agency. It should be enough to support my mom. and me.¡± Natasha furrowed her brow as she thought it might still be difficult for Isabe to terminate the contract after three months. However, she didn¡¯t voice her thoughts and nced at Isabe, suggesting, ¡°Three months is still a long time, and idling away won¡¯t do you any good. Although it¡¯s just selling cars, this field epasses all walks of Chapter 11 Struggling in Exile life. Who knows? You might unexpectedly make a valuable connection.¡± Upon hearing that, Isabe fell silent. Having been around Seth for so long, she seemed to have developed a misconception that the economic environment of establishing her ownpany was the same as at Shaffer Group. It was not. Shaffer Group had been with the Shaffer Family for four generations and had several generations of political umtion before it, making it a real multinational integrated conglomerate. Even if she pressed hard to aim for that, she wouldn¡¯t be able to achieve it in this lifetime. Seeing her lost in thought, Natasha reminded her, Bigo Live Chicher 11 Stuping in Exte The people you re going to meet while selling cars might as well be your future connections when establishing your own business.¡± Isabe rubbed her temples, suddenly enlightened but also felt pitiful for herself. Though she self¨Cproimed to have worked in arge enterprise for five years, she still had to start from the bottom up after leaving. Looking up at Natasha, Isabe said, ¡°Natasha, thank you. I¡¯ll work hard starting tomorrow.¡± Being a righteous friend, Natasha gave Isabe the master bedroom, woke up early the following day to make breakfast, and even drove Isabe to work. Chapter 11 Struggling in Exile On their way there, she even started sharing her experience in sales. ¡°When working in sales, it¡¯s the same everywhere. Don¡¯t put yourself above others; tter them however you can.¡± Isabe massaged her throbbing temples, suddenly feeling very pressured. ¡°I wasn¡¯t even this nervous during my interview at Shaffer Group.¡± Natasha parked the car in front of Isabe¡¯s ¡°Leaving that guy isn¡¯t a bad thing. If you stayed with him until you turned thirty, then you¡¯d truly be considered a good¨Cfor¨Cnothing.¡± Isabe felt something stirring inside her heart. Those words were both painful and liberating, stimting her brain cells into action. After closing Chapter 11 Struggling in Exile the door and bidding farewell to Natasha, she confidently strode into thepany. She couldn¡¯t afford to lose her first battle for the day. Upon entering, Jonas, who had his arm around Abigail¡¯s shoulder, released her and walked toward Isabe with a smile. ¡°Isabe, you¡¯re back to work so soon?¡± Tugging her lips into a faint smile, Isabe exined, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, and I can¡¯t dy my work, right? You¡¯re here early, too, so it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to ck off because I¡¯m sick.¡± She had put on airs just yesterday, but now her words were more tactful and pleasing. Jonas needed a moment to adapt to her change and soon felt delighted, thinkina Isabe was trvina to 11:53 Wed, 20 Dec GO Chapter 11 Struggling in Exile curry Tavor with nim. ¡°Those who had been executive secretaries are quite different, it seems.¡± Jonasughed heartily and wrapped his arm around Isabe¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Though we salesmen can¡¯tpare to them, it¡¯s still a promising career if you work hard.¡± Isabe walked toward her desk and smoothly dodged Jonas¡® hand while asking, ¡°Mr. Wace, is yesterday¡¯s sale closed?¡± ¡°It is.¡± With a wave of his hand, he nodded at Abigail. ¡°It was all thanks to Abby. She worked tirelessly yesterday afternoon.¡± The others around them were savvy gossip mongers, and any topic involving performance Chapter 11 Struggling in Exile would gain their keen interest. They were eagerly waiting to see Isabe¡¯s reaction. Holding a folder, Abigail gave a sweet smile and said, ¡°It was nothing. I was just helping out a colleague. A little effort goes a long way.¡± Isabe smiled, retrieving a cup from her bag to pour some tea. ¡°That¡¯s sweet of you, but I can¡¯t let you help for nothing.¡± After taking a sip, she added, ¡°How about we split this deal between us?¡± Abigail¡¯s expression fell, and she fell silent. ¡°Isabe, you¡¯re too modest. We¡¯re all colleagues. There¡¯s no need to be so particr about individual deals.¡± Jonas chuckled, trying to ease the situation while giving Abigail a nudge with his shoulder, Chapter 11 Struggling in Exile urging her to step aside. He casually chatted with Isabe. ¡°You¡¯re the senior here, so you should look out for Abby more.¡± After that, Isabe was clear that themission would probably all wind up inside Abigail¡¯s hands. She said those things earlier to tell everyone she was no fool and they shouldn¡¯t think about taking advantage of her. ¡°Sure.¡± She nodded and gave Abigail a meaningful nce. ¡°Let¡¯s look after each other in the future.¡± Still hugging her documents, Abigail stuck out her tongue, pretending to look innocent, and then skipped toward the reception desk. If Isabe hadn¡¯t met all sorts of people in the Bigo Live Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. IUCTAII workce, she might have thought that Abigail was just an innocent and naive rookie who had ju started her career. She sighed in relief and checke the time on her phone but inadvertently noticed a headline in the entertainment news. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 ¡®Shaffer Group Acquires Ingemium Media. Young Mr. Shaffer Thriving Both in Career and Love.¡® Isabe casually clicked on the article. In the image, Seth held a champagne ss while apanied by the leading actress of Ingemium Media, Briana Farrell. They looked like a match made in heaven. After a sneer, she breathed out to dispel the Bigo Live Chapter 12 Heating About His Romantic Affairs. displeasure inside her and searched her phone contacts, ready to fight. Since it was 9.00AM, the secretaries should have clocked in, so Isabe called Fiona. The call was soon answered. ¡°Fiona?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Fiona sounded hesitant. ¡°Isabe.¡± Picking up her cup and heading to the pantry, Isabe whispered, ¡°I just resigned and am afraid You might have some trouble with work, so I cided to call you and ask if you need anything.¡± Fiona let out a long sigh, and her emotions immediately surged inside her. ¡°Isabe, you know me so well. It¡¯s total chaos without you here.¡± Chuckling, Isabe lowered her head to fumble Bigo Live with her fingers, suggesting with assurance, ¡°How about this? Come by mypany if you¡¯re free this afternoon, and we¡¯ll have lunch together.¡± Shaffer Group¡¯s headquarters was in the city center, while the smallpany Isabe was at was almost on the outskirts of the city, so it was quite far away. Fiona hesitated for a moment. ¡°This afternoon? It¡¯s so far, so I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t make it back in time.¡± With a click of her tongue, Isabe said, ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. I have some notes thatpose Mr. Shaffer¡¯s daily habits and several points of attention. I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be clear if I exin them over the phone.¡± Bigo Live INSTALL Chapter Hearing About His Romantic Affairs Isabe was making a gamble. She was betting that everyone in the office would bepeting for the position of executive secretary, including Fiona. Anyone would be attracted to the notes she, the former executive secretary, hadpiled. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll be there.¡± As Isabe expected, Fiona had only hesitated for a while before immediately agreeing. With a confident smile, Isabe hung up. Inside the empty and quiet pantry, she felt ironic while looking out of the ss walls. Even though she kept saying she wanted to be rid of Seth, she was still trying all she could to assert authority by using his reputation. Chapter 12 Hearing About His Romantic Affairs Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the door to the pantry opened. When she turned around, she saw it was Alex Young, who had a cold and indifferent expression. Just like her ambiguously androgynous name, she gave off an unapproachable vibe. Isabe simply nodded at her, but the other only responded with a slight nce. But just as Isabe was about to leave, Alex spoke up. ¡°You can forget about yesterday¡¯s sale. That b*tch Abigail has crawled into Jonas¡® bed long ago.¡± Those words rendered Isabe slightly shocked as she didn¡¯t expect the woman to be so frank and indiscreet with her words. ¡°I understand. Thank you for your reminder.¡± Chapter 12 Hearing About His Romantic Affairs After scoffing, Alex leaned against the water dispenser and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not helping you. I¡¯m just curious about you. You don¡¯t look like someone who has been a secretary for five years.¡± Withdrawing her hand, Isabe turned back to look at Alex. ¡°What should a secretary look like?¡± Alex raised a brow before looking outside the ss window. ¡°Like Abigail. Spreading her legs to win over others.¡± Isabe choked as those words had hit the nail on the head. She and Abigail weren¡¯t much different. Their only difference was that Seth was way better than Jonas, and Seth was a generous man, which was why she didn¡¯t act spoiled. It was because Seth would give her everything she deserved without Bigo Live 11 54 Wed, 20 Dec G 0. Chapter 12 Hearing About His Romantic Affairs needing her to ask discreetly for them. Just as the atmosphere was at its most tense, there was suddenly amotion outside, so Isabe and Alex looked outside. ¡°You b*tch! How dare you try to make a move on my man? Are you looking to die?¡± ¡°Ahh-¡± When Isabe and Alex exited the pantry, they saw a brightly dressed woman hitting Abigail with a Hermes handbag. The bystanders around them tried to mediate, but it was clear that this woman came from an extraordinary background. In that sense, no one 11 54 Wed, 20 Dec G OO. Chapter 12 Hearing About His Romantic Affairs dared to offend someone powerful for Abigail. Meanwhile, Isabe took a look and immediately recognized the woman. Summer Woods, daughter of Woods Realty and Lara¡¯s friend. She instinctively wanted to mediate the situation but withdrew her leg immediately after taking one step forward. Since Summer knew her and had always looked down upon secretaries, she couldn¡¯t be sure if the former would humiliate her as well. Moreover, Abigail clearly deserved this. Who else would suffer other than her after she attempted to seduce Summer¡¯s man? Moving away from the crowd, Isabe returned to her desk. Bigo Live INSTALL About His Romantic Affari The situation outside remained chaotic, and Jonas had to deploy his acting skills before Summer calmed down a little. ording to their conversation, Isabe discovered that Abigail had asked Summer¡¯s husband to buy two more cars than he intended to Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! and then received several ps from Summer. ¡°You want to marry someone wealthy, eh? Why don¡¯t you look in the mirror and see if you¡¯re worthy of that?¡± ¡°Even if he decides to divorce me to marry you, do you think you¡¯ll survive until that day?¡± ¡°F*cking wake up from your dream.¡± 11:54 Wed, 20 Dec G GO Hearing About His Romantic Attars Summer chastised Abigail for a long time. Back in the office, Isabe felt a headacheing from listening to the arguments. While others didn¡¯t think much of what was being said, she had somewhat done the same thing as Abigail, so she felt quite uneasy. Shaking her head, she tried to dispel those negative emotions and think of a way to sell cars. Time went past quickly. The little incident during the morning had just cooled down, and lunchtime arrived. Isabe went into the bathroom to touch up her makeup and received Fiona¡¯s call right after Chapter 13 The World Still Turns Fiona drove a Mercedes¨CBenz and wore Channel¨Cbranded items from head to toe. Standing in the car retail department, she stood out from the crowd. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Isabe went to wee Fiona, and a lot of people saw that. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you quit your job just to work here, Isabe.¡± Fiona sat down, looking ufortable. She looked at her surroundings with contempt. Isabe got her ss of water. She forced herself to look rxed. ¡°Office job almost dulled my skills. I got another job so I can gain enough experience to set 11:54 Wed 20 Dec GO Chapter The World Still Tums up my own shop. ¡°I see.¡± Fiona looked like realization had struck her. She held Isabe¡¯s arm. ¡°I thought it was weird that you left when Mr. Shaffer needed you so much.¡± Fiona wasn¡¯t subtle with herment, so everyone got what she was saying, but Isabe didn¡¯t argue. Instead, she picked up the notes that she had sorted out and told Fiona about Seth¡¯s preferences. Isabe did this on purpose. Through Fiona, she was telling everyone she wasn¡¯t exiled but sent here to see what the lower echelons were like. Fiona listened intently and stayed until lunch break was over. Before she left, she stood at the doorway and spoke to Isabe. ¡°You have toe back Bigo Live 11:55 Wed, 20 Dec GO e World Still T Chapter 13 The Wor sooner orter. Mr. Shaffer has a ton of stuff to deal with, and we have to help him out.¡± You want me to go back? For what? So, you can bully me again? Isabe knew this was just a fake courtesy, and she yed along. ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t need me. You¡¯re a veteran, too. I¡¯m sure you can be the head secretary. I trust you.¡± Fiona had a smug look in her eyes. She made small talk with Isabe before she drove away. After Isabe came back from sending Fiona off, many people came to curry favor with her. Even Jonas made small talk with her. Isabe answered them courteously. Bigo Live Chapter 13 The World Still Turns Not too long after that, Abigail brought Isabe a cup of milk tea. Her cheeks were still swollen, but she simpered. ¡°Isabe, I¡¯ve thought about it. The credit should go to you, not me.¡± Isabe despised people like her, and she sardonically said, ¡°Oh, it belongs to you. You¡¯ve worked hard the whole afternoon, after all.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. You¡¯re my colleague, and a new one at that. You need the credit more than I do.¡± Abigail blinked. When she looked down, a drop of tear rolled down her cheek. If she hadn¡¯t pulled the rug out from underneath Fiona, I could have taken all the credit. I hate putting on this act. Isabe acted like she was hesitating before she Bigo Live Wed, 20 Dec G Go |_ sighed. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take it, then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Abigail patted her chest and wiped her tears away. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t sit right with me otherwise.¡± Yeah, right. A hint of scorn flickered in Isabe¡¯s eyes. She then poked a straw into the cup of milk tea. ¡°Get back to work.¡± ¡°See you.¡± Isabe saw her off and rolled her eyes. Isabe was trying toe up with a marketing n when her phone vibrated. It was a text from Alex Young. The gist of it was that there was an evaluation at the end of the month. Bigo Live INSTALL 11:55 Wed 20 Dec GOO 0x821 10 The fact that Isabe was an outside hire was already not sitting well with the office. Things would be bad for her if her performance weren¡¯t up to par. The sales she made the day prior were due to sheer luck. A newbie salesperson like her couldn¡¯t have closed a deal on her first day. Now that she was feeling the stress, she was motivated to do better. Isabe quickly set aside. her thoughts about Seth and put all her focus on work. It was about six. Fiona ordered Seth¡¯s usual food as per Isabe¡¯s tips. Once the food arrived, she carefully took them into the office. ¡°It¡¯ste, Mr. Shaffer. You should eat dinner first.¡± Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 13 The World Still Turns Seth was behind his desk, frowning. The air around him was sharp and icy. He signed another document fluidly, not even raising his head. Fiona felt a chill running down her spine. It was risky, but she asked, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not eating?¡± Seth skewered Fiona with a sharp, icy look. If looks could kill, she would have died. Feeling slightly wronged, Fiona muttered, ¡°Isabe said your gastric would act up if you didn¡¯t eat.¡± Seth¡¯s gaze turned icier than ever. He capped his pen. ¡°She told you that?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Since Seth was interested, she continued, ¡°I Bigo Live INSTALL 11:55 Wed, 20 Dec GDO¡¤ Chapter 13 The World Still Turns ¡°Yes.¡± Since Seth was interested, she continued, ¡°I met with her earlier in the afternoon, and she told me so much about you.¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! A slight sneer curled Seth¡¯s lips. He tossed his pen away and got up to straighten his cor. Slowly, he walked to the coffee table. There were fried fish filets, orange chicken, m chowder, and aglio olio there. There¡¯s more than one type of cuisine here. She obviously ordered them from multiple restaurants. Nervous, Fiona observed the look on Seth¡¯s face. ¡°Mr. Shaffer?¡± ¡°You believed everything she said?¡± Seth shot her an icy look. Chapter 13 The World Still Turns Fiona froze. ¡°I-¡± ¡°What the hell is this? You think I¡¯d eat these?¡± Seth¡¯s face fell. He was furious as he enunciated, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see anything this stupid anymore.¡± Fiona was bbergasted. She had seen what Isabe ordered previously, and these were indeed on the menu. ¡°Isabe¡¯s nothing. You think the secretary department can¡¯t run without her?¡± Seth hissed coldly. Fiona felt like crying. She hated Isabe for telling her all this. I shouldn¡¯t have even gone all the way there. That ce was filthy. Seth scanned the food on the table coldly. Then, he walked to his desk and called HR. ¡°Issue a public notice. We¡¯re hiring a head secretary.¡± Fiona was flummoxed. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Isabe had been busy all afternoon, making several calls, but received no responses. Although she had thought of trying those previous ¡°connections,¡± she decided against it because there was no point in humiliating herself before them. With mounting pressure, she couldn¡¯t afford to dwell on messy affairs. She had no business matters to attend and wasn¡¯t Chapter 14 Leaving Him Results in Bad Luck in the mood for overtime. After all, sales wasn¡¯t just about sitting in an office and doing paperwork. So, she grabbed her bag and left. She had to stay at Natasha¡¯s ce for the next few days. Before heading back, she decided to call and ask if Natasha wanted her to buy groceries. Isabe dialed the number, and Natasha picked 1. up. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m going to buy some groceries. Is there anything specific you¡¯d like?¡± Instead of a response, she heard a bustlingmotion on the other end of the line. This struck her as odd since Natasha managed a bar, and it wasn¡¯tte enough for such a lively atmosphere. Isabe repeated her question a couple of times, but Natasha remained silent, and suddenly, screams echoed in the background 11:56 Wed, 20 Dec GGO Chapter 14 Leaving Him Results in Bad Luck ¡°Natasha?¡± Isabe called repeatedly, but Natasha abruptly hung up. Natasha managed Golnd Lounge, one of Imperia¡¯s top bars with a powerful backer, so trouble was rare. Still, Isabe¡¯s concern grew, prompting her to head to the bar. As evening approached, the lights illuminated the surroundings. Luxury cars were amon sight near the bar since it was surrounded by other entertainment venues frequented by wealthy people. After getting out of the car, Isabe hurriedly entered the bar. Since she had been here a few times before, the waitstaff at the entrance 373 11:56 Wed, 20 Dec GOO. Chapter 14 Leaving Him Results in Bad Luck recognized her. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since youst visited, Miss Symons.¡± Isabe followed the waiter inside. The lighting was dim, but everything was neat and orderly. Performers were on stage, singing softly, and there Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. were no signs of trouble. ¡°I¡¯m here to see Natasha. Is she busy?¡± Isabe inquired. Just then, she saw Natasha standing on the second¨Cfloor crystal corridor, which relieved her. Natasha also noticed her from above. She spoke to the man she was with before descending the spiral staircase. ¡°Why are you here?¡± She asked, somewhat 11:56 Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 14 Leaving Him Results in Bad Luck surprised, as Isabe wasn¡¯t typically fond of ces like this. Waving her phone, Isabe exined, ¡°I heard somemotion when I called earlier and thought something might have happened to you.¡± Natasha clicked her tongue and patted Isabe¡¯s head. ¡°I was too busy and didn¡¯t even check who was calling when I answered. Some troublemaker knocked my phone away before I could respond.¡± Isabe looked around and saw no signs of trouble. It turned out that everything had already been taken care of. Natasha put her arm around Isabe¡¯s shoulder and led her upstairs. ¡°Since you¡¯re here,e to my 11:56 Wea, zu Chapter 14 Leaving Him Results in Bad Luck room. We¡¯ll leave together when my shift ends.¡± Though Isabe wasn¡¯t too keen on it, she didn¡¯t want Natasha to think she looked down on ces like this, so she silently followed her. Natasha took Isabe to the third floor but didn¡¯t take her to a room. ¡°Dariel brought some people over, so I need to meet him downstairs. Go to my room by yourself. It¡¯s the one at the end with my namete.¡± Not wanting to trouble her, Isabe agreed. ¡°Alright, you go ahead.¡± Natasha swiftly descended the stairs, clearly not wanting to offend someone named Dariel. 11.56 Wed, 200 GGO 242225 7700 Meanwhile, Isabe walked to the end of the corridor and approached Natasha¡¯s room, which had arge ¡°M¡± engraved on the door. However, she realized she had forgotten to ask for the room¡¯s password. With no other option, she decided to wait, assuming Natasha wouldn¡¯t be gone for long. The luxurious carpet beneath her feet felt expensive. She estimated that its cost could cover the expense of a new bathroom. So, she took a few steps and felt more at ease. Soon, she heard hurried footstepsing up the stairs, seemingly from more than one person. Isabe intentionally turned away, not wanting to recognize anyone or be recognized. 11:56 Wed, 20 Dec Go Chapter 14 Leaving Him Results in Bad Luck 82% 1 To her surprise, the footsteps drew closer until they were right behind her. Unable to contain her curiosity, Isabe turned around, only to be met with a ss of strong liquor thrown in her face. ¡°You wretch, trying to seduce my husband, are you? Do you want to die?!¡± If it weren¡¯t for the liquor stinging her eyes, Isabe would have asked the person responsible why she was behaving like she had caught her husband¡¯s mistress. Before Isabe could react, the woman pped her, causing her to lose her bnce and fall backward. 11:57 Wed, 20 Dec G 0. Chapter 14 Leaving Him Results in Bad Luck ¡°What are you waiting for? Get to it!¡± The woman, clearly unsatisfied with dousing Isabe with liquor and pping her, swung her purse at Isabe¡¯s head and even enlisted her friends to join in. Shocked and bewildered, Isabe tried to reason with them while shielding her head. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person! I¡¯m just waiting for someone.¡± However, her pleas fell on deaf ears as the women attacked her like a pack of frenzied dogs, verbally assaulting and physically targeting Isabe¡¯s face. One of them pped Isabe, causing her ears to ring. Isabe curled up, protecting her head and enduring the chaotic onught of insults and Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 15 He Always Sees Me at My Worst blows. A mix of despair and fear swelled within her as she bitterly thought, Bad luck surees in threes. I came all this way only to get beaten up. ¡°What are you doing?¡± A male voice intervened, abruptly stopping the women¡¯s onught. Their rapid and intense pounding stopped abruptly. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 The woman had a tight grip on Isabe¡¯s hair, but when she suddenly released her hold, it caused the back of Isabe¡¯s head to hit the floor. Even with the cushioning of the carpet, Isabe ended up with a mild concussion. ¡°Be!¡± Natasha immediately recognized Isabe as the victim and rushed to her side. When she saw 11:57 Wed, 20 Dec GO Chapter 15 He Always Sees Meat My Worst Isabe¡¯s face, her heart sank. With Natasha¡¯s assistance, Isabe managed to get back on her feet, but her mind was still foggy. ¡°Natasha?¡± ¡°Who are you people? How dare you cause trouble in the Golnd Lounge?¡± Natasha¡¯s anger red as she helped Isabe lean against the wall and stood 1. up. Amidst her daze, Isabe opened her eyes and recognized the leader of the assault. Dressed in light yellow and with an assertive demeanor, the woman was unmistakably a youngdy from a wealthy family. She was Seth¡¯s cousin¨CCaitlin Hunter. 29 Chapter 15 He Always Sees Me at My Worst ¡°Drop the act. Where¡¯s my husband?¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t control your husband, so you came here to beat someone up? Who taught you manners?¡± An icy voice tinged with displeasure spoke up, sending a shiver down everyone¡¯s spine. Isabe was momentarily stunned and then turned to look toward the staircase, only to find herself speechless. Under the crystal chandelier¡¯s dappled light, Seth¡¯s face seemed even more sinister and forbidding than usual. He stood there, looking down from above and sweeping his gaze across everyone as though watching a joke. ¡°C¨CCousin?¡± Caitlin¡¯s face turned pale, and she 11:57 Wed, 20 Dec G60. Chapter 15 He Alu instinctively took a step back. ¡°I¡¯m just here to find Harold.¡± ¡°Find Harold? To me, it looks like attempted murder.¡± His tone was mocking, and he exuded an intimidating aura, silencing everyone in the corridor. In the ensuing silence, someone quickly ascended the stairs. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± As soon as the neer appeared, Caitlin burst into tears and pounced on him, hitting him while crying, ¡°Why did you take so long¡­¡± Isabe couldn¡¯t help but tug at the corner of her lips. There was a hint of irritation in her eyes as it was clear that she was the one who had been hit, Candy Crush SagaMay Now Chapter 15 He Always Sees Me at My Worst yet Caitlin¡¯s cry made it seem like she was the victim. With Harold¡¯s arrival, the truth came to light. He had something, and they had agreed to meet on Dariel¡¯s turf. Caitlin, probably influenced by some malicious gossip, thought her husband was having an affair with the female boss of Golnd Lounge and mistook Isabe for Natasha, leading to this scene. ¡°Mr. Banks, do you think you can brush it off as a misunderstanding after your wife beat my friend like this?¡± Natasha¡¯s face was cold as she stood beside Isabe, clearly wanting an exnation. ¡°What else do you want? Should I let her beat me Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 15 He Always Sees Meat My Worst up?¡± Caitlin¡¯s eyes were swollen from crying, and she suddenly raised her head from Harold¡¯s embrace, resuming her aggressive stance. Harold¡¯s expression stiffened, and he quickly pulled her back. ¡°Watch your words!¡± He nced at the woman in the corner and immediately recognized her as Isabe. Combined with Seth¡¯s words, he knew this would be tricky. ¡°It¡¯s inappropriate for us to gather in the corridor, don¡¯t you think?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Isabe recognized the voice¨Cthe man who had intervened earlier¨Cso she raised her head and looked in his direction. It was Dariel Wells. One of the few friends Seth had. Candy Crush Saga y Now ZU Dec Chapter 15 He Always Sees Meat My Worst With a captivating appearance, the man had a slight red tint at the corners of his eyes. When he smiled, there was a cunning glint in his eyes, and he leaned casually against the wall, watching the situation as if it were an amusing spectacle. ¡°Babe, help your friend up. Let¡¯s go inside and talk.¡± Natasha was Dariel¡¯s woman, so she reluctantly suppressed her anger and helped Isabe up after hearing that. Meanwhile, Isabe was sore all over, and getting up suddenly made her feel like her brain was about to explode. She leaned on Natasha and watched as Harold took Caitlin inside. Then, Dariel also strolled leisurely to the room. 82 Chapter 15 He Always Sees Me at My Worst JOU WUIROU UIGUU, DIVUNITY WHO WOUR HYTILTUM the crystal chandelier and casting arge shadow on them. Inside the room, there were three rows of couches. The first three were already seated, with Dariel leaningzily against one. He beckoned Natasha over to him. ¡°Babe,e here.¡± Natasha hesitated momentarily because she had nned to help Isabe sit down first. ¡°There¡¯s an empty seat next to Seth. Let your friend sit there ande over.¡± Whether intentionally or not, Dariel threw Isabe a curveball as soon as they met, leaving her in a predicament about whether to sit down. Candy Crush Saga Chapter 161 Hope That Batard Goes Bankrupt Unexpectedly, Seth didn¡¯t hide that he knew her and gave a mocking sneer. ¡°Will sitting down kill you?¡± Gritting her teeth, Isabe let go of Natasha¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯ll sit with Mr. Shaffer.¡± Natasha had no choice but to help Isabe sit down and join Dariel. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Isabe was perched on the edge of the couch, her head spinning and her body in disarray. She felt like she was falling apart. A faint, cool scent enveloped her¨CSeth¡¯s preferred cologne. It used to be alluring, but now it was overwhelming. ¡°Miss Symons, Kate has a quick temper. Since I offended you today, let me offer you a toast. hope you can forgive her.¡± Harold¡¯s tone was gentle as he reached for a bottle of wine to pour himself a drink. However, Caitlin interjected angrily, ¡°What are you apologizing for? It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Candy Crush Saga y Now ¡°If it¡¯s not his fault, is it your fault then?¡± With Natasha in his arms, Dariel looked at Caitlin and spoke as though he were joking. Caitlin opened her mouth to retort but met Seth¡¯s stern gaze. She shuddered and found herself unable to speak. In the eyes of her peers, Seth was like a tyrant from Hell. No one dared to provoke him unless they were seeking death. ¡°There¡¯s no need for apologies.¡± Isabe got up from the couch and half¨Csquatted in front of the coffee table before taking the bottle of wine from Harold¡¯s hand. Her voice was hoarse and unpleasant to the ears. ¡°It was my fault for standing in the wrong ce and causing Miss Hunter to misunderstand. I¡¯ll make amends with a drink.¡± 11:58 Wed, 20 Dec G 150. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The private room fell intoplete silence, with only the sound of Isabe pouring wine. Caitlin tried to retort but found herself at a loss for words. ¡°Who asked you-¡± Before Caitlin could finish her sentence, Isabe had already downed a ss of wine. ¡°Apologies for the disturbance, everyone. I¡¯ll punish myself with another ss, and let¡¯s put this matter behind us.¡± Isabe poured another ss and drank it as if it were water. Harold looked conflicted, wanting to intervene, while Natasha clenched her fists, and Dariel chuckled softly. Candy Crush Saga only gave her a nce. It was like he never had such a lunatic for a secretary. After two sses of wine, Isabe felt better and asked Natasha, ¡°Can I use your room to freshen up?¡± Natasha was afraid she might copse and wanted to apany her, but Isabe insisted on going alone. ¡°Alright, go ahead. Wait for me in the room, and we¡¯ll leave together,¡± Natasha said. Isabe got the ess code and left the room. Just as she closed the door, she overheard Dariel¡¯s teasingments. Candy Crush Saga y New Chapter 161 Hope That ¡®stard Goes Bankrupt ¡°Why is she staying with you?¡± ¡°Someone was ruthless and kicked Be out even after five years of hard work.¡± Then, the door closed, muffling Seth¡¯s response. Isabe leaned against the wall to make her way to Natasha¡¯s room. As the door shut, a heavy silence settled, and she sank to the floor, her ears still ringing from the hurtful words piercing her. She touched her flushed face, trying to calm the turmoil within her chest. Then, she clutched a nearby small table, finding a ss on it. A thought shed through her mind, and she didn¡¯t hesitate to throw the ss, its shattering crash echoing sharply in the still room. Candy Crush Saga y Now 81%% Chapter 16 I Hope That B¡¯stard Goes Bankrupt Isabe gasped for breath, her heart pounding. It took a while for her to regain herposure. She gave herself a sharp p to snap out of it, then pushed off the wall and stumbled into the bathroom. Without bothering to undress, she turned on the shower, the cold water drowning out the ringing in her ears. Yet, the voice inside her head kept taunting her. Oh, Isabe, you¡¯d better make something of yourself, even if it costs your life. You have to return this beating, one way or another. As her racing heart gradually calmed, a numbing coldness settled in. Fed up with self¨Ctorment, Isabe started to undress but remembered she had no clean clothes. She sighed and, without hesitation, walked Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 161 Hope That R*stard Goes Bankrupt back into the dimly lit room,pletely naked. Her intention was to borrow some of Natasha¡¯s clothes temporarily. While searching through the wardrobe, Seth¡¯s face and indifferent expression shed in her mind. She couldn¡¯t help but start to mutter, ¡°The Shaffer Family is full of lunatics. Why don¡¯t they have any physical illnesses? They should have some sort of gic disease. That b*stard. I hope he goes bankrupt tomorrow!¡± Her curses provided some relief, but she failed to notice another presence on the nearby couch. The man deliberately let out a light chuckle, startling her. She froze, wide¨Ceyed, staring at the dark wardrobe. Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 17 Do You Need My Help If I go bankrupt, your two apartments will be gone too.¡± Isabe gulped and quickly grabbed a piece of clothing to put on. Turning her head, she saw Seth sitting on the couch with his legs crossed. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Isabe was ustomed to being humble before Seth, so even though she was only wearing a thin shirt, she still walked up to him. Fortunately, there was a coffee table separating them. ¡°You just left me, yet you¡¯re already spreading rumors about me mistreating you?¡± Seth raised his head slightly and shot her a cold re. Candy Crush Saga y Now 11:59 Wed, 20 Dec G0. Chapter 17 Do You Need My Help She clenched her jaw and pretended to be BKSB1%Çú ¡°It¡¯s just a misunderstanding. Perhaps Mr. Wace didn¡¯t renew the rent in time, and I had no ce to stay, so I stayed with Natasha temporarily.¡± While saying that, she avoided his gaze and handed the ss across the coffee table. Seth shifted his position and leaned against the couch. He rested his elbow on his leg and leaned forward, getting closer to Isabe. Instinctively, she tried to move back, but his firm grip caught her wrist before she could retreat. Flustered, she looked up at him. ¡°Mr. Shaffer-¡± Before she could finish her sentence, he suddenly pulled her from the other side of the coffee table. Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 17 Do You Need My Hep She instantly found herself on hisp, in an awkward position. She was only in a shirt, and their closeness allowed them to feel each other¡¯s body warmth. Seth didn¡¯t make any further moves. Instead, he held Isabe and rested his chin on her shoulder. ¡°I heard you did a good deed and told Fiona about my habits.¡± His tone remained calm and devoid of emotion, making it hard to gauge his feelings. Having spent five years with him, she understood him well enough. This was his way of expressing dissatisfaction, with a subtle hint of warning. She stayed still, staring at the coffee table before her, and replied calmly, ¡°Your stomach hasn¡¯t been in good shapetely. Skipping meals affects your Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 17 Do You Need My Help work. And rying my job responsibilities is part of my duty.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite dedicated,¡± Sethmented with a hint of sarcasm. Suddenly, he reached out, brushed Isabe¡¯s hair aside, and gently touched her cheek, tracing over the area where she had been pped. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! His movements were gentle, but she couldn¡¯t shake off a sense of unease. Each touch seemed to send tingles and goosebumps across her skin. ¡°You¡¯re so dedicated and patient that you can even endure being pped,¡± he continued, listing her qualities as though he were genuinely praising her. Then, his tone shifted. ¡°Women like you excel in selling cars and houses.¡± Candy Crush Saga Wed, 20 Chapter 17 Do You Need My Help She tightened her fists and was baffled by his words. ¡°Have you managed to sell a car?¡± he inquired. Taking a deep breath, Isabe responded, ¡°I¡¯ve sold just one car.¡± She couldn¡¯t quite grasp his intentions. She wondered if he was probing her performance, perhaps concerned that she was excelling and wanted to make things more challenging. ¡°Just one? What can you do with that meagermission?¡± Seth¡¯s voice carried a somber tone She felt his voice as if it were a feather, lightly Candy Crush Saga Chapter 17 Do You Need My Help brushing over every sensitive spot on her body, causing her to tremble uncontrobly. As she drifted into a daze, he took a strand of her hair and used it to graze her cheek. ¡°Do you need my help?¡± Suddenly, a chord in Isabe¡¯s mind quivered. A familiar scene from five years ago shed before Isabe¡¯s eyes, simr to the present but in the past. She was inexperienced and had been transferred to the president¡¯s secretarial office without exnation. For some unknown reason, she had been bullied, and Seth had seemed to appear out of nowhere, asking her in the same soft voice, ¡°Do you need my help?¡± Wed 20 Dec GGD- As that voice echoed in her ears, she shuddered, and almost as if being electrocuted, she escaped from his embrace. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Seth had initially used his foot to hold Isabe in ce. However, when she suddenly stood up, she stumbled over him and tumbled over. The shirt she wore only covered up to her thighs, so when she fell forward, more of her body was exposed. Retracting his leg, he leaned back against the couch and unabashedly gazed at her. However, he remained unrelenting in his tone. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? Are you persuading me to help you by offering certain benefits in advance?¡± Chapter 18 Letting Her Choose His New Secretary Her face was burning, and she quickly got up from the ground. She stood upright in front of the coffee table. ¡°No-¡± ¡°No?¡± He let out a light chuckle and nced at her. ¡°Then, what is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m no longer your secretary but an ordinary employee at Shaffer Group, so I shouldn¡¯t receive special treatment.¡± Isabe managed to force out the words from her dry throat, word by word. ¡°Please don¡¯t trouble yourself on my behalf.¡± Meanwhile, Seth¡¯s gaze remained fixed on her face, tracing from her flushed cheeks to slightly pale lips. Suddenly, he turned his head and spoke in a tone devoid of warmth. ¡°It appears you¡¯ve developed some backbone.¡± Candy Crush Saga y Now 20 Dec Chapter 18 Letting Her Choose His Secretary She wisely chose not to argue, as confronting the tyrant head¨Con would be unwise. Patience was her best strategy when dealing with him. ¡°You mentioned handing over your work, right?¡± Seth fell silent momentarily, seemingly thinking of another way to tease her. Furrowing her brows, Isabe cautiously replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll pass on my work notes from the past few years to Fiona. I¡¯ll ensure there are no mistakes in your day¨Cto¨Cday activities.¡± ¡°Do you think she can handle the tasks you do?¡± The man¡¯s body leaned forward slightly as he looked at the woman beside him with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Candy Crush Saga y Now 20 Dec Chapter 18 Letting Her Choose His New Secretary Isabe wondered if he still desired a ¡°personal¡± secretary to manage his intimate affairs. She silently cursed him for being driven solely by his sexual desires but maintained her calm exterior. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, among the six secretaries in your office, four have boyfriends, and the other two have more exciting love lives and personal matters than you do.¡± She lifted her head, a smile ying at the corner of her lips. ¡°Who do you think would be suitable for the job?¡± Seth resumed his expressionless demeanor, calmly remarking, ¡°Even if they had no romantic entanglements, I wouldn¡¯t be interested in them.¡± After hearing that, she took a deep breath. ¡°Then, you should consider hiring a new executive Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 18 Letting Her Choose His New SecretaryContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! secretary.¡± ¡°I already have,¡± he replied calmly as if discussing the weather. However, she briefly felt a wave of suffocation, though it passed so quickly that she barely noticed 1. it. All she experienced was a momentary daze. Seth studied Isabe, catching a fleeting glint of determination in her eyes. Suddenly, he felt a mischievous thrill. ¡°How about this? Since you have the experience, I¡¯ll let you handle tomorrow¡¯s interviews.¡± ¡°Me?¡± She was astonished. He nodded, and his eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°You¡¯ve Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 18 Letting Her Choose His New Secretary 777 been with me for five years, so you know best what kind of secretary would suit me. It couldn¡¯t be more fitting for you to choose one for me.¡± As soon as she heard that, she cursed inwardly, B*stard. She would have cussed him out loud if she hadn¡¯t gripped the hem of her clothes. Letting his former mistress select his new one¨Conly he could herposure and spoke honestly. ¡°I have home and work matters to attend to.¡± ¡°That¡¯s something you¡¯ll need to consider.¡± Once he finished speaking, he stood up, hands in his pockets, expressing clearly that he wouldn¡¯t tolerate nonsense. Then, he strode out and said, ¡°Tomorrow, 9.00AM. Don¡¯t keep everyone waiting for Candy Crush Saga y Now TUTUW, 9.00AM, Duntreep everyone woning for you,¡± In the meantime, Isabe remained crouched, her feet feeling numb. Seth¡¯s words had stunned her so much that she hadn¡¯t even remembered to stand 1. up. After all, she had already resigned, so why should she work for him for free? Chapter 19 Chapter 19 The following morning at 9.00AM, Isabe sat in the Interview room and recalled what Natasha had said earlier in the morning, feeling both annoyed and amused. ¡°You should go. Pick out some wed candidates for him and see if he can bear it,¡± she said. Candy Crush Sagn evan However, Isabe dared not tease Seth. She hadn¡¯t even dared to do so when she was his executive secretary, let alone now. As a mere salesperson, she had to consider Jonas¡® disapproving attitude even when they wanted to take the day off, so crossing Seth would be asking for trouble. All her former colleagues from the secretary department were present. Their expressions varied when they saw Isabe, but they still greeted her nheless. Only Fiona wore her heart on her sleeve and didn¡¯t greet Isabe. Isabe thought Fiona was probably upset that she didn¡¯t get the position of executive secretary, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. Even a hot potato like Seth had people fighting over him. Candy Crush Saga y Now ¡°Isabe, shall we begin?¡± One of the secretaries, Ellie Gardner, asked for Isabe¡¯s opinion. Isabe sat in the main seat, a bit surprised. ¡°Are you the only interviewer?¡± Ellie replied with a smile, ¡°Mr. Shaffer still trusts you. You have the final say. Upon hearing that, Isabe furrowed her brows slightly, feeling somewhat ufortable when she sensed something amiss. She adjusted her sses. ¡°Let them all in, then.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Isabe usually didn¡¯t wear sses, but her face Candy Crush Saga y Now still bore some marks from the previous night¡¯s incident. It couldn¡¯t be concealed, so she had to wear sses. With her sses on, she exuded a cold demeanor. No one could guess the emotions in her eyes, which were hidden behind those lenses. Three women came in for the first round of interviews. All of them were graduates from prestigious universities and had impressive educational backgrounds. They were not only smart but also attractive. With their distinct features and shapely figures, they looked lively yet captivating. ¡°Most of your information is already on your Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 19 Qualifications for the Chief Secretary resumes, so I won¡¯t ask about that.¡± Isabe closed the resumes and interlocked her hands. ¡°Do any of you have boyfriends?¡± The three women were momentarily taken aback but hesitated for a moment before answering in unison, ¡°No.¡± Isabe pursed her lips, a glint of sharpness shing in her eyes behind the sses. ¡°How about ex¨Cboyfriends? How many partners have you had before?¡± Since her question was too direct, it made the others feel ufortable. ¡°We just graduated. How many ex¨Cboyfriends can we possibly have?¡± One of the girls with long hair Candy Crush Saga y Now couldn¡¯t help but frown. She sounded quite unfriendly. Isabe¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°Miss Celia Stark, right?¡± The woman with long hair snorted but didn¡¯t say anything. Isabe continued coldly, ¡°You had two ex¨Cboyfriends in your freshman year. Then, during sophomore year, you hooked up with a wealthy man, almost driving his wife into ending her life. You went abroad during thest two years of college and had six boyfriends. Five were foreigners, and thest one was biracial.¡± There were seven to eight people in the room, and Candy Crush Saga y Now they all couldn¡¯t help but click their tongues. As soon as the first sentence was uttered, Celia instantly turned pale. By the time Isabe finished, the former¡¯s originally delicate and rosy face had turned as red as a beet. She shot up from her chair and pointed at Isabe. ¡°Did you dig into my background?!¡± With a polite yet cold smile, Isabe responded, ¡°Shaffer Group is one of the mostprehensive, leading enterprises in the country, and the value of thepany¡¯s image is immeasurable. You are interviewing for the position of the president¡¯s executive secretary. If your private life is not in order and gets exposed in the future, people will go around saying there¡¯s a problematic president¡¯s Candy Crush Saga y Now 20 Dec Chapter 19 Qualifications for the Chief Secretary secretary in the Shaffer Group. Do you think that¡¯d be appropriate?¡± After she spoke, everyone from the secretarial Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. office found it reasonable. Even the candidates interviewing alongside Celia moved a bit farther away from her, afraid of being associated with her. ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Celia kicked a chair, not bothering to exin, and stormed out of the room. Isabe remained unfazed and instructed someone to close the door. ¡°Deborah Barron, Madeleine Bradley,¡± she announced calmly. ¡°My private life is pretty boring, to say the least.¡± Candy Crush Saga y Now 00 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter 19 Qualifications for the Chief Secretary ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve only had two boyfriends.¡± 81 Those two had short hair and looked witty. When they spoke, they had a kind of delicate and gentle charm that was characteristic of southern women. Isabe smiled. ¡°Both of you have gone under the knife, am I right?¡± ¡°Why does thepany care if we¡¯ve had stic surgery or not?¡± ¡°Exactly. Is it wrong to make myself look prettier?¡± Isabe remainedposed and said calmly, ¡°I assume you both have seen the recruitment advertisement. You know that the main body of this recruitment is not the Shaffer Group, right?¡± Candy Crush Saga y Now 20 DEC E 815 Chapter 19 Qualifications for the Chief Secretary Although the tiny print at the bottom called for a personal assistant, it was noticeable nheless. Moreover, Seth¡¯s appearance alone was enough to attract plenty of young women, even without his current status. Sure enough, after Isabe finished speaking, both girls blushed. They were both graduates in secretarial studies, so they naturally knew the specific requirements for personal assistant positions. ¡°Mr. Shaffer has very high requirements for his executive secretary. He values both hygiene and the natural human body. As for situations like what just happened, the probability of hygiene issues Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 19 Qualifications for the Chief Secretary arising is too high. Therefore, we can¡¯t hire someone like that.¡± With her arms crossed, Isabe leaned against the chair and lowered her gaze to Deborah¡¯s chest. ¡°Can both of you guarantee that the imnts in your bodies won¡¯t deform due to vigorous activity? Will it not affect¡­. suppleness?¡± Pfft- As soon as Isabe finished speaking, both interviewers from the secretary department spewed out their coffee before the interviewees could start feeling anxious. Then, they looked at Isabe with admiration. ¡°We thought arge corporation like Shaffer Group Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 19 Qualifications for the Chief Secretary wouldn¡¯t be involved in such despicable dealings. You¡¯ve proved us wrong. This has gone overboard!¡± The two girls who had undergone cosmetic surgery stood up in unison, indignant. Their words were filled with righteousness, iming that they never had such impure intentions. They pointed at Isabe and delivered a moral critique before carrying their bags and storming away. Keeping her expressionposed, Isabe efficiently marked Xs on the three resumes. Then, she looked up. ¡°Bring in the next batch.¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Inside the office on the top floor, Seth sat in front of Candy Crush Saga y Now 8K 81% Chapter 20 The Girl He Liked at First Sight the screen, listening to Isabe straightforwardly dismiss three women. He let out a deep hum, but there was no sign of anger on his face. However, he started to feel a bit uneasy after a while. That was because Isabe hadpletely painted him as a yboy with a messy personal life. Perhaps that was how she had always seen him. He furrowed his brows, and his thin lips pressed into a tight line. Inside the interview room, Isabe marked off over a dozen resumes in session and couldn¡¯t help but shake her head. Surprisingly, she couldn¡¯t find anyone suitable in terms of appearance or Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 20 The Girl He Liked at First Sight character. Halfway through the interview, Ellie hade over to persuade her to pick someone decent. However, Isabe smiled faintly. ¡°We can¡¯t be too Ellie¡¯s mouth twitched, and she returned to her seat. Soon, it was noon. Isabe persisted in reviewing thest two groups without taking a break. ¡°There are only two candidates in this group¡­¡± Isabe pulled out a resume and took a look. Her gaze flickered; the young woman on the resume Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 20 The Gil He Liked at First Sight had a bright smile, a clean face, and a ponytail at the right height. Even from the photo, she exuded a As she was reading, the person from the resume Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. appeared in front of her. The woman¡¯s appearance was above average, but her eyes were particrly stunning. They were big and bright. Combined with her fresh and natural demeanor, she left an unforgettable impression. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Selena Winston.¡± As soon as she spoke, Isabe already had a premonition. ¡°Please have a seat.¡± She flipped through the resume, contemting, but she couldn¡¯t find a suitable question. Candy Crush Saga y Now 12:01 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter 20 The Girl He Liked at First Sight Ellie, who was beside her, suddenly received a phone call. She stood up. ¡°Isabe, Mr. Shaffer is on the line. He said¡­¡± Ellie nced at Selena and continued, ¡°Let¡¯s go with her.¡± Isabe took a deep breath, and she met Selena¡¯s gaze. The woman seemed nervous while looking innocent and confused. As soon as Isabe opened Selena¡¯s resume, she had an instinctual feeling that she was Seth¡¯s type. However, she didn¡¯t expect him to make a decision so quickly. ¡°Isabe, I¡¯ll be taking Selena upstairs. Would you like to report anything to Mr. Shaffer?¡± Sunnressing the emotions in her chest Isabe Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 20 The Gri He Liked at First Sight Suppressing the emotions in her chest, Isabe took out thest batch of resumes. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll meet with thest three and leave. You can take Selena outside and wait.¡± Ellie found it a bit unnecessary, but she didn¡¯t want to argue with Isabe, so she escorted Selena out. Ten minutester, Isabe finished interviewing the remaining candidates, packed up her things, and came out of the conference room. ¡°Isabe, is this really alright?¡± Ellie was a bit puzzled; she thought Isabe just wanted to finish the process and didn¡¯t expect her to find another remarkable candidate among the 1230 Wed 20 Dec G6 GGO Chapter 25 Fox Gate Likes of Free Sig Carrying her bag, Isabe nced at the person behind her. ¡°Bring her along too. She seems quite capable. Ellie¡¯s expression was somewhat hesitant. ¡°I¡¯ll take them to Mr. Shaffer.¡± Isabe nodded slightly. She hadpleted her task, and what happened next wasn¡¯t part of her responsibilities, so she exchanged brief pleasantries with the others in the secretary department before getting ready to leave the Shaffer Group. The elevator stopped on the eighteenth floor. Isabe subconsciously moved to the side, but when the elevator doors opened, she looked up Candy Crush Saga Chapter 20 The Gri He Liked at First Sight and met a pair of deep, emerald eyes. Louis¡­ She shivered almost instinctively, and the nauseating feeling that she had washed away suddenly crawled up her spine from an inexplicable ce, making every defensive cell in her body scream. Louis had brought several people with him, seemingly here to sign a contract. When he saw Isabe, his eyes lit up instantly. But before he could say anything, Isabe spoke first and even approached him. ¡°Mr. Louis, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Her attitude was overly friendly, causing Louis to instantly blossom with joy. He led his group into the Candy Crush Saga y Now 12:01 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter 20 The Grite Liked at First Sight elevator. ¡°Miss Symons, I heard you¡¯re now working in a higher position somewhere else, correct?¡± Isabe tugged at the corner of her lips, revealing a hint of embarrassment. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a higher position. It¡¯s a bit embarrassing, actually.¡± She approached Louis with a ttering smile. ¡°Are you free today? Let me treat you to a meal.¡± Upon hearing that, Louis raised an eyebrow, his pupils filled with excitement. ¡°Of course-¡± ¡°Mr. Kessler, your schedule is quite packed for now,¡± his secretary reminded from the side. Louis furrowed his brows, showing a hint of displeasure. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he Candy Crush Saga y Now Chapter 20 The Girl He Liked at First Sight reached out and ced his hand on Isabe¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal. You haven¡¯t fulfilled our previous agreement yet. He said thest sentence directly into her ear. The elevator arrived with a ding. Louis released Isabe and led his group out of the elevator. Isabe followed behind, smiling all the way to the entrance until Louis got into his car. Then, she calmly hailed a cab by the roadside. Once in the car, the driver asked where she wanted to go. Wed, 20 Dec G?0 Chapter 21 He Found His New Sweetheart x81% Upon parting her lips, she found her voice was trembling and sped her hands together, telling herself to stay calm. Louis wasn¡¯t that difficult to deal with; she could do it. Just like what happened just now, she pretended to be in a hurry, causing Louis to let his guard down and letting it slip that he was busy. Otherwise, with Louis¡® style of doing things, she probably would have ended up in his clutches tonight. Her mind was in a mess, so she simply had the driver turn around and head to Botanique Heights. She needed to sort out the situation with her apartment, for staying at Natasha¡¯s ce indefinitely wasn¡¯t a solution. 12 02 Wed, 20 Dec G 00 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Inside the president¡¯s office at the Shaffer Group, Seth¡¯s sharp gaze swept over the man and woman outside, then turned to Ellie, who was standing in front of him. Ellie gulped nervously and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Then, she spoke in a low voice. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Isabe said you like new things and probably want to explore after five to six years.¡± ¡°And?¡± The man¡¯s voice had already turned ice¨Ccold. It seemed like just a slight breath from him could turn into ice immediately. ¡°So, she found you Selena Winston and Nics Dahn. If you¡¯re not satisfied with Selena, you can Candy Crush Saga y Now consider Nics. As Eille spoke, sne naa the urge to bite her tongue and end her life, but she held back her tears. ¡°Based on Isabe¡¯s understanding of you, you¡¯d enjoy Nics¡®pany more.¡± In the meantime, Seth didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, he let out a cold, amusedugh. ¡°She¡¯s quite considerate, isn¡¯t she?¡± Was she afraid he would get tired of women, so she found him a man to spice up his life? Ellie forced augh. ¡°Isabe has always been meticulous when doing things.¡± ¡°Where is she?¡± Seth¡¯s distorted smile instantly disappeared. 12 02 Wed, 20 Dec G Ellie stood tall and replied, ¡°She has probably returned to her desk.¡± While watching Seth¡¯s expression, she added, ¡°But someone met her in the elevator just now and overheard her inviting Mr. Keller to dinner.¡± Seth¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed. ¡°Did she take the initiative?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He gave a dry chuckle, and the emotions in his eyes became unclear as he spoke somewhat sarcastically. ¡°She¡¯s really something, huh?¡± After saying that, he withdrew his gaze, seeming uninterested, and began to go through the contracts on his desk. ¡°Go and help the new employees settle down.¡± Ellie was surprised, for she didn¡¯t expect Seth to actually keep both of them. However, she didn¡¯t dare ask any questions and quickly left. Isabe took a car to her destination, her back drenched in sweat. As she entered the apartment building, she was hit by the cold air conditioning and immediately sneezed. After all themotion, she seemed to have calmed down from her rage. She pressed the elevator button and rode it all the Chapter 21 He found His New Sweetheart way up to her floor. When the elevator doors opened, she saw a middle¨Caged woman with keys standing in the corridor, talking on the phone. ¡°How am I supposed to remember how many months she¡¯s rented the house? I manage dozens of properties.¡± Upon hearing that, Isabe let out a silent, bitter chuckle. She suddenly understood why she had been kicked out of her own home; it was probably because thendlord got the rental period wrong. Therefore, she went up and patted the woman on the shoulder, introducing herself, ¡°Hello, are you the owner of Apartment 3401?¡± The woman nced at her, a bit skeptical. ¡°Are you Miss Symons?¡± Chapter 21 He Found His New Sweetheart Isabe breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± After clicking her tongue, the woman shrugged. ¡°How many years are you renting? My husband says your three years is up.¡± Isabe removed a few strands of hair from her face and asked tentatively, ¡°Don¡¯t you have a contract?¡± ¡°Our house is full of rental contracts. Where am I supposed to find yours?¡± With her hands on her hips, the woman rolled her eyes and said, ¡°There should be two copies of the contract. Where¡¯s yours?¡± However, Isabe had never seen the contract Candy Crush Saga y Now Wed, 20 Dec Chapter 21 He Found His Nex G because she movea straight in with ner bags DACK then. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but a friend helped me with the rental, so I don¡¯t have a contract.¡± The woman jingled her keys and said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°No contract makes it tricky. Unless you can produce the contract, I¡¯ll have to consider it a termination of lease on your end.¡± With a frown, Isabe asked, ¡°Can¡¯t I renew the lease directly?¡± She didn¡¯t want to go looking for Ollie or establish any sort of rtionship with Seth, albeit indirectly. The woman looked her up and down, then offered, ¡°Sure. The rent will remain at the previous rate of twelve thousand per month, but you¡¯ll need to pay Candy Crush Saga y Now 12:02 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter 21 He Found His New Sweetheart one month¡¯s rent as a deposit and three months¡® rent in advance. Also, you¡¯ll have to rent the ce for at least a year.¡± After listening to the conditions, Isabe hesitated. The rent and deposit came up to over a hundred thousand. While she did have some money, she wanted to save every penny she could. ¡°Can you give me a moment? I¡¯ll call my friend to ask about the contract.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Then, Isabe went to the corridor and quickly dialed Ollie¡¯s number. It took a while for him to answer. ¡°Mr. Wace, it¡¯s me, Isabe.¡± Chapter 21 He Found His New Sweetheart ¡°Do you need something?¡± She breathed in relief. ¡°I want to ask you about my rental contract. Could you take a photo of it and send it to me?¡± Ollie hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have time right now. I¡¯m helping Miss Winston to find a ce to stay. I can only look for the contract when I get back tonight.¡± Isabe¡¯s breath hitched again. Combined with the sudden changes in temperature earlier, she felt her temples pounding and her head spinning. He¡¯s already arranging amodations for someone this quickly. How¡­ considerate of him. Candy Crush Saga y Now 12 02 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter 21 He Found His New Sweetheart Thinking back to when she first started working, she seemed to recall someone arranging her amodation on the same day she was hired. She had naively thought it was apany benefit, and it seemed that Selena probably thought the same. With Seth¡¯s skills in training women, it probably wouldn¡¯t take more than half a year before Selena became her clone. After releasing a breath, Isabe didn¡¯t even bother answering Ollie and simply ended the call. Then, she pushed the corridor door open and went back inside. ¡°Hello, I¡¯ll just renew the lease directly. I can transfer the money now.¡± Candy Crush Saga Chapter 22 Misfortunes Never Come Singly The woman¡¯s eyes lit up, clearly delighted. ¡°Alright. Come downstairs with me to sign the contract.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 22 Chapter 22 ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Inside the president¡¯s office at the Shaffer Group, Seth¡¯s sharp gaze swept over the man and woman outside, then turned to Ellie, who was standing in front of him. Ellie gulped nervously and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Then, she spoke in a low voice. ¡°Isabe said you like new things and probably want to explore after five to six years.¡± ¡°And?¡± The man¡¯s voice had already turned ice¨Ccold. It seemed like just a slight breath from him could turn into ice immediately. ¡°So, she found you Selena Winston and Nics Dahn. If you¡¯re not satisfied with Selena, you can Candy Crush Saga y Now consider Nics. As Eille spoke, sne naa the urge to bite her tongue and end her life, but she held back her tears. ¡°Based on Isabe¡¯s understanding of you, you¡¯d enjoy Nics¡®pany more.¡± In the meantime, Seth didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, he let out a cold, amusedugh. ¡°She¡¯s quite considerate, isn¡¯t she?¡± Was she afraid he would get tired of women, so she found him a man to spice up his life? Ellie forced augh. ¡°Isabe has always been meticulous when doing things.¡± ¡°Where is she?¡± Seth¡¯s distorted smile instantly Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! disappeared. 12 02 Wed, 20 Dec G Ellie stood tall and replied, ¡°She has probably returned to her desk.¡± While watching Seth¡¯s expression, she added, ¡°But someone met her in the elevator just now and overheard her inviting Mr. Keller to dinner.¡± Seth¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed. ¡°Did she take the initiative?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He gave a dry chuckle, and the emotions in his eyes became unclear as he spoke somewhat sarcastically. ¡°She¡¯s really something, huh?¡± After saying that, he withdrew his gaze, seeming uninterested, and began to go through the contracts on his desk. ¡°Go and help the new employees settle down.¡± Ellie was surprised, for she didn¡¯t expect Seth to actually keep both of them. However, she didn¡¯t dare ask any questions and quickly left. Isabe took a car to her destination, her back drenched in sweat. As she entered the apartment building, she was hit by the cold air conditioning and immediately sneezed. After all themotion, she seemed to have calmed down from her rage. She pressed the elevator button and rode it all the Chapter 21 He found His New Sweetheart way up to her floor. When the elevator doors opened, she saw a middle¨Caged woman with keys standing in the corridor, talking on the phone. ¡°How am I supposed to remember how many months she¡¯s rented the house? I manage dozens of properties.¡± Upon hearing that, Isabe let out a silent, bitter chuckle. She suddenly understood why she had been kicked out of her own home; it was probably because thendlord got the rental period wrong. Therefore, she went up and patted the woman on the shoulder, introducing herself, ¡°Hello, are you the owner of Apartment 3401?¡± The woman nced at her, a bit skeptical. ¡°Are you Miss Symons?¡± Chapter 21 He Found His New Sweetheart Isabe breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± After clicking her tongue, the woman shrugged. ¡°How many years are you renting? My husband says your three years is up.¡± Isabe removed a few strands of hair from her face and asked tentatively, ¡°Don¡¯t you have a contract?¡± ¡°Our house is full of rental contracts. Where am I supposed to find yours?¡± With her hands on her hips, the woman rolled her eyes and said, ¡°There should be two copies of the contract. Where¡¯s yours?¡± However, Isabe had never seen the contract Candy Crush Saga y Now Wed, 20 Dec Chapter 21 He Found His Nex G because she movea straight in with ner bags DACK then. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but a friend helped me with the rental, so I don¡¯t have a contract.¡± The woman jingled her keys and said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°No contract makes it tricky. Unless you can produce the contract, I¡¯ll have to consider it a termination of lease on your end.¡± With a frown, Isabe asked, ¡°Can¡¯t I renew the lease directly?¡± She didn¡¯t want to go looking for Ollie or establish any sort of rtionship with Seth, albeit indirectly. The woman looked her up and down, then offered, ¡°Sure. The rent will remain at the previous rate of twelve thousand per month, but you¡¯ll need to pay Candy Crush Saga y Now 12:02 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter 21 He Found His New Sweetheart one month¡¯s rent as a deposit and three months¡® rent in advance. Also, you¡¯ll have to rent the ce for at least a year.¡± After listening to the conditions, Isabe hesitated. The rent and deposit came up to over a hundred thousand. While she did have some money, she wanted to save every penny she could. ¡°Can you give me a moment? I¡¯ll call my friend to ask about the contract.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Then, Isabe went to the corridor and quickly dialed Ollie¡¯s number. It took a while for him to answer. ¡°Mr. Wace, it¡¯s me, Isabe.¡± Chapter 21 He Found His New Sweetheart ¡°Do you need something?¡± She breathed in relief. ¡°I want to ask you about my rental contract. Could you take a photo of it and send it to me?¡± Ollie hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have time right now. I¡¯m helping Miss Winston to find a ce to stay. I can only look for the contract when I get back tonight.¡± Isabe¡¯s breath hitched again. Combined with the sudden changes in temperature earlier, she felt her temples pounding and her head spinning. He¡¯s already arranging amodations for someone this quickly. How¡­ considerate of him. Candy Crush Saga y Now 12 02 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter 21 He Found His New Sweetheart Thinking back to when she first started working, she seemed to recall someone arranging her amodation on the same day she was hired. She had naively thought it was apany benefit, and it seemed that Selena probably thought the same. With Seth¡¯s skills in training women, it probably wouldn¡¯t take more than half a year before Selena became her clone. After releasing a breath, Isabe didn¡¯t even bother answering Ollie and simply ended the call. Then, she pushed the corridor door open and went back inside. ¡°Hello, I¡¯ll just renew the lease directly. I can transfer the money now.¡± Candy Crush Saga Chapter 22 Misfortunes Never Come Singly The woman¡¯s eyes lit up, clearly delighted. ¡°Alright. Come downstairs with me to sign the contract.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Isabe moved her belongings back to the apartmentte into the night and didn¡¯t get to sit down until around 4.00AM. Before that, Natasha had called and scolded her on the phone upon hearing that she had moved away overnight. After finally calming Natasha down, she realized that the clock on the wall was showing 5.00AM. Overwhelmed by exhaustion, Isabe had no choice but to lie down on the couch for a while. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 The young man looked to be in his early twenties Chapter 23 It¡¯s up to Mr Dunkstein and had a head of red hair. An ordinary man would have looked hideous in that hair, but the man had fair skin and a rather handsome face. He was Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! dressed from head to toe in designerbels, and the eclectic mix of clothes made his originally arrogant expression look unbridled. Before Isabe could speak, Abigail approached the man. ¡°Sir, are you the son of Old Mr. Dunkstein from the day before yesterday? I was the one who helped him with the papers when purchasing the Mercedes.¡± She blinked her big eyes while carrying a ss of water over to the man. Her chest came dangerously close to brushing against the man¡¯s arm. 12:04 Wed, 20 Dec GOO. Chapter 23 It¡¯s up to Mr Dunkstein ¡°She¡¯s so insatiable.¡± 9K 81% Isabe heard Alex snort, clearly having seen Abigail behaving this way many times before. After releasing a breath, Isabe calmed herself down and was about to turn around to leave. You¡¯re the one who sold the car?¡± The young man¡¯s tone sounded neither pleased nor displeased. Just as Abigail was about to nod, the man suddenly knocked over the cup in her hand. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a f*cking pushover? The car started leaking oil as soon as it left this store!¡± Leaking oil? GO 1204 Wed 20 Dec G O Isabe halted, and a crowd began to gather. Finally, Jonas emerged from the office, grinning as he approached. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, there must be a misunderstanding. Our cars are brand new.¡± ¡°How would I know what tricks you guys are up to?¡± The man retrieved a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and skillfully lit it up. ¡°The saleswomen here are so fashionable. Maybe she often takes the new cars out to lure customers.¡± This guy¡¯s words were really harsh. Isabe took a deep breath and noticed that the female employees were all ring at the man, but none spoke up. Chapter 23 Its up to Mr Dunkstein ¡°Sir, please speak with respect.¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back and turned to face the man called Mr. Dunkstein. Gordon Dunkstein was here to pick a fight and had no interest in women like Abigail, who obviously seduced her clients often. When his gazended on Isabe, he seemed pleasantly surprised. She wore her hair in a neat ponytail and had a delicately made¨Cup face with slender eyebrows, which made her look utterly stunning. The corners of her lips were pressed down, giving off a signal of slight displeasure. Also, her stern gaze made him shiver with desire. Intrigued by her, Gordon raised his chin. ¡°And who might you be?¡± Chapter 23 It¡¯s up to Mr Dunkstein isuveniu survigilenenie puck und wuiked up to DUCK UNTU him, introducing herself. ¡°I¡¯m Isabe Symons. I handled the transaction the day before yesterday, and I was the one who received Old Mr. Dunkstein.¡± ¡°So, it was you?¡± Gordon touched his chin, looking disdainfully at Abigail on the side, whose face had turned red at that point. She covered her face and ran away in tears. After a scoff, he turned back to Isabe. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like I¡¯m a bully. The car is still at the repair shop. Come with me and see for yourself.¡± Isabe hesitated for a moment, but Alex gently nudged her arm from behind and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t 1. go. Nothing good wille of it.¡± OS81%Òô Chapter 23 It¡¯s up to Mr Dunkstein ¡°You can choose not to go, but then, I¡¯ll just report you.¡± Gordon raised his chin, looking quite pleased with himself. Left with no choice, Isabe mustered her courage and met the man¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¦° ¡°Great. It seems you¡¯re a responsible person.¡± Gordonughed. His previously domineering expression suddenly brightened as he shook the keys in his hand and headed outside. Isabe could only turn around and exchange a helpless look with Alex before quickly grabbing her bag in the office and following the man. Gordon drove a Porsche here, and when he saw foodpanda Work hard, feast harder. ORDER NOW 12.04 Wed, 20 Dec GOO Chapter 23 It¡¯s up to Mr Dunk ste Isabeing out, he clicked his tongue, motioning for her to sit in the passenger seat. Being naturally cautious around people from wealthy families like him, Isabe got in the car without saying much and began thinking about how to handle the situationter. Since she was so quiet, she gave Gordon the chance to size her up. She has such fair skin, and her eyes are pretty, too. Her lips are curved downward, making her look slightly pitiful. It makes me¡­ Gordon propped up his hand on the car door as an inexplicable light shed in his eyes. Suddenly, he stepped on the elerator. Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 23 x up to Mr Dunkstein As Isabe didn¡¯t expect him to suddenly elerate, shetched onto the door tightly, barely managing to steady herself. However, her face had turned pale with fright. When the car finally stopped, she had just managed to catch her breath when Gordon had already gotten out of the car ahead of her and, surprisingly, opened the door for her. 80 ¡°Look at your pale face. You¡¯re so easily frightened.¡± As he spoke, he even reached out to try to touch her face. Startled, Isabe deftly avoided him. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Could you please show me the car?¡± Chapter 231 up to Mr Dunkstein 8K 80% ¡°Sure.¡± Gordon didn¡¯t show any signs of anger. He stuck his hands in his pockets and nonchntly led the way. The repairmen in the repair shop were obviously familiar with him. Taking the initiative, one came forward to greet him. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, are you here to check on the car? It¡¯s not ready yet. Gordon turned to Isabe and raised his chin slightly. ¡°Take her to have a look and see how serious that junk is leaking oil.¡± The mechanic intelligently caught on and immediately understood what Gordon meant. Then, he led Isabe inside. foodpanda Chapter 23 its up to Mr Dunkstein Cywicie, louvilly Curs un spuit pulls were GVCI ????? ?? almost no room to step on. The car Gordon¡¯s father had bought was jacked up and ced at the far end of the store. Isabe instantly made a clear guess after seeing all the scratches around the car. While Gordon wasn¡¯t paying attention, she asked the mechanic, ¡°Sir, can you tell me how it started to leak?¡± The mechanic lowered his voice and replied, ¡°Miss, to be honest with you, it¡¯s not up to me to determine how the car broke. It¡¯s up to Mr. Dunkstein.¡± Great. Just my luck. Forcing a smile, Isabe thanked the mechanic K foodpanda ORDER NOW 12:04 Wed, 20 Dec G0 Chapter 24 A Cunning Trick and approached Gordon. Meanwhile, Gordon was at the doorway, holding a pressure washer gun used for washing cars and ying with it. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, what results are you hoping for in this matter?¡± Upon hearing the gentle female voiceing from behind him, Gordon almost lost his grip on the pressure washer gun. 8: Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Gordon turned around and saw Isabe¡¯s calm expression. He shrugged and suddenly aimed the pressure washer gun at her. ¡°We¡¯ll call it even if you foodpanda Work hard, feast harder. ORDER NOW Chapter 24 A Cunning Trick let me shoot you with this. How about that?¡± With an ambiguous expression, he deliberately emphasized certain words, making his implication very clear. The few mechanics nearby kept ncing their way, clearly enjoying the show. Isabe was dressed professionally, and it would definitely reveal her figure underneath it once her outfit got wet. ¡°You mean we¡¯ll call it even once you shoot me with the pressure washer gun?¡± She pretended not to understand and looked up at Gordon with innocent eyes. Her gaze made Gordon¡¯s heart itch. foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW Chapter 24 A Cunning Trick Surprise shed in Gordon¡¯s eyes as he tilted backward. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Isabe walked to an open space in front of the shop¡¯s door, holding her bag in front of her. ¡°Go ahead. Shoot.¡± She was so calm about it that it made Gordon hesitate and suddenly didn¡¯t know where to aim the gun. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, don¡¯t chicken out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just one shot, so don¡¯t miss it, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡± The Voicesing from around them were filled with yful banter. They encouraged Gordon and forced him into a position where he had no choice IL foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW Chapter 24 A Cunning Trick but to fire the gun. ¡°Shut up, all of you!¡± Gordon snapped, then pointed the gun at Isabe. Though he didn¡¯t specifically aim at any particr spot, his earlier inappropriate thoughts suddenly dissipated, especially when meeting Isabe¡¯s pristine eyes. Damn it! He cursed inwardly, then pressed the trigger. The pressure washer gun was too powerful, and the jet of water it produced could scale a fish, let alone how painful it would feel when hitting a person. Just as Gordon pressed the trigger, Isabe screamed and covered her head while crouching foodpanda Work hard, feast harder. ORDER NOW Chapter 24 A Cunning Trick down. As soon as Gordon heard the scream, he wasn¡¯t even sure if he had hit her but quickly dropped the water gun. Isabe¡¯s hair was drenched, and she sat on the ground, her face ghastly pale. The onlookers fell silent. Someone whispered, ¡°I think it hit her head.¡± ¡°Her head?¡± Gordon was also rmed and helped Isabe up. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Isabe shook her head, looking dazed. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Her voice was hoarse, clearly indicating how frightened she had been foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW Chapter 24 A Cunning Trick. frightened she had been. Gordon regretted it immensely, thinking that he shouldn¡¯t have yed such a joke on her. Then, he pulled her to the car. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital and get a full check¨Cup done on you.¡± Isabe was pulled away, and though her voice was trembling as she rejected Gordon¡¯s help, her eyes were clear as water. Just now, she deliberately squatted down so that she wouldn¡¯t get hit by the water pressure gun. Even the water that dampened her hair was water droplets that fell after the gun missed its aim. Without thinking too much about it, Gordon picked Isabe up in his arms and ced her in the foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW Chapter 24 A Cunning Trick This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. passenger seat. Then, he stepped on the elerator and sped to the hospital. Along the way, he nced into the rearview mirror at her and noticed she seemed weak. Moreover, her wet hair stuck to her face, making her seem particrly alluring. Gordon kept cursing deep down, secretly thinking. that he was possessed, or he would not have bumped into this vixen of a woman. Upon arriving at the hospital, Gordon had probably forgotten he had nned to cause trouble for Isabe because he started to help her register for a checkup and arrange all sorts of tests. That was something he had never done in the past twenty or so years. foodpanda ORDER NOW Work hard, feast harder. 205 20 Dec GDO Chapter 24 A Cunning Trick Finally, after all the tests were done, the doctor said it was something between the lines of a minor concussion. Meanwhile, Isabe discreetly rolled her eyes. She didn¡¯t even get hit, so how was she to get a minor concussion? Pretending to be weak, she refused Gordon¡¯s request to have an IV drip. ¡°No, thank you. I need to get back. It¡¯s almost the end of the month, and I¡¯ll be at the bottom if I continue to ck off.¡± Gordon clicked his tongue. ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? How about I buy two more cars from you?¡± foodpanda ORDER NOW Chapter 24 A Cunning Trick ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± Isabe looked horrified as she took a step back. ¡°You¡¯ve already been so generous about not pursuing the matter of your leaking car, so I can¡¯t trouble you further.¡± Gordon would have been fine if she hadn¡¯t mentioned it, but when she did, it made him feel slightly uneasy. That was because he deliberately drove his father¡¯s car recklessly the night before, taking it off¨Croad to piss off the old man. When he saw the severe damage this morning, he thought about implicating the dealer in the mess. Little did he know he would run into such a woman he was so satisfied with. ¡°It¡¯s just a car worth hundreds of thousands. It¡¯s nothing,¡± he said casually, but seeing the hesitation. Chapter 24 A Cunning Trick on Isabe¡¯s pale face, he couldn¡¯t help but want to impress her. ¡°I¡¯ll go back with you and ce an order right away.¡± Not expecting him to make a decision so quickly, Isabe was excited but also a little worried. Taking advantage of a rich man like him wouldn¡¯t be easy, and she didn¡¯t n on finding another Seth Shaffer. She stood up, casually pushing back the wet strands of hair clinging to her cheeks and coughed twice. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, I see that your car is still new, so it¡¯s really not necessary to waste that amount of money.¡± While staring at her, Gordon thought every move foodpanda ORDER NOW US Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 24 A Cunning Trick. K 80 she made seemed very graceful. Forget about two cars; he could even consider giving up half his life for her right now. Without giving him a chance to speak, Isabe took out her phone. ¡°How about we exchange contact information? When you need to buy a car next time, you can consider contacting me first.¡± This was the best way to deal with this matter as it kept their connection and left some wiggle room for both parties. In the meantime, Gordon was pleasantly surprised because he had been thinking about how to get Isabe¡¯s contact information. He didn¡¯t expect she would make that suggestion herself. Therefore, he foodpanda Work hard feast harder ORDER NOW 12:05 Wed 20 Dec G GO Chapter 25 Mi Shaffer is Too Nice to Me 80 quickly recited his phone number, and Isabe called him. The atmosphere immediately eased up. Once they left the hospital, Gordon insisted on driving Isabe back despite her repeated refusals. This time, he drove carefully back to the car retail store. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 When they arrived at thepany entrance, Gordon stopped the car but didn¡¯t let Isabe leave immediately. ¡°There¡¯s a horse ranch opening tomorrow. Would you like toe with me?¡± Isabe felt a bit uneasy because she used to frequent such ces with Seth, and running into might be mudou¨C2 foodpanda ORDER NOW Work hard, feast harder Chapter 25 Mr Shaffer is Too Nice to Me acquaintances might be awkward. Seeing her hesitation, Gordon clicked his tongue. ¡°My buddies are all into cars. Maybe you¡¯ll meet someone looking to buy a car.¡± No wonder they said young girls entering the workforce should be cautious. There were traps everywhere. Thinking of that, Isabe felt wary but maintained her pitiful expression and nodded. ¡°Alright. Just give me the address, and I¡¯ll go on my own.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Gordon extended his arm, resting it on the back of her seat. The light refracted from his ear stud shone on the corner of his lips as he grinned unabashedly. ¡°I¡¯lle pick you up foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW 12:05 Wed, 20 Dec G GO Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Chapter 25 Mr Shaffer Is Too Nice to Me tomorrow.¡± Since their conversation had reached this point, there was no point in pretending any further. After thanking him repeatedly and maintaining her courtesy, Isabe quickly opened the door and got out of the car. Once she escaped the car¡¯s pungent air freshener, she turned around and smiled politely at Gordon while watching him drive away. Right after he left, she instantly reverted to a cool demeanor, resembling an entric person. With her wet hair, she entered thepany and received strange gazes from all around her. But she didn¡¯t mind any of them and emotionlessly headed foodpanda ORDER NOW Work hard feast harder 12.06 Wed 20 Dec GCO inside. Just as she was about to head to the break room and change her clothes, Alex came over and knocked on her desk. ¡°There¡¯s a big shot waiting for you in the VIP lounge.¡± Isabe furrowed her brows slightly and nodded to Alex. Then, she got up to head to the lounge. Pushing open the door, she was met with a clean and refined face. ¡°Hello, Isabe.¡± Isabe had thought of many possibilities of who it could be, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to be Selena, someone she had only had a brief encounter with. ¡°Hello.¡± Selena seemed a hit hashful and gestured for foodpanda ORDER NOW 12:06 Wed, 20 Dec G OO Chapter 25 Mr Shaffer Is Too Nice to Me Selena seemed a bit bashful and gestured for Isabe to sit down. Then, she hesitantly asked, ¡°Isabe, do you have time to join me for lunch? I have some questions I¡¯d like to ask you.¡± Isabe hadn¡¯t nned to talk to Selena in the office in the first ce, so she immediately nodded and suggested a nearby restaurant in the mall. Selena seemed quite natural and agreed to it. Isabe thought Selena was just an ordinary struggling student, but upon entering the mall, she realized it wasn¡¯t quite like that. The young woman. didn¡¯t seem intimidated at all by luxury brands, and when it came to ordering food, she was confident and unreserved, showing no signs of timidness. Suddenly Isabe thought cho might have foodpanda Work hard feast harder ORDER NOW 12.06 Wed 20 De O Suddenly, Isabe thought she might have misjudged Solena. That young woman was not as delicate as she seemed. ¡°Isabe, I¡¯m really sorry. I know we¡¯ve only met. once, and I shouldn¡¯t be bothering you this way, but after careful consideration, I think I should seek your advice.¡± Before the food was served, Selena wore a disheartened expression and spoke softly, almost to the point of whispering. Isabe bowed her head to sip her tea and didn¡¯t pretend to be a knowing elder. Instead, she coldly asked, ¡°Is there a problem at work?¡± Biting her lip, Selena blushed and replied, ¡°It¡¯s about Mr. Shaffer.¡± foodpanda. ORDER NOW Work hand, feast harder 12 06 Wed, 20 Dec Chapter 25 Mr Shaffer is Too Nice to Me Isabe drank arge gulp of cold water to cool down the heat that surged inside her. She calmly asked, ¡°Has Mr. Shaffer been causing you trouble?¡± ¡°No.¡± Selena immediately shook her head. Her hands flitted nervously as she lowered her head, her hair concealing half her face. ¡°He¡¯s been too kind to me. I¡¯m a bit lost and don¡¯t know how to repay him.¡± Ha! Just offer yourself. That should be enough. There¡¯s no need to think about anything else. Isabe almost mmed her cup onto the table. It wasn¡¯t that she disliked Selena, but it was a bit ridiculous for the old lover to sit here and listen to the new favorite discuss her inner struggles. At that moment. she wanted to tell Selena that Seth wasn¡¯t foodpanda Work hard feast harder ORDER NOW 12 06 Wed, 20 Dec Chapter 25 Mr Shaffer is Top Nice to Me only kind to her because there was a living example before her. ¡°Isabe, could you tell me about Mr. Shaffer¡¯s preferences? That way, I can take care of his daily needs.¡± Raising her head to reveal her clean and clear eyes, Selena folded her hands in front of her chest. The sight of her resembled that of a bunny. Isabe sighed, but she remained calm. ¡°I¡¯ve already told everything to Fiona, so you can just ask her. There¡¯s nothing special.¡± Selena looked slightly disappointed and lowered her head, her hands tightly clenched before her. ¡°I see. I¡¯ll go back and ask Fiona again.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I need to get back to work. foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW This ce is quite far from the headquarters, so you¡¯d better not waste your timeing over again.¡± Isabe stood up, preparing to leave. Seeing that, Selena quickly got up as well and urgently asked, ¡°Isabe, is there anything special I should pay attention to when working for Mr. Shaffer?¡± Isabe hesitated for a moment, then left a sentence before continuing on her way. ¡°He¡¯s severely allergic to mangoes. Even a tiny bit of juice can make him feel dizzy.¡± ¡°What about alcohol?¡± Selena pursued, her eyes full of anticipation. At that point, Isabe hadpletely lost her foodpanda ORDER NOW Work hard feast harder 12 06 Wed, 20 Dec GOO. Chapter 26 Going Horse Riding With Him patience. She walked away, saying, ¡°He has a high alcohol tolerance, so you don¡¯t need to worry about Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Selena¡¯s appearance irritated Isabe a bit because she had a vague feeling that the young woman wasn¡¯t as simple as she seemed. After finally sending her away, Isabe returned to her office and was immediately surrounded by a group pretentiously asking about her morning. After a tiring morning, she didn¡¯t feel like dealing with these people, so she wrapped up the conversation with a few words and returned to her seat to n her next move. She intended to foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW 12:06 Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 26 Going Horse Riding With Him Just as she was thinking about that, her phone suddenly vibrated, and along with it was an anonymous message. Thinking it might be spam mail, she nced at it but then realized something was off. It was a picture of the front entrance of her current apartment, and the text apanying it read, ¡®Babe, I¡¯m waiting for your invitation to head inside.¡® The familiar tone sent a shiver down Isabe¡¯s spine, instantly reminding her of Louis. The feeling of being targeted by a stealthy predator made her skin crawl, and a chill ran from her head to her toes, causing her to freeze. After a long while, Isabe finally snapped out of it and realized her legs had gone weak. foodpanda Work hand, feast harder ORDER NOW 80 Chapter 26 Gong Horse Riding With Him Releasing a breath, sheposed herself and quickly thought about the situation. It seemed Louis might not try anything any time soon, or else he would have just barged through the door and grabbed her. There was no point in him sending a picture to warn her. ¡°What are you thinking about? Aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡± Alex suddenly appeared from behind and patted Isabe¡¯s shoulder. Isabe regained herposure and calmly replied, ¡°Nothing. I was just thinking about what to eat.¡± ¡°I thought you were thinking about how to use your chair beside Isabe and sat down. ¡°You caught a foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW big one today.¡± After looking around her, Isabe lowered her voice to ask, ¡°Why would you say that?¡± Alex gave Isabe her phone and shot her a look. ¡°Have a look yourself.¡± ncing at the phone, Isabe saw it was a web page of detailed information on Wikipedia. The old man in the picture was the one who came to buy a car the day before yesterday. Alex sighed, not able to hide her admiration when she spoke. ¡°Xavier Dunkstein. He started as a pig farmer and became one of the most powerful upstarts in recent years. When the price for pork rose the year beforest, his family went with the foodpanda ORDER NOW Selena¡¯s appearance irritated Isabe a bit because she had a vague feeling that the young woman wasn¡¯t as simple as she seemed. After finally sending her away, Isabe returned to her office and was immediately surrounded by a group pretentiously asking about her morning. After a tiring morning, she didn¡¯t feel like dealing with these people, so she wrapped up the conversation with a few words and returned to her seat to n her next move. She intended to foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW 12:06 Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 26 Going Horse Riding With Him Just as she was thinking about that, her phone suddenly vibrated, and along with it was an anonymous message. Thinking it might be spam mail, she nced at it but then realized something was off. It was a picture of the front entrance of her current apartment, and the text apanying it read, ¡®Babe, I¡¯m waiting for your invitation to head inside.¡® The familiar tone sent a shiver down Isabe¡¯s spine, instantly reminding her of Louis. The feeling of being targeted by a stealthy predator made her skin crawl, and a chill ran from her head to her toes, causing her to freeze. After a long while, Isabe finally snapped out of it and realized her legs had gone weak. foodpanda Work hand, feast harder ORDER NOW 80 Chapter 26 Gong Horse Riding With Him Releasing a breath, sheposed herself and quickly thought about the situation. It seemed Louis might not try anything any time soon, or else he would have just barged through the door and grabbed her. There was no point in him sending a picture to warn her. ¡°What are you thinking about? Aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡± Alex suddenly appeared from behind and patted Isabe¡¯s shoulder. Isabe regained herposure and calmly replied, ¡°Nothing. I was just thinking about what to eat.¡± ¡°I thought you were thinking about how to use your chair beside Isabe and sat down. ¡°You caught a foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW big one today.¡± After looking around her, Isabe lowered her voice to ask, ¡°Why would you say that?¡± Alex gave Isabe her phone and shot her a look. ¡°Have a look yourself.¡± ncing at the phone, Isabe saw it was a web page of detailed information on Wikipedia. The old man in the picture was the one who came to buy a car the day before yesterday. Alex sighed, not able to hide her admiration when she spoke. ¡°Xavier Dunkstein. He started as a pig farmer and became one of the most powerful upstarts in recent years. When the price for pork rose the year beforest, his family went with the foodpanda ORDER NOW Selena¡¯s appearance irritated Isabe a bit because she had a vague feeling that the young woman wasn¡¯t as simple as she seemed. After finally sending her away, Isabe returned to her office and was immediately surrounded by a group pretentiously asking about her morning. After a tiring morning, she didn¡¯t feel like dealing with these people, so she wrapped up the conversation with a few words and returned to her seat to n her next move. She intended to foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW 12:06 Wed, 20 Dec G Chapter 26 Going Horse Riding With Him Just as she was thinking about that, her phone suddenly vibrated, and along with it was an anonymous message. Thinking it might be spam mail, she nced at it but then realized something was off. It was a picture of the front entrance of her current apartment, and the text apanying it read, ¡®Babe, I¡¯m waiting for your invitation to head inside.¡® The familiar tone sent a shiver down Isabe¡¯s spine, instantly reminding her of Louis. The feeling of being targeted by a stealthy predator made her skin crawl, and a chill ran from her head to her toes, causing her to freeze. After a long while, Isabe finally snapped out of it and realized her legs had gone weak. foodpanda Work hand, feast harder ORDER NOW 80 Chapter 26 Gong Horse Riding With Him Releasing a breath, sheposed herself and quickly thought about the situation. It seemed Louis might not try anything any time soon, or else he would have just barged through the door and grabbed her. There was no point in him sending a picture to warn her. ¡°What are you thinking about? Aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡± Alex suddenly appeared from behind and patted Isabe¡¯s shoulder. Isabe regained herposure and calmly replied, ¡°Nothing. I was just thinking about what to eat.¡± ¡°I thought you were thinking about how to use your chair beside Isabe and sat down. ¡°You caught a foodpanda Work hard, feast harder ORDER NOW big one today.¡± After looking around her, Isabe lowered her voice to ask, ¡°Why would you say that?¡± Alex gave Isabe her phone and shot her a look. ¡°Have a look yourself.¡± ncing at the phone, Isabe saw it was a web page of detailed information on Wikipedia. The old man in the picture was the one who came to buy a car the day before yesterday. Alex sighed, not able to hide her admiration when she spoke. ¡°Xavier Dunkstein. He started as a pig farmer and became one of the most powerful upstarts in recent years. When the price for pork rose the year beforest, his family went with the foodpanda ORDER NOW Chapter 26 Going Horse Riding With Him flow and established theirpany. Now, their Isabe didn¡¯t expect Gordon¡¯s family to be that rich as she only thought he was from an ordinarily rich family. ¡°Now that you have him to back you up, you won¡¯t This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. have to worry about anything in the future.¡± Alex took her phone back and left while swaying her thin waist. Isabe wiped her face and dispelled those thoughts before heading to the restroom to freshen up. At this moment, her thoughts were focused on how to deal with Louis. Anything else could be saved forter. 12 09 Wed, 20 Dec GO- Chapter 26 Going Horse Riding With Him 0K 80% When she raised her head and saw the woman with a wet face in the mirror, she was shocked by the viciousness in her eyes. She took a deep breath, telling herself to stay calm. There is no obstacle in the world that you can¡¯t ovee, Isabe Symons. You have been through so much over the years, so there is nothing you can¡¯t handle. After giving herself a pep talk, she felt much better. Not long after she returned to her office, two strangers appeared and specifically asked for Isabe. They said they were here to buy cars. Even though they only bought ordinary cars priced around two hundred thousand, it was a windfall for 12:09 Wed, 20 Dec G & O her, and the people around her looked like their eyes were about to pop out from jealousy. Even after selling the cars, Isabe was still a bit absent¨Cminded. It wasn¡¯t until Gordon sent her a text message that she suddenly understood what just happened. The two people who came to buy the cars were employees from Xavier¡¯spany, and they specifically came here for Gordon¡¯s sake. However, Isabe didn¡¯t feel at ease, so she called Natasha after work to talk about it. ¡°What are you afraid of? Just ept it. You took the house Seth gave you, so why can¡¯t you take the orders given by another man?¡± Natasha asked righteously. 49 Wed 20 Dec G G O Chapter 21 Going Horse Riding With Him Isabe was at a loss for words, and she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue. Her rtionship with Seth was based on a fair exchange, but she couldn¡¯t do the same with other men. It was enough for her to sell herself once, or else it would make her feel cheap. Feeling burdened, she returned home and nced around the entrance, afraid that danger was lurking somewhere. Even after entering her home, she still couldn¡¯t rx and was on edge while showering. When it got dark, she sat on the couch. Everything was eerily quiet, and the fears she had pushed back during the day now resurfaced and quickly BO Chapter 26 Going Horse Riding spread inside her, making her afraid to even close her eyes. Sitting on the couch, she hugged herself and stayed that way until midnight. She didn¡¯t lie down until sleepiness overwhelmed her. Having slept in the cold all night, she woke up early the next morning with frightening dark circles under her eyes. Therefore, she had to put on slightly heavier makeup. Luckily, the wealthy didn¡¯t have the habit of waking up early, so Gordon didn¡¯t call until 10.00AM. After Isabe answered the call in her office, she was surrounded by insincere ttery again. She gave a casual chuckle while grabbing her bag and left. Unlike yesterday, she wore a denim jumpsuit today, which was simple yet youthful¨Clooking. Her dark hair gently fluttered in the wind, making her look fresh and clean. Gordon leaned against the car as he squinted at the approaching figure. He felt his heart pound. Yesterday, he had acted on impulse when inviting her, but now it seemed he had made the right decision. Isabe was bound to outshine the femalepanions of his friends. With this thought, he couldn¡¯t wait for Isabe to approach before extending his arms toward her. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Isabe graciously hugged Gordon, then naturally stepped back and opened the door to the passenger seat by herself. Gordon liked her straightforwardness and grabbed arge bouquet of roses from the back seat as soon as he got in the car. ¡°Fresh flowers for the beautifuldy.¡± With a slight tilt of his head, his bright red hair and mischievous smile increased his charming and roguish aura exponentially. If a shy young woman had been in the passenger seat, she would have blushed from shyness. However, Isabe simply lowered her head to take eng at his Ti pectedly Aving at His Tartan 3.12 a sniff. Then, she slightly curved her lips and sighed softly. ¡°They smell nice.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you like them?¡± Gordon noticed her somewhat stiff expression. A hint of loneliness shed in Isabe¡¯s eyes as she held the flowers in her arms. ¡°I just went through a breakup. Seeing roses makes me a bit mncholic, so I can¡¯t ept them right now.¡± She couldn¡¯t outright reject Gordon, so she could only try to indirectly convey her thoughts and hope the young man would get the hint. Gordon let out a grunt and snapped his fingers. ¡°Healing period. Got it.¡± Isobe breathed a sigh of relief, hoping he truly understood Ride ap around the racetrack and you¡¯ll forget about everything.¡± With that, Gordon stepped on the elerator, and the car gradually sped forward. Isabe didn¡¯t enjoy this feeling and was a bit scared, so she could only discreetly hold onto the seatbelt. Fortunately, the horse ranch was located on the outskirts of Imperia, so the journey wasn¡¯t long. Just as Isabe was about to feel the urge to puke, Gordon parked the car. 1209 Wed, 20 Dec GO Chapter 27 Unexpectedly Arriving at His Turf Again ¡°If you don¡¯t like the flowers, just leave them and get out of the car.¡± Gordon¡¯s words were concise, and he casually took Isabe¡¯srge bouquet of flowers before tossing them onto the back seat. Isabe couldn¡¯t be happier. Roses were already suggestive, and she hade with Gordon to expand herwork. It would be troublesome if it led to any misunderstandings. She got out of the car with Gordon, and as soon as the door opened, she was hit with a strong scent of grass and could even see an endless expanse of green through the white picket fence. The horse ranch operated on a membership system, just like aprehensive club, and it Chapter 77 Unexpectedly Arriving at His Turf Again offered a wide range of amenities. Gordon led Isabe inside and applied for a card with a value of two hundred thousand on the spot, then casually handed it to Isabe. ¡°Come on, let me introduce you to some friends.¡± Isabe put away the card, deciding to return it asked, ¡°Do you know the owner of this ranch?¡± Shrugging his shoulders, Gordon replied, ¡°I don¡¯t, but Tyrone knows.¡± While he was speaking, he led Isabe to arge table seated with several people. Everyone at the table looked over in their direction and was instantly in an uproar. wed, 20 Dec G10 ¡¤ Chapter 27 Unexpectedly Arriving at His Turf Again. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, you¡¯re such a spoilsport! How could you let us wait so long?¡± Once Gordon arrived, a young woman immediately moved to the side and nned on sitting beside him. However, he disregarded her and pushed the young woman¡¯s hand away, pulling Isabe forward. ¡°Let me introduce you all to Isabe Symons.¡± Everyone at the table looked at each other, while the men all had mischievous faces. Isabe crossed her hands before her and nodded politely. ¡°Pardon my intrusion, everyone.¡± 12/10 Wed, 20 Dec GO xpectedly Arriving at His Turf Again XB0% ¡°Why are you so formal with them?¡± Gordon tugged her over and made her sit in the only avable seat. Then, he pointed at each person around them and introduced them to her. ¡°Lyra Wilson, Freya Houghton, Tyrone Jester, Skyler Andrews-¡± Halfway through, he noticed several unfamiliar faces and furrowed his brows. ¡°The rest you don¡¯t have to know.¡± Isabe guessed those whom Gordon introduced must be his friends while the rest were just female ¡°Gordon has some skills. Any woman he brings is a beauty. That¡¯s something I can¡¯tpete with.¡± Tyrone rose to his feet to pour Isabe a ss of 12:10 Wed, 20 Dec GG Chapter 27 Unexpectedly Arriving at His Tuit Again juice. He winked at her. ¡°Be, how did you and Gordon meet each other?¡± Just as he finished speaking, Gordon rolled his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t call her that. Do you know her well?¡± Everyone was in an uproar. Isabe noticed that the several female discreetly. It seemed like she had offended others without knowing it again. She sipped her juice and smiled. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a pleasant encounter at first. I caused some trouble for Mr. Dunkstein because of work, and he was generous enough not to pursue 1. it. Also, I was lucky that he epted me as his friend.