“I really owe you one for what happened, so I suppose this is a sort of compensation.”
William insisted, though, saying it was just dinner and wouldn’t take much of his time.
Chloe felt bad about refusing him too many times, so she relented.
“Alright, just come by when you have time. No need to come every day!”
Seeing her concede, William smiled, “Great, I’ll get the ingredients for tonight’s meal.”
William didn’t join Chloe and Michael on their way back but left on his own.
Inside the car, Michael was brooding. He’d already been dealing with one rival, James, and now another, William, seemed to be popping up everywhere. Michael’s mind was buzzing with irritation. Chloe glanced at Michael, noticing his frustration. His face looked as if it were about to explode with anger.
She sighed as she got out of the car, saying, “If you really don’t like William coming over, I can talk to him.”
Michael, now trying to play it cool, said, “No, it’s fine. If you’re okay with it, I don’t really care.”chApT.ēr/SFlOW-cóm owns © this.
His sudden change of attitude left Chloe puzzled.
She raised an eyebrow. “You really don’t mind?”
“As long as you’re happy!”
Chloe looked at him like he’d just spoken in riddles. She bit her lip and decided not to press further.
Once inside the house, she hesitated for a moment before saying, “I’m planning to check out some places in the next couple of days.”
She thought, “I’m not staying here long-term. I’ll only consider returning home after James is out of the hospital. Until then, I’d rather not live with him.”
Michael froze. “Are you unhappy living here?”
Chloe replied, “It’s not about being unhappy. It’s just that our relationship has changed. Living together after a divorce, it doesn’t seem right.”
She thought, “Since we are divorced, how can we still live together after the divorce?”
Michael felt as though his heart was being pierced by a thousand needles. The pain was almost too much to bear.
After a long silence, as Chloe was about to head upstairs, he said, “I’ll be heading back home in a few days. Paramount Airlines and Shawn Heavy Industries both need me. So you won’t need to worry about finding a place.” Michael knew she was just unwilling to live with him. He thought, “I know she’d rather not deal with the hassle if I’m not here.”
William prepared an exquisite foreign meal for them, and Chloe praised his cooking, noting how every dish was both beautiful and delicious.
Meanwhile, Michael found the food tasteless. His attention was entirely focused on the interaction between Chloe and William.
Watching her smile at William was almost as painful as being stabbed.
“So, did you have a meeting today?” William asked Chloe as they chatted casually.
When Chloe mentioned she was working, William noted he knew Jeremy.
“He’s been to my restaurant before and seemed to enjoy my cooking.”
Chloe listened, realizing for the first time how shining brightly in one’s field, no matter what it was, could earn respect and admiration.
She had never understood the prestige that came with being a top-tier chef until now.
Before leaving, William asked, “What would you like to eat tomorrow? I can prep the ingredients in advance.”
Chloe, feeling she was already troubling William, simply told him to choose something. She didn’t want to add to his trouble.
After William left, Chloe received a call from the client.
“Ms. Nelson, after careful consideration, Mr. Portman is interested in both your proposal and Ms. Carey’s. We’d like to explore the possibility of combining them.”
Chloe’s brow furrowed slightly at the assistant’s words. Before she could fully process the information, the assistant continued, “If you and Ms. Carey can collaborate, we can schedule a time to sign the contract.” Chloe was taken aback. “Are you saying that you want me and Ms. Carey to manage this project together?”
“Yes, exactly. Mr. Portman believes that if you two can work together, the project will proceed smoothly. He’s confident that you’ll find a good synergy.”
Chloe almost laughed out loud.
She thought to herself, “Ariana and I have had two meetings so far, and both times nearly ended in a showdown.
And they think we’ll work together harmoniously?”
Even though she knew this job was a referral from James and could potentially boost her own reputation without relying on Jioleek’s name, the thought of working with someone she disliked was a daunting challenge. She wasn’t desperate for the project. It was better to follow her instincts and avoid unnecessary friction, which would make her work more efficient.
The assistant on the other end of the line said, “Ms. Nelson, there’s no rush to give us an answer right away. We can give you a day to consider. If you still feel it’s not a good fit, it’s okay to decline.” Chloe hesitated for a moment. “Alright, I’ll let you know by tomorrow.”