¡± 1612 Her words fueled Gordon¡¯s dignity, and all the men at the table had looks of realization while clicking their tongues. ¡°You were lucky? With your looks, it¡¯s him who should feel lucky.¡± The woman named Freya joked before leaning against Skyler. It was obvious thatContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! they were a couple. Isabe chuckled softly but didn¡¯t respond. Gordon thought he had shown off enough and was reluctant to let the others keep looking at Isabe, so he impatiently tapped the table. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t we here to ride horses? Hurry up, then.¡± Hearing that, Tyrone teased, ¡°It¡¯s just riding horses. Chapter 27 Une spectady Arriving at Hs Turf Again What¡¯s the rush?¡± Everyone burst intoughter. Gordon ced his hand on Isabe¡¯s shoulder and casually said, ¡°With so many people today, shouldn¡¯t I go and pick out a good horse for her?¡± ¡°Gordon, you¡¯re such apassionate gentleman.¡± Another round of yful banter ensued while Isabe could only smile and lower her head, sipping her juice. Luckily, the group knew where to draw the line. After having fun, they all stood up and went to pick out their horses. ai i xpectedly Ariving the Agen On the way, they chatted casually. With his hands in his pocket, Tyrone gazed at the ranch with admiration. ¡°The Gates Family is truly formidable. They even managed to secure such a Skyler smiled and lowered his voice to say, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the support of the Shaffer Family. Otherwise, it would have taken them even longer to acquire this piece ofnd.¡± Hearing the mention of the Gates Family, Isabe felt something was amiss. When she heard the Shaffer name, her heart sank, and she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°The Shaffer Family?¡± 24 The Horse Got Out of Control Skyler nced at her and reminded her, ¡°The same Shaffer Family that owns the Shaffer Group.¡± Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Isabe kept the fact that the Gates and Shaffer families jointly developed the horse ranch in mind because she was afraid to bump into Seth. Fortunately, they didn¡¯t encounter anyone they knew before entering the pasture, let alone Seth. Gordon took good care of her at first, but as Tyrone and the others teased him, he ended up mingling with the other men. While Isabe knew how to ride a horse, she was not that proficient in it. Thest time she had any Get Out of Control substantial lessons was when Seth was in the mood to teach her. Therefore, she felt uneasy while holding the reins at this moment and didn¡¯t dare to squeeze the horse¡¯s belly too hard, fearing it might suddenly bolt. Meanwhile, Lyra and Freya were chatting with each other, and since Isabe wasn¡¯t familiar with them, she looked to be ousted. Unknowingly, the men¡¯s femalepanions had surrounded her. ¡°Isabe, where are you currently working?¡± ¡°You really are something. I haven¡¯t seen Mr. Dunkstein treat anyone as good as he treats you.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you teach us a trick or two?¡± 1211 Wed 20 Dec Gi Chapter 28 The Horse Get Out of Control Once those words were said, Isabe immediately knew that these women were probably hostesses from high¨Cend clubs. Therefore, she held the reins and mped down slightly harder on the horse¡¯s belly, not bothering to engage with them. ¡°What¡¯s with the act? You¡¯re just the same as us. Do you think you¡¯ll earn more money just because you have a cold face?¡± one of the young women. muttered from behind. Holding tightly onto the reins, Isabe turned around and saw the one who spoke was the young woman named Kiki. ¡°What are you ring at us for? Do you think we¡¯re afraid of you?¡± 1211 Wed 20 Dec GGO. hushed tones. They wore smiles on their faces as if they were getting along well with Isabe. Isabe found it quite repulsive¨Ca group of young women, not even twenty years old, who acted that way. Also, beneath those delicate faces harbored countless sordid thoughts, and they were afraid that someone might steal their business. She wanted to ignore them, but the girls were persistent and gradually approached her while seemingly unintentionally surrounding her horse. ¡°You guys pushed me into this,¡± she whispered. Kiki snorted, obviously not taking her words. seriously. 1211 Wed, 20 Dec GGO Then, Isabe tightened the reins and suddenly raised her leg to kick the horse on her left, followed by kicking the one on the right. Both horses were startled at the same time and neighed in unison before frantically running away. ¡°Help!¡± All four horses surrounding Isabe got startled, and since all the young women didn¡¯t know how to ride them, they were all scared out of their wits. Isabe had been holding tightly onto the reins in advance, so her horse turned two circles and soon Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! calmed down. Themotion drew everyone¡¯s attention, and the men quickly noticed them. They rushed to get the 1211 Wed 20 Dec GO. Chapter 29 The Horse Got Out of Control ranch¡¯s personnel to go after the startled horses. Being the kind woman she was, Freya was worried for the few hostesses and insisted that Gordon and the others head over to check on them. Therefore, the men threw away their reins and ran after the horses, leaving Isabe and the other two women alone. As the surroundings quieted down, Freya and Lyra approached Isabe. ¡°Would you like to ride a few rounds?¡± Freya came over and patted Isabe¡¯s horse. Isabe shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not that skilled in riding horses, so I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll fall.¡± 12:11 Wed 20 Dec GGO. 21 The Horse Got Out of Control Chuckling, Lyra waved her hand and assured Isabe, ¡°It¡¯s fine. This horse is very gentle. It won¡¯t run wild as long as you don¡¯t do anything stupid like those idiots.¡± Her horse was privately kept, so there were quite a few decorations on her saddle, which chimed wherever her horse moved. Upon hearing that, Isabe was intrigued and thought perhaps she should take the horse for a fewps. The horse was indeed very gentle. ¡°Oh, gosh!¡± Lyra¡¯s sudden exmation brought Isabe back from her thoughts. ¡°Quick! Your horse¡¯s mane is caught on my bell.¡± Dhapter 28 The Horse Get Out of Control Looking down, Isabe noticed that the two horses were too close together, and her horse¡¯s mane got snagged at some point. She hurriedly bent over to untangle the horse¡¯s mane but discovered it was snagged too tightly and couldn¡¯t be untangled. Moreover, her horse was clearly agitated from its mane getting tugged on. The originally gentle horse began to rear up. The its back, but it broke the strand of hair, causing the horse so much pain that it went crazy on the spot. ¡°Quick! Get someone to help. I can¡¯t control it.¡± Isabe panicked and could only grip tightly on the reins while screaming for Freya and the others to Get Out of Can get someone. However, everyone around them had gone to chase after those idiots, so the ce was empty. Not even a single rider could be seen. The horse was in so much pain that it couldn¡¯t be calmed down. Then, it stubbornly reared up, insisting on throwing Isabe off its back. At first, Isabe could still grasp the reins, but she couldn¡¯t hold on after it attempted to shake her off several times. ¡°Watch out!¡± Freya¡¯s yell wasn¡¯t put to much use because when the horse kicked out its front hooves once again, Isabe fell straight from its back. The horse was tall, and falling from it rendered scended From the Day Isabe¡¯s back in excruciating pain. Before she could yelp in pain, she felt a wave of fear wash over her. ¡°Isabe, get out of the way!¡± Get out of the way? How am I going to move? Isabe¡¯s eyes widened, and she had no time to dodge. All she could do was watch as the horse¡¯s hooves came down on her. Instinctively, she moved an inch to the side, but it was useless. Bang! A gunshot sounded. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 The pain never came, but Isabe heard the jarring neigh of a horse falling to the ground, followed by the shrill screams from Freya and Lyra. Isabe had forgotten to breathe, and her gaze fixed on someone not far away. A man with a cold expression holstered his bird¨Chunting rifle and tossed it into a leather pouch hanging from his horse¡¯s neck. Gripping the reins with one hand, he let the horse trot leisurely forward. Before him sat a bashful¨Clooking woman, who just happened to be the woman Isabe had picked out¨CSelena. Isabe felt her heart pounding in her chest and the skin on her entire body radiating heat. Upon recalling what had just happened, she felt her legs 12 12 Wed, 20 Dec GO Chapter 29 He Descended From the Sky go sort. Seth and his gang slowly approached them, and besides Selena, there was also Dariel and the eldest son from the Gates Family, whom Isabe had once met before. Everyone in that group rode horses and wore striking equestrian outfits, making them seem very handsome. Simon Gates was wearing a white outfit and exuded a gentle demeanor. He got off his horse before reaching Isabe and jogged over. ¡°Are you alright?¡± He extended his hand toward Isabe and nodded toward the two frightened women beside her. Chapter 29 He Descended From the Sky While tugging her lips, Isabe didn¡¯t wait for him and forcefully tried to get up. However, her legs were indeed weak, and she stumbled as she tried to stand. Simon rushed over to support her. ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Isabe took a step back, avoiding any contact with the man. But when she raised her head, Simon raised an eyebrow. ¡°Isabe¡­ Symons?¡± It was perfectly normal for him to recognize her at a nce, as they had met before, given her association with Seth for the past five years. Descended from the So Simon¡¯s gaze had a trace of scrutiny as he turned to look at Seth and Dariel, both still on their horses. Seth had a cold expression, while Dariel had a faint smile in his eyes. Smiling, Simon made a rough guess of the situation. ¡°My apologies for startling you and your friends. I¡¯ll get someone to send you back.¡± As Simon spoke politely, Lyra and Freya, standing to the side, looked at each other and got curious about Isabe¡¯s identity. Just as the atmosphere had turned awkward, the sound of galloping hooves was heard from not far away. It was clear that they were rushing this way. 12 12 Wed, 20 Dec GO Chapter 29 He Descended From the Sky Gordon and the others went after the horses but felt worried halfway, so they abandoned the several hostesses and came back to check on Isabe and the others. When Freya saw Skyler, her tears instantly rained down her cheeks, causing the scene to be very nerve¨Cwracking and awkward. Gordon immediately went over to Isabe after getting off his horse. He pulled her over to him by her arm and asked nervously, ¡°Are you okay? Did you get hurt?¡± Tugging her lips into a forced smile, Isabe replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Mr. Gates and the others arrived just in time. I¡¯m not injured, but the horse is.¡± W/10 1212 Wed 20 Dec GOO Gordon released his breath and tried to hug her. ¡°Since you feel sorry for injuring the horse, you should stop causing trouble for it in the future.¡± A cold male voice suddenly broke through the atmosphere, causing Gordon¡¯s actions to halt midway. Feeling her cheeks flush, Isabe dared not look at Seth. Meanwhile, Tyrone and the others were confused but were afraid to speak upon seeing Seth¡¯s expression. Dariel held the reins of his horse, and in his arms was a woman Isabe had never seen before. He clicked his tongue. ¡°Babe, are you grateful I didn¡¯t Chapter 29 He Descended from let you ride alone?¡± The woman giggled and snuggled into his arms, saying, ¡°Mr. Shaffer is so merciless. He has a woman he likes in his arms, yet he¡¯s lecturing a boyfriend¨Cless woman.¡® The two spoke without any regard, clearly mocking Seth and causing the atmosphere to be even more awkward. Being hot¨Ctempered, Gordon shielded Isabe behind him. ¡°It¡¯s just a horse. She can have as many as she wants, so you shouldn¡¯t feel bothered about losing any. I willpensate on her behalf.¡± Hearing that, Dariel let out a gasp while Simon adjusted his sses. 12 12 Wed. 20 Dec G GO m the Say Chapter 291 Descended From the Sky The atmosphere became tense as Seth yed with the reins in his hand. His sharp gaze swept over Gordon as he parted his thin lips to say, ¡°You¡¯ll ¡°He¡¯s her boyfriend, after all.¡± Tyrone smiled as he spoke up, then patted Gordon¡¯s shoulder before greeting Seth. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, don¡¯t mind him. His mind is currently filled with his girlfriend, so he doesn¡¯t really care about the horse.¡± Isabe felt her cheeks burning even hotter but couldn¡¯t utter a word from her parted lips. Her mind raced as she didn¡¯t want everyone to misunderstand her rtionship with Gordon. However, it would make things more awkward if she tried to exin their rtionship in this situation, and it would also hurt Gordon¡¯s pride. She had her back to Seth and was quiet throughout, seemingly acquiescing to their guesses. With a light snort, Seth lowered his head to ask Selena, who was in his arms, ¡°Would you like to ride a few rounds?¡± Not expecting him to suddenly turn to her, coupled with being the center of everyone¡¯s attention, Selena couldn¡¯t help but blush and nod slightly. After adjusting the reins, Seth swept his gaze across Dariel and Simon. ¡°I¡¯ll bring her riding for a bit. You guys can go about your business.¡± Once he finished speaking, he pulled on the reins Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. 1212 Wed 20 Dec GOO. and brought them away from the curious crowd as though the tense atmosphere just now hadn¡¯t existed. Isabe didn¡¯t raise her head, but her back was drenched with sweat, and her ears rang. It wasn¡¯t until Gordon called her that she snapped out of it. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 The horse ranch was a well¨Cequipped establishment that offered various amenities simr to a hotel. Therefore, Gordon led Isabe back and booked a room. Sitting by the bed, Isabe finally released the breath she had been holding. ¡°It¡¯s just a horse, but it was quite a hassle.¡± Gordon¡¯s temper had not cooled down, and he tossed his coat aside before turning to see Isabe¡¯s pale approach. ¡°Were you scared?¡± Returning to her senses, Isabe shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair. ¡°No. I just felt a bit embarrassed.¡± Gordon let out a chuckle and sat down beside her, getting a close¨Cup view of her profile. At first, Isabe was startled and then had to face such an awkward scene, so her face was currently 12:12 Wed, 20 Dec GO. Chapter 30 It¡¯s Just a Kiss pale but had a hint of blush. Her lips had regained their rosy hue, making her incredibly enticing. Gordon thought that since she hadn¡¯t objected to being called his girlfriend earlier, she probably wasn¡¯t repulsed by him, so he summoned his courage and moved in to kiss her. Meanwhile, Isabe was lost in her thoughts but suddenly sensed someone approaching from her side and instantly reacted. Her cheek felt cold, which stimted her to instinctively scramble up from the bed. Gordon hadn¡¯t expected such a strong reaction from her and felt a little embarrassed. He muttered in a somewhat irritable tone, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t I 1213 Wed, 20 Dec GDO Chapter 30 It¡¯s Just a kiss give you a kiss?¡± Clenching her fists, Isabe was so furious that her body was trembling. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, do you think it¡¯s appropriate for you to kiss me?¡± Gordon furrowed his brows. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°If you think it¡¯s no big deal to kiss me, then you¡¯re treating me like I¡¯m a hostess. But if I remember correctly, I never took a penny from you.¡± Isabe¡¯s tone turned cold, her previous docility and Gordon felt guilty and somewhat remorseful, but his tone was still impolite. ¡°I¡¯m not treating you like a 12:13 Wed, 20 Dec GGO Chapter 30 It¡¯s Just a kiss hostess. You¡¯re being too sensitive.¡± 511 ¡°If that¡¯s not the case, then please maintain an appropriate distance. I consider you a friend because I thought you were worth befriending. Don¡¯t make me regret my judgment!¡± Her body was tense, and she struggled to contain her embarrassment. She gave him an using gaze and managed to make Gordon feel slightly guilty with just a few sentences, feeling like he had indeed been too careless with her. He awkwardly licked his lips while ncing at Isabe. When he saw she wasn¡¯t going to back down, he stood up with some difort. ¡°Alright. I admit I was wrong, okay?¡± 1213 Wed 20 Dec GG0- Isabe pursed her lips and remained silent. Running his hand through his hair, Gordon used all the patience he had over thest twenty or so years to coax her, ¡°Don¡¯t be so tense, okay? My buddies are still outside, and it would be embarrassing if we got into an argument.¡± At the same time, Isabe didn¡¯t want to sever their rtionship either. It was just that she was instantly overwhelmed with anger just now and couldn¡¯t control herself. Now that she had calmed down, she wasn¡¯t that angry anymore. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just be more careful next time. I¡¯m not someone who clings on to such matters.¡± Gordon watched her closely with his hands in his Chapter 30 1¡¯s Jutt a Kiss pockets and teased her, ¡°You say you¡¯re not angry, but you¡¯re being so formal with me. Are you really not mad?¡± Isabe rxed a bit and didn¡¯t want to be overly dramatic. ¡°I¡¯m not mad. After all, you¡¯ve put down. your stance as a high¨Cprofile individual to be my friend.¡± ¡°I have a name, and it¡¯s Gordon Dunkstein. Don¡¯t keep calling me ¡®Mr. Dunkstein.¡® You¡¯re not one of those people out there selling themselves, so why bother learning to act like them?¡± The young man rolled his eyes, sounding a bit annoyed. After releasing her temper, Isabe thought she had made herself clear and rxed. Then, she called out to him, ¡°Gordon.¡± 20 Dec GDO Chapter 3D It¡¯s Just a Kiss The young man¡¯s mood instantly brightened, and he grabbed her hand. ¡°That¡¯s how it should be. I¡¯ll bring you-¡± Before he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. Gordon clicked his tongue and frustratedly made his way to open the door. Upon opening it, he was about to throw a fit, but the person didn¡¯t enter the room. ¡°Are you Miss Symons?¡± Somewhat puzzled, Isabe went to the door and replied, ¡°Yes, I am. What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Mr. Gates is inside the private room on the third floor and invites you and Mr. Dunkstein over.¡± B/11 Chapter 33 It¡¯s Just a kiss ¡°We¡¯re not going.¡± Gordon rejected it without even considering it. 011 The waitstaff¡¯s smile froze, and he turned to Isabe. ¡°Mr. Gates has reserved seats for you. You should head over and check it out.¡± 1. 1. The Gates Family had a firm position within Imperia¡¯s forces, so Gordon couldn¡¯t afford to offend Simon. Even Gordon¡¯s father was nothing to the Gates, but Gordon was simple¨Cminded and didn¡¯t consider that fact, making him unafraid to offend others. Moreover, Isabe couldn¡¯t afford to offend Simon either, and since he had personally invited them, they had no choice but to agree to it. Chapter 30 fra Just ¡°Mr. Dunkstein and I will be right there. Please tell Mr. Gates to wait for a moment.¡± The waitstaff politely left. Gordon mmed the door shut with a bang and gave Isabe an angry stare. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Walking over to him, Isabe patted his arm. ¡°You probably offended Mr. Shaffer because of me just now. If you refuse their invite again, it might lead to further misunderstandings.¡± She pursed her lips, feeling somewhat Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! embarrassed. ¡°You brought me here to have fun, but I¡¯ve caused you trouble. I feel bad about it, too.¡± 12:13 Wea, ZU Dec GOO Chapter 31 A Test of True Love Not expecting her to be so considerate of him, Gordon felt a little smug, but he put on a tough facade and rebuked, ¡°So what if I offended them? There¡¯s nothing to be scared about.¡± His main concern was that Simon seemed to be paying special attention to Isabe, and he was concerned that the other had the same intentions. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Having coaxed Gordon into epting the invitation, Isabe remained on high alert to avoid offending Simon and his group even more. The waitstaff led her and Gordon upstairs and stopped before thergest private room. 209 With one hand in his pocket, Gordon showed no intention of knocking, so Isabe knocked. When no one answered, she pushed open the door herself. Instantly, the room fell silent, and everyone turned their attention to the doorway. Isabe immediately spotted Seth sitting in the center of the couch. He had changed into a dark blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. At the Chapter 21 A Test of Trum Love moment, he had his arm around Selena¡¯s waist, and they were engrossed in conversation, which made Selena blush and bite her lips. DIE ¡°Come on in. You¡¯re just in time. Another round is about to start.¡± Simon got up from the couch and proactively greeted Isabe and Gordon. He was a typical Lawdom man, one of those known for being Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. polite and gentlemanly. No one could fault such men. Isabe retracted her gaze from Seth and turned to the side, allowing Gordon to enter first. Somewhat polite, Gordon greeted Simon before pulling Isabe to sit down. There were a total of seven people inside the room. Chapter 31 A Test of True Love Dariel had changed his femalepanion again. This one seemed to be called Bethany, and the two were sitting at the bar, whispering sweet nothings. Isabe paid no attention to Seth but found Dariel highly irritating. At least Seth knew to focus on one person, while Dariel seemed to be ying around with different women and unafraid of creating conflicts between women. Noticing her gaze, Dariel set down his ss and walked over from the bar with a yful expression. ¡°Miss Symons, are you interested in me? You¡¯ve been staring at me without blinking since you came in.¡± Isabe¡¯s expression was indifferent as she sat properly, but her tone carried a hint of sarcasm. Chapter 31 A Test of True Love ¡°You¡¯re quite good¨Clooking. Is it a crime to look at you?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Dariel sat down beside Seth, cing a hand on Seth¡¯s shoulder and feigning surprise. ¡°All these years, no one has ever praised me for being good¨Clooking when Seth is around.¡± Seth was indifferent as he rudely threw away Dariel¡¯s arm while coldly rebuking, ¡°She¡¯s blind. If you believe her words, then you¡¯re stupid.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too overbearing. Are you saying everyone else can only praise you?¡± Dariel repeatedly clicked his tongue, seemingly very upset. ¡°Alright already. Since our guests have arrived, let¡¯s start the game.¡± Chapter 31 A Test of True Love getting someone to invite their guests. Only then did Isabe realize there was a small gambling table in front of the bar with a pile of tokens, as well as cards and dice. W10 ¡°Are you guys gambling?¡± Gordon was intrigued and went over to the table. ¡°What are we ying?¡± ¡°We were nning on ying Texas Hold¡¯em, but Miss Winston here said she doesn¡¯t know how to y that, so we have no choice but to change to poker, which she knows.¡± Simon shrugged, propping his hand on the edge of the gambling table and smiling. ¡°That¡¯s why we called you here. It¡¯s more fun with more people.¡± Chapter 31 A Test of True Love Isabe thought inwardly, Texas Hold¡¯em isn¡¯t that hard. With how Seth usually acts, he should have personally taught her, asking her to kiss him every time she fails to learn. After a night¡¯s worth of lessons, she will be a great kisser. She looked at Simon and remarked, ¡°You have five people, so you can y the game independently.¡± With a helpless expression, Simon held his fist to his lips and cleared his throat. ¡°Dariel is unwilling to let his sweetheart y cards alone, so we have to split into groups.¡± Isabe was rendered speechless. ¡°If Mr. Dunkstein and I are a team, wouldn¡¯t that leave Mr. Gates alone?¡± #/10 ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Dariel¡¯s femalepanion, Bethany, spoke up in her coquettish voice. ¡°I feel like we should draw lots to see who we will be teaming up with,¡± While she spoke, she kissed Dariel¡¯s chin. ¡°Babe, if there¡¯s true love between us, we will be split into the same team, am I right?¡± ¡°Of course. Who else but us would have true love?¡± Dariol gave her an alluring smile and pulled her Into his embrace. ¡°Hurry up and draw a lot. It¡¯s time to seal our fate.¡± Meanwhile, Isabe felt troubled. The more she looked at Dariel, the more irritated she was. Only three women were in this room, and if she agreed to draw lots, there was a 25 percent chance she 12:24 Thu, 21 Dec G Chapter 31 A Test of True Love would get Seth. ¡°Ladies first, so you guys draw the lots.¡± Simon had everything well prepared. He brought over a cylindrical container with four pieces of paper inside and handed it to Isabe. After randomly grabbing one, she wasn¡¯t in a hurry to open it. Then, Selena and Bethany took one each, and Bethany¡¯s cheer was soon heard. ¡°Babe, it looks like it is true love.¡± Just great. Now, it is a one¨Cin¨Cthree chance. Isabe felt the paper in her hand starting to burn | Chapter 31 A Test of True Love K86% 1. up. Slowly moving the piece of paper under the light, she slowly unfolded it. ¡°Aww¡­¡± Before Isabe could see whose name it was, she heard Selena¡¯s disappointed voice from opposite her. + Bethany went over and nced at the paper. ¡°You¡¯re teaming up with Mr. Dunkstein.¡± 10 Once those words were said, everyone inside the room looked at Isabe. Only Seth held a wine ss in his hand, absentmindedly swirling it. ¡°Hurry up and open it,¡± Bethany urged. Forcing herself to unfold the paper, Isabe hadn¡¯t had the chance to see what was on it before Chapter 37 Are You Willing Bethany snatched it away. Like before, she jeered. ¡°Oh, my¡­¡± Isabe felt her hair stand on its end as she felt a foreboding feeling washing over her. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 The slip had an ¡®S¡® written on it, and the one Isabe picked belonged to Seth. ¡°The groups are set. Take a seat if there¡¯s nothing else.¡± Simon smiled and dragged a chair, then sat down. He put on a forlorn look. ¡°Guess I¡¯m a lone wolf.¡± ¡°I can switch with Miss Winston. She¡¯s not even 1224 Thu, 21 Dec 0 G Chapter 32 Are You Willing close to Mr. Dunkstein.¡± Isabe stood up and tried to change her slip with Selena. Selena looked delighted. Out of reflex, she handed her slip to Isabe. ¡°Thank-¡± ¡°And you think you¡¯re close?¡± Someone looked at Isabe darkly. Isabe looked up and met Seth¡¯s dark eyes. She couldn¡¯t say a word. Seth stood up and walked over to the coffee table. He went up to her and pulled her into his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t be a sore loser. Going through hoops just to change teams? What a joke.¡± He took Isabe toward the table and sat before Gordon, then looked at Gordon darkly. ¡°Don¡¯t you think so, Mr. Dunkstein?¡± Chapter 32 Are You Willing Gordon frowned, upset that someone else got to be Isabe¡¯s teammate. Then, he heard Bethany speak. ¡°Sit with Mr. Dunkstein, Selena. He¡¯s hot. He¡¯s as good as Mr. Shaffer, don¡¯t you think?¡± Bullsh*t! Even though Isabe was being held by Seth, she wanted to curse Bethany. He has a face even the gods envy. Gordon¡¯s handsome, but he¡¯s not as handsome as Seth. It¡¯s not like Selena¡¯s blind. Gordon was young and susceptible to this little trick. He thought it would be embarrassing if he didn¡¯t pair with Selena right away. They¡¯re going to to pair up with me. He tapped the table and turned around. Chapter 32 Are You Willing Selena hesitated, and Gordon said, ¡°Sit. This is just a game.¡± Selena couldn¡¯t back away now. She had been giving Seth looks, but he didn¡¯t respond. She bit her lip and went to take a seat beside Gordon. ¡°Finally. You guys are so particr.¡± Dariel drew in deep from the cigarette Bethany was holding. He puffed a ring of smoke and pushed a deck to the center of the table. ¡°Take your cards.¡± The game began. Isabe was feeling uneasy sitting with Seth. She tried to move away, but Seth leaned backward and put his hand around her waist. Lightly, he tapped on her with his finger. ¡°You do it.¡± Chapter 3 Are You Wing Is he not even taking the cards himself? He¡¯s so There was nothing but the sound of cards rustling around the table ying in the air. Bethany would flirt with Dariel at times, but it was mostly silence. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Isabe and Seth were sitting in the innermost part of the room. They were hidden, and with the dim light that clouded this room, nobody could see what they were doing if they didn¡¯t move too much. Bethany thought things were too quiet halfway through, so she yed some music. That drowned out the whispers. Seth was leaning on the chair. He just had to lean forward a little, and his chest would be touching Chapter 32 Are You Willing Isabe¡¯s back. He just had to look down, and he could see the nape of her neck. For a time, he loved that spot, and he¡¯d left some marks on it. Isabe could feel Seth staring at her, and her hold on the cards weakened. Eventually, the cards she was holding got a little numerous, and they were going to fall. Seth leaned closer and wrapped his arm around her, holding her hand and the cards. Isabe felt her heart sink. She looked up and noticed Gordon. staring at her. She was trying toe up with an exnation, but Gordon copied Seth and wrapped his arms around Selena. Selena almost screamed. ¡°Do you think he cares?¡± Seth hissed quietly into her ear. 1224 Thu, 21 Dec DOG Chapter 32 Are You Willing Isabe tensed up, too afraid to move. She kept taking the cards, pretending nothing was happening. The cards were piling up, but Seth wasn¡¯t showing any signs of letting go. ¡°I don¡¯t mind my employees working part¨Ctime, but this is just¡­ unsavory,¡± he said, his voice barely a whisper. It was almost nasal. Isabe frowned, but she said nothing. Eventually, the hand on her waist was starting to pull her closer for a hug. She could feel it slither to the front side of her torso, and she was being pulled closer. Seth said, ¡°Gordon¡¯s a famous yer in our circle. He even knocked a girl upst year, you know.¡± He 1224 Thu, 21 Dec 0 Chapter 32 Are You Witting was making it sound so matter of fact, exposing Gordon without thinking. He didn¡¯t care, even if it sounded like mockery for Isabe. Isabe was smiling. She didn¡¯t even want to entertain him. To her, he was just talking gibberish. She kept taking the cards and didn¡¯t realize she¡¯d drawn the most powerful one. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the one.¡± Dariel clicked his tongue. The air changed. A moment ago, Isabe was thinking of how to retort Seth, but she didn¡¯t care anymore. She was nervous now. ¡°To make things clear, I have no money,¡± she announced, then pulled out of the game and shoved all the cards into Seth¡¯s hand at a blindina Chapter 33 trips speed. As expected, Seth chortled. ¡°You have Mr. Shaffer with you. You can afford to lose a ton.¡± Bethany stuck her tongue out, then nced at Seth. ¡°I wonder if he¡¯ll pay for you, though.¡± She was subtly asking Seth if he would pay for Isabe if she lost, and things got a little¡­ heated. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 ¡°Money¡¯s kind of boring as stakes.¡± Isabe rested her chin in her hand, changing the subject. Everyone looked at her, and Bethany¡¯s eyes shone. Chapter 33 Loser Strips ¡°So, what are we going to put on the line?¡± Isabe crossed her arms and suggested softly, ¡°Why don¡¯t we y a stripping game? Loser strips.¡± Bethany replied, ¡°But-¡± ¡°Only the men will strip.¡± Isabe smiled, ignoring the res she was getting. She turned to Simon. ¡°Good luck, Mr. Gates.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± Bethany pped her hands and swayed Dariel¡¯s arm. ¡°You¡¯re a hunk, honey. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Dariel patted her head. He smiled, but he looked at Isabe. ¡°That¡¯s a¡­ good idea, Miss Symons.¡± He stuck his tongue out at Seth. ¡°Mr. Shaffer¡¯s well¨Cbuilt Chapter 33 Loser Strips too. Taking a piece of clothing or two off is nothing.¡± Seth leaned backward and tapped the edge of the table lightly. He said calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure about winning.¡± He¡¯s agreeing to this, I see. Bethany cheered, then turned to Gordon. ¡°You¡¯re well¨Cbuilt too, Mr. Dunkstein. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Gordon held Selena in his arms. He looked calm. ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± ¡°I am not a good yer, though.¡± Selena looked dejected. She said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re the one stripping. It¡¯s me.¡± GordonContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! hated it when women got up to their hesitant antics. Even if Selena was pretty, it still annoyed him. Even before the game began, he regretted switching Isabe out. Selena was embarrassed that she was snapped at and she turned red. No one cared what she felt Meanwhile, Bethany and Dariel were hyping things 1. up. They smacked the table and called for the game to start. ¡°Does anyone have a three of spades?¡± Dariel looked at everyone. Simon tossed a three of spades out. The game began. Chapter 33 L?ner Stript The ones going after him were Seth and Isabe. Seth was going to pull a card and y it. Before he could do so, Isabe yed all four kings. ¡°Boom.¡± Silence fell. Seth huffed, but it was so quiet that it could be mistaken for a breath. ¡°That¡¯s not how you y this game.¡± Dariel cocked his eyebrow and mocked, ¡°Unless you¡¯re a patsy, that is.¡± Only idiots would trump the card with the least value using four kings. Either that, they¡¯re doing it on purpose. Isabe rested her chin in her hand and turned to Seth. She was smiling, but it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing in the grand scheme of things.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so obvious you want to see Mr. Shaffer strip.¡± Chapter 33 Lower Strips Bethany gave her a knowing look. She held Dariel¡¯s arm tightly. ¡°I wanna see you strip too, Dariel.¡± She drew a few cards from Dariel¡¯s hand and tossed them out. ¡°Boom.¡± Everyone fell silent. Simon held his forehead and put on a resigned smile. ¡°God, you guys.¡± He turned to Selena and Gordon on his left. ¡°So, what will you y?¡± Selena tried to say something, but Gordon tossed two cards onto the table. ¡°Here you go.¡± Simon cocked his eyebrow. He held his cards and smiled drily. ¡°That¡¯s nice. I¡¯ll skip my turn.¡± Everyone skipped their turns too. Gordon yed one of the bestbos in the game, after all. Gordon then yed a five, Simon went next, and he yed a six. Soon, it was Isabe¡¯s turn again. Seth was holding all the cards, but he wasn¡¯t going to y. He still had his arm around Isabe and held his cards before her. Isabe wasn¡¯t going to let this rare chance of pranking him go. She tossed a few more cards onto the table. ¡°Boom.¡± Simon¡¯s face twitched, and he nced at Seth. ¡°It¡¯s just a six. You didn¡¯t have to go that far.¡± Seth didn¡¯t look at him, but a smile appeared on his lips. He said coolly, ¡°It¡¯s just tactical y.¡± Thu, 21 Dec Chapter 33 Lower Stript Tactical, my foot. You¡¯re bombarding the whole board right off the bat. I don¡¯t mind Isabe doing this, but Bethany and Gordon are idiots too. I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re ying along. Two roundster, almost no one had goodbos in their hands anymore. Aside from Simon, they could only y singles or doubles. Eventually, they could only y singles. The morebos someone had, the more advantageous it would be for them. Simon said, ¡°Flush. Does anyone have anything bigger?¡± The other yers said, ¡°No.¡± Simon said, ¡°Double.¡± 12:25 Thu 21 Dec 0 10 G Chapter 13 Laser Stript The other yers said, ¡°Skip.¡± Damn it. ¡°Alright, I win.¡± Simon yed hisst card but didn¡¯t feel the joy of winning. He was left wanting for more -in a bad way, at that. It was a little awkward now. He thought they¡¯d be better off not ying the game in the first ce. Bethany was the only one happy here. ¡°Yay, you¡¯ve lost! Strip!¡± Everyone looked at Seth. Isabe only wanted to embarrass Seth, but when the moment came, she felt embarrassed, too. She didn¡¯t turn around, but 12:25 Thu 21 Dec 60 G Chapter 34 Laser Takes Off T Seth sat up. She heard him unbuttoning his clothes, and the other yers watched with interest. Seth loosened his sleeves, took off his shirt, and tossed it on the chair. He hugged Isabe again, and there was only a shirt between them. Isabe could feel the shape of his pecs on her back. She stared down and saw Seth¡¯s arm. His biceps were beautiful, and the lines were fluid down to his wrist. Then, she saw his hand¨Cit was a beautiful hand. He wasn¡¯t wearing a watch, but a silver ring on his index finger showed off his regal side subtly. Dariel whistled and clicked his tongue. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chap 34 Loser Takes Off T Isabe regretted her earlier decision. She realized she had just dragged herself into this mess. One little movement, and she could rub her back on Seth¡¯s chest. Goosebumps were ring all over her. ¡°Ooh, he¡¯s hot.¡± Bethany held her hands together before her chest, her eyes sparkling. She teased, ¡°How do you feel?¡± Isabe feigned calmness and shuffled the deck. ¡°y all your goodbos, lose the game, and you¡¯ll know.¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s a schemer.¡± Dariel clicked his tongue and smirked at Isabe. Isabe¡¯s throat was parched. Her hands were sweating too, but she kept up her mask of 1225 Thu, 21 Dec ?OG ? Chapter 34 Loser Takes Off T. 379 calmness and showed no sign of nervousness. She finished shuffling her deck and looked at Gordon. ¡°You first, Mr. Dunkstein.¡± Gordon wasn¡¯t close to these people. One game, and he knew he was sidelined, and that annoyed him. The moment Isabe spoke to him, however, the look on his face changed. Everyone could see that Isabe was trying to cajole him, and they had weird looks on their faces. Bethany made a face, whereas Dariel gave a fake smile. Simon was as gentlemanly as ever, while Selena was careful not to speak out. Seth was holding Isabe, his lips pursed, his face deadpan. They were just close to each other, not doing anything more than that. However, when they Chapter 24 Loser Takes OffT¡­ started taking cards once more, Seth turned to his side and brushed his lips over Isabe¡¯s ear. It was quick enough that nobody else noticed it. Isabe clenched her teeth. She held back her emotions and continued taking the cards. However, Seth got into it a little. He would touch her from time to time, squeeze her finger when they were ying, and kiss her ear if he could. Whenever he leaned back, he would pinch her waist. Dang it! Isabe took a deep breath. When Bethany was gasping after Dariel got the biggest card in the deck, she stomped Seth¡¯s foot. Seth grunted, and everyone looked at him. Dariel clicked his tongue and gave Seth a knowing look. Chapter 34 Loser Takes Off T ¡°It¡¯s just a suit. You don¡¯t have to be this excited.¡± Seth looked calm, evidently unfazed. He took the ¡°Take your suit off and see if you get excited.¡± Dariel faked a sigh and kissed Bethany¡¯s cheek. ¡°Do we have enough to counter this, babe?¡± They were flirting openly, and everyone ignored them. Isabe removed her foot from Seth¡¯s, feeling a lot better. However, she quickly got chills from the surge of coldnessing from her waist. Seth pulled her shirt up and slid his hand inside, touching her waist. He has no shame at all. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°Three of spades.¡± She moved forward as she yed her card, evading Seth. Chapter 34 Loser Takes Off T 5 Bethany tossed a bigbo like she didst game, but Isabe didn¡¯t y along. She had to push down Seth¡¯s hand with her other hand. ¡°No one¡¯s taking it?¡± Bethany looked around, feeling a little forlorn. ¡°You want to see Dariel¡¯s pecs, don¡¯t you?¡± Isabe gritted her teeth, forcing a smile. ¡°You can have it.¡± Stop it, Seth! You pig! After failing to touch Isabe¡¯s waist, he started ying with her fingers, rubbing them gently. It was obvious he was ying with her. No one was ying seriously. They let Bethany take over the game. Three minutester, Simon yed all his cards, and it was Dariel¡¯s turn to strip. Chapter 34 Loser Takes Off T 70 Dariel was bolder than Seth. He¡¯d like to walk around too, and he let Bethany touch him however she wanted. They even started talking dirty. Everyone was fine with it, but Selena was so embarrassed that she couldn¡¯t even raise her head. Simon shrugged in resignation. ¡°Third game, No one said anything. It was a tacit agreement. Isabe¡¯s mind was a mess, and her breathing was ragged. She didn¡¯t want to prank Seth anymore. In fact, she would help him into his suit if she had to. Please don¡¯t get the biggest card. We¡¯ll have to y them all at the same time, and we¡¯ll lose. Isabe was praying to the gods, but then Seth got Chapter 34 Loser Takes Off T the biggest card. ¡°How lucky, Mr. Shaffer,¡± Bethany purred. She then moved her gaze down Seth¡¯s chest. If he loses, he takes his pants off. Isabe¡¯s forehead was covered in sweat. She wanted to kill herself for suggesting a stripping game. She leaned closer to Seth and looked at his cards. They were mediocre, and it put them in a precarious position. Seth never yed card games like this, so she wondered if he could win this. While she was being nervous, Gordon had yed a three of spades, announcing the start of a game. For some reason, things got tense. Gordon was a 12:26 Thu, 21 Dec G. Chapter 35 Heart in Another good yer, and he knew what cards to y. Two roundster, he¡¯d already yed half his hand. Dariel and Simon couldn¡¯t even butt into this level of y. They exchanged looks and decided to stay out of it. They weren¡¯t the ones who had to strip, after all. Isabe held her breath, for she could feel her heart pumping. She felt Seth¡¯s breath circling over her ear, and it sent electricity down her spine. Gordon yed anotherbo and shed ten more cards. Isabe looked down. Meanwhile, Seth brushed his finger across a few cards and yed a bigbo too. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Things got awkward around the table. Silence fell, with nothing but sounds of Gordon and Seth throwing cards in the air, interspersed with Dariel and Simon saying they would pass. Gordon only had a few cards left in his hand, and Isabe got nervous. She looks at Seth¡¯s hand. Seth¡¯s cards weren¡¯t optimal, but he was smart. Even with a yer like Gordon ying him, he managed to shed most of his cards. There were only one ten, a Q, and a pair of fives left. Gordon must have some trump card. If it was a bigger one, Seth wouldn¡¯t be able to shed all his cards. Isabe looked at Gordon. He picked up the Heart in Another he thought he would win. ¡°Are you going to take my pants off yourself if we lose?¡± whispered Seth. Isabe was panicking. She felt his breath against her ear, tickling her like a brush. She turned away, her ears burning up. She thought this was Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! embarrassing. Someone broke the silence. ¡°y this.¡± Before Gordon could do anything, Selena yed a card from his hand. It was a K. Gordon¡¯s face fell, and he red at Selena. Selena was shocked, and she fumbled a little. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± 12:26 Thu, 21 Dec G Chapter 15. Heart in Another Gordon didnt even want to look at her. The look on his face was icy. Dariel clicked his tongue again, and he chuckled. There were smile lines on the corner of his eyes. He turned to Seth. ¡°Are you taking this, Mr. Shaffer?¡± Isabe looked at his cards. She softly said, ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± If I¡¯m right, Gordon must have two smaller cards. He was going to use those to win, with the K Selena cares about Seth too much. Upset, Gordon yed a nine. Seth was still matching him moments earlier, but the man had lost interest now. He gave the cards back to Isabe. He didn¡¯t want to finish this himself. Isabe yed a ten. Gordon couldn¡¯t match that, so she yed the rest of the cards. ¡°What¡¯s yourst card, Mr. Dunkstein?¡± Isabe asked. Gordon poked the inside of his cheek and tossed his card onto the table. It was a seven. ¡°Oh, you have a traitor beside you.¡± Bethany clicked her tongue and looked at Selena in disdain. If she hadn¡¯t yed that K, Gordon would¡¯ve won. Simon and Dariel didn¡¯t even y any cards, so they didn¡¯t have to take off any clothes. Gordon took off his suit icily, revealing his well¨Cbuilt body. He plopped down onto the chair and shoved Selena. Then he pointed at Isabe. ¡°You two, 12:36. Thu, 21 Dec 6 Chapter 35 Heart in Another. switch.¡± Isabe wasn¡¯t expecting him to be this forward. She looked at Selena and heaved a sigh of relief. Nheless, awkwardness hung in the air. Selena was pulled out of her seat, and she walked over nervously. Isabe felt a sharp stareing from behind, but she stood up anyway. She felt the arm on her waist pulling her harder, refusing to let her 1. go. Seth stood up. The light that shone on him made him look icier than before. The air around him felt cold. He scanned the ce, and everything around him felt heavier and oppressive. He held Isabe and looked at Gordon. ¡°She¡¯s a saboteur. We¡¯re switching in one of thedies here.¡± 12:27 Thu, 21 Dec 0 G Chapter 35 Heart in Another There were a lot of bunny girls in this club. He wanted Gordon to get a random one. Gordon thought that was mortifying, and he chortled. ¡°I brought that woman you¡¯re holding into this ce tonight.¡± He looked at Isabe arrogantly, then crossed his arms and looked at Seth. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask what she wants?¡± Isabe broke down a little, and she cursed both men in her heart. She also cursed Selena in the process. Your stupidity is dragging everyone down. ¡°Say something, Be.¡± Bethany rested her cheeks in her hands. She loved this drama. ¡°Which one will you pick?¡± They¡¯re both bad news. I can¡¯t cross either of them. 10 G. 12:27 Thu, 21 Dec 00 Chapter 35 Heart in Another Isabe tensed up, and a lump formed in her throat. She couldn¡¯te up with a better way to disentangle this mess. Someone¡¯s phone rang, and the tension flowed away. Relieved, Isabe looked at Simon. Simon raised his hands apologetically. ¡°Sorry, guys. I¡¯ve got to take this.¡± Isabe wanted to thank him. Your apology is not needed. Simon took his phone out and looked at the screen, and the smile on his face froze. The phone was still ringing. Isabe smiled. Nosily, she asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t your taking it?¡± kit a Pure Girl Simon ced the phone right beside Seth, then tapped the table. ¡°Should I take this?¡± The air was awkward, so he asked Seth something to change the subject. Isabe looked at the phone. It was Lara calling Chapter 36 Chapter 36 For once, Isabe felt affection for Lara. Thanks for the save. ¡°This might be urgent. You should take it, Mr. Gates.¡± Simon smiled stiffly. He turned on the speaker before answering the call. ¡°Simon?¡± Lara said, a little angry. Before Simon Chapter 36 Not a Pure Get GOG ¡¤ could say anything, she grumbled, ¡°What took you so long?¡± Simon massaged his forehead and looked at Seth, resigned. ¡°I was held up by something.¡± Everyone could see that Lara was the one courting Simon here. Lara clicked her tongue, and she relented. ¡°I¡¯m at the airport. Can you pick me up?¡± Go, go, go. Isabe wanted Simon to leave. Once he was gone, this game could not continue. Simon said gently, ¡°I¡¯m busy. My secretary will pick you up.¡± He sounded distant, however. Bethany whispered, ¡°You¡¯re heartless, Mr. Gates.¡± Chapter 36. N?ct a Pure Girl Lara shrewdly noticed her voice. Cautiously, she asked, ¡°Is that a woman I hear?¡± Simon heaved a sigh, his eyes filled with impatience. He tucked his phone away and pushed his chair back, then he stood up. ¡°Sorry, guys. It¡¯s work, so I can¡¯t stay.¡± ¡°Work¡¯s important. You should go.¡± Isabe was understanding. She broke free of Seth¡¯s grasp and stood up to send Simon off. Darielughed and gulped half a ss of wine. ¡°Work?¡± Simon shot him a dirty look. He had a resigned look on his face. Then, he took his jacket and left the room. 12:27 Thu, 21 Dec ?OG ¡¤ Chapter 36 Not a Pure Girl Once he was gone, things got a little awkward. Gordon stood up and took the shirt off the chair. He came over to Isabe, looking upset. With that, he pulled her away from Seth. Isabe staggered and almost fell. ¡°Calm down, Mr. Dunkstein. No one¡¯s taking her away.¡± Bethany chuckled. Gordon huffed and looked at Seth, who was straightening his clothes out. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure. Some people love going after things they shouldn¡¯t, after all,¡± He was forward, and Isabe froze up. She knew I Seth too well. He wouldn¡¯t let anyone talk him down. Chapter 36 Not a Pure Girl Seth let his suit open up. He then lit a cigarette and took a deep hit. He frowned. Smoke swirled around his head, and he turned around while narrowing his eyes. ¡°And how are you so sure I haven¡¯t gotten the thing I want?¡± Dariel clicked his tongue. Bethany stuck her tongue out and looked at Isabe, surprised. Isabe looked calm, but she clenched her fists and held Gordon¡¯s hand, stopping him from going ahead. ¡°It¡¯ste, Mr. Dunkstein. I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s grab something to eat.¡± Gordon realized Isabe was looking stiff. He held his fury back and red at Seth, then took Isabe and left. He mmed the door shut. Chapter 36 Not a Pure Girl Isabe felt a chilly gust of air blowing her down. Before the door could closepletely, she heard what Bethany said. ¡°Where¡¯d she used to work? Is she in this line of work too?¡± Isabe wanted to run back in and tell her that was not the case. She only used to be Seth¡¯s secretary. However, she did not have the courage. Gordon was dragging her away. Even if he wasn¡¯t, she didn¡¯t have the courage to argue. Gordon hurried ahead and dragged her to a room, then flung the door open. Once they were inside the room, he turned around and pinned Isabe against the door. 1227 Thu 21 Dec 60 G Chapter 36 Not a Pure Gat Silence fell upon the room. Isabe froze for a moment before frowning. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°Who are you to Seth?¡± Gordon didn¡¯t turn on the lights. Isabe couldn¡¯t see his face, but she could feel his fury. Isabe was patient. She put some distance between them and said honestly, ¡°He was my boss.¡± Gordon paused for a moment, caught by surprise. He mused over his question and asked, ¡°What kind of boss?¡± He wasn¡¯t stupid. He knew how the workce worked. Some bosses and employees had extra rtions behind everyone¡¯s back. Chapter 36 Not a Pure Girt lot a Pure Gir Isabe heaved a sigh and stared at the ground. She said weakly, ¡°That¡¯s my past. I want to keep it private, so can you not ask too much?¡± Gordon was silent for a moment, then he chortled and let her go. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t even let me kiss you once. And I thought you were some sort of pure, innocent girl¨Cyou¡¯re not.¡± The mockery was sharp enough to spear Isabe¡¯s heart. He was telling her that even if she had quit her work as Seth¡¯s secretary, she would never escape him. ¡°Sorry for disturbing you.¡± Isabe looked up and Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. turned around to turn on the lights. The lights turned on. Gordon could see Isabe KS85% Chapter 37 Emergency in the 1/ clearly. She looked cold and calm, and he regretted what he¡¯d said earlier. ¡°Can you leave? I¡¯ll pay for the room myself.¡± She took out the member card from her purse and stuffed it into Gordon¡¯s pocket. She then turned to the side so Gordon could leave. ¡°Please.¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Gordon regretted mocking Isabe the moment he saw the look on her face. He couldn¡¯t relent, however, not when she was looking at him like that. He tensed up and pretended to be brave, then flung the door open. Crashed by the door, Isabe staggered backward. Gordon¡¯s eyes flickered for a moment, but he didn¡¯t Chapter 37 Emergency in the care about her. He then mmed the door shut. Once he was gone, Isabe locked the door and leaned against it weakly. She wished to vent, yet there was nothing to vent to. She followed Gordon because she had a goal to attain. Of course, she¡¯d be humiliated. The room was empty, so there was no point staying there. She¡¯d be better off going back and making some calls. She calmed down and pulled the room¡¯s card out before heading to the reception. When she came to the corner, she heard a conversation happening nearby. ¡°You¡¯ve been busytely. Get some rest and rxation. Here¡¯s your room¡¯s card, Mr. Keller.¡± Chapter 37 Emergency in the ¡°Thank you, babe.¡± That was familiar. Isabe stopped in her tracks and froze up for a moment. Out of reflex, she ran back. She knew that it was Keller without even looking. This was a club in the outskirts. If he knew she was here, he mighte to her room in the middle of the night and take her away. Isabe quickly went back to her room, her chest heaving. She leaned against the door for a long while before she snapped out of it. She couldn¡¯t go around as she pleased. Once night came, she would check out and leave quietly. Alternatively, she would just leave the card here and escape without checking out. 12 28 Thu, 21 Dec 0 G. 12:28 Chapter 37 Emergency in the She had a n, but night was still a long time away, so she waited in her room. She had nothing to eat in the morning, and she skipped lunch. Now that she could sit and be quiet for a while, she was overwhelmed by a sense of hunger. Fortunately, there were water and snacks in the room. Like a ravenous beast, she shoved everything into her mouth. Wolfing down a pile of food made her feel better. Night came, and footsteps rang outside the door. The waitstaff was asking if she wanted room service. Isabe was on high alert. She didn¡¯t even Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. open the door as she refused the offer. The wait then went on until nine. Chapter 37 Emergency in the The night was getting quieter, and there weren¡¯t a lot of people in the garden either. Isabe wore her jacket and mask, about to open the door. The moment she touched the handle, someone knocked on the door violently. ¡°Are you there, Isabe?¡± Selena? Isabe frowned, but she opened the door impatiently, and she was met with a pale Selena. ¡°What is it?¡± Selena was huffing and puffing, a sobbing mess, before she could get a word out. Isabe hated it when people would start crying before they even spoke. She rolled her eyes. ¡°Talk.¡± Chapter 37 Emergency in the Selena took a deep breath. Through sobs, she said, ¡°Mr. Shaffer¡¯s in trouble. You have to see him.¡± ¡°Please, nothing¡¯s going to happen to him. Even if he is in trouble, you should go to Dariel, not me.¡± Selena was in panic mode. No matter what Isabe said, she ignored it and dragged her toward the elevator. ¡°You have to help me. Come with me upstairs. He¡¯s in trouble, really.¡± Isabe was furious. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that a tussle would¡¯ve attracted too much attention, she¡¯d have flung this woman away and left. The elevator soon arrived. Selena dragged Isabe out and ran toward Seth¡¯s room. When she heard what was happenina inside. Selena had a horrified Chapter 37 Emergency in the look on her face, and she nched. 70 Isabe was curious. She opened the door and ran into Dariel, who wasing out. Dariel smelled like alcohol, and his eyes were slightly red. When he saw Selena, he looked cautious. ¡°What¡¯d you do to Seth?¡± Isabe felt curious as well, and she turned to Selena. Selena was crying and looking helpless. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. He came back and had a ss of wine, and that happened.¡± Dariel looked at her quizzically, but he had no time to waste. He turned to Isabe. ¡°You know him 12:28 Thu 21 Dec ? ? G+ Chapter 37 Emergency in the better than us. Go inside. Something¡¯s wrong with him.¡± 5 Isabe stepped into the room and tasted the faint scent of fruit hanging in the air. Upon closer sniffing, she concluded that it was the smell of mango. Her heart sank, and she quickly entered the deeper chamber. She then saw Seth lying on the bed with one arm held before his eyes. He seemed to hate light, and Isabe could see him clenching his fist in pain. The part of his face not hidden beneath the nket looked green. Dariel came in and asked hesitantly, ¡°So?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an allergic reaction. Call the doctor,¡± said Isabe adamantly. She remembered someone Chapter 37 Emergency in the and unbuttoned her cor. Then, she took out her ne¡¯s pendant and pressed it. A stic ball fell out. ¡°Get me a ss of water, Dariel.¡± Dariel did as he was told, and he called a doctor as well. Isabe smashed the ball with an ashtray and took out the special medicine within. Ever since Seth¡¯s condition acted up the first time, she¡¯d always bring the medicine around just in case. She¡¯d forgotten to throw it out because she¡¯d been busytely, but now, it came in handy. Dariel came in with a ss of water. He saw Isabe holding some kind of medicine in one hand and trying to hold Seth up with the other. Seth was in pain. He felt someone touching him, Chapter the Loves a and he shoved them away, not caring who they were. ¡°Scram!¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Isabe was mmed into the tablemp, and the medicine almost flew out of her hand. After that fit Seth threw, he started breathing heavily like a drowning person gasping for air. She closed her eyes as she restrained her fury and looked at Dariel. ¡°Help me.¡± Dariel wanted to ask how, but Isabe had put the medicine on the nightstand. She then went onto the bed and sat astride Seth. Damn, Even a veteran like Seth was howling in his mind. Selena, the bumpkin, was rooted at the doorway, too scared to move. Chapter 33 She Loves You Aggravated by Isabe¡¯s actions, Seth struggled and tried to hit her. Dariel was a dependable man in these circumstances. Before Seth couldnd a blow on her, Dariel hastily rushed over and pinned his hands down. She heaved a sigh of relief and gave Dariel a contorted smile. ¡°Thanks.¡± However, by the time she turned around, her face was deadpan. She grabbed the medicine, leaned down, and pried open Seth¡¯s mouth by force. Seth¡¯s mind cleared for a moment. So, he hissed in fury, ¡°I¨CIsabe!¡± She felt a chill run down her spine. She regretted doing this impulsively, but then she thought it was TIL T Chapter 38 She Loves You gratifying to get back at Seth like this. Although she felt conflicted, she didn¡¯t hesitate the least bit. Once she shoved the medicine into Seth¡¯s mouth, she ensured he chugged the water down, not caring if her rough actions would choke him. Seth was forced on his back in the first ce. Thus, even though she was pouring water down his throat slowly¡­ It would still be hard for him to swallow, let alone chug it all down. Therefore, it was to no one¡¯s surprise that he started coughing violently. She pressed down on his mouth. She told Dariel it was to stop the pill from getting coughed back up, but she really just wanted to use this opportunity to torture Seth. Chapter 38 She Loves You Of course, Dariel knew that. Yet, he said nothing about it. He truly didn¡¯t care that the methods to ensure Seth¡¯s life were extreme as long as the man survived the ordeal. He did so many stupid things, so he deserves this. Eventually, Seth swallowed the pill, but Isabe didn¡¯t get off of him right away. In all honesty, she felt tired after working so hard. The club¡¯s doctor was dragged to the room only to be met with something that shocked him to the core. ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯ll live.¡± Isabe moved away from Seth and gave the doctor a polite smile. The doctor looked at the unconscious Seth and bagbar 33 She Loves You quickly went to him, holding his medical kit. ¡°The allergic reaction¡¯s not obvious. What kind of pill did you give him?¡± ¡°Apainos,¡± said Isabe. The doctor heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Then, it should. be fine. Apainos is a rare drug. It¡¯s more than enough to cure this level of allergic reaction.¡± ¡°You sure he¡¯s fine?¡± Dariel was concerned as he shot a look at Isabe. ¡°Sure he doesn¡¯t need to be hospitalized?¡± Evil doesn¡¯t go down that easily. Great evil like him won¡¯t be killed by some measly mango juice. ¡°He should wake in a few moments,¡± estimated the 12:30 Thu, 21 Dec ? OG Chapter 38 She Loves You doctor. In other words, Seth didn¡¯t have to be hospitalized. Dariel held down his belt and heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°We¡¯ll wait, then.¡± He waved and asked everyone to take a seat in the lounge. 85 Isabe wanted to escape, but she found no openings. She was worried Seth mighte after her after he woke up. Once things had settled down, Dariel took a seat on the settee and sized Selena up. ¡°How did it happen? It was just a bit of drinking.¡± Selena was on the edge of the settee. Her hands were sped together, and she kept shaking her head. ¡°I have no idea. He said he wanted Chapter 38 She Loves You something to drink, so I made one.¡± Isabe picked up the empty ss on the coffee table and held it under her nose. She tasted a slight mango scent..¡°Concentrated mango juice.¡± She looked at Selena solemnly. Selena stared at her as she cried, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Isabe put the ss down. ¡°I thought I-¡± Before she could finish her sentence, a moan came from the bedroom. The doctor hurried back, and everyone followed him. Seth looked green, but he managed to push himself up, though barely. He was leaning against the back of the bed with his cor open wide and 3 Chapter 38 She Loves You Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. was breathing heavily. When he saw Isabe, he shot her an icy look. Coldly, he said, ¡°What did you do to me?¡± Isabe wanted to roll her eyes. What did I do to you? I saved your life. Dariel clicked his tongue. ¡°Have some conscience. She loves you so much that she has even brought your meds everywhere she goes. You¡¯d have died if that wasn¡¯t the case.¡± Isabe red at Dariel. ¡°Dariel!¡± I do not love him! Keeping the meds on me at all times is just a habit I got from my old job. I just forgot to throw it away! Seth coughed violently, and he nced at Isabe before harrumphing arrogantly. ¡°So, I should thank Chapter 38 She Loves You you, then?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Isabe raised her chin as she said nonchntly, ¡°Just keep an eye out next time, and don¡¯t take anything that has mango in it.¡± I hope I¡¯m not there if this happens again. In fact, I hope he drinks more of the juice and dies, Isabe cursed silently. Seth wasn¡¯t looking too happy, either. He was staring at Isabe. His throat was still prickly from her chugging the water down his mouth. Just as the atmosphere was getting awkward, it was interrupted by a sob. Selena was at the doorway, crying. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This is my fault. I had no idea you were allergic to mangoes, Mr. Shaffer.¡± Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Even Isabe was shocked by that. She couldn¡¯t believe Selena could act like an innocent girl that well. She clearly told Selena that Seth was allergic to mangoes, but she pretended not to know that and insisted on mixing mango juice into his drink. Even a minor dose of it could make him pass out. That was what Isabe told her. It was a reminder, but Selena used that to her advantage. If he had passed out from the reaction, he might have woken up to see Selena lying beside him. Once that happened, she could tell him that he f*cked her while he was drunk. Unfortunately, he was severely allergic to mangoes, Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily and Selena poured one drop too much. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Shaffer. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± The girl was crying her heart out, almost looking like she was going to kill herself for her mistake. Anyone would pity her. 379 Isabe looked at Seth. He was leaning on the back of the bed, looking weak. His eyes were like little abysses, staring at Selena. He was judging the verity of her words. ¡°Why did you mix the mango juice in my drink?¡± he rasped, talking slowly on purpose. He was like a judge, slowly asking the criminal about their crime. Selena sniffled, her eyes red. ¡°Because I like mangoes. I thought everyone else would like it as ¡± 12:31 Thu, 21 Dec OG. Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily well. That was stupid of me.¡± Isabe crossed her arms as she mocked, ¡°She just wanted to share what she likes. Just let this slide, Mr. Shaffer. She didn¡¯t mean any harm.¡± ¡°Then, what about you? Why didn¡¯t you tell her I¡¯m allergic to mangoes?¡± Seth looked at her coldly. Isabe was dumbfounded, and she pointed at herself. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, I-¡± ¡°I thought you promised you¡¯d tell the new girl everything. You told her everything but the fact that I¡¯m allergic to mangoes?¡± Seth spoke sharply, his eyes on Isabe at all times. He then chortled, ¡°I should thank you that you didn¡¯t tell her I like 12:31 Thu 21 Dec & OG Chapter 26 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily mangoes. She¡¯d have poured even more into my drink, then.¡± Isabe¡¯s veins throbbed. She couldn¡¯t believe Selena was so shameless since she was a fresh graduate. Nheless, that didn¡¯t matter, as Seth¡¯s unreasonable attitude got on her nerves instead. He was ndering her, and she would not let that slide. So, she retorted, ¡°The wine¡¯s gone, but there¡¯s the smell of mango left in the ss. So, why couldn¡¯t you have noticed it yourself?¡± He turned away. He still looked frail; he had to close his eyes to sober up. Still, he said, ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve eaten a lot of mangoes growing up. You think I¡¯d know the scent?¡± 59 12:31 Thu, 21 Dec GOG. Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily Isabe gritted her teeth and looked at themp. She¡¯d love to smash themp over his head and see it burn the despicable man. Instead, she took a Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. deep, deep breath and put on a perfect smile, but the look in her eyes was dark. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I didn¡¯t do a perfect job. Sorry you had to go through this.¡± Seth harrumphed. ¡°At least you know you¡¯re ipetent.¡± No one could barge into this conversation. Dariel only stepped in to clear things up once they had nothing more to discuss. ¡°She had it rough too, Seth flung his hand away as he said coolly, ¡°Instead of calling an ambnce right away, you waited for her to save me?¡± Bigo Live INSTALL Hi! Want to chat? Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily Dariel fell silent. He scratched his nose and shrugged. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be stupid. Selena called her. I called the doctor right away.¡± Seth had no strength left after that ordeal. He heaved a long sigh and ignored Dariel. Isabe turned away and rolled her eyes. He shuts up the moment Selena is brought up. I hope she kills you. That¡¯s what you want too. When things finally cooled down, the doctor could finally step in. ¡°Mr. Wells, I think someone should keep an eye on him in case something were to happen.¡± Yeah, right. He¡¯s angry as a bull. Not gonna die, this guy. 779 12:31 Thu, 21 Dec G. Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily TII UU IL. ????????ideuel Tulu. ??E TOUReu guy. ¡°This is my fault, anyway.¡± Isabe cheered in her mind. Good girl. At least you know you should atone for your crimes. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re the best person,dy.¡± The doctor adjusted his sses as he replied politely, ¡°You have no idea how to administer emergency procedures, unlike thisdy here. She¡¯s brave. You can¡¯t be of help should anything happen.¡± Dariel chortled and looked at Isabe, smirking. ¡°She is brave. I thought she was going to murder someone.¡± Seth closed his eyes as he snapped quietly, ¡°Maybe she really was trying to kill me.¡± 10, 21 Dec Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily ÈÕÁã85%•þ ¡°I¡¯m not suited for this either.¡± Isabe pulled a long face, and she mustered her courage to say something very stupid. ¡°I have beef with this guy. I might end up killing him in his sleep.¡± He snickered. ¡°Yeah, as if you can do that.¡± She gasped, utterly offended. ¡°Let Isabe do it, then. The security of this ce isn¡¯t half bad.¡± Dariel crossed his arms and smirked at Seth. ¡°We can save you in time if you were to be in any danger.¡± Seth closed his eyes. He seemed to not have any strength to speak. Isabe was miffed: The day had dragged on for Bigo Live INSTALI Chapter 40 Your Money Raises My Standard far too long, and her stomach was protesting. If she had to keep an eye on this guy the whole night, she¡¯d probably kill herself and bring him down with her. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Even Isabe was shocked by that. She couldn¡¯t believe Selena could act like an innocent girl that well. She clearly told Selena that Seth was allergic to mangoes, but she pretended not to know that and insisted on mixing mango juice into his drink. Even a minor dose of it could make him pass out. That was what Isabe told her. It was a reminder, but Selena used that to her advantage. If he had passed out from the reaction, he might have woken up to see Selena lying beside him. Once that happened, she could tell him that he f*cked her while he was drunk. Unfortunately, he was severely allergic to mangoes, Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily and Selena poured one drop too much. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Shaffer. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± The girl was Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! crying her heart out, almost looking like she was going to kill herself for her mistake. Anyone would pity her. 379 Isabe looked at Seth. He was leaning on the back of the bed, looking weak. His eyes were like little abysses, staring at Selena. He was judging the verity of her words. ¡°Why did you mix the mango juice in my drink?¡± he rasped, talking slowly on purpose. He was like a judge, slowly asking the criminal about their crime. Selena sniffled, her eyes red. ¡°Because I like mangoes. I thought everyone else would like it as ¡± 12:31 Thu, 21 Dec OG. Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily well. That was stupid of me.¡± Isabe crossed her arms as she mocked, ¡°She just wanted to share what she likes. Just let this slide, Mr. Shaffer. She didn¡¯t mean any harm.¡± ¡°Then, what about you? Why didn¡¯t you tell her I¡¯m allergic to mangoes?¡± Seth looked at her coldly. Isabe was dumbfounded, and she pointed at herself. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, I-¡± ¡°I thought you promised you¡¯d tell the new girl everything. You told her everything but the fact that I¡¯m allergic to mangoes?¡± Seth spoke sharply, his eyes on Isabe at all times. He then chortled, ¡°I should thank you that you didn¡¯t tell her I like 12:31 Thu 21 Dec & OG Chapter 26 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily mangoes. She¡¯d have poured even more into my drink, then.¡± Isabe¡¯s veins throbbed. She couldn¡¯t believe Selena was so shameless since she was a fresh graduate. Nheless, that didn¡¯t matter, as Seth¡¯s unreasonable attitude got on her nerves instead. He was ndering her, and she would not let that slide. So, she retorted, ¡°The wine¡¯s gone, but there¡¯s the smell of mango left in the ss. So, why couldn¡¯t you have noticed it yourself?¡± He turned away. He still looked frail; he had to close his eyes to sober up. Still, he said, ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve eaten a lot of mangoes growing up. You think I¡¯d know the scent?¡± 59 12:31 Thu, 21 Dec GOG. Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily Isabe gritted her teeth and looked at themp. She¡¯d love to smash themp over his head and see it burn the despicable man. Instead, she took a deep, deep breath and put on a perfect smile, but the look in her eyes was dark. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I didn¡¯t do a perfect job. Sorry you had to go through this.¡± Seth harrumphed. ¡°At least you know you¡¯re ipetent.¡± No one could barge into this conversation. Dariel only stepped in to clear things up once they had nothing more to discuss. ¡°She had it rough too, Seth flung his hand away as he said coolly, ¡°Instead of calling an ambnce right away, you waited for her to save me?¡± Bigo Live INSTALL Hi! Want to chat? Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily Dariel fell silent. He scratched his nose and shrugged. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be stupid. Selena called her. I called the doctor right away.¡± Seth had no strength left after that ordeal. He heaved a long sigh and ignored Dariel. Isabe turned away and rolled her eyes. He shuts up the moment Selena is brought up. I hope she kills you. That¡¯s what you want too. When things finally cooled down, the doctor could finally step in. ¡°Mr. Wells, I think someone should keep an eye on him in case something were to happen.¡± Yeah, right. He¡¯s angry as a bull. Not gonna die, this guy. 779 12:31 Thu, 21 Dec G. Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily TII UU IL. ????????ideuel Tulu. ??E TOUReu guy. ¡°This is my fault, anyway.¡± Isabe cheered in her mind. Good girl. At least you know you should atone for your crimes. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re the best person,dy.¡± The doctor adjusted his sses as he replied politely, ¡°You have no idea how to administer emergency procedures, unlike thisdy here. She¡¯s brave. You can¡¯t be of help should anything happen.¡± Dariel chortled and looked at Isabe, smirking. ¡°She is brave. I thought she was going to murder someone.¡± Seth closed his eyes as he snapped quietly, ¡°Maybe she really was trying to kill me.¡± 10, 21 Dec Chapter 39 Evil Doesn¡¯t Die Easily ÈÕÁã85%•þ ¡°I¡¯m not suited for this either.¡± Isabe pulled a long face, and she mustered her courage to say something very stupid. ¡°I have beef with this guy. I might end up killing him in his sleep.¡± He snickered. ¡°Yeah, as if you can do that.¡± She gasped, utterly offended. ¡°Let Isabe do it, then. The security of this ce isn¡¯t half bad.¡± Dariel crossed his arms and smirked at Seth. ¡°We can save you in time if you were to be in any danger.¡± Seth closed his eyes. He seemed to not have any strength to speak. Isabe was miffed: The day had dragged on for Bigo Live INSTALI Chapter 40 Your Money Raises My Standard far too long, and her stomach was protesting. If she had to keep an eye on this guy the whole night, she¡¯d probably kill herself and bring him down with her. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 The couch was cold. Isabe was curled up all night, crying silently. Eventually, her head was woozy. Going all day without eating eventually had her stomach screaming in the middle of the night. It felt like a hand had seized her pain receptors, and it would squeeze them from time to time. Isabe was too scared to move, just in case she would disturb Seth. She couldn¡¯t do anything now. If she wanted medicine, she had to leave the room, and that would mean she might run into Keller. She was in a predicament, and she had to endure the pain or else. Without the meds, the pain was ravaging her body, keeping her awake. Even if she were to feel tired, the pain would take over her head a whileter. The torment that wasing at her made her think she would die. Fortunately, Seth didn¡¯t do anything after that, or she might actually drop dead right in Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. front of him. The light of dawn shone into the room. Isabe narrowed her eyes, and tears fell forth from her dry eyes. Sheughed at herself. Man, I¡¯m strong. I can¡¯t believe I survived that. She closed her eyes to let herself feel better. Just when she was struggling to get up, the lock rustled. Someone slowly opened the door, and they carefully came in. The light of dawn shone on the guest, and Isabe saw who it was. Selena. ¡°You¡¯re early. Why?¡± Isabe said, stopping Selena from going to Seth¡¯s room. Selena whirled and noticed Isabe on the couch. She smiled sheepishly. ¡°I was worried about him, so I came to see if I could help.¡± Isabe didn¡¯t want to expose her true thoughts. Plus, she really needed Fake Women Everywhere some help. ¡°My stomach¡¯s acting up. Mind getting me some pills for it?¡± Selena pauses for a moment, looking stiff. ¡°But Mr. Shaffer¡­¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t wake up early,¡± Isabe interrupted. Selena pulled her hand back awkwardly and pulled the hair on her cheek back. She crossed her arms. ¡°I see. So, what kind of pills do you want? I¡¯ll get them right now.¡± Isabe said the name of the pill. Then, she reminded Selena, ¡°There¡¯s a pharmacy downstairs. You don¡¯t have to go too far.¡± Selena nodded and reluctantly left. ¡°Take care of him.¡± Isabe said she would, but in her heart, she was saying something else. You don¡¯t have to be so worried about him. He can take two sses of mango juice, no problem. Once Selena was gone, silence returned to the room. Isabe struggled to get out of the couch, then she tiptoed to the water dispenser and got herself a ss of hot water. Finally, she went to the restroom and told the receptionist she needed breakfast. The breakfast came before Selena did. So, she had a bit of soup and waited for Selena toe back with her medicine. Selena ran all the way back as she was worried that she might miss Seth waking up. So, she was sweating by the time she came in. Isabe took the pills and calmly thanked her. She took the pills and washed it down with hot water. Once that was done, she decided it was about time for her to leave. Selena followed her, trying to say something. Isabe knew what she wanted to say, so she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± Selena looked at her, worried. Isabe wanted to roll her eyes, but she was too weak. Besides, she didn¡¯t want to waste energy on something so worthless. She was taller than Selena, and she looked intimidating when she had an icy look on her face. So, she mocked, ¡°But that was redundant. Even if you hadn¡¯t done that, he would still sleep with you anyway.¡± Ugh, this girl was trying the oldest trick in the book. Selena¡¯s eyes flickered, and she looked panicked. Then, she handed something to Isabe. Isabe took a look. It was the pills she had left. Chapter 41 Fake Women Everywhere Selena bit her lip and murmured with embarrassment, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, Isabe.¡± Isabe cursed silently. She took the pills and smiled gently at Selena. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I was worried you might be pretending not to understand me.¡± Selena smiled brightly as she gamely ignored what Isabe was implying. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll learn. I¡¯ll catch up soon and won¡¯t drag Mr. Shaffer down.¡± Isabe was feeling nauseous just from hearing her talk. She couldn¡¯t stand Selena¡¯s face any longer. So, once she took the pills, she turned around with her back ramrod straight, showing no weakness. After she got into the elevator, she held her belly, and the look on her face changed. Damn you, Seth. You¡¯re a curse. The elevator opened up again in a few seconds. It wasn¡¯t even 6.00AM. The cold was making her chatter. Isabe pulled her clothes around her closer, but she ran into a few familiar faces once she came out of the elevator. They were the bunny girls who argued with her at the racecourse the day before. Isabe was feeling sick. She didn¡¯t want to continue that argument, so she tried to leave through the side. s, the moment she turned around, however, the girls surrounded her. To make matters worse, the air was filled with a pungent scent of alcohol. ¡°You¡¯re in a rush. Why?¡± ¡°Nervous? Came down from the third floor even before morning hit.¡± ¡°You have Gordon, and yet you¡¯re going for another rich guy?¡± ¡°You¡¯re an even more professional sl*t than we are.¡± The bunny girls kept mocking Isabe. The stench of alcohol alone could knock her out, and they were shoving her around. Isabe was holding her stomach. The pain was making her back sweat, but she held herself up and snapped, ¡°Back off, or I¡¯ll start screaming. The reception isn¡¯t that far away.¡± The bunny girl in the lead could see that Isabe wasn¡¯t well. She noticed her holding her belly, and she came up with a devious n. In fact, she didn¡¯t hesitate to follow through as she smacked Isabe¡¯s stomach. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Isabe gasped, and her face contorted. She bent over and curled up. The bunny girls were shocked. They exchanged a look, their heads sobering up. ¡°Stop faking. We didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Kiki was a little panicked too. She frowned and pushed Isabe again. ¡°Hey, stop it.¡± Isabe couldn¡¯t hold it anymore. After Kiki pushed her again, her legs gave out, and she fell sideways. The frightened bunny girls moved backward. Gordon and Tyrone came down to get breakfast, but they were met with an unconscious person lying across the corridor. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Gordon could see that it was Isabe. So, he charged ahead without thinking and pushed the girls away. Then, he picked Isabe up. ¡°Isabe! How are you feeling?¡± Isabe was shivering all over as she whispered, ¡°It hurts¡­¡± Gordon¡¯s eyes were bloodshot from him staying up all night. After Isabe¡¯s Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! quiet moan, he felt anger ring up within him. He held Isabe in his arms and turned around to kick Kiki. ¡°Damn you!¡± The bunny girls were scared. Although Kiki knew that the blow would be bad, she didn¡¯t dare dodge it. As a result, she soon found herself leaning against the wall for support due to the kick. Still, she was too scared to do anything but that. Gordon was about to attack her again, but Tyrone stopped him. ¡°Ignore them. Take her to the infirmary.¡± Gordon stopped immediately and strode away with Isabe in his arms. Isabe was tense as she clenched her teeth, enduring the excruciating agony. Her brain was mush, and her pain sensory nerves were on fire. She had no idea where Gordon was taking her. Still, when she tasted the scent of antiseptic, she sobered up a little. Just my luck. Third doctor¡¯s visit this month. ¡°Acute gastroenteritis. Two doses of IV infusion for now, and we¡¯ll see what happens next.¡± She could hear the doctor speaking, and then Gordon and Tyrone asked questions. Isabe curled up to soothe the pain a little. After a while, she could feel someone gently tugging her hand. Yet, she remained in a fetal position, refusing to budge. ¡°IV infusion, Isabe.¡± Gordon patted her arm. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Isabe snapped out of it and extended her hand. She couldn¡¯t even feel the prick. All her attention was on her belly. In a daze, she thought she heard Seth¡¯s icy voice ying in her head. It was something he said in the past. Everything that fell from his lips was always venomous and cold. Isabe said, ¡°The b*stard¡­¡± Gordon was right beside her, but he didn¡¯t hear her clearly. When he huddled closer to hear her better, she wasn¡¯t talking anymore. Seth was tormented by the meds for a whole night, but he kept his shouts in, or that woman would argue with him. He drifted to sleep right before dawn. In a daze, he heard something, but when he opened his eyes once more, it was already nearly 9.00AM. ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± said someone gently. Not Isabe, of course. Even when she was in a good mood, she would only talk monotonously. She sounded awful even then. He turned around, and everything was getting clearer. Then, he saw who was standing beside the bed. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nine. I couldn¡¯t just leave you alone, so I¡¯ve been here all this time.¡± Selena looked worse for wear. She wasn¡¯t wearing any makeup, and she was holding a ss of water. Then, she asked tentatively, ¡°Should I wet your mouth with some Q-tips?¡± Seth frowned as he said coolly, ¡°How long have you been here?¡± ¡°Three hours, maybe four.¡± Selena put the ss of water down, and she said nothing more. Seth looked outside the bedroom, his face deadpan. Selena looked in the direction he was looking at, and she said, ¡°Isabe left a while ago. Urgent business.¡± Seth chortled. He looked dismissive. ¡°She¡¯s just a salesgirl. Nothing in her life is urgent.¡± Selena smiled, looking gentle and sweet as she defended Isabe, ¡°Salespeople are busy. They have to deal with all sorts of customers. She has it hard.¡± Seth closed his eyes and pursed his lips. He didn¡¯t want to talk about Isabe anymore. Selena remained standing beside his bed, staring at his face like she was worshipping a work of art. She was careful even when she was breathing. Selena eventually bit her lip and clenched her fists. She had made up her mind about something. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Isabe slept in the infirmary for half a day. When she woke up, she saw Gordon ying games beside her. She opened her mouth and tried to speak but felt like something was lodged in her throat. Gordon nced at her and quickly noticed she was awake. He smiled. ¡°Hey.¡± Isabe nodded and gulped, the pain making her frown. ¡°Thanks.¡± Gordon clicked his tongue. He didn¡¯t like it when she was being so formal: Still, he got up and summoned a doctor to check on her. ¡°She¡¯s fine, She can ingest food now. Just make sure it¡¯s nothing heavy.¡± Isabe couldn¡¯t even interject. So, Gordon ended up bing her 16:18 Tue, 26 Dec 0 Chapter 43 The Wolf¡¯s Here spokesperson. Once he sent the doctor away, he got her some food. 92% 1 She didn¡¯t want to beat her battered body up any further, so she ate silently.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Gordon looked at her. He kindly didn¡¯t mention the unhappy affair the night before. Isabe didn¡¯t want to ignore it, however. ¡°Thanks for helping me, Gordon.¡± ¡°Verbal gratitude means nothing.¡± Gordon cocked his eyebrow. Isabe choked on her words. A momentter, she said, ¡°I know. I have nothing to repay you with but empty promises.¡± She raised her head and looked at him. ¡°But I will repay this favor, trust me.¡± Gordon only wanted to tease her. So, the moment she started taking things seriously, any amusement he found from it shriveled and died. Since he 18:18 Tue, 26 Dec 03 Chapter 43 The Wolf¡¯s Here wasn¡¯t talking to her, she didn¡¯t see the need to say anything either. ¡°I¡¯ll be staying for a couple of days. What¡¯s next for you?¡± He looked at her. She tossed away the Q-tip that she was pressing against the hole left by the needle as she said, ¡°I gotta go back to work. I¡¯m going to get my *ss reprimanded at this rate.¡± He clicked his tongue and waved dismissively. ¡°Then, get back to work. You¡¯re so annoying.¡± He took his phone out. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a ride.¡± Isabe shut up and allowed him to make the arrangements. Once he was done, she said, ¡°Thanks. Dinner¡¯s on me next time.¡± Gordon cocked his eyebrow as his mood brightened. ¡°Really?¡± Tue, 20 Dec Chapter 43 The Wolfs Here Isabe smiled as she said, ¡°I¡¯m not as poor as you think. I can afford a meal.¡± ¡°And I can pick the food?¡± Gordon yed with his phone, his eyes glinting. Isabe nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Gordon snapped his fingers and put a hand in his pocket. Then, he stood up. ¡°I¡¯m taking you home myself.¡± Isabe paused for a moment. ¡°I can go home by myself.¡± ¡°You¡¯re treating me to dinner. I can¡¯t let a patient go home by herself,¡± he retorted as he extended his hand to help her get up. She couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Nevertheless, she tried to keep skin contact to a minimum when they left the infirmary as quickly as possible. Tue, Chapter 43 The Wolf¡¯s Here He went to get his car, and she waited at the infirmary¡¯s entrance. It was high noon, and the sun was ring. Her head was woozy. A ck Maybach came out of the underground car park. Then, it stopped before Isabe. The driver quickly changed cards with the guard. The co-driver seat¡¯s window rolled down, revealing Selena inside. ¡°Leaving too, Isabe?¡± Isabe ignored her and looked into the car. From where she stood, she could only see Seth¡¯s hands and knees. She could guess that he was leaning on the back of the seat. Just when she was spacing out, Gordon came back with his car. He had rolled the roof down as he shouted at her. Isabe looked away and went around the Maybach. Then, she went to Gordon¡¯s car. 16:18 Tue, 26 Dec 0 Chapter 43 The Wolf¡¯s Here When she went past the Maybach, the backseat door rolled down. The car was ck inside, and Seth was in a ck suit. He was still pale, but he looked regal. He turned his head to the side and met Isabe¡¯s gaze. Isabe met his eyes, and she could see the mockery in them. She was reminded of what he said to her the night before. She then realized she was walking toward Gordon. Thus, she knew what the mockery in his eyes meant. -She stood straight, looking unfazed, and then went into Gordon¡¯s car¡¯s co-driver seat. ¡°They¡¯re so slow,¡± Gordon said impatiently. Then, he promptly mmed the horn and honked loudly. Worried that they might get into a fight, Isabe said softly, ¡°We can wait. I¡¯m still dizzy, so I could use this opportunity to get some rest.¡± 20 Chapter 43 The Wolf¡¯s Here Gordon looked at her and felt his temper cool. He got her a bottle of water from thepartment on his side of the door. ¡°Here.¡± Isabe took the water, uncapped it, and took a sip. The moment she capped it back, the car before them moved. Gordon cursed and quickly drove, then he swiped his card and left the racecourse. It was a silent trip. When Isabe came back to thepany, it was already noon. She kept thanking Gordon, but he said nothing in response. Instead, he asked her when the dinner would be. A resigned Isabe said she would call him in a week. So, it was a happy Gordon that drove away. Isabe heaved a sigh of relief Chapter 43 The Wolf¡¯s Here and held her belly as she went into thepany slowly. She ran into two of her female colleagues who were sending a client off. One of them was holding the client¡¯s arm and nearly squishing her chest against it. ¡°Isabe, you¡¯re back.¡± Jonas came out of his office and simpered at Isabe. He sized her up. ¡°Got anything?¡± Isabe was holding bags in both hands, and she shrugged. ¡°Hit the limit this month, I think. I¡¯d be lucky to sell three cars.¡± She thought Jonas would mock her, but heughed and huddled closer. Then, he put an arm around her shoulder as he showered her with fake encouragement. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Isabe evaded Jonas subtly and said some polite words in response as she went back to her office. Alex had juste back from a call. So, when Alex put her stuff down and went in for thetest gossip. Isabe immediately told her everything. Alex frowned at her words. ¡°He has his eyes on you.¡± Isabe¡¯s heart sank. ¡°What do you mean? Alex crossed her arms and leaned on the desk as she murmured, ¡°Before you, Winona and Luna were our worst salesgirls. Sometimes, they wouldn¡¯t be able to sell even one car, but your arrival motivated them. I heard that they sold a sports car each. Isabe mused it over, but she was still confused. ¡°So¡­ I¡¯m the worst here. Do they punish us?¡± Chapter 44 With Skills ¡°Jonas goes on a business trip once every few months, and the worst-performing salesperson has to go with him. Winona was the one who went with him every time before this,¡± Alex shot her a meaningful look. Isabe stared at where she was looking. She saw a long-haired girl in the corner. She had sses on, and she didn¡¯t have outstanding looks, but there was an air about her¡­ ¡°See if you can sell more. You sold three, so you probably only need a few more units to make the cut.¡± Alex patted Isabe¡¯s shoulder, but she sounded worried. Isabe¡¯s stomach was still protesting. She had no time to deal with this matter, but she forced a smile and said she would try toe up with something. Chapter 44 With Skills Alex said nothing more. Instead, she picked up her purse and went to see her client. Isabe went back to her seat. Right now, she truly regretted stopping Gordon from buying a car. She¡¯d rather owe him a favor than go with Jonas on a business trip alone. She was starting to panic, but her belly was churning. So, she downed another ss of hot water. Evening came, and she got herself some soup in the mall next door. When she made it back after her little dinner, the meeting had already started. Thus, everyone was in the meeting room. Isabe came in just in time to hear Jonas conclude, ¡°That¡¯s all for the meeting. You¡¯ve worked hard this month, everyone.¡± He then noticed Isabe don¡¯t you worry. You¡¯ll get better.¡± Chapter 44 With Skills Everyone pped, and Isabe nodded politely. Nheless, she couldn¡¯t help but think that everyone was giving her weird looks. Once the meeting was over, Isabe stood up. s, Jonas called her before she could leave. ¡°Pack your stuff, Isabe. We¡¯re leaving at nine tomorrow.¡± Isabe was shaken. She hadn¡¯t prepared any excuse to refuse him at all. She was going to say something, but Jonas had already left the office. She heaved a sigh and started feeling her belly churning. She held down her panic and left the office, but someone held her. She turned back and saw that it was Winona. Winona whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t sleep too deeply, and remember to lock the door.¡± Then, she left, looking as though she was just talking about the weather. Chapter 44 With Skills Isabe felt her heart freeze up. This time, she knew for certain Jonas had been entertaining some dark ideas regarding her. This trip was nothing but a trap. Yet, she couldn¡¯t refuse him. Her mind was filled with a ton of troubles and problems. She went back to her seat and waited until work was over for the day. Soon, everyone started leaving the office one after another. Isabe wasn¡¯t nning on going home. It wasn¡¯t safe there. Keller¡¯s men might be around. She held her head. This was tiring for her. So exhausting. Every path, every escape she thought she could use was blocked. As more and more people left, Natasha called her and asked if she had ns for the night. Isabe promptly told Natasha about her condition and got a ride to her ce. Natasha was always an optimistic person, and managing the bar for Dariel Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. made her a more experienced woman in the workce. When ?sabe Chapter 44 With Skills unloaded all her troubles on her, Natasha took a seat on the couch with her legs crossed as she huffed. ¡°Just get someone to beat him up. That¡¯ll show him.¡± Isabe was tempted. ¡°Would that work?¡± Natasha smiled and put out her cigarette in the ashtray/ Then, she leaned over, her gaze alluring. ¡°I can send some men to kick his *ss tonight.¡± Isabe mused it over. The guy hadn¡¯t done anything yet. If she tried to do anything before that, it might backfire. Besides, since she was hiding from Keller, going on a business trip to Lawdom was a good idea. ¡°Do you have anyone you know in Lawdom?¡± She looked at Natasha with hope in her eyes. Natasha looked at her and knew what she was thinking. So, the woman smiled. ¡°I do, but they might not arrive in time to save you.¡± Chapter 44 With Skills Isabe heaved a weary sigh and leaned on the couch. ¡°We¡¯ll go with that. I¡¯ll go with the b*stard and see how he manages to sell dozens of cars every month.¡± Natasha pped and praised, ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Beating him up means nothing. You gotta take him down with skills.¡± ¡°I Isabe felt a lot better, and she borrowed Natasha¡¯sptop. Then, she went to the study to find out who the business partner would be. It was a creative dozens of cars, iming it was an incentive for their workers. Isabe didn¡¯t find any problems with it. So, she sorted out the files, and printed them out. Once she was done, she scrolled through her phone and saw the news about Shaffer Group. Shaffer Group was buyingnd en masse, and Lawdom might be their second base soon. Chapter 44 With Skits Isabe scrolled down again, and she was shown the same news. She most outstanding heir among his peers in that city. No one was on his level. Just as she was about to go down yet another rabbit hole, she suddenly met Seth¡¯s gaze on the screen. Candy Crush Saga Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Isabe felt challenged, and she got motivated. It was a sleepless night for her, and her brain was working at top speed. Her n changed from ¡®how to dodge Jonas¡¯ to ¡®how to get rid of Jonas.¡¯ The rm eventually rang, but Isabe didn¡¯t feel tired at all. The truth was, she was excited. She washed up and left the room. Natasha was having a ss of water in the lounge. She was shocked to see Isabe. ¡°I thought you were only going at 9.00AM.¡± It¡¯s only 6.00AM now. Isabe shrugged. ¡°I have nothing to do, so I¡¯m getting breakfast near the Natasha thought she looked lively, and she nodded. ¡°Good.¡± Candy Crush Organized Crime Isabe grabbed a bottle of milk and left, but she stopped at the porch and turned around. ¡°Natasha,¡± she said, hesitating. Natasha noticed the hesitation, and she knew what Isabe wanted to say. ¡°What do you want to say?¡± A pauseter, Isabe said, ¡°I saw Dariel in the racecourse that day. He ¡°He has another girl with him?¡± Natasha cocked an eyebrow. Isabe was stunned upon hearing that. ¡°You knew?¡± Natasha shrugged nonchntly. ¡°No. Just had a guess.¡± Isabe felt for her, and she cursed herself for saying so much. ¡°I just¡­¡± ¡± Organized Crime ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Natasha smiled and patted Isabe¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I like his money, not the man himself. I don¡¯t care how many chicks he has.¡± Isabe knew Natasha was an open-minded woman, but it was still a little weird hearing her say that, and she was speechless. Natasha was wearing a camisole, and she put a hand in the pocket of her shorts. Nonchntly, she said, ¡°Once I get enough money from him, I won¡¯t even give him a moment of my time even if he grovels.¡± Isabe wondered if that was true. She smiled. ¡°Just don¡¯t fall for his looks. He might be a sc*mbag, but he¡¯s handsome.¡± Natasha smiled and poked Isabe¡¯s chest. ¡°Time to work, girl.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m going.¡± Isabe took a step back and turned around to 48 Organized Crime open the door. ¡°I¡¯ming back victorious.¡± Natasha cheered her on. Even after the door had closed, Isabe could still hear her. Isabe left the courtyard, and her smile disappeared. She had no idea what to feel. She got a ride to thepany and had a feast in the mall next door. She then got herself a couple of lipsticks and a few clothes. Then, she got a new suitcase and packed things up. Now I look like I¡¯m going on a business trip. She went to work at 9.00AM. Jonas was at the reception, and when he saw her, his eyes shone. Isabe knew what he was up to. She put the suitcase before her. ¡°Are we leaving right away?¡± Organized Crime ¡°Yeah.¡± Jonas wanted to leave right away. He tossed all his work to one side and went into his office to get his luggage. Isabe looked at the luggage. It was evident that a caring housewife prepared it for him. She asked, ¡°Did your wife pack your things for you, Jonas?¡± Jonas waved her down and changed the subject. ¡°I have a ton of stuff. Almost broke the luggage.¡± Isabe cursed silently. Disgusting pieces of scum. You have a wife at home, and yet you pretend to be single and hook up with your employees, huh? She got into the cab and took the co-driver seat to stay away from Jonas. When she got onto the ne, Natasha texted her. She texted her back and turned her phone off. With how many people there were in the economy Organized cabin, she didn¡¯t think Jonas would do anything. However, the moment the ne took flight, Jonas leaned his head closer and spoke in a whisper. Isabe wanted to puke. Not everyone is the same. Seth liked to whisper as well, and she would feel embarrassed and angry when he did that. When Jonas did the same, she was just disgusted. She moved sideways. ¡°Sorry, but I didn¡¯t sleep wellst night. I¡¯m going to take -a nap. Talkter.¡± Jonas clicked his tongue and pulled her closer. ¡°You can lean on me, Isabe.¡± Isabe felt humiliated, and she raised her voice as she grumbled, ¡°I can¡¯t! This is just¡­¡± pter 45 Organized Crime The plumpdy sleeping beside her took her eye mask down. ¡°Can you be quiet? This is a public area! Behave yourself!¡± Thedy was loud enough that everyone turned their attention to her. Jonas looked miffed. He quickly pulled his hand back and tried to stay away from Isabe. Isabe got what she wanted, and she apologized to thedy, looking craven. Thedy harrumphed and pulled her eye mask down, and then she went back to sleep. A smile curled Isabe¡¯s lips, and she turned around to smile apologetically at Jonas. He could only force a smile. He stopped touching her, and the two-hour flight went without a hitch. They money hanging in the air here. Jonas took Isabe to a motel. The receptionist obviously knew Jonas, and they chatted. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Isabe was on high alert. She had a feeling this guy had something up his sleeve. True enough, the receptionist looked at her and said, ¡°Sorry, but we only have one room left.¡± Ha! They¡¯re partners. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Isabe knew this was how those girls were tricked. They were too meek to refuse, so they stayed with their boss in the same room and got assaulted. ¡°The suite is big, Isabe, and it has two rooms. Why don¡¯t we just settle?¡± Jonas gave her an apologetic look, and he made a good point. Isabe smiled and took her phone out. ¡°No, thank you. I got myself a room just now.¡± The moment she came into the lobby, she searched this motel¡¯s name online and reserved a room without even checking what type it was. It came in handy. That caught Jonas by surprise. He paused for a moment and smiled. ¡°That¡¯s an ex-secretary for you. Always meticulous.¡± Chapter 46 Workce Affairs Isabe said something humble and went to the reception to check her ID. She looked at the receptionist. ¡°Lucky for me, this is the second tost room.¡± The receptionist was smiling stiffly, and then they quickly went through with the paperwork and handed the ID back to Isabe, not even looking her in the eye. Isabe scoffed deep down, but she stayed calm on the outside. She turned and talked to Jonas, and then they went into the elevator. Her room was on the second floor, so they parted ways when she got to the second floor. They would meet up with the client at 6.00PM and have dinner with them. Once Isabe was in the room, she checked the locks and locked them well. It was only then that she felt better. It would be a long night after this. She took a bath and slept, knowing that Jonas wouldn¡¯t do anything during the day. She hid in her nket and scrolled the phone. The entertainment and 16:20 Tue, 26 Dec 0 Chapter 46 Workce Affairs economy sections¡¯ headlines were all about Seth appearing at Lawdom¡¯s airport. ¡°The b*stard¡¯s almost as famous as a celeb. He should join the entertainment industry instead of running a business.¡± Isabe rolled her eyes and turned her phone off, then she shrunk deeper into her nket. She slept until 4.00PM or so, and no one came to disturb her. Isabe got up and put some light makeup on, then she changed into long pants and a sleeved shirt. She dawdled around until 5.20PM before she left. Worried about beingte, Jonas didn¡¯t chat with her. He kept telling the driver to go faster. ¡°I brought you along because I wanted to help you, Isabe. Don¡¯t let me down, alright?¡± Before they got out of the car, Jonas¡¯ pervy side took over, and he tried to put Chapter 46 Workce Affairs a hand around Isabe¡¯s waist. Isabe said thank you and paid the fare, then she evaded Jonas¡¯ hand. They got out of the car and Jonas was still trying to get near her when a beam of light shone upon them. ¡°Oh, that must be Mr. Lime.¡± Isabe looked in the direction of the beam of light. It came from a Benz, and four people got out of the car. Three were men, while the other was ady. One of them was about forty years old, while everyone else was in the younger bracket. The older man was called Kaiser Lime. He looked at Jonas and they shook hands amicably. Chapter 46 Workce Affairs ¡°Hello, Mr. Lime. I¡¯m Isabe Symons.¡± Isabe introduced herself, and Kaiser looked at her. He was surprised at her beauty. ¡°You have interesting people working for you, Mr. Stokes.¡± Jonasughed and put an arm around Isabe¡¯s shoulder, then he pulled her closer. ¡°She¡¯s a newbie. Do help her if you can, Mr. Lime.¡± Kaiser nodded in response. ¡°Of course.¡± Isabe took a step back, saying she wanted to greet Kaiser¡¯s secretary. ¡°You must be a Lawdom local, Ms. Sue.¡± The secretary was surprised, and she pulled her hair back. ¡°You have a good eye, Ms. Symons. Am I that obvious?¡± Chapter 46 Workce Affairs ¡°Well, they say Lawdom girls are lucky clovers.¡± Isabe held her hand. Amicably, she said, ¡°This is my first timeing to Lawdom as an adult. It¡¯s a good ce.¡± The secretary smiled sweetly. She wasn¡¯t averse to Isabe¡¯s friendly attitude, and she said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so formal with me. It¡¯s weird. Call me Mandy. Mandy Sue.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Isabe heaved a sigh. She was more confident about the dinner now. Jonas got themselves a room that could house ten people. They went inside, and the ce looked spacious. The b*stard was experienced in baiting girls. He seated thedies in the center. On Isabe¡¯s left was Kaiser, and on Mandy¡¯s right was Jonas. The women couldn¡¯t move away. Isabe noticed Kaiser touching Mandy too, but Chapter 46 Workce Affairs he was subtle, and Mandy avoided him. She sighed. Women are always weaker in the workce. It¡¯s hard protecting ourselves. ¡°A toast to Mr. Lime, Isabe. He¡¯s our lucky star,¡± Jonas announced. He had filled up Isabe¡¯s ss with wine. Isabe looked at the wine. She knew what he was nning, and she put on a troubled look. ¡°I¡¯m a lousy drinker. I¡¯m sorry that I can¡¯t entertain you, Mr. Lime.¡± ¡°At least you care. That¡¯s what matters,¡± Mandy murmured sweetly. She filled Isabe¡¯s te with food. ¡°Mr. Lime won¡¯t force anyone to do anything.¡± Kaiser looked happy being praised, and he waved everyone down. ¡°Just drink what you can.¡± Isabe smiled and stood up. ¡°A toast.¡± She frowned and put on a look of reluctance. One sip, and she coughed. Before anyone could say anything, she took another sip and coughed until she was red in the face. ¡°Eat something.¡± Kaiser grabbed some food and ced it on Isabe¡¯s te like he was being kind. Isabe fanned herself with her hand. Sheepishly, she said, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Lime.