After hanging up, she noticed Michael had been watching her intently.
“Having trouble with the collaboration?” Michael asked, his experience making him quick to pick up on Chloe’s mood, even though he hadn’t overheard the details. Chloe ruffled her hair in frustration. “Yeah, they want me to work with Ariana.”
Michael’s dissatisfaction with Ariana was already known, especially after the incident where Chloe was trapped in the villa room thanks to Ariana’s scheming. Hearing this now only fueled his irritation.
“A person that relies on such petty tactics, what are they thinking to choose her?”
Chloe sighed, “Ariana’s proposals are actually quite impressive. She’s just too slick with her office politics.”
Today in the meeting room, Chloe had listened to Ariana’s pitch.
Ariana had earned her spot as a top contender for a reason. If she played fair, Chloe might even respect her as a rival.
But her approach was all underhanded.chåp_tērs-fl.óW.cøm owns © this.
“Great skills don’t mean much when the character’s lacking,” Michael scoffed.
His disdain was palpable, and Chloe shot him a look.
True, work capability and character weren’t always linked, but she couldn’t help but reflect on Michael’s own past misdeeds.
She thought, “His character isn’t exactly spotless either.”
Michael grumbled, “I’m no saint myself, which is why Shawn Heavy Industries is having its issues. It was only a matter of time.” Chloe was taken aback by his self-awareness.
She packed up, planning to visit the hospital.
“I’ll drive you,” Michael offered.
Chloe, putting on her shoes by the entrance, didn’t turn around. “No need. I’ll update James about today’s events. Don’t worry about it.” Before Michael could protest, Chloe had already opened the door and left, giving him no chance to argue.
At the hospital, Chloe recounted the day’s events to James.
“What do you think? Should I take the job?”
James had recommended this opportunity, so she valued his opinion.
“You’re the one with the skills. What’s there to be afraid of?” James replied, glancing at her from his bed with a calm demeanor. “But…”
Chloe didn’t get to finish her thought.
“Are you really going to throw away such a rare chance just because of personal issues? Do you want to spend your career under the Jioleek name forever?”
Despite the lucrative nature of the Jioleek gigs, they were unstable.
Becoming a renowned name in the field of network forensics under her own name would eliminate many uncertainties. “Chloe, you’re a mother now.”
His words hit her hard, plunging her into deep reflection.
In the past, Chloe had always believed that she could spend her entire life as Jioleek, content to linger in the shadows.
As long as she was doing what she loved and could make a living, that was enough for her.
But now that she was pregnant, her perspective had shifted dramatically. Chloe wanted her child to be able to proudly declare who their mother was and what she did for a living, just like any other kid. Taking a position at Bright Moon International was her first step into the limelight, a chance to step out from behind the curtain. And now, she had the opportunity to make her mark again.
With that thought in mind, a sense of resolve began to form within Chloe.
“Where are Vicky and Maggie today? They’re not around,” Chloe continued, trying to make conversation.
James shrugged. “How would I know? I’m not their keeper. If they’re not here, it’s not the end of the world for me.”
He had no interest in prying into their whereabouts.
The fact that they weren’t bothering him was just fine by James.
“Don’t you ever think about your own future? Maggie seems pretty genuine about her feelings for you. Aren’t you going to give her a chance?”
Chloe knew she shouldn’t be meddling, but as a friend, she wanted to see him with someone who would stick by his side.
Ideally, it would be someone he liked and someone who truly cared about him.
“Chloe, are you starting on your love advice again?” James asked, sounding slightly exasperated.
“Love advice? What’s that supposed to mean?”
James said, “You know, trying to set people up or push them into relationships.
“What’s so bad about that? I don’t see why it’s necessary to be tied down to just one person.”
Chloe wasn’t sure if he was putting on a brave face or if he genuinely felt that way.This belongs to CH.ApTé-r$fLóW_.com – ©.
“I’m just making a suggestion. It’s up to you whether you want to face the truth or not. It’s all about what you decide.”
“Thanks for the suggestion, but I’d prefer if you didn’t offer any more.” James’ tone had taken on a sullen edge, a rare occurrence.
Chloe recalled that he hardly ever got genuinely angry, even when he’d provocatively teased Michael about his gun.
This time, however, it was clear he was truly upset.