¡± She took a bite of the meat, and her stomach churned in disgust, but she Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! stayed calm. The men were praising everyone. Jonas was staring at Isabe, and once again, he patted her shoulder as he spoke. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Isabe wasn¡¯t in a hurry to dodge. Mandy then stood up and raised a toast to Jonas. Jonas pulled his hand back. After Mandy was done with the toast, Isabe quickly stood up and raised a toast to the young junior executives Kaiser brought. Thedies then left and raised a toast to themselves, but they stopped before they could go too far. Isabe was an expert in faking drunkenness. She would always pour half her wine away. After the toast to everyone, she was already red in the face, but she had only finished a bit of wine. As for Mandy, she wasn¡¯t as innocent as she looked. She was dealing with Kaiser and exchanging numbers with Jonas, but she kept fluttering around and staying away from these men¡¯s touch. Chapter 47 Something¡¯s Off Half an hourter, the men were already tipsy, but they were not drunk. The other. Since the men were already tipsy from all the toasting, they didn¡¯t stop them. Once they left the room, Isabe heard herself and Mandy sigh in relief. The sshed water onto her face. She then turned to Mandy, who was reapplying her makeup. ¡°So how long have you been working, Mandy?¡± Mandy finished reapplying her lipstick, and she sighed. With a deadpan look on her face, she said, ¡°Three months.¡± Isabe looked at the entrance and whispered, ¡°So Mr. Lime is a¡­¡± Mandy harrumphed and whispered, ¡°He¡¯s a pervert, alright.¡± Isabe smiled bitterly. ¡°It is what it is. We¡¯re young and pretty, after all. It¡¯s going to be a hassle.¡± Mandy was amused by her statement. She licked her lips and huddled closer, then she held Isabe¡¯s arm. ¡°It¡¯s not a bad thing our bosses are pervs. It¡¯d be bad for newbies if they won¡¯t even fall for honey traps.¡± She closed the distance between them and spoke in a voice that was barely a whisper. ¡°If you trust me, I have some advice for you.¡± A pauseter, Isabe asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Mandy looked down and poked Isabe¡¯s arm. ¡°If Jonas gives you any Isabe¡¯s reflection. Isabe handed her a bottle of mouthwash calmly and took out her lipstick to Chapter 47 Something¡¯s Off reapply as well. Thedies returned to the room. The gents were having fun, and they looked at thedies once they came in. Isabe ¡®tripped¡¯ and leaned on Mandy. ¡°Mr. Stokes, I think Isabe drank too much. She has to go back to the hotel right away.¡± Isabe looked dazed, and she was muttering gibberish. She held Mandy, smiling dumbly like she was really drunk. Jonas had been waiting the whole night. He quickly held Isabe and pulled her into his embrace. Isabe didn¡¯t resist for once. She kept falling down, and Jonas had to hold her up with both hands, yet that wasn¡¯t enough either. ¡°Mr. Lime, about the contract¡­¡± Chapter 47 Something¡¯s Off ¡°We¡¯re signing it. Mandy will bring the contract over to your hotel.¡± Kaiser stared at the flushed Isabe and gulped a big ss of wine. ¡°Take her back C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org to the hotel. She needs some rest.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Jonas happily grabbed Isabe and left. Isabe didn¡¯t resist. Instead, she held his tie and pulled it down, and she shouted loudly. Jonas was having trouble tugging her along, and he was worried someone might see them, so he didn¡¯t touch her inappropriately. When he finally got her into a cab, the driver kept ncing at them through the rear-view mirror. When they were about to leave, the driver asked, ¡°Do you need any help, miss?¡± That was an obvious hint. Jonas was a little embarrassed, so he didn¡¯t touch Isabe. Isabe slurred out a thank you, then she staggered out of the car. Chapter 47 Something¡¯s Off Before Jonas could do anything, she went into the hotel, smiling dumbly. Jonas caught up to her in the end and tried to take her to his room. Isabe smiled at him and puffed a gust of breath that smelled like alcohol. She whispered, ¡°No. I want to take a shower.¡± A shower¡­ Jonas shivered, his face twitching. ¡°Sure, you go get showered.¡± His Just had taken over his mind. If he wasn¡¯t just thinking about sleeping with her, he would have taken Isabe back to his room and had her bathe there. Isabe knew this would happen, and she got out of the elevator on the second floor. ¡°See you tomorrow, Mr. Stokes.¡± Jonas¡¯ eyes flickered with lust. He hummed as he imagined Isabe lying on his bed. Chapter 47 Something¡¯s Off Once the doors shut, Isabeposed herself and breathed at the reflective door. She ruffled her hair. ¡°Dumb*ss,¡± she muttered and went back into her room, She quickly bolted the door, checked the windows, and locked them as well. Everything was done in one fell swoop. Jonas is in cahoots with the hotel. He¡¯ might be able to get the key card if he wants to. Isabe wasn¡¯t going to bathe or sleep. Shey on the couch and checked Kaiser¡¯s file, then she processed what Mandy told her. Kaiser Lime, the brother-inw of Heroton Culture Limited¡¯s founder. Isabe clicked her tongue. So, he¡¯s a nobody. I thought he was a big shot. She guessed that Kaiser and Jonas were in cahoots. Jonas could get himself a raise and promotion with the deal, while Kaiser would get a bit of money from the rebate of the deal. So why did Mandy dissuade me from taking the Isabe wondered why. The alcohol was kicking in and her head felt light. Someone knocked on the door at that point. Chapter 48 Chapter 48 The room was dark. Someone knocking on the door at this moment was like getting smacked on the back when someone was walking in the night. Isabe didn¡¯t make a sound. She went to the door and looked through the peephole. It was a waiter. She said nothing, just to be safe. Instead, she tucked herptop away and turned on the faucet in the bathroom. As expected, a whileter, the lock started to creak. Isabe held her phone and stood by the window. She looked down and jumped off without hesitation. It wasn¡¯t asphalt but gravel waiting for her. She sprained her ankle on the way down, and the pain made her frown. Worried she might be caught, she left in a hurry, holding down her pain. She reached the main road and hailed a ride. It was almost 9.00PM, and Chapter 48 Seth Tor You everything was dark. Isabe was in a city she wasn¡¯t familiar with, so she had no ce to stay. ¡°Should I stop right ahead, miss?¡± The driver was a little cautious, seeing that Isabe didn¡¯t look alright. Isabe thought the ce looked crowded enough, so she told the driver to let her get out there. Jonas woulde after her once he found out she was gone. He would not stop that easily. She reached a quiet corner and called Natasha. It took Natasha a while before she picked up. Natasha sent a couple of men over to her as promised, and she said, ¡°Don¡¯t do anything until my men get there. Stay safe.¡± Isabe agreed. She then hung up and waited at the roadside. There were people all around, and she felt awkward standing around like a mannequin. Chapter 48 Seth Went for You In the end, she went to a street that had cafes and restaurants in it. It was quiet but not remote. She stood outside an eatery and got a call from Jonas. Panicked, she didn¡¯t realize someone was closing in on her from behind. Ice-cold water fell down her back, and Isabe almost jumped. She whirled and was met with a terrified youngdy. She probably came out of a restaurant after having dinner, and she was holding a cup of something. She didn¡¯t see Isabe since she was fooling around with her friends, and she bumped into her. Isabe was grumpy, but she had no time to waste, so she let the youngdy go, much to her annoyance. Her phone was still ringing, but she ignored it. He¡¯ll get annoyed. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Chapter 48 Seth Went for You Her back was drenched, and a gust of icy breeze blew across the street. The cold seeped into her bones, and she felt goosebumps ring all over her. The streemps shone upon the water on the ground, making it look a little whimsical. Isabe heaved a sigh and cursed Jonas in her heart. I¡¯ll make him pay! She was spacing out, then her phone rang again. She looked down and saw that it was from Natasha. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Um, Isabe¡­¡± Natasha hesitated for a moment, then she clicked her tongue. ¡°Seth went to find you.¡± Isabe spaced out for a moment. She stared at the empty entryway of the street. ¡°What?¡± Chapter 48 Seth Went for You ¡°Dariel¡¯s an idiot. He told Seth after he heard you calling me, and Seth¡¯s nearby.¡± Isabe gulped. She had no idea what to feel, and she stared at the puddle for a long time. Natasha kept calling her name, but she didn¡¯t hear her. It was then that she heard the honk of a caring near her. A bright beam of light came from the street¡¯s entryway, crushing all the crimson dreamlike aesthetic. Isabe hung up and narrowed her eyes. Someone opened the car door, and ad came out. It was Nics, the guy she picked that day to annoy Seth. Nics quickly went over to her. Politely, he said, ¡°Get in the car, Isabe.¡± Chapter 48 Seth Went for You Isabe was hesitant. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I-¡± Nics interrupted, ¡°Mr. Shaffer is in the car.¡± That put a lot of pressure on Isabe. She looked at the ck Bentley, and she couldn¡¯t say no. ¡°Come, please.¡± Nics made way for her. Isabe took a deep breath and stood up straight, then she made her way to the entryway. She opened the door to the co-driver¡¯s seat, but there was someone inside. It was Selena. She was in a yellow dress that showed a little of her chest. Her hair was styled ter 48 Seth like a princess, and there was a shining diamond tiara on her head. She looked at Isabe meekly. ¡°Hey, Isabe.¡± ¥ß Isabe smiled. She said nothing, but she was hesitating. She was drenched, so if she took the backseat, Seth wouldin again. Nics stood outside the car. He whispered, ¡°Take the backseat. Mr. Shaffer is waiting.¡± Isabe smiled at him. She then reluctantly opened the door to the backseat. Seth was leaning in the backseat, his eyes closed. Isabe looked at him, and her heart skipped a beat. Seth was in a suit, and a jacket was draped over him. His suit was custom-made and fit him perfectly. His hair was slicked back, and since he was leaning backward, strands of hair fell down his forehead. A hint of weakness was mixed in with his powerful anyone let their guard down. Isabe didn¡¯t dare get close to him, nor did she know why he came. Nics started driving, but she had no idea where they were going. They reached the hotel, and the manager came to wee them. Only then did Isabe starting up with a countern. She was about to speak up, but Seth opened his eyes. Their eyes met through the reflection in the rear-view mirror. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Isabe moved away so Seth couldn¡¯t see her, and she said, ¡°Thank-¡± He snickered before she could finish, causing her to grit her teeth. She felt like she was pped, and her dignity was crushed. The manager was simpering at Seth. He looked like he was weing a king instead of a VIP. That made Isabe more annoyed. Seth insulted her with a snicker, and he got out of his car. He stopped the light that was shining into the car, keeping Isabe hidden in the darkness. The manager saw Selenaing out of the co-driver seat, and he treated her like a queen. He told the deputy manager to follow her at all times. He didn¡¯t notice Isabe. Chapter 49 So Stingy Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! The door closed and Isabe was still in the car, stiff as a statue. She couldn¡¯t leave or stay either. However, someone opened the door beside her a momentter. Nics leaned down and stuck his head into the car. ¡°You shoulde out of the car, Isabe.¡± Isabe clenched her fists as she looked at Nics, her face stiff. ¡°C-Can you take me to the hotel next door?¡± Nics froze for a moment before a troubled look crossed his face. ¡°This isn¡¯t a bad hotel. Mr. Shaffer must have reserved a room for you. You should go and straighten yourself out.¡± He kept ncing at her back. It was only then that Isabe realized her back was drenched. She thought it was just water, but since it felt sticky, she knew it must be some kind of drink. I¡¯ll just straighten myself out. If the b*stard keeps mocking me, I¡¯ll just leave. She heaved a sigh and smiled at Nics, Chapter 49 So Stingy then she got out of the car. Nics extended his hand out of courtesy. That touched Isabe a little. She held his hand and got out of the car. A gust of breeze blew across the street, and it sent a chill down her spine. She raised her head and saw Seth suddenly turning around to look at her. She shivered. He only looked at her and Nics for a moment, then he turned around coldly. Isabe had no idea what that meant, but she mustered up her courage and went inside with Nics anyway. The manager assigned the best suite they had for Seth. He then looked at Selena and knowingly said, ¡°There¡¯s everything you need in the suite. Have a lovely night.¡± Cha de So S Selena felt her cheeks burning up. She hung her head low and stood beside Seth quietly. ¦¡¦° Seth was icy as ever, but he said nothing. He went into his room, and Selena followed. Nics pretended like he saw nothing. He was still polite with Isabe as he murmured, ¡°Your room¡¯s right ahead, Isabe.¡± Isabe was thankful for his help. She smiled. ¡°Thank you.¡± Nics nodded and led Isabe into the room near Seth¡¯s, It was nicely decked out as well. The moment Isabe got into the room, her legs wobbled. Pain shot up from her sprained ankle. She gasped and swayed. Nics quickly held her. Surprised, he asked, ¡°Is your leg hurt, Isabe?¡± Chapter 49 So Stingy Isabe clenched her teeth. ¡°A little.¡± He looked down and saw her swollen ankle. He gasped, but he was also impressed that she didn¡¯t even grunt from the moment she got out of the car. The sprained ankle looked awful. He took her to the bed and said, ¡°Sit down, Isabe. I¡¯ll get some salve for that ankle.¡± However, she waved him off. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll just use a hot towel.¡± She wasn¡¯t that close with Nics, after all. It would be inappropriate to have him work so much for her. Nics stood up. Adamantly, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so formal. If you hadn¡¯t insisted on hiring me during the interview, I wouldn¡¯t have this job. This is just me repaying the favor.¡± It was surprising that he remembered that. And so, Isabe smiled. ¡°I let your pass because you¡¯re brilliant. Nothing else.¡± Nics said nothing as he turned around. ¡°I know, but still, thanks for giving me a chance.¡± She felt a little resigned. She wanted to stop him, but she didn¡¯t have the chance. Nics was gone, and Isabe felt ufortable in her clothes. She hobbled toward the bathroom, ignoring her pain. Nics wouldn¡¯te back so soon. Even if he did, he didn¡¯t have the key, so no one would see her bathe. The moment she touched the hot water, rest and rxation flowed into her soul. She let her guard down. Isabe had her back turned to the door, and as she had too much fun in the bath, she forgot the time and dozed off a little. Someone opened the door and quickly closed it. That caused Isabe to snap out of it. Thinking it was Nics, she dipped into the water and turned to the door. ¡°Get out!¡± The water was steamy, and she couldn¡¯t see who the intruder was. The moment she shouted at the individual, however, she knew something was wrong. This person was taller than Nics. ¡°I got you your salve, but you wouldn¡¯t even let me see you bathe?¡± the person retorted coolly. Isabe was shocked upon hearing that. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Isabe couldn¡¯t believe Seth would just barge in. Even if they used to sleep together, she wanted to curse him. She sank deeper into the bath, but it was useless. ¡°I¡¯m not your secretary anymore, Mr. Shaffer.¡± Seth leaned on the door, scanning Isabe¡¯s face. From where he stood, all he could see were her shoulders and face. She looked panicked. He raised his hand and spun a tube of salve. ¡°You aren¡¯t my secretary, and yet you asked mine to serve you.¡± Isabe choked on her words. She held back her almost unbridled fury, and she snapped, ¡°He just wanted to help. I didn¡¯t order him around.¡± ¡°You think you¡¯re a princess who will meet a good Samaritan anywhere she goes?¡± Seth gave her a sardonic smile. He stood up straighter and went into Chapter 50 He Has an Appointment the bathroom. Shocked, Isabe tensed up as she shouted, ¡°What are you doing?¡± The b*stard! He¡¯sing closer all he wants. He¡¯s not even showing me respect. Seth ignored her agitation and closed in on her personal space. Then, he stood right beside the bathtub. Isabe was already red from the bath. Seth¡¯s action aggravated her, and she looked as red as a cooked lobster. A lump formed in her throat, and she couldn¡¯t even shout. She hugged herself, as if that would cover anything, and she red at Seth. Seth looked at her naked body and softened up a little, and then he leaned closer. Isabe¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Seth!¡± And then Seth grabbed her foot. Ow! That hurts! Seth grabbed her foot with one hand and tested the temperature of the water with another, then he chuckled. Isabe was in a daze from the pain, but she clenched her teeth and held her grunt in. I ¡°You soaked yourself in hot water after you sprained your ankle? An idiot like you took care of me for five years. I wonder if that was an impostor wearing your skin,¡± Seth muttered harshly, the look on his face icy. He looked at the shivering Isabe like she was an idiot. Chapter 50 He Has an ANNA Isabe gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. The pain was snapping her, and fury red in her heart. She swung her fists and sshed water at Soth. It¡¯s none of your business!¡± Seth was surprised before he cocked an eyebrow, looking interested. There was a hint of delight in his eyes as he looked at Isabe. It almost looked like he found a shiny toy in a dark room. He leaned over again and dipped his arm into the bathtub, after which he picked her up despite her protests. Isabe was naked, and Seth suddenly holding her in his arms froze her mind. Emotions burst forth from her heart. It wasn¡¯t until Seth took her out of the bathroom and tossed her onto the bed that she realized what was happening. She quickly grabbed the nket beside her and covered herself 1. ¡°I took you out of the bathtubte at night, and this is how you repay me?¡± Chapter 50 He Has an Appointment Seth held down on his belt and looked at his drenched shirt in impatience. He had forgotten that he was the one who did this on his own volition. Isabe took a deep breath and rolled her eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t-¡± ask you toe. And then she got a warning re before she could finish. Damn it! But he¡¯s a threat, so I¡¯d better shut up. She bit her lip and gulped down her words. ¡°Thank you for picking me up, Mr. Shaffer, but can you leave now?¡± ¡°So, Nics cane in?¡± Seth scoffed. That was not an answer to the question. Isabe had no idea what was going on in his head. She closed her eyes. ¡°He doesn¡¯t have to. I can take care of myself.¡± Chapter 50 He Has an Appointment Seth looked down at Isabe¡¯s ankle. With confidence and an annoying tone, he said, ¡°If I¡¯m right, you can¡¯t even move that leg of yours.¡± Isabe knew that, of course. Her ankle was screaming out in pain even if she wasn¡¯t moving, let alone if she did. ¡°You¡¯re a busy man. I don¡¯t want to waste your time. Even if this kills me, I¡¯ll deal with it myself.¡± She hung her head low, her hair sticking to her face. She was tough and yet pitiful at the same time. Seth hated this part of her the most. He turned to the couch icily and unbuttoned his shirt, then he took it off, revealing his perfect body. Isabe quickly looked away, her cheeks burning. Seth noticed that reaction, and he chortled. ¡°You¡¯ve seen every inch of my body. You must be bored after five years. Can¡¯t believe you¡¯d go red just seeing me half-naked again.¡± Chapter 50 He Has an Appointment Go red, my *ss! Isabe was irritated. She couldn¡¯t believe how self-absorbed this man was. It was worse than when she was working with him. She didn¡¯t want to talk to him, though. Seth then made a call using the Isabe thought he was saying that to Selena, and she didn¡¯t want to speak at all. The air was tense. Silence reigned the room until Selena came knocking, that was. Seth didn¡¯t even turn around. Coolly, he said, ¡°Put it outside.¡± Isabe heaved a sigh of relief. If Selena came in and saw her naked, she would never be able to exin her way out of it. The girl was already setting Chapter 50 He Has an Appointment her sights on Seth. It would be bad if she got hostile toward Isabe. Seth went past Isabe and opened the door to take his shirt before he came 1. Isabe noticed he was grooming himself and had evenbed his hair. It looked like he was going out. ¡°You¡¯re going out?¡± Seth nced at her. A long whileter, he finally said, ¡°I have anExclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. appointment.¡± Isabe was surprised as she stated, ¡°But it¡¯s almost 10.30PM.¡± Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Seth gave her a scornful look. Annoyed, he said, ¡°You¡¯ve only left work for days, and you¡¯ve forgotten all the stuff you worked on for years?¡± Isabe choked on her words. She had worked for Seth for five years, and they had experience meeting clientste at night, but those were rare urrences. ¡°Who are you seeing?¡± she asked. Seth buttoned thest button on his shirt and stood before the mirror. He stood tall, and he felt oppressive even when he wasn¡¯t talking. He raised his chin. ¡°Jonathan Gosling.¡± ¡°Mr. Gosling?¡± Isabe was shocked, and she almost let go of the nket. Seth said nothing. That was a tacit agreement. Chapter 51 She¡¯s Not Suitable Isabe was silent. She was worried. Jonathan was a retired government man and a very high-ranking official. He was nearly eighty, and he was seeing Seth at this hour. If anything were to happen to Jonathan, it would be bad. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, Mr. Gosling¡¯s heart isn¡¯t as healthy as it was. This isn¡¯t the Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. best hour to see him.¡± Seth strode to the couch without looking back. He made a call and told someone to prepare the files. He then hung up and noticed that Isabe was looking at him. ¡°I¡¯m not going alone,¡± hemented. Isabe got what he was saying. He must be waiting for Jonathan to make the decision on something important, and a group of people were going to meet him as well. He was in that group. Seth finished changing and left. A momentter, someone came in. Isabe heard his voice, and she knew it was Ollie. Chapter 51 She¡¯s Not Suitable ¡°Mr. Shaffer, the Hanks have left. It is now Ronald and Christopher Larson¡¯s turn.¡± Seth asked coolly, ¡°Have they met?¡± ¡°Only said hi at the doorway. Nothing more,¡± Ollie answered. Seth said nothing. Isabe got out of bed, still covering herself with a nket. She quickly changed into a robe and leaned on the door to listen in. Seth was about to move, and he told Ollie to get prepared. Isabe quickly got up, but it was toote to run. Seth opened the door and realized she was listening in. He looked at her coldly and picked up the watch he left behind, but he said nothing. Chapter 51 She¡¯s Not Suitable Out of an old habit, she said, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, Mr. Gosling isn¡¯t as young as he used to be. It¡¯s not advisable for someone with his condition to stay upte at night. If you have to talk, make sure you keep an eye on the time.¡± Seth shot her a mysterious look. Isabe licked her lips. She mused about it for a moment before adding, ¡°And Selena¡¯s not a suitable partner for this.¡± Seth paused for a moment and looked at her again. ¡°Then who is?¡± ¡°Nics or Ollie. Either of them,¡± Isabe answered without hesitation. ¡°Mr. Gosling¡¯ste wife was Mr. Stone¡¯s beloved daughter. She was a tough woman and hated girls who were indecisive. That rubbed off on her husband, and Mr. Gosling is a man who cares about his business partner¡¯s private life. It¡¯s inappropriate to bring a beautiful woman over to his cete at night.¡± Chapter 51 She¡¯s Not Suitable Isabe made great points. None of it was made emotionally. Seth looked at her and looked away only after she was done talking. Isabe thought he wanted to take Selena no matter what, so she continued, ¡°You¡¯ll have more chances to take her around. She-¡± ¡°And who told you I was taking her with me?¡± Seth suddenly raised his head and looked at her. Isabe froze for a moment. ¡°So what-¡± ¡°Ollie is enough,¡± Seth responded curtly. Isabe heaved a sigh of relief and hobbled away. She shut up and said nothing more. Ollie knocked on the door, telling Seth that it was time. Seth Chapter 51 She¡¯s Not Suitable picked up his suit and went away. When he reached the doorway, he turned to the side and looked at Isabe. ¡°Natasha¡¯s men are here. You can deal with the rest yourself.¡± Isabe was still wondering what Seth was talking about, but he had left. A moment of silenceter, she remembered that she had asked Natasha to dispatch a couple of men for her. While she was spacing out, the phone on the nightstand rang. She held back her pain and hobbled over. Then, she took the call. ¡°Hi, it¡¯s Isabe.¡± ¡°We¡¯re at the hotel, Isabe. What¡¯s the n?¡± Isabe leaned on the couch and mused over it. ¡°Just stand around for a bit. I¡¯ll call him. He shoulde, so just teach him a little lesson. Don¡¯t go too far.¡± Chapter 51 She¡¯s Not Suitable ¡°Gotcha.¡± The call ended. Isabe crossed her arms and mused over some stuff again. Once she was done, she called Jonas. Jonas picked it up, and he spoke crassly and harshly. ¡°Where are you? It¡¯ste at night. You¡¯re troubling me, you know that?¡± Isabe faked being drunk, and she drawled, ¡°Pick me up, Mr. Stokes.¡± Jonas paused for a moment, and he softened a little. ¡°You¡¯re running around even when you¡¯re drunk?¡± Isabe guessed that he was only in cahoots with the receptionist, so he wouldn¡¯t check the security footage. She kept faking a drawl and spoke in a daze. ¡°I have no idea where I am. Woke up in this ce.¡± Isabe told him the hotel¡¯s address and kept saying she had no idea where she was and that she was scared. Hearing that she was at a hotel, Jonas softened up even more. He told Isabe to reserve a room. He would go over and take a look. Isabe harrumphed. You old git. Think I¡¯m easy prey? This is what you get for harassing me. She hung up and waited for Jonas to show up and get his *ss whooped. She stood at the floor-to-roof window that allowed her vision of the ground. She felt gratified, and then someone knocked on the door. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Isabe thought it was Selena, but it turned out to be Ollie. ¡°You didn¡¯t go with him?¡± Politely, Ollie answered, ¡°He was worried Nics and Selena wouldn¡¯t be able to deal with any emergencies alone, so he left me here and took Nics with him.¡± Isabe nodded. That was a safer way of doing this. She disagreed with Seth Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! taking two newbies with him. Even Ellie and Fiona were better than them by a mile. ¡°Do you need anything from me?¡± Olli nodded. ¡°Before he left, he asked me to keep a cardiologist on call. I got two, but they aren¡¯t exactly famous experts.¡± Chapter 52 Seth in Trouble Isabe knew what she had to do. She moved away and let Olliee in. Ollie took a step back, however. It seemed like he was avoiding her. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I just want to bring this up with you and see if you have any solutions.¡± Tch. Even his employees are weird. Guess the weirdo¡¯s habits rubbed off on this guy, Isabe didn¡¯t show her annoyance. She agreed and then had nothing else to say. Ollie was only here to tell her that information. He left right away, leaving Isabe to her own devices. In the end, she closed the door and rolled her eyes, but she wasing up with a solution in her head. There was aputer in her room. While she waited for Jonas to show up, she searched for the number of a cardiologist named Shawn Sheffield. Chapter 52 Seth in Trouble Shawn came back from his study overseas a few years ago, and she attended a conference as the Shaffer Group¡¯s representative. He left an impression on her, but they shared no connection otherwise. Seth¡¯s rivals this time were different. The Larsons and Hanks alone were established businessmen in Imperia. They weren¡¯t as powerful as the Shaffers, who had connections with the military, but with their roots deeply established in the world of business, it was no guarantee that Seth would win this. Even if Jonathan was fine all the way through, it would leave a better impression if they could get Shawn to check on him. Isabe quickly searched for Shawn¡¯s number, but then her phone kept vibrating. It was Jonas. She sneered and took the call. ¡°Yes, Mr. Stokes?¡± She could hear Jonas walking around. ¡°Which room are you in?¡± he asked. Chapter 52 Seth in Trouble Isabe said a random number and told him, ¡°Remember to go through the car park. I¡¯ll be waiting at the elevator there.¡± Jonas kept saying he would do it. The excitement in his voice was palpable. Isabe didn¡¯t hang up. She slowly moved to the floor-to-ceiling windows and opened up the curtain a little. She was on the sixth floor, and from where she stood, she could see the stretch of the road leading into the car park. Jonas was still yammering and harassing her. Isabe picked up the te of strawberries on the table and started eating, the look on her face icy. She talked to Jonas from time to time, pretending she was in a daze? ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, Isabe. I¡¯ll give you the best things this world has to offer.¡± Jonas was about to speak further, but then Isabe heard a shout. She stood Chapter 52 Seth in Trouble up and looked downstairs. Someone swung a bat at Jonas¡¯ neck from behind. She kept eating her strawberries and feigned confusion. ¡°Mr. Stokes? Are you there, Mr. Stokes?¡± There was no answer, of course. After Jonas was knocked on his neck, a few guys dragged him into the car park. Isabe held her phone out. She could hear cries for mercy, but Natasha¡¯s men didn¡¯t talk too much. They kept going at Jonas without saying a word. Jonas started off begging for mercy, then he cursed them. In the end, he fell into despair and cried for help. Isabe listened, but she was unfazed. She was icy. Eventually, she was annoyed, and she hung up. Twenty minutester, Natasha¡¯s men called her. ¡°It¡¯s done, Isabe. What should we do with him?¡± Chapter 52 Seth in Trouble ¡°Is he still alive?¡± ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t worry. We didn¡¯t kill him.¡± ¡°Good. Thanks for the help. Give me your ount number, and I¡¯ll pay you for your work.¡± The guy quickly refused, but Isabe was adamant. She wouldn¡¯t owe anyone anything. Eventually, she convinced the guy and gave them a generous amount of about eight thousand. After Jonas was beaten up, she went back to work, looking for Shawn¡¯s number. It took her half an hour before she got any clues. It was nearly 12.00AM, and she guessed that Seth should be all right, but then someone banged on the door so hard it felt like the door would be smashed. Chapter 52 Seth in Trouble Isabe frowned. The banging was giving her a headache, so she gritted her teeth, held her pain in, and opened the door. It was Ollie, and he looked panicked. That was not a good sign. ¡°Bad news. Mr. Gosling fell ill, and he¡¯s taken to the hospital.¡± Isabe cursed silently. ¡°And Mr. Shaffer?¡± Ollie wiped his sweat. Resigned, he said, ¡°Mr. Gosling fell ill when he was talking to Mr. Shaffer. Mr. Shaffer went to the hospital too. Isabe clenched her fists, feeling utterly annoyed. ¡°What can I do when things have gotten so bad?¡± Ollie couldn¡¯t say a word. A moment of silenceter, he said, ¡°The doctors I called are on their way there. Mr. Gosling has his own medic too, but they Chapter 52 Seth in Trouble won¡¯t be of any use.¡± Isabe cursed Seth madly in her heart. Told you not to see himte at night. Now look at what happened. She frowned at Ollie and hissed, ¡°So what if you¡¯re telling me this? He¡¯s Seth Shaffer. He doesn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s help.¡± Ollie was shut down, but he looked at her. ¡°Ms. Symons, you know how much Mr. Shaffer hates owing favors.¡± Isabe stopped turning around. She was tempted. It wasn¡¯t easy to get that man to owe anyone a favor. Ollie caught that, and he said, ¡°And a life is at stake here. You can¡¯t leave him for dead.¡± Do you think I¡¯m a doctor? Isabe rolled her eyes. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 The light of the hospital¡¯s corridor was blinding. A bunch of people gathered at the operating theater¡¯s doorway, taking up all the space. Seth was on a bench, the look on his face cold. The air around him was tense and dangerous, and no one dared to talk to him. ¡°You¡¯re such a professional, Mr. Shaffer. Half an hour of conversation, and Mr. Gosling had a heart attack.¡± Christopher was ad in his twenties, and he was haughty and arrogant. While his father was soothing Jonathan¡¯s family, he mocked Seth quietly. He was only three years younger than Seth, and yet Seth¡¯s achievements dwarfed his. Truth be told, he was jealous. Seth said nothing, but Nics couldn¡¯t hold it in. He stayed as deadpan as Chapter 53 Greedy, You Are possible, and he quietly retorted, ¡°If you¡¯re hungry for a fight, you should go back and calm down. Don¡¯t yell at my boss.¡± Christopher¡¯s eyes went wide. He couldn¡¯t believe a secretary would be that bold as to mock him. Seth, who had a scornful expression, looked at Nics and cocked an eyebrow. A masked doctor came out of the operating theater. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It took us all we could to stabilize his condition. We¡¯re calling a meeting anding up with a consensus.¡± Amelia Gosling almost fell. A bunch of people held her up, but they couldn¡¯t Chapter 53 Greedy, You Are As the one who witnessed the whole affair, Seth was in an awkward position. Jonathan¡¯s heart attack was the result of the elderly man¡¯s longtime exhaustion. Seth wasn¡¯t responsible for it, but it looked like he was the one C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org who riled Jonathan so much that he fell ill. Seth wanted the right to develop an ore mountain that Jonathan had. A few families in Imperia wanted that too. The Hanks¡¯ representative was Spencer Hanks, the family head. He was older than Seth¡¯s father. The father and son duo from the Larson Family came as well, and every other family tried to butter up the Goslings as much as they could. Seth was the only one who was young and alone, and yet he went toe to toe with everyone else. He was brilliant, courteous, and professional. He shone over everyone else, so the other families wanted to work together and kick him out. Someone took Amelia away so she could rest. Only Felix Gosling, who was the son of Jonathan, was left. He was a man nearing his fifties, and he was also wearing himself out. Spencer, the sly old fox, stepped in to butter up the Goslings again. ¡°Get some rest, Felix. Christopher will hold the fort.¡± Felix waved him down and leaned on the wall before sitting down beside Seth. ¡°It¡¯s alright. My dad¡¯s not feeling well, and I must stay with him no matter how hard it is. It¡¯s been a long day for everyone as well. Sorry that I can¡¯t be a good host. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Mr. Felix. We care about Mr. Gosling too.¡± Chapter 53 Greedy, You Are ¡°He¡¯s always been a lucky man. He¡¯ll be fine.¡± All the concerned words only served to annoy Felix more. Since Felix was beside Seth, he was surprised to see that the young businessman was keeping his silence. He said with exhaustion, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Shaffer. That must¡¯ve scared you. This is our fault.¡± Seth was calm as hemented, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mr. Felix. Mr. Gosling fell because he was exhausted. I should be taking responsibility for it.¡± He showed respect and took on the responsibility. He was a lot better than those who only knew how to say empty words. Felix knew it wasn¡¯t Seth¡¯s fault, however. He sighed. ** Chapter 53 Greedy, You Are ¡°The cause for this is Mr. Gosling¡¯s bypass surgery¡¯splication. I¡¯ve sent someone to contact Shawn Sheffield. Let¡¯s hope we get good news.¡± Spencer, who had been silent, said, ¡°But that man is elusive. He¡¯s probably traveling in Perou. It¡¯ll be hard to find him, Seth.¡± He looked like a concerned gentleman. ¡°This illness came too quickly. It caught us by surprise.¡± Seth pursed his lips. He had no intention to speak any further. He wouldn¡¯t -even say a word. ¡°Now that my father is ill, the business with the ore mountain just got a lot moreplicated,¡± Felix muttered. He wanted to test these people. Silence fell upon them. Ronald came closer and patted Felix¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Felix. We¡¯ll just Chapter 53 Greedy, You Are split the license between us. Nothing¡¯s more important than your father¡¯s health.¡± Spencer and the other families-the Limes and the Dawsons-said nothing more. They tacitly agreed to this n. Felix adjusted his sses and looked at Seth. ¡°Seth, what do you think?¡± Seth was still leaning on the chair, calm and collected. However, what he said next surprised everyone. ¡°I should be responsible for Mr. Gosling falling ill. If anything happens to him, we¡¯ll pull out from the ore business. We¡¯ll not do any business if it means someone has to die for it.¡± Everyone inhaled sharply. Christopher looked furious. If it wasn¡¯t for his father stopping him, he would have cursed Seth. Spencer looked at Seth as well. Even if the families had to share the development rights, it would still mean an astronomical profit. He couldn¡¯t believe Seth would refuse. So, he wants everything for himself? Young, foolish, and greedy. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Everyone was engrossed in their own thoughts. Felix had a look of sorrow on his face, like he was sad. No one could step in right now. ¡°If Seth¡¯s not doing it, then we¡¯ll be left without a leader. Pity.¡± Christopher sighed, ignoring the fact that Seth subtly called them all greedy and heartless pigs. He only wanted to kick this guy out of this game. With him taking the lead, everyone else agreed. Seth was still silent as if he didn¡¯t care. He wasn¡¯t worried, but Nics was. Everyone knew the condition Jonathan was in. He would die soon. What Seth did was like refusing billions of dors in profit every year. While things were in a stalemate, the operating theater¡¯s elevator doors swung open, and a group of people came in. Seth took a nce and saw Chapter 54 Do it for Him Isabe wearing a jacket. She was wearing a robe underneath the jacket. He knew that jacket. It was the one he left in the hotel. Her hair was unkempt, and she had no makeup on. Obviously, she came in a hurry. ¡°S-Shawn?¡± someone said in surprise. Everyone stood up, aside from Seth. Someone followed Isabe in. He was slender and in a camel-colored jacket. He looked gentlemanly and regal. His eyes were hidden behind his sses, lending him an air of maturity. ¡°Hello, Mr. Gosling. I¡¯m Isabe Symons.¡± Isabe took Shawn over to everyone. First, she introduced herself to Felix, and then she introduced Shawn, ¡°And this is Shawn Sheffield, the cardiology expert.¡± Felix was shocked. He couldn¡¯t believe the elusive doctor he¡¯d been searching for would just show up. Quickly, he extended his hand and looked at Isabe Chapter 54 Do ft for Him curiously. I¡¯m Mr. Shaffer¡¯s assistant,¡± said Isabe. Felix had his question answered, and he was about to thank Seth, but Seth stood up. He looked at Shawn and acted a little more polite than he did with Christopher and his gang. ¡°Dr. Sheffield, please check on Mr. Gosling first.¡± Shawn adjusted his sses and smiled before he looked at Isabe. ¡°I¡¯m going, then?¡± Isabe was a little surprised he would ask her. She felt awkward, but she nodded. ¡°Yeah, Call me if anything happens.¡± Shawn smiled and looked at Seth, then he went into the operating theater, passing by everyone. Chapter 54 Do It for Him Once he was gone, things got a little tense outside the operating theater. If looks could kill, Isabe would be dead. If she hadn¡¯t shown up, they¡¯d have gotten the license to develop the ore mountain. Isabe held on despite the res she was getting. Her head was woozy. She¡¯d been trotting all the way, and her ankle felt like it was stabbed by ten knives. She couldn¡¯t even stand. Just when she was going to grin and bear with it, Seth stood up and pushed her down onto his seat. Stunned, she looked up, but all she saw was ck. Seth blocked the lights and res out, keeping her in a safe little space. She gulped and leaned on her chair weakly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce her, Seth?¡± Ronald asked. Isabe could hear the provocation in his voice, and she clenched her fists. Chapter 54 Do it for Him She cursed Ronald quietly. If you b*stards hadn¡¯t kept Mr. Gosling up all night, I wouldn¡¯t have had to torture myself either. Seth stood before Isabe. He could see her head right under him, and he Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. didn¡¯t even give Ronald a nce. He said curtly, ¡°She¡¯s my assistant.¡± Ronald smiled. ¡°What a capable assistant you have.¡± Isabe rolled her eyes. Since they couldn¡¯t see her, and Seth was protecting her, she mocked, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to my friends in this line of work.¡± Ronald said nothing. Seth chortled, but there was none of his usual scorn in it. He sounded amused. He raised his hand and patted Isabe¡¯s head. Chapter 54 Do It for Him Isabe puckered her lips and moved backward, but Seth moved forward and trapped her in a smaller space, and then he patted her head again. Isabe gritted her teeth and gave up. Fine, pat me, then. Silence fell upon them once more. Someone would sigh asionally, deepening everyone¡¯s anxiety of waiting. Isabe¡¯s ankle was still screaming out in pain even though she was sitting down, and the pain was getting more intense. After patting her head for a bit, Seth realized she wasn¡¯t looking too good, and he moved his gaze downward. He took a step back and told Nics, ¡°Get me an orthopedist.¡± ¡± Nics was stunned for a moment, then he looked at Isabe and nodded, Isabe was surprised that Seth didn¡¯t leave her for dead. She pushed down on the armrest and tried to stand up, but Seth stepped ahead, leaned down, and lifted her up in his arms without missing a beat. That shocked Isabe, and everyone¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°I can walk by myself, Mr. Shaffer.¡± ¡°You ran around a lot just to get Dr. Sheffield here. If you ruin your leg, I¡¯ll have to cover for your workce hazard ims.¡± Seth looked at Isabe coolly. Everyone got what he was saying, and they looked at Isabe¡¯s swollen ankle. They gasped. Even Spencermented, ¡°You youngsters sure work yourself to the bone.¡± Isabe said nothing. She stiffened up as Seth took her to the lounge. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 After they came into the lounge, Isabe remembered something, and she looked at Seth. ¡°You can¡¯t leave that ce now, Mr. Shaffer.¡± If Mr. Gosling wakes up, the first impression would work in our favor. We can¡¯t let someone else take that chance away. Seth sat down and massaged his forehead. He quietly said, ¡°He¡¯s not an idiot. You think waiting for him for hours would tip anything in their favor?¡± Isabe couldn¡¯t argue. Things were getting a little icy, but Nics came in with the doctor in time, and Isabe heaved a sigh of relief. The doctor looked at Isabe¡¯s ankle, and he clicked his tongue. ¡°Why¡¯d you drag it out for so long? This is serious.¡± Chapter 55 Shut Up, Seth Isabe smiled and lied, ¡°I had something urgent.¡± And then Seth gave her a look. ¡°Nothing¡¯s more important than your health. Can¡¯t do anything without good health.¡± The doctor sighed and wrote down a prescription, then he told Nics to get the meds. Seth was still seated. Curtly, he asked, ¡°Complications?¡± The doctor looked at him and politely said, ¡°Won¡¯t leave anyplications, but if left untreated, she¡¯ll be susceptible to more sprains. It¡¯ll end up being a big problem if she sprains her ankle too much.¡± Seth pursed his lips, and then he looked at Isabe¡¯s ankle. Chapter 55 Shut Up, Seth Isabe¡¯s heart thumped furiously. She hoped the doctor would make an ankle sprain sound terminal. That¡¯d give her more leeway when she wanted to ask for a favor from Seth. Once the doctor was gone, Seth asked, ¡°How¡¯d you find Shawn?¡± Isabe¡¯s leg was hung in the air, and she leaned backward in a weird position. Even talking was strenuous. ¡°I went through a lot of stuff, but I couldn¡¯t find any way to contact him. Keyword search led me to a janitor¡¯s resume. Said she took care of him once, and I got his number from her.¡± Seth leaned back and crossed his arms. He praised, ¡°Not a total moron, I see.¡± Isabe licked her lips. She wanted to make the process sound as arduous as possible, but Seth suddenly asked, ¡°So why¡¯s he willing toe?¡± Chapter 55 Shut Up, Seth ¡°Huh?¡± Isabe paused for a moment, and then she snapped out of it. ¡°Oh, he was at Lawdom. Ollie and I went to his ce and dragged him out of bed.¡± Seth frowned. ¡°What did you two do?¡± Isabe averted her gaze. ¡°Um, we might¡¯ve climbed over his courtyard¡¯s wall.¡± Seth looked at her swollen ankle and sighed. ¡°So, you hurt your ankle a second time because of that?¡± Isabe nodded. ¡°Good thing his house is only a two-story unit, or it¡¯d have been bad for me.¡± Seth looked at her and took back his praising tone. ¡°You could¡¯ve asked Ollie to make the climb.¡± Chapter 55 Shut Up, Seth Isabe said, ¡°He did. His shirt was stuck to a branch, and he almost couldn¡¯t make it back down. That idiot. Seth narrowed his eyes and kept looking at Isabe. ¡°Shawn¡¯s a haughty guy. How¡¯d you convince him?¡± Isabe moved her arms and sighed. ¡°Doctors are kind. He came once made things clear for him.¡± Seth chortled, his eyes filled with scorn. ¡°Someone held a knife against his neck back in Ans, and he still wouldn¡¯t save the people he didn¡¯t want to. You call him kind?¡± Isabe bit her lip and mused over that statement. ¡°So, you mean¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s obvious he wants to woo you,¡± Seth interrupted. TUG Chapter 55 Shut Up, Seth Isabe¡¯s eyes went wide, and she turned around to look at Seth. She pulled her ankle. ¡°You¡¯re reading too much into it. We only talked a little. He doesn¡¯t know me, and I don¡¯t know him.¡± ¡°You went to a conference two years ago. That was about the time he came back.¡± Seth looked at her coldly. Isabe cursed him silently. Now you have a good memory. You talk too much. Just skip the formalities and say, ¡®I owe you one.¡¯ Seth looked at her. Thinking she was nervous, he harrumphed. ¡°He¡¯s ten years older than you and was married once.¡± Isabe thought he was mad, and she sighed. She tried her best to be polite. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°I have no other intention, Mr. Shaffer. Whether he was married or not is none of my business. I know he¡¯s out of my league.¡± Chapter 55 Shut Up, Seth Seth crossed his arms and looked at Isabe¡¯s profile. He said harshly, ¡°Just saying you should stay away from those you shouldn¡¯t get too close to. He didn¡¯t give his ex-wife a cent after the divorce.¡± Isabe said nothing more. She thought Seth was getting more riled up every time she spoke. At this rate, they couldn¡¯t get back to the negotiation about the favor he owed her. Seth took her silence as a silent tantrum, and he harrumphed. + Nics came back with the pills, and he noticed that the air felt weird. He carefully told them what to do with the pills and asked if Isabe needed his help. Seth shot him an icy look. ¡°She hurt her ankle, not her hands.¡± Chapter 55 Shut Up, Seth Isabe gritted her teeth and put on a smile. She blinked at Nics. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Nics could feel Seth staring at him. He grabbed some tools for Isabe and left her and Seth alone. Isabe dealt with her sprained ankle, thinking about how she could bring the conversation back to the favor he owed. ¡°Are you going to take the license to develop the mountain all for yourself?¡± Seth closed his eyes, refusing to talk to her. He leaned on the chair, resting his eyes. Isabe looked at the wall and rolled her eyes. She continued, ¡°This is a sensitive topic. It won¡¯t be good for you if you take everything for yourself.¡± hapter 55 Up, Seth Seth was still annoyed. Coolly, he said, ¡°None of your business.¡± Ugh. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Isabe screamed in her heart. She wanted to turn around and pull Seth¡¯s head off. God, how did his parents raise him? He¡¯s as stubborn as a mule. She had something to gain from him, however, so she couldn¡¯t let things go silent, or she¡¯d have worked for nothing. Just when she was about to say something, Nics¡¯ voice came in. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, Selena brought something. Should I bring it inside?¡± Isabe chortled silently and refused to speak anymore. Seth didn¡¯t open his eyes either, but he didn¡¯t object. Nics carefully opened the door and came in with a backpack. Isabe saw him taking out a nket, and he handed it to Seth. ¡°Here, cover yourself, sir. You¡¯ll catch a cold here.¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Seth frowned in frustration, but he took the nket and said, ¡°Leave and find a ce to sleep. Don¡¯t disturb me.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Isabe pouted and nced at the backpack. Aside from the nket, there were clothes and bathing supplies. Man, she¡¯s working like she¡¯s his wife. She started another conversation. ¡°Do you think Selena¡¯s good enough, Mr. Shaffer?¡± Seth frowned. The exhaustion was annoying him. He took a deep breath. ¡°Shut it.¡± Isabe rolled her eyes. Shey back down on her bed and finished rubbing the salve over her ankle. She could rest, so shey on her back fully. Exhaustion and panic welled within her heart. She felt her heart thumping, and it made her ufortable. Still, she drifted to sleep, but the ice-cold temperature woke her up, and she heard hurried footsteps shuffling outside. Nics came in and woke Seth up. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, Mr. Gosling is awake, and he wishes to see you.¡± Seth opened his eyes and wiped his face. He tossed the nket away and got up. When he came to the doorway, he turned around and looked at Isabe. Isabe wasn¡¯t feeling sleepy anymore. She pushed herself up and saw Seth staring at her. ¡°Come out,¡± Seth said curtly. He straightened his clothes out and went to the operating theater. Isabe smacked her cheeks. She gritted her teeth and changed into her shoes, and then she hobbled after Seth. Jonathan was in the ICU, and a group of people were standing outside. When they saw Seth, they had weird looks in their eyes. It felt like they were wolves trying to gang up on a lion. And then a littlemb hobbled behind that lion, smiling like a little devil. Felix went over and patted Seth¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Sorry for this. You must¡¯ve had a rough sleep. Dad wanted to see you as soon as he woke up after he heard that you got him the doctor.¡± Seth nodded. He was exhausted, but he still looked clean. At least he was much better than hispetitors, whose eyes were bloodshot from staying up all night. Isabe was feeling excited. With Jonathan awake, she could really ask for a favor from Seth. She watched as Seth changed into a surgical gown. Her n was to wait at the doorway, but Felix said, ¡°Come in too, miss. Dad wants to see you too.¡± Isabe pointed at herself, surprised. ¡°Me?¡± Felix nodded and asked someone to lead her into a room to get changed. Isabe was confused, and she wondered what Jonathan had to say to her. Seth changed into a surgical gown in a disinfection chamber, and he wore a mask. His face was obscured, but he still looked tall. Isabe was wearing a pair of goggles, and she met his glinting eyes. She sighed in her heart. That¡¯s Seth for you. Looks outstanding even in a surgical gown. She followed Seth and stayed as silent and inconspicuous as possible. They went into the room, and the air was filled with the beeping of machines. Tubes were connected to Jonathan, and a venttor covered his face. It was a terrifying sight. Noticing their appearance, Jonathan did his best to open his eyes, and he rasped. He sounded like a blower. A broken blower that was already out of use for years. Seth got closer and leaned downward. He whispered, ¡°It¡¯s me. Mr. Gosling.¡± Jonathan heaved a sigh and looked at him, then he saw Isabe, and he nodded. ¡°They¡¯re outside?¡± he asked. Seth nodded. ¡°Yes. Stayed up the whole night.¡± Jonathan took a deep breath. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°Slept for a bit,¡± said Seth. Isabe gritted her teeth. ¡°Can you not be that honest? Lie a little.¡± Jonathan panted, but it was not because of anger. He wasughing. ¡°You¡¯ve always been smarter than everyone else. And more honest.¡± Isabe rolled her eyes. All an act. ¡°Your doctor saved my life. So, what will you do with the license? Take it all for yourself like you insisted?¡± asked Jonathan. Isabe fell silent, and she looked at Seth. He was leaning over, listening to Jonathan. He looked calm and unfazed even though the thing about the license was brought up. ¡°Spencer is a sly old fox, and so is Ronald, but his son is a moron,¡± said Seth quietly, disparaging hispetitors. Isabe frowned. So, he¡¯s taking it for himself. Jonathan had the same thought as her, and he asked, ¡°So you¡¯re taking it for yourself?¡± Seth shook his head. ¡°No.¡± Surprised, Isabe looked at him, waiting for his continuation. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Changed His Mind was surprised that he changed his mind. She listened closely to his whispers, not wanting to miss anything. Seth was still leaning over, saying, ¡°We¡¯ll take 70 percent and leave the rest for the Limes and the Dawsons.¡± Isabe mused, wondering why Seth was doing this. Jonathan came to the conclusion faster than she could. A small smile curled his lips. ¡°Smart.¡± A stroke of inspiration struck Isabe, and she understood why Seth wanted to do this. The Hanks and Larsons were powerful. If they were to be the T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. partners, they¡¯d want to take 30 percent of the rights each, and that would put them in a three-way deadlock. The Limes and the Dawsons, however, were not as powerful as the Shaffers, but they were rich as well. If he worked with them, the Shaffers could remain as the unequivocal leader. The other families would do their best to keep the Larsons and the Hanks out of the deal if they wanted to safeguard their interests. Even if they didn¡¯t want to, they would have to help Seth. Cunning and dirty. Jonathan said something, and he coughed. It made talking harder. ¡°I¡¯m not in good health now. Felix will deal with this from now on. Do your best. You can do better than just being the boss of the Shaffer Group.¡± Seth pulled back. Finally, he told Jonathan to get some rest, and he stood up. Thinking that he wanted to leave, Isabe stepped backward. put them in a three-way deadlock. The Limes and the Dawsons, however, were not as powerful as the Shaffers, but they were rich as well. If he worked with them, the Shaffers could remain as the unequivocal leader. The other families would do their best to keep the Larsons and the Hanks out of the deal if they wanted to safeguard their interests. Even if they didn¡¯t want to, they would have to help Seth. Cunning and dirty. Jonathan said something, and he coughed. It made talking harder..¡±I¡¯m not in good health now. Felix will deal with this from now on. Do your best. You can do better than just being the boss of the Shaffer Group.¡± Seth pulled back. Finally, he told Jonathan to get some rest, and he stood up. Thinking that he wanted to leave, Isabe stepped backward. Jonathan saw her, and he asked, ¡°Is this the assistant who found the doctor?¡± Seth stopped moving and looked at Isabe. He gave her a look subtly. Isabe went ahead and nodded. ¡°Hi, Mr. Gosling. I¡¯m Isabe.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Jonathan looked at her warmly. ¡°It¡¯s not easy finding someone Isabe waved her hands. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just dragged the doctor all the way here.¡± Jonathan smiled and stared at Isabe for a while. Isabe¡¯s cheeks burned, and she fidgeted. ¡°Once I feel better, I¡¯ll treat you to dinner. For now, all I can say is thank you.¡± Isabe was surprised Jonathan was paying her so much attention. She kept telling him it was just her job, and that Seth was the one who told her to do it. Jonathan smiled more, seeing her so nervous. ¡°You should get some rest.¡± Isabe heaved a sigh of relief and bowed. She moved a few steps back and turned around. Seth was waiting for her at the doorway. Even through the goggles, she could see the mockery in his eyes. She knew he wasughing at her for being a nervous bumpkin. Isabe gave a humph in her mind. She was still trying toe up with a n to get a favor from Seth. They came out of the room and got changed. Everyone in the corridor stood up and looked at them with the same expression on their faces. It reminded Isabe of the times everyone was waiting for the teacher to announce the result of their test when she was little. Seth nodded at Felix. Calmly, he said, ¡°He¡¯s feeling better. We¡¯re leaving.¡± He said nothing else and announced that he was leaving right away. That didn¡¯t sit well with everyone. ¡°Did he really say nothing, Mr. Shaffer?¡± Spencer went and blocked Seth. Seth was taller than Spencer, and he looked down at him coolly. Nonchntly, he said, ¡°Just a little chat. Do you really want to know what we talked about, Mr. Hanks?¡± Spencer choked on his own words. He knew he shouldn¡¯t ask, but he couldn¡¯t sit idly by when a project of this volume would be taken away by Shaffer Group. ¡°It¡¯ste. You guys should go back and get some rest.¡± Felix stepped in. Spencer moved away, but he was green, red, and purple at the same time. Seth raised his head arrogantly. He put one hand in his pocket and left the ce. Isabe followed him. When she raised her head, she met the eyes of a young man. He was looking at her darkly at first, but then he had a look of lust in his eyes. Isabe knew that look all too well. It disgusted her. She looked away and followed Seth quickly. Nics was waiting at the stairway. Standing beside him was Selena, who came earlier. Selena was polite. She went ahead and helped Isabe get into the elevator. ¡°Hi, Isabe.¡± ?? Isabe didn¡¯t like her, but she wasn¡¯t disgusted either, so she did not fling her hand away. Before Isabe could get into the elevator, someone behind her said warmly, ¡°You¡¯re ditching the doctor after you¡¯re done with your business?¡± Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Chapter 58 How to Repay Seth had gotten into the elevator, but he turned around, yet he didn¡¯te out. Nics quickly pushed the open button. Shawn was still wearing his coat, and he smelled of alcohol, but it wasn¡¯t despicable. He was handsome, after all. The man was thirty-five years old, and he had this mature air about him. Every movement he made was attractive, and he had glistening eyes like Dariel, yet he looked so kind and righteous, unlike Dariel. It was a good mix of kindness and coquettishness. Isabe stood at the elevator¡¯s entryway. Her lips twitched, and she turned to the side. ¡°Dr. Sheffield, this is Mr. Shaffer, my boss.¡± Shawn looked at Seth. ¡°Hello, Mr. Shaffer.¡± Seth grunted. He didn¡¯t deign to speak more. After the perfunctory greeting, Shawn turned his gaze back to Isabe. ¡°You¡¯re ditching me after you dragged me out of my house and used me?¡± Isabe forced a smile, and then she looked at Seth. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m capable of repaying this favor. Mr. Shaffer can, however. You helped him a ton.¡± Shawn smirked, and he turned to Seth. ¡°So, how are you going to repay the favor?¡± Seth put one hand in his pocket. He didn¡¯t even smile at Shawn. ¡°Someone will give you a check, Dr. Sheffield. It¡¯ll be at your residence.¡± Shawn kept smirking, and he crossed his arms. ¡°Do you think I need money, Mr. Shaffer?¡± Seth chortled and put on an annoying expression. ¡°You don¡¯t, but that¡¯s all I have.¡± Isabe gritted her teeth. What the hell is that? You just have to insult someone with money, huh? She wanted to smack his head and put his mind right. ¡°Very well, then I guess I¡¯ll have Ms. Symons repay the favor.¡± Shawn was still smiling, and he looked at Isabe gently. Isabe gulped, and a chill ran down her spine. Seth looked at Shawn again. He said harshly, ¡°She¡¯s not a part of my Shawn smiled handsomely. ¡°And I wasn¡¯t helping yourpany. I was helping her.¡± Can you shut it? Isabe wanted to scream. She didn¡¯t find anything wrong with this guy when she dragged him out of his house, but now she knew he was a troublemaker. Seth still owes me one. If you force him into a corner and he refuses to repay my favor, what then? She was in a dilemma, and she met Seth¡¯s eyes. ¡°He wants you to repay his favor. You should stay.¡± Then he looked at Nics. ¡°We¡¯re going down.¡± Nics was pressing down on a button. Things were awkward. Selena quickly let Isabe go and trotted into the elevator. She followed Seth closely. Isabe gritted her teeth. Her eyes were red with fury, and she red at Shawn. Nics was smart enough to defuse this. ¡°She can¡¯t repay a favor this big right away. Her ankle is still hurt. She shoulde with us and get some rest.¡± He put a leg forward and leaned out of the elevator to hold Isabe. ¡°Isabe, quick.¡± Isabe was grateful. She turned and nced at Shawn. ¡°We¡¯ll talkter. Sorry.¡± She extended her hand, worried that Seth might leave her behind. She got into the elevator, and she heaved a sigh of relief once the doors.were shut. Whew. Almost lost my debtor. The elevator descended the building, and the doors slid open once more a whileter. Seth strode out, not waiting for Isabe. Luckily, Nics held her, and she could catch up with Seth, though barely. They came to the parking lot, and another problem arose. Who¡¯s going to take the co-driver seat? T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, Isabe¡¯s ankle isn¡¯t doing too well. It¡¯s wider back there. Can she take the back seat?¡± Nics asked. Seth stared ahead, but he said nothing. He didn¡¯t agree or disagree. Nics looked at Isabe. Isabe mustered her courage and went into the back seat. Gotta do this to get his favor. Selena got into the co-driver¡¯s seat, after which she looked at the back seat through the rearview mirror. Isabe clenched her fists as she tried toe up with a way to bring up the conversation, but Seth wasn¡¯t giving her any opening. It was dawn outside, and barely anyone was around. They came back to the hotel. Selena and Nics got out first, but Seth wasn¡¯t moving. Isabe tried to open the door, but it was locked. She took a deep breath and was about tounch an attack. Seth blurted, ¡°How are you going to repay his favor? Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 One Promise Seth spoke softly, almost mockingly. He sounded like he wanted to watch how Isabe would wrap up this drama. Isabe rolled her eyes at the window and gritted her teeth. ¡°No. I want to know how you¡¯re going to repay my favor.¡± She mustered her courage and turned around. ¡°I¡¯m not your secretary anymore. I worked through the night and solved a big problem for yourpany. You won¡¯t give me nothing, will you?¡± Seth stared at her, and he chuckled. ¡°I see.¡± Isabe gulped. She was feeling nervous. ¡°So that¡¯s why you didn¡¯t stay with Shawn. This is what you were trying to get at.¡± Seth chortled, but he looked rxed. He leaned on the leather seat. ¡°So what do you want?¡± Isabe had been waiting for this the whole night, and her whole body was screaming in excitement. The first thing she thought of was to have Seth get rid of Louis, but then, even if Louis was taken out, there was still Vincent. She couldn¡¯t use Seth to get rid of all her enemies. When the silence had gone on long enough, Seth guessed what she was going to ask based on their past interactions. ¡°You want money again?¡± Isabe pursed her lips. She asked, ¡°How much are you going to give?¡± Seth had a look that said, ¡°I knew it.¡± He pressed down on thepartment beside his seat and took out a card. ¡°Take any amount you want.¡± Isabe cocked her eyebrow. ¡°Can I clean the ount?¡± E Seth shot her a look. Quietly, he said, ¡°You¡¯re too much of a coward to do that, and you¡¯re not capable enough.¡± Isabe pouted. He was right. She wouldn¡¯t even dream of emptying that ount, and she¡¯d be too scared to spend the money even if she did empty the ount. She held the card and stared down, musing for a moment. Noticing her ignorance, Seth frowned. ¡°You want more?¡± Isabe gritted her teeth and handed back the card. ¡°I don¡¯t want money.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Seth paused. He then thought she was up to something, so he didn¡¯t take the card. ¡°What else could you want but money?¡± Isabe mocked him silently. What a paranoid. She smiled, however. ¡°I want a promise.¡± Seth¡¯s eyes glinted coldly. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You gave me enough money, but I need an exit strategy whenever I¡¯m.in Imperia.¡± Isabe smiled and raised her head. Her eyes glistened. ¡°If I get into trouble someday, you gotta cover for me.¡± Seth stared at her, wondering if she was telling the truth. Then he looked away. ¡°What makes you think you can get my promise that easily?¡±. Isabe held the card tightly. She frowned. ¡°Is it harder than getting a license to mine ore?¡± Seth said nothing. Isabe looked at his mouth, worried he might say something that would annoy her so much, she would strangle him. ¡°I don¡¯t make empty promises.¡± Seth whirled and opened the car¡¯s door with one hand. ¡°If you can¡¯te up with anything, take the money and scram.¡± Isabe held the card and followed him quickly. She sat on the edge of the seat. ¡°If I hold on to this card, then the promise still counts, right?¡± Seth stood beside the car and looked at her. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± 1 That delighted Isabe. Good. At least I didn¡¯t work for nothing. Got something from him. She saw Seth off as he went into the hotel, and she¡¯d forgotten to get out of the car. Nics had to snap her out of it. ¡°Are youing back to Imperia with us?¡± We Isabe shook her head. ¡°No. I have something to do.¡± She hadn¡¯t forgotten about Jonas. That b*stard was probably still in the hospital. ¡°Shall I give you a ride, then?¡± asked Nics. Isabe pushed herself up and got out of the car. ¡°No. I¡¯ll get my own ride.¡± Nics was worried. He kept insisting on giving her a ride, and it amused Isabe. She had to tell him the circumstances couldn¡¯t let her do it, so Nics gave up. She stood on the roadside and made a call, but a girl took it. ¡°Hello, this is Lawdom Central Hospital¡­¡± She didn¡¯t expect Jonas to be so injured he couldn¡¯t take the call. She quickly got a ride to the hospital and came up with a story on the way. When she got to the hospital, she hobbled around and exposed the bandage on her ankle. Then, she slowly shuffled to Jonas¡¯ ward. She heard Jonas cursing the moment she came to the ward. The nurse came out holding something angrily, and she shot Isabe a dirty look. Isabe knew why the nurse was mad and went into the ward thereafter. Jonas was on a bed, cursing at everyone around him. He got madder when he-saw Isabe. His gut told him Isabe was involved in the abuse he had received the night before. ¡°How dare you show your face?¡± Isabe was shocked. ¡°What do you mean, Mr. Stokes?¡± She hobbled closer, and Jonas noticed her bandaged ankle. ¡°What happened¡­¡± ¡°I ran around after having too much to drink. A bunch of guys were chasing me down. They were going to hit me. A car crashed into me when I was escaping.¡± Isabe was looking pale from not having any makeup on and working through the night. Her story looked true under these circumstances. Jonas was shocked. ¡°You were attacked too?¡± Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60 The Battle of Wits 1 Isabe¡¯s face scrunched up, and she grumbled, ¡°Did you cross anyone here, Mr. Stokes?¡± Jonas was stunned. He didn¡¯t realize he got checkmated. ¡°Me?¡± Isabe nodded. ¡°Yeah. This is my first time in this city. Didn¡¯t cross anyone either. Couldn¡¯t have been me, so¡­¡± She trailed off and approached Jonas¡¯ bed. ¡°Did you sign the contract with Mr. Lime? Maybe you got in someone¡¯s way.¡± The look on Jonas¡¯ face changed. He mused over that statement and started harboring doubts. Isabe seized that chance and sighed. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t escaped fast enough, God knew what they would do to me. I¡¯m a girl. That was scary.¡± Jonas clicked his tongue. He felt a little embarrassed just thinking how much he yelled at her just now. ¡°Sorry, Isabe. Just had apse of judgment.¡± Isabe heaved a sigh and took a seat by the bed, exhausted. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You had it rough too. You look a lot worse than I am. What are you going to tell everyone when we get back?¡± Jonas frowned. He was a little panicky too. ¡°The contract¡¯s fine. Mr. Lime has sent Ms. Sue to sign the contract here. I can¡¯t move, though. Can¡¯t go back to Imperia right away.¡± Just what I need. I can finally avoid seeing this disgusting pig for a while. ¡°Once the contract is signed, you go back without me. Can¡¯t keep work waiting.¡± Jonas gritted his teeth. I¡¯ll take this risk. He then looked at Isabe quizzically. ¡°This deal involves dozens of cars. You won¡¯t botch it, will you?¡± Isabe put on a look of surprise and pushed herself up. ¡°Of course, Mr. Stokes. I¡¯m not stupid. I know how important this is. I won¡¯t let you down.¡± Jonas heaved a sigh of relief and leaned over to hold Isabe¡¯s hand. ¡°Isabe,st night-¡± Someone knocked on the door. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Someone opened the door, and in came Mandy. She¡¯d dressed herself up. Jonas¡¯ eyes shone. ¡°Ah, Ms. Sue.¡± Thedies exchanged a look. There was a silent message in it. ¡°I heard you were assaulted, Mr. Stokes. Mr. Lime told me to visit you right away.¡± Mandy¡¯s voice had a slight purr to it. If she talked a little slower, it would sound electrifying. Evendies would fall for her voice, let alone a pervert like Jonas. Isabe looked at Jonas. If Mandy wants his life force, he¡¯d give it willingly, I¡¯m sure. Mandy sat down and made small talk, then she whipped out the contract. ¡°This is our fault as well. If you hadn¡¯te to Lawdom to negotiate, none of this would¡¯ve happened.¡± She handed the contract to Isabe. Isabe flipped through the contract. When she saw the part where the person in charge was involved, she handed a pen to Jonas. ¡°Here, you should sign this, Mr. Stokes.¡± Jonas was staring at Mandy, and he signed the contract without thinking. Isabe took the contract and joined in the conversation. Suddenly, her phone vibrated. It was a new friend request. She checked it and, to her surprise, found that it was Shawn. She felt conflicted. In usual times, she¡¯d be happy a guy like Shawn was showing interest in her, but from how that guy treated Seth earlier, she reflexively thought this guy was bad news. Not many people had the guts to talk that way to Seth in Imperia. She was nervous, but she epted the friend request anyway. A moment of waitingter, Shawn still didn¡¯t chat her 1. Mandy had finished her business, and she stood up to say goodbye to Jonas. Jonas couldn¡¯t move his gaze away. He told Isabe to send Mandy off. Isabe was happy to do it, and she hobbled off. Once the door to the ward was closed, thedies exchanged a smile. Mandy looked at the ward. With scorn, she said, ¡°That punishment is befitting for a perv like him.¡± Isabe smiled. ¡°God will smite him.¡± She didn¡¯t admit that she was involved. Mandy gave her a knowing look, and she looked away, smiling. ¡°You going back to Imperia soon?¡± Isabe nodded. ¡°Tonight.¡± Mandy knew why she was in a hurry. She shrugged and smiled at her. ¡°If Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. nothing goes wrong, we¡¯ll meet again soon.¡± Isabe smiled. Cryptically, she said, ¡°Here¡¯s to a happy partnership.¡± Mandy patted her shoulders and saddled her purse, then she left. Isabe stood around, seeing Mandy off. She then turned around and faced the wall, taking a deep breath. Nothing much had to be said if the yers of the game were smart enough. All they had to do was strike at the right time, and the message would be conveyed. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 That evening, Isabe packed her bags and returned to Imperia. Despite Jonas¡¯ repeated attempts to persuade her to stay, she used the excuse that ¡°a long dy could causeplications¡± to fend off his requests. Jonas had been harboring suspicions in his heart that a rival had to have something to Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. do with this. So, he stopped bugging her after considering his circumstances. She hadn¡¯t rested well for two whole days. As a result, she fell into a deep slumber,pletely rxed because Jonas, the sleazeball, wasn¡¯t apanying her this time. She was roused from her sleep due to the announcement that the ne hadnded. At 3.00AM, she hailed a cab in order to go home. Nheless, she remained cautious throughout the journey. Chapter 61 It¡¯s Her Exhaustion had crept and made itself in her bones as she stumbled out of the car. Then, she dragged her luggage behind her as she ambled toward her home. Suddenly, she looked up and noticed that the lights were on. She almost thought she was mistaken or perhaps seeing hallucinations. Yet, she counted the floors and stared at the building in bewilderment for a few seconds before realizing it was indeed from her floor. However, she was the sole upant of that floor. So, the lights shouldn¡¯t have been on at all. Isabe became guarded as she immediately spun on her heel. Then, she pulled her luggage along to the cafe across the street as a precaution. Finally, she started to observe the peopleing and going. 10/14 Wed, 27 Dec °×ζ78%ÓÉ Chapter 61 It¡¯s Her As it was almost dawn, people began to emerge from the building where she lived-a total of six unfamiliar faces met her eyes. Regardless, none of that mattered, as she could recall seeing the man leading them. That man was Louis¡¯ bodyguard. Her heart sank as she started to connect the dots. She couldn¡¯t help but tighten her grip on the handle of her suitcase while swiftly weighing her options. The ¡°Get out of Jail Free¡± card she had acquired from Seth was far too precious. Therefore, she could feel herself grimacing as she thought of using that against Louis. There was also the matter that it would be a risky endeavor if she wanted to outsmart Louis. Plus, she also felt ufortable as it was rather morally problematic. Damn it! 10:15 Chapter 61 It¡¯s Her She was in such a dilemma and very, very tired. Naturally, a headache started to build behind her eyes, and the pain only intensified the longer she thought about it. Eventually, she couldn¡¯t help but mutter curses under her breath in order to vent some of her frustrations. She had no choice but to take a quick break, shielding her head from the bright lights with her arms. and closing her eyes as she rested her head against the cool, wooden table. The morning sunlight streaming into the cafe reminded Isabe that another night had passed. Frankly, she felt as if the Grim Reaper was chasing her, as if there would be endless difficulties ahead even after oveing this challenge. ¡°If only I had a grandfather who is a military general and a father who is a president,¡± she grumbled while squinting her eyes, daydreaming about parallel universes and endless possibilities. Chapter 61 It¡¯s Her ¡°Miss?¡± The voice of the waiter shattered her beautiful dream. @K 78% Isabe snapped back to reality, smiled apologetically at the waiter, and promptly ordered two slices of cake. Sweet things had a magical way of making one feel happier. Thus, her awful mood improved by a smidgen. Once she had gained her bearings, she calmly dragged her luggage to the certain no one was around. ¡°Isabe, why did you return so early?¡± Abigail eximed while feigning surprise by covering her mouth. Isabe couldn¡¯t be bothered with the likes of her and dragged her luggage Chapter 61 It¡¯s Her into the office before pouring herself a cup of strong, ck coffee. Abigail didn¡¯t seem bothered by her reaction and continued to follow Isabe like an annoying pest. Even a fool could tell that she was subtly trying to find out what Isabe had gained during this trip, and Isabe was far from a fool. Isabe could barely stop herself from curling her lips into a sneer. Jonas was really insatiable. Couldn¡¯t he just focus on seducing only Abigail? Instead, he had to involve everyone, forcing her to take matters into her own hands.. ¡°Apanying Jonas for a work trip is indeed a good thing. You won¡¯t have to worry about your performance for a month.¡± Abigail couldn¡¯t resist making sarcastic remarks when she saw Isabe was ignoring her, all the while sporting that sweet smile on her face. Chapter 61 It¡¯s Her Isabe merely took a sip of her coffee as she passed by the other woman and dropped a blunt remark. ¡°Isn¡¯t every trip a good trip to you as long as you¡¯re willing to sell?¡± She had seen such proof with her own two eyes far too many times. Abigail had driven the client¡¯s sports car directly to work at some point. So, it was obvious that she had more than just Jonas entangled in her web. Abigail-didn¡¯t expect Isabe to be so straightforward. A hint of anger shed across her sweet face. Her eyes widened, and her blown pupils, due to the contacts she was wearing, only made her look like an alien. It was clear that she wanted to do nothing more than scream at Isabe for the slight. s, she also didn¡¯t dare to do such a thing. Isabe left leisurely andpletely ignored Abigail¡¯s fury. She neatly organized the business trip contracts and reported everything. However, she Chapter 61 It¡¯s Her gave all the credit to Jonas. The subsequent work was tedious, and it kept her busy until noon. Unfortunately, her phone started vibrating before she could take a break. It was yet another anonymous message. ¡®Baby, you¡¯re avoiding me. That¡¯s not very nice of you.¡¯ Even though it was only a few words, Isabe immediately recognized the sender. This time, her heart was more than prepared for such threats after enduring several rounds of intimidation. Hence, she had a stoic look on her face as she sat in her seat. Then, she took a picture of her corbone and sent it. She wrote, ¡®I¡¯m on a business trip. I¡¯m not avoiding you. I¡¯ll see you once I¡¯m Chapter 61 It¡¯s Her free in a couple of days. I¡¯ve got a big surprise waiting for you.¡¯ Louis¡¯ response quickly followed. She received no text. Instead, she had the unpleasant honor of gaining a few selfies. It was so hard to look at that she was starting to wonder just why she was putting herself through this. She found them so disturbing that she had to gulp down some water just to suppress her nausea. Louis was probably appeased for now. If that were the case, she would probably have a few days of peace. s, these few days should be the maximum limit. There was no way she could possibly dy this any further. Isabe closed her eyes as she leaned into her chair and tilted her head toward the ceiling. Then, she took her time to reorganize the thoughts that once crossed her mind. Although it seemed like this was her only way out, Chapter 61 It¡¯s Her she was still hesitating on whether she should execute her n. She waspletely lost in her thoughts when the office door was pushed open. Keira Turner smiled faintly at her as she said, ¡°Isabe, someone¡¯s here to see you.¡± Isabe scrunched her brows in confusion. She truly couldn¡¯t think of anyone who would pay her a visit at this time. After all, she didn¡¯t have many friends in-Imperia. Nheless, sheposed herself and walked out of the office toward the reception area. In the lobby, Abigail and Alex were standing aside. They were partially blocking her view of the woman sitting on the couch. Chapter 61 It¡¯s Her Isabe was puzzled. Who could be so important that even Alex, who was usually proud and aloof, would be forced to stand aside like an attendant? As she approached, Abigail reluctantly took a step back. Finally, the person sitting on the couch appeared before her eyes. Isabe was shocked as she never expected her mystery visitor to be that woman. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 The young heiress sat on the couch with her legs elegantly crossed. She was wearing a red dress and exuded confidence and grace. There was a cup of coffee in front of her. Yet, she merely touched the cup and did not bother to take a sip. She was obviously disdainful of the instant coffee served in such ces. Isabe was rooted to the stop and momentarily taken aback. The person in her n was unexpectedly right in front of her. ¡°Miss Shaffer?¡± Lara had delicate features. So, she was an antithesis to Seth¡¯s coldness as her beauty was as fiery as the dress she was wearing today. Perhaps this was due to her mother, who was a famous singer. As a result, she was born 10:15 Wed, 27 De Chapter 62 Honey or Poison extraordinary and looked even more exceptional up close. Every move she made exuded charm and nobility. ¡°I heard from Summer that you¡¯re here. So, I decided to visit you when i happened to pass by.¡± Isabe couldn¡¯t help but find that excuse suspicious. She never had any contact with Lara prior to this. If anything, they weren¡¯t on good terms at all. She still remembered that they had gotten into a dispute at Seth¡¯s office two years ago. At that time, Isabe only had Seth in her heart and mind. So, she forced herself to intervene and prevent Lara from using thepany seal to approve a contract worth 3 million. There was a longstanding grudge between them. Isabe still remembered the burning sensation on her face. Chapter 62 Honey or Poison ¡°Miss Shaffer, you¡¯re too kind.¡± Isabe shelved the memories and stood at a distance. ¡°You¡¯re a busy person. It¡¯s a waste of your time toe and visit me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not just an ordinary person.¡± Lara raised an eyebrow. Amidst her beauty, there was a hint of calction. She regarded Isabe carefully and said, ¡°Seth truly is an unreasonable man. How can he leave a talent like you here? Doesn¡¯t he care about you at all?¡± Although Lara was Seth¡¯s aunt, she wasn¡¯t Jeremy Shaffer¡¯s biological sister. Instead, she was the illegitimate daughter of Spencer Shaffer and a young female celebrity. Back then, Spencer only married her mother for the sake of his career and reputation. Thus, Lara was only two years younger than Seth. It was actually quite funny for Isabe to hear her call Seth by his name, especially when the woman would pull seniority each and every time she did 1. Chapter 62 Honey or PoisonT¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m just a simple employee. The Shaffer Group has plenty of talents working under them. I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t miss me.¡± Isabe¡¯s tone was modest, refusing to y along with Lara. Lara¡¯s smile deepened. Then, she opened her purse and whisked out a business card. ¡°He might be willing to let you go, but I¡¯m not. Fortunately, I¡¯ve just partnered with a friend to start a talent agency. Why don¡¯t you join me?¡± This was a straightforward attempt to poach her. Abigail and Alex, who were standing nearby, couldn¡¯t help but nce at Isabe¡¯s face. Even the employees who dared not approach had started to whisper amongst themselves. They couldn¡¯t help but feel vindicated as they had all assumed that Isabe was merely here to experience what it was like to be working. from the bottom of the rung. That being the case, it would be easy for her to Chapter 62 Honey or Poison shoot up thedder if she so wished. Isabe didn¡¯t feel the least bit tempted. She was well aware of Lara¡¯s intentions. This wasn¡¯t a job opportunity, as Lara merely wanted to use her to provoke Seth. She walked a little closer before bending down and taking the business card. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Miss Shaffer. However, I¡¯ve just joined the I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to disappoint your goodwill.¡± The crowd murmured as they were surprised that Isabe would refuse Lara. This was clearly a fantastic opportunity for her to climb back up the ranks. Lara¡¯s smile remained unchanged, and she even took a sip of the cheap Chapter 62 Honey or Poison coffee. She said kindly, ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can take some time to think it over.¡± Then, her gaze moved to the cars disyed nearby. She rose to her feet and approached the exhibition areas. ¡°Since I came to visit you, I can¡¯t possiblye empty-handed.¡± She scanned the room and suddenly said, ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s see. I¡¯ll order a Ghost. Consider themission as my gift to you.¡± Isabe was stunned. Suddenly, she found it hard to grasp Lara¡¯s intentions. It would have been normal if Lara hade intending to pick a fight with her or cause some trouble for Seth. Ergo, Lara¡¯s actions of helping her out sounded a bit ominous to her ears. Isabe immediately refused, saying, ¡°Miss Shaffer, please, there¡¯s no need Chapter 62 Honey or Poison for this.¡± 2.78% Lara put on sunsses and was seemingly unwilling to change her mind. She casually said, ¡°It¡¯s not just about helping you. Simon¡¯s birthday ising up. So, I n on purchasing it for him as a gift.¡± Although her logic was sound, Isabe still felt something was amiss. She wanted to say more, but Lara was already sauntering out of the store with her purse. ¡°I¡¯ll have the deposit sent over by my assistant. Get the contract ready.¡± Isabe was rendered speechless. s, she still had to put a warm smile on her face to see Lara off when she saw that Lara was truly leaving just like that. 1016 Wed, 27 Dec Chapter 62 Honey or Poison @78% There were jealous looks all around, especially from Abigail. This time, it seemed as though her eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. Alex also came over and teased Isabe, murmuring, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your connections to be this good.¡± Isabe was overwhelmed. Her heart was pounding erratically, and she felt increasingly uneasy. She didn¡¯t believe Lara could be so kind. To make matters worse, Lara¡¯s actions of tossing money her way were far too difficult to avoid. She was already bogged down by both Louis and Jonas. Now, Lara was added to the mix. She suddenly felt as though the pressure that had been weighing her down had entrapped her in a vacuum, making it hard for her to speak. Any more of this, and I might actually get a heart condition. Chapter 62 Honey or Poison ¡°The process of ordering the car is tedious. Be cautious and get the contract thoroughly checked before proceeding.¡± Alex reminded her before leaving. rm bells were ringing in Isabe¡¯s mind. She hastily rushed back to her seat and familiarized herself with the procedure. She was determined not to give Lara any chance to take advantage of her. Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Q -78% Isabe made all the necessary preparations by mid-afternoon. She was pondering where to spend her evening when Gordon came a-calling. Just then, she remembered owing him a meal. Why don¡¯t I settle it tonight? After all, she couldn¡¯t think of anywhere else to go. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to treat me to dinner as soon as you got back?¡± Gordon¡¯s tone held a hint ofint. It resembled a child reproaching an elder in grievance. He sounded much cuter than he actually was. Isabe activated the hands-free function and packed her things while Chapter 63 Inviting Him to Dinner saying, ¡°Let¡¯s meet at The Red House. I¡¯ll treat you to dinner there.¡± ¡°The Red House?¡± he eximed. ¡°Have I been wrong all this while? Are you actually wealthy?¡± The Red House was a renowned private restaurant in Imperia. This restaurant was owned by Courtney Cline, who was a prominent socialite. It was very challenging to get a table there. Isabe sighed as she replied, ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, I¡¯m worried other ces won¡¯t meet your standards. So, I¡¯ll have to bite the bullet and splurge.¡± Gordon chuckled in amusement as he walked and talked, ¡°All right, I¡¯ll be there soon. Just wait for me once you arrive.¡± Isabe agreed and hung up. Chapter 63 Inviting Him to Dinner There were only a few people left in the office. Abigail was sitting at her desk, and she looked troubled. As she saw Isabe leaving, she immediately propped her chin with her hands. ¡°Isabe, you¡¯re so lucky. Are you going out to dinner with a handsome guy again?¡± Isabe smirked at her and walked out without a word. It was beyond difficult to secure a booking at The Red House. If she didn¡¯t have the tinum card that Seth had given her in passing, she wouldn¡¯t have considered inviting Gordon to such a ce. As the sun set and the city lights came on, she finally made it to The Red House around 7.00PM, which was the perfect time for dinner. Chapter 63 Inviting Him to Dinner Just as she had taken a few steps forward, a red Ferrari parked not far away shed its lights in her direction. Isabe shielded her eyes from the light and squinted to identify the owner. It was Gordon. He had probably just freshened up. His hair was slicked back into a high quiff, and his sparkling earring added a touch of mor, enhancing his yboy image. He looked precisely like the kind of bad boy young girls loved. ¡°You¡¯re here to see me, yet you didn¡¯t even change your clothes?¡± Gordon strode toward her as he quirked an eyebrow at Isabe. Isabe rolled her eyes at him before spinning on her heel and walking into The Red House without further ado. ¡°We working-ss folks can¡¯t find ces to touch up our appearance anytime and anywhere. You¡¯ll have to bear with Chapter 63 Inviting Him to Dinner it, Mr. Dunkstein. My foundation is pretty decent, so I hope I won¡¯t hurt your eyes too terribly.¡± Gordon chuckled and followed her inside. Isabe noticed he was unusually well-behaved today, which made her feel relieved. Nheless, she was still wary and was afraid that he might suddenly stir up trouble for her. She presented her membership card, and the waiter politely led them upstairs after they entered The Red House. Gordon had always been rather impatient. He hadn¡¯t bothered visiting this ce as the queue was far too long for his liking. So, it was his first time here. Thus, he took his time taking a good look at the decor and found that the ambiance of this restaurant was pretty good. It was suitable for what he was Chapter 63 Inviting Him to Dinner nning next. Isabe led the way as she walked into a private room and sat down. She instructed the waiter to inquire about Gordon¡¯s preferences. Gordon shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m good with anything.¡± Isabe could only ce the order herself and made a few specific requests. ¡°Are you not nning to invite me for a drink?¡± he inquired out of the blue. She paused before looking at the waiter. ¡°One bottle of red wine, please.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org The waiter noted the request and exited the private room politely. Chapter 63 Inviting Him to Dinner Now, there were only the two of them in the room. Before she could say something to break the ice, Gordon suddenly jerked to his feet. ¡°I need to use the restroom.¡± Isabe nodded without giving it much thought. Shortly after, several appetizers arrived one after another. As Gordon returned, Isabe was arranging the dishes gracefully. She did not look like a saleswoman but rather a refineddy. ¡°Try this steamed egg. It¡¯s one of my favorites.¡± She scooped a spoonful of the steamed egg and smiled at Gordon. She was genuinely rmending the food. s, his attention was Chapter 63 Inviting Him to Dinner elsewhere-on her face. Six or seven dishes were served in record time. They were all Isabe¡¯s favorites. As she had been under a great deal of stress ofte, she unconsciously lowered her guard when faced with delicious food. Plus, Gordon¡¯sck of small talk only made her rx further. Soon, the smile on her face started to look more genuine as she constantly urged him to eat. ¡°Was the membership card here given to you by Seth?¡± Midway through the meal, Gordon suddenly asked as he looked at her straight in the eye. Isabe almost choked on her food, and her eyes widened slightly in astonishment. She hastily lowered her head and took a big gulp of water just to ease the morsel down her throat. Chapter 63 Inviting Him to Dinner Then, she scrutinized Gordon, finding it hard to gauge his intentions. Gordon chuckled, leaned back with his arms crossed, and drawled, ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. I was just curious, that¡¯s all. Anyway, you¡¯re not his secretary anymore. So, it shouldn¡¯t matter, right?¡± Isabe hummed in acknowledgment and lowered her head to drink some soup. ¡°Well, don¡¯t use that card in the future. I¡¯ll get you a new one,¡± Gordon said casually while staring at her face. Isabe thought he wasn¡¯t thinking things through. The owner of the card didn¡¯t have to make any reservations in The Red House if they wanted to dine there. So, the restaurant naturally had to limit its avability. As a consequence, there were fewer than 10 cards avable. They were reserved Chapter 63 Inviting Him to Dinner for those most valued by Courtney, her close friends, and family. How could an ordinary person possibly obtain one? Even though that was her true opinion, she merely said, ¡°There¡¯s no need. I won¡¯t frequent such ces. It¡¯s quite honestly beyond my means.¡± Gordon straightened up and was seemingly about to insist on getting her one himself. Unfortunately, someone knocked on the private room door, causing their conversation to be cut short. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 The knock on the door was from the waiter, who was bringing the wine. Isabe couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief as the conversation moved Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. past the previous topic due to the interruption. ¡°Miss Symons, here¡¯s the wine you ordered.¡± The waiter skillfully uncorked the bottle, poured it into a decanter, and then filled their sses. Isabe nced at thebel and frowned immediately. ¡°Has this wine been opened?¡± The waiter shook his head. ¡°No. It¡¯s our homemade wine.¡± Chapter 64 Swallowed a Ring Isabe¡¯s intuition red a warning, telling her that this waiter was lying. Plus, she found the bottle familiar as it resembled the one she had opened with Seth during a dinner a few months ago. There was only about this much left from that time. She was worried that Gordon might notice. So, she didn¡¯t press the matter further. Instead, she raised her ss and toasted Gordon. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, thanks for your helpst time.¡± Gordon smirked before downing the ss in one go. ¡°This is a good wine.¡± Isabe felt a little guilty. So, she forced a smile and lightly sipped from her ss. The wine had a rich taste and delicate aroma. Chapter 64 Swallowed a Ring She had only taken a sip. Nheless, she only needed that one taste to confirm her suspicions. She was almost certain it was the Latour that was personally opened by Courtney back then. Damn! Was Seth back? That was impossible. He would stay in Lawdom for at least two or three days. Even if he did return, there¡¯s no way that he would be coincidentally at The Red House. Isabe could feel her thoughts bing chaotic and barely managed to swallow the sip of red wine. The rich fragrance slid down her throat and made her feel like she was under intense scrutiny. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gordon sensed her difort. He thought he might have given himself away. So, he couldn¡¯t help but probe to see whether she had Chapter 64 Swallowed a Ring seen through him. 2.77% Isabe shook her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. The wine is too strong. I need a break.¡± He rxed slightly upon hearing her words. Nevertheless, he seemed restless as he started tapping the table with his knuckles. ¡°How about some dessert?¡± She temporarily tossed her issues with the wine aside and forced a smile on her face. ¡°Sure.¡± As she was about to ring the bell, Gordon said, ¡°I ordered some when I went out earlier. They should be serving it soon.¡± Wed, 27 Dec Chapter 64 Swallowed a Ring ¡°Okay.¡± 2.77% Isabe didn¡¯t think much and took a bite of prawn. s, her thoughts were clearly affected as she couldn¡¯t help but unravel the ball of the mystery behind the red wine. The waiter arrived with ice cream. Then, he ced the strawberry-vored ice cream in front of her. ¡°Enjoy your dessert.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Isabe said before ncing up to find Gordon sneakily watching her. It made her feel suspicious. She took a deep breath, told herself not to overthink it, and said to Gordon, ¡°Their ice cream is really good.¡± Then, she promptly scooped arge portion as she spoke, nning to eat it Chapter 64 Swallowed a Ring all at once to calm her frayed nerves. She didn¡¯t want to be as mad as a hatter due to her paranoia. The chilly sensation of the ice cream entered her mouth, apanied by a sweet but not overwhelming taste. She couldn¡¯t help but breathe in deeply as she felt herself gaining some of herposure back. ¡°Slow down,¡± Gordon couldn¡¯t help butment. Isabe blinked and swallowed arge mouthful of ice cream. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Her throat felt ufortable; it seemed like she had swallowed ice chips. Gordon immediately jerked to his feet. ¡°A-Are you okay?¡± Chapter 64 Swallowed a Ring Isabe felt a bit confused. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She took another spoonful of ice cream and immediately put it in her mouth. She was thoroughly enjoying it. Gordon watched her eat spoon after spoon and felt increasingly unsettled. Yet, he didn¡¯t want to snatch the ice cream from her to check for anything suspicious. Isabe found his behavior getting stranger by the second and instinctively stirred the contents of her te. To her surprise, his expression changed immediately as soon as she did. ¡°Stop eating,¡± Gordon said before pushing his chair aside and moving closer. Then, he swiftly grabbed the fork and stirred the ice cream vigorously. s, he found nothing. Chapter 64 Swallowed a Ring ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She was getting nervous. ¡°Did you put something in the ice cream?¡± He looked grim as he said with a grimace, ¡°A in ring.¡± Isabe remembered the ice chip she had nearly choked on and almost fainted. She ced her hands on her stomach and felt it rumbling against her palms in protest. She felt as if there was a foreign object entering her system ¡°You!¡± Gordon panicked and pressed the call button. Then, he immediately carried her in his arms. Chapter 64 Swallowed a Ring ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital right now!¡± Isabe¡¯s eyes rolled back. She was so frustrated that she could barely bring herself to reply lest she started screaming right at him. Gordon dashed out of the room, colliding with the waiter, who was rushing toward them. As a result, it naturally caused a huge ruckus. ¡°She swallowed the ring!¡± As soon as this statement was made, all the waiters on the second floor swarmed them in rm. Themotion had sessfully escted into a major incident. As Isabe was being carried around by Gordon, various thoughts flitted through her mind. She was already feeling emotionally drained and mentally 7 10:17 Wed, 27 Dec @X 77% Chapter 64 Swallowed a Ring exhausted because of everything else happening in her life. Now, she was getting physically harmed. Yet, all she could do was clutch her stomach, thinking angrily, I swear I have the worst luck ever! Chapter 65 Chapter 65 In a spacious office on the fourth floor of The Red House, a young woman, who was wearing sunsses and had her shoes off, was basking under the moonlight on a lounge chair. Courtney couldn¡¯t resist calling Seth after having just aplished something significant. Seth took quite some time to answer the call and sounded rather displeased. She rolled her eyes in exasperation. Nheless, she chanted to herself to keep calm and ignore his unpleasant demeanor. Instead, she drawled casually, ¡°Guess who paid me a visit?¡± He responded indifferently, ¡°Is your family going bankrupt? It seems like you Chapter 65 Trouble Brewing Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. have far too much free time on your hands.¡± Courtney inhaled deeply, swallowing her frustration, and retorted, ¡°It¡¯s Isabe.¡± Seth snorted, and his tone was indifferent. ¡°What does it have to do with me?¡± Courtney clicked her tongue as she was displeased with the unexpected reaction. ¡°You¡¯re so boring. You¡¯ve spent five years sleeping with her, and you don¡¯t care about her at all?¡± ¡°Have you ever seen any decent person care about a past affair?¡± Seth sneered and said in a disdainful tone. Chapter 65 Trouble Brewing Courtney straightened her posture as she kicked the chair next to her. ¡°She brought Xavier¡¯s son along. They even ordered a bottle of good wine.¡± She sounded proud as she continued, ¡°I sent her the wine you leftst time. Can you guess if she can tell?¡± Seth paused. She grinned, thinking she had finally struck a chord with him. So, she couldn¡¯t resist taunting him. Suddenly, he spoke, ¡°If you really have nothing to do, just find a ss to attend. At least you¡¯ll be doing something productive with your time.¡± Courtney could feel her temper rising. Murder is illegal. Murder is very illegal! Chapter 65 Trouble Brewing She closed her eyes as she did her best to restrain her temper. She whipped out her ace in the whole, saying, ¡°Gordon had someone put-¡± Seth cut her off, and his tone was cold. ¡°Remember to make her pay for the wine. Charge the full bottle price. She has the money.¡± Courtney widened her beautiful eyes as she was puzzled by this person¡¯s mentality. Just as she was about to retort, a series of urgent knocks came from outside. ¡°Come in!¡± On the other end of the phone, Seth was about to hang up when he heard a flustered voice bbering, ¡°Miss Cline, we¡¯ve got a huge problem. A customer identally swallowed the ring that was ced in the ice cream in Chapter 65 Trouble Brewing advance!¡± Courtney¡¯s foot slipped off the stool and nearly fell to the ground. She couldn¡¯t help but curse as her elegant demeanor faded instantly. ¡°Is that person insane? How could someone swallow such a big ring?¡± She yelled at the waiter and then nced back at the phone. s, Seth had already hung up. ¡°He¡¯s heartless. He doesn¡¯t care about gossip, let alone such a big deal as someone swallowing a ring.¡± Courtney kept grumbling as she grabbed her clothes and followed the waiter downstairs. Chapter 65 Trouble Brewing As soon as she reached the second floor, she saw Gordon dash into the elevator with Isabe, forcing her into a corner. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, if something happens to me, can you talk to your father and share half of the inheritance with me?¡± Isabe, who was feeling extremely ufortable, grabbed Gordon¡¯s shirt and said something absurd. Courtney was still wearing sunsses. Nheless, she almost burst out Haughing at the scene. Gordon was on edge, and his eyes were fixed on the elevator disy. Ding. The elevator doors slid open. He immediately ran out,pletely unaware that Courtney was in the corner. Chapter 65 Trouble Brewing ¡°Hold on. We¡¯re not far from the hospital.¡± Heforted Isabe as he carried her to the car before driving. His heart was pounding in anxiety, causing him to press on the pedal in an attempt to get to the hospital faster. She held her stomach as she felt the pain rapidly intensifying. She remembered that in Dream of the Red Chamber, someonemitted suicide by swallowing gold. Am I going to die? If she was truly going to lose her life today, she deeply regretted asking Seth for a favor. She should have demanded immediate fulfillment. Then, there was her mother-she should have called her more often. She wondered if her mother was okay. Chapter 65 Trouble Brewing As she fretted, the swaying of Gordon¡¯s car made her dizzy. Soon, it wasn¡¯t just her stomach in agony as her feet started protesting as well. When they finally arrived at the hospital, he stormed right into the emergency room. Nevertheless, he still had the mind to register her before dragging a group of doctors along. Isabe instantly assumed that she was going to die as sheid her eyes on the whole paradeing right at her. Her mind went nk as despair welled up in her heart. ¡°Quickly start with an endoscopy and X-rays!¡± The attending physician, who was influenced by Gordon¡¯s urgency, sounded forceful, as if Isabe had swa omething highly toxic rather than just a simple ring. Chapter 65 Trouble Brewing Isabe was wheeled into the observation room. She underwent a series of tests and felt her stomach bing increasingly ufortable over time. The endoscopy, in particr, was unbearable. It made her want to vomit. ¡°Doctor, how is she?¡± Gordon grabbed the doctor¡¯s arm midway, looking. anxious. The doctor adjusted his sses and suddenly calmed down as he looked at Gordon suspiciously. Isabe, who was sitting nearby, hadn¡¯t heard the doctor speak for a long time. So, she suddenly assumed her condition was severe and couldn¡¯t help but turn to observe the doctor. ¡°Doctor, is it serious?¡± Chapter 65 Trouble Brewing The doctor removed his sses and pushed the report forward. ¡°Judging from the X-rays, there¡¯s no trace of metallic substance in the patient¡¯s stomach. Are you sure she swallowed a gold ring?¡± Isabe blinked while looking at Gordon. Gordon widened his eyes. ¡°Nonsense. Do you think I would buy fake goods?¡± Isabe rolled her eyes in exasperation. The doctor clearly didn¡¯t mean that. Even if the ring was a fake, it would still be metal! She took a deep breath and pursed her lips while recalling the sensation when she swallowed the ice cream. Even though it scratched her throat, it sharp wasn¡¯t sharp, and it felt more like ice chips. Just as she was trying to figure things out, a nurse suddenly entered. ¡°Who¡¯s Isabe? Someone¡¯s here to see you.¡± Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Isabe didn¡¯t expect Courtney toe personally. She ced a hand on the chair handle, trying to push herself into a standing position. s, Gordon swiftly pressed back down her seat. ¡°Why are you moving about?¡± The corner of her lips twitched as she looked at Courtney, who was wearing sunsses at night, with a flustered expression on her face. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Miss Cline.¡± However, Courtney just took off her sses and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Then, she nced between Gordon and Isabe before bowing. Chapter 66 I¡¯ll Give You a New One Later Isabe was shocked. ¡°Miss Cline, what are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to exin myself as a mistake has been made.