“Alright, I won’t push it. It’s your life, after all,” Chloe said, quickly dropping the topic to avoid further discomfort.
But just as she was about to leave, James brought it up again.
“You haven’t exactly sorted out your own life. How can you judge mine?”
Chloe shot back, “What do you mean, ‘not sorted out’? I’ve never felt clearer about my own life.”
“Michael still thinks the baby you’re carrying is mine. As the months go by, have you figured out how you’ll keep this from him and the child? Have you thought about letting the baby actually call me Dad?” Chloe was taken aback, her mouth opening in surprise.
She hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“Chloe, I don’t have a particular desire for marriage, and you’ve lost faith in it after your recent divorce. Maybe we should just make the best of things and settle for each other.” James’ voice was half-joking, but it made Chloe’s skin crawl.
“Don’t even think about it. I have no intention of stepping back into the graveyard of marriage.”
Even if it meant raising the child alone, that was still easier for her than getting married again.
The thought of her previous three years in a marriage felt like a nightmare.
“You’re so uptight. I was just teasing you. Don’t take it seriously.”
James chuckled, turning onto his side and pulling the blanket over himself, claiming he was tired.
Chloe stayed with him for a while, but once she noticed his breathing had evened out, she adjusted his blanket and quietly left.
As soon as Chloe was gone, James’ blue eyes snapped open, clear and alert, completely devoid of sleepiness.
He thought about Chloe’s fearful expression when she talked about marriage and couldn’t help but chuckle softly, gazing at the moon outside and sinking into a long silence. Later, Chloe returned to the resort, as the client had mentioned she could test working with Ariana first.
If it didn’t work out, she could always bow out of the project later.
Ariana was surprised to see her when she showed up.
She was even relieved, thinking that handling the project on her own wouldn’t be too bad.
But to her surprise, Chloe showed up anyway.
Chloe took her time setting up her things, picked a desk that was away from others, and, after checking her computer thoroughly, finally plugged in her USB drive. “Ms. Nelson, I didn’t expect you to show up!” Ariana said, leaning against Chloe’s desk with a playful grin.
Chloe smiled, “It’s work, why wouldn’t I come?”
She wasn’t the one who had been left out. As James had pointed out, she was better than Ariana. The project was a piece of cake for her, and she wasn’t about to pass up this opportunity. Seeing Chloe’s calm demeanor, Ariana felt a lump in her throat. She turned away, saying, “Well, since you’re here, let’s get started. We shouldn’t waste any more time.” Ariana had hoped to dominate the situation, given her status as a top hacker.
But she was caught off guard by Chloe’s speed and efficiency.
Chloe’s response times and problem-solving abilities far outstripped her own. Every time Ariana wanted to delegate a task, Chloe had already finished it and tossed a new challenge her way. Ariana went from being in control to being constantly on the back foot. The entire morning was a flurry of activity, yet she had no clear idea of what she was actually working on. At lunchtime, Chloe decided to grab a bite outside.
As she left, Ariana seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, surprised by Chloe’s relentless work ethic.
Walking out of the room, Chloe spotted William.
“Aren’t you supposed to be competing tomorrow?” She asked.
William smiled, “Mr. Portman sent me to cook a meal. It should be for you two.”
The staff was minimal, and since William only needed to prepare two meals, it wasn’t a hassle.
“He paid me well, and it was fun to do. It’s all set up in the cafeteria, so you can just help yourselves.”
William then glanced at Ariana, who had come out from behind Chloe.
And she deliberately bumped into her as she passed by.
Chloe nearly lost her balance, but William was quick to catch her.
“Are you okay?”
Chloe nodded. “I’m fine.”
She knew that only those who felt insecure about themselves would try to get a leg up through petty actions like this.
“Is she your colleague? I heard she’s been giving you a hard time,” William remarked, having heard some of the backgrounds about their competition for the project. Chloe merely smiled, unbothered, “It’s no big deal.”
To her, it didn’t affect her work efficiency or warrant dwelling on past issues. She had no reason to let it linger.
William squeezed Chloe’s arm, adding mysteriously, “Don’t worry, people like her will have their tough days ahead.”
Chloe glanced at him with a light laugh. “I’ll head over now. You take care of your stuff.”
William watched as she walked into the cafeteria before heading off himself.
Inside the cafeteria, Chloe chose a table by the window and was about to dig in when a few flustered servers hurried over.
“Sorry, Ms. Nelson, but we’ve brought you the wrong dish. It was meant for that table over there. Apologies for the mix-up!” Chloe paused, surprised, thinking, “Aren’t these dishes all made by William? Mine is different from Ariana’s?”Text © 2024 cHáp/TeRs/flö.w-COM.
“You can take it over there,” Chloe said, dismissing the thought with a shrug.
It was just a dish. She wasn’t overly concerned about it.
The server bent down and carried the dish away, and only then did Chloe begin to eat.
William’s usual standard was evident in the taste and presentation – delicious and meticulously arranged.
In the afternoon, Chloe focused on her computer work, and Ariana appeared busy as well, though her expression was less than pleasant. Her assistant whispered in her ear, a worried look on his face, “Ariana, are you feeling okay?”
Chloe glanced over, noting that Ariana’s complexion did seem off.
She was even relieved, thinking that handling the project on her own wouldn’t be too bad.
But to her surprise, Chloe showed up anyway.
Chloe took her time setting up her things, picked a desk that was away from others, and, after checking her computer thoroughly, finally plugged in her USB drive. “Ms. Nelson, I didn’t expect you to show up!” Ariana said, leaning against Chloe’s desk with a playful grin.
Chloe smiled, “It’s work, why wouldn’t I come?”
She wasn’t the one who had been left out. As James had pointed out, she was better than Ariana. The project was a piece of cake for her, and she wasn’t about to pass up this opportunity. Seeing Chloe’s calm demeanor, Ariana felt a lump in her throat. She turned away, saying, “Well, since you’re here, let’s get started. We shouldn’t waste any more time.” Ariana had hoped to dominate the situation, given her status as a top hacker.
But she was caught off guard by Chloe’s speed and efficiency.
Chloe’s response times and problem-solving abilities far outstripped her own. Every time Ariana wanted to delegate a task, Chloe had already finished it and tossed a new challenge her way. Ariana went from being in control to being constantly on the back foot. The entire morning was a flurry of activity, yet she had no clear idea of what she was actually working on. At lunchtime, Chloe decided to grab a bite outside.
As she left, Ariana seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, surprised by Chloe’s relentless work ethic.
Walking out of the room, Chloe spotted William.
“Aren’t you supposed to be competing tomorrow?” She asked.
William smiled, “Mr. Portman sent me to cook a meal. It should be for you two.”
The staff was minimal, and since William only needed to prepare two meals, it wasn’t a hassle.
“He paid me well, and it was fun to do. It’s all set up in the cafeteria, so you can just help yourselves.”
William then glanced at Ariana, who had come out from behind Chloe.
And she deliberately bumped into her as she passed by.
Chloe nearly lost her balance, but William was quick to catch her.
“Are you okay?”
Chloe nodded. “I’m fine.”
She knew that only those who felt insecure about themselves would try to get a leg up through petty actions like this.
“Is she your colleague? I heard she’s been giving you a hard time,” William remarked, having heard some of the backgrounds about their competition for the project. Chloe merely smiled, unbothered, “It’s no big deal.”
To her, it didn’t affect her work efficiency or warrant dwelling on past issues. She had no reason to let it linger.
William squeezed Chloe’s arm, adding mysteriously, “Don’t worry, people like her will have their tough days ahead.”
Chloe glanced at him with a light laugh. “I’ll head over now. You take care of your stuff.”
William watched as she walked into the cafeteria before heading off himself.
Inside the cafeteria, Chloe chose a table by the window and was about to dig in when a few flustered servers hurried over.
“Sorry, Ms. Nelson, but we’ve brought you the wrong dish. It was meant for that table over there. Apologies for the mix-up!” Chloe paused, surprised, thinking, “Aren’t these dishes all made by William? Mine is different from Ariana’s?”Text © 2024 cHáp/TeRs/flö.w-COM.
“You can take it over there,” Chloe said, dismissing the thought with a shrug.
It was just a dish. She wasn’t overly concerned about it.
The server bent down and carried the dish away, and only then did Chloe begin to eat.
William’s usual standard was evident in the taste and presentation – delicious and meticulously arranged.