¡± Courtney¡¯s smile was textbook perfect. In fact, even the curves on both ends of her lips were the same. Isabe scrunched her brows in confusion. Then, a sudden thought popped into her mind. As she expected, Courtney smiled and said gently, ¡°Miss Symons didn¡¯t ingest that ring.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Gordon was confident and said angrily, ¡°I even stirred the ice cream to check whether the ring was there. There was nothing inside.¡± Courtney merely kept smiling at him and answered, ¡°That¡¯s because that ice Chapter 66 I¡¯ll Give You a New One Later cream didn¡¯t have the ring.¡± He was stunned. ¡°What?¡± She continued to borate, ¡°The waiter was too nervous and served the wrong ice cream. The ring was actually in Mr. Dunkstein¡¯s ice cream.¡± Isabe let out a long sigh of relief. She carefully felt her stomach and didn¡¯t feel as ufortable anymore. ¡°Then, why did she look like she was about to die?¡± Gordon turned to look at the doctor, still worried. The doctor couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes as he thought to himself. Young people nowadays are so dramatic. So, he merely answered him coldly, ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard of the cebo effect?¡± Chapter 66 I¡¯ll Give You a New One Later Gordon was rendered speechless. Isabe was a little embarrassed as she nced at him before looking at Courtney. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I blew this whole thing up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s understandable.¡± Courtney still maintained the fake smile on her face. On the other hand, Gordon didn¡¯t like that smile of hers and said impatiently, ¡°You can leave now.¡± Yet, she didn¡¯t respond and merely turned to look at Isabe. Isabe felt the hairs on her neck stand as she pondered. ¡°Is¡­ the bill not paid?¡± ¡°Bingo!¡± Courtney snapped her fingers. Chapter 66 I¡¯ll Give You a New One Later Isabe and Gordon were left with no words this time around. He was shocked that such a rich person woulde all the way to the hospital just for the bill. On top of that, he was so unhappy with Courtney¡¯s behavior that he had a hand on his hip as he dug out his card from his wallet. ¡°Swipe it yourself!¡± She looked at him with a smile that spelled death before taking out a bill from her purse and passing it to Isabe. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Gordon was furious. Isabe noticed that the situation was spiraling out of control once more and hastily epted the bill. Then, she took out her phone to transfer the money and said gently, ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, I did say that this will be my treat. It¡¯s not right for you to pay, don¡¯t you think?¡± Chapter 66 I¡¯ll Give You a New One Later C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org The words he wanted to say became stuck in his throat, and he felt rather dismayed with himself. He had initially wanted to surprise her so they could be closer. s, he ended up carting her off to the hospital. In the end, they also had to deal with a weirdo like Courtney. ¡°There you go, Miss Cline.¡± Isabe waved her phone at Courtney after she made the transfer. Courtney¡¯s smile widened further as she wore her sunsses again. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now. Have a good evening.¡± Good, my *ss. Have you seen anyone being happy in the hospital? Isabe maintained a slight smile. Nevertheless, she and Gordon were thinking the exact same thing. Gordon despised Courtney¡¯s behavior, while Isabe felt like her heart was Chapter 66 I¡¯ll Give You a New One Later bleeding. She could feel her mind wailing as soon as she looked at the number of zeroes on the bill. I can¡¯t believe that meal was 12 thousand and that half a bottle of wine alone cost 11 thousand! Has the price of wine gone up, or did it increase because Seth drank it? ¡°She¡¯s crazy.¡± Gordon sat down beside Isabe with a stiff expression on his face. Isabe suppressed her distress and looked at him. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Why don¡¯t you head back home?¡± Ö± His eyes widened. ¡°Are you joking? You got admitted into the hospital because of me. I can¡¯t just leave you here.¡± Chapter 66 II Give You a New One Later She opened her mouth but swallowed the words at the tip of her tongue. He hadn¡¯t given her an exnation about the ring. So, she was afraid of popping the bubble. I wonder what¡¯s in his mind to give a ring to a person he just met a few times. Forget Courtney. He¡¯s the crazy one here. ¡°You should rest more. I¡¯ll send you home,¡± Gordon¡¯s tone softened as he turned his head away awkwardly. Isabe guessed that he was thinking about the ring and tacitly stayed silent. ¡°That ring¡­¡± Gordon suddenly spoke. She felt resigned. You didn¡¯t need to bring it up. Why did you have to do this and torture us both?! He frowned before saying grumpily, ¡°It was supposed to be a gift. I truly didn¡¯t Chapter 66 I¡¯ll Give You a New One Later expect it to end up this way.¡± Sheughed drily. ¡°I¡¯m alright. It¡¯s just that the misunderstanding that ensued was rather embarrassing.¡± Gordon fell silent at that. The doctor had left way earlier. So, they were alone in the observation room, which made the situation more awkward. Suddenly, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a new one when I have the chance.¡± Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Isabe thought to herself. Please don¡¯t. It doesn¡¯t matter if I ept the ring, but your ring nearly sent me to heaven. She didn¡¯t reply and looked at the clock. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. Let¡¯s go.¡± Gordon noticed that she kept massaging her leg and was a little worried. ¡°Is your leg hurt?¡± However, she didn¡¯t want to stay in the hospital any longer than necessary and forced herself to stand. ¡°It¡¯s just a small injury. It doesn¡¯t hurt. I can walk. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org He raised a brow and suggested, ¡°Then, what do you think of supper?¡± She was rendered speechless. I would rather stay in the hospital. Still, she tamed her hair and nodded with a smile. ¡°Sure.¡± 77% 1 Chapter 67 Righteous Man ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Gordon helped carry her things and followed her closely. He was a totally different personpared to when she first met him. She still remembered that he seemed like a womanizer with the way he was acting. She maintained an appropriate distance from him and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go for pizza. It¡¯s close by.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Gordon wasn¡¯t as picky as the other wealthy heirs. Before his father, Xavier, made it big, it was quitemon for him to eat in small shops when he was young. They exited the hospital and grabbed a seat in the shop opposite the hospital. Isabe noticed that there wasn¡¯t a hint of difort on Gordon¡¯s face. Instead, he lookedfortable holding the pizza in his hand. Chapter 67 Righteous Man If the person sitting across from her were Seth, he would probably act like he was faced with a formidable enemy and disinfect the chairs before finally sitting down. So, Gordon was actually better inparison. As she made that conclusion, Gordon had already ced an order. He got two slices of pizza and emphasized that he didn¡¯t want the red pepper kes. ¡°I frequented these types of ces when I was younger. Unfortunately, my toxic friends thought it wasn¡¯t ssy of me toe here after my father became rich. After a while, I stoppeding,¡± he exined as he passed her a tissue. Isabe raised a brow in interest. ¡°You actually know your friends are toxic?¡± He scoffed in disdain, ¡°I¡¯m not dumb. I know they¡¯re only around me for my money.¡± Chapter 67 Righteous Man She gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Smart.¡± 9.77% Gordon shrugged nonchntly and continued the conversation. The awkward atmosphere between them finally disappeared like morning mist. The pizza was served, and they gobbled it up as it was more satisfying than their meal at The Red House. After that, Gordon wanted to send Isabe home. Meanwhile, she was hesitant to give him her address. ¡°My ce isn¡¯t tidy. I¡¯ll stay in a hotel tonight and return when the cleaner¡¯s done cleaning tomorrow,¡± she lied through her teeth. Then, he teased her, ¡°You don¡¯t look that rich, but you don¡¯t even do the cleaning yourself?¡± s, she couldn¡¯t tell him the truth and answered as she got in the car, ¡°It¡¯s Weu, 21 Chapter 67 Righteous Man nice to splurge once in a while.¡± @x77% 1 He snapped his fingers. ¡°I like that. What¡¯s the point with penny-pinching?¡± Isabe thought to herself. Whatever floats your boat since you¡¯re the one with a rich dad. Gordon started the car, and they arrived at a popr hotel nearby. The cheapest room for the night was 1500. She could feel her heart crying a river but had to maintain a smile as the sound of money being deducted rang in her ear. Chapter 67 Righteous Man She smiled and slid the card forward. ¡°I have the money.¡± He stared at her, utterly speechless. Finally, he had no choice but to keep his card before asking quietly, ¡°You¡¯re not giving me the slightest chance, are you?¡± Isabe pretended not to hear his underlying meaning and registered herself as she told him, ¡°I owe you too much. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to repay you. He snorted and shoved his hands into his pockets without answering her. Once she got the room card, she waved it at him. ¡°I¡¯ll head up now. You should go home, too.¡± Gordon pursed his lips. ¡°I¡¯ll leave after seeing you up.¡± Chapter 67 Righteous Man So, she had no choice but to allow him to tag along. Her mind was filled with thoughts about what to do if he wanted to enter her room. Ding. The elevator door slid open. Isabe and Gordon were standing side by side and met eyes with two people who were inside the elevator. ¡°Oh? You two are getting a room at this hour?¡± Dariel¡¯s captivating eyes glinted as his gaze fell on Isabe and Gordon with great interest. Isabe was annoyed by his suggestive remark but was more interested in the woman in his arms. That definitely wasn¡¯t Bethany, whom she metst time. However, this woman was a familiar celebrity whose name she couldn¡¯t quite recall at the moment. 0.77% Chapter 67 Righteous Man ¡°You sure are busy, Mr. Wells. You should look after your health,¡± Isabe mocked as she entered the elevator. Gordon didn¡¯t have a positive impression of Seth and Dariel. So, he didn¡¯t bother answering. Instead, he leaned against the elevator wall once he entered. Dariel didn¡¯t stop smiling. He was about to exit the elevator but suddenly stopped in his tracks. It was as if he wanted to follow Isabe and Gordon. ¡°This hotel has a nice themed suite. Did you guys book it?¡± he suddenly asked when the elevator doors closed. Isabe rolled her eyes at the wall. ¡°I¡¯m the only one staying here. Mr. Dunkstein is just escorting me.¡± 710:20 Wed, 27 Dec 9 ¡Á 5.77% 0 Chapter 67 Righteous Man ¡°Is that right?¡± Dariel drawled and looked at Gordon with a smirk. ¡°Tsk. Tsk. You sure are righteous.¡± She shut her eyes and made a gesture toward Gordon behind Dariel¡¯s back, telling him not to respond. To her surprise, Gordon simply harrumphed and actually listened to her as he ignored Dariel. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 As the elevator arrived, Isabe and Gordon wasted no time leaving it. Inside the elevator, Dariel patted hispanion¡¯s waist and said, ¡°Check which room they¡¯re in.¡± The girl didn¡¯t dare to disobey and quickly ran after the duo. Just as Isabe found her room for the night, the girl from earlier walked over and smiled. ¡°My makeup is smudged. I need to use a restroom.¡± Isabe didn¡¯t pay her any mind. Instead, she swiped the key card and turned to Gordon. ¡°This is me.¡± ¡°Can Luse your bathroom? I just want to rinse my mouth. The grease is bothering me.¡± Gordon passed by her and went straight into the room. Chapter 68 The Mysterious Late Night Snack Isabe felt exasperated, especially when he didn¡¯t even ask for her permission before entering. As a result, she could only leave the door wide open before going in herself. Gordon went to the bathroom and rinsed his mouth. Soon, he came out and said, ¡°I¡¯m leaving. Call me if you need anything.¡± Isabe was surprised since she hadn¡¯t expected him to be so cooperative. -So, she wasted no time escorting him to the door. As they stood in the corridor, Gordon suddenly turned around and hugged her. She staggered and felt her ankle hurting. Nheless, she endured it and didn¡¯t push him away. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein?¡± ¡°Are we friends now?¡± Gordon asked all of a sudden. Chapter 68 The Mysterious Late Night Snack Isabe was startled by his words. ¡°I suppose.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, call my name instead,¡± he demanded as he released her. Isabe sighed in relief and looked at him. Then, she called his name three times. In the meantime, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he was making such a big fuss over such a small request. Gordon smiled. It was obvious that he was in a fantastic mood. Then, he tilted his head toward the door and said, ¡°Go in. I¡¯ll leave once your door is closed.¡± One second ago, Isabe felt that ¡°friends¡± sounded pleasant. The next second, she started to feel ufortable. The words that came tumbling out of his mouth made it seem as though they were more than friends. In fact, it was as if they were a couple trying to probe whether the other party was interested in taking their rtionship a step further. As she thought of @X 77% Chapter 68 The Mysterious Late Night Snack that, she felt her smile bing increasingly fake. Nheless, she swiftly entered the room and smiled as she closed the door. After she closed the door, she didn¡¯t hear the sound of footsteps. Thus, she looked through the peephole and saw that Gordon hadn¡¯t left. Instead, he was ying with his phone. This is troublesome. She took a deep breath and decided to feign ignorance as she limped toward the big, fluffy bed in the hotel room. The stress of dealing with Louis and Jonas was already taking a huge toll on her. Frankly, she didn¡¯t have the energy to deal with Gordon. As shey down, drowsiness quickly overcame her. Knock! Knock! Knock! Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks sounded on the door. Chapter 68 The Mysterious Late Night Snack Isabe tensed up immediately and became alert. She got up from the bed. and thought something was amiss. She hurriedly limped to the door and was going to open it when she soon remembered to check the peephole first. Fortunately, the person outside the door wasn¡¯t Gordon; it was just a staff. Isabe frowned and opened the door tentatively. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± The waiter bowed and pushed a food cart forward. ¡°Your meal is here. Please enjoy it.¡± Isabe was puzzled. ¡°My meal?¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°Yes.¡± The waiter was sure and showed her the order slip. Isabe checked the room number and confirmed it was hers. Yet, the payer. Chapter 68 The Mysterious Late Night Snack was listed as anonymous. ¡°Could it be Gordon?¡± @x277% Her mind was a mess as she looked at the waiter bringing the food into the room. ¡°Please enjoy the steamed egg.¡± Isabe licked her lips and guessed that Gordon had to have noticed her preferences during their dinner earlier. Then, he secretly ordered another. meal for her. Her mind was buzzing at the implications. As soon as the waiter left, she copsed into a chair, feeling physically and mentally exhausted. When she nced at the clock on the wall, she saw it was almost 1.00AM. Is Gordon out of his mind? she thought. Chapter 68 The Mysterious Late Night Snack She felt sleep taking over her brain as she leaned into the chair. Even the tempting aroma of the steamed egg couldn¡¯t keep her awake. Although she was half-asleep, her nerves were still tense. After some time, another series of knocks echoed yet again, startling Isabe and causing her to almost fall off the chair. She clenched her fists before taking several deep breaths to calm down and opening the door. Outside the room was the same waiter as before. He had the same smile as he said, ¡°Hello. Here¡¯s your meal.¡± Isabe¡¯s mind went nk, and she exploded, shouting, ¡°I didn¡¯t order any food!¡± The waiter was startled. He looked aggrieved as he handed over the order. ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t order this?¡± Chapter 68 The Mysterious Late Night Snack Isabe snatched the order and scanned it. In that split second, her eyes widened in astonishment. The originally anonymous payer in the earlier receipt was reced with her ount. She couldn¡¯t even deny it as that was definitely her phone number. ¡°Miss?¡± The waiter called out. Isabe was dumbfounded. Then, she opened the door wider and said with an expressionless face, ¡°Just bring it in.¡± The waiter was confused as he brought the food inside, casting strange nces at Isabe from time to time. After the waiter left, Isabe quickly checked the dishes. Pork ribs. It was the same dish I had at The Red House tonight. Chapter 68 The Mysterious Late Night Snack She grabbed her hair in frustration and immediately called Gordon. It took a while for Gordon to answer. He sounded displeased as he grumbled, ¡°Hello?¡± Isabe could tell he was sleeping. She hesitated momentarily before asking, ¡°Gordon, did you order food for me?¡± ¡°What?¡± Gordon was confused. Then, he looked at the screen before inquiring, ¡°Isabe?¡± Isabe rolled her eyes and was certain it wasn¡¯t Gordon. The man was clearly out of it. She sighed in relief and said, ¡°Sorry. I made a mistake. Go back to sleep.¡± Then, she hung up without giving Gordon a chance to speak. Her surroundings fell silent as she ced her phone aside. Plus, the two Chapter 68 The Mysterious Late Night Snack ¡± dishes emitted an irresistible fragrance, making the atmosphere even more eerie. It was like background music in a horror movie, making something innocuous seem even more terrifying than it was supposed to be. Isabe wiped her face and felt her legs weaken as she went to the bathroom to look in the mirror. As sheid her eyes on the woman in the mirror, she saw that her face was deathly pale under the lighting. She looked like a right fright. Finally, she closed her eyes as she leaned against the sink. After a while, she decided to take a nice, warm shower before confronting the idiot who kept sending her meals when all she wanted to do was sleep. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 1 Isabe had just finished her shower around 3.00AM. Just then, a third round of knocking began, and it was the same waiter as before. Isabe was already numb to it. So, she let the waiter bring the meal into the room and closed the door expressionlessly. This time, it was a dish of fish mixed with foie gras, which was also the same dish she had for dinner. If she had guessed it right, there were seven more dishes waiting for her, along with a serving of ice cream. God! Isabe felt as though she was about to lose it, but she couldn¡¯t exactly scream out loud. In the end, she had to force herself to swallow her rage. She already had a suspect in mind, but it seemed unlikely. After all, how could Seth be so childish? Yet, she couldn¡¯t think of a second person beside him. If it were Seth, she would have no choice but to endure it. She was only suffering Chapter 69 Thanking an Idiot Through the Phone fromck of sleep now. However, things would only take a turn for the worse if she angered him. She sat at the dining table and stuffed the food in her mouth out of frustration. Her cheeks bulged as she kept shoveling food in her mouth, resembling a pufferfish. The knocking became more frequent for the next half an hour. Yet, the dishes were delivered one after another until she finally got her hands on the ice cream. Just as Isabe thought she could finally have a moment of peace to herself, the waiter said, ¡°The wine you ordered will be here shortly. Please wait for a moment Isabe took a deep breath and stood by the door without saying anything. Chapter 69 Thanking an Idiot Through the Phone When the waiter brought the wine, she immediately knew just who the culprit was. After all, this bottle was the same one she had drunk that night. It was that bottle that cost her almost 11 thousand! She closed the door and felt the rational part of herself slowly retreating into the deepest corners of her mind. Then, various solutions quickly flitted across her mind. She knew she would be humiliating herself if she called Seth. s, she wouldn¡¯t know what she had done to make him upset if she didn¡¯t ask him about it. Isabe patted her forehead. She was already exhausted. It was already 4.00AM, and she had three hours left to sleep. Chapter 69 Thanking an Idiot Through the Phone Forget it. I¡¯ll apologize to him when I wake upter. Otherwise, I might not even. get through tomorrow. She flopped on the bed and decided to throw her problems aside as she closed her eyes and fell asleep. After a sweet sleep, Isabe opened her eyes and noticed the room was dimly lit. Nheless, she could tell that it wasn¡¯t early in the morning any longer. She immediately pushed herself off the bed and grabbed her phone. Then, she noticed it was already 11.00AM. She tugged her hair in frustration, feeling her scalp tingling with pain as her mind went nk. Thank god Jonas isn¡¯t around. That way, I cane up with an excuse. I could im that I was meeting with my clients and hopefully get through the Chapter 69 Thanking an Idiot Through the Phone day, even if it meant that my pay would get deducted. As she thought of that, she felt herself calming down. So, she decided to take her time to wash up before limping downstairs for breakfast. When she was seated in the cafe, she figured she might as well give Seth a call. After some consideration, she reluctantly dialed his number. The call was connected, but the other party immediately hung up. Isabe was rendered speechless. Nevertheless, she remainedposed as she took a bite of cheese toast before dialing Ollie¡¯s number. ¡°Miss Symons?¡± Ollie instantly answered the phone. Isabe asked gently, ¡°Could you do me a favor and pass a message to Mr. Shaffer?¡± 10:21 27 Dec Chapter 69 Thanking an Idiot Through the Phone ¡°He is right beside me. You can talk to him directly Ollie was considerate and immediately handed the phone to Seth. Isabe rolled her eyes since she knew Seth was definitely up to something. She quietly exhaled as she said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Shaffer?¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Seth¡¯s cold voice came through the phone. Isabe took a sip of her coffee and suppressed the bitterness in her mouth before saying lightly, ¡°I called to thank you for sending me so much foodst night.¡± Seth snorted lightly and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. Why would I send you any food?¡± When she heard his response, she became even more confident that he was D 3.77% Chapter 69 Thanking an Idiot Through the Phone the very idiot who had been causing her stressst night. She maintained an impassive expression and continued, ¡°The foie gras was excellent, and so was the wine.¡± Seth asked, ¡°It seems like you don¡¯t fancy the ice cream?¡± Isabe¡¯s lips started moving, spewing silent curses as she thought in irritation, He even knew about the ice cream. Yet, he said it wasn¡¯t him?! She guessed that Seth was probably bothered that she used his membership cardst night. So, she said tentatively, ¡°The ice cream was great. Everything T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. at The Red House was excellent. However, I used the membership cardst I night without your permission. I¡¯m so sorry for causing you trouble.¡± There was a moment of silence from Seth¡¯s end as he didn¡¯t speak. Isabe couldn¡¯t quite figure out his thoughts and became anxious. ¡°Mr. 10:21 27 Dec Chapter 69 Thanking an Idiot Through the Phone Shaffer?¡± ¡°I never knew you were such a generous person, spending 12 thousand just to treat someone to a meal.¡± Seth changed the topic. Isabe thought disparagingly, It¡¯s none of your business. I wouldn¡¯t have spent so much money if it weren¡¯t for that lousy wine of yours. ¡°Helping someone is a way of repaying kindness. Gordon has done me a huge favor, so it¡¯s only natural for me to return it,¡± Isabe said casually. Then, she stated respectfully, ¡°This is a lesson you taught me. One can owe anything except favors from others.¡± Seth said coldly, ¡°It¡¯s impressive that you are capable of remembering that.¡± Isabe rolled her eyes upon hearing his words. Still, she forced herself to be 1021 wed, 27 Dec 84-77%0 Chapter 69 Thanking an Idiot Through the Phone patient as she softened her tone and said, ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask for your advice on, Mr. Shaffer.¡± ¡°Am I your teacher now? Did you pay me any tuition fees? Why do I have to listen to your question?¡± This time there was only one thought in her mind as she bit her lips to stop herself from saying it out loud, F*ck! Although there wasn¡¯t anyone sitting across from her in the cafe, she still remembered that she was in a public ce, and it wouldn¡¯t do to look like a lunatic. So, she tried her level best to look unbothered as her voice took on a strained note. ¡°It¡¯s about Miss Shaffer. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 4.77%Ãæ Isabe probed Seth to find out if there were any major conflicts between him and Lara recently. After all, she wanted to know why Lara would suddenly pop out of nowhere. She needed to know what had happened in order to prepare herself for any potential threatsing her way. As soon as she asked her question, Seth replied with dissatisfaction, ¡°She has nothing to do with me.¡± Isabe couldn¡¯t grasp his intentions. ¡°Did she upset you again?¡± ¡°She¡¯s about to get married. From now on, she has nothing to do with the Shaffer Family,¡± Seth replied coldly. Her mind quickly ran through the possibilities. Then, she immediately Chapter 70 She¡¯s Being Eyed on Again guessed that Lara¡¯s insistence on marrying Simon might have somehow harmed the Shaffer Family¡¯s interests. ¡°Did Mr. Gates agree to marry Miss Shaffer?¡± Isabe asked again. Seth was displeased and retorted, ¡°Is it any of your business if Simon marries her?¡± Isabe scratched her nose awkwardly and felt she might have asked too many questions, causing Seth to find her suspicious. Thus, she cleared her throat and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for prying. It¡¯s just that Miss Shaffer came to me yesterday to purchase a car. I just got curious.¡± ¡°She bought a car from you?¡± Seth felt his eyebrows furrow when he heard her words. Soon, he sneered and said, ¡°She probably has her eye on you.¡± Achill ran down Isabe¡¯s spine. She had a hunch that she had gotten herself 10.21 Wed, 27 Dec Chapter 70 She¡¯s Being Eyed on Again into something terrible. ¡°Following her may bring you trouble,¡± Seth said sarcastically. * 5.77% Isabe swallowed hard and asked bluntly, ¡°Would you be angry if I offended Miss Shaffer?¡± ¡°I told you. She has nothing to do with me,¡± Seth enunciated each word. Isabe closed her eyes and finally felt a bit relieved. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Do you have any more nonsense for me to hear? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯m going to hang up.¡± Seth urged impatiently. Isabe stuck her tongue out as she said gently, ¡°No. Thank you for-¡± Chapter 70 She¡¯s Being Eyed on Again Beep! Beep! Before Isabe could finish her words, Seth had already ended the call. B*stard! Isabe stared at her phone in frustration. She gritted her teeth and turned her anger into motivation to finish her food. Soon, she cleared the entire table of food. Then, she took a cab to thepany. It was 2.00PM, a time when people were starting to feel drowsy. Nevertheless, she noticed everyone¡¯s gaze on her as soon as Isabe entered the office. ¡°Good afternoon, Isabe.¡± Several colleagues, most of whom were older than her, greeted Isabe amicably. She found it odd, so she quickly sent a message to Alex as soon as she sat down in her seat. Chapter 70 She¡¯s Being Eyed on Again ¡®Don¡¯t you know?¡¯ Alex asked. 9.77% Isabe frowned and swiftly typed a response, I overslept this morning.¡¯ Alex sent a disbelief emoji before replying, ¡®You went on a business trip with Jonas, and most of the performances are credited to you.¡¯ Isabe inhaled sharply and was in a daze. The sales orders she submitted were clearly under Jonas¡¯ name. So, how could the performance be credited to her? ¡®Seriously? Don¡¯t you know about this?¡¯ he asked again. She sighed. ¡®I had no idea.¡¯ ¡®Well, you¡¯re in the same boat as Winona. She also inexplicably got credited Chapter 70 She¡¯s Being Eyed on Again E with performance. Then, she became close to Jonas,¡¯ Alex texted her. Isabe understood the hidden implication behind Alex¡¯s words. There was something wrong with Jonas¡¯ deals. Winona had been implicated, so she was forced to coborate with him. Isabe sat at her desk as she thought it over and tried to make sense of the convoluted rtionships within this office. Since Jonas could easily change the person who received the credit for the performances, it was most likely because he had ties with someone higher up the chain. In that case, she had to find out who this person was! The determined Isabe called Nics and requested a list of personnel from the sales department of Shaffer Group. She nned to go through the list with a fine-toothedb. Nics was truly a good person as not only did he send the personnel information, but he also listed the names of those with unfavorable records. Isabe was thankful that there were still good people in the world and that not everyone was as high and mighty as Seth. She felt wed, Chapter 70 She¡¯s Being Eyed on Again her resolution to get down to the bottom of things bing bolstered as she sat at her desk and examined the messages all afternoon. Of course, she kept all the information on herputer to avoid prying eyes. Although it was already 5.00PM, she had only managed to screen two departments. Judging from the clues she had gathered, several individuals had various connections with Jonas. ¡°Miss Symons, did Miss Shaffer¡¯s deposit paymente through?¡± A staff member from the contract department interrupted Isabe¡¯s thoughts, bringing her back to the present. It was then that she remembered Lara¡¯s car reservation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it¡¯s not done yet. I¡¯ll remind her again.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Wed, 27 Dec °×ÒÏ»á77%•þ Chapter 70 She¡¯s Being Eyed on Again. Isabe put down her phone and dialed the number on the business card. Yet, it was Lara¡¯s assistant who answered the call. Isabe asked about the deposit, and the assistant apologized, saying she didn¡¯t have time to do it in person. The assistant asked if she could transfer it to Isabe¡¯s phone. ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± She wasn¡¯t worried since there would be a record of the transaction. Hence, she received the assistant¡¯s transferred payment, went straight to the contract department, handed over the deposit, and confirmed the delivery time. ¡°Do double-check with the customer. The car will be ordered once,the deposit is paid. Please inform them that there will be no way to refund it after the order goes through,¡± reminded the contract department staff.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Isabe inexplicably panicked when she heard about it. She immediately made a call, but Lara¡¯s assistant seemed helpless as she stated that her boss wasn¡¯t sick and since they paid a deposit, they would want the car. ¡°Don¡¯t call again. Miss Shaffer is very busy.¡± Isabe felt frustrated. She didn¡¯t want this deal at all; it was pushed to her by Lara, yet now it seemed like she was the one chasing after it. She hung up the phone, confirmed the details with her colleague from the contract department, and returned to her office while feeling uneasy. Natasha suddenly called when it was almost time to get off work. She invited Isabe to the opening banquet of a new store in Bleaktown. ¡°I won¡¯t go. I¡¯m exhausted these days, and my feet are still hurting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re tired that you shoulde out and rx. Besides, you¡¯ll be taking a car and not walking. What does it have to do with your foot pain?¡± Natasha¡¯s tone carried excitement. ¡°Come on. It¡¯s an important moment. You have toe to witness it.¡± Isabe knew that Natasha held an eighty percent stake in this store. It was a gift from Dariel and basically considered a future separation fee, which was significant yet cruel for Natasha. She gritted her teeth. ¡°Fine. Wait for me then.¡± ¡°Great!¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Isabe remembered and asked, ¡°Will Seth and the others be there?¡± ¡°What are you thinking? Bleaktown is a two-hour drive from Imperia. Do you think those presidents woulde over in the middle of the night just to join my celebration?¡± Natasha was speechless. Isabe chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± She got the address from Natasha and nned to take the high-speed rail. Natasha arranged for someone to wait for her at the station. She had gone several days without proper sleep and had a severe injury to her foot, but she was having a night out now. She felt she was a bit crazy. At the high-speed rail station, she almost fell asleep but managed to board the train before copsing. She dozed off and was woken up by the train attendant upon arrival. After rubbing her face, she got off the train with her bag, and there she saw the person Natasha arranged. It was someone from Golnd Lounge whom she recognized. ¡°The store is crowded. Otherwise, Natasha would havee herself.¡± Isabe smiled and said it was fine while the person warmly talked about the bustling situation in the store, the big shots who arrived, and how she admired Natasha¡¯s ability. Isabe thought that Dariel was indeed a generous financier. Natasha had been with him for five years and got everything she could have except for love. She felt a little sad after witnessing Natasha¡¯s transformation from that innocent and straightforward person to today¡¯s invincible self. She felt inferior to Natasha afterparing herself to Natasha. Natasha lost her old self but found a new one, while she only lost her former self and remained confused. The person ahead kept talking, and she casually replied a few words before they reached their destination. In the prime area of Bleaktown that was bustling with activity, there stood an impressive building with artistically craftedrge characters on top-Priceton. Princeton was simr to the word priceless. What a fitting name. Isabe breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly felt relieved. Natasha had finally fulfilled her wish, which didn¡¯t seem like a disappointment after all. She followed the person who had received her all the way to the third floor. She surveyed the entirety of Priceton and found that the decoration was extravagant, even more exaggerated than that of Golnd Lounge. From the looks of it, it must have cost hundreds of millions. Natasha, who was dressed in a red gown and wearing a feather mask, emerged from the crowd and pulled Isabe into a private room upon seeing her. ¡°How¡¯s it? Impressive, right?¡± The woman had bright red lips. She removed her mask, and her entire face was adorned with vibrant colors. Isabe nodded. ¡°Amazing.¡± Natasha smiled and fetched a set of clothes and a mask for her. ¡°It¡¯s crowded today. You should go outter and have some fun, too.¡± Isabe hesitated while holding onto the clothes and sat down. ¡°The people who came today are all big shots. You¡¯ve finally established yourself.¡± Natasha¡¯s lips curled up. ¡°Dariel kept his promises.¡± Isabe observed her gaze and detected a hint of sarcasm before she sighed. ¡°Priceton must have cost hundreds of millions.¡± Natasha raised two fingers. ¡°To be more urate, it¡¯s 18 million.¡± Isabe felt a sense of awe in her heart, yet a hint of resignation surfaced on her face. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand this man. He¡¯s willing to spend so much money on you but has held you back for so many years.¡± Natasha chuckled, sat beside Isabe, and fixed her hair while saying, ¡°Do you think he¡¯s really that willing?¡± Isabe raised an eyebrow. ¡°If he wasn¡¯t willing, could you have held a knife to C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org his neck and forced him?¡± Natasha replied casually, ¡°I can¡¯t, but his child can.¡± Isabe didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What?¡± ¡°A year ago, I was pregnant,¡± Natasha said in a casual tone. ¡°He promised me that he would give me 15 million if I aborted the child.¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Isabe was shocked and speechless as she stared at Natasha. They had always been open about everything, but Natasha had never mentioned being pregnant. ¡°How is that possible? I see you every week¡­¡± Isabe tried toprehend. Natasha lit a cigarette and remarked casually, ¡°I aborted the child on Monday and was back at the store to work on Friday.¡± Isabe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She clenched the clothes in her hands tightly. ¡°Dariel¡­ he. ¡°He¡¯s a b*stard.¡± Natasha took a deep drag from her cigarette. She was still smiling, but her tone was icy. ¡°But he¡¯s a b*stard who keeps his promises.¡± Abort the child, and you¡¯ll get 100 million. The coldness of those words made Isabe shiver when she thought about it, let alone what Natasha had to face firsthand. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Don¡¯t be sad.¡± Natasha helped fix Isabe¡¯s hair before patting her shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t feel anything anymore. Now, I¡¯m only interested in money.¡± Isabe shrugged, and her expression was calm as she changed the subject quickly. ¡°Are there handsome guys here?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Natasha clicked her tongue twice before leaning in and hooking her arm around Isabe¡¯s shoulder. ¡°The second young master of Cliffgate Construction has a striking appearance, but when he gets on stage and starts to move his waist¡­ it¡¯s just incredible!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wear a maskter and try to flirt with him.¡± Isabeughed. ¡°Hurry! Otherwise, he will soon be snatched up.¡± Natasha pped, and she seemed unaffected by the previous conversation as she swayed slightly with a hint of allure. Isabe didn¡¯t reveal her emotions, as Natasha didn¡¯t seem to want to talk about it. Instead, she focused on choosing clothes, fixing her hair, and repeatedly checking her makeup. After a few more exchanges, the atmosphere returned to normal. Natasha embraced her as they left, and they were talking through their masks. ¡°Except for not getting intimate with others, you can do whatever you want to do here today. Don¡¯t hold back.¡± ¡°Those whoe to your ce aren¡¯t here to avoid getting intimate with others.¡± Isabe chuckled. Natashaughed and yfully tapped Isabe¡¯s butt. ¡°Whatever. Just hold onto yourself. If you can¡¯t, don¡¯t suppress your nature.¡± Humans were primal. Isabe smiled and descended the stairs with Natasha. They encountered two young men on their way down. She could tell that both men were quite handsome even though half of their face was covered. They exchanged greetings, and the men kissed their hands. Both sides looked presentable before entering the dance floor together. Isabe was a good dancer and was even proficient in pole dancing. Coincidentally, her injured foot didn¡¯t hinder her much in pole dancing since it involved less contact with the ground. She paid no mind to others while dancing joyfully for herself. She was in high spirits and even grabbed the spot of the pole dance performer on stage: She forgot about being ashamed while wearing a mask and effortlessly executed daring moves. The cheers nearly lifted the roof. A group of men surrounded the dance floor, and their eyes were gleaming through their masks, almost wishing to devour Isabe. She looked stunning. With half her face covered, it emphasized her captivating red lips and her outfit entuated her figure. Her moves were fiery yet mysterious, and they left the onlookers enraptured. During the performance, some men attempted to join the dance but couldn¡¯t keep up and ended up retreating in embarrassment. The crowd cheered, and the entire atmosphere was under Isabe¡¯s control. She licked her lips, and this action was projected onto the screens in a close-up shot. Her lips and tongue captivated the men below. She was drenched in sweat from her dancing and felt thirsty midway, so she headed to the bar for a drink. The onlookers made way for her as if she were the center of the universe. The bartender served her cautiously. ¡°A drink with a lower alcohol content?¡± ¡°Just a little.¡± Isabe nodded. The bartender was aware of her rtionship with Natasha, so he used minimal brandy and mostly fruit juice in her drink. However, perhaps due to the atmosphere, Isabe felt a bit flushed, and her emotions began to fluctuate after a few sses. Someone came to offer her a drink, and she downed it in the heat of the moment. Once she started, others followed suit and toasted her one after another. Isabe ignored them. Those who were daring wanted to approach her, but before they could, a bodyguard came and escorted them away. Her mysterious aura and impressive background stimted the men¡¯s desire for conquest. Several affluent young men attempted to strike up conversations. Isabe merely touched her ss symbolically and was even unwilling to Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. drink. She stared at the bartender¡¯s array of colorful liquids and suddenly got interested. ¡°Can you teach me how to mix drinks?¡± The bartenderplied and invited her inside the bar counter. Stepping inside the bar counter meant entering a safe zone where outsiders couldn¡¯t reach her. However, those who were clever immediately sat in front of her. ¡°Give me a drink.¡± Isabe, who was already feeling the effects of the alcohol, squinted her eyes. She felt her excitement rising. ¡°Wait a moment,¡± she blurted out. So, when she looked down and saw the array of bottles and jars, she felt clueless. Luckily, the bartender was clever. He guided her step by step and discreetly indicated which drinks were the strongest. She intentionally yed a trick by stealthily adding the strongest liquor into it, then covered it up with various fruit juices. Upon seeing that she was alert, the bartender stepped aside. ¡°Here¡¯s your drink.¡± ¡± Isabe ced the first ss on the counter, and the man who had been staring at her shifted his gaze reluctantly. He nced at the drink and took it in without a second thought. Isabe raised an eyebrow while silently counting down in her mind. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 The man swallowed the drink and barely registered the taste before suddenly feeling dizzy and nearly falling backward. @x95% C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Upon seeing Isabe adding extra alcohol to the man¡¯s drink, the bartender knew he wouldn¡¯tst a minute and signaled the security to take him away. Indeed, the man copsed as soon as the security intervened. A group of men whistled as their gaze toward Isabe changed slightly. Isabe felt relieved and a bit woozy as she remarked coolly, ¡°You can¡¯t even handle a drink, yet you want to take me away.¡± She didn¡¯t lower her voice, so many around heard her words. ¡°Does that mean if someone doesn¡¯t copse after drinking your drink, they can take you away?¡± Someone seized the opportunity and challenged Isabe. She nced at the bartender, who discreetly handed her a bottle from under the counter. The message was clear. Add a lethal dose, and no one can take you away. ¡°Sure.¡± Isabe gained confidence and yed along immediately. ¡°As long as someone can drink three consecutive sses, I¡¯ll leave with him.¡± The present crowd were experts at drinking. Facing Isabe¡¯s exceptional allure, plenty of them were eager to offer themselves. Isabe skillfully mixed drinks. Each ss was seemingly different but had essentially the same base. Each challenger failed after just one ss. As she reached the fifth challenger, the atmosphere heated up. Men didn¡¯t back down when their pride was challenged. A muscr man stepped up and surprisingly didn¡¯t copse after a single drink. The crowd erupted in cheers as they cheered the man. ¡°Go with him. He won¡¯t disappoint you!¡± There were jests and yful remarks all around. Isabe wasn¡¯t afraid. Even if he didn¡¯t fall after the first two drinks, he would fall after drinking the third drink as it wasn¡¯t alcohol anymore. She wouldn¡¯t¡¯ leave with anyone, no matter what. She prepared the second ss and ced it in front of the man. ¡°Sir, please.¡± The muscr man was already dazed. His hand trembled as he reached for the ss, and his eyes were fixed on it. Despite his hesitation, the cheering crowd pressured him, and he managed to down the second ss. One, two¡­ He remained standing! He was surprised, and the crowd cheered. ¡°Third ss! Third ss!¡± The chanting echoed in perfect unison as if rehearsed. Isabe smiled subtly while secretly holding the special item the bartender had given her. Suddenly, there was a loud bang. The muscr man crashed onto the bar counter and waspletely unconscious. A chorus of disapproving sounds filled the room. Isabe sighed in relief as she knew she didn¡¯t need to waste the special substance. The security carried the unconscious man away, and the daring acts came to an end. Others, who saw how potent the drinks were, became a bit wary. They were here to have fun. They did not want to end up in the hospital. Isabe scanned the area and noticed no one dared to approach anymore. She sat at the bar counter and mixed herself a ss of fruit wine while enjoying it so much her eyes narrowed. She felt a bit tipsy and lightheaded, but her mind remained clear. She hummed a tune absentmindedly and feltpletely rxed. Knock. Knock. There were two tapping sounds. She squinted while lifting her head in a daze. A man wearing a silver mask stood at the bar counter, and his fingers were tapping the surface as he stared intently at her face. Isabe leaned on the counter while facing the man. It was hard to discern his features as the colorful lights were behind him. Even the lower half of his face, which was revealed by the mask, only showed a pair of thin lips. His lips were aesthetically pleasing, with a delightful shade of red. ¡°Drink,¡± He prompted her after seeing herck of response. Isabe was startled and felt the voice was familiar. She jolted up from her seat while looking at the man in front of her with blurry eyes. Se¡­ Seth? No way. He couldn¡¯t teleport. He should be in Imperia right now. She stared straight at him, but he seemed even more impatient as he tapped the table repeatedly. ¡°Drink.¡± Isabe murmured in acknowledgment. She had almost forgotten the promise she made about the three drinks. She made a drink for him casually while refraining from using the ck bottle¡¯s contents. The man took the drink before rubbing the rim gently. ¡°Three drinks, and you¡¯ll leave with me?¡± Isabe was momentarily puzzled and then remembered the earlier bet. She regretted her casual drink preparation. She watched as the man downed the drink in one go. His expression remained unchanged as he returned the ss to her. ¡°Second ss.¡± Isabe felt a bit panicked under his gaze but was forced to maintain a smile. Their actions drew the attention of the crowd again, gathering those who were about to leave. Upon seeing it was the second ss already, the crowd quickly started chanting. Isabe nced at the ck bottle and realized there wasn¡¯t much liquid left. It was barely enough for one more ss. She looked at the bartender, who oddly avoided eye contact. What was going on? ¡°You dare not make the drink? Weren¡¯t you arrogant earlier?¡± The man¡¯s thin lips lifted slightly, and his tone was tinged with mockery. Isabe swallowed hard as she scrutinized the man repeatedly. She was trying to confirm if he was indeed Seth. ¡°Second drink. Hurry up!¡± Someone from the crowd cheered while urging Isabe. She was unable to decline, so she poured all the contents from the ck bottle into the ss. If this man didn¡¯t fall, she still had her trump card. ¡°Your drink.¡± She handed the prepared drink to the man once again before locking eyes with him. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 The man¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Isabe¡¯s eyes as he drank the entire content of the ss. Then, he flipped the ss upside down. The surrounding crowd erupted into cheers. It was more intense than when the muscr man had his turn. Isabe lowered her head and rolled her eyes, bing even more suspicious that the person in front of her was Seth. Other than Seth, she wouldn¡¯t experience this kind of physiological fear toward anyone else. ¡°Only one drink left.¡± The man reminded her. She snorted and continued to mix the drink. She nned to discreetly add the ¡®good stuff¡¯ to the ss, but just as she reached out, the man standing in front of the bar suddenly stretched his hand across and grabbed her arm. ¡°What are you taking?¡± Isabe¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she was momentarily flustered but quickly forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m just adding some fruit to decorate it and help you ease the alcohol buzz.¡± ¡°Why are you so nice to him?¡± Someone nearby grumbled in jealousy. ¡°Is it because he looks handsome?¡± Laughter ensued. Isabe was unfazed as she nced at the man in front of her. ¡°Could you please let go first? You¡¯re hurting me.¡± A glint of darkness shed in the man¡¯s eyes, and the next moment, he released her arm. Though the restraint on her arm loosened, her heart tensed up. That touch just now confirmed her suspicions-the man before her was indeed Seth! Damn it! Why was he meddling in this? ¡°Are there no more drinks?¡± The man lifted his chin slightly, and his words carried a hint of provocation. Isabe b¨ªt her lip, scanned the bar, and eventually settled on a bottle of vodka. Without bothering to mix a new concoction, she switched to arger ss, filled it to the brim with vodka, and put a lemon wedge on the ss. ¡°Enjoy.¡± ¡°Will you leave with me after I finish this drink?¡± The man spoke softly. He was deliberately prolonging the suspense just to y with her emotions. Isabe could sense the mockery in his eyes even though she couldn¡¯t see the rest of his face. She was nervous, but she had to maintain her ¡°After you finish without falling.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± The man snorted and picked up the ss in front of him. Numerous eyes were fixated on the ss in his hand. There was a mix of excitement and reluctance. This thorny rose might actually be plucked by someone else. Isabe couldn¡¯t help but look at the ss. She saw it slowly deplete as the man consumed every drop. Arge ss of vodka like that should be quite challenging, even without any drug. Isabe knew Seth had a good tolerance for alcohol, but he wasn¡¯t invincible. This ss might just be enough to take him down. Yet, there was no sign of him being affected by it even after the man handed the ss back to her. He reached out to her. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Isabe found herself in a difficult situation. The crowd around them was cheering, and if she didn¡¯t go along, the bar would probably be stormed by people. She had no choice. She could only open the small door behind the bar and walk out to join the man. He pulled her close abruptly, his hand encircled her neck, and he leaned in to kiss her without any warning. Isabe¡¯s mind went nk, and she forgot to push him away. Amidst the uproar around her, the taste of alcohol transmitted from the man¡¯s lips overwhelmed her and made her almost lose her footing. After exploring her mouth thoroughly, the man suddenly released her and pulled her through the crowd before heading straight upstairs to a private room. The remarks from the surrounding onlookers were like a wedding night celebration as they witnessed the two of them going upstairs. Isabe¡¯s head felt hot as if it were about to explode. She was forced to follow along while contemting whether or not to expose Seth. If she didn¡¯t expose him, this b*stard might actually do something to her, but Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. if she did, it might not necessarily stop him. Ah! Her mind was in turmoil. She was already pulled into the room at this point. With a bang, the door closed behind her, and she was pushed up against it. A passionate kiss engulfed her without giving her a chance to catch her breath. She closed her mouth, but the man ruthlessly bit her, forcing her to open her mouth. ¡°Um¡­¡± Isabe was cursing inside. This b*stard was probably reminiscing about their previous encounters, so he was using her as entertainment. She struggled and managed to free her hands before pushing him away forcefully! The man took several steps back and steadied himself. His eyes scanned her with an intense gaze. Isabe was tense all over as she leaned against the door. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to take a shower?¡± ¡°Can we continue after I take a shower?¡± He didn¡¯t seem inclined to expose her. His cold and scrutinizing gaze shifted to a yful one. Isabe swallowed hard. ¡°I don¡¯t like the smell of alcohol on men¡¯s bodies, and I don¡¯t like kissing men with the taste of alcohol in their mouths.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He agreed readily and suddenly opened his arms. ¡°Come here.¡± Did he want her to undress him? Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Isabe gritted her teeth. She remembered this scene from before when he insisted she sit on him and undress him piece by piece. The memory of that moment shed through her mind, and her face flushed red. Luckily, the room only had a smallmp, so he probably couldn¡¯t see the color of her face clearly. She approached him, swiftly unfastened the buttons of his coat, and took it off him without much courtesy. When his upper body was bare, she stepped back. She didn¡¯t want to do this anymore. ¡°You can take off the rest yourself.¡± The man let out a disdainful snort, which was full of mockery, as his gaze was fixed on her face. He didn¡¯t move from his spot, but he started to remove the remaining clothing on himself. His actions were slow, almost like he was intentionally prolonging each movement while adding a touch of casual flirtation. Isabe shot him a re and turned away. Even though she turned away, she could feel his scorching gaze on her back, as if he was about to devour her at any moment. Finally, the man moved his steps and quickly entered the bathroom. Isabe breathed a sigh of relief, and her shoulders immediately rxed. Her first reaction was to run, but when she reached for the door, she found it wouldn¡¯t budge. Damn it! This guy came prepared. This ce belonged to Natasha, but most of the people here were associated with Dariel. Seth¡¯s words carried weight here. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. She hesitated for a moment, opened the window in the room, and looked down. She was only on the third floor, and there was a ledge below. Jumping down should be fine. Since they hadn¡¯t exposed each other, she figured she could just leave, and he couldn¡¯t say anything as he had no evidence. ¡°B*stard, there¡¯s never anything good when you show up¡­¡± Isabe muttered under her breath and was about to run away. Before climbing out of the window, she remembered something. She walked to the front of the bathroom and locked the door shut. Water gushed inside, and the man didn¡¯t notice this small disturbance. Isabe chuckled softly. She also turned off the water heater switch, knowing that it wouldn¡¯t take long before there was only cold water left inside. ¡°A cold shower might help you sober up.¡± She snorted heavily and quickly went to climb out of the window. Then, she jumped down without hesitation. Thud! A sharp pain shot up her ankle. She had an old injury that hadn¡¯t healedpletely, and she added a new injury within three days. The pain was unbearable to her. However, a beast was chasing after her. If she didn¡¯t run, she would be worse off than being swallowed whole. Isabe gritted her teeth and limped out of the alley. Luckily, Priceton was in the city center. She reached the entrance of the subway station in a few steps and went inside without thinking twice. Then, she bought a high-speed train ticket back to Imperia. She had been running around, and her feet were almost done for. Her heart was struggling to keep up, too. After finally arriving at the airport, Natasha called Isabe relentlessly and asked where she was. Isabe helplessly recounted the recent events to Natasha. Natasha was shocked. ¡°How is that possible? I should have known if Seth came in!¡± Isabe thought to herself that Natasha might not have known as many people there were affiliated with Dariel. She clicked her tongue and pretended to be uncertain. ¡°I might have made a mistake, but it looked so much like him.¡± Natasha was speechless. She used Isabe of being overly cautious and then quickly asked about her foot before arranging for someone to meet her at the station and take her home. Isabe felt a warm sensation in her heart. She asked for the password to Natasha¡¯s gate as she intended to hide at her ce for a few days. She made up an excuse, saying there was an issue with that waterproofing in her home. Natasha didn¡¯t probe further. After ending the call, she boarded the train just in time. Isabe hurried onto the train for fear that someone might chase her down again. She remained on edge the entire journey until the person arranged by Natasha dropped her off at Natasha¡¯s house. That was when she could rx. Her foot was in severe pain. She took two painkillers, applied ice on her foot for a while, and then applied medication before managing to endure the pain and fell asleep around 2.00AM. In her dream, the overpowering presence of the man overwhelmed her again. The dream intensified the sensation of friction on her lips. It began to seep in and evolved into an image she didn¡¯t dare to scrutinize. Isabe was startled awake. She opened her eyes with a sheen of sweat coating her back. Her cheeks were burning hot; she could sense the flush without even looking in the mirror. She reached out into the dim space and clenched her fists while kicking the sheets in frustration. It was all Seth¡¯s fault. He didn¡¯t even leave her with good dreams! The clock on the wall had just struck 6.00AM. She had slept for less than four hours. After tossing and turning for half a month without good sleep, she felt as though she might die if this continued. Just as she was feeling despondent, her phone vibrated. Isabe nced at it-it was a message from her mom. ¡®How do the flowers we nted at the nursing home look?¡¯ Her mom¡¯s unusually good mood lightened her heart, too. She ced the phone on her chest and closed her eyes slowly. Once she got out of the contract with the Shaffer Group, she was determined to take her mom out for a trip. She felt more rxed and drifted back to sleep unknowingly. Suddenly, a hurried ringtone, like a hand grabbing her by the throat, abruptly pulled her out of her dreams. ¡°Hello?¡± Alex¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Isabe, Jonas has returned. Why are youte again? Chapter 76 Chapter 76 As soon as Isabe heard Jonas¡¯ name, she knew it wasn¡¯t good news. She nced at the clock and realized it was almost 10.00AM; she had slept through the entire morning. Yesterday, she might have gotten away with it, but this time, she couldn¡¯t. She struggled to get out of bed and nearly screamed when she looked in the mirror. She had heavy eye bags, a dried and darkened face, and faint scars on her lips. She resembled a female ghost. Seth, you b*stard! She couldn¡¯t bring herself to curse herself, so she vented all her frustration on Seth. She even brushed her teeth aggressively as if every ounce of strength was directed at him. After finally getting ready, she squeezed into the subway to go to the office. While sitting on the shaky train, she suddenly felt a bit pitiful when she reflected on her five years of struggling without a car while Seth, that b*stard, had a whole racing city to himself as soon as he came of age. People had different lives and different fates. It made her hate to even think about it. She grumbled the whole way, and even after getting off the train, she had to limp along. Just as she entered the office, she heard Abigail¡¯s girly voice. ¡°Isabe sold a sports car while you were away.¡± Isabe rolled her eyes. Will you die if you don¡¯t mention it? She struggled to enter the office and initiated the conversation. ¡°Mr. Stokes, why did you return so early?¡± Jonas still had wounds on his face. He had just boasted about bravely fighting off some criminals. When he saw Isabee in, he hurried over. ¡°Isabe, your foot hasn¡¯t recovered yet?¡± Isabe waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it. Last night, I Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. tripped again near my doorstep, and it¡¯s even worse than before.¡± She didn¡¯t exaggerate. Even though she had wrapped her ankle in bandages, it was still visibly swollen and red. Jonas sighed twice while feigning concern. ¡°You¡¯ve really suffered this time.¡± Isabe forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°After enduring so much hardship, it¡¯s only right that I give you half the credit for the achievements,¡± he said all of a sudden. Everyone around them, especially Abigail, was staring with widened eyes. Isabe pretended to be surprised and tried to decline repeatedly. ¡°Mr. Stokes, this doesn¡¯t seem right. I just apanied you and didn¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve endured too much hardship. It¡¯s what you deserve.¡± Jonas patted Isabe¡¯s shoulder while speaking warmly. ¡°We might not be familiar with each other now, but we¡¯ll get closer in the future. This little achievement is nothing.¡± Isabe was astounded. She didn¡¯t need to look up to know that everyone¡¯s eyes were filled with envy, and they would surely consider her part of Jonas¡¯ ¡®team¡¯ now. She took a step forward to avoid Jonas¡¯ touch and said, ¡°Mr. Stokes, I¡¯ll go confirm the progress of the car booking.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Jonas suddenly became very amodating, and his eyes were filled with ¡®affection¡¯ as he looked at her. Isabe ignored the odd looks she was receiving and limped into the office. She felt depressed as she essed thepany¡¯s backend system. The backend showed that the final payment for the car could be made. Since she had some time, she decided to call Lara to inquire. However, no matter how many times she tried, the line was always busy. Isabe was feeling increasingly suspicious and restless as her eyelid twitched incessantly. She urged herself not to overthink and pinched the space between her eyebrows, but the sense of unease and anxiety only grew. It even escted into a panic. As lunchtime approached, the calls she made remained unanswered. The office door opened, and Isabe¡¯s colleague from the contract department, who had helped her with procedures before, walked in. ¡°Isabe, what¡¯s up with your final payment?¡± Isabe hesitated for a moment. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Her colleague frowned. ¡°We tried calling the phone number of the person who made the reservation for confirmation, but there¡¯s no answer.¡± Isabe was internally rmed but tried to maintainposure on the surface. ¡°Miss Shaffer is very busy. I¡¯ll try calling againter. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Her colleague nodded and assumed everything was fine since it was Lara on the other end, so they exchanged a few words before her colleague left. Isabe went to the pantry with her phone and kept dialing Lara¡¯s number. After numerous attempts, someone finally picked up. ¡°Hello-¡± It was Lara who answered the call. Isabe was relieved as she spoke politely. ¡°Miss Shaffer, the car booking procedure has been finalized. When do you n to make the final payment?¡± There was a moment of silence at the other end, and Lara sounded surprised. ¡°Car booking? When did I book a car?¡± Boom! Isabe felt like her mind had exploded. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She straightened up and almost shouted. Laraughed on the phone in an affected manner and pretended to be shocked. ¡°Oh my! What are you saying? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Isabe closed her eyes. ¡°Miss Shaffer, this whole act of yours is meaningless. The contract was processed through your ount, and your assistant transferred the money to me. If you don¡¯t pay the final installment for this car, we have the right to pursue your legal responsibilities.¡± Lara giggled as she said in a mocking tone, ¡°Isabe, you¡¯re quite amusing. You¡¯re talking to me so formally about legal responsibilities.¡± Isabe clenched her phone tightly. The humiliation of being fooled surged to her head, and she needed a moment to regainposure. Before she could gather her thoughts to respond, Lara suddenly added, ¡°By the way, the amount of over 120 thousand is the money I lent you. Are you not nning to not repay it?¡± Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Isabe stood frozen in ce while recalling hermunication with her assistant. They had spoken on the phone; she hadn¡¯t recorded anything, and the money had been transferred directly by the assistant without any explicit indications or remarks. Upon realizing the situation, she suddenly calmed down and spoke mechanically. ¡°Miss Shaffer, are you trying to vent your anger on me?¡± ¡°I invited you that day, but you didn¡¯te.¡± Lara justified herself and showed no remorse. Isabe¡¯s lips twitched, and her smile was strained. ¡°Can¡¯t you let me go?¡± Lara clicked her tongue. ¡°Why are you saying that? I haven¡¯t bullied you.¡± ¡°I understand. Thank you for teaching me a lesson, Miss Shaffer.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± After hanging up, Isabe was trembling with anger. She downed arge ss of water and managed to gradually calm herself down after that. Alex entered and was startled by Isabe¡¯s expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Isabe sneered. ¡°I¡¯ve been yed.¡± Alex froze and then recalled. ¡°Is it the issue with the Ghost?¡± Isabe didn¡¯t deny it, and her eyes were fixed on the ground. She silently brought out a dark n that she had intended to keep hidden. She smiled at Alex with a distorted expression, which made Alex uneasy. As Isabe walked out of the pantry, she calmly returned to her desk. She opened a drawer to retrieve the deposit contract. However, the two pages with Lara¡¯s electronic signature had been torn out. It was exactly as she had expected. Other than Abigail, Isabe couldn¡¯t think of any other person in the office who had the motive to do this. Just as she contemted confronting the possible culprit, there was a Soon after, Jonas rushed into the office, his face filled with urgency. ¡°Isabe, what happened with the Ghost?¡± Isabe swallowed hard and was unsure how to exin. ¡°Abigail said you were deceived, and nobody wants the car?¡± Jonas pressed while his eyes widened. Isabe mmed the contract onto the desk nearby. ¡°As you can see, this is a collusion. I¡¯ve been deceived.¡± Jonas didn¡¯t care whether she had been deceived or not; even if she had, it was her fault. He was concerned about who would foot the bill for the car that was worth nearly 750 thousand. ¡°Don¡¯t give me nonsense. How do we resolve this?¡± Isabe felt helpless as she retorted, ¡°How should I know?¡± Jonas was shocked. ¡°What¡¯s with your attitude?¡± ¡°What attitude do you expect me to have when insiders in thepany deceive me? I feel betrayed to my core,¡± Isabe said before throwing her hands up in resignation. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Jonas was fuming. He was gasping for air while pointing at Isabe, ¡°The money was transferred from your card, and the procedures were signed by -you. This car is technically in your name now. If you don¡¯t resolve this, you¡¯ll have to pay for the car out of your own pocket!¡± 750 thousand¡­ There was no way she would buy it! Isabe/rocked her chair. ¡°I don¡¯t have the money.¡± Jonas¡¯ expression turned bad instantly. He hadn¡¯t expected the person who had always been deferential to him to suddenly stand her ground. He was at a loss for a solution. His anger red, and he kicked aputer¡¯s CPU unit. After the loud crash, people outside who were watching the drama entered the office while trying to mediate the situation. Isabe maintained a poker face and was unflinchingly silent despite others trying to get her to speak. Yet, she was devising various solutions in her mind. ¡°If you can¡¯t pay up, thepany will sue you immediately!¡± Jonas threatened her in front of everyone, and his face turned grim. Isabe remained expressionless, and she was as immovable as a mountain. Tension filled the air as both sides refused to back down. ¡°It¡¯s just a car. You can sue her and see what happens!¡± Amidst the dead silence, a young male voice that was casual and domineering intruded into everyone¡¯s ears. Both Isabe and Jonas turned their heads toward the door. Gordon had intended to surprise Isabe with a dinner invitation. However, upon entering thepany and finding no one at the front desk, he made his way inside stealthily. That was when he overheard Jonas¡¯ harsh words to Isabe. With his hands in his pockets, he joined the crowd casually while exuding an aristocratic swagger. Jonas had no choice but to hold back his anger, and after a long while, he said, ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, this is a Ghost. If someone else had made this mistake, they would have to rectify it too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy the car.¡± Gordon directly pulled out his card before tossing it onto the table casually. ¡°Just swipe it.¡± His nonchnt attitude caused the women to blush and their heartbeats to race. Meanwhile, the men felt envious and frustrated. Jonas was speechless and regretted deeply for shouting at Isabe earlier. Why did he act so rashly? ¡°Isabe¡­¡± Before he could change his tone, Isabe stood up from her seat and said calmly, ¡°No need. It¡¯s inappropriate.¡± ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate about this?¡± Jonas widened his eyes while thinking Isabe must have been scared silly. Unperturbed by his reaction, she retrieved a ck card from her purse. ¡°I¡¯ll use my card. I¡¯ll buy the car.¡± A collective gasp filled the room. It wasn¡¯t because she said, ¡®I¡¯ll buy the car,¡¯ but the status of owning that ck card that shocked everyone. Jonas was stunned as well and was unable to utter a word. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Isabe spent extravagantly by swiping her card for 600 thousand. The crowd gathered and gossiped all the while. Gordon stood nearby, and his expression was grim. When Isabe brought out the card, he was certain that it was from Seth. ¡°Isabe, the final payment has been processed. The car should arrive in T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. about two weeks.¡± Someone from the contract department handed the finalized contract to Isabe. She epted it while maintaining a cold demeanor. ¡°Thank you.¡± The surroundings fell silent until someone, maybe emboldened by the others, started offering consoling words to Isabe for acquiring the Ghost. Upon feeling the pinch of that hard-earnedmitment, Isabe found everyone irritating; she didn¡¯t even bother with a perfunctory response. Jonas had thought of approaching her several times to ease the tension, but her icy demeanor forced him to retreat. He felt very frustrated and wanted to speak up, but Gordon had already pushed through the crowd and pulled Isabe from her seat. Isabe was disinterested in hearing these people¡¯s nonsense, so she followed Gordon out of thepany. It was past lunchtime, around 2.00PM. The sun was bright outside. Without much ado, Isabe got into Gordon¡¯s car and asked him to turn on the air conditioning. ¡°I¡¯ll take a nap. I¡¯m really tired.¡± Gordon was somewhat surprised. Isabe had been very cautious around him in the past, but now she trusted him enough to sleep in his car. This change in attitude was a significant turning point. B ¡°Sure. You sleep. I¡¯ll watch over you.¡± Isabe was too exhausted to care. All she wanted now was sleep; her mind was in turmoil. After spending Seth¡¯s 750 thousand and losing the promise of that empty check, every step she took ahead felt like walking on a tightrope. The voice of Lara echoed in her ears, causing her entire body to tense up and bring forth all the suppressed darkness within her. You brought this upon yourself. Don¡¯t me me for using you as a tool. She sighed while trying to rx a bit so that she could sleep. After an unknown amount of time, Isabe opened her eye¡¯s again and found that the car had be pitch ck. She was startled, and she sat upright while looking around. Gordon was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat and ying games on his phone. Upon hearing movement behind him, he put away his phone and turned to her. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Isabe ruffled her hair and felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯ve kept you the entire afternoon. I¡¯m sorry.¡± He leaned back while putting his feet up on the dashboard. ¡°No worries. You didn¡¯t keep me waiting. I was just pondering all afternoon. Felt frustrated.¡± Isabe¡¯s thoughts were a bit slow just after waking up. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I was thinking if I should kiss you secretly.¡± Gordon shrugged and teased her. ¡°I almost couldn¡¯t resist several times.¡± She was speechless as she rolled her eyes. Gordon was still enthusiastic and couldn¡¯t help asking her, ¡°What do you want to have for dinner?¡± Isabe wasn¡¯t in the mood for dinner. Her mind was consumed with the need to meet Seth and see if she could get away with spending 750 thousand. What she had to do next required that promise from Seth. ¡°I¡¯m too tired. Maybe another day.¡± She expressed regret to Gordon as she pursed her lips. Upon seeing her genuinely not feeling well, he couldn¡¯t force her. ¡°Shall I drop you home?¡± Initially, Isabe wanted to decline, but her ankle was hurting really badly. She thanked him and provided Natasha¡¯s address. ¡°You don¡¯t have a house?¡± Gordon asked on the way. Isabe replied with her eyes closed, ¡°I do, but it¡¯s not renovated yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll find someone to help you another day,¡± Gordon said cheerfully. He was only thinking about how to further advance things with Isabe. Isabe felt utterly drained, so she gave a perfunctory response. Upon reaching the destination, she got out of the car unsteadily. Gordon felt it was a missed opportunity and did his best to arrange for their next meeting. ¡°Last time¡¯s meal wasn¡¯t good; I¡¯ll treat you to one these days.¡± Isabe replied helplessly, ¡°You really don¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°Enough nonsense. I have the final say.¡± Gordon frowned as he insisted. She did not want to waste time, so she had no choice but to agree before hurrying into Natasha¡¯s house. Once she entered, Gordon lingered outside for a while before finally leaving. At that moment, Natasha¡¯s call came in. ¡°Be, it seems like the personst night was really Seth!¡± Natasha sounded astonished. Isabe had a headache. She had already confirmed that. Natasha clicked her tongue while admiring Isabe. ¡°You¡¯re impressive. You dared to let Seth shower using cold water. Aren¡¯t you afraid he¡¯ll catch a cold?¡± Isabe f¨¦lt exasperated. ¡°Who told him to take advantage of others?¡± Natasha¡¯s tone was full of warmth and amusement. ¡°Is there still room to take advantage between you two?¡± Isabe was speechless. ¡°He¡¯s already returned to Imperia. He hurried backst night and is probably at Golnd Lounge right now,¡± Natasha continued. Isabe was wide awake when she heard that. ¡°Seth is at Golnd Lounge right now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Natasha was unaware of her thoughts and warned her. ¡°Don¡¯t go to Golnd Lounge today. If you bump into him, you¡¯ll surely be in for trouble.¡± Isabe smiled bitterly and thought to herself, I¡¯ll have no choice but to seek trouble. Sure enough, when she fooled around, she would have to pay the price. Yesterday¡¯s moment of madness created trouble, and today, she had to go back and apologize on her knees. She straightened her hair and quickly applied light makeup after hanging up the call with Natasha. Then, she rushed upstairs to Natasha¡¯s closet to find some clothes. She knew that Seth liked ck, so she picked out a ck belted long dress. She straightened her hair with a hair straightener and put on some light makeup. ¡°Just this one time. I¡¯ll rely on him one more time, and after oveing this hurdle, I won¡¯t rely on anyone anymore.¡± Isabe stood in front of the mirror and reassured herself, although she didn¡¯t even believe her own words deep down. The challenges seemed endless. There wouldn¡¯t be a day of peace unless she could leave Imperia immediately. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 The Golnd Lounge at 8.00PM. In a spacious and luxurious private room, Dariel and Simon were ying billiards while frequently ncing in the direction of the couch and trying not to burst intoughter. ¡°Why don¡¯t you be straightforward if you want to sleep with her? Why go through all this trouble? Getting a cold and fever isn¡¯t worth it.¡± Dariel was rejoicing in Seth¡¯s misfortune. Simon chuckled while ying the role of the good cop. ¡°Mr. Shaffer is a man of taste. Stop harping on whether he sleeps with her or not.¡± ¡°Sorry for being superficial.¡± Dariel shook his head and lit a cigarette. ¡°I won¡¯t Who¡¯s the B*tch Plotting Against Mr Sha wrong myself. When it¡¯s time to act, I won¡¯t show mercy.¡± ¡°Not everyone is a pervert like you.¡± Simonughed. Their banter continued, but Seth, who was sitting on the couch, didn¡¯t even respond. He had been sitting there motionlessly since 6.00PM. ¡°Achoo!¡± There was a sneeze asionally. ¡°Go to the hospital. Don¡¯t catch some contagious disease.¡± Dariel teased him. Seth took a deep breath and smashed the cup in his hand onto the ground. ¡°That cup is my property; you¡¯ll have to pay for it.¡± Dariel continued being mean. Seth was speechless. The atmosphere in the room was rather strange. Dariel and Simon kept joking about this matter regardless of how unpleasant Seth¡¯s expression became. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Dariel said casually, ¡°Come in.¡± A bartender entered before whispering, ¡°There¡¯s a Miss Symons outside. She said she wants to see Mr. Shaffer.¡± Oh! Dariel and Simon exchanged a nce, and their eyes were gleaming with curiosity. They were eager for some gossip. Seth, who was sitting on the couch with his back facing the door, furrowed his brows instinctively at the mention of Isabe¡¯s name. After a brief pause, he immediately adopted a stern tone. ¡°Tell her to leave!¡± The bartender was taken aback and quickly nodded. ¡°Wait.¡± Dariel stopped the bartender, dropped his cue stick, and said to Seth with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t do that. Maybe she¡¯s mustered up the courage toe see you. Being so heartless might hurt her feelings.¡± Seth nced at him coldly. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t interfere then.¡± Dariel shrugged while pushing his luck. ¡°This is my territory, so I¡¯ll let Isabe in.¡± After saying that, he tantly ignored Seth¡¯s expression and instructed the bartender, ¡°Let her in and bring a few bottles of good wine.¡± ¡± The bartender avoided eye contact with Seth and hurriedly left the room. He didn¡¯t want to stay there another second. Isabe gathered her courage to look for Seth. She was waiting downstairs, but there wasn¡¯t any response. Suddenly, she was approached by someone. It was the bartender who had gone up to deliver the message moments ago. ¡°Miss Symons, Mr. Shaffer and the others are waiting for you upstairs.¡± Isabe was surprised. ¡°Mr. Shaffer is willing to see me?¡± The bartender avoided eye contact and chuckled nervously. ¡°Of course. Please go up.¡± This made Isabe even more nervous. Something seemed off; Seth might be nning to make things difficult for her. With numerous thoughts swirling in her mind, she cautiously made her way upstairs. The quieter it was, the more uneasy she felt. She knocked, and the door opened immediately. Dariel came out smiling and pulled her into the private room. ¡°Mr. Shaffer is C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org waiting for you. Hurry in.¡± His teasing tone sent shivers down her spine, and goosebumps formed on her arms. She nced around the room and finally spotted the indifferent figure on the couch. Seth had his back turned toward her. He showed no intention of turning around. ¡°Mr. Shaffer?¡± she called. There was no response. ¡°He took a cold showerst night and caught a fever and a cold. He¡¯s probably not in the right state of mind.¡± Dariel gestured toward his temple yfully while looking at Isabe with an insinuating gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, and she swallowed hard before quickly putting on a smile. ¡°A cold shower?¡± She exaggerated her tone while adopting a fawning manner. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, why don¡¯t you take better care of yourself?¡± Pfft! Simon couldn¡¯t contain hisughter. He raised an eyebrow at Isabe and said, ¡°Someone yed a trick on him.¡± Isabe suppressed her urge to smile and looked in Seth¡¯s direction. This jerk had treated her like air ever since she entered. She summoned her courage to approach him and stood next to the couch. She leaned forward and suddenly brought her face close to Seth¡¯s. ¡°Mr. Seth was determined to embarrass her initially. He had no intention of saying a word to her, but when she suddenly appeared in front of him, he couldn¡¯t help but nce at her. Her ck belted long dress highlighted her exquisite figure, and every curve was perfectly defined. She had a perfect figure, which made her very alluring. He felt a dryness in his throat. He immediately recalled the kiss fromst night and the cold water pouring down from above. Any romantic thoughts vanished instantly. ¡°Stay away from me, and stop shing your ghostly face in front of me.¡± She felt his temperature and then hers before saying with great concern, ¡°Oh my! The fever hasn¡¯t subsided yet.¡± Seth was speechless. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Isabe ignored Seth¡¯s cold attitude and squeezed herself into the seat beside him. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, do you feel ufortable anywhere?¡± Seth pursed his lips while looking at her as if she were an idiot. ¡°Is something wrong with your brain?¡± ¡°No.¡± Isabe shook her head solemnly. ¡°I didn¡¯t do well enough in the past.¡± Seth frowned as he tried to discern her intentions by observing her expression. Across from them, Dariel and Simon listened intently while exchanging nces from time to time. Isabe ignored their presence and continued with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve been reflecting a lot recently, and I suddenly had an epiphany.¡± Seth, who felt a cold sweat break out, gave her a mocking look. ¡°Why didn¡¯t your epiphany lead you to be a monk?¡± She disregarded his sarcasm and suddenly opened her purse to take out a few sheets of paper. ¡°To express my apology, I¡¯ve prepared a birthday gift for you.¡± Seth¡¯s expression turnedplex. He tightly pursed his lips while showing a look of speechlessness. Dariel shifted his gaze over. ¡°Oh, what is it? And it¡¯s a birthday present?¡± Simon smiled and added casually, ¡°I remember Seth¡¯s birthday is in winter.¡± Seth sneered. ¡°Some hypocrites don¡¯t care about preparing beforehand.¡± Isabe closed her eyes momentarily and then lifted her hand and lightly ced a finger in front of Seth¡¯s lips. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± He didn¡¯t care whether there was a misunderstanding or not. His gaze fell on the finger in front of his lips, and he felt a bit annoyed. What was the point of keeping this distance? She unfolded the sheets of paper with a brilliant smile. ¡°A Ghost. It¡¯ll arrive in two weeks. Do you like it?¡± Dariel eximed, ¡°It¡¯s quite avish gift.¡± Simon was surprised, too. ¡°At least 750 to 900 thousand.¡± This amount of money wasn¡¯t significant to them, but for Isabe, it was probably half of her fortune. Isabe offered the papers. ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy, Mr. Shaffer, this amount is nothing.¡± Seth lowered his head to look at the papers, and a glint shed in his dark eyes. He then scrutinized Isabe¡¯s face. ¡°Was this the car ordered by Lara?¡± Isabe was speechless. This b*stard¡¯s mind worked quite fast. ¡°Of course not.¡± She denied emphatically while looking serious. ¡°I wanted to give you something, so I made a special order.¡± Seth looked at her with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°No work, no pay. I don¡¯t need it.¡± Isabe leaned closer to him. ¡°But I¡¯ve already bought it.¡± ¡°You tried to act smart, and it¡¯s my fault?¡± He didn¡¯t even nce at her. Isabe persisted with a smile. ¡°This car cost me half of my fortune.¡± Seth remained unmoved. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t want it, I¡¯ll take it.¡± Dariel suddenly walked over before snatching the contract from Isabe¡¯s hand. He scanned it and clicked his tongue. ¡°If a woman gave me a Ghost, I¡¯d let her sleep with me right away.¡± Isabe was speechless. Should she thank him? ¡°I remember that Seth had a Ghost before.¡± Simon walked over, nced at the contract, and continued, ¡°The previous one was silver. This time, it seems to be ck. It matches you well. It¡¯s a good change.¡± Isabe was extremely grateful for Simon¡¯s words. She turned to Seth in hopes that he would ease up a bit, or else she would have no way out. ¡°Are you so eager to give me a gift because you need something from me?¡± Seth suddenly turned to look at her with cold eyes. He made it seem like nothing could be hidden from him. She quickly snatched the contract back from Dariel and ced it in front of Seth. ¡°I have no other requests. I¡¯m just a bit tight on funds right now. I used your card to buy the car¡­¡± Seth chuckled. Dariel and Simon exchanged a nce and were ready to watch the drama unfold. ¡°You used my money to buy me a gift,¡± Seth emphasized this sentence. Isabe hurriedly exined, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m just a bit tight on funds right now and borrowed this money from you.¡± The more she spoke, the more uncertain she felt as she stared at Seth¡¯s side profile. She feared that he would get angry. Seth hadn¡¯t figured out her intentions yet, but upon hearing this, he suddenly understood. He crossed his arms while leaning back on the couch leisurely. ¡°You want me to consider it a loan from you and not your expense. That way, the promise of that empty check is secured, right?¡± Isabe¡¯s expression stiffened. Her concerns were exposed by Seth, and she quickly tried toe up with a clever defense. ¡°What does an empty check mean?¡± Dariel was being quite nosy as he interrupted. Simon clicked his tongue before pulling him aside. ¡°It¡¯s their secret. Why do you have to meddle in it?¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Dariel said in a knowing tone, ¡°Oh¡­¡±¡± Isabe was anxious, but both of them were still being nosy. She struggled to maintain a smile and tried to please Seth. ¡°I took the risk of issuing an ¡¯empty check¡¯ to buy this car for you. Can¡¯t you see my sincerity?¡± Seth gave her a smile that was eerie and terrifying. ¡°Do you take me for a fool?¡± Isabe was speechless. I genuinely wish you were a fool. After being countered like that, her smile froze on her face, and she was at a loss for a moment. He withdrew his gaze, lifted his chin, and changed the subject. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s a way for me to ept this car.¡± Isabe¡¯s hope reignited as she nodded. ¡°Please tell me!¡± Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Isabe guessed that Seth wouldn¡¯t easily agree to her request, but at this point, even if he asked her for a star in the sky, she would have to immediately get adder. The man sat next to her, a hint of malicious intent shing in his eyes. ¡°Do you know who caused me to get drenched in cold waterst night?¡± His tone sounded casual, nothing like an usation, but that still sent chills down Isabe¡¯s spine. Don¡¯t tell me he wants me to take a cold shower. She clenched her skirt, forcing a stiff smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°A woman who doesn¡¯t know better.¡± The man suddenly turned serious and emphasized each word, ¡°If I catch her, I¡¯ll make her regret her actions.¡± Isabe remained silent. ¡°Do you agree?¡± Seth asked. Isabe awkwardly chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re right. Serves her right.¡± ¡°But before I was drenched, I had to drink three sses of strong liquor because of her.¡± Seth snorted and asked, ¡°How do you suppose I get even with her?¡± Isabe felt a shiver run down her spine as she closed her eyes, boldly suggesting, ¡°Make her drink the same amount of drinks!¡± Seth pped. ¡°Good idea.¡± In the meantime, Isabe was bleeding inside. Staring at the man¡¯s neck, she felt an urge to bite him, sttering his blood everywhere. ¡°Do you need some liquor?¡± Dariel, who had been watching the scene, came forward with glistening eyes. ¡°I have plenty here. You can drink whatever you want.¡± Getting up, Seth strode toward the bar. ¡°How about I personally make you a cocktail?¡± Those words were obviously directed at Isabe. Isabe got up and approached him, feeling nervous. ¡°It would be my honor to drink a cocktail you made.¡± While she spoke, her eyes were fixed on the various liquor bottles beside Seth¡¯s hand. They were all strong liquors, including vodka and brandy. Seth went behind the bar and randomly took out three sses. Then, he said to Isabe while looking at her, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t drink too much. Three sses is enough.¡± The sses weren¡¯trge, making Isabe think Seth was going easy on her, but just as she felt relieved, Seth opened the vodka bottle and filled all three sses to the brim without hesitation. While Isabe looked at the three sses, a train of curses popped into her head. ¡°Is this the cocktail you made?¡± Seth leaned against the bar, remarking, ¡°It¡¯s called minimalism.¡± Bullsh*t! Isabe released a breath. ¡°Very sophisticated.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand.¡± Seth didn¡¯t seem the slightest bit embarrassed. Their banter continued as they continued to y dumb. In the meantime, Simon and Dariel enjoyed watching them and would intervene asionally. ¡°Drinking three sses of that might harm a woman¡¯s health.¡± Simon somewhat disagreed with this and looked toward Seth. ¡°It would be better to mix some fruit juice into it.¡± Seth turned to Isabe and smiled. ¡°Would you like some juice?¡± Isabe pursed her lips and shrugged at Simon. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Gates, but I don¡¯t particrly like fruit juices.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Seth leaned on the barzily, pushing a ss of vodka toward Isabe. ¡°Vodka should be drunk pure, or else it¡¯s a waste of such a refined spirit.¡± You¡¯re the boss; whatever you say is right. Isabe looked at the ss in front of her and raised it to Seth. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Shaffer, for lending me money.¡± After saying that, she raised her head and downed the entire ss without giving herself a chance to regret it. Cough! It felt like a fire was burning her throat down to her stomach, and Isabe immediately curled up, gritting her teeth to endure the indescribable sensation. She felt like her whole body was on fire, and her brain was a mess, feeling like it would burst in the next second. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Dariel was a bit worried, so he picked up a te of fruit and gave it to her. ¡°Eat something to ease the feeling.¡± Though Isabe wanted to have some, her peripheral vision caught Seth¡¯s expressionless face, and she gritted her teeth, shaking her head silently. ¡°Tsk! So ruthless. She even came all the way here to give you a gift.¡± Simon appeared as if he couldn¡¯t take this anymore and rapped on the table. ¡°You almost couldn¡¯t stand drinking one ss, so having two more might cause you to drop instantly.¡± That was the same as what Isabe estimated. She was still clutching her stomach since she finished her first ss of vodka. On the other hand, Seth stood tall with one hand in his pocket, his gaze fixed on the top of the woman¡¯s head. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°I drank threerge ssesst night, and thest one was a ss of vodka,¡± he suddenly said coldly. Isabe gritted her teeth. Now that she was going through the same thing, she instantly felt that she had gone too farst night, but after thinking about it, she hadn¡¯t forced Seth to drink that. He came over himself. Afterward, she straightened her body, biting her lip while looking at the two sses, about to reach for them. ¡°I¡¯ll help her drink one ss.¡± Simon suddenly came forward, stopping Isabe from taking the ss. Shocked, Isabe couldn¡¯t help but look at him. Seth stood behind the bar, his gaze moving between the two people as his expression quickly turned gloomy. ¡°Who is she to you? Why would you drink a 300-thousand-dor drink for her?¡± Realizing that the tone sounded off, Dariel quickly went over to mediate the situation. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on? Why are you taking this so seriously?¡± Then, he grabbed a ss and downed it in one go. He gazed at Seth and said, ¡°Hurry up and drink that. Go easy on the young woman.¡± However, Seth didn¡¯t move, his gaze fixed on Simon. Simon had no choice but to withdraw his hand and gesture that he surrendered. Seeing that, Isabe pouted before grabbing the ss, ready to finish it on her own, but before she could touch the ss, a man¡¯s hand had already taken it away. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Deal With That Man Sooner or Later Seth grabbed the ss before Isabe could, raised it to his lips, and finished it in one fell swoop. Tap! He ced the empty ss on the table and met Isabe¡¯s confused gaze. ¡°Three cups are finished, so you can leave now.¡± Isabe had been eagerly waiting for that word ¡®leave,¡¯ and hearing it made her almost tear up out of gratefulness. She clutched her stomach, struggled to get off the stool, and stared at Seth. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, you have to keep your word.¡± But Seth bowed his head to mix another drink, not bothering to acknowledge her. He casually mixed a few different liquors into a ss and brought it to his lips. Isabe reminded him, ¡°You still have a fever. It¡¯s better not to drink.¡± If you get sick because of this, I¡¯ll be implicated. Impatiently raising his head, Seth rebuked, ¡°Are you not leaving?¡± Isabe gritted her teeth and hurriedly headed out the door. Behind her, Dariel clicked his tongue. ¡°So ruthless.¡± Isabe ignored him and gently closed the door before turning around and weakly leaning against the door. Now that the door separated them, she was finally spared from letting Seth see her embarrassment. It was nearly dawn, and she hunched over to relieve her drowsiness before making her way downstairs step by step. Since it wasn¡¯t easy to hail a cab at this hour, Isabe stood beside the road for a long while before finally stopping a cab. When she got in, the sudden Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. temperature drop made her shiver. In the end, she still returned to Natasha¡¯s ce, lest she bump into Louis¡¯ men. Once they arrived at the residential area, the driver stopped the car. In her daze, Isabe instinctively tried to open the door. ¡°Miss, you¡¯d better not get down. There seems to be a group of hooligans up front,¡± the driver remarked. Thatment seemed to have cleared up Isabe¡¯s mind, and she followed the driver¡¯s gaze. There were indeed several men standing close to where Natasha lived, all of whom she didn¡¯t recognize. She couldn¡¯t be sure if they were Louis¡¯ men, but she didn¡¯t dare risk her own safety, so she asked, ¡°Sir, can you go back to where we came from?¡± The driver didn¡¯t ask anything and immediately turned around, nagging about safety issues along the way back. Isabe¡¯s tense state forced her drunkenness into a corner. Once they returned to Golnd Lounge, she stumbled out of the car and felt her ankle starting to throb in pain again. Although Natasha wasn¡¯t around, the receptionist recognized Isabe, so it wasn¡¯t a problem for her to get the key card. Then, Isabe limped to the door and bumped into someone. She narrowed her eyes and realized it was Nics. Nics was stunned as he almost didn¡¯t recognize Isabe. ¡°Isabe, why are you here?¡± Forcing a crooked smile, Isabe replied, ¡°I have some business here.¡± Nics noticed her stance and looked at her ankle. ¡°Is your foot alright?¡± Since Isabe desperately wanted to sit down, she replied, ¡°I identally sprained it again.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you take a seat inside the car?¡± Nics jiggled the car keys in his hand and beamed. ¡°I came here to fetch Mr. Shaffer.¡± No way! Isabe subconsciously rejected that idea and even took a step back. ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯m heading inside to look for my friend. There¡¯s no need to trouble you and Mr. Shaffer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Nics insisted and came forward to support her. ¡°I¡¯ll help you get inside the car first.¡± Isabe¡¯s head hurt. Along with the difort in her stomach, brain, and ankle, she felt her whole body was aching and didn¡¯t have the energy to argue with Nics. Before she could even say no, Nics had already led her into the car. This ck Bentley was one of Seth¡¯s favorite rides. When Isabe got in and was surrounded by the man¡¯s scent, she felt her headache worsened. The drunkenness she had forced to the back of her mind returned, and a sly idea popped into her head, soon taking up arge part of her brain and seizing control. Bending over, Isabe hugged her head while propping her arms on her knees. Her thoughts were a mess, and she didn¡¯t feel like moving. She felt like something was stuck inside her heart, making her want to curse at someone. When she raised her head and noticed no one around, the impulsiveness inside her swarmed out, and she parted her lips. Meanwhile, Nics was leading Seth toward the car, saying as he walked, ¡°I just bumped into Isabe. She seemed unwell, so I took it upon myself to let her rest inside the car.¡± Seth, who was walking toward the backseat, stopped in his tracks. ¡°Unwell?¡± Nics nodded and helped Seth open the car door. The moment it was opened, a woman¡¯s angry voice came from inside. ¡°Seth, you b*stard. I¡¯ll deal with you sooner orter.¡± Nics was taken aback. Seth¡¯s pupils narrowed. His tall body blocked the already very faint light, so he searched inside the car for a bit before his cold gazended on the woman inside. ¡°I lent you so much money, yet you¡¯re calling me a b*stard?¡± Isabe felt better after that scream, but the voice that suddenly appeared out of nowhere had her turning around in confusion. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Outside the car, the man was wearing only a shirt with sleeves rolled up to his forearms. He exuded a formidable aura, and while his face was mostly hidden in the shadows, he cast a terrifyingly oppressive aura without having to say anything. Isabe¡¯s head was spinning, but she instinctively shrank her neck a little and withdrew her gaze. In fact, she didn¡¯t really remember who Seth was and stiffly repeated, ¡°B*stard.¡± Seth didn¡¯t speak a word. Instead, his first thought was to pull the damn woman out of his car. Upon seeing the situation, Nics hurriedly reminded, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, Isabe looks drunk.¡± Seth¡¯s hand hung in the air. The sound of Isabe monotonously repeating a particr word filled his ears, making him frown as he looked at Nics. With disgust, he said, ¡°You get in the car and open the window for venttion.¡± After getting his orders, Nics hurriedly got in the car. Seth was impatient and didn¡¯t even wait half a minute before getting in the car with a cold expression. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, where to?¡± ¡°Shaffer Residence,¡± Seth replied frustratedly. He finally had two days off but was forced to take a cold shower yesterday and had to bring the drunk woman back home today. ¡°Stop the car,¡± he suddenly ordered. Nics stepped on the brakes and parked the car by the roadside. Seth nced at the dazed woman beside him and felt the urge to throw her out of the car but couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak his mind. He thought that since they had slept together for five years, it would be cruel to throw her out of the car in this state. ¡°Return to the Shaffer Residence. Quick.¡± Though confused, Nics hurriedly started the engine. Seth¡¯s expression eased after he figured things out, and his gaze asionally shifted toward Isabe¡¯s face. Since she was drunk, her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were pursed into a slight pout. Besides that, her drooping brows made her look very pitiful. Seth couldn¡¯t help but mock, ¡°Why are you pretending to be pitiful?¡± Hearing the movement, Isabe turned to him and blinked. When she didn¡¯t receive a response, she turned back around to look out the window. Meanwhile, Seth observed her expression, trying to judge if she was pretending or not, but after a long while, he noticed Isabe was still pouting pitifully and showed no traces of pretense. ¡°Your alcohol tolerance still hasn¡¯t improved after five years.¡± He snorted before withdrawing his gaze. As the car continued toward Shaffer Residence, the surroundings gradually became quiet. The roads winding up the mountain were perfectly engineered and had breathtaking night views along the way. Isabe leaned on the window, unable to contain her exmation, ¡°Seth Shaffer, you b*stard.¡± That guy is loaded. Seth heard her loud and clear, and he snapped his head around to look at her in shock. She was so drunk, yet she could still call him a b*stard. Exactly how much hatred did she have for him? ¡°Isabe,¡± the man called out. Isabe propped her chin up while ncing at him coldly. ¡°Mm-hmm?¡± It was rare for her to have such a dazed expression. Seth was inexplicably stunned and then frowned a little while turning his face away in irritation. His hand on his knee gently touched the cloth of his pants as inappropriate thoughts filled his mind. Meanwhile, Isabe leaned to the side. Her lips gradually stopped moving, and she sat there quietly and obediently. The car arrived at the vi on the mountain, and Nics stopped the car by the road. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± Seth nced at Isabe beside him, his mind filled with conflicting thoughts. ¡°Isabe is drunk and can¡¯t walk straight. Should I send her inside?¡± Nics asked. Seth looked displeased, seemingly unwilling to ept that idea. ¡°Help her inside and get the butler to bring her to a guest room.¡± Nics nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± After Seth spoke, he seemed to disregard Isabe, getting out of the car alone and heading straight into the vi. It was nearly midnight, and Isabe was drunk and tired. Her body felt as soft as cotton candy, and even Nics found it hard to support her. Nics felt helpless and couldn¡¯t get too close to her either, so he could only get help from two female servants. Meanwhile, Isabe felt weak and leaned on anyone she could, refusing to move her legs. The two servants worked together to help her inside the vi, where they encountered the butler. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, what do we do with her?¡± The butler was a senior employee of the Shaffer Family and was nearly seventy years old. He adjusted his sses, thinking Isabe looked familiar. ¡°She used to be Mr. Shaffer¡¯s secretary.¡± Nics reminded the butler. The butler instantly understood and slightly raised an eyebrow. ¡°Send her to the third floor.¡± Hearing that, the two servants exchanged nces, a bit surprised, but they didn¡¯t say much. Instead, they carefully carried Isabe upstairs.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Isabe felt like she was floating in the air. Though she was moving, she wasn¡¯t using any strength. It felt wonderful, and she let out a bizarre giggle as she felt like she was lying on cotton candy. ¡°Is it okay for us to leave her here?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Mr. Seth get angry?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Vaguely hearing someone speaking, Isabe tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids were too heavy. She took a deep breath, and between her breaths was the pleasant scent of sunlight. It seemed like the bedsheets had just been sun-dried. Forget it. I¡¯ll just sleep here. Even if I¡¯m in danger, this treatment is too perfect. Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Seth entered his study and started a video conference, keeping a straight face and not giving a single piece of advice throughout it. When the executives on the other end finished their report but didn¡¯t get ¡®lectured,¡¯ they instantly became nervous. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, what do you think about our proposal?¡± Seth replied, ¡°Inappropriate. Change it.¡± The crowd was silent. On the screen, the man¡¯s perfect face looked dark, making others fear him no matter how handsome he looked. The executives exchanged nces, hoping one of them would mess up. While they were hinting at each other with their eyes, they identally wasted too much time. Seth raised his head, his gaze stern. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± everyone answered in unison. About to end the video conference, Seth ordered, ¡°I want a new proposal tomorrow morning.¡± That left the executives feeling bitter, but they dared not ask anything. They could only curse at the culprit who angered their boss. After the meeting ended, Seth sat before his desk with his arms crossed. He stared sternly at hisputer, but his eyes seemed empty. There was a knock outside the door, and he didn¡¯t need to guess who it was. ¡°Seth, you should get to rest.¡± It was the butler¡¯s voice. Pinching the space between his brows, Seth closed hisptop and got up to leave. The butler nced at him andmented, ¡°Everything is well prepared.¡± Seth gave a response and headed toward his bedroom, thinking to ask the butler about Isabe¡¯s situation but finding it unnecessary. Giving her a room was already generous enough. When he opened the door to his room, he caught a faint whiff of alcohol incongruent with the clean scent of his room. ¡°Everything is well prepared.¡± The butler¡¯s voice repeated in his ears. With a click of his tongue, Seth probably guessed the situation and sped up. Once he was inside his room, he discovered there was indeed a woman in his bed. Isabe was in a rxed posture with her arms beside her face as shey slightly on her side, humming. Standing not far from her, Seth had aplicated expression, thinking how he was going to deal with the situation before him. ¡°Isabe,¡± he called her coldly. Isabe heard the sound and suddenly woke up, opening her eyes and looking at him. ¡°Se¡­ Sc*mbag?