In the afternoon, Chloe focused on her computer work, and Ariana appeared busy as well, though her expression was less than pleasant. Her assistant whispered in her ear, a worried look on his face, “Ariana, are you feeling okay?”
Chloe glanced over, noting that Ariana’s complexion did seem off.
Candy took a sip of her coffee and began. Richard had been seeing a beautiful young woman, but as time went on, he grew bored.
To him, such things were nothing unusual – just another day in the life of a wealthy man. He decided to move on.
However, this woman knew who Richard was, the chairman of the Opal Group. She saw him as a long-term meal ticket. After returning to Mamaica, she managed to find a donor and tried to pass off the child as Richard’s. Richard, despite his carefree demeanor, was surprisingly traditional when it came to family matters.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
Upon learning that this woman was pregnant, he considered giving the child a legitimate status and even contemplated marrying her.
Naturally, Wesley wasn’t on board with this plan. He brought Candy along to find out more about the woman.
When they arrived, they discovered not only that the woman was after Richard’s money but also that the child wasn’t Richard’s at all.
Now, Wesley was busy trying to force the woman to admit the truth before the baby was born, as a paternity test wasn’t possible until then.
“You’d think Richard, being the sly old fox he is, would have seen through this woman’s scheme,” Chloe commented, finding the whole situation hard to believe.
“Richard’s family has plenty of kids. One more or less doesn’t make a difference to him. But the old fox wouldn’t want any potential child of his left out in the cold,” Candy explained.
Each additional child meant one more competitor for Wesley’s position as the heir, which was naturally a big deal for him.
And as Wesley’s girlfriend, Candy was right there with him.
At that moment, William returned with a fruit juice and two coffees, taking a seat next to Chloe and across from Candy.
After a few sips, Chloe started to feel a bit uncomfortable and decided to head to the restroom.
Given her pregnancy, Candy looked concerned. “Are you okay? Do you want me to come with you?”
Chloe waved her hand, smiling, “I just need to use the restroom. Stay here. I’ll be back soon.”
She knew the difference between labor pains and needing the bathroom.
With Chloe gone, Candy and William were left alone.
Candy had always had a bit of a soft spot for William, and now sitting alone with him felt somewhat awkward.
But William remained unfazed, and after a few casual exchanges, the atmosphere relaxed.
Meanwhile, Asher had come to the coffee shop for his usual coffee and was waiting at the counter.
His eyes scanned the room and landed on Candy and William.
Seeing Candy laugh at William, Asher couldn’t help but feel a pang of concern for Wesley.
Asher was on good terms with Wesley and had his contact information.
He thought it was only right to give Wesley a heads-up about what was happening.
After calling Wesley, Asher decided to keep a discreet eye on Candy and William to ensure nothing out of line occurred.
Wesley arrived quickly. Seeing Candy and William sitting together sparked a cold glint in his eyes.
He knew William and was aware that during the time he and Candy were at odds, she had been seeing William.
Wesley could tolerate other men, but William was a different story. After all, William had once captured Candy’s heart. “Candy!” Wesley’s voice cut through the air, making Candy freeze as if she’d heard a ghost.
As she looked up and saw the impeccably dressed man striding towards her, Candy was momentarily taken aback.
But as soon as Wesley reached her, she grabbed his hand and pulled him down to sit beside her.
“Wesley, what are you doing here?”
Wesley was caught off guard by her reaction. He thought, “She has been spotted meeting with another man, yet she seems completely unflustered by my arrival.”
“I thought you were here to see Chloe,” Wesley said, still trying to process what was happening.
Wesley, who had been expecting Chloe, was instead faced with the one person he least wanted to see.
Wesley blinked in surprise. At that moment, his phone buzzed with a text from Asher, who was hiding in the shadows, asking what was going on. Wesley then realized that Asher had given him incorrect information.
[Damn it, the guy came with Chloe and had nothing to do with my wife!]
Asher, still in disbelief, was about to text Wesley back, suggesting maybe Candy was playing him, especially since he hadn’t seen Chloe yet. But before he could finish typing, he saw Chloe emerging from the restroom and heading towards their table.
“Whoa!”
Asher muttered in shock, his fingers flying over the screen as he sent a message to Michael: [Your ex-wife’s out dining with another guy. Didn’t she give you a heads-up?] Michael, upon receiving the message, rushed over to the restaurant.
When Chloe emerged from the restroom, she was surprised to see Wesley seated next to Candy. She thought, “Hasn’t Candy just told me Wesley couldn’t make it?” Candy shrugged in response, her expression saying she had no idea Wesley would show up.
Chloe took a seat and addressed Wesley, “Would you like something to drink, Mr. Jenkins?”
“Just a Latte, please.”
Before Wesley could say more, a striking woman approached – a voluptuous figure with flowing blonde waves and fluent Aikopnish.
She stood next to Wesley, her eyes widening in surprise. “Wesley? I can’t believe it’s you!”
Wesley acknowledged her with a polite nod. “What a coincidence.”
The woman’s face lit up with genuine pleasure. “It’s been ages! You’re in Mamaica and didn’t let me know? We should catch up!”
Candy, sitting off to the side, busied herself with the tiramisu on her plate, pointedly ignoring the exchange.
Wesley maintained a businesslike demeanor. “I’m here on work, so I don’t have time for socializing.”
Outside the restaurant, someone called the woman’s name. She handed Wesley her contact details and said, “Let’s catch up later. I’ve got to go!”
With that, she blew Wesley a kiss and left.
Once she was gone, Candy couldn’t help but comment, “Wow, her figure is amazing. That waist, that butt – she must be a G-cup, right?”
Women were often more attuned to body details than men.
While Candy might not have seen the woman’s face clearly, she certainly took note of her physique.Text © 2024 cHå.pTéRSfLòW-COM.
Wesley replied softly, “How would I know?”
He wasn’t close with the woman.
“You’ll find out tonight if you give her a call. Get a real feel for it!” Candy’s voice was laced with irritation.
Wesley tried to calm her, his tone earnest. “She’s the daughter of a former business partner. I’ve only met her once. She’s like this with everyone. I swear, there’s nothing between us.” Candy pouted, saying, “But that’s a G-cup! Aren’t you tempted?”
Wesley shook his head, amused by her jealousy. “I prefer things a bit flatter.”
Candy’s cheeks flushed, and she playfully swatted his shoulder.
She thought, “My chest’s not flat!”
When Michael arrived, he saw several people gathered at the table. He hesitated, then stepped in just in time to prevent William from reaching out to help Chloe. Chloe blinked in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
She thought, “I haven’t told him where I’m.”
“You weren’t at the resort. I got worried.”
Michael didn’t directly answer her question, but his concern was clear.
Candy shot Wesley a suspicious look. “You two showing up one after the other. Are you in on this together?”
Wesley quickly denied it, saying, “I haven’t been in touch with Mr. Shawn.”
Michael nodded in agreement, backing Wesley up.
The more they insisted, the more uneasy Candy felt.
What had started as a dinner for three was quickly turning into a gathering of five.
The server’s voice echoed through the restaurant, making it impossible for Asher to remain inconspicuous. With a sheepish look, he rose awkwardly from his corner. “That’s mine, my coffee!” Candy and the others raised their eyebrows, finally piecing together who had tipped them off.
Asher, holding his coffee, offered a strained smile. “Uh, would you mind if I joined you?”
And just like that, the dinner party grew from five to six.
Chloe wasn’t bothered, and Candy seemed to brush it off. Wesley and Michael, being seasoned pros at social situations, were hardly phased.
But Asher was visibly uncomfortable, caught between eating and not eating, wishing he could just disappear.
Once the meal was over, Candy shared a piece of gossip from back home with Chloe.
“Chloe, did you hear? Victoria’s bestie, Zooey, had a falling out with her. A few days ago, Zooey messed up a shipment at the port that included both her husband’s and Victoria’s goods. Now Victoria’s facing a multi-million-dollar loss.” Chloe looked surprised. She glanced at Michael. “Did you know about this?”
Michael gave a nod. After all, Victoria was part of the Shawn family. Even though he was overseas, news from back home had a way of reaching him.
Admas had almost cut ties with Victoria over this issue.
Victoria had always pushed to get her daughter Cathy into the management at Paramount Airlines. When she married into the Swift family, it was only because she was pregnant that they even considered her. Admas had been frustrated with the situation, especially since the Shawn family was one of the top players in the country, and he didn’t think they should be so eager to please the Swift family.