¡± That rendered Seth speechless. Very well. She stops calling me a b*stard but changes to sc*mbag! He closed his eyes, clenching his jaw tightly as he stiffly made his way toward Isabe. Isabe suddenly chuckled before snorting loudly. ¡°I knew it.¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Knew what?¡± Seth stood before her, looking down at her from above. Half-awake, Isabey t on the bed, staring at the ceiling as she blinked. ¡°That you want to sleep with me.¡± Silence. Isabe chuckled before letting out an alcohol-infused breath. Then, she suddenly nced at Seth and giggled. ¡°Did you sleep with Selena?¡± Seth felt his temples throbbing. He had no idea that this was what she was like behind his back, constantly bringing up the topic of sleeping together. ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡± His tone sounded rude. Isabe clicked her tongue and turned her back to him. ¡°Doesn¡¯t she suit your taste?¡± ¡°What taste?¡± Seth suddenly found it funny when he heard her speaking like she knew him well. Closing her eyes, Isabe spoke drunkenly. ¡°Innocent, beautiful, and with a ponytail.¡± Out of everything she listed, none of them were without reason. After thinking about it, Seth agreed that it did match his aesthetic preferences. Meanwhile, Isabey beside him with her back to him and scattered hair that revealed the fair nape of her neck. Her shirt was slipping down her shoulders, unable to hide the strap underneath. Seth inexplicably reached out and unabashedly caressed her neck. It was smooth to the touch and very pleasing. They had countless intimate moments in the past, so he knew that feeling well and even better understood the mysterious pleasure it brought. ¡°Isabe?¡± Seth called her again. She ignored him. Seth gulped as he mentally persuaded himself. I¡¯ve given her so much stuff, so sleeping with her once more wouldn¡¯t hurt, right? After sessfully persuading himself, he slowly bent down and tentatively kissed her cheek. Isabe didn¡¯t move, seeming to have no intention of resisting. Seth¡¯s heart thumped in his chest. He thought he might have been alone for too long because he hadn¡¯t slept with anyone for over half a month, so it was normal for him to want her. With that in mind, he wrapped his arm around Isabe¡¯s waist, wanting to turn her around. I Knew You Wanted to Sleep With Me The process went smoothly, but he was suddenly met with Isabe¡¯s mocking gaze. Seth took in a sharp breath, his actions stopping abruptly. K Since the alcohol had taken over her mind, Isabe was strangely bold as she narrowed her eyes, asking, ¡°Will you be undoing my buttons next?¡± Seth said nothing. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Seth couldn¡¯t quite figure out if Isabe was drunk or not, so he stared into her eyes for a long time, hesitating. His mind quickly analyzed the consequences and reasons and concluded that sleeping with her was reasonable. With that thought in mind, he leaned over and kissed Isabe¡¯s lips while her eyes were opened. However, before that, it was only a peck, but now it was a stormy, intense kiss. Isabe was already dizzy in the first ce, and after holding her breath for so long, she started to feel dazed. With his lips pressed against hers, Seth met her eyes and stared into them as he slowly undid the zipper of her dress. Click! Came the sound of her bra being unsped. Isabe frowned as if a switch in her mind had been turned on, bringing a moment of rity. She suddenly grabbed Seth¡¯s hand, asking coldly, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Seth stopped moving and observed her eyes, sensing that she seemed awake. He parted his lips and licked them. ¡°Isabe, be good, and I¡¯ll grant you one more request.¡± Two requests? That sounds tempting. Isabe blinked and raised her hand, looking quite foolish. Seth didn¡¯t know what she was up to, but his face was hit the next moment. It wasn¡¯t a p but a real, hard hit. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Isabe rebuked, ¡°If I wanted to sell my body, I would choose a new client. Why make you my only client?¡± Without saying anything, Seth took a breath, and his anger turned into a wry smile. As he pressed down on her, he skillfully restrained her hands above her head. ¡°No one you find will be as amodating as me, so be more -obedient and speak nicer, and I may agree to any of your requests.¡± His voice was soft and deliberately lowered. As his breath brushed against her ear, she felt a tingling sensation. Isabe struggled, but to no avail, so she let out a long, alcohol-infused breath. ¡°I want to take a bath.¡± Upon hearing the word ¡®bath,¡¯ Seth scoffed and retorted, ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary. I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°How could I satisfy you in this state? It would be terrible service,¡± Isabe mocked. Thinking she had agreed, Seth continued to take off her dress. ¡°Did you wear this dress specifically for me?¡± Even though it was a question, his tone sounded certain. Isabe narrowed her eyes and yawned. ¡°Isn¡¯t it reasonable to package something before selling it?¡± ¡°If you had been this sensible from the start, you wouldn¡¯t have gone through half a month of hardships.¡± Seth maintained the condescending tone, sounding as though he was granting her something. E Isabe¡¯s head was spinning, and her stomach was churning, especially with the heavy body on top of her. She exhaled and forcefully withdrew her wrist from Seth¡¯s hand. Then, while Seth was distracted, she used all her strength to turn them around and sit on top of him. After being momentarily stunned, Seth furrowed his brows. He had not -expected her to be so strong. Isabe ced her hands on either side of his body and leaned down to ease her dizziness. Then, she swallowed hard. ¡°Are you taking charge?¡± Seth raised an eyebrow while asking. Understanding what he meant, Isabe guessed he was asking her to take the lead. She bowed her head, her hair dropping onto Seth¡¯s cheek while also covering most of her face. The hair tickled Seth¡¯s face, and the inexplicable desire inside him surged wildly. Even his gaze became passionate as he looked at her. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and he demanded in a raspy voice, ¡°Hurry up.¡± In your dreams. Isabe¡¯s stomach was burning, and she was only bending -over to ease her nausea. There was no energy left inside her to speak. Seeing that she wasn¡¯t moving, Seth felt frustrated and couldn¡¯t help but lick his lips. ¡°Isabe-¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Isabe suppressed her voice. Seth frowned. ¡°Still thinking about what to ask from me?¡± Gritting her teeth, Isabe got up with difficulty. Her stomach seemed to be churning uncontrobly. With a pale expression, she suddenly parted her mouth and gagged. Seth¡¯s eyes widened as he grabbed both her arms. ¡°Isabe!¡± Seeing that he was spooked, Isabe grinned mischievously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My stomach is only filled with alcohol.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare puke!¡± Displeasure crept onto Seth¡¯s face, and the intimate images in his mind instantly disappeared. He grabbed her arm and started pushing her away. However, Isabe ignored him and continued sitting on him, suddenly leaning forward and lying in his arms. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to¡­. sleep¡­ rgh!¡± Before she could finish her words, she gagged twice. Since Seth was in very close proximity to her, he clearly smelled a foul alcohol smell and stiffened. ¡°Isabe, get off of me!¡± His angry roar didn¡¯t make Isabe leave but instead irritated her. After gagging several times, she suddenly turned toward Seth with her lips slightly parted. Seth had a bad feeling about that. ¡°You-¡± Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Early morning¡­ After what happened, Isabe passed out and woke up, not knowing how long she had been unconscious. Her eyes were so dry that she couldn¡¯t open them, and her throat was burning so much that she couldn¡¯t make a sound. Moving her arms, she discovered her whole body was aching as though she had received a beating. What happenedst night? While massaging her temples, she looked at her surroundings. The ck and white decor gave the room a cold and arrogant feeling, which suited Seth¡¯s taste. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to sleep with me?¡± Chapter 86 Pay What You Owe ¡°Be good, and I¡¯ll grant you one more request.¡± ¡°If I wanted to sell my body, I would choose a new¡­¡± 710 The words she saidst night popped up inside her head, startling her so much that she quickly sat up, inadvertently tugging on the bruises on her body. It was so painful that she gnashed her teeth. There was a mirror on the table opposite her. Now that she was sitting up, she discovered that there was also a bruise on her forehead, and it looked quite horrifying. Did I get into a fight with Sethst night because we couldn¡¯t make a deal? Thinking it might be possible, Isabe instantly felt chills run down her spine. Chapter 86 Pay What You Owe She quickly got out of bed, holding onto a chair to find her footing. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Her throat felt very ufortable, so she went to wash up in the bathroom and cleaned herself up before heading out the door. Just as she opened the door, she met the eyes of a young helper. Isabe was stunned for a moment. ¡°Excuse me, can you¡ª* ¡°Do you feel unwell?¡± the helper interjected. Isabe felt slightly confused. ¡°No, thank you.¡± However, the helper blocked the doorway when Isabe was trying to leave. ¡°Has Mr. Shaffer gone to thepany? I¡¯ve troubled you all for one night, so l Chapter 86 Pay What You Owe have¡­ to leave.¡± The helper revealed a faint smile and bowed. ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± Isabe felt that the helper seemed strange, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask. In the end, she declined the offer. ¡°Thank you, but it¡¯s all right.¡± Afterward, she tried to leave through a small gap beside the door, but the helper didn¡¯t hide her intentions and reached out her leg to stop Isabe. Isabe fell silent and calmed down her breathing before gazing at the helper. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± she asked. ¡°Mr. Shaffer said to show you something if you¡¯re feeling well.¡± With that, the helper took out a printed list from her pocket. Chapter 86 Pay What You Ove Nervous, Isabe epted the list and read it from top to bottom. Porcin cup, crystalmp, aquamarine stool¡­ ¡°What is this?¡± she asked tentatively. The helper reached out her hand, gesturing for Isabe to head back inside. Left with no choice, Isabe followed the helper and headed into the built-in bathroom. The moment they entered, Isabe was bbergasted because the bathroom was a wreck. It was still wet and had all sorts of things scattered across the floor. ¡°You got drunkst night and puked. Mr. Seth brought you in here to clean up, but you started hitting him and smashing a lot of stuff.¡± Chapter 86 Pay What You Owe Isabe thought about the bruises on her body and found it hard to believe. ¡°I hit him?¡± ¡°The bruises on your body are from your fall.¡± The helper was holding in her knocked it against the marble countertop. Mr. Seth even called for a doctor to check on your injuries.¡± Isabe felt like crying as she held the list, unable to say a word. ¡°Mr. Seth says he won¡¯t ask you for the doctor¡¯s consultation fees, but you have topensate for the things inside this bathroom.¡± The helper spread her hands as she spoke. Looking at the list, Isabe was so angry that she closed her eyes. Over 105 thousand? Chapter 86 Pay What You Owe ¡°Are you going to transfer the money or pay by cash?¡± the helper urged. Pursing her lips, Isabe muttered, ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t have that much- ¡°That¡¯s perfect. You can send Mr. Soth¡¯s lunch to him at thepany yourself!¡± The helper pped her hands, soomingly excited. ¡°Mr. Shaffer instructed that if you don¡¯t have the money to pay up, you can run errands for him and earn 15 thousand each time.¡± Regarding that particr Mr. Shaffer, Isabe had some recollection of him. He was someone Spencer had assigned to Seth. She massaged her temples upon hearing that. If she could make 15 thousand per errand, she would have to send lunch to Seth for a week. ¡°Can I ask why Mr. Shaffer didn¡¯t choose someone else for this errand?¡± Chapter 86 Pay What You Owe At that, the helper replied, ¡°No one has the courage to take the job. Mr. Seth didn¡¯t sleep wellst night because of you and had to go to thepany for a meeting early this morning, so he must be in a very bad mood.¡± Isabe fell silent upon hearing that. Great. They¡¯re letting me be the sacrifice. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, so get changed and follow me downstairs to get ready,¡± the helper urged. A speechless Isabe knew she was in the wrong, so she could only follow the helper downstairs. ¡°I prepared two portions so that you can eat with Mr. Seth.¡± The cook had a gentle temperament and gave Isabe two lunch boxes. Surprised, Isabe quickly took the lunch boxes, feeling resigned. She wouldn¡¯t Chapter so Pay what you we dare have lunch with Seth and might even get mockedter. After taking a deep breath, she nced at her phone. When she didn¡¯t see any calls from herpany, she immediately felt nervous. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Miss Symons Assumes Authority The butler arranged for a car to take Isabe to thepany, along with two C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org bodyguards. When she was a secretary, Isabe had never received such treatment, but now it had upgraded after she was banished. It made her feel uneasy. During the five years that she worked at the Shaffer Group, she had never felt afraid to enter the door. However, the sudden addition of two bodyguards and the fact that she had someone opening the door for her when she got out of the car made her slightly hesitant. ¡°Miss Symons, please.¡± The bodyguards were diligent. With her back straight, Isabe mustered her courage to enter the building. Chapter 87 Miss Symons Assumes Authority Her high heels nked against the floor, and her every step seemed to be precisely measured. To the others, her face was filled with pride and without any hint of nervousness. ¡°Hello, Miss Symons.¡± The series of greetings felt familiar to her. While she nodded to them in response, her grip on the lunch box gradually tightened. She was worried about meeting Seth and wondered what she would do if he publicly humiliated her. ¡°Miss Symons, let me carry it for you. It¡¯s heavy.¡± The bodyguard suddenly spoke up. Smiling, Isabe naturally handed over the lunch box, and the elevator Chapter 87 Miss Symons Assumes Authority happened to arrive. The door to the president¡¯s exclusive elevator opened, revealing Selena. ¡°Isabe?¡± Isabe pursed her lips and gave a simple nod before entering the elevator with the two bodyguards. Many watched the scene where both executive secretaries met. One was shy and the other aloof, which made it clear who was better. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Selena wasn¡¯t in a hurry to get out but moved aside to make way for Isabe, smiling sweetly. Once the elevator doors closed, although she was still smiling, the smile in Chapter 87 Miss Symons Assumes Authority her eyes had disappeared. ¡°Isabe, it¡¯s still working hours now.¡± Meanwhile, Isabe stood straight and met the woman¡¯s eyes in the reflection on the elevator doors, speaking calmly, ¡°Since it¡¯s working hours, shouldn¡¯t you be with Mr. Shaffer? Why did youe downstairs? I remember the office has designated secretaries for such things.¡± Selena clenched her fists. ¡°Mr. Shaffer went out on a business meeting.¡± Isabe felt relieved and was happy to hear that Seth was out. However, she maintained her calm demeanor and spoke in the tone of a senior. ¡°You¡¯ve been working for almost half a month. Shouldn¡¯t you be apanying Mr. Shaffer on his outings?¡± Those words just happened to poke at Selena¡¯s sore spot, and her eyes narrowed. Nics had been the one apanying Seth on his outings Chapter 87 Miss Symons Assumes Authority recently. There were several times when Selena requested to go with them. At first, Seth would tell her to gain more knowledge, but recently, there were times when he seemed frustrated with her and even asked if she was a professional. As if she didn¡¯t feel aggrieved enough, she didn¡¯t expect Isabe to point it out so openly. ¡°Mr. Shaffer told me to consolidate my knowledge. After all, there are many things a woman should learn about before heading outside.¡± Selena could barely maintain her smile as she turned to look at Isabe. However, Isabe didn¡¯t look at her but instead looked at the numbers on the side,menting, ¡°Time is money. While you can take your time, he also has the authority to rece you.¡± Chapter 87 Miss Symons Assumes Authority Isabe found it hrious because the young woman clearly didn¡¯t have an innocent mind, yet she seemed very immature in some aspects, and the words she said also seemed foolish. Ding! The elevator doors opened on the 38th floor-Seth¡¯s executive office. After taking a deep breath, Isabe felt her breathing turn smooth and quickly got out. In the meantime, the people in the secretarial department were about to go and have lunch When they bumped into Isabe, they were all dumbfounded. Isabe¡¯s attitude remained the same as before, and she spoke in the tone of Chapter 87 Miss Symons Assumes Authority an executive secretary. ¡°You guys have worked hard.¡± Everyone made way for her. ¡°Hello, Isabe.¡± ¡°Isabe, Mr. Shaffer has gone out,¡± Ellie came forward and informed Isabe. Isabe nodded and nced at the lunch boxes the bodyguards were holding. ¡°I¡¯m just here to send lunch.¡± Ellie and Fiona exchanged nces while the rest also felt confused, suddenly unable toprehend Isabe and Seth¡¯s current rtionship. ¡°Is the passcode still the same as before?¡± After arriving before the president¡¯s office, Isabe casually entered the passcode. Then, the door opened with a click. Chapter 87 Miss Symons Assumes Authority She secretly felt relieved and was about to enter. ¡°Isabe, Mr. Shaffer said no one was allowed to enter his office.¡± Selena suddenly spoke up. Isabe stopped walking and asked with a smile, ¡°Why don¡¯t you call and ask him?¡± Selena was at a loss for words. Internally, Isabe clicked her tongue, not expecting the woman to have such a pretentious side to her. The truth was, it felt great. Then, she took the lunch box from the bodyguard and instructed, ¡°Wait for me downstairs. I¡¯ll be out soon.¡± Chapter 87 Miss Symons Assumes Authority ¡°Sure.¡± When the two bodyguards left, everyone in the secretarial office was baffled. Those two were the bodyguards Seth usually had with him, but Isabe could actuallymand them. Noticing the meaning behind their expressions, Isabe found it amusing and entered Seth¡¯s office with the lunch box. Once the door closed, she sighed heavily and repeatedly patted her chest. It was hard to assume authority because the slightest slip-up could expose her. She looked at the clock and guessed Seth must be back soon, so she took out the food from the thermos lunch box. Chapter 87 Miss Symons Assumes Authority When we meetter, I must restrain my temper and muddle throughst night¡¯s events. I can¡¯t offend him anymore. Isabe arranged the food while mentally preparing herself. About twenty minutester, there was still no movement from outside. Isabe was hungry and sighed at the food on the table. ¡°Miss Shaffer, you can¡¯t go in there. Mr. Shaffer isn¡¯t inside.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just here to get his signature or a stamp if he¡¯s unavable. Why are you guys making such a huge fuss?¡± Chapter 88 Chapter 88 There was amotion outside, and Isabe immediately recognized the voice-it was none other than Lara. Isabe shot up from her seat, but the door was pushed open before she could make it there. Damn it! I should have locked the door, ¡°Why are you here?¡± 179 Lara stood by the door, her footsteps stopping abruptly. Then, she raised her chin and approached Isabe. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Seeing the document in Lara¡¯s hand, Isabe sneered. ¡°Miss Shaffer, are you going to do the same thing again?¡± Chapter 88 Ask Them Who They Listen To This situation was the same as two years ago. Lara took advantage of Seth¡¯s absence to barge inside his office and get thepany stamp to stamp a contract worth three million. Back then, no one dared to stop her, so Isabe had no choice but to stand up to Lara. ¡°It is quite a coincidence.¡± Lara threw the document in her hand on the coffee table and sat down on her own, looking at Isabe with mocking eyes. ¡°But this time is different. You¡¯re no longer the executive secretary, so what right do you have to stop me?¡± When Isabe heard that, she subconsciously looked toward the door and happened to see Selena. ¡°Even without me, there¡¯s still someone else. The position of executive secretary isn¡¯t empty.¡± ¡°That would be best.¡± Lara spread her hands and looked behind her. ¡°Miss Winston, get me thepany stamp. This document has been approved by Chapter 88 Ask Them Who They Listen To the board of directors.¡± Selena let out a rxed breath as she entered the office, saying, ¡°Since it has been approved, Mr. Shaffer might agree to sign it.¡± That rendered Isabe speechless. Do you believe her just because she said it has been approved? Shouldn¡¯t you at least look at the documents? ¡°Selena.¡± Seeing Isabe wasn¡¯t saying anything, Ellie reminded Selena softly, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a look at the documents from the board of directors?¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± Lara¡¯s expression turned cold as she swept her gaze across Ellie. ¡°Are you doubting my words?¡± Ellie¡¯s expression stiffened, and she took a step back. She gazed at Selena, hoping thetter would be more cautious. 29 Dec Chapter 88 Ask Them Who They Listen To Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Selena noticed something off with Lara¡¯s expression and carefully asked, ¡°Can I take a look at the document?¡± Lara scoffed softly but then took out her phone to find two photos before tossing it on the desk. ¡°Have a look at it yourself.¡± Selena approached the phone and took a look. When she was certain it was a document signed by the board of directors, she felt relieved and said, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll get you thepany stamp.¡± Hearing that made Isabe frown. She nced at the phone, but the screen dimmed before she could take a good look. Raising her head, she met Ellie¡¯s gaze, and thetter shook her head. The message was clear as day. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± With no choice left, Isabe still spoke up. Q Chapter 88 Ask Them Who They Listen To Selena was holding thepany stamp and looking at Isabe with a strange expression. ¡°Is there something you need, Isabe?¡± Exhaling, Isabe suddenly sat on the couch, facing Lara. ¡°Thepany stamp can¡¯t be lent out, and it¡¯s not something you can just take out for anyone. You have to wait for Mr. Shaffer to return.¡± Once those words were spoken, the other secretaries outside all breathed a -sigh of relief and looked at Isabe with glistening eyes. ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Lara rolled her eyes and tapped her fingers on the table. ¡°Isabe, don¡¯t you know your ce? The current executive secretary is Selena, not you!¡± ¡°Even the executive secretary has no right to use thepany stamp.¡± Isabe¡¯s expression was cold, and she didn¡¯t seem the least bit afraid as she Chapter 88 Ask Them Who They Listen To nced at Selena. ¡°If she dares to make a move, I will call security.¡± ¡°You? Call security?¡± Laraughed mockingly. ¡°Are you still an employee of the Shaffer Group? Do you think security will listen to you, or will they listen to Selena?¡± Crossing her legs, Isabe suddenly burst outughing. ¡°Miss Shaffer, you can give it a try. Let¡¯s see if they listen to me or Selena.¡± Lara¡¯s expression fell, and the smile on Selena¡¯s face also disappeared instantly. The entire office space was filled with women, but the atmosphere was tense, like a war was about to break out. Ding! Chapter 88 Ask Them Who They Listen To It was the sound of the elevator doors opening. ¡°It must be Mr. Shaffer!¡± Ellie eximed in surprise. Meanwhile, Isabe and Lara remained seated. Both had no intention of getting up. Ellie and the others headed out to greet Seth, but he had already arrived at the door when they opened it. He wore a silvery gray suit with a ck coat. His tall figure and the perfectly tailored suit that hugged his legs gave him a restrained but sexy look. ¡°Is my office a ce for you all to chat?¡± When the man entered the space, he immediately saw Isabe sitting on the Chapter B Ask Them Who They Listen To couch with her head bowed and couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Miss Shaffer has a document approved by the board of directors and needs to be stamped with thepany stamp. Isabe says it¡¯s inappropriate, so we¡¯re discussing it,¡± Selena approached Seth and whispered. On the other hand, Isabe rolled her eyes. What¡¯s there to discuss? You were almost going to get on your knees and bring it over to her. Seth furrowed his brows, his icy gaze ncing toward Lara while he said to Selena, ¡°You¡¯ve already worked here for half a month. Do you still need others to teach you that thepany stamp can¡¯t be lent out?¡± Selena¡¯s face instantly turned ghastly. She bit her lip, her eyes immediately welling up with tears. Seth had never embarrassed her or criticized her Ask Them Who They Listen To before so many people. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Isabe sat down and kept quiet as if the argument didn¡¯t involve her. She silently collected the food as she prepared to go heat them up in the lounge. Seth nced at her a few times and snorted when she didn¡¯t speak. ¡°You don¡¯t need to insinuate.¡± Lara thought Seth¡¯s angry expression was directed at her and stood up in a puff. ¡°It¡¯s only a contract worth 1.5 million. It¡¯s even worth less than your car. Do you need to be so calctive about it with me?¡± Seth watched as Isabe stood up with the tes as if she didn¡¯t have anything to do with the situation. ¡°If it was a 1.5-million contract, would it require the board of directors to Chapter 89 Are You Going to Let Me Sleep With You? approve it?¡± His tone was cold and merciless. ¡°Don¡¯t learn from your mother and think that everyone is dumb.¡± Lara¡¯s eyes widened. She didn¡¯t expect him to be so ruthless. After all, her mother was Spencer¡¯s legal wife. Isabe walked past Lara with the food in hand and pursed her lips. His temper is only cute at these times. The room got awkward while Isabe maintained a neutral expression and walked out. She even couldn¡¯t resist and hummed a song. After reheating the food, the atmosphere in the office was still tense, with C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Seth sitting like a king while the rest stood around him. ¡°You¡¯re not going to sign it, are you?¡± Lara¡¯s face was beet red as she red Fri, 29 Dec Chapter 89 Are You Going to Let Me Sleep With You? at Seth. However, he watched Isabe bring the food to the floor-to-ceiling windows and ce them down while taking a sniff. He ignored Lara¡¯s anger and walked toward Isabe. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you peel the prawns?¡± Isabe was stunned and answered helplessly, ¡°The cook gave this to me. I just noticed it, too.¡± Seth sat down before her and crossed his arms before his chest like an entitled heir. ¡°You peel it.¡± She gritted her teeth and felt something was off when she was about to reach for the prawns. Turning around, she noticed a few pairs of eyes staring Chapter 89 Are You Going to Let Me Sleep With You? at them and couldn¡¯t help but nce at Seth, hoping that he would deal with Lara first. He noticed her gaze and frowned. ¡°Quickly, now. I¡¯m hungry.¡± Without a choice, Isabe sat down to peel the prawns under the The chef from the Shaffers was so good that she unconsciously ced the prawn into her mouth when she was done peeling it. That earned her a hard knock on the table from Seth as she came to her senses and stuck her tongue out in embarrassment. It¡¯s just a prawn. He won¡¯t take it so seriously, right? On the other hand, Lara¡¯s body shook from anger at their interaction as if she Chapter 89 Are You Going to Let Me Sleep With You? wasn¡¯t there. She couldn¡¯t take it anymore and kicked the coffee table down before storming off. Seth snickered. ¡°She really thinks she¡¯s someone important.¡± Ellie and the rest exchanged nces and exited the room. Ever since Selena was reprimanded by Seth, she kept staring at Isabe and was stuck in her mind even when the rest had left. ¡°Why are you still standing there?¡± Seth suddenly turned around and questioned angrily. She was taken aback, and the tears flowed uncontrobly as she ran out of the office. Chapter 89 Are You Going to Let Me Sleep With You? Isabe clicked her tongue. Gazing at Seth¡¯s expression, she used the opportunity to change the topic about the previous night. ¡°Young girls are sensitive. You should be more tactful, Mr. Shaffer.¡± ¡°She¡¯s sensitive, but you¡¯re thick-skinned. You owe me money yet have the nerve to eat my food.¡± Seth leaned back and looked at her with a mocking smile. Isabe peeled a prawn and threw it onto his te with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll pay you back one day.¡± Seth leaned to the side with his elbow on the chair handle and smirked. ¡°Stop going around in circles with me.¡± She paused in her tracks of peeling a prawn but didn¡¯t speak. Chapter 89 Are You Going to Let Me Sleep With You? ¡°What are you going to do about puking on mest night?¡± he asked. Feeling distressed, Isabe stopped peeling the prawn and looked at him with a smile. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, if you didn¡¯t do anything inappropriate, I wouldn¡¯t have puked on you.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Seth gave her a side eye andmented coolly, ¡°You¡¯re telling me you weren¡¯t seducing me with that dressst night?¡± Isabe¡¯s face went pale as she looked at him. ¡°I just wanted you to be in a good mood when you see me. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d look for fun with me,¡± she stated bluntly. ¡°You think being eye candy is enough for me?¡± Seth didn¡¯t appreciate her actions at all. 09:51 Fri, 29 Chapter 89 Are You Going to Let Me Sleep With You? ¡°You think you¡¯ll feel better after sleeping with me?¡± She picked up a fork and got some food. However, he stared at her with a predatory gaze as his tongue pushed against the roof of his mouth. ¡°Let me try and see for myself.¡± In your dreams! Isabe bit her tongue as she cursed him out in her heart. The smile on her face was almost breaking. ¡°You¡¯ve tried it for five years. Do -you need more?¡± ¡°Got to try to know something well. You left at the wrong time,¡± Seth announced directly, sounding as if he didn¡¯t have an ounce of shame. Isabe felt her blood boil and recalled how Seth always looked for trouble with her a few months ago. It was obvious he was tired of her. However, he had his eyes on her again when she just left. I knew it. Human nature is 7 09:51 Fri, 29 Dec 1. Chapter 89 Are You Going to Let Me Sleep With You? inherently bad! ÈÕÙò92%•þ Meanwhile, he noticed the weird look on her face and asked, ¡°Have you made up your mind? Are you going to let me sleep with you?¡± Then, she ced the fork down and stood up with a twisted smile on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it in this lifetime.¡± Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Seth was delighted by Isabe¡¯s response, and he leaned back as he regarded her. ¡°A lifetime is very long. Nothing is absolute.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say the same for other things, but this I am sure.¡± Isabe picked up the te of prawns and dumped them into his te. ¡°Peel them yourself.¡± Then, she pushed the squeaky chair back and stormed off with her heels hitting the floor forcefully as if it was Seth¡¯s head. On the other hand, Seth turned sideways with his eyes glued to her figure. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org When Isabe reached the door, she suddenly turned around. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, that promise won¡¯t change just because you couldn¡¯t sleep with me, right?¡± He looked away and put a prawn into his mouth with a fork while saying, 09:52 Fri, 29 Dec¡¯ Chapter 90 You¡¯re Just a Toy He yed With ¡°Maybe you¡¯ll use that promise to beg me to sleep with you instead.¡± Isabe was speechless. In your dreams! Then, she turned around and spit at a spot Seth couldn¡¯t see before pushing the office door open and walking out. When Ellie and the rest saw her exit, they all greeted her with a smile. ¡°Isabe, you¡¯re leaving now?¡± Isabe nodded and nced around but didn¡¯t see Selena. ¡°She ran to the bathroom crying.¡± Ellie pursed her lips and whispered, ¡°I know she¡¯s young, but she¡¯s so dumb and almost caused a huge issue. Fortunately, you¡¯re here today.¡± Isabe forced a smile and said, ¡°We were all young once. Her starting point is too high. It¡¯ll be a tough journey for her moving forward.¡± 3 Chapter 90 You¡¯re Just a Toy He yed With ¡°Tough journey or not isn¡¯t something for a car salesperson like you to decide.¡± A girl¡¯s hoarse voice, which was filled with resentment, rang out from behind them. Isabe turned around to see Selena standing not far away with some droplets of water on her face. It seemed Selena had just exited the bathroom. Adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder, Isabe shrugged nonchntly. ¡°Stop thinking about men, and maybe you¡¯ll learn 30% of my -selling skills within five years.¡± Ellie and the rest couldn¡¯t help butugh and looked at Selena wordlessly as they took turns speaking to Isabe. Isabe didn¡¯t bother arguing with Selena and entered the elevator with her bag. Unexpectedly, Selena followed her and cornered her inside aggressively, leaving everyone else in shock. Isabe was also surprised but leaned Chapter 90 You¡¯re Just a Toy He yed With against the wall and ignored the woman. ¡°I thought you were a kind person, but you¡¯re as nasty as the rest!¡± Selena spoke uncharacteristically the moment the elevator doors shut. Isabe then replied, ¡°I also thought you were an innocent rabbit, but you¡¯re just a dark, scheming fox.¡± Selena red at her and took a few deep breaths. ¡°You were Mr. Shaffer¡¯s lover, right?¡± She suddenly closed up on Isabe. However, Isabe didn¡¯t get her point and repliedzily, ¡°You¡¯re working so hard to be his lover, yes?¡± Selena was speechless upon hearing that. ¡°Don¡¯t smart mouth me. I won¡¯t win anyway.¡± She snorted with a hint of darkcency in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re just 09:52 Fri, 29 Dec O Chapter 90 You¡¯re Just a Toy He yed With a toy he yed with. He¡¯ll never pick you again.¡± Isabe finally got emotional and turned her head to look at her. ¡°You should have kept the act up. It¡¯s a pity to lose your act so fast.¡± Selena bit her lip as if she wanted to go all out. Noticing that the elevator was about to stop, she blurted, ¡°Mr. Shaffer has a childhood sweetheart. It is said that she¡¯s the appointed daughter-inw by Old Mr. Shaffer for many years.¡± Isabe scoffed in her heart without the slightest change in her expression. The elevator doors opened, and she walked out while telling Selena, ¡°Your news is too old. You should keep up.¡± Selena was shocked that Isabe didn¡¯t have a reaction to that news and watched as she left the elevator calmly. Chapter 90 You¡¯re Just a Toy He yed With As for Isabe, she felt that Selena was stupid and shook her head at her attempts. When she exited the Shaffer Group building, two bodyguards were waiting outside for her. ¡°Miss Symons, where to?¡± However, she didn¡¯t dare to use the Shaffer Family¡¯s car to the office. She looked up at the skyscraper that reached into the clouds at level 38, which was beyond her sight. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I can get a cab myself,¡± ¡°Mr. Shaffer ordered us to send you off.¡± The bodyguards were hesitant. But she merely thanked them before hailing a cab by the road. After she got into the cab, she guessed that they would follow her and turned her head to see the Shaffers¡¯ car as she expected. The two bodyguards got her hint and followed from a distance. Then, they left once she arrived at her destination. Letting out a breath of relief, Isabe Chapter 90 You¡¯re Just a Toy He yed With marched into her office. ¡°Turns out Isabe knows she has toe to work.¡± Abigail walked out with a sultry strut as she wasn¡¯t bothered to pretend to be innocent anymore. Isabe didn¡¯t want to see her and walked inside with her bag to see Jonas speaking to Keira with a hand on her waist. Noticing her, he immediately got up with a forced smile. ¡°You¡¯re here, Isabe.¡± Isabe nodded in acknowledgment, as she didn¡¯t want to make a scene. ¡°Yes, Mr. Stokes.¡± Then, Jonas¡¯ smile widened as he walked up to her. ¡°Isabe, are you close to You¡¯re Just a Toy He yed With Mr. Dunkstein?¡± Chapter 91 Chapter 91 2.92% Isabe smelled trouble the moment she heard this. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re kind of friendly,¡± she replied, her expression indifferent. ¡°That makes it easy, then.¡± Jonas smiled, his chubby face creasing as he sat down beside her. ¡°Ourpany will be having a car exhibition. Think you can get Old Mr. Dunkstein toe?¡± he asked. ¡°You mean Xavier Dunkstein?¡± Isabe frowned, feeling rather speechless. ¡°He¡¯s been here before; you know what kind of service he received at the time. Why would he evene to our car exhibition?¡± An uneasy smile crossed Jonas¡¯ face. He changed his tune, suggesting, ¡°Well, of course, if he is unavable, having Mr. Dunksteine would be great too.¡± 09:52 Fri, 29 Dec 0 Chapter 91 Let the Game Begin Isabe already had enough on her te these days. Not wanting to take more matters upon herself, she replied in an unfriendly tone, ¡°I¡¯ll try my best, but it¡¯s not easy to arrange meetings with these people.¡± ¡°That¡¯s reassuring to hear.¡± Jonas rubbed his hands together and was about to get up, but he hesitated. Just as he turned around, he asked as if on a whim, ¡°You¡¯re also well acquainted with Mr. Shaffer, aren¡¯t you?¡± Isabe was astonished upon hearing that. This pig¡¯s greed really knows no bounds. He actually wants a big cheese to personallye to the birthday party of a mere nobody! ¡°You know, Mr. Stokes, it¡¯s Mr. Seth Shaffer that you¡¯re talking about.¡± Jonas¡¯ mouth twitched; he probably also realized how extravagant his idea was. He gave a hollowugh and replied, ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. Being the man he is, Mr. Shaffer must be very busy.¡± Chapter 91 Let the Game Begin Isabe couldn¡¯t be bothered to give him a look. She turned on herptop, pretending to start working. Jonas left sheepishly, having met with a cold rebuff. As soon as he left, Isabe took out her phone and texted Natasha to ask for a number of people. It¡¯s time to put my n into action. Otherwise, some people might think I¡¯m an easy target whom they can manipte as they -please. Natasha didn¡¯t question what she wanted to do with these people. Showing great generosity, she promptly provided her with 15 people. Now that Isabe had these people, she felt confident about what she nned to do. She dug out the Shaffer Group¡¯s internal documents from her email. When she resigned from thepany, the human resources Chapter 91 Let the Game Begin department didn¡¯t check her personal email. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Back when she first joined the Shaffer Group, she had gotten caught up in a financial dispute and had nearly gotten implicated by her supervisor. Thankfully, she was lucky enough to have gotten through it unscathed. She opened her email and found the problematic financial report from five years ago, which bore her signature. After taking a screenshot of a part of it, she turned off herptop and went to the break room with her phone in hand. Abigail happened to be fixing her makeup in the break room. When she saw Isabe, she shot her a sidelong nce and began mocking her again with sarcastic remarks. Isabe poured herself a cup of water and walked over to her. ¡°Did you put that makeup on with a crippled hand?¡± °×»á92% Chapter 91 Let the Game Begin Abigail was stunned for a moment. Isabe hadpletely ignored her before, but now, she was provoking her outright. She let out a breath, warning, ¡°Isabe, this is not the Shaffer Group¡¯s headquarters, and you¡¯re not the executive secretary anymore. How dare you-¡°. Before she could finish, Isabe poured the cup of water she was holding onto Abigail¡¯s face. -¡°Ah!¡± A-startling scream pierced the air. Abigail stamped her feet furiously, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Hearing themotion, people came in and instantly figured out what was going on. They had always found Abigail disagreeable, so when they saw the situation, all they did was make a bunch of neutralments. As a result, Abigail wentpletely mad. Covering her face, she stormed out Ã×¼Ò92% Chapter 91 Let the Game Begin of the room while cursing Isabe. Had it not been for her ruined makeup, she would have torn Isabe to pieces then and there. Meanwhile, Isabe stood where she was. While others weren¡¯t noticing, she surreptitiously slipped Abigail¡¯s phone from the table into her pocket. Thinking she was angry, the others tried to calm her down with their own words. Instead of being angry, Isabe smiled and shrugged, seemingly unbothered by the incident. She walked out of the break room in high heels, leaving everyone else bewildered. Having taken Abigail¡¯s phone, Isabe swiftly left the office and stood in the security camera blind spot behind the flower bed, sending a picture to Selena with Abigail¡¯s phone. After doing all of this, she quickly deleted the message and blocked Selena¡¯s phone number to prevent her from calling back. Then, she went back into the office and returned Abigail¡¯s phone to its original ce. Abigail had no idea what Isabe had done. After fixing her makeup, she went to Jonas and tearfully poured out herints, ruining the makeup she had just fixed. However, having a favor to ask of Isabe, Jonas was in no mood to seek revenge for Abigail. He brushed her off with a few words. Unable to vent her emotions, Abigail had no option but toe and pick a fight with Isabe. Isabe held a cup of boiling hot water in front of her. She raised an eyebrow, asking, ¡°Is your foundation waterproof?¡± Abigail covered her face while ring fiercely at her. Finally, she stomped her foot heavily, turned around, and left. Isabe let out a snort of disdain and returned to her desk to start working. Just then, her phone vibrated with a message from Nics. It read, ¡®Isabe, I¡¯ve pretty much figured out the matter you had me look into. This person is the one cooking the books for Jonas.¡¯ -She opened the email and was surprised by what she saw in the attached photo. She recognized the person, who had previously worked at the Shaffer Group¡¯s headquarters but waster transferred away for wrongdoing. She never expected the person to be still causing trouble after the job transfer. Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Isabe had obtained the document but was pondering over how to deal with Jonas. Just then, she looked up and happened to see his insincere smile through the window. As she was twirling a ballpoint pen between her fingers, a great idea suddenly came to her mind. ¡°Who is in for trouble with that creepy smile of yours?¡± Alex teased her as she passed by. Isabe withdrew her gaze and smirked. ¡°Come on, that was a kindly smile.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t closed any deals this month, have you?¡± Alex took a sip of water while looking at her. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel pressured about it?¡± she asked, to which Isabe shrugged. ¡°I closed a deal for myself, didn¡¯t I?¡± Chapter 92 A Death Wish Granted Alex rolled her eyes. ¡°Try closing a deal for yourself every month if you dare.¡± I¡¯ll be out of here in less than three months, and then these crappy sales won¡¯t bother me anymore, Isabe thought to herself. With two big ns in mind, she had no mood for work, so she kept checking the time on her phone. She waited for what seemed like an eternity until the end of the workday, at which she grabbed her bag and prepared to leave. However, she wasn¡¯t intending to go home. ¡°Is the alley behind our office crowded?¡± she asked Alex. Alex patted her face. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s bustling with lots of bars and such,¡± she replied before stopping herself mid-sentence. She reminded Isabe, ¡°But there are always street racers showing off their driving skills there. Just a couple of days ago, two girls got bruised all over from being knocked over in the alley.¡± Chapter 92 A Death Wish Granted Isabe¡¯s gaze flickered, and she replied with a faint smile, ¡°I¡¯m just going there for a meal.¡± Not noticing anything unusual about her, Alex then left with her bag. Isabe made a special effort to fix her makeup in the break room. Then, with her bag in hand, she gracefully sashayed into the bar-filled alley at the back. She first went to a pub, where she grabbed something to eat and waited until _nightfall. After that, she entered the alley alone. The alley wasn¡¯t deserted; people wereing and going, making it nearly impossible to abduct someone. However, it would be very easy to knock someone over in this alley. Isabe strolled leisurely, her footsteps rxed and unhurried. She seemed quite out of ce with the hustle and bustle of the alley, but thanks to her 09:53 Fri, 29 Dec 0 Chapter 92 A Death Wish Granted E striking good looks, some men came up and tried to hit on her. She turned down several of them, but one kept following her, seemingly intending to attach himself to her. Just when she was finding the man bothersome, the roar of engines echoed at the alley¡¯s entrance. ¡°Get out of the way! It¡¯s the street racers!¡± Seeing the headlights approaching from a distance, the man who had been trying to hit on her quickly dodged to the side in fear. Isabe¡¯s heart raced. Having anticipated this moment, she stood there unmoving as if petrified. She didn¡¯t scream until the motorcycle was almost in front of her. However, it was already toote for her to dodge. The motorcyclist didn¡¯t let up on the gas either; he was actually aiming straight at Chapter 92 A Death Wish Granted her. In the nick of time, someone gave Isabe a slight push. Being hit on one side, Isabe was instantly sent flying, her cheek scraping against the ground. The searing pain felt like her skin had been peeled off her face, which, coupled with the impact of the collision on her body, made her feel as though her bones were going to fall apart. ¡°Someone¡¯s been knocked over! Quick, call an ambnce!¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Isabey face down on the ground, her mind still conscious. She hadn¡¯t been petrified just now; rather, she had gritted her teeth and insisted on standing there. In other words, she had been waiting for the motorcycle to run her over. E Chapter 92 A Death Wish Granted Having taken a hit in dealing with her, Lara would certainly retaliate, so her presence in the alley was to create an opportunity for her. Street racers were a perfect cover; no one could trace it back to Lara. ¡°Miss, are you okay?¡± ¡°Are you still conscious?¡± People around her spoke, but her head was spinning from the pain. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but she couldn¡¯t make a sound. Fortunately, the ambnce arrived just in time, and she was quickly lifted onto a stretcher. Chapter 92 A Death Wish Granted An hourter¡­ ¡°I really don¡¯t know whether to call you lucky or unlucky.¡± The nurse shook her head in resignation while standing by Isabe¡¯s sickbed in the hospital. ¡°When someone gets knocked over, they usually sustain some injuries, but there¡¯s hardly any serious injuries on you. That being said, your face is badly hurt. With such a big scrape on your face, it¡¯ll be some time before you can show your face again.¡± Isabe forced a smile with her pale lips. She replied hoarsely, ¡°Every cloud has a silver lining, I guess.¡± The nurse shrugged and checked her temperature again. ¡°There¡¯s no major issues.¡± Isabe thanked her and asked, ¡°When can I get discharged from the Chapter 92 A Death Wish Granted hospital?¡± The nurse checked her feet and replied, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be hospitalized, actually. Everything is fine ording to the tests, but your feet and face need proper care, or there might beplications.¡± Isabe let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll rest for tonight and get discharged tomorrow morning.¡± The nurse was amodating and offered some words of advice on what to watch out for. Before she left, she asked Isabe if she had any family members to take care of her. Isabe casually replied that she wasn¡¯t a local, so it was inconvenient for her family toe over. The nurse looked somewhat sympathetic. In the end, she pursed her lips and left the room. As silence returned to the single room, Isabe breathed a sigh of relief, feeling utterly exhausted. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Isabe got up early in the morning to get the discharge procedures done after spending a night in the hospital. The doctor took pity on her when he sensed her urgency. ¡°Young people from out of town like you really are hardworking. What¡¯s so good about Imperia? Owned by N?velDrama.Org. People of your talent would be much better off back home than here.¡± Isabe shot him a wry smile. It¡¯s not that I want to stay; it¡¯s that the top dog in Imperia is holding me back from leaving. She limped to collect her medications before going downstairs to hail a cab back to her office. As soon as she stepped out of the hospital, her phone started ringing. When she noticed a string of unfamiliar numbers, she warily answered the call. ¡°Hello, may I speak to Miss Symons?¡± Chapter 93 Bring Meals to Him for a Few More Days Huh? Isabe was startled for a moment. ¡°Are you¡­ Mr. Shaffer?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± The old man¡¯s affable voice came through the phone. Isabe let out a sigh of relief. Nheless, she hadn¡¯t even managed to rx for a second when her heart started to pound against her rib cage in fear. ¡°Do you need anything from me?¡± ¡°Would it be convenient for you to bring meals to Mr. Shaffer today?¡± asked the butler. Isabe was puzzled. I only did it yesterday because it just so happened that I was at Shaffer Residence then. So, what¡¯s up with his request today? Are the Shaffers so understaffed that they don¡¯t even have a single errand boy to deliver their meals to them? Chapter 93 Bring Meals to Him for a Few More Days ¡°Mr. Shaffer has been in a bad mood these past couple of days. He hardly touches the meals delivered by others,¡± exined the butler. Isabe instinctively rolled her eyes. ¡°Let him starve for a couple of days.¡± Mr. Shaffer was lost for words for a moment. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, but I¡¯m on the Shaffer Family¡¯s payroll.¡± You¡¯re on their payroll, but I¡¯m most certainly not, thought Isabe. The butler replied, ¡°Well, yesterday¡¯s deal still stands. You still owe over 90 thousand, but I¡¯ll give you a discount. Just six more days of meal delivery will suffice.¡± His heartyughter carried a tone of ¡®You¡¯ve got a great deal,¡¯ showcasing the Shaffer Family¡¯s mystifying self-confidence. Isabe tried to make a retort, only to find herself at a loss for words. ¡°I¡¯m in E Chapter 93 Bring Meals to Him for a Few More Days the hospital right now, so it¡¯s not convenient for me to do such a thing.¡± ¡°You may go around as you please. I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up when it¡¯s time,¡± replied the butler, still smiling.¡± Isabe couldn¡¯t even be bothered to roll her eyes at this point. She checked the time on her phone before reluctantly agreeing, ¡°Fine¡­¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Mr. Shaffer hung up the phone. His swift actions made it seem as if he was afraid that she might change her mind. Isabe clicked her tongue repeatedly as she stared at her reflection on her phone¡¯s screen, feeling increasingly uneasy. I might¡¯ve been too harsh on myself. I wonder if there¡¯ll be any scars. ¡°Seth will probably use me of assaulting his eyes with my injuries if he sees me.¡± 09:53 Fri, 29 Dec 0 Chapter 93 Bring Meals to Him for a Few More Days It was still early, and she had no intention of returning to her office. Instead, she went straight to the mall, preparing to buy herself a new outfit. Besides, she really couldn¡¯t bring herself to walk around with such a battered appearance. She bought herself a long-sleeved shirt and pants,plementing them with a wide-brimmed hat. As she donned a pair of sunsses and a face mask, she sessfully managed to cover herself from head to toe. ¡°Miss Symons, please sign here.¡± The salesperson from the sunsses store handed her the credit card bill. Isabe took the bill and signed it without thinking. ¡°Isabe?¡± A voice interjected. Chapter 93 Bring Meals to Him for a Few More Days Isabe instinctively pressed her hat before turning around. The moment she took a good look at the speaker, she couldn¡¯t help butment in her heart what a small world it was. Summer had previously spotted her at the car dealership and promptly told Lara about it. Now, the three of them unexpectedly ran into each other again at the mall. The other two women were also apanied by several wealthy heiresses who seemed familiar to her. She didn¡¯t want to engage with them, especially since she was scheming against Lara. So, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little guilty now that the person she was targeting was standing right before her. Lara came over in high heels and walked around her in a half-circle, clicking her tongue at Isabe. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk. Why are you covering yourself up like that? Is it because you have a guilty conscience and you¡¯re too ashamed to Chapter 93 Bring Meals to Him for a Few More Days. show your face?¡± »Ø Isabe adjusted her sunsses and retorted sarcastically, ¡°Why would I have a guilty conscience? Even those who eagerly offered themselves up for marriage and got rejected don¡¯t find it embarrassing.¡± Lara¡¯s face darkened the moment Isabe finished her sentence. Her engagement to Simon was the envy of many women. Nevertheless, the -outside world had no idea how much she had sacrificed for it. Her hands couldn¡¯t help but tremble by her sides when Isabe suddenly touched a raw nerve in her. Summer had some knowledge of Lara¡¯s situation. Hence, when she noticed her best friend¡¯s speechless anger, she couldn¡¯t help but speak up for her, saying haughtily, ¡°You¡¯re still doing well without Mr. Shaffer. Well, it seems like you¡¯ve gotten a lot of money out of him. How can you still act so righteous Chapter 93 Bring Meals to Him for a Few More Days upon meeting Lara?¡± Isabe looked at her and smirked. ¡°Miss Woods, why on Earth are you sticking your nose into someone else¡¯s business when you can¡¯t even handle your own husband¡¯s affairs?¡± She shoved a hand in her pocket as she leisurely walked over to the couch and deliberately made a show out of making herselffortable. ¡°Besides, even if I did get money out of Mr. Shaffer, what does it have to do with Miss Shaffer? Just because they share the surname Shaffer doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re family, right?¡± ¡°Why you!¡± Lara¡¯s eyes popped in disbelief; she couldn¡¯t believe Isabe actually had the audacity to say that. She used to be-if not submissive-at least polite to her. She fumed, ¡°Do you know whose property this mall is?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! This property belongs to the Shaffers. Just a word from Lara can get you kicked out of here!¡± Several wealthy heiresses following Lara quickly stepped in to support her. The moment they saw that Lara was unable to win the argument against Isabe, they immediately tried to humiliate Isabe then and there. Isabe remained unfazed, though. So what if the mall belongs to the Shaffers? The person in charge of it might not even know Lara. There¡¯s no -telling who the person in charge will acknowledge since I¡¯m holding Seth¡¯s ck card. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 hapter 94 The situation was tense and explosive, prompting the store¡¯s staff to urgently call for their manager. ¡°Ladies, is there an issue with our service?¡± asked the store manager, trying to defuse the situation. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. Get out of my face!¡± Lara snapped, not giving a damn to such a mere nobody. The store manager, whose face turned livid one moment and red the next, instantly eyed her with dislike. While she hade across wealthy heiresses, someone socking in manners was a first for her. ¡°What are you staring at? Why haven¡¯t you called the security guards?¡± Lara Chapter 94 Take Off Your Clothes and Leave Them Be shot a vicious re at the store manager. Then, she actually drew out her own business card from her bag. ¡°I¡¯m Lara Shaffer. Tell your manager to The taken-aback store manager nced at the calm andposed Isabe before turning back to look at Lara. For a moment, she felt uncertain about how to proceed. -Outside, a clueless store assistant had already phoned the mall manager, who arrived with a group of security guards. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± The store manager looked at the mall manager, then nced at Isabe. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Get this woman out of here.¡± Lara pointed at Isabe. Chapter 94 Take Off Your Clothes and Leave Them Be The mall manager couldn¡¯t see Isabe¡¯s face. Still, he thought Lara looked quite familiar. Even so, he was unsure of just who Lara was. ¡°Are you blind? Can¡¯t you recognize my face?¡± Lara yelled, pointing at the manager, her face contorted with rage. Her response instantly confirmed the manager¡¯s guess. ¡°Sorry, Miss Shaffer. I apologize for our inadequate service,¡± he apologized. As the mall belonged to the Shaffers, they naturally had the authority to kick out whoever they wanted. ¡°Miss, please leave the mall,¡± he said, approaching Isabe with a somewhat respectful demeanor. Since Isabe had no intention of putting these workers in a difficult position, she promptly picked up her belongings and stood up. She had bought everything she needed, anyway. So, she didn¡¯t mind allowing Lara to throw her weight around. Chapter 94 Take Off Your Clothes and Leave Them Be ¡°Wait a minute,¡± blurted Summer. Isabe continued walking but was stopped by the security guards. E Summer walked over to Lara¡¯s side and whispered a few words in her ear. Lara chuckled and looked at Isabe. ¡°I almost forgot that everything you¡¯re wearing was purchased here. I¡¯m not selling them anymore. Take them all off!¡± Isabe was stunned. This woman¡¯s thinking is simply astonishing! Yet, she¡¯s actually a member of the Shaffer Family, just like Seth. She turned around and replied with a calm attitude, ¡°Miss Shaffer, I¡¯ve paid for these clothes. Therefore, they¡¯re my personal belongings now.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an issue with these items, so the brand is recalling them and will Chapter 94 Take Off Your Clothes and Leave Them Be have to leave the clothes, the hat, and the sunsses behind at once.¡± Isabe had already taken a step back by standing up just now. Thus, she wasn¡¯t about to back down any further at this very moment. ¡°I won¡¯t. What are you going to do about it?¡± Lara¡¯s expression turned cold. She shot a nce at the several girls beside her, who immediately closed in on Isabe. ¡°Since you don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you, I¡¯ll get someone to help you. There are plenty of people here. If you¡¯re willing to embarrass yourself, go ahead.¡± Isabe darted a nce outside the disy window. Several customers had already taken notice of what was happening here and had already started to swarm around. She looked at the manager beside her, asking, ¡°Mr. Yates, are you going to just stand by and watch one of your customers being Chapter 94 Take Off Your Clothes and Leave Them Be humiliated?¡± E The manager looked embarrassed as he kept his head down in silence. ¡°What authority does a manager like him have?¡± Summer sneered, looking at Isabe. It was evident that she was finding the situation amusing. ¡°I¡¯d advise you to quickly take off your clothes so you can keep your underwear. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have to bear the consequences.¡± Isabe¡¯s expression was frosty underneath her hat. She stared at Lara through her sunsses. Lara¡¯s eyes were full of smugness. It was obvious she was seeking revenge for Isabe¡¯s ¡°interference¡± the day before. Isabe had Seth¡¯s ck card in her possession. If she whisked it out, this Chapter 94 Take Off Your Clothes and Leave Them Be D bunch of people wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything to her. However, the news headlines might take an unpleasant turn. After all, the public had always abhorred mistresses. ¡°What are you all waiting for? Go ahead and do it,¡± Summer called out to the girls surrounding Isabe when she saw that Isabe hadn¡¯t moved. Even though these girls were from wealthy families, they weren¡¯t on the same level as Lara and Summer. They exchanged nces with each other and were about to reach out and grab Isabe¡¯s clothes. Isabe was not someone to be pushed around, though. So, she didn¡¯t hesitate to kick the girl closest to her, who was caught off guard by the strength of the kick and ended up taking a pratfall onto the ground. Some onlookers at the entrance jeered, while some couldn¡¯t help but Chapter 94 Take Off Your Clothes and Leave Them Be interject, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, miss! We¡¯ve already called the police!¡± Lara¡¯s face turned pale for a moment. She turned toward the disy window, and the camera shed right away, capturing her face. ¡°Lara!¡± Summer instantly realized what was happening and quickly got her to turn around. ¡°Let¡¯s get inside. There are too many people here.¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Isabe folded her arms and nced through her sunsses at those around her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys going in to hide?¡± The girls exchanged looks with each other and hastily fled into the lounge as well. Isabe instantly gained the upper hand as she looked at sniveling the manager beside her. ¡°Now, you should disperse the crowd to avoid a Chapter 94 Take Off Your Clothes and Leave Them Be scandal.¡± Hermanding tone startled the manager, whose scalp tingled as he sensed impending trouble. Just then, Isabe¡¯s phone, rang. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Mr. Shaffer called to ask if she was avable at the moment. Isabe let out a weary sigh. Her appetite for lunch vanished at the thought of meeting Seth. Nheless, she maneuvered away from the crowd and headed straight for the parking lot with her purse in hand, where the Shaffer Family¡¯s car was already waiting. As usual, Mr. Shaffer prepared two sets of meals. The bodyguards apanying her were the same as yesterday¡¯s, escorting her all the way to the Shaffer Group Tower¡¯s entrance. This time, they stayed in the car, having learned their lesson. ¡°Call us if you need anything,¡± they said. Chapter 95 A Shopping Trip Can Affect the Share Pr @x.91%8 A relieved Isabe entered the building with two insted food containers in hand. The people she met greeted her more warmly than yesterday. As she arrived at the front desk, two young receptionists from there suddenly chased after her. ¡°Isabe.¡± They stood in front of the elevator. Isabe raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± The two receptionists exchanged a brief look. One of them said under her breath, ¡°Miss Winston called this morning. She said that we have to inform her whenever youe to thepany.¡± Isabe couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°So, are you going to make that call now?¡± 00:55 FM 29 Dec 0 ¡°No, of course not. The two receptionists waved their hands repeatedly. They replied with a smile, ¡°We¡¯re not that stupid. Such instructions don¡¯t conform to the rules. Plus, you¡¯re the person Mr. Shaffer trusts the most¡­¡± Only then did it dawn on Isabe: these two receptionists were iming credit for what they had done. Then, she entered the elevator and pressed the floor button with mirth in her eyes. The two receptionists looked at each other in puzzlement, unsure of what she meant. Isabe didn¡¯t take the president¡¯s exclusive elevator. So, she ran into many familiar faces on her way up, and the two insted food containers she was carrying stood out like a sore thumb. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, those behind her began talking behind her back. 09:55 Fri, 29 Dec 0 1. Chapter 95 A Shopping Trip Can Affect the Share Pr ¡°Hey, Isabe. Are you bringing lunch to Mr. Shaffer?¡± Ellie was heading to the cafeteria when she ran into Isabe. When Isabe noticed the quiet surroundings, she assumed that Seth wasn¡¯t around. She was so relieved that she intended to put down the food containers and leave. ¡°Mr. Shaffer is inside,¡± said Ellie with a smile. A speechless Isabe forced a smile on her face and went inside, carrying the food containers. The door to the president¡¯s office was unlocked and slightly ajar. Hence, Isabe carefully pushed it open. Just as she darted her eyes to the left, she caught sight of Seth leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed. Chapter 95 A Shopping Trip Can Affect the Share Pr A slight crease formed between his brows when he heard the sound she made. Nevertheless, his face smoothed out soon enough as he continued resting with his eyes closed. When she received no response, she quickly set the table and prepared to slip away without him noticing. s, just when she was about to turn around, the man behind the desk suddenly opened his eyes. ¡°Have you deboned the fish?¡± What? A bewildered Isabe turned around and met his gaze. ¡°How did you know there¡¯s fish today?¡± Seth cast her a sidelong nce and leaned back in his chair. He said casually, ¡°Are you going to just bring the meal here and then run away after charging 15 thousand for each meal you deliver?¡± Chapter 95 A Shopping Trip Can Affect the Share Pr Isabe felt rather guilty as she turned around and walked up to the floor-to-ceiling window, where she sat down to remove the fish bones. She suspected that this man had deliberately ordered this meal. Of all kinds of fish, he has to choose the hairtail fish, whose fine bones are simply torture to one¡¯s eyes. Before she realized it, Seth had taken a seat across from her, his armzily resting on the table. He opened his mouth, looking fatigued. Concerned that he might get irritated again due to hunger and fatigue, Isabe quickly served him some pasta and added some other dishes to his bowl. ¡°You go ahead and eat. I¡¯ll be done in a minute.¡± Seth frowned, looking impatient while holding the bowl. Isabe recognized this expression of his. He probably had several meetings 09:55 Fri, 29 Dec 0 Chapter 95 A Shopping Trip Can Affect the Share Pr in the morning and came across something that displeased him. So, she 70 cleverly remained silent upon realizing the mood he was in, quietly removing T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. the fish bones to avoid bringing trouble upon herself. It was really silent in the office when there suddenly came a knock on the door. Seth put down his bowl and took a deep breath, his expression gloomy. Ellie gingerly poked her head in, whispering, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, there¡¯s a bit of an issue.¡± Seth didn¡¯t even pay attention to her. He merely furrowed his brows, his gaze fixed on Isabe across the table. Isabe turned toward Ellie, feeling utterly ufortable under his stare. A Shopping Trip Can Affect the Share Pr ¡°What¡¯s the issue¡­ Just say it.¡± D Ellie quickly came in, shooting an uneasy nce at Isabe before pushing her phone toward the man. ¡°Isabe, did you just go shopping at the mall?¡± Isabe¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her expression faltering. In her heart, she had figured out what it was about. Seth grabbed Ellie¡¯s phone and scanned through its contents upon noticing her expression. Ellie¡¯s fists clenched as she said under her breath, ¡°This video was uploaded anonymously five minutes ago. It¡¯s been gaining a lot of views and shares, so it¡¯ll likely trend in a few minutes. Now, the public feels that it¡¯s Miss Shaffer and the mall¡¯s manager bullying an ordinary customer. This is already being linked to the Shaffer Group¡¯s corporate culture.¡± Isabe¡¯s hands froze while holding the knife and fork. She looked up slightly, only to meet the man¡¯s scrutinizing gaze. ¡°You managed to make the Shaffer Group¡¯s share price fluctuate just by going on a shopping trip,¡± he remarked. Isabe couldn¡¯t find it in herself to reply when those words fell from his lips. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Ellie was right. The video¡¯s poprity instantly skyrocketed to the number one spot on the trending topics list. ¡°The public rtions department suggests removing all rted trending topics. Then, thepany shall issue a public apology and dismiss the mall manager.¡± Ellie stood in front of the desk and briefed Seth. Seth sat at his desk and yed with the ck pen in his hand, not uttering a word. He was already mad from getting interrupted in the middle of his meal. Now that he was forced to deal with public rtions affairs such as this at noon, he could feel the anger within him starting to ze. Chapter 96 Fail, and I Will Deal With You 91% ¡ö Meanwhile, Isabe sat on the couch, feeling anxious. She couldn¡¯t help but interrupt after listening to Ellie¡¯s report. ¡°Spending big bucks to remove the trending topics will arouse public aversion. A public apology can only reflect thepany¡¯s attitude toward this matter, but it cannot clear away Miss Shaffer¡¯s attitude of pulling rank on someone.¡± Seth raised his eyes, leaned forward, and sized the woman across from him before saying, ¡°You did notice someone recording at that time, right?¡± As soon as Isabe heard what he said, her lips twitched slightly. Judging from the meaning behind his words, is he suspecting I did it on purpose? ¡°So what if I saw it? It¡¯s not like I can stop the onlookers from recording the incident. Moreover, I didn¡¯t expect Miss Shaffer to be so¡­.¡± Isabe thought it 09:55 Fri, 29 Dec 0 Chapter 96 Fail, and I Will Deal With You over for a moment. Then, she stared into Seth¡¯s eyes and continued, ¡°Stupid.¡± ¡°She¡¯s stupid, but you¡¯re not.¡± Seth withdrew his gaze and threw the pen on the table. ¡°I¡¯m giving you twenty-four hours. You can make all the necessary arrangements in the public rtions department. Handle it well.¡± Isabe clenched her hands. ¡°I have the full authority in handling this matter?¡± ¡°Fail to handle it well, and I will deal with you personally.¡± Seth red at her. Although his tone was cold, the words that escaped his lips aroused one¡¯s imagination. For that reason, Ellie, who was standing nearby, started winking Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. at her. The desire for gossip burned passionately in her eyes. Isabe blushed slightly and then became a little enthusiastic. 09:35 Chapter 96 Fai, and I Will Deal With You ¡°On one condition.¡± Seth furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You have to agree to one more condition if I handle this matter well.¡± Isabe raised a finger and borated. Seth snorted upon hearing her terms and drawled, ¡°You¡¯re bargaining with me?¡± Isabe pouted as she crossed her arms and looked out the window. ¡°Fine. Let the public rtions department take care of it then.¡± ¡°Do you honestly think they can¡¯t handle this matter?¡± Seth cast her an unfriendly look as a faint gleam shed across his eyes. @ 91% D Chapter 96 Fail, and I Will Deal With You Of course, Isabe knew it was as easy as pie for the public rtions department to handle trivial matters like this. Still, he couldn¡¯t deny that things were about to get a little dicey due to Lara¡¯s involvement. So, she straightened her posture and gazed at Seth intently. ¡°I am one of the parties involved in this matter, so yourpany can achieve the most cost-effective solution as long as I¡¯m willing to cooperate and handle this matter myself.¡± ¡°You will suffer the worst fate if you don¡¯t handle it well.¡± Seth shot her a warning. Nevertheless, Isabe was thrilled because she could tell that he agreed with her. She stood up and assured Seth, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Give me two hours and 5 1. Chapter 96 Fail, and I Will Deal With You a press conference. I will definitely handle this matter well.¡± E Seth scrutinized her closely as he asked faintly, ¡°Are you nning to appear at the press conference bundled up like this?¡± ¡°This was how I looked in the video. So, it will be more convincing if I show up at the press conference looking like this.¡± Isabe shrugged nonchntly. Seth couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with her. So, he knocked on the table with his knuckles and said, ¡°Two hours. At once. Now.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Every cell in Isabe¡¯s body trembled with excitement. Compared to Ellie, she was even more eager to go out and dive into action, especially after feeling as though her bones were getting demineralized from working at the car Chapter 96 Fail, and I Will Deal With You retail store for half a month. After all, the fast-paced working practice in the Shaffer Group was the working mode she longed for most. Once the office door was closed and Seth¡¯s sight was blocked, Isabe felt even more rxed. ¡®Call the Human Resources director and the deputy director of the public rtions department. There will be a meeting in 10 minutes.¡± Since Ellie had heard Seth say that Isabe would have full authority to handle the matter with her own ears, she didn¡¯t dare to dy executing Isabe¡¯s orders for even a second. So, she swiftly left to make arrangements. As for everyone in the secretary department, they dared not to voice even a Chapter 96 Fail, and I Will Deal With You word of protest and simply prepared the materials needed for the meeting as instructed by Isabe. Selena returned from the cafeteria just as the meeting was about to start. s, she couldn¡¯tprehend what was happening when she discovered that the entire floor was busy. Her female colleagues in the secretary department somewhat ostracized -her. Only Nics was willing to talk to her. ¡°Grab your things and go to the meeting room. Isabe is going to hold a meeting,¡± Nics reminded Selena. Selena was dumbfounded. ¡°Isabe¡­ will hold a meeting?!¡± She¡¯s just a car salesperson! What rights does she have to boss us around in Chapter 96 Fail, and I Will Deal With You the Shaffer Group CEO¡¯s meeting room?! As she thought of that, she clenched her fists in frustration. Before she could vent her anger, she turned around and saw Isabe smiling at her as she stood by the meeting room door. .1 Her lips were raised into a smirk, and her eyes were devoid of warmth. She looked like a goddess watching a ything struggling to survive, even at its Selena had seen this smile before. Seth had shown such a smile while standing in front of the stock market chart. It was a replica of the smile Isabe currently had on her face. ¡°The meeting is about to start. Why are you still outside?¡± Isabe stood in the distance and inquired. Fail, and I Will Deal With You Selena felt a chill running down her spine. So, she bit her lips as she walked stiffly to the meeting room. She even forgot to take her notebook with her. Even though Isabe shrugged her shoulders, she secretly mocked Selena¡¯s psychological quality. Just as she was about to turn around, the door to Seth¡¯s office suddenly swung open. His cold expression coincidentally met Isabe¡¯s smile before she could hide 1. ¡°How can you still be in the mood to smile when the matter has yet to be resolved? Isabe was rendered speechless by the man¡¯s overbearing attitude. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Isabe rolled her eyes after mming the meeting room door shut with a bang. Those in the meeting room looked at each other, wondering just what the source of her anger was. ¡°Mr. Quinn, has the Human Resources issued a dismissal notice as instructed?¡± Isabe asked as she seated herself at the head of the table. Since Elijah Quinn, the Human Resources director, was the Shaffer Group¡¯s senior executive, he and Isabe were on different ranks even if she remained an executive secretary. For that reason, he had a slightly disapproving look when he saw her suddenly sit at the head of the table and give out orders. Chapter 97 Miss Symons Who Owns It All ¡°Mr. Shaffer has yet to agree, so we can¡¯t act recklessly.¡± Isabe said coldly as she shot a nce at the middle-aged man across from her, ¡°In that case, you may issue it now. Fire the person in charge of the World Trade Mall at once.¡± Elijah frowned, showing slight defiance. ¡°Miss Symons-¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Isabe withdrew her gaze and said, ¡°Public rtions department.¡± She didn¡¯t give Elijah a chance to speak. Instead, she directed her orders to the public rtions department as a whole, resulting in the atmosphere in the room turning a bit strange. -The deputy director of the public rtions department was a woman. She Chapter 97 Miss Symons Who Owns It All was famous for being diplomatic in her speech. ¡°We have arranged the crew needed to set up the press conference. Miss Symons, we can immediately execute it as long as you give us the word.¡± Isabe nodded in satisfaction. Then, she said with her arms crossed, ¡°We will hold the press conference in two hours. Apart from having the major media present, invite some of the media acquainted with the Shaffer Group and -arrange for them to be seated in the front row.¡± ¡°Also¡­¡± She paused momentarily before turning to look at Selena, who was facing her. ¡°You will call Miss Shaffer and ask her toe over.¡± Selena was dumbfounded as she didn¡¯t expect her to get name-dropped so suddenly. ¡°Me? I¡¯m not capable of doing so.¡± D 7 Chapter 97 Miss Symons Who Owns It All ¡°As the head of the secretary, if you can¡¯t even ask her toe over, are you implying that we have to ask Mr. Shaffer to ask her to attend the conference personally?¡± Isabe raised her eyebrows and cast her a look filled with disdain. Selena was instantly bereft of speech. Then, she clenched her hands and uttered through her teeth, ¡°I¡­ will try my best.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Isabe knocked on the table, her movement identical to Seth¡¯s. ¡°All departments should hurry up and get ready. Ourpany has just sealed a mining broker deal recently, so we absolutely cannot allow ourpany¡¯s image to be damaged. You can imagine the consequence that awaits you if any of you slip up at such a critical moment.¡± After that, she raised her tone slightly and announced, ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡± Chapter 97 Miss Symons Who Owns It All None present in the room voiced their further opinions. Plus, even though Elijah detested Isabe, he didn¡¯t dare to offend her impetuously. He simply passed by Isabe with a sullen look on his face. Isabe sat at the head of the table as she controlled the overall situation and responded to immediate questions from the staff members of the rted departments at any time. Half an hourter, the press conference was ready to start. s, Lara still had yet to arrive. A slightly worried Ellie asked, ¡°Isabe, shall we wait for her?¡± Isabe picked up the script, straightened her back, and sauntered out. ¡°She will show up. Have someone ready to pick her up outside.¡± Chapter 97 Miss Symons Who Owns It All ¡°Okay.¡± Isabe wasn¡¯t worried at all. Although Lara is stupid, her idiocy still isn¡¯t beyond redemption. Even if it is, Selena will also beg her toe over. After all, she is keen to show off in front of Seth. The press conference was held at the Shaffer Group¡¯s conference hall. At this moment, approximately three to five hundred major media stood inside and outside the hall. Coupled with the onlookers and scattered reporters, the conference hall, which could amodate several thousand people, became overcrowded in the blink of an eye. Isabe walked behind a group of secretaries and bodyguards. Since she was well-protected from the back and front, none of the media could get close to her. 09:56 Fri, 29 Dec 0 1. Chapter 97 Miss Symons Who Owns It All As soon as she sat at the table, the media shoved their mics and cameras right at her face. Soon, all she could see was the unceasing shes and hear the sound of shutters going off. ¡°Miss, as the victim of this incident, have you received the Shaffer Group¡¯s The reporter, who stood at the forefront, asked the first question,pletely C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org unaware that the ¡°victim¡± ahead was Isabe. Once the first question was asked, the rest of the reporters subsequently tossed Isabe a series of canny questions-each of which touched the Shaffer Group¡¯spany image. Finally, one of the reporters questioned whether apany having a bully like Lara as their employee was qualified to obtain a mining concession. D Chapter 97 Miss Symons Who Owns It All We¡¯re finally getting back to the topic. Now, I can express what I want to say. Isabe remained silent the whole time. Once the reporters¡¯ momentum started slowing, she lowered the microphone. Pfft! The woman, who was about to speak on stage, couldn¡¯t helpughing. The media immediately burst into an uproar, stunned at what was happening. ¡°Does no one truly realize who I am?¡± Isabe asked. The entire hall went silent as her voice resonated faintly across the venue. Chapter 97 Miss Symons Who Owns It All The reporters looked at each other, confused. She took off her hat and mask, leaving only a pair of sunsses on her face. After revealing half of her face, she said at an unhurried pace, ¡°I identally ran into a biker gang and injured my face when I was out for dinnerst night. As a result, I have no choice but to meet you all in such a dress-up.¡± All the media present still didn¡¯t understand what she was trying to say even -though they were staring at her. Isabe immediately turned around and nced at Ellie, who was controlling therge screen, before nodding slightly. The next second, her personal information was disyed on the screen. ¡°Let me introduce myself. I am Isabe Symons, the Shaffer Group¡¯s former Chapter 97 Miss Symons Who Owns It All executive secretary.¡± D The crowd was in an uproar the moment these words escaped her lips. ¡°Are you and Miss Shaffer having some sort of a personal conflict? Was that why she humiliated you in public?¡± Isabe smiled and shook her head upon hearing the inquiry. ¡°Actually, it was just a part of a diathesis test conducted within thepany. Miss Shaffer was simply making a guest appearance.¡± Suddenly, there was a ruckus outside the hall halfway through her speech Chapter 98 Chapter 98 The sound of the shutters grew intense as the doors swung open. Lara had changed into warm-toned clothes and appeared before everyone with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s Lara!¡± Isabe stood up, exchanged a smile with Lara, and reached out her hand even from afar. The media captured the dramatic scene, leaving everyone stunned. Lara sat down next to Isabe, sighed, and uttered with a smile, ¡°I feel a lot of pressure. It¡¯s my first time ying the role of a viin.¡± 1. Chapter 98 Drastic Change of Roles ¡°You¡¯re saying this is just acting?!¡± @X91% Everyone on the stage still couldn¡¯t believe it. shlights flickered non-stop at Isabe and Lara. It was as if they hoped to capture something amiss from their perfect expressions. Isabe smiled and began to exin, ¡°The 30th anniversary of the establishment of Shaffer Group is approaching. Recently, we received many anonymous reports, including many from the managers of Shaffer Group¡¯s affiliated malls.¡± ¡°To prevent false reports, we conducted a series of tests at various major malls to examine the managers¡¯ decision-making and attitudes. Unfortunately, the manager of World Trade Mall did not pass this afternoon. Given this, Shaffer Group has already issued a dismissal penalty.¡± > Chapter 98 Drastic Change of Roles Isabe exined eloquently, leaving the venue in silence. It wasn¡¯t until halfway through that someone interrupted. ¡°Such tests are unreasonable. How could the manager dare to go against Miss Shaffer?!¡± ¡°It is indeed unreasonable,¡± Isabe continued with a serious expression. ¡°However, Shaffer Group has just obtained mining rights involving a national pir industry. This requires all senior executives of the group to maintain a clear boundary between public and private matters. Otherwise, the damage caused will affect not only the interests of the Shaffer Group but also the interests of the public. The manager in question has been with Shaffer Group for nearly 15 years and was on the verge of being promoted to the headquarters. Therefore, his character has to be absolutely impable.¡± Her words were straightforward as they cut into the meat of the matter like a Chapter 98 Drastic Change of Roles a sharp de. Each sentence was spoken with a sense of righteousness, rendering the media speechless. ¡°Who knows if this is just a PR strategy?¡± someone raised a question. Isabe smiled and exchanged a nce with Lara. ¡°Do you think there¡¯s some deep-seated grudge between Miss Shaffer and me?¡± Lara rested her chin on her hand and uttered in aid-back tone, ¡°I don¡¯t hold any position in Shaffer Group. Therefore, I barely interact with Miss Symons.¡± The media fell silent. Isabe stood up, bowed to the media, and said, ¡°Originally, the test was 09:57 Fri, 29 Dec¡¯ Chapter 98 Drastic Change of Roles supposed to be confidential. However, we¡¯ve decided to make it public for the sake of authenticity. We apologize for the misunderstanding and the inconvenience it has caused today. The Shaffer Group is sincerely sorry.¡± Once she was done with her speech, a media representative queried, ¡°Miss Symons, it¡¯s been reported that you are no longer the executive secretary of Shaffer Group. In what capacity are you speaking here today?¡± Isabe¡¯s smile seemed engraved on her face. She nced at the camera directly in front of her, knowing that Seth was watching. ¡°I am deeply grateful for Mr. Shaffer¡¯s guidance. My departure was merely a result of a personal career change. When Shaffer Group needed me, especially for such an interesting matter, I had no reason to reject them.¡± Then, she shrugged helplessly as she jested, ¡°To be honest, if the video hadn¡¯t Chapter 98 Drastic Change of Roles spread so widely, no one would have known how exquisite my acting skills were, right?¡± The atmosphere in the room eased slightly. Shortly after, the reporters stopped pressing for more questions. 9 Isabe bowed again to express gratitude to the media. Then, she and Lara walked off the stage gracefully, hand in hand. shes of cameras illuminated their path, and both women wore slight smiles on their faces. Once they arrived at the lounge of the conference room, Lara immediately shook off Isabe¡¯s hand, disgust evident in her eyes as she reached for tissues to wipe her fingers vigorously. 09:57 Fri, 29 Dec 0 Chapter 98 Drastic Change of Roles Isabe rolled her eyes, turned around, and headed straight for the restroom to wash her hands. When she left, she intentionally flicked water from her hands toward Lara. ¡°Isabe, just wait and see. This matter is far from over today!¡± Isabe smirked, looking at the fiercely determined woman. ¡°I should have told you that a long time ago.¡± There¡¯s no rush to settle our grudges just yet. I have all the time in the world. Lara took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, grabbed her bag, and tried to leave. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°Miss Shaffer, there are media still swarming the area. It¡¯s not appropriate for you to go out like this.¡± Ellie mustered up ho courage and blocked Lara¡¯s way. Chapter 98 Drastic Change of Roles An enraged Lara reached out to hit Ellie. Q Fortunately, Ellie wasn¡¯t one to back down. Instead, she stepped back and signaled the bodyguards to step in. Isabe nced sideways with a cold gaze and proceeded to the internal passage, heading directly to the elevator for the 38th floor. When the elevator doors slid open, someone stood at the entrance. Isabe was startled, but she realized it was Selena upon taking a better look on her face. The youngdy had a cold expression, her gaze as ominous as a vengeful ghost who had emerged from hell. Áã91%•þ Chapter 98 Drastic Change of Roles Isabe couldn¡¯t help but click her tongue as she recalled the initial misconception she had made when they first met. Frankly, she was quite surprised that she would make such a rookie mistake back then. ¡°Are you here to bother Mr. Shaffer again?¡± Isabe couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud with hands in her pockets. ¡°Do you really think Seth belongs to you alone, youngdy? She hadn¡¯t even carried such a naive thought when she first got together with him. She promptly left the elevator as she walked alongside Selena and whispered, ¡°He has a childhood sweetheart, you know. You should know your ce.¡± Selena didn¡¯t expect her words to be thrown back at her. She shut her eyes in annoyance and humiliation, suppressing the urge to scream at the top of her lungs. Isabe walked past her and headed straight to Seth¡¯s office, aiming to confirm the authenticity of the second empty promise. Selena turned around and watched Isabe approach the electronic lock. Isabe entered the password effortlessly and entered the room. Selena balled her fists as she seethed with hatred. She was clenching her jaw so hard that it seemed as though her teeth were about to be ground to dust. Yet, she dared not let out a single word of reprimand. Chapter 99 Chapter 99 In Seth¡¯s office, silence prevailed as the owner was absent. .91%0 Isabe immediately shook off the tense feeling. Then, she ced her hands behind her back as she took several deep breaths. Now that Seth wasn¡¯t around, the oppressive atmosphere in the room seemed to have lightened. Perhaps she was merely experiencing the cebo effect as she felt that even the air seemed cleaner. Isabe ced her hands on it and stared at the chair where Seth often sat as she approached the long, ck desk. Her heart raced all of a sudden, and something buried deep within her was unexpectedly stirred. Chapter 99 Stand a Chance To Acquire High Status. Now that no one was around, Seth wouldn¡¯t randomly check the office surveince, would he? Isabe straightened her back as she looked around the room and walked to the door to ensure it was locked. ww Then, she returned to the desk, circled it, and hesitated for a moment. Finally, she ced her hands on the chair, turned around, sat on it, and gazed at the front with her back straightened. She sneakily did all these to feel what it felt like to be in Seth¡¯s position. So, this is what it feels like to be the chairman and president. If she had an office like this, even if it were smaller and the furnishings not as > Chapter 99 Stand a Chance To Acquire High Status luxurious¡­ At least it would be entirely hers. Just then, she felt as if a clot in her mind had suddenly dissipated as she leaned back in the chair, feeling her whole body boiling with excitement. She should¡­ ¡°If you like that position so much, why don¡¯t I give that seat to you?¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. A cool and crisp voice came out of nowhere. Isabe shivered, abruptly jerked to her feet, and was momentarily unsure which direction to look at. Behind her, the door to the embedded lounge opened, and the footsteps of a man slowly approached. Chapter 99 Stand a Chance To Acquire High Status Isabe widened her eyes, feeling quite stiff as she turned around to meet the man¡¯s scrutinizing gaze. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that you would harbor such big ambitions.¡± He was only wearing an unbuttoned shirt, which was loosely draped over his body as he leaned against the door frame and fixed his gaze on Isabe. Isabe swallowed hard as she took a deep breath. ¡°Everyone has dreams. Isn¡¯t that allowed?¡± ¡°Can you distinguish between a dream and a daydream?¡± Seth snorted coldly, his gaze falling on the hand Isabe used to grip the chair. Isabe quickly withdrew her hand while scooting to the side. ¡°Who knows if it might be a reality one day?¡± 09:58 Fri, 29 Dec 0 /Chapter 99 Stand a Chance To Acquire High Status Seth chuckled and approached her slowly before looking down at the woman wearing sunsses before him. ¡°Shaffer Group took 30 years to reach its current scale. So, you should have a n, even if it¡¯s a dream.¡± An unconvinced Isabe clenched her fist. ¡°You were born with a silver spoon. Are you going to block others from a chance to acquire high status because of that?¡± ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve be foolish after dreaming so recklessly.¡± Seth¡¯s gaze turned cold. Soon, he started to find her sunsses somewhat obstructive. Thus, he couldn¡¯t resist reaching out to take them off. Isabe was slightly surprised but quickly swatted Seth¡¯s hand aside. ¡°How dare you!¡± Seth was surprised as he didn¡¯t expect her to attack him. 09:58 Fri, 29 Dec¡¯ Chapter 99 Stand a Chance To Acquire High Status Isabe held onto her sunsses as she dodged to the side and argued, ¡°You were the one who made the first move.¡± Seth licked his lips, suppressing his anger. ¡°Come here!¡± Isabe held onto her sses and took a step back. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, I¡¯ve already¡¯ sorted things out. I can leave now.¡± ¡°Remove your sses, or the deal is off,¡± Seth uttered with pursed lips as he gazed intensely at her. Isabe gritted her teeth, thinking that this man had to be insane to insist on seeing the disfigured half of her face. She debated whether to take them off. s, she had no choice but to give in as she met Seth¡¯s unyielding gaze, Chapter 99 Stand a Chance To Acquire High Status Fine, she¡¯d take them off. She took the sses off as she heaved a long sigh. ¡°Wait.¡± Seth suddenly raised his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t take them off. I can imagine how ugly the other half of your face is just by looking at the lower part.¡± Isabe was rendered speechless. Damn. You really know how to pick your words. She rolled her eyes, put her sses back on, and took a step back with a nk face. ¡°I¡¯ve sorted things out. Remember what you promised me,¡± she reminded. Chapter 99 Stand a Chance To Acquire High Status. Seth snorted coldly, turned around, and plopped onto the couch. @ 91% ¡°You sure have a lot of conditions. Are you nning tomit murder or arson?¡± Isabe felt guilty as she realized that what she was about to do wasn¡¯t much different from those crimes. ¡°Being prepared is being safe. Imperia is a big ce. I never know when I might offend someone.¡± ¡°Just get lost,¡± Seth uttered as he found her presence with those sunsses irritating. Then, he raised his hand and grumbled, ¡°Your presence is an annoyance to me.¡± Isabe rolled her eyes dramatically behind her sses. Still, she took care to Stand a Chance To Acquire High Status keep smiling politely at him. She quickly turned to leave after giving him a slight bow. ¡°Are you nning to start your own business?¡± Seth suddenly inquired. Isabe had her back to him as she grabbed the doorknob and said cautiously, ¡°Everyone whoes to Imperia has that dream.¡± Seth replied coldly instead of taunting her, ¡°Then, go ahead and pursue your dream. Make sure to stay out of trouble.¡± Isabe pursed her lips, opened the door, and walked out with a determined glint in her eyes. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 When Isabe walked out of Shaffer Group Tower, the lingering thrill of having been caught sitting in the president¡¯s seat had yet to fade. She stood still for a while, trying to shake off the sensation. The Shaffer Family¡¯s bodyguards were still present. This time, they insisted on escorting her to thepany, iming it was to prevent any potential threats from the biker gang. Isabe rolled her eyes, instantly recognizing it as Seth¡¯s doing. She reluctantly got into the car. By the time she made it to thepany, a crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle, just as she expected. Even Alex, who was typically aloof, came over to gossip. She asked if she, as Chapter 100 Walking A Tightrope the president¡¯s wife, hade to experience ordinary life. D An exasperated Isabe replied, ¡°If I were the president¡¯s wife, I would have long caused all sorts of trouble while living my life to the fullest. Why would I even want to witness the mundane struggles of you mortals?¡± Alex rolled her eyes and stomped away. Abigail happened to be out discussing a contract, so Isabe took advantage of the situation. She imed that herputer¡¯s connection was too slow and boldly used Abigail¡¯sputer instead. Everyone else in the office thought she was just picking a fight with Abigail. Thus, no one suspected her true intentions. She logged into an overseas email ount using Abigail¡¯sputer and Chapter 100 Walking A Tightrope sent an anonymous meeting invitation to Lara. She was certain that Selena would share the screenshot of the financial report fromst time with Lara. Since Lara had suffered a considerable loss to Isabe, the woman wouldn¡¯t let go of her once she found the opportunity to do so. Isabe decisively cleared all browsing records after sending the email. Then, she returned to her seat and patiently waited for the end of the workday. She had to go home today and meet up with Louis. She cked all afternoon and only picked up her bag to leave when the sun began to set. Jonas chased after her and repeatedly reminded her about the car Chapter 100 Walking A Tightrope exhibition, s, Isabe was preupied with important matters, so she merely gave him perfunctory responses. It was already dark outside by the time she managed to get rid of Jonas and take a cab home. The security guard couldn¡¯t resist striking up a conversation as he hadn¡¯t seen her for days. ¡°Have you offended someone, Miss Symons? There have been unfamiliar faces around your buildingtely. I suspect they¡¯re here for you,¡± Isabe smiled, took out her phone, and sent a message to the person sent by Natasha. Then, she continued to chat with the security guard casually. ¡°Why would I offend anyone? I have never been one for confrontation,¡± she replied resolutely. 2.91% Chapter 100 Walking A Tightrope When the security guard saw that she was absolutely certain that those unfamiliar individuals had nothing to do with her, he didn¡¯t press further and merely advised her to stay safe. Isabe¡¯s smile disappeared once she walked past the gate and into the building. There wasn¡¯t even a hint of emotion on her stoic face. Her heart pounded like a drum as she gripped her phone tightly, not daring to make a wrong move. Then, she followed the route she had set for herself. There was a small garden downstairs, which would make a convenient hiding spot. Since there were not many people around in the evening, no one would find out if she was kidnapped unless she screamed for help at the top of her lungs. Isabe hesitated, showing a brief moment of indecision. The next second, Chapter 100 Walking A Tightrope she took a deep breath and stepped into the garden. One, two, three¡­ D Suddenly, a figure rushed out from behind. Before Isabe had a chance to turn around, someone had already covered her mouth and nose from. behind. Fortunately, she was prepared for this. She held her breath in advance, causing her to inhale merely a minimal amount of the substance. A group of men then dragged Isabe into a ck car and tossed her phone away. na ¡°Damn it! It took us a whole week to catch this woman!¡± »Ø Chapter 100 Walking A Tightrope ¡°Exactly! She¡¯s as slippery as an eel. We can¡¯t even catch a break!¡± ¡°She¡¯s a dumb one. She won¡¯t even know what we¡¯ll do to herter!¡± Isabe, who was bound hand and foot, curled up in a corner with disheveled hair as she listened to the men speaking in vulgarnguage. Her heart raced, but her mind remained clear. This is all part of the n, and every step I took was right. Stay calm. There¡¯s no need to be afraid. She tried to prepare herself mentally, anticipating each uing step. The car left the residential area and headed toward Louis¡¯ private vi. Chapter 100 Walking A Tightrope After about 20 minutes, the car came to a stop, and the leading man carried Isabe out. She forced herself to feign unconsciousness, keeping her eyes closed. s, the leader wasn¡¯t a gentle person. As a result, she very nearly exposed herself as she was tossed around like a sack of potatoes. When she was lugged into the vi, the men respectfully knocked on Louis¡¯ door. The door swung open, and a sweet, fragrant scent greeted them. Isabe wasn¡¯t sure if there was something else in the fragrance. So, she dared not take a deep breath. ¡°Mr. Kessler, we¡¯ve brought her here.¡± Chapter 100 Walking A Tightrope The sound of water came from the bathroom, and Louis replied to them in Egatorian. The man tossed Isabe onto the bed and sensibly left the room. Isabe still wore sunsses and a mask so she could afford to open her eyes to assess the surroundings. She dared not think too much about her current situation. What if Louis didn¡¯t fall for her tricks? She could only force herself to stick to the n. The sound of water in the bathroom ceased, and the door opened with a T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. loud bang. Isabe quickly closed her eyes. She could feel the man approaching as a revolting fragrance started wafting close to her nose. @ 91% Chapter 100 Walking A Tightrope Louis had been eyeing her for more than two weeks now. Now, he finally had her in his hands. He was so excited that he didn¡¯t even bother drying his hair. ¡°You tricked mest time, little brat. Regardless, now that you¡¯ve fallen into my hands¡­ I¡¯ll definitely take good care of you.¡± His tone was appalling, and his Corynthean pronunciation was unclear. Isabe could feel his breath all over her face, which sent chills down her -spine. She almost couldn¡¯t resist striking back. Nevertheless, she jaw and had to restrain herself from doing something impulsive. Her Meanwhile, Louis kissed her neck and reached out to remove her mask and sses. Chapter 100 Walking A Tightrope He was ecstatic and ready to wee Isabe¡¯s stunning face. ¡°Babe¡­¡± Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Louis was ready to admire Isabe¡¯s beautiful face. However, when he removed her mask and sunsses, all he could see was her ¡®colorful¡¯ face. At that moment, Louis was shocked and felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his desire. Instantly, his expression turned to disgust, and he quickly distanced himself from her. Then, Isabe seized the opportunity to open her eyes. She looked around before shifting her gaze to Louis. Immediately, she looked surprised and struggled to sit up from the bed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your face?¡± Louis, who had been so excited moments ago, now felt a rising frustration within him. Isabe sat up and touched her face. Then, she seemed to have remembered something and looked panicked and angry at the same time. ¡°It¡¯s all because of Lara.¡± Isabe got off the bed and grabbed Louis¡¯s hand. ¡°You have to avenge me, Mr. Kessler!¡± Louis felt annoyed after looking at her face. The only reason he didn¡¯t try to pull away was because her hands were soft. Still, he asked coldly, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you always liked Miss Shaffer?¡± Isabe pressed her head and feigned being dizzy. She staggered as she approached Louis and said, ¡°I can help you this time.¡± Louis sat on the couch irritably and lit a cigar. ¡°Go on.¡± Isabe gritted her teeth as she crouched beside Louis and had a sinister look in her eyes. ¡°I have a grudge with her. Now that things havepletely fallen apart between us, she hired someone to hit me!¡± She tilted her head towards Louis, exposing her face under the light. ¡°Just look at what she did to my face!¡± Louis frowned in revulsion, refusing to see Isabe¡¯s disfigured face. He exhaled a puff of smoke and said, ¡°She¡¯s the youngdy of the Shaffer Family. She has many ways to deal with you. Yet, you still have the guts to fight back?¡± Isabe clenched her fists and looked determined as she grabbed Louis¡¯ hands. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to help me, I¡¯m willing to¡­ give myself to you.¡± Louis would be happy to oblige if Isabe had said these words a week ago. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t help but find her words ridiculous as he stared at her mutted face. So, he swatted her hand away and grabbed her chin. ¡°Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? Do you know what you look like now?¡± Of course I do. Why else would Ie? Isabe thought sarcastically. Still, she put on an expression of embarrassment, seemingly unable to ept Louis¡¯ words. Louis smoked his cigar and squinted his eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t afford to mess with Lara. I might give you a chance if you can fix your face.¡± Isabe bit her lip and sniffled. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as if she had remembered something important. ¡°I can arrange everything. I guarantee not only will you have Lara, but she will also be under your control.¡± aused and felt himself getting tempted. His eyes shifted toward Isabe as he said with a tinge of interest in his tone, ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°I have a way to lure her out. You can do whatever you want, and we¡¯ll take some pictures as proof.¡± Isabe smiled, and her gaze was filled with malice. ¡°Lara is currently engaged to Simon. As long as you have ckmail against her, you can order her around in the future.¡± Louis narrowed his eyes further as he looked at Isabe. He grabbed her chin again and burst into raucousughter. ¡°You¡¯re truly ruthless. You¡¯re willing to destroy someone¡¯s innocence just to seek revenge.¡± ¡°A woman¡¯s face and innocence are both important. She ruined my face and almost took my life. I¡¯m already showing mercy by just ruining her innocence.¡± Isabe pursed her lips and clenched her fists. She deliberately yed up her restrained fury and resentment while acting as if she feared Louis would reject her proposal. Then, she grabbed his hand and pleaded, ¡°Are you afraid?¡± Although Louis was tempted, he still had some doubts. ¡°You¡¯re not tricking me, are you?¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Isabe¡¯s eyes widened, and she pointed at her face in disbelief. ¡°Whether my face can be restored to its former glory is still unknown. Do you think I¡¯d deceive you about something so important to me?¡± Louis fell silent. He stared at Isabe¡¯s face, attempting to find any ws in her expression. s, Isabe¡¯s face only looked anxious. There weren¡¯t any other emotions that would suggest that she was ying him like a fiddle. ¡°You can leave now. I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Isabell knew what he meant. Still, she acted disappointed and slowly rose to her feet. ¡°You can have someone investigate to see if I¡¯m lying.