But Victoria insisted on staying with the guy from the Swift family. After Victoria married him and had a daughter, the Swift family paid even less attention to them.
Realizing her husband wasn’t going to help, Victoria set her sights back on the Shawn family.
Admas, ever cautious, made it his mission to keep Victoria’s people out of Paramount Airlines.
With no way to get her people in, Victoria sought other means to make money. Partnering up with Zooey’s husband for business was simply a practical move for her. She never meant to slight Zooey.
But Zooey took the situation very personally. After the party, no matter how Victoria tried to explain, Zooey wouldn’t hear it.
They stopped communicating for a long stretch. Just when Victoria thought things had cooled down, Zooey caused chaos at the port, disrupting the shipment and leaving Victoria to face hefty penalties. Victoria was left scrambling, unable to come up with the millions needed to cover the damages, and had to turn to Admas for help.Text © 2024 cH_aptēRsf-l.ôW/Com.
Admas was furious and nearly severed ties with her right then and there. If it hadn’t been for Jennifer and a few others calming him down, Victoria would have been barred from the Shawn Manor.
Today, Victoria was doing everything she could to get back in Admas’ good graces, even sending Cathy to the Shawn Manor to smooth things over, hoping Admas might be persuaded to help cover the losses. Chloe found the whole situation quite amusing.
Chloe had already told Zooey about Victoria’s underhanded dealings behind her back.
At this point, Victoria walked in, carrying a lot of stuff at the Shawn Manor.
Admas said with boredom as soon as he saw her, “What are you doing here again?”
Victoria smiled as she went over and handed the maid what she was holding. “Dad, this is what I bought for Gigi. She was injured earlier. I got her some canned food!” Victoria used to dislike Gigi the most. She couldn’t stop sneezing whenever she saw Gigi near her.
She was allergic to animal hair.
But Admas loved it. She couldn’t say anything about it, and she just put up with Gigi every time she came.
However, as if Gigi knew Victoria didn’t like herself, she didn’t come near Victoria and acted as if she didn’t exist.
Today, Victoria offered to buy something for Gigi. It seemed to Admas that she was asking him for something.
“Dad, do those flowers in your garden need tending? I’ll go help you!”
Realizing that she hadn’t succeeded in using Gigi to make Admas happy, Victoria came up with other tricks. Admas ignored her, and she carried the watering can over.
But Victoria couldn’t keep flowers. Servants tended the greenery of the Swift family, and she didn’t meddle in it.
Right now, she just sprayed the greenery with the watering can with no skill at all.
After seeing her wreak havoc on a few of his precious plants, Admas just couldn’t take it anymore. He walked over and snatched the watering can out of her hand. “My greenery can’t afford your care. You’d better go over and rest.”
Victoria was embarrassed. “Dad, just let the maid do these things. You’re not in good health. Don’t tire yourself.”
Her words made Admas even angrier. “If you want me to be fit, don’t come here!”
“Dad, what do you mean by that? Of course there are losses and gains in doing business. Losing money is not what I want!”
Victoria felt aggrieved. She didn’t feel she had done anything wrong and needed to be held accountable.
Admas glared at her. “It’s true that there are losses and gains in business. But sooner or later your business is going to lose money. Don’t you know that?”
Victoria was stunned by Admas’ words.
“You used your good friend and didn’t tell her the truth. You treated her like a fool. But is she really a fool?”
Not wanting to say too much, Admas grunted and focused on watering his flowers.
Victoria blinked and walked to his side again. “Dad, I know. But I did it for Zooey’s sake. Who wants their husband to cheat on them? I was afraid she wouldn’t be able to take it. Well, I was wrong!” Admas ignored her as if he hadn’t heard her.
Victoria continued, “Dad, Michael’s divorced. I think it’s time we find him a new wife. I know a good girl.”
She figured if this worked out, there would be at least one of her people on Michael’s side.
When the time came, she thought that Michael would approve of Cathy going into Paramount Airlines.
But Admas saw through her scheme.chåpt.Er-$flò.W.COM owns © this.
“You have the energy to find Michael a wife. Why don’t you think about your daughter? Cathy is not getting any younger. She should be the one getting hitched soon, don’t you think?”
He gave Victoria a look that made her catch her breath and embarrassed her a little.
Cathy was about the same age as Chloe and was indeed of marriageable age.
But once she married, wouldn’t the Shawn family be even less hers?
Besides, Cathy hadn’t met anyone she liked, so Victoria wasn’t in a hurry about it.
“It’s not the same. Michael is the heir to the Shawn family. It’s good for the company that he has a secure family. Besides, he’s divorced from Chloe and should find another wife.” “Don’t you know why Michael and Chloe got divorced?”
If Victoria and the others hadn’t treated Chloe badly at all for three years, Chloe wouldn’t have been so disappointed in the Shawn family that she decisively divorced Michael. No matter what Victoria said, Admas was retorting. She stood there feeling awkward.
“You’re just Michael’s aunt. It’s not your turn to interfere if he wants to remarry or not, and with whom.”
Victoria felt bad and tried to defend herself. But before she could say a word, Admas turned and walked away with the watering can. “I’m tired. Go back if you don’t have anything else to do.”
He was exhausted just looking at her, and he wanted to live a few more years.
Victoria looked gloomy and eventually had to leave.
She thought, “I didn’t settle the millions of dollars I owe, and Admas wouldn’t even agree to me about Michael remarrying. How annoying!” Victoria left. Simeon went to give Admas a shoulder massage.This belongs to Chá.PTèrSFlòw//COM – ©.
“Are you trying to say I went too far this time?”
At that, Simeon hesitated for a moment. “Sir Shawn, you naturally have your own ideas. Even though you’re all family, what she did this time did go a bit too far.” Admas nodded slowly with his eyes closed, thinking, “Yes, we are family after all.”
Victoria realized that she couldn’t persuade Admas and had to ask Cathy to get to Michael.
But they only now learned that Michael had been out of the office all this time, traveling on business.
“You give him a call. He’s your brother. He can’t really leave us alone.”
Cathy was a little reluctant. Everyone knew that Michael didn’t have much affection for them. She was naturally reluctant to beg him.
“Mom, we can get millions of dollars. We can fill it up ourselves.”
Cathy hadn’t even realized the seriousness of the matter until now.
A few million dollars didn’t matter. By offending Zooey, Victoria would probably be targeted for any other business she did in the future. Victoria thought, “If I don’t keep some money, are we going to beg?”
“Hurry up and call him. Why are you talking such a lot of nonsense?”
Cathy saw Victoria’s insistence and could only dial Michael’s number, but she was still reluctant.
The phone rang for a long time without answering. Cathy turned to Victoria and said, “He’s not answering.”
“Go on, then. Do I have to teach you this?”
Victoria thought she was really unlucky, thinking, “I can’t rely on my husband, and now I can’t even rely on my only daughter!
What did I do in my past life?”
Mamaica had a time difference from home. Michael saw the phone call Cathy made but didn’t have the slightest intention of answering it.
His cell phone was on the table, so Chloe saw it. She glanced at the caller ID. Seeing that it was Cathy, she didn’t care much.
Cathy stopped calling. Not a moment later, Michael’s phone received a text message.
It came from Ethan at home. [Mr. Shawn, Ms. Campbell has started targeting Shawn Heavy Industries. Kranton Bank has stopped all funding.] Chloe couldn’t help but frown when she saw this.
Before she could think much about it, Michael took the phone.
Michael wasn’t mad at her for looking at his phone. He was nervous when he saw the text message.
“There’s really nothing between me and Lucy!”
He was afraid that Chloe would misunderstand again, so he hastened to explain.
But Chloe wasn’t even thinking about what was going on between him and Lucy. “What’s with the text message? Did Kranton Bank stop funding Shawn Heavy Industries?” Chloe didn’t know what this had to do with Lucy.
Michael had really been a little anxious about this for the past few days. He had gone to Admas earlier, and Admas had agreed to lend him the money to get Shawn Heavy Industries stabilized first. But Kranton Bank canceled the partnership. He still needed to find another bank for a new collaboration.
A new collaboration might seem simple, but there were a lot of things that needed to be negotiated. It was difficult for both parties to try to work together without a foundation of trust.
Michael really hadn’t expected Abel to actually give Lucy the authority over Kranton Bank.