¡± Then, she left reluctantly. Before she walked out the door, she said to him, ¡°Once you make up your mind, be sure to find me.¡± Louis waved his hand at her without ncing at her. He was thoroughly disgusted by her blemished face. Isabe sighed as she stumbled out of the room. The guards at the door were left speechless when they saw her face. They naturally assumed it was Louis who had done those injuries. Isabe covered her face and didn¡¯t bother hiding the resentment in her eyes as she dashed down the stairs. Since the vi was surrounded by burly bodyguards, she didn¡¯t dare to linger any longer. After all, just because Louis didn¡¯t like her face didn¡¯t mean these bodyguards had the same idea. Thus, she swiftly reached the roadside and hailed a cab. Apparently, her face was too dreadful to behold that even the cab driver barely spared her a nce. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Once Isabe arrived home, she stood by the doorway and took several deep breaths to calm her emotions. Her hands trembled as she opened the door. As she sat on the couch, her mind remained fuzzy. Frankly, she could barely recall how she had managed everything just moments ago. Louis would surely send someone to investigate the truth behind the incident. So, now, all she had to do was wait for the result. Suddenly, her phone rang, startling Isabe out of her thoughts. She jolted and returned to her senses. Then, she realized it was just her mother. ¡°Hey, Mom.¡± She did her best to steady her emotions while conversing with Vietoria. Chapter 102 A New Challenge Everyday Victoria sounded anxious as she stammered, ¡°W-Were you hit by a car, Isabe?¡± Isabe cursed inwardly upon hearing her words. She couldn¡¯t believe that she would have forgotten that Victoria could watch the news from the recuperation center. Then, she smiled and said casually, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Mom. It¡¯s just a small ident. I¡¯m not suffering from any injuries.¡±. ¡°Is it revenge from your enemies?¡± s, Victoria had always been sensitive and continued to press on the matter, saying, ¡°Your boss has such a big business. Working with him might easily offend others.¡± Isabe sighed andforted her repeatedly, murmuring gently, ¡°It isn¡¯t. It¡¯s just a group of kids. They¡¯re still children.¡± ¡°What on Earth are their parents doing?!¡± Victoria became increasingly Chapter 102 A New Challenge Everyday agitated as she kept repeating the same words over and over again. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Isabe felt something was off as she heard her mother getting so emotional. Since she was concerned about Victoria¡¯s health, she quickly reassured Victoria. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll visit you at Bleaktown once I¡¯ve wrapped things up here, okay? Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Victoria eximed in joy as she calmed down. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you then. Tell me when you¡¯re about to arrive. I¡¯ll have them prepare some delicious food for you.¡± Isabe agreed and continued to talk about her work and life, meticulously covering every aspect to make Victoria feel that her life was stable. Suddenly, Victoria asked, ¡°Are you dating someone, Isabe?¡± 97% ( Chapter 102 A New Challenge Everyday Isabe was stunned. Then, she smiled and replied, ¡°No. If I¡¯m in a rtionship, I¡¯ll tell you about it.¡± ¡°That boss of yours is quite young, isn¡¯t he? Does he have a girlfriend?¡± Victoria¡¯s question was somewhat inexplicable, seemingly as if she was probing. Isabe frowned and felt uneasy. ¡°People like them have marriages arranged by their families. They live apletely different life than us. Although I¡¯m his secretary, we have no interaction outside of work. We are two different kinds of people.¡± Victoria breathed a sigh of relief after listening to her answer. Then, she said, ¡°That¡¯s good. Be good, and don¡¯t get involved with these rich men. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be ruining your future. Do you understand?¡± Chapter 102 A New Challenge Everyday Isabe had a gut feeling that someone had said something to Victoria. Yet, thetter wasn¡¯t about to reveal anything, especially not over the phone. So, she decided to visit Bleaktown soon to figure out what was going on. Victoria, who was satisfied with Isabe¡¯s assurance, said a couple more words before hanging up. An exhausted Isabe tossed her phone aside and copsed heavily onto the couch. She hadn¡¯t even managed to rx when she started feeling dizzy. I knew there was definitely something odd in that fragrance! Isabe closed her eyes and was too tired to return to her room. Thus, she decided to sleep right on her couch. During her trance-like state, an image of sitting in Seth¡¯s seat shed in her mind. She couldn¡¯t help but smile before drifting off to sleep. In the early morning, the sunlight shone into the living room. Isabe frowned and blocked the irritating sunlight with her hand before reluctantly opening Chapter 102 A New Challenge Everyday her eyes. It was already 8.00AM. She was runningte yet again. She sighed wearily as she dragged herself to the bathroom. When she picked up her phone, she found a strange message. ¡®Arrange it as soon as possible, darling. If this goes well, I¡¯ll love you dearly.¡± Then, there was a disturbing image attached. Isabe quickly deleted the message and felt her heart racing. She quickly got ready and grabbed her bag before leaving. Then, she instructed the people arranged by Natasha to book a hotel room, rushed to thepany, and used Abigail¡¯sputer to schedule a meeting with Lara. After that, she sat by her desk and ate her breakfast quietly. 09:02 Sat, Chapter 102 A New Challenge Everyday The truth will be revealed tomorrow night. 3 At that moment, Jonas walked in and saw Isabe having breakfast leisurely. He couldn¡¯t help but remind her about the uing exhibition. The exasperated Isabe gave a few perfunctory replies just to make him go about his way and leave her alone. Once Jonas left, she wondered if she should call Gordon. Just as she was hesitating, she received a call from an unknown number. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Is this Miss Symons?¡± asked an ordinary male voice politely. Isabe was puzzled. ¡°Who is this?¡± 09.02 Sat, 30 Dec Chapter 102 A New Challenge Everyday ¡°We¡¯ve met before. I¡¯m Christopher.¡± Isabe immediately recalled a certain gaze in her mind. In that split second, she had her guard up. Her first impression of Christopher and his voice didn¡¯t match at all. ¡°Do you need something?¡± Christopher said casually, ¡°Nothing in particr. It¡¯s just that a friend of mine bought a car from you and rmended that I contact you.¡± Isabe paused and asked tentatively, ¡°Which friend of yours?¡± ¡°Gordon.¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Isabe rolled her eyes and cursed Gordon in her heart. ¡°Our ce is just a regr sales point. It¡¯s difficult to find high-end custom models here.¡± Initially, she nned to decline him to avoid encountering someone with a mind as messed up as Lara¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m not purchasing any high-end model.¡± Christopher chuckled. ¡°This vehicle. is meant to be just a small reward for the employees. I would be able to get a discount if I buy it from you, right?¡± Isabe might have believed it if those words hade out of Mr. Lime¡¯s mouth as he was connected to Jonas. However, this was Christopher. So, she simply found his words ridiculous. The Larson Family owned a huge business, and it was one of the top 100 enterprises in the country. They had to have T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. long-term partners for employee rewards. Thus, there was no way one of Chapter 103 Ruin Seth¡¯s Lunch their members would suddenly approach an unknown downstream distributor just for a mere discount. ¡°Well, we have a car exhibition in a couple of days. Why don¡¯t youe and take a look, Mr. Larson? If you need anything, you can talk to our manager directly.¡± She¡¯d rather leave this mess to Jonas. After all, Jonas was shameless, and he could afford to take a few hits in his life. Christopher was intrigued by the exhibition and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll be there on time. I hope to see you there, Miss Symons. Isabe maintained a polite demeanor. ¡°I look forward to your visit.¡± Christopher wanted to say a few more words, but Isabe pretended to have an urgent matter and apologized. Thus, Christopher had no chance but to hang up. Chapter 103 Ruin Seth¡¯s Lunch ¡°I advise you not to work too hard, Mrs. Shaffer. Otherwise, Mr. Shaffer will be heartbroken when he sees this,¡± Alex started teasing as she saw Isabe ending the call. Her eyes were glimmering with interest as she made herself Isabe sighed. ¡°Not this again. Please spare me from your gossip.¡± ¡°Oh, no. I can spare you, but your ride is here again.¡± Alex nodded towards the door. Isabe remembered she still had to deliver meals to Seth upon hearing her words. ¡°How bothersome.¡± She tossed her phone aside and looked gloomy. Alex raised an eyebrow when she saw that Isabe was being genuine. ¡°Are you forced into doing this honorable task?¡± Chapter 103 Ruin Seth¡¯s Lunch Isabe asked, ¡°Do you want this honor?¡± Alex replied, ¡°As long as Mr. Shaffer is willing, I¡¯ll be more than happy to oblige.¡± Isabe was speechless. Eventually, she rose to her feet and let out a deep sigh. ¡°When I return from this hellhole, I¡¯ll share my experiences with you.¡± Alex snapped her fingers yfully and winked. ¡°Don¡¯t forget about me when you¡¯re rich.¡± Isabe couldn¡¯t help butugh, feeling both devastated and frustrated. Then, she grabbed her purse as she headed out of thepany. It was the same two people, and there was still a total of two thermoses. There wasn¡¯t even a change in the way they greeted her. When Isabe entered the car, she leanedfortably and dozed off. When they arrived at the building, she walked down while carrying the thermos, feeling rather dizzy. Chapter 103 Ruin Seth¡¯s Lunch ¡°Be careful, Miss Symons!¡± §Ö 4 Isabe overlooked the footstool beneath her feet. So, by the time the bodyguards had managed to shout a word of warning, she had already tripped over it. Just as she was about to fall t, she instinctively let go of the thermos and grabbed the car door instead. In that split second, two sounds were heard. The thermoses had fallen to the ground. Judging from the noise, both of them didn¡¯t survive the fall. Isabe sat by the door and watched as the ruined thermoses rolled to her feet. Her temple throbbed sharply. ¡°Miss Symons?¡± The bodyguards were dumbfounded. They quickly exited the car and stood at the door with wide eyes. They werepletely at a loss for what to do. Isabe raised her head andughed awkwardly. ¡°What time is it now?¡± Chapter 103 Ruin Seth¡¯s Lunch ÈÕ»á97%•þ ¡°It¡¯s almost 11.00AM. There¡¯s no time to prepare another meal.¡± The bodyguard immediately understood what she was trying to ask. Isabe closed her eyes in resignation and wished she could punch herself. After all, Mr. Shaffer already had a bad temper. She also knew he would be even more irritable if he was forced to skip lunch. ¡°Miss Symons, how about¡­ we buy something from the mall?¡± The bodyguard suggested boldly. Isabe raised her head and gave them a thumbs up. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She quickly picked up the two thermoses and returned to the car as they rushed towards the mall. Fortunately, there were several restaurants in the mall. So, she chose the most expensive one and ordered two simple dishes to avoid mistakes. Then, she had the bodyguards buy two new thermoses and pour the food into them. Sat, 30 »Ø¼Ò97%ÈÕ Chapter 103 Ruin Seth¡¯s Lunch Back in the car, the two bodyguards looked at each other and felt uneasy. ¡°Do you want to check what was in the thermos before? Maybe Mr. Shaffer had nned the lunch himself.¡± Isabe remembered and quickly opened the broken thermos. It was filled with fragments, but she could still see it was noodles. Isabe¡¯s mouth twitched, and she looked at the two bodyguards. ¡°What time is it now?¡± 2 The bodyguards were almost in tears at this rate. ¡°It¡¯s 11.00PM.¡± Isabe felt her soul leave her body. She held her forehead and fell silent. Finally, she gritted her teeth and thought it might be better to face death head-on. ¡°Miss Symons, I have an idea¡­¡± One of the bodyguards raised his hand again. 09.02 Sat, 30 Dec Chapter 103 Ruin Seth¡¯s Lunch Isabe looked up and leaned forward, eager to know what he had in mind. ¡°Go on.¡± The bodyguard took a deep breath and nced at hispanion before lowering his voice. ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Ten minutester, Isabe carried the thermoses upstairs. She was so nervous that even her smile looked forced. When she exited the elevator, Seth was still in the meeting. She quickly slipped into the office, grabbed arge te from the embedded small kitchen, and emptied the contents of the thermoses onto it. To add a touch of sophistication to the noodles, she even ced a couple of vegetables on the dishes she had ordered from the mall just moments ago. Once she was done with her preparations, she sat at the dining table and waited for Seth. Click! The door opened, and Seth entered the office. He still had a cold, deadpan expression on his face, as per usual. When he saw Isabe sitting at Chapter 104 Mr Shaffer Has to Eat Instant Noodle the table, he merely looked at her dispassionately. C Isabe stood up and smiled apologetically. ¡°Today¡¯s lunch is noodles. Hurry up and have some. Otherwise, it won¡¯t taste good when the noodles are all clumped together.¡± Seth tossed his jacket aside and loosened his tie. Then, he said, ¡°If Shaffer Group¡¯s stock price hadn¡¯t fluctuated due to someone¡¯s reckless actions, would¡¯ve had lunch 20 minutes ago.¡± That¡¯s impossible. After all, your lunch was ruined by yours truly just 20 minutes ago, thought Isabe. Still, she maintained a smile on her face and had her hands behind her back. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯m sorry for dying your lunch.¡± Seth shot her a skeptical nce and suspected something that something ÆæÃÀÈÝ97%1 D Chapter 104 Mr Shaffer Has to Eat Instant Noodle. was amiss. After all, she wasn¡¯t usually this obedient. He walked to the dining table and nced at the food. Then, he stirred the noodles with a fork. ¡°Was this prepared by the servant?¡± ¡°Noodles!¡± Isabe stepped forward and smiled. ¡°It looks delicious.¡± Seth ignored her. He sat across from her and rolled up his sleeves. He was probably truly starving as he gracefully put the noodles into his mouth. His movements were smooth and elegant, seemingly like dining in an upscale restaurant. Isabe breathed a sigh of relief when she saw this, thinking that Seth probably hadn¡¯t noticed. Soon, she also began to eat. When Seth finished his food, she had hardly taken a few bites. Chapter 104 Mr Shaffer Has to Eat Instant Noodle After Seth was done with the meal, he wiped his mouth with a tissue and threw it in the garbage can. Then, he leaned back and looked at Isabe. ¡°You¡¯ve probably eaten this so often that you¡¯vee to hate it, haven¡¯t you?¡± Isabe¡¯s guard went up as her mind started ring in rm. Then, she rm looked over with noodles in her mouth. ¡°How could that be? I don¡¯t have a housekeeper who¡¯s a professional chef.¡± ¡°How much did it cost?¡± Seth asked expressionlessly. The noodles in Isabe¡¯s mouth slipped out, and she stiffened. Her expression gradually fell apart. Seth rolled up his sleeves and sneered, ¡°Do you think I haven¡¯t had instant noodles before?¡± Chapter 104 Mr Shaffer Has to Eat Instant Noodle Isabe hesitated for a moment before revealing, ¡°It was your bodyguard who suggested this.¡± Seth mocked her, utterly unimpressed by her betrayal, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just say it was the bodyguards who stole my lunch?¡± Isabe¡¯s mouth twitched as sheughed dryly. ¡°How do you want to settle this? You¡¯ve reced a hundred thousand dor lunch with a pack of instant noodles.¡± Seth was relentless as he pressed the matter. Isabe didn¡¯t believe for a second that he was genuinely pursuing this matter because she had reced the food. He was only interested in teasing people, and she was unfortunate enough to catch him when he was in the mood for it. Chapter 104 Mr Shaffer Has to Eat Instant Noodle ¡°I ruined your lunch when I got out of the car.¡± She pushed her sses up a bit and sighed. ¡°In order not to dy your lunch¡­¡± Before she could finish her words, Seth suddenly interrupted her, changing the topic to an entirely different subject. ¡°When is your face going to recover?¡± Isabe was stunned. She blinked dumbly and replied, ¡°It might take some time.¡± ¡°Looking at your face makes me gag, Seth said coldly. Isabe bit her lip and thought, Your appetite seemed quite hearty when you ate just now! C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org She felt frustrated and upset because of his words. She was about to say something when Ellie knocked on the door. Chapter 104 Mr Shaffer Has to Eat Instant Noodle ¡°Mr. Shaffer, some documents and contracts need your signature.¡± Seth didn¡¯t even turn his head. He ignored herpletely. Ellie had no choice but to carefully open the door and ce the papers on the desk. Seth looked at Isabe and gave her a look. ¡°Get them.¡± For f*ck sake! Am I your maid?! Isabeined inwardly, but she still swiftly fetched the documents. Seth closed his eyes as he propped his forehead and said, ¡°Read it.¡± Isabe was speechless as she thought disparagingly, Do you think you are an emperor from ancient times? Yet she refrained from her sarcastic remarks. Then, against her better judgment, she sat beside Seth and read the most crucial details from the papers. Chapter 104 Mr Shaffer Has to Eat Instant Noodle ¡°Do you want to sign this?¡± Isabe asked. ¡°Get the pen yourself,¡± said Seth. Damn it! He wants to leave it all to me. Isabe rolled her eyes in vexation and stood up as she grabbed Seth¡¯s personal seal and pen. Then, she removed the cap and handed it to Seth. Seth didn¡¯t even bother opening his eyes as he asked, ¡°Is it so difficult for you to sign a document yourself?¡± Isabe was taken aback for a moment before she understood his words. Then, she was startled as she blurted, ¡°Do you intend for me to sign this on your behalf?¡± Chapter 105 Chapter 105 What kind of joke is this? How can I possibly send this when the contract sent to Seth¡¯s office starts from at least one billion? Isabe was self-aware enough to know that she could never do something like that. So, she quickly ced the contract down and still hovered the pen before Seth. Seth noticed she wasn¡¯t moving a muscle and opened his eyes to shoot her a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m giving you a chance to satisfy your dream of being the CEO. Why aren¡¯t you happy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll carry unnecessary burdens after satisfying my dream.¡± Isabe¡¯s mind was clear. She was not falling for Seth¡¯s tricks. ¡°And here I was being generous,¡± Seth sneered. Then, he took the pen from Isabe¡¯s hand and signed his name on it. Chapter 105 Why Don¡¯t You Be the Vice Presiden a ÈÕÁÖ»á73%ͯ Isabe collected the contract and sat by the side. ¡°Since you¡¯ve finished your meal, I¡¯ll be taking my leave.¡± ¡°Did I say you can go?¡± Seth looked at her coldly. Isabe paused and was confused by what he was implying. Seth nced behind him and ordered, ¡°Bring all those documents over and read them.¡± Isabe nced at the clock and was displeased. ¡°I still have things to do at thepany. Plus, your documents are important. It¡¯s better if-¡± Seth interrupted her impatiently, saying, ¡°I¡¯m giving you half a day off. Stop talking and get to it.¡± Chapter 105 Why Don¡¯t You Be the Vice Presiden Isabe gritted her teeth and contemted ramming his face into the bowl of unfinished instant noodles. Seth raised his head and noticed her annoyed gaze. He couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips into a cruel smirk, disying his teeth while he was at it. ¡°Why are your still hesitating? If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have been called to the house Also, because of you, I had to deal with an emergency board meeting early in the morning.¡± Isabe took a deep breath and retorted, ¡°Miss Shaffer provoked me first!¡± Seth nced at her faintly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she provoke others? Why is it always with you?¡± Isabe felt her temper re as she snapped, ¡°How would I know what¡¯s Chapter 105 Why Don¡¯t You Be the Vice Presiden wrong with you Shaffers?¡± °×²¹àò73%•þ Seth¡¯s face darkened instantly. ¡°What did you say?¡± As soon as Isabe uttered those words, she felt a sense of dread as she met his dark gaze. The words were stuck in her throat. She stood up abruptly and tried to maintain herposure. ¡°I¡­¡± Seth stared at her, waiting to see what she would do. Isabe clenched her fists and said, ¡°I¡¯ll get the documents!¡± She had ¡®identally¡¯ spat a mouthful of saliva on his face, causing him to instinctively close his eyes. ¡°Isabe!¡± °×ÒÏÈâ73%•þ Chapter 105 Why Don¡¯t You Be the Vice Presiden Isabe ignored him and ran to fetch the documents. Then, she returned with a high stack of papers and ced them in front of Seth, effectively cutting off any eye contact between them. She sat behind the papers so Seth could only see the top of her head. ¡°I¡¯m going to start reading. Listen carefully.¡± Seth remained expressionless as he wiped the saliva off his face with a tissue. Even through the mountain-like stack of documents, one could imagine the triumphant look on her face. Isabe¡¯s gentle voice echoed from across, enunciating each word clearly and emphasizing key points. Years of experience as a secretary were evident in her performance. After she read through each document, she would offer suggestions and skip those she believed were not worth signing. On the other hand, Seth closed his eyes. Although he was irritated by her tricks, he also felt Chapter 105 Why Don¡¯t You Be the Vice Presiden himself rxing as he listened to her. He leaned back, calling her to a halt when he had doubts and immediately signing the contracts if they were eptable. Each document was read and signed or set aside. Soon, the paperwork was quickly reduced to nothing. Isabe¡¯s throat was dry after all the reading. Just as she thought about getting some water, Seth¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to have some soup? It¡¯s priced at one hundred thousand per serving.¡± Isabe felt her blood boil. Die! Nevertheless, she wasn¡¯t about to stoop to his level. Instead, she stood up and poured some water for herself. At the same time, she made a cup of coffee for Seth, hoping he would be energized as soon as possible and Chapter 105 Why Don¡¯t You Be the Vice Presiden handle the documents on his own. That way, she would finally be able to leave this hellhole. The clock struck 4.00PM, and dinner would be served in two hours. Isabe stretched her back and felt utterly exhausted. She shot a nce at Seth, who was loungingfortably in the chair, and sighed. She was truly tempted to sit in that chair as it looked reallyfortable. ¡°Do you like this chair that much? Why don¡¯t I lend you money to start a business?¡± Seth¡¯s faint voice sounded from behind, startling Isabe. Then, she forced a smile and said, ¡°What kind of business can a secretary start? A secretary¡¯spany?¡± Seth hated it when she started ying dumb. So, he scoffed before suddenly changing his tune and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t I make you vice president?¡± Isabe was stunned. She almost turned her head to grab Seth¡¯s cor in excitement, asking if he was serious. Still, she took a deep breath and restrained herself. ¡°Someone like me wouldn¡¯t be sessful even if I had the title. There¡¯s no need for you to bother, Mr. Shaffer.¡± Seth looked at the floor-to-ceiling window, which reflected Isabe¡¯s expression perfectly. Her expression was calm and not as excited as he had imagined. Then, he snorted and said, ¡°You don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you.¡± Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Since Isabe refused Seth¡¯s ¡°kind offer,¡± she was promptly kicked out of the office. His actions were the epitome of killing the donkey the moment it was released from the millstone. As soon as she exited the room, she was met with Selena¡¯s/chilling gaze. It was as if the woman would want nothing more but to devour her in the next second. Isabe ignored her with practiced ease as she entered the elevator and went to the ground floor. The car exhibition was just around the corner. So, she had to stick to her routine work. She texted Gordon, asking if he had time that day. Then, Gordon called her back. Not only did he agree to participate in the exhibition, but he also invited Isabe to have dinner together. Since Isabe¡¯s mind was upied with the uing events the next day, she didn¡¯t have the energy 14:35 Sat, 30 Dec nu Chapter 106 It¡¯s Not Like You Are Making Food for to deal with Gordon. Thus, she declined his offer, telling him she had a busy schedule and suggested they meet another time. Although Gordon was disappointed, he didn¡¯t press further and agreed to meet after the exhibition. Isabe returned to the office after ending the call. As it was close to the end of the workday, most people were cking off. Only Abigail flitted around like a busy bee around Jonas. Isabe pretended to make a call as she bided her T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. time until Abigail left. Once the office was nearly empty, she discreetly checked Abigail¡¯sputer, logging into the email to confirm the anonymous reply. Just as she expected, there was an email questioning her identity. After she confirmed her identity, the person instructed her to bring all financial reports to a hotel at 7.00PM tomorrow. Now that everything was settled, Isabe couldn¡¯t help but fiddle her fingers together, allowing all the dark monsters hidden deep within her mind to and sent the hotel room number to Louis. She didn¡¯t n to ruin Lara¡¯s innocence. Nevertheless, she definitely wanted to teach her an unforgettable lesson. This particr night was hard to endure as a significant event urred the next day. Isabe found herself struggling to sleep until 2.00AM. The following day, the butler from the Shaffer Family, Mr. Ben, called again. ¡°Miss Symons, you don¡¯t have to bother with lunch today. Isabe was brushing her teeth and stopped in surprise. ¡°Oh, okay. I¡¯II¡­¡± ¡°Do you have time to cook lunch for Mr. Shaffer?¡± he asked. Isabe stared at the mirror and blinked. ¡°What?¡± E Mr. Benughed and praised Isabe. To make matters even weirder, he was genuinely sincere as he said, ¡°I heard from the bodyguards that your decisive n went perfectly. Mr. Shaffer enjoyed the lunch quite a lot.¡± Isabe was puzzled, and her lips started twitching. ¡°So, should I continue to make instant noodles for him today?¡± The butler immediately refused. ¡°Although instant noodles are delicious, they¡¯re not healthy. You can buy some ingredients and prepare a meal for him.¡± She closed her eyes and resisted the urge to m her head against the mirror. Then, she calmly spat out the foam in her mouth and said, ¡°My cooking skills are terrible.¡± He replied, ¡°You can use this opportunity to learn.¡± Isabe stared nkly at the ceiling, feeling utterly lost for words. She wanted to tell the butler that her cooking might send Seth to the hospital. By the time that happened, they would be collecting his body from the morgue and tossing her into the ocean for murdering their employer. Just as she was thinking of a way to decline, Mr. Ben was about to end the conversation, saying. ¡°Thank you for your help. I feel reassured leaving Mr. Shaffer¡¯s lunch in your hands.¡± Then, he hung up the phone after saying those parting words. Isabe was dumbfounded as she stared at her dimmed phone screen, utterly aghast. What did she just agree to? To cook lunch for Seth?! ¡°Isabe, are you crazy?!¡± she yelled at herself in the mirror and grabbed her hair in frustration. She was so angry that she wanted to strangle herself with her hair. It was already a nerve-wracking day. Yet, she wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy the one thing she still had in life. Food. She wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy her lunch from now on. She packed her things and went to the office, utterly uninterested in doing any work. After she clocked in, she made up an excuse to meet a client and skipped work to go to the supermarket. When she had just graduated, she had homecooked meals for a while. Unfortunately, they were simple dishes that definitely wouldn¡¯t satisfy Seth. Eventually, she didn¡¯t know what to do and could only call Natasha for help. ¡°Are you two ying a drama? Is this the part where it¡¯s the climax of a romantic plot?¡± Natasha chuckled upon hearing Isabe¡¯s dilemma. A resigned Isabe sighed. ¡°Who knows what¡¯s wrong with the butler? He insists on throwing this mess to me.¡± Natasha clicked her tongue and suggested, ¡°Just buy some ingredients and order takeout. When Seth isn¡¯t paying attention, you can te the food and serve it as your own.¡± Isabe had considered this, but she was worried that Seth would notice something amiss. ¡°I still owe him about six hundred thousand¡­¡± ¡°Do you think hecks this amount of money?¡± Natasha teased, ¡°Darling, are you not seeing this clearly? He¡¯s not interested in the food. He¡¯s interested in you.¡± Isabe blushed as she stood hesitantly by the vegetable section. Her heart was beating rapidly. While Natasha continued to joke around, she asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give in to him? If Seth is satisfied, he might just let you off.¡± Isabe stopped in her tracks, and the excitement about picking vegetables disappeared. The nervousness that had been building up disappeared after hearing Natasha¡¯s words. Natasha continued, ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re cooking for your boyfriend. So, it doesn¡¯t matter whether it¡¯ll taste good. If it doesn¡¯t, then it¡¯s on him. Why are you so nervous about this?¡± ¡°Natasha, if you don¡¯t want to open a bar, you could consider bing a breakup master.¡± Isabe felt enlightened as she tossed a few tomatoes into her bag and went to weigh them. After hearing Isabe joke around, Natasha knew that the woman had figured things out. Thus, they chatted about other things, lightening the mood of the conversation. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Isabe picked a few vegetables and bought some pork ribs. After she spoke with Natasha over the phone, she left the supermarket and headed for Shaffer Group. Since she had been showing up on time for the past few days, the reception was already looking at her differently. It seemed that they had She had no choice but to hide her bitter smile as she stepped into the president¡¯s elevator. Naturally, she was the only one there. As she stared at her reflection on the wall, some forbidden ideas started scurrying out of the deep, dredges of her mind. Ding! The doors of the elevator slid open, and she reflexively straightened her back. The wless smile on her lips appeared once more. When she stepped out of the elevator, she saw the usual secretaries, whom she greeted individually. When the door closed, she could hear people speaking in hushed voices outside. As she stood at the doorway, she sighed and rxed marginally when she saw that Seth wasn¡¯t around. Then, she carefully removed the food from the package and started serving them in the kitchen. Finally, she also ced the two takeaway dishes in the microwave. She had bought grilled ribs as well as schnitzel from a restaurant. All need to do is grill two vegetables, and vo! Lunch is served, she thought, her mood brightening as she hummed a song while she washed the greens and tomatoes. A little after 11.00AM, everything was ready. All she needed to do was wait for Seth to appear so that she could start grilling the vegetables. Sounds of footsteps echoed from outside, and the door swung open. Somebody is here. That¡¯s probably Seth, Isabe thought and went to the kitchen entrance in an apron, only to see Selena¡¯s face in her line of sight. Initially, Selena was all smiles. s, the smile on her face disappeared the instant she saw Isabe¡¯s sunsses-wearing face. Her grip on m the folder in her hands tightened. She had been harboring a deep hatred for Isabe. As a result, the moment her eyesid on the apron Isabe was wearing, sheText ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. became even more annoyed. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Nics speaking outside. Judging from the polite and humble tone, he was clearly speaking to Seth. ¡°I¡¯ll check again this afternoon.¡± Seth tossed the document to Nics before entering the office with one hand in his pocket. He spared Selena a cursory nce before following her gaze. Then, he frowned when he found Isabe in an apron. ¡°What are you up to now?¡± Isabe shrugged as she forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m here on Mr. Ben¡¯s order.¡± She lightly swung the knife in her hand and added, ¡°To cook for you.¡± Seth didn¡¯t bother hiding the disbelieving scoff as he brushed past Selena to head to the kitchen entrance. He swept his gaze over the kitchen before saying mockingly, ¡°Can you cook anything else besides instant noodles?¡± You know me so well. Indeed, I can¡¯t, Isabe thought wryly. Nheless, she still turned sideways to show him the vegetables she had chopped and said, ¡°I learned how to cook a few things. What I¡¯m nning on doing is simple enough, and I will most probably seed.¡± ¡°Have you not tried cooking before?¡± Selena interjected. Then, she folded her arms across her chest as she paced next to Seth and said while keeping her eyes on Isabe, ¡°Mr. Shaffer has a meeting in the afternoon and can¡¯t afford to get sick. Are you confident in your skills, Isabe?¡± Isabe smiled indifferently as she strolled into the kitchen and picked up a piece of vegetable. Then, she casually waved it in front of Seth and Isabe. ¡°I think doubt he would be able to suffer from food poisoning from something like this.¡± Seth narrowed his eyes as he looked behind her. He was just about to say something when Selena suddenly said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me help you? It¡¯s easy to prepare the greens but not meat, especially sweet and sour pork.¡± Isabe wasn¡¯t nning to cook sweet and sour pork and had bought the takeaway to pass it off as her cooking. Nevertheless, she wasn¡¯t expecting Selena¡¯s sharp eyes to see the raw ribs that she bought. She tossed aside the green stalk in her hand nonchntly before ncing at Selena. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I can manage by myself.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to stand on ceremony with me.¡± Selena set the document aside before heading for the kitchen. Then, she said, ¡°Mr. Frost, take a seat. Isabe and I will be done real soon.¡± Isabe¡¯s patience for Selena had officially run out. She couldn¡¯t help but tighten her grip on the counter as she tried to maintain herposure. Meanwhile, Seth remained by the door as he swept his gaze over Isabe¡¯s face and found traces of anger. This is interesting, he thought and decided to leave, waiting to see what she would cook up. It had been five years since they got involved with each other, and he could count the number of times he tasted her cooking on one hand. Every single time, she would simply finish cooking something that was already half-done. He rarely saw anything prepared from the heart. This is such a rare asion¡­ I can¡¯t afford to pass it up. On the other hand, Isabe watched him walk away and rolled her eyes behind the sunnies before leisurely strolling to the countertop with the ingredients. ¡°Grilled vegetables and omelet. You can cook those dishes, right?¡± she asked bluntly. Selena ignored her and waspletely in her element in the kitchen, working swiftly and deftly. Isabe stood in a corner and didn¡¯t bother hiding as she loafed on the job. Instead, she was simply waiting for the opportunity to take out the two dishes in the microwave. Selena was focused on doing her best to stand in the limelight. Suddenly, she could smell a delicious scent of food and instinctively turned her head. Soon, she fixed her eyes on the microwave next to her. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Isabe felt her heart skip a beat as she noticed Selena¡¯s gaze. She wanted to reach out in the direction of the microwave out of reflex, but her rationale stopped her. I can¡¯t make a move now. Otherwise, I¡¯ll give myself away with a clumsy move. Selena looked at her with sarcasm in her eyes. Then, she spun around and mercilessly opened the microwave with force. Then, she looked at Isabe with gleeful eyes. It was as if she had gotten some huge ckmail material on Isabe. ¡°Goodness, what is this?¡± ¡°Takeaway food,¡± Isabe answered. Although she was being candid, Selena covered her mouth in surprise and raised her voice, saying, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to cook for Mr. Frost? Why did you buy takeaway food when it¡¯s not hygienic?¡± The instant those words left her lips, Seth slithered to the entrance of the kitchen like a ghost, ncing at Isabe icily. Isabe shrugged nonchntly as she replied without even a hint of fear or awkwardness in her eyes, ¡°It¡¯s just as you said, Mr. Frost¡¯s time is precious. So, I can¡¯t experiment with my cooking on him. Of course, I have to prepare a backup-n.¡± She paced to the side and took out the ribs, soaking them in water pretentiously. Then, she raised her head and lectured Selena lightly, ¡°Being a secretary means that you should always have a backup n. Don¡¯t be too overconfident, and always prioritize thepany¡¯s interests.¡± Selena put on a stiff smile in the face of Isabe¡¯s sudden reprimand. ¡°You have a point, Isabe.¡± Then, she turned to look at Seth and smiled sweetly. ¡°Please wait a while, Mr. Frost. We¡¯ll be ready soon. There¡¯s still time, and you probably won¡¯t have to eat the takeaway food.¡± Isabe swiveled her head and rolled her eyes several times behind her sunnies. Seth didn¡¯t answer Selena and simply left the battlefield expressionlessly. A few seconds after he was gone, Selena tossed aside the wooden spat she was holding and gave Isabe a look of contempt, whispering, ¡°Everyone in thepany is his employee, and you¡¯re not the only outstanding one. What makes you so proud of yourself?¡± Isabe simply leaned against the counter as she regarded Selena with amusement. ¡°So, your aim isn¡¯t to be his employee but his homemaker¡­ Am l right?¡± she said, shifting her gaze to Selena¡¯s hand that was holding the panhandle. There wasn¡¯t even a shard of guilt in Selena¡¯s eyes as she tilted her chin proudly. In fact, she even seemed a little smug. ¡°Just because you can¡¯t do it doesn¡¯t mean that I can¡¯t.¡± After that, she dropped the greens into the pan, turned up the heat, and tossed them around the pan expertly. In just a few moves, the food was ready. The grilled vegetables looked crisp and juicy, thanks to her perfect control of the heat. Honestly, even Isabe wanted to apud her for her skills. She¡¯s such a great cook but chose to be a secretary instead. What a waste of talent. Selena became even more smug when she noticed the genuine admiration in Isabe¡¯s eyes. Then, she ced the ready dish into the food warmer before shoving Isabe aside because she found her annoying. Isabe dly made way for her, observing the woman cooking from a safe corner. When she saw that Selena had taken care of the ribs and meat, she secretly took out her cell phone. Selena thought that Isabe hadpletely given up, and her contempt for her deepened. Thus, she sped up her pace. Therefore, she easily finished whipping up two meat dishes and two vegetables in less than 40 minutes. When Isabe saw that the schnitzel was almost ready, she smirked. Just then, someone knocked on the office door outside the kitchen. Ellie walked in. ¡°Mr. Frost, is Selena here?¡± Selena quickly turned off the hood and went out in an apron the instant she heard someone calling for her. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Ellie shot her a look as she shook the file in her hand. The expression on her face was anything but kind as she spoke, ¡°There are two meeting proceedings that need your confirmation because we don¡¯t have the right to do that.¡± Some proceedings could only be signed off by the apanying executive secretary. As Selena enjoyed being indispensable, she didn¡¯t give it much thought and turned to Seth. ¡°Mr. Frost, excuse me for a minute.¡± Seth didn¡¯t even look at her and merely grunted in response. Then, she returned to the kitchen. Once she took the apron off her person, she nced C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org at Isabe, deliberately raised her voice, and said, ¡°The schnitzel still needs some time. Please don¡¯t touch it since you don¡¯t know how to cook. Do wait for me to return before doing anything.¡± Isabe smiled. ¡°Sure.¡± Does she think that I¡¯ve never had schnitzel before? Any longer, and this meat will be burned. Isabe expertly hid all her emotions as she watched Selena leave the kitchen. She scanned the area and clicked her tongue repeatedly. She was a little embarrassed to im someone else¡¯s work just like that. So, she removed the schnitzel from the pan, retrieved the remaining three dishes from the food warmer, and ced them all on the tray. That looks amazing, she thought. The boiled potatoes were prepared by her earlier, and Selena had no part in it. ¡°Oh my, the potatoes are so pretty,¡± she said softly as she stood by the pot. I¡¯m such a genius! Then, she started serving the food. Seth was typing on the keyboard when she appeared with the food like a professional cook. He set hisptop aside with a quirked brow and leaned back, crossing his arms across his chest. ¡°Did you cook all of this?¡± She took off the apron and feigned weariness as she stretched out her limbs. ¡°It¡¯s my first time cooking something soplicated, so my skills are far from perfect. Please give it a try.¡± Seth had a smirk ying on his lips as he stared at the potatoes. Then, he arched an eyebrow and inquired, ¡°Did you also cook the potatoes?¡± She straightened her back,pletely filled with confidence the instant he brought up the potatoes. ¡°Yes.¡± He snorted lightly as he picked up the fork and stirred all the food around a little. ¡°Are you sure that you prepared everything?¡± Isabe remainedposed. ¡°Selena helped me out a little.¡± Seth licked his lips and raised his eyes at her with an almost unnoticeable grin. ¡°I¡¯ve never noticed that you¡¯re so¡­ talented.¡± Chapter 109 Chapter 109 The thick-skinned Isabe shrugged. ¡°Selena guided me well.¡± ¡°Alright, she¡¯ll continue teaching you tomorrow.¡± Seth mercifully looked away as he picked up his knife and said firmly, ¡°Tomorrow, I wish to see cordon bleu, sole meuniere,mb with herb stuffing, and hasselback potatoes.¡± Isabe had no words. None whatsoever. Still, she took care to maintain the standard smile on her face as she took a seat across from Seth. ¡°Mr. Frost, Selena might not know how to cook those dishes you just mentioned.¡± Forget everything else. Just themb with herbed stuffing he had mentioned was a little overboard because it was a dish served at royal dinners. Seth didn¡¯t even bother lifting his head as he said breezily, ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be a problem since you¡¯re so talented.¡± Isabe was dumbstruck as she startedmenting in her heart, One shouldn¡¯t do anything against their conscience. Otherwise, retribution will strike at any time. ¡°Eat some. You should try a little of your achievement.¡± Seth¡¯s eyes were filled with schadenfreude when he noticed that she hadn¡¯t started with her meal. Unfortunately for Isabe, she was full due to all the rage that was surging her body. Nevertheless, she picked up her fork and shoveled something in her mouth despite having no appetite. The office was incredibly silent. She could only hear the sounds of Seth¡¯s cutleries lightly touching the tes. The food tasted like ash in her mouth as she wondered how she could get past the obstacle he had set for her As she recalled that she had something important tonight, she smiled bitterly. I don¡¯t even know if I can live until lunchtime tomorrow. Yet, here I am, already thinking about Seth¡¯s lunch menu. Have I lost my mind? When she arrived at that thought, she felt herself getting hungry as she calmly ate the mood before her. Seth just happened to look up and capture the change in her mood. He instinctively slowed down his pace. Coupled with the way he stared at her, he unknowingly exuded a sense of ambiguity that seemed a little intrusive. Isabe raised her head and noticed him staring at her. As she thought of what she was nning, she was momentarily struck by guilt. Although she feared that she had identally exposed herself somehow, she still inquired, ¡°Mr. Frost?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t been up to anything badtely, have you?¡± he asked inquisitively. Isabe¡¯s flickered, and she lowered her head to spit out the bone in her mouth. ¡°Thepany is preparing for the car show recently, and I have tons of work to do. I don¡¯t have the time to do anything of the sort.¡± Since she was wearing shades, he couldn¡¯t see the look in her eyes and had one thing less to guide his judgment. He frowned as he reached out and wanted to remove her sunnies again. Immediately, Isabe retreated and curled into herself like an agitated porcupine. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± He put down his fork. ¡°I¡¯m just curious how ugly you are right now.¡± The edge of her lips twitched, and she didn¡¯t move a muscle. The injury on her face was on its way to recovery. The swelling had subsided, and the messy cuts were scabbing.¡± lunchtime, and I don¡¯t want to spoil your appetite. It¡¯s better for you not to look.¡± s, the more she said this, the more curious he became. Fortunately for her, he simply picked up his fork and continued to focus on his lunch. Soon, she assumed that he wasn¡¯t going to do anything untoward. So, she breathed a sigh of relief and decided to pick up her cutleries in order to enjoy her lunch. Suddenly, he turned sideways, grabbed her sunnies, and immediately removed them from her face. Isabe quickly covered her face with her hands, utterly caught off guard. ¡°Mr. Frost!¡± Seth couldn¡¯t help but frown as he held the sunsses in his hand. Although Isabe was quick to cover her face, he could still roughly see what had happened. Her originally exquisite face had some horizontal cuts, and there was a horrifying red patch at the corner of her eye. It looked like a bruise, and there was another one at the bridge of her nose. Regrettably, he failed to see it clearly as she had already hidden her face behind her hands. She positioned her palm to cover the top half of her face as she lowered her head at him and extended her hand. Then, she snarled angrily, ¡°Give it back to me!¡± He tossed them back to her without another word, and she hastily put them back on with her head lowered. Then, she took some time to calm herself as her heart was galloping a mile a minute, and beads of sweat broke out on her forehead due to the scare. She didn¡¯t think that he was worried. Instead, she was concerned that he would investigate the biker gang after seeing the injuries on her face. Once he did, he would easily trace it back to Lara. If he continued to plow forward, he would eventually uncover her n. Seth continued eating with a solemn face after tossing her shades right back at her. Isabe¡¯s body was still tense as she clutched the cutlery in her hand tightly. She seemed a little hesitant to continue eating. As Seth didn¡¯t have much food on his te, he finished them in silence. Soon, lunch was promptly over. Then, he set down his cutleries and wiped the edges of his mouth with a napkin before ncing at Isabe with a stoic face. ¡°It¡¯s not a bad thing that your face is ruined,¡± he said out of the blue. She was so startled that she could only stare at him in confusion. ¡°What?¡± He simply leaned into his chair and narrowed his eyes as he observed her, saying, ¡°That face of yours had always caused trouble when you were by my side. Now that you¡¯re in that kind of ce, I reckon that it will cause even more trouble.¡± Isabe was utterly stumped and couldn¡¯t find the words to refute him, especially when he was right on the money. From N?velDrama.Org. Seth kept staring at her as he leaned over suddenly and parted his lips. ¡°How about-¡± He had yet to finish his sentence when the door suddenly burst open as Selena barged into the office. Seth and Isabe turned their heads in the direction of the door in unison. Selena was a little confused when she saw the table covered in food. She was about to say something, but Seth¡¯s face had darkened due to her actions as he said icily, ¡°Don¡¯t you need to knock before entering my office?¡± Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Seth¡¯s sudden anger left Isabe bewildered. Meanwhile, it had caused Selena to freeze in ce. Selena had worked hard to prepare a table of dishes, expecting at least some form of praise from him. s, all she received was such a harsh reprimand. In the end, she couldn¡¯t hold back her tears and cried on the spot. Seth became even more irritated and turned around, saying, ¡°Get out.¡± Although Selena had covered her face, she was unable to conceal her tears. So, she wailed as she dashed out of the office. Isabe clicked her tongue and looked at Seth. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve gone too far, Mr. Shaffer?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who had gone too far by choosing such a useless subordinate to take over your job?¡± he coldly retorted. She stared at him in exasperation as she pointed at herself. ¡°I¡¯ve gone too far?¡± She didn¡¯t bother swallowing the bubble of angeredughter that fell from her lips. Then, she leaned back and looked at him coldly. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, it was you who made a phone call while I was still interviewing potential candidates. You told me to give her this job yourself.¡± ¡°I have a shallow judgment of people. However, are you saying that your judgment as an interviewer is equally terrible?¡± He wasn¡¯t the least bit bothered that he had insulted himself in his journey to provoke her. ·Ü¶·Æø:72%•þ Isabe didn¡¯t see the need to continue this conversation. So, she stood up and began to clean the table. ¡°You should be grateful that I still chose Nics, risking your displeasure. I haven¡¯t even said anything. Yet, you¡¯re pointing fingers at me when you just acknowledged the fact that you¡¯re a shallow boss.¡± She huffed a couple of times and took away the remaining dishes one by one. Meanwhile, Seth sat in his seat, his gaze fixed on her. He still wasn¡¯t satisfied by her response. He was rubbing the chair handle with his fingertip as he recalled the words he had intended to say earlier. He felt that this woman had be less robotictely, bing a little more interesting. Moreover, she was intelligent enough. So, it truly wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea for her to return and continue to work as his executive secretary. If it weren¡¯t for Selena, he would have asked Isabe to work for him again. s, he was interrupted midway, causing his anger to build and build. As a consequence, the words that he wanted to say and the self-assured attitude he was going to use had disappeared. He propped his chin on his palm as he pondered how to convey this reward¡¯ to Isabe. As long as she made the request, he would allow her to return and continue as his secretary. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, I have something to attend to this afternoon. I¡¯ll be taking my leave now.¡± Isabe had an aloof expression on her face by the time she left the kitchen. Then, she spoke respectfully, ¡°There should be nothing else you need, right?¡± Seth looked at her, feeling a bit awkward. ¡°What about you?¡± She stared at him in bewilderment. ¡°Me?¡± He smoothed his shirt as he looked out the window and said casually, ¡°You asked for two requests. When do you n to bring them up?¡± Isabe thought, Soon. I might need you to save my life tonight. She curled her lips into a slight smile as she ced her hands in front of her. ¡°I¡¯m keeping the favors as my trump card. So, I won¡¯t use it easily.¡± He absentmindedly tapped the chair with his finger instead of looking at her. It was hard to tell what he was thinking. Her eyes darted around the office d¡¯s she slowly inched herself toward the door. I¡¯ve already tidied everything up. I should be able to excuse myself now, right? ¡°When is the car exhibition?¡± he suddenly asked. A surprised Isabe stopped in her tracks. ¡°Are you interested?¡± Seth frowned. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be too busy with the car exhibition to prepare lunch for me.¡± She breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing his answer. She really didn¡¯t want him to join the event. A remote town couldn¡¯t afford to entertain a king like him. Of course, there was also another reason behind her words. She didn¡¯t have the energy for all of his nonsense. She stood at the door with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will arrange my time ordingly.¡± From N?velDrama.Org. After that, she nced at Seth. Since he had his back turned on her, all she could see from her angle was his side profile and the slightly downturned corner of his mouth. Judging by experience, Isabe could tell that he was not in a good mood. It was better not to wander around in front of him. So, she carefully opened the door and moved little by little. Then, she quickly slipped out before Seth noticed what she was doing. She tilted her head back as she breathed the crisp air outside the office. She couldn¡¯t help but feel as though the pressure weighing down on her had lightened considerably. Just as she was patting her chest, Ellie approached, shaking her phone in front of Isabe. ¡°Isabe, I did a good job, didn¡¯t I?¡± Only at this moment did Isabe recall asking Ellie to help drive Selena away. -Then, her brain started to wander as she began thinking about the boiled cabbage for tomorrow. Although she was grateful, she could only twitch her lips into a barely-there smile. ¡°Thanks.¡± Ellie clutched her phone in excitement and was about to start gossiping when she remembered something else. So, she couldn¡¯t help but whisper to Isabe, ¡°By the way, be careful when ites to Selena. Mr. Shaffer has a hotel party tonight. It seems that he¡¯s only bringing her along.¡± Isabe raised an eyebrow in interest. ¡°Whose hotel?¡± ¡°Celestial,¡± Ellie replied. Then, she continued with a pout, ¡°Mr. Shaffer never brings neers to these grand opening parties.¡± Celestial Chain Hotel was the industry leader nationwide. Such banquets were attended by big shots, usually apanied by experienced secretaries. Moreover, the jobs that a secretary had to handle were far tooplicated. As a result, several women ended up bing mistresses despite bearing the title of secretary. Isabe had witnessed two high-level executives exchanging secretaries at a party. Everyone present understood what it meant. She had been with Seth for five years. Although she hadn¡¯t personally experienced it, she had witnessed such things far too many times. ¡°Selena shouldn¡¯t go, and you guys shouldn¡¯t either,¡± she couldn¡¯t help but remind Ellie. Ellie was slightly stunned when she heard Isabe¡¯s advice. ¡°Is there¡­ something wrong?¡± Isabe looked around, then whispered in Ellie¡¯s ear, ¡°Celestial¡¯s vice president is¡­¡± Ellie immediately covered her mouth as a look of disgust appeared on her face. ¡°Really? I never would have guessed.¡± Isabe shrugged. ¡°Be careful. When Selena returns, inform her about this. This is dangerous. Besides, anyone who encounters such deals would be in deep trouble.¡± Even though she found Selena annoying; she was still a fellow woman. So, she wasn¡¯t about to allow a woman to fall into the abyss just because of her grudge against the other. Even though Ellie was terrified, she didn¡¯t take Isabe¡¯s words too seriously. Instead, she casually nodded and left the conversation there Chapter 111 Chapter 111 After leaving the Shaffer Group, Isabe returned to herpany and took advantage of the opportunity to check Abigail¡¯sputer. When she confirmed that there were no issues, she waited for the end of the workday. Then, Isabe arranged to meet Lara at 6.00PM in Room 801 of the Prince Hotel¡¯s Presidential Suite. Isabe anticipated that Louis would probably arrive around 6.30PM. Natasha knew that Isabe had a n. Although she didn¡¯t pry too much, Natasha inquired if there was anything Isabe needed. Isabe just happened to need a helper, so she said without hesitation, ¡°Natasha, at 6.40PM tonight, in Room 801 of the Prince Hotel¡¯s Presidential Suite, there will be a major entertainment industry scandal. I need you to inform the media.¡± After hearing that, Natasha chuckled. ¡°No problem. Just wait for it.¡± With everything meticulously arranged, Isabe couldn¡¯t resist a triumphant snap of her fingers. ¡°Everybody¡¯s hustling to get ready for the car exhibition, but it looks like some folks are just taking it easy.¡± Abigail sarcasticallymented when she spotted Isabe casually sitting at her desk. As Isabe took a sip of her coffee, her eyes locked on Abigail. Isabe even audaciously traced the contours of her chest. ¡°Some of us are just naturally. chill. Unlike you, who must be¡­ running around all over the ce, huh?¡± Her gaze was direct, and her words were to the point. Someone nearby couldn¡¯t help butugh, and the looks everyone gave Abigail were rather peculiar. Abigail, who had been tirelessly building herwork for support, snorted in response to Isabe¡¯s sarcastic and shamelessment. ¡°I¡¯m not pretending to be the Virgin Mary anyway. Unlike someone here.¡± Isabe hadn¡¯t settled the score with Abigail regarding Lara¡¯s tampered contract. Little did she know that Abigail couldn¡¯t resist provoking her. ¡°You¡¯re not Virgin Mary, of course. You put a price on yourself.¡± Isabe stood up, holding her coffee cup. When Abigail recalled that she had once been sshed with coffee by Isabe, she instinctively protected her face, ring at Isabe. However, Isabepletely ignored her. Holding her coffee cup, she went to the pantry. She had significant matters to attend to tonight and didn¡¯t want to get entangled with such a little troublemaker. As time passed, approaching the end of the workday, Isabe began to feel nervous. She had plotted against people during her five years at the Shaffer Group, so her hands were far from clean. However, using such a provocative tactic was a first for her. One small mistake, and she might bring trouble to herself. With the phone in her hand, she anxiously watched the time tick away. Finally, it was the end of the workday. Without waiting for everyone else to disperse, she left directly. When she encountered Jonas, she didn¡¯t even greet him, leaving him in shock. Natasha¡¯s people sent Isabe an ount, telling her she could directly view the surveince of Room 801. Isabe found a cafe opposite the Prince Hotel. She sat in a corner and opened the surveince for Room 801, closely monitoring the situation inside. *** At 6.00PM, Selena was ready to leave with Seth. She had spent the whole afternoon adjusting her emotions. Now, she finally maintained her Seth sat in the back seat, observing her eyes through the rearview mirror. ¡°I¡¯ll give you another ten days. Adapt as soon as possible, or you can leave.¡± At his words, Selena widened her eyes. Shecked the courage even to turn around, so she just tightly held onto the seatbelt. The atmosphere in the car was tense, and the driver didn¡¯t dare to breathe too loud. Selena bit her lip, her mind a mess. Unable to hold back, she asked, ¡°I thought you were very satisfied with me when you chose me.¡± With his eyes closed, Seth casually said, ¡°Anyone can make a mistake.¡± Her chest clenched at his words, and her face instantly flushed. She pressed her chin against her chest, not daring to lift her head. ¡°Isabe adapted to the job in just one week,¡± he suddenly added. She didn¡¯t understand what he meant, and she became even more confused. If Isabe was so good, why did he dismiss her? The car fell silent, and the driver discreetly turned on the external cirction to ease the pressure. When they arrived at the hotel entrance and the car stopped, Selena quickly got out, only feeling alive when she breathed the air outside. Inside the car, Seth opened his eyes and spoke coldly. ¡°Call Jordan.¡± The driver nodded and promptly dialed the number. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Before long, the call connected, and the person on the other end answered, ¡°Yes, Mr. Shaffer.¡± ¡°Find out Isabe¡¯s location and see what she¡¯s doing.¡± Without asking any questions, Jordan responded with a simple ¡°okay.¡± After Seth hung up the phone, he adjusted his cuffs. Though seemingly casual, he exuded an air of nobility. The bodyguard opened the car door for him, and the hotel¡¯s lights spilled in, enveloping his face in a hazy glow and outlining his handsome features amid obscurity. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Having obtained the screenshot of the problematic financial report from Selena, Lara cross-checked the IP address several times. She confirmed that it was Abigail who held a grudge against Isabe. Only then did Lara feel at ease and go to the appointed meeting. Lara assumed Abigail was concerned about exposing herself, which exined why she sent the email anonymously. Consequently, Lara decided not to confirm with Abigail directly, thinking it best not to alert her beforehand. After all, Lara¡¯s primary goal was to acquire the financial report. Isabe would be held responsible, possibly implicating Seth-a strategy killing two birds with one stone. When Lara arrived at the hotel, she went to Room 801 as per the email instructions. Despite the entire floor being filled with presidential suites, there weren¡¯t many bookings. Lara couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Abigail¡¯s willingness to spend money, all the while harboring thoughts about Isabe¡¯s numerous offenses deserving an early death. The door to Room 801 was open, so she casually walked in, closing the door behind her. The whole suite was quiet, with a faint fragrance in the air and no signs of anyone around. ¡°Anybody here?¡± Lara impatiently dropped her bag and sat on the couch with crossed legs. ¡°Such a fool. She¡¯s actuallyte.¡± She rolled her eyes and leaned back, taking out her phone to send several consecutive emails to the anonymous email address. With no replies, frustration overwhelmed her. Sensing stagnant air, she stood up to open the door. When she stood up, her legs weakened, and dizziness struck. In a moment of daze, she slumped onto the couch. She gazed at the ss on the coffee table for quite some time before regaining focus. Panic set in as she realized something was wrong, and the sweet fragrance in the air heightened her unease. Lana grabbed her purse, frantically searching for her phone. But in her state of weakness, the phone slipped from her hands and fell to the ground. She attempted to grab it but discovered she couldn¡¯t stand, as if her body had turned boneless, causing her to slide down the couch slowly. ¡°Help..¡± In the footage, the woman struggled to reach her phone, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t touch it. A gradually terrified expression appeared on her face. Meanwhile, Isabe sat in a cafe. She watched the surveince footage on herptop without expression. A waiter approached and asked, ¡°Miss, would you like a refill?¡± Smiling, Isabe handed over her cup. ¡°Thank you, and add a piece of mousse cake, please.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± As the waiter left, Isabe¡¯s gaze returned to theptop screen. With a calm expression, she clicked her tongue. When the cake arrived, it lifted her spirits. She delicately scooped up a piece, savoring it. In the footage, Laray on the couch, almost losing consciousness. She stared at her phone on the floor, but her eyes couldn¡¯t focus. d She knew she had fallen into a trap, and if she continued to wait like this, something bad would happen. ¡°Help¡­¡± The once-proud heiress now showed fear. Receiving no response, she was angry and resentful. She promised to investigate and get revenge on whoever was behind this. As Lara thought about this, the door suddenly clicked. Her mind snapped as she stared in the direction of the living room with widened eyes. Lara squinted, trying to see the person¡¯s face clearly. However, the room¡¯s fragrance had already muddled her mind. ¡°She didn¡¯t lie to me.¡± Louis arrived as nned. As he quietly opened the door and approached, he saw Lara in a dress lying on the couch. The woman, who had avoided looking him in the eye, nowy on the couch with misty eyes. Her legs were slightly raised, and she parted her lips, seemingly saying something. Initially, he had some hesitation, but now all rational thoughts were gone. The faint fragrance filled the room, and red roses adorned the table, setting the perfect atmosphere. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re a gift from God.¡± As the man approached, Lara recognized his voice. Memories of those eerie green eyes shed through her mind, sending shivers down her spine. She wanted to scream, but her body felt powerless. Even her voice was slipping away into her throat. Just then, wet kisses fell on her face, and a strange breath mixed with her own. Everything was driving her to madness. ¡°Darling, I can¡¯t wait any longer. Let me love you now.¡±, Louis¡¯ actions were rough and direct. He reached behind to unzip Lara¡¯s dress while kissing her lips. ¡°After tonight, you won¡¯t be able to live without me. Let me love you.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Lara held her breath, struggling to squeeze out words. ¡°Get lost!¡± Off-screen, when Isabe finished her cake, she heard the heart-wrenching scream through her headphones. After a snort, she touched her cheek, where the wound still throbbed slightly. Turning her head, she looked out the window and, unsurprisingly, saw several cars with people carrying various cameras getting out. They were all heavily disguised. Suddenly, the waiter came over, clicking her tongue. ¡°I wonder which celebrity is causing trouble in the hotel, but it¡¯s definitely going to be exposed by the media.¡± Hearing that, Isabe smiled. ¡°There are no secrets in the world.¡± Chapter 113 Chapter 113 In the hotel, a group of reporters rushed upstairs. Some went up from the elevator, and others sneaked in through emergency exits. The hotel¡¯s security was powerless to stop them. With a loud bang, the door of Room 801 was forcibly pushed open. At this moment, Lara was lying on the couch with her shirt disheveled, and a shirtless Louis was on top of her. They were intimately close. When the reporters stormed in, they didn¡¯t expect such a sensational scene. They were momentarily dumbfounded but quickly recovered. One after another, they started shing their cameras at the two figures on the couch. Louisy limp on top, unable to move, much like Lara. Caught up in their conversations, the reporters were oblivious to any peculiar behavior from the duo on the couch. They presumed that the couple was simply attempting to dodge the cameras. Relentlessly, they showered the pair with pointed questions, but the two on the couch stayed unresponsive. Soon, the hotel security swiftly entered the room. Witnessing the scene on the couch, they were briefly taken aback. However, taking into ount Lara¡¯s prominent identity, they promptly guided the reporters out of the room. ¡°Miss Shaffer, what¡¯s your rtionship with this gentleman?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were getting married soon on a popr variety show?¡± ¡°Is this gentleman your fianc¨¦?¡± The reporters were unwilling to give up. Even as they were being ushered out, they continued bombarding the couple with questions, hoping to uncover a scandal. Yet, Lara couldn¡¯t even make a sound. As she watched the cameras being taken out, she was so infuriated that her eyes were bloodshot, wishing she could tear Louis into pieces. Off-screen, Isabe remained expressionless. She picked up her cup of coffee to take a sip and casuallymented to the empty air, ¡°What a spectacr scene.¡± She sat outside, not nning to leave. The reporters left, and the people from the Shaffer Family who were handling the situation should be here soon. She needed to see who would be dealing with this matter. If it¡¯s Old Mr. Shaffer¡­ Isabe couldn¡¯t help but clench her fist, her heart pounding. Despite the indescribable fear brewing inside her after orchestrating such a significant event, she maintained a facade ofposure. Outside the window, she saw that the reporters were kicked out, but their faces were filled with excitement. They hurriedly walked to their cars, eager to be the first to report the news. ¡°It looks like big news.¡± The waiter, noticing that Isabe remained in ce, walked over to strike up a conversation with her. With a smile, she closed herptop and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this hotel like the birthce of entertainment scandals?¡± ¡°Yeah. Just a couple of days ago, Amelie Fowler was arrested here.¡± The waitress clicked her tongue, her eyes shining with gossip. ¡°But for some people, even if they¡¯re photographed, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The waitress lowered her voice, telling Isabe, ¡°I heard that a bigshot¡¯s girlfriend was photographed before. The entire hotel was sealed, and all the media who entered were taken aside for questioning. Not a single picture was leaked.¡± Isabe chuckled but didn¡¯t say anything. She hadn¡¯t intended for Lara to fall from grace; she just wanted her to spend a few quiet days abroad. ¡°Given the swarm of media, I bet we¡¯ll have breaking news in less than 20 minutes.¡± The waitress was excited, eagerly checking her phone for updates. Meanwhile, Isabe looked out the window, waiting quietly. She had a premonition that Seth would be the one handling this. At 7.40PM, Seth left the banquet midway and changed his clothes in the suite. He was used to such asions, but recently, with so much going on, being surrounded by a few old men toasting him was really annoying. He took off his cufflinks, intending to change into a new shirt, but found that Selena was not there. ¡°Nics.¡± After hearing that, Nics quickly pushed the door open. ¡°Yes, Mr. Shaffer.¡± luna luna ¡°Where¡¯s Selena? Didn¡¯t I ask her to bring me clothes?¡± Seth¡¯s tone was unpleasant. He had reached the limit of patience with her efficiency. Nics wasn¡¯t sure, so he replied, ¡°She seemed to have stained her clothes Owned by N?velDrama.Org. and went to change herself.¡± ¡± Seth frowned. ¡°Go find her.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Shaffer.¡± After Nics closed the door, Seth sat on the couch, feeling even more annoyed. Click! Just then, the door was opened from the outside. Seth frowned, thinking it was Nics returning. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Mr. Shaffer.¡± A timid girl¡¯s voice came through. Squinting his eyes, he turned around and saw Selena standing at the door. She was wearing a bathrobe, revealing two fair legs, and her hands were crossed in front of her. With a blushing face, she walked step by step toward him. As he pressed his lips together, he stood up and stared at her face. When Selena felt his gaze, her heart pounded like a drum. She was happy that she had taken the right path. Suddenly, Seth spoke with a cold voice. ¡°Is this the outfit you went to change into?¡± She nodded subtly and said in a soft voice, ¡°Do you think it looks good on me?¡± ¡°Good?¡± After a sneer, Seth¡¯s tone sank. ¡°Do you know where this is?¡± Stunned, Selena looked up at him with confusion. Staring at the girl in front of him, he noticed that her original resemnce to Isabe¡¯s temperament hadpletely disappeared. The innocence had been refined into a subtle lust. He liked women with ambition, but those who were foolish, confident, and unaware of their limits, he found repugnant. ¡°We were invited to attend the opening banquet, and you decided to give me this gift here? Do you want people to get a hold of me?¡± Seth uttered these heartless words while his pitch-ck eyes were locked onto Selena¡¯s face. Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Selena never expected that her carefully nned surprise would turn into a joke. The look in Seth¡¯s eyes was filled with disgust. Just as she was about to exin, Nics knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, Jordan¡¯s on the line.¡± Ignoring her, Seth strode toward the door and quickly took the phone from Nics. Selena felt a chill all over her body. She watched Seth answer the call. His expression darkened as if he had heard the shocking news. ¡°Keep an eye on her. I¡¯m on my way over.¡± After Seth hung up, he spared no nce at her and directly turned to Nics. ¡°Prepare the car. We¡¯re going to the Prince Hotel.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Shaffer.¡± As Selena saw Seth about to leave, she wanted to follow but suddenly remembered that she was still in a bathrobe. ¡°Mr¡­¡± Seth didn¡¯t hear her voice, not even bothering to take his jacket. He left the room wearing the shirt from the banquet, still reeking of alcohol. When he heard Jordan¡¯s words, only one person filled Seth¡¯s mind-a woman who seemed as bold as a lion. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, Old Mr. Shaffer called just now, asking you to go to the Prince Hotel immediately.¡± As soon as Seth got into the car, the driver reminded him. Seth¡¯s eyes chilled as he settled into the back seat, asking, ¡°Where¡¯s Grandpa?¡± ¡°Old Mr. Shaffer went there in person.¡± At this answer, Seth¡¯s expression turned worse, but his words remained calm. ¡°Step on it.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Shaffer.¡± Though the driver was puzzled, he followed Seth¡¯s order, speeding all the way. Isabe waited at the hotel entrance for 20 minutes. As she had expected, several cars arrived, and it immediately caught her attention. The cars were ordinary, but the peopleing out of them all stood tall, clearly not ordinary individuals. Isabe held her breath, feeling a foreboding sense that she might be in trouble. At once, she made a call, instructing one of Natasha¡¯s people to bribe -the hotel staff, effectively destroying the surveince footage from Room 801. After a while, Natasha called, sounding somewhat anxious. ¡°Be, what have you done? How did you attract the attention of the Shaffer Family?¡± Isabe/guessed that those people were afraid and directly told Natasha what had happened. While packing, she said, ¡°I tricked Lara.¡± After a moment of silence, Natashamented, ¡°You¡¯re truly a warrior.¡± Though Isabe was scared, she could stillugh. ¡°She always provokes me. Biting her a little shouldn¡¯t be too much, right?¡± Natasha chuckled. ¡°You bit her a little, but she can bite off your neck. After Isabe finished packing herptop, she swiftly stood up and continued tofort herself and Natasha. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve thought of a way out. I probably won¡¯t die for now.¡¯ ¡°A way out my foot! Old Mr. Shaffer is at the hotel!¡± Natasha felt speechless. After taking a few deep breaths, she said, ¡°Why don¡¯t youe to my ce and hide for a few days?¡± As Isabe stood up with her bag slung over her shoulder, she continued speaking to Natasha through the Bluetooth earphones. ¡°No, let me die alone. I won¡¯t drag you into this mess.¡± Natasha was extremely anxious. ¡°Where else can you go? Going home now T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. means death.¡± Walking out, Isabe wanted to hail a cab but found that she couldn¡¯t get any. Helpless, she headed toward the subway station. The subway station was behind the hotel, slightly remote. In this upscale area, people taking the subway were rare, making the station¡¯s surroundings quite deserted. Isabe continued talking to Natasha while scanning her surroundings. Having just done something bad, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit guilty. When Natasha noticed that Isabe had been silent for a while, she became even more worried. ¡°Be?¡± Isabe was walking on the road. Just as she was about to reach the subway station, she heard footsteps approaching from behind, getting closer and closer. She abruptly turned around, locking eyes with the person behind her. At the same time, she felt the presence of someone else behind her. ¡°Miss Symons.¡± The man, wearing sunsses and dressed in a ck suit, clearly appeared to be a bodyguard. She didn¡¯t recognize the man, but she could feel a chilling aura surrounding him, exuding a natural sense of danger. Trying to actposed, she took off her earphones. ¡°Who are you?¡± The man tilted his body and made a gesture for her to get into the car. ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡± Isabe turned around to look behind her and then looked up at the man. ¡°I¡¯ don¡¯t know you. Why should I follow you?¡± ¡°You should know that we¡¯ve been polite to you.¡± His gaze was intimidating. Since there was no other way, she bit her lip and took a deep breath. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± She decided to take a chance, betting that this man was associated with Seth. In the end, she followed him into the car. At once, the doors locked, and she was surrounded by cold faces. This working style didn¡¯t seem like Seth¡¯s; it felt more like people from the military. Suddenly, Isabe felt anxious, worried that she might have guessed wrong. Looking out the window, she traced the route they were taking. It wasn¡¯t heading to Shaffer Residence or any of Seth¡¯s mansions. As the car drove further into the outskirts, her anxiety intensified. ¡°Where are -you taking me?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± The man spoke and turned onto a narrow road, finally stopping at the back door of a private estate. Two men escorted Isabe out of the car, leaving her with no room to speak or escape. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Isabe was led into a big private estate. The estate¡¯s architectural style leaned more toward Jesundian, which was something Seth never liked. ¡°Please wait here.¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. She was led into a study room upied only by one tinymp and many Jesundian trinkets. As she sat on the tatami mat, her mind raced. How she wished there was someone she could question, but the people had locked the door behind them as they walked out. She was not even given the chance to speak to them. When she looked out of the window, she saw bodyguards stationed everywhere. The entire ce was tightly guarded. At that moment, Isabe¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from Natasha. She snapped out of her thoughts and hurriedly answered it. ¡°What happened, Be?¡± Thus, Isabe recounted everything that had happened before urging Natasha to investigate the owner of the house so that she could properly address the issue. Natasha immediately worked on it after telling Isabe not to worry and to wait. If worse came to worst, Natasha would demand Isabe to be handed over using Dariel¡¯s name. Still, Isabe worried. She remembered just how strong-headed the bodyguard was just now. Anyone who would hire a bodyguard like that would most likely not budge just because Dariel wanted something. She clung to her phone. As she waited for Natasha to get back to her, she intently stared at the Around 30 minutes had passed, and Natasha had yet to get back to her. However, she could now hear footsteps echoing in the corridor outside. Isabe hurriedly got to her feet and warily watched the door. With a ck, the door swung open. With feet covered in leather shoes, the man strode into the room. His legs were long and slender. As her gaze moved upward, she spotted the hand ced against the door handle that shone brightly with itsrge knuckles even in the dimly lit room. There was no need for her to look up any further before she recognized who it was. It was Seth. He was wearing a simple cor shirt with sleeves rolled up his forearm. His feet moved at a swift pace. It was clear he had rushed over. Even through the dark lenses of her sunsses, she could sense the eerie and frosty look in his eyes. She could not help but take a step backward. As Seth stood at the doorway and looked into the room at Isabe, a vicious look shed across his face. He pursed his lips. Without turning the light on, he closed the door and started moving toward her. He was moving very slowly, deliberately moving one step at a time to torment her. She instinctively backed away but soon forced herself to calm down and stiffly remained standing where she was. ¡°To be able to catch the live stream from just around the corner, even after the bigmotion you stirred up. You¡¯re quite daring.¡± As he came to a stop in front of her, his towering silhouette cast a substantial shadow, enveloping -herpletely in amanding presence. She secretly took a deep breath and replied without looking up, ¡°I only went out for a cup of coffee. I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re trying to say.¡± Seth let out a chillingugh. Nevertheless, his expression remained her eyes scanned the room. Just as Isabe was about to speak, he suddenly advanced, swiftly gripping her neck. His hold wasn¡¯t overly forceful, but it sufficed to press her against the wall, rendering her immobile. ¡°Do you have any idea what happens when someone messes with a member of the Shaffer Family?¡± His voice was cold and robotic. Even though his voicecked emotion, it almost broke through all theposure she had managed to gather. -She clutched his hand, fearing he might break her neck in the next second. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, I didn¡¯t¡­ Mmph!¡± Just as she was about to defend herself, he tightened his hold around her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe. Her eyes went wide as she instinctively struggled, even attempting to kick him. However, Isabe¡¯s feeble struggles were nothing to Seth. He just needed to use a few simple tricks, and it was enough to render her struggles useless. ¡°L-Let go!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear nonsense again.¡± As he softly spat that out, he coldly watched her struggle before casually tossing her to the side. Sprawled on the floor by his feet, she gasped and panted. Her heart was racing so fast that it felt like it was going to leap out of her throat. Her mind whirred as it pieced together her answer. Seth nced down at Isabe before turning to walk across the tatami mat to sit on the wooden chair nearby. With his legs crossed, henguidly leaned back. ¡°Grandpa took Lara back to the old residence. Louis has been captured. Either of them could sell you out. What do you think will happen to you then?¡± She gulped and reached up to straighten her sunsses. ¡°They would never do that, and they would not have the chance to do so.¡± He crossed his arms and observed the foolish woman who was wearing sunsses in the middle of the night. It has been hours since 7.00PM. Perhaps Louis has spilled the beans already.¡± Pursing her lips, Isabe lowered her head to allow her hair to hide her facial expression as she ndly replied, ¡°Of course, he has done that. However, even if he sells me out, Old Mr. Shaffer would not hear his words.¡± There was a hint of glee in her calm voice. Seth looked at her with a dark face while his heart twitched with a hint of psychotic interest. He was not familiar with this side of her. She crawled to her feet and sat back down on the tatami mat, keeping around three feet away from him. wow After pouring herself a cup of tea, she tilted her head back to down it in one go before turning to smile at him. ¡°No matter what Louis says, you¡¯ll make sure his words don¡¯t get through, right?¡± Due to the sunsses, Seth could only catch a glimpse of the slightly tilted corners of Isabe¡¯s lips. Nevertheless, he could still sense the triumph radiating from her tone. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 E Isabe had everything all nned out. She would not fight against Spencer Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. on this matter because the two people involved would not have a chance to speak. ¡± Lara would be too afraid to do so because once she told the truth, people would know about how she tried to use a problematic financial report to frame Seth for a crime. When that happened, she would be in deep trouble as well. Isabe¡¯s most cunning strategy was to subdue everyone first and then discreetly conduct her investigation. As for Louis, he had a high chance of being captured. He would also fall into Seth¡¯s hands before Spencer could confront him. Seth would never let Louis shoot his mouth off because¡­ ¡°I¡¯m yours. Do you think Old Mr. Shaffer would believe that I was the one who hurt Miss Shaffer?¡± Isabe said. The dim light on the ceiling shone on her face, casting long shadows down her cheeks. When she looked up, the sly, scheming glint shining in her eyes was terrifying. Seth let out a snort ofughter. ¡°Mine?¡± Her gaze flickered as she smiled. ¡°Who would believe that I¡¯m not yours?¡± With a fake smile on his face, Seth stared into Isabe¡¯s eyes. Instead of being angered by her im, he was amused. ¡°If you¡¯re so skilled that you can use me in your schemes, why are you asking me for two favors?¡± Her throat felt dry. Guilt shed in her eyes as she swiftly suppressed her fear. She was not actually as calm as she looked. It was all just a facade. ¡°There¡¯s no harm in being prepared.¡± He gave a cold smirk and casually turned away, then extended his hand with a subtle gesture, beckoning her toe closer by moving his fingers. She hesitated, ncing at his inviting hand. ¡°You¡¯re mine, right? What are you afraid of?¡± Seth asked in a taunting tone. Isabe gritted her teeth and forced herself to reach out for his hand. Just when her entire bnce had shifted forward so that she could grab his hand, he abruptly pulled back. Mon, Unbnced and without support, she was now half-sprawled out across the tatami mat. Scoundrel! She lowered her head and bit her lip in embarrassment. She did not want to look at the mocking look in his eyes at all. Seth uncrossed his legs and leaned closer. He even reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind Isabe¡¯s ear. ¡°Tell me, just where did you get your audacity from?¡± While his voice sounded warmer than it had ever been before, it sent chills running down her spine. The contrast between the sight of her with her sunsses and the luxurious decor of the room made the entire situation seem even more ridiculous. ¡°As if I need to dig hard for it. I¡¯m already being forced into a corner.¡± D She bitterlyughed. After taking off her sunsses, she slowly looked up at the man. 6 When he finally had a clear view of her face, he could not help but frown as the mocking smirk lingering in his eyes gradually faded. Isabe held a hand up to her face and mumbled to herself, ¡°It¡¯s only the face this time. If I didn¡¯t hit back, she would have taken a whole mile and killed me right away.¡± Seth looked away and retorted coldly, ¡°You went to the alley alone, giving her the opportunity.¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t give her the opportunity, she would¡¯ve found other chances,¡± she immediately responded, steadfastly staring at him. D ¡°That¡¯s why you had someone ruin her and even chose a man like Louis?¡± His gaze shifted lower. After hearing that, she heaved a sigh of relief and stood up to kneel by his feet. ¡°You¡¯re too paranoid. I¡¯m not that brave. If I really did that, Miss Shaffer would risk everything just to kill me.¡± His lips tilted upward in a mocking smirk as he sassily said, ¡°You think you have everything in hand. Aren¡¯t you afraid of the unexpected?¡± When Isabe looked up at Seth, her eyes were nk and emotionless. ¡°I have a very good sense of timing. Since she suffered even after all my efforts, then it¡¯s simply karma biting her back. Lara deserved it.¡± Surprised, he turned around to gaze directly into her eyes. ¡°Is it because of the car and the fact that she crashed into you?¡± She shook her head and said with a slow sigh, ¡°There¡¯s also the incident with the hot coffee from two years ago.¡± She vividly recalled what had happened. It was a day like any other in the secretary department when Lara, in a fit of anger, threw a scalding cup of coffee right at her face. The sensation of that moment was something she could never erase from her memory. After a moment of silence, Seth suddenly leaned over and grabbed Isabe by the chin. ¡°How have I never realized how scheming you can be?¡± With her chin proudly tilted up so that she could stare back into his eyes, she replied, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be able to be your personal secretary if I let you see just how ruthless I can be.¡± She did not know if her heavy emphasis on the phrase ¡°personal secretary¡± was done to provoke him or to disgust herself. He pursed his lips and silently stared at her as he absentmindedly brushed his finger across her jaw over and over again. His staring caused her heart to start racing again when it had just calmed down. At first, Seth was only staring at Isabe. Suddenly, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips. It was so sudden that she couldn¡¯t even react in time. When he pulled back, he softly cupped her face, gazing at her with warm eyes. Yet, it left her feeling uneasy. His look made it seem like he was teasing a pet, and it instantly put her on guard. She almost gave in to the urge to swat his With narrowed eyes, he scanned her face. ¡°Isabe, if you showed yourself to be this interesting earlier, you wouldn¡¯t have needed to suffer so much.¡± Interesting? She did not understand what he meant and leaned back to dodge the hand about to pat her on the head. Seth pulled his hand back and leaned his elbow against his knee as he continued to look Isabe in the eyes. ¡°Come back to the secretary department. I¡¯ll have you double what I paid you before.¡± Realization struck her, causing her heart to stop racing as well. She silently straightened her back and shuffled further away from him. ¡°No.¡± Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Selena anxiously waited for Seth at the hotel, but he never showed up. Wrapped in just a bathrobe, she sat on the couch, feeling the chill seeping into her body while resentment surged in her heart. Throughout her youth, she had crafted an image of herself as a sweet and obedient girl, receiving protection and adoration both at school and at home. There was no reason for all of that to lose its value in the man¡¯s eyes. When she recalled his aloof yet handsome face, she clenched her jaw. ¡°You¡¯re mine¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, someone was frantically knocking on the door. As Seth had left the room while angry, Selena subconsciously assumed the person at the door was him. Joy filled her heart. It did not matter if he was happy or upset. As long as he returned, she still stood a chance. ¡°Mr. Shaffer!¡± she called out as she opened the door. Outside the door was a middle-aged man who was incredibly drunk and squinting at the abrupt appearance of a woman at the doorway. Out of shock, she instinctively mmed the door shut. She knew that man, for he was the deputy manager of this hotel. At parties, she had even witnessed how he would hit on the female secretaries. However, Selena was not fast enough. The deputy manager swiftly barged into the room, using his weight to force the door open. She hurriedly retreated in panic. ¡°Mr. Grant, this is Mr. Shaffer¡¯s room. You cannote in.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. The deputy manager had too much to drink, so he did not care whose room it was. All he could think about was the womanly scent filling his nose and the beautiful face within his view. As he looked down, he noticed her fair and slender legs. ¡°Babe, let¡¯s have some fun.¡± Selena was stunned, unable to believe that the rumors were true. After wrapping her bathrobe tighter around herself, she tried to escape by squeezing past him. After all, he was drunk. Just as she took one step, he forcefully wrapped an arm around her waist and trapped her in an embrace. A ¡°Let me go! Help! Mmph¡­¡± She had only yelled twice before a hand mped over her mouth, making it difficult for her to breathe. Due to how drunk he was, the deputy manager possessed an unusual strength and didn¡¯t care about logic; he just wanted to follow his desires. With a hand covering her mouth and his other arm around her waist, he carelessly dragged her further into the room. She kicked hard, but she could not escape her fate of being dragged away. While she struggled with all her might, she was exceedingly helpless in the face of brute strength. The door mmed shut with a loud bang. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± The scream echoed from the room. The two employees walking past the door looked at each other. ¡°Should we check it out?¡± ¡°Mind your own business. The rich have a lot of kinks. This is just one of them.¡± ¡°True¡­¡± Inside a dimly lit room. When Seth heard Isabe¡¯s response, his eyes instantly turned icy. As he slowly moved away, he aloofly nced at the woman kneeling by his feet. ¡°You have worked with me for five years. You know that I detest women who y hard to get.¡± She pursed her lips and smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve slept with me for five years. You should know my temper.¡± As she raised her head, the wound on her face stood out against her skin while her ck eyes shined, and her lips spread in a rather pleasant smile. ¡°I truly wanted to quit. It¡¯s not to y hard to get.¡± Seth pressed his lips together and fell silent as he continued to stare into Isabe¡¯s eyes. He turned and picked up the phone from the coffee table to make a phone call. ¡°Bring it over.¡± She lowered her head and fidgeted with her hair. Her instincts told her this was not going to be good. Her mind swiftly raced as she tried to prepare. herself for all possibilities. After hanging up, he continued to lock his fiery gaze on her face as he examined her. He only looked away when someone knocked on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Isabe narrowed her eyes at the doorway, which was now upied by the man who ¡°invited¡± her to get into the car. The man ced a folder by Seth¡¯s hand with more respect than Ollie showed. In fact, his attitude could be considered somewhat cautious. When Seth shot him a look, the man left the room. She looked at the folder by Seth¡¯s side, wondering what scheme he had in mind now. ¡°You once said that you loved Imperia.¡± He looked at her with a raised eyebrow instead of looking at the folder. The abrupt subject change was strange. She was used to being talked to in a cold and aloof manner, so any slight hint of warmth from him had her extremely uneasy. ¡°That¡¯s in the past. I don¡¯t love it anymore.¡± He was resting his chin on one hand while his eyes were half closed. He was likely tired. ¡°Why?¡± Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Isabe bluntly replied, ¡°There are too many rich people in Imperia. It fills me with resentment.¡± Seth let out a snort ofughter and looked up at her. ¡°Do I not pay you enough?¡± She licked her dry lips. ¡°That money should be worth nothing to you.¡± ¡°You want more?¡± He suddenly leaned in close and caressed her cheek. His fingers wandered downward until they rested on her lips. Isabe went stiff, too afraid to even twitch. She just did not understand what was going on in Seth¡¯s mind. ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more chance. This time, you¡¯ll gain much more than before.¡± A His voice was deep and very attractive. If he wished to, he could easily turn his voice into the type of voice that recently charmed the inte. She was a woman who was easily swayed by a man¡¯s looks and voice. Putting aside all sense of logic, the man was actually extremely tempting right now. ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Chapter 118 Chapter 118 E Isabe¡¯s sense of rationality returned to her, and she retreated slightly from Seth while timidly looking away. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Any chance to be close to you is very precious. I believe it¡¯s best left for the young.¡± His hand hovered in mid-air as all traces of a smile vanished from his face. He returned to his chair and impatiently unbuttoned two of his shirt¡¯s buttons. Then, he gently clicked his tongue. ¡°Do not be ungrateful, Isabe.¡±, Just by the tone of his voice, she could tell that he was starting to get angry. She did not dare shoot her mouth off now as she started thinking about ways to get herself out of the situation. 10:24 Mon, 1 Jan Million for Five Years After taking two deep breaths, he was surprisingly able to remain calm instead of flying into a fit of rage. However, the calmer Seth was, the more scared Isabe was. She watched as he gently picked up the folder and opened it before slowly pulling out the documents within. ¡°I picked these out on the way back here,¡± he said, seemingly talking to himself but also, it seemed, to her. As she bit the inside of her cheek, she could not resist ncing at the documents. Seth did not look at Isabe as he continued, ¡°The contract is for five years. You¡¯ll gain 150 million in exchange.¡± As he said that, he nced at her. ¡°Of 10:25 Mon, 1 Jan 0 Million for Five Years course, if you think that¡¯s not enough, it could be higher.¡± She immediately understood the content of the document. It was an employment contract, specifically outlining her role as his lover. Her breathing slowed to a crawl. It felt like she could hear her heartbeat as she cautiously responded, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s still a no.¡± He ignored her response and ced the document down on the table by his arm before standing up to walk toward the bookshelf. As she watched, he pulled out a pen used just for signing documents. In one smooth motion, he uncapped the pen. Then, he walked over and threw the pen and the document at her. ¡°Sign it. Do not make me force you.¡± G 7 Million for Five Years Isabe held her breath as she kneeled to pick up the document. She nced up at Seth. Suddenly, her arms twisted as she tried to tear the document into pieces. ¡°Isabe!¡± His reflexes were fast as he instantly dropped to one knee and grabbed her hands. ¡°I have backup copies. Tear one contract to pieces, and I¡¯ll have 10,000 more printed.¡± He frowned, looking at her like she was a fool. She tried to pull her hands out of his grip, but he was so strong that she had no choice but to remain on her knees in an extremely ufortable position. 10:25 Mon, Million for Five Years ¡°Sign it, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡± Seth could tell Isabe was ufortable. She spat out through gritted teeth, ¡°Let go of me first.¡± He did as she asked. It was clear he was not worried she would pull a trick of any kind. Deep down, she was going crazy. At the moment, she was out of ideas. He had left her without a single shred of hope of escape. From his spot beside her, he coldly watched every twitch and shuffle of hers. His presence was unyielding. Isabe found herself with no alternative but to make onest futile attempt. As Seth observed her, she sprang to her feet, risking it all by charging toward the door. His response was swift; he looked up and reached out, wrapping an Mon, Million for Five Years arm around her waist. There was a loud bang. .95% She went from running to crashing back onto the tatami mat. His patience wearing thin, he leaned over, picked her up from the ground, and pinned her down by the waist next to the table. Now trapped in an embrace from behind, she had lost any chance of objecting. Before she knew it, he had stuffed the pen into her hand. With her hand held in his, he forced it over to the line on the document as he frostily said into her ear, ¡°Sign.¡± Still, she struggled hard, causing her entire arm to tremble from the effort. Isabe gritted her teeth. ¡°Force will only give birth to sour grapes.¡± 10:25 Mon, 1 Jan E Million for Five Years Seth huffed in response. ¡°When did I tell you I don¡¯t enjoy sour grapes?¡± She was rendered speechless. ¡°Seth!¡± Out of fury, she violently turned around. Her abrupt reaction might have surprised him, but he was still able to keep her pinned down. However, the pen was temporarily lost. They locked eyes while her breath brushed against his jaw. Her entire body was covered in a sheen of sweat as she took a deep breath to force herself to calm down. 10:25 Mon, 1 Jan 0.95% Million for Five Years ¡°I cannot sign the contract. Even if I sign it now, I will file an appeal against it.¡± Isabe steadily looked into Seth¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, I have humored you for five years. You won¡¯t make me y along for another five years, right?¡± ¡°Work is work. Who else can pay you 150 million?¡± He kept his eyes trained on the woman in his arms. Isabe¡¯s eyes curved as she mockinglyughed. She made sure to look Seth in the eye as she slowly spat out, ¡°Is the job you¡¯re offering even a proper job?¡± She knew full well that he was only fooled by lust. Paying her was just a way for him to find some fun in life. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve done this job for five years already,¡± he calmly replied. He could not empathize with her at all. Mon, Million for Five Years She clenched her fists. ¡°I¡¯m tired of it, so I quit!¡± ¡°Are you going to sign?¡± He scowled, having run out of patience to argue with her. His gaze dropped to her moving lips. Sensing what Seth was looking at, Isabe hurriedly leaned back. However, the table was right behind her. As expected, he immediately leaned in and brusquely covered her pink lips with his. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 \Chapter 120 ¡°Behave and stay here. Do not pull any tricks,¡± Sethmanded before quickly exiting the room. Isabe was lost as she did not know what had happened. Just as she contemted making a quick exit from the room, the vignt guard at the door astutely anticipated her intentions. With a rather ¡°courteous¡± gesture, he gently pushed her back. She frantically paced around the room. When she calmed down enough to think of calling Natasha, she discovered that her phone had nowork connection whatsoever. As she paced, she asionally nced at the papers on the floor. Her fury could not be suppressed at all once it had been sparked to life. She would Mon, Chapter 120 Inexplicably Released have thrown and smashed something if not for how luxurious and expensive the decor was. Isabe did not know how much time had passed. Seth never returned. The men outside did not seem like they would let her leave either. She had checked every nook and cranny in the room. There was not a single gap she could use to escape through. The moment she opened the window, a bright red light would shine on her face, causing her eyes to hurt from the strain of looking at it. Just where on earth was she? Why did this ce look like something out of a horror movie? As she cursed Seth out under her breath, the door suddenly mmed open. She froze and confusedly stared at the man who had suddenly appeared in Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. 10:27 Mon, 1 Jan 0. Chapter 125 inexplicably als the room. ¡°¡­¡± Jordan did not wait for Isabe to finish her sentence and turned to gesture for her to walk to the door. ¡°This way, Miss Symons.¡± She was absolutely confused, ¡°What?¡± ¡°It is not suitable for you to be here now. If you like this ce, you may ask Mr. Shaffer to bring you over next time.¡± He tried his best to sound polite so that he did not hurt her feelings at all. Her eyes widened with shocked glee. ¡°Am I free to go?¡± There was aplicated look on his face as though he did not understand her at all. ¡°Yes, Please hurry.¡± 10:27 Mon, 1 Jan 0 Chapter 120 Inexplicably Released 3 Without a moment of hesitation, she dashed out of the room. She had even forgotten all about her sunsses. Jordan was stunned. When he finally snapped out of it, he hurried after Isabe. ¡°This way, Miss Symons.¡± She did not care where he wanted her to go as long as it meant she could leave. She followed him out through the garden in the back. They kept walking faster and faster as though in fear of Seth suddenly returning. As the car she had boarded smoothly pulled away into the quiet night, she released the breath she had been holding. The driver did not ask her where she wanted to go and drove straight toward Mon, Chapter 120 Inexplicably Released Natasha¡¯s ce. ¡°Things might be rather chaotic for the next two days. For your safety, you had the best stay with Miss Mills.¡± That was the warning Jordan gave before Isabe could step out of the car. She dazedly stepped out, still confused by Seth¡¯s actions. First, he captured her. Then, he released her. He was both a good cop and a bad cop now. She was in no hurry to head into Natasha¡¯s home. Instead, she stuck to the car door to ask Jordan, ¡°Can you tell me what Mr. Shaffer¡¯s exact orders were?¡± 10:27 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 120 Inexplicably Released Behind the sunsses and emotionless face, Jordan was giving her the side-eye. ¡°He said nothing.¡± Isabe was shocked. ¡°Do you mean to say you set me free against orders?¡± He found her question rather confusing. Thus, he gave into the urge to grab the car door she was holding to and tugged it out of her grip. With a loud bang, the door mmed shut before the car drove off into the distance. She stood there with a mind filled with questions and shock. Her mind was still stuck in a dazed state as she walked to Natasha¡¯s home Chapter 120 Inexplicably Iteleasmid and knocked on the door. It still fell like Seth was standing behind her since she kept feeling chills running down her back. When Natasha opened the door, she found Isabe ncing behind her with a panicked look on her face. Natasha instinctively thought something bad must have happened, so she hurriedly dragged Isabe into her home. Isabe only fully epted her escape from the estate when she stopped into Natasha¡¯s hope. She swiftly sat down on the couch and let out a long sigh. As Natasha was worried Isabe might be in trouble, she waited a long while before asking Isabe what happened. 10:27 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 120 Inexplicably Released ¡°You set Lara up and used the power of the Shaffer Family to get rid of Louis?¡± Natasha shrieked. The first half of the story was enough to make her shoot to her feet while she stared at Isabe in shock. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Isabe covered her eyes as her head pounded. In awe of what Isabe did, Natasha let out a few curses before she was filled with fear for Isabe¡¯s sake. As Isabe recounted what happened in the estate along with the contract, she opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling. Natasha crossed her arms before her chest and scoffed. ¡°He took up five years of your time, and now he wants another five years? It¡¯s clear he has no 10:27 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 120 Inexplicably Released consideration for your future as a woman.¡± Isabe let out augh full of helplessness and conflicted feelings. ¡°Naturally. It¡¯s all about his physical desires, so why would he consider anything else?¡± Natasha looked at her. ¡°Money then?¡± Isabe rested her hands on her neck and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve asked for that five years ago. I must give him a little surprise, at least.¡± ¡°It¡¯s 150 million.¡± Natasha raised an eyebrow. Isabe stood up and started listing out her ns. ¡°I¡¯ll sell the two properties I have in the city center. I n on starting my ownpany.¡± ¡°Then, in another decade or two of hard work, you might have 150 million,¡± 10:27 Mon, 1 Jan O Chapter 120 Inexplicably Released Natasha swiftly said, popping her bubble. Isabe fell silent. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that for now. My ability to stay alive is still a question.¡± She wrapped her arms around herself as she rested her chin on her knees before sadly saying, ¡°If Old Mr. Shaffer finds out I¡¯m the mastermind, I¡¯ll be skinned alive for sure.¡± Natasha did not speak. Isabe had gone so far over the line that Dariel was unable to help her, let alone Natasha. ¡°We can talk about the Shaffer Familyter. Are you sure Louis is dead for sure?¡± Natasha thought hard as she ced a hand on her chin. After a few moments of pondering, Isabe replied, ¡°It depends on Seth¡¯s mood.¡± If Seth were in a good mood, he would even help kick Louis straight 10:27 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 120 Inexplicably Released down to hell. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 C £¤Æø:95%•þ Isabe spent the night at Natasha¡¯s ce and woke up in a state of fear, worried that an enemy might suddenly appear seeking her life. However, she hadn¡¯t left the house for two consecutive days, and no enemy had shown up at her doorstep. ¡°I haven¡¯t been to thepany for two days, and Jonas hasn¡¯t even called me,¡± Isabe muttered softly while holding a drink and sitting on the couch at noon. Natasha went to Golnd Lounge and left Isabe alone at home. She didn¡¯t even dare to open the windows, fearing it might give someone an opportunity. 10:27 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 121 Car Exhibition Rehearsal As she scrolled through her phone, Isabe gradually calmed down. A message that popped up on the screen caught her attention. ¡®Erin Baxter returned to the country. Is it because of her son¡¯s wedding?¡¯ Seth¡¯s mother was back in the country? Isabe sat up straight, recalling the sudden release the night before yesterday, and suddenly everything made sense. Seth¡¯s bodyguard was worried that Erin might discover Isabe, so they sent her away early. Upon thinking about this, she couldn¡¯t help but sp her hands together and bow twice to the space. 10:27 Mon, 1 Jan 0 Chapter 121 Car Exhibition Rehearsal He wasn¡¯t a good guy, but his mother was truly remarkable. She was While Isabe was amusing herself, her phone started vibrating, and Jonas¡¯ name was disyed on the screen. Isabe clicked her tongue and instantly lost her good mood. Then, she reluctantly answered the call. ¡°Isabe, what¡¯s going on?! You didn¡¯t show up for the car exhibition. rehearsal!¡± Isabe shivered as she suddenly remembered about the car exhibition. She pped her forehead and joked with Jonas while heading to Natasha¡¯s room to find some clothes. 10:27 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 121 Car Exhibition Rehearsal She quickly touched up her makeup, intending to rush to the event. But as she was about to leave, her guard went up again. After some consideration, she decided to ask Natasha for a driver to take her there. At thepany¡¯s entrance, someone saw her getting out of the back seat of the car and couldn¡¯t help but tease her. Abigail returned from the car exhibition. Her face was flushed, and she looked very tired. ¡°Isabe, why don¡¯t you just stay happily at home? With all these repeated Isabe couldn¡¯t be bothered with her and followed Alex out before heading straight to the car exhibition venue. Mon, Chapter 121 Car Exhibition Rehearsal Alex drove while chewing gum and said casually, ¡°You can¡¯t me that girl for targeting you. With those performance reports that Jonas gave you, the The performance report had always been a thorn in Isabe¡¯s heart. As long as it remained unsolved, it would always feel like a ticking time bomb to her. ¡°Does Jonas often have suchrge deals?¡± She looked at Alex and was puzzled. She nodded with a disdainful expression. ¡°It¡¯s bizarre, but that fool Jonas is indeed quite something when ites to sales. Almost all the cars we sell annually for Nemotors are sold by him, and they¡¯re all part of thepany¡¯s bulk purchase for employee benefits.¡± Isabe rested her fingers on the car door and sensed something off. ¡°Isn¡¯t Mon, Chapter 121 Car Exhibition Rehearsal Nemotors¡¯ cars difficult to sell?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point.¡± Alex snapped her fingers and clicked her tongue. ¡°The word-of-mouth for those cars is terrible, and it¡¯s always a tough sell in the sales industry. Almost every 4S dealership avoids selling their cars.¡± It was too coincidental that Jonas just happened to excel only at selling Nemotors¡¯ cars. Isabe harbored suspicions in her mind and was lost in her thoughts while getting out of the car. She waspletely unaware of Jonasing to greet her from the venue. Moments ago, Jonas¡¯ tone on the phone had been stern, but upon seeing Isabe, he immediately brightened up. ¡°Isabe, you¡¯re here!¡± Chapter 121 Car Exhibition Rehearsal Isabe put on a superficial smile and briefly exined the unfortunate incident of her two days¡¯ absence from work, providing each other with an easy way out. ¡°It¡¯s all minor stuff.¡± Jonas put an arm around Alex and another around Isabe before ushering them inside warmly. ¡°You¡¯re both key members of thepany. Such minor mistakes are forgivable.¡± Isabe and Alex exchanged a nce and simultaneously rolled their eyes. They intentionally walked a bit faster to avoid Jonas¡¯ hand from reaching their backs. Inside the venue, the staff were busy scurrying around. They were mostly outside help brought in by Jonas. Jonas, nked by Isabe and Alex, wore a constant smile and insisted on 10:28 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 121 Car Exhibition Rehearsal taking them to see the newly arrived McLaren. ¡°Mr. Stokes, why not buy yourself a car to reward your hard work as the sales Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. champion every month?¡± Alex rarely praised Jonas. The man was pleasantly surprised by thepliment he received. It wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal if thepliment came from others, but Alex was notorious for being like a rose, beautiful but prickly. He was initially focused on Isabe but suddenly felt that Alex wasn¡¯t a bad option either. He followed up on Alex¡¯s words to continue the conversation. ¡°Great cars suit beautiful women. Why would I need such a good car?¡± His eyes hinted at something more as he swept back and forth between the two beauties. His implication was clear as day. Chapter 121 Car Exhibition Rehearsal I have money, and I don¡¯t mind spending it on women. Isabe scoffed inwardly before heading toward the McLaren. ¡°Mr. Stokes, can I try the car?¡± ¡°Sure. It¡¯s part of the exhibition anyway.¡± Upon seeing Isabe open the car door and sit in the driver¡¯s seat, Jonas quickly leaned on Alex¡¯s shoulder and sat in the back seat. Isabe observed through the rearview mirror and noticed his attempts to touch Alex¡¯s hand. She couldn¡¯t help but smile. Indeed, women needed to be tough, at least to fend off perverts. She inserted the key into the car, started the engine smoothly, and revved it in ce. Mon, Chapter 121 Car Exhibition Rehearsal The roar of the supercar echoed throughout the venue and attracted the attention of many. Both men and women couldn¡¯t help but show envy in their eyes toward Isabe. She disengaged the handbrake, skillfully turned the car, and headed out. The McLaren moved effortlessly, and its noble demeanor overshadowed the surrounding cars while captivating everyone. Isabe¡¯s heart raced with excitement, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel proud. As her gaze wandered, she momentarily ignored the person approaching from the side. ¡°Watch out!¡± Alex¡¯s voice came from the back seat. Isabe¡¯s eyes widened as she instinctively mmed on the brakes! Chapter 122 Chapter 122 The screech of brakes reverberated throughout the venue, abruptly halting everyone in their tracks. Isabe was thrown back into her seat by the sudden stop, her internal organs jolted and her head spinning. She gripped the steering wheel, shocked by the person who had unexpectedly appeared in front of her car. Reacting swiftly, she unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. The person who darted out happened to be a disheveled man, his view obstructed by a pile of items. It wasn¡¯t until Isabe stepped out that he realized it and began apologizing profusely. 10:28 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 122 Encountering Bad Luck Right Away Anger surged through Isabe, causing her head to ache. Before she could utter a word, Alex called out to her from inside the car. ¡°Isabe, call an ambnce quickly!¡± Isabe¡¯s heart jolted as she rushed to the back seat. Sure enough, Jonas had a gash on his forehead, blood streaming down his face. It was a terrifying sight. Although she didn¡¯t particrly like Jonas, she couldn¡¯t hesitate in a situation like this. She quickly took out her phone and made the call. Within minutes, the ambnce arrived. Isabe and Alex helped Jonas out of the car. He was heavy, and the two women struggled to carry him. 10:28 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 122 Encountering Bad Luck Right Away Alex stayed with him while Isabe dealt with the aftermath. Isabe nodded. ¡°Call me if you need anything.¡± Alex gave her a reassuring look, indicating that it was just a minor injury. Isabe watched as the ambnce drove away. She barely had time to catch her breath when she turned around and saw the bloodstains in the car. ¡°If news of an ident during the rehearsal gets out, no one will show up tomorrow.¡± Isabe nced towards the source of thement, unsure who had muttered it. Everyone avoided eye contact, whispering amongst themselves as they quickly dispersed. @94% Chapter 122 Encountering Bad Luck Right Away She climbed into the car to clean the bloodstains and noticed that Jonas¡¯ phone had been left behind. She picked it up, nning to return it once things settled down. After carefully driving the car back to its original spot and confirming that everything was in order, she finally rxed.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Keira had somehow appeared behind Isabe amidst the crowd. ¡°You¡¯ve probably caused some trouble.¡± Isabe turned, a bit surprised that Keira would initiate a conversation. She bit her lip and nced around. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a big problem, right?¡± Chapter 122 Encountering Bad Luck Right Away Keira smiled gently, her demeanorforting. She spoke softly, hands. sped in front of her. ¡°If it were someone else, it might be a minor issue, but because it¡¯s you, it¡¯s likely to be a big deal.¡± Isabe nced around, noticing several people stealing nces in their direction. She was aware of the recent animosity she had attracted, making her vulnerable to being targeted. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do. I can¡¯t silence them.¡± Keira furrowed her brow, concerned for Isabe. ¡°You should make a gesture, like setting off a firecracker or something.¡± Isabe didn¡¯t quite understand the purpose of such a gesture and furrowed her brow. ¡°A firecracker?¡± Mon, Chapter 122 Encountering Bad Luck Right Away Keira nodded. ¡°Business people believe in luck. If you don¡¯t handle these superficial matters, some important figures might not show up.¡± Isabe crossed her arms, deep in thought. After Keira finished speaking, she cautioned Isabe to be careful and returned to her post. Isabe pondered Keira¡¯s words. She didn¡¯t think setting off firecrackers was a good idea. The venue was filled with million-dor luxury cars, and if anything were to happen, she would be held responsible for the damages. She decided to assess the situation first. While everyone was distracted, she slipped into the restroom to eavesdrop from a corner. Coincidentally, she overheard a few women¡¯s voices from outside as she 10:28 Mon, 1 Jan D. Chapter 122 Encountering Bad Luck Right Away locked the stall door. ¡°Damn! How did this news spread so quickly? Mr. Lime¡¯s secretary just messaged me saying he¡¯s noting.¡± ¡°The same with mine. They said it¡¯s too ominous, a car ident happening during the rehearsal.¡± ¡°Is Isabe cursed or something? Who does she think she¡¯s fooling?¡± ¡°She can ride in the same car as Jonas. Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± The group of women chattered away, unconcerned about being overheard. 10:28 Mon, 1 Jan 0¡¤ Chapter 122 Encountering Bad Luck Right Away ¿É Inside the stall, Isabe had initially intended to wait for them to finish talking before leaving. However, the next moment, someone knocked on her door. ¡°Stop pretending to be dead. We know you¡¯re in there.¡± ¡°You thought you could get away without being seen? Troublemaker!¡± ¡°Come out!¡± There was a forceful kick to the door, causing it to shake violently. Isabe rolled her eyes in exasperation and swiftly opened the door, meeting the gazes of the women outside. ¡°Ladies, I didn¡¯t intend for the earlier incident to happen. I almost became a victim myself.¡± 10:28 Mon, 1 Jan 0¡¤ Chapter 122 Encountering Bad Luck Right Away She tried to maintain a polite tone and was unwilling to engage in conflict with these women in the restroom. ¡°A victim?¡± The leader, with wavy hair, sneered disdainfully. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t tried to impress Jonas by driving beyond your capabilities, would this have happened?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been preparing for the car exhibition for so many days, and now most of our guests aren¡¯ting. Do you think an apology is enough to resolve this?¡± ¡°Well, feel free to run your mouth. After all, you haven¡¯t put in any effort in the preparationstely.¡± The women were aggressive, spewing their words at Isabe. They were almost ready to engage in a physical confrontation. Isabe felt responsible but was infuriated by their aggressive attitude. She pursed her lips and stood there, silent. ¡°Say something and stop pretending!¡± The woman with wavy hair stepped forward, pushing Isabe¡¯s shoulder. Isabe steadied herself and red coldly at the woman. ¡°Did I say I wouldn¡¯t take responsibility?¡± Chapter 123 Chapter 123 ¡°Do you want to take responsibility? Can you bring the people over?¡± The woman with wavy hair rolled her eyes and looked down at Isabe¡¯s grandiose words. Isabe couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with them. She walked forward and forcefully pushed past the woman blocking the door. ¡°I¡¯ll solve the problem before the end of the day. Save your energy. If you have time, try convincing the clients.¡± She lifted her chin defiantly and left, leaving the women in the restroom exchanging looks. Outside the venue, Isabe stormed out of the exhibition hall and stood at 10:29 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 123 Using Seth As Usual the entrance. She instantly regretted her definitive words. She had a way, albeit a shameless one, which would likely invite ridicule from Seth if caught. Oh well. She would leave it up to fate. After some thought, she grabbed her phone and scrolled through her contacts. During her time as a secretary, she had connections with several leaving. It unexpectedly came in handy now. She posted a rant on her Facebook post, which was visible only to specific secretaries, andined about her former boss unexpectedly nning to visit their humble small car exhibition while expressing how awkward it would be to meet. TO Mon, C D 8 94% Chapter 123 Using Seth As Usual Sure enough, within minutes, the secretary from Eastainment messaged her. ¡®Be, is Mr. Shaffer nning to attend the small car exhibition in Krusmont tomorrow?¡¯ Isabe replied with a crying emoji, ¡®Who knows what¡¯s gotten into him? He graces us with his presence, which made us work overtime!¡¯ ¡®Poor thing. You¡¯ve worked hard.¡¯ The other party didn¡¯t say much as they engaged in casual conversation for a bit before exiting the chat. Isabe breathed a sigh of relief and felt somewhat confident. Following that, several private messages flooded in. They all inquired about 10:29 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 123 Using Seth As Usual Seth¡¯s schedule for the next day. Isabe skillfully danced around the queries by not providing definite answers but dropping plenty of hints. ww Thesepanies were all eyeing investments from the Shaffer Group. Usually, it was difficult to meet Seth, so an opportunity like this was not something they would pass up. She yed her cards carefully while waiting patiently for the fish to bite. The dissemination of information took time. She sat in the lounge for a while before heading out around 3.00 PM and found the atmosphere suddenly buzzing, ¡°Can you believe it? Just now, Marley Dalton specifically called me to reserve 29 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 123 Using Seth As Usual a seat!¡± ¡°Previously, no matter how we asked, she wouldn¡¯t do me the honor and was very arrogant. Now, she was suddenly confirming the seat reservation.¡± ¡°Could it be that our newly arrived cars are more attractive?¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. The discussions were happening everywhere. When Isabe stepped out, nobody gave her the cold shoulder. Everyone was too busy answering calls with ingratiating smiles on their faces. Keira was in the middle of a conversation with someone when she noticed Isabeing out. She excused herself and came up to her. 10:29 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 123 Using Seth As Usual E ¡°You¡¯re really resourceful. You¡¯ve resolved the situation at hand so quickly.¡± Isabe felt surprised as she found this girl quite perceptive to be so certain that it was her who resolved the situation. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it alone. It¡¯s everyone¡¯s effort that satisfied the clients.¡± Keira smiled faintly, nced around, and sighed. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s going to be a busy day.¡± After saying that, she leaned closer and winked at Isabe. ¡°About Seth¡­ will he reallye?¡± Isabe was briefly taken aback and was unsure where Keira heard this information. Chapter 123 Using Seth As Usual Keira stuck out her tongue apologetically and chuckled. ¡°I heard it from a client¡¯s secretary. I thought it might be fake.¡± Isabe nodded vaguely. ¡°Who knows? Their schedules aren¡¯t always guaranteed.¡± She didn¡¯t confirm anything to Keira either. Considering they weren¡¯t familiar with each other, she couldn¡¯t judge a book by its cover. Keira nodded as if she understood. ¡°I hope hees. I¡¯ve never seen such a big shot before.¡± Isabe hoped otherwise in her mind. If he dide, they might be pleased, but her safety could be in jeopardy. Just then, her phone in her pocket vibrated continuously. 10:29 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 123 Using Seth As Usual Keira was very tactful. ¡°You go ahead and attend to your matters. I¡¯ll go greet the guests.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After watching Keira walk away, Isabe took out her phone and realized the vibrations weren¡¯t from her phone but from Jonas¡¯. Several messages appeared on the screen, and they were visible even without unlocking the phone. ¡®What¡¯s the meaning of this? There are still forty cars unsold this month.¡¯ ¡®The issues with these dozens of cars are too significant. Hurry up and sell them off; otherwise, it¡¯ll be hard to exin.¡¯ 10:29 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 123 Using Seth As Usual ¡®Don¡¯t worry. We will follow the same old procedures for recements. No one will detect any issues.¡¯ Isabe frowned, and in an instant, a spection crossed her mind.. The phone continued vibrating persistently. The other party seemed impatient. Initially, she thought of returning the phone to Jonas, but now it seemed impossible. If she did, Jonas would surely suspect that she had seen the messages. She located the car she had driven earlier, took advantage of the distraction 10:29 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 123 Using Seth As Usual around her, and casually tossed the phone under the seat. BINANCE P2P O Transaction Fees when using a PKR ¨C Chapter 124 Chapter 124 After throwing her phone away, Isabe turned around and was greeted by Keira¡¯s smiling face. A shiver ran down her spine as she felt that Keira was paying too much. attention to her. They had exchanged nces multiple times that afternoon. However, Keira simply gave her a faint smile and continued talking with the clients. Isabe thought she might be overthinking it and shook her head. Just then, Alex called and informed her that Jonas had a minor concussion and had to be hospitalized. 2K 94% Chapter 124 Someone Can Deal With You Isabe found it amusing and joked with Alex over the phone. ¡°This guy seems to be having a string of bad lucktely. It wasn¡¯t long ago that he was admitted to the hospital.¡± Alex grumbled on the phone, saying that what goes aroundes around. She wasn¡¯t interested in staying at the hospital, so she left halfway through. Isabe didn¡¯t n to interfere either. She thought she might visit him with a fruit basket when the car exhibition ended tomorrow. She wasn¡¯t willing to keep himpanyte into the night. After making sure everything was fine at the venue, she left quietly. Natasha usually came homete, and Isabe didn¡¯t want to be alone. Plus, her facial injuries had healed considerably, allowing her to go out for a walk. Chapter 124 Someone Can Deal With You She had dinner at the mall and then bought herself a cup of milk tea. As she left the mall, she heard enthusiastic cheersing from the direction of the mall¡¯s electronic disy. She usually didn¡¯t pay much attention to such events, but this time, she looked towards the crowd. On the electronic screen, a female celebrity was being interviewed. In front of the camera, a woman who was almost fifty years old still exuded a youthful aura and looked no older than thirty. ¡°Look, it¡¯s ¨¦rin. She hasn¡¯t appeared in public for a long time.¡± ¡°Well, she married into a wealthy family and is doing so well in her career. Of 10:29 Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 124 Someone Can Deal With You course, she wouldn¡¯t bother showing her face.¡± E Listening to the conversation, Isabe quietly slipped away from the crowd while holding her milk tea and headed towards the subway. Erin was Seth¡¯s mother. Isabe had the fortune of meeting her a few times, and indeed, she was a goddess-like figure. However, the media¡¯s rumors about Morgan Shaffer being a doting husband were false; Seth¡¯s parents had divorced more than ten years ago. Lost in her thoughts, Isabe exited the subway and leisurely made her way towards Natasha¡¯s house. When she arrived downstairs, she noticed that the lights were on in Natasha¡¯s house. 10:30 Mon, 1 Jan 0. Chapter 124 Someone Can Deal With You Isabe¡¯s mind sharpened, and she became more alert as she silently pushed open the gate. Natasha¡¯s residence was a detached vi, and the master bedroom¡¯s rear window faced the backyard, making it rtively easy to climb in. She was concerned that there might be someone inside, so she nned to quietly climb in through the window at the back and check. She hadn¡¯t reached the backyard yet when she faintly heard the sound of things being thrown inside the house. ¡°Dariel, you despicable¡­ Mmm¡­¡± ¡°You went wild in Bleaktown for a few days and forgot your family name, huh?¡± Mon, 1 Jan Chapter 124 Someone Can Deal With You ¡°Did I allow you to flirt with another man?¡± ¡°Which eye of yours¡­ Mmm¡­ Are you blind?¡± ÈÕ»á94%•þ Natasha¡¯s words came out intermittently. Her anger was mixed with a difficult-to-articte sense of shame. She could manage to curse at first, but as it progressed, it was obvious she was being suppressed, and her voice was being stifled with one word following another. Isabe stood beneath the window and was petrified. She took a deep breath topose herself, and her face immediately flushed red. The sounds from the bedroom grew more unrestrained. Natasha, who was struggling with her anger, asionally uttered a few more curses while Dariel seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. Mon, Jan Chapter 124 Someone Can Deal With You Isabe clenched her fists and stormed towards the front door as her face grew cold. She raised her hand and hesitated repeatedly, with various thoughts and ideas racing through her mind. Suddenly, courage surged within her. Bang! Bang! Bang! Three consecutive knocks echoed loudly. There was silence from inside the house, and the faint noises from the backyard had ceased. Isabe huffed with one hand on her hip and the other still knocking on the Mon, Chapter 124 Someone Can Deal With You door. ¡°Mr. Wells, good evening!¡± ¡°Open the door! It¡¯s been so long since we¡¯ve seen each other.¡± 7 She continued knocking and used a sarcastic tone as if she were about to From N?velDrama.Org. call out Dariel¡¯s name loudly. As expected, hurried footsteps sounded from inside the house within a few minutes. Then, with a swift motion, the main door swung open. In the foyer stood Dariel, whose shirt was disheveled. There were traces of vivid lipstick still evident on his lips. His usually captivating eyes were now Mon, ²¹Æø94% Chapter 124 Someone Can Deal With You brewing with intense fury as he red fiercely at Isabe, who was standing at the cloor. Isabe had the guts; she dared to provoke Seth, so why should she fear Dariel? She maintained a smiling face as she blinked at Dariel. ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Wells. Are you here to see Natasha as well?¡± Dariel red at her and was boiling with rage. Suddenly, a distorted smile formed on his lips. ¡°Didn¡¯t Seth buy you a house? Why did youe here at this time of night to see Natasha?¡± Isabe shrugged as she approached and barged past Dariel into the house. Mon, Chapter 124 Someone Can Deal With You ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if I have a house or not. I like to stay with Natasha.¡± She turned around, faced Dariel, and shrugged again. ¡°Mr. Wells, you have a house too, right?¡± Dariel snorted coldly and turned blue in the face. Then, he turned to look at Isabe, his lips curling into an unsettling smile. ¡°Isabe, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you for Seth¡¯s sake. Leave immediately!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not happening.¡± Isabe crossed her arms, and there was a mischievous grin on her face. ¡°I¡¯ve decided to stay here tonight.¡± As she finished speaking, Natasha put on a coat and emerged from the bedroom. 10:30 Mon, 1 Jan 0 3947 Chapter 124 Someone Can Deal With You ¡°This property is under my name. Dariel, you have no right to kick her out.¡± The two women stood together and presented a united front against the adversary. Dariel waspletely deted by this point. He wiped his mouth and then pointed at the two women. ¡°You two have guts.¡± Then, he turned to face Isabe while sneering. ¡°Isabe, I might not be able to deal with you, but someone else can.¡± Chapter 125 Chapter 125 ¡°Could he really be going to find Seth?¡± Isabe sessfully drove Dariel away, but she started to feel scared afterward. Her life was still in Seth¡¯s hands. Natasha chuckled and drank a ss of wine as she leaned against the stairs. ¡°Why fear Seth? Even if you annoy him, he¡¯ll sleep with you a couple of times at most.¡± When Isabe recalled the sounds she had heard in the backyard earlier, her face flushed, and her heart raced. She opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t find the right words, so she quickly changed the subject. ¡°Did you and Dariel break up?¡± Natasha shrugged. ¡°We broke up long ago. We were only using each other.¡± Upon thinking about the child, Isabe found it difficult toprehend such a dysfunctional rtionship. It was better for her to keep quiet. 08:32 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 125 Will Seth Show Up? 2+04% After descending the stairs, Natasha looked rxed as she sat at the bar. ¡°He¡¯s the father of my child and also the culprit who killed my child. I¡¯ll stab him sooner orter.¡± Her voice was soft, but the hidden hatred finally seeped out at night. It was both captivating and terrifying under the dim lights. Isabe couldn¡¯t find words to say. She had been with Seth for five years, and she always took strict precautions to avoid awkward situations. She couldn¡¯t imagine how she would react if she were in Natasha¡¯s shoes. The child and the future were both crucial. Natasha eventually fell silent with her head resting on the bar. She seemed to have drifted off to sleep. Isabe sighed. She carefully helped Natasha up and struggled to get her upstairs. ¡°Don¡¯t follow in my footsteps¡­¡± 08:33 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 125 Will Seth Show Up? Natasha spoke in her sleep while grabbing Isabe¡¯s hand and muttering a few repeated phrases. Isabe felt distressed after listening to Natasha¡¯s words. She covered Natasha with a nket and settled on the nearby couch to get some rest. It was a sleepless night as she was weighed down by numerous thoughts. Early the next morning, Natasha was up earlier than Isabe. She made breakfast and woke Isabe up. ¡°Today¡¯s the car exhibition. Don¡¯t bete.¡± Natasha was unaffected by yesterday¡¯s events. She ate and drank well. Before leaving, she even applied a perfect, bright lipstick as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Isabe, who was the spectator, looked miserable and pale-faced, resembling an apparition. 08:33 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 125 Will Seth Show Up? Upon watching Natasha leave, Isabe remained in ce, feeling exasperated. She wondered why she couldn¡¯t learn Natasha¡¯sposure. She let out a long sigh while trying to stabilize her emotions. Then, she went to the washroom to freshen up. At 8.00AM, Alex called to urge Isabe, and she was prepared to leave. ¡°Hurry up. Many important people are inquiring about Seth.¡± Isabe¡¯s scalp tingled when she listened to the voicemail on the subway. She wished the subway would malfunction right now so she wouldn¡¯t have to go to the car exhibition. How could a person as busy as Seth possibly show up? She felt miserable the entire journey on the subway. Alex¡¯s calls were incessant. She kept reminding Isabe to dress well and not ruin the event. Isabe¡¯s head was pounding. Her steps toward the venue felt heavy. 08:33 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 125 Will Seth Show Up? She was wandering on the sidewalk and was not paying attention to the approaching car. Suddenly, a honk startled her, and the heel of her high-heeled shoe almost broke. ¡°Miss Symons.¡± A red Ferrari stopped in front of her, and the door opened to reveal a young and wealthy man. Isabe hadn¡¯t expected to encounter Christopher so soon. She was momentarily stunned but quicklyposed herself. ¡°Mr. Larson.¡± 577 ¡°Why are you so formal? Just call me by my name.¡± Christopher was friendly as he gestured for Isabe to get into the car. ¡°Get in. I¡¯ll give you a ride to the venue since I¡¯m going that way.¡± She smiled faintly while pursing her lips. ¡°No need. I¡¯m almost there. Mr. Larson, you still need to park. Don¡¯t let me dy your time.¡± 08:33 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 125 Will Seth Show Up? Christopher¡¯s hand didn¡¯t drop, and he still maintained a polite smile. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble if it means spending a little extra time with you. But if you decline, I would truly be heartbroken then.¡± Isabe felt ufortable. She detested this sort of passive-aggressive approach, which forced someone to yield. Unfortunately, he held a high status, and she couldn¡¯t simply offend him, lest Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. it be no different from provoking another Louis. She sighed, thanked him, and walked to the other side of the car before getting in. Christopher was satisfied, so he got into the car swiftly. ¡°Someone as beautiful as you must have a boyfriend, right?¡± Once in the car, he tried to gauge Isabe when they were wearing the seatbelt. She maintained her distance from him, wore a faint smile, and replied, ¡°It would be great to have a boyfriend. At my age, I should be getting married in a couple of years. Recently, my family has been urging me to go on blind dates, and it¡¯s quite bothersome.¡± She wanted to hint to Christopher toy off by indicating that she was past the age of impulsive decisions. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± Christopher looked up while showing a mix of helplessness and surprise. ¡°I¡¯ve also been pressured to get married recently and going on one blind date after another. I¡¯m almost fed up with it.¡± Isabe didn¡¯t expect him to be so opportunistic. Her lips twitched involuntarily. Luckily, they arrived at the venue soon before Christopher could say much more. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Christopher, a true gentleman, opened the door for Isabe without any hint of arrogance, despite being from a wealthy family. Outside the venue, many women looked at Isabe with envy, but she paid them no mind, remaining cautious around Christopher. Having only met him once before, and it not being a pleasant encounter, Isabe couldn¡¯t understand why he was being kind to her. There must be a reason for this strange behavior. I wonder what he¡¯s thinking. As she pondered, a ck Porsche screeched to a halt outside the venue, blocking the path in front of Isabe and Christopher. Gordon, dressed in sportswear, stepped out of the car with an unfriendly expression. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me?¡± Isabe, who wanted to keep her distance from Christopher, felt relieved at the sight of Gordon. She never expected him to appear so approachable. 08:33 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 126 The Two Troublemakers Met She walked over, lowered herself, and said yfully, ¡°I was waiting for you to call me. How can you me me? You didn¡¯t call either.¡± Gordon was momentarily stunned and slow to react. He looked up and caught Isabe¡¯s fleeting wink. ncing at Christopher, he quickly understood the situation. He reached out and pulled Isabe closer. ¡°So, you didn¡¯t call me and asked someone else to give you a ride to work?¡± Isabe was left speechless. She only wanted Gordon to help her out, but she didn¡¯t expect him to say something so ambiguous, putting their rtionship in an uncertain position. ¡°Don¡¯t me her. I was the one who offered to drive her.¡± Christopher walked over with a smile, hands in his pockets, facing Gordon. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, we can consider ourselves friends. Show me some respect.¡± Gordon gave him a disdainful look. ¡°You want me to respect you when you¡¯re interested in my woman?¡± 08:33 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 126 The Two Troublemakers Met Isabe gasped at his words. Suddenly, she found this guy far from adorable. If she had something in her hands, she would have shut his mouth with it. With many people around and Gordon speaking loudly, countless onlookers overheard. They started whispering and pointing at Isabe. She felt a tingling sensation on her scalp and regretted not leaving earlier in the morning. She never expected these two. troublemakers to cross paths. ¡°My woman?¡± Christopher chuckled mysteriously. Raising an eyebrow, he teasingly looked at Isabe. ¡°Miss Symons, didn¡¯t you say you were single just now?¡± His deliberate words made it seem like Isabe intentionally hid the fact that she had a boyfriend, ying both sides. Isabe pressed her lips together, feeling trapped. If she denied being Gordon¡¯s girlfriend, she would embarrass him. But not exining would make her seem like someone ying both sides. Although they were still outside the venue, there were many people around. If 08:33 Tue, 2 Jan N Chapter 126 The Two Troublemakers Met this continued, her reputation in the industry would be tarnished. ¡°She¡¯s not my girlfriend yet,¡± Gordon suddenly spoke, a bit impatient, as he looked at Christopher. ¡°But she will be in the future. Any woman I set my eyes on can¡¯t escape.¡± Isabe was somewhat surprised that he rified. The surrounding people showed disappointment at his words, and the women revealed envy again, wishing they could rece Isabe and be fought over by these two men. Christopher stood opposite, shrugging. ¡°Since she¡¯s not your girlfriend, anyone has the right to pursue her.¡± Gordon sneered. ¡°As if your pursuit would work.¡± With that, he reached out and put his arm around Isabe¡¯s shoulder, lifting his chin. ¡°She even turned down Seth.¡± Isabe was once again at a loss for words. 08:33 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 126 The Two Troublemakers Met At first, she found Gordon somewhat adorable, but he had sessfully dug a hole for her. Whispers spread around, and those who were about to enter the venue deliberately stopped to watch the drama unfold. From N?velDrama.Org. Isabe¡¯s mind was buzzing. In a spot not visible to others, she nudged Gordon, hoping he would quickly stop talking. ¡°Oh?¡± Christopher looked surprised, turning to Isabe. ¡°Miss Symons, it seems you have quite a few admirers.¡± Isabe¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein is just joking. Don¡¯t take him seriously.¡± Gordon clicked his tongue. ¡°Who¡¯s joking with¡­ Mm¡­¡± Before he could finish, Isabe ruthlessly pinched his waist. Ouch! With a smile, Isabe nodded at Christopher, then blinked at Gordon. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, I think we should go inside first.¡± Gordon reluctantly straightened up, his expression resentful. He then turned to re at Christopher. However, when he spoke to Isabe, his tone softened. ¡°We¡¯ll do as you say. Let¡¯s go in.¡± There were many people around, and quite a few knew Gordon. They privately discussed how remarkable it was for Isabe to make the rich kid humble himself like this. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 17 Knowing when to stop, Christopher allowed Isabe and Gordon to enter the venue first while he went to park the car. Gordon watched as Christopher drove towards the parking lot and let out a disdainful snort. ¡°Such a hypocrite.¡± She nced at Gordon¡¯s Porsche. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to park your car?¡± ¡°I can even drive it into the venue.¡± Gordon boasted arrogantly. Just then, he couldn¡¯t help but nce disdainfully at Christopher¡¯s departing figure. ¡°He¡¯s just pretending. He usually enjoys racing; does he care where he parks his car?¡± Hearing that, Isabe stayed silent; she never held Christopher in high regard to begin with. Gordon massaged his waist, about toin, when he suddenly noticed her silence. Furrowing his brows, he asked, not too kindly, ¡°You don¡¯t actually think that hypocrite is a gentleman, do you?¡± Chapter 127 She¡¯s Better Than Luxury Cars She shrugged. ¡°No.¡± ÓÊÃü 84%•þ After a snort, he grabbed her hand and led her towards the venue while continuing to criticize Christopher. ¡°He¡¯s the best at pretending and likes to backstab people. Stay away if you don¡¯t want him to take advantage of you.¡± Isabe sensed that his words were off and looked puzzled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you give him my contact information?¡± Gordon stopped in his tracks as if he had heard a colossal joke. ¡°Me?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yes, he said that when he contacted me.¡± After some thought, he then cursed with a disgusted expression. ¡°It was probably Tyrone and those idiots.¡± ¡°How did they know my contact information?¡± His face darkened, and his tone was unfriendly. ¡°I wanted to help you get some business, so I gave them your contact information.¡± 08:34 Je, 2 Jah Chapter 127 She¡¯s Better Than Luxury Cars Touched, she patted him on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re really considerate.¡± At once, his expression softened, and he raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you moved?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then be my girlfriend,¡± Gordon stated bluntly. Isabe couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. ¡°I take back what I said.¡± Hearing that, he clicked his tongue. ¡°You were just verbally moved? What¡¯s the difference from having a fake girlfriend?¡± Resigned, she quickly changed the subject. ¡°Enough of that. Tell me about your conflict with Christopher. It seems like you two have some grudges.¡± Gordon evaded her gaze, not answering immediately. She had a feeling she touched on something he didn¡¯t like people to talk about, and she regretted speaking out of turn. 08:34 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 127 She¡¯s Better Than Luxury Cars Just as they entered the venue, Jonas, still wearing bandages on his head, greeted them with a smile. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, it¡¯s such an honor to have you here. Thank you for your presence.¡± This guy was already plump, and with his face and head swollen from yesterday¡¯s collision, he looked quiteical. Gordon¡¯s mood was already bad, and Jonas¡¯ approach happened to block his way. He scanned the other party coldly. ¡°I¡¯m not here to be courteous. No need to be so happy.¡± Jonas was rendered speechless. On the side, Isabe¡¯s lips twitched; she wanted tough but held it back. Jonas¡¯ face became even more swollen from Gordon¡¯s retort. He tried to say something several times but couldn¡¯t find the right words. After clearing her throat, Isabe intervened. ¡°Mr. Stokes, you were just hospitalized yesterday. How did you get discharged so quickly?¡± Chapter 127 She¡¯s Better Than Luxury Cars ¡°He¡¯s dedicated to his work.¡± Suddenly, Abigail appeared, swaying her hips while holding a champagne ss, presenting herself as if she were attending a high-end ball. She stood beside Jonas but kept casting flirtatious nces at Gordon. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein, please don¡¯t bother Mr. Stokes too much. If it weren¡¯t for weing an esteemed guest like you, he would still be in the hospital.¡± She was speaking in a sweet and coquettish manner, sounding like she was speaking on behalf of Jonas, but in reality, her gaze was fixed on Gordon. Gordon usually didn¡¯t like this kind of woman, especially those tantly showing off their intentions. He was about to retort fiercely, but before he could do so, Isabe beat him to it. ¡°Mr. Stokes, Mr. Dunkstein has a straightforward personality. Please don¡¯t take it personally.¡± Jonas didn¡¯t dare to take it personally. Laughing nervously, he continued to tter Gordon. ¡°I understand. Young people like Mr. Dunkstein with strong personalities surely have their temper.¡± Chapter 127 She¡¯s Better Than Luxury Cars After that, he turned to the side and made a gesture, inviting them inside. ¡°This way, Mr. Dunkstein. I¡¯ve reserved front-row seats for you.¡± It wasn¡¯t wise to respond to someone showing friendliness with hostility. So, despite his bad mood, Gordon refrained from further retorts. If he continued, it would seem like he was being a bully. He grabbed Isabe¡¯s hand and walked past Jonas, swaggering into the exhibition hall. Isabe looked helpless. This man couldn¡¯t care less about offending people, but in the end, she was the one who had to deal with it. Jonas couldn¡¯t handle Gordon but had ways to deal with her. Gordon led her to the exhibition hall, where people were gathered around aText ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. newly released McLaren. Beside it, a beautiful car model showcased the aesthetic fusion of humans and cars from various angles. ¡°It costs over eight million. It¡¯s quite expensive,¡± someone whispered. Isabe peeked her head and took a look at the car, feeling a bit tempted ¡°Do you like it?¡± Gordon suddenly asked. She nodded. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t?¡± As he looked at her, he captured a glint of light in her eyes, and his heart stirred. He thought, What¡¯s so great about this car and the car model? They are far less appealing than Isabe. ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for you,¡± he blurted out without even thinking. Isabe was stunned. Meanwhile, the surrounding crowd who heard that also looked over, curious to see who the generous man was. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Isabe¡¯s face flushed with heat as she avoided the gazes of the crowd, trying to pull Gordon out of the encirclement. However, before she could act, a male voice interrupted. ¡°Mr. Dunkstein really has good taste. This car suits Miss Symons perfectly.¡± Christopher, dressed in a bright red suit, stood out conspicuously. His well-known face was instantly recognized, causing a stir as soon as he appeared. Most of the people in the venue were here for Seth. They didn¡¯t expect a bonus-Christopher, who was only slightly less impressive than Seth. Standing beside Gordon, Isabe felt the eyes around her constantly shifting between her and the two men. It felt much more intense than the attention she had received outside the main gate just now. Despite her internal frustration, she maintained a polite expression as she 08:35 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 128 Everyone Avoids The Devil nodded to Christopher and then turned to Gordon. ¡°I don¡¯t need a car. You don¡¯t have to spend so much money, Mr. Dunkstein.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t hurt to drive it for fun.¡± Gordon ignored her. He had a grudge against Christopher and insisted on showing off. As he spoke, he snapped his fingers at the salesperson beside him, signaling them to proceed with the documents. Isabe felt a headacheing on. She had received generous gifts before, such as the downtown house that Seth had given her as a reward for apanying him abroad for more than two months. She was ecstatic back then, but now, at the mention of over 1.2 million, her face turned warm as she tried to think of a way to stop Gordon. ¡°Why would you force her to drive it when she doesn¡¯t seem to want it?¡± Christopher, who had been watching the show, seemed to sense that Isabe was mentally tense, so he took advantage of the situation to add fuel to the fire. 08:35 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 128 Everyone Avoids The Devil Gordon was about to swipe his card when he suddenly heard Christopher¡¯s annoyingment. It instantly made his mood extremely unpleasant. He lowered his gaze, clenched his fist, and was about to punch Christopher. Noticing him, Isabe quickly grabbed his arm with an anxious look. ¡°Gordon!¡± Rarely did she call Gordon by his name. His eyes flickered, and the anger boiling within instantly subsided. Everyone around could tell that the two young men were at odds, while Isabe easily persuaded Gordon. ¡°Do you really not want it?¡± Gordon frowned and asked her. She quickly nodded in response. ¡°We¡¯re in Imperia! The traffic jam here is insane.¡± Her words sounded so sincere that the salesperson¡¯s colleague gritted her teeth and silently thought, ¡°This person is a fool to reject him!¡± This time, Gordon clicked his tongue and waved to the salesperson. ¡°Forget 08:35 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 128 Everyone Avoids The Devil it.¡± Isabe secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Worried that Christopher would continue to speak nonsense, she took the initiative to hold Gordon¡¯s arm and deliberately led him away from the crowd. As they walked past Christopher, she heard him chuckle in a seemingly sarcastic and amused tone. That sound gave her the sensation of a snake¡¯s tongue brushing against her neck, prompting her to quicken her pace. When they were finally out of the crowd, Gordon withdrew his arm and grasped Isabe¡¯s hand. ¡°What are you afraid of? It was just Christopher.¡± Isabe rolled her eyes. ¡°Sir, even your father might not dare to confront the Larson Family head-on.¡± After all, there was a big difference between nouveau riche and 08:35 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 128 Everyone Avoids The Devil deeply-rooted wealthy families. When he finally understood what she meant, he frowned. Sighing, Isabe withdrew her hand from his grip and advised, ¡°You two can¡¯t have that big of a grudge, right? Just endure it in public.¡± Gordon pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. ¡°This guy almost sent me to prison. How bad do you think this grudge is?¡± Isabe was taken aback as she did not expect that at all. After pondering about it, she recalled what Seth had told her. Gordon had once been involved in a criminal case. ¡°You probably know about it, don¡¯t you?¡± Gordon had no intention of concealing it as he reached into his pocket for a cigarette. However, he found that he had changed his clothes and didn¡¯t bring any. His mood worsened, and he cursed. Helplessly, Isabe grabbed some mint candy from a nearby tray. ¡°Have this first.¡± 08:35 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 128 Everyone Avoids The Devil Instead of taking it from her, he opened his mouth. Isabe was speechless at that. Not wanting to annoy him even more, she tore the candy wrapper, pinched one side of the candy, and brought it near his mouth. Gordon raised his brows with a hint of mischief in his eyes. Staring at Isabe, he bit half of the candy with his teeth. Initially, she was going to withdraw her hand, but he suddenly stuck his tongue out and licked the tip of her finger. Isabe widened her eyes and quickly retracted her hand due to shock. After sessfully teasing her, Gordon looked pleased. He looked like a cat that had stolen a bite of fish. Fixing his gaze on Isabe, hemented, ¡°Sweet.¡± ¡°Bullsh*t. Mint candy isn¡¯t sweet,¡± she muttered, taking a deep breath. She crossed her arms and subtly rubbed her fingertips on her clothes. At the 08:35 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 128 Everyone Avoids The Devil same time, she was frustrated. 70 Noticing the displeased look on her face, Gordon clicked his tongue. ¡°Why are you so upset?¡± From N?velDrama.Org. The venue suddenly became noisy even before he could coax her. ¡°Are you sure? Is he really here?!¡± Two salesgirls from the sales department walked past Isabe and Gordon, sounding excited. Instantly, Isabe¡¯s attention was diverted. She tiptoed to look outside. ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡± Chapter 129 Chapter 129 ¡®Isabe, you never cease to amaze!¡¯ While Isabe gazed outside, she received a text message from Jonas on her phone, leaving her puzzled. Not wanting her attention diverted, Gordon forcefully crunched the candy in his mouth. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± She pocketed her phone, shook her head, and replied, ¡°Nothing. Just a message from work.¡± Just as she finished speaking, the noise outside grew louder, and the distinct voice of a female salesperson reached her ears. ¡°It¡¯s Seth Shaffer!¡± Shocked, Isabe raised her head and looked towards the entrance in disbelief. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. However, her view was blocked by too many people, preventing her from 08:36 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 129 Unavoidable Encounter catching a glimpse of the scene at the door. She could only hear the lively discussions around her. Seeing the change in her expression, Gordon frowned. ¡°Did you invite Seth too?¡± Isabe was at a loss for words. ¡°I must be insane to invite him!¡± 277 Before she could finish, Alex appeared out of nowhere and yfully stuck her tongue out at Isabe. ¡°Isabe, I¡¯m impressed that you managed to invite Seth.¡± Isabe remained silent. ¡°Hmph!¡± Meanwhile, Gordon wasn¡¯t pleased. She couldn¡¯t exin herself and felt overwhelmed. She also hadn¡¯t settled the score with Seth yet. He might havee to bring her back to sign the contract. ¡°It¡¯s crowded in here, Shall we leave through the back door and get some 08:36 Tue, 2 Jan NM Chapter 129 Unavoidable Encounter fresh air?¡± Isabe suggested to Gordon, trying to please him. Gordon wasn¡¯t eager to meet Seth in the first ce, and hearing her sincere suggestion brightened his mood. ¡°Sure.¡± He casually shrugged. Isabe quickly turned around and walked ahead, leading the way. ¡°There are many motorcycles outside, and I think they look cooler than cars.¡± Trying to lighten the atmosphere, she hoped not to offend Gordon. Otherwise, she would be truly surrounded. Gordon was into motorcycles, so his mood instantly lifted. ¡°Get on. I¡¯ll take you for a ride.¡± Isabe couldn¡¯t be more pleased. He was the distinguished guest of the day. Following him outside would earn her the most appropriate response. ¡°Sure. There¡¯s also a race track nearby,¡± she suggested. Both of them quickly agreed upon the idea. Coincidentally, there was no ring presence of people like Seth and Christopher, and no one else was Chapter 129 Unavoidable Encounter observing the motorcycle area, so the atmosphere would be harmonious. Gordon tried a Harley, and its thunderous roar surpassed that of sports cars, creating an exhrating feeling. After ruffling his hair, he gracefully tossed a helmet to Isabe. ¡°Get on!¡± Taking hold of the helmet, Isabe fixed her hair and put it on before walking up to Gordon. ¡°Don¡¯t take the south gate. It¡¯s crowded!¡± she reminded him loudly. In fact, the south gate was spacious, and parking was convenient. However, Isabe assumed that Seth¡¯s car must be parked at the south gate, so she didn¡¯t want to stir up unnecessary trouble. In the front seat of the motorcycle, Gordon, wearing a helmet and unable to hear clearly, only vaguely caught the words ¡®south gate.¡¯ ¡°Got it!¡± Feeling relieved, Isabe hugged Gordon¡¯s waist, excited about leaving the danger zone. 08:36 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 129 Unavoidable Encounter The roar of the Harley motorcycle echoed as it circled the exhibition ground before slowly heading towards the exit. Wearing a helmet, Isabe couldn¡¯t see the direction clearly, but she had no doubts that Gordon would go the right way. Riding pillion, she felt reassured. As they headed towards the south gate, Gordon noticed there were indeed few cars around, so he gradually increased.his speed. Suddenly, a ck car rushed out from the corner. Gordon mmed on the brakes, narrowly avoiding an ident. Sitting in the back, Isabe clearly felt the motorcycle shake, so she instinctively put both feet on the ground. Then, she pushed the visor upward. ¡°What happened?¡± Seated behind him, she couldn¡¯t see the front, so she appeared confused. Gordon was seated in front of her, facing the ck car head-on. His gaze instantly darkened, Isabe, sensing that something was wrong, forcefully removed her helmet. ¡°What¡¯s wro-¡°. Before she could finish speaking, the entire scene stunned her. At the south gate, a row of luxurious cars, all belonging to influential figures who came to visit Seth, blocked their way. The crowd that surged out from the venue also gathered in this area, making the previously open space almost impassable. In front of Gordon and her was a ck Lincoln limousine with a familiar license te number. Isabe gulped as her gaze gradually shifted and finally fixed on the back seat of the Lincoln. Just then, Jonas ran out of the venue with a swollen face, trying to approach and open the door. However, before he could even touch the door handle, the bodyguards pushed him to the side. When the door opened, ady in high heels stepped out. Isabe was slightly stunned because she was caught off guard by the person who came out. She even started doubting whether she had remembered the license te number correctly. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Dressed in a pink knee-length skirt, Selena stepped out of the car in crystal-high heels. Her sweet, delicate face gave her an innocent appearance, and she even nodded gently at Jonas. Sitting on the motorcycle, Isabe felt her heart skip a beat as she experienced an indescribable feeling. Selena seemed different, and that sent a chill down her spine. Lost in her thoughts, Isabe was interrupted when the bodyguard walked to the other side of the car and opened the door for the man inside. ¡°Show off,¡± Gordon muttered in front of Isabe, revving the motorcycle¡¯s engine to its maximum sound. Motorcycles and Bentleys didn¡¯t quite match, but both men were leaders in their respective fields, creating a visually striking scene. The car door swung open, revealing Seth¡¯s side profile to everyone. The sun shone through, casting a golden light onto half his face. His features were 08:36 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 130 Which Venue Did He Book partially hidden, giving him a noble and arrogant look. Meanwhile, Isabe sat on the back seat of the motorcycle with a restricted view. That changed when the man stepped out of the car in his ck leather shoes, revealing his perfectly handsome face under the sun and causing restrained squeals from the surrounding women. She couldn¡¯t help but click her tongue and then poked Gordon¡¯s back. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to enter through the south gate?¡± Gordon fell silent and realized he had misheard, instantly regretting his decision. However, since they had encountered each other, it would be too humiliating to turn away. Therefore, they could only force themselves to move forward. After all, to young Mr. Dunkstein, Seth was only slightly superior to Christopher. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, it¡¯s an honor to have you here. We apologize for any shorings in our hospitality,¡± Jonas said, approaching shyly and smiling eagerly. 08:36 Tue, 2 Jan NMA Chapter 130 Which Venue Did He Book Seth didn¡¯t even nce at him. His gaze swept coldly around the surroundings before finallynding on the lowered head behind Gordon. Selena noticed his gaze and walked up to him, speaking gently, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, let¡¯s go inside. It¡¯s hot out here.¡± Jonas quickly chimed in, ¡°Yes, we should head inside. There¡¯s air conditioning in there.¡± Not far away, Isabe silently thought, Hurry up and go inside so that you won¡¯t melt from the sun. Otherwise, who will be responsible for that? Seth withdrew his gaze and strolled into the venue with one hand in his pocket. Watching him walk away, Isabe breathed a sigh of relief and silently chanted, ¡°Thank God.¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Gordon mischievously revved the throttle several times to create a deafening noise, sessfully bringing back some of Isabe¡¯s diverted thoughts. 08:37 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 130 Which Venue Did He Book Frightened, she quickly patted his shoulder. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Gordon clicked his tongue. ¡°I was just revving the engine. What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Feeling overwhelmed, she quickly nced toward the crowd, and fortunately for her, Seth didn¡¯t intend to turn around. Afraid of anything else happening, she urged Gordon, ¡°Hurry up and leave.¡± Since Gordon was aware of her fear of Seth, he couldn¡¯t help but snort disdainfully and mutter something under his breath, seemingly still holding back his frustration when propping up the motorcycle. Then, he suddenly drove away without informing Isabe, startling her so much that she almost fell backward. ¡°Hey!¡± When Isabe opened her mouth, the cold wind rushed inside, and her words turned into muffled, indistinguishable sounds. She was so angry that she didn¡¯t hold onto Gordon but still managed to finish the entire journey by gripping the back seat. 08:37 Tue, 2 Jan NM Chapter 130 Which Venue Did He Book When they arrived outside the racetrack, Gordon deliberately mmed on the brakes again. Such childish behavior gave Isabe a headache, and she took the opportunity to get off the motorcycle, feeling dizzy and disoriented. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ really something. I¡¯ve never gotten dizzy on a motorcycle my whole life!¡± She ced her hands on her waist as she made her way to sit on the curb outside the racetrack and took deep breaths. With one leg propped on the ground, Gordon fixed his hair in the bike¡¯s mirror, enjoying his handsome looks and responding to Isabe¡¯sints with only a few cold snorts. ¡°Get on. I¡¯ll take you inside and run a couple ofps.¡± Like a formidable foe, Isabe repeatedly waved her hands and declined the offer. ¡°I can¡¯t do it anymore.¡± Gordon frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? You¡¯re ruining the fun.¡± Chapter 130 Which Venue Did He Book Isabe rolled her eyes. ¡°You can head inside on your own. I¡¯ll take a break and join youter.¡± ¡°Can you manage being out here alone?¡± Gordon looked around to assess the safety of the surroundings. Isabe nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You should hurry inside.¡± had been a long while since Gordon had been on the racetrack, and he was eager to start racing. After repeatedly ensuring Isabe was okay, he entered the arena alone. As it wasn¡¯t race season, no other cars were around, so the environment was very quiet. Isabe sat by the road, tilting her head back while resting with her eyes closed. Her breath gradually calmed. Suddenly, her phone rang. She leisurely took it out and nced at the screen. It was a text from Alex. ¡®Isabe, why did you leave?¡¯ Before Isabe could reply, several more messages came in. ¡®You¡¯ve lost it big time. Seth Shaffer is so handsome!¡¯ ¡®Guess where we¡¯re heading next? Seth has booked the entire venue!¡¯ Isabe frowned and typed, ¡®Booked what venue?¡¯ But she didn¡¯t receive a reply from Alex after sending her message and thought Alex was probably out of breath from all the excitement. Isabe clicked her tongue, thinking that she had nothing to do with Seth putting on airs. Then, she continued to enjoy the breeze without worry. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 After taking a sufficient rest, Isabe entered the arena only to find that there were no motorcycle engines roaring. Instead, she witnessed a heated argument between Gordon and the security guard at the entrance. ¡°Sorry, sir. Our venue is booked for another event today.¡± ¡°Bullsh*t! Since when can someone else book the entire venue?¡± Gordon was furious, uttering profanities and speaking impolitely, seemingly on the verge of exploding. Isabe quickly approached him and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Upon seeing Isabe, Gordon softened his tone slightly. ¡°They won¡¯t let me in,. iming that the venue is booked for something else.¡± The security guards noticed Gordon¡¯s change in attitude and realized that Isabe was the one in charge. They turned towards her and exined, ¡°Miss, we¡¯re not trying to deceive this gentleman. Someone booked the racetrack Chapter 131 Kicking His Car Door half an hour ago, and we¡¯ve received instructions from our superiors to clear the area.¡± Isabe furrowed her brows, sensing that something was amiss, but she couldn¡¯t figure out what it was. Then, she tugged on Gordon¡¯s sleeve, persuading him, ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s find another ce for a ride.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Gordon was furious. Things hadn¡¯t been going his way since his encounter with Christopher that morning, and now he was facing another setback in front of Isabe. It seemed like luck wasn¡¯t on his side today. ¡°Go and get your manager. I want to book this venue too. I¡¯ll double whatever they paid!¡± Gordon eximed. Isabe sighed helplessly. She had no way of dealing with his temper. The security guards looked at each other before one of them hurriedly jogged away, probably heading to consult with their manager. Meanwhile, Isabe felt uneasy because someone who could afford to book the entire racetrack was likely as wealthy as Gordon, if not more. Moreover, 08:37 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 131 Kicking His Car Door there was a good chance that the other party wouldn¡¯t back down just because of some extra payment, which might even lead to more trouble. She found herself in a difficult situation because she didn¡¯t want to offend any more influential people for no reason. ¡°Do you have to start a fight?¡± She patiently approached Gordon and whispered, ¡°How about we find a quiet road surrounded by trees for a leisurely ride? What¡¯s the point of booking this venue? It¡¯ll help you blow off some steam, and you can use the money to treat me to a meal instead.¡± With a click of his tongue, Gordon regretted his impulsive actions. However, taking back his words would be too embarrassing. Seeing his hesitation, Isabe took the initiative to approach the security guards. ¡°Sorry, but we won¡¯t be booking the ce. Please inform your manager,¡± Isabe stated to the security guard.From N?velDrama.Org. Upon hearing that, the security guards breathed a sigh of relief and dared not show even the slightest hint of disdain. After all, Gordon was prominently exuding the demeanor of a wealthy second-generation. Chapter 131 Kicking His Car Door ¡°Have a nice day.¡± Isabe finally felt relieved and turned around to pull Gordon along, wanting to leave this troubled ce as soon as possible. She thought it was probably not a good day to go out, especially for a drive. Otherwise, there would definitely be trouble. ¡°It¡¯s so early in the morning, yet everything I encountered was frustrating,¡± Gordon grumbled as Isabe led him away. Back on the motorcycle, he handed the helmet to Isabe. ¡°Want to go for a ride?¡± Isabe felt uneasy about motorcycles now and was not in the mood for a ride, so she sat in the back seat, lost in thought for a while. ¡°Say something,¡± Gordon urged. Isabe rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m still thinking about it.¡± As soon as she spoke, the sound of tires on the road could be heard from a 08:37 Tue, Chapter 131 Kicking His Car Door short distance away. It was clear that there wasn¡¯t only one car but several of them. ¡°F*ck! How dare they trick me?¡± Gordon angrily threw his helmet as his anger red. ¡°And they said someone had booked the venue. Then what are these people doing here?¡± Isabe was at a loss for words. She turned her head, squinting to get a better look at the approaching cars and trying to make out the one leading the pack. The make of the car gradually became clear, followed by the license te. Right then, Isabe heard herself cursing at the same time as Gordon. It was Seth¡¯s car! Isabe suddenly recalled Alex¡¯s text message and instantly pieced everything together. The person who booked the venue was Seth, and it happened just half an hour ago, approximately the same time she and Gordon left. 08:37 Tue, 2 Jan M 70 Chapter 131 Kicking His Car Door In her moment of shock, a row of luxury cars had already parked in the open space outside the racetrack. The cars filled the once-empty area, leaving no room for even a motorcycle to squeeze through. Gordon screamed a series of profanities, his temper finally reaching its breaking point as he exploded on the spot. Worried that he might cause trouble, Isabe instinctively grabbed his waist. ¡°Calm down,¡± she urged. Gordon took a deep breath. ¡°How can I f*cking calm down?!¡± He even suspected whether Seth had a meeting with Christopherst night and agreed to cause trouble with him. Using all her strength to hold Gordon back, Isabe spoke quickly. ¡°Gordon, since there¡¯s no one around right now, let¡¯s abandon the motorcycle and go. Otherwise, these people might¡­ dy our ns.¡± She did it purposely, using the term ¡®ns to create a romantic atmosphere and as an attempt to divert Gordon¡¯s attention. But he was so overwhelmed with anger that he didn¡¯t notice these subtle details. Then, he forcefully pushed away the arms around his waist. Swinging his long legs over the motorcycle¡¯s hood, he swiftly turned off the engine and got down, leaving Isabe alone. Afterward, he headed straight for the ck Bentley. Isabe¡¯s heart was in her throat, and she almost fell along with the motorcycle. Just as she steadied the bike, she made a mad dash for Gordon. However, she was still slower than the man and couldn¡¯t stop him in time. Meanwhile, Gordon had walked up to the Bentley and forcefully kicked its back door. He did so with a loud bang, and everyone at the scene was shocked. At that moment, Isabe felt as if a knife had stabbed into her body. Oh, no. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 After noticing that there was no movement inside the car, Gordon continued to kick it several times. Isabe¡¯s heart tightened with each sound, beating until it stopped functioning. Finally, when Gordon grew tired, the door opened. However, the person who emerged was not Seth, but an expressionless Ollie. With that, everyone let out a sigh of relief, and Isabe immediately came back to life. ¡°Thank God it¡¯s not Seth,¡± she thought. Following that, Ollie bent over and spoke into the car. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, you can Isabe was shocked. There was a collective gasp as the crowd instinctively took two steps back. Chapter 132 How About A Competition Seth emerged from the other side of the car, standing tall. Even though he was slightly taller than Gordon and was standing behind a car, his restrained dominance and oppression felt more lethal than Gordon¡¯s obvious anger. ¡°Didn¡¯t Xavier ever teach you to behave yourself when you¡¯re outside?¡± The man¡¯s chilling voice resonated, instantly causing the atmosphere to drop a few degrees. Coincidentally, a storm cloud passed by, covering the sunlight. The previously sunny and clear sky darkened, making the crowd feel depressed and anxious. Meanwhile, Isabe stood in front of the car. She wanted to intervene and mediate the situation, but suddenly, she felt afraid to do so. Even she had to be cautious around Seth, so how could she dare to speak up for Gordon? ¡°Didn¡¯t your father teach you not to put on airs outside?¡± Gordon mimicked Seth¡¯s tone and retorted. Inside, Isabe was screaming, cursing at Gordon. ¡°Isn¡¯t that nonsense? If Seth can¡¯t put on airs, then who in the entire Imperia can? We¡¯re all in the same situation, but none of us started from the same starting line. How can 08:38 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 132 How About A Competition you mimic his tone? Are you insane?¡± However, Seth didn¡¯t even spare Gordon a nce, probably unwilling to engage with the misbehaving kid. He walked past her without even acknowledging her presence. Afterward, Selena got out of the car and hurried after him, followed by Ollie and two teams of bodyguards. And just like that, the group passed by Isabe. ¡°How about apetition?¡± Gordon suddenly spoke up when the group had walked some distance away. Hearing that, Isabe was shocked and suspected that the guy had lost his mind. Why else would he be so insistent on provoking Seth? Seth indeed stopped in his tracks before the crowd. Isabe closed her eyes and unconsciously moved to the side. Seth¡¯s gaze swept across Isabe¡¯s face before settling on Gordon, who was 08:38 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 132 How About A Competition not far away. He spoke up. ¡°You¡¯re asking me topete with you?¡± Gordon looked arrogant as he took a step forward. ¡°Are you scared?¡± It was clearly a provocation, and based on Isabe¡¯s understanding of Seth, she knew he wouldn¡¯t agree to such childish games. However, to her surprise, Seth responded, asking, ¡°What do you want topete over?¡± Isabe¡¯s eyes widened as she was once again taken aback. The crowd had excited looks on their faces and didn¡¯t even dare to blink, afraid of missing any exciting moments. ¡°Since we¡¯re at a race track, of course we should race cars.¡± Gordon hadn¡¯t even finished speaking when Christopher, dressed in red, appeared from behind, adding fuel to the fire. At that point, Isabe¡¯s distaste for Christopher had reached its peak. Compared to her disgust for Louis, she looked down on people who used underhanded tricks. Seth pursed his lips and didn¡¯t reply immediately. His gaze inadvertently Chapter 132 How About A Competition scanned the surroundings. ¡°Since it¡¯s apetition, what will you do if you lose?¡± The man¡¯s cold gaze Owned by N?velDrama.Org. seemed to trap Gordon, exuding a strong aura. Thepetition hadn¡¯t even begun, but it felt like Seth had already won. Knowing about Seth¡¯s driving skills, Isabe desperately tried to convey a message to Gordon with her eyes, hoping he would stop causing trouble for himself. ¡°If I lose, you can make me do whatever you want.¡± Gordon spoke without thinking, convinced that someone like Seth, who spent his entire day in the conference room, could never possess good driving skills. Isabe¡¯s shoulders slumped as she lost all hope. ¡°Are you going to race cars?¡± Jonas suddenly appeared, his eyes filled with cunning. ¡°Then ourpany should provide a prize.¡± Rubbing his hands together, he brushed off the two protagonists¡¯ disregard for him and continued, ¡°Coincidentally, ourpany just received a new Cayenne. I¡¯ll make that car the prize for thispetition!¡± Chapter 132 How About A Competition It was just a car. Not to mention Seth and Gordon, even the crowd at the scene didn¡¯t care about the prize. Only Isabe¡¯s eyes lit up. She knew about that Cayenne. It was red and looked cool, and she had fallen in love with it at first sight. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t afford it. But now, there was a chance before her. She would win the car if she won thepetition. ¡°Enough with the nonsense, let¡¯s get inside the arena.¡± Gordon was fed up with Jonas and wanted to give him a few kicks. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Isabe suddenly raised her hand. Her action caught everyone¡¯s attention, and she received curious gazes. Seth¡¯s gaze, from behind several circles of the crowd, was more intense than anyone else¡¯s. Summoning her courage, she smiled and asked him, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, can¡­ I join thepetition?¡± Chapter 133 Chapter 133 ¡°Why are you joining?¡± Gordon questioned, pursing his lips at Isabe. ¡°Butt out.¡± However, she ignored him and smiled at Seth with determination in her eyes. It¡¯s a car, man. Who knows? I might just win. Seth didn¡¯t look at her and turned around, walking into the racing track with one hand in his pocket. The crowd was confused by hisck of response and trudged after him. Isabe understood what he meant because if he didn¡¯t refuse, it meant he was okay with it. So, she jumped excitedly on the spot, only to turn around and see Gordon¡¯s cold gaze. ¡°What are you waiting for? He¡¯s gone in!¡± She ignored him and tapped his arm before entering the venue with the crowd. 08:39 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 1331 Really Want To Defeat Him The racing track was for Form 1 races, with its vast space connected to a small hill opposite. If they went up the mountain roads, they could also reach the top. Typically, in a private race, the top of the mountain was usually the finishing point. The crowd smartly sat in their seats and spoke softly, avoiding making loud noises. For the fairness of thepetition, the cars used were the standard race cars provided by the track, which were slightly less powerful than the Form 1 cars. Isabe was thest to enter and saw Gordon had swiftly changed into the safety gear and gotten in the car. On the other hand, Seth went to the lounge to change as if he didn¡¯t have a care in the world. Isabe took the safety gear from Alex and checked it thoroughly before feeling at ease, making sure there weren¡¯t any problems. ¡°You¡¯ve got some guts to race with Seth,¡± Alexmented. Isabe pursed her lips and replied, ¡°Moneyes from danger.¡± 08:39 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 1331 Really Want To Defeat Him Alex was taken aback, not knowing that Isabe really wanted the prize. She clicked her tongue and whispered, ¡°Be cautious at the curve at the bottom of the hill. It¡¯s easy to get sideswiped there. Many people have flipped their cars there.¡± Isabe gave her an ¡®OK¡¯ gesture, feeling grateful for Alex¡¯s advice. She grabbed her clothes and turned around to see Seth exiting the lounge in his safety gear. He was dressed in ck with full gear from head to toe and a pair of sunsses. They stood facing each other with some distance between them, but Isabe couldn¡¯t see his eyes. Then, Selena walked out from behind him and smiled at her. Isabe rolled her eyes, knowing they couldn¡¯t see her clearly from a distance. She then turned around and walked to another changing room. After shutting the door, she let out a long breath, pushing aside all thoughts and changing quickly. She could faintly hear the cheers outside, and the Chapter 133 I Really Want To Defeat Him atmosphere was much livelier than before. Isabe exited the changing room, only to see Alex waiting for her. She immediately walked up to her. ¡°Hurry up. They¡¯re all waiting for you.¡± At that point, Isabe started to get nervous. It had been some time since she had driven a car. She might not win even if it was a normal car, let alone with professional race cars. She even wondered if she could start the car. It would be hrious if the car didn¡¯t move. As she entered the track, the crowd cheered louder. Four cars were parked side by side, and Seth and Gordon were already seated. When Isabe walked over, she saw Christopher leisurely getting in his car. She felt a little ufortable and more on guard, aside from feeling nervous. Before she got in her car, she knocked on Gordon¡¯s door. He took off his sunsses and asked, ¡°Yes?¡± 08:39 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 133 | Really Want To Defeat Him Isabe lowered her voice and warned, ¡°Watch out for Christopher.¡± Upon hearing that, he waved his hand. ¡°Of course.¡± She pondered and realized that Gordon had experienced Christopher¡¯s tricks. Even though she didn¡¯t know what happened, she was sure it must have been bad. Standing up, she turned around and walked to the right, passing by Seth¡¯s car. She wanted to remind him as well but had second thoughts as she recalled what type of person he was. Whatever. It¡¯s none of my business. She put on her sunsses and got in the car smartly. In professional race cars, there wasn¡¯t much room to move about once one entered. Isabe¡¯s whole body tensed up, and she started sweating within seconds. It felt like she couldn¡¯t even hear the noise from outside. It wasn¡¯t until Seth started his car that she also started hers. The roar of the car drowned out all noise from the outside world, awakening 08:39 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 133 I Really Want To Defeat Him the rebellion and impulsion in everyone¡¯s heart. Isabe revved the car engine and felt a sense of satisfaction from the sound. She tightened her sweaty palms on the steering wheel and stepped on the gas a few times. Boom! The starting gun fired. Isabe was startled and quickly released the gear as the car shot out. Fortunately, the first part of the track was a straight road, or she would have overturned her car immediately. Gordon and Christopher were in the front, with Seth behind them and Isabe inst ce. She wanted to try her luck and didn¡¯t expect the men to be so skilled atFrom N?velDrama.Org. racing. It seemed like she wouldn¡¯t have a chance at winning after all. The first twops were on the regr race tracks. She was always at the back and was even half ap behind Seth. She had been a winner since she was a child, but suddenly, she became a loser, and the desire to win that she had tried so hard to hide came out. It¡¯s fine if I don¡¯t win, but I can¡¯t best! Isabe took a deep breath and floored the gas. However, Seth kept blocking her and changingnes whenever she moved. She gritted her teeth and suspected that he was doing it on purpose. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Afterpleting twops, the gate to the winding road opened, leaving the spectators in the stands with only aerial shots of the race. Isabe was drenched in sweat. She was so nervous that the steering wheel almost slipped out of her grasp, while her legs remained frozen in ce. Carefully adjusting the throttle and brakes with her ankles, she followed Seth, constantly searching for an opportunity to break free. However, as soon as she went off the racetrack, she sensed that something was wrong. Seth seemed to be intentionally holding back from pulling ahead. He leisurely trailed behind the two cars in front, maintaining his speed without any intention of overtaking. Isabe swallowed hard, cautiously peering forward to assess Christopher and Gordon¡¯s situation. Initially, Christopher had taken the lead, closely followed by Gordon, who managed to catch up on the straight and stayed side by side with him. Neither of them gave way to the other, and their cars had simr 08:39 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 134 The Heroine Can¡¯t Die In A Car Crash performance, resulting in a deadlock. Isabe swerved back and forth at the back, but it offered no advantage apart frompromising her speed. The race on the t ground was almost over. One more turn, and they would reach the road going around the hill. The first two cars ahead continued to battle it out. They remained side by side, blocking the road and leaving no room for other cars to pass. Just as they were approaching the outer turn, either Gordon or Christopher suddenly veered to the side, crashing into the adjacent car. Bang! Startled by the loud noise, Isabe nearly lost control of her steering wheel. Fortunately, she had been closely following Seth. Steadying her car just in time, she managed to squeeze through a narrow gap after him. In the rearview mirror, one car had overturned from the collision, while the Chapter 134 The Heroine Can¡¯t Die In A Car Crash other hade to a stop on its own. Isabe saw Gordon stepping out of his car, indicating that Christopher¡¯s car had overturned. She didn¡¯t have time to think. Right now, only Seth was ahead of her. If she could seize another opportunity, she might win the race. However, the road going around the hill was narrow, allowing only one car to pass. Squeezing past Seth would require exceptional skills, and the slightest mistake could send her car tumbling down the hill. Not daring to take any risks, Isabe continued to stick closely to Seth, waiting for the final opportunity to reach the open ground on top of the hill. Meanwhile, Seth could see her determined expression through the rearview mirror. His lips curled at the corner, but it wasn¡¯t a smile. The look in his eyes behind his sunsses was mysterious. He eased off the gas pedal, intentionally slowing down. Isabe noticed this moment from behind. Thinking he had let his guard down, she seized the opportunity and elerated, racing ahead. 08:39 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 134 The Heroine Can¡¯t Die In A Car Crash With a swoosh, the car shot past the grid girl at the finishing line, crashing straight into therge tree at the center. Isabe¡¯s eyes widened as she realized what was happening. All the rules of the road vanished from her mind; all she could do was m on the brakes. An ear-piercing screech followed. The car didn¡¯te to a stop. Instead, it flipped over instantly. The airbag deployed, enveloping Isabepletely. She didn¡¯t feel much pain except for a pricking sensation in her knee. After a disorienting moment, the world fell silent. There was only a buzzing sound in her ears. Several secondster, two voices broke the silence. ¡°Isabe!¡± It was Seth¡¯s voice. ¡°Someone¡¯s injured! Hurry and call an ambnce!¡± cried a flirtatious voice, likely belonging to the grid girl. Isabe let out a sigh. She wanted to say she was fine, but the airbag was 08:39 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 134 The Heroine Can¡¯t Die In A Car Crash pressing against her face, leaving her with just enough room to barely breathe. She had absolutely no space to speak. Another dizzying moment followed. It was probably the car being set upright again. The car door was opened, and fresh air rushed in. Isabe took a deep breath, struggling to get out. ¡°Don¡¯t move! Do you want to die?!¡± Isabe was momentarily speechless. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Seth stood in front of the car, having just dealt with an airbag, when he lowered his head and met her gaze. Isabe seemed perfectly fine apart from her disheveled hair, although the smile on her face was just as irritating T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. as before. ¡°Are you out of your mind? Why did you crash into a tree Isabe had expected him to at least inquire about her physical condition, but instead, he immediately criticized her emotionally. She closed her eyes, mustering her patience. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, mistakes happen. Everyone can-¡± ¡°Just step back if you can¡¯t handle this. Are you out of your mind, risking your life for a car?¡± Seth rested his hand on the car door, his eyes filled with mockery. Isabe struggled to get her upper body out of the car, but her legs wouldn¡¯t move. Any movement caused a pricking pain in her knee. After taking a few breaths, she managed a faint smile at the man. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, even if I¡¯m out of my mind, it doesn¡¯t mean you should stand by and do nothing, right?¡± Seth retorted, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯re fine?¡± Isabe was at a loss for words. ¡°My legs hurt.¡± Seth¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as he nced at her motionless legs. ¡°Are they broken?¡± Isabe was left speechless. What a despicable scumbag! Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Seth, who was harsh in his words and unkind in his actions, watched Isabe struggle while standing motionless in front of the car. The grid girl, who had been observing, cautiously approached them and blinked at Isabe. ¡°Do you need any help?¡± Her question was met with an instant cold gaze. The girl turned and trembled upon meeting his gaze. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Isabe and quickly changed her response. ¡°Sorry, but I have something else to attend to. You should try your best on your own.¡± Isabe was left speechless. The pricking sensation in her knee was intense. It didn¡¯t feel like her bones were aching, but rather like there was an actual needle inside. Not wanting to suffer, she finally relented, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, can you please assist me?¡± He pulled his hand back from the car¡¯s edge and casually crossed his arms. ¡°Isn¡¯t it annoying that you always cause me problems?¡± 08.39 Chapter 135 Youll Also Agree To My Request Thinking he was intentionally giving her a hard time, she patiently apologized, ¡°Sorry, I-¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that I can¡¯t help you,¡± he interrupted. Isabe¡¯s eyes flickered warily. ¡°Then, please hurry up-¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the deal.¡± Taking a step closer, Seth bent down towards her, emphasizing each word. ¡°I¡¯ll help you once, and in return, you¡¯ll agree to one request from me.¡± Huh? She blinked her eyes. She was somewhat caught off guard by his proposal, and it took a moment for her brain to process the situation. Is this guy mimicking me? Her lips twitched. Finally, she decided to take a risk. ¡°Actually, Mr. Shaffer, you still owe me one request.¡± ¡°So?¡± Seth nced sideways at her. Isabe bit her lip and took a deep breath. She stated bluntly, ¡°Please keep your promise and assist me now.¡± Chapter 135 You¡¯ll Also Agree To My Request ¡°I thought you would hold onto that ultimate lifeline.¡± He sneered, his attitude unpleasant. She smiled wryly and coldly replied, ¡°Now is exactly when I need that lifeline.¡± He could see the sweat on her face just inches away from him. Her hair was damp, and her cheeks were flushed from the heat. The moment she bit her lip, she exuded a particrly seductive charm. A strange tingling sensation washed over him. He couldn¡¯t help but bend down and press the button behind the car seat, deactivating the airbag in front of her. Isabe instantly felt relief in her legs, and the pricking sensation vanished. Breathing a sigh of relief, she quickly lifted her legs, ready to exit the car. However, her legs were weak from the impact of the collision. The moment she stepped out, she identally stumbled, lurching towards Seth. Thud! Instead of bumping into him, she ended up face down on the uneven hillside. The reason? He had skillfully sidestepped her, leaving her body throbbing with pain, worse than the aftermath of the car crash. 08:40 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 135 You¡¯ll Also Agree To My Request Seth stood to the side, and a hint of awkwardness gleamed in his eyes. He had instinctively dodged, suspecting Isabe was trying to retaliate against him. Clearing his throat, he nced at the woman on the ground. ¡°Are you alright?¡± She gritted her teeth and struggled to get up. ¡°Sorry¡­ to disappoint you.¡± He scoffed and frowned. ¡°If you¡¯re not injured, then get up quickly.¡± She managed to prop up her upper body butcked the strength to stand. Her knee throbbed painfully from the fall, as if something had pierced it. Studying her profile, Seth realized that something was wrong. He couldn¡¯t help but walk over and crouch beside Isabe. ¡°Is there something amiss?¡± Her back was sweating from the pain, and she was in no mood to argue with him. Her lips trembled as she replied, ¡°I-It¡¯s my knee.¡± Without hesitation, he slid his arms beneath hers, effortlessly picking her up and cradling her in his embrace. With the change in position, she emitted a muffled groan, her face growing paler due to the pain. Only then did Seth realize that Isabe¡¯s injury wasn¡¯t an act-she was genuinely hurt. Setting her down on a nearby rock, he promptly crouched to- examine her knee. Reaching out, he gently ran his fingertips over the area. It seemed there was something lodged in there, noticeable to the touch. She gulped and said, ¡°There¡¯s something there.¡± He didn¡¯t say a word. He turned and looked around before picking up a Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. sharp-edged stone. ¡°Bear with it,¡± he said, swiftly cutting her racing suit with the stone. The fabric ripped with a tearing sound as he continued tearing it. Isabe¡¯s lower leg was unscratched all the way up to the knee. When Seth forcefully tugged at her racing suit, pain shed across her eyes. He tore the special fabric on her knee with a strong pull, resulting in two audible gasps. Isabe, filled with fear, stared speechlessly at her knee. His pupils contracted as he focused on that small patch of skin, a chilling idea instantly crossing his mind. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 177 ¡°So, it¡¯s really needles¡­¡± Isabe examined the few needles lodged in her knee, her mind racing. In an instant, she mentally listed everyone who might have a motive for this. Seth¡¯s expression was grave. He looked up and nced at her. ¡°You seem to attract unwanted attention. It appears that there are people everywhere who want you dead.¡± He reflected, Her car was going so fast just now. A momentary distraction, a slight slip of the steering wheel, could have been life-threatening. Upon hearing this, fear instantly washed over her, and her hands, resting on the rock, clenched into fists. Alex had given her this suit, but she had a feeling that Alex wasn¡¯t the culprit. With many people in thepany harboring envy, the culprit could be anyone. Seth stood up, his hand on his belt. He quickly made a decision, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡± The grid girl, who had been silent, stepped forward and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ve 08:40 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 136 Unbearable Affections already called for an ambnce.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, the faint sound of the ambnce siren reached them. Isabe nced towards the intersection, expecting the ambnce, but her eyes caught sight of a red sports car first. The car smoothly came to a stop, and Gordon emerged. His gaze locked onto Isabe seated on the rock. Spotting the tear in her pants, his eyes widened in shock. He hurried over, heading straight for Seth. ¡°You son of a b*tch!¡± Huh? Before she couldprehend the situation, Gordon threw a punch at Seth. Seth skillfully dodged the punch in a swift move, stepping back several paces. Unhappy that his punch had missed, Gordon prepared for another one. Speechless, Isabe immediately shouted, ¡°Stop!¡± Gordon froze and looked back in disbelief. ¡°Are you defending him?¡± She was baffled, not understanding how this conversation had suddenly 08:40 Tue, 2 Jan N Chapter 136 Unbearable Affections turned into a dialogue from a cheesy soap opera. She rolled her eyes while pointing emphatically at her leg. ¡°This is from a car crash!¡± He was momentarily taken aback. ¡°But your pants-¡± She was at a loss for words. ¡°Mr. Shaffer was just checking on me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! Who would check on people like this?¡± Gordon remained stubborn. Seth snorted, his gaze full of disdain as he jeered, ¡°You¡¯re quite the yer in your daily life, aren¡¯t you?¡± Gordon was momentarily speechless. Seth had hit the nail on the head; he had indeed forced intimacy before. When he noticed the torn pants on Isabe just now, impure thoughts had crossed his mind. The atmosphere became awkward and tense. Just as Isabe felt like she was suffocating, the ambnce finally arrived. The nurses and doctors seemed hurried and flustered. They wore unfriendly 08:40 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 136 Unbearable Affections expressions, perhaps irritated by such reckless street racers. The nurses looked displeased with Isabe as she was lifted onto the stretcher. Suddenly, they noticed Seth¡¯s presence, and everyone¡¯s attitude shifted. The nurses exchanged astonished nces while subtly hinting at each other. Is that really Seth Shaffer? Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Isabe smirked, deliberately feigning politeness. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, I can go on my own.¡± ¡°No!¡± A nurse eagerly seized the opportunity, her eyes gleaming as she looked at him. ¡°You must have¡­ a family member with you.¡± ¡°What kind of family member is he?¡± Gordon red at the nurse and swiftly got into the ambnce. ¡°I¡¯ll go with her.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not a family member, how does that make you one?¡± Seth raised an eyebrow, looking provocatively at Gordon. Then, suddenly, he hopped into the ambnce. Isabe was astonished. ¡°Mr. Shaffer?¡± She wondered, Don¡¯t you have Chapter 136 Unbearable Affections anything else to do? Must you visit the hospital just to catch a whiff of disinfectant? He leaned against the interior wall of the ambnce, looking straight ahead. ¡°I¡¯d rather see your condition for myself, just to make sure you can¡¯t use it against me.¡± Isabe was utterly speechless. ¡°Tsk!¡± She quietly scoffed and casuallyy down, paying no attention to the two men beside her. The ambnce was crowded. Seeing that Isabe was okay, a few nurses began to rx. Their attention shifted between Seth and Gordon, thinking, Mr. Shaffer looks just as good as he does on TV, but this unknown guy is no less handsome. ncing at Isabe, with her still-healing facial wounds and disheveled appearance, they couldn¡¯t help but be puzzled. The nurses whispered, Are these guys blind? They felt like their world was turning upside down. The awkward atmosphere lingered until they arrived at the hospital. Seth and Gordon sat by the ambnce¡¯s door, exchanging a nce, but 08:40 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 136 Unbearable Affections neither made a move to get off. ¡°Gentlemen, we¡¯ve arrived,¡± one of the nurses reminded them embarrassedly. Seth didn¡¯t respond. Gordon clicked his tongue. ¡°Tsk! You go first. I¡¯ll carry Isabe.¡± Seth refused to budge, mocking, ¡°You got her hospitalized just by taking her to dinner. Can you even carry her out of the ambnce safely?¡± Gordon frowned. ¡°When did I get her-¡± He paused mid-sentence, suddenly recalling the previous incident with the ring, leaving his words stuck. He red at Seth. Both men stood their ground. Seth seemed calm, having the upper hand, while Gordon refused to back down. Speechless, Isabe expressionlessly sat up on the stretcher. ¡°I can walk without your kind assistance,¡± she said, struggling to get off her stretcher with her other leg. Despite the pain she was in, she bent down and passed right through the two men, hopping out of the ambnce on one foot. ¡°Gasp¡­¡± The movement stretched her wound, causing her to grimace in pain. Unable to bear witness to this, the nurses in the ambnce looked at each other, thinking, Apparently, Prince Charming¡¯s affections are not for everyone. Compassionately, they assisted Isabe, one on each side. Seth watched as Isabe was helped away.inside the hospital with a deep frown. Displeased, he prepared to get out of the ambnce. Suddenly, Gordon extended his leg, blocking Seth¡¯s path. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Seth nced up, giving Gordon a stern re as a clear warning. Unfazed, Gordon snorted. ¡°You¡¯ve taken a liking to Isabe?¡± Seth raised an eyebrow, finding the question absurd. ¡°Why is that any of your business?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re interested in her, just say so. If not, stop being so sour. I¡¯ve developed feelings for her, you know,¡± Gordon said candidly, disying a carefree attitude. He seemed unconcerned about the fact that Seth was much more powerful than his father. Seth narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the young man before him. Suddenly, he couldn¡¯t help but scoff with disdain. He leaned back in a rxed posture and replied, ¡°You may have feelings for her, but she might not feel the same way about you.¡± Gordon retorted, ¡°Can you read her mind?¡± 08:40 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 137 You¡¯re Preventing Me From Pursuing Her Seth¡¯s thin lips parted slightly as he spoke in a calm manner, ¡°She¡¯s been with Owned by N?velDrama.Org. me for five years. Her other abilities might not have improved, but at least her taste in men hasn¡¯t declined.¡± Gordon fired back, ¡°So, you think you know what¡¯s best for her?¡± Seth pursed his lips, his expression grim, thinking, Do I? There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t do if I want to. The point was that he had never considered marrying Isabe. While there were cases of wealthy heirs marrying actresses or secretaries within their social circles, none of these marriagessted. Instead, they all ended in messy divorces involving property disputes and legal battles. Though he didn¡¯t support hasty decisions like Dariel and Natasha¡¯s abortion, he believed it was Dariel¡¯s right to make such choices. Simrly, Seth¡¯s initial attraction to Isabe five years ago had evolved into the pleasant surprise of seeing her change, but that was it. If that alone were the basis for marriage, it would be absurd. ¡°If you¡¯ve changed your mind, leave, and don¡¯t stop me from pursuing my girl,¡± Gordon dered. He thought Seth had reconsidered, waving his hand as 08:40 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 137 You¡¯re Preventing Me From Pursuing Her he confidently exited the ambnce. As soon as Gordon left the ambnce, Seth also stepped out. ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no conflict between your desire to marry her and my desire to hold her back.¡± With a hand in his pocket, Seth walked past Gordon and headed into the hospital without a care. Gordon stood frozen in ce for a while, his mouth agape with amazement. Finally, he swore, ¡°Forget it!¡± In the hospital, Isabe, supported by the nurses, underwent two examinations to ensure she was alright before the doctor removed the needles from her knee. There were three needles stuck in her knee from different angles, one of them nearly piercing her bone. ¡°You youngsters are truly reckless.¡± The doctor lectured Isabe while attending to her injuries. Chapter 137 You¡¯re Preventing Me From Pursuing Her She held her tongue, feeling somewhat scared at this moment. If she hadn¡¯t been so tense during the race and barely moved her legs, she might have been in a serious car ident by now. At that moment, Isabe sat silently. She heard Gordon¡¯s voice from outside, sounding frustrated and swearing angrily. Without needing to think, she knew what was happening. However, shecked the energy to deal with the two men outside. Before Seth and Gordon entered the room, she closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. ¡°Whoa,¡± the doctor mumbled softly. He had thought it was a lovers¡¯ quarrel, only to be surprised when two men entered at once. Seth and Gordon asked in unison, ¡°How is she?¡± ncing at Isabe, the doctor opened his mouth and replied irritably, ¡°Her injuries are serious.¡± Gordon, sounding anxious, immediately asked, ¡°She doesn¡¯t have to have her leg amputated, does she?¡± 08:40 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 137 You¡¯re Preventing Me From Pursuing Her 482%•þ Isabe felt speechless while closing her eyes. In her mind, she thought, Really? Three needle pricks and my leg needs to be amputated? Do I owe you a thank-you for that? She exhaled and, with no intention to justify, casually turned her face away. Suddenly, someone approached her. The smell was familiar, and she was sure it was Seth, even with her face turned away. Then, unexpectedly, he reached out and pressed her knee. ¡°Aaaah!¡± She instantly opened her eyes and nearly jumped to her feet in pain. Stunned, both the doctor and Gordon stared at Seth with wide eyes. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Seth sat down beside Isabe, leaning back with his legs crossed. He amputation.¡± Huh? The doctor was baffled by the situation. 08:41 Tue, 2 Jan NM Chapter 137 You¡¯re Preventing Me From Pursuing Her She took a deep breath, her neck tense as she turned to re at Seth. She was utterly speechless with anger. Unperturbed, Seth continued tly, ¡°But even if you need an amputation, it¡¯ll be worth it since you¡¯ll get a car in return.¡± Catching the sarcasm in his words, Isabe sneered and looked away. She responded without making eye contact. ¡°Sure, Mr. Shaffer. Why don¡¯t you go for an amputation? I¡¯ll even buy you two cars afterward.¡± Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Seth sat sternly on the side, tilting his head slightly, supporting his temples with just two fingers, and looked at Isabe with a smirk that wasn¡¯t quite a smile. ¡°Someone is supporting you now, so your tone has changed.¡± She frowned, nced at Gordon beside her, and probably guessed what these two had just said. Facing Seth¡¯s gaze, she didn¡¯t back down. ¡°If you know someone is backing me up, you should show me more respect in the future.¡± The hint of a false smile in his eyes instantly froze. Maintaining the same posture, he stared at her intently. After a while, he chuckled. ¡°The person supporting you doesn¡¯t mean much to me. Do you think you deserve my respect?¡± Seth finished speaking, and Gordon had already stepped forward before Isabe could retort. ¡°Seth, stop pretending. ¨¢s long as I¡¯m here, keep your hands off her. You can give it a try.¡± 17 Chapter 138 What¡¯s That Awful Smell On You? She was helpless. She had only wanted to have a conversation but identally ignited something. Surprisingly, she couldn¡¯t control the situation. ¡°You¡¯re foolish.¡± Seth didn¡¯t even spare a nce for Gordon, straightened up, and looked at the doctor behind Gordon. ¡°Why are you just standing there? Is her leg taken care of?¡± The doctor, caught up in observing themotion, had paused in his actions. When Seth called out to him suddenly, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit embarrassed. He quickly lowered his head and resumed his work. The atmosphere was tense. Isabe¡¯s mind went nk, and even the pain in her leg became numb. No one said a word. Only Gordon stood assertively, like a protective bird q guarding her chick. Seth didn¡¯t even bother to nce at Gordon, showing impatience to leave, constantly checking the time on his wrist. Chapter 138 What¡¯s That Awful Smell On You? Isabe noticed his actions and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, if you¡¯re too busy, you can go first.¡± ¡°Do I need your permission to leave?¡± Seth shot her a disdainful look, sending a sharp gaze in her direction. She bit her lip, rolled her eyes behind Gordon, and kept silent, choosing not to speak. After a while, the doctor finished treating her wounds and carefully exined the details. ¡°It¡¯s better for you to stay in the hospital for observation.¡± ¡°I have to stay here?¡± She frowned, looking at the doctor with confusion. ¡°Is it that serious?¡± ¡°This is a steel needle, not an embroidery needle.¡± The doctor¡¯s expression was speechless as he threw the forceps in his hand into alcohol. Isabe was at a loss for words, silent for a moment. She didn¡¯t want to stay in the hospital, yet she was worried that there might be a real problem with her leg. She was in a dilemma. 08.4 Chapter 138 What¡¯s That Awful Smell On You? ¡°What are you thinking? Just stay if you need to.¡± Gordon turned around, directly deciding for her, swiftly taking out a card. ¡°I¡¯ll go pay for you.¡± She found it hard to make a decision, hesitating to speak. However, he didn¡¯t wait for her to gather her thoughts and walked out. She sighed helplessly, raised her head, and again locked eyes with Seth¡¯s indifferent gaze. Feeling uneasy, she turned her face away. She didn¡¯t want to give him much attention and avoid showing any vulnerability. Gordon acted quickly, and in no time, he had arranged everything rted to the ward. Isabe initially thought about walking over, but Gordon swooped in, picking her up in one smooth motion, leaving no room for anyone else to intervene. Seth watched coldly, making no sound, but followed them to the ward. When Gordon carried her, Isabe felt tense. She refrained from leaning against him, aware that in Seth¡¯s world, she was still considered his property -perhaps a used one. Being his possession, she believed others shouldn¡¯t Owned by N?velDrama.Org. 08:41 Tue, 2 Jan N Chapter 138 What¡¯s That Awful Smell On You? defile her. Meanwhile, Seth stayed quiet the whole time. He was definitely up to something, or perhaps he was just keeping a major n under wraps. Once in the ward, Gordon busied himself,pletely ignoring Seth¡¯s presence. The atmosphere had dropped to freezing point. She had a headache worse than the pain in her leg. Anxiously, her mind felt like it was on the verge of exploding. At a critical moment, the door to the hospital room swung open from the outside. Led by Alex, a group of women, along with Jonas, who had more severe injuries than Isabe and a bandage wrapped around his head. ¡°Why did you alle?¡± Isabe was surprised. Everyone squeezed in, only to find Seth blocking the way, showing not intention of moving aside. The scene becameical, with several people maintaining their squeezed-in positions, frozen at the doorway, afraid to identally touch Seth. ¡°We saw your car ident in the aerial footage, so we came to check on you.¡± Alex gathered the courage to speak,cking his usual confidence. He didn¡¯t even dare to nce too much behind Seth. Observing their difort, Isabe felt the urge to speak up. However, worried that Seth might not take it well, she hesitated, ultimately choosing to stay silent. But if she didn¡¯t say anything, perhaps someone else would, less tactfully. Seizing the opportunity, Abigail pushed past Alex and headed straight for Seth. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, don¡¯t stand at the door; it¡¯s very unsafe.¡± She mimicked a girlish tone, coquettishly speaking while throwing flirtatious nces at Seth. Isabe rolled her eyes, mentally preparing to light a candle for this foolish person in advance. As expected, Seth lowered his gaze the next second and bluntly remarked, ¡°What is that disgusting smell on you?¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Abigail had been involved in the game of love for many years. She had encountered many men like Seth before, but he was the first to speak so harshly to her. She was momentarily stunned, her eyes adorned with red eyeshadow, finally revealing a touch of genuine pity. Everyone was shocked. While they believed she deserved it, they remained silent out of fear of Seth¡¯s anger. Isabe sat by the bedside, nced at his expression, and mentally cursed Abigail. Despite his cold demeanor, he rarely used such harsh words towards women. The fact that Abigail could provoke such a reaction was indeed surprising. In the dead silence, Jonas was the first to react. He went to pull Abigail aside and scolded, ¡°Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and move away from Mr. Shaffer.¡± 08:42 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 139 Miss Symons Faces usations Of Fals! Her expressionpletely copsed. With a crooked mouth, she burst into tears on the spot, stomped her foot, and rushed out of the room. Isabe rolled her eyes, secretly apuding Seth for getting rid of a nuisance. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, blocking the doorway and hindering the airflow.¡± Jonas took the initiative to call everyone, pushing them into the room from Seth¡¯s side. He carefully leaned against the door. Alex and Keira exchanged nces. One rolled his eyes, and the other smiled helplessly as both stood stiffly in the room. ¡°Isabe is amazing. Even with an injury, she still won against Mr. Shaffer,¡± Keira spoke softly, her tone calm and measured, showing no signs of nervousness. was only then that Isabe remembered she had indeed won the bet. Feeling pleasantly surprised, she nced at Keira. ¡®So, what about the prize?¡± After uttering those words, a sense of guilt washed over her. She quickly From N?velDrama.Org. looked at Seth beside her and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming 08.42 Chapter 139 Miss Symons Faces usations Of Falsi hisck of reaction. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Jonas reassured Isabe before Keira could speak. He hurried over with his head bandaged and kindly added, ¡°The car is for you. You can pick it up when you¡¯re out of the hospital.¡± Isabe was thrilled. Paired with the diminished pain in her leg, she immediately felt that the gamble she had taken earlier was worthwhile. A true sense of joy lit up her face, a moment Seth captured as he turned his head. The man snorted, shattering the recently lightened mood in the room, instantly casting a chill over the rejuvenated crowd. The noise abruptly ceased. Gordon was displeased and looked at Seth. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you intentionally trying to kill the vibe?¡± 170 Ignoring Gordon, Seth calmly adjusted his cuffs, lifted his head to give a slight nce at Isabe, and then turned around. Chapter 139 Miss Symons Faces usations Of Falsi She thought Seth was finally leaving and breathed a sigh of relief. However, he didn¡¯t reach the room¡¯s door when it swung open. An unfamiliar-looking man in a suit and dress shoes stood at the doorway. The man stared nkly for a second when he saw it was Seth. ¡°Mr. Shaffer?¡± Seth frowned, not recognizing the man. ¡°Are you from the Shaffer Group?¡± The man in the suit stepped back, quickly introducing himself. ¡°I am Jason Bailey, a performance review specialist subordinate to the Shaffer Group¡¯s internal control department. Hello, Mr. Shaffer.¡± After catching the words ¡°Performance review specialist¡± from behind, Isabe immediately felt a sense of impending doom. Her happiness and enthusiasm disappeared, giving way to alertness and tension. Seth stood at the doorway, noticed the documents in Jason¡¯s hands, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°We received a report.¡± Jason paused, nced at the room, and finally fixed his gaze on Isabe¡¯s face. He slowly and deliberately said, ¡°Miss Symons, a 08:42 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 139 Miss Symons Faces usations Of Falsi saleswoman at the 31st generation car dealership under the Shaffer Group, is suspected of engaging in fraudulent business practices.¡± Isabe¡¯s breathing steadied a bit. She had a rough sense of the situation. It likely had to do with the sales figures that Jonas had quietly linked to her name, and someone had tipped off. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, so there was no reason to be worried. In the room, everyone exchanged nces, especially Jonas, who immediately rushed to the front. ¡°This must be a mistake. Isabe¡¯s achievements are well-deserved.¡± ¡°Sorry, we need to investigate before we can confirm.¡± Jason pushed his sses and looked toward Seth tentatively with an official attitude. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, we need to take her away for questioning and gather more details.¡± Seth pressed his thin lips, neither allowing nor defending Isabe. To go or not to go was a matter of one word from him. Everyone waited for his response. Even Gordon didn¡¯t rush to speak, wanting to see Seth¡¯s stance toward Isabe. Isabe didn¡¯t act foolishly. She knew Seth¡¯s temperament too well. Business was business, and nobody was exempt. She stepped off the bed, bncing on one leg, and politely asked Jason, ¡°Excuse me, could you give me a moment?¡± Jason didn¡¯t dare to overstep, adopting a gentle attitude. ¡°Of course.¡± After that, he nodded at Seth and cautiously exited the room. She didn¡¯t look at Seth but turned to Alex. ¡°Could you help me buy a cane?¡± Alex was speechless. He looked at Seth, then at Gordon, not understanding what these two men were up to. They wanted Isabe to use a cane to attend an interrogation. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Isabe couldn¡¯t leave gracefully with the support of a cane as Seth, in a seemingly merciful gesture, had ordered a stretcher for her. Thus, she was carried out in full view of the public. The scrutiny along the way was more severe than if they had killed her. Once in the car, he sat beside her. Both avoided making eye contact, and their gazes never met. With a numb expression, she asked in despair, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, can I get out of the car by myself?¡± Seth raised an eyebrow with a subtle curve at the corner, sarcastically saying, ¡°You don¡¯t want a stretcher? Do you want someone who can support you to carry you down instead?¡± Isabe was speechless. Just before getting in the car, he had used the excuse of ¡°business secrets¡± to, 08:42 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 140 The Stubborn Fool refuse to let Gordon ride with them. Since Gordon didn¡¯t drive here, he had to reluctantly hail a cab. However, Seth¡¯s driver skillfully navigated the route, and after a few turns, Gordon¡¯s cab had disappeared from view. Seth got rid of the only person who could help her and was still making sarcastic remarks. The little devil in Isabe¡¯s heart spewed fire, but her face maintained a secretary-style calmness. Even if she had to go in on a stretcher, it was just a matter of embarrassment. Now, the biggest problem was the uing inquiry. She had to clear herselfpletely, even if it meant admitting to business fraud. She needed to seize the opportunity to distance herself from Jonas and those performance issues; this was a heaven-sent opportunity. With these thoughts in her mind, the car had already arrived at the Shaffer Group¡¯s territory. The familiar underground garage was spacious, with many luxury cars stretching endlessly./ 08:43 Tue, 2 Jan Chapter 140 The Stubborn Fool Isabe secretly let out a sigh of relief. Even though the Shaffer Group¡¯s premises felt daunting for her now, it used to be where she truly excelled. There was no reason to be afraid. The car came to a stop, and someone approached to open the door. Two considerate bodyguards then carefully took her stretcher down. A vein twitched on her forehead. She nced at the stretcher, avoided eye contact, and stubbornly went to pull the door on her side, attempting to walk down by herself. She tried twice, only to find the door was locked and couldn¡¯t be opened. ¡°You¡¯re not waiting for Gordon?¡± Seth suddenly asked. Isabe was utterly speechless, baffled by why he kept harping on this issue. Did Seth really need to keep repeating it? She turned around patiently, intending to rify things for him. Yet, it seemed the man expected her to speak. He exited the car the next instant, not allowing her to speak. The bodyguards carrying the stretcher exchanged nces. One of them, daring enough, asked, ¡°Miss Symons, do you need help?¡± 08:43 Tue, 2 Jan M Chapter 140 The Stubborn Fool She gritted her teeth, forcing a smile. ¡°No, thank you.¡± Isabe supported herself with one hand on the seat, slowly moving toward the door. Yet when she tried to get off, Seth, standing at the car door, blocked her way. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, please step aside.¡± Seth didn¡¯t move but slowly turned around. ¡°You don¡¯t need a stretcher?¡± The corners of her mouth curled up with determination gleaming in her eyes. ¡°I haven¡¯t lost my legs; I can walk,¡± she asserted. ¡°Crippled in body, firm in spirit, worthy of praise.¡± A scornful expression crossed his face. He stepped aside, making room for the woman before him, Owned by N?velDrama.Org. anticipating her self-destructive journey. Isabe gritted her teeth, ready for the pain. She gradually extended her leg, cautiously cing her foot on the ground. Not sensing any pain, she figured a bit of pressure wouldn¡¯t hurt. She opted to shift half of her body weight onto the injured leg. Ah! 08:43 Chapter 140 The Stubborn Fool A sudden, intense pain shattered her psychological defenses in an instant. Her leg gave out, causing her to pitch forward. She shut her eyes, bracing for the impact. Yet, this time was unlike before. The anticipated pain failed to materialize, and her body never made contact with the chilly ground. Seth sprang into action at that moment, appearing before Isabe and catching her as she fell. A collective gasp echoed around. The tension dissipated as onlookers witnessed Seth sessfully catching her. Seth held Isabe, but his expression was unpleasant. He sternly scolded, ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn. What¡¯s the difference between that and stupidity?¡± He lifted her without any mercy, his movements ruthless as he directly pushed her back into the car. She stepped out of the car door, but her backside sat on the edge of the car again. Her mind was nk as she looked up at him in a daze. The man¡¯s eyes were deep and calm, appearing undisturbed. However, she sensed an eerie coldness. She subtly stepped back, turning awkwardly to the bodyguard beside her. ¡°Sorry, I might need some help.¡± It was better to sit on the stretcher than be scared to death by Seth. Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Seth faced Isabe, and the bodyguards with the stretcher hesitated to somewhatical. Nics suddenly reminded Seth, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, there¡¯s a routine board meeting today. It might be inappropriate to go in on a stretcher.¡± She frowned, wondering why Nics was saying such things. Is he ming me for affecting thepany¡¯s image? ¡°You¡¯ve been a constant source of trouble. Things are gettingplicated because of you,¡± Seth said with a cold expression, sounding impatient. A screen full of question marks shed over Isabe¡¯s mind. She didn¡¯t understand the meaning behind his words. Then, he lifted his chin, lowered his gaze, and with a reluctantly respectful tone, he said, ¡°I can carry you inside.¡± She hesitated and said, ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± She knew she¡¯d rather die of embarrassment. She raised her hand, motioning toward him. ¡°Could you please move aside? The stretcher can¡¯te through.¡± Seth crossed his arms over his chest, showing no intention of moving. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what Nics said? Do you want to ruin the Shaffer Group¡¯s image like this?¡± Isabe was left speechless. She wiped her face, feeling extremely frustrated, and turned to look at Jason beside her. ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll walk over by myself, but it might take a while.¡± Jason cleared his throat, sneaking a quick look at Seth. He thought momentarily before carefully saying, ¡°We need to be quick. The audit team is pretty busy with their work.¡± Isabe clenched her teeth, her mouth twitching. ¡°Oh¡­ Really?¡± She grumbled inwardly, ¡°Come on, does he think I¡¯ve never worked at Shaffer Group? Internal audit folks are the mostid-back, dealing with the same stuff all year. Despite her inner frustration, she forced a smile as she nced around. Everyone present was Seth¡¯s men. Seth lifted his leg and kicked her foot. ¡°Don¡¯t waste time.¡± She was ticked off, and her cheekbones swelled up like a pufferfish. After holding it in for a bit, she finally looked at Seth. She thought, Can¡¯t lose my cool; it won¡¯t fix a thing. She eased up on her expression and gave a sly grin. ¡°Mr. Shaffer.¡± Seth raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yes?¡± Isabe extended both hands, eyes filled with a yful smile. ¡°Hug me.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. A collective gasp sounded. He stood before her, lowered his head, and faced her smiling face. Two arms reached out to him as well. He raised a corner of his mouth and quipped, ¡°Has your stomach acid eaten away at your brain?¡± Isabe was speechless. Beside her, everyone but Nics let out an inexplicable sigh of relief. He thought, Thankfully, Mr. Shaffer declined; otherwise, the whole perspective would have crumbled. This woman is just nuts, too reckless. She expected to be turned down by Seth. She only aimed to gross him out a bit, and now that she had achieved that, she dropped her hands. She shrugged, looking childish, and gave Jason a yful nce. ¡°I can¡¯t sit on the stretcher, no hugging allowed, and I can¡¯t walk. What should I do now?¡± Jason hesitated, concerned about saying the wrong thing, and wisely opted to stay quiet. Seeing no response from Jason, Isabe looked up at Seth and made a bold suggestion. ¡°How about letting the audit team audit me in the car?¡± Seth nced at her and let out a disdainful snort, not bothering with niceties. ¡°You think you deserve such treatment?¡± She pursed her lips, thinking, Yeah, I don¡¯t deserve that. She shook her head, wanting to say more, but Seth, facing her, abruptly turned around. Before she could react, his back was facing her, and he raised one of her arms. ¡°M-Mr. Shaffer?¡± Isabe observed as Seth abruptly bent over, leaving her feeling a bit bewildered. Her mouth hung open, but before she could utter a word, Seth had already hoisted her onto his back. Was he nning to carry her? The others stood there,pletely dumbfounded. They rigidly made way for Seth, and nothing escaped their lips. With Isabe on his back, Seth walked toward the elevator in the underground garage. When he noticed that Nics didn¡¯t move, he frowned and reminded Nics in a deep voice, ¡°Elevator!¡± Nics snapped back to his senses and promptly followed them. He quickly pressed the elevator button. Ding! The elevator bell suddenly rang, waking Isabe, whose mind was frozen. Shey on Seth¡¯s back, clearly feeling the width and strength of his back. Their body warmth mingled through the thinyer of his shirt, unexpectedly making her heart beat faster than during their previous intimate moments. She found it unnecessary for him to carry her like that; a stretcher would have been more suitable. She felt a bit irritated and frustrated by his boundary-crossing actions. It appeared as if he deliberately aimed to provoke her. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Seth carried Isabe to the fourteenth floor. When the elevator doors opened, From N?velDrama.Org. the people waiting outside werepletely surprised, unable to offer any greetings. Isabe was piggybacked on Seth¡¯s back. She intentionally lowered her head, her hair draping down to hide her face. Despite carrying her, Seth maintained an upright posture, exuding a terrifying presence with just a single nce. He said, ¡°Don¡¯t you people have anything better to do?¡± The stunned crowd quickly regained awareness. In an instant, people scattered in all directions, chaos erupting once again. They forgot their intended destinations, colliding with each other. Seth observed the chaotic scene with annoyance. He was about to scold the supervisor when he suddenly felt pressure on his neck. Isabe, without realizing it, tightened her grip around his neck. Their skin briefly made contact, and she swiftly withdrew her hand, reacting sensitively. He thought she was overreacting, considering they had already been more intimate. A slight touch like this shouldn¡¯t matter much. With that in mind, he tilted his head backward, pressing against her arm. Isabe leaned in, and with the sudden movement, Seth¡¯s hair lightly brushed against her cheek, feeling soft and ticklish. It sent a shiver down her spine, and goosebumps appeared on her arm. With steady steps, Seth entered the small meeting room. Once the door closed, he unexpectedly released the person on his back. Caught off guard, she almost stumbled. Thankfully, Nics was behind her, extending a hand to help her regain bnce. Seth straightened his clothes, and his expression showed no guilt. He looked directly at Jason, who stood by the door. ¡°Arrange for someone to interrogate her. Don¡¯t waste time.¡± Jason hesitated, trying to read something from Seth¡¯s face. Suddenly, Seth lifted his gaze, and his vignt eyes pierced through, prompting Jason to quickly look away. ¡°Although it¡¯s just an inconspicuous sales point under the Shaffer Group, it concerns thepany¡¯s reputation. Don¡¯t show any courtesy to anyone.¡± Seth deliberately emphasized ¡°anyone,¡± making his intentions quite clear. Isabe, standing nearby, muttered curses under her breath. When she was done swearing, Seth seemed to sense something and swiftly turned his head. Her lips slightly parted, and she was caught in the act. Even the motion of closing her mouth froze. Awkwardly tugging at the corner of her lips, she pretended to be unaware, forcing a smile. Seth withdrew his gaze, hands in his pockets, and walked out of the meeting room with long strides. Surprisingly, he didn¡¯t give her any attention. With a click, the meeting room door closed. She peered through the ss door, observing him walking away. He seemed uninterested in turning back, almost as if the yful antics from earlier had nothing to do with him. At that thought, she licked her lips, feeling inwardly repulsed. She realized she was losing herposure. ¡°Miss Symons, please take a seat,¡± Jason reminded her. Despite Seth¡¯s earlier impoliteness towards Isabe, Jason felt it was unwise to offend her and thus maintained a courteous attitude. She paused, feeling numb and sore in her knees. The thought of sitting down struck her, but it seemed like her knees refused to bend. Taking it step by step, she made her way to the edge of the table, breaking down the simple act of bending her legs into various details. It took some time before she finally settled into the chair. Once she was seated, Jason went outside to call someone. While in the meeting room, Isabe thought about a n. She clenched her fists to bear the pain in her legs. The audit team and even Jason didn¡¯t show up as time passed. She thought about checking around but felt it was embarrassing to do that right now. So, she decided not to interfere. Gritting her teeth, she pulled out a tissue and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. Then, she silently gave herself a pep talk. However, from noon to the afternoon, no one stepped into the small meeting room for the next two hours. Every now and then, a secretary walked by. When Isabe called out to them, they ignored her and walked past with their Isabe smiled bitterly. She recalled that she hadn¡¯t offended these people back when she was the chief secretary. How did she turn into an outcast all of a sudden? Puzzled, she couldn¡¯t figure it out. Yet, in a moment, the answer presented itself before her. At that moment, the meeting room door swung open. A woman in professional office attire entered, giving off an unfriendly vibe. Seeing the neer, Isabe was momentarily stunned. ¡°Angelina?¡± The woman, wearing red-tinted sses, had a stern look. Her demeanor gave off an air of authority. When Isabe expressed surprise, she smirked slightly. ¡°I thought you were too upied with important things to remember someone as insignificant as me, Miss Symons.¡± Isabe was left speechless; it felt as if even something as simple as sipping cold water could be a challenge in moments of misfortune. Angelina Lovett was also a secretary alongside Isabe. Angelina was eligible topete for the chief secretary position. However, Isabe took a less honorable route by aligning with Seth and securing the position. Dissatisfied, Angelina chose to transfer to another department. Surprisingly, today, they unexpectedly crossed paths in this situation. Isabe was left speechless; it felt as if even something as simple as sipping cold water could be a challenge in moments of misfortune. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Angelina sat down and began taunting Isabe, ¡°I told you that you couldn¡¯t keep your job as head secretary just by sleeping with men.¡± Isabe had been facing numerous obstaclestely. She wasn¡¯t even fazed when Angelina openly confronted her. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re a fortune teller. Congrattions.¡± She raised her hands and pped casually. The look in Angelina¡¯s eyes turned icy. With disgust, she said, ¡°You have no shame.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s none of your business.¡± Isabe stopped pping and ced her hands on the edge of the table. She calmly looked at Angelina and adopted a more arrogant expression. ¡°Your job is to question. Lecturing me is not part of it. There¡¯s a surveince camera in this room, so I can sue you for personal attack.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that nonsense.¡± Angelina sneered. Confident that Isabe was only pretending, she said, ¡°A worthless person like Selena stole your job, and you think you can talk to me as if you¡¯re superior?¡± Isabe tapped her fingers on the table and smiled. ¡°Stole?¡± She pulled her hands back and crossed her arms, then leaned back. ¡°And what makes you- think she stole it from me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you gave it to her,¡± Angelina mocked, refusing to fall into Isabe¡¯s trap. Isabe tilted her head and rested her chin on her hand. ¡°If she could steal my job, then why did Mr. Shaffer carry me on his back?¡± Angelina froze for a moment. She was reminded of what the other secretaries had said, and she felt a little uncertain. Before she entered, Jason had told her not to go too far, but Angelina disregarded all reason the moment she saw Isabe. All she wanted to do was humiliate her former enemy. Since Angelina fell silent, Isabe had no interest in talking too much. ¡°Your job is to question. Shouldn¡¯t you start now?¡± Annoyed that she couldn¡¯t insult Isabe, Angelina angrily pulled out her notebook. ¡°What kind of rtionship do you have with Jonas?¡± ¡°Not a close one. He¡¯s my boss.¡± ¡°Not a close one?¡± Angelina sneered. ¡°He took you on a business trip alone with him, and even after you stole nearly 75 grand worth of sales from him, he remained silent.¡± Isabe sat up straighter. ¡°You got one thing wrong. I didn¡¯t steal the sales.¡± Angelina rolled her eyes and retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he gave them to you for free.¡± Isabe shrugged nonchntly. ¡°Good guess. He did give them to me for free.¡± ¡°Isabe!¡± Angelina mmed her notebook on the table and warned, ¡°Just because you have a special rtionship with Mr. Shaffer doesn¡¯t mean you can say whatever you want. We¡¯re not suing you only because you contributed to thepany. Otherwise, you would be facing the police right now. This crime involves 75 grand.¡± Isabe wasn¡¯t scared at all. ¡°If you can sue me, go ahead.¡± Angelina¡¯s eyes widened, her sunken eyes looking even more droopy, and she appeared crueler than ever. Isabe was amused. The more Angelina wanted to get her in trouble, the calmer she became. Thest remnants of her fear were gone. Angelina warned, ¡°You can remain silent, but the results of the investigation won¡¯t change. You won¡¯t get away with this.¡± Isabe¡¯s smile faded away. She stared into Angelina¡¯s eyes and exined, ¡°First, I did go on a business trip with Jonas, but that was punishment for being deadst in the sales department. Second, I got credited for the sales for reasons I don¡¯t know. I never imed them.¡± She leaned back in her chair and emphasized, ¡°You have a grudge against me. By all ounts, you have no right to question me. I didn¡¯t bring up that conflict of interest for your sake. Now, why don¡¯t we both take a step back? You do your job fairly, and I¡¯ll be honest. It makes it easier for both of us.¡± Angelina couldn¡¯t believe Isabe could remain so calm even in this situation. They used to be colleagues, and Angelina remembered that five years ago, Isabe wasn¡¯t this confident. She tightly held her pen, the jealousy in her heart burning through her soul, unable to be contained. ¡°And I¡¯m using this chance to get back at you. What are you going to do about it?¡± Isabe raised an eyebrow and clicked her tongue. ¡°Then it¡¯s your unlucky day.¡± A frown creased Angelina¡¯s forehead. She looked at Isabe with suspicion and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Isabe shrugged and pushed her hair back from her cheeks. ¡°You can do whatever you want, but whatever happens depends on Mr. Shaffer anyway.¡± Isabe was making it sound flirtatious, as if she wanted to boast about her rtionship with Seth. Angelina despised women like that. She grew angrier and narrowed her eyes. ¡°Dream on. If he cared about you, he wouldn¡¯t have brought you here.¡± Isabe appeared nonchnt. ¡°If that¡¯s what you think, then go ahead. Stupidity can¡¯t be cured, and I can¡¯t be bothered to exin everything to you.¡± Isabe closed her eyes, refusing to engage with Angelina any longer. ¡°Get someone else to question me, or I won¡¯t talk.¡± From N?velDrama.Org. Angelina was shocked. She didn¡¯t expect Isabe to pull this trick, and it caught her off guard. Seeing Isabe¡¯s beautiful face, she felt annoyed. She stood up and was about to mock Isabe further, but then she shifted her attention to Isabe¡¯s legs. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Angelina noticed that Isabe was in a lot of pain. She saw the sweat on Isabe¡¯s forehead and couldn¡¯t help but snort. She grabbed her notebook and said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll find someone else.¡± She stormed out of the room and mmed the door shut. Once Isabe was sure that Angelina had left, she slowly opened her eyes, trembling. The small movements she made earlier caused pain in her wounded legs, almost unbearable. Isabe must have noticed. Her leaving now is obviously a ploy to leave me hanging. Isabe barely had anything for breakfast and skipped lunch. It had been almost fifteen hours since herst proper meal. At this rate, she would break. Isabe hung her head low, resting it on the table as she tried toe up with an escape n. Eventually, she devised a n and texted a couple of people, including Nics and Natasha. Nics had helped her investigate Jonas¡¯ spy before, and Natasha could assist her in dealing with that spy. All she could do now was wait-for news from Natasha and for Angelina to lose patience. Time was ticking. Eventually, under the weight of hunger and exhaustion, Isabe¡¯s head began to spin. Due to Angelina¡¯s orders, the people outside didn¡¯t even give Isabe a ss of water. Isabe¡¯s eyes were closed. She felt a bit drowsy, but her mind was clear. A few memories shed through her mind. A few hours ago, Seth had bent down and carried her on his back. He had done more intimate things to her, but he had never carried her like that before. Isabe¡¯s heart fluttered whenever she saw him, but she never felt secure around him. Until a few hours ago, that is. My mind must be ying tricks on me due to exhaustion. That¡¯s why I¡¯m having these strange feelings. Isabe shook her head, feeling her thoughts jumble. She quickly stopped and took a few deep breaths. She pushed Seth¡¯s face out of her mind and counted silently. I hope I actually faint. Those guys outside will be so shocked. Too bad I¡¯m not a good actress, or I could pretend to faint. Isabe closed her eyes, smiling bitterly and sighing from time to time. She almost seemed manic. Behind the screen, Seth observed her actions. He frowned and threw the document he was holding to Nics. ¡°Did she text you?¡± Nics froze, a hint of panic in his eyes as he tried to exin. Seth didn¡¯t give him a chance. Confidently, he said, ¡°Your phone buzzed right after she sent that text.¡± Nics couldn¡¯t say anything. He opened his mouth and reluctantly exined, ¡°Sir, she just wanted me to investigate the person who dealt with her and Jonas¡¯ sales. Nothing else.¡± Seth remained silent. Hezily pulled out another document. ¡°Why do you listen to her so much? Is she your mother?¡± Nics was speechless. ¡°We hired you to create value for us, not to be an errand boy for unrted people.¡± Seth signed his name on the document and threw his pen away. He was lost in thought, but he looked sharply at Nics. ¡°Well, why are you still standing there?¡± Nics gulped. He quickly retreated and left the office as if he had been spared from execution. He closed the door and pondered Seth¡¯s parting From N?velDrama.Org. words. He didn¡¯t forbid me from helping her. Then, he handed the document to Ellie and went downstairs to the marketing department. The first rule of being a secretary is to prioritize what matters. He knew how to prioritize very well. Back in the office, Seth continued to reject a few projects, his expression growing darker. He then looked at the screen. ¡°Is she dead?¡± She¡¯s not moving at all. Her chest isn¡¯t even rising and falling. As if she heard him, Isabe smacked her lips. She¡¯s still alive. Seth scoffed, losing interest in his work. He threw his pen away and watched Isabe. Then, he remembered Gordon¡¯s desire to marry Isabe. It was a ridiculous joke, he thought. He wants to marry Isabe? Is he insane? Chapter 145 Chapter 145 ºÏ³ÉÆø71%•þ Isabe had underestimated Angelina¡¯s determination. She had been left waiting in the conference room the entire afternoon. While everyone else was slowly leaving work, Angelina still hadn¡¯t shown up. Isabe¡¯s stamina was reaching its limit, and with the wounds on her legs, simply standing up was a challenge. If I have to¡­ Isabe considered using her dangerous backup n, but she quickly dismissed the idea. That¡¯s too risky. It would be bad if I can¡¯t handle it. With trembling fingers, she turned on her phone and checked the time. It was six-thirty in the evening. Everything was bing blurry, and she could barely see the time clearly. She resisted her dizziness and tried calling the number Nics had given her, but she couldn¡¯t reach Jason. He was always on another call, and eventually, he turned off his phone. Isabe scoffed. I know what he¡¯s thinking. He doesn¡¯t want to take sides between his boss and me, the former head secretary with choosing a side. She stopped making calls and instead sent a text to Jason¡¯s emergency contact. White-cor workers like Jason usually set their second SIM card as their emergency contact. He will see the message. After that, Isabe found afortable position and leaned back in the chair to sleep. Five minutes her eyes. From N?velDrama.Org. If she was right, someone would show up in fifteen minutes. She counted the time in her mind. Less than two minutester, she heard the sound of heels approaching from outside. Isabe opened her eyes andposed herself. She slowly sat up and looked towards the entrance. The door swung open. Angelina had changed into her tracksuit, clearly ready to leave. ¡°Sorry, I was too busy. I couldn¡¯t find anyone toe and question you.¡± Isabe watched as Angelina put on a show. She calmly looked at Angelina as if she were a clown, ¡°Your methods are underhanded,¡± she said calmly, her tone more sardonic than sarcastic. There was disdain and scorn in her voice. She saw through Angelina easily. Angelina shrugged and pulled out a chair. She sat down in front of Isabe, showing no guilt. ¡°You told me to find someone else. I didn¡¯t want to leave you hanging.¡± Isabe crossed her arms and leaned forward. ¡°You live in Hencher Residence, right?¡± Angelina wondered why Isabe was asking that question. Isabe chuckled quietly. ¡°Be careful when you¡¯re going home at night.¡± Angelina froze, but then she realized what was happening and clicked her tongue. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Isabe shrugged, still as nonchnt as before, but she was as pale as a sheet. ¡°Don¡¯t even try to y any tricks here. It¡¯s useless.¡± Angelina crossed her arms and legs. When she saw how pale Isabe was, she felt much better. ¡°You think Mr. Shaffer will get rid of me for you? He doesn¡¯t bring personal affairs into the workce.¡± Isabe licked her lips and rested her chin on her hand. ¡°How can you be so sure he won¡¯t?¡± She tilted her head to the side and raised an eyebrow, her eyes gleaming. ¡°After all, you had to request a transfer because you crossed me and couldn¡¯t stay in thepany anymore.¡± Angelina tensed up. Isabe was speaking the truth. Back then, she had constantly tried to sabotage Isabe because she wanted to win. In the end, the entire office sided with Isabe and turned against her. Seth had witnessed everything, but he never intervened. Even though she was no longer in the secretaries¡¯ office, she still heard a lot of news. Everyone said Seth hadplete trust in Isabe. On the thirty-eighth floor, she was as powerful as a vice president. Angelina tried to find a weakness, but there was only one. She looked at Isabe mockingly. ¡°If he¡¯s so nice to you, why didn¡¯t he marry you?¡± Something gleamed in Isabe¡¯s eyes, but she didn¡¯t show much expression. She froze and looked like a perfect painting for a moment. Thinking she had gotten to Isabe, Angelina continued her attack. ¡°If Selena hadn¡¯t taken your ce, I would have thought you were going to marry Mr. Isabe poked the roof of her mouth with her tongue and put on a perfectly calcted smile. ¡°How do you know he didn¡¯t ask me to stay at home and take care of the kids?¡± Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Dariel paid an unexpected visit and walked into the president¡¯s office as if it were his own home. He disregarded Seth¡¯s cold gaze and casually lounged on the couch. On the screen, Isabe boasted, ¡°How do you know he didn¡¯t ask me to stay at home and take care of the kids?¡± Dariel let out a surprised sound and turned to Seth. Mimicking the manners of a youngdy, he said, ¡°Oh, is that true?¡± Seth remained silent. ¡°You guys have children?¡± Dariel clicked his tongue, boldly testing the waters. Seth stared at Isabe, impressed. She truly has no shame. On the screen, Isabe and Angelina continued their argument. ¡°You want to marry him and be Mrs. Shaffer? In your dreams.¡± ¡°Sorry, but dreams mighte true soon.¡± Dariel clicked his tongue and yfully approached Seth. ¡°Ooh, she¡¯s a schemer. She wants to marry you.¡± Seth pursed his lips tightly, his brows subtly furrowing. He gazed at Isabe, feeling conflicted. He might feel happy if she agreed to return as his secretary. He wanted their rtionship to go back to how it was. But she wants to marry me? ¡°She¡¯s delusional,¡± Seth said. The stirring Isabe caused in him was extinguished. He disliked women who didn¡¯t know their ce. Dariel was a little surprised. He could see that Seth¡¯s coldness was genuine. ¡°You don¡¯t want to marry Isabe?¡± Seth looked at Dariel as if he were a fool. Refusing to waste any more time talking to him, he pushed his chair back, opened his drawer, and searched for some cigarettes. Seth lit one for himself and tossed the box to Dariel. ¡°Will you marry Natasha, then?¡± It was the same question, but asked by a different person. Without hesitation, Dariel said, ¡°No way.¡± Seth exhaled a ring of smoke. Looking inscrutable, he said, ¡°There¡¯s your answer.¡± Dariel had nothing to say. He lost his mood to watch the drama. He only wanted to have fun with Natasha, and he thought Seth was different, but he was mistaken. We¡¯re simr in nature. ¡°Killjoy.¡± He didn¡¯t even feel like lighting his cigarette. He gathered his belongings, stood up, and waved goodbye to Seth. ¡°Bye.¡± He had just reached the doorway when the sound of someone crashing against a door came from the speakers. ¡°Isabe!¡± Gordon appeared on the screen. Seth stopped smoking, and Dariel froze in his tracks. ¡°Ah, the heroes for his princess.¡± Back on the fourteenth floor, Isabe was surprised by Gordon barging in and was somewhat at a loss. ¡°Who are you? How did you get in here?¡± Angelina was shocked. Frightened by the man who stormed in, she retreated, shouting, ¡°Guards!¡± From N?velDrama.Org. Gordon saw this woman arguing with Isabe the moment he entered. He turned around and noticed how pale Isabe was. ¡°Forget your questions! She¡¯s dying!¡± Gordon charged forward and kicked Angelina in the stomach. Angelina screamed in pain and fell through the gap between the desk and chair. Her sses were shattered. Isabe stood before her. When Angelina pushed the desk, it struck Isabe¡¯s leg, and she gasped. Gordon quickly crouched down beside Isabe. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Isabe felt conflicted as she had nned this deliberately, yet Gordon managed to resolve the problem with just one kick. She felt no pity for Angelina at all. In fact, she didn¡¯t even spare her a nce. ¡°It hurts.¡± Gordon knew how resilient Isabe was. If she said it hurt, then it must be excruciating. Frustrated, he cursed, ¡°Seth is aplete idiot. He had his men stop me, and this ce is like a maze, or I would have arrived here much earlier.¡± Isabe grinned and tried her best to take a deep breath. ¡°C-Can you take me away?¡± She would never say that at any other time, but her entire body was numb and trembling. Gordon empathized with her. He quickly stood up and slid his hand under Isabe¡¯s calves. Carefully, he lifted her up.. Surprisingly, Angelina managed to get up, and she attempted to grab onto Gordon¡¯s pants. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere! I¡¯m going to sue you for assault!¡± Gordon desperately wanted to kill Angelina. He kicked her hand away and cursed, ¡°Damn you and whatever you want to do. Sue me if you want. I can afford all your medical bills anyway.¡± He spoke arrogantly and carried Isabe away as if it were nobody¡¯s business. Isabe curled up in his arms, feeling envious of Gordon. It¡¯s great to have a wealthy father. He doesn¡¯t have to give in at all. Her mind was a mess. She had no idea where Gordon was taking her, but then she heard the elevator doors slide open. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Isabe.¡± Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Isabe recognized that annoying voice immediately. It almost startled her awake from her near-fainting state, and she struggled to open her eyes. Her vision remained blurry, and all she could make out were some silhouettes emerging from the elevator. However, she could sense a chilling atmosphere enveloping her and Gordon. Isabe closed her eyes, allowing tears to well up and clear her vision. Seth, looking dark and tense, stood in the elevator, ring at them with murderous intent. ¡°Do you think you can leave after what you did in mypany?¡± Seth asked coldly, his tone devoid of any emotion. Seeking sce, Isabe leaned closer to Gordon, gripping his shoulder. She pleaded, ¡°That was just a mistake, Mr. Shaffer. He didn¡¯t mean it.¡± ¡°A mistake?¡± Seth sneered, his gaze fixed on Isabe. He was clearly in a foul mood. ¡°Enough, move aside,¡± Gordon retorted, indifferent to the situation. He only wanted to take Isabe to the hospital. Panic washed over Isabe as she heard his words. Breaking into the he was challenging Seth. Seth might actually be serious. Since she couldn¡¯t stop Gordon, she turned to Seth, but this time, she spoke with more determination. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, your employees interrogated me for an entire day, and I haven¡¯t had anything to eat or drink until now. It wouldn¡¯t bode well if the public were to find out about this.¡± She shifted from being apologetic to making a threat. Seth¡¯s lips curled downwards, and any trace of humanity left in him vanished. He forced a twisted smile. ¡°Feel free to inform the public.¡± Dariel clicked his tongue and added fuel to the fire. ¡°Oh, Isabe, you¡¯re being quite bold. You¡¯re threatening Seth.¡± I always knew that guy was a worthless piece of trash. This will only make things worse. The doors of the employee elevator swung open, and Selena emerged. Isabe¡¯s temples throbbed. She had a feeling that things were about to take a turn for the worse, and she could sense the shadow of death looming over Selena seemed to appear out of thin air and quickly stood by Seth¡¯s side. ¡°Sir, we have a problem,¡± she wanted to say it aloud, but she couldn¡¯t. She appeared panicked. Seth despised it when people did that. In a deadpan tone, he said, ¡°Speak.¡± Selena bit her lip and turned to Isabe. ¡°Did you call the media, Isabe?¡± All eyes turned to Isabe. She froze. Yes, she had entertained the idea and even made a call, but she got cold feet and hung up as soon as the call connected. She tried to say something, but Selena cut her off. ¡°Even if you¡¯re dissatisfied with thepany, you shouldn¡¯t have contacted the media. It has only been a few days since the incident involving you and Miss Shaffer. Thepany is already on thin ice. One wrong move, and we¡¯ll be in serious trouble.¡± Isabe swallowed her exnation. She tensed up and looked at Selena with uncertainty, wondering how much of what she said was true. Before she could deduce anything, Seth spoke up. ¡°So, that¡¯s why you dared to threaten us?¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Isabe took a deep breath. She regretted saying that. Now that someone hade to ¡®verify¡¯ her threat, she couldn¡¯t deny it anymore. She gritted her teeth. Alright, I have no other choice now. ¡°So what?¡± She locked eyes with Seth. It didn¡¯t take her long to realize the consequences of her choice, and she stared fearlessly at Seth. Despite being held in Gordon¡¯s arms and being shorter than him, she showed no signs of fear. ¡°The media is right outside. Either you instruct your men to escort me out, or Gordon can charge straight through. The media will present a different story if that happens.¡± My, Dariel clicked his tongue and apuded Isabe. She¡¯s like a rose blooming on a remote ind. Mysterious and captivating. She possesses poisonous thorns, and even if they prick anyone who touches her, she will only show them beautiful illusions,pelling them to touch her again. Seth pursed his lips, remaining silent for a long while. He stared at Isabe with a dark expression, the twisted smile now absent. Dariel and Isabe knew Seth well. They knew he was furious. ¡°What will the media think if you leave like that?¡± Isabe furrowed her brow. She didn¡¯t expect Seth to say that after the silence. She began, ¡°I-¡± Seth nodded and cut her off. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you there.¡± Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Gordon and Selena¡¯s eyes widened. Only Dariel wore a strange smile. Isabe shrank back, feeling a little confused about the situation. She gulped and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need-¡± ¡°Thepany¡¯s share prices cannot afford another one of your pranks,¡± Seth interrupted. Isabe couldn¡¯t say anything. She looked at Gordon, silently urging him to put her down. Gordon sensed that something bad was about to happen and objected, ¡°Are you going with him? He could take you anywhere.¡± Isabe agreed, but she couldn¡¯t say it out loud, or it would sound like she was trying to avoid Seth in case he tried toe after her. She patted Gordon¡¯s shoulder and quietly said, ¡°Just put me down.¡± Annoyed, Gordon red at Seth. He then lowered his head and threw a little tantrum. ¡°I will not.¡± Suddenly, Seth emerged from the elevator. Dariel followed him and exaggeratedly blew on his fingers. ¡°Pressing that button for so long killed my finger.¡± Isabe pursed her lips and tensed up. With hesitation, she looked at Seth and said, ¡°Give us¡­¡± a moment. She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence before Seth approached them and kicked Gordon without warning. Caught off guard, Gordon¡¯s legs buckled, and he fell to one knee. He was holding Isabe, but as he fell forward, Isabe was thrown away. With the higher ground, Seth raised his hands and easily caught Isabe. Isabe felt disoriented. Before she realized it, she was already in Seth¡¯s arms. Surprised, she grabbed Seth¡¯s cor. ¡°Mr. Shaffer,¡± Selena cried, dismayed. Dariel stepped forward. Before Gordon could stand up, Dariel stood in front of Seth and put an arm around Gordon¡¯s neck. ¡°Calm down,d.¡± While Gordon was distracted by Dariel, Seth turned around and entered the elevator with Isabe. Selena tried to follow, but Seth shot her an icy look. ¡°You may clock out now,¡± Seth said coldly. He pressed the elevator button. with the hand he was holding Isabe¡¯s waist with. The elevator doors slowly closed, blocking Selena¡¯s shocked expression and dashing Isabe¡¯s hope of escape. Isabe was trapped in Seth¡¯s arms, and she tensed up. Instead of holding her gently, Seth was more like handling her as if she were a tter. ¡°If you go out holding me like this, thepany will still make headlines tomorrow.¡± Seth didn¡¯t even look at her. He said, ¡°Every wealthy man has a scandal or two.¡± Isabe said nothing and didn¡¯t move her arms or legs. Remaining in this awkward position, she let Seth take her downstairs. There were many people working overtime, and Seth walked through the path with the most people around. Isabe felt her heart pounding as she was stared at, and a hint of color returned to her face. When they finally left the crowd behind, Seth led her to the underground car park. Isabe quickly sat up and reminded Seth, ¡°Paparazzi love staking out car parks.¡± D Seth gave her a look and sarcastically replied, ¡°What a coincidence. My car loves the car park too.¡± Isabe¡¯s lips twitched, and she stopped feeling nervous. Instead, she decided to go with the flow. She rxed and leaned closer to Seth¡¯s chest. Quietly, she said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep attacking me, Mr. Shaffer.¡± Seth frowned. He was going to tell her that she was overthinking things. He had no time to deal with insignificant people like her. Isabe continued, ¡°We¡¯ve been intimate for five years. That counts for something, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Seth entered the car park. The moment Isabe said those words, Seth heard someone clicking the shutter. His expression darkened, and he headed towards the sound. The paparazzi got scared by Seth¡¯s menacing re and quickly pulled his camera away. Something nged. The camera must be broken. Seth sneered, looked away, and took Isabe to his car. Since Seth said nothing, Isabe gulped. ¡°I might have caused a lot of trouble for youtely, but it¡¯s all manageable. I¡¯ve been well-behaved for years. Can¡¯t you let me go?¡± Seth opened the door and tossed Isabe into the passenger seat. Isabe had been appealing to Seth¡¯s emotions just moments ago, and now everything around her was spinning. Seth ignored her and mmed the door shut. He pulled his tie down and darkly made his way to the driver¡¯s seat. It took Isabe a while to regain herposure and sit up, but the moment she did, Seth revved the car up, and she was thrown back into her seat. Damn it. I tried my best to give in, but he won¡¯t give me any leeway. She hung her head low and covered her face with her hair. Silently, she cursed Seth. She thought he couldn¡¯t hear her. ¡°Are you cursing me?¡± asked Seth darkly. weu, Jail Isabe quickly raised her head. ¡°No.¡± Seth scoffed. ¡°You always curse someone when you hide your face behind Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. your hair. That¡¯s been the case for five years.¡± Isabe froze. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Isabe was correct. They had been friends with benefits for five years, and that meant something. It wasn¡¯t love, but it was understanding. Seth knew her inside out. He observed her in ces she didn¡¯t realize he was looking, like when he saw her through his office window. He witnessed all the emotions she expressed in private. ¡°I was just¡­ just¡­¡± Isabe wanted to tell him that she wasn¡¯t insulting him, but the words wouldn¡¯te out. Seth nced at the rear-view mirror and raised an eyebrow. ¡°You were being sarcastic just now.¡± Isabe pursed her lips and gazed out the window. ¡°I can¡¯t do anything because I rely on you.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like you¡¯re submitting,¡± Seth remarked. Isabe ced her hands on the back of the seat. Feeling aggrieved, she said, ¡°I can¡¯t submit forever, or it will hurt my back.¡± She looked at Seth, and from her position, she could see his profile. ¡°Can I exin myself now, Mr. Shaffer?¡± Seth ignored her and pressed down on the elerator, speeding up. Lost in This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. her thoughts, Isabe didn¡¯t realize that the speedometer was tilting to the right. Leaning forward, she said, ¡°I didn¡¯t make the sales. I could never have closed such a big deal.¡± Seth narrowed his eyes. Coldly, he said, ¡°So he gave you the sales?¡± Isabe nodded. ¡°Jonas did. I couldn¡¯t refuse.¡± Seth chuckled. ¡°Someone¡¯s charming.¡± Isabe didn¡¯t want to be arrogant now. She said, ¡°I might not have been able to close the deal, but Jonas might not be able to either. Something seems off about that deal. Someone needs to investigate.¡± Seth wasn¡¯t convinced. He said, ¡°You need evidence to make an usation in mypany.¡± Isabe shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t have any evidence at the moment.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to take responsibility. ording to the employee¡¯s manual, taking credit for someone else¡¯s work will result in¡­¡± Seth stopped and swallowed the rest of his sentence. Isabe realized what the consequences could be, and she became excited. ¡°Termination?¡± That¡¯s the best news I¡¯ve heard all night. If I had known that taking credit for someone else¡¯s work would lead to termination, I would have done it a long time ago. ¡°Once you¡¯re terminated, no one in this city will dare to hire you again,¡± Seth continued quietly, shattering Isabe¡¯s dream of escaping. Deted, Isabe sank back into her seat. Annoyed by Isabe¡¯s sighs, Seth said, ¡°Thepany treats you well, and you can¡¯t wait to leave?¡± Isabe looked away. ¡°Thepany treats me like any other employee. You¡¯re the one who¡¯s kind to me.¡± She turned away and rested her head on her arm. Honestly, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve been here for five years. I should have a new direction in life. Leaving thepany is just part of my professional n.¡± Seth looked ahead and gripped the steering wheel tighter, then he turned it. The car suddenly made a U-turn. Isabe was caught off guard and, as she was leaning to the side, she fell towards the door and bumped her forehead against the window. After enduring a lot of pain throughout the day, Isabe was immune to this level of difort. Determinedly, she picked herself up. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, I¡­¡± ¡°One more word, and there¡¯s more where that came from.¡± Seth shot her a displeased look through the rear-view mirror. Isabe fell silent. I can¡¯t beg him, and I can¡¯t reason with him. What does he want me to do? She realized that Seth¡¯s annoying attitude had reached a whole new level. I can¡¯t get through to him no matter what I do. The scenery flew past them. Irritated, Isabe looked out the window. There were many shops on the roadside, but those were not the kind of shops that should be in this area. Isabe realized that Seth had never asked her where she wanted to go after getting into the car. She sat up straighter, feeling a little nervous. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, where are we going?¡± Seth chuckled. ¡°So, you remembered to ask. At least your brain isn¡¯t Isabe swallowed nervously and looked at the shops outside. She was certain she hadn¡¯t been here before. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Why don¡¯t you stop by the roadside, and I¡¯ll get out and hail a cab?¡± She wasn¡¯t sure what Seth was thinking. All she wanted was to get out of the car. Seth had a strange expression on his face. He leaned back, rxed. ¡°What? Scared?¡± Isabe choked on her words. Her throat was dry, and she tensed up once again. Because her adrenaline was pumping, she managed to summon some strength. Seth continued driving, and Isabe didn¡¯t recognize the ce they were in. She suspected they were outside the city. ¡°Mr. Shaffer¡­¡± She tried calling out to Seth, but before he could answer, the car made another turn. The same thing happened again, and this time, Isabe bumped into the window on the other side of the car. He did it on purpose. She was certain this time. She knew what to do. Shey back in her seat and no longer stubbornly got 1. Seeing that she had understood her ce, Seth was in a good mood, and he started a conversation. ¡°Did you arrange for those paparazzi to be there?¡± Isabe gritted her teeth. She wondered if she should continue being stubborn or give in. Seth looked ahead. Coldly and imperiously, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t like people saying foolish things.¡± Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Silence enveloped the car, and the atmosphere grew heavy. Isabe moistened her lips. Her voice emerged, husky from her parched throat. ¡°No.¡± Seth anticipated her response. He warmed up slightly, and he brushed his fingers across the steering wheel. ¡°I observed your performance throughout the entire time you were in the conference room.¡± Isabe felt a tremor in her soul. She tried to recall everything she had said that afternoon. All the things she had said just to spite Angelina now became her own punishment, biting her in the rear. ¡°I had no idea you were so¡­ ambitious,¡± Seth continued mercilessly. Isabe closed her eyes and opened her mouth, but she couldn¡¯t utter a word. She didn¡¯t even need to watch the surveince footage to know that she had put on a perfect act for Angelina, and everything she had said was ambitious. Seth pulled over by the roadside and listed out all of Isabe¡¯s actions, tormenting her. ¡°Your resignation and refusal to continue your contract were just a ploy to gain my attention?¡± He rolled down the window and leisurely rested his hand on the edge. With his other hand, he opened the glovebox and retrieved a packet of cigarettes. Isabe remained lying on the seat. She could hear Seth smoking, and she could imagine what he looked like. She said nothing, but she felt as if the heat of the cigarette smoke was scorching her skin, burning her. She felt like a young girl who had a crush on a boy, only for her crush to find out about her feelings and reject her. It felt as if he was saying, ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re not a good match.¡± Even though Isabe was tough, she still couldn¡¯t easily resolve this awkward situation. If she told him she had said those things on purpose as a ploy, it 5 3 8 would sound too much like an excuse. No one would believe that, let alone Seth. Isabe raised her hand and wiped her face while Seth wasn¡¯t looking. She forced herself to calm down. You have nothing to be afraid of. You¡¯ve seen worse. After that pep talk to herself, Isabe slowly got up from her seat. Seth looked into the rear-view mirror and met her gaze. Isabe said, ¡°Any woman would kill to be the wife of thepany president.¡± The president¡¯s wife¡­ Seth frowned, something stirring in his heart. He reyed the scene he had witnessed in the afternoon and confirmed that the conversation explicitly stated Isabe wanted to be Mrs. Shaffer, not just the president¡¯s wife. ¡°I stayed by your side for five years and tended to your needs every day. I did everything you told me to and never left you. Even if you were an ordinary man, it would be hard for me not to fall for you.¡± Isabe tried to be reasonable and praised Seth to stroke his ego. Smoke swirled around in the driver¡¯s seat. Some light passed through it, but Seth didn¡¯t appear rxed. Isabe tried to guess what he was thinking, but all she saw was the back of his head. She could only rely on her intuition. ¡°I wasn¡¯t ying hard to get. Sometimes my mind snaps out of it, you know.¡± Isabe ruffled her hair, speaking calmly. ¡°You¡¯re not going to marry me anyway, so why are you holding me back?¡± Everything else was fake, but thest part was true. Maybe she had some emotions invested in it, so it sounded genuine. Seth was already annoyed by her little schemes, and after she said thest part of that sentence, he was reminded of what Gordon had said in the morning. That idiot wants to marry Isabe. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to hold you back because you think you have better opportunities out there?¡± Seth tossed his cigarette away and slightly turned his face away, hiding his head in the darkness, which made him appear more intimidating. Isabe tried to decipher his meaning ande up with a good enough answer. Seth noticed her contemtion, and he knew what she was thinking. He scoffed. ¡°I can give you a hint.¡± Analysis failed. Isabe was on guard. Seth smirked. ¡°Gordon wants to marry you.¡± Isabe thought she misheard him. ¡°What?¡± Seth repeated himself, this time emphasizing every single word, ¡°Gordon. Wants. To. Marry. You.¡± Isabe took a deep breath and ced her hands on herp, ready to confront him. She stared at Seth for a while. ¡°I see.¡± That reaction was too calm. Seth felt like he didn¡¯t receive the response he From N?velDrama.Org. desired, and his mood worsened. He turned back around, his back facing Isabe. Sarcastically, he said, ¡°You may not be the wife of apany president, but you can be the daughter-inw of anotherpany president.¡± Isabe had discarded all her shame. She boldly said, ¡°If I have a wedding, pleasee.¡± D Chapter 151 Chapter 151 After Isabe made that statement, Seth rolled up the car window, revved up the car, and stepped on the pedal. Imperia was a bustling city. Even at night, the traffic on its outskirts was still congested. Seth maneuvered through the highway and entered a tunnel. He skillfully navigated past other cars as if he were driving a go-kart. Isabe, sitting in the passenger seat, was jostled around. She tightly gripped her seatbelt, fearing for her life. Isabe reyed her answers in her mind. Hey, my response was perfect. I told him that I was toning down my ambition and marrying someone else so he wouldn¡¯t think I had any intentions towards him. So, what¡¯s his problem? The car elerated, and Isabe thought she heard police sirens. ¡°If you keep speeding like this, Mr. Shaffer, you¡¯ll be making headlines tomorrow.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be the only one making headlines,¡± Seth replied. Damn it. What did I ever do to deserve this treatment from you? Isabe felt like she was going crazy. She had been starving the entire day and thought she might die. Now, with Seth tormenting her, she genuinely believed she Chapter 151 In The Hospital With Seth might not make it. She wanted to vomit, but she couldn¡¯t if there was nothing to throw up. ¡°Seth¡­¡± Seth thought he heard someone calling out to him from the passenger seat. He was about to say something when he heard Isabe retching. His eyes widened as a painful memory flooded his mind. ¡°Please don¡¯t throw up.¡± Isabe was on the verge of tears due to frustration. ¡°I can¡¯t hold it in¡­¡± She retched again, but nothing came out. Seth couldn¡¯t ignore his frustration any longer. He turned the car around and drove to the hospital. Isabe continued retching in the passenger seat. Her head was spinning, and she felt cold inside. She thought she might die because she could hear her mother¡¯s voice in her head. Damn it. If I die here, it¡¯ll probably be due to starvation. Former head secretary of the Shaffer Group dies from starvation. How ridiculous! I¡¯ve lived my whole life as aw-abiding citizen, and this is how it ends? The inte will find out how I ended up in this mess. They¡¯ll discover that I¡¯ve been fatherless since I was little and start writing online theses about it, only to conclude that children are influenced by the families they grow up in. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, enter the hospital through the backdoor.¡± Seth thought Isabe was acting strangely. He stared straight ahead, not responding to her. Isabe closed her eyes, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Seth couldn¡¯t hear her clearly, but he caught the word ¡®Mom.¡¯ He felt conflicted. Realizing that he would soon be blocked by the traffic ahead, he pounded his steering wheel a few times. The McLaren was an imposing presence, causing the cars in front to make way for Seth. Seth pressed down on the elerator, and the car sped ahead like the wind. It took him twenty minutes to reach the hospital in the city center. He opened the door, and the cool night breeze rushed into the car. Isabe was already drenched in sweat, shivering from the cold. She lifted her head in a daze and thought she saw Seth leaning over to pick her up. ¡°No.¡± Isabe moved away. He let out a sigh and said patiently, ¡°Come here, Isabe.¡± She shook her head. Despite her sickly paleplexion, she refused, ¡°This won¡¯t do.¡± Seth¡¯s expression fell, and he got back into the car. ¡°Come. Here,¡± he growled. Still in a daze, Isabe, feeling wronged, said, ¡°You¡¯re going to hold me and then use me of seducing you.¡± Seth was speechless. Isabe pouted and snapped at Seth. ¡°Look in the mirror. You¡¯re the one who Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. looks like a pervert, not me.¡± He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He hissed, ¡°Just one more time. Come here.¡± She turned away and clicked her tongue. ¡°In most romance novels, you should be forcefully taking me by now.¡± Seth lost his patience. He swiftly entered the car like a panther, seizing his prey by the nape. Isabe was pulled out of the car by her cor. Still in a daze, she retched at Seth with all her might. Disgust filled his face. He removed his suit jacket and covered Isabe¡¯s face. Then, he held her in his arms. The air outside was refreshing. Even with her face covered, Isabe took a few deep breaths. She stopped moving, causing Seth to feel uneasy. He couldn¡¯t check if she was breathing because he was holding her. He only had one option left: the emergency department. Chapter 152 Chapter 152 17 Approaching 9.00PM in the emergency room, the nurses were preparing for a shift change. Suddenly, they saw a man, as handsome as a Greek god, hastily approaching with a corpse in his arms. ¡°Sir, you-¡± ¡°Get a doctor!¡± Before the nurse could finish, Seth shouted. The young nurse was startled and quickly went out, asking, ¡°From which department?¡± Seth was dumbfounded. He assessed the injuries that Isabe had suffered since the morning, from head to toe. Each injury required a different medical specialty. At least a consultation with the hospital director was necessary. His expression was stern, and the nurse could tell it was serious. Without waiting for him to speak, she turned and rushed to the director¡¯s office. Mr. Shaffer, Please Help Buy Some Food ¡°Director Witt, there¡¯s a seriously ill patient!¡± Under the suit, Isabe blinked, her thoughts oddly clear. She opened her mouth and, with thest bit of strength, said, ¡°Mr. Shaffer, please don¡¯t take away the suitter. I don¡¯t want to be embarrassed.¡± Seth was dumbfounded. At 11.00PM, the doctor finished administering the IV to Isabe and jokingly said, ¡°If you hade a bitter in this condition, it would have made headlines.¡± Isabe forced a smile, her throat dry, unable to speak. By the window in the hospital room, Seth furrowed his brow. He had been standing there for nearly half an hour. While Isabe was being examined and receiving the IV, he only stood there. The nurse had to go through the admission procedures for Isabe. ¡°Doesn¡¯t she need medicine?¡± As the doctor packed up to leave, Seth, who had been standing in the background the whole time, suddenly spoke. ¡°Medicine?¡± The doctor¡¯s eyes behind his sses shed with speechlessness. He pushed his sses up his nose and took a pen and paper from his pocket, saying, ¡°Well, I suppose I can prescribe something.¡± Lying on the bed, Isabe estimated that the doctor would prescribe some blood-nourishing medicine. After all, she wasn¡¯t originally sick; she had simply fainted from hunger. The doctor skillfully wrote on the paper, tore it off, and handed it to Seth. ¡°Go get the medication.¡± Finally, Seth did not stand idly. He reached out and took the prescription. Seeing the doctor leave, Isabe couldn¡¯t help but prop herself up halfway. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, you don¡¯t need to trouble yourself. I¡¯ll go after the IV is finished.¡± Seth ignored her, scanning the prescription from top to bottom with a Curious, Isabe asked, ¡°What¡¯s on the prescription?¡± ¡°So talkative, huh? Why don¡¯t we skip the IV? You can leave after you pluck off the needle.¡± Seth intentionally spoke sarcastically, mocking Isabe for talking too much. Isabe pouted, reflecting for the umpteenth time that she should maintain a This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. cold distance from Seth. With a casual toss, Seth tore the prescription and threw it into the trash bin. Hands in his pockets, he walked straight out of the room. With a click, the door closed. Gritting her teeth, Isabe sat up. Stealthily, she climbed down from the bed and skillfully picked out all the torn pieces of paper from the trash bin. As she did, sheined about Seth¡¯s behavior. The prescription wasn¡¯t a trade secret. There was no need to tear it into confetti. She managed to retrieve all the paper pieces, but each piece only had one or two words. The onlyplete one read ¡°cheese.¡± Isabe was confused. What kind of medicine was called cheese? She blinked, sat down with difficulty, and pieced together the prescription ording to the shapes of the torn pieces. If it were a usual day, with Isabe¡¯s capability, she could have finished it in less than three minutes. Unfortunately, her intelligence was impaired, and even focusing for a short while gave her a headache. What would usually take three minutes ended up taking ten. She took breaks while piecing it together, also alert to the possibility of Seth returning suddenly. Time passed, and the pieces of paper gradually formed theplete prescription. The door to the ward remained closed. Isabe squinted, looking at the words on the prescription. ¡°Eat spaghetti, add a little cheese, and consider a fried egg. Avoid spicy and irritating foods.¡±, She was speechless, after which she clicked her tongue, raised her hand, and patted her forehead. She should have thought that medicine to treat hunger would undoubtedly be food! The clock on the wall showed that it was already past 9.30PM. Seth had been out for quite some time. Maybe he had already left. Isabe thought it unlikely that Seth would specifically go to buy spaghetti. That small shop was in an alley behind the hospital, and his luxury car couldn¡¯t even fit into it. She tidied up the torn pieces, threw them into the trash bin, and slowlyy back down. As she rxed, with only the sound of her heartbeat in her ears, she nced at the IV fluid dripping slowly. She had been starving in the office earlier and was now feeling dizzy. The craving for food wasn¡¯t strong. Now that she had suddenly rxed, her stomach responded. It grumbled. ¡°Don¡¯t bother; no one¡¯s here to feed you.¡± As soon as she spoke, the ward¡¯s door was pushed open from the outside. Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Isabe¡¯s first thought was that Seth had returned when she saw the door open, but it was a nurse who entered. She felt a mix of surprise and confusion, appearing polite but slow-witted at the same time. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± The nurse looked into the room and said, ¡°Director Witt sent me to check if you¡¯re able to buy food on your own. The hospital provides meals for patients.¡± Isabe was tongue-tied and slow to respond. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The gentleman who was here earlier has been gone for a while, so Director Witt sent me,¡± the nurse said suggestively. Isabe felt helpless, unsure whether to appreciate the doctor¡¯s consideration orin about the nosiness of the doctors and nurses. Sighing, she decided to focus on her appetite first. ¡°Thank you. Please order a meal for me. I don¡¯t have any dietary restrictions.¡± After giving her an ¡°OK¡± hand signal, the nurse closed the door, and silence returned to the ward. Isabe leaned against the headboard of the bed and stared at the shredded paper in the bin. She couldn¡¯t help but miss the food from Eataly. She used to go there often with Natasha, but they hadn¡¯t been there recently due to their busy schedules. The taste of the food lingered in her mouth, making everything else seem nd inparison. Furthermore, the hospital food was mostly vorless, and her taste buds were weakened from not eating all day. She forced herself to eat something, but her stomach couldn¡¯t handle it and started to ache again. In the middle of the night, she had to call the doctor twice and received a scolding. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your boyfriend? I know he¡¯s Seth Shaffer, but this is not how a boyfriend should behave, even if he¡¯s rich. If he continues treating you like this, find another boyfriend.¡± While enduring the gastric pain, Isabe felt both puzzled and amused by the doctor¡¯s advice. She clenched her jaw, remaining silent and curled up in bed, waiting for the pain to subside. 10:02 Wed, 3 Jan R Her mind was in turmoil, but she didn¡¯t dare to fall into a deep sleep, worried about the reverse flow of blood from the IV drip. So she stayed vignt throughout the night until dawn, when the IV drip finally finished. When the doctor came to remove the needle, he rambled on and even asked if she had any hidden reasons. Speechless, Isabe pretended to be asleep in the end. After the doctor left, the ward returned to its previous pin-drop silence, with only the soft whirring of the air-conditioning audible. She let out a deep breath, releasing all her frustrations, and coaxed herself to sleep. She didn¡¯t know how long it had been, but her mind finally found This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. serenity. *** ymont Hills, the old Shaffer residence. In the spacious traditional living room, the floor was covered in broken porcin, and Lara knelt on the floor with disheveled hair, looking pale from crying. On the couch with a teakwood frame, Spencer, dressed in an ironed button-down shirt, sat with his back straight. He frowned, staring intensely at his youngest daughter as sheined, feeling frustrated and angry. ¡°He still hasn¡¯t arrived?¡± Spencer asked in a strong voice, sounding nothing like an old man. The bodyguards outside nced at each other, trying to get someone else to answer. In the end, the leader stepped forward helplessly. ¡°Mr. Seth is driving and should be here soon.¡± Spencer responded with a deep grunt, revealing none of his emotions. His lips were tightly pursed, and every movement he made was a more advanced version of Seth¡¯s. However, Lara was not satisfied that Spencer didn¡¯t lose his temper. ¡°Dad, you have to do something about this for me. Otherwise, I¡¯ll be too embarrassed to go out in public!¡± After saying that, Christina Hudson stepped forward and wiped away the tears on Lara¡¯s face, speaking meekly, ¡°Spencer, even though Lara is not a boy, she is our only daughter. Even if it¡¯s not for the sake of our marriage, you should at least feel sorry for your daughter.¡± Despite being in her mid-forties, Christina looked like she was in her early thirties, thanks to her dedication to self-care. Standing next to Spencer, she looked more like his daughter, and it seemed like a joke to hear her speak about her marriage to him. A knot formed between Spencer¡¯s brows, and a sharp light shed in his aged eyes as he tapped his walking stick against the ground. ¡°Louis has been deported and locked up. What else do you want?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to investigate this thoroughly?¡± With a sniffle, tears instantly rolled down Christina¡¯s face, making her look as pitiful as amb. ¡°That foreigner had the audacity to plot against Lara. Maybe=¡± ¡°Maybe Seth gave him the idea?¡± Before Christina could finish speaking, Spencer finished her sentence with a solemn expression. Stunned, she raised her head and met his icy gaze. All the words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat, and cold sweat started to break out on her Seeing that the situation was not in their favor, Lara couldn¡¯t help but shoot her a re from the corner of her eye. If you don¡¯t know what to say, don¡¯t say anything. All the crying I did this evening was for nothing. ¡°Dad, that¡¯s not what Mom means. She¡¯s just-¡± Before she could finish her sentence, the sound of an engine echoed from the courtyard outside, followed by someone rushing into the room, saying, ¡°Old Mr. Shaffer, Mr. Seth is back.¡± Chapter 154 Chapter 154 After stepping out of the car, Seth casually tossed the car keys to a bodyguard as he confidently strode into the main building. Seated in the middle of the room, Spencer squinted his eyes, observing the young man who had just entered. Seth exuded a cold aura; his eyes were aloof, and every step he took was firm. With a nonchnt attitude, he plopped into a seat next to Spencer, unfazed by the scrutiny. ¡°Is there something wrong, Grandpa?¡± Spencer¡¯s scrutinizing gaze didn¡¯t bother Seth, and he didn¡¯t even spare a nce at Christina and Lara. He hit his walking stick on the ground with a disgruntled look. ¡°It¡¯s sote. What were you doing outside?¡± Sniffing the air, he sensed something amiss. ¡°You smell like cigarettes. Have you been somewhere you shouldn¡¯t have?¡± Without flinching, Seth covered his mouth with his fist and coughed tiredly. ¡°Our family runs arge business, and it¡¯s not surprising that I have to work overtime asionally. It¡¯s alreadyte, and it¡¯s too much trouble to drag Jordan out of the house to be my chauffeur. There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Although Seth¡¯s words seemed considerate of his employee, upon closer inspection, it sounded more like he wasining about being called over by Spencer in the middle of the night. When Lara and Christina deciphered the meaning behind his words, they felt delighted and straightened their backs simultaneously. With a snort, Spencer said, ¡°You are so considerate of your subordinate, huh?¡± Unfazed, Seth swept his gaze past the mother and daughter who were about to cause trouble and said, ¡°With money, I can pay my employees to work for me, unlike some others who don¡¯t appreciate what they have even after I give them enough money.¡± He made it clear that he was referring to Lara and Christina without directly pointing at them. Spencer understood Seth¡¯s implication but chose not to expose them. ¡°Stop being clever. Although Lara is young, she¡¯s still your aunt, and you failed to protect her. Am I not allowed to call you back for a few questions?¡± A cold sneer appeared on Seth¡¯s lips. Narrowing his eyes at Lara, he said lightly, ¡°Sure, you can. Not only can you call me back for questioning, but you can even disown me if you think I set up Aunt Lara behind her back.¡± His words sounded like a joke, but there was an underlying innuendo. Spencer remained expressionless and pursed his lips, appearing deep in thought. Meanwhile, Lara knelt on the floor in a pathetic state. As Seth looked at her from across the room with eyes filled with mockery and menace, inexplicable guilt bubbled in her chest, and she couldn¡¯t help but grip the chair handle next to her. Observing the situation, Christina realized that Lara was unable to speak and spoke on her behalf. ¡°Don¡¯t say things like that, Seth. Spencer doesn¡¯t suspect From N?velDrama.Org. you. He called you home because he¡¯s worried about Lara. The entire Shaffer Family relies on you now. Who else can we depend on if not you?¡± she said, tears streaming down her face, looking as sad as if Spencer had passed away. This wasn¡¯t the first time Spencer had witnessed her acting this way, and he was already ustomed to it. Annoyed that she was embarrassing him in front of his grandson, he knocked the floor hard with his walking stick. ¡°Why are you crying? Am I dying or something?¡± Christina was scared into silence. The way her tears clung to her eyes, on the verge of falling, looked both amusing and pitiful. Spencer snorted heavily and turned to Seth. ¡°Tell me, what exactly happened?¡± Leaning sideways, Seth looked away from Lara and met Spencer¡¯s gaze. ¡°Your precious daughter rejected Louis six months ago in front of hundreds of people. He¡¯s a regional executive director, after all. Isn¡¯t it expected that he would hold a grudge?¡± Biting her lip, Lara wanted to argue, but Spencer had already be suspicious of her. ¡°Is that all it is?¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± Seth chortled and glowered at Lara. ¡°Ask her what she said at that time.¡± Knowing Lara¡¯s temper, Spencer fell silent and gave her a hard stare. ¡°Did you humiliate him?¡± Lara¡¯s eyes shed with anxiety, and she gulped hard. ¡°I just called him a ¡°That¡¯s absurd!¡± Before Lara could finish speaking, Spencer cut her off, berating, ¡°Have you forgotten all the etiquette I taught you? If you¡¯re not interested in him, you can reject him, and if he persists, your brother and I are here for you. There was absolutely no need for you to humiliate him.¡± Even a hillbilly knows not to embarrass others in public, and this rule applies in the business world as well. It wasn¡¯t a problem that Lara rejected Louis, but she should never have humiliated him in public. Aware that she was in the wrong, Lara bit her lip without saying a word as she forced out another tear. ¡°Even if Louis holds a grudge against me, the one who invited me to the hotel was- In her haste, she wanted to mention Isabe and involve her as well, but right before her name slipped out, she stopped herself. Jerking her head up, she met Seth¡¯s eyes, which held a touch of amusement, and a shiver ran down her spine. I can¡¯t reveal this, or too many things will be exposed. Then Dad won¡¯t even pity me anymore. Seeing that she was holding back, Spencer became disgruntled. ¡°Go on!¡± After a few seconds of silence, she locked eyes with Seth, gritted her teeth, and hissed, ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡± Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Lara caused a sce at night in order to make Spencer suspect Seth¡¯s involvement in the matter. However, she underestimated Seth¡¯s importance to Spencer. With just a few words, Seth was able to corner her. ¡°It¡¯s not safe for you to stay in the country anymore,¡± Seth dered firmly, leaving no room for negotiation. ¡°What?¡± Christina turned to Spencer in disbelief. ¡°Spencer, how can Lara stay abroad on her own?¡± Seth didn¡¯t take Christina seriously and found her annoying to listen to. Instead of engaging with her, he left the decision to Spencer. Spencer looked at Christina with narrowed eyes and said seriously, ¡°Didn¡¯t it ur to you that it wasn¡¯t safe for Lara to go adventuring in Peru?¡± Lara felt her hope drain away. Spencer¡¯s question was as good as agreeing with Seth¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Stay abroad until the storm blows over,¡± Spencer decided. He leaned on his walking stick and gave Lara a warning nce, saying, ¡°Follow the rules even when you¡¯re away. I¡¯ll send someone to keep an eye on you. Don¡¯t go out unnecessarily and prioritize your safety.¡± Lara lost all hope. Although Spencer seemed concerned about her safety, he was actually putting her under house arrest, afraid that she would cause trouble outside. Despite seeing her distress, Spencer didn¡¯t seem to care. He scanned the room and issued a warning to everyone, ¡°Shaffer Group is making rapid progress, thanks to the efforts of every generation. Anyone who doesn¡¯t appreciate this and causes trouble will be dealt with.¡± With that, he stood up from the couch. Christina wanted to help him up, but he had already stood. He pointed at Seth and ordered, ¡°Come upstairs with me.¡± Quietly, Seth nced at the wall clock, an odd look shing in his eyes. Nevertheless, he followed Spencer upstairs. 0 Transaction fees:This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Christina still wanted to help Spencer up the stairs, but he snapped, ¡°Why are you following me instead of checking on Lara?¡± Despite their years of marriage, he showed no courtesy when speaking to her. Seth saw Christina¡¯s face stiffen under his icy gaze, but he felt nothing for her. This was the path she had chosen for herself. No matter how difficult it became, she had to walk it alone, especially since she was always causing problems. ¡°Did you see it?¡± A few seconds after Christina went downstairs, Spencer turned around and said while walking, ¡°Find yourself a virtuous wife. Even if she¡¯s not, she shoulde from a simr background. Otherwise, when you grow older, you¡¯ll be ridiculed by your children and grandchildren.¡± Walking behind him, Seth sensed something in his words and replied calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t find anything ridiculous about you, Grandpa.¡± Spencer snorted but wasn¡¯t really angry. At the end of the corridor, he stopped. ¡°I heard you changed your secretary.¡± A light shed in Seth¡¯s eyes, and he became guarded. However, he DINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees appeared unaffected on the surface. ¡°It¡¯s been five years. Time for a change of personnel.¡± With an unreadable look in his eyes, Spencer nced at him. Without making anything clear, he said casually, ¡°Make sure you pay them well. They¡¯ve worked hard for five years. Don¡¯t dy things and hurt their feelings.¡± Seth didn¡¯t say a word but could already guess what Spencer would say next. ¡°You¡¯re not getting any younger.¡± There it was. This was why he asked Seth toe back today. ¡°I don¡¯t n to get married for the time being,¡± Seth said honestly, so Spencer wouldn¡¯t keep dropping hints. Sulking, Spencer looked doubtful and turned his face to stare at Seth. ¡°You have no ns to get married, or you don¡¯t n to marry ady from a notable family?¡± Men understood each other best, and Spencer was once a young man. Even without rifying, they could read each other¡¯s minds. P2P 0 Transaction Fees Seth thought it over and understood what Spencer was hinting at. ¡°Do you want me to marry someone from the Legard Family?¡± Sabrina Legard¡¯s parents had previously suggested this to the Shaffers. However, Sabrina was secretly dating someone else, and Seth had declined the suggestion because they were childhood friends. ¡°Sabrina is a nice girl,¡± Spencer indirectly pointed out. Seth didn¡¯t argue and replied calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t n to marry Cindere, nor do I n to marry a cold-hearted person to spend the rest of my life with. At least¡­¡± He stopped mid-sentence. Spencer raised an eyebrow. ¡°At least what?¡± ¡°At least I want a rtionship like my parents had.¡± His words echoed through the corridor, and they both fell silent. Instantly, Spencer¡¯s face fell, and annoyance shed in his eyes. Facing the window, he said, ¡°If you¡¯d rather be like them, you might as well stay single for the rest of Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Isabe had a restless sleep for a few hours and vaguely sensed someone opening the door to her room. She rolled over, ignored it, and continued sleeping. It wasn¡¯t until 6.00AM when her phone rm went off as usual that she mumbled and reached for her phone with closed eyes. However, instead of finding her phone, she touched something soft and furry. She paused for a moment and then quickly woke up. She opened her eyes abruptly and propped herself up. She lowered her gaze and finally saw the head lying next to her bed¡­ Isabe took a deep breath and almost thought that she was dreaming. She rubbed her eyes vigorously several times to confirm that it was indeed real. ¡°Mr. Shaffer?¡± She tentatively called out, but the man lying there didn¡¯t move at all. When did hee back? There was no sound at all. His movements were as quiet as a ghost. Furthermore, why did hee back? Isabe was bewildered, but she didn¡¯t dare to speak loudly. She could clearly see half of Seth¡¯s face exposed outside his arm. He seemed to have stayed up all night; the dark circles under his eyes were quite severe. She pursed her lips, and as her gaze swept around, she suddenly noticed a food container on the bedside table. Was it takeout? Isabe sniffed the air, and her eyes lit up as she recognized the aroma she had been craving. She was excited yet confused. She wondered why it took him all night to buy a bowl of pasta. Seth was lying next to her. If she moved too much, she would wake him up, but the fragrance of the pasta permeated every corner, and it reminded Isabe that if she didn¡¯t eat it now, it might turn into a clump. She licked her lips and slowly shifted her body before sitting up cautiously. Seth remained in the same position and was still deeply asleep. It indicated just how tired he was. Isabe breathed a sigh of relief, reached for the container of pasta, and started to slowly open it bit by bit. As she opened a small gap, the aroma rushed out. Her stomach rumbled, and she suddenly felt hungry despite not having an appetite the previous day. She felt a bit excited, so she was a bit too forceful when she lifted the lid and tore it off with a snap. The noise was too loud and woke up the ¡°beast¡± next to her. Seth emitted an impatient sigh while lifting his head slowly and ncing at Isabe. His eyes were bloodshot and mixed with irritation from being awakened. He red at her fiercely, almost as if he wanted to open his mouth and swallow Isabe whole. Isabe nced at the clumped noodles in the container and then at Seth¡¯s chilling gaze. Then, her lips twitched uncontrobly. She forced a smile while looking at Seth. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Shaffer.¡± Seth had only slept for two hours, and despite his regr exercise routine, his body couldn¡¯t handle the fatigue. Moreover, his inappropriate words had angered his grandfather, which resulted in him being hit twice by his walking stick, and his back was still aching from it. After being abruptly awakened by Isabe, he was initially in a bad mood, but when he heard her greeting, it felt as if someone had gently brushed a feather across his heart. He narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Isabe to confirm that he wasn¡¯t still half-asleep. Over a month ago, when Isabe woke up beside him, she would say good morning,¡¯ but without any emotions. There was not even a fake smile like the one she wore now. When Isabe noticed Seth staring at her, she felt uneasy and couldn¡¯t help but swallow nervously. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, when did youe?¡± Upon listening to her voice, Seth regained his focus and irritably ran his hand through his hair. ¡°When you started snoring.¡± Isabe was shocked. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I don¡¯t snore!¡± Seth scoffed and reached for his phone. ¡°I recorded it.¡± Isabe was speechless. She still didn¡¯t quite believe it and nced at his phone. Seth was exhausted as he yawned and looked displeased. He noticed Isabe sneaking nces at his phone, so he quickly put it away. ¡°What are you looking at? Didn¡¯t you want to eat the pasta?¡± HINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees Isabe nced at the pasta and chuckled. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, when did you buy this?¡± Seth replied, ¡°Around 1.00AM or 2.00AM.¡± She was speechless. It was already 6.00AM, and the pasta was almost back to its doughy form! ¡°I¡¯m not hungry now. Why don¡¯t you eat first, Mr. Shaffer?¡± Isabe smiled faintly. Seth supported his chin with one hand and squintedzily. ¡°I won¡¯t eat without washing up.¡± She said, ¡°But I-¡± BINANCE P2P This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. 0 Transaction Fees ¡°You¡¯re not that particr,¡± Sean interrupted coldly and cut off her retreat. ¡°You would even go downstairs in the middle of the night to eat leftovers in the past.¡± She gritted her teeth. It wasn¡¯t easy to deal with someone she had shared a bed with, especially when he knew her so well. She held the food container and felt at a loss. Seth licked his lips while looking at her sideways. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I went to all this trouble to get this for you, and you¡¯re not going to eat?¡± Isabe was feeling conflicted. On the one hand, she was surprised that Seth actually went to buy pasta, which gave her a bit of sce as she realized he still had some human decency. However, the state of the pasta now was a -form of covert punishment. BINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees Seth urged her. ¡°Hurry up and eat.¡± Isabe picked up the pasta and suddenly noticed that they were still warm. She looked at Seth in confusion. He leaned back with his arms crossed and looked slightly pleased. ¡°Half an hour ago, I had the nurse reheat it.¡± Isabe was rendered speechless once more. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Seth kept his gaze fixed on Isabe, making it clear that he wouldn¡¯t look away until she had finished eating. Resigned, Isabe grabbed a spoon and began eating the noodles along with the broth. Although the noodles werepletely mushy, the soup was vorful enough to swallow. He watched her eat with a scrutinizing look, his eyes roaming from her eyebrows to her lips, and even to her hand holding the spoon. He rarely hesitated. This woman in front of him met his standards as a lover but not as his wife. Yet, this annoying woman entertained thoughts of HINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees bing his wife without any sense. This realization ignited his annoyance and anger, making his gaze darken. Upon seeing the change in Seth¡¯s expression, Isabe was puzzled. She didn¡¯t From N?velDrama.Org. understand what had set him off. His temper seemed to have no cause. She swallowed a spoonful of soup and realized that Seth might be hungry after being busy all night. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, should I have some food sent over for you?¡± After saying that, she realized it wasn¡¯t appropriate, so she changed her statement. ¡°I can manage here alone. You can go rest.¡± Seth lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Who told you I¡¯m here just to keep an eye on you?¡± P2P 0 Transaction Fees Isabe was speechless. Damn it! I shouldn¡¯t have poked my nose into his business about whether he¡¯s hungry or not! She bit down on the spoon while reprimanding herself internally. Work habits were hard to break. She had been like apdog to Seth for five years, so she was habitually concerned about his life and habits. At times, it was hard to control herself. Soon after his retort, Seth noticed a trace of remorse in her expression. He carefully pondered over this emotion and tried to analyze its cause. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± The b*stard detected something fishy. P2P 0 Transaction Fees Isabe blushed slightly and tried to exin. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just a work habit that I can¡¯t shake off for now.¡± Seth¡¯s emotions eased a bit as he raised the corner of his lips slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of fascination. He softened his tone and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to change.¡± She couldn¡¯t read this man¡¯s mind. She took a sip of soup to calm herself. ¡°I need to change. Otherwise, it won¡¯t help in future work.¡± Seth replied, ¡°Who knows what kind of work you¡¯ll do in the future?¡± Isabe hesitated and pondered the meaning behind his words but wasn¡¯t entirely sure, so she continued to pretend she didn¡¯t understand. He noticed her intention to feign ignorance. His brow furrowed slightly. It was BINAND P2P 0 Transaction Fees not out of anger but rather curiosity. Hezily remarked, ¡°Isabe, the contract I offered you before is still valid.¡± She tossed the spoon into the bowl of soup and avoided eye contact with him. ¡°My previous decision stands, and I hope you respect it.¡± Seth raised his hand and used the back of it to stroke his chin. His gaze was deep. ¡°Were those five years unpleasant for you?¡± 578 Isabe¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°Everyone in thepany knows about our history. How do you think I should exin it to my future husband?¡± Frowning, he asked, ¡°So this is what you¡¯re worried about?¡± He thought Isabe was making concessions to gain advantages, but he didn¡¯t expect it to be from the perspective of a future husband. BINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees An odd feeling surged within him. Impatience and annoyance rose without reason. Images of Isabe and some other man forming a family shed through his mind. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, if you only want a suitable lover, you can easily find another target.¡± Isabe suppressed her anger while still staring at the wall opposite her with an expressionless face. She said, ¡°Selena is more than willing to y that role.¡± ¡°Do you think that the ce in my bed is something any woman can climb into?¡± Seth¡¯s face darkened, and his emotions were expressed bluntly. Isabe fell silent. She did not even want to nce at the b*stard. He wasn¡¯t on the same wavelength as her, so it was impossible tomunicate with him. BINANC P2P Transaction Fees 0 Trans ¡°If you want to get married¡­¡± Seth revisited the earlier topic. He emphasized the words ¡°get married,¡± paused, and continued, ¡°I¡¯ll give you arge sum of money. Then, you can leave this city.¡± What a jerk! You slept with me for five years and now you want another five years. And then I¡¯m supposed to get lost from Imperia because you decided to give me some stupid money? She held the food container with both hands and subconsciously pressed down on it, unable to control herself. The soup almost spilled onto the sheets. Seth couldn¡¯t detect any emotion on her face, so he simply continued speaking, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to continue working as my secretary, I can buy you another house in the suburbs. You-¡± Before the man could finish his sentence, she abruptly turned her head and CBINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees fixed him with a death stare. He froze, his words stuck in his mouth. He was momentarily unable to grasp her emotions. Suddenly, Isabe raised her hand and hurled the soup in her hand directly at Seth! Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Seth¡¯s eyes widened, and he quickly moved backward. However, since he was seated, it was easy for Isabe to hit him, and the bowl of noodles ended up covering his head! The warm soup streamed down his handsome face and soaked his entire designer suit. Seth, who was usually aloof and aristocratic, now looked ridiculous with a stic bowl on his head. Isabe had done something significant, and she felt both excited and fearful. She clenched her fists while maintaining eye contact with him. Seth was infuriated as he reached to remove the bowl. He still wore an BINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. incredulous expression. In his nearly twenty-seven years of life, no one, from top to bottom, had dared to treat him like this. ¡°Isabe-¡± Isabe swallowed hard, and her voice was strained. ¡°If you dare say those ridiculous things again, there will be a next time!¡± Seth¡¯s jaw tightened, and his eyes were filled with rage. He was on the verge- of losing control and perhaps even strangling her! The volcanic eruption of anger, which should have been directed entirely at Isabe, was held back by Seth¡¯s ingrained aristocratic upbringing. He refused to harm a woman. BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees He felt utterly stifled as he scanned the room. He chose a target abruptly and smashed a ss vase on the nightstand onto the floor. Crash! The shattering sound echoed throughout the room, crisp and frighteningly clear. Upon looking at the shards scattered across the floor, Isabe feared she might face the same fate. Seth clenched his fists and red at Isabe, who was hiding the fear in her eyes. ¡°Isabe, I¡¯ve been too lenient with you.¡± Isabe¡¯s fear became evident, but she remained motionless. Every cell in her body was on high alert. As the tension lingered, she felt that he was contemting hitting her. Transaction Fees P2P Suddenly, the door to the ward swung open, and a nurse peeked in. ¡°Is everything all right?¡± Seth didn¡¯t even turn his head and bellowed, ¡°Get lost!¡± The nurse was startled. She stood at the door and was uncertain. She nced at Isabe and then at Seth¡¯s back. Having received professional training, the nurse mustered her courage and asked, ¡°Miss, do you need me to call the police?¡± After she finished her sentence, a cold and fierce gaze shot her way. Isabe was concerned about involving others, so she spoke reluctantly. ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s fine. No need.¡± BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees The nurse was intimidated as she nced at Seth and hurriedly retreated from the room. Silence returned to the room, only broken by Seth¡¯s enraged breathing, which was hitting Isabe¡¯s taut nerves one after another. ¡°You¡¯d better change your clothes.¡± Isabe didn¡¯t dare to look up, trying her best to avoid eye contact with Seth. Seth¡¯s gaze lowered as he looked down at the woman in front of him with intense hostility. ¡°You¡¯d better tell me clearly how to get rid of this filth on me!¡± Isabe closed her eyes and was ready to face her fate. ¡°Get someone to pick you up now, go back to the vi, take a shower, and you¡¯ll be clean in half an hour.¡± P2P Transaction Fees ¡°Isabe!¡± The man¡¯s thunderous roar probably rattled half the hospital floor. Her heart skipped a beat, but she held her ground. ¡°You provoked me first. I only acted out of anger.¡± In other words, he was the one who asked for it. Seth picked up on the hidden meaning in her words, and it infuriated him even more. He forced out a twisted smile. He chuckled several times. It was sinister and terrifying, more menacing than his earlier rage. Isabe eyed him warily. She was ready to jump off the bed and run at any moment. BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees ¡°You¡¯re rejecting me, huh?¡± the man asked with a cold smirk. She shook her head firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t have the right to reject you. I just don¡¯t think I¡¯m suitable. Mr. Shaffer, I hope you-¡± ¡°Mr. Shaffer this! Mr. Shaffer that! Are you a weing hostess?!¡± Seth nearly exploded with anger. He couldn¡¯t believe how difficult this woman was, considering how easy it was to get her into the lounge with just a little -sweetness in the past. Isabe was speechless as she pursed her lips. ¡°From a professional standpoint, I¡¯m an employee of yourpany. Using politenguage is not wrong.¡± ¡°All right, fine. Isabe, you win.¡± The man put his hands on his waist, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. He warned, his voice nearing a shout, UINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees ¡°You¡¯d better note to beg me for anything again!¡± She pouted. She was unsure herself. The rate at which her skills were improving couldn¡¯t match the speed at which problems arose. She had issues to deal with here, and now she had offended Seth like an idiot again. However, in this situation, saving her reputation was crucial; she couldn¡¯t afford to back down no matter what. She lifted her head and locked eyes with Seth. ¡°Rest assured. Even if I have to die, I¡¯ll never ask for your help again.¡± Wait a minute. I didn¡¯t mean to sound so absolute! I should have left myself a way out! Regret flooded her the moment she finished speaking. She needed to BINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees maintain a perfect facade even if her emotions were close to crumbling. Seth looked down at the fiercely determined woman with a chilling smile on his face. He nodded repeatedly. ¡°Good! You¡¯ve got some guts!¡± Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Seth burst out of the room, kicking the door open in anger. With Seth¡¯s intimidating presence gone, Isabe finally rxed, leaning weakly against the headboard. As she calmed down, she noticed her palms were damp with cold sweat. She had lost control of herself-she had poured a bowl of soup over Seth¡¯s head. She pped her forehead and scolded herself in annoyance. Seth never returned after that, and there was no exnation. He left Isabe to dwell on her thoughts in the ward. At 8.00PM, the doctor came to check on her, and she requested to be BINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees discharged. The doctor scolded her a bit and prescribed a bunch of medicines. ¡°Young Isabe listened, feeling a pang of bitterness. She valued her life too; it was life¡¯s pressures that had driven her to this point. She packed her things and slowly made her way to the pharmacy to collect her medications. In the queue, two nearby nurses were whispering to each other. ¡°Mr. Larson from the third ward is so difficult to please. He¡¯s been causing trouble since he was admitted yesterday.¡± BINANCE P2P O Transaction Fees ¡°People like him are the worst. He looks down on the conditions of our hospital. He might as well go to a private hospital.¡± ¡°His injury isn¡¯t even serious, yet he insists on Dr. Witt performing the surgery.¡± Isabe casually eavesdropped, grabbed her medication, and hurried away while keeping an eye out for Christopher, the troublemaker. She wore a mask as she stepped into the elevator, where only another woman was present. The woman was well-dressed and moved to the side when Isabe entered. As the elevator doors closed, the woman began talking on the phone. From N?velDrama.Org. BINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees ¡°All right. I¡¯ve already bought it. It¡¯s all your favorite food. I personally bought them for you. Christopher, you¡¯re being unreasonable!¡± She went from being sweet as honey one moment to angry as a volcano the next. Isabe smirked as she observed quietly. Just moments ago, she overheard nursesining about Christopher, and now she encountered his girlfriend in the elevator. What a strange coincidence. When the elevator doors opened, the woman, still fuming, continued to berate Christopher, who was on the other end of the line. Isabe quickly got out of the elevator, eager to distance herself from the heated atmosphere. BINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees Her phone rang again when she reached the first floor. It was a call from Gordon. She suddenly remembered that he had been stopped by Dariel yesterday, and she wasn¡¯t sure what had happened afterward. She answered the call as she walked, and Gordon¡¯s voice immediately came through. ¡°Isabe, where are you? What happened? What did that jerk do to you?!¡± Her lips twitched. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. I just spent one night in the hospital.¡± ¡°What?¡± Gordon sounded incredulous. She didn¡¯t want to go into details, so she redirected the conversation before BINANCE P2P Transaction Fees he could ask more questions. ¡°What about you? Where are you?¡± As expected, Gordon got sidetracked, and he immediatelyunched into a series of curses. ¡°That scoundrel, Dariel, called my father, and I¡¯ve been confined at home sincest night!¡± Isabe blinked, surprised by Dariel¡¯s tactics. She felt likeughing but thought it would be inappropriate. So, she restrained herself. Once Gordon was done venting, she tried to console him. ¡°Take a couple of days off. How about I treat you to dinner when you¡¯re free?¡± BINANCE P2P O Transaction Fees Despite being on the phone, his mood remained foul, as if he was seething with rage. Despite Isabe¡¯s best attempts to calm him, his emotions remained unsettled. ¡°Wait for me. I¡¯ll be out tomorrow, and they¡¯ll pay for this!¡± She couldn¡¯t help but feel amused. His threatening tone sounded no different from a child throwing a tantrum. Isabe continued to soothe Gordon a bit more. Once a cab arrived, she quickly seized the opportunity to end the call. Inside the cab, the driver asked for the destination. Isabe thought for a moment and decided it would be better to check the situation at the BINANCE P2P 0 O Transaction Fees ¡°Yourpany had an incident with a racing event yesterday, right?¡± ncing at Isabe through the rearview mirror, the driverpared her face with the one in the news. Isabe adjusted her mask and cleared her throat. ¡°I was sick and took leave yesterday. I¡¯m not fully aware of what happened.¡± The driver nodded in understanding and turned his attention back to the road. Then, he turned on the radio and started chatting away. The entertainment news broadcasted on the radio had clear audio but no visuals. ¡°Mr. Shaffer, ording to media reports, you were seen carrying a mysterious woman out of the Shaffer Group Towerst night. Can you BINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees confirm this?¡± Isabe unconsciously tuned out the driver¡¯s voice and focused solely on the words from the broadcast, She was waiting for the man¡¯s response. The reporter repeated the question several times, but Seth remained silent until the final inquiry, where he sounded visibly impatient. ¡°We¡¯re both adults. We both consented. Do I need to report that to you?¡± His usual arrogant tone came through, and his response was ambiguous, leaving room for imagination. Isabe¡¯s face flushed as she listened to his voice. She purposely avoided looking ahead for fear that the driver would notice the change in her BINANCE P2P 0 Transaction Fees The driver, caught up in conversation, reacted to Seth¡¯s words from the broadcast. ¡°Let me tell you, someone who speaks like that is usually not responsible.¡± She felt a twitch in her temples and forced a wryugh. Her